cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
From Brain Signals to Adaptive Interfaces: Using fNIRS in HCI

Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is an emerging non-invasive, lightweight imaging tool which can measure blood oxygenation levels in the brain. In this chapter, we describe the fNIRS device and its potential within the realm of human-computer interaction (HCI). We discuss research that explores the kinds of states that can be measured with fNIRS, and we describe initial research and prototypes that can use this objective, real time information about users’ states as input to adaptive user interfaces.
Scapular osteocutaneous free flap for total lower lip and mandible reconstruction

Purpose Total lower lip and mandible defects following tumor resection present challenging reconstructions. The use of dual free flaps leads to increased donor-site morbidity and risk of flap failure. We present a single scapular free flap approach with unique use of osteotomies for lip reconstruction in a small series of patients. Methods A case series was conducted from 2007 to 2012 on three patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity requiring large resection. Patients ranged in age from 34 to 64 years. A scapular free flap was used for reconstruction of mandible, floor of mouth, total lower lip and chin defects ranging in size from 7 × 4 cm to 11 × 7 cm. Harvested bone was extended medially beyond the lateral border of scapula. Osteotomies were oriented to support the soft tissue flap to rebuild lip height and restore oral competence. Results Skin paddles ranged in size from 10-11 cm × 18-25 cm. Bone flap size was not reported but vertical height of osteotomies ranged from 3-4 cm. All flaps survived microvascular transfer. One patient suffered from shoulder dysfunction and sialorrhea necessitating a second procedure. A second patient developed exposed hardware after radiation. Follow-up ranged from 10 to 36 months. All patients achieved good oral competence and cosmesis by 9 months post-operative. Conclusions This single-flap approach may provide an alternative to dual free flap reconstruction of total lower lip and mandible. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery 36:480-484, 2016.
IMPROVED GROWTH OF TOMATO IN SALINIZED SOIL BY VESICULAR-ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI COLLECTED FROM SALINE SOILS

Vesicular-arbuscular (VA) mycorrhizal fungi were collected and identified from saline locations throughout southern and central California and Nevada. From this collection, 38 soil samples containing VA mycorrhizal fungi from 22 plant species were used to inoculate tomato seedlings and evaluate their growth under artificial salinization. Six samples significantly improved growth of tomato in salinized soil when compared to a salinized, nonmycorrhizal control. Growth with 14 samples in salinized soil was as good as growth of a nonmycorrhizal control in nonsalinized soil. Glomusfasciculatum consistently provided the largest growth response. Negative correlations were found between the amount of mycorrhizal colonization on tomato roots in the greenhouse and electrical conductivity, Na concentration, and osmotic potential of the saline soil samples from the field. The amount of mycorrhizal colonization on hosts in the field from which the soil samples were collected was not correlated to growth response or mycorrhizal colonization of tomato in the greenhouse.
Other-constituency theories and firm governance: is the benefit corporation sufficient?

AbstractStakeholder theory creates a core conflict between managers in publicly held corporations and their boards of directors. Benefit corporation legislation recently adopted in 31 states attempts to address this conflict between shareholder primacy doctrine and stakeholder theory. While benefit corporation statutes offer improvement over traditional corporate structure for firms operating according to instrumental stakeholder theory, they do not fully support the ends of normative stakeholder theory or alternative normative other-constituency approaches, such as recently introduced common good models of the firm. Managers choosing to employ normative other-constituency approaches may choose to put benefit corporation regulations to use in the states where these tools are available, but they will continue to be faced with conflicts between benefit corporation structure/governance and applying normative other-constituency approaches on a day-to-day basis in their operations.
The current role of diagnostic imaging in the preoperative workup for refractory neonatal brachial plexus palsy

Despite recent improvements in perinatal care, the incidence of neonatal brachial plexus palsy (NBPP) remains relatively common. CT myelography is currently considered to be the optimal imaging modality for evaluating nerve root integrity. Recent improvements in MRI techniques have made it an attractive alternative to evaluate nerve root avulsions (preganglionic injuries). We demonstrate the utility of MRI for the evaluation of normal and avulsed spinal nerve roots. We also show the utility of ultrasound in providing useful preoperative evaluation of the postganglionic brachial plexus in patients with NBPP.
Resource management and QoS control in multiple traffic wireless and mobile Internet systems: Research Articles

End-to-end quality of service (QoS) control for multiple traffic in wired networks is carried out through Differentiated services (DiffServ). Edge routers in DiffServ domain classify incoming flows into different per-hop behavior (PHB) groups and give a policy-based QoS guarantee to these behavior aggregates. As Internet extends into the wireless and mobile section, different traffic flows should be treated differently not only in wired core network, but also in wireless resource allocations. In this paper, we propose a preemptive priority handoff and adaptive resource allocation scheme. DiffServ PHB groups are mapped into different wireless and mobile QoS classes. Traffic flows are categorized into these classes in order to allow the system to allocate different bandwidth and make resource reservation according to their priorities. Higher priority traffic flows are permitted to preempt lower priority flows in service. Lower ones, on the contrary, can expand their bandwidth into areas reserved for higher priority traffic flows for better resource utilization. We use both analytical model and simulation to evaluate the system performance in terms of blocking probabilities, forced termination probabilities, and delay. The forced termination probability of high priority traffic flows can be decreased significantly by introducing the preemptive priority scheme. Therefore, this scheme can be used in wireless part of the system along with DiffServ to give further guarantee for low delay, low jitter, and low loss services to high priority services. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Colorectal Cancer Screening Modalities: Variable Uptake, Variable Yield.

