cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
TH-EF-BRC-04: Quality Management Program

This Hands-on Workshop will be focused on providing participants with experience with the principal tools of TG 100 and hence start to build both competence and confidence in the use of risk-based quality management techniques. The three principal tools forming the basis of TG 100's risk analysis: Process mapping, Failure-Modes and Effects Analysis and fault-tree analysis will be introduced with a 5 minute refresher presentation and each presentation will be followed by a 30 minute small group exercise. An exercise on developing QM from the risk analysis follows. During the exercise periods, participants will apply the principles in 2 different clinical scenarios. At the conclusion of each exercise there will be ample time for participants to discuss with each other and the faculty their experience and any challenges encountered. Learning Objectives: 1.To review the principles of Process Mapping, Failure Modes and Effects Analysis and Fault Tree Analysis. 2.To gain familiarity with these three techniques in a small group setting. 3.To share and discuss experiences with the three techniques with faculty and participants. Director, TreatSafely, LLC. Director, Center for the Assessment of Radiological Sciences. Occasional Consultant to the IAEA and Varian.
International Buyers Perspective Toward Trade Shows and Other Promotional Methods

The purpose of the study was to examine the effectiveness of relationship-building trade show activities from an international buyers perspective. Relationship-building activities are defined here ...
Toward Extreme-Scale Processor Chips

As transistor sizes continue to scale, we are about to witness stunning levels of chip integration, with 1,000 cores on a single die, and increasing levels of die stacking. Transistors may not be much faster, but there will be many more of them. In these architectures, efficient communication and synchronization will be a challenge. Moreover, energy and power will constrain the designs even more than they do today. In this context, this talk presents some of the technologies that we may need to deploy to exploit these architectures. To enable data sharing, we need novelsynchronization and fence hardware. For low-latency communication, we may leverage on-chip wireless networks.
Fungal endophytes from seeds of invasive, non-native Phragmites australis and their potential role in germination and seedling growth

We characterized fungal endophytes of seeds of invasive, non-native Phragmites from three sites in the Great Lakes region to determine if fungal symbiosis could contribute to invasiveness through their effects on seed germination and seedling growth. Field-collected seeds were surface sterilized and plated on agar to culture endophytes for ITS sequencing. Prevalence of specific endophytes from germinated and non-germinated seeds, and from seedlings, was compared. One-third of 740 seeds yielded endophyte isolates. Fifteen taxa were identified with Alternaria sp. representing 54% of all isolates followed by Phoma sp. (21%) and Penicillium corylophilum (12%). Overall germination of seeds producing an isolate (36%) was significantly higher than seeds not producing an isolate (20%). Penicillium in particular was strongly associated with increased germination of seeds from one site. Sixty-three isolates and 11 taxa were also obtained from 30 seedlings where Phoma, Penicillium and Alternaria respectively were most prevalent. There was a significant effect of isolating an endophyte from the seed on seedling growth. These results suggest that many endophyte taxa are transmitted in seeds and can increase seed germination and seedling growth of invasive Phragmites. The role of fungal endophytes in host establishment, growth and invasiveness in nature requires further research.
Catalytic Coupling between Unactivated Aliphatic C–H Bonds and Alkynes via a Metal–Hydride Pathway

We report a Rh(I)-catalyzed site-selective coupling between ketone β-C(sp3)–H bonds and aliphatic alkynes using an in situ-installed directing group. Upon hydrogenation or hydration, various β-alkylation or β-aldol products of the ketones are obtained with broad functional group tolerance. Mechanistic investigations support the involvement of a Rh–H intermediate through oxidative addition of Rh(I) into the β-C–H bonds. Thus, to the best of our knowledge, this transformation represents the first example of catalytic couplings between unsaturated hydrocarbons and unactivated aliphatic C–H bonds via a metal–hydride pathway.
Isolated Gastrocnemius Recession for the Treatment of Achilles Tendinopathy.

Background: Various treatment modalities have been described for Achilles tendinopathy with varying degrees of success. The rationale for the gastrocnemius recession procedure is to decrease the me...
Aggregate Index for Measuring the Economic and Technological Performance of Nations

The crisis of international markets following recent events such as terrorist attacks, wars in the Middle East, high public debts, growing financial globalisation and integration have raised an interest in the analysis of country risk among industrialised countries as well as emerging nations. This paper develops new measures of economic and technological performances of countries by means of a systemic approach based on combinations of several indices. A comparative analysis using data from 51 countries for the period 2000-2002 shows the countries with high/low economic and technological performances. The results are substantially stronger and quicker than those obtained by conventional indicators.
Estimation of discretization error in electromagnetic transient simulation models of power systems

