cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Re-Investigation of the Double Beta-Decay from Sn 124

Radiations from natural tin and tin enriched with the 124 isotope are examined in a magnetic field with a helium filled cloud chamber that is triggered by internal counters. Only three pictures out of more than four thousand photographs are pictures of two electrons coming out of the same point in the tin and entering the counters, and even these may be pictures of multiply scattered electrons passing through the tin. However, one may set a lower limit to the half-life of double beta-decay from ${\mathrm{Sn}}^{124}$ as ${10}^{17}$ years. This is a decay rate less than one-tenth of a value previously reported by one of the authors.
Integrated multi-scale data analytics and machine learning for the distribution grid

We consider the field of machine learning and where it is both useful, and not useful, for the distribution grid and buildings interface. While analytics, in general, is a growing field of interest, and often seen as the golden goose in the burgeoning distribution grid industry, its application is often limited by communications infrastructure, or lack of a focused technical application. Overall, the linkage of analytics to purposeful application in the grid space has been limited. In this paper we consider the field of machine learning as a subset of analytical techniques, and discuss its ability and limitations to enable the future distribution grid. To that end, we also consider the potential for mixing distributed and centralized analytics and the pros and cons of these approaches. There is an exponentially expanding volume of measured data being generated on the distribution grid, which, with appropriate application of analytics, may be transformed into intelligible, actionable information that can be provided to the right actors — such as grid and building operators, at the appropriate time to enhance grid or building resilience, efficiency, and operations against various metrics or goals — such as total carbon reduction or other economic benefit to customers. While some basic analysis into these data streams can provide a wealth of information, computational and human boundaries on performing the analysis are becoming significant, with more data and multi-objective concerns. Efficient applications of analysis and the machine learning field are being considered in the loop. This paper describes benefits and limits of present machine-learning applications for use on the grid and presents a series of case studies that illustrate the potential benefits of developing advanced local multi-variate analytics machine-learning-based applications.
Trauma-Informed Child Welfare: From Training to Practice and Policy Change

Multiple child welfare systems and agencies have embraced efforts to become more trauma-informed in recent years. However, the field of trauma-informed care is still somewhat in its infancy and onl...
A family of platinum group metal-free catalysts for oxygen reduction in alkaline media

Abstract In this work a series of platinum group metal-free catalysts based on iron, cobalt, copper, nickel, silver and their bimetallic combinations are synthesized and their behavior for oxygen reduction in alkaline media is tested. A phthalocyanine-like ligand supported on carbon black serves as the nitrogen source and carbon support, respectively, for the catalysts. The as-prepared materials are thermally activated by pyrolysis at temperatures ranging from 600 °C to 1000 °C. Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity and stability in 0.1 M KOH are tested by rotating ring disk electrode (RRDE) experiments. Several of the catalysts show ORR activities in the RRDE experiment that are superior to Pt, with Co, Co/Fe and Ag/Co being the best. All catalysts show remarkable stability, even when they are tested under air for 5000 RRDE cycles. RRDE experiments are also used to study the effect of catalyst loading and to determine reaction order. A thorough study of the catalyst performance in a single cell fuel cell test is conducted; exploring different methods to prepare the electrodes and the effects of catalyst loading, the catalyst-to-binder ratio and the removal of excess metal on the cell performance. Different methods of preparation of membrane electrode assemblies are also studied.
Ecology of the City as a Bridge to Urban Design

This chapter summarizes the nature of ecological science that is necessary to support a dialogue with urban design. First, ecology, as a science, represents a dialog between the conceptual constructs about how the world works and the observations of the material world itself. Second, ecological science has changed over time, so that generalizations and data available now are often quite different from the knowledge available only a few decades ago. Third, ecological science is invested with rich metaphorical connotations which invite connections with design and with the social sciences. However, the specific models or technical knowledge about the structure and functioning of social-ecological systems are required to support substantive exchange between ecology and urban design. The chapter contrasts traditional ecological research embedded within cities with emerging ecological knowledge exposed by research and models that encompass the entirety of urban systems – summarized as ecology of the city. Along the way, key concepts needed for the dialog between design and ecological science – ecosystem, landscape, metamosaic – are defined and exemplified.
Increased expression of Brevibacterium sterolicum cholesterol oxidase in Escherichia coli by genetic modification.

