cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Biological Contributions to the Study of Learning

I never took a course from George Wischner. I was more fortunate. I had him as my adviser (Ray, 1959) and my friend. I could tell many George Wischner stories but will instead make only some general comments. As a graduate student, I was most impressed with two things about George. One was that he believed that graduate students were people and behaved that way, a most progressive attitude in the mid-1950s. We were invited to the parties at his home. That never happened with other faculty. The other characteristic that made an impact on me was his emphasis on doing it right: quality, not quantity. Sometimes, I would think it a bit much at the time, but in retrospect, it is the attention to detail and quality that saves most of us from ourselves. Those two features—a humanistic concern for people and a scientists’s concern for quality—combined to make him a unique and valuable member of the psychology department at the University of Pittsburgh. He was, and is, the compleat psychologist: clinician, researcher (both animal and human), teacher, and administrator. He had our love and respect then—he has it now.
Patient Awareness and Expectations of Pharmacist Services During Hospital Stay.

Background:There are insufficient data in the United States regarding patient awareness and expectations of hospital pharmacist availability and services.Objective:The objective of this research is...
An Assortative Adoption Marketplace: Foster Care, Domestic, and Transnational Adoptions

Among sociologists of the family, there has been relatively little attention paid to child adoption. When it is mentioned, many characterize the process as a universal family form. The goal of this review is to complicate this subject by disaggregating adoption into three different market segments: foster care, domestic, and transnational. Specifically, the paper argues that adoption is an assortative process that stratifies parents and children. Of the members of the adoption triad (e.g. the birthmother, adoptive parent(s), and adopted child), prospective adoptive parents possess the greatest degree of choice when deciding which market segment to pursue. However, their options are often tempered by strict eligibility requirements and financial restraints. Drawing broadly on the extant sociological and child welfare literature, the bulk of the review is devoted to identifying and analyzing how these social forces funnel parents and children into forever families. I pay particular attention to the demographic profiles of children and adoptive parents, including how transracial adoption factors into foster care, domestic, and intercountry adoptions.
An overlapping Domain Decomposition preconditioning method for monolithic solution of shear bands

Metals subjected to high strain rate impact often exhibit a sudden and profound drop in the material’s load bearing capability, a ductile failure phenomenon known as shear banding. Shear bands, characterized as material instabilities, are driven by shear heating and described as narrow regions that have sustained intense plastic deformation and high temperature rise. This coupled thermo-mechanical localization problem can be formulated as a nonlinear system with two balance equations, momentum and energy, and two constitutive laws for elasticity and plasticity. In our formulation, mixed finite elements are used to discretize the equations in space and an implicit finite difference scheme is used to advance the system in time, where at every time step, a Newton type method is used to solve the system monolithically. To that end, a block Jacobian matrix is formed analytically using Gâteaux derivatives. The resulting Jacobian is sparse, nonsymmetric and its sparsity pattern and eigenvalue content vary with the different stages of shear bands formation, consequently posing a significant challenge to iterative solvers. To address this issue, an overlapping Domain Decomposition preconditioner that takes into account the physics of shear bands and the domain in which it forms, is proposed. The key idea is to resolve the shear band domain accurately while only solving the remaining domain approximately, with selective updates when necessary. The preconditioner is formed on the basis of an additive Schwartz method that is applied to a Schur complement partition of the system. The proposed preconditioner is implemented in parallel and tested on three different benchmark problems as compared against off-the-shelf solvers. We study the effect of hh- and kk-refinement that are obtained from Isogeometric discretizations of the system, the overlapping strategy and its parallel performance. Excellent performance is demonstrated in serial and parallel on all benchmark examples.
A New Model for Public Engagement: The Dialogue on Nanotechnology and Religion

Public engagement and deliberation about new and emerging technologies and their potential future trajectories and meanings in society occupies an important place in the idea of anticipatory governance. However, what should public engagement and deliberation look like in anticipatory governance? Here we offer a few ideas that took form in a Dialogue on Nanotechnology and Religion conducted by the Center for Nanotechnology in Society at Arizona State University (CNS-ASU) in 2008.
Erratum to: JAK–STAT Signaling as a Target for Inflammatory and Autoimmune Diseases: Current and Future Prospects

