cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Technique To Calibrate Polarimetric Radar Images Using Only Image Parameters And Trihedral Corner Reflectors

The technique described uses the radar return from natural targets and at least one trihedral corner reflector to calibrate compressed polarimetric radar data for relative amplitude, relative phase, absolute amplitude, and system crosstalk. The crosstalk method is based on the theoretical result that, for natural targets with azimuthal symmetry, the copolarized and cross-polarized components of the scattering matrix are uncorrelated. This method does not require any external calibration targets to be deployed. Since compressed data are used, it is necessary to model the transmitting and receiving systems as reciprocal. The method is used to estimate the crosstalk parameters of the NASA/JPL aircraft for different types of terrain and for two frequencies. For the C-band systems the crosstalk is less than -20 dB for all ranges in the images. The crosstalk of the L-band system is a function of range, however, and may be as poor as -10 dB in the near range, leading to a noticeable distortion of the polarization signatures.
Compartment pressure in the foot. Analysis of normal values and measurement technique

This clinical trial was carried out to verify the validity of the current objective compartment pressure parameters described in the forearm and leg for use in the foot. The authors evaluated the compartment pressures of the central plantar compartment in 25 normal volunteers (94 separate measurements). In addition to determining an average normal foot compartment pressure, two methods of measurement were compared. Results showed no significant difference in normal values through the use of an arterial line monitor technique (5.98 +/- 2.78 mm Hg [SD]) as compared with a Stryker intracompartmental pressure monitor (4.69 +/- 2.62 mm Hg [SD]). It was found that pedal edema caused a statistically significant increase in pressures. The authors propose a standard technique for pedal compartment pressure measurement and discuss diagnosis and management of compartment syndrome in the foot.
Alterations of Ca2+-responsive proteins within cholinergic neurons in aging and Alzheimer's disease

Abstract The molecular basis of selective neuronal vulnerability in Alzheimer's disease (AD) remains poorly understood. Using basal forebrain cholinergic neurons (BFCNs) as a model and immunohistochemistry, we have demonstrated significant age-related loss of the calcium-binding protein calbindin-D28K (CB) from BFCN, which was associated with tangle formation and degeneration in AD. Here, we determined alterations in RNA and protein for CB and the Ca2+-responsive proteins Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase I (CaMKI), growth-associated protein-43 (GAP43), and calpain in the BF. We observed progressive downregulation of CB and CaMKI RNA in laser-captured BFCN in the normal-aged-AD continuum. We also detected progressive loss of CB, CaMKIδ, and GAP43 proteins in BF homogenates in aging and AD. Activated μ-calpain, a calcium-sensitive protease that degrades CaMKI and GAP43, was significantly increased in the normal aged BF and was 10 times higher in AD BF. Overactivation of μ-calpain was confirmed using proteolytic fragments of its substrate spectrin. Substantial age- and AD-related alterations in Ca2+-sensing proteins most likely contribute to selective vulnerability of BFCN to degeneration in AD.
Task selection for a multiscalar processor

The multiscalar architecture advocates a distributed processor organization and task-level speculation to exploit high degrees of instruction level parallelism (ILP) in sequential programs without impeding improvements in clock speeds. The main goal of this paper is to understand the key implications of the architectural features of distributed processor organization and task-level speculation for compiler task selection from the point of view of performance. We identify the fundamental performance issues to be: control flow speculation, data communication, data dependence speculation, load imbalance, and task overhead. We show that these issues are intimately related to a few key characteristics of tasks: task size, inter-task control flow, and inter-task data dependence. We describe compiler heuristics to select tasks with favorable characteristics. We report experimental results to show that the heuristics are successful in boosting overall performance by establishing larger ILP windows.
Characterization of BEAF Mutations Isolated by Homologous Recombination in Drosophila

The Drosophila BEAF-32A and BEAF-32B proteins bind to the scs′ insulator and to hundreds of other sites on Drosophila chromosomes. These two proteins are encoded by the same gene. We used ends-in homologous recombination to generate the null BEAFAB-KO allele and also isolated the BEAFA-KO allele that eliminates production of only the BEAF-32A protein. We find that the BEAF proteins together are essential, but BEAF-32B alone is sufficient to obtain viable flies. Our results show that BEAF is important for both oogenesis and development. Maternal or zygotic BEAF is sufficient to obtain adults, although having only maternal BEAF impairs female fertility. In the absence of all BEAF, a few fertile but sickly males are obtained. Using both a chromosomal position-effect assay and an enhancer-blocking assay, we find that BEAF is necessary for scs′ insulator function. Lack of BEAF causes a disruption of male X polytene chromosome morphology. However, we did not find evidence that dosage compensation was affected. Position-effect variegation of the wm4h allele and different variegating y transgenes was enhanced by the knockout mutation. Combined with the effects on male X polytene chromosomes, we conclude that BEAF function affects chromatin structure or dynamics.
Numerical Cognition Without Words: Evidence from Amazonia

