cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Results from Monsanto’s Beachell–Borlaug International Scholars Program

Monsanto’s Beachell–Borlaug International Scholars Program (MBBISP) is named after the greatest wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and rice (Oryza sativa L.) breeders of the 20th century. Monsanto, through the MBBISP, invested $13 million over an 8-year period for training rice and wheat breeders from around the world. The judging panel for MBBISP selected 89 scholars from 432 applicants. The selected scholars were from 30 different countries. Scholars selected included 35 women and 54 men, 37 in rice breeding and 52 in wheat breeding. Currently 23 scholars are still completing their Ph.D. programs (as of 2018). This past year, Monsanto established the “Ted Crosbie MBBISP Impact Award” to begin recognizing notable contributions by a scholar, not only in wheat and rice breeding, but also in other crops. Scholar impact is just beginning to be recognized since the earliest graduates have been employed for less than 6 years. To be eligible for this award, scholars must have received their Ph.D. Bhoja Basnet, who is in charge of International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center’s (CIMMYT’s) hybrid wheat breeding program, was selected to receive the Ted Crosbie MBBISP Impact Award for 2017. Employment of scholars post Ph.D. is reviewed.
Interference, Inhibition, and Learning Disability: A Commentary on Dempster and Corkill

This paper examines the implications of Dempster and Corkill's “Interference and Inhibition in Cognition and Behavior: Unifying Themes for Educational Psychology” for the field of learning disabilities (LD). The LD concept has been anchored in assumptions that the condition is related to neurological dysfunction and psychological processing deficits. These concepts have proved problematic, and consequently, theoretical understanding of LD has been limited. The concepts of interference and inhibition offer two advantages for explaining LD. First, they suggest a different perspective about the nature of process deficits associated with LD. Second, they may be more confidently related to brain functioning. A more comprehensive view of LD is thus possible that may lead to enhanced understanding and explanation.
Challenges in Multiprocessor Architectures

If one was to read a set of multiprocessor architecture papers, you might well conclude that the task of building a multiprocessor amounted to little more than selecting your favorite 10-mips microprocessor and deciding how to hook up 1,000 of them. Your machine could deliver 10,000 mips — at least it could if you selected the right benchmark! Indeed, if you could supply the data to these processors and keep them busy doing useful work, you might actually be able to get a reasonable amount of performance from this machine.
Desarrollo de Indicadores de Utilización de Equipos Médicos a Partir de Variables Obtenidas y Transportadas Mediante el Estándar HL7 en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos

This work aims toward the development of new, objective and innovative tools and means, intended to improve the acquisition of new medical equipment process, by considering the utilization behavior of existing equipment. The capture of the relevant data is accomplished by selecting al-ready available information in the point of care, found in the patient’s nursing chart. This data is then inputted in the HL7 transport standard, processed and reported by world class developed software.
The assessment of perceptual-motor skills of preschool-age children using norm-referenced and criterion-referenced test characteristics

A study was designed to provide a new perspective for educational measurement. Specifically, a measurement approach combining the strengths of norm-referenced testing (NRT) and criterion-referenced testing (CRT) was suggested. To demonstrate the feasibility of such an approach, a perceptualmotor scale for preschool-age children was designed and administered to a group of three, four, and five year old children. Design characteristics of the test, such as the organization of content and the instructional utility of the scoring system, were investigated. While future research is needed to improve certain aspects of the test, the results generally supported the conclusion that combining CRT and NRT characteristics is a logical and feasible approach to meet current instructional needs.
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF PCBs AND PBBs ON MINK AND FERRETS - A REVIEW

ABSTRACT A search for the cause of reproductive complications and excessive newborn mortality in mink fed Great Lakes fish in the late 1960's led to the demonstrated toxicity of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in this carnivore. Studies were undertaken to quantitate the toxicity of several PCBs on mink and ferrets, to contrast placental transfer to the fetus and milk biotransfer to the newborn, and to compare PCB to polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) toxicity. Dietary levels as low as 2 ppm of Aroclor® 1254 impaired mink reproduction. Complete fetotoxicity for Aroclors 1242 or 1254 was determined to be less than 5 ppm. The dietary concentration lethal to 50 percent of the adult mink was calculated as 8.6 and 6.65 ppm for Aroclors 1242 and 1254, respectively. The ferret was found to be somewhat less sensitive to several of these chlorinated hydrocarbon compounds. PCB transfer to the newborn via milk was greater than placental transfer. PBB was not as fetotoxic as PCBs but was lethal to the adult at a lower dietary concentration.
The effect of emphysema on readmission and survival among smokers with heart failure

