cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Connectivity Analysis of Mobile Linear Networks with Delay Constraint

The connectivity properties of a mobile linear network with high speed mobile nodes, dynamic node population, and a strict delay constraint are investigated. A new mobility model is developed to represent the steady state node distributions in terms of random node location and random node population. The model accurately captures the statistical properties of random node arrival, time-varying node speed, and the distinct behaviors of nodes following different traffic patterns. With the new mobility model, the statistical properties of network connectivity are studied and identified. Unlike most previous works that do not consider the impacts of transmission latency, which is critical for real time applications, this paper identifies the quantitative relationship between network connectivity and delay constraint by placing a bound on the maximum transmission distance. The connectivity analysis is performed with a novel geometry-assisted analytical method. Exact connectivity probability expressions are developed by using the volumes of a hypercube intersected by a hyperplane. Results presented in this paper provide insight on the design and operations of mobile linear networks, such as a vehicular ad hoc network (VANET) that has rapidly changing network topology and node density.
Effects of Salts on the Reaction of Normal Corn Starch with Propylene Oxide

The objective of this research was to develop a greater understanding of the mechanism by which salts inhibit gelatinization of starch granules. Using hydroxypropylation of corn starch in the presence of sodium sulfate under conditions employed industrially as the control reaction, reactions with propylene oxide were done with different salts at levels that matched the control reaction in anion molal concentration, cation molal concentration, and total ion molal concentration. Salts used were selected based upon their position in the lyotropic series. Reactions were characterized by determining reaction efficiency and ion concentrations. Sodium and potassium citrates, salts exhibiting a strong lyotropic effect, were extremely effective as gelatinization inhibitors, but resulted in low reaction efficiency. Salts without a strong lyotropic effect (sodium and potassium chlorides) exhibited a weak protective effect, probably at least in part based upon generation of a Donnan potential. In the hydroxypropylation reaction, sodium citrate greatly reduced swelling; sodium chloride was ineffective as a swelling inhibitor, resulting in pasting of granules, and sodium sulfate allowed restricted swelling, most likely as a result of a moderate lyotropic effect and some generation of a Donnan potential. That reaction efficiency parallels granule swelling was confirmed.
Improving BGP Convergence Delay for Large-Scale Failures

Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) is the standard routing protocol used in the Internet for routing packets between the Autonomous Systems (ASes). It is known that BGP can take hundreds of seconds to converge after isolated failures. We have also observed that the convergence delay can be even greater for large-scale failures. In this study, we first investigate some of the factors affecting the convergence delay and their relative impacts. We observe that the Minimum Route Advertisement Interval (MRAI) and the processing overhead at the routers during the re-convergence have a significant effect on the BGP recovery time. We propose a couple of new schemes to reduce processing overload at BGP routers during large failures, which in turn leads to decreased convergence delays. We show that these schemes combined with the tuning of the MRAI value decrease the BGP convergence delay significantly, and can thus limit the impact of large scale failures in the Internet.
A climatology of sunburning ultraviolet radiation.

— Data are presented from 14 sites where continuous measurements of the sun's shortest ultraviolet radiation reaching the earth's surface have been made for four or more years. Average daily dose per month and its variability from year to year is shown for each station. Some of the many influences affecting these measurements can be discerned by station intercomparisons. No consistent long term change in solar UV-B radiation reaching the ground is evident.
Recentering Learning: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Academic and Student Affairs

An old campus is revitalized by a new vision for student learning built on student and academic affairs collaboration.
A pharmacy consortium: Producing resources for continuing education

With the rapid movement of pharmacy practice toward a greater clinical orientation, many baccalaureate-prepared pharmacists found themselves without the necessary preparation for this new level of practice. Through their professional organizations, they called on colleges of pharmacy to offer the Doctor of Pharmacy degree in a nontraditional format so that they could continue their education without having to leave their practice settings. Recognizing that adequate resources were not available within any individual college to produce all of the resources needed, two consortia were formed by colleges and later merged into one under the auspices of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy. Drawing from past experiences with consortial function, the new consortium organized itself to produce educational resources in a manner that would allow faculty to accept and use the resources without the concerns that have traditionally inhibited their use. Four courses were identified that would provide the didactic component for the degree requirements. Two courses are in use with two additional courses yet to be developed. The future of the consortium will depend on experience gained with the use of these resources and on the need for additional resource production.
Galaxies and large scale structure at high redshifts.

