cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reproducibility and Angle Independence of Electromechanical Wave Imaging for the Measurement of Electromechanical Activation during Sinus Rhythm in Healthy Humans.

Abstract Electromechanical wave imaging (EWI) is an ultrasound-based technique that can non-invasively map the transmural electromechanical activation in all four cardiac chambers in vivo. The objective of this study was to determine the reproducibility and angle independence of EWI for the assessment of electromechanical activation during normal sinus rhythm (NSR) in healthy humans. Acquisitions were performed transthoracically at 2000 frames/s on seven healthy human hearts in parasternal long-axis, apical four- and two-chamber views. EWI data was collected twice successively in each view in all subjects, while four successive acquisitions were obtained in one case. Activation maps were generated and compared (i) within the same acquisition across consecutive cardiac cycles; (ii) within same view across successive acquisitions; and (iii) within equivalent left-ventricular regions across different views. EWI was capable of characterizing electromechanical activation during NSR and of reliably obtaining similar patterns of activation. For consecutive heart cycles, the average 2-D correlation coefficient between the two isochrones across the seven subjects was 0.9893, with a mean average activation time fluctuation in LV wall segments across acquisitions of 6.19%. A mean activation time variability of 12% was obtained across different views with a measurement bias of only 3.2 ms. These findings indicate that EWI can map the electromechanical activation during NSR in human hearts in transthoracic echocardiography in vivo and results in reproducible and angle-independent activation maps.
Erratum to: Theory of Cryptography

Erratum to: S. Halevi and T. Rabin (Eds.) Theory of Cryptography DOI: 10.1007/978-3-540-32732-5
A Novel Qualitative Method to Improve Access, Elicitation, and Sample Diversification for Enhanced Transferability Applied to Studying Chemistry Outreach.

Conducting qualitative research in any discipline warrants two actions: accessing participants and eliciting their ideas. In chemistry education research, survey techniques have been used to increase access to participants and diversify samples. Interview tasks (such as card sorting, using demonstrations, and using simulations) have been used to elicit participant ideas. While surveys can increase participation and remove geographic barriers from studies, they typically lack the ability to obtain detailed, thick description of participant ideas, which are possible from in-person interviews. Minimal research in CER has examined how to harness technology to synthesize traditionally diverse research approaches to advance the field. This paper presents a novel method for interviewing research participants employing freely available technology to investigate student ideas about the purposes of conducting chemistry outreach, how success of an outreach event is evaluated, and student understanding of the chemistry content embedded in activities facilitated at events. As the outreach practitioner population comes from numerous institutions and is therefore geographically diverse, technology is necessary in order to gain access to these students. To elicit their ideas and remove barriers associated with rapport, interview tasks are adapted and implemented electronically. The description of a novel set of methods is coupled with evidence from the interviews to illustrate the trustworthiness of the data obtained and to support the method as a means to improve qualitative data collection in chemistry education research. These methods create a unique data collection environment for off-site investigations and are applicable to all disciplines, as they shed light on how qualitative research in the 21st century can increase the diversity of samples and improve the transferability of findings.
Patterns of Fitbit Use and Activity Levels Throughout a Physical Activity Intervention: Exploratory Analysis from a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: There has been a rapid increase in the use of technology-based activity trackers to promote behavior change. However, little is known about how individuals use these trackers on a day-to-day basis or how tracker use relates to increasing physical activity. Objective: The aims were to use minute level data collected from a Fitbit tracker throughout a physical activity intervention to examine patterns of Fitbit use and activity and their relationships with success in the intervention based on ActiGraph-measured moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Methods: Participants included 42 female breast cancer survivors randomized to the physical activity intervention arm of a 12-week randomized controlled trial. The Fitbit One was worn daily throughout the 12-week intervention. ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometer was worn for 7 days at baseline (prerandomization) and end of intervention (week 12). Self-reported frequency of looking at activity data on the Fitbit tracker and app or website was collected at week 12. Results: Adherence to wearing the Fitbit was high and stable, with a mean of 88.13% of valid days over 12 weeks (SD 14.49%). Greater adherence to wearing the Fitbit was associated with greater increases in ActiGraph-measured MVPA (binteraction=0.35, P<.001). Participants averaged 182.6 minutes/week (SD 143.9) of MVPA on the Fitbit, with significant variation in MVPA over the 12 weeks (F=1.91, P=.04). The majority (68%, 27/40) of participants reported looking at their tracker or looking at the Fitbit app or website once a day or more. Changes in Actigraph-measured MVPA were associated with frequency of looking at one’s data on the tracker (b=−1.36, P=.07) but not significantly associated with frequency of looking at one’s data on the app or website (P=.36). Conclusions: This is one of the first studies to explore the relationship between use of a commercially available activity tracker and success in a physical activity intervention. A deeper understanding of how individuals engage with technology-based trackers may enable us to more effectively use these types of trackers to promote behavior change. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02332876; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02332876?term=NCT02332876 &rank=1 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6wplEeg8i).
Expanded Theory of H- and J-Molecular Aggregates: The Effects of Vibronic Coupling and Intermolecular Charge Transfer.

