cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Blueprint for imaging in biomedical research.

Today the understanding of biological processes in human health and disease is deeper and richer than it was 3 years ago when Dr Zerhouni offered his testimony, and far deeper and richer than it was at the close of the previous century. The action of Congress in doubling the NIH research budget has greatly accelerated the rate of discovery of new knowledge in biomedical research. The process of discovery is providing greater insight into human biology and into the mechanisms of human illness and injury that lead to disease, disability, and death. The knowledge about human health and disease gained over the past decade is one of the great success stories in the modern era of science. Challenges remain, however, in translating new knowledge gained through biomedical research into improved human health and into earlier and more effective interventions in human disease and disability. That is, the discovery process that has been so successful in unraveling the complexity of human biology must be conjoined with an enhanced development process that translates new knowledge into innovative products and services used to enhance the health and welfare of people from all walks of life, both in the United States and around the world. Then, improved delivery mechanisms must be designed to facilitate the distribution of new products and services from the research laboratory to the bedsides of patients who need them. Biomedical research is a continuum that starts with the discovery of new knowledge; moves through the development stage, where new products and services are designed from the new knowledge; and ends with the delivery of new products and services to all those who can benefit from them. This continuum of biomedical research is reflected in the NIH Roadmap for Medical Research announced in 2003 by Dr Zerhouni (1). The NIH Roadmap initiative pursues three fundamental objectives: 1. Stimulate the development of novel approaches to unravel the complexity of biological systems and their regulation (the “New Pathways to Discovery” theme); 2. Explore ways to reduce the cultural and administrative barriers that often impede research on novel approaches (the “Research Teams of the Future” theme); 3. Initiate renovations in translational and clinical research that include a robust, bidirectional flow of information among basic, translational, and clinical scientists (the “Re-engineering the Clinical Research Enterprise” theme). Attainment of the third objective is being pursued by the NIH in part through the Institutional Clinical and Translational Science Awards that were announced by Dr Zerhouni in the late fall of 2005 (2). Biomedical imaging is one arena that has the potential to accelerate progress in biomedical science and technology development across all three of the NIH Roadmap objectives. Imaging science and technology are major contributors to the discovery of new knowledge about cellular and human biology—from the molecular and intracellular levels, through studies in cells and the macroPublished online before print 10.1148/radiol.2441070058
Nanoimprint Lithography and the Role of Viscoelasticity in the Generation of Residual Stress in Model Polystyrene Patterns

Understanding polymer deformation during the nanoimprinting process is key to achieving robust polymer nanostructures. Information regarding this process can be extracted from monitoring the decay of the imprinted polymer patterns during thermal annealing. In the present work, the effect of both the molar mass and the imprinting temperature on the pattern decay behavior during thermal annealing is investigated. Previously, it was found that the decay rate is fastest for a highly entangled polymer due to the elastic recovery caused by the residual stress created during the imprinting process. The present paper demonstrates that this residual stress level can be modified through control of the imprinting temperature. These results are contrasted with those for an unentangled polymer over a similar range of imprinting temperatures, where it is found that the pattern decay is controlled by simple Newtonian flow. In particular, the pattern decay is well described by surface-tension-driven viscous flow, and no imprinting-temperature effect is observed during thermal annealing. It is shown that the stability of the film against pattern decay can be optimized for moderately entangled polymer films. This effect is attributed to the competition between the effect of increased viscosity with increasing molar mass and increased residual stresses with entanglements. These observations provide guidance for the optimization of imprinting process in terms of selection of molar mass and processing temperatures.
Prelude: Assessment for the 21st Century

We recently hosted an assessment symposium at Florida State University which served as the basis for this book and focused on how to integrate assessment and instruction to improve student learning and education. The chapters in this book address the general issue of integrating assessment and instruction, and additionally provide innovative solutions to hard questions such as: What would an assessment, suitable for the needs of the twenty-first century, look like? How could it be standardized? Should it be standardized? How could it satisfy the current obsession with “metrics”? What is the role of the professional teacher in making twenty-first century assessments possible? What constraints would be faced by those who would implement such innovations in assessment practice?
Temporal and spatial variability of cobalt in the Atlantic Ocean

