cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Green Roofs: A Case Study for Literature Research and Critical Thinking

Green roofs are installed on buildings to ameliorate urban environmental problems including the heat island effect, water runoff, air pollution, and biodiversity loss. While the popularity of green roofs has increased in recent years, questions have been raised about their efficacy for addressing these issues. Insights into contentious issues, such as the efficacy of green roofs, can be gained through exercises on evaluating evidence from published research. The goal of the activity is to foster development of science literacy skills by comparing claims made in the popular media with information from primary research articles. In this activity, students search the primary scientific literature, evaluate the quality of the research that was performed, and synthesize evidence to support or refute claims about the environmental costs and benefits of green roofs. After completing this activity, students should be able to (1) locate the source of data for scientific information presented in the media, (2) judge the quality of these data for making claims, (3) evaluate relationships between environmental problems and proposed solutions, and (4) synthesize information from diverse disciplines.
Age Differences in Information Use While Making Decisions: Resource Limitations or Processing Differences?

Recent research on the decision-making abilities of older adults has shown that they use less information than young adults. One explanation ascribes this age difference to reductions in cognitive ...
Superdeformation in Pd 1 0 4 , 1 0 5

In the present Rapid Communication, we report the discovery of a rotational band in $^{105}\mathrm{Pd}$ and possibly one in $^{104}\mathrm{Pd}$ that can be interpreted as arising from superdeformed shapes. The moments of inertia, ${J}^{(1)}$ and ${J}^{(2)}$, of these bands are similar to those measured in the Ce-Nd region, once the ${A}^{\frac{5}{3}}$ mass dependence is removed. This implies a deformation $\ensuremath{\epsilon}\ensuremath{\sim}0.35\ensuremath{-}0.4$. If so, this is the third mass region where superdeformed bands have been found at high spins.
Examination of single-substance multiphase material distribution in a cylindrical container using acoustic wavenumber spectroscopy

This paper explores the use of a steady-state scanning laser Doppler vibrometer (LDV) system for the identification of transition areas between solid, liquid, and gaseous substances in an enclosed container. This technique images lateral surface velocity under the excitation of a single-frequency ultrasonic tone, produced by a piezoelectric actuator. Differences in measured spatial wavenumber at discrete measurement points of a surface scan can be used to detect the boundaries between solid, liquid and gaseous regions of material. We used the LDV system to compare the relative distributions of solid wax, liquid wax, and air in a cylindrical container based on local changes in wavenumber. Through the same methodology, we were able to distinguish the transition between solid and liquid epoxy in a container. Finally, by repeatedly scanning the container during a phase-changing reaction within the container, we established that the system can be used to monitor reactions as they progress.
Online feature importance ranking based on sensitivity analysis

Abstract Online learning is a growing branch of data mining which allows all traditional data mining techniques to be applied on a online stream of data in real time. In this paper, we present a fast and efficient online sensitivity based feature ranking method (SFR) which is updated incrementally. We take advantage of the concept of global sensitivity and rank features based on their impact on the outcome of the classification model. In the feature selection part, we use a two-stage filtering method in order to first eliminate highly correlated and redundant features and then eliminate irrelevant features in the second stage. One important advantage of our algorithm is its generality, which means the method works for correlated feature spaces without preprocessing. It can be implemented along with any single-pass online classification method with separating hyperplane such as SVMs. The proposed method is primarily developed for online tasks, however, we achieve very significant experimental results in comparison with popular batch feature ranking/selection methods. We also perform experiments to compare the method with available online feature ranking methods. Empirical results suggest that our method can be successfully implemented in batch learning or online mode.
Creation of a human T-ALL cell line online database.

Human cell lines are used widely in biomedical research, including oncology. Lines are often chosen for study based on their cell lineage, differentiation state, and – in the case of cancer studies...
Serotonin receptor subtypes and the modulation of pain transmission.

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the serotonin receptor subtypes and discusses the modulation of pain transmission. Three major subtypes of the serotonin 5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT) receptor have been identified: 5HT 1 , 5HT 2 , and 5HT 3 . The subtypes have different anatomical distributions that are important for understanding the unique effect each receptor subtype has on primary afferent and central pain transmission. The chapter reviews data on all three major 5HT receptor subtypes focusing on 5HT 1 receptors. 5HT resulted in muscle contractions by a direct action on 5HT receptors located on smooth muscle, an action preferentially antagonized by phenoxybenzamine (dibenzyline) and therefore referred to as the D-receptor. 5HT produces muscle contraction by an indirect effect on cholinergic ganglionic neurons innervating the guinea pig ileum; an effect of 5HT preferentially antagonized by morphine (M-receptors). Intradermal administration of 5HT mimics the effects of mechanical or chemical insult in man, including vasodilation (flare response), edema formation, and the perception of pain.
Exposure estimates of nitrite and nitrate from consumption of cured meat products by the U.S. population.

