cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Future metrology needs for FEL reflective optics

An International Workshop on Metrology for X-ray and Neutron Optics has been held March 16-17, 2000, at the Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, near Chicago, Illinois (USA). The workshop gathered engineers and scientists from both the U.S. and around the world to evaluate metrology instrumentation and methods used to characterize surface figure and finish for long grazing incidence optics used in beamlines at synchrotrons radiation sources. This two-day workshop was motivated by the rapid evolution in the performance of x-ray and neutron sources along with requirements in optics figure and finish. More specifically, the performance of future light sources, such as free-electron laser (FEL)-based x-ray sources, is being pushed to new limits in term of both brilliance and coherence. As a consequence, tolerances on surface figure and finish of the next generation of optics are expected to become tighter. The timing of the workshop provided an excellent opportunity to study the problem, evaluate the state of the art in metrology instrumentation, and stimulate innovation on future metrology instruments and techniques to be used to characterize these optics. This paper focuses on FEL optics and metrology needs. (A more comprehensive summary of the workshop can be found elsewhere.) The performance and limitations of current metrology instrumentation will be discussed and recommendations from the workshop on future metrology development to meet the FEL challenges will be detailed.
Empiricism and Beyond Expanding the Boundaries of Special Education

A good deal of difficulty in the field of special education stems from our lack of awareness that what often appear to be attacks on our existence---the inclusion movement is a good example---are really the results of honest efforts to improve the field. in our nearly exclusive focus on empirical data, we have failed to understand the viewpoints of fellow special educators whose values and beliefs represent a nonempirical point of view. as habermas suggests, different forms of knowledge are needed to address different kinds of interests. in our focus on rationality, we have created crises of legitimacy and motivation. in this issue, our purpose is to acquaint special educators with some alternative perspectives in order to stimulate openness to communicative ethics, and, through mutual understanding and collaboration, to ensure the survival of our field.
Microarray Analysis. Mark Schena. New York: Wiley-Liss, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2003, 654 pp., $89.95, hardcover. ISBN 0-471-41443-3.

This is an excellent text that concisely overviews the use of microarray technology for the novice and also provides a valuable reference for those already taking advantage of this technology. If you need to know what microarrays are, how they can be used, how they work, and how you can analyze the data that microarrays generate, then this book will provide the insight. …
The Alexander polynomial of a 3-manifold and the Thurston norm on cohomology

Let M be a connected, compact, orientable 3-manifold with b1(M) > 1, whose boundary (if any) is a union of tori. Our main result is the inequality kk A ≤ kk T between the Alexander norm on H 1 (M, Z), defined in terms of the Alexan- der polynomial, and the Thurston norm, defined in terms of the Eu- ler characteristic of embedded surfaces. (A similar result holds when b1(M) = 1.) Using this inequality we determine the Thurston norm for most links with 9 or fewer crossings.
From Genotype to Phenotype

The idea that rates of degradation influence the time course of approach to new, steady-state concentrations applies to mRNAs and enzymes, but the two-compartment model is incomplete. It does not account for the processes by which transcription is activated, which frequently involve the regulation of DNA-binding proteins by ligands or by covalent modification. Also it does not include the processes involved in mRNA processing and transport, or the impact of the completed protein on cellular metabolism. To be useful to the molecular biologist, a simulation tool should be able to describe any intermediate that could potentially affect the outcome of an experiment, and this requires information about each rate of formation, transfer, or elimination (Hargrove, 1993). In the sequential reactions of gene expression, the processing or transfer of each intermediate not only affects the yield, but also introduces a delay that is proportional to the half-time of each step. Many molecular biologists need to make predictions concerning the effects of altered transcription, nuclear mRNA metabolism, and translational or posttransla-tional controls.
Prepared Statement, Hearing on 'The State of Class Actions Ten Years after the Class Action Fairness Act'

Professor Moore was invited to testify before the Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice, U.S. House of Representatives on February 27, 2015. This paper constitutes her prepared statement submitted in advance of that hearing and is published online. A video recording of the hearing is also available.As the only minority witness testifying before the Subcommittee, Professor Moore made three overall points. First, in evaluating suggestions in some quarters that class actions impose significant private costs, policymakers must not forget the public benefits of class actions, and why, despite their imperfections, they are a quintessentially American feature of the civil justice system. Second, in looking at the big picture of class actions since CAFA's passage, it is essential to consider legislative developments and Supreme Court decisions that have severely restricted not only class actions, but access to justice for average Americans. Finally, any contention that might be made about class actions must be placed in perspective by realizing that there are very few statistics on any aspect of class actions or class action practice that are publicly available for either the federal courts or the state courts.
Middle Miocene carnivorans from the Monarch Mill Formation, Nevada