Abstract The spatial and temporal variability of cobalt in the Atlantic Ocean was investigated by means of adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry. A vertical profile of total dissolved cobalt at the Bermuda Atlantic Time Series station ranged from 17 to 73 pM and displayed surface depletion indicative of biological utilization. This profile when compared with a cobalt profile from the northeast Pacific shows no increase in deep-water concentrations with thermohaline circulation through the deep ocean basins. Moreover, the middepth maximum observed in northeast Pacific profiles is not present in the Sargasso Sea, perhaps because of the lack of cobalt scavenging by particulate manganese oxides in surface waters and to the absence of a suboxic oxygen minimum zone, which, if present, could dissolve the manganese oxides. Total dissolved cobalt measurements were also made on a surface transect from the Sargasso Sea to coastal Massachusetts, USA, and on time-series samples from the Moored In Situ Trace Element Serial Sampler. Dissolved cobalt on this transect correlated strongly with salinity ( r 2 = 0.93) and ranged from 19 to 133 pM, indicating mixing of cobalt from shelf waters into the Sargasso Sea. Time-series samples near Bermuda did not show an obvious response to the summer maximum in aeolian dust deposition, with an annual average of 20 ± 10 pM at 40- to 47-m depths. By use of this annual value and particulate cobalt data from the literature, 100-m surface-water residence times were calculated to be as low as 0.32 yr for cobalt. Several sharp decreases in cobalt were observed in the time series that occurred simultaneously with a shallowing of the thermocline depth. These decreases could be caused by nutrient drawdown associated with higher productivity mesoscale eddy events. A west-east surface transect across the South Atlantic showed high cobalt concentrations at the boundaries of the transect and low concentrations in the center despite the high precipitation rates in the intertropical convergence zone. Phosphate measurements showed the similar trends as the total cobalt transect. A regression of cobalt vs. phosphate reveals a slope that is an order of magnitude higher than that of the northeast Pacific and that is similar to the slopes observed for zinc vs. phosphate in the Pacific.
Trade and Wages: a Deeper Investigation

A new presentation of the specific factors model shows how labor fares under international trade by considering how the price elasticity of the nominal wage rate responds to the terms of trade as well as factor endowments. The key empirical implication is that under a standard assumption about tastes it is straightforward to decompose the gains to labor into measurable terms of trade effects and production bias effects. This provides the basis for suggested time series studies contrasting the specific factors model with the Heckscher–Ohlin model. We then perform a new theoretical analysis of the specific factors model to compare how labor fares under autarky and free trade.
How to build bridges between intelligent tutoring system subfields of research

The plethora of different subfields in intelligent tutoring systems (ITS) are often difficult to integrate theoretically when analyzing how to design an intelligent tutor Important principles of design are claimed by many subfields, including but not limited to: design, human-computer interaction, perceptual psychology, cognitive psychology, affective and motivation psychology, statistics, artificial intelligence, cognitive neuroscience, constructivist and situated cognition theories Because these theories and methods sometimes address the same grain size and sometimes different grain sizes they may or may not conflict or be compatible and this has implications for ITS design These issues of theoretical synthesis also have implications for the experimentation that is used by our various subfields to establish principles Because our proposal allows the combination of multiple perspectives, it becomes apparent that the current “forward selection” method of theoretical progress might be limited An alternative “backward elimination” experimental method is explained Finally, we provide examples to illustrate how to build the bridges we propose.
Global Warming and U.S. Crime Rates: An Application of Routine Activity Theory

Two archival analyses were performed to examine the association between annual temperatures and U.S. crime rates. The first was based on area-averaged temperatures in the United States as a whole for the years 1950 through 1999. Box-Jenkins time-series analyses indicated that annual temperatures were associated with assault but not murder rates in analyses that controlled for yearly population, ethnicity, and three economic variables. The second analysis was based on state-centered crime rates from 1960 through 1998 and included the same controls. Contrary to the general aggression model, cross-sectional time-series analyses indicated that annual temperatures were associated with rates for assault, rape, robbery, burglary, and larceny, but not murder or motor vehicle theft. The results are consistent with a routine activity theory interpretation of everyday and criminal behavior.
Measuring prior sensitivity and prior informativeness in large Bayesian models

Abstract In large Bayesian models, such as modern DSGE models, it is difficult to assess how much the prior affects the results. This paper derives measures of prior sensitivity and prior informativeness that account for the high dimensional interaction between prior and likelihood information. The basis for both measures is the derivative matrix of the posterior mean with respect to the prior mean, which is easily obtained from Markov Chain Monte Carlo output. We illustrate the approach by examining posterior results in the small model of Lubik and Schorfheide (2004) and the large model of Smets and Wouters (2007) .
A Conservative Approach to Bilateral Testicular Germ Cell Tumors

ABSTRACTWe report on 6 patients with bilateral testicular germ cell tumors treated by organ sparing surgery. Tumors 6 to 30 mm. in diameter were enucleated, and biopsies of the tumor bed and peripheral parenchyma were taken. Histological examination revealed seminoma in 4 cases, embryonal carcinoma in 1 and a Leydig cell tumor in 1. All patients underwent testicular radiation therapy with 20 Gy. for carcinoma in situ. A testicular biopsy was performed 6 months postoperatively to evaluate therapeutic success. Median followup was 43 months, all patients were free of disease and there was no local recurrence. Luteinizing hormone and testosterone were within the normal range and no androgen substitution was necessary.Our study suggests that organ sparing surgery for bilateral testicular germ cell tumors represents a new therapeutic approach with endocrinological and psychological advantages. In our experience conservative surgery is possible under certain prerequisites, including organ confined tumor without ...
Iron-based phosphate binders – a new element in management of hyperphosphatemia

