cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Laws Common and Unwritten: On the Natural Law and the Possibility of Civic Cooperation for the Common Good

According to proponents of political liberalism such as John Rawls, modern, constitutional democracies are characterized by an ineliminable pluralism of incommensurable and conflicting conceptions of the good.1 (I leave off Rawls additional claim that this pluralism is of reasonable conceptions of the good, for Rawls offers no account of what it means for anything, much less a conception of the good to be reasonable.) Given such a state of affairs, we might wonder whether genuine civic friendship is possible. Won’t the state, under such conditions, be reduced to a mere alliance for protection or for promoting the exchange of goods? But in that case, how (as Aristotle asks) are we to distinguish political associations from such agreements between such associations (agreements between cities, for instance)? Suppose for a moment, however, that the purpose of political association, while including protection from injustice and the promotion of exchange, also includes the promotion of virtue and the good life. Such an association must be animated by a particular conception of the good. Yet there are those who insist that variation in conceptions of the good and the right across cultures means that there is no such thing as the good or the right — rather, there are beliefs about the good and opinions about the right. But no particular conception is true or known. If sound, this claim would suggest that there is something incoherent or unintelligible about endeavoring to promote a civic friendship — a partnership in the good life — within a modern democracy. For modern democracies are societies comprised of different cultures, wherein these various cultures subscribe to different and distinct conceptions of the good.
Nonlinear Analysis of Elastic Framed Structures

A consistent formulation for the geometrically nonlinear behavior of linear elastic rigid framed structures is developed and the appropriate equations for two solution procedures, successive substitution and Newton-Raphson, are derived. A linearized incremental loading procedure and stability analysis are described. The formulation is applied to two structures and comparison studies illustrating the effect of load increment size and convergence tolerance on the total computational effort are included. The results indicate that the Newton-Raphson method is more efficient, particularly for low convergence tolerance. Also, if only a single solution is desired, it is more efficient to apply the total load in one step rather than in increments.
Abstract T P88: Impaired Collateral Status During Unilateral Carotid Occlusion In Type 2 Diabetic Mice

Introduction: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is major risk factor of ischemic stroke and is associated with poor outcome after stroke. Previously we found that T2DM mice exhibited impaired leptomeningeal collateral flow recruitment after distal middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). The current study aimed to study the collateral status during unilateral carotid occlusion, commonly observed in human patients with atherosclerosis. Methods: Adult male db/db and db/+ mice were subjected to permanent unilateral common carotid artery occlusion (CCAO) to simulate the hypoperfusion state in the human carotid artery disease. In vivo imaging of blood flow and flow velocity of the leptomeningeal collateral vessels was performed at various time points after CCAO with doppler optical coherence tomography (DOCT). Diameter of each major artery in the circle of Willis was also quantified by DiI-labeling at various time points after CCAO. Results: Imaging of DOCT showed that during occlusion of CCA, db/+ mice showed m...
Collaboration and Gender Equity in Game-Based Learning for Middle School Computer Science

Game-based learning environments can deliver robust learning gains and have a significant capacity to engage students. Yet, they can unintentionally disadvantage students with less prior game experience. This article presents evidence that a collaborative gameplay approach can effectively address this problem at the middle school level. In an iterative, designed-based research study, the authors first used an experimental pilot study to investigate the nature of collaboration in the Engage game-based learning environment and then deployed Engage in a full classroom study to measure its effectiveness at supporting all students during computer science learning. In early phases of the intervention, male students outpaced female peers in learning gains. However, female students caught up during a multiweek classroom implementation. These findings provide evidence that gender differences could dissipate over time within collaborative game-based learning experiences in computer science.
DVBB: A Structural Joins Algorithm on Dewey Vector Based B~+ Tree Index

To evaluate the primitive structural relationships of XML data, a new algorithm named DVBB (Dewey Vec- tor Based B~+ tree)is proposed in this paper. Unlike the traditional way, DVBB employs the Dewey Vector to encode XML elements, and performs structural joins on the DVBB index. This algorithm can effectively skip the elements which cannot produce the join results with two stacks, PublicStack and PrivateStack. An extensive of experiments show that the DVBB algorithm can gain the best efficiency in structural joins.
A hybrid solution for mixed workloads on dynamic graphs

The scale and significance of graph structured data today has led to the development of graph management systems that are optimized either for graph navigation requests or graph analytic requests. We present a general purpose graph system that provides high performance concurrently for both navigation and analytic requests. In addition, it supports highly dynamic graphs wherein vertices and edges are added or deleted and properties are modified. Our solution employs a hybrid architecture comprising two graph engines, one for each workload, with a synchronization unit to manage updates and a federation layer to present the hybrid system as a single API to graph applications. We develop a proof-of-concept, describe its implementation in details, and present experimental results that demonstrate its potential.
Freedom and happiness

