cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prospects of ultra-thin nanowire gated 2D-FETs for next-generation CMOS technology

Although 2D semiconductor based FETs have been predicted to be very promising for the ultimate scaling (sub-10 nm nodes) of CMOS technology [1],[2], they face two major challenges in the pathway to commercialization. One is the growth of ultra-thin and high-quality gate dielectrics (preferably high-k) on top of the pristine surfaces of 2D semiconductors, which is a fundamentally difficult task. The other involves formation of ultra-short channel/gate using advanced lithography techniques, which are, however, usually expensive and/or of low yield. Using synthesized ultra-thin core/shell nanowire to gate the 2D semiconductors could be a promising approach, which not only facilitates a lithography-free ultra-short channel formation with relative ease, but also avoids the direct growth of dielectrics on 2D materials, which can help preserve the pristine nature of the 2D channel and its outstanding properties. In this work, aided by rigorous quantum simulations, we attempt to understand and optimize this nonconventional FET structure, guided by a prototype demonstration of this device. It is found that this unique FET structure offers 2D semiconductors a promising platform, in terms of manufacturability and device performance, for next-generation CMOS technology.
Supersymmetry from Typicality: TeV-Scale Gauginos and PeV-Scale Squarks and Sleptons

We argue that under a set of simple assumptions the multiverse leads to low-energy supersymmetry with the spectrum often called spread or minisplit supersymmetry: the gauginos are in the TeV region with the other superpartners 2 or 3 orders of magnitude heavier. We present a particularly simple realization of supersymmetric grand unified theory using this idea.
Spironolactone effect on potassium supplementation in paediatric cardiac intensive care patients.

SummaryWhat is known Spironolactone is used in paediatric patients with heart disease, yet few data are available regarding the impact on potassium supplementation. Objective We sought to determine the effect of spironolactone on potassium supplementation in paediatric cardiac intensive care patients. Methods A retrospective, propensity matched cohort study was designed. Patients were included in the study if they received furosemide therapy in the cardiac intensive care unit at our institution. Patients who received spironolactone were matched to patients who did not receive spironolactone. Data collection included patient demographics, diuretic data, potassium monitoring, and total milliequivalents of potassium administered during the cardiac intensive care unit stay. Results and discussion A total of 448 patients met study criteria median age 0.43 (IQR 0.06-3.52) years, 58.9% male. Intensive care unit length of stay was 7 (IQR 3-17) days, cardiovascular surgery occurred in 90.4%. Patients had a mean 4.6±2.6 potassium concentrations assessed per day (29.5%±19.4% 5.5 mmol/L). Patients received a median of 5.1 mEq/kg (0-323.4 mEq/kg) of potassium. Spironolactone (n=224) was administered for 2 days (IQR 1-4) at mean dose of 0.64±0.54 mg kg−1 d−1. Median total mEq/kg of potassium administered did not differ between groups (4.6 mEq/kg (IQR 0.66-16.8) vs 6.5 mEq/kg (IQR 1.3-18.3 mEq/kg), P=.13). Potassium laboratory values did not differ in hypokalemia (27.8%±19.1% vs 31.2%±19.5%, P=.06) or hyperkalemia (2.8%±5.4% vs 3.2%±7.5%, P=.49) between groups. What is new Spironolactone supplementation did not reduce the need for potassium supplementation in paediatric cardiac intensive care patients. Conclusion The routine use of spironolactone in the paediatric cardiac intensive care population may not be more efficacious than potassium supplementation for maintenance of serum potassium concentrations.
The Safety, efficacy, and tolerability of pharmacological treatment of depression in patients with cardiovascular disease: A look at antidepressants and integrative approaches

Patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) are at an increased risk of developing psychiatric illnesses, particularly depression. Depression is an independent risk factor leading to a cardiac event, which has been shown in patients with or without known coronary artery disease (CAD). Treatment of depression has been shown to improve quality of life and result in a better cardiovascular prognosis in patients with comorbid CVD. However, pharmacological treatment of depression in this particular patient population is not without risk and is not always effective. An emerging approach to improve nonresponse to antidepressants is the use of adjunctive nutraceuticals. This article is to review the pharmacological options for treating depression in patients with CAD. The use of integrative approaches and supplements in patients with CVD is also discussed.
Seasonal expression of P450c17 and 5α-reductase-2 in the scented gland of male muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus)