The lowest part of the Monarch Mill Formation in the Middlegate basin, west-central Nevada, has yielded a middle Miocene (Barstovian Land Mammal Age) vertebrate assemblage, the Eastgate local fauna. Paleobotanical evidence from nearby, nearly contemporaneous fossil leaf assemblages indicates that the Middle Miocene vegetation in the area was mixed coniferous and hardwood forest and chaparral-sclerophyllous shrubland, and suggests that the area had been uplifted to 2700–2800 m paleoaltitude before dropping later to near its present elevation of 1600 m. Thus, the local fauna provides a rare glimpse at a medium- to high-altitude vertebrate community in the intermountain western interior of North America. The local fauna includes the remains of fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and 25 families of mammals. Carnivorans, the focus of this study, include six taxa (three of which are new) belonging to four families. Canidae are represented by the borophagine Tomarctus brevirostris and the canine Leptocyon sp. ind...
Ellis-van Creveld Syndrome with Sagittal Craniosynostosis.

Ellis–van Creveld syndrome (EVC) is a rare disorder (the incidence is estimated at around 7/1,000,000) characterized by the clinical tetrad of chondrodystrophy, polydactyly, ectodermal dysplasia, and cardiac anomalies. Sagittal synostosis is characterized by a dolichocephalic head shape resulting from premature fusion of the sagittal suture. Both are rare disorders, which have never been reported together. We present a case of EVC and sagittal synostosis. We report the clinical features of a Hispanic boy with EVC and sagittal craniosynostosis who underwent cranial vault remodeling. The presentation of this patient is gone over in detail. A never before reported case of EVC and sagittal synostosis is presented in detail.
The Future of Intensive Care Unit Sedation: A Report of Continuous Infusion Ketamine as an Alternative Sedative Agent:

This report describes a patient case utilizing a nontraditional sedative, continuous infusion ketamine, as an alternative agent for intensive care unit (ICU) sedation. A 27-year-old female presented for neurosurgical management of a coup contrecoup injury, left temporal fracture, epidural hemorrhage (EDH), and temporal contusion leading to sustained mechanical ventilation. The patient experienced profound agitation during mechanical ventilation and developed adverse effects with all traditional sedatives: benzodiazepines, dexmedetomidine, opioids, and propofol. Ketamine was titrated to effect and eliminated the need for other agents. This led to successful ventilator weaning, extubation, and transition of care. Given the unique side effect profile of ketamine, it is imperative that information is disseminated on potential utilization of this agent. More information is needed regarding dosing, monitoring, and long-term effects of utilizing ketamine as a continuous ICU sedative, but given the analgesia, anesthesia, and cardiopulmonary stability, future utilization of this medication for this indication seems promising.
Growing Apart: The Changing Firm-Size Wage Effect and Its Inequality Consequences

Wage inequality in the United States has risen dramatically over the past several decades, prompting scholars to develop a number of theoretical accounts for the upward trend. This study takes an organizational approach to examine how changes in the firm-size wage effect (FSWE) — a phenomenon whereby otherwise similar workers earn more when employed by large firms — have affected the wage distribution in the U.S labor market. Using data from the Current Population Survey and Survey of Income and Program Participation, our findings reveal that in 1987, although all workers benefited from a firm-size wage premium, the premium was significantly higher for individuals at the bottom (e.g., 10th and 25th percentiles) and middle of the wage distribution (e.g., 50th percentile) compared to those at the top (90th percentile). Between 1987 and 2014, however, whereas the average FSWE declined markedly, the decline was exclusive to those at the bottom and middle of the wage distribution while there was no change for those at the top. As such, the uneven declines in the FSWE across the wage distribution explain between 20 and 30 percent of rising wage inequality during this period, suggesting firms are of great importance to the study of rising inequality.
Retail Sales Clerk Evaluation Methods

A literature review serves as the basis for the construction of a consumer‐ oriented sales clerk evaluation methodology. Most current evaluations are from a managerial perspective and focus on store image or store patronage rather than measure sales clerk effectiveness.
Mining online forums for valuable contributions

Web 2.0 resources such as online forum messages are of growing value in supporting education and research, and new information systems are aimed at synthesizing these resources into environments facilitating collaboration, learning and other goals. To support the automatic identification of valuable Web 2.0 resources, this paper presents an approach for estimating the information value of messages posted to an online forum. The system integrates key insights that include (1) how to reliably obtain large quantities of both positive and negative examples of such resources for use in training a machine learning algorithm, (2) the importance of considering authorship when analyzing the value of an online message, (3) the benefit of considering the subsequent message when analyzing a given message for its importance, and (4) how to develop and leverage a custom sentiment analysis model for use in automatically identifying high-value messages. In an evaluation using almost 90000 messages from an online forum, a baseline model for identifying valuable messages made over 50% more errors than the proposed model.
Engaging nonscience majors in urban ecology: Recommendations for course design

