cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Aspiration thrombectomy for removal of coronary thrombus.

Abstract Intracoronary thrombus is usually present in acute myocardial infarction and often in unstable angina.1 At angioplasty, the presence of residual thrombus places the patient at increased risk for complications,2,3 especially total occlusion. Heparin, aspirin and thrombolytic agents have been used to reduce the risk of occlusion, but with mixed results. We describe the use of suction aspiration to remove thrombus from a coronary stenosis before percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA).
Baryogenesis below the electroweak scale

We propose a new alternative for baryogenesis which resolves a number of the problems associated with grand unified theory (GUT) and electroweak scenarios, and which may allow baryogenesis even in modest extensions of the standard model. If the Universe never reheats above the electroweak scale following inflation, GUT baryon production does not occur, and at the same time thermal sphalerons, gravitinos, and monopoles are not produced in abundance. Nevertheless, nonthermal production of sphaleron configurations via preheating could generate the observed baryon asymmetry of the Universe.
Linear probit models: Statistical properties and improved estimation methods

Abstract The multinomial probit model is a statistical tool that is well suited to analyze some transportation problems. Modal split, gap acceptance, and route choice are some examples of application contexts. This paper presents an in-depth analysis of its statistical properties and an estimation method for the trinomial case. In the statistical part of the paper it is shown that for multinomial probit models with specifications that are linear in the parameters, the global maximum of the log-likelihood function is consistent if the data do not exhibit multicollinearity as defined in the text. For the special case with three alternatives, lack of multicollinearity is also shown to guarantee asymptotic efficiency and normality, and the uniqueness of any root of the likelihood equations. In addition, it is also shown that for the trinomial probit model certain goodness-of-it measures and test statistics can be easily calculated. The methods part of the paper introduces an estimation process that solves the likelihood equations using a special purpose table of the bivariate normal distribution and analytical derivatives of the log-likelihood function. The method is very accurate, can be applied to nonlinear specifications, and is considerably faster than current computer programs. For linear specifications, the method can be mathematically proven to converge if the log-likelihood equations have a root.
The HLA antigens in Indian Hindus.

This study reports the phenotype frequencies (PF) and gene frequencies (GF) of 72 different HLA-A, -B, -C, and -DR antigens in Indian Hindus, thus substantially extending the data previously reported for Asian Indians (Singal 1972, Bale et al. 1980, Hammond & Asmal 1980). The two-locus haplotypes demonstrating significant linkage disequilibrium (Δ) among the Hindus have also been identified.
Fast lock scheme for phase-locked loops

This paper describes a fast lock scheme for phaselocked loops (PLLs). The proposed scheme utilizes mostly digital logic and control to achieve significant reduction in PLL lock acquisition time, which enables dynamic power cycling for various sub-systems on SOC designs. Multiple Self-Bias PLLs having fast lock schemes were designed to operate at VCO frequencies from 1.6GHz to 5GHz, and fabricated using 65nm CMOS process. Silicon measurements indicate up to 75% reduction in worst-case PLL lock times over the device operating conditions.
Learning About the "Real World" in an Urban Arts Youth Program

To make the transition to adulthood, youth must learn to function in the complex and unpredictable “real world” of adult life. This is an intensive case study of an urban arts program that sought to provide youth with experiences that prepared them for the real world of arts careers. We conducted 75 interviews with 12 youth and their adult leader over three cycles of engagement with the real world. Analyses suggest that participants experienced a developmental process that entailed experiences of dissonance and challenge followed by active adaptive learning. The adult leaders played a critical role in supporting this developmental process through balancing to maintain an approximate fit between the challenges youth experienced and their abilities to respond to these challenges.
Super-pseudo-orthogonal space-time trellis codes

In this paper, we propose super-pseudo-orthogonal space-time trellis codes. Compared with super-orthogonal space-time trellis codes, the proposed codes provide lower decoding complexity, lower peak-to-average power ratio and better performance. Furthermore, unlike super-quasi-orthogonal space-time trellis codes, it is easy to implement a differential modulation scheme based on the proposed codes when the channel state information is not available at the transmitter and the receiver. Simulation results demonstrate the good performance of our codes
Measurement of potassium-potassium spin relaxation cross sections

The K-K spin relaxation rate has been measured in an optically pumped K vapor cell. The K-K spin relaxation cross section is determined to be 1.0 x lo-” cm’, which is about a factor of two less than a previous measurement.
Influence of chemical annealing on electronic properties of a-(Si, Ge)

