cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Information theoretic acoustic feature selection for acoustic-to-articulatory inversion

We use mutual information as the criterion to rank the Mel frequency cepstral coefficients (MFCCs) and their derivatives according to the information they provide about different articulatory features in acoustic-to-articulatory (AtoA) inversion. It is found that just a small subset of the coefficients encodes maximal information about articulatory features and interestingly, this subset is articulatory feature specific. We use these subsets of MFCCs(+derivatives) in AtoA inversion using Gaussian mixture model (GMM) mapping. Inversion experiments with articulatory data support the information theoretic finding that the subsets of MFCCs(+derivatives) as selected by feature ranking method are sufficient to achieve an inversion performance similar to that obtained by a conventional full set of MFCCs(+derivatives). This drastically reduces the modeling complexity of the acoustic-articulatory map using GMM without degrading inversion performance significantly. Index Terms: Acoustic-to-articulatory inversion, mutual information, Gaussian mixture model.
Exactly sparse memory efficient SLAM using the multi-block alternating direction method of multipliers

Large-scale SLAM demands for scalable techniques in which the computational burden and the memory consumption is shared among many processing units. While recent literature offers competitive approaches for scalable mapping, these usually involve approximations to preserve sparsity of the resulting subproblems. We present an approach to scalable SLAM that is exactly sparse. The main insight is that rather than eliminating variables (which induces dense cliques), we split the separators connecting subgraphs. Then, we enforce consistency of the separators in different subgraphs using hard constraints. The resulting constrained optimization problem can be solved in a decentralized manner using the multi-block Alternating Direction Method of Multipliers (ADMM). Our framework is appealing since (i) it preserves the sparsity structure of the original problem, (ii) it has a straightforward implementation, (iii) it allows to easily trade-off between computation time and accuracy. While our approach is currently slower than competitors, it is more accurate than other memory efficient alternatives. Moreover, we believe that the proposed framework can be of interest on its own as it draws connections with recent literature on decentralized optimization.
Implications of Discovering Unreported Income, Improper Deductions, and Hidden Assets Upon a Taxpayer's Death

Death commonly opens windows into taxpayers' lives and sheds light on items that were previously kept hidden or tightly guarded. This light sometimes reveals that the decedent failed to report income, took improper deductions, or held undisclosed assets -- factors that have historically contributed to the size of the "tax gap" -- the difference between what taxpayers owe in taxes and what they actually pay. This Article explores the implications of these postmortem discoveries for executors, who must administer the decedent's estate; estate beneficiaries, who are recipients of the estate's asset; and tax practitioners, who are called upon to lend technical assistance. Beyond describing the current state of affairs, this Article makes several policy recommendations designed to help close the tax gap and simplify this complex area of the law.
Intracellular mechanism of quinidine action on muscle contraction. A comparison between rabbit cardiac and skeletal muscle.

The mechanism of quinidine action on rabbit cardiac and skeletal muscle was examined with “functionally skinned” muscle-fiber preparations. By using these preparations we could correlate measurements of muscle tension with the effect of quinidine on the Ca2+ activation of the contractile proteins and on the Ca2+ uptake and release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR).
How Old Are You?: Age Consciousness in American Culture

Most Americans take it for granted that a thirteen-year-old in the fifth grade is "behind schedule," that "teenagers who marry "too early" are in for trouble, and that a seventy-five-year-old will be pleased at being told, "You look young for your age." Did an awareness of age always dominate American life? Howard Chudacoff reveals that our intense age consciousness has developed only gradually since the late nineteenth century. In so doing, he explores a wide range of topics, including demographic change, the development of pediatrics and psychological testing, and popular music from the early 1800s until now. "Throughout our lifetimes American society has been age-conscious. But this has not always been the case. Until the mid-nineteenth century, Americans showed little concern with age. The one-room schoolhouse was filled with students of varied ages, and children worked alongside adults.... [This is] a lively picture of the development of age consciousness in urban middle-class culture." --Robert H. Binstock, The New York Times Book Review "A fresh perspective on a century of social and cultural development."--Michael R. Dahlin, American Historical Review
GENDER DIFFERENCE IN CHANGES OF PLAQUE CHARACTERISTICS IN RESPONSE TO INTENSIVE LIPID-LOWERING THERAPY: SERIAL OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY AND INTRAVASCULAR ULTRASOUND ANALYSIS

Previous trials demonstrated that lipid-lowering therapies significantly reduced the incidence of major cardiovascular events in patients with coronary artery diseases. However, the gender difference in plaque morphologic change in response to the statin dose remains unclear. From a randomized
Expense and Margin Functions in Drug Stores

AN attempt is made here to derive quantitative estimates of the relationships of sales, location, store type, and city size to expense and gross margin for retail drug stores. The basic data were taken from 1948 profit-and-loss statements from 303 drug stores, mostly service independents in most areas of the United States and in cities of all sizes. Store selection was by no means random, but it is considered that consequent bias does not impair the basic findings. The profit-andloss statements have been audited and accounting procedure rendered uniform.2
Spectrum Map and Its Application in Resource Management in Cognitive Radio Networks

