cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Experience with 750 consecutive laparoscopic donor nephrectomies--is it time to use a standardized classification of complications?

Purpose: Laparoscopic living donor nephrectomy offers patients the benefits of decreased morbidity and improved cosmesis, while maintaining equivalent graft outcomes and complication rates similar to those of open donor surgery. With expressed concern for donor safety, using a standardized complication scale would allow combining data in a donor registry so potential donors could be adequately followed and counseled. We present the largest series to our knowledge of laparoscopic living donor nephrectomy by a single surgeon.Materials and Methods: The institution's initial 750 laparoscopic living donor nephrectomies were included in the study, and a retrospective and prospective chart and database analysis was performed.Results: Mean donor age was 40.5 years and average body mass index was 25.7 kg/m2. There were 175 patients (23%) with 2 or more renal arteries while 161 (21.5%) had early arterial bifurcations. There were 3 open conversions (0.4%) and the overall complication rate was 5.46%. Median hospital ...
Factors Associated with Help Seeking and Perceived Dependence among Cocaine Users

Motivational and decisional models suggest that those who seek help for substance use problems may differ from those who do not seek help in terms of their belief that substance use is creating social and personal negative consequences and their perceived dependence. In this study, help seeking for cocaine use was hypothesized to be a function of the negative consequences from cocaine, perceiving oneself as dependent on cocaine, quantity and frequency of use, cost of use, and route of administration. A sample of 161 substance abusers in treatment who had used any cocaine in the last 6 months completed questionnaires regarding the quantity, frequency, history, and perceptions of the consequences of their cocaine use. Of the 161 subjects, 113 (70.2%) had at some time sought help from someone for their cocaine use. After controlling for marital and employment status, a logistic regression revealed that the number of negative consequences experienced, feeling dependent on cocaine, and the amount of cocaine us...
A feasibility study of nonseismic geophysical methods for monitoring geologic CO2 sequestration

Because of their wide application within the petroleum industry, it is natural to consider geophysical techniques for monitoring of CO2 movement within hydrocarbon reservoirs, whether the CO2 is introduced for enhanced oil/gas recovery or for geologic sequestration. Among the available approaches to monitoring, seismic methods are by far the most highly developed and applied. Due to cost considerations, less expensive techniques have recently been considered. In this article, the relative merits of gravity and electromagnetic (EM) methods as monitoring tools for geological CO2 sequestration are examined for two synthetic modeling scenarios. The first scenario represents combined CO2 enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and sequestration in a producing oil field, the Schrader Bluff Field on the north slope of Alaska, USA. The second scenario is a simplified model of a brine formation at a depth of 1900 m.
Highly integrated, dual band/tri-mode SiGe BiCMOS transmitter IC for CDMA wireless applications

A highly integrated transmitter IC fabricated in Conexant's 0.35 um SiGe BiCMOS process and packaged in a 6 mm /spl times/ 6 mm Land Grid Array (LGA) package provides dual band/tri-mode transmitter functionality in a CDMA handset meeting TIA/EIA 98-D specifications. This chip upconverts the I/Q baseband signals to RF in two stages and delivers the amplified RF signal to the power amplifier. It consists of the following stages: an I/Q modulator, VHF VCO, VHF PLL, IF VGA, UHF LO buffer, UHF PLL, 3 wire serial interface, RF image reject upconverter, a cellular PA driver and dual PCS drivers. It is designed to deliver 8 dBm in CDMA mode in Cellular band, 11 dBm in AMPS mode and 9 dBm in CDMA mode in PCS band at 90 mA, 88 mA and 108 mA respectively at nominal supply and temperature. It also provides IF dynamic range of 80 dB in the IF VGA and RF Gain dynamic range of 20 dB in Cellular band and 15 dB in PCS band. The IC operates from a supply ranging from 2.7 V to 3.3 V and a temperature range of -30C to 85C.
Improved Self-Location Algorithm of Wireless Sensor Network Based on Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

In this paper, we propose a wireless sensor network self-location improved algorithm based on the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). The path and the signal emission mechanism of the UAV are rational planning. The k-3 covering method is used to programming the working point and the path of UAV. We also set up a wireless sensor network localization experiment platform based on the UAV and then we carry on several experimentations and curve fitting on the surface-to-surface and surface-to-air distance curve. Experimental results show that the self-location system built based on the theories this paper proposed has an air-to-surface actual distance error of 4.42m and the algorithms positioning error is 3.67m which has very high work efficiency.
Chronos: predictable low latency for data center applications

In data center applications, predictability in service time and controlled latency, especially tail latency, are essential for building performant applications. This is especially true for applications or services built by accessing data across thousands of servers to generate a user response. Current practice has been to run such services at low utilization to rein in latency outliers, which decreases efficiency and limits the number of service invocations developers can issue while still meeting tight latency budgets.In this paper, we analyze three data center applications, Memcached, OpenFlow, and Web search, to measure the effect of 1) kernel socket handling, NIC interaction, and the network stack, 2) application locks contested in the kernel, and 3) application-layer queueing due to requests being stalled behind straggler threads on tail latency. We propose Chronos, a framework to deliver predictable, low latency in data center applications. Chronos uses a combination of existing and new techniques to achieve this end, for example by supporting Memcached at 200,000 requests per second per server at mean latency of 10 μs with a 99th percentile latency of only 30 μs, a factor of 20 lower than baseline Memcached.
Improving Transition Behaviors in Students With Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Comprehensive Evaluation of Interventions in Educational Settings

