cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Asymmetric Synthesis of a New Helix‐Forming β‐Amino Acid: trans‐4‐Aminopiperidine‐3‐carboxylic Acid

We report a synthesis of a protected derivative of trans-4-aminopiperidine-3-carboxylic acid (APiC). The route provides either enantiomer. All intermediates are purified by crystallization, and large-scale preparation is therefore possible. An analogous route provides either enantiomer of trans-2-aminocyclohexanecarboxylic acid (ACHC). We have previously shown that β-peptide oligomers containing ACHC adopt a helical conformation defined by 14-membered C=O(i)···H−N(i − 2) hydrogen bonds (“14-helix”). Here we show that APiC residues can be incorporated into the 14-helix. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2003)
Financial Characteristics Of Firms Adopting Poison Pill Plans

This study investigates whether firms adopting poison pill plans possess financial characteristics indicative of their having free cash flow. The analysis uses six financial ratios selected to provide evidence of whether a firm has cash flows in excess of those needed to fund value-enhancing investments. A sample of 184 firms that have adopted poison pill plans were matched with firms from their industries. The results provide little evidence supporting the implications of the free cash flow theory.
The self-normalized estimator for counterfactual learning

This paper identifies a severe problem of the counterfactual risk estimator typically used in batch learning from logged bandit feedback (BLBF), and proposes the use of an alternative estimator that avoids this problem. In the BLBF setting, the learner does not receive full-information feedback like in supervised learning, but observes feedback only for the actions taken by a historical policy. This makes BLBF algorithms particularly attractive for training online systems (e.g., ad placement, web search, recommendation) using their historical logs. The Counterfactual Risk Minimization (CRM) principle [1] offers a general recipe for designing BLBF algorithms. It requires a counterfactual risk estimator, and virtually all existing works on BLBF have focused on a particular unbiased estimator. We show that this conventional estimator suffers from a propensity overfitting problem when used for learning over complex hypothesis spaces. We propose to replace the risk estimator with a self-normalized estimator, showing that it neatly avoids this problem. This naturally gives rise to a new learning algorithm - Normalized Policy Optimizer for Exponential Models (Norm-POEM) - for structured output prediction using linear rules. We evaluate the empirical effectiveness of Norm-POEM on several multi-label classification problems, finding that it consistently outperforms the conventional estimator.
OPTIMISTIC: A Program to Improve Nursing Home Care and Reduce Avoidable Hospitalizations

“Optimizing Patient Transfers, Impacting Medical Quality, and Improving Symptoms: Transforming Institutional Care” (OPTIMISTIC) is a multi-component model of care which provides enhanced services and opportunities for quality improvement for long-stay nursing home residents, with a primary goal of reducing avoidable hospitalizations. Registered Nurses (RNs) placed full-time in nursing facilities, supported by Nurse Practitioners (NPs), deliver interventions including championing INTERACT quality improvement tools, comprehensive advance care planning, facilitating collaborative chronic care, and improving transitions of care for residents who do transfer out of the facility.
Saving Troubled Stutts Corporation: Widely Known Information

This case, part of a series (see also UVA-QA-0713 -- UVA-QA-0715), contains information known to both negotiating parties. Two individuals own all the capital in Stutts Corporation. Decker owns all the debt and Evenson owns all the equity. Unless Decker and Evenson supply workout loans, Stutts will become bankrupt immediately. If they do provide the loans, Stutts will go into three possible states: recover, restructure, liquidate. The payouts to Decker and Evenson differ in each state. The two parties have differing probabilities for these three states and differing budget limits for adding capital; probabilities and budgets are private, confidential information. Students playing each role will negotiate, in pairs, a deal for the additional financing of Stutts. Without state-contingent side payments and/or altered ownership arrangements, players cannot strike a deal that is good for both sides, based on their differing probabilities and budget constraints. Students will carry out a preliminary negotiation, discuss it in class, and then have a chance to conduct a final analysis, based on new ideas from class discussion.
Transforming spreadsheet data types using examples

Cleaning spreadsheet data types is a common problem faced by millions of spreadsheet users. Data types such as date, time, name, and units are ubiquitous in spreadsheets, and cleaning transformations on these data types involve parsing and pretty printing their string representations. This presents many challenges to users because cleaning such data requires some background knowledge about the data itself and moreover this data is typically non-uniform, unstructured, and ambiguous. Spreadsheet systems and Programming Languages provide some UI-based and programmatic solutions for this problem but they are either insufficient for the user's needs or are beyond their expertise. In this paper, we present a programming by example methodology of cleaning data types that learns the desired transformation from a few input-output examples. We propose a domain specific language with probabilistic semantics that is parameterized with declarative data type definitions. The probabilistic semantics is based on three key aspects: (i) approximate predicate matching, (ii) joint learning of data type interpretation, and (iii) weighted branches. This probabilistic semantics enables the language to handle non-uniform, unstructured, and ambiguous data. We then present a synthesis algorithm that learns the desired program in this language from a set of input-output examples. We have implemented our algorithm as an Excel add-in and present its successful evaluation on 55 benchmark problems obtained from online help forums and Excel product team.
Durkheim's Concept of Justice and its Relationship to Social Solidarity