It is now straightforward to assemble large samples of very high redshift (z ∼ 3) field galaxies selected by their pronounced spectral discontinuity at the rest frame Lyman limit of hydrogen (at 912 A). This makes possible both statistical analyses of the properties of the galaxies and the first direct glimpse of the progression of the growth of their large-scale distribution at such an early epoch. Here I present a summary of the progress made in these areas to date and some preliminary results of and future plans for a targeted redshift survey at z = 2.7–3.4. Also discussed is how the same discovery method may be used to obtain a “census” of star formation in the high redshift Universe, and the current implications for the history of galaxy formation as a function of cosmic epoch.
A 10-GHz high-efficiency lens amplifier array

The design of a 36-element quasi-optical amplifier for high-power and high-efficiency transmission at 10 GHz is presented. The following steps are taken in the design procedure: (1) design and characterization of a single high-efficiency CPW amplifier; (2) comparison to a saturated class-A amplifier; (3) design of a driver stage and testing of a two-stage CPW amplifier; (4) design of antennas and passive unit cell; (5) testing of active unit cell; (6) testing of passive lens array; and (7) construction and testing of active lens amplifier array. This systematic procedure enables us to ensure stability, calibrate properly, and measure power-combining efficiency as a function of the number of elements. A high-efficiency amplifier with 275 mW of output power, 48% power-added efficiency, and 6.4 dB saturated gain at 10.1 GHz gives 200 mW output power, 35% power-added efficiency, and 13 dB of saturated power gain in a two-stage amplifier. A single unit cell with second-resonant slot antennas gives the same performance and is the building block for a 36-element focal-point fed array.
Quantitative Relationships Between Cigarette Smoking and Chronic Productive Cough

A close relationship between chronic productive cough and cigarette smoking was confirmed in an epidemiological study of airways obstructive disease in Tucson. Pack-years of smoking was closely related to symptom frequency and no threshold effect was noted. This relationship was affected by age and a history of childhood respiratory disease, but not by atopy. Among present smokers males and females did not differ significantly in their smoking habit specific rates of chronic productive cough, but males appeared to lose their symptoms less regularly than females when they quit smoking after many pack-years of cigarette use. When the relationship of smoking to chronic productive cough was removed, smoking was not significantly related to other aspects of 'chronic nonspecific respiratory disease' in this analysis.
ON THE “RUSSO-AMERICAN FEVER”: HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW DANA AND THE GORKI FUND

Abstract In 1921, Bolshevik-ruled Russia suffered a famine affecting over 37 million people. In Boston, Henry (Harry) Wadsworth Longfellow Dana, grandson of the famous poet, and Russian-Jewish immi...
Omega and Eta Production in π + d → pp π + π − π 0 at 3.65 BeV/ c

We have observed \ensuremath{\sim}3000 examples of the reaction ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}d\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\mathrm{pp}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}$ and report on \ensuremath{\sim}300 events in which the ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}$ mass is in the ${\ensuremath{\omega}}^{0}$ mass region and \ensuremath{\sim}40 events in the ${\ensuremath{\eta}}^{0}$ mass region. Differential cross sections are presented. There is evidence for a backward peak in the overall channel. We give values for the ${\ensuremath{\omega}}^{0}$ density-matrix elements in the forward direction. Our value for $\mathrm{Re}{\ensuremath{\rho}}_{10}$ is negative, in disagreement with various theoretical models.
Context as Content in Urban Teacher Education Learning to Teach in and for San Francisco

Urban teacher residencies have emerged as an innovation for recruiting, preparing, and retaining teachers for high-need urban schools. Though residencies aim to prepare teachers for specific urban contexts, we know little about how context is conceptualized in the teacher education curriculum or what teachers learn about it. This study finds that participants in one residency in San Francisco came to see context as complex and layered, interrupting stigmas often associated with urban schools. Participants felt well prepared to teach in particular high-need settings, but their knowledge and skills did not necessarily transfer to other urban settings in the same city.
Poxvirus-Based Strategies for Combined Vaccine and Tumor Microenvironment Manipulation

Although vaccine strategies for the generation of tumor-specific immunity in patients continue to have great promise, to date they have been less than overwhelming in their antitumor efficacy. Studies from our laboratory and other laboratories have examined the lack of apparent immune recognition of tumor and limited effectiveness of tumor antigen-based vaccines. Such studies have resulted in the definition of a series of “immune escape mechanisms” whereby the tumor microenvironment and draining lymph nodes manifest a balance between effector and regulatory pathways resulting in a systemic lack of responsiveness to tumor and, in some cases, vaccine therapy. Our studies, reviewed in this chapter, have focused on the use of recombinant poxviral vectors to infect/transfect tumor and stromal components in the tumor microenvironment aimed at overcoming “immune escape” and resulting in an effective systemic antitumor immunity. Studies outlined here demonstrate that poxviral vectors are effective in infecting/transfecting tumor in vitro and in vivo, leading to the production of immune-active cytokines at the tumor site. In a series of phase I trials in melanoma and bladder cancer patients, we demonstrated that infection/transfection of the tumor using poxvirus encoding the immune active cytokine granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor is effective in inducing local immune cell infiltration into the tumor microenvironment. Parallel preclinical studies have found that inclusion of genes encoding tumor antigen into the recombinant poxvirus with or without additional pharmacologic agents modulating immune escape mechanisms is effective in inducing systemic antitumor immunity and manifesting positive antitumor effects. Finally, we describe the translation of these latter findings to an ongoing phase I study of antigen-encoding poxvirus given intratumorally in patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer.
Detecting and Treating Retinopathy in Patients with Tyke I Diabetes Mellitus: Savings Associated with Improved Implementation of Current Guidelines

