cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Message passing interface and multithreading hybrid for parallel molecular docking of large databases on petascale high performance computing machines.

A mixed parallel scheme that combines message passing interface (MPI) and multithreading was implemented in the AutoDock Vina molecular docking program. The resulting program, named VinaLC, was tested on the petascale high performance computing (HPC) machines at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. To exploit the typical cluster-type supercomputers, thousands of docking calculations were dispatched by the master process to run simultaneously on thousands of slave processes, where each docking calculation takes one slave process on one node, and within the node each docking calculation runs via multithreading on multiple CPU cores and shared memory. Input and output of the program and the data handling within the program were carefully designed to deal with large databases and ultimately achieve HPC on a large number of CPU cores. Parallel performance analysis of the VinaLC program shows that the code scales up to more than 15K CPUs with a very low overhead cost of 3.94%. One million flexible compound docking calculations took only 1.4 h to finish on about 15K CPUs. The docking accuracy of VinaLC has been validated against the DUD data set by the re-docking of X-ray ligands and an enrichment study, 64.4% of the top scoring poses have RMSD values under 2.0 A. The program has been demonstrated to have good enrichment performance on 70% of the targets in the DUD data set. An analysis of the enrichment factors calculated at various percentages of the screening database indicates VinaLC has very good early recovery of actives. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Optimal error diffusion for digital halftoning using an optical neural network

A novel technique for digital image halftoning is proposed based on a symmetric error diffusion algorithm and an optical realization of a neural network. Using this approach, all pixel quantization decisions are computed in parallel and therefore the diffusion filter need not be causal. Visual artifacts resulting from the causality of the diffusion filter are reduced and therefore halftoned image quality is improved. Also, the inherent parallelism associated with optical processing can reduce the computational requirements while decreasing the total convergence time of the halftoning process. >
An Inferential/Strategic Explanation for the Social Organisation of Teases:

Previous work on teasing has examined the surface features of teasing interactions and has suggested that responses to teases are generally serious and are so because of the negative characterisations which are inherent in teases. The present study uses an inferential/strategic model for examining the social organisation of teases. Based on this analysis, it is argued that tease responses are formulated on the basis of the recipient's interpretation of the teaser's goal. It is claimed that tease recipients attempt to interpret the teaser's goal based on multiple clues to meaning. This interpretation then informs the type of response the recipient is likely to make: serious, humorous, or mixed. An analysis of teasing episodes revealed that there are three sources for clues to meaning: background knowledge, communciation content, and paralinguistic cues. This analysis attempts to provide a more encompassing explanation for the social organisation of teases.
A compact 802.11 a/b/g/n WLAN Front-End Module using passives embedded in a flip-chip BGA organic package substrate

This paper discusses the design and implementation of a compact RF Front-End-Module for 802.11a/b/g/n application. A high performance embedded passives technology has been developed by extending existing multilayer FCBGA packaging substrate technology to include thin film capacitors, resistors and spiral inductors. Using these basic elements, all of the passive building blocks for the RF front-end module (FEM) have been designed and characterized individually. Several of these building blocks have then been used in combination with surface mounted active dies to realize a dual-band one-transmit/one-receive WiFi FEM with dimensions of 8 mm × 8mm × 1mm. Preliminary measurements indicate small signal gain of 10dB at 2.4 GHz for the Rx chain
Informational Feedback Effect, Adverse Selection, and the Optimal Disclosure Policy

Trading in a secondary stock market not only redistributes wealth among investors but also generates information that guides subsequent investment. We provide a positive theory of disclosure that reflects both functions of a secondary market. By making private information public, disclosure reduces private information acquisition and levels the playing field. However, a leveled playing field has two opposite effects on firm value. On one hand, it ameliorates adverse selection among investors and improves the liquidity of firm shares. On the other hand, it could also impede investment efficiency because less information is produced by the market and used by decision makers. This trade-off determines the optimal disclosure policy. Our theory generates new testable predictions and reconciles disclosure with other parts of securities regulation that encourage private information production.
Mobile peer membership management to support multimedia streaming

A CHUM (Cooperating ad Hoc networking to sUpport Messaging) network is an ad hoc network in which mobile devices cooperate to reduce connection costs when accessing wireless global networks. We study how members of a CHUM network cooperate in order to download multimedia data, such as on-air TV programs. Each peer in a CHUM takes turns serving as a proxy, which makes an Internet connection and downloads multimedia data for the other members. Then, the proxy distributes the data to other peers using its ad hoc connection, which we call chumcast. The proxy maintains and updates peer membership information and determines the next CHUM proxy. The CHUM network includes a recovery procedure when a proxy fails or when a CHUM network partitions.
Classification of M-FISH images using fuzzy C-means clustering algorithm and normalization approaches

