cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dose-Response of Lymphocytes to Purified, Protein-Free Phytohemagglutinin: Lack of Metabolic Inhibition with Increasing Concentrations

SummaryAn essentially protein-free preparation of PHA prepared by the method of Goldberg et al. from Phaseolus vulgaris was tested for its ability to stimulate RNA-and DNA-synthesis in lymphocytes. It was noted that there is an increase in RNA- and DNA-synthesis with an increase of the dose of PHA until a plateau is reached. Even increasing the amount of PHA by many-fold does not lead to a decrease in RNA- and DNA-synthesis, which is in contrast to the properties of previously described protein-containing preparations of PHA. It is concluded that the depression of metabolic activity by more than optimal doses of protein-containing PHA preparations is due to toxic contaminants and not due to the RNA- and DNA-synthesis-stimulating principles themselves.
Single/multiple phase change problems with/without fluid convection influences

Relevant mathematical model formulations and finite element developments for the modeling and simulation of single/multiple phase change situations influenced with or without convection effects are described. The notion of enthalpy is first introduced, and both the temperature field and the enthalpy field variables are interpolated upon in the formulations presented. The governing thermal transport equations for the transient flow/thermal behavior with phase change then follow. To effectively distinguish the solid and liquid regions, the viscosity in the freezing or the mushy zone is given special treatment. Illustrative applications are then examined for the influence of heat conduction effects in melting/freezing with multiple phase fronts, the freezing process of aluminum in a rectangular enclosure when influenced by convection effects, and the freezing/melting process of aluminum in a rectangular cavity with multiple phase fronts as influenced by convection effects. The results of these test examples show interesting behavior for the thermal behavior and the phase front interactions. (AIAA).
A CABLE-ACTUATED ROBOTIC LUMBAR SPINE FOR PALPATORY TRAINING OF MEDICAL STUDENTS

This paper presents the kinematic and pseudostatic analyses of a fully cable-actuated robotic lumbar spine (RLS) which can mimic in vivo human lumbar spine movements to provide better hands-on training for medical students. The design incorporates five active lumbar vertebrae between the first lumbar vertebra and the sacrum, with dimensions of an average adult human spine. Medical schools can benefit from a tool, system, or method that will help instructors train students and assess their tactile proficiency throughout their education. The robotic lumbar spine has the potential to satisfy these needs in palpatory diagnosis. Medical students will be given the opportunity to examine their own patient that can be programmed with many dysfunctions related to the lumbar spine before they start their professional lives as doctors. The robotic lumbar spine can be used to teach and test medical students in their capacity to be able to recognize normal and abnormal movement patterns of the human lumbar spine under flexion-extension and lateral bending. This project focus is on palpation, but the spine robot could also benefit surgery training/planning and other related biomedical applications.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: On an exponential curve of progress

The last 50 years have witnessed major progress in our understanding of the underlying nature of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and approaches to care. During the last 10 years, however, there has been an explosive expansion of knowledge related to this disorder. Large-scale epidemiologic studies show that COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States and will be the fifth leading health burden worldwide by the year 2020. We have also learned that COPD is an inflammatory disorder of small airways, which presents new opportunities for therapy involving interfering with the early components of the inflammatory cascade. Unfortunately, most clinicians fail to perform spirometric screening of at-risk individuals, so most patients first present with COPD during a sudden exacerbation of the disease. Worldwide interest is emerging in promoting earlier diagnosis and finding new pharmacologic interventions to halt the progression of airway and parenchymal damage. In this review, evidence is presented that we are on the upward limb of an exponential curve of progress in managing COPD, which will produce major advances in our ability to recognize and treat this disorder in its earliest stages.
5.36 – Dorsal Columns and Visceral Pain

This chapter reviews evidence that the dorsal column contains a visceral pain pathway. Clinical evidence is from the results of a variety of neurosurgical procedures to relieve visceral pain, including anterolateral cordotomy, commissural myelotomy, stereotactic C1 central myelotomy, and limited midline myelotomy. Experimental studies have shown that there are several visceral nociceptive pathways in the spinal cord, including the spinothalamic and spinoreticular tracts. However, a component of the postsynaptic dorsal column pathway appears to be the most significant. It has been known since the early 1950s that visceral information is conveyed by the dorsal column, but it was not evident until recently that this included nociceptive visceral signals. Studies have now shown that nociceptive visceral responses recorded from neurons of the rat and monkey ventral posterior lateral thalamic nucleus or of the rat dorsal column nuclei can be blocked by a lesion of the dorsal column. Similarly, behavioral responses of rats to noxious visceral stimuli are also prevented by such lesions, as are changes in regional cerebral blood flow in monkeys, as measured by fMRI. Evidence that postsynaptic dorsal column neurons conduct this visceral nociceptive information includes the observation that intrathecal or microdialysis administration of morphine or of a non-N-methyl-d-aspartic acid glutamate receptor antagonist into the spinal cord interferes with the responses of thalamic neurons to noxious visceral stimuli. The projections of the postsynaptic dorsal column neurons in the sacral spinal cord ascend near the midline of the dorsal column, as predicted from the clinical results. However, the axons of postsynaptic dorsal column neurons in the mid-thoracic spinal cord ascend near the dorsal intermediate septum. This means that although midline lesions of the dorsal column can relieve pelvic visceral pain, lesions designed to eliminate pain from abdominal organs would have to be placed more laterally in the rostral spinal cord or near the dorsal root entry zone at thoracic levels. Further evidence that noxious visceral stimuli have a powerful effect on postsynaptic dorsal column neurons includes the observation that colon inflammation results in the up-regulation of neurokinin-1 receptors in these neurons, which normally lack such receptors, and that distention of the ureter results in Fos expression in many postsynaptic dorsal column neurons, as well as in spinothalamic cells.
Leukocyte-borne α(1,3)-fucose is a negative regulator of β2-integrin-dependent recruitment in lung inflammation