Cytochrome P450 17A1 (P450c17) is the key enzyme required for the production of androgenic sex steroids by converting progestogens to androgens. 5α-reductases are enzymes that convert testosterone (T) to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which has a greater affinity for androgen receptors (AR) and stronger action than T. Our previous studies revealed that the scented glands of male muskrats expressed AR during the breeding and nonbreeding seasons. To further seek evidence of the activities of androgens in scented glands, the expression patterns of P450c17 and 5α-reductase 2 were investigated in the scented glands of male muskrats during the breeding and nonbreeding seasons. The weight and size of scented glands in the breeding season were significantly higher than those of the nonbreeding season. Immunohistochemical data showed that P450c17 and 5α-reductase 2 were presented in the glandular cells and epithelial cells of scented glands in both the seasons. The protein and mRNA expression of P450c17 and 5α-reductase 2 were significantly higher in the scented gland during the breeding season than those during the nonbreeding season. In addition, the levels of DHT and T in the scented gland were remarkably higher during the breeding season. Taken together, these results suggested that the scented glands of male muskrats were capable of locally synthesizing T and DHT, and T and DHT might play an important role in the scented glandular function via an autocrine or paracrine manner.
Critical Sociological Thinking and Higher-Level Thinking: A Study of Sociologists' Teaching Goals and Assignments.

We argue that the literature on critical thinking in sociology has conflated two different skill sets: critical sociological thinking and higher-level thinking. To begin to examine how sociologists...
Computational imaging for reducing peak irradiance on focal planes

A phase-only filter is placed in the pupil plane of an imaging system to engineer a new point spread function with a low peak intensity. Blurred detected images are then reconstructed in post-processing through Wiener Deconvolution. A Differential Evolution algorithm is implemented to optimize these filters for high SNR across the MTF. These filters are tested experimentally using a reflective Spatial Light Modulator (SLM) in the pupil of a system and successfully show the peak intensity reduced 100 times the diffraction limit. Results are compared to expected performance.
Temperature effects on pistil viability and fruit set in sweet cherry

Abstract Field observations suggest high air temperatures during bloom decrease fruit set of many sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) cultivars. We investigated the role of temperature on stigma receptivity and ovule viability in four sweet cherry cultivars that exhibit variability in productivity and fertility: ‘Sweetheart’ (self-fertile, high productivity), ‘Benton’ (self-fertile, low productivity), ‘Rainier’ (self-sterile, high productivity), and ‘Tieton’ (self-sterile, low productivity). The development of the stigmatic surface, and pollen hydration, germination and tube growth in vivo, were evaluated by hand pollination and used as proxies for stigma receptivity. In addition, the senescence of primary and secondary ovules was analyzed with fluorescence microscopy. The stigmatic papillae began deteriorating by the second day after anthesis and had collapsed by the sixth day post-anthesis across cultivars. Pollen hydration exhibited 5 stages related to the length-width ratios of 2.5:1, 2:1, 1.75:1, 1.5:1 to 1:1. Maximum pollen hydration and pollen germination occurred on the stigmas within 2 days of bloom, depending on cultivar and air temperature. Pollen hydration and germination, and ovule senescence accelerated under warmer temperatures. At 7 days post-anthesis and under 24 °C approximately 80% of ‘Rainier’ ovules were viable compared to 30% in the three other cultivars. Under moderate temperature (18 °C) which mimicked the field average flowering temperature, ovule of the two high productivity cherry cultivars, ‘Rainier’ and ‘Sweetheart’, kept full viabilities for 3–4 days post-anthesis while only 1 day for the two low productivity cultivars ‘Benton’ and ‘Tieton’. These results reveal that low commercial productivity of sweet cherry cultivars in the Pacific Northwest (PNW) of U.S. is likely due to rapid ovule senescence, a condition exacerbated in warm conditions.
Top-down or bottom-up?: Decentralization, natural resource management, and usufruct rights in the forests and wetlands of western Uganda

Abstract Natural resources, and their management, have played an important role in shaping Uganda's national identity since 1986. Through Uganda's decentralization agenda, the perception of unprotected forests and wetlands have gone from being wasteland and essentially ignored in the political arena, to key elements in securing livelihoods and important topics within political platforms. Despite the successes of government decentralization and legislated devolution of rights and responsibilities to the local level, mandated regulations instituted by the central government can remain ignored or unheard of locally. What governs local resource use is a combination of prescriptive national legislation and regulations, local by-laws, and perceived ownership. Usufruct rights of forests and wetlands largely depend on local circumstances, which are unique to individual communities or particular forests and wetlands. This paper describes the entwined recent history of decentralization and natural resource management legislation in Uganda. We then present a case study of local perceptions of access and use of unprotected wetlands and forests in western Uganda. We show that there is confusion among local residents and village leaders with regards to access and use of these areas despite prescribed national legislation. We suggest that better operational success of resource management at the local level could be achieved by disseminating information at multiple levels. This need is particularly pressing in the more remote areas of the country where forest and wetlands face enormous pressure from high population growth and heavy human reliance on natural resources.
Parallel process : Moral failure, addiction and society