Based on the initial round of screening in this randomized trial, it appears that more patients complete fecal immunochemical testing than colonography or colonoscopy. Using the most conservative estimate, the yields of advanced adenomas and advanced neoplasms are similar.
BMI and all-cause mortality among Chinese and Caucasians: the People's Republic of China and the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Studies.

Background: Lower ethnic-specific body mass index (BMI) cutpoints have been proposed for Asians and adapted in some countries. However, to our knowledge, no study has directly compared Asians to other ethnic groups to test differences in associations between BMI and all-cause mortality using common methods. Objectives: We estimated the association between BMI and all-cause mortality in Chinese Asians and Caucasian Americans to determine if lower Asian-specific BMI cutpoints are warranted. Methods: Extant data of the People's Republic of China Study (1983-1997) including 5546 Chinese and the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study (1987-2002) including 9932 Caucasians aged 45-64 years at baseline were used. All analyses were performed using Cox proportional regression models. Results: Standardized mortality rates were 6.88 (95% confidence interval (CI): 5.75-8.24) and 5.50 (95% CI: 4.74-6.39) per 1000 person-years for Chinese and Caucasians, respectively. Standardized mortality probabilities by age 70 were similar across all BMI categories among Chinese. Furthermore, the probabilities were similar to those among Caucasians with BMI of 27.5-<32.5 kg/m2. The BMI associated with lowest mortality risk was almost identical between Chinese (25.1 kg/m2) and Caucasians (25.2 kg/m2). The analysis of categorical BMI did not reveal an increased mortality risk at any BMI category among Chinese. In contrast, compared to those with a BMI of 23.0-<25.0 kg/m2, risk was elevated by 35% among Caucasians with a BMI of 30.0-<32.5 kg/m2. Conclusions: These findings do not support different BMI cutpoints for Chinese than Caucasians on the basis of mortality rates.
The Role of Learning and Exploration in Quality Management and Continuous Improvement

The long-term health of any organization depends on its commitment to continuous improvement, which is one aspect of quality management. While we do not yet fully understand the link between quality management and organizational performance, previous research suggests that this relationship is often moderated or mediated by other factors. This chapter specifically considers the role that learning and exploration play in continuous improvement efforts within organizations. The aim of this discussion is to extend previous considerations regarding the juxtaposition of stability and reliability (control) versus exploration and innovation (learning) in quality/continuous improvement; hence, this work first explores learning in terms of a process that generates knowledge that organizations use to build competitive advantage. This chapter also examines the need to balance between the exploitation of existing knowledge and the exploration of new alternatives. This discussion suggests that learning and exploration are mutually beneficial when considered within the context of continuous improvement. In addition, these concepts compliment traditional notions of quality management/improvement and, therefore, expand our thinking about these topics.
Analysis of the intestinal microbial community and inferred functional capacities during the host response to Pneumocystis pneumonia.

ABSTRACTBackground: Pneumocystis pneumonia is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients infected with HIV/AIDS. In this study, we evaluated the intestinal microbial communities associated with the development of experimental Pneumocystis pneumonia, as there is growing evidence that the intestinal microbiota is critical for host defense against fungal pathogens. Methods: C57BL/6 mice were infected with live Pneumocystis murina (P. murina) via intratracheal inoculation and sacrificed 7 and 14 days postinfection for microbiota analysis. In addition, we evaluated the intestinal microbiota from CD4+ T cell depleted mice infected with P. murina. Results: We found that the diversity of the intestinal microbial community was significantly altered by respiratory infection with P. murina. Specifically, mice infected with P. murina had altered microbial populations, as judged by changes in diversity metrics and relative taxa abundances. We also found that CD4+ T cell depleted mice infected with P. murina ...
Auditory object perception: A neurobiological model and prospective review.

