cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Strain-Controlled Epitaxial Stabilization in Ultrathin LaNiO3 Films Grown by Pulsed Laser Deposition

We report on the epitaxial stabilization effect of strain on the growth of ultrathin heterostructures of a correlated metal LaNiO3 (10 unit cells, ∼3.84 nm; u.c. hereafter) grown on a series of perovskite oxide substrates with both tensile and compressive strain. An unusual polynomial dependence of the activation energy for surface relaxation processes in terms of the lattice misfit was observed. Our experimental investigations further demonstrate the influence of strain relaxation on the self-ordering of complex oxide compounds in the perovskite structure during high supersaturation monolayer (interrupted layer-by-layer) deposition.
Infections following burn injury

Those factors that have contributed most to the control of burn wound sepsis in the burn patient since 1930 have been the advent of penicillin, the institution of burn center care, the availability of aminoglycosides and antifungal agents, the advent of topical therapy, the aggressive treatment of the burn wound by excisional therapy, a better understanding of respiratory therapy, the support of immune competence, and the recognition of the importance of nutritional support (Fig. 1). At the Shriners Cincinnati Unit, the extent of burn associated with a survival rate of 50 per cent has risen from 70 per cent in 1970 to 80 per cent in 1978. The better chance of survival for burn patients during this period can be directly related to a progressive improvement in the local and systemic measures available for the control of infection.
Two-Dimensional Electron Gas at Oxide Interfaces

In this chapter, we provide an overview of the growing field of the two-dimensional electron gas in oxide heterostructures. The discovery of the high mobility electron gas at the oxide-oxide interface has spurred subsequent investigations which draw from the large body of work on polar oxide surfaces and thin films. We discuss the three main mechanisms of electronic reconstruction, oxygen vacancy formation, and cation exchange in order to address the question, “How can the interface between two insulators be conducting?” Throughout the chapter, in addition to the model LaAlO3/SrTiO3 system, we provide the reader with a sampling of what has been learned from other oxide heterostructures through both experiment and theory.
Eye Tracking of Attention to Emotion in Bipolar I Disorder: Links to Emotion Regulation and Anxiety Comorbidity.

Research has yielded mixed findings regarding whether bipolar disorder is related to attentional bias for emotionally relevant stimuli, yet little research has utilized advances in eye-tracking technology to study attention in this population. The current study used a free-viewing eye-tracking paradigm to test whether people with remitted bipolar disorder show preferential attention to positive faces, and to test if comorbid anxiety or emotion regulation strategies are related to attention bias. Twenty-nine adults with bipolar I disorder and 28 control participants viewed images of emotionally valenced faces while their gaze was tracked, and participants completed self-report measures of emotion regulation. Contrary to hypotheses, people with bipolar disorder did not differ from control participants in attention to positive stimuli, and both anxiety comorbidity and emotion regulation were unrelated to attentional indices. Unlike some findings in unipolar depression, these results suggest that attention to...
Illuminating Agency: A Latin@ Immigrant Parent's "Testimonio" on the Intersection of Immigration Reform and Schools.

ABSTRACTAnti-immigration reform has created a hostile and threatening climate for Latin@ immigrants and their families. Simple everyday acts that are often taken for granted (i.e. parents dropping off children at school, driving to the grocery store, etc.) became acts that threaten to separate families. As a result, many Latin@ families are currently “living in the shadows” — hiding their immigration status from any agency (including schools) or individuals that may pose a threat. Via the use of field notes and interviews, the author reconstructs one parent's (Blanca) experience cruzando la frontera/crossing the border, as well the moment when Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials appeared at her doorstep, and subsequent actions thereafter. By utilizing Critical Race Theory (CRT) and Latin@ Critical Race Theory (LatCrit), this study centers and prioritizes Blanca's experience navigating the intersecting space between seemingly disconnected immigration reforms and school policies and practices. I...
How Do We Market to Distance Populations, and Does It Work?: Results From a Longitudinal Study and a Survey of the Profession

ABSTRACTThis article discusses the results of a longitudinal survey conducted by Kansas State University Libraries to assess the marketing of library services to the university's distance education population. The latest implementation of the survey revealed overall similar or increased awareness of and satisfaction with library services compared to the previous survey. Also included are results of a survey of library professionals on best practices for distance education librarians. Findings include the importance of developing relationships with campus distance education offices and faculty and the need to be persistent with marketing efforts to a changing population.
Linezolid Induced Delirium in the Absence of Serotonin Syndrome: A Psychiatric Consultation/Liaison Case Report

Delirium is one of the most common mental illnesses that can affect elderly patients and patients with advanced medical problems. Because these patients are frequently on multiple medications and/or are more sensitive to medications secondary to their age, interactions with current medications, or existing medical problems, medication toxicity is frequently the etiology behind their delirium. This is a case report of a patient admitted for cellulitis that developed delirium from Linezolid however did not develop any other signs or symptoms of serotonin syndrome; a known side effect of Linezolid. This distinctive case highlights the importance of a careful analysis of a patient’s medications for potential deliriogenicity as well as the value of using a validated tool for assessing and following up a patient with suspected delirium. Specifically, this case should give clinicians warrant for suspicion of Linezolid as the cause of a patient’s delirium regardless of the presence or absence of serotonin syndrome.
Equitable research: a bridge too far?

