cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Low-Power Optimization by Smart Bit-Width Allocation in a SystemC-Based ASIC Design Environment

The modern era of embedded system design is geared toward the design of low-power systems. One way to reduce power in an application-specified integrated circuit (ASIC) implementation is to reduce the bit-width precision of its computation units. This paper describes algorithms to optimize the bit widths of fixed-point variables for low power in a SystemC-based ASIC design environment. We propose an optimal bit-width allocation algorithm for two variables and a greedy heuristic that works for any number of variables. The algorithms are used in the automation of converting floating-point SystemC programs into ASIC synthesizable SystemC programs. Expected inputs are profiled to estimate errors in the finite precision conversions. Experimental results for the tradeoffs between quantization error, power consumption, and hardware resources used are reported on a set of four SystemC benchmarks that are mapped onto a 0.18-mum ASIC cell library from Artisan Components. We demonstrate that it is possible to reduce the power consumption by 50% on the average by allowing roundoff errors to increase from 0.5% to 1%
Comparison of methods of assessing vitamin A status in children.

A study of children (2-8 years; n = 613) in Belize, Central America, was conducted to determine what proportion of the children might be at risk of vitamin A (vit A) deficiency. The data provide an opportunity to compare results of three methods of assessing vit A status in a population which was not severely malnourished. Serum retinyl ester concentrations were also determined; their relevance to one of the tests, the relative dose response (RDR) test, is discussed.The three methods of assessing vit A status were: RDR test, fasting serum retinol concentration, and conjunctival impression cytology (CIC). Retinol-binding protein (RBP), serum retinyl esters and serum zinc concentrations were also determined.Inadequate vit A status was indicated for 17% of subjects by the RDR test (14% cutoff), for 24% by fasting serum retinol concentration (< 0.87 mumol/L), and for 49% by “abnormal” CIC score. Retinyl esters constituted 24% of serum retinoids at the time (5 hours after a retinyl palmitate dose) at which the...
Thirty Years of Discovering Arthropod Alkaloids in Amphibian Skin

Amphibian skin has provided a wide range of biologically active alkaloids. During the past 30 years, over 400 alkaloids of over 20 structural classes have been detected. These include the batrachot...
Canine mast cell tumors: a comparison of staining techniques

Twelve histochemical methods; affinity staining with avidin peroxidase, wheat germ agglutinin, and concavalin-A agglutinin; and an immunohistochemical stain with Kp1 (CD68) antibody were compared for their relative effectiveness in staining canine mast cell tumors. Stains were compared in 28 mast cell tumors and 19 histiocytomas. The effectiveness of the histochemical methods and the lectins decreased as the mast cells became less differentiated. None of the staining methods were positive on histiocytomas. Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) gave positive results in a few cases of mast cell tumors where other histochemical stains were negative. Although avidin peroxidase and Kp1 antibody stained more mast cell tumors than any other method, they did not differ significantly from Luna's method, toluidine blue pH 0.5, toluidine blue pH 4.5, alcian blue pH 2.5, safranin O, Unna's method, and Giemsa. No stain was ideal for the diagnosis of canine mast cell tumors; however, this study suggests that the use of avidin peroxidase, Kp1 antibody, and PAS may give additional information for individual poorly differentiated tumors without substantial increase in time or cost.
Catabolic efficiency of aerobic glycolysis: The Warburg effect revisited

Background: Cancer cells simultaneously exhibit glycolysis with lactate secretion and mitochondrial respiration even in the presence of oxygen, a phenomenon known as the Warburg effect. The maintenance of this mixed metabolic phenotype is seemingly counterintuitive given that aerobic glycolysis is far less efficient in terms of ATP yield per moles of glucose than mitochondrial respiration. Results: Here, we resolve this apparent contradiction by expanding the notion of metabolic efficiency. We study a reduced flux balance model of ATP production that is constrained by the glucose uptake capacity and by the solvent capacity of the cell's cytoplasm, the latter quantifying the maximum amount of macromolecules that can occupy the intracellular space. At low glucose uptake rates we find that mitochondrial respiration is indeed the most efficient pathway for ATP generation. Above a threshold glucose uptake rate, however, a gradual activation of aerobic glycolysis and slight decrease of mitochondrial respiration results in the highest rate of ATP production. Conclusions: Our analyses indicate that the Warburg effect is a favorable catabolic state for all rapidly proliferating mammalian cells with high glucose uptake capacity. It arises because while aerobic glycolysis is less efficient than mitochondrial respiration in terms of ATP yield per glucose uptake, it is more efficient in terms of the required solvent capacity. These results may have direct relevance to chemotherapeutic strategies attempting to target cancer metabolism.
Misuse and Abuse of Diazepam : An Increasingly Common Medical Problem

Misuse and abuse of diazepam among addiction-prone individuals is reported. The most common pattern of abuse appears to be periodic ingestion of 30 to 80 mg of diazepam in one dose, either alone or...
A New Fast Facial Recognition Algorithm Applicable to Large Databases

