cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A discussion forum on managerial interpersonal skills

Purpose – Managerial interpersonal skills (MIPS) are widely considered important for management development, yet the nature of MIPS has eluded researchers. The purpose of this paper is to propose five MIPS core skills, giving attention to the role of context, the relationship of MIPS to traits, and implications for training design, assessment and evaluation. Design/methodology/approach – The authors interweave a discussion forum of domain experts (Hillary Anger-Elfenbein, Timothy Baldwin, Paulo Lopes, Bronston T. Mayes, Ronald Riggio, Robert Rubin and David Whetten) with research commentary and implications for management development. The discussion focussed on: first, how do we define MIPS? Second, how important is context for defining, assessing or developing MIPS? Third, are MIPS traits, or skills that can be developed? Findings – The authors propose MIPS include five core skills that sequentially build upon one another: managing-self, communicating, supporting, motivating and managing conflict. Althou...
Comment on ‘The incidence of leukaemia in women with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations: an International Prospective Cohort Study’

Comment on ‘The incidence of leukaemia in women with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations: an International Prospective Cohort Study’
Plasmonic Enhancement of Single Photon Emission from a Site-Controlled Quantum Dot

We showed enhanced single photon emission via exciton–plasmon coupling in a metal-encapsulated site-controlled quantum dot (QD) structure. It was observed that the average QD luminescence was enhanced by a factor of 7.33 ± 1.32 and the exciton lifetime was reduced by a factor of 12.8 ± 1.10. The exciton–plasmon coupling was enhanced by matching the exciton energy to the localized surface plasmon resonance. Due to the sensitivity of the plasmonic enhancement to dot-to-dot variations, measurements were performed on the same dot at different stages of the sample processing, enabled by the use of a novel site-controlled InGaN QD structure. This was then repeated over a large number of dots and compared between different metal materials to investigate the nature of the coupling.
Causal Measurement Models: Can Criticism Stimulate Clarification?.

I congratulate Aguirre-Urreta et al. (2016) for a contribution to the literature on causal measurement models that enhances clarity and stimulates further thinking. Their central argument instantia...
An investigation of grounding techniques in microwave amplifiers

The current revolution in wireless communications has created a critical need for engineering graduates in this field, and has sparked renewed interest in RF/microwave circuits and systems courses. The University of Hawaii has developed a discovery-based, graduate-level laboratory course in active microwave electronics that has several distinguishing features compared to conventional graduate-level microwave courses: (1) instead of a traditional lecture format, the course is taught in studio mode, in which all student activities take place in a research laboratory that has separate stations for computer-aided design, fabrication, and measurement; (2) the instructor provides minimal guidance to the students, and instead relies on group discussions to elicit critical design methodologies; (3) the design projects are not typical canned experiments, but rather open-ended projects that emphasize self discovery. We present one of the projects from this course. Each student was given the mission of designing, fabricating, measuring, and modeling a 10-GHz maximum-gain amplifier. While seemingly a straightforward objective, the students found many obstacles along the way that provided invaluable opportunities for self discovery.
Xenophon the Literary Critic: The Poetics and Politics of Praise in Hiero

The dialogue of Simonides and Hiero can be seen as Xenophon engaging in literary criticism, as it offers a negative critique of epinician poetry and redefines the poetic principle of charis for the political realm.
Jiang Wu – Lucille Chia (eds.). Spreading Buddha's Word in East Asia: The Formation and Transformation of the Chinese Buddhist Canon. Sheng Yen Series in Chinese Buddhist Studies. New York: Columbia University Press, 2015. xx, 405 pp. Bibliography, Index. US$ 75.00 (HB). ISBN 978-0-231-17160-1

Spreading Buddha's Word in East Asia, a volume coedited by Jiang Wu and Lucille Chia based on the results of an international conference held at the University of Arizona in 2011, features finely d...
Reliable Inversion in GF(2 8 ) With Redundant Arithmetic for Secure Error Detection of Cryptographic Architectures

In secure cryptographic primitives, such as block ciphers, the reliability of hardware implementations needs to be closely considered because faults in the hardware implementations can potentially reduce or impact on the underlying security. In this paper, we present approaches to detect errors in hardware implementations of the inversion in GF(28). The proposed approaches are based on both nonredundant and redundant arithmetic, utilizing normal basis (nonredundant) and two redundant Galois field representations, i.e., polynomial ring representation and redundantly represented basis through tower fields. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work focusing on the error detection architectures for redundant arithmetic-based inversion in GF(28). The presented signature-based schemes in this paper are general and can be applied to block ciphers with 8-bit S-boxes, such as Camellia, SMS4, the advanced encryption standard, and CLEFIA. We present the results of error simulations and application-specific integrated circuit implementations to demonstrate the utility of the presented schemes. Based on the specific implementation’s security/reliability objectives and the overhead/degradation tolerance for implementation/performance metrics, one can fine-tune and tailor the proposed work to achieve more reliable inversions in GF(28).
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and Occam's razor.