The dietary exposures of nitrite and nitrate from consumption of cured meat products were estimated for the U.S. population aged 2 years and older, and children aged 2 to 5 years, using both 2-day ...
Selective Dehydrogenative Coupling of Ethylene to Butadiene via an Iridacyclopentane Complex.

An iridium complex is found to catalyze the selective dehydrogenative coupling of ethylene to 1,3-butadiene. The key intermediate, and a major resting state, is an iridacyclopentane that undergoes a surprisingly facile β-H elimination, enabled by a partial dechelation (κ3–κ2) of the supporting 3,5-dimethylphenyl-2,6-bis(oxazolinyl) ligand.
DIAGNOSIS AND SURGICAL TREATMENT OF A TRANSITIONAL CELL CARCINOMA IN THE BLADDER APEX OF A PET RABBIT (ORYCTOLAGUS CUNICULUS)

Abstract A 6-year-old, 1.9-kg female spayed lop-eared European rabbit ( Oryctolagus cuniculus ) was evaluated for acute hematuria and inappropriate urination and defecation of less than 12-hours duration. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed a suspected bladder mass. Ultrasound-guided cystocentesis was performed and the results of the urinalysis were unremarkable. An abdominal exploratory surgery revealed a nodular cystic mass at the cranial ventral apex of the bladder wall which measured 0.5cm x 0.5cm. Based on histopathologic evaluation, excision of the neoplasm was complete and the mass was diagnosed as transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder. This case suggests that urinary bladder TCC should be considered in pet rabbits presenting with similar clinical signs.
Reliability and efficiency of three methods of calculating migration percentage on radiographs for hip surveillance in children with cerebral palsy.

Abstract Purpose Hip surveillance programmes for children with cerebral palsy (CP) utilize the migration percentage (MP) measurement to initiate referrals and recommend treatment. This study assesses the reliability and efficiency of three methods of MP measurement on anteroposterior (AP) pelvis radiographs. Methods A total of 20 AP pelvis radiographs (40 hips) of children with CP were measured by three raters on two occasions using three methods: digital measurement (DM) on a Picture Archiving and Communication System monitor, computer-aided measurement (CA) using a digital templating tool and mobile device application measurement (MA) using a freely available MP measurement tool. For each method, the time required to complete the MP measurement of both hips on each AP pelvis radiograph was measured. Intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to determine reliability, and analysis of variance was used to compare groups. Results All three methods of determining MP showed excellent inter-rater and ...
Clinical Correlates and Prognostic Value of Elevated Right Atrial Pressure in Patients With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Background The clinical characteristics associated with elevated right atrial pressure (RAP) in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) are unknown. Few data exist as to whether elevated RAP has prognostic implications in patients with HCM. This study investigated the clinical correlates and prognostic value of elevated RAP in HCM.Methods and Results:This retrospective cohort study was performed on 180 patients with HCM who underwent right heart catheterization between 1997 and 2014. Elevated RAP was defined as >8 mmHg. Baseline characteristics, mean pulmonary artery pressure, and mean pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) were assessed for association with elevated RAP. The predictive value of elevated RAP for all-cause mortality and the development of atrial fibrillation (AF), ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation (VT/VF), and stroke was evaluated. Elevated RAP was associated with higher New York Heart Association class, dyspnea on exertion, orthopnea, edema, jugular venous distention, larger left atrial size, right ventricular hypertrophy, higher pulmonary artery pressure, and higher PCWP. RAP independently predicted all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 2.18 per 5-mmHg increase, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05-4.50, P=0.04) and incident AF (aHR 1.85 per 5-mmHg increase, 95% CI 1.20-2.85, P=0.005). Elevated RAP did not predict VT/VF (P=0.36) or stroke (P=0.28). Conclusions Elevated RAP in patients with HCM is associated with left-sided heart failure and is an independent predictor of all-cause mortality and new-onset AF.
Computer-aided clinical problem solving as an educational paradigm for teaching preclinical cardiac pathophysiology

Clinical problem solving exercises have long been used as a way of providing simulated experience with clinical medicine. Multimedia capabilities now available extend the potential for realism of these exercises. In addition, with the use of hypermedia methodologies, it is now possible to link components of a clinical case — e.g., the tests, the images (or sounds or tracings) of the actual results, or the textual descriptions of findings — with other related information. This information can amplify on the tests themselves, the range of possible results that could alternatively have been obtained, the differential diagnosis of any particular finding, or the profiles of diseases in the differential, and can provide discussions and references about the diseases. Thus the case problem solving exercise may have potential for more than providing practice with making clinical judgments; it may offer an alternative paradigm for accessing much of the same medical content traditionally delivered in didactic lectures and in textbook presentations. We have implemented an authoring environment for case problem solving exercises that enables access to multimedia presentation of clinical results, and related clinical and pathophysiologic content material. Case simulations designed with this approach are currently being used in teaching first-year medical students in the HST track of the Harvard Medical School.
Fuzzy PID Control Strategy Applied in Boiler Combustion System

