cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
US Hierarchy in the Middle East

The second paper in an ongoing project on international hierarchy, this paper explores the character of US relations in the Middle East. It establishes the theoretical relevance of modern hierarchical arrangements, distinguishing this modern interstate relationship from past forms of historical domination. We orient hierarchy around the notion of mutually beneficial exchange, in which a subordinate state concedes authority over its effective sovereignty to a dominant state in return for the provision of economic and political order. Turning to the Middle East, we operationalize US hierarchical relations by unpacking the different provisions of order provided to local states, as well as the dimensions of effective sovereignty ceded in return. We next organize and present an exhaustive list of indicators in an initial effort to measure the intensity of hierarchies witnessed in US-Middle East dyads. We code the cases and discuss the early results, accentuating revealing patterns in the data. We find that Egypt, Jordan, Oman, and Bahrain present the most intense cases of American hierarchy, while four additional cases do not qualify as hierarchy — Iran, Syria, Libya, and the Palestinian Authority. The US has provided far more provisions of order than subordinate states in the region have furnished provisions of effective sovereignty.
Correlation of Brain Amine Changes with Ethanol-Induced Sleep-Time in Mice

Earlier studies in our laboratories (Erickson and Graham, 1973; Graham and Erickson, 1974) have pointed out our interest in correlating central amine changes with certain aspects of ethanol intoxication. In the earlier studies we saw changes in acetylcholine (ACh) release from the cerebral cortex and reticular formation after various intravenous doses of ethanol in rabbits. Available literature concerning the effects of ethanol on catecholand indolealkylamines is voluminous, but incomplete and sometimes conflicting. For example, ethanol has been reported to deplete serotonin (5HT) and norepinephrine (NE) in the brain stem of rabbits (Gursey and Olson, 1960), and to raise brain 5HT of rats (Bonnycastle et al., 1962). Many workers, such as Haggendal and Lindqvist (1961), however, have seen no effect of ethanol on cerebral NE, DA or 5HT in rats or rabbits. Wallgren and Barry (1970) have concluded that, in general, ethanol appears to change brain levels of catecholamines and 5HT little, if at all. With regard to the effects of ethanol on the central amine ACh, Kalant et al. (1967) have seen decreased release of ACh in rat cortical slices in vitro while we have seen a short-lived increase in total brain ACh after ethanol in rats (Erickson and Graham, 1973).
An evaluation of key determinants preventing intra-family business succession

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify the key determinants which inhibit intra-family business succession. The study also explores the effects these determinants have on preventing intra-family business succession. Finally, the study explores the probability that intra-family business succession does not take place based upon the effects of the identified determinants. Design/methodology/approach – A total of 250 surveys were mailed to family business owners across the USA, yielding 68 usable responses (27.2 percent response rate). Factor analysis was used to determine the most influential factors which inhibit intra-family business succession, and Bayesian networks were constructed to determine the probability that intra-family business succession does not occur based on these factors. Findings – The study results indicate that there are four key constructs comprised of 23 variables which have the most influence on deterring intra-family business successions. The results also suggest manager...
Indirect effect of insecticides on convergent lady beetle (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in pecan orchards

Indirect toxicity through feeding on insecticide-treated prey was determined for five insecticides at two concentrations each to larvae and adults of convergent lady beetle, Hippodamia convergens Guerin-Meneville. Endosulfan (0.375 and 0.75 g [AI]/liter), carbaryl (1.2 and 2.4 g [AI]/liter), phosmet (0.375 and 0.75 g [AI]/liter), methomyl (0.225 and 0.45 g [AI]/liter), and esfenvalerate (0.015 and 0.03 g [AI]/liter) were toxic to larvae and adults when convergent lady beetles were fed insecticide-treated yellow pecan aphids, Monelliopsis pecanis Bissell. Esfenvalerate was a fast-acting insecticide, killing all tested convergent lady beetle life stages 1 h after feeding on treated yellow pecan aphids. Carbaryl and phosmet were slow-acting insecticides, causing the greatest mortality after 48 h. Methomyl was the only insecticide that did not cause 100% mortality to adult convergent lady beetles 48 h after feeding on insecticide-treated yellow pecan aphids, at both rates tested.
African-American Communities and Violent Crime: The Construction of Race Differences

Abstract Urban poor African-American communities typically have violent crime rates much higher than those of white communities. In explaining this race difference in crime, criminologists have gravitated toward representing high-crime African-American neighborhoods in ways that suggest their residents are different-in-kind from those living in low-crime white neighborhoods. Accounting for crime in terms of a “race difference” has become increasingly problematic because, much like gender, the meaning of the concept of race has come in for increased scrutiny. Indeed some theorists of race are skeptical that “race” can be considered a category capable of differentiating social groups based on their tendency to engage in distinct behaviors. Yet, despite their controversial status in other subareas of sociology, the twin concepts of race and race difference remain important in the study of crime and urban communities. One criminological theory which still treats these concepts uncritically is racial inequalit...
Delay Scheduled Impulsive Control for Networked Control Systems

