cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Proceedings: Using Stem Cell Therapies to Reestablish Osteogenic Capability for Bone Regeneration

UNLABELLED The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) has invested approximately $70 million in programs targeting various orthopedic indications, including osteoporosis, bone fracture healing, vertebral compression fractures, and several others. The present article serves to outline the current state of CIRM's more advanced programs, comparing and contrasting them with the current standard of care and several other novel approaches under development. SIGNIFICANCE This report describes CIRM bone programs that are in contrast to current cell therapy approaches. These projects aim to enhance stem cell activity for bone regeneration.
OR33 Comparison of UCLA patients transplanted from the deceased donor waitlist during the new and previous UNOS kidney allocation systems

Aim UNOS implemented a new kidney allocation system (New KAS) on December 4, 2014 with the goal of increasing patient and allograft post-transplant survival. We aimed to determine the effects of the New KAS on UCLA patients transplanted from the deceased donor waitlist in comparison to the previous allocation system (Previous KAS). Methods We evaluated isolated kidney transplants from the deceased donor waitlist during the first three months of the new KAS (12/4/2014–3/4/2015) and compared to the same time period during the Previous KAS (12/4/2013–3/4/2014). Demographic and clinical information were collected by reviewing the patient’s UNOS removal data and medical record. Information describing deceased donors were gathered from UNOS DonorNet. Results The total number of deceased donor isolated kidney transplants was increased in the New KAS as compared to the Previous KAS (42 vs 26). Transplant of regraft patients and of highly sensitized patients with cPRA ⩾98% was also significantly increased (New KAS vs Previous KAS, 42.9% vs 11.5%, p ⩽ 0.007, and 31.0% vs 0.0%, p ⩽ 0.001, respectively). In the New KAS, the percentage of patient’s receiving allografts imported from outside our local area was increased (33.3 vs 19.2). Imported organs were allocated either to very highly sensitized ⩾ 99% cPRA) patients receiving a second transplant (71.4%) or had very high KDPI and were allocated to patients with 0% cPRA (21.4%). Recipients and donors with age differences exceeding 15 years was decreased in the New KAS as compared to the Previous KAS (50.0 vs 29.0%, p ⩽ 0.12). There was a 76% reduction in transplant to patients in the 65 + age group in the New KAS ( p ⩽ 0.016). We have not observed a paucity in transplant of pediatric patients (0–17 years, New KAS vs Previous KAS, 9.5% vs 3.8%, respectively). The percentage of patients transplanted with preformed donor specific antibody (DSA) is increased in the New KAS in comparison to the Previous KAS (33.3 vs 15.4%, respectively). Outcome measures will be evaluated after 3 months follow up. Conclusion The data show that the New KAS is working as designed to better age match recipients and donors and to increase transplantation of very highly sensitized patients through broader sharing.
Open Radical Retropubic Prostatectomy

Radical prostatectomy (RP) is the mainstay of treatment for patients with clinically localized prostate cancer, especially for those patients with high-risk cancer. Large multi-institutional studies have documented excellent long-term outcomes in terms of biochemical recurrence rates and prostate cancer-specific mortality after RP. Proper preoperative planning begins with selecting patients who have potentially lethal cancers and are likely to benefit from surgery, and in whom RP is reasonably likely to remove the entire tumor. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used to delineate the anatomic details of the prostate and of the cancer, and can assist in customizing the operation, particularly in regard to nerve sparing. Oncologic and functional outcomes are highly dependent on surgical technique and on the surgeon’s level of experience. In our experience, early release of the neurovascular bundles, full preservation of urethral length, complete excision of the seminal vesicles, and wide dissection with careful reconstruction of the bladder neck are key components to optimal cancer control and recovery of sexual and urinary function. In this chapter, we provide a detailed description of our approach to retropubic RP.
Computer literacy skills of net generation learners

Younger learners are widely considered to be technologically savvy and computer literate because of their lifelong exposure to ubiquitous technology. Educators often rely on that assumption to justify changes to institutional curricula, technology initiatives, new classroom strategies, and calls for educators to meet the educational demands of the younger generation. This study examines the computer literacy skills of Net Generation Learners (NGLs). This dissertation is composed of a systematic literature review, an examination of learner computer literacy skills prior to completing a college level course, and an investigation of the effects of different types of instruction on learner computer literacy skills. In the systematic literature review, identified studies focused primarily on learner familiarity with emerging technologies and relied heavily on self-reported data. Few studies directly measured learner computer literacy skills, and none compared the skills of NGLs and non-NGLs. A causal-comparative examination of learner computer literacy skills prior to a college level computer literacy course found that both NGLs and non-NGLs exhibited inadequate computer literacy skill. A 1-way ANOVA indicated NGLs performed significantly better than non-NGLs on a computer literacy skills assessment; however, examining learner age as a continuous variable via regression yielded different results. There may be validity to claims regarding the comparative computer proficiency of NGLs to non-NGLs, but the level of skill exhibited by learners does not warrant calls for radical educational changes, and the imprecision of arbitrarily defining age as a dichotomous variable produces potentially erroneous results. The effect of type of instruction on learner computer literacy skills was explored. Based on the results in this study, direct instruction focused on a comprehensive scope of computer literacy skills better supports learner acquisition of skills than does informal instruction or instruction focused on a limited range of skills. Future research should use statistical methods that analyze age as a continuous variable while continuing to examine directly the comparative computer literacy skills of NGLs and non-NGLs at all levels of education. Further inquiry into the effectiveness of different types of instruction to support learner acquisition of computer literacy skills should also be conducted.
Mortality in people with epilepsy: A statewide retrospective cohort study.

