cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Elementary: Large-Scale Knowledge-Base Construction via Machine Learning and Statistical Inference

Researchers have approached knowledge-base construction KBC with a wide range of data resources and techniques. The authors present Elementary, a prototype KBC system that is able to combine diverse resources and different KBC techniques via machine learning and statistical inference to construct knowledge bases. Using Elementary, they have implemented a solution to the TAC-KBP challenge with quality comparable to the state of the art, as well as an end-to-end online demonstration that automatically and continuously enriches Wikipedia with structured data by reading millions of webpages on a daily basis. The authors describe several challenges and their solutions in designing, implementing, and deploying Elementary. In particular, the authors first describe the conceptual framework and architecture of Elementary to integrate different data resources and KBC techniques in a principled manner. They then discuss how they address scalability challenges to enable Web-scale deployment. The authors empirically show that this decomposition-based inference approach achieves higher performance than prior inference approaches. To validate the effectiveness of Elementary's approach to KBC, they experimentally show that its ability to incorporate diverse signals has positive impacts on KBC quality.
Characterization and Noise Analysis of Capacitive MEMS Acoustic Emission Transducers

Resonant type capacitive MEMS transducers were fabricated using a multi-user MEMS process (MUMPs) for the detection of acoustic emission (AE). Electrical and mechanical characterization of the MEMS transducers has been performed. The performance of the transducers is limited by the noise. In this paper, we present the noise analysis, the discussion of noise sources, and show that Brownian noise plays a significant role in the capacitive MEMS transducers.
Characterization of spray-pyrolized superconducting YBaCuO thin films on single-crystal MgO by transmission electron microscopy

Superconducting YBaCuO thin films have been fabricated on single-crystal MgO by the spray-pyrolysis of nitrate precursors. The effects on the superconductive behavior of processing parameters such as time and temperature of heat treatment and film thickness were investigated. The superconductive behavior was found to be strongly dependent on film thickness. Films of thickness 1 μm were found to have a Tc of 67 K while thinner films showed appreciably degraded properties. Transmission electron microscopy studies have shown that the heat treatments necessary for the formation of the superconductive phase (for example, 950 °C for 30 min) also cause a substantial degree of film-substrate interdiffusion. Diffusion distances for Cu in the MgO substrate and Mg in the film were found to be sufficient to explain the degradation of the superconductive behavior in films of thickness 0.5 μm and 0.2 μm. From the concentration profiles obtained by EDS analysis diffusion coefficients at 950 °C for Mg into the YBaCuO thin film and for Cu into the MgO substrate were evaluated as 3 × 10−19 m2/s and 1 × 10−17 m2/s, respectively.
Situating the New 527 Organizations in Interest Group Theory

This article seeks to reconcile the activities of several of the groups organized during the 2004 election cycle under section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code with existing theories of party and interest group behavior. While 527 groups have frequently been categorized as extensions of traditional advocacy groups or party networks, I argue that existing theories do not account for the functional differentiation between these groups. This functional differentiation marks a relatively unprecedented development in American interest group politics. However, the highly partisan nature of the 2004 election and the limited appeal of these groups either to party donors or to a broad base of interest groups may indicate that such groups will not endure or play as prominent a role in 2008 as they did in 2004 even absent changes in FEC rules.
“Women's Work” as Political Art: Weaving and Dialectical Politics in Homer, Aristophanes, and Plato

“Women's Work” as Political Art: Weaving and Dialectical Politics in Homer, Aristophanes, and Plato. By Lisa Pace Vetter. Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield, 2005. 190p. $60.00.Metaphors are a staple of the practice of political theory. Socrates' “individual writ large,” Machiavelli's “Fortuna is a woman,” Hobbes's “leviathan”: These and scores of others speak to the power of metaphorical language in the theorist's arsenal. Lisa Pace Vetter's “women's work” focuses on the metaphor of weaving, a craft associated with the female working at her loom by the hearth. Vetter explores this metaphor in four texts: the Odyssey, Lysistrata, Statesman, and Phaedo. She finds in the metaphor a “dialectical foundationalism” that mediates between subjectivity and objectivity, reason and emotion, action and deliberation (p. 7). Weaving incorporates complexity, creating a new whole without destroying the particularities that comprise it. This form of weaving she values, but it appears only in the Socrates speech in the Phaedo and the construction of Plato's dialogue.
On computing exact visual hulls of solids bounded by smooth surfaces

This paper presents a method for computing the visual hull that is based on two novel representations: the rim mesh, which describes the connectivity of contour generators on the object surface; and the visual hull mesh, which describes the exact structure of the surface of the solid formed by intersecting a finite number of visual cones. We describe the topological features of these meshes and show how they can be identified in the image using epipolar constraints. These constraints are used to derive an image-based practical reconstruction algorithm that works with weakly calibrated cameras. Experiments on synthetic and real data validate the proposed approach.
A longitudinal analysis of relationships between adolescent personality and intelligence with adult leader emergence and transformational leadership