Measurements on radio spectrum usage have revealed an abundance of under-utilized bands of spectrum that belong to primary (licensed) networks. Prior knowledge about the occupancy of such bands and the expected achievable performance on those bands can help secondary (unlicensed) networks to devise effective strategies to improve utilization. Such prior spatio-temporal spectrum usage statistics can either be obtained from a database that is maintained by the primary networks or could be measured by customized sensors deployed by the secondary networks. In this paper, we use Shepard’s interpolation technique to estimate a spatial distribution of spectrum usage over a region of interest, which we call the spectrum map . The interpolation is achieved by intelligently fusing the data shared by the the secondary nodes considering their mutual distances and spatial orientation with each other. The obtained map is a two-dimensional (2-D) interpolation function that is continuously differentiable and passes through all the spectrum usage values recorded at arbitrary locations; thus providing a reference for primary occupancy in that region. For determining the optimal locations for sensing primary activity, we use an iterative clustering technique that uses tree structured vector quantization. We use the spectrum map to estimate different radio and network performance metrics like channel capacity, network throughput, and spectral efficiency. As a comprehensive case study, we demonstrate how the spectrum map can be used for efficient resource allocation in TV white space. In particular, we consider an IEEE 802.22-based WRAN and show how the rendezvous probability can be improved for better radio resource allocation, thereby increasing the secondary spectrum utilization.
Determination of seven carbamate pesticide residues in vegetables by UPLC-MS/MS

Objective: To establish a method for determination of seven carbamate pesticide residues in vegetables by UPLC-MS/MS.Methods: Carbamate pesticide in samples was extracted by acetonitrile,purified by amino column and evaporated to dryness with nitrogen blow.Methanol was used for constant volume and UPLC-MS/MS,ES+ and MRM for detection. Results:Recovery of standards additions was in the range of 88.2%~103.2%,with precision of 1.46%~4.85%.Conclusion: The method is simple and practical,rapid and accurate with low detection limit,less cross pollution.
Enzyme interactions involving T4 phage-coded thymidylate synthase and deoxycytidylate hydroxymethylase.

The enzymatic machinery for DNA replication functions at a high rate and with extremely high accuracy. Typically, an Escherichia coli cell replicates its 4000-kilobase pair genome in 40 minutes, using two replication forks, each of which extends two chains. Thus, the rate of chain growth is about 800 nucleotides per second at 37°. The four deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates (dNTPs) must be provided efficiently at these few sites, in order to meet the demand. At the same time the four dNTPs must be maintained at balanced concentrations. An excess or deficiency of any one of the four leads to inaccurate DNA replication, thereby stimulating spontaneous mutagenesis. Evidence suggests that steady-state dNTP concentrations at replication sites are severalfold higher than intracellular concentrations, as estimated from dNTP pool measurements1. Thus, dNTP concentration gradients must be maintained in the face of enormous rates of dNTP pool turnover.
An Equilibrium Model of the Sorting Process

Receptor and ligand molecules are separated in the endosome on their route through the endocytic cycle. As noted in Chapter 2, 95% or greater of the receptors may be recycled to the cell surface, while much of the ligand is routed to lysosomes. To explain the segregation of the receptor and ligand populations, we first consider a simple equilibrium mechanism based on the geometry of the endosome.
Neuroecology: Neural Mechanisms of Sensory and Motor Processes that Mediate Ecologically Relevant Behaviors: An Introduction to the Symposium

What is Neuroecology? Animal behavior mediates many critical ecological processes that, in turn, have implications for the evolution of organismal interactions. Because the peripheral and central nervous systems ultimately control behavior, research in neuroecology seeks to link the neural basis of behavior with behavioral control of ecological interactions, and to determine how specific processes (e.g., environmental and genetic constraints, ecological and evolutionary forces) operating to alter nervous system function might constrain or facilitate adaptive behavior. Our goal for this symposium was to promote a general framework for neuroecology by exploring fundamental questions germane to this new area of research, and to develop a "toolbox" of techniques and approaches for addressing those questions. In the following series of papers, we provide a starting point for future work on neuroecology, including evolutionary context, the role of plasticity in shaping nervous system function and behavior, and an exploration of various sensorimotor systems that control ecological interactions. By promoting an integration of observational and experimental approaches at different levels of organization, we can reveal much about how the neural bases of behaviors influence interactions that occur under ecologically relevant contexts that would otherwise be impossible from isolated physiological, behavioral, or ecological components.
AN ISLAMIC SEARCH OF NOBLE VALUES: THE PREVALENCE OF MODERN PRINCIPLES AND THE RESILIENCE OF LOCAL TRADITIONS IN INDONESIAN DA‘WA