This paper is written in response to Angela Chapman and Allan Feldman’s research study, “Cultivation of science identity through authentic science in an urban high school”. I utilize this forum piece to extend the call for “awakening a dialogue” that critically assesses the effectiveness of current K-12 science education research in addressing the needs of populations of color. I take the opportunity to first discuss elements of what an equitable research focus might look like. I finish by critiquing and ultimately commending the authors on the degree to which they succeed in demonstrating an equitable approach to the design and carrying out of their study.
A Variable Active Site Residue Influences the Kinetics of Response Regulator Phosphorylation and Dephosphorylation.

Two-component regulatory systems, minimally composed of a sensor kinase and a response regulator protein, are common mediators of signal transduction in microorganisms. All response regulators contain a receiver domain with conserved active site residues that catalyze the signal activating and deactivating phosphorylation and dephosphorylation reactions. We explored the impact of variable active site position T+1 (one residue C-terminal to the conserved Thr/Ser) on reaction kinetics and signaling fidelity, using wild type and mutant Escherichia coli CheY, CheB, and NarL to represent the three major sequence classes observed across response regulators: Ala/Gly, Ser/Thr, and Val/Ile/Met, respectively, at T+1. Biochemical and structural data together suggested that different amino acids at T+1 impacted reaction kinetics by altering access to the active site while not perturbing overall protein structure. A given amino acid at position T+1 had similar effects on autodephosphorylation in each protein backgroun...
Inference for the Weibull Distribution: A tutorial

This tutorial deals with the 2-parameter Weibull distribution. In particular it covers the construction of confidence bounds and intervals for various parameters of interest, the Weibull scale and shape parameters, its quantiles and tail probabilities. These bounds were pioniered in Thoman, Bain, and Antle, 1969, Thoman, Bain, and Antle, 1970, Bain, 1978, and Bain and Engelhardt, 1991, where tables for their computation were given. These tables were based on simulations and show occasional irregularities. In conjunction with this tutorial we provide R code to perform various tasks (generating plots, perform simulations). It greatly simplifies the application of these methods over trying to use the tables available so far. Today’s computing availability and speed makes this very viable. For the freely available R computing platform we refer to R Core Team, 2015. The text identifies R code by using courier font in appropriate places.
News Reports and Their Role in Child Agricultural Injury Prevention.

ABSTRACTObjectives: The news media can be important sources of health information. News reports of child agricultural injuries were examined to assess what was reported and to evaluate potential implications for health communication and surveillance efforts. Methods: A content analysis was conducted of a convenience sample of 113 US news reports from 2012 to 2014 involving agricultural injuries to children less than 18 years of age. The data collection instrument included basic elements of injury surveillance, as well as variables related to injury causation and prevention. Results: Law enforcement personnel were the main source of information on the injury event (79%). Severity, age, sex, injury mechanism, and source were reported more than 90% of the time. However, few news reports mentioned use or lack of protective equipment (12%) or a prevention message (6%). Recommended prevention messages from the research team included keeping young children out of the farm worksite (38%) and following guidelines ...
High Midline Levator Myorrhaphy for Vault Prolapse Repair

High midline levator myorrhaphy (HMLM), first described in 1988, is a vaginal surgery for vault prolapse (VP) that does not rely on mesh interposition, avoids the inherent difficulties associated with sacrospinous ligament fixation (SSLF) involving nearby vascular and neural structures, and is well-suited for middle-aged to older women [1]. Unlike the SSLF [2, 3], HMLM keeps the vagina midline, and unlike the uterosacral ligament (USL) fixation [4], HMLM can be done many years after hysterectomy when the uterosacral ligaments are no longer readily identifiable. Since its original report, there have been few published series on surgical outcomes [1, 5], none of which included long-term data. We review the technique of this procedure in detail and provide an update on our long-term experience with this technique.
Development of assessments in L2 Spanish during study abroad

ABSTRACTThis study examines the development of speaker and listener assessments by second language (L2) learners of Spanish during a semester abroad in Spain. Assessments express the speaker’s judgment, attitude, or affect towards what is said and perform the crucial functions of closing a topic and displaying shared understanding with an interlocutor. The results indicate that learners increased their use of listener assessments, as well as their use of specific structures and lexical items in speaker assessments. Participation in everyday conversation as well as explicit instruction represented ways that students could learn to make assessments. The article concludes with suggestions for teaching assessments in the Spanish L2 classroom.
Long-term Outcomes Following Syme's Amputation.