Members of the Piraha tribe use a "one-two-many" system of counting. I ask whether speakers of this innumerate language can appreciate larger numerosities without the benefit of words to encode them. This addresses the classic Whorfian question about whether language can determine thought. Results of numerical tasks with varying cognitive demands show that numerical cognition is clearly affected by the lack of a counting system in the language. Performance with quantities greater than three was remarkably poor, but showed a constant coefficient of variation, which is suggestive of an analog estimation process.
Four-well highly strained Quantum Cascade Lasers grown by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition

We demonstrate a novel four-well injectorless design with short wavelength (5.5µm) and room temperature operation utilizing highly strained Ga 0.35 In 0.65 As /Al 0.70 In 0.30 As (0.8/-1.5%) quantum wells.
Thin highly conducting layer in the moon - Consistent interpretation of dayside and nightside electromagnetic responses.

The vacuum transient response of the moon to a time-varying spatially uniform magnetic field is determined for a lunar electrical conductivity model that was based on the harmonic analysis of Apollo 12 and Explorer 35 dayside magnetometer data. The transient response of the model is found to provide a plausible explanation of the behavior of the local vertical-surface magnetic field for an Apollo 12 magnetometer darkside transient event. A model containing a conducting core and a highly conducting thin subsurface layer is presented, and its transient behavior is discussed.
DESCENDANTS OF ASCENDANT CITIES AND OTHER URBAN DUALITIES

Urban theory is saturated with dual representations. Gemeinschaft and gesellschaft, rural and urban, and similarity and dissimilarity are three of the foundational dualities upon which urban theory...
Resveratrol Induces Differentiation Markers Expression in Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma via Activation of Notch1 Signaling and Suppresses Cell Growth

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is an extremely aggressive malignancy with undifferentiated features, for which conventional treatments, including radioactive iodine ablation, are usually not effective. Recent evidence suggests that the Notch1 pathway is important in the regulation of thyroid cancer cell growth and expression of thyrocyte differentiation markers. However, drug development targeting Notch1 signaling in ATC remains largely underexplored. Previously, we have identified resveratrol out of over 7,000 compounds as the most potent Notch pathway activator using a high-throughput screening method. In this study, we showed that resveratrol treatment (10-50 μmol/L) suppressed ATC cell growth in a dose-dependent manner for both HTh7 and 8505C cell lines via S-phase cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis. Resveratrol induced functional Notch1 protein expression and activated the pathway by transcriptional regulation. In addition, the expression of thyroid-specific genes including TTF1, TTF2, Pax8, and sodium iodide symporter (NIS) was upregulated in both ATC cell lines with resveratrol treatment. Notch1 siRNA interference totally abrogated the induction of TTF1 and Pax8 but not of TTF2. Moreover, Notch1 silencing by siRNA decreased resveratrol-induced NIS expression. In summary, our data indicate that resveratrol inhibits cell growth and enhances redifferentiation in ATC cells dependent upon the activation of Notch1 signaling. These findings provide the first documentation for the role of resveratrol in ATC redifferentiation, suggesting that activation of Notch1 signaling could be a potential therapeutic strategy for patients with ATC and thus warrants further clinical investigation.
Laminate Delamination Due to Thermal Gradients

Flaw-induced delamination of orthotropic laminates subject to through-thickness temperature gradients is analyzed. A crack-like flaw impedes heat flow through the laminate, producing thermal stresses and crack tip stress intensities. The focus is on delamination cracks which propagate under steady-state conditions. The steady-state analysis becomes accurate for a crack whose length is about one laminate thickness. Moreover, the analysis provides realistic fail-safe criteria for excluding delamination.
Co-parenting quality among adoptive mothers: contributions of socioeconomic status, child demands and adult relationship characteristics

ABSTRACTDespite the growing emphasis on co-parenting in family life, little is known about the co-parenting relationships of adoptive parents. This study examined the contributions of socioeconomic status (SES), child demands and couple relationship characteristics to reported co-parenting quality a
En)racing Law and Society

One of the sharpest critiques of law and society scholarship in recent years has come from scholars who say that law and society scholarship fails to appropriately address the issue of race. The criticism is not just that scholars do not pay sufficient attention to ideas of racial inequality or the concept of race, but rather that when racial issues are addressed, it is often in a manner that fails to move forward our understanding of how race operates. In this essay, I consider several "race crit" critiques of the use of race in law and society scholarship, and I use these critiques as a gauge to evaluate Kitty Calavita’s exploration of race in her text, Invitation to Law and Society. Then, stepping beyond Invitation, I suggest a little-used mode of analysis that would provide great explanatory power to law and society scholarship when it touches on racial issues.
Public Pension Reform in California

The Public Employee Pension Reform Act became effective in 2013. It will take many years before it has a meaningful impact on pension plan underfunding due to the so-called California Rule under which public employees are guaranteed the pension benefits in force on the date of hire. Meanwhile, three California cities have filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy and more will follow. In an effort to annul the California Rule, and allow employers to change benefit accruals prospectively, the mayors of San Jose and four other cities have sponsored an initiative to amend the California constitution to allow public employers to alter pension benefit formulas prospectively. This article appraises these several developments and their interaction.
Evaluation on the effectiveness of Genetime in children with hard agglut wound