Courses in urban ecology are increasingly being offered in higher education to advance students’ understanding of the relationships between humans, their built environment, and ecosystem services and functions. Yet despite the social and scientific importance of issues related to urban development, and the potential to actively engage students in biological topics relevant to their daily lives, few urban ecology courses have been developed and taught at the introductory level. This article describes an introductory nonscience majors’ urban ecology course that was designed and implemented to align with recent reform calls aimed at improving undergraduate biology education. The broader intent of this manuscript is to outline the design process and highlight resources and instructional strategies that may inform the efforts of faculty interested in teaching introductory or advanced urban ecology courses. Information on lecture topics, sample readings, and in-class activities is presented. The course emphasizes active learning and focuses on developing core scientific competencies and higher level thinking skills that encourage students to be inquisitive, analytical, and creative in the learning of ecological concepts. The described course is designed as a traditional 3-credit hour course with no formal laboratory component; however, the content and configuration of the urban ecology course would align well with a dedicated laboratory.
The role of legitimacy in pursuing environmentally responsible transportation practices

Abstract Shippers and carriers have been slow to pursue reduced freight transportation emissions, despite progress made in reducing emissions elsewhere in the supply chain. The purpose of this research is to specifically explore the legitimacy-related motivations for utilizing a voluntary environmental partnership (VEP) to improve environmentally responsible freight transportation practices (ERTP). This research develops propositions through case studies of U.S. shippers and carriers in an effort to better understand motivations for and perceived benefits from pursuing these practices through joining or not joining the SmartWay transportation VEP. The findings indicate that pragmatic and moral legitimacy are the primary legitimacy drivers of joining a VEP and implementing these practices. The benefits associated with membership in a transportation VEP are viewed positively overall, though more so by shippers than by carriers. Whether the company joined the VEP entirely of its own volition, as in the case of most shippers studied, or under perceived pressure from a customer impacts the perceived outcomes of VEP membership. The findings further suggest that membership in a transportation VEP can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce costs, which could encourage and expand these practices toward a cleaner environment.
A 3-Day-Old Girl Referred From Her Pediatrician for Oral Ulcerations.

A 3-day-old girl was referred from her pediatrician for oral ulcerations. The patient was otherwise well appearing and afebrile. Her prenatal and antenatal courses were unremarkable, except for a failed routine hearing screen. The patient’s examination was notable for several yellowish ulcers on erythematous bases located on her anterior tonsillar pillars. The patient also had a right coloboma and a II/VI systolic ejection murmur. Laboratory analyses revealed a traumatic lumbar puncture with 182 000 red blood cells and 808 white blood cells, as well as a complete blood count that showed thrombocytopenia and leukocytosis. During the patient’s hospitalization, she developed a new facial rash. Her physical examination findings, along with her diagnostic evaluation and hospital course, ultimately led to 2 surprising diagnoses elaborated on in this case discussion.
Tender Years Doctrine

The Tender Years Doctrine was a family law principle that began in 1881 and held that children should remain in their mother's care following a divorce as mothers are best equipped to meet the children's needs. The Tender Years Doctrine was determined to discriminate against, and violate, the rights of fathers and other caretakers. Currently, the Best Interests of the Child Standard is applied when determining custody arrangements for children. Additional research is needed to investigate the advantages and disadvantages of child inclusion in custody arrangement, shared parenting, and child support decisions. Keywords: Best Interests of the Child; child custody; divorce; Tender Years Doctrine
Use of Chronically Labeled Animals in the Study of a “Metabolically Inert” Protein

The use of acute labeling techniques (pulse labeling) has been successful in tracing and locating rapid metabolic pathways in vivo. This procedure was used in the classical experiments of Schoenheimer [1] on labile cellular proteins which gave rise to the concept of the dynamic state of body constituents. The concept described protein turnover as a continual process of synthesis and degradation as evidenced by the active uptake and release of isotopic compounds (see Fig. 1). Turnover represented the occurrence of synthesis which cannot be detected analytically because it was exactly balanced by breakdown [2]. Acute and chronic isotopic studies have demonstrated that the fibrous proteins of muscle and connective tissues have the least active turnover and are considered to be relatively inert metabolically [3, 4]—inert in the sense that the proteins were nonrenewable. However, these studies could not distinguish between essentially non isotopic turnover (nonsynthetic and nondestructive) of macromolecules and absolute inertness.
Proximal gradient temporal difference learning algorithms

In this paper, we describe proximal gradient temporal difference learning, which provides a principled way for designing and analyzing true stochastic gradient temporal difference learning algorithms. We show how gradient TD (GTD) reinforcement learning methods can be formally derived, not with respect to their original objective functions as previously attempted, but rather with respect to primal-dual saddle-point objective functions. We also conduct a saddle-point error analysis to obtain finite-sample bounds on their performance. Previous analyses of this class of algorithms use stochastic approximation techniques to prove asymptotic convergence, and no finite-sample analysis had been attempted. An accelerated algorithm is also proposed, namely GTD2-MP, which use proximal "mirror maps" to yield acceleration. The results of our theoretical analysis imply that the GTD family of algorithms are comparable and may indeed be preferred over existing least squares TD methods for off-policy learning, due to their linear complexity. We provide experimental results showing the improved performance of our accelerated gradient TD methods.
Magnetic hyperthermia performance of magnetite nanoparticle assemblies under different driving fields