In this contribution, a Transform Domain Two-Dimensional Principal Component Analysis algorithm employing Vector Quantization (TD2DPCA/VQ) is presented for facial recognition, particularly for large databases. The algorithm has attractive properties with respect to storage requirements in the training mode and the computational complexity in the testing mode. The experimental results obtained by applying the new algorithm to the ORL database confirmed the significant reduction in the storage and computational requirements while improving the excellent recognition accuracy of the spatial 2DPCA method.
The German Lutheran Church and the Rise of National Socialism

The attempt to arrive at a balanced and objective understanding of the relationship between the German Protestant church, which is predominantly Lutheran, and the rise of National Socialism is an almost impossible task today. For what we now hear about the Protestant church of the thirties tends to be written by those who were vindicated by the turn of events, while those who supported Hitler and National Socialism have tended to remain silent, understandably enough. The flood of books and articles by the Confessing Church gives the misleading impression that the stand of the church toward the Nazi state was one of resistance and opposition. Instead, the main Protestant response to Hitler and to the nationalistic forces he represented ranged from inactive indifference to over-whelming support. The Confessing Church, which did display a courageous though not always consistent opposition, at best never spoke for more than about one tenth of all Protestant Christians.
Long-Term Survival of a Patient with Metastatic Small-Cell Carcinoma of the Stomach Treated with Radiation Therapy

Small-cell carcinoma (SCC), or high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma of the stomach, is a rare subtype of extra-pulmonary SCC which is almost invariably lethal. Gastric SCC often presents with local symptoms indistinguishable from other primary stomach cancers; however, both regional and distant spread are common at the initial presentation. Depending on symptoms and patient performance status, treatment typically consists of chemotherapy or resection followed by adjuvant chemotherapy, as even patients with limited stage gastric SCC likely have micrometastatic disease at the time of diagnosis. In this case report, we describe the long-term survival of a 75-year-old male with recurrent oligometastatic high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma of the stomach treated with radiation therapy (RT) alone. He presented with abdominal pain and dyspepsia and was found to have a 6 cm locally invasive node-positive gastric SCC initially treated with extensive surgical resection. He was not a candidate for adjuvant chemotherapy, and surveillance imaging subsequently confirmed metachronous liver and local recurrences within 1 year after surgery, which were managed with stereotactic body RT and conventional radiation, respectively. An additional para-aortic nodal recurrence was treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy 7 years after surgery with good response. He tolerated all RT courses without notable radiation-related toxicity and remains in complete remission 11 years after initial diagnosis.
Internuclear Genetic Transfer in Dikaryons of SCHIZOPHYLLUM COMMUNE. II. Direct Recovery and Analysis of Recombinant Nuclei.

The recessive gene, mound (mnd), allows the appearance of globose masses of compacted hyphae. Dikaryons of Schizophyllum commune that are heteroallelic for mnd [(mosaic dikaryons: (mnd + mnd+)] have been successfully dedikaryotized in cholate-containing medium in order to recover the component nuclear types directly. The relative proportion of the two recovered monokaryotic types shows in all cases a marked deviation from 1:1. Hyphae from nonmound mycelial regions yield monokaryotic types identical to those originally used to form the dikaryons. In hyphae from mound-forming regions, however, homoallelism of the mnd allele has been demonstrated; the nuclear type that formerly contained the mnd+ allele acquired a mnd allele.—The process of internuclear transfer or recombination is unaccompanied by the simultaneous alteration of any additional genetic markers carried by the recipient nucleus. The newly acquired mnd allele segregates in Mendelian fashion in subsequent outcrosses and appears to be chromosomally located. A novel process of somatic recombination, with several features distinct from classical parasexual mitotic recombination, appears to be in operation.
Flow Control Using Flapping Wings for an Efficient Low-Speed Micro-Air Vehicle

A review is given of the research studies which led to the development of a flapping-wing propelled micro air vehicle which uses two oscillating wings in a biplane arrangement for propulsion and a fixed wing for lift generation. Computational and experimental studies are described which were conducted to obtain quantitative information about the thrust and propulsive efficiency offered by this choice. They included inviscid incompressible panel code as well as viscous Navier-Stokes computations, flow visualizations and flow measurements in water and wind tunnels as well as direct thrust measurements. It is shown that the placement of the fixed wing upstream but closely coupled to the two oscillating wings delays flow separation and therefore offers special advantages for flight operations at the low Reynolds numbers encountered by micro air vehicles.
Abuse, neglect, and violence against elderly women in Ghana: implications for social justice and human rights

This article discusses abuse and neglect of elderly women in Ghana and the traditional practices that adversely affect their human rights. Their situation is characterized by pervasive poverty, illiteracy, widowhood, predominantly rural dwelling, and subjection to insidious cultural practices and superstitious beliefs. Increase in life expectancy and population trends point to significant increases in the numbers of the elderly women. Breakdown of the extended family support system and the waning of filial obligations are factors affecting their welfare. Accurate data on these abuses is lacking due to cultural inhibitions and non-reporting. Legislations and NGO programs are addressed to combat abuses.
Using standardized fishery data to inform rehabilitation efforts