Abstract The long-standing question of the role of traits, particularly personality and intelligence, in predicting leadership qualities was addressed using a longitudinal design in the current study. Based on data from participants in the Fullerton Longitudinal Study, we examined the relationship between adolescent personality and intelligence collected at age 17 and multiple measures of self-reported adult leader emergence and transformational leadership at age 29. Results indicated a significant relationship between adolescent extraversion and adult workplace leader emergence and transformational leadership above and beyond adolescent intelligence, across a 12-year span. Implications for youth leader development are discussed.
EVENODD: an optimal scheme for tolerating double disk failures in RAID architectures

We present a novel method, that we call EVENODD, for tolerating up to two disk failures in RAID architectures. EVENODD is the first known scheme for tolerating double disk failures that is optimal with regard to both storage and performance. EVENODD employs the addition of only two redundant disks and consists of simple exclusive-OR computations. A major advantage of EVENODD is that it only requires parity hardware, which is typically present in standard RAID-5 controllers. Hence, EVENODD can be implemented on standard RAID-5 controllers without any hardware changes. The only previously known scheme that employes optimal redundant storage (i.e. two extra disks) is based on Reed-Solomon (RS) error-correcting codes, requires computation over finite fields and results in a more complex implementation. For example, we show that the number of exclusive-OR operations involved in implementing EVENODD in a disk array with 15 disks is about 50% of the number required when using the RS scheme.
Female Education, Contraceptive Use, and Fertility: Evidence from Uganda

We use the Demographic and Health Survey of 2006 to examine the relationship between female education, contraceptive use, and fertility rates in Uganda. Our findings reveal that female education, especially at the secondary and post-secondary levels, increases the likelihood of using contraceptives and reduces fertility. As a result, measures that aim to educate women beyond secondary level are needed. The government programme to extend free education at the secondary level is an important measure that may help to reduce fertility and should therefore be strengthened.
Book Industry Business, Concentration, Internet and Social Media of Management and Marketing

This chapter’s centrality lies on the identification of some disruptive elements and on the analysis of some trends, particularly from the business strategy point of view, including the business concentration movements, as well the changes operated in the value chain and in the book business model and the role of social media in marketing and promotion practices. Adopting a more systematic overview, we can say this work was developed with the aim of finding possible answers to two research questions: RQ.1—Is it possible to identify trends and characterize the business tendencies in the book sector, including the business concentration? RQ.2—Which are the main challenges and disruptive elements that publishers have to face in terms of their corporate governance and business models? In addition to the identification of some of the most frequent strategies, the Ansoff matrix (Ansoff, Implanting strategic management, Prentice-Hall International, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1984) was applied to the book sector; simultaneously, possible revenue sources associated with the book business were identified and systematized. In order to analyze the strategies and quantify the levels of ownership concentration in the publishing market, two indexes (the “Herfindahl–Hirschman Index”—HHI and CR4) were applied, based on the Portuguese market. Overall, the research methodology was largely based on documentary research, namely scientific articles, press articles, books on the sector, industry reports, etc. Taking into account that one of this chapter’s authors is an editor and a partner of a book publishing company, participant observation was also applied.
Cerebrovascular adaptations to high-altitude hypoxemia in fetal and adult sheep

In the fetus and infant, high-altitude hypoxemia is associated with increased cerebrovascular morbidity. To test the hypothesis that this increased morbidity involves changes in cerebrovascular endothelial and smooth muscle function, we examined middle cerebral, posterior communicating, basilar, and common carotid arteries obtained from 23 normoxic fetuses, 19 hypoxemic fetuses maintained at high altitude (3,820 m) from 30 days gestation to near term (approximately 143 days), 55 normoxic non-pregnant adults, and 24 hypoxemic nonpregnant adults maintained at the same altitude and duration as the hypoxemic fetuses. Long-term hypoxemia was associated with several significant changes in both fetal and adult arteries, including a generalized increase in base-soluble protein (5-50%), a depression of the maximum potassium-induced tensions (16-49%), and a depression of the relaxation responses to S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (1-11%), which releases nitric oxide into solution upon hydration. Altitude acclimatization significantly enhanced amine-to-potassium ratios (the ratio of tension produced by 10 microM serotonin with 20 microM histamine to that produced by 122 mM potassium) only in adult cerebral arteries (51-87%) and significantly depressed potassium-induced stresses (up to 41%) and serotonin/histamine-induced tensions (20-37%) only in fetuses. Endothelium-dependent relaxations to A23187 were significantly depressed in hypoxemic fetuses (4-11%) but were significantly enhanced in hypoxemic adults (2-14%). We conclude that chronic hypoxemia depresses both vascular smooth muscle and endothelial function to a greater extent in fetal than in adult cerebral arteries and that this effect could contribute to the greater postnatal vulnerability to asphyxic and hypertensive insults seen in hypoxemic neonates.
Verification and Implementation of a Point-of-Care Troponin Test in an Emergency Department: Successes and Challenges

