cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Parallel communication

Advances in communication rates exceed the ability of a single source to fully utilize a gigabit WAN channel with existing deterministic protocols. A method called parallel communication, which reduces latency by managing indeterminism and increasing channel utilization, given a surplus bandwidth-delay product, is presented. It involves a nondeterministic state mechanism with a modified protocol interface. >
Analyzing Race in Asian American Congregations

Several scholars reviewing studies of contemporary Asian American religion have criticized the field and have called for increased attention to the analysis of race. However, they have not extensively discussed what this analysis should look like. This article puts forward a framework for analyzing race in congregations that combines the ecology, culture, process, and resources frames from Ammerman, et al.'s Studying Congregations: A New Handbook with concepts drawn from racial formation theory. 1 discuss how this approach can increase the comprehensiveness and sophistication of racial analysis of Asian American congregations, and 1 give examples of previous empirical studies that illustrate different aspects of this approach. Finally, 1 suggest fruitful areas for future research on Asian American religion.
Pre-emptive gene therapy using recombinant adeno-associated virus delivery of extracellular superoxide dismutase protects heart against ischemic reperfusion injury, improves ventricular function and prolongs survival

In high-risk patients, the ideal cardiovascular gene therapy requires a strategy that provides long-term protection of myocardium against episodes of ischemic/reperfusion injury. We report the development of an efficient, long-lasting pre-emptive gene therapy strategy in a rat model of ischemic-reperfusion (I/R) injury of heart. At 6 weeks prior to myocardial injury, the human extracellular superoxide dismutase (Ec-SOD) gene was delivered by direct intramyocardial injections, using a recombinant adeno-associated virus vector. Significant myocardial protection was documented by the decrease in infarct size at 24 h post I/R, improved left ventricular function at 7 weeks postinjury, and enhanced long-term survival in the SOD treated group. This concept of preinjury delivery and 'pre-emptive' gene therapy via the expression of a secreted protein that renders paracrine therapeutic action can be an effective strategy for organ protection against future injury.
Covering Systems of Congruences

Conclusion This method of enumerating sets certainly does not displace Cantor's classic technique, but it does show another, more concrete way to accomplish the task. Though we applied it only to Q and A, the method presented here can, in theory, be used to count any set X such that N c X (so that we may apply inclusion) for which a sufficiently clever function from X into N(n) for some n can be found.
The Slow, Steady Development of Pediatric Ethics Committees, 1975-2013

1. Doug Myers, MD* 2. John Lantos, MD† 1. *Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology/Oncology/Bone Marrow Transplant, Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics, Kansas City, MO. 2. †Children’s Mercy Bioethics Center and Department of Pediatrics, University of Missouri-Kansas, Kansas City, MO. * Abbreviations: ICRC: : infant care review committee IEC: : institutional ethics committee During the last 30 years, most children’s hospitals in the United States have created pediatric ethics committees or other formal methods to address the ethical issues that arise in the clinical practice of tertiary care pediatrics. Ethics committees or consultants are called on to advise physicians, nurses, other health care professionals, and parents in cases that raise controversial ethical issues. They take many forms and use many different processes to identify and resolve ethical dilemmas. Such committees have themselves been somewhat controversial. On the surface, they seem to be well accepted. They are endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, (1) by the Joint Commission, (2) and in many legal decisions. (3) Although well accepted by many physicians and nurses, ethics committees are only consulted approximately once a month or less in most children’s hospitals. (4) In this article, we review the history of pediatric ethics committees, discuss their roles, and examine some critiques of ethics committees. We then discuss attempts to define the process of ethics consultation and measure the quality of such consultations. We conclude with a tentative agenda for future research on the efficacy of pediatric ethics committees. The idea of hospital ethics committees was first proposed by a pediatrician. In 1975, Dr Karen Teel, a Texas pediatrician, published a short article in the Baylor Law Review . (5) She chose to publish in a law journal rather than a medical journal, suggesting that the climate at the time within medicine was not receptive to the idea of committees to review the ethics of clinical decisions. Clinical-ethical issues were seen more as dilemmas for the legal …
Implementation of a CIWA-Ar alcohol withdrawal protocol in a veterans hospital.