Durkheim's concept of justice is defined and explored in the context of his quest for establishing a "science of moral facts." Justice is supposed to be the basis of moral order in modern societies. Durkheim's criticisms of charity as the basis of social solidarity are explored. His Jewish background is related to his emphasis on justice as well as his scorn for charity as the basis for social solidarity. Implications for social theory are discussed briefly.
Relationship between Nonmedical Prescription-Opioid Use and Heroin Use

A large fraction of heroin users now report that they formerly used prescription opioids nonmedically, a finding that has led to restrictions on opioid prescribing. Nevertheless, only a small fraction of prescription-opioid users move on to heroin use.
Self-powered Flexible Photodetector on Bio-cellulose Structure

A self-powered Schottky junction flexible UV photodetector with a simple structure is fabricated on a reed membrane having ZnO nanocrystals embedded. Consistent and fast photoresponses are observed under zero bias with UV light illumination.
Changes in Retail Trade Flow

Is the plight of downtown retailing wholly attributable to the movement of population and business activity to the suburbs?The author of this article analyzes changes in population and retail-trade...
Tumor-Infiltrating T Cells and the PD-1 Checkpoint Pathway in Advanced Differentiated and Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer

Context: Five to 10% of patients with differentiated thyroid cancers (DTC) develop invasive and/or distant metastatic disease that is marginally improved with standard therapies. Prognosis is poor for patients with anaplastic thyroid cancer, with a median survival of 3–5 months. We suggest that a paradigm shift is necessary in the treatment of advanced cases. Objective: We hypothesized that a T-cell response is generated in advanced thyroid cancer and may be a viable therapeutic target. Design: Primary DTCs were analyzed by quantitative RT-PCR (n = 92) for expression of CD3, CD8, forkhead box (Fox)-P3, programmed death (PD)-1, PD-1 ligand-1, and PD-1 ligand-2 and biopsied for cellular analysis by flow cytometry (n = 11). Advanced pT4 cases (n = 22) and metastases (n = 5) were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Setting: The study was conducted at the University of Colorado Hospital. Patients: Thyroid cancer patients undergoing thyroidectomy or completion surgery for advanced disease between 2002 and 2013 pa...
Investigation on the rat invasion situation in Nanchang urban area

Objective To determine the current rat invasion situation in Nanchang urban area,and provide the scientific basis for the rat control in Nanchang city.Methods Powder illustration method and night trapping method.Results The invasion peak appeared in December,September and March,the density were 13.45%,9.15%,9.64% respectively.The lowest density appeared in April and October.They were 3.63%,4.20% respectively.The average density was 7.72%.Five kinds of rat were found.They were Rattus norvegicus(77.39%),Mus musculus(9.54%),Rattus flavipectus(9.05%),Apodemus agrarius(0.5%),Suncus murinus(0.35%).Conclusion Different measures should be taken to control the Rattus norvegicus according to the different environment condition and occasion.
Predicting the future of the adult nurse practitioner.

In the late 1980s, the future of the adult nurse practitioner (ANP) was less than certain. This study, conducted in 1987, explored the opinions of ANPs, physicians, and healthcare administrators regarding the future of the ANP in 1995. A sociological framework was used to identify factors potentially affecting the ANPs future and to assess the ANP's functionality vis-a-vis the healthcare delivery system. Findings are discussed within the context of the healthcare delivery system as it emerged by 1995, and recommendations are made for ensuring the future viability of the ANP role.
Inhibition of platelet production induced by an antiplatelet drug, anagrelide, in normal volunteers

Administration of anagrelide, an antiplatelet agent, to ten normal male subjects was accompanied by an asymptomatic fall in platelet count. The drop was gradual and usually occurred within two weeks. Only a slight shortening of platelet survival was seen. Bone marrow morphology appeared normal. Measurement of platelet production rates showed a reduced response to thrombocytopenia. A substantial increase in the percentage of large platelets was observed in drug treated subjects. These observations are compatible with a selective inhibition of platelet production. Based upon these findings, the use of anagrelide will probably be best limited to short-term applications or to conditions where selective lowering of platelet count may be desired such as in polycythemia rubra vera or idiopathic thrombocytosis.
Hepatitis B virus molecular biology and pathogenesis