Objective: To assess the therapeutic effects on hard agglut wound in children. Method: 133 cases with hard agglut woundwere treated with Genetime by way of sprinkling, once a day for 3 weeks. The control group were treated with Kangfuxin. Result: The re-sults showed that the response rate was 81.95% in the Genetime group, and 40.60% in the control group. No adverse drug reactions werefound in Genetime group. Conclusion: Genetime is effective on the hard agglut wound.
Deaf Students as a Linguistic and Cultural Minority: Shifting Perspectives and Implications for Teaching and Learning

Deaf children have traditionally been perceived and educated as a special needs population. Over the past several decades, several factors have converged to enable a shift in perspective to one in which deaf children are viewed as a cultural and linguistic minority, and the education of deaf children is approached from a bilingual framework. In this article, we present the historical context in which such shifts in perspective have taken place and describe the linguistic, social, and cultural factors that shape a bilingual approach to deaf education. We further discuss the implications of a linguistic and cultural minority perspective of deaf children on language development, teacher preparation, and educational policy.
Self-adjoint Linear Equations

As with most of the topics considered in this work, the concepts of adjoint and self-adjoint linear operators and equations, both differential and difference, apply to operators and equations of all orders. However, given the fundamental place of second order equations, both differential and difference, for problems in classical and quantum physics, we restrict ourselves here to equations of second order, noting that most of the classical functions of mathematical physics satisfy second order differential equations in the continuous variable and second order difference equations in the discrete variable.
Aftermath: Tradition and Transformation

The fall of Tenochtitlan signaled both an end and a beginning. Cortes decided to make the ancient city, now in ruins, the site of his new capital. From there expeditions were sent out to pacify or take control of the rest of the country: Cristobal de Olid to Michoacan, Pedro de Alvarado to Guatemala, Olid again to Honduras, Beitran Nuno de Guzman to Panuco (northeastern Mexico). The Zapotecs, the Maya, and other native peoples offered resistance, but within a decade or so most of central Mexico and large parts of the rest of what the Castilians called New Spain were under colonial rule. The Spaniards set about creating institutions to bring indigenous life and culture under control, to establish an ordered Christian society, and to make the new provinces or kingdoms profitable to the Spanish king and to the victors as “colonies,” although that word was never used at the time. Encomiendas or grants of native labor or tribute were awarded to many conquistadors despite royal objections at first. Disputes over these grants and their effects plagued colonial society for a generation. A royal court of appeals or audiencia was established in 1528; royal fiscal officers set up a system of taxes and tribute; in 1528 a bishop, Juan de Zumarraga, was appointed to establish the Church on an ordered basis; and in 1535 the first viceroy, the energetic and able Antonio de Mendoza, arrived to begin his service as the direct royal representative and chief administrator. Perhaps most important, beginning in 1524 groups of missionaries, first the Franciscans and then the Dominicans and Augustinians, initiated the task of proselytization and conversion of the indigenous peoples.
A handheld orbital mixer for processing viscous samples in low resource settings

Clinical diagnostics play an important role in infectious disease monitoring. Often these diseases are endemic in settings that lack laboratory resources, which limits the types of tools that are available. Mixing is a common procedure in clinical diagnostic assays and is not immune to these challenges. In this report, we characterize the efficacy of a handheld therapeutic massager that has been repurposed into a mixer. Using metal affinity functionalized magnetic beads and a histidine-tagged fluorescent label, we find that this inexpensive orbital mixer is effective over a range of clinically relevant sample volumes and viscosities. Even with larger sample volumes (>200 μL) and more viscous sample matrices (3× ηH2O), the mixer binds more than 90% of the biomarkers in solution in less than 90 seconds. In a clinical assay for the detection of Plasmodium falciparum histidine-rich protein 2, we find there is no statistical difference in performance between our inexpensive and portable orbital mixer and a standard laboratory benchtop vortexer.
NIMG-48MR DIFFUSION PROFILES OF NON-ENHANCING LOWER-GRADE GLIOMAS