Background:The metabolic cost of walking after Syme’s ankle disarticulation amputation is minimally more than that for nonamputation. The ability to end weightbearing makes prosthetic fitting relat...
Geopositioning with a quadcopter: Extracted feature locations and predicted accuracy without a priori sensor attitude information

This paper presents an overview of the Full Motion Video-Geopositioning Test Bed (FMV-GTB) developed to investigate algorithm performance and issues related to the registration of motion imagery and subsequent extraction of feature locations along with predicted accuracy. A case study is included corresponding to a video taken from a quadcopter. Registration of the corresponding video frames is performed without the benefit of a priori sensor attitude (pointing) information. In particular, tie points are automatically measured between adjacent frames using standard optical flow matching techniques from computer vision, an a priori estimate of sensor attitude is then computed based on supplied GPS sensor positions contained in the video metadata and a photogrammetric/search-based structure from motion algorithm, and then a Weighted Least Squares adjustment of all a priori metadata across the frames is performed. Extraction of absolute 3D feature locations, including their predicted accuracy based on the principles of rigorous error propagation, is then performed using a subset of the registered frames. Results are compared to known locations (check points) over a test site. Throughout this entire process, no external control information (e.g. surveyed points) is used other than for evaluation of solution errors and corresponding accuracy.
Gastrocnemius recession for recalcitrant plantar fasciitis in overweight and obese patients

Abstract Background Plantar fasciitis is a common foot pathology that is typically treated non-operatively. However, a minority of patients fail non-operative management, develop chronic symptoms, and request a surgical option. Gastrocnemius recession has recently been shown to be effective for the treatment of chronic plantar fasciitis. The purpose of this paper is to present evidence that gastrocnemius recession is safe and effective in the subset of chronic plantar fasciitis patients who are overweight and obese. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 18 cases (17 patients) of chronic plantar fasciitis in overweight or obese patients who underwent gastrocnemius recession (mean age=46years, mean body mass index=34.7kg/m 2 , mean follow-up=20months). Data was gathered regarding pre-operative and post-operative pain (visual analog scale, 0–10), Foot Function Index score, and complications. Results Mean Foot Function Index score improved from 66.4 (range, 32.3–97.7) preoperatively to 26.5 (range, 0–89.4) postoperatively ( p p Conclusions Gastrocnemius recession improved foot function and pain symptoms in overweight and obese patients with chronic plantar fasciitis.
Lifestyle Strategies for Diabetes Management: The Role of Weight Management

Health care providers (HCPs) and their overweight and obese clients with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes have been struggling for years with unsuccessful attempts to lose weight and maintain the weight loss with traditional hypocaloric weight loss plans, along with a physical activity component and, in some cases, implementation of a variety of behavioral strategies. We are learning more each day about the complex integration of neurological, endocrine, and gastrointestinal feedback mechanisms that regulate appetite and weight, in addition to the effects of comorbidities and medication on body weight in individuals with type 2 diabetes (1). Despite the well-known relationship between obesity and concomitant risk of type 2 diabetes in people with prediabetes, weight loss and weight maintenance remain elusive in the majority of our overweight and obese clients. This has prompted some to ask: are we focusing too much on an outcome that is unachievable in most of our clients? This Diabetes Spectrum From Research to Practice section begins with an article in which Guest Editor Marion J. Franz discusses the evidence supporting the benefits of moderate weight loss (5–10% of weight) in obese individuals without diabetes (p. 149). The potential for weight regain is addressed, as well as the types of interventions that have generally been required to facilitate weight maintenance. Ms. Franz then reviews the effectiveness of modest weight loss and regular physical activity in individuals with prediabetes relative to the results of the Diabetes Prevention …
Exploiting the Hidden Treasure of Detained Introns.

Many mammalian genes contain poorly spliced introns, resulting in nuclear detention of partially spliced transcripts, which may be exploited to modulate gene expression. In this issue of Cancer Cell, Braun et al. report that the arginine methyltransferase PRMT5 is critical for tumor cell proliferation by regulating numerous detained introns.
X̄- and R-Chart Control Limits Based on a Small Number of Subgroups

A common rule of thumb is that conventional control limits for X and R charts, no standards given, should be based on at least 25 subgroups. This article presents information for evaluating the la...
The corporal punishment ban in schools: Teachers’ attitudes and classroom practices

This study examines Indian teachers’ perceptions of corporal punishment (CP), the reasons why CP still persists despite a ban, and the ways in which CP controversy reflects on social climate of the...
A modular synthetic approach for band-gap engineering of armchair graphene nanoribbons

