cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On a class of type $II_1$ factors with Betti numbers invariants

We prove that a type II1 factor M can have at most one Cartan subalgebra A satisfying a combination of rigidity and compact approximation properties. We use this result to show that within the class HT of factors M having such Cartan subalgebras A io M, the Betti numbers of the standard equivalence relation associated with A io M ([G2]), are in fact isomorphism invariants for the factors M, ¥â HT n (M), n iA 0. The class HT is closed under amplifications and tensor products, with the Betti numbers satisfying ¥â HT n (Mt) = ¥â HT n (M)/t, ¢£t > 0, and a Ki§unneth type formula. An example of a factor in the class HT is given by the group von Neumann factor M = L(Z2  SL(2,Z)), for which ¥â HT 1 (M) = ¥â1(SL(2,Z)) = 1/12. Thus, Mt  M,¢£t = 1, showing that the fundamental group of M is trivial. This solves a long standing problem of R. V. Kadison. Also, our results bring some insight into a recent problem of A. Connes and answer a number of open questions on von Neumann algebras.
Investigating Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting Circuits for Piezoelectric Flags

This paper provides a comparison between two different energy harvesting circuits for a piezoelectric flag subjected to uniform flow. Between two circuits tested, one is Simple Resistive Load, and the other one is the standard AC-DC circuit. To experimentally investigate these circuits, the piezoelectric flag output voltage has been studied under various wind speeds in a wind tunnel. The simple resistive load circuit provides an alternating voltage, and not a DC voltage. The standard AC-DC circuit is used to convert the AC voltage into a DC voltage; however, the power dropped as a result of the voltage drop across the forward-biased diodes.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Entrepreneurship Awareness Education: An Example in an Elementry School

Issues of entrepreneurship and small business development have become increasingly important as the worldwide economy depends more and more on new firms for the production of the world's products and services and employment of the world's population. This research examines entrepreneurship awareness education in the elementary curriculum. An example of how entrepreneurship awareness can he introduced to elementary school students is described. The results of an assessment that sought to measure student knowledge of entrepreneurship and economics and constructs related to new venture creation prior to and following entrepreneurship and economics instruction are offered. Findings suggest that entrepreneurship instruction and parental role models may influence positive attitudes toward and an awareness of entrepreneurship at the elementary school level.
Plasma beta-hydroxybutyrate after octanoate challenge: attenuated ketogenic capacity in neonatal swine

Suckling neonatal pigs (NP, 24 h old) do not exhibit elevated blood ketone bodies (KB). Mature swine have relatively high KB under certain conditions, suggesting an ontogeny of ketogenesis. Thus we evaluated the hypothesis that NP possess a relatively attenuated ketogenic capacity vs. weaned pigs (WP) and mature pigs (MP). Fasted animals were given an intraperitoneal dose of octanoate (C8), and plasma beta-hydroxybutyrate (beta-OHB) and C8 were monitored over 180 min. Newborn (NR, 24 h old) and mature rabbits (MR, > 1 yr old) were also compared. Linear regressions of plasma beta-OHB (microM) vs. plasma C8 (microM) were calculated for C8 0.05, NS). The data are consistent with the hypothesis that NP have a poor capacity for ketogenesis.
Substrate specificity of reduced and oxidized forms of human aldose reductase.

NADPH-dependent oxidoreductases of the aldo-keto reductase family are widely distributed in man and animals (Wirth and Wermuth, 1985; Wermuth, 1985; Grimshaw and Mathur, 1989; Carper et al., 1987). The broad overlapping substrate specificities of these enzymes in the reduction of aldehydes and ketones suggests a role in detoxification of reactive carbonyls. Aldose reductase (EC 1.1.1.21; alditol: NAD(P) oxidoreductase) has received special attention because of its possible role in the development of diabetic complications (Gabbay, 1973; Kador and Kinoshita, 1985). Aldose reductase catalyzes the reduction of glucose to sorbitol in the polyol pathway which is normally a minor pathway for metabolism of glucose but may become important during hyperglycemia (Hers, 1956; Kador, 1988). Sorbitol accumulates in certain tissues that are prone to diabetic complications and may damage those tissues through a hyperosmotic mechanism (Kinoshita; 1974). Sorbitol may also interfere with the uptake and processing of myo-inositol, leading to impairment of cellular processes that are regulated by phosphatidylinositol metabolism (Greene et al., 1987; Finegold et al., 1983).
Micrometer-Scale Ballistic Transport of Electron Pairs in LaAlO 3 / SrTiO 3 Nanowires

Uncondensed spin-singlet electron pairs in a quasi-one-dimensional LaAlO${}_{3}$/SrTiO${}_{3}$ nanowire cavity experience micrometer scale ballistic transport.
Resistive tapered striplines design for MR conditional implants

Despite its remarkable success, one of the significant limitations of Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) and other types of active medical implants is their incompatibility with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This work presents in detail the theory behind a novel MR conditional leads based on resistive tapered stripline technology. The innovative high-resistance technology was shown to allow for decreased Specific Absorption Rate while maintaining low lead resistivity for continuous current injection. The final goal is the development of an active implant systems compatible with MRI and using a more effective stimulation, with significant benefits to patients that may require neural implantation in pathological conditions such as Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, and stroke.
Measuring journalistic peace/war performance: An exploratory study of crisis reporters’ attitudes and perceptions

