cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Brain-Computer Interfacing with Emotion-Inducing Imagery: A pilot study

Using neural correlates of intentionally induced human emotions may offer alternative imagery strategies to control brain-computer interface (BCI) applications. In this paper, self-induced emotions i.e., emotions induced by participants performing sad or happy related emotional imagery, are compared to motor imagery (MI) in a two-class electroencephalogram (EEG)-based BCI. The BCI setup included a multistage signal-processing framework allowing online continuous feedback presentation in a game involving one-dimensional control of game character. With seven participants, the highest online accuracies were 90% for emotion-inducing imagery (EII) and 80% for MI. Offline and online results analysis showed no significant differences in MI and EII performance. The results suggest that EII may be suitable for intentional control in BCI paradigms and offer a viable alternative for some BCI users.
Why Sc Elites Join the Bsp

The previous chapter argued that a representational blockage in the competition was necessary in order to induce Scheduled Caste elites to join the BSP. In this chapter, I link representation with voter preferences. I show that Scheduled Caste voters in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab formulate preferences by counting heads across parties rather than by examining the issues that the parties stand on. Because the BSP had a monopoly on the representation of Scheduled Caste elites in these two states between 1984 and 1998, Scheduled Caste voters preferred the BSP to other parties. However, voters from the Scheduled Caste categories that were better represented in the BSP were more likely to prefer it than voters from underrepresented Scheduled Caste categories. The link between representation and voter preferences, furthermore, holds not just for Scheduled Caste voters but for voters from all other ethnic categories as well. The data that I use to develop and test this proposition are drawn from across four elections in India, held between 1996 and 1998. For information about the ethnic profile of political parties, I rely on interviews with party personnel in each state conducted between 1996 and 1998. For party issue positions, I conduct a content analysis of campaign messages during the 1996 parliamentary election campaign. For data on perceptions of salient issues among Scheduled Caste voters, and on Scheduled Caste voter preferences independent of voting behaviour, I draw upon survey data from the Indian National Election Studies for the 1996 parliamentary election. Finally, for data on the voter preferences of other ethnic categories from other elections, I rely upon indirect evidence drawn from party and candidate strategies collected during four election campaigns. The chapter is organized as follows: Section I predicts the preference distribution of Scheduled Caste voters across political parties in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Punjab if they formulate preferences by counting heads. (I exclude Karnataka from the analysis of Scheduled Caste voter preferences, since the sample of Scheduled Caste voters who expressed a preference is too small to be statistically reliable.) Section II predicts the preference distribution of Scheduled Caste voters across political parties if they formulate preferences by assessing party issue positions. Section III shows that the first prediction captures the distribution of Scheduled Caste voter preferences more accurately than the second. Section IV extends this proposition to voters from other ethnic categories in other states.
Regtech, Compliance and Technology Judgment Rule

This Article focuses on the rise of Financial Technology, which revolutionized consumer financial service products, and challenged policymakers with regulating the rapidly evolving financial industry. In particular, it explores Regulatory Technology, also known as RegTech, which is the finance industry’s use of technology, especially information technology, in the context of regulatory monitoring, reporting and compliance. RegTech is designed to solve industry needs for a more effective and efficient way to automate corporate governance and compliance processes. Not only has FinTech proven to be a vital revenue source, especially in connection with lending or money transmission services, but it also helps entities cut costs, promotes good corporate practice in compliance management and enhances desired regulatory compliance outcomes. In particular, RegTech does this by enabling businesses to: automate ordinary compliance tasks, reduce operational risks associated with compliance obligations, enable compliance functions to make informed risk choices based on data provided insight, and create cost-effectives solutions to problems. Those solutions ensure that companies are up to date with the latest regulatory changes, minimize the likelihood of human error, and increase the overall governance process. Additionally, RegTech can prove valuable especially in identity management, risk management, and security, including from a corporate governance perspective, such as in cyber whistleblower or Bug Bounty programs. Nevertheless, this article argues that RegTech is not a panacea for all corporate governance challenges. First, there are certain barriers to the adoption of RegTech. Second, RegTech alone cannot extirpate undesired and unethical business practices, or resolve ethical issues resulting from corporate culture. Moreover, technology can be used by businesses to evade regulations and frustrate regulators, a phenomenon referred to as anti-RegTech. Third, technology can hinder good judgment and human input in the governance and risk management decision processes, which operate based on opaque programmed reasoning that is often biased and reflects altered interpretations of the law. Fourth, given the high stakes, financial institutions must be careful when partnering with third party firms, and include regulators in the conversation before entering into such partnerships, especially given the increasing cyber risks. Lastly, many of the RegTech’s automation and efficiency gains have been offset by the costs of expanded regulatory requirements, such as the increasing number of information requests from regulators.
Metabolism-Driven High-Throughput Cancer Identification with GLUT5-Specific Molecular Probes

