cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quantitative genome-wide analysis of yeast deletion strain sensitivities to oxidative and chemical stress: Research Articles

Understanding the actions of drugs and toxins in a cell is of critical importance to medicine, yet many of the molecular events involved in chemical resistance are relatively uncharacterized. In order to identify the cellular processes and pathways targeted by chemicals, we took advantage of the haploid Saccharomyces cerevisiae deletion strains (Winzeler et al., [1999];. Although ∼4800 of the strains are viable, the loss of a gene in a pathway affected by a drug can lead to a synthetic lethal effect in which the combination of a deletion and a normally sublethal dose of a chemical results in loss of viability. We carried out genome-wide screens to determine quantitative sensitivities of the deletion set to four chemicals: hydrogen peroxide, menadione, ibuprofen and mefloquine. Hydrogen peroxide and menadione induce oxidative stress in the cell, whereas ibuprofen and mefloquine are toxic to yeast by unknown mechanisms. Here we report the sensitivities of 659 deletion strains that are sensitive to one or more of these four compounds, including 163 multichemical-sensitive strains, 394 strains specific to hydrogen peroxide and/or menadione, 47 specific to ibuprofen and 55 specific to mefloquine. We correlate these results with data from other large-scale studies to yield novel insights into cellular function. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Function Concept in Elementary Teaching and in Advanced Mathematics

(1938). The Function Concept in Elementary Teaching and in Advanced Mathematics. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 45, No. 7, pp. 448-455.
Synthetic Conditions for High-Accuracy Size Control of PbS Quantum Dots

Decreasing the variability in quantum dot (QD) syntheses is desirable for better uniformity of samples for use in QD-based studies and applications. Here we report a highly reproducible linear relationship between the concentration of ligand (in this case oleic acid, OA) and the lowest energy exciton peak position (nm) of the resulting PbS QDs for various hot-injection temperatures. Thus, for a given injection temperature, the size of the PbS QD product is purely controlled by the amount of OA. We used this relationship to study PbS QD solar cells that are fabricated from the same size of PbS QDs but synthesized using four different injection temperatures: 95, 120, 150, and 185 °C. We find that the power conversion efficiency does not depend on injection temperature but that the Voc is higher for QDs synthesized at lower temperatures while the Jsc is improved in higher temperature QDs.
The growing problem of patent trolling

The last decade has seen a sharp rise in patent litigation in the United States; 2015 has one of the highest patent lawsuit counts on record ( 1 ). In theory, this could reflect growth in commercialization of technology and innovation—lawsuits increase as more firms turn to intellectual property (IP) protection to safeguard their competitive advantages. However, the majority of recent patent litigation is driven by nonpracticing entities (NPEs), firms that generate no products but amass patent portfolios for the sake of “enforcing” IP rights ( 2 ). We discuss new, large-sample evidence adding to a growing literature ( 3 – 7 ) that suggests that NPEs—in particular, large patent aggregators—on average, act as “patent trolls,” suing cash-rich firms seemingly irrespective of actual patent infringement. This has a negative impact on innovation activity at targeted firms. These results suggest a need to change U.S. IP policy, particularly to screen out trolling early in the litigation process.
In Response to: "Using lean-based systems engineering to increase capacity in the emergency department.

In Reply: We very much appreciate the interest of our colleagues in this important topic, one that has yet to fully mature in the pantheon of emergency medicine literature. We also recognize and noted in our manuscript that the single-site nature of our work is a limitation. However, we disagree that this limitation makes scientific exploration and publication of this nature a fruitless endeavor as implied. Publication bias aside, the central tenet of Lean methodologies is the elimination of waste in all forms, and thus it is an inherently generalizable tool to improve any process in which waste exists. However, by definition the specific details relating to the underlying process and the implementation of Lean are of key importance, and its potential utility needs to be weighed in each individual setting. In addition, partly for this reason, we suggest that local processes not affected by the intervention may serve as reliable controls. We specifically used another area of our ED as a control group to avoid the recognized limitations of an analysis that was purely based on data that were obtained “before and after” the changes were implemented. Finally, Lean methodologies do not always have to be resource intensive as our colleagues suggest. For example, no external consultants or significant internal resources were utilized for this work, and in addition we were in fact able to decrease resource utilization as is common with successful Lean interventions. We respectfully suggest that it is often in this simplicity and focus that Lean interventions, and robust scientific studies describing them, have the potential to be so powerful.
Fabrication and characterization of a co-planar detector in diamond for low energy single ion implantation

We demonstrate low energy single ion detection using a co-planar detector fabricated on a diamond substrate and characterized by ion beam induced charge collection. Histograms are taken with low fluence ion pulses illustrating quantized ion detection down to a single ion with a signal-to-noise ratio of approximately 10. We anticipate that this detection technique can serve as a basis to optimize the yield of single color centers in diamond. The ability to count ions into a diamond substrate is expected to reduce the uncertainty in the yield of color center formation by removing Poisson statistics from the implantation process.
Self-Help and Self-Governance