Leukocyte recruitment in inflammation is a multistep, sequential cascade where the initial step is the selectin-dependent tethering, followed by the formation of firmer integrin-mediated adhesive forces leading to extravasation. The α(1,3)-fucose-containing sialyl-Lewis X (sLeX) is the archetypical ligand on leukocyte surfaces mediating selectin interactions. Canonically, disruption of α(1,3)-fucose formation ablates selectin-mediated adhesion, dramatically reducing trafficking. We report a paradoxical response to α(1,3)-fucose deficiency in which the loss exacerbated rather than attenuated leukocyte recruitment in a murine model of acute airway inflammation. The architecture of the capillary-dominated vasculature in the lung minimized the importance of the selectin dependent step, and we observed that α(1,3)-fucose deficiency augmented CXCR2-mediated Rap1-GTP signaling to enhance the β2-integrin-ICAM-1-binding axis. The data disclose a previously unknown function for α(1,3)-fucose, in which this structure negatively regulates the integrin activation step in leukocyte recruitment.
Gastrointestinal digestion and absorption of lipid.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses gastrointestinal digestion and lipid absorption. It also discusses the various experimental models proposed to study the various aspects of the complex processes involved in the absorption and transport of dietary lipids. The chapter presents the role of microtubules. The importance of microtubules and microfilaments in intestinal lipid absorption has been based on ultrastructural studies and drug studies utilizing agents that are known to interfere with microtubular function. Ultrastructural studies have repeatedly demonstrated the presence of microtubules and microfilaments in the proximity of intracellular structures assumed to be important in the formation of chylomicrons. One theory proposed is that the microtubular system may direct secretory vesicles to specific recognition sites on the cell membrane. The other evidence for the role of microtubules in lipid absorption has been derived from investigations using either colchicine or vincristine, two known inhibitors of microtubular assembly.
Product Integration and Merger Success

We examine the importance of firm integration to outcomes of mergers and acquisitions using new ex ante product-based measures of firm integration. Our framework allows us to measure ex ante integration risk for both observed acquisitions and proposed acquisitions that might not materialize. As validation, our ex ante measures predict post-merger 10-K statements by managers indicating difficulties with acquisition integration, and specific complaints about technological and product-based difficulties. Our central finding is that acquirers facing high ex ante product integration risk experience lower ex post sales growth, R&D, capital expenditures, announcement returns and long-term stock returns. The results are consistent with mergers where the acquirer is not well integrated having subsequent problems with R&D and future growth.
A New 3D Printing Strategy by Harnessing Deformation, Instability, and Fracture of Viscoelastic Inks

Direct ink writing (DIW) has demonstrated great potential as a multimaterial multifunctional fabrication method in areas as diverse as electronics, structural materials, tissue engineering, and soft robotics. During DIW, viscoelastic inks are extruded out of a 3D printer's nozzle as printed fibers, which are deposited into patterns when the nozzle moves. Hence, the resolution of printed fibers is commonly limited by the nozzle's diameter, and the printed pattern is limited by the motion paths. These limits have severely hampered innovations and applications of DIW 3D printing. Here, a new strategy to exceed the limits of DIW 3D printing by harnessing deformation, instability, and fracture of viscoelastic inks is reported. It is shown that a single nozzle can print fibers with resolution much finer than the nozzle diameter by stretching the extruded ink, and print various thickened or curved patterns with straight nozzle motions by accumulating the ink. A quantitative phase diagram is constructed to rationally select parameters for the new strategy. Further, applications including structures with tunable stiffening, 3D structures with gradient and programmable swelling properties, all printed with a single nozzle are demonstrated. The current work demonstrates that the mechanics of inks plays a critical role in developing 3D printing technology.
The Kolmogorov Theory

Chapter 1 summarized some basic results in fluid mechanics, and Chapter 2 presented Fourier analysis tools for describing turbulence. We have not yet dealt with the physics of turbulence. We begin to do this in this chapter, by presenting a version of Kolmogorov’s qualitative theory, pointing out both its importance and its vagueness, and laying the groundwork for the developments in later chapters.
A q-Factor-Based Digital Image Correlation Algorithm (qDIC) for Resolving Finite Deformations with Degenerate Speckle Patterns