Point-of-care applications rely on biomedical sensors to enable rapid detection with high sensitivity and selectivity. Despite advances in sensor development, there are challenges in cancer diagnostics. Detection of biomarkers, cell receptors, circulating tumor cells, gene identification, and fluorescent tagging are time-consuming due to the sample preparation and response time involved. Here, we present a novel approach to target the enhanced metabolism in breast cancers for rapid detection using fluorescent imaging. Fluorescent analogs of fructose target the fructose-specific transporter GLUT5 in breast cancers and have limited to no response from normal cells. These analogs demonstrate a marked difference in adenocarcinoma and premalignant cells leading to a novel detection approach. The vastly different uptake kinetics of the analogs yields two unique signatures for each cell type. We used normal breast cells MCF10A, adenocarcinoma cells MCF7, and premalignant cells MCF10AneoT, with hepatocellular carcinoma cells HepG2 as the negative control. Our data indicated that MCF10AneoT and MCF7 cells had an observable difference in response to only one of the analogs. The response, observed as fluorescence intensity, leads to a two-point assessment of the cells in any sample. Since the treatment time is 10 min, there is potential for use in rapid on-site high-throughput diagnostics.
Critical Analysis of The Goal in Relation to Human Resource Management

The book entitled The Goal by Goldratt and Cox is one of the best-selling business oriented books in the world. One of the aspects making the book interesting is how it utilizes a fictional case scenario of a production plant experiencing real business challenges concerning profitability. Specifically, the novel entails one of the manufacturing plants of Unico, which is headed by a main character named Alex. The reader is taken through some of the interventions the main character adopts to address challenges in production performance. This correspondent sought to analyze the book in the context of how human resource management contributed to addressing and overcoming the challenges that were experienced in the production plant. One aspect that assisted to address the production challenges included that of the theory of constraints.
Fuzzy Feedback Control for Dynamic Routing Problem

The aim of this chapter is to provide a review of fuzzy logic fundamentals for control design and then to show a design of a fuzzy feedback control law for a sample DTR problem. The fundamentals of fuzzy set theory are first presented, and then fuzzy logic is covered in terms of the fuzzy sets. Development of fuzzy control involves the concepts of fuzzification, fuzzy logic based inference engine, and defuzzification. These concepts are explained and finally a fuzzy logic based controller is designed for a routing problem and a computer simulation performed for illustration purposes.
Managers from "hell" in the hospitality industry: how do hospitality employees profile bad managers?

Abstract This study aimed to explore the perceived characteristics of “bad” managers working within the hospitality industry. By employing a grounded theory approach, 72 hospitality employees were interviewed and asked to describe the attributes and behaviors of a current or past bad manager. In addition, the respondents were asked about the root cause/s of the undesirable qualities described in the study. The research findings identified six themes relating to the attributes of bad managers: unprofessional, autocratic management style, poor leadership skills, unethical, poor operational and technical skills, and poor decision and delegation skills. In addition, perceptions of the root causes of bad managers were categorized into four themes: company culture and structure, personal characteristics, unqualified, and tenure and comfort zone. This is one of the first studies in the hospitality field to address bad managers’ attributes and why and how managers became bad managers. Specific theoretical and practical implication are provided.
Taylor, Charles (1931–)

Charles Taylor is one of the world's leading social philosophers. He has made important contributions to debates in contemporary political theory, identity politics, and philosophy of the social sciences. He has also penned important studies of Hegel, the rise of Western modernity as well as Western secularity. In what follows, I briefly describe the various facets of his academic career before explicating the salient features of his work in the philosophy of the social sciences.
Two Pathways to Atheroma Variably Linked to Renovasculopathies

Findings in foregoing chapters can be used to introduce the two schemata, (a) Hy → Fc →YesA ← Hy and (b) Ra → YesA → CT. This chapter performs tests upon certain predictions that arise from the proposed schemata. Those tests fail to invalidate the predictions, thereby adding credence to the schemata.
Why We Are Still Not Cognitive Psychologists: A Review of Why I Am Not A Cognitive Psychologist: A Tribute to B. F. Skinner

Any instructor of behavior analysis is no doubt aware that neuroscience, characterized by a cognitive–mentalistic approach, has substantial influence in behavioral science. As a counterpoint, behavior analysis can raise timely questions and promote critical thinking, as did Skinner (1977) in his critical analysis of cognitive psychology. Keenan and Dillenburger (2004) have produced a CD-ROM with effective audio-visual presentations to aid in the teaching of behavior analysis and in critiquing reductionistic mentalism.
Analysis of residual isotope activity in syringes.