Optimizing care for patients suspected of having acute coronary syndromes relies on timeliness of key information that impacts intervention decisions. Improvement in turnaround times for troponin in emergency departments (EDs) is a key success measure for providing quality care for this patient population. Here we describe the verification and implementation of point-of-care testing …
Small Intestinal Infections

Small intestinal infections are extremely common worldwide. They may be bacterial, viral, or parasitic in etiology. Most are foodborne or waterborne, with specific etiologies differing by region and with diverse pathophysiologies. Very young, very old, and immune-deficient individuals are the most vulnerable to morbidity or mortality from small intestinal infections. There have been significant advances in diagnostic sophistication with the development and early application of molecular diagnostic assays, though these tests have not become mainstream. The lack of rapid diagnoses combined with the self-limited nature of small intestinal infections has hampered the development of specific and effective treatments other than oral rehydration. Antibiotics are not indicated in the absence of an etiologic diagnosis, and not at all in the case of some infections.
CEO Home Bias and Corporate Acquisitions

We find that CEOs are significantly more likely to purchase cross-state targets from their birth state, consistent with either informational advantages or familiarity bias. Evidence from bidder announcement returns supports the latter view. Acquirer returns are significantly lower for CEO home state acquisitions, and the relation is robust to controls for firm and industry characteristics. The negative announcement effect is stronger for poorly-governed firms, when the target is located further away, and when the CEO has a deeper birth-state connection. CEOs’ post-acquisition trading behavior also supports a familiarity bias interpretation. Our findings suggest CEO home bias influences firm investment.
Review: Victor Lundy: Sculptor of Space

Victor Lundy: Sculptor of Space U.S. General Services Administration, Washington, D.C., 2014, 49 min., http://www.gsa.gov/portal/content/185759 The life and career of architect Victor Alfred Lundy (b. 1923) have been long and varied. Born in New York City to Russian immigrants, Lundy studied architecture at New York University before World War II and with Bauhaus founder Walter Gropius at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design after the war. His first buildings are considered part of the so-called Sarasota school, although their soaring, scooping, and generally curvaceous forms were far more expressionistic than those designed by Lundy’s fellow Harvard and Sarasota school colleague Paul Rudolph (1918–97). After Sarasota, Lundy moved back to New York and established a practice that produced everything from a church in East Harlem to an IBM headquarters in New Jersey to the snack bars at the 1964 New York World’s Fair. In the mid-1970s, Lundy headed west to California and then settled in Houston, where, at ninety-one, he still lives today (Figure 1). Figure 1 Victor A. Lundy examines the oversized cover page of a set of drawings for the Student Health Center at the State University of New York at Cortland (1967), in his studio in Houston, Texas, 2013. This documentary film, freely available on the U.S. General Services Administration’s website, is the tenth and latest in the GSA’s Historic Building Film Series. Since 2002, the series has documented the rehabilitation and preservation of properties owned by the GSA that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. As required …
Mis-estimation and bias of hyperpolarized apparent diffusion coefficient measurements due to slice profile effects.

Purpose The purpose of this work was to explore the impact of slice profile effects on apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) mapping of hyperpolarized (HP) substrates. Methods Slice profile effects were simulated using a Gaussian radiofrequency (RF) pulse with a variety of flip angle schedules and b-value ordering schemes. A long T1 water phantom was used to validate the simulation results, and ADC mapping of HP [13C,15N2]urea was performed on the murine liver to assess these effects in vivo. Results Slice profile effects result in excess signal after repeated RF pulses, causing bias in HP measurements. The largest error occurs for metabolites with small ADCs, resulting in up to 10-fold overestimation for metabolites that are in more-restricted environments. A mixed b-value scheme substantially reduces this bias, whereas scaling the slice-select gradient can mitigate it completely. In vivo, the liver ADC of hyperpolarized [13C,15N2]urea is nearly 70% lower (0.99 ± 0.22 vs 1.69 ± 0.21 × 10−3 mm2/s) when slice-select gradient scaling is used. Conclusion Slice profile effects can lead to bias in HP ADC measurements. A mixed b-value ordering scheme can reduce this bias compared to sequential b-value ordering. Slice-select gradient scaling can also correct for this deviation, minimizing bias and providing more-precise ADC measurements of HP substrates. Magn Reson Med 78:1087–1092, 2017. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
In Opioid Withdrawal, With No Help In Sight

A patient receives prescription opioids after an accident—and no support from his physicians as he weans himself off.
Gene Expression in CNS Regions of Genetic Rat Models of Alcohol Abuse

Abstract This chapter focuses on differences/changes in gene expression associated with alcohol abuse. There were no similar differences in the expression of genes or gene networks in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), nucleus accumbens (Acb) shell, or central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) across five line-pairs of rats, selectively bred for disparate alcohol-drinking behaviors. Binge drinking (blood alcohol levels ∼80 mg%) by alcohol-preferring (P) rats increased expression of genes that would increase excitatory synaptic transmission in the Acb-shell and CeA. Excessive binge drinking (blood alcohol levels ∼200 mg%) produced changes in gene expression in the VTA associated with excitotoxicity and pro-inflammatory responses. Withdrawal from alcohol increased expression of Fos and Jun oncogenes in the Acb, suggesting increased neuronal activity. Overall, the results indicate that different mechanisms may underlie the disparate alcohol-drinking behaviors of the five line-pairs, and that region-specific changes in gene expression occur in response to different alcohol-drinking conditions.
Interactions of adolescent social experiences and dopamine genes to predict physical intimate partner violence perpetration.