Objectives The South Texas Veterans Health Care System (STVHCS) implemented a Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment of Alcohol Scale, Revised (CIWA-Ar)-based alcohol-withdrawal protocol in June 2013. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of the new protocol. The primary objective was the evaluation of whether implementation of the CIWA-Ar alcohol-withdrawal protocol decreased the average length of hospital stay for patients admitted with alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) as compared with treatment before the introduction of the protocol. Secondary endpoints evaluated benzodiazepine (BZD)-prescribing practices, use of adjunctive medications for AWS, and safety outcomes. Methods We reviewed 748 admissions with documented AWS or alcohol-related diagnoses during the study periods of July 2012 to December 2012 (preprotocol) and July 2013 to December 2013 (postprotocol). Patients in the preprotocol group needed to have a scheduled dose of a BZD in the electronic medical record, and those assigned to the postprotocol group needed to have at least one documented CIWA-Ar note in their electronic medical record. Exclusion criteria included prior conditions that interfered with accurate treatment of alcohol withdrawal. Results There were no statistical differences in baseline characteristics between groups. No difference was found in the primary endpoint of length of stay when comparing hospitalizations pre- and postprotocol implementation (3.84 ± 2.31 days vs 3.82 ± 2.7 days; P = 0.667). There was no statistical significance in total cumulative dose of BZD, daily dose of BZD, or duration of BZD use when compared pre- and postprotocol. No safety events requiring further intervention occurred. Conclusions Implementation of a CIWA-Ar protocol at our institution did not result in a decreased duration of hospital stay; however, a decline in prescribing fixed-schedule BZDs was documented.
ITC Methods for Assessing Buffer/Protein Interactions from the Perturbation of Steady-State Kinetics: A Reactivity Study of Homoprotocatechuate 2,3-Dioxygenase

Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) can be used to study the thermodynamics of enzyme substrate binding or the kinetics of substrate turnover (or both). Substrate-binding interactions are observed in a typical ITC titration experiment in which the heat change for the addition of an aliquot of substrate to a solution containing the enzyme is determined for a number of titrant (i.e., substrate) injections and the data fit for the thermodynamic parameters (ΔG, ΔH, and -TΔS) for substrate binding. Of course, these measurements must be made under conditions where the substrate binds but does not turnover. In the ITC "kinetics" experiment, the power change observed after injection of an excess of substrate into a solution of the enzyme is a direct measure of the rate at which substrate is converted to product, and the ITC data can be analyzed for the kinetic parameters (Vmax, kcat, KM, and kcat/KM). The ITC technique is particularly versatile in that it can be applied to systems where there might not be a change in a spectroscopic signal for either substrate binding or the reaction of the substrate to form product. A complication is that if there are competing reactions, for example, buffer protonation, or product binding, to name just two, the enthalpy change measured for either substrate binding or for substrate turnover will be a summation of all of the reaction heats. Enzyme studies are typically done in buffered solutions at constant pH. The general, and often incorrect, assumption is that the buffer components are simply spectators and not participants in either substrate binding or substrate turnover. This chapter describes how we have used ITC measurements to identify problem buffers that impact the kinetics for an enzyme catalyzed reaction. Herein, we show the effects of several buffers on the steady-state kinetics for the conversion of the substrate, 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl acetate (homoprotocatechuate), to the ring-opened product, 5-carboxymethyl-2-hydroxymuconic semialdehyde by the nonheme iron(II) metalloenzyme, homoprotocatechuate 2,3-dioxygenase. Several buffers were observed to engage in buffer/enzyme interactions within the active site pocket. These enzyme-buffer interactions were shown to inhibit substrate turnover and to contribute additional enthalpy terms to the overall heat of reaction observed for substrate turnover (and for substrate binding).
Chicano Rhetoric: Some Basic Concepts.

The Chicano movement is assuming significant proportions in the American Southwest. This paper discusses five of the major concepts upon which the rhetoric of the movement is based.
Use of and reasons for using multiple other tobacco products in daily and nondaily smokers: Associations with cigarette consumption and nicotine dependence.

Abstract Background Use of other tobacco products (OTPs) among smokers is increasing. Little is known about types of OTP used and the reasons for use, and how OTP use and reasons for use correlate with smoking patterns and nicotine dependence in daily and nondaily smokers. This paper addresses these gaps in the literature. Methods 656 daily smokers and 203 nondaily smokers provided information on their use of different OTPs (hookah, e-cigarettes, chew/snuff, snus, cigars, dissolvables), and reasons for using OTPs (e.g., “to cut down on smoking”), as well as their cigarette consumption and nicotine dependence. Logistic regression models assessed the association of smoking status with OTP use (ever and current) and reasons for use. Within each smoking group, separate logistic regression models examined the associations of OTP use and reasons for use with cigarette consumption and nicotine dependence. Results Compared to daily smokers, nondaily smokers were more likely to use hookah and cigars, less likely to use dissolvables, and less likely to endorse using OTPs to reduce their smoking. Among non-daily smokers, nicotine dependence was associated with a higher likelihood of current OTP use (OR = 1.04 [95% CI 1.01-1.07]; p Conclusions Results suggest OTP use in nondaily smokers does not correlate with less frequent smoking, but may correlate with higher nicotine dependence. Use of combustible OTPs among nondaily smokers may offset any potential benefits achieved through less frequent cigarette consumption. Providers should explicitly address OTP use when discussing cigarette cessation and reduction.
Physiology and pathophysiology of potassium homeostasis