Hydrogenated amorphous Silicon-Germanium alloy [a-(Si, Ge):H]remains an important material with applications for solar cells and detectors. In this paper, we show that the properties of the materials and devices can be significantly improved by using chemical annealing, or layer-by-layer growth, where one grows a thin layer followed by controlled hydrogen ion bombardment, and then repeats the process. The properties measured include H bonding, photo-conductivity, electron and hole mobility-lifetime products and p-i-n solar cell device properties. We also measured the stability of solar cells subjected to light soaking and find significant improvements in stability for chemically annealed devices compared to devices produced using normal, continuous growth. The improvement in stability and electronic properties is ascribed to an improved hydrogen microstructure produced in the material due to chemical annealing as indicated by an examination of the infrared absorption in the films.
Glial Development and Function in the Nervous System of Caenorhabditis elegans

The nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans, has served as a fruitful setting for understanding conserved biological processes. The past decade has seen the rise of this model organism as an important tool for uncovering the mysteries of the glial cell, which partners with neurons to generate a functioning nervous system in all animals. C. elegans affords unparalleled single-cell resolution in vivo in examining glia-neuron interactions, and similarities between C. elegans and vertebrate glia suggest that lessons learned from this nematode are likely to have general implications. Here, I summarize what has been gleaned over the past decade since C. elegans glia research became a concerted area of focus. Studies have revealed that glia are essential elements of a functioning C. elegans nervous system and play key roles in its development. Importantly, glial influence on neuronal function appears to be dynamic. Key questions for the field to address in the near- and long-term have emerged, and these are discussed within.
Insights into the mating habits of the tiger salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum tigrinum) as revealed by genetic parentage analyses.

Among urodeles, ambystomatid salamanders are particularly amenable to genetic parentage analyses because they are explosive aggregate breeders that typically have large progeny arrays. Such analyses can lead to direct inferences about otherwise cryptic aspects of salamander natural history, including the rate of multiple mating, individual reproductive success, and the spatial distribution of clutches. In 2002, we collected eastern tiger salamander ( Ambystoma tigrinum tigrinum ) egg masses (> 1000 embryos) from a ~80 m linear transect in Indiana, USA. Embryos were genotyped at four variable microsatellite loci and the resulting progeny array data were used to reconstruct multilocus genotypes of the parental dams and sires for each egg mass. UPGMA analysis of genetic distances among embryos resolved four instances of egg mass admixture, where two or more females had oviposited at exactly the same site resulting in the mixing of independent cohorts. In total, 41 discrete egg masses were available for parentage analyses. Twenty-three egg masses (56%) consisted exclusively of full-siblings (i.e. were singly sired) and 18 (44%) were multiply sired (mean 2.6 males/ clutch). Parentage could be genetically assigned to one of 17 distinct parent pairs involving at least 15 females and 14 different males. Reproductive skew was evident among males who sired multiply sired clutches. Additional evidence of the effects of sexual selection on male reproductive success was apparent via significant positive correlations between male mating and reproductive success. Females frequently partitioned their clutches into multiple discrete egg masses that were separated from one another by as many as 43 m. Collectively, these data provide the first direct evidence for polygynandry in a wild population of tiger salamanders.
Chronic Progressive Cardiac Dysfunction Years After Doxorubicin Therapy for Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Purpose Cross-sectional studies show that cardiac abnormalities are common in long-term survivors of doxorubicin-treated childhood malignancies. Longitudinal data, however, are rare. Methods Serial echocardiograms (N = 499) were obtained from 115 doxorubicin-treated long-term survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (median age at diagnosis, 4.8 years; median follow-up after completion of doxorubicin, 11.8 years). Results were expressed as z scores to indicate the number of standard deviations (SDs) above (+) or below (−) the normal predicted value. Median individual and cumulative doxorubicin doses were 30 mg/m2 per dose and 352 mg/m2, respectively. Results Left ventricular fractional shortening was significantly reduced after doxorubicin therapy, and the reduction was related to cumulative dose. z scores for fractional shortening transiently improved before falling to −2.76 more than 12 years after diagnosis. Reduced fractional shortening was related to impaired contractility and increasing a...
Classical trajectory-based approaches to solving the quantum Liouville equation

The time-dependent quantum mechanics of heavy particles moving on a single potential energy surface can often be represented surprisingly well by the evolution of classical trajectory ensembles. However, manifestly quantum mechanical phenomena—such as transitions between coupled electronic states, electronic coherence and its decay, or quantum mechanical tunneling—require fundamental modification of the purely classical motion. We introduced and developed an approach to this problem that is based on solving the quantum Liouville equation using ensembles of classical trajectories. In this article, we describe the general approach and its application to the problems of nonadiabatic dynamics, coherent multistate electronic–nuclear dynamics, and tunneling through potential barriers. When viewed from the trajectory ensemble perspective, quantum effects arise as a breakdown of the statistical independence of the trajectories in the ensemble and a nonlocal entanglement of their collective evolution. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2002
Optimal triple modular redundancy embeddings in the hypercube