The variety of da‘wa (Islamic preaching) in Indonesia indicated not only the diversity in Islamic groups and identities, but also the varieties and changes in values and principles embraced by Indonesian Muslims. This paper argued that these da‘wa activities constitute searches of most suitable Indonesian Islamic principles that inevitably include the negotiation of Islamic, global, and local values. For this purpose, this paper showed examples of various international and Indonesian Islamic scholars and leaders who help change social, political, and religious rhetorical landscape through various arguments involving especially Islamic and modern-international values. This paper maintained that, in addition to Muslims exposure to modern global principles such as democracy and human rights, the increasing popularity and resilience of local-traditional rituals, per­formances, and expressions in Indonesian da‘wa have significantly shaped the search of the Indonesian Islamic noble values. *** Keragaman dakwah Islam di Indonesia tidak hanya tampak dalam keragaman kelompok serta identitas Islam, tetapi juga dalam varian dan perubahan nilai-nilai serta prinsip-prinsip yang dianut oleh umat Islam Indonesia. Tulisan ini menegaskan bahwa kegiatan dakwah ini merupakan pencarian prinsip-prinsip Islam Indonesia yang paling sesuai yang mau tidak mau merupakan upaya negosiasi nilai Islam, global, dan nilai-nilai lokal. Untuk tujuan tersebut, tulisan ini menunjukkan beberapa contoh ulama dan pemimpin Islam internasional dan Indonesia yang membantu mengubah landscape retorika sosial, politik dan agama melalui berbagai argumen yang secara khusu melibatkan nilai-nilai Islam dan modern-internasional. Tulian ini berpendapat bahwa, disamping Muslim harus berhadapan dengan prinsip-prinsip global modern seperti demokrasi dan hak asasi manusia, meningkatnya popularitas dan ketahanan dari ritual, per­tunjuk­an, dan ekspresi lokal-tradisional dalam dakwah Indonesia telah mem­bentuk pencarian nilai-nilai luhur Islam Indonesia secara signifikan.
Should fertility clinics divest themselves of pornography

Some commentators object to the way in which fertility clinics make pornography available to men as an aid to masturbation when those men produce sperm for evaluation, storage or IVF. These objections typically rely on claims that pornography is generally harmful to women, unnecessary and dissociates sexual acts from conception. In light of these objections, certain commentators want fertility clinics to divest themselves of pornography, but these objections to pornography are not morally convincing. In general, pornography can have psychological value to men masturbating 'on demand' in clinical contexts. Not all erotica must, either, work to the disadvantage of women in its means of production or social effects. Moreover, the sexuality expressed in masturbation has a value of its own, and conception apart from sexual intercourse is morally defensible on its own. Divestment from pornography would do little to constrain the putative harms of pornography because clinics consume only a fractional amount of the total amount of pornography available. The provision of pornography is a defensible clinical practice, even if it is not absolutely necessary to all men in producing a sperm sample important to their fertility or their interests in donating gametes.
Variability in, variability out: best practice recommendations to standardize pre-analytical variables in the detection of circulating and tissue microRNAs

microRNAs (miRNAs) hold promise as biomarkers for a variety of disease processes and for determining cell differentiation. These short RNA species are robust, survive harsh treatment and storage conditions and may be extracted from blood and tissue. Pre-analytical variables are critical confounders in the analysis of miRNAs: we elucidate these and identify best practices for minimizing sample variation in blood and tissue specimens. Pre-analytical variables addressed include patient-intrinsic variation, time and temperature from sample collection to storage or processing, processing methods, contamination by cells and blood components, RNA extraction method, normalization, and storage time/conditions. For circulating miRNAs, hemolysis and blood cell contamination significantly affect profiles; samples should be processed within 2 h of collection; ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) is preferred while heparin should be avoided; samples should be "double spun" or filtered; room temperature or 4 °C storage for up to 24 h is preferred; miRNAs are stable for at least 1 year at -20 °C or -80 °C. For tissue-based analysis, warm ischemic time should be <1 h; cold ischemic time (4 °C) <24 h; common fixative used for all specimens; formalin fix up to 72 h prior to processing; enrich for cells of interest; validate candidate biomarkers with in situ visualization. Most importantly, all specimen types should have standard and common workflows with careful documentation of relevant pre-analytical variables.
Impacts of launch vehicle fairing size on human exploration architectures

Human missions to Mars, particularly to the Martian surface, are grand endeavors that place extensive demands on ground infrastructure, launch capabilities, and mission systems. The interplay of capabilities and limitations among these areas can have significant impacts on the costs and ability to conduct Mars missions and campaigns. From a mission and campaign perspective, decisions that affect element designs, including those based on launch vehicle and ground considerations, can create effects that ripple through all phases of the mission and have significant impact on the overall campaign. These effects result in impacts to element designs and performance, launch and surface manifesting, and mission operations. In current Evolvable Mars Campaign concepts, the NASA Space Launch System (SLS) is the primary launch vehicle for delivering crew and payloads to cis-lunar space. SLS is currently developing an 8.4m diameter cargo fairing, with a planned upgrade to a 10m diameter fairing in the future. Fairing diameter is a driving factor that impacts many aspects of system design, vehicle performance, and operational concepts. It creates a ripple effect that influences all aspects of a Mars mission, including: element designs, grounds operations, launch vehicle design, payload packaging on the lander, launch vehicle adapter design to meet structural launch requirements, control and thermal protection during entry and descent at Mars, landing stability, and surface operations. Analyses have been performed in each of these areas to assess and, where possible, quantify the impacts of fairing diameter selection on all aspects of a Mars mission. Several potential impacts of launch fairing diameter selection are identified in each of these areas, along with changes to system designs that result. Solutions for addressing these impacts generally result in increased systems mass and propellant needs, which can further exacerbate packaging and flight challenges. This paper presents the results of the analyses performed, the potential changes to mission architectures and campaigns that result, and the general trends that are more broadly applicable to any element design or mission planning for human exploration.
Not for Sale: How WWII Artifacts Mobilized Japanese-Americans Online