2229 Objectives: To determine the effectiveness of saline flushing on 99mTc-Tetrofosmin, 99mTc-Sestamibi, and 99mTc-Medronate syringes for maximum dose administration. To compare the extent of 99mTc-Tetrofosmin residual activity in syringes from two leading vendors. Methods: Percent residual activities were measured from 99 patient doses. Residual activity was measured for: 99mTc-Tetrofosmin no flush of syringe n=26, one flush of syringe n=25; 99mTc-Sestamibi no flush of syringe n=15, one flush of syringe n=7; 99mTc-Medronate no flush of syringe n=7, one flush of syringe n=19. Average residual percent difference was 15.7% no flush vs. 12.6% one flush for 99mTc-Tetrofosmin (t=4.6, p=0.0), 13.6% no flush vs. 5.8% one flush for 99mTc-Sestamibi (t=3.8, p=0.0) and 6.7% no flush vs. 1.9% one flush for 99mTc-Medronate (t=4.7, p=0.0). Residual activities from 99mTc-Tetrofosmin were measured from two separate suppliers, respectfully named vendor A: n=25 and vendor B: n=25. Syringe residual activity was measured following injection without flushing. Average residual activity was 12.6% vendor A and 8.0% vendor B (t=7.3,p=0.0). Results: There is significant residual activity in syringes that had no flush with mean residual of 12% for the combined 99mTc labeled isotopes. The range of residual was from 4.6% to 17.3% with a mean of 6.8%. It was also discovered that vendor A had a lower binding percentage of 99mTc-tetrofosmin. Conclusions: Flushing of syringes with saline statistically results in an increased dose administration. Statistical evidence suggests that users practice syringe flushing to ensure maximum dose administration.
Mixed-Race Heiresses in Early-Nineteenth-Century Literature: Sanditon’s Miss Lambe in Context

ABSTRACTThis essay analyzes Jane Austen’s unfinished novel Sanditon (1817) and its inclusion of a character of color. I discuss Austen’s mixed-race heiress, Miss Lambe, in the context of two other ...
Low scaling EOM-CCSD and EOM-MBPT(2) method with natural transition orbitals.

A low-scaling method is presented for the equation-of-motion coupled-cluster theory with single and double (EOM-CCSD) excitations and its second-order many-body perturbation theory [EOM-MBPT(2)] approximations. For a simple description of an excited state, the particular orbitals, ϕĨ and ϕA , are selected from the natural transition orbitals (NTOs, ϕ ), where Ĩ and A refer to NTO occupied and virtual orbital indices. They are chosen based on the largest eigenvalues of the transition density matrix. We expect the ϕĨ and ϕA pair to be dominant in representing excited states in EOM calculations. Therefore, the double excitation vector, R2 which scale as ∼O2V2, can be modified to keep only a few dominant excitations. Our work indicates that the most important contributions of the R2 vector define smaller subspaces that scale as ∼OV, ∼O2V, and ∼OV2, where O and V refer to the occupied and virtual orbitals in the NTO basis. Thus, the scaling for the EOM part becomes ∼M5. The energy changes due to R2 truncation are small (the mean average deviation from untruncated EOM-CCSD is ∼0.03 eV). We show that this approach works relatively well with various types of NTOs, ranging from configuration singles to time-dependent density functional theory making ∼M5 scaling calculations possible with the use of MBPT(2) as the reference state.
City Lights Again

Fortunately for my family, in 1934 my father resumed his job in Wichita about the same time that the bank foreclosed on our farm. The gain would exceed the loss, even for me, for I now had playmates, and we still had our ever-reliable felines, Lady and Mandy, and Glory, my faithful terrier. I was just turning seven. If I had stayed on the farm, Mr Hemberger would have had me skip grade two entirely. That was a bit of an overreach for my Martinson school principal, but she advanced me a half grade. I look back gratefully on her wisdom, as that made me the youngest in my class through high school. Any younger and I would have been a total outcast in high school society where sixteen-year-olds think they are going on thirty, and the girls only date the older boys. Wichita, as I gradually learned—growing up only a few blocks from Clyde Cessna’s west side plant—was a ferment of thriving innovation and entrepreneurship. Gradual indeed was that learning, because my mother, family, and close friends were all socialists, active in the American Socialist Party. Wichita’s household names included Cessna, Beech, Stearman, Coleman, Garvey, Dold, Love, Vickers, Koch, Innis, and more. However, we knew and saw none of Wichita’s “rich” as they lived on the east side; we lived on the west side—on the other side of the railroad tracks. However, when my sister Billye became active in the Wichita Art Museum she came to know and greatly respect Mary Koch, mother of Charles, David, Bill and Fred Jr, and Olive Ann Beech. Growinng up socialist, I would eventually see its error in opposing economic freedom. Nevertheless, American Socialists were wise in opposing most of American adventurism abroad and resolute in their support of free speech, assembly, and association, and in opposing discrimination based on race, religion, national origin, skin color, and so on.
High Productivity Cultivation of Microalgae without Concentrated CO2 Input