Abstract Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of acquired blindness among Americans of working age. The resulting economic and societal burdens are of profound magnitude. Epidemiologic and clinical trials data were used to analyze the impact of improved recruitment of patients with Type I diabetes mellitus into screening and treatment programs. The analysis predicted annual savings of $101.0 million and 47,374 person-years-sight at the currently estimated 60% screening and treatment implementation level. If all patients receive appropriate eye care, the predicted savings exceed 167.0 million and 79,236 person-years-sight. Approximately two thirds of all savings result from treatment of proliferative diabetic retinopathy, while nearly one third arises from treatment of clinically significant macular edema. Additional savings of $9571 are realized with each recruitment of a newly diagnosed patient with diabetes. Initiating screening immediately upon diagnosis of diabetes, rather than the currently recommended 5-year deferral, would be cost effective if 1 additional individual in 56 were recruited. This model suggests that improved delivery of ophthalmic care to patients with diabetes would yield substantial financial and visual savings, thus making major recruitment programs such as the National Eye Institute's National Eye Health Education Program and the American Academy of Ophthalmology's Diabetes 2000, both economically and clinically effective.
The Social Functions of Attributional Face Saving Tactics

School is a not only a forum for learning and achievement but is also an important social arena. Students respond to teacher directions, negotiate informal norms of conduct among classmates, argue and resolve conflicts as well as form friendships with another (e.g., Juvonen & Wentzel, 1996). In this chapter, I examine how students manage their public images in ways that promote social approval in the context of the classroom (cf. Baumeister, 1982; Leary & Kowalski, 1990). What is of specific interest is how students may try to “save face” as they do poorly in school.
A fast, simple wafer-level Hall-mobility measurement technique

Mobility is a good indicator of device reliability. High channel mobility is one of the biggest challenges especially in novel devices such as high-k based MOSFET, III–V devices and SiC power MOSFET etc. Accurate measurement of channel mobility is required for studying the limiting mechanism of mobility. Hall mobility is more favorable than effective mobility or field effect mobility because it takes into account only the mobile charges, which is essential for measuring novel devices that have a very high trap density. However, regular Hall measurement involves a bulky system and tedious sample preparation, which inhibit frequent use. In this paper, we demonstrate a fast and easy to implement wafer-level Hall-mobility measurement technique that allows for large survey of many devices under various conditions.
Laparoscopic Partial Splenectomy for Unknown Primary Cancer: A Stepwise Approach

Background Laparoscopic partial splenectomy (LPS) for focal splenic lesions is technically demanding and carries risk of hemorrhage. Nevertheless, it can be a valuable option, particularly for children and adults in whom attempt at preservation of splenic immunologic function outweighs risk associated with organ preservation.
Decarboxylation Study of Acidic Cannabinoids: A Novel Approach Using Ultra-High-Performance Supercritical Fluid Chromatography/Photodiode Array-Mass Spectrometry

Abstract Introduction: Decarboxylation is an important step for efficient production of the major active components in cannabis, for example, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), cannabidiol (CBD), and cannabigerol (CBG). These cannabinoids do not occur in significant concentrations in cannabis but can be formed by decarboxylation of their corresponding acids, the predominant cannabinoids in the plant. Study of the kinetics of decarboxylation is of importance for phytocannabinoid isolation and dosage formulation for medical use. Efficient analytical methods are essential for simultaneous detection of both neutral and acidic cannabinoids. Methods: C. sativa extracts were used for the studies. Decarboxylation conditions were examined at 80°C, 95°C, 110°C, 130°C, and 145°C for different times up to 60 min in a vacuum oven. An ultra-high performance supercritical fluid chromatography/photodiode array-mass spectrometry (UHPSFC/PDA-MS) method was used for the analysis of acidic and neutral cannabinoids before and ...
Comparative study of separation between ex vivo prostatic malignant and benign tissue using electrical impedance spectroscopy and electrical impedance tomography.