As obligate intracellular parasites, viruses need a host cell to provide a milieu favorable to viral replication. Consequently, viruses often adopt mechanisms to subvert host cellular signaling processes. While beneficial for the viral replication cycle, virus-induced deregulation of host cellular signaling processes can be detrimental to host cell physiology and can lead to virus-associated pathogenesis, including, for oncogenic viruses, cell transformation and cancer progression. Included among these oncogenic viruses is the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Despite the availability of an HBV vaccine, 350-500 million people worldwide are chronically infected with HBV, and a significant number of these chronically infected individuals will develop hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Epidemiological studies indicate that chronic infection with HBV is the leading risk factor for the development of HCC. Globally, HCC is the second highest cause of cancer-associated deaths, underscoring the need for understanding mechanisms that regulate HBV replication and the development of HBV-associated HCC. HBV is the prototype member of the Hepadnaviridae family; members of this family of viruses have a narrow host range and predominately infect hepatocytes in their respective hosts. The extremely small and compact hepadnaviral genome, the unique arrangement of open reading frames, and a replication strategy utilizing reverse transcription of an RNA intermediate to generate the DNA genome are distinguishing features of the Hepadnaviridae. In this review, we provide a comprehensive description of HBV biology, summarize the model systems used for studying HBV infections, and highlight potential mechanisms that link a chronic HBV-infection to the development of HCC. For example, the HBV X protein (HBx), a key regulatory HBV protein that is important for HBV replication, is thought to play a cofactor role in the development of HBV-induced HCC, and we highlight the functions of HBx that may contribute to the development of HBV-associated HCC.
Newly-Industrialising Countries (NICs), the New International Division of Labour and Manufacturing Labour Systems

After the Second World War, the formal colonial structure in Southeast Asia was effectively dismantled consistent with decolonisation and the changing international environment. Formal control of territories was also no longer regarded as essential in the context of a global institutional structure. A major political shift occurred in the international economy, with former colonial powers like Great Britain losing their key positions in world trade, finance, and production to the United States. The interests of international capital became increasingly identified with the United States, coinciding with American and European initiatives in the establishment of global economic institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), commonly known as the World Bank. The major trading countries also agreed on provisional rules for reducing tariffs under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), now the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
Sources of Information During the 2014 West Virginia Water Crisis: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

Objective On January 9, 2014, a faulty storage tank leaked 10,000 gallons of an industrial coal-processing liquid into the Elk River in West Virginia, contaminating the drinking water of 9 counties collectively known as the Kanawha Valley. In the context of this event, we explored the relationship between social determinants and (1) the timeliness with which residents learned about the crisis, (2) the source of information, (3) opinions on the source of information, (4) information-seeking behaviors, and (5) knowledge acquired. Methods Between February 7 and 26, 2014, we conducted a survey of 690 adult residents of West Virginia. Descriptive statistics and multivariable statistical models were performed. Results Information about water contamination spread quickly, with 88% of respondents from the affected counties hearing about the incident on the same day it occurred. Most people received the information from local television news (73%); social media users had 120% increased odds of knowing about the recommended behaviors. People who had a favorable opinion of the source of information demonstrated better knowledge of recommended behaviors. Conclusions The use of local television news during a crisis is important for timely dissemination of information. Information exposure across segments of the population differed on the basis of the population’s background characteristics. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2017;11:196–206)
2546: Non-cytoreductive immunosuppression prevents rejection of vascularized composite allografts

Background Reconstructive transplantation represents a valid therapeutic option after devastating tissue loss such as an extremity or face Immunosuppression-free donor-specific immunological tolera...
LATE-BREAKING ABSTRACT: Organophosphorus pesticides induce airway hyperreactivity via stimulation of alveolar macrophage Mac-1

Background: Billions of people are exposed to chlorpyrifos (CPF), an organophosphorus pesticide (OP) used in agriculture worldwide, during its application or in their diet. Although safe levels of OP exposure are based on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition, we found OPs cause airway hyperreactivity at concentrations below this threshold and are associated with asthma. Objective: To characterize the mechanism of CPF-induced airway hyperreactivity. Methods: Guinea pigs were pretreated with clodronate i.n. to deplete macrophages and exposed to CPF s.c. Physiology was measured 24h later in anesthetized animals. OP effects were also evaluated in differentiated THP1 monocytes. THP1 cells were pretreated with either heparin 10 U/ml or antibody to Mac-1 10 µg/ml to antagonize Mac-1 receptors, then exposed to CPF (100 µM). RNA expression was quantified by real time PCR 24h later. Results: CPF caused airway hyperreactivity that was prevented by depleting macrophages and was independent of AChE inhibition. Blocking Mac-1 attenuated a CPF-induced increase in pro-inflammatory cytokine IL1β RNA expression in THP1 cells. Conclusions: OPs cause AChE-independent airway hyperreactivity by activating alveolar macrophages via Mac-1 receptor. Our results demonstrate a potential mechanism linking OP exposure to asthma pathogenesis and question the safety of current OP exposure level limits.
The need for better measurement and employee engagement to advance a circular economy: Lessons from Biogen’s “zero waste” journey

