cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
It's a Wonderful Coast or, Every Time a Bell Rings, Long Island Sound is Protected

In Frank Capra's classic film It's a Wonderful Life, a despondent man takes a journey to see what life would have been like without him: the journey paints a bleak picture. In true Hollywood form, he is ultimately reassured of his impact even though his accomplishments were immeasurable. The film's protagonist, George Bailey, is the perfect metaphor for Connecticut's Coastal Management Program. The Program can measure quantifiable elements: the number of site plans reviewed, number of permits issued, acres of tidal wetlands restored. But coastal managers often lose sight of the accomplishments and ripple effects of management, possibly because accomplishments are taken for granted. Perhaps the true value of coastal management programs lies in that intangible, immeasurable idea of what coasts would be like without them. This article takes readers on a George Bailey–esque journey by identifying the Connecticut Coastal Management Program's accomplishments since its adoption in 1980, reviewed in the context o...
Spinal dural arteriovenous fistula with intramedullary cord hemorrhage: Diagnostic challenges

Spinal dural arteriovenous fistula (SDAVF) consists of an acquired arteriovenous shunt between a dural artery and perimedullary veins.1 This results in arterialization of radicular veins, venous hypertension, and decreased spinal cord perfusion.1 The condition has a male predominance and presents as a myelopathy in the fifth or sixth decade. Initial misdiagnosis is common.1–3 We present a man with a SDAVF and associated intramedullary cord hemorrhage.
The effects of aging and loud music on hearing.

This paper addresses the effects of loud sound and the aging process upon the human auditory system. There is no question that loud sound, regardless of whether it is impact noise, heavymetal rock music, or classical music, can be damaging to auditory nerve cells. It is the level of the sound as well as the duration of exposure that constitutes danger to this precious sense organ—the ear.
Effects of Music on Physical Activity Rates of Elementary Physical Education Students.

Music is a pervasive presence in society and is routinely used to influence human behavior in a variety of settings and for a variety of purposes including exercise behaviors and physical education (PE) classes. However, little evidence exists to support what effect, if any, music has on learner outcomes in PE. The effects that playing music during elementary PE lessons had on children's physical activity (PA) rates were examined in this study. Physical activity rates (via pedometry) of elementary PE students (Grades 3 to 5, n = 115) were measured under two treatment conditions (music or no music) and across two lesson types (walking or Frisbee) in a crossover design. Data were analyzed using a within-and-within repeated measures ANOVA. Findings indicate that including music throughout PE lessons significantly increases PA for both genders and across both activities (p < .000). Also, a significant music-by-activity type interaction effect was noted (p < .000), indicating that music has an increased effect as the nature of the activity becomes more vigorous. A significant gender effect (p < .000) was also noted. Using music may be a beneficial environmental change that will increase PA in elementary PE and is more pronounced as intensity increases.
Focal Cryotherapy in Low-Risk Prostate Cancer: Are We Treating the Cancer or the Mind? - The Cancer.

1Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Denver Health Medical Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver CO, USA; 2University of Colorado Cancer Center, UC Denver. Denver CO, USA ___________________________________________________________________________________
Gastrointestinal Tract Infections

Gastrointestinal (GI) tract infections are caused by a wide variety of fungi, viruses, and bacteria, and all areas of the GI tract are affected. Infections range from mild, where disease is self-limited and supportive care is the treatment, to severe, where hospitalization and intravenous fluids and antibiotics are required for survival. In recent years, the increasing antibiotic resistance of various bacteria has become an important aspect of GI infection treatment and has resulted in augmentation of therapy.
Surface Chemistry and Microflotation of Xenotime and Selected Gangue Minerals Using Octanohydroxamic Acid as the Collector

This research study was designed to investigate the principles of surface chemistry and microflotation of xenotime and selected gangue minerals, and to achieve a better understanding of the factors affecting flotation performance and separation of xenotime from associated gangue minerals in an efficient way. A preconcentrated xenotime sample and four selected gangue minerals such as ilmenite, zircon, schorl, and staurolite were used in this study. Using octanohydroxamic acid as a collector, surface chemistry was investigated through surface area measurements, zeta potential tests, and adsorption density determinations. The zeta potential of xenotime was measured as 3.90 in this study. The results of adsorption studies showed a mechanism of chemisorption and correlated well with the results of microflotation tests conducted at room temperature in a Partridge–Smith cell. In this paper, the surface chemistry and microflotation behaviors are discussed based on both the lab observations and literature review, in the hope to shed light on further research and industrial flotation operation.
Tactile taps teach rhythmic text entry: passive haptic learning of morse code

Passive Haptic Learning (PHL) is the acquisition of sensorimotor skills with little or no active attention to learning. This technique is facilitated by wearable computing, and applications are diverse. However, it is not known whether rhythm-based information can be conveyed passively. In a 12 participant study, we investigate whether Morse code, a rhythmbased text entry system, can be learned through PHL using the bone conduction transducer on Google Glass. After four hours of exposure to passive stimuli while focusing their attention on a distraction task, PHL participants achieved a 94% accuracy rate keying a pangram (a phrase with all the letters of the alphabet) using Morse code on Glass's trackpad versus 53% for the control group. Most PHL participants achieved 100% accuracy before the end of the study. In written tests, PHL participants could write the codes for each letter of the alphabet with 98% accuracy versus 59% for control. When perceiving Morse code, PHL participants also performed significantly better than control: 83% versus 46% accuracy.
Comparison of Stent-Assisted Coil Embolization and the Pipeline Embolization Device for Endovascular Treatment of Ophthalmic Segment Aneurysms: A Multicenter Cohort Study

