cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Validation of the Clinical Internship Evaluation Tool

Background and Purpose Graduates of physical therapist education programs should be expected to function as competent clinicians. Instead, the benchmark for many clinical performance assessment tools has been “as good as an entry-level graduate.” The authors developed the Clinical Internship Evaluation Tool (CIET), which measures clinical performance of the student relative to a “competent clinician.” The purpose of this study was to provide evidence for validity of the tool. Subjects and Methods The CIET was used to evaluate physical therapist student clinical performance from 1999 to 2003. Data from 228 student evaluations, a survey of 26 clinical instructors (CIs), and an item review by 7 faculty members were used to collect validity evidence. The relevance of items on the CIET was examined by the survey and the item review. Coefficient alpha was calculated to estimate internal consistency among the items. A Spearman correlation was used to examine the relationship between 2 measures of clinical competence. A repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) compared the student scores at each clinical time frame to confirm expected improvements in performance longitudinally. Evidence for practicality was collected by the CI survey. Results Based on the faculty item review and the CI survey, all items were representative of skills and behaviors considered important for a clinically competent physical therapist. The internal consistency (alpha) was .98 for the patient management items. The average correlation of the 2 measures of clinical competence was .76. The repeated-measures ANOVA was significant and demonstrated improved patient management scores as the student progressed through the program. The CI survey results indicated that 96% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the instrument was short and easy to use. Discussion and Conclusion The results of the study suggest that the CIET is representative of skills and behaviors necessary for students to perform at the level of a competent therapist and that the instrument is practical to use for busy clinicians. The CIET appears to be a valid tool for measuring student clinical performance and can be a time-efficient alternative for CIs in today's demanding clinical environment.
Electromigration discussion group summary

Summaries are presented of discussions on the following topics: (A) Non-Damascene Copper Interconnects; (B) Electromigration in Solder Bumps; (C) Stress Voiding; and (D) on AC and Pulsed Electromigration.
A low-loss high-reliability microwave switch matrix for smart antenna systems

A new technique for optimizing the design of low-loss bidirectional (n,m) microwave switch matrices is proposed for use in smart antenna systems. Based on Banyan networks as a base-line topology, architecture trade offs are made between routing complexity, component count, reliability, isolation, and insertion loss. It applies to any number of inputs n and outputs m where n and m are a power of 2. Using this technique, a (16,4) 2.4 GHz ISM band microwave switch network was fabricated using 4-layer PCB and RFIC technology. The optimized design uses only 28 transfer switch ICs, which is less than half of the components used in the equivalent cross-point switch architecture. It also permits a one-element failure on the first log/sub 2/m stage(s), thus improves system reliability.
Simulation and analysis of substrate coupling in realistically-large mixed-A/D circuits

The advent of more efficient modeling techniques are making "substrate-aware" design verification possible for larger and larger circuits. We have demonstrated that a particular CAD methodology can be effectively applied to substrate crosstalk analysis for a number of practical circuit design subsystems. Detailed modeling of layout-based noise reduction strategies will enable designers to develop new ways to manage critical coupling problems ensuring a higher level of design reliability.
Excursions into German History and Poetic Voices: Marcel Beyer's Falsches Futter1

In contrast to the critical attention given to Marcel Beyer's novels Flughunde (1995), Spione (2000), and Kaltenburg (2008), his cycle of poems Falsches Futter (1997) has received little similar comment. Based on Beyer's criticism of poetry in the service of (Nazi) ideology in Falsches Futter, and drawing from his comments on poetry in his nonfictional publications, this article investigates how the poems embrace yet also disavow communication with readers, in order to reject poetry as ethical and political orientation and engage readers in an open dialogue about Germany's past and present. By using disparate images and cryptic allusions, and by mixing his poetic voice with those of Brecht, Benn, and others, Beyer creates a multi-layered poetic discourse that oscillates between constructing and rejecting an intelligible world in its presentation of twentieth-century German history, and that both questions and affirms the functionality of poetic discourse. Thus despite his skepticism toward language, Beyer embraces a provocative poetry as playful resistance to reality, which in Falsches Futter is overshadowed by violence, disillusionment, and desolation.
Effects of Preventive, Early, and Late Antifungal Chemotherapy with Fluconazole in Different Granulocytopenic Models of Experimental Disseminated Candidiasis

