cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Three-dimensional fast low-angle shot imaging and computerized volume measurement of the hippocampus in patients with chronic epilepsy of the temporal lobe.

This study investigated the use of three-dimensional fast low-angle shot (FLASH) imaging and computer-assisted morphometry for identifying hippocampal changes associated with unilateral temporal lobe seizures. Contiguous 3.1-mm coronal FLASH images were obtained in 28 patients with electroencephalographically verified left (n = 17) or right (n = 11) temporal lobe seizures and 28 age- and sex-matched control subjects. Hippocampal volumes were calculated with the use of a computerized mensuration system developed for detailed morphometric assessment. The results of a multivariate analysis of variance revealed a significant group difference by hemisphere interaction (F = 26.3, p less than .001). Significant reductions in left hippocampal volume (32%, p less than .001) were exhibited in patients with left temporal lobe seizures, and significant reductions in right hippocampal volume (35%, p less than .001) were seen in patients with right temporal lobe seizures. A discriminant analysis with the use of left and right hippocampal volumes classified patients with left temporal lobe seizures with 94% sensitivity and 73% specificity and patients with right temporal lobe seizures with 89% sensitivity and 94% specificity. The results of this study demonstrate that unilateral temporal lobe seizures are accompanied by significant reductions in hippocampal volume ipsilateral to the seizure focus. The use of FLASH imaging and computer-assisted morphometry of the hippocampus appears to provide valuable structural information for confirming the laterality of the electroencephalographic seizure focus.
Conduct as Antidote to Influence

Like Reverend Farebrother’s opinionated mother, Evangelicals had a fear of people turning. They yearned for the security of a society unified by a few plain truths and a clear notion of right and wrong. This longing intensified in the late eighteenth century as the anonymity, deception and restless craving for change characterising such increasingly powerful influences as print, cities and fashion sapped Evangelicals’ sense of both moral and social security. Such influences encouraged self-promotion as well as entrepreneurial greed and, thus, seemed antagonistic to religion and morality. Conduct books were part of a determined effort to counteract these dangerous persuaders by infusing the moral certainty of Evangelicalism as well as the social certainty and relations of village and home life into England’s industrialising society.1 That is, they attempted to perpetuate old-world sources of stability such as moral consensus, a relatively fixed and clearly-defined social hierarchy, personal influence and the close-knit community of familiar faces. The agents of this moral.and social certainty were to be, not laws or institutions, but individuals. This new society was thus to be made secure, according to Evangelical moralists, by means of reforming people.
The incorporation of focused history in checklist for early recognition and treatment of acute illness and injury

Diagnostic error and delay are critical impediments to the safety of critically ill patients. Checklist for early recognition and treatment of acute illness and injury (CERTAIN) has been developed as a tool that facilitates timely and error-free evaluation of critically ill patients. While the focused history is an essential part of the CERTAIN framework, it is not clear how best to choreograph this step in the process of evaluation and treatment of the acutely decompensating patient. An un-blinded crossover clinical simulation study was designed in which volunteer critical care clinicians (fellows and attendings) were randomly assigned to start with either obtaining a focused history choreographed in series (after) or in parallel to the primary survey. A focused history was obtained using the standardized SAMPLE model that is incorporated into American College of Trauma Life Support (ATLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS). Clinicians were asked to assess six acutely decompensating patients using pre – determined clinical scenarios (three in series choreography, three in parallel). Once the initial choreography was completed the clinician would crossover to the alternative choreography. The primary outcome was the cognitive burden assessed through the NASA task load index. Secondary outcome was time to completion of a focused history. A total of 84 simulated cases (42 in parallel, 42 in series) were tested on 14 clinicians. Both the overall cognitive load and time to completion improved with each successive practice scenario, however no difference was observed between the series versus parallel choreographies. The median (IQR) overall NASA TLX task load index for series was 39 (17 – 58) and for parallel 43 (27 – 52), p = 0.57. The median (IQR) time to completion of the tasks in series was 125 (112 – 158) seconds and in parallel 122 (108 – 158) seconds, p = 0.92. In this clinical simulation study assessing the incorporation of a focused history into the primary survey of a non-trauma critically ill patient, there was no difference in cognitive burden or time to task completion when using series choreography (after the exam) compared to parallel choreography (concurrent with the primary survey physical exam). However, with repetition of the task both overall task load and time to completion improved in each of the choreographies.
Propene Metathesis over Supported Tungsten Oxide Catalysts: A Study of Active Site Formation

