cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Relationships between implementation of TQM, JIT, and TPM and manufacturing performance

Research on Total Quality Management (TQM), Just-in-Time (JIT) and Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) generally investigates the implementation and impact of these manufacturing programs in isolation. However, many researchers believe and argue conceptually the value of understanding the joint implementation and effect of manufacturing programs. This study investigates the practices of the three programs simultaneously. We find that there is evidence supporting the compatibility of the practices in these programs and that manufacturing performance is associated with the level of implementation of both socially- and technically-oriented practices of the three programs. © 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Operational hedging strategies and competitive exposure to exchange rates

This paper investigates the impact of operational flexibility on firms' economic exposure to currency fluctuations in the presence of global competition. We consider a global firm who sells as a monopolist in the domestic market, and also sells to a foreign market facing competition from a local competitor of certain capacity. We compare the effects of two operational strategies of the global firm, namely, matching currency footprints (“natural hedge”) and the capacity pooling strategy with allocation flexibility. For a two-stage stochastic model, we derive the optimal capacity and selling decisions for the global firm, and from the comparative statics analysis of our model we infer useful managerial insights. (1) We find that operational flexibility enables the global firm to exploit the possible high exchange rate (i.e., devalued home currency) realizations for profit improvement, and thus increases in the long run the firm's expected profit. (2) Furthermore, operational flexibility allows for downside risk control as the exchange rate becomes more volatile, since the resource pooling option cleverly exercised minimizes the impact of unfavorable currency realizations. (3) The global firm's operational flexibility increases its competitor's downside risk, but may also benefit the competitor's expected profit since a flexible global firm may decide not to compete when the exchange rate is not favorable. In conclusion, our paper substantiates that “natural hedge” is not effective from a profit maximization perspective. We clearly illustrate the robust profit maximizing performance and reasonable downside risk control of operational hedging approaches, which rely on the clever exercising of operational flexibility options such as resource pooling and allocation, in handling competitive exposure to fluctuating exchange rates.
Seasonal and interannual variability in sources of nitrogen supporting export in the oligotrophic subtropical North Pacific Ocean

Over timescales of months to years, the export of organic nitrogen from the oceanic euphotic zone (principally as sinking particulate nitrogen, PN) is believed to balance the input of exogenous combined inorganic nitrogen (i.e., export production balances new production). In the oligotrophic North Pacific subtropical gyre, there are two significant sources of new nitrogen: the upward flux of nitrate from deep water and the biological fixation of dissolved N2 in near-surface waters. Because these sources have distinct stable isotopic signatures, we were able to use the total PN and d 15 N measurements of sinking particles and an isotopic mass balance model to deconvolute the relative and absolute contributions of the nitrate flux and nitrogen fixation to the gravitational export of PN. The sinking flux of PN and its isotopic composition both varied widely between 1989 and 2001. Seasonally, N 2 fixation correlated inversely with mixed-layer depth, reaching a maximum in June‐August, whereas nitrate-supported export correlated inversely with sea surface temperature, reaching a maximum in February‐March. These patterns were consistent with summertime increases in diazotroph biomass and water column N2 fixation rates, as indicated by phycoerythrin pigment concentrations and 15 N2 tracer studies. Annually, the relative contribution of N 2 fixation to N export varied from 36 to 69% (mean 5 48%) and showed a significant increasing trend over the period of observation. Although total PN export correlated with the Southern Oscillation Index, the nitrate- and nitrogen fixation‐based components appeared to respond to climate forcing in distinct ways, complicating our interpretation of the mechanisms of climate-induced changes in particle export.
A Pictorial Attitude Scale for Elementary Pupils

The Children's Pictorial Attitude Scale was developed to provide a nonverbal measure of children's attitudes toward elementary school. The scale was developed by identifying areas of activities and...
A software algorithm for analysis of paired-pulse response change across vigilance states

The authors present a software algorithm which is designed to record and quantify paired pulse responses obtained from the dentate gyrus on stimulation of the perforant path of the rat hippocampus, across four vigilance states. It is shown that this algorithm allows for rapid, accurate and efficient, collection and analysis of paired-pulse EEFP (evoked extracellular field potential) waveforms recorded from the granule cell layer of the rat dentate gyrus. Its menu-driven options provide a user-friendly environment for operation. It enables the scientist to obtain valuable electrophysiological data easily and to process it rapidly. A data-selection feature enables the user to select which records he wishes to examine and have statistically processed, while graphical output allows visual identification of changes in cellular and synaptic efficacy. The quantification of the paired pulse waveforms allows changes in cellular response dependent on vigilance state to be examined. >
Coping with Our Cold Planet

Of all the natural stress conditions on our planet and in our solar system, cold is arguably the most widespread, at least from the perspective of mesophilic and thermophilic organisms. For instance, 90% of the Earth's oceans have a temperature of 5°C or less. When terrestrial habitats are included
Representation theory of a new relativistic dynamical group