To investigate the potential use of fluconazole for prevention and treatment of disseminated candidiasis in granulocytopenic patients, its in vivo antifungal activity was studied in three models of disseminated candidiasis in persistently granulocytopenic rabbits: acute, subacute, and chronic disseminated candidiasis. Fluconazole was compared with the combination of amphotericin B and flucytosine for preventive, early, and late treatment of disseminated candidiasis, depending on the model. Fluconazole was most effective when used for preventive or early treatment of acute and subacute disseminated candidiasis. When compared with the combination of amphotericin B plus flucytosine, fluconazole was similarly effective in early treatment of acute and subacute disseminated candidiasis. When treatment was delayed 6 days after established infection, fluconazole was less active in clearing tissues in comparison with its activity in preventive and early treatment. The combination of amphotericin B plus flucytosine, however, was significantly more active than fluconazole in treatment of chronic disseminated candidiasis in all tissues. In summary, fluconazole was most effective against disseminated candidiasis in persistently granulocytopenic rabbits when used for prevention or early treatment.
Steroid hormone concentration profiles in healthy intact and neutered dogs before and after cosyntropin administration.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine steroid hormone concentration profiles in healthy intact and neutered male and female dogs. Seventeen intact female dogs, 20 intact male dogs, 30 spayed female dogs, and 30 castrated male dogs were used in this study. Serum samples were collected before and 1 h after cosyntropin administration, and serum concentrations were determined for cortisol, progesterone, 17-OH progesterone (17-OHP), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), androstenedione, testosterone, and estradiol. Intact male dogs had greater concentrations of DHEAS, androstenedione, and testosterone. Intact female dogs had greater concentrations of progesterone. There was no significant difference in estradiol concentration among the four groups. Intact male dogs had lower concentrations of cortisol post-stimulation. DHEAS and testosterone did not increase in response to ACTH in intact males, and estradiol concentrations did not increase in response to ACTH in any group. Results from this study will enhance interpretation of suspected adrenal and/or gonadal disorders of dogs. Because estradiol concentrations were similar in all groups of dogs, measuring estradiol may not be a useful diagnostic test. Cortisol concentrations for intact male dogs with hyperadrenocorticism may be lower than those of female or neutered dogs.
Brainstem, cerebellar and limbic neuroanatomical abnormalities in autism

Recent autopsy and/or quantitative magnetic resonance imaging studies of autistic patients have identified agenesis of the superior olive, dysgenesis of the facial nucleus, reduced numbers of Purkinje neurons, hypoplasia of the brainstem and posterior cerebellum, and increased neuron-packing density of the medial, cortical and central nuclei of the amygdala and the medial septum. As neurogenesis occurs for these different neuron types during approximately the fifth week of gestation, the possibility is raised that this may be a 'window of vulnerability' for autism; the likely etiologic heterogeneity of autism suggests that other windows of vulnerability are also possible.
Comparing coverage quality for femtocell and macrocell broadband data services

This article presents the results of a series of field tests to characterize femtocell coverage quality in typical residential houses with respect to high-speed data services. The study proves femtocell users can expect to observe an improvement of more than five times in average airlink data speeds relative to the existing macrocell network. The article presents the methodology used in the tests, and offers summary results for both 1xEV-DO and HSDPA technologies. The results presented here show that the case for using femtocells for broadband data services is even stronger than for voice-based services.
ADHD Symptomatology and Its Relationship to Factors Associated With College Adjustment

Objective: The present study assessed the relationship between self-reported ADHD symptomatology in college students and various factors that are associated with persistence in college. Method: A total of 321 students completed questionnaires examining ADHD symptoms, academic and social adjustment to college, career decision-making self-efficacy, study skills, and GPA. Results: Analyses indicated that higher levels of ADHD symptoms were significantly related to lower levels of career decision-making self-efficacy, academic adjustment, study skills, and GPA. Regression analyses revealed that only the inattentive cluster of symptoms was a significant predictor of career decision-making self-efficacy, study skills, and academic adjustment. Conclusion: These results suggest that the inattentive symptoms of ADHD may have a particularly negative effect on success in college. (J. of Att. Dis. 2009; 13(3) 251-258)
Gaze as Social Control: How Very Young Children Differentiate "The Look" From a "Mere Look" by Their Adult Caregivers

In this article, I examine very young children's differentiations of the gazing actions of their adult caregivers for how they do or do not implicate an intervention in their sanctionable activities. Such features of a gaze as (a) its duration, (b) whether or not it "fixes" on a target, and (c) its production relative to other activities of the caregiver constitute some gazes as mere shifts of visual attention to check children's activities and others as portending an intervention. I hence demonstrate two practices of looking, termed here a mere look and the look, to project in different ways for children what another will do next. At issue is how children manage their conduct by reference to their assessments of caregivers' gazes and how caregivers' deployment of the look provides for children's systematic self-inspection of and self-action toward the aspects of their conduct they take to have drawn a caregiver's gaze.
Plotinus on the Soul

Plotinus on the Soul is a study of Plotinus' psychology, which is arguably the most sophisticated Platonist theory of the soul in antiquity. Plotinus offers a Platonist response to Aristotelian and Stoic conceptions of the soul that is at the same time an innovative interpretation of Plato's Timaeus. He considers the notion of the soul to be crucial for explaining the rational order of the world. To this end, he discusses not only different types of individual soul (such as the souls of the stars, and human and animal souls) but also an entity that he was the first to introduce into philosophy: the so-called hypostasis Soul. This is the first study to provide a detailed explanation of this entity, but it also discusses the other types of soul, with an emphasis on the human soul, and explains Plotinus' original views on rational thought and its relation to experience.
Brand Image Congruence Through Sponsorship of Sporting Events: A Reinquiry of Gwinner and Eaton (1999)