A detailed investigation was conducted on the factors influencing the properties of silica-supported tungsten oxide catalysts for propene metathesis. A principal goal of this work was to identify the processes involved in the formation of catalytically active sites. To probe the influence of dispersion, samples were prepared across a range of W loadings using two methods of catalyst preparation: incipient wetness impregnation of amorphous silica and ion exchange of mesoporous SBA-15. The samples were characterized by nitrogen adsorption, UV–vis, Raman, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). Catalytic activity was observed to increase with W surface concentration up to the point where WO3 nanoparticles formed. The catalytic performance of all samples was enhanced 2-fold by pretreatment in He, in comparison to pretreatment in air. In situ characterization of samples pretreated in He by Raman and XAS shows an increase in the relative concentration of isolated dioxo W(6+) species relative to mono-oxo W(6+) ...
Medium Access Control for Multi-Antenna Networks using Multi-User Coding

We present medium access controllers (MAC) for ad-hoc networks which include uplink and downlink multi-user physical layer models as well as multiple antennas. We note the advantages of these MACs over those in the literature, including a multi-antenna version of the CSMA/CA protocol used in the distributed coordination function (DCF) mode of the IEEE 802.11 MAC. Specifically, our MAC is among the first to explicitly consider multi-user techniques in an ad-hoc network, which results in superior rate performance. We include interference and network topology in the design of our protocols. We characterize MAC controllers in terms of transport capacity, and present numerical results which show the benefit of multi-user techniques in the physical layer.
Radiation pneumonitis in pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma patients receiving radiation therapy to the chest

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study is to determine the incidence of radiation pneumonitis (RP) in children receiving radiation therapy (RT) for Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). Methods and patients A retrospective chart review was conducted of pediatric HL patients who received multiagent chemotherapy followed by RT to any part of the chest. The National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 4.03, was used to determine the RP grade. Parameters analyzed included sex; age; bleomycin dose; and RT dosimetric variables such as mean lung dose (MLD), mean individual (i; right vs left) lung dose or iMLD, V5 to V25, and individual lung V5 to V25. Results From 2008 through 2016, 54 children with HL received RT to the chest and had follow-up and dosimetry information. All patients received induction chemotherapy; the most common regimen was Adriamycin, bleomycin, vincristine, etoposide, prednisone, and cyclophosphamide–based chemotherapy (n = 48). All received a prescribed dose of 21 Gy in 14 fractions. Median follow-up from completion of RT was 39.5 months. Three of 54 patients (5.6%) or 3 of 108 (2.8%) lungs developed RP; 2 lungs had grade 1, whereas 1 had grade 2 RP. RP was seen only in patients with MLD >12.4 Gy (P = .009), V5 >66% (P = .033), V10 >55% (P =.015), V15 >45% (P =.005), and V20 >32% (P =.007). Likewise, RP was only seen in lungs with iMLD >13.8 Gy, iV5 >75% (P =.02), iV10 >64% (P =.02), iV15 >47% (P 34% (P =.003). Conclusions RP in pediatric HL patients is an uncommon complication. MLD, iMLD, V5-V20, and iV5-iV20 correlated with RP.
Distributed Top-N local outlier detection in big data

The concept of Top-N local outlier that focuses on the detection of the N points with the largest Local Outlier Factor (LOF) score has been shown to be very effective for identifying outliers in big datasets. However, detecting Top-N local outliers is computationally expensive, since the computation of LOF scores for all data points requires a huge number of high complexity k-nearest neighbor (kNN) searches. In this work, we thus present the first distributed solution to tackle this problem of Top-N local outlier detection (DTOLF). First, DTOLF features an innovative safe elimination strategy that efficiently identifies dually-safe points, namely those that are guaranteed to (1) not be classified as Top-N outliers and (2) not be needed as neighbors of points residing on other machines. Therefore, it effectively minimizes both the processing and communication costs of the Top-N outlier detection process. Further, based on the well-accepted observation that strong correlations among attributes are prevalent in real world datasets, we propose correlation-aware optimization strategies that ensure the effectiveness of grid-based partitioning and of the safe elimination strategy in multi-dimensional datasets. Our extensive experimental evaluation on OpenStreetMap, SDSS, and TIGER datasets demonstrates the effectiveness of DTOLF — up to 10 times faster than the alternative methods and scaling to terabyte level datasets.
Transcriptional Regulation on Aneuploid Chromosomes in Diverse Candida albicans Mutants

Candida albicans is a diploid fungus and a predominant opportunistic human pathogen. Notably, C. albicans employs reversible chromosomal aneuploidies as a means of survival in adverse environments. We previously characterized transcription on the monosomic chromosome 5 (Ch5) that arises with adaptation to growth on the toxic sugar sorbose in the mutant Sor125(55). We now extend this analysis to the trisomic hybrid Ch4/7 within Sor125(55) and a diverse group of three mutants harboring a single Ch5. We find a similar pattern of transcriptional changes on either type of aneuploid chromosome within these mutants wherein expression of many genes follows chromosome ploidy, consistent with a direct mechanism to regulate genes important for adaptation to growth. In contrast, a significant number of genes are expressed at the disomic level, implying distinct mechanisms compensating for gene dose on monosomic or trisomic chromosomes consistent with maintaining cell homeostasis. Finally, we find evidence for an additional mechanism that elevates expression of genes on normal disomic Ch4 and Ch7 in mutants to levels commensurate with that found on the trisomic Ch4/7b in Sor125(55). Several of these genes are similarly differentially regulated among mutants, suggesting they play key functions in either maintaining aneuploidy or adaptation to growth conditions.
Epidemiology of menopause: Demographics, environmental influences, and ethnic and international differences in the menopausal experience