The electronic excited states of molecular aggregates and their photophysical signatures have long fascinated spectroscopists and theoreticians alike since the advent of Frenkel exciton theory almost 90 years ago. The influence of molecular packing on basic optical probes like absorption and photoluminescence was originally worked out by Kasha for aggregates dominated by Coulombic intermolecular interactions, eventually leading to the classification of J- and H-aggregates. This review outlines advances made in understanding the relationship between aggregate structure and photophysics when vibronic coupling and intermolecular charge transfer are incorporated. An assortment of packing geometries is considered from the humble molecular dimer to more exotic structures including linear and bent aggregates, two-dimensional herringbone and “HJ” aggregates, and chiral aggregates. The interplay between long-range Coulomb coupling and short-range charge-transfer-mediated coupling strongly depends on the aggregate ...
History of computer crime

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses cybercrime, and traces the evolution of cybercrime from the criminal misuse of mainframe computers that emerged in the 1960s through the varied and complex types of misuse made possible by the networked personal computers. The chapter explains how and why cybercrime has increased in both incidence and complexity since 1990. More common cybercrimes—such as hacking, the dissemination of malware, theft, extortion and child pornography—are discussed in the chapter. The chapter also emphasizes the continuing possibility of cyber terrorism. The chapter provides examination and assessment of national and international efforts to deal with cybercrime, and a brief speculation on how the phenomenon will evolve over the next few decades is discussed in the chapter. “Cybercrime,” like crime, consists of engaging in conduct that is outlawed by a society. Cybercrime differs from crime primarily in the way it is committed. Where real-world criminals use guns to commit crimes, cybercriminals use computer technology to engage in socially outlawed conduct. Most of the cybercrimes one sees today simply represent the migration of real-world crime into cyberspace. Cybercriminals use computers to commit fraud, theft, stalking, extortion, and a variety of other crimes.
Background in Complexity

Computational Complexity measures the amount of computational resources, such as time and space, that are needed, as a function of the size of the input, to compute a query. This chapter introduces the reader to complexity theory. We define the complexity measures and complexity classes that we study in the rest of the book. We also explain some of their basic properties, complete problems, and interrelationships.
Thermal response of superfluid4He nearT λ to an AC heat flux

We have measured the thermal response of a superfluid4He layer nearT λ to a time-varying heat flux. In the low-frequency range studied, 1×10−3<f<0.1 Hz, we find the response to be independent of the applied frequencyf, a result consistent with the expectation that the measured response is due to the boundary resistanceR b alone. These findings differ from those by Olafsen and Beharinger. The thermal conductivity cell used by these authors had extraneous surfaces in contact with the superfluid which were eliminated in the cell used for our experiments; we believe these surfaces were responsible for the frequency dependence observed in previous work. Furthermore, we show that AC and DC measurements ofR b differ by no more than 1%, and that both exhibit a weak singularity nearT λ.
Adaptive Receptive Fields for Textural Segmentation

Textural segmentation plays an important role in the figure-ground discrimination process. Evidence from neuroscience and psychophysics suggests that the segregation of texture patterns composed of oriented line segments is strongly influenced by the orientation contrast between the patterns [13]. We describe a neural network architecture for textural segmentation that can adaptively delimit the boundaries of uniformly textured regions. Simulation results are presented to demonstrate the segmentation capablities of the architecture.
Delayed Hypersensitivity to Silicone Products

Although introduced as an inert soft tissue substitute, silicone has been the cause of various toxic reactions. Local inflammatory processes are well known. Systemic reactions to injected silicone including hepatic granulomas and pulmonary fibrosis have also been reported. The systemic complications have been attributed to the rapid spread of fluid silicone. Recently, semi-solid silicone peripheral joint prostheses have been associated with cases of lymphadenopathy.
The Design and Operation of Swimming Pools

The term pool as used in this discussion will be applied only to those artificial masonry structures of designed dimensions, having provision for treatment and circulation of water. The discussion will also be confined to public pools that are under the control of state or municipal bodies. The specifications given herein follow rather closely the reports of the Joint Committee on bathing places of the American Public Health Association and Conference of State Sanitary Engineers. A number of regulations of state sanitary boards have been reviewed by the writer and general practice seems to follow this report.
Microsporidia and ‘The Art of Living Together’