Does brand sponsorship of sporting events lead to more congruence in consumers' images of sponsoring brands and sponsored sporting events? If so, what factors affect the extent of increase in image congruence? Results of a study with three sporting events (replicate stimuli) and nonstudent participants confirm Gwinner and Eaton's (1999) finding that brand sponsorship increases image congruence. Further, there is a greater increase in image congruence when functional similarity between sponsoring brands and sponsored events is high (versus low). But contrary to Gwinner and Eaton (1999), the present findings do not indicate that the increase in image congruence is moderated by high (versus low) image-based similarity.
Riding off into the Sunset: Shareholder Reactions to CEO Retirements

We build arguments based on structural inertia theory and test them in the context of CEO succession, focusing on an under- researched type of executive turnover – CEO retirement. Using event study methodology and a sample of 200 CEO retirements, we find that, on average, an organization’s legitimacy is adversely affected when inertia-breaking changes occur in the leadership structure. Specifically, we find that, all else equal, CEO retirements elicit negative shareholder reactions. However, the magnitude of the reaction is contingent on the extent to which the succession context calls for inertia-breaking changes (i.e., recent performance, founder retirement) and on the extent to which the succession process suggests inertia-breaking changes. Overall, our results point to CEO retirement events as consequential, and at times disruptive to organizational viability, challenging an important assumption of extant succession research. We discuss implications of our findings for theory and practice.
Prevalence of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study

Objective: To evaluate the frequency of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) in HIV+ individuals and determine whether the frequency of HAND changed over 4 years of follow-up. Methods: The Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS) is a prospective study of gay/bisexual men. Beginning in 2007, all MACS participants received a full neuropsychological test battery and functional assessments every 2 years to allow for HAND classification. Results: The frequency of HAND for the 364 HIV+ individuals seen in 2007–2008 was 33% and for the 197 HIV+ individuals seen at all time periods during the 2007–2008, 2009–2010, and 2011–2012 periods were 25%, 25%, and 31%, respectively. The overall frequency of HAND increased from 2009–2010 to 2011–2012 ( p = 0.048). Over the 4-year study, 77% of the 197 HIV+ individuals remained at their same stage, with 13% showing deterioration and 10% showing improvement in HAND stage. Hypercholesterolemia was associated with HAND progression. A diagnosis of asymptomatic neurocognitive impairment was associated with a 2-fold increased risk of symptomatic HAND compared to a diagnosis of normal cognition. Conclusion: HAND remains common in HIV+ individuals. However, for the majority of HIV+ individuals on combination antiretroviral therapy with systemic virologic suppression, the diagnosis of HAND is not a progressive condition over 4 years of follow-up. Future studies should evaluate longitudinal changes in HAND and specific neurocognitive domains over a longer time period.
Pathogenic Distribution of Childhood Diarrhea in Shenzhen Area from 2004 to 2006

Objective To study the pathogenic distribution of childhood diarrhea in Shenzhen area during the year of 2004-2006.Methods Enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay(ELISA) was used to detect rotavirus(RV) antigen from Jan.2004 to Apr.2005 on stool specimens,and the rest stool specimens were detected for RV with colloidal gold test from May 2005 to Dec.2006.Fungous enteritis were diagnosed under 40× microscope,and mycelials and spores were found simultaneously,bacillary dysentery were diagnosed under 40× microscope and white blood cell and red blood cell were found simultaneously,amebic dysentery was diagnosed under 40× microscope being found lively entamoeba histolytica(trophozoite or inwrap).Uncertain diarrheas was considered apart from the other 4 sorts of diarrheas.Results RV diarrhea mostly occurred from Oct.to next Feb.Every year,but from Jun.to Jul.it happened,too,totally occupying 40.49%.Fungous enteritis occurrence was not necessarily season-regulated,only occupying 3.59%.Bacillary dysentery were obviously turned up from Jun.to Sep.every year,occupying 39.67%.Amebic dysentery was detected only 10 specimens,only one was found in spring,the rest all were taken place in summer,taking up 0.03%.Uncertain diarrheas were major come about in Dec.to next Mar.occupying 16.24%.Diarrhea happened mostly at the age of 1 to 2 years old,occuping 24.83%(8 287/33 382 cases),and it happened least at less than 6 months occupying 6.65%(2 217/33 382 cases).Conclusions The sorts of childhood diarrhea represents the features of cross infection and seasonal occurrence,and complicated and diverse factors.It is a very important step to prevent acute diarrheas with imposing health of food and environment,cutting off spreading-path,improving infants and young children′ initiative immune levels.
Statins for primary cardiovascular prevention.

