cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Some Problems Associated with Wind Drag and Infrared Images of the Sea Surface

Abstract It is argued that there should be a close connection between fluctuations in infrared images of the sea and fluctuations in wind drag on the sea. The critical regions of wind speed, temperature, and surface contaminant, where these fluctuations should be largest, are pointed out. Some examples are given of infrared ocean images and the problems associated with their interpretation.
User Primacy, Positive Accounting Theory, and Nonaudit Services: Evidence from the SEC's Independence Hearings

An analysis of the testimony given before the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on auditors' independence requirements indicates that users of financial statements generally favored increased restrictions on the scope of nonaudit services provided by external auditors to their audit clients, while corporate management and public accounting (professional service) firms providing nonaudit services did not. Moreover, users of the financial statements generally favored the more extensive ban on nonaudit services over the SEC's proposed list of proscriptions. The principle of user primacy, a principle that has been espoused by regulatory and accounting standard‐setting bodies, holds that the interests of the users of financial reports take precedence over the interests of the report preparers. However, the SEC's final ruling on auditor independence requirements was more closely aligned with the position taken by the preparers. An analysis of the arguments presented in the transcripts and the regulations...
Mexico’s Seguro Popular Appears To Have Helped Reduce The Risk Of Preterm Delivery Among Women With Low Education

Beginning in 2001 Mexico established Seguro Popular, a health insurance scheme aimed at providing coverage to its large population of uninsured people. While recent studies have evaluated the health benefits of Seguro Popular, evidence on perinatal health outcomes is lacking. We conducted a population-based study using Mexican birth certificate data for 2010 to assess the relationship between enrollment in Seguro Popular and preterm delivery among first-time mothers with singleton births in Mexico. Seguro Popular enrollees with no formal education had a far greater reduction in risk of preterm delivery, while enrollees with any formal education experienced only slight reduction in risk, after maternal age, marital status, education level, mode of delivery, and trimester in which prenatal care was initiated were controlled for. Seguro Popular appears to facilitate access to health services among mothers with low levels of education, reducing their risk for preterm delivery. Providing broad-scale health ins...
EVALUATING GEOGRAPHIC PROGRAM PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS: Weighing the Benefits and Costs of Geographically Disaggregating Performance Data

Geographically disaggregating performance data allows for evaluation by a key dimension of the delivery of many public programs, namely, space. Through geographic program performance analysis, program evaluators can determine whether substantive differences exist in program performance across geographic subunits, potentially identify the causes, and ultimately take steps to improve program delivery. The advent of new geographic mapping technologies has created the opportunity for more precise measurement and sophisticated analysis of performance data, but significant challenges also exist in using these tools, notably challenges associated with data identification, organization, acquisition, analysis, and interpretation. Given the relative novelty of the tool, I use a case study analysis of the implementation of a citizen satisfaction survey in Columbus, Ohio, in 2002 to provide preliminary insights into when geographic program performance analysis is likely to deliver on its benefits and when it is not.
Structural properties of Sb2S3 under pressure: evidence of an electronic topological transition.

High-pressure Raman spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction of Sb2S3 up to 53 GPa reveals two phase transitions at 5 GPa and 15 GPa. The first transition is evidenced by noticeable compressibility changes in distinct Raman-active modes, in the lattice parameter axial ratios, the unit cell volume, as well as in specific interatomic bond lengths and bond angles. By taking into account relevant results from the literature, we assign these effects to a second-order isostructural transition arising from an electronic topological transition in Sb2S3 near 5 GPa. Close comparison between Sb2S3 and Sb2Se3 up to 10 GPa reveals a slightly diverse structural behavior for these two compounds after the isostructural transition pressure. This structural diversity appears to account for the different pressure-induced electronic behavior of Sb2S3 and Sb2Se3 up to 10 GPa, i.e. the absence of an insulator-metal transition in Sb2S3 up to that pressure. Finally, the second high-pressure modification appearing above 15 GPa appears to trigger a structural disorder at ~20 GPa; full decompression from 53 GPa leads to the recovery of an amorphous state.
Gram Reaction in Crushed Yeasts

Thick smears of yeasts are dried, crushed between slides or cover-slips, stained with anilin crystal violet 11/2 minute, Lugol's iodine solution 2 minutes, decolorized in undiluted anilin oil, and counterstained with 1% aqueous safranin. Photomicrographs are given of crushed yeasts, thus stained, which show a Gram-positive outer layer and a Gram-negative inner substance.
BARREL observations of a solar energetic electron and solar energetic proton event