Interaction with the world is a multisensory experience, but most of what is known about the neural correlates of perception comes from studying vision. Auditory inputs enter cortex with its own set of unique qualities, and leads to use in oral communication, speech, music, and the understanding of emotional and intentional states of others, all of which are central to the human experience. To better understand how the auditory system develops, recovers after injury, and how it may have transitioned in its functions over the course of hominin evolution, advances are needed in models of how the human brain is organized to process real-world natural sounds and “auditory objects”. This review presents a simple fundamental neurobiological model of hearing perception at a category level that incorporates principles of bottom-up signal processing together with top-down constraints of grounded cognition theories of knowledge representation. Though mostly derived from human neuroimaging literature, this theoretical framework highlights rudimentary principles of real-world sound processing that may apply to most if not all mammalian species with hearing and acoustic communication abilities. The model encompasses three basic categories of sound-source: (1) action sounds (non-vocalizations) produced by ‘living things’, with human (conspecific) and non-human animal sources representing two subcategories; (2) action sounds produced by ‘non-living things’, including environmental sources and human-made machinery; and (3) vocalizations (‘living things’), with human versus non-human animals as two subcategories therein. The model is presented in the context of cognitive architectures relating to multisensory, sensory-motor, and spoken language organizations. The models’ predictive values are further discussed in the context of anthropological theories of oral communication evolution and the neurodevelopment of spoken language proto-networks in infants/toddlers. These phylogenetic and ontogenetic frameworks both entail cortical network maturations that are proposed to at least in part be organized around a number of universal acoustic-semantic signal attributes of natural sounds, which are addressed herein.
Mantenimiento al sitio arqueológico El Santuario, Cerro de la Estrella, Iztapalapa

El sitio arqueologico El Santuario se localiza en la ladera norte del Cerro de la Estrella y esta dentro de la poligonal de proteccion de la zona arqueologica del mismo nombre; contiene una serie de vestigios arquitectonicos que van desde el Preclasico tardio hasta el Epiclasico, que se dejaron expuestos como resultado de la investigacion arqueologica realizada entre 1977 y 1979. El sitio no recibia mantenimiento desde 1989, y, como se encuentra inmerso en una zona densamente poblada, con el transcurso del tiempo se convirtio en un basurero, lo cual provoca gran deterioro de los elementos arqueologicos que raya en el olvido del mismo. En este trabajo se presentan las actividades de mantenimiento y conservacion realizadas como parte de las primeras acciones del “Proyecto de Investigacion del Conjunto Arqueologico El Santuario”, con las que se logro la proteccion y dignificacion del mismo.
General Chemistry Laboratory Experiment To Demonstrate Organic Synthesis, Fluorescence, and Chemiluminescence through Production of a Biphasic Glow Stick

A laboratory experiment is described for beginning, nonmajor chemistry students, which allows students to examine the phenomena of fluorescence and chemiluminescence, as well as gain experience in basic organic synthesis. Students synthesize fluorescein and bis(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl) oxalate (TCPO) to explore fluorescence and chemiluminescence by assembling a biphasic glow stick. The experiment gives students the opportunity to understand the chemistry behind common “real-life” experiences of glow stick illumination and fluorescent lighting or inks and to synthesize compounds that exhibit these phenomena. Students’ survey data between 2013 and 2016 show that the experiment was enjoyable to undergraduate nonscience majors (4.3 of 5 cumulative, 4.8 in 2016) and relevant to their lives (4.0 of 5 cumulative, 4.4 in 2016).
Empiricism and the Geometry of Visual Space

A very brief review of the account of our knowledge of visual space given by Carnap, Helmholtz, and Reichenbach will precede the discussion of some problems posed by very recent experimental studies of the geometry of visual space.
A PARALLEL BLOCK STIEFEL METHOD FOR SOLVING POSITIVE DEFINITE SYSTEMS

Publisher Summary This chapter compares the performance of block generalizations of the conjugate gradient (CG) algorithm and the Stiefel iterations in a multiprocessor environment. Such a block generalization enhances the rate of convergence of the method and is more economical when one is faced with the problem of solving several systems with the same coefficient matrix. Stiefel iteration, an iterative scheme proposed by Stiefel as a modification of Richardsons method, is not an optimal procedure in the same sense as the CG method is not preferred to the CG algorithm on a sequential computer. In a multiprocessor environment, however, it is show that a block generalization of Stiefels iterations is superior to B–CG. Based on arithmetic alone, the time required by one B–CG. iteration is approximately 1 + 6p/ σ larger than that required by one B-St. Iteration.
“Leave Your Emotions at Home”: Bereavement, Organizational Space, and Professional Identity

This article explores how bereaved workers in white-collar jobs manage their emotional expression with coworkers in professional work spaces. During times of bereavement, employees are faced with t...
On condition monitoring of high frequency power GaN converters with adaptive prognostics

There is no doubt that in the future, a need for higher switching frequency is inevitable to extract the full benefits of reliable Gallium Nitride (GaN) device characteristics. Along with the reliability enhancement for GaN-based power converters, it is essential to monitor a precursor signature identification for diagnostics/prognostics techniques. With the availability of the most granular information deduced from advanced devices, a new data-driven scheme is proposed for system monitoring and possible lifetime extension of 400W power GaN converters at 100kHz. The approach relies on the real-time R ds ( on ) data extraction from the power converter, and calibration of an adaptive model using multi-physics co-simulations under thermal cycling. More specifically, the focus is on deploying machine learning algorithms to exploit for the parameter estimation in power electronics engineering reliability.
Charged interfaces: electrochemical and mechanical effects

