cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Using the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) criteria to determine the diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in patients with subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE)

Background Approximately 50% of patients with subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE) meet criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) developed new SLE criteria to improve the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria but the SLICC criteria have not been evaluated in patients with SCLE. Objective We sought to determine how patients with SCLE/SLE meet the ACR and SLICC criteria to compare the 2 sets of criteria. Methods This was a retrospective analysis of 107 patients with SCLE enrolled in a database at the University of Pennsylvania. Results Patients with SCLE/SLE were more likely than those with only SCLE to have oral ulcers, positive anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies, and positive antinuclear antibody test findings using both sets of criteria. Patients with SCLE/SLE were also more likely to have low complement using the SLICC criteria. There was a statistically insignificant increase in individuals meeting the SLICC criteria. Limitations Not all patients received comprehensive laboratory testing. Conclusions Most patients with SCLE who formally meet criteria for SLE do so based on the laboratory and mucocutaneous criteria. Neither the ACR nor SLICC criteria distinguish patients with SCLE and major internal disease from patients with SCLE without major internal disease.
Temporary balloon test occlusion of the internal carotid artery: experience in 500 cases.

PURPOSE To describe experience with 500 temporary balloon occlusions of the internal carotid artery, with particular emphasis on the techniques and complications. METHODS Temporary occlusion of the internal carotid artery was accomplished endovascularly using various balloon-catheter combinations. These temporary balloon occlusions were combined, when possible, with cerebral blood flow analysis with stable xenon-enhanced CT. RESULTS Complications related to this procedure occurred in 16 (3.2%) patients. Eight (1.6%) patients had asymptomatic complications. There were 8 who experienced neurologic changes. Six (1.2%) of these were transient; two (0.4%) were permanent. There were no deaths. CONCLUSIONS Temporary balloon occlusion of the internal carotid artery, believed helpful in identifying patients at risk of stroke during abrupt carotid artery sacrifice, can be performed with an acceptably low complication rate.
Optimization of Flatback Airfoils for Wind Turbine Blades Using a Genetic Algorithm with an Artificial Neural Network

In recent years, the airfoil sections with blunt trailing edge (called flatback airfoils) have been proposed for the inboard regions of large wind-turbine blades because they provide several structural and aerodynamic performance advantages. In this paper, we employ a genetic algorithm (GA) for shape optimization of flatback airfoils for generating maximum lift to drag ratio. The computational efficiency of GA is significantly enhanced with an artificial neural network (ANN). The commercially available software FLUENT is used for calculation of the flow field using the Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations in conjunction with a turbulence model. It is shown that the combined GA/ANN optimization technique is capable of accurately and efficiently finding globally optimal flatback airfoils.
Partisan Perceptual Bias and the Information Environment

Perceptual bias occurs when beliefs deviate from reality. Democrats and Republicans are thought to be especially susceptible to this type of biased-information processing. And yet we know little about the pervasiveness of perceptual bias outside the domain of ‘‘performance issues’’ (e.g., unemployment, inflation) or how individuallevel partisan motivation interacts with the information environment. We investigate these issues in two studies that examine perceptual bias on a wide range of political topics spanning two decades. Using survey data as well as an experiment with diverse subjects, we demonstrate that people perceive the world in a manner consistent with their political views. The result is a selective pattern of learning in which partisans have higher levels of knowledge for facts that confirm their world view and lower levels of knowledge for facts that challenge them. This basic relationship is exaggerated on topics receiving high levels of media coverage.
The Clotting Time—An Enigma Resolved

The Lee-White test is historically important and, when carried out according to a carefully standardized technic, supplies useful information. Its limitations are that it is a qualitative and not a quantitative test and it is not a true or global measure of coagulability. By correlating the results obtained with the clotting time, the one-stage prothrombin time, and the prothrombin consumption time test, all as devised and standardized, a satisfactory estimate of the normality of the clotting status of the blood can be made.
Reply to Tauber and Tauber's “Synipatric Speciation in Chrysopa: Further Discussion”

I do not reject the Taubers' model (Tauber and Tauber 1977a,b, 1982) of sympatric speciation in Chrysopa carnea and C. downesi in favor of a traditional allopatric one. I have no vested interest in the concept of allopatric speciation, and I agree with the Taubers and many other authors that the origin of species in sympatry may be reasonably common or even commonplace. However, I am not wholly persuaded by the data so confidently presented by the Taubers to support their hypothesis; in fact, none of the data, theirs or mine, discriminate between the two modes of speciation. Their conclusions may well be right, but premature.
The Behavior of the Nucleolus During Nuclear Divisions in the Asci of Pyronema Domesticum