Objectives We examined the interactions between three dopamine gene alleles (DAT1, DRD2, DRD4) previously associated with violent behavior and two components of the adolescent environment (exposure to violence, school social environment) to predict adulthood physical intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration among white men and women. Methods We used data from Wave IV of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, a cohort study following individuals from adolescence to adulthood. Based on the prior literature, we categorized participants as at risk for each of the three dopamine genes using this coding scheme: two 10-R alleles for DAT1; at least one A-1 allele for DRD2; at least one 7-R or 8-R allele for DRD4. Adolescent exposure to violence and school social environment was measured in 1994 and 1995 when participants were in high school or middle school. Intimate partner violence perpetration was measured in 2008 when participants were 24 to 32 years old. We used simple and multivariable logistic regression models, including interactions of genes and the adolescent environments for the analysis. Results Presence of risk alleles was not independently associated with IPV perpetration but increasing exposure to violence and disconnection from the school social environment was associated with physical IPV perpetration. The effects of these adolescent experiences on physical IPV perpetration varied by dopamine risk allele status. Among individuals with non-risk dopamine alleles, increased exposure to violence during adolescence and perception of disconnection from the school environment were significantly associated with increased odds of physical IPV perpetration, but individuals with high risk alleles, overall, did not experience the same increase. Conclusion Our results suggested the effects of adolescent environment on adulthood physical IPV perpetration varied by genetic factors. This analysis did not find a direct link between risk alleles and violence, but contributes to growing research indicating that if genetic factors contribute to perpetration, this relationship is likely complicated and the result of interactions with other factors.
Left hemispheric status epilepticus with crossed cerebellar diaschisis.

A 68-year-old woman referred to the emergency department for impaired consciousness and involuntary right-sided movements. She was affected by epilepsy secondary to cerebral palsy, and she presented partial seizures, occasionally followed by secondary generalisation, well controlled by drug treatment. Brain CT scan, performed in the emergency, showed diffuse hypodensity of the left cerebral hemisphere and of the right cerebellar hemisphere (figure 1). Electroencephalography showed continuous epileptic discharges in the left hemisphere (figure 2). Treatment for seizures with intravenous valproic acid was initiated, and the patient progressively recovered consciousness. Neurological examination showed right spastic hemiparesis as a result of cerebral palsy; in particular, clinical signs of cerebellar dysfunction were absent. Routine blood tests were normal except for high level of sodium (158 mmol/L). Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination showed a normal cell count and glucose level and a mild increase in proteins (42 mg/dL). Bacterioscopic CSF examination was negative. The search on serum for antibodies and the …
Rapid DNA content analysis by the propidium iodide-hypotonic citrate method.

Publisher Summary For the rapid quantitation of DNA and protein content of fixed cells by flow cytometry (FCM), direct staining of isolated nuclei is experimented with various DNA-binding fluorochromes. The propidium iodide (PI)-citrate method has been developed for the rapid determination of cell cycle distribution in leukemic peripheral blood and bone marrow samples of patients on high-dose methotrexate rescue protocols. The method is employed and found suitable for rapid cell cycle analysis. It has also been used by several workers to study the cell cycle phase distribution of mammalian tissue culture cells and a variety of tumor cells. Modifications have involved inclusion of RNase and a detergent in the staining solution. This rapid method is, especially suitable for small samples, such as a drop of blood from a fingerprick, tissue culture cells from multiwell plates, and small bone marrow aspirates. For solid-tumor material, mincing of tissue with scissors or crossed scalpels and filtering through nylon cloth are essential.
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), Stress and Mental Health in College Students

The goal of this short-term longitudinal study was to examine whether adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) could be used to identify college students at risk for mental health problems and whether current level of stress mediates the relationship between ACEs and mental health. Data on ACEs and mental health (depression, anxiety and suicidality) were collected at the beginning of the semester, and data on current stressors and mental health were collected toward the end of the semester (n = 239). Findings indicated that ACEs predicted worsening of mental health over the course of a semester and suggested current number of stressors as a mediator of the relationship between ACEs and mental health. Results suggest that screening for ACEs might be useful to identify students at high risk for deterioration in mental health. Results further suggest that stress-related interventions would be beneficial for students with high levels of ACEs and point to the need for more research and strategies to increase help-seeking in college students.
Organotypic Hippocampal Slice Cultures as a Model of Posttraumatic Epileptogenesis