Multiplex or multicolor fluorescence in situ hybridization (M-FISH) imaging is a recently developed cytogenetic technique for cancer diagnosis and research on genetic disorders. By simultaneously viewing the multiple-labeled specimens in different color channels, M-FISH imaging facilitates the detection of subtle chromosomal aberrations. This color karyotyping technique largely depends on the accurate pixel classification. We propose a Fuzzy c-means (FCM) clustering based approach for this problem. The 24 classes of chromosomes form different cluster centers and a pixel is assigned to each individual cluster according to its nearest distance to the center. The FCM has the advantage of locating the clusters more accurately by assuming a membership degree from 0 to 1. The classification was tested on an M-FISH database, demonstrating improved accuracy over other approaches such as the k-Means based clustering. We also discuss image normalization issues such as background subtraction, multispectral channel image registration and dimension reduction, which can lead to improved accuracy of pixel classification. The improved classification accuracy will help the cytogenetician to identify DNA rearrangement more precisely.
Exploring sequence dependence in DNA-decorated CNT Gas sensors on CMOS circuitry

Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (SWNTs) are reported to be very sensitive to numerous odors and could serve as the next generation of miniature gas sensors. Recently, we have shown that SWNTs functionalized with DNA hold even greater promise than bare SWNTs as high sensitivity gas sensors. The DNA-decorated SWNT gas sensors were integrated on CMOS circuitry with built-in amplifiers. In the paper, we report on the performance of the nanosensors as a function of the DNA sequence used for adsorption on SWNTs. A diverse sequence-dependent response was observed, with enhancements up to 300% for methanol vapor and 250% for isopropanol alcohol vapor for specific DNA sequence compared to bare SWNTs. This work demonstrates a significant step towards ultra-sensitive electronic nose type of applications based on functionalizing CNTs with different DNA sequences.
Impact of Increased Syringe Access: Preliminary Findings on Injection Drug User Syringe Source, Disposal, and Pharmacy Sales in Harlem, New York

Objective To evaluate the New York State Expanded Syringe Access Demonstration Program (ESAP) through injection drug user (IDU) surveys, discarded needles and syringes studies, and pharmacy sales and experiences surveys. Design Pre–post comparison. Setting In Harlem, New York City, risk surveys among street-recruited IDUs, needle/syringe street counts on 27 systematically sampled city blocks, and Harlem pharmacist reports of sales and experiences. Main Outcome Measures Number and types of IDU syringe sources, block mean counts of discarded needles and syringes, level of pharmacy nonprescription syringe sales (NPSS), and pharmacists' experiences. Results Comparing 209 pre-ESAP with 396 post-ESAP IDUs, pharmacies as a primary syringe source increased: 3.4% to 5.3% ( P ever pharmacy use increased: 4.9% to 12.5% ( P Conclusion To date, no evidence of harmful effects (discarded needles/syringes, pharmacy altercations) resulting from ESAP were observed. While NPSS have increased in Harlem, pharmacy use among IDUs remains low. In Harlem, efforts are underway to increase ESAP awareness and reduce socioenvironmental barriers to ESAP.
Measuring Scholarly Impact Using Modern Citation-Based Indices

Scholarly impact is studied frequently and used to make consequential decisions (e.g., hiring, tenure, promotion, research support, professional honors), and therefore it is important to measure it accurately. Developments in information technology and statistical methods provide promising new metrics to complement traditional information sources (e.g., peer reviews). The introduction of Hirsch's (2005) h index—the largest number h such that at least h articles are cited h times each, or the length of the largest square in a citations × articles array—sparked an explosion in research on the measurement of scholarly impact. We evaluate 22 metrics, including conventional measures, the h index, and many variations on the h theme. Our criteria encompass conceptual, empirical, and practical issues: ease of understanding, accuracy of calculation, effects on incentives, influence of extreme scores, and validity. Although the number of publications fares well on several criteria, the most attractive measures incl...
Biquadratic current-mode filters using a single CCI

The first generation current conveyor (CCI) permits the implementation of feedback of the response in current-mode circuits without sacrificing the high output impedance of the output port. This feature of CCI circuits, which is not inherently available in circuits containing a single second generation current conveyor, is exploited to realize new second-order, complex-pole current-mode low-pass, band-pass, and high-pass networks. These new circuits utilize a single CCI as their only active element. The new circuits' passive sensitivities and frequency limitations are described and laboratory results are presented.
Sparse and explicit FETD method via a topological-based sparsification of the inverse mass matrix

This paper proposes a thresholding technique called topological thresholding to approximate the inverse mass matrix. Both thresholding techniques need a parameter to control the sparsity and (sparsity) error. For topological thresholding, the control parameter is an integer number, which is easier to choose.
Homogenization of ant communities in mediterranean California: The effects of urbanization and invasion