During the second Balloon Array for Radiation Belt Relativistic Electron Losses (BARREL) campaign two solar energetic proton (SEP) events were observed. Although BARREL was designed to observe X-rays created during electron precipitation events, it is sensitive to X-rays from other sources. The gamma lines produced when energetic protons hit the upper atmosphere are used in this paper to study SEP events. During the second SEP event starting on 7 January 2014 and lasting ∼3 days, which also had a solar energetic electron (SEE) event occurring simultaneously, BARREL had six payloads afloat spanning all magnetic local time (MLT) sectors and L values. Three payloads were in a tight array (∼2 h in MLT and ∼2 ΔL) inside the inner magnetosphere and at times conjugate in both L and MLT with the Van Allen Probes (approximately once per day). The other three payloads mapped to higher L values with one payload on open field lines for the entire event, while the other two appear to be crossing from open to closed field lines. Using the observations of the SEE and SEP events, we are able to map the open-closed boundary. Halford et al. (2015) demonstrated how BARREL can monitor electron precipitation following an interplanetary shock created by a coronal mass ejection (ICME-shock) arrival at Earth, while in this study we look at the SEP event precursor to the arrival of the ICME-Shock in our cradle-to-grave view: from flare, to SEE and SEP events, to radiation belt electron precipitation.
Analysis on Case-control Study of Varicella Outbreak

Objective To analysis the immunization efficacy of varicella vaccine,and find out the reasons for varicella outbreak in Foshan.Methods The 1∶2 matching case-control studies was analyzed in 4 varicella outbreak since 2004.The total number was 370 pairs.The vaccine efficacy was calculated with matching and without matching.Results The inoculation rate of case group was lower than the matching group.The vaccine efficacy was 84.4%.Conclusion The vaccine efficacy was low(90%).The main reasons of the outbreak are that the vaccine efficacy was not high enough and the inoculation rate was low.
The Analysis of Neonate Mechanical Ventilation Associating with Pneumonia

Objective To study the treatment and prevention of neonate mechanical ventilation associating pneumonia(VAP).Meth- ods The sputums were suctioned through tracheal canula or the trucheostomy tube in 66 patients who were treated with mechanical ventilator The suetioned sputum were send for culture.Results Among 66 patient,17 patients had mechanical ventilation associating with pneumonia (25.8%),4 patient had polyinfectian,(23.5 %).Among 17 cases of VAP,10 cases were recoved after treatment,while 5 cases gave up to treat,other two cases died of palmonary hemorrhage and multiple organs deficiency syndrome (MODS).The main bacteria in cucture were Gram-negative bicillas such as large intestinal bocillus,pneumonia bacillus,sewer bowel bacillus,umoved bacillas.Conclusion The main bacillus in neonate mechanical ventilation associating pneumonia were large intestine bacillus,pneumonia bacillus,sewer bowel bacillus un- moved bacillus.
Distance learning and distance education: a personal perspective.

During 50 years of service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has made important contributions to U.S. public health, particularly in the area of training, an essential CDC activity. I summarize some of CDC’s experiences with distance learning and distance education, describe the need for public health education and training, and consider how distance education can fill that need.
β-Lactam Antibiotics

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the research on β-lactam compounds in the year 1977, which was characterized by the reporting of three developments that could have far reaching impact on the future of the use of this class of antibiotic in medicine: (1) the discovery of a new 7-acylamidocephem(l), in which the acyl moiety contains an aminothiazole oxime function that exhibits 10-fold greater activity against strains of gram negative bacteria belonging to both cephalosporin resistant and sensitive genera than do older compounds, (2) the advance in chemical synthetic procedures leading to new β-lactarns, which has yielded many highly altered cephems having carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen atoms at either the 1 or 2 positions; (3) additional information on thienamycin and olivanic acids, which has shown these to be members of a large group of highly active new antibacterials and β-lactamase inhibitors. The year 1977 had produced a wealth of new research on β-lactam antibiotics.
RADIATIVE TRANSFER THEORY: DISCRETE FORMULATION

This chapter discusses the discrete formulation of radiative transfer theory. The interaction principle always uniquely determines the light field generated within a given location space by a given incident field when that location space is absorptive. The local interaction principle uniquely determines the radiance function when given a suitable absorption function, scattering function, and source function on the discrete optical medium. The local interaction principle for special discrete spaces is directly related to the basic transfer equation. By simple limiting processes, the discrete-space formulation on special discrete spaces can return to the continuous formulation. Thus, the local interaction principle is capable of tying together the fundamental concepts and laws of classical radiative transfer theory. For all its abstract power and comprehensiveness, the local interaction principle has a commonplace origin in the everyday procedures of radiative transfer.
Age at Initiation and Deformity Magnitude Influence Complication Rates of Surgical Treatment With Traditional Growing Rods in Early-Onset Scoliosis.