Heart Failure (HF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are morbid diseases that often coexist. In patients with coexisting disease, COPD is an independent risk factor for readmission and mortality. However, spirometry is often inaccurate in those with active heart failure. Therefore, we investigated the association between the presence of emphysema on computed tomography (CT) and readmission rates in smokers admitted with heart failure (HF). The cohort included a consecutive group of smokers discharged with HF from a tertiary center between January 1, 2014 and April 1, 2014 who also had a CT of the chest for dyspnea. The primary endpoint was any readmission for HF before April 1, 2016; secondary endpoints were 30-day readmission for HF, length of stay and all-cause mortality. Over the study period, there were 225 inpatient smokers with HF who had a concurrent chest CT (155 [69%] males, age 69±11 years, ejection fraction [EF] 46±18%, 107 [48%] LVEF of < 50%). Emphysema on CT was present in 103 (46%) and these were older, had a lower BMI, more pack-years, less diabetes and an increased afterload. During a follow-up of 2.1 years, there were 110 (49%) HF readmissions and 55 (24%) deaths. When separated by emphysema on CT, any readmission, 30-day readmission, length of stay and mortality were higher among HF patients with emphysema. In multivariable regression, emphysema by CT was associated with a two-fold higher (adjusted HR 2.11, 95% CI 1.41-3.15, p < 0.001) risk of readmission and a trend toward increased mortality (adjusted HR 1.70 95% CI 0.86-3.34, p = 0.12). In conclusion, emphysema by CT is a frequent finding in smokers hospitalized with HF and is associated with adverse outcomes in HF. This under recognized group of patients with both emphysema and heart failure may benefit from improved recognition and characterization of their co-morbid disease processes and optimization of therapies for their lung disease.
Private Ordering and Improving Information Flow to the Board of Directors: The Duty to Inform Bylaw

It seems that almost every day there is another report of a corporate scandal at a public company. Whether the scandal involves sexual harassment by senior management or widespread illegal conduct by employees, the first question asked by investors and the media is usually, “Where was the board?” And the board’s response is almost always, “We didn’t know.” Directors of public companies rely on officers to provide the information the board needs to manage the corporation, but, strangely enough, officers may not even be legally required to provide information to the board. The Delaware General Corporation Law is silent on the issue. Some commentators have argued that fiduciary duties impose on officers a duty to provide information to the board, but the Delaware courts have been slow to address this issue. In this article, I demonstrate that the few cases addressing the fiduciary duties of officers do not completely clarify whether officers have a fiduciary duty to provide information to the board or what the duty requires. I then propose a new approach: using private ordering to improve the information flow to the board of directors. I recommend that the bylaws of all public companies should include a new type of bylaw, a “Duty to Inform Bylaw.” A Duty to Inform Bylaw would impose on the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer a duty to inform the board promptly of all information necessary to enable the board to manage the business and affairs of the company in conformity with its statutory and fiduciary obligations.
Chromosome and chromosomal arm locations of genes for resistance to Septoria glume blotch in wheat cultivar Cotipora

Septoria glume blotch, caused by Stagonospora nodorum, is an important disease of wheat (Triticum aestivum). Separate genetic mechanisms were found to control flag leaf and spike resistance. Genes for resistance to S. nodorum were located on different chromosomes in the few wheat cultivars studied. These studies only partially agree on the chromosome locations of gene in wheat for resistance to S. nodorum, and chromosomal arm locations of such genes are not known. The objectives of this study were to determine the chromosome and chromosomal arm locations of genes that significantly influence resistance to S. nodorum in wheat cultivar Cotipora. Monosomic analysis showed that flag leaf resistance was controlled by genes on chromosomes 3A, 4A, and 3B whereas the spike resistance was controlled by genes on chromosomes 3A, 4A, 7A, and 3B (P=0.01). Additionally, genes on chromosomes 6B and 5A influenced the susceptibility of the flag leaf and spike reactions, respectively (P=0.01). Telocentric analysis showed that genes on both arms of chromosome 3A, and the long arms of chromosomes 4A and 3B were involved in the flag leaf resistance whereas genes on both arms of chromosome 4A, the short arm of chromosome 3A, and the long arm of chromosome 3B conferred spike resistance.
Soil Fluid Biogeochemical Response to Climatic Events

National Science Foundation (NSF) [EAR-1331408]; Catalina-Jemez Critical Zone Observatory; Binational Agricultural Research and Development (BARD) program [FI-534-2015]
Colloidal stability versus self-assembly of nanoparticles controlled by coiled-coil protein interactions

Orientational discrimination of biomolecular recognition is exploited here as a molecular engineering tool to regulate nanoparticle self-assembly or stability. Nanoparticles are conjugated with the heterodimerizing coiled-coils, A and B, which associate in parallel orientation. Simply flipping the orientation of one coiled-coil results in either self-assembling or colloidally stable nanoparticles.
Human Subjects Research Without Consent: Duties to Return Individual Findings When Participation was Non-Consensual

As Stephanie Morain and her coauthors (2020) recognize, pragmatic clinical trials (PCTs) are increasingly common and are especially well-suited to evaluating treatment options. Because PCTs test in...
Authors’ response to “Efficacy and safety of topical capsaicin for cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome in the emergency department”

To the Editor,We appreciate the comments of Cruz et al. regarding our article published in Clinical Toxicology evaluating the efficacy and safety of topical capsaicin for emergency department (ED) ...
Maternal endothelial function, circulating endothelial cells, and endothelial progenitor cells in pregnancies conceived with or without in vitro fertilization