Total body potassium content and proper distribution of potassium across the cell membrane is of critical importance for normal cellular function. Potassium homeostasis is maintained by several different methods. In the kidney, total body potassium content is achieved by alterations in renal excretion of potassium in response to variations in intake. Insulin and beta-adrenergic tone play critical roles in maintaining the internal distribution of potassium under normal conditions. Despite homeostatic pathways designed to maintain potassium levels within the normal range, disorders of altered potassium homeostasis are common. The clinical approach to designing effective treatments relies on understanding the pathophysiology and regulatory influences which govern the internal distribution and external balance of potassium. Here we provide an overview of the key regulatory aspects of normal potassium physiology. This review is designed to provide an overview of potassium homeostasis as well as provide references of seminal papers to guide the reader into a more in depth discussion of the importance of potassium balance. This review is designed to be a resource for educators and well-informed clinicians who are teaching trainees about the importance of potassium balance.
Characterization of command software for an autonomous attitude determination and control system for spacecraft

AbstractSpace missions frequently carry equipment that must be accurately pointed toward remote targets. Therefore, effective attitude control is a vital part of almost every class of spacecraft. The component that governs the spacecraft’s rotational motion and pointing is the attitude determination and control system (ADCS). Due to the potentially unpredictable nature of some space missions, an ADCS that possesses adaptive capabilities will maximize the likelihood that the spacecraft remains effective throughout the mission timeframe. This paper presents an implementation of an adaptive ADCS that progressively learns the behavior of and adapts to changes in the spacecraft to more accurately control its attitude. Using various machine learning techniques, prototype software for an ADCS which is able to learn a nonlinear model of the spacecraft’s rotational dynamics has been developed. This software utilizes a database of previous maneuver information to predict maneuvers that will result in a desired set ...
Colon and Rectum Benign Neoplasms and Differential Diagnosis 56

The term “colonic polyp” refers to any growth that protrudes into the colonic lumen. Benign polyps of the colon are very common and usually are asymptomatic. Mucosal and submucosal lesions can be distinguished among these polyps. Themucosal lesions can be divided into nonneoplastic mucosal polyps and neoplastic mucosal polyps. Nonneoplastic mucosal colonic polyps consist of hyperplastic, inflammatory, juvenile, and hamartomatous polyps (see ▶Chap. 58). Neoplastic mucosal polyps are adenomatous and can be subdivided into tubular adenomas, tubulovillous adenomas, or villous adenomas and malignant polyps or adenocarcinomas. The adenocarcinomas and colonic polyp-cancer sequence will be discussed in the ▶Chap. 57, “Colon and Rectum Malignant Neoplasms”. Submucosal lesions can create protrusion in the epithelium and produce a smooth polypoid appearance and, like the mucosal lesions, can be neoplastic or nonneoplastic. Neoplastic submucosal lesions include lipoma, hemangioma, gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) and other mesenchymal tumors, lymphoma, carcinoid tumor, metastases to the colon, and direct invasion of tumor into the rectum or colon. Only lipomas, hemangiomas, and some of the mesenchymal tumors such as leiomyoma and schwannoma are benign neoplasms of the colon. Colonic lymphoma, carcinoid tumors, and colonic metastases are malignant but are discussed here because of their frequent polypoid appearance that mimics the benign submucosal neoplasms. GIST may be benign or malignant and appears as a polypoid protuberance or as an intramural mass with a large extrinsic component. All these malignant tumors need to be considered in the differential diagnosis of a polypoid mass of the colon. Colitis cystica profunda and pneumatosis cystoides coli produce benign nonneoplastic submucosal lesions. They are very rare and are not discussed here.
Role of Stress Hormones and the Amygdala in Creating Lasting Memories

Over a century ago, William James asked a critical question that continues to guide current memory research: "Of some [experiences] no memory survives the instance of their passage. Of others, it is confined to a few moments, hours or days. Others, again, leave vestiges that are indestructible, and by means of which they may be recalled as long as life endures. How can we explain these differences?" (James 1890 p 643). Interestingly, Descartes proposed an answer to James' question over two centuries earlier when he wrote: "The usefulness of all of the passions consists in their strengthening and prolonging in the soul thoughts which are good for it to conserve...." (Descartes 1650). Findings of animal as well as human studies reviewed in this chapter provide extensive evidence supporting Descartes' hypothesis and have revealed neurobiological processes mediating the "strengthening and prolonging" of memories of significant experiences (McGaugh 2004). Emotionally significant experiences activate hormonal and brain systems that regulate the consolidation of newly acquired memories. These effects are integrated through noradrenergic activation of the basolateral amygdala, which regulates memory consolidation via interactions with many other brain regions involved in consolidating memories of recent experiences (McGaugh 2002, 2004). Thus, the activation of these stress hormone and brain systems enable significant experiences to become well remembered; perhaps as James noted, "...as long as life endures." Moreover, intense or excessive activation of these systems may, as Pitman (see the chapter by Pitman this volume) has suggested, play a critical role in the etiology of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Temporally targeted imaging method applied to ECG-gated computed tomography: preliminary phantom and in vivo experience.