To achieve reliability without sacrificing performance, the tasks of a computation are redundantly assigned to the processors of a hypercube multiprocessor. The computation is represented by a task interaction graph in which nodes represent tasks, and edge weights represent the amount of communication between tasks. To provide fault tolerance, each node in the graph is replaced by three nodes that act together as a triple modular redundancy (TMR) unit. We develop a formula to calculate the number of TMR units that can be supported in an n-dimensional hypercube, and a formula to calculate the distance between true TMR units. Then we give algorithms for TMR embeddings of weighted 1-level k-ary trees and unweighted rings in a hypercube. These algorithms minimize expansion, and are optimal in that they minimize dilation for a given expansion. >
INVERSE TECHNIQUE FOR VORTEX IMAGING AND ITS APPLICATION TO FEEDBACK FLOW CONTROL

A simple vortex imaging algorithm using a least square method is proposed for feedback ∞ow control. The position and the circulation of a vortex convected in a channel are identifled from the time history of pressure at a limited number of points on the wall. The capabilities of the algorithm are demonstrated using two-dimensional direct numerical simulations. A few observer points on one side of the wall are su‐cient to detect the position and the circulation of a compact vortex to a reasonable degree of accuracy. This inverse algorithm is introduced to feedback separation control for a difiuser ∞ow. The algorithm is modifled for a curved channel, and the so-called \estimator-corrector" and \fast algorithm" are applied to reduce the uncertainty of prediction with less computational time. The DNS results demonstrate that the feedback control using the inverse technique can enhance the robustness against unsteady disturbances and lessen stagnation pressure loss.
Proteoglycans regulate autophagy via outside-in signaling: an emerging new concept.

The importance of proteoglycans as regulators of key cellular processes such as angiogenesis, adhesion, and inflammation has long been appreciated. However, a new era appears to be dawning for the role of proteoglycans in the regulation of autophagy, a homeostatic mechanism whereby organelles and other cytoplasmic contents are degraded and recycled via lysosomal processing [1]. Depending on the context, autophagy has been regarded as either a cell-survival or cell-death pathway. For example, following starvation, a cell will undergo autophagy in order to break down cellular components for re-utilization, allowing the cell to survive under nutrient-poor conditions [2]. In contrast, when programmed cell death pathways are impaired, autophagy may substitute for apoptosis leading to cell death [3,4]. While basal autophagy is required for normal cell maintenance and contributes to standard cell signaling, aberrant autophagy has been implicated in a range of disease processes including diabetes, inflammation, and neurodegenerative disorders [5–8]. In the setting of cancer, the function of autophagy has been difficult to discern. Where some studies indicate that autophagy is beneficial for tumor cell survival [9,10], others suggest that the self-degradative process may prevent tumor growth during early stages of tumorigenesis by shielding healthy cells from damage due to protein aggregation and build-up of other by-products of metabolic turnover [5,11]. The complexity of this pathway lends itself to scrutiny in order to gain a better understanding of its regulation as well as its overall function in normal cell signaling and disease. Recent studies illustrate that select proteoglycans and other matrix constituents dynamically contribute to autophagic regulation [12–19]. In this commentary we will consider the noteworthy role of the following three matrix components in the regulation of the autophagic process: 1) The small leucine-rich proteoglycan, decorin, 2) The basement membrane heparan sulfate proteoglycan, perlecan, and 3) The C-terminal fragment of perlecan, endorepellin.
Applications of process improvement techniques to improve workflow in abdominal imaging

Major changes in the management and funding of healthcare are underway that will markedly change the way radiology studies will be reimbursed. The result will be the need to deliver radiology services in a highly efficient manner while maintaining quality. The science of process improvement provides a practical approach to improve the processes utilized in radiology. This article will address in a step-by-step manner how to implement process improvement techniques to improve workflow in abdominal imaging.
Anomalous electron-pair production in 17-GeV/ c π − p collisions

We have measured inclusive ${e}^{+}{e}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ production in 17-GeV/c ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}p$ collisions and find anomalously large cross sections for pair masses below 0.6 GeV/${\mathit{c}}^{2}$ and Feynman $xl0.5$. Charged particles and photons produced in association with ${e}^{+}{e}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ were measured. Decays of known resonances are not capable of explaining the effect. No excess of photons or charged particles associated with the anomalous pairs is detected. Implications of our results for various models and for direct single-electron and photon production are discussed.
Pathology of trophoblastic diseases

This paper furnishes a synoptic overview of the anatomic pathology of trophoblastic growths, with some reference to clinical implications. I will attempt to provide definitions and generalizations; however, the limitation of this approach is all too familiar. Definitions are constructed to cover the borderline case, but the borderline, as if by definition, escapes. For every generalization there are exceptions, and any pathologist who has assembled a large series of cases of a given disease entity is acutely aware of the exceptions he has encountered. Likewise, classifications are an artifact we superimpose on nature in an attempt to make order from experience and to rationalize it. It can be awkward, if not unfair, to shove the square peg of the biologic case into the round hole of man-made taxonomy.
State Health Department Web Sites: Rich Resources for Consumer Health Information