We establish a comprehensive space-charge treatment that includes electrochemomechanical effects to physically describe the equilibrium and transport properties of charged interfaces in ion-conducting solids. The theory is consistent with the laws of thermodynamics and Maxwell's equations and naturally includes the free energy contributions of the chemical, electrical, and mechanical fields at and in the vicinity of homo- and heterointerfaces. In the dilute limit, and in the absence of chemomechanical stresses, the theory reduces to the classic, well-established Gouy–Chapman description. In the strong substitution limit, the model naturally predicts the appearance of a Mott–Schottky-type layer and reproduces the well known experimentally observed behavior, including grain boundary solute segregation. We demonstrate the validity of this theory for polycrystalline GdyCe1−yO2−y/2, GCO. In the low substitution limit, electrochemical and chemomechanically-induced stresses favor the segregation of which locally expands the crystalline lattice, and thus promotes the formation of a wide depletion zone of oxygen vacancies in front of the interface, negatively impacting the macroscopic ionic conductivity. For high gadolinia substitution, interface segregation induces compressive stresses of 45 to 700 MPa and a weakly tensile region in the vicinity of the GCO homointerface, as a result of coupled, long range, electrochemomechanical interactions. The accumulation of gadolinium defects at the grain boundary locks-in oxygen vacancies, which in turn suppresses the depletion zone from the extended immediate neighborhood and decreases its macroscopic ionic conductivity. This is the first model where the grain boundary core explicitly includes chemomechanical effects.
Effeets of marijuana extract and tetrahydrocannabinol on electroencephalographic sleep patterns

Marijuana extract, given in daily doses containing 70 to 210 mg delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), induced effects on sleep that were virtually identical to those produced by the same doses of relatively pure (96%) THC. Both drugs reduced eye movements density with some tolerance developing to this effect. Stage 4 tendend to increase with drug administration. Abrupt withdrawal led to extremely high densities of eye movement, increased rapid eye movement (REM) durations, and a sharp but transient fall in stage 4 to baseline levels. These effects may be useful in the elucidation of the pharmacology of sleep. The effects on sleep of THC administration (but not withdrawal) closely resemble those induced by lithium. For this reason, we suggest further studies of THC in affective disorders. Evidence available thus far suggests that THC produces dysphoric symptoms in unipolar but not in bipolar depressed patients; these differences in response may prove of diagnostic value. An adequate therapeutic trial of THC in bipolar depressed patients has not yet been carried out.
College Student Cohesive-Flexible Family Functioning and Mental Health: Examining Gender Differences and the Mediation Effects of Positive Family Communication and Self-Compassion

The current study examined the relationship between college students’ perception of cohesive-flexible family functioning and anxiety and depression and whether positive family communication and sel...
1997–2017 Leading Causes of Death Information Due to Diabetes, Neoplasms, and Diseases of the Circulatory System, Issues Cautionary Weight-Related Lesson to the US Population at Large

In the US, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes are in the top ten leading causes of death categories. The diseases compromise US life-expectancy and account for significant US health-care costs. This observational study investigates the US population's 1997–2017 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) WONDER ICD-10 mortality records to extract the prevalence rates for leading causes of death by diabetes, neoplasms (cancers), and diseases of the circulatory system. The variables of race and age are examined for each disease in order to evaluate demographic and age-group risks. To document the public health burden from these three chronic conditions, mortality data from CDC WONDER was analyzed using MS-Excel and Statistical Analysis System (SAS) software. The general trend of deaths by diabetes, neoplasms, and diseases of the circulatory system has been progressively decreasing nationally; however, a significantly higher trend in mortality rates is observed for the Black or African American populations. Furthermore, over the 1997–2017 observational period, the crude mortality rates for the 45–54 (middle-age) and lower age-groups are below national mortality rate averages but are troublingly increasing for diabetes and notably, for the diseases of the circulatory system, the (younger) 25–34 age-group had a crude mortality rate increase of 6.78%.
A Probability Transition Matrix-Based Recommendation Algorithm for Bipartite Networks

By analyzing the searching and recommendation system in the electronic commerce field, this paper provides a retrieval sorting and recommendation algorithm for e-commerce service. An information transmission matrix is constructed based on the ‘customer-product’ bipartite networks, and the rankings of customers and products can be obtained by analyzing the network structures. Then we propose a community detection algorithm for bipartite networks, by employing the information transmission matrix. Finally, the recommendation scheme based on both customers and products is obtained. It makes recommendation results more comprehensive and reasonable, which satisfies the various requirements of the customers.
Crewmember Microbiome May Influence Microbial Composition of ISS Habitable Surfaces