Abstract To improve expression of Brevibacterium sterolicum cholesterol oxidase in Escherichia coli, we utilized the T7lac promoter and modified the gene to encode the first 21 amino acids with high-expression E. coli codons. These changes resulted in a 60-fold improvement of expression level. N-terminal sequencing revealed that the E. coli produced cholesterol oxidase signal peptide is cleaved 6 amino acids closer to the N-terminus than in B. sterolicum. The recombinant E. coli produced protein is composed of 513 amino acids with a calculated M r of 55,374. The kinetic rate constants of the recombinant protein and the B. sterolicum produced cholesterol oxidase are identical.
Occludin, a Constituent of Tight Junctions

Occludin was the first tight junction (TJ) integral membrane protein identified. This ∼65 kDa protein specifically localizes at TJs of epithelial and endothelial cells and is incorporated into the network of TJ strands. Occludin has a predicted tetraspan membrane topology with two extracellular loops and a large COOH-terminal cytoplasmic domain. Both extracellular domains are enriched with tyrosine residues, and in the first domain, more than half of the residues are tyrosines and glycines. Multiple domains of occludin are responsible for its localization and functions. Occludin interacts with many structural as well as signaling molecules and participates in the regulation of TJ functions. Although occludin-deficient mice show various phenotypes such as significant postnatal growth retardation, chronic inflammation, hyperplasia of the gastric epithelium, and calcification in the brain, the roles of occludin in vivo remain unclear since many epithelia in occludin null mice seem unaffected.
Time Course and Neural Network for Comparing Written and Spoken Words: A MEG and DTI Study

The present study was designed to investigate the spatiotemporal signature as well as the neural network of brain activation associated with word recognition. Twenty participants were studied with a whole head magnetoencephalography (MEG) system and a 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner. The word stimuli consisted of 100 matched words (the visually and acoustically presented words were the same) and 20 mismatched words (the visually and acoustically presented words were different). The time course of brain activation was analyzed with a virtual sensor technique at source levels. The spatial location and connection were estimated with wavelet-based beamformer and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) tractography. To our knowledge, this is the first study focusing on the time course and neural substrates involved in comparing spoken and written words with both MEG and DTI. The visually and acoustically presented words evoked three responses named as PM1, PM2 and PM3, respectively. The results of magnetic source imaging showed that the PM1 was localized to the primary auditory and visual cortices. The PM2 and PM3 were localized to Wernicke’s area and Broca’s area. Interestingly, virtual sensor waveforms showed a clear response between PM1 and PM2 from the left temporal-occipital junction. This component was consistently identified around 162 ± 8.9 ms (M160) in 20 participants (100%, 20/20). MEG source-guided DTI tractography revealed neural fibers in this junction area. The results suggested that the M160 was one part of the neural network of auditory and visual word recognition. The results of the present study yield highly convincing evidence that the left temporal-occipital junction plays an important role in comparing visually and acoustically presented words.
Trend Analysis Using the Frazier-Jawerth Transform

This chapter discusses the Frazier-Jawerth Transform (FJT), a new transform for time-frequency analysis (Frazier and Jawerth, 1985) and a new method for its on-line implementation. Algorithms for FJ decomposition and reconstruction of 1-D signals are also included. FJT bears close resemblance to the wavelet transform technique which is enjoying much attention lately (Science, August 1990). The theory of frames has been shown to subsume the FJ and the wavelet transforms (Heil and Walnut, 1989). It is now widely believed that these new time-frequency techniques may replace the Fourier transform and older time-frequency techniques in some applications in future. Potential applications of interest to chemical engineers include analysis of dynamic systems, process control, solution of partial differential equations, geoexploration data processing, vibration/acoustic testing methods, artificial neural networks etc. FJT has been employed as a time-series data preprocessing mechanism in an artificial neural network based process trend and abnormality detection scheme.
The current status of homocysteine as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease: a mini review

Introduction: Hyperhomocysteinemia has been considered as a risk factor for systemic atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and stroke and many epidemiologic and case-controlled studies have...
End-Stage Biventricular Failure from Necrotizing Autoimmune Myopathy

Necrotizing autoimmune myopathy is a rare neuromuscular disorder characterized clinically by severe proximal limb muscle weakness and pathologically by necrotic muscle fibers with minimal inflammation. It is often associated with statin therapy, connective tissue diseases, and malignancy. Most have characteristic autoantibodies although a small subset present without myositis-specific autoantibodies. While cardiac involvement is rare, conduction abnormalities, diastolic dysfunction, and wall motion abnormalities have been reported. Severe cardiomyopathy from necrotizing autoimmune myopathy resulting in end-stage biventricular failure is extremely rare without a clear role for guideline-directed medical therapy. A 45-year-old man with hypothyroidism was admitted with several months of worsening proximal muscular weakness. He was found to have new severe biventricular dysfunction with conduction abnormalities during diagnostic work-up. Physical exam was notable for symmetric proximal muscle weakness in upper and lower extremities, sclerodactyly, elevated jugular venous distension, and lower extremity edema. Laboratory testing showed a creatine kinase of 3101 U/L, ANA 1:640, positive RNP antibodies, positive PM/Scl 100 antibodies. Anti-HMGCR antibodies and anti-SRP antibodies were negative. Lower extremity MRI showed diffuse bilateral symmetric myositis around the pelvis consistent with an inflammatory myopathy. EMG suggested irritable myopathy. Left thigh skeletal muscle biopsy showed necrotizing autoimmune myopathy with a paucity of inflammatory cells. Electrocardiogram revealed a right bundle branch block and 1st degree AV block. Frequent atrial and ventricular ectopic beats were seen on telemetry. Transthoracic echocardiogram showed biventricular failure with LVEF 23% and severe global hypokinesis. Cardiac MRI showed patchy foci of delayed subendocardial delayed enhancement. Endomyocardial biopsy did not reveal evidence of lymphocytic infiltration or ongoing myocarditis. Right heart catheterization was notable for elevated biventricular pressures with a cardiac index of 2.18. No obstructive coronary artery disease was seen on coronary angiogram. He was treated with intravenous immunoglobulins, methotrexate, and high-dose prednisone with improvement in proximal weakness. Low-dose spironolactone and lisinopril were started but could not be increased due to degree of hypotension. This case highlights a rare manifestation of an exceedingly rare autoimmune condition associated with high mortality. Given the variability of cardiac involvement in the disorder, a high clinical suspicion is needed to establish an early diagnosis and pursue aggressive treatment with up-front combination immunomodulating therapy, which has been associated with improved outcomes.
Left Ventricular Global Longitudinal Strain as a Marker of Left Ventricular Dysfunction after Mitral Valve Surgery in Organic Mitral Regurgitation