State health departments are a potential source of consumer health information, To assess the types and access points of consumer health information on state health department Weh sites, the author visited state public health sites to document the accessibility, subject matter, language, and format of selected materials for consumers. The ease of identifying consumer-oriented materials varied greatly among sites. The majority of state Weh sites included consumer information on immunisation (96%), environmental health (92%), smoking/tobacco control (84%), emergency preparedness (82%), diabetes (80%), HIV/ AIDS (75%), sexually transmitted diseases (73%), tuberculosis (67%), and newborn screening (63%), in addition to a wealth of other important health topics. Eighty-two percent of sites provided information in at least one language other than English. All sites had links to other health sites. Formats of hosted materials include brochures, fact sheets, and audiovisuals. State public health department Web sites are a rich, but somewhat complicated, resource of geographically specific and community-relevant health information.
Emerging Technologies with the Potential to Impact Safety in Defence

AbstractThis paper provides a summary of the findings of a short investigation conducted by Dstl horizon scanning science and technology specialists on new technologies with the potential to impact safety in Defence—weapons technology excluded. The investigation was carried out to inform MOD regulators and safety specialists on areas that may require new thinking, and perhaps regulation, in terms of safety and risk. The perspective of the analysis is military and not civil but in most cases the discussion also applies to the civil safety domain.
Laboratory Rearing of a Pine Cone Insect, Dioryctria abietella (D. & S.)

A satisfactory method for continuous rearing of Dioryctria abietella (D. & S.) has been developed. Larvae are maintained in petri dishes using paraffin-waxed, first-year pine cones as food. The duration of the life cycle was slightly over 1 month under summer conditions. Survival to the adult stage has ranged from 50% upward. In a 1-year period about 1,000 moths were reared, and 1,600 larvae developed to late instars before use in insecticide tests.
Aflatoxin formation in preharvest maize ears coinoculated with Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger

Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger commonly co-occur in preharvest maize and one report suggests that this association promotes a greater incidence of aflatoxin. Other studies have shown that Aspergillus niger can prevent, or substantially reduce, aflatoxin formation by Aspergillus flavus in autoclaved maize kernels, and this led us to examine the effect of A. niger on aflatoxin formation by A. flavus in preharvest maize where the bulk of aflatoxin accumulation occurs. Samples of kernels simultaneously wound-inoculated with equivalent numbers of A. flavus and A. niger conidia showed substantial aflatoxin contamination (mean = 9900 ppb) even though significantly more (P = .04) aflatoxin was produced in kernels wound-inoculated only with A. flavus (mean = 36,700). These same wounded kernels had a mean sample pH of 5.45 ± 0.44, well above substrate acidity levels (<pH 3.4) reported to prevent aflatoxin formation in autoclaved maize meal.
The Salvage Archaeology of a Zoned Bichrome Cemetery, Costa Rica

Salvage operations were carried out at an extensively pot-hunted Zoned Bichrome period (300 B.C. to A.D. 300) cemetery in northwestern Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica. This is the first "pure" Zoned Bichrome site of this type to be studied and yielded a cross-section of ceramics representative of other Late Formative sites in the area and of contact with the Maya lowlands. In addition, it solidified the impression of this period being an entity distinct from subsequent regional developments. This distinction is seen in terms of adaptation to the exploitation of marine mollusca, a pattern not present in Zoned Bichrome sites known at the present time, but very important in succeeding Polychrome periods.
Normal saline instillation before suctioning: helpful or harmful? A review of the literature

This research utilization paper reviews the body of published literature on the practice of normal saline instillation before endotracheal suctioning of mechanically ventilated adult patients. Although normal saline instillation before suctioning is a common clinical practice, the research literature does not demonstrate any physiologic benefit to this procedure. Moreover, normal saline instillation may decrease oxygen saturation values (via pulse oximetry) after suctioning. The relevant research studies have been inconsistent and inconclusive because of limitations in sample size and research methodology. Further research studies using larger, more diverse samples, adhering strictly to recommended guidelines for endotracheal suctioning, and examining additional physiologic parameters of oxygenation are necessary. In addition, long-term outcomes of normal saline instillation such as respiratory infection and complications, as well as atelectasis, should be evaluated. Until scientific data can be presented to support the physiologic benefit of this practice, normal saline instillation should be discontinued as a routine or standard practice.
A Study on Fishing in Tuticorin District

