cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Educational value of the operating room experience during a core surgical clerkship

Abstract Background The amount and content of medical student teaching in the operating room and its alignment with clerkship goals was unknown. Methods A qualitative research design using field observations, followed by qualitative and quantitative data coding and analysis. Results A mean of 9.8% of the total case time (range 1.6%–20.2%) was spent teaching clerkship goals. Teaching strategies based on basic principles of learning were used during a mean of 66% of the total case time (range 30%–99%). The most common teaching strategy was active student participation (28%) followed by command (14%) and lecture (13%). Educational experience in the OR was rated 4.0 (out of 5) by faculty and 3.3 by students. No correlation existed between student satisfaction and time actively participating in the operation or time spent teaching to clerkship goals ( P = .66, P = .95, respectively). Conclusion Teaching in the OR is more focused on technical aspects of the operation than the goals of a core surgery clerkship.
Genome Sequence of Strain HIMB30, a Novel Member of the Marine Gammaproteobacteria

Strain HIMB30 was isolated from coastal Hawaii seawater by extinction culturing in seawater-based oligotrophic medium. It is a phylogenetically unique member of the class Gammaproteobacteria that is only distantly related to its closest cultured relatives. Here we present the genome sequence of strain HIMB30, including genes for proteorhodopsin-based phototrophy and the Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle.
To Study the High Temperature Effects on Ball Bonds Using Low K Material in Wire Bond Devices

Wire bonding is widely used as one of the main interconnect alternatives. This technique applies significant mechanical stresses on the bond pads along with heat and ultrasonic energy to form a bond. An interconnection of copper plus low k material has been a focus of the semiconductor industry with the goal of reducing interconnection delays. The material is below the wire bond pads and complicates the mechanical stability of the device during wire bonding. The low k materials that are suggested are very sensitive to these mechanical stresses. This generates a significant reliability concern for the underlying metal structures. In addition, the integrity of the bond formed may be negatively impacted from a reliability perspective because of the softer material properties of the dielectric. This research explores the ball bond integrity for die with SiO2 and low k dielectric underlying material respectively, using 0.8 mil thick (20 microns) gold wire. Accelerated tests, such as high temperature storage at 150°C and 175°C, were conducted to assess the reliability of these bonds. The results of this investigation reveal that the ball bond’s strength degrades after high temperature tests due to the occurrence of Kirkendall voids between the gold wire and the aluminum bond pad. The degradation recorded was more severe for regular die than its low k counterpart.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
The Evolution of Japanese Colonialism

Reflecting upon the career in the colonial government of Formosa that was to win him world-wide fame in the early twentieth century, Baron Shimpei Goto once remarked that “Japan had made no preparations whatever for the administration of the island at the time of its acquisition”. Underscoring this neglect, he added, was “the fact that, in the case of other nations confronted by a similar occasion, elaborate schemes are generally formulated to meet contingencies connected with the occupation of a new territory”. One may wonder whether the Baron included among the “elaborate schemers” the “absent-minded” builders of the British Empire.It does not matter whether Baron Goto was aware of the complex historical processes, of the actions and accidents, involved in the creation of great empires. It is not even important whether he really believed that the colonial programs of the imperial powers were, like the war plans carefully devised by army general staffs, drawn from secret files as occasions demanded. Goto was primarily interested in the formulation and implementation of a colonial policy for Japan. His observation on his government's lack of preparedness to assume control and direction of Formosan affairs should thus be taken not simply as a confession and condemnation but rather as a statement of purpose.
Upright Magnetic Resonance Imaging Tasks in the Knee Osteoarthritis Population: Relationships Between Knee Flexion Angle, Self-Reported Pain, and Performance

Abstract Objective To characterize the ability of patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (OA) to perform a weight-bearing activity compatible with upright magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning and how this ability is affected by knee pain symptoms and flexion angles. Design Cross-sectional observational study assessing effects of knee flexion angle, pain level, and study sequence on accuracy and duration of performing a task used in weight-bearing MRI evaluation. Visual feedback of knee position from an MRI compatible sensor was provided. Pain levels were self-reported on a standardized scale. Setting Simulated MRI setup in a research laboratory. Participants Convenience sample of individuals (N=14; 9 women, 5 men; mean, 69±14y) with symptomatic knee OA. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures Averaged absolute and signed angle error from target knee flexion for each minute of trial and duration tolerance (the duration that subjects maintained position within a prescribed error threshold). Results Absolute targeting error increased at longer trial durations ( P P =.008). Study sequence affected duration tolerance (first knee: 3min 5s±9.1s; second knee: 2min 19s±9.7s; P =.015). Conclusions The study provided evidence that weight-bearing MRI evaluations based on imaging protocols in the range of 2 to 3 minutes are compatible with patients reporting mild to moderate knee OA-related pain.
Monkeys display classic signatures of human symbolic arithmetic

