cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
UltraFlow Access Network With Remotely Powered and Controlled Quasi-Passive Reconfigurable Remote Node

In this paper, we propose an UltraFlow access network enabled by a remotely powered and controlled quasi-passive reconfigurable (QPAR) node. Residing at the remote node (RN), QPAR can dynamically split and route optical channels to any users attached to its outputs, thereby improving bandwidth efficiency and ensuring harmonic coexistence of different network services in the UltraFlow access network. We experimentally demonstrate the proposed UltraFlow access network with a 2 × 4 × 4 QPAR. The QPAR module is powered by a local supercapacitor that is remotely charged by remote laser power. Remote switching control in the QPAR has also been demonstrated with a self-designed control circuit. Scalability of the system is studied in the context of channel power budget and switching control in QPAR. Compared to other RN architectures, QPAR enabled UltraFlow access network uses about 50% less channels on average during low traffic time, and significantly reduces IP service delays in presence of unbalanced IP traffics. Simulation results also indicate that QPAR helps to mitigate the impact of multicast Flow traffic on Flow service delays by a maximum of 90%.
Extinction reversal by Scopolamine

Rats were trained to discriminate right from left in a dual lever situation and bar-press for a food reward. An extinction situation was then established by discontinuing the food reward. When behavioral extinction had been accomplished as judged by the performance of the animals, injections of scopolamine hydrobromide resulted in a large increase in bar-pressing which was selective for the side on which the animal was originally trained.
Is Appalachian Literature an Ethnic Literature

Deutach: The Appalachian stock is derived primarily from the Scotchlrish group which wigrated to America between 1700 and 1776. About half a million people of Scotch-Irish extraction from tie Ulster area of Protestant Northern Ireland came to this land and a significant number of these found their way to Appalachia.... These people axe too removed in time and circumstance to be cognizant of any European relatives. So what, if any, carry-over is there, of values or attitudes or folk elements that might have been derived from that Scotch-Irish background?
Cyanoacetohydrazide under Pressure: Chemical Changes in a Hydrogen-Bonded Material

Cyanoacetohydrazide (CAH, C3H5N3O) has been studied under pressure using diamond anvil cell techniques. CAH was characterized using Raman spectroscopy to 30 GPa and synchrotron X-ray diffraction to 45 GPa. The Raman spectra of CAH show reasonable qualitative agreement with first-principle calculations. The X-ray data reveal that CAH maintains its monoclinic structure to approximately 22 GPa with a density change of 12% over this range. Near 22 GPa, the Raman modes and most of the X-ray diffraction peaks disappear. These pressure-induced changes are irreversible upon the release of pressure, and the transformed sample can be recovered to ambient pressure. The recovered sample is photosensitive and shows reaction even at low laser powers of 10 mW at 532 nm. The paper concludes with observations of the roles of hydrogen bonding, molecular configurations, and the behavior of the cyano group in the pressure-induced changes in CAH.
TOPSIS Method to Improve Innovation in Large Steel Enterprises Evaluation

TOPSIS method is used to evaluat the capability of technological innovation in the iron and steel enterprises.During the evaluation,a single method in AHP method instead of the Delphi method is used to solve the weight.This improved TOPSIS method can make the own innovation capacity in large iron and steel enterprises of China improved,as compared with the outside innovation capacity,and the managed capacity of the technological innovation enhanced.
Investigation on the Infection of HIV and Sex Transmitted Diseases inMale Homosexual Population

[Objective] To investigate the prevalence of HIV and sex transmitted diseases (STDs) in MSM (man who have sex with man) for the disease control and prevention. [Methods] Antibodies of HIV,HBV,HCV and syphilis(TP) in 450 MSM were detected in April and May in 2008. [Results] The MSM infection rate was 31.3%(141/450),among them 39 with HIV positive (8.7%),38 with HBsAg positive (8.4%),11 with HCV positive (2.4%) and 53 with TP positive (11.8%). [Conclusion] In Shenyang city,the HIV and STDs infection status in MSM is not optimistic. Prevention and intervention measure should be taken as soon as posiible.
Stand Dynamics and Plant Associates of Loblolly Pine Plantations to Midrotation after Early Intensive Vegetation Management—A Southeastern United States Regional Study

