cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Space Called Home: An Immigrant Adolescent's Digital Literacy Practices

This case study explores the digital literacy and identity-making practices of a Caribbean American high school student across three interrelated areas: immigrant, female adolescent, and learner. Data were drawn from interviews, participant observations, and digital documents. Narrative analysis provides the framework from which to analyze and represent the adolescent's experiences. The findings show that the adolescent actively used digital media and online social networking sites to construct her identities across her native and adopted homes. Virtual spaces afforded the adolescent the agency to make a space called “home” and mitigate what was lost in migration by re-authoring cultural models, performing her identities, and constructing virtual ethnic enclaves. Understanding the texts, motivations, and contexts of youth digital literacies offers opportunities to create literacy connections with diverse learners in the contemporary classroom.
Towards Conversational QA: Automatic Identification of Problematic Situations and User Intent

To enable conversational QA, it is important to examine key issues addressed in conversational systems in the context of question answering. In conversational systems, understanding user intent is critical to the success of interaction. Recent studies have also shown that the capability to automatically identify problematic situations during interaction can significantly improve the system performance. Therefore, this paper investigates the new implications of user intent and problematic situations in the context of question answering. Our studies indicate that, in basic interactive QA, there are different types of user intent that are tied to different kinds of system performance (e.g., problematic/error free situations). Once users are motivated to find specific information related to their information goals, the interaction context can provide useful cues for the system to automatically identify problematic situations and user intent.
Alterations in the Transcriptome of Soybean in Response to Enhanced Somatic Embryogenesis Promoted by Orthologs of AGAMOUS-Like15 and AGAMOUS-Like18

Somatic embryogenesis (SE) is a poorly understood process during which competent cells respond to inducing conditions, allowing the development of somatic embryos. It is important for the regeneration of transgenic plants, including for soybean (Glycine max). We report here that constitutive expression of soybean orthologs of the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) MADS box genes AGAMOUS-Like15 (GmAGL15) and GmAGL18 increased embryogenic competence of explants from these transgenic soybean plants. To understand how GmAGL15 promotes SE, expression studies were performed. Particular genes of interest involved in embryogenesis (ABSCISIC ACID-INSENSITIVE3 and FUSCA3) were found to be directly up-regulated by GmAGL15 by using a combination of quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and chromatin immunoprecipitation. To look more broadly at changes in gene expression in response to GmAGL15, we assessed the transcriptome using the Affymetrix Soybean Genome Array. Interestingly, the gene expression profile of 35Spro:GmAGL15 explants (0 d in culture) was found to resemble nontransgenic tissue that had been induced for SE by being placed on induction medium for 3 d, possibly explaining the more rapid SE development observed on 35Spro:GmAGL15 tissue. In particular, transcripts from genes related to the stress response showed increased transcript accumulation in explants from 35Spro:GmAGL15 tissue. These same genes also showed increased transcript accumulation in response to culturing nontransgenic soybean explants on the medium used to induce SE. Overexpression of GmAGL15 may enhance SE by making the tissue more competent to respond to 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid induction by differential regulation of genes such as those involved in the stress response, resulting in more rapid and prolific SE.
Characterization of Rubisco activase from thermally contrasting genotypes of Acer rubrum (Aceraceae).

The lability of Rubisco activase function is thought to have a major role in the decline of leaf photosynthesis under moderate heat (,358C). To investigate this further, we characterized Rubisco activase and explored its role in the previously demonstrated thermal acclimation and inhibition of two genotypes of Acer rubrum originally collected from Florida (FL) and Minnesota (MN). When plants were grown at 33/258C (day/night) for 21 d, the FL genotype compared to the MN genotype maintained about a twofold increase in leaf photosynthetic rates at 33–428C and had a 22% increase in the maximal rate of Rubisco carboxylation (Vcmax) at 338C under nonphotorespiratory conditions. Both genotypes had two leaf Rca transcripts, likely from equivalent alternative splicing events. The RCA1 and RCA2 proteins increased modestly in FL plants under warmer temperature, while only RCA2 protein increased in MN plants. Rubisco large subunit (RbsL) protein abundance was relatively unaffected in either genotype by temperature. These results support the idea that Rubisco activase, particularly the ratio of Rubisco activase to Rubisco, may play a role in the photosynthetic heat acclimation in A. rubrum and may have adaptive significance. This mechanism alone is not likely to entirely explain the thermotolerance in the FL genotype, and future research on adaptive mechanisms to high temperatures should consider activase function in a multipathway framework.
Kinetics of Infused Acetate and Effect on Plasma Pyruvate and Lipid Concentrations in Uremic and Non-Uremic Dogs