Non-human primates compare quantities in a crude manner, by approximating their values. Less is known about the mental transformations that non-humans can perform over approximate quantities, such as arithmetic transformations. There is evidence that human symbolic arithmetic has a deep psychological connection with the primitive, approximate forms of quantification of non-human animals. Here, we ask whether the subtle performance signatures that humans exhibit during symbolic arithmetic also bear a connection to primitive arithmetic. Specifically, we examined the problem size effect, the tie effect, and the practice effect-effects which are commonly observed in children's math performance in school. We show that, like humans, monkeys exhibited the problem size and tie effects, indicating commonalities in arithmetic algorithms with humans. Unlike humans, however, monkeys did not exhibit a practice effect. Together, these findings provide new evidence for a cognitive relation between non-symbolic and symbolic arithmetic.
A Cross-Sectional Survey of Interventional Radiologists and Vascular Surgeons Regarding the Cost and Reimbursement of Common Devices and Procedures

Purpose To evaluate knowledge of interventional radiologists (IRs) and vascular surgeons (VSs) on the cost of common devices and procedures and to determine factors associated with differences in understanding.
Effect of Sugars on Photoreceptor Outer Segment Assembly

During embryonic development, the rudimentary layers that will become the pigment epithelium (PE) and the neural retina are brought into close proximity upon the collapse of the optic vesicles. At this developmental stage, the retina is morphologically undifferentiated and photoreceptor outer segments have not yet begun to form. The close apposition of the PE and photoreceptors prior to the time when outer segments first appear raises the possibility that the PE could be a source of signals that induce or regulate photoreceptor development and outer segment elaboration. Also, the observation that outer segment development is limited in the absence of the PE in most species suggests that interactions between these two cell types may be of fundamental importance for the structural and functional maturation of photoreceptors [1, 2, 3, 5, 13, 16, 19, 20, 26].
Cardiopulmonary System Responses to Muscular Exercise in Man

Muscular exercise can only be performed at the expense of energy stores which are readily accessible to the contractile mechanisms of skeletal muscle; specifically, through the utilization of the free energy of hydrolysis of ATP. Intramuscular ATP concentrations are themselves maintained at the expense of creatine phosphate breakdown and through increased rates of ATP production resulting from aerobic or anaerobic metabolism.
Data-Based Decision-Making Teams in Middle School: Observations and Implications from the Middle School Intervention Project.

The use of data-based decision making (DBDM) in schools to drive educational improvement and success has been strongly promoted by educational experts and policymakers, yet very little is documented about the actual DBDM practices used in schools. This study examines DBDM practices in 25 middle schools through 80 standardized observations of data team meetings and through survey responses. DBDM practices in terms of structure, process, content, quality, and alignment between self-report and observation are described. Key findings include the following: (a) The average amount of time spent discussing an individual student was brief, less than 2 min; (b) on average, actionable decisions following discussions of behavior or reading issues were made 34% to 40% of the time; and (c) there was weak alignment on key topics between self-reported and observed DBDM practices. These findings underscore the need for additional studies of DBDM practices in school and of the impact of DBDM practices on important student...
Activation and degradation efficiencies of liver microsomes from eight vertebrate species, using organophosphates as substrates.

The capacity of liver microsomes from 8 vertebrate species, chickens, Gallus domesticus L.; Muscovy ducks, Cairima moschala Phillips; albino rats, Rattus norvegicus (Berkenhout); mice, Mus musculus L.; guinea pigs, Cavia Porcellus L.; sheep, Ovis aries L.; cattle, Bos taurus L.; and hogs, Suisscrota domestica , L., to activate methyl parathion and azinphosmethyl was studied. Degradation of their respective P (0) analogs was examined to determine the effects of degradation on net activation. Sexual differences were also studied. Activation or degradation of the organophosphates was determined by manometric, anticholinesterase assays of their incubation products, using house fly, Musca domestica L., head cholinesterase. In general, microsomal enzymes with a high activation effect had a comparatively low degradative effect and vice versa. Activation and degradation were both more extensive with azinphosmethyl than with methyl parathion. Several sharp differences in activation and degradation of these organophosphates were found, both between species and sexes.
Barriers to Engaging Service Members in Mental Health Care Within the U.S. Military Health System.