Introduction Due to lack of reliable echocardiographic parameters to predict recovery after the surgery, the optimal timing of mitral valve surgery in asymptomatic patients with mitral regurgitation (MR) remains controversial. Therefore this study sought to evaluate left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal strain (GLS), assessed with 2 dimension speckle-tracking echocardiographic analysis (2D- STE) as a predictor of LV dysfunction after mitral valve repair (MVR). Method We conducted a meta-analysis and searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane. Selected studies reported GLS and ejection fraction (EF) amongst asymptomatic patients with moderate to severe organic MR and preoperative preserve LVEF. In all studies echocardiography was performed at baseline and long-term follow-up (>6 months) after MVR. The two primary outcomes were the pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) of EF and GLS between patients with LV dysfunction at follow up which was defined as LVEF Result Four studies met the inclusion criteria. A total of 799 patients (65.9% men, mean age 61.3) with moderate to severe organic MR who underwent successful MVR were included. LV dysfunction at follow up was present in 57 (16.2%) patients. The mean preoperative LVEF and LVGLS were 63.8% (SD 6.4) and −20.7 (SD 3.2), respectively. Many relevant outcomes were inconsistently recorded across studies and thus only a select few were eligible for further analysis. Notably, patients with postoperative LVEF ≥ 50% had a more negative GLS at baseline (i.e. closer to normal) when compared to the group with post-operative LV dysfunction (GLS pooled SMD = 2.94; 95% CI: 1.87-4.02; I-squared 17%, tau-squared heterogeneity p = 0.15). Furthermore, using baseline GLS as a predictor of post-op LV dysfunction was associated with a sensitivity of 79% (95% CI: 0.75-0.83) and a specificity of 75% (95% CI: 46-96%). Conclusion In asymptomatic patients with moderate to severe organic MR and preoperative normal LVEF who underwent MVR, LVGLS demonstrated to be a predictor of postoperative LV dysfunction.
The Quest for Black Voting Rights in New York State

This paper reviews the history of the property qualification requirement which restricted black males in New York State from voting for nearly fifty years during the 19th century. On three separate occasions, the voters in New York State rejected efforts to remove the property requirement which was embodied in the State Constitution.
Group Style Central Venous Catheter Education Using the GLAD Model

Abstract Purpose This study aimed to examine the impact of group-based central venous catheter education (CVC) on the knowledge, skill and comfort of caregivers, length of stay (LOS) related to initial CVC placement and 30-day return hospital visit for central line associated blood stream infections (CLABSI). Design and Methods This pilot study employed a pretest-posttest design comparing retrospective data collected before implementation of the group-based education (GLAD Model). Data were collected from children's caregivers before and after taking the educational class through use of the Comfort Survey, and collected though the electronic medical record. The data were analyzed using SPSS 24, repeated measures analysis of variance, and t-test. Results Pre-post difference with the Comfort Survey indicated significant increase (M = 0.49, SD = 0.79), t(92) = 6.05, p = 0.001, d = −0.62) for skill, knowledge and comfort for the pre- and the post 2 (1 month after) and 3 (2 months after). After GLAD Model implementation, LOS related to initial CVC placement during retrospective review declined from 29.7 days to 27.7 and 30-day return hospital visit declined from twelve to zero. Our results suggest that use of the GLAD Model educational program might be effective in improving caregiver knowledge, skill and comfort as well as LOS and 30-day return hospital visit. Conclusion This study suggests that group-based, education with use of the GLAD Model should to be considered as an effective educational intervention in providing caregivers CVC education. This may help care for their child at home while enhancing their hospital experience and decreasing unplanned hospital visits.
If the Technology Fits: an Evaluation of Mobile Proximity Detection Systems in Underground Coal Mines

Proximity detection systems (PDSs) for mobile machines have the potential to decrease injuries and fatalities. Early adopters of the technology have identified some challenges, which present an opportunity to explore and improve the integration of mobile PDSs in underground coal mines. The current research study applied the task-technology fit framework to investigate the fit between mobile PDS technology and mining relative to health and safety, from the perspective of leaders at two coal mines. Quantitative results from the study show that mine leaders evaluated mobile PDS favorably for training and ease of use, system feedback, user authorization and experience, and less favorably for safety, compatibility, task completion, and reliability. Qualitative results reveal specific task, mine, and system characteristics that may have influenced leaders’ evaluations. The study includes considerations and suggestions for safe technology integration.
Foreign Aid and Climate Change Policy: What Can(’t) the Data Tell Us?