Publisher Summary This chapter provides a very scholarly and up-to-date review of the epidemiology of the menopause and point out areas that are still not clear, stressing the importance of the need for more longitudinal studies. A number of demographic, menstrual and reproductive, and lifestyle factors appear to be important determinants of the age at which natural menopause occurs and to have meaningful relationships to the varied symptom experiences of women. However, a number of the relationships are inconsistent possibly due to varying methodological approaches and limitations, and others remain largely unexplored. Therefore, much remains to be learned about how these factors affect hormones at the physiologic level and thus determine the onset of the perimenopause, the timing of the final menstrual period, and the occurrence of the constellation of symptoms that are associated with the menopause transition. Furthermore, increased understanding of the underlying physiologic bases of these influences needs to include potential racial/ethnic differences in physiologic responses to lifestyle factors and other environmental exposures, as well as increased understanding of the cultural contexts, cultural differences, and cultural sensitivities that affect the presentation and experience of the menopausal transition. Increasing knowledge about these relationships ultimately offers women and their health care providers enhanced choices and alternatives, based on deeper understanding, to deal with the individual presentations of menopause.
Optical Absorption and Photoconductivity in the Band Edge of β − Ga 2 O 3

Optical absorption and photoconductivity have been observed in the ultraviolet in single crystals of nominally pure $\ensuremath{\beta}\ensuremath{-}{\mathrm{Ga}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$. At room temperature a steep absorption edge, characteristic of a band-to-band transition, is observed at 2700 \AA{}. The edge is shifted approximately 100 \AA{} toward shorter wavelengths when the temperature is reduced to 77\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. Photoconductivity begins coincident with the absorption edge at 77\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K, but could not be detected at room temperature. A model is proposed in which the absorption arises as a result of excitation of an electron from the oxygen $2p$ band to the gallium $4s$ band. Calculations using this model and the Born-Haber cycle are in good agreement with the observed band gap of 4.7 eV. It is suggested that the much smaller band gap of $\ensuremath{\beta}\ensuremath{-}{\mathrm{Ga}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ as compared with sapphire is due to the reduced coordination number of the ions involved in the transition.
School Leadership for Adult Development: The Dramatic Difference It Can Make

Educators at every level go through different stages of development over the course of their lives and need different kinds of supports and challenges to grow. This chapter introduces a new model of Learning-oriented Leadership, in support to adult development that can help school and district leaders consciously cultivate teacher, principal, and superintendents’ internal capacities to meet the enormous challenges faced in the educational workplace. The model grew out of longitudinal mixed-methods research (Drago-Severson, E., What does “staff development” develop? How the staff development literature conceives adult growth. Unpublished qualifying paper, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 1994; Drago-Severson, E., Head-of-school as principal adult developer: An account of one leader’s efforts to support transformational learning among the adults in her school. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Harvard Graduate School of Education, Cambridge, MA, 1996; Drago-Severson, E., Becoming adult learners: Principles and practices for effective development. New York: Teachers College Press, 2004a; Drago-Severson, E., Helping teachers learn: Principal leadership for adult growth and development. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin, 2004b; Drago-Severson, E., Leading adult learning: Supporting adult development in our school. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin/Sage Publications, 2009). It is based on the works of Robert Kegan (The evolving self: Problems and process in human development. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1982; In over our heads: The mental demands of modern life. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1994; What “form” transforms? A constructive-developmental approach to transformative learning. In J. Mezirow & Associates (Eds.), Learning as transformation (pp. 35–70). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2000) and constructive-developmental theory. The chapter shows school leaders can create the conditions and employ practices that foster growth and learning for individuals with different needs and developmental orientations.
Landscape Boundaries in the Management and Restoration of Changing Environments: A Summary

The main challenges facing ecologists in the next decade are the creation of a landscape perspective among scientists, managers and policy-makers; determining the cumulative effects of land use practices; rehabilitating damaged ecosystems; designing management systems to accommodate natural variability; prudent conservation of natural systems; and clarifying relationships between human social and economic systems and the environment. In this chapter, we summarize key points addressing the role of ecotones (boundaries) for meeting these challenges in a changing global environment. We present fundamental research issues related to ecotones, lessons from this and six recent international symposia, and recommendations for advancing the applicability of the ecotone concept through research and education. We suggest that the main challenges for human societies are to maintain continued economic strength through wise and efficient use of existing natural resources, and to improve the quality of life while maintaining the quality of the environment, and that an ecotone perspective is one of several allied concepts that can be used to meet those related challenges.
The Vertebrate Retina