AbstractLakes and reservoirs progress through an aging process often accelerated by human activities, resulting in degradation or loss of ecosystem services. Resource managers thus attempt to slow or reverse the negative effects of aging using a myriad of rehabilitation strategies. Sustained monitoring programs to assess the efficacy of rehabilitation strategies are often limited; however, long-term standardized fishery surveys may be a valuable data source from which to begin evaluation. We present 3 case studies using standardized fishery survey data to assess rehabilitation efforts stemming from the Nebraska Aquatic Habitat Plan, a large-scale program with the mission to rehabilitate waterbodies within the state. The case studies highlight that biotic responses to rehabilitation efforts can be assessed, to an extent, using standardized fishery data; however, there were specific areas where minor increases in effort would clarify the effectiveness of rehabilitation techniques. Management of lakes and re...
Yersinia enterocolitica in Kansas. Attempted recovery from 1,212 patients.

An attempt was made to isolate Yersinia enterocolitica , by cold enrichment, from the stool of 1,212 patients seen at the Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas. Y. enterocolitica was isolated from 5 (0.4%) of the patients. Shigella was isolated from 36 (3.0%) patients while either Salmonella or Campylobacter were each isolated from 15 (1.2%) patients. Two of our five Yersinia isolates were from patients admitted to the hospital with diarrhea. One was from a patient who developed transient diarrhea while in the hospital, and the other two were from patients without diarrhea. In our opinion, the data do not justify the routine examination of stool specimens for Y. enterocolitica .
Who Sees More Clearly?:Boards of Directors and CEOs in a Multimarket Context

This study examines the conditions under which managers of firms and the board or directors are likely to correctly perceive and abide by the norms implicit in the firm’s competitive position. We focus on the network of multimarket ties and the prior work that suggests that firms and their managers should increase multimarket contact when levels are low by entering into more of their multimarket rivals’ markets but refrain from doing so once levels reach a high enough point so that an effective deterrent to further aggression exists. We build on prior findings that have shown that newer CEOs tend to mis-perceive their firm’s multimarket position and investigate characteristics of the Board of Directors for their effects on whether the firm behaves in accordance with its multimarket position regarding market entry. Results reveal that firms with Board dominated by outsiders (regardless of CEO tenure) are more likely to recognize and abide by their multimarket norms. Results also suggest that Board heteroge...
Drought resistance evaluation of different rice species at flowering stage

96 main rice cultivars in China were studied under 10 days water stress at flowering stage in attempt to investigate the relations between different cultivars and yield components.The results showed that water stress made no significant difference in grain number per panicle but decreased seed-setting rate and 1000-grain weight compared to CK group.According to water stress index(WSI) these 96 main cultivars were divided into three groups: drought resistant type(WSI0.0599),mid-tolerance type(0.0600WSI0.2599),and drought sensitive type(WSI0.2600).Nine of drought resistant species were screened out,including one conventional japonica species,one conventional indica species,two two-line indica hybrid species,and five three-line indica hybrid species.The drought resistance of indica rice is obviously better than japonica rice.Derived from the same female parent Gang 46A,Gangyou 527,Gangyou 188,and Gangyou 725 showed satisfied capacity to resist drought in this study.
Rural Planning in the Twenty-First Century: Context-Appropriate Practices in a Connected World:

Rural regions and their communities are principal locations for a range of crucial planning issues, yet the practice of rural planning has remained at the margins. In response to growing interest, ...
[Gastroesophageal reflux in infants: ultrasonographic reading of pHmetry].

BACKGROUND pH monitoring of the distal esophagus has proved both sensitive and specific in the detection of reflux but has several limitations due to changes over time in esophageal pH and possibility of alkaline reflux. Simultaneous ultrasonographic monitoring can be helpful when interpreting the results. POPULATION AND METHODS One thousand infants (80% under 1 year of age) were examined: 500 suffered from vomiting (310 patients), life-threatening events (65 patients) or repeated respiratory diseases (125 patients). Five hundred infants were controls (320 asymptomatic and 180 sibs of patients with SIDS). pHmonitoring and ultrasonography were performed before and after ingestion of milk by vomiting patients and after administration of orange juice in the other symptomatic patients. Control patients were given milk when asymptomatic or orange juice when they belonged to a SIDS sibship. RESULTS Ultrasonography permitted to interpret the different phases of the pH curves according to the age of patients, the meals and their nature, the events associated with temporary increase in abdominal pressure, the gravity. pH monitoring was able to recognize 1589 acid reflux but failed to recognize 2091 reflux episodes. CONCLUSIONS While pHmonitoring is helpful to demonstrate a relationship between the reflux and such events as apnea, bradycardia, cough, ultrasonography defines a risk based on specificity of reflux and laryngeal or esophageal dysfunction.
Subcellular Localization Study of Boronated Uridine and Glucose Derivatives in Cell Cultures Using Ion Microscopy