Recent legislation restricting disability and other financial benefits for persons with substance related disorders provides the latest chapter in this country's relationship with mind altering chemicals and its attempts to control their use. Whether seen from the perspective of a substance user or from that of an angry and insecure public, this relationship seems to lead inevitably to self-destructive processes. This paper will examine the historical context of drug control policy in this country and the impact of current policy on vulnerable populations and on society as a whole. Parallels between factors which drive addictive disorders and those that perpetuate ineffective public policy will be considered along with their moral implications.
Diagnostic Use of CK-MM and CK-MB Isoforms for Detecting Myocardial Infarction

Following acute myocardial infarction, total CK and CK-MB levels begin to rise 5 to 6 hours after the onset of chest pain. The serial profile of the rise and fall of both activities is nearly always indicative of AMI. The recent increase in the use of thrombolytic agents in an attempt to attain reperfusion of occluded coronary arteries alters the enzyme profiles observed in blood after AMI. After successful reperfusion a washout phenomenon occurs in which early restoration of blood flow to damaged myocardium causes an early rise in total CK and MB levels above the normal range 2 to 4 hours after AMI, with earlier and higher peak enzyme values. Recently reports have appeared describing numerous serum and plasma CK-MM and CK-MB isoform patterns after AMI. Following release from injured myocardium CK-MM3 and CK-MB2 (designated the tissue isoforms) are converted in the circulation to post-translation products (MM2, MM1, MB1, respectively). Studies have now shown that CK-MM isoform patterns provide a unique means of assessing the time of onset of necrosis and a monitor of the duration of enzyme release from the site of injury. Following AMI, MM3, the MM3/MM1 ratio, or both rises and peaks earlier than either total CK or CK-MB levels. During successful reperfusion, the rate of rise of CK-MM3 is more rapid and the MM3/MM1 ratio peaks earlier than without reperfusion. However, any concomitant release of CK-MM3 from skeletal muscle would decrease the clinical utility of MM isoforms in detecting myocardial damage. Recent advances in technology have shown that CK-MB2 rise parallels the CK-MM increase and also rises earlier than total CK and total MB levels and provides increased specificity for the myocardium. The full potential of the diagnostic utility of MM and MB isoforms will not be realized until a reliable, sensitive, simple, and rapid quantitative assay becomes available.
Engineered Scaffolds and Matrices: Tailored Biomaterials for Adipose Stem Cell Engineering

Due to the limitations of current soft-tissue reconstruction and replacement methods there is a need to develop new, clinically relevant alternatives. Employing stem-cell-inclusive tissue engineering methods as a means to generate adipose tissue may offer patients a new reconstructive option using their own healthy cells and may offer a clinically feasible “just-in-time” solution. Injectable, tailored composite systems, consisting of cellular beads in a hydrogel carrier, may be injected at a soft tissue defect site in a minimally invasive manner. A proof-of-concept case study, highlighting reconstruction for breast cancer application, is presented in which the modulation of scaffold surface texture and chemistry causes changes in preadipocyte cell behavior. Specifically, the results compare cellular differentiation of preadipocytes on a 2-D surface of polystyrene and on 3-D surfaces of gelatin and polylactide (PL) through assessment of lipid production, cell number, cell viability, and gene expression. The gelatin scaffolds show more promise, over an 18-day culture period, for use in the injectable composite system as a cellular support device rather than the PL scaffolds; however, these two materials are assessed only to provide evidence that if carefully selected and exploited, a biomaterial can stimulate targeted cellular behaviors. That is, the goal of the case study is not to promote two specific materials but, rather, the goal is to demonstrate modularity of the injectable system for a wide range of materials. Cells seeded on the gelatin microspheres were more proliferative and produced more triglycerides than those seeded on the PL microspheres. Both scaffolds can be used in combination to form an injectable composite system, the PL microspheres more likely serving as a drug delivery vehicle or filler material, and the gelatin microspheres functioning as cellular carriers. The injectable composite system provides a platform into which beads of different chemistries and morphologies may be integrated to construct a tailored implant for stem cell engineering.
Targeting the Pathological Myocardium

The rationale for targeting the pathological myocardium is to enable development of better diagnostic modalities or to enhance therapeutic interventions. Since the heart is an end-differentiated organ that has no substantial regenerative properties, any injury to the heart could potentially lead to high morbidity and mortality. The causes of myocardial injury are varied. Acute myocardial infarction results in oncotic myocardial cell death, whereas cardiomyopathies are now believed to be associated primarily with apoptotic myocardial cell death. If these myocardial disorders can be targeted specifically for early diagnosis, then morbidity and mortality may be reduced and novel therapeutic interventions may result in decreasing the injury to the heart. This chapter will focus primarily on targeting the oncotic myocardium. Targeting the apoptotic myocardium will not be considered in detail, but an introduction to the latest advances will be provided.
Driven Systems and Fluctuations

The kinetics of Chapter 6 dealt exclusively with systems which conserved mass. For such conservative systems, a transition always leads to a new state within the system. The sum of elements in any column of the rate constant matrix is always zero and the system must have a zero (equilibrium) eigenvalue. This chapter considers an alternate kinetic situation in which the state populations are generated by some input process.
Operation duration and adrenal gland size, but not BMI, are correlated with complication rate for posterior retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy for benign diseases.