Background Stent-assisted coil embolization and flow diversion with the Pipeline embolization device (PED) are both effective endovascular treatment options for ophthalmic segment aneurysms (OSAs) of the internal carotid artery. Here we present a large comparative cohort study. Methods A multicenter, retrospective cohort comparison study of consecutively treated OSAs was conducted at 2 academic institutions in the United States comparing stent-coiling (between 2007 and 2015) and PED (between 2011 and 2016). Results A total of 62 of OSAs were treated with stent-coiling and 106 were treated with the PED. The stent-coiling–treated aneurysms were larger, although the maximum diameter was not significantly different between the 2 groups (P = 0.05). The median duration of follow-up was 22.5 months for the stent-coiling group and 8.7 months for the PED group (P = 0.0002). Complete occlusion at last follow-up was achieved in 75.9% of aneurysms in the stent-coiling group and in 81.1% of aneurysms in the PED group (P = 0.516). The retreatment rate was higher with stent-coiling, but the difference did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.062). A good functional outcome was achieved in 96.6% of patients in the stent-coiling group and in 94.7% of those in the PED group (P = 0.707). The rate of neurologic complications was 4.8% in the stent-coiling group and 9.4% in the PED group (P = 0.376). Conclusion Stent-coiling and the PED were equally effective for treating OSAs. There were no significant differences in terms of procedural complications, angiographic, functional, and visual outcomes. PED may be more favorable for multiple adjacent OSAs.
Air Displacement Plethysmography Versus Bioelectrical Impedance to Determine Body Composition in Pediatric Hemodialysis Patients.

Objective Protein energy wasting is difficult to assess in pediatric hemodialysis (HD) populations because of fluid shifts. Body composition (BC) analysis aids in monitoring nutrition therapy's effects on fat and lean mass. Air displacement plethysmography (ADP) is a "practical" gold standard for fat mass (FM) measurements. We aim to compare BC measures in a pediatric HD population via anthropometry, ADP, and bioelectrical impedance (BIA). Design The study was prospective cohort study and the setting was 1 pediatric HD unit in Houston, Texas. Subjects A total of 15 pediatric and young adult patients receiving maintenance HD. Intervention ADP, BIA, and anthropometry were obtained mid-week post HD for 3 consecutive months. Main Outcome Measure The primary outcome was the difference in FM as defined by various assessment methods. Secondary outcomes included correlations with anthropometry. Results ADP demonstrated a strong positive correlation to body mass index, mid-upper arm circumference, and triceps skin fold (all P P = .0004). BIA underestimated FM in obese subjects ( P = .005). Analysis of malnutrition status by mid-upper arm circumference revealed an overestimation of FM in BIA measures ( P = .02). Conclusions This is the first pediatric dialysis study using ADP to assess BC. Estimation of FM in pediatric HD patients via ADP and BIA has significant error rates in 2 populations: (1) males tanner ≥4: BIA underestimates FM and (2) weight extremes: BIA underestimates FM for obese and overestimates FM for malnourished. BIA should be used with caution in these populations when estimating fluid content and leads to false estimates of dry weight. ADP is a useful adjunct in assessment of nutritional status via BC in pediatric HD patients.
Lagim Tehi Tuma/Thinking Together: Between Risk, Restriction, and Learning in a U.S.-Ghana Collaborative

As U.S.-based colleges and universities seek to globalize education with experiential learning, the risk of reinforcing assumptions about Western superiority, white supremacy and the “neediness” of “developing” countries increases. This essay discusses the rationale for a program that wrestles with questions of power, communication, and creativity by engaging students from the two U.S. liberal arts colleges (a consortium) and a Ghanaian university in a summer action research project. The program takes place in part on campus in the U.S. and in part in a village in Northern Ghana in partnership with three grassroots educational organizations: a community radio station, an Internet training center, and a non-governmental organization focused on early education. Tracking key words in two languages central to the programs a way to make the different histories in play visible, I argue that the purpose of the work is "lagim tehi tuma" -- Dagbani for “thinking together," to develop not people, countries, or cultures, but knowledge, questions, and relationships. Drawing on Apusigah’s discussion of "tullum," an indigenous, gendered approach to development, I advance a conception of collaboration that accepts limitation, impermanence, and risk as part of sustainability.
Spatial clustering of measles vaccination coverage among children in sub-Saharan Africa