This paper presents a new design approach for networked control systems under the integral quadratic constraint (IQC) framework. Two types of network induced time-varying delays, that is, measurement delay and actuation delay, are considered. A novel delay scheduled impulsive (DSI) controller is proposed, which utilizes both plant state and the IQC dynamic state, as well as the real-time network-induced delay information for gain scheduling feedback control. Robust ${\mathcal L}_{2}$ stability analysis of the resulting impulsive closed-loop system is performed using dynamic IQCs combined with a clock-dependent storage function. Based on the analysis results, the synthesis conditions for the proposed DSI controller are established as a finite number of linear matrix inequalities by specifying a piecewise linear storage function, which can be solved effectively via convex optimization. Finally, an application to a dc motor system demonstrates the effectiveness and advantages of the proposed design approach.
Improved synthesis conditions for mixed H2/H∞ gain-scheduling control subject to uncertain scheduling parameters

ABSTRACTThe vast majority of the existing work in gain-scheduling (GS) control literature assumes perfect knowledge of scheduling parameters. Generally, this assumption is not realistic since for practical control applications measurement noises are unavoidable. In this paper, novel synthesis conditions are derived to synthesise robust GS controllers with mixed H2/H∞ performance subject to uncertain scheduling parameters. The conditions are formulated in terms of parameterised bilinear matrix inequalities (PBMIs) that depend on varying parameters inside multi-simplex domain. The conditions provide practical GS controllers independent of the derivatives of scheduling parameters. That is, the designed controllers are feasible for implementation. Since bilinear matrix inequality problems are intractable, an iterative PBMI algorithm is developed to solve the developed synthesis conditions. By the virtue of this algorithm, conservativeness reduction is achieved with few iterations. Examples are presented to il...
Parts of the Whole: Teaching Quantitative Reasoning in an Exponential Decay Model

The simple calculus example of exponential decay can be an excellent vehicle for teaching quantitative reasoning in calculus or differential equations. Insect maturation provides a rich context for thinking about the meaning of the rate constant for exponential decay, which is derived in the context of a system at equilibrium but is generally measured using a single cohort of individuals.
Ab Initio Potential for H3O+ → H+ + H2O: A Step to a Many-Body Representation of the Hydrated Proton?

We report a new potential energy surface (PES) for hydronium that dissociates to H+ + H2O. The PES is a permutationally invariant fit to a data set of nearly 100,000 electronic energies, of which most are CCSD(T)-F12/aug-cc-pVQZ, plus a small set of MRCI-aug-cc-pVTZ diabatic energies in the region where the CCSD(T) method fails. The long-range part of the PES is described accurately by a classical Coulomb interaction between the proton and H2O using partial charges obtained from an accurate, full-dimensional dipole moment surface. A switching function connects the fitted PES to this long-range interaction.The fidelity of this global PES is determined by a combination of standard geometry and harmonic analyses at the minimum and inversion saddle point. In addition, VSCF/VCI calculations of the fundamentals and tunneling splittings are reported; all of these are within 3 cm–1 or less of experimental values. A diffusion Monte Carlo calculation is also reported for the zero-point state. The PES is used in a t...
Surgery for epileptogenic cerebral dysplasia in children

New developments in diagnostic methods, technical improvements in the surgical field, and a better understanding of the effects of epilepsy on the developing brain are contributing to the general observation that more children with epilepsy are being treated surgically. Malformations of cortical development are the most common cause of seizures in pediatric surgical candidates, and the best predictor of seizure freedom after surgery appears to be the complete removal of the epileptogenic lesion. To achieve this goal in challenging cases, such as magnetic resonance imaging-negative or multifocal lesions, a staged approach with pre- and/or post-resective invasive electroencephalography monitoring has increasingly been used at a number of centers. As the experience with this approach has grown, and the risks and benefits are better understood, a larger number of patients with epilepsy have been identified as potential surgical candidates. In this review, a number of the recent developments in pediatric epilepsy surgery are discussed.
Infant Visual Attention and Stimulus Repetition Effects on Object Recognition.

This study examined behavioral, heart rate (HR), and event-related potential (ERP) correlates of attention and recognition memory for 4.5-, 6-, and 7.5-month-old infants (N = 45) during stimulus encoding. Attention was utilized as an independent variable using HR measures. The Nc ERP component associated with attention and the late slow wave (LSW) associated with recognition memory were analyzed. The 7.5-month-olds demonstrated a significant reduction in Nc amplitude with stimulus repetition. This reduction in Nc was not found for younger infants. Additionally, infants only demonstrated differential LSW amplitude based on stimulus type on attentive trials as defined by HR changes. These findings indicate that from 4.5 to 7.5 months, infants' attentional engagement is influenced by an increasingly broader range of stimulus characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
What We Don’t Know May Hurt Us: An Examination of Systematic Bias in Offender Risk Assessments

