cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SEDIMENT TRANSPORT PROCESSES AND COASTAL VARIABILITY ON THE ALASKAN NORTH SLOPE

Shoreline development and shore-zone sediment transport on the Alaskan North Slope are dependent upon levels of wave energy, sea ice conditions, and the ice-sediment characteristics of eroding tundra cliffs. Considerable variation exists between the coastal processes and the shore-zone morphology of the Chukchi and Beaufort Sea beaches, (respectively west and east of Point Barrow). The supply of coarse sediments (sands or gravels) and the volumes of material eroded from tundra cliffs are a function of the initial character of the cliff sediments and of the ice content of the exposed cliffs. As cliff heights decrease, the ice content of the cliff increases, erosion rates increase but the sediment supply rates decrease. Wave-energy levels are relatively high and maintain a constant level on the Chukchi coast. The transport system on this coast is continuous and is augmented by storm events. On the Beaufort coast, energy levels are much lower, transport processes discontinuous, and storm events are therefore more significant. Sediments supplied to the coastal zone on the Chukchi coast are derived largely from the erosion of tundra cliffs and the barriers are continuous, linear, and stable. Rivers are the primary source of coastal sediments on the Beaufort coast and the more variable energy levels produce unstable barriers that are subject to aperiodic transport processes.
"Brutti, Sporchi & Cattivi": Towards a Non-Abyssal Curriculum*

The Western Cartesian Modernity model as an hegemonic model with its arrogant claim to address global social issues is not just moribund, it is dead. This article claims the twentieth century as ‘the last Eurocentric century’. Relying on the work of some key decolonial thinkers, such as Sousa Santos, the article denounces the way Western eugenic curriculum of modernity created an abyssal thinking in which ‘this side’ of the line is legitimate and ‘the other side’ has been produced as ‘non-existent’. In so doing curriculum as we knowing is part of the ‘epistemicide’. The article argues for an Itinerant Curriculum Theory that will help create new avenues to understand the field in the light of the classes within and beyond Eurocentrism, paying attention to other epistemologies beyond the Western framework. The article echoes Ettore Scola metaphor “Brutti, Sporchi & Cattivi” to challenge how hegemonic and specific (or so called) counter hegemonic curriculum platforms – so connected with Western Eurocentric Modernity - have been able to colonize the field without any prudency to “fabricate” and impose a classed, raced and gendered philosophy of praxis, as unique, that drives the field to an ideological surrealism and collective suicide. The article challenges curriculum studies to assume a non-abyssal position one that respects epistemological diversity. This requires an Itinerant Curriculum Theory, which is a commitment with da ruthless epistemological critique of every existing epistemology.
Analysis on Genetic Effect of Cadmium and Arsenic Contents in Rice Grains

The genetic effect of the contents of heavy metal elements cadmium(Cd) and arsenic(As) in rice grains was studied with 4 rice male sterile lines and 6 rice restorer lines through the incomplete diallele cross design. The results showed that there existed significant difference among different genotypes in the contents of Cd and As in brown rice. For the Cd content, its general combining ability(gca) effect and specific combining ability(sca) effect of both male sterile lines and restorer lines were very significant, indicating that the genetic improvement of parents and the selection of F1 hybrids are both very important in developing hybrids with low Cd content in grains. For the As content, the gca effect of male sterile lines and restorer lines were insignificant, but their sca effect was very significant, indicating that the key is to select F1 hybrids in developing hybrids with low As content in grains. Furthermore, it was found that the genetic improvement of male sterile lines had a much greater effect than the genetic improvement of restorer lines and the selection of F1 hybrids had in breeding hybrids with a low rate of Cd absorption.
Use of PET bottles for carbonated drinks

The physical/chemical properties affecting the quality of PET bottles are investigated from the molecular structure of PET,the factors influencing their quality and control on them are studied from the production technology and process for PET bottles, based on the production practice and experience,and the factors influencing the packaging quality of products and control on them are described from the use of PET bottles,with a view of providing valuable references for guaranteeing all these qualities.
Review on Development Process of Gas Desulfurization and Decarburization Technique——Methyldiethanolamine(MDEA for Short)Outshines Others

Reviewed is the development process of gas desulfurization and decarburization technique briefly and evaluated are four kinds of techniques,especially amine process.In the 1980s of last century,MDEA has been applied in industry.Particularly in China,significant energy conservation and economical benefits have been obtained in its application and it has outshined others.Described is the technical structure of desulfurization and decarburization technique applied to natural gas purification in China and progress of MDEA application in the world for recent years and subjects are put forward for further research.
Variability and predictability in tactile sensing during grasping