Increasingly , p ine plantat ions worldwide are grown using early control o f woodv and/or herbaceous vegetat ion. Assuredsustainablepract ices require long-term data on pine plantat ion development detailing patterns and processes to understand both crop-competition dynamics and the role of stand participants in providing multiple attributes such as biodiversity conservation and wildlife habitat. This study examined loblol ly pine (Pinus taeda L.) p lantat ions across 13 southeastern s i tes grown for I.5 yr wi th nearcomplete control o f woody, herbaceous, and woody plus herbaceous components during the ,first 3-5 yr compared to noplantcontrol . This mult iple object iveexperiment ( the COMProject) documents standdynamics at the extreme corners o f a response surface that encompasses most condi t ions o f woodv and herbaceous compet i t ion common to pine plantat ions in the region. This i s the,first oftwo companion reports . Af ter 15yr, patterns of stand development remained significantly altered by early control treatments and were injluenced most by the amounts qf hardwoods and shrubs present or control led. Herbaceous components were more similar across the region. Associatedplants in theseplantations included 68species oftrees, 33species/genera of shrubs, and 140 genera of herbaceous and semiwoodvplants, woody1 vines, clubmoss, and ground lichen241 total taxa or an estimated 490 total species-more richness than previously reported or assumed. Hardwood roots tock numbers were on average maintained at fair ly constant levels from yr I-15 when not control led, wi th no in i t ia l lag phase evident for reestabl ishment , indicat ing prior s tand origin . Dynamics o f associated vegetat ion were signtjicantly al tered wi th woody control in i t ia l ly increasing herbaceous cover , while herbaceous control increased hardwood cover and decreased shrub cover. After early herbaceous control , hardwood base1 area (BA) was increased by an average qf 28%. Af ter rapid early co loniza t ion , herbaceousplants began to decl ine on al l treatments aboutyr 8 aspine and/or hardwood canopy cover reached a to ta l o f N-60%, while woody vines continued to increase. By age 15, plant component r ichness remained signtficantly changed by early treatments at al l locat ions, most notablvfewer tree species af ter early woody control . South. J. Appl. For. 27(4):00-00.
Determining the effectiveness of sunscreens

ABSTRACTSunscreens have different levels of protection, measured most commonly with the sun protection factor (SPF). Students initially believed higher SPF factors mean greater sun protection and learned through this activity that higher SPF does not mean greater protection. Students analyzed the amount of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) protection and composition of different sunscreens, first by UVR sensors in an outdoor activity and then by thin layer chromatography. These activities demonstrated that even some sunscreens provide protection from harmful UVR, and that different sunscreens, despite varying SPF factors and brand names, have similar composition. Students can apply their knowledge outside the classroom on outdoor safety and solar protection.
Binding Forces of Single αMβ2 Integrin-Fibrinogen Interactions on Living Cells

Single Cell Force Spectroscopy (SCFS) can be used to measure the maximum adhesion force between cells and a surface, but determining the nature of discrete interactions within SCFS data can be challenging. We present a method for quantifying specific ligand-receptor interactions on the single molecule level on living cells using atomic force microscopy (AFM) based SCFS experiments. SCFS data from HEK 293 cells expressing αMβ2 leukocyte integrin (HEK Mac-1) and wild-type HEK 293 (HEK WT) cells on surfaces coated with fibrinogen were analyzed to identify specific “rupture events.” High force load ruptures (> 0.2 pN/nm) imply a connection of the integrin with the underlying actin cortex of the cell, while low force load (< 0.2 pN/nm) ruptures result from the formation of a membrane tether. For highly adhesive fibrinogen surfaces, we found 41% of all rupture events to have a high force load for HEK Mac-1 cells compared to only 9% of rupture events having a high force load for HEK WT data of the same surface. The high force load events in the HEK Mac-1 data showed a median rupture force of 55 pN, whereas the median rupture force of the HEK WT high force load events was 29 pN. After adding monoclonal antibody directed against the αM subunit of the integrin, HEK Mac-1 cells showed similar rupture force values to that of the HEK WT. This analysis demonstrates the ability to quantify specific integrin-ligand interactions within SCFS data.
Human milk expression as a sole or ancillary strategy for infant feeding: a qualitative study

In the United States, a significant proportion of human milk (HM) is now fed to infants from bottles. This mode of infant feeding is rarely measured or described in research studies or monitored by national surveillance systems. Consequently, little is known about expressed-HM feeding as an infant feeding strategy. Our objective was to understand how mothers use HM expression and expressed-HM feeding as a sole strategy or in combination with at-the-breast feeding to feed HM to their infants. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 41 mothers with experience of HM expression and infants under three years of age. Data were analysed using a grounded theory approach for sub-themes related to the pre-selected major themes of maternal HM production and infant HM consumption. Within the major theme of maternal HM production, sub-themes related to maternal over-production of HM. Many mothers produced more HM than their infant was consuming and stored it in the freezer. This enabled some infants to consume HM weeks or months after it was expressed. Within the major theme of infant HM consumption, the most salient sub-theme related to HM-feeding strategies. Four basic HM-feeding strategies emerged, ranging from predominant at-the-breast feeding to exclusive expressed-HM feeding. The HM-feeding strategies and trajectories highlighted by this study are complex, and most mothers fed HM both at-the-breast and from a bottle-information that is not collected by the current national breastfeeding survey questions. To understand health outcomes associated with expressed-HM feeding, new terminology may be needed.
Bienzyme–Polymer–Graphene Oxide Quaternary Hybrid Biocatalysts: Efficient Substrate Channeling under Chemically and Thermally Denaturing Conditions