Abstract Organotypic cultures are prepared by dissecting slices from the brain region of interest, and then maintaining the slices in appropriate culture conditions for time period ranging from 24 h to several weeks. These cultures have been prepared from a variety of brain regions and maintain general morphology of the originating brain region during the culture period. Spontaneous ictal and interictal epileptiform activity occurs in close to 100% of organotypic cultures from hippocampus and cortex. Therefore, these cultures are increasingly used as an in vitro model of epileptogenesis. Some of the advantages of this model include compressed time scale of epilepsy development and relatively easy experimental access. Organotypic cultures have been used by investigators to investigate mechanisms of epileptogenesis via calcium and chloride imaging, and to rapidly screen potential antiepileptic drugs.
Association between birth in a high stroke mortality state, race, and risk of dementia

Importance Birth in a group of predominantly southern US states is robustly linked to increased stroke risk. Given the role of cerebrovascular disease in dementia risk, geographic patterning may also occur for dementia incidence. Objective To determine whether birth in 9 high stroke mortality states (HSMSs) is associated with dementia in a diverse cohort of individuals living in Northern California. Design, Setting, and Participants An observational cohort study included 7423 members of Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC), an integrated health care delivery system, with health survey and clinical examination data available. Data were collected between 1964 and 1973 when the individuals were middle-aged and 1996 and 2015 when participants were in later life. Exposures Self-reported state of birth in an HSMS (top quintile of states for stroke mortality). Main Outcomes and Measures Dementia diagnoses obtained from electronic health records from January 1, 1996, to October 15, 2015. Place of birth, race, educational level, and midlife vascular risk factors data were collected between 1964 and 1973. Results Of the 7423 persons included in the analysis, 4049 (54.5%) were women; 1354 (18.2%) were black. The mean (SD) age of study participants at their first visit between 1963 and 1974 was 42.94 (1.73) years and mean (SD) age at the beginning of follow-up for dementia in 1996 was 71.14 (2.72) years. Dementia was diagnosed in 2254 (30.4%) of the participants and was more common among those born in an HSMS than those born outside of one (455 [39.0%] vs 1799 [28.8%]). Birth in an HSMS was 9.6 times more common for black participants (795 [58.7%]) than nonblack participants (371 [6.1%]). Overall, birth in an HSMS was associated with a 28% higher risk of dementia (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.28; 95% CI, 1.13-1.46) adjusted for age, sex, and race. Compared with nonblack persons born outside of an HSMS, black individuals born in an HSMS had the highest dementia risk (aHR, 1.67; 95% CI, 1.48-1.88), followed by black individuals not born in an HSMS (aHR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.28-1.72), and nonblack persons born in an HSMS had a 46% increased risk (aHR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.23-1.74). Cumulative 20-year dementia risks at age 65 years were 30.13% (95% CI, 26.87%-32.93%) and 21.80% (95% CI, 20.51%-22.91%) for individuals born in and outside an HSMS, respectively. Conclusions and Relevance To our knowledge, this is the first study to date of place of birth and incident dementia and shows increased risk for individuals born in an HSMS, even though all participants subsequently resided in California. Birth in an HSMS was common among black participants. Place of birth has enduring consequences for dementia risk and may be a major contributor to racial disparities in dementia.
Exploring Materialization of Institutional Logics: A Case of Changing Tax Regimes and Procedures

Organization studies scholars have employed the notion of institutional logics to produce a more comprehensive understanding of institutional change processes and outcomes. Their focus has been on ...
The Roles of Vowel Fronting, Lengthening, and Listener Variables in the Perception of Vocal Femininity

Purpose The goal of this study was to test whether fronting and lengthening of lax vowels influence the perception of femininity in listeners whose dialect is characterized as already having relati...
Marrow Fat—a New Target to Treat Bone Diseases?

The goal of this review is to summarize recent findings on marrow adipose tissue (MAT) function and to discuss the possibility of targeting MAT for therapeutic purposes. MAT is characterized with high heterogeneity which may suggest both that marrow adipocytes originate from multiple different progenitors and/or their phenotype is determined by skeletal location and environmental cues. Close relationship to osteoblasts and heterogeneity suggests that MAT consists of cells representing spectrum of phenotypes ranging from lipid-filled adipocytes to pre-osteoblasts. We propose a term of adiposteoblast for describing phenotypic spectrum of MAT. Manipulating with MAT activity in diseases where impairment in energy metabolism correlates with bone functional deficit, such as aging and diabetes, may be beneficial for both. Paracrine activities of MAT might be considered for treatment of bone diseases. MAT has unrecognized potential, either beneficial or detrimental, to regulate bone homeostasis in physiological and pathological conditions. More research is required to harness this potential for therapeutic purposes.
Using neurophysiological data to inform feedback timing: a pilot study