In women who conceived with or without assisted reproduction, we evaluated endothelial function by EndoPAT [reactive hyperemia index (RHI)], circulating numbers of endothelial cells (CEC) and endothelial progenitor cells (EPC), and their function before during and after pregnancy. In vitro fertilization (IVF) pregnancies were stratified by method of conception and corpus luteum (CL) number-controlled ovarian stimulation (>1 CL) or programmed (0 CL) cycles and spontaneous singleton pregnancies (1 CL). We observed 1) comparable gestational decline of RHI in the three participant groups secondary to gestational rise of baseline preocclusion pulse-wave amplitude (PWA) incorporated into the RHI calculation by EndoPAT software; 2) progressive rise in "normalized" RHI throughout pregnancy (calculated by substituting prepregnancy baseline preocclusion PWA into the RHI equation), greater in spontaneous conception vs. IVF cohorts; 3) similar gestational increase of maximum PWA and time to maximum PWA after the ischemia stimulus among the three participant groups; 4) modest gestational increase of ischemia response (reactive hyperemia) in the spontaneous conception group and no change or significant decline, respectively, in women who conceived using programmed or controlled ovarian stimulation cycles; 5) enhanced basal nitric oxide production by early (primitive) outgrowth EPC during pregnancy in women who conceived spontaneously, but not through IVF; and 6) gestational increase in CEC in all three participant cohorts, more pronounced in women who conceived by IVF using programmed cycles. On balance, the evidence supported enhanced endothelial function during pregnancy in spontaneous conceptions but less so in IVF pregnancies using either controlled ovarian stimulation or programmed cycles.
Photoelectrochemical Nitrogen Fixation for Ammonia Synthesis Using Hybrid Plasmonic Nanostructures

Cost-effective production of ammonia via (photo)electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) hinges on N2 electrolysis at high current densities with suitable selectivity and activity [1, 2]. In this talk, we report our findings in electrochemical NRR for ammonia synthesis using porous bimetallic Pd-Ag nanocatalysts in both gas-phase and liquid-phase electrochemical cells at current densities above 1 mA cm-2 under ambient conditions. While the gas-phase cell has lower Ohmic losses and higher energy efficiency, the liquid-phase cell achieved higher selectivity and Faradaic efficiency, attributed to the presence of concentrated N2 molecules dissolved in an aqueous electrolyte and the hydration effects. The liquid cell demonstrated notable performance for electrocatalytic NRR, achieving an NH3 production rate of 45.6 µg cm-2 h-1 at a cathodic potential of -0.6 V (vs. RHE) and current density of 1.1 mA cm-2, corresponding to a Faradaic efficiency of ~19.6% and an energy efficiency of ~9.9%. Similarly, the gas-phase cell achieved an NH3 yield rate of 19.4 µg cm-2 h-1 at -0.07 V (vs. RHE) and 1.15 mA cm-2 with a Faradaic efficiency of 7.9% and an energy efficiency of 27.1%. In addition, the photoelectrocatalytic activities of these hybrid plasmonic nanostructures under illumination and dark conditions will be explored and photocurrent and photovoltage responses will be reported. Operando surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is used to identify the intermediate species relevant to NRR at the solid-liquid (electrode-electrolyte) interface. This work highlights the importance of design and optimization of cell configuration in addition to the modification of the catalyst to achieve high-performance N2 electrolysis for ammonia synthesis. It also demonstrates the use of operando SERS as a powerful technique for unraveling reaction mechanisms for (photo)electrocatalytic phenomenon.[1] M. Nazemi, L. Soule, M. Liu, M. A. El-Sayed, "Ambient Ammonia Electrosynthesis from Nitrogen and Water by Incorporating Palladium in Bimetallic Gold-Silver Nanocages" Journal of The Electrochemical Society, 167(5), p. 054511, 2020.[2] M. Nazemi, M. A. El-Sayed, "Plasmon-Enhanced Photo(electro)chemical Nitrogen Fixation under Ambient Conditions Using Visible Light Responsive Hybrid Hollow Au−Ag2O Nanocages" Nano Energy, vol. 63, 103886, 2019.
Bearing Witness at the International Criminal Court: An Interview Survey of 109 Witnesses

This report presents findings from the first interview survey of witnesses who have appeared before the ICC. The survey examined the opinions and attitudes of 109 individuals — ranging from victims to expert witnesses — who testified in the ICC’s first two trials against Thomas Lubanga Dyilo and Germain Katanga.
Galen: A Thinking Doctor in Imperial Rome: by Vivian Nutton, London and New York, Routledge, 2020, xiii + 209 pp., 12 plts., $39.95 (Paperback), ISBN 978-0-367-35723-8

Today’s scholars will find it incredible that only sixty years ago no serious historical work on Galen (b. 129 CE) was being done: like the weather, everyone talked about him but nobody did anythin...
Baseline sleep quality, stress, and depressive symptoms, and subsequent headache occurrence in a six-week prospective cohort study of patients with episodic migraine