Despite the great promise of armchair graphene nanoribbons (aGNRs) as high-performance semiconductors, practical band-gap engineering of aGNRs remains an unmet challenge. Given that width and edge structures are the two key factors for modulating band-gaps of aGNRs, a reliable synthetic method that allows control of both factors would be highly desirable. Here we report a simple modular strategy for efficient preparation of N = 6 aGNR, the narrowest member in the N = 3p (p: natural number) aGNR family, and two unsymmetrically edge-functionalized GNRs that contain benzothiadiazole and benzotriazole moieties. The trend of band-gap transitions among these GNRs parallels those in donor–acceptor alternating conjugated polymers. In addition, post-functionalization of the unsymmetrical heterocyclic edge via C–H borylation permits further band-gap tuning. Therefore, this method opens the door for convenient band-gap engineering of aGNRs through modifying the heteroarenes on the edge. Effective band-gap engineering of armchair graphene nanoribbons calls for control over both width and edge structure. Here, the authors report a modular synthesis of narrow N = 6 armchair graphene nanoribbons whose edges can be unsymmetrically modified with heteroarenes, introducing a simple way to tune band gap.
Gencyberscrum: improving cybersecurity education outcomes with the scrum framework

This work describes the adoption of a modified scrum framework (GenCyberScrum) for the NSA-NSF GenCyber program that focuses on delivering ten cybersecurity "first principles". The main objective of incorporating GenCyberScrum in the program was to empower students to self-manage by defining their own learning goals within the scope of several targeted educational outcomes. Forty high school students participated in the program by forming five groups of eight with equal numbers of male and female participants. Using the GenCyberScrum framework, each team successfully produced physical and virtual representations of all ten cybersecurity first principles through: 3D printing, 3D animations in Alice, Sketches/Gestures, Fuzzy Stick Models, and Sphero robotic light drawings. The NSA post-survey indicated that nearly three quarters of the participants (72.5% or 29 out of 40) self-reported that they had never participated in any other cybersecurity activities before the program, but by the end, all 40 (100%) agreed or strongly agreed that they could not only understand the ten cybersecurity principles, but they could actively perform security tests and apply fixes for a number of common vulnerabilities. The NSA experts' site visit evaluation also indicated that GenCyberScrum was highly effective in implementing all ten cybersecurity first principles. Overall, incorporating the GenCyberScrum framework in a school, summer camp, or workshop environment could help students take active ownership of learning objectives and improve the learning experience.
Effects of Vacancy Defects on the Electronic and Optical Properties of Monolayer PbSe

Defect engineering is promising for tailoring the properties of atomically thin materials. By creating defects via Se vacancies, we study the optoelectronic properties of monolayer PbSe. We obtain the single-particle properties using the density functional theory plus a first-principles-based typical medium approximation. The absorption spectra are explored by solving the Bethe–Salpeter equation. Our results reveal that monolayer PbSe is defect-sensitive but defect-tolerant. The latter fingerprint is due to the absence of defect-induced in-gap, localized states. Our results predict that Se vacancies are the dominant defect type in disordered PbSe monolayer. We observe that increasing Se vacancy concentrations δ renormalize the energy bandgap Eg, which increased from 0.21 eV for the pristine to as high as 0.45 eV at high δ. The high tunability of the optoelectronic properties of monolayer PbSe using defect-engineering makes this material a candidate for exploring flexible electronic with potential technolo...
SELENIUM IN PLANTS AS A CAUSE OF LIVESTOCK POISONING

I. ABSTRACT Soils in some areas of the world contain such high concentrations of selenium that they produce plants toxic to livestock. Some plants grow only in these seleniferous soils, are referred to as primary selenium indicators, and concentrate high levels of the element in their tissues. Others, referred to as secondary selenium absorbers, can accumulate rather high concentrations of the element when growing on seleniferous soils. A third class of plants, grasses, and grains as well as many others, absorb less selenium, but still often contain enough to be toxic. Three major types of selenium toxicosis have been described. “Blind staggers” is suggested as a chronic type toxicosis resulting from long-term ingestion by sheep and cattle of the primary indicators or secondary absorbers in less than acutely toxic amounts. There is some reason to question the role of selenium in causing this syndrome. “Alkali disease ” occurs in poultry, swine, cattle, and horses that consume grains, forages, or pasture plants containing usually less than 50 but more than 5 parts per million of the element over a period of many weeks or months. Acute selenium toxicosis results when grazing animals consume the primary selenium indicators in amounts sufficient to cause a very rapid toxicosis. Control in all types of selenium toxicoses requires avoidance of seleniferous feeds.
Skeletal Muscle Proteases and Protein Turnover