Rationale and Objectives Existing cardiac imaging methods do not allow for improved temporal resolution when considering a targeted region of interest (ROI). The imaging method presented here enables improved temporal resolution for ROI imaging (namely, a reconstruction volume smaller than the complete field of view). Clinically, temporally targeted reconstruction would not change the primary means of reconstructing and evaluating images, but rather would enable the adjunct technique of ROI imaging, with improved temporal resolution compared with standard reconstruction (∼20% smaller temporal scan window). In gated cardiac computed tomography (CT) scans improved temporal resolution directly translates into a reduction in motion artifacts for rapidly moving objects such as the coronary arteries. Materials and Methods Retrospectively electrocardiogram gated coronary angiography data from a 64-slice CT system were used. A motion phantom simulating the motion profile of a coronary artery was constructed and scanned. Additionally, an in vivo study was performed using a porcine model. Comparisons between the new reconstruction technique and the standard reconstruction are given for an ROI centered on the right coronary artery, and a pulmonary ROI. Results In both a well-controlled motion model and a porcine model results show a decrease in motion induced artifacts including motion blur and streak artifacts from contrast enhanced vessels within the targeted ROIs, as assessed through both qualitative and quantitative observations. Conclusion Temporally targeted reconstruction techniques demonstrate the potential to reduce motion artifacts in coronary CT. Further study is warranted to demonstrate the conditions under which this technique will offer direct clinical utility. Improvement in temporal resolution for gated cardiac scans has implications for improving: contrast enhanced CT angiography, calcium scoring, and assessment of the pulmonary anatomy.
The Role of Manifold Learning in Human Motion Analysis

Human body is an articulated object with high degrees of freedom. Despite the high dimensionality of the configuration space, many human motion activities lie intrinsically on low dimensional manifolds. Although the intrinsic body configuration manifolds might be very low in dimensionality, the resulting appearance manifolds are challenging to model given various aspects that affects the appearance such as the shape and appearance of the person performing the motion, or variation in the view point, or illumination. Our objective is to learn representations for the shape and the appearance of moving (dynamic) objects that support tasks such as synthesis, pose recovery, reconstruction, and tracking. We studied various approaches for representing global deformation manifolds that preserve their geometric structure. Given such representations, we can learn generative models for dynamic shape and appearance. We also address the fundamental question of separating style and content on nonlinear manifolds representing dynamic objects. We learn factorized generative models that explicitly decompose the intrinsic body configuration (content) as a function of time from the appearance/shape (style factors) of the person performing the action as time-invariant parameters. We show results on pose recovery, body tracking, gait recognition, as well as facial expression tracking and recognition.
Graded Casting for Producing Smoothly Varying Gradients in Materials

The recent interest in tailoring materials having various types of gradients has stimulated activity in developing processing routes for producing these structures. Graded casting offers the possibility of manufacturing relatively complex parts having continuous or stepwise structural or compositional gradients. The aim of this paper is to give a brief overview of the graded casting technique. Details are provided on the process and control strategy used to produce graded materials by this method. The importance of certain aspects relating to slip flow, mold design and mixing are discussed. Examples of some of the gradients that can be produced and possible approaches for producing them are presented.
The Past as the Future of the Social and Education Sciences

During the Cold War, a prominent American sociologist wrote about the two Marxisms: the intellectual project to understand critically historically the conditions that made the present possible and the political project to plan for the future utopia (Gouldner, 1970). The former has been extremely influential; the other fell apart after its seventieth birthday in the last decade of the twentieth century. This distinction between the study of the present and the planning for the future, however, is not merely a remnant of the Cold War.
Selective Breeding of Honeybees for Alfalfa Pollen Collection: Sixth Generation and Outcrosses

SummaryFive groups of honeybee colonies were tested for their tendency to collect alfalfa pollen. One group was the sixth generation of a line with a strong tendency to collect this pollen (high line); another was the sixth generation of a line with a low tendency to collect it (low line). In these two groups an average of 86% and 8%, respectively, of the pollen collectors collected alfalfa pollen; this represented little improvement over the fifth generation (Nye & Mackensen, 1968). A third group was a commercial strain (which ranked low, 31%), but the fourth (an outcross of high-line queens to drones of the commercial strain) and a fifth (an outcross of high-line drones to queens of another stock) ranked intermediate, at 52% and 59%, respectively, and were significantly higher than the commercial strain. The number of alfalfa pollen collectors was highest (29) in the high line; it was the same (18) in both outcrosses, this being slightly but not significantly higher than in the commercial strain (16). T...
On the Ultrasonic Imaging of Tube/Support Structure of Power Plant Steam Generators

