cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Clinical Reasoning: A 13-year-old boy with chronic ataxia and developmental delay

A 13-year-old boy presented to the neurology clinic for evaluation of ataxia and intellectual disability. He was born at term via vaginal delivery after an uncomplicated pregnancy with no perinatal complications. Newborn screening (Virginia, 2012) was normal. He was first noted to be ataxic at age 6 months (when he began to sit with support) and his symptoms gradually worsened over time. He had global developmental delay. He began to sit at 14 months of age and walked at 20 months. He had his first words around age 2 and received physical and speech therapy early on. He had acute worsening of his symptoms at age 8 months in the setting of a flu-like illness and was admitted to a local hospital. Workup at the time was reportedly unrevealing and included a normal CT and a normal brain MRI with contrast. His ataxia remained fairly stable over time without regression. He had several episodes of acute worsening with febrile illnesses. He continued to have learning problems at school.
Notes on the Fauna of the Chipola Formation- VI on the Occurrence of Pterynotus Pinnatus (Gastropoda: Muricidae) and the Problems of Dispersal

This short note is solely to record the unlikely occurrence, in the Chipola Formation, of a single specimen that can be referred only to the otherwise Indo-Pacific species Pterynotus pinnatus (Swainson ).
"My Body. My Choice": A Qualitative Study of the Influence of Trust and Locus of Control on Postpartum Contraceptive Choice

Postpartum contraception helps reduce unintended pregnancy and space births to improve maternal and child health. This study explored women's perceptions of contraceptive choice during the postpartum period in the context of locus of control and trust in healthcare providers. Researchers conducted six focus groups with 47 women, ages 18-39, receiving postpartum care at an outpatient clinic. Techniques from grounded theory methodology provided an inductive approach to analysis. HyperRESEARCH 3.5.2 qualitative data analysis software facilitated a constant-comparative coding process to identify emergent themes. Participants expressed a preference for relationship-centered care, in which healthcare providers listened, individualized their approach to care through rapport-building, and engaged women in shared decision-making about contraceptive use through open communication, reciprocity, and mutual influence. Conflicting health messages served as barriers to uptake of effective contraception. While participants trusted their healthcare provider's advice, many women prioritized personal experience and autonomy in decisions about contraception. Providers can promote trust and relationship-centered care to optimize contraceptive uptake by listening, exploring patient beliefs and preferences about contraception and birth spacing, and tailoring their advice to individuals. Results suggest that antenatal contraceptive counseling should incorporate information about effectiveness, dispel misconceptions, and engage patients in shared decision-making.
Patient-specific modeling of heart valves: from image to simulation

Heart valves play a very important role in the functioning of the heart and many of the heart failures are related to the valvular dysfunctions, e.g. aortic stenosis and mitral regurgitation. As the medical field is moving towards a patient-specific diagnosis and treatment procedures, modeling of heart valves with patient-specific information is becoming a significant tool in medical field. Here we present the ingredients for valve simulation specifically the aortic valve, with a main focus on a novel spline-based mapping technique which solves many issues in generating patient-specific models --- the microstructural mapping, the pre-strain calculations, prescribing dynamic boundary conditions, validation and inverse-modeling to obtain material parameters.
A coordinated control for voltage and transient stability of multi-machine power grids relying on wind energy

Abstract This paper proposes a new nonlinear control approach to coordinate doubly fed induction generator (DFIG)-based wind turbines and static synchronous compensator (STATCOM) controllers in multi-machine power systems. Its main objectives are to improve the transient and voltage stability of the inter-connected multi-machine power system via simultaneous design of the voltage of the DFIGs’ rotors and reference current of STATCOM. The nonlinear approach is based on a multi input-multi output (MIMO) zero dynamics (ZD) technique augmented by a super twisting sliding mode control (STSMC) to reduce the effects of the linearization error. The proposed approach was implemented to the Kundur’s four-machine two-area power system and the IEEE 39-bus power system. Its performance was assessed in the presence of various faulty scenarios and disturbances. The effectiveness of the proposed approach (ZD-STSMC) was evaluated via eigenvalue analysis, transient simulations and transient stability margin analysis (by critical clearing time (CCT)). The merits of the proposed design are further compared to those of the exact feedback linearization (EFL) approach. Enhancing the power and voltage stability of large scale power systems, damping power oscillations and providing faster post-fault recovery time are among the positive features of the proposed approach.
Co-membership, networks ties, and knowledge flow: An empirical investigation controlling for alternative mechanisms

Abstract Co-membership has been considered as a major mechanism for knowledge flow. However, alternative mechanisms exist for the observed knowledge flow. One of the effective ways to reduce the possibility of alternative mechanisms is to make use of online settings. However, even at online settings, individuals can still directly watch and learn from each other, resulting in knowledge flow. This study investigates the impact of co-membership under the unique context of open source software (OSS) development at GitHub. It finds that both co-membership and watching are effective for knowledge flow, which further increases OSS development technical success, measured as project commits. Moreover, the impact of co-membership is much stronger than watching. While co-membership is indeed an effective mechanism for knowledge flow, its impact tends to be biased without controlling for alternative mechanisms.
Distinct visuo-motor brain dynamics for real-world objects versus planar images.