With the rapid development of the power industry coal-fired power plants in China have been built more than decades ago. Boiler system is a complex process and has high nonlinearity, large delay, strong coupling and load disturbance. It is crucial parts of most power plants and has been concerned with analyzing power system dynamics in various works. But it is hard to develop practical mathematical model of the control object using the traditional PID control. In order to realize the optimal control of boiler combustion system, this paper presents the fuzzy-PID control Strategy applied in steam temperature control. Simulation results for different cases of boiler combustion system show that the control strategy has better ability.
Associations between intimate partner violence, violence-related policies, and HIV diagnosis rate among women in the United States.

Abstract Purpose To assess the association between state-level intimate partner violence (IPV) prevalence and HIV diagnosis rates among women in the United States and investigate the modifying effect of state IPV health care policies. Methods Data on HIV diagnosis rates were collected from HIV surveillance data from 2010 to 2015, and IPV prevalence data were collected from the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey from 2010 to 2012. States were coded for IPV health care policies on training, screening, reporting, and insurance discrimination. Results States with higher IPV prevalence was associated with higher HIV diagnoses among women (B = 0.02; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.003, 0.04; P = .02). State policies were a significant effect modifier (B = −0.05; 95% CI = −0.07, −0.02; P Conclusions HIV prevention programs should target IPV and link to community resources. IPV-related policies in the health care system may protect the sexual health of women experiencing IPV.
Cost-Effectiveness Analysis in Radiology: A Systematic Review.

Abstract Purpose Cost-effectiveness analyses (CEAs) have become more prevalent in radiology. However, the lack of standard methodology may lead to conflicting conclusions on the cost-effectiveness of an imaging modality and hinder CEA-based policy recommendations. This study reviews recent CEAs to identify areas of methodological variation, explore their impact on interpretation, and discuss optimal strategies for performing CEAs in radiology. Methods We performed a systematic review for cost-utility analyses in radiology from 2013 to 2017. Cost and quality-of-life methods were analyzed and compared using the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards checklist. Results Eighty cost-utility studies met our inclusion criteria. A payer perspective was the most common (70%) and hospital perspective the least common (5%). Fourteen studies (17.5%) did not report perspective, and 12 (15%) reported a perspective inconsistent with their performed analysis. Cost inclusion varied greatly between studies; adverse effects of imaging (20.5%) and hospitalization (34.6%) were the least frequently included direct costs. Studies that measured their own utilities most commonly used the EuroQol-5D and Short Form-6D questionnaires; however, most studies (80%) cited utilities from previous literature. Seventy-two studies (90%) used willingness-to-pay thresholds, and 30 used cost-effectiveness acceptability curves (41.7%). Conclusion We observed statistically significant methodological variation indicating the need for a standardized, accurate means of performing and presenting CEAs within radiology. We make several recommendations to address key problems regarding study perspective, cost inclusion, and use of willingness-to-pay thresholds. Further work is required to ensure comparability and transparency between studies such that policymakers are properly informed when utilizing CEA results.
Synthesis, Antiviral Activity, Cytotoxicity and Cellular Pharmacology of L‐3′‐Azido‐2′,3′‐dideoxypurine Nucleosides.

A rapid, simple, and general method using microwave-assisted transglycosylation reactions for the synthesis of compounds like (IV) is presented.
Comparison of the carbon additives on the conductivity, thermomechanical, and corrosion properties for TEOS oligomer modified epoxy-amine coating systems

Abstract Four types of carbon filler, carbon black, mixture of carbon black and non-fullerene carbon nanotubes, non-fullerene carbon nanotubes, and purified fullerene carbon nanotubes were compared in a 2-K BPA-Epoxide-Amidoamne. The effect of carbon filler type and loading on the viscosity of coatings as well as mechanical, thermal, electrical, and general coating properties of the cured films were evaluated. General coating properties including pencil hardness, impact resistance, cross-hatch, and pull-off adhesion. Aggregation of carbon fillers at 1.0 wt% resulted in a decrease in film properties. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to observe the surface morphology of a fracture film surface. The storage modulus and crosslink density increased and the maximum tan δ decreased with the increase of filler content. It was found that the most efficient material to enhance the electrical conductivity and anticorrosive properties of nanocomposite coating systems was fullerene CNT.
A comprehensive model-assisted brain shift correction approach in image-guided neurosurgery: a case study in brain swelling and subsequent sag after craniotomy