The International Space Station (ISS) is a complex built environment physically isolated from Earth. Assessing the interplay between the microbial community of the ISS and its crew is important for preventing biomedical and structural complications for long term human spaceflight missions. In this study, we describe one crewmember’s microbial profile from body swabs of mouth, nose, ear, skin and saliva that were collected at eight different time points pre-, during and post-flight. Additionally, environmental surface samples from eight different habitable locations in the ISS were collected from two flights. Environmental samples from one flight were collected by the crewmember and samples from the next flight were collected after the crewmember departed. The microbial composition in both environment and crewmember samples was measured using shotgun metagenomic sequencing and processed using the Livermore Metagenomics Analysis Toolkit. Ordination of sample to sample distances showed that of the eight crew body sites analyzed, skin, nostril, and ear samples are more similar in microbial composition to the ISS surfaces than mouth and saliva samples; and that the microbial composition of the crewmember’s skin samples are more closely related to the ISS surface samples collected by the crewmember on the same flight than ISS surface samples collected by other crewmembers on different flights. In these collections, species alpha diversity in saliva samples appears to decrease during flight and rebound after returning to Earth. This is the first study to compare the ISS microbiome to a crewmember’s microbiome via shotgun metagenomic sequencing. We observed that the microbiome of the surfaces inside the ISS resemble those of the crew’s skin. These data support future crew and ISS microbial surveillance efforts and the design of preventive measures to maintain crew habitat onboard spacecraft destined for long term space travel.
Molecular Barcoding as a Defense Against Benchtop Biochemical Attacks on DNA Fingerprinting and Information Forensics

DNA fingerprinting can offer remarkable benefits, especially for point-of-care diagnostics, information forensics, and analysis. However, the pressure to drive down costs is likely to lead to cheap untrusted solutions and a multitude of unprecedented risks. These risks will especially emerge at the frontier between the cyberspace and DNA biology. To address these risks, we perform a forensic-security assessment of a typical DNA-fingerprinting flow. We demonstrate, for the first time, benchtop analysis of biochemical-level vulnerabilities in flows that are based on a standard quantification assay known as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) . After identifying potential vulnerabilities, we realize attacks using benchtop techniques to demonstrate their catastrophic impact on the outcome of the DNA fingerprinting. We also propose a countermeasure, in which DNA samples are each uniquely barcoded (using synthesized DNA molecules) in advance of PCR analysis, thus demonstrating the feasibility of our approach using benchtop techniques. We discuss how molecular barcoding could be utilized within a cyber-biological framework to improve DNA-fingerprinting security against a wide range of threats, including sample forgery. We also present a security analysis of the DNA barcoding mechanism from a molecular biology perspective.
The Disenfranchisement of Voters of Color: Redux

This article unpacks how voters of color continue to be disenfranchised by policy and administrative action. In 2013, the US Supreme Court issued a decision in Shelby County v. Holder, which struck...
Phosphoinositide-3-Kinase γ Is Not a Predominant Regulator of ATP-Dependent Directed Microglial Process Motility or Experience-Dependent Ocular Dominance Plasticity.

Microglia are dynamic cells whose extensive interactions with neurons and glia during development allow them to regulate neuronal development and function. The microglial P2Y12 receptor is crucial for microglial responsiveness to extracellular ATP and mediates numerous microglial functions, including ATP-dependent directional motility, microglia-neuron interactions, and experience-dependent synaptic plasticity. However, little is known about the downstream signaling effectors that mediate these diverse actions of P2Y12. Phosphoinositide-3-kinase gamma (PI3Kγ), a lipid kinase activated downstream of Gi protein-coupled receptors such as P2Y12, could translate localized extracellular ATP signals into directed microglial action and serve as a broad effector of P2Y12-dependent signaling. Here, we used pharmacological and genetic methods to manipulate P2Y12 and PI3Kγ signaling, to determine whether inhibiting PI3Kγ phenocopied the loss of P2Y12 signaling in mouse microglia. While pan-inhibition of all PI3K activity substantially affected P2Y12-dependent microglial responses, our results suggest that PI3Kγ specifically is only a minor part of the P2Y12 signaling pathway. PI3Kγ was not required to maintain homeostatic microglial morphology or their dynamic surveillance in vivo. Further, PI3Kγ was not strictly required for P2Y12-dependent microglial responses ex vivo or in vivo, although we did observe subtle deficits in the recruitment of microglial process towards sources of ATP. Finally, PI3Kγ was not required for ocular dominance plasticity, a P2Y12-dependent form of experience-dependent synaptic plasticity that occurs in the developing visual cortex. Overall, our results demonstrate that PI3Kγ is not the major mediator of P2Y12 function in microglia, but may have a role in amplifying or fine-tuning the chemotactic response. Significance Statement Extracellular ATP acts as a chemoattractant for microglial processes via the microglial P2Y12 receptor, facilitating interactions between neurons and microglia. However, the intracellular pathways underlying this directional motility remain unknown. While phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K) activity is required for ATP-mediated microglial motility, PI3Kγ specifically is largely dispensable but plays a subtle modulatory role. Because PI3Kγ is the only isoform directly activated by G-protein coupled receptors, P2Y12 likely activates PI3K indirectly to promote directed microglial motility.
Machine-learning predictions of polymer properties with Polymer Genome

