cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Recruitment Of Hispanic Students Into MIS Curricula

This paper provides several suggestions Hispanic student recruitment and retention in MIS or other business curricula. Cultural considerations like allocentrism and familialism are discussed along with the situation at K-State.
Immune responses to Marek's disease virus infection.

Marek’s disease (MD), a herpesvirus-induced lymphomatous disease in chickens, has attracted the interest of immunologists since MD virus (MDV) was isolated in 1968 and vaccines became available shortly afterwards (Witter 1985,Witter 2000). The pathogenesis of MD has been reviewed extensively (Calnek 1986,Calnek 1998,Calnek 2000; Schat 1987b). Infection of chickens with MDV is characterized by several distinct phases in which innate and acquired immune responses play important roles. The first phase is characterized by the replication of MDV in lymphoid cells, which are mostly B lymphocytes. The consequence of the lytic infection is that T lymphocytes become activated. Only activated, but not resting, T cells can be infected with MDV. Schat and Xing (2000) hypothesized recently that a viral homologue of interleukin (IL)-8 (vIL-8) (LIu et al. 1999) may be involved in attracting the activated T cells to the infected B cells (see Sects. 2.1, 6.2) to facilitate the transfer of virus. Intimate contact between B and T cells is important for the transfer of infectious virus from cell to cell (Kaleta 1977), because MDV is highly cell-associated (Schat 1984). Temporal immunosuppression of the humoral immune responses is often one of the consequences of the lytic infection in B lymphocytes. During the second phase, a latent infection is normally established in these activated T cells, although some activated CD4+ and CD8+ T cells may undergo a lytic infection (Baigent et al. 1998). The actual process of establishment and maintenance of latency has not been elucidated, but it is likely that a complex set of interactions, including immune responses and specific cellular and viral genes, is responsible.
Deletion of P2X7 attenuates hyperoxia-induced acute lung injury via inflammasome suppression

Increasing evidence shows that hyperoxia is a serious complication of oxygen therapy in acutely ill patients that causes excessive production of free radicals leading to hyperoxia-induced acute lung injury (HALI). Our previous studies have shown that P2X7 receptor activation is required for inflammasome activation during HALI. However, the role of P2X7 in HALI is unclear. The main aim of this study was to determine the effect of P2X7 receptor gene deletion on HALI. Wild-type (WT) and P2X7 knockout (P2X7 KO) mice were exposed to 100% O2 for 72 h. P2X7 KO mice treated with hyperoxia had enhanced survival in 100% O2 compared with the WT mice. Hyperoxia-induced recruitment of inflammatory cells and elevation of IL-1β, TNF-α, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and IL-6 levels were attenuated in P2X7 KO mice. P2X7 deletion decreased lung edema and alveolar protein content, which are associated with enhanced alveolar fluid clearance. In addition, activation of the inflammasome was suppressed in P2X7-deficient alveolar macrophages and was associated with suppression of IL-1β release. Furthermore, P2X7-deficient alveolar macrophage in type II alveolar epithelial cells (AECs) coculture model abolished protein permeability across mouse type II AEC monolayers. Deletion of P2X7 does not lead to a decrease in epithelial sodium channel expression in cocultures of alveolar macrophages and type II AECs. Taken together, these findings show that deletion of P2X7 is a protective factor and therapeutic target for the amelioration of hyperoxia-induced lung injury.
Two-stage data-driven single channel speech enhancement with cepstral analysis pre-processing

Most single channel speech enhancement approaches introduce distortion in the speech and create musical noise. In this paper, we propose a novel data-driven two-stage speech enhancement approach based on cepstral smoothing method. By utilizing the cepstral smoothing method and modified recursive a priori and a posteriori signal-to-noise ratio estimation, the main speech information is preserved while noise is attenuated at the first stage. At the second stage, the residual noise is suppressed. The lookup table technique is also applied to achieve better noise suppression. A notable improvement of the proposed approach over the Voice-Activity-Detector (VAD) based decision directed approach is that it introduces less speech distortion while suppressing the noise. Quantifiable results shows that up to 20 percent improvement in terms of speech quality is achieved under certain noisy conditions.
Mutant p53 in concert with an interleukin-27 receptor alpha deficiency causes spontaneous liver inflammation, fibrosis, and steatosis in mice.