Although Indian peoples had managed their own affairs to some extent even after forced into dependent relationships with the American and Canadian governments, the 1920s saw a new emphasis on self-determination. Indian leaders were encouraged by white sympathizers who romanticized Indian traditions in ways which, to some Indians at least, seemed to invalidate the painful adjustments they and their children were making in an effort to achieve economic security. The policy of the federal government placed a new emphasis on expecting Indians— whether as individuals or as tribes—to take responsibility for themselves rather than continue in a dependent situation.
Experimental Platform for Ultra-high Dose Rate FLASH Irradiation of Small Animals Using a Clinical Linear Accelerator.

Purpose A key factor limiting the effectiveness of radiation therapy is normal tissue toxicity, and recent preclinical data have shown that ultra-high dose rate irradiation (>50 Gy/s, “FLASH”) potentially mitigates this effect. However, research in this field has been strongly limited by the availability of FLASH irradiators suitable for small animal experiments. We present a simple methodologic approach for FLASH electron small animal irradiation with a clinically available linear accelerator (LINAC). Methods and Materials We investigated the FLASH irradiation potential of a Varian Clinac 21EX in both clinical mode and after tuning of the LINAC. We performed detailed FLUKA Monte Carlo and experimental dosimetric characterization at multiple experimental locations within the LINAC head. Results Average dose rates of ≤74 Gy/s were achieved in clinical mode, and the dose rate after tuning exceeded 900 Gy/s. We obtained 220 Gy/s at 1-cm depth for a >4-cm field size with 90% homogeneity throughout a 2-cm-thick volume. Conclusions We present an approach for using a clinical LINAC for FLASH irradiation. We obtained dose rates exceeding 200 Gy/s after simple tuning of the LINAC, with excellent dosimetric properties for small animal experiments. This will allow for increased availability of FLASH irradiation to the general research community.
Beyond The Anticipatory Corpse—Future Perspectives for Bioethics

This essay explores the two main objectives of Bishop's book, which he analyzes in the context of the care for the dying: (1) the medical metaphysics underlying medical science and (2) biopolitics as governance of the human body. This essay discusses Bishop's claims in view of newer developments in medicine, especially the turn to the construction of life, and confronts the concept of the patient's sovereignty with an alternative model of vulnerable agency. In order to overcome the impasses of contemporary bioethics, the essay argues that practical reason requires a two-fold ethics: first, it must develop a new hermeneutics of illness and disease, and second, in order to protect the individuals in the process of dying, moral claims concerning death must be based on the concept of human rights.
Principals’ Goal Setting Approach and its Implications for Teacher Turnover

Theories addressing individual motivation abound in organizational research. Even public administration--a field criticized for having few homegrown theories--has its own theory of employee motivat...
Static hybrid AC/DC microgrid planning

A hybrid microgrid planning model is proposed in this paper to determine the least-cost distributed energy resource (DER) size and generation mix, the type of each feeder in the microgrid distribution network (i.e., AC or DC), and the optimal location of each selected DER. The objective of the microgrid planning problem is to minimize the total planning cost, including the investment and operation costs of the DERs, the investment cost of converters, the cost of the energy exchange with the utility grid, and the cost of unserved energy. A static planning model is considered which provides a quick solution and viable insight on the microgrid planning decisions. Numerical simulations exhibit the effectiveness of the proposed model and further analyze the sensitivity of microgrid planning results on variety of factors such as the ratio of DC loads, load criticality, and converters' efficiency.
Abstract A07: Creation of a culturally tailored quit smokeless tobacco program for American Indians