Objective Currently no efficient and reliable technique exists to routinely assess surgical margins during a radical prostatectomy. Electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) has been reported as a potential technique to provide surgeons with real-time intraoperative margin assessment. In addition to providing a quantified measure of margin status, a co-registered electrical impedance tomography (EIT) image presented on a surgeon's workstation could add value to the margin assessment process. Approach To investigate this, we conducted a comparative study between EIS and EIT to evaluate the potential these technologies might have for margin assessment. EIS and EIT data was acquired from ex vivo human prostates using a multi-electrode endoscopic impedance acquisition probe. Main results EIS and EIT show good predictive performance with a 0.76 and 0.80 area-under-curve (AUC), respectively, when considering discrete frequencies only. A machine learning (ML) algorithm is implemented to combine features, which improves the AUCs of EIS and EIT to 0.84 and 0.85, respectively. Single-step EIT takes significantly less time to reconstruct than multi-step EIT, yet provides similarly accurate classification results, making the single-step approach a potential candidate for real-time margin assessment. While the ML-based approach clearly exhibits benefits as compared to the single feature assessment, the decision to use EIS versus EIT is unclear since each approach performs better for different subsets of tissue classifications. Significance The results presented in this paper corroborate our previous studies and present the strongest evidence yet that an intraoperative-capable impedance probe can be used to distinguish benign from malignant prostate tissues. An in vivo study with a large cohort will be necessary to definitively determine the preferred approach and to show the clinical effectiveness of using this technology for margin assessment.
Disruption of Rab8a and Rab11a causes formation of basolateral microvilli in neonatal enteropathy.

ABSTRACT Misplaced formation of microvilli to basolateral domains and intracellular inclusions in enterocytes are pathognomonic features in congenital enteropathy associated with mutation of the apical plasma membrane receptor syntaxin 3 (STX3). Although the demonstrated binding of Myo5b to the Rab8a and Rab11a small GTPases in vitro implicates cytoskeleton-dependent membrane sorting, the mechanisms underlying the microvillar location defect remain unclear. By selective or combinatory disruption of Rab8a and Rab11a membrane traffic in vivo , we demonstrate that transport of distinct cargo to the apical brush border rely on either individual or both Rab regulators, whereas certain basolateral cargos are redundantly transported by both factors. Enterocyte-specific Rab8a and Rab11a double-knockout mouse neonates showed immediate postnatal lethality and more severe enteropathy than single knockouts, with extensive formation of microvilli along basolateral surfaces. Notably, following an inducible Rab11a deletion from neonatal enterocytes, basolateral microvilli were induced within 3 days. These data identify a potentially important and distinct mechanism for a characteristic microvillus defect exhibited by enterocytes of patients with neonatal enteropathy.
High-Yield Synthesis of ZIF-8 Nanoparticles Using Stoichiometric Reactants in a Jet-Mixing Reactor

A significant challenge for greater utilization of zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) is creating a synthesis method to produce these materials with uniform, nanometer-scale particle size, and high surface areas while achieving high yields. We demonstrate a novel method to produce ZIF-8 nanoparticles with uniform diameters in the range of 60–80 nm involving a jet-mixing reactor. While ZIF nanoparticle synthesis typically involves using excess ligand, the jet-mixing reactor can be operated at ambient conditions using preferred solvents and stoichiometric quantities of ligand and metal (i.e., ligand:metal of 2:1) with yields as high as 89%. The jet-mixing reactor is studied to determine the effect of different synthesis parameters including ligand to metal ratio, base concentration, solvent, and mixing intensity. The base concentration has the most effect on the product size, morphology, and yield. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the jet-mixing method can be scaled to increase productivity by designing...
Contemporary Review of Male and Female Climacturia and Urinary Leakage During Sexual Activities.

Abstract Introduction Urinary leakage during sexual activity is a prevalent and often distressing condition that is under-addressed despite having a range of reasonable treatment options. Aim To review the available literature on prevalence, pathophysiology, and treatment of urinary leakage during sexual activities. Methods A literature review was performed through PubMed from 1996 to 2017 regarding urinary leakage during sexual activities for men and women including foreplay incontinence, coital incontinence, and climacturia. Main Outcome Measures To assess various physiologic and social factors of urinary leakage during sexual activities for men and women, treatment options, and their reported outcomes. Results Urinary leakage during sexual activity is a prevalent condition that is underdiagnosed and undertreated. The pathophysiology of sexual incontinence is very similar between men and women and is influenced by injury to the pelvic and pudendal nerves, pelvic floor and external sphincter incompetence, and detrusor overactivity. There are different treatment options that are effective and should be offered to patients bothered by their symptoms. Conclusion Improved awareness is critical for better addressing the issue of sexual incontinence. There is likely a common pathophysiologic pathway between men and women and many treatment options are effective. However, further study is required to better elucidate this disease process and most effective treatment options. Mendez MH, Sexton SJ, Lentz AC. Contemporary Review of Male and Female Climacturia and Urinary Leakage During Sexual Activities. Sex Med Rev 2018;6:16–28.
Anguish and anxiety, stress and strain: Attending to writers’ stress in the dissertation process

Abstract In this Short Communication, we report on some stresses experienced by L2 writers in the dissertation process and argue that when these emotions go unacknowledged and unaddressed, they can result in deleterious outcomes for these writers. Drawing on our work with writers in dissertation support groups, we note the sources of stress for the L2 students; while the genesis of some of the L2 students’ stress may be attributed solely to challenges in text production, other factors, such as interpersonal difficulties and intrapersonal conflicts, also contribute to stress and can negatively affect dissertators’ writing progress. We conclude by suggesting ways that writing professionals can assist writers in coping productively with the stresses experienced during the dissertation process.
Epidemiological study of people living in rural North Carolina for novel respiratory viruses.