During the past two decades, vaccination programs have greatly reduced global morbidity and mortality due to measles, but recently this progress has stalled. Even in countries that report high vaccination coverage rates, transmission has continued, particularly in spatially clustered subpopulations with low vaccination coverage. We examined the spatial heterogeneity of measles vaccination coverage among children aged 12–23 months in ten Sub-Saharan African countries. We used the Anselin Local Moran’s I to estimate clustering of vaccination coverage based on data from Demographic and Health Surveys conducted between 2008 and 2013. We also examined the role of sociodemographic factors to explain clustering of low vaccination. We detected 477 spatial clusters with low vaccination coverage, many of which were located in countries with relatively high nationwide vaccination coverage rates such as Zambia and Malawi. We also found clusters in border areas with transient populations. Clustering of low vaccination coverage was related to low health education and limited access to healthcare. Systematically monitoring clustered populations with low vaccination coverage can inform supplemental immunization activities and strengthen elimination programs. Metrics of spatial heterogeneity should be used routinely to determine the success of immunization programs and the risk of disease persistence.
Chemical Characteristics of Follicular Glycosaminoglycans

As follicles mature, they shift from follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) to luteinizing hormone (LH) dependence and atretic follicles generally exhibit reduced capacity to bind gonadotropins (Nimrod et al., 1977; Erickson et al., 1979; Amsterdam et al., 1981). In vitro assays revealed that binding of gonadotropins to rat granulosa could be inhibited by addition of bovine follicular fluid (FF). Fluid from small follicles was more effective than large follicles at inhibiting that binding (Amsterdam et al., 1979). The glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) chondroitin sulfate and heparin effectively inhibited hormonal stimulation of adenylyl cyclase in a dose-dependent manner in fragmented granulosa cell preparations (Salomon et al., 1978; Nimrod and Linder, 1980). Dermatan sulfate (DS), also referred to as chondroitin sulfate-B, and heparan sulfate (HS) are the predominant GAGs found in follicular fluid and secreted by granulosa cells in vitro (Ax et al., 1985). Heparin is structurally similar to HS except it possesses a unique oligosaccharide sequence which provides its characteristic anticoagulant activity (Lindahl et al., 1977). Concentrations of FF, DS and HS decreased with follicular enlargement and were significantly elevated in atretic follicles regardless of follicle size in the bovine (Grimek et al., 1984; Bellin and Ax, 1984; Bushmeyer et al., 1985). Therefore, changes in concentrations of GAGs in FF contrast patterns for gonadotropin binding to granulosa. The purpose of this study was to examine the chemical characteristics as well as the concentrations of follicular fluid GAGs isolated from follicles at different stages of maturation.
Predictions of the Critical Strain for Matrix Cracking of Ceramic Matrix Composites

The critical strain for matrix cracking of ceramic matrix composites has been studied; emphasis is placed on the effects of the fiber/matrix debonding length and interfacial debonding energy. Based on a modified shear-lag model, stresses in the fiber and matrix have been found for both the bonded and debonded regions. An energy balance approach, based upon the stress field, is then adopted to evaluate the critical strain for matrix cracking. From the general equation for the critical strain, close form solutions have been deduced for two limiting cases: complete debonding and perfect bonding. Numerical solutions are given for the cases of nonzero debonding energy and partial fiber debonding. The results show that the interfacial debonding energy, which has been ignored by most of the investigators, is an important factor in determining both the critical strain and the debonding length.
Sciatin: Purification, Characterization, Localization and Biological Properties of a Myotrophic Protein from Sciatic Nerves

ABSTRACT We have isolated and purified a biologically-active protein from chicken sciatic nerves which exerts trophic effects on cultured muscle. This myotrophic protein, referred to as sciatin , is an acidic glycoprotein with a native MW of 86,400. Sciatin promotes the morphological maturation and maintenance of aneural chick muscle cells, and increases protein synthesis and acetylcholine receptors in these cells in the absence of innervation. Immunocytochemical studies at the light microscopic level reveal that sciatin is localized in the perikarya of spinal cord neurons and the axoplasm of sciatic nerves of chickens. Immunoprecipitation studies indicate that sciatin is the biologically-active component of chick embryo extract which is a required component of culture medium for avian myogenesis in vitro and that sciatin is essential for the initial differentiation of chick myogenic cells. Preliminary studies suggest that sciatin is transported by axonal flow in chicken sciatic nerves and released from chicken nerve-muscle preparations by electrical stimulation. Finally, recent studies indicate that sciatin is highly enriched in chicken sciatic nerves and is also present in chicken serum.
Labour protest and industrial peace: Russian steelworkers’ encounters with economic reforms and unravelling social protections

The collapse of the Soviet Union brought a series of economic reforms: privatization, increased foreign direct investment and weakened benefits. Correspondingly, some scholars expected trade unions...
Relationship between Molarity and Color in the Crystal ('Dramada') Produced by Scytalidium cuboideum, in Two Solvents.