Introduction: Management of serum phosphorus in patients with chronic kidney disease remains a significant clinical challenge. A pivotal component of the clinical approach to maintaining serum phosphorus concentrations towards the normal range is the use of phosphate binding agents in addition to comprehensive dietary counseling. The available agents work similarly by capitalizing on a cation within the agent to bind negatively charged phosphorus, forming an insoluble complex and reducing ingested phosphorus absorption. Despite several effective options for phosphate binder therapies, patient adherence remains an issue, mainly due to adverse effect profiles and large daily pill burdens.Areas covered: Two new iron-based phosphate binder therapies have recently become available in the United States, sucroferric oxyhydroxide and ferric citrate. These agents have both been shown to effectively reduce serum phosphorus comparably to widely used calcium-based binders and sevelamer salts.Expert opinion: The two n...
Pathological personality traits and emotion regulation difficulties

Abstract The present research investigated associations between pathological personality traits and emotion regulation difficulties. Study 1 examined the associations between pathological personality traits and self-reported aspects of emotion dysregulation among 932 undergraduates. The results of Study 1 revealed associations between pathological personality traits and specific aspects of emotion dysregulation (e.g., antagonism was associated with impulse control difficulties and limited access to emotion regulation strategies). Study 2 was an experience-sampling study that explored the relationship between pathological personality traits and emotional reactivity to daily events for 350 undergraduates over the course of seven days. Key results from Study 2 showed that negative affectivity, detachment, and antagonism moderated individuals' reactions to daily negative interpersonal events. The results of these studies suggest important connections between pathological personality traits and emotion regulation difficulties that may shed light on the interpersonal problems that often accompany personality pathology.
Introduction: ICT Development and Class Formation in China

In the global systems of digital capitalism, China is first and foremost a downstream manufacturing powerhouse that assembles large volumes of consumer goods for the Global North and especially the United States. This has generated a sizable number of peasant-based ICT workers. This book uses labor conditions and class formation as an analytical perspective to understand the business logic and developmental implications of the export-processing economy.
Resultatives, Remoteness, and Innovation in Eastern and Southern Bantu T/A Systems 1

Bantu language T/A systems often present challenging analytical conundrums, as is the case, for example, with languages in eastern zones F and S, whose systems are representative of the kinds of contrasts found across the Bantu landscape . In several cases, languages in the different zones resemble one another more than they do languages in the same zone. Working within the scaled dissociative domain temporal model proposed in Botne and Kershner (2008) and Botne (2010, 2012), the author provides an explanation fo r why this striking variation occurs. The paper addresses several specific issues: (1) how a remote construction can become a resultative; (2) why similar, or even identical, remote forms in Kirangi dialects are conceptually distinct; and (3) why several forms are temporally reversed i n some languages. Innovation that has led to the peculiar differences observed finds an expla nation and motivation in differences in time scales, time regions, and time scope.
Distribution and Seasonal Abundance of Oligonychus subnudus on Monterey Pine

Oligonychus subnudus (McGregor) (Acarina: Tetranychidae) is increasing in importance as an economic pest of young Monterey pine trees. Feeding injury is evident as an irreversible chlorosis of the foliage; premature loss of needles does not accompany this damage. Studies in coastal central California in 1965–67 showed that the density of the active mite stages advances on the growth as the growing season progresses. A sampling scheme was developed which takes into account the changing distribution by continually advancing the site of sampling on the tree growth as the season progresses. The time of year when maximum numbers of mites occur varies from late May to October; this variation appears to be related to temperature. Peak numbers occur later in areas where the growing season temperature is cooler. Wide variations in mite populations commonly are found among adjacent trees. Typhloseiopsis spp. (Acarina: Phytoseiidae) invariably are associated with the tetranychid on Monterey pine, yet these predators do not appear to be an important regulating agent.
Mach 7 True-Temperature Test Facility Technology *

Ground testing is an essential part of the development process for flight systems. Providing a test environment that closely resembles hypersonic atmospheric flight is difficult at best and in many cases is impossible. Thus ground test results must be “extrapolated” to flight conditions. The greater the extrapolation (that is, the greater the mismatch between ground test environment and flight environment), the greater the inherent uncertainty in the flight performance prediction.
Endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase inhibitors stimulate membrane guanylate cyclase in pancreatic acinar cells

In this study, we show that particulate guanylate cyclase (GC) is present in rat pancreatic acinar cells and is located both on plasma membrane and membranes of endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Western ...
Common Faults of VF64 Series Frequency Converter in Shearer