Schoenheimer and Rittenberg’s paper published nearly 50 years ago (Schoen-heimer and Rittenberg, 1940) established that accumulation of muscle tissue or muscle growth must depend on both the rate of muscle protein synthesis and the rate of muscle protein degradation. Despite this axiom, most of the attention of animal scientists during the period from 1940 to 1980 focused on increasing the rate of muscle growth by increasing the rate of muscle protein synthesis. Because of this, a great deal is known about the mechanism of muscle protein synthesis and how it is controlled. Little is known, however, about the mechanism of muscle protein degradation. It is clear that muscle proteins turn over metabolically with half lives ranging from 2 to 20 days (Low and Goldberg, 1973; Koizumi, 1974; Rubenstein et al., 1976; Martin et al., 1977; Zak et al., 1977; Millward et al., 1978; Martin, 1981; Wolitsky et al., 1984), but the nature of the proteolytic enzymes responsible for this turnover remains unknown. It was learned in 1969 that the rate of muscle protein degradation can vary over a wide range in response to physiological demand (Goldberg, 1969a,b).
The Protein Data Bank: Overview and Tools for Drug Discovery

The increasing size and complexity of the three dimensional (3D) structures of biomacromolecules in the Protein Data Bank (PDB) is a reflection of the growth in the field of structural biology. Although the PDB archive was initially used only in the field of structural biology, it has grown to become a valuable resource for understanding biology at a molecular level and is critical for designing new therapeutic options for various diseases. The many uses of the PDB archive depend upon on the tools and resources for both data management and for data access and analysis.
Short Acculturation Scale for Hispanics (SASH-Y and SASH) Reliability and Validity in Low-Income, Mexican-Heritage Youth and Parents:

The Short Acculturation Scale for Hispanics (SASH) is a popular acculturation measure. Although SASH has been validated, conflicting information has been published about the youth version (SASH-Y)....
Right-to-left ventricular end diastolic diameter ratio in severe sepsis and septic shock.

Abstract Purpose The ratio of right ventricular end-diastolic diameter (EDD) to left ventricular EDD (RV/LV) is a measure predictive of right ventricular failure. We hypothesized that an increase in RV/LV would be associated with poor prognosis in severe sepsis and septic shock. Materials and methods This is a retrospective chart review of patients with severe sepsis and septic shock admitted to a medical intensive care unit (ICU) at a single tertiary care hospital. Patients were identified by ICD-9 codes: 995.92 for severe sepsis and 785.52 for septic shock; and had to have an echocardiogram within 48 h of ICU admission. Increased RV/LV was defined as RV/LV ≥ 0.9. Left and right-sided chamber dimensions were measured according to American Society of Echocardiography guidelines. Results We included 146 consecutive ICU patients admitted with septic shock (72) or severe sepsis (74). There was no significant difference in ICU mortality in patients with RV/LV ≥ 0.9 versus RV/LV Conclusions An increased RV/LV does not predict mortality in severe sepsis or septic shock.
Beamforming shallow water propagation of mid-frequency acoustics on the Chukchi Shelf

The shallow water Canadian Basin Acoustic Propagation Experiment (CANAPE 2016–2017) was designed to study the effect of oceanographic variability on the acoustic field in the Arctic. The physics of the acoustic waveguide on the Northeastern edge of the Chukchi Shelf are influenced by dynamic boundary conditions and spatio-temporal fluctuations in temperature/salinity profiles, including the upwelling of Atlantic bottom water, sinking Bering Sea surface water and sub-mesoscale eddy formation. These fluctuations influence the acoustic waveguide characteristics of a persistent sound speed channel centered at 150 m depth. The University of Delaware (UDel) deployed seven oceanographic moorings (OM) perpendicular to the isobaths on the Chukchi Shelf (145–700 m depth). A Naval Research Lab source (S1) was deployed in-line with the OMs, generating Linear Frequency Modulated (LFM) signals in alternating 700–1100 Hz and 1400–4000 Hz bands. A Vertical Line Array (VLA) was deployed in-line and within the span of the OMs. The array aperture spanned the depth of the sound speed channel. Beamforming measurements from the VLA in combination with environmental measurements and 2D PE model output will determine the degree of influence of individual physical oceanography processes on the spatio-temporal structure of the sound channel and internal acoustic wave propagation.
Effects of Salinity on Rice and Rice Weeds: Short- and Long-Term Adaptation Strategies and Weed Management

Abstract Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is an important staple crop that feeds more than one half of the world’s population. Salinity has been a key abiotic plant stress damaging crop production worldwide. Rice, as the most sensitive cereal crop to salinity, is particularly at risk to salinity stress due to crop irrigation and flooding weed control practices. Understanding the cause and related consequences of salinity on rice growth and yield will enhance our ability to counteract its negative effects through short- or long-term adaptation strategies. In addition, weed competition and management is one of the major constraints of rice production due to environmental selection of saline-tolerant, troublesome weed species over time. Thus, weed population dynamics and composition in saline environments is different compared with traditional rice cultivated environments. These issues will be addressed in this chapter in an attempt to highlight the most important factors and challenges, as well as suggest short- and long-term adaptation strategies in this complex production system. Information provided in this chapter may also aid in evaluating the potential rice yield loss from weeds and in developing efficacious weed control methods under saline environments.
Abstract 111: Exclusive Involvement of Interventional Cardiologist in the Decision Making Process Improves Door-to-balloon Time by Significant Shortening of Decision-to-balloon Time Instead of EKG-to-decision Time In ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Background: We have had a “one call activation system” for primary PCI at our regional academic center since 1999. The ED physician initiated the system with the decision for primary PCI made by ca...
Electronic cigarette use after the adoption of a tobacco-free campus policy