The success of boron neutron capture therapy depends on the uptake and retention of boron by tumor cells. The precise intracellular localization and concentration of boron must be known to be able to estimate the radiobiologic effects of boronated drugs. Therefore, it is critical to have analytical methods for evaluating the uptake, localization, and retention of boronated compounds in cell cultures and animal models. Ion microscopy is one such method.
Injection of business coding standards practices to embedded software courses

This paper details the process to inject and measure the understanding of student's knowledge and application of software coding standards. As with most other educational processes, consistent repetition enforces the learned concept. This process and techniques to reinforce the use of coding standards can be applied from freshman through graduate level embedded software courses.
Anisotropic Rotational Diffusion Studied by Nuclear Spin Relaxation and Molecular Dynamics Simulation: An Undergraduate Physical Chemistry Laboratory

Laboratories studying the anisotropic rotational diffusion of bromobenzene using nuclear spin relaxation and molecular dynamics simulations are described. For many undergraduates, visualizing molecular motion is challenging. Undergraduates rarely encounter laboratories that directly assess molecular motion, and so the concept remains an abstraction. Spin relaxation and molecular dynamics simulations are complementary tools in studying molecular motion in solution. Simulations allow direct visualization of motion. Comparison of simulation results to experimental spin relaxation results enables discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of each technique. Performance of spin relaxation experiments in addition broadens undergraduate perceptions of the utility of NMR spectroscopy. Laboratories which enable the study of the motion of small molecules by both techniques are presented.
The Jumping Spiders (Araneae: Salticidae) of Trinidad and Tobago

The jumping spiders (Salticidae) are the most speciose family of spiders, with approximately 4500 species currently known. They occur in most terrestrial habitats including arctic and alpine tundra, deserts, forests, grasslands, crops, and on man-made structures. The family's greatest diversity is in tropical forests. This is exemplified by Panama, which has 237 recorded salticid species, compared with Canada and the United States combined with 288 recorded salticid species in an area 200 times the size of Panama (Nentwig 1993). Jumping spiders are sometimes called money spiders in Trinidad.
Monthly variation in pediatric visits for headache to US emergency departments

Headache is a common pediatric symptom often associated with stress and fatigue which may be more common during the school year. The purpose of this study is to determine if visits for headache are more common during the months of the school year. This study is a secondary analysis of the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS) database from 2001 to 2010. Patient visits in those aged 18 years or younger not associated with injury were examined. Only visits with an International Classification of Diseases, ninth revision (ICD-9) code consistent with headache were included. Data were analyzed using cumulative binomial probabilities. This statistic was used to establish the chance of seeing up to the observed number of visits for headache in a given month assuming that all months have an equal number of visits. A total of 660 unweighted visits representing 3.2 million patient encounters met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Visits for headache were more common during the months of January, September, and October and less common in March, April, July, and November. Subgroup analysis was performed for children aged 13–18 years. In this subgroup, headaches were more common in January, September, and October. They were less common in July and December. Headache is more common during the first 2 months back to school in the fall as well as after the winter break in January. While we are not able to establish causality, we propose that children with headache require additional attention during the school year, particularly in the months following summer and winter breaks.
Low noise rail-to-rail amplifier runs fast at ultra low currents and targets energy harvesting

An input-output rail-to-rail buffer amplifier is presented that is low noise, fast, and operates at ultra low currents. The amplifier targets energy harvesting applications that require low cost, high volume, and rugged manufacturing by avoiding use of non-standard device configurations or special processes. The main contributions of this work are: (1) The method of lowering voltage output noise by narrow-banding an amplifier, while introducing a time dependent bias current boost that is triggered by large differential input signals. Narrowbanding an amplifier to reduce its output noise, slows its dynamic response, and this method aims to restore and boost both the amplifier's slew rate and settling time. (2) Amplifier can operate at low VDD of about VGS+2VDS, while running in subthreshold, based in standard 0.18u digital CMOS. (3) PMOSFETs are utilized as inputs, compensation capacitors, and bias resistors in both the amplifier and the boost stages, which helps optimize for yield and lower noise. More importantly, the dynamic response of both the main amplifier and the boost stage being substantially dependent on PMOSFET device parameters, facilitates a smoother dynamic response in and out of boost, over process and operating variations. Based on montecarlo (MC) and worst case (WC) simulations, the following specifications are achievable: voltage output noise (VO nOiSe ) of 10 uv/Hz⁁1/2 at 1KHz, supply current (Idd) ∼ 500 nA; V dd minimum ∼0.6V; rail-to-rail voltage input (V IN ) range and output voltage (V OUT ) range of ∼ +/− 25mv from the rails; output resistor load (R l ) ∼2k Ohms; output capacitor load (C l ) ∼1nF; slew-rate (SR) −/+ ∼ 4/2.5 v/us; settling time (t S ) ∼ 5us to 1%; power supply rejection ratio (PSRR) −/+ ∼ 80dB/85dB, common mode rejection ration (CMRR) ∼ 125dB, unity gain bandwidth (f r ) ∼ 20KHz with phase margin (PM) ∼ 75 degrees; open loop gain (G) ∼ 85dB; preliminary area estimate of ∼ 180 um per side.
Sociodemographics, but not Acculturation Proxies, Account for Differences in Lifetime Cessation between White and Hispanic Smokers.

