cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Linearly-solvable Markov decision problems

We introduce a class of MPDs which greatly simplify Reinforcement Learning. They have discrete state spaces and continuous control spaces. The controls have the effect of rescaling the transition probabilities of an underlying Markov chain. A control cost penalizing KL divergence between controlled and uncontrolled transition probabilities makes the minimization problem convex, and allows analytical computation of the optimal controls given the optimal value function. An exponential transformation of the optimal value function makes the minimized Bellman equation linear. Apart from their theoretical significance, the new MDPs enable efficient approximations to traditional MDPs. Shortest path problems are approximated to arbitrary precision with largest eigenvalue problems, yielding an O (n) algorithm. Accurate approximations to generic MDPs are obtained via continuous embedding reminiscent of LP relaxation in integer programming. Off-policy learning of the optimal value function is possible without need for state-action values; the new algorithm (Z-learning) outperforms Q-learning.
Image extraction by wide angle foveated lens for overt-attention

This paper defines wide angle foveated (WAF) imaging. A proposed model combines Cartesian coordinate system, a log-polar coordinate system, and a unique camera model composed of planar projection and spherical projection for all-purpose use of a single imaging device. The central field-of-view (FOV) and intermediate FOV are given translation-invariance and, rotation and scale-invariance for pattern recognition, respectively. Further, the peripheral FOV is more useful for camera's view direction control, because its image height is linear to an incident angle to the camera model's optical center point. Thus, this imaging model improves its usability especially when a camera is dynamically moved, that is, overt-attention. Moreover, simulation results of image extraction show advantages of the proposed model, in view of its magnification factor of the central FOV, accuracy of scale-invariance and flexibility to describe other WAF vision sensors
Radioiodine Treatment of Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia in the Euthyroid Patient

Twenty-five euthyroid patients subject to recurrent paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardias, which were resistant to usual prophylactic therapy, were treated with radioactive iodine. In many of the patients, with follow-up ranging up to 6 years, there were no recurrences of the tachycardia subsequent to the isotope therapy. Two patients were considered refractory to this therapy.
Comparative Immunological Analysis of Host Plasma Proteins Bound to Bloodstream Forms of Trypanosoma brucei Subspecies

Abstract The presence, location, host specificity, identity, and quantity of rat plasma proteins bound to bloodstream forms of Trypanosoma brucei subsp. brucei, T. brucei subsp. rhodesiense, and T. brucei subsp. gambiense were determined by a quantitative indirect fluorescent-antibody method and gel immunoassays. Fluorescence differences between trypanosomes obtained from rats and mice and treated with antiserum to normal rat plasma indicated that most, if not all, of the bound plasma proteins were host specific. Removal of plasma proteins by trypsinization of parasites provided evidence for their attachment to the surface of the parasite. The accreted proteins were found to be host albumin, immunoglobulin G (IgG), and complement (C3). The same quantities of these three plasma proteins were present on T. brucei subspecies collected from normal rats at 2 days postinfection, during low or peak parasitemias, or from cortisone-treated rats. IgM could only be detected on parasites collected from normal rats at peak parasitemia. With the aid of rocket immunoelectrophoresis, host albumin and IgG were found to account for 0.2 and 0.05%, respectively, of the total soluble proteins of the bloodstream forms. It was concluded from this study that: (i) host plasma proteins were bound to parasites early in the infection, suggesting a mechanism of adaptation to the mammalian host; (ii) the surface-bound IgG was not the result of a specific immune response against the parasites but might be the cause of C3 attachment; (iii) among the bloodstream forms of the three T. brucei subspecies, there were no differences in amounts of surface-bound albumin, IgG, or C3. A comparison between the present data dealing with T. brucei subspecies, on the one hand, and the previously published results concerning T. congolense, on the other, revealed significant differences in the amounts of the host plasma proteins attached to these hemoflagellates.
Techniques for Artificial Insemination of Turkeys and Chickens in Cages

Abstract RECORDS are more accurate and easier to obtain if turkeys and chickens are kept in individual cages instead of in floor pens. However, propagation in individual cages requires artificial insemination. The artificial insemination technique of Burrows and Quinn (2939) was modified by Moultrie (1956) and Gabriel (1957) for chickens confined to cages. Confinement of turkey hens and toms in cages is a more recent management practice. The technique described by Lorenz et al. (1959) works well with floor birds, but removing turkey hens and toms from cages can be a laborious task, sometimes causing moderate physical discomfort to both operator and bird. To our knowledge, an in-cage technique for artificial insemination of turkeys has not been described. This report describes (a) a portable table adapted to partial removal of turkeys from cages for semen collection and insemination, and (b) a portable table suitable for caged cocks and hens. The table …
Receptivity Measurements on a Swept-Wing Model