Abstract Rationale People with epilepsy (PWE) have a higher risk of mortality than the general population, because of disparities in the receipt of appropriate epilepsy care, which may be affected by socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity and insurance coverage. Increased epilepsy prevalence has been associated with black race, low educational attainment, unemployment, and low income levels. Rural/urban residence may affect health through individual or environmental factors. Health disparities seen in rural residents are likely amplified in rural PWE because of limited access to specialized care. This analysis aims to examine the risk of mortality attributable to rural residence in the statewide population of South Carolina (SC) after adjusting for potential confounders. Methods This statewide retrospective cohort study of PWE seen in SC non-federal hospitals and emergency departments from 2000 to 2013 describes the hazard of mortality by rural/urban residential status in addition to other demographic and clinical characteristics. Differences in proportions were assessed by comparison of 95% confidence intervals. The association of rural/urban residence with mortality was further evaluated with Cox proportional hazard regression controlling for demographic and clinical covariables. Results 62,794 PWE were identified, of whom 21,451 (25.7%) had died. Deceased PWE were more likely to be rural residents, black, older than age 45, Medicare insured, in the middle income group, and have 5 or more comorbid conditions compared with living PWE. After adjustment for all other covariables, the risk of mortality did not differ by rural/urban residence. Blacks had a weak but significantly higher risk than whites (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.14; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.11, 1.18) while PWE of other races had a slightly lower risk of mortality (HR = 0.79; 95% CI = 0.67, 0.93). Male PWE had higher hazard as did Medicare, Medicaid or commercially insured PWE, those living in zip codes with annual median incomes less than $36,000, and those with 2 or more comorbid conditions. Conclusions While other covariables were more strongly associated with mortality after adjustment (older age, insurance coverage, income level of zip code, and number of comorbidities), the finding of a higher hazard in black PWE than white PWE after adjustment for rural/urban residence and other demographic and clinical covariables is a concern. Further, the increased risk of mortality with higher numbers of comorbid conditions warrants regular management of these conditions.
Effects of Attentional Demand on Input Device Use in Younger and Older Adults

We investigated how different categories of input devices, direct and indirect, affected performance under different attentional conditions. We also examined the moderating effects of age on input device usability. Previous studies have found differences in performance between the two types of devices as well as interactive effects of age (e.g., Charness, 2001). Previously, researchers have suggested that attention is a key moderating variable predicting performance with an input device; however, no age-related studies have systematically manipulated attention when examining input devices. In the current study, younger and older adults used an input device, direct (touchscreen) or indirect (rotary encoder), to perform tasks under various attention allocation conditions. The tasks were comprised of on-screen controls which were then analyzed by the type of input device used. Age and attention allocation together were needed to predict usability of an input device. We discuss how these data can be used when...
Visual retention test, administration C: norms for mentally retarded children.

One of the standard instruments to assess perceptual capacities is the Visual Retention Test ( V R T ) (Benton, 1963) . There are several administrative procedures for this measure. There are normative data on the VRT, Administration C (copying) with mentally normal children (Benton, Spreen, Fangman, & Carr, 1967) but these norms are not applicable to an elementary-age menrally-retarded population. The purpose of this study was to collect normative data on Administration C of the V R T for elementary age mentally retarded children. Ss were 165 mentally retarded children whose chronological ages ranged from 6 yr., 6 mo, to 1 3 yr., 5 mo. They were enrolled in special classes for the educable mentally retarded. Ss were selected randomly using one criterion, an obtained score between 55 and 85 inclusively on an individual intellectual measure. The task followed the same administrative procedure as outlined by Benton, er al. (1967) . The number of Ss, mean "number correct" score (MNc) and standard deviation ( S D ) for each chronological age level (CA) were as follows: CA 7 yr. ( N = 7, Msc 1.71, SDsc 1.67); CA 8 yr. (N = 14, Msc 2.00, SDsc 1.77); CA 9 yr. (N = 26, M s c 2.85, S o N c 2.31); CA 10 yr. ( N = 26, MSC 4.73, SDsc 1.93); CA 11 yr. ( N = 23, Mh.c 5.39, SDNC 2.04); CA 12 yr. ( N = 39, Msc 6.15, SDsc 2.67); CA 13 yr. ( N = 30, Mx,: 6.67, SDNC 2 .22) . The N , mean "total error" score ( M E ) and SDE were similarly obtained for each of the respective CA levels: CA 7 yr. ( N = 7, M K 17.29, SDlr 6.31); CA S yr. ( N = 14, MI: 15.56, SDE 6 .19) ; CA 9 yr. ( N = 26, MI: 10.77, SDE 4.99); CA 10 yr. ( N = 26, Me 7.04, SDE 3.49); CA 11 yr. (N = 23, ME 6.09, SD): 3.50); CA 12 yr. ( N = 39, MI: 4.90, SD. 4.45); CA 13 yr. ( N = 30, MI: 4.43, SDlr 4.17). Impressive differences between the mean score performances of the present mentally retarded group and the mentally normal Ss of the Benton, et al. investigation are noteworthy throughout all age levels. The same clinical advantages and limitations emphasized by Benron, et al. in their discussion are applicable to the present data.
Molecular Weight Dependence of Zero-Shear Viscosity in Atactic Polypropylene Bottlebrush Polymers