An example of a highly stable and functional bienzyme–polymer conjugate triad assembled on a topologically orthogonal support, layered graphene oxide (GO), is reported here. Glucose oxidase (GOx) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) catalytic dyad were used as the model system for cascade biocatalysis. Poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) was used to covalently conjugate these enzymes, and then the conjugate has been subsequently adsorbed onto GO. The resultant nanobiocatalysts are represented as GOx-HRP-PAA/GO. Their morphology and structural characteristics were examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), agarose gel electrophoresis, circular dichroism (CD), and zeta potential. These robust conjugates remarkably functioned as active catalysts under biologically challenging conditions such as extreme pHs, high temperature (65 °C), and in the presence of a chemical denaturant. In one example, GOx-HRP-PAA/GO presented doubling of the Kcat (TON) (68 × 10–2 s–1) at pH 7.0 and room temperature, when compared to the c...
Symbiont-induced odorant binding proteins mediate insect host hematopoiesis

Bacteria live within all animals. While a small number of these microbes can cause disease, most promote the health and wellbeing of their host. Microbes that support their host and benefit from the close association are often referred to as symbionts. Animals can be negatively affected and even become diseased if their symbionts are disrupted. As a result, a more complete understanding of the molecular interactions between animal hosts and their beneficial microbes will lead to better treatments for a number of diseases. Tsetse flies are insects that harbor two bacterial symbionts, which are transferred from pregnant females to their larval offspring. If the offspring mature without these microbes, they fail to develop cells called hemocytes. These cells are normally found in the insect’s equivalent of blood – a fluid called hemolymph – and they comprise an important component of the insect’s immune system. Adult tsetse flies that lack hemocytes are susceptible to certain infections. These findings indicate that the bacterial symbionts induce the production of hemocytes in tsetse fly larvae via an unknown mechanism. Benoit et al. now reveal that the bacterial symbionts trigger tsetse flies to produce a small protein called “odorant binding protein 6”. This protein controls the generation of one specific type of hemocyte called crystal cells in developing larvae. Crystal cells are largely responsible for triggering the production of melanin, a protein involved in killing disease-causing microbes and inhibiting the loss of hemolymph from wound sites in the insect’s exoskeleton. Benoit et al. discovered that bacterial symbionts associated with the larvae of fruit flies also support the development of their host’s immune system. Although these symbionts are acquired from the external environment rather than from the insect’s parent, they too control the production of an odorant binding protein and crystal cells in their larval host. Collectively, these findings confirm that bacterial symbionts are critically important for the development of the immune systems of insects, and they show that this process has been conserved throughout evolution. Future studies are likely to focus on identifying which molecules from the symbionts stimulate their hosts to produce new hemolymph cells. Furthermore, identifying which tissues and cell types in the animal hosts are targets for these molecules will provide a more complete picture of the pathways that lead to the production of new hemolymph cells.
Molecular Mechanisms of the Metastasis-Associated Gene Family of Coregulators: Role in Cancer and Invasion

Localized cancer, before it metastasizes, can be cured by surgery. The high mortality rate associated with most cancers, however, is due to the propensity of tumors to metastasize while the primary tumor is small and undetected. Metastasis, which occurs through a complex series of events, involves various gene products that dictate the progression of a cancer from a precursor lesion, to localized disease, and finally to metastatic disease. The expression of certain genes or alterations in gene structure or gene products may result in the progression of benign tumor cells to an invasive and metastatic state. Thus, the process of cancer metastasis requires, among other steps, changes in signaling pathways, activation of target gene products, enhanced cell survival, and increased epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. A proper understanding of the progression of tumors to the metastatic stage and of the events that occur in highly malignant cells is important in the development of new therapeutic approaches for the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of highly progressive tumors. The molecular mechanisms that cause a cancer to exhibit more malignant behavior are widely believed to involve the deregulation of genetic and epigenetic cascades. We will here highlight the discovery and emerging significance of one family of regulators or chromatin modifiers, namely, the metastasis-associated antigens.
Thermal convection in a toroidal duct of a liquid metal blanket. Part I. Effect of poloidal magnetic field

Abstract We explore the effect of poloidal magnetic field on the thermal convection flow in a toroidal duct of a generic liquid metal blanket. Non-uniform strong heating (the Grashof number up to 1011) arising from the interaction of high-speed neutrons with the liquid breeder, and strong magnetic field (the Hartmann number up to 104) corresponding to the realistic reactor conditions are considered. The study continues our earlier work [1] , where the problem was solved for a purely toroidal magnetic field and the convection was found to result in two-dimensional turbulence and strong mixing within the duct. Here, we find that the poloidal component of the magnetic field suppresses turbulence, reduces the flow's kinetic energy and high-amplitude temperature fluctuations, and, at high values of Hartmann number, leads to a steady-state flow. At the same time, the intense mixing by the surviving convection structures remains able to maintain effective heat transfer between the liquid metal and the walls.
Addendum to “Two theorems concerning rational approximations”

