cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Improving Lung Scintigraphy

1919 Objectives Investigate the feasibility of D- and L-enantiomers of [18F]-labelled 2- and 6-FDOPA for melanoma imaging. Methods D- and L-enantiomers of [18F]2- and 6-FDOPA were prepared by the direct fluorination of DOPA. 20 mBq of each tracer (0.2 mL) was injected into the tail veins of mice bearing B16-F10 mealnoma tumor after they were anesthetized with isoflurane. Animals were imaged using a Philips Mosaic small animal PET scanner followed by the CT component of a SPECT/CT scanner for co-registration. B16-F10 melanoma cells, grown in complete MEM/F11 medium, were incubated with 55 mBq of [18F]2- and 6-FDOPA (D- and L-) for 120 min at 37 oC. Following centrifugation, cells were separated from the culture medium and thoroughly washed with HBSS buffer until less than 10% of the total 18F remained in the supernatant. Percent uptake of FDOPA isomers in tumor cells was calculated based on the 18F activity measured in each component. Results Fluorine-18 uptake in the tumor cells for 2-F-L-DOPA (20.5%) was considerably higher compared to 2-F-D-DOPA (7.9%). Itwas comparable between 6-F-D-DOPA (17%) and 6-F-L-DOPA (19%). PET images of B16-F10 melanoma bearing mice showed clear delineation of the tumor 120 min after injection with [18F] labelled 6-F-D-DOPA and 2-F-L-DOPA. Conclusions Both [18F] labelled 6-D-DOPA and 2-F-L-DOPA appeared to be promising tracers for the delineation of melanoma. [18F]6-F-D-DOPA may not be metabolised in vivo causing a higher signal to noise ratio in tumor images. Relaitively higher upatke of [18F]2-F-L-DOPA may be due its incorporation into melanin by the Raper-Mason Scheme for melanogenesis. Research Support Authors acknowledge Dr. Karen Gulenchyn and Ms. Carol Dunne of HHS for their support.
Tasimelteon A Melatonin Receptor Agonist for Non-24-Hour Sleep-Wake Disorder

Objective: To examine the efficacy of tasimelteon for the treatment of non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder using evidence from controlled clinical trials. Data Sources: Citations in Google Scholar and PubMed from January 1, 2008, to May 31, 2014, were identified using tasimelteon as the search term. Study Selection and Data Extraction: Results were limited to human trials published in English. Trials that compared tasimelteon with placebo were included. Data Synthesis: A phase II trial (n = 39) evaluated the effects of tasimelteon versus placebo on improvements in sleep efficiency and the ability to shift circadian rhythms over 3 days. Significant shifts in circadian rhythm were only observed for 100-mg tasimelteon. A phase III trial (n = 412) evaluated the effects of tasimelteon versus placebo on assessment of latency to persistent sleep and wake after sleep onset; significant advantages were observed in tasimelteon recipients. The SET (Safety and Efficacy of Tasimelteon) trial (n = 84) enrolled blind men an...
Estimation of penetration depth in a random medium using frequency decorrelation of the backscattered field

Frequency decorrelation of co-polarized and cross-polarized fields backscattered from a random medium is shown to be sensitive to the penetration depth and the physical parameters of the medium. The backscatter decorrelation bandwidth is shown to be inversely proportional to the penetration depth. Measurements conducted on snow under wet and dry conditions using 35 and 94 GHz scatterometers showed the sensitivity of the backscatter decorrelation bandwidth to snow wetness, particularly at 94 GHz. The backscatter decorrelation bandwidth can be used to estimate the penetration depth and water content in snow and soil media. >
Relationships between study organization, retrieval organization, and general and strategy-specific memory knowledge in young children

Abstract The present study examined relationships between young children's memory knowledge and their use of taxonomic and color memory organization. Forty-eight, 5-, 6-, and 7-year-olds were administered metamemory tests of organization-strategy knowledge and general memory knowledge, and were tested on two study-recall tasks before, and two study-recall tasks after, training in the use of color or taxonomic organization. Study organization (grouping) scores were low before training, but improved significantly in post-training tasks. Training effects were less pronounced for retrieval organization (clustering) and did not occur for item recall. Relationships between taxonomic study and retrieval organization were apparent only for the 7-year-olds, while relationships between color organization at study and retrieval were not apparentat any age level. Relationships between metamemory, strategy-use, and recall proficiency were evident on some tasks for 7-year-olds, but not for younger children. Although teacher ratings of the children's mastery orientations were also found to be related to recall proficiency for the older subjects, specific strategy knowledge was a more consistent correlate of strategy use and amount recalled.
How Communication Improves Efficiency in Bargaining Games

Abstract We study a double auction with two-sided private information and preplay communication, for which Myerson and Satterthwaite (1983, J. Econ. Theory 28, 265–281) showed that all equilibria are inefficient and the Chatterjee–Samuleson linear equilibrium is most efficient. Like several others, we find that players use communication to surpass equilibrium levels of efficiency, especially when the communication is face-to-face. Our main contribution is an analysis of how communication helps the parties achieve such high levels of efficiency. We find that when preplay communication is allowed, efficiency above equilibrium levels is a result of what we call “dyadic” strategies that allow the parties to coordinate on a single price that reflects both parties' valuations. Journal of Economic Literature Classification Numbers: C78, D82.
Minimizing the grid-resolution dependence of flow-routing algorithms for geomorphic applications