Abstract Ultimately, we aim to generalize and translate scientific knowledge to the real world, yet current understanding of human visual perception is based predominantly on studies of two-dimensional (2-D) images. Recent cognitive-behavioral evidence shows that real objects are processed differently to images, although the neural processes that underlie these differences are unknown. Because real objects (unlike images) afford actions, they may trigger stronger or more prolonged activation in neural populations for visuo-motor action planning. Here, we recorded electroencephalography (EEG) when human observers viewed real-world three-dimensional (3-D) objects or closely matched 2-D images of the same items. Although responses to real objects and images were similar overall, there were critical differences. Compared to images, viewing real objects triggered stronger and more sustained event-related desynchronization (ERD) in the μ frequency band (8–13 Hz) – a neural signature of automatic motor preparation. Event-related potentials (ERPs) revealed a transient, early occipital negativity for real objects (versus images), likely reflecting 3-D stereoscopic differences, and a late sustained parietal amplitude modulation consistent with an ‘old-new’ memory advantage for real objects over images. Together, these findings demonstrate that real-world objects trigger stronger and more sustained action-related brain responses than images do. The results highlight important similarities and differences between brain responses to images and richer, more ecologically relevant, real-world objects.
Highly Diastereoselective Intramolecular Diels−Alder Reactions of Furan-Tethered 1-Alkenesulfinic Acid Esters

The capture of selected 1-alkenesulfinyl chlorides with furan-tethered alcohols leads to the formation of diene-tethered 1-alkenesulfinate esters. The esters can spontaneously or with Lewis acid treatment undergo an IMDA reaction to form exo adducts with very high diastereoselectivity. Computational predictions using density functional theory indicate the preferred transition state for cyclization and find little preference for the sulfinyl configuration in the products.
Semantic-Based Detection Architectures Against Monitoring-Control Attacks in Power Grids

The modernization of power grids is depending significantly on Information and Communication Technologies, which increases the vulnerability to cyber-attacks. Particularly, Monitoring-Control Attacks (MCA), attacks that manipulate control decisions by fabricating measurements in the feedback loop, are highly threatening. To defend against MCAs, we propose a semantic analysis framework to be implemented in complement to IDS by identifying the adversary’s intention using power grid contextual information. In addition, the framework identifies critical substations for planning protection. The proposed framework can be implemented in three architectures, namely, centralized, hierarchical, and distributed. The effectiveness of the proposed work is demonstrated on the New England IEEE 39 Bus system.
Lignin biosynthesis: old roads revisited and new roads explored

Lignin is a major component of secondarily thickened plant cell walls and is considered to be the second most abundant biopolymer on the planet. At one point believed to be the product of a highly controlled polymerization procedure involving just three potential monomeric components (monolignols), it is becoming increasingly clear that the composition of lignin is quite flexible. Furthermore, the biosynthetic pathways to the major monolignols also appear to exhibit flexibility, particularly as regards the early reactions leading to the formation of caffeic acid from coumaric acid. The operation of parallel pathways to caffeic acid occurring at the level of shikimate esters or free acids may help provide robustness to the pathway under different physiological conditions. Several features of the pathway also appear to link monolignol biosynthesis to both generation and detoxification of hydrogen peroxide, one of the oxidants responsible for creating monolignol radicals for polymerization in the apoplast. Monolignol transport to the apoplast is not well understood. It may involve passive diffusion, although this may be targeted to sites of lignin initiation/polymerization by ordered complexes of both biosynthetic enzymes on the cytosolic side of the plasma membrane and structural anchoring of proteins for monolignol oxidation and polymerization on the apoplastic side. We present several hypothetical models to illustrate these ideas and stimulate further research. These are based primarily on studies in model systems, which may or may not reflect the major lignification process in forest trees.
Hospitalized Medical Patients with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Review of the Literature and a Roadmap for Improved Care.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is common in the United States, with a prevalence of nearly 8% in the general population and between 10% and 30% in veterans. Despite how common PTSD is, inpatient providers may not be familiar with its manifestations or feel comfortable taking care of patients who may exhibit symptoms related to it. In our combined experience as VA-based hospital medicine care providers, we have cared for thousands of patients hospitalized for a primary medical condition who also have PTSD as a comorbidity. We have noticed in our practices that we only focus our attention on PTSD if a related problem arises during a patient's hospitalization (eg, confrontations with the care team or high levels of anxiety). We contend that a more proactive approach could lead to better care, but little evidence about best practices exists to inform the interdisciplinary team how to optimally care for hospitalized medical patients with PTSD. In this narrative review, we present a synthesis of existing literature, describe how trauma-informed care could be used to guide the approach to patients with PTSD, and generate ideas for changes that inpatient providers could implement now, such as engaging patients to prevent PTSD exacerbations and promoting better sleep in the hospital.
Scalable Data-Intensive Geocomputation: A Design for Real-Time Continental Flood Inundation Mapping