ABSTRACTMany issues are known to plague the validity of risk assessment, but empirical scholarship in criminal justice has not yet directly investigated how they influence prediction accuracy. This study explores how frequently risk assessment staff classifies information to be insufficient and the extent to which systematic error impacts the validity of risk prediction. Using Oregon’s Juvenile Crime Prevention Risk Assessment Instrument, we identified critical missing risk information and infused the dataset with varying levels of error. Classification outcomes and overall prediction accuracy reacted unfavorably, suggesting that the common practice of knowingly and unknowingly underestimating risk may be highly pernicious.
Mixture Equation of State for Water with an Associating Reference Fluid

Development of equations of state for water is challenging due to the structural transition to tetrahedral symmetry of liquid water at ambient conditions. Recently, the concept of associated reference perturbation theory (APT) was introduced. APT includes association in the reference fluid to the isotropic attractions. This allows for the structural transition of water to tetrahedral symmetry to be incorporated in the perturbation theory. APT was shown to give substantial improvements over standard SAFT approaches in the description of pure water. In this paper, we further refine this approach by including an associating reference fluid in the polar PC-SAFT equation of state. This allows for a more accurate representation of pure water thermodynamics. It is demonstrated that the new approach gives a substantial improvement in the correlation of liquid densities, hydrogen-bonded structure, and the second virial coefficient as compared to a standard polar PC-SAFT equation of state. The approach qualitativel...
Optimizing information content in MOF sensor arrays for analyzing methane-air mixtures

Abstract In this study, multiple arrays of sensors composed from all possible combinations of nine different metal-organic framework (MOF) materials were evaluated for their methane-in-air sensing performance using molecular simulations. We considered all of the gas mixture compositions of CH 4 , N 2 , and O 2 , varying from 0% to 100% of each component in 1% steps (5151 mixtures in total), in all MOFs. Assuming the mass of adsorbed gas in each MOF can be measured using a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device such as a surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensor, the expected signal response can be predicted from molecular gas adsorption simulations. By combining predicted signal responses from each MOF sensor element in an array, we are able to determine which sets of MOFs provide the most information about the gas mixture they are exposed to, as measured by the Kullback-Liebler divergence (KLD). The KLD values are then used for ranking array performances. We report results for both binary mixtures of CH 4 and N 2 and ternary mixtures that include O 2 . As expected, we found that increasing the number of elements in an array improves overall sensor performance; however, for a given array size, there is a wide disparity in KLD values between the best and worst arrays. This disparity highlights the potential inefficiency of choosing sensing materials for an array by experimental trial-and-error. Instead, we advocate the use of theory to intelligently select the best performing sensor arrays.
Cervical Fracture/Dislocation

Cervical spine fractures can result in devastating outcomes for patients and their families. The acute management of a patient with a cervical spine fracture/dislocation can be potentially life-saving or leave lasting neurologic consequences. Appropriate immobilization and assurance of maintenance of cervical spine precautions are key until radiographic evaluation and specialized treatment can be provided. The goal of treatment for a cervical spine fracture/dislocation is to remove or minimize the insult on the spinal cord while ensuring that stability is provided via cervical orthosis, traction, or open reduction and internal fixation. An understanding of the management of cervical spine pathology can prevent potential disastrous outcomes for injured patients.
Abstract 2878: Compliance to Guidelines by Emergency Medical Services in “Drip and Ship” Patients with In-transit Intravenous Thrombolytic Infusion

Background: The “drip and ship” paradigm among acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients has resulted in expansion of thrombolytic treatment in patients eligible for intravenous (IV) recombinant tissue ...
ESTIMATION OF RESIDUAL STRAINS IN AORTIC SEGMENTS

Publisher Summary In characterizing the mechanical properties of the arterial tissue, it is customary to assume that the configuration that a cylindrical arterial segment assumes when the intravascular and extravascular pressures and the longitudinal force acting on it are zero is stress-free. Similarly, also in uniaxial stress tests on arterial strips it is generally assumed that the initial straight configuration of the strip prior to the application of axial load is stress-free. This crucial assumption has never been experimentally substantiated. This chapter discusses this assumption and show that it is not warranted. It presents the results that indicate that the aorta is in a state of residual strain and stress when it is in a configuration which is circumferentially intact but free from external forces. This is contrary to what is generally assumed to be the case. It is of interest to compare the residual stresses with the normal, in vivo circumferential stress. The maximum residual stress is approximately 14 to 17% of the mean in vivo circumferential engineering stress. A similar error is also implicit when an initially curved strip is straightened out prior to subjecting it to a uniaxial tensile stress test. These findings indicate that there is advantageous residual stress in the artery by virtue of which the actual maximum in vivo circumferential stress is lower than what would be computed on the basis of assuming the natural configuration to be stress-free.
TRANSFER OF THE MOUSE METALLOTHIONEIN-I GENE INTO CULTURED CELLS AND INTO ANIMALS