Fishing has been one of the oldest economic activities of human race. It comes next only to agriculture. Fish and other sea food constitute an enchantingly of a wholesome food provision. Millions of people all over the world have been profitably engaged in fishing and fish trading over the years. The main objective of the study has been to understand the socioeconomic background of fishermen, and their income, cost and quantity of catch of fish before and after tsunami inTharuvaikulam village. The study utilised both primary and secondary data. The study covered 150 fishermen families from Tharuvaikulam village chosen at random. The sample size was 15%. Percentage analysis, averages, chi square test and probability analysis were used. It may be concluded from the analysis that the average monthly income of the fishermen families was Rs. 3041.67 before Tsunami and after Tsunami it was Rs. 3380.95. The result of chi-square- test revealed that there is significant difference between monthly income of the fishermen before and after tsunami in Tharuvaikulam village of Tuticorin District. The present study concludes that the lack of awareness and viable alternative livelihood programmes are major hindrances to improving their socio-economic status and also threatens the sustainable use of the fishing resources.
Relationship between Thermal Conductivity and Graphitization Degree of a Chopped Carbon Fiber/Resin-derived Carbon Composite

The relationship between the thermal conductivity and graphitization degree of a chopped mesophase pitchderived carbon fiber / resinderived carbon composite was investigated by laser flash method and XRDA mathematical model was founded, which was interpreted by phonon heat conduction mechanism The results show that though the thermal conductivity λ in the direction parallel to the layer orientation is about six times of that in the direction vertical to the layer orientation,the value of the two increases with the increase of the graphitization degree g (and the stacking height of the crystallite ) of the composite, and their relations can be written into the following equations:respectively λ=5378+028exp(g/1375) and λ=495+094exp(g/2522) respectively
Standardized Myocardial Segmentation of the Left Ventricle

As with all cardiac imaging modalities, the assessment of regional left ventricular function with echocardiography is performed by artificially dividing the left ventricular myocardium into a number of segments. The segmentation of the left ventricle reflects coronary perfusion territories, results in segments with comparable myocardial mass, and allows standardized communication within echocardiography and with other imaging modalities [1].
Understanding depth-amplitude effects in assessment of GPR data from concrete bridge decks

Abstract The variation of concrete cover thickness on bridge decks has been observed to significantly affect the rebar reflection amplitude of the ground penetrating radar signal. Several depth correction approaches have been previously proposed in which it is assumed that, for any bridge, at least a portion of the deck area is sound concrete. The 90th percentile linear regression is a commonly used procedure to extract the depth-amplitude relationship of the assumed sound concrete. It is recommended herein that normalizing the depth-dependent amplitudes be divided into two components. The first component takes into account the geometric loss due to inverse-square effect and the dielectric loss caused by the dissipation of electromagnetic energy in sound concrete. The second component is the conductive loss as a result of increased free charges associated with concrete deterioration. Whereas the conventional depth correction techniques do not clearly differentiate the two components and tend to incorporate both in the regression line, they are separately addressed in this research. Specifically, while the first component was accounted for based on a library of GPR signals collected from sound areas of twenty four bare concrete bridge decks, the conductive loss caused by an increased conductivity is linearly normalized by the two-way travel time. The implementation of the proposed method in two case studies showed that, while the method significantly improves the accuracy of GPR data analysis, the conventional methods may lead to a loss of information regarding the background attenuation that would indicate the overall deterioration of bridge decks.
Precommitment Strategies for Disposition of Frozen Embryos

The question of whether to enforce agreements to implant frozen embryos after divorce has become a major legal and policy concern for the 300 clinics and thousands of couples who use infertility services every year. Although courts in New York and Tennessee support enforcement, recent decisions by appellate courts in Massachusetts and New Jersey have refused to enforce such agreements on the ground that courts should not force people to reproduce. This article analyzes conflicts over enforcement of agreements for disposition of frozen embryos in terms of the precommitment strategies which persons use to plan their lives, and the special problems for constitutional rights which precommitments pose. It shows that refusal to enforce contracts for frozen embryos impairs reproductive freedom, is unfair to the parties who relied on them in undertaking invasive infertility treatments, and is possibly unconstitutional. It also addresses the extent to which precommitments for rearing rights and duties in resulting children should be enforced, if agreements to implant embryos are recognized. In addressing these issues, it explores the extent to which constitutional doctrines of waiver implicate issues of precommitment.
A Stein-Type Two-Sample Procedure for Comparing Normal Means

AbstractIn this article, we propose a Stein-type two-sample procedure for comparing the means of k(> 1) experimental normal populations among themselves and with the reference to the mean of a controlled normal population, when the variances of all (k + 1) populations are unequal and unknown. Our selection formulation follows closely to that by Bechoffer and Turnbull (1978), who considered the comparison of k normal means with a specific nonrandom standard value, when the variances are either known or unknown and equal. Instead of comparing the k experimental populations to a nonrandom standard value, our comparison is made with reference to a random controlled normal population. Moreover, we broaden their assumption of equal unknown variances to unequal unknown variances. The proposed procedure satisfies two probability requirements: (1) the probability of selecting the control is at least prespecified when the largest experimental mean is significantly smaller than the mean of the control and (2) the pr...
Targeting CD38 in Refractory Extranodal Natural Killer Cell–T-Cell Lymphoma