Parasitism, aptly defined as one of the 'living-together' strategies (Trager, 1986), presents a dynamic system in which the parasite and its host are under evolutionary pressure to evolve new and specific adaptations, thus enabling the coexistence of the two closely interacting partners. Microsporidia are very frequently encountered obligatory intracellular protistan parasites that can infect both animals and some protists and are a consummate example of various aspects of the 'living-together' strategy. Microsporidia, relatives of fungi in the superkingdom Opisthokonta, belong to the relatively small group of parasites for which the host cell cytoplasm is the site of both reproduction and maturation. The structural and physiological reduction of their vegetative stage, together with the manipulation of host cell physiology, enables microsporidia to live in the cytosolic environment for most of their life cycle in a way resembling endocytobionts. The ability to form structurally complex spores and the invention and assembly of a unique injection mechanism enable microsporidia to disperse within host tissues and between host organisms, resulting in long-lasting infections. Microsporidia have adapted their genomes to the intracellular way of life, evolved strategies how to obtain nutrients directly from the host and how to manipulate not only the infected cells, but also the hosts themselves. The enormous variability of host organisms and their tissues provide microsporidian parasites a virtually limitless terrain for diversification and ecological expansion. This review attempts to present a general overview of microsporidia, emphasising some less known and/or more recently discovered facets of their biology.
Variable Fall Climate Influences Nutrient Resorption and Reserve Storage in Young Peach Trees

A delay of leaf senescence resulting from variable fall climate may allow for additional nutrient resorption, and storage within reserve organs. Autumn leaves and reserve organs ( 1 year shoots, stem above and below the graft union, the tap root, and fine roots) during dormancy of 2-year-old peach trees were evaluated following warmer fall temperatures and limited soil moisture on two cultivars (‘Scarletprince’ and ‘Autumnprince’ both on GuardianTM rootstock) over two seasons. Four treatments were applied to the two cultivars: 1) well-watered trees (100% ETc needs) in ambient outdoor temperatures; 2) water deficient trees (50% ETc needs) in ambient outdoor temperatures; 3) well-watered trees grown within a greenhouse; and 4) water deficient trees within a greenhouse. The greenhouse environment was on average 5 °C warmer than the ambient outdoor temperature. Senescence was delayed on greenhouse-grown trees both years with leaf number and area similar in the greenhouse and outdoor environments prior to senescence. Across leaf samples, leaf nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations were lower within delayed senescence tree leaves while potassium was lower in leaves experiencing normal senescence. During dormancy, multiple reserve organs showed higher nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in trees with delayed senescence than normal senescence and similar increases were observed in water-deficient trees compared to well-watered trees. Phosphorus and potassium concentrations were also higher in multiple reserve organs within ‘Autumnprince’ trees compared to ‘Scarletprince’ trees. This study suggests variable climate conditions of increased temperatures or reduced soil moisture during autumn resulting in delayed senescence influence the process of nutrient resorption and increase nutrient storage within reserve organs.
Validity of sitting time scores from the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form in multiple sclerosis.

Purpose The current study examined the validity of scores from the sitting time item on the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF) in a sample of persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). Method Persons with MS were recruited through the distribution of printed letters to a random sample of 1,000 persons from the North American Research Committee on MS registry. Two hundred ninety-five persons with MS were interested and volunteered to wear an ActiGraph accelerometer for a 7-day period and complete a battery of questionnaires that included the IPAQ-SF and Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire over this period of time. Results IPAQ-SF sitting time scores were consistently and moderately correlated with all of the sedentary behavior metrics from the accelerometer (range of r between .295 and .431), and the correlations were stronger than those between self-reported physical activity and sedentary metrics from the accelerometer (range of r between -.087 and .163). The correlations between IPAQ-SF sitting time scores with the accelerometer-derived sedentary behavior metrics were still statistically significant in the analyses controlling for physical activity (range of parametric correlations between .281 and .411). Conclusions The correlation analysis indicated consistent, moderate correlations between IPAQ-SF sitting time scores and device-measured estimates of both the volume and pattern of sedentary behavior, and the correlations were (a) stronger than those for self-reported physical activity and (b) independent of self-reported physical activity. Such results provide initial evidence for the validity of inferences from IPAQ-SF sitting time scores as an overall measure of sedentary behavior in persons with MS. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).
Removable Nonconjugated Polymers To Debundle and Disperse Carbon Nanotubes

In this study, we explore design rules for block copolymer (BCP)-based dispersants for carbon nanotubes (CNTs). We demonstrate the influence of polymer architecture on the dispersion, debundling, a...
Risk and Rate of Occult Contralateral Nodal Disease in Surgically Treated Patients With Human Papillomavirus-Related Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Base of the Tongue.