This addendum corrects a gap in the proof of the First Theorem of our original article [Carey, Norman, and David Clampitt. 2012. “Two Theorems Concerning Rational Approximations” Journal of Mathematics and Music 6 (1): 61–66].
Luminosity measurements at hadron colliders

Abstract In this paper, we discuss luminosity measurements at Tevatron and HERA, as well as plans for luminosity measurements at LHC. We discuss luminosity measurements using the luminosity detectors of the experiments as well as measurements by the machine. We address uncertainties of the measurements, challenges and lessons learned.
Effects of urban land-use regulations on greenhouse gas emissions

Abstract This article describes a model-based exploration of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions impacts of urban land-use regulations. Two forms of regulation are considered: floor area ratio (FAR) restrictions and urban growth boundaries (UGBs). The model is designed so that regulation causes an endogenous adjustment of urban spatial structure, which in turn leads to changes in residential and transportation emissions. A novel aspect of the framework is that it captures regulation-induced inter-city migration. Results indicate that cities with low emission intensities should be cautious about adopting smart growth controls for climate change mitigation purposes. Even if such a regulation reduces per capita emissions everywhere, it can have the unintended consequence of increasing total emissions by pushing households to cities with higher emission intensities. Model variations reveal that this outcome is less likely if migration is costly or all urban areas are subject to some degree of regulation. Reducing emissions through land-use regulation generally carries a high abatement cost because consumers suffer from higher housing prices. Nevertheless, it could be an attractive mitigation option if policies are deployed in the right places, coordinated across cities, or generate substantial co-benefits (e.g., improved air quality, agglomeration economies, avoided infrastructure expansion).
Guidelines for Microplate Selection in High Content Imaging

Since the inception of commercialized automated high content screening (HCS) imaging devices in the mid to late 1990s, the adoption of media vessels typically used to house and contain biological specimens for interrogation has transitioned from microscope slides and petri dishes into multi-well microtiter plates called microplates. The early 96- and 384-well microplates commonly used in other high-throughput screening (HTS) technology applications were often not designed for optical imaging. Since then, modifications and the use of next-generation materials with improved optical clarity have enhanced the quality of captured images, reduced autofocusing failures, and empowered the use of higher power magnification objectives to resolve fine detailed measurements at the subcellular pixel level. The plethora of microplates and their applications requires practitioners of high content imaging (HCI) to be especially diligent in the selection and adoption of the best plates for running longitudinal studies or larger screening campaigns. While the highest priority in experimental design is the selection of the biological model, the choice of microplate can alter the biological response and ultimately may change the experimental outcome. This chapter will provide readers with background, troubleshooting guidelines, and considerations for choosing an appropriate microplate.
Created Communities: Segregation and the History of Plural Sites on Eastern Long Island, New York

The making of communities is often treated as a quasi-natural process in which people of similar backgrounds and heritage, or people living in close proximity, form meaningful and mutual ties. Missing here is an appreciation of the ties that bind people to others, that are often beyond their own control. Especially in contexts of inequality, communities form because of shared interests in perpetuating, dismantling, or simply surviving the structures of an unequal distribution of resources. This article investigates the formation of communities of color on eastern Long Island since the 18th century by looking at intersections between race and settlement as evidence for how people of color worked within and against the systems that controlled them. A foundational component of the region’s working class, intersecting patterns in class and race formation that complicate the understanding of these mixed-heritage Native American and African American communities are considered.
Applying Gradient Descent in Convolutional Neural Networks

With the development of the integrated circuit and computer science, people become caring more about solving practical issues via information technologies. Along with that, a new subject called Artificial Intelligent (AI) comes up. One popular research interest of AI is about recognition algorithm. In this paper, one of the most common algorithms, Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) will be introduced, for image recognition. Understanding its theory and structure is of great significance for every scholar who is interested in this field. Convolution Neural Network is an artificial neural network which combines the mathematical method of convolution and neural network. The hieratical structure of CNN provides it reliable computer speed and reasonable error rate. The most significant characteristics of CNNs are feature extraction, weight sharing and dimension reduction. Meanwhile, combining with the Back Propagation (BP) mechanism and the Gradient Descent (GD) method, CNNs has the ability to self-study and in-depth learning. Basically, BP provides an opportunity for backwardfeedback for enhancing reliability and GD is used for self-training process. This paper mainly discusses the CNN and the related BP and GD algorithms, including the basic structure and function of CNN, details of each layer, the principles and features of BP and GD, and some examples in practice with a summary in the end.
Fluid mechanics from the beginning to the third millennium