A series of bottlebrush polymers with atactic polypropylene side chains were synthesized via ring-opening metathesis polymerization using Grubbs’ third-generation catalyst (H2IMes)(3-BrPy)2(Cl)2Ru═CHPh. Polymers were prepared with fixed side chain length and variable backbone degree of polymerization (DP) ranging from 11 to 732 (Mw = 22–1500 kg/mol) and include the largest reported polyolefin-based bottlebrush polymers. The zero-shear viscosity of each polymer sample was measured using small-amplitude oscillatory shear measurements. Power law fits of zero-shear viscosity (η0) versus weight-average molar mass (η0 ∼ Mwα) revealed distinct regimes with differing molecular weight dependences. A weak dependence (α < 0.5) was observed at low molecular weight due to the increasingly compact nature of short bottlebrush polymers with the continued addition of side chains. The scaling transitioned to Rouse-like dynamics (α = 1.2) at high molecular weight as a consequence of a sphere-to-cylinder conformational chang...
Swinging for the State Department: American Women Tennis Players in Diplomatic Goodwill Tours, 1941–59

Cold War scholarship presents women’s importance to American propaganda and cultural diplomacy programs as limited to their roles as wives and mothers on the home front. This paper argues that female tennis players who served as goodwill ambassadors for the State Department represented public and vigorous aspects of American women’s lives outside the realm of domesticity. Cold War goodwill tours were based on barnstorming exhibition journeys made by the popular and influential Alice Marble during World War II. Doris Hart and Althea Gibson, both of whom battled adversity—physical disability and racial discrimination, respectively—led a cadre of highly skilled and accomplished women amateurs on global tours in the 1950s. These sportive peregrinations enabled players to enhance their skills, travel the world, and vie for titles while serving their country. Still, players were subject to the gendered and racialized politics, pressures, and restrictions faced by American women at large.
Prophylactic Sacral Dressing for Pressure Ulcer Prevention in High-Risk Patients

Background Patients in intensive care units are likely to have limited mobility owing to hemodynamic instability and activity orders for bed rest. Bed rest is indicated because of the severity of the disease process, which often involves intubation, sedation, paralysis, surgical procedures, poor nutrition, low flow states, and poor circulation. These patients are predisposed to the development and/or the progression of pressure ulcers not only because of their underlying diseases, but also because of limited mobility and deconditioned states of health. Objective To assess whether treating high-risk patients with a prophylactic sacral dressing decreases the incidence of unit-acquired sacral pressure ulcers. Methods An evidence-based tool for identifying patients at high risk for pressure ulcers was used in 3 intensive care units at an urban tertiary care hospital and academic medical center. Those patients deemed at high risk had a prophylactic sacral dressing applied. Incidence rates were collected and compared for the 7 months preceding use of the dressings and for 7 months during the trial period when the dressing was used. Results After the sacral dressing began being used, the number of unit-acquired sacral pressure ulcers decreased by 3.4 to 7.6 per 1000 patient days depending on the unit. Conclusions A prophylactic sacral dressing may help prevent unit-acquired sacral pressure ulcers. Implementation of an involved care team with heightened awareness and increased education along with a prophylactic sacral dressing in patients deemed high risk for skin breakdown are all essential for success.
Radiofrequency ablation of breast cancer.

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is currently under study as a candidate for nonsurgical removal or destruction of breast tumors. RFA of solid tumors is produced by frictional heating caused when ions in the tissue attempt to follow the changing directions of a high-frequency alternating current. The radiofrequency probe is typically placed into the tumor under ultrasound guidance, and the ablation is performed with real-time ultrasound monitoring. Preliminary studies in which RFA was followed by standard surgical resection have indicated that this technique is effective for the surgical ablation of small (< or = 2 cm) primary breast tumors. A new study at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center will use RFA as the sole local treatment of breast tumors < or = 1.5 cm in size to determine whether this technique is oncologically and cosmetically appropriate for the local treatment of primary breast cancer. Twenty patients with small tumors that are clearly identifiable and measurable by ultrasound will be enrolled in the study. Local control will be assessed by core and fine-needle biopsies, and long-term outcomes will be assessed using imaging studies and quality-of-life measurement scales for 5 years after treatment.
Molecular structure determination using chiroptical spectroscopy: where we may go wrong?

