cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nanomechanics of Knockout Mouse Bones

Osteocalcin (OC) and osteopontin (OPN) are among the most abundant non-collagenous bone matrix proteins. Both have drawn interest from investigators studying their function in osteoporosis and it is known that mutations of these proteins can also have dramatic effects on the properties of bone. Other proteins including fibrillin 1 and 2 (FBN2) have been less widely studied, but can be mutated in some individuals resulting in connective tissue disorders. It has been reported that abnormal fibrillin may play a role in decreased bone mass. In this study bones from osteopontin (OPN), osteocalcin (OC) and fibrillin-2 (FBN2) knockout mice have been investigated. The study has identified how these proteins affect the bone’s nanomechanical properties (hardness and elastic modulus). Nanoindentation tests were performed on the radial axis of cortical femora bones from the knockout mice and their wildtype controls. The results showed that young (age< 12 weeks) OPN knock-out bones have significantly lower mechanical properties than wild-type bones indicate a crucial role for OPN in early bone mineralization. After 12 weeks of age, the OPN knockout and wild-type control bones did not show any statistical difference. In OC deficient mice the mechanical properties were found to increase in the cortical mid-shaft of femora from 1 year old mice, suggesting an increase in bone mineralization, but 3 month old FBN2 deficient mice bones showed a decrease in mechanical properties across the cortical radial axis of the mid- femora.
Retrieval of refractive index fields in two-dimensional gradient-index elements from external deflectometry data.

In a previous work, we presented a numerical method for retrieving inhomogeneous refractive index fields in rectangular gradient-index elements from boundary positions and internal boundary slopes associated with a set of interrogating probe beams that transit the medium. The present work extends this method to external boundary beam slopes without knowledge of the refractive index along the surface of the optical element, requiring minimal additional information (outside of beam position and slope data) such as a single known index point inside the medium. The inverse problem is cast as a linear algebraic system describing the deflection of probe beams inside the optical material, and an iterative inversion algorithm is used to generate an index field that produces the boundary value data. By incorporating Snell’s law into the system equation through surface values derived from tentative reconstructions of the refractive index, we show in simulation that a series of inversion cycles applied to the system equation accurately recovers the index profile used to generate the test data.
Leadership and Thought

The common denominator in the leader and follower is humankind: The unlimited creature. To analyze the function of creative and critical thought in the evolution of leadership I would like to go outside of the box. As a global nation everyone, I think, has the innate ability to lead. I think it is the established leader that must cultivate effective leadership skill in those that follow them.
Antiproton-impact ionization of H2 at low incident energies

A two active electron time-dependent close-coupling method is used to calculate antiproton-impact single ionization, ionization with excitation, and double ionization cross sections for H2 at low incident energies. Comparisons are made with LEAR/CERN and recent AD/CERN measurements for the ionization of H2 producing H+2 and with LEAR/CERN measurements for the ionization of H2 producing H+.
Acupuncture, opioid receptors and Na + channels: A novel insight into inhibition of epileptic hyperexcitability

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders, affecting about 1 % of the population. Although the precise mechanism of its pathophysiological changes in the brain is unknown, epilepsy has been recognized as a disorder of brain excitability characterized by recurrent unprovoked seizures that result from the abnormal, excessive, and synchronous activity of clusters of nerve cells in the brain. Currently available therapies, including medical, surgical, and other strategies such as ketogenic diet and vagus nerve stimulation, are all used for the control of epileptic symptoms with their own limitations and complications. Seeking new strategies to cure this serious disorder still poses a big challenge in the field of medicine. Recent studies suggest that acupuncture may exert its antiepileptic effects by normalizing the disrupted neuronal and network excitability through several mechanisms, including lowering the overexcited neuronal activity, enhancing the inhibitory system, and attenuating the excitatory system in the brain via regulation of the interaction between δ-opioid receptors (DOR) and Na+ channels. This chapter reviews the progress in this field and summarizes new knowledge based on our work and the work of others.
The Many Faces of Vulnerability Creep-in

This chapter unveils the many faces of vulnerability creep-in, a cancer that hibernates within the bowels of organizations, sometimes for years. The discussion emphasizes that the malignant growth is not limited to security hardware or software technology deficiencies but also spans the entire management culture, stifling creativity, initiative, modernization, and performance, as well as preventing security planning and security enhancements from taking hold. Actual case histories, supplemented by an analysis summary statement of major causes of the observations noted, are provided.
Boron Volatilization and Its Isotope Fractionation during Evaporation of Boron Solution