Climate-related foreign aid is on the rise, with signatories to the Paris Climate agreement pledging $100 billion annually to promote mitigation and adaptation in recipient countries. While this seems like a welcome development, we have little evidence that climate aid actually encourages recipients to adopt climate legislation. In this article, we examine the relationship between climate aid and recipient climate policy. Using multiple measures of each, we find no evidence that the former is systematically related to the latter. Although this suggests that climate aid is ineffective, this conclusion must be qualified due to the poor quality of both climate aid and climate policy data. More definitive conclusions will require more accurate coding of climate aid as well as better climate policy measures that distinguish truly consequential policies from less consequential ones.
Creative Production and the Schizophrenia Spectrum: The Politics and Rhetorics of Inclusion

The article explores how the inclusion of art-making and creative writing by people labeled on the schizophrenia spectrum, most often positioned as “Outsiders,” is characterized by medicalization, ...
Source Code Analysis for Secure Programming Practices

As the security landscape evolves and InfoSec professionals work to keep apace, modern day instructors face the issue of adequately equipping a new generation for this dynamic landscape. Cyber security, as a discipline, is currently going through an unprecedented growth, bringing attention to issues that are growing in importance. Using static analysis tools such as FindBugs, and an add-on of this tool, Find Security Bugs, this project thoroughly analyzed Java source code in the textbooks used at a collegiate level. The analysis consisted of testing significant code snippets in the books with respect to Java Development Kit (JDK) 9/10. Through this static security-oriented analysis of programming examples exercised at the collegiate level, we determine whether currently taught fundamental programming practices are keeping pace with the dynamic landscape, and it will also guide the instructors to better shape teaching programming from a security perspective as cyber security affects every software component in any computing system.
An Automated Mobile Mood Tracking Technology (Mood 24/7): Validation Study.

Background: Electronic tracking has been utilized for a variety of health conditions. Previous studies have shown that there is higher adherence to electronic methods vs paper-and-pencil tracking modalities. Electronic tracking also ensures that there are no back-filled entries, where patients have—to appear compliant—entered their responses retrospectively just before their visits with their health care provider. On the basis of the recognition of an unmet need for a Web-based automated platform to track psychiatric outcomes, Johns Hopkins University partnered with Health Central (a subsidiary of Remedy Health Media LLC) to develop Mood 24/7, an electronic, mobile, automated, SMS-based mood tracker. This is a pilot study to validate the use of Mood 24/7 in anticipation of clinical trials to demonstrate the therapeutic benefit on patients’ health outcomes of utilizing digital mood-tracking technology. Objective: Mood 24/7 is an electronic mood-monitoring platform developed to accurately and efficiently track mood over time through automated daily SMS texts or emails. This study was designed to assess the accuracy and validity of Mood 24/7 in an outpatient psychiatric setting. Methods: This pilot study involved a retrospective chart review for depressed outpatients (N=9) to compare their self-reported Mood 24/7 daily mood ratings with their psychiatrist’s independent clinical mood assessment at the time of the patient’s visit. Their mood ratings via Mood 24/7 were collected over 36 weeks. In addition, a mixed model analysis was applied to compare the weekly Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) scores with Mood 24/7 scores over an average of 3 months. Results: A 97.2% (315/324) digital mood reporting adherence was found over 36 weeks, and a significant correlation (r=0.86, P<.001) was observed between patients’ Mood 24/7 scores and their psychiatrist’s blinded clinical assessment of the patient’s mood when seen in the clinic. In addition, a significant concordance (intraclass correlation of 0.69, 95% CI 0.33-0.91, P<.001) was observed in the mixed model analysis of the clinician-administered MADRS vs Mood 24/7 scores over time. Conclusions: Our chart review and mixed model analyses demonstrate that Mood 24/7 is a valid instrument for convenient, simple, noninvasive, and accurate longitudinal mood assessment in the outpatient clinical setting.
Democratic breakdown and terrorism

Democracy is one of the most consistent predictors of terrorism. Yet we know little about why there is an apparent relationship between terrorism and democracy. In this article, I argue that previo...
Aging and Financial Decision Making