Abstract The movement toward “zero waste” and circular economy has recently gained traction as an alternative to the dominant “take-make-waste” model of production and as a viable approach for addressing climate change. Business plays a key role in this transition and a growing number of companies are establishing waste reduction goals, such as “zero waste to landfill” as part of their sustainability commitments. This study however, suggests that companies’ efforts presently are inadequate to support such a transition; companies lack effective sustainability indicators to measure progress, identify opportunities, and engage employees. While the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines provide standardized indicators for measuring waste reduction through different methods, most of these measure outputs versus the impacts of source reduction, reuse and remanufacturing. Based on benchmarking data from eight biotech and pharmaceutical companies’ waste reduction performance and in-depth analysis of waste management at Biogen, the study finds that: a) companies rely primarily on recycling and waste-to-energy practices to reduce waste and defer to “zero-waste-to landfill” goals rather than focusing on environmentally preferable methods like source reduction and reuse; b) in lieu of standardized reporting, companies report inconsistent waste data that often lack effective indicators for measuring and promoting source reduction and reuse; c) employee awareness and engagement for advancing “zero waste” and circular economic business practices is undeveloped. The study proposes a model for “Expanded Zero Waste” practice, which includes additional indicators for measuring outcomes and impacts of circular business strategies, where employee engagement is seen as a critical strategy for identifying and implementing innovative sustainability approaches and initiatives.
Acute Hypocalcemia and Metabolic Alkalosis in Children on Cation-Exchange Resin Therapy.

Background. Sodium polystyrene sulfonate (SPS) is a chelating agent used for the treatment of hyperkalemia. SPS has a wide range of exchange capacity requiring close monitoring of serum electrolytes. We observed two patients who developed acute hypocalcemia and increased metabolic alkalosis after initiating SPS therapy. We report these cases to draw attention to the potential risk of this medication in pediatric patients. Case Diagnosis/Treatment. Two children with chronic kidney disease on dialysis were started on SPS for hyperkalemia. Within a week after initiation of the medication, both patients developed hypocalcemia on routine labs without overt clinical manifestations. The hypocalcemia was rapidly corrected with oral supplementation and discontinuation of SPS. Conclusions. Severe hypocalcemia can develop after SPS therapy. The metabolic alkalosis in these patients associated with the hypocalcemia put them at increased risk for complications. Hence, careful attention must be paid to the state of calcium metabolism in all patients receiving SPS. Often calcium supplementation is required to maintain normal calcium levels.
Separation and Isolation of H and L Chains of IgG

Reductive cleavage of the -S-S- bonds in an IgG molecule will liberate the H and L chains. If this cleavage is carried out near neutral pH and with mild reducing agents such as dithio-threitol, no further degradation and denaturation of the split products will occur. To block the sulfhydryl groups set free by the reductive cleavage, alkylation with iodoacetamide has to be carried out. The H and L chains can be separated by gel electrophoresis in 8 M urea-formic acid buffer, or by column chromatography on Sephadex G 100 equilibrated with 8 M urea in pH 6 Triscitrate buffer.
Agricultural and Ecological Significance of Soil Enzymes: Soil Carbon Sequestration and Nutrient Cycling

Agricultural and ecological significance of soil enzymes have been progressively expanded since the first report on soil enzymes about a century ago. In terms of soil carbon and nutrient sequestration and nutrient cycling, several classes of oxidative and hydrolytic enzymes have been acknowledged as indicators or predictors of organic carbon decomposition and nutrient mineralization. This chapter highlights the current knowledge on soil enzymes that can be used to learn about soil carbon and nutrient processes, principles by which microbial community may regulate the production and thus the activity of soil enzymes, and implications that are likely relevant to ecosystem responses to management and global climate change.
Beyond Demographics: Enhancing Media Planning with Emotional Variables

What was once a fairly simple task of selecting a basic media vehicle from a very limited assortment of alternatives, i.e., newspapers or magazines, radio or television, signs or outdoor locations, etc., the addition of digital alternatives, such as social media, email, interactive TV, and the like means the planner’s choices have grown exponentially. Hundreds, if not thousands of old and new media forms are clamoring, for not just consumer attention, but that of the media planner as well. Thus, the media planner’s chief task, that of making the right alternative media selection to optimize the marketer’s investment is fraught with choices.
MICROMECHANICS FOR WOVEN COMPOSITES

A micromechanics based methodology to simulate the complete hygro-thermomechanical behavior of plain weave composites is developed. This methodology is based on micromechanics and the classical laminate theory. It predicts a complete set of thermal, hygral and mechanical properties of plain woven composites, generates necessary data for use in a finite element structural analysis, and predicts stresses from laminate to the constituent level. This methodology is used in conjunction with a composite mechanics code to analyze and predict the properties/response of a generic graphite/epoxy plain weave textile composite. The fiber architecture, including the fiber waviness and fiber end distributions through the thickness, is properly accounted for. Predicted results compare reasonably well with those from detailed three-dimensional finite element analyses.
Diabetes-related comorbidities in Asian Americans: results of a national health survey.