Now that we understand what freedom is, we can consider why Spinoza regards it as so valuable. To this end, this chapter examines the role freedom plays in his ethical project. Drawing on the ancient Greeks, Spinoza conceives of ethics as helping us to determine the value of our various goods so that we may plan our lives for attaining our highest good. Attaining our highest good, on this view, provides us with eudaimonia , an ethically rich conception of happiness that encompasses flourishing and perfection. Unlike the ancients, however, Spinoza holds that freedom plays a central role in our eudaimonia . This is because eudaimonia comes from virtue, which Spinoza essentially equates with freedom, for he understands freedom as acting from one's own power and defines virtue as equivalent to one's power (4def8). It follows that freedom is important to Spinoza's ethics for the same reason as virtue, because it is constitutive of our highest good and, more fundamentally, because it serves as the measure by which we determine the value of all things. A central conclusion of this reading is that Spinoza departs from the dominant tradition in modern ethics, which regards freedom as important because it is essential to our moral agency or personhood, the basis for special consideration we afford moral agents, such as dignity or respect. Rather, freedom matters, for Spinoza, because it is integral to our flourishing and happiness. The first section below sets forth Spinoza's eudaimonistic project as it is sketched in the TdIE .
Classifying multidimensional trajectories of neighbourhood change: a self-organizing map and k-means approach

ABSTRACTUnderstanding the dynamic nature of how urban neighbourhoods evolve through time has been a critical issue both in the literature and in public policy practice for decades. Methodological limitations in understanding change across the multiple attribute dimensions that define a neighbourhood, through time and for spatially situated units, have largely reduced empirical analyses to two points in time or for a singular attribute dimension. This paper demonstrates a two-layered approach to classifying neighbourhoods according to their multidimensional, temporal trajectories. The method first projects data onto a two-dimensional output space using a self-organizing map, then constructs temporal trajectories of change across this space and, finally, classifies the resulting trajectories with a k-means algorithm. The resulting typology of neighbourhood trajectories are then mapped in the geographic space to visualize the space–time, multidimensional dynamics. A case study of neighbourhood change from 19...
Abstract 221: Integral Role of Akt-Serum Response Factor-Myocardin Signaling in Myofibroblast Differentiation with Implications in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Objectives Myofibroblast (MF) differentiation is marked by the de novo expression of smooth muscle alpha-actin (αSMA) stress fibers, a function critical for tissue repair both physiologically and pathophysiologically. However, the role of Akt in regulating MFs with implications in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and fibrosis, and the effect of pharmacological inhibition of Akt pathway on PAH and fibrosis remains poorly defined. Methods We used NIH 3T3 fibroblasts and primary human lung fibroblasts (HLFs) in the current study. Cells were treated with TGFβ, the profibrotic cytokine and the role of Akt, SRF and myocardin in αSMA expression, MF differentiation and collagen gel contraction was studied with the use of various constructs encoding expression of specific genes. Results Here, we show that Akt mediates MF differentiation as evident by a 5-fold increase in αSMA expression and assembly in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (NIH 3T3) over-expressing active Akt1 (myr-Akt). As for the molecular mechanisms governing MFs, we found that αSMA expression was mediated by Akt, independent of mTOR; noteworthy, fibronectin expression, an ECM protein, is Akt-mTOR dependent. Inhibiting Akt activation utilizing triciribine blunted αSMA and its transcriptional activators, myocardin and SRF, inhibiting MF differentiation in NIH 3T3, myr-Akt-NIH 3T3, and human lung fibroblasts. Furthermore, blocking Akt reversed MF differentiation as evident by a blunted gel contraction primed with TGFβ. Conclusions In conclusion, our study clearly demonstrates the crucial role of Akt in mediating TGFβ-induced MF differentiation. We show a previously uncharacterized link between Akt and TGFβ-induced αSMA synthesis through myocardin and SRF, independent of mTOR, in MFs. These data constitute evidence of novel signaling cascade and targeting Akt pathway might be beneficial for the treatment of PAH and fibrosis.
Reciprocal absorbing boundary condition for the time-domain numerical analysis of wave motion in unbounded layered media

A global absorbing boundary condition is introduced for the time-domain numerical analysis of wave motion in unbounded layered media. This condition is obtained by applying the reciprocity theorem for linearly viscoelastic media. Example problems are solved towards evaluation of the accuracy and effectiveness of the approach developed in this work.
A new measure to assess asthma's effect on quality of life from the patient's perspective.