Abstract Electronic (e)-cigarette use has increased markedly across groups in the past few years. For this reason, risk factors associated with e-cigarette use warrant further research. This study presents secondary data analyses on e-cigarette use from a large cross-sectional database assessing attitudes toward a tobacco-free campus (TFC) policy prior to policy implementation (n = 1188), one-month post policy (n = 1442), and one-year post policy(n = 1125). Students from a U.S. university located on the border with Mexico (Mage = 25.02 years, SD = 7.99; 59.2% female) were recruited via email to complete an online assessment of their tobacco use, attitudes toward TFC policies, perceived problematic tobacco use, and knowledge of tobacco use risk. The prevalence of any past-30-day e-cigarette use significantly increased from 4.4% to 26.6% between baseline and one-month post-policy, and reduced to 17.3% between one-month post-policy and one-year post policy. Weekly alcohol use was associated with e-cigarette use at each assessment point. There was some evidence of higher e-cigarette use among younger students and current smokers. Additional studies are needed to understand the influence of comprehensive TFC policies on both e-cigarette use and polysubstance use (i.e., alcohol and combustible cigarettes).
Hasty Generalization, Survival Bias, Special Pleading, and Burden of Proof

Laura was a 56-year-old woman who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) at the age of 25 when she developed double vision. She had deteriorated to the point where she needed a wheelchair outside and a walker in the house. She sought treatment with a doctor who claimed to be able to reverse progressive MS. She was advised to eat only meals that the doctor sold through an affiliate program from an internet “paleo” food supplier. She was also advised to do periodic “detoxes” and stop taking many pharmaceutical medications. After 3 months, Laura reported feeling more energetic however her family noticed no difference in her condition and objective tests of her strength and gait were unchanged.
Feedback GAN for DNA optimizes protein functions

Generative adversarial networks (GANs) represent an attractive and novel approach to generate realistic data, such as genes, proteins or drugs, in synthetic biology. Here, we apply GANs to generate synthetic DNA sequences encoding for proteins of variable length. We propose a novel feedback-loop architecture, feedback GAN (FBGAN), to optimize the synthetic gene sequences for desired properties using an external function analyser. The proposed architecture also has the advantage that the analyser does not need to be differentiable. We apply the feedback-loop mechanism to two examples: generating synthetic genes coding for antimicrobial peptides, and optimizing synthetic genes for the secondary structure of their resulting peptides. A suite of metrics, calculated in silico, demonstrates that the GAN-generated proteins have desirable biophysical properties. The FBGAN architecture can also be used to optimize GAN-generated data points for useful properties in domains beyond genomics. Generative machine learning models are used in synthetic biology to find new structures such as DNA sequences, proteins and other macromolecules with applications in drug discovery, environmental treatment and manufacturing. Gupta and Zou propose and demonstrate in silico a feedback-loop architecture to optimize the output of a generative adversarial network that generates synthetic genes to produce ones specifically coding for antimicrobial peptides.
Cardiovascular findings on cross-sectional imaging: spectrum of incidental and critical findings and clinical relevance for the abdominal radiologist

Although not the primary focus of the exams, cardiovascular structures are included to some extent on all abdominal or whole-body cross-sectional studies. Cardiovascular findings often present incidentally and may range from chronic to acute and emergent pathologies. Among the most common cardiovascular findings are the presence of cardiac calcifications, most commonly coronary, which correlate with the presence of coronary artery and valvular disease. Signs of myocardial ischemia, both acute and chronic, and its complications may also be visualized. Cardiac filling defects most commonly represent thrombus and are associated with systemic arterial embolic complications. Pericardial findings often manifest as effusion or thickening, which may lead to hemodynamic consequences visible at imaging. Incidental pulmonary emboli and systemic venous thrombi may be incidentally detected, particularly in hospitalized and oncologic patients, and warrant immediate attention. This review will highlight the appearance of common and important incidental cardiovascular findings and related pitfalls and discuss reporting and follow-up recommendations relevant to the abdominal radiologist.
The Consequences of Performance Standards in Need-Based Aid Evidence from Community Colleges