The cellular and molecular etiology of unresolved chronic liver inflammation remains obscure. Whereas mutant p53 has gain-of-function properties in tumors, the role of this protein in liver inflammation is unknown. Herein, mutant p53R172H is mechanistically linked to spontaneous and sustained liver inflammation and steatosis when combined with the absence of interleukin-27 (IL27) signaling (IL27RA), resembling the phenotype observed in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) patients. Indeed, these mice develop, with age, hepatocyte necrosis, immune cell infiltration, fibrosis, and micro- and macrosteatosis; however, these phenotypes are absent in mutant p53R172H or IL27RA-/- mice. Mechanistically, endothelin A receptor (ETAR)-positive macrophages are highly accumulated in the inflamed liver, and chemical inhibition of ETAR signaling reverses the observed phenotype and negatively regulates mutant p53 levels in macrophages. Conclusion: The combination of mutant p53 and IL27RA-/- causes spontaneous liver inflammation, steatosis, and fibrosis in vivo, whereas either gene alone in vivo has no effects on the liver. (Hepatology 2016;63:1000–1012)
Social Stimulation within Blackbird Colonies

Support for this hypothesis was drawn from three types of evidence: the time of initiation of breeding; the synchrony of colony members; and the comparative breeding success of large and small colonies. On the basis of his results, Darling also postulated a number of corollaries, but it is important to note that the validity of the main thesis does not rest upon the truth of these corollaries. First, he suggested that synchrony was of value in reducing the loss of young to predators because the vulnerable stages were concentrated into a shorter period of time. Second, he believed that there was a threshold of numbers below which breeding would be unsuccessful. He did recognize, however, that this number may change with ecological conditions. Finally, he postulated that sexual dimorphism and elaborate displays had evolved because they stimulated the pituitary glands of other members of the breeding group. This explanation was thought to avoid some of the traditional difficulties felt in the Darwinian theory of sexual selection.
The Search of 'I' and the African Personality in the 21st Century of Globalization

This essay is concerned with the impact that globalization has on the reconfiguration and displacement of the African identity. It is through this alteration that the African Personality remains a challenge to further identify and conceptualize in the 21st century, especially amongst the resulting African Diaspora. Historical political leaders, i.e. Kwame Nkrumah, Leopold Senghor, Sekou Toure, Amilcar Cabral sought a collective movement to revere a unified ideology of national consciousness amongst citizens. They planted seeds to create a national political thought to empower citizens and mobilize efforts towards economic, political and social emancipation from colonial subjugation. Trans-cultural individuals of hybrid identities struggle to conceptualize home and therefore, self. This essay argues for a need of the African Diaspora to extol traditionalist views and culture. The African Diaspora are foreigners in their homelands and need to be re-acculturated back to their home countries. Their renewed thought-consciousness would align with a deeper understanding of the political, social and economic climate in their African countries. This would permit them to apply specific African centric approaches to address issues that plague Africa. As sojourners, the African Diaspora can learn from, and extend the works of past political activists to develop the continent of Africa.
A unified framework for identification and control

In this paper we examine some of the recent complexity results in worst case deterministic, or control-oriented system identification. We use these as motivation for introducing a unified approach for iterative system identification and control. The approach is an iterative procedure for refining the uncertainty set via robust control based model invalidation and can be viewed as a systematic way of efficiently searching for a controller delivering a certain desired level of performance to the plant. As a result, either the performance goal will be met or the entire uncertainty set will be invalidated in accordance with our modeling and control method biases. We will comment on the computations involved in such a procedure and provide some results for a particular model structure.
Compact Tori as Extensions of the Spherical Tokamak

The need for a flexible experimental facility, capable of studying several alternate confinement concepts simultaneously, is discussed. A facility suitable for both spherical tokamak (ST) and Field...
Robust H 2 and generalized H 2 performance analysis

Abstract The problem of assessing robust H 2 performance (as a first step towards robust H 2 synthesis) has been open for the last two decades. In this paper we give sufficient conditions for robust H 2 and generalized H 2 performance under LTI, not necessarily causal, model uncertainty. These conditions have complexity roughly comparable to that of H∞ conditions for the same problem. Moreover, we show that in the case of MISO and SIMO systems these conditions are indeed necessary and sufficient, when the uncertainty structure has one scalar or two full blocks.
Historians and the Study of Protest

In this chapter, we reflect on the distinctive ways in which historians have contributed to our understanding of social movements and collective action. We find that historians interrogate the historical record in at least one of three ways. First, historians characterize their task as interpretative; that is, they attempt to establish not only the “actuality” of an event by constructing a textual account of it, but also its meaning by providing a detailed description of its causes, scope, and outcomes, as well as of the parties involved, their motives, and their accomplishments. A second approach is expansive. Scholars working in this vein seek to augment the historical record with respect to established events, legitimating their particular contribution to the literature by showing how it fills a gap or omission. Third, historians of social movements and collective action portray their narrative accounts of particular events as corrective. This often involves providing an interpretation that challenges the official or established view of an event.
High Performance Web Sites

Google Maps, Yahoo! Mail, Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, and Amazon are examples of Web sites built to scale. They access petabytes of data sending terabits per second to millions of users worldwide. The magnitude is awe-inspiring. Users view these large-scale Web sites from a narrower perspective. The typical user has megabytes of data that are downloaded at a few hundred kilobits per second. Users are not so interested in the massive number of requests per second being served; they care more about their individual requests. As they use these Web applications, they inevitably ask the same question: "Why is this site so slow?"
Worsening in Longitudinal Strain and Strain Rate Anticipates Development of Pediatric Transplant Coronary Artery Vasculopathy as Soon as One Year Following Transplant.