Background The Asthma Impact on Quality of Life Scale (A-IQOLS) assesses the negative effect of asthma on quality of life (QoL) from the patient's perspective by using dimensions of Flanagan's Quality of Life Scale (QOLS), a measure of current QoL. Objectives We sought to determine and compare the psychometric properties of the A-IQOLS and QOLS, including their sensitivities to differences and change in asthma status. Methods In a test-retest design (3- to 5-week interval) adults with persistent asthma underwent spirometry and were administered the A-IQOLS, other asthma outcome measures (Asthma Control Test, Asthma Symptom Utility Index, and the Marks and Juniper Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaires), and the QOLS. Results Participants' (n = 147) mean age was 49 years, 76% were white, 12% were Hispanic, and 65% were female. A-IQOLS and QOLS scores were significantly correlated with other asthma outcomes scores, except FEV 1 , but shared relatively low common variance with these measures. A-IQOLS but not QOLS score changes were significantly correlated with changes in asthma outcomes. An A-IQOLS standard error of measurement of 0.27 implies that a within-person score change of ±0.73 or greater constitutes a true change. The QOLS standard error of measurement was 0.43. Conclusions A-IQOLS provides a reliable, valid, and unique assessment of the patient-perceived negative effect of asthma on QoL that is suitable for use in asthma clinical research and potentially in clinical care. Further studies are needed in diverse patient populations. QOLS, a measure of current QoL, is less sensitive to disease status changes but might be useful in characterizing study populations, in treatment adherence research, and as a clinical and research tool in patients with multiple, severe, and/or life-limiting chronic conditions.
Chemosensory and hyperoxia circuits in C. elegans males influence sperm navigational capacity.

The sperm’s crucial function is to locate and fuse with a mature oocyte. Under laboratory conditions, Caenorhabditis elegans sperm are very efficient at navigating the hermaphrodite reproductive tract and locating oocytes. Here, we identify chemosensory and oxygen-sensing circuits that affect the sperm’s navigational capacity. Multiple Serpentine Receptor B (SRB) chemosensory receptors regulate Gα pathways in gustatory sensory neurons that extend cilia through the male nose. SRB signaling is necessary and sufficient in these sensory neurons to influence sperm motility parameters. The neuropeptide Y pathway acts together with SRB-13 to antagonize negative effects of the GCY-35 hyperoxia sensor on spermatogenesis. SRB chemoreceptors are not essential for sperm navigation under low oxygen conditions that C. elegans prefers. In ambient oxygen environments, SRB-13 signaling impacts gene expression during spermatogenesis and the sperm’s mitochondria, thereby increasing migration velocity and inhibiting reversals within the hermaphrodite uterus. The SRB-13 transcriptome is highly enriched in genes implicated in pathogen defense, many of which are expressed in diverse tissues. We show that the critical time period for SRB-13 signaling is prior to spermatocyte differentiation. Our results support the model that young C. elegans males sense external environment and oxygen tension, triggering long-lasting downstream signaling events with effects on the sperm’s mitochondria and navigational capacity. Environmental exposures early in male life may alter sperm function and fertility.
The Constitutional Framing: Republican Democracy, Private Property, and Free Expression

How did the framers conceive of the relationship between the government and the market? During the Revolutionary War and under the Articles of Confederation, most government power rested with the states, and most state constitutions assumed the people would virtuously pursue the common good. American leaders were political idealists, conceptualizing the citizen-self as predominantly virtuous. By 1787, however, the delegates to the constitutional convention had been disabused of their idealism. The delegates therefore faced a conundrum: How could they maintain republican government while simultaneously protecting property and stabilizing the nation’s economy? They tried to hammer out a practical solution that could achieve these goals. Most important, the framers believed national survival depended on a relative balance between public and private spheres of activity, a political-economic system structured by the Constitution. The framers sought a balance between the public and private spheres. The framers’ citizen-self was Janus-faced: one face animated by virtue and reason, but the other face animated by passion and interest, especially economic interest. To a great degree, passion and interest were to enjoy free rein in the private sphere. Yet, in the public sphere, the founders designed the Constitution to produce results in accord with virtue, reason, and the common good. The framers’ multiple discussions and ultimate acceptance of slavery underscored their desire to protect property, their incomplete adoption of capitalism, and their racist blindness of slavery’s immorality. The chapter concludes by briefly discussing free speech and a free press.
Feasibility of Recycling Excess Agricultural Nitrate with Electrodialysis