During acetate infusion at a rate of 10 millimoles/kg/hr arterial blood acetate levels rose progressively to maximums of 7.9 ± 1.7 mM in uremic dogs and 10.8 ± 1.4 mM in non-uremic dogs. Following cessation of infusion, removal of acetate followed first order kinetics. Acute uremia had no significant effect on mean clearance rates of acetate (1.28 ± 0.28 L/kg/hr uremics vs 0.92 ± 0.22 in non-uremics) or upon blood half-life of acetate following infusion (9.7 min. vs 10.9 min.). Plasma pyruvate levels rose during infusion from 1. 5 to 4. 4 mg/dl in the uremic dogs and following infusion rose further to 6. 5 mg/dl. In the non-uremic dogs pyruvate was not significantly elevated until 30 min. post-infusion. Plasma free fatty acids increased from 79 to 131 μ moles/dl during acetate infusion in the uremic dogs, but did not change significantly in the non-uremic group. Plasma cholesterol and triglycerides increased after induction of uremia, but showed no significant changes as a result of acetate infusion in ei...
Research funding goes to rich clubs

Science is an enterprise driven fundamentally by social relations and dynamics (1). Thanks to comprehensive bibliometric datasets on scientific production and the development of new tools in network science in the past decade, traces of these relations can now be analyzed in the form of citation and coauthorship networks, shedding light on the complex structure of scientific collaboration patterns (2, 3), on reputation effects (4), and even on the development of entire fields (5, 6). What about funding, however? How do the available funding options influence with whom we collaborate? Are there elite institutions that get more than others? Additionally, how is the funding landscape changing? In PNAS, Ma et al. (7) explore a dataset of 43,000 projects funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, a major government body of research funding in the United Kingdom, offering a unique perspective on these questions. In a longitudinal data analysis covering three decades, Ma et al. (7) shed light into the relations between funding landscapes and scientific collaborations. The study finds increasing inequality over time on two levels: First, an elite circle of academic institutions tends to overattract funding, and, second, the very same institutions prefer to collaborate with each other.
Calculation of Three-Dimensional Unsteady Flows in Turbomachinery Using the Linearized Harmonic Euler Equations

An efficient three-dimensional Euler analysis of unsteady flows in turbomachinery is presented. The unsteady flow is modeled as the sun of a steady or mean flow field plus a harmonically varying small perturbation flow. The linearized Euler equations, which describe the small perturbation unsteady flow, are found to be linear, variable coefficient differential equations whose coefficients depend on the mean flow. A pseudo-time time-marching finite-volume Lax-Wendroff scheme is used to discretize and solve the linearized equations for the unknown perturbation flow quantities. Local time stepping and multiple-grid acceleration techniques are used to speed convergence. For unsteady flow problems involving blade motion, a harmonically deforming computational grid, which conforms to the motion of the vibrating blades, is used to eliminate large error-producing extrapolation terms that would otherwise appear in the airfoil surface boundary conditions and in the evaluation of the unsteady surface pressure. Results are presented for both linear and annular cascade geometries, and for the latter, both rotating and nonrotating blade row.
Multiple pathogens may induce growth factor cascade resulting in KS.

In this brief review a list of potential pathogens is provided that are associated with Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) and may contribute to the initiation and/or maintenance of growth of KS cells. For the end result, which is the characteristic appearance and grouping of KS cells, the same growth factors are needed in a set sequence and combination. However, the pathogens inducing these growth factors may be different. Induction of the same growth factors by diverse pathogens can result in the generation of endothelial cell growth and transformation in sequence recognized as various subtypes of KS. Indeed there has to be an initiator of growth factor release from CD4 lymphocytes other than HIV in classical (Mediterranean) KS. On the other hand, HIV infection alone is not enough to induce KS: patients with hemophilia acquiring HIV infection through blood products die with AIDS but without developing KS.
Identification of cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) scenes in medical simulation videos using spatio-temporal gradient orientations

In this work, we present the application of spatio-temporal three dimensional gradients to detect and classify scenes that involve localized actions like CPR in medical simulation videos. Medical simulations provide a more feasible and comprehensive training to avoid human errors during uncommon clinical situations. Life-like mannequins that can simulate emergency patient conditions are used for this purpose. The physician responsible for these simulations, records each session after which, he manually reviews and annotates the recordings, and then debriefs the trainees. With the increasing number of video recordings, automatic retrieval of specific video segments became necessary. Here we propose an automatic scene retrieval system which can detect and classify scenes into CPR and non-CPR scenes. We use a simple linear SVM classifier for the classification. It provides answers to queries that are of interest to the physician supervising the training sessions such as: "show me all the scenes that have a CPR action from a given video simulation training", or "retrieve time specific data about such critical events as elapsed time between failure of circulation and the initiation of CPR, a measure clearly associated with patient outcome". Our system has the following two main advantages over other existing systems: (1) It does not require video shot segmentation (2) It uses one algorithm and need not be coupled with any other algorithms like image segmentation, skin detection etc. The proposed approach was evaluated and validated using ∼30 min video simulation sessions. We show that the proposed approach out performs the state of the art by being able to correctly classify the CPR scenes with an error rate of only 10%.
Ventricular Arrhythmias After Cardiac Surgery: Failing the Stress Test⁎

Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) are well-established, life-saving devices when implanted after resuscitated ventricular fibrillation (VF) or ventricular tachycardia (VT) arrests ([1–3][1]). Accordingly, the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association/Heart Rhythm
Platys: An Active Learning Framework for Place-Aware Application Development and Its Evaluation

We introduce a high-level abstraction of location called place. A place derives its meaning from a user's physical space, activities, or social context. In this manner, place can facilitate improved user experience compared to the traditional representation of location, which is spatial coordinates. We propose the Platys framework as a way to address the special challenges of place-aware application development. The core of Platys is a middleware that (1) learns a model of places specific to each user via active learning, a machine learning paradigm that seeks to reduce the user-effort required for training the middleware, and (2) exposes the learned user-specific model of places to applications at run time, insulating application developers from dealing with both low-level sensors and user idiosyncrasies in perceiving places.We evaluated Platys via two studies. First, we collected place labels and Android phone sensor readings from 10 users. We applied Platys' active learning approach to learn each user's places and found that Platys (1) requires fewer place labels to learn a user's places with a desired accuracy than do two traditional supervised approaches, and (2) learns places with higher accuracy than two unsupervised approaches.Second, we conducted a developer study to evaluate Platys' efficiency in assisting developers and its effectiveness in enabling usable applications. In this study, 46 developers employed either Platys or the Android location API to develop a place-aware application. Our results indicate that application developers employing Platys, when compared to those employing the Android API, (1) develop a place-aware application faster and perceive reduced difficulty and (2) produce applications that are easier to understand (for developers) and potentially more usable and privacy preserving (for application users).
Acute saline loading in normal and bilaterally atrial-resected conscious dogs

Acute isotonic saline volume loads (400 ml) were intravenously administered to conscious, renal-denervated dogs before and after bilateral removal of the atrial free walls and atrial appendages to determine the role of atrial-mediated hormonal factors in the renal excretory response. In one group of dogs (n = 11), the volume was given in 10 min; in another group (n = 5), the volume was given in 30 min while arginine vasopressin (AVP) was infused to maintain plasma AVP at a fixed, normal level (3 pg/ml). Sodium and water excretion, mean arterial pressure, and plasma hormone levels were determined before and for 5 h after volume loads. Atrial resection resulted in a 40-50% reduction of sodium and water excretion in both groups during the first 2 h after volume expansion. The blunted renal excretory responses could not be explained by differences in arterial pressure, renal sympathetic nerve activity, or by hormonal differences of plasma immunoreactive atrial natriuretic factor (iANP), plasma AVP, plasma renin activity, or plasma aldosterone. Plasma iANP was not significantly increased by the volume load in either the normal or atrial-resected state. Atrial-resected dogs exhibited normal plasma levels of iANP. The data indicate the presence of an unidentified diuretic and natriuretic substance, which is released with volume expansion from either the cardiac atria or via the central nervous system, and that the release of this factor is removed by atrial resection.
Multimetallic complexes featuring a bridging N-heterocyclic phosphido/phosphenium ligand: synthesis, structure, and theoretical investigation.

By incorporating an N-heterocyclic phosphenium/phosphide (NHP) ligand into a chelating pincer ligand framework (PPP+/PPP–), we have elucidated several different and unprecedented binding modes of N...
Differential Distribution of Enzyme Hydrolyzing Acetylsalicylic Acid (Aspirin) in Certain Fluids of the Rat.

SummaryThe in vitro enzymatic hydrolysis of acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) has been found to proceed only about one-half as fast in the abdominal thoracic duct lymph of the rat as in the heart's blood of the same animal.
Observation of MHD Effects with Non-Equilibrium Ionization in Cold Supersonic Air Flows

An earlier experimental investigation has been performed using short duration, high repetition rate, high voltage (2 ns, 100 kHz, ~10 kV/cm) pulses to ionize a Mach 3 air flow. The wind tunnel was placed in a 5 Tesla magnetic field. In this paper these results, are further interpreted with the help of modeling. A cold, supersonic, non-equilibrium plasma was created. Peak electron densities between 5×10 11 and 10 12 per cm 3 were reached in the experiments. The electrical properties of the resultant MHD channel were investigated. Power extraction via MHD effects was demonstrated in the cold, supersonic, unseeded air flow. The Hall parameter was estimated from the electrical properties of the MHD channel. Modeling predictions were found to be in very good agreement with experimentally measured Faraday current between the pulses. Modeling showed that between pulses the electrons have low energy, electron and ion currents are comparable, and the cathode fall is very small.
A Poetical Proposal: Diversity in Lutheran Traditions

The design of many contemporary theological frameworks seems notably deficient as it pertains to a creative poetics of the possible, especially as applied to alterity and in dealing with difference. I will propose a discourse and praxis reaching beyond the factional and, from an eschatological analysis, fictional understandings of diversity—limited as they are by categories primarily grounded in sociological disciplines—toward the recognition of our commonly unique humanity via the Imago Dei as analogia relationis (cf. Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Creation and Fall).
“Of Her Own Invention”: Revealing the Self