The heating performance of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) under an alternating magnetic field (AMF) is dependent on several factors. Optimizing these factors improves the heating efficiency for cancer therapy and meanwhile lowers the MNP treatment dosage. AMF is one of the most easily controllable variables to enhance the efficiency of heat generation. This paper investigated the optimal magnetic field strength and frequency for an assembly of magnetite nanoparticles. For hyperthermia treatment in clinical applications, monodispersed NPs are forming nanoclusters in target regions where a strong magnetically interactive environment is anticipated, which leads to a completely different situation than MNPs in ferrofluids. Herein, the energy barrier model is revisited and Neel relaxation time is tailored for high MNP packing densities. AMF strength and frequency are customized for different magnetite NPs to achieve the highest power generation and the best hyperthermia performance.
MSSM from the Heterotic String Compactified on $$T^{6}/\mathbb{Z}_{6}$$

This chapter is based on the work in [405–408, 437]. In this section we discuss just one “benchmark” model (Model 1) obtained via a “mini-landscape” search [405] of the E8 × E8 heterotic string compactified on the \(\mathbb{Z}_{6}\) orbifold [406].
Validation of highly accelerated real-time cardiac cine MRI with radial k-space sampling and compressed sensing in patients at 1.5T and 3T.

Purpose To validate an optimal 12-fold accelerated real-time cine MRI pulse sequence with radial k-space sampling and compressed sensing (CS) in patients at 1.5T and 3T. Methods We used two strategies to reduce image artifacts arising from gradient delays and eddy currents in radial k-space sampling with balanced steady-state free precession readout. We validated this pulse sequence against a standard breath-hold cine sequence in two patient cohorts: a myocardial infarction (n = 16) group at 1.5T and chronic kidney disease group (n = 18) at 3T. Two readers independently performed visual analysis of 68 cine sets in four categories (myocardial definition, temporal fidelity, artifact, noise) on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = nondiagnostic, 2 = poor, 3 = adequate or moderate, 4 = good, 5 = excellent). Another reader calculated left ventricular (LV) functional parameters, including ejection fraction. Results Compared with standard cine, real-time cine produced nonsignificantly different visually assessed scores, except for the following categories: 1) temporal fidelity scores were significantly lower (P = 0.013) for real-time cine at both field strengths, 2) artifacts scores were significantly higher (P = 0.013) for real-time cine at both field strengths, and 3) noise scores were significantly (P = 0.013) higher for real-time cine at 1.5T. Standard and real-time cine pulse sequences produced LV functional parameters that were in good agreement (e.g., absolute mean difference in ejection fraction <4%). Conclusion This study demonstrates that an optimal 12-fold, accelerated, real-time cine MRI pulse sequence using radial k-space sampling and CS produces good to excellent visual scores and relatively accurate LV functional parameters in patients at 1.5T and 3T. Magn Reson Med, 2017. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
Robot Science Writers

Automated journalism has mostly been confined to game summaries, earnings reports, and other topics in which the principal content resides in readily harvestable data. But there are signs that robot writers might be expanding their reach into science.
Endothelin-1 action via endothelin receptors is a primary mechanism modulating retinal circulatory response to hyperoxia.

Purpose. To determine the role of endothelin (ET)- ET A receptor mediation and endogenous production of endothelin-1 (ET-1) in the retinal response to hyperoxia. Methods. Brown-Norway rats (n = 30) were injected intravitreally with an ET A receptor-selective antagonist, BQ-123, and an inhibitor of ET-converting enzyme (ECE), phosphoramidon, and were exposed to a 100% oxygen breathing mixture. Control rats underwent intravitreal injection of vehicle alone (2.5% Emulphor in phosphate-buffered saline). The retinal hemodynamic responses were analyzed using video-based fluorescein angiography (VFA) methodology. Baseline measurements were made with the animals breathing room air, and this was followed by intravitreal injections of the above agents. Subsequent VFA measurements were made after 5, 10, and 15 minutes of breathing 100% oxygen. Results. The 10 rats injected with vehicle alone demonstrated the expected retinal response to hyperoxia, with significant (P < 0.001) vessel constriction (18% ± 5%), an increase in retinal mean circulation time (0.84 ± 0.13 seconds in room air and 1.59 ± 0.27 seconds in 100% oxygen), and a decrease in blood flow (110.7 ± 19.2 pixel 2 /second in room air and 41.9 ± 9.0 pixel 2 /second in 100% oxygen), compared to values measured during room air breathing. The hyperoxic response in rats (n = 9) injected with 10 -4 M BQ-123 was significantly (P < 0.001) blunted compared to the group injected with vehicle alone. In contrast, intravitreal injection of saralasin, a specific angiotensin II receptor antagonist, had no significant effect on the retinal response to hyperoxia (n = 5). Intravitreal phosphoramidon (10 -3 M, n = 6) injection also resulted in a significantly (P < 0.001) blunted circulatory response to hyperoxia compared to rats injected with vehicle alone. This blunted response after ECE inhibition was comparable to that measured after ET A receptor antagonism with BQ-123 injection. Conclusions. These results demonstrate that the enhancement of ET-I action, possibly caused by the activation of ECE, plays a primary role in regulating the retinal hemodynamic response to hyperoxia.
National Landscape of General Surgery Mock Oral Examination Practices: Survey of Residency Program Directors.