Evaporation experiments were undertaken to determine the volatility of parts-per-million concentrations of boron in water and dilute HCl in the presence and absence of equimolar mannitol and/or cesium. Multiple 10 mL aliquots prepared identically were evaporated to various extents or just to dryness and heated 10−20 min after reaching dryness under filtered air at 60 °C. Boron was only retained quantitatively in water during evaporation and after reaching dryness in the presence of equimolar mannitol and cesium. Boron was retained quantitatively in dilute HCl solution during evaporation, without mannitol or cesium. But it could be retained when the dilute HCl just reached dryness and thereafter only in the presence of equimolar mannitol. Isotopic measurements of the evaporating solutions and residues indicate that the heavier isotope, 11B, is preferentially lost from the near- neutral and acidic solutions examined. The results are pertinent for procedures requiring preconcentration of boron.
Autoradiographic Demonstration of Cell Replacement in the mid gut Epithelium of Cutilia soror (Orthoptera: Blattidae)

Tritiated thymidine, by selectively labeling newly produced cells, provides a means of determining the rate of cell production and migration of newly produced cells from the site of production. Cell replacement in mammalian intestinal epithelium had been demonstrated by tritiated thymidine labeling as long ago as 1958 (Leblond and Messier), but a similar elucidation for insects has been lacking.
Inrvestigation of Best Position for Blood Collection from Badly Illed Children

Objective:To explore the best position for blood collection from artery in critically ill neonates and children.Methods:From August.2004 to March.2005,150 patients which were received blood gas analysis,randomly devided into two groups(radial artery and femoral artery) and compared their role and side effect.Results:The radial arteropuncture was more successful tan the femoral arteropuncture,the incidence rate of hematoma after punctures and puncture-mistake was lower than the femoral arteropuncture.At the same time,the cryingtime of the ill neonates and children was obviously decrease.Conclusion:The radial arteropurcture is more advantage than the femoral arteropuncture.So it can be used in the blood collection of the critically neolates and children and considered as the first choice.
La virtualización de los recursos tecnológicos, impulsor del cambio en la empresa.

Las empresas estan inmersas en un nuevo marco competitivo en el que es necesario renovar los modelos de negocio tradicionales. Las tecnologias de la informacion permiten poner en marcha nuevas estrategias de negocio, que antes eran imposibles de desarrollar. La virtualizacion de los recursos informaticos, es decir, la creacion de una plataforma informatica formada por replicas de ordenadores "reales" construidas por software, es un elemento clave para que toda la infraestructura tecnologica de la empresa este preparada para impulsar el cambio en el negocio.
An improved model of motion-related signal changes in fMRI

Head motion is a significant source of noise in the estimation of functional connectivity from resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI). Current strategies to reduce this noise include image realignment, censoring time points corrupted by motion, and including motion realignment parameters and their derivatives as additional nuisance regressors in the general linear model. However, this nuisance regression approach assumes that the motion-induced signal changes are linearly related to the estimated realignment parameters, which is not always the case. In this study we develop an improved model of motion-related signal changes, where nuisance regressors are formed by first rotating and translating a single brain volume according to the estimated motion, re-registering the data, and then performing a principal components analysis (PCA) on the resultant time series of both moved and re-registered data. We show that these "Motion Simulated (MotSim)" regressors account for significantly greater fraction of variance, result in higher temporal signal-to-noise, and lead to functional connectivity estimates that are less affected by motion compared to the most common current approach of using the realignment parameters and their derivatives as nuisance regressors. This improvement should lead to more accurate estimates of functional connectivity, particularly in populations where motion is prevalent, such as patients and young children.
Visual Determination of Conjugate Eye Deviation on Computed Tomography Scan Predicts Diagnosis of Stroke Code Patients

Background Head computed tomography (CT) is critical for stroke code evaluations and often happens prior to completion of the neurological exam. Eye deviation on neuroimaging (DeyeCOM sign) has utility for predicting stroke diagnosis and correlates with National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) gaze score. We further assessed the utility of the DeyeCOM sign, without complex caliper-based eye deviation calculations, but simply with a visual determination method. Methods Patients with initial head CT and final diagnosis from an institutional review board-approved consecutive prospective registry of stroke codes at the University of California, San Diego, were included. Five stroke specialists and 1 neuroradiologist reviewed each CT. DeyeCOM+ patients were compared to DeyeCOM− patients (baseline characteristics, diagnosis, and NIHSS gaze score). Kappa statistics compared stroke specialists to neuroradiologist reads, and visual determination to caliper measurement of DeyeCOM sign. Results Of 181 patients, 46 were DeyeCOM+. Ischemic stroke was more commonly diagnosed in DeyeCOM+ patients compared to other diagnoses ( P = .039). DeyeCOM+ patients were more likely to have an NIHSS gaze score of 1 or higher ( P = .006). The NIHSS score of DeyeCOM+ stroke versus DeyeCOM− stroke patients was 8.3 ± 6.0 versus 6.7 ± 8.0 ( P = .065). Functional outcomes were similar ( P = .59). Stroke specialists had excellent agreement with the neuroradiologist ( Κ = .89). Visual inspection had excellent agreement with the caliper method ( Κ = .88). Conclusions Using a time-sensitive visual determination of gaze deviation on imaging was predictive of ischemic stroke diagnosis and presence of NIHSS gaze score, and was consistent with the more complex caliper method. This study furthers the clinical utility of the DeyeCOM sign for predicting ischemic strokes.
Automated Inference Techniques to Assist With the Construction of Self-Adaptive Software