Based on Galtung’s concept of peace/war journalism, this exploratory work attempts to advance an empirical method to develop a survey instrument for a reliable and valid assessment of journalists’ ...
Wall-modeled large eddy simulation of the McDonnell-Douglas 30P/30N high-lift airfoil in near-stall conditions

Accurate predictions of the ow around high lift devices is of particular interest for airframe noise predictions and wing design with or without active ow control. Whereas RANS modeling is often su ciently accurate for external aerodynamics at cruise conditions, it is less trustworthy at high-lift and near-stall conditions. We show that combining large eddy simulation with a wall-model is an attractive way to compute such ows at realistic Reynolds numbers, in conditions relevant to take-o and landing. At these Reynolds numbers, the grid requirements to resolve the viscous layers near the walls prevent the use of standard large eddy simulation without additional near-wall modeling. A wall-modeling procedure that is applicable to complex geometries is developed and incorporated in a massively parallel, unstructured grid compressible Navier-Stokes solver. A boundary-layer state sensor is developed in order to switch o the wall-model in laminar regions. The method is applied to the McDonnell-Douglas 30P/30N airfoil at a Reynolds number of Rec = 9:6 10 and a near-stall angle-of-attack = 19 .
Lack of effect of portacaval shunt on ornithine decarboxylase activity in regenerating rat liver.

SummaryThe influence of the end to side portacaval shunt on the level of activity of the enzyme ornithine decarboxylase following partial hepatectomy was investigated. A sharp rise in the enzyme level was found in both the shunted animals and in the normal controls. The chronology of the increase in enzymic activity was somewhat altered in the portacaval shunted animals, but both groups had similar peak values. The rate of cell division was also found to be unaffected. This report finds no evidence of support for the reported inhibition by the portacaval shunt of the increase in ornithine decarboxylase following partial hepatectomy.
Cytogenetics of Ticks. 4. Chromosomes of Argas (Persicargas) zumpti

Argus (Persicargas) zumpti Hoogstraal, Kaiser, & Kohls (1968b) is the sixth species assigned to the subgenus Persicargas and is a large, exceptionally distinctive member. The other 5 species comprising this taxon are: A. (P.) arboreus Kaiser, Hoogstraal, & Kohls (1964) from Egypt, South Africa, and Cameroons; A. (P.) abdussalami Hoogstraal & McCarthy (1965) from Pakistan; A. (P.) beklemischevi Pospelova-Shtrom, Vassilieva, & Semaschko (1963) in Turkmenia S. S. R.; A. (P.) robertsi Hoogstraal, Kaiser, & Kohls (1968a) in Australia, and A. (P.) persicus (Oken), which is widely distributed in the world (see Hoogstraal 1956). Hoogstraal et al. (1968b) believe all these species arc suspect as vectors of viruses that may infect humans and/or lower animals and cite some examples of virus isolation and experimental transmissions involving A. (P.) abdussalami and A. (P.) arboreus.
Dichlorvos and Gardona as Protectants for Stored Wheat Against Granary Weevil Infestations in Laboratory Studies

Laboratory studies were conducted to determine the relative effectiveness of Gardona® (2-chloro-1-(2,4,5-trichlorophenyl) vinyl dimethyl phosphate) and dichlorvos applied separately and in combination to protect stored hard red winter wheat subjected to an infestation by Sitophilus granaries (L.) Effective control (95–100% mortality) of the adult weevils was obtained with a 20-day exposure to 8 ppm Gardona applied to the wheat or a minimum of 10-days’ exposure to 15 ppm Gardona. Dichlorvos at 2 ppm and a weevil exposure period of 5 days also provided effective control. Gardona at 15 or 20 ppm reduced weevil reproduction significantly, while dichlorvos at 4 ppm inhibited reproduction. In general, the Gardona-dichlorvos mixtures were more effective as the percent of dichlorvos was increased.
Monitoring the fetal environment. 1. Biochemical methods.

Many biochemical, endocrine and biophysical procedures are being used to monitor the fetal environment, the objective being development of a battery of tests for subclinical fetal distress applicable throughout the antepartum course. Among the biochemical tests, assay of diamine oxidase is uniquely applicable to problems of the first and second trimesters.
Strength of Crossover

Crossover is happening in most domains at a rapid speed and is changing every aspect of our economic and social life. In addition to the bold crossover between ICT domains and non-ICT domains, crossover inside ICT domains is also attractive and meaningful. As an author, advocator and facilitator of the M-ICT strategy, ZTE will achieve fruitful results in the next few years and make its contribution.
A multidimensional timing device for cinematography.