On March 5, 2015, Eve M. Kahn's “Newsworthy Notes” in the Antiques section of the New York Times included an announcement for a local auction alongside two short articles, “Remembering Ragtime” and...
Thermal circuits based model for predicting the thermal conductivity of nanofluids

Abstract A cell model based on thermal circuits is presented in this paper. The effective nanofluid thermal conductivity is rooted in heat transfer principles and scaling analysis. A combined series-parallel thermal circuits model has been presented for the static component of effective thermal conductivity and the heat transfer by micromixing due to Brownian motion of the particles have been taken in parallel to the static circuit. The effect of stationary, well-dispersed solids suspension as well as that of the convection due to Brownian motion has been considered. While the entire model is phenomenological, the coefficient for the Brownian motion component was empirical. The model was validated using data from nine studies that included oxide-water, oxide-ethylene glycol (EG), metal-water and metal-EG systems. Amongst the oxides, Al2O3, TiO2, CuO, and ZnO were considered. The coefficient was found to be of the order of one which validated the expectation that hd p k L ∼ PrRe 1 / 2 π 1 / 2 . The model was further refined by empirically determining the form of the coefficient for the convective term due to Brownian motion. It was found that the convective term is a function of temperature, solids volume fraction and particle size. A key aspect of the model is that it identifies a critical diameter at which the thermal conductivity is the maximum.
Nanoscale Materials: Fundamentals and Emergent Properties

As material size decreases into the nano size regime, novel properties arise that are different from their molecular and bulk counterparts. Due to the size and shape effects in this regime, a nanoparticle’s morphology has a profound effect on its properties. This chapter addresses the effect of dimensionality on the optical, electronic, chemical , and physical assets of various nanomaterials and how physical and chemical relationships can be exploited to improve their properties. Delving into the nuances of the different sizes, shapes, and compositions gives one an appreciation of the potential that nanomaterials have to improve upon today’s technologies. As scientists learn to fabricate increasingly more complex nanomaterials, new opportunities develop every day. A detailed discussion on the effect of morphology and nanometric dimensions on materials' physico-chemical properties, which lead to novel applications, will be covered in Chapter 5.
Teleconsultant: Communication and Analysis of Wearable Videos in Emergency Medical Environments

Telehealth is a healthcare service that relies on exchanging information from one place to another to improve a patient's health status. In this demonstration, we aim to provide similar benefits to instantly bringing a doctor in the field to provide the right treatment at the right time for time-sensitive injuries. We present a telehealth system called Teleconsultant that enables near real-time communication between paramedics and doctors via videos captured from wearable cameras, this is crucial in the acute situations when the paramedic needs immediate assistance from the remote doctor that could help saving patients' lives. Teleconsultant includes capturing the video through body cameras worn by the paramedics, we refer to this video as wearable video. The video is transmitted over a heterogeneous wireless network to the remote doctor. Along the network path, video is analyzed in real-time to: (1) enhance video quality (e.g., video stabilization), and (2) detect time-sensitive injuries (e.g., stroke) so that remote doctors can be alerted and prepared when patient arrives via ambulance to the hospital. We demonstrate an end-to-end system to enable streaming of wearable video from the incident site to the hospital using body cameras worn by paramedics. Additionally, we demonstrate a framework for in-stream processing of the wearable video and we show two real-time video processing functions: stroke detection, and video stabilization.
Research Symposium on Gentrification and Neighborhood Change

On May 25, 2016, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, in partnership with HUD’s Office of Policy Development and Research, the NYU Furman Center and the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, hosted the Research Symposium on Gentrification and Neighborhood Change. This summary report highlights important research findings, policy implications, and examples of local efforts to promote equitable outcomes for gentrifying neighborhoods that were discussed at the symposium.
Juxtapeer: Comparative Peer Review Yields Higher Quality Feedback and Promotes Deeper Reflection

Peer review asks novices to take on an evaluator's role, yet novices often lack the perspective to accurately assess the quality of others' work. To help learners give feedback on their peers' work through an expert lens, we present the Juxtapeer peer review system for structured comparisons. We build on theories of learning through contrasting cases, and contribute the first systematic evaluation of comparative peer review. In a controlled experiment, 476 consenting learners across four courses submitted 1,297 submissions, 4,102 reviews, and 846 self assessments. Learners assigned to compare submissions wrote reviews and self-reflections that were longer and received higher ratings from experts than those who evaluated submissions one at a time. A second study found that a ranking of submissions derived from learners' comparisons correlates well with staff ranking. These results demonstrate that comparing algorithmically-curated pairs of submissions helps learners write better feedback.
Benefits of 8-wk Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction or Aerobic Training on Seasonal Declines in Physical Activity.

ABSTRACTMindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and aerobic exercise training (AET) programs improve health and well-being. Exercise participation has been related to mindfulness and may be altered by MBSR training.PurposeThis study aimed to compare 8 wk of MBSR, AET, and no-treatment control duri
AAHP/Dorland Directory of Health Plans.

In 1995, the Group Health Association of America (GHAA) and the American Managed Care and Review Association (AMCRA) merged to form the American Association of Health Plans (AAHP). Jointly published by AAHP and Dorland Healthcare Information (www.dorlandhealth.com), this resource features contact information for more than 1,500 managed care plans in the United States. Plans include health maintenance organizations (HMOs), preferred provider organizations (PPOs), utilization review organizations (UROs), exclusive provider organizations (EPOs), third party administrators (TPAs), and point-of-service (POS) options. Arranged by state, typical health plan entries feature plan name, address, telephone or fax numbers, Website, plan officers, type of plan, year established, enrollment information, and other data. This resource also includes the AAHP code of conduct, health issues addressed by the U.S. Congress during the 1999 legislative session, plan definitions, “yellow pages” of organization members, and various indexes (company, service area). For an additional fee, purchasers of this directory can access the same data through Dorland's Website, purchase the database on diskette, or order mailing lists based on specific markets. Although partially supported by Pfizer, this directory features advertisements from fifteen advertisers. As more than 150 million Americans are covered by some type of health plan, and many organizations contract with or market to the managed care industry, this directory provides information useful to hospital marketing directors, medical directors, and librarians alike.
Immunomodulation of Murine Leishmaniasis with Cyclosporin A

The fungal metabolite, cyclosporin A (CsA), is an undecapeptide with novel immunosuppressive effects as well as anti-parasitic and antiinflammatory properties (1,2). CsA is particularly effective in preventing activation of T helper and T cytotoxic cells at the induction phase of T cell responses both in vitro and in vivo (3). Although the mode of action of CsA is not yet entirely clear, it has been shown to inhibit the production of IL-2 and may have effects on other lymphoid communication signals and responsiveness (2–4). Cyclosporin A has been shown to have unexpected beneficial effects on certain parasitic infections in animal models of human disease. In murine malaria, cyclosporin A exhibited potent activity against P. yoelii and P. berghei when administered to mice either prophylactically or therapeutically (5,6). Furthermore, CsA also markedly inhibited the growth of Plasmodium falciparum in cultured human erythrocytes (6). In this work, both the therapeutic and prophylactic effects of the drug were thought to be due to the direct effect of the CsA on the Plasmodium parasites. Surprisingly, CsA also had protective effects in mice infected with the helminth Schistosoma mansoni. Animals were protected both from primary infections and secondary challenges (7,8). In these studies, however, no direct effect of the drug on the parasite was observed, and it was concluded that the drug evoked a stimulation of host mechanisms directed against the parasite (8). In contrast to these studies, CsA treatment of Trypanosoma cruzi infected mice was found to exacerbate the disease (9).
About the Hardy Inequality

The Hardy inequality has a long history and many variants. Together with the Sobolev inequalities, it is one of the most frequently used inequalities in analysis. In this note, we present some aspects of its history, as well as some of its extensions and applications. This is a very active research direction.
Teaching Devices and Controls for Computer Engineering and Systems Students using Arduino and MATLAB/Simulink

Devices and Controls is a core course for Computer Engineering and Systems students at the Institute of Technology, University of Washington, Tacoma. As the only control course of the CES curriculum, it has been designed to bridge the gap between system theories and engineering design/applications. It uses software and hardware tools available for control education including Arduino Mega 2560, MATLAB and the Simulink Support Package for Arduino Hardware. In addition to four-hour lectures in the classroom, students also take two-hour lab each week, and complete a small course project by the end of quarter. In Autumn 2017, both the course evaluation and the ABET indirect assessment results show that students are satisfied with their learning experience, and in particular, the hands-on experience obtained from labs and the project.
Medical Expenditures Associated With Diabetes Among Adult Medicaid Enrollees in Eight States.