INTRODUCTION Mock oral examinations (MOEs) are used within surgery residency programs to prepare trainees for the American Board of Surgery (ABS) Certifying Exam (CE), but little work exists to guide programs in terms of best practices for implementing a general surgery MOE program. This study, endorsed by the Association for Program Directors in Surgery (APDS) Research Committee, aimed to better understand the national scope of current practices for general surgery MOEs. METHODS General surgery residency program directors (PDs) were invited via the APDS listserv to complete a 27-item survey about their perceptions of the importance and correlates of MOEs, how their exams are structured, implementation barriers, and recent revisions to their MOE program. RESULTS Of 98 PDs responding to the survey, 94% (n = 92) responded about the characteristics of their formal MOE programs. The majority required upper level resident participation and held the exams 2 to 3 times annually; far fewer involved lower level residents. Most programs structure their MOEs to mimic the CE format with 3 exam rooms (76%), using premade questions (66%), presenting 4 scenarios per room (59%), and using two examiners per room (85%). Most PDs (88%) believed MOEs were very important or essential for surgery trainees, which correlated with their ratings of how important MOEs are to their Clinical Competency Committee for determining resident advancement (r = 0.32, p CONCLUSIONS MOEs were largely regarded as a highly valuable tool by PDs to prepare trainees for the general surgery CE. The majority of programs in this study provide a testing experience as similar to the CE as possible, although some variability in the structure of MOEs was identified. PDs also reported significant implementation barriers and a desire for more MOE collaboration.
Stochastic Feedback Combustion Control at High Dilution Limit

Cycle-to-cycle variability in the combustion process of spark ignition engines imposes limits when operating at highly diluted conditions. When exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) is used to achieve higher fuel efficiency, the combustion variability (CV) increases due to the reduction in flame propagation speed. A tight control is required to operate close to such limit with minimum variability to maximize EGR benefits. A linear quadratic Gaussian (LQG) controller has been designed to drive the system towards a high efficiency condition with high EGR without deteriorating CV. The controller manipulates spark advance (SA) and EGR-valve opening to target a desired operating condition. The closed-loop system however does not need to be designed only for transient response but also for steady state operation. The directionality of the open-loop system at the target condition is shown to be problematic. Rejection of disturbances along the directions with low plant gain requires large control signals that could drive the system towards misfiring conditions. Moreover, such control commands could be perceived by the driver as torque fluctuations, jeop-ardizing drivability. This limitations at the high dilution limit are discussed and simulated results are provided.
A new approach to eating‐disorder classification: Using empirical methods to delineate diagnostic dimensions and inform care

Objective Despite changes to the diagnostic criteria for eating disorders (EDs) in the DSM-5, the current diagnostic system for EDs has limited ability to inform treatment planning and predict outcomes. Our objective was to test the clinical utility of a novel dimensional approach to understanding the structure of ED psychopathology. Method Participants (N = 243; 82.2% women) were community-recruited adults with a DSM-5 ED assessed at baseline, 6-month, and 1-year follow-up. Hierarchical factor analysis was used to identify a joint hierarchical-dimensional structure of eating, mood, and anxiety symptoms. Exploratory structural equation modeling was used to test the ability of the dimensional model to predict outcomes. Results At the top of the hierarchy, we identified a broad Internalizing factor that reflected diffuse symptoms of eating, mood, and anxiety disorders. Internalizing branched into three subfactors: distress, fear-avoidance (fears of certain stimuli and behaviors to neutralize fears, including ED behaviors designed to reduce fear of weight gain), and body dissatisfaction, which was nested within distress. The lowest level of the hierarchy was characterized by 15 factors. The hierarchical model predicted 60.1% of the variance in outcomes at 6-month follow-up, whereas all DSM eating, mood, and anxiety disorders combined predicted 35.8% of the variance in outcomes. Discussion A dimensional approach to understanding and diagnosing EDs improved the ability to prospectively predict clinical course above-and-beyond the traditional categorical (DSM-based) approach. Our findings have implications for endeavors to improve the prediction of ED prognosis and course, and to develop more effective trans-diagnostic treatments.
Currently available first-line drug therapies for treating pancreatic cancer.