Abstract The state-of-the-art in engineering self-adaptive software systems involves manual construction of numerous models, which are then used at runtime for making and effecting adaptation decisions. For instance, predictive analytical models (e.g., queuing network models, Markov models) are constructed to assess the impact of adaptation choices on the system’s quality objectives (e.g., performance, reliability) at runtime. The construction of such models is unwieldy and impractical for use by practitioners. This chapter describes an alternative approach for engineering adaptive software that aims to alleviate the challenges of manually developing such models. The approach heavily draws on inference techniques to derive automatically the models necessary for building an adaptive architecture. In particular, the chapter provides an overview of two complementary thrusts of recent research: (1) A machine learning approach to automatically derive the models predicting the impact of architectural change (i.e., enabling a particular capability at runtime, such as caching or authentication) on the system’s quality objectives (e.g., response time, availability). These types of models are used to make adaptation decisions to fix problems that may arise at runtime. (2) A data mining approach to derive automatically the models expressing the probabilistic dependencies between the architectural elements (components) of the system. These types of models are used to ensure changes in the running software do not create inconsistency, and jeopardize its functionality. In addition to describing the progress in this area, the chapter also covers the remaining research challenges and areas of future research in employing automated inference techniques in the construction of adaptive architectures.
Laterally confined excitons in two-dimensional semiconductor quantum dots

We study size-tunable lateral quantum confinement of excitons in monolayer transition metal dichalcogenide nanoflakes. Exciton photoluminescence energy and valley polarization are compared between continuous and patterned monolayers in the weak confinement regime.
Tradeoffs between fine-scale site measurements and coarse sensory data for long-term monitoring of pulsed wetlands.

Summary As anthropogenic activities continue to impact ecosystems around the world, the ability to monitor and manage ecosystem health and function increases in importance. Despite this need for monitoring, management projects are often limited by the funding, time and personnel required to gather field data. These costs only increase when considering large dynamic ecosystems, such as pulsed wetlands, that have spatially and temporally variable habitat conditions, thus requiring frequent field measurements across the landscape. The ability to use sensory data can drastically reduce the resources required to monitor field conditions, but can limit the scope and resolution at which data can be measured. Using the Florida Everglades as a model system because of its extensive monitoring and instrumentation network, we compared the effectiveness of large-scale sensory models of hydrological data with models that incorporate additional fine-scale habitat variables to account for variations in the dry season densities of small fishes and macroinvertebrates. Since the magnitude of aquatic faunal densities during the dry season greatly affect higher trophic groups, such as wading birds and alligators, the ability to understand the drivers on fish and crayfish densities is of high importance for Everglades restoration and management plans. We found that models using only sensory hydrological variables supported the same hypotheses as models that incorporated additional habitat variables, but the degree of fit was reduced considerably and varied depending on species group. Species more heavily dependent on water for reproduction and survival, such as fish, tended to have better fitting models than species less dependent on water, such as crayfish. Additionally, sensory-only models were able to detect different responses between size classes of fish to the processes that drive their concentration into drying pools of water, with large fish (>2.5 cm) densities influenced more by landscape structure and small fish (<2.5 cm) densities influenced more by hydroperiod. Our results support the use of sensory data to identify important variables affecting populations for management and restoration efforts. However, the degree to which sensory variables are able to fit species data is dependent upon the ability of sensors to measure major ecosystem drivers and the scale at which sensors can measure environmental change. Although tradeoffs exist between coarse sensory data and finer site-specific measurements, the benefits of sensory data will increase as the scale of ecosystem management and restoration increases.
Pelvic Phlebolith: A Trivial Pursuit for the Urologist?

Abstract Objective: Pelvic phleboliths are commonly encountered on plain and CT imaging and remain a source of frustration when attempting to differentiate them from ureteral calculi. Given their frequency, surprising little is known about their significance. We review the literature on pelvic phleboliths, specifically in relation to their history, demography, clinical significance, and methods to distinguish them from ureteral calculi. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was performed for all articles concerning pelvic phleboliths. Results: Pelvic phleboliths were first described in 19th century when the presence of calcified intravenous nodules was observed in human dissection. With the discovery of X-ray imaging in 1895, they have caused much diagnostic controversies since. Histologically they are composed of calcified laminated fibrous tissue, with a surface layer continuous with vein endothelium. Prevalence of pelvic phleboliths in adults is reported to be 38.9%–48%. They are more common in ad...
Abstract LB-264: Preclinical evaluation of DNA-PK as a therapeutic target in prostate cancer