Dress functions not only as societal expression, but as personal expression. Clarissa, in particular, is noted for her unique style of dress. When Clarissa attempts to attend church in London, Lovelace fears she will be discovered, as she is “Known by her cloaths!” (3:317). Yet Clarissa’s clothing is also seen as a natural extension of who and what she is. Her mother writes to Mrs. Norton of her younger daughter’s “elegance in dress; for which she was so much admired, that the neighboring Ladies used to say, that they need not fetch fashions from London; since whatever Miss Clarissa Harlowe wore, was the best fashion, because her choice of natural beauties set those of Art far behind them” (4:73–4). Lovelace himself expounds at length on the naturalness of Clarissa’s dress, when he tells Mrs. Smith of Clarissa’s fashion sense: That she gave the fashion to the fashionable, without seeming herself to intend it, or to know she did: That, however, it was pleasant to see Ladies imitate her in dress and behaviour, who, being unable to come up to her in grace and ease, exposed but their own affectation and aukwardness, at the time that they thought themselves secure of a general approbation, because they wore the same things, and put them on in the same manner, that she did, who had everybody’s admiration; little considering, that were her person like theirs, or if she had had their defects, she would have brought up a very different fashion; for that Nature was her guide in every-thing, and Ease her study; which, joined with a mingled dignity and condescension in her air and manner, whether she received or paid a compliment, distinguished her above all her Sex. (7:95)
Towards understanding and exploiting developers' emotional variations in software engineering

Software development is highly dependent on human efforts and collaborations, which are immensely affected by emotions. This paper presents a quantitative empirical study of the emotional variations in different types of development activities (e.g., bug-fixing tasks) and development periods (i.e., days and times), in addition to in-depth investigation of emotions' impacts on software artifacts (i.e., commit messages) and exploration of scopes for exploiting emotional variations in software engineering activities. We study emotions in more than 490 thousand commit comments across 50 open-source projects. The findings add to our understanding of the role of emotions in software development, and expose scopes for exploitation of emotional awareness in improved task assignments and collaborations.
Aggregation States and Dynamics of Nonionic Polyoxyethylene Surfactants

The nonionic polyoxyethylene ether (POE) surfactants exhibit solvent dependent aggregation states1,2 . Solvents with two or more potential hydrogen bonding centers like ethylene glycol3 and form-amide4– 6 promote micelle formation similar to that in water. In contrast, in aliphatic hydrocarbon solvents, such as cyclohexane or decane, reverse (or inverted) micelles may form2,7. However, polar solvents with a single hydrogen bonding center do not appear to support micelle formation4 , and several reports describe the destruction of micelles by the lower alcohols, ethanol and methanol8,11.
WMD arms control in the middle east: prospects, obstacles and options

During the 2015 nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference (RevCon) at the United Nations in New York, much of the media and civil society attention focused on the conflict over Nucle...
Chaos In Cardiology: Contentions And Controversies

The literature contains many claims, often contradictory, concerning the relevance of chaos theory to basic and clinical cardiology. This presentation will discuss some of the major controversies and what directions they suggest for future research in nonlinear cardiology.
Asymmetry of lower extremity force and muscle activation during knee extension and functional tasks.

Introduction Strength and power asymmetries of >10% may negatively impact physical function. Methods Twenty-four healthy participants, 30-60 years of age, were assessed for muscle power asymmetry during isokinetic knee extension and ground reaction force asymmetry during chair-rise and vertical jump tasks. Neuromuscular activation asymmetry and coactivation of vastus lateralis (VL) and biceps femoris (BF) were assessed in each condition. Symmetric (SG) and asymmetric (AG) groups were identified using a 10% knee extension power asymmetry criterion. Results The AG had greater chair-rise rate of force development asymmetry (P = 0.003, d = 1.29), but a similar chair-rise and vertical jump peak force asymmetry as the SG. Large group effects were found for VL activation asymmetry during knee extension (P = 0.047, d = 0.87), BF activation asymmetry during vertical jump (P = 0.015, d = 1.12), and strong leg coactivation during vertical jump (P = 0.028, d = 0.96). Conclusions Compensation for muscle power asymmetry may occur during functional tasks, potentially through differential activation of strong and weak leg muscles. Muscle Nerve 56: 495-504, 2017.
The Effect of Technology-Mediated Diabetes Prevention Interventions on Weight: A Meta-Analysis