Objective:Over the past decade, there has been growing recognition of the mental health consequences associated with deployment and service by military service personnel. This study examined potential barriers to mental health care faced by members of the military in accessing needed services.Methods:This qualitative study of stakeholders was conducted across six large military installations, encompassing 18 Army primary care clinics, within the context of a large randomized controlled trial. Stakeholders included patients recruited for the study (N=38), health care providers working within site clinics (N=31), and the care managers employed to implement the intervention protocol (N=7).Results:Issues raised across stakeholder groups fell into two main categories: structural factors associated with the Army medical system and institutional attitudes and cultural issues across the U.S. military. Structural issues included concerns about the existing capacity of the system, for example, the number of provide...
Porous Amorphous Si Formation by the Etching of Single Crystal Si Substrates

The nature of light-emitting porous Si layers produced by non-anodic stain etching of p-type (100) Si substrates is studied. The layers were characterized by transmission electron microscopy as being amorphous in nature. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electron spin resonance measurements show these layers to be composed mainly of a-Si. The formation mechanism of the a-Si is explored using by stain etching SiGe ‘marker’ layers within epitaxially grown Si films and by high temperature annealing. These experiments provide strong evidence for a spontaneous crystalline-amorphous phase transformation during the etching process.
Numerical Simulation of Compressible Viscous Flow Using a Velocity-Pressure-Vorticity Variational Formulation and Direct Solver

The two-dimensional incompressible viscous flow equations are solved by iterating on the kinematics, pressure and momentum equations producing a solution that satisfies source and vorticity definitions up to machine accuracy. Given a vorticity and mass fields, a functional is constructed to measure the kinematic imbalance of a velocity field. The velocity equations are produced by minimizing a discrete functional, subject to constrains imposed by boundary conditions. A suitable preconditioning and interpolation technique are used to balance precision and computation speed. The Poisson equation for pressure is solved similarly by minimizing a suitable functional. The momentum equations are then solved using a finite volume approach. A controlled amount of artificial viscosity is added according to mesh size and Reynolds number, resulting in a stable calculation implemented using a direct solver.
Envisioning the Clothing and Textile-Related Discipline for the 21st Century Its Scientific Nature and Domain From the Global Supply Chain Perspective

The Clothing and Textiles (C&T) discipline was established over a century ago within the Home Economics discipline. During the early 1960s, a major shift occurred within C&T, from domestic science to one focused on industry. This conceptual paper takes an updated approach to discuss the relevance and uniqueness of C&T at a time when universities face reorganization or adaptation. After reviewing the scientific nature of C&T, the authors defined C&T as the science of investigating the satisfaction processes of humans' clothing needs and wants. These satisfaction processes are described and classified by hypotheses, theories, generalizations, and/or laws, through scientific methods built from both logics of discovery and justification. Therefore, the authors argue that C&T are closely linked with human science units because of its ultimate goal --human satisfaction of clothing needs and wants. More importantly, the authors argue the clothing satisfaction processes occur through supply chain management, from...
Reactions of Monkeys to Experimental Respiratory Infections. IV. Response to Re-inoculation with Streptococcus hemolyticus.

The various reactions of Macaca mulatta to primary intranasal inoculation with Streptococcus hemolyticus, Group C, alone or in conjunction with the virus of influenza A, have been described in preceding communications.1, 2, 3 A study of the same phenomena on reinfection with the same strain of hemolytic streptococci is the basis of this report.Methods. Eight monkeys were inoculated intranasally with streptococci 2 to 3 months previously. Six had survived also exposure to influenza A virus incurred either shortly preceding or just following the streptococcal episode. Before reinoculation, the recovered monkeys were observed and studied intensively over a control period of at least 1 to 2 weeks. Streptococcus hemolyticus, Group C, was then administered intranasally under ether-anesthesia in the same dosage (750,000,000 organisms in 3 cc saline) as was used for the primary inoculations.Three monkeys, not included in the above group but having apparently recovered from a primary inoculation with hemolytic str...
Analysis of Clinical Nursing of Respiratory Diseases in Pediatrics

Objective To further study clinical nursing of respiratory diseases in pediatrics. Methods 60 cases of children with respiratory disease admitted in Department of Pediatrics of our hospital from March 1st, 2012 to March 31st, 2013 were selected as the clinical subjects. The children were given comfort nursing, high fever nursing, disease nursing, diet nursing and mental health care. Results The diseases of the children were all well controlled and cared and improved, all the clinical symptoms disappeared, and the children were cured and discharged. Conclusion Pediatric respiratory disease is a common disease in pediatrics, identifying its mechanism, preventing and treating the disease effectively and targetedly, improving high-quality nursing can further improve the treatment effect of the disease.
Analysis on surveillance of adverse events following immunization for Hepatitis B vaccine in Jiangsu,2007-2013