Outdoor cultivation of microalgae for biofuel production is not yet economically feasible, in part due to costs associated with CO2 supply. Large point sources of CO2 are also rarely available in p...
Distinguishing pustular psoriasis and acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis on the basis of plasmacytoid dendritic cells and MxA protein

BACKGROUND Distinguishing acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) and pustular psoriasis (PS) can be challenging. Staining for plasmacytoid dendritic cells, or PDCs (producer of IFN-α/β), and MxA (an IFN-α/β inducible protein) may help discriminate these entities. METHODS Forty-three cases of AGEP and PS were compiled from two academic institutions. All cases were examined for CD123+ PDCs, eosinophils, acanthosis, papillomatosis, suprapapillary plate thinning, tortuous dilated capillaries, single necrotic keratinocytes, papillary dermal edema, vasculitis, eosinophil exocytosis, intraepidermal pustules, and subcorneal pustules. A subset of cases (n = 26) was stained for MxA. RESULTS Perivascular and intraepidermal PDCs, dilated tortuous vessels, and MxA expression in the dermal inflammatory infiltrate were significantly (P < 0.05) in favor of a diagnosis of PS. The absence of PDCs and presence of eosinophils favored a diagnosis of AGEP (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS We found compelling evidence for the use of CD123 to highlight PDCs in these cases. The presence of PDCs and expression of MxA in dermal inflammatory infiltrate, as well as absence of eosinophils and presence of tortuous dilated capillaries favored a diagnosis of PS. Expression of MxA in the dermal infiltrate corresponds with a Th1 pathway in PS and may indicate a Th1 component in the early initial phase of AGEP.
Bhattacharyya Distance-based Transfer Learning for a Hybrid EEG-FTCD Brain-computer Interface

In this paper, we introduce a transfer learning approach for our novel hybrid brain-computer interface in which electroencephalography and functional transcranial Doppler ultrasound are used simultaneously to record brain electrical activity and cerebral blood velocity respectively due to flickering mental rotation and word generation tasks. We reduced each trial into a scalar score using Regularized Discriminant Analysis (RDA). For each individual, class conditional probabilistic distribution of each mental task was estimated using RDA scores of the trials corresponding to that mental task. Similarities between class conditional distributions across individuals were measured using Kullback-Leibler divergence, Bhattacharyya, and Hellinger distances. Classification task was performed using Quadratic Discriminant Analysis (QDA), Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA), and Support Vector Machines (SVM). We demonstrate that transfer learning can reduce calibration requirements up to %87.5. Moreover, it was found that QDA provides the most significant performance improvement compared to the case when no transfer learning is employed.
An Examination of the Relationship between Religious Beliefs, Behaviors, Commitment, and Connection and Addiction among African American Women

This study examines the religious/spiritual practices of 106 African American women when addiction is present. Stratified sampling was based on addiction status: no addiction (n=58); addiction to one of either alcohol, marijuana, or cocaine (n=22); and addiction to two or more of the substances (n=26). Using items from the Religiosity Scale to assess belief in God, religious behaviors, commitment and connection, analyses revealed that the majority of the women (84%) believe God exists and is active in their lives. However not all demonstrated formal religious behaviors or have a commitment or connection to religious activities. Women addicted to two or more substances were more likely to report religious behaviors, commitment, and connection such as regular personal religious-based reading/studying and having a feeling of religious commitment compared to women with no or only one addiction. Women with co-occurring addictions may utilize religious-based practices in an attempt to alleviate their emotional pain. Further exploration of religious/spiritual practices and co-morbid substance addiction is needed, as this research may be vital to implementing effective interventions with this population.
Selling and sales management

Abstract About 10% of the US labor force is employed in selling related occupations and the expenditures on selling activities total close to 5% of the US GDP. Without question, selling occupies a prominent role in our economy. This chapter offers a discussion on the construct of selling, its role in economic models, and the various aspects of firm decisions that relate to it.
Species-being for whom? The five faces of interspecies oppression

There is now an awakening to and recognition of the emotionally complex lives of some non-human animals. While their forms of consciousness may vary, some are indeed conscious and deserve political consideration. What that political consideration ought to be is the central topic of this article. First, I argue that interspecies justice must be understood in terms of the relationships that foster individual flourishing of all concerned. The obstacles to such flourishing are the five faces of oppression famously identified by Iris Marion Young: exploitation, marginalization, powerlessness, cultural imperialism, and violence. By extending Young’s concept of the social group to intra- and interspecies groups, we become more attuned to differences between and among species. Theorizing the existence of interspecies groups brings forward new avenues to explore oppression and simultaneously theorize its opposite – interspecies justice. Second, I argue that a positive theory of interspecies flourishing (for human and non-human alike) can be developed on the basis of Marx’s materialist philosophy and reclamation of species-being. Though Marx uses humanist language throughout the Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844, attention to his methodological commitments reveals that some non-human animals can no longer be excluded from the capability of flourishing and species-being. Some non-human animals are conscious, act purposefully, and labor creatively and must be included in our circle of moral and political concern.
Competition between thermodynamics, kinetics and growth mode in the early-stage oxidation of an equimolar CoCrFeNi alloy