American Indians (AI) have the highest rates of smokeless tobacco (SLT) use of any major ethnic group in the US at 9% versus 4% among whites. This is likely an underestimate due to the wide variation in SLT use by region of the country and tribal affiliation. AI in the Southern and Northern Plains have the highest SLT use rates, reaching 25% among some tribes, contributing to higher and rising incidence and disproportionate mortality in SLT-related cancers, including oral, esophageal, and pancreatic cancers. In addition, over the last three decades rates of SLT use have been rising in some tribal communities with historically low rates. Our overall objective for this project is the development and pilot testing of a culturally tailored SLT cessation program for a heterogeneous AI population using community-based participatory research (CBPR). Here, we describe program development using a CBPR approach and program components of the All Nations Snuff Out Smokeless (ANSOS) program. Program development includes a series of focus groups used to determine program components and cultural tailoring and assessments of the program curriculum for scientific accuracy, readability, and cultural appropriateness. We conducted 6 focus groups with smokeless tobacco users or recent users to determine what they thought would be important in a quit smokeless tobacco program for AI. Based on these focus groups and a smoking cessation program we previously developed and tested with success (All Nations Breath of Life), we created a program and accompanying educational curriculum. Program components include both in-person group counseling sessions and telephone individual counseling, culturally tailored program incentives designed to assist with the quitting process and enhance retention, and a culturally tailored curriculum. To assess the curriculum for scientific accuracy, we used a panel of four experts in tobacco cessation. To assess the curriculum for readability, we used the Fry readability formula, combined with the SMOG readability formula. Using the two formulas allowed us to look at multiple aspects of readability, such as word length and sentence length. To assess the curriculum for cultural appropriateness, we conducted 22 interviews with AI, stratified by gender. We present here results of our focus groups, assessments, and interviews, along with a basic description of program components. Citation Format: Charley S. Lewis, Jason W. Hale, Ryan T. Goeckner, T Edward Smith, Stephen Valliere, Jordyn A. Gunville, Crisandra Wilkie, Kathryn L. Rollins, Won S. Choi, Christine M. Daley. Creation of a culturally tailored quit smokeless tobacco program for American Indians. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Ninth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2016 Sep 25-28; Fort Lauderdale, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2017;26(2 Suppl):Abstract nr A07.
Fusion of lens-free microscopy and mobile-phone microscopy images for high-color-accuracy and high-resolution pathology imaging

Digital pathology and telepathology require imaging tools with high-throughput, high-resolution and accurate color reproduction. Lens-free on-chip microscopy based on digital in-line holography is a promising technique towards these needs, as it offers a wide field of view (FOV >20 mm2) and high resolution with a compact, low-cost and portable setup. Color imaging has been previously demonstrated by combining reconstructed images at three discrete wavelengths in the red, green and blue parts of the visible spectrum, i.e., the RGB combination method. However, this RGB combination method is subject to color distortions. To improve the color performance of lens-free microscopy for pathology imaging, here we present a wavelet-based color fusion imaging framework, termed “digital color fusion microscopy” (DCFM), which digitally fuses together a grayscale lens-free microscope image taken at a single wavelength and a low-resolution and low-magnification color-calibrated image taken by a lens-based microscope, which can simply be a mobile phone based cost-effective microscope. We show that the imaging results of an H&E stained breast cancer tissue slide with the DCFM technique come very close to a color-calibrated microscope using a 40x objective lens with 0.75 NA. Quantitative comparison showed 2-fold reduction in the mean color distance using the DCFM method compared to the RGB combination method, while also preserving the high-resolution features of the lens-free microscope. Due to the cost-effective and field-portable nature of both lens-free and mobile-phone microscopy techniques, their combination through the DCFM framework could be useful for digital pathology and telepathology applications, in low-resource and point-of-care settings.
The interacting roles of climate, soils, and plant production on soil microbial communities at a continental scale

Soil microbial communities control critical ecosystem processes such as decomposition, nutrient cycling, and soil organic matter formation. Continental scale patterns in the composition and functioning of microbial communities are related to climatic, biotic, and edaphic factors such as temperature and precipitation, plant community composition, and soil carbon, nitrogen, and pH. Although these relationships have been well explored individually, the examination of the factors that may act directly on microbial communities versus those that may act indirectly through other ecosystem properties has not been well developed. To further such understanding, we utilized structural equation modeling (SEM) to evaluate a set of hypotheses about the direct and indirect effects of climatic, biotic, and edaphic variables on microbial communities across the continental United States. The primary goals of this work were to test our current understanding of the interactions among climate, soils, and plants in affecting microbial community composition, and to examine whether variation in the composition of the microbial community affects potential rates of soil enzymatic activities. A model of interacting factors created through SEM that shows several expected patterns. Distal factors such as climate had indirect effects on microbial communities by influencing plant productivity, soil mineralogy, and soil pH, but factors related to soil organic matter chemistry had the most direct influence on community composition. We observed that both plant productivity and soil mineral composition were important indirect influences on community composition at the continental scale, both interacting to affect organic matter content and microbial biomass and ultimately community composition. Although soil hydrolytic enzymes were related to the moisture regime and soil carbon, oxidative enzymes were also affected by community composition, reflected in the abundance of soil fungi. These results highlight that soil microbial communities can be modeled within the context of multiple interacting ecosystem properties acting both directly and indirectly on their composition and function, and this provides a rich and informative context with which to examine communities. This work also highlights that variation in climate, microbial biomass, and microbial community composition can affect maximum rates of soil enzyme activities, potentially influencing rates of decomposition and nutrient mineralization in soils. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Radiologic Approach to the Diagnosis of Bowel Emergencies in Neonates