Chiroptical spectroscopy is being widely used for determining the three-dimensional molecular structures (i.e., absolute configurations and conformations) of chiral molecules. The general procedure used with any of the chiroptical spectroscopic methods is to analyze the experimental data using corresponding quantum chemical predictions. Such analysis involves multiple steps, including consideration of conformations, solvent effects, electronic transitions, stereoisomers, and experimental artifacts, each of which possesses certain limitations. These limitations, when not recognized or properly taken into account, may lead to incorrect conclusions. This review emphasizes on selected examples that illustrate the potential limitations in utilizing the chiroptical spectroscopic methods. The examples used include hibiscus acid dimethylester, hibiscus acid disodium salt, 3,3′-diphenyl-[2,2′-binaphthalene]-1,1′-diol, tartaric acid esters, and 6,6′-dibromo-[1,1′-binaphthalene]-2,2′-diol. Chirality 24:909–920, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Pathobiology of Tubular Basement Membranes in Renal Cystic Disease

The pathogenic role of the tubular basement membrane was studied in polycystic kidney disease (PKD) induced by diphenylthiazole (DPT) or its major urinary metabolite, phenol II, and in cyst-derived cells from human autosomal dominant PKD kidneys. DPT induced, in rats, progressive, but reversible cystic change of collecting tubules (CDs), characterized by thickening of the tubular basement membrane with marked reduction of the de novo synthesis of sulfated proteoglycans. The phenol II was administered for 4 days to determine the sequence of tubular cell and BM changes in the development of PKD. At day one, 12% of CDs were cystic and their BMs were altered. Over the 4 day interval, BMs remained structurally altered and cystic change increased progressively. Cell proliferation was not detected until day 2 and occurred both in cystic and in non-cystic renal zones; it did not increase as cystic change progressed. By immunofluorescence, there was a decrease in anti-heparin sulfate proteoglycan core protein reactivity and an increase in anti-fibronectin reactivity of the extracellular matrices of cystic tubules. In the in vitro studies, the growth rate, cell doubling time, and end cell number of cyst-derived autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) and normal human renal epithelial (NK) cells were the same; moreover, ADPKD cells did not exhibit any in vitro features of transformed cells. Post-confluent NK and ADPKD cells in vitro elaborated distinct BMs. By electron microscopy, BMs of NK cells were of uniform thickness with a regular pattern of ruthenium red (RR) binding sites indicative of proteoglycans. In contrast, BMs of ADPKD cells were less dense, thicker, and lacked RR sites; immunofluorescent reactivity to anti-HS-PG core protein was uneven and decreased while reactivity to anti fibronectin was increased. The findings suggest that BM components are in a dynamic metabolic state, capable of rapid modulation, and that PKD may be due to a defect in the synthesis/degradation of one or more basement membrane components, resulting in faulty tubular morphogenesis.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and the Earnings of Military Reservists

This study investigates the effects of having symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on the labor market earnings of reservists in the years following deployment. Data on more than 315,000 reservists returning from deployments between 2003 and 2006, combined with longitudinal labor market earnings data, indicate that reservists who have symptoms of PTSD do earn substantially less than those who do not experience PTSD, but much of that gap in earnings was apparent prior to deployment. This suggests that characteristics of individuals reporting symptoms of PTSD that typically are not controlled for in empirical studies are responsible for much of the observed difference in earnings. Controlling for such characteristics, the study finds that reservists reporting symptoms of PTSD on average earn up to 6 percent less than they would have earned if they had not had such symptoms in the first four years following deployment. These lower earnings are attributable to higher military separation rates, a concomitant decline in military earnings, and no compensating increase in civilian labor market earnings.
Effect of Al and Cr Content on Air and Steam Oxidation of FeCrAl Alloys and Commercial APMT Alloy

To develop the next generation of accident-tolerant fuel cladding for light-water nuclear reactors, wrought FeCrAlY alloys with varying amounts of Cr and Al and commercial Kanthal APMT alloy were evaluated for short-term (4 h) oxidation resistance in steam and air at 1200–1475 °C. Model alloys with lower Cr contents and higher Al contents were evaluated as lower Cr contents are desirable for radiation damage resistance during operation. As expected, a synergistic effect was found between the Cr and Al contents to enable protective Al2O3 formation under these conditions. Characterization of the alumina scales formed in steam found that the scale morphology was affected by the alloy Y content and detailed scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) detected Y segregation along scale grain boundaries at 1200 °C. However, after 4 h at 1475 °C, Y and Hf were not segregated to the oxide grain boundaries formed on APMT and the scale had a single layer structure. Compared to oxidation in air, STEM characterization of the outer scale showed differences in the Fe and Cr distributions in steam.
Structural Hierarchies and Fragments Among Vietnamese Caodaists