The shearer is a main equipment of mechanized mining operations.As a result of poor longterm work in the environment,the frequency of the fault is very high.For frequency converter is a main component of electric haulage shearer,so good maintenance and use are the guarantees of the normal operation of the shearer.Summarizes the Toyo VF64 series frequency converter’s common failures,which are of great practical significance to determine fault during the use of frequency converter and to timely day-to-day maintenance of it.
Update on Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Ultrasound Evaluation of Crohn’s Disease

Magnetic resonance enterography (MRE) and abdominal ultrasound are integral parts of multimodality assessments for patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Applications include assessing Crohn's disease (CD) extent and severity, differentiating CD from ulcerative colitis, detecting CD complications, evaluating response to therapy, and demonstrating postoperative recurrence. Magnetic resonance imaging protocols are being developed that may reduce or eliminate the need for intravenous contrast agents and better differentiate inflammatory from fibrotic strictures. MRE scoring systems have been created to objectively quantify disease activity and response to therapy. By utilizing advanced sonographic imaging techniques, including ultrasound contrast and Doppler assessments, the role of abdominal ultrasonography in the evaluation and management of CD continues to expand. Abdominal ultrasound may function as a low-cost, point-of care assessment tool, especially in CD restricted to the terminal ileum and ileocolic anastomosis.
Neuropsychological Assessment of Patients with Epilepsy

With its occurrence in an estimated 1 % of the population, epilepsy is a relatively common disorder that is seen on a frequent basis by most neuropsychologists in practice settings. Clinical neuropsychologists play important roles in epilepsy specialty centers by providing information that is useful for diagnosis, outlining functional strengths and weaknesses, and tracking the effects of various treatments. This chapter introduces the reader to many of the general issues relevant to neuropsychology as it applies to assessment of patients with epilepsy. It begins with a brief review of epilepsy and seizures and continues with a description of neuropsychological assessment of general adult patients (ages, 20–55) who are evaluated in a medical or neurological setting.
When Women “Snap”: The Use of Mental Illness to Contextualize Women's Acts of Violence in Contemporary Popular Media

ABSTRACTMedia depictions play an important role in the cultivation and perpetuation of social stigmas surrounding mental illness. Through a critical textual analysis of female perpetrators of violence in three examples drawn from diverse media forms, we explore how depictions from very different genres help to map key themes in a broader popular discourse framing violence committed by women as a consequence of mental illness. The mental health frames we focus on include examples of exceptionalism in news media, victimhood in film, and relational trauma in soap operas. Findings suggest that, unlike media depictions of psychopathic male perpetrators of violence, representations of female perpetrators tend to feature nuanced and sympathetic portrayals. However, media texts that explore social factors contributing to women's acts of violence imply that women who commit violence do so because of psychosis induced by traumatic circumstances often beyond their control. Such depictions perpetuate a gendered under...
Fiber-Reinforced Composites: Materials, Manufacturing, and Design, Third Edition

The newly expanded and revised edition of Fiber-Reinforced Composites: Materials, Manufacturing, and Design presents the most up-to-date resource available on state-of-the-art composite materials. This book is unique in that it not only offers a current analysis of mechanics and properties, but also examines the latest advances in test metho
Chapter C1 Blood and Related Fluids

This section provides data for several human biological fluids including blood, plasma or serum, cerebrospinal (CS) fluid, lymph, synovial fluid, and tear fluid. The material presented here was gleaned from a variety of sources, with emphasis placed on the most recently published work, and includes physicochemical properties (Table C1.1), cellular compositions (Table C1.2), concentrations of inorganics (Table C1.3), organics (Table C1.4), and major proteins (Table C1.5). In addition, various properties of the major proteins are presented in Table C1.7, while Tables C1.8 and C1.9 contain information regarding the components of the coagulation and complement cascades, respectively. Because of the variability in values for many properties of biological fluids, in many cases a normal singular range of such values is listed. In all cases, the data are those compiled for normal human adults and, where possible, differences with respect to gender are included. It must be stressed that fluid properties can readily change as a result of disease, aging, or drug ingestion.
Embedded Computing Framework for Vision-Based Real-Time Surround Threat Analysis and Driver Assistance

In this paper, we present a distributed embedded vision system that enables surround scene analysis and vehicle threat estimation. The proposed system analyzes the surroundings of the ego-vehicle using four cameras, each connected to a separate embedded processor. Each processor runs a set of optimized vision-based techniques to detect surrounding vehicles, so that the entire system operates at real-time speeds. This setup has been demonstrated on multiple vehicle testbeds with high levels of robustness under real-world driving conditions and is scalable to additional cameras. Finally, we present a detailed evaluation which shows over 95% accuracy and operation at nearly 15 frames per second.
Estimating spatially varying event rates with a change point using Bayesian statistics: Application to induced seismicity