Students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) often exhibit rigidity, which can lead to difficulties with transitions. Such difficulties can explain why students with ASD are placed in more restrictive educational environments. This review offers a quantitative synthesis of effects of interventions aimed to improve transitions of students with ASD and provides a descriptive overview of the quality of the included studies. Analyses focused on the main component of the intervention, topography of challenging behavior, and the type of transition expected of students with ASD. Activity schedules were most prominently used and most successful to ease transition difficulties. Strategies that align with preferences of students with ASD also successfully improved transitions. Practical implications and suggestions for future research are provided.
A novel scoring system to distinguish vocal cord dysfunction from asthma.

Background Vocal cord dysfunction is often misdiagnosed and mistreated as asthma, which can lead to increased and unnecessary medication use and increased health care utilization. Objective To develop a valid scoring index that could help distinguish vocal cord dysfunction from asthma. Methods We compared the demographics, comorbidities, clinical symptoms, and symptom triggers of subjects with vocal cord dysfunction (n = 89) and those with asthma (n = 59). By using multivariable logistic regression, we identified distinguishing features associated with vocal cord dysfunction, which were weighted and used to generate a novel score. The scoring index also was tested in an independent sample with documented vocal cord dysfunction (n = 72). Results We identified symptoms of throat tightness and dysphonia, the absence of wheezing, and the presence of odors as a symptom trigger as key features of vocal cord dysfunction that distinguish it from asthma. We developed a weighted index based on these characteristics, the Pittsburgh Vocal Cord Dysfunction Index. By using a cutoff of ≥4, this index had good sensitivity (0.83) and specificity (0.95) for the diagnosis of vocal cord dysfunction. The scoring index also performed reasonably well in the independent convenience sample with laryngoscopy-proven vocal cord dysfunction and accurately made the diagnosis in 77.8% of subjects. Conclusion The Pittsburgh Vocal Cord Dysfunction Index is proposed as a simple, valid, and easy-to-use tool for diagnosing vocal cord dysfunction. If confirmed by a prospective evaluation in broader use, it may have significant clinical utility by facilitating a timely and accurate diagnosis of vocal cord dysfunction, thereby preventing misdiagnosis and mistreatment as asthma. Future prospective validation studies will need to be performed.
Upgrading the LCAC APU System

The Navy’s Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) hovercraft vehicles use two Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) engines to provide AC power to the craft and bleed air to start the main engines. The APU Engine Sequencing Unit (ESU) and bleed air valve have consistently been high failure items. NAVSEA Philadelphia and Hamilton-Sundstrand have developed a Component Improvement Program (CIP) to increase the APU reliability and reduce repair/replacement cost by upgrading the ESU and bleed air valve. This paper will document and outline the APU CIP development effort, along with the installation, testing, and operation of the new APU components.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Medical and Surgical Interventions in Male Fertility

Infertility, defined as the failure to conceive after 1 year of unprotected intercourse, affects about 15% of reproductive age couples. Over the years, treatment of infertility has become increasingly more successful, and this has largely been dependent on interdisciplinary interactions among a number of specialties. With joint efforts between primary care physicians, obstetricians, urologists, geneticists, endocrinologists, and andrologists, couples are now able to undergo comprehensive stepwise evaluations that allow their physicians to determine the cause of infertility, provide evidence-based advice regarding prognoses, and determine the best approach toward achieving pregnancy or family planning.
Bioavailability of Alfrutamide and Caffedymine and Their P-Selectin Suppression and Platelet-Leukocyte Aggregation Mechanisms in Mice

BACKGROUND Alfrutamide and caffedymine are phenolic amides found in plants, including garlic and cocoa. However, the bioavailability of alfrutamide and caffedymine and their effects on cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), particularly via effects on P-selectin expression(PSE) and platelet-leukocyte aggregation (PLA), are unknown. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to investigate the bioavailability of alfrutamide and caffedymine and their effects on PSE and PLA, which are frequently involved in the progression of CVDs. METHODS Cyclooxygenase (COX) I and COX-II activities and cAMP were determined by using COX and cAMP kits. Bioavailability was determined by HPLC analysis of plasma samples from Swiss Webster mice orally administered alfrutamide and caffedymine (10 μg each). PSE and PLA were also measured by flow cytometry using blood samples from the same mice. RESULTS At 0.05 μmol/L, alfrutamide and caffedymine inhibited COX-I and COX-II by 20-40% (P 0.6 μmol/L and significant inhibition of PSE by 23-34% (P < 0.05) and PLA by 20-27% (P < 0.05) compared with control mice. CONCLUSIONS These data show the adequate bioavailability of alfrutamide and caffedymine and their different mechanisms of suppressing PSE and PLA: alfrutamide exerts its effects only via COX inhibition, whereas caffedymine works through both COX inhibition and cAMP amplification.
Improved Pyroelectric Figures of Merit in Compositionally Graded PbZr1–xTixO3 Thin Films