One of the most serious environmental problems associated with agriculture is excessive nitrate N in waters leaving fields. It is a health hazard in drinking water and a primary cause of hypoxia in ocean waters receiving drainage from agricultural regions. Recent mitigation efforts have focused on techniques that promote denitrification—conversion of excess agricultural nitrate to N₂. This seems inherently wasteful since industrial production of nitrate fertilizer from N₂ requires a substantial input of energy and is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. Thus, it is desirable to develop methods to recycle nitrate, keeping it in a form suitable for reuse as fertilizer. One possibility is electrodialysis, in which direct current is passed through alternating cation- and anion-permeable membranes, creating separate streams of dilute and concentrated water. We tested the concept under controlled conditions in a greenhouse and in a field setting on a contaminated trout stream with nitrate N concentrations consistently above 20 mg L⁻¹. The solar-powered field system removed 42% of the nitrate from water passing through it and concentrated it in a tank for subsequent application as fertilizer. The upper limit of concentration was approximately 520 mg L⁻¹, above which precipitation of calcite limited operation. Economic analysis indicates that in comparison to denitrification methods such as bioreactors, electrodialysis is likely to be more expensive per unit of nitrate removed. The approach will be most feasible for situations in which nitrate concentrations are well above environmental standards for extended periods, to maximize operating time and nitrate removal rate.
All ears: the aesthetics of espionage

Few books are so aptly named as Peter Szendy’s Sur ecoute. Esthetique de l’espionnage. In French, the phrase “sur ecoute” is pregnant with multiple meanings. It draws attention to the act of listen...
Structure and Swelling Behavior of Poly(Ethylene Glycol)/Poly(Methacrylic Acid) Complexes

SUMMARY The complexation of two polymeric units to form a hydrophilic polymer network through hydrogen bonds is reviewed in an effort to associate the swelling characteristics to the complexation phenomenon. Polymer solution studies are summarized and used to interpret the behavior of complexes in networks. The review focuses on the complexation process of poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(methacrylic acid).
DIFFERENTIAL CONDITIONING AT CELLULAR LEVEL IN THE MOTOR CORTEX OF THE CAT

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the differential conditioning at cellular level in the motor cortex of the cat. As to the possible mechanism of learning-related changes in neuronal activity, several observations revealed that postsynaptic processes induced by firing activity might lead to the plastic modifications of synaptic transmission. In intracellular experiments on feline motor cortical neurons, it was shown that long-lasting facilitation of excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) could be induced by special conditioning procedure. It was demonstrated that the repetitive overlap of cellular phenomena induced by the EPSPs and time-locked postsynaptic discharges seems to be a preliminary condition for plastic changes. It was because (1) unpaired presentation of EPSPs and spikes did not lead to plastic changes, (2) EPSP-spike stimulus pairs with interstimulus intervals above 100ms never induced changes of EPSPs, and (3) if postsynaptic discharges were prevented by anodal current pulses, a previously efficient pairing procedure became ineffective in producing synaptic facilitation. The chapter presents the observations proving that the pairing procedure leading to facilitation of EPSPs did not induce general changes in the whole neuron but involved restricted postsynaptic sites of it.
Modulation of Enzyme Activities in Isolated Pea Nuclei by Phytochrome, Calcium and Calmodulin

The photoactivation of phytochrome by red light initiates many important developmental changes in plants (Hendricks and Van Der Woude, 1983). Some phytochrome-controlled responses are saturated at fluences of light as low as 3 × 10 −12moles/cm2 (Mandoli and Briggs, 1981). For such minute amounts of light to have major effects on the way a plant grows and develops, this initial stimulus must be amplified by some transduction mechanism, some linked sequence of biochemical changes that ultimately affects many facets of a plant’s metabolism.
Alchemical Grid Dock (AlGDock) calculations in the D3R Grand Challenge 3 : Binding free energies between flexible ligands and rigid receptors.

We participated in Subchallenges 1 and 2 of the Drug Design Data Resource (D3R) Grand Challenge 3. To prepare our submissions, we performed molecular docking with UCSF DOCK 6 and binding potential of mean force (BPMF) calculations—free energy calculations between flexible ligands and rigid receptors—using our open-source software package Alchemical Grid Dock (AlGDock). For each system, submissions were based on the minimum BPMF calculated for a selected set of crystal structures. In Subchallenge 1, our workflow performed poorly. Possible reasons for the poor performance include the neglect of cooperative ligands and limited sampling of ligand binding poses. In Subchallenge 2, our workflow led to some of most highly correlated submissions (Pearson R = 0.5) for vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2. However, our results were poorly correlated for Janus Kinase 2 and Mitogen-activated protein kinase 14. Affinity prediction could potentially be improved by systematic selection of more diverse receptor configurations.
US Data Access and the Commission for Evidence-based Policymaking

