cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Structures and Phase Transitions in Alkali Metal Overlayers on Transition Metal Surfaces

Alkali metal adsorption has been studied for many years, primarily because of the great number of technological applications which arise from adding small amounts of alkali metal atoms to other materials. These include the promotion of catalytic reactions, increases in electron and ion emission rates of metals, and the enhancement of the oxidation of semiconductors. In recent years, alkali metal films have also been studied with a more fundamental view toward understanding the unusual interactions between adsorbed alkali metal atoms, the wide variety of surface structures which occur, and the phase transitions associated with them. Alkali metal adsorption has been the subject of several recent reviews1,2,3 and one book4 and the purpose of this chapter is not to provide a comprehensive review of this subject, but to discuss some alkali metal overlayer structures which display interesting behavior from the point of view of phase transitions.
Segmentation of liver tumors in ultrasound images based on scale-space analysis of the continuous wavelet transform

We have developed a simple, yet robust method for segmentation of low-contrast objects embedded in noisy images. Our technique has been applied to segmenting of liver tumors in B-scan ultrasound images with hypoechoic rims. In our method, first a B-scan image is processed by a median filter for removal of speckle noise. Then several one-dimensional profiles are obtained along multiple radial directions which pass through the manually identified center of the region of a tumor. After smoothing by a Gaussian kernel smoother, these profiles are processed by Sombrero's continuous wavelets to yield scalograms over a range of scales. The modulus maxima lines, which represent the degree of regularity at individual points on the profiles, are then utilized for identifying candidate points on the boundary of the tumor. These detected boundary points are fitted by an ellipse and are used as an initial configuration of a wavelet snake. The wavelet snake is then deformed so that the accurate boundary of the tumor is found. A preliminary result for several metastases with various sizes of hypoechoic rims showed that our method could extract boundaries of the tumors which were close to the contours drawn by expert radiologists. Therefore, our new method can segment the regions of focal liver disease in sonograms with accuracy, and it can be useful as a preprocessing step in our scheme for automated classification of focal liver disease in sonography.
Fertility among women with recurrent spontaneous abortions--the effect of paternal cell immunization treatment.

PROBLEM: The risk of women whose chief complaint is recurrent spontaneous abortions (RSA) for secondary infertility (infecundability) has not been evaluated prospectively. The effect of paternal mononuclear cell immunization on conception rates is unknown. METHOD: Two hundred women whose chief complaint was RSA were randomly assigned to be immunized with paternal mononuclear cells either before or after (up to 6 postmenstrual weeks) conception. Fertility rates (both conception and live birth) were evaluated for the group immunized before conception and compared to those for the control group, who were not immunized until after conception, using life table and multiple logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: Prospectively ascertained, age-related conception rates for nonimmunized RSA controls appeared to be similar to those for general populations. Immunization before pregnancy had no significant effect (power ± 14%) on rates of conception (66% before, 77% after) or time to conceive (median weeks before 19.5, after 27.0). Live birth rates (before 59%, after 63%) were also similar for both groups (P = 0.7). CONCLUSION: Women whose only prior complaint was RSA were not at high risk for secondary infecundability, and immunization did not alter either conception rates or time to conceive. Postponement of immunization until after conception did not affect live birth rates for women selected for study because they did not have a history of prior infecundability or early repeated miscarriages.
Rural Area Deprivation and Hospitalizations Among Children for Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions

This study examined the intersection of rurality and community area deprivation using a nine-state sample of inpatient hospitalizations among children (<18 years of age) from 2011. One state from each of the nine US census regions with substantial rural representation and varying degrees of community vulnerability was selected. An area deprivation index was constructed and used in conjunction with rurality to examine differences in the rate of ACSC hospitalizations among children in the sample states. A mixed model with both fixed and random effects was used to test influence of rurality and area deprivation on the odds of a pediatric hospitalization due to an ACSC within the sample. Of primary interest was the interaction of rurality and area deprivation. The study found rural counties are disproportionality represented among the most deprived. Within the least deprived counties, the likelihood of an ACSC hospitalization was significantly lower in rural than among their urban counterparts. However, this rural advantage declines as the level of deprivation increases, suggesting the effect of rurality becomes more important as social and economic advantage deteriorates. We also found ACSC hospitalization to be much higher among racial/ethnic minority children and those with Medicaid or self-pay as an anticipated source of payment. These findings further contribute to the existing body of evidence documenting racial/ethnic disparities in important health related outcomes.
Confocal microscopy changes in epithelial and stromal thickness up to 7 years after LASIK and photorefractive keratectomy for myopia.