In the first half of the chapter, we review research on financial decision making and age-related differences in cognitive abilities, experience-based knowledge, emotional processes, and motivation. We discuss findings showing that age-related declines in cognitive abilities may yield suboptimal decisions, especially when decisions are complex or decision makers lack motivation to deploy cognitive resources. We highlight research showing that experience and training in financial principles can attenuate challenges posed by age-related cognitive declines. We then summarize research showing that age-related shifts in motivation and improvements in emotion regulation have consequences for financial decision making. We discuss advantages and disadvantages of positive emotions on older adults’ decision making. In the second half of the chapter, we draw from the literature on aging and financial decision making to consider developmentally appropriate interventions to promote sound financial decision making. We note that “nudges” that capitalize on habitual thinking styles might benefit from considering older adults’ limited future time perspective and habitual orientation towards the present. We discuss ways to increase older adults’ willingness to use decision aids, for example, by highlighting the emotional relevance of information and reducing demands on numerical skills. We note that providing training in financial principles early in life may help to delay the onset of negative consequences of cognitive declines on financial decisions by promoting experience. We conclude by discussing limitations of current knowledge and recommending topics for further research.
Understanding high-field electron transport properties and strain effects of monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides

Monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides (${\mathrm{MX}}_{2}$) are promising candidates for future electronics. Although the transport properties (e.g., mobility) at low electric field have been widely studied, there are limited studies on high-field properties, which are important for many applications. Particularly, there is lack of understanding of the physical origins underlying the property differences across different ${\mathrm{MX}}_{2}$. Here by combining first-principles calculations with Monte Carlo simulations, we study the high-field electron transport in defects-free unstrained and tensilely strained ${\mathrm{MX}}_{2}$ ($M$ = Mo, W and $X=\mathrm{S}$, Se). We find that ${\mathrm{WS}}_{2}$ has the highest peak velocity (due to its smallest effective mass) that can be reached at the lowest electric field (owing to its highest mobility). Strain can increase the peak velocity by increasing the scattering energy. After reaching the peak velocity, most ${\mathrm{MX}}_{2}$ demonstrates negative differential mobility (NDM). ${\mathrm{WS}}_{2}$ shows the largest NDM among unstrained ${\mathrm{MX}}_{2}$ due to the strongest effect of electron transfer from the low-energy small-mass valley to the high-energy large-mass valley. The tensile strain increases the valley separation, which on one hand suppresses the electron transfer in ${\mathrm{WS}}_{2}$, on the other hand allows the electrons to access the nonparabolic band region of the low-energy valley. The latter effect leads to an NDM for electrons in the low-energy valley, which can significantly increase the overall NDM at moderate strain. The valley-separation induced NDM in the low-energy valley is found to be a general phenomenon. Our work unveils the physical factors underlying the differences in high-field transport properties of different ${\mathrm{MX}}_{2}$, and also identifies the most promising candidate as well as effective approach for further improvement.
Multiplicities of Some Maximal Dominant Weights of the s ℓ ̂ ( n ) $\widehat {s\ell }(n)$ -Modules V (kΛ0)

For n ≥ 2 consider the affine Lie algebra $\widehat {s\ell }(n)$ with simple roots {αi∣0 ≤ i ≤ n − 1}. Let $V(k{\Lambda }_{0}), k \in \mathbb {Z}_{\geq 1}$ denote the integrable highest weight $\widehat {s\ell }(n)$ -module with highest weight kΛ0. It is known that there are finitely many maximal dominant weights of V (kΛ0). Using the crystal base realization of V (kΛ0) and lattice path combinatorics we examine the multiplicities of a large set of maximal dominant weights of the form $k{\Lambda }_{0} - \lambda ^{\ell }_{a,b}$ where $ \lambda ^{\ell }_{a,b} = \ell \alpha _{0} + (\ell -b)\alpha _{1} + (\ell -(b+1))\alpha _{2} + {\cdots } + \alpha _{\ell -b} + \alpha _{n-\ell +a} + 2\alpha _{n - \ell +a+1} + {\ldots } + (\ell -a)\alpha _{n-1}$ , and k ≥ a + b, $a,b \in \mathbb {Z}_{\geq 1}$ , $\max \limits \{a,b\} \leq \ell \leq \left \lfloor \frac {n+a+b}{2} \right \rfloor -1 $ . We obtain two formulae to obtain these weight multiplicities - one in terms of certain standard Young tableaux and the other in terms of certain pattern-avoiding permutations.
Assessing Risk of Rapid Progression in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease and Special Considerations for Disease-Modifying Therapy