Abstract Study Design Multi-center retrospective review. Objective The purpose of this study was to identify preoperative variables associated with postoperative complications in early-onset scoliosis (EOS) patients treated with traditional growing rods (TGR); and to develop a model to predict the incidence of postoperative complications based on preoperative variables. Summary of Background Data TGRs are commonly used to treat progressive EOS. Prior research has demonstrated a high rate of postoperative complications using this technique; however, few studies have identified preoperative factors that contribute to such complications. Methods A total of 110 patients who initiated TGR treatment before 10 years of age and completed final treatment were identified from a multi-center database. Overall treatment effect was calculated for major curve size, thoracic kyphosis, thoracic height, and total spine height. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression identified preoperative predictors of complications. An algorithm was developed and validated to calculate the probability of complications based on preoperative data. Results All patients completed TGR treatment (average follow-up 8.1 years). The overall treatment effect was a significant decrease in major curve magnitude, increase in thoracic height, increase in spine height, and no significant change in thoracic kyphosis. There were 263 total complications in 87 patients (79%) resulting in 84 unplanned surgeries. The most common complications were implant-related (49%), surgical site infection (23%), medical (19%), alignment (6%), and neurologic (3%). The significant independent preoperative predictors of complications were age at implantation and preoperative thoracic kyphosis. Multivariable regression showed that age less than 7.6 years, thoracic kyphosis greater than 38 degrees, or major curve magnitude greater than 84 degrees significantly increased the probability of complications. Conclusions Earlier age at implantation, greater thoracic kyphosis, and larger major curves increased the probability of complications following TGR instrumentation. These findings provide a valuable tool for predicting complications that may aid in surgical planning and shared decision making with patients and their families. Level of Evidence IV.
Fentanyl Transdermal Therapeutic System Provides Rapid Systemic Fentanyl Absorption in Two Ball Pythons (Python regius)

Abstract Although our understanding of reptile analgesia continues to develop, μ-opioid receptor agonists are currently the most effective analgesics in a variety of reptile species. Fentanyl, a potent, short-acting, μ- and δ-opioid receptor agonist, is formulated for use as a transdermal therapeutic system (TTS) and was shown to be absorbed across the skin of prehensile-tailed skinks (Corucia zebrata). Snakes, which possess highly permeable skin, seem to be ideal candidates for effective transdermal analgesia. Fentanyl TTS (12 μg/h) was applied to the midbody, dorsal surface of two ball pythons (Python regius). Specimen mean body weight was 2.60 kg (2.20–2.99 kg). Cardiac blood samples were collected for 7 days, and plasma fentanyl concentrations were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectroscopy. Therapeutic concentrations, as defined in mammals (1 ng/ml), were reached within 4 h of patch application, and they were sustained throughout the study. Plasma fentanyl steady-state ...
TAFRO Syndrome Associated with EBV and Successful Triple Therapy Treatment: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

TAFRO syndrome is a rare constellation of symptoms: thrombocytopenia, anasarca, reticulin fibrosis of the bone marrow, renal dysfunction, and organomegaly. Its pathogenesis involves an excessive and inappropriate cytokine storm, most notably from IL-6, causing multiorgan failure; however, its etiology is undetermined. Starting in 2012, TAFRO syndrome was first identified in Japan as an atypical variant of Castleman’s disease. Previous reports include various different treatment protocols with inconsistent survival outcomes. Here we report the first known American, EBV positive but HIV and HHV-8 negative, male with TAFRO syndrome. He was successfully treated with an unusual three-drug regimen including tocilizumab, etoposide, and rituximab. We review the literature of TAFRO syndrome, discuss its possible viral etiology, and propose an original treatment regimen.
Teaching Macroeconomic Principles Using Animated Cartoons

Multimedia materials are underused and powerful tools for teaching economics. We present examples from cartoons that can be used to illustrate important principles in an introductory macroeconomics...
Biometric identification of identical twins: A survey

The ability of biometric techniques to distinguish between identical twins is of interest for multiple reasons. The research literature touching on this topic is spread across a variety of areas. This survey pulls together the literature to date in this area, identifies available datasets for research, points out topics of uncertainty and suggests possible future research.
Development of a Just-in-Time Adaptive Intervention for Smoking Cessation Among Korean American Emerging Adults

Cigarette smoking is a preventable risk factor that contributes to unnecessary lung cancer burden among Korean Americans and there is limited research on effective smoking cessation strategies for this population. Smartphone-based smoking cessation apps that leverage just-in-time adaptive interventions (JITAIs) hold promise for smokers attempting to quit. However, little is known about how to develop and tailor a smoking cessation JITAI for Korean American emerging adult (KAEA) smokers. This paper documents the development process of MyQuit USC according to design guidelines for JITAI. Our development process builds on findings from a prior ecological momentary assessment study by using qualitative research methods. Semi-structured interviews and a focus group were conducted to inform which intervention options to offer and the decision rules that dictate their delivery. Qualitative findings highlighted that (1) smoking episodes are highly context-driven and that (2) KAEA smokers believe they need personalized cessation strategies tailored to different contexts. Thus, MyQuit USC operates via decision rules that guide the delivery of personalized implementation intentions, which are contingent on dynamic factors, to be delivered “just in time” at user-scheduled, high-risk smoking situations. Through an iterative design process, informed by quantitative and qualitative formative research, we developed a smoking cessation JITAI tailored specifically for KAEA smokers. Further testing is under way to optimize future versions of the app with the most effective intervention strategies and decision rules. MyQuit USC has the potential to provide cessation support in real-world settings, when KAEAs need them the most.
Social Stratification at the Top Rung: Classed Reports of Students’ Social Experiences on a Selective University Campus