Trials to date have found that statins reduce all-cause mortality, composite cardiovascular outcomes, and revascularization. However, most trials included large numbers of persons with known CVD. Clear evidence of the effectiveness of statins to prevent a first cardiovascular event is lacking.
Human B-cell lymphoma in severe combined immunodeficient mice after active infection with Epstein-Barr virus.

Background B-cell lymphomas (BCL) occur with increased frequency in immunosuppressed patients. BCL develop in severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice after engraftment with human peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL; hu-PBL-SCID mice) and infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). The contributions of latent and active EBV infection to BCL development, the potential enhancing effects of immunosuppressive therapy, and inhibitory effects of antiviral therapy on the development of BCL in this model were studied. Methods SCID mice were engrafted with PBL from EBV-seropositive donors (latent infection), PBL from EBV-seronegative donors followed by infection with EBV (active infection), PBL from EBV-seropositive donors followed by infection with EBV (latent plus active infection), or EBV-transformed B-lymphoblastoid cells and monitored for the development of BCL. Hu-PBL-SCID mice were treated with the immunosuppressive agents cyclosporine or methylprednisolone or the antiviral agents acyclovir or ganciclovir. Results Tumors developing in hu-PBL-SCID mice were high-grade lymphomas of human B-cell origin and contained EBV-DNA. BCL developed in 70% of mice 11 to 14 weeks after latent infection. BCL developed after 4 to 7 weeks in all hu-PBL-SCID mice after active infection. Treatment with cyclosporine or methylprednisolone had no effect on BCL development after active infection, but inhibited rather than enhanced the development of BCL in latently infected mice. Ganciclovir, but not acyclovir, inhibited BCL development after active infection. Conclusions The hu-PBL-SCID mouse provides an in vivo model of BCL associated with immunosuppression. Active EBV infection results in the rapid development of BCL in this model even when latently infected B cells are present. Inhibition of BCL development in latently infected hu-PBL-SCID mice by immunosuppressive therapy may reflect inhibition of a T-cell/B-cell interaction necessary for B-cell activation. Inhibition of BCL development by granciclovir suggests a possible role for this agent in the management of BCL associated with immunosuppression.
Adaptive state estimation and control of thermostatic loads for real-time energy balancing

This paper develops adaptive methods to control thermostatic loads that are subject to disturbances, with the broader purpose of providing real-time energy balancing for the electrical grid. For this application, most previous research has focused on the control problem - coordinating large populations of thermostatically controlled loads - without considering the effect that biased disturbances to the plant would have on system performance. To address this issue, we have designed online adaptive methods that manage such disturbances. One adaptive method uses state measurements to update the autonomous dynamics of the plant model, and the other method uses aggregate power consumption data. We consider three types of disturbances, and we compare the performance of the adaptive control systems to benchmark control systems when different combinations of these disturbances are active. The largest improvement in RMS tracking error due to adaptive control occurs when all three disturbance types are affecting the system. In this case, the best adaptive method results in an error of 7.19%, as compared with an error of 9.44% with the best benchmark control system.
Ultra-long cycle life, low-cost room temperature sodium-sulfur batteries enabled by highly doped (N,S) nanoporous carbons

Abstract Efficiency, cost, and lifetime are the primary challenges for stationary energy storage with vanadium-redox flow and sodium-sulfur batteries as promising options. In particular, room temperature sodium-sulfur battery systems offer the potential for safe, simple, low-cost and high energy density storage, but the high reactivity or solubility of sodium polysulfides in common liquid electrolytes for carbonates or glycols, respectively, leads to rapid performance loss on cycling. Herein, we demonstrate a robust route to inhibit reactivity of the sulfides with carbonate electrolytes (and also inhibit the diffusion of polysulfides dissolved in TEGDME) and prevent performance loss on cycling using highly doped (≈40 atom%) nanoporous carbon from low-cost raw materials infused with sulfur as the cathode. This cathode design leads to an ultra-stable room temperature sodium-sulfur battery with less than 3% decay in the discharge capacity after 8000 cycles at a high current density of 4.6 A/g. At 0.23 A/g, the discharge capacity is approximately 400 mAh/g and stable over 350 cycles. This combination of low cost and excellent cycle stability is promising for stationary, grid-level energy storage.
Hydroheteroarylation of Unactivated Alkenes Using N-Methoxyheteroarenium Salts.