In coastal California, the invasive Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) displaces nearly all above ground foraging native ant species. The loss of native ants following invasion by Argentine ants homogenizes these faunas; natural habitats invaded by L. humile have lower beta diversity compared to comparable uninvaded areas. Argentine ant abundance in the seasonally dry mediterranean environments of this region correlates strongly and positively with soil moisture. For this reason, the displacement of native ants across natural and artificial moisture gradients often resembles an edge effect, the magnitude of which is inversely proportional to the suitability of the physical environment from the perspective of L. humile. The direct effects of Argentine ant invasions in natural environments are therefore amplified by inputs of urban and agricultural run off. Indirect ecological effects of these invasions arise from the loss of large-bodied ants, arid adapted ants, and behavioral repertoires unique to particular native ant species. Further research is needed to quantify how these aspects of functional homogenization affect invaded communities. The close association between L. humile and moist soils suggests that, at least in arid regions, control strategies might be aimed at reducing urban run off in order to maintain functionally diverse communities of native ants.
Mental Health, Medical Illness, and Treatment with a Focus on Depression and Anxiety

This article discusses mental health issues (anxiety, depression, and other psychological phenomena) and their relation to medical illnesses (cancer, coronary heart disease, human immunodeficiency virus, and diabetes). We explore the prevalence of these mental disorders in the context of each of the medical illnesses, examine how mental health disorders might affect the onset and course of the medical illnesses, and address whether treatment of the underlying mental health disorder might have effects on the course of the medical illness. Lastly, we discuss the clinical implications of comorbid mental disorders and medical illnesses.
Single measurement testing, pros and cons

There is a school of thought that believes making a single measurement of some parameter is a proper test procedure. For reasons of speed and the large number of measurements to be made on an item, so the reasoning goes, one cannot afford to make multiple measurements, calculate the average and the variation of the readings. What are the consequences of this approach? Can one test a unit to its specifications using this approach? What are the trade-offs inherent in single measurement testing? What happens if an erratic unit is tested? An alternative testing method involves taking a few repeat values, averaging them and estimating their repeatability. The same set of questions apply. The pros and cons of these two approaches will be discussed. Practical real world examples will be presented. >
Suture slippage in knotless suture anchors resulting in subacromial-subdeltoid bursitis

Rotator cuff repair using a suture bridge and knotless suture anchors is a relatively new, but increasingly used technique. The suture bridge technique creates an anatomically similar and more secure rotator cuff repair compared with conventional arthroscopic techniques and the use of knotless anchors eliminates the challenges associated with knot tying during arthroscopic surgery. However, previous in vitro biomechanical tests have shown that the hold of the suture in a knotless suture anchor is far lower than the pullout strength of the anchor from bone. Up until now slippage has been a theoretical concern. We present a prospectively diagnosed case of in vivo suture loosening after rotator cuff repair using a knotless bridge technique resulting in subacromial-subdeltoid bursitis.
Solid Dose Form of Metformin with Ethyl Eicosapentaenoic Acid Does Not Improve Metformin Plasma Availability.

Background: The purpose of the study was to investigate effects of ethyl eicosapentaenoic acid on pharmacokinetics of metformin. Pharmacokinetic profiles of metformin and ethyl eicosapentaenoic acid when delivered separately or together in solid dose form were investigated and compared to determine whether the solid dose resulted in an altered metforminpharmacokinetics when given with or without food. Methods: A single-center, open-label, repeated dose study investigated the pharmacokinetic (PK) profile of metformin when administered in solid dose form with ethyl eicosapentaenoic acid compared to co-administration with icosapent ethyl, an ester of eicosapentaenoic acid and ethyl alcohol used to treat severe hypertriglyceridemia with metformin hydrochloride. Non-compartmental PK methods were used to compare area under the plasma concentration curve (AUC) and maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) between patients randomized to either the ester or separate medications group under both fasting and fed conditions. Results: Using these two PK parameters, results showed that metformin availability was higher under fasting conditions when delivered separately from icosapent ethyl. There were no group differences in the fed condition. Conclusions: The solid dose form of metformin and ethyl eicosapentaenoic acid did not improve the pharmacokinetics of metformin in terms of plasma availability, suggesting that little is to be gained over the separate administration of ethyl eicosapentaenoic acid and metformin hydrochloride.
Spectral Noncommutative Geometry and Quantization

We explore the relation between noncommutative geometry, in the spectral triple formulation, and quantum mechanics. To this aim, we consider a dynamical theory of a noncommutative geometry defined by a spectral triple, and study its quantization. In particular, we consider a simple model based on a finite dimensional spectral triple (A, H, D), which mimics certain aspects of the spectral formulation of general relativity. We find the physical phase space, which is the space of the onshell Dirac operators compatible with A and H. We define a natural symplectic structure over this phase space and construct the corresponding quantum theory using a covariant canonical quantization approach. We show that the Connes distance between certain two states over the algebra A (two ``spacetime points''), which is an arbitrary positive number in the classical noncommutative geometry, turns out to be discrete in the quantum theory, and we compute its spectrum. The quantum states of the noncommutative geometry form a Hilbert space K. D is promoted to an operator *D on the direct product *H of H and K. The triple (A, *H, *D) can be viewed as the quantization of the family of the triples (A, H, D).
Upconversion Pumped Laser at 1.73 µm in Er:LiYF4 at Room Temperature