Transplant coronary artery vasculopathy (TCAV) following orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT) continues to be the primary reason for late graft failure in children. The current gold standard of diagnosis of TCAV is coronary angiography with or without intravascular ultrasound. This study investigates the longitudinal use of speckle-tracking echocardiographic strain imaging as an early non-invasive marker to screen for development of TCAV. Echocardiograms from patients who underwent OHT between 2006 and 2010 at Children’s Hospital Colorado (n = 50) were retrospectively assessed. Studies were evaluated at baseline (within a month of transplant), then at each annual clinical follow-up for peak longitudinal (LS) and circumferential (CS) strain, systolic strain rate, and diastolic strain rate using Siemens Velocity Vector Imaging software. Comparisons were made between subjects who did and did not develop TCAV. Mean time to TCAV diagnosis following OHT was 3.2 years (range 1–5.1 years). One year after transplant, significant differences were seen between groups in LS (non-TCAV mean −19.6%, TCAV mean −17.3%, p = 0.03) and longitudinal strain rate (non-TCAV mean −1.7%/s, TCAV mean −1.4%/s, p = 0.04). These differences persisted in subsequent years. Differences in LS preceded the catheterization-based diagnosis of TCAV in pediatric heart recipients and were noted as early as one year post transplant. Additionally, within-subject LS changes may have utility as a non-invasive screening tool to predict those patients at increased risk for development of TCAV.
Architecture and Eternity: Physis in Nietzsche and Empedocles

“Architecture and Eternity: Physis in Nietzsche and Empedocles” argues that Empedocles’ vision of nature stands at the juncture between the archaic conception of nature as sublime force, and the classical Greek notion of self-replicating substance. The essay first traces the Homeric notions of phyein (“to bring forth or produce”) and physis (“the entirety of a thing, all of its capacities and hidden parts”). It proceeds to argue that Empedocles attributes ontological primacy exclusively to the four roots and the forces of love and strife, whose constant mixture and separation produces all things. When compared to the classical Aristotelian notion of nature, Empedocles allows for internal force and creativity, but rejects an Aristotelian telos. He instead prioritizes physis in terms of persistent principles that cause continuous coming to be and passing away through mixture, without divine purpose beyond their own motions. For Empedocles, the cosmos dances from limit to opposed limit, while leaving a wondrous trail of temporary beings in its wake. Finally, the essay relates Empedocles’ view of nature to Nietzsche’s, arguing that Nietzsche’s philosophy echoes Empedocles’ rejection of functionalism and teleology, embracing his emphasis on existence as lived. Since for Empedocles nature and culture are at one with the roots, a Nietzschean philosophy of the city that embraces existence and the union of self, others, rocks, and plants becomes possible.
Television for children: Dimensions of communicator and audience perceptions

How does a child organize his perceptions of commercial television programs designed to enlighten and entertain him? How does the creator of such programs structure his perceptions of his own programing? What criteria does that professional communicator think his child audiences use in judging his programs? Numerous theoretical issues are involved in these much-discussed questions; little research has been developed to answer them. Most models of the communication process focus on the empathy and rapport that should be established between communicator and receiver as a critical concern (i). Communication is presumed to be impeded to the extent that frames of reference differ, that common criteria are not used, that language has different meanings. As adult communicator differs with child receiver in perception of message content, message acceptance is likely to be deterred. In this vein, Westley and Jacobson explored the relative perceptions of teachers and students regarding the introduction of instructional television in the college classroom (6, 7, 8). They identified the dimensions of judgment of instructional television
Acetylcholine receptor antibody–mediated animal models of myasthenia gravis and the role of complement

Because of the failure of many promising therapeutics identified in preclinical evaluation, funding sources have established guidelines for increased rigor in animal evaluations. The myasthenia gravis (MG) community of scientists has developed guidelines for preclinical assessment for potential MG treatments. Here, we provide a focused summary of these recommendations and the role of complement in disease development in experimental models of MG.
Commentary on “Surjectivity for Hamiltonian Loop Group Spaces” [120]

Two of Raoul Bott’s major works (B; AB) study Morse theory in two apparently unrelated settings. In (BTW), we show that these results fit into a general theorem about Hamiltonian actions of loop groups.
Visualization of the scattering of focused ultrasonic waves at solid-fluid interfaces