Pigments from wood-decay fungi (specifically spalting fungi) have a long history of use in wood art, and have become relevant in modern science due to their longevity and colorfastness. They are presently under investigation as colorants for wood, bamboo, oils, paints and textiles. Major hurdles to their commercialization have been color repeatability (in that the same strain of the same species of fungus may produce different colors over time), and the binding of the pigments to glass storage containers. This is persistent as they do not naturally exist in a loose form. Due to these issues, the ‘standard’ color for each was historically determined not by the amount of pigment, but by the color in a solution of dichloromethane (DCM), using the CIE L*a*b colorspace. This method of standardization severely limited the use of these pigments in industrial applications, as without a dry form, standard methodologies for repeatable color processing into other materials could not be easily implemented. Recent studies have developed a method to crystalize the red pigment from Scytalidium cuboideum (Sacc. & Ellis) Sigler & Kang, producing a highly pure (99%) solid crystal named ‘Dramada’. Herein a method is detailed to compare the molarity of this crystallized pigment to variations in the color, to determine a color saturation curve (by weight) for the pigment from S. cuboideum in DCM and acetone. The molarities for this experiment ranged from 0.024 mM to 19 mM. Each molarity was color read and assigned a CIEL*a*b* value. The results showed that there was a correlation between the molarity and color difference, with the maximum red color occurring between 0.73 mM and 7.3 mM in DCM and between 0.97 mM to 0.73 mM in acetone. Extremely low molarities of pigment produced strong coloration in the solvent, and changes in molarity significantly affected the color of the solution. Having a saturation and color curve for the crystal ‘Dramada’ from S. cuboideum will allow for the reliable production of distinct colors from a known quantity (by weight) of pigment, erasing the final hurdle towards commercial development of the crystallized pigment from S. cuboideum as an industrial dyestuff.
The Green Womb

In Cymbeline, Imogen’s death and rebirth critique the way her chastity is commodified by male suitors, exonerating her reputation while exposing male characters as untrustworthy. Her comatose state and subsequent revivification mimic the symptoms of greensickness described in early modern medical texts, which warned practitioners that if womb illnesses were left untreated, a woman could develop temporary paralysis or even die. Sensationalized tales of syncopic women were widespread in the early modern period and served as warnings of the potential corporeal ramifications of perpetual virginity, constructing the conjugal marital bed as safest for women’s humoral balance. The use of greensickness in Shakespeare’s plays exposes the cultural anxiety around the womb by dramatizing women who subversively find empowerment and determination in their chastity.
Serum Sodium and Pulse Pressure in SPRINT.

Background High dietary sodium intake may induce a small, yet physiologically relevant rise in serum sodium concentration, which associates with increased systolic blood pressure. Cellular data suggest that this association is mediated by increased endothelial cell stiffness. We hypothesized that higher serum sodium levels were associated with greater arterial stiffness in participants in the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT). Methods Multivariable linear regression was used to examine the association between baseline serum sodium level and (i) pulse pressure (PP; n = 8,813; a surrogate measure of arterial stiffness) and (ii) carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (CFPWV; n = 591 in an ancillary study to SPRINT). Results Baseline mean ± SD age was 68 ± 9 years and serum sodium level was 140 ± 2 mmol/L. In the PP analysis, higher serum sodium was associated with increased baseline PP in the fully adjusted model (tertile 3 [≥141 mmol] vs. tertile 2 [139-140 mmol]; β = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.32 to 1.43). Results were similar in those with and without chronic kidney disease. In the ancillary study, higher baseline serum sodium was not associated with increased baseline CFPWV in the fully adjusted model (β = 0.35, 95% CI = -0.14 to 0.84). Conclusions Among adults at high risk for cardiovascular events but free from diabetes, higher serum sodium was independently associated with baseline arterial stiffness in SPRINT, as measured by PP, but not by CFPWV. These results suggest that high serum sodium may be a marker of risk for increased PP, a surrogate index of arterial stiffness.
Measuring the transmission coefficient of a steel plate using an angular spectrum approach

Ultrasonic measurements were performed on a thin steel plate submerged in water in order to obtain the plane-wave transmission coefficient as a function of angle and frequency. An angular spectrum approach was utilized wherein the acoustic field parallel to the plate was scanned with sufficient spatial accuracy to obtain a frequency-wavenumber description of the transmitted field, representing an expansion of the field into time-harmonic plane waves propagating within a range of angles. Isotropy of the plate material and symmetry of the measurement configuration allowed for a vast reduction of the number of scan points required in order to obtain the transmitted angular spectrum. Once the transmitted acoustic data is acquired, the specific method of windowing the data in space and time can have a drastic effect on the resulting angular spectrum. With sufficient care, a broadband estimation of the transmission coefficient with a high angular resolution is obtained. Finally, inverse methods were utilized in order to estimate the thickness and material properties of the plate using the measured transmission coefficient data. [Work supported by ONR.]
149-P: TIME AIN’T ON OUR SIDE: REAL-TIME PCR FOR DECEASED DONOR TYPINGS