Extranodal natural killer cell–T-cell lymphoma is a highly aggressive Epstein–Barr virus–related cancer. A woman with recurrent disease after many courses of therapy, including allogeneic hematopoietic-cell transplantation, had a complete response to anti-CD38 antibody.
The Uses of a Theory of Self

In this chapter, we will turn our attention to the contributions of a theory of self. The function of this chapter is to place our theory and our data on self in the larger framework of early social cognition. Just as the self has been divided into two aspects, so this chapter on the uses of self will be divided. First, the existential or subjective self and the role of the self-other differentiation in the social life of the child will be explored. This will include consideration of a sociobiological approach to development, the role of self in cognition, the self-other distinction, self and social relations, and empathy. Second, we shall explore the categorical or the objective self, paying particular attention to friendship and sex-role development.
The Rise of Crowdfunding for Medical Care: Promises and Perils

Crowdfunding is a financing method characterized by pooling together a large number of smaller contributions to support a specific initiative. The emergence of social media and numerous online platforms has allowed crowdfunding to flourish in popularity. Crowdfunding is an especially effective and popular tool in the realm of supporting charitable or ideological causes. Increasingly prevalent in this realm is crowdfunding for health care costs. Many top-earning campaigns on crowdfunding sites are medical in nature. These include campaigns to directly pay for an individual’s medical care as well as those intending to accelerate research on and access to experimental interventions. Sophisticated search tools allow potential donors to sort through campaigns based on specific diseases, age, location, or background of patients.
Teacher Evaluation Policy Tools: Principals’ Selective Use in Instructional Leadership

ABSTRACTThis longitudinal, qualitative study examined perspectives of principals as they implemented a dramatically changed teacher evaluation system. The concept of policy tools was used to analyze principals’ responses. Multiple policy components were legislated and intended to be equally adopted by schools. However, principals did not equally support or use all the tools to the same degree. They supported and extensively used the rubric for instructional leadership and supervision with teachers, and integrated instructional growth components into their leadership practices. Principals modified or minimally supported accountability policy tools likely to promote conflict or competition instead of collaboration and professional growth.
The Association Between Serum Mineral and Vitamin A and E Concentration and Respiratory Disease in Beef Calves Entering Backgrounding Lots

The objectives of this study were 1) to measure morbidity and mortality rates attributable to respiratory disease in beef calves originating from southwestern Utah, 2) to evaluate herd of origin vitamin/mineral serum concentration at backgrounding lot entry, and 3) to evaluate a potential association between serum concentrations of 29 minerals and vitamins A and E at backgrounding lot entry with respiratory disease in recently weaned beef calves. This was a prospective longitudinal study with matched case-control and cross-sectional studies nested within the main study design. Pen-specific morbidity rates attributable to respiratory disease ranged from 1.2% to 81.8%. Serum concentrations of vitamins A and E in calves sampled (n=224) from eight southern Utah ranches were commonly less than published low-normal values. In these data, there was no detectable association between serum vitamin A and E or mineral imbalances and respiratory disease. Herds that experience a high rate of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) should be evaluated for mineral and vitamin deficiencies and supplemented as needed. If not deficient, it should not be expected that supplementation would reduce the rate of BRD in the face of mismanagement.
Introduction: Problems of Stereology

Stereology is three-dimensional interpretation of flat images or extrapolation from two to three-dimensional space.
Intelligent Tutoring Systems for Continuous, Embedded Assessment

This chapter describes how intelligent tutoring systems (ITS) can be used for assessment. It begins by describing intelligent tutoring systems and distinguishing them from an older, more widely available technology. It argues that this newer technology has some intrinsic benefits as a tool for assessment. It then describes a particular type of assessment widely used in the ITS community. The assessment technique is based on a mathematically sound inference method, Bayesian belief networks. The basic technique, an adaptation of Knowledge Tracing (Corbett & Anderson, 1995), is described along with several recent extensions.
Practical computation theory

The Theory of Computation is considered essential for all CS undergraduates, yet most of the texts in common use are more suited for graduate-school-bound mathematics majors than today's typical CS student. This paper describes pedagogical techniques that motivate and simplify the presentation of undergraduate topics from the theory of computation.
‘Living Outloud’: Michelle Obama and Election 2016

This paper traces First Lady Michelle Obama’s activities on the campaign trail as she rallied for former First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton. It traces and explores her activism and visibility during the last six months of 2016 to examine how she expanded her role and questioned existing power relationships.
Forecasting seasonal influenza in the U.S.: A collaborative multi-year, multi-model assessment of forecast performance