Prostatic adenocarcinoma (PCa) is dependent on androgen receptor (AR) signaling at all stages of disease, as AR activation induces both cell proliferation and survival. Though organ–confined disease can be treated, the response is transient. Reactivation of AR leads to castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), which remains fatal. Previously published studies demonstrate that AR activation promotes tumor cell survival and proliferation through a feed-forward loop involving the DNA repair factor DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK). Recent data from our lab has highlighted the role of DNA-PK in DNA damage repair as well as transcriptional regulation of pro-metastatic signaling. Strikingly, DNA-PK is the most deregulated kinase in metastatic CRPC. DNAPK is highly elevated and hyperactivated, and is an independent predictor of metastasis and overall survival in patients with high-risk disease. Concordantly, DNAPK suppression attenuated DNA-PK functions in NHEJ and transcriptional regulation. DNA-PK inhibition is sufficient to prevent proliferation in vitro and ex vivo, as well as tumor metastasis in vivo. Combined these findings highlight importance of DNA-PK functions as a transcriptional regulator and a mediator of NHEJ DNA repair and nominate it as a therapeutic target in PCa. Data presented here will interrogate the translational capacity of a specific DNA-PK inhibitor, a dual DNA-PK/TOR kinase inhibitor and a specific TOR kinase inhibitor in CRPC models. Currently, CC-115, a dual kinase inhibitor, is the only DNA-PK inhibitor in Phase1/2 trial in combination with Enzalutamide in PCa. Unbiased transcriptomic analyses were performed and will be used to identify mechanisms of action that lead to suppression of PCa growth in vitro and ex vivo. These findings will provide insight in the effectiveness of DNA-PK inhibitors as a single agent or combinatorial treatments and provide rational for its placement in the correct clinical space. Citation Format: Emanuela Dylgjeri, Jonathan F. Goodwin, Christopher M. McNair, Ayesha A. Shafi, Vishal Kothari, Felix Feng, Dana Rathkop, Karen Knudsen. Preclinical evaluation of DNA-PK as a therapeutic target in prostate cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-264. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-LB-264
Modeling a novel hypothetical use of postal collection boxes as automated external defibrillator access points

Abstract Introduction Optimizing placement of Automated External Defibrillators (AED) can increase survival after an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Using postal collection boxes (PCB) as locations for AEDs could potentially enhance accessibility and streamline maintenance. In this study, we modeled the hypothetical effects of deploying AEDs at PCB locations. Hypothesis We hypothesized that PCB-AEDs would increase AED coverage overall and in residential areas, and reduce the distance from OHCA to an AED. Methods AEDs in Pittsburgh, PA were identified by the University of Pittsburgh Resuscitation Logistics and Informatics Venture (n = 747). PCB locations were obtained from the United States Postal Service (n = 479). OHCA locations from 2009 to 2014 were obtained from the Pittsburgh site of the Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium. AED coverage assuming a ¼ mile radius around each AED was estimated for known AEDs, PCB-AEDs (hypothetical AED locations), and known AEDs augmented by PCB-AEDs, both overall and for residential and non-residential zones. Linear distance from each OHCA to the nearest AED was calculated and compared between the sets. Results The set of known AEDs augmented with PCB-AEDs covered more of the city overall (55% vs 30%), as well as greater proportions of residential (62% vs 27%) and non-residential areas (45% vs 30%). The median distance from OHCA to AED was significantly shorter when known AEDs were augmented with PCB-AEDs (0.12 mi vs 0.32 mi; p = 0.001). Conclusion Augmenting existing publicly accessible AEDs with AEDs deployed at PCBs can increase AED spatial coverage in both residential and non-residential areas, and reduce the distance from AED to OHCA.
The Time-Image and the Unknown in Wong Kar-wai’s Film Art

This chapter explores the representation of time in the films of Hong Kong director Wong Kar-wai. Wong’s films display a strong fascination with temporality, its construction, deconstruction, fragmentation, reconstruction, projection, and retrospection. Memory, nostalgia, and amnesia are recurrent motifs in Wong’s films. His film art embodies the principles of the “time-image” in modern cinema, which is a cinema of fragmentation, self-reflexivity, paradox, double and multiple temporalities, non-linear narrative, and inconclusive endings. Using Gilles Deleuze’s concepts of “movement-image” and “time-image,” the chapter looks at various configurations of time in Wong Kai-wai’s films. It focuses especially on Wong’s informal trilogy: Days of Being Wild (1990), In the Mood for Love (2000), and 2046 (2004), in which Wong uses exemplary time-images to explore problems of time and memory in the changing geopolitical and psychosocial landscapes of Hong Kong, attempting to open up a space for its past to negotiate with its unknown future.
History of Behavior Modification

The opening chapter in an International Handbook of Behavior Modification and Therapy should place the late 1980s’ version of behavior modification/therapy in appropriate conceptual contexts—the history, philosophy, and sociology of science; the histories of psychology, clinical psychology, and psychiatry; the broader developments of behaviorism; and the intellectual, social, economic, and political developments of twentieth-century society. Of course, these various contexts are not independent of each other but are mutually interactive.
Commentary: Early Literacy Development and Implications for Practice