Histological analyses of presynaptic neurons and physiological recordings from postsynaptic cells suggest that photoreceptor, bipolar, and ganglion cells release glutamate as their neurotransmitter. Multiple glutamate receptor types are present and differentially distributed in the retina. iGluRs, found on neurons within the OFF pathway, directly gate ion channels and mediate rapid synaptic transmission. IGluRs are also present on ON-type amacrine and ganglion cells in proximal retina, while ON-bipolar cells express the metabotropic APB receptor. Signaling through the APB receptor is important during development as bipolar cell input to ganglion cells mediate the formation of ON and OFF processes in the IPL. Glutamate transporters are also present at retinal glutamatergic synapses. Transporters remove excess glutamate from the synaptic cleft to prevent neurotoxicity. Thus, postsynaptic responses to glutamate are determined by the distribution of receptors and transporters at glutamatergic synapses which, in retina, determine the conductance mechanisms underlying visual information processing and development within the ON and OFF pathways.
Computation of Vector Hazard Using Salient Features of Seismic Hazard Deaggregation

Deaggregation is one of the products of probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA) suitable for identifying the relative contributions of various magnitude-distance bins to a hazard or intensity ...
Abstract 4506: Loss of SIRT1 alters the secretome of breast cancer cells by impairing lysosomal integrity

Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) is an NAD-dependent deacetylase implicated in processes ranging from lifespan promotion to tumor suppression. To probe its role as a tumor suppressor, we knocked down SIRT1 in breast cancer cells. This resulted in the decreased expression of one of the subunits comprising the multi-subunit vacuolar-type H+ ATPase (V-ATPase), which is responsible for the acidification of lysosomes and thus essential for proper lysosomal protein degradation. The impairment in lysosomal function led to a marked reduction in the number of multivesicular bodies (MVBs) targeted for lysosomal degradation, and a corresponding increase in MVBs fusing with the plasma membrane to release their content. Specifically, SIRT1 reduction increased the secretion of exosomes containing unique cargo and the release of soluble hydrolases that typically reside in the lysosome, producing a breast cancer cell secretome that strongly promotes cell invasion and survival. Citation Format: Arash Latifkar, Lu Ling, Xiaoyu Zhang, Claudia Fischbach, Hening Lin, Richard Cerione, Marc Antonyak. Loss of SIRT1 alters the secretome of breast cancer cells by impairing lysosomal integrity [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4506.
Radiographic predictors of bone exposure in patients with stage 0 medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaws.

Objective. The aim of this study was to explore the radiographic appearance of stage 0 medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaws (MRONJ) and examine 5 radiographic parameters (trabecular sclerosis, cortical erosion, periosteal reaction, sequestration, and crater-like defect) as predictors of progression to bone exposure. Study Design. Twenty-three patients with a history of antiresorptive therapy, no bone exposure, and nonspecific signs and symptoms were included. Intraoral photographs, panoramic and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images at initial visit, and follow-up intraoral photographs were reviewed. Three patients had dental disease (DD), 10 patients with stage 0 MRONJ did not progress to bone exposure (NBE), and 10 patients progressed to bone exposure (BE). Radiographic parameters were scored as absent (0), localized (1), or extensive (2), and their sum formed the composite radiographic index (CRI). Results. DD patients demonstrated minimal radiographic findings, and their CRI was significantly lower than that of NBE and BE patients. Additionally, BE patients demonstrated a higher radiographic index compared with NBE patients. Intriguingly, sequestration was observed in the initial CBCT of 9 (90%) of 10 BE patients, whereas 80% of NBE patients showed absence of sequestration at initial CBCT examination. Conclusions. CBCT imaging can aid in the differentiation of stage 0 MRONJ from dental disease. Radiographic sequestration at initial presentation can serve as a predictor of future bone exposure in patients with stage 0 MRONJ.
Abstract #4664: Implication of ATM-/ATR-Chk1-E2F1-dependent up-regulation of ribonucleotide reductase R2 (RRM2) in DNA damage response