The Janus kinase/signal transduction and activator of transcription (JAK–STAT) signaling pathway is implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and inflammatory bowel disease. Many cytokines involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases use JAKs and STATs to transduce intracellular signals. Mutations in JAK and STAT genes cause a number of immunodeficiency syndromes, and polymorphisms in these genes are associated with autoimmune diseases. The success of small-molecule JAK inhibitors (Jakinibs) in the treatment of rheumatologic disease demonstrates that intracellular signaling pathways can be targeted therapeutically to treat autoimmunity. Tofacitinib, the first rheumatologic Jakinib, is US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved for rheumatoid arthritis and is currently under investigation for other autoimmune diseases. Many other Jakinibs are in preclinical development or in various phases of clinical trials. This review describes the JAK–STAT pathway, outlines its role in autoimmunity, and explains the rationale/pre-clinical evidence for targeting JAK–STAT signaling. The safety and clinical efficacy of the Jakinibs are reviewed, starting with the FDA-approved Jakinib tofacitinib, and continuing on to next-generation Jakinibs. Recent and ongoing studies are emphasized, with a focus on emerging indications for JAK inhibition and novel mechanisms of JAK–STAT signaling blockade.
Size, Functional Heterogeneity, and Teamwork Quality Predict Team Creativity and Innovation

Team size, heterogeneity, and an aggregate measure of teamwork quality predicted the effectiveness of organizational problem solving teams in generating ideas and obtaining the acceptance of management for these ideas. The results of regression analyses revealed that large teams generated more total and implemented ideas than smaller teams. In addition to more total and implemented ideas, teams with higher functional heterogeneity and teamwork quality generated more total and implemented ideas per member. Team size also moderated the effects of self-reported teamwork quality such that larger teams showed a stronger positive relation of teamwork quality with total and implemented ideas than smaller teams. Management evaluations of the teams were unrelated to size, functional heterogeneity, and teamwork quality. The findings support the treatment of team size as an important predictor of effectiveness rather than relegating it to the status of a mere control variable. Also, the results support previous observations that subjective judgments of team effectiveness are not equivalent to objective measures and that researchers should use multiple criteria of team success. Finally, rather than relying on concurrent, cross-sectional designs, research is needed that uses predictive models to assess how well team characteristics forecast effectiveness.
Recent advances in the decomposition approach to linear programming

Recent development and experience with real applications of the decomposition approach to solving large structured linear programs indicate that its potential advantages that are so appealing conceptually and yet so elusive in forthcoming may eventually be realized. New theoretical efforts to improve the robustness of the approach as well as to exploit parallel computation are also on the horizon.
Safety and Efficacy of Transvenous Lead Extraction Utilizing the Evolution Mechanical Lead Extraction System: A Single-Center Experience.

Abstract Objectives The goal of this study is to assess the safety and efficacy of mechanical lead extraction utilizing the Evolution system. Background Compared with other techniques commonly used for lead extraction, data regarding the safety and efficacy of mechanical lead extraction using the Evolution system is limited and needs further evaluation. Methods Between June 1, 2009 and September 30, 2016, we retrospectively analyzed 400 consecutive patients who exclusively underwent mechanical lead extraction utilizing the Evolution system. Results A total of 400 patients underwent mechanical lead extraction of 683 leads. Mean age of extracted leads was 6.77 ± 4.42 years (range 1 to 31 years). The extracted device system was an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator in 274 patients (68.5%) and a pacemaker system in 126 patients (31.5%). Complete lead removal rate was 97% with a clinical success rate of 99.75%. Incomplete lead removal with 8 years). Failure to achieve clinical success was noted in 1 patient (0.25%). Cardiac papillary avulsion, system-related infection, and cardiac tamponade were the major complications noted in 6 patients (1.5%). Minor complications were encountered in 24 patients (6%), of which hematoma requiring evacuation was the most common minor complication. There were no patient deaths. Conclusions In our single-center study, lead extractions utilizing the Evolution mechanical lead extraction system were safe and effective and resulted in high clinical and procedural success, with low complication rates and no fatalities.
Quantification of Plant Cell Death by Electrolyte Leakage Assay

We describe a protocol to measure the electrolyte leakage from plant tissues, resulting from loss of cell membrane integrity, which is a common definition of cell death. This simple protocol is designed to measure the electrolyte leakage from a tissue sample over a time course, so that the extent of cell death in the tissue can be monitored dynamically. In addition, it is easy to handle many tissue samples in parallel, which allows a high level of biological replication. Although the protocol is exemplified by cell death in Arabidopsis in response to pathogen challenge, it is easily applicable to other types of plant cell death.
Quality and Patient Safety Indicators in Trauma and Emergency Surgery: National and Global Considerations

This review focuses on quality and patient safety indicators in trauma and emergency surgery in the developed and developing world. Quality and patient safety indicators have proliferated in recent years. There is significant variability in the strength of evidence behind existing measures, as well as variability in their acceptance and utilization. This review article highlights the evolution quality and patient safety indicators using examples from both the developed and the developing world. The authors include recommendations for future efforts to utilize and implement such indicators in trauma and emergency surgery. One key remaining challenge remains the development of meaningful, streamlined, and consensus-based performance metrics that simultaneously assess variations in quality and safety while also being easily measurable so as not to overly burden the people and systems tasked with collecting this important information.
Combining Mutations and Electrophysiology to Map Anesthetic Sites on Ligand-Gated Ion Channels