Flight tests were performed using a swept-wing model mounted on a Cessna O-2A aircraft. The crossflow waves on the airfoil were excited by pneumatic spanwise-periodic, distributed roughness elements (DREs). The objective of the experiment was to determine the roughness receptivity i.e. the relationship between roughness height and the amplitude of the unstable crossflow wave. The local skin-friction variation was measured using an array of calibrated and temperature-compensated hotfilm sensors. The amplitudes of the disturbance shear stress were compared to the amplitudes of the DREs. The measurements were very complex and it was found that there is a relationship between the measured shear stress and DRE amplitude exists.. It was most interesting to find that the sensitivity of the crossflow to DREs is highly dependent on the freestream turbulence levels.
Plastoquinone Diffusion in Proteoliposomes Studied by Pyrene Fluorescence Quenching

The rate limiting step of linear electron flow in chloroplasts appears to be the oxidation of plastoquinol by the cytochrome b/f complex. Thus, it is important to know whether long-range diffusion of plastoquinone from photosystem II to the cytochrome b/f complex can ever determine the rate of plastoquinol oxidation. Plastoquinone diffusion coefficients in phosphatidylcholine and thylakoid lipid vesicles are of the order 1–2 × 10–7 cm2s-1 and this would be unlikely to restrict the reaction rate. However, the effect that high (50% or greater) weight percentages of protein occurring in natural membranes would have on lateral diffusion remains unknown. The rate of plastoquinone diffusion was therefore studied in phosphatidylcholine proteoliposomes containing the following integral membrane proteins: gramicidin D, spinach cytochrome b/f complex, reaction centres from Rhodobacter sphaeroides and spinach cytochrome f. The rate of plastoquinone diffusion decreased by up to an order of magnitude when the protein composition of proteoliposomes exceeded 30–50 weight per cent. Based on the expectation of a protein composition of 60–65% in thylakoid membranes, we estimate that the plastoquinone diffusion coefficient in thylakoid membranes will be of the order 10-8 cm2s-1. In our view, the question remains open as to whether or not plastoquinone diffusion ever limits the rate of electron transport.
Making Money with Free Software? Sampling Implications of Software Market

Distributing freeware or trialware is a common practice of most publishers in the software market in order to increase potential users' experience prior to their final purchasing. Third-party rating of new software is an objective quality reference to the users as well. We develop an empirical framework to analyze the impact of freeware/trialware and third-party rating on software sampling. Our results show that freeware is not always a dominant strategy to enhance the users' software sampling and outperformed by trialware when the quality gap between them is high enough to the users in some software categories. Third-party rating reflects more credible information to the users compared to anonymous users' rating. As the sampling acts as risk relievers for final purchasing, our findings demonstrate how actual marketing strategies work in the software market. We have used various estimation methods to address endogeneity issues in our model.
Enforcing Lawyer Non-Competition Agreements While Maintaining the Profession: The Role of Conflict of Interest Principles

Lawyers reasonably may expect today that the membership of their law firm will change over time. Members of the firm, therefore, may attempt by contract to protect the law firm from the adverse economic consequences that can accompany a lawyer's departure from the firm and subsequent competition for a portion of the firm's clientele. Contractual efforts to limit or discourage competition between lawyers, however, are deemed unethical by the Model Rules of Professional Conduct and face close and usually unfavorable scrutiny from the courts. In distinguishing the legal profession from other professions in which non-compete agreements are more commonly enforced, a number of courts have focused on the potential client's interest in being able to select any lawyer of its choosing. The result has been a nearly categorical rejection of all non-competition agreements among lawyers. Such a prophylactic rule is not necessary, however, to adequately address the concerns that may be unique to the enforcement of a non-competition agreement among lawyers. A rule of reason analysis that would protect clients from conflicts of interest, while allowing enforcement of non-compete agreements in other circumstances, offers a better approach to the issue. In five sections, this article analyzes the issue from the perspective of the various interests at stake and considers how best to preserve the professional nature of the attorney-client relationship without ignoring the lawyers' contractual undertaking not to compete.
Abstract 2945: Missed Opportunities for Primary Stroke Prevention among Young Adults in the United States.