(1967). A Multidimensional Timing Device for Cinematography. Research Quarterly. American Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation: Vol. 38, No. 1, pp. 146-148.
Episodic Air Pollution in Metropolitan Boston

A retrospective, epidemiological, trial air pollution study was made in the Boston metropolis tan area of the November 1966 air stagnation period (and a lesser stagnation period of the preceding October). The total suspended particulate matter, used as the air pollution index, increased above the seasonal average by about 50% in the earlier period and more than doubled in the November period. Out of a series of ten morbidity and mortality indexes that were considered for measuring against the air pollution variations, five were actually analyzed. Of the five, an association was found for only one, the numbers of clinic visits that were made by a cohort of patients with chronic, nonspecific respiratory disease.
An ultrasound-guided fascia iliaca catheter technique does not impair ambulatory ability within a clinical pathway for total hip arthroplasty

BACKGROUND Both neuraxial and peripheral regional analgesic techniques offer postoperative analgesia for total hip arthroplasty (THA) patients. While no single technique is preferred, quadriceps muscle weakness from peripheral nerve blocks may impede rehabilitation. We designed this study to compare postoperative ambulation outcome in THA patients who were treated with a new ultrasound-guided fascia iliaca catheter (FIC) technique or intrathecal morphine (ITM). METHODS We reviewed the electronic health records of a sequential series of primary unilateral THA patients who were part of a standardized clinical pathway; apart from differences in regional analgesic technique, all other aspects of the pathway were the same. Our primary outcome was total ambulation distance (meters) combined for postoperative days 1 and 2. Secondary outcomes included daily opioid consumption (morphine milligram equivalents) and analgesic-related side effects. We examined the association between the primary outcome and analgesic technique by performing crude and adjusted ordinary least-squares linear regression. A P value < 0.05 was considered statistically-significant. RESULTS The study analyzed the records of 179 patients (fascia iliaca, n = 106; intrathecal, n = 73). The primary outcome (total ambulation distance) did not differ between the groups (P = 0.08). Body mass index (BMI) was the only factor (β = -1.7 [95% CI -0.5 to -2.9], P < 0.01) associated with ambulation distance. Opioid consumption did not differ, while increased pruritus was seen in the intrathecal group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS BMI affects postoperative ambulation outcome after hip arthroplasty, whereas the type of regional analgesic technique used does not. An ultrasound-guided FIC technique offers similar analgesia with fewer side effects when compared with ITM.
A phonetic study of the tongue root contrast in Buriat and Ewen

Compared to the relatively well-studied West-African languages, there have been rare acoustic studies on the tongue root contrast in Altaic languages. This study analyzes the seven/eight vowel phonemes of Buriat/Ewen to find the acoustic correlates of the contrast in Altaic languages. The results show that F1 (height) and the normalized A1-A2 (spectral slope) are the most reliable acoustic cues. However, in Buriat, the normalized A1-A2 was higher in retracted vowels than in their advanced counterparts, which is the opposite of the findings in the West-African ATR languages. This may support the idea of differentiating ATR and RTR as two distinct features.
Jake Barnes’ Insomnia and Fiesta Nightmare in The Sun Also Rises

Ernest Hemingway’s obsession with death was probably his major preoccupation in life. In The Sun Also Rises the symbolical event that is never absorbed or superceded as experience is World War I, because Jake Barnes carries the remnants of the conflict with him as a permanent badge of honor. Jake’s wound did not earn him rewards of glory, or medals symbolizing glory; rather, permanent disfigurement and shame of his lost manhood are his prizes.
When Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Is Not Enough: A Step Toward Understanding When Concomitant Mitral Regurgitation Needs Treatment.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has revolutionized the treatment of severe aortic stenosis (AS), providing a less morbid method of restoring valve function than conventional open heart surgery. As experience accumulates and technology advances, TAVR will progress from a treatment
Mechanically controlling the reversible phase transformation from zinc blende to wurtzite in AlN

ABSTRACTIII–V and other binary octet semiconductors often take two phase forms—wurtzite (wz) and zinc blende (zb) crystal structures—with distinct functional performance at room temperature. Here, taking AlN as a representative III–V compound, we investigate how to control the synthesized phase structure to either wz or zb phase by tuning the interfacial strain. By applying in situ mechanical tests at atomic scale in a transmission electron microscope, we observed the reversible phase transformation from zb to wz, and characterized the transition path—the collective glide of Shockley partials on every two {111} planes of the zb AlN.
Ab Initio Excited-State Transient Raman Analysis.

Time-resolved Raman spectroscopy has proven useful for studying the formation of polarons in conjugated polymers, verifying the presence of reactive intermediates in photochemical reactions, investigating nonradiative transitions in the short lifetime of the photoexcited species, and resolving electron–phonon coupling strengths and exciton dissociation in crystalline materials. In this paper, we present an excited state transient Raman analysis protocol combining ab initio direct molecular dynamics, transient excited state Hessian, and excited state nonresonant Raman activities evaluations. Prototypical molecules are used as test cases, showing the evolution of the transient Raman signatures that follow electronic excitation. This protocol provides a direct route to assigning the vibrations implicated in the (photo)dynamics of several (photoactive) systems, complementary to the transient infrared analysis.
Intelligent cooperation: A framework of pedagogic practice in the operating room.