Neonatal bowel disorders represent a diverse set of congenital and acquired conditions spanning the alimentary tract. Clinical presentation is variable and reflects both the site of gastrointestinal involvement as well as the underlying pathology. Several of the neonatal bowel disorders represent true surgical emergencies and require prompt diagnosis for optimal outcomes. Radiologic studies, which may consist of radiography, upper gastrointestinal series, barium enema, and/or ultrasonography, provide essential data to achieve the correct diagnosis.
Resettled Refugee Teens’ Perspectives: Identifying a Need to Centralize Youths’ “Funds of Strategies” in Future Efforts to Enact Culturally Responsive Pedagogy

This paper examines how refugee youth strategically navigate learning during the first years of resettlement. Interweaving frameworks of youth agency and culturally responsive pedagogy (CRP), we investigate how refugees learn, how they perceive instruction in the U.S., and what they recommend teachers do to support them. Analysis of interview and observational data reveals that teens engage in productive learning strategies after school but have less agency to enact these strategies during school. Also emphasized in this study is teens’ desire for more rigorous coursework in secondary schools. Drawing from our findings, we theoretically propose that teens—not just teachers—have roles in implementing CRP. Thus, implications for research include the need for a greater focus on how resettled refugee youth mediate learning for one another and how teachers can learn about and empower youth to draw upon their Funds of Strategies as they strive to implement CRP.
Steppe rodents at the edge of their range: A case study of Spalax microphthalmus in the north of Ukraine

Based on results obtained during 2000–2018 by field research, polls of colleagues, and OSINT analysis, features of distribution of the greater mole rat Spalax microphthalmus in the eastern forest steppe of Ukraine were considered. The studied part of the species’ range is unique and represents the northern range edge of the entire Spalacidae family and of European steppe faunal assemblages in general. In total, data on 146 record localities were amassed, including 13 localities in the fragmented and 133 in the continuous part of the range. The offshoots of the Central Russian Upland in the valley of the Psel river (east of Sumy Oblast) are the sites with the highest density of settlements, while the species’ type biotopes are steppe balka slopes. The abundance of the greater mole rat decreased from the east to the west, and its colonies are the most fragmented along the Dnipro River. The species occurs in steppe and meadow habitats of an area of at least 20–50 ha. Analysis of the current and former distribution of the greater mole rat revealed that the species range contracts from the west; earlier it was a common species in different regions of the Middle Dnipro Area (including Kyiv city), but the current range edge runs along the line connecting Buryn – Nedryhailiv – Lokhvytsia – Myrhorod – Hadiach – Zinkiv – Zaliznychne. Isolated settlements exist in adjacent territories, particularly in Ichnia Raion of Chernihiv Oblast, and Lubny, Khorol, and Kobeliaky Raions of Poltava Oblast. The study showed that the species’ range contracted by two times to 35,000 km2 for the last 100 years, which includes only 430,000 ha of suitable habitats (15% of the range), allowing the existence here of 86,000–215,000 individuals. In fact, the species remained only in habitats that have been minimally affected by arable farming and other forms of active agricultural use. Besides, the species shows a clear confinement to habitats located near human settlements such as untilled lands, pastures with moderate grazing, waste and neglected lands, which constitute a separate group of transformed and semi-natural habitats. Formally, this allows the greater mole rat to be considered as a synanthropic species, because its inhabited biotopes, beside the zone of offshoots of the Central Russian Upland, have remained only near villages and along roads. The species also has an important biocoenotic role due to its burrowing activity and as prey of predatory birds (e.g., of the long-legged buzzard and Eurasian eagle owl) and mammals. The feeding period of the offspring of these predators generally coincides with the aboveground activity of mole rats, which lasts during May–July with a peak in June. Aboveground activity is mainly related to the resettlement of mole rats to new sites and dispersal of the young, due to which they became victims of predators.
From Temple to Text: Text as Ritual Space and the Composition of Numbers 6:24–26

Past studies emphasize the difficulties in understanding the logic behind the placement of the priestly blessing within the description of tabernacle rituals of Numbers 5:1–10:10. The present article sheds new light on this problem by comparing the blessing in Numbers 6:24–26 to several blessings preserved in Iron Age dedicatory inscriptions. It argues that the locations of such dedications in temple spaces provide new insights into the literary location of the priestly blessing in the book of Numbers.
Lessening the Load of Misconceptions: Design-Based Principles for Algebra Learning

The current study examined the effectiveness of self-explanation prompts, visual signaling cues, and a combination of the two features on middle school students’ (N = 202) algebra learning. Also ex...
Successful Management of a Patient With Jacobsen Syndrome and Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome

Jacobsen syndrome (JS) is a rare genetic condition characterized by intellectual disability, hematologic abnormalities, and congenital heart defects. A male infant presented at birth with phenotypi...
Social Computing for Impact Assessment of Social Change Projects