Purpose To determine the long-term changes in epithelial, stromal, and corneal thickness after LASIK and photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). Methods In two prospective observational case series, 11 patients (16 eyes) received LASIK and 12 patients (18 eyes) received PRK to correct myopia or myopic astigmatism. None of the corneas had retreatment procedures. Corneas were examined using confocal microscopy before and at 1 month, and at 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7 years after surgery. Central thicknesses were measured from reflected light intensity profiles recorded by confocal microscopy. Postoperative epithelial thickness was compared to preoperative, and postoperative stromal and corneal thicknesses were compared to thickness at 1 month after surgery. Results In LASIK, epithelial thickness at 1 month (51 +/- 4 microm, n = 11) was greater than before surgery (41 +/- 4 microm, n = 16; P .001). Conclusions The early increase in central epithelial thickness after myopic LASIK persists for at least 7 years and is probably the result of epithelial hyperplasia. Central corneal thickness increases during the first year after PRK and remains stable thereafter up to 7 years.
Chemically induced defenses in phytoplankton

Many organisms, including some phytoplankton and zooplankton, are phenotypically plastic, and respond to predators by changing their shapes – a phenomenon known as “inducible defense.” For example, some rotifers grow large spines in the presence of their predators, and some clones of the common crustacean Daphnia develop protective “neckteeth” protrusions when their predator, the insect larva Chaoborus (the phantom midge), is abundant. Many predators and grazers are limited by the size of food they can consume, and individuals with these spines and bumps have reduced predation risk. One of the most interesting aspects of these shape changes is that they are a morphometric response to the presence of compounds released either by the predator itself or by the predator actively feeding. For these inducible defenses, the prey does not exhibit the spines when the predator is absent, but develops the defensive morphology in response to a water-borne cue from the predator. Repeated studies have demonstrated that many changes in shape of zooplankton and phytoplankton do not require the presence of the predator, but can be induced just by adding water from an aquarium or lake where the predator is present. So, the changes we observe in lakes, where zooplankton and phytoplankton often become spinier when a predator becomes abundant, are not necessarily due to the predators eating all the nonspiny individuals and leaving only the spiny members of the population, but also can be caused by inducible shape changes.
Comparative Study of Chinese and Foreign OTC Market

This paper aims to review china's OTC market development,on the present situation of china's market,understand the market development and the status quo American,Taiwan and other regions,will Chinese instead of two in the aspect of market structure,regulation,transactions are studied,in order to see the development of china's OTC market principal contradiction and future prospects,hope to be able to the historical experience and lessons of developed countries and areas that remain in the construction of capital market,for our country to seek own market system bring some help and suggestions.
Analysis and evaluation of cholera surveillance in Xicheng District of Beijing during 1998～2007

Objective To analyze and evaluate the results of cholera surveillance in Xicheng District during 1998～2007 to provide evidence to formulate effective strategies and measures for its prevention and control.Methods Water from external environment and delicatessen were sampled for detecting Vibrio cholera during April to October,as well as sea food products sold at farmer markets and supermarkets during January to December,every year in Xicheng District.Carriage of V.cholera in migrant population in the District were monitored during June to September each year in 1998～2007.Results Totally,52 503 specimens were collected in the 10 years,and V.cholera was detected in 36 of them(35 from sea food products and one from high-risk population),with an overall positive rate of 0.07 percent,0.48 percent in sea food products [highest in bullfrog specimens(8.75 percent)and 4.85 percent in turtle specimens].Eighteen strains of V.cholera were serotyped,and 18 of them were identified as Ogawa type,17 as Inaba type and one as O_ 139 group.Conclusion It is necessary to enhance monitoring for sea food products to detect pathogenic bacteria in time in order to take corresponding control measures.
Baboon corpus luteum: epidermal growth factor receptor messenger ribonucleic acid expression during early, midluteal, and late luteal phases.

Objective To determine the presence and compare the relative abundance of messenger RNA for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in baboon corpora lutea of different luteal ages. Design Prospective controlled nonhuman primate study. Setting Animal facility in an academic research institution. Participants Six adult female baboons with well-defined regular menstrual cycles. Stage of the menstrual cycle was determined by observation and scoring of perineal turgescence. The day of maximal turgescence was referred to as the day of LH surge. Intervention Ten corpora lutea were obtained by luteectomy during early (LH+1 to 5 days, n=3), midluteal (LH+6 to 10 days, n=3), and late (LH+11 to 15 days, n=4) luteal phases. Main Outcome Measure Relative levels of messenger RNA for EGFR as determined by ribonuclease protection assay using RNA probe generated from complementary DNA for human EGFR Results Messenger RNA for EGFR is present in baboon corpora lutea with relative levels of 0.51±0.18 (mean±SEM) in the early, 0.43±0.17 in the midluteal, and 0.50±0.17 arbitrary units in the late luteal phase. Conclusion Baboon corpus luteum is a site of EGFR production; the levels of its messenger RNA did not change appreciably throughout the luteal phase.
Physiologic Specialization of Puccinia triticina on Wheat in the United States in 2009.