INTRODUCTION Little information is available on state-specific financial burdens of diabetes in the Medicaid population, yet such information is essential for state Medicaid programs to plan diabetes care and evaluate the benefits of diabetes prevention. We estimated medical expenditures associated with diabetes among adult Medicaid enrollees in 8 states. METHODS We analyzed the latest available 2012 CMS Medicaid claims data for 1,193,811 adult enrollees aged 19-64 years in 8 states: Alabama, California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, New York, and Oklahoma. For each state, we stratified the study population by Medicaid eligibility criteria: disability and nondisability. For each group, we estimated per capita annual medical expenditures on outpatient care, inpatient care, and prescription drugs by using a 2-part model, adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, and comorbidities. We calculated the expenditures associated with diabetes as the difference in predicted expenditures for enrollees with and without diabetes. Analyses were done in 2017. RESULTS For disability-based enrollees, the estimated total per capita annual diabetes expenditures ranged from $6,183 in Alabama to $15,319 in New York (all P < .001). For nondisability-based enrollees, the corresponding estimates ranged from $4,985 in Alabama to $15,366 in New York (all P < .001). The proportion of individual components varied by state and eligibility criteria. CONCLUSION Medical expenditures associated with diabetes among adults on Medicaid were substantial and varied across studied states. Our estimates can be used by the 8 state Medicaid programs to prepare health care resources needed for diabetes care and assess the financial benefits of diabetes prevention programs.
336-OR: An Online Insulin Pump and CGM Curriculum for Trainees: TeKnO T1D

Background: A nationwide needs assessment survey identified suboptimal knowledge of insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors (CGM) among pediatric endocrinology fellows. Objectives: We developed and assessed the impact of an online, spaced education curriculum- Technology Knowledge Optimization in type 1 diabetes (TeKnO T1D)- on fellows’ knowledge of these technologies. Methods: Endocrine fellows nationwide were invited to participate in this ongoing prospective, randomized cross over study. The pretest assessment included 20 multiple choice questions. A commercially available electronic spaced education platform (QStream) was used to deliver the material. The posttest assessment was identical and also included two questions assessing reactions to the curriculum. A linear multivariable regression was used to compare the deltas (pre-post) between the two groups adjusted for fellowship year and other covariates. Results: Sixty-one fellows completed the pretest assessment. To date, 21 (68%) and 18 (60%) fellows have completed the pump and CGM curricula, respectively. Fellows who received the pump curriculum had a 41% greater mean improvement on the posttest questions focused on insulin pumps as compared to the fellow who completed the CGM curriculum (95% CI, 1.05, 1.88). Fellows who completed the CGM curriculum had a 70% greater mean improvement on the post-test questions focused on CGMs as compared to fellows who completed the pump curriculum (95% CI, 1.22, 1.37). The greatest improvements were seen in the following topics: interpretation of CGM trend arrows, pump management during exercise, managing pump disconnections, and unique features of different CGM systems. 97% of fellows agreed or strongly agreed that they enjoyed TeKnO T1D. Conclusion: TeKnO T1D is an effective, enjoyable way to improve T1D technology knowledge across a large group of geographically dispersed fellows. This learning modality may also have applications for other healthcare professionals as well as patients and families. Disclosure B. Marks: None. G. Waldman: None. D.E. Stafford: None. K. Garvey: None. J. Nagler: None. J.I. Wolfsdorf: Other Relationship; Self; UpToDate, Xeris Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Funding Pediatric Endocrine Society; Boston Children9s Hospital
Evaluation of cGnRH IIa for induction spawning of two ornamental Epalzeorhynchos species

The administration of exogenous hormones for induction spawning of captive fish is a common practice throughout the finfish aquaculture industry. Induced spawning protocols for ornamental cyprinids commonly rely on sGnRH IIIa, commercially available as Ovaprim. In this study, the efficacy of an alternative spawning aid, cGnRH IIa, was evaluated relative to Ovaprim, in two commonly cultured ornamental Cyprinids: the Redtail Sharkminnow Epalzeorhynchos bicolor and the Rainbow Shark E. frenatum. Broodstock of each species were injected with either a positive control (0.5 µl/g Ovaprim), a negative control (propylene glycol) or one of three doses of cGnRH IIa (50, 100, or 200 µg/kg). Following spawning aid injection, ovulation success, fecundity, fertilization success, embryo diameter, hatch success and larval notochord length were evaluated. Ovulation success (82 ± 8%) was statistically similar to the positive control group for all experimental doses of cGnRH IIa in E. bicolor, while 50 and 100 µg/kg cGnRH IIa doses resulted in significantly higher ovulation success (100.0% and 83.0% respectively) than the positive control (17.0%) in E. frenatum. All other parameters did not vary significantly among treatments. These results indicate cGnRH IIa can be successfully used as a spawning aid in both species.
Educating for an Inclusive Economy: Cultivating Relationality Through International Immersion

As the gap between the world’s rich and poor grows wider and the limitations of institutional solutions such as foreign aid continue to be exposed, students of development are shifting their focus toward individualistic business-based solutions that seek to draw members of marginalized communities into the global marketplace. This focus on the individual, however, raises three interconnected issues: it privileges a view of the human person as individualistic versus relational, it proposes isolated solutions that are not scalable, and it can leave would-be change agents feeling hopeless. Drawing on insights from sociology, political philosophy, and Catholic social thought, the current paper presents an alternative path to educating for an inclusive economy by arguing that our greatest structural challenges require us not to abandon institutional solutions but rather to develop better institutions rooted in a fuller notion of the human person. Specifically, by cultivating a mindset of relationality through immersion experiences and mindfulness practices, we propose that business education can empower students to develop hope-filled solidarity with the marginalized, understand their role in the global economic system, and as future business leaders, build virtuous institutions for the common good.
A new Upper and Middle Pleistocene stratigraphic and dissolution record from the Carnegie Platform, Eastern Equatorial Pacific