We report the first reductive coupling of unactivated alkenes with N-methoxy pyridazinium, imidazolium, quinolinium, and isoquinolinium salts under hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) conditions, and an expanded scope for the coupling of alkenes with N-methoxy pyridinium salts. N-Methoxy pyridazinium, imidazolium, quinolinium, and isoquinolinium salts are accessible in 1–2 steps from the commercial arenes or arene N-oxides (25–99%). N-Methoxy imidazolium salts are accessible in three steps from commercial amines (50–85%). In total 36 discrete methoxyheteroarenium salts bearing electron-donating, electron-withdrawing, alkyl, aryl, halogen, and haloalkyl substituents were prepared (several in multigram quantities) and coupled with 38 different alkenes. The transformations proceed under neutral conditions at ambient temperature, provide monoalkylation products exclusively, and form a single alkene addition regioisomer. Preparatively useful and complementary site selectivities in the addition of secondary and tertia...
Patient and Provider Satisfaction with Teledermatology

Abstract Background: There is little research comparing dermatologist and patient satisfaction with in-person, store-and-forward, and live interactive examinations. Objective: To compare satisfaction with in-person examinations to store-and-forward and live interactive consultations having two types of video. Methods: A controlled study was conducted where patients referred for dermatology consultations were examined in-person, by video, and by store-and-forward methods. Video changed between compressed and uncompressed on alternate clinics. Patients and dermatologists rated encounters after each examination. Dermatologists doing store-and-forward evaluations rated the quality of information provided. After experiencing all methods patients ranked their preferences. Dermatologists ranked their preferences at the end of the study. Results: In-person examinations were preferred by both patients and dermatologists. Overall, satisfaction with teledermatology was still high. Patients were evenly divided in pre...
The Fluidity of Simplicity: Philosophy, Mathematics, Art

Simplicity is not simple. It wears many faces, and stands for a host of factors we use in argumentation. In the following narrative, the notion will not be analyzed. Instead, a parade of different observations about simplicity will be run through, drawing on philosophy, mathematics, and art. This run-through is designed to allow a certain ideal of simplicity to emerge. This ideal, as it happens, has been explicitly adhered to by a wide variety of modern thinkers: philosophers, mathematicians, and artists. Our aim is to characterize it.
Online resources for studies of genome biology and epigenetics

Abstract Environmental exposure to chemical toxins alters epigenetic modifications that culminate in altered cellular gene expression without changing the underlying DNA sequence. The complex interplay between the layers of epigenetic regulators ultimately results in observed cellular phenotype. This review highlights epigenetics annotations assayed in the Encyclopedia of DNA Elements (ENCODE) community resource project—a publically accessible database for understanding genomic function, development and disease etiologies. We outline the multiple levels of epigenetic control (DNA methylation, chromatin accessibility, histone modifications, genome topology) with their associated interrogation methodology. We explore the limitations and strengths of each methodology at every epigenetic checkpoint. This review points readers to epigenetic resources that have gathered focused scientific data and directs them toward data visualization tools that can help answer questions related to epigenetic controls. The purpose of this review is to highlight online resources available to toxicological epigenetic researchers that can help fast track novel insights using already curated reference epigenome datasets.
Age Diversity in the Workplace

Age diversity is a key component of diversity management‚ since the current workforce offers a unique generational mix. Organizational leaders face numerous challenges in today’s dynamic workplace that require experiential, technical, and analytical skills that are only achieved with an age-diverse workforce. A combination of life span development theories and perceptions of generational differences presents the challenges faced by HR personnel and organizational leaders in order to manage varying age groups at work. This chapter explores the perceptual, as well as evidenced-based information regarding workplace age diversity and the practical applications for managing an age-diverse workforce.
Power of Positive Words: A Strategic Communication Perspective

Words manifest in many forms – axioms, maxims, metaphors, parables, stories and hymns- and form the basis of our culture, organizations, and socio-economic-political systems. Words not only connote the objective phenomena that determine our lives, but also abet the creation and enactment of novel, imaginative or subjective ideals that shape our lives and provide meaning to our existence. From the sense making perspective, first, we discuss how positive communication (in terms of parables, stories, axioms) is linked to realizing hope, dignity and fairness to organizational stakeholders. Second, we narrate how managers can communicate stories, metaphors, and analogies in strategy processes to achieve organizational change and innovation, and highlight the role of communication and socio- linguistic routines in building the intellectual and social capital. Further, based on the survey response from 187 professionals who have experienced organizational change recently, we empirically test the extent of influe...
Abstract 14957: CRISPR-mediated Expression of Fetal Scn5a Splice Variant Results in Arrhythmias and Conduction Defects

Voltage-gated sodium channel type 1.5 (Nav1.5), encoded by the gene SCN5A, is the predominant sodium channel in the heart. Mutations in SCN5A are associated with diseases including Brugada and long...
Glutathionylation Inhibits the Catalytic Activity of Arabidopsis β-Amylase3 but Not That of Paralog β-Amylase1.