The corrosion and erosion of steam generator tubing in nuclear power plants can present problems of both safety and economics. In steam generators, the inconel tubes are fit loosely through holes drilled in carbon steel support plates. Corrosion is of particular concern with such tube/support plate structures. Non-protective magnetite can build up on the inner surface of the support plate holes, and allowed to continue unchecked, will fill the gap, eventually denting and fracturing the tube walls. Therefore, periodic nondestructive inspection can be valuable in characterizing corrosion and can be used in evaluating the effectiveness of chemical treatments used to control or reduce corrosion. Presently, we are investigating the feasibility and practicality of using ultrasound in routing testing for gap measurement, for evaluating the corrosion and assessing the degree of denting. The tube/support structure can be modeled as a multilayer, reverberant target, which when tested with ultrasound results in two sets of reverberating echoes [1]. One set corresponds to the tube wall and the other to the support plate. These echoes must be decomposed and identified in order to evaluate the tube/support structure. This report presents experimental results along with a discussion of various measurements and processing techniques for decomposing and interpreting tube/support echoes at different stages of corrosion.
Highly Regioselective Domino Benzannulation Reaction of Buta‐1,3‐diynes To Construct Irregular Nanographenes

The properties of nanographenes can be tuned by changing their shapes, therefore the development of new methods suitable for the synthesis of various nanographenes is highly desirable. Described herein is an intramolecular InCl3 /AgNTf2 -catalyzed regioselective domino benzannulation reaction of buta-1,3-diynes to build irregular nanographenes. Different nanographene compounds were easily obtained in moderate to high yields through careful design of the precursor compounds. This new domino reaction was successfully applied to a fourfold alkyne benzannulation of dimethoxy-1,1'-binaphthalene derivatives to arrive at novel chiral butterfly ligand precursors. The regioselectivity of the benzannulation reaction was unambiguously confirmed by X-ray crystallography. Moreover, this new method enables us to synthesize different nanographene isomers and study their optical properties as a function of shape.
Glutathione Stimulates Vitamin D Regulatory and Glucose-Metabolism Genes, Lowers Oxidative Stress and Inflammation, and Increases 25-Hydroxy-Vitamin D Levels in Blood: A Novel Approach to Treat 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Deficiency.

Abstract Aims: 25-Hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)VD] deficiency/inadequacy is a major public health issue affecting more than 1 billion people worldwide. A convincing association exists between low levels...
Phylogenomic analyses of non-Dikarya fungi supports horizontal gene transfer driving diversification of secondary metabolism in the amphibian gastrointestinal symbiont, Basidiobolus

Research into secondary metabolism (SM) production by fungi has resulted in the discovery of diverse, biologically active compounds with significant medicinal applications. However, the fungi rich in SM production are taxonomically restricted to Dikarya, two phyla of Kingdom Fungi, Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. Here, we explore the potential for SM production in Mucoromycota and Zoopagomycota, two phyla of nonflagellated fungi that are not members of Dikarya, by predicting and identifying core genes and gene clusters involved in SM. The majority of non-Dikarya have few genes and gene clusters involved in SM production except for the amphibian gut symbionts in the genus Basidiobolus. Basidiobolus genomes exhibit an enrichment of SM genes involved in siderophore, surfactin-like, and terpene cyclase production, all these with evidence of constitutive gene expression. Gene expression and chemical assays confirm that Basidiobolus has significant siderophore activity. The expansion of SMs in Basidiobolus are partially due to horizontal gene transfer from bacteria, likely as a consequence of its ecology as an amphibian gut endosymbiont.
Should Root Plasticity Be a Crop Breeding Target

Root phenotypic plasticity has been proposed as a target for the development of more productive crops in variable environments. However, the plasticity of root anatomical and architectural responses to environmental cues is highly complex, and the consequences of these responses for plant fitness are poorly understood. We propose that root phenotypic plasticity may be beneficial in natural or low-input systems in which the availability of soil resources is spatiotemporally dynamic. Crop ancestors and landraces were selected with multiple stresses, competition, significant root loss and heterogenous resource distribution which favored plasticity in response to resource availability. However, in high-input agroecosystems, the value of phenotypic plasticity is unclear, since human management has removed many of these constraints to root function. Further research is needed to understand the fitness landscape of plastic responses including understanding the value of plasticity in different environments, environmental signals that induce plastic responses, and the genetic architecture of plasticity before it is widely adopted in breeding programs. Phenotypic plasticity has many potential ecological, and physiological benefits, but its costs and adaptive value in high-input agricultural systems is poorly understood and merits further research.
Incidence of herpes zoster among varicella-vaccinated children, by number of vaccine doses and simultaneous administration of measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine.