Abstract Background Surgeons who work with trainees must address their learning needs without compromising patient safety. Methods We used a constructivist grounded theory approach to examine videos of five teaching surgeries. Attending surgeons were interviewed afterward while watching cued videos of their cases. Codes were iteratively refined into major themes, and then constructed into a larger framework. Results We present a novel framework, Intelligent Cooperation, which accounts for the highly adaptive, iterative features of surgical teaching in the operating room. Specifically, we define Intelligent Cooperation as a sequence of coordinated exchanges between attending and trainee that accomplishes small surgical steps while simultaneously uncovering the trainee's learning needs. Conclusions Intelligent Cooperation requires the attending to accurately determine learning needs, perform real-time needs assessment, provide critical scaffolding, and work with the learner to accomplish the next step in the surgery. This is achieved through intense, coordinated verbal and physical cooperation. Summary sentences for table of contents Intelligent Cooperation is defined as a sequence of coordinated exchanges between attending and trainee that accomplishes small surgical steps while simultaneously uncovering the trainee's learning needs. Intelligent Cooperation is achieved through intense, coordinated verbal and physical cooperation and requires the attending to accurately determine learning needs, perform real-time needs assessment, provide critical scaffolding, and work with the learner to accomplish the next step in the surgery.
Use of Lung Allografts From Donation After Cardiac Death Donors: A Single-Center Experience.

Background Lung transplantation remains the only treatment for end-stage lung disease. Availability of suitable lungs does not parallel this growing trend. Centers using donation after cardiac death (DCD) donor lungs report comparable outcomes with those from brain-dead donors. Donor assessment protocols and consistent surgical teams have been advocated when considering using the use of DCD donors. We present our experience using lungs from Maastricht category III DCD donors. Methods Starting 2007 to July 2016, 73 DCD donors were assessed, 44 provided suitable lungs that resulted in 46 transplants. A 2012 to October 2016 comparative cohort of 379 brain-dead donors were assessed. Recipient and donor characteristics and primary graft dysfunction (PGD) and survival were monitored. Results Seventy-three DCD (40% dry run rate) donors assessed yielded 46 transplants (23 double, 6 right, and 17 left). Comparative cohort of 379 brain-dead donors yielded 237 transplants (112 double, 43 right, and 82 left). One- and 3-year recipient survival was 91% and 78% for recipients of DCD lungs and 91% and 75% for recipients of lungs from brain-dead donors, respectively. PGD 2 and 3 in DCD recipients at 72 hours was 4 of 46 (9%) and 6 of 46 (13%), respectively. Comparatively, brain-dead donor recipient cohort at 72 hours with PGD 2 and 3 was 23 of 237 (10%) and 41 of 237 (17%), respectively. Conclusions Our experience reaffirms the use of lungs from DCD donors as a viable source with favorable outcomes. Recipients from DCD donors showed equivalent PGD rate at 72 hours and survival compared with recipients from brain-dead donors.
Condition monitoring techniques for induction motors

Induction motors are used in various work environment and critical industrial processes, operating conditions and well-being of these machines need to be monitored to avoid potential failures. In this paper, an extensive literature review is conducted for condition monitoring techniques for induction motors. Various state-of-art techniques are presented and summarized under three categories: 1) signature extraction based approach, 2) model-based approach, and 3) knowledge-based approach. Advantages and drawbacks of several commonly used methods are demonstrated. Although research has been conducted in this area for several decades, condition monitoring and fault diagnosis of induction motors remains an active research area, especially recent emerging transition from traditional techniques to knowledge-based approach using artificial intelligent, which opens a pathway to an exciting new research direction.
Bone marrow stromal cells activate Stat3 and confer resistance to Bcr-Abl inhibitors in K562 CML cells

2454 Imatinib mesylate (IM) represents a potent molecularly targeted therapy against the oncogenic tyrosine kinase Bcr-Abl. Although IM has shown considerable efficacy against chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), treatment with IM is not curative and overtime most CML patients become refractory to further treatment. Acquired resistance to IM has been associated with mutations within the kinase domain of Bcr-Abl as well as over-expression of drug transporters. However, in vitro resistance models do not consider the role of the tumor microenvironment in the emergence of the drug resistant phenotype. The predominant microenvironment of CML is the bone marrow. This microenvironment is a rich source of both soluble factors and extracellular matrixes, which may influence drug response. To address the influence of the bone marrow microenvironment on IM sensitivity we utilized an in vitro co-culture bone marrow stroma model. Using a transwell system we demonstrated that soluble factors secreted by the HS-5 bone marrow stroma cell line were sufficient to cause resistance to apoptosis induced by IM. We subsequently determined that HS-5 conditioned media (CM) protects K562 CML cells from apoptosis induced by IM. We also determined that CM increases clonogenic survival following treatment with IM. Finally, culturing K562 cells in CM derived from HS-5 cells inhibits apoptosis induced by the second generation Bcr-Abl kinase inhibitors nilotinib (AMN107) and dasatinib (BMS-354825). These data suggest that more potent Bcr-Abl inhibitors will not overcome resistance associated with the bone marrow microenvironment. HS-5 cells are reported to express several cytokines and growth factors known to activate Stat3. Given its crucial role in the survival of hematopoietic cells, we asked whether 1) CM derived from HS-5 cells can activate Stat3 in K562 cells and 2) does activation of Stat3 confer resistance to Bcr-Abl inhibitors. In this report we show that exposure of K562 cells to CM caused an increased Y705 phosphorylation of Stat3. Furthermore, using a siRNA approach, we found that reducing Stat3 expression sensitized K562 cells cultured in CM to apoptosis induced by IM (p
Preclinical characterization of the JAK/STAT inhibitor SGI-1252 on skeletal muscle function, morphology, and satellite cell content.