In this interview with Anne Haas Dyson she discusses literacy, examining the connection between language, culture, and the positive impact of play. Anne speaks about the importance of incorporating literacy into the everyday life of children, and encouraging creativity and peer collaboration in the home as well as in classrooms. She stresses that children’s literacy skills must be assessed within context, taking into consideration the child’s perspective and the resources available. She emphasizes the individuality of every child’s learning experience and the right for children to progress at their own speed.
Medical Treatment Options

Despite advances in the diagnosis and management of lymphedema, a paucity of pharmacological approaches exists for the treatment of lymphedema patients. Diuretics play little, if any, role in the management of isolated lymphatic vascular insufficiency because the pathogenesis of the fluid accumulation in lymphedema relies upon the elevated interstitial oncotic pressures conferred by macromolecules, rather than upon inappropriate retention of water and electrolytes. It is impossible to judge the effectiveness of benzopyrones on the basis of available published clinical trials. Benzopyrones are not available in all parts of the world, and caution is warranted in the use of systemic coumarin in the face of the reported risk of hepatotoxicity. One common context for medical therapy in lymphedema is the recognized frequent occurrence of soft tissue infection in these patients. In recent years, mechanistic investigation has underscored the role of abnormal lymphatic function in obesity, salt-sensitive hypertension, and altered cholesterol metabolism. With great promise, there has been recent focused and growing interest in the role of inflammation in the pathogenesis and maintenance of lymphedema.
I Flipped My Classroom: One Teacher’s Quest to Remain Relevant

This is one teacher’s personal chronicle of his quest to remain relevant as technology dramatically revolutionizes the higher education environment. The enlightening narrative of how he “flipped hi...
ATP-Utilizing Enzymes, Purinergic Receptor Modulation, Cupredoxins and Mammalian Cell Death

Pseudomonas aeruginosa, like many other living aerobic organisms, uses oxidative metabolism for the generation of energy in the form of ATP. ATP (phosphoanhydride bond of ATP) hydrolysis liberates energy. ATP is also interconverted not only to other adenine nucleotides such as ADP, AMP or to adenosine, but allows phosphotransfer by an enzyme nucleoside diphosphate kinase (Ndk) to generate GTP, CTP, UTp, etc., or their deoxy derivatives, for RNA/DNA synthesis and participates in essentially all major metabolic reactions for carrying out cellular functions. Essentially all forms of living cells use ATP as a source of energy, and storesATP or linear polymersof inorganic orthophosphate (polyphosphates) derived from ATP as sources of energy33.
Claiming Cosmopolitan Geographies:Space and Ethos at Hull House, Chicago

This essay draws on letters, bulletins, photographs, and newspaper articles to give an account of the Hull House Settlement in Chicago in the 1890s and examines the rhetoric it engendered. The spac...
Two-minute walk tests demonstrate similar age-related gait differences as a six-minute walk test.

Abstract Background The six-minute walk test (6MWT) is used within clinical and research settings to assess gait performance across a variety of conditions and populations. Commonly, the test is used to identify specific aspects of gait that affect functional mobility. With the advancement of new technologies such as wireless inertial sensors, it has become possible to collect reliable, sensitive, and objective measures of gait. While the 6MWT has been accepted and used for many years, a more concise, while still objective gait analysis would likely benefit clinicians, researchers and patients. Research Question Does a concise 2-minute walk test (2MWT) provide similar information regarding gait performance and gait differences as the 6MWT in healthy young (YA) and older adults (OA)? Methods A total of thirty-one participants (sixteen young adults and fifteen older adults) conducted a continuous 6MWT at their self-selected pace. All participants wore six wireless inertial sensors which were placed on each foot, at the lumbar, sternum, and on each wrist. Once completed the 6MWT data was spliced into three, distinct two-minute segments. Spliced data was analyzed and compared between groups and segments. Results Results demonstrate significant age-related differences in several gait metrics, primarily with older adults showing increased spatiotemporal variability. Additionally, no significant differences were observed between the three, two-minute segments and the continuous 6MWT, with the exception of total number of strides completed. Significance These results demonstrate that the 2MWT may provide a preferable alternative to assessing gait performance by reducing confounds such as fatigue while maintaining sensitivity of measuring gait performance. These improvements may be particularly beneficial when studying populations of advanced age or with neurological disorder.
ASSERT: attack synthesis and separation with entropy redistribution towards predictive cyber defense