Via the method of induced representations, all irreducible unitary projective representations of the recently introduced new relativistic dynamical groupOpen image in new window are deduced and classified. An explicit form of the transformation law is given. The properties of the corresponding infinite-dimensional basis functions are studied. It is shown that in the limiting case ofl=∞ (corresponding toOpen image in new window) the infinite spin-tower representations become reducible and decompose into irreducible representations of the Poincare group. The reduction of the direct product of two irreducible unitary ray representations ofOpen image in new window is studied. The Clebsch-Gordan coefficients are computed. Finally, some comments on the physical interpretation of the results are given.
Flow Patterns in a Circular Couette System

We have conducted a flow-visualization and spectral survey of the flow patterns in a circular Couette system with both cylinders rotating [1]. The ranges of occurrence of previously reported flows and some newly observed flows have been determined as functions of the inner- and outer-cylinder Reynolds numbers (Ri and Ro, respectively) for a system with radius ratio 0.883 and aspect ratio 30 (the upper and lower boundaries were attached to the outer cylinder). The flow transitions were located by fixing Ro and slowly increasing Ri; by decreasing Ri several of these transitions were found to have hysteresis. Pattern velocities have been measured for some cases for flows between both counter- and co-rotating cylinders. For example, the turbulent spiral found between counter-rotating cylinders was found to move at an angular velocity of about 0.5Ωο, independent of Ri, for low outer cylinder speeds (Ωο is the angular velocity of the outer cylinder). The following new flows were found with counter-rotating cylinders: (1) wavy spirals (waves on laminar spiral vortices), (2) modulated wavy vortices (two waves on Taylor vortices) at very low Ri, and (3) V-shaped turbulence (a sometimes long- lived transient state of competing right- and left-handed spiral turbulence). We have also characterized several previously reported flows including spiral turbulence, intermittency, and laminar spiral vortices. The time-dependent flows found for co-rotating cylinders consist of periodic, multiply periodic or nonperiodic waves on Taylor vortices [2]. These flows include wavy-inflow and outflow boundary states, wavelets (both boundaries have waves, but they move at different velocities), twists (rope-like patterns internal to the vortices), and combinations of these. Interestingly, the wavy-inflow and outflow boundary states were found to have an axial periodicity extending over two Taylor vortex pairs, twice the axial wavelength of the usual wavy vortex flow.
Hip Arthroscopy Surgical Volume Trends and 30-Day Postoperative Complications

Purpose To determine hip arthroscopy surgical volume trends from 2006 to 2013 using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database, the incidence of 30-day complications of hip arthroscopy, and patient and surgical risk factors for complications. Methods Patients who underwent hip arthroscopy from 2006 to 2013 were identified in the NSQIP database for the over 400 NSQIP participating hospitals from the United States using Current Procedural Terminology and International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes. Trends in number of hip arthroscopy procedures per year were analyzed. Complications in the 30-day period after hip arthroscopy were identified. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors for complications. Results We identified 1,338 patients who underwent hip arthroscopy, with a mean age of 39.5 ± 13.0 years. Female patients comprised 59.6%. Hip arthroscopy procedures became 25 times more common in 2013 than 2006 ( P P = .005; odds ratio, 0.102) and a history of patient steroid use ( P = .05; odds ratio, 8.346) were independent predictors of minor complications in the 30 days after hip arthroscopy. Conclusions Hip arthroscopy is an increasingly common procedure, with a 25-fold increase from 2006 to 2013. There is a low incidence of 30-day postoperative complications (1.3%), most commonly bleeding requiring a transfusion, return to the operating room, and superficial infection. Regional/monitored anesthesia care and steroid use were independent risk factors for minor complications. Level of Evidence Level III, retrospective comparative study.
Examining the presence, consequences, and reduction of implicit bias in health care: A narrative review:

Recent evidence suggests that one possible cause of disparities in health outcomes for stigmatized groups is the implicit biases held by health care providers. In response, several health care organizations have called for, and developed, new training in implicit bias for their providers. This review examines current evidence on the role that provider implicit bias may play in health disparities, and whether training in implicit bias can effectively reduce the biases that providers exhibit. Directions for future research on the presence and consequences of provider implicit bias, and best practices for training to reduce such bias, will be discussed.
MORPHOLOGIC FEATURES OF HOMOTRANSPLANTED CANINE MITRAL VALVES.