MR diffusion profiles of 134 non-enhancing grade 2 and grade 3 gliomas were examined by histologic and molecular characteristics. These diffusion parameters reflect characteristics of tumor microstructure, and may be predictive of tumor aggressiveness or therapeutic response. Patients with suspected glioma underwent a pre-surgical 3T MR exam, with T1, T2, and diffusion sequences. Histological sub-type (AS, OA, or OD), grade, IDH, 1p19q, and p53 status were determined by standard pathology and immunohistochemistry assessment of tumor tissue samples. Median, 10th percentile, and 90th percentile of Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) and eigenvalues (EVaxial, EVradial) for the T2 abnormality region were calculated, both as absolute and relative values scaled by intensities from normal appearing white matter. Smaller tumor volume was associated with lower ADC and EV parameters (median ADC and EVradial, 90% nEVaxial, EVaxial, and ADC, and 10% EVaxial, nEVaxial and EVradial). Tumor grade was associated with 90% ADC, EVaxial, and nEVaxial values, with lower values for grade 3 than grade 2 tumors. Tumor histology sub-type was associated with 90% nEVaxial, with lower values in OD than OA or AS. IDH+ status was associated with higher values of median EVaxial, and 10% of nEVaxial, nEVradial, and EVradial. 1p19q deleted status was associated with lower values of median nEVaxial and EVradial, 10% EVaxial, nEVaxial and EVradial. P53+ status was associated with higher EV values, but these were not significant when controlling for tumor histology sub-type. No MR diffusion parameters were associated with progression-free survival (PFS), but the PFS was significantly longer in IDH+ compared to IDH- patients, and longer for patients with lesions that were 1p19q deleted, compared with 1p19q non-deleted or aneuploidy in nature. MR diffusion parameters may therefore be of value for non-invasive assessment and treatment planning of non-enhancing glioma and contribute to our understanding of variations in tumor microstructure.
Acute Coronary Syndrome Screening and Diagnostic Practice Variation.

Background In the absence of the existing acute coronary syndrome (ACS) guidelines directing the clinical practice implementation of emergency department (ED) screening and diagnosis, there is variable screening and diagnostic clinical practice across ED facilities. This practice diversity may be warranted. Understanding the variability may identify opportunities for more consistent practice. Methods This is a cross-sectional clinical practice epidemiology study with the ED as the unit of analysis characterizing variability in the ACS evaluation across 62 diverse EDs. We explored three domains of screening and diagnostic practice: 1) variability in criteria used by EDs to identify patients for an early electrocardiogram (ECG) to diagnose ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), 2) nonuniform troponin biomarker and formalized pre-troponin risk stratification use for the diagnosis of non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), and 3) variation in the use of noninvasive testing (NIVT) to identify obstructive coronary artery disease or detect inducible ischemia. Results We found that 85% of EDs utilize a formal triage protocol to screen patients for an early ECG to diagnose STEMI. Of these, 17% use chest pain as the sole criteria. For the diagnosis of NSTEMI, 58% use intervals ≥4 hours for a second troponin and 34% routinely risk stratify before troponin testing. For the diagnosis of noninfarction ischemia, the median percentage of patients who have NIVT performed during their ED visit is 5%. The median percentage of patients referred for NIVT in hospital (observation or admission) is 61%. Coronary CT angiography is used in 66% of EDs. Exercise treadmill testing is the most frequently reported first-line NIVT (42%). Conclusion Our results suggest highly variable ACS screening and clinical practice.
Completing the Revolution? The United States and Bolivia’s Long Revolution

James Malloy’s 1970 study, still one of the most systematic analytical attempts in English to understand Bolivia’s 1952 National Revolution, argued that the revolution remained “uncompleted.” However, the election and subsequent policies of the Morales government after 2005 moved Bolivia much closer to completing two important stated objectives of the revolution, as yet unfulfilled when Malloy wrote: inclusion of all Bolivians in the political system and increased national autonomy. While it is premature to call Bolivia’s revolution “completed,” the shift in the locus of power from Europeanized elites to more broadly popular forces and the growing independence of Bolivia from outside influence and direction under Morales are key achievements of what might be called Bolivia’s “Long Revolution.” Giving close attention to these two fundamental achievements—inclusion and autonomy—this paper provides a preliminary examination of the complicated and often paradoxical role the United States has played in Bolivia’s long historical trajectory since April 1952. Directly and indirectly, through imposition and suggestion, purposefully and unintentionally, by providing assistance and at the same time stimulating fierce nationalist resistance, through design and through the twists and turns of historical contingency—the United States has contributed to Bolivia’s slow revolutionary transformation. But patterns of imposition and resistance continue and this paper argues that it is time for the United States to examine its assumptions so that the two nations can escape the cyclical patterns of the past.
Non-traditional Skills and Tactics and Modern Technology

Technology has introduced many non-traditional skills and tactics into the media and communication landscape. It is no longer business as usual. Every business organization and individuals now find ways and means of doing things differently. This article analyzes the use of non-traditional skills and tactics by organizations and individuals with emphasis on how technology aids the circulation of news about protests, keeps protesters alive and connected, and spreads protests around the world.
Dust Impacts on the 2012 Hurricane Nadine Track during the NASA HS3 Field Campaign.