Abstract General anesthetics are known to act in part by binding to and altering the function of pentameric ligand-gated ion channels such as nicotinic acetylcholine and γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptors. Combining heterologous expression of the subunits that assemble to form these ion channels, mutagenesis techniques and voltage-clamp electrophysiology have enabled a variety of “structure–function” approaches to questions of where anesthetic binds to these ion channels and how they enhance or inhibit channel function. Here, we review the evolution of concepts and experimental strategies during the last three decades, since molecular biological and electrophysiological tools became widely used. Topics covered include: (1) structural models as interpretive frameworks, (2) various electrophysiological approaches and their limitations, (3) Monod–Wyman–Changeux allosteric models as functional frameworks, (4) structural strategies including chimeras and point mutations, and (5) methods based on cysteine substitution and covalent modification. We discuss in particular depth the experimental design considerations for substituted cysteine modification–protection studies.
Effect of Boundary Conditions on Finite Element Submodeling

When a built-up structure such as a turbine or compressor is modeled with finite elements, a submodeling procedure can be used to assess critical features such as holes, fillets, or contact interfaces. To employ the method, one builds and solves a coarse-mesh finite element model of the whole structure. Then, a fine-mesh finite element submodel of the critical feature is built and solved by using boundary conditions that were estimated from the global model solution. This procedure reduces computational expense, but the predicted results from the submodel can be inaccurate if the global model produces inaccurate boundary conditions for the submodel. While a number of studies have considered the best methods to extract boundary conditions, little work has been done to assess how the submodel boundary location affects the results. This paper presents a case study to assess how the submodel boundary location affects the predicted results of the submodel. Specifically, a cantilever beam with stress concentration hole was analyzed. Numerous global models and submodels were generated and solved with the submodeling method. The maximum stress at the hole was reviewed as a metric. The results suggest that the location of the submodel boundary has a strong influence on the maximum stress predicted by the submodel. In particular, submodels with boundaries placed very close to the edge of the hole underpredicted the global model converged stress by up to 20%. The error in the submodels decreased as the submodel boundary was placed farther from the hole. The error also decreased as the mesh of the initial global model is refined. The results provided could inform analysts who employ this method in applications but do not investigate convergence of the global model or optimize the location of the submodel boundary.
Second opinions in orthopedic oncology imaging: can fellowship training reduce clinically significant discrepancies?

To determine factors that lead to significant discrepancies in second-opinion consultation of orthopedic oncology patients, and particularly if musculoskeletal fellowship training can decrease clinically significant discrepancies. A PACS database was queried for secondary reads on outside cross-sectional imaging studies, as requested by orthopedic oncology from 2014 to 2017. Comparison of original and secondary reports was performed using a published seven-point scale that defines clinically significant discrepancies. An online search was performed for each original radiologist to record if a fellowship in musculoskeletal imaging was completed. Additionally, years of post-residency experience, number of Medicare part B patients billed per year (marker of practice volume), and average hierarchical condition category for each radiologist (marker of practice complexity) was recorded. A total of 571 patients met the inclusion criteria, with 184 cases initially interpreted by an outside fellowship trained musculoskeletal (MSK) radiologist and 387 cases initially interpreted by a non-MSK trained radiologist. The rate of clinically significant discrepancy was 9.2% when initially interpreted by MSK radiologists compared with 27.9% when initially performed by non-MSK radiologists (p < 0.05). After adjustment by both patient characteristics and radiologist characteristics, the likelihood of clinically significant discrepancies was greater for initial interpretations by non-MSK radiologists compared with MSK radiologists (OR = 1.36; 95% CI = 1.23–2.49). In orthopedic oncology patients, the rate of clinically significant discrepancies was significantly higher when initially interpreted by non-MSK radiologists compared with MSK radiologists. The lower rate of clinically significant discrepancies demonstrates that subspecialty training may direct more appropriate diagnosis and treatment.
Frontiers in Cancer Immunotherapy

Cancer immunotherapy attempts to harness the power and specificity of the immune system for the treatment of malignancy. Although cancer cells are less immunogenic than pathogens, the immune system is capable of recognizing and eliminating tumor cells. However, tumors frequently interfere with the development and function of immune responses. Thus, the challenge for cancer immunotherapy is to apply advances in cellular and molecular immunology and develop strategies that effectively and safely augment antitumor responses.
The Epidemiology of Nationally Reported Pertussis in the United States, 2000-2016