Influenza infects an estimated 9 to 35 million individuals each year in the United States and is a contributing cause for between 12,000 and 56,000 deaths annually. Seasonal outbreaks of influenza are common in temperate regions of the world, with highest incidence typically occurring in colder and drier months of the year. Real-time forecasts of influenza transmission can inform public health response to outbreaks. We present the results of a multi-institution collaborative effort to standardize the collection and evaluation of forecasting models for influenza in the US for the 2010/2011 through 2016/2017 influenza seasons. For these seven seasons, we assembled weekly real-time forecasts of 7 targets of public health interest from 22 different models. We compared forecast accuracy of each model relative to a historical baseline seasonal average. Across all regions of the US, over half of the models showed consistently better performance than the historical baseline when forecasting incidence of influenza-like illness 1, 2 and 3 weeks ahead of available data and when forecasting the timing and magnitude of the seasonal peak. In some regions, delays in data reporting were strongly and negatively associated with forecast accuracy. More timely reporting and an improved overall accessibility to novel and traditional data sources are needed to improve forecasting accuracy and its integration with real-time public health decision-making.
Pathway Analyses of Kidney Transcriptome from inv/inv Mice Reveal Altered Cellular Processes and Sodium Ion Transport

Type II Nephronophthisis (NPHP2) is an auto somalrecessive disorder caused by mutations in the NPHP2 gene that encodes inversin protein. Homozygous inv/inv transgenic mice exhibit situsinversus, en...
Developing a predictive model for nanoimprint lithography using artificial neural networks

Abstract Nanoimprint lithography (NIL) is a high-throughput and cost-effective technique for fabricating nanoscale features. However, the fine tuning of NIL process parameters is critical in achieving defect-free imprints. Currently, there exists no unified material and process design guidelines to deal with the complex set of process parameters. In this research, an artificial neural network (ANN) algorithm was developed to predict the imprint quality based on a set of input factors collected from experiments and literature. The prediction accuracy was tested in two stages by the use of three ANN models - General Regression Neural Network (GRNN), Back Propagation Neural Network (BPNN), and Probabilistic Neural Network (PNN). Higher prediction accuracy was observed for GRNN in both stages (1st stage = 58.22% and 2nd stage = 92.37%). A significant increase in the prediction accuracy was observed in the second stage after including additional input factors and larger data set. The average prediction accuracies for GRNN, BPNN, and PNN in the second stage were reported as 92.37%, 84.79%, and 91.19%, respectively. The prediction of the GRNN model was validated with experimental results confirming the accurate classification of all the outputs. This research lays the foundation for the development of an expert system for nanoimprint lithography.
Sunlight induced aggregation of dissolved organic matter: Role of proteins in linking organic carbon and nitrogen cycling in seawater.

Abstract Organic matter export from the euphotic zone is a key component of oceanic carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycles. Although interactions between these two cycles are important, studies on geochemical processes to directly connect them are limited. Here we show that sunlight can induce chemical aggregation of dissolved organic matter (DOM) into high N containing photo-aggregates. The size of microgels in natural coastal seawaters increased by18~25% compared to corresponding dark controls. Within a relatively short time (1 h), the C and N sequestered into the photo-aggregates accounted for 10% and 13% of the bulk particulate C and N, respectively. The N/C ratio of the photo-aggregates was two times higher after sunlight irradiation. Furthermore, we show that the aggregation process was dependent on reactive oxygen species (ROS). To accommodate for the different organic material in the marine environment, we monitored the particle size in various extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and model biopolymers using flow cytometry, dynamic laser scattering, and scanning electron microscopy. We found that proteins play important roles in light-induced aggregation, which is in contrast to previous views that sunlight can break down DOM and interrupt aggregation. The photo-flocculation process involving organic N provides new insights into DOM assembly, bioavailability, and sedimentation, and thus potentially link the C and N cycles.
Assessing Fitness Costs and Phenotypic Instability of Fentin Hydroxide and Tebuconazole Resistance in Venturia effusa

Sensitivity monitoring of Venturia effusa, cause of pecan scab, has revealed insensitivity to fentin hydroxide and tebuconazole, but recent research indicates that the insensitivity to fentin hydroxide is not stable. A study was undertaken to determine if a fitness cost may be responsible for this instability. In this study, experiments were conducted to evaluate fitness components and phenotypic stability of insensitivity of V. effusa to fentin hydroxide and tebuconazole. Conidial production, conidial germination, microcolony growth, sensitivity to osmotic stress, and sensitivity to oxidative stress in the absence of fungicide were compared for isolates with differing sensitivities to both fungicides. Percent conidial germination decreased linearly with increasing fentin hydroxide insensitivity, and microcolony growth on 1.0 mM H2O2 decreased linearly with increasing tebuconazole insensitivity. Stability of resistance was assessed on concentrations of 1.0, 3.0, and 10 µg/ml of both fungicides prior to and after five transfers on non-fungicide-amended medium. Tebuconazole insensitivity was stable after transfers, but fentin hydroxide insensitivity on 1.0 and 3.0 µg/ml decreased significantly after transfers, indicating instability. Here we provide evidence that in V. effusa tebuconazole insensitivity is stable and fentin hydroxide insensitivity is not. These results suggest that fentin-hydroxide-resistant V. effusa isolates have reduced conidial viability compared with sensitive isolates, which may allow the population to regain sensitivity in the absence of this frequently used fungicide.
Transoral Endoscopic Thyroidectomy Vestibular Approach.