Pyroelectric materials have been widely used for a range of thermal-related applications including thermal imaging/sensing, waste heat energy conversion, and electron emission. In general, the figures of merit for applications of pyroelectric materials are proportional to the pyroelectric coefficient and inversely proportional to the dielectric permittivity. In this context, we explore single-layer and compositionally graded PbZr1–xTixO3 thin-film heterostructures as a way to independently engineer the pyroelectric coefficient and dielectric permittivity of materials and increase overall performance. Compositional gradients in thin films are found to produce large strain gradients which generate large built-in potentials in the films that can reduce the permittivity while maintaining large pyroelectric response. Routes to enhance the figures of merit of pyroelectric materials by 3–12 times are reported, and comparisons to standard materials are made.
Effects of Potassium on the Adsorption and Reactions of Nitric Oxide on Silicon Surface

The adsorption, thermoreactions, and photoreactions of NO coadsorbed with K on Si(111)7×7 at 90 K have been studied and compared with the results obtained from the Kfree surface. The experiments were performed under ultra-high vacuum conditions using high resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy, work function change measurements, and mass spectrometry. NO adsorbs both molecularly and dissociatively on the K-free surface. Two molecular N–O stretching modes are observed at 188 and 225 meV. The concentration of these NO molecules on the surface decreases as the K exposure increases and vanishes at high K exposures. A new N–O stretching mode, attributed to adsorption of NO molecules on K clusters, is observed at 157 meV. After thermal heating or photon irradiation, the surface is covered with atomic O and N. The surface is more oxidized in the presence of K. A steady decrease in the photodesorption cross section is observed as the K exposure increases and is attributed to K-induced band structure changes.
Owning Mindfulness: A Bibliometric Analysis of Mindfulness Literature Trends Within and Outside of Buddhist Contexts

AbstractThe mindfulness literature, now extended beyond strict Buddhist and psychotherapeutic contexts, has trended in some important directions, giving rise to both conflict and opportunity. In terms of mindfulness-directed effort, which academic disciplines are outpacing which? Has the degree of disembeddedness from Buddhist contexts changed over time? What is the relationship between trends in mindfulness, meditation, and Buddhism-oriented literature? Through a bibliometric analysis of mindfulness literature within academic journals, several patterns emerge. Results support a substantial increase in ‘academic effort’ toward mindfulness, crossing a number of disciplines, independent of increased publications concerning meditation, Buddhism, or in these fields at large. While the psychological disciplines have dominated mindfulness literature for several decades, their ‘share’ of the overall pool of academic literature has not increased in recent years. Mindfulness-related effort in the humanities, too, ...
Study progress in long-term depression of neuron in cerebellum

The motor learning of cerebellum is worked by long-term depression( LTD) of cerebellar neuron. In eye-blink conditioning and vestibulo-ocular reflex models,after catalysis by PKC and CaMKs,the presynaptic membrane of purkinje cells activates Ca2 +channel,Na+channel or K+channel and releases neurotransmitters including glutamic acid,NO and so forth. These neurotransmitters interacts with AMPAR and mGluRs in postsynaptic membrane mediated by PSD and GRIP,with participation of second messengers such as Ca2 +,IP3,DAG and so on. Finally,postsynaptic membrane of purkinje cells loses sensitivity about neurotransmitters released from presynaptic membrane in long time,and long-term depression occurs in postsynaptic membrane of purkinje cells by electrophysiology.
Randomness and Nondeterminism

Exponentiation makes the difference between the bit size of this line and the number (“ 2300) of particles in the known universe. The expulsion of exponential time algorithms from computer theory in the 1960s created a deep gap between deterministic computation and — formely its unremarkable tools — randomness and nondeterminism. These two “freedom” of computation preserved their reputation as some of the most mysterious phenomena in science and seem to play an ever more noticeable role in computer theory. We have learned little in the past decades about the power of either, but a vague pattern is emerging in their relationships.
Controller robustness analysis of grid-tied AC-stacked PV inverter system considering manufacturing inaccuracies

This paper analyzes the impact of current sensing inaccuracies due to aging and ambient condition variations on robust operation of PV inverter systems. A novel index for analyzing the robustness of grid-tied AC-stacked PV inverter architectures has been used, which provides an opportunity for comprehensive robustness evaluation by considering four major operational characteristics of grid-tied PV inverters as efficiency, Total Harmonic Distortion (THD), Power Factor (PF) compliance, and Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) effectiveness. In addition, a comparative analysis between a single inverter and an AC-stacked inverter configuration is provided to study the impact of AC-stacking on robust operation of grid-tied PV inverters. This paper also proposes a possible state estimation solution for improving the robustness of the system using Kalman filter approach.
Trauma-induced delivery: A case report.