Thank you for bringing this interesting article to my attention.[1][1] I am not certain why patients were excluded if they died during their stay in hospital. It seems that this would be an important outcome to assess. The data seem to support that patients who had spirometry had more appropriate
Role of chain scission in cross-slot flow of wormlike micellar solutions

The role of chain scission is investigated numerically in the symmetry breaking of the flow of wormlike micellar solutions in a cross-slot geometry.
Hematophagy and Inhibition of Platelet Aggregation

Salivary glands from blood-sucking animals (e.g., mosquitoes, bugs, sandflies, fleas, ticks, leeches, hookworms, bats) are a rich source of bioactive molecules that counteract hemostasis in a redundant and synergistic manner. This review discusses recent progress in the identification of salivary inhibitors of platelet aggregation, their molecular characterization, and detailed mechanism of action. Diversity of inhibitors is remarkable, with distinct families of proteins characterized as apyrases that enzymatically degrade ADP or as collagen-binding proteins that prevent its interaction with vWF, or platelet integrin a2b1 or GPVI. Molecules that bind ADP, TXA2, epinephrine, or serotonin with high affinity have also been cloned, expressed, and their structure determined. In addition, a repertoire of antithrombins and an increasingly number of RGD and non-RGD disintegrins targeting platelet aIIbb3 have been reported. Moreover, metalloproteases with fibrinogen (olytic) activity and PAF phosphorylcholine hydrolase are enzymes that have been recruited to the salivary gland to block platelet aggregation. Platelet inhibitory prostaglandins, lysophosphatydilcholine, adenosine, and nitric oxide (NO)-carrying proteins are other notable examples of molecules from hematophagous salivary secretions (herein named sialogenins) with antihemostatic properties. Sialogenins have been employed as tools in biochemistry and cell biology and also display potential therapeutic applications.
Physical and Chemical Properties of Dioxins in Relation to the their Disposal

The physical and chemical properties of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins have been considered in relation to prospects for their formation and destruction in incinerator environments. Detailed equilibrium and chemical kinetic considerations have been used in performing qualitative assessments. It is concluded that there are no apparent thermodynamic barriers to their destruction and that kinetic control is a dominating factor in practical incinerator environments. This analysis as well as a consideration of some existing experimental data are used to suggest some useful guidelines and to indicate research which should be carried out in the future regarding dioxin disposal.
The effect of iodide and tri-iodide on the dye sensitized solar cell

Abstract The dye sensitized solar cell needs a tremendous improvement to be competitive with other solar cell that are available in the market. To battle this issue a band gap materials engineering needs to be considered. In this study, a numerical model analysis is developed to take into consideration the effect of iodide and tri-iodide on the electron transport through the mesoporous oxide film. For this reason this research intend to solve the continuity equation for the iodide, tri-iodide and the electron transport using FDM method to investigate the effect electrolyte properties on the performance of DSSCs. The simulation results demonstrate that in order to achieve the highest exergy efficiency it is suggested to have electron transport rate above 1.45 × 10−7 (cm/s), the TiO2 porosity to be in the range of 0.36–0.42, the recombination and the regeneration rate above the 2.693 × 10−7 (cm/s) and 1.55 × 10−7 (cm/s) respectively. The results also showed that peak target of electron transport rate, recombination rate, and regeneration rate enhance the light harvesting efficiency and DSSCs exergy efficiency.
Center effect on posttransplant survival among currently active United States pediatric heart transplant centers.

The official analysis of posttransplant survival considers only recently transplanted patients and suggests absence of outcome differences among pediatric heart transplant (HT) centers. We sought to compare posttransplant survival among currently active pediatric HT centers in the United States over 15 years of activity. We identified all children <18 years old who underwent their first HT during 2000-2014 at US centers active during 2013-14. Recipients were followed until March 2016. A mixed-effects survival model with center as a random effect was used to assess center differences in patient and graft survival. Center case-mix and standardized mortality ratio (SMR) for 90-day mortality were assessed by applying an internally validated risk-model. Overall, 4271 children transplanted at 46 centers were analyzed. There was a significant center effect on risk-adjusted patient (P = .01) and graft survival (P < .001). Adjusting for 90-day SMR or center-volume, but not for case-mix, was associated with a significant reduction in center effect on long-term survival. There was no center effect on conditional survival in 90-day survivors. In conclusion, there are significant differences in posttransplant survival among pediatric HT centers in the United States. Centers with better short-term performance (lower SMR for 90-day mortality) maintain their outcome advantage on follow-up and have superior longer-term outcomes.
Electrophysiology of 5-HT2A Receptors and Relevance for Hallucinogen and Atypical Antipsychotic Drug Actions