The results of flow-routing methods currently used in the geomorphic literature depend on grid resolution. This poses a problem for landscape evolution models, which must be independent of grid resolution to the greatest extent possible. Here I illustrate a refinement of currently-used flow-routing algorithms that yields unit contributing areas (i.e. contributing areas per unit width of flow) with minimal grid-resolution effects. I illustrate the application of this method in idealized topography, in high-resolution Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) of real-world topography, and by integration into a landscape evolution model for ridge-and-valley topography. The landscape evolution model produces grid-resolution-independent results in a more straightforward way than previous models for this type of landscape.
Acute psychological stress reduces plasma triglyceride clearance

Acute stress elevates blood lipids, with the largest increases among men and postmenopausal women. The mechanisms for the effect are unknown, but may be due to altered lipid metabolism. This study investigated if acute stress induces transient reductions in triglyceride clearance in middle-aged men and women, and determined if gender and menopause affect triglyceride metabolism. Of the 35 women, half were premenopausal, and half were naturally postmenopausal; men (n = 35) were age matched. Clearance of an intravenously administered fat emulsion was assessed twice: once during a nonstress session, and again during a stress-testing session. During the stress session, a battery of behavioral stressors (serial subtraction, speech, mirror tracing, and Stroop) were performed for 40 min. The clearance rate of exogenous fat was significantly diminished during the stress, relative to the nonstress session. Women had more efficient clearance, relative to men, but there were no effects of menopausal status. The diminished ability to clear an intravenous fat emulsion during stress suggests one mechanism for stress-induced elevations in lipids.
Dispersion characteristics of open microstrip lines

T. Itoh's spectral domain immitance approach (see IEEE Trans. Antennas & Propag., vol.AP-29, no.1, p.63-8, 1981) is used to study the dispersion characteristics of a double-layered open microstrip structure. The method of moments is used to determine the propagation constant and the current distribution on the strip. A numerical analysis is presented. Particular emphasis is placed on the choice of adequate expansion functions for the problem. >
Why do low-income women not use food stamps? Findings from the California Women's Health Survey.

Objective To determine factors associated with Food Stamp Program (FSP) participation in a potentially eligible California population. Design The California Women’s Health Survey is an on-going annual telephone survey that collects data about health-related attitudes and behaviours from a randomly selected sample of women. Statistical procedures included χ 2 and logistic regression. Setting California, USA, from 2002 to 2004. Subjects A total of 527 FSP female participants and 1405 potentially eligible non-participant females, aged 18 years and older. Results The following characteristics remained independently and positively related to FSP participation: single mother with children; unemployed; on welfare; on WIC (the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children); and US-born. Women under 25 years and those over 54 years were less likely to participate than women aged 25–54 years. Hispanic/Latino ethnicity was also negatively related to participation. Over 42 % of potentially eligible non-participants cited ‘don’t need them’ as the reason for not applying for FSP, but 34·9 % either do not think they are eligible or do not know how to apply. Potentially eligible non-participants who cite ‘don’t need them’ as a reason for not applying are less likely to be food insecure, to have inadequate income and to use alternative emergency aid, compared to women citing all other reasons. The highest level of need is among those who cite worry about citizenship or stigma as reasons for not applying. Conclusion Strategies to increase participation in FSP should incorporate messages that change the public’s perception of the programme, in addition to simplifying the application process, raising awareness of eligibility criteria and improving customer service.
A chloroplast DNA phylogeny of Solanum section Lasiocarpa

Abstract Solanum section Lasiocarpa includes about a dozen species with a center of diversity in the New World tropics. Solanum lasiocarpum and S. repandum (sometimes considered to be conspecific as S. ferox) have an Old World distribution in Asia and the Pacific Islands. Several species in this section produce edible fruits, and two, the lulo or naranjilla (S. quitoense) and the cocona (S. sessiliflorum) are cultivated commercially. Phylogenetic relationships in Solanum section Lasiocarpa were investigated using sequence data from the chloroplast trnT-trnL spacer, the trnL-trnF spacer, and the trnL gene, including the trnL intron. Sampling included 24 accessions from section Lasiocarpa and 14 accesssions of other Solanum species as outgroups. All species considered to belong to section Lasiocarpa by previous authors were examined with the exception of the recently described S. atheniae. Solanum robustum and S. stagnale, sometimes considered to belong to section Lasiocarpa, are excluded from the group on ...
Holistic Education: An Analysis of its Pedagogical Application