Drawing on 44 in-depth interviews with undergraduates, this research explores whether and how class background matters for students’ social experiences at an elite university. The findings reveal t...
A tensor approach to heart sound classification

In the context of the PhysioNet/CinC 2016 Challenge, where a relatively large, labeled data set of phonocardiograms (PCGs) was made available, this work presents a mixed approach to the problem of its binary classification. Instead of laboriously selecting a set of PCG signal features that capture the fundamental differences between healthy and unhealthy heart sounds, a rather exhaustive set of features is generated for each heart beat segment, which is then represented in a 4-way tensor. In a second stage, such tensor representation is decomposed and compressed, to determine only a few of the most discriminating parameters, which are then fed to an otherwise standard classifier This results in an accurate, compact and fast algorithm, that can effectively classify noisy PCG signals of different duration, achieving a balanced accuracy of 91.9% in 10-fold cross-validation, and 84.54% on the Challenge hidden test data (the 4th highest score).
A comparison of CAD models for the radiation from a rectangular microstrip antenna

Different radiation formulas are compared for the case of a rectangular microstrip patch antenna, either on an infinite substrate (Fig. la) or on an infinite ground plane with the substrate truncated at the boundary of the patch (Fig. lb). For both the infinite and truncated substrate cases the electric current model is compared with the magnetic current model using the dominant-mode assumption. A more exact radiation model is then developed which accounts for radiation from the probe and higher-order modes, and this is compared with the simpler dominant-mode models. A comparison will also made with measured results.
Bulklike excitations in nanoconfined liquid helium

The effects of confinement, disorder, and reduced dimensionality upon quantum fluids have been studied by the adsorption of liquid helium in porous media. The effects of extreme, nanoscale confinement upon its microscopic excitations are not presently understood. Several previous experiments have suggested that at sufficiently low temperature, the roton mean free path is set by the restricted geometry. Here we show that the lifetime of the roton excitation is unaffected when superfluid helium is confined within cylindrical pores only a few nanometers in diameter. The temperature dependence of its lifetime are found to be identical to the bulk fluid, implying that the lifetime is not set by the scale of the confinement. Our results demonstrate that the rotons in the pore center propagate without being modified by the confining media, unlike the collective excitations of classical fluids.
Modes Coupling Seismic Waves and Vibrating Buildings: Existence

We prove an existence result for frequency modes coupling seismic waves and vibrating tall buildings. The derivation from physical principles of a set of equations modeling this phenomenon was done in previous studies. In this model all vibrations are assumed to be anti-plane and time harmonic so the two dimensional Helmholtz equation can be used. A coupling frequency mode is obtained once we can determine a wavenumber such that the solution of the corresponding Helmholtz equation in the lower half plane with relevant Neumann and Dirichlet at the interface satisfies a specific integral equation at the base of an idealized tall building.
Simians in the Shape School: A comparative study of executive attention

Executive functions (EF) have been studied extensively in children and adults. However, EF tasks for young children can be difficult to administer and interpret. Espy (1997, Developmental Neuropsychology, 13, 495-499) designed the Shape School task to measure inhibition and switching in preschool-aged children. Shape School presents cartoon-like characters that children must flexibly name by their color, their shape, or both, depending on cues that indicate the appropriate rule. Shape School has been found to be age sensitive as well as predictive of performance on other EF tasks. We presented a computerized analogue of Shape School to seven rhesus macaques. Monkeys were trained to categorize characters by color or shape, or to inhibit this response, depending on whether the characters had eyes open, eyes closed, or wore hats. Monkeys performed above chance on the inhibition and switching components of the task. Long runs of a single classification rule and long runs of noninhibition trials had no significant impact on performance when the rule changed or inhibition was required. This nonverbal adaptation of Shape School can measure EF in nonhuman animals and could be used in conjunction with other EF tasks to provide a clearer picture of both human and nonhuman executive functions.
Organic Mulch and Halosulfuron Placement Affect Yellow Nutsedge Control and Ornamental Plant Quality in Landscape Beds

Halosulfuron (SedgeHammer™) applied above or below pine nugget, pine straw, or shredded cypress mulch at 0, 0.038, or 0.075 kg ai·ha−1 (0.034 or 0.067 lb ai·A−1) was evaluated for postemergence control of yellow nutsedge in two field experiments. Tolerance of ‘Mystery’ gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides Ellis), ‘Stella de Oro’ daylily (Hemerocallis x), and ‘Big Blue’ liriope (Liriope muscari L.H. Bailey) to overtop applications of halosulfuron was also evaluated. Without halosulfuron, mulching with pine nugget, pine straw, and shredded cypress provided about 51 to 62% yellow nutsedge control at 4 weeks after treatments (WAT) compared with non-sprayed bare soil plots. At the infestation level of 167 tubers per m2 (15 tubers per ft2) in both experiments, halosulfuron application at the lower rate resulted in similar control as the higher rate regardless of mulch type and herbicide placement. Applications prior to mulching provided equal or, in some cases, better control than applications after mulching. Overall...
Activity analysis: the qualitative analysis of stationary points for optimal reasoning