Objective To analyze the epidemiological features of adverse events following immunization(AEFI)of Hepatitis B vaccine(HepB)in Jiangsu Province and to evaluate the immunization safety of HepB and the running condition of AEFI Surveillance System.Methods The HepB AEFI data of Jiangsu Province from 2007 to 2013were collected through the AEFI Information System and descriptive epidemiology method was used.Results A total of 3 576 HepB AEFI cases were reported during the period,and the annual incidence was 164.09/106 in an average.People agedl year old accounted for 80.96%,and the male to female ratio was 1.29:1.Most of AEFI were reported during May to August.In adverse reactions,the reporting rate of common adverse reaction was 144.68/106,the reporting rate of rare adverse reaction and serious rare adverse reaction were 17.39/106 and 0.60/106 respectively.The main clinical diagnosis in HepB adverse reactions were fever/redness and swelling/induration and anaphylactic rash,of which reporting rate were 137.85/106 and 15.10/106 respectively.ConclusionHepB has good effect on immunization safety.Fever/redness and swelling/induration and anaphylactic rash were the predominant diagnosis;following immunization and the incidence of serious rare adverse reaction is very low.The AEFI Information System runs well in Jiangsu Province and provides a scientific basis for vaccine safety.
Intrauterine and Extrauterine Recognition and Management of Deviant Fetal Growth

A combined comprehensive obstetric and pediatric program aimed at reducing perinatal morbidity and mortality associated with intrauterine growth retardation is presented.
Pb2+ inhibits NMDA receptor function at high and low affinity sites: developmental and regional brain expression.

Lead (Pb 2+ ) is a potent inhibitor of the NMDA receptor complex. In the present study we have measured high and low affinity components of NMDA receptor inhibition by Pb 2+ using [ 3 H]-MK-801 binding as a biochemical indicator of NMDA receptor function. The inhibitory effects of Pb 2+ were dependent on the age of the rat and the brain region analyzed. The number of [ 3 H]-MK-801 binding sites associated with the high and low affinity sites of Pb 2+ inhibition in the hippocampus increased as a function of age, peaking at postnatal day 28 and 21, respectively. In the cerebellum, a steady decrease in the number of both types of Pb 2+ -sensitive [ 3 H]-MK-801 binding sites was measured from postnatal day 1 to adulthood. High and low affinity Pb 2+ -sensitive [ 3 H]-MK-801 binding sites were measured in the cerebral cortex in early development, but the resolution ofthe two sites was not possible after postnatal day 14. The Pb 2+ sensitivity of the NMDA receptor complex also appeared to be regulated developmentally.
Observations Concerning Supersonic Combustion

We review some of the early research on supersonic combustion, some of the special problems connected with the analysis of high speed turbulent reacting flows and then suggest a flow suitable for a systematic investigation of these problems.
Emerging technologies, catastrophic risks, and ethics: three strategies for reducing risk

Numerous emerging technologies promise great, but finite, benefits while also placing humanity at tremendous risk, even the risk of extinction (an infinite loss). This paper argues that these risky technologies need to be developed with great care and that three strategies should be broadly implemented in order to facilitate risk mitigation and adaptation towards these risks. The first strategy is to mitigate risk by containing the research and development of risky technologies to science, technology and engineering (STE) professionals. The second strategy is to mitigate risk by directing technological development towards good uses of emerging technologies and away from risky uses. The third strategy is to adapt to catastrophic risks through defensive adaptation: preparing for disaster response and recovery. STE professional societies should play key roles in this project to create a better future.
Mobile acoustic transects detect more bat activity than stationary acoustic point counts in a semi-arid and agricultural landscape

Arid environments are characterized by resource pulses that cause spatio-temporal variability in species abundance, which can make population assessments difficult. Mobile acoustic methods may improve survey success by maximizing geographic extent, characterizing landscape distribution patterns, and improving encounter rates. Bats exemplify survey challenges in arid environments as they are highly mobile and aggregate around spatio-temporal resource hotspots. We compared bat detection success of stationary acoustic methods to that of mobile acoustic transects. In a semi-arid landscape, we recorded bat echolocation calls and compared three different sampling methods along the same 24 km route: a driven transect; a set of five, permanent ten-minute point counts; and a set of point counts at nightly randomized locations. The effect of method on the number of bat passes was analyzed using a bootstrapped generalized linear mixed effect model. The mean number of passes for the mobile method was 2.14 (CI: 1.45–2.99) and 0.98 (CI: 0.77–1.21) for the pooled stationary methods. We suggest that driven transects more effectively measure bat activity in arid and open landscapes. Testing of novel survey methods in arid environments is vital to conservation success as climate change increases the extent of these biomes and the variability of resource pulses.
Linearly first- and second-order, unconditionally energy stable schemes for the phase field crystal model

In this paper, we develop a series of linear, unconditionally energy stable numerical schemes for solving the classical phase field crystal model. The temporal discretizations are based on the first order Euler method, the second order backward differentiation formulas (BDF2) and the second order Crank-Nicolson method, respectively. The schemes lead to linear elliptic equations to be solved at each time step, and the induced linear systems are symmetric positive definite. We prove that all three schemes are unconditionally energy stable rigorously. Various classical numerical experiments in 2D and 3D are performed to validate the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed schemes.
Nucleophosmin Is Required for Macrophage Function and Maturation.