Importance The optimal treatment strategy for patients with human papillomavirus (HPV)−related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) of the base of the tongue (BOT) has not been sufficiently studied. Objective To investigate the rate of and risk factors for occult contralateral nodal disease in patients with HPV-related BOT OPSCC undergoing transoral surgery and bilateral neck dissections. Design, Setting, and Participants This retrospective case series reviewed the medical records of patients with HPV-related BOT OPSCC who underwent transoral surgery and bilateral neck dissections from January 1, 2002, through December 31, 2018, at the tertiary care center of Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis. Patients had a median follow-up of 30.0 months (interquartile range, 11.0-60.4 months). Patients with recurrent disease or multiple synchronous OPSCC primary tumors were excluded for a total of 89 patients. Data were analyzed from January 1 through June 1, 2019. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was the rate of contralateral occult nodal disease. Secondary outcomes were potential risk factors for contralateral occult nodal disease and regional recurrence rates. Results Eighty-nine patients were included in the series, of whom 81 (91.0%) were men. The mean (SD) age was 60 (9) years. Overall, 34 patients (38.2%) had pathologic contralateral nodal metastases. Seventy patients had no clinical evidence of contralateral nodal disease. Of these 70, occult nodes were identified in 15 (21.4%). Risk of contralateral disease was higher when the primary tumor crossed midline (odds ratio, 6.23; 95% CI, 1.71-22.77). Of the 55 patients with no occult disease identified, only 2 (3.6%) received radiotherapy to the contralateral neck, and no regional recurrence of disease was noted. Conclusions and Relevance Given the rate of occult contralateral nodal disease of 21.4%, it appears that contralateral elective neck dissection or radiotherapy should be recommended in patients with HPV-related BOT OPSCC. Patients with a pathologically negative result of contralateral neck dissection may not benefit from radiotherapy to that nodal basin. Future prospective investigations should evaluate functional and oncologic outcomes of contralateral elective neck dissection compared with elective radiotherapy in the contralateral neck for HPV-related BOT OPSCC.
Living in the Community With Dementia: Who Receives Paid Care?

Objectives Paid caregivers (eg, home health aides and personal care attendants) provide hands-on care that helps individuals with dementia live in the community. This study (a) characterizes paid caregiving among community-dwelling individuals with dementia and (b) identifies factors associated with receipt of paid care. Design Cross-sectional analysis. Setting The 2015 National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS), a nationally representative study of Medicare recipients aged 65 years and older. Participants Community-dwelling individuals with dementia (n = 899). Measurements Paid and family caregiving support was determined by participant or proxy report of help received with functional tasks. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine factors associated with receipt of paid care. NHATS population sampling weights were used to produce national paid caregiving prevalence estimates. Results Only 25.5% of community-dwelling individuals with dementia received paid care, and 10.8% received 20 hours or more of paid care per week. For those who received it, paid care accounted for approximately half of the 83 total caregiving hours (paid and family) that they received each week. Among the subgroup of individuals with advanced dementia (those with impairment in dressing, bathing, toileting, and managing medications and finances), nearly half (48.3%) received paid care. Multivariable analysis, adjusting for sociodemographic, family caregiving support, functional, and clinical characteristics, found that the odds of receiving paid care were higher among men (odds ratio [OR] = 1.91; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.24-2.95), the unmarried (OR = 2.20; 95% CI = 1.31-3.70), those with Medicaid (OR = 2.16; 95% CI = 1.27-3.66), and those requiring more help with activities of daily living (ADLs) (OR = 1.32; 95% CI = 1.18-1.48) and instrumental ADLs (OR = 1.29; 95% CI = 1.14-1.46). Conclusions New ways of making paid caregiving more accessible throughout the income spectrum are required to support family caregivers and respect the preferences of individuals with dementia to remain living in the community. J Am Geriatr Soc 68:186-191, 2019.
N-Arylation of Amino Acid Esters to Expand Side Chain Diversity in Ketoxime Peptide Ligations

Palladium-catalyzed N-arylations of amino acid tert-butyl esters using 4-bromo-N,N-dimethylaniline as a coupling partner are reported. The resulting N-aryl amino acid esters are suitable building blocks for the synthesis of electron-rich N-aryl peptides, which undergo oxidative couplings to aminooxy groups to afford ketoxime peptides under mild conditions. N-aryl amino acid tert-butyl esters possessing unnatural side chains were also accessed via glycine Schiff base alkylation, further increasing the scope of Cα-substitution in ketoxime peptides.
Author Correction: Metagenome-assembled genomes provide new insight into the microbial diversity of two thermal pools in Kamchatka, Russia.

Author(s): Wilkins, Laetitia GE; Ettinger, Cassandra L; Jospin, Guillaume; Eisen, Jonathan A | Abstract: An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Review on process model, structure-property relationship of composites and future needs in fused filament fabrication:

This paper presents the state-of-the-art of additive manufacturing of composites for processing functional, load-bearing components. A general overview of different additive manufacturing methods i...
Association of phthalate exposure and endogenous hormones with self-reported sleep disruptions: results from the Midlife Women's Health Study.