Abstract We demonstrate that the early-stage oxidation of a CoCrFeNi multi-principal element alloy depends upon competition between kinetic and thermodynamic factors involving the relative diffusion rate of cations and oxygen, and how this couples to inward or outward oxide growth. The microstructures of oxide layers formed at temperatures from 500 to 800°C for 0.5 h, as well as their chemical compositions, were investigated by transmission electron microscopy. A triple layer microstructure with an outer Fe-rich spinel oxide, an intermediate Cr-rich corundum structure, and a Ni-rich (Fe, Co, and Cr depleted) dealloyed region at the metal/oxide interface was observed. The dominant oxygen transport in corundum at 800°C and below led to an inward growth of the corundum phase; the spinel oxide growth was dominated by cation diffusion, so it grew outward. The chromium was sequestered in the corundum layer, thereby favoring the formation of the chromium-free, Fe-rich spinel oxides with Co and Ni dopants. Since nickel cannot readily diffuse through corundum, it tends to remain in the alloy phase leading to the Ni-rich dealloyed region at the metal/oxide interface. Beyond the microstructure results, we exploit secondary electron image contrast to show the doping nature of the oxides, a p-type spinel and a n-type corundum growing on the metal surface.
Angelo Castagnino. Investigating Fascism: Crime, Mistery, and the Fascist Ventennio in the Historical Novel: New York: Peter Lang, 2017. Xiii, 202 pp

Angelo Castagnino’s Investigating Fascism focuses on the contemporary Italian “historical novel set during Italian Fascism” (VIII). As the reader proceeds with the book, he/she discovers that these...
Disparities in United States hospitalizations for serious infections in patients with and without opioid use disorder: A nationwide observational study.

Background Patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) who are hospitalized for serious infections requiring prolonged intravenous antibiotics may face barriers to discharge, which could prolong hospital length of stay (LOS) and increase financial burden. We investigated differences in LOS, discharge disposition, and charges between hospitalizations for serious infections in patients with and without OUD. Methods and findings We utilized the 2016 National Inpatient Sample—a nationally representative database of all discharges from US acute care hospitals. The population of interest was all hospitalizations for infective endocarditis, epidural abscess, septic arthritis, or osteomyelitis. The exposure was OUD, and the primary outcome was LOS until discharge, assessed by using a competing risks analysis to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs). Adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of discharge disposition and adjusted differences in hospital charges were also reported. Of 95,470 estimated hospitalizations for serious infections (infective endocarditis, epidural abscess, septic arthritis, and osteomyelitis), the mean age was 49 years and 35% were female. 46% had Medicare (government-based insurance coverage for people age 65+ years), and 70% were non-Hispanic white. After adjustment for potential confounders, OUD was associated with a lower probability of discharge at any given LOS (aHR 0.61; 95% CI 0.59–0.63; p < 0.001). OUD was also associated with lower odds of discharge to home (aOR 0.38; 95% CI 0.33–0.43; p < 0.001) and higher odds of discharge to a post-acute care facility (aOR 1.85; 95% CI 1.57–2.17; p < 0.001) or patient-directed discharge (also referred to as “discharge against medical advice”) (aOR 3.47; 95% CI 2.80–4.29; p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in average total hospital charges, though daily hospital charges were significantly lower for patients with OUD. Limitations include the potential for unmeasured confounders and the use of billing codes to identify cohorts. Conclusions Our findings suggest that among hospitalizations for some serious infections, those involving patients with OUD were associated with longer LOS, higher odds of discharge to post-acute care facilities or patient-directed discharge, and similar total hospital charges, despite lower daily charges. These findings highlight opportunities to improve care for patients with OUD hospitalized with serious infections, and to reduce the growing associated costs.
Non-Korringa nuclear relaxation in the ferromagnetic phase of the bilayered manganite La 1.2 Sr 1.8 Mn 2 O 7

