cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An ethical dilemma in a hospice setting

The codes of ethics of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and the National Association of Social Workers support ethical standards of client self-determination and confidentiality. Lack of societal consensus on the parameters of a terminally ill person's right to die continues to confound at times the health care field, including hospice programs. This article explores an actual case where a hospice social worker faced an ethical dilemma related to the sanctity of life versus patient autonomy. While a more seasoned social worker might have chosen a different alternative to the dilemma, this case illustrates the importance of creating an interdisciplinary rather than multidisciplinary hospice team and the need for ongoing dialogue on how to support patient choice.
Effects of Carbonated and Noncarbonated Beverages at Specific Intervals During Treadmill Running in the Heat

Eight male runners performed four 2-hr treadmill runs at 65% VO2max in the heat (35 degrees C, 15-20% RH). A different beverage was offered each trial and subjects drank ad libitum for 2 min every 20 min. The beverages were, 6% carbohydrate (CHO) solution (NC 6), 6% carbonated-CHO solution (C 6), 10% CHO solution (NC 10), and 10% carbonated-CHO solution (C 10). NC 6 and C 6 contained 4% sucrose and 2% glucose. NC 10 and C 10 contained high fructose corn syrup. Subjects drank more NC 6 than C 6. Fluid consumption was not different among other trials. During all trials, volume consumed and % delta PV declined while heart rate and rectal temperature increased (p < 0.05). No significant differences occurred between beverages for these variables. Percent body weight lost was greater (p < 0.05) for the C 10 trial compared to the NC 6 trial. Neither sweat rate, percent fluid replaced, plasma [Na+], [K+], osmolality, percent of drink volume emptied from the stomach, or glucose concentration differed among trials. Plasma [K+] and osmolality increased (p < 0.05) over time. Ratings of fullness and thirst were not different among beverages, although both perceptions increased (p < 0.05) with time. It is concluded that (a) carbonation decreased the consumption of the 6% CHO beverage; (b) fluid homeostasis and thermo-regulation were unaffected by the solutions ingested; and (c) fluid consumption decreased with time, while ratings of fullness and thirst increased.
Macroeconomic Volatility and Economic Development

In recent years the economic costs imposed by a volatile macroeconomic environment have come into increasingly clear focus. Recent research suggests that a volatile macroeconomic environment leads to significantly lower rates of investment and economic growth, undermines educational attainment, harms the distribution of income, and increases poverty. While the precise magnitude of these costs and the mechanisms through which they occur should, and undoubtedly will, remain the focus of further research for some time, the evidence is, in our view, compelling enough to justify research efforts directed at understanding why developing economies are so volatile, and what can be done to reduce the costs of this volatility. In this chapter we synthesize several lines of research that have been under way in the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) on these questions. While none of these research projects has as its explicit focus the role of institutional factors in economic development, taken together we think they provide a preliminary but nevertheless significant message on linkages between governmental institutions, macroeconomic stability, and economic development.
Phonon modes in semiconductor quantum dots

Phonon confinement effects are studied in self-assembled close-packed CdS and CdSe colloidal quantum dots using Raman scattering techniques. The longitudinal optical phonon frequency exhibits a red shift compared to the bulk mode in CdS quantum dot due to phonon confinement. High frequency phonon modes that are above the bulk LO phonon frequency are also observed in CdSe quantum dots. The possible origin of these high-frequency modes is attributed to the phonon density of states above the bulk LO frequency due to the surface states of the dots.
Nerve palsy after hamstring lengthening in patients with cerebral palsy.

Background The purpose of this study was to assess the incidence of, risk factors for, and treatment of nerve palsy after hamstring lengthening in children with cerebral palsy. Methods A medical record review of patients with cerebral palsy who had hamstring lengthening between 1994 and 2005 was performed. Data included the preoperative popliteal angle, the presence of a knee flexion contracture, postoperative pain management, and type of immobilization. The presence of postoperative nerve palsy was established based on the recording of numbness, loss of motor function in the foot, or hypersensitivity of the foot in the inpatient record or the postoperative clinic notes. The need for medical management and time to resolution of symptoms were noted. Results A total of 292 children underwent 329 hamstring lengthening surgeries. The mean age at surgery was 9.5 years (range, 2.5-18 years). Twenty-eight patients (9.6%) experienced postoperative nerve palsy. Time to recognition of the palsy ranged from 4 hours to 72 days. Patients diagnosed within 24 hours had loss of motor function and/or lack of sensation of the toes. Patients diagnosed from 8 to 72 days postoperatively had dysesthesias of the feet. Treatment of early palsies consisted of the removal of immobilization, bivalving of casts, or wedging casts into flexion. Fourteen of 28 patients were treated with Neurontin. Twenty-two of 25 patients with adequate follow-up recovered nerve function. Older children, noncommunicative patients, nonambulatory patients, and those who had epidural pain management were at statistically significant higher risk for postoperative palsy. The trend for palsies in spastic quadriplegic patients and after repeat lengthening procedures did not reach significance. There was no significant relationship between popliteal angle or the presence of a knee flexion contracture and development of nerve palsy. Conclusions Nerve palsy occurred in 9.6% of patients undergoing hamstring lengthening. Although the greatest risk was in noncommunicative adolescents who were nonambulatory, a small number of younger ambulatory patients developed palsies as well, so that all patients must be considered at risk. Vigilance in patients with epidural pain control to avoid excessive hip flexion and/or knee extension is warranted. Treatment is immediate knee flexion. Resolution of symptoms occurred in 82.1% of patients.
Interaction of C60 with Water: First-Principles Modeling and Environmental Implications