Objective: Prominent addiction theories predict that Hispanic smokers should have more success at quitting than White smok­ers due to less physical dependence on average, but extant findings are mixed. This might be due in part to a lack of attention to confounding demographic and accultura­tion-related variables. Our study compared likelihood of lifetime cessation between White and Hispanic men and women of different language proficiency, nativity and residency status, controlling for age, educa­tion, and poverty level. Method: Data from 123,574 White and Hispanic participants in the 2011-2015 National Health Interview Surveys were used. Logistic regression analyses examined ethnic differences in odds of being a former smoker. Predicted probabilities of being a former smoker were calculated from these models. Results: In unadjusted analyses, White men demonstrated higher odds of being a former smoker compared with Hispanic men, Hispanic women, and White women. In adjusted analyses, Hispanics demonstrated higher odds of being a former smoker compared with Whites, and differences by acculturation proxies emerged. Conclusions: Not accounting for demo­graphics may suppress ethnic differences in likelihood of smoking cessation. Among His­panics, demographics may be more impor­tant determinants of lifetime quitting than acculturation-related characteristics. Ethn Dis . 2018;28(3):145-152; doi:10.18865/ ed.28.3.145
On Fracture of Warm Ice

The effect of grain boundary softening on the fracture toughness of warm freshwater ice is analyzed based on micromechanical considerations. This approach allows one to relate statistical and size effects to microstructural properties, and identify simple scaling rules for the fracture toughness. Those rules suggest that the test data for lake ice reported by Dempsey et al. (1999a) may not be prone to size effects, other than those dictated by linear elastic fracture mechanics.
"Noruega de claridad": una lectura del "Lazarillo de Manzanares"

Tradicionalmente se ha considerado el genero picaresco poco menos que un organismo vivo: nace (el Lazarillo de Tormes y el Guzman de Alfarache), crece (el Buscon, La picara Justina y todos los epigonos reconocidos por la critica), se reproduce (los relatos “apicarados” del tipo de Las harpias en Madrid) y muere. Una idea asimismo arraigada, estrechamente vinculada a la anterior, es que la picaresca “se desintegra”, “degenera” o “decae” en una suerte de lenta agonia que se extenderia desde el Buscon (circa 1604) y la Picara Justina (1605) –con los cuales, segun Rico, “se habia entrado en una via muerta” (129)– hasta el postrero Periquillo el de las gallineras (1668), pasando por textos tan disimiles unos de otros como Alonso, mozo de muchos amos (1626 y 1629), El siglo pitagorico o vida de don Gregorio Guadana (1644) o La garduna de Sevilla (1642). Dentro de esa lista de obras rezagadas que no han logrado ponerse “a la altura” de los libros picarescos canonicos se encuentra el Lazarillo de Manzanares (1620) de Juan Cortes de Tolosa. Un lugar comun ha sido juzgar al picaro de Manzanares (y al resto de secuelas del Lazarillo) en funcion del de Tormes. Como senala Miguel Zugasti en el estudio preliminar de su edicion, “es injusto juzgar por el mismo rasero a estos dos Lazarillos y del no cumplimiento de esta norma se han originado juicios mas negativos y defenestradores que autenticamente constructivos y meditados” (“Estudio” 12). Antes que nada, se trata de obras compuestas muy lejos cronologicamente una de la otra: el Lazarillo original es de la primera mitad del xvi (aunque esta vigente y remozado a inicios del xvii) y Cortes de Tolosa publica su obra casi setenta anos despues. Luego, y esto es lo que me interesa mas resaltar aqui, ocurre que la critica ha tomado por premisa que los continuadores del Lazarillo y del Guzman deberian (siempre en condicional) haber imitado fielmente al autor anonimo y a Aleman, pero se dio bien pronto con la sorpresa de que no fue asi y que, contrariamente a lo que “debio ser”, autores como Castillo Solorzano, Salas Barba-
Degrees and Kinds of Inequality

Much recent archaeological literature has stressed the variety of forms that early non-egalitarian societies may take. This variety has been characterized as “horizontal” variation (Drennan 1996, Feinman 2000) in contrast to the “vertical” dimension of social ranking most emphasized in the traditional cultural evolutionary literature. Much of cultural evolutionary thinking has, of course, a strongly unilineal character, and refocusing on horizontal variation has enabled fuller recognition of the very multilineal character of the emergence of hierarchical societies.
Abstract 120: Measures of Coagulation and Hemostatic Activation Outperform Left Atrial Structural Parameters in Identifying Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source (ESUS) Patients Who May Benefit From Early Anticoagulation