In an effort to achieve a level of knowledge comparable to that which typically results from individual tutoring, innovative models of adaptive computer-based training are continually being tested and refined. Despite these efforts, adaptive computerized training programs still fall significantly short of the gold standard of one-on-one instruction. In response, this study used a previously developed model defining when to apply instructional feedback during learning in order to improve efficiency. Specifically, we compared the combination of performance and neuro-physiological indices to performance alone as indicators for when to adapt training. Contrary to our hypotheses, this study failed to demonstrate positive impact on knowledge acquisition, knowledge application, perceived cognitive load, or training efficiency. However, based on observational data, it is suspected that participants in neither group possessed enough available working memory capacity to attend to the supporting material. Consequently, this may account for the lack of differential findings.
Direction-dependent parity-time phase transition and nonreciprocal amplification with dynamic gain-loss modulation

We show that a dynamic gain-loss modulation in an optical structure can lead to a direction-dependent parity-time ($\mathcal{PT}$) phase transition. The phase transition can be made thresholdless in the forward direction, and yet remains with a nonzero threshold in the backward direction. As a result, nonreciprocal directional amplification can be realized. Such a dynamic gain-loss modulation can be directly integrated with a semiconductor laser to provide optical isolation for the laser.
Protons offer reduced bone marrow, small bowel, and urinary bladder exposure for patients receiving neoadjuvant radiotherapy for resectable rectal cancer

Background: To assess the potential benefit of proton therapy (PT) over photon therapy, we compared 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT), intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), and PT plans in patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemoradiation for resectable rectal cancer at our institution. Methods: Eight consecutive patients with resectable (T2-T3) rectal cancers underwent 3DCRT, IMRT, and 3-dimensional conformal PT treatment planning. Initial target volumes (PTV1) were contoured using the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group anorectal atlas guidelines. Boost target volumes (PTV2) consisted of the gross rectal tumor plus a uniform 2-cm expansion. Plans delivered 45 Gray (Gy) or Cobalt Gray Equivalent (CGE) to the PTV1 and a 5.4-Gy (CGE) boost to the PTV2. Ninety-five percent of the PTVs received 100% of the target dose and 100% of the PTVs received 95% of the target dose. Standard normal-tissue constraints were utilized. Wilcoxon paired t-tests were performed to compare various dosimetric points between the 3 plans for each patient. Results: All plans met all normal-tissue constraints and were isoeffective in terms of PTV coverage. The proton plans offered significantly reduced median normal-tissue exposure over the 3DCRT and IMRT plans with respect to pelvic bone marrow at the V5Gy, V10Gy, V15Gy, and V20Gy levels and the small bowel space at the V10Gy and V20Gy levels. The proton plans also offered significantly reduced median normal-tissue exposure over the 3DCRT plans with respect to the small bowel at the V30Gy and V40Gy levels and the urinary bladder at the V40Gy level. Conclusions: By reducing bone marrow exposure, PT may reduce the acute hematologic toxicity of neoadjuvant chemoradiation and increase the likelihood of uninterrupted chemotherapy delivery. Bone marrow sparing may also facilitate the delivery of salvage chemotherapy for patients who subsequently develop hematogenous metastasis. Reduced small bowel exposure using PT may also reduce toxicity and possibly facilitate the use of more-aggressive chemotherapy with radiotherapy.
The Battlefield Behind Bars: How Mental Disorder and Suicidal Behavior Impacts the Prison Experience for Veterans

Military veteran status has been associated with a variety of criminal justice outcomes as well as higher rates of mental illness and suicide when compared to the general population. Although research has generally focused on why veterans become involved with the justice system, less is known about their experiences while incarcerated. In particular, studies of veterans in the community context indicate that they are unwilling to seek out mental health treatment due to potential stigmas, suggesting that this reluctance may extend into the prison environment. Using a sample of 14,278 veteran and nonveteran inmates, we find that veterans do not necessarily fare worse in prison and are actually more likely to obtain treatment. However, this effect is largely mediated by the greater history of mental disorders and suicidal behaviors among veterans. Our findings lend credence to recent efforts designed to screen and manage justice-involved veterans as a distinct, at-risk group.
Abstract 5141: GenomeSpace: an environment for frictionless bioinformatics.