The nature of fullerene-water interactions has been the subject of much research and debate. Specifically, the presence of a stabilizing, negative surface potential on colloidal aggregates of C60 in water is unexpected, given the neutral nature of pure carbon, and is not well understood. Previous simulation efforts have focused on the C60-water interaction using molecular dynamics simulations that lacked the ability to account for charge transfer and distribution interactions. In this study, first-principles density functional theory was used to analyze the fundamental electronic interactions to elucidate the polarization and charge transfer between water and C60. Simulations show that charge is inductively transferred to the C60 from water molecules, with subsequent polarization of the C60 molecule. In a case with two neighboring C60 molecules, the charge polarization induces a charge onto the second C60. Simulation suggests that this charge transfer and polarization may contribute at least partly to the...
Perceived motor competence of children with visual impairments: A preliminary investigation

Literature focusing on individuals with visual impairments has not evaluated the important role perceived motor competence (PMC) plays in promoting moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Th...
A Descriptive Study of Care Processes Using Total Quality Management as a Framework in a USAF Regional Hospital Emergency Service and Related Services

The purpose of this descriptive study was to investigate access to care processes in a military regional hospital Emergency Service (ES) and related services using a Total Quality Management framework. Tabulations of demographic survey data revealed that the ES is used mainly as a primary care clinic, with a greater proportion of pediatric care provided during peak hours. An analysis of patterns of care processes in the organizational system revealed that there was little in common between Total Quality Management and Continuous Quality Improvement principles and the care processes. The results of the analysis lend support to the proposed USAF decentralized, coordinated health care system with more authority and control given to local commands and emphasis upon increased responsibility and accountability within professional and beneficiary communities.
Potential Pitfalls of the 2-Hour Calcium-to-Creatinine Ratio and Urinary Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate Excretion in the Differential Diagnosis of Idiopathic Hypercalciuria

AbstractWe studied 44 patients with calcium urolithiasis on high (900mg. daily) and low (400mg. daily) calcium diets. With 24-hour urinary data, we categorized the patients as normocalciuric or hyper-calciuric and subdivided the hypercalciuric patients into absorptive and renal types. Abbreviated tests, including the 2-hour fasting urinary calcium-to-creatinine ratio and 24-hour urinary (nephro-genous) cyclic adenosine monophosphate, did not predict accurately whether hypercalciuria was of the idiopathic, absorptive or renal type. However, 24-hour urinary calcium excretions on the low calcium diet had a sensitivity and specificity of more than 90 per cent for reproducing the categorized diagnoses.
Differential relations between youth internalizing/externalizing problems and cortisol responses to performance vs. interpersonal stress.

AbstractEfforts to define hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis profiles conferring risk for psychopathology have yielded inconclusive results, perhaps in part due to limited assessment of the stress response. In particular, research has typically focused on HPA responses to performance tasks, while neglecting the interpersonal stressors that become salient during adolescence. In this study we investigated links between psychosocial adjustment – youth internalizing and externalizing problems, as well as competence – and HPA responses to both performance and interpersonal stressors in a normative sample of children and adolescents. Participants (n = 59) completed a set of performance (public speaking, mental arithmetic, mirror tracing) and/or interpersonal (peer rejection) tasks and gave nine saliva samples, which were assayed for cortisol. Hierarchical linear models of cortisol response trajectories in relation to child behavior checklist (CBCL) scores revealed stressor- and sex-specific associations....
Use of different exposure metrics for understanding multi-modal travel injury risk

Abstract The objective of this work is to identify characteristics of different metrics of exposure for quantifying multi-modal travel injury risk. First, a discussion on the use of time-based and trip-based metrics for road user exposure to injury risk, considering multiple travel modes, is presented. The main difference between a time-based and trip-based metric is argued to be that a time-based metric reflects the actual duration of time spent on the road exposed to the travel risks. This can be proven to be important when considering multiple modes since different modes typically different speeds and average travel distances. Next, the use of total number of trips, total time traveled, and mode share (time-based or trip-based) is considered to compare the injury risk of a given mode at different locations. It is argued that using mode share the safety concept which focuses on absolute numbers can be generalized. Quantitative results are also obtained from combining travel survey data with police collision reports for ten counties in California. The data are aggregated for five modes: (i) cars, (ii) SUVs, (iii) transit riders, (iv) bicyclists, and (v) pedestrians. These aggregated data are used to compare travel risk of different modes with time-based or trip-based exposure metrics. These quantitative results confirm the initial qualitative discussions. As the penetration of mobile probes for transportation data collection increases, the insights of this study can provide guidance on how to best utilize the added value of such data to better quantify travel injury risk, and improve safety.
Osteogenesis imperfecta: treatment by multiple osteotomy and intramedullary rod insertion. Report on thirteen patients.