Robotic manipulation in unstructured environments requires grasping a wide range of objects. Tactile sensing is presumed to provide essential information in this context, but there has been little work examining the tactile sensor signals produced during realistic manipulation tasks. This paper presents tactile sensor data from grasping a generic object in thousands of trials. Position error between the hand and object was varied to model the uncertainty in real-world grasping, and a grasp outcome prediction was done using only tactile sensors. Results show that tactile signals are highly variable despite good repeatability in grasping conditions. The observed variability appears to be intrinsic to the grasping process, due to the mechanical coupling between fingers as they contact the object in parallel, as well as numerous factors such as frictional effects and inaccuracies in the robot hand. Using a simple machine learning algorithm, grasp outcome prediction based purely on tactile sensors is not reliable enough for real-world responsibilities. These results have implications for improved tactile sensor system and controller design, as well as signal processing and machine learning methods.
Peptidoglycan recognition proteins: Players in inflammation, ageing and ageing-associated diseases: an insight from Drosophila

Peptidoglycan recognition proteins (PGRPs), belonging to the pattern recognition molecules, are important players in the innate immune system. The function of PGRPs in antimicrobial defense are conserved from insects to mammals. In this review, we discussed the basic function of PGRPs in Drosophila and mammals. Then the association of PGRPs with inflammation, ageing and age-related disease has been narrated. The review concludes with the role of PGRP-SC2’s lifespan promoting effect in Drosophila and casts new insights of PGRPs in promoting health span in mammals.
Patterns of care and survival outcomes examining radiation therapy for advanced Hodgkin lymphoma.

AbstractThe use of radiation therapy (RT) and its impact on survival in advanced Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is controversial. Data were obtained from the surveillance, epidemiology, and end results (SEER) registries from 1988–2011. There were 9467 adults who met inclusion criteria; 19% received RT. Radiation use declined from 25% in 1988 to 16% in 2011. Five-year overall survival (OS) for stage III and IV patients for the no versus RT cohorts were 79% versus 88% (p < 0.0001) and 73% versus 84% (p < 0.0001), respectively. RT was associated with improved OS (HR = 0.76; 0.68–0.85) on multivariable analysis and in patients diagnosed after 2000. Although there was a decline in utilization of RT from 1988 to 2011, RT was associated with a survival benefit in stage III–IV HL.
Any Soil is the Fatherland for a Courageous Man

When Struys returned to the Netherlands in 1673, he was about forty-five years old, an advanced age for Dutch mariners who had not made ship’s officer. Surviving another five years away from home defied the odds, since most Dutch sailors did not return to Holland from even one trip to the Indonesian Archipelago; neither did more than half of his Oryol comrades return to the Republic. While he had thus been fortunate, the prospect of a destitute old age loomed. Over the years, Struys had not acquired any substantial assets (even if he gave his second wife title to his ‘possessions’ when he remarried in 1668). Never a member of a sailmakers’ guild, he could not rely on the modest provisions such organizations offered their elderly members.2 Although his second marriage made him conditionally co-owner of his wife’s Amsterdam house, his actions after his return in 1673 attest to a continued quest for financial security. They suggest that he lost his tenuous title to co-ownership of the house, perhaps since he failed to bring back any wages with him.3
An Interprofessional Approach to Reducing the Risk of Falls Through Enhanced Collaborative Practice

Falls are the leading cause of accidental deaths in older adults and are a growing public health concern. The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) and British Geriatrics Society (BGS) published guidelines for falls screening and risk reduction, yet few primary care providers report following any guidelines for falls prevention. This article describes a project that engaged an interprofessional teaching team to support interprofessional clinical teams to reduce fall risk in older adults by implementing the AGS/BGS guidelines. Twenty-five interprofessional clinical teams with representatives from medicine, nursing, pharmacy, and social work were recruited from ambulatory, long-term care, hospital, and home health settings for a structured intervention: a 4-hour training workshop plus coaching for implementation for 1 year. The workshop focused on evidence-based strategies to decrease the risk of falls, including screening for falls; assessing gait, balance, orthostatic blood pressure, and other medical conditions; exercise including tai chi; vitamin D supplementation; medication review and reduction; and environmental assessment. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected using chart reviews, coaching plans and field notes, and postintervention structured interviews of participants. Site visits and coaching field notes confirmed uptake of the strategies. Chart reviews showed significant improvement in adoption of all falls prevention strategies except vitamin D supplementation. Long-term care facilities were more likely to address environmental concerns and add tai chi classes, and ambulatory settings were more likely to initiate falls screening. The intervention demonstrated that interprofessional practice change to target falls prevention can be incorporated into primary care and long-term care settings.
Incarnation and Other Dialogues