Aim A string of problem typings of three (3) deceased donors led us to conclude that the tried-and-true method of SSP may no longer be optimal for such typings. The necessity of running parallel SSP kits and the well-known problems with safety and disposal of EtBr-treated gels also led us to consider real-time PCR for deceased donor HLA typing. Methods We decided to compare side by side our current SSP method for deceased donor typing with real time PCR HLA typing utilizing Linkage Biosciences LinkSēq kits with Sure Typer analytic software. Results An average SSP typing for a deceased donor takes about 4 hours and the LinkSēq kits takes approximately 2 hours. SSP typing required the running of an additional kit from another vendor to provide timely backup in the event of a mistyping or drop out. There have been, to date, no need to repeat testing or have additional backup kits run with the real-time PCR HLA typing. Unfortunately, while the Linkage Biosciences kits are competitively priced with SSP, the necessity of buying a real-time PCR instrument may be prohibitive for many laboratories. Conclusions We had decided to run a second SSP tray for both Class I and II antigens in order to prevent donor mis-typings. This was also done in order to prevent the need to repeat a typing due to a failed primer/well thereby potentially adding more ischemia time to organs. However, with Real-time PCR there was a reduction in time to an average of 2 hours. When you factor in that tech time is the most expensive component of any clinical test, an appreciable reduction in expenses results. Real-time PCR gave more information to the benefit of all the patients involved. With half the time, and no additional Taq polymerase, or DNA we were able, with Real-time PCR, to type for HLA-A, -B, - C, -DRB1, -DRB3, 4, 5, and -DQB1 antigenic equivalents, and, in addition, -DQA1. In conclusion, we could not ignore the time savings, the cost savings, and just overall how much better it was for our patients.
Total hip arthroplasty to address chronic hip luxation with pseudoacetabulum formation in seven dogs

OBJECTIVE: To compare the outcome of dogs treated with total hip arthroplasty (THA) for chronic hip luxation and pseudoacetabulum formation to that of dogs with simple hip dysplasia and secondary osteoarthritis. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective, case‐controlled study. ANIMALS: Seven dogs with pseudoacetabulum (group 1) and 21 matched control dogs (group 2). METHODS: Each dog in group 1 was matched with three control dogs, primarily according to similarity of THA implant type and size. Patterns of radiographic pathology were characterized in each dog. Outcome measures included operative time, acetabular cup position/orientation (inclination angle, angle of lateral opening, version angle) complications, and long‐term outcomes. Outcome measures were compared between groups using linear regression (P = .05). RESULTS: The presence of a pseudoacetabulum was associated with ilial remodeling and heterotopic bone formation concentric to the luxated femoral head. Exposing the native acetabulum and reducing the prosthesis were surgically challenging. The mean (SD) operative time of dogs in group 1 (96 [18] minutes) was longer than that of dogs in group 2 (63 [14] minutes; P = .00002). Cup position/orientation was not different between dogs in group 1 and group 2. One intraoperative complication and two minor postoperative complications occurred in group 1 dogs. All dogs had good long‐term outcomes. CONCLUSION: Total hip arthroplasty in dogs with a pseudoacetabulum was more challenging than in control dogs. However, the procedure provided good to excellent long‐term clinical outcomes in all dogs. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Surgeons should be prepared for the specific surgical challenges associated with THA in dogs with pseudoacetabulum formation.
(Un)building the Wall: Reinventing Ourselves as Others in the Post-truth Era

This prologue sets the stage for nine articles from a variety of disciplines, as well as theoretical and methodological approaches, that discuss curriculum theorizing in post-truth era. This is about coming out : about being, doing, and becoming uncomfortable; reflecting the space-time-mattering (Barad, 2011) in which we live. In November 2016, I proposed five panels to the Thirteenth International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry Annual in light (or shade) of the 2016 U.S. Presidential election. In the panels, more than 20 educational scholars and activists shared their papers and discussed issues of educational policy, teaching, curriculum studies, educational research, and multicultural education in the post-election times. The significance of the topic urged us to do more with and about it. This special issue is another attempt to address the current conditions of post-truth in curriculum theorizing.
Impact of Number Representation for High-Order Implicit Large-Eddy Simulations

High-order numerical methods for unstructured grids combine the superior accuracy of high-order spectral or finite difference methods with the geometric flexibility of low-order finite volume or fi...
Percutaneous trial case for complex regional pain syndrome

Abstract Spinal cord stimulation can provide significant pain relief for patients in the chronic stages of complex regional pain syndrome. Percutaneous temporary trials can provide very important prognostic insight as to whether a patient will benefit from the permanent procedure. However, there are careful patient, anatomic and trial details that must be considered in order to ensure an appropriate, safe, and accurate temporary evaluation of spinal cord stimulation therapy.
Motion Control of Electrostatic Microactuators

We examine and solve control problems for microsystems with micromachined electrostatic actuators and integrated sensors. Advanced control schemes and solutions are investigated. The designed minimal complexity control laws ensure compliance with device physics, low-power electronics and sensors. Overall consistency, accuracy, precision, fast repositioning and adequate performance are guaranteed. We achieve design practicality, control laws adequacy and hardware simplicity at the device and system levels. Nonlinear analysis and control are accomplished by using a Lyapunov stability theory. We expand the Lyapunov theory to design admissible robust control laws. The results are applicable in high-precision positioning systems, microrobotics, wearable electronics and microsurgical devices. Our findings contribute to MEMS system design compliancy, control schemes complementarity and design solutions.
Clinical validation and performance evaluation of the automated Vitros Total Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies assay for screening of serostatus in COVID-19