Even though Caodaism has been recognized as an official religion in Cambodia since 1993, Vietnamese Caodaists have continued to face anti-Vietnamese sentiments within the Cambodian legal system. Similar to the experiences of Vietnamese Caodaists in the U.S., they are racialized as following a Vietnamese religion and are under the authority of the Holy See in Vietnam. This racialization has restricted their efforts to spread Caodaism to non-Vietnamese. They have tried to counter this ethnic and religious marginalization by submitting to the authority of the Caodai Holy See in exchange for Vietnamese government-backed political and economic support. However, because of this dependence, Vietnamese Caodaists in Cambodia have also been closed off from co-religionists in the U.S., who oppose the Holy See since it came under the control of the Vietnamese communist regime in 1975.
Competition for Antitrust: The National Civic Federation and the Founding of the FTC

Regulation by the state can benefit or harm any business in society. While the market provides for consumers rather than special interests, rationally acting interests will be incentivized to use political means to capture rents, particularly if public clamor for regulation exists. The formation of the Federal Trade Commission, rather than providing a check on business interests, follows the pattern of regulatory capture. The National Civic Federation, a group with strong business interest ties, was crucial to ensuring this outcome at the commission’s founding.
Microbiological Implications in the Handling, Slaughtering, and Dressing of Meat Animals

Publisher Summary Whether the load of microorganisms associated with the living animal contributes a significant share of the contamination occurring in and on the carcass depends not only upon the methods of handling that the meat receives but also on the interrelation between the defensive mechanisms of the animal and the enormous microbial populations that gain access to the animal. This chapter discusses the bacteriological implications in four separate categories. The first of these deals with the animal's defensive mechanisms; the second considers the antemortem microbiological problems that are involved in the live animal. The third describes the contamination introduced during the death agonies, while the last relates the contamination of the animal after death. The chapter discusses the significance of the several sources of microbiological contamination outlined above. The discussion is directed largely to the microbiology of the intact carcass and of fresh wholesale cuts. Only those avenues of infection and contamination that treat with normal animals and carcasses and cuts receiving handling procedures in accordance with commonly accepted sanitary practices have been considered.
Gastrointestinal Peptides and the Control of Food Intake

The gastrointestinal (GI) peptides are secreted by specialized enteroendocrine cells of the GI mucosa in response to specific, meal-related chemical stimuli in the intestinal lumen. Acting via endocrine or paracrine mechanisms, these peptides coordinate digestive activities and participate in the processes of meal initiation and termination. Consequently, the GI peptides and their cognate receptors are of interest with regard to the physiology and pathology of eating, and may represent avenues of clinical intervention in the treatment of eating disorders and obesity.
Workspace Disorder Does Not Influence Creativity and Executive Functions.

Recent research by Vohs, Redden and Rahinel (2013) garnered media attention after reporting that disordered environments increase creativity. The present research was designed to conceptually replicate and extend this finding by exploring the effect of workspace disorder on creativity. Participants were randomly assigned to work at a neatly organized (Order condition) or a messy desk (Disorder condition), where they completed several paper-and-pencil and computerized tasks, including two validated creativity measures (Abbreviated Torrance Test for Adults; ATTA; Goff & Torrance, 2002; Alternative Uses Task; adapted from Guilford, 1967). We also included several executive control measures from the NIH EXAMINER (Kramer, 2011), to explore the role of reduced top-down control in explaining a possible creativity-disorder connection. Independent-samples t-tests failed to replicate any significant difference in creativity between the Order and Disorder conditions. Furthermore, the conditions did not differentially affect executive control. Despite implementing an experimental setup similar to the one in Vohs et al. (2013), including a larger sample size, and adopting multiple measures of the constructs of interest, we did not find any effect of workspace clutter on cognitive performance. At this stage, the relationship between disorder and cognition seems elusive and does not warrant the claims it generated in the popular press.
Clinical Course of Preexisting Uveitis during Treatment of Lung Cancer with Durvalumab.

Within the past several years, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have become more widespread in the treatment of malignancies. Concurrently, ICIs have been found to promote the development of imm...
Anxiety in Children

This introductory chapter addresses what anxiety looks like and how it impacts children. Symptoms of different anxiety disorders based on diagnostic definitions are reviewed. Information on prevalence of anxiety and medication management ideas are briefly presented. An in-depth overview of cognitive behavioral interventions to help young children and adolescents overcome anxiety is introduced. A case study focusing on a child with anxiety sensitivity and separation issues is presented.
Impact of the MLC leaf-tip model in a commercial TPS: Dose calculation limitations and IROC-H phantom failures.