Abstract We describe a model to estimate event rates of a non-homogeneous spatio-temporal Poisson process. A Bayesian change point model is described to detect changes in temporal rates. The model is used to estimate whether a change in event rates occurred for a process at a given location, the time of change, and the event rates before and after the change. To estimate spatially varying rates, the space is divided into a grid and event rates are estimated using the change point model at each grid point. The spatial smoothing parameter for rate estimation is optimized using a likelihood comparison approach. An example is provided for earthquake occurrence in Oklahoma, where induced seismicity has caused a change in the frequency of earthquakes in some parts of the state. Seismicity rates estimated using this model are critical components for hazard assessment, which is used to estimate seismic risk to structures. Additionally, the time of change in seismicity can be used as a decision support tool by operators or regulators of activities that affect seismicity.
Domain-Targeted Metabolomics Delineates the Heterocycle Assembly Steps of Colibactin Biosynthesis.

Modular polyketide synthases (PKSs) and nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs) comprise giant multidomain enzymes responsible for the “assembly line” biosynthesis of many genetically encoded small molecules. Site-directed mutagenesis, protein biochemical, and structural studies have focused on elucidating the catalytic mechanisms of individual multidomain proteins and protein domains within these megasynthases. However, probing their functions at the cellular level typically has invoked the complete deletion (or overexpression) of multidomain-encoding genes or combinations of genes and comparing those mutants with a control pathway. Here we describe a “domain-targeted” metabolomic strategy that combines genome editing with pathway analysis to probe the functions of individual PKS and NRPS catalytic domains at the cellular metabolic level. We apply the approach to the bacterial colibactin pathway, a genotoxic NRPS–PKS hybrid pathway found in certain Escherichia coli. The pathway produces precolibactins, ...
A spectral profile multiplexed FBG sensor network with application to strain measurement in a Kevlar woven fabric

A spectral profile division multiplexed fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor network is described in this paper. The unique spectral profile of each sensor in the network is identified as a distinct feature to be interrogated. Spectrum overlap is allowed under working conditions. Thus, a specific wavelength window does not need to be allocated to each sensor as in a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) network. When the sensors are serially connected in the network, the spectrum output is expressed through a truncated series. To track the wavelength shift of each sensor, the identification problem is transformed to a nonlinear optimization problem, which is then solved by a modified dynamic multi-swarm particle swarm optimizer (DMS-PSO). To demonstrate the application of the developed network, a network consisting of four FBGs was integrated into a Kevlar woven fabric, which was under a quasi-static load imposed by an impactor head. Due to the substantial radial strain in the fabric, the spectrums of different FBGs were found to overlap during the loading process. With the developed interrogating method, the overlapped spectrum would be distinguished thus the wavelength shift of each sensor can be monitored.
Alloimmunity But Not Viral Immunity Promotes Allograft Loss in a Mouse Model of Polyomavirus-Associated Allograft Injury.

BACKGROUND The interplay between viral infection and alloimmunity is known to influence the fate of transplanted organs. Clarifying how local virus-associated inflammation/injury and antiviral immunity can alter host alloimmune responses in transplantation remains a critical question. METHODS We used a mouse model of polyomavirus (PyV) infection and kidney transplantation to investigate the roles of direct viral pathology, the antiviral immune response, and alloimmunity in the pathogenesis of PyV-associated allograft injury. We have previously shown that an effective primary T cell response is required in PyV-associated graft injury. RESULTS Here we show that the transfer of primed antidonor, but not antiviral, T cells results in PyV-associated allograft injury. In further studies, we use a surrogate minor antigen model (ovalbumin) and show that only antidonor specific T cells and not antiviral specific T cells are sufficient to mediate injury. Lastly, we demonstrate that local but not systemic virus-mediated inflammation and injury within the graft itself are required. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that in this mouse model, the predominant mechanism of allograft injury in PyV-associated injury is due to an augmented alloimmune T cell response driven by virus-induced inflammation/injury within the graft. These studies highlight the important interplay between viral infection and alloimmunity in a model system.
Expensing Versus Capitalization

We develop a theoretical framework to study the effects of expensing vs. capitalization of investment expenditures on capital market asset prices, corporate investment, and investment efficiency. We use a two-period model in which the financial reports at the end of the first period influence the price of the firm. In the first period, the current owner makes an investment decision that yields returns during the first and the second periods. We highlight the benefits and costs of the matching principle in GAAP and identify conditions under which less disclosure improves investment efficiency. We find that, in terms of investment efficiency, expensing beats capitalization if and only if the expected growth rate is high, the growth volatility is large, or the earnings persistence is small. We also offer testable empirical implications for accounting choice and for real earnings management. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Kuja Nyumbani (Coming Home): Using African-Centered Pedagogy to Educate Black Students in the Academy