We present a theory of a modeler's problem decomposition skills in the context of optimal reasoning — the use of qualitative modeling to strategically guide numerical explorations of objective space. Our technique, called activity analysis, applies to the pervasive family of linear and non-linear, constrained optimization problems, and easily integrates with any existing numerical approach. Activity analysis draws from the power of two seemingly divergent perspectives -the global conflict-based approaches of combinatorial satisficing search, and the local gradient-based approaches of continuous optimization -combined with the underlying insights of engineering monotonicity analysis. The result is an approach that strategically cuts away subspaces that it can quickly rule out as suboptimal, and then guides the numerical methods to the remaining subspaces.
A Novel P-Selectin Glycoprotein Ligand-1 Monoclonal Antibody Recognizes an Epitope Within the Tyrosine Sulfate Motif of Human PSGL-1 and Blocks Recognition of Both P- and L-Selectin

Interactions between P-selectin and P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) mediate the earliest “rolling” of leukocytes on the lumenal surface of endothelial cells at sites of inflammation. Previously, PSGL-1 has been shown to be the primary mediator of interactions between neutrophils and P-selectin, but studies on the ability of PSGL-1 to mediate interactions between P-selectin and other subsets of leukocytes have yielded variable and conflicting results. A novel IgG monoclonal antibody (MoAb) to human PSGL-1 was generated, and the specificity of this MoAb was confirmed by both flow cytometric analysis and Western blotting of cells transfected with human PSGL-1. This newly developed MoAb, KPL1, inhibited interactions between P-selectin expressing COS cells and either HL60 cells, neutrophils, or lymphocytes. Furthermore, KPL1 completely inhibited interactions between P-selectin and either purified CD4 T cells or neutrophils in a flow assay under physiological conditions, but had no effect on interactions of T cells or neutrophils with E-selectin. In addition, KPL1 blocked interactions between lymphoid cells transfected with L-selectin and COS cells expressing PSGL-1. The KPL1 epitope was mapped to a site within a consensus tyrosine sulfation motif of PSGL-1, previously shown to be essential for interaction with P-selectin and now shown to be essential for interaction with L-selectin, and to be distinct from the epitope identified by the PL1 function blocking anti-PSGL-1 MoAb. Two-color flow cytometry of normal leukocytes showed that while natural killer (NK) cells (CD16+), monocytes, CD4 and CD8 T cells, and α/β and γ/δ T cells were uniformly positive for PSGL-1, B cells expressed low levels of the KPL1 epitope. This low level of KPL1 staining was also observed immunohistologically in germinal centers, which had no detectable KPL1 staining, whereas T-cell areas (interfollicular region) were positive for KPL1. Interestingly, plasma cells in situ and interleukin-6–dependent myeloma cell lines were KPL1+. Thus, PSGL-1 is expressed on essentially all blood neutrophils, NK cells, B cells, T cells, and monocytes. Variation in tyrosine sulfation during B-cell differentiation may affect the ability of B cells to interact with P- and L-selectin.
The E-Book on International Finance & Development

TLCP's publication of the E-Book on International Finance and Development is the print version of an electronic handbook located at the University of Iowa Center of International Finance & Development. Written collaboratively by Professor Carrasco and eight students, the E-Book helps citizens worldwide understand the meaning of "development" and how major flows of money throughout the world affect their daily lives. Part One introduces readers to the concept of development and explains the activities of two important international financial institutions, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, collectively called the Bretton Woods Institutions (BWIs). Part Two of the E-Book discusses criticisms of the BWIs and other major topics of development, such as the rise of non-governmental organizations, corruption and regulatory transparency. Part Three focuses on "globalization" and international finance, using the Mexican and Asian financial crises to explain and illustrate issues and problems.
Photoexcitation of W(CO) 6 Solutions Containing α-Diimine Ligands. Kinetics and Mechanism of Chelation for a Series of Photoproduced W(CO) 5 (α-Diimine) Intermediates

Relatively little is presently known about the identity, structure, and reactivity of reaction intermediates in ligand photosubstitution processes of organo-metallic complexes. Direct spectral characterization of these intermediates and quantitative measurements of their reactivity have rarely been reported [1,2]. Recently, we have investigated the nature of reaction intermediates formed following photoexcitation of W(CO)6 solutions that contain an α-diimine ligand [3–5]. Spectra: evidence has been obtained for a reaction intermediate of the type, W(CO)5L, where the normally bidentate α-diimine ligand is coordinated in a monodentate fashion. This article reports observed kinetic data and mechanistic behavior for the ring closure reaction of W(CO)5L, where L is a series of α-diimine ligands. The α- diimines studied are 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), 2,2’-bipyridine (bpy), 1,4-diazabutadiene (dab), and 2-pyridinal-imine (py-im), or a derivative of these ligands.
Developmental Neuropharmacology: Clinical and Neurochemical Perspectives on the Regulation of Attention, Learning, and Movement