Abstract Background We sought to determine whether obesity is correlated with complications after posterior retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy for benign diseases and to develop surrogate markers of abdominal fat in preoperative computed tomography. Methods We conducted a retrospective chart review of all patients who had undergone posterior retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy and preoperative computed tomography between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2015. The cross-sectional components of fat assessed by computed tomography included total fat area, subcutaneous fat area, retroperitoneal fat area, and peritoneal fat area. The patients were grouped into 2 categories according to the absence or presence of a postoperative complication (the no-complications group and the complications group, respectively). Results Of 116 study patients, 20 patients (17%) had a postoperative complication. Operations of greater duration and smaller adrenal gland size were significantly correlated with complications both in univariate and multivariate analyses. Body mass index, total fat area, subcutaneous fat area, retroperitoneal fat area, peritoneal fat area, and distance of skin to muscle (in axial and sagittal images) correlated with complications in univariate analysis but not in multivariate analysis. In the no-complications group, the removed adrenal gland was larger than that removed in the complications group (6 vs 4 cm, respectively, P = .001), whereas the complications group had a greater operative duration (139 vs 104 min, respectively, P = .001) and a greater duration of hospital stay (3 days vs 1 day, respectively, P = .001). Conclusion In this study, operations of greater duration and smaller adrenal gland size were better predictors of complications after posterior retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy for benign disease than measures of obesity, including body mass index.
Yearly Percent Incidence of Suspected Novel Oral Anticoagulant Interference on Thrombophilia Testing: A Nine Year Experience at a Reference Coagulation Laboratory

Introduction: With the recent FDA approval of novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) for anticoagulation, the diagnosis of thrombophilia risk factors, such as protein S deficiency, protein C deficiency and presence of lupus anticoagulant, has become problematic, especially when clot-based assays are utilized in the presence of Xa and direct thrombin inhibitors. Falsely elevated protein S and C activities and false positive lupus anticoagulant testing may occur with NOAC use. Little is known about the yearly incidence of such interference during the time period when these NOACs were introduced in the United States (dabigatran, 10/2010; rivaroxaban, 7/2011; apixaban, 12/2012; edoxaban, 1/2015). To answer this question, we undertook a retrospective study that examined interference before and after NOACs were introduced to the US market. Materials and Methods: Retrospective review of venous thrombophilia testing from January 2008 to December 2016 at a major coagulation reference referral laboratory. To identify potential NOAC interference, samples were tested with both a dilute Russell Viper Venom test (dRVVT), which is a lupus anticoagulant test, and a protein C activity test. NOAC interference was strongly suspected when dRVVT testing demonstrated an inhibitor pattern and elevated protein C activity (>200%). The annual percentage of thrombophilia tests with strongly suspected NOAC interference was determined and compared to that of tests with elevated protein C activity and without a dRVVT inhibitor pattern (less strongly suspected interference). Results: The percentage of suspected NOAC interference increased annually from 2008 to 2016, which corresponds to the introduction of NOACs to the US market. From 2008 to 2016, test results of suspected NOAC interference increased from 0.21% to 3.45% (16.4-fold increase), peaking in 2015 (24.1-fold increase); test results of elevated protein C activity without a dRVVT inhibitor pattern increased from 0.48% to 7.22% (15.0-fold increase), peaking in 2014 (31.5-fold increase). Suspected interference decreased between 2015 and 2016, which may be related to education efforts by our laboratory in 2014 and 2015, when we notified practitioners of possible interference. Conclusions: Suspected NOAC interference, which can potentially cause false-positive test results for lupus anticoagulant and protein C activity, increased when NOACs were introduced into the US market. Further education of licensed independent practitioners may help prevent these interferences and provide more accurate assessment of thrombophilia risk factors. Disclosures Wong:Quest Diagnostics: Employment, Other: stock . Worfolk:Quest Diagnostics: Employment. Dlott:Quest Diagnostics: Employment, Other: stock.
Smart Home Security Cameras and Shifting Lines of Creepiness: A Design-Led Inquiry

Through a design-led inquiry focused on smart home security cameras, this research develops three key concepts for research and design pertaining to new and emerging digital consumer technologies. Digital leakage names the propensity for digital information to be shared, stolen, and misused in ways unbeknownst or even harmful to those to whom the data pertains or belongs. Hole-and-corner applications are those functions connected to users' data, devices, and interactions yet concealed from or downplayed to them, often because they are non-beneficial or harmful to them. Foot-in-the-door devices are product and services with functional offerings and affordances that work to normalize and integrate a technology, thus laying groundwork for future adoption of features that might have earlier been rejected as unacceptable or unnecessary. Developed and illustrated through a set of design studies and explorations, this paper shows how these concepts may be used analytically to investigate issues such as privacy and security, anticipatorily to speculate about the future of technology development and use, and generatively to synthesize design concepts and solutions.
What *can* make clear speech clear: Lessons learned from the Ferguson Clear Speech Database