Introduction: The objective of this study was to evaluate left atrial (LA) echocardiographic parameters and a novel panel of serum biomarkers to identify ESUS patients who may benefit from early an...
Endoscopic and Laparoscopic Techniques of Minimally Invasive Components Separation for Abdominal Wall Reconstruction

Ventral and incisional hernia defects may be addressed by a variety of open or minimally invasive techniques. Laparoscopy has proven to be advantageous as it reduces wound morbidity, expedites return of bowel function, and decreases length of hospital stay. However, until recently, patients with a loss of domain or those having large hernia defects requiring components separation were relegated to open surgical techniques in order to address their complex defects. The following chapter overviews minimally invasive components separation with focus on relevant operative techniques and associated controversies.
Woman with lower back pain, SIADH and a twist of Lyme

A 62-year-old woman was admitted with a 3-week history of atraumatic bilateral lower back pain, progressive ascending flaccid paralysis, hyponatraemia and constipation. She was otherwise in good health with only a recent diagnosis of acute gastroenteritis that preceded her presenting symptoms. Her initial laboratory evaluation was consistent with Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone (SIADH) but was otherwise unremarkable. MRI of the spine revealed bilateral diffuse nerve root enhancement from at least C6 to the conus level, suggesting an inflammatory process. Lumbar puncture demonstrated high protein (629 mg/dL) with marked pleocytosis (363 cells/mcL) incompatible with albuminocytological dissociation typically seen in Guillain-Barre syndrome. A thorough diagnostic evaluation was undertaken to explore potential infectious, malignant and autoimmune conditions. Lyme disease serology (ELISA and Western Blot, IgM and IgG) was positive leading to a final diagnosis of lymphocytic meningoradiculitis or Bannwarth syndrome.
Thyroid Dysfunction and Infertility

Female fertility is a cumulative process of ovarian function, oocyte development, endometrial receptivity, and male factors. This chapter examines the relationship between thyroid dysfunction and female reproductive potential. Hypothyroidism is associated with changes in menstrual patterns, including decreased menstrual cycle frequency and increased volume of menses. Thyroid hormone, thyroid hormone transporters, and nuclear thyroid hormone receptors have been found in ovarian follicles and in oocytes. Thyroid hormone receptors are also found at the surface of the endometrium and are thought to be involved in the interaction between the endometrium and the blastocyst at the time of implantation. There continues to be debate on whether subclinical hypothyroidism is associated with infertility. Evidence suggests that subclinical hypothyroidism and thyroid antibodies, in addition to overt hypothyroidism, may be associated with negative outcomes among women undergoing treatment with assisted reproductive technology.
Abstract WP140: The Effect of Age-related Gut Dysbiosis on Microglial Function in Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy

The role of “gut-immune-brain axis” across our lifespan is well recognized as a biologic variable. As our populations age, so does the prevalence of age-related illnesses including stroke and its s...
Microwave-induced organic reaction enhancement chemistry.4 convenient synthesis of enantiopure α-hydroxy-β-lactams1

Abstract A convenient and rapid synthesis of enantiopure α-hydroxy-β-lactams using microwave-induced organic reaction enhancement chemistry has been developed. Reactions in domestic microwave ovens, which are very convenient and economical for small scale work in research or teaching laboratories, can also be conducted on a preparative scale of 100–500g in simple beakers or flasks.
Lactation and Maternal Subclinical Atherosclerosis Among Women With and Without a History of Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy.

Background: We evaluated subclinical cardiovascular disease in relation to lactation history among women with normotensive pregnancies and women with hypertensive pregnancies, a distinction not pre...
Acute toxicity outcomes and dosimetric implications from incidental irradiation of adjacent tissues in tangent field hypofractionated breast radiotherapy

Abstract Purpose Adjacent tissues-in-beam (TIB) may receive substantial incidental doses within standard tangent fields during hypofractioned whole breast irradiation (HF-WBI). To characterize the impact of dose to TIB, we analyzed dosimetric parameters of TIB and associated acute toxicity. Materials and Methods Plans prescribed to 40.5 Gy/15 fractions from 4/2016-1/2018 were evaluated. Structures of interest were contoured: (1) TIB: all tissues encompassed by plan 30% isodose lines, (2) breast, (3) non-breast TIB (nTIB): TIB minus contoured breast. Volumes of TIB, breast, and nTIB receiving 100%–107% of prescription dose (V100-V107) were calculated. Twelve patient- and physician-reported acute toxicities were prospectively collected weekly. Correlations between volumetric and dosimetric parameters were assessed. Uni- and multivariable logistic regressions evaluated toxicity grade changes as a function of TIB, breast, and nTIB V100-V107 (in cm3). Results We evaluated 137 plans. Breast volume was positively correlated with nTIB and nTIB V100 (rho = 0.52, rho = 0.30, respectively, both p 2 cm3 were noted in 14% of breast and 21% of nTIB volumes. On multivariable analyses, increasing breast and nTIB V100 significantly raised odds of grade 2+ dermatitis and burning/twinging pain, respectively; increasing nTIB V105 elevated odds of hyperpigmentation and burning pain; and increasing nTIB V107 raised odds of burning pain. Threshold volumes for >6-fold odds of developing burning pain were TIB V105 > 100 cm3 and V107 > 5 cm3. Conclusions For HF-WBI, doses to nTIB over the prescription predicted acute toxicities independent of breast doses. These data support inclusion of TIB as a region of interest in treatment planning and protocol design
A Systematic Literature Review of Game-Based Learning and Safety Management