Abstract Introduction Children may receive measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) and varicella (VAR) vaccines separately or as measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMRV). We examined whether pediatric herpes zoster (HZ) incidence varied by pattern of varicella vaccine administration. Methods In six integrated health systems, we examined HZ incidence among children turning 12 months old during 2003–2008. All received varicella and MMR vaccines on recommended schedules. Cases were identified through 2014 using ICD-9 codes. Incidence was examined by number of varicella vaccine doses and same-day MMR. Results Among 199,797 children, overall HZ incidence was 18.6/100,000 person-years in the first-dose MMR + VAR group, 17.9/100,000 person-years in the MMRV group, and 7.5/100,000 person-years in the VAR-alone group. HZ incidence was lower following the second dose than before the second dose in all first-dose groups. Conclusions HZ incidence was not meaningfully different between the MMRV and MMR + VAR first-dose groups. Overall and within first-dose groups, HZ incidence was lower among children receiving two varicella vaccine doses.
Assessing how the history of e-cigarette and cigarette use are associated with the developmental course of marijuana use in a sample of United States adolescents.

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to determine the developmental course of marijuana use among adolescents based on their history of cigarette and e-cigarette use among a national U.S. sample of adolescents who were followed over a four year time-period. Methods The data for this study used four waves of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study provided by a panel of 12 to 17-year-olds at Wave 1 (n = 11,059) who completed each of the four annual waves of the adolescent/adult survey. We examined recent use (i.e., past 30-day) of e-cigarettes, cigarettes, and marijuana use at each of the four waves. Results Respondents who had a history of non-concurrent dual use (AOR = 1.67, 95 % CI = 1.24, 2.24) and a history of concurrent dual use (AOR = 1.67, 95 % CI = 1.40, 1.99) had greater odds of past 30-day marijuana use when compared to respondents who had a history of past 30-day e-cigarette use only. Interaction effect models found that e-cigarette only users were at lower risk for past 30-day marijuana use at Wave 1, however, the risk of past 30-day marijuana use increased at a faster rate across the four waves for e-cigarette only users when compared to their peers who used cigarettes or a combination of cigarettes and e-cigarettes. Conclusion While concurrent and non-concurrent dual use was strongly associated with marijuana use over the study period, marijuana use increased at a faster rate across the four-year span of the study among e-cigarette only users.
The 2019 Josephine Waters Bennett Lecture: The Winged Eye at Work: Leon Battista Alberti Surveys Old St. Peter's

Leon Battista Alberti based his treatise “On the Art of Building” on close examination of a great many buildings. His survey of Old St. Peter's was especially thorough. He not only investigated the structure, but also ransacked written sources to re-create the church's original decor and to reconstruct the ways in which early popes had celebrated Mass and delivered sermons. Like Lorenzo Valla, he offered a suggestive and polemical history of the church. His ideas seemingly shaped the ways in which Pope Pius II restored the basilica, and his example shows that serious efforts to trace the history of Christianity long predated the Reformation.
Six-dimensional matching of intense beam with linear accelerating structure

Abstract Beam matching is a common technique that is routinely employed in accelerator design with the aim of minimizing beam losses and preservation of beam brightness. Despite being widely used, a full theoretical understanding of beam matching in 6D remains elusive. Here, we present an analytical treatment of 6D beam matching of a high-intensity beam onto an RF structure. We begin our analysis within the framework of a linear model, and apply the averaging method to a set of 3D beam envelope equations. Accordingly, we obtain a matched solution that is comprised of smoothed envelopes and periodic terms, describing envelope oscillations with the period of the focusing structure. We then consider the nonlinear regime, where the beam size is comparable with the separatrix size. Stating with a Hamiltonian analysis in 6D phase space, we attain a self-consistent beam profile and show that it is significantly different from the commonly used ellipsoidal shape. Subsequently, we analyze the special case of an equilibrium with equal space charge depression between all degrees of freedom. Comparison of beam dynamics for equipartitioned, equal space charge depression, and equal emittances beams is given. Finally, we present experimental results on beam matching in the LANSCE linac.
Ipsilateral stimulus encoding in primary and secondary somatosensory cortex of awake mice

Lateralization is a hallmark of somatosensory processing in the mammalian brain. However, in addition to their contralateral representation, unilateral tactile stimuli also modulate neuronal activity in somatosensory cortices of the ipsilateral hemisphere. The cellular organization and functional role of these ipsilateral stimulus responses in awake somatosensory cortices, especially regarding stimulus coding, are unknown. Here, we targeted silicon probe recordings to the vibrissa region of primary (S1) and secondary (S2) somatosensory cortex of awake head-fixed male and female mice while delivering ipsilateral and contralateral whisker stimuli. Ipsilateral stimuli drove larger and more reliable responses in S2 than in S1, and activated a larger fraction of stimulus-responsive neurons. Ipsilateral stimulus-responsive neurons were rare in layer 4 of S1, but were located in equal proportion across all layers in S2. Linear classifier analyses further revealed that decoding of the ipsilateral stimulus was more accurate in S2 than S1, while S1 decoded contralateral stimuli most accurately. These results reveal substantial encoding of ipsilateral stimuli in S1 and especially S2, consistent with the hypothesis that higher cortical areas may integrate tactile inputs across larger portions of space, spanning both sides of the body.
Development of an Analytical Line Source Dispersion Model to Predict Ground Level Concentrations for Particulate Matter (PM) of Different Particle Size Ranges