SUMMARY The gross morphologic and histologic features of the mitral valves in 11 dogs in which orthotopic homotransplantation of mitral valves were carried out were studied at eight time intervals of 10 days to 1 year after operation. The results indicate that slow replacement of the grafted tissues occurred in such a manner that function of the graft could be maintained.
High dynamic range emission measurements of shocked energetic materials: Octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX)

A new emission apparatus with high time resolution and high dynamic range was used to study shock-induced ignition of octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine in the form of ultrafine powder (4 ± 3 μm particle size), over a range of impact velocities (0.8–4.3 km s−1) and impact durations (2.5–16 ns). A graybody model was used to extract graybody emissivities and time-dependent temperatures from a few ns to 100 μs. The emission transients consisted of three parts: a 6700 K nanosecond burst during the shocks, a 4000–4500 K temperature spike near 0.3 μs followed by a ∼3300 K tail extending out to ∼100 μs. These temperatures varied remarkably little with impact velocity and duration, while the emission intensities and emissivities changed by over an order of magnitude. The emissivity changes were interpreted with a hot spot model, where hot spot temperatures reached a maximum of 6700 K and the hot spot volume fractions increased from 5% to 100% as impact velocity increased from 1 to 3 km s−1. Changing...
Optical directional coupler controlled by evanescent wave interaction

The theory presented describes the evolution of mode amplitudes in an optical directional coupler with evanescent wave gain and constructed from single-mode rectangular dielectric waveguides. A sketch of the device is given as Fig. 1.
An in-line suturing device to simplify sacrospinous vaginal vault suspension

A disposable suturing instrument is used in our surgical method for sacrospinous vault suspension to facilitate suture placement and retrieval. The pararectal space is dissected and the suturing device is placed just medial to the lateral third of the sacrospinous ligament-coccygeus muscle complex. Depression of the device's firing button advances a standard needle in a controlled circular path through the sacrospinous ligament-coccygeus muscle complex. The needle is retrieved with a straight-needle holder at a consistent location, 3 mm from the shaft of the instrument. A second suture is placed 0.5-1 cm medial to the first suture. If the holding strength for either suture is considered inadequate, the device is reloaded with the same suture and subsequent bites are taken. The procedure is completed using standard methods. In ten women treated for vaginal vault eversion, lateral dissection was completed in less than 10 minutes, and passage of two sutures through the sacrospinous ligament was accomplished in less than 2 minutes. There were no complications. One patient described mild buttock pain that resolved in 1 week. At 4-6 months' follow-up, vaginal examination with maximal straining demonstrated direct apposition of the vaginal wall to the sacrospinous ligament.
Recent Advances in the Central Limit Theorem and Its Weak Invariance Principle for Mixing Sequences of Random Variables (A Survey)

The purpose of this paper is to describe the progress that has recently been made in the study of the central limit theorem and its weak invariance principle for mixing sequences of random variables and to point out some open problems in this subject.
Antibody Labeling with Fluorescent Dyes Using Magnetic Protein A and Protein G Beads

Antibodies labeled with small molecules like fluorescent dyes, cytotoxic drugs, and radioactive tracers are essential tools in biomedical research, immunodiagnostics and more recently as therapeutic agents. Traditional methods for labeling antibodies with small molecules require purified antibodies at relatively high concentration, involve multiple dialysis steps and have limited throughput. However, several applications, including the field of Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADCs), will benefit from new methods that will allow labeling of antibodies directly from cell media. Such methods may allow antibodies to be screened in biologically relevant assays, for example, the receptor-mediated antibody internalization assay in the case of ADCs. Here, we describe a method (on-bead method) that enables labeling of small amounts of antibodies directly from cell media. This approach utilizes high capacity magnetic Protein A and Protein G affinity beads to capture antibodies from the cell media followed by labeling with small molecules using either amine or thiol chemistry and subsequent elution of the labeled antibodies. Taking fluorescent dyes as surrogates for small molecules, we demonstrate the on-bead labeling of three different mouse antibodies directly from cell media using both amine and thiol labeling chemistry. The high binding affinity of antibodies to Protein A and Protein G ensures high recoveries as well as high purity of the labeled antibodies. In addition, use of magnetic beads allows multiple samples to be handled manually, thereby significantly improving labeling throughput.
Experience Individualization on Online TV Platforms through Persona-based Account Decomposition

Online TV has seen rapid growth in recent years, with most of the large media companies broadcasting their linear content online. Access to the online TV accounts is protected by an authentication, and like the traditional cable TV subscription, users in the same household share the online TV credentials. However, as the standard data collection techniques have capability to collect only account level information, online TV measurements fail to capture individual level viewing characteristics in shared accounts. Thus, individual profile identification and experience individualization are challenging and difficult for online TV platforms. In this paper, we propose a novel approach to decompose online TV account into distinct personas sharing the account through analyzing viewing characteristics. A recommendation algorithm is then proposed to individualize the experience for each persona. Finally, we demonstrate the usefulness of the proposed approach through experiments on a large online TV database.
Positive feelings during pregnancy, early feeding practices, and infant health.