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most common inherited cause of kidney failure, accounting for 5%-10% of cases. Predicting which patients with ADPKD will progress rapidly to kidney failure is critical to assess the risk-benefit ratio of any intervention and to consider early initiation of long-term kidney protective measures that will maximize the cumulative benefit of slowing disease progression. Surrogate prognostic biomarkers are required to predict future decline in kidney function. Clinical, genetic, environmental, epigenetic, and radiologic factors have been studied as predictors of progression to kidney failure in ADPKD. A complex interaction of these prognostic factors determines the number of kidney cysts and their growth rates, which affect total kidney volume (TKV). Age-adjusted TKV, represented by the Mayo imaging classification, estimates each patient's unique rate of kidney growth and provides the most individualized approach available clinically so far. Tolvaptan has been approved to slow disease progression in patients at risk of rapidly progressive disease. Several other disease-modifying treatments are being studied in clinical trials. Selection criteria for patients at risk of rapid progression vary widely among countries and are based on a combination of age, baseline glomerular filtration rate (GFR), GFR slope, baseline TKV, and TKV rate of growth. This review details the approach in assessing the risk of disease progression in ADPKD and identifying patients who would benefit from long-term therapy with disease-modifying agents.
Can Clientelism Yield Accountability? Bloc Voting and Public Goods Provision in Senegal

Clientelism, the exchange of particularistic rewards for voter support, is a dominant electoral strategy in many emerging democracies. While clientelism can mar the democratic process, it can also engender accountability if client voters discipline their patron politicians to provide goods they care about. This project assesses if and when clientelism yields accountability by studying village-level voting patterns in Senegal. The nature of clientelism as a contingent exchange requires that parties can monitor the behavior of their supporters. If polling stations are organized at the level of a politically relevant group or bloc, politicians can easily monitor and reward entire groups for high levels of electoral support. I exploit the fact that polling stations in most of rural Africa are located at the village-level, a well-organized social unit, to test whether voters can use the strategy of bloc voting at the village level to garner subsequent political benefits – a form of accountability. Using a panel of village-level data on public goods provision in Senegal from 2000 and 2009 as well as village-level electoral results from an intervening election, I examine whether villages voting at high rates for a winning politician receive higher levels of local public goods as a result.
The Effects of Estrogens on Neural Circuits That Control Temperature

Declining and variable levels of estrogens around the time of menopause are associated with a suite of metabolic, vascular, and neuroendocrine changes. The archetypal adverse effects of perimenopause are vasomotor symptoms, which include hot flashes and night sweats. Although vasomotor symptoms are routinely treated with hormone therapy, the risks associated with these treatments encourage us to seek alternative treatment avenues. Understanding the mechanisms underlying the effects of estrogens on temperature regulation is a first step toward identifying novel therapeutic targets. Here we outline findings in rodents that reveal neural and molecular targets of estrogens within brain regions that control distinct components of temperature homeostasis. These insights suggest that estrogens may alter the function of multiple specialized neural circuits to coordinate the suite of changes after menopause. Thus, defining the precise cells and neural circuits that mediate the effects of estrogens on temperature has promise to identify strategies that would selectively counteract hot flashes or other negative side effects without the health risks that accompany systemic hormone therapies.
Reduced Leukoaraiosis, Noncardiac Embolic Stroke Etiology, and Shorter Thrombus Length Indicate Good Leptomeningeal Collateral Flow in Embolic Large-Vessel Occlusion

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Acute leptomeningeal collateral flow is vital for maintaining perfusion to penumbral tissue in acute ischemic stroke caused by large-vessel occlusion. In this study, we aimed to investigate the clinically available indicators of leptomeningeal collateral variability in embolic large-vessel occlusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among prospectively registered consecutive patients with acute embolic anterior circulation large-vessel occlusion treated with thrombectomy, we analyzed 108 patients admitted from January 2015 to December 2019 who underwent evaluation of leptomeningeal collateral status on pretreatment CTA. Clinical characteristics, extent of leukoaraiosis on MR imaging, embolic stroke subtype, time of imaging, occlusive thrombus characteristics, presenting stroke severity, and clinical outcome were collected. The clinical indicators of good collateral status (>50% collateral filling of the occluded territory) were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Good collateral status was present in 67 patients (62%) and associated with independent functional outcomes at 3 months. Reduced leukoaraiosis (total Fazekas score, 0–2) was positively related to good collateral status (OR, 9.57; 95% CI, 2.49–47.75), while the cardioembolic stroke mechanism was inversely related to good collateral status (OR, 0.17; 95% CI, 0.02–0.87). In 82 patients with cardioembolic stroke, shorter thrombus length (OR, 0.91 per millimeter increase; 95% CI, 0.82–0.99) and reduced leukoaraiosis (OR, 5.79; 95% CI, 1.40–29.61) were independently related to good collateral status. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with embolic large-vessel occlusion, reduced leukoaraiosis, noncardiac embolism mechanisms including embolisms of arterial or undetermined origin, and shorter thrombus length in cardioembolism are indicators of good collateral flow.
The Characterization of a Potent, Naturally Occurring, ATPase Inhibitor (SIF) Isolated from the Halotolerant Algae Dunaliella