What Martin Buber has called ‘the dialogical principle’1 requires that the other be recognized not only as an object of which we may speak or whom I may address as a Thou but also as a subject, an I who speaks about me within his or her own circle and who in turn addresses me as a Thou. Buber quotes, as a precursor of his own celebration of reciprocity, Feuerbach’s observation that the real I is ‘only the I that stands over against a Thou and that is itself a Thou over against another I’.2 This realization that the other is not merely an object of my discourse and my gaze, but that he or she is also a subject observing me, leads to the startling insight that the other has a point of view that is not my own and which is no more a defective version of mine than mine is a defective version of his or hers.
Developmental profiling of ASD-related shank3 transcripts and their differential regulation by valproic acid in zebrafish

SHANK3 is a scaffolding protein that binds to various synaptic proteins at the postsynaptic density (PSD) of excitatory glutamatergic synapses. SHANK3 is not only strongly implicated in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) but also plays a critical role in human Phelan-McDermid syndrome (22q13.3 deletion syndrome). Accumulated experimental evidence demonstrates that the zebrafish model system is useful for studying the functions of ASD-related gene during early development. However, many basic features of shank3 transcript expression in zebrafish remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated temporal, spatial, and isoform-specific expression patterns of shank3 during zebrafish development on the basis of previous researches and the differential effects of each shank3 transcript expression after exposure to valproic acid (VPA), an ASD-associated drug. At first, we observed that both shank3a and shank3b were barely expressed at very early ages (before 24 h post-fertilization (hpf)), whereas their expression levels were increased and mainly enriched in the nervous system after 24 hpf. Secondly, all of the six shank3 transcripts gradually increased during the first 7 hpf and then decreased. Subsequently, they exhibited a second increasing peak between 1 month post-fertilization (mpf) and adulthood. Thirdly, VPA treatment affected the isoform-specific expression of zebrafish shank3. In particular, the mRNA expression levels of those isoforms that contain a SAM domain were significantly increased, whereas the mRNA expression level of those which contained an ANK domain but without a SAM domain was decreased. To conclude, our findings support the molecular diversity of shank3 in zebrafish and provide a molecular framework to understand the isoform-specific function of shank3 in zebrafish.
Childhood ADHD and Adult Criminality

The relationship between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in childhood and criminality in adolescence and adulthood was examined in 89 hyperactive and 87 normal control subjects studied prospectively at the Division of Child Psychiatry, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, OR.
Abstract 4942: Activation of Phosphatase toward the Retinoblastoma protein in breast and colorectal cancer cell spheroids

Excessive phosphorylation of the Retinoblastoma protein is found in most cancer tumor types. Several cyclin dependent kinase (cdk) inhibitors are in development or in clinical trials at the present time. Our previous studies have focused on the regulation of Rb phosphorylation by the phosphatase, PP1. Specificity toward substrates is imparted onto PP1 by many different interacting proteins. In proliferating cells, PP1 is associated with a regulatory protein called PNUTS (Phosphatase Nuclear Targeting Subunit). Our previous experiments have shown that PNUTS inhibits PP1 activity toward specific Rb phosphorylation sites. Further we have demonstrated that siRNA mediated knockdown of PNUTS in several cancer cell types (colon, breast, ovarian) leads to an increase in Rb specific PP1 activity, Rb dephosphorylation on several sites, and a dramatic induction of apoptosis. Furthermore, the ability of PNUTS siRNA to induce apoptosis was shown to be dependent on Rb expression. Interestingly, further studies showed that PNUTS knockdown had no effect on non-transformed breast and colorectal cells, in which Rb is not hyperphosphorylated. Thus we have developed a method to activate the Rb phosphatase in cells by knockdown of the PP1 binding protein, PNUTS. The current study was undertaken to analyze the effect of PNUTS knockdown in cancer cells grown in three-dimensional spheroids grown by incubation of cells in hanging drop plates. The effect of PNUTS knockdown on Rb phosphorylation, cell proliferation and cell viability using this model system will be presented. Citation Format: Jacklynn Egger, Lisa Antonucci, Maria Lane, Nancy A. Krucher. Activation of Phosphatase toward the Retinoblastoma protein in breast and colorectal cancer cell spheroids. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 4942. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-4942
Ocean deployment and testing of a semi-autonomous underwater vehicle

We present the design overview and navigation performance for an offshore deployment of a semi-autonomous underwater vehicle (sAUV). The system is based on a commercially-available observation class remotely operated vehicle (ROV), combined with a commercial AUV navigation system. The vehicle also has onboard visual cameras, a Doppler velocity log, and a multibeam imaging sonar. We present the integration of the various subsystems as well as a Robot Operating System (ROS)- based interface that allows researchers to visualize sensor and navigation data and send commands to the vehicle in real time. Results from an April 2016 offshore trial are presented, demonstrating the station keeping and waypoint following capabilities of the vehicle in open water.
Evaluation of a Performance-Based Approach to Design Asphalt-Treated Base Mixtures