β-Amylase3 (BAM3) is an enzyme that is essential for starch degradation in plant leaves and is also transcriptionally induced under cold stress. However, we recently reported that BAM3’s enzymatic activity decreased in cold-stressed Arabidopsis leaves, although the activity of BAM1, a homologous leaf β-amylase, was largely unaffected. This decrease in BAM3 activity may relate to the accumulation of starch reported in cold-stressed plants. The aim of this study was to explore the disparity between BAM3 transcript and activity levels under cold stress, and we present evidence suggesting BAM3 is being inhibited by post-translational modification. A mechanism of enzyme inhibition was suggested by observing that BAM3 protein levels remained unchanged under cold stress. Cold stress induces nitric oxide (NO) signaling, one result being alteration of protein activity by nitrosylation or glutathionylation through agents such as S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO). To test whether NO induction correlates with inhibition of...
Upper Urinary Tract Carcinoma In Situ

Upper tract carcinoma in situ (UTCIS) is a non-muscle invasive, high-grade cancer involving the epithelial lining of the renal pelvis, calyces, and ureter. While progression to muscle invasion or metastasis occurs infrequently, UTCIS remains a vexing clinical conundrum for diagnosis, therapy, and subsequent surveillance. Organ preservation remains a central tenet in the management of UTCIS with topical intracavitary instillation playing a critical role to achieve this goal. Nonetheless, owing to the uncommon presentation of UTCIS, treatment paradigms and algorithms are often extrapolated from management of bladder CIS. In that regard, acknowledging that the clinical behavior between these two entities is distinct, prospective evaluation focusing on the UTCIS patient cohort is critical for the future.
Importance of Sex and Estrogens in Amelioration of Lethal Circulatory Stress Reactions: Relationship to Microcirculatory and Reticuloendothelial System Function

Recently, sex hormones have been shown to alter the concentration of elastin and collagen in the vascular walls of chickens (1) and rats (2,3). Administration of estrogen has also been reported to result in a decrease in mucopolysaccharide content (4) as well as to decrease oxygen consumption of the vascular wall (5). It has been postulated by a number of investigators that these changes may be important in the development, and amelioration, of atherosclerotic lesions (6–8). The influence of sex and sex hormones on vascular reactivity has not, however, been systemically investigated. Furthermore, since injury (and inflammation) is thought to act as a potent stimulus for initiation of development of atherosclerotic lesions (8–12), it would be important to determine whether sex, or estrogen administration, can influence a mammal’s reaction to a systemic injury which has as its target the peripheral vascular system.
An Evolutionary Algorithm for Vehicle Routing Problem with Real Life Constraints

Real life distribution problems present high degree of complexity mostly derived by the need to respect a variety of constraints. Moreover they are not considered by the classical models of the vehicle routing literature. In this paper we consider a vehicle routing problem with heterogeneous vehicle fleet with different capacity, multi-dimensional capacity constraints, order/vehicle, item/vehicle, and item/item compatibility constraints, different start and end locations for vehicles, and multiple time windows restrictions. We propose an evolutionary algorithm based on the combination of a genetic algorithm and local search heuristics. We investigated the performance of the implemented algorithm in the large-scale retail and in the waste collection industries.
Incidence and factors influencing the spontaneous closure of Fontan fenestration

Introduction The Fontan operation is the final stage of single ventricle palliation in patients with complex congenital heart disease. Fenestration in the Fontan conduit, providing an atrial level right to left shunt, has been shown to reduce early postoperative morbidity. However, there is limited data on the long-term fate of this fenestration. The aim of this study is to define the rate of spontaneous closure of the fenestration in the Fontan conduit and factors predictive of the fate of the fenestration. Methods This was a retrospective study reviewing the medical records of the patients who underwent fenestrated Fontan operation at our center. Preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative variables including the status of the Fontan fenestration were extracted and analyzed. Results Of 67 patients included in the study, 15 (22%) had spontaneous closure of the fenestration. Of the remaining 52 patients, 11 (20%) had procedural closure of this fenestration (10 via cardiac catheterization and 1 via surgery) at a median duration of 3 months after the Fontan operation. Patients with higher preoperative pulmonary vascular resistance and a history of postoperative systemic venous thromboembolism had higher likelihood of having persistence of the fenestration with P value of .045 and .037, respectively. Conclusions The rate of spontaneous closure of the Fontan fenestration was 22% in our study. Elevated preoperative pulmonary vascular resistance and history of systemic venous thromboembolism are predictive of persistent Fontan fenestration.
Letter to editor: "is microtropia a reliable indicator for the presence of amblyopia in anisometropic patients?" by Lysons and Tapley.