In thirteen children with osteogenesis imperfecta, 129 operations were done, starting at ages eleven months to ten years. All but two of the patients ultimately were able to walk, nine of them with braces, two without. The operations were instrumental in preventing fractures to a degree, but none of the patients were followed long enough to determine what level of activity was achieved by the procedures.
Hirschman uncertainty using Rényi, instead of shannon, entropy is invariant to the Rényi entropy order

The Hirschman Uncertainty [1] is defined by the average of the Shannon entropies of a discrete-time signal and its Fourier transform. The optimal basis for the Hirschman Uncertainty has been shown to be the picket fence function, as given in a previous paper of ours [2]. In this paper, we develop a new uncertainty measure that incorporates the Renyi entropy instead of the Shannon entropy, and we show that this new uncertainty, which may be viewed as a generalized form of the Hirschman Uncertainty, is in fact invariant to the Renyi entropy order, typically denoted by the term α. This powerful characteristic strongly suggests that Hirschman Uncertainty is a fundamental characteristic of digital signals. Note, too, that the picket fence functions found in [2] minimize the generalized Hirschman Uncertainty for all α, not just for the Shannon entropy of α = 1.
Differential response to intrahippocampal interleukin-4/interleukin-13 in aged and exercise mice.

Abstract Normal aging is associated with low-grade neuroinflammation that results from age-related priming of microglial cells. Further, aging alters the response to several anti-inflammatory factors, including interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13. One intervention that has been shown to modulate microglia activation in the aged brain, both basally and following an immune challenge, is exercise. However, whether engaging in exercise can improve responsiveness to anti-inflammatory cytokines is presently unknown. The current study evaluated whether prior exercise training increases sensitivity to anti-inflammatory cytokines that promote the M2 (alternative) microglia phenotype in adult (5-month-old) and aged (23-month-old) C57BL/6J mice. After 8 weeks of exercise or control housing, mice received bilateral hippocampal injections of an IL-4/IL-13 cocktail or vehicle. Twenty-four hours later hippocampal samples were collected and analyzed for expression of genes associated with the M1 (inflammatory) and M2 microglia phenotypes. Results show that IL-4/IL-13 administration increased expression of the M2-associated genes found in inflammatory zone 1 (Fizz1), chitinase-like 3 (Ym1), Arginase-1 (Arg1), SOCS1, IL-1ra, and CD206. In response to IL-4/IL-13 administration, aged mice showed increased hippocampal expression of the M2-related genes Arg1, SOCS1, Ym1, and CD206 relative to adult mice. Aged mice also showed increased expression of IL-1β relative to adults, which was unaffected by wheel running or IL-4/IL-13. Wheel running was found to have modest effects on expression of Ym1 and Fizz1 in aged and adult mice. Collectively, our findings indicate that aged mice show a differential response to anti-inflammatory cytokines relative to adult mice and that exercise has limited effects on modulating this response.
Impact of Mineral Precipitation on Flow and Mixing in Porous Media Determined by Microcomputed Tomography and MRI.

Precipitation reactions influence transport properties in porous media and can be coupled to advective and dispersive transport. For example, in subsurface environments, mixing of groundwater and injected solutions can induce mineral supersaturation of constituents and drive precipitation reactions. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and microcomputed tomography (μ-CT) were employed as complementary techniques to evaluate advection, dispersion, and formation of precipitate in a 3D porous media flow cell. Two parallel fluids were flowed concentrically through packed glass beads under two relative flow rates with Na2CO3 and CaCl2 in the inner and outer fluids, respectively. CaCO3 became supersaturated and formed a precipitate at the mixing interface between the two solutions. Spatial maps of changing local velocity fields and dispersion in the flow cell were generated from MRI, while high resolution μ-CT imaging visualized the precipitate formed in the porous media. Formation of a precipitate minimized disper...
Obligate planktotrophy in the Götte’s larva of Stylochus ellipticus (Platyhelminthes)