AbstractThis paper presents the results of a comprehensive laboratory testing program that was conducted to develop a performance-based approach to design asphalt-treated base-course mixtures. Eigh...
Shared distal insertion of the gluteus medius and piriformis muscles and implications for rehabilitation exercises

Motivation for this study was prompted by the discovery of bilateral shared tendinous insertion of the gluteus medius (GM) and piriformis (PM) muscles into the anterior trochanteric crest during routine dissection of the gluteal region of a 58-year -old male cadaver. We therefore asked, what is the frequency of GM and PM shared insertions into the greater trochanter, and how could this impact physical therapy interventions for piriformis syndrome? In 23 specimens from either side of 16 embalmed human cadavers, we dissected and characterized the detail of GM and PM insertions. We discovered that just over 50% of the specimens dissected exhibited shared tendinous insertions between the two muscles, and in one specimen, we observed additional fusion of fibers of the superior gemellus (SG) and obturator internus (OI) muscles into the PM. The distal attachments of the GM and PM are more complex than traditionally understood and should be considered when prescribing rehabilitation exercises to treat piriformis syndrome.
Empathy, Unemployment, and Wages

In this paper, we study the role and impact of workers’ empathy — or the interdependence of workers’ preferences — on the business cycle. We show how empathy affects managerial practices and how it impacts labor market outcomes such as wages and employment. To this end, we consider a labor market in which a firm’s manager chooses the set of workers to hire and how much to pay each worker. We explore how managers react to labor productivity shocks. In economic expansions, managers elect to raise wages and to hire more workers. However, in economic slowdowns, managers may find it optimal to freeze both wages and employment. Moreover, consistent with Bewley (1999), in times of severe economic downturns managers respond by reducing workforce, but not wages. The rationale of these asymmetric responses to productivity shocks is that a profit-maximizing firm is reluctant to cut wages, as that choice may trigger a low morale equilibrium, affecting its profits discontinuously.
Social Learning and the Political Power Dynamics of Executive Privilege in a Cold War Paradigm

Executive privilege is a concept scholars have been debating for decades. While most discussions focus on the constitutionality of executive privilege, some have taken a more political perspective. Leaving aside constitutional arguments, this research provides a new perspective on understanding the politics of executive privilege in the modern era. Through a social learning lens, executive privilege becomes a political football of institutional power dynamics between the legislative and executive branches. Demonstrating a mindset paradigm shift to a Cold War perspective, the president and administrative actors, beginning with Truman, took actions to decrease information flows to Congress. Congress would respond or react to administration actions by seeking to curb executive power, eventually leading to policy becoming a tool of leverage. Following World War II, this research traces the political back and forth of executive privilege as a tool of institutional power, tracing the early development from Truman through LBJ. Understanding the power interactions during this period deepens our insight into contemporary debates. This historical analysis provides for policy as an additional legislative tool of leverage that has largely been ignored by scholars. Analyzing the development of the Freedom of Information Act provides an example of how policy is directly tied to issues of executive privilege and used as a congressional check on presidential power.
A pilot randomized controlled trial of aerobic exercise as an adjunct to OCD treatment

Objective The purpose of the current study was to conduct a randomized controlled trial testing the efficacy of aerobic exercise for decreasing OCD symptom severity, other mental health outcomes, and increasing exercise behaviors and cardiorespiratory fitness among individuals with OCD.
Neuromorphic photonic networks using silicon photonic weight banks.

Photonic systems for high-performance information processing have attracted renewed interest. Neuromorphic silicon photonics has the potential to integrate processing functions that vastly exceed the capabilities of electronics. We report first observations of a recurrent silicon photonic neural network, in which connections are configured by microring weight banks. A mathematical isomorphism between the silicon photonic circuit and a continuous neural network model is demonstrated through dynamical bifurcation analysis. Exploiting this isomorphism, a simulated 24-node silicon photonic neural network is programmed using “neural compiler” to solve a differential system emulation task. A 294-fold acceleration against a conventional benchmark is predicted. We also propose and derive power consumption analysis for modulator-class neurons that, as opposed to laser-class neurons, are compatible with silicon photonic platforms. At increased scale, Neuromorphic silicon photonics could access new regimes of ultrafast information processing for radio, control, and scientific computing.
N-Acetylaspartate and 2-Hydroxyglutarate Assessed in Human Brain Tissue by Mass Spectrometry as Neuronal Markers of Oncogenesis.