BACKGROUND Despite successful vaccination programs, pertussis remains endemic in the United States, and increasing incidence has been reported. We used national surveillance data to describe pertussis epidemiology, including patient demographic characteristics, geographic distribution, and temporal trends. METHODS We included cases reported through the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2016. Differences in case characteristics were compared using Pearson χ2. Average annual incidence (cases per 100 000 population) was calculated overall and by age (<1 year, 1-6 years, 7-10 years, 11-18 years, 19-39 years, 30-64 years, and ≥65 years) and geographic subgroup. Annual percent change was estimated using negative bionomial regression. RESULTS During 2000-2016, 339 420 pertussis cases were reported. The majority were in white (88.2%) and non-Hispanic (81.3%) persons, 9.9% were hospitalized, and 0.1% were fatal; however, differences existed by age. Infants had the highest incidence (75.3/100 000 population), accounting for 88.8% of deaths. Incidence increased significantly over time (P = .0019), increases were observed for all groups except persons aged <1 year and 19-64 years. Elevated case counts among persons aged 7-10 and 11-18 years coincided with the aging of acellular-primed cohorts. Incidence varied by geographic region, with some similarities in disease cyclicity. CONCLUSIONS Increasing baseline incidence and changing age distribution of pertussis suggest a central role of the transition to acellular vaccines in the US disease resurgence. Continued monitoring of national data is important to evaluate and optimize pertussis prevention and control strategies.
A Document Analysis of Student Conduct in Florida’s Community Colleges

ABSTRACTStudent disciplinary systems have been operating in higher education for decades and their role in furthering an institution’s educational mission continues to raise. Almost all institutions have a Code of Conduct section in their handbook which describes all rules and regulations students must comply with in addition to federal, state, and local laws. The student conduct process varies as each university or college has their own unique set of standards and methods for adjudicating misbehaviors. Through a document analysis, we examined the history of student conduct and analyzed the mission of student conduct offices at community colleges in the state of Florida.
Reducing Visual Differences in Whole Grain Bread Prepared with Hard Red and Hard White Wheat: Application for Sensory Studies

Consumer taste preference can be influenced by visual preference. To eliminate the influence of visual preference in the sensory evaluation of whole grain wheat, a reproducible method to eliminate color differences between Whole Grain breads prepared from hard white wheat (HWW) and hard red wheat (HRW) was evaluated. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to match the color of HWW to HRW with the addition of commercially available dye solutions: McCormick black (red #40, yellow #5, blue #1), red (red #40, red #3, yellow #6), and yellow (yellow #5). Bread color was assessed by L* , a* , and b* color parameters according to the CIELAB international system of color measurement. Four replicates of the control and dye treated breads were analyzed. Initial color values for HRW were L* = 56.8 ± 0.40; a* = 8.04 ± 0.44; b* = 21.34 ± 0.46. RSM was used to predict dye addition levels to match color between HWW and HRW. With the addition of black (0.457 µL/mL), red (0.574 µL/mL), and yellow (1.165 µL/mL) dye to HWW, breads could be produced with L* , a* , and b* values of no statistical difference to the HRW (P < 0.05). A timed storage trail demonstrated the need to standardize the time between bread production and feeding studies. Visual bias can hinder assessment of wheat varieties in sensory studies. A reproducible method of dying wheat was developed that can be used to reduce this bias in sensory studies. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The ability to control color variability is a critical tool in determining perceived quality in sensory analysis of breads. In this study, a method to reduce or eliminate visual bias between breads made from different varieties of wheat was developed. This method is applicable to any foods where dye could be added to reduce or eliminate color bias in sensory studies.
Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction (Ogilvie's syndrome)

Abstract Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction (ACPO), otherwise known as Ogilvie's syndrome, is a rare condition characterized by signs and symptoms of a large bowel obstruction in the absence of a mechanical cause. It typically involves the right colon and cecum, but can affect the entire large and small bowel. The underlying pathophysiology is incompletely understood, but is thought to be related in part to a disturbance in the autonomic innervation of the distal colon. The precipitating factors leading to ACPO are many, but it is often found in critically ill or institutionalized patients, in the setting of trauma or surgery, and in conjunction with electrolyte derangements. Presenting symptoms are similar to those of a large bowel obstruction. A soft, distended, and tympanitic abdomen are classic early in the disease process. Signs of sepsis, significant right lower quadrant or diffuse abdominal tenderness signify colonic ischemia or impending perforation. Work-up should exclude mechanical causes of obstruction and other etiologies of abdominal pain with laboratory studies, plain films, and cross-sectional imaging. The goal of management is to decompress the colon and thereby avoid risks of ischemia and perforation. Medical management is directed at correction of underlying illness and electrolyte abnormalities, minimizing predisposing medications, and bowel rest. If there is no improvement clinically within 48 h or the cecal diameter approaches 12 cm, neostigmine can be used if there is no contraindication. Should this fail or the patient not be a suitable candidate, colonoscopic decompression is employed with or without temporary tube decompression. Surgery is performed for medically refractory cases, if the cecal diameter is >12 cm, or there are signs of colonic ischemia or perforation. Surgical options include cecostomy, a colon resection with anastomosis, or subtotal colectomy with ileostomy and Hartmann's pouch depending on the clinical status of the patient and intraoperative findings.
Hydration, strength, and durability of cementitious materials incorporating untreated corn cob ash