Brain shift during neurosurgery can compromise the fidelity of image guidance and potentially lead to surgical error. We have developed a finite element model-based brain shift compensation strategy to correct preoperative images for improved intraoperative navigation. This workflow-friendly approach precomputes potential intraoperative deformations (a ‘deformation atlas’) via a biphasic-biomechanical-model accounting for brain deformation associated with cerebrospinal fluid drainage, osmotic agents, resection, and swelling. Intraoperatively, an inverse problem approach is employed to provide a combinatory fit from the atlas that best matches sparse intraoperative measurements. Subsequently, preoperative image is deformed accordingly to better reflect patient’s intraoperative anatomy. While we have performed several retrospective studies examining model’s accuracy using post- or intra-operative magnetic resonance imaging, one challenging task is to examine model’s ability to recapture shift due to the aforementioned effects independently with clinical data and in a longitudinal manner under varying conditions. The work here is a case study where swelling was observed at the initial stage of surgery (after craniotomy and dura opening), subsequently sag was observed in a later stage of resection. Intraoperative tissue swelling and sag were captured via an optically tracked stylus by identifying cortical surface vessel features (n = 9), and model-based correction was performed for these two distinct types of brain shift at different stages of the procedure. Within the course of the entire surgery, we estimate the cortical surface experienced a deformation trajectory absolute path length of approximately 19.4 ± 2.1 mm reflecting swelling followed by sag. Overall, model reduced swelling-induced shift from 7.3 ± 1.1 to 1.8 ± 0.5 mm (~74.6% correction); for subsequent sag movement, model reduced shift from 6.4 ± 1.5 to 1.4 ± 0.5 mm (~76.6% correction).
Rheumatologic Diseases and the Liver.

A variety of rheumatologic disorders may affect the liver. There is a significant epidemiologic, genetic, and immunologic overlap between immune-mediated rheumatologic disorders and autoimmune liver diseases. There is an increased frequency of autoimmune liver diseases, such as primary biliary cholangitis, autoimmune hepatitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, or overlap syndrome, in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren syndrome, systemic sclerosis, vasculitis, and other immune-related diseases. Non-immune-mediated rheumatologic diseases such as gouty arthritis may also have hepatic manifestations. Furthermore, medications used to treat rheumatologic diseases occasionally cause liver dysfunction. Conversely, primary immune-mediated and non-immune-mediated liver disorders may present with rheumatologic manifestations.
Disease Resistance Genes in Flax

Flax has been a model system, while also being an important agronomic resource, for the identification and characterization of disease resistances. The development of the gene-for-gene hypothesis of the interaction between a specific gene in the plant and its partner in the pathogen arose from the work on the interaction between flax and its pathogenic rust fungus, Melampsora lini. The genes involved were initially isolated through transposon tagging, but the subsequent availability of the complete assembled genome sequence of flax and its rust has helped elucidate the modes of action of the interaction between the two partners, with the demonstration of the direct interaction between the cognate genes from the plant and pathogen. The extensive collection of varieties and exotic germplasm, and the continuing molecular examination of the disease reactions to a series of fungal pathogens, has provided new insights into the genes and possible modes of action of resistance to diseases.
Multi-Pigtail Technique is Associated with Decreased Contrast Use and Fluoroscopic Adjustment for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

Background: Successful TAVR is partly determined by deploying the valve in the perpendicular angle of deployment (PAOD), which is in a 90-degree plane to the aortic annulus. Preprocedurally, the PA...
Surgical Reconstruction of Buried Penis

Entrapment of the phallus because of morbid obesity, post-circumcision cicatrix formation, genital skin loss, trauma, or genital lymphedema in the adult patient is referred to collectively as acquired buried penis or concealed penis. It is a morbid condition due to sexual dysfunction, lower urinary tract symptoms, local skin excoriation, and associated depression. Increasingly, there is a recognition that adult acquired buried penis is associated with lichen sclerosus and urethral stricture disease. Surgical management is complex and complications include penile reburying, wound breakdown, and unsatisfactory cosmetic and functional outcomes are not uncommon. Preoperative evaluation and optimization is paramount as patients with buried penis very often have comorbidities associated with obesity that affect wound healing. Despite the challenges and frequent complications, patients report significant improvements in quality of life in both urinary and sexual domains with contemporary surgical treatment. Almost universally, patients also report they would undergo surgery again when queried.
Annexin A2 Deficiency Exacerbates Neuroinflammation and Long-Term Neurological Deficits after Traumatic Brain Injury in Mice.