IntroductionIn September 2017, the bipartisan Commission for Evidence-based Policymaking released twenty-two recommendations to improve secure data access for evidence building activities involving population-level government files. Many of the files are siloed in government agencies. The commission deliberated over eighteen months to understand the risks and barriers to broader data use. Objectives and ApproachI will describe the Commission’s charge and review its recommendations, in context of US laws and privacy debates. I will compare the report’s recommendations and implications to laws and initiatives in other countries. The report calls for the establishment of a National Secure Data Service (NSDS), which has the potential to transform the data sharing environment for federal agencies, policy makers, and researchers. The report suggests more extensive use of differential privacy and secure multiparty computation to protect privacy. I will describe how the current environment could change depending on how the recommendations are implemented. ResultsThe Commission was established under one administration, but the recommendations were released under another. Despite the political and budget uncertainty in Washington, a bill was introduced and passed in the House in November 2017 to implement some recommendations. I will summarize the actions to be taken if the bill becomes law, including directives on learning agendas to prioritize and coordinate evidence-building activities across government, the roles of chief evaluation and chief data officers, and formation of an advisory committee to plan a NSDS. I will describe benefits that could follow from directives in the bill, including transparency about uses of administrative data, development of guidance to assess the risk when combining data sources, and minimization of the risk of publicly releasing de-identified data. Conclusion/ImplicationsThe US may develop a national secure data service to support evaluations and policymaking. The recommendations are akin to the UK Data Service. Some recommendations are straightforward, others need years of planning and technical breakthroughs, and all require political buy-in and funding.
Non-anastomotic failure of woven Dacron tube grafts in the thoracic aorta in young adults.

Background Dacron tube grafts have been used in the surgical management of cardiovascular disease since the 1970s. Complications at the site of the anastomosis have been well described. Non-anastomotic failure is far less common. We present a series of four patients who presented with complications of non-anastomotic failure of woven Dacron tube grafts. Methods A retrospective chart review of four patients who presented to our institution between March 2014 and March 2017 with clinical complications of a Dacron tube graft was conducted. Results All four patients underwent a staged surgical repair for an interrupted aortic arch between the years of 1988 and 2001. All four patients underwent revision of their original interposition graft (Gore-Tex, W.L. Gore & Associates, Flagstaff, AZ) with implantation of a Hemashield woven Dacron tube graft (Maquet, Rastatt, Germany). From 13 to 22 years postimplant of the Dacron tube graft, all patients presented with symptoms or clinical evidence of primary graft failure. Two patients underwent urgent surgical intervention and did not survive. One patient underwent attempted surgical intervention, which was aborted in the setting of profuse bleeding, and ultimately had an endovascular rescue of the tube graft with a Zenith Alpha endograft (Cook Medical, Bloomington, IN). One patient underwent elective endovascular intervention prior to onset of symptoms. Conclusion Non-anastomotic failure of woven Dacron tube grafts can occur in the thoracic aorta in young adults and may be managed with endovascular techniques.
The Peer Mentor Experience in a Physical Activity Intervention for Mental Health.

ABSTRACTDespite the effectiveness of peer-led health programs, few studies have been focused on the experiences of the peer mentors involved in such programs. The purpose of the current study was t...
Remote Detection of Abnormal Behavior in Mechanical Systems

Machinery can undergo many different types of operational faults during use. Mitigating these faults through scheduled maintenance programs or upon failure is costly, inefficient, and can introduce safety hazards. An alternative approach to identifying abnormal behavior in mechanical systems is through condition based monitoring, which is applied by taking measurements of machinery and using spectral analysis to diagnose faults. The signals produced by machines contain characteristic frequencies describing the operating state. The application of local sensors to monitor the health of mechanical systems is often expensive or not feasible; it is of interest to find methods of remote sensing to allow for detection of abnormalities in mechanical systems without the need for sensors at the local point of operation. This work intends to utilize the method of remote detection to study the diminishment of fault feature observability as a function of sensor location relative to operating equipment. In this study, the procedure used for fault detection consists of the following: (1) collect signals for rotating machinery operating in a healthy, faulty, and off state (2) identify features that are unique to a faulty operating state (3) use those features to identify faulty behavior. This procedure is performed at three locations. For each location, the observable feature for a healthy, faulty and motor off state is calculated and compared using the statistical mean, standard deviation, p-value and Bhattacharyya distance. The relationship between fault observability and distance is presented as a function of Bhattacharyya distance and classified based on a one-way ANOVA test. Machine fault diagnosis becomes more difficult as the measurement location increases. At greater distances, there is no statistical significance between healthy and faulty machine operation. Using a predictable frequency response, machine faults can be correctly identified up to a certain threshold determined by environment noise.
Molecular evolution in immune genes across the avian tree of life

All organisms encounter pathogens, and birds are especially susceptible to infection by malaria parasites and other haemosporidians. It is important to understand how immune genes, primarily innate immune genes which are the first line of host defense, have evolved across birds, a highly diverse group of tetrapods. Here, we find that innate immune genes are highly conserved across the avian tree of life and that although most show evidence of positive or diversifying selection within specific lineages or clades, the number of sites is often proportionally low in this broader context of putative constraint. Rather, the evidence shows a much higher level of negative or purifying selection in these innate immune genes - rather than adaptive immune genes - which is consistent with birds' long coevolutionary history with pathogens and the need to maintain a rapid response to infection. We further explored avian responses to haemosporidians by comparing differential gene expression in wild birds (1) uninfected with haemosporidians, (2) infected with Plasmodium, and (3) infected with Haemoproteus (Parahaemoproteus). We found patterns of significant differential expression with some genes unique to infection with each genus and a few shared between "treatment" groups, but none that overlapped with the genes included in the phylogenetic study.
The influence of the technique of surfactant administration (LISA vs INSURE) on the outcomes of respiratory distress syndrome treatment in preterm infants.