To the Editor: Mass spectrometry (MS)1 assays are becoming crucial inputs into clinical decisions in personalized medicine (1). Several assays are finding application for the diagnosis of cancers because they can rapidly reveal the molecular content of minute biopsy tissue samples and provide diagnostic information that complements histopathological examination. For gliomas, which represent 75% of all malignant brain tumors, N-acetylaspartate (NAA) and 2-hydroxyglutarate (2HG) are markers of oncogenesis, and their MS measurement in brain tissue has the potential to improve glioma diagnosis. Here, we describe new results of a direct MS method applied to NAA and 2HG and discuss diagnostic and prognostic implications. We performed electrospray ionization (ESI) of brain tissue extracts with a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. Quantitative measurements were made on 28 human banked neurological specimens obtained from the Biorepository of the Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis (IRB # 1410015344). Adjacent tissue was examined by histopathology to identify the presence of the tumor, estimate degree of infiltration, which was measured as tumor cell percentage, and assess isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutation status. The tissue was weighed wet and extracted using methanol:water (3:2 v/v, 2 g/L) spiked with NAA-d3 and 2HG-d3. Extracts were homogenized and centrifuged. The supernatant was infused into the instrument and MRM transitions …
Antitrust Policy: Lessons from the US

Whether applied through US, European, or other national competition laws, antitrust has come to represent an important competition policy instrument that underlies many countries' public policies toward business. As a set of instruments whose goal is to make markets operate more competitively, however, antitrust often comes into direct conflict with regulatory policies, including forms of price and output controls, antidumping laws, access limitations, and protectionist industrial policies. Courts in the US have widely adopted economic analysis as the theoretical foundation for evaluating antitrust concerns. Yet, antitrust statutes in the European Union also place heavy emphasis on the role of economics. This article provides a view of antitrust primarily from the perspective of the US policy; the review that follows illustrates a theme that has worldwide applicability. This article highlights: (1) the early antibig business period in the US, in which the structure of industry was paramount; (2) the period in which performance as well as structure was given significant weight, and there was a systematic attempt to balance the efficiency gains from concentration with the inefficiencies associated with possible anticompetitive behavior; and (3) the most recent period, which includes the growth of high technology and network industries, in which firm behavior has been given particular emphasis.
Percutaneous coronary intervention in native vessels with angiographically visible thrombus temporal trends and impact of drug-eluting stents.

Objectives The aim of our study was to evaluate the temporal trends in outcomes following percutaneous coronary intervention in lesions with angiographically visible thrombus and to assess the impact of drug-eluting stents (DES) on long-term outcomes. Background Percutaneous coronary intervention in the presence of angiographically visible thrombus is associated with worse clinical outcomes. Whether recent advances in devices and adjunctive pharmacotherapy have made any significant impact on clinical outcomes is unknown. Moreover, concerns have been raised about the safety of DES in thrombotic lesions. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of 6,227 consecutive patients who had angiographically visible thrombus. Patients were grouped into 3 eras depending on the dominant interventional strategy of that time: early stent era (1990 to 1996), bare-metal stent era (1997 to 2003), and DES era (2003 to 2006). Results Procedural success rates, although much improved, have remained unchanged in the last 2 cohorts (43%, 85%, 86%; p Conclusions There has been a marked improvement in procedural success accompanied by a reduction in in-hospital mortality and major adverse cardiac event rates. Importantly, the introduction of DES has not been associated with a greater risk of death or myocardial infarction among patients with angiographically visible thrombus.
Deriving Nonlinear Correlation Coefficients from Partial Moments

We introduce a nonlinear correlation coefficient metric derived from partial moments that can be substituted for the Pearson correlation coefficient in linear instances as well. The flexibility offered by partial moments enables ordered partitions of the data whereby linear segments are aggregated for an overall correlation coefficient. Our coefficient works without the need to perform a linear transformation on the underlying data, and can also provide a general measure of nonlinearity between two variables. We also extend the analysis to a multiple nonlinear regression without the adverse effects of multicollinearity.
Refining Inductive Bias in Unsupervised Learning via Constraints

Algorithmic bias is necessary for learning because it allows a learner to generalize rationally. A bias is composed of all assumptions the learner makes outside of the given data set. There exist some approaches to automatically selecting the best algorithm (and therefore bias) for a problem or automatically shifting bias as learning proceeds. In general, these methods are concerned with supervised learning tasks. However, reducing reliance on supervisory tags or annotations enables the application of learning techniques to many real-world data sets for which no such information exists. We therefore propose the investigation of methods for refining the bias in unsupervised learning algorithms, with the goal of increasing accuracy and improving efficiency. In particular, we will investigate the incorporation of background knowledge in the form of constraints that allow an unsupervised algorithm to automatically avoid unpromising areas of the hypothesis space. Background Knowledge as Constraints. There is a natural connection between the bias in an algorithm and background knowledge. Often, the bias hardcoded into an algorithm was chosen due to background knowledge about the class of tasks to be targeted. This bias encodes certain assumptions about what sort of hypotheses are valid solutions for any problem it is applied to. However, for a specific task it is often the case that more precise information is available that can be used to augment the bias in useful ways. In such cases, it is desirable to leverage this background knowledge to refine the algorithmic bias in the proper direction. In particular, we are interested in improvements that can be obtained with the addition of problem-specific constraints. Constraints are derived from background knowledge and specify relationships between instances that may not be expressible in the traditional feature-value representation used for machine learning data sets. Current and Proposed Work. To date, we have investigated the incorporation of instance-level hard constraints into one clustering algorithm (a partitioning variation of COBWEB (Fisher 1987)). We found that incorporating constraints results in improved clustering accuracy (Wagstaff & Cardie in press). The types of constraints investigated were specific to algorithms that create flat partitions of the input data. We plan to investigate the relative merits of dif-
Current and Emerging Therapies in the Management of Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy in Neonates

Neonatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) presents a significant clinical burden with its high mortality and morbidity rates globally. Therapeutic hypothermia (TH) is now standard of care for infants with moderate to severe HIE, but has not definitively changed outcomes in severe HIE. In this review, we discuss newer promising markers that may help the clinician identify severity of HIE. Therapies that are beneficial and agents that hold promise for neuroprotection are described, both for use either alone or as adjuncts to TH. These include endogenous pathway modifiers such as erythropoietin and analogues, melatonin, and remote ischemic post conditioning. Stem cells have therapeutic potential in this condition, as in many other neonatal conditions. Of the agents listed, only erythropoietin and analogues are currently being evaluated in large randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Exogenous therapies such as argon and xenon, allopurinol, monosialogangliosides, and magnesium sulfate continue to be investigated. The recognition of tertiary mechanisms of brain damage has opened up new research into therapies not only to attenuate brain damage but also to promote cell repair and regeneration in a developmentally disorganized brain long after the perinatal insult. These alternative modalities may be especially important in mild HIE and in areas of the world where there is limited access to expensive hypothermia equipment and services.
A comparison of resveratrol and other polyphenolic compounds on Notch activation and endothelial cell activity

Resveratrol is a polyphenolic compound produced by plants which makes its way into the human diet through plant-based foods. It has been shown to provide many health benefits, helping to ward of age-related diseases and promoting cardiovascular health. Additionally, resveratrol is a potent activator of the Notch signaling pathway. While resveratrol receives the most attention as a polyphenolic nutraceutical, other compounds with similar structures may be more potent regulators of specific cellular processes. Here, we compare resveratrol, apigenin, chrysin, genistein, luteolin, myricetin, piceatannol, pterostilbene, and quercetin for their ability to regulate Notch signaling. In addition, we compare the ability of these polyphenolic compounds to regulate endothelial cell viability, proliferation, and migration. Out of these compounds we found that resveratrol is the best activator of Notch signaling, however, other similar compounds are also capable of stimulating Notch. We also discovered that several of these polyphenols were able to inhibit endothelial cell proliferation. Finally, we found that many of these polyphenols are potent inhibitors of endothelial migration during wound healing assays. These findings provide the first side-by-side comparison of the regulation of Notch signaling, and endothelial cell proliferation and migration, by nine polyphenolic compounds.
Deforestation and the United States–Peru Trade Promotion Agreement

Do environmental provisions in trade agreements make a difference? In part to coopt environmental criticisms, the United States has included environmental components to trade agreements since NAFTA...
Connecting Theory and Practice: a Systematic Review of K-5 Science and Math Literacy Instruction

Literacy instruction in science and math in elementary education lays a critical foundation for later content literacy development and the learning of content subjects in middle and high school. However, limited research has investigated the theoretical basis of instructional practices for science and math literacy instruction at the elementary level. Extending Wright et al., (2016), the present systematic review aims to critically examine the connection between theory and practice for K-5 science and math literacy instruction. Instructional practices recommended in the Reading Teacher, a flagship practitioner–oriented journal published by the leading literacy education association, International Literacy Association, were analyzed to identify the underlying theories. Our findings revealed that most of the science and math literacy practices recommended to elementary reading teachers are well aligned with social theories, which dominate the field of literacy education and conceptualize literacy as a social practice. Following social theories of literacy development, students are encouraged to make connections between the text and their personal interest and life experiences. The current study also revealed gaps between theory and practice in elementary science and math literacy instruction, where key theories were not or underrepresented in practices. Further strengthening the connection between theory and practice requires a joint effort between researchers and practitioners.
Applying machine learning to predict real-world individual treatment effects: insights from a virtual patient cohort.