Background Early parenting practices, such as infant feeding, can affect children's physical health. Additionally, negative prenatal maternal affect can influence feeding choices, such as breast-feeding, and can have a detrimental effect on children's health. Little is known, however, about the contribution of positive maternal affect during pregnancy on feeding practices and children's health. Methods This study explored whether positive prenatal feelings influenced children's health during the first 18 months, and whether early feeding practices mediated the relationship between these two variables. Low-income, ethnically diverse, primiparous women (n = 114) reported their feelings of pregnancy uplifts and hassles during their third trimester. These women were interviewed again at 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, and 18 months post-partum about their feeding practices. A retrospective audit of their infants' medical charts was completed from birth to 18 months. Results Using structural equation modeling, having more uplifts than hassles during pregnancy was associated with longer breast-feeding duration and greater adherence to recommended schedules for introducing fruits and vegetables, solids, and baby cereal. These feeding practices were linked to better child health outcomes, including reduced risk of upper respiratory tract infections, conjunctivitis, otitis media, and thrush. Conclusions Positive maternal feelings during pregnancy were associated with better feeding practices, and these better feeding practices were associated with fewer common childhood illnesses. Helping expectant women focus on the positive aspects of their pregnancy may lead to postnatal care methods that are fiscally advantageous, preventive of detrimental postnatal choices, and medically beneficial for children.
Ketamine-induced reduction in mGluR5 availability is associated with an antidepressant response: an [ 11 C]ABP688 and PET imaging study in depression

The mechanisms of action of the rapid antidepressant effects of ketamine, an N-methyl-D-aspartate glutamate receptor antagonist, have not been fully elucidated. This study examined the effects of ketamine on ligand binding to a metabotropic glutamatergic receptor (mGluR5) in individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD) and healthy controls. Thirteen healthy and 13 MDD nonsmokers participated in two [11C]ABP688 positron emission tomography (PET) scans on the same day—before and during intravenous ketamine administration—and a third scan 1 day later. At baseline, significantly lower [11C]ABP688 binding was detected in the MDD as compared with the control group. We observed a significant ketamine-induced reduction in mGluR5 availability (that is, [11C]ABP688 binding) in both MDD and control subjects (average of 14±9% and 19±22%, respectively; P<0.01 for both), which persisted 24 h later. There were no differences in ketamine-induced changes between MDD and control groups at either time point (P=0.8). A significant reduction in depressive symptoms was observed following ketamine administration in the MDD group (P<0.001), which was associated with the change in binding (P<0.04) immediately after ketamine. We hypothesize that glutamate released after ketamine administration moderates mGluR5 availability; this change appears to be related to antidepressant efficacy. The sustained decrease in binding may reflect prolonged mGluR5 internalization in response to the glutamate surge.
Non-concrete parts of material objects

This article offers a novel solution to the problem of material constitution: by including non-concrete objects among the parts of material objects, we can avoid having a statue and its constituent piece of clay composed of all the same proper parts. Non-concrete objects—objects that aren’t concrete, but possibly are—have been used (by Bernard Linsky, Ed Zalta and Timothy Williamson) in defense of the claim that everything necessarily exists. But the account offered shows that non-concreta are independently useful in other domains as well. The resulting view falls under a ‘nonmaterial partist’ class of views that includes, in particular, Laurie Paul’s and Kathrin Koslicki’s constitution views; ones where material objects have properties or structures as parts respectively. The article gives reasons for preferring the non-concretist solution over these other non-material partist views and defends it against objections.
Management of Financial Policy Decisions: Capital Structure Policy

This technical note provides an overview of capital structure policy. Through a series of hypothetical situations and real-world examples, students will gain an understanding of the benefits and costs of debt and equity financing. This note explores the value and cost of capital implications of capital structure policy with the intent to explain why businesses such as Hilton Worldwide and Computer Sciences differ so dramatically in their capital structure policy. Excerpt UVA-F-1743 Rev. Apr. 4, 2016 Management of Financial Policy Decisions: Capital Structure Policy With more than 4,000 hotels in 90 countries, Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (Hilton Worldwide) was one of the largest hotel chains in the world. It was a business that required massive asset investment, such that by the end of 2014 Hilton Worldwide had spent a net $ 26 billion on its asset portfolio. In financing these asset investments, management had historically demonstrated a strong preference for debt financing over equity financing. In contrast, although information technology giant Computer Sciences Corporation (Computer Sciences) also had a massive asset base, its management had demonstrated a preference toward equity financing. This note explores the value and cost of capital implications of capital structure policy with the intent to explain why businesses such as Hilton Worldwide and Computer Sciences differ so dramatically in their capital structure policy. . . .
Margins for Benign Salivary Gland Neoplasms of the Head and Neck

The proper ablation of any neoplasm of the head and neck requires the inclusion of linear and anatomic barrier margins surrounding the neoplasm. Extirpative surgery of the major and minor salivary glands is certainly no exception to this surgical principle. To this end, the selection and execution of the most appropriate ablative surgical procedure for a major or minor benign salivary gland neoplasm is an essential exercise in oral and maxillofacial surgery. Of equal importance is the intraoperative identification and preservation of the pseudocapsule surrounding the benign neoplasm. This article reviews these important elements specifically related to ablative surgery of benign neoplasms of the parotid, submandibular and minor salivary glands with strict attention to observed nomenclature.
Return of the Runtimes: Rethinking the Language Runtime System for the Cloud 3.0 Era