Abstract Collections of Puccinia triticina were obtained from rust-infected leaves provided by cooperators throughout the United States and from surveys of wheat (Triticum aestivum) fields and wheat breeding plots by United States Department of Agriculture–Agricultural Research Service personnel in the Great Plains, Ohio River Valley, southeast, California, and Washington State in order to determine the virulence of the wheat leaf rust population in 2009. Single uredinial isolates (591 in total) were derived from the collections and tested for virulence phenotype on lines of Thatcher wheat that are near-isogenic for leaf rust resistance genes Lr1, Lr2a, Lr2c, Lr3a, Lr9, Lr16, Lr24, Lr26, Lr3ka, Lr11, Lr17a, Lr30, LrB, Lr10, Lr14a, Lr18, Lr21, and Lr28 and a winter wheat line with Lr39/41. Forty-one virulence phenotypes were described. Virulence phenotypes MLDSD, TCRKG, and TDBGG were the three most common phenotypes. Phenotype MLDSD is virulent to Lr17 and Lr39/Lr41 and was widely distributed throughout t...
How resilient modulus of a pavement depends on moisture level: Towards a theoretical justification of a practically important empirical formula

Resilient modulus is a mechanical characteristic describing the stiffness of a pavement. Its value depends on the moisture level. In pavement construction, it is important to be able, knowing the resilient modulus corresponding to one moisture level, to predict resilient modulus corresponding to other moisture levels. There exists an empirical formula for this prediction. In this paper, we provide a possible theoretical explanation for this empirical formula.
Deep sequencing for discovery and evolutionary analysis of plant viruses

The advent of next generation sequencing (NGS), or deep sequencing, has allowed great advances to be made in discovery, diagnostics, and evolutionary studies in plant viruses. Various methods have been used for enrichment for virus-specific nucleic acids, each of which have some drawbacks. Many novel viruses have been discovered in plants by NGS technologies, and there is a good deal of promise for more comprehensive studies in virus evolution. However, each aspect of using NGS has its caveats that need to be considered, and there is still a need for better tools of analysis, as well as method for validation of sequence variation.
Serration behavior and negative strain rate sensitivity of Al0.1CoCrFeNi high entropy alloy

Abstract Temperature dependent deformation mechanism of Al 0.1 CoCrFeNi high entropy alloy (HEA) was studied using monotonic and strain rate jump tests at various test temperatures in a coarse-grained single phase FCC HEA. The tensile properties of Al 0.1 CoCrFeNi HEA exhibited a modest temperature dependence in the tested range of 300–673 K. At an initial strain rate of 10 −5 s −1 , the serration type was a function of the test temperature. Furthermore, the strain rate sensitivity of the flow stress changed from positive to zero to negative once the unstable plastic deformation region due to dynamic strain aging was attained.
A tailored approach to BRAF and MLH1 methylation testing in a universal screening program for Lynch syndrome

To determine the correlation between BRAF genotype and MLH1 promoter methylation in a screening program for Lynch syndrome (LS), a universal screening program for LS was established in two medical centers. Tumors with abnormal MLH1 staining were evaluated for both BRAF V600E genotype and MLH1 promoter methylation. Tumors positive for both were considered sporadic, and genetic testing was recommended for all others. A total 1011 colorectal cancer cases were screened for Lynch syndrome, and 148 (14.6%) exhibited absent MLH1 immunostaining. Both BRAF and MLH1 methylation testing were completed in 126 cases. Concordant results (both positive or both negative) were obtained in 86 (68.3%) and 16 (12.7%) cases, respectively, with 81% concordance overall. The positive and negative predictive values for a BRAF mutation in predicting MLH1 promoter methylation were 98.9% and 41%, respectively, and the negative predictive value fell to 15% in patients ≥70 years old. Using BRAF genotyping as a sole test to evaluate cases with absent MLH1 staining would have increased referral rates for genetic testing by 2.3-fold compared with MLH1 methylation testing alone (31% vs 13.5%, respectively, P<0.01). However, a hybrid approach that reserves MLH1 methylation testing for BRAF wild-type cases only would significantly decrease the number of methylation assays performed and reduce the referral rate for genetic testing to 12.7%. A BRAF mutation has an excellent positive predictive value but poor negative predictive value in predicting MLH1 promoter methylation. A hybrid use of these tests may reduce the number of low-risk patients referred to genetic counseling and facilitate wider implementation of Lynch syndrome screening programs.
On the Resilience of D2D-Based Social Networking Service against Random Failures

Device-to-device (D2D)-based social networking service (SNS) is an emerging information system that enables users with social ties to exchange multimedia contents through multihop short-range wireless links. In the D2D-based SNS, a random initial node failure may lead to a cascade of failures, which is a series of events in which users become isolated from others over subsequent time instances. Different from previous studies that analyze whether network-wide connectivity can be preserved after a cascade of failures, \textit{our study sheds light on the D2D-based SNS's resilience from the perspective of end-user connection experience}. In this paper, we first introduce a numerical method for calculating the mean fraction of nodes that are not affected by the cascading failures and the amount of time to reach the end of such sequence of failures. Then, we apply a probabilistic approach to derive the lower and upper bounds of a node resilience metric, which is the likelihood that an end-user will not be isolated during an ongoing social networking session. Our analysis and numerical simulations indicate that, compared to exponentially-distributed session times, user session times with Pareto (heavy-tailed) distribution results in poorer node resilience, which quickly deteriorates when the mean session time is high.
Non-Tariff Trade Regulations in Indonesia: Nominal and Effective Rates of Protection