Pharmacological agents are typically grouped according to their target diseases, chemical structures, or molecular mechanisms of action. Categorization of drugs according to their use in the treatment of specific diseases is most common in clinical practice, but a disease-oriented classification requires thoughtful consideration during childhood. Development compromises the nomenclature for childhood Psychiatric disorders. The features of an illness are continuous variables which are the result of the timing and nature of an insult, subsequent maturational processes, and environmental molding. The clinician makes his observations at relatively few cross-sectional points and is unable to reliably estimate the relative contributions of these factors. These diagnostic problems crucially affect our understanding of drugs acting on the central nervous system, so the examination of developmental influences on drug effects has become a major topic for pediatric psychopharmacology.
Magnetic compression anastomosis (magnamosis) in a porcine esophagus: Proof of concept for potential application in esophageal atresia.

Abstract Background Magnetic compression anastomosis (magnamosis) is the process of forming a sutureless anastomosis of the gastrointestinal tract using two magnetic Harrison rings. It has been shown to be effective in stomach, small bowel and colon, but has not been implemented in the esophagus. A pure esophageal atresia porcine model was developed to test the concept. Methods Five pigs weighing between 35 and 65 kg were used. In all pigs, a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube was placed, and a right thoracotomy was performed. Esophageal atresia was simulated by transecting the esophagus with a cutting stapler, and magnets were placed endoscopically to approximate the two ends of the esophagus. In the first pig, the tissue within the magnetic ring was excised endoscopically to achieve immediate patency. In the second pig, approximation of the blind esophageal ends was reinforced with 3–4 externally-placed sutures but immediate patency was not performed. In the last three pigs, both external suture reinforcement and immediate patency were performed. The pigs survived for 10–14 days and received nutrition through PEG tube. At necropsy, an esophagram was performed, the specimen was explanted and a leak test was performed. Results The first pig died in the early postoperative period from a leak owing to separation of the magnets. The second pig died from aspiration before the anastomosis formed. The last three pigs survived until the study endpoint. The third pig had a contained leak owing to the staple line being placed between the magnets; this was not clinically significant. The last two pigs had well-formed anastomoses. Burst tests showed no leak when injecting saline up to 30 mmHg. Conclusion Magnamosis is technically feasible for esophagoesophageal anastomoses. A survival model for pure esophageal atresia was developed and refined in pigs. Further work in this area may lead to clinical use in humans.
Super‐Efficient Cross‐Correlation (SEC‐C): A Fast Matched Filtering Code Suitable for Desktop Computers

Author(s): Shakibay Senobari, Nader; Funning, Gareth J; Keogh, Eamonn; Zhu, Yan; Yeh, Chin-Chia Michael; Zimmerman, Zachary; Mueen, Abdullah
Social Risk Adjustment of Quality Measures for Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease in a Commercially Insured US Population.

Importance Patients’ social risk factors may be associated with physician group performance on quality measures. Objective To examine the association of social risk with change in physician group performance on diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD) quality measures in a commercially insured population. Design, Setting, and Participants In this cross-sectional study using claims data from 2010 to 2014 from a US national health insurance plan, the performance of 1400 physician groups (physicians billing under the same tax identification number) was estimated. After base adjustments for age and sex, changes in variation across groups and reordering of rankings resulting from additional adjustments for clinical, social, or both clinical and social risk factors were analyzed. In all models, only within-group associations were adjusted to distinguish the association of patients’ social risk factors with outcomes while excluding physician groups’ distinct characteristics that could also change observed performance. Data analysis was conducted between April and July 2018. Main Outcomes and Measures Process measures (hemoglobin A1c[HbA1c] testing, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C] testing, and statin use), disease control measures (HbA1cand LDL-C level control), and use-based outcome measures (hospitalizations for ambulatory-sensitive conditions) were calculated with base adjustment (age and sex), clinical adjustment, social risk factor adjustment, and both clinical and social adjustments. Quality variance in physician group performance and changes in rankings following these adjustments were measured. Results This study identified 1 684 167 enrollees (859 618 [51%] men) aged 18 to 65 years (mean [SD] age, 50 [10.7] years) with diabetes or CVD. Performance rates were high for HbA1c and LDL-C level testing (mean ranged from 79.5% to 87.2%) but lower for statin use (54.7% for diabetes cohort and 44.2% for CVD cohort) and disease control measures (57.9% on LDL-C control for diabetes cohort and 40.0% for CVD cohort). On average, only 8.8% of enrollees with diabetes and 1.0% of enrollees with CVD in a group were hospitalized. The addition of clinical and social risk factors to base adjustment reduced variance across physician groups for most measures (percentage change in SD ranged from −13.9% to 1.6%). Although overall agreement between performance scores with base vs full adjustment was high, there was still substantial reordering for some measures. For example, social risk adjustment resulted in reordering for disease control in the diabetes cohort. Of the 1400 physician groups, 330 (23.6%) had performance rankings for HbA1ccontrol that increased or decreased by at least 10 percentile points after adding social risk factors to age and sex. Both clinical and social risk adjustment affected rankings on hospital admissions. Conclusions and Relevance Accounting for social risk may be important to mitigate adverse consequences of performance-based payments for physician groups serving socially vulnerable populations.
All‐trans retinoic acid eluting poly(diol citrate) wafers for treatment of glioblastoma