The public cloud is moving to a Platform-as-a-Service model where services such as data management, machine learning or image classification are provided by the cloud operator while applications are written in high-level languages and leverage these services.Managed languages such as Java, Python or Scala are widely used in this setting. However, while these languages can increase productivity, they are often associated with problems such as unpredictable garbage collection pauses or warm-up overheads.We argue that the reason for these problems is that current language runtime systems were not initially designed for the cloud setting. To address this, we propose seven tenets for designing future language runtime systems for cloud data centers. We then outline the design of a general substrate for building such runtime systems, based on these seven tenets.
Dolutegravir pharmacokinetics in pregnant and postpartum women living with HIV.

Objective:To evaluate dolutegravir pharmacokinetics during pregnancy compared with postpartum and in infant washout samples after delivery.Design:Ongoing, nonrandomized, open-label, parallel-group, multicenter phase-IV prospective study of antiretroviral pharmacokinetics in HIV-infected pregnant wom
Potential Relations between the Development of Social Reasoning and Childhood Aggression

In this chapter the topic of childhood aggression and violence is considered from a different and more speculative perspective than that of the other contributions to this volume. Whereas all the other contributors have been engaged in research on the sources and nature of aggression or in efforts toward its prevention, my research has dealt primarily with children who are, for the most part, nonaggressive.
Polypeptide N-Acetylgalactosaminyltransferases

The initiation of (mucin-type) O-glycosylation is catalyzed by a family of UDP- GalNAcpolypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferases (ppGaNTases). These enzymes catalyze the transfer of GalNAc from the nucleotide sugar UDP-GalNAc to the hydroxyl group of either serine or threonine.
Microporous scaffolds support assembly and differentiation of pancreatic progenitors into β-cell clusters.

Abstract Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) represent a promising cell source for the development of β-cells for use in therapies for type 1 diabetes. Current culture approaches provide signals to mimic a temporal control of organogenesis to drive the differentiation towards β-cells. However, spatial control may represent an opportunity to improve the efficiency and manufacturing of β-cells. Herein, we adapted the current culture systems to microporous biomaterials with the hypothesis that the pores can guide the assembly of pancreatic progenitors into clusters of defined size that can influence maturation. The scaffold culture allowed hPSC-derived pancreatic progenitors to form clusters at a consistent size as cells differentiated. By modulating the scaffold pore sizes, we observed 250–425 µm pore size scaffold cultures augmented insulin expression and key β-cell maturation markers compared to cells cultured in suspension. Furthermore, when compared to suspension cultures, the scaffold culture showed increased insulin secretion in response to glucose stimulus indicating the development of functional β-cells. In addition, scaffolds facilitated cell-cell interactions enabled by the scaffold design and supported cell-mediated matrix deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins associated with the basement membrane of islet cells. We further investigated the influence of ECM on cell development by incorporating an ECM matrix on the scaffold prior to cell seeding; however, their presence did not further enhance maturation. These results suggest the microporous scaffold culture provides a conducive environment that drives in vitro differentiation of hPSC-derived insulin-producing glucose-responsive β-cells and demonstrates the feasibility of these scaffolds as a biomanufacturing platform. Statement of Significance Cell therapy for diabetes is a promising strategy, yet generating limitless insulin-producing mature β-cells from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) remains a challenge. Current hPSC differentiation methods involve media containing signals to drive maturation toward β-cells and spontaneous cluster formation. Herein, we sought to provide spatial cues to guide assembly of cells into 3D structures by culture within the pores of a microporous scaffold. The scaffolds direct cell-cell interactions within the pores and provide a support for cell-mediated matrix deposition that collectively creates a niche to promote functional hPSC-derived β-cell clusters. These scaffolds for 3D culture may contribute to hPSC differentiation methods for the generation of β-cells that can treat patients with diabetes.
Buildings and grounds: notes on Karen Bennett’s Making Things Up

Bennett (2017) argues that the various building relations are all directed, necessitating and generative. This note provides interpretations of these conditions different from Bennett’s. According ...
Historical view of accountability and teacher labor

Teachers and their unions are often vilified for the perception that they are working against the best interest of students (Berliner & Glass, 2014). The narrative, it seems, is that teachers’ unio...
Effect of Task Sequence and Preference on On-Task Behavior