Non-tariff regulations on imports and exports have spread in Indonesia since 2011. I report findings of a study of many of these regulations, in which a variety of methods were used to estimate the...
From Probabilistic Diophantine Approximation to Quadratic Fields

The theory of Irregularities of Distribution (the counterpart of Uniform Distribution) was initiated by the classical papers of H. Weyl (1916), Van der Corput (1935), van Aardenne-Ehrenfest (1945), and was developed to a coherent theory by K.F. Roth and W.M. Schmidt (1954-75). The object of this theory is to measure the uniformity and non-uniformity of point sequences and point distributions (or integer sequences and sets of integers) relative to natural geometric classes like aligned and tilted rectangles, squares, boxes, circles, balls, convex sets, etc. (or residue classes, etc.). It has important applications in number theory, combinatorics and computational geometry.
Desired points at minimum cost in the “Optimize Energy Performance” credit of leed certification

AbstractThis paper presents a method that guides designers in obtaining the desired number of earned points in the “Optimize Energy Performance” credit of the “Energy and Atmosphere” category of LEED version 4 (v4) certification at minimum cost. The model creates different scenarios, identifies the LEED points and costs for each scenario. The energy analysis calculations are performed by Sefaira, the quantities of materials are received from Autodesk Revit, and the cost information comes from the RSMeans Database. A macro in Excel automates the process. An office building was used as a case study to illustrate the applicability of the proposed method. The minimum cost necessary to achieve any number of points in the “Optimize Energy Performance” credit were calculated, such as a minimum cost of $842,500 to obtain 16 points, and $476,684 for 5 points. The primary contributions of this research include (1) the development of a tool that allows designers to pick the most economical alternative for the desire...
Characterizing and Modeling Power and Energy for Extreme-Scale In-Situ Visualization

Plans for exascale computing have identified power and energy as looming problems for simulations running at that scale. In particular, writing to disk all the data generated by these simulations is becoming prohibitively expensive due to the energy consumption of the supercomputer while it idles waiting for data to be written to permanent storage. In addition, the power cost of data movement is also steadily increasing. A solution to this problem is to write only a small fraction of the data generated while still maintaining the cognitive fidelity of the visualization. With domain scientists increasingly amenable towards adopting an in-situ framework that can identify and extract valuable data from extremely large simulation results and write them to permanent storage as compact images, a large-scale simulation will commit to disk a reduced dataset of data extracts that will be much smaller than the raw results, resulting in a savings in both power and energy. The goal of this paper is two-fold: (i) to understand the role of in-situ techniques in combating power and energy issues of extreme-scale visualization and (ii) to create a model for performance, power, energy, and storage to facilitate what-if analysis. Our experiments on a specially instrumented, dedicated 150-node cluster show that while it is difficult to achieve power savings in practice using in-situ techniques, applications can achieve significant energy savings due to shorter write times for in-situ visualization. We present a characterization of power and energy for in-situ visualization; an application-aware, architecturespecific methodology for modeling and analysis of such in-situ workflows; and results that uncover indirect power savings in visualization workflows for high-performance computing (HPC).
Evidence that dispersal barriers influence blaberoid cockroach assemblages in a neotropical savanna–forest matrix

The forest refuge hypothesis to explain Amazonian diversity places an importance on dry savanna as a landscape feature isolating populations of humid forest-dwelling animals. Leaf-litter cockroaches are a useful group to study this as they are terrestrial and occupy a high-humidity microclimate. We examine the role of savanna, forests and flood zones in affecting blaberoid cockroach assemblage composition in the north Rupununi of Guyana, an expansive savanna–forest matrix. We test whether stretches of dry savanna and flood zones are barriers to dispersal for leaf-litter cockroaches. Our study area is the ˜10 000 hectares of Karanambu Eco-Lodge. We collected 1061 individuals of 17 species from 28 sites. Using a landscape classification based on satellite imagery, we generated models of relative isolation of the 28 sites using a cost of travel algorithm. We also used non-metric multi-dimensional scaling and Mantel tests to determine whether the similarity of cockroach assemblages could be explained by different landscape categories (savanna, forests and flood zones) or by geographic distance. We identified a single model that best predict observed variation in cockroach abundance and species richness. Differences in assemblage similarity were largely due to differences in the savanna–forest habitat axis. Geographic distance was also found to effect assemblage similarity. Our data suggest that savannas are barriers to dispersal, whereas flood zones are not. Future investigation of savanna driving speciation in some species is warranted, and this is a key feature of the forest refuge hypothesis.
Mixed neuropathologies and associations with domain-specific cognitive decline