The convergence of data-intensive and extreme-scale computing behooves an integrated software and data ecosystem for scientific discovery. Developments in this realm will fuel transformative research in data-driven interdisciplinary domains. Geocomputation provides computing paradigms in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for interactive computing of geographic data, processes, models, and maps. Because GIS is data-driven, the computational scalability of a geocomputation workflow is directly related to the scale of the GIS data layers, their resolution and extent, as well as the velocity of the geo-located data streams to be processed. Geocomputation applications, which have high user interactivity and low end-to-end latency requirements, will dramatically benefit from the convergence of high-end data analytics (HDA) and high-performance computing (HPC). In an application, we must identify and eliminate computational bottlenecks that arise in a geocomputation workflow. Indeed, poor scalability at any of the workflow components is detrimental to the entire end-to-end pipeline. Here, we study a large geocomputation use case in flood inundation mapping that handles multiple national-scale geospatial datasets and targets low end-to-end latency. We discuss the benefits and challenges for harnessing both HDA and HPC for data-intensive geospatial data processing and intensive numerical modeling of geographic processes. We propose an HDA+HPC geocomputation architecture design that couples HDA (e.g., Spark)-based spatial data handling and HPC-based parallel data modeling. Key techniques for coupling HDA and HPC to bridge the two different software stacks are reviewed and discussed.
The Evolving Real Estate Market Structure in China

In recent decades, the real estate sector has emerged as one of the key drivers of China’s economic growth engine. However, limited work has sought to illustrate the evolving market structure and key players within this sector, especially from a historic perspective. This chapter provides an overview of the formational trajectory of China’s real estate market structure over the past 40 years and characterizes two critical players of the industry: state-owned enterprises and publicly listed real estate companies. The chapter highlights the complexity of the real estate market’s institutional characteristics and introduces the intersection among China’s urbanization, the evolving structure of its real estate sector, and the potential trajectory of critical real estate players.
Analgesic Strategies in Ambulatory Surgery Centers

The use of ambulatory surgery centers continues to increase with more than 48.3 million surgical and nonsurgical procedures performed in 2010. Postoperative pain continues to be a challenging problem with inadequate pain control impeding recovery, reducing patient satisfaction, quality of life, delaying discharge and leading to unanticipated hospital admissions. Opioids are the mainstay treatment of postoperative pain. However, a multimodal approach has proved beneficial and utilizes various therapeutic options including adjuvant medications such as acetaminophen, antineuropathic agents, peripheral nerve blocks, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), antagonist of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, and parenteral analgesics to name a few. The long-term consequences of uncontrolled acute postoperative pain may be the progression to persistent pain.
Canadian Inventors of U.S. Patents: An Empirical Study for the Canadian Ministry of Innovation, Science and Economic Development

In January 2016, the Canadian Ministry of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (the “Ministry”) commissioned this study to gain insight into technological innovation in Canada through the lens of the United States (“U.S.”) patent system. Comprehensive patent data of the sort required to make direct measurements of the Canadian patent system is not yet available in a form that lends itself to direct analysis, in particular patent data and metadata available as bulk downloads. In lieu of this, we use two massive data sets that we have assembled: (1) a dataset containing detailed information about patent prosecution in the U.S. from 1976 to the present, and (2) a dataset containing all federal U.S. patent litigations from 2000 to 2014 that resulted in a published opinion or order. We parsed these two datasets to derive a data subset containing all U.S. patents having at least one Canadian inventor (“Canadian-Contribution” or “CanCon” patents). The detailed information in the CanCon data subset has allowed direct analysis of such variables as inventor nationality (e.g., Canadian), numbers of inventors, application and issuance years, technology areas, assignees, prosecuting United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) examiners, prosecuting attorneys, and/or prosecuting law firms. We constructed a comprehensive patent citation graph of all post-1975 patents, and used this graph to determine patent importance within this network using eigenfactor centrality methods. The results of our analyses offer new insights into the inventive behavior of Canadians and owners of patents that co-invent with Canadians. For example, in total there are 170,067 U.S. patents having at least one Canadian inventor. The mean importance of these patents is 1.133, which means that CanCon patents are, on average, 13% more important than the mean importance for all U.S. patents, which is 1.00. By comparison, the mean importance of all U.S. patents having at least one foreign inventor is 0.95, or of slightly below average importance. The technological fields having the largest numbers of CanCon patents tend to involve telecommunications, computers and computer software, pharmaceuticals, molecular biology, chemistry, land vehicles, and the design of furnishings. With respect to patents litigated in U.S. federal courts, CanCon patents are less likely to be the subject of a federal lawsuit, and, those CanCon patents that are litigated tend to be of lower importance than the average for litigated patents.
Semi-Supervised Learning for Channel Charting-Aided IoT Localization in Millimeter Wave Networks.