Abstract Significant research is being conducted to identify alternative sources of supplementary cementitious materials (SCM) worldwide. With the shortage of fly ash, due to the shut-down of several coal-fired power plants worldwide, there is an exigent need to identify sustainable SCMs that can replace fly ash in the concrete industry. This study explores the feasibility of using the ash of corn cob, which is the byproduct of one of the largest agricultural crops in the U.S., in concrete. Untreated corn cob ash (CCA) was prepared and used to replace the cement in concrete at replacement levels of 3% and 20% by mass of cement. The results of this study show that the untreated CCA significantly accelerated cement hydration, likely due to its high potassium oxide content. The results of reactivity testing suggest that the untreated CCA is less reactive than fly ash and that it is closer to an inert material. The concrete made with untreated CCA had significantly lower compressive strengths, lower bulk resistivity, lower formation factor, and higher electrical charge passed than normal concrete and what would typically be expected from the concrete with 3% and 20% replacements of inert materials. The results of this study suggest that untreated CCA is not a promising pozzolanic material, and may even be somewhat harmful to the concrete. A better option for the disposal of the large volumes of such materials could be for low-strength applications, such as fill or blocks. Alternatively, considering the significant variation in corn species and farming regimens, further research and ash treatment could help fine-tune the properties of this product for structural applications.
Safety and efficacy of chemotherapy in older adults with locally advanced and metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

654Background: PDAC is often diagnosed in patients (pts) ≥75yrs. However, older adults comprise a small proportion of subjects in prospective trials, and there is little reported on the safety and ...
Microbial Nanocellulose Printed Circuit Boards for Medical Sensing.

We demonstrate the viability of using ultra-thin sheets of microbially grown nanocellulose to build functional medical sensors. Microbially grown nanocellulose is an interesting alternative to plastics, as it is hydrophilic, biocompatible, porous, and hydrogen bonding, thereby allowing the potential development of new application routes. Exploiting the distinguishing properties of this material enables us to develop solution-based processes to create nanocellulose printed circuit boards, allowing a variety of electronics to be mounted onto our nanocellulose. As proofs of concept, we have demonstrated applications in medical sensing such as heart rate monitoring and temperature sensing—potential applications fitting the wide-ranging paradigm of a future where the Internet of Things is dominant.
Symptom Spectrum in Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

The Montreal classification has described the presentation of symptoms in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The authors of the Montreal classification define the disease with symptoms: “GERD is a condition which develops when the reflux of stomach contents causes troublesome symptoms and/or complications.” Heartburn and regurgitation are the most typical symptoms characterizing GERD. In clinical practice, a variety of esophageal and extraesophageal symptoms can be documented in patients referred for the diagnostic confirmation or exclusion of GERD. GERD may present with a large variety of symptoms such as heartburn, regurgitation, thoracic pain, epigastric pain, respiratory symptoms, globus, and others. There can be an overlap with symptoms from other esophageal and gastric disorders such as dyspepsia, esophageal motility disorders, functional heartburn, hypersensitive esophagus, irritable stomach, and bowel and somatoform disorders. Since the symptom spectrum is complex, the use of objective studies can help further diagnose GERD. Objective studies and patient questionnaires should be always performed to verify the disease and help in determining treatment for GERD.
The association of health behaviors with quality of life in lymphoma survivors.

The impact of change in health behaviors (physical activity [PA], alcohol and smoking) on quality of life (QOL) in lymphoma survivors is not well understood. We evaluated the associations of health...
CONSTRAINING CLUSTER PHYSICS WITH THE SHAPE OF X-RAY CLUSTERS: COMPARISON OF LOCAL X-RAY CLUSTERS VERSUS ΛCDM CLUSTERS

Recent simulations of cluster formation have demonstrated that condensation of baryons into central galaxies during cluster formation can drive the shape of the gas distribution in galaxy clusters significantly rounder out to their virial radius. These simulations generally predict stellar fractions within cluster virial radii that are {approx}2-3 times larger than the stellar masses deduced from observations. In this paper, we compare ellipticity profiles of simulated clusters performed with varying input physics (radiative cooling, star formation, and supernova feedback) to the cluster ellipticity profiles derived from Chandra and ROSAT observations, in an effort to constrain the fraction of gas that cools and condenses into the central galaxies within clusters. We find that local relaxed clusters have an average ellipticity of {epsilon} = 0.18 {+-} 0.05 in the radial range of 0.04 { 0.1r{sub 500}, the observed ellipticity profiles agree well with the predictions of non-radiative simulations. In contrast, the ellipticity profiles of simulated clusters that include dissipative gas physics deviate significantly from the observed ellipticity profiles at all radii. The dissipative simulations overpredict (underpredict) ellipticity in the inner (outer) regions of galaxy clusters. By comparing simulations with and without dissipative gasmore » physics, we show that gas cooling causes the gas distribution to be more oblate in the central regions, but makes the outer gas distribution more spherical. We find that late-time gas cooling and star formation are responsible for the significantly oblate gas distributions in cluster cores, but the gas shapes outside of cluster cores are set primarily by baryon dissipation at high redshift (z {>=} 2). Our results indicate that the shapes of X-ray emitting gas in galaxy clusters, especially at large radii, can be used to place constraints on cluster gas physics, making it potential probes of the history of baryonic cooling in galaxy clusters.« less
Using machine learning to improve the accuracy of patient deterioration predictions: Mayo Clinic Early Warning Score (MC-EWS)