Objective: To test whether decline in specific cognitive domains associated with Alzheimer disease neuropathologic change (ADNC) is modified by co-occurrence of other neuropathologies such as Lewy body disease (LBD) or vascular brain injury (VBI). Methods: Data came from 1,603 autopsied participants evaluated at US Alzheimer9s Disease Centers. Standardized z scores in memory, attention, language, and executive function were derived from neuropsychological test scores assessed at each annual visit. Multivariable linear mixed-effects models assessed associations between neuropathologies and longitudinal trajectories of domain scores. Results: Compared to other participants, those with ADNC + LBD generally had worse cognitive trajectories, particularly lower initial executive function and faster attention decline. Participants with ADNC + VBI typically had less impairment and slower decline. Interactions were significant between LBD and ADNC for memory (p = 0.046) and between VBI and ADNC for language (p = 0.03); decline was slower than expected if these neuropathologies acted additively on the rate of decline. In secondary models, these interactions were limited to those with high ADNC (but not intermediate ADNC). In a subset of 260 participants with data on microinfarct location, cortical and subcortical microinfarcts were associated with decline in memory, language, and executive function in those without ADNC, but this effect was reduced among those with ADNC. Conclusions: ADNC + LBD (but not ADNC + VBI) was associated with poorer executive function and attention compared to other pathology groupings. However, the effect of co-occurring pathologies on cognitive trajectories may depend on the severity of ADNC. Future studies using antemortem biomarkers should seek to replicate these neuropathologic observations.
Recrystallization of a Cold-Rolled Copper Single Crystal

Based on pole figure data and microstructural observations, the recrystallization orientation found in a copper strip previously cold-rolled 99.5 pet from a single crystal with an initial (110) [112] orientation may be described as: a 30° rotation, clockwise and counterclockwise, about octahedral poles of the cold-rolled texture such that ail four poles function at a low annealing temperature (400°C) and only three of them function at high temperatures (500° to 1050°C). The relative inrensity of deformation stresses on various slip planes can be correlated with the choice of poles affecting the rotations found in the recrystallized orientations.
Effect of Piecemeal vs En Bloc Approaches to the Lateral Temporal Bone on Survival Outcomes

Objectives Lateral temporal bone resection (LTBR) has traditionally been performed en bloc in accordance with oncologic principles. Occasionally, this is not possible due to a low tegmen or lateralized vasculature. We sought to determine if outcomes of piecemeal and en bloc LTBR are comparable. Study Design Retrospective review. Setting Two academic medical centers. Subjects and Methods Multi-institutional retrospective cohort study. Current Procedural Terminology codes were used to identify patients with T1 to T3 squamous cell carcinoma of the external auditory canal (EAC) who underwent LTBR from 2005 to 2015. Kaplan-Meier curves were constructed to compare total survival between the 2 treatment approaches. Pairwise comparisons were performed using χ2 and Fisher exact tests (significance at P = .05), as appropriate. Results Twenty-five patients were identified. Ten patients underwent en bloc LTBR; 15 underwent piecemeal LTBR. Median follow-up time was 11 months (range, 1-60 months). There was not a significant difference in overall survival between en bloc (38.9 months; 95% confidence interval [CI], 22.7-55.2) compared to piecemeal (37.5 months; 95% CI, 21.1-53.9) procedures ( P = .519). Estimates of disease-free survival also did not reveal statistically significant differences: estimated mean disease-free survival was 48.1 months (95% CI, 33.7-62.6) in en bloc patients and 32.5 months (95% CI, 17.1-47.8) in piecemeal patients ( P = .246). Conclusion These data suggest that piecemeal resection can be considered for cases of squamous cell carcinoma involving the external auditory canal where anatomic constraints preclude a safe en bloc resection. Larger studies or studies with a longer follow-up time may provide improved insight into survival comparisons.
Improved Biomass Calibration and Validation With Terrestrial LiDAR: Implications for Future LiDAR and SAR Missions

Future NASA and ESA satellite missions plan to better quantify global carbon stocks through detailed observations of forest structure, but ultimately rely on uncertain ground measurement approaches for calibration and validation. A substantial amount of uncertainty in estimating plot-level biomass can be attributed to inadequate and unrepresentative allometric relationships used to convert plot-level tree measurements to estimates of aboveground biomass. These allometric equations are known to have high errors and biases, particularly in carbon-rich forests, because they were calibrated with small and often biased samples of destructively harvested trees. To overcome this issue, we present and test a framework for nondestructively estimating tree and plot-level biomass with terrestrial laser scanning (TLS). We modeled 243 trees from 12 species with TLS and created ten low-RMSE allometric equations. The full 3-D reconstructions, TLS allometry, and Jenkins et al. (2003) allometry were used to calibrate SAR- and LiDAR-based empirical biomass models to investigate the potential for improved accuracy and reduced uncertainty. TLS reduced plot-level RMSE from 18.5% to 9.8% and revealed a systematic negative bias in the national equations. At the calibration stage, allometric uncertainty accounted for 2.8–28.4% of the total RMSE, increasing in relative contribution as calibration improved with sensor fusion. Our findings suggest that TLS plot acquisitions and nondestructive allometry can play a vital role for reducing uncertainty in calibration and validation data for biomass mapping in the upcoming NASA and ESA missions.
A deeper understanding of depression and suicidality among medical students