Objectives: Evaluation of serostatus against SARS-CoV-2 has emerged as an important tool in identification of exposure to COVID-19. We report on the validation of the Vitros Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Total (CoV2T) assay for qualitative serological testing of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Methods: We performed validation studies according to COLA guidelines, using samples previously tested for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR. We evaluated precision, analytical interferences, and cross-reactivity with other viral infections. We also evaluated concordance with molecular and other serological testing, and evaluated seroconversion. Results: The Vitros CoV2T assay exhibited acceptable precision, was resistant to analytical interference, and did not exhibit cross-reactivity with samples positive for other respiratory viruses. The CoV2T assay exhibited 100% negative predictive agreement (56/56) and 71% positive predictive agreement (56/79) with RT-PCR across all patient samples, and was concordant with other serological assays. Concordance with RT-PCR was 97% > 7 days after symptom onset. Conclusions: The Vitros CoV2T assay was successfully validated in our laboratory. We anticipate it will be a useful tool in screening for exposure to SARS-CoV-2, however, the use of the CoV2T and other serological assays in clinical management of COVID-19 patients is yet unknown, and must be evaluated in future studies.
Alcohol Use Disorder and Parental Alcohol Use Disorder as Predictors of Reproductive Timing.

Objective:Research suggests associations between adolescent alcohol use and early reproduction, but other findings show that alcohol use disorder (AUD) may actually predict delayed reproduction. Ho...
An explainable and efficient deep learning framework for video anomaly detection.

Deep learning-based video anomaly detection methods have drawn significant attention in the past few years due to their superior performance. However, almost all the leading methods for video anomaly detection rely on large-scale training datasets with long training times. As a result, many real-world video analysis tasks are still not applicable for fast deployment. On the other hand, the leading methods cannot provide interpretability due to the uninterpretable feature representations hiding the decision-making process when anomaly detection models are considered as a black box. However, the interpretability for anomaly detection is crucial since the corresponding response to the anomalies in the video is determined by their severity and nature. To tackle these problems, this paper proposes an efficient deep learning framework for video anomaly detection and provides explanations. The proposed framework uses pre-trained deep models to extract high-level concept and context features for training denoising autoencoder (DAE), requiring little training time (i.e., within 10 s on UCSD Pedestrian datasets) while achieving comparable detection performance to the leading methods. Furthermore, this framework presents the first video anomaly detection use of combing autoencoder and SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) for model interpretability. The framework can explain each anomaly detection result in surveillance videos. In the experiments, we evaluate the proposed framework's effectiveness and efficiency while also explaining anomalies behind the autoencoder's prediction. On the USCD Pedestrian datasets, the DAE achieved 85.9% AUC with a training time of 5 s on the USCD Ped1 and 92.4% AUC with a training time of 2.9 s on the UCSD Ped2.
Climatic disruptions, natural resources, and conflict: the challenges to governance

Natural resources are identified as a significant variable explaining intrastate conflict since the end of the Cold War. There are sound reasons for this to be the case, as social scientists struggle to make sense of conflicts in the post-Cold War era. As climatic disruptions and climate change are predicted to create extreme conditions and adversely affect natural resources accessibility, we wonder whether the capacity of nations to govern their natural resources rent-driven economies is of explanatory value. Hence, we hypothesize that what we have termed the governance capacity curse (GCC) may play an equal or greater role in our understanding of natural resources-driven internal wars than the so-called natural resources curse (NRC).
Androgen suppression therapy and prostate cancer

ome 65 years after the landmark discovery by Huggins thatprostate tissue is androgen regulated, androgen suppressiontherapy (AST) remains the primary treatment for advanced stagecarcinoma of the prostate (CaP). Since this signiﬁcant discovery,reﬁnement and validation of the efﬁcacy of AST in a variety of clini-cal situations has occurred. Despite these advances, the adverseevents associated with AST have become an important clinical con-cern to physicians treating men with carcinoma of the prostate.Speciﬁcally, reports regarding cancer treatment-induced bone loss(CTIBL, eg, osteoporosis),
Novel pathway for iron deficiency in pediatric non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (1042.1)

summary Background & aims: Iron may be an important factor in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) as it catalyzes the production of potent reactive oxygen species. We aim to examine iron status in pediatric NASH. Methods: Serum indices of NASH patients (N ¼ 36) were compared to those in the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database (N ¼ 802). Iron related gene expression was examined in NASH livers and normal livers, using microarray and quantitative real-time PCR (10 NASH livers and 6 controls). Transferrin and catalase expression were also examined in hydrogen peroxide treated HepG2 cells. Results: Serum iron concentration (P < 0.01) and soluble transferrin receptor 1 (P < 0.0001) were decreased while serum ferritin was elevated in NASH patients (P < 0.01). No detectable iron was observed in NASH liver by Perls' Prussian blue staining. Transferrin (P < 0.01) and transferrin receptor 2 (P < 0.01) mRNA were elevated in NASH patients. Of particular interest, transferrin mRNA was positively correlated with catalase mRNA (r ¼ 0.9338, P < 0.0001). H 2 O2 treatment of HepG2 cells induced mRNA expression of transferrin and catalase. Conclusions: Pediatric NASH patients exhibited decreased serum iron concentration and no detectable iron was observed in any NASH liver by Perls' Prussian blue staining. These changes are consistent with the facts that most NASH patients are obese and exhibit chronic inflammation. In line with a status of iron deficiency, gene expression studies suggested decreased expression of transferrin and transferrin receptor 2 in NASH livers. Induction of transferrin by H2O2, and consequently, decreased iron absorption,
Differential carbohydrate processing and secretion of thyrotropin and free alpha subunit. Effects of 1-deoxynojirimycin