Objectives/background Despite the high prevalence of sleep disturbance, stress, and depressive symptoms among patients with episodic migraine, there has been limited prospective research examining how these comorbid symptoms relate to future headache risk. Methods We conducted an a priori secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study of 98 adults with episodic migraine recruited through Harvard-affiliated medical centers and local college student clinics in Boston, MA. At baseline, participants completed validated questionnaires on sleep quality, stress, and depressive symptoms. Over the next 6 weeks, they recorded headaches on twice-daily diaries. We conducted time-to-event analyses to evaluate whether these baseline symptoms were associated with headache recurrence. Results At baseline, 45/98 (46%) participants had poor sleep quality, 51/98 (52%) reported moderate/high stress levels, and 18/98 (18%) had high depressive symptom scores. Over 4,406 person-days, we observed 823 discrete headaches. In multivariable models, the hazard ratios for headache recurrence were: 1.22 (95% CI 1.02, 1.46) for people with baseline poor sleep, 1.12 (95% CI 0.93, 1.35) for those with baseline moderate/high stress compared to lower levels, and 1.31 (95% CI 1.05, 1.65) for the combination of poor sleep and moderate/high stress compared to the combination of good sleep and low stress. There was no association between depression scores and headache risk. Conclusion Among patients with episodic migraine, poor sleep was associated with a higher rate of headache recurrence over the next 6 weeks, especially among those with coexisting moderate/high stress.
The Presidency New Role: Bullying in the White House

In all my years, the poor display of leadership from the chief administrative office of leadership, the presidency, is at an all-time low. In the past, presidential candidates and leaders have demonstrated various leadership styles with platforms surrounding education, social injustices, and light bullying tactics while running for the candidacy for president. The major concern viewed by the leadership of the United States today is the consistent open display of bullying upper level management, colleagues within the government, and constituents inside the local and state communities. In this study, research questions are how does stress relate to the bullying issue in politics, and what affects to the bullying have on the workplace?
Bayesian sensitivity analyses for longitudinal data with dropouts that are potentially missing not at random: A high dimensional pattern-mixture model

Randomized clinical trials with outcome measured longitudinally are frequently analyzed using either random effect models or generalized estimating equations. Both approaches assume that the dropout mechanism is missing at random (MAR) or missing completely at random (MCAR). We propose a Bayesian pattern-mixture model to incorporate missingness mechanisms that might be missing not at random (MNAR), where the distribution of the outcome measure at the follow-up time t k , conditional on the prior history, differs across the patterns of missing data. We then perform sensitivity analysis on estimates of the parameters of interest. The sensitivity parameters relate the distribution of the outcome of interest between subjects from a missing-data pattern at time t k with that of the observed subjects at time t k . The large number of the sensitivity parameters is reduced by treating them as random with a prior distribution having some pre-specified mean and variance, which are varied to explore the sensitivity of inferences. The missing at random (MAR) mechanism is a special case of the proposed model, allowing a sensitivity analysis of deviations from MAR. The proposed approach is applied to data from the Trial of Preventing Hypertension.
St. Gregory Thaumaturgus’ Address of Thanksgiving to Origen: A Model of Philosophical and Spiritual Paideia from the Early Church

In this paper, I present the Address of Thanksgiving to Origen by St. Gregory Thaumaturgus, a third-century pupil of Origen’s at the school in Caesarea. I hope to show how Gregory’s description of his philosophical education under Origen represents an enterprise initiated and guided by a holistic love for the human being in all his dimensions: a quintessential example of Christian paideia expressed through a human teacher under the direction of a loving and paternal God. Gregory describes his philosophical education as a transformative process that awakens him to the truth, trains his reasoning capacity, and imparts to him a genuine love of God. Conducting a close reading of the text, I describe and attempt to integrate the various components of this paideia into a model for study.
Number of Donor Renal Arteries and Early Outcomes after Deceased Donor Kidney Transplantation

Background Anatomic abnormalities increase the risk of deceased donor kidney discard, but their effect on transplant outcomes is understudied. We sought to determine the effect of multiple donor renal arteries on early outcomes after deceased donor kidney transplantation. Methods For this retrospective cohort study, we identified 1443 kidneys from 832 deceased donors with ≥1 kidney transplanted at our center (2006–2016). We compared the odds of delayed graft function and 90-day graft failure using logistic regression. To reduce potential selection bias, we then repeated the analysis using a paired-kidney cohort, including kidney pairs from 162 donors with one single-artery kidney and one multiartery kidney. Results Of 1443 kidneys included, 319 (22%) had multiple arteries. Multiartery kidneys experienced longer cold ischemia time, but other characteristics were similar between groups. Delayed graft function (50% multiartery versus 45% one artery, P=0.07) and 90-day graft failure (3% versus 3%, P=0.83) were similar between groups before and after adjusting for donor and recipient characteristics. In the paired kidney analysis, cold ischemia time was significantly longer for multiartery kidneys compared with single-artery kidneys from the same donor (33.5 versus 26.1 hours, P Conclusions Compared with single-artery deceased donor kidneys, those with multiple renal arteries are harder to place, but experience similar delayed graft function and early graft failure.
Activation of activator protein-1-fibroblast growth factor 21 signaling attenuates Cisplatin hepatotoxicity.