Using excitation via an upconversion process to populate the upper laser level, laser emission at 1.73 μm from the 4S3/2 → 4I9/2 transition has been observed in 4% and 8% Er:LiYF4 (Er:YLF) at room temperature. Laser emission at 1.68 μm from the erbium 4I9/2 → 4I13/2 transition was also observed in both samples.
Epigenetics in Breast and Prostate Cancer

Most recent investigations into cancer etiology have identified a key role played by epigenetics. Specifically, aberrant DNA and histone modifications which silence tumor suppressor genes or promote oncogenes have been demonstrated in multiple cancer models. While the role of epigenetics in several solid tumor cancers such as colorectal cancer are well established, there is emerging evidence that epigenetics also plays a critical role in breast and prostate cancer. In breast cancer, DNA methylation profiles have been linked to hormone receptor status and tumor progression. Similarly in prostate cancer, epigenetic patterns have been associated with androgen receptor status and response to therapy. The regulation of key receptor pathways and activities which affect clinical therapy treatment options by epigenetics renders this field high priority for elucidating mechanisms and potential targets. A new set of methylation arrays are now available to screen epigenetic changes and provide the cutting-edge tools needed to perform such investigations. The role of nutritional interventions affecting epigenetic changes particularly holds promise. Ultimately, determining the causes and outcomes from epigenetic changes will inform translational applications for utilization as biomarkers for risk and prognosis as well as candidates for therapy.
Flamingos and Bison: Balance in Chinatown Family

Lin Yutang's Chinatown Family may be read usefully on numerous levels: it is a story of Chinese immigrants in the U.S., a comparison of two cultures, and a Bildungsroman. Briefly, thirteen-year-old Tom, the novel's protagonist, immigrates to America with his mother and younger sister, Eva, to join his father and two older brothers who had preceded him in moving to America to make the family's fortune. Having for ten years been separated from his father and brothers, Tom literally begins a new life. Lin balances Tom's uneasiness over the old-world expectations of his "new" father with Tom's exuberance over American technology and its new ideas. In addition, Lin contrasts Tom's gradual growth from Chinese to Chinese-American with the development of Tom's brothers. For example, Loy, Tom's oldest brother, immerses himself in a Confucianist Chinese tradition: he works alongside his father in the family's basement laundry, which is described at one point as a "rathole of a shop" (Lin 17), and marries only after receiving his father's consent. Tom admires Loy, but does not understand what seems to him to be Loy's placid, filial acceptance of the status quo. On the other hand, Tom is fascinated by his brother Frederick A.T. "Freddie" Fong. Thoroughly convinced that he is "onto something," Freddie supplants traditional Chinese values with the Madison Avenue glitter of American business. From being seen with the "right" people to showing his business savvy by writing "The Good Life," a pamphlet explaining American etiquette, Freddie is obsessed with appearances (Lin 50). He wants no part of the traditional Chinese culture that sustains the other members of the family. Rather, he completely rejects any behavior that might be construed as "foreign." At the same time, however, Tom does not want to abandon his cultural heritage completely. Lin uses Loy and Freddie to exemplify the extreme opposites of the lives from which Tom must eventually choose. It is this struggle for balance within Tom, an individual who is neither wholly Chinese nor fully American,
A Hybrid Airfoil Design Method for Icing Wind Tunnel Tests

.Modern commercial aircraft wings are far too large to be tested full-scale in existing icing wind tunnels and ice accretion scaling methods are not practical for large scale factors. Thus the use of hybrid scaling techniques, maintaining full-scale leading-edges and redesigned aft sections, is an attractive option for generating full-scale leading-edge ice accretions. The advantage lies in utilizing reduced chord models that minimize blockage effects in the icing tunnels. The present work discusses the design of hybrid airfoils with large scale factors that match the ice shapes of the full-scale airfoils predicted by LEWICE. Assessments of the effects of scale factor, extent of the full-scale leading-edge, nose droop angle, zero-angle of attack pitching moment coefficient (Cm0), and droplet size are also presented. Hybrid or truncated airfoils are shown to produce ice shapes accurately, even at angles of attack different from the design angle of attack with the proper application of either flap, adjusted test angle of attack, or both. Further results suggest that hybrid circulation does not need to match full-scale circulation in order to match ice shapes, resulting in decreased loading for higher scale factor hybrid airfoils. Matching the flowfield around the hybrid airfoil to the full-scale flowfield provided a superior method for predicting ice shape agreement, stagnation point location being a first order and suction peak magnitude a second order parameter. This goal can be accomplished by varying the aft geometry, through Cm0 and nose droop angle.
Detecting Aircraft Performance Anomalies from Cruise Flight Data

We propose an approach to detecting anomalies from aircraft cruise flight data. The detection is based on a model learned from the historical data of a fleet of aircraft. For a variety of cruise flight conditions with and without turbulence, we validate the approach using a FOQA dataset generated by a NASA flight simulator. We identify a regression model that maps the flight conditions and aircraft control inputs into accelerations (linear and rotational). Anomalies are detected as outliers that exceed the scatter caused by turbulence and the modeling error. The detection method is related to multivariable statistical process control. Sensor offset anomalies that are a fraction of a degree in flight surface position and a small percentage of the experienced sensor range are reliably detected from the data collected under light turbulence conditions.
Mössbauer spectroscopy using synchrotron radiation.