During the first division of meiosis in the asci of Pyronema domesticum the nucleolus is retained within the nuclear envelope and migrates to one pole. The nucleolus is expelled from the nucleus into the cytoplasm as a single unit during early metaphase of the second division of meiosis and the post-meiotic mitotic division. In all three nuclear divisions in the ascus, the nucleolus persists until anaphase, or possibly until telophase.
740 Ma vase-shaped microfossils from Yukon, Canada: Implications for Neoproterozoic chronology and biostratigraphy

Biostratigraphy underpins the Phanerozoic time scale, but its application to pre-Ediacaran strata has remained limited because Proterozoic taxa commonly have long or unknown stratigraphic ranges, poorly understood taphonomic constraints, and/or inadequate geochronological context. Here we report the discovery of abundant vase-shaped microfossils from the Callison Lake dolostone of the Coal Creek inlier (Yukon, Canada) that highlight the potential for biostratigraphic correlation of Neoproterozoic successions using species-level assemblage zones of limited duration. The fossiliferous horizon, dated here by Re-Os geochronology at 739.9 ± 6.1 Ma, shares multiple species-level taxa with a well-characterized assemblage from the Chuar Group of the Grand Canyon (Arizona, USA), dated by U-Pb on zircon from an interbedded tuff at 742 ± 6 Ma. The overlapping age and species assemblages from these two deposits suggest biostratigraphic utility, at least within Neoproterozoic basins of Laurentia, and perhaps globally. The new Re-Os age also confirms the timing of the Islay δ13Ccarbonate anomaly in northwestern Canada, which predates the onset of the Sturtian glaciation by >15 m.y. Together these data provide global calibration of sedimentary, paleontological, and geochemical records on the eve of profound environmental and evolutionary change.
Image-based motion compensation for high-resolution extremities cone-beam CT

Purpose: Cone-beam CT (CBCT) of the extremities provides high spatial resolution, but its quantitative accuracy may be challenged by involuntary sub-mm patient motion that cannot be eliminated with simple means of external immobilization. We investigate a two-step iterative motion compensation based on a multi-component metric of image sharpness. Methods: Motion is considered with respect to locally rigid motion within a particular region of interest, and the method supports application to multiple locally rigid regions. Motion is estimated by maximizing a cost function with three components: a gradient metric encouraging image sharpness, an entropy term that favors high contrast and penalizes streaks, and a penalty term encouraging smooth motion. Motion compensation involved initial coarse estimation of gross motion followed by estimation of fine-scale displacements using high resolution reconstructions. The method was evaluated in simulations with synthetic motion (1–4 mm) applied to a wrist volume obtained on a CMOS-based CBCT testbench. Structural similarity index (SSIM) quantified the agreement between motion-compensated and static data. The algorithm was also tested on a motion contaminated patient scan from dedicated extremities CBCT. Results: Excellent correction was achieved for the investigated range of displacements, indicated by good visual agreement with the static data. 10-15% improvement in SSIM was attained for 2-4 mm motions. The compensation was robust against increasing motion (4% decrease in SSIM across the investigated range, compared to 14% with no compensation). Consistent performance was achieved across a range of noise levels. Significant mitigation of artifacts was shown in patient data. Conclusion: The results indicate feasibility of image-based motion correction in extremities CBCT without the need for a priori motion models, external trackers, or fiducials.
Project of health management for civil servants in some institution

Objective To explore the health status of institution,and to launch the job of health management.Methods With unified questionnaire,the survey was conducted by face-to-face inquiry.Results Investigations were commonly found with younger age,a higher educational level and better financial situation;The top five morbidity rate were in turn Obesity(31.4%),Blood Fat Level Abnormality(29.1%),Hypertension(25.6%),Coronary disease(8.1%) and Diabetes mellitus(7.1%);Lack of exercise,weighing heavily on the spirit,smoke,sleep debt and be addicted to salty were the main risk factors of health behavior.Health checkup was implemented annually according to the particular circumstances of unit,and health management Scheme was implemented to the short-term goal of improve diet and enhance to participate in Movement.Conclusion Health management was given public credit and demand in institution,feedback was given and individuation health guide was implemented immediately,Realizing a comprehensive management of the individual and the group.
Thrombopoietin promotes the survival of murine hematopoietic long-term reconstituting cells: Comparison with the effects of FLT3/FLK-2 ligand and interleukin-6