This dissertation is a theoretical and interpretative study, in which I analyze and evaluate the pedagogical application of the philosophical ideas advocated by the holistic education movement in four approaches to schooling. Holistic education is an eclectic and inclusive movement, which emerged in the mid-1980s as a response to the then dominant worldview of mainstream education. It is an educational paradigm that integrates the idealistic ideas of humanistic education with spiritual philosophical ideas. It incorporates principles of spirituality, wholeness, and interconnectedness along with principles of freedom, autonomy, and democracy. Holistic education theorists assume an integration of what most progressive and democratic movements in education have proposed should be kept separate, namely, spirituality and humanistic ideals. While these principles may be combined philosophically into an ideal of education, the question I ask in this study is as follows: could they be jointly applied in an approach to education? In this dissertation, therefore, I explore the pedagogical applicability of these principles and examine some of the tensions that arose for me as I compared how holistic education principles were applied in different approaches to schooling. To carry out this study I selected four approaches to schooling that draw on holistic educational ideals in order to analyze the pedagogical application of the philosophical principles advocated by the leading theorists in the holistic education movement. For analytical purposes, I synthesized the principles of holistic education into eight broad principles (spirituality, reverence to life/nature, interconnectedness, human wholeness, individual uniqueness, caring relations, freedom/autonomy, and democracy). For each of the appointed principles, I identified pedagogical features across the selected school systems that I argue promote that particular principle and I examined the way and the extent by which they are applied. Finally, I compared the findings of all pedagogical features to determine the extent to which each principle is applied in each of the pedagogical approaches to schooling. The findings of this study indicated that there are tensions in accommodating pedagogically the spiritual and humanistic principles of holistic education in one approach to education. I examine some of these tensions across the four selected approaches to schooling.
Exploring the Dark Side of Knowledge Management (KM) Tactics: A Study from Pakistan

The field of knowledge management is being approached from variety of levels in which the dark side of knowledge management is almost neglected area, particularly in the context of Pakistan. This study, however, provides a fresh inquiry never taken before. Evidences are provided from all walks of life: social, economic, political, government, media, as well as corporate. Utilizing the authentic print media reports along with the model of tactics on dark side of knowledge management given by Alter (2006), this paper focuses upon the distortion, suppression, and misappropriation of knowledge during creating, acquisition, refining, storing, retrieving, distributing, and presenting knowledge. Content analysis of these reports has been administered to present the dark side of knowledge management tactics within Pakistani context in systematic and logical progression. This study also provides insights for those optimistic knowledge managers and scholars who are ever used to looking at the bright side of knowledge management and ignore the dark sides at the cost of bright sides. Through this study, one can take a contrast while looking at the gloomy and dark side of KM when he confronted with the stark realities of KM facets.
Article 21, Applicable Law

This chapter in the third edition of the Triffterer Commentary on the Rome Statute of the ICC analyzes Article 21, the Statute’s applicable law provision. It situates the provision in the debates about applicable law in international law generally, describes the provision’s negotiating history, analyzes the case law interpreting the provision, and provides normative arguments regarding some the provision’s most controversial aspects.Article 21 is among the Rome Statute’s most important provisions. The well-established principle that defendants must have prior notice of the content of criminal law (nullum crimen sine lege), along with a desire to curtail the discretion afforded international judges, motivated the drafters of the Rome Statute to include a substantial amount of detail in the Statute and in the accompanying Elements of Crime and Rules of Procedure and Evidence. Nonetheless, the drafters recognized the inevitability of lacunae in the nascent body of international criminal law and sought to guide the judges in determining the applicable law when these primary sources prove inadequate. The judges’ approach to this important task is a significant determinant of the ICC’s legitimacy.
Faster approximation for Symmetric Min-Power Broadcast.

Given a directed simple graph G = (V,E) and a cost function c : E → R+, the power of a vertex u in a directed spanning subgraph H is given by pH(u) = maxuv∈E(H) c(uv), and corresponds to the energy consumption required for the wireless node u to transmit to all nodes v with uv ∈ E(H). The power of H is given by p(H) = ∑ u∈V pH(u). Power Assignment seeks to minimize p(H) while H satisfies some connectivity constraint. In this paper, we assume E is bidirected (for every directed edge e ∈ E, the opposite edge exists and has the same cost), a “source” y ∈ V is also given as part of the input, and H is required to contain a directed path from y to every vertex of V . This is the NP-Hard Symmetric Min-Power Broadcast problem. In terms of approximation, it is known that one cannot obtain a ratio better than ln |V |, and at least five algorithms with approximation ratio O(ln |V |) have been published from 2002 to 2007. Here we take one of them, the 2(1+ln |V |)-approximation of Fredrick Mtenzi and Yingyu Wan, and improve its running time from O(|V ||E|) to O(|E| log |V |), by careful bookkeeping and by using a previously-known geometry-based data structure.
Models and simulation for divertor erosion following plasma disruption in tokomak reactors