In leveraging simulation as a serious tool for design and analysis of large, complicated, and expensive systems, it is critical to establish confidence in the models through rigorous verification and validation exercises. One aspect of the validation process is the assessment of numerical error in the simulation, a significant portion of which can often be attributed to discretization error. In several fields of scientific computing, indices based on Richardson extrapolation are used to assess discretization error. This paper discusses work in progress to investigate the application of such indices to electromagnetic transient power system models. An example is given in which the method is applied to an electromagnetic transient simulation of a simple RLC circuit, for which the exact solution is known. Difficulties and benefits of the approach are discussed.
Detecting Anatomical Landmarks From Limited Medical Imaging Data Using Two-Stage Task-Oriented Deep Neural Networks

One of the major challenges in anatomical landmark detection, based on deep neural networks, is the limited availability of medical imaging data for network learning. To address this problem, we present a two-stage task-oriented deep learning method to detect large-scale anatomical landmarks simultaneously in real time , using limited training data . Specifically, our method consists of two deep convolutional neural networks (CNN), with each focusing on one specific task. Specifically, to alleviate the problem of limited training data, in the first stage, we propose a CNN based regression model using millions of image patches as input, aiming to learn inherent associations between local image patches and target anatomical landmarks. To further model the correlations among image patches, in the second stage, we develop another CNN model, which includes a) a fully convolutional network that shares the same architecture and network weights as the CNN used in the first stage and also b) several extra layers to jointly predict coordinates of multiple anatomical landmarks. Importantly, our method can jointly detect large-scale ( e.g. , thousands of) landmarks in real time. We have conducted various experiments for detecting 1200 brain landmarks from the 3D T1-weighted magnetic resonance images of 700 subjects, and also 7 prostate landmarks from the 3D computed tomography images of 73 subjects. The experimental results show the effectiveness of our method regarding both accuracy and efficiency in the anatomical landmark detection.
Methods of Evaluating Pecan Cultivars for Tolerance to Feeding Damage Caused by the Black Pecan Aphid, Melanocallis caryaefoliae (Davis)

Two aphid rearing methods were evaluated for their suitability of making biological observations on the black pecan aphid, Melanocallis caryaefoliae (Davis), and as rapid assessments of pecan culti...
Like-Kind Exchanges of Timber Rights

The exchange of timber rights is a niche area of the law, but issues related to such exchanges arise from time to time in various practices. Keeping track of the cases and rulings that have considered the tax consequences of exchange timber rights can be difficult. This article reviews those authorities and summarizes the state of law regarding like-kind exchanges of timber rights. The article shows that courts and the IRS do not treat rights to remove standing timber as like kind to other real property interests, so exchanges of such property do not qualify for section 1031 nonrecognition. Rights in standing timber may, however, be like kind to other rights in standing timber, and interests in real property that includes standing timber can be like kind to other real property. The general principles derived from the existing body of law should provide fairly clear guidance for taxpayers and their advisors who are considering the tax consequences of transfers or acquisitions of timber rights.
Effects of accessibility and environmental health risk on housing prices: a case of Salt Lake County, Utah

Abstract While transportation infrastructure can increase housing price by improving accessibility to opportunities, it generates environmental health risks, such as noise and air pollution, which may have negative effects on housing price. However, the combined effects of accessibility and environmental health risk on housing price have not been well examined in the literature, especially in the auto-oriented urban context of the United States. In this study, we use assessed housing value data and the hedonic model to examine the single-family housing market's reaction to accessibility and environment health risks in Salt Lake County, a growing metropolitan area in Utah experiencing significant air pollution. Three regression models are employed with the consideration of spatial effects: ordinary least squares (OLS), spatial lag regression (SLR), and hierarchical linear modeling (HLM, or multilevel modeling/MLM). By controlling for the influences of structural attributes and socioeconomic conditions, we find that the negative impacts (traffic noise and air pollution) of transportation systems on single-family housing prices are greater than the positive impact (accessibility). Single-family residents in Salt Lake County are willing to pay more to reduce environmental health risks than to get better accessibility. These findings are different from what have been found in some dense and compact urban areas in the literature. These findings suggest that people's willingness to pay for minimizing environmental health risks varies across different urban contexts.
Role of Hydrogen Bonding on Transport of Coadsorbed Gases in Metal–Organic Frameworks Materials

Coadsorption of multicomponents in metal–organic framework (MOF) materials can lead to a number of cooperative effects, such as modification of adsorption sites or during transport. In this work, we explore the incorporation of NH3 and H2O into MOFs preloaded with small molecules such as CO, CO2, and SO2. We find that NH3 (or H2O) first displaces a certain amount of preadsorbed molecules in the outer portion of MOF crystallites, and then substantially hinders diffusion. Combining in situ spectroscopy with first-principles calculations, we show that hydrogen bonding between NH3 (or H2O) is responsible for an increase of a factor of 7 and 8 in diffusion barrier of CO and CO2 through the MOF channels. Understanding such cooperative effects is important for designing new strategies to enhance adsorption in nanoporous materials.
Identifying depressive symptoms among diabetes type and the impact on hemoglobin A1c.