The effects of thrombopoietin (TPO; c- mpl ligand), FLT3/FLK-2 ligand (FL), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) on the survival of murine hematopoietic long-term reconstituting cells (LTRC) were studied by using lineage-negative, Sca-1–positive, c-kit–positive (Lin−Sca-1+c-kit+) marrow cells from 5-fluorouracil–treated mice. We tested the ability of these cytokines to maintain the viability of LTRC by transplanting the cultured cells to lethally irradiated Ly-5 congenic mice together with compromised marrow cells. As a single agent, only TPO could maintain the LTRC. Neither IL-6 nor FL was effective by itself, but they acted synergistically to maintain the LTRC. We examined whether the maintenance of LTRC by these cytokines was due to the survival of stem cells or was the result of active cell divisions and self-renewal. To monitor cell division, we used membrane dye PKH26. Enriched cells were stained with PKH26 on day 0 and incubated in suspension culture with TPO or with IL-6 and FL for 7 days. On day 7, PKH26low and PKH26high cells were prepared by sorting and their in vivo reconstituting abilities were tested by transplantation into lethally irradiated Ly-5 congenic mice together with compromised marrow cells. PKH26high populations cultured with both TPO alone and the combination of IL-6 and FL showed greater reconstitution activity than that of PKH26low populations. These data indicate that TPO alone and the combination of IL-6 and FL can support the survival of stem cells without stimulating their active cell proliferation.
Properties of Cu1−xKxInSe2 alloys

Adding potassium to Cu(In,Ga)Se2 absorbers has been shown to enhance photovoltaic power conversion efficiency. To illuminate possible mechanisms for this enhancement and limits to beneficial K incorporation, the properties of Cu1−x K x InSe2 (CKIS) thin-film alloys have been studied. Films with K/(K + Cu), or x, from 0 to 1 were grown by co-evaporation, and probed by XRF, EPMA, SEM, XRD, UV–Visible spectroscopy, current–voltage, and TRPL measurements. Composition from in situ quartz crystal and EIES monitoring was well correlated with final film composition. Crystal lattice parameters showed linear dependence on x, indicating complete K incorporation and coherent structural character at all compositions in the and lattice directions, despite the different symmetries of CuInSe2 and KInSe2. The band gap energy showed pronounced bowing with x composition, in excellent agreement with experimental reports and semiconductor theory. Films of Mo/CKIS/Ni were non-ohmic, and increasing x from 0 to 0.58 decreased the apparent CKIS resistivity. Further evidence of decreased CKIS resistivity was observed with photoluminescence response, which increased by about half a decade for x > 0, and indicates increased majority carrier concentration. Minority carrier lifetimes increased by about an order of magnitude for films grown at x = 0.07 and 0.14, relative to CuInSe2 and x ≥ 0.30. This is the first report of a Cu-K-In-Se film with >1 at.% K, and the observed property changes at increased x (wider band gap; lower resistivity; increased lifetime) comprise valuable photovoltaic performance-enhancement strategies, suggesting that CKIS alloys have a role to play in future engineering advances.
EFFECT OF STEROID HORMONES ON THE LEVEL OF PROTEIN I IN RAT BRAIN

We have studied the effect of steroid hormones on the level of Protein I, a neuronspecific protein, the phosphorylation of which is regulated both by neurotransmitters and by membrane depolarization via the activation of cyclic AMP-dependent and calcium-dependent protein kinases. We have found that corticosterone increased the total amount of Protein I in the hippocampus, a brain region rich in corticosterone receptors, but not in various brain regions that contain few corticosterone receptors. In contrast, estradiol failed to alter Protein I levels either in brain regions rich in estradiol receptors or in brain regions that contain few estradiol receptors.
Fuzzy logic assisted P&O based improved MPPT for photovoltaic systems

To make full utilization of PV array, maximum power point tracking (MPPT) techniques are employed, which controls the power converter between the PV panel and the load to keep the system power operating point at its maximum. Perturbation and observation (P&O) method is the most frequently used method for MPPT, however, with smaller step size system taking long time to track MPP, with larger step size operating point oscillation is more in steady state. These obstacles are minimized by using variable step size with fuzzy based MPPT controller. In this research work, a Fuzzy Logic Controller (FLC) based P&O MPPT has been designed for optimal performance. The proposed method adjusts the step size in P&O method to provide faster and accurate convergence at peak power point. The input reference voltage is perturbed adaptively with optimal steps until the maximum power is reached. For evaluation, FLC based MPPT technique is simulated on MATLAB/ Simulink environment and compared with the conventional P&O technique. Results clearly show that proposed technique is able to track maximum output power with less settling time, reduced oscillations at steady state and enhance the operating point convergence speed.
The Auxiliary Markets

This chapter studies how to transform a trading constrained market into an “equivalent” market which is incomplete, but without trading constraints. The transformed market is called the auxiliary unconstrained market. The goal of this transformation is to use the theorems from an incomplete but unconstrained market to understand trading constrained markets.
Submuscular plates versus flexible nails in preadolescent diaphyseal femur fractures.