Objective Intratracheal administration of exogenous surfactant is a well-established therapy for respiratory distress syndrome in preterm infants. The two preferred methods for respiratory support in neonates that contribute to limiting the risk of lung damage associated with mechanical ventilation include nCPAP and non-invasive ventilation. The increasing popularity of surfactant administration techniques is due to the fact they reduce the time of mechanical ventilation until this medication is administered. In some cases a short period of mechanical ventilation follows (INSURE: INtubation-SURfactant-Extubation). There are also methods that make it possible to completely avoid intubation and help maintain spontaneous breathing during surfactant administration (LISA: Less Invasive Surfactant Administration, MIST: Minimal Invasive Surfactant Therapy). Aim: To analyze treatment outcomes in preterm infants who suffer from respiratory distress syndrome and require exogenous surfactant administration depending on the technique used: LISA vs INSURE. Patients and methods Material and methods: The present retrospective analysis included 129 infants born at a gestational age of between 24 and 33 weeks who were hospitalized in the Neonatology Department in the years 2014-2016, were administered surfactant and remained on non-invasive ventilation. All the subjects received only proractant alfa. Both study groups: LISA (n=83) and INSURE (n=46) were analyzed in terms of respiratory distress treatment outcomes and the presence of complications of prematurity. Results Results: There were no significant differences in patient characteristics between the two study groups (LISA vs INSURE: mean birth body weight was 1210 g vs 1275 g, respectively; mean gestational age at birth was 30 weeks vs 29 6/7 weeks, respectively). The comparison of respiratory support method and FiO2 concentration within the first 72 hours after surfactant administration showed no significant differences between the groups. Similarly, respiratory outcomes did not significantly differ between the LISA and INSURE groups and were: the need for intubation ⎼ 42.2% vs 32.6%, p=0.201, duration of mechanical ventilation - median days 0 vs 0, p=0.377, duration of nCPAP - median days 5 vs 5, p=0.379, duration of oxygen supplementation - median days 1 vs 1, p=0.555, and the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia - 28.9% vs 23.9%, p=0.506. Also, the incidence of complications was similar in both study groups. Conclusion Conclusions: Our retrospective analysis of preliminary outcomes of surfactant administration involving the use of the LISA technique showed no statistically significant differences as compared with the INSURE method. The randomized, prospective study that is currently being conducted at our Neonatology Department and includes biochemical markers of lung damage, will bring more objective data on the safety and effectiveness of both surfactant administration techniques (LISA vs INSURE).
Nickel diffusion into MoS2 and the effect of annealing on contact resistance

Abstract Metal-semiconductor interfaces are crucial for the performance of many devices and understanding interactions between material interfaces after processing is therefore of interest. Here, field-effect transistors with Ni contacts are studied to determine the effects of annealing on contact resistance. Contact resistance and total resistance of as-deposited and annealed field-effect transistors with Ni/Ti/Au contacts increase upon annealing, with higher annealing temperatures yielding a greater increase in contact resistance. It appears that Ni diffusion into MoS2 correlates with the observed higher contact resistance, and transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and electron energy loss spectroscopy reveal the presence of Ni in single crystal MoS2 flakes after annealing Ni/MoS2 in ultra-high purity Ar gas at 400 °C. Metal diffusion into 2D semiconductors like MoS2 may help or hurt device performance, and this work highlights the importance of considering the effects metal diffusion may have on contact resistance.
Temperature and E-field Model Simulation of Transformer Outlet Based on Computer-based Design

This paper proposed an iterative calculation method of steady-state E-field and thermal simulation of transformer outlet based on the ANSYS specific language called APDL. The joule heating of insulation medium can be considered in temperature field simulation, and the temperature and E-field strength factors can be both considered in the E-field simulation. The research shows: the proposed iterative algorithm has good convergence, and suitable for the large and multi medium insulation structure with complex topology. Based on the traditional calculation method of DC electric field, the auxiliary calculation method is provided for the insulation structure design and performance verification of transformer outlet.
Evaluation of Neurocognitive Function in Ornithine Transcarbamylase Deficiency

Hyperammonia due to ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency (OTCD) causes deficiencies in neurocognitive function. Using functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS), our results indicate the inefficient neurocognitive function and hemodynamic variation at low frequency in OTCD.
The institutions of international treaty organizations as evidence for social contract theory