Abstract This study presents new stable isotope and dissolution records for a composite “Carnegie Platform” (CP) sediment record composed of KNR195–5 cores CDH-36 and MC-34A (3° 35.85′ S, 83° 57.79′ W, 3225 m) from the Eastern Equatorial Pacific. Renewed interest in this paleoceanographic site prompted a re-coring in 2009 using the CDH giant piston coring system. Giant piston core CDH-36, with a core length of 42.61 m, nearly triples the length of previous cores at this site. Companion multicore MC-34A (0.36 m length) allowed for recovery of intact surface sediments at 0 ka BP. A new age model utilizing Bayesian analysis of radiocarbon dates in MC-34A and the top 3.4 m of CDH-36, and alignment of the CDH 36C. wuellerstorfi δ18O record with the LR04 benthic stack, demonstrates that the CP record extends from 0 to 720 ka (MIS 18). The age model places Eastern Equatorial Pacific volcanic ash layer “L,” which occurs at 15.80–15.88 m in CDH-36, at 229.6–231.7 ka BP in the CP record, consistent with prior age assignments. Coarse fraction percentage (%CF) is utilized to evaluate the impact of dissolution at the CP site;CP %CF primarily records dissolution cycles of ~100 kyr, with enhanced preservation during glacial episodes, but also exhibits variability consistent with local bathymetric and hydrographic effects. The similarity of the CP %CF record to other tropical Pacific dissolution records supports a basin-wide control on calcium carbonate preservation during the middle and Late Pleistocene.
CHAPTER 8 – Interpolation

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the concept of interpolation. Originally, it meant reading between the lines of a table. Interpolation is a basic problem in numerical mathematics. The chapter provides an overview of Lagrangian interpolation. One needs to establish uniqueness of polynomial interpolation. In fact, if two polynomials of degree n agree for more than n distinct values of the variable, they must coincide; indeed, their difference, of degree n, vanishes for more than n distinct values of the variable.
A 7000-year record of floods and ecological feedbacks in Weeks Bay, Alabama, USA

Abstract Climate change, sea-level rise, and human activities present major concerns for coastal environments. Paleoenvironmental records allow us to extend the instrumented record and study recent environmental impacts in a long-term context with natural pre-industrial conditions. Here, we investigate grain size, stable carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotopes, elemental composition, and diatom abundance in sediments to construct a 7000-year paleoenvironmental history of Weeks Bay, Alabama, a NOAA National Estuarine Research Reserve. Four major floods of the Fish River since 1986 CE are independently identified in the Weeks Bay sediment record, validating the bay setting as an archive of flood events. Thirty-four flood events were identified over the last 5000 years, with two periods of intense flood activity coinciding with the Medieval Climate Anomaly and the Little Ice Age, indicating association of relatively short-term climate events and enhanced storm activity. Further, multiple paleoenvironmental proxies indicate marine conditions during formation of the bay ~6600 calendar years Before Present (cal yr BP) and a brackish transition as the estuary became restricted ~2000 cal yr BP. High total organic carbon/nitrogen values indicate nitrogen limitation in Weeks Bay. Increase in organic content, diatoms, and redox- and nutrient-associated elemental proxies over the last 300 years, with dramatic increase in algal abundance since the 1980s, strongly suggest that human activities (i.e. land clearing, agriculture) increased ecological feedbacks in the bay. Comparing past and present environmental conditions of coastal estuaries advances our understanding of estuarine response to climate change and sea level, floods, and human activities, which is important for environmental management and wetland conservation policy.
In vitro reduction of Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes: Artemisia spp. tea infusions vs. artemisinin

Abstract Ethnopharmacological relevance Artemisia annua has a long history of use in Southeast Asia where it was used to treat “fever”, and A. afra has a similar history in southern Africa. Since their discovery, A. annua use, in particular, has expanded globally with millions of people using the plant in therapeutic tea infusions, mainly to treat malaria. Aim of the study In this study, we used in vitro studies to query if and how A. annua and A. afra tea infusions being used across the globe affect asexual Plasmodium falciparum parasites, and their sexual gametocytes. Materials and methods P. falciparumstrain NF54 was grown in vitro, synchronized, and induced to form gametocytes using N-acetylglucosamine. Cultures during asexual, early, and late stage gametocytogenesis were treated with artemisinin, methylene blue, and A. annua and A. afra tea infusions (5 g DW/L) using cultivars that contained 0–283 μM artemisinin. Asexual parasitemia and gametocytemia were analyzed microscopically. Gametocyte morphology also was scored. Markers of early (PfGEXP5) and late stage (Pfs25) gametocyte gene expression also were measured using RT-qPCR. Results Both A. annua and A. afra tea infusions reduced gametocytemia in vitro, and the effect was mainly artemisinin dependent. Expression levels of both marker genes were reduced and also occurred with the effect mainly attributed to artemisinin content of four tested Artemisia cultivars. Tea infusions of both species also inhibited asexual parasitemia and although mainly artemisinin dependent, there was a weak antiparasitic effect from artemisinin-deficient A. afra. Conclusions These results showed that A. annua and to a lesser extent, A. afra, inhibited parasitemia and gametocytemia in vitro.
Adjunctive techniques to minimize thrombotic complications following microfoam sclerotherapy of saphenous trunks and tributaries.