Abstract The term “birth trauma” is one that is well ingrained into the lexicon of medical providers. There is ample information of the types of injuries that are incurred during the birth process. However, there is no uniformed term for the process of an unforeseen act that leads to a precipitous birth. We would like to show a case report of such an act. The infant's injuries were sustained while in utero and the trauma induced a medical team to deliver the infant due to non-reassuring heart tones. Also, we would like to introduce the term of “trauma-induced delivery” into the medical literature as a way to describe similar types of deliveries that are influenced by factors related to physical forces applied to the mother's body, either intentional or unintentional.
Clinical Report: Warsaw Breakage Syndrome with small radii and fibulae

We present two new cases of Warsaw Breakage Syndrome (WABS), an autosomal recessive cohesinopathy, in sisters aged 13 and 11 years who both had compound heterozygous mutations in DDX11. After exclusion of Fanconi anemia, Bloom syndrome and Nijmegen breakage syndrome, whole exome sequencing revealed two novel variants-c.1523T>G, predicting (p.Leu508Arg) and c.1949-1G>A (IVS19-1G>A), that were confirmed with Sanger sequencing in both affected individuals. DDX11 encodes an iron-sulfur-containing DNA helicase, and mutations in this gene have been reported in the five WABS cases previously identified to date. The sisters reported here display the distinguishing clinical features of WABS: pre- and post-natal growth restriction, microcephaly, intellectual disability, sensorineural hearing loss with cochlear abnormalities, and facial dysmorphic features. In addition, our cases had early menarche at 8 and 10 years of age, bilateral small thumbs, and the younger, more severely affected sister had small fibulae. These findings broaden the WABS phenotype and the limb malformations demonstrate further clinical overlap with Fanconi anemia and other cohesinopathies, such as Roberts Syndrome.
Workload characterization of the shared/buy-in computing cluster at boston university

Computing clusters provide a complete environment for computational research, including bio-informatics, machine learning, and image processing. The Shared Computing Cluster (SCC) at Boston University is based on a shared/buy-in architecture that combines shared computers, which are free to be used by all users, and buy-in computers, which are computers purchased by users for semi-exclusive use. Although there exists significant work on characterizing the performance of computing clusters, little is known about shared/buy-in architectures. Using data traces, we statistically analyze the performance of the SCC. Our results show that the average waiting time of a buy-in job is 16.1% shorter than that of a shared job. Furthermore, we identify parameters that have a major impact on the performance experienced by shared and buy-in jobs. These parameters include the type of parallel environment and the run time limit (i.e., the maximum time during which a job can use a resource). Finally, we show that the semi-exclusive paradigm, which allows any SCC user to use idle buy-in resources for a limited time, increases the utilization of buy-in resources by 17.4%, thus significantly improving the performance of the system as a whole.
The Father of Jihad: Abd Allah Azzam’s Jihad Ideas and Implications for National Security, Muhammad Haniff Hassan, New Jersey: Imperial College Press, 2014, 350 pp., Hardcover, $115.00, ISBN 978-1783262878

This is a long overdue comprehensive analysis of the ideas of one of the twentieth century’s most important theoreticians of jihad. Abdullah Azzam (1941–1989) was a Palestinian who received a Ph.D ...
Literature review of models on tire-pavement interaction noise

Abstract Tire-pavement interaction noise (TPIN) becomes dominant at speeds above 40 km/h for passenger vehicles and 70 km/h for trucks. Several models have been developed to describe and predict the TPIN. However, these models do not fully reveal the physical mechanisms or predict TPIN accurately. It is well known that all the models have both strengths and weaknesses, and different models fit different investigation purposes or conditions. The numerous papers that present these models are widely scattered among thousands of journals, and it is difficult to get the complete picture of the status of research in this area. This review article aims at presenting the history and current state of TPIN models systematically, making it easier to identify and distribute the key knowledge and opinions, and providing insight into the future research trend in this field. In this work, over 2000 references related to TPIN were collected, and 74 models were reviewed from nearly 200 selected references; these were categorized into deterministic models (37), statistical models (18), and hybrid models (19). The sections explaining the models are self-contained with key principles, equations, and illustrations included. The deterministic models were divided into three sub-categories: conventional physics models, finite element and boundary element models, and computational fluid dynamics models; the statistical models were divided into three sub-categories: traditional regression models, principal component analysis models, and fuzzy curve-fitting models; the hybrid models were divided into three sub-categories: tire-pavement interface models, mechanism separation models, and noise propagation models. At the end of each category of models, a summary table is presented to compare these models with the key information extracted. Readers may refer to these tables to find models of their interest. The strengths and weaknesses of the models in different categories were then analyzed. Finally, the modeling trend and future direction in this area are given.
Behavioral repeatability and foraging performance in wild free-flying nectarivorous bats (Glossophaga commissarisi)