Abstract Objective The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of diabetes-related comorbidities in Asian Americans to the prevalence in other racial and ethnic groups in the United States using data from the 2001 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). Methods The BRFSS is a population-based telephone survey of the health status and health behaviors of 212,510 Americans aged ≥18 years in all 50 states, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In 2001, participants included 196 Asian Americans, 1138 African Americans, 1276 Hispanics, 294 Native Americans, 71 Pacific Islanders, and 7799 non-Hispanic Whites with a self-reported physician diagnosis of diabetes. Comorbidity was determined by self-report. Odds ratios (OR) were adjusted for age, sex, body mass index (BMI) or height and weight, duration of diabetes, smoking, and health-insurance status. Results The adjusted prevalences of hypercholesterolemia and retinopathy were similar across groups. Relative to Asian Americans, only African Americans were more likely to report hypertension [adjusted OR=2.1, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.0–4.2, P Conclusions Among Americans with diabetes, Asian Americans have a prevalence of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, retinopathy, and foot ulceration that is similar to that in Whites. Asian Americans had a significantly lower prevalence of hypertension than African Americans did and a lower prevalence of foot ulceration than Hispanics, Native Americans, and Pacific Islanders did.
Social Networks and Health

Publisher Summary This chapter examines the health among older adults through one of the forms of social structure—social networks, including social integration and social support. Social networks encompass interrelations among individuals. A social network is a set of nodes that are tied to one another by the types of relations between them. Two broad approaches are used in network analysis. One of the approaches—egocentric or personal network—samples individuals or entities and examines their networks' characteristics, such as the composition and structure, extending from a focal person. The second network approach—the network saturation method—examines the entire network of a specified population. The social-network properties are organized along three broad dimensions: network features, location features, and resource features. Network features refer to characteristics related to the distribution and connection of individuals in a network. Location features refer to relationships among ties within a network; for instance, degree indicates the extent to which one member of the network has direct ties with others. Network properties can be classified according to their resource features.
Treatment Patterns in Veterans with Laryngeal and Oropharyngeal Cancer and Impact on Survival

Objectives Veterans with laryngeal and oropharyngeal cancer remain an understudied patient population despite a high incidence of disease and decreased survival compared to the general population. Our objective was to evaluate treatment patterns for laryngeal and oropharyngeal cancer in patients treated at one of the Veterans Health Administration's busiest cancer centers in order to generate some basic benchmarks for treatment delivery in the veteran population. Methods We reviewed 338 patients treated at the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center between 2000 and 2012. Results Oropharyngeal site and advanced age were associated with worse overall and disease-free survival. Treatment periods (mean) were as follows: 1) referral-diagnosis, 26 days; 2) diagnosis-surgery, 29 days; and 3) diagnosis-radiation, 58 days. Adjuvant radiation was initiated within 6 weeks of surgery in 42% of patients and 68% of patients had a total treatment package time ≤100 days. Time from diagnosis to treatment initiation, surgery to adjuvant radiation interval and total treatment package time did not impact survival. Conclusions This study establishes basic benchmarks for laryngeal and oropharyngeal cancer treatment delivery in veterans. Additional efforts are warranted to improve consistency and provide treatment in line with NCCN recommendations and literature consensus. Level of Evidence 2b.
High phenolic content fails to deter mesograzer consumption of Myriophyllum spicatum (Eurasian watermilfoil) in New England

Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum) is often considered one of the most aggressive macrophyte invaders in freshwater habitats throughout the USA. However, conditions leading to successful milfoil invasions are not well understood. This study sought to illuminate the role of herbivores in determining milfoil invasion success via the potential mechanisms of enemy release and biotic resistance. We determined feeding preferences of three herbivores native to the northeastern United States and measured macrophyte phenolic content, which may act as an herbivore feeding deterrent. We found that phenolic content in milfoil was more than two times higher than in the most abundant native macrophytes at our study sites, consistent with enemy release. However, laboratory feeding experiments demonstrated that milfoil phenolics did not deter amphipod (Hyalella azteca), snail (Physella sp.), or weevil (Euhrychiopsis lecontei) herbivory. Furthermore, amphipod consumption rates in our study were an order of magnitude higher than amphipod consumption rates reported in milfoil’s native range, contrary to the predictions of enemy release. Amphipods and snails from habitats invaded by milfoil consumed similar quantities of both milfoil and the low-phenolic native plant Elodea canadensis. In contrast, weevils consumed milfoil but not E. canadensis in choice experiments. Amphipods collected from milfoil-free habitats also readily consumed milfoil, and they consumed 2.5 times more milfoil than E. canadensis in a choice feeding trial. These results suggest that high phenolic levels do not prevent native herbivores from consuming invasive milfoil. Instead, native generalist grazers like amphipods and snails may limit milfoil proliferation and provide a measure of biotic resistance.
Beyond the Revolution: New Perspectives on Late Nineteenth- and Early Twentieth-Century Mexico