Our laboratory and others previously showed that Annexin A2 knockout (A2KO) mice had impaired blood–brain barrier (BBB) development and elevated pro-inflammatory response in macrophages, implying that Annexin A2 (AnxA2) might be one of the key endogenous factors for maintaining homeostasis of the neurovascular unit in the brain. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an important cause of disability and mortality worldwide, and neurovascular inflammation plays an important role in the TBI pathophysiology. In the present study, we aimed to test the hypothesis that A2KO promotes pro-inflammatory response in the brain and worsens neurobehavioral outcomes after TBI. TBI was conducted by a controlled cortical impact (CCI) device in mice. Our experimental results showed AnxA2 expression was significantly up-regulated in response to TBI at day three post-TBI. We also found more production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the A2KO mouse brain, while there was a significant increase of inflammatory adhesion molecules mRNA expression in isolated cerebral micro-vessels of A2KO mice compared with wild-type (WT) mice. Consistently, the A2KO mice brains had a significant increase in leukocyte brain infiltration at two days after TBI. Importantly, A2KO mice had significantly worse sensorimotor and cognitive function deficits up to 28 days after TBI and significantly larger brain tissue loss. Therefore, these results suggested that AnxA2 deficiency results in exacerbated early neurovascular pro-inflammation, which leads to a worse long-term neurologic outcome after TBI.
Chapter 7 – A Final Speculation about Ultimate Temperatures — the Fourth Law of Thermodynamics?

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an introduction to a speculative idea, namely that a Fourth Law of Thermodynamics might exist―there is an upper limit Tu to the temperature scale. The exposition consider a mole of H2 gas, which is continuously heated in a rigid enclosure of fixed volume. A record of events as various temperatures are reached is provided―one should take note of the fact that the heat capacity always increases strongly at those temperatures where particle production takes place. Beyond a temperature in excess of 1012 K , it is more economical to dissipate additional energy input through the generation of larger numbers of fundamental particles, at roughly constant temperature, than to increase the internal energy of a fixed number of particles through an additional temperature rise.
Predicting Crime Scene Location Details for First Responders

Responding to an emergency or crime can be challenging especially when one does not fully know the location details. Often first responders arrive a crime scene with little information and then make their way around. During an emergency, when seconds count and first responder units need to locate individuals requiring immediate assistance, they simply don’t have the time to figure out the location details at the facility or residence. In this experiment, the author’s leverage statistical predictive modeling and machine learning techniques to analyze a public dataset to predict premise/location details for first responders with reasonable accuracy.
On the Scope of Output in SLA: Task Modality, Salience, L2 Grammar Noticing, and Development.

Following calls for more modality-sensitive perspectives of SLA, this study investigated the extent to which (a) producing the second language (L2) in the oral modality impacts learner-generated noticing and L2 development of grammatical structures embedded in subsequent auditory input, and whether (b) engaging in L2 production and input processing in the written modality differentially contributes to learner noticing and L2 outcomes compared to the oral modality. Participants were beginner-level L2 Spanish learners assigned to one of three pedagogic task conditions (No-output, Speaking, Writing). Two target structures differing in their relative intrinsic salience were considered in the study. Learners’ noticing behaviors were gauged using stimulated recall protocols, and L2 grammar development was measured using pre-, post-, and delayed posttests of production and written and aural acceptability judgment. Results revealed that engaging in oral output promoted greater noticing and deeper analysis of auditory input as well as more robust L2 grammar development compared to no output. However, sustained linguistic gains on the lower-salience target structure were only observed among participants who engaged in output and input processing in the written modality.
PLK1- and PLK4-Mediated Asymmetric Mitotic Centrosome Size and Positioning in the Early Zebrafish Embryo.

Summary Factors that regulate mitotic spindle positioning remain unclear within the confines of extremely large embryonic cells, such as the early divisions of the vertebrate embryo, Danio rerio (zebrafish). We find that the mitotic centrosome, a structure that assembles the mitotic spindle [ 1 ], is notably large in the zebrafish embryo (246.44 ± 11.93 μm2 in a 126.86 ± 0.35 μm diameter cell) compared to a C. elegans embryo (5.78 ± 0.18 μm2 in a 55.83 ± 1.04 μm diameter cell). During embryonic cell divisions, cell size changes rapidly in both C. elegans and zebrafish [ 2 , 3 ], where mitotic centrosome area scales more closely with changes in cell size compared to changes in spindle length. Embryonic zebrafish spindles contain asymmetrically sized mitotic centrosomes (2.14 ± 0.13-fold difference between the two), with the larger mitotic centrosome placed toward the embryo center in a polo-like kinase (PLK) 1- and PLK4-dependent manner. We propose a model in which uniquely large zebrafish embryonic centrosomes direct spindle placement within disproportionately large cells.
A comparison of orthopaedic surgery and internal medicine perceptions of USMLE Step 1 pass/fail scoring.