During the last 10 years, scientists have grown increasingly aware that emerging respiratory viruses are often zoonotic in their origin. These infections can originate from or be amplified in livestock. Less commonly recognized are instances when humans have transmitted their respiratory pathogens to animals (reverse zoonoses). Even with this knowledge of viral exchange at the human-livestock interface, few studies have been conducted to understand this cross-over. In this pilot study, we examined persons with influenza-like illness at an outpatient clinic for evidence of infection with novel zoonotic respiratory pathogens in rural North Carolina where there are dense swine and poultry farming. Environmental air sampling was also conducted. From July 2016 to March 2017, a total of 14 human subjects were enrolled and sampled, and 192 bioaerosol samples were collected. Of the 14 human subject samples molecularly tested, three (21.4%) were positive for influenza A, one (7.1%) for influenza B and one (7.1%) for human enterovirus. Of the 192 bioaerosol samples collected and tested by real-time RT-PCR or PCR, three (1.6%) were positive for influenza A and two (1.0%) for adenovirus. No evidence was found for novel zoonotic respiratory viruses.
Licensed Practical Nurse Practice Acts Across the Country

This chapter provides information regarding each of the Licensed Practical Nurse Practice Acts in the United States and territories. You also have links to obtain additional information in each state and territory included here.
Tacit Knowledge and the Problem of Computer Modelling Cognitive Processes in Science

Once one has said that there is a “tacit dimension” of some sort to communication or to some cognitive activity, it seems like an appropriate step to make it a topic for research. The difficulty with this suggestion is that it assumes that in fact we have some sort of unproblematic mode of access to our implicit understandings, to the “tacit dimension.” To be sure, sometimes portions of this “dimension” are revealed to us, as when we find that others don’t share some procedure we follow “naturally” or habitually, or when we find ourselves in circumstances where these procedures fail, and we are forced to, and can, find replacements for them. But these are perhaps exceptional cases, revealed for us through contingent and possibly rare circumstances. And if this is so, it follows that a project of revealing the tacit dimension would depend on some premises that would give one some assurances that one’s techniques indeed reveal the necessary parts of it. It is one thing to have a method of turning over rocks to see if there are salamanders under them; it is another to form a project of counting all the salamanders in a given area, for one doesn’t know that they are all assessable by the known means.
Cold-Stable Microtubules from Antarctic Fish

The cytoplasmic microtubules of eukaryotic cells participate in many fundamental processes, including mitosis, nerve growth and regeneration, the determination of cell shape, and the transport of organelles within cells (Dustin 1984). The assembly of microtubules from their major subunit proteins, tubulin αβ-dimers and microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs), is an entropically driven reaction favored by high temperatures and mediated by the release of structured water from sites of interdimer contact (Correia and Williams 1983). Thus, the microtubule proteins of homeotherms (e.g., mammals and birds) form micro-tubules at temperatures near 37 °C, and these “cold-labile” polymers disassemble at low temperatures (0–4 °C). By contrast, the microtubules of cold-living poikilotherms, such as those found in the Antarctic marine ecosystem, must assemble and function at temperatures as low as −1.9 °C. However, relatively little is known regarding the polymerization of microtubule proteins from organisms adapted to low body temperatures.
An Approach for Determining DEA Efficiency Bounds

Constrained facet analysis is used to evaluate decision making units (DMUs) which have non-zero slacks in data envelopment analysis (DEA) by requiring a full dimensional efficient facet (FDEF). The current paper shows that the FDEF-based approach may deem those extreme efficient DMUs which are not located on any FDEF as inefficient. Using strong complementary slackness condition (SCSC) solutions, this paper develops an alternative method for the treatment of non-zero slack values in DEA. The newly proposed method can deal with the situation when FDEFs do not exist.
‘Creating smooth spaces in striated places’: Toward a global theory for examining social justice leadership in schools

This chapter shares an original social justice framework that emerged in conjunction with conducting a 2-year ethnography studying the culture of an urban all-girls’ secondary school. I refer to this new interpretive lens as “Facilitating social justice by creating smooth spaces in striated places” or the striated-smooth construct. The meaning-making that occurred during and after the study did not follow a firm temporal chronology or emerge linearly within tidy categorical disciplines. Essentially, my path of learning was a porous and rhizomatic interlacing of past, present, and future – germinating from the intellectual, spiritual, and corporeal –scaffolding upon knowledge, faith, and lived experience. In short, this theory-building experience was more akin to dialogue between mind, soul, and body. Rather than “own” this theory of social justice and explicitly detail a list of “rules” one must follow, I offer this inspiration as just one conception of social justice that might be used to facilitate the creative thinking of others that has potential to move the field forward as well as be applied to other societal contexts.
Using taxon resampling to identify species with contrasting phylogenetic signals: an empirical example in Terrabacteria