The incidence of stroke is increasing in young adults. However, little is known about primary prevention in this population. Prevention of stroke among young and early middle-aged adults is particularly important as they face with years of disability after a stroke. Our objective was to define the prevalence of modifiable stroke risk factors and steps taken to address them among the younger adults during outpatient clinic visits within the United States. Methods: Data from the 2008 and 2009 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey dataset were analyzed. Young subjects (18 to 45 years) visiting medical specialties were selected. Weighted frequencies of diabetes, hypertension, tobacco abuse, hyperlipidemia, and obesity were estimated based on physician reported data about these conditions. Proportions of subjects receiving education about weight reduction, exercise, diet and nutrition, smoking cessation and prescriptions were estimated. Results: There were an estimated 324.7 million medical office visits in 2008 and 2009. The majority of these visits were to Internal Medicine (20.5%) and Family medicine (45.8%) practices, whereas (2.5%) visits were to neurologists. Smoking (20.6%) was the most prevalent risk factor recognized by physicians, followed by obesity (16.7%), hypertension (12.3%), hyperlipidemia (7.7%) and diabetes (6.6%). Only 19.5% of all smokers were documented to have received smoking cessation advice. Weight reduction counseling was provided to 15.8% of obese patients, 14.9% of hypertensive, 16.2% of diabetic and 13.9% of hyperlipidemic subjects. Diet and nutrition counseling was provided to 23.4% of obese, 24.9% of hypertensive, 30.1% of diabetics and 29.9% of hyperlipidemic subjects. Exercise was advised to 19.5% of obese, 17.6% of hypertensive, 20.6% of diabetics and 24.1% of hyperlipidemic subjects. Statins were prescribed to 91.1% of subjects with hyperlipidemia, 89.9% of diabetics were on insulin and 10.7% were on oral drugs, whereas only 13.6% of hypertensive subjects were on prescription medication. Conclusion: A substantial proportion of young adults are found to have modifiable stroke risk factors during office visits. There is a high use of prescriptions to treat hyperlipidemia and diabetes, however counseling regarding lifestyle changes is dismal. Efforts should be made fulfill the potential of the medical practioners in providing effective stroke prevention in young adults. Further research should concentrate on the systems of structured management of stroke prevention in primary care practice.
Traffic-aware backoff design for IEEE 802.11(ac)

Current WiFi systems based on the IEEE 802.11 standard apply carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) to prevent users from transmitting simultaneously on the same channel. However, due to its random backoff nature, CSMA/CA does not perform well if the number of users is large. In this paper, we first measure traffic statistics, i.e., average ON/OFF periods and duty cycle, on the IEEE 802.11(ac) WLAN channel. Then we exploit the estimated duty cycle to design two functions, i.e., arctangent and Weibull functions, to adapt backoff parameters in CSMA/CA. For these two proposed functions, the backoff parameters initially increase as the estimated duty cycle increases, but they finally saturate and decrease respectively. The simulations show our proposed backoff functions outperform the conventional scheme using constant backoff parameters in terms of throughput performance.
The Semantic Web Journal as Linked Data.

The Semantic Web journal implements an open and transparent review process which creates a unique bibliographic dataset. In addition to traditional publication data such as author names and paper titles, each paper in this dataset is also accompanied with a fully timestamped history of its successive decision statuses, assigned editors, solicited and voluntary reviewers, full text reviews, comments, and in many cases also the authors’ response letters. This dataset presents a rich and valuable resource for a variety of studies, such as understanding the collaboration networks of scholars as well as exploring the trending topics in the field of Semantic Web. This dataset is now publicly available online as Linked Data. In this short paper, we report the availability, novelty, as well as some design considerations of this dataset.
Teacher Formative Assessment: The Missing Link in Response to Intervention

Response to intervention (RTI) focuses on the assessment, intervention, and progress monitoring of student academic performance and social behavior. Despite requiring highly qualified personnel for successful implementation, the implementation of RTI has not focused on applying its foundational principles towards promoting teacher effectiveness through assessment, intervention, and progress monitoring of teacher classroom practice. Compounding this problem is the lack of availability of reliable and valid teacher assessments to apply in an RTI model for teacher professional development. This chapter provides a rationale for applying RTI principles to teacher professional development and how teacher formative assessment can improve educator effectiveness, student learning, and social behaviors. The Classroom Strategies Scale (CSS), a new multidimensional assessment of instructional and behavioral management practices, is discussed as an example of one promising tool for promoting teachers’ professional development within an RTI model. We offer a synthesis of the theory, research, and evidence of reliability and validity of the CSS. The application of teacher formative assessment in job-embedded professional development/coaching models for schools is discussed. Finally, implications for practice and research are outlined.
Best practices for treating coronary ostial lesions

Key Points Percutaneous coronary intervention of ostial lesions can be fraught with multiple challenges. Intravascular ultrasound detects imperfect stenting results (stent underexpansion and incomplete ostial coverage) in approximately half of imaged ostial lesions. Corrective actions based on intravascular ultrasound imaging can improve the long-term outcomes of patients undergoing ostial lesion stenting.
Biodistribution of Fracture-Targeted GSK3β Inhibitor-Loaded Micelles for Improved Fracture Healing