To investigate drug mechanisms of action and identify molecular targets for the development of rational drug combinations, we are conducting synthetic siRNA-based RNAi screens to identify genes whose silencing affects anti-cancer drug responses. One such screen indicated that the silencing of RRM1 and RRM2, which encode the large and small subunits of the human ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) complex respectively, markedly enhances the cytotoxicity of the Topoisomerase 1 (Top1) inhibitor camptothecin (CPT). Silencing of RRM2 was also found to enhance DNA damage as measured by \#947;-H2AX. Further studies showed that CPT up-regulates both RRM1 and RRM2 mRNA and protein levels, and induces the nuclear translocation of RRM2. The Checkpoint kinase 1 (Chk1) was also up-regulated and activated in response to CPT. CHEK1 down-regulation by siRNA and small molecule inhibition of Chk1 activity blocked induction of RRM2 by CPT. CHEK1 siRNA also suppressed E2F1 up-regulation by CPT, and silencing of E2F1 suppressed the up-regulation of RRM2. Silencing of ATR or ATM, and inhibition of ATM activity by KU-55933 blocked Chk1 activation and RRM2 up-regulation. This study links the function of known components of CPT-induced DNA damage response with proteins required for the synthesis of dNTPs, presumably in preparation for DNA repair. Specifically, we propose that, upon DNA damage, Chk1 activation, mediated by ATM and ATR, regulates RRM2 expression through the E2F1 transcription factor. Up-regulation in RRM2 levels, coupled with its nuclear recruitment suggests an active role for RNR in the cellular response to CPT-mediated DNA damage that could potentially be exploited as strategy for enhancing the efficacy of Top 1 inhibitors. Citation Information: In: Proc Am Assoc Cancer Res; 2009 Apr 18-22; Denver, CO. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; 2009. Abstract nr 4664.
Pearls & Oy-sters: The dangers of PRES: An atypical case with life-threatening presentation.

The presentation of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) can be highly variable, with headaches and seizures being common.
The signal quality of grades across academic fields

I use transcript data from Duke University and a correlated learning model to measure the signal quality of grades across academic fields. I find science, engineering, and economics grades are significantly more informative than humanities and social science grades. The correlated learning structure allows grades in one field to signal abilities in all fields. This sometimes generates information spillovers so powerful that science, engineering, and economics grades inform humanities and social science beliefs more than humanities and social science grades. I show that grade compression reduces signal quality but cannot explain the differences in signal quality across academic fields.
Risen to Judgment: What Augustine Saw

In his sermones ad populum, Augustine preached from two basic perspectives on poverty, charity, and future judgment. The first emphasizes the perils of riches and the transitory nature of earthly treasures, in place of which Augustine urges storing up treasure in heaven by giving to the poor (1 Timothy 6). The second focuses on the separation of the sheep and the goats in the parable of the last judgment in Matthew 25:31–46, which hinges on showing mercy to the poor who are Christ in the world. Additional scriptural texts, some common to both, support each view. Although the two perspectives and their signifying texts persist throughout Augustine’s preaching, at times even appearing in the same sermon, there is a discernible trend in what Augustine saw in these two visions of judgment. Banking metaphors and accruing heavenly interest on one’s investment in the poor tend to recede in the eschatological light of the Son of Man descending on the clouds to welcome into his kingdom those who mercifully welcomed him in this world.
Intragenerational Variations in Autobiographical Memory: China’s “Sent-Down Youth” Generation:

The relationship between generation and memory instantiates a theme central to sociology: the intersection between history and biography. This study addresses two gaps in the literature. First, whe...
Satellite Imaging and Long-Term Mosquito Surveillance Implicate the Influence of Rapid Urbanization on Culex Vector Populations

The ecology and environmental conditions of a habitat have profound influences on mosquito population abundance. As a result, mosquito species vary in their associations with particular habitat types, yet long-term studies showing how mosquito populations shift in a changing ecological landscape are lacking. To better understand how land use changes influence mosquito populations, we examined mosquito surveillance data over a thirty-four-year period for two contrasting sites in central Iowa. One site displayed increasing levels of urbanization over time and a dramatic decline in Culex pipiens group (an informal grouping of Culex restuans, Culex pipiens, and Culex salinarius, referred to as CPG), the primary vectors of West Nile virus in central Iowa. Similar effects were also shown for other mosquito vector populations, yet the abundance of Aedes vexans remained constant during the study period. This is in contrast to a second site, which reflected an established urban landscape. At this location, there were no significant changes in land use and CPG populations remained constant. Climate data (temperature, total precipitation) were compiled for each location to see if these changes could account for altered population dynamics, but neither significantly influence CPG abundance at the respective site locations. Taken together, our data suggest that increased landscape development can have negative impacts on Culex vector populations, and we argue that long-term surveillance paired with satellite imagery analysis are useful methods for measuring the impacts of rapid human development on mosquito vector communities. As a result, we believe that land use changes can have important implications for mosquito management practices, population modeling, and disease transmission dynamics.
The effect of an interval fatigue protocol on Vestibular/Ocular Motor Screening (VOMS) performance.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a fatigue protocol on Vestibular/Ocular Motor Screening (VOMS) performance.Design: Within subjects, repeated measures, crossover.Me...
The impact of targeted cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation on reward circuitry and affect in Bipolar Disorder.