Publisher Summary Metallothioneins (MTs) are small, cysteine-rich, metal-binding proteins found in most eukaryotes. We have isolated and characterized the mouse MT-I gene and have shown that this gene is transcriptionally regulated by heavy metals in vivo and in most cultured cells. To define the mechanisms and sequences responsible for transcriptional regulation, we have constructed vectors that include the MT-I gene along with a selectable marker gene. When these vectors are transfected into mouse or human cells the MT-I gene is transcriptionally regulated by cadmium. S1 mapping reveals that the 5’ end of the mRNA is the same as that originating from endogenous MT-I genes. The promoter and regulatory region of the MT-I gene has also been fused to the structural gene of herpes virus thymidine kinase resulting in a vector (pMK) in which thymidine kinase expression is controlled by cadmium when it is injected into mouse eggs. A minimum of 90 bp of mouse sequence 5’ of the mRNA cap site is required for cadmium regulation of thymidine kinase expression. Mouse eggs injected with pMK have been reimplanted into the oviducts of pseudopregnant mice. Several of the resulting mice express a high level of herpes thymidine kinase in the liver in response to cadmium. DNA analysis reveals multiple copies of the plasmid which are inherited as though they are integrated into a single chromosome. Some offspring of these mice also express viral thymidine kinase indicating that functional fusion plasmids can be stably incorporated into the germ line.
Fermi surface of the flat-band intermetallics A P d 3 (A =Pb ,Sn )

The intermetallic phases $A\mathrm{P}{\mathrm{d}}_{3}$ $(A=\mathrm{Pb},\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\mathrm{Sn})$ were recently predicted to host an unconventional combination of unique electronic structure features, namely, flat bands near the Fermi energy coexisting with topologically protected surface states at the \ensuremath{\Gamma} point. These features each could independently produce alternative electronic states, including electronically or magnetically ordered states coexisting with unconventional edge dominated transport and a significantly large thermopower coexisting with topological characteristics. To investigate these expectations, we report the synthesis, structural/chemical characterization, electrical and thermal transport properties, magnetic torque (up to 45 T), and Fermi surface mapping for single crystals produced using the Czochralski technique. X-ray diffraction and scanning transmission electron microscope measurements establish the absence of defects, while small measured values of the thermopower indicate that the Fermi level is located away from the flat-band region. The electronic properties are further clarified by the topography of the Fermi surfaces, measured through the de Haas--van Alphen effect. We find that the Fermi levels are placed at higher energy values than the original ones resulting from the density functional theory calculations, 54 meV higher for ${\mathrm{PbPd}}_{3}$ and 68 meV higher for ${\mathrm{SnPd}}_{3}$. The molten flux method was also used to synthesize ${\mathrm{PbPd}}_{3}$, yielding nearly identical Fermi surfaces between the specimens grown using different synthesis techniques, indicating the robustness of the Fermi level position. According to the density functional theory calculations, the flat band is mainly formed by the $4d$ bands of Pd. Therefore, we propose monovalent doping on the Pb/Sn site as a viable approach to accessing the flat band while maintaining the unique band structure features of these compounds.
Analysis of Krylov Subspace Solutions of Regularized Nonconvex Quadratic Problems

We provide convergence rates for Krylov subspace solutions to the trust-region and cubic-regularized (nonconvex) quadratic problems. Such solutions may be efficiently computed by the Lanczos method and have long been used in practice. We prove error bounds of the form $1/t^2$ and $e^{-4t/\sqrt{\kappa}}$, where $\kappa$ is a condition number for the problem, and $t$ is the Krylov subspace order (number of Lanczos iterations). We also provide lower bounds showing that our analysis is sharp.
Интенциональный анализ поэтического текста как «разгадка» авторского «я»

Author's self-concept within our meaning is the self-presentation of rhymes in the content-related structure and reveals itself in the context of intentional interpretation of the poetic text, i.e. decoding the subject-matter and ideology rooted in it, complex of imageries and symbolic components. Hitting a target in seeking the key to the author’s self-concept is undertaken through the case study work with The Spring Quran, a piece of poetry by the poet of the Silver Age of Russian literature (1890 – 1922), “the son of Asia” Velimir Khlebnikov and is confined in interpreting implications used by the author in connection with the certain sources and motives, i.e. symbolic performance as of mythological and religious (both Christian-like and Muslim). Khlebnikov’s “I” – self-concept – in the poem The Spring Quran implicates the author’s creed, aiming for the veracity through the tree of knowledge and admitting the religious values, faith in divine justice. Therefore the author’s self-concept is the artistic oneness of truth-centered postulates and author’s intentions to give utterance to them, identity of imageries and oneself. Interpreting the imageries and symbols of theologian, poplar, horn, sky, green, blue, etc. interlaced in the poem proves our case.
Copernican Reasoning About Intelligent Extraterrestrials: A Reply to Simpson