Kuja Nyumbani is Swahili for come home. The breadth and scope of this chapter is to present a reflective, scholarly discussion of the importance of utilizing African centered pedagogies (ACP) to educate Black students in the academy. The essay begins with a reflection of the author’s personal journey of re-africanization and how her African worldview informs her pedagogy and praxis. Next, to theoretically situate her classroom practices, this essay reviews the fundamental principles of ACP. The essay ends by providing examples of ACP approaches that she uses in her classroom to create knowledge, foster learning, nurture creativity, enhance mastery of skills, and encourage social action, transformation and healing.
Three Aspects of Perception

Knowledge is not perception, Socrates is supposed to have proved to Theaetetus, since knowledge must be both incorrigible and (of the) real. But perception, insofar as it is incorrigible, is not of the real: it is just what seems to me now; and insofar as it is, or claims to be, of the real, it is not incorrigible: our senses, as purveyors of information, may err. So knowledge is not perception. So at least runs the traditional interpretation, which I am following here for the purpose of my argument. For the point is that even if we admit the defeat of the thesis that knowledge is perception, we still want to claim that perception is one kind of, and indeed the primordial, and fundamental, type of knowledge. For the senses are our only source of informational input from the world; without them we could know nothing. Perhaps we may drop one of Plato’s criteria (as we are taking them to be), claim that knowledge is of the real, but not incorrigible, and so admit perception to the class of cognitive activities. Perception is the most fundamental type of knowledge, on which others build, and they are all fallible: there should be, on principle, no difficulty in the case. Still, recurrent puzzles about perception have their good grounds, and I would like to try to sort out once more, very simply, some of the features that produce these puzzles.
Improving Concurrency Control in Distributed Databases with Predeclared Tables

In this paper we present a concurrency control algorithm and recovery protocol for distributed databases that produces a schedule that is equivalent to that of a temporally ordered serial schedule. The algorithm is intended to be somewhat practical from the standpoints of both burden on the application developer and realism of the network environment. Accordingly, it allows transactions to be received out of order within a window of tolerance. Moreover, it doesn't require declaration of readsets, and writesets are declared simply at the table level and without predicates. This paper discusses the algorithm, present its analytical studies, and report on the simulation experiments we carried out to evaluate the performance of ours scheme. Our results clearly indicate that with predeclared tables, performance is greatly improved as compared with that from the conservative MVTO algorithm.
Complete Cavernous Sinus Resection: An Analysis of Complications

Background Complete cavernous sinus resection has been described for patients with malignant or recurrent cavernous sinus tumors without other therapeutic options but has been associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. We reviewed the complications associated with complete cavernous sinus resection to gain insights for future complication avoidance. Methods A retrospective analysis of a prospective, single-institution database was performed to identify patients who had undergone complete cavernous sinus resection from July 2014 to October 2017. Patient- and disease-specific data, surgical complications, and clinical outcomes were recorded. Results Two male patients underwent complete cavernous sinus resection (aged 60 and 47 years) for recurrent maxillary tumors with secondary cavernous sinus extension. Revascularization was performed based on balloon test occlusion (BTO) results, with extracranial-to-intracranial bypass performed in 1 patient with a concerning hemispheric flow pattern found during BTO. Vascularized free flaps were used in both patients to assist with closure of the resulting skull base defect. Three complications related to surgery occurred in 1 patient (thigh hematoma, recurrent cerebrospinal fluid leak, and meningitis). One patient died of pneumonia approximately 2 weeks postoperatively, and the other experienced an acceptable neurologic and oncologic outcome. Conclusions Despite the high peri- and postoperative risks, complete cavernous sinus resection can be considered for select patients with tumors involving the cavernous sinus without other treatment options. Familiarity with cerebral bypass and free flap reconstruction of skull base defects is critical for complication avoidance and management.
Explaining changes in Sri Lanka’s wage distribution, 1992-2014: a quantile regression analysis

Sri Lanka experienced robust economic growth during the period 1992–2014 and had a decline in inequality due to wages rising fastest among low earners. The decline in inequality came almost entirel...
30. THE BENEFITS OF A TRULY INDIVIDUALIZED CURRICULUM