Bipolar Disorder is costly and debilitating, and many treatments have side effects. Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) is a well-tolerated neuromodulation technique that may be a useful treatment for Bipolar Disorder if targeted to neural regions implicated in the disorder. One potential region is the left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (vlPFC), which shows abnormally elevated activity during reward expectancy in individuals with Bipolar Disorder. We used a counterbalanced repeated measures design to assess the impact of cathodal (inhibitory) tDCS over the left vlPFC on reward circuitry activity, functional connectivity, and affect in adults with Bipolar Disorder, as a step toward developing novel interventions for individuals with the disorder. −1mA cathodal tDCS was administered over the left vlPFC versus a control region, left somatosensory cortex, concurrently with neuroimaging. Affect was assessed pre and post scan in remitted Bipolar Disorder (n = 27) and age/gender-matched healthy (n = 31) adults. Relative to cathodal tDCS over the left somatosensory cortex, cathodal tDCS over the left vlPFC lowered reward expectancy-related left ventral striatal activity (F(1,51) = 9.61, p = 0.003), and was associated with lower negative affect post scan, controlling for pre-scan negative affect, (F(1,49) = 5.57, p = 0.02) in all participants. Acute cathodal tDCS over the left vlPFC relative to the left somatosensory cortex reduces reward expectancy-related activity and negative affect post tDCS. Build on these findings, future studies can determine whether chronic cathodal tDCS over the left vlPFC has sustained effects on mood in individuals with Bipolar Disorder, to guide new treatment developments for the disorder.
Novel carbon-based separation membranes composed of integrated zero- and one-dimensional nanomaterials

The separation membrane structure to a large extent is determined by the membrane building block materials. To explore a new membrane structure, novel materials, including zero- (0D) and one-dimensional (1D) carbon-based materials, were studied in this work as the basic building blocks to fabricate ultrathin, compact separation membranes. Due to the intrinsic difficulty in assembling 0D graphene oxide quantum dots (GOQDs) on porous substrates with much larger pores than the size of the GOQDs and thus low transport resistance, we report for the first time a smart strategy of depositing 1D single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) as an ultrathin (50 nm) “skeleton” layer to facilitate the assembly/“growth” of 0D nitrogen doped GOQDs to form a densely packed 0D/1D carbon based membrane. This strategy allows evaluation of this new membrane structure composed of 0D and 1D materials as a new membrane configuration for separation applications. The 0D/1D carbon-based membranes were prepared on both hollow fiber and flat sheet substrates (pore size ≥ 25 nm) and characterized to understand the membrane structure, morphology and chemical composition. Carbon capture as a gas separation example and dye removal and desalination as water treatment examples were evaluated to demonstrate the separation potential of the 0D/1D composite carbon membranes. This new membrane structure, along with the facile strategy to form ultrathin, compact coatings, may significantly expand the separation membrane technology field.
Influence of Gestational Weight Gain on the Risk of Preterm Birth for Underweight Women Living in Food Deserts.

OBJECTIVE Preterm birth (PTB) and food insecurity are two of the most significant public health crises in the United States. Effects of being underweight among populations with low food security are not well understood. We assess whether the protective effect of gestational weight gain (GWG) for women with low prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) differs by accessibility to sources of healthy food. STUDY DESIGN Population-based retrospective cohort study using Ohio birth records analyzing all live births, 2006 to 2015. Analyses were stratified by maternal BMI (underweight, normal, overweight, and obese), Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommended GWG (under vs. met), and whether the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) classified the residential census tract for each birth as a food desert. Food access data were retrieved from the USDA's 2018 Food Access Research Atlas. Covariates were selected using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression. Logistic regression models estimated the risk ratio (RR) of PTB for each group based on under or exceeded recommended GWG (reference = met), adjusting for coexisting risk factors. RESULTS Analysis was performed on 1,124,299 births. PTB risk was highest for underweight women below GWG recommendations (no food desert: 21.3%, RR = 2.15, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.81-2.57; food desert: 21.0%, RR = 1.46, 95% CI: 0.96-2.21). Underweight women living in food deserts who exceeded GWG recommendations had lower PTB risk than those who met GWG recommendations (13.5 vs. 14.3%, RR = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.51-1.41). Factors other than GWG significantly associated with PTB included in the adjusted analysis include maternal age and race, education, marital status, interpregnancy interval, and presence of prepregnancy diabetes or hypertension. CONCLUSION Underweight women who do not meet GWG recommendations are at high risk for PTB. Increasing pregnancy weight gain to a level that exceeds IOM recommendations was not associated with a reduction in PTB risk for underweight women who reside in food deserts compared with women who met GWG recommendations. KEY POINTS · Women with low prepregnancy BMI are at high risk of PTB.. · Food insecurity increases the risk of PTB for underweight women.. · Excessive GWG for underweight women in food deserts does not reduce PTB risk..
Collaboration with a Supplier to Induce Fair Labor Practices: Risk, Reputation, and Profit