PURPOSE Treatment planning system (TPS) dose calculation is sensitive to multileaf collimator (MLC) modeling, especially when treating with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) or VMAT. This study investigates the dosimetric impact of the MLC leaf-tip model in a commercial TPS (RayStation v.6.1). The detectability of modeling errors was assessed through both measurements with an anthropomorphic head-and-neck phantom and patient-specific IMRT QA using a 3D diode array. METHODS AND MATERIALS An Agility MLC (Elekta Inc.) was commissioned in RayStation. Nine IMRT and VMAT plans were optimized to treat the head-and-neck phantom from the Imaging and Radiation Oncology Core Houston branch (IROC-H). Dose distributions for each plan were re-calculated on 27 beam models, varying leaf-tip width (2.0, 4.5, and 6.5 mm) and leaf-tip offset (-2.0 to +2.0 mm) values. Doses were compared to phantom TLD measurements. Patient-specific IMRT QA was performed, and receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to determine the detectability of modeling errors. RESULTS Dose calculations were very sensitive to leaf-tip offset values. Offsets of ±1.0 mm resulted in dose differences up to 10% and 15% in the PTV and spinal cord TLDs respectively. Offsets of ±2.0 mm caused dose deviations up to 50% in the spinal cord TLD. Patient-specific IMRT QA could not reliably detect these deviations, with an ROC area under the curve (AUC) value of 0.537 for a ±1.0 mm change in leaf-tip offset, corresponding to >7% dose deviation. Leaf-tip width had a modest dosimetric impact with <2% and 5.6% differences in the PTV and spinal cord TLDs respectively. CONCLUSIONS Small changes in the MLC leaf-tip offset in this TPS model can cause large changes in the calculated dose for IMRT and VMAT plans that are difficult to identify through either dose curves or standard patient-specific IMRT QA. These results may, in part, explain the reported high failure rate of IROC-H phantom tests.
Deep Active Learning for Image Regression

Image regression is an important problem in computer vision and is useful in a variety of applications. However, training a robust regression model necessitates large amounts of labeled training data, which is time-consuming and expensive to acquire. Active learning algorithms automatically identify the salient and exemplar instances from large amounts of unlabeled data and tremendously reduce human annotation effort in inducing a machine learning model. Further, deep learning models like Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) have gained popularity to automatically learn representative features from a given dataset and have depicted promising performance in a variety of classification and regression applications. In this chapter, we exploit the feature learning capabilities of deep neural networks and propose a novel framework to address the problem of active learning for regression. We formulate a loss function (based on the expected model output change) relevant to the research task and exploit the gradient descent algorithm to optimize the loss and train the deep CNN. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first research effort to learn a discriminative set of features using deep neural networks to actively select informative samples in the regression setting. Our extensive empirical studies on five benchmark regression datasets (from three different application domains: rotation angle estimation of handwritten digits, age, and head pose estimation) demonstrate the merit of our framework in tremendously reducing human annotation effort to induce a robust regression model.
Autocratic welfare programs, economic perceptions, and support for the dictator: Evidence from African autocracies:

While numerous studies have explored the foundations of autocratic stability by focusing on macroeconomic variables, the micro-foundations of autocratic support have largely been overlooked. Using ...
WORSENING RENAL FUNCTION, HYPERKALEMIA AND HYPOTENSION IN SACUBITRIL-VALSARTAN VS. ENALAPRIL IN HFREF: A META-ANALYSIS

Sacubitril-valsartan has shown significant promise in patients with Heart Failure with reduced Ejection Fraction (HFrEF). We compared the safety of the sacubitril-valsartan with enalapril in patients with HFrEF. A comprehensive search was performed on PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane for randomized
Application of APN schedule in nurses' hierarchy management in neonatal intensive care unit

Objective To explore the effect of nurses' hierarchy management through APN schedule in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).Methods To achieve the goal of nurses' hierarchy management by means of APN schedule,different hierarchy nurses were classified,and correspondent post responsibility,criterion of competence and work scope were drawn up.397 cases of children' s family from May to July 2011 before nurses' hierarchy management by APN schedule were chosen as the control group,while 382 cases of children's family from August to November 2011 after nurses' hierarchy management by APN schedule were chosen as the observational group.And the satisfaction of both nurses and children' s family were compared between two groups.Results The satisfaction of children ' s family in 4 aspects,including quality and safety,nursing availability,health education and humanity care,were higher in the observational group than in the control group [(4.57±0.32) vs (4.47±0.62),(4.13±0.27) vs (3.92±0.52),(4.52±0.33) vs (4.12±0.48 ),(4.67±0.45 ) vs (4.56±0.48 )],and the differences were statistically significant ( t=2.830,7.033,13.50,3.29,respectively; P＜0.05).After nurses' hierarchy management by APN schedule,nurses'satisfaction in free choice of working style,salary,achievement of self-worth,taking responsibility were improved [(2.35±0.87) vs (2.83±0.39),(2.25±0.86) vs (2.66±0.49),(3.25±0.43 ) vs (3.67±0.49),(3.63±0.66) vs (4.10±0.71)],and the differences were statistically significant (t=3.723 7,3.208 6,4.990 3,2.755 6,respectively; P＜0.05 ).Conclusions To achieve nurses’ hierarchy management by APN schedule can enhance the satisfaction of both nurses and children' s family,as well as improve the nursing quality. Key words: Intensive care, neonatal; Nurse; APN schedule; Hierarchy management
Robust avalanche in GaN leading to record performance in avalanche photodiode