Bone fractures constitute a major cause of morbidity and mortality especially in the elderly. Complications associated with osteoporosis drugs and the age of the patient slow bone turnover and render such fractures difficult to heal. Increasing the speed of fracture repair by administration of a fracture-targeted bone anabolic agent could find considerable application. Aspartic acid oligopeptides are negatively charged molecules at physiological pH that adsorb to hydroxyapatite, the mineral portion of bone. This general adsorption is the strongest where bone turnover is highest or where hydroxyapatite is freshly exposed. Importantly, both of these conditions are prominent at fracture sites. GSK3β inhibitors are potent anabolic agents that can promote tissue repair when concentrated in a damaged tissue. Unfortunately, they can also cause significant toxicity when administered systemically and are furthermore difficult to deliver due to their strong hydrophobicity. In this paper, we solve both problems by conjugating the hydrophobic GSK3β inhibitor to a hydrophilic aspartic acid octapeptide using a hydrolyzable bond, thereby generating a bone fracture-targeted water-soluble form of the drug. The resulting amphiphile is shown to assemble into micelles, extending its circulation time while maintaining its fracture-targeting abilities. For measurement of pharmacokinetics, an 125I was introduced at the location of the bromine in the GSK3β inhibitor to minimize any structural differences. Biodistribution studies demonstrate a greater than 4-fold increase in fracture accumulation over healthy bone.
Physics-based standard for RF breakdown prevention in spacecraft components

Multipactor and ionization breakdown can cause critical damage to RF systems within spacecraft systems. In order to prevent these breakdown events and ensure proper satellite operation, fundamental physics and the RF system must both be well defined and understood. A standardized approach and methodology for breakdown prevention has been developed that encompasses the needed fundamental physics and systems engineering approach. In this presentation, a new approach is described which analyzes the RF satellite system to define worst case parameters for both multipator and ionization breakdown. New modeling techniques including 3D particle tracking and PIC codes are leveraged to improve accuracy and reduce overconservative margins. State-of-the-art diagnostics for multipactor and plasma detection are incorporated as standard techniques to ensure sensitive detection. Using improved modeling and test methods, this standard improves overall component design and the understanding of basic parameters of RF breakdown phenomena.
Rooted in relationship: Longevity in congregational ministry

Vocational congregational ministry presents several unique challenges that test a minister’s fortitude and commitment. A considerable number of novice ministers who are gifted for the work and sens...
Tapering biologics in rheumatoid arthritis: a pragmatic approach for clinical practice

Optimal rheumatoid arthritis (RA) therapy in daily clinical practice is based on the treat-to-target strategy. Quicker escalation of therapy and earlier introduction of biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs have led to improved outcomes in RA. However, chronic immunosuppressive therapy is associated with adverse events and higher costs. In addition, our patients frequently express a desire for lower dosing and drug holidays. Current clinical practice guidelines from the American College of Rheumatology and European League Against Rheumatism suggest that rheumatologists consider tapering treatment after achieving remission. However, the optimal approach for tapering therapy in RA, specifically de-escalation of biologics, remains unknown. This clinical review discusses biologic tapering strategies in RA. We draw our recommendations for everyday clinical practice from the most recent observational, pragmatic, and controlled clinical trials on de-escalation of biologics in RA. For each biologic, we highlight clinically relevant outcomes, such as flare rates, recapture of the disease control with retreatment, radiographic progression, side effects, and functional impact. We discuss the use of musculoskeletal ultrasound to select patients for successful tapering. In conclusion, we provide the reader with a practical guide for tapering biologics in the rheumatology clinic.
The Role of Multilingualism in Effectively Addressing Global Issues: The Sustainable Development Goals and Beyond

In a globalized, interconnected world, multilingualism is essential for effective communication, understanding of other cultures, and the development of global citizenship values. In addition to being part of a global personal cultural identity and a practical tool for communication in transnational teams, multilingualism has been linked to creativity and to problem-solving, both of critical importance in addressing complex issues, and regular use of more than one language has even been shown to stave off dementia. International organizations, multinational corporations, and educational institutions approach multilingualism differently, each with the language strategy that aligns most closely with their mission and goals. How can international educators best prepare students for an increasingly multilingual world and workplace where multilingualism is the norm rather than the exception?
Hepatic stellate cells as key target in liver fibrosis

Progressive liver fibrosis, induced by chronic viral and metabolic disorders, leads to more than one million deaths annually via development of cirrhosis, although no antifibrotic therapy has been approved to date. Transdifferentiation (or “activation”) of hepatic stellate cells is the major cellular source of matrix protein-secreting myofibroblasts, the major driver of liver fibrogenesis. Paracrine signals from injured epithelial cells, fibrotic tissue microenvironment, immune and systemic metabolic dysregulation, enteric dysbiosis, and hepatitis viral products can directly or indirectly induce stellate cell activation. Dysregulated intracellular signaling, epigenetic changes, and cellular stress response represent candidate targets to deactivate stellate cells by inducing reversion to inactivated state, cellular senescence, apoptosis, and/or clearance by immune cells. Cell type- and target-specific pharmacological intervention to therapeutically induce the deactivation will enable more effective and less toxic precision antifibrotic therapies.
Assessing the Effectiveness of Emoticon-Like Scripting in Computer Programming