One problem that both philanthropic foundations and scientific organizations have recently started to tackle more seriously is assessing the societal impact of the work they are funding by going beyond traditional methods and metrics. In collaboration with makers and funders of social justice information products, we have been leveraging social computing techniques for practical impact assessment. In this paper, we identify which of the main impact goals as defined in the social change domain can be assessed by using our computational solution, illustrate our approach with an empirical case study, and compare our findings to those that can be obtained with traditional methods. We find that our solution can complement and enhance the findings and interpretations that can be obtained with standard techniques used in the given application domain, especially when applying data mining techniques to natural language text data, such as representations of public awareness, dialogue and engagement around various issues in their cultural contexts.
Developing a Sustainable Renal Transplant Program in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Outcome, Challenges, and Solutions

The initiation of a kidney transplant program, in a low- and middle-income country, while striving to maintain excellent outcomes and adhere to high ethical, legal standards, is a formidable task. Herein, we review the outcomes and challenges of a living donor kidney transplant program from its inception to sustainability, in Guyana, South America. This is a retrospective review of a living donor kidney transplant program instituted in Guyana in 2008. Data included recipient and donor demographics, cause of renal failure, donor–recipient matching and relationship, perioperative complications, timing and cause of death, graft failure, surgical technique, and laterality of organ procured. Patient and donor data were compared by phases and additionally compared to United States Renal Data Base System. Survival outcomes were compared by phases and by Kaplan–Meier curves. To date, 45 kidney transplants have been completed. Phase I (2007–2008) was the initiation of the program, which was comprised of upgrading hospital and operating rooms, obtaining antirejection medications, educating local providers, fostering a relationship with the government, and screening patients and living donors. We also began vascular access and peritoneal dialysis in the country, as well as introduced the companion public health service initiative: the SEVAK program. Phase II (2008–2014) involved completion of 25 living donor kidney transplants, of which there have been 11 confirmed deaths and 10 lost to follow-up. In Phase III (2015–present), 20 transplants have been completed to date, of whom only 1 died and none were lost to follow-up. In the third phase, we also introduced corneal transplantation to Guyana and have performed over 100 transplants. Kidney transplantation can be safely and ethically performed in a low- and middle-income country. We applied lessons learnt from the first two phases to improve follow-up by appointing a local coordinator who goes to patient’s homes in remote villages. Currently, there is a stable local team that is performing transplants and following the patients. We believe that our model of public–private partnership can sustain kidney, as well as corneal, transplantation and could be replicated in other countries.
The battle of Aleppo: external patrons and the victimization of civilians in civil war

ABSTRACTCivilian victimization, whether deliberate or collateral, is a common occurrence in civil war. This study investigates patterns of civilian victimization during the 5-year Battle of Aleppo,...
Electrically programmable probabilistic bit anti-correlator on a nanomagnetic platform.

Execution of probabilistic computing algorithms require electrically programmable stochasticity to encode arbitrary probability functions and controlled stochastic interaction or correlation between probabilistic (p-) bits. The latter is implemented with complex electronic components leaving a large footprint on a chip and dissipating excessive amount of energy. Here, we show an elegant implementation with just two dipole-coupled magneto-tunneling junctions (MTJ), with magnetostrictive soft layers, fabricated on a piezoelectric film. The resistance states of the two MTJs (high or low) encode the p-bit values (1 or 0) in the two streams. The first MTJ is driven to a resistance state with desired probability via a current or voltage that generates spin transfer torque, while the second MTJ’s resistance state is determined by dipole coupling with the first, thus correlating the second p-bit stream with the first. The effect of dipole coupling can be varied by generating local strain in the soft layer of the second MTJ with a local voltage (~ 0.2 V) and that varies the degree of anti-correlation between the resistance states of the two MTJs and hence between the two streams (from 0 to 100%). This paradigm generates the anti-correlation with “wireless” dipole coupling that consumes no footprint on a chip and dissipates no energy, and it controls the degree of anti-correlation with electrically generated strain that consumes minimal footprint and is extremely frugal in its use of energy. It can be extended to arbitrary number of bit streams. This realizes an “all-magnetic” platform for generating correlations or anti-correlations for probabilistic computing. It also implements a simple 2-node Bayesian network.
Production and analysis of stable microfluidic devices with tunable surface hydrophilicity via the in-situ tertiary-amine catalyzed Michael addition of a multifunctional thiol to a multifunctional acrylate

Abstract Poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) is one of the dominant polymeric hydrophobic materials that has been widely used in microfluidic devices. Here, we employed amine-catalyzed thiol-acrylate chemistry with hydrophilic and fluorinated acrylates to produce a wide range of stable hydrophilic materials without use of expensive instrumentation or complicated techniques to activate surfaces. The process involved the Michael addition of a secondary amine to a multifunctional acrylate followed by bulk modification of the polymer network with monofunctional acrylates. The surface energies of the bulk modified thiol-acrylate thermoset materials were more stable and tunable than the surface energies of physically/chemically treated PDMS. The surface energies of these microfluidics devices were programmed to have water contact angles ranging from highly hydrophilic (~11°) to slightly hydrophilic (~85°). A complete microfluidic device was fabricated illustrating the potential material as an alternative of PDMS to be used as microfluidics devices.
Autologous Splenocyte Reinfusion Improves Antibody-Mediated Immune Response to the 23-Valent Pneumococcal Polysaccharide-Based Vaccine in Splenectomized Mice