This study compared effects of student choice of task sequence to two variations in teacher-manipulated task sequences on on-task behavior of elementary-aged students with disabilities. Researchers modified Call et al.’s (J Appl Behav Anal 42: 723–728, 2009) demand assessment to determine high-, moderate-, and low-probability tasks. Next, researchers applied the results from the demand assessment to inform teacher-manipulated variations in task sequences: a high- to low-probability task sequence and low- to high-probability task sequence. These sequences were then embedded in a visual activity schedule (VAS). Results of task sequence manipulation embedded in a VAS indicated slightly higher median percentages of on-task behavior for the high- to low-probability task sequence. Future directions for research based on these preliminary data are discussed.
Supervised Machine Learning in Oncology: A Clinician's Guide

The widespread adoption of electronic health records has resulted in an abundance of imaging and clinical information. New data-processing technologies have the potential to revolutionize the practice of medicine by deriving clinically meaningful insights from large-volume data. Among those techniques is supervised machine learning, the study of computer algorithms that use self-improving models that learn from labeled data to solve problems. One clinical area of application for supervised machine learning is within oncology, where machine learning has been used for cancer diagnosis, staging, and prognostication. This review describes a framework to aid clinicians in understanding and critically evaluating studies applying supervised machine learning methods. Additionally, we describe current studies applying supervised machine learning techniques to the diagnosis, prognostication, and treatment of cancer, with a focus on gastroenterological cancers and other related pathologies.
Influence of ruminal or abomasal starch hydrolysate infusion on pancreatic exocrine secretion and blood glucose and insulin concentrations in steers.

Seven Holstein steers (234 +/- 6.4 kg) surgically fitted with pancreatic cannulas, ruminal and abomasal infusion cannulas, and hepatic-portal vein catheters were used in a 4 x 7 incomplete Latin square design experiment to examine the influence of ruminal and abomasal carbohydrate infusion on enzyme secretion and composition of pancreatic juice. Four treatments were arranged in a 2 x 2 factorial: 1) ruminal starch hydrolysate (SH; 34.2 g/[h.site]) or abomasal water and 2) abomasal SH or ruminal water. Starch hydrolysate is raw cornstarch that has been partially digested by a heat-stable alpha-amylase. Experimental periods were 14 d with 9 to 10 d of adaptation, 4 d of pancreatic collection, and blood collection on d 14. Abomasal SH infusion tended (P .10). Abomasal SH infusion altered alpha-amylase secretion in steers, but ruminal SH infusion had minimal effect on alpha-amylase secretion. These changes suggest abosamal infusion of SH may negatively impact secretion of pancreatic alpha-amylase.
Latent Class Analysis: A Guide to Best Practice:

Latent class analysis (LCA) is a statistical procedure used to identify qualitatively different subgroups within populations who often share certain outward characteristics. The assumption underlyi...
Understanding how e-health interventions meet psychosocial needs of breast cancer patients: The pathways of influence on quality of life and cancer concerns.

Objective This investigation explores how using different e-health interventions facilitates positive psychosocial changes and how these changes reduce cancer concerns and improve quality of life in breast cancer patients over time. Methods A total of 326 breast cancer patients were randomly assigned to one of three e-health interventions: (a) Internet only, (b) the Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System information and support services (CHESS-IS), or (c) CHESS with mentor. Proximal health outcomes such as information overload, emotional functioning, and social support were measured alongside distal outcomes like cancer concerns and quality of life. Participants completed surveys at four time points: pretest as a baseline, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months. Results Both interventions were effective in improving patient health beyond Internet only but they differed in type of change mechanism and clinical benefit. The CHESS-IS enhanced proximal outcomes at 3 months through improved information competence. The CHESS with mentor intervention reduced breast cancer concerns at 6 months, mediated mainly by emotional-social competence and emotional functioning. Conclusions Using e-health interventions like CHESS can help patients improve cancer information management skills and emotional functioning, contributing to better short-term health outcomes. Adding a human mentor can enhance the benefits of CHESS use, extending the experience among breast cancer patients. Theoretical, practical, and clinical implications of the study results are discussed.
4 A prospective study of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and sleep disordered breathing