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is the 9th most common cancer in the United States and the 4th most common cause of cancer-related death given its poor prognosis.Areas covered: The ...
Human Laboratory Models of Cannabis Use Disorder

This chapter describes the use of human laboratory procedures to characterize key behavioral features of cannabis use disorder (CUD). First, we provide a brief overview of recent shifts in cannabis policy in the United States and how these policy changes may affect CUD prevalence. This overview is followed by sections describing the scientific rationale, and methodologies used, for studying discrete behavioral features of CUD (intoxication, positive reinforcing effects, tolerance, withdrawal, abstinence initiation, and relapse) under carefully controlled human laboratory conditions. The methodological primer is followed by sections that summarize studies that have used human laboratory models to examine various classes of medications as potential treatments for CUD. We then conclude with a discussion that synthesizes the results of these studies into the broader CUD treatment development literature, examining potential ways in which human laboratory and clinical trial research methodologies could be further refined.
Measuring intra-axonal T2 in white matter with direction-averaged diffusion MRI.

Purpose To demonstrate how the T2 relaxation time of intra-axonal water (T2a ) in white matter can be measured with direction-averaged diffusion MRI. Methods For b-values larger than about 4000 s/mm2 , the direction-averaged diffusion MRI signal from white matter is dominated by the contribution from water within axons, which enables T2a to be estimated by acquiring data for multiple TE values and fitting a mono-exponential decay curve. If given a value of the intra-axonal diffusivity, an extension of the method allows the extra-axonal relaxation time (T2e ) to be calculated also. This approach was applied to estimate T2a in white matter for 3 healthy subjects at 3 T, as well as T2e for a selected set of assumed intra-axonal diffusivities. Results The estimated T2a values ranged from about 50 ms to 110 ms, with considerable variation among white matter regions. For white matter tracts with primarily collinear fibers, T2a was found to depend on the angle of the tract relative to the main magnetic field, which is consistent with T2a being affected by magnetic field inhomogeneities arising from spatial differences in magnetic susceptibility. The T2e values were significantly smaller than the T2a values across white matter regions for several plausible choices of the intra-axonal diffusivity. Conclusion The relaxation time for intra-axonal water in white matter can be determined in a straightforward manner by measuring the direction-averaged diffusion MRI signal with a large b-value for multiple TEs. In healthy brain, T2a is greater than T2e and varies considerably with anatomical region.
KIST: Kernel-Informed Socket Transport for Tor

Tor’s growing popularity and user diversity has resulted in network performance problems that are not well understood, though performance is understood to be a significant factor in Tor’s security. A large body of work has attempted to solve performance problems without a complete understanding of where congestion occurs in Tor. In this article, we first study congestion in Tor at individual relays as well as along the entire end-to-end Tor path and find that congestion occurs almost exclusively in egress kernel socket buffers. We then analyze Tor’s socket interactions and discover two major contributors to Tor’s congestion: Tor writes sockets sequentially, and Tor writes as much as possible to each socket. To improve Tor’s performance, we design, implement, and test KIST: a new socket management algorithm that uses real-time kernel information to dynamically compute the amount to write to each socket while considering all circuits of all writable sockets when scheduling cells. We find that, in the medians, KIST reduces circuit congestion by more than 30%, reduces network latency by 18%, and increases network throughput by nearly 10%. We also find that client and relay performance with KIST improves as more relays deploy it and as network load and packet loss rates increase. We analyze the security of KIST and find an acceptable performance and security tradeoff, as it does not significantly affect the outcome of well-known latency, throughput, and traffic correlation attacks. KIST has been merged and configured as the default socket scheduling algorithm in Tor version 0.3.2.1-alpha (released September 18, 2017) and became stable in Tor version 0.3.2.9 (released January 9, 2018). While our focus is Tor, our techniques and observations should help analyze and improve overlay and application performance, both for security applications and in general.
Considering the Impacts of Health Disparities, Inequalities, and Inequities on Early Diagnosis of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

“Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane.” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Early recognition, diagnosis, and treatment of pulmonary arterial hyperte...
Camping—Transition between Hospital and Home for the Adult Mentally III

(1961). Camping—Transition between Hospital and Home for the Adult Mentally III. Journal of Health, Physical Education, Recreation: Vol. 32, No. 5, pp. 24-62.
Undiagnosed Late-onset Ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) Deficiency Presenting With Psychiatric Symptoms (P4.6-067)