Digital image correlation (DIC) has become a widely utilized non-contact, full-field displacement measurement technique for obtaining accurate material kinematics. Despite the significant advances made to date, high resolution reconstruction of finite deformations for images with intrinsically low quality speckle patterns or poor signal-to-noise content has not been fully addressed. In particular, large image distortions imposed by materials undergoing finite deformations create significant challenges for most classical DIC approaches. To address this issue, this paper describes a new open source DIC algorithm (qDIC) that incorporates cross-correlation quality factors (q-factors), which are specifically designed to assess the quality of the reconstructed displacement estimate during the motion reconstruction process. A q-factor provides a robust assessment of the uniqueness and sharpness of the cross-correlation peak, and thus a quantitative estimate of the subset-based displacement measure per given image subset and level of applied deformation. We show that the incorporation of energy- and entropy-based q-factor metrics leads to substantially improved displacement predictions, lower noise floor, and reduced decorrelation even at significant levels of image distortion or poor speckle quality. Furthermore, we show that q-factors can be utilized as a quantitative metric for constructing a hybrid incremental-cumulative displacement correlation scheme for accurately resolving very large homogeneous and inhomogeneous deformations, even in the presence of significant image data loss.
A comparison of respirable crystalline silica concentration measurements using a direct-on-filter Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) transmission method vs. a traditional laboratory X-ray diffraction method

AbstractEvaluation and control of respirable crystalline silica (RCS) exposures are critical components of an effective mine industrial hygiene program. To provide more timely exposure data in the field, an end-of-shift Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrometry method has been developed for evaluation of direct-on-filter RCS. The present study aimed to apply this FT-IR method using field samples collected in three Northwestern U.S. metal/nonmetal mines and compare the results to traditional laboratory X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD). Seventy-five dust samples were analyzed using both methods. Samples for each mine were split in half by random assignment, with half used to create a calibration factor for the FT-IR analysis and half used to apply the calibration. Nonparametric correlational and two-sample comparative tests were used to assess the strength of association and the level of agreement between the two methods. Strong, positive correlations were observed between FT-IR and XRD RCS concentrat...
ICWA and the Commerce Clause

Congress enacted the Indian Child Welfare Act, it said, in accordance with its authority under the Indian Commerce Clause and because it has assumed responsibility over Indian affairs. But under the line of cases developed by the Rehnquist Court, the Court takes a very dim view of Congressional authority under the Commerce Clause, while resurrecting the Tenth Amendment from its stasis as a "truism." At least one Justice asserts that there is nothing in the Constitution that authorizes Congress to assume authority over Indian affairs to the exclusion of the Executive branch or the states. This paper argues that, despite the Court's recent Commerce Clause jurisprudence, Congress had sufficient authority to enact the Indian Child Welfare Act. The intent of the paper is to present the strongest case for the constitutionality of the Indian Child Welfare Act as a matter of the original understanding of the Indian Commerce Clause.
Stilbestrol Antibodies in Prostatic Cancer

From the beginning of my urological residency I can recall Dr. Scott’s aversion to the routine maintenance of patients with prostatic carcinoma on diethylstilbestrol without specific indications. Subsequent studies by the Veterans Administration Cooperative Study Group have verified his earlier conclusions. This study suggests one additional possible difficulty that may be encountered in long-term diethylstilbestrol therapy.
Cellular Immunology in Multiple Sclerosis Response to Several Viruses

In the past few years a number of studies have been conducted on possible altered immune responses to viruses in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Several groups, including our own, have found slightly increased measles antibody levels in MS patients (1, 2). Recently, altered cellular immune responses to measles have been reported (5). Other studies have suggested the association of measles and an unidentified agent with MS (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8).
Nature of Angiogenic Factor

It is generally accepted that directional growth occurs from a region where a chemical substance is in low concentration toward a zone containing this substance in high concentration. In 1893, Loeb (477) first postulated that some trophic chemical might be responsible for vascularization in general. In 1907 Goldman (298) provided the first clear suggestion that neoplasms produced an angiogenic agent, when he noted that neovascularization could easily be traced to regions in which the tumor had not yet advanced and he stated that “the impetus which gives rise to the proliferation of blood vessels emanates from the invading cell”. That an angiogenic substance might be liberated by nonperfused or ischemic retina was proposed by Michaelson in 1948 (534). Using hamster cheek pouches Greenblatt and Shubik (320) provided convincing evidence that tumors produce a diffusible angiogenic factor in 1968.
Nonlinear Dynamics of Natural Hazards

In this paper we consider the nonlinear dynamics of several natural hazards and related models. We will focus our attention on earthquakes, landslides, and forest fires. These are clearly complex phenomena but they exhibit self organization. A consequence of this self organization is scaling laws. We will consider frequency-magnitude statistics and recurrence-time statistics. The frequency-magnitude distributions are power-law and we give a cascade model of cluster coalescence to explain this behavior. The return-time distributions are well approximated by the Weibull distribution. An important characteristic of the Weibull distribution is that it is the only distribution that has a power-law hazard function.
XPC, a novel lung tumor suppressor gene