Abstract 238 Nucleophosmin (NPM1) is a multifunctional phosphoprotein predominantly localized in the nucleolus that is involved in numerous cellular processes. The NPM1 gene is frequently a target of genetic alteration in hematological tumors and recent published reports have highlighted the importance of NPM1 in malignancies that affect predominantly the myeloid lineage. Complete inactivation of Npm1 in the mouse disrupts primitive hematopoiesis and results in embryonic lethality. Npm1 heterozygosity produces features similar to those of MDS patients, and can progress to overt leukemia. Here we generated a conditional mousemutant to inactivate Npm1 in the myeloid compartment crossing mice carrying a floxed conditional allele of Npm1 ( Npm1 fl/fl ) with the MRP8-Cre transgenic mouse model. Specific deletion of the Npm1 allele in Npm1 fl/fl ;MRP8-Cre+ mice resulted in complete loss of Npm1 at the protein level in 40% of peritoneal macrophages analyzed by immunofluorescence. In vitro analysis demonstrates that Npm1 deletion altered peritoneal macrophage functions and influenced monocytic differentiation in Npm1 fl/fl ;MRP8-Cre+ mice. Specifically we demonstrate that (i) superoxide production was significantly attenuated over time in Npm1 fl/fl ;MRP8-Cre+ compared with Npm1 fl/fl ;MRP8-Cre - macrophages; (ii) The chemotactic response was decreased by up to 46% ± 9.6 in Npm1 fl/fl ;MRP8-Cre+ macrophages when compared to controls; and (iii) Phagocytic index of Npm1 fl/fl ;MRP8-Cre+ macrophages dropped to 40% of that for the control Npm1 fl/fl ;MRP8-Cre- macrophages. Analysis of monocyte transcriptional regulators revealed a significant reduction of Maf-b and Irf-8 mRNA expression in Npm1 deficient macrophages, demonstrating an altered maturation process in the absence of Npm1. Our analysis demonstrates that Npm1 loss in the myeloid compartment affects macrophage function and profoundly alters gene expression patterns required for proper monocyte/macrophage development and maturation. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Impact of robotic-assisted approach on lymphadenectomy for colorectal cancer.

787Background: In most recent years, robotic assisted laparoscopic surgery (RALS) has proven to be a viable alternative to laparoscopic and traditional open surgery for colorectal cancer. Obtaining the adequate number of lymph nodes is not only essential for accurate staging, but also impacts both prognosis and the need for adjuvant chemotherapy. To date, the efficacy of lymph node harvest for RALS is not well studied or established. The aim of our study is to analyze the impact of RALS on lymphadenectomy for colorectal cancer. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of patients who underwent curative resections for colorectal cancer over a five-year period at a single institution by a single surgeon. Resections were classified as right-sided, sigmoid, or rectal, and subdivided into robotic and non-robotic surgery groups. The demographic data and histopathology were obtained, with an emphasis on the number lymph nodes harvested (LNH) during resections. Emergencies and non-curative resections were exc...
Differential Coupling of Binding, ATP Hydrolysis, and Transport of Fluorescent Probes with P-Glycoprotein in Lipid Nanodiscs

The ATP binding cassette transporter P-glycoprotein (ABCB1 or P-gp) plays a major role in cellular resistance to drugs and drug interactions. Experimental studies support a mechanism with nucleotide-dependent fluctuation between inward-facing and outward-facing conformations, which are coupled to nucleotide hydrolysis. However, detailed insight into drug-dependent modulation of these conformational ensembles is lacking. Different drugs likely occupy partially overlapping but distinct sites and are therefore variably coupled to nucleotide binding and hydrolysis. Many fluorescent drug analogues are used in cell-based transport models; however, their specific interactions with P-gp have not been studied, and this limits interpretation of transport assays in terms of molecular models. Here we monitor binding of the fluorescent probe substrates BODIPY-verapamil, BODIPY-vinblastine, and Flutax-2 at low occupancy to murine P-gp in lipid nanodiscs via fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, in variable nucleotide-...
PARTICIPATORY REACTIONS TO POLICY THREATS: Senior Citizens and the Defense of Social Security and Medicare

The sociodemographic factors emphasized in much participation research cannot explain abrupt changes in levels of activity. This study shows how threat of undesirable policy change acts as an impetus to participatory activity, helping to explain temporal variation in participation. Newly available individual-level time-series data are used to show surges in senior citizen letter writing in response to threats to Social Security and Medicare during the 1980s. Policy threat interacts with individual characteristics to produce variations in participatory reaction congruent with the magnitude of the threat to the individual.
Superlattice self-assembly: Watching nanocrystals in action*

The assembly of colloidal nanocrystal building blocks into ordered superlattices presents many scientifically interesting and technologically important research challenges to create programmable matter from "crystals-of-crystals". The formation of superlattices is a fascinating mesoscale phenomenon governed by the interplay of a range of thermodynamic and kinetic factors. We summarize the role of time-resolved X-ray scattering techniques combined with in situ sample environments to gain unique insights into the relevant processes.
An isolated high-voltage high-frequency pulsed power converter for non-thermal plasma ozone generation