In this paper a new method is proposed for learning computer programming. This method utilizes a set of human-readable graphemes and tokens that interactively replace the grammatical tokens of programming languages, using a concept similar to emoticons in social media. The theoretical framework of the proposed method is discussed in detail and two implementations are presented for the programming language ECMAScript (JavaScript). The results from user testing with undergraduate students show that the proposed technique improves the student’s learning outcomes in terms of syntax recall and logic comprehension, in comparison to traditional source code editors.
If we transform the landfill, will they come? Predicting visitation to Freshkills Park in New York City

Efforts are underway to transform the former Fresh Kills Landfill in Staten Island (SI), NY into Freshkills Park (FKP). Data from a mail survey of 1006 SI residents were used to examine the impact of factors that might facilitate or inhibit intentions to visit FKP once it opens to the public. Facilitators significantly impacting intentions included proximity, past visitation to other SI parks, and familiarity with the FKP site when it was an active landfill. Variables representing likely use of recreational facilities or programs and the presence of children in the household were not significant. Inhibitors significantly impacting intentions included lack of trust in the government agencies managing the development of FKP and health risk concerns. The pattern of results, along with responses to open-end survey questions, suggests that SI residents are curious and are likely to visit FKP at least once. The challenge for park planners and administrators will be to garner this initial curiosity and cultivate repeat visitation and long-term loyalty.
Initial validation of a proxy indicator of functioning as a potential tool for establishing a clinically meaningful cocaine use outcome

Abstract Background Establishing a non-abstinence cocaine use outcome as clinically meaningful has been elusive, in part due to the lack of association between cocaine use outcomes and meaningful indicators of long-term functioning. Methods Using data pooled across 7 clinical trials evaluating treatments for cocaine (N = 718), a dichotomous indicator of functioning was created to represent a meaningful outcome (‘problem-free functioning’ – PFF), defined as the absence of problems across non-substance-related domains on the Addiction Severity Index. Its validity was evaluated at multiple time points (baseline, end-of-treatment, terminal follow-up) and used to explore associations with cocaine use. Results The percentage of participants meeting PFF criteria increased over time (baseline = 18%; end-of-treatment = 32%; terminal follow-up = 37%). At each time point, ANOVAs indicated those who met PFF criteria reported significantly less distress on the Brief Symptom Inventory and less perceived stress on the Perceived Stress Scale. Generalized linear models indicated categorical indices of self-reported cocaine use at the end of treatment were predictive of the probability of meeting PFF criteria during follow-up (β = −0.01, p Conclusions Initial validation of a proxy indicator of problem-free functioning demonstrated criterion validity and sensitivity to change over time. Frequency of cocaine use in the final month of treatment was associated with PFF during follow-up, with strongest associations between PFF and abstinence or ‘occasional’ use.
Do Charities Benefit from a Top-Dog or Underdog Positioning Strategy? An Abstract

This paper explores how the perception of a charity as a top dog or an underdog impacts beliefs about the charity, attitudes toward it, and intention to donate to it. The top-dog concept is prevalent in the business literature such as when there is overwhelming support for breast cancer charities. Yet, being top dog can cause problems. The term underdog has been defined numerous ways including not being well known and lacking financial backing to not being able to succeed.
ROLE OF PHYSICAL INTERACTIONS IN THE REVERSIBLE ADSORPTION OF HYDROSOLS OR GLOBULAR PROTEINS: APPLICATIONS TO CHROMATOGRAPHIC SEPARATIONS

I. ABSTRACT The profile of total interaction energy (Born, van der Waals and double-layer) may assume several shapes – some leading to reversible adsorption. Hydrodynamic and hydrophobic chromatographies are each identified with a shape and discussed. A third shape, in which a surmountable maximum occurs, is also identified. Adsorption and desorption rates and equilibrium are computed for this case and are shown to be highly sensitive to particle properties, including radius, surface charge and surface chemistry. Attaching short hydrocarbon chains containing ionizable groups onto the column packing provides flexibility in column design. Chain length affects van der Waals attraction and the number of attached chains affects the surface charge. This new particle separation technique is called potential-barrier chromatography and appears to offer finer discrimination than existing methods.
The Disunity of Truth

§§3–4 of the Begriffsschrift present Frege’s objections to a dominant if murky nineteenth century semantic picture. I sketch a minimalist variant of the pre-Fregean picture which escapes Frege’s criticisms by positing a thin notion of semantic content which then interacts with a multiplicity of kinds of truth to account for phenomena such as modality. After exploring several ways in which we can understand the existence of multiple truth properties, I discuss the roles of pointwise and setwise truth properties in modal logic. I argue that thinking of supertruth and determinate truth as setwise truth properties allows an understanding of supervaluationist approaches to vagueness which escapes both Williamson’s objections to and a needless metalinguistic orientation of traditional supervaluationism.
Comparison of Complication Rates of Central Venous Catheters Versus Peripherally Inserted Central Venous Catheters in Pediatric Patients