Copernican reasoning involves considering ourselves, in the absence of other information, to be randomly selected members of a reference class. Consider the reference class intelligentobservers. If there are extraterrestrial intelligences (ETIs), taking ourselves to be randomly selected intelligent observers leads to the conclusion that it is likely the Earth has a larger population size than the typical planet inhabited by intelligent life, for the same reason that a randomly selected human is likely to come from a more populous country. The astrophysicist Fergus Simpson contends that this reasoning supports the claims that the typical planet inhabited by ETIs is smaller than Earth (radius $$\approx$$ 5000 km; cf. Earth’s radius = 6371 km) and that the typical ETI is significantly larger than us ($$\approx$$ 314 kg, the size of an adult male grizzly bear). Simpson’s applications of Copernican reasoning are novel and exciting. They should be of interest to philosophers concerned with Richard Gott’s delta t argument, the N = 1 problem in astrobiology, limited principles of indifference, and probabilistic epistemology in general. While we agree with Simpson about the qualitative direction of his conclusions, we take issue with his presentation of precise quantitative results because his methods (1) display bias, (2) ignore other variables contributing to population size, (3) commit an equivocation, and (4) conceal their dependence on arbitrary assumptions.
Identification of Antibiotic Administration as a Potentially Novel Factor Associated With Tacrolimus Trough Variability in Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Preliminary Study.

Tacrolimus trough variability is an important risk factor for kidney allograft outcomes. Recent evidence suggests that the gut microbiota is associated with tacrolimus dosing requirements and direct metabolism of tacrolimus. We hypothesize that administration of antibiotics, which are known to alter the gut microbiota, is associated with tacrolimus trough variability. Methods We conducted a retrospective chart review of subjects who received kidney transplants at our institution from 2012 to 2013 and evaluated subjects who received antibiotics during the first month of transplantation (Abx Group, N = 60) and subjects who did not (No Abx Group, N = 200). We evaluated whether antibiotic administration in the Abx Group had increased tacrolimus trough concentrations and concentration over tacrolimus dosage (C/D) after antibiotic administration. We also evaluated tacrolimus variability as measured by standard deviation (SD) and coefficient of variation between the Abx Group and No Abx Group. Results In the Abx Group, tacrolimus trough concentration over tacrolimus dosage (C/D) increased 7 and 15 days after antibiotic administration (P = 0.001, P = 0.07, respectively, Wilcoxon signed-rank test). From postoperative day 31-45, the variability in tacrolimus trough levels in the Abx Group as measured by SD and coefficient of variation was significantly higher than the variability in the No Abx Group (P = 0.03, P = 0.02, Wilcoxon rank sum test, respectively). Conclusions Our identification of antibiotic administration as a potentially new risk factor for tacrolimus trough variability suggests the need to carefully follow tacrolimus trough levels after antibiotic administration.
Determining the Effect of Diet on Liver and Renal Health in a Mouse Model of Chronic Alcohol Intake

Diet and alcohol consumption are significant contributors to health and disease worldwide. Liver disease is a consequence of poor diet and alcohol consumption; however preclinical animal studies ha...
Preoperative Feeds in Ductal-Dependent Cardiac Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

CONTEXT: Our aim for this review is to determine if preoperative feeds in neonates with ductal-dependent congenital heart disease are harmful or beneficial. OBJECTIVES: To summarize current evidence for preoperative feeding in neonates with ductal-dependent congenital heart disease. DATA SOURCES: We used the following databases: Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. STUDY SELECTION: We included observational studies in which the following outcomes were addressed: necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), hospital length of stay (LOS), time to achieve full postoperative enteral feeding, and feeding intolerance. DATA EXTRACTION: Two reviewers independently screened each study for eligibility and extracted data. Methodologic quality was assessed by using a standardized item bank, and certainty of evidence for each outcome was assessed by using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation criteria. RESULTS: Five retrospective cohort studies were eligible for inclusion, for which risk of bias was significant. When comparing neonates who received preoperative feeds with those who did not, there was no significant difference in NEC (pooled odds ratio = 1.09 [95% confidence interval 0.06–21.00; P = .95]; 3 studies, 6807 participants, very low certainty evidence), hospital LOS (mean of 14 days for those not fed versus 9.9 days for those fed preoperatively; P CONCLUSIONS: There is insufficient evidence to suggest that preoperative enteral feeds in patients with ductal-dependent cardiac lesions adversely influence the rate of NEC, LOS, or feeding intolerance.
The Keyword Effect: A grounded theory study exploring the role of keywords in clinical communication

Objectives Keywords, also known as "buzzwords" or "trigger words," serve as memorable descriptors to associate physical findings with specific diagnoses. These terms, such as "target lesion" and "steeple sign," liken a physical or radiographic finding to a nonmedical comparator as a means to elicit an associated diagnosis. Keywords permeate medical literature and clinical conversations. However, the potential for miscommunicating critical information exists and the impact of keywords on communication-related medical error is unknown. We explored the use of keywords and how physicians perceive their use in their clinical communication as part of patient care. Methods With a grounded theory approach, semistructured interviews were completed in 2016 to 2017 with a purposive sample of 15 resident and attending physicians working in one pediatric emergency department, where clinical conversations occur frequently between providers of different specialties and levels of training. Constant comparative analysis for emergent themes was conducted. We identified key themes and examined their relationships to theorize how keywords affect clinical communication. Results We identified three major aspects: 1) keywords belong to the culture of medicine, by which providers connect with each other using specialized terms that imply a shared experience and knowledge base. This culture encourages keyword use. 2) By encapsulating a pattern of clinical findings into one word or short phrases, keywords allow for convenient, efficient communication of both diagnoses and of thought processes between providers. 3) Keywords, however, may mislead; if incorrectly applied to a given clinical situation, they may be misinterpreted by the receiver, or they may introduce bias to diagnostic decision making. Conclusions More than simple descriptors, keywords can communicate entire diagnoses and activate illness scripts between providers. Also, keywords are integral to the culture and language of medicine. However, providers should be aware of the potential negative effects of keywords in clinical conversations and must balance the demands of efficient and accurate communication with the potential for miscommunication and error.
Design and Generation of Stochastically Defined, Pulsed FM Noise Waveforms