AbstractPolyclad flatworms are a diverse and emerging model system for developmental biologists, yet development remains poorly understood for many species. One limitation of polyclads as a model system has been the lack of reliable methods for culturing planktotrophic polyclad larvae to metamorphosis. There are conflicting statements in the literature about which types of polyclad larvae require food to complete development. We developed simple methods for rearing planktotrophic flatworms to metamorphosis and tested the effects of food type and concentration on their development. The flatworm Stylochus ellipticus develops from small (~65 μm) eggs into an obligately planktotrophic Gotte’s larva. In this species, development to metamorphosis requires high concentrations (50,000 cells/ml) of the unicellular alga Rhodomonas lens as a food source. High concentrations of two other algal species (Dunaliella tertiolecta and Isochrysis galbana) were successfully ingested by larvae but failed to result in developm...
Drawing out the iconic in the aniconic: worship of neem trees and Govardhan stones in Northern India

ABSTRACTNatural entities such as rivers, trees, and mountains have long been worshiped in Hindu India as embodied forms of divinity. This essay examines the devotional tendency to anthropomorphize such aniconic objects as a way of bringing out their personality – in other words, to draw the iconic out of the aniconic. Primary attention is given to neem trees in Banaras – considered to be embodied forms of the goddess Śītalā – and stones from the celebrated Mount Govardhan of Braj – regarded as embodied forms of Kṛṣṇa. Descriptions of the anthropomorphic techniques employed in the worship of these trees and stones are provided along with explanations to demonstrate that they are performed by devotees for the expressed purpose of achieving and nurturing intimate relationships with these natural forms of divinity. Brief consideration is given to contemporary reevaluations of anthropomorphism.
Cytoplasmic movements outside the living cell

Thomas D. Pollard discusses the early work of Thompson and Wolpert on cytoplasmic extract from amoebae, which laid the foundation for studies of actin-driven cell motility.
Assessing and Comparing the Accuracy of Various Bootstrap Methods

Abstract—We evaluate the performance of various bootstrap methods for constructing confidence intervals for mean and median of several common distributions. Using Monte Carlo simulation, we assessed performance by looking at coverage percentages and average confidence interval lengths. Poor performance is characterized by coverage deviating from .95 and large confidence interval lengths. Undercoverage is of greater concern than overcoverage. We also assess the performance of bootstrap methods in estimating the parameters of the Cox Proportional Hazard model and Accelerated Failure Time model.
Reducing Fear Reactions to Mass Media: Effects of Visual Exposure and Verbal Explanation

(1987). Reducing Fear Reactions to Mass Media: Effects of Visual Exposure and Verbal Explanation. Annals of the International Communication Association: Vol. 10, Communication Yearbook 10, pp. 553-573.
Control and Expectancy: Locus of Control as a Predictor of Psychological Entitlement

Utilizing Vroom’s (1964) Expectancy Theory as a foundation, we suggested that locus of control has a significant impact on psychological entitlement. An additional hypothesis suggested that self-monitoring moderates the relationship between external locus of control and entitlement. After analyzing data from 173 participants, results provide strong support for the assertion that internal locus of control is a negative predictor of entitlement perceptions, while external locus of control increases entitlement beliefs. Results addressing the moderation hypothesis also show that there is a significant interaction between external locus of control and self-monitoring, such that higher levels of self-monitoring strengthened the external locus of control to entitlement belief relationship. These findings provide insight into the entitlement formation process and provide guidance for future research aiming to produce a comprehensive model of entitlement formation.
The continuing misuse of null hypothesis significance testing in biological anthropology.

There is over 60 years of discussion in the statistical literature concerning the misuse and limitations of null hypothesis significance tests (NHST). Based on the prevalence of NHST in biological anthropology research, it appears that the discipline generally is unaware of these concerns. The p values used in NHST usually are interpreted incorrectly. A p value indicates the probability of the data given the null hypothesis. It should not be interpreted as the probability that the null hypothesis is true or as evidence for or against any specific alternative to the null hypothesis. P values are a function of both the sample size and the effect size, and therefore do not indicate whether the effect observed in the study is important, large, or small. P values have poor replicability in repeated experiments. The distribution of p values is continuous and varies from 0 to 1.0. The use of a cut-off, generally p ≤ 0.05, to separate significant from nonsignificant results, is an arbitrary dichotomization of continuous variation. In 2016, the American Statistical Association issued a statement of principles regarding the misinterpretation of NHST, the first time it has done so regarding a specific statistical procedure in its 180-year history. Effect sizes and confidence intervals, which can be calculated for any data used to calculate p values, provide more and better information about tested hypotheses than p values and NHST.
The Medicine-Dreams of Chief Plenty-Coups: A Study in Phenomenological Anthropology