Although the christening of the discipline is a relatively recent undertaking, fluid mechanics goes back to the time of archaic Homo sapiens. The art of fluids in motion was born when quite empirically, unceremoniously and without a hint of what either a fluid or mechanics is, the resourceful inhabitants of the planet Earth discovered that a streamlined object travels farther as compared to a blunt one. Great changes took place during the first half of this century in both the teaching and research of the discipline, and it appears that the subject is set for another upheaval as we approach the third millennium. This paper discusses those past and future evolutions of fluid mechanics.
Analysis of Sheffield Dam Failure

This paper describes the circumstances leading to the failure of a 25-ft high earthfill dam during a magnitude 6.5 earthquake in 1925. Photographs and descriptions of the dam after the earthquake indicated that failure occurred by sliding on a nearly horizontal plane near the base. Pseudo static methods of analysis using soil strengths determined by static loading tests indicated a theoretical factor of safety between 1 and 1.2. However, the position of the most critical sliding surface did not correspond with the observed mode of failure. Dynamic response analyses are described including test data obtained by cyclic loading triaxial and simple shear tests and stress distributions determined by finite element methods; these lead to improved predictions of both the failure mechanism and the calculated factor of safety. The study suggests that failure was initiated by liquefaction of a zone of soil below the center and at the base of the dam; as shaking continued the zone of liquefied soil spread laterally until after 10 to 15 sec the base became so weakened that the dam was pushed downstream by the force of the reservoir water.
Blocked and Free Access Real-Time Splitting Protocols

Addressing the challenge of packet transmission in a wireless soft real-time system, we present five splitting protocols that take packet deadlines into account. With them, connectionless service with real-time QoS guarantees at the MAC layer can be offered. Three protocols are blocked access and two are free access algorithms. Mathematical models are developed and results compared with simulations. As is the case with non real-time splitting algorithms, the blocked access versions offer higher success rates than the free access versions. We further show that of the two best performing blocked access protocols, under moderate to heavy loads, the Sliding Partition CRA outperforms the Two Cell CRA.
Tractional Retinal Degenerations

Oral tears occur at the ora serrata, whereas intrabasal tears are located within the vitreous base. Juxtabasal tears are located at the posterior border of the vitreous base. Extrabasal tears are located within the region bounded by the equator and posterior border of the vitreous base. Retinal tears can be partial thickness involving the inner (vitreal) portion of the neurosensory retina or they can be through and through, in which case they are termed full-thickness retinal tears (see Table 5.1).
Antimicrobial Nanomaterials for Water Disinfection

Water treatment is important to protect people from water-borne diseases. Traditional chemical disinfection creates a lot of disinfection by-products which are harmful to human health. Thus, there is a growing need for new water disinfection methods to effectively move pathogens from water sources. Nanotechnology has the potential to meet the challenge to provide new water treatment methods. In this chapter, we introduce several antimicrobial nanomaterials including oligodynamic metals (e.g., nAg), photocatalytic semiconductors (e.g., TiO2), and carbon nanomaterials (e.g., CNT) and their disinfection mechanisms. Moreover, we use cases to illustrate how these materials are designed and used in real water treatment devices.
Plunging (cervical) ranula

A plunging ranula is a cyst containing extravasated saliva originating from the sublingual gland. It presents as a swelling in the submandibular region of the neck, often without any abnormality in the oral cavity. Excision of the sublingual gland without neck dissection usually is curative. We report a 16-year-old patient with a plunging ranula and review the aetiology, diagnosis, and management of this infrequent condition, which often is misdiagnosed.
Commercially available microgels for 3D bioprinting

Abstract One of the major limitations in 3D bio-printing technology is the lack of materials capable of providing stable mechanical support to extremely soft and delicate structures; cells and biopolymers deform, disperse, and behave unpredictably without additional support. 3D printing into jammed solids made from soft microgel particles was shown recently to solve many of the problems of printing with these extremely challenging materials. However, this approach was tested with only a limited number of microgel systems, limiting its potential application to diverse problems. Here we test the robustness of 3D printing into several different, chemically distinct jammed microgel materials. We find that the rheological behavior of each system can be tuned to achieve high-precision 3D printing of numerous structures, with the freedom to choose different path planning strategies and writing nozzle design.
Effects of ursodeoxycholic acid on the gut microbiome and colorectal adenoma development.