While high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is already being used for the ablation of tissue near the skin, such as in the case of prostate cancer, targeting tissue deeper inside the body remains challenging due to the increased obstruction and scattering of ultrasonic waves. In this work, the partial and complete obstruction of the ultrasonic beam path from a HIFU transducer operating at 670 kHz by bone phantom is imaged in laboratory experiments to visualize wave transmission and reflection at solid-fluid interfaces. Ultrasonic wave-scattering under such conditions has scarcely been the focus of previous ultrasound visualization studies. Thus, this work provides a qualitative visual reference for focused waves scattering at water-bone interfaces. A diffraction-based shadowgraph technique is used for the ultrasound visualization. The ultrasonic waves are imaged in water with no obstruction, with varying partial obstruction, and with complete obstruction by a thin fiber-filled epoxy plate mimicking bone tissue. Experimental findings are compared to those obtained through finite element simulations, showing good agreement. Furthermore, it is found that in certain partial obstruction cases, the waves scatter in such a way that the destructive interference between the transmitted waves lead to a significantly reduced maximum pressure at the focal point. Overall, the results of this study can provide a visual framework for future research in the field of therapeutic ultrasound.
Why Deforestation Persists in Africa: Actors, Interests, and Interest Alignment

This study examines the workings of three African political systems, Madagascar, Tanzania, and Uganda, with special focus on how decision-making power is negotiated and exercised at two principal levels: the local, where communities make decisions regarding forests on a daily basis, and the national, where environmental policies are negotiated and enacted. Madagascar, Tanzania, and Uganda are good cases to examine the political economy of forest conservation because these three countries’ forest policy efforts have benefitted from foreign donors’ support largely due to their exceptional biodiversity. Additionally, despite strong support for forest conservation, all three countries have had variable success with forest despite foreign assistance. The book’s central claim is that deforestation persists in Africa because conservation policies and projects consistently ignore the fact that conservation is possible only under limited, specific conditions. These conditions relate to the concurrent alignment of key actors’ interests at two critical levels of decision-making: local and national. The book further argues that conservation policies are predicated upon unexamined assumptions relating to (1) the power of rules over resources users’ behavior, (2) the impact of forest assistance on conservation policies and practices, and (3) the symbiotic relationship that binds actors from the national and local levels of decision-making.
How Group Events Can Shape Network Processes

Social network analysis has trouble distinguishing between group processes in which several people interact concurrently and sequentially unfolding dyadic interactions. This article suggests that t...
NUTRITION OF MEAT ANIMALS | Ruminants

Production of ruminants used for meat varies based on climate and availability of feedstuffs. Ruminants have the ability to convert forages to animal protein. The rumen is a fermentation vat in which cellulosic and starch-based feedstuffs can be digested. Goats can be used in conjunction with cattle in grazing operations because goats prefer browse and woody shrubs whereas cattle and sheep prefer grasses. Grains are used to fatten cattle because higher fat content of the meat is desirable in some markets. In regions where grain is less available, forages are the sole source of nutrients.
HPCC based framework for COPD readmission risk analysis

Prevention of hospital readmissions has the potential of providing better quality of care to the patients and deliver significant cost savings. A review of existing readmission analysis frameworks based on data type, data size, disease conditions, algorithms and other features shows that existing frameworks do not address the issue of using large amounts of data that is fundamental to readmission prediction analysis. Available patient data for readmission risk analysis has high dimensionality and number of instances. Further, there is more new data produced everyday which can be used on a continuous basis to improve the prediction power of risk models. This study proposes a High Performance Computing Cluster based Big Data readmission risk analysis framework which uses Nave Bayes classification algorithm. The study shows that the over-all evaluation time using Big Data and a parallel computing platform can be significantly decreased, while maintaining model performance.
Corrigendum to: Ethnic Change, Personality, and Polarization Over Immigration in the American Public

In Johnston, Newman and Velez (2015), we examine how personality traits related to uncertainty aversion moderate the effect of local ethnic change on perceived cultural threat from immigrants and on immigration-related policy preferences. In two studies—one observational and one experimental—we find that ethnic change increases perceptions of threat and decreases support for immigration among uncertainty-averse citizens but has the opposite effect for the uncertainty tolerant. Neither study finds evidence for similar associations with levels of ethnic diversity.
Pauli Terms Must Be Absent in the Dirac Equation

It should be of interest whether Dirac’s equation involves all 16 basis elements of his Clifford algebra Cl D . These include the 6 ‘tensorial’ σμv with which the ‘Pauli terms’ are formed. We find that these violate a basic axiom of any *-algebra when Dirac’s ψ is canonical. Then the Dirac operator is spanned only by the 10 elements 1, iγ5, γμ, γμγ5 (which don’t form a basis of Cl D because the σμv are excluded).
Ivy: A Multi-modal Verification Tool for Distributed Algorithms

Ivy is a multi-modal verification tool for correct design and implementation of distributed protocols and algorithms, supporting modular specification, implementation and proof. Ivy supports proving safety and liveness properties of parameterized and infinite-state systems via three modes: deductive verification using an SMT solver, abstraction and model checking, and manual proofs using natural deduction. It supports light-weight formal methods via compositional specification-based testing and bounded model checking. Ivy can extract executable distributed programs by translation to efficient C++ code. It is designed to support decidable automated reasoning, to improve proof stability and to provide transparency in the case of proof failures. For this purpose, it presents concrete finite counterexamples, automatically audits proofs for decidability of verification conditions, and provides modular hiding of theories.
Sexual health and Risk-Taking behaviors among New York city high school students: variation by sexual orientation and gender identity status