The reputation of a multinational firm (a ``buyer") is hurt if its offshore supplier flagrantly violates fair labor practices. How should a buyer manage the consequent risk of reduced sales? This paper answers the question by analyzing a dynamic Stackelberg game in which the buyer offers financial incentives to the supplier to treat its work force fairly. This tactical approach to risk management corresponds to a strategic approach in which the buyer first determines its risk posture, and then identifies the most profitable financial incentives that are consistent with that risk posture. The buyer's problem corresponds to optimizing a Markov decision process with a discounted criterion over an infinite horizon. Analytical and numerical analysis of the model shows that the buyer should rely on a contingent bonus as the primary incentive, and set the wholesale price at the supplier's reservation price; the organization of the supply chain affects the risk of a flagrant violation of fair labor practices; and the buyer's value function is approximated well by an affine function of reputation.
Evaluation of field sampling techniques for environmental microbial exposure: Assessing Efficacy and Feasibility

Environmental exposures in schools, including microbial exposures, can lead to detrimental childhood health outcomes. We evaluated two sampling techniques - standard flocked swabs versus sterile electrostatic cloths - to quantify Staphylococcus bacterial burden from school surfaces. Electrostatic cloths demonstrated higher test sensitivity and yielded higher surface area-standardized colony forming units compared to swabs. Despite protocol standardization, consistently larger surface areas were sampled with electrostatic cloths. This suggest that electrostatic cloths were more effective and practical for fieldwork.
Architecture Beyond Ideology: The Politics of Forgotten Landmarks in Communist East Germany:

Through research in former East German Leipzig, this article explores how and why architecturally and historically valuable landmarks seldom sustain or even gain ideological resonance. Applying the...
Transitioning to a New Brand of Surfactant Resulted in Fewer Administered Doses and Provided Potential Cost Savings

Background: Immature lungs need surfactant administration due to lack of adequate production prior to 32 weeks gestation. Surfactant reduces the surface tension within the lungs, allowing the alveoli to remain open. We utilized Brand A of surfactant until October 2018, patients required multiple doses. We were changed to Brand B by our formulary. Brand B presented that their product had greater efficacy and patients rarely needed more than 1 dose and even more infrequently needed more than 2. While the initial dose of Brand B is more expensive than Brand A, there was an expected cost savings due to decreased amount of subsequent administrations. Patients that required more than one dose were more likely to have greater amount of days on mechanical ventilation and other risk factors. Methods: A multidisciplinary team formed and evaluated risks and benefits of Brand A surfactant versus Brand B. Surfactant was administered to patients meeting the same criteria as Brand A; oxygen requirement above 30% while on mechanical ventilation and oxygen requirement above 40% on Bubble CPAP. We utilized our updated surfactant administration checklist to assure procedure was completed per policy and the number of doses documented. Subsequent doses of Brand B required half the initial dose, and Brand A required the same dose for initial and subsequent instillations. The outcome measure was the number of subsequent surfactant administrations and the overall cost to the patient. Process measures were compliance with audit completion for each administration and use of ventilator weaning protocol. Balancing measures were rate of patients that required reintubation and documented adverse events. Results: There were 84 patients administered Brand A (Bovine) and 50% required more than one dose. There were 86 patients administered Brand B (Porcine) and 66% of patients required one dose with no subsequent administrations. Patients that received Brand B that required more than one dose required a third dose less often than Brand A. The average cost for Brand A was $409.03 and Brand B average cost was $515.38 per administration. Conclusions: Brand B supported a statistical difference; P = .045, in the need for one dose versus subsequent doses. While Brand B is more expensive upfront, we were still able to reduce cost because there was a significant difference in the number of patients requiring only one dose.
A Novel Approach to Map the Intensity of Surface Melting on theAntarctica Ice Sheet using SMAP L-Band Microwave Radiometry

Abstract. The polar ice sheets have undergone unprecedented melt events in the recent past, which have consequences for ice sheet mass balance, stability, and sea level. In this study, we employed L-band (1.4 GHz) brightness temperature observations collected by NASA's Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) mission to investigate the extent, duration and intensity of melt events on the Antarctic Ice Sheet from 2015 to 2020. Satellite microwave measurements have long been used to detect melt events because of their sensitivity to the presence of liquid water in snow and ice. The observed microwave response depends on the sensor measurement frequency. Our hypothesis for this study is that the relatively long wavelength SMAP observations can detect a wider range of surface wetness conditions relative to shorter wavelength microwave observations that attain signal saturation at relatively lower wetness levels and within shallower surface layers. SMAP provides nearly all-weather surface monitoring over all of Antarctica twice daily with morning and evening overpasses at about 40 km spatial resolution. We applied an empirical threshold algorithm using horizontally and vertically polarized microwave brightness temperature differences to detect surface melt events over Antarctica from 2015 through 2020. The results show that the SMAP empirical algorithm can be used to detect melt extent and duration, and the geophysical model-based algorithm can be used to detect snow wetness, which can be used as an indicator of melt intensity. Analysis of the melt seasons between 2015 and 2020 show that the even though the melt extent in 2019–2020 was not as large as during the 2015–2016 melt season, it was significantly more intense, particularity on the West Antarctic Ice Sheet.
Endoscopic Decompression of Recurrent Sigmoid Volvulus in Pregnancy.