Polymer Genome is a web-based machine-learning capability to perform near-instantaneous predictions of a variety of polymer properties. The prediction models are trained on (and interpolate between) an underlying database of polymers and their properties obtained from first principles computations and experimental measurements. In this contribution, we first provide an overview of some of the critical technical aspects of Polymer Genome, including polymer data curation, representation, learning algorithms, and prediction model usage. Then, we provide a series of pedagogical examples to demonstrate how Polymer Genome can be used to predict dozens of polymer properties, appropriate for a range of applications. This contribution is closed with a discussion on the remaining challenges and possible future directions.
Surgical Options for Pediatric Bilateral Vocal Cord Palsy: State of the Art

Management of pediatric bilateral vocal cord palsy (BVCP) is a controversial and challenging topic. It may represent a severe obstructive condition usually associated with respiratory distress, and, in such condition, tracheostomy has been considered the gold standard for a long time. Many surgical options have been described and used to increase the glottic space in BVCP (1), with ongoing research of less invasive techniques. The challenge and current trend in our department and in many major pediatric centers is to avoid tracheotomy through an early treatment. Many techniques introduced in the last decade reduced the number of tracheotomies and increased the decannulation rate. Furthermore, we observed a recent increase in attention to preserve the quality of the voice with new techniques, such as endoscopic arytenoid abduction lateropexy which is in our opinion an important innovation to improve glottic space with satisfactory voice results. We present a review of the literature about the evolution of the treatment options for pediatric BVCP during the years.
A splitting scheme for the quantum Liouville-BGK equation.

We introduce in this work an efficient numerical method for the simulation of the quantum Liouville-BGK equation, which models the diffusive transport of quantum particles. The corner stone to the model is the BGK collision operator, obtained by minimizing the quantum free energy under the constraint that the local density of particles is conserved during collisions. This leads to a large system of coupled nonlinear nonlocal PDEs whose resolution is challenging. We then define a splitting scheme that separates the transport and the collision parts, which, exploiting the local conservation of particles, leads to a fully linear collision step. The latter involves the resolution of a constrained optimization problem that is is handled with the nonlinear conjugate gradient algorithm. We prove that the time semi-discrete scheme is convergent, and as an application of our numerical scheme, we validate the quantum drift-diffusion model that is obtained as the diffusive limit of the quantum Liouville-BGK equation.
Establishing design principles for emissive organic SWIR chromophores from energy gap laws

Summary The rational design of bright near and shortwave infrared (NIR: 700–1,000; SWIR: 1,000–2,000 nm) emitters remains an open question with applications spanning imaging and photonics. Combining experiment and theory, we derive an energy gap quantum yield master equation (EQME), describing the fundamental limits in SWIR quantum yields ( Φ F ) for organic chromophores. Evaluating the photophysics of 21 polymethine NIR/SWIR chromophores to parameterize the EQME, we explain the precipitous decline of φ F past 900 nm through decreasing radiative rates and increasing nonradiative losses via high-frequency vibrations relating to the energy gap. Using the EQME, we develop an energy-gap-independent Φ F NIR/SWIR chromophore comparison metric. We show electron-donating character on polymethine heterocycles results in relative increases in radiative efficiency obscured by a simultaneous redshift. Finally, the EQME yields rational chromophore design insights shown by how deuteration (backed by our experimental results) or molecular aggregation increases SWIR Φ F .
Oroantral communication, its causes, complications, treatments and radiographic features: A pictorial review.

Purpose An oroantral communication (OAC) is an abnormal space between the maxillary sinus and oral cavity. The causes, complications, treatment, and radiographic features of OAC in 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional imaging modalities are discussed. Materials and Methods This pictorial review presents a broad spectrum of imaging findings of OAC. Representative radiographs depicting OAC were chosen from our database. PubMed was used to conduct a comprehensive literature search of OAC. Results Characteristic features of OAC include discontinuity of the maxillary sinus floor, thickening of the maxillary sinus mucosa, or a combination of both. Two-dimensional imaging modalities are the method of choice for identifying discontinuities in the maxillary sinus floor. However, 3-dimensional imaging modalities are also essential for determining the status of soft tissue in the maxillary sinus. Conclusion The integration of 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional imaging modalities is crucial for the correct diagnosis and comprehensive treatment of OAC. However, the diagnosis of OAC must be confirmed clinically to prevent unnecessary mental and financial burdens to patients.
A geometric summertime rash.