An isolated high-voltage high-frequency pulsed power converter for non-thermal plasma ozone generation is proposed in this paper. With an input of 500 VDC, the output pulsed voltage can reach −12 kV through the inductor-capacitor resonance together with a step-up transformer. The pulse duration is designed as 1.66 μs. An anti-series connected switch pair at the input terminal enables the energy stored in the passive component to be recovered and transferred back to the DC source which results in great energy saving. A hardware prototype with 500 VDC input and −12 kV pulsed voltage output has been developed. The pulse generating frequency can go up to 15 kHz. Both the simulation and experimental results are presented to validate the proposed pulsed power converter and its operating principle.
The impact of aspirin use on breast cancer subtype and clinical course.

Abstract Background The use of aspirin has been associated with improved survival in patients with breast cancer, but the results have been mixed. We aim to analyze the impact of aspirin use before or after breast cancer diagnosis on breast cancer clinical characteristics and outcomes. Materials and Methods We performed a single-institution, retrospective analysis of 1113 women diagnosed with operable breast cancer between 1995 and 2015. Patients were grouped according to their aspirin use: never (944), before diagnosis (79), and after diagnosis (90). Clinical variables, overall survival (OS), and disease-free survival (DFS) were compared between groups. Results Women using aspirin before diagnosis were older, more likely to be black, and to have associated medical comorbidities than patients in other groups (all P Conclusions Despite a potential impact on tumor subtype in patients using aspirin before their breast cancer diagnosis, aspirin use does not appear to alter breast cancer–related survival.
The physiological importance of Atrial Natriuretic Peptide

The enthusiasm with which the discovery of atrial natriuretic peptides (ANP) was met originated in part from the fact that their physiological role appeared to be immediately understandable. The impressive natriuretic potency of ANP together with its location in the cardiac atria suggested that ANP might be responsible for the increase in salt and water excretion known to result from an increase in atrial chamber pressure (25,26). Intense research performed over the past few years in many laboratories now suggests that this view is probably far too limited. Expression of ANP synthesis has been found in a number of tissues other than the cardiac atria and receptor binding studies have indicated target organs other than the kidneys. It is therefore safe to predict that our views of the physiological role of ANP are likely to require adaptations over the coming years. Nevertheless, at this time it seems reasonable to limit the discussion of the physiological importance of ANP to the original concept that it participates in body fluid homeostasis and blood pressure regulation. Figure 1 is a schematic representation of the functional role of ANP as far as it is discussed in this overview.
Acquired Control of Peripheral Vascular Responses

The present chapter addresses the question of whether or not experience can lead to a modification of peripheral vascular function. Under normal circumstances, the vascular system of most mammals is regulated by automatic mechanisms. At issue here is whether individuals can learn to modify this automatic regulation.
Romance enclisis, prepositions, and aspect

This paper provides evidence that supportsthe view, argued for independently by various authors (including Kayne 1989, 1991; Martins 1994; Uriagereka 1995), that direct object clitics in Romance are independent syntactic elements adjoined to functional heads. In particular, I show that an array of puzzling facts involving potential clitic hosts in a Northern Italian dialect can be understood once we adopt the view that object clitics must be taken to independently occupy distinct functional heads (in spite of phonological indications to the contrary). To show this, I establish that certain adverbs in this language occupy fixed positions within the clause. Once these positions are identified, I use them as probes to understand the position of the clitic. This paper also explores an independent consequence of this explanation of clitic placement: the position of argument prepositions with respect to the fixed object clitic indicates that there is an ‘Aspectual Phrase’ in the clause's functional structure. I show that argument prepositionsmove from their base positions within VP to a functional projection which encodes the semantics of telicity, in contrast with non-argument prepositions (location adverbials), which do not exhibit such movement.
A Position to Know

Although claimative uses of ‘know’ are common, disclaimative uses are equally common, and, from an epistemological point of view, equally interesting.
Bone Mass, Bone Loss, and Fractures

Bone mass is directly related to bone strength and the risk for osteoporotic fractures. Factors affecting both peak bone mass and rate of bone loss are reviewed, and their relationship to fractures is discussed.
Modifying Reaction Diffusion: A Numerical Model for Turing Morphogenesis, Ben Jacob Patterns, and Cancer Growth

Modeling the development of organisms and diseases has been of interest for decades. Often, complex systems of development or signaling pathways can be explained and modeled to a high degree of accuracy with only a few simplifying assumptions. Complex systems such as pattern development, bacterial growth, and tumor formation can be modeled numerically using a reaction diffusion model with relatively few factors and still give accurate results, allowing exploration of equilibrium and non-equilibrium solutions. Here, applications of such an approach to a few model problems are presented - morphogenesis, bacterial growth, and cancer treatment.
Differential Roles of the Salience Network During Prediction Error Encoding and Facial Emotion Processing Among Female Adolescent Assault Victims.