Abstract Fibroblast growth factor (Fgf/FGF) 21, which plays important roles in sugar, lipid and energy metabolism, has been accepted as a mito-stress marker gene. We recently reported that FGF21 expression can be up-regulated via activation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) or glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and that FGF21 plays important cytoprotective roles. Cisplatin (cis-diamminedichloroplatinum, CDDP) is a widely used chemotherapeutic drug. Numerous adverse effects including hepatotoxicity have been noted during CDDP therapy. It is known that CDDP can induce mitochondrial dysfunction. The studies were designed to determine the regulation of Fgf/FGF21 expression by CDDP, and to characterize the underlying mechanisms of its regulation, as well as to determine the impact of gain or loss of Fgf/FGF21 function on the progression of CDDP hepatotoxicity. Our results showed that CDDP and phorbol ester induced mRNA and protein expression of Fgf/FGF21 and β-Klotho, two essential components of Fgf21 signaling, in mouse livers and cultured mouse/human hepatocytes. Luciferase reporter assays and ChIP-qPCR assays demonstrated that the cJun-AP-1 activation is responsible for CDDP- and phorbol ester-induced Fgf/FGF21 expression. Such induction is abolished after cotreated with AP-1 inhibitor SR11302. In addition, CDDP produces more severe liver injury in Fgf21-null than wild-type mice. Pre-treatment of GR activator dexamethasone or AhR activator β-Naphthoflavone, both of which can induce Fgf21 expression, attenuated CDDP-induced hepatotoxicity in vivo and in vitro. In conclusion, Fgf/FGF21-β-Klotho signaling can be activated via AP-1 activation. Gain of Fgf/FGF21 function attenuates the progression of CDDP hepatotoxicity, which may be considered clinically to improve CDDP therapy.
Targets and Timetables: Good Policy But Bad Politics?

From a policy perspective, a climate architecture based on economy-wide, binding emissions targets, combined with emissions trading, has many virtues. But even such an architecture represents good climate policy, it is far more questionable whether it represents good climate politics - at least in the near-term, for the upcoming "post-2012" negotiations. Given the wide range of differences in national perspectives and preferences regarding climate change, a more flexible, bottom-up approach may be needed, which builds on the efforts that are already beginning to emerge, by allowing different countries to assume different types of international commitments - not only absolute targets, but also indexed targets, taxes, efficiency standards, and so forth. Such an approach would not provide a long-term solution to the climate change problem; the more costly climate change mitigation is, the more states will want greater assurance that their efforts are being reciprocated by other states. But a bottom-up approach might help break the current impasse and get the ball rolling. It reflects, not ideal policy, but rather less than ideal politics.
Methods for Assessing the Electromechanical Integration of Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocyte Grafts

Cardiomyocytes derived from human pluripotent stem cells show tremendous promise for the replacement of myocardium and contractile function lost to infarction. However, until recently, no methods were available to directly determine whether these stem cell-derived grafts actually couple with host myocardium and fire synchronously following transplantation in either intact or injured hearts. To resolve this uncertainty, our group has developed techniques for the intravital imaging of hearts engrafted with stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes that have been modified to express the genetically encoded protein calcium sensor, GCaMP. When combined with the simultaneously recorded electrocardiogram, this protocol allows one to make quantitative assessments as to the presence and extent of host-graft electrical coupling as well as the timing and pattern of graft activation. As described here, this system has been employed to investigate the electromechanical integration of human embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes in a guinea pig model of cardiac injury, but analogous approaches should be applicable to other human graft cell types and animal models.
SU-E-J-15: Automatically Detect Patient Treatment Position and Orientation in KV Portal Images

Purpose: In the course of radiation therapy, the complex information processing workflow will Result in potential errors, such as incorrect or inaccurate patient setups. With automatic image check and patient identification, such errors could be effectively reduced. For this purpose, we developed a simple and rapid image processing method, to automatically detect the patient position and orientation in 2D portal images, so to allow automatic check of positions and orientations for patient daily RT treatments. Methods: Based on the principle of portal image formation, a set of whole body DRR images were reconstructed from multiple whole body CT volume datasets, and fused together to be used as the matching template. To identify the patient setup position and orientation shown in a 2D portal image, the 2D portal image was preprocessed (contrast enhancement, down-sampling and couch table detection), then matched to the template image so to identify the laterality (left or right), position, orientation and treatment site. Results: Five day’s clinical qualified portal images were gathered randomly, then were processed by the automatic detection and matching method without any additional information. The detection results were visually checked by physicists. 182 images were correct detection in a total of 200kV portal images.more » The correct rate was 91%. Conclusion: The proposed method can detect patient setup and orientation quickly and automatically. It only requires the image intensity information in KV portal images. This method can be useful in the framework of Electronic Chart Check (ECCK) to reduce the potential errors in workflow of radiation therapy and so to improve patient safety. In addition, the auto-detection results, as the patient treatment site position and patient orientation, could be useful to guide the sequential image processing procedures, e.g. verification of patient daily setup accuracy. This work was partially supported by research grant from Varian Medical System.« less
An Automatic Design Flow for Hybrid Parallel Computing on MPSoCs (Abstract Only)