5254 Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among American men and women. One of the most frequent cytogenetic alterations in lung cancer, which occurs early in lung tumorigenesis, is allelic loss on chromosome 3p. Although several potential tumor suppressor genes have been identified in this region, critical genes with etiological roles in lung tumorigenesis remain elusive. We have identified the DNA repair gene XPC at 3p25 as a candidate tumor suppressor in lung tumorigenesis. Deletion of XPC leads to spontaneous, late-onset lung tumors in 100% of mice, while a single allele is haploinsufficient to prevent lung tumors. Mice lacking both or a single XPC allele accumulate more lung mutations than wt mice implicating diminished DNA repair capacity as an etiological factor in lung tumorigenesis in these mice. Allelic loss of XPC occurs in up to 100% of small cell lung cancer and at a high frequency in non-small cell lung cancer. We propose that allelic loss of XPC in the lung leads to a mutator phenotype that, coupled with carcinogens such as those found in cigarette smoke, results in lung tumorigenesis.
Gaia Theory and the Anthropocene: Radical Contingency in the Posthuman Future

Good readings of the Gaia hypothesis of James Lovelock understand the theory as positing multiple, interlocking Earth systems, characterized by rapidly-changing feedback loops, in a way that is harmonious both with Darwinian evolution and contemporary climate science. The dawning of the geologic epoch of the Anthropocene offers little comfort for those who would like to preserve a providential role for human beings in the unfolding of planetary systems. The climate crisis and its attendant catastrophes demonstrate that human beings cannot control themselves, much less the Earth systems on which they depend. The Gaia hypothesis, properly understood, provides an insight into the shock of radical contingency, the realization that the Earth and life can go along perfectly well without human beings. The Gaia hypothesis provides a good framework for seeing the place of humanity at the dawn of the Anthropocene, a decentering of the human even as humanity alters every Earth system and biome. Keywords: Latour; Lovelock; Gaia hypothesis; Posthumanism; Plastics; Systems theory
Co-Assembly of 40S and 60S Ribosomal Proteins in Early Steps of Eukaryotic Ribosome Assembly

In eukaryotes three of the four ribosomal RNA (rRNA) molecules are transcribed as a long precursor that is processed into mature rRNAs concurrently with the assembly of ribosomal subunits. However, the relative timing of association of ribosomal proteins with the ribosomal precursor particles and the cleavage of the precursor rRNA into the subunit-specific moieties is not known. To address this question, we searched for ribosomal precursors containing components from both subunits. Particles containing specific ribosomal proteins were targeted by inducing synthesis of epitope-tagged ribosomal proteins followed by pull-down with antibodies targeting the tagged protein. By identifying other ribosomal proteins and internal rRNA transcribed spacers (ITS1 and ITS2) in the immuno-purified ribosomal particles, we showed that eS7/S7 and uL4/L4 bind to nascent ribosomes prior to the separation of 40S and 60S specific segments, while uS4/S9, uL22, and eL13/L13 are bound after, or simultaneously with, the separation. Thus, the incorporation of ribosomal proteins from the two subunits begins as a co-assembly with a single rRNA molecule, but is finished as an assembly onto separate precursors for the two subunits.
Scrambler therapy for chemotherapy neuropathy: a randomized phase II pilot trial

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a prominent clinical problem, with limited effective therapies. Preliminary non-randomized clinical trial data support that Scrambler Therapy is helpful in this situation. Patients were eligible if they had CIPN symptoms for at least 3 months and CIPN-related tingling or pain at least 4/10 in severity during the week prior to registration. They were randomized to receive Scrambler Therapy versus transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for 2 weeks. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) were utilized to measure efficacy and toxicity daily for 2 weeks during therapy and then weekly for 8 additional weeks. This study accrued 50 patients, 25 to each of the 2 study arms; 46 patients were evaluable. There were twice as many Scrambler-treated patients who had at least a 50% documented improvement during the 2 treatment weeks, from their baseline pain, tingling, and numbness scores, when compared with the TENS-treated patients (from 36 to 56% compared with 16–28% for each symptom). Global Impression of Change scores for “neuropathy symptoms,” pain, and quality of life were similarly improved during the treatment weeks. Patients in the Scrambler group were more likely than those in the TENS group to recommend their treatment to other patients, during both the 2-week treatment period and the 8-week follow-up period (p < 0.0001). Minimal toxicity was observed. The results from this pilot trial were positive, supporting the conduct of further investigations regarding the use of Scrambler Therapy for treating CIPN.
An Omega(n^2) Lower Bound for Random Universal Sets for Planar Graphs.