Objective: To increase awareness of hyperammonemic crisis as the presentation of a urea cycle disorder in pediatric patients with episodic neuropsychiatric disturbances. Background: A 17-year-old girl with severe anxiety and depression on Vilazodone with a previous history of psychosis requiring inpatient psychiatric admission, was admitted for 1-week history of worsening neuropsychiatric symptoms including lethargy, vomiting, gait ataxia and agitation. A serum ammonia level obtained on the second day of admission was elevated at 378 ug/dL (normal range 20–50 ug/dL). Upon taking her history, the patient, her older sister, mother and maternal grandmother consciously avoided protein in their diets. A rapid analysis of blood amino acids by tandem mass spectrometry, showed a characteristic OTC deficiency metabolic profile, including a low normal citrulline, high glutamine and an elevated urinary orotic acid. Mutation analysis revealed a heterozygous pathogenic variant c.422G>A (p.Arg141Gln; AKA R141Q) in the OTC gene consistent with a diagnosis of X-linked OTC deficiency. Our patient was treated with intravenous hydration, hemodialysis, lactulose, intravenous arginine, sodium phenylacetate and sodium benzoate, and a protein-restricted diet. Her mental status and ataxia significantly improved once her ammonia level normalized. She was restarted on low dose of Vilazodone outpatient and resumed most of her daily activities. She was subsequently discharged on citrulline supplementation, instructions for protein restricted diet and oral glycerol phenylbutyrate with an outpatient evaluation for liver transplant. Our patient remained undiagnosed until 17 years of age when she presented in acute hyperammonemic crisis. Her prior symptoms of neuropsychiatric disturbances were attributed to anxiety and depression and possible drug side effect. Undiagnosed OTC deficiency may have been a contributing factor to her psychiatric symptoms. Design/Methods: Not applicable Results: Not applicable Conclusions: Urea cycle disorders should be considered as a differential diagnosis in pediatric patients presenting with an acute psychiatric presentation and emphasis should be placed on testing ammonia levels immediately. Disclosure: Dr. Muzammil has nothing to disclose. Dr. Chrusciel has nothing to disclose. Dr. Katyal has nothing to disclose.
Total Dose Testing of the ISL70061SEH and ISL70062SEH PMOS and NMOS Load Switches

We report the results of total ionizing dose testing carried out by Renesas Electronics America on the ISL70061SEH (PMOS) and ISL70062SEH (NMOS) load switches. These parts are single channel, low voltage, high current load switches intended for use in space power switching applications. The tests were carried out as a part of baseline total dose hardness characterization carried out during part development. The test also performed biased high temperature anneals after the completion of irradiation at both dose rates to evaluate time dependent effects. Both parts are implemented in a 0.6 micron bulk BiCMOS process.
Kinetic fall-off behavior for the Cl + Furan-2,5-dione (C4H2O3, maleic anhydride) reaction

Rate coefficients, k, for the gas-phase Cl + Furan-2,5-dione (C4H2O3, maleic anhydride) reaction were measured over the 15–500 torr (He and N2 bath gas) pressure range at temperatures between 283 and 323 K. Kinetic measurements were performed using pulsed laser photolysis (PLP) to produce Cl atoms and atomic resonance fluorescence (RF) to monitor the Cl atom temporal profile. Complementary relative rate (RR) measurements were performed at 296 K and 620 torr pressure (syn. air) and found to be in good agreement with the absolute measurements. A Troe-type fall-off fit of the temperature and pressure dependence yielded the following rate coefficient parameters: ko(T) = (9.4 ± 0.5) × 10−29 (T/298)−6.3 cm6 molecule−2 s−1, k∞(T) = (3.4 ± 0.5) × 10−11 (T/298)−1.4 cm3 molecule−1 s−1. The formation of a Cl·C4H2O3 adduct intermediate was deduced from the Cl atom temporal profiles and an equilibrium constant, KP(T), for the Cl + C4H2O3 ↔ Cl·C4H2O3 reaction was determined. A third-law analysis yielded ΔH = −15.7 ± 0.4 kcal mol−1 with ΔS = −25.1 cal K−1 mol−1, where ΔS was derived from theoretical calculations at the B3LYP/6-311G(2d,p,d) level. In addition, the rate coefficient for the Cl·C4H2O3 + O2 reaction at 296 K was measured to be (2.83 ± 0.16) × 10−12 cm3 molecule−1 s−1, where the quoted uncertainty is the 2σ fit precision. Stable end-product molar yields of (83 ± 7), (188 ± 10), and (65 ± 10)% were measured for CO, CO2, and HC(O)Cl, respectively, in an air bath gas. An atmospheric degradation mechanism for C4H2O3 is proposed based on the observed product yields and theoretical calculations of ring-opening pathways and activation barrier energies at the CBS-QB3 level of theory.
An Inclusive and Diverse Entrepreneurial Ecosystem for Africa

The African Union (AU) and its allies have been holding series of discussions on the need and potentials of achieving a single African market, Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA).
Dynamics of adrenergic signaling in cardiac myocytes and implications for pharmacological treatment