State-of-the-art high-level synthesis (HLS) tools are able to lower the threshold for designers to exploit performance benefits of hardware accelerators. However, it is still a challenge to achieve parallelism on a hybrid multiprocessor system-on-chip (MPSoC). In this work, we present an automatic hybrid design flow. The hybrid hardware platform as well as both the hardware and software kernels can be generated through this flow. In addition, a hybrid OpenCL-like programming model is proposed to combine software and hardware kernels running on the unified hardware platform. Our results show that our automatic design flow can not only significantly minimize the development time, but also gain about 11 times speedup compared with pure software parallel implementation for a matrix multiplication benchmark.
The undiluted message in psychiatry: Is medical rounding valuable?

The present research investigated whether psychiatric inpatients would recall, without distortion, the key components of information presented to them during morning rounds. Over the 4 weeks of the study, the messages of rounding psychiatrists were recorded and then compared with the recollections of 16 subjects recorded several hours later. Analysis showed that undistorted recall of messages occurred significantly more often than distorted recall or no recall. These results suggest that there is a possible value for undiluted messages in medical rounding in the inpatient psychiatric context when given as an adjunct to psychotherapeutic and psychopharmacological interventions.
Evaluating processing speed in multiple sclerosis: a comparison of two rapid serial processing measures.

Processing speed deficits in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) are usually assessed with tests requiring rapid serial processing. Two such tests were compared here, the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT) and a computerized version of the Stroop test. The purpose of this study was to examine the concurrent validity of processing speed measures derived from the Stroop test and to relate these measures to disability ratings in a sample of 75 patients with relapsing-remitting MS. Patients evidenced slower processing speed than controls on both tests. Processing speed scores on the Stroop test were more closely related to patients’ disability status. These results demonstrate the usefulness of rapid serial processing tests in assessing what is increasingly recognized as the primary cognitive deficit in MS. A less-distressing approach than the item-paced performance required by the PASAT appears to be fully adequate for evaluating this deficit.
IMMUNOLOGIC RESPONSIVENESS DURING PREGNANCY

Female sex hormones significantly increase immunologic responsiveness by stimulating the proliferation of immunocompetent cells. To determine whether the immune response is altered during pregnancy and lactation, Swiss mice(gestation 19-21d) were studied during early, mid and late pregnancy and in the early postpartum (PP) period. Groups of pregnant (PR) and nursing mice along with equal numbers of nonpregnant female littermate controls(C) were injected with 2×106 heat-killed E.coli 0127 and sacrificed 4 days later for enumeration of splenic anti-E.coli plaque-forming cells(PFC). Total PFC/108 spleen cells were analyzed by rank and comparison of results from test and control littermate pairs. Results indicate that primary immunologic responsiveness is increased during early and mid pregnancy, depressed immediately prior to delivery and normal during lactation. The marked variations observed may be secondary to changes in the balance of female sex hormones and adrenocorticosteroids which occur as pregnancy progresses.
Observation of long-range ferromagnetic order in the heavy fermion compound URu1.2Re0.8Si2 by neutron scattering

Abstract We have performed a neutron scattering study of the heavy fermion compound URu 1.2 Re 0.8 Si 2 , in order to verify the occurrence of long range ferromagnetic order. This study consisted of measurements of elastic, inelastic, and polarized neutron scattering, measurements of low angle critical scattering, and the determination of the temperature dependence of the order parameter. We found (1) a sharp peak in the critical scattering at ≈30 K for the wave vector Q = 0.08 A −1 , and (2) an enhancement of the intensity at the position of the {1 0 1} nuclear Bragg reflection below the Curie temperature. These measurements suggest the occurrence of long range magnetic order. The value of the ordered magnetic moment is estimated to be ≈(0.49±0.05)μ B at 10 K, in good agreement with the 0.46μ B value obtained from magnetization measurements.
Régis Debray's quest: From France to Bolivia and back

(1992). Regis Debray's quest: From France to Bolivia and back. History of European Ideas: Vol. 14, No. 6, pp. 839-862.
Interaction of pyridoxal 5-phosphate with apo-serine hydroxymethyltransferase.