Abstract Background Early-life assaultive violence exposure is a potent risk factor for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mood and anxiety disorders. Neurocircuitry models posit that increased risk is mediated by heightened emotion processing in a salience network including the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, anterior insula, and amygdala. However, the processes of reinforcement learning (RL) also engage the salience network and are implicated in responses to early-life trauma and PTSD. To define their relative roles in response to early-life trauma and PTSD symptoms, the current study compared engagement of the salience network during emotion processing and RL as a function of early-life assault exposure. Methods Adolescent girls (n = 30 girls who had previously been physically or sexually assaulted; n = 30 healthy girls for comparison) 11 to 17 years of age completed two types of tasks during functional magnetic resonance imaging: a facial emotion processing task and an RL task using either social or nonsocial stimuli. Independent component analysis was used to identify a salience network and characterize its engagement in response to emotion processing and prediction error encoding during the RL tasks. Results Assault was related to greater reactivity of the salience network during emotion processing. By contrast, we found lesser encoding of negative prediction errors in the salience network, particularly during the social RL task, in girls who had been assaulted. The dysfunction of salience network activity during emotion processing and prediction error encoding was not associated with PTSD symptoms. Conclusions These results suggest that hyper- versus hypoactivity of the salience network among trauma-exposed youths depends on the cognitive-affective domain.
Online Detection of Spectre Attacks Using Microarchitectural Traces from Performance Counters

To improve processor performance, computer architects have adopted such acceleration techniques as speculative execution and caching. However, researchers have recently discovered that this approach implies inherent security flaws, as exploited by Meltdown and Spectre. Attacks targeting these vulnerabilities can leak protected data through side channels such as data cache timing by exploiting mis-speculated executions. The flaws can be catastrophic because they are fundamental and widespread and they affect many modern processors. Mitigating the effect of Meltdown is relatively straightforward in that it entails a software-based fix which has already been deployed by major OS vendors. However, to this day, there is no effective mitigation to Spectre. Fixing the problem may require a redesign of the architecture for conditional execution in future processors. In addition, a Spectre attack is hard to detect using traditional software-based antivirus techniques because it does not leave traces in traditional log files. In this paper, we proposed to monitor microarchitectural events such as cache misses, branch mispredictions from existing CPU performance counters to detect Spectre during attack runtime. Our detector was able to achieve 0% false negatives with less than 1 % false positives using various machine learning classifiers with a reasonable performance overhead.
Verifiably Lazy: Verified Compilation of Call-by-Need

Call-by-need semantics underlies the widely used programming language Haskell. Unfortunately, unlike call-by-value counterparts, there are no verified compilers for call-by-need. In this paper we present the first verified compiler for call-by-need semantics. We use recent work on a simple call-by-need abstract machine as a way of reducing the formalization burden. We discuss some of the difficulties in verifying call-by-need, and show how we overcome them.
PHASE SEPARATORS FOR NORMAL AND SUPERFLUID HELIUM

Two types of phase separators for use on the Superfluid Helium On-Orbit Transfer (SHOOT) Flight Experiment are being developed. One has the ability to phase separate normal liquid helium as well as superfluid. The other is designed to phase separate superfluid with a low flow impedance for high flow rates.
O15 Health Habits of African American Women and the Impact of Racial Identity

Background Social position, discrimination based on group identity, and stress are major contributors to an individual's social determinant of health. Managing health outcomes for African American women becomes far more than simply providing education and access; it hinges on understanding the construct of race and the implications of race-based stress (Hill-Collins, 2005; Sanders-Phillips, Settles-Reaves, Walker & Brownlow, 2009; Shavers, 2006). Objective To investigate the impact of racial identity and resilience on the health habits of African American women. Study Design, Settings, Participants A cross-sectional design using a non-probability sample was used to study the relationship between fruit and vegetable consumption, racial identity, and resilience. Participants were recruited using social media focusing on platforms for Black/African American women. Cis-gendered African American who were 18 years of age or older were studied. Measurable Outcome/Analysis In this study, the Multidimensional Model of Black Identity, the Resilience Scale for Adults, and a modified NHANES survey was use to collect data to examine the relationships between resilience, Black identity, and health habits. Results Survey results were analyzed using SPSS v.11 for Windows. Simple linear regression used to examine the relationship between resilience, Black identity, and health habits. Public regard was positively association with fruit intake and vigorous physical activity. Additionally, centrality was associated with vigorous physical activity and minority identity was associated with fruit intake (P Conclusion Positive racial regard and social competence had beneficial impacts on fruit consumption, while a high association with the minority identity had an inverse relationship with fruit consumption. Public regard and racial centrality was positively associated with vigorous physical activity. Significant changes in morbidity and in health behavior are associated with acculturation for all ethnic minority groups in Anglo-majority host cultures such as the United States. Consequently, acculturation is an important variable in health psychology and behavioral medicine, which requires examination. Funding None.
Variation in the intensity of end-of-life care, hospice enrollment, and the cost of care by cancer site.