In this paper, a novel framework is proposed for channel charting (CC)-aided localization in millimeter wave networks. In particular, a convolutional autoencoder model is proposed to estimate the three-dimensional location of wireless user equipment (UE), based on multipath channel state information (CSI), received by different base stations. In order to learn the radio-geometry map and capture the relative position of each UE, an autoencoder-based channel chart is constructed in an unsupervised manner, such that neighboring UEs in the physical space will remain close in the channel chart. Next, the channel charting model is extended to a semi-supervised framework, where the autoencoder is divided into two components: an encoder and a decoder, and each component is optimized individually, using the labeled CSI dataset with associated location information, to further improve positioning accuracy. Simulation results show that the proposed CC-aided semi-supervised localization yields a higher accuracy, compared with existing supervised positioning and conventional unsupervised CC approaches.
Placental dysfunction and impaired fetal growth: a relationship with bronchopulmonary dysplasia and pulmonary hypertension.

More than five decades ago, Northway et al 1 described the clinical, radiological and pathological features of a chronic lung disease in preterm infants characterised by lung emphysema, fibrosis, pulmonary vascular remodelling and cardiac hypertrophy.1 At that time, this chronic lung disease of prematurity, which they named bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), was thought to occur as a consequence of postnatal events, including severe respiratory distress syndrome, oxygen toxicity and volutrauma.1 Despite improvements in neonatal care, postnatal adverse exposures continue to be important factors in BPD pathogenesis. Emerging evidence also suggests that pulmonary outcomes after preterm birth are likely determined not only by postnatal factors but also by the in utero environment. Male gender, white race, smoking, hypertension and infection have all been linked to increased BPD susceptibility. In addition, growing evidence suggests that fetal growth restriction (FGR) is a major risk factor for BPD.2 Abnormal placentation resulting in impaired placental perfusion is one of the most frequent causes of early FGR (<32 weeks gestational age) and preeclampsia. In the French EPIPAGE-2 study of preterm infants <32 weeks gestation, the risk of moderate/severe BPD was more than sixfold higher in FGR infants.3 Importantly, FGR has also been linked …
Path-Based Access Control for Enterprise Networks

Enterprise networks are ubiquitious and increasingly complex. The mechanisms for defining security policies in these networks have not kept up with the advancements in networking technology. In most cases, system administrators define policies on a per-application basis, and subsequently, these policies do not interact. For example, there is no mechanism that allows a web server to communicate decisions based on its ruleset to a firewall in front of it, even though decisions being made at the web server may be relevant to decisions at the firewall. In this paper, we describe a path-based access control system for service-oriented architecture (SOA)-style networks which allows services to pass access-control-related information to neighboring services, as the services process requests from outsiders and from each other. Path-based access control defends networks against a class of attacks wherein individual services make correct access control decisions but the resulting global network behavior is incorrect. We demonstrate the system in two forms, using graph-based policies and by leveraging the KeyNote trust management system.
THE MEANING OF REFORM: 1908 AND 2008

To a political historian, there is no reason to assume one can learn anything useful by comparing two elections a century apart. Everything is different: the context, the issues, and, of course, the candidates. Any similarities are usually just coincidental. Compare 1828 to 1928, for example. Andrew Jackson's victory in 1828 was possible only because, for the first time, most white men had the right to vote and exercised that right. And his party, the Democrats, were the first truly mass political party. The 1828 election was thus a pivotal moment in U.S. history and, even, in the history of the world. What about 1928? Herbert Hoover's landslide win that year was mostly a sign that American voters wanted more of the same- to continue the pro-business policies of the Republican Party and to keep a Catholic, Democrat Al Smith, out of the White House. Or compare the election of 1880 to that of 1980. Both times a conservative Republican was the victor: James A. Garfield and Ronald Wilson Reagan. But to compare Garfield, an intelligent man but a mediocre politician, to Reagan is like comparing a Triple Crown winner to a horse who stumbles in first at a country fair. They belong to the same species, but the skill of the competitor and the size of the purse make all the difference. So although we all have affection for centennials, we should be wary of imputing significance to elections that took place 100 years apart.
Forward-Looking Earnings Statements: Determinants and Market Response