Particulate matter (PM) is released in varying quantities from mobile sources depending on the type of fossil fuel used in combustion. According to the USEPA, PM exposure could cause a variety of problems such as premature deaths, nonfatal heart attacks, irregular heartbeat, asthma, reduced lung function, and respiratory issues. Therefore, it is necessary to predict the downwind concentrations near highways from mobile sources to protect the public from adverse health effects. The current study concentrates on developing an analytical line source dispersion model to account for different particle size ranges for particulate matter released from mobile sources. Available line source models do not explicitly consider different ranges of particle sizes present in the exhaust. The present study discusses the development of a dispersion model to predict downwind concentrations of PM by incorporating a range of particle sizes for an infinite and a finite-length mobile source. The dry deposition of particles is also considered during development. The emission rate, wind speed, wind direction, atmospheric turbulence, and dry deposition velocity of the particles are the model inputs. The sensitivity of the model is determined by simultaneously varying the independent input variables using Monte Carlo simulation by Crystal Ball software. The sensitivity analysis results generated using Crystal Ball are preliminary in nature and should be re-examined.
Student Anxiety, Preparation, and Learning Framework for Responding to External Crises: The Moderating Role of Self-Efficacy as a Coping Mechanism

In response to the Journal of Marketing Education special issue on teaching turmoil and triumphs in times of crisis, we develop and test a student anxiety, preparation and learning framework for re...
Hook formulas for skew shapes IV. Increasing tableaux and factorial Grothendieck polynomials

We present a new family of hook-length formulas for the number of standard increasing tableaux which arise in the study of factorial Grothendieck polynomials. In the case of straight shapes our formulas generalize the classical hook-length formula and Stanley's formula. For skew shapes, our formulas generalize the Naruse hook-length formula and its $q$-analogues, which were studied in previous papers of the series.
Oncology rapid assessment clinic and effect on ED visits.

258Background: The use of the Emergency Department (ED) by oncology patients for lower acuity issues is common. Oncology Rapid Assessment Clinics (ORAC) may play a key role in reducing ED visits am...
Macro Copper-Graphene Composites with Enhanced Electrical Conductivity

Abstract Composites demonstrating enhanced electrical conductivity compared to copper have been highly sought after for their advantages in efficient energy transport behavior. While such conductors have been demonstrated in 1D (nanowires) and 2D (films) samples, achieving similar behavior in 3D has been challenging owing to the limitations of the synthesis techniques used. In this paper, novel macro-scale 3D copper conductors were demonstrated with increased electrical conductivity through the addition of graphene. Hot extrusion was used to manufacture 12 AWG copper-graphene composite wires with varying graphene content and defect density. Graphene defect density was measured using Raman spectroscopy. Results showed that the electrical conductivity of composites with low defect density graphene increased monotonically as a function of graphene content. Comparatively composites with high defect density graphene demonstrated lower electrical conductivity. This study provides first-of-its-kind evidence of 3D metal composites whose bulk electrical performance has been enhanced using graphene additive in minute quantities. Further developments in this area are essential to achieve high performance composite conductors that can improve energy transport efficiency and pave way for industrial adoption of such materials in the future.
Retina tissue validation of optical coherence tomography determined outer nuclear layer loss in FTLD-tau.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is associated with inner retina (nerve fiber and ganglion cell layers) thinning. In contrast, we have seen outer retina thinning driven by photoreceptor outer nuclear layer (ONL) thinning with antemortem optical coherence tomography (OCT) among patients considered to have a frontotemporal degeneration tauopathy (FTLD-Tau). Our objective was to determine if postmortem retinal tissue from FTLD-Tau patients demonstrates ONL loss observed antemortem on OCT. Two probable FTLD-Tau patients that were deeply phenotyped by clinical and genetic testing were imaged with OCT and followed to autopsy. Postmortem brain and retinal tissue were evaluated by a neuropathologist and ocular pathologist, respectively, masked to diagnosis. OCT findings were correlated with retinal histology. The two patients had autopsy-confirmed FTLD-Tau neuropathology and had antemortem OCT measurements showing ONL thinning (66.9 μm, patient #1; 74.9 μm, patient #2) below the 95% confidence interval of normal limits (75.1–120.7 μm) in our healthy control cohort. Postmortem, retinal tissue from both patients demonstrated loss of nuclei in the ONL, matching ONL loss visualized on antemortem OCT. Nuclei counts from each area of ONL loss (2 – 3 nuclei per column) seen in patient eyes were below the 95% confidence interval (4 – 8 nuclei per column for ONL) of 3 normal control retinas analyzed at the same location. Our evaluation of retinal tissue from FTLD-Tau patients confirms ONL loss seen antemortem by OCT. Continued investigation of ONL thinning as a biomarker that may distinguish FTLD-Tau from other dementias is warranted.
Proximity’s Impact on Minor League Baseball Attendance