The feature that distinguishes psychedelic agents from some other classes of psychotomimetic drug is their capacity reliably to induce states of altered perception, thought, and feeling without producing marked disorientation or delirium. There is an accumulation of evidence that the 5-hydroxytryptamine2A (5-HT2A) subtype of serotonin (5-HT) receptor mediates the actions of psychedelic hallucinogens. The majority of 5-HT2A receptors are found in the cerebral cortex. Here, we explore the electrophysiology of 5-HT2A receptors in the prefrontal cortex and their relevance for normal brain function and for hallucinogen and atypical antipsychotic drug actions.
Applications of Fermat’s and Euler’s Theorems

This chapter is devoted to some applications of Fermat’s and Euler’s theorems, mostly to numbers: decimal expansions, testing numbers for primeness, factoring numbers. Perhaps the most striking application, in Section B, is to the design of a cryptographic system, the RSA cryptosystem, which has spawned an enormous amount of research on factoring large numbers since the system was discovered in the late 1970s.
The Effect of Intrapartum Vancomycin on Vaginal Group B Streptococcus Colony Counts.

OBJECTIVE To define the temporal relationship between intrapartum intravenous vancomycin administration and vaginal group B streptococcus (GBS) colony counts. STUDY DESIGN Prospective cohort study conducted from October 2014 to February 2017. Women with antenatal cultures demonstrating GBS colonization and a plan for vancomycin administration were eligible. Intrapartum vaginal cultures were collected prior to the first vancomycin infusion and every 2 hours up to five collections or delivery. Results were analyzed in two groups: participants with at least one positive intrapartum culture and those without any positive intrapartum cultures. RESULTS A total of 63 women were enrolled. Among consented women, a total of 8 were excluded and 3 participants' cultures were never plated, thus leaving a total of 52 women for analysis. The degree of vaginal GBS colonization varied between subjects and was not normally distributed. Colony counts dropped rapidly from hour 0 to hour 2 (median: 6.0 × 108 vs. 1.0 × 108, p < 0.01). Standardizing hour 0 colony counts to 100%, the percent decline in colony counts from hour 0 to hour 2 was significant (p = 0.03), and at each subsequent time point fell further. CONCLUSION GBS vaginal colony counts fall rapidly after intrapartum vancomycin administration.
Randomized Checkpoints: A Practical Defense for Cyber-Physical Microfluidic Systems

Attacks on cyber-physical microfluidic systems have emerged as a rising threat and call for an immediate solution. In this article, the authors survey different attacks on digital microfluidic biochips and propose to use randomized checkpoints as hardware-based countermeasures to address security vulnerabilities. —Ujjwal Guin, Auburn University
Ismism, Or Has Liberalism Ruined Everything?

There has been considerable recent discussion of the social effects of “liberalism,” which are said to include (among other things) a growth in out-of-wedlock childbirth, repudiation of traditions (religious and otherwise), a rise in populism, increased reliance on technocracy, inequality, environmental degradation, sexual promiscuity, deterioration of civic associations, a diminution of civic virtue, political correctness on university campuses, and a general sense of alienation. There is good reason for skepticism about these claims. Liberalism is not a person, and it is not an agent in history. Claims about the supposedly adverse social effects of liberalism are best taken not as causal claims at all, but as normative objections that should be defended on their merits. These propositions are elaborated with reference to three subordinate propositions: (1) liberalism, as such, does not lack the resources to defend traditions; (2) liberalism, as such, hardly rejects the idea of “constraint,” though the domains in which liberals accept constraints differ from those of antiliberals, and vary over time; (3) liberalism, as such, does not dishonor the idea of “honor.” There is a general point here about the difficulty of demonstrating, and the potential recklessness of claiming, that one or another “ism” is causally associated with concrete social developments.
Antimonite-based gap-engineered type-II superlattice materials grown by MBE and MOCVD for the third generation of infrared imagers

Third generation of infrared imagers demand performances for higher detectivity, higher operating temperature, higher resolution, and multi-color detection all accomplished with better yield and lower manufacturing costs. Antimonide-based gap-engineered Type-II superlattices (T2SLs) material system is considered as a potential alternative for Mercury- Cadmium-Telluride (HgCdTe) technology in all different infrared detection regimes from short to very long wavelengths for the third generation of infrared imagers. This is due to the incredible growth in the understanding of its material properties and improvement of device processing which leads to design and fabrication of better devices. We will present the most recent research results on Antimonide-based gap-engineered Type-II superlattices, such as high-performance dual-band SWIR/MWIR photo-detectors and focal plane arrays for different infrared regimes, toward the third generation of infrared imaging systems at the Center for Quantum Devices. Comparing metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD), vs molecular beam epitaxy (MBE).
Locus Minoris Resistentiae in Coccidioidomycosis: A Case Series:

Locus minoris resistentiae refers to decreased resistance in any internal organ or external body region, leaving it more vulnerable to disease processes than other regions. These changes, either congenital or acquired, alter the defense capacity. The concept of locus minoris resistentiae is widely accepted in the medical field and presents itself across specialties. Antecedent trauma is a known risk factor for hematogenous dissemination of infection; this also applies to coccidioidal species. In this article, we describe 2 patients who suffered from pulmonary coccidioidomycosis with subsequent trauma resulting in osseous dissemination to the site of injury.
Parmest: Parameter Estimation Via Pyomo

Abstract The ability to estimate a range of plausible parameter values, based on experimental data, is a critical aspect in process model validation and design optimization. In this paper, a Python software package is described that allows for model-based parameter estimation along with characterization of the uncertainty associated with the estimates. The software, called parmest, is available within the Pyomo open-source software project as a third-party contribution. The software includes options to obtain confidence regions that are based on single or multi-variate distributions, compute likelihood ratios, use bootstrap resampling in estimation, and make use of parallel processing capabilities.
The PEST: Platform for Environmental Sensing Technology

Water quality monitoring is a critical task for safeguarding human health, understanding ecosystem balance, and informing regulatory policy in waterway use and maintenance. Direct bottle sampling is the standard for most water quality analysis, however it is limited in both space and time resolution by virtue of ex situ analysis. This inspires the need for in situ observation systems. Unmanned mobile platforms provide the capability for real-time response and spatial coverage. Current platforms for water quality monitoring tend to be expensive to build and maintain, or are large and difficult to deploy. Since even basic water measurements (e.g., temperature, pH) provide useful information about the health of an environment, we leverage the use of open-source low-cost probes on a small unmanned platform. The Platform for Environmental Sensing Technology (PEST), is a first prototype towards a persistent low-cost unmanned water quality monitoring solution for shallow, narrow, and difficult environments that is suitable for deployment by non-robotics experts.
Actor Critic Deep Reinforcement Learning for Neural Malware Control

In addition to using signatures, antimalware products also detect malicious attacks by evaluating unknown files in an emulated environment, i.e. sandbox, prior to execution on a computer's native operating system. During emulation, a file cannot be scanned indefinitely, and antimalware engines often set the number of instructions to be executed based on a set of heuristics. These heuristics only make the decision of when to halt emulation using partial information leading to the execution of the file for either too many or too few instructions. Also this method is vulnerable if the attackers learn this set of heuristics. Recent research uses a deep reinforcement learning (DRL) model employing a Deep Q-Network (DQN) to learn when to halt the emulation of a file. In this paper, we propose a new DRL-based system which instead employs a modified actor critic (AC) framework for the emulation halting task. This AC model dynamically predicts the best time to halt the file's execution based on a sequence of system API calls. Compared to the earlier models, the new model is capable of handling adversarial attacks by simulating their behaviors using the critic model. The new AC model demonstrates much better performance than both the DQN model and antimalware engine's heuristics. In terms of execution speed (evaluated by the halting decision), the new model halts the execution of unknown files by up to 2.5% earlier than the DQN model and 93.6% earlier than the heuristics. For the task of detecting malicious files, the proposed AC model increases the true positive rate by 9.9% from 69.5% to 76.4% at a false positive rate of 1% compared to the DQN model, and by 83.4% from 41.2% to 76.4% at a false positive rate of 1% compared to a recently proposed LSTM model.
Let’s talk about depression: social workers’ use of chemical imbalance explanations

Social workers play an important role in helping clients understand the evidence base on which treatment options and choices are made. This study investigates social workers’ use of a biomedical pe...
Potentially Harmful Medication Use Among Medicare Patients with Heart Failure.

The unintentional prescribing of medications harmful for patients with heart failure (HF) remains an ongoing problem. The American Heart Association published a scientific statement detailing a list of medications that may worsen or exacerbate a patient’s HF. The use of potentially harmful medications has not been studied in Medicare patients with HF. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of prescribing these harmful medications in a Medicare-enrolled medication therapy management (MTM)-eligible population with HF and to identify the characteristics associated with this potentially harmful prescribing. This cross-sectional analysis involved utilization of a national MTM provider’s database for the 2018 calendar year. Eligible patients were included if they were Medicare enrolled, MTM eligible, and with International Classification of Disease 9/10 codes for HF. Counts and percentages were used to describe the prevalence of potentially harmful medication use and prescribing, by physician specialty. Exploratory logistic regression assessed the relationship between unique patient characteristics and potentially harmful prescribing. A total of 13,250 patients were included, of whom 7017 (53%) were prescribed at least one potentially harmful medication. The most frequently prescribed medications in this cohort were nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs; 3357, 25%), dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) inhibitors (3117, 24%), and non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (CCBs; 936, 7%). A logistic regression found female sex, increasing polypharmacy, years qualified for MTM, higher poverty level, number of prescribers, and number of pharmacies were associated with potentially harmful medication prescribing. Of 17,548 potentially harmful medications encountered in a 4-month span, 9433 (54%) were prescribed by physician primary care providers. Over one-half of patients with HF were prescribed one or more potentially harmful medication(s). Automated monitoring of prescription claims and implementation of alerts in electronic health records in primary care is warranted to reduce potentially harmful medication use among Medicare MTM-eligible patients.
Relation of Pretransplant Peak Oxygen Consumption to Outcomes After Heart Transplantation