Motivation: The promise of higher phylogenetic stability through increasing dataset size within Tree of Life (TOL) reconstructions has not been fulfilled, especially for deep nodes. Among the many causes proposed are changes in species composition (taxon sampling) that could influence phylogenetic accuracy of the methods by altering the relative weight of the evolutionary histories of each individual species. This effect would be stronger in clades that are represented by few lineages, which is common in many Prokaryote phyla. Indeed, phyla with fewer taxa showed the most discordance among recent TOL studies. Thus, we implemented an approach to systematically test how the number of taxa and the identity of those taxa among a larger dataset affected the accuracy of phylogenetic reconstruction. Results: We utilized an empirical dataset of 766 fully-sequenced proteomes for phyla within Terrabacteria as a reference for subsampled datasets that differed in both number of species and composition of species. After evaluating the backbone of trees produced as well as the internal nodes, we found that trees with fewer species were more dissimilar to the tree produced from the full dataset. Further, we found that even within scenarios consisting of the same number of taxa, the species used strongly affected phylogenetic stability. These results hold even when the tree is composed by many phyla and only one of them is being altered. Thus, the effect of taxon sampling in one group does not seem to be buffered by the presence of many other clades, making this issue relevant even to very large datasets. Our results suggest that a systematic evaluation of phylogenetic stability through taxon resampling is advisable even for very large datasets.
Using discrete-event simulation to increase the efficiency of point of distribution sites

Objective: The objective of this research was to develop a computer simulation model that will provide the most optimal allocation of resources for a point of distribution (POD) site. Design: A baseline assessment was conducted by participants establishing POD sections with no guidance from the investigator. A computer model was built with four stations: triage, registration, screening, and dispensing. The information from the computer simulation was used to design the allocation of volunteers for the experimental group. Once the data were collected, a two-sample t test was used to determine the significance of the difference between the average times of the two groups to complete the POD. Setting: The POD site was conducted indoors with volunteers acting as patients, and volunteer nursing students, and pharmacy students acting as POD workers. Volunteers were divided into two groups, group B, experimental and group A, control. Time was recorded using a digital time-stamp at the beginning and at the end of the POD. Interventions: The researcher inputted the total number of volunteers into the model, and the model generated the most applicable ratio for distribution of human capital: a one-to-one ratio of screeners to dispensers. Main outcome measures: The mean time for Group A was 4.55 minutes (95% CI: 4.27, 4.83). The mean time for group B was 3.05 minutes (95% CI: 2.79, 3.31). A two-sample t test and Analysis of Variance of these data show that the difference is meaningful (p < 0.001). Results: The results show that a discrete-event computer simulation can be used to identify the most efficient use of resources in order to decrease the amount of time that patients are required to participate. Conclusions: The discrete-event computer simulation model was found to be effective at identifying ways to increase efficiency and reduce the overall time required by patients to complete the POD.
High-Deductible Insurance and Delay in Care for the Macrovascular Complications of Diabetes

In this observational, longitudinal, before–after study using 10 years of data from a large national health insurer, the authors sought to determine whether a transition from low-deductible to high...
The Pediatric Sildenafil Trial

While we have long understood pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) to be a chronic disorder of the pulmonary vasculature that can lead to right heart failure and death if untreated, there are curr...
Bilateral Suprascapular Nerve Injury and Novel Technique of Nerve Transfers for Restoration of External Rotation: Case Report

Background Complex brachial plexus and peripheral nerve injuries can be challenging to evaluate and treat, especially in the face of novel pathology. Objective To describe the diagnosis of bilateral suprascapular nerve injury, the unique surgical anatomy, and the novel use of a distal nerve transfer to re-establish external rotation. To the best of our knowledge, bilateral suprascapular nerve injury has not previously been reported. Methods The authors describe the physical examination and electrodiagnostic and imaging work-up for elucidating complex injury patterns and present a procedure for reinnervating the infraspinatus muscle. Results A 48-yr-old man presented with profound, right-sided, partial brachial plexus injury incurred 5 mo earlier in a motorcycle accident. Imaging demonstrated atrophy and severe edema within the bilateral supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles. Needle electromyography depicted no motor units and insertional activities in bilateral infraspinatus muscles, consistent with bilateral suprascapular nerve injury. Along with brachial plexus repair, the patient underwent transfer of a distal branch of the spinal accessory nerve to the inferolateral branch of the suprascapular nerve to the infraspinatus muscle. At 16 mo, he had recovered strong restoration of shoulder external rotation. Conclusion Systematic evaluation can assist in defining complex pathology, particularly with previously unreported types. In this case, predominant injury was inflicted upon the branch innervating the infraspinatus. Highly focal nerve transfers can achieve substantial restoration of external rotation.
Pulsed-addition ring-opening metathesis polymerization with functional enyne reagents