In contrast to ferromagnetic (FM) three-dimensional manganites, {sup 55}Mn NMR spectra obtained for the FM phase of the colossal magnetoresistance bilayer manganite La{sub 1.2}Sr{sub 1.8}Mn{sub 2}O{sub 7} show a broad distribution of hyperfine fields at Mn sites. The hyperfine distribution reflects variations in the electronic structure at the local level. {sup 55}Mn spin-lattice relaxation rates have a surprisingly weak dependence both on temperature and on applied magnetic field. Significant departures of the relaxation rate from Korringa temperature dependence below 40 K provide evidence for non Fermi liquid behavior in this quasi-two-dimensional metal. At temperatures approaching T{sub c} from below, in the range where colossal magnetoresistance appears, further anomalous and field-dependent behavior is found in the relaxation rate temperature dependence. The results provide evidence for changes in the electronic structure with temperature in this poorly metallic system. At low temperatures the changes are possibly linked to orbital ordering effects. In addition, statistical fluctuations in dopant concentration may play some role in inducing local variations in the electronic structure. Above 90 K the emergence of polarons is likely to be responsible for the observed decrease in the relaxation rate.
Cdc42 reactivation at growth sites is regulated by cell-cycle-dependent removal of its GAP Rga4 in fission yeast

Abstract Cells undergo polarized growth to acquire shapes that promote function. In fission yeast, polarized cell growth is driven by the Morphogenesis Orb6 (MOR) pathway and the small GTPase Cdc42. After cell division, the MOR pathway first promotes cell separation, the final step in cytokinesis, and then promotes polarized growth at the cell ends. It is unclear how the ends initiate growth after the cells separate. It is plausible that the MOR pathway activates end growth only after successful cell separation. To test this, we developed a system whereby we delay cytokinesis, while mitosis progresses, via a temporary Latrunculin A (LatA) treatment. Mitotic cells treated with LatA, when allowed to recover, initiate end growth without cell separation. We call this the PrESS phenotype – polar elongation sans cell separation. PrESS cells reactivate Cdc42 at the ends before completing cytokinesis, indicating that these are independent processes. Cell ends siphon away Cdc42, its regulators, and trafficking machinery from the cell middle, suggesting a competition between the ends and the middle. The cell middle loses this competition and fails cell separation since the requisite digestive enzymes are not properly trafficked. Our candidate screen identifies a role for Rga4, a Cdc42 inhibitor, in growth reactivation at the cell ends. Consistently, we find that the Rga4 distribution pattern along the cortex changes with the cell-cycle stage, displaying a punctate appearance mostly relegated to the cell sides during G2, and a diffuse appearance extending to the cell ends during mitosis. We hypothesize that growth at cell ends requires Rga4 removal from the ends after mitosis as well as MOR pathway activation. To test this, we constitutively activated the MOR pathway in an rga4Δ mutant. Cells constitutively activating the MOR pathway often lyse due to premature synthesis and delivery of digestive enzymes to the division site. We find that deleting rga4 from these cells rescues lysis, and recapitulates the PrESS phenotype by promoting end growth and preventing cell separation. Therefore, we propose that cell-cycle-dependent removal of Rga4 from the cell ends allows local Cdc42 reactivation and polarized growth.
Demand for Interpretation of a Urine Drug Testing Panel Reflects the Changing Landscape of Clinical Needs; Opportunities for the Laboratory to Provide Added Clinical Value.

Background The direct detection of drugs and metabolites in urine using a targeted panel offers sensitive and specific detection in comparison to the traditional approach to urine drug testing (screen with reflex of samples with positive results to confirmation testing). The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in clinical demand for the laboratory to provide interpretation of patient adherence and abstinence, based on reconciling laboratory results and individual patient medication information provided by the clinician. The shifts in toxicology testing likely reflect the inherent complexity of the data and associated interpretation. Methods Retrospective testing results associated with a targeted urine drug panel and its related interpretation were collected from our laboratory. We examined the associated testing volume and positivity rates of each reported analyte over 5 consecutive years (2015-2019). Requests from clinicians for consultation regarding this test and use of interpretive comments for the most recent year (2019), as well as access to publicly available educational resources over two years (2018-2019) were collected. Results The changes in test ordering patterns demonstrate shifting of clinical demands for toxicology testing, by increased adoption of a targeted panel for which laboratory-based interpretation is provided. Positivity rates reflect national shifts in controlled substance prescriptions. Several consultative services were accessed by clinicians suggesting interest and need. Conclusion The value of clinical urine drug testing is improved by providing laboratory-based result interpretation and consultative services.
Estimating the Burden of COVID-19 Symptoms Among Participants at the 2020 USA Curling Club Nationals Tournament

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has been a significant cause of global morbidity and mortality, with evidence suggesting that activities involving heavier breathing, such as singing and exercise, can result in increased risk for disease transmission. The USA Curling Club Nationals is a week-long curling tournament to determine the men’s and women’s club-level champions. The 2020 tournament took place March 7-14 at the Potomac Curling Club in Laurel, MD, and featured teams from across the United States. Preventative measures, such as increased cleaning and disinfection of surfaces, single use and disposable food containers, and canceling traditional event banquets were implemented. Despite these measures, players, coaches, officials, volunteers, and spectators contracted the virus as a result of participation in the event. We surveyed participants to assess total positivity, potential days of transmission, and the burden of symptoms experienced among the participants. We found that 55.6% of all participants reported experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19, with nearly all experiencing more than one symptom. Although most participants’ symptoms resolved quickly, 9.6% of all participants experienced symptoms for at least one month and 12.6% of all participants reported taking at least 30 days before they felt they had returned to normal. As a result of this study, we believe curling tournaments have the potential to be high-risk events for the transmission of COVID-19. Further infection prevention measures that were not yet publicly implemented at the time of this tournament may be an effective method of lowering transmission risk, although further research is required.
An automated procedure built on MTEX for reconstructing deformation twin hierarchies from electron backscattered diffraction datasets of heavily twinned microstructures