The sophistication of cyberattacks penetrating into enterprise networks has called for predictive defense beyond intrusion detection, where different attack strategies can be analyzed and used to anticipate next malicious actions, especially the unusual ones. Unfortunately, traditional predictive analytics or machine learning techniques that require training data of known attack strategies are not practical, given the scarcity of representative data and the evolving nature of cyberattacks. This paper describes the design and evaluation of a novel automated system, ASSERT, which continuously synthesizes and separates cyberattack behavior models to enable better prediction of future actions. It takes streaming malicious event evidences as inputs, abstracts them to edge-based behavior aggregates, and associates the edges to attack models, where each represents a unique and collective attack behavior. It follows a dynamic Bayesian-based model generation approach to determine when a new attack behavior is present, and creates new attack models by maximizing a cluster validity index. ASSERT generates empirical attack models by separating evidences and use the generated models to predict unseen future incidents. It continuously evaluates the quality of the model separation and triggers a re-clustering process when needed. Through the use of 2017 National Collegiate Penetration Testing Competition data, this work demonstrates the effectiveness of ASSERT in terms of the quality of the generated empirical models and the predictability of future actions using the models.
Performance Analysis of Aerial Data Collection from Outdoor IoT Sensor Networks using 2.4GHz 802.15.4

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), i.e. drones, have been commercially successful in both the consumer and industrial sectors in part due to the wide variety of applications they benefit. In environmental monitoring and precision agriculture, UASs can be utilized for data collection from rural IoT sensor networks. These networks frequently operate over some variant of the IEEE 802.15.4 standard, taking advantage of the standard's low power usage. Consumer 802.15.4 radios are widely available in compact form factors, making them ideal for application in environmental and agricultural sensor networks. Unlike other wireless standards, 802.15.4 is well studied on the ground but has not received rigorous evaluation in three dimensional aerial communication, which introduces new challenges, such as antenna radiation patterns and extreme ranges. This paper provides an initial look at the performance of 2.4GHz 802.15.4 for data collection from a UAS. We provide experimental performance measurements using an outdoor aerial testbed, examining how factors, such as antenna orientation, altitude, antenna placement, and obstruction affect signal strength and reception rate of packets. We find that these parameters play a significant role in reception rate, but have a much weaker impact on received signal strength. We conclude by discussing some takeaways on sensor network configuration for aerial data collection.
Correlations between healthcare provider interactions and mental health among transgender and nonbinary adults.

Abstract Transgender and nonbinary patients have a wide array of experiences when attempting to access healthcare, including discrimination and having to educate providers about trans people. This study examines the mental health factors connected to transgender and nonbinary patients' experience with providers to determine the likelihood of transgender or nonbinary patients receiving respectful care after a provider knows about the patient's gender identity, and patients' experience of having to educate providers about trans people, controlling for sociodemographic factor. Using data from the 2015 United States Trans Survey (N = 27,715), chi-square tests of independence and multivariate logistic regressions were used to explore the odds of transgender or nonbinary individuals having a positive experience with a doctor or healthcare provider. Of the respondents, 24.31% experienced having to educate a provider about trans people when seeking care, and 62.90% experienced a provider knowing they were transgender or nonbinary and treating them with respect. Those experiencing depression and suicidal thoughts were significantly less likely to have had a provider treat them with respect, and significantly more likely to need to educate their providers. Gender, age, disability status, and educational level were significant across both variables; income was significant regarding having to educate a provider. Healthcare providers need ongoing training and education to improve their care of transgender and nonbinary patients, specifically around acknowledging the multiple backgrounds and experiences of such patients, including those related to mental health, gender, race, age, income, educational level, and disability.
Combating the illegal pangolin trade - a law enforcement practitioner’s perspective

Abstract This chapter provides a visceral Afro-centric front-line perspective of the challenges in tackling pangolin trafficking and associated criminality and how these obstacles may be overcome. The front-line aspect pertains particularly to the challenges and implications of enforcing the law in austere, isolated or resource-starved environments, often with little hierarchical or community support. An awareness of law enforcement capabilities in African pangolin range states is something that needs to be established as a fundamental consideration when tackling pangolin trafficking and associated criminality. The chapter posits that examining the numerous core policing and law enforcement capabilities of agencies tasked with combating wildlife crime leads to the derivation of six essential law enforcement elements. These elements are integral to ensuring sustainable and long-term effective enforcement against organized criminal networks, beyond low-level hunting and poaching.
Reliability and validity of teacher ratings on the Adapted Skillstreaming Checklist for children with autism spectrum disorder.

This study assessed the reliability and criterion-related validity of teacher ratings on the Adapted Skillstreaming Checklist for a sample of 133 children, aged 6–11 years, with autism spectrum dis...
Biomechanical Analysis of the Cervical Spine Following Disc Degeneration, Disc Fusion, and Disc Replacement: A Finite Element Study.