With a focus on minor league attendance, proximity becomes an important factor impacting the business of minor league baseball. There is an optimal distance away from other baseball stadiums that can lead to maximum stadium revenues for a minor league baseball team. Here I examine the effect of proximity on average attendance at minor league baseball games with the understanding that greater average attendance is likely to be strongly correlated with a larger revenue stream. At the minor league level, greater attendance is preferred because of the very limited revenue stream from broadcasting these games on television, radio, and the Internet.
A Thoughtful Student’s Retrospective on Statistics 101

The first course in applied statistics, dubbed here Statistics 101, has a standardized syllabus, as exemplified by both classical elementary textbooks such as Dixon and Massey [1957], and modern elementary textbooks such as Freedman, Pisani, and Purves [1978] or Mosteller, Fienberg, and Rourke [1983]. In the main, the course covers two fundamental topics, that of inference about parameters of a single normal distribution based on independent observations, and that of inference about parameters of a (simple or multiple) linear regression model with independent, identically normally distributed residuals. This book is designed to be used as a next course, either in universities or that “school of hard knocks”, the “real world”. To motivate some of the issues covered in this book, this chapter reviews some of the material from Statistics 101 from the point of view of a very thoughtful student, who asks herein all the questions you, the reader, had thought of when you took that course but, for some reason or other, didn’t ask.
The Metabolism of Aromatic Compounds in Higher Plants VII. THE ORIGIN OF THE NITRILE NITROGEN ATOM OF DHURRIN (β-d-GLUCOPYRANOSYLOXY-l-p-HYDROXYMANDELONITRILE)

Abstract The data obtained in these experiments show that the nitrile nitrogen of dhurrin is directly derived from the α-amino group of l-tyrosine. This is analogous to the retention of the α-amino nitrogen of valine on its conversion to linamarin (6). The biosynthetic route from l-tyrosine to dhurrin must involve the modification of the amino acid in a manner such that the C6-C2-N unit remains intact. 15N analyses of the amino acids isolated after l-tyrosine-14C, 15N feeding suggest that the l-tyrosine-l-alanine transamination couple is more active than the l-tyrosine-l-glutamic acid couple.
The Manipulation of Legal Remedies to Deter Suits by Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse

This is an Essay about social change and legal backlash. In the past decade, adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse have begun to confront their abusers in court and to demand civil damages for the injuries resulting from that abuse. Because of changes in the statutes of limitations applied to civil sexual abuse cases, these lawsuits can now be brought long after the events transpired, and even in circumstances where the memories of abuse have not been continuous. Thus, for example, children who were subjected to abuse by family members, priests, or teachers, and who for a complex variety of reasons, including repression or dissociative amnesia, did not speak out at the time of the abuse, are now able to hold their abusers accountable. Given the traditional silence about sexual abuse and children's widely-held fear that they would not be believed or would be punished if they 'told,' this marks a substantial turning of the tables. Civil damage suits not only allow survivors to tell their stories; they also enable them to obtain compensation for continuing injuries, including funds to cover therapy and the other assistance survivors need to recover from the psychological damage inflicted. From the point of view of the community, these lawsuits can expose those who have long escaped ac­countability, punishing past abusers and hopefully preventing those indi­viduals from perpetrating further abuse. These lawsuits put all abusers on notice that they may be called to account for their actions, thus presumably resulting in more general deterrence. Finally, the publicity generated by many of these lawsuits educates the public, helping to dispel the myths that child abuse is either rare or confined to marginal groups in the population. Hopefully, heightened public awareness of child sexual abuse will encour­age greater vigilance and increase protective measures against such abuse.
Climate Variability and the U.S. Corn Belt: ENSO and AO Episode-Dependent Hydroclimatic Feedbacks to Corn Production at Regional and Local Scales

AbstractEl Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Arctic Oscillation (AO) climatology (1980–2010) is developed and analyzed across the U.S. Corn Belt using state climate division weather and historic corn yield data using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and correlation analysis. Findings provide insight to agroclimatic conditions under different ENSO and AO episodes and are analyzed with a perspective for potential impacts to agricultural production and planning, with findings being developed into a web-based tool for the U.S. Corn Belt.This study is unique in that it utilizes the oceanic Nino index and explores two teleconnection patterns that influence weather across different spatiotemporal scales. It is found that the AO has a more frequent weak to moderate correlation to historic yields than ENSO when correlated by average subgrowing season index values. Yield anomaly and ENSO and AO episode analysis affirms the overall positive impact of El Nino events on yields compared to La Nina events, with neutral E...
Computational Methods for Controlled Markov Chains

The chapter presents many of the basic ideas which are in current use for the solution of the dynamic programming equations for the optimal control and value function for the approximating Markov chain models. We concentrate on methods for problems which are of interest over a potentially unbounded time interval. Numerical methods for the ergodic problem will be discussed in Chapter 7, and are simple modifications of the ideas of this chapter. Some approaches to the numerical problem for the finite time problem will be discussed in Chapter 12.