The in situ regulation of the catalytic activity of the chloroplast coupling factor (CF0•CF1) appears to be quite complex, involving protomotive force (μp)-induced conformational changes (1). These conformational changes are manifest in (i) the exposure of buried proton exchangeable groups in CF1 to the aqueous medium (2), (ii) the exposure of buried reactive amino acid residues to hydrophilic chemical modifiers (3), (iii) large magnitude changes in the dissociation constant of CF1 for its ligands (4), and (iv) an increased susceptibility of a disulfide bridge on the γ-subunit to reduction by dithiols (5). Stabilization of the in situ activated form of the ATPase is apparently achieved by the reduction of the exposed γ-subunit disulfide bridge to vicinal dithiols by dithiol reagents [e.g., dithiothreitol (DTT) in vitro (6) or thioredoxin in organello (7)], enabling on to measure an active ATPase in the subsequent dark period. In the absence of µp, reoxidation of the vicinal dithiols to the disulfide causes a rapid inactivation of the induced ATPase activity (8). Although the nature of the in vivo reductant has been postulated to be thioredoxin (7), the in vivo oxidant remains elusive (9).
Submodular Minimization in the Context of Modern LP and MILP Methods and Solvers

We consider the application of mixed-integer linear programming MILP solvers to the minimization of submodular functions. We evaluate common large-scale linear-programming LP techniques e.g., column generation, row generation, dual stabilization for solving a LP reformulation of the submodular minimization SM problem. We present heuristics based on the LP framework and a MILP solver. We evaluated the performance of our methods on a test bed of min-cut and matroid-intersection problems formulated as SM problems.
Prophylactic peritoneal dialysis following cardiopulmonary bypass in children is associated with decreased inflammation and improved clinical outcomes.

Objective To investigate impact of prophylactic peritoneal dialysis (PD) on clinical outcomes and inflammatory cytokines in children following cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Design Prospective before-and-after nonrandomized cohort study. Setting Pediatric cardiovascular intensive care unit in tertiary hospital. Patients Fifty-two consecutive neonates and infants at high risk for postoperative fluid overload following cardiopulmonary bypass. All had PD catheters placed during primary cardiac surgery. Intervention Initial 27 patients were managed with passive peritoneal drainage and diuretics (controls). Following 25 patients were started on prophylactic PD in immediate postoperative period and managed per PD protocol (+PD). Outcome Measures Cumulative fluid balance, indices of disease severity, and clinical outcomes were prospectively collected. Plasma interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 were measured immediately before-and-after cardiopulmonary bypass and at 24 and 48 hours post–cardiopulmonary bypass. Results Demographics, diagnoses, and intraoperative variables were similar. Median net fluid balance was more negative in +PD at 24 hours, −24 mL/kg (interquartile range: −62, 11) vs. +18 mL/kg (interquartile range: −26, 11), P = .003, and 48 hours, −88 mL/kg (interquartile range: −132, −54) vs. −46 mL/kg (interquartile range: −84, −12), P = .004. +PD had median 55 mL/kg less fluid intake at 24 hours, P = .058. Peritoneal drain, urine, and chest tube output were comparable over first 24 hours. Mean inotrope score was lower in +PD at 24 hours. +PD had earlier sternal closure—24 hours (interquartile range: 20, 40) vs. 63 hours (interquartile range: 44, 72), P < .001—and a trend toward shorter duration of mechanical ventilation—71 hours (interquartile range: 49, 135) vs. 125 hours (interquartile range: 70, 195), P = .10. +PD experienced lower serum concentrations of interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 at 24 hours. Conclusions Prophylactic PD is associated with greater net negative fluid balance, decreased inotrope requirements, and lower serum concentrations of inflammatory cytokines in the early postoperative period.
Specific genomic fingerprints of phytopathogenic Xanthomonas and Pseudomonas pathovars and strains generated with repetitive sequences and PCR

DNA primers corresponding to conserved motifs in bacterial repetitive (REP, ERIC, and BOX) elements and PCR were used to show that REP-, ERIC-, and BOX-like DNA sequences are widely distributed in phytopathogenic Xanthomonas and Pseudomonas strains. REP-, ERIC, and BOX-PCR (collectively known as rep-PCR) were used to generate genomic fingerprints of a variety of Xanthomonas and Pseudomonas isolates and to identify pathovars and strains that were previously not distinguishable by other classification methods. Analogous rep-PCR-derived genomic fingerprints were generated from purified genomic DNA, colonies on agar plates, liquid cultures, and directly from lesions on infected plants. REP, ERIC, and BOX-PCR-generated fingerprints of specific Xanthomonas and Pseudomonas strains were found to yield similar conclusions wtih regard to the identity of and relationship between these strains. This suggests that the distribution of REP-, ERIC, and BOX-like sequences in these strains is a reflection of their genomic structure. Thus, the rep-PCR technique appears to be a rapid, simple, and reproducible method to identify and classify Xanthomonas and Pseudomonas strains, and it may be a useful diagnostic tool for these important plant pathogens.
Identifying Stakeholder Needs within Online Education

Online teaching and online learning has been an invaluable component of education in the past decade. Demand for fully online or hybrid courses have been steadily increasing. Similar to any system or project, online education has stakeholders that have a major say in the direction online education takes. These stakeholders are identified as the faculty, the students, the academic institutions, and the industry. Each of these stakeholders will have different needs. This paper identifies these needs and demands and provides a holistic perspective within the context of online education that is intended to be used as support when looking at issues relating to online education.
A Cross-Cultural Comparison of Ethical Attitudes of Business Managers: India, Korea and the United States