Background Recent studies have highlighted the JAK/STAT signaling pathway in the regulation of muscle satellite cell behavior. Herein we report preclinical studies designed to characterize the effects of a novel JAK/STAT inhibitor on plantar flexor skeletal muscle function, morphology, and satellite cell content. Methods The compound, SGI-1252, was administered orally (400mg/kg) in a 10% dextrose solution to wild type mice (n = 6) 3 times per week for 8 weeks. A control group (n = 6) received only the dextrose solution. Results SGI-1252 was well tolerated, as animals displayed similar weight gain over the 8-week treatment period. Following treatment, fatigue in the gastrocnemius-soleus-plantaris complex was greater in the SGI-1252 mice during a 300 second tetanic contraction bout (p = 0.035), though both the rate of fatigue and maximal force production were similar. SGI-1252 treated mice had increased type II myofiber cross-sectional area (1434.8 ± 225.4 vs 1754.7 ± 138.5 μm2), along with an increase in wet muscle mass (125.45 ± 5.46 vs 139.6 ± 12.34 mg, p = 0.032) of the gastrocnemius relative to vehicle treated mice. SGI-1252 treatment reduced gastrocnemius STAT3 phosphorylation 53% (94.79 ± 45.9 vs 44.5 ± 6.1 MFI) and significantly increased the concentration of Pax7+ satellite cells (2589.2 ± 105.5 vs 2859.4 ± 177.5 SC/mm3) in the gastrocnemius. SGI-1252 treatment suppressed MyoD (p = 0.013) and Myogenin (p<0.0001) expression in human primary myoblasts, resulting in reduced myogenic differentiation (p = 0.039). Conclusions Orally delivered SGI-1252 was well tolerated, attenuates skeletal muscle STAT3 activity, and increases satellite cell content in mouse gastrocnemius muscle, likely by inhibiting myogenic progression.
Unobtrusive Analysis of Group Interactions without Cameras

Group meetings are often inefficient, unorganized and poorly documented. Factors including "group-think," fear of speaking, unfocused discussion, and bias can affect the performance of a group meeting. In order to actively or passively facilitate group meetings, automatically analyzing group interaction patterns is critical. Existing research on group dynamics analysis still heavily depends on video cameras in the lines of sight of participants or wearable sensors, both of which could affect the natural behavior of participants. In this thesis, we present a smart meeting room that combines microphones and unobtrusive ceiling-mounted Time-of-Flight (ToF) sensors to understand group dynamics in team meetings. Since the ToF sensors are ceiling-mounted and out of the lines of sight of the participants, we posit that their presence would not disrupt the natural interaction patterns of individuals. We collect a new multi-modal dataset of group interactions where participants have to complete a task by reaching a group consensus, and then fill out a post-task questionnaire. We use this dataset for the development of our algorithms and analysis of group meetings. In this paper, we combine the ceiling-mounted ToF sensors and lapel microphones to: (1) estimate the seated body orientation of participants, (2) estimate the head pose and visual focus of attention (VFOA) of meeting participants, (3) estimate the arm pose and body posture of participants, and (4) analyze the multimodal data for passive understanding of group meetings, with a focus on perceived leadership and contribution.
Maternal Height and Risk of Preeclampsia among Race/Ethnic Groups.

Objective Shorter maternal height has been associated with preeclampsia risk in several populations. It has been less evident whether an independent contribution to the risk exists from maternal height consistently across different races/ethnicities. We investigated associations between maternal height and risk of preeclampsia for different races/ethnicities. Study Design California singleton live births from 2007 to 2011 were analyzed. Logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios for the association between height and preeclampsia after stratification by race/ethnicity. To determine the contribution of height that is as independent of body composition as possible, we performed one analysis adjusted for body mass index (BMI) and the other for weight. Additional analyses were performed stratified by parity, and the presence of preexisting/gestational diabetes and autoimmune conditions. Results Among 2,138,012 deliveries, 3.1% preeclampsia/eclampsia cases were observed. The analysis, adjusted for prepregnancy weight, revealed an inverse relation between maternal height and risk of mild and severe preeclampsia/eclampsia. When the analysis was adjusted for BMI, an inverse relation between maternal height was observed for severe preeclampsia/eclampsia. These associations were observed for each race/ethnicity. Conclusion Using a large and diverse cohort, we demonstrated that shorter height, irrespective of prepregnancy weight or BMI, is associated with an increased risk of severe preeclampsia/eclampsia across different races/ethnicities.
A Novel In Situ Flamelet Tabulation Methodology for the Representative Interactive Flamelet Model

ABSTRACTA priori flamelet tabulation methods have been used extensively to model premixed and non-premixed combustion in Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) and large Eddy simulations (LES). Pre...
An Analysis of Female Plastic Surgery Authorship: Where Are We Today?