Erosion of plasma facing materials (PFMs) during a tokamak disruption limits the lifetime and increases the need of plasma facing components (PFCs) replacement in the reactor. During disruption, energetic plasma particles deposit high heat fluxes on the PFCs. It has been shown theoretically and experimentally that the deposited energy by plasma particles vaporizes the surface of the PFMs. Besides vaporization some selected metallic PFMs, such as tungsten and molybdenum, may suffer severe surface erosion due to melting. Melting and vaporization of metallic PFMs develop a boundary layer adjacent to the PFCs which shields such critical components as vapor shield, melt-layer shield or mixed melting/vapor shield. Part of the incoming heat flux is being absorbed by the dense and optically thick boundary layer evolved from the exposed surface, which significantly decreases the erosion of the PFCs. The accurate calculations of the net heat flux that hits the surface of PFCs during disruption are of great importance. In this study, the erosion of metallic PFMs is governed by vapor and droplet formation and their associated shielding effects. Fully selfconsistent erosion models are developed and implemented in the ETFLOW code in a new version (ETFLOW-BL) to model the PFMs response as they experience such disruption conditions. The melt-layer and vaporization losses following a disruption are calculated in this study for different values of incident plasma energies relevant to those expected in ITER. The calculated initial sharp rise in the PFMs erosion is due to the direct energy deposition on the PFCs surfaces. As disruption time goes on, boundary layers will accumulate adjacent to PFC surface and less energy penetrates to the original surface, which results in less boiling, scattering and vaporization. Comparisons between cases where both vaporization and melting process takes place are presented. Corresponding mass losses, and erosion thickness, are estimated for both cases.
Differences in the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms among female and male custodians.

Background The prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms among custodians is high. We sought to compare musculoskeletal symptoms between female and male custodians and to explore how task might affect this relationship. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed among 712 custodians who completed a survey assessing upper extremity, back, and lower extremity musculoskeletal symptoms and exposure to cleaning tasks. Chi-square tests and logistic regression analyses were used to test for associations between gender, cleaning tasks, and musculoskeletal symptoms. Results Gender was significantly (P < 0.05) associated with musculoskeletal symptoms in χ2 tests and multivariate analyses. The prevalence ratio of symptoms among women was roughly 50% higher than men, regardless of the tasks that workers performed. Conclusions The prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms differed for female and male custodians and appeared to be consistent across a range of job tasks. Am. J. Ind. Med. 59:841–852, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Eritrean-Ethiopian War (1998-2000)

The Eritrean-Ethiopian War of 1998-2000 was a tragic conflict that resulted in a widespread loss of life, as well as other injury and damage, for these two developing countries in the Horn of Africa. A unique feature of this incident is that the December 2000 Algiers agreement ending the conflict provided for the establishment of an Eritrea-Ethiopia Claims Commission (claims commission), charged with deciding claims for loss, damage or injury resulting from a violation of international law committed by either country. One of Ethiopia’s claims was that Eritrea initiated the armed conflict by an illegal use of force. Thus, the facts and legal positions advanced by the two sides were formally litigated before, and decided by, a five-member arbitral commission of arbitrators of third-country nationalities, which concluded that Eritrea’s conduct at the outbreak of the armed conflict constituted a violation of Article 2(4) of the UN Charter.This chapter in a volume containing a series of case studies argues that the claims commission’s jus ad bellum findings are of considerable precedential value. The commission considered and addressed several important and complicated issues concerning law on the resort to force, self-defense, and reparation. Rarely have such claims been litigated and rarer still have decisions been issued on these matters. There are various aspects of the claims commission’s findings that can be questioned, if not criticized, but given the limited resources and time frame under which the commission operated, the commission performed extremely well. The claims commission concluded that a large-scale, transborder military operation constituted a violation of Article 2(4) of the UN Charter, a finding that confirms conventional jus ad bellum doctrine. Further, the commission made important findings with respect to the law on self-defense, specifically that: (1) a State may not use armed force to seize disputed territory peacefully occupied by another State; (2) a State may not use armed force in response to geographically-limited clashes between patrols along an unmarked and disputed border; and (3) a State may not use armed force solely in reaction to another State’s declaration that it will act in self-defense. Finally, the commission analyzed the conditions under which reparation should be provided for a violation of the jus ad bellum, advancing a proximate cause standard as well as other standards when calculating compensation for various categories of harm.The most limiting feature of the claims commission’s findings ultimately may be their parsimony; it is not easy to ascertain from the awards the scope and nature of the evidence upon which the commission’s conclusions were based, which in turn may cause difficulties for future tribunals that attempt to rely upon those conclusions with respect to entirely different fact patterns and evidentiary foundations.
Responsive filtration membranes by polymer self-assembly

Membrane technologies are essential for water treatment, bioprocessing and chemical manufacturing. Stimuli-responsive membranes respond to changes in feed conditions (e.g., temperature, pH) or external stimuli (e.g., magnetic field, light) with a change in performance parameters (permeability, selectivity). This enables new functionalities such as tunable performance, self-cleaning and smart-valve behavior. Polymer self-assembly is a crucial tool for manufacturing such membranes using scalable methods, enabling easier commercialization. This review surveys approaches to impart stimuli responsive behavior to membrane filters using polymer self-assembly.
Primetime for Learning Genes.