Even need-based financial aid programs typically require recipients to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements. Using regression discontinuity and difference-in-difference designs, we examine the consequences of failing SAP for community college entrants in one state. We find heterogeneous academic effects in the short term, but, after six years, negative effects on academic and labor market outcomes dominate. Declines in credits attempted are two to three times as large as declines in credits earned, suggesting that SAP may increase aid efficiency. But students themselves are worse off, and the policy exacerbates inequality by pushing out low-income students faster than their higher-income peers.
An Analysis of Initial Sign Lexicons as a Function of Eight Learnability Variables

Recent interest in the use of manual sign intervention for language-impaired, severely mentally retarded individuals has led to creation of initial sign lexicons for such clients. However, the overriding basis for inclusion of sign/concepts in initial lexicons has been concept functionality. The present investigates the studies inclusion of sign/concepts in two initial sign lexicons as a function of eight sign learnability variables. For an adolescent/adult sign lexicon, the referent variables of concept concreteness and word frequency were significantly represented while the learnability variables of sign translucency and other production variables were only marginally represented. For the elementary-aged lexicon, none of the eight variables were significantly represented. The results are discussed in terms of learning ease of the lexicons and possible curricular language intervention implications.
Typologies: Forming Concepts and Creating Categorical Variables

Author(s): Collier, David; LaPorte, Jody M; Seawright, Jason | Editor(s): Box-Steffensmeier, Janet M; Brady, Henry E; Collier, David
Cabin Pressurization and Air-Conditioning

The cabin pressurization and air management chapter discusses the impetus for operating with pressurized cabins, the desire to fly above weather and provide a smoother ride for passengers and crew. The chapter provides a description of how cabins are pressurized, generally using engine bleed air. It also discusses the trade-offs that occur between higher cabin pressure levels which must rely on stronger, usually heavier fuselages. Finally it shows the complicated arrangement of heat exchangers, turbines, and compressors that provide conditioned air to keep the passenger compartment at a comfortable temperature, even when the outside temperature is −40.
Reclaiming Multicultural Education: Course Redesign as a Tool for Transformation

Reclaiming Multicultural Education: Course Redesign as a Tool for Transformation Curricula that falls under the umbrella of “multicultural education” ranges from a focus on general topics related t...
Biological sulfur in the blood cells of Ascidia ceratodes: XAS spectroscopy and a cellular-enzymatic hypothesis for vanadium reduction in the ascidians.

Abstract Two samples of living blood cells and of cleared blood plasma from the Phlebobranch tunicate Ascidia ceratodes from Bodega Bay, California, and one of fresh Henze solution from A. ceratodes of Monterey Bay, California, have been examined using sulfur K-edge x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). Biological sulfur included sulfate esters, sulfate and bisulfate ions, benzothiazole, thianthrene, epi-sulfide, thiol and disulfide. Glutathione dominated reduced sulfur, from which an average intracellular Voltage of −0.21 V was calculated. Sulfate-bisulfate ratios yielded blood cell pH values of 2.0 and 2.8. Total blood cell [sulfur] was 373±9 mM or 296±73 mM from BaSO4 gravimetry. Two plasma samples (pH 6.9 or 7.0; [S] = 33±6 mM or 26±4 mM) were dominated by sulfate and disulfide. Fresh Henze solution evidenced a sulfur inventory similar to blood cells, with calculated pH = 2.7. A V(III)-sulfonate fraction varied systematically with intracellular pH across six independent blood cell samples, implying a vanadium mobilization pathway. Bodega Bay and Monterey Bay A. ceratodes appear to maintain alternative suites of low-valent sulfur. The significance of the vanabins to vanadium metabolism is critically examined in terms of known protein – V(IV) biochemistry. Finally, a detailed hypothesis for the reduction of [VO4]3− to V(III) in ascidians is introduced. A vanadium oxido-reductase is proposed to span the signet ring membrane and to release V(III) into the inner acidic vacuole. The V(V) to V(III) reduction is predicted require an inner-sphere mechanism, a thiol reductant, 7-coordinate V(III), a biologically accessible Voltage, and proton-facilitated release of V(III).
Sexual violence against women and girls in South Sudan.

This Letter to the Editor is in reference to the article by Murphy M, Ellsberg M and Contreras-Urbina M, “Nowhere to go: disclosure and help-seeking behaviors for survivors of violence against women and girls in South Sudan,” published on 12 February 2020. The authors have to be lauded to study this important topic in South Sudan where data are scarce and the problem is less understood. In such a context, actions by various actors to address sexual violence, a major public health concern and a serious international humanitarian law and human rights violation, must be well thought of to avoid causing more harm and compound the suffering of survivors.
A tiered stochastic framework for assessing crop yield loss risks due to water scarcity under different uncertainty levels