Abstract Objective Thrombus extension into the deep venous system following superficial vein chemical ablation with Varithena polidocanol microfoam has been reported. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of intraoperative improved techniques during treatment for patients with symptomatic varicose veins and their impact on extension of thrombus into deep veins. Methods A retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database was performed. All patients who underwent endovenous chemical ablation with polidocanol microfoam (Varithena, Boston Scientific, Marlborough, Mass) for symptomatic superficial axial and tributary vein reflux were identified. Patients had postoperative duplex (48-72 hours) scanning after the procedure; those who did not adhere to the recommended follow-up were excluded. Demographic data, CEAP Classification, Venous Clinical Severity Score, procedure details, and follow-up data were abstracted. Results Between April 2018 and August 2020, 157 limbs in 122 patients were treated with Varithena microfoam; 129 limbs in 99 patients met our inclusion criteria. Veins treated included the great saphenous vein (n = 89), anterior accessory saphenous vein (n = 15), small saphenous vein (n = 14), and tributary veins (n = 56). Adjunctive techniques during treatment included intraoperative elevation of the limb to greater than 45°, ultrasound mapping and digital occlusion of large perforator veins, limitation of foam volume per session, injection of sterile saline before treatment, and compression of the limb in the elevated position. The preoperative Venous Clinical Severity Score was 11.4 and decreased after treatment to 9.7. The immediate closure rate was 95% with 81% overall symptomatic relief at last follow-up. The mean follow-up was 113.5 days for the entire cohort; two limbs (1.5%) required postoperative anticoagulation for thrombus extension into the deep venous system (common femoral vein n = 1; popliteal vein n = 1) postoperatively for a mean of 22 days. Both resolved with anticoagulation. One asymptomatic limb developed a femoral vein deep venous thrombosis and one symptomatic late deep venous thrombosis was noted 4 months after the procedure. Postoperative pain and phlebitis were reported in 15.6% and 14.8% of patients, respectively, and all had resolved at last follow-up. No pulmonary emboli were noted and no neurologic or visual adverse events were recorded. Conclusions Adjunctive techniques during microfoam ablation decreased thrombotic complications in our series compared with those reported in earlier phase III clinical trials. Excellent early closure and symptomatic improvement were also noted. Endovenous microfoam ablation with Varithena is a safe and effective nontumescent, nonthermal alternative to laser and radiofrequency ablation.
A two-track model for the spatiotemporal coordination of bacterial septal cell wall synthesis revealed by single-molecule imaging of FtsW

Synthesis of septal peptidoglycan (sPG) is crucial for bacterial cell division. FtsW, an indispensable component of the cell division machinery in all walled bacterial species, was recently identified in vitro as a peptidoglycan glycosyltransferase (PGTase). Despite its importance, the septal PGTase activity of FtsW has not been demonstrated in vivo. How its activity is spatiotemporally regulated in vivo has also remained elusive. Here, we confirmed FtsW as an essential septum-specific PGTase in vivo using an N-acetylmuramic acid analogue incorporation assay. Next, using single-molecule tracking coupled with genetic manipulations, we identified two populations of processively moving FtsW molecules: a fast-moving population correlated with the treadmilling dynamics of the essential cytoskeletal FtsZ protein and a slow-moving population dependent on active sPG synthesis. We further identified that FtsN, a potential sPG synthesis activator, plays an important role in promoting the slow-moving population. Our results suggest a two-track model, in which inactive sPG synthases follow the ‘Z-track’ to be distributed along the septum and FtsN promotes their release from the Z-track to become active in sPG synthesis on the slow ‘sPG-track’. This model provides a mechanistic framework for the spatiotemporal coordination of sPG synthesis in bacterial cell division. Single-molecule tracking of the septal peptidoglycan glycosyltransferase FtsW reveals two populations: a fast-moving one that follows treadmilling FtsZ and a slow-moving one that is involved in peptidoglycan synthesis.
Perioperative Ischemia and Infarction: Noncardiac Surgery

Summary Intraoperative ischemia is common and appears to be benign when treated appropriately. However, mortality from postoperative MI remains one of the important and potentially preventable complications of anesthesia and noncardiac surgery. Major improvements in the medical and surgical therapy and outcome of CAD suggest that further reductions in postoperative cardiac morbidity are feasible. Although all perioperative myocardial ischemia is not related to recognizable changes in cardiovascular variables, the early and aggressive treatment of increased heart rate is a critical aspect of the anesthesiologist’s role in prevention of perioperative cardiac events. Further application of new techniques in ischemia detection will provide new insights into the characteristics and efficacy of interventional therapy for perioperative myocardial ischemia and MI.