Generation of polymers with reduced quantities of metal initiator and control of chain-end functionality remains a challenge for metathesis polymerization techniques. This communication reports the application of functional enyne molecules in pulsed-addition ring-opening metathesis polymerization (PA-ROMP) to generate multiple functional polymer chains from a single 3rd generation Grubbs initiator. The chain-transfer process is fast and efficient, requiring only 1.2 equivalents of enyne per cycle, and delivers well-defined homopolymers and diblock polymers with low dispersities.
Chapter 11 – World Trade Organization and Food Regulation: Impact on the Food Supply Chain

Publisher Summary Safety concerns analyze the range of different food chains relevant to a certain food product or product group, including all relevant producers, manufacturing sites and food service establishments within a country as well as those importing into the country. Food regulation is aimed at protecting the consumer's health, increasing economic viability, harmonizing well-being, and engendering fair trade on foods within and between nations. Many factors that affect the food systems include the climate, available arable land, and technology. The competitiveness of markets, domestically and internationally, is of great importance. The World Trade Organization (WTO) is the only global international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations. The goal is to help producers of goods and services, exporters and importers conduct their business. This chapter focuses on the processes through which small-scale producers are integrated into, or excluded from, supermarket supply chains and the associated impact of stricter food safety and quality standards and logistics requirements. Agreements and the codes of practices issued by the Codex Alimentarius Commission there now exists a benchmark for international harmonization that guarantees the trade of safe food.
Immigration stress among refugees resettled in the United States

Background:Immigration stress includes acculturation stress and the stress related to language barriers, discrimination, occupational challenges, and feelings of isolation from society and a sense ...
COVID-19 in an Infant with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia: A Case Report

In the midst of current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, little is known about the implications of this new virus on patients with underlying chronic comorbidities. Herein, we present a case of a 5-week-old infant with congenital adrenal hyperplasia who acquired SARS-CoV-2 and recovered with minimal medical support.
A Light Field Front-end for Robust SLAM in Dynamic Environments.

There is a general expectation that robots should operate in urban environments often consisting of potentially dynamic entities including people, furniture and automobiles. Dynamic objects pose challenges to visual SLAM algorithms by introducing errors into the front-end. This paper presents a Light Field SLAM front-end which is robust to dynamic environments. A Light Field captures a bundle of light rays emerging from a single point in space, allowing us to see through dynamic objects occluding the static background via Synthetic Aperture Imaging(SAI). We detect apriori dynamic objects using semantic segmentation and perform semantic guided SAI on the Light Field acquired from a linear camera array. We simultaneously estimate both the depth map and the refocused image of the static background in a single step eliminating the need for static scene initialization. The GPU implementation of the algorithm facilitates running at close to real time speeds of 4 fps. We demonstrate that our method results in improved robustness and accuracy of pose estimation in dynamic environments by comparing it with state of the art SLAM algorithms.
Prevalence of and risk factors for abnormal left ventricular geometrical patterns in hypertensive subjects administered irbesartan.

Background Distinct populations differ in LVH prevalence and impaired LV geometry. Currently, the prevalence of and risk factors for LV geometric patterns in Chinese hypertensives administered irbesartan have not been specifically addressed in large studies. Methods Totally 10,883 patients (6623 men and 4260 women) completed the survey, including 1181 hypertensives administered irbesartan (488 males and 693 females) that were finally enrolled. Based on LVMI and RWT derived from comprehensive echocardiography, the LV geometric patterns of irbesartan-treated hypertensive individuals were classified into four types, including the normal, concentric remodeling, and concentric and eccentric hypertrophy groups. Logistic regression analysis was applied in males and females, respectively, for determining odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for various potential risk factors for abnormal LV geometrical patterns in irbesartan-treated hypertensives. Results The clinical and echocardiographic data differed significantly between males and females. The prevalence rates of concentric remodeling, concentric hypertrophy, and eccentric hypertrophy were 36.3%, 15.4%, and 6.1% in males, respectively, and 23.5%, 20.3%, and 23.8% in females, accordingly. Gender, daily dose of irbesartan, BMI, SBP, WtHR, and neck-circumference were significantly associated with LV geometric patterns. After adjustment for confounding factors, risk factors for LVH and impaired LV geometry included SBP, WtHR in males, and MAU-Cr and WtHR in females. Conclusions LVH and impaired LV geometric patterns are more prevalent in females (67.7%) compared with that in males (57.8%) among hypertensives upon irbesartan administration. For such population, risk factors beyond elevated blood pressure may be involved in the progression of LVH and impaired LV geometric patterns in both genders.
The Job Priority Guided NEH-based Local Search Procedure for Solving Blocking Flowshop Scheduling Problem