Few sexual health studies have examined subgroup differences in youth risk behaviors that sufficiently account for sexual orientation and gender identity. This study used 2017 New York City Youth R...
Zic4 Antibody Positive Autoimmune Encephalitis Responding to Rituximab After Failing First Line Therapies: A Case Report (2233)

Objective: NA Background: We present a 67 year old man admitted with progressive generalized weakness and altered mental status, found to have autoimmune encephalitis after his CSF tested positive for a rare onconeural antibody Zic4. Patients with Zic4 antibodies have been found to present with a cerebellar syndrome which correlated with his MRI brain findings of generalized atrophy, most prominent in the cerebellum, that were not present on previous scans. The malignancy survey was negative in his case. He failed multiple first line therapies including intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and plasmapheresis with subsequent minimal neurocognitive response to intravenous steroids. However, he responded to Rituximab with significant improvement in cognition but limited improvement in motor skills thus far. We also explore the possible association with recent epidural platelet rich plasma (PRP) therapy treatment. Design/Methods: NA Results: NA Conclusions: NA Disclosure: Dr. Alani has nothing to disclose. Dr. Rossi has nothing to disclose. Dr. Hoffmann has nothing to disclose. Dr. Benes-Cases has nothing to disclose. Dr. Sharma has nothing to disclose. Dr. Tsakadze has nothing to disclose.
Cooperative Change Detection for Voltage Quality Monitoring in Smart Grids

This paper considers the real-time voltage quality monitoring in smart grid systems. The goal is to detect the occurrence of disturbances in the nominal sinusoidal voltage signal as quickly as possible such that protection measures can be taken in time. Based on an autoregressive model for the disturbance, we propose a generalized local likelihood ratio detector, which processes meter readings sequentially and alarms as soon as the test statistic exceeds a prescribed threshold. The proposed detector not only reacts to a wide range of disturbances, but also achieves lower detection delay compared with the conventional block processing method. Then, we further propose to deploy multiple meters to monitor the voltage signal cooperatively. The distributed meters communicate wirelessly to a central meter, where the data fusion and detection are performed. In light of the limited bandwidth of wireless channels, we develop a level-triggered sampling scheme, where each meter transmits only one-bit each time asynchronously. The proposed multi-meter scheme features substantially low communication overhead, while its performance is close to that of the ideal case where distributed meter readings are perfectly available at the central meter.
The Islamic State (Daesh) Healthcare Paradox: A Caliphate in Crisis

At the height of the Arab Spring protests in 2011, Syrian civil society entered a downward spiral into chaos. Initially peaceful protests against President Bashar al-Assad eventually morphed into an armed rebellion. As the war has grown exponentially, so has the devastation of Syria and Iraq. The issue of healthcare is often left silent in the backdrop of issues prevalent in the war. Three years of government bombings and Daesh expansion have ravaged Syria’s health capacity. Daesh militants are embarking on a brutal campaign against health providers and infrastructure throughout Syria and Iraq in controlled territories. Meanwhile, Daesh is attempting to promote a healthcare delivery system among other social services in order to gain support from local populations in controlled territories, but these actions are inconsistent.1 This requires research into how Daesh attempts to create a functioning apparatus for healthcare delivery. Scholarly analysis on the topic of Daesh and its administration of healthcare remains sparse. This paper will explore the paradox in which the terrorist group operates, the bureaucracy it has created to deliver health services, the deficiencies preventing effective delivery and its governing philosophy on health. To win the war against Daesh, the traditional counterterrorism strategy advocating military force must be coupled with effective social service delivery to win over the hearts and minds of the local populations under Daesh control. In this strategy, healthcare is a crucial component of understanding and defeating Daesh.
The Λ2 limit of massive gravity

Lorentz-invariant massive gravity is usually associated with a strong coupling scale Λ3. By including non-trivial effects from the Stuckelberg modes, we show that about these vacua, one can push the strong coupling scale to higher values and evade the linear vDVZ-discontinuity. For generic parameters of the theory and generic vacua for the Stuckelberg fields, the Λ2-decoupling limit of the theory is well-behaved and free of any ghost or gradient-like instabilities. We also discuss the implications for nonlinear sigma models with Lorentzian target spaces.
Correlation networks of air particulate matter ($$\hbox {PM}_{2.5}$$): a comparative study