Animal individuals show patterns of behavior that are stable within individuals but different among individuals. Such individual differences are potentially associated with differences in foraging efficiency and in fitness. Furthermore, behavioral responses may be correlated in specific suites of so called behavioral syndromes that are consistent across different contexts and with time. Here we present a field investigation on individual differences between wild, free-flying nectarivorous bats ( Glossophaga commissarisi ) in the foraging context. We further investigated how individual differences effect foraging performance, and we examined their interdependence within hypothesized behavioral syndrome structures. Free-ranging bats were individually identified as they visited an array of 24 artificial flowers with nectar of high or low sugar concentration. We found that three behavioral measures of foraging behavior were individually stable over the two-month observation period. We investigated the link between individual behavioral measures and measures of foraging performance using generalized linear mixed models. Individual measures of foraging performance showed significant repeatability, and we found evidence that bats making more visits per bout tend to be slower in learning to avoid unprofitable flowers. We used multi-response generalized linear mixed models to estimate between-individual correlations and compare hypothesized syndrome structures. There were no clear patterns of between-individual correlations among the behavioral measures in our study, despite the measures exhibiting significant repeatability. This may indicate that foraging performance depends on multiple individual behavior dimensions that are not adequately described by simple models of behavior syndromes.
The effect of an outbreak of the leaf miner Micrurapteryx salicifoliella on the performance of multiple Salix species in interior Alaska

The genus Salix L. tends to be tolerant of herbivory, but severe outbreaks of herbivorous insects may compromise growth. First documented in Alaska in 1991, the willow leaf blotch miner, Micrurapteryx salicifoliella, is now responsible for frequent and widespread foliar damage to Salix in interior Alaska. We experimentally tested the effect of leaf mining on the performance of four susceptible Salix species across two years of outbreak, and placed the results in the context of a broader survey of leaf mining damage. Across the four species, reduction of leaf mining damage increased average stem elongation, numbers of leaves per shoot, and leaf area. Leaf mining damage was negatively related to leaf water content; a consequence of the leaf miner’s habit of breaching the cuticle on the underside of leaves. Growth deficits due to leaf mining are likely caused by both the loss of leaf tissue to leaf miner feeding and subsequent leaf desiccation. The results are notable in the context of a general decline in p...
Vectors and Matrices

We assume that the reader is already familiar with the ordinary algebra of vectors and matrices. We give the basics below.
Diagnostic expansion in clinical trials: myocardial infarction, stroke, cancer recurrence, and metastases may not be the hard endpoints you thought they were

What qualifies as disease in clinical trials may be getting so broad that outcomes are becoming less meaningful and harder to interpret, argue Go Nishikawa and Vinay Prasad
Lidar Techniques and Applications for Improving Wind Energy Production and Characterizing Pollution from Fossil Fuel-Based Energy Generation

This paper describes the use of Doppler and differential absorption lidar (DIAL) remote sensing techniques to enhance wind energy production and investigate air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from burning of fossil fuel.
Dynamics of Intrinsic Laryngeal Muscle Contraction

Objectives Laryngeal function requires neuromuscular activation of the intrinsic laryngeal muscles (ILMs). Rapid activation of the ILMs occurs in cough, laughter, and voice-unvoiced-voiced segments in speech and singing. Abnormal activation is observed in hyperfunctional disorders such as vocal tremor and dystonia. In this study, we evaluate the dynamics of ILM contraction. Study/design Basic science study in an in vivo canine model. Methods The following ILMs were stimulated: thyroarytenoid (TA), lateral cricoarytenoid/interarytenoid (LCA/IA), cricothyroid (CT), all laryngeal adductors (LCA/IA/TA), and the posterior cricoarytenoid (PCA). Neuromuscular stimulation was performed via the respective nerves at current levels needed to achieve maximum vocal fold posture change. Muscle contraction and posture changes were recorded with high speed video (HSV). HSV frames were then analyzed to measure response times required from the onset of muscle contraction to the time the vocal folds achieved maximum posture change. Results In all muscles, the onset of posture change occurred within 10 to 12 milliseconds after neuromuscular stimulation. The average times ( ± standard deviation) to achieve final posture were as follows: TA 34.5 ± 6 ms (N = 15), LCA/IA 55 ± 12 ms (N = 14), recurrent laryngeal nerve 43 ± 8 ms (N = 18), CT 100.8 ± 17 ms (N = 26), and PCA 91.2 ± 8 ms (N = 3). Data distribution appeared normal. Conclusion Results showed a difference in muscle activation time between different ILMs consistent with reported differences in muscle fiber composition. These data also provide an estimate of the limits of laryngeal contraction frequency in physiologic and pathologic laryngeal states. Level of evidence NA Laryngoscope, 129:E21-E25, 2019.
Effective Educational Videos in Emergency Medicine

Video is a popular format for teaching and learning online. Emergency medicine (EM) has been a leader in online learning and EM educators may wish to use video to teach. The creation of online video content is fraught with pitfalls that may make videos less effective. We review notable theory and evidence regarding effective use of video for education in EM with international considerations.
Hyperconjugative Aromaticity and Antiaromaticity Control the Reactivities and π-Facial Stereoselectivities of 5-Substituted Cyclopentadiene Diels-Alder Cycloadditions.