Common clinical options, currently, for necessary splenectomy are vaccinations and antibiotic prophylaxis. However, despite these two adjuncts, there still occur numerous cases of overwhelming post-splenectomy infection. To examine whether reperfusion of critical splenic lymphocytes could boost immune response, we harvested splenic lymphocytes, reperfused the autologous lymphocytes, and then administered a pneumococcal vaccine (PNEUMOVAX®23, i.e., PPSV23) in splenectomized mice. We found that splenectomy impaired the immune response in the splenectomized group compared to the non-splenectomized group; the splenectomized group with lymphocyte reinfusion had a higher response to polysaccharide vaccination based on antibody titer than the splenectomized group without lymphocyte reinfusion. The sham group with the native spleen had the most elevated antibody titer against the PPSV23 polysaccharide antigen. This may be additive, resulting from contributions of the splenic structure, along with the phagocytic function of the spleen and its constituent cells affecting the antibody response. Reinfusion of splenic lymphocytes may enhance immunity without the complications associated with splenic fragment autotransplantation, which never gained acceptance. This technique is safe and simple since the splenic lymphocytes are autologous and, therefore, not self-reactive, and very similar to autologous blood transfusion. This concept may be beneficial in cases of unavoidable splenectomy, especially in pediatric cases.
A toolkit for building medical programs for asylum seekers: Resources from the Mount Sinai Human Rights Program

Forced migration has reached a peak worldwide and healthcare professionals and trainees are increasingly volunteering with medical human rights programs. The Mount Sinai Human Rights Program (MSHRP) provides pro bono forensic medical, gynecological, and psychological evaluations to document evidence of human rights abuses experienced by asylum seekers. From 2015 through 2018, MSHRP refined its workflow and processes to facilitate the coordination of 305 forensic asylum evaluations and 117 continuity care referrals. Here, we present a toolkit including data management tools, guiding questions to consider when establishing or expanding an asylum clinic, and key challenges and solutions from MSHRP's experience in service delivery. Building on existing descriptions of asylum clinics, this paper provides specific resources intended to help new programs hone their models to meet the increasing demand for forensic medical evaluations of asylum seekers and provide appropriate continuity care.
Rethinking a groundwater flow system using a multiple-tracer geochemical approach: A case study in Moab-Spanish Valley, Utah

Abstract The Glen Canyon Group Aquifer (GCGA) is the sole source of public water supply for the city of Moab, Utah, a domestic and international tourist destination. Population and tourism growth are likely to target the GCGA for future water resources, but our analysis indicates that additional withdrawals would likely be sourced from groundwater storage and not be sustained by recharge. A quantitative estimate of groundwater discharge from the GCGA is problematic because the downgradient aquifer boundary is the Colorado River, and groundwater discharge to the river is very small compared to the river flow. A water budget based on a conceptual model of GCGA discharging into an adjacent alluvial Valley-Fill Aquifer (VFA) was reported by Sumsion (1971) and numerous subsequent studies have repeated and utilized this water budget. The GCGA contains stable isotopes, tritium, 3He/4He ratios, dissolved solids, and sulfate concentrations that contrast with the VFA, indicating it is instead recharged by local streams rather than from the GCGA. Water-budget calculations, based on: (1) measured spring discharge and streamflow gains, (2) horizontal gradients in VFA groundwater age, and (3) GCGA outcrop area vadose-zone pore waters are all less than previously thought. Using a lumped parameter model and 14C groundwater ages, we estimate recharge to the deeper GCGA (DGCGA) to be 4.2 ± 2.3 × 106 m3/yr, which is approximately equal to the measured discharge from wells and springs.
Factors Influencing Discussion of Cancer Genetic Testing with Health-Care Providers in a Population-Based Survey.