It has been previously reported that ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), a therapeutic bile acid, reduced risk for advanced colorectal adenoma in men but not women. Interactions between the gut microbiome and fecal bile acid composition as a factor in colorectal cancer neoplasia have been postulated but evidence is limited to small cohorts and animal studies. Using banked stool samples collected as part of a phase III randomized clinical trial of UDCA for the prevention of colorectal adenomatous polyps, we compared change in the microbiome composition after a 3-year intervention in a subset of participants randomized to oral UDCA at 8-10 mg/kg of body weight per day (n = 198) or placebo (n = 203). Study participants randomized to UDCA experienced compositional changes in their microbiome that were statistically more similar to other individuals in the UDCA arm than to those in the placebo arm. This reflected a UDCA-associated shift in microbial community composition (P 0.05). These UDCA-associated shifts in microbial community distance metrics from baseline to end-of-study were not associated with risk of any or advanced adenoma (all P > 0.05) in men or women. Separate analyses of microbial networks revealed an overrepresentation of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii in the post-UDCA arm and an inverse relationship between F prausnitzii and Ruminococcus gnavus. In men who received UDCA, the overrepresentation of F prausnitzii and underrepresentation of R gnavus were more prominent in those with no adenoma recurrence at follow-up compared to men with recurrence. This relationship was not observed in women. Daily UDCA use modestly influences the relative abundance of microbial species in stool and affects the microbial network composition with suggestive evidence for sex-specific effects of UDCA on stool microbial community composition as a modifier of colorectal adenoma risk.
Student Readiness to Learn and Teacher Effectiveness: Two Key Factors in Middle Grades Mathematics Achievement

This study examined student readiness to learn and teacher effectiveness in order to determine their impact on middle grades mathematics achievement. Survey data were collected from 964 middle grad...
Loss of Foveal Cone Structure Precedes Loss of Visual Acuity in Patients With Rod-Cone Degeneration.

Author(s): Bensinger, Ethan; Rinella, Nicholas; Saud, Asma; Loumou, Panagiota; Ratnam, Kavitha; Griffin, Shane; Qin, Jia; Porco, Travis C; Roorda, Austin; Duncan, Jacque L | Abstract: PurposeTo assess the relationship between cone spacing and visual acuity in eyes with rod-cone degeneration (RCD) followed longitudinally.MethodsHigh-resolution images of the retina were obtained using adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscopy from 13 eyes of nine RCD patients and 13 eyes of eight healthy subjects at two sessions separated by 10 or more months (mean 765 days, range 311-1935 days). Cone spacing Z-score measured as close as possible (average l0.25°) to the preferred retinal locus was compared with visual acuity (letters read on the Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study [ETDRS] chart and logMAR) and foveal sensitivity.ResultsCone spacing was significantly correlated with ETDRS letters read (ρ = -0.47, 95%CI -0.67 to -0.24), logMAR (ρ = 0.46, 95%CI 0.24 to 0.66), and foveal sensitivity (ρ = -0.30, 95%CI -0.52 to -0.018). There was a small but significant increase in mean cone spacing Z-score during follow-up of +0.97 (95%CI 0.57 to 1.4) in RCD patients, but not in healthy eyes, and there was no significant change in any measure of visual acuity.ConclusionsCone spacing was correlated with visual acuity and foveal sensitivity. In RCD patients, cone spacing increased during follow-up, while visual acuity did not change significantly. Cone spacing Z-score may be a more sensitive measure of cone loss at the fovea than visual acuity in patients with RCD.
Syndromic Scoliosis: National Trends in Surgical Management and Inpatient Hospital Outcomes: A 12-Year Analysis.

STUDY DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. OBJECTIVE Evaluate the trends in management and inpatient outcomes in patients with syndromic scoliosis undergoing spinal deformity correction. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Syndromic scoliosis (SS) refers to scoliosis that is most commonly associated with systemic disease including Ehler Danhlos syndrome (EDS), Marfan syndrome (MF), Down syndrome (DS), Achondroplasia (AP), and Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). Limited data exist evaluating hospital outcomes in patients with SS undergoing spinal deformity correction. METHODS The Kids' Inpatient Database (KIDS) was queried from 2001 to 2012 to identify all pediatric patients with scoliosis undergoing spinal fusion. These patients were then sub-divided into two cohorts: (1) patients with idiopathic scoliosis (IS) and (2) patients with syndromic scoliosis. Trends in surgical management, and postoperative morbidity and mortality were assessed. Length of stay and total hospital charges were additionally analyzed. A sub-analysis to characterize outcomes in each syndrome was also performed. RESULTS An estimated 1071 patients with SS were identified and compared with 24,989 pediatric patients with IS. MF (36.8%), Down syndrome (16.0%), and PWS (14.9%) were the most common diagnoses among patients with SS. Between 2001 and 2012, there was a significant decline in the number of anterior procedures performed in both cohorts. Conversely, the number of posterior based procedures increased. SS was associated with increased major complications (2.7% compared with 1.0% in IS; P < 0.001) and minor complication rates (41.0% compared with 28.5% in IS; P < 0.001). Patients with AP incurred the highest rate of major complications (10.7%), minor complications (60.8%), and intraoperative durotomies (6.1%). Total hospital charges increased significantly over the 12-year span. CONCLUSION Trends in management of syndromic scoliosis have paralleled that of idiopathic scoliosis. Syndromic scoliosis is associated with increased risks with surgical deformity correction. Further prospective studies are warranted to evaluate the reasons for these differences. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 3.
Technologies to Communicate Accounting Information in the Digital Era: Is Accounting Education Following the Evolutions?