11539Background: To compare end-of-life (EOL) care intensity across multiple cancer sites and its impact on the cost of care during the last 30-days of life. Methods: Cross-sectional retrospective ...
Laser Communication Systems I: Amplitude Modulated Systems

Optical communications have gone to levels that were barely imagined twenty years ago. OC48 (2.5 Gb/s) is a thing of the past, and current state of the art commercial modules can deliver 100–400 Gb/s onto a fiber. In this and the following chapter, we outline how these rates have been achieved, both in high-speed device development and in an overview of the modern coherent communication formats. In this chapter, we give a brief history of optical communications, from where things were back in the mid-1990s to where they are today, and the evolution from directly modulated to externally modulated to coherent formats. We will also go into the details of the various amplitude-dependent formats and describe some of the physical mechanisms used for external modulation. We also briefly describe photodetectors used for communications.
Near-Field Scan of Multiple Noncorrelated Sources Using Blind Source Separation

A method for separation of the field contributions generated by multiple noncorrelated sources is proposed. The measurements are implemented using one scanning probe and one (or more) stationary reference probe, avoiding the requirement to measure the spatial correlations of the random fields. The contribution of each source can be determined with the assistance of the blind source separation technique. Averaging over realizations allows to cancel the uncorrelated part in the mixed signal measured by the scanning probe. The separated results can be used to localize the emission sources and their contribution to the field pattern. The method was tested on different signals with amplitude and frequency modulation with passive (antenna) and active (IC) sources.
Revisiting the Effect of Varying the Number of Response Alternatives in Clinical Assessment: Evidence From Measuring ADHD Symptoms.

This study illustrated the effect of varying the number of response alternatives in clinical assessment using a within-participant, repeated-measures approach. Participants reported the presence of...
Racial Disparities in End-of-Life Care Between Black and White Adults With Metastatic Cancer.

Abstract Context The comfort of patients with cancer near the end of life (EOL) is often undermined by unnecessary and burdensome treatments. There is a need for more research examining racial disparities in EOL care, especially in regions with a history of racial discrimination. Objectives To examine whether black adults received more burdensome EOL care than white adults in a population-based data set of cancer decedents in Louisiana, a state with a history of slavery and long-standing racial disparities. Methods This was a retrospective analysis of EOL care from the Research Action for Health Network (REACHnet), a regional Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute-funded database. The sample consisted of 875 white and 415 black patients with metastatic cancer who died in Louisiana from 2011 to 2017. We used logistic regression to examine whether race was associated with five indicators of burdensome care in the last 30 days of life: chemotherapy use, inpatient hospitalization, intensive care unit admission, emergency department (ED) admission, and mechanical ventilation. Results Most patients (85.0%) received at least one indicator of burdensome care: hospitalization (76.5%), intensive care unit admission (44.1%), chemotherapy (29.1%), mechanical ventilation (23.0%), and ED admission (18.3%). Odds ratios (ORs) indicated that black individuals were more likely than white individuals to be hospitalized (OR = 1.66; 95% CI = 1.21–2.28; P = 0.002) or admitted to the ED (OR = 1.57; 95% CI = 1.16–2.13; P = 0.004) during their last month of life. Conclusion Findings have implications for informing health care decision making near the EOL for patients, families, and clinicians, especially in regions with a history of racial discrimination and disparities.
Intravenous thrombolysis for the management of acute ischemic stroke in patients therapeutically anticoagulated with heparin: A review

Abstract Background Intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) with alteplase is effective in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). However, its use rate remains low due to the many exclusion criteria. Recent guidelines recommend excluding patients suffering AIS with an elevated aPTT secondary to heparin exposure from receiving IVT. The purpose of this review is to explore the safety and efficacy of IVT in patients therapeutically anticoagulated with heparin. We also propose a treatment algorithm for IVT in patients with AIS that are therapeutically anticoagulated with heparin. Methods We performed a systematic review of PubMed and Embase through March 2020 to identify the literature regarding AIS in patients exposed to heparin, followed by IVT treatment, emphasizing safety, efficacy, and clinical outcome using PRISMA guidelines. Results We included thirteen articles in the final analysis, including three retrospective studies, two observational studies, one randomized trial, five case reports, and two case series. Conclusion There is limited information about the off-label use of IVT in patients with elevated aPTT. Patients with AIS are excluded from IVT if they have recent exposure to heparin. Our review indicates that this population of patients may benefit from IVT as the cases of active bleeding after IVT are few, and functional outcomes are favorable in the long term suggesting that IVT in therapeutically anticoagulated patients may be safe and efficacious.