Prevalence rates for depression among medical students are three times higher than the prevalence rates of depression in the general population. In order to understand these high prevalence rates, the authors discuss the underlying psychodynamics of a subset of medical students who seek therapy for depression and suicidality during their medical school years. Does medical school screen for people who are more prone to depression or does medical school cause high depression rates? The authors describe students with the combination of harsh/critical aspects from their early family life coupled with emotional misattunement of caregivers. The authors then discuss how the medical school environment may lead to reeexperiencing of these dynamics, triggering depression and suicidal ideation. The article provides recommendations for identifying these students and referring them to mental health services.
Adherence to 20 Emergency General Surgery Best Practices: Results of a National Survey.

Objective:To examine national adherence to emergency general surgery (EGS) best practices.Background:There is a national crisis in access to high-quality care for general surgery emergencies. Acute care surgery (ACS), a specialty leveraging strengths of trauma systems, may ameliorate this crisis. A
Toll-like receptor activation as a biomarker in traumatically injured patients.

Abstract Background Surgical insult and trauma have been shown to cause dysregulation of the immune and inflammatory responses. Interaction of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) with toll-like receptors (TLRs) initiates innate immune response and systemic inflammatory responses. Given that surgical patients produce high levels of circulating damage-associated molecular patterns, we hypothesized that plasma-activated TLR activity would be correlated to injury status and could be used to predict pathological conditions involving tissue injury. Methods An observational study was performed using samples from a single-institution prospective tissue and data repository from a Level-1 trauma center. In vitro TLR 2, 3, 4, and 9 activation was determined in a TLR reporter assay after isolation of plasma from peripheral blood. We determined correlations between plasma-activated TLR activity and clinical course measures of severity. Results Eighteen patients were enrolled (median Injury Severity Score 15 [interquartile range 10, 23.5]). Trauma resulted in significant elevation in circulation high mobility group box 1 as well as increase of plasma-activated TLR activation (2.8-5.4-fold) compared to healthy controls. There was no correlation between circulating high mobility group box 1 and trauma morbidity; however, the plasma-activated TLR activity was correlated with acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II scores (R square = 0.24-0.38, P Conclusions Further studies examining TLR modulation and signaling in surgical patients may assist in predictive risk modeling and reduction in morbidity and mortality.
Integrating genetic algorithms and interactive simulations for airbase logistics planning

There is a need for a modeling approach that can integrates simulation with human interaction and optimization to exploit the analyst’s ability in addressing difficult-to-quantify issues while utilizing computer models and algorithms to perform complex computations in systems analysis. In this paper, we present an approach that integrates human interaction with simulations and genetic algorithms for the repair-time analysis problem in airbase logistics. We present the integrative approach along with the computer system implementation, and evaluation in the context of a realistic repair time analysis problem.
Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration and Biopsy

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) and biopsy (FNB) has been widely accepted as a fundamental procedure for the diagnosis and staging of lesions of the gastrointestinal tract or non-gastrointestinal lesions within reach of the aspiration needle. EUS-FNA has been used in lesions of the esophagus, mediastinal lesions, lymph node (LN) sampling, lung cancer diagnosis and other less common conditions (such as tuberculosis and sarcoidosis), gastrointestinal subepithelial lesions, pancreatic solid cystic lesions and neuroendocrine tumors, liver and bile duct lesions (such as cholangiocarcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma), rectal and pelvic lesion, and lesions of extra-gastrointestinal organs (such as the adrenals and the prostate). Continued improvements in the technology and the technical aspects of EUS-guided FNA and FNB aim to improve the diagnostic accuracy and sensitivity and at the same time reduce the adverse events associated with the procedure. This chapter focuses on common technical aspects of EUS-FNA and FNB, such as the choice of needle and use of the stylet and suction, and performs a short review of the current applications of EUS-guided FNA in gastrointestinal and extra-intestinal lesions, along with a brief review of the adverse events that have been associated with the procedure.
Notch2-dependent DC2s mediate splenic germinal center responses.