Extensive acoustic and perceptual analyses have been carried out on the materials from the Ferguson Clear Speech Database (FCSD), which was recorded at Indiana University in 2002. The FCSD consists of 41 untrained talkers reading 188 sentences under instructions first to speak in a manner “as much like your normal conversational style as possible” and later to “speak clearly, so that a hearing-impaired person would be able to understand you.” My intent in developing the FCSD was to exploit the expected wide acoustic and perceptual variability among the talkers and use a talker-differences approach to answer the question, “What makes clear speech clear?” In this presentation, I will summarize data from studies of vowel intelligibility, word intelligibility, and perceived sentence clarity along with global and fine-grained acoustic analyses, and discuss how all of these measures are related across the 41 talkers. My hope is that this birds-eye view of the FCSD data will reveal subgroups of talkers in which the talkers adopted certain “profiles” of clear speech acoustic changes that yielded specific helpful perceptual changes. If time permits, I will also review data on perceived talker indexical properties and how they change when talkers speak clearly.
Una comparación entre la autopercepción y la eficiencia de los aprendices de español de herencia como autores: en búsqueda de un proceso de escritura efectiva

Within the context of the United States of America, heritage language learners (HLLS) are defined as individuals that develop a minority language at home, in this case Spanish, before English, through early exposure (Valdes, 2001). Their academic instruction, however, takes place mainly, if not exclusively, in the mainstream language: English. The present study surveys the self-perception of twelve Spanish HLLS in regard to performance (i.e., strategies) and attributes (i.e., efficacy) as writers, aiming to determine whether these views match their realities. To this end, subjects engaged in a three-stage process, namely completing a questionnaire pertaining to linguistic background and writing strategies, composing an argumentative essay, and engaging in a posthoc interview. Results suggest that the self-perceptions of participants commonly mismatched their realities; subjects often approached the writing process in a way differing from the one originally stated. Additionally, some strategies within specific writing stages — for example, focusing on content while revising vs. outlining while planning — seemingly contribute to the crafting of more effective texts. Findings contribute knowledge and practical advice to facilitate the development of efficient writing strategies, ultimately empowering HLLS as authors.
Evaluating the Impact of Office Hysteroscopy in a Military Treatment Facility.

INTRODUCTION Office hysteroscopy has become a cornerstone of modern gynecologic care through the advent of advanced technology and emphasis on an efficient healthcare system. In 2017, Medicare announced an increase in office hysteroscopy reimbursement by 237%, giving an incentive for gynecologists to move from the operating room into the clinic. The U.S. military medical system needs more cost-effective and efficient healthcare, given that the cost of military healthcare increased by 130% between 2000 and 2012 (accounting for 10% or $52 billion of the Department of Defense budget). Within our institution, we have moved to conducting a regularly scheduled outpatient hysteroscopy clinic. Increased healthcare costs, decreased available operating room time, and efforts to boost patient and provider satisfaction drove the change. MATERIALS AND METHODS After institutional review board approval, we performed a retrospective observational cost-benefit analysis of 235 outpatient and 45 inpatient records that included female military healthcare beneficiaries age 18 or older who had diagnostic or operative hysteroscopy performed in the operating room or office setting from January 2015 to October 2018. We specifically focused on diagnostic hysteroscopy, hysteroscopic biopsy and polypectomy, and hysteroscopic foreign body removal (intrauterine device removal). We then compared admission time, procedure time, reimbursement, and cost for each of the hysteroscopic procedure groups to yield a total cost-benefit value (TCBV). TCBV was defined as cost savings plus difference in reimbursement rate. RESULTS This study analyzes the costs and benefits of a regularly scheduled hysteroscopy clinic within the U.S. military medical system. We performed a cost-benefit analysis that indicated a substantial difference between clinic and operating room TCBV, total relative value units or reimbursement rates, and total patient care time. We found the average admission time for an inpatient procedure was 6.23 hours compared to our standard 1-hour clinic time. The average success rate for procedure completion in the clinic was 89%. We found the average TCBV for 100 patients (after 11% reoperation rate) to be as high as $64,220, $159,940, and $66,709 for diagnostic hysteroscopy, hysteroscopic biopsy and polypectomy, and hysteroscopic foreign body (intrauterine device) removal, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Compared to traditional operating room hysteroscopy, we were able to demonstrate reduced costs with increased reimbursement while performing the same scope of care for patients undergoing office hysteroscopy. Decreased total time in performing office hysteroscopy suggests the potential benefit of increased patient and provider satisfaction. Our study indicated substantial incentive for military gynecologists to incorporate office hysteroscopy into their practice given the increased relative value units generated. Our office hysteroscopy protocol is discussed to encourage other military facilities to follow in our footsteps.
A first-aid fast track channel for rescuing critically ill children with airway foreign bodies: our clinical experience