Abstract This paper presents a set of algorithms built on the MTEX and MATLAB graph toolboxes for automatic reconstruction of deformation twin hierarchies from Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD) datasets with a focus on developing methods for heavily twinned microstructures (twin fractions >0.5). The algorithms address key issues arising at large strains, mainly: missing twin relationships, grouping of heavily deformed grain fragments into families of similar orientation originating from a single initial grain, identification of parent fragments for large twin volume fractions, and classification of families having twin relationships with multiple families. To facilitate the development of these algorithms, large-grained ultra-high purity α-Ti deformed in compression along two directions is investigated. Graphs are utilized to handle non-local geometric merging and to represent relationships throughout the reconstruction process. When determining if a grain fragment is from the undeformed microstructure, the combined metrics of the fragment's orientation volume fraction in the initial texture and the directed graph centrality measure of out-closeness (the number of nodes reached in a graph from a given node) are essential. To address automation in reconstructing the sequence of twinning and relating fragments originating from a single grain in the initial microstructure, the twin family tree is formulated as a minimum spanning tree emanating from the initial grain family. A scheme constructing the distances associated with twin relationship comprising the spanning tree is developed, and a novel quasi-directional Prim spanning tree algorithm is used to determine the twin family tree. The procedure is demonstrated to significantly improve the level of automation in reconstructing twin hierarchies in heavily twinned microstructure compared to other methodologies in literature. The procedure can readily be applied to analyses of twinning in metals, as well as provide an approach for routinely extracting twin statistics at larger deformation levels than previously possible. Significantly, the procedure is demonstrated to be capable of identifying third generation twinning in α-Ti microstructures.
The Role of Diverse Populations in US Clinical Trials

Effective clinical trials are meant to provide the safest and fastest way to find new treatments to improve health. The FDA affirms that because people may respond differently to treatments, it is imperative to test drugs and medical products in a variety of populations ( https://www.fda.gov/patients/clinical-trials-what-patients-need-know/basics-about-clinical-trials ). Unfortunately, clinical trial enrollment in the US remains largely homogeneous, with the majority of participants being non-Hispanic white men. Despite efforts to increase diversity in recruitment for clinical trials, enrollment of racial/ethnic minorities in this nation has decreased over the past two decades. 1
Inadvertent intraosseous injection during fluoroscopy-guided joint injection of two adult patients

Abstract Two cases of inadvertent intraosseous injection during fluoroscopy-guided joint injection are presented. The first case occurred during a pre-MRI hip arthrogram while the second case happened during a glenohumeral joint steroid injection. Both cases were performed on osteopenic female patients over 60 years old who reported significant pain during injection of contrast and fluoroscopic imaging showed pooling of contrast in bone during attempted injection. Both procedures were corrected by retracting the needle to achieve intraarticular injection. Being aware of intraosseous injection as a possible reason for difficulty during the procedure both guides the operator to proper correction (retraction of the needle) and also avoids a non-diagnostic or less effective procedure.
Illuminating the decision-making strategies of anesthesia providers in challenging cases:

Medication errors and error-related scenarios in anesthesia remain an important area of research. Interventions and best practice recommendations in anesthesia are often based in the work-as-imagin...
Peculiar rhetoric: slavery, freedom, and the African Colonization Movement: By Bjørn F. Stillion Southard. Jackson, University Press of Mississippi, 2019, 176 pp., $99.00 (hardcover), ISBN: 987-1-496-82369-4

Bjorn F. Stillion Southard’s Peculiar Rhetoric offers a distinctive and illuminating perspective on the rhetoric of the 19th century African Colonization Movement. It attempts to move beyond the co...
Offline-online reinforcement learning for energy pricing in office demand response: lowering energy and data costs

Our team is proposing to run a full-scale energy demand response experiment in an office building. Although this is an exciting endeavor which will provide value to the community, collecting training data for the reinforcement learning agent is costly and will be limited. In this work, we examine how offline training can be leveraged to minimize data costs (accelerate convergence) and program implementation costs. We present two approaches to doing so: pretraining our model to warm start the experiment with simulated tasks, and using a planning model trained to simulate the real world's rewards to the agent. We present results that demonstrate the utility of offline reinforcement learning to efficient price-setting in the energy demand response problem.
Explicit parameter identification for a class of nonlinear input/output differential operator models