Peak exercise oxygen consumption (pVO2) is an important predictor of prognosis in patients with heart failure (HF). The association between pretransplant pVO2 and post-transplantation outcomes in HF patients has not been previously studied. We identified adult OHT recipients with available pVO2 in the United Network for Organ Sharing registry (2000 to 2015). Patients were divided into 3 categories using Weber classification: class B (pVO2 16 to 20 ml/kg/min), class C (pVO2 10 to 16 ml/kg/min), and class D (pVO2 14 days) hospitalization (adjusted Odds Ratio (OR) 1.42 [1.20 to 1.68], p
COVID-19 vaccines: implementation, limitations and opportunities

The speed of development and the magnitude of efficacy of recently developed vaccines directed against SARS-CoV-2 has been truly remarkable. This editorial will not summarize the highly publicized and reviewed information about the design and clinical trial results of these vaccines. Rather, I will speculate about several issues regarding i) considerations of the rollout and implementation of the multiple vaccines, ii) the use of the vaccines in ways different from those used in the registrational phase 3 studies, iii) the future both of SARS-CoV-2 in the human population and of "normal" human life returning after widespread vaccination, and iv) the implications of the success of these SARS-CoV-2 vaccines for vaccine development against other pathogens.
Pediatric Gastroenterology Fellows' Self-Assessment of Endoscopy Skills

Background: Endoscopy is a fundamental skill learned during a pediatric gastroenterology fellowship. The aim of this study was to determine the number of procedures performed during fellowship and to evaluate a trainee's self-perceived competency of their endoscopic skills. Methods: A survey link was emailed to the NASPGHAN PEDI GI Fellows listserv composed of 372 fellows. Procedural count of eight routine procedures and a visual analogue scale measuring fellow's self-perceived competency for each procedure were evaluated. The data was collected and stored using REDCap. Findings: One hundred sixty-seven fellows (45%) completed the survey: 28% first year, 41% second year, and 31% third year. 50% or fewer of third-year fellows felt competent and met the complete procedural number thresholds recommended by the 2013 NASPGHAN training guidelines for routine procedures except for diagnostic esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). Subjects felt competent regarding colonoscopy but only 24% reached the threshold. There was no difference in EGD counts between small vs large training programs (p=0Â·51). Therapeutic endoscopy scored the lowest on self-reported competency scale. Interpretation: This study showed that a majority of third-year trainees feel competent regarding EGD and colonoscopy skills, but only reached threshold counts in EGD. Although pediatric gastroenterologists and trainees are thought to perform safe and effective gastrointestinal endoscopy, this data suggests that time could be changed to emphasize other procedural training. Additional research should be completed in this area to evaluate the value of self-reported competency and to consider revision of the 2013 NASPGHAN training guidelines to reflect current practice. Funding Statement: The authors declare: "No sources of funding exist for either author." Declaration of Interests: No conflicts of interest exist for Heidi E. Hagerott. Joel Friedlander is president, chief medical officer, and co-founder of Triple Endoscopy, Inc. He is also inventor on patent pending US 62/184,077, PCT/US2016/039352, AU201683112, CA 2,990,182, EU 16815420.1, JP 2017-566710, US 15/850,939, US 15/853,521, US15/887,438, US 62/680,798 related to endoscopic methods and technologies. Ethics Approval Statement: The authors state: "This study met criteria for IRB exemption."
Phase Transformation and Incompatibility at Grain Boundaries in Zirconia-Based Shape Memory Ceramics: A Micromechanics-Based Simulation Study

Zirconia-based shape memory ceramics (SMCs) exhibit anisotropic mechanical response when undergoing elastic deformations as well as during austenite-martensite phase transformation. This behavior results in different types of strain incompatibility at grain boundaries, which we study here using a micromechanical model. A single-crystal model is developed to provide a full mechanistic three-dimensional description of the anisotropic elastic as well as martensitic transformation stress-strain response, including non-Schmid behavior caused by the significant volume change during martensitic transformation. This model was calibrated to and validated against compression tests of single-crystal zirconia micro-pillars, prior to being used to model bi-crystals. Upon the introduction of a grain boundary, the simulation provides detailed information on the nucleation and evolution of martensite variants and stress distribution at grain boundaries. We identify bicrystal configurations which result in very large stress concentrations at very low deformations due to elastic incompatibility, as well as others where the elastic incompatibility is relatively low and stress concentrations only occur at large transformation strains. We also show how this approach can be used to explore the misorientation space for quantifying the level of elastic and transformation incompatibility at SMCs grain boundaries.
Gene mapping, gene-set analysis, and genomic prediction of postpartum blood calcium in Holstein cows.