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC Over the past several years, cancer genome characterization initiatives such as The Cancer Genome Atlas, International Cancer Genome Consortium, and the Tumor Sequencing Project have produced an explosion of genomic data. The pace of data production has increased with the adoption of next-generation sequencing technologies and large-scale data production efforts to discover the breadth of genomic variation in humans. Comprehensive analysis of these datasets requires the coordinated use of Web-based data repositories and applications, desktop analysis tools and visualizers, and single-purpose algorithms. However, the effort required to transfer data between tools, convert between data formats, and manage results often prevents researchers from utilizing the wealth of methods available to them. Many integrative genomics and translational “bench to bedside” discoveries are possible with combinations of existing tools, but the necessary transitions between them puts them out of the reach of most researchers. Cloud technologies have produced a new wave of applications that transfer next-generation sequence data directly from sequencers to a compute cloud for storage and analysis, but these systems are at an early stage of maturity and many are tied to commercial sequencing vendors. GenomeSpace, http://www.genomespace.org, is an environment that brings together diverse computational tools, enabling scientists without programming skills to easily combine their capabilities. It aims to offer a common space to create, manipulate and share an ever-growing range of genomic analysis tools. GenomeSpace features support for cloud-based data storage and analysis, multi-tool analytic workflows, automatic conversion of data formats, and ease of connecting new tools to the environment. A set of six “GenomeSpace-enabled” seed tools developed by collaborating organizations provides a comprehensive platform for the analysis of cancer data: Cytoscape (UCSD), Galaxy (Penn State University), GenePattern (Broad Institute), Genomica (Weitzmann Institute), Integrative Genomics Viewer (Broad Institute), and the UCSC Genome Browser (UCSC). The extensible format of the system has empowered a wider range of cancer analyses through the addition of ArrayExpress (European Bioinformatics Institute), InSilico DB (University of Brussels), geWorkbench (Columbia University), and Cistrome (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute). We show how researchers can use GenomeSpace to effortlessly combine the capabilities of all of these tools in several cancer research scenarios. Citation Format: Michael Reich, John Liefeld, Helga Thorvaldsdottir, Marco Ocana, Thorin Tabor, DK Jang, Jill P. Mesirov. GenomeSpace: an environment for frictionless bioinformatics. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5141. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-5141
XLF and H2AX function in series to promote replication fork stability

XRCC4-like factor (XLF) is a non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) DNA double strand break repair protein. However, XLF deficiency leads to phenotypes in mice and humans that are not necessarily consistent with an isolated defect in NHEJ. Here we show that XLF functions during DNA replication. XLF undergoes cell division cycle 7-dependent phosphorylation; associates with the replication factor C complex, a critical component of the replisome; and is found at replication forks. XLF deficiency leads to defects in replication fork progression and an increase in fork reversal. The additional loss of H2AX, which protects DNA ends from resection, leads to a requirement for ATR to prevent an MRE11-dependent loss of newly synthesized DNA and activation of DNA damage response. Moreover, H2ax-/-:Xlf-/- cells exhibit a marked dependence on the ATR kinase for survival. We propose that XLF and H2AX function in series to prevent replication stress induced by the MRE11-dependent resection of regressed arms at reversed replication forks.
On-label Compared to Off-Label Four-Factor Prothrombin Complex Concentrate Use: A Retrospective, Observational Study

Background Four-factor prothrombin complex concentrate (4F-PCC) is US Food and Drug Administration approved for the urgent reversal of coagulation factor deficiency induced by a vitamin K antagonist complicated by acute major bleeding or in situations in which invasive procedures are urgently needed. Although recent evidence suggests the superiority of 4F-PCC over plasma for on-label indications, the off-label use of 4F-PCC has not been rigorously studied. Study design and methods Eighty-nine patients receiving 4F-PCC at a single institution from July 2016 to December 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. Two cohorts, "On-Label" and "Off-Label" uses of 4F-PCC, were evaluated, comparing patient characteristics, blood utilization, and clinical outcomes including in-hospital mortality. Results Patients receiving 4F-PCC for off-label reasons (n = 46) were younger and sicker compared to those receiving 4F-PCC for on-label reasons (n = 43). Notably, the mortality rate for off-label use was approximately twofold greater than the mortality rate for on-label use (26 of 46 [56.5%] vs. 12 of 43 [27.9%]; p = 0.006). Patients receiving 4F-PCC for off-label reasons received more units per patient of each blood component than their on-label counterparts. The average cost estimate per patient for 4F-PCC was similar (approx. $4300) in each cohort. Conclusion 4F-PCC is an effective but expensive treatment option for those requiring urgent reversal of vitamin K antagonist-induced coagulopathy. However, providers should be conscious of the high costs and questionable efficacy when using 4F-PCC off-label.
An update on oxidized regenerated cellulose (fibrillar™) in reducing postoperative corporal bleeding following inflatable penile prosthesis surgery.