Learning genes in mature neurons are uniquely suited to respond rapidly to specific environmental stimuli. Expression of individual learning genes, therefore, requires regulatory mechanisms that have the flexibility to respond with transcriptional activation or repression to select appropriate physiological and behavioral responses. Among the mechanisms that equip genes to respond adaptively are bivalent domains. These are specific histone modifications localized to gene promoters that are characteristic of both gene activation and repression, and have been studied primarily for developmental genes in embryonic stem cells. In this review, studies of the epigenetic regulation of learning genes in neurons, particularly the brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene (BDNF), by methylation/demethylation and chromatin modifications in the context of learning and memory will be highlighted. Because of the unique function of learning genes in the mature brain, it is proposed that bivalent domains are a characteristic feature of the chromatin landscape surrounding their promoters. This allows them to be “poised” for rapid response to activate or repress gene expression depending on environmental stimuli.
High-Quality Diets Associate With Reduced Risk of Colorectal Cancer: Analyses of Diet Quality Indexes in the Multiethnic Cohort.

Background & Aims Healthy eating patterns assessed by diet quality indexes (DQIs) have been related to lower risk of colorectal cancer—mostly among whites. We investigated the associations between 4 DQI scores (the Healthy Eating Index 2010 [HEI-2010], the Alternative Healthy Eating Index 2010 [AHEI-2010], the alternate Mediterranean diet score [aMED], and the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension score) and colorectal cancer risk in the Multiethnic Cohort. Methods We analyzed data from 190,949 African American, Native Hawaiian, Japanese American, Latino, and white individuals, 45 to 75 years old, who entered the Multiethnic Cohort study from 1993 through 1996. During an average 16 years of follow-up, 4770 invasive colorectal cancer cases were identified. Results Scores from all 4 DQIs associated inversely with colorectal cancer risk; higher scores associated with decreasing colorectal cancer risk (all P 's for trend ≤ .003). Associations were not significant for AHEI-2010 and aMED scores in women after adjustment for covariates: for the highest vs lowest quintiles, the hazard ratio for the HEI-2010 score in men was 0.69 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59–0.80) and in women was 0.82 (95% CI, 0.70–0.96); for the AHEI-2010 score the hazard ratio in men was 0.75 (95% CI, 0.65–0.85) and in women was 0.90 (95% CI, 0.78–1.04); for the aMED score the hazard ratio in men was 0.84 (95% CI, 0.73–0.97) and in women was 0.96 (95% CI, 0.82–1.13); for the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension score the hazard ratio in men was 0.75 (95% CI, 0.66–0.86) and in women was 0.86 (95% CI, 0.75–1.00). Associations were limited to the left colon and rectum for all indexes. The inverse associations were less strong in African American individuals than in the other 4 racial/ethnic groups. Conclusions Based on an analysis of data from the Multiethnic Cohort Study, high-quality diets are associated with a lower risk of colorectal cancer in most racial/ethnic subgroups.
Localization behavior at bound Bi complex states in GaAs1−xBix

While bismuth-related states are known to localize carriers in $\mathrm{GaA}{\mathrm{s}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}\mathrm{B}{\mathrm{i}}_{x}$ alloys, the localization behavior of distinct Bi pair, triplet, and cluster states bound above the valence band is less well understood. We probe localization at three different Bi complex states in dilute $\mathrm{GaA}{\mathrm{s}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}\mathrm{B}{\mathrm{i}}_{x}$ alloys using magnetophotoluminescence and time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy. The mass of electrons Coulomb-bound to holes trapped at Bi pair states is found to increase relative to the average electron mass in the alloy. This increase is attributed to enhanced local compressive strain in the immediate vicinity of the pairs. The dependence of energy transfer between these states on composition is also explored.
Abstract B24: Molecular and functional dissection of the CIC-DUX4 fusion in undifferentiated round cell sarcoma

CIC-DUX4 soft-tissue tumors are an aggressive subset of undifferentiated round cell sarcomas that arise in children and young adults. The cytogenetic hallmark, (t(4;19) or t(10;19)), of this tumor is a chromosomal translocation that fuses the transcription factor, Capicua (CIC), with the double homeobox 4 protein, DUX4. Despite morphologic similarities to Ewing sarcoma, CIC-DUX4 sarcomas are clinically distinct with rapid development of lethal metastatic disease and chemoinsensitivity. The unique cytogenetic and clinical features that distinguish CIC-DUX4 sarcomas from other small round cell tumors provide a unique opportunity to identify and rationally target this population to improve clinical outcomes. To meet this need, we are taking a systematic functional approach to identify critical CIC-DUX4 targets that promote tumor progression and metastasis. Leveraging a comparative transcriptional analysis between cytogenetically distinct small round cell sarcomas, we reveal that the CIC-DUX4 fusion activates highly conserved molecular networks to control tumor growth and metastatic capacity. Using an orthotopic soft-tissue sarcoma model, we show that CIC-DUX4 induces ETV4 expression to drive invasion and metastasis. Genetic silencing of ETV4 in CIC-DUX4 expressing tumors limits tumor dissemination without a profound impact on tumor cell growth. These findings suggest that CIC-DUX4 enhances metastasis and tumor growth through distinct transcriptional repertoires. Consistent with this, we identify multiple components of the cell cycle machinery that are transcriptionally regulated by CIC-DUX4 expression. Specifically, the CIC-DUX4 fusion co-opts native CIC-binding specificity to transcriptionally activate these cell cycle target genes. Altogether, our molecular and functional dissection of the CIC-DUX4 fusion reveals highly conserved CIC-regulated transcriptional targets that promote tumor growth and metastasis. We aim to pharmacologically exploit these key CIC-DUX4-dependent transcriptional nodes to improve outcomes for this population with few therapeutic options. Citation Format: Ross A. Okimoto, Wei Wu, Trever G. Bivona. Molecular and functional dissection of the CIC-DUX4 fusion in undifferentiated round cell sarcoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Conference on Advances in Sarcomas: From Basic Science to Clinical Translation; May 16-19, 2017; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2018;24(2_Suppl):Abstract nr B24.
Structural Separation and Access Pricing in the Railways Sector: Sauce for the Goose Only?