In pulse-chase experiments we compared the kinetics of early carbohydrate processing and subsequent secretion of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and free alpha subunit under control conditions and after treatment with 1-deoxynojirimycin, an inhibitor of glucosidases I and II. Under control conditions TSH achieved resistance to endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H (endo H) more rapidly than free alpha (t1/2 0.3 h versus 0.9 h); however, free alpha was secreted more rapidly than TSH (t1/2 2.2 h versus 3.4 h). With 1-deoxynojirimycin, oligosaccharides co-migrating with G3Man9GlcNAc and G2Man9GlcNAc were demonstrated on TSH for the first time, suggesting that previous pulse-chase studies did not disclose these intermediates due to rapid removal of glucose residues from the common G3Man9GlcNAc2 precursor. 1-Deoxynojirimycin delayed the rate of attainment of endo H resistance for both TSH and free alpha, but there was no effect on subunit combination. With 5 mM 1-deoxynojirimycin the amount of secreted free alpha was reduced to 65% of control; secreted TSH was reduced markedly to 17% of control without intracellular accumulation, suggesting increased intracellular degradation. There was no significant toxicity from these doses of 1-deoxynojirimycin on the production or secretion of the two major nonglycosylated pituitary proteins, growth hormone and prolactin, or on at least 10 other secretory proteins. Basal differences in the relative rates of TSH and free alpha processing and secretion as well as differential sensitivity to 1-deoxynojirimycin suggest separate secretory pathways for these two closely related proteins.
A Scalable Multilevel Algorithm for Graph Clustering and Community Structure Detection

One of the most useful measures of cluster quality is the modularity of the partition, which measures the difference between the number of the edges joining vertices from the same cluster and the expected number of such edges in a random (unstructured) graph. In this paper we show that the problem of finding a partition maximizing the modularity of a given graph Gcan be reduced to a minimum weighted cut problem on a complete graph with the same vertices as G. We then show that the resulted minimum cut problem can be efficiently solved with existing software for graph partitioning and that our algorithm finds clusterings of a better quality and much faster than the existing clustering algorithms.
Melanocortin-4 receptor is required for acute homeostatic responses to increased dietary fat

In response to moderately increased dietary fat content, melanocortin-4 receptor-null mutant (MC4R ‐/‐ ) mice exhibit hyperphagia and accelerated weight gain compared to wild-type mice. An increased feed efficiency (weight gain/kcal consumed) argues that mechanisms in addition to hyperphagia are instrumental in causing weight gain. We report two specific defects in coordinating energy expenditure with food intake in MC4R ‐/‐ mice. Wild-type mice respond to an increase in the fat content of the diet by rapidly increasing diet-induced thermogenesis and by increasing physical activity, neither of which are observed in MC4R ‐/‐ mice. Leptin-deficient and MC3R ‐/‐ mice regulate metabolic rate similarly to wild-type mice in this protocol. Melanocortinergic pathways involving MC4-R-regulated neurons, which rapidly respond to signals not requiring changes in leptin, thus seem to be important in regulating metabolic and behavioral responses to dietary fat.
2‐(Trichloromethyl)‐1,3‐bis(2,4,6‐trimethylphenyl)imidazolidine

[260054-47-5] C22H27Cl3N2 (MW 425.82) InChI = 1S/C22H27Cl3N2/c1-13-9-15(3)19(16(4)10-13)26-7-8-27(21(26)22(23,24)25)20-17(5)11-14(2)12-18(20)6/h9-12,21H,7-8H2,1-6H3 InChIKey = BQPZMDZPDASSPW-UHFFFAOYSA-N (reagent is used as a stable precursor of the N-heterocylic carbene 1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene) Physical Data: mp 172 °C (dec). Solubility: soluble in most organic solvents. Form Supplied in: white solid. Purification: passed through silica gel (9:1 hexanes:ethyl acetate) and recrystallized from boiling hexanes. Handling, Storage, and Precautions: stable in air but should be stored at low temperature for long periods of time.
Learning to Negotiate

This brief note introduces to the student the challenges and rewards of learning to be a more skilled negotiator. Negotiation requires the integration of keen analytic insight with emotional intelligence capabilities.Learning Objective: To underscore students' obligation to engage in the honest self-assessment and reflection as they engage in simulations and other exercises.
Model-based testing of object-oriented reactive systems with spec explorer