A girl with a history of asthma and eczema presented with burning rash on her legs after exposure to limes.
Progress in the Study of Maternal Behavior in the Rat: Hormonal, Nonhormonal, Sensory, and Developmental Aspects

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the progress that has been made in the study of maternal behavior in the rat with special focus on the research that has been carried out at the Institute of Animal Behavior. It describes how maternal behavior arises from the hormonal conditions that exist during pregnancy, particularly around parturition when maternal behavior normally begins. The chapter demonstrates that the maternal behavior cycle is a developmental product of hormonal events during pregnancy, especially at its termination, and of behavioral stimulation received during interactions between the mother and her young. Investigation of females whose pregnancies were terminated prematurely by hysterectomy and/or ovariectomy has shown that the rise in estrogen, primarily, is responsible for the onset of maternal behavior under these conditions. To be effective this rise must occur free of the inhibiting influence of high levels of progesterone and that the decline in progesterone in addition to its permissive action with respect to estrogen may itself facilitate a short-term increase in maternal responsiveness. The chapter further deals with postpartum stimulus factors, which regulate maternal behavior and are involved in its maintenance and eventual decline.
The Power of Semantic Rules in Rulelog: Fundamentals and Recent Progress (Extended Abstract of Tutorial Presentation)

In this tutorial, we provide a comprehensive and up-to-date introduction to the fundamental concepts and recent progress in the area of Rulelog, a leading approach to semantic rules knowledge representation and reasoning.
The number of certain integral polynomials and nonrecursive sets of integers, Part 2

We present some examples of mathematically natural nonrecursive sets of integers and relations on integers by combining results from Part 1, from recursion theory, and from the negative solution to Hilbert's 10th Problem.
Myocardial infarctions in the practices of a group of private physicians-III: Causes of death among patients who have survived a myocardial infarction

Abstract An analysis was made up of the causes of death during a five year period following recovery from a documented acute myocardial infarction. Forty-four per cent of the deaths were sudden and unexpected. An additional 33 per cent were due to congestive heart failure or subsequent myocardial infarction. Twenty-one per cent were neither cardiac nor sudden. The number of sudden deaths following a first myocardial infarction was about twice as great as in a matched sample of deaths which occurred in the general population.
Computationally efficient estimation of the azimuth and elevation of multiple sources with planar sensor arrays

The use of ESPRIT as a direction-finding algorithm requires a pair of identical array structures, where one is merely translated with respect to the other. For the case in which the individual arrays are not linear, it is proposed that a scheme referred to as pseudo-forward-backward averaging (PFBAVG) be incorporated. In contrast to conventional forward-backward averaging, the use of PFBAVG does not effect source decorrelation. Rather, the use of PFBAVG in conjunction with ESPRIT effects a substantial reduction in the attendant computational burden and at the same time a significant improvement in performance. In addition, the use of PFBAVG gives rise to a simple scheme for estimating the number of sources. This scheme may be used either as an alternative to AIC and MDL, or as a means of verification. Finally, PFBAVG also facilitates a simple preprocessing measure for counteracting the pejorative effects of ill-conditioning arising when sources are closely spaced. The penalty paid for these benefits is a reduction in the maximum number of sources the algorithm is able to handle by a factor of one-half. >
Hadronic String from Confinement

The existence of hadronic string is derived as a consequence of confinement in QCD. A state of ``stretched glue'', created by a Polyakov loop operator, is shown to have translational zero-modes which are stringy degrees of freedom. These modes are described by an effective string theory, valid for world- sheets which are locally flat on length scales of order $\Lambda_{QCD}^{-1}$, the dominant behavior being given by the Nambu-Goto action. In a subsequent paper, these effective strings will be shown to emerge in mesons stretched by their orbital angular momentum, thereby deriving some aspects of Regge phenomenology directly from QCD and confinement.
Gain Margin Improvement Using Generalized Sampled-Data Hold Functions

This paper considers the gain margin problem of a linear time-invariant plant controlled by a memoryless generalized sampled-data hold function (GSHF) with output feedback. It is proved that arbitrarily large gain margin can be achieved by suitable selection of sampling time and the GSHF hold. We use state space methods and give a constructive design procedure. The controller we use is memoryless in the sense that the closed-loop system has the same McMillan degree as the open-loop plant.
Differential metabolic features and pathogenic potential of effector CD4 T cells associated with IFNγ production during intestinal inflammation (MUC5P.749)

Interferon γ (IFNγ) production is a hallmark feature of mucosal CD4 T cells in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients and multiple mouse models of colitis. However, the contribution of the IFNγ producing cell population to chronic intestinal inflammation remains controversial and requires better understanding. Recent studies have linked cellular metabolism to effector functions of immune cells, but it is unknown if discrete effector T cell subsets present during IBD possess divergent metabolic properties and differential T cell pathogenicity. Using IFNγ reporter mice, viable IFNγ secreting and non-secreting CD4 T cells were isolated from mice with active colitis and examined for metabolic characteristics. While both IFNγ producing and non-producing cells exhibit a high rate of glycolysis, interestingly, the mitochondrial function differs; IFNγ producing cells have lower oxidative phosphorylation and blunted spare respiratory capacity, indicating defective mitochondrial function compared to IFNγ non-producing cells. Consistent with decreased mitochondrial function, IFNγ producing cells have lower cell recovery upon secondary transfer and result in more attenuated intestinal inflammation. Therefore, these data suggest that CD4 T cells that upregulate IFNγ mark a unique effector cell subset with distinctive metabolic features, impaired survival, and reduced pathogenicity, which is paradoxical to the proinflammatory nature of IFNγ during chronic intestinal inflammation.
Effect of prostaglandin E2 on cervical compliance in pregnant ewes