Delayed coherent nuclear forward scattering of synchrotron radiation by polycrystalline Fe foils (both isotopically enriched and naturally abundant) has been measured. Quantum beats wre observed in the time spectra. With the chosen experimental conditions these can only arise from coherent scattering. The 5-meV bandwidth provided by a special silicon crystal monochromator obviates the need for a nuclear resonant filter. This direct approach offers the possibility of performing a wide range of M\"ossbauer spectroscopy experiments using synchrotron radiation.
The Auditor's Road Map For Client Acceptance

Our case study focuses on developing the student’s understanding of the auditor’s evaluation of prospective audit clients. A comprehensive evaluation is uniquely important since the client acceptance decision can be the chief contributor to auditor business risk (engagement risk). Even so, guidance in the area of client acceptance is general in nature and not as extensive or prescriptive as other significant auditing promulgation. This student case study provides practical evaluation criteria for client acceptance that can also be used by accounting professionals to benchmark their client acceptance evaluation process. This student case study can be used in the accounting classroom as a descriptive benchmark of the evaluation of a prospective client.
A Socialist Politics of Repatriation

In 1980, Francois Mitterrand addressed the president of ANFANOMA once again, this time as a presidential candidate, to reaffirm his commitment to all repatriates “so that [France] may heal all wounds emanating from the Algerian drama.”1 Mitterrand also addressed the “compatriots of the Islamic faith, for whom France must make special effort to place on an absolute and equal footing [with all], all the while respecting and supporting their cultural and religious specificity.”2 During his campaign, the Mitterrand camp issued a daily newsletter called “The Socialist Combat.” The committee that edited the newsletter was headed by a pied noir, Madame Jourdan, whose repatriate status and family origins in Setif, Algeria, were highlighted for the campaign.3 Under Jourdan’s supervision, special brochures were printed to publicize Mitterrand’s promises to the repatriates. In addition to pointing out the value inherent in the memory and culture of the “French repatriates,” and the special right to indemnities and amnesty for all, the brochure proclaimed the need to respect the identity of the harkis, or “French Muslims.”4
Failures that Connect; or, Colonial Friendships in E. M. Forster's A Passage to India

This article reexamines the role of friendship in A Passage to India that previous scholarship has analyzed as an event in terms of function, teleology, and political efficacy. Examining friendship in terms of its continuing flows and affects, this essay explores the moments and spaces in which friendship, in bringing together bodies and social worlds, fails to adhere itself to recognition and representation. What is the point of being friends with someone in a colonial outpost like Chandrapore, the fictional Indian city in Forster’s novel? What happens—or does not happen—when Dr. Aziz and Adela Quested are having afternoon tea together or venturing into the unknowns of the Marabar Cave? These questions, among others, serve as the starting point from which to trace the potentiality of colonial friendship, as well as its relation to structures of power and knowledge. This article, in short, offers friendship as an analytic tool and subject matter to situate A Passage to India away from an identitarian logic that often takes the study of colonial relations to a host of ideological impasses.
FloWave.US: validated, open-source, and flexible software for ultrasound blood flow analysis

Automated software improves the accuracy and reliability of blood velocity, vessel diameter, blood flow, and shear rate ultrasound measurements, but existing software offers limited flexibility to customize and validate analyses. We developed FloWave.US-open-source software to automate ultrasound blood flow analysis-and demonstrated the validity of its blood velocity (aggregate relative error, 4.32%) and vessel diameter (0.31%) measures with a skeletal muscle ultrasound flow phantom. Compared with a commercial, manual analysis software program, FloWave.US produced equivalent in vivo cardiac cycle time-averaged mean (TAMean) velocities at rest and following a 10-s muscle contraction (mean bias <1 pixel for both conditions). Automated analysis of ultrasound blood flow data was 9.8 times faster than the manual method. Finally, a case study of a lower extremity muscle contraction experiment highlighted the ability of FloWave.US to measure small fluctuations in TAMean velocity, vessel diameter, and mean blood flow at specific time points in the cardiac cycle. In summary, the collective features of our newly designed software-accuracy, reliability, reduced processing time, cost-effectiveness, and flexibility-offer advantages over existing proprietary options. Further, public distribution of FloWave.US allows researchers to easily access and customize code to adapt ultrasound blood flow analysis to a variety of vascular physiology applications.
A study of the obstetric and perinatal outcomes of eclampsia and the use of levetiracetam in its management