ABSTRACT Background: Discectomy and fusion is considered the “gold standard” treatment for clinical manifestations of degenerative disc disease in the cervical spine. However, clinical and biomechanical studies suggest that fusion may lead to adjacent-segment disease. Cervical disc arthroplasty preserves the motion at the operated level and may potentially decrease the occurrence of adjacent segment degeneration. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of disc generation, fusion, and disc replacement on the motion, disc stresses, and facet forces on the cervical spine by using the finite element method. Methods: A validated, intact, 3-dimensional finite element model of the cervical spine (C2-T1) was modified to simulate single-level (C5-C6) and 2-level (C5-C7) degeneration. The single-level degenerative model was modified to simulate both single-level fusion and arthroplasty (total disc replacement [TDR]) using the Bryan and Prestige LP discs. The 2-level degenerative model was modified to simulate a 2-level fusion, 2-level arthroplasty, and single-level disc replacement adjacent to single-level fusion (hybrid). The intact models were loaded by applying a moment of ±2 Nm in flexion-extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation. The motion in each direction was noted and the other modified models were loaded by increasing the moment until the primary C2-T1 motion matched that of the intact (healthy) C2-T1 motion. Results: Both Bryan and Prestige discs preserved motion at the implanted level and maintained normal motions at the adjacent nonoperative levels. A fusion resulted in a decrease in motion at the fused level and an increase in motion at the unfused levels. In the hybrid construct, the TDR (both) preserved motion adjacent to the fusion, thus reducing the demand on the other levels. The disc stresses followed the same trends as motion. Facet forces increased considerably at the index level following a TDR. Conclusion: The Bryan and Prestige LP TDRs both preserved motion at the implanted level and maintained normal motion and disc stresses at the adjacent levels. The motion patterns of the spine with a TDR more closely resembled that of the intact spine than those of the degenerative or fused models.
The Impact of a College Transition Program Proactive Advising Intervention on Self-Efficacy

This study proposes an empirically grounded, non-deficit oriented, college transition program proactive advising model, called “mid-semester grade checks,” to promote academic self-efficacy among f...
A tearfully painful darkness.

Abstract A 70-year-old woman presented with new onset of left eye and facial pain. Ophthalmic and neurological examinations, magnetic resonance imaging brain, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and C-reactive protein were unrevealing. A few days later, she developed vision loss in her left eye. Examination revealed decreased visual acuity with a relative afferent pupillary defect in the left eye and a diffuse mild swelling of the left optic nerve head. Repeat magnetic resonance imaging showed T2 hyperintensity and enhancement of the intraorbital optic nerve and surrounding tissues with no other intracranial abnormalities. Serum studies showed elevated myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein IgG titer. She was treated with IV methylprednisolone 1000 mg daily for 3 days and was discharged on prolonged prednisone taper with return of vision to baseline.
Category of evidence and consensus underlying National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines: Is there evidence of progress?

National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines are the most comprehensive and widely used standard for clinical care, financial reimbursements and quality improvement initiatives in oncology. We studied the distribution of categories of evidence and consensus (EC) in the guidelines for the common cancers in the United States. We evaluated the EC categories in staging, therapy and surveillance recommendations in 2019 guidelines and compared them with the same in 2010. The latest 2019 version of NCCN guidelines were obtained. The definitions for various categories of EC used were, Category 1 (high level evidence, uniform consensus), Category 2A (lower level of evidence [LOE], uniform consensus), Category 2B (lower LOE, no uniform consensus but with no major disagreement) and Category 3 (any LOE, major disagreement). We compared our results with previously published results from 2010 guidelines. Total number of recommendations increased by 77% from 1023 (2010) to 1818 (2019). Of the 1818 recommendations, Category 1, 2A, 2B and 3 EC were 7%, 87%, 6% and 0%, respectively, while in 2010 they were 6%, 83%, 10% and 1%. Breast (30%), lung (10%) and kidney (10%) cancer had the highest proportions of Category 1 therapeutic recommendations in their respective guidelines. No Category 1 recommendations were found in screening or surveillance guidelines or in pancreatic and uterine cancer guidelines. Recommendations in 2019 NCCN guidelines are largely Category 2A (lower levels of evidence, uniform expert opinion), unchanged from the previous study in 2010.
Pediatric Hospitalists’ Performance and Perceptions of Script Concordance Testing for Self-Assessment

OBJECTIVES The cognitive expertise of Pediatric Hospitalists (PH) lies not in standard knowledge but in making decisions under conditions of uncertainty. To maintain expertise, PH should engage in deliberate practice via self-assessments that promote higher-level cognitive processes necessary to address problems with missing or ambiguous information. Higher levels of cognition are purported with Script Concordance Test (SCT) questions compared to Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ). To determine if PH use higher levels of cognition when answering SCT versus MCQ questions and to analyze participants' perceptions of the utility of using SCT self-assessment for deliberate practice in addressing clinical problems encountered in daily practice. METHODS This is a mixed methods study comparing the cognitive level expressed according to Bloom's Taxonomy by PH answering MCQ versus SCT questions using a "think aloud" (TA) exercise, followed by qualitative analysis of interviews conducted afterward. RESULTS A significantly greater percentage of comments were coded as higher cognitive processes (apply, analyze, evaluate, and create) for SCT versus MCQ (74% vs 19%) compared with lower order (remember, understand); chi-square P < .00001. Analysis of interviews revealed 6 themes. CONCLUSION SCT questions elicited higher level cognition essential to clinical reasoning compared to MCQ questions. PH-indicated MCQ questions measure standard knowledge, while SCT questions better measure decision-making under conditions of uncertainty. PH-perceived SCT could be useful for deliberate practice in Pediatric Hospital Medicine decision-making if they could compare their rationale in answering questions with that of experts.
Excess 30-Day Heart Failure Readmission In Blacks Increases With Neighborhood Deprivation