BACKGROUND Authorship in a peer-reviewed journal is highly regarded in both the academic and private sectors of plastic surgery. Recently, several articles have cited an increased contribution from women in the plastic surgery literature; however, none to date has analyzed the demographic trends of these female authors. The purpose of this study was to conduct an analysis of female authors in three well-known plastic surgery journals. METHODS Articles published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Annals of Plastic Surgery, and Aesthetic Surgery Journal between January of 2015 and December of 2015 were reviewed. Supplemental journal, review, and CME articles were excluded. First, second, and last authors from the United States were reviewed and stratified by a number of categories, including sex, geographic location, and title. RESULTS Two-thousand fifty authors were reviewed. Of these, 20 percent of first authors, 24 percent of second authors, and 15 percent of last authors were women. Female representation was fairly equal among the journals, and 39 percent of women authors were international. Overall, 16 percent of fully trained plastic surgeon authors and 25 percent of resident authors were women, as compared to 15 percent female fully trained plastic surgeons and 36.2 percent female residents represented in the overall community. CONCLUSIONS Faculty are on par with national percentages of women plastic surgeons; however, women residents have lower representation in the literature than in the community as a whole. Residents and faculty must promote productivity of the younger generation of women plastic surgeons to continue increasing contributions of women to the specialty.
On the Need for Topology-Aware Generative Models for Manifold-Based Defenses.

Machine-learning (ML) algorithms or models, especially deep neural networks (DNNs), have shown significant promise in several areas. However, researchers have recently demonstrated that ML algorithms, especially DNNs, are vulnerable to adversarial examples (slightly perturbed samples that cause misclassification). The existence of adversarial examples has hindered the deployment of ML algorithms in safety-critical sectors, such as security. Several defenses for adversarial examples exist in the literature. One of the important classes of defenses are manifold-based defenses, where a sample is ``pulled back" into the data manifold before classifying. These defenses rely on the assumption that data lie in a manifold of a lower dimension than the input space. These defenses use a generative model to approximate the input distribution. In this paper, we investigate the following question: do the generative models used in manifold-based defenses need to be topology-aware? We suggest the answer is yes, and we provide theoretical and empirical evidence to support our claim.
Functional Loss of ATRX and TERC Activates Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres (ALT) in LAPC4 Prostate Cancer Cells

A key hallmark of cancer, unlimited replication, requires cancer cells to evade both replicative senescence and potentially lethal chromosomal instability induced by telomere dysfunction. The majority of cancers overcome these critical barriers by upregulating telomerase, a telomere-specific reverse transcriptase. However, a subset of cancers maintains telomere lengths by the telomerase-independent Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres (ALT) pathway. The presence of ALT is strongly associated with recurrent cancer-specific somatic inactivating mutations in the ATRX-DAXX chromatin-remodeling complex. Here, we generate an ALT-positive adenocarcinoma cell line following functional inactivation of ATRX and telomerase in a telomerase-positive adenocarcinoma cell line. Inactivating mutations in ATRX were introduced using CRISPR-cas9 nickase into two prostate cancer cell lines, LAPC-4 (derived from a lymph node metastasis) and CWR22Rv1 (sourced from a xenograft established from a primary prostate cancer). In LAPC-4, but not CWR22Rv1, abolishing ATRX was sufficient to induce multiple ALT-associated hallmarks, including the presence of ALT-associated promyelocytic leukemia bodies (APB), extrachromosomal telomere C-circles, and dramatic telomere length heterogeneity. However, telomerase activity was still present in these ATRXKO cells. Telomerase activity was subsequently crippled in these LAPC-4 ATRXKO cells by introducing mutations in the TERC locus, the essential RNA component of telomerase. These LAPC-4 ATRXKO TERCmut cells continued to proliferate long-term and retained ALT-associated hallmarks, thereby demonstrating their reliance on the ALT mechanism for telomere maintenance. IMPLICATIONS: These prostate cancer cell line models provide a unique system to explore the distinct molecular alterations that occur upon induction of ALT, and may be useful tools to screen for ALT-specific therapies.
Chapter 9 – POLAR COORDINATES

Publisher Summary Polar coordinate system has proved to be very useful to express problems in terms of rectangular coordinates. This chapter is focused on the polar coordinate system. Proficiency in sketching polar curves is largely a matter of experience and observation, and familiarity with properties of the trigonometric functions is indispensible. The problem of finding the points of intersection of two curves is that of solving their equations simultaneously. However, when curves are represented by polar equations, the problem is not always quite this simple. The chapter describes general procedures for finding the points of intersection of two curves. The polar equation of a curve may not be unique in the customary sense that any particular form of the equation may be obtained from any other form by algebraic manipulation.
146 Examining child restraint use and orientation among crash-involved child passengers: drivers’ failure to comply with existing legislation