Background: Lifestyle interventions targeting weight loss, such as those delivered through the Diabetes Prevention Program, reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Technology-mediated interventions may be an option to help overcome barriers to program delivery, and to disseminate diabetes prevention programs on a larger scale. Objective: We conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the effect of such technology-mediated interventions on weight loss. Methods: In this meta-analysis, six databases were searched to identify studies reporting weight change that used technology to mediate diet and exercise interventions, and targeted individuals at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Studies published between January 1, 2002 and August 4, 2016 were included. Results: The search identified 1196 citations. Of those, 15 studies met the inclusion criteria and evaluated 18 technology-mediated intervention arms delivered to a total of 2774 participants. Study duration ranged from 12 weeks to 2 years. A random-effects meta-analysis showed a pooled weight loss effect of 3.76 kilograms (95% CI 2.8-4.7; P<.001) for the interventions. Several studies also reported improved glycemic control following the intervention. The small sample sizes and heterogeneity of the trials precluded an evaluation of which technology-mediated intervention method was most efficacious. Conclusions: Technology-mediated diabetes prevention programs can result in clinically significant amounts of weight loss, as well as improvements in glycaemia in patients with prediabetes. Due to their potential for large-scale implementation, these interventions will play an important role in the dissemination of diabetes prevention programs. [J Med Internet Res 2017;19(3):e76]
SU(5) Unification without Proton Decay

We construct a four-dimensional SU(5) grand unified theory in which the proton is stable. The standard model leptons reside in the 5 and 10 irreps of SU(5), whereas the quarks live in the 40 and 50 irreps. The SU(5) gauge symmetry is broken by the vacuum expectation values of the scalar 24 and 75 irreps. All fields that are not part of the standard model are heavy. Stability of the proton requires three relations between the parameters of the model to hold. However, abandoning the requirement of absolute proton stability, the model fulfills current experimental constraints without fine-tuning.
Association Between Recurrence and Re-Excision for Close and Positive Margins Versus Observation in Patients with Benign Phyllodes Tumors

Breast lesions not sampled prior to surgery or initially diagnosed as fibroepithelial lesions on core biopsy may have a diagnosis of phyllodes tumor (PT) on excision. Historically, re-excision for close or positive margins has been the standard of care. We examined the rate of re-excision for close or positive margins in patients with benign phyllodes and compared recurrence rates among those undergoing re-excision versus observation. We identified all patients with phyllodes tumor diagnosed between 2003 and 2013. Operative and surgical pathology reports were reviewed for clinical, pathologic, and follow-up data. Among 246 cases, 216 (88%) were benign PT and 30 (12%) borderline/malignant tumors. In the group of benign PT (n = 216), margins were negative in 64 patients (29.6%), 50 (23%) were close, and 102 (47%) were positive. Of those with close margins, 22 (44%) underwent reexcision and residual benign PT was found in 2 (9%). In patients with positive margins, 45 (44%) had re-excision and residual benign PT was detected in 4 (8.8%). After a median follow-up of 35.5 months, there were 4 (1.9%) recurrences among patients with benign PT. There was no difference in recurrence among patients who had re-excision for positive or close margins versus observation (p = 0.7 and 0.21, respectively). Among patients with close or positive margins, there was no significant difference in disease recurrence between patients who underwent reexcision and those who were observed. Based on these results, it may be reasonable to manage these patients conservatively with close follow-up.
Dramatic Inner-Core Tropopause Variability during the Rapid Intensification of Hurricane Patricia (2015)

AbstractDropsondes with horizontal spacing as small as 4 km were released from the stratosphere in rapidly intensifying Hurricane Patricia (2015) during the Office of Naval Research Tropical Cyclone Intensity experiment. These observations provide cross sections of unprecedented resolution through the inner core of a hurricane. On 21 October, Patricia exhibited a strong tropopause inversion layer (TIL) across its entire circulation, with a maximum magnitude of 5.1 K (100 m)−1. This inversion weakened between 21 and 22 October as potential temperature θ increased by up to 16 K just below the tropopause and decreased by up to 14 K in the lower stratosphere. Between 22 and 23 October, the TIL over the eye weakened further, allowing the tropopause to rise by 1 km. Meanwhile over Patricia’s secondary eyewall, the TIL restrengthened and bulged upward by about 700 m into what was previously the lower stratosphere. These observations support many aspects of recent modeling studies, including eyewall penetration i...
Comparison of Fracture Properties of Asphalt Concrete in Semicircular Bend Test Using Noncontact Camera and Crosshead Movement

AbstractThe semicircular bend (SCB) test has received much attention in recent years. The test is quick, indicative, and has reasonable variability compared with other fracture property tests for a...
A long-term experience with expansion of Milan criteria for liver transplant recipients.