AbstractDuring the 2012 deployment of the NASA Hurricane and Severe Storm Sentinel (HS3) field campaign, several flights were dedicated to investigating Hurricane Nadine. Hurricane Nadine developed in close proximity to the dust-laden Saharan Air Layer, and is the fourth longest-lived Atlantic hurricane on record, experiencing two strengthening and weakening periods during its 22-day total lifecycle as a tropical cyclone. In this study, the NASA GEOS-5 atmospheric general circulation model and data assimilation system was used to simulate the impacts of dust during the first intensification and weakening phases of Hurricane Nadine using a series of GEOS-5 forecasts initialized during Nadine’s intensification phase (12 September 2012). The forecasts explore a hierarchy of aerosol interactions within the model: no aerosol interaction, aerosol-radiation interactions, and aerosol-radiation and aerosol-cloud interactions simultaneously, as well as variations in assumed dust optical properties. When only aeroso...
Germline cytoskeletal and extra-cellular matrix-related single nucleotide variations associated with distinct cancer survival rates

Abstract Background Human mutagenesis has a large stochastic component. Thus, large coding regions, especially cytoskeletal and extra-cellular matrix protein (CECMP) coding regions are particularly vulnerable to mutations. Recent results have verified a high level of somatic mutations in the CECMP coding regions in the cancer genome atlas (TCGA), and a relatively common occurrence of germline, deleterious mutations in the TCGA breast cancer dataset. Methods The objective of this study was to determine the correlations of CECMP coding region, germline nucleotide variations with both overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). TCGA, tumor and blood variant calling files (VCFs) were intersected to identify germline SNVs. SNVs were then annotated to determine potential consequences for amino acid (AA) residue biochemistry. Results Germline SNVs were matched against somatic tumor SNVs (i.e., tumor mutations) over twenty TCGA datasets to identify 23 germline-somatic matched, deleterious AA substitutions in coding regions for FLG, TTN, MUC4, and MUC17. Conclusions The germline-somatic matched SNVs, in particular for MUC4, extensively implicated in cancer development, represented highly, statistically significant effects on OS and DFS survival rates. The above results contribute to the establishment of what is potentially a new class of inherited cancer-facilitating genes, namely dominant negative tumor suppressor proteins.
A Brief History of Medical Ethics from the Roman Catholic Perspective: Comments on the Essays of Fuchs, Demmer, Cahill and Hellwig

The magnificent advances in medical science and praxis since World War II bring problems concerning moral behavior that should be addressed by all thinking individuals. Molecular biology has discovered so much about the structure and function of the individual cell that one could compare the cell now to the galaxy in which we live and the molecular biologist to the astronomer who has trained his telescope on the far distant stars and revolutionized our conception of the cosmos. In like manner, the molecular biologist has unravelled many of the secrets of the cell.
Nanoconfinement Effects on the Glass Transition and Crystallization Behaviors of Nifedipine.

The impact of nanoconfinement on the crystallization and glass transition behaviors of nifedipine (NIF) has been investigated using differential scanning calorimetry. Nanoconfinement was provided by imbibing the NIF into a porous medium (controlled pore glass, CPG), and results were compared with the unconfined bulk material. Consistent with previous results from the literature, both glass transition temperature Tg and melting temperature Tm decrease with decreasing pore size. The melting temperature was found to decrease with the reciprocal of pore diameter and could be analyzed with the Gibbs–Thomson equation. In addition, for confinement sizes of 7.5 and 12 nm, it was found that no cold-crystallization occurs upon heating from the glassy state to above the expected melting transition. Finally, at intermediate confinements we find evidence of a possible new, confinement-induced polymorph of NIF.
Incidence of inflammatory bowel disease by race and ethnicity in a population-based inception cohort from 1970 through 2010.

Background:Although inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been more predominant in white populations, an increasing incidence of IBD in nonwhites has been reported. We sought to evaluate the inciden...
Analytics in sustainable precision animal nutrition.

The global population, resource, and climate dynamics suggest we must improve sustainability of food production systems (Ohlsson, 2014; Kleinman et al., 2018). Improving livestock production sustainability is particularly important because a significant portion of the projected increases in global food demand is anticipated to come from livestock (Thornton, 2010). Improving sustainability of livestock production systems can be achieved through optimized reproductive, genetic, nutritional, and health management (White et al., 2014, 2015). Management decisions within livestock production can be thought of as two interleaved feedback loops. The first feedback loop is between the animal and the environment: the animal is influenced by its environment and, in turn, influences its environment. The second feedback loop is between the animal and the manager: the manager takes information about the animal’s behavior and attempts to influence the environment to optimize the animal’s performance (Figure 1). Managers make management decisions on different timescales ranging from immediate to relaxed. An example of an immediate management decision would be a farmer identifying an animal as sick, isolating the animal, and treating the animal for the illness. We term this immediate because the farmer must identify the sick animal as soon as possible and must react to the diagnosis as soon as possible. An example of a relaxed management decision would be the farmer electing to change the feed provided to his animals in response to something observed about their production (i.e., the cows are producing poorly, so change the ration to provide higher nutrient density to correct a nutrient shortfall). This decision is more relaxed because its formulation and response are subjected to natural, biological delays (i.e., it may take days to weeks to see a production response to a new diet). Improving the precision of these decision-making processes and reducing the burden of decision making on farmers are two critical steps toward improving sustainability of livestock production. Precision agricultural technologies have been identified as one possible solution (Berckmans, 2014; Tullo et al., 2019). Open in a separate window Figure 1. Depiction of the feedback loops between the farm manager, animal, and environment. The animal and environment influence each other, as do the animal and the manager’s decisions about the animal. Additionally, the manager can make decisions about the environment that will influence the animal.
What to Do About These Four Things