The design and physical generation of diverse radar emissions often requires optimization of unique waveforms on an individual basis. Consequently, a significant processing overhead is incurred that could make real-time implementation impractical. To address this limitation, families of pulsed FM noise waveforms are defined here according to a parameterized process denoted as Stochastic Waveform Generation (StoWGe). Through the use of expectation metrics and an expected frequency template error (EFTE) cost function a particular waveform family is specified via a desired spectral shape so that each physical FM waveform can be easily produced by drawing samples from a random process. Performance is assessed via simulation and experimentally in loopback and open-air testing.
Chip-Level Considerations to Enable Dependability for eVTOL and Urban Air Mobility Systems

Weight, energy consumption and performance are critical drivers in future mass-produced eVTOLs (electrically powered Vertical Take-Off and Landing aircraft) worldwide. The quest to rapidly integrate and certify modern COTS compute and communications technology will be a central goal of modern avionics OEMs combining new technologies, such as cloud-center integration and acceleration of AI, create the new functionality necessary for the Urban Air Mobility (UAM) revolution. The cost savings in COTS, to be fully recognized, will require a new perspective on how functionality is partitioned, how power-efficient and safe/secure performance is facilitated by multicore processors (MCP) and how the HW/SW certification processes can be streamlined to allow the industry to easily absorb the latest innovations. In this paper we describe some current and future trends that affect air traffic control systems and UAM avionics. We describe impact on Air Traffic Control (ATC), present new ATC and UAM avionics architectures, technology enablers in general and how UAM can profit from the latest technology advancements.
Evidenz von Manipulationsbehandlungen der Lendenwirbelsäulenregion

Manipulationen werden haufig zur Behandlung von Schmerzen im Lendenwirbelsaulenbereich („low back pain“, LBP) eingesetzt, aber internationale Leitlinien hierzu sind nicht eindeutig. Die vorliegende Ubersicht berucksichtigt randomisierte kontrollierte Studien (RCT), die anhand eines Scoresystems hinsichtlich der Qualitat ihrer Methodik, Schlussfolgerungen der Autoren und der Ergebnisse entsprechend des durchschnittlichen Outcomes beurteilt wurden. Hierfur konnten 62 kontrollierte randomisierte Studien, die Manipulationsbehandlungen mit anderen Therapieformen oder Placebo verglichen, herangezogen werden. Davon wiesen 16 Studien (25,8%) eine gute Qualitat auf und nur 21 (33,9%) beinhalteten eine langere Nachbeobachtung (Follow-up). Von positiven Ergebnissen berichteten 33 Studien (53,2%) und in 5 Studien (8,1%) wurden nur von Patienten in definierten Untergruppen positive Ergebnisse beobachtet. In 14 Studien waren Patienten mit akuten Beschwerden (5 davon mit positiven Ergebnissen), in 21 Studien solche mit chronischen Schmerzen (11 positive Ergebnisse) und in 27 Studien gemischte Populationen (19 mit positivem Ergebnis) eingeschlossen worden. Obwohl die vorliegende Untersuchung keinen verblindeten Ansatz und nur einen einzigen beurteilenden Untersucher hatte, waren die Scores mit fruheren Ubersichten vergleichbar. Fur die Patienten mit chronischen Schmerzen sowie fur die gemischte Studienpopulation war die Evidenz eindeutiger als in fruheren Reviews, da hier mehr Studien berucksichtigt und auch bei einigen Studien mit negativem Ausgang positive Aspekte gefunden wurden. Fur manipulative Masnahmen bei akuten Beschwerden im LWS-Bereich ergibt sich wenig Evidenz, jedoch eine klare Evidenz fur deren Anwendung bei chronischem Beschwerdebild. Keine Evidenz gibt es fur eine Ineffizienz von Manipulationen und eine sehr schwache Evidenz fur die Behauptung, sie seien weniger effektiv als andere Therapieformen.
Safety Analysis of Linear Discrete-time Stochastic Systems: Work-in-Progress