Background Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) represents the most common inherited cardiomyopathy characterized by otherwise unexplained left ventricular hypertrophy. Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) (including both central and obstructive sleep apnea) is considered to be an important and potentially reversible cause of cardiovascular disease progression. This prospective trial aims to define the prevalence of SDB within patients diagnosed with HCM using gold standard polysomnography (PSG). Previous studies have suggested a prevalence of SDB in the general population of 25.5%. Methods Previous trials have been retrospective studies and have used overnight oximetry analysis to find the prevalence of SDB in HCM using portable, at-home monitors, however overnight oximetry is unable to accurately delineate between central and obstructive sleep apnea – both of which vary significantly in terms of prognosis and management - and is not as sensitive nor specific in diagnosing or classifying SDB as polysomnography assessment. An ongoing prospective analysis of 85 patients diagnosed with HCM was performed at Mayo Clinic using PSG. Apnea is defined as the absence of inspiratory airflow for at least 10 seconds. Hypopnea is defined as a decrease in airflow lasting 10 seconds or longer associated with a desaturation >4%. Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI) – the number of events per hour was assessed using PSG. SDB is defined as an AHI>5/hour of sleep. Results Of 85 HCM patients examined using PSG, 49 were found to have an AHI>5/hour. Average AHI was 20.0, Standard Deviation 23.3, Interquartile range 3.3-28.2. 15 patients had central sleep apnea defined as the absence of inspiratory effort for at least 10 seconds. 17 patients had obstructive apneas. 18 patients had severe SDB (AHI>30/hour). Conclusion Given the paucity of available treatments for HCM and noting that treatment of SDB in heart failure with CPAP has been shown to attenuate diastolic dysfunction, this represents a potentially novel avenue of treatment for patients diagnosed with HCM. OSA is known to increase risk factors that contribute to morbidity and mortality in HCM including arrhythmias, myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death. Previous studies have suggested a higher prevalence of non-sustained ventricular tachycardia in HCM patients diagnosed with OSA likely explained by excessive sympathetic activation. Systemic blood pressure and sympathetic activity have also previously been seen to improve with CPAP therapy and there is evidence to suggest CPAP therapy may reverse or slow progression of left ventricular hypertrophy in HCM patients with SDB. Our study suggests a significantly higher prevalence of SDB in HCM patients when compared to the general population and whether treatment of SDB in HCM improves outcomes requires further investigation which our prospective study aims to answer. Conflict of Interest None
Trust Issues in COTS: The Challenges and Emerging Solution

Commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components, such as microcontrollers, processors, and field programmable gate arrays (FPGA) increasingly constitute the hardware backbone for modern electronic systems, including internet of things (IoT) devices. However, distributed untrusted supply chain of these components make counterfeiting and malicious alterations of these components easy and wide-spread phenomenon. In this paper, we address the various trust issues in COTS and present a list of promising design and verification solutions to address them.
Protocol for building a cognitive map of structural knowledge in humans by integrating abstract relationships from separate experiences.

Summary Humans are adept at learning the latent structure of the relationship between abstract concepts and can build a cognitive map from limited experiences. However, examining internal representations of the cognitive map is challenging because they are unobservable and differ across individuals. Here, we introduce a behavioral training protocol designed for human participants to implicitly build a map of two-dimensional social hierarchies while making a series of binary choices and analytic tools for measuring the internal representation of this structural knowledge. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Park et al. (2020a , 2020b) .
Quantification of oxygen depletion during FLASH irradiation in vitro and in vivo.

Purpose Delivery of radiation at ultrahigh dose rates (UHDRs), known as FLASH, has recently been shown to preferentially spare normal tissues from radiation damage compared with tumor tissues. However, the underlying mechanism of this phenomenon remains unknown, with one of the most widely considered hypotheses being that the effect is related to substantial oxygen depletion upon FLASH, thereby altering the radiochemical damage during irradiation, leading to different radiation responses of normal and tumor cells. Testing of this hypothesis would be advanced by direct measurement of tissue oxygen in vivo during and after FLASH irradiation. Methods and Materials Oxygen measurements were performed in vitro and in vivo using the phosphorescence quenching method and a water-soluble molecular probe Oxyphor 2P. The changes in oxygen per unit dose (G-values) were quantified in response to irradiation by 10 MeV electron beam at either UHDR reaching 300 Gy/s or conventional radiation therapy dose rates of 0.1 Gy/s. Results In vitro experiments with 5% bovine serum albumin solutions at 23°C resulted in G-values for oxygen consumption of 0.19 to 0.21 mm Hg/Gy (0.34-0.37 μM/Gy) for conventional irradiation and 0.16 to 0.17 mm Hg/Gy (0.28-0.30 μM/Gy) for UHDR irradiation. In vivo, the total decrease in oxygen after a single fraction of 20 Gy FLASH irradiation was 2.3 ± 0.3 mm Hg in normal tissue and 1.0 ± 0.2 mm Hg in tumor tissue (P Conclusions Our observations suggest that oxygen depletion to radiologically relevant levels of hypoxia is unlikely to occur in bulk tissue under FLASH irradiation. For the same dose, FLASH irradiation induces less oxygen consumption than conventional irradiation in vitro, which may be related to the FLASH sparing effect. However, the difference in oxygen depletion between FLASH and conventional irradiation could not be quantified in vivo because measurements of oxygen depletion under conventional irradiation are hampered by resupply of oxygen from the blood.
A Book Review for Critical Digital Humanities: The Search for a Methodology by James E Dobson

Critical Digital Humanities: The Search for a Methodology by James E. Dobson is a timely book for humanities and literary scholars, interdisciplinary researchers, and technologists interested in un...
The Association between the Number of Vacuum Pop-offs and Adverse Neonatal Outcomes.