OBJECTIVE Follicle-stimulating hormone and estradiol (E2) have been associated with sleep in midlife women, however, few studies have examined the association of other hormones or environmental chemical exposure such as phthalates, with self-reported sleep quality. We assessed the relationship of self-reported sleep with hormones and phthalates. METHODS In total, 762 women (aged 45-54 y, 459 premenopausal, and 303 perimenopausal) from the Midlife Women's Health Study answered self-reported questions regarding the frequency of sleep disturbances, insomnia, and restless sleep. Serum E2, progesterone, testosterone, serum hormone binding globulin, free E2 index, free testosterone index, E2:progesterone, and E2:testosterone were measured. Summary measures of phthalate mixtures, including the phthalates from plastic sources (sumPLASTIC), personal care products (sumPCP), di-(2-ethyhexyl) phthalate (sumDEHP), anti-androgenic phthalates (sumAA), and all phthalate metabolites measured (sumALL), were calculated from urinary phthalate metabolites. Ordinal logistic regression was used to fit each outcome sleep measure with all hormones and summary phthalates. RESULTS Progesterone and testosterone were significantly negatively associated with the frequency of sleep disturbances and insomnia. Free testosterone index was also negatively associated with insomnia frequency. E2:progesterone was positively associated with frequency of sleep disturbances and restless sleep in self-reported nonsmokers. SumPCP and sumALL were significantly negatively associated with frequency of sleep disturbances, insomnia, and restless sleep. SumDEHP and sumPLASTIC were negatively associated with insomnia frequency. Further, the direction of association between phthalates and sleep appears to be dependent on the quartile of phthalate exposure. All significant associations between phthalates and sleep were in self-reported nonsmokers or former smokers. CONCLUSIONS Our study supports previous literature that hormones beyond follicle-stimulating hormone and E2 are associated with sleep disruptions in menopause. Further, we are among the first to show that phthalate exposure is associated with sleep disruptions in midlife women.
The Effects of India’s COVID-19 Lockdown on Critical Non-COVID Health Care and Outcomes

Indias COVID-19 lockdown is widely believed to have disrupted critical health services, but its effect on non-COVID health outcomes is largely unknown. Comparing mortality trends among dialysis patients in the eight months around the lockdown with the previous year, we document a 64% increase in mortality between March and May 2020 and an estimated 22-25% total excess mortality through July 2020. The mortality increase is greater among females and disadvantaged groups. Barriers to transportation and disruptions in hospital services appear to be the main drivers of increased morbidity and mortality. The results highlight the unintended consequences of the lockdown on critical and life-saving non-COVID health services that must be taken into account in the implementation of future policy efforts to control the spread of pandemics.
Rainbow Solutions to the Sidon Equation in Cyclic Groups

Given a coloring of group elements, a rainbow solution to an equation is a solution whose every element is assigned a different color. The rainbow number of $\mathbb{Z}_n$ for an equation $eq$, denoted $rb(\mathbb{Z}_n,eq)$, is the smallest number of colors $r$ such that every exact $r$-coloring of $\mathbb{Z}_n$ admits a rainbow solution to the equation $eq$. We prove that for every exact $4$-coloring of $\mathbb{Z}_p$, where $p\geq 3$ is prime, there exists a rainbow solution to the Sidon equation $x_1+x_2=x_3+x_4$. Furthermore, we determine the rainbow number of $\mathbb{Z}_n$ for the Sidon equation.
Magnetically coupled iron azide chains

Abstract Three well-defined iron(II) compounds CztBu(PyriPr)2FeCl (1), CztBu(PyriPr)2FeCl(THF) (2), and CztBu(PyriPr)2FeN3 (3), supported by the NNN pincer ligand CztBu(PyriPr)2− were synthesized and characterized. Compound 3 features a one-dimensional chain structure built by CztBu(PyriPr)2Fe units and bridged by end-to-end azido ligands. This chain material exhibits magnetic hysteresis at low temperatures and non-superimposable zero-field cooled and field cooled magnetization. These properties are consistent with single-chain magnet behavior, likely arising from superexchange coupling of Fe(II) centers via the azide bridges.
Assessing global governance in the area of human trafficking through civil society participation in its regime complex

Human trafficking (HT) is a major international problem that states still struggle to tackle. Against this backdrop, this working paper aims at analysing the architecture of HT global governance and at suggesting ways for improvement. It, among others, gives recommendations for actors such as the European Union, which is very active in HT governance. In order to do so, the working paper focuses on the participation of civil society organisations in HT global governance, seeing them as important drivers of governance at the global level. After presenting the phenomenon of HT and its governance puzzle, a first section characterises such governance, identifying and describing the HT regime complex by using civil society participation as a proxy. A second section analyses the main actors of the regime complex. The conclusion draws recommendations and identifies paths for further research.
P-TECH SCHOOL IN TRANSPORTATION AND SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT PROGRAM: A CASE OF BALTIMORE CITY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Four years high school students took the opportunity of early college access and dual enrolment program by taking college courses while they are at a high school. In recent years several states including Maryland supported the development of a new model of early college access program for high school students called Pathways in Technology Early College High Schools (P-TECH) 9-14 schools. With the P-TECH 9-14 school model in six years or less students graduate with a high school diploma and a no cost two-year associate degree in STEM fields. This paper discusses the recently developed new P-TECH transportation program at Baltimore City Community College. The program focuses on the supply chain management career pathway to meet the present and future needs of the region. P-TECH schools work with industry partners and a local community college to ensure an up-to-date curriculum that is academically rigorous and economically relevant. P-TECH programs also include mentoring, workplace visits and instruction on the skills needed for the industry and paid internships and job consideration with the partnering companies.
Pausing During the Pandemic: Addressing Cognitive Biases in Providers' Medical Decision-Making During the COVID-19 Era

Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has not only exacerbated traditional cognitive biases but also created new cognitive biases specific to the pandemic that contribute to diagnostic errors. Cases of suspected multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C)-one of the more clinically significant manifestations of COVID-19 in children-need to be reported and reviewed by clinicians as they have varied presentations and lack definitive confirmatory testing, presenting challenges to effective diagnosis. Case presentation We present 3 cases of pediatric patients initially diagnosed with COVID-19/MIS-C who were ultimately found to have alternative diagnoses. Discussion For each case, we describe conventional and COVID-19-related cognitive biases to enhance awareness of their role in diagnostics and promote strategies to support diagnostic accuracy and timeliness. Conclusion With rapidly changing knowledge about COVID-19 and MIS-C, providers must remain diligent to counteract heuristic thinking and provide timely and accurate diagnostic evaluations.
Entropy Based Comparison of Neural Networks for Classification

This paper discusses some entropy based bounds for the case of real and limited integer weights neural networks. It is shown that a neural network using real weights can solve a dichotomy of m =m ++m_ patterns using a number of bits less than max (m +, m_) ·n {⌈log(D/d)⌉+2} where n is the number of dimensions and D and d are the maximum and minimum distance between patterns in opposite classes, respectively. In the case of limited integer weights, it is shown that a neural network using integer weight in the range [- p,p] can solve a dichotomy of patterns in general positions with a number of bits greater than #bits lt; min(m +,m_) · n · ⌈log 2pD⌉.
Effect of two intestinal resections separated by time on cell proliferation in the rat small intestine

Abstract An attempt was made to force the mucosal cell renewal system into a maximal proliferative state by performing single intestinal resections followed 7 days later by second resections. Changes in several parameters of the compensatory response were assessed 14 days after the last surgical procedure in transected, singly resected, and doubly resected animals. A second resection of sufficient magnitude and at a proper time with respect to the first resection, yielded a compensatory response greater than that achieved with a single resection as measured by crypt cell incorporation of tritiated thymidine. Provided the total amount of tissue removed in the two procedures was constant, the amount of tissue taken as a primary or secondary stimulus did not change the ultimate level of significantly increased cell proliferation in the small intestine of the rat after two resections. Intracellular adenosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate values for resected animals were significantly lower than those found in other treatment groups. However, no significant difference in guanosine 3′,4′-cyclic monophosphate levels was found among the treatment groups.
Abstract P102: Resting Heart Rate and Incident Atrial Fibrillation in the Elderly

Background: Alterations in sympathetic tone and/or sinus node dysfunction are common with aging. We hypothesized that older persons with low or high heart rates may represent a population with subc...
Clay-Organic Complexes and Interactions

Publisher Summary Clays interact with many organic compounds to form complexes of varying stabilities and properties. These interactions are of great importance in nature and in industry. The clays in soils and sediments often have organic material with which they are intimately associated. This chapter describes the bonding mechanisms involved in clay-organic complexes, the nature of some clay-organic complexes and reactions, and the nature and importance of clay-organic complexes in soils. The dominant factors determining the nature of clay-organic interactions are the properties of the organic molecule, the water content of the system, the nature of the exchangeable cation on the clay surface, and the unique properties of the clay mineral structures. The exchangeable cations determine the surface acidity, and therefore the possibilities of protonation of the organic compound. Much remains to be learned regarding the clay-organic systems and the reactions taking place at this interface. In particular, it is quite likely that many reactions that have not yet been recognized are catalyzed by the clay minerals.
Autonomous vehicle control for emergency maneuvers: The effect of topography

When attempting to drive collision-free paths in emergency situations, automobiles are limited by the amount of force their tires can produce through friction. A road's topography affects the tire forces, so the ability of an autonomous vehicle to follow a desired path depends on the shape of the path in three, not two, dimensions. In this paper, a model that captures the effects of road topography on tire forces is derived and used to compute the speeds at which a given path can be followed. Experimental evidence is used to support the conclusion that accounting for topography, particularly the vertical curvature of the road, is critical for good path tracking performance even with a conservative estimate of maximum friction.
The contemporary challenge of carcinoma in situ of the vulva.