This paper identifies cross-sectional factors that motivate the disclosure of forward-looking earnings information and documents that these disclosures impact market prices by "pulling forward" future earnings information. We examine a set of firms facing poor current earnings performance, undervaluation concerns, investor neglect and extreme pessimism and find significant cross-sectional variation regarding whether these firms provide forward-looking earnings information to correct market misperceptions in advance of the earnings announcement. Consistent with existing theory, firms with stronger and more persistent earnings news are more likely to provide forward-looking disclosures during the turnaround period. Moreover, we find that firms operating in high litigation industries, possessing strong institutional ownership, having greater stock option-based compensation and facing larger non-equity stakeholders are more likely to provide disclosures. Alternatively, we find evidence that the use of alternative financial signaling mechanisms (share repurchases and dividend increases) lowers the probability that managers will make forward-looking disclosures. Market-based tests indicate that the disclosed information is value-relevant. The market responds in a significantly positive manner to forecasts of earnings (i.e., forward-looking statements provided outside of earnings announcements) as well as to forward-looking statements bundled in current earnings announcements (after controlling for the current period's earnings information). Furthermore, these responses are positively correlated with future seasonally-adjusted changes in earnings, indicating the disclosures are effective in pulling forward future mandatory information. Finally, the market reaction to the announcements of previously preempted earnings is less than that of unpreempted earnings, providing additional evidence that the disclosures are effectively pulling-forward the eventual mandatory earnings information.
The immune response and the eye: the ACAID inducing signal is dependent on the nature of the antigen.

Purpose. To examine conditions that determine the nature of the blood-borne, ACAID-induc-ing signal produced after intracameral injection of antigen.Methods. Balb/c mice were splenectomized, rested, and injected in the anterior chamber withvarious antigens. Two days later the animals were bled, the plasma and white cells were iso-lated, and these fractions were transferred to naive mice (with spleens). Recipients were immu-nized subcutaneously within 2 to 7 days and delayed type hypersensitivit way s assessed 10 to 14days after immunization by challenge with the appropriate antigen.Results. The antigen HSV-1s TNP-couple, d cells, and P815 tumors cells induced a solubleACAID-inducing signal found in the plasma portion of blood. The soluble protein antigensbovine serum albumin (BSA) and conalbumin induced a cell-associated signal. When T-cellswere included with protein antigens, a soluble (not cellular) ACAID-inducing signal was in-duced.Conclusions. Paniculate antigens, surh as HSV-1 and P815, that elicit intraocular T-cell re-sponses or antigens that contain T-cells (e.g., TNP cells) induce a soluble, ACAID-inducingsignal. Soluble antigens (e.g., BSA and conalbumin) induce a cell-associated ACAID signal.Additionally, T-cells are capable of modulating the type of ACAID signal produced. Theseresults show that two methods of delivering the ACAID signal exist that are dependent on thenature of the antigen and the presence of T-cells. The authors conclude that the eye showsgreat versatility in regulating potentially damaging immune responses. Invest Ophthalmol VisSci. 1994;35:3085-3093.
Dementia as a Risk Factor for Falls and Fall Injuries Among Nursing Home Residents

Objectives To compare rates of falling between nursing home residents with and without dementia and to examine dementia as an independent risk factor for falls and fall injuries. Design Prospective cohort study with 2 years of follow-up. Setting Fifty-nine randomly selected nursing homes in Maryland, stratified by geographic region and facility size. Participants Two thousand fifteen newly admitted residents aged 65 and older. Measurements During 2 years after nursing home admission, fall data were collected from nursing home charts and hospital discharge summaries. Results The unadjusted fall rate for residents in the nursing home with dementia was 4.05 per year, compared with 2.33 falls per year for residents without dementia (P Conclusion Dementia is an independent risk factor for falling. Although most falls do not result in injury, the fact that residents with dementia fall more often than their counterparts without dementia leaves them with a higher overall risk of sustaining injurious falls over time. Nursing home residents with dementia should be considered important candidates for fall-prevention and fall-injury-prevention strategies.
Divided space, divided attitudes? Comparing the Republics of Moldova and Pridnestrovie (Transnistria) using simultaneous surveys

Has 20 years of separation between the Republics of Moldova and Pridnestrovie (Transnistria, PMR) generated a division in attitudes and beliefs in the two populations? Using near-simultaneous social scientific surveys from the summer of 2010 in the two republics, we measured four localized geopolitical divides: the local economies, historical memories, political legitimacies, and geopolitical orientations. Our findings challenge the notion that Moldova’s territorial disunion has produced separate experiential and attitudinal worlds. Complicating geopolitical commentary that locates an East-West fault-line running through Moldova, we find that separateness has not created an attitudinal chasm, but prospects of ending the separation are not supported by the surveys.
Growth Characteristics of Kilham Rat Virus and Its Effect on Cellular Macromolecular Synthesis