The Milan criteria (MC) have historically determined eligibility for transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) Region 4 expanded the criteria for transplantation in HCC to include a single tumor ≤6 cm or up to 3 tumors with the largest diameter ≤5 cm and total additive diameter ≤9 cm (R4C). The aim of this study was to report the 10-year outcomes of this expanded criteria compared to MC. Transplants performed for HCC in Region 4 between October 2007 and December 2016 were reviewed using the UNOS database. Recipients were categorized based on imaging findings at initial evaluation. A total of 2068 patients were included in the study. There was no significant difference in 10-year patient survival between the groups (53% MC vs 48% R4C, P = .23). There was also no significant difference in recurrence-free survival (54% MC vs 47% R4C, P = .15) or allograft survival (53% MC vs 48% R4C, P = .16). Finally, there was no significant difference in outcomes between the MC and R4C groups when stratifying patients by locoregional therapy. This study demonstrates promising data that the criteria for liver transplantation in HCC can be safely expanded to the R4C without compromising outcomes.
Acute femoral shortening for reconstruction of a complex lower extremity crush injury

Traumatic through-knee or transfemoral amputations with concomitant ipsilateral femoral fractures are extremely rare injuries. The initial goal of management is patient resuscitation and stabilization. Subsequent interventions focus on limb salvage and the creation of a residual limb that can be fitted successfully for a functional lower extremity prosthesis. We present the case of a patient who sustained a traumatic through-knee amputation ipsilateral to an open comminuted femoral fracture. Soft tissue injury prohibited initial primary closure over the distal femoral condyles. A functional residual limb was achieved with acute femoral shortening, maintenance of the femoral condyles and fracture stabilization with a short retrograde intramedullary nail. This approach allowed maintenance of muscular attachments to the femur, soft tissue closure and resulted in a residual limb of acceptable length with a broad weight-bearing surface that was fitted with a prosthesis successfully.
1007-LBP: A Novel Measure of Recipient-Donor HLA Mismatch Predicts Allograft Rejection After Heart Transplantation

Aim It has previously been shown that human leukocyte antigen mismatch (HLAMM) between a transplant recipient and donor at the level of allele groups (previously defined serologically) predicts mortality after heart transplantation. Because HLAMM is not a continuous measure it has limited prognostic value. We sought to develop a novel continuous measure of HLAMM for prediction of allograft rejection using the number of mismatched amino acids in the peptide binding region. Methods Records of patients receiving a heart transplant after 12/31/1999 with at least two recorded values for rejection were identified from the UNOS database. Patients receiving repeat and multi-organ transplants were excluded. A computational algorithm was used to convert allele groups to HLA haplotypes, dervied from the patient’s ethnicity and National Marrow Donor Program haplotype frequency data. The algorithm was validated using a data set of stem cell transplant recipients with high-resolution typing. The algorithm computes the number of mismatched amino acids over exons 2 and 3 for HLA-A and -B, and exon 2 for HLA-DRB1 and -DQB1. Results We identified 5230 patients in the database. Complete HLA-A, -B, -DRB1, and -DQB1 haplotypes were identified in 3197 patients (61%). HLAMM between patients with and without rejection during follow-up was significantly different for HLA-DRB1 ( p p = 0.003). Conclusions A novel measure of HLAMM is able to predict rejection after heart transplantation. Thus, high-resolution HLA typing of donor and recipient may help predict the risk of allograft rejection after heart transplantation.
Neural net connection estimates applied for feature selection & improved linear classifier design

Estimates of connection strengths are obtained to derive the weights used in building a linear classifier of complex binary patterns. Use of bootstrap resampling methods permits small, large and highly disparate-in-size training sets to be utilized with equal ease. Using ideas suggested by a method proposed for learning in neural net systems [Hopfield 1982] [Cruz-Young et al 1986], it is now possible to obtain connection values without prohibitive or arbitrarily terminated computations. The weight values so derived are identified as equivalent with those at the middle layer of three-layer neural net models. The model serving as the springboard for this study was developed by Kanerva [1986–87], and functions as a distributed sparse memory or DSM. In the various implementations of connection-based memories, both linear and nonlinear relationships within patterns play a role in the classification process. Experimental data used in this research were derived from psychological profiles which result from the coding of responses elicited by question-like items. Traditionally, such items are usually designed and chosen to be linear predictors of class membership or performance. The phase of the study reported here addresses the problems and successes of initial efforts towards a practical application of neural network computational concepts. The main focus is on those approaches which have been found to be particularly effective in obtaining adequate estimates of effective linear functions for classification of binary patterns with a number of hits ranging from 64 to 256.
War and Remembrance

As the dawn of the twenty-first century begins to rise on the horizon, the generations who were the product of the last five decades will look back on an era of world history characterized by archetypal forces which have counterbalanced the processes of creation and destruction of social systems and civilization. The destructiveness of warfare during the twentieth century has claimed over 40 million human lives, eliminated cultures, and ushered in the specter of the total annihilation of the human race with the advent of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan, near the end of World War II.
A qualitative comparison of how older breast cancer survivors process treatment information regarding endocrine therapy.