Cervical compliance increases dramatically at parturition in sheep independent of uterine activity. Recently, in vitro production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) by the cervix has been shown to increase at parturition. This study investigated the effects of PGE2 on cervical compliance and uterine blood flow in pregnant ewes. Eight animals were chronically instrumented with pressure balloons within the cervical os and amniotic cavity, an electromagnetic flow probe on a uterine artery, and catheters in the maternal cervical os, femoral artery, femoral, uterine, and cervical veins, and fetal hindlimb vein. PGE2 (10 mg) was administered in a water-soluble gel into the cervical os every 4 hours times three doses at least 5 days after surgical preparation (124 to 142 days' gestation). In all eight ewes, cervical compliance increased within 8 to 12 posttreatment hours to levels comparable to that seen at spontaneous parturition. Five of the ewes did not progress into labor; compliance in these ewes returned to baseline 24 to 72 hours after the peak. Uterine blood flow was measured in five ewes during the PGE2 treatment and demonstrated no significant alterations. Maternal cardiovascular and fetal respiratory parameters were monitored throughout the experiment and remained stable. The present data suggest that PGE2 may be an important regulatory of the biochemical and physical changes which occur in the cervix at parturition.
Understanding Determinants of Online Consumer Satisfaction: A Decision Process Perspective

As business-to-consumer online shopping grows, e-commerce channel providers will need to explore ways to anticipate consumers' needs to deliver an efficient shopping experience. Yet the consumers' decision-making process and its relationship to the selection of the online channel are not well understood. Utilizing Simon's decision-making model, we examined support for decision-making phases using 134 online consumers. We also extended the model to include consumers' cost savings and time savings, as well as their satisfaction with the e-commerce channel. Structural equation modeling results indicate that the online shopping channel supported the overall decision-making process. In particular, we found strong support for the design and choice phases of online consumers' decision-making process. Our results also indicate that support for the decision-making process was mediated by the cost savings and time savings gained by the online consumers and led to their greater channel satisfaction.
Initial disturbance accommodating control system analysis for prototype electromechanical Space Shuttle steering actuator

A comparison of model responses between the existing hydraulic actuator used to steer the Space Shuttle and a prototype actuator indicate that active force control is needed with the prototype. The prototype is based on electric motor actuation and roller screw transmission.
Palladium (II) Acetate‐Butyldi‐1‐Adamantylphosphine Catalyzed Arylation of Electron‐Rich Heterocycles. Preparation of 5‐Phenyl‐2‐Isobutylthiazole

Palladium (II) acetate Sodium acetate Butyl di-1-adamantylphosphine Tribasic potassium phosphate 2-Isobutylthiazole Chlorobenzene Hydrazine hydrate 5-Phenyl-2-isobutylthiazole Keywords: heterocycle arylation; palladium catalyst; aryl chlorides; electron-rich heterocycles; phenylisobutylthiazole; waste disposal; safety
Effect of divalent cations of the amphetamine-induced stimulation of [3H]catechol synthesis in the striatum.

— The effects of divalent cations on the stimulation of [3H]catechol formation in striatal slices induced by d-amphetamine was studied in order to determine the role of calcium in this action of amphetamine. In the absence of any divalent cations in the medium, amphetamine did not significantly stimulate [3H]catechol synthesis in striatal slices, but it produced a marked stimulation of synthesis when calcium (1.25 mm) was added to the medium. In the presence of calcium (1.25 mm), high concentrations of magnesium (15mm), other divalent cations (2.5 mm) such as barium, strontium, manganese and cobalt, as well as verapamil, inhibited the amphetamine-induced stimulation. When the slices were incubated in medium containing no divalent cations, the addition to the medium of either strontium, cobalt, zinc, or magnesium (2.5 mm) could not support the amphetamine-induced stimulation of [3H]catechol synthesis, while the addition of barium resulted in a significant stimulation of synthesis. In contrast, the stimulation produced by amphetamine in the presence of manganese was comparable to that observed when calcium had been added to the medium. Since amphetamine did not alter the specific activity of [3H]tyrosine in the tissue in the presence of any of the divalent cations tested, the amphetamine-induced stimulation of [3H]catechol synthesis was probably due to an increase in tyrosine hydroxylase activity. Calcium and manganese were also able to support the stimulation of [3H]catechol synthesis in striatal slices induced by high potassium concentration. However, compared to the effects with amphetamine, manganese was much less effective than calcium in supporting the stimulation induced by high potassium concentration. These results show that specific divalent cations can support the stimulation of catechol synthesis induced by amphetamine in striatal slices, and suggest that the entry of these specific ions into cells, presumably dopamine neurons, is involved in this action.