Objectives:The purpose of our study is to compare the rate of central line–associated blood stream infections and venous thromboembolism in central venous catheters versus peripherally inserted central catheters in hospitalized children. There is a growing body of literature in adults describing an
Variation in amino acid composition of cytochrome c of species in the fungal genusUstilago

Cytochrome c was extracted and purified from nine species of the genusUstilago, representing five pathogen for monocotyledonous and four for dicotyledonous host species. The amino acid compositions of acid hydrolysates of cytochrome c from these species were compared and divergence values were calculated for all pairs of species. Aspartic acid, serine, glutamic acid, proline, glycine, alanine, valine, leucine, phenylalanine, lysine, and arginine were the most variable amino acids for both dicot and monocot pathogens. Differences in lysine, glutamic acid, alanine, and histidine distinguished most monocot and dicot pathogens. The dicotyledonous pathogens had fewer glutamic acid and additional alanine and histidine residues. Divergence values for cytochrome c were generally highest between species of dicotyledonous and monocotyledonous hosts and lowest for species within the monocotyledonous group. Pairs of species in the dicotyledonous group gave values only slightly lower than those for pairs with species from different groups.
Blastomere cleavage plane orientation and the tetrahedral formation are associated with increased probability of a good-quality blastocyst for cryopreservation or transfer: a time-lapse study

Objective To determine whether blastomere spatial arrangement in early human embryos is reflective of embryonic potential. Design Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data. Setting Single academic center. Patient(s) Patients undergoing a single blastocyst transfer. Intervention(s) None. Main Outcome Measure(s) Developmental kinetics, blastocyst quality, embryo dysmorphisms, and live birth rate. Result(s) A total of 716 embryos were examined in detail for cleavage plane orientation, blastomere arrangement, and morphokinetic behavior. Tetrahedral (TET) and nontetrahedral embryos (nTET) differed significantly in developmental kinetics. The frequency of dysmorphisms, multinucleation, and irregular chaotic division was higher in nTET embryos. Only 44% of nTET versus 62.9% of TET embryos were scored as top-quality blastocysts. After adjusting for age, our data indicated that having TET embryos significantly increased the odds of having a blastocyst for cryopreservation/transfer (odds ratio, 3.58; confidence interval, 2.42–5.28) when compared with nTET. A total of 164 fresh single ETs were performed with blastocyst-stage embryos. The implantation rate for TET- and nTET-derived blastocysts were similar (64.7% and 62%, respectively). The live birth rate was 55% in both groups. A meridonal first division was noted in 85% of the fresh SET blastocysts. Conclusion(s) Cleavage plane orientation during the first three divisions appeared to dictate final blastomere spatial arrangement. The TET formation at the four-cell stage was predictive for embryos most likely to develop into good-quality blastocysts for cryopreservation/transfer. Morphokinetic markers of embryo potential were significantly different between TET and nTET embryos.
A Better “Best Interests”: Immigration Policy in a Comparative Context

This conceptual article examines the role and limitations of the best interests standard in international and domestic policy, with a particular focus on how the standard is implicated in the treatment of unaccompanied minors in the United States. Motivated by emergent interdisciplinary scholarship on global youth and informed by a comparative consideration of best interests across other professions, we propose a new model of best interests. This model calls for a multidimensional recognition of youths’ family‐, community‐ and decision‐making contexts; acknowledgment of youths’ rights; and a commitment to speaking with, rather than for, young people. What results is a novel and dynamic understanding of best interests with relevance to scholars, practitioners, and policymakers.
Use of simultaneous traction over a halo ring to achieve reduction of a type 2 odontoid fracture for anterior odontoid screw fixation.

Abstract Introduction Odontoid fractures are common. They represent 20% of all cervical trauma. There is a trend towards surgical stabilization. Fracture fixation with 1 or 2 anterior screws is standard operative treatment in younger population. Presentation of case A case of type 2 odontoid fracture. The fracture was fixed initially with a halo vest temporarily. The patient was later treated operatively with anterior odontoid screw fixation. Reduction of the fracture was achieved using a bivector traction over a halo ring. The patient achieved an anatomical reduction and a rigid fixation. Discussion Type 2 odontoid fracture is very controversial to treat. Several methods of fracture reduction have been described in the literature including Gardner-Wells Tongs and Mayfield head clamp. To our knowledge, fracture reduction with biverctor traction over a halo frame hasn’t been described before in the literature. Conclusion Bivector traction over a halo ring can be used for intraoperative reduction of odontoid fracture.
Evaluation of wind directionality on wind load effects and assessment of system reliability of wind-excited structures