BACKGROUND This study was designed to determine the effects of diabetes type and gender on depression risk determined by a highly sensitive screening questionnaire in adolescents. Glycemic control and counseling affect were also studied. METHODS A retrospective chart review of patients seen between 2013 and 2015 was performed. Five hundred and thirty adolescents with type 1 (T1DM) or 2 (T2DM) diabetes mellitus completed the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) to identify depressive symptoms. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) was measured when the PHQ-9 was given, and at 1 year. Patients with increased depression risk were referred for counseling and comparisons were made between those who did and did not attend. RESULTS Females with T2DM, but not males, had increased depression compared to T1DM. Females had increased depression compared to males in T1DM (p = 0.046) and a near significant increase in T2DM (p = 0.069). In T1DM, but not T2DM, HbA1c levels were increased in high and moderate, compared to low, risk depression risk groups (p = 0.007). Follow-up HbA1c was unchanged 1 year later and there were no differences between those involved in counseling and those who refused to attend. Sex and type of diabetes had no effect on response to counseling. CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate increased depression in adolescents with T2DM compared to T1DM and in females compared to controls. Glycemic control did not change in adolescents who reported moderate to severe symptoms of depression and received counseling intervention compared to adolescents who declined counseling.
Cosmic flashing lights

Gravitational lensing is becoming increasingly important to the study of distant galaxies and dark matter. Two groups have recently detected transient events emanating from far-away lensed galaxies, apparently due to extreme magnification of individual stars.
Contribution of previable live births to disparity in infant mortality of US-born Puerto Ricans compared with infants of other Hispanic origins.

Abstract Objectives Although US-born Hispanics experience infant mortality rates (IMRs) which are lower than the national rate, within the Hispanic population, infants of Puerto Rican origin experience higher IMRs than other Hispanics. We aimed to describe the contribution of deaths among previable live-born infants to disparity in IMRs comparing Puerto Rican infants to infants of other Hispanic origins. Study design Retrospective, descriptive analysis. Methods We analyzed data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) WONDER online database representing linked US live births and infant deaths from 2005 to 2014. Data were stratified by race and ethnicity as well as by Puerto Rican and non–Puerto Rican Hispanic origin. Live births Results Puerto Rican IMR of 7.34 (per 1000 live births) was higher than the US rate of 6.34 as well as the non–Puerto Rican Hispanic IMR of 5.15. Approximately 22% of US deaths were attributable to previable live births compared with 27% among Puerto Ricans and 20% among non–Puerto Rican Hispanics. The contribution to IMR of previable births among Puerto Ricans measuring 1.96 per 1000 total live births was 42% higher than the US rate of 1.38 and 90% higher than the non–Puerto Rican Hispanic rate of 1.03. Conclusions Further research is needed to develop interventions to reduce disparity in previable birth rates, particularly among infants of Puerto Rican origin.
αB-Crystallin is Associated with Intermediate Filaments in Astrocytoma Cells

αB-crystallin, a major protein of the vertebrate lens and a member of the small heat shock protein family, is expressed in non-lenticular tissues, including the central nervous system, where it is found mainly in glia. In Rosenthal fibers (RF), astrocytic inclusions that accumulate in Alexander's Disease, αB-crystallin is found with hsp27 and skeins of intermediate filaments (IF) of the GFAP and vimentin types. We have investigated the association between IF and αB-crystallin in a human astrocytoma cell line, U-373MG, which expresses αB-crystallin. Cytoskeletal preparations contained αB-crystallin, and a filamentous pattern in which αB-crystallin co-localized with GFAP and vimentin by double label immunofluorescence. Immuno-electronmicroscopy confirmed the localization to IF. GFAP isolated from bovine brain and re-assembled, was associated with αB-crystallin. Thus, a proportion of αB-crystallin in astroglia is associated with IF, and this association may be critical in the formation of RF.
Expression of the inducible nitric oxide synthase gene in diaphragm and skeletal muscle

Thompson, Marita, Lisa Becker, Debbie Bryant, Gary Williams, Daniel Levin, Linda Margraf, and Brett P. Giroir. Expression of the inducible nitric oxide synthase gene in diaphragm and skeletal muscl...
Treatment of spasmodic torticollis with dorsal column stimulation.

Because of the consideration that spasmodic torticollis might be an aberration of tonic muscle reflexes, an attempt was made to alter the afferent input of the reflexes by high frequency stimulation of the dorsal part of the spinal cord at the C-2 level in patients with spasmodic torticollis.
Under-ice CO2 and O2 variability in a freshwater lake

Autonomous, in situ sensors for the partial pressure of CO2(pCO2) and dissolved oxygen (DO) were deployedin a freshwater lake during the winters of 1997 and 1998 to evaluate magnitudeand sources of variability during ice-covered periods. Gas variability ondiel or shorter time scales was small or undetectable during most of thedeployment periods, only becoming significant prior to ice-out whenrunoff and light penetration increased, promoting convective currents andbiological production. A surprising 7.6 d period oscillation,apparently driven by a baroclinic seiche, dominated the short-termvariability during the first year. The gas trends associated with the seicheoscillations and periodic profile measurements revealed that ice formation ledto gas gradients directly under the ice. Long-term variability wascharacterized by increasing CO2 and decreasing DO as a consequenceofbiological oxidation of organic matter. The results suggest that both spatialand temporal variability can be significant over intervals which would not beresolved by traditional sampling-based studies.
Beyond Inquiry: Towards the Specificity of Anti-Blackness Studies in STEM Education