A set $U\subseteq \reals^2$ is $n$-universal if all $n$-vertex planar graphs have a planar straight-line embedding into $U$. We prove that if $Q \subseteq \reals^2$ consists of points chosen randomly and uniformly from the unit square then $Q$ must have cardinality $\Omega(n^2)$ in order to be $n$-universal with high probability. This shows that the probabilistic method, at least in its basic form, cannot be used to establish an $o(n^2)$ upper bound on universal sets.
Comparison of Surgeon Assessment to Frailty Measurement in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair

Abstract Background Endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) allows us to intervene on patients otherwise considered poor candidates for open repair. Despite its importance in determining operative approach, no comparison has been made between the subjective “eyeball test” and an objective measurement of preoperative frailty for EVAR patients. Materials and methods Patients undergoing elective EVAR were identified in the Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI) database (2003-2017). Patients were classified “unfit” based on a surgeon-reported variable. Frailty was defined using the VQI-derived Risk Analysis Index, which includes sex, age, BMI, renal failure, congestive heart failure, dyspnea, preoperative ambulation, and functional status. The association between fitness and/or frailty and adverse outcomes was determined by logistic regression. Results A total of 11,694 patients undergoing elective EVAR were included of which only 18.1% were “unfit,” whereas 34.6% were “frail” and overall 43.6% “unfit or frail.” Patients deemed “unfit” or “frail” had significantly increased odds of mortality, complications, and nonhome discharge (P Conclusions Preoperative frailty assessment provides a useful objective measure of risk stratification as an adjunct to a physician's clinical intuition. The addition of frailty expands the pool of high-risk patients who are more likely to experience adverse postoperative events after elective EVAR and may benefit from uniquely tailored perioperative interventions.
Discussion of “Experiences with big data: Accounts from a data scientist’s perspective”

Kulachi, Frumosu, Khan, Rensch and Sponner have initiated an important discussion about the implications of Big Data on production analytics within Industry 4.0. Throughout their discussion, the au...
Performance and Limitations of Real-Time Hybrid Simulation with Nonlinear Computational Substructures

Hybrid simulation (HS) and real-time HS (RTHS) are widely used experimental techniques to evaluate the seismic performance of structural components and full systems. The goal of this study is to investigate the performance and limitations of RTHS when the computational model involves complex and highly nonlinear behavior, mainly due to both stiffness and strength deterioration. To establish the case of deploying such heavily nonlinear models, a RTHS methodology is presented to study the effect of using braces for seismic retrofitting of older steel moment resisting frames (MRFs). The objective of this paper is two-fold. First, assess the performance and identify limitations of integration algorithms for RTHS with heavily nonlinear models. Second, demonstrate the feasibility of HS/RTHS testing for selecting the best seismic retrofitting strategies. A comprehensive analytical study of different MRFs models is presented to study the performance of different integration algorithms available in OpenSees. Selected MRF model is modified to conduct a series of nonlinear RTHS tests using a compact HS test setup at the University of Nevada, Rene. The performance of two implicit and explicit integration algorithms is assessed for RTHS, and the quality of HS results from RTHS and slow HS tests are compared. Moreover, a demonstration of how HS could be used for assessing best seismic retrofitting strategies based on realistic nonlinear models is presented.
Hypothesis of responsibility and reparation in disputes between individuals and states before the control bodies established by the human rights treaties.

The purpose of this work is to identify the main hypotheses of states responsibility in connection with organizations activities, adopting the perspective of system protection established by the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) on which the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) supervises. The results to which the ECtHR has come have been extensively examined in the relevant literature. Therefore, after having reconstructed the main liability hypotheses emerged in the ECtHR jurisprudence and the critical points connected to them (section I), we will investigate new arguments to ascribe responsibility to member states on the basis of different titles, not yet explored or otherwise not still consolidated in ECtHR jurisprudence.
Surgical Outcomes for Upper Lumbar Disc Herniations: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Study Design:Systematic review and meta-analysis.Objective:To conduct a literature review on outcomes of discectomy for upper lumbar disc herniations (ULDH), estimate pooled rates of satisfactory o...
Implications of Frailty among Men with Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators.

OBJECTIVES Frailty is associated with adverse outcomes, but little is known of the impact of frailty on patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs). This study sought to determine the prevalence of frailty, based on quantitative assessment, and assessed its potential impact on outcomes among community-dwelling men with ICDs. METHODS A total of 124 ICD-treated men presenting for a routine device clinic appointment between May and October 2016 underwent frailty assessment consisting of three components: shrinking (weight loss ≥5% during the past year), weakness (inability to rise from a chair without using their arms), and self-reported poor energy level. Patients who had no components were considered robust, those with 1 component were intermediate stage, and those with ≥2 components were deemed frail. RESULTS Mean age was 70.4 (±9.7) years. Of the 124 men, 31 (25%) were considered to be frail, 65 (52%) were intermediate, and 28 (23%) were robust. Frail men were older and were more likely to have symptomatic heart failure, chronic kidney disease, and hypertension (P < 0.05 for all) compared with nonfrail men. During a follow-up of 16 months, frail men were significantly more likely to die compared with nonfrail men (29% vs 5.4%, P < 0.0003). The incidence of appropriate ICD shocks (16.1% vs 6.5%) or hospitalizations (38.7% vs 23.7%) tended to be higher among frail versus nonfrail patients, but neither reached statistical significance (P = 0.10). CONCLUSIONS Almost one-fourth of men with ICD are frail. Almost one-third of frail ICD patients died within 16 months. It may be useful to assess frailty in patients with ICD.
Clinical Reasoning: A 6-Year-Old Boy With Muscle Twitching