A few remarks are now possible concerning a characterology of Plentycoups. His leadership depended on his great abilities for rational linear thinking, but this natural talent is informed and permeated by the transcendent connection to the medicine-dream. His rational powers and perceptual perspicuity are used in tandem with his medicine and do not have potency without the medicine. In the description of his exploits, it is obvious that he exhibited great intelligence as a problem-solver, great courage as a warrior, and great diplomacy in political life. All of these aspects of Plenty-coups’ personality are molded in the relevance structure determined by the significance of his medicine-dreams. A worthy avenue of research would be to relate Plenty-coups’ life to other great leaders that have been spiritually guided such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Gandhi. One would then compare how a transcendent meaning-context bestows significance on a specific life, and then one would be able to differentiate the characterologies of specific historical personages within the typicality of the particular cultural milieu. However, the medicinedream is not a guide for the leaders of humanity only, it is meant to be a guide for everyone. Each of us can form a connection with the cosmos and experience our true selves and become rooted to a community in a primordial way. The Red-World is the milieu that satisfies the necessary conditions for the fulfillment of a medicine-dream, symbolic reality is its reality.
An Introduction to Japanese Society’s Attitudes Toward Race and Skin Color

Japanese society has a history of differentiating between people by race, phenotype, and skin color, with more positive social conceit placed on lighter skin. While social “othering” and differentiation based upon racial characteristics happen in any society, in Japan, “different” often means “foreign” or “outsider,” and there are precedents where even Japanese of color are treated differently or unequally. This is a dangerous tendency, as Japan has no specific civic laws against racial discrimination or hate speech, meaning social disparagement or discrimination due to skin tone or phenotype in Japan may go unsanctioned. This chapter is an introduction to the complex treatment of race in Japan. It explores the historical expressions of “othering” between Japanese people before Japan opened to the outside world, then the development of a domestic social science that ranked “civilized peoples” by skin color, and finally introduces the process of modern public stereotyping of race and skin color through marketing and public announcements.
Identification of the Catalytically Active Sites for Olefin Hydrogenation Over Reduced Molybdena-Alumina Catalysts

The strong chemisorption of hydrogen on a molybdena-alum-ina catalyst reduced to varying extents was studied at 78 K by a pulse technique. For e/Mo ≤ 1.0 the chemisorption was molecular and H2 could be eluted by D2, and vice versa. At higher extents of reduction, a portion of the adsorption appeared to be dissociative. The curve produced when the amount of strongly chemisorbed hydrogen was plotted against the extent of reduction resembled that for the rate of propylene hydrogenation and the hydrogenation rate was found to vary almost linearly with the extent of strong chemisorption. These results mirrored almost exactly our earlier data for the irreversible oxygen chemisorption at 195 K where it was further shown that the sites responsible for hydrogenation had multiple co-ordinative unsaturation, i.e., they were capable of chemisorbing two molecules of NO as demonstrated by the IR spectrum of the dinitrosyl species. Both O2 and NO were effective and selective poisons for the hydrogenation sites. In all cases, these chemisorptions were quite small, involving at most (at the highest extents of reduction) a few per cent of the available molybdenum. The strong hydrogen chemisorption on reduced catalysts prepoisoned with O2 was diminished to a few per cent of the corresponding values for the unpoisoned catalyst. The new results correlated with those from recent NMR and equilibrium studies of H2 and D2 on these same catalysts.
Are Our Hopes Too High? Testing Cannabis Legalization's Potential to Reduce Criminalization

Cannabis legalization advocates often argue that cannabis legalization offers the potential to reduce the private and social costs related to criminalization and incarceration --- particularly for marginalized populations. While this assertion is theoretically plausible, it boils down to an empirically testable hypothesis that remains untested: does legalizing a previously illegal substance (cannabis) necessarily reduce arrests, citations, and general law-enforcement contact? This paper provides the first causal evidence that cannabis legalization need not necessarily reduce criminalization --- and under the right circumstances, may in fact increase police incidents/arrests for both cannabis products and non-cannabis drugs. First, I present a simple theoretical model of police effort and drug consumption that demonstrates the importance of substitution and incentives for this hypothesis. I then empirically show that before legalization, drug-incident trends in Denver, Colorado matched trends in many other US cities. However, following cannabis legalization in Colorado, drug incidents spike sharply in Denver, while trends in comparison cities (unaffected by Colorado's legalization) remain stable. This spike in drug-related police incidents occurs both for cannabis and non-cannabis drugs. Synthetic-control and difference-in-differences empirical designs corroborate the size and significance of this empirical observation, estimating that Colorado's legalization of recreational cannabis nearly doubled police-involved drug incidents in Denver.
The development of room temperature phosphorescence into a new technique for chemical determinations

Abstract The rapidly developing technique of room temperature phosphorimetry is discussed from a practical analytical standpoint in this second part of the review. Basic factors concerning the technique such as methods of sample preparation, special instrumentation employed, and quantitative capability are presented, together with a listing of the variety of organic compounds reported to display room temperature phosphorescence. Potential applications of room temperature phosphorimetry and the advantages of sensitivity and selectivity afforded by this technique are discussed.
Liposomal bupivacaine and novel local anesthetic formulations.