Current treatments for glioblastoma have failed to significantly increase patient survival, are extremely cytotoxic, can cause severe side effects, and are ineffective. Given these limitations, drugs other than cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agents are being explored. Recent studies show that all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) could be effective on cancer cells as they have been shown to suppress carcinogenesis in a variety of tumor types and can reverse premalignant lesions and inhibit the development of secondary tumors in the head and neck of cancer patients. However, the therapeutic effects of retinoids such as ATRA are undermined by its rapid in vivo metabolism by cytochrome P450 enzymes, difficulty in crossing the blood-brain barrier, and sensitivity to isomerization/degradation. To overcome these limitations, we have developed a porous poly(1,8-octanediol-co-citrate; POC) wafer that stabilizes all-trans retinoic acid, while slowly releasing ATRA over 3 months. Release of ATRA from POC wafers inhibited proliferation of U87MG (glioblastoma) cells and caused upregulation in genes associated with differentiation into normal phenotype and apoptosis. Therefore, ATRA eluting poly(diol citrate) wafers are a promising treatment option compared to traditional cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agents.
Modeling with Matrices

The humble linear map, x↦Ax, and its associated linear system, Ax = b, are so common, so well studied, and so well computed, that their importance can easily slip into the background of computational science. Indeed, most students have likely questioned why they couldn’t simply rely on x = A∖ b as they have studied the numerous ways to solve Ax = b in Chap. 2. The answer is, of course, to gain an appreciation of the intrinsic computational difficulty of solving Ax = b, say by either factoring A or with an iterative method. That said, we note that the coverage in this text on solving Ax = b is but a tiny fraction of the expertise couched in the MATLAB command x = A∖ b. The robust success of this one command speaks for lifetimes of adroit researchers. However, now that this computational power rests with anyone willing to purchase MATLAB or download Octave, one might ask if we can’t simply ignore some of the details and let the mantra that “matrices are important” abate as we gain trust in advanced algorithms and software?
Average One Year Change in Lexical Measures of Written Narratives for School Age Students.

This study aimed to describe 1-year changes in students’ vocabulary in written narratives. Secondary aims included examination of accuracy and the relationship between lexical diversity and achieve...
Observation of Damage During Dynamic Compression of Production and Low-Defect HMX Crystals in Sylgard® Binder Using X-Ray Phase Contrast Imaging

Polymer bonded explosives (PBX) have many applications in both the military and civilian sectors, making their safety and behavior predictability of the utmost importance. Most explosive devices are typically initiated by some external stimulus; however, initiations can also occur via localized mechanical conversion of energy during impact, called ‘hot spots’. These unintended loads can lead to crystal fracture and frictional heating, amongst other mechanisms, in the energetic crystals of a PBX. In order to visualize the behavior of these crystals, high-speed phase contrast imaging experiments were conducted using synchrotron X-ray radiation to observe the internal crack behavior of simplified PBXs subjected to low velocity impact. The PBX samples used in these experiments were composed of single production-grade and recrystallized octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX) crystals embedded in a Sylgard® 184 binder doped with iron (III) oxide. We observed a clear distinction in the qualitative behavior of production-grade versus recrystallized ‘low-defect’ HMX crystals which lacked significant internal voids. Production grade crystals exhibited consistent cracking behavior in the crystals, while the recrystallized crystals exhibited debonding from the surrounding binder material and cracked much less frequently. We assert that there is a clear effect of crystal quality on the behavior of PBX, which should influence future insensitive munition formulation design choices.
Increased Frequency of Heterozygous Alpha-1-Antitrypsin Deficiency in Liver Explants From Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Patients