OBJECTIVE We aimed to develop a model for accurate prediction of general care inpatient deterioration. MATERIALS AND METHODS Training and internal validation datasets were built using 2-year data from a quaternary hospital in the Midwest. Model training used gradient boosting and feature engineering (clinically relevant interactions, time-series information) to predict general care inpatient deterioration (resuscitation call, intensive care unit transfer, or rapid response team call) in 24 hours. Data from a tertiary care hospital in the Southwest were used for external validation. C-statistic, sensitivity, positive predictive value, and alert rate were calculated for different cutoffs and compared with the National Early Warning Score. Sensitivity analysis evaluated prediction of intensive care unit transfer or resuscitation call. RESULTS Training, internal validation, and external validation datasets included 24 500, 25 784 and 53 956 hospitalizations, respectively. The Mayo Clinic Early Warning Score (MC-EWS) demonstrated excellent discrimination in both the internal and external validation datasets (C-statistic = 0.913, 0.937, respectively), and results were consistent in the sensitivity analysis (C-statistic = 0.932 in external validation). At a sensitivity of 73%, MC-EWS would generate 0.7 alerts per day per 10 patients, 45% less than the National Early Warning Score. DISCUSSION Low alert rates are important for implementation of an alert system. Other early warning scores developed for the general care ward have achieved lower discrimination overall compared with MC-EWS, likely because MC-EWS includes both nursing assessments and extensive feature engineering. CONCLUSIONS MC-EWS achieved superior prediction of general care inpatient deterioration using sophisticated feature engineering and a machine learning approach, reducing alert rate.
Gene Expression and Survival of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Cells After Allogeneic Transplant.

Background/aim This study explored the mechanisms of the allogeneic graft versus leukemia effect in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells by examining whether they change gene expression in the post-transplant environment containing cytokines and the immunosuppressant cyclosporine, and if such changes affect ALL cell survival. Materials and methods RNASeq was used to assess leukemia global gene expression and flow cytometry to measure ALL survival in the presence of T cells, NK cells, cytokines, and cyclosporine. Results A total of 4,805 genes were differentially expressed. Gene set enrichment analysis demonstrated up-regulation of biological processes related to cytokine responses, control of viral infection, and regulation of leukocyte function including proliferation. Down-regulated genes were related to mesenchymal tissue morphogenesis. ALL cells exposed to cytokines and cyclosporine retained susceptibility to T and NK cell killing, and also exhibited increased cell death without exposure to killer cells. Conclusion A significant portion of the graft versus leukemia effect may be mediated by cytokines and cyclosporine.
Functional connectivity of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex predicts cocaine relapse: implications for neuromodulation treatment.

Relapse is one of the most perplexing problems of addiction. The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is crucially involved in numerous cognitive and affective processes that are implicated in the phenotypes of both substance use disorders and other neuropsychiatric diseases and has become the principal site to deliver transcranial magnetic stimulation for their treatment. However, the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is an anatomically large and functionally heterogeneous region, and the specific dorsolateral prefrontal cortex locus and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex-based functional circuits that contribute to drug relapse and/or treatment outcome remain unknown. We systematically investigated the relationship of cocaine relapse with functional circuits from 98 dorsolateral prefrontal cortex regions-of-interest defined by evenly sampling the entire surface of bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in a cohort of cocaine dependent patients (n = 43, 5 Fr) following a psychosocial treatment intervention. Cox regression models were utilized to predict relapse likelihood based on dorsolateral prefrontal cortex functional connectivity strength. Functional connectivity from only 3 of the 98 dorsolateral prefrontal cortex loci, one in the left and two in the right hemisphere, significantly predicted cocaine relapse with an accuracy of 83.9%, 84.6% and 85.4%, respectively. Combining all three loci significantly improved prediction validity to 87.5%. Protective and risk circuits related to these dorsolateral prefrontal cortex loci were identified that have previously been implicated to support 'bottom up' drive to use drug and 'top down' control over behaviour together with social emotional, learning and memory processing. Three dorsolateral prefrontal cortex-centric circuits were identified that predict relapse to cocaine use with high accuracy. These functionally distinct dorsolateral prefrontal cortex-based circuits provide insights into the multiple roles played by the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in cognitive and affective functioning that affects treatment outcome. The identified dorsolateral prefrontal cortex loci may serve as potential neuromodulation targets to be tested in subsequent clinical studies for addiction treatment and as clinically relevant biomarkers of its efficacy. Zhai et al. identify three dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC)-centric circuits that predict cocaine relapse with high accuracy, providing insights into the multiple roles of the dlPFC in brain functioning that affects treatment outcome and suggesting the dlPFC loci as potential neuromodulation targets for addiction treatment.
Two's Company, but Four's a Crowd: The Relationship Among COVID-19 Stress, Household Size, and Life Satisfaction