To explore the role of a first-aid fast track channel in rescuing children with airway foreign bodies and to analyse and summarize the experience and lessons of the first-aid fast track channel in rescuing airway foreign bodies from patients in critical condition. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of children with airway foreign bodies rescued by first-aid fast track channels admitted to our hospital from January 2017 to December 2020. The corresponding clinical features, treatments, and prognoses were summarized. Clinical data from 21 cases of first-aid fast track channel patients were retrospectively collected, including 12 males and 9 females aged 9–18 months. Cough was the most frequently exhibited symptom (100.0%), followed by III inspiratory dyspnoea (71.4%). Regarding the location of foreign bodies, 5 cases (23.8%) had glottic foreign bodies, 10 cases (47.6%) had tracheal foreign bodies, and 6 cases (28.6%) had bilateral bronchial foreign bodies. The most common type of FB was organic. FB removal was performed by rigid bronchoscopy in every case, and there were no complications of laryngeal oedema, subcutaneous emphysema, or pneumothorax. No tracheotomy was performed in any of the children. The first-aid fast track channel for airway foreign bodies saves a valuable time for rescue, highlights the purpose of rescue, improves the success rate of rescue and the quality of life of children, and is of great value for the treatment of critical tracheal foreign bodies. It is necessary to regularly summarize the experience of the first-aid fast track channel of airway foreign bodies and further optimize the setting of the first-aid fast track channel.
Neuropsychological Assessment in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Neuropsychological assessment involves the comprehensive evaluation of intellectual, attentional, executive, social-cognitive, language, and motor functioning. Such assessments are used to characterize areas of strength and weakness, inform differential diagnosis, guide treatment planning, and evaluate change over time. Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) present with varied clinical presentations, which can make the design of testing batteries and subsequent interpretation of results challenging. Here we provide an overview of neuropsychological domains as they relate to the evaluation of individuals with ASD. Individuals with ASD demonstrate unique patterns of neuropsychological functioning across various domains. Recent findings related to intellectual, adaptive, executive, attentional, social, language, motor, and autism-specific functioning are reviewed. Clarifying the relationship between ASD symptoms and neuropsychological functioning is critical for differential diagnosis and for optimal treatment planning. Tools and methods for developing appropriate neuropsychological testing protocols for individuals with ASD are discussed.
A ‘never miss’ diagnosis: Ptosis secondary to metastatic breast cancer diagnosed as involutional ptosis and a review of the literature:

We present a case of ptosis secondary to metastatic lobular carcinoma of the breast which was initially diagnosed as involutional ptosis. A 67-year-old woman previously diagnosed with lobular carcinoma of the breast presented to our clinic with mild restriction of lateral gaze and persistent droopiness of her right eyelid (associated with decreased levator function) despite recent repair of a suspected involutional ptosis. Orbital magnetic resonance imaging revealed a mass in the right orbit which was biopsied and diagnosed as lobular carcinoma of the breast. Poor levator function is rarely present in involutional ptosis. Especially in conjunction with abnormal extraocular motility, other etiologies of acquired ptosis must be considered. This case highlights the importance of patient history and ocular examination in identifying the underlying etiology of ptosis. A review of the literature to evaluate the incidence of signs and symptoms associated with metastatic breast cancer to the orbit is included.
A Review of “Black Space: Imagining Race in Science Fiction”

When considering the future, and here specifically the “Afrofuture,” Adilifu Nama points out a wry, funny moment in Richard Pryor's late ‘70s standup routine, when he insightfully comments on the c...
The Process of Infection with Bacteriophage φX174: V. Inactivation of the Phage-Bacterium Complex by Decay of ^(32)P incorporated in the Infecting Particle

φX bacteriophage containing 2 to 4 ^(32)P atoms per particle were used to infect cells in non-radioactive medium. The phage and early complexes were killed by ^(32)P-decay with an efficiency of 1; mature complexes were inactivated with an efficiency of about 0·2, even though unlabeled, infective replicative form φX DNA had been synthesized in them. At about the same time as progeny single-strand DNA was synthesized, the complexes became completely refractory to inactivation by ^(32)P decay. In chloramphenicol the efficiency of ^(32)P decay inactivation in the complexes also decreased to about 0·2; thereafter complexes formed, in chloramphenicol, from cells that had not been starved became fully resistant to inactivation, whereas complexes formed from starved cells did not.
SPATIAL STRUCTURE AND DISTANCE-DECAY PARAMETERS