This article explores the concept of anti-blackness as a theoretical construct that may offer new openings towards transformative and liberatory projects concerned with race and inequity in STEM education research, policy, and pedagogical reform. The article first unpacks the historic, economic, political, and therefore racialized contexts of the ubiquitous bundle of STEM education reforms known as “inquiry.” Then, an overview of key theoretical constructs from Black Studies is provided, along with a more specific overview of how the framing ideas of BlackCrit (Dumas and Ross 2016) allow for more incisive examinations of anti-blackness in school contexts. Through the illustrative example of inquiry, the author shows how a BlackCrit analytic of anti-blackness might reframe inquiry in STEM as an anti-black construct. Implications related to the teaching and learning of STEM are discussed.
A Passenger-Centric Approach to Air Traffic Flow Management

Traffic flow management initiatives aim to balance the flows of vehicles in capacity-constrained transportation networks to minimize congestion costs. While existing research has focused on vehicle-centric delay minimization objectives, this may not result in most efficient outcomes from the end users' perspective when travel itineraries involve connections between multiple vehicles. This paper develops an original user-centric approach to traffic flow management. First, an analytical Markov Decision Process is presented to derive structural insights on the drivers of user-centric operations. Second, this paper augments existing air traffic flow management (ATFM) models by explicitly balancing flight delay costs and passenger delays. A large-scale integer programming model is formulated to track the impact of flow management operations on passenger accommodations. An original rolling procedure decomposes the problem over time while ensuring global feasibility, and shown to enable the model's implementation in short computational times. Computational results in the US National Aviation System suggest that this modeling and computational framework can achieve large reductions in passenger delays at comparatively small increases in flight delay costs. Analytical and computational results highlight two major levers of user-centric operations: (i) delay allocation, which determines which flights to delay or prioritize to minimize delay costs, and (ii) delay introduction, which deliberate adds departure holds to avoid passenger misconnections.
Network dynamics of positive and negative affect in bipolar disorder.

Abstract Background The network approach to psychopathology has become increasingly popular. Little research has examined the dynamic network structure of mental disorders, and, to date, no study has investigated the network dynamics of positive affect, negative affect, and physical activity in bipolar disorder. This represents the first study to estimate the dynamic network structure of affect and physical activity in individuals with and without bipolar I disorder. Methods An intensive longitudinal design was used to assess positive affect, negative affect, and actigraphy-based estimates of physical activity. The overall sample consisted of 32 adults with bipolar I disorder and 36 healthy control participants. Eligible participants underwent an 8-week assessment period, in which once-per-day ratings of affect and actigraphy estimates were obtained. Participants were re-assessed on baseline measures afterwards. Dynamic network analysis was used to examine the network structure of affect and physical activity over time. Multilevel models were used to examine the relationship between autocorrelation and changes in depression symptoms among participants with bipolar disorder. Limitations The network analyses assume stationarity. Future research should consider time-varying multilevel network models to better account for time trends. Results The results of the temporal networks indicated that the directed edges between positive and negative affect were mostly positive among individuals with bipolar I disorder. Among healthy control participants, the directed edges between positive and negative affect were mostly negative in direction. Physical activity, as assessed by daily actigraphy indices, was more densely connected in the healthy control network than the bipolar disorder network. Furthermore, the results indicated that critical slowing down predicted worsening of mood symptoms in the bipolar I disorder group. Conclusions This study suggests that certain dynamic patterns of affect may be an underlying process that contributes to the maintenance of bipolar disorder. These results have both theoretical and practical implications.
Nondestructive Method for Length Estimation of Pile Foundations Through Effective Dispersion Analysis of Reflections

Motivated by the important problem of unknown foundations, a nondestructive evaluation technique, named effective dispersion analysis of reflections (EDAR), is developed for estimating embedded depth of pile foundations. EDAR testing involves laterally exciting the pile with the hammer and measuring the accelerations at two other points on the pile. The novelty of EDAR comes from the processing these signals; unlike existing methods, EDAR accurately captures the effect of physical dispersion of the waves as they propagate in the pile, and the reflections from the pile tip. The key to data processing is the EDAR plot, which is a plot of phase difference between the two responses as a function of newly introduced effective wavenumber that encapsulates the wave dispersion characteristics. The methodology is easy to use in that a simple formula can convert the oscillatory characteristics of EDAR plot to the unknown embedded depth. This paper contains the derivation of the underlying formulation followed by verification with synthetic models and validation in laboratory settings, resulting in less than 5% error in embedded length.
Monte Carlo Calculation of Delayed Gamma Dose Rate in Complex Geometry Using the Concept of Effective Delayed Gamma Production Cross Section