ABSTRACT The onset of lactation results in a sudden irreversible loss of Ca for colostrum and milk synthesis. Some cows are unable to quickly adapt to this demand and succumb to clinical hypocalcemia, whereas a larger proportion of cows develop subclinical hypocalcemia that predisposes them to other peripartum diseases. The objective of this study was to perform a comprehensive genomic analysis of blood total Ca concentration in periparturient Holstein cows. We first performed a genomic scan and a subsequent gene-set analysis to identify candidate genes, biological pathways, and molecular mechanisms affecting postpartum Ca concentration. Then, we assessed the prediction of postpartum Ca concentration using genomic information. Data consisted of 7,691 records of plasma or serum concentrations of Ca measured in the first, second, and third day after parturition of 959 primiparous and 1,615 multiparous cows that calved between December 2015 and June 2020 in 2 dairy herds. All cows were genotyped with 80k SNPs. The statistical model included lactation (1 to 5+), calf category (male, females, twins), and day as fixed effects, and season-treatment-experiment, animal, and permanent environmental as random effects. Model predictive ability was evaluated using 10-fold cross-validation. Heritability and repeatability estimates were 0.083 (standard error = 0.017) and 0.444 (standard error = 0.028). The association mapping identified 2 major regions located on Bos taurus autosome (BTA)6 and BTA16 that explained 1.2% and 0.7% of additive genetic variance of Ca concentration, respectively. Interestingly, the region on BTA6 harbors the GC gene, which encodes the vitamin D binding protein, and the region on BTA16 harbors LRRC38, which is actively involved in K transport. Other sizable peaks were identified on BTA5, BTA2, BTA7, BTA14, and BTA9. These regions harbor genes associated with Ca channels (CACNA1S, CRACR2A), K channels (KCNK9), bone remodeling (LRP6), and milk production (SOCS2). The gene-set analysis revealed terms related to vitamin transport, calcium ion transport, calcium ion binding, and calcium signaling. Genomic predictions of phenotypic and genomic estimated breeding values of Ca concentration yielded predictive correlations up to 0.50 and 0.15, respectively. Overall, the present study contributes to a better understanding of the genetic basis of postpartum blood Ca concentration in Holstein cows. In addition, the findings may contribute to the development of novel selection and management strategies for reducing periparturient hypocalcemia in dairy cattle.
Performance Improvements of Reverse-Saturated SiGe HBT Millimeter-Wave Switches with Floating Emitter Configuration

This work demonstrates the advantages of using reverse-saturated SiGe HBTs in a floating-emitter (FE) configuration compared to the standard grounded-emitter (GE) configuration, for improved millimeter-wave (mm-wave) switch design. A W-band quarter-wave shunt, single-pole double-throw (SPDT) switch test structure was designed in a 130-nm SiGe BiCMOS technology to prove the efficacy of this assertion. The minimum insertion loss of the switch is 2.3 dB in both the FE and GE configurations. However, the switch shows 17.5 dBm input-referred 1-dB compression (IP 1dB ) in the GE configuration, and 19.7 dBm IP 1dB in the FE configuration. Moreover, the switch consumes 6.9 mW DC power in GE configuration with 1.0 V bias but only 5.5 mW in FE configuration. Although in the FE configuration, the SiGe HBT experiences a substantially higher level of 1-V damage under high-power RF stress, the damage is shown not to degrade the RF performance of the switch.
Influence of grain and monensin supplementation on ruminal fermentation, intake, digesta kinetics and incidence and severity of frothy bloat in steers grazing winter wheat pastures.

Three 10-d collection periods (April 4 to 14, early April, EApr; April 23 to May 3, late April, LApr; May 10 to 20, 1984, mid-May, MMay) were conducted to evaluate effects of no supplement (C), .5 kg-head-1.d-1 (as-fed basis) supplemental grain (steam-flaked milo, G) or G plus 170 mg monensin.head-1.d-1 (M) on forage intake and digestion by 12 ruminally cannulated beef steers (four/treatment; avg initially BW = 393 kg) grazing irrigated winter wheat pasture. Ruminal pH was greater (P less than .01) for M than for C or G during EApr but was not altered by treatments in LApr or MMay. Compared with C, ruminal NH3 was decreased (P less than .10) by G and M (5 h after supplementation) in EApr, decreased (P less than .05) by G (2h) and increased (P less than .05) by M (8 h) in LApr and decreased (P less than .10) by G (-1h) in MMay. Treatments had little influence on total VFA concentrations or on molar proportions of acetate and propionate. Butyrate molar proportion was decreased (P less than .10) by M during EApr and LApr, but not during MMay. Monensin increased (P less than .05) fluid passage rate compared with C and G in EApr but not in other periods, Particulate passage measurements did not differ (P greater than .10) among treatments within periods. Forage DM intake was not influenced (P greater than .10) by supplementation during any period. Extent of in situ forage DM disappearance was greater (P less than .10) for M than for C or G during EApr (12 and 30 h of incubation) but was not different (P greater than .10) in LApr or MMay. Incidence of frothy bloat was decreased (P less than .05) by M during EApr; this reduction may have been related to effects of M on ruminal pH, forage digestion and fluid passage.
Improved ridge lasers utilizing laterally-intermixed active regions