This abstract presents a study on the avalanche capability of GaN p-i-n diode leading to the achievement of 60A/W, 278V GaN avalanche photodiode. The GaN p-i-n diode fabricated on a free-standing GaN substrate was avalanche capable due to optimal edge termination. Both electrical and optical characterizations were conducted to validate the occurrence of avalanche in these devices. The device showed a positive temperature coefficient of breakdown voltage, which follows the nature of avalanche breakdown. The positive coefficient was measured to be 3.85 ×10-4 K-1 (0.1V/K) under a measurement temperature ranges from 300 K to 525 K. Moreover, the fabricated device showed excellent performance as an avalanche photo detector with record device metrics: (1) record high photoresponsivity of 60 A/W; (2) high optical gain of 105; and (3) low cark current. Robust avalanche is a key requirement in various device applications and necessary for their reliable operation.
Venous thromboembolism research priorities: A scientific statement from the American Heart Association and the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. The impact of the Surgeon General's Call to Action in 2008 has been lower than expected given the public health impact of this disease. This scientific statement highlights future research priorities in VTE, developed by experts and a crowdsourcing survey across 16 scientific organizations. At the fundamental research level (T0), researchers need to identify pathobiologic causative mechanisms for the 50% of patients with unprovoked VTE and better understand mechanisms that differentiate hemostasis from thrombosis. At the human level (T1), new methods for diagnosing, treating, and preventing VTE will allow tailoring of diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to individuals. At the patient level (T2), research efforts are required to understand how foundational evidence impacts care of patients (eg, biomarkers). New treatments, such as catheter-based therapies, require further testing to identify which patients are most likely to experience benefit. At the practice level (T3), translating evidence into practice remains challenging. Areas of overuse and underuse will require evidence-based tools to improve care delivery. At the community and population level (T4), public awareness campaigns need thorough impact assessment. Large population-based cohort studies can elucidate the biologic and environmental underpinings of VTE and its complications. To achieve these goals, funding agencies and training programs must support a new generation of scientists and clinicians who work in multidisciplinary teams to solve the pressing public health problem of VTE.
Symmetric Set of Transport Coefficients for Collisional Magnetized Plasma

Braginskii extended magnetohydrodynamics is used to model transport in collisional astrophysical and high energy density plasmas. We show that commonly used approximations to the ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}$ and ${\ensuremath{\beta}}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}$ transport coefficients [e.g., Epperlein and Haines, Phys. Fluids 29, 1029 (1986)] have a subtle inaccuracy that causes significant artificial magnetic dissipation and discontinuities. This is because magnetic transport actually relies on ${\ensuremath{\beta}}_{\ensuremath{\parallel}}\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\beta}}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}$ and ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{\ensuremath{\parallel}}$, rather than ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}$ and ${\ensuremath{\beta}}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}$ themselves. We provide fit functions that rectify this problem and thus resolve the discrepancies with kinetic simulations in the literature. When implemented in the gorgon code, they reduce the predicted density asymmetry amplitude at laser ablation fronts. Recognizing the importance of ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{\ensuremath{\parallel}}$ and ${\ensuremath{\beta}}_{\ensuremath{\parallel}}\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\beta}}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}$, we recast the set of coefficients. This makes explicit the symmetry of the magnetic and thermal transport, as well as the symmetry of the coefficients themselves.
Cortisol is an osmoregulatory and glucose-regulating hormone in Atlantic sturgeon, a basal ray-finned fish.

ABSTRACT Our current understanding of the hormonal control of ion regulation in aquatic vertebrates comes primarily from studies on teleost fishes, with relatively little information on more basal fishes. We investigated the role of cortisol in regulating seawater tolerance and its underlying mechanisms in an anadromous chondrostean, the Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus). Exposure of freshwater-reared Atlantic sturgeon to seawater (25 ppt) resulted in transient (1–3 day) increases in plasma chloride, cortisol and glucose levels and long-term (6–14 day) increases in the abundance of gill Na+/K+/2Cl− cotransporter (NKCC), which plays a critical role in salt secretion in teleosts. The abundance of gill V-type H+-ATPase, which is thought to play a role in ion uptake in fishes, decreased after exposure to seawater. Gill Na+/K+-ATPase activity did not increase in 25 ppt seawater, but did increase in fish gradually acclimated to 30 ppt. Treatment of Atlantic sturgeon in freshwater with exogenous cortisol resulted in dose-dependent increases in cortisol, glucose and gill NKCC and H+-ATPase abundance. Our results indicate that cortisol has an important role in regulating mechanisms for ion secretion and uptake in sturgeon and provide support for the hypothesis that control of osmoregulation and glucose by corticosteroids is a basal trait of jawed vertebrates.
Bifurcations and chaos in a Lorenz-like pilot-wave system