Abstract Kilham rat virus (KRV) is adsorbed into the rat nephroma cell within 1 hr after infection. There follows a latent period of about 12 hr during which less than 1% of the input infectious virus can be accounted for. New infectious virions can be detected at about 12 hr and the maximal yield of virus is attained by 23 hr after infection. The increase in final virus yield is about 200-fold over that found in the latent period. During this 23-hr period of virus growth, the rate of protein synthesis remains 75 to 100% of that in the uninfected cell. Ribonucleic acid (RNA) synthesis during this period is maintained at 100 to 150% of that found in the control cells. The addition of the inhibitor of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis, 5-fluoro-deoxyuridine (FUDR), up to 8 hr after infection completely suppresses virus production. After 8 hr, viral DNA production has started and FUDR inhibition progressively decreases until by 23 hr the addition of the inhibitor no longer causes a reduced virus yield. Viral DNA synthesis once initiated is required for the remainder of the 23-hr virus cycle. Viral DNA synthesis probably begins about 4 hr before the production of infectious virions. In the KRV-infected cells, DNA synthesis decreased sharply for 6 to 7 hr after infection in comparison to the uninfected cell. At 7 to 8 hr after infection, DNA synthesis in the infected cell increased and was maintained at a higher level than in the control cells for the rest of the virus growth period.
Risk factors affecting child cognitive development: a summary of nutrition, environment, and maternal–child interaction indicators for sub-Saharan Africa

An estimated 200 million children worldwide fail to meet their development potential due to poverty, poor health and unstimulating environments. Missing developmental milestones has lasting effects on adult human capital. Africa has a large burden of risk factors for poor child development. The objective of this paper is to identify scope for improvement at the country level in three domains--nutrition, environment, and mother-child interactions. We used nationally representative data from large-scale surveys, data repositories and country reports from 2000 to 2014. Overall, there was heterogeneity in performance across domains, suggesting that each country faces distinct challenges in addressing risk factors for poor child development. Data were lacking for many indicators, especially in the mother-child interaction domain. There is a clear need to improve routine collection of high-quality, country-level indicators relevant to child development to assess risk and track progress.
Palliative Therapy for Recalcitrant Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma of the Hands and Feet With Low-Dose, High Dose-Rate Brachytherapy.

Importance Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) of the hands and feet can be challenging to treat and cause significant disability for patients. Although CTCL is a highly radiosensitive tumor, the complex topography of acral surfaces presents challenges to achieving homogeneous superficial dosing of traditional electron beam therapy. In addition, traditional dosing may result in substantial acute cutaneous toxic effects. Recent reports demonstrate that low-dose palliative radiotherapy may be as effective as traditional regimens in CTCL. High dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy allows for control of the depth of radiation penetration over complex curved surfaces. This study investigated the role of low-dose HDR brachytherapy for acral CTCL lesions. Observations Six patients with a total of 8 acral CTCL lesions received low-dose HDR brachytherapy during a 3-year period. Rapid improvement and clinical clearance were observed in all treated lesions with minimal to no acute cutaneous toxic effects. During a mean follow-up period of 15.8 months, 1 lesion recurred locally; the remaining 7 lesions had sustained clinical remission. No long-term sequelae were observed. Conclusions and Relevance This case series demonstrates that low-dose HDR brachytherapy provides excellent palliation for local control of acral CTCL lesions, offering homogeneous, controlled dosing for complex topographic sites with minimal to no cutaneous toxic effects.
High level synthesis for designing custom computing hardware

We apply High Level Synthesis (HLS) to the design of FPGA based computing systems. HLS allows for a level of design space exploration unrealizable with Register Transfer Level (RTL) techniques. The use of HLS tools allow designers to prototype their designs with high quality results and fast turn around times. Our design flow makes use of Synopsys Behavioral Compiler (BC) followed by logic synthesis to map designs onto the Altera RIPP10 board. We illustrate our approach with a case study: the design of a DTMF receiver from a high-level behavioral description down to implementation on the RIPP10 board. We were able to design working hardware, meet our delay constraints and achieve 90% utilization of the available FPGAs. The final design had approximately 90000 gate equivalents.
Improving Multiple Prediction In Image Space Using ADCIGs For Limited-offset Recordings

Auto-convolution is a convenient way of generating multiple models and is the basis for Surface Related Multiple Prediction (SRMP). The completeness of the multiple model, however, relies on recording all the primary paths that contribute to multiple generation. In practice, with limited offset recordings and in areas of complex subsurface geometries (especially steep dips), we might record only the multiple path and not the primary, leading to incomplete multiple models. In image space, this translates to modeling multiples at fewer opening angles than are actually present. In this article, I show that the Angle Domain Common Image Gathers (ADCIGs) of multiple models provide useful angular information which may be used to inll or extrapolate missing angles and account for the missing multiples in the model generated using SRMP.
Partitions and pignistic distributions in GIT

The Ambiguity measure is based on a probability distribution derived from a body of evidence using pignistic techniques. The Aggregate Uncertainty measure also creates a probability distribution from a body of evidence but this distribution is chosen to maximize the Shannon entropy. A body of evidence can be used to form a partition of the underlying domain. When we can group the terms of the Ambiguity or Aggregate Uncertainty using this partition, some interesting connections between entropies and nonspecificities are revealed.
Capillary electrophoresis is a sensitive monitor of the hairpin-random coil transition in DNA oligomers.