The freight railways sector has three attributes that have proved problematic for recent experiments with vertical separation: a) a relatively high share of network costs in total delivered service costs, b) an apparent persistence of economies of scale at the "competitive" train operations level, and, perhaps most important, c) strong economies of vertical integration that are focused on the interface point of wheel and rail - i.e., exactly where vertical separation takes place. The third factor in particular seems a clear illustration of the rationales discussed by Coase and Williamson for the broad vertical scope of a single firm and the disadvantages of relying on market transactions under certain conditions.
Descriptions and uniqueness

Critique de la theorie des descriptions definies chez Russell. Proposant une nouvelle these semantique et pragmatique fondee sur la notion de quantification existentielle, l'A. refute l'approche quantificationnelle pure de Russell a partir de l'argument de l'unicite.
Temperament and Audiences of Alexandria

With Alexandria firmly settled and its educational institutions established for Greek young men, ethnic problems were certain to develop. And they did, not only because of different national loyalties of the people, nor their cultural differences, but because of the general character of those who irrespective of family background became “Alexandrians.”
Swap Faces in an Image

The project was completed by the FAU student Connor as part of the Introduction to Image and Video Processing class at Florida Atlantic University taught in Spring 2018.
Socialist Republic of Vietnam Case Study

This chapter introduces the Vietnamese case study. It provides a list of features in the South China Sea that Vietnam currently controls and explains the relevance of the South China Sea to Vietnam. Sino-Vietnamese disputes are assessed to provide context for the Vietnams’ policy choices. In particular, it focuses on Sino-Vietnamese clashes in the South China Sea since the 1970s and how these events have galvanized the military modernization of the Vietnamese People’s Army. The chapter provides an overview of the modernization program and the key acquisitions made, revealing that Vietnam’s military capability outstrip that of the Philippine’s but still lags behind that of China’s. It concludes by providing an account of Japan–Vietnam relations and how mutual threat assessment in the South China Sea have prompted a deepening of economic and military cooperation between the two.
N-Acetyl-L-cysteine Protects Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells from Oxidative Damage: Implications for Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) involves the loss of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and photoreceptors and is one of the leading causes of blindness in the elderly. Oxidative damage to proteins, lipids, and DNA has been associated with RPE dysfunction and AMD. In this study, we evaluated oxidative stress in AMD and the efficacy of antioxidant, N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), in protecting RPE from oxidative damage. To test this idea, primary cultures of RPE from human donors with AMD (n = 32) or without AMD (No AMD, n = 21) were examined for expression of NADPH oxidase (NOX) genes, a source of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Additionally, the cells were pretreated with NAC for 2 hours and then treated with either hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) or tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP) to induce cellular oxidation. Twenty-four hours after treatment, ROS production, cell survival, the content of glutathione (GSH) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and cellular bioenergetics were measured. We found increased expression of p22phox, a NOX regulator, in AMD cells compared to No AMD cells (p = 0.02). In both AMD and No AMD cells, NAC pretreatment reduced t-BHP-induced ROS production and protected from H2O2-induced cell death and ATP depletion. In the absence of oxidation, NAC treatment improved mitochondrial function in both groups (p < 0.01). Conversely, the protective response exhibited by NAC was disease-dependent for some parameters. In the absence of oxidation, NAC significantly reduced ROS production (p < 0.001) and increased GSH content (p = 0.02) only in RPE from AMD donors. Additionally, NAC-mediated protection from H2O2-induced GSH depletion (p = 0.04) and mitochondrial dysfunction (p < 0.05) was more pronounced in AMD cells compared with No AMD cells. These results demonstrate the therapeutic benefit of NAC by mitigating oxidative damage in RPE. Additionally, the favorable outcomes observed for AMD RPE support NAC's relevance and the potential therapeutic value in treating AMD.
Use of Surgery for Post-Prostatectomy Incontinence.