A 6-year-old biracial (Black and White) boy presented with worsening muscle twitching and stiffness. He had normal birth and development. His family noticed muscle twitching involving his thighs when he was 3 years old. Over the next 3 years, twitching spread to involve shoulders, chest, lower back, arms, and lower legs. The patient would feel muscle twitching underneath his skin and at times, these could be visible. His symptoms were worse with cold exposure. Recently, he started experiencing difficulties with fine motor activities such as writing, holding pencils, tying shoelaces, and buttoning. The patient denied myalgia, weakness, rhabdomyolysis, and paresthesias. Medical history includes well-controlled asthma, allergic rhinitis, right hydrocelectomy, and a small bowel intussusception. Family history was unremarkable. Neurologic examination revealed increased appendicular muscle tone, fasciculations involving upper and lower extremities, anterior chest, and paraspinal muscles, mild difficulty releasing hand grip, nasal dysarthria, and bilateral tight heel cords. Sensory examination, reflexes, and gait including heel and toe walking were normal.
Deep Search for Decaying Dark Matter with XMM-Newton Blank-Sky Observations

Sterile neutrinos with masses in the keV range are well-motivated extensions to the Standard Model that could explain the observed neutrino masses while also making up the dark matter (DM) of the universe. If sterile neutrinos are DM then they may slowly decay into active neutrinos and photons, giving rise to the possibility of their detection through narrow spectral features in astrophysical x-ray data sets. In this Letter, we perform the most sensitive search to date for this and other decaying DM scenarios across the mass range from 5 to 16 keV using archival XMM-Newton data. We reduce 547 Ms of data from both the MOS and PN instruments using observations taken across the full sky and then use this data to search for evidence of DM decay in the ambient halo of the Milky Way. We determine the instrumental and astrophysical baselines with data taken far away from the Galactic Center, and use Gaussian process modeling to capture additional continuum background contributions. No evidence is found for unassociated x-ray lines, leading us to produce the strongest constraints to date on decaying DM in this mass range.
Cooperative Collision Avoidance Control of Servo/IPMC Driven Robotic Fish With Back-Relaxation Effect

In this letter, a collision avoidance control strategy is developed for a robotic fish that is propelled by a two-joint fishtail, comprising a servo motor and an ionic polymer-metal composite (IPMC), which are used as solid and soft actuators, respectively. In this dual-actuator system, the forward motion of the fish is controlled by the servo motor, which generates a flapping motion at its first joint, and the turning motion of the fish is controlled by bending the IPMC at its second joint. When a constant voltage is applied to the IPMC, the robotic fish is observed to demonstrate a short-term turning characteristic, and this is attributed to the back-relaxation phenomenon inherent in the IPMC. In order to capture this unique characteristic, a data-driven approach is adopted to model the fish's lateral acceleration response when subjected to an IPMC voltage input. Experimental tests, including bending tests on an individual IPMC slice and turning tests on the robotic fish (with the servo/IPMC tail), are conducted to collect sufficient data to identify a transfer function that relates the voltage applied to the IPMC with the lateral acceleration response of the fish. This transfer function is then integrated with a collision avoidance control law (based on the collision cone concept) to determine the IPMC voltages for a pair of robotic fish to avoid collisions. Experiments are performed to validate the collision avoidance control law.
ConQuer-92 - The revised report on the conceptual query language LISA-D.

In this report the conceptual query language ConQuer-92 is introduced. This query language serves as the backbone of InfoAssistant's query facilities. Furthermore, this language can also be used for the specification of derivation rules (e.g. subtype defining rules) and textual constraints in InfoModeler. This report is solely concerned with a formal definition, and the explanation thereof, of ConQuer-92. The implementation of ConQuer-92 in SQL-92 will be treated in a separate report.
Improving contemporary outcomes following heart transplantation for cardiac amyloidosis.