Abstract Purpose To compare patient characteristics, operative time, estimated blood loss (EBL), postoperative length of hospital stay (LOS) and complications after insertion and removal of submusc...
Northanger Abbey and the Limits of Parody

Northanger Abbey opens by positing two kinds of readers and two kinds of texts: the naive readers of romance who would expect a heroine to be an orphan and to engage in ‘the more heroic enjoyments of infancy, nursing a dormouse, feeding a canary-bird, or watering a rosebush’ (13); and the more sophisticated readers who reject romance and who know a parody when they see one. Readers of the first type will find that this work disorients or disrupts their expectations, but the second type can apparently enter a comfortable world of shared beliefs.1 In Northanger Abbey itself, however, Austen does more than invite her reader to join in a collaborative effort to debunk the conventions of sentimental novels, more even than to witness the emergence of a new kind of novel based on probabilities and psychological realism.2 She mocks and undermines her own chosen method — parodic discourse — so that both narrative and reader are kept off-balance. In working towards her own conception of what constitutes novelistic discourse, Austen makes the reader a participant, now perhaps colluding with, now perhaps resisting the narrator’s evaluation of her own novel.
Characterization of ocular hypertension induced by adenosine agonists.

Purpose Previous studies have shown that adenosine agonists may induce a rise in intraocular pressure (IOP), a reduction in IOP, or both. Although the reduction in IOP results from the activation of adenosine A1 receptors, the mechanisms responsible for the rise in IOP have not been investigated. This study examines the receptors and mechanisms responsible for the adenosine agonist-induced rise in IOP. Methods The ocular effects of the nonselective adenosine agonist NECA, the relatively selective adenosine A2 agonist CV-1808, the A2a agonist CGS-21680, and the A1 agonist R-PIA were evaluated. Results The topical administration of CV-1808 produced a rapid rise in IOP, with a maximum increase of 15.6 +/- 1.6 mm Hg. Dose-response curves demonstrated that each agonist produced a dose-related rise in IOP with the following rank order of potency: NECA > CV-1808 > > R-PIA = CGS-21680. At times corresponding to the rise in IOP, the administration of high doses of CV-1808 (165 micrograms) produced a significant increase in aqueous humor flow and protein concentration. Increases in IOP and aqueous humor protein levels induced by CV-1808 were blocked by pretreatment with the adenosine A2 antagonist DMPX. In vitro studies demonstrated that CV-1808 did not alter cyclic adenosine monophosphate production in the rabbit iris-ciliary body. In cats, topical administration of CV-1808 produced a rapid rise in IOP, with a maximum increase of 8.1 +/- 2.4 mm Hg and an ED50 of 73 +/- 2.9 micrograms. This rise in IOP was blocked by DMPX pretreatment. Conclusions These data demonstrate that adenosine receptor agonists can induce an acute rise in IOP in rabbits and cats. On the basis of pharmacologic characteristics, the rise in IOP is consistent with the activation of ocular adenosine A2 receptors. Functional studies indicate that at high doses, this rise in IOP involves an increase in aqueous flow and the breakdown of the blood-aqueous barrier.
The Effect of Statin Use on Mortality in Systemic Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases

Objective. Systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARD) are associated with an increased risk of premature cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality. We examined the potential survival benefit of statin use among patients with SARD in a general population setting. Methods. We conducted an incident user cohort study using a UK general population database. Our population included patients with a SARD as determined by Read code diagnoses of systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, Sjogren syndrome, dermatomyositis, polymyositis, mixed connective tissue disease, Behcet disease, or antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies-associated vasculitis between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2014. We compared propensity score–matched cohorts of statin initiators and noninitiators within 1-year cohort accrual blocks to account for potential confounders, including disease duration, body mass index, lifestyle factors, comorbidities, and medication use. Results. Of 2305 statin initiators, 298 died during the followup period (mean 5.1 yrs), whereas among 2305 propensity score–matched noninitiators, 338 died during the followup period (mean 4.8 yrs). This corresponded to mortality rates of 25.4/1000 and 30.3/1000 person-years, respectively. Statin initiation was associated with reduced all-cause mortality (HR 0.84, 95% CI 0.72–0.98). When we compared the unmatched cohorts, the statin initiators (n = 2863) showed increased mortality (HR 1.85, 95% CI 1.58–2.16) compared with noninitiators (n = 2863 randomly selected within 1-year cohort accrual blocks) because of confounding by indication. Conclusion. In this general population–based study, statin initiation was shown to reduce overall mortality in patients with SARD after adjusting for relevant determinates of CVD risk.
Late relapse in acute myeloid leukemia (AML): clonal evolution or therapy-related leukemia?