Novel preparations allowing for the extended duration of action of local anesthetics have many clinically relevant benefits. With regard to this, the development of liposomal bupivacaine has the potential to significantly impact patient care by improving perioperative pain control. The unique liposomal bilayer that encapsulates bupivacaine allows for a sustained release of local anesthetic for up to 72 h after a single use and can significantly decrease postoperative opioid consumption. SABER-bupivacaine is another depot formulation that helps in sustained release of bupivacaine from an encapsulated bupivacaine in a biodegradable sucrose acetate isobutyrate biolayer. HTX-011 is an investigational extended-release local anesthetic formulation currently undergoing Phase 3 clinical trials. HTX-011 is composed of a bioerodible polymer with bupivacaine and low-dose meloxicam in which the polymer undergoes hydrolysis and allows for sustained release of bupivacaine and meloxicam for 3 days. The present investigation reviews pharmacologic considerations related to the formulation of liposomal bupivacaine, current FDA-approved indications for its use, and future extended-release local anesthetic formulations currently under investigation.
Analysis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Tissue for Biomarker Discovery

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common form of liver cancer and the fifth most common cancer overall. Late-stage therapeutic options are limited, while resection or ablation of small tumors can lead to overall survival rates of greater than 60 months. Therefore, early detection of HCC is crucial for patient survival. Currently, there are only three widely used biomarkers for HCC: α-fetoprotein (AFP), core fucosylated AFP (AFP-L3), and des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP). All three of these markers have shown some value in the detection of HCC but with limited sensitivity. While serum is hepatic in nature, the tissue origin of these biomarkers is not determinable based on serum analysis alone, despite the ability of AFP to detect later-stage cancers. Therefore, further tissue analysis is needed for improved detection. Here, multi-omic approaches of HCC tissue are discussed, beginning with large-scale analyses to identify larger biocommunication networks predominant in HCC progression and moving toward smaller and more specific analyses. In the large-scale studies, the data suggests dysregulation in many major pathways, specifically the β-catenin/WNT and RAS pathways, and in specific sub-types, changes in specific genes such as TP53, TERT, and CTNNB1. Proteomics and glycomics are of special interest due to the glycosylation changes observed with AFP in HCC cases. From studying these glycomic and proteomic profiles of HCC serum and tissue, many groups have identified increased fucosylation and branching that are related to presence and progression of HCC. New techniques such as MALDI mass spectrometry glycan imaging have been used to identify specific glycan changes in cancer tissue. Further studies are necessary to accurately pinpoint the location of these modified glycoproteins to tumor-specific regions due to the heterogeneous composition of HCC tissue and to identify all the proteins that are modified and could act as potential biomarkers for HCC.
On modelling shear layers in dense granular flows

Shear bands are common in dense quasi-static granular flows. They can appear in the interior of the flowing material or at confining boundaries and are typically of the order of ten particle diameters in thickness. Deformation tends to be localized in shear bands separating non-deforming or weakly deforming regions. Dilatancy and sharp velocity variation are typical in these shear layers. Much work has been reported in the literature concerning the development of non-local quasi-static rheological models to predict the flow behaviour in shear layers. In a recent article, Dsouza & Nott (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 888, 2020, R3) derive a non-local extension to a classical plasticity model by postulating that some local quantities appearing in the yield function, which stipulates the relationship between different components of the stress for the material to undergo sustained yielding, and the flow rule which provides information on the rate of deformation tensor to within an arbitrary multiplicative constant, should be replaced by their local averages. They then obtain an explicit non-local model which does not involve new microstructural variables and they show that the model captures velocity and volume fraction fields in simple shear flows, although some model parameters must be fitted to achieve quantitative agreement. This article discusses the work of Dsouza & Nott (2020) and comments on work ahead for further testing and developing the model.
Training and Education

Our workshop sought to identify educational targets, concluding that the principal target is the nephrology fellow in training. We believe that we can ‘capture’ the entire spectrum of learners by focusing on the fellows, because of their influence on residents and students. We agreed that we simultaneously need to focus on faculty and practicing physicians. I will outline a proposed plan to accomplish these goals after this introduction.
Across-breed expected progeny differences: use of within-breed expected progeny differences to adjust breed evaluations for sire sampling and genetic trend.

Data on 2,034 F1 calves sired by Angus, Hereford, Polled Hereford, Charolais, Limousin, Simmental, Gelbvieh, and Tarentaise bulls with Hereford or Angus dams and data on 3,686 three-breed-cross calves with 700 F1 dams of the same breed crosses were used for this study. Traits analyzed were birth, weaning, yearling, and 420-d weights (BWT, WW, YW, and W420, respectively) of F1 calves and WW of three-breed-cross calves. Expected progeny differences from national cattle evaluation programs for sires of F1 calves and cows for BWT, WW, YW, and net maternal ability (milk) were used to assess their value in prediction of crossbred performance. Regressions of actual F1 calf performance on sire EPD were positive for BWT (1.09 +/- .12 kg/kg of BWT EPD), WW (.79 +/- .14 kg/kg of WW EPD), YW (1.44 +/- .16 kg/kg of YW EPD), and W420 (1.66 kg/kg of YW EPD). These regression coefficients were similar to the expected value of 1.0 for BWT and WW but were larger than expected for YW and W420. Regressions of actual three-breed-cross calf WW on milk and WW EPD of their maternal grandsires were .95 +/- .14 and .42 +/- .10 kg/kg, respectively, and differed little from their expectations of 1.0 and .5, respectively. Observed breed of sire means for each trait were adjusted for sire sampling by using EPD regressions to adjust them to the average EPD of all sires of each breed born in 1970.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Development of novel machine learning model for right ventricular quantification on echocardiography—A multimodality validation study