Background: Hypertensive disorders are a common cause of maternal morbidity and mortality complicating 3 to 10% of pregnancies. Eclampsia is a major complication of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, particularly in developing countries, resulting in poor foeto-maternal outcomes. In some cases of eclampsia use of the gold standard i.e. magnesium sulphate, is restricted and is sometimes ineffective when used as monotherapy. Levetiracetam is an anti-epileptic drug that is relatively safe in pregnancy, does not require intensive monitoring and has potential use in eclampsia. The primary aim of this study was to establish the incidence of eclampsia and its maternal and perinatal outcomes. It also aimed at studying the utility of levetiracetam in the treatment of eclampsia. Methods: It is a retrospective, observational study conducted at Seth G. S. Medical College and K.E.M Hospital, Mumbai (a tertiary care centre). Data of a period of one year was collected from hospital records. The eclamptic patients’ demographic profile, maternal and perinatal outcomes and the use of levetiracetam were noted. Results: The incidence of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy was 7.53% while that of eclampsia was 0.737%. The maternal and perinatal case fatality rates were 18% and 26% respectively. 50% of the cases had other concurrent maternal complications. 44.11% of the live births required neonatal intensive care unit admission. 55% of the cases who were treated with levetiracetam, either as monotherapy or in combination with magnesium sulphate, made a complete recovery. Conclusions: The significant number of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy complicated by eclampsia and its associated co-morbidities indicate the need for early detection of hypertension in pregnancy and timely intervention.
Why Do Firms Disagree with Short Sellers? Managerial Self-Interest versus Private Information

Though short sellers are generally adept at identifying overvalued equity, firms are more likely to repurchase stock when short interest increases. We investigate the causes and consequences of firms disagreeing with short sellers by repurchasing company stock. On average, managers do not disagree to defend overvalued stock; instead, these repurchases appear motivated by private information that dominates the information of short sellers. Information channels include future earnings, changes in risk, and acquisition activity. We observe one exception: Managers are more likely to defend overvalued stock if an activist investor previously identified the management team as inefficient. Our results suggest that short sellers and other investors can glean information from publicly available repurchase disclosures: An implementable trading strategy based on our findings yields annual abnormal returns of approximately 7%.
Water Works: The Economic Impact of Water Infrastructure

ABSTRACT:Billions of hours are spent each year on water collection in developing countries. This paper explores whether improvements in water technologies, which decrease household distance to drinking water source and the time intensity of home production, enable changes in household time allocation and, thereby, productivity gains in Kyrgyzstan. Adults reallocate time to leisure and labor on the household farm. Average yearly household cereals production increased significantly. Results imply a rate of return to labor equaling $0.11/hour, approximately half the hourly farm wage. Absent evidence of improved adult health, results suggest that productivity gains were realized primarily through increased farm labor.
Likes attract: Students self-sort in a classroom by gender, demography, and academic characteristics

Although a growing literature has documented the effectiveness of informal group work during class sessions, virtually no data exist on which students are collaborating. As a result, instructors ra...
Evaluation of Reproducibility of Pharmacokinetics and Clinical Outcome Differences with Brand and Generic Lamotrigine Switching in Epilepsy Patients (BEEP FU Study) (P2.033)

Objective:Three generic-brittle epilepsy patients from a previously completed BEEP study in which generic lamotrigine was shown to be bioequivalent to brand Lamictal in a double-blind, multiple-dose, full replicate design, pharmacokinetic study were identified to be of interest due to exhibiting either a clinical or individual pharmacokinetic difference between generic and brand. A fourth patient from the BEEP study was included as “control”. Methods:The entire study was repeated in these four epilepsy patients, with the addition of an 8-week assessment of baseline seizure frequency and an alternative treatment sequence, to evaluate the reproducibility of the clinical and PK differences seen in the original study. Results: The primary outcome were pharmacokinetic profiles, which by inspection were similar between generic and brand, in each patient. The prior BEEP subject who previously showed a 20[percnt] lower generic pharmacokinetic profile do not show a material difference on this occasion. However, the prior BEEP subject who showed many more seizures on generic than brand, with essentially no difference in PK profiles, again showed a similar pattern, despite blinded treatment arms in a different sequence from the original study, being now generic, brand, brand, generic, coinciding with an average frequency of G 16.1, B 2.1, B 2.9, and G 6.6 seizures/day, respectively, a 2-to-5 fold increase on generic from baseline average frequency of 3.6 seizures/day on brand. The prior BEEP subject who discontinued because of an apparent nocebo effect, with worsened seizures and side effects that he attributed to generic and brand switching, completed this time. The control subject again showed similar generic and brand outcomes as in the original bioequivalent study. Conclusions: Results of this reproducibility study support prior BEEP findings. It is difficult to fully explain the subject who showed very similar generic and brand profiles but differences in seizure frequency between generic and brand. Disclosure: Dr. Ting has nothing to disclose. Dr. Jiang has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kane has nothing to disclose. Dr. Polli has nothing to disclose.
The Conserved ATM Kinase RAG2-S365 Phosphorylation Site Limits Cleavage Events in Individual Cells Independent of Any Repair Defect