Author(s): Pieters, Huibrie C; Green, Emily; Khakshooy, Sally; Sleven, Miriam; Stanton, Annette L | Abstract: BACKGROUND:It remains unclear how information about aromatase inhibitors (AI) impacts women's decision-making about persistence with endocrine therapy. PURPOSE:To describe and compare how women treated for primary early stage breast cancer either persisting or not persisting with an AI received, interpreted, and acted upon AI-related information. DESIGN:Thematic analysis was used to sort and compare the data into the most salient themes. PARTICIPANTS:Women (N = 54; 27 persisting, 27 not persisting with an AI) aged 65-93 years took part in qualitative interviews. RESULTS:Women in both subgroups described information similarly in terms of its value, volume, type, and source. Aspects of AI-related information that either differed between the subgroups or were misunderstood by one or both subgroups included: (1) knowledge of AI or tamoxifen prior to cancer diagnosis, (2) use of online resources, (3) misconceptions about estrogen, hormone replacement therapies and AI-related symptoms, and (4) risk perception and the meaning and use of recurrence statistics such as Oncotype DX. CONCLUSIONS:Persisters and nonpersisters were similar in their desire for more information about potential side effects and symptom management at AI prescription and subsequent appointments. Differences included how information was obtained and interpreted. Interactive discussion questions are shared that can incorporate these findings into clinical settings.
How conspiracy theories can stimulate political engagement

Although a growing body of studies has explored the antecedents of people’s adoption of conspiracy beliefs, the behavioral consequences of conspiracy theories – particularly regarding political eng...
Burden and Health Impact of Pediatric Rhinosinusitis

Rhinosinusitis is a common disorder in a pediatric otolaryngology setting. Acute rhinosinusitis affects 7–12% of children, while chronic rhinosinusitis affects less than 2% of children. Both acute and chronic rhinosinusitis have significant quality of life impacts, most notably in the realm of bodily pain and limitations in school and social activities. Over $8.6 billion is spent annually on direct costs related to sinusitis, but additional indirect costs related to missed school, missed work, radiation exposure, and potential antibiotic overuse are also significant factors to consider.
Vaccine skepticism reflects basic cognitive differences in mortality-related event frequency estimation.

Abstract Vaccines have prevented and nearly eliminated several deadly diseases, yet they face skepticism from the public. One potential driver of vaccine skepticism is how people process event frequencies such as rare adverse reactions to vaccines. Misestimations may distort the perceived risks of vaccinating. The current study examined how vaccine skepticism is related to accuracy in event frequency processing. In Experiment 1, participants (n = 158) estimated the frequencies of several vital statistics (e.g., ‘How many people die per year in the U.S. from emphysema?’). Higher levels of vaccine skepticism were associated with lower accuracy in frequency estimation and over-estimation of rare events. In Experiment 2 (n = 109), we again found that vaccine skepticism was negatively associated with vital statistic estimation accuracy but not for emotionally neutral or positive events. These results suggest that vaccine skepticism may arise from basic individual differences in processing events associated with mortality or negative affect.
A Sustainable Model for High-School Teacher Preparation in Computer Science

In this Research to Practice paper, we present a sustainable model for teaching training in Computer Science. To address issues related to self-efficacy and teacher preparation, we started a formal program (IDoCode) that not only provides teacher training through the academic year, but also provides teachers the opportunity to obtain a Masters in STEM Education degree or a Graduate Certificate in Computer Science Teacher Endorsement.Through our program, we have shown that teachers feel more confident in their ability to teach computer science courses such as Exploring CS, AP CS Principles, and the Java-based AP CS A, as well as leading the students in a capstone project. In this paper, we present a sustainable approach to make a cultural change in the landscape of Computer Science education in the state of Idaho. We discuss various factors including working with the State Board of Education, local software companies, the university, and other invested partners to help CS courses in high school count towards graduation. We have also been active with respect to community engagement by organizing an annual meeting with counselors and principals to encourage women and minorities to take computer science courses and conducting summer professional development workshops for new teachers.
The Role of Sequence Distribution on Liquid Crystalline Properties of Aromatic Copolyesters

A number of aromatic copolyesters have been studied to develop processable polymers which would retain strength properties at temperatures of up to 300°C.1,2,3,4 The copolymers of p-hydroxy-benzoic acid (PHBA) with biphenol and terephthalic acid (BPT) within the compositional range of 2/1 to 1/2 of PHBA/BPT are melt processible and display outstanding mechanical properties. Furthermore, the melt state of these copolymers has been conclusively shown to be liquid crystalline and display the typical birefringence and shear sensitivity.5 The melt flow characteristics of the copolyesters are not only dependent on the shear stress but also on the molecular weight and the sequence distribution of the PHBA/BPT units. However, neither the molecular weight nor the sequence distribution can be determined by solution techniques since the copolymers of PHBA/BPT are insoluble in any known solvents. Since the polymerization reaction of the mixture of three monomers is always carried out under heterogeneous conditions, there is good reason to believe that the copolymer structure may be blocky. This is further substantiated from cross polarization solid state C-13 NMR spectra which indicate that in the as prepared copolymer, 50 percent of the PHBA is present in more ordered regions as compared to the BPT and remaining PHBA.5 The present study was undertaken to better characterize the effect of sequence distribution on the melt properties. Copolyesters of PHBA/BPT (2/1) ranging from a perfectly alternating structure to a highly blocky structure were prepared and the melt flow properties characterized.
Refined food addiction and its relation to obesity

Abstract With advances in manufacturing and global trade, mass-produced refined foods have globally increased in prevalence. Additionally, our understanding of neurobiological models of addiction has improved due to more advanced computation and neuroimaging technology. The analysis of the neurobiological and clinical frameworks for the consumption of refined foods has led to the exploration of addiction to refined foods and its association with the rise in global obesity.
Online and Distribution-Free Robustness: Regression and Contextual Bandits with Huber Contamination.