Abstract The incidence of “histologically acceptable” in situ cancer of the vulva is increasing. Nevertheless, certain features of such neoplasms raise questions as to (1) the accuracy of the diagnosis, (2) the proper therapy for the individual case, (3) the relationship between viral disease and these neoplasms, and (4) possible means of differentiating the benign proliferating lesion from true malignancy. This study of 44 cases of vulvar in situ carcinoma addresses itself to these issues.
Cosmic Radio Noise

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the fact that because noise is the factor which limits the detectability of radio communication signals, it is important that the characteristics of cosmic noise be determined in regard to its directional properties, absolute magnitude, and frequency dependence. With the half-wave dipole antennas, Jansky attempted to determine the way in which the cosmic noise varied with frequency; however, at the relatively low frequencies used, ionospheric absorption was an appreciable factor, being most noticeable at the lowest frequency, so that a conclusive frequency law was not obtained. In 1946 and 1947, Reber made a study of his visible sky at 480 Mc using the same parabolic sheet metal mirror for collecting the cosmic radio energy as was used on 160 Mc. Most of the research has been devoted to determining the spatial distribution of the sources of the noise using antennas having a variety of directivity patterns on frequencies ranging from approximately 9 to 480 Mc. Observations of cosmic radio noise made up to the present time have not indicated that the incident noise energy has any systematic polarization (plane, circular, or elliptical) but that it is apparently randomly polarized.
Trenbolone Acetate Metabolite Transport in Rangelands and Irrigated Pasture: Observations and Conceptual Approaches for Agro-Ecosystems

To assess the relative ecological risks of trenbolone acetate (TBA) use in agro-ecosystems, we evaluated the spatiotemporal dynamics of TBA metabolite transport during irrigation and rainfall events. Within a pasture, TBA-implanted heifers (40 mg TBA, 8 mg estradiol) were briefly penned (24 h) at high stocking densities (500 animal units (AU)/ha), prior to irrigation. Irrigation runoff concentrations of 17α-trenbolone (17α-TBOH) 0.3 m downslope were 11 ng/L in the wetting front, but quickly decreased to ∼0.5 ng/L, suggesting mass transfer limitations to transport. At 3 and 30 m downslope, efficient attenuation of 17α-TBOH concentrations is best explained by infiltration and surface partitioning. At plot scales, transport through vegetated filter strips resulted in <0.5–7 ng/L 17α-TBOH concentrations in rainfall-induced runoff with partial subsequent attenuation. Thus, even under intense grazing scenarios, TBA-metabolite transport potential is expected to be low in rangelands, with ecological risks primari...
Primary hyperparathyroidism associated with a cystic lesion in the neck: probable parathyroid cyst.

A case of primary hyperparathyroidism is described in which there was clinical and biochemical resolution after a cystic lesion in the superior left lobe of the thyroid gland was surgically removed. On histologic step-section of the cyst an aggregation of epithelial cells was seen in its wall but they could not be definitely identified as parathyroid in origin. Clinical and biochemical evidence is presented which suggests that the lesion was a hyperfunctioning parathyroid cyst. Emphasis is placed on careful historical evaluation regarding manifestations of hyperparathyroidism in patients who have a mass in the anterior neck. Appropriate laboratory investigation in suspected cases may help to document the functional significance of such lesions.
Dietary and physiological controls on the hydrogen and oxygen isotope ratios of hair from mid‐20th century indigenous populations

A semimechanistic model has recently been proposed to explain observed correlations between the H and O isotopic composition of hair from modern residents of the USA and the isotopic composition of drinking water, but the applicability of this model to hair from non-USA and preglobalization populations is unknown. Here we test the model against data from hair samples collected during the 1930s-1950s from popula- tions of five continents. Although C and N isotopes con- firm that the samples represent a much larger range of dietary ''space'' than the modern USA residents, the model is able to reproduce the observed d 2 H and d 18 O values given reasonable adjustments to 2 model parame- ters: the fraction of dietary intake derived from locally produced foods and the fraction of keratin H fixed during the in vivo synthesis of amino acids. The model is most sensitive to the local dietary intake, which appears to constitute between 60% and 80% of diet among the groups sampled. The isotopic data are consistent with a trophic-level effect on protein H isotopes, which we sug- gest primarily reflects mixing of 2 H-enriched water and 2 H-depleted food H in the body rather than fractionation during biosynthesis. Samples from Inuit groups suggest that humans with marine-dominated diets can be identi- fied on the basis of coupled d 2 H and d 18 O values of hair. These results indicate a dual role for H and O isotopic measurements of keratin, including both biological (diet, physiology) and environmental (geographic movement, paleoclimate) reconstruction. Am J Phys Anthropol 139:494-504, 2009. V C 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Genetics in profile

Abstract IBC's Conference on Genetic Profiling and Diagnostics , San Diego, CA, USA, 29–30 October, 1997.
Polyethylene glycol/microfibrillar collagen composite as a new resorbable hemostatic bone wax