COVID-19 has induced stress motivated by individuals' fears of infection and death, while mitigation efforts have also exacerbated stress by reducing individuals' income, creating feelings of social isolation, and imposing barriers to obtaining basic resources. In this study, we use a representative sample of 693 adults in Michigan to investigate the association between COVID-19 stress and life satisfaction. We find that COVID-19 stress is significantly negatively related to life satisfaction, and that this association is strongest among those living alone and those living in households with many other adults. Exploratory analyses suggest that shopping challenges are most strongly associated directly with stress and indirectly with life satisfaction, while income and boredom challenges are less important. We conclude by discussing the implications of declines in life satisfaction due to an ongoing and potentially worsening stressful event, and consider some strategies for mitigating this non-trivial form of COVID-19 harm.
Feed intake response of feedlot cattle following single-dose treatment of ceftiofur crystalline free acid sterile suspension or florfenicol

Healthy feedlot cattle were injected with either ceftiofur crystalline free acid (CCFA-SS) or florfenicol at the label dosage in a replicated, three treatment, 21-day study. Daily dry matter intake (DDMI), average daily gain (ADG) and feed efficiency (F:G) were compared between untreated controls and calves injected with CCFA-SS or florfenicol. The study was conducted at Mississippi State University (MSU) and the Pfizer Animal Health Research Farm (PAH). At MSU, 48 steers (630 lb; 286 kg) were individually fed in four pens with 12 Calan gates in each pen, while 192 steers and heifers (847 lb; 385 kg) were group fed in 24 pens, each holding eight head at PAH. Steers and heifers were fed separately during the trial. Treatments were randomly assigned to animals at MSU and to pens at PAH. DDMI for cattle treated with CCFA-SS was similar to controls on all days at both locations. Dry matter intake for calves treated with florfenicol was lower (P<0.05) than controls on days 2, 4, 5, 8 and 9 at MSU, and days 1-13 at PAH. ADG of calves treated with CCFA-SS at MSU was significantly greater than controls (4.37 and 3.45 lb; 1.99 and 1.57 kg, respectively) during the 21-day study, while ADG (2.04 lb; 0.93 kg) of calves treated with florfenicol was lower (P<0.01). There were no differences in ADG between treatment groups at the PAH study location. Feed:gain (feed efficiency) of calves treated with CCFA-SS was similar to control calves at both study locations (P=0.77). Feed:gain of cattle treated with florfenicol was similar (P=0.50) to controls at PAH, but was higher (less efficient) than control cattle at MSU (F:G 8.57 vs 3.71, P<0.01).
Fixation and Immunostaining of Endogenous Proteins or Post-translational Modifications in Caenorhabditis elegans

Although the advent of genetically-encoded fluorescent markers, such as the green fluorescent protein (GFP; Chalfie et al., 1994 ), has enabled convenient visualization of gene expression in vivo, this method is generally not effective for detecting post-translational modifications because they are not translated from DNA sequences. Genetically-encoded, fluorescently-tagged transgene products can also be misleading for observing expression patterns because transgenes may lack endogenous regulatory DNA elements needed for precise regulation of expression that could result in over or under expression. Fluorescently-tagged proteins created by CRISPR genome editing are less prone to defective expression patterns because the loci retain endogenous DNA elements that regulate their transcription (Nance and Frokjaer-Jensen, 2019). However, even CRISPR alleles encoding heritable fluorescently-tagged protein markers can result in defects in function or localization of the gene product if the fluorescent tag obstructs or otherwise interferes with important protein interaction domains or affects the protein structure. Indirect immunofluorescence is a method for detecting endogenous gene expression or post-translational modifications without the need for transgenesis or genome editing. Here, we present a reliable protocol in which C. elegans nematodes are fixed, preserved, and permeabilized for staining with a primary antibody to bind proteins or post-translational modifications, which are then labeled with a secondary antibody conjugated to a fluorescent dye. Use of this method may be limited by the availability of (or ability to generate) a primary antibody that binds the epitope of interest in fixed animals. Thousands of animals are simultaneously subjected to a series of chemical treatments and washes in a single centrifuge tube, allowing large numbers of identically-treated stained animals to be examined. We have successfully used this protocol (O' Hagan et al., 2011 and 2017; Power et al., 2020 ) to preserve and detect post-translational modifications of tubulin in C. elegans ciliated sensory neurons and to detect non-modified endogenous protein (Topalidou and Chalfie, 2011).
Association of Cardio-Ankle Vascular Index (CAVI) and Duration of Diabetes Mellitus in the STOP (Semaglutide Treatment on Coronary Plaque Progression) Randomized Control Trial