United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1 will transition from numeric grading to pass/fail, sometime after January 2022. The aim of this study was to compare how program directors in orthopaedics and internal medicine perceive a pass/fail Step 1 will impact the residency application process. A 27-item survey was distributed through REDCap to 161 U.S. orthopaedic residency program directors and 548 U.S. internal medicine residency program directors. Program director emails were obtained from the American Medical Association’s Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database. We received 58 (36.0%) orthopaedic and 125 (22.8%) internal medicine program director responses. The majority of both groups disagree with the change to pass/fail, and felt that the decision was not transparent. Both groups believe that the Step 2 Clinical Knowledge exam and clerkship grades will take on more importance. Compared to internal medicine PDs, orthopaedic PDs were significantly more likely to emphasize research, letters of recommendation from known faculty, Alpha Omega Alpha membership, leadership/extracurricular activities, audition elective rotations, and personal knowledge of the applicant. Both groups believe that allopathic students from less prestigious medical schools, osteopathic students, and international medical graduates will be disadvantaged. Orthopaedic and internal medicine program directors agree that medical schools should adopt a graded pre-clinical curriculum, and that there should be a cap on the number of residency applications a student can submit. Orthopaedic and internal medicine program directors disagree with the change of Step 1 to pass/fail. They also believe that this transition will make the match process more difficult, and disadvantage students from less highly-regarded medical schools. Both groups will rely more heavily on the Step 2 clinical knowledge exam score, but orthopaedics will place more importance on research, letters of recommendation, Alpha Omega Alpha membership, leadership/extracurricular activities, personal knowledge of the applicant, and audition electives.
Node-Variant Graph Filters in Graph Neural Networks.

Graph neural networks (GNNs) have been successfully employed in a myriad of applications involving graph-structured data. Theoretical findings establish that GNNs use nonlinear activation functions to create low-eigenvalue frequency content that can be processed in a stable manner by subsequent graph convolutional filters. However, the exact shape of the frequency content created by nonlinear functions is not known, and thus, it cannot be learned nor controlled. In this work, node-variant graph filters (NVGFs) are shown to be capable of creating frequency content and are thus used in lieu of nonlinear activation functions. This results in a novel GNN architecture that, although linear, is capable of creating frequency content as well. Furthermore, this new frequency content can be either designed or learned from data. In this way, the role of frequency creation is separated from the nonlinear nature of traditional GNNs. Extensive simulations are carried out to differentiate the contributions of frequency creation from those of the nonlinearity.
Interleukin-15 modulates the response of cortical neurons to ischemia.

Abstract Objective Stroke is a major cause of death and disability in the United States. Current acute stroke therapy consists of clot-dissolving drugs, catheter-based interventions and physical rehabilitation. To date, there are no therapies that directly enhance neuronal survival after a stroke. Previous work from our lab demonstrated that Interleukin-15 (IL-15) peptide could rescue cardiomyocytes subjected to hypoxia. We sought to extend these findings to cortical neurons since IL-15 has been implicated to have an important role in neuronal homeostasis. Methods We have evaluated the effect of IL-15 peptide on primary cortical neurons derived from embryonic rats in vitro under conditions of anoxia and glucose deprivation, and in vivo following middle cerebral artery occlusion. Results IL-15 administration rescued neuronal cells subjected to anoxia coupled with glucose deprivation (AGD), as well as with reoxygenation. A hallmark of stroke is the ischemic microenvironment and associated oxidative stress, which results in DNA damage and ER stress, both of which contribute to neuronal cell damage and death. The expression of anoxia, ER stress, and DNA damage factors/markers was evaluated via western blot and correlated with the cellular survival effects of IL-15 in vitro. In addition, IL-15 effect of alleviating ER stress and increasing cell survival was also observed in vivo. Interpretation Our data indicate, for the first time, that administration of the pleiotropic factor IL-15 reduces neuronal cell death during AGD, which correlates with modulation of multiple cellular stress pathways.
Representation Theory of Kac-Moody Algebras

The Bernstein—Gelfand—Gelfand category CQ is defined and its various basic properties are established (including the characterization of irreducible objects in as irreducible quotients of Verma modules and characterization of integrable modules in 0) in Section 2.1. For any dominant integral weight X, an integrable highest weight g-module Lm’(X) is explicitly constructed, and it is shown that any integrable highest weight g-module is a quotient of Lm’ (X) An explicit expression for the action of the Casimir—Kac element (in the symmetrizable case)on any Verma module is obtained
The Effects of Listener and Speaker Training on Emergent Relations in Children With Autism

The current study assessed the use of standard conditional discrimination (i.e., listener) and textual/tact (i.e., speaker) training in the establishment of equivalence classes containing dictated names, tacts/textual responses, pictures and printed words. Four children (ages 5 to 7 years) diagnosed with autism were taught to select pictures and printed words in the presence of their dictated names, and to emit the tact or textual response corresponding to a presented picture or printed word. Both speaker and listener training resulted in the formation of stimulus classes for 3 of 4 participants.
High-level Language Support for User-defined Reductions