Late relapse, defined as relapse arising after at least 5 years of remission, is rare and occurs in 1–3% of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The underlying mechanisms of late relapse remain poorly understood. We identified patients with AML who achieved remission with standard induction chemotherapy and relapsed after at least five years of remission (n = 15). Whole exome sequencing was performed in available bone marrow samples obtained at diagnosis (n = 10), remission (n = 6), and first relapse (n = 10). A total of 41 driver mutations were identified, of which 11 were primary tumor-specific, 17 relapse-specific, and 13 shared (detected both in primary and relapsed tumor samples). We demonstrated that 12 of 13 shared mutations were in epigenetic modifier and spliceosome genes. Longitudinal genomic characterization revealed that in eight of 10 patients the founder leukemic clone persisted after chemotherapy and established the basis of relapse years later. Understanding the mechanisms of such quiescence in leukemic cells may help designing future strategies aimed at increasing remission duration in patients with AML.
How Do I Approach the Patient with Diarrhea? Key History, Physical Examination, and Diagnostic Considerations

Acute gastroenteritis accounts for 179 million outpatient visits, approximately 500,000 hospitalizations, and >5000 deaths in the United States each year. The evaluation of diarrhea begins with a thorough history to determine potential causes to customize initial diarrheal illness management, followed by a careful physical examination to assess the patient’s level of dehydration, determine supportive care requirements, and refine the diagnostic workup. Causative etiologies can be elucidated with a five-question approach. Labs and imaging are rarely required.
Humble Coaches and Their Influence on Players and Teams: The Mediating Role of Affect-Based (but Not Cognition-Based) Trust.

Humility is a desirable quality for leaders across different domains, but not much is known about humility in sports coaches. This study integrated positive and organizational psychology to define ...
A Self-Aware and Active-Guiding Training & Assistant System for Worker-Centered Intelligent Manufacturing

Abstract Training and on-site assistance is critical to help workers master required skills, improve worker productivity, and guarantee the product quality. Traditional training methods lack worker-centered considerations that are particularly in need when workers are facing ever-changing demands. In this study, we propose a worker-centered training & assistant system for intelligent manufacturing, which is featured with self-awareness and active-guidance. Multi-modal sensing techniques are applied to perceive each individual worker and a deep learning approach is developed to understand the worker’s behavior and intention. Moreover, an object detection algorithm is implemented to identify the parts/tools the worker is interacting with. Then the worker’s current state is inferred and used for quantifying and assessing the worker performance, from which the worker’s potential guidance demands are analyzed. Furthermore, onsite guidance with multi-modal augmented reality is provided actively and continuously during the operational process. Two case studies are used to demonstrate the feasibility and great potential of our proposed approach and system for applying to the manufacturing industry for frontline workers.
Assessing competency for remote telecytology rapid on-site evaluation using pre-recorded dynamic video streaming.

Introduction Telecytology using real-time microscopy has gained popularity for rapid on-site evaluations (ROSE). Although proficiency testing is routinely used in cytopathology, no established means of competency assessment is currently available for telecytology. Our aim was to determine the feasibility of a dynamic (real-time) platform to assess telecytology competency. Methods Remote Medical Technology dynamic (real-time) video streaming platform for ROSE is used at our institution, and short video clips of telecytology cases were recorded using Camtasia Studio 8 software during different ROSE sessions. Selected MP4 videos (range 13-88 seconds, mean 33 seconds), along with clinical histories, were used to build a multiple-choice question test with one training case and 20 test cases, utilising Tutor (Philips) software to host the web-based test. The test was voluntary for cytopathologists and cytotechnologists. Answers and feedback from test takers were analysed. Results Thirteen participants-four cytopathologists and nine cytotechnologists-previously trained to use telecytology, volunteered to take the test. Individual scores ranged from 10 (50%) to 19 (95%) with a median of 16 (80%). Most feedback received involved technical difficulties. Conclusions We present, to the best of our knowledge, the first tool to assess telecytology competency for ROSE using pre-recorded dynamic streaming videos. Despite technical challenges related to incorporating videos into a web-based test, the test was feasible and provided users with valuable feedback about their ROSE performance. Future effort will be devoted to establishing a more user-friendly test platform and establishing a benchmark for passing scores.
Scientific Note: Facultative Perenniality in the Dwarf Sundew (Drosera brevifolia)