Abstract Treaty organizations are formed via voluntary contracts among national governments that address policy issues of mutual concern. As such, treaty organizations provide evidence about the kinds of institutions that might be adopted via social contract. This paper develops a theory of the design of treaty organizations and examines the domains of authority and decision-making procedures of 22 treaty organizations to determine if any general traits are in evidence. It turns out that most treaty organizations rely upon unanimity or supermajorities for their major decisions and usually have quite narrow (bounded) policy domains.
"One-slop" hybrid approach for multi-vessel coronary artery disease in 35 patients

Objective To summarize the clinical experience of "One-stop" hybrid procedure that performs minimally in-vasive direct coronary artery bypass ( MII)CAB ) and percutaneous coronary intervention ( PC! ) concurrently on 35 patients with multivessel coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods Between June 2007 and May 2008, 35 patients [33 men and 2women, mean age (63.5±9.2) years] with multivessel CAD ( two-vessel CAD, n = 19; three-vessel CAD, n = 16, left main coronary artery disease, n = 7 ; coronary artery lesions, 2.5 lesions per patient) underwent "one-stop" hybrid procedure. The hybrid strategy was performed as a primary MIDCAB procedure for bypassing the left internal mammary artery ( LIMA ) to the left anterior descending artery ( LAD ), simultaneously followed by PCI ( pereutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and/or stenting) on the remaining non-LAD vessels. Concomitant diseases included hypertention in 20 patients, hy-perlipemia in 12 patients, previous myocardial infarction (MI) in 10 patients, diabetes mellitus (type 2) in 9 patients, previ-ous cerebrovascular disease in 2 patients, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in 1 patient, renal dysfunction in 1 patient, and ostium secundum atrial septal defect in 1 patient. The left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) averaged 0. 62±0.07. Results There were no reexploration for bleeding, strokes, myocardial infarctions, acute renal dysfunctions, or deaths in hospetal. Of the total 35 patients, 34 patients (97.1%) were successfully treated with "one-stop" hybrid procedure, and 1 patient (2.9%) was converted to conventional coronary artery bypass grafting ( CABG ) because of dissection of one obtuse marginal branch during PCI. One of the LIMA-LAD grafts was confirmed to be anastomotic stenosis by followed coronary angiog-raphy and was corrected immediately. The patient with ostium secundum defer underwent tranesophageal echocardiography guiding transcatheter closure after LIMA-LAD anastomosis. Catheter-based interventions were carried out in 61 coronary le-sions, including PTCA in 6 lesions and implantation of 62 drug-elating stents (DES) in the rest appropriate lesions. The mean number of DES implantation was 1.8 per patient, and the average diameter and length of implanted DES were respectively ( 3.2±0.5 )mm and 37.3 mm per patient. Of the 34 patients receiving hybrid procedure, the average mechanical ventrilation time was ( 10.8±7.9) hours, and 4 ( 11. 8% ) pateints were extubated in the operating room; length of stay in the intencive care unit averaged (33.6±33.0) hours and hospital stay (9±3) days; 24 patients (70.6%) avoided transfusion require-ment. Conclusion Our findings indicate that in high-risk patients with multivessel CAD, the "one-stop" hybrid procedure by performing MIDCAB and PCI simultaneously is a feasible and safe alternative. Key words: Coronary artery disease; Coronary artery bypass; Heart catheterization; Hybrid revascularization
Focal white matter disruptions along the cingulum tract explain cognitive decline in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI)

White matter abnormalities of the human brain are implicated in typical aging and neurodegenerative diseases. However, our understanding of how fine-grained changes in microstructural properties along white matter tracts are associated with memory and cognitive decline in normal aging and mild cognitive impairment remains elusive. We quantified tract profiles with a newer method that can reliably measure fine-grained changes in white matter properties along the tracts using advanced multi-shell diffusion magnetic resonance imaging in 25 patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and 23 matched healthy controls (HC). While the changes in tract profiles were parallel across aMCI and HC, we found a significant focal shift in the profile at specific locations along major tracts sub-serving memory in aMCI. Particularly, our findings depict white matter alterations at specific locations on the right cingulum cingulate, the right cingulum hippocampus and anterior corpus callosum (CC) in aMCI compared to HC. Notably, focal changes in white matter tract properties along the cingulum tract predicted memory and cognitive functioning in aMCI. The results suggest that white matter disruptions at specific locations of the cingulum bundle may be a hallmark for the early prediction of Alzheimer's disease and a predictor of cognitive decline in aMCI.
Detecting powdery mildew disease in squash at different stages using UAV-based hyperspectral imaging and artificial intelligence