In this research, we propose an efficient job priority guided NEH-based local search procedure (JPGNEH-ls) for addressing the blocking permutation flowshop scheduling problem with minimization of makespan. The main feature of our proposed method is the introduction of problem specific information extracting mechanism into the local search procedure with a novel defined job priority vector. In order to improve the global convergence ability and enhance the exploitation process, a tournament selection strategy and ordering strategy are utilized for locating the most promising jobs for insertion test. To verify the efficiency of the proposed procedure, intensive computational experiments are conducted on the well-known benchmark instance that is often cited in the literature. The experimental results show the superiority of the proposed method
Confronting Data Inequality

Data conveys significant social, economic, and political power. Unequal control over data — a pervasive form of digital inequality — is a problem for economic development, human agency, and collective self-determination that needs to be addressed. This paper takes some steps in this direction by analyzing the extent to which law facilitates unequal control over data and by suggesting ways in which legal interventions might lead to more equal control over data. By unequal control over data, we not only mean having or not having data, but also having or not having power over deciding what becomes and what does not become data. We call this the power to datafy. We argue that data inequality is in turn a function of unequal control over the infrastructures that generate, shape, process, store, transfer, and use data. Existing law often regulates data as an object to be transferred, protected, and shared and is not always attuned to the salience of infrastructural control over data. While there are no easy solutions to the variegated causes and consequences of data inequality, we suggest that retaining flexibility to experiment with different approaches, reclaiming infrastructural control, systematically demanding enhanced transparency, pooling of data and bargaining power, and differentiated and conditional access to data mechanisms may help in confronting data inequality more effectively going forward. This paper was written as a background paper for the World Development Report 2021: Data for Better Lives.
Development of Iranian Perspectives towards the Zionist Regime from the Past to the Present Time

Development of Iranian Perspectives towards the Zionist Regime from the Past to the Present Time Dr. Mahdi Ahouie This essay studies the various approaches of different Iranian political thinkers in regard to Israel since the establishment of the Zionist regime. The main purpose is to explore whether there are any similarities among all different perspectives towards Israel in Iran. The basic pattern in the broader Iranian foreign policy discourse can be described as an uneasy coexistence between a historical sense of superiority over regional neighbors and a series of humiliations coming from the great powers in Iran’s dealings with the outside world. Israel has become a central feature in Iranian political discourse because all Iranian political thinkers share three fundamental beliefs as follows: 1. Israel is created by the West and it represents Western powers in the region; 2. Israel is fundamentally hostile to Arabs; and 3. The Palestine/ Israel question represents a dramatic case of justice- seeking, for Jews and Muslims alike. Thus, friendship or hostility with Israel can be used as a tool of policy in Iran’s foreign policy discourse to cultivate or antagonize Western powers, while consolidating Iranian hegemony in the Middle East and maintaining a just and fair solution to the Palestine/ Israel question. Despite different interpretations of these concepts by each political school, they constitute a common conceptual ground for all Iranian perspectives towards Israel.
Predicting bull mounting behavior using classification algorithms

Data from multiple-sire beef cattle pastures have shown variability exists among the number of calves sired per bull. The reason(s) for the variability is unknown. Successful investigation of possible reasons requires accurate recording and evaluation of bull behavior. The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy of classifying bull mounting events in a multiple-sire pasture using accelerometer data and classification algorithms.
Buffer layer engineering of L10 FePd thin films with large perpendicular magnetic anisotropy

Development of L10 FePd thin films with large bulk perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and a low damping constant may permit superior scaling of next-generation ultra-high density magnetic memory elements. The buffer layer influences the L10-order parameter, static and dynamic magnetic properties of FePd and demands consideration for the design of high anisotropy strength and low damping films. In this report, we systematically investigate the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and damping constant of the FePd thin films engineered through the Cr/(Pt, Ru, Ir, Rh), Mo/Ir, and Ir buffer layers. We observed that the Ir(001), Cr(001)/Ir(001), Cr(001)/Pt(001), Cr(001)/Rh(001), and Cr(001)/Ru(001) buffer layers can induce highly oriented (001) FePd films while the Mo/Ir buffer layer does not. Of all the buffer layers, the largest perpendicular magnetic anisotropy Ku ∼ 1.2 MJ/m3 and damping constant α ∼ 0.005 were achieved for the Cr/Pt buffered FePd sample, consistent with a high ordering parameter S ∼ 0.82. The Cr/Ru buffered FePd sample shows the lowest α ∼ 0.008, despite having a lower S ∼ 0.64 and a lower Ku ∼ 0.9 MJ/m3. These film-level properties would be sufficient for the engineering of devices that require thermally stable, sub-10 nm lateral size elements with low damping for applications of low energy-delay magnetic memory devices.