CD4+ T follicular helper (TFH) cells support germinal center (GC) reactions promoting humoral immunity. Dendritic cell (DC) diversification into genetically distinct subsets allows for specialization in promoting responses against several types of pathogens. Whether any classical DC (cDC) subset is required for humoral immunity is unknown, however. We tested several genetic models that selectively ablate distinct DC subsets in mice for their impact on splenic GC reactions. We identified a requirement for Notch2-dependent cDC2s, but not Batf3-dependent cDC1s or Klf4-dependent cDC2s, in promoting TFH and GC B cell formation in response to sheep red blood cells and inactivated Listeria monocytogenes. This effect was mediated independent of Il2ra and several Notch2-dependent genes expressed in cDC2s, including Stat4 and Havcr2. Notch2 signaling during cDC2 development also substantially reduced the efficiency of cDC2s for presentation of MHC class II-restricted antigens, limiting the strength of CD4 T cell activation. Together, these results demonstrate a nonredundant role for the Notch2-dependent cDC2 subset in supporting humoral immune responses.
The massively parallel mixing genetic algorithm for the traveling salesman problem

A new evolutionary algorithm called the Mixing Genetic Algorithm is introduced for the Traveling Salesman Problem. The Mixing Genetic Algorithm does not use selection or mutation, and the children replace the parents every generation. The recombination operator is partition crossover. Partition crossover is respectful and transmits alleles (edges); this makes it possible to generate two offspring, the best possible offspring and the worst possible offspring, such that no edges are lost during recombination. The Mixing Genetic Algorithm organizes the population so that better solutions are usually recombined with other good solutions. Because no edges are lost or created during recombination, there is no need to access the evaluation function after the first generation. This dramatically reduces communication costs; this makes it possible to implement the Mixing Genetic Algorithm on massively parallel SIMD machines with limited memory. The Mixing Genetic Algorithm never loses diversity and cannot prematurely converge. We compare the Mixing Genetic Algorithm to EAX, one of the best inexact solvers for the Traveling Salesman Problems. For many problems the Mixing Genetic Algorithm finds optimal solutions using fewer recombinations than EAX.
CRISPR/Cas9: Edición Genética vs. Bioética: Un análisis bioético de la técnica de edición d genes llamada CRISPR/Cas9

Since the discovery of the double helix by Watson and Crick, biotechnological advances related to the world of genetics, have yielded rapid jumps for humanity. Major milestones such as DNA sequencing, the Human Genome Project, the cloning of the Dolly sheep, and even the development of genetically modified phosphorescent cats to shine in the dark, among others, have been possible with these advances. Genetic engineering is a possibility thanks to this development of science, and so since 2012, the emergence of a new technique that uses the system known as CRISPR/Cas9 has opened the borders globally, to the era of gene editing, in a faster, easier and more accessible way. When talking about new technologies of genetic modification, especially if it is about the modification of the germ line, the bioethical impact must be
Ab initio study and thermodynamic modeling of the Pd-Si-C system

Abstract Understanding phase stability in the Pd-Si-C ternary system is important for predicting the high-temperature behavior of tristructural isotropic (TRISO) nuclear fuels for high-temperature gas-cooled reactors. Here, we employ ab initio evolutionary search to predict the structure and energetics of ordered compounds in Pd-Si-C and its binary sub-systems, Pd-Si, Si-C and Pd-C. In addition to confirming the experimentally-known crystal structures for Pd2Si, PdSi, and SiC, our evolutionary search uncovers a previously unreported orthorhombic Pd5Si structure with Cmcm symmetry that is thermodynamically stable at low temperatures. The vibrational formation entropies of Pd3Si, Pd2Si, and PdSi are calculated using the direct force-constant method within the harmonic approximation. Furthermore, ab initio molecular dynamics simulations have been performed to obtain the atomic structures and energetics of liquid alloys. With the incorporation of the present theoretical results, an ab initio informed thermodynamic description of the Pd-Si-C ternary system has been obtained in this study.
Acute postcesarean pain is associated with in-hospital exclusive breastfeeding, length of stay and post-partum depression.

Abstract Study objective The primary aim of the proposed study was to determine the association between postoperative pain and breastfeeding after cesarean delivery during hospital stay. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Postoperative recovery area and operating room. Patients Data was obtained on singleton pregnancies undergoing scheduled cesarean deliveries under spinal anesthesia between 2013 and 2016. Interventions Determine the association between postoperative pain and breastfeeding after cesarean delivery. Measurements Postoperative pain score, breastfeeding, LATCH score post-partum depression and length of stay values collected. Main results The dataset consisted of electronic medical records from 5350 patients. We found that the pain score is negatively associated with the LATCH score; higher pain was associated with lower LATCH scores, −0.01 [−0.01,-0.00], p Conclusions Our results demonstrate significant association between the increase in post-cesarean pain scores and deterioration of breastfeeding initiation while also exposing slight reductions in the quality of breastfeeding. Additionally, we found that increases in post-cesarean pain scores also positively associate with postpartum depression and duration of stay, with each increase in pain score resulted in an almost one-day increase in the length of stay.
Smart Hydrogel Micromechanical Resonators with Ultrasound Readout for Biomedical Sensing.