AbstractWith appropriate approximations, the delayed gamma dose rate problem can be formulated in terms of the effective delayed gamma production cross section. The coupled neutron-delayed gamma transport equations take the same form as the coupled neutron-prompt gamma transport equations and they can, therefore, be solved directly in the same manner. This eliminates the flux coupling step required in conventional calculations and makes it easier to handle complex, multidimensional problems, especially those that call for Monte Carlo calculations. Mathematical formulation and solution algorithms are derived. The advantages of this method in complex geometry are illustrated by its application in the Monte Carlo solution of a practical design problem.
On Congestion Minimization for Service Chain Routing Problems

Network function virtualization (NFV), with its perceived potential to accelerate service deployment and to introduce flexibility in service provisioning, has drawn a growing interest from industry and academia alike over the past few years. One of the key challenges in realizing NFV is the service chain routing problem, whereby traffic must be routed so as to traverse the various components of a network service that have been mapped onto the underlying network. In this work, we consider the online service chain routing problem with the goal of minimizing the maximum network congestion. To this end, we present a simple yet effective online algorithm in which the routing decision is irrevocably made without prior knowledge of future requests. We prove that our algorithm is O(log m)-competitive, where m is the number of edges of the underlying network topology, and we show that this ratio is asymptotically optimal.
Impaired auditory processing and neural representation of speech in noise among symptomatic post-concussion adults.

ABSTRACTBackground: The purpose of the study was to examine auditory event-related potential (AERP) evidence of changes in earlier and later stages of auditory processing in individuals with long-t...
Cloud Control: China’s 2017 Cybersecurity Law and its Role in US Data Standardization

This paper contends that by influencing the security issues presented by global corporate data investments through a combination of domestic policymaking, dominance in key market sectors, and leadership in international standards-making organizations, China is establishing new global standards for the data trade. In 2017, Apple Inc. was one of the first firms to build a new joint venture data center in China to comply with China’s Cybersecurity Law of the same year. This law requires all firms that maintain “critical information infrastructure” to store their data on a Chinese-owned server. Apple, like many firms operating in China, relies heavily on data centers to function in the Chinese market. However, for Apple, as for many other companies in areas ranging from engineering services to enterprise computing, the decision to open a data center with major ownership by a Chinese firm transforms the politics of power and access to data within the company and among its consumers. Indeed, shortly after Apple began migrating the data of Chinese users to its new Chinese servers, some US-based users reported the migration of their data to Chinese servers as well. The effects of Chinese influence on data security standards in the United States have yet to be thoroughly explored in the communications scholarship. No one has done so in relation to data storage for firms that are not explicitly in the digital economy such as white goods providers and home monitoring systems,. Drawing on reviews of Chinese corporate filings and government documents, as well as U.S. corporate filings this paper concludes that China’s Cybersecurity Law and the related technology regulatory framework have fundamentally transformed the ownership and the circulation of the data within the US market. The findings of this paper suggest that the United States should change its approach, because its current laissez-faire policies ultimately protect neither consumers nor national competitiveness. China’s influence on global data governance lies at the core of the future of global communications policy. Targeted, critical perspectives on the country’s specific policies and their effects on firms across a wide range of sectors will help regulators to plan for mid- and long-term strategic challenges not just in the technology industry, but across sectors. As more industrial sectors become data-driven, communications policy will take an increasingly central role in industrial regulation writ large.
ESE-1 Knockdown Attenuates Growth in Trastuzumab-resistant HER2+ Breast Cancer Cells.

The ETS transcription factor ESE-1/Elf3 is overexpressed in breast cancer, controls transformation properties in mammary epithelial cells, and is most clinically relevant in HER2+ breast cancer. Here we show that ESE-1 knockdown, via shRNA, inhibits proliferation, clonogenicity, and anchorage-independent growth in HER2+, trastuzumab-resistant breast cancer cell lines HR20 (derived from HER2+ ER+ BT474) and Pool2 (derived from HER2+ ER- SKBR3 cells). ESE-1 knockdown in HR20 cells inhibited HER2/pHER2, pIGF-IR, pAkt and cyclin D1 levels; whereas ESE-1 knockdown in Pool 2 cells caused downregulation of IGF-IR/pIGF-IR, Src/pSrc, pAkt, mTOR/p-mTOR, and cyclin D1, but increased the levels of HER2 and pHER2. While certain signaling molecules (HER2/pHER2) responded in opposite fashion in HR20 and Pool 2 cells, inhibition of ESE-1 caused downregulation of pAkt and cyclin D1 in both trastuzumab-resistant cell lines, suggesting a common ESE-1-mediated downstream pathway leading to cell proliferation. In HER2+ parental lines, BT474 and SKBR3, knockdown of ESE-1 revealed a potent anti-proliferative effect that mimics the trastuzumab-mediated growth inhibition in these cells. However, ESE-1 knockdown did not enhance trastuzumab sensitivity in the resistant sublines. Collectively, these studies establish that ESE-1 controls cell proliferation in trastuzumab-resistant HER2+ breast cancer cells, and mechanistically does so by inhibiting pHER2, pAkt and downstream cyclin D1, which contribute to resistance of HER2 inhibitors. The significance of this study is that it provides a rationale for targeting ESE-1 and its downstream effectors as a novel means to treat HER2+ patients who show resistance to anti-HER2 therapy.
Seasonal Losses of Surface Litter in Northern Great Plains Mixed-Grass Prairies