Background In response to the 2013 ACMGE Program Requirements that mandated “a minimum of six educational units of an individualized curriculum determined by the learning needs and career plans of each resident and... developed through the guidance of a faculty mentor,” many pediatric programs developed career-based tracks. Because tracks have the potential to introduce unnecessary and potentially harmful rigidity, our program aimed for each resident to develop a truly individualized schedule. Objective Allow each resident in our program to develop a unique individualized schedule through faculty guidance. Methods A new position, the Director of Individualized Education (DIE) was created with 0.05 FTE departmental support, which translates to approximately 100 hours of protected time, or approximately 2.5 hours per resident in a program of approximately 40 total residents. A new resident block schedule was created that is broadly divided into three categories: A) Required rotations (94 weeks) include those mandated by ACGME requirements plus other rotations required by the program. B) Selectives (12 weeks in the third year) are chosen from a limited menu based on hospital staffing needs. C) Electives (38 weeks, available as 2- or 4-week experiences) are structured to meet ACGME requirements for “key subspecialties,” “additional educational units,” and the “individualized curriculum,” following the “double counting” rules from prior ACGME FAQs. For the 32 such weeks that occur in the PGY2 and PGY3 years, rotations are chosen after a meeting between the resident and the DIE. A flowsheet for each resident is reviewed annually by the DIE and semi-annually by the Program Director or an Associate Program Director to ensure compliance with ACGME requirements. Results 54 residents have completed our program under the current scheduling system, and no two residents have had identical schedules. On the ACGME annual survey of PGY3 residents from 2016 to 2018: 1) 97.4% of our residents (vs. 86.6% nationally) chose Agree or Strongly Agree for the question, “In my training program, a portion of my training is based on my learning needs related to my career plans.” 2) 94.8% of our residents (vs. 92.9% nationally) chose Agree or Strongly Agree for the question, “My training program provides a faculty mentor or advisor to help develop learning activities to meet my learning needs related to my career plans.” Outcomes A relatively small investment (0.05 FTE for the DIE) has been sufficient to allow each resident to receive proper mentoring in the context of thoughtful discussions about both career goals and current strengths/weaknesses. The DIE has also had time to invest in building relationships with divisions and departments throughout our childrens hospital and academic medical center, resulting in many new and innovative rotations, including GI pathology, transport (prehospital) medicine, maternal-fetal-medicine, complex primary care, and many others. Ultimately, we have been able to provide each resident with a unique schedule and a high level of satisfaction with the individualized curriculum.
Revisiting the Evidence: A Supplementary Note on GDP Estimates

This is a supplementary note to the March 2018 paper "Rising Complexity, Diminishing Returns, Shrinking Slack: Revisiting the Evidence" which expands on its discussion of estimates of Gross World Product growth from 1973 to the present and its implications for the paper's argument regarding modern civilization's investment in complexity to diminishing returns.
High output heart failure in a young woman secondary to massive arteriovenous malformations from a uterine tumor.

A 30-year-old woman with no significant medical history, presented with subacute onset dyspnea for 1 month. At presentation, her physical examination revealed tachycardia, bilateral lung crackles and a faint S3 on chest examination. Abdominal examination showed lower abdominal distention with an
Balanced-to-Doherty Mode-Reconfigurable Power Amplifier With High Efficiency and Linearity Against Load Mismatch

A balanced-to-Doherty (B2D) mode-reconfigurable power amplifier (PA) is presented in this article, which is endowed with a unique capability of maintaining high linearity and high efficiency against load mismatch. The Doherty operation of this PA is based on a new Doherty PA (DPA) architecture configured from an ideal balanced amplifier, named quasi-balanced DPA (QB-DPA). This article, for the first time, analytically proves that the QB-DPA is functionally equivalent to a standard DPA. Most importantly, this new discovery enables PA reconfiguration between the Doherty and balanced modes. With the tunability implemented using a silicon-on-insulator (SOI)-based single-pole-double-throw (SPDT) switch, a reconfigurable B2D PA prototype using GaN technology is demonstrated at 3.5 GHz, exhibiting the state-of-the-art linear DPA performance in the nominal 50- $\Omega $ load condition. Specifically, the Doherty mode achieves a continuous-wave measurement efficiency of 70% and 54.5% at the maximum output power of 41.9 dBm and 6-dB power back-off, respectively. In the modulated long-term evolution (LTE) evaluation, the DPA exhibits −37-dB adjacent channel power leakage (ACPR) and 2.36% error vector magnitude (EVM) at the maximum rated power of 34.5 dBm while achieving a 42.4% efficiency. It is experimentally demonstrated that the Doherty (QB-DPA) mode is well resistant to load mismatch with high efficiency across a majority portion of the 2: 1 voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) circle, while the combination of Doherty and balanced modes can ensure a constantly linear performance of the B2D PA (e.g., 2.2%-5% of EVM) under the entire mismatch condition.
The determinants of aeronautical charges of U.S. airports: A spatial analysis

Abstract Using U.S. airport data from 2009 through 2016, this study examines the determinants of aeronautical charges of large and medium hub airports and accounts for the spatial dependence of neighboring airports in a spatial panel regression model. Our results show that U.S. airports' aeronautical charges are spatially dependent, and neighboring airport charges are positively correlated, implying that U.S. airports are in price competition with each other even though they are government-owned infrastructure. Additionally, we find evidence of airport cost recovery through non-aeronautical revenues. This may be indicative of the airport's cross-subsidizing aeronautical operations with non-aeronautical revenues. In addition, we found the airports that share revenues with airlines charge lower aeronautical fees than those that do not share revenues. We also found that more congested airports charge higher aeronautical fees.
On the smectic order of polymer monolayers at the air-water interface