Abstract This study re-evaluate wind directionality effect on various structural responses having distinct directionality characteristics using a relatively simple but sufficiently accurate approach with closed-form estimation of response with a given mean recurrence interval. The approach is established on the basis that the directional yearly maximum responses observed at different hours can be assumed to be mutually independent at the distribution upper tail region, even when the directional yearly maximum wind speeds can be correlated to some extent. This study also evaluates the performance of AIJ procedure and traditional sector-by-sector approach through comprehensive case studies. Furthermore, this study presents an analysis framework for assessing overall reliability/risk of a wind-exited structure associated with multiple limit state responses. The limit state responses can be considered to be mutually independent especially in the distribution upper tail region and when the wind directionality is further considered. Therefore, the failure probability associated with multiple limit state responses can be estimated as the sum of those associated with each response at each wind direction. The characteristics of failure probability influenced by wind directionality and structural orientation are investigated. This study also highlights the sensitivity of failure probability estimation to assumed probability distribution model of extreme response.
Chapter 11 – Immune Function Enhancement

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the evidence that a variety of personal beliefs and practices, including social activity, expression of emotion, relaxation habits, physical exercise, and nutritional choices, have beneficial effects on immune function. Beliefs are complex mental phenomena that serve as guiding principles in the process of human life. Hypnosis is fundamentally a process rooted in the willingness of one individual to participate with another in a relationship marked by the belief in the power of suggestion delivered by a qualified source. There is abundant evidence that suggestion under hypnosis can alter basic aspects of experience such as the sensation of pain. Analgesia induced via hypnosis has been repeatedly demonstrated. Under placebo effect approach, the belief by both the afflicted person and the healer that some potion or ritual has the power to cure could bring about such an outcome. The nocebo effect refers to the observation that expectation of sickness or even death may promote such an outcome—in effect that the power of belief operates also in negative outcomes. The importance of social engagement or more generally social interaction has been abundantly documented by epidemiological studies that demonstrate that those who have more social contact are more likely to retain health and live longer.
Assessment of Genetic Association Between Parkinson Disease and Bipolar Disorder.

This genetic association study assesses genetic etiologies and associations between Parkinson disease and bipolar disorder.
A rare case of synovial sarcoma presenting as abdominal pain

Abdominal pain can arise from numerous sources, including those extra-abdominal. It is important to obtain additional imaging in the setting of clinical suspicion for malignancy.
Evidentiary Basis of Percutaneous Discectomy

The intervertebral disc is part of an anatomic unit that consists of an inner gelatinous nucleus pulposus (NP), an outer annulus fibrosus (AF), and the cartilaginous end plates with their associated capillary beds both cranially and caudally. The central NP is a site of collagen secretion and contains numerous proteoglycans (PG), which facilitate water retention, creating hydrostatic pressure to resist axial compression of the spine. The NP is primarily composed of type II collagen. In contrast, the AF functions to maintain the NP within the center of the disc with low amount of PG and is composed of primarily of type I collagen [1, 2].
Tuberculosis in Pediatric Solid Organ and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Recipients

Children undergoing solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation are at high risk of morbidity and mortality from tuberculosis (TB) disease in the post-transplant period. Treatment of TB...
Cannabinoids for Gastrointestinal Health

Multiple studies have explored the use of cannabinoids in a large array of GI conditions, including non-chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, inappetence, gastric reflux, abdominal pain (visceral hypersensitivity), diarrhea, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) (Izzo and Sharkey 2010; Trautmann and Sharkey 2015; Reichenbach and Schey 2016; Esposito et al. 2013). Given the paucity of companion animal studies clinical use has been extrapolated largely from other species.
Results of a Shortened Quarantine Protocol on a Midwestern College Campus.

A shortened quarantine protocol following SARS-CoV-2 exposure was implemented on a college campus. We assessed data on exposures, symptoms and tests on 1,152 individuals released from quarantine on Day 7. A shortened quarantine period for asymptomatic individuals with negative tests can be implemented with low risk.
When weak-injective modules decompose like injectives

The aim of this note is to find those commutative rings over which an exact analogue of the structure theory of injective modules over commutative noetherian rings holds for weak-injective modules, i.e. for modules M satisfying $$\mathop {\mathrm{Ext}}\nolimits _R^1(A,M)=0$$ for all modules A of weak dimension $$\le 1$$ . We will show that, surprisingly, but a very few commutative rings R possess the property that their weak-injective modules admit (up to isomorphism) unique decompositions into direct sums of indecomposable modules each of which is the injective or the weak-injective envelope of a cyclic module of the form $$R/{\mathsf {p}} $$ with a prime ideal $${\mathsf {p}} $$ .
Reciprocity among forced migrants: refugees and asylees as agents of facilitating integration and community-building for self and others in the United States

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the role of informal reciprocity within a refugee and asylee context. The study draws from 21 semi-structured interviews conducted in 2019 with ...
Clinical Predictors of Locally Advanced Pathology in Esophageal Adenocarcinoma.