We study the problem of safety verification of linear discrete-time stochastic systems (linear DTSS) over bounded and unbounded time horizons. Linear DTSS capture random processes, where the one-step transition relation between the current random vector X and the next-step random vector X’ is linear and is given by X’ = AX + W, where A is an n × n matrix and W is a random noise vector. We assume that the initial and noise random vectors are multivariate normal. Our safety problem consists of checking whether a random vector in the unsafe set is reachable from a random vector in the initial set through a random process of the linear DTSS in either a given bounded or unbounded number of steps. For bounded safety verification, we reduce the problem to the satisfiability of a semidefinite programming problem. For the unbounded safety verification, we propose a novel abstraction procedure to reduce the safety problem to that of a finite graph, wherein, the nodes of the graph correspond to the regions of a partition of the random vector space, in contrast to existing works that partition the state-space. More precisely, we partition the parameter space of normal random vectors, namely, the space of means and covariance matrices, and apply semi-definite programming to compute the edges. We show that our abstraction procedure is sound.
Xenopus leads the way: Frogs as a pioneering model to understand the human brain

From its long history in the field of embryology to its recent advances in genetics, Xenopus has been an indispensable model for understanding the human brain. Foundational studies that gave us our first insights into major embryonic patterning events serve as a crucial backdrop for newer avenues of investigation into organogenesis and organ function. The vast array of tools available in Xenopus laevis and Xenopus tropicalis allows interrogation of developmental phenomena at all levels, from the molecular to the behavioral, and the application of CRISPR technology has enabled the investigation of human disorder risk genes in a higher-throughput manner. As the only major tetrapod model in which all developmental stages are easily manipulated and observed, frogs provide the unique opportunity to study organ development from the earliest stages. All of these features make Xenopus a premier model for studying the development of the brain, a notoriously complex process that demands an understanding of all stages from fertilization to organogenesis and beyond. Importantly, core processes of brain development are conserved between Xenopus and human, underlining the advantages of this model. This review begins by summarizing discoveries made in amphibians that form the cornerstones of vertebrate neurodevelopmental biology and goes on to discuss recent advances that have catapulted our understanding of brain development in Xenopus and in relation to human development and disease. As we engage in a new era of patient-driven gene discovery, Xenopus offers exceptional potential to uncover conserved biology underlying human brain disorders and move towards rational drug design.
A single cell atlas reveals unanticipated cell type complexity in Drosophila ovaries

Organ function relies on the spatial organization and functional coordination of numerous cell types. The Drosophila ovary is a widely used model system to study the cellular activities underlying organ function, including stem cell regulation, cell signaling and epithelial morphogenesis. However, the relative paucity of cell type specific reagents hinders investigation of molecular functions at the appropriate cellular resolution. Here, we used single cell RNA sequencing to characterize all cell types of the stem cell compartment and early follicles of the Drosophila ovary. We computed transcriptional signatures and identified specific markers for nine states of germ cell differentiation, and 23 somatic cell types and subtypes. We uncovered an unanticipated diversity of escort cells, the somatic cells that directly interact with differentiating germline cysts. Three escort cell subtypes reside in discrete anatomical positions, and express distinct sets of secreted and transmembrane proteins, suggesting that diverse micro-environments support the progressive differentiation of germ cells. Finally, we identified 17 follicle cell subtypes, and characterized their transcriptional profiles. Altogether, we provide a comprehensive resource of gene expression, cell type specific markers, spatial coordinates and functional predictions for 34 ovarian cell types and subtypes.
The CT Scan after 50 years - Continuity and Change.

The CT Scan after 50 years The CT scan was just one development in a centuries-long quest to more precisely visualize lesions in the human body, but its invention also marked a radical change. A ha...
A New Perception of Placement Testing for Year One African American Students in Community College Settings

Urban communities are faced with many challenges today. One of those challenges is in education. Urban high schools do not have the resources needed to properly educate their student to be competitive against other well-funded school districts. A high percentage of African American students who graduate form high school, do so below the appropriate academic level and are not academically ready to start college coursework. Deil-Amen and Tevis (2004) state “Lower African American and Latino students on these exams continue to present daunting obstacles for them especially in the form of admission to selective colleges”(Deil-Amen &Tevis, 2004,p.141).
A 10-level GaN-based Flying Capacitor Multilevel Boost Converter for Radiation-Hardened Operation in Space Applications

Recent work has shown the high efficiency and high power density of multilevel converters in terrestrial applications. This work applies the advantages of multilevel converters to space applications by investigating a 10-level flying capacitor multilevel boost converter for compact and efficient high-voltage generation. The converter exploits the low on-state resistance and reduced parasitic capacitance, as well as radiation hardened qualities of GaN power semiconductor switches to achieve high efficiency and power density. Practical challenges such as driving a large number of high-side switches while maintaining high-voltage creepage and clearance requirements are addressed through innovative cascaded bootstrap techniques for gate driver power, and a new commutation loop design with reduced parasitic inductance. The performance benefits of these techniques are demonstrated in a 1 kW, 100 V to 500 V step-up dc-dc hardware prototype, achieving 99.1% efficiency and a power density of 24 kW/kg.
Reduced-Order Modeling for Complex Flow Emulation by Common Kernel-Smoothed Proper Orthogonal Decomposition