Abstract Surface litter protects rangeland soils against wind and water erosion and provides food and nesting materials for wildlife and insects. However, the ability of grassland systems to provide these services depends on the little studied topic of seasonal surface litter decomposition. Seasonal and annual surface litter decomposition rates were determined between 2014 and 2015 in central and western South Dakota at three mixed-grass prairie locations. Residue bags containing surface litter were placed in the field in late fall (1 November) of 2014 and removed after the winter (1 April), spring (1 July), and summer + fall seasons (1 November) of 2015. The litter was analyzed for total C, total N, acid detergent fiber (ADF), and acid detergent lignin (ADL). Average winter temperatures ranged from −5oC to −15oC, while summer temperatures ranged from 10oC to 35oC. Litter decomposition was lowest during the winter (0.57−0.86 g [kg × day]−1) and greatest during the summer + fall (2.12−2.69 g [kg × day]−1). Over the entire season, 40.8−62% of the surface litter decomposed. Winter litter decomposition was positively correlated with air temperature (r = 0.62, P
REDUCING PREJUDICE THROUGH DESCRIPTIVE REPRESENTATION: Evidence From A Natural Experiment in Israeli Medical Clinics

Descriptive representation in public goods provision is associated with enhance services, and increased institutional trust amongst minorities. Nonetheless, whether such representation shapes majority citizens’ attitudes towards minorities is unclear. Building on the representative bureaucracy and intergroup contact literatures, I develop a theory of prejudice reduction through descriptive representation, which I test with a natural experiment leveraging the random assignment of Jewish patients to Arab doctors across 21 medical clinics in Israel. I demonstrate that representative institutions facilitating intergroup contact between doctors and patients improve majority-group perceptions of minorities. Contact with an Arab doctor reduces Jewish patients’ social distance preference towards Arabs by approximately a fifth of a standard deviation, and increases Jewish patients’ perceptions about the feasibility of peace by approximately a tenth of a standard deviation. My theory and evidence demonstrate how descriptive representation in public goods provision can improve intergroup relations through a mechanism of positive intergroup contact.
W-band PAM-4 wireless delivery employing intensity modulation and coherent detection based on CMMA equalization

We have experimentally demonstrated PAM-4 signals generation and millimeter wave wireless transmission at 90-GHz W-band, respectively, enabled by using an intensity modulator and coherent receiver. The bit-error-ratio (BER) performance can be improved significantly by the offline digital-signal processing (DSP) including cascaded multi-modulus algorithm (CMMA) equalization at the receiver side. We also investigated the DSP process difference between PAM-2 and PAM-4 signals recovery. The experimental results show that up to 10-Gb/s PAM-2 signal and 12-Gb/s PAM-4 signal over 9-m free space wireless delivery can be realized with a BER less than 7% hard-decision forward-error-correction (HD-FEC) threshold of 3.8x10-3. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time to achieve W-band PAM signal wireless transmission based on coherent detection. Our proposed scheme has important practical application of significance for the 5G broadband network.
Narrow Linewidth Quantum Cascade Laser

A narrow linewidth quantum cascade laser was obtained by optical feedback locking to a high finesse linear cavity with locking bandwidth larger than 5 MHz, resulting in an instantaneous linewidth at mHz levels.
Reducing Computed Tomography Scan Utilization for Pediatric Minor Head Injury in the Emergency Department: A Quality Improvement Initiative.

BACKGROUND The validated Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN) prediction rules are meant to aid clinicians in safely reducing unwarranted imaging in children with minor head injuries (MHI). Even so, computed tomography (CT) scan utilization remains high, especially in intermediate-risk (per PECARN) MHI patients. The primary objective of this quality improvement initiative was to reduce CT utilization rates in the intermediate-risk MHI patients. METHODS This project was conducted in a Level I trauma pediatric emergency department (ED). Children < 18 years evaluated for intermediate-risk MHI from June 2016 through July 2019 were included. Our key drivers were provider education, decision support, and performance feedback. Our primary outcome was change in head CT utilization rate (%). Balancing measures included return visit within 72 hours of the index visit, ED length of stay (LOS), and clinically important traumatic brain injury (ciTBI) on the revisit. We used statistical process control methodology to assess head CT rates over time. RESULTS A total of 1,535 eligible intermediate-risk MHI patients were analyzed. Our intervention bundle was associated with a decrease in CT use from 18.5% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 14.5% to 22.5%) in the preintervention period to 13.9% (95% CI = 13.8% to 14.1%) in the postintervention period, an absolute reduction of 4.6% (p = 0.015). Over time, no difference was noted in either ED LOS or return visit rate. There was only one revisit with a ciTBI to our institution during the study period. CONCLUSIONS Our multifaceted quality improvement initiative was both safe and effective in reducing our CT utilization rates in children with intermediate-risk MHI.
Intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guérin Treatment Is Inversely Associated With the Risk of Developing Alzheimer Disease or Other Dementia Among Patients With Non–muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer

Abstract Background The immune system plays an important role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease (AD), but it remains unclear whether bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) may affect the risk of AD or not. Methods Using retrospective chart review, we collected data regarding demographics, comorbidities, cancer diagnosis, BCG treatment, and subsequent diagnosis of AD or other dementia in a racially/ethnically diverse cohort of patients with non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NIMBC) receiving treatment between 1984 and 2020 in the Bronx, New York. We used Cox proportional hazard models to examine association between BCG treatment and risk of incident AD or other dementia, adjusting for age, gender, race/ethnicity, and major comorbidities. Results In our cohort of 1290 patients with NMIBC, a total of 99 (7.7%) patients developed AD or other dementia during follow-up. Patients who received BCG treatment (25%) had a 60% lowered incidence of AD or other dementia (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 0.41; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.21-0.80) in comparison to those who did not receive BCG. There was also suggestive evidence that the reduction in risk of AD or other dementia associated with BCG treatment was stronger in men (adjusted HR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.15-0.81) but not in women (adjusted HR, 0.75; 95% CI 0.25-2.24). When we stratified the patients who received BCG by type of treatments, patients who received both induction and maintenance rounds of BCG had a further lowered incidence of AD or other dementia (HR, 0.23; 95% CI, 0.06-0.96) than patients who did not receive BCG. Conclusions To our knowledge, our study is one of the first to suggest that BCG treatment is associated with a reduced risk of developing AD or other dementia in a multiethnic population, independent of significant comorbidities. Larger cohort studies are needed to corroborate our findings.
Exploring the relationship between the alcohol policy environment and nondiscrimination laws: Implications for binge drinking disparities among LGB adults in the United States.

Abstract Background Alcohol policies reduce population-level binge drinking; however, they may not reduce binge drinking disparities between different populations. We examined the association between the alcohol policy environment and binge drinking among Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual (LGB) and heterosexual adults in the presence and absence of state laws protecting LGB people from discrimination. Methods The 2015–2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) provided information about individual-level binge drinking, sexual identity, and individual-level covariates. The Alcohol Policy Scale (APS) score measures the strength of the alcohol policy environment. Presence of state-level nondiscrimination protections based on sexual orientation came from the Movement Advancement Project. Logistic regression models were used to test whether nondiscrimination statutes modified the association between the alcohol policy environment and binge drinking and whether this interaction differed for LGB and heterosexual adults. Results Among women, a 10 percentage-point increase in APS score was significantly associated with 7% lower odds of binge drinking in states with inclusive nondiscrimination laws (aOR: 0.93 [95% CI: 0.89–0.97; p = 0.0003]) but was not associated with binge drinking in states without inclusive laws (aOR: 0.98 [95% CI: 0.93–1.03] p = 0.4781). Moreover, binge drinking disparities comparing lesbian/bisexual women with heterosexual women were narrower in states with inclusive nondiscrimination laws. No significant association was found among men. Conclusions Binge drinking disparities between lesbian and heterosexual women are negligible in states with inclusive laws and strong alcohol policy environments. Inclusive nondiscrimination laws are an indicator of less structural stigma directed at lesbian and bisexual women.
Empedocles the Sorcerer and his Hexametrical Pharmaka

In one of his fragments, Empedocles addresses his protege Pausanias, predicting or promising that he will learn pharmaka, a word that is usually understood to mean herbal ‘drugs' or ‘remedies’ for disease, an interpretation that in turn seems to have been encouraged by a modern understanding that Empedocles was an empirically minded medical doctor. An alternate interpretation is suggested, however, by the recently published Getty Hexameters which use the word pharmaka several times to refer to hexametrical incantations that will protect a group of houses or a city from danger. These hexameters, moreover, are inscribed on a lead tablet of late-classical date that most probably came from the Sicilian city of Selinus, a date and a provenance that put its composition in close proximity to Empedocles himself.
Inclusive STEAM education in diverse disciplines of sustainable energy and AI