Summary Many DNA lesions associated with lymphoid malignancies are linked to off-target cleavage by the RAG1/2 recombinase. However, off-target cleavage has mostly been analyzed in the context of DNA repair defects, confounding any mechanistic understanding of cleavage deregulation. We identified a conserved SQ phosphorylation site on RAG2 365 to 366 that is involved in feedback control of RAG cleavage. Mutation of serine 365 to a non-phosphorylatable alanine permits bi-allelic and bi-locus RAG-mediated breaks in the same cell, leading to reciprocal translocations. This phenomenon is analogous to the phenotype we described for ATM kinase inactivation. Here, we establish deregulated cleavage itself as a driver of chromosomal instability without the associated repair defect. Intriguingly, a RAG2-S365E phosphomimetic rescues the deregulated cleavage of ATM inactivation, reducing the incidence of reciprocal translocations. These data support a model in which feedback control of cleavage and maintenance of genome stability involves ATM-mediated phosphorylation of RAG2.
Heavy ion and TID characterization of 3.3 V voltage supervisors

We present single event transient (SET) and total ionizing dose (TID) data for the single channel voltage supervisor fabricated in a 0.35μm triple-well, mixed-signal CMOS process.
Fixation of whole mouse hindlimbs using NASA spaceflight fixation kit

Astronaut time is one of the most valuable resources to consider when preparing for a spaceflight investigation. Currently, NASA allocates approximately 120 h of astronaut time toward each rodent r...
An Organizational Structure Game (and BINGO! Is Its Name-O).

This article describes an in-class, noncomputerized, bingo game to accompany coverage of the topic of organizational structure. The game allows students to be actively involved in learning, solidif...
The Otolaryngologist’s Role in Providing Gender-Affirming Care: An Opportunity for Improved Education and Training:

Currently, there are limited resources and training available for otolaryngologists and otolaryngology practice personnel to provide gender-affirming care for transgender or gender nonconforming patients. This unique patient population may present to our offices for gender-specific care or with complaints of the ear, nose, and throat unrelated to gender identity. Our current practice has unintentional but direct consequences on our patients care, as transgender patients often report negative experiences in the healthcare setting related to their gender identity. The absence of resources and training is also seen in other specialties. Physicians who create an environment where patients of all gender identities feel welcome can better meet their patients' health care needs. In addition, otolaryngologists can play a role in easing the gender dysphoria experienced by transgender patients. We suggest educational content should be created for and made available to otolaryngologists and office staff to provide gender-affirming care.
Recent alcohol use prolongs hospital length of stay following lung transplant.

Little is known about the alcohol habits of people with advanced lung disease. Following lung transplantation, patients are asked to abstain from or minimize alcohol use. The aim of this investigation was to assess alcohol use in a cohort of patients with advanced lung disease undergoing evaluation for lung transplant. This is a prospective observational investigation comparing patient self-report of alcohol use with their responses on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), and alcohol biomarkers collected at the time of transplant. There were 86 included in the cohort, 34% currently using alcohol, 13% had AUDIT scores >3, and 10% had positive results for alcohol biomarkers at the time of transplantation. Patients with evidence of recent alcohol use prior to lung transplant surgery had a 1.5-fold increase in hospital length of stay following lung transplant (P = .028), spent 3 times as long on mechanical ventilation after transplant, and required intensive care unit monitoring nearly 3 times longer than those without recent alcohol use (P = .008). There were no differences in primary graft dysfunction, although several patients with recent alcohol use had post-transplant atrial arrhythmias, acute kidney injury, and acute cellular rejection. Abstaining from alcohol use may optimize outcomes following lung transplant.
Domains and stochastic processes

Abstract Domain theory has a long history of applications in theoretical computer science and mathematics. In this article, we explore the relation of domain theory to probability theory and stochastic processes. The goal is to establish a theory in which Polish spaces are replaced by domains, and measurable maps are replaced by Scott-continuous functions. We illustrate the approach by recasting one of the fundamental results of stochastic process theory – Skorohod's Representation Theorem – in domain-theoretic terms. We anticipate the domain-theoretic version of results like Skorohod's Theorem will improve our understanding of probabilistic choice in computational models, and help devise models of probabilistic programming, with its focus on programming languages that support sampling from distributions where the results are applied to Bayesian reasoning.
Bridging the Sport and Recreation Divide

In this article we examine sport and recreation's collaborative potential. We begin by identifying some differences between the two fields of study and by acknowledging what heretofore have been so...
Derivatives of evipal, alurate, and phanodorn.