With the rapid advancement of computer and multimedia technologies, game-based learning has the potential to increase the effectiveness of learning. One of the applications of game-based learning can be safety training. In this study, a systematic literature review of both these topics has been conducted using tools like VOSviewer, MAXQDA, Harzing’s Publish or Perish, AuthorMapper and Mendeley. A co-citation analysis was conducted to determine the most important articles in the literature. It was found that there are very few examples of game-based learning being used for safety training. To encourage the use of game-based learning, it is essential to develop a better understanding of the tasks, activities, skills and operations that different kinds of game can offer and examine how these might match desired learning outcomes. Virtual reality (VE) technology is another promising technology that can be used to increase the effectiveness of safety training. Finally, it was concluded that a combination of cognitive, motivational, affective, and sociocultural perspectives is necessary for both game design and game research to fully capture what games have to offer for learning.
A novel arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian finite element method for a parabolic/mixed parabolic moving interface problem

Abstract In this paper, a monolithic arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian (ALE)-finite element method (FEM) is developed based upon a novel ALE mapping for a type of parabolic/mixed parabolic moving interface problem with jump coefficients. A stable Stokes-pair mixed FEM within a specific stabilization technique and a novel ALE time-difference scheme are developed to discretize this interface problem in both semi- and fully discrete fashion, for which the stability and error estimate analyses are conducted in the ALE frame. Numerical experiments are carried out to validate all theoretical results in different cases. The developed novel ALE-FEM can be extended to a moving interface problem that involves the pore fluid (Darcy) equation or Biot’s model in the future.
Trends in U.S. Working-Age non-Hispanic White Mortality: Rural–Urban and Within-Rural Differences

After decades of lower or comparable mortality rates in rural than in urban areas of the U.S., numerous studies have documented a rural mortality penalty that started in the 1990s and has grown since the mid-2000s. The widening of the gap appears to be especially pronounced among non-Hispanic (NH) whites. However, the rural U.S. is not monolithic, and some rural places have experienced much larger mortality rate increases than others over the past 30 years. Drawing on restricted mortality files from the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS), I examine metro versus nonmetro and intra-nonmetro (divisional and economic dependency) all-cause and cause-specific mortality trends among working-age (25–64) NH white males and females, 1990–2018. Results show that the nonmetro mortality penalty is wide and growing and is pervasive across multiple disease and injury categories. Trends for females are particularly concerning. Smaller nonmetro declines in mortality from cancers and cardiovascular disease (throughout the 1990s and 2000s) and larger increases in metabolic and respiratory diseases, suicide, alcohol-related, and mental/behavioral disorders (throughout the 2010s) collectively drove the growth in the nonmetro disadvantage. There are also large divisional disparities (which are growing for females), with particularly poor trends in New England, South Atlantic, ES Central, WS Central, and Appalachia and more favorable trends in the Mid-Atlantic, Mountain, and Pacific. Mining-dependent counties have diverged from the other economic dependency types since the mid-2000s due to multiple causes of death, whereas farming counties have comparatively lower mortality rates. High and rising mortality rates across a variety of causes and rural places, some of which have been occurring since the 1990s and others that emerged more recently, suggest that there is not one underlying explanation. Instead, systemic failures across a variety of institutions and policies have contributed to rural America’s troubling mortality trends generally and within-rural disparities more specifically.
Gillian “Gus” Andrews. Keep Calm and Log On: Your Handbook for Surviving the Digital Revolution. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2020. 368p. Paperback, $24.95 (ISBN 978-0262538763).

A co-worker and I have a saying among ourselves: There ought to be a booklet about this stuff. Gillian “Gus” Andrews has attempted to write a booklet on a hot version of this stuff: the whole internet. It is an admirable attempt, but a gut instinct is to roll one’s eyes at the attempt. Can one write a (368-page) booklet on emotionally, technologically, socially, and politically navigating the quagmire that the modern web has become?
Feasibility of using digital confocal microscopy for cytopathological examination in clinical practice.