Cirrhotic explanted livers occasionally have unexpected periodic acid-Schiff-diastase (PASD)-positive globules within the hepatocyte cytoplasm. It is often unclear whether this finding is a nonspecific consequence of cirrhosis or is indicative of an underlying alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency (A1ATD) contributing to the cirrhosis. In this study, explanted livers were retrospectively evaluated for histopathology (including PASD status with confirmatory alpha-1-antitrypsin [A1AT] immunohistochemistry [IHC]), and chart review provided etiology of liver failure and general clinical parameters. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to detect A1AT genotype (SERPINA1 S and Z alleles) by melting curve analysis on liver explant tissue from selected cases. Of 196 explanted livers, 21 (11%) had PASD+ globules, which were significantly enriched in patients with a clinical diagnosis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH; 47%) compared with other causes (P < 0.001). IHC confirmed all PASD+ globules were A1AT+, with 20 of 21 cases demonstrating diffuse A1AT staining. In an expanded NASH cohort, 42% (14/33) of explants had PASD+ globules, 92% of which were homozygous (n = 1) or heterozygous (n = 11) for the SERPINA1 Z allele, corresponding to nearly 40% of all NASH patients. Overall, the Z allele was present in 10% of all tested liver explants, with 85% of PASD+ cases genotyping homozygous (n = 2) or heterozygous (n = 20), which is far in excess of the estimated 2% in the general population. These results indicate PASD+ A1AT globules (with confirmatory genotyping showing at least 1 Z allele) are commonly observed in NASH, suggesting a synergistic relationship toward liver fibrosis. In addition, the high frequency of SERPINA1 Z alleles in liver transplantation patients supports the utility of pretransplant genotyping.
Fat Grafting for Facial Rejuvenation: My Preferred Approach

The author provides his preferred approach to fat grafting for facial rejuvenation. The preferred donor sites include low abdomen and inner thigh. Fat grafts should be harvested with low negative pressure to ensure the integrity and viability of adipocytes. Fat grafts can be processed with proper centrifugation that can reliably produce purified fat with concentrated growth factors and adipose-derived stem cells, all of which are beneficial to improve graft survival. The approach described in this article is supported by the most scientific studies and thus may provide a more predictable long-lasting result if performed properly.
Solid Waste Management in Kabul

Many developed countries have made great strides in addressing waste management, particularly since the environment came onto the international agenda in the 1960s, and there are many good practice examples available for the international community to learn from. However, the initial focus was on waste after it had been discarded, whereas now attention has moved upstream, addressing the problem at its source through, for example, designing out waste, preventing its generation, reducing both the quantities and the uses of hazardous substances, minimizing and reusing, and, where residuals do occur, keeping them concentrated and separate to preserve their intrinsic value for recycling and recovery, and preventing them from contaminating other waste that still has economic value for recovery.
Interplay of Dark Matter Direct Detection and Neutrino Experiments

Dark matter detectors are approaching the neutrino floor. As standard model neutrino rates get close to being probed, dark matter experiments begin to probe neutrino physics in an interesting way, which I review here. I also present some frameworks in which deep neutrino detectors may serve as dark matter direct detection experiments.
Nine Outstanding Questions of Solar Wind Physics.

In situ measurements of the solar wind have been available for almost 60 years, and in that time plasma-physics simulation capabilities have commenced, and ground-based solar observations have expa...
Accountable Government Spending: A Cross-National Analysis of Child Mortality in Developing Nations

What can national governments do to improve their capacity for well-being? While increasing public medical care expenditures can facilitate increased well-being in developing nations, cross-national research often finds that public medical care expenditures have no effect on indicators of well-being, such as child mortality. This ineffective public spending could be due to a lack of governance; however, this relationship is understudied in the cross-national literature. Using 2-way fixed and generalized least squares random effects models for a sample of 74 low- and middle-income nations from 1996 to 2012, I examine how the interaction among 5 measures of national governance and public medical care expenditures impact child mortality. The findings reveal the importance of governance in determining the effectiveness of public medical care expenditures. Both public medical care expenditures and governance improvements are essential to reduce child mortality.
A review of upper extremity deep vein thrombosis.

This review aims to describe the epidemiology, pathophysiology, risk factors, presentation, complications, evaluation/diagnosis, and treatment of upper extremity deep vein thrombosis (UEDVT). Upper...
Methodology to identify candidate genes from beef carcass traits at weaning: A pilot study

Abstract The goal of the work reported herein was to investigate if a new methodology could provide gene expression profiles of brachiocephalicus muscle tissue from young steers and to compare this genetic expression with carcass traits determined at slaughter to identify potential candidate genes. Tissue samples were collected from steers using a fine needle biopsy from muscle in the neck region at weaning. Muscle tissue was removed using the Dunn Biopsy method, and RNA was extracted for sequencing and transcriptomic analysis. Animal groups for data analysis were designated using marbling score codes (MSC) established from carcass grade at slaughter, which identified DNER, PCBD1 and BGN genes associated with adipose; muscle genes included MAP7, PDE1B, and ADAMTS2; tenderness genes identified were FMO2 and ZKSCAN2; and marbling genes RPTN, DNER, and CACNA2D2. These results indicate muscle biopsies may yield complementary information associated with carcass traits to the current industry standards. Application of this technique may provide insight to the identification of candidate genes that could improve production decisions, increase accuracy of prediction from transcriptomic profiling, and ultimately speed genetic progress.