In this work we revisit two classic high-dimensional online learning problems, namely linear regression and contextual bandits, from the perspective of adversarial robustness. Existing works in algorithmic robust statistics make strong distributional assumptions that ensure that the input data is evenly spread out or comes from a nice generative model. Is it possible to achieve strong robustness guarantees even without distributional assumptions altogether, where the sequence of tasks we are asked to solve is adaptively and adversarially chosen? We answer this question in the affirmative for both linear regression and contextual bandits. In fact our algorithms succeed where conventional methods fail. In particular we show strong lower bounds against Huber regression and more generally any convex M-estimator. Our approach is based on a novel alternating minimization scheme that interleaves ordinary least-squares with a simple convex program that finds the optimal reweighting of the distribution under a spectral constraint. Our results obtain essentially optimal dependence on the contamination level $\eta$, reach the optimal breakdown point, and naturally apply to infinite dimensional settings where the feature vectors are represented implicitly via a kernel map.
Risk factors for depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms in perinatal women during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Abstract Background Pregnant women and women who recently gave birth are vulnerable to COVID-19-related psychosocial stresses. Methods We assessed COVID-19-related health worries and grief, and current mental health symptoms (depression, generalized anxiety, and PTSD) in 1,123 U.S. women during the COVID-19 pandemic (May 21 to August 17, 2020) through a cross-sectional study design. Results Among our respondents, 36.4% reported clinically significant levels of depression, 22.7% for generalized anxiety, and 10.3% for PTSD. Women with pre-existing mental health diagnoses based on their self-reported history were 1.6-to-3.7 more likely to score at clinically significant levels of depression, generalized anxiety, and PTSD. Approximately 18% reported high levels of COVID-19-related health worries and were 2.6-to-4.2 times more likely to score above the clinical threshold for mental health symptoms. Approximately 9% reported high levels of grief and were 4.8-to-5.5 times more likely to score above the clinical threshold for mental health symptoms. Conclusions Perinatal women with pre-existing mental health diagnoses show elevated symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although causation cannot be inferred, COVID-19-related health worries and grief experiences may increase the likelihood of mental health symptoms among those without pre-existing mental health concerns. Providers should develop strategies for addressing health-related worry and grief within their practice.
Constitutional Rights and Education: An International Comparative Study

We investigate whether the inclusion of social rights in political constitutions affects social performance. More specifically, we analyze whether including the right to education in the constitution has been related to better "educational outcomes." We rely on data for 61 countries that participated in the 2012 PISA tests. Our results are strong and robust to the estimation technique: we find that there is no evidence that including the right to education in the constitution has been associated with higher test scores. The quality of education depends on socioeconomic, structural, and policy variables, such as expenditure per student, the teacher-pupil ratio, and families' background. When these covariates are excluded, the relation between the strength of constitutional educational rights and the quality of education is negative and statistically significant. These results are important for emerging countries that are discussing the adoption of new constitutions, such as Thailand and Chile.Institutional subscribers to the NBER working paper series, and residents of developing countries may download this paper without additional charge at www.nber.org.
A semi-supervised self-training method to develop assistive intelligence for segmenting multiclass bridge elements from inspection videos:

Bridge inspection is an important step in preserving and rehabilitating transportation infrastructure for extending their service lives. The advancement of mobile robotic technology allows the rapi...
Life-cycle analysis of greenhouse gas emissions from hydrogen delivery: A cost-guided analysis

Abstract The cost of hydrogen delivery for transportation accounts for most of the current H2 selling price; delivery also requires substantial amounts of energy. We developed harmonized techno-economic and life-cycle emissions models of current and future H2 production and delivery pathways. Our techno-economic analysis of dispensed H2 costs guided our selection of pathways for the life-cycle analysis. In this paper, we present the results of market expansion scenarios using existing capabilities (for example, those that use H2 from steam methane reforming, chlor-alkali, and natural gas liquid cracker plants), as well as results for future electrolysis plants that use nuclear, solar, and hydroelectric power. Reductions in greenhouse gas emissions for fuel cell electric vehicles compared to conventional gasoline pathways vary from 40% reduction for fossil-derived H2 to 20-fold for clean H2. Supplemental tables with greenhouse gas emissions data for each step in the H2 pathways enable readers to evaluate additional scenarios.