The submicron abruptness of an intermixing transition is used to create current and carrier confinement in a ridge laser. Compared to a control laser, a 27% threshold reduction and 10% efficiency enhancement are demonstrated.
Ligninolytic enzymes: a biotechnological alternative for bioethanol production

Ligninolytic fungi and enzymes (i.e., laccase, manganese peroxidase, and lignin peroxidase) have been applied recently in the production of second-generation biofuels. This review contains the analysis of ligninolytic enzymes and their applications in second-generation biofuels. In here, each of the ligninolytic enzymes was described analyzing their structures, catalysis, and reaction mechanism. Additionally, delignification and detoxification, the two most important applications of ligninolytic enzymes, were reviewed and analyzed. The analysis includes an evaluation of the biochemical process, feedstocks, and the ethanol production. This review describes the current situation of the ligninolytic enzymes technology and its future applications in bioethanol industry.
Quadrature-based credible set estimation for radar feature extraction

Efficient and accurate extraction of physically-relevant features from measured radar data is desirable for automatic target recognition (ATR). In this paper, we present an estimation technique to find credible sets of parameters for any given feature model. The proposed approach provides parameter estimates along with confidence values. Maximum a posteriori (MAP) estimates provide a single (vector) parameter value, typically found via sampling methods. However, computational inefficiency and inaccuracy issues commonly arise when sampling multi-modal or multi-dimensional posteriors. As an alternative, we use Gaussian quadrature to compute probability mass functions, covering the entire probability space. An efficient zoom-in approach is used to iteratively locate regions of high probability. The (possibly disjoint) regions of high probability correspond to sets of feasible parameter values, call credible sets. Thus, our quadrature-based credible set estimator (QBCSE) includes values very near the true parameter and confuser values that may lie far from the true parameter but map with high probability to the same observed data. The credible set and associated probabilities are computed and should both be passed to an ATR algorithm for informed decision-making. Applicable to any feature model, we demonstrate the proposed QBCSE scheme using canonical shape feature models in synthetic aperture radar phase history.
Resting Heart Rate and Incident Atrial Fibrillation in the Elderly

Background Alterations in autonomic tone and/or sinus node dysfunction are common with aging. We hypothesized that older persons with low or high heart rates represent a population with subclinical abnormalities who are more likely to develop atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods A total of 5,226 participants aged 65 years or more (85% white; 42% male) with complete data from the Cardiovascular Health Study were used in this analysis. AF cases were identified during the yearly study electrocardiograms, participant history of a physician diagnosis, or by hospitalization data. Cox regression was used to compute hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between resting heart rate and incident AF using clinically relevant categories (heart rate ≤60 beats/min, 60 90 beats/min) and as a continuous variable per 5 beats/min decrease. Results Over a median follow-up of 12.7 years, a total of 532 (10.2%) participants developed AF. In a multivariable Cox regression analysis, heart rates ≤60 beats/min (HR = 1.3, 95% CI = 1.1, 1.5), but not >90 beats/min (HR = 1.1, 95% CI = 0.52, 2.3), were associated with an increased risk of AF. Additionally, heart rate per 5 beats/min decrease was associated with an increased risk of AF (HR = 1.06, 95% CI = 1.01, 1.1). The results were consistent in subgroup analyses stratified by age, sex, race, and baseline cardiovascular disease. Conclusion In the elderly, low heart rates are associated with an increased risk of AF. Potentially, underlying alterations in autonomic tone and/or subclinical sinus node dysfunction manifested as slow heart rate predispose to AF.
Demonstration of the applicability of 3D Slicer to Astronomical Data Using 13CO and C18O Observations of IC348

3D Slicer, a brain imaging and visualization computer application developed at Brigham and Women's Hospital's Surgical Planning Lab, was used to visualize the IC 348 star-forming complex in Perseus in RA-DEC-Velocity space. This project is part of a collaboration between Harvard University's Astronomy Department and Medical School, and serves as a proof-of-concept technology demonstration for Harvard's Institute for Innovative Computing (IIC). 3D Slicer is capable of displaying volumes (data cubes), slices in any direction through the volume, 3D models generated from the volume, and 3D models of label maps. The 3D spectral line maps of IC 348 were created using 13CO and C18O data collected at the FCRAO (Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory). The 3D visualization makes the identification of the cloud's inner dense cores and velocity structure components easier than current conventional astronomical methods. It is planned for 3D Slicer to be enhanced with astrophysics-specific features resulting in an astronomical version to be available online through the IIC and in conjunction with the National Virtual Observatory (NVO).
Induction of immunity and specific unresponsiveness in vitro by cell-bound antigen. II. Cell types involved and absence of genetic restriction.