The McMillan theory of the smectic-A phase is extended to two dimensions. Its predictions, which strongly differ from those in three dimensions, are found to be in disagreement with the experiment on monolayers of the polymer PLA [poly(l-lactic acid)] at the air–water interface. In contrast to the latter, the theory predicts that the smectic A-phase does not melt into the isotropic phase but first goes through a nematic phase. In addition, the effect of CdSe nanoparticles and Fe2O3 beads on the phase transition from the isotropic liquid-expanded phase to the smectic liquid-condensed phase of PLA monolayers at the air–water interface is investigated experimentally using the Langmuir–Blodgett method. It is found that depending on the size and concentration of the nanoparticles and beads, this transition can be shifted or suppressed altogether.
Temozolomide-induced hypermutation is associated with high-grade transformation, distant recurrence, and reduced survival after transformation in initially low-grade IDH-mutant diffuse gliomas.

2506Background: Temozolomide, a commonly used alkylating agent to treat gliomas, can induce somatic hypermutation. The prevalence and clinical implications of this phenomenon are not well character...
Entrustable Professional Activities in General Surgery: Trends in Resident Self-Assessment.

Objective Effective self-assessment is a cornerstone of lifelong professional development; however, evidence suggests physicians have a limited ability to self-assess. Novel strategies to improve the accuracy of learner self-assessment are needed. Our institution's surgical entrustable professional activity (EPA) implementation strategy incorporates resident self-assessment to address this issue. This study evaluates the accuracy of resident self-assessment versus faculty assessment across 5 EPAs in general surgery. Design, Setting, Participants Within a single academic general surgery residency program, assessment data for 5 surgery EPAs was prospectively collected using a mobile application. Matched assessments (resident and faculty assessments for the same clinical encounter) were identified and the remainder excluded. Assessment scores were compared using Welch's t test. Agreement was analyzed using Cohen's kappa with squared weights. Results One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven EPA assessments were collected in 17 months following implementation. One thousand one hundred and fifty-five (62.2%) were matched pairs. Residents under-rated their own performance relative to faculty assessments (2.36 vs 2.65, p Conclusions Resident EPA self-assessments are equivalent or slightly lower than faculty assessments across a wide breadth of clinical scenarios. Resident and faculty matched assessments demonstrate moderate agreement.
Permanent urethral ligation after AUS cuff erosion: Is it ready for prime time?

AIMS Although artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) has long been the gold standard treatment for severe stress urinary incontinence, poor tissue quality in patients with prior cuff erosions may preclude this option. Formal supravesical diversion and/or bladder neck closure comprise alternative salvage options but are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. We review our experience with permanent urethral ligation (PUL) among patients deemed not to be candidates for AUS replacement following cuff erosion. METHODS From a single-center database of 396 patients undergoing AUS from 2014 to 2020, 20 men underwent PUL with suprapubic tube (SPT) diversion. Clinical characteristics and outcomes were evaluated. Quality of life (QOL) was assessed using chart review, Michigan Incontinence Symptom Index (M-ISI), and Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I). RESULTS PUL resulted in continence in 18 (90%) men; 15 after the initial surgery and three after repeat ligation. Patients were elderly (average age 75) with significant comorbidities. A total of 11 (55.5%) patients experienced complications in the 90-day postoperative period (seven Clavien-Dindo Grade II, four Grade III). Over an average follow-up of 30.3 months (interquartile range: 15.75-48.75), four patients underwent cystectomy and one underwent perineal urethrostomy. In the remaining patients managed by PUL, 13 had satisfactory M-ISI scores and indicated overall improvement on PGI-I. CONCLUSIONS For men with AUS cuff erosion who are poor candidates for replacement, PUL with chronic SPT drainage represents an acceptable alternative option to restore continence and improve QOL. Though complications are not uncommon, the morbidity profile still compares favorably to more invasive formal urinary diversion.
Predicting Melanoma Staging using Targeted RNA Sequencing data using Machine Learning.

The aim of this study is to use machine learning to predict tumor staging and metastasis in melanoma with differentially expressed genes. Machine has been used in different clinical setting to predict different outcomes. However, it has not been used to look at predicting the diagnostic aspect of tumor staging. We used the TCGA RNA-Sequencing data on melanomas to predict tumor staging nodal and/or metastasis using deep neural networks (DNN) and random forest classifier (RF). Results: We were able to predict tumor staging (lower vs higher stage, i.e. Tis / T1 / T2 vs T3 and higher), nodal metastasis and combined nodal or distant metastasis in patients with melanomas with high accuracies. However, we need to further validate these results.