In the present study, we propose a new surrogate model [common kernel-smoothed proper orthogonal decomposition (CKSPOD)] to emulate spatiotemporally evolving flows. The model integrates and extends...
Carboxylation of Pyruvate by Isolated Rat Adipose Tissue Mitochondria

Abstract Mitochondria were isolated from rat epididymal adipose tissue and shown to be functionally intact as judged from both the P:O and respiratory control ratios, and structurally intact as determined by electron microscopy. In the presence of pyruvate, ATP, inorganic phosphate, and magnesium ions, these mitochondria incorporated H14CO3- into organic acids. Citrate and malate were the main radioactive products, with citrate containing about two-thirds of the radioactivity fixed. With the use of a rapid syringe filtration method the efflux of the newly formed intermediates from the mitochondria was shown. The observed high rates of pyruvate carboxylation and citrate formation have been further supported by the levels of pyruvate carboxylase and citrate synthase in mitochondria. The deletion of inorganic phosphate from the incubation medium reduced the H14CO3- fixation presumably due to the accumulation of ADP. Pyruvate carboxylation was also inhibited by ADP even in the presence of ATP. Mitochondria were shown to metabolize exogenous labeled citrate and malate, and pyruvate caused a 5-fold increase in the formation of 14C-citrate from 14C-malate. The results suggest that pyruvate carboxylation is regulated, in part, by the levels of pyruvate and ATP in adipose tissue mitochondria. Our observations lend experimental evidence supporting the role of the mitochondria in supplying the precursors for the citrate cleavage and glyceroneogenic pathways in rat adipose tissue, and emphasize the important role of pyruvate carboxylase in lipogenesis.
Living with Childhood Cancer: Predicting Attendance at a Seminar Day Targeting Families with a Recent Diagnosis of Childhood Cancer

Abstract The present study evaluated the use of an annual seminar day for families of children diagnosed with cancer in the preceding 12 months. The main objective was to explore the relationship between various measures of parental psychological health and the likelihood of attending the seminar. In line with clinical observation, the authors hypothesized that the families that did not attend the seminar day would have a higher profile of distress on a range of variables in the weeks before the seminar. The measures included current sources of support (psychosocial and material), mother-partner functioning, and maternal depression, anxiety, and stress. Of 56 families that participated, 20 also attended the seminar day. The results showed a range of clinically and statistically significant differences between families in the direction of the hypothesis. After controlling for time since diagnosis, the mother's level of psychological distress and the perceived level of discord in the mother-partner relation...
Impact of High Burnup on PWR Spent Fuel Characteristics

Reducing the burden of management of spent nuclear fuel is important to the future of nuclear energy. The impact of higher pressurized water reactor (PWR) fuel burnup is examined in this paper from the perspective of its impact on spent-fuel radioactivity, decay heat, and plutonium content. The necessary fresh fuel enrichments to achieve high burnup in PWRs with the same three-batch operation scheme are first computed; then, characteristics of the spent fuel are determined. The increase in decay heat with burnup is found to be generally less than linear. Although each high-burnup fuel assembly would be hotter and more radioactive, the total decay heat to be removed or accommodated in storage is less for the same electricity production. If the time window before 150 yr after discharge can be excluded from impacting a repository, significant savings in its capacity can be realized with high-burnup fuel. The high-burnup fuel is more proliferation resistant because of reduced total plutonium production per kilowatt hour and because of higher content of less desirable plutonium isotopes, such as 238 Pu. The fuel cycle cost can be slightly reduced by increasing burnup until it reaches a shallow minimum near 70 MWd/kg. Higher burnups would require one-time changes to the limits on enrichments that can be handled in most com­ mercial fuel fabrication facilities. Changing the waste fee to base it on the amount of radioactivity in the spent fuel would enhance the economic benefit of high burnup.
Assimilative and Contrastive Emotional Reactions to Upward and Downward Social Comparisons

Henry Fleming, the central character of (Stephen Crane’s (1952/1895)) Civil War novel, The Red Badge of Courage, eagerly joins the Union army although he knows little about war. Only much later does he realize how ignorant he is about whether he will run when the fighting starts. This uncertainty about himself sets off a disguised but full-scale search for social comparisons until, through the gut check of battle, he can “… watch his legs discover their merits and their faults” (Crane, 1952/1895, p. 21). Much of the classic and current social comparison theory would find support in how Fleming uses social comparisons during the several days portrayed in the novel (Suls & Miller, 1977; Suls & Wills, 1991). Festinger (1954) emphasized the role of uncertainty in motivating a person’s interest in social comparisons, and it is Fleming’s ignorance about his own capacity for bravery that first prompts him to probe for fears among the other soldiers so as “… to measure himself by his comrades” (Crane, 1952/1895, p. 21). Even the seemingly objective test of battle is confounded by social comparisons. In an early battle, Fleming panics and runs, but it is the sight of other soldiers turning tail first that induces his behavior, creating in social comparison terms a form of social validation (Cialdini, 1993) that spurs him to “…speed toward the rear in great leaps” (Crane, 1952/1895, p. 47).