This chapter digests the first four things before moving on. These initial challenges are about vision and personnel. The chapter looks at how personnel could be recruited, trained, supervised, and promoted differently than they currently are. This part of the chapter proposes some concrete ideas to create a gender balance in the elementary schools. It also proposes a radically smaller Administration composed of actual teachers who are promoted for educational success in the classroom. Supervisors would cycle out of the Administration and return to the classroom after a maximum of five years. The last part of the chapter looks at the vision component of education and the stakeholders who should be involved in formulating this vision. The first thing schools must aim to do on this front is to give children a sense they are involved with a mission to save the world from what ails it, making the world better, perfect even. Who are the kinds of personnel who are uniquely able to prepare children for such an engaging adventure? They are smart, but they are also extraordinary people, people who themselves have embarked upon a course of adventure and high purpose.
Postoperative care and prevention and treatment of complications following total pancreatectomy with islet cell autotransplantation

Abstract Chronic pancreatitis is a painful and life-altering disease. Total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation is a treatment option that can remove the source of pain and inflammation (the pancreas) without leading to the complication of brittle diabetes. Postoperative management requires a careful attention to detail, including glucose management, prophylaxis against thrombosis, and monitoring for complications.
State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting Surveillance: Opioid Overdose Deaths and Characteristics in Rhode Island

Unintentional opioid overdoses are a growing public health epidemic in the United States. Rhode Island is also faced with a challenging crisis of drug overdose deaths. The State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting Surveillance (SUDORS) data from the second half of 2016 were used to present opioid overdose deaths and characteristics in Rhode Island. During July-December 2016, 142 individuals died of opioid overdose in Rhode Island. People who died by opioid overdose were more likely to be 25-65 years old, male, and non-Hispanic white. The most common precipitating circumstances were substance abuse (88%), current mental health problems (43%), and physical health problems (27.5%). Over 83% of decedents had 2 or more substances attribute to causing their death, with fentanyl (71.1%) as the most common substance. Only 36.6% of decedents had naloxone administered. Fatal opioid overdose data are important for understanding this public health crisis and can guide overdose intervention efforts.
Predicting No Show in Voice therapy: Avoiding the Missed Appointment Cycle

Summary Introduction Voice therapy plays a critical role in the treatment of voice disorders. Despite positive outcomes in patients who attend voice therapy, otolaryngologists, and speech-language pathologists continue to struggle with patient compliance. Previous studies evaluating the multidisciplinary clinic model have shown better completion, VHI-10 scores, and fewer cancelation and no-shows (NS). We sought to review our own patient experience to better identify factors that predict NS rates in voice therapy. Methods A retrospective chart review of patients at a tertiary medical center were included if they had a scheduled appointment during a 6-month period that was cancelled or a NS. Charts were reviewed for age, gender, race, diagnosis, number of sessions attended, reason for discharge, and attending physician. NS percentage is calculated as a ratio of number cancellations to total number sessions scheduled. A multivariable general linear model was used to examine the association between NS and the listed covariates. Findings The study included 146 patients mean (SD) age 52.7 (16.6), where 62% were female and 72.6% were white. There is evidence that not being seen in a multidisciplinary clinic is significantly associated with NS rates in voice therapy (χ2 = 4.09, P = 0.0431). There is also evidence that non-white race is significantly associated with NS rates in voice therapy (χ2 = 11.76, P = 0.0006). Conclusions Data presented in this study further support the use of a multidisciplinary model to improve NS rates in voice therapy. The relationship between nonwhite patients and lower NS suggests another determining factor in nonadherence to voice therapy.
Maternal morbidity after early preterm delivery (23–28 weeks)

Background Previous research has focused mainly on neonatal outcomes associated with preterm and periviable delivery, but maternal outcomes with preterm delivery are less well described. Objective This study aimed to determine if early preterm delivery results in an increase in maternal morbidity. Study Design This is a retrospective cohort study conducted at a tertiary care center over a 5-year time period. Subjects were women identified by review of neonatal intensive care unit admission logs. Women were included if they delivered between 23 0/7 and 28 6/7 weeks’ gestation and their neonate was admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit. The prevalence of maternal morbidities was assessed, including blood transfusion, maternal infection, placental abruption, postpartum depression or positive depression screen, hemorrhage, and prolonged maternal postpartum hospitalization. A composite outcome comprising blood transfusion, maternal infectious morbidity, placental abruption, and postpartum depression was developed. Outcomes for women who delivered between 23 0/7 and 25 6/7 weeks’ gestation (early group) and 26 0/7 and 28 6/7 weeks’ gestation (late group) were compared. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate contributors to the composite morbidity, controlling for confounding. Results A total of 82 women met the inclusion criteria: 38 in the early group and 44 in the late group. Maternal demographics were similar between the groups. The early group was significantly more likely to experience composite maternal morbidity (60.5% vs 27.3%; P=.004) and infection (42.1% vs 13.6%; P=.006). Regression analysis determined that delivery at a later gestational age was associated with lower rates of composite morbidity (odds ratio, 0.6; 95% confidence interval, 0.41–0.83). Conclusion In this study, data suggest that maternal morbidity is higher with delivery at periviable gestational ages. Composite morbidity and maternal infection were more frequent in women who delivered at less than 26 weeks’ gestation. The management of women at risk for delivery at early gestational ages should include a discussion of increased maternal complications.
Queering Romantic Engagement in the Postal Age: A Rhetorical Education: by Pamela VanHaitsma, Columbia, SC, University of South Carolina Press, 2019, 162 pp., $24.99 (hardcover), ISBN: 9781611179903