Abstract Agricultural production in arid and semi-arid regions is threatened by increased droughts (climate change) and groundwater depletion. Farmers increasingly must weigh the short-term economic gains from irrigation against the long-term aquifer longevity needs. Risk-based deficit irrigation is proposed to tackle this trade-off. A tiered risk assessment approach is developed to evaluate crop yield loss risks as a function of crop water supply (CWS) from irrigation and precipitation. Risk is defined as the probability of obtaining a crop yield below a pre-specified threshold. Logistic regression is used to quantify risks as a function of CWS, if the producer can specify a fixed minimum yield threshold. Distribution regression is used to develop the cumulative distribution function of the crop yield assuming heterogeneous model parameter and is useful when the producer can estimate CWS but cannot specify a minimum yield threshold. Finally, the CWS is also modeled as a stochastic variable and the crop yield risk conditioned on CWS risk is computed using the Kolmogorov axiom. The methodology is illustrated using a cotton production case-study in the Southern High Plains of Texas. Logistic regression indicated that crop yield risk was a nonlinear function of CWS. CWS corresponding to ∼80 % of the total crop water demand was enough to reach negligible crop yield risks. Heterogeneous cotton yield distribution was modeled using Box-Cox-Cole-Green function with location and scale parameters being nonlinear and linear functions of CWS respectively and a stationary shape parameter. Irrigation at lower CWS reduced the risks substantially but the risk reductions were marginal at higher CWS. The conditional distribution of crop yield risk indicated that CWS corresponding to ∼80 %–85 % of crop water demand was enough to bring down risks. The tiered risk assessment provides a rational risk-based approach to evaluate the impacts of crop water supply reductions and promote deficit irrigation practices.
Relationship between the number density and the phase shift in microwave interferometry for atmospheric pressure plasmas

Diagnosing atmospheric pressure discharges requires more sophisticated techniques than for low pressure plasmas. The plasma number density is a crucial parameter in several applications. Langmuir probe as a number density measuring technique is not applicable at high pressures because the electron mean free path is shorter than the Debye distance. Microwave interferometry appears to be an effective diagnostic technique in this case. However, because of the high collisionality of atmospheric pressure plasmas, the relationship between the phase shift, as measured by a microwave interferometer, and the plasma number density is not straightforward, as is the case in collisionless plasmas. For the special case of a uniform discharge, the plasma number density is found to depend on the square root of the phase shift.
Fetal morbidity following potentially anoxigenic obstetric conditions. VII. Bronchial asthma.

Abstract A total of 277 patients with bronchial asthma complicating pregnancy from 30,861 Collaborative Research Project deliveries were analyzed for the fetal effects of the disease. While the risk of prematurity was not significantly increased, the 16 perinatal deaths represent a rate which was twice that of the Project. There was a suggestive increase in the percentage of infants with abnormal neurological findings at one year of age. During the first year, 5.7 per cent of the survey infants developed asthma and 18.4 per cent had severe respiratory diseases, respectively (7 times and 2 times the expected frequency). Asthma complicating pregnancy occurred more frequently among the Puerto Rican patients, but it had more severe effects among the Negro patients on the Project. Severe asthma (16 patients) was a serious threat to the survival and well-being of the fetus and mother. Of 6 patients who died during the study period, 4 were severely asthmatic and 7 of 14 infants from the latter group died perinatally or were neurologically abnormal at one year.
“It’s Not Fair”: Discourses of Deficit, Equity, and Effort in Mixed Heritage and Second Language Spanish Classes

This study used peer-led focus groups to investigate heritage language (HL) and second language (L2) students’ language ideologies and identities in “mixed” Spanish courses. We analyzed students’ p...
Using aversive conditioning with near-real-time feedback to shape eye movements during naturalistic viewing

Strategically shaping patterns of eye movements through training has manifold promising applications, with the potential to improve the speed and efficiency of visual search, improve the ability of humans to extract information from complex displays, and help correct disordered eye movement patterns. However, training how a person moves their eyes when viewing an image or scene is notoriously difficult, with typical approaches relying on explicit instruction and strategy, which have notable limitations. The present study introduces a novel approach to eye movement training using aversive conditioning with near-real-time feedback. Participants viewed indoor scenes (eight scenes presented over 48 trials) with the goal of remembering those scenes for a later memory test. During viewing, saccades meeting specific amplitude and direction criteria probabilistically triggered an aversive electric shock, which was felt within 50 ms after the eliciting eye movement, allowing for a close temporal coupling between an oculomotor behavior and the feedback intended to shape it. Results demonstrate a bias against performing an initial saccade in the direction paired with shock (Experiment 1) or generally of the amplitude paired with shock (Experiment 2), an effect that operates without apparent awareness of the relationship between shocks and saccades, persists into extinction, and generalizes to the viewing of novel images. The present study serves as a proof of concept concerning the implementation of near-real-time feedback in eye movement training.
Cardiac Findings in Pediatric Patients With Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children Associated With COVID-19.

BackgroundThe overall severity of cardiac disease secondary to acute SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2) infection in children appears to be much lower when compared with a...