Over the last decades, severe haze pollution constitutes a major source of far-reaching environmental and human health problems. The formation, accumulation and diffusion of pollution particles occurs under complex temporal scales and expands throughout a wide spatial coverage. Seeking to understand the transport patterns of haze pollutants in China, we review a proposed framework of time-evolving directed and weighted air quality correlation networks. In this work, we evaluate monitoring stations’ time-series data from China and California, to test the sensitivity of the framework to region size, climate and pollution magnitude across multiple years (2014–2020). We learn that the use of hourly $$\hbox {PM}_{2.5}$$ concentration data is needed to detect periodicities in the positive and negative correlations of the concentrations. In addition, we show that the standardization of the correlation function method is required to obtain networks with more meaningful links when evaluating the dispersion of a severe haze event at the North China Plain or a wildfire event in California during December 2017. Post COVID-19 outbreak in China, we observe a significant drop in the magnitude of the assigned weights, indicating the improved air quality and the slowed transport of $$\hbox {PM}_{2.5}$$ due to the lockdown. To identify regions where pollution transport is persistent, we extend the framework, partitioning the dynamic networks and reducing the networks’ complexity through node subsampling. The end result separates the temporal series of $$\hbox {PM}_{2.5}$$ in set of regions that are similarly affected through the year.
Barriers to Vaccination Among People with Parkinson's Disease and Implications for COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) are at higher risk of vaccine-preventable respiratory infections. However, advanced, homebound individuals may have less access to vaccinations. In light of COVID-19, understanding barriers to vaccination in PD may inform strategies to increase vaccine uptake. OBJECTIVE: To identify influenza and pneumococcal vaccination rates, including barriers and facilitators to vaccination, among homebound and ambulatory individuals with PD and related disorders. METHODS: Cross-sectional US-based study among individuals with PD, agedâ>â65 years, stratified as homebound or ambulatory. Participants completed semi-structured interviews on vaccination rates and barriers, and healthcare utilization. RESULTS: Among 143 participants, 9.8% had missed all influenza vaccinations in the past 5 years, and 32.2% lacked any pneumococcal vaccination, with no between-group differences. Homebound participants (nâ=â41) reported difficulty traveling to clinic (pâ<â0.01) as a vaccination barrier, and despite similar outpatient visit frequencies, had more frequent emergency department visits (31.7% vs. 9.8%, pâ<â0.01) and hospitalizations (14.6% vs. 2.9%, pâ=â0.03). Vaccine hesitancy was reported in 35% of participants, vaccine refusal in 19%, and 13.3% reported unvaccinated household members, with no between-group differences. Nearly 13% thought providers recommended against vaccines for PD patients, and 31.5% were unsure of vaccine recommendations in PD. CONCLUSION: Among a sample of homebound and ambulatory people with PD, many lack age-appropriate immunizations despite ample healthcare utilization. Many participants were unsure whether healthcare providers recommend vaccinations for people with PD. In light of COVID-19, neurologist reinforcement that vaccinations are indicated, safe, and recommended may be beneficial.
Comparative study between standard aortic valve replacement and ministernotomy aortic valve replacement

Objectives The aim of this study is to evaluate the outcome of the recalled upper minimally invasive aortic valve replacement (MIAVR) J-shaped technique and full standard median sternotomy techniques aortic valve replacement (AVR). Background Over the past 20 years, MIAVR has evolved into a safe, well-tolerated, and efficient surgical treatment option for aortic valve disease. It has been shown to reduce postoperative morbidity, providing faster recovery and rehabilitation, shorter hospital stays, and better cosmetic results, as it reduces the incidences of wound infection owing to small incision length, especially in our diabetic fatty Egyptian female patients. Patients and methods Between September 2017 and March 2019, this study included 50 patients with isolated aortic valve disease. A total of 25 patients (group A) underwent (MIAVR) J-shaped technique and 25 patients (group B) underwent standard AVR, and they were compared with each other. Results In operative data, there were highly significant differences between both groups regarding aortic cross-clamp time, total bypass time, and total operative time (P Conclusion MIAVR is a feasible procedure despite the narrow operative field that induced long operative times. It is safe with minimal postoperative morbidities, early rehabilitation, and less postoperative pain. Moreover, MIAVR provided cosmetically better wound results, which was immensely satisfying to the patients.
The coefficient of determination between NEFA and BHBA and the association between their ratio and the development of disease in healthy cows sampled during the post-partum period

As a consequence of lagging dry matter intake and increased energy demands, nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) is released into the bloodstream from adipose tissue to be used as a source of energy in dairy cows in early lactation. Nonesterified fatty acid is used for milk fat synthesis, ketone production (e.g., -hydroxybutyrate; BHBA) and liver triglyceride accumulation. Nonesterified fatty acid and BHBA can be used as markers of negative energy balance (NEB) and elevated concentrations in the transition period have been associated with an increased risk of developing disease. The multiple pathways available for NEFA may result in a non-linear relationship between NEFA and BHBA concentrations. Additionally, the ratio between these two metabolites may differ in sub populations, e.g., subclinically ketotic (SCK) cows, and cows with elevated NEFA. Hence, the ratio of these metabolites may be a useful parameter for further understanding the biological mechanisms of adaption or maladaptation to NEB. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the R2 coefficient of determination between NEFA and BHBA in apparently healthy cows three to 14 DIM, and to estimate the association between the ratio of NEFA to BHBA and the subsequent development of displaced abomasum (DA), clinical ketosis (CK), or metritis (MET).
Turn the Page, Speech-Language Pathologists: Adequate, Authentic, and Accurate Representation as a Consideration in the Selection of Picture Books for Use in Treatment