Zur Kennzeichnung von Evipan (1-5-Dimethyl-5-⊲1-cyclohexenylbarbitursaure), Numal (5-Allyl-5-Isopropylbarbitursaure) und Phanodorm (5-Cyclohexenyl-5-aethylbarbitursaure) wurden Benzylderivate hergestellt und analysiert. Die kristalloptischen Kennzeichen wurden fur sechzehn dieser neuen Derivate bestimmt. Die meisten Derivate des Evipans wurden als Ole erhalten und verblieben — mit Ausnahme desp-Nitrobenzylderivates — in diesem Zustande. Die optischen Eigenschaften der Derivate der drei genannten Barbitursaureabkommlinge unterscheiden sich genugend voneinander, um die Identifizierung der Sauren mit Hilfe der kristalloptischen Daten zu gestatten.
The Use of Arabidopsis Genetics to Analyze Synthesis, Structure, and Function of the Plant Cell Wall

The cell walls of higher plants form a contiguous scaffold surrounding the individual protoplasts within the plant body. In addition to providing mechanical support for the cells, plant cell walls have a pivotal role in growth and development, in cell-cell recognition and interaction, and in defense responses (see Carpita and Gibeaut, 1993 for a recent review). In contrast to animal systems, cell migrations do not contribute to plant development; instead, the ordered formation of plant tissues and organs relies solely on the combination of two processes: The division of cells in specific planes, and the subsequent three-dimensional expansion of the cells in specific dimensions. This latter process of extension growth is primarily a function of the mechanical properties of the walls, and the synthesis of new cell wall material. Since all cells within a growing tissue or organ are held together via their middle lamella, extension growth needs to be tightly coordinated between the various cell types in growing parts of the plant body. Since different cell types within a growth zone are not only distinguished by their shape and size, but also by the thickness of their walls, a very complex network of regulatory mechanisms is required to ensure the ordered formation of plant tissues and organs.
Antimicrobial Electrospun Biopolymer Nanofiber Mats Functionalized with Graphene Oxide-Silver Nanocomposites.

Functionalization of electrospun mats with antimicrobial nanomaterials is an attractive strategy to develop polymer coating materials to prevent bacterial colonization on surfaces. In this study we demonstrated a feasible approach to produce antimicrobial electrospun mats through a postfabrication binding of graphene-based nanocomposites to the nanofibers’ surface. A mixture of poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) and chitosan was electrospun to yield cylindrical and narrow-diameter (356 nm) polymeric fibers. To achieve a robust antimicrobial property, the PLGA–chitosan mats were functionalized with graphene oxide decorated with silver nanoparticles (GO–Ag) via a chemical reaction between the carboxyl groups of graphene and the primary amine functional groups on the PLGA–chitosan fibers using 3-(dimethylamino)propyl-N′-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride and N-hydroxysuccinimide as cross-linking agents. The attachment of GO–Ag sheets to the surface of PLGA–chitosan fibers was successfully revealed by scanning an...
Diagnosis and perioperative management in pediatric sleep‐disordered breathing

Sleep-disordered breathing has a prevalence of 12% in the pediatric population. It represents a spectrum of disorders encompassing abnormalities of the upper airway that lead to sleep disruption, including primary snoring, obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea, and sleep-related hypoventilation. Sleep-disordered breathing is the most common indication for adenotonsillectomy, one of the most common procedures performed in children. In recent years, the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Society of Anesthesiologists have crafted guidelines to help safely manage children with sleep-disordered breathing. Each organization recommends in-laboratory polysomnography for definitive diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea in certain cases. However, because this test is both costly and inconvenient, there has been significant interest in alternative methods for diagnosing clinically significant sleep-disordered breathing. Accurate diagnosis is critical because sleep-disordered breathing confers certain perioperative risks and increased mortality in some instances. Recent studies have elucidated the danger of anesthesia and opioids in worsening obstructive sleep apnea, and recommendations for alternative analgesia are being created. In addition, determining the most appropriate level and duration of monitoring in the postoperative period is actively being evaluated. This article presents an overview of the recent literature on the perioperative care of pediatric patients with sleep-disordered breathing. It highlights innovative modalities and limitations in diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea, the importance of a tailored anesthetic/analgesic approach to children with obstructive sleep apnea, and the need for postoperative monitoring. It also brings to focus that further studies on the perioperative care of these children are necessary.
Modeling of Electric Vehicles as Movable Loads in Composite System Reliability Assessment

This paper proposes an approach to construct a load profile for electric vehicles (EVs) in composite system reliability analysis considering drivers’ behavior in terms of charging time and location. As EVs are movable loads, the amount of load demand at system buses dynamically changes based on the drivers’ behavior. Therefore, the charging pattern of EVs reshapes power system load profile which impacts power system reliability. In this work, the constructed load profile of EVs is combined with the system load profile to evaluate system reliability indices. The well-known composite system reliability indices are evaluated for different charging locations. The proposed method is demonstrated on the IEEE Reliability Test System through several case studies. Monte Carlo simulation is used to evaluate the composite system reliability indices.