The system parameter identification problem for a class of nonlinear input-output differential operator models is formulated in terms of an explicitly defined least squares cost function. Central to the formulation is a discrete-frequency format brought about by the introduction of a set of explicitly defined Fourier-based modulating functions within the framework of the classical Shinbrot method of moment functionals. The underlying calculations needed to set up the least squares problem differ according to whether the differential operator model is of the exact or inexact category. Examples are presented of each such category. >
Chronic pelvic congestion and pelvic pain

Abstract Attention is drawn to broad ligament lacerations and pelvic congestion as a cause for incapacitating pelvic pain, backache, and dyspareunia. Surgical repair of the lacerations usually eliminates the symptoms. Hysterectomy should be considered for those patients with the choronic pelvic congestion syndrome in which sterilization is also indicated.
Arabic: Arabic phonotactics and morphophonology

The term “phonotactics” refers to the study of sound distribution patterns and distribution restrictions within words (and sometimes across word boundaries). Phonotactic rules influence Arabic word structure in derivational and inflectional morphology, and also in lexical root structure. Most of these rules and restrictions were discovered and described by the Arabic grammarians over a thousand years ago (in particular by Al-Khalil ibn Ahmad, but also Sibawayhi and others). They are organized and described in this book in technical linguistic terms as they apply to MSA, using formalizations whenever possible. There are at least two aspects to Arabic phonotactics: the phonotactics of root morphology and the phonotactics of derivational and inflectional morphology. The study of morphological processes interfacing with phonological structures and rules is termed morphophonemics. In Arabic the study of phonotactics and morphophonology are closely interrelated. Four phonological processes are essential to the Arabic sound system: assimilation (one sound absorbing or affecting another), epenthesis (vowel insertion), deletion (of vowel or semivowel), and vowel shift. Assimilation ( iddighaam/idghaam ) Assimilation can be defined as a change or spread of phonetic feature values (such as voicing or velarization) that makes segments more similar, or even identical. In Arabic it often occurs as a result of phonological rules applying at the intersection of morphological processes, for example, as a result of a pattern ( wazn ) applying to a particular lexical root ( jidhr ). Assimilation is normally non-phonemic; i.e., it does not affect the meaning of a segment or word. It may be progressive or regressive.
Automatic and Semi-automatic Methods for the Detection of Quasars in Sky Surveys

With the advances of the technologies for the sky surveys, massive amount of survey data become available. It would be very helpful for the automatic and semi-automatic methods in the classifications/detections of the astrophysical objects. In fact, for surveys of millions of objects, it may not be possible to detect the desired objects by expert inspection alone. Quasars are interesting astrophysical objects that have been recently discovered more comprehensively from the sky surveys. Automatic and semi-automatic methods have been proposed for the detection of the quasars from the massive data produced by the modern sky surveys. In this chapter, the first section describes about the existing automatic and semi-automatic methods for the comprehensive search of quasars. Secondly, it will be explored to see if some machine learning algorithms can automatically classify the light curves of the quasars against the very similar light curves of the other stars. For example in MACHO sky survey, the light curves of the Be stars are so similar with the quasar light curves that the previous algorithms and even the manual examination by experts cannot tell the difference between the light. Experimental results will also be shown for this exploratory work.
The universality of otitis media in 50 infants with cleft palate.

Bilateral secretory (serous) or suppurative otitis media was found without exception in 50 infants with cleft palate who were 20 months of age or younger. Middle ear disease probably develops in all cleft palate infants during the first few months of life, and appears to be best managed by myringotomy with insertion of plastic tubes. Unless drainage and aeration of the middle ear are accomplished, irreparable damage to middle ear structures may develop in some patients; and, in all of them, hearing impairment will probably persist throughout infancy or longer, with adverse effects on well-being and function and with serious implications for intellectual, speech, and emotional development. Further studies are required to assess the long-range effectiveness of surgical management.
25. Using Technology for Tutor and Student Learning Exchange

This project built upon the AchieveAbility initiative, which develops materials and training for teaching specific learning difference learners in schools and colleges. AchieveAbility devised the concept for the ‘InCurriculum’ Project and brought together a consortium of United Kingdom higher education institutions to deliver the practice: Norwich University College of the Arts, the University of Westminster, and De Montfort University. All partners delivered a range of art and design courses, using a variety of complementary learning techniques. The project was set up to investigate how changing teaching and assessment practice could be beneficial to different learning styles. The contextual justification for this action research project was to investigate effective practice to retain students within their higher level courses and to support their successful attainment. The project was funded by the Higher Education Academy for a three year period, during which the United Kingdom educational landscape changed rapidly from a widening access perspective to a more business-orientated model of delivery. To make these changes, technology was shown to be essential to the negotiation that evolved for the learning exchange between the student and staff.