One of the main challenges for implantable biomedical sensing schemes is obtaining a reliable signal while maintaining biocompatibility. In this work, we demonstrate that a combination of medical u...
First reported case of a longevity overestimation error in the new Medtronic tablet-based device programmer

With the advancement and miniaturization of mobile technologies, major device companies are replacing the traditional cardiac rhythm device programmers with smaller and more efficient tablet-based systems. As clinicians rely on data obtained from multitude of these systems, it is imperative that they provide consistent, reliable, and reproducible results. In this case report, we illustrate, for the first time, a major discrepancy between remote monitoring data, a conventional device programmer, and the new tablet-based Medtronic CareLink SmartSync Device Manager which erroneously overestimated the battery longevity in a pacemaker-dependent patient whose device had reached Recommended Replacement Time (RRT) status.
Cognitive impairment in elderly patients with rheumatic disease and the effect of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs

Recent development of biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) has led to better control of disease activity among patients with chronic rheumatological diseases. Many patients with rheumatic disease are living longer, adding to the growing elderly population. Rheumatic diseases, most notably rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), are known to increase the risk of cognitive impairment. Systemic inflammation associated with chronic rheumatological diseases has been postulated to be key driver of cognitive decline. Recent development of classic and biologic DMARDs have led to better control of disease activity among patients with rheumatic conditions. It is proposed that strict control of systemic inflammation will significantly lower the risk of cognitive impairment among patients with rheumatic disease. The impact of classic DMARDs on cognitive function appears to be variable. On the other hand, biologic DMARDs, specifically antitumor necrosis factor (TNF) drugs (i.e., etanercept), have been shown to significantly lower the risk of dementia. Experimental studies on IL-1, IL-6, and B and T cell blockade are promising. However, clinical data is limited. Preclinical studies on targeted therapies, specifically JAK/STAT inhibitors, also show promising results. Additional studies are necessary to better understand the impact of these newer biologic agents on cognitive function in elderly patients with rheumatic disease. Key points • Patients with chronic rheumatic conditions are beginning to live longer, adding to the elderly population. • Patients with chronic rheumatologic disease are at increased risk of cognitive impairment compared to the general population. • Recent development of biologic (i.e., TNF, IL-1, IL-6) and targeted drugs (i.e., Janus kinase inhibitors) have led to better control of disease activity. • Current evidence suggests that TNF inhibitors may have beneficial effects on cognitive function. However, evidence on newer biologic and targeted therapies is limited.
Living Therapeutics: The Next Frontier of Precision Medicine

Modern medicine has long studied the mechanism and impact of pathogenic microbes on human hosts, but has only recently shifted attention toward the complex and vital roles that commensal and probiotic microbes play in both health and dysbiosis. Fueled by an enhanced appreciation of the human-microbe holobiont, the past decade has yielded countless insights and established many new avenues of investigation in this area. In this review, we discuss advances, limitations, and emerging frontiers for microbes as agents of health maintenance, disease prevention, and cure. We highlight the flexibility of microbial therapeutics across disease states, with special consideration for the rational engineering of microbes toward precision medicine outcomes. As the field advances, we anticipate that tools of synthetic biology will be increasingly employed to engineer functional living therapeutics with the potential to address longstanding limitations of traditional drugs.
Radiative transitions of charmoniumlike exotics in the dynamical diquark model

Using the dynamical diquark model, we calculate the electric-dipole radiative decay widths to $X(3872)$ of the lightest negative-parity exotic candidates, including the four $I=0$, ${J}^{PC}={1}^{\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{-}}$ (``$Y$'') states. The $O(100--1000\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{keV})$ values obtained test the hypothesis of a common substructure shared by all of these states. We also calculate the magnetic-dipole radiative decay width for ${Z}_{c}(4020{)}^{0}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\gamma}X(3872)$, and find it to be rather smaller ($l10\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{keV}$) than its predicted value in molecular models.
Using Machine Learning to Demystify Startups Funding, Post-Money Valuation, and Success

This chapter develops a novel approach to predict post-money valuation of startups across various regions and sectors, as well as their probabilities of success. Using startup funding data and descriptions from Crunchbase over a ten-year period, we develop two models linking information such as description, region, and venture capital funding to successful outcomes such as the achievement of an acquisition or IPO. The first model utilizes latent Dirichlet allocation, a generative statistical model in natural language processing, to organize the startups in the dataset into clusters representing various sectors in the typical economy. An optimized distributed gradient boosting regressor (XGBoost) is subsequently deployed to make use of the resultant feature set to predict post-money valuation, with Bayesian optimization used to find the optimal hyperparameters. Our model consistently achieves an accuracy of over 95% on hold-out test sets, even with some continuous features removed. The second model is a feed-forward neural network constructed using TensorFlow, with the final layer providing probabilities of success.We find that post-money valuations across regions are typically log-normally distributed, and startups in regions such as San Francisco Bay Area typically witness higher valuations across most sectors. We also find that startups operating in specific geographical regions and sectors of economy (e.g., regions and sectors with higher number of investors) typically have higher predicted probabilities of success. Our approach offers an empirical perspective to startups, policymakers, and venture funds to benchmark and predict valuation and success, clearing some opacity in the modern startup economy.