ABSTRACT There has been much recent controversy concerning the interpretation of distance-decay parameters estimated from gravity models. A relationship between spatial structure and estimated distance-decay parameters has been posited. Empirical evidence is given here for such a relationship and theories attempting to explain the dependence of parameter estimates upon spatial structure are examined. These theories are shown to be weak and directions for future research are given.
CAD-based inspection of 3D objects using range images

Presents a CAD-based inspection system for defect detection in range images of castings. The inspection algorithms are applicable to a class of objects, specifically to objects that contain planar or quadric surfaces, rather than being specialized to a single object. CAD model information is used in several stages of the system, including surface classification and inspection. Techniques for detection of common casting defects and for inspection of manufacturing features and dimensional tolerances are presented. The methods are applied to a large number of real range images of castings with real defects. The inspection system is able to correctly classify over 90% of the casting images. >
Language and Society in Africa: The Theory and Practice of Sociolinguistics

Language and Society in Africa: The Theory and Practice of Sodolinguistics. Robert K. Herbert. ed. Johannesburg: Witwatersrand University Press, 1992. 380 pp.
Control of Saharan mineral dust transport to Barbados in winter by the Intertropical Convergence Zone over West Africa

[1] The reasons for the inter-annual variability of dust transport from the Sahara across the Atlantic are not well-understood. Here we address this issue by defining three new climate indices that capture the position and intensity of the zone of near-surface convergence over West Africa, a part of the global Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). We then relate these indices to a 38-year record of mineral dust concentrations at Barbados focusing on the winter season. The results show that the latitudinal displacement of the ITCZ over West Africa and the dust load in Barbados are statistically significantly correlated with a correlation coefficient of r = � 0.69. A southward movement of the ITCZ corresponds to an increased dust load at Barbados. This correlation represents an improvement upon previous results, which focused on traditional teleconnection indices such as the North Atlantic Oscillation or the El-Nino-Southern Oscillation. From analyzing composites of wind and precipitation we conclude that for the winter season, the inter-annual variability of the Barbados dust load is related to changes in near-surface northeasterly winds in semi-arid regions in North Africa coincident with the movement of the ITCZ. Changes in precipitation appear to only play a minor role. Citation: Doherty, O. M., N. Riemer, and S. Hameed (2012), Control of Saharan mineral dust transport to Barbados in winter by the Intertropical Convergence Zone over West Africa, J. Geophys. Res., 117, D19117, doi:10.1029/2012JD017767.
Familial risk of chronic rhinosinusitis with and without nasal polyposis: genetics or environment

Background Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a highly prevalent inflammatory condition, with significant effects on morbidity and quality of life, yet little is known about its pathogenesis. Preliminary evidence suggests there is a heritable component to the multifactorial etiology of CRS; however, our understanding of this genetic susceptibility is limited. Methods Using an extensive genealogical database linked to medical records, the risk of CRS with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) and without polyps (CRSsNP) was calculated for relatives and spouses of adult probands (1638 CRSwNP and 24,200 CRSsNP patients diagnosed between 1996 and 2011) and were compared to random population controls matched 5:1 on sex and birth year from Cox regression models. Results First-degree relatives (1stDRs) of CRSwNP patients demonstrated a 4.1-fold increased risk (p < 10−3) of carrying the same diagnosis, whereas second-degree relatives (2ndDRs) demonstrated a 3.3-fold increased risk (p < 0.004), compared to controls. In CRSsNP patients, 1stDRs were at 2.4-fold increased risk (p < 10−15), whereas 2ndDRs were at 1.4-fold increased risk (p < 10−15) of the same diagnosis. Third-degree relatives (3rdDRs) had a slight increased risk at 1.1-fold (p < 10−7). Spouses of CRSsNP patients, who likely share environmental circumstances, exhibited a 2-fold increased risk (p < 10−15). No increased risk was observed in spouses of CRSwNP patients. Conclusion In the largest population study to date, a significant familial risk is confirmed in CRSwNP and CRSsNP, which may have a shared genetic and environmental component. Further understanding of the genetic basis of CRS and its interplay with environment factors could clarify disease etiology and lead to more effective targeted treatments.
Nitrated indenoisoquinolines as topoisomerase I inhibitors: a systematic study and optimization.