Objective We aimed to investigate bias in applying machine learning to predict real-world individual treatment effects. Materials and methods Using a virtual patient cohort, we simulated real-world healthcare data and applied random forest and gradient boosting classifiers to develop prediction models. Treatment effect was estimated as the difference between the predicted outcomes of a treatment and a control. We evaluated the impact of predictors (ie, treatment predictors [X1], confounders [X2], treatment effects modifiers [X3], and other outcome risk factors [X4]) with known effects on treatment and outcome using real-world data, and outcome imbalance on predicting individual outcome. Using counterfactuals, we evaluated percentage of patients with biased predicted individual treatment effects. Results The X4 had relatively more impact on model performance than X2 and X3 did. No effects were observed from X1. Moderate-to-severe outcome imbalance had a significantly negative impact on model performance, particularly among subgroups in which an outcome occurred. Bias in predicting individual treatment effects was significant and persisted even when the models had a 100% accuracy in predicting health outcome. Discussion Inadequate inclusion of the X2, X3, and X4 and moderate-to-severe outcome imbalance may affect model performance in predicting individual outcome and subsequently bias in predicting individual treatment effects. Machine learning models with all features and high performance for predicting individual outcome still yielded biased individual treatment effects. Conclusions Direct application of machine learning might not adequately address bias in predicting individual treatment effects. Further method development is needed to advance machine learning to support individualized treatment selection.
Simplified correlations for free convection from a horizontal isothermal cylinder

Abstract Heat transfer by buoyancy-driven convection from a heated horizontal cylinder is present in many situations. Applications occur in nuclear reactor safety, solar energy systems, computer cooling, and many heat exchangers. A number of experimental and numerical studies exist for such flow situations and often provide correlating equations to calculate the heat transfer. The existing studies, most of which are for the case where Prandtl number is approximately 0.7 , show a considerable variation in their average Nusselt number predictions. Some studies have addressed the variation in Prandtl number with reasonably accurate and consistent correlations but these are often complex and cumbersome to use. To address these issues, the current paper proposes simplified sets of correlating equations using results from prior numerical and experimental studies.
Thoracoscopic Intercostal Nerve Cryoablation During the Nuss Procedure

Abstract Introduction: The Nuss procedure is the preferred surgical method for pectus excavatum repair. However, it causes significant postoperative pain leading to high opiate requirements, activi...
Targeting endothelial exosomes for the prevention of cardiovascular disease.

Exosomes are small lipid bilayer-enclosed 30-140 nm diameter vesicles formed from endosomes. Exosomes are secreted by various cell types including endothelial cells, immune cells and other cardiovascular tissues, and they can be detected in plasma, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, as well as tissues. Exosomes were initially regarded as a disposal mechanism to discard unwanted materials from cells. Recent studies suggest that exosomes play an important role in mediating of intercellular communication through the delivery and transport of cellular components such as nucleic acids, lipids, and proteins and thus regulate cardiovascular disease. Further, the underlying mechanisms by which abnormally released exosomes promote cardiovascular disease are not well understood. This review highlights recent studies involving endothelial exosomes, gives a brief overview of exosome biogenesis and release, isolation and identification of exosomes, and provides a contemporary understanding of the endothelial exosome pathophysiology and potential therapeutic strategies.
Vitamin D Sufficiency Enhances Differentiation of Patient-Derived Prostate Epithelial Organoids

Vitamin D is an essential steroid hormone that regulates systemic calcium homeostasis and cell fate decisions, including differentiation in many cell types. The prostate gland is hormonally regulated, requiring steroids for proliferation and terminal differentiation of secretory luminal cells. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with higher risk of lethal prostate cancer with an aggressive dedifferentiated pathology, linking vitamin D sufficiency to epithelial differentiation homeostasis. To determine regulation of prostate epithelial differentiation by vitamin D status, patient-derived benign prostate epithelial organoids were maintained in vitamin D deficient (vehicle) or sufficient (10 nM 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D) conditions and assessed by phenotype and single cell RNA sequencing. Mechanistic validation demonstrated that vitamin D sufficiency promoted organoid growth and accelerated differentiation of lineage-committed cells by inhibiting canonical Wnt activity and Wnt family member DKK3. Wnt dysregulation is a known contributor to aggressive prostate cancer, thus these findings further link vitamin D deficiency to lethal disease.
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children with and without risk for neurodevelopmental impairments.

AIM: To examine how the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic impacts child well-being and family functioning, particularly among children at risk for neurodevelopmental impairments. METHODS: Families of 73 typically developing children, 54 children born very preterm (VPT) and 73 children with congenital heart disease (CHD) from two prospective cohort studies were assessed prior to (mean age: 10.4 [SD: 1.2] years) and during (mean age: 12.8 [SD: 2.0] years) the pandemic, more specifically, in April/May 2020. Child well-being and family functioning were assessed with validated, parent-reported questionnaires and tested with linear mixed models. Group comparison of child distress and parental concerns related to medical implications of COVID-19 and homeschooling, assessed with 5-point Likert scales, was done with Mann-Whitney U tests. RESULTS: Children's psychological well-being and family functioning (both, p < 0.001) decreased significantly during the pandemic, irrespective of group. Children with CHD were reported to be more concerned about becoming infected with SARS-CoV-2 than were others. Child distress due to homeschooling and parents' concerns about children's academic achievements were significantly higher in VPT and CHD children than in typically developing peers (all p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic substantially impacts the whole family and leads to additional distress in families with children at risk for neurodevelopmental impairments. These families should receive individualised counselling and assistance from healthcare providers and schools during the pandemic.
Is the Impact of Managed Care on Hospital Prices Decreasing