Testing is one of the costliest aspects of commercial software development. Model-based testing is a promising approach addressing these deficits. At Microsoft, model-based testing technology developed by the Foundations of Software Engineering group in Microsoft Research has been used since 2003. The second generation of this tool set, Spec Explorer, deployed in 2004, is now used on a daily basis by Microsoft product groups for testing operating system components, .NET framework components and other areas. This chapter provides a comprehensive survey of the concepts of the tool and their foundations.
P transposable elements and their use as genetic tools in drosophila

Abstract P elements have proven to be useful to Drosophila molecular geneticists as tools for ‘transposon tagging' and DNA-mediated gene transfer. The objective of this article is to describe these two methods and to point out their strengths and limitations.
Tight-binding study of electron-hole pair condensation in graphene bilayers: Gate control and system-parameter dependence

The theoretical prediction of high-temperature electron-hole pair condensation when two graphene layers are separated by a thin dielectric film has motivated experimental work which aims to observe this condensate, and theoretical work which explores how its collective behavior could be used to design beyond-CMOS low-power electronic logic devices. Here we use a $\ensuremath{\pi}$-band tight binding model combined with Fock mean-field theory to explore the condensate properties. We study the effects of charge density, dielectric permittivity, interlayer separation, and temperature, on the formation and strength of the condensate. We model the weakening and eventual collapse of the condensate with increasing charge imbalance between layers, a mechanism which has been proposed for beyond-CMOS switching based on condensate control. Finally, we explore critical currents in the weak-coupling limit. We demonstrate that the critical current is extremely sensitive to the strength and character of interlayer tunneling processes, especially when these are weak.
Impact of topic and source of disagreement on conflict management

Abstract A field survey of employee responses to a variety of topics and sources of interpersonal conflict was conducted in two manufacturing firms. Observations of significant Topic X Method and Source X Method interactions indicated that conflict management was to some extent dependent upon the specific nature of the disagreement. Correlational evidence suggested that behavioral predispositions also played a major rote in shaping reactions to conflict. Results were interpreted and discussed in terms of response hierarchies and within the context of organizational climate.
A Prospective Randomized Comparison in Humans of 90‐μF and 120‐μF Biphasic Pulse Defibrillation Using a Unipolar Defibrillation System

90-μF and 120-μF Biphasic Pulse Transvenous Defibrillation. Introduction: Capacitance is known to influence defibrillation. Optimal biphasic waveform capacitance for transvenous unipolar defibrillation systems in man is currently being defined. In an effort to improve defibrillation efficacy, we examined the relative defibrillation efficacy of a 65% tilt biphasic pulse from a 90-μF capacitor compared to a 65% tilt biphasic pulse from a 120-μF capacitor in a prospective, randomized fashion in 16 consecutive cardiac arrest survivors undergoing defibrillator surgery. Methods and Results: The transvenous unipolar pectoral defibrillation system uses a single endocardial RV anodal defibrillation coil and the shell of an 80-cc volume (88 cm2 surface area) pulse generator (Medtronic Model 7219C PCD “active CAN”) as the cathode for the first phase of the biphasic shock: RV+ CAN−. Defibrillation thresholds for each capacitance were determined prospectively in a randomized fashion. The defibrillation threshold results for the 90-μF capacitance were: leading edge voltage 383 ± 132 V; stored energy 7.4 ± 5.0 J; and resistance 57 ± 10 ω. The results for the 120-μF capacitance were: leading edge voltage 315 ± 93 V (P = 0.002); stored energy 6.5 ± 3.7 J (P = 0.21); and resistance 57.0 ± 11 ω (P = 0.87). Conclusions: We conclude that 90-μF, 65% tilt biphasic pulses used with unipolar pectoral defibrillation systems have equivalent stored energy defibrillation efficacy compared to 120-μF, 65% tilt pulses. Use of lower capacitance is possible in present implantable defibrillators without compromising defibrillation.
RF photonic notch filters in high dynamic range links

Optical implementation of RF filtering provides processing and switching advantages for analog optical links, bringing additional versatility to the field of RF photonics. Many RF photonic notch filter designs have demonstrated this increased link functionality, but most techniques are sensitive to polarization and phase noise, and are tunable over limited ranges, set by the tunability limits of conventional link components such as DFB lasers. We demonstrate an RF photonic notch filter with extremely wide tunability, high extinction ratio, and large range of useable bandwidths as part of a high dynamic range RF photonic link. We discuss methods for improved filter operation, present experimental results for X-band operation of the filter, and describe its use in applications such as co-site interference mitigation.
The use of airborne imaging spectrometer (AIS) data to differentiate marsh vegetation

The Airborne Imaging Spectrometer (AIS) is a high spectral resolution (9.6-nm-wide bands between 0.9 and 2.4 microns) instrument. Analysis of AIS data revealed significant differences in characteristics of the spectral radiance curves of four types of wetland vegetation canopies (trees, broadleaf herbaceous, Spartina alterniflora, and S. patens/Distichlis spicata) in Delaware, enabling them to be distinguished. The single most useful spectral region was that between 1.40 and 1.90 microns. Differences in radiance values at various wavelengths between samples of the same vegetation type could potentially be used to estimate biomass. Thus, high spectral resolution spectrometry appears to have significant value for remote sensing studies of wetland vegetation.