PURPOSE Echocardiography (echo) is widely used for right ventricular (RV) assessment. Current techniques for RV evaluation require additional imaging and manual analysis; machine learning (ML) approaches have the potential to provide efficient, fully automated quantification of RV function. METHODS An automated ML model was developed to track the tricuspid annulus on echo using a convolutional neural network approach. The model was trained using 7791 image frames, and automated linear and circumferential indices quantifying annular displacement were generated. Automated indices were compared to an independent reference of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) defined RV dysfunction (RVEF < 50%). RESULTS A total of 101 patients prospectively underwent echo and CMR: Fully automated annular tracking was uniformly successful; analyses entailed minimal processing time (<1 second for all) and no user editing. Findings demonstrate all automated annular shortening indices to be lower among patients with CMR-quantified RV dysfunction (all P < .001). Magnitude of ML annular displacement decreased stepwise in relation to population-based tertiles of TAPSE, with similar results when ML analyses were localized to the septal or lateral annulus (all P ≤ .001). Automated segmentation techniques provided good diagnostic performance (AUC 0.69-0.73) in relation to CMR reference and compared to conventional RV indices (TAPSE and S') with high negative predictive value (NPV 84%-87% vs 83%-88%). Reproducibility was higher for ML algorithm as compared to manual segmentation with zero inter- and intra-observer variability and ICC 1.0 (manual ICC: 0.87-0.91). CONCLUSIONS This study provides an initial validation of a deep learning system for RV assessment using automated tracking of the tricuspid annulus.
Breast Reconstruction Following Breast Conserving Surgery: A Review

Approximately one-third of women who have breast conserving surgery (BCS) will develop a cosmetic deformity following adjuvant radiation. Here we review current surgical techniques for breast reconstruction following BCS and review the evidence for their safety and efficacy. Breast reconstruction can be performed in three settings following BCS: at the time of the partial mastectomy, following partial mastectomy prior to radiation, and delayed following completion of adjuvant radiation. Current options for reconstruction include fat grafting, tissue rearrangement and reduction techniques, as well as tissue replacement with local, regional, and free tissue transfer. Patients who have immediate reconstruction report the highest satisfaction. Breast reconstruction following BCS has been shown to improve patient satisfaction and cosmetic outcomes without an increased risk of complications or cancer recurrence. All patients considering BCS should be offered a consultation with a plastic surgeon to review their surgical options.
Specification and structure in economic history

Abstract Structural approaches to empirical analysis involve the explicit use of economic theory to inform measurement and identification with observational data. These approaches are widely used in many areas of economics. In this article, I discuss the relationship between the use of structural approaches in economics more recently and early motivations for quantitative economic history. These include matching theory and empirics to the economic environment, accounting for data quality in measurement, and conducting counterfactuals. I then use examples from a growing literature to illustrate how these approaches have been used to make progress on questions in economic history related to market power and competition, the role of institutions, and economic geography and transportation infrastructure. I conclude by briefly highlighting areas for future research.
The effect of ultraviolet C radiation against different N95 respirators inoculated with SARS-CoV-2.

Abstract Objectives There are currently no studies that have examined whether one dosage can be uniformly applied to different respirator types to effectively decontaminate SARS-CoV-2 on N95 filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs). Health care workers have been using this disinfection method during the pandemic. Our objective was to determine the effect of UVC on SARS-CoV-2 inoculated N95 respirators and whether this was respirator material/model type dependent. Methods Four different locations (facepiece and strap) on five different N95 FFR models (3M 1860, 8210, 8511, 9211; Moldex 1511) were inoculated with a 10 μL drop of SARS-CoV-2 viral stock (8 × 107 TCID50/mL). The outside-facing and wearer-facing surfaces of the respirators were each irradiated with a dose of 1.5 J/cm2 UVC (254 nm). Viable SARS-CoV-2 was quantified by a median tissue culture infectious dose assay (TCID50). Results UVC delivered using a dose of 1.5 J/cm2, to each side, was an effective method of decontamination for the facepieces of 3M 1860 and Moldex 1511, and for the straps of 3M 8210 and the Moldex 1511. Conclusion This dose is an appropriate decontamination method to facilitate the reuse of respirators for healthcare personnel when applied to specific models/materials. Also, some straps may require additional disinfection to maximize the safety of frontline workers. Implementation of widespread UVC decontamination methods requires careful consideration of model, material type, design, and fit-testing following irradiation.
Dietary vitamin E supplementation shifted weight loss from drip to cooking loss in fresh beef longissimus during display