Abstract The interaction of pyridoxal 5-phosphate with beef liver serine hydroxymethyltransferase (5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate:glycine hydroxymethyltransferase, EC 2.1.2.1) has been investigated using sedimentation velocity, kinetic and equilibrium techniques. No evidence for an aggregating system could be found in sedimentation velocity experiments in the presence or absence of pyridoxal 5-phosphate. Reassociation of pyridoxal 5-phosphate with apoenzyme and reacquisition of enzymic activity follow identical kinetics. An initial fast step is followed by a second order process with a rate constant of 66 M−1 · s−1. A dissociation constant of 27.5 μM was obtained from equilibrium studies. No interaction of binding sites was exposed by altering pH or in the presence of glycine or folate. Maxima observed in pH profiles with both binding and reactivation are interpreted as the composite of two overlapping processes, one of which is ionization of the pyridinium nitrogen of pyridoxal 5-phosphate and the other a functional group on the apoenzyme. Evidence is presented to indicate the necessity for the formation of an enzyme · pyridoxal 5-phosphate Schiff's base complex during catalytic turnover.
Bridging cross-cultural feminisms: annie besant and women's rights in England and India, 1874-1933

Annie Besant was a Victorian radical whose outspoken views included advocacy of women's rights and opposition to British imperial policies. In her mid-forties she went to live in India. Contesting ...
Assessing Psychosocial Impairment in Children and Adolescents: A Review of the Barkley Functional Impairment Scale (BFIS).

Appraising psychosocial impairment is an essential enterprise of diagnostic decision-making in the field of school psychology. Despite its importance, few practitioners utilize systematic procedures when engaging in this process, despite the fact that a number of impairment measures and scales have been developed specifically for this purpose. The function of this article is to evaluate the technical properties of the Barkley Functional Impairment Scale for Children and Adolescents (BFIS; Barkley 2012) as well as its potential utility to be utilized by clinicians within school-based settings. Prior to this review, a brief examination of the impairment literature will be conducted in order to provide a richer context for the current evaluation.
How low can you go? Effectiveness and safety of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in low-birth-weight neonates

Abstract Purpose Controversy exists regarding the criteria for placement of infants on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) at low birth weights. The authors hypothesized that ECMO is effective and safe in babies under 2 kg and sought to examine outcome and survival rate in these infants. Methods All patients less than 30 days old in the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) registry (n = 14,305) were divided into those less than 2 kg (n = 663) and more than 2 kg (n = 13,642). Multiple regression analysis determined factors that predicted survival rate and the lowest safe weight for ECMO. Results Overall survival rate was 76% and was lower in infants less than 2 kg (≥2 kg, 77% v P P Conclusions Cannulation for ECMO may be safe and effective in babies under 2.0 kg and potentially as low as 1.6 kg. Judicious anticoagulation might limit bleeding, which occurred in a minority of these patients.
Deposito Diademate: Augustine’s Emperors

To assist colleagues from other disciplines who teach Augustine’s texts in their core courses, this contribution to the Lilly Colloquium discusses Augustine’s assessments of Emperors Constantine and Theodosius. His presentations of their tenure in office and their virtues suggest that his position on political leadership corresponds with his general skepticism about political platforms and platitudes. Yet careful reading of his revision of Ambrose’s account of Emperor Theodosius’s public penance and reconsideration of the last five sections of his fifth book City of God—as well as a reappraisal of several of his sermons on the Psalms—suggest that he proposes a radical alternative to political conformity relevant to undergraduates’ conventional expectations of society’s progress and their parts in it.
Saturn's Upper Atmospheric Hazes Observed by the Hubble Space Telescope

Abstract We observed Saturn with the Hubble Space Telescope at wavelengths 0.30-0.89 μm for the purpose of determining the distribution of hazes. In the stratosphere, haze optical depths in the ultraviolet are essentially zero for midnorthern latitudes, are small (∼0.2) at low latitudes and mid-southern latitudes, but large (almost unity) above 70° north. The optical depth falls off sharply in the visible due to the small radii of the stratospheric aerosols (∼0.15 μm). The latitudinal distribution of tropospheric haze was found mostly consistent with previous investigations. It is completely different from the distribution of stratospheric haze since optical depths in the troposphere strongly increase from the north pole to the equator. In the ultraviolet, the stratospheric aerosols are darker than tropospheric aerosols. Latitudinal albedo and color variations in the visible, defining Saturn's belt and zone structure, can be explained by variations in the size of tropospheric aerosols (radii 1-2 μm). The unusual blue-green color of mid-southern latitudes in 1991 may be due to smaller radii (∼0.5 μm) in the troposphere. At wavelength 0.30 μm we found an indication of a gaseous absorption of ∼0.02 optical depth in the upper part of the stratosphere.
High molecular weight substance profiles obtained from fossil fuels with microcolumn liquid chromatography

Abstract Simple procedures have been developed for the Chromatographic profiling of the non-volatile fractions from fossil fuel materials. Highly efficient microcolumn liquid chromatography in the reversed-phase mode has been employed to resolve numerous neutral polyaromatics, aza-arenes and phenolics into distinct Chromatographic profiles. The range of compounds eluting was verified through mass spectrometry. Such profiling methods are of importance in estimating technological and environmental parameters for various fossil fuels.
Joint stick-slip friction compensation of robot manipulators by using smooth robust controllers