Abstract The immunogenic and tolerogenic activities of solubilized T2 phage antigens in a primary in vitro response are augmented when these antigens are presented in cell-bound form. This enhancement is shown to be effected equally by an antigen adsorbed to autologous cells, to cells matched or mismatched with respect to major histocompatibility antigens, or to xenogeneic cells. Spleen or lymph node cells are more effective carriers of adsorbed T2 antigens than are thymocytes or erythrocytes. Among lymphocytes, T cells are more effective than B cells. Erythrocytes and B lymphocytes also are shown to bind significantly less solubilized T2 proteins than do T lymphocytes or thymocytes.
Caring for Children and Adolescents with Osteosarcoma: A Nursing Perspective

The nurse plays a vital role in caring for patients with osteosarcoma. From the very outset when the disease is explained to the patient and his/her family, the nurse provides comfort and support, as well as enhances and explains the information provided by the physician. All aspects of medical care are addressed, and he/she is frequently the first line of communication when the patient telephones and requests information or wishes to report a problem to the physician. He/She arranges and coordinates appointments to suit the patient’s medical, and often social needs to provide comprehensive care with attention to detail. This communication will provide a perspective of the role assumed by the nurse in his/her effort to ensure total care of the patient and the family.
Attitudes toward professionalism education in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery residency programs.

Objectives/Hypothesis Resident professionalism development is important for physician training and patient care. Meaningful professionalism curriculum requires collaboration between learners and educators. We aimed to better understand attitudes of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery (OHNS) program directors (PDs) and residents toward professionalism education. Study Design Prospective survey. Methods We identified contemporary methods of professionalism evaluation and education and formulated questions to assess attitudes toward professionalism education. Surveys were electronically distributed to 104 PDs who were asked to forward a separate survey to residents. Results The resident survey was completed by 110 OHNS residents, and the PD survey was completed by 33 OHNS PDs. The majority of residents (78%) and faculty (84%) believed professionalism could be taught. Role modeling (93%) and morbidity and mortality conference (90%) were the most common methods of education. Faculty questionnaires (100%) and nursing/ancillary staff questionnaires (93%) were the most common methods of resident evaluation. The majority of residents considered faculty mentoring (66%) and small group discussions (56%) to be useful methods for teaching professionalism, whereas only 14% considered formal lectures useful. Residents valued questionnaires by faculty (98%), medical staff (97%), and patients (94%) for professionalism evaluation. Conclusion We are the first to study OHNS residents and PDs attitudes toward professionalism evaluation and education. Residents value mentoring programs and small group sessions rather than formal didactics and value evaluation from multiple sources. Programs should consider incorporating these specific educational and evaluative methods into their professionalism curricula. Level of Evidence N/A. Laryngoscope, 125:348–353, 2015
Mid-brain responses of the auditory and somatic vibration systems in snakes.

1. Evoked slow potentials were recorded extracellularly from the mid-brains of snakes of the genus Crotalus . For the auditory and somatic systems, amplitude, latency, and duration of responses were studied as the parameters of intensity, frequency, and rise time of sinusoidal vibratory or click stimuli were varied. Recovery curves were constructed for paired stimuli and for trains. Effects of body temperature on frequency-response threshold curves were determined. Results were verified for species of the families Boidae and Colubridae. 2. Intensity-amplitude curves increase logarithmically for c . 20 dB above threshold and then reach a plateau for the auditory system. These curves are generally increasing over a 40 dB range in the somatic system. Latency decreases monotonically with increasing intensity; it is independent of frequency for the auditory system but depends on frequency for the somatic system. 3. Differences in shape of intensity-amplitude curves for different frequencies lead to the hypothesis that there are auditory units with different frequency-response curves. This finding is relevant to the study of the evolution of audition. Differences in intensity-amplitude curves for the somatic system and differences in latencies for different frequencies suggest that several types of somatic vibration receptors contribute to the central response. 4. Increase in body temperature causes increase in the frequency of greatest sensitivity for the auditory system, and increases sensitivity by 1-3 dB per °C. Higher frequencies are affected more than lower frequencies. The somatic system sensitivity is increased by c . 1.5 dB per °C, except at the extremes of the frequency curve. These findings emphasize the importance of studying effects of temperature on the central nervous systems of cold-blooded vertebrates. 5. Of relevance to the biology of snakes is the observation that snakes are not well suited, at the mid-brain level, for rapid analysis of sequential vibratory events. A principle of general biological significance supported by comparison of temporal characteristics of mid-brain responses of snakes and other animals is that latency and recovery are related to auditory specialization rather than to phylogeny.