In this study hyperspectral imaging (380–1020 nm) and machine learning were utilised to develop a technique for detecting different disease development stages (asymptomatic, early, intermediate, and late disease stage) of powdery mildew (PM) in squash. Data were collected in the laboratory as well as in the field using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Radial basis function (RBF) was used to discriminate between healthy and diseased plants, and to classify the severity level (disease stage) of a plant; the most significant bands to differentiate between healthy and different stages of disease development were selected (388 nm, 591 nm, 646 nm, 975 nm, and 1012 nm). Furthermore, 29 spectral vegetation indices (VIs) were tested and evaluated for their ability to detect and classify healthy and PM-infected plants; the M value was used to evaluate the VIs. The water index (WI) and the photochemical reflectance index (PRI) were able to accurately detect and classify PM in asymptomatic, early, and late development stages under laboratory conditions. Under field conditions (UAV-based), the spectral ratio of 761 (SR761) accurately detected PM in early stages, and the chlorophyll index green (CI green), the normalised difference of 750/705 (ND 750/705), the green normalised difference vegetation index (GNDVI), and the spectral ratio of 850 (SR850) in late stages. The classification results, by using RBF, in laboratory conditions for the asymptomatic and late stage was 82% and 99% respectively, while in field conditions it was 89% and 96% in early and late disease development stages, respectively.
Developing and implementing an emergency robotic undocking protocol at a community hospital

Abstract Background Robotic-assisted surgery is an increasingly prevalent technique that offers benefits to surgeon and patient. Inherent safety concerns exist with surgical robots yet can be mitigated by developing an emergency robotic undocking protocol (ERUP) and conducting simulation exercises. Purpose To determine if an ERUP and multidisciplinary, in-situ simulation training improves surgical robot undocking times. Method This quality improvement (QI) project utilized a pre-post design that assessed emergency robot undocking times through baseline simulation, revision period, and post-implementation simulation with multidisciplinary surgical robotics teams. Participant surveys assessed demographics, knowledge, confidence, and teamwork on the ERUP and simulation. Discussion Simulation timed endpoints improved substantially. No change in median scores of knowledge, confidence or teamwork resulted. The ERUP and simulation scenario were rated positively by participants. Conclusion This QI project demonstrated an ERUP implemented through multidisciplinary, in-situ simulation is feasible for surgical robotics teams. This ERUP can be adapted to individual institutional needs.
What Procedures Are Important to General Pediatricians and Why

Abstract Background/Objective Pediatric residents must demonstrate competence prior to graduation in Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) required procedures. Recent literature shows general pediatricians (GPeds) infrequently perform these procedures yet believe them important to learn. The purpose of this study was to determine why GPeds believe learning procedures was important, what barriers prevent them from developing and maintaining procedural skills, and what procedures they believe should be included in training. Methods Fifty-one GPeds from the American Board of Pediatrics General Examination Committee and the central Ohio region participated in 30-minute semistructured recorded phone interviews that probed their use of procedures across training and current practice. Participants represented urban, suburban, and rural geographic regions and practiced in a variety of settings. We conducted a thematic analysis of transcribed interviews. Results GPeds believed currently required ACGME procedures were crucial to learn for 5 reasons: 1) adaptation to change in practice type or location, 2) emergency preparedness, 3) counseling patients and families, 4) distance from a tertiary care center and specialists, and 5) professional identity as a pediatrician. Numerous barriers, particularly never learning the procedures, prevented GPeds from performing procedures in practice. Recommended procedures to be taught included high- (eg, circumcision), and low-risk (eg, cerumen removal, nasopharyngeal swabs, umbilical cauterization) skills. Conclusions GPeds believed procedural training was important, however may never have learned certain procedures. These findings suggest that teaching methods should be adapted or customized procedural education should be implemented to ensure relevancy of skills learned for clinical practice.
When Critical Ethnography Leaves the Field and Enters the Engineering Classroom: A Scoping Review

Background: Critical ethnography studies power relationships in research settings through in-depth and sustained involvement in research contexts. It is a newly emerging methodological approach in engineering education and should be further explored and understood. Purpose: The purpose of this article is to present how critical ethnography has been used in research in engineering classrooms and to discuss what methodological insights we can gain from reviewing this research. Scope/Method: The purpose of the scoping review is to map key concepts and types of evidence related to the use of critical ethnography in engineering education research from 2005–2020. We assessed articles on their (1) ethnographic methodological design, (2) topics of empirical study, and (3) critical orientation. Conclusions: We found that authors defined ethnography broadly and that a majority of articles centered on student experience and learning in engineering. We also found that out of 35 articles included in the analysis, one study expressly used critical ethnography and 21 other studies employed some form of critical approach or construct. Our review has implications for researchers to expand the use of critical ethnography to understand complex engineering classroom arrangements and interactions.