Optical imaging modalities are emerging as digital microscopy tools for tissue examination. The investigation of these techniques for potential applications in anatomic pathology practice has focused primarily on surgical pathology and has not included cytopathological specimens. We evaluated the feasibility of using digital confocal microscopy (CM) to examine cytopathological specimens. Smears and cell suspensions collected in RPMI solution were prepared from tissue scrapes obtained from surgical resections of breast, lung, liver, and kidney. Air-dried smears and cell pellets obtained from centrifugation of the cell suspensions were stained with 0.6 mM acridine orange and imaged with a CM platform. After completion of imaging, the smears were stained with Diff-Quik (DQ), and cell pellets were routinely processed, embedded in paraffin wax, cut, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE quality of images based on the extent of tissue recognition (0%, grade 0; 1-19%, grade 1; 20-50%, grade 2; >50%, grade 3); comparison of images with DQ- and HE and ability to make specific diagnoses. We imaged 91 smears and 52 cell pellets and acquired digital CM images within 2-3 min, with 92% and 88% of images, respectively, from smears and cell pellets showing grade 3 quality. On the basis of CM images, 8 smears (9%) and 7 cell pellets (14%) were categorized as benign, and 83 (91%) and 45 (88%), respectively, as malignant. Specific diagnoses were made by using digital CM images of smears and cell pellets that matched accurately with corresponding DQ- and H&E-stained preparations. The results of our first feasibility study clearly indicated the utility of CM as a next-generation digital microscopy tool for evaluating cytology specimens. Prospective clinical studies are warranted for validating our findings for potential incorporation into cytopathological clinical practice.
Author name disambiguation for PubMed

Log analysis shows that PubMed users frequently use author names in queries for retrieving scientific literature. However, author name ambiguity may lead to irrelevant retrieval results. To improve the PubMed user experience with author name queries, we designed an author name disambiguation system consisting of similarity estimation and agglomerative clustering. A machine-learning method was employed to score the features for disambiguating a pair of papers with ambiguous names. These features enable the computation of pairwise similarity scores to estimate the probability of a pair of papers belonging to the same author, which drives an agglomerative clustering algorithm regulated by 2 factors: name compatibility and probability level. With transitivity violation correction, high precision author clustering is achieved by focusing on minimizing false-positive pairing. Disambiguation performance is evaluated with manual verification of random samples of pairs from clustering results. When compared with a state-of-the-art system, our evaluation shows that among all the pairs the lumping error rate drops from 10.1% to 2.2% for our system, while the splitting error rises from 1.8% to 7.7%. This results in an overall error rate of 9.9%, compared with 11.9% for the state-of-the-art method. Other evaluations based on gold standard data also show the increase in accuracy of our clustering. We attribute the performance improvement to the machine-learning method driven by a large-scale training set and the clustering algorithm regulated by a name compatibility scheme preferring precision. With integration of the author name disambiguation system into the PubMed search engine, the overall click-through-rate of PubMed users on author name query results improved from 34.9% to 36.9%.
The communication attitude test: a normative study of grade school children

Abstract The Communication Attitude Test (C.A.T.), a 35-item questionnaire designed to assess the speech-associated beliefs of children, was administered to 518 youngsters in grades 2–8 whose speech was considered to be normal. The children, approximately half from each sex, ranged in age from 6 to 15. Their average C.A.T. score (8.24) indicated the presence of little in the way of negative attitudes toward speech; what was evidenced decreased significantly from the second to the eighth grade. However, the test means did not vary to a statistically meaningful extent with either age or sex.
Counseling Biracial Women

Abstract Although the counseling profession has only recently taken notice of the growing biracial population in this country, the unique challenges that biracial women face have received little notice. The racist and sexist historical, political, economical, and social institutions that underlie American society have the potential of placing biracial women in a position of double jeopardy. The incorporation of two counseling perspectives, Multicultural Counseling and Therapy and Feminist Therapy, are suggested as a comprehensive approach to working with female biracial clients.
A STUDY OF LOW Q**2 RADIATIVE BHABHA SCATTERING

This thesis presents a study of electron-positron scattering, via nearly real photon exchange, where in the process one or more high energy photons are produced. The motivations behind the work are twofold. Firstly, the study is a sensitive test of the theory of electron-photon interactions, quantum electrodynamics. A deviation from the theory could indicate that the electron is a composite particle. Secondly, a thorough understanding of this process is necessary for experiments to be done in the near future at the Stanford Linear Collider and the LEP facility at CERN. Calculations for the process to third and fourth order in pertubation theory are described. Methods for simulating the process by a Monte Carlo event generator are given. Results from the calculations are compared to data from the Mark II experiment at the PEP storage ring. The ratio of measured to calculated cross sections are 0.993 /+-/ 0.017 /+-/ 0.015 and 0.99 /+-/ 0.16 /+-/ 0.08 for final states with one and two observed photons respectively, where the first errors are statistical and the second systematic. The excellent agreement verifies the calculations of the fourth order radiative correction. No evidence for electron substructure is observed.