This exploratory study investigates current accounting research with the aims: (a) to provide a picture of the evolutions in accounting technology that allow the reliable and real-time financial communication (b) to draw attention on the educational needs of future accountants by exploring whether there is a disconnect between technological trends in accounting reporting and accounting education. The research covered the period from 2013 to the first quarter of 2019 and reviewed the literature on technological accounting reporting tools and the literature on corresponding accounting education research. Comparison of research topics revealed four neglected topics in accounting education research: social media, big data, Blockchain technology and cloud accounting. The added value of this study is the identification of the research gap, the contribution towards their purposeful integration and the initiation of further research both for accounting reporting technologies and the accounting education research.
Chapter 7 – Teeth

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the tooth morphology and structure. It also discusses the dental formulae and morphology. Primates, like all mammals, have two sets of teeth: those of the maxillary and premaxillary or upper teeth and the mandibular or lower teeth. Each tooth has two major functional parts, the crown above the gums, and the root or several roots below the gum line. The sockets for the tooth roots are called alveoli; these are usually perfect molds of the tooth roots they hold. The crown of the mammalian tooth is covered with enamel. Under the enamel is dentine, which surrounds a pulp cavity. The roots of a mammalian tooth are covered with cementum. Under the cement lies the dentine, which, as in the crown, surrounds a pulp cavity containing soft tissue as well as the nerve and blood supply for the tooth. Teeth are mostly made up of calcium carbonate and calcium phosphates, and the organic ingredient is mostly collagen, a fibrous protein. The enamel that covers the tooth crown is the hardest part of the teeth, contains very little organic material (less than 1%), and is basically made up of crystallites. The number in which each tooth type occurs in an individual dentition is constant for mammalian species and often also for higher taxonomic groups. Because of this consistency, the number of each type of tooth for an animal species can be written down as a so-called dental formula. Dental formulae can be useful to differentiate animal species and groups.
KIM-1 and Kidney Disease Progression in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease: HALT-PKD Results.

Background Cyst compression of renal tubules plays a role in the progression of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) and may induce expression of kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1). Whether urinary KIM-1 indexed for creatinine (uKIM-1/Cr) is a prognostic marker of disease progression in ADPKD is unknown.In this secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study, we sought to determine whether patients with high as opposed to low uKIM-1/CR at baseline had greater rates of eGFR loss and height-adjusted total kidney volume (HtTKV) increase. Methods Baseline uKIM-1/Cr values were obtained from 754 participants in Halt Progression of Polycystic Kidney Disease (HALT-PKD) studies A (early ADPKD) and B (late ADPKD). The predictor was uKIM-1/Cr, which was dichotomized by a median value of 0.2417 pg/g, and the primary outcomes were measured longitudinally over time. Mixed-effects linear models were used in the analysis to calculate the annual slope of change in eGFR and HtTKV. Results Patients with high uKIM-1/Cr (above the median) had an annual decline in eGFR that was 0.47 mL/min greater than that in those with low uKIM-1/Cr (p = 0.0015) after adjustment for all considered covariates. This association was seen in study B patients alone (0.45 mL/min; p = 0.009), but not in study A patients alone (0.42 mL/min; p = 0.06). High baseline uKIM-1/Cr was associated with higher HtTKV in the baseline cross-sectional analysis compared to low uKIM-1/Cr (p = 0.02), but there was no difference between the groups in the mixed-effects model annual slopes. Conclusion Elevated baseline uKIM-1/Cr is associated with a greater decline in eGFR over time. Further research is needed to determine whether uKIM-1/Cr improves risk stratification in patients with ADPKD.
Cost Effectiveness of a Bedside Tracheostomy Versus Operating Room While Using a #6 Tracheostomy