The dwarf sundew (Drosera brevifolia) occurs from Uruguay to Virginia. Disjunct populations occur in the southeastern U.S. with the northernmost in Kentucky. Despite this wide distribution, relatively little is known about the biology of this species. It has been described as both annual and biennial. The endangered Kentucky population is considered biennial, but occasionally, live, mature plants have dead flower stalks in early autumn suggesting some may be perennial. In 2013, 40 sundews that germinated in the fall of 2012 were marked as they flowered in 2013. They were observed into a third growing season in 2014 until the end of July. Sixteen plants (40%) died after setting seeds in their second growing season, while nine (22.5%) remained alive, flowered, and set seeds again the following year. Seven of these were still alive at the end of July 2014. Fifteen plants were puzzling as the leaves were dead after setting seeds in their second growing season, but were alive May 2014, of which 12 flowered. This study confirms that at least a portion of the Kentucky population of D. brevifolia is perennial. This is probably facultative perenniality because some plants only survive to a third growing season when precipitation falls evenly over the growing seasons and when no hot, dry periods occur. Mild winters without extensive snow cover may contribute to facultative perenniality as well.
Molecular landscape in acute myeloid leukemia: where do we stand in 2016.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a clonal disorder characterized by the accumulation of complex genomic alterations that definethe disease pathophysiology and overall outcome. Recent advances in sequencing technologies have described the molecularlandscape of AML and identified several somatic alterations that impact overall survival. Despite all these advancement, severalchallenges remain in translating this information into effective therapy. Herein we will review the molecular landscape of AML anddiscuss the impact of the most common somatic mutations on disease biology and outcome.
Plague and Pregnancy: Why Special Considerations Are Needed

Pregnant women are an important at-risk population to consider during public health emergencies. These women, like nonpregnant adults, may be faced with the risk of acquiring life-threatening infections during outbreaks or bioterrorism (BT) events and, in some cases, can experience increased severity of infection and higher morbidity compared with nonpregnant adults. Yersinia pestis, the bacterium that causes plague, is a highly pathogenic organism. There are 4 million births annually in the United States, and thus the unique needs of pregnant women and their infants should be considered in pre-event planning for a plague outbreak or BT event.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Relational Frame Theory in the Field of Applied Behavior Analysis: The Acceptability and Perspective of the Practicing BCBA

The acceptability and understanding of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and relational frame theory (RFT) from the perspective of the practicing Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) are missing in the literature. It has been stated that our field has become stagnant and that the dissemination of the basic research on derived stimulus relations is lacking in its translation to applied work. A survey was used in the present article to collect data on practicing BCBAs’ perceptions of ACT and RFT, their acceptability in applied work, and whether they are perceived to be within the scope of applied behavior analysis. The outcomes of the survey suggested a majority of BCBAs acknowledged that ACT is within the scope of ABA (n = 161, 53%), but they do not perceive it as being part of their personal scope of practice (n = 152, 50.16%). Additionally, the outcomes suggested BCBAs acknowledged that RFT is within the scope of applied behavior analysis (n = 190, 62.70%). Furthermore, the outcomes indicated that BCBAs were interested in learning about ACT (n = 275, 90.76%) and RFT (n = 275, 90.76%), although respondents stated the lack of sufficient training in ACT (n = 30, 19.10%) and RFT (n = 21, 19.27%) was a challenge to implementation in applied settings.
Not so optimal: The evolution of mutual information in potassium voltage-gated channels

Abstract Potassium voltage-gated (Kv) channels need to detect and respond to rapidly changing ionic concentrations in their environment. With an essential role in regulating electric signaling, they would be expected to be optimal sensors that evolved to predict the ionic concentrations. To explore these assumptions, we use statistical mechanics in conjunction with information theory to model how animal Kv channels respond to changes in potassium concentrations in their environment. By estimating mutual information in representative Kv channel types across a variety of environments, we find two things. First, under a wide variety of environments, there is an optimal gating current that maximizes mutual information between the sensor and the environment. Second, as Kv channels evolved, they have moved towards decreasing mutual information with the environment. This either suggests that Kv channels do not need to act as sensors of their environment or that Kv channels have other functionalities that interfere with their role as sensors of their environment.
Fast inactivation of Na+ current in rat adrenal chromaffin cells involves two independent inactivation pathways

Abstract Voltage-dependent sodium (Nav) current in adrenal chromaffin cells (CCs) is rapidly inactivating and TTX-sensitive. The fractional availability of CC Nav current has been implicated in regulation of action potential (AP) frequency and the occurrence of slow-wave burst firing. To ascertain whether features of CC Nav inactivation might influence AP firing, we recorded Nav current in rat CCs, primarily from adrenal medullary slices. A key feature of CC Nav current is that recovery from inactivation, even following brief (5 ms) inactivation steps, exhibits two exponential components of generally similar amplitude. Variations of standard paired pulse protocols support the view that entry into the fast and slower recovery processes result from largely independent, competing inactivation pathways, both of which occur with similar onset times at depolarizing potentials. Over voltages from −120 to −80 mV, faster recovery varies from ~3 to 30 ms, while slower recovery from about 50-400 ms. At strong activation voltages (+0 mV and more positive), the relative entry into slow or fast recovery pathways is similar and independent of voltage. Trains of brief inactivating steps result in cumulative increases in the slower recovery fraction. This supports idea that brief recovery intervals preferentially allow recovery of channels from fast recovery pathways, thereby increasing the fraction of channels in the slow recovery pathway with each subsequent inactivation step. This provides a mechanism whereby differential rates of recovery produce use-dependent accumulation in slower recovery pathways. Consistent with use-dependent accumulation of channels in slow recovery pathways, repetitive AP clamp waveforms at 1-10 Hz frequencies reduce Nav availability to 10-20% of initial amplitude dependent on holding potential. The results indicate that there are two distinct pathways of fast inactivation, one that leads to normal fast recovery and the other with a slower time course, which together are well-suited to mediate use-dependent changes in Nav availability.
Designing teacher professional development programs to support a rapid shift to digital.