The reactivities and π-facial stereoselectivities of Diels–Alder reactions of 5-substituted cyclopentadienes were studied using density functional theory. Burnell and co-workers previously showed that the π-facial selectivities result from the energies required to distort the reactants into the transition state geometries. We have discovered the origins of these distortions. C5–X σ-donors predistort the cyclopentadiene into an envelope conformation that maximizes the stabilizing hyperconjugative interaction between the C5–X σ-bond and the diene π-system. This envelope conformation geometrically resembles the anti transition state. To minimize the destabilizing effect of negative hyperconjugation, C5–X σ-acceptors predistort in the opposite direction toward an envelope geometry that resembles the syn transition state. We now show how hyperconjugative effects of the C5–X substituent influence the stereoselectivities and have developed a unified model rationalizing the stereoselectivities and reactivities of...
Signal-to-Noise Analysis in Count Rate Dependent Adaptive Digital Pulse Processing for Gamma-Ray Spectroscopy

An optimum filter to achieve best signal to noise ratio is a primary prerequisite in high resolution gamma spectroscopy systems. Digital techniques for nuclear spectroscopy are increasingly implemented in modern radiation detection systems, which allow consideration of the attributes of the generated signal on a pulse-by-pulse basis. In this work, the limits of the count rate dependent signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) are established for time invariant (fixed) and time variant (adaptive) digital filters. The calculated results illustrate that the adaptive filter provides improved SNR for a given pulse throughput rate as compared to a fixed filter. Further analysis shows that the detector with a low input capacitance is a preferable choice to achieve better SNR and improved performance at high count rates. A 14-bit adaptor module with sampling rate of 250 MS/s is used for digitizing a high purity germanium (HPGe) detector's pre-amplifier pulses. Fixed and adaptive digital trapezoid shaping algorithms with timing filter, baseline restorer, and pile-up rejecter are implemented using field programmable gate array (FPGA) for real-time signal processing. The experimental results using the coaxial HPGe with fixed and adaptive shaping show reasonable agreement with the theoretical calculations. At input count rate of 400 kcps with 50% throughput rate after pile- up rejection, the improvement in measured SNR is 30% with adaptive trapezoid filter in comparison to the fixed filter.
Impact assessment study of an executive education program for university leaders

University-based executive education programs continue to expand across the country, but program directors are unclear about how to articulate the impact and effectiveness of their programs. To hel...
Enforcing Economic Sanctions: Analyzing How OFAC Punishes Violators of U.S. Sanctions

How economic sanctions are enforced undoubtedly has a major impact on whether they are successful. To shed light on the ways in which governments enforce their sanctions, we conduct an empirically-driven case study of how the lead agency for enforcing economic sanctions in the United States, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), has punished sanctions violations from 2003-2017. Our study explores three central questions related to how OFAC enforcement actions are initiated, which parties are subject to enforcement actions, and what explains the size of the penalties imposed by OFAC. Our findings reveal that OFAC engaged in two distinct enforcement strategies during our period of analysis: a “fishing” strategy that involved taking a lot of enforcement actions and imposing small fines and a “whale-hunting” strategy that involved pursuing fewer cases but imposing enormous fines. We explain that both politics and the law played a role in explaining why OFAC’s enforcement strategy changed and more broadly how the agency enforces sanctions. Our study also yields numerous novel insights into how the U.S. enforces its sanctions that should be of significant utility to future theory-building efforts.
3071 Cell Survival in Corneal Endothelial Dystrophies

OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: Purpose - The goal of this study is to understand how loss of the membrane protein SLC4A11 alters endothelial cell metabolism thereby producing Corneal Endothelial Dystrophy. Studies from our lab indicated that glutamine-dependent mitochondrial dysfunction is one of the outcomes of SLC4a11 loss. In the current study, we ask if autophagy and mitophagy pathways and the signaling pathways that regulate these processes are altered in SLC4a11 KO cells. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Methods – Immortalized mouse WT and SLC4a11 KO cell lines were incubated in DMEM with and without 0.5mM glutamine for 6 hours. In order to assess mitophagy, cells were stained using Lysotracker Red and Mitotracker Green. Colocalization co-efficients of red and green channels were obtained for at least 35 cells using Zeiss-Zen Pro software. Student’s t-test was used to determine statistical significance. For Western Blots, antibodies against LC3b, AMPK, pAMPK, and b-actin were used to examine autophagy flux and potential signaling pathways that regulate autophagy. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Results – In the presence of glutamine, the colocalization co-efficient of Lysotracker Red and Mitotracker Green channels was significantly increased in KO cells (0.74 ±0.18) relative to WT (0.58±0.20) with a p-value ≤0.0024. In the absence of glutamine, the colocalization co-efficient was reversed, for KO cells 0.54 ±0.14 and for WT cells 0.77±0.0.16 with a p-value ≤0.0001, suggesting increased mitophagy by glutamine in KO cells. Western Blots indicated that glutamine increased autophagy flux, as indicated by increased levels of LC3b following bafilomycin A treatment in KO cells. Concomitantly, there was an increase in pAMPK/AMPK levels suggesting a potential mechanism for increased mitophagy. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: Conclusion and Future studies –Our data indicates enhanced mitophagy as well as autophagy in SLC4a11 KO cells. Future studies will determine whether these processes regulate cell survival in mouse models of corneal endothelial dystrophies.
Abstract 4336: Epigenetic regulation of combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma subtypes

Combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma (HCC-CCA) is a rare liver tumor comprising histologic features of both HCC and CCA. Due to its heterogeneous nature, treatment of combined HCC-CCA is a significant clinical challenge and prognosis remains poor. Therefore, further understanding of the tumor biology underlying the individual subtypes of this mixed tumor is required to improve treatment stratification and optimize treatment strategies. This study sought to identify epigenetic regulation underlying gene expression patterns in the individual components of combined HCC-CCA. Formalin fixed paraffin embedded tumor specimens from 10 patients diagnosed with combined HCC-CCA were utilized in this study. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was performed for each sample, and regions representative of the individual HCC and CCA components were delineated by a pathologist. Unstained slides were cut and dissected to separate HCC and CCA components. DNA and RNA extraction was performed for each sample for DNA methylation (n = 8 HCC and 7 CCA) and gene expression (n = 8 HCC and 8 CCA) profiling via reduced representation bisulfite sequencing and RNA-seq, respectively. As expected, DNA methylation levels at transcription start sites (TSS) were negatively correlated with gene expression in all samples (Spearman’s rho = -0.133 to -0.546; p 25%; q-value Citation Format: Kyle M. Schachtschneider, Ryan Peter Lokken, Yu-Hui Huang, Grace Guzman, Lawrence B. Schook, Ron C. Gaba. Epigenetic regulation of combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma subtypes [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4336.
Crystallographic and Energetic Insights into Reduced Dissolution and Physical Stability of a Drug-Surfactant Salt: The Case of Norfloxacin Lauryl Sulfate.

A commonly used pharmaceutical surfactant, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), has been reported to reduce the dissolution rate of drugs due to the formation of a less soluble drug–lauryl sulfate salt. In...
Genotype distribution and molecular epidemiology of hepatitis E virus isolated in Shandong Province of China in 2017

Objective: To understand the genotype distribution and molecular epidemiological characteristics of hepatitis E virus (HEV) isolated in Shandong Province, 2017. Methods: The cases of hepatitis E who were reported to the National Notifiable Disease Reporting System (NNDRS) from January to December 2017 in Shandong Province were chosen as the subjects in the study. Epidemiological information and blood samples were collected from 1 045 participants. Both anti-HEV IgM and anti-HEV IgG were detected using ELISA method. Viral nucleic acids were extracted only from those of anti-HEV IgM positive samples. Nested reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was carried out to amplify 644 bp nucleotide sequences within HEV open reading frame (ORF) 2 region. The sample sequences together with reference sequences from GenBank were subjected to phylogenetic analysis. Results: In total, 638 (61.1%) cases were detected positive for anti-HEV IgM. The average age of male was (57.9±12.2) years, and the anti-HEV IgM positive rate was 61.5% (496/807). The average age of female was (58.1±15.0) years, and the anti-HEV IgM positive rate was 59.7% (142/238). A total of 163 HEV strains were detected, and the positive rate was 25.6% (163/638). The positive rate of the eastern, central and western region was 23.0% (71/309), 33.6% (72/214) and 17.4% (20/115), respectively. Phylogenetic tree and homology analysis indicated that all isolates belonged to genotype Ⅳ, clustering into four different subgenotype (4a, 4b, 4d and 4h). Subgenotype 4d was predominant, accounting for 85.9% (140 strains), followed by 4b (7.4%, 12 strains), 4a (3.7%, 6 strains) and 4h (3.1%, 5 strains). The 4a, 4b, and 4h subgenotype were mainly detected in the eastern region, accounting for 3/5, 11/12, and 4/6, respectively. The 4d subgenotype was mainly in the middle region, accounting for 50.0% (70/140). The homology analysis showed that the 163 sequences shared 82.7% to 100.0% nucleotide sequence identity with each other. The 140 sequences of HEV 4d strains showed high similarity with swine-origin HEV（KF176351）, cattle-origin HEV（KU904278）and sheep-origin HEV（KU904267）isolated in Shandong Province, and the nucleotide homology was 93.1%-98.3%, 92.7%-97.9% and 92.7%-97.9%, respectively. Conclusion: HEV genotype Ⅳ(4d subgenotype) was dominant in Shandong province. A complicated interspecies transmission might be the main source of human HEV infection in Shandong Province, China.
Techno-economic Analyses of Steam Differential Pressure Power Generation in Integrated Energy System