The biological activity of indenoisoquinoline topoisomerase I (Top1) inhibitors can be greatly enhanced depending on the choice of substituents on the aromatic rings and lactam side chain. Previously, it was discovered that a 3-nitro group and a 9-methoxy group afforded enhanced biological activity. In the present investigation, indenoisoquinoline analogues were systematically prepared using combinations of nitro groups, methoxy groups, and hydrogen atoms in an effort to understand the contribution of each group toward cytotoxicity and Top1 inhibition. Analysis of the biological results suggests that the nitro group is important for Top1 inhibition and the methoxy group improves cytotoxicity. In addition, previously identified structure−activity relationships were utilized to select favorable lactam side chain functionalities for incorporation on the aromatic skeleton of analogues in this study. As a result, this investigation has provided optimal Top1 inhibitors equipotent to camptothecin that demonstrat...
Women’s Health Training in Gastroenterology Fellowship: A National Survey of Fellows and Program Directors

Background and Aims The Gastroenterology Core Curriculum requires training in women’s digestive disorders; however, requirements do not necessarily produce knowledge and competence. Our study goals were: (1) to compare perceptions of education, fellow-reported levels of competence, and attitudes towards training in women’s gastrointestinal (GI) health issues during fellowship between gastroenterology fellows and program directors, and (2) to determine the barriers for meeting training requirements.
Natural language processing

Approximately 40 years ago, the goal of endowing computers with the capacity to understand natural language began. These efforts were originally called natural language understanding, which is now more frequently called natural language processing (NLP). NLP is considered a branch of artificial intelligence (AI), but over the years it has become an interesting area of study in computational statistics and text data mining. NLP encompasses approaches that use computers to analyze, determine semantic similarity, and translate between languages. The area usually deals with written languages, but it could also be applied to speech. In this article, we cover definitions and concepts necessary for the understanding of NLP, methods at the word and sentence level (word sense disambiguation, part-of-speech tagging, and parsing), and the vector space model for NLP at the document level. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.
Detecting performance invalidity in children: not quite as easy as A, B, C, 1, 2, 3 but automatized sequences appears promising.

In adult populations, embedded performance validity indicators are well established, as they are time efficient, resistant to coaching, and allow for more continuous monitoring of effort than standalone measures. Although several recent studies have demonstrated the appropriateness of using standalone validity tests with school-age children, a paucity of pediatric work has examined embedded indicators. The present study investigated the value of a simple automatized sequences task to detect performance invalidity in 439 clinically referred patients with mild head injury aged 8 through 17 years. Sixteen percent of the participants failed the Medical Symptom Validity Test (MSVT). Thirteen percent failed the MSVT and also performed below established cutoffs on either the Test of Memory Malingering or Wechsler Digit Span subtest. The group classified as providing invalid data performed significantly worse than the group passing the MSVT across all sequencing conditions. Sensitivity and specificity for the tot...
Division of venous collateral after Glenn shunt by minimally invasive surgery

An infant with cyanotic heart disease that was palliated with a bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt developed progressive cyanosis 3 months after the surgical procedure. A large hemiazygous vein was found to be decompressing the bidirectional Glenn shunt from the left innominate vein and was ligated using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. The unusually rapid appearance of the shunt, and the excellent outcome associated with the video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery procedure are discussed.
Rates of deleterious mutation and the evolution of sex in Caenorhabditis.

A variety of models propose that the accumulation of deleterious mutations plays an important role in the evolution of breeding systems. These models make predictions regarding the relative rates of protein evolution and deleterious mutation in taxa with contrasting modes of reproduction. Here we compare available coding sequences from one obligately outcrossing and two primarily selfing species of Caenorhabditis to explore the potential for mutational models to explain the evolution of breeding system in this clade. If deleterious mutations interact synergistically, the mutational deterministic hypothesis predicts that a high genomic deleterious mutation rate (U) will offset the reproductive disadvantage of outcrossing relative to asexual or selfing reproduction. Therefore, C. elegans and C. briggsae (both largely selfing) should both exhibit lower rates of deleterious mutation than the obligately outcrossing relative C. remanei. Using a comparative approach, we estimate U to be equivalent (and <1) among all three related species. Stochastic mutational models, Muller's ratchet and Hill–Robertson interference, are expected to cause reductions in the effective population size in species that rarely outcross, thereby allowing deleterious mutations to accumulate at an elevated rate. We find only limited support for more rapid molecular evolution in selfing lineages. Overall, our analyses indicate that the evolution of breeding system in this group is unlikely to be explained solely by available mutational models.
An Empirical Evaluation of ADHD Coaching in College Students

Objective: This study evaluated a program for ADHD coaching in a sample of college students. Method: ADHD coaching was conducted with 148 college students over a 5-year period. The theoretical orientation combined cognitive-behavioral therapy with psychoeducational techniques. Executive functioning served as a way of viewing both initial problem areas and outcomes. Results: Clients who received an 8-week coaching program showed significant improvement in all 10 areas of study and learning strategies, on self-esteem, and on measures of symptom distress and satisfaction with school and work. These results were consistent across different semesters and time of semester, and with a variety of different coaches, all of whom were novice coaches. Conclusion: This study provides important preliminary information about ADHD coaching, including coaching structure, processes, efficacy, and correlates of positive outcomes. Additional evaluations utilizing a randomized controlled design are needed.