From a design perspective, this paper offers a response to the impact, value, and application of a manuscript published by Philipsen et al. (Improving teacher professional development for online and blended learning: A systematic meta-aggregative review. Educational Technology and Research Development, 67, 1145-1174. 10.1007/s11423-019-09645-8, 2019). Philipsen et al. (2019) reviewed what constitutes an effective teacher professional development program (TPD) for online and blended learning (OBL), with our response focusing on its value and application in light of an emergency shift to digital to address a global pandemic. This paper also proceeds to examine limitations in previous research into the subject and future research opportunities to investigate important components that inform the design of a resilient and scalable TPD for OBL.
ACE-Net: Fine-Level Face Alignment through Anchors and Contours Estimation.

We propose a novel facial Anchors and Contours Estimation framework, ACE-Net, for fine-level face alignment tasks. ACE-Net predicts facial anchors and contours that are richer than traditional facial landmarks and more accurate than facial boundaries. In addition, it does not suffer from the ambiguities and inconsistencies in facial-landmarks definitions. We introduce a weakly supervised loss enabling ACE-Net to learn from existing facial landmarks datasets without the need for extra annotations. Synthetic data is also used during training to bridge the density gap between landmarks annotation and true facial contours. We evaluate ACE-Net on commonly used face alignment datasets 300-W and HELEN, and show that ACE-Net achieves significantly higher fine-level face alignment accuracy than landmarks based models, without compromising its performance at the landmarks level. The proposed ACE-Net framework does not rely on any specific network architecture and thus can be applied on top of existing face alignment models for finer face alignment representation.
Poison or placebo? Evidence on the deterrence and wealth effects of modern antitakeover measures

This paper provides large-sample evidence that poison pill rights issues, control share laws, and business combination laws have not systematically deterred takeovers and are unlikely to have caused the demise of the 1980s market for corporate control, even though 87% of all exchange-listed firms are now covered by one of these antitakeover measures. We show that poison pills and control share laws are reliably associated with higher takeover premiums for selling shareholders, both unconditionally and conditional on a successful takeover, and we provide updated event study evidence for the three-quarters of all poison pills not yet analyzed. Antitakeover measures increase the bargaining position of target firms, but they do not prevent many transactions.
BeSober: assisting relapse prevention in alcohol addiction using a novel mobile app-based intervention

Chronic alcohol consumption has become one of the major concerns of the society in the sector of public health. The death toll due to excessive consumption of alcohol is increasing exponentially. Face-to-face interaction to create awareness and to stymie the consumption of alcohol is a quixotic solution. Alcohol relapse remains a challenging problem in disorders associated with alcohol addiction which is related to spatial-temporal factors like periods and specific places. In this paper, a new generation of relapse prevention mobile application called "BeSober" is proposed. It assists users to develop abstemious habits in drinking, providing support within the intervention period, tracking risky alcoholic spots, presenting community-based support from alternative users or alcohol addiction therapists, monitoring addict's behaviour and offer personalized recommendations to assist the addict in staying sober.
Outcome of Hospitalized Parkinson's Disease Patients with and without COVID-19

Background The Parkinson's disease (PD) patient population, with an already reduced life expectancy, is rendered particularly vulnerable by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Objectives We determined the risk factors that increase the risk of death in patients with Parkinson's disease who are infected by SARS-CoV-2. Methods Patients with a diagnosis of PD admitted to Montefiore Hospital (Bronx, New York) and tested for SARS-CoV-2 were identified. Retrospective review of electronic medical records confirmed the diagnosis; patients were classified by severity of PD. PD severity, demographic, socioeconomic factors, and co-morbidities were correlated with mortality rates in patients with SARS-CoV-2. Results We identified 162 patients meeting criteria; chart review confirmed a diagnosis of PD in 70 patients. Of the 70 patients, 53 were positive for SARS-CoV-2 and 17 were negative. PD patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection had a higher mortality rate (35.8%) compared to PD patients without the infection (5.9%, P = 0.028). PD patients older than 70 years of age, those with advanced Parkinson's disease, those with reductions in their medications, and non-Hispanics (largely comprised of Black/African- Americans) had a statistically significant higher mortality rate, if infected. Conclusions PD did not increase mortality rates from SARS-CoV-2 infection when age was controlled. However, certain unalterable factors (advanced disease and age greater than 70 years) and alterable ones (reductions in PD medications) placed PD patients at increased risk for mortality. Also several socioeconomic factors contributed to mortality, for example, non-Hispanic patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection fared worse, likely driven by poorer outcomes in the Black/African-American cohort.
A framework for quadratic form maximization over convex sets through nonconvex relaxations