Sigmoid volvulus is a rare condition seen during pregnancy with high maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. We report a case of a young 26-year-old woman, primipara, in her third trimester who...
Synthetic speech for real time direction-giving

The authors present an overview of the Back Seat Driver, a research prototype of a system to use speech synthesis as a navigational aid for an automobile equipped with localization equipment. They discuss the map database, the route-finding algorithm, repair strategies, and the discourse generator. >
Health outcomes of sexual and gender minorities after cancer: a systematic review.

Purpose Cancer research on sexual and gender minority (SGM) populations is gaining momentum. The purpose of this systematic review was to examine what is currently known in the research literature regarding patient-reported health outcomes after cancer treatment among SGM populations. Methods In March 2021, a medical librarian conducted a systematic keyword search on PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO, ClinicalTrials.gov , and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. The primary inclusion criterion was assessment of at least one physical, psychosocial, emotional, or functional patient-reported health outcome related to the impacts of cancer diagnosis and/or treatment. Articles that met inclusion criteria were reviewed in their entirety, charted in a Word Table, and assessed for quality. Quality considerations included study design, sampling approach, diversity of sample, measures used, and analytic procedures. Studies were synthesized based on type of cancer study participants experienced. Results Sixty-four studies were included in the final analysis: most were quantitative, secondary analyses or cross-sectional studies with convenience samples, and focused on people with a history of breast or prostate cancer. Differences between sexual minority men and women in terms of coping and resilience were noted. Few studies reported on experiences of transgender persons and none reported on experiences of intersex persons. Conclusions A growing literature describes the patient-reported health outcomes of SGM people with a history of cancer. This study summarizes important between-group differences among SGM and heterosexual, cisgender counterparts that are critical for clinicians to consider when providing care. Implications for cancer survivors Sexual orientation and gender identity are relevant to cancer survivors' health outcomes. Subgroups of SGM people have differential experiences and outcomes related to cancer and its impacts.
Multiscale analysis of multi-directional composite laminates to predict stiffness and strength in the presence of micro-defects

Abstract A methodology is proposed to incorporate spatial distributions of micro-defects within a three dimensional multiscale modeling framework for Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) composites to predict stiffness and strength properties of laminates for use in structural design and in establishing nondestructive inspection protocols. Defects in both the fiber and matrix due to variations in the manufacturing process for fiber reinforced composite laminates are considered. Stochastic sampling of micro-defects based on experimental data using Ripley’s K-function is proposed. Three different laminate void volume fractions are used. Spatial statistical analysis is performed for the micro-defects, and then a methodology is presented for predicting stiffness and ultimate strength of three multi-directional composite laminates with distributions of microstructural defects. The results indicate that, in addition to the volume of micro-defects that are present, the spatial distribution of the micro-defects plays a significant role in mechanical properties of laminates, especially the ultimate strength for which a 3.62% reduction is seen in the simulations of laminates containing distributions of micro-defects. Based on these results, it is recommended that the spatial statistics of micro-defects in manufactured composites be incorporated into both design criteria and nondestructive inspection criteria for composite laminates.
Venture Backed IPO's in India: Issues of Certification and Underpricing

Indian venture capital industry is now considered as one of the predominant players among South Asian countries. As India started emerging as a country which is considered as a hi-tech and global outsourcing center, Indian venture capital industry started looking up with new investment opportunities. New funds have opened their shop here in India and are continuing to bring in more and more funds. Indian research on initial public offerings is sparse. Previous studies have highlighted the presence of significant underpricing in IPOs. Studies also review the aftermarket performance of these IPOs but the aspect of venture backed IPOs and certification was never studied before. The present study has attempted to study whether venture backed IPOs are different in terms of underpricing and does it indicate certification of quality by venture capitalists. The study finds that underpricing is significantly less in venture backed IPOs and through econometric models it finds that the presence of venture capitalists on the board does signal quality of the IPO and therefore certify the IPO. Good lead managers generally understand the kind of value addition venture capitalists try to make to a firm they fund and they therefore attempt to market the IPO at a better price thus reducing underpricing. One of the essential and logical purposes of venture capital business is to exit, ideally through an initial public offering (IPO). The reason for their preference for an IPO is not difficult to understand, and could be attributed to the higher valuation per share that a venture capitalist would get if they offer their stock to public when compared to valuation in any other form of exit.