Background: Scrotal hematoma formation is a dreaded complication of penile prosthesis surgery that increases patient pain and healthcare costs, as well the risk for eventual device infection and failure. The efficacy of hemostatic agents in reducing the incidence of scrotal hematoma development has not been extensively studied in urologic prosthetic surgery. In this paper we further evaluate our experience with oxidized regenerated cellulose (ORC; Surgicel Fibrillar™) as an adjunct to standard hemostatic practices in inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) implantation. Methods: From April 2016 onward, intracorporal ORC pledgets were placed during corporotomy closure in all patients undergoing IPP implantation or revision by a single surgeon using an identical surgical technique. Perioperative parameters and outcomes—primarily postoperative cumulative drain output, secondarily patient phone calls in the postoperative period—were compared among successive cases with ORC (April 2016 to February 2019) and without ORC (April 2013 to March 2016). Results: A total of 274 men underwent IPP implantation during the study period; 175 (64%) had ORC included in their corporotomy closures. Median drain output was significantly reduced in the ORC patients relative to the non-ORC group (50 vs . 65 mL; P=0.0001). A significant reduction in patient-initiated phone calls regarding scrotal pain, swelling, or discomfort in the first 4 weeks following surgery was also observed in the ORC group (average 0.69 vs . 1.1 calls per patient; P=0.03). A total of 9 patients underwent IPP explantation during the study period, all due to device infection; 5 of these were in the ORC group, while 4 were in the non-ORC group (P=0.73). ORC use did not constitute any additional infection risk. Conclusions: Bilateral incorporation of ORC pledgets during corporotomy closure in IPP surgery significantly decreases postoperative scrotal drain output, a well-documented risk factor for scrotal hematoma formation.
Why Would Hispanics Vote for Trump? Explaining the Controversy of the 2016 Election:

Donald Trump was particularly vocal in shaping his presidential campaign around policies perceived as being anti-immigration. Consequently, many were shocked that Hispanic support for the Republica...
High Diversity of Testate Amoebae (Amoebozoa, Arcellinida) Detected by HTS Analyses in a New England Fen using Newly Designed Taxon‐specific Primers

Testate (shell-building) amoebae, such as the Arcellinida (Amoebozoa), are useful bioindicators for climate change. Though past work has relied on morphological analyses to characterize Arcellinida diversity, genetic analyses revealed the presence of multiple cryptic species underlying morphospecies. Here, we design and deploy Arcellinida-specific primers for the SSU-rDNA gene to assess the community composition on the molecular level in a pilot study of two samplings from a New England fen: (1) 36-cm horizontal transects and vertical cores; and (2) 26-m horizontal transects fractioned into four size classes (2-10, 10-35, 35-100, and 100-300 μm). Analyses of these data show the following: (1) a considerable genetic diversity within Arcellinida, much of which comes from morphospecies lacking sequences on GenBank; (2) communities characterized by DNA (i.e. active + quiescent) are distinct from those characterized by RNA (i.e. active, indicator of biomass); (3) active communities on the surface tend to be more similar to one another than to core communities, despite considerable heterogeneity; and (4) analyses of communities fractioned by size find some lineages (OTUs) that are abundant in disjunct size categories, suggesting the possibility of life-history stages. Together, these data demonstrate the potential of these primers to elucidate the diversity of Arcellinida communities in diverse habitats.
Large nitrogen oxide emission pulses from desert soils and associated microbiomes

Nitrogen (N) trace gas emission pulses produced after wetting dry soils may be important pathways of ecosystem N loss. However, the rates and mechanisms controlling these emissions remain unclear. We tested whether changes in microbial community structure and increased rates of atmospheric N deposition could explain N emissions at two desert sites differing in atmospheric N deposition by ~ six fold. We measured peak NOx (sum of nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide) emissions 12 h post-wetting. NOx emissions remained elevated over 24 h and increased after adding N. In contrast, we measured the highest nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions within only 15 min post-wetting. N2O emissions decreased within 12 h, were insensitive to adding N, and were among the highest reported globally. Microbial communities at the high N deposition site were less diverse with higher 16S nitrifier and bacterial amoA gene abundances relative to the low N deposition site, suggesting an increased capacity for nitrification. Nevertheless, N emissions were lower at the high N deposition site. While microbial communities changed after wetting, these changes were not correlated with N emissions. We conclude that desert soils can produce substantial NOx and N2O emission pulses, but that these emissions do not appear directly governed by changing microbial community characteristics or higher atmospheric N inputs. These findings highlight the importance of gaseous N loss pathways from dryland ecosystems that may contribute to sustained N limitation, with implications for atmospheric chemistry and Earth’s climate.
Periodontal tissue regeneration and orthodontics for periodontitis

Objective To and analyze the effect of periodontal tissue regeneration and orthodontics for periodontitis. Methods 76 patients with periodontitis treated at our hospital were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group, 38 cases for each group. The control group were treated with periodontal tissue regeneration, and the experimental group with periodontal tissue regeneration and orthodontics. The periodontal indicators and treatment effects were compared between the two groups. Results After the treatment, the effective rate was higher in the experimental group than in the control group (94.74% vs. 68.42%), with a statistical difference (P<0.05). The plaque index, bleeding volume, bleeding index, periodontal exploration depth, and average attachment loss were (1.17±0.15), (47.36±2.20) ml, (1.90±0.16), (4.04±0.23) mm, and (4.62±0.18) in the experimental group, which were significantly better than those in the control group (all P<0.05). Conclusion Periodontal tissue regeneration combined with orthodontics in the treatment of periodontitis is effective, and the periodontal recovery is better. Key words: Periodontal tissue regeneration; Orthodontics; Periodontitis; Effect analysis