The cascade utilization of energy is an important subject of energy conservation research. This paper takes the gas-steam combined cycle as an object, A high-speed radial turbine steam differential pressure power generation system is proposed to replace the temperature and pressure reduction devices. Ebsilon is used to simulate and analyze the effect of temperature and pressure reduction scheme, steam differential pressure generation scheme and the influence of differential pressure generation on combined cycle unit performance. The steam differential pressure power generation system generate 382.81kW, the combined cycle unit load increased by 0.82%, resulting in an additional generation of 388.03kW. Considering the power generation benefits of back pressure unit of the combined cycle, the cost will be recovered in 3.06 years; considering the benefits of differential pressure power generation only, the payback period is 3.75 years. The payback period can be reduced to 2.4 years for the user side steam pressure differential generation system, The work of this paper provides a theoretical reference for the application and promotion of steam pressure difference power generation technology in integrated energy system.
Comparing the effects of emotional disclosure and peer helping writing on psychological distress among Chinese international students: The moderating role of rumination

Objectives This study tested the effects of emotional disclosure writing and peer helping writing in reducing psychological distress among Chinese international students. This study also examined whether rumination and ambivalence over emotion expression moderated the effects of emotional disclosure and peer helping writing. Method One hundred forty-four Chinese international students were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: emotional disclosure, peer helping, or neutral control writing. Participants completed two 20-min writing sessions and questionnaires at baseline, 2-month follow-up, and 4-month follow-up. Results We found no significant differences across the three writing conditions in levels of psychological distress over time. However, rumination emerged as a significant moderator in both emotional disclosure and peer helping intervention conditions. High ruminators generally experienced significant reductions in depressive symptoms, whereas low ruminators experienced increased depressive symptoms. Conclusions These findings demonstrate that the benefits of writing interventions may vary as a function of rumination.
State Tax Credit Issues Raised by SALT Cap Workaround Legislation

The IRS’s notice recognizing the deductibility of state passthrough entity taxes for federal personal income tax purposes has already spawned considerable interest regarding the issues raised by those levies for state tax purposes. Among these issues is the ability of PTE owners to claim a credit against their personal income tax liability in their state of residence for their distributive share of entity level taxes paid to other states where the income was earned. This article addresses the relevant issues in light of the underlying constitutional and policy concerns.
Diamond-Forrester classification using echocardiography haemodynamic assessment in cardiac intensive care unit patients.

AIMS We sought to determine whether the Diamond-Forrester classification using non-invasive haemodynamic measurements by 2-D and Doppler echocardiography would predict hospital mortality in cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) patients. METHODS AND RESULTS We retrospectively analysed unique patients admitted to the CICU at Mayo Clinic Rochester from 2007 to 2018. Doppler-derived cardiac index (CI) and ratio of mitral valve E velocity to medial mitral annulus e' velocity (E/e' ratio) were used to classify patients into four profiles: Profile I (warm/dry), Profile II (warm/wet), Profile III (cold/dry), and Profile IV (cold/wet). Logistic regression was used to determine predictors of hospital mortality, and Cox proportional-hazards analysis was used to determine predictors of mortality during one year of follow-up. We included 4563 patients with a mean age of 68.3 ± 14.3 years, including 36.2% female patients. The distribution of each profile was as follows: I, 47.4%; II, 36.2%; III, 7.9%; IV, 8.5%. A total of 5.8% patients died during hospitalization, and 18.1% died by 1 year. Patients with either low CI or elevated E/e' ratio had higher in-hospital and 1 year mortality. Patients with elevated E/e' ratio (i.e. Profiles II and IV) had an increased risk of death during hospitalization and at 1 year after multivariate adjustment (adjusted hazard ratio 1.72 and 2.17 for 1 year mortality, respectively, compared with Profile I, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Simple Doppler echocardiographic assessment can be used to identify haemodynamic profiles defined by the Diamond-Forester classification in patients admitted in CICU. These profiles predict outcomes and may be used to guide therapy in critically ill patients.
Comprehending implied meaning: The combined effects of L2 proficiency, length of residence, and interaction

Abstract This study investigated the extent to which proficiency, length of residence, and intensity of interaction in a target language affect L2 learners’ pragmatic ability in comprehending conversational implicature and indirect speech acts. 68 participants, 38 L1 English and 30 L2 English users, completed two measures: a pragmatic listening test measuring implied meaning comprehension and a language contact profile survey identifying length of residence and intensity of L2 interaction. The standard multiple regression analysis revealed a significant relationship between implied meaning comprehension and learners’ proficiency, length of residence, and intensity of interaction. Together, these factors explained a significant amount of the variance in learners’ overall comprehension ability, with proficiency being the strongest predictor, followed by intensity of interaction, then length of residence. Findings also showed that while it was more challenging for the less proficient learners to comprehend conversational implicature than indirect speech acts, there was no significant difference between the two types for the higher proficiency group. Further analysis of the L2 interaction types indicated a significant, moderate relationship between the time spent speaking and learners’ implied meaning comprehension. These findings offer pedagogical and methodological implications for L2 pragmatic development.