Capillary electrophoresis (CE) has been used to characterize the hairpin-random coil transition of four octamers in the GCxxxxGC minihairpin family, where xxxx is GAAA, TTTC, TTTT, or AAAA. The transition can be monitored by CE because differences in the frictional coefficients of the hairpin and coil forms of each octamer lead to a difference of ~9% in the free solution mobilities of the two conformations. The GAAA octamer is unusually stable, with a melting temperature of 65°C. The TTTT octamer forms a minihairpin with a melting temperature of 29°C, the TTTC octamer has a melting temperature of 16°C, and the AAAA octamer has a melting temperature below 0°C. The thermal transitions of the TTTT, TTTC, and AAAA octamers are well fitted by a structure prediction algorithm; however, the GAAA minihairpin is considerably more stable than predicted. The melting temperature of the GAAA minihairpin is reduced to 47°C in aqueous buffers containing 7.2 M urea, and to 33°C in buffers containing 7.2 M urea plus 40% (v/v) formamide. The combined results indicate that CE is a sensitive technique for monitoring conformational transitions in small DNA molecules.
Risk Factors and Outcomes in Post-Liver Transplantation Bile Duct Stones and Casts: A Case-Control Study

Bile duct stones and casts (BDS) after liver transplantation are associated with significant morbidity. Risk factors for BDS formation and the efficacy of treatment in liver transplant recipients have not been systematically studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate potential risk factors for the formation of BDS in patients post–liver transplant. A case-control study of consecutive liver transplant recipients at a university hospital from 1989 to 2007 was performed to identify risk factors for BDS formation. Cases included all liver transplant recipients with BDS, excluding those with concurrent t-tubes or biliary stents. Controls were chosen randomly from the total liver transplant population matched for year of transplantation. Pre- and post-OLT risk factors were analyzed with univariate and multivariate analyses. There were 49 cases and 101 controls over an 18-year-period (1289 liver transplants performed) with an incidence of 3.8% for BDS. In the cases, the median time to BDS diagnosis was 613 days from time of transplant. The controls had a median follow-up of 1530 days. Use of ursodeoxycholic acid was protective (P = 0.005), whereas bile duct pathology (P = 0.003), total cholesterol ≥ 200 mg/dL (P = 0.008), and triglyceride ≥ 150 mg/dL (P = 0.008) were significant risk factors for BDS formation. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) was technically successful in all cases with resolution or improvement of liver chemistries in 59% (29) of patients. In conclusion, significant risk factors for forming BDS included bile duct pathology and elevated total cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Ursodeoxycholic acid had a significant effect in preventing the development of posttransplant BDS and should be used in those that are at increased risk. ERCP is a safe and effective diagnostic and therapeutic modality for these patients. Liver Transpl 14:1461–1465, 2008. © 2008 AASLD.
Electronic transport and recombination in amorphous semiconductors at low temperatures.

The problem of simultaneous diffusion and recombination of electron-hole pairs, photoexcited in noncrystalline semiconductors at low temperatures, is reduced to a universal mathematical problem whose solution does not depend on the density-of-states function. We derive a general geminate-recombination function which at low light intensities describes the distribution of radiative recombination times. The low-temperature photoconductivity is found to depend only weakly on material parameters and agrees with experiments on hydrogenated amorphous silicon.
Forming Collaborative Partnerships on a Statewide Level to Develop Quality School Leaders.

In 2004, the New Jersey Department of Education mandated that all leadership preparation programs in the state align with the Interstate School Leadership Licensure Consortia standards. In response, 17 preparation programs established a chapter of the National Council of Professors of Educational Administration. In this article, we describe how this chapter helped build a collaborative professional learning community across the state. The collaborative work revealed that field practitioners challenged our values and beliefs and also made substantive contributions to revising preparation programs. Now more in touch with how to improve preparation programs to meet the accountability press, we continue the dialogue with our field partners.
Frequent body CT scanning of young adults: indications, outcomes, and risk for radiation-induced cancer.

Purpose The aims of this study were to define the magnitude of frequent body CT scanning of young adults and to determine associated patient diagnoses, examination indications, short-term outcomes, and estimated radiation-induced cancer risk. Methods Patients aged 18 to 35 years who underwent chest or abdominopelvic CT between 2003 and 2007 at any of 3 hospitals were identified and categorized by total number of scans per body part as rarely ( 5 and 15) scanned. Medical records of the frequently scanned were reviewed. Cumulative radiation exposure, calculated from typical effective doses, was used to estimate cancer risk. Cancer incidence and mortality were estimated using the Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation method. Results A total of 25,104 patients underwent 45,632 scans, of whom 23,851 (95%) and 70 (0.3%) were rarely and frequently scanned, respectively. Among frequently scanned patients, the most common diagnoses were cancer (19 of 36 [52.8%]) and cystic fibrosis with lung transplantation (11 of 36 [30.5%]) for chest CT and cancer (25 of 34 [73.5%]) for abdominopelvic CT. During the mean 5.4 years (range, 0.9-7.6 years) of follow-up, 46% of frequently scanned patients (32 of 70) died. Of the 47 cancers predicted in the entire cohort, 36 (77%) and 2 (3%) were expected in the rarely and frequently scanned. Conclusions The majority of CT-induced cancers are predicted to result from sporadic rather than frequent scanning. Frequent scanning confers a significant cancer risk but occurs in severely ill patients, a large proportion of who die before any radiation-induced cancer would be a factor in their health.
Cardiac Vein Myocardial Revascularization: An Experimental Study and Report of 3 Clinical Cases