A millimetric droplet may bounce and self-propel on the surface of a vertically vibrating fluid bath, guided by its self-generated wave field. This hydrodynamic pilot-wave system exhibits a vast range of dynamics, including behavior previously thought to be exclusive to the quantum realm. We present the results of a theoretical investigation of an idealized pilot-wave model, in which a particle is guided by a one-dimensional wave that is equipped with the salient features of the hydrodynamic system. The evolution of this reduced pilot-wave system may be simplified by projecting onto a three-dimensional dynamical system describing the evolution of the particle velocity, the local wave amplitude, and the local wave slope. As the resultant dynamical system is remarkably similar in form to the Lorenz system, we utilize established properties of the Lorenz equations as a guide for identifying and elucidating several pilot-wave phenomena, including the onset and characterization of chaos.
Design of SDR Simulation for Wireless Communication between Ground Station and CubeSat Implemented by LabVIEW

One of the main requirements of any satellite is the ability to communicate with the ground station reliably by sending and receiving data. In this paper, a design and simulation of the communication system between Ground Control Station (GCS) and the CubeSat for transmitting and receiving the telemetry data is introduced. Two different protocols are used for communication which are: Simple Serial Protocol (SSP) for the physical connections and AX.25 for radio transmission. Furthermore, the error of the received data is checked by using the Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) technique. The communication subsystem is developed by using Software Defined Radio (SDR) transceiver to perform multi-modulation techniques such as ASK, FSK, BPSK, and QPSK. The system is implemented by using LabVIEW to verify the communication between CubeSat and GCS.
Moderating the Criminal Thinking–Delinquency Relationship with a Free Market Cultural Ethos: Integrating Micro- and Macro-Level Concepts in Criminology

The current study tested the interaction between micro- and macro-level criminological concepts to determine whether a free market cultural ethos moderated the criminal thinking–delinquency connection. Using a cross-national sample of 65,923 youth (32,614 boys, 33,309 girls, 10 to 20 years of age), the link between criminal thinking and delinquency was explored in 28 nations, each of which had been scored on the Heritage Foundation’s Index of Economic Freedom. Results revealed that a free market cultural ethos had a significant moderating effect on the criminal thinking–delinquency relationship. These results suggest that macro-level free market attitudes toward personal wealth as a cultural goal may interact with such micro-level criminological concepts as criminal thinking and delinquency to alter important criminological associations.
Use of Peripheral μ-Opioid Receptor Antagonists for Treating Opioid-Induced Constipation among US Medicare Beneficiaries from 2014 to 2018.

Background: Opioid-induced constipation (OIC) remains the most common adverse event associated with opioid use. Treatment with more novel and costly agents (such as peripheral μ-opioid receptor antagonists [PAMORAs]) may be indicated in patients with laxative-refractory OIC. Three PAMORAs are U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved for managing OIC-methylnaltrexone (FDA approved in 2008), naloxegol (in 2014), and naldemedine (in 2017). These drugs are indicated only in limited scenarios. Their contemporary patterns of use and burden of spending remain unknown. Objective: To evaluate the trends in use and expenditures for the three PAMORAs approved for treating OIC. Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study using the 2014-2018 Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Event data and the 2018 Part D Prescriber Public Use File. Setting: Prescribers and beneficiaries using PAMORAs. Measurements: The annual spending, number of beneficiaries, number of claims, and spending per beneficiary and claim for each PAMORA. The distribution by prescriber specialty using PAMORA. Results: From 2014 to 2018, aggregate spending on PAMORAs increased, from $13.6 to $150.9 million, and use increased, from 4221 to 72,592 beneficiaries. After FDA approval in 2014, naloxegol overtook methylnaltrexone in the number of users in 2015 and spending in 2016. In 2018, 6989 unique prescribers used any PAMORA. Among them, the most common specialties/professions were family practice (20.2%), internal medicine (18.0%), and nurse practitioner (15.4%). Conclusions: Our findings-significant and increasing expenditure on PAMORAs, and broad use across specialties-serve as a call for defining and implementing appropriate use of PAMORAs.
Controlled Pd(0)/t Bu3P Catalyzed Suzuki Cross-Coupling Polymerization of AB-Type Monomers with ArPd(t Bu3P)X or Pd2(dba)3/t Bu3P/ArX as the Initiator

The synthesis of well-defined and functionalized conjugated polymers, which are essential in the development of efficient organic electronics, through Suzuki cross-coupling polymerizations has been a challenging task. We developed controlled Pd(0)/t-Bu3P-catalyzed Suzuki cross-coupling polymerizations of AB-type monomers via the chain-growth mechanism with a series of in situ generated ArPd(t-Bu3P)X (X = I, Br, Cl) complexes as initiators. Among them, the combinations of Pd2(dba)3/t-Bu3P/p-BrC6H4I, Pd2(dba)3/t-Bu3P/p-BrC6H4CH2OH and Pd2(dba)3/t-Bu3P/p-PhCOC6H4Br were identified as highly robust initiator systems, resulting in polymers with predictable molecular weight and narrow polydispersity (PDI~1.13-1.20). In addition, Pd2(dba)3/t-Bu3P/p-BrC6H4CH2OH and Pd2(dba)3/t-Bu3P/p-PhCOC6H4Br initiator systems afforded functional polymers with >95% fidelity. Our results paved the road to access well-defined conjugated polymers, including conjugated polymers with complex polymer architectures such as block copolymers and branch copolymers.