The optimized handling of reductions on parallel supercomputers or clusters of workstations is critical to high performance because reductions are common in scientific codes and a potential source of bottlenecks. Yet in many high-level languages, a mechanism for writing efficient reductions remains surprisingly absent. Further, when such mechanisms do exist, they often do not provide the flexibility a programmer needs to achieve a desirable level of performance. In this paper, we present a new language construct for arbitrary reductions that lets a programmer achieve a level of performance equal to that achievable with the highly flexible, but low-level combination of Fortran and MPI. We have implemented this construct in the ZPL language and evaluate it in the context of the initialization of the NAS MG benchmark. We show a 45 times speedup over the same code written in ZPL without this construct. In addition, performance on a large number of processors surpasses that achieved in the NAS implementation showing that our mechanism provides programmers with the needed flexibility.
Mosquito and Arbovirus Activity

Mosquitoes are public health concerns as vectors of arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) and/or as nuisances to humans, so surveillance efforts are important to determine areas and times that may pose a risk. The Horticulture Research Station (HRS), Ames, Iowa, consistently yields mosquitoes that are positive for West Nile virus (WNV). Objectives were to continue to assess human risk by monitoring both mosquitoes and sentinel chickens, which serve as vertebrate hosts for arbovirus.
Offset removal from floating gate differential amplifiers and mixers

A typical differential-pair circuit has an inherent offset between the two input terminals. We show the removal of offsets due to transistor mismatch in circuits based on a differential pair topology, using floating-gate devices at the inputs of the differential pair. This offset causes non-linearities and second-order distortions in the output. By removing the offsets, we show the output to be very linear over a wide dynamic range, and effectively reduce the second order harmonics for a differential pair circuit. Further analysis is shown for a multiplier cell using the floating gate differential pair. We present an architecture to allow the offset reduction of many multiple differential pair elements via an automatic programming element. This architecture allows the use of multiple floating-gate differential pairs with minimal time required to program the offset nullification, minimization of I/O pins required for programming, and reduction of complexity and design time in a system.
Issues in multimedia databases: coding for content-based image retrieval and digital copyright protection

Advances in computer networks and multimedia systems have led to a rapid growth in large digital image databases. Sophisticated image management techniques are needed to provide efficient storage and retrieval of such image collections. Furthermore, efficient access and reproduction afforded by digital media leads to problems in enforcing intellectual property rights. This thesis addresses two key issues in multimedia databases. The first issue is efficient management of large image libraries. We introduce a system which efficiently stores a large collection of images while simultaneously providing content-based access to the images. The new system is designed to minimize a weighted sum of the expected compressed image sizes and the expected query response time. The image management system supports several advanced database features, including compressed data modification and progressive refinement retrieval based on low complexity hit pattern matching. In experimental results based on a 1.4 Mbyte image database, the number of bits read during a typical retrieval was less than 1000 bytes (i.e., less than 0.08% of the database). The second issue we address is watermarking digital multimedia, e.g., images, audio, and video. Watermarking is the process of encoding hidden copyright information in data by making small modifications to the data samples. To be practical, the hidden information must be perceptually invisible yet robust to common signal processing operations. We introduce a technique to watermark multimedia data using the masking properties of the human auditory and visual systems. The watermark is constructed by breaking each audio, image, or video signal into smaller segments and adding a perceptually shaped pseudo-random sequence. The noise-like watermark is statistically undetectable to prevent unauthorized removal. Furthermore, the author representation we introduce resolves ownership deadlock. The watermarking technique is shown to be extremely robust to a wide range of data distortions, including low bit rate coding, colored noise, multiple watermarks, cropping, resizing, and resampling.
The theory of the local structure of solid solutions of oxides with Perovskite structure: Example of Pb2(FeNb)O6

A method for constructing local-structure models for complex oxides with averaged perovskite-type structures has been developed. The constructed models take into account the probabilities of distributing different cations over sites belonging to the corresponding sublattices. The accepted approach to interpreting diffraction patterns is based on the same hypotheses as the commonly used one. As an example, a local-structure model is constructed for disordered PbFe1/2Nb1/2O3 and, on the basis of this model, the diffraction patterns of this single crystal, disordered with respect to Fe and Nb sites at T = 433 K, have been interpreted.
Shedding light on the aurora