Culture has been identified as a significant determinant of ethical attitudes of business managers. This research studies the impact of culture on the ethical attitudes of business managers in India, Korea and the United States using multivariate statistical analysis. Employing Geert Hofstede's cultural typology, this study examines the relationship between his five cultural dimensions (individualism, power distance, uncertainty avoidance, masculinity, and long-term orientation) and business managers' ethical attitudes. The study uses primary data collected from 345 business manager participants of Executive MBA programs in selected business schools in India, Korea and the United States using Hofstede's Value Survey Module (94) and an instrument designed by the researchers to measure respondents' ethical attitudes (attitudes toward business ethics in general and toward twelve common questionable practices in particular). Results indicate that national culture has a strong influence on business managers' ethical attitudes. In addition to national culture, respondents' general attitudes toward business ethics are related to their personal integrity; their attitudes toward questionable business practices are related to the external environment and gender, as well as to their personal integrity. A strong relationship exists between cultural dimensions of individualism and power distance and respondents' ethical attitudes toward certain questionable practices. The analysis of the relationship between cultural dimensions of masculinity, uncertainty avoidance and long-term orientation and respondents' ethical attitudes toward questionable practices produced mixed results, likely due to the lack of notable differences in cultural dimension scores among the countries surveyed.
Top-Bottom Color and Weak Doublets Seesaw

A brief overview of some of the last decade's developments in the Top-mode/Topcolor class of models is presented. In addition, a new Topcolor type scenario, named Top-Bottom Color, is suggested. A seesaw mechanism with new weak doublet quarks has been introduced to lower the previous theoretical prediction for the large top quark mass; without a seesaw mechanism and with a low scale of Nambu - Jona-Lasinio triggering interactions, the top quark mass was predicted to be \textit{O}(500GeV). In Top-Bottom Color an effective, composite two Higgs doublet model is obtained where the third generation isospin splitting is introduced via tilting interactions related to the broken non-abelian gauge groups (i.e. without strong, triviality-sensitive U(1) groups). To complete discussion a few notes on the fine tuning related to the bottom quark mass are appended in an \textit{addendum}. A generic problem (\textit{Why does the top Yukawa coupling equal one?}) of the Top-mode/Topcolor class of models is pointed out as well. Furthermore, previous work on the third generation seesaw mechanism with weak doublet quarks and dynamical top mass production in the Topcolor spirit is discussed.
A CMOS monolithic implementation of a nonlinear element for arbitrary 1D map generation

In a macroscopic approach, a single-chip cortical patch is designed based on the model of a bifurcating neuron. In this paper, the monolithic design of the bifurcating neuron is presented. The dynamic element is able to generate an arbitrary one-dimensional map with 12-bit resolution. The CMOS design employs a calibration scheme to maintain robustness against process variations. The element is fabricated in a 0.6 /spl mu/m CMOS process, and is driven under signals with 1 MHz frequency. It covers a die has an area of 0.2 mm/sup 2/, and consumes 40 mW power, with a 5 V supply.
Lenard-Balescu calculations and classical molecular dynamics simulations of electrical and thermal conductivities of hydrogen plasmas

Here, we present a discussion of kinetic theory treatments of linear electrical and thermal transport in hydrogen plasmas, for a regime of interest to inertial confinement fusion applications. In order to assess the accuracy of one of the more involved of these approaches, classical Lenard-Balescu theory, we perform classical molecular dynamics simulations of hydrogen plasmas using 2-body quantum statistical potentials and compute both electrical and thermal conductivity from out particle trajectories using the Kubo approach. Our classical Lenard-Balescu results employing the identical statistical potentials agree well with the simulations.
A Bayesian framework for analyzing iEEG data from a rat model of epilepsy

The early detection of epileptic seizures requires computing relevant statistics from multivariate data and defining a robust decision strategy as a function of these statistics that accurately detects the transition from the normal to the peri-ictal (problematic) state. We model the afflicted brain as a hidden Markov model (HMM) with two hidden clinical states (normal and peri-ictal). The output of the HMM is a statistic computed from multivariate neural measurements. A Bayesian framework is developed to analyze the a posteriori conditional probability of being in peri-ictal state given current and past output measurements. We apply this method to multichannel intracortical EEGs (iEEGs) from the thalamo-cortical ictal pathway in an epilepsy rat model. We first define the output statistic as the max singular value of a connectivity matrix computed on the EEG channels with spectral techniques Then, we estimate the HMM transition probabilities from this statistic and track the a posteriori probability of being in peri-ictal state (the “information state variable”). We show how the information state variable changes as a function of time and we predict a seizure when this variable becomes greater than 0.5. This Bayesian strategy significantly improves over chance level and heuristically-chosen threshold-based predictors.