Researchers interested in same-sex romantic relationships in the nineteenth century have spent decades productively mining archives for evidence of these relationships, often finding personal corre...
Lung Nodule Malignancy Prediction From Longitudinal CT Scans With Siamese Convolutional Attention Networks

Goal: We propose a convolutional attention-based network that allows for use of pre-trained 2-D convolutional feature extractors and is extendable to multi-time-point classification in a Siamese structure. Methods: Our proposed framework is evaluated for single- and multi-time-point classification to explore the value that temporal information, such as nodule growth, adds to malignancy prediction. Results: Our results show that the proposed method outperforms a comparable 3-D network with less than half the parameters on single-time-point classification and further achieves performance gains on multi-time-point classification. Conclusions: Attention-based, Siamese 2-D pre-trained CNNs lead to fast training times and are effective for malignancy prediction from single-time-point or multiple-time-point imaging data.
Caregiver Speaks Study Protocol: A Technologically-Mediated Storytelling Intervention for Hospice Family Caregivers of Persons Living With Dementia

Objective:We present the protocol of a study aiming to examine the efficacy of a technologically-mediated storytelling intervention called Caregiver Speaks in reducing distress and grief intensity ...
COVID-19 and financial market efficiency: Evidence from an entropy-based analysis

This study assesses the market efficiency of S&P 500 Index, gold, Bitcoin and US Dollar Index during the extreme event of COVID-19 pandemic. Market efficiency is estimated by a multiscale entropy-based method for the scales of hourly and 1 to 30 business days. At all scales, four markets' efficiency decreases sharply and persistently during February-March 2020. Market efficiency decreases the most in S&P 500 Index and the least in Bitcoin market. Bitcoin market efficiency is more resilient than others during the extreme event, which is an attractive feature to serve as a safe haven asset.
Behavioral and Neurocognitive Sequelae of Concussion in the Emergency Department

A concussion occurs when the brain is subjected to an acceleration-deceleration force or, as in the case of blast injury, to a pressure wave sufficient to disrupt brain function [1]. The 2013 American Academy of Neurology (AAN) guidelines on the evaluation and management of sports-related concussions define concussion as a “pathophysiologic disturbance in neurologic function characterized by clinical symptoms induced by biomechanical forces, occurring with or without loss of consciousness. Standard structural neuroimaging is normal, and symptoms typically resolve over time [1].” The terms “concussion” and “mild traumatic brain injury” (mTBI) are often used interchangeably in much of the literature and will be used, as well, in this chapter. However, an mTBI diagnosed by a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 13–15 simply reflects that the patient at the time of measurement is alert; it is well known that patients can have a significant intracranial lesion, for example, subdural or traumatic subarachnoid, and yet have a GCS of 15. Concussion, on the other hand, implies that not only is the patient awake but also has normal head computed tomography (CT). The International Conference on Concussion in Sport 2012 Zurich Consensus Statement, therefore, describes a concussion as a distinct subtype of mild traumatic brain injury [3]. The decision about which patients should obtain emergent brain imaging in the emergency department is outside the scope of this chapter.
Should Firms Disclose Everything to Everybody? A Discussion of 'Open Versus Closed Conference Calls: The Determinants and Effects of Broadening Access to Disclosure'

Bushee, Matsumoto, and Miller (2002) is a timely study in an area Ð corporate disclosure policy Ð that is increasingly important to regulators, corporate managers, and academics. The authors report several results that will be of interest to these groups. I describe the corporate disclosure issues that make the authors' research questions of broader relevance than their specific topic might suggest. I then provide comments on theoretical and empirical aspects of the study. Overall, the study is likely to be useful in helping us understand some of the forces at work as corporate disclosure becomes more rapid, more comprehensive, and more open.
A Smartphone Intervention to Promote Time Restricted Eating Reduces Body Weight and Blood Pressure in Adults with Overweight and Obesity: A Pilot Study.