BACKGROUND The incidence of systemic amyloidosis is rising, and there is a concomitant rise in heart transplant for an indication of cardiac amyloidosis. METHODS We utilized the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) database to retrospectively assess survival and outcomes in adult patients undergoing heart transplant for cardiac amyloidosis from 1999 to 2019. We also compared survival among four distinct time periods: 1999-2001, 2002-2008, 2008-2015, 2016-2019. RESULTS Of 41,103 patients, 425 (1.03%) were transplanted for an indication of restrictive cardiomyopathy due to cardiac amyloidosis (RCM-Amyloidosis). The percent of all transplants occurring for RCM-Amyloidosis increased from 0.25% in the 1999-2001 era to 1.74% in the 2015-2019 era (p < .001). Across eras, Kaplan-Meier survival functions were comparable between RCM-Amyloidosis and non-RCM patients at 1 year (88% vs. 89%, p = .56) and at 5 years (72% vs. 77%, p = .092), but worse for RCM-Amyloidosis patients at 10 years (44% vs. 59%, p = .002). With adjustment for other clinical variables in multivariable Cox regression model, RCM-Amyloidosis was not associated with increased risk of death at 1 year (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.11, p = .56) or at 5 years (HR = 1.20, p = .18), but it was associated with increased risk of death at 10 years (HR = 1.35, p = .01). Cardiac amyloidosis was not associated with any morbidity outcomes following transplant, including graft failure, acute rejection, or hospitalization for infection or rejection. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest a trend of improving survival among RCM-Amyloidosis patients compared with non-RCM patients across transplant eras, with current similarities in 1- and 5-year survival but a persistent, increased risk of mortality at 10 years.
Modeling extreme climatic events using the generalized extreme value (GEV) distribution

Abstract Extreme climatic events (ECEs) are increasing in frequency, intensity, and/or duration due to climate change. These large deviations from average environmental conditions have strong impacts on ecosystems, exposing organisms to more severe conditions for longer periods of time than previously seen before. Many ECEs are well described by the generalized extreme value (GEV) distribution. The GEV has a long history as an accurate model across disciplines, including hydrology, finance, civil engineering, and climate science. Although the GEV is often used by climate scientists to characterize ECEs, such as hurricanes and floods, it is rarely included in ecological models. Furthermore, climate scientists typically model ECEs on large spatial scales (≫105 km2) whereas ecologically relevant spatial scales are often much smaller (e.g.,
Type of recurrence is associated with disease-free survival after salvage surgery for locally recurrent rectal cancer.

To compare the characteristics and outcomes of rectal cancer patients with local recurrence at a perianastomotic site (PA), a surgical field (SF) site, or in lateral lymph nodes (LLN). A total of 114 consecutive patients who underwent surgery for recurrent, non-metastatic rectal cancer at a single comprehensive cancer center between 1997 and 2012 were grouped on the basis of radiographic assessment of type of recurrence: PA, 76 (67%) patients; SF, 25 (22%) patients; LLN, 13 (11%) patients. Demographic, clinical, and pathological features were compared between the three groups, as were disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Recurrence type was associated with positive circumferential margin in the primary resection (PA, 4 [6%]; SF, 4 [19%]; LLN, 3 [25%]; P = 0.027), prior neoadjuvant therapy for the primary tumor (PA, 57 [75%]; SF, 18 [72%]; LLN, 4 [31%]; P = 0.007), and location of the primary tumor in the upper rectum (PA, 33 [45%]; SF, 5 [23%]; LLN, 1 [8%]; P < 0.001). Patients with PA had longer median DFS (PA, 5.1 years; SF, 1.5 years; LLN, 1.2 years; P = 0.036). There was a non-significant trend toward longer OS and higher rates of R0 resection for PA. Type of recurrence after salvage surgery for locally recurrent rectal cancer is associated with longer DFS in patients with PA recurrence.
MARITIME EXTENSIONS OF TRANS-ALASKA PIPELINE

Recently intensified interest in extracting oil from the North Slope of Alaska has brought into sharp focus possible environmental threats. Coincidental with plans to transport 2,000,000 barrels of oil per day by pipeline south to the port of Valdez has been a new national policy to examine potential environmental impacts. Such assessment must take into account the marine segment of oil transportation and distribution from Valdez by tankers of perhaps 250,000 tons displacement. Because of massive oils spills, and possible resulting harm to wildlife, fishing, and recreational resources, emphasis has been placed on prevention by increased Coast Guard authority, marine traffic control, radar surveillance, better inter-ship communication, stiffer ship design requirement of maneuverability, compartmentalization and double bottoms and skins, and increased monitoring of port operations.
Perceived Affordances of a Technology-Enhanced Active Learning Classroom in Promoting Collaborative Problem Solving

A mixed-method study, consisting of multiple case studies and a quantitative study, was conducted to explore both instructors’ and students’ perceptions of and experiences with technologies in a technology-enhanced Active Learning Classroom (ALC). The ALC was designed to promote students’ collaborative problem solving. A total of 92 students and five instructors from four classes at a southwestern university in the United States participated in the research. The data sources consisted of class observations, interviews, and surveys. The study showed that some instructors used the ALC technology to its full potential while others used it minimally. It was also found that students’ confidence in completing problem-solving tasks increased over time. While both students and instructors agreed upon many benefits of ALCs for learning and instruction, technology use actually depended on the perceived purpose, needs, and meaningfulness of the instructors, which also somewhat depended on the specific content and context of the courses.
Nanoparticle encapsulation and controlled release of a hydrophobic kinase inhibitor: Three stage mathematical modeling and parametric analysis