Purpose This tutorial discusses what it means to be a culturally responsive speech-language pathologist (SLP) and then grounds this discussion in strategies that SLPs can engage in to diversify the...
Environmental enrichment mitigates the long-lasting sequelae of perinatal fentanyl exposure

The opioid epidemic is a rapidly evolving societal issue that stems from the abuse of prescription and illicit opioids, including increasing use of synthetic opioids like fentanyl. Fentanyl use among women has increased substantially in the last decade, leading to a 40-fold increase in the number of perinatally-exposed infants. This exposure can result in neuropsychiatric abnormalities that persist into adolescence and, in some cases, adulthood. We previously developed a preclinical model to establish the consequences of perinatal fentanyl exposure and identified a pattern of synaptic pathophysiology that involves lasting impairments in primary somatosensory (S1) circuit function and behavior. Here, we ask if these long-lasting effects can be restored by a non-invasive intervention. We demonstrate that developmental exposure to environmental enrichment ameliorates many of fentanyl9s deleterious behavioral effects, including hyperactivity, enhanced sensitivity to anxiogenic environments, and sensory maladaptation. As an extension of our past work, we found that perinatal fentanyl alters the frequency of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents and impairs long-term potentiation in S1 layer 2/3 neurons. These deficits in synaptic function were restored by environmental enrichment. Environmental enrichment also affected neurons in control mice, reducing long-term potentiation and depression, and increasing frequency of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents. These results demonstrate that the lasting somatosensory-related effects of fentanyl can be ameliorated with a non-invasive intervention introduced during early development. These findings can inform ongoing efforts to develop actionable steps toward mitigating the consequences of opioid abuse among pregnant women.
“Force Multipliers” and “Risk Multipliers:” Organizational Myth and Gender Integration of the U.S. Combat Arms Military Occupational Specialties and Units

This study examines the employment of gendered frameworks accompanying organizational imperatives to diversify and offer equal opportunities through a content analysis of the Women in Service Revie...
The Virgin Mary, Monotheism, and Sacrifice: The Sorrowful Mother: Mary in John

The union of the Mother and the Son in the work of redemption reaches its climax on Calvary, where Christ “offered himself as the perfect sacrifice to God” (Heb. 9:14) and where Mary stood by the cross (John 19:25), suffering grievously with her only begotten Son. There she united herself with a maternal heart to His sacrifice. Ambrose “Go, your son will live.” John 4:50 T he typology that links mary and abraham together and ties both to the discourse of sacrifice becomes most significant in the context of the gospel of John. Here the parallels we have been discussing are given a new dimension, for Mary's instigation of her son's transformation of water into wine for a wedding feast echoes Abraham's hospitality to the other in Genesis, and her presence at the crucifixion on Golgotha echoes his ascent to Mount Moriah to bind his son on the altar. By allowing these texts and figures to resonate together, we can trace the process by which parenthood moves from the biological to the cultural level. We can also see how religious traditions are forged in which Mary will come to function, figuratively speaking, as the Mother of the Church and sign of eschatological fulfillment to come just as Abraham has come to function as the Father of the Faithful and the first to affirm the promise of redemption for future generations.
Sophie Germain primes and involutions of ℤn

In the paper “What is special about the divisors of 24?”, Sunil Chebolu proved an interesting result about the multiplication tables of ℤn from several different number theoretic points of view: all of the 1s in the multiplication table for ℤn are located on the main diagonal if and only if n is a divisor of 24. Put another way, this theorem characterizes the positive integers n with the property that the proportion of 1s on the diagonal is precisely 1. The present work is concerned with finding the positive integers n for which there is a given fixed proportion of 1s on the diagonal. For example, when p is prime, we prove that there exists a positive integer n such that 1∕p of the 1s lie on the diagonal of the multiplication table for ℤn if and only if p is a Sophie Germain prime.
PAH RIS soil test: a rapid, on-site screening test for polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons in soil

Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are chemicals of concern when they contaminate the environment. Current detection methods (gas chromatography and liquid chromatography) are laborious, time consuming, and expensive. As an alternative, we developed a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit that can be used on site for the detection of PAHs at 1 ppm in soil. The immunoassay kit includes all the components necessary to conduct the analysis in the field. The test consists of 3 major steps: (1) sample treatment; (2) immunoassay, in which the target compound is bound by a specific antibody followed by the development of an indicator color; and (3) interpretation of results. A sample the develops less color than the standard is interpreted as positive (soil sample contaminated with PAHs at {ge}1 ppm). Validation studies demonstrated that the assay is sensitive and specific. The assay detects PAH contamination in soil at 1 ppm or greater and specifically detects the 3- and 4-ringed aromatics and most of the 5- and 6-ringed aromatics. PAH-free soil samples gave negative results in the assay at a confidence level of >95%. Matrix effects, interperson, and interlot variations were minimal. The test requires <25 min to complete. The test kit is field compatiblemore » and provides a cost effective method for screening soils at risk for PAH contamination. 8 refs., 2 figs., 5 tabs.« less
Limiting Islam: Restrictions on Muslim Minorities in the Muslim World