Background In patients with resectable esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), the decision for neoadjuvant treatment depends on clinical staging with endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and positron-emission tomography (PET) scan. Patients with locally advanced EAC pathology misclassified as early EAC by clinical staging are missing the opportunity to receive neoadjuvant therapy. We aim to identify predictors of locally advanced pathology in EAC to determine more accurately those who benefit from neoadjuvant therapy. Methods Retrospective study of patients who underwent upfront endoscopic or surgical resection for EAC without neoadjuvant therapy from January 2011 to December 2017 was performed. Clinical characteristics, EUS, PET scan and histologic findings were analyzed. Multivariable analysis of predictors of locally advanced stage was performed and a risk prediction score was developed. Results A total of 97 patients were included; 68 patients were staged as early EAC (pT1 or pT2 and pN0) and 29 patients were staged as locally advanced EAC (pT1 or pT2 with pN1 and pT3 or pT4 irrespective of N status). In a predictive model of EAC, patients presenting with dysphagia, tumor size >2 cm, exophytic mass appearance on endoscopy and absence of hiatal hernia were more likely to be have locally advanced pathology with a probability of 70% (C-statistic 0.766). Conclusions A risk prediction model based on the presence of dysphagia, tumor size >2 cm, exophytic mass appearance and absence of hiatal hernia can be used to identify locally advanced pathology in EAC patients.
Antebellum Slave Narratives: Cultural and Political Expressions of Africa

1. "Speaking Guinea and a Mixture of Everything Else": The Slave Narratives of Frederick Douglass Re-visited 2. William Wells Brown: Subtle Whispers of Slave Culture, Pan-Africanism & Insurgency 3. "Moses Is Got De Charm": Harriet Tubman's Mosaic Persona 4. Harriet Jacobs: A Larger Discussion of the John Kuner Parade and Other Cultural Recollections 5. Discourse on the Slave Narrative and a New Interpretation on Black Anti-Slavery Ideology
Cooperative Sentry Vehicles And Differential GPS Leapfrog

As part of a project for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Sandia National Laboratories’ Intelligent Systems & Robotics Center is developing and testing the feasibility of using a cooperative team of robotic sentry vehicles to guard a perimeter, perform a surround task, and travel extended distances. This paper describes our most recent activities. In particular, this paper highlights the development of a Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) leapfrog capability that allows two or more vehicles to alternate sending DGPS corrections. Using this leapfrog technique, this paper shows that a group of autonomous vehicles can travel 22.68 kilometers with a root mean square positioning error of only 5 meters.
Personality and Resistance to Persuasion

While long privileged by researchers in psychology, only recently have scholars begun to consider the role of personality in political behavior (Mondak 2010; Mondak and Halperin 2008; Mondak et al. 2010). While such work has done much to inform our understanding of the effects of personality in citizens’ political lives, little attention has been paid to another potential role for personality; as a moderator of information processing. Personality’s influence has been found on overarching worldviews such as ideology (Gerber et al. 2010; Mondak and Halperin 2008) and tolerance for risk Kowert and Hermann 1997, but little to no work considers how personality conditions individuals responses to persuasive appeals. Using a 2x1 between subjects design, we test the impact of persuasive appeals framing issues as risky or safe, and altruistic or selfish outcomes, examining both the independent effects of Big Five personality traits, but also the cumulative effects of personality types on subjects’ responsiveness to the persuasive appeals.
Avoiding politics: Newspapers in the cycle of political evaporation

Reading the local newspapers in Amargo and Evergreen City did not help citizens make connections between politics and everyday life, did not help them learn about the art of political debate, and inadvertently discouraged them from speaking out in a public-spirited way. Far from the sober gray world of national news, the world of local news is simultaneously lurid and down-home. The news in local Amargo and Evergreen papers was a rushing stream of unpredictable, curious, and scary events that happen to other people, usually elsewhere – lost children in other states, Siamese twins some-where who ride a bicycle built for two, freak poisonings, the random, and the weird – and advice about cholesterol, dogs, yard care, consumer advice on brands of cough drops and local shopping. That is, the local papers were mainly tabloids with tamer headlines (Bird 1990) plus consumer gazettes. Still, they did cover many local events, using serious local reporters, and they devoted two pages per issue to national and international news. And they were most people's source of news, aside from TV – everybody I met who read newspapers read either the Amargo Herald or the Evergreen Country Times . Every now and then, a few activists and cynics read nearby city newspapers, but those papers rarely had news about suburbs. No one read national newspapers such as The New York Times, Washington Post , or Los Angeles Times .
The Role of ICT in the Economic Development of Africa: The Case of South Africa

Africa has been hard hit with poverty and diseases and these have had immense effects on the quality of social, cultural and political lives of the people. This has made development to move at a very slow pace in the last decades. But the presence of information and communication technologies (ICTs) have somewhat carved an alternative path to development. Not withstanding the urgency and enthusiasm with using this new medium of effecting social and economic change, the Internet has brought about negative as well as positive contributions to development in Africa. The contributions of scholars in the field of technology in bringing about change in the lives of people in Africa in general and South Africa in particular will be discussed and analyzed. The reviews and analysis of the contributions of the scholars in the field of development will be critical in judging the overall significance of the role of the Internet in promoting social change.