This essay reviews the following works: Sons of the Mexican Revolution: Miguel Aleman and His Generation. By Ryan M. Alexander. Albuquerque: University of Mexico Press, 2016. Pp. vii + 239. $29.95 paperback. ISBN: 9780826357397. A Sentimental Education for the Working Man: The Mexico City Penny Press, 1900–1910. By Robert M. Buffington. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2015. Pp. vii + 287. $25.95 paperback. ISBN: 9780822358824. Radio in Revolution: Wireless Technology and State Power in Mexico, 1897–1938. By J. Justin Castro. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 2016. Pp. vii + 270. $30.00 paperback. ISBN: 9780803286788. Working Women, Entrepreneurs, and the Mexican Revolution: The Coffee Culture of Cordoba, Veracruz. By Heather Fowler-Salamini. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 2013. Pp. vi + 403. $45.00 paperback. ISBN: 9780803243712. Industry and Revolution: Social and Economic Change in the Orizaba Valley, Mexico. By Aurora Gomez-Galvarriato. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2013. Pp. 351. $49.95 hardcover. ISBN: 9780674072725. For God and Revolution: Priest, Peasant, and Agrarian Socialism in the Mexican Huasteca. By Mark Saad Saka. Albuquerque: University of Mexico Press, 2013. Pp. ix + 177. $50.00 hardcover. ISBN: 9780826353382. Pesos and Politics: Business, Elites, Foreigners, and Government in Mexico, 1854–1940. By Mark Wasserman. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2015. Pp. viii + 249. $55.00 hardcover. ISBN: 9780804791540.
Intelligent character recognition using fully convolutional neural networks

Abstract The recognition of handwritten text is challenging as there are virtually infinite ways a human can write the same message. Deep learning approaches for handwriting analysis have recently demonstrated breakthrough performance using both lexicon-based architectures and recurrent neural networks. This paper presents a fully convolutional network architecture which outputs arbitrary length symbol streams from handwritten text. A preprocessing step normalizes input blocks to a canonical representation which negates the need for costly recurrent symbol alignment correction. When a lexicon is known, we further introduce a probabilistic character error rate to correct errant word blocks. Our multi-state convolutional method is the first to demonstrate state-of-the-art results on both lexicon-based and arbitrary symbol based handwriting recognition benchmarks.
THE CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE TRIFECTA

Although uncommon, cardiac myxomas account for 50% of cardiac tumors. The absence of guidelines on coronary angiogram (CA) prior to resection raises a dilemma. A 79-year-old female with a history of tobacco use and COPD had an incidental finding of a left atrial mass on CT angiogram for
Cerebral Organoid Models for Neurotropic Viruses.

Across zoonotic pathogens, RNA viruses are responsible for disproportionate levels of human disease, suffering, and death. Neurotropic RNA viruses (e.g., rabies, Japanese and Eastern Equine Encephalitis, Ebola, West Nile, Powassan) infect the brain and spinal cord, causing meningitis, encephalitis, microcephaly, and Guillain-Barre syndrome. Mechanistic data explaining the molecular mechanisms of these diseases are lacking, and the enclosure of the central nervous system and the associated meninges in bone complicates access for diagnosis, clinical treatment, and research. Here, we discuss new tissue models, imaging methods, and molecular techniques that are changing research aimed at understanding the pathogenesis of neurotropic RNA viruses.
Psychology of Forgiveness

We live in a world fraught with hostility and alienation at both interpersonal and societal levels. The media barrage us with reports of ethnic wars growing out of centuries of hatred and distrust, political terrorism, random violence in the streets, domestic violence, child abuse of various sorts—the list seems endless. Clearly, there is a tremendous amount of hurt in our lives—both personal and cultural. What is the impact of injury on our lives? How can we heal from it?
Total or Subtotal Colectomy with Primary Anastomosis for Occlusive Left Colon Cancer: A Safe, Acceptable and Applicable Procedure.