What are the limits to religious expression in Muslim majority countries? This paper presents evidence from 47 predominantly Islamic countries to demonstrate that non-Muslim and Muslim minority groups are subject to repression and discrimination in both secular and religious states. Examining the structure of religious regulation in Muslim countries, I argue that religious discrimination and repression results from a combination of selective use of Islamic law and the nature of power relations. Certain Islamic traditions can be interpreted intolerantly, while competition over the distribution of resources and control of the state contribute to the unequal treatment of both Muslim and non-Muslim minorities. Intolerance of Muslim groups is a result of state-centered policies that attempt to control all aspects of religious expression by formulating a single official version of Islam.
Modulation of Plasticity in Human Motor Cortex after Forearm Ischemic Nerve Block

Deafferentation leads to cortical reorganization that may be functionally beneficial or maladaptive. Therefore, we were interested in learning whether it is possible to purposely modulate deafferentation-induced reorganization. Transient forearm deafferentation was induced by ischemic nerve block (INB) in healthy volunteers. The following five interventions were tested: INB alone; INB plus low-frequency (0.1 Hz) repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of the motor cortex ipsilateral to INB (INB+rTMSi); rTMSi alone; INB plus rTMS of the motor cortex contralateral to INB (INB+rTMSc); and rTMSc alone. Plastic changes in the motor cortex contralateral to deafferentation were probed with TMS, measuring motor threshold (MT), motor evoked-potential (MEP) size, and intracortical inhibition (ICI) and facilitation (ICF) to the biceps brachii muscle proximal to the level of deafferentation. INB alone induced a moderate increase in MEP size, which was significantly enhanced by INB+rTMSc but blocked by INB+rTMSi. INB alone had no effect on ICI or ICF, whereas INB+rTMSc reduced ICI and increased ICF, and conversely, INB+rTMSi deepened ICI and suppressed ICF. rTMSi and rTMSc alone were ineffective in changing any of these parameters. These findings indicate that the deafferented motor cortex becomes modifiable by inputs that are normally subthreshold for inducing changes in excitability. The deafferentation-induced plastic changes can be up-regulated by direct stimulation of the "plastic" cortex and likely via inhibitory projections down-regulated by stimulation of the opposite cortex. This modulation of cortical plasticity by noninvasive means might be used to facilitate plasticity when it is primarily beneficial or to suppress it when it is predominately maladaptive.
Demographics and survival trends of sinonasal adenocarcinoma from 1973 to 2009.

Background The purpose of this work was to study the demographics and survival of patients diagnosed with sinonasal adenocarcinoma (SNAC) within the time period of 1973 to 2009 using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Result (SEER) database. Methods A retrospective cohort study using the U.S. National Cancer Institute's SEER registry was performed to study the demographics and survival for SNAC from 1973 to 2009. Analysis was conducted based on race, gender, and stage. Results In total, 1270 cases of SNAC were analyzed for demographics and survival. Males accounted for 51.6% of cases, while females accounted for 48.4% of cases, amounting to a male to female ratio of 1.06:1.00. Disease specific survival at 5, 10, 15, and 20 years was 65.2%, 50.9%, 40.9%, and 36.5%, respectively. When analyzed by gender, females had higher survival than males, although this difference was not statistically significant. When analyzed by race, the category of other, which encompasses American Indian, Asian, Hispanic, and unknown or unspecified race, was shown to have the best survival, followed by whites and blacks, respectively. Conclusion SNAC is a rare tumor classically associated with occupational exposure and carries a variable prognosis. This is the first dedicated large-scale, retrospective analysis of a North American SNAC population. SNAC appears to affect both males and females equally and predominantly affects whites. Patients categorized as other had significantly better survival outcomes, while gender appeared to have no significant effect on survival.
CirCUs: a hybrid satisfiability solver

CirCUs is a satisfiability solver that works on a combination of an And-Inverter-Graph (AIG), Conjunctive Normal Form (CNF) clauses, and Binary Decision Diagrams (BDDs). We show how BDDs are used by CirCUs to help in the solution of SAT instances given in CNF. Specifically, the clauses are sorted by solving a hypergraph linear arrangement problem. Then they are clustered by an algorithm that strives to avoid explosion in the resulting BDD sizes. If clustering results in a single diagram, the SAT instance is solved directly. Otherwise, search for a satisfying assignment is conducted on the original clauses, enhanced with information extracted from the BDDs. We also describe a new decision variable selection heuristic that is based on recognizing that the variables involved in a conflict clause are often best treated as a related group. We present experimental results that demonstrate CirCUs’s efficiency especially for medium-size SAT instances that are hard to solve by traditional solvers based on DPLL.