Purpose:Stress urinary incontinence following radical prostatectomy is common and potentially debilitating. Surgical therapy with a urethral sling or an artificial urinary sphincter is an effective...
The Role of Cricopharyngeal Myotomy After Anterior Cervical Decompression and Fusion Operations.

Background Anterior cervical spine surgeries have low morbidity, sufficient surgical corridor, and quick recovery times. Although largely considered a safe and effective procedure to address cervical myelopathy, radiculopathy, and deformity, dysphagia is a frequent yet poorly understood adverse event. One treatment is cricopharyngeal myotomy (CPM), which aids in swallowing for patients with refractory issues after anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF). Case Description Here we describe our experience with 6 patients requiring revision ACDF with preoperative dysphagia who were treated with concurrent revision and CPM. Our series demonstrated that CPM is an effective and safe procedure used in combination with an ACDF. In our series, we had 6 patients with dysphagia preoperatively who were all able to undergo ACDF without worsening of their dysphagia despite having risk factors predisposing them to this complication. In our series, 83% of patients either improved or experienced resolution of their symptoms with only 1 patient failing to improve. Conclusions Given its efficacy and safety, patients planned for ACDF with preoperative dysphagia should be evaluated by ENT for potential CPM.
Translating claims‐based CHA2DS2‐VaSc and HAS‐BLED to ICD‐10‐CM: Impacts of mapping strategies

Purpose The CHA2 DS2 -VaSc and HAS-BLED risk scores are commonly used in the studies of oral anticoagulants (OACs). The best ways to map these scores to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) codes is unclear, as is how they perform in various types of OAC users. We aimed to assess the distributions of CHA2 DS2 -VaSc and HAS-BLED scores and C-statistics for outcome prediction in the ICD-10-CM era using different mapping strategies. Methods We compared the distributions of CHA2 DS2 -VaSc and HAS-BLED scores from various mapping strategies in atrial fibrillation patients before, during, and after ICD-10-CM transition. We estimated the C-statistics predicting the 90-day risk of hospitalized stroke (for CHA2 DS2 -VaSc) or hospitalized bleeding (for HAS-BLED) in patients identified at least 6 months after the ICD-10-CM transition, overall and by anticoagulant type. Results Forward-backward mapping produced higher CHA2 DS2 -VaSc and HAS-BLED scores in the ICD-10-CM era compared to the ICD-9-CM era: the mean difference was 0.074 (95% confidence interval 0.064-0.085) for CHA2 DS2 -VaSc and 0.055 (0.048-0.062) for HAS-BLED. Both scores had higher C-statistics in patients taking no OACs (0.697 [0.677-0.717] for CHA2 DS2 -VaSc; 0.719 [0.702-0.737] for HAS-BLED) or direct OACs (0.695 [0.654-0.735] for CHA2 DS2 -VaSc; 0.700 [0.673-0.728] for HAS-BLED) than those taking warfarin (0.655 [0.613-0.697] for CHA2 DS2 -VaSc; 0.663 [0.6320.695] for HAS-BLED). Conclusions Existing mapping strategies generally preserved the distributions of CHA2 DS2 -VaSc and HAS-BLED scores after ICD-10-CM transition. Both scores performed better in patients on no OACs or direct OACs than patients on warfarin.
Work-in-Progress: Understanding the Effect of Kernel Scheduling on GPU Energy Consumption

General-purpose graphics processing units (GPUs) made available on embedded platforms have gained much interest in real-time cyber-physical systems. Despite the fact that GPUs generally outperform CPUs on many compute-intensive tasks in a multitasking environment, higher power consumption remains a challenging problem. This paper presents our study on the energy consumption characteristics of an NVIDIA AGX Xavier GPU, the latest commercially available embedded hardware, under different concurrency levels and kernel scheduling orders. Our findings pave the way for designing an energy efficient scheduler for GPUs with real-time guarantees.
Chapter 55 – Pointing Devices

Publisher Summary There is risk in drawing generalizations about the optimality of a specific input device for a given task or environment based on the empirical research presented in this chapter. The chapter focuses upon input devices that designate locations and movements in two-dimensional space, including touch screen devices, light pens, graphic tablets, mice, trackballs, and joysticks. These devices are all reasonably well suited to pointing or selection among items on a display as well as to the input of graphical information. The chapter begins by considering human factors considerations affecting the design and selection of different pointing devices. Comparative human performance and preference data are then presented to aid in the selection of an appropriate device for a particular application. Brief descriptions of the technologies underlying each device type are also provided in the chapter.
Residues within the Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus 3D pol Nuclear Localization Signal Affect Polymerase Fidelity