Although bone wax is effective at achieving hemostasis, it is nonresorbable, causes a foreign body reaction, and inhibits osteogenesis. We report development of a polyethylene glycol/microfibrillar collagen composite (PEG/MFC) that has inherent hemostatic qualities, is biodegradable, and is compatible with bone repair. PEG/MFC composite (n = 42) was placed in 5 mm cranial defects in New Zealand white rabbits. Hemostasis and healing were compared to unfilled defects (n = 32) and defects filled with standard bone wax (n = 10). Both PEG/MFC and bone wax handled well and stopped bleeding. The polyethylene glycol component was resorbed by 8 h, and the microfibrillar collagen was resorbed over 2 months, eliciting only a minor inflammatory response during the first month. Defects filled with the PEG/MFC composite showed similar amounts of bony regeneration as did unfilled control defects. At 4 weeks, healing bone accounted for 43 +/- 13% in those treated with PEG/MFC and 47 +/- 19% defect area in untreated holes. In contrast, less than 1% of the area was bone in defects filled with bone wax (p < 0.05). PEG/MFC composite provided excellent bony hemostasis and did not inhibit bone growth.
Why structure and genre matter for users of digital information: A longitudinal experiment with readers of a web-based newspaper

In an effort to understand the impact of designing for digital genres on users' mental representations of structure, a two-phase study was conducted. In phase 1, six expert news readers and a panel of HCI experts were solicited for input regarding genre-conforming and genre-violating web news page design, navigation, and story categorization. In phase 2, a longitudinal experiment with a group of 25 novice web news readers who were exposed to one of the two designs over 5 sessions is reported. During these sessions a variety of user data were captured, including: comprehension (recall, recognition), usability (time on task, accuracy, user satisfaction), and navigation (path length, category node hits). The between-group difference of web site design was significant for comprehension, usability, and navigation with the users of the genre-conforming design demonstrating better performance. The within-group difference of time was significant across these three measures as well, with performance improving over time. No interaction effect was found between web site design and time on comprehension or usability. However, a surprising interaction effect was found on navigation; specifically the breadth of navigation (i.e. the number of nodes visited for two classes of tasks) increased over time more dramatically for the genre-violating group than for the genre-conforming group. By examining the changes in these data over time and between the two designs, evidence for the development of users' mental representations of structure was captured.
Hyperpolarization-activated current (Ih) in primary auditory neurons

A hyperpolarization-activated current (termed Ih) is believed to provide a pacemaker depolarization in sinoatrial node cells and in some central and peripheral neurons. In the present study, we examined if such an inward cation current exists in primary auditory neurons using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. A large inward, non-inactivating current was seen during hyperpolarizing steps negative to the resting potential. A depolarizing sag occurred during hyperpolarizing current injection, and upon termination of the current injection there was an overshoot, or a rebound firing. A low concentration of Cs+, but not Ba2+, reversibly blocked the inward current and depolarizing sag. The activation of the current showed voltage dependence with half-activation occurring at −101±1 mV. The time course of Ih activation was fitted by double exponential function and was voltage-dependent (time constants: τ1 and τ2=480 and 3125 ms at −100 mV, and 66 and 404 ms at −160 mV). The reversal potential of the current was −36 mV measured from tail currents. The conductance of the current was decreased in Na+-free solution, and increased in high K+ solution. Increases in the levels of intracellular cAMP or cGMP enhanced the current. The results suggest that there exists a hyperpolarization-activated inward cation current in mammalian primary auditory neurons. This current may provide a depolarizing current during the membrane hyperpolarization following each firing of the primary auditory nerve.
Postclosure environmental conditions and waste form stability in a geologic repository for high-level nuclear waste

Abstract Following the closure of a geologic repository for nuclear waste, the solid wasteform will be subjected to demanding physical and chemical conditions that reflect both geologic and engineered factors. Significant among these conditions are an effective confining pressure of about 10 MPs (about 1500 psi), possible differential pressure up to 35 M Pa (about 5000 psi), possible temperatures locally up to 400 °C (about 750 °F), and the likely presence of water in a reducing environment. Behavior of the waste form in the selected geologic environment must be predicted over unprecedented periods of time. From the standpoint of both the waste isolation system and of the waste form in that system, the thermal period of a geologic repository will be the most critical. The repository contents and surroundings are likely to be subjected to the greatest thermal, mechanical, and chemical stress during the first several hundred years after closure of the repository when heat production is greatest and dominated by the decay of fission products. Thus, most physical and chemical changes within the waste form or host rock that would affect the relationships among the waste, the host rock, and contained fluids would be expected to proceed at the highest rate during this period. Although thermal loading can be controlled, a maximum thermal loading that will not compromise the isolation system is desirable because this would minimize waste form and repository volumes. The higher temperatures that will result can be expected to contribute to increased rates of waste/rock/fluid interactions within the repository, higher stress levels, and other effects. The waste form must therefore be thoughtfully tailored to the host medium, contained fluids, and other characteristics of the specific geologic system selected for waste isolation.
Project Vinca: Lessons for securing civil nuclear material stockpiles

(2003). Project Vinca: Lessons for securing civil nuclear material stockpiles. The Nonproliferation Review: Vol. 10, No. 3, pp. 1-23.