A mathematical model of drug release that incorporates the simultaneous contributions of initial burst, nanoparticle degradation-relaxation and diffusion was developed and used to effectively describe the release of a kinase inhibitor and anticancer drug, PHT-427. The encapsulation of this drug into PLGA nanoparticles was performed by following the single emulsion-solvent evaporation technique and the release was determined in phosphate buffer pH 7.4 at 37 °C. The size of nanoparticles was obtained in a range of 162-254 nm. The experimental release profiles showed three well defined phases: an initial fast drug release, followed by a nanoparticle degradation-relaxation slower release and then a diffusion release phase. The effects of the controlled release most relevant parameters such as drug diffusivity, initial burst constant, nanoparticle degradation-relaxation constant, and the time to achieve a maximum rate of drug release were evaluated by a parametrical analysis. The theoretical release studies were corroborated experimentally by evaluating the cytotoxicity effectiveness of the inhibitor AKT/PDK1 loaded nanoparticles over BxPC-3 pancreatic cancer cells in vitro. These studies show that the encapsulated inhibitor AKT/PDK1 in the nanoparticles is more accessible and thus more effective when compared with the drug alone, indicating their potential use in chemotherapeutic applications.
Radovan Karadžič: Architect of the Bosnian Genocide

1. Youth of hardship, lands of lore 2. Sacrificial founder 3. Naive nationalist 4. Milosevic's willing disciple 5. The autumn of Radovan's rage 6. Visionary planner 7. Euroskeptic 8. Imperious Serb unifier 9. Triumphant conspirator 10. Strategic multitasker 11. Callous perpetrator 12. Duplicitous diplomat 13. Host in solitude 14. Architect of genocide 15. Falling star 16. Resourceful fugitive 17. Radovan Karadzic and the Bosnian War.
Profitability Through Product Expansion: Does It Work In The Real Estate Brokerage Industry?

This paper examines the economics of product expansion in the real estate brokerage industry. A two-stage model is developed to examine the effects of product expansion on the profitability of thes...
Estimating Preferences Toward Risk: Evidence from Dow Jones

What do investor utility functions look like? We show how returns on a stock and prices of call options written on that stock can be used jointly to recover utility of wealth function of the marginal investor in the stock. We study whether non-standard preferences have an impact sufficiently large that it is present in the stock prices. Using options on the stocks in the Dow Jones Index, we show support for non-concave utility functions with reference points proposed by Kahneman and Tversky, Friedman and Savage, and Markowitz. The evidence for Kahneman and Tversky Prospect Theory value function, and Friedman and Savage and Markowitz utility functions is much stronger than the support for the standard concave utility function. Together the utility functions with convex regions and with reference points account for 80% of the market capitalization of the sample stocks. This is the first study to report findings of these utility functions using the prices of individual stocks (nonexperimental data). We also investigate a closely related question of whether different assets reflect different risk preferences. We find evidence showing that different stocks reflect different types of investor utility function.
OFFER: A Broker-Centered Object Framework For Electronic Requisitioning

Procurement is one of the most important business functions. Especially in highly mechanized mass-production industries, the proportion of income dollars spent on purchasing is relatively high. Distributed object systems provide a key to building interoperable applications that can execute on a range of platforms. We propose a CORBA-based object framework called OFFER, focused on electronic procurement and business-to-business commerce. This paper discusses the design and implementation of the electronic broker in OFFER. Key functionality of the broker is the ability to search in underlying electronic catalogs and the ability to use auction mechanisms to buy or sell goods.
Determination of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons in seafood by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

Modification of a previously published method for determination of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) produces very clean seafood extracts in less than half the time. After alkaline digestion of the seafood, PAHs were partitioned into 1,2,3-trichlorotrifluoroethane. The resulting extract was cleaned up by solid-phase extraction on alumina, silica, and C{sub 18} adsorbents and then analyzed by gradient reversed-phase liquid chromatography with programmable fluorescence detection. Average recoveries of 12 PAHs [acenaphthene, anthracene, fluoranthene, pyrene, benz(a)anthracene, chrysene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(k)-fluoranthene, benzo(k)-fluoranthene, benzo(a)pyrene, dibenz(a,h)anthracene, benzo(ghi)perylene, and indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene] from 5 different matrixes (mussels, oysters, clams, crabmeat, and salmon)spiked at low parts-per-billion levels ranged from 76 to 94%. Estimated limits of quantitation ranged from 0.01 to 0.6 ppb PAHs in extracts that were free of matrix interferences. Results of analyses of a mussels standard reference material obtained from the National Institute of Standards and Technology were in good agreement with the certified values. 16 refs., 3 figs., 4 tabs.
Promoting Multi-methods Research: Linking Anthropometric Methods to Migration Studies

The experience of migration includes costs and benefits to migrants and sending communities. In the tradition of a “letters” type discussion, this paper presents a synthesis of recent work from a longitudinal study from Zambia, Africa that used a mixed-methods approach to investigate the experience and outcomes of migration among the Gwembe Tonga. In this ethnographic study, we argue that including anthropometric methods in migration studies enhances our ability to empirically assess impacts of mobility to better understand the experience of migration. In this particular African context we see, on average, a beneficial outcome for migrants’ nutritional status, and livelihoods.