Background: Annually there are approximately 100,000 tracheostomies performed nationwide. While a common practice with critically ill patients, tracheostomy placement does not come without significant potential for risk. This retrospective data analysis was developed to analyze the practice of bedside versus operating room (OR) with respect to cost effectiveness and progression to potential decannulation Methods: This study received IRB approval from Atrium Health. Data was analyzed for 75 patients that were admitted to Atrium Health Main with either the diagnosis of traumatic brain injury (TBI) or spinal cord injury (SCI) and had received a tracheostomy. Demographics, mechanical ventilation support, and surgical history were assessed to determine if there were any barriers to performing a bedside percutaneous tracheostomy. A #6 tracheostomy tube was used on all patients unless otherwise specified by referring physician. Age, tracheostomy size, and time-to-tracheostomy were compared to initial pass rates of a swallow test via Mann-Whitney U analysis. Results: From 2016-2017, 82 tracheostomies were performed; 36 of which were placed at bedside with 11 placed in the OR. In 2017, 35 tracheostomies were performed; 26 were placed at bedside and 9 in the OR; all were size #6. There was not a statistically significant finding within the analyzed domains regarding impact on swallow test pass/fail (P >0.05 for all domains). On average the cost for an OR tracheostomy is $4,600.00 and bedside approximate cost is $500.00. We had a total cost savings of $354,200.00. Conclusions: After comparing the cost of bedside versus OR tracheostomy procedure, it was concluded that it is more cost effective to perform bedside tracheostomies. Age, time-to-tracheostomy and tracheostomy size did not have a significant impact on passing a swallow test.
Functional Outcomes of Patella Fractures Treated With Anterior Plate Osteosynthesis at One Year.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the functional outcomes of patients with displaced patellar fractures treated with anterior plate constructs. DESIGN Prospective cohort and retrospective clinical and radiographic assessment. SETTING Level I Trauma Center. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS Between 2014 and 2018, 18 patients who underwent operative intervention for an isolated, displaced patella fracture (OTA/AO 34C1-3) with a minimum of 1-year follow-up agreed to participate in the study. The mean follow-up was 19.5 ± 6.0 months. INTERVENTION Patients were treated with 2.4 or 2.7-mm plates and supplemental screws or cerclage wires. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS Patients were evaluated with the Short Form-36 Survey and the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Scores and asked about symptomatic implants. The range of motion was assessed by goniometer. RESULTS The cohort had no wound complications, infections, nonunion, loss of reduction, or implant failure. Active knee flexion was 131 ± 7 degrees. Five patients (28%) endorsed implant irritation. Only one patient (5.5%) underwent implant removal, which consisted of transverse screw removal alone. Twelve of the 14 patients (86%), who were previously employed, returned to work at 10 ± 7 weeks. All Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Scores subscale scores and the Short Form-36 Survey scores for physical functioning, limitations due to physical health, limitations due to mental health, and social functioning were significantly lower than reference population norms (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Anterior plating provides reliable fixation for displaced patellar fractures and results in a low incidence of implant irritation. However, patients who had anterior fixation for displaced patella fractures continue to exhibit functional deficits at 1-year postoperatively. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Two new hybrid zones expand the swordtail hybridization model system

Abstract Natural hybridization events provide unique windows into the barriers that keep species apart as well as the consequences of their breakdown. Here we characterize hybrid populations formed between the northern swordtail fish Xiphophorus cortezi and X. birchmanni from collection sites on two rivers. We develop sensitive and accurate local ancestry calling for this system based on low coverage whole genome sequencing. Strikingly, we find that hybrid populations on both rivers consist of two genetically distinct subpopulations: a cluster of nearly pure X. birchmanni individuals and one of phenotypically intermediate hybrids that derive ~85-90% of their genome from X. cortezi. Simulations and empirical data suggest that at both sites initial hybridization occurred ~150 generations ago, with little evidence for contemporary gene flow between subpopulations, likely due to strong assortative mating. The patterns of population structure uncovered here mirror those seen in hybridization between X. birchmanni and its sister species, X. malinche. Future comparisons will provide a window into the repeatability of the outcomes of hybridization not only across independent hybridization events between the same species but also across distinct species pairs.
In neonatal onset surgical short bowel syndrome survival is high, and enteral autonomy is related to residual bowel length

BACKGROUND In an era of improved management and treatment options, this study aims to describe the long-term outcomes and factors predictive of outcomes of neonatal-onset intestinal failure (IF) due to surgical short bowel syndrome (SBS). METHODS Retrospective, single-center cohort study of infants born between January 2011 and December 2018 with inclusion criteria: 60 days, and documented intestinal resection. Primary outcomes included survival and achievement of enteral autonomy (EA). Data analysis utilized Fisher.s exact test, Kruskal-Wallis test, survival analysis methods, Cox proportional hazards regression, linear regression and logistic regression. RESULTS Ninety-five patients (males 56%) were studied with median follow-up of 38 months (IQR 19, 59). Survival at last follow-up was 96%, and EA was achieved in 85%. Forty-eight patients had documented residual bowel length (RBL) with median length of 49 cm (IQR 36, 80). Survival in patients with RBL of 60cm (n = 21) was 100%, 95%, and 95% respectively. Shorter RBL was associated with longer time to achieve EA (p = 0.007), but not with survival (p = 0.81). Delay in achieving EA was associated with absence of ileocecal valve (p = 0.002) and bloodstream infections (p < 0.001). Peak conjugated bilirubin correlated with increased mortality (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION Overall high rate of survival and achievement of EA was found in neonatal onset IF due to SBS. EA but not survival was correlated with RBL. Ileocecal valve, bloodstream infections, and conjugated bilirubin levels were the other predictive factors of outcomes.