The goal of this study was to test the feasibility of time restricted eating (TRE) in adults with overweight and obesity. Participants (n = 50) logged all eating occasions (>0 kcal) for a 2-week run-in period using a smartphone application. Participants with eating duration ≥14 h enrolled in an open label, non-randomized, prospective 90-day TRE intervention, with a self-selected reduced eating window of 10 h. No dietary counseling was provided. Changes in anthropometrics, eating patterns and adherence after TRE were analyzed using t-tests or Wilcoxon Rank-Sum Test. The mean duration of the baseline eating window was 14 h 32 m ± 2 h 36 m (n = 50) with 56% of participants with duration ≥14 h. TRE participants (n = 16) successfully decreased their eating window from 16 h 04 m ± 1 h 24 m to 11 h 54 m ± 2 h 06 m (p < 0.001), and reduced the number of daily eating occasions by half (p < 0.001). Adherence to logging and to the reduced eating window was 64% ± 22% and 47% ± 19%, respectively. TRE resulted in decreases in body weight (−2.1 ± 3.0 kg, p = 0.017), waist circumference (−2.2 ± 4.6 cm, p = 0.002) and systolic blood pressure (−12 ± 11 mmHg, p = 0.002). This study demonstrates the feasibility and efficacy of TRE administered via a smartphone, in adults with overweight and obesity.
Homotopy-Driven Exploration of Human-made Spaces Using Signs

Robots deployed in airports, malls, and stadiums today require expert oversight, pre-provided maps, and infrastructure. These systems are engineered to their specific deployment spaces and rely heavily on geometric maps for motion planning. In this work we consider a robot with only local-sensing and present a navigation strategy that uses signs and homotopy classes to fuel planning. We prove that in the worst-case, this strategy still maintains the probabilistic completeness that sampling based motion planners provide. Furthermore, we experimentally show that this exploration strategy results in 100% goal completion in real airport floor plans, and demonstrate how the robot’s sensing capabilities affects efficiency. We also show the effect of the environment variables, such as total number of obstacles, and density of obstacles, on navigation.
Organizational Natural Supports

The implementation of supported employment has focused on the skill requirements of front-line staff in relation to job development and on-site instructional technique. However, the commitment to community inclusion requires organizations to rethink their administrative structures and operations. Agencies must create open and reciprocal relationships with staff, as well as with typical community members and entities in order to facilitate the growth of natural supports for individuals with severe disabilities. Rehabilitation managers must take a leadership role in their agencies and in the larger community to move beyond the traditional service delivery resource limits of human service agencies.
Abstract P6-12-05: Inducible suppression of insulin receptor substrate I inhibits IGF-I/insulin/estradiol dependent cell growth in MCF-7L breast cancer cells

Insulin receptor substrate (IRS) proteins are adaptor proteins downstream of insulin-like growth factor (IGF) and insulin receptors. IRS proteins play a role in cancer biology, with IRS1 function linked to mitogenesis and survival and IRS2 associated with metastasis. Moreover, this family of adaptor proteins is also involved in the signal transduction of many other transmembrane receptors. Therefore IRS proteins could be potential therapeutic targets for cancer therapy. To test the function of IRS-1, we created a doxycycline inducible IRS1 shRNA and stably transfected MCF-7L breast cancer cells. The level of IRS1 protein knockdown varied within different clones from 50 to 95% reduction compared to non-induced cells. IRS2 mRNA and protein levels were not significantly affected. We chose a high (3G5) and intermediate (3A7) IRS1 knockdown clones for further study. Doxycycline treated 3G5 and 3A7, showed partial inhibition of IGF-I, IGF-II and insulin stimulated phosphorylation of IRS1(Tyr1222) and AKT. pErk1,2 were slightly increased and pIGF-IR was unchanged compared to doxycycline non-treated cells. IRS-2 tyrosine phosphorylation was stimulated when IRS-1 was suppressed and may account for the persistent downstream cell signaling. Anti IGFIR antibody dalotuzumab (20µg/ml) effectively inhibited cell signaling stimulated by IGF-I, IGF-II and insulin in both doxycycline treated and non-treated cells. There was no obvious difference in cell signaling pattern between plus and minus doxycycline treated cells within 24 hour time course. In monolayer cell growth assays, IGF-I, IGF-II, insulin and estradiol growth stimulation were significantly inhibited when IRS-1 was suppressed in 3G5 cells. In 3A7 cells, which have a lower level of IRS-1 suppression, growth stimulation was moderately inhibited. In anchorage independent growth assays stimulated by IGF-I, colony number and size were inhibited by doxycycline-induced IRS-1 suppression with a reduction of 80% in 3G5 cells and 50% reduction in 3A7 cells. These results show that growth of MCF-7L cells are dependent on IRS-1 expression. Reduced IRS1 can hinder cancer cell growth and tumorigenicity even when signaling was not impaired potentially due to compensation by other adaptor proteins. We conclude that suppression of IRS-1 may inhibit several growth regulatory pathways in breast cancer and could serve as a potential drug target. Citation Format: Xihong Zhang, Sidhant Varma, Douglas Yee. Inducible suppression of insulin receptor substrate I inhibits IGF-I/insulin/estradiol dependent cell growth in MCF-7L breast cancer cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Seventh Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2014 Dec 9-13; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(9 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-12-05.