Background Remote-access thyroid surgery has gained popularity and has advanced significantly over the past two decades, given the patient desire to avoid cosmetically displeasing scarring. It has only been recently that natural-orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) techniques have been geared for thyroidectomies. The transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy vestibular approach has been categorized as a NOTES procedure-given the approach to the thyroid gland via incisions in the oral cavity. Our aim is to provide a review of the current literature on the transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy vestibular approach (TOETVA), to present the worldwide experience of this novel procedure, and to outline whether individual patients have characteristics that would make the procedure feasible for this technique. Methods A literature review was done to compile articles detailing the international experience with TOETVA. Our experience combined with what has been published in the literature was used to establish which pathological and patient characteristics make this particular technique feasible for a thyroidectomy. Results We detail in the provided tables both feasibility for this surgical technique and the international experience. Conclusion TOETVA represents the latest remote-access endoscopic technique for the excision of the thyroid gland. TOETVA is being performed at various international institutions and multiple hospitals in the United States.
Prevalence of overweight among youth with chronic conditions in the United States: An update from the 2016 National Survey of Children's Health

Background Surveillance of overweight trends among youth with chronic conditions can inform the prioritization of funding, research and intervention. Objectives The primary objective of this study was to utilize the 2016 National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH) data to provide current estimates of the prevalence of overweight among US youth with common chronic conditions. A secondary purpose was to examine parental concern about weight status among youth with chronic conditions who were overweight. Methods This study included children aged 10 to 17 years with (n=10 997) and without (n=13 408) chronic conditions from the 2016 NSCH. Estimates of overweight, and parental concern for weight status, were compared among youth with 19 common chronic conditions and youth without chronic conditions. Results Overall, youth with chronic conditions were significantly more likely to be overweight compared with youth without chronic conditions (35.4% vs 27.8%). Overweight was most prevalent among youth with diabetes (56.4%), intellectual disabilities (53.6%) and hearing impairments (46.1%). Parents of youth with chronic conditions who were overweight were significantly more concerned that their child's weight was too high than those without chronic conditions. Conclusions This study identifies youth with chronic conditions, particularly those with certain conditions, as being in need of prioritization of funding, research and intervention.
The Use of Hornet and ‘Multi-Apping’ in Turkey

Sexual minorities are still stigmatized in many countries. Coming out is not always a choice for many sexual minorities. Mobile dating apps and websites have allowed sexual minorities to selectively disclose their sexual orientation and preferences. They have facilitated and changed how sexual minorities connect and communicate with one another. Research has demonstrated that these apps and websites have allowed users to reach an audience with faster access and farther reach. Contributing to the current literature, I examine how Hornet users are also using other apps concurrently and how this has facilitated contacts between tourists and local Turkish men in an under-studied country. The results indicate that using multiple apps allows some users to overcome language barriers, especially between tourists and Turkish locals.
HNF4a transcription is a target of trichloroethylene toxicity in the embryonic mouse heart

In exploration of congenital heart defects produced by TCE, Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 4 alpha (HNF4a) transcriptional activity was identified as a central component. TCE exposure altered gene transcription in the chick heart in a non-monotonic pattern where only low dose exposure inhibited transcription by HNF4a. As the chick embryo is non-placental, we examine here HNF4a as a target of TCE in developing mouse embryos. Benfluorex and Bi6015, published agonist and antagonist, respectively, of HNF4a were compared to low dose TCE exposure. Pregnant mice were exposed to 10 ppb (76 nM) TCE, 5 μM Benfluorex, 5 μM Bi6015, or a combination of Bi6015 and TCE in drinking water. Litters (E12) were collected during a sensitive window in heart development. Embryonic hearts were collected, pooled for extraction of RNA and marker expression was examined by quantitative PCR. Multiple markers, previously identified as sensitive to TCE exposure in chicks or as published targets of HNF4a transcription were significantly affected by Benfluorex, Bi6015 and TCE. Activity of TCE and both HNF4a-specific reagents on transcription argues that HNF4a is a component of TCE cardiotoxicity and likely a proximal target of low dose exposure during development. The effectiveness of these reagents after delivery in maternal drinking water suggests that neither maternal metabolism, nor placental transport is protective of exposure.