Many RNA viruses encode a proof-reading deficient, low-fidelity RNA-dependent polymerase (RdRp), which generates genetically diverse populations that can adapt to changing environments and thwart antiviral therapies. 3Dpol, the RdRp of the foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV), is responsible for replication of viral genomes. The 3Dpol N terminus encodes a nuclear localization signal (NLS) sequence,MRKTKLAPT, important for import of the protein to host nucleus. Previous studies showed that substitutions at residues 18 and 20 of the NLS are defective in proper incorporation of nucleotides and RNA binding. Here, we use a systematic alanine scanning mutagenesis approach to understand the role of individual residues of the NLS in nuclear localization and nucleotide incorporation activities of 3Dpol We identify two residues of 3Dpol NLS, T19 and L21, that are important for the maintenance of enzyme fidelity. The 3Dpol NLS alanine substitutions of T19 and L21 results in aberrant incorporation of nucleoside analogs, conferring a low fidelity phenotype of the enzyme. A molecular dynamics simulation of RNA- and mutagen (RTP)-bound 3Dpol revealed that the T19 residue participates in a hydrogen bond network, including D165 in motif F and R416 at the C terminus of the FMDV 3Dpol and RNA template-primer. Based on these findings and previous studies, we conclude that at least the first six residues of theMRKTKLAPT sequence motif play a vital role in the maintenance of faithful RNA synthesis activity (fidelity) of FMDV 3Dpol, suggesting that the role of the NLS motif in similar viral polymerases needs to be revisited.IMPORTANCE In this study, we employed genetic and molecular dynamics approaches to analyze the role of individual amino acids of the FMDV 3Dpol nuclear localization signal (NLS). The NLS residues were mutated to alanine using a type A full-genome cDNA clone, and the virus progeny was analyzed for defects in growth and in competition with the parental virus. We identified two mutants in 3Dpol, T19A and L21A, that exhibited high rate of mutation, were sensitive to nucleotide analogs, and displayed reduced replicative fitness compared to the parental virus. Using molecular dynamics simulation, we demonstrated that residues T19 and L21 played a role in the structural configuration of the interaction network at the 3Dpol palm subdomain. Cumulatively, our data suggest that the T19 and L21 3Dpol amino acids are important for maintaining the fidelity of the FMDV polymerase and ensuring faithful replication of the FMDV genome.
Racial and ethnic differences in alcohol-, opioid-, and co-use-related deaths in Washington State from 2011 to 2017.

Abstract Background Few studies exist examining alcohol and opioid co-use mortality rates among racially and ethnically diverse communities, presenting a critical gap in understanding the contribution of alcohol on opioid-related deaths and strategies for prevention. The purpose of the study was to assess whether alcohol and opioid-related deaths differ by race/ethnicity subgroups and if there has been an increase in alcohol and opioid-related deaths between 2011 and 2017. Design Secondary data analysis of publicly available alcohol and opioid mortality data among non-Hispanic Whites, Black, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Alaska Native individuals in Washington State. Measurements The primary outcomes were alcohol-only, opioid-only, and alcohol-opioid co-use mortality, 2011–2017. Alcohol and/or opioid-related deaths were assigned an International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10) code for the underlying or multiple cause of death. Findings Between 2011 and 2017, alcohol-only mortality rates increased among non-Hispanic White (P = 0.003) and Hispanic individuals (P = 0.008). Opioid-only mortality rates increased among American Indian/Alaska Native (P = 0.004) and Hispanic individuals (P = Conclusions Although the opioid epidemic has been characterized as a public health crisis that predominantly impacts non-Hispanic White individuals, racial and ethnic minorities are increasingly impacted by fatal and non-fatal overdose related to co-occurring substance use. Our findings using data from Washington State, align with existing data and signal a dire need to address alcohol and opioid misuse through targeted interventions to prevent overdose and poisoning, with special considerations for American Indian/Alaska Native communities.
Surgical Patient Experience with a Novel Telemedicine Program in the COVID-19 Era

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, measures were taken to decrease viral spread by transitioning health care appointments to virtual mediums. This study evaluates the use of telemedicine within the Divisions of Colon and Rectal Surgery and Otolaryngology-Neurotology at a single academic institution during the COVID-19 pandemic. Study Design: An online survey modeled after the TeleENT Satisfaction Questionnaire and the Medical Communication Competence Scale (MCCS) was administered to gauge patient’s experience with Electronic Medical Record-based telemedicine visits. Results: Participants noticed several advantages of telemedicine visits over traditional in-office visits: shorter visits, saving money, and avoiding potential exposure during the pandemic. A total of 36% at least somewhat agreed that the quality of care was hindered by the lack of a physical examination;61.7% participants at least somewhat agreed that they prefer a face-to-face visit rather than telemedicine consultation. Most patients were satisfied with the care they received via telemedicine (Likert 6.19/7) and 95.8% would use telemedicine again. Participants self-reported an average saving of $108.70 when using telemedicine. When comparing the telemedicine cohort with the in-office control, the telemedicine patients noticed an improved ability to communicate with their physician in five out of eight domains of the MCCS. Conclusion: Surgical preoperative consultation, postoperative follow-up, and routine visits were conducted via telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic, representing a new direction for surgical appointments and consultations. This study shows that telehealth can provide satisfactory care and increases access to surgical care for patients when external factors prevent the traditional physician–patient interaction. With better-perceived communication via telemedicine appointments, patients may subjectively feel that they can express their symptoms and gather information from the doctor regarding their diagnosis more efficiently.