For want of cameras, electronic monitoring, and computer analysis, scientists turn to literature for descriptions of the aurora borealis of the Viking era. Some of those who turned to Norse literature say that the writings between 700 and 1200 A.D. refer directly to the aurora, but two geophysicists from Norway disagree. A. Brekke at the University of Tromso and A. Egeland at the University of Oslo say that surprisingly little direct evidence of the aurora is woven into the literature. Some of what has been interpreted as reference to the aurora is a misinterpretation. A correct interpretation, they say, ‘can shed new light on our knowledge about solar activity, the geomagnetic field, and the auroral oval.’
Differential subcellular immunolocalization of voltage-gated calcium channel α1 subunits in the chinchilla cristae ampullaris

Abstract The immunohistochemical localization of α1A, α1B, α1C, α1D and α1E voltage-gated calcium channel subunits was investigated in the chinchilla cristae ampullaris and Scarpa's ganglia at the light and electron microscopy level with the use of specific antipeptide antibodies directed against these subunits. The stereocilia membrane of type I and type II hair cells was immunoreactive for α1B along its entire length. The basolateral membrane of both types of hair cells was α1B, α1C and α1D immunoreactive. Neurons in the Scarpa's ganglia and afferent nerve terminals in the cristae were immunoreactive for α1C and α1B. No specific immunoreactivity to α1A or α1E was seen in the sensory epithelia or ganglia. These findings are consistent with the presence of α1B (N-type channel), α1C and α1D (L-type channels) in the vestibular hair cells, and α1B (N-type channel) and α1C (L-type channel) in primary vestibular neurons.
The Evolution of Renin-Angiotensin Blockade: Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors as the Starting Point

The renin-angiotensin system has been a target in the treatment of hypertension for close to three decades. Several medication classes that block specific aspects of this system have emerged as useful therapies, including angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, and, most recently, direct renin inhibitors. There has been a natural history to the development of each of these three drug classes, starting with their use as antihypertensive agents; thereafter, in each case they have been employed as end-organ protective agents. To date, there has been scant evidence to favor angiotensin receptor blockers or direct renin inhibitors over angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in treating hypertension or in affording end-organ protection; thus, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors remain the standard of care when renin-angiotensin system blockade is warranted.
An experimental method for measurement of strain distribution between wood the flour particles and polymer matrix on micro-mechanical level

Abstract Wood plastic composites (WPCs) are comprised of wood flour and thermoplastic polymer. The matrix is typically high-density polyethylene, poly (vinyl chloride), or polypropylene. The effect of morphology and micromechanics of wood flour particles on the mechanical performance of the bulk composite is a relatively unexplored area. The knowledge about the in situ properties of wood particles and the interfacial properties between the wood particles and the polymer matrix in the bio-composites is very limited. The objective of this work is to characterize the full-field deformation and strain distribution in and around wood particles embedded in polymer matrix. The mechanical tests are performed in small-scale tensile loading stage on thin composite samples containing 1–3 wood particles orientated at various angles. The deformations and strains is measured using optical measurement system based on Digital Image Correlation (DIC) principle.
?-quasiconvexité : convergence faible-⋆ et le trou

Lower semicontinuity results with respect to weak-∗ convergence in the sense of measures and with respect to weak convergence in Lp are obtained for functionals v ∈L1(Ω;Rm) → ∫
Dermatoglyphic indices and minor physical anomalies in patients with schizophrenia and related disorders, their first-degree biological relatives, and non psychiatric controls

Abnormalities in dermatoglyphic indices and minor physical anomalies (MPAs) are two permanent markers of fetal development that have been studied in schizophrenia. This study sought to: (1) compare select dermatoglyphic indices across patients, first-degree relatives, and non psychiatric controls; (2) assess for associations between dermatoglyphic indices and symptoms in patients and schizotypal features in relatives and controls; and (3) examine correlations between dermatoglyphics and MPAs. The two types of markers were assessed in 62 patients with schizophrenia and related disorders, 36 of their unaffected first-degree relatives, and 47 non psychiatric controls. Symptoms were measured in patients and schizotypy was assessed in relatives and controls. Analyses took into account potential demographic confounders and non independence between patients and relatives. No significant differences in dermatoglyphic indices (total finger ridge count; ridge count asymmetry; numbers of arches, loops, and whorls) were found across the three groups. Patients' and their own relatives' dermatoglyphic indices were moderately to strongly correlated (rho=0.33-0.66). Dermatoglyphic indices were unrelated to patients' cross-sectional symptom severity and were generally unrelated to relatives' and controls' levels of schizotypy. Several correlations among dermatoglyphic indices and MPAs were found in this exploratory analysis, particularly among relatives and controls. Implications for future research are discussed.
Atlantic Bumper (Pisces, Family Carangidae) in North Carolina

Abstract Atlantic Bumper (Linnaeus, 1766) once common is rarely caught In North Carolina today. Most were caught between 1886–2012, 1,170 were captured primarily before 1990, now rare.