Dear Editor:I read with interest the recent article by Lysons and Tapley,1 “Is microtropia a reliable indicator of amblyopia in anisometropic patients?” The authors conclude that the presence of mi...
Uncovering the mystery of ferroelectricity in zero dimensional nanoparticles

It is generally accepted that chemically synthesized nanoparticles lose their ferroelectricity (spontaneous polarization) as the particles become smaller. In contrast, ball-milled ferroelectric nanoparticles have an enhanced ferroelectric response at remarkably small sizes (≤10 nm). Although prior theory suggests that surface stress influences ferroelectricity, the source of such a stress and how it physically influences ferroelectricity in zero-dimensional nanoparticles has remained a mystery. In this paper, we demonstrate that the top-down approach of wet ball-milling not only results in fragmented materials on the nanoscale, but it also is responsible for a mechanochemical synthesis of metal carboxylates forming at the nanoparticles' surface. We prove that the presence of such a compound with a particular type of binding mode chemisorbed at the nanoparticles' surface is responsible for producing surface stress. This surface stress results in a stabilization and dramatic enhancement of the spontaneous polarization, which is 5 times greater than that of the bulk material and 650 times greater than what is measured in materials fabricated using standard chemical synthesis techniques. The results of this study have further led to the development of a new process that produces ferroelectric nanoparticles (≤10 nm) with uniform shape and size using a combination of wet chemistry and mechanochemical synthesis.
Abstract 147: Individualized Blood Pressure Management After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Using Real-time Autoregulation Monitoring: A Pilot Study Using NIRS and ICP-derived Limits of Autoregulation

Introduction: Optimal blood pressure (BP) targets in the early stages of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) prior to occurrence of clinical vasospasm have not been well established. It is un...
Estimating measures of latent variables from m-alternative forced choice responses.

Signal Detection Theory is the standard method used in psychophysics to estimate person ability in m-alternative forced choice tasks where stimuli are typically generated with known physical properties (e.g., size, frequency, contrast, etc …) and lie at known locations on a physical measurement axis. In contrast, variants of Item Response Theory are preferred in fields such as medical research and educational testing where the axis locations of items on questionnaires or multiple choice tests are not defined by any observable physical property and are instead defined by a latent (or unobservable) variable. We provide an extension of Signal Detection Theory to latent variables that employs the same strategy used in Item Response Theory and demonstrate the practical utility of our method by applying it to a set of clinically relevant face perception tasks with visually impaired individuals as subjects. A key advantage of our approach is that Signal Detection Theory explicitly models the m-alternative forced choice task while Item Response Theory does not. We show that Item Response Theory is inconsistent with key assumptions of the m-alternative forced choice task and is not a valid model for this paradigm. However, the simplest Item Response Theory model–the dichotomous Rasch model–is found to be a special case of SDT and provides a good approximation as long as the number of response alternatives m is small and remains fixed for all items.
Academic Library Users Are Not “Customers”: A Response to Steven Bell

AbstractSteven Bell’s “Academic Librarians’ C-Word Problem” recommends that to improve customer service academic librarians like public librarians call their users “customers.” This column argues t...
Sample size planning in the design and analysis of cluster randomized trials using the symbolic two-step method.

Abstract Introduction Evidence that can be used to improve clinical practice patterns and processes is frequently generated through standard, parallel-arms cluster randomized trial (CRT) designs that test interventions implemented at the center-level. Although the primary endpoint of these trials is often a center-level outcome, patient-level factors may vary between centers and, consequently, may influence the center-level outcome. Furthermore, there may be important factors that predict the variation in the center-level outcome and this knowledge can help contextualize the trial results and inform practice patterns. Methods Our symbolic two-step method that applies symbolic data analysis to account for patient-level factors when estimating and testing a center-level effect on both the average center-level outcome and its variation was developed for such settings. Herein, we sought to extend the method to prospectively size a CRT so that the application of our method in data analysis is consistent with the design. Results Our formulaic approach to sample size planning incorporated predictive factors of the within-center variation and accounted for patient-level characteristics. The sample size approximation performed well in many different pragmatic settings. Conclusions Our symbolic two-step method provides an alternate approach in the design and analysis of CRTs evaluating novel improvement processes within care delivery research.
Engineering Humans with Electronic Contracts

Contract law shapes the transactional environments where people formulate legally binding commitments and relationships. In general, contract law is understood to be a form of liberating infrastructure that greatly enhances individual and group autonomy and sociality. Yet conventional understanding may have it backwards. Contracting practices have changed dramatically over the past half-century to accommodate changes in economic, social, and technological systems, and may be more liberating for some (e.g., firms) than others (e.g., consumers). As implemented in electronic architecture, at least, contracts may be quite oppressive. This Article shows how the current legal and technical architecture of electronic contracting nudges human beings to behave like simple stimulus-response machines and conditions us to become increasingly predictable and programmable. It develops a series of hypotheses to be tested, articulates a new Taylorist theory to explain the design of human-computer interfaces used to form electronic contracts, and defends a series of reform proposals.
Regulating Uncertainty: Variable Work Schedules and Zero-Hour Work in EU Employment Policy

This policy brief considers what is the scope for addressing the challenges linked to irregular work schedules in EU social and employment policy. It first describes EU competence in the areas of work and employment conditions in order to assess what the EU institutions can de jure do to address irregular work schedules. It then evaluates what the EU can de facto do based on the current direction and agenda of its employment policy. This is followed by a more detailed discussion of two legislative acts at EU level in the areas most pertinent to irregular and variable work schedules, that is working time and employment contracts.
Reclaiming spectrum from incumbents in inefficiently allocated bands: Transaction costs, competition, and flexibility