Introduction Discussion of cancer genetic testing with health-care providers (HCPs) is necessary to undergo testing to inform cancer risk assessment and prevention. Given the rapid evolution in genetic testing practice in oncology, we describe the current landscape of population-level cancer genetic testing behaviors. Methods A questionnaire including items regarding discussion of cancer genetic testing with HCPs was administered to a nonprobability sample (N = 2,029) of the Texas population. Results Overall, 11% of respondents discussed cancer genetic testing with HCPs. In multivariable analysis, discussion was significantly related to having a personal history of breast/ovarian/colon cancer (OR = 11.57, 95% CI = 5.34-25.03), personal history of other cancer (OR = 3.18, 95% CI = 1.69-5.97), and health information-seeking behaviors (OR = 1.73, 95% CI = 1.12-2.66). Surprisingly, respondents who believed that inherited predispositions in addition to other modifiable risk factors cause cancer were less likely to discuss genetic testing compared to those who did not believe that inherited cancer predispositions cause cancer (OR = 0.54, 95% CI = 0.36-0.79). Discussion The high discussion rate may be attributed to increased public awareness of genetic testing and adoption of more inclusive clinical genetic testing guidelines. The findings suggest that efforts to increase public awareness of the utility of genetic testing on personalized cancer risk assessment and cancer prevention are needed.
Alkali Aggregate Reaction

Alkali aggregate reaction (AAR), also known as alkali silica reaction (ASR), is a major form of concrete deterioration for older structures. AAR will eventually weaken the concrete, induce cracking, and can jeopardize the integrity of dams and nuclear structures to the point of having them decommissioned.
Singular Perturbation-based Reinforcement Learning of Two-Point Boundary Optimal Control Systems.

This work presents a technique for learning systems, where the learning process is guided by knowledge of the physics of the system. In particular, we solve the problem of the two-point boundary optimal control problem of linear time-varying systems with unknown model dynamics using reinforcement learning. Borrowing techniques from singular perturbation theory, we transform the time-varying optimal control problem into a couple of time-invariant subproblems. This allows the utilization of an off-policy iteration method to learn the controller gains. We show that the performance of the learning-based controller approximates that of the model-based optimal controller and the accuracy of the approximation improves as the time horizon of the control problem increases. Finally, we provide a simulation example to verify the results of the paper.
Structurizing Misinformation Stories via Rationalizing Fact-Checks

Misinformation has recently become a well-documented matter of public concern. Existing studies on this topic have hitherto adopted a coarse concept of misinformation, which incorporates a broad spectrum of story types ranging from political conspiracies to misinterpreted pranks. This paper aims to structurize these misinformation stories by leveraging fact-check articles. Our intuition is that key phrases in a fact-check article that identify the misinformation type(s) (e.g., doctored images, urban legends) also act as rationales that determine the verdict of the fact-check (e.g., false). We experiment on rationalized models with domain knowledge as weak supervision to extract these phrases as rationales, and then cluster semantically similar rationales to summarize prevalent misinformation types. Using archived fact-checks from Snopes.com, we identify ten types of misinformation stories. We discuss how these types have evolved over the last ten years and compare their prevalence between the 2016/2020 US presidential elections and the H1N1/COVID-19 pandemics.
The Whitehead Theorem and the Hurewicz Theorem

Chapter 4 introduces the homotopy groups of a space with a base point and establishes several basic results about these groups. The Hurewicz homomorphism from these groups to the homology groups is defined. Whitehead’s theorem that a map between CW complexes inducing an isomorphism on homotopy groups is a homotopy equivalence is stated and proved. Brouwer’s theorem computing the \(\mathrm{n}\) th homotopy group of the n-sphere is stated and proved. The Hurewicz theorem, which states that for a simply connected space the first nonzero homotopy group and reduced homology group are isomorphic, is proved. Lastly, the homotopy exact sequence of a fibration is stated and proved.
The Effects of Outsourcing, Offshoring, and Distributed Product Development Organization on Coordinating the NPD Process

Outsourcing arrangements continue to evolve from peripheral activities, such as food services and back office transaction processing, to encompass more core activities such as new product development. Some arrangements maintain a clear lead organization while others, such as open source networks, are less centralized. We develop a framework identify the specific impact of different outsourcing arrangements on the search, selection, transformation, and coordination processes involved in new product development new product development.
Association of chronic kidney disease with the spectrum of ankle brachial index the CHS (Cardiovascular Health Study).

Objectives This study sought to determine the association of chronic kidney disease (CKD) with high ankle brachial index (ABI) measurement and to compare its strength with that of CKD with a low ABI. Background CKD is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) events. A high ABI, a marker of lower extremity arterial stiffness, is associated with CVD events and mortality. The association between CKD and high ABI is unknown. Methods The CHS (Cardiovascular Health Study) enrolled community-living people >65 years of age and measured kidney function and ABI. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was estimated using equations that incorporated either cystatin C or creatinine, and CKD was defined by estimated GFR 2 . The ABI was categorized as low ( 1.40 or incompressible). Multinomial logistic regression was used to evaluate the associations of CKD with ABI categories. Results Among 4,513 participants, 23% had CKD, 13% had a low ABI, and 3% had a high ABI. In models adjusted for age, sex, race, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, body mass index, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and C-reactive protein, cystatin C-based CKD was associated with both low ABI (relative risk [RR]: 2.0; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.6 to 2.5; p Conclusions CKD is associated with both the high and the low extremes of ABI in community-living older people. Future studies should evaluate whether arterial stiffness is an important mechanism leading to CVD in people with CKD.
On the Rutishauser’s Approach to Eigenvalue Problems