Objective Obstetrical vacuum manufacturers have long recommended a maximum of two to three pop-offs be allowed before abandoning the procedure. However, there is a paucity of evidence on the safety of vacuum-assisted vaginal delivery in relation to the number of pop-offs to support this recommendation. Our objective was to examine whether the number of pop-offs in a vacuum-assisted vaginal delivery was associated with adverse neonatal outcomes. Study Design This is a retrospective cohort study of women who underwent a trial of a vacuum-assisted vaginal delivery at a single tertiary care institution between October 2005 and June 2014. Maternal and fetal factors associated with the number of pop-offs were examined in bivariable analyses. Multivariable analyses were performed to determine the independent association of the number of pop-offs with adverse neonatal outcomes. Results Of the 1,730 women who met inclusion criteria, 1,293 (74.7%) had no pop-offs, 240 (13.9%) had one pop-off, 128 (7.4%) had two pop-offs, and 69 (4.0%) had three or more pop-offs. Neonatal scalp/facial lacerations, intracranial hemorrhage, seizures, central nervous system depression, and neonatal intensive care unit admission were all associated with the number of pop-offs in bivariable analyses. In multivariable analyses, compared to no pop-offs, having any vacuum pop-offs was associated with an increased odds of adverse neonatal outcomes. However, there was not a consistent dose–response relationship. Conclusion While having vacuum pop-offs in a vacuum-assisted vaginal delivery was associated with an increased risk of adverse neonatal outcomes, there did not appear to be a dose-dependent association with the number of pop-offs. Key Points
‘Africa’s China’: Chinese manufacturing investment in Nigeria and channels for technology transfer

Nigeria has been one of the primary destinations for Chinese foreign direct investment (FDI) in Africa, with emerging clusters in manufacturing sectors. FDI holds potential for technology transfer ...
Latent learning for design and knowledge discovery in nanophotonics

A new deep-learning approach based on dimensionality reduction techniques for the design and knowledge discovery in nanophotonic structures will be presented. It is shown that reducing the dimensionality of the response and design spaces in a class of nanophotonic structures can provide new insight into the physics of light-matter interaction in such nanostructures while facilitating their inverse design. These unique features are achieved while considerably reducing the computation complexity through dimensionality reduction. It is also shown that this approach can enable an evolutionary design method in which the initial design can be evolved intelligently into an alternative with favorable specification like less complexity, more robustness, less power consumption, etc. In addition to providing the details about the fundamental aspects of the latent learning approach, its application to design of reconfigurable metasurfaces will be demonstrated.
Commentary: Getting kids what they need, where they are, when they need it: home-based services in a continuum of care - a commentary on Boege et al. (2021).

In this edition of CAMH, Boege and colleague's 4-year follow-up study supports intensive home-based treatment as a viable alternative to inpatient hospitalization. Youth receiving home-based multimodal treatment fared just as well as those who remained hospitalized longer, with higher parental satisfaction. This study contributes to a sparse evidence base regarding longitudinal outcomes of psychiatric inpatient and intensive outpatient treatments for children and adolescents. Although mental illness is prevalent and increasing among youth, existing systems of care are often inadequate to provide flexible, effective, interdisciplinary team-based treatments, and supports for children and their families. Innovative approaches to providing evidence-based care and tracking outcomes are needed to strengthen the continuum of care.
Static Networks: A Powerful and Elegant Exteansion to Concurrent Object-Oriented Languages

A network of objects is a set of objects interconnected by pointers or the equivalent. In traditional languages, objects are allocated individually, and networks of objects are assembled incrementally. We present a set of language constructs that can create static networks: networks of objects which are created atomically, and which are immutable. Then, we present some of the most interesting abilities of static networks.
Calorimetry of nucleic acids.

This unit describes the application of calorimetry to characterize the thermodynamics of nucleic acids, specifically, the two major calorimetric methodologies that are currently employed: differential scanning (DSC) and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). DSC is used to study thermally induced order-disorder transitions in nucleic acids. A DSC instrument measures, as a function of temperature (T), the excess heat capacity (C(p)(ex)) of a nucleic acid solution relative to the same amount of buffer solution. From a single curve of C(p)(ex) versus T, one can derive the following information: the transition enthalpy (ΔH), entropy (ΔS), free energy (ΔG), and heat capacity (ΔCp); the state of the transition (two-state versus multistate); and the average size of the molecule that melts as a single thermodynamic entity (e.g., the duplex). ITC is used to study the hybridization of nucleic acid molecules at constant temperature. In an ITC experiment, small aliquots of a titrant nucleic acid solution (strand 1) are added to an analyte nucleic acid solution (strand 2), and the released heat is monitored. ITC yields the stoichiometry of the association reaction (n), the enthalpy of association (ΔH), the equilibrium association constant (K), and thus the free energy of association (ΔG). Once ΔH and ΔG are known, ΔS can also be derived. Repetition of the ITC experiment at a number of different temperatures yields the ΔCp for the association reaction from the temperature dependence of ΔH.