Abstract Unlocking spectrum from inefficient, inflexible uses assigned mostly prior to the 1990s to a more efficient, flexible-use model is a key challenge for the Federal Communications Commission. This paper focuses on transitions of spectrum use and looks at how the FCC attempted to minimize transaction and holdout costs while also facilitating competition among service providers. The FCC's recent Broadcast Incentive Auction provides a case study to examine tradeoffs between centralized mechanisms and “overlay” auctions. The FCC experiences with overlays and more interventionist approaches leads to a set of five questions to help decide when to use simple overlays and when to add more rules to facilitate spectrum repurposing. When the FCC can facilitate repurposing through reducing hold up issues and providing alternatives for incumbents that decentralized private parties would find harder to effectuate, it may be appropriate for the FCC to step in. In other instances, overlays may be better.
Masks, Art, Protection, and Politics. July 15, 2020

Since April 2020, the U.S. Center for Disease Control has asked for people to wear face masks in public to curb the spread of COVID-19. This shift has given rise to a mass movement of cloth mask making. Artists have leapt into action to produce masks for healthcare and frontline workers or as an alternative economy for lost income, while others customize masks to communicate identity, beliefs, or concerns. Mask making has also raised questions about the future of fashion with regards to health and sustainability. Through a series of conversations, experts from the arts, fashion, sustainability, and medical fields were invited to talk about the variety of issues, and questions this moment of mask making and wearing have produced. In May 2019, Kate Kretz skyrocketed into the international media when she was banned from Facebook for her now infamous MAGA Hat series. 1 (Figures 1 and 2) Kretz’s artwork draws direct parallels between known symbols of fascism, oppression, and racism, and former President Trump’s branding, specifically his campaign slogan “Make America Great Again.” Using counterfeit MAGA hats, Kretz deconstructs and reconfigures this widely popularized consumer merchandise to “function as corrective physical manifestations of the truth.” 2 In her most recent addition to the series, Kretz has created Social Murder, a critique of the Trump administrations management of the COVID-19 pandemic. © 2021 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
From type 1 diabetes biology to therapy: The Human Islet Research Network.

ABSTRACT Type 1 diabetes researchers are enjoying unparalleled access to data, methods, technology, human samples, and expertise. Capitalizing on this foundation, the Human Islet Research Network (HIRN) was formed to foster a collaborative environment and define collective targets to address fundamental questions in human islet biology and advance therapeutic strategies for the millions of people living with type 1 diabetes. In a new series of review articles in Molecular Metabolism, HIRN members summarize exciting discoveries, discuss promising approaches, issue grand challenges, and project directions for future work.
Detecting Malicious Hosts in SDN through System Call Learning

Software Defined Networking (SDN) has changed the way of designing and managing networks through programmability. However, programmability also introduces security threats. In this work we address the issue of malicious hosts running malicious applications that bypass the standard SDN based detection mechanisms. The SDN security system we are proposing periodically monitors the system calls utilization of the different SDN applications installed, learns from past system behavior using machine learning classifiers, and thus accurately detects the existence of an unusual activity or a malicious application.
Achieving enhanced adhesion through optimal stress distributions

Abstract Dry adhesives that rely on surface force mediated adhesion, such as van der Waals forces, are important in applications ranging from robotics to manufacturing. The maximum theoretical adhesion strength of a contact is achieved when the stress is uniformly distributed over the entire contact area as the full potential of all the bonds at the interface is realized in this scenario. Most dry adhesive structures are composed of a tip layer that forms contact and a support structure that transfers load from the far field to this tip structure. Here, we determine the displacement distribution that must be applied on the tip layer to generate an optimum interfacial stress distribution. We realize this through a linear, closed-form optimization framework that uses data obtained from finite element analysis for a few basis cases. It was found that adhesion can be maximized by applying an optimum displacement on the tip layer that consists of uniform tension in the center, a peak tension between the center and the edge, and compression near the edge. The displacement applied on the tip layer of a mushroom-shaped, composite, and novel segmented composite structures are then analyzed and compared with the optimal case to guide the design of dry adhesives.
Regional CubeSat Constellation Design to Monitor Hurricanes

State-of-the-art weather forecasting systems depend on a variety of data collected by airborne, orbiting, and ground sensors. Regional CubeSat constellations have the potential to improve hurricane forecasting by collecting sensor data over data-starved oceanic regions. Even in regions where strong terrestrial sensor networks exist, constellation sensor data can help reduce forecasting model errors. To this end, the paper considers the problem of designing a low-Earth orbit CubeSat constellation that meets given resolution requirements over a region of interest. We propose a novel optimization framework that utilizes the concept of satellite coverage maps to determine the number of satellites and constellation pattern. Numerical simulations are presented for asymmetric constellation design that can provide sensor data over important geographical regions within a specified repeated time-window.