Abstract This perspective article explores challenges of traditional education in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) as it relates to emerging sustainable energy and artificial intelligence development. A special perspective is given for education of underrepresented and minority students in STEM. We discuss the existing issues and suggest that, for an equitable sustainable education in the area of energy, artificial intelligence and sustainable society in general, science and technology knowledge should be acquired in conjunction with humanities and arts, through a multidisciplinary STEM+Art (STEAM) approach and special programming that supports inclusion of diverse professional, socio-economical, racial and gender groups. We underscore that infusing technical training with social sciences, arts, ethics, and business prepares future leaders to creatively participate in solving identifiable barriers towards a sustainable society. Whether these are challenges caused by climate change, social tensions, or systematic inequalities, such holistic and sustainable education has the power to ease complex global crises, empower and dignify all people, as well as interrupt environmental degradation.
Disorders of Consciousness Associated With COVID-19: A Prospective, Multimodal Study of Recovery and Brain Connectivity.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES In patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), disorders of consciousness (COVID-DoC) have emerged as a serious complication. The prognosis and pathophysiology of COVID-DoC remain unclear, complicating decisions about continuing life-sustaining treatment. We describe the natural history of COVID-DoC and investigate its associated brain connectivity profile. METHODS In a prospective, longitudinal study, we screened consecutive patients with COVID-19 at our institution. We enrolled critically ill adult patients with a DoC unexplained by sedation or structural brain injury, and who were planned to undergo a brain MRI. We performed resting state functional MRI and diffusion MRI to evaluate functional and structural connectivity, as compared to healthy controls and patients with DoC resulting from severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). We assessed the recovery of consciousness (command-following) and functional outcomes (Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended [GOSE] and the Disability Rating Scale [DRS]) at hospital discharge, three months post-discharge, and six months post-discharge. We also explored whether clinical variables were associated with recovery from COVID-DoC. RESULTS After screening 1,105 patients with COVID-19, we enrolled twelve with COVID-DoC. The median age was 63.5 years [interquartile range 55-76.3]. Excluding one who died shortly after enrollment, all of the remaining eleven patients recovered consciousness, after 0-25 days (median 7 [5-14.5]) following the cessation of continuous intravenous sedation. At discharge, all surviving patients remained dependent - median GOSE 3 [1-3], median DRS 23 [16-30]. However ultimately, except for two patients with severe polyneuropathy, all returned home with normal cognition and minimal disability - at three months, median GOSE 3 [3-3], median DRS 7 [5-13]; at six months, median GOSE 4 [4-5], median DRS 3 [3-5]. Ten patients with COVID-DoC underwent advanced neuroimaging; functional and structural brain connectivity in COVID-DoC was diminished compared to healthy controls, and structural connectivity was comparable to patients with severe TBI. DISCUSSION Patients who survived invariably recovered consciousness after COVID-DoC. Though disability was common following hospitalization, functional status improved over the ensuing months. While future research is necessary, these prospective findings inform the prognosis and pathophysiology of COVID-DoC. TRIAL REGISTRATION INFORMATION Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT04476589, submitted 7/2020, first enrolled 7/20/2020, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04476589.
Photolysis of (η5-C5H5)2V(CH3)2: II . Photo-induced formation of ethane

Abstract Photolysis of (η 5 -C 5 H 5 ) 2 V(CH 3 ) 2 results in the formation of methane and ethane. The percentage of ethane detected in the evolved gas can vary from a trace to 70%. The percentage of ethane formed is dependent on the solvent, the concentration of (η 5 -C 5 H 5 ) 2 V(CH 3 ) 2 , time and temperature. The results of oxidation and reduction reactions involving (η 5 -C 5 H 5 ) 2 V(CH 3 ) 2 are also presented.
Does introducing an immunization package of services for migrant children improve the coverage, service quality and understanding? An evidence from an intervention study among 1548 migrant children in eastern China

An EPI (Expanded Program on Immunization) intervention package was implemented from October 2011 to May 2014 among migrant children in Yiwu, east China. This study aimed to evaluate its impacts on vaccination coverage, maternal understanding of EPI and the local immunization service performance. A pre- and post-test design was used. The EPI intervention package included: (1) extending the EPI service time and increasing the frequency of vaccination service; (2) training program for vaccinators; (3) developing a screening tool to identify vaccination demands among migrant clinic attendants; (4) Social mobilization for immunization. Data were obtained from random sampling investigations, vaccination service statistics and qualitative interviews with vaccinators and mothers of migrant children. The analysis of quantitative data was based on a “before and after” evaluation and qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis. The immunization registration (records kept by immunization clinics) rate increased from 87.4 to 91.9 % (P = 0.016) after implementation of the EPI intervention package and the EPI card holding (EPI card kept by caregivers) rate increased from 90.9 to 95.6 % (P = 0.003). The coverage of fully immunized increased from 71.5 to 88.6 % for migrant children aged 1–4 years (P < 0.001) and increased from 42.2 to 80.5 % for migrant children aged 2–4 years (P < 0.001). The correct response rates on valid doses and management of adverse events among vaccinators were over 90 % after training. The correct response rates on immunization among mothers of migrant children were 86.8–99.3 % after interventions. Our study showed a substantial improvement in vaccination coverage among migrant children in Yiwu after implementation of the EPI intervention package. Further studies are needed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the interventions, to identify individual interventions that make the biggest contribution to coverage, and to examine the sustainability of the interventions within the existing vaccination service delivery system in a larger scale settings or in a longer term.