Introduction Occlusive left colon cancer is a major emergency setting in colon cancer with high morbidity and mortality rates. Different surgical treatment exist since there is no clear guidelines for the best treatment. We have conducted this retrospective study in order to evaluate the safety, morbidity, and bowel movement status of the operated patients. Methods One-hundred and one left occlusive colon cancer patients were operated of total or subtotal colon resection with primary anastomosis from March 2000 till March 2017 in Hotel Dieu de France hospital. We analyzed the sex ratio, age, caecum condition, tumor localization, number of synchronous adenoma and adenocarcinoma, Dukes stage, major complications and the number of stools per day at 3 and 12 months after surgery. Results Mean hospital stay was 7.8 days. Thirteen complications were observed in 11 (10.9%) patients, in which one (1%) patient had splenectomy for severe hemorrhage. Six synchronous adenocarcinoma and 40 adenoma with dysplasia were diagnosed on pathology specimens proximal to occlusion site. Caecum laceration was found in 33 (32.6%) of cases. No patient had anastomotic leak. After 12 months of surgery, the average bowel movement was 2 stools per day. Conclusion Our study showed that treating occlusive left colon cancer with total or subtotal colectomy with primary anastomosis is a safe procedure, with a good bowel movement status and presents the advantage to resect an important number of synchronous tumors and adenomas proximal to the occlusion site.
Cache-Enabled Dynamic Spectrum Access via Deep Recurrent Q-Networks with Partial Observation

This paper investigates deep reinforcement learning (DRL) based on Recurrent Neural Networks for Dynamic Spectrum Access (DSA), referred to as a Deep Recurrent Q-Networks (DRQN). The approach uses sensing and cache occupancy as observations. Specifically, we consider a scenario with multiple independent channels and multiple different Primary Users (PU). Three key challenges in our problem formulation are (1) no prior knowledge; (2) prediction based on partial observations, and (3) multi-rate transmission capability. The goal of the DRQN is to learn an optimal channel access strategy to achieve a global objective
Currency Warfare and Just War: The Ethics of Targeting Currencies in War

Is Currency Warfare defined as, the use of monetary or military force directed against an enemy’s monetary power as part of a military campaign, a just way to fight a war? This article explores the...
ISSRE 2020 Doctoral Symposium Keynote : How to Get Your Paper Rejected

My papers have been rejected nearly a thousand times (including by ISSRE 2020). In fact, being rejected is one of my best skills! I am confident that I lead the field of software testing in the number of rejections. In this talk, I try to pass on my knowledge and skills to a younger generation, so that you, too, can aspire to accumulate large piles of rejection messages.
Providing Plug N' Play for Processing-in-Memory Accelerators

Although Processing-in-Memory (PIM) emerged as a solution to avoid unnecessary and expensive data movements to/from host and accelerators, their widespread usage is still difficult, given that to effectively use a PIM device, huge and costly modifications must be done at the host processor side to allow instructions offloading, cache coherence, virtual memory management, and communication between different PIM instances. The present work addresses these challenges by presenting non-invasive solutions for those requirements. We demonstrate that, at compile-time, and without any host modifications or programmer intervention, it is possible to exploit already available resources to allow efficient host and PIM communication and task partitioning, without disturbing neither host nor memory hierarchy. We present Plug&PIM, a plug n' play strategy for PIM adoption with minimal performance penalties.
Asymptotics for Bergman projections with smooth weights: a direct approach

We adapt the direct approach to the semiclassical Bergman kernel asymptotics, developed recently by A. Deleporte, J. Sjostrand, and the first-named author for real analytic exponential weights, to the smooth case. Similar to that work, our approach avoids the use of the Kuranishi trick and it allows us to construct the amplitude of the asymptotic Bergman projection by means of an asymptotic inversion of an explicit Fourier integral operator.
Examination of literature on colloidal dispersion gels for oil recovery