Introduction Neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES) has been associated with incident heart failure (HF) as well as HF readmissions. Neighborhood SES may be particularly impactful for vulnerable populations. Hypothesis: Neighborhood SES modifies the disparity in 30-d HF readmissions between Black and White patients in the Southeastern US. Methods We utilized the Emory Clinical Data Warehouse to create a geo-coded retrospective cohort of all patients with at least one inpatient HF hospitalization at any Emory Healthcare facility from 2010-2018. Quintiles of the Social Deprivation Index (SDI), derived from socioeconomic US Census data, were used to characterize neighborhood deprivation at the census tract level. Linear probability models were estimated with robust errors to examine “excess 30-d HF readmissions” as the absolute difference in probability of readmission between Black and White (referent) patients within quartiles of neighborhood deprivation. Models accounted for patient clustering, and multivariable models adjusted for patient socio-demographics (age, gender, and insurance type), HF type (systolic, diastolic, other), other medical comorbidities (hypertension, diabetes, CKD, CAD, AFib, COPD, PAD, CVA/TIA), vital signs (SBP, HR, RR), laboratory values (serum sodium, creatinine, eGFR, BUN, Hb), discharging specialty, and hospital location. Results There were 30,630 patients in the cohort, with mean age 66.1 ± 15.5 years, 48% female, 53% Black, and 67% insured through Medicare. Compared with White patients, Black patients were younger in age, more likely to be female, more likely to reside in deprived census tracts, have diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and had higher comorbidity scores. Blacks had lower coronary artery disease and atrial fibrillation. Between 2010-2018, 21% of Black and 14% of White patients experienced a 30-d HF readmission (p Conclusion Excess 30-d HF readmissions in Black compared with White patients increases with neighborhood deprivation and is not explained by patient sociodemographic factors or medical history. Future studies should focus on specific modifiable features of the built environment that may be leveraged to disrupt the excess risk.
Consumers’ evaluation of extensions among extensions and the backdrop effect

Given the widespread acceptance of extensions-led brand strategies on the one hand, and a reduction in the size of brand portfolios by marketers and retailers on the other, many product categories ...
Effect of Tempering Conditions on White Sorghum Milling, Flour, and Bread Properties

The effects of room temperature water, hot water, and steam tempering methods were investigated on sorghum kernel physical properties, milling, flour, and bread-making properties. Overall tempering condition and tempering moisture content were found to have a significant effect on the physical properties. Milling properties were evaluated using a laboratory-scale roller milling flowsheet consisting of four break rolls and eight reduction rolls. Room temperature tempering (18% moisture for 24 h) led to better separation of bran and endosperm without negatively impacting flour quality characteristics i.e., particle size distribution, flour yield, protein, ash, damaged starch, and moisture content. Bread produced from the flour obtained from milling sorghum kernels tempered with room temperature water (18% m.c for 24 h) and hot water (16% m.c at 60 °C for 18 h) displayed better bread-making properties i.e., high firmness, resilience, volume index, higher number of cells, and thinner cell walls when compared to other tempering conditions. Room temperature water tempering treatment (18% m.c for 24 h) could be a better pretreatment process for milling white sorghum kernels without negatively impacting the flour and bread-making quality characteristics.
β-Amyloid disruption of LTP/LTD balance is mediated by AKAP150-anchored PKA and Calcineurin regulation of Ca2+-permeable AMPA receptors.

Summary Regulated insertion and removal of postsynaptic AMPA glutamate receptors (AMPARs) mediates hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD) synaptic plasticity underlying learning and memory. In Alzheimer's disease β-amyloid (Aβ) oligomers may impair learning and memory by altering AMPAR trafficking and LTP/LTD balance. Importantly, Ca2+-permeable AMPARs (CP-AMPARs) assembled from GluA1 subunits are excluded from hippocampal synapses basally but can be recruited rapidly during LTP and LTD to modify synaptic strength and signaling. By employing mouse knockin mutations that disrupt anchoring of the kinase PKA or phosphatase Calcineurin (CaN) to the postsynaptic scaffold protein AKAP150, we find that local AKAP-PKA signaling is required for CP-AMPAR recruitment, which can facilitate LTP but also, paradoxically, prime synapses for Aβ impairment of LTP mediated by local AKAP-CaN LTD signaling that promotes subsequent CP-AMPAR removal. These findings highlight the importance of PKA/CaN signaling balance and CP-AMPARs in normal plasticity and aberrant plasticity linked to disease.