Dense innervation of the heart by the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) allows cardiac output to respond appropriately to the needs of the body under varying conditions, but occasionally the abrupt onset of SNS activity can trigger cardiac arrhythmias. Sympathetic activity leads to the release of norepinephrine (NE) onto cardiomyocytes, activating β1-adrenergic receptors (β1-ARs) and leading to the production of the second messenger cyclic AMP (cAMP). Upon sudden activation of β1-ARs in experiments, intracellular cAMP can transiently rise to a high concentration before converging to a steady state level. Although changes to cellular cAMP concentration are important in modulating the overall cardiovascular response to sympathetic tone, the underlying mechanisms of the cAMP transients and the parameters that control their magnitude are unclear. We reduce a detailed computational model of the β1-adrenergic signaling cascade to a system of two differential equations by eliminating extraneous variables and applying quasi-steady state approximation. The structure of the reduced model reveals that the large cAMP transients associated with abrupt β1-AR activation are generated by the interplay of production/degradation of cAMP and desensitization/resensitization of β1-ARs. The reduced model is used to predict how the dynamics of intracellular cAMP depend on the concentrations of norepinephrine (NE), phosphodiesterases 3 and 4 (PDE3,4), G-protein coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2), and β1-AR, in healthy conditions and a simple model of early stages of heart failure. The key findings of the study are as follows: 1) Applying a reduced model of the dynamics of cardiac sympathetic signaling we show that the concentrations of two variables, cAMP and non-desensitized β1-AR, capture the overall dynamics of sympathetic signaling; 2) The key factors influencing cAMP production are AC activity and PDE3,4 activity, while those that directly impact β1-AR phosphorylation are GRK2 and PKA1. Thus, disease states that affect sympathetic control of the heart can be thoroughly assessed by studying AC activity, PDE3,4, GRK2 and PKA activity, as these factors directly impact cAMP production/degradation and β1-AR (de) phosphorylation and are therefore predicted to comprise the most effective pharmaceutical targets in diseases affecting cardiac β1-adrenergic signaling.
Clinician-family relationships may impact neonatal intensive care: clinicians' perspectives.

Collaborative clinician–family relationships are necessary for the delivery of successful patient- and family-centered care (PFCC) in the NICU. Challenging clinician–family relationships may undermine such collaboration and the potential impacts on patient care are unknown. Consistent caregivers were surveyed to describe their relationships and collaboration with families of infants hospitalized ≥ 28 days. Medical record review collected infant and family characteristics hypothesized to impact relationships. Mixed methods analysis was performed. Clinicians completed 243 surveys representing 77 families. Clinicians reported low collaboration with families who were not at the bedside and/or did not speak English. Clinicians perceived most clinician–family relationships impact the infant’s hospital course. Negative impacts included communication challenges, mistrust or frustration with the team and disruptions to patient care. This study identifies features of clinician–family relationships that may negatively impact an infant’s NICU stay. Targeting supports for these families is necessary to achieve effective PFCC.
American Association for Thoracic Surgery Summer Intern Scholarship-Over a decade of experience.

Abstract Objective The study objective was to evaluate the experience of previous American Association for Thoracic Surgery Summer Intern Scholarship recipients. Methods A database of recipients of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery Summer Intern Scholarship in Cardiothoracic Surgery provided by the American Association for Thoracic Surgery was analyzed. A questionnaire was sent via email to recipients with 10 questions within the survey to assess the types of exposure during the internship, the impact of the internship on career choices, the current career setting, and any additional thoughts regarding the internship. Results Between 2007 and 2017, there were 356 awardees of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery Summer Intern Scholarship. These awardees were from 41 different medical schools and went to 39 different sponsoring institutions. Ultimately, 55 (15.5%) medical students chose a career in cardiothoracic surgery, with 153 (43.0%) awardees deciding to pursue a surgical subspecialty. Of those who received our survey, 75 awardees responded (29.2%). A majority of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery Summer Interns were exposed to the sponsoring surgeon (98.7%, n = 74) and operating room (88.0%, n = 66) on at least a weekly basis during the 8-week internship. All of the respondents participated in basic science or clinical research at their sponsoring institution. Some 92.0% (n = 69) of the awardees highly recommended this scholarship to medical students interested in cardiothoracic surgery. Conclusions The awardees of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery Summer Intern Scholarship come from a variety of medical schools and visited a diverse group of sponsoring institutions. The 8-week program provides valuable early exposure for medical students to cardiothoracic surgeons, the operating room, and research opportunities. This experience was highly recommended by prior recipients to medical students interested in cardiothoracic surgery.
Effect of Mechanical Stress Induced by PCB-Embedding Fabrication on Ferrite Magnetics

Today, high power density is becoming increasingly important in power electronic system design. With features of low profile, low cost, and done reliably in mass production, the embedding of magnetic components within printed circuit boards (PCBs) has attracted a strong interest in both academy and industry. Ferrite materials have been widely used in low power applications thanks to their low core loss density; however, they can lose significant permeability when subject to mechanical stress during the embedding process. As a result, properties such as relative permeability, core resistivity, and self-resonant frequency change correspondingly, which could easily lead to rendering the design targets unattainable. In this paper, an experimental survey was conducted. Several boards with multiple PCB-embedded inductors or transformers fabricated under different stress level were measured and compared. A frequency-dependent lumped circuit model was applied to the inductors, according to which how the embedding stress affects the inductor parameters at high frequency range is presented.