Abstract Introduction Cardio‐ankle vascular index(CAVI) is a novel index that measures arterial stiffness noninvasively. Recent studies demonstrated CAVI to be a predictor for coronary artery disease(CAD). Patients with Type-2 diabetes mellitus(DM) develop arterial stiffening which contributes to the CAD complications associated with DM. However, a comprehensive assessment of the association of CAVI and DM has not been reported. Methods The STOP trial randomized patients with DM and presence of coronary plaque on CCTA to Semaglutide 1mg once weekly or placebo. CAVI was measured using the VaSera(Fukuda Denshi, Tokyo, Japan). Non-invasive blood pressure, Pulse Wave Velocity and Heart Sound Measuring were integrated to compute CAVI. Multivariate linear regression was used to examine the association of baseline CAVI and duration of diabetes. Results In 98 randomized STOP subjects, mean age was 56.8±8.3 yrs and 60 (61%) were male. Of these, 81 (83%) had hyperlipidemia, 81 (83%) had hypertension, 13 (13%) were current-smokers, and 31 (32%) were former-smokers. The mean duration of DM was 16.3±7.5 yrs. In an unadjusted linear regression analysis, there was a positive linear relationship between duration of DM and CAVI (p=0.036). However, upon further analysis with adjustment for age, gender, body mass index, HLD, HTN, and past smoking, the association was no longer significant (p=0.189). Conclusion CAVI has a linear association with the duration of Diabetes. The lack of statistical significance on multivariate adjusted analysis could be due to the small sample size. Future studies should assess the prognostic role of CAVI in patients with DM.
DESIGN OF FIXED-FILM PROCESSES WITH STEADY-STATE-BIOFILM MODEL

ABSTRACT A single, fundamental model of biofilm kinetics is shown to be capable of accurately predicting the performance of large-scale, fixed-film processes for denitrification, methanogenesis, and aerobic oxidation. The reactor configurations are fluidized and fixed-bed filters and a rotating disc. The model, which is based on fundamental and independently obtainable parameters of bacterial kinetics and mass transport for a steady-state biofilm, requires no fitting factors. The biofilm model can help suggest useful processes, indicate when other processes will be unable to fulfill design requirements, and help design pilot and full-scale facilities.
Some Contributions of Philosophy to Education

?Para que sirve la filosofia de educacion? ?Cual es la contribucion de las finalidades, habilidades y actitudes filosoficas a la practica educativa? ?Que se puede lograr? En este articulo, no se pretende considerar ninguna doctrina filosofica en particular. Tampoco se trata de examinar las implicaciones educativas de uno u otro punto de vista filosofico. En vez de eso, la reflexion esta dirigida a la actividad filosofica en si misma. Por tanto, las preguntas son mas bien generales y ciertamente no son nuevas. Sin embargo, estas preguntas adquieren un especial relieve desde la perspectiva de las tendencias actuales, que probablemente tendran una creciente influencia en las futuras circunstancias de nuestra vida y en nuestras concepciones operativas de la educacion.
Widest-corridor problems

A k-dense corridor through a finite set, S, of n points in the plane is the open region of the plane that is bounded by two parallel lines that intersect the convex hull of S and such that the region contains k points of S. The problem of finding a widest k-dense corridor arises in robot motion-planning. In this paper, efficient solutions are presented for several versions of this problem. Results include: two algorithms for finding widest k-dense corridors for any k, an algorithm to dynamically maintain a widest empty corridor under online insertions and deletions in S, an algorithm to find a widest (n - 1)-dense closed corridor, and a widest empty corridor algorithm for polygonal obstacles. The techniques used are based on geometric duality and on efficient searching in the convex layers of a point-set.
Attribute-Based Encryption with Fast Decryption

Attribute-based encryption (ABE) is a vision of public key encryption that allows users to encrypt and decrypt messages based on user attributes. This functionality comes at a cost. In a typical implementation, the size of the ciphertext is proportional to the number of attributes associated with it and the decryption time is proportional to the number of attributes used during decryption. Specifically, many practical ABE implementations require one pairing operation per attribute used during decryption.
Operational Control for Robot Integration into CIM and its Applications

Abstract Robot systems are important components for use in the flexible automation of manufacturing systems. Planning robot systems is a very complex process which can be facilitated with the aid of planning instruments integrated in CIM systems. ESPRIT Project 623, sponsored by the European Commmunity, has the object of developing planning and programming aids for robots. The paper provides an overview of this project and reports on the first industrial applications implemented at KUKA.