In this article, two new smooth robust nonlinear compensators have been developed, respectively, for positional regulation and trajectory tracking of rigid robot manipulators with internal joint stick-slip friction. The proposed controllers can improve not only the positioning accuracy but also the smoothness of motion. No exact knowledge of the friction models is required for the design of the controllers. Furthermore, the tracking controller is also robust with respect to the uncertain link parameters. Using Lyapunov's direct method, we can show that the time-invariant positional regulation controller guarantees the global boundedness stability of the closed-loop system, while the time-varying positional tracking controller guarantees the global asymptotic stability of the closed-loop system. The numerical simulations of the controllers on a two-link robot are presented as illustrations. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Practical realizations in process modeling: Part II. The approximation problem

The composite algorithm derived in Part I is used to construct models from pulse responses of lumped and distributed systems, as well as an empirically measured residence time density. Along the way, salient points in the numerical implementation of the algorithm are indicated. In the present recursive procedure, the initial transient is predicted accurately by lower-order partial realizations; successive partial realizations involve progressively longer tails of the pulse response. The zeroth moment of the impulse response is used to advantage when realizations with no zeros are appropriate.
OPTIMIZATION OF SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS AND EMBRYO GERMINATION IN SOYBEAN

Somatic embryos of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] are induced on immature cotyledons explanted onto a medium containing moderately high levels of auxin. Germinability of embryos is related to morphologic normality, and both are reduced by excessive exposure to auxin during the induction process. Shoot meristem development was improved by reducing exposure of cotyledonary explants from 30 to 10 to 14 d on 10 mg/liter α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). A 3-d exposure was sufficient to induce embryos, and embryo frequency was not significantly increased by exposures to NAA for more than 1 wk. Embryo frequency was enhanced, however, by transfer after 9 d to fresh medium containing 10 mg/liter NAA. Germination of morphologically normal embryos was achieved without growth regulators, after maturation for 1 mo. on hormone-free medium and desiccation for 1 wk in a sealed, dry container.
Spousal Communication During Military Deployments A Review

Military deployments are stressful for service members and partners. Communication is an important factor in trying to maintain a relationship during these separations. This article presents a brief overview of communication in long-distance relationships for context, then reviews articles on communication during military deployments. This review reveals that emerging technology has resulted in an increase in the ability to communicate during deployment, although some studies suggest that access to such technology may vary. The few empirical studies that examine new communication technologies have found that different media (e.g., video calling vs. letters) may serve different functions in communication during deployment (e.g., facilitating problem discussion vs. providing tangible reminders of the partner). Military specific concerns, such as restrictions on communication and the potential for communication to distract service members from their mission, also appear to be important factors. The article c...
Geometric non‐linear substructuring for dynamics of flexible mechanical systems

A substructure synthesis formulation is presented that permits use of established flexible multibody dynamic analysis computer codes to account for structural geometric non-linear effects. Large relative displacement is permitted between points within bodies that undergo small strain elastic deformation. Components are divided into substructures, on each of which the theory of linear elasticity relative to a body reference frame is adequate to describe deformation and its coupling with system motion. Normal vibration and static correction deformation modes are used to account for elastic deformation within each substructure. Compatibility conditions are derived and imposed as constraint equations at boundary points between substructures. System equations of motion that include geometric non-linear effects of large rotation, in terms of generalized co-ordinates of a reference frame for each substructure and a set of deformation modes that are defined within the substructure, are assembled. The method is implemented in an industry standard flexible multibody dynamics code, with minimal modification. Use of the formulation is illustrated on the classical problem of a spinning beam with geometric stiffening and on a space structure that experiences large deformation.
Diabetes: vascular or neurodegenerative: an epidemiologic perspective.

Type 2 diabetes and cognitive impairment are 2 of the most common chronic conditions found in persons 60 years and older. After that age, approximately 18% to 20% of older persons have diabetes,1 approximately 19% suffer from mild cognitive impairment in multiple domains,2 and approximately 6% of community-dwelling individuals have some dementia.3 The prevalence of mild cognitive impairment and dementia increases with age as does the prevalence of diabetes; there is also an alarming trend toward a younger age of diabetes onset.4 Several lines of investigation suggest a link among diabetes, cognitive impairment, and dementia, described briefly subsequently. Thus, the age-related trends in diabetes and cognitive disorders indicate a further increase in the number of persons with mild cognitive impairment and dementia, beyond the increase that is expected as the population ages. Clinical studies have shown impaired neuropsychological functioning in patients with diabetes.5 Compared with community-dwelling normoglycemic persons, those with diabetes have a higher prevalence of global cognitive impairment6 and a higher incidence of cognitive decline.7 Population-based studies have also shown that diabetes is a risk factor for Alzheimer disease (AD),8–11 the most common form of dementia. The association of diabetes to cognitive disorders may be moderated by a spectrum of factors that range from healthcare access to genetic susceptibility. For example, data from several studies suggest those with diabetes and who are apolipoprotein E e4 allele (a genetic susceptibility risk factor for AD) carriers are at higher risk for a cognitive disorder than those with no diabetes and no e4 allele, or either one alone.12–14 Wu15 showed in the SALSA study of Hispanics that characteristics of diabetes, …