Purpose Based largely on biomechanical modeling, several states (including NJ) recently enacted legislation requiring child passengers Methods Utilizing data from the NJ Safety and Health Outcomes warehouse—which includes both driver- and passenger-level data from police-reported crashes—we selected all passengers age Results There were equal proportions of male and female passengers with an average age of 4.2+2.5 years. The majority (94%) were seated in the vehicle’s second or third row at the time of the crash. Over one-third (38%) of children 6 using vehicle seat belts. Conclusion Findings reflect a preliminary investigation of real-world child restraint use and orientation. Despite legal requirements for rear-facing restraint use for the youngest passengers, many children are improperly restrained and perhaps at greater injury risk. Significance of Contributions This project is among the first to examine real-world child restraint use across an entire state, providing novel information regarding restraint orientation. Future research will leverage linked hospitalization data to examine child passenger injury outcomes and the contribution of driver-, child- and neighborhood-level characteristics to nonadherence.
First taste of freedom: a cultural history of bicycle marketing: by Robert J. Turpin, Syracuse, Syracuse University Press, 2018, 287 pp., $27.95 (paperback), ISBN 978-0-8156-3591-8

The title of Robert Turpin’s new monograph, First Taste of Freedom: A Cultural History of Bicycle Marketing in the United States, suggests a narrow focus. But in fact, readers will find here an exp...
The Sensitivity of the Bible Verse Selection Task to the Relationship between Christian Fundamentalism and Religious Outgroup Prejudice

Four different studies provide evidence to support the validity of the Bible Verse Selection Task (BVST) as a measure of the strength of Christian fundamentalist beliefs by showing correlations bet...
Free boundary regularity on the focusing problem for the Qk curvature flow with flat sides I

Abstract In this paper, we consider the motion of a compact, weakly convex hypersurface of revolution Σ 0 ⊂ R n + 1 under the Q k curvature flow. Assume that Σ 0 has a flat side, under a certain non-degeneracy initial condition, we show that Σ t is smooth up to the flat side for t > 0 . Moreover, the interface separating the flat side from the strictly convex side, moves by the Q k − 1 flow until the flat side disappears. We also show that at the focusing time T, i.e., the time when the flat side disappears, the pressure function g is of class C 1 , α , for some α ∈ ( 0 , 1 ) depends on n and k.
Automated identification of postural control for children with autism spectrum disorder using a machine learning approach.

Abstract It is unclear whether postural sway characteristics could be used as diagnostic biomarkers for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The purpose of this study was to develop and validate an automated identification of postural control patterns in children with ASD using a machine learning approach. 50 children aged 5–12 years old were recruited and assigned into two groups: ASD (n = 25) and typically developing groups (n = 25). Participants were instructed to stand barefoot on two feet and maintain a stationary stance for 20 s during two conditions: (1) eyes open and (2) eyes closed. The center of pressure (COP) data were collected using a force plate. COP variables were computed, including linear displacement, total distance, sway area, and complexity. Six supervised machine learning classifiers were trained to classify the ASD postural control based on these COP variables. All machine learning classifiers successfully identified ASD postural control patterns based on the COP features with high accuracy rates (>0.800). The naive Bayes method was the optimal means to identify ASD postural control with the highest accuracy rate (0.900), specificity (1.000), precision (1.000), F1 score (0.898) and satisfactory sensitivity (0.826). By increasing the sample size and analyzing more data/features of postural control, a better classification performance would be expected. The use of computer-aided machine learning to assess COP data is efficient, accurate, with minimum human intervention and thus, could benefit the diagnosis of ASD.
Catheter ablation of the left and right atrial appendages without isolation in persistent atrial fibrillation

Background Electrical isolation of the left atrial appendage (LAA) improves outcomes of patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) but may increase the risk of thromboembolism. Objective The purpose of this study was to describe a method to map and ablate appendage drivers without complete electrical isolation. Methods One hundred thirteen patients underwent an ablation procedure for persistent AF. The procedure was performed during AF and consisted of pulmonary vein and posterior LA isolation as well as ablation of the LAA. The right atrium (RA) was targeted in patients with a right-to-left gradient in cycle length (CL). The end point of appendage ablation was CL slowing or AF termination but not complete isolation. Results Among the 113 patients (mean age 64.6 ± 8.6 years; ejection fraction 54% ± 13%; LA diameter 46 ± 6.5 mm), radiofrequency ablation terminated AF in 51 patients (45%). RA ablation was performed in 41 patients (36%) at the index or repeat procedure. The mean AF CL in the RA appendage (RAA) was shorter than that in the LAA (160 ± 32 ms vs 186 ± 29 ms; P Conclusion An ablation strategy guided by the AF CL addresses LAA drivers without complete electrical isolation and also helps identify the RAA as a source of persistent AF.
A Tangled Tale of Training and Talent: PhDs in Institutional Asset Management

Performance of investment products managed by firms in which PhDs play a key role is superior to the performance of products managed by otherwise similar firms. This relation is not a result of end...
Adaptive Design of Clinical Trials: A Sequential Learning Approach

The inefficiency of the conventional clinical trial design is often attributed to two main reasons: invariant type I and II errors as well as fixed sample sizes. To the best of our knowledge, we represent the first paper to present a novel and tractable Bayesian decision-theoretical framework on multi-period adaptive clinical design that accommodate different forms of experiments (or controls). Our framework builds on the sequential hypothesis testing paradigm in which the clinical trial designer can either choose among different experiments with different information, or to terminate the trial. We show that the log-likelihood ratio (LLR) converges to a diffusion process via a limiting approximation, where the designer runs a series of increasingly less informative experiments whose distributions under the null and the alternative converge in symmetric KL-divergence. The optimal solution to the resulting stochastic control problem is analytically solved. The insight is to use more informative controls when the belief is more certain, and to use less informative ones otherwise. We demonstrate using real world clinical trial data that our model performs considerably better than existing policies in terms of overall expected economic benefits. We believe this paper provides invaluable managerial insight and practical guidance for decision makers in adaptive clinical trials to better design experiment and make informed decisions.
Advances in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia: A Review.