Abstract This paper examines literature that claims, suggests, or implies that floods with “colloidal dispersion gels” (CDGs) are superior to polymer floods for oil recovery. The motivation for this report is simple. If CDGs can propagate deep into the porous rock of a reservoir, and at the same time, provide resistance factors or residual resistance factors that are greater than those for the same polymer formulation without the crosslinker, then CDGs should be used in place of polymer solutions for most/all polymer, surfactant, and ASP floods. In contrast, if the claims are not valid, (1) money spent on crosslinker in the CDG formulations was wasted, (2) the mobility reduction/mobility control for CDG field projects was under-designed, and (3) reservoir performance could have been damaged by excessive loss of polymer, face-plugging by gels, and/or excessive fracture extension. From this review, the clear answer is that there is no credible evidence that colloidal dispersion gels can propagate deep into the porous rock of a reservoir, and at the same time, provide resistance factors or residual resistance factors that are greater than those for the same polymer formulation without the crosslinker. CDGs have been sold using a number of misleading and invalid arguments. Very commonly, Hall plots are claimed to demonstrate that CDGs provide higher resistance factors and/or residual resistance factors than normal polymer solutions. However, because Hall plots only monitor injection pressures at the wellbore, they reflect the composite of face plugging/formation damage, in-situ mobility changes, and fracture extension. Hall plots cannot distinguish between these effects—so they cannot quantify in situ resistance factors or residual resistance factors. Laboratory studies—where CDG gelants were forced through short cores during 2–3 h—have incorrectly been cited as proof that CDGs will propagate deep (hundreds of feet) into the porous rock of a reservoir over the course of months. In contrast, most legitimate laboratory studies reveal that the gelation time for CDGs is a day or less and that CDGs will not propagate through porous rock after gelation. A few cases were noted where highly depleted Al and/or HPAM fluids passed through cores after one week of aging. Details about these particular formulations/experiments were sparse and questions remain about their reproducibility. No credible evidence indicates that the CDG can propagate deep into a reservoir (over the course of weeks or months) and still provide a greater effect than that from the polymer alone. With one exception, aluminum from the CDG was never reported to be produced in a field application. In the exception, Chang reported producing 1–20% of the injected aluminum concentration. The available evidence suggests that some free (unreacted) HPAM and aluminum that was associated with the original CDG can propagate through porous media. However, there is no evidence that this HPAM or aluminum provides mobility reduction greater than that for the polymer formulation without crosslinker.
A Preeminent Digital Production Studio Collaborates with One of America’s Most Innovative Universities to Explore the Use of Virtual Reality for Learning

Southern New Hampshire University is a large, innovative institution of higher education in the United States. In addition to a physical campus, the university also serves over 120,000 students online, offering Bachelor’s Degrees, Master’s Degrees, Associate Degrees and Certificate Programs. Due to the large population of remote learners the university has developed sophisticated digital platforms for teaching and learning. SNHU also monitors trends in education and technology. With an interest in virtual reality’s (VR) potential to impact teaching and learning, the Innovation Center at SNHU partnered with Nucco Brain at Unit9, a leading digital innovation and production studio, to design and build VR-based active learning experiences for a neuroscience course. The two teams utilized a collaboration methodology with faculty subject matter experts and learning and instructional specialists working closely with creative technologists.
Task-based and Resting State Functional MRI in Children

Functional MR imaging (MRI) is a valuable tool for presurgical planning and is well established in adult patients. The use of task-based fMRI is increasing in pediatric populations because it provides similar benefits for pre-surgical planning in children. This article reviews special adaptations that are required for successful applications of task-based fMRI in children, especially in the motor and language systems. The more recently introduced method of resting state fMRI is reviewed and its relative advantages and disadvantages discussed. Common pitfalls and other systems and networks that may be of interest in special circumstances also are reviewed.
Understanding diagrams, and more: the computer's view

This paper discusses the cognitive differences between reasoning with Euler diagrams and reasoning with Venn diagrams. We test subjects' performances in syllogism solving in case where these two types of diagrams are used. We conduct an analysis on the role played by the conventional devices of each diagram in reasoning processes. Based on this, we hypothesize that of the two types of diagrams, only Euler diagrams could guide subjects without prior knowledge of their inferential strategies for combining diagrams. To test this hypothesis, subjects in our experiment are only provided with instructions on the meanings of diagrams and required to solve reasoning tasks without any instruction on the solving strategies. Our experimental results support the hypothesis and indicate that Euler diagrams can not only contribute to subjects' correct interpretation of categorical sentences used but also play a crucial role in reasoning processes themselves.
ISO observations of molecular hydrogen in HH 54: measurement of a non-equilibrium ortho- to para-H2 ratio

We have detected the S(1), S(2), S(3), S(4) and S(5) pure rotational lines of molecular hydrogen toward the outflow source HH 54, using the Short Wavelength Spectrometer (SWS) on board the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO). The observed H2 line ratios indicate the presence of warm molecular gas with an H2 density of at least 100,000 per cubic centimeter and a temperature ~ 650 K in which the ortho- to para-H2 ratio is only 1.2 +/- 0.4, significantly smaller than the equilibrium ratio of 3 expected in gas at that temperature. These observations imply that the measured ortho- to para-H2 ratio is the legacy of an earlier stage in the thermal history of the gas when the gas had reached equilibrium at a temperature < 90 K. Based upon the expected timescale for equilibration, we argue that the non-equilibrium ortho- to para-H2 ratio observed in HH 54 serves as a chronometer that places a conservative upper limit ~ 5000 yr on the period for which the emitting gas has been warm. The S(2)/S(1) and S(3)/S(1) H2 line ratios measured toward HH 54 are consistent with recent theoretical models of Timmermann for the conversion of para- to ortho-H2 behind slow, `C'-type shocks, but only if the preshock ortho- to para-H2 ratio was < 0.2.