We investigate the approximability of the following optimization problem. The input is an n× n matrix A=(Aij) with real entries and an origin-symmetric convex body K⊂ ℝn that is given by a membership oracle. The task is to compute (or approximate) the maximum of the quadratic form ∑i=1n∑j=1n Aij xixj=⟨ x,Ax⟩ as x ranges over K. This is a rich and expressive family of optimization problems; for different choices of matrices A and convex bodies K it includes a diverse range of optimization problems like max-cut, Grothendieck/non-commutative Grothendieck inequalities, small set expansion and more. While the literature studied these special cases using case-specific reasoning, here we develop a general methodology for treatment of the approximability and inapproximability aspects of these questions. The underlying geometry of K plays a critical role; we show under commonly used complexity assumptions that polytime constant-approximability necessitates that K has type-2 constant that grows slowly with n. However, we show that even when the type-2 constant is bounded, this problem sometimes exhibits strong hardness of approximation. Thus, even within the realm of type-2 bodies, the approximability landscape is nuanced and subtle. However, the link that we establish between optimization and geometry of Banach spaces allows us to devise a generic algorithmic approach to the above problem. We associate to each convex body a new (higher dimensional) auxiliary set that is not convex, but is approximately convex when K has a bounded type-2 constant. If our auxiliary set has an approximate separation oracle, then we design an approximation algorithm for the original quadratic optimization problem, using an approximate version of the ellipsoid method. Even though our hardness result implies that such an oracle does not exist in general, this new question can be solved in specific cases of interest by implementing a range of classical tools from functional analysis, most notably the deep factorization theory of linear operators. Beyond encompassing the scenarios in the literature for which constant-factor approximation algorithms were found, our generic framework implies that that for convex sets with bounded type-2 constant, constant factor approximability is preserved under the following basic operations: (a) Subspaces, (b) Quotients, (c) Minkowski Sums, (d) Complex Interpolation. This yields a rich family of new examples where constant factor approximations are possible, which were beyond the reach of previous methods. We also show (under commonly used complexity assumptions) that for symmetric norms and unitarily invariant matrix norms the type-2 constant nearly characterizes the approximability of quadratic maximization.
A hemifused complex is the hub in a network of pathways to membrane fusion

Abstract Membrane fusion is required for essential processes from neurotransmission to fertilization. For over 40 years protein-free fusion driven by calcium or other cationic species has provided a simplified model of biological fusion, but the mechanisms remain poorly understood. Cation-mediated membrane fusion and permeation are essential in their own right to drug delivery strategies based on cell-penetrating peptides or cation-bearing lipid nanoparticles. Experimental studies suggest cations drive anionic membranes to a hemifused intermediate which serves as a hub for a network of pathways, but the pathway selection mechanism is unknown. Here we develop a mathematical model that identifies the network hub as a highly dynamical hemifusion complex. We find multivalent cations drive expansion of a high tension hemifusion interface between interacting vesicles during a brief transient. During this window, rupture of the interface competes with vesicle membrane rupture to determine the outcome, either fusion, dead-end hemifusion or vesicle lysis. The model reproduces the unexplained finding that fusion of vesicles with planar membranes typically stalls at hemifusion, and we show that the equilibrated hemifused state is a novel lens-shaped complex. Thus, membrane fusion kinetics follow a stochastic trajectory within a network of pathways, with outcome weightings set by fusogen concentration, vesicle size, lipid composition and geometry. Significance Cells use multicomponent machineries to fuse membranes for neurotransmitter and hormone release and other fundamental processes. Protein-free fusion using calcium or other multivalent cationic fusogens has long been studied as a simplifying model. Cation-mediated membrane fusion or permeation are key events for a number of current drug delivery strategies. However, the mechanisms determining outcomes are unknown. Here we develop a mathematical model that identifies a dynamic hemifusion complex as the decision hub that stochastically sets the outcome in a network of pathways. Cations transiently grow a high tension hemifusion interface between membrane-enclosed compartments, whose fate governs whether fusion, dead-end hemifusion or vesicle lysis occurs. The model provides a systematic framework to predict outcomes of cationic fusogen-mediated interactions between membrane-enclosed compartments.