Effects of dietary vitamin E supplementation on drip loss, cooking loss, and muscle fiber disruption in fresh beef loin steaks from Holstein and crossbred beef steers were studied. Nine Holstein steers and nine beef steers were fed a control diet and nine Holstein steers and eight beef steers were supplemented daily with 298 IU of vitamin E/kg of diet for 211, 232, or 252 d. Drip loss, cooking loss, cooking yield, and shear value were measured in each longissimus lumborum sample displayed in PVC film for 2, 6, 10, or 14 d. Dietary vitamin E supplementation produced meat that had smaller (P < .001) increases in drip loss during 14 d of display but higher (P < .01) cooking losses. Cooking yield was reduced (P < .05) by vitamin E supplementation. Vitamin E supplementation reduced (P < .01) muscle cell disruption in beef steak displayed for 14 d. These results indicated that dietary vitamin E treatment stabilized cell integrity and enhanced the ability of beef steak to hold sarcoplasmic components during display, although subsequent losses due to cooking were greater.
Electric vehicle transmission types and setups: a general review

Over the last decade, electric vehicles (EV) have changed the global automobile industry driven by the progress of electronics and powertrain systems. New controllers are manufactured and research has been made not only on motors but on transmissions as well. This paper focuses on describing the types of gearboxes available - continuous variable (CVT), automatic, manual- with their pros-cons and the experiments done with different gearsets (plan and gear numbers - single or multigear transmissions - on urban or highway cycles to maximise energy efficiency). Gearshift strategies are also a big area of interest alongside simulations testing various gear ratios handled by complex controllers and control algorithms to ensure smooth driving and performance with minimal to low jerk and torque interruption. The aim of this paper is to completely report the work done on transmission software and hardware improvements but also on the top of the shelf technology that the current EVs implement.
STRA8 induces transcriptional changes in germ cells during spermatogonial development

Spermatogonial development is a key process during spermatogenesis to prepare germ cells to enter meiosis. While the initial point of spermatogonial differentiation is well-characterized, the development of spermatogonia from the onset of differentiation to the point of meiotic entry has not been well defined. Further, STRA8 is highly induced at the onset of spermatogonial development but its function in spermatogonia has not been defined. To better understand how STRA8 impacts spermatogonia, we performed RNA-sequencing in both wild-type and STRA8 knockout mice at multiple timepoints during retinoic acid (RA)-stimulated spermatogonial development. As expected, in spermatogonia from wild-type mice we found that steady-state levels of many transcripts that define undifferentiated progenitor cells were decreased while transcripts that define the differentiating spermatogonia were increased as a result of the actions of RA. However, the spermatogonia from STRA8 knockout mice displayed a muted RA response such that there were more transcripts typical of undifferentiated cells and fewer transcripts typical of differentiating cells following RA action. While spermatogonia from STRA8 knockout mice can ultimately form spermatocytes that fail to complete meiosis, it appears that the defect likely begins as a result of altered messenger RNA levels during spermatogonial differentiation.
Managing your risk: Weather and climate impacts on crop insurance. Fact sheet for the Northern Plains Climate Hub region.

A fact sheet produced by the USDA Southwest Climate Hub using publicly available crop insurance data from the USDA Risk Management Agency for Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, and Nebraska.
A method for using street view imagery to auto-extract window-to-wall ratios and its relevance for urban-level daylighting and energy simulations

Abstract Urban building energy and daylight modeling are bottom-up, physics-based approaches to simulate the thermal and daylight performance of neighborhoods and cities. The field has flourished in recent years due to a wider accessibility of urban data sets which contain the required information regarding building geometry and program. However, key building-level parameters, most notably window-to-wall ratio (WWR), are generally unavailable at the urban scale and tedious to collect manually. To resolve this challenge, this paper proposes a methodology to automatically extract facade opening layouts for each building adjacent to a Google Street View route. A comparison between auto-generated and manually determined WWRs for 1057 buildings in Manhattan yielded identical results (less than 10% difference) for 66% of all investigated facades. Manual and automated methods were within a 20% error in 90% of all cases. The validated method is applied to daylighting and building energy models of 2014 buildings in downtown Chicago to quantify the impact of building-by-building WWRs versus a uniform, industry-standard WWR of 40% for all buildings. The results reveal that while the total energy use predictions are within 0.2% difference, the total daylit area increases by 9.5% when the WWRs are detected. Furthermore, when individual buildings are ranked in terms of their daylight autonomy or suitability for employing different retrofitting strategies, they are oftentimes misplaced when 40% WWR assumption is used. For example, in the downtown Chicago model, 46 buildings were misclassified as belonging to the top 100 buildings with the greatest percentage-wise savings potential resulting from glazing retrofitting.