We consider the quotient-difference algorithm of H. Rutishauser from the point of view of the realization theory of rational functions. QR-like algorithms of the linear algebra can be thought of as discrete-time dynamical systems on certain classes of matrices. We show that these algorithms induce linear dynamical systems on various manifolds of rational functions. Applications to coding theory are considered.
The Gnucap model compiler

This paper describes a modeling language and its compiler for adding models to a mixed-signal simulator "Gnucap". This language supplies more simulator details than the popular "AMS" languages do, and provides a similar high level interface.
Laryngeal mask airway versus bag‐mask ventilation or endotracheal intubation for neonatal resuscitation

Background Providing effective positive pressure ventilation is the single most important component of successful neonatal resuscitation. Ventilation is frequently initiated with a manual resuscitation bag and face-mask (BMV) followed by endotracheal intubation (ETT) if depression continues. These techniques may be difficult to perform successfully resulting in prolonged resuscitation or severe neonatal depression. The laryngeal mask airway (LMA) may achieve initial ventilation and successful resuscitation faster than a bag-mask device or endotracheal intubation. Objectives Among newborns requiring positive pressure ventilation for resuscitation, is effective ventilation and successful resuscitation achieved faster with the LMA compared with either BMV or ETT? Search methods The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL, The Cochrane Library, Issue 3, 2004), MEDLINE (1966-November 2004), Pre-MEDLINE (November 15, 2004), CINAHL 1982-November 2004), reference lists of published trials, and Society for Pediatric Research abstracts were searched. Experts were contacted for additional references. Selection criteria Randomised and quasi-randomised trials Data collection and analysis Two reviewers independently evaluated studies, assessed methodologic quality, and extracted data using the Cochrane Neonatal Review Group criteria. Categorical treatment effects were described as relative risks and risk differences and continuous treatment effects were described as the mean difference. There were insufficient data to perform pooled analyses. Main results No eligible studies compared the LMA with BMV. One small randomised controlled trial comparing the LMA with ETT when BMV had been unsuccessful was included. There was no statistically significant difference between the LMA and ETT with the exception of a clinically insignificant difference in time to complete insertion of the device favouring the ETT. Authors' conclusions The LMA can achieve effective ventilation during neonatal resuscitation in a time-frame consistent with current guidelines. There is no evidence to evaluate the relative efficacy and safety of the LMA compared with BMV as the primary airway device. A single, small randomised controlled trial found no clinically significant difference between the LMA and ETT when BMV was unsuccessful. Case series and case reports suggest that the LMA can provide an effective rescue airway during resuscitation if both BMV and ETT have been unsuccessful. A well-designed randomised controlled trial comparing the LMA with BMV during neonatal resuscitation is warranted.
Gender, feminist consciousness, and the environment: Exploring the “natural” connection

Abstract Ecofeminists have long argued that due to biological differences between the sexes, women are inherently closer to nature than men. They also contend that women “naturally” care for the environment as an extension of their caring roles, being socialized as mothers and caregivers. Subsequently, women would then tend to support environmental issues and causes more than men. Using the 1996 National Election Studies survey data, this study constructs an alternate model that examines whether feminist consciousness, along with other sociodemographic factors such as age, education, income, race, ideology, and party identification, can explain support for the environment. The results reveal that gender is not statistically significant in explaining environmental support, while age, ideology, party identification, and feminist consciousness are. These findings suggest that gender may not have a direct all-encompassing effect, but a more subtle one mediated by effects of age, party identification, and ideo...
Cultural Interface Design Advisor Tool: Research Methodology and Practical Development Efforts

Within the cultural user interface design research and development project we address the need in culturally appropriate user interface design that is brought up by globalization. Globalization is affecting most computer-mediated communication and, in particular, user interface design for the Internet applications. To address this need, we are building a cultural "look and feel" advisor tool that is based on the research study utilizing cultural analysis of a large number of websites for a particular locale. This paper addresses the research methodology we employed in manual evaluation of specific cultural markers on a large set of country-specific websites and reports on several important aspects of transferring our research results into the practical implementation of the cultural design advisor tool.
International Convention for the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries

The fisheries of the Northwest Atlantic Ocean are the oldest in the western hemisphere, having been prosecuted for more than 300 years. To consider problems affecting these fisheries, the United States of America convened a conference at Washington in 1949, and this conference, in February 1949, completed the International Convention for the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries (ICNAF), which was open to signature, and which became effective in July 1950 after deposit of instruments of ratification by the required number of governments. The first annual meeting was held in Washington in April 1951.