Prior studies find that the growth of managed care through the early 1990s introduced a strong positive relationship between price and concentration in hospital markets. We hypothesize that the relaxation of constraints on consumer choice in response to a"managed care backlash" has diminished the price sensitivity of demand facing hospitals, reducing or possibly reversing the price concentration relationship. We test this hypothesis by studying the price/concentration relationship for hospitals in California and Florida for selected years between 1990 and 2003, while addressing the potential endogeneity of concentration. We find an increasingly positive price/concentration in the 1990s with a peak occurring by 2001. Between 2001 and 2003, the growth in this relationship halts and possibly reverses.
Molecular Mechanisms of Superelasticity and Ferroelasticity in Organic Semiconductor Crystals

Flexible organic crystals enabled by cooperative phase transitions attract enormous interest in solid-state chemistry to produce light, biocompatible, and environmentally benign devices. The recent...
The Pluggable Distributed Resource Allocator (PDRA): a Middleware for Distributed Computing in Mobile Robotic Networks

We present the Pluggable Distributed Resource Allocator (PDRA), a middleware for distributed computing in heterogeneous mobile robotic networks. PDRA enables autonomous robotic agents to share computational resources for computationally expensive tasks such as localization and path planning. It sits between an existing single-agent plan- ner/executor and existing computational resources (e.g. ROS packages), intercepts the executor's requests and, if needed, transparently routes them to other robots for execution. PDRA is pluggable: it can be integrated in an existing single-robot autonomy stack with minimal modifications. Task allocation decisions are performed by a mixed-integer programming algorithm, solved in a shared-world fashion, that models CPU resources, latency requirements, and multi-hop, periodic, bandwidth-limited network communications; the algorithm can minimize overall energy usage or maximize the reward for completing optional tasks. Simulation results show that PDRA can reduce energy and CPU usage by over 50% in representative multi-robot scenarios compared to a naive scheduler; runs on embedded platforms; and performs well in delay- and disruption-tolerant networks (DTNs). PDRA is available to the community under an open-source license.
Study of Characteristics and Evaluation of Severity Affecting Factors Associated with Large-Truck Crashes

Large trucks form one of the important components of the surface transportation system in the United States as they carry a significant portion of the nation's cargo. Statistics show that the total number of registered large trucks and the truck vehicle-miles traveled have both increased in the last 10 years. With this increase in numbers, the probability of trucks being involved in crashes also increases. This study identifies the characteristics and contributory causes of truck crashes, and the factors associated with increased severity of large-truck-crashes. By understanding these issues, more focused and effective countermeasures could be developed to mitigate both number and severity of truck-crashes. Various driver-, road-, environment- and vehicle- related characteristics and contributory causes were identified and analyzed using truck crash data from the state of Kansas. Driver-related contributory causes were found to be more common than any other type of contributory cause for the occurrence of truck-crashes. Failing to give time and attention, being too fast for existing conditions, and failing to yield right of way were the most dominant driver-related contributory causes, among many others. Through severity modeling, factors such as driver-related contributory causes, accident class, manner of collision, driver being under the influence of alcohol, truck maneuver, traffic control device, surface condition, being too fast for existing conditions, being trapped, damage to the truck, light conditions, etc. were found to be significantly related with increased severity of truck-crashes. Driver being trapped had the highest odds (82.81) of contributing to a more severe truck crash, followed by the collision resulting in damage to the truck, which had 3.05 times higher odds of increasing the severity of truck-crashes. Truck-driver under the influence of alcohol had 2.66 times higher odds of being involved in a more severe crash, among many other factors identified as important.
Introduction: How Teens Feel About School and Why We Should Care

In the classic movie, The Breakfast Club this dialog among three adolescents is reflective of how teenagers often regard school and academics. In this example, Brian, clearly in the minority because he enjoys the physics club, is referred to as “a dork.” His schoolmate further goes on to characterize such clubs as, “demented and sad, but social …” Though a fictitious satire, the film reflects the unfortunate reality of how teenagers often regard school and students who are enthusiastic members of learning. This scorn and ridicule directed at Brian illustrates how students who value school are often subject to criticism and low social status; a claim which has been supported in the literature (Staff & Kraeger, 2008).