Abstract The feasibility of utilizing the coronary venous system for myocardial revascularization was explored in 18 dog experiments and 3 clinical patients at St. Mary Medical Center. Experimental models were developed using mammary artery-to-coronary vein anastomoses, free vein grafts from the aorta to the coronary veins, and saphenous vein bypass grafts from the aorta to the cardiac veins in the patients. Evaluation of myocardial revascularization was done by one or more of the following methods: (1) electromagnetic flowmeter measurements of graft blood flow; (2) myocardial scanning after injection of radioactive materials; (3) hydrogen electrode evaluation of arteriovenous shunting; (4) coronary cineangiograms; (5) methylene blue injections with visual observation of myocardial staining and collateral venous pathways; (6) pulse-flow tracings; (7) electrocardiographic changes; and (8) myocardial venous capillary response to papaverine and isoproterenol. The experimental studies consistently demonstrated evidence of myocardial revascularization through the coronary venous system. Three patients with intractable angina pectoris and previous unsuccessful revascularization procedures underwent saphenous vein bypass grafting from the aorta to the coronary vein. Postoperative coronary cineangiograms showed patency in 2 of 4 grafts. Myocardial scanning demonstrated radioactivity in the regions served by the patent grafts. All patients survived and were partially or completely relieved of their symptoms.
Boosting the Late-Blooming Boy: Use of Growth-Promoting Agents in the Athlete With Constitutional Delay of Growth and Puberty

Context:The indications for use of growth hormone have broadened with the availability of unlimited recombinant human growth hormone. The Food and Drug Administration’s approval for use of growth h...
Religion, relationships and mental health in midlife women following acute myocardial infarction.

Little is known about coping in women following an acute myocardial infarction (AMI). In midlife, women have worse outcomes than men following AMI. Innovative interventions need to be developed tha...
Egg Production, Oviposition Sites, and Adult Longevity of Bessa harveyi (Diptera: Tachinidae), Parasitizing Yellowheaded Spruce Sawfly, Pikonema alaskensis (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae)

Female Bessa harveyi (Townsend) caged with males laid a mean of 27.7 eggs per female on prepupal Pikonema alaskensis (Rohwer) larvae, with 37% not laying eggs. Virgin females caged without males laid a mean of 4.7 eggs per female, with 64% not laying eggs. The pre-oviposition period was 6.3 days in the greenhouse and 9.1 days in the laboratory. There was a highly significant difference in the mean number of mature follicles per female between egg-laying females (5.3) and those not laying eggs (1.1). The difference in mean longevity between the laboratory (20.9 days) and greenhouse (11.3 days) was highly significant. There was no significant difference in longevity between males and females in either environment. Female B. harveyi survived longest at a low temperature of 20°C and a high relative humidity (RH) of 90%. With increasing temperature within the range 20 to 28.5°C, egg production per unit time increased, but adult longevity decreased, so that total eggs produced remained about the same. There was a highly significant difference in the length of puparial stage between females (14.3 days) and males (13.5 days) at 20°C and 80% RH. Female B. harveyi preferred the dorsal thorax of P. alaskensis for oviposition. The origin of scars on host larvae is uncertain. Some scars are unsuccessful B. harveyi attacks, and others may be the result of attacks by other parasites and predators.
Unified approach for synthesizing crystallization-based separation processes

A procedure for synthesizing crystallization-based separation processes is presented. In an evolutionary manner and without being restricted to a particular crystallization technique, flowsheet alternatives are generated to meet the separation objectives for a given system. This is achieved by recognizing the fact that four basic crystallization-related movements in composition space are sufficient to represent a variety of crystallization processes. Suitable movements are selected based on relevant features of the phase diagram to construct feasible flowsheets. The procedure consists of six steps. First, separation objectives are defined. Second, a separation core structure is generated. Third, the separation sequence and unit operations are selected, followed by adding other units to the structure for proper plant operations. Fifth, appropriate crystallizer type is selected. Finally, economic evaluation and feasibility checks are performed for the generated alternatives. Rules are provided to aid decision-making at each step. The procedure is illustrated with various examples including separation of amino acids, p- and m-cresols, chlorobenzoic acids, calcium carbonate and magnesium oxide from dolomite, and the production of salt.