Importance Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a rare, inherited condition involving motile cilia that line the upper and lower respiratory tracts, leading to chronic infections of the paranasal sinuses, middle ear, and bronchi that begin during infancy. Unfortunately, despite its early presentation, PCD is often recognized late. Observations People with PCD have diverse clinical manifestations, including chronic upper and lower respiratory tract disease, laterality defects, and subfertility. Through efforts of multinational clinical collaboratives, 4 cardinal features have been described that identify people who likely have PCD: unexplained neonatal respiratory distress, left-right laterality defects, daily wet cough, and nonseasonal rhinosinusitis beginning before 6 months of age. Recent advances in the understanding of the genetics and pathogenesis of the disease have led to a revolution in the approach to screening and diagnostic testing. Moreover, PCD has a broad clinical spectrum, and genotype-phenotype associations are beginning to be recognized. Conclusions and relevance A high index of suspicion remains critical in diagnosing PCD. Children who have at least 2 of the major clinical features should be considered for further evaluation. Nevertheless, while newer tools have improved diagnostic capabilities, there is no single test that will diagnose every person with the disease. In people suspected of having PCD, nasal nitric oxide measurement is a useful screen, followed by diagnostic genetic testing and if negative, ciliary ultrastructural analysis. Despite otolaryngologic manifestations being common in infancy and persisting into adulthood, they have been understudied. Indeed, there are few randomized clinical trials examining the medicosurgical approaches to respiratory disease.
Host cell amplification of nutritional stress contributes to persistence in Chlamydia trachomatis

Persistence, a viable, but non-replicating state has been implicated in diseases caused by Chlamydia trachomatis. Multiple nutritional stressors produce a superficially similar "persistent" state, yet no systematic comparison has been made to determine their likeness. We employed host-pathogen dual RNA-sequencing under both iron- and tryptophan-starved conditions to gain insight into chlamydial persistence and identify contributions by the host cell. Analysis of the transcriptome of iron- or tryptophan-starved Chlamydia revealed a common "core" component and a stress-specific "accessory" subset. Despite the overall transcriptomic differences of host cells starved for either iron or tryptophan, both stressors induced persistence. A common metabolic consequence of the stressors was a reduction in intracellular GTP levels. Mizoribine inhibition of IMDPH1, which catalyzes the rate-limiting step in de novo guanine nucleotide synthesis reproduced to a similar extent GTP depletion, and inhibited chlamydial growth as expected for a pathogen that is auxotrophic for GTP. Thus, the reduction of guanine nucleotide synthesis manifests amplification of either iron or tryptophan starvation contributing to persistence. These findings illustrate that a nutritionally stressed host cell remains effective in arresting growth of Chlamydia by targeting metabolic pathways required by the pathogen.
Metal Removal by a Free Surface Constructed Wetland and Prediction of Metal Bioavailability and Toxicity with Diffusive Gradients in Thin Films (DGT) and Biotic Ligand Model (BLM).

The H-02 constructed wetland is a free water surface wetland to remove copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) from the industrial wastewater. In this study, we evaluated the performance of the wetland from 2018 to 2019 and coupled the diffusive gradients in thin films (DGTs) and biotic ligand model (BLM) to explore metal speciation and bioavailability in wetland waters. Surface water samples were collected and piston DGTs were deployed in different sites of the wetland. The H-02 wetland functioned well during the sampling period with high removal efficiencies (Cu: 73.8 ± 1.2% and Zn: 75.2 ± 16.0%). In our study, with the assumption that the combination of BLM predicted inorganic metals species, BLM Cu(II) and BLM Zn(II), were the bioavailable and toxic species, DGT-Cu did not correlate to BLM Cu(II) (P = 0.47), but DGT-Zn positively correlated to BLM Zn(II) (R2 = 0.35, P < 0.001). Compared to the modeling results of BLM, DGT-indicated labile and/or bioavailable Cu included not only free Cu ions and inorganic Cu complexes but also a high percentage of Cu-labile organic matter complexes. DGT-indicated Zn included free Zn ion, inorganic Zn, and only a low percentage of Zn-labile organic matter complexes. Our findings illustrated the appropriate use of passive sampling techniques and geological modeling when biomonitoring could be substituted. The close monitoring of metal concentrations, speciation, and bioavailability helps us understand metal biogeochemistry and metal removal processes and ensure the long-term sustainability of the constructed wetland.