cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Metaphor and Storytelling in Interface Design for Virtual Reality

Virtual Reality has – again – become the target of substantial interest, research and industry growth. In the current market situation it is aimed at a general audience rather than expert users and therefore requires a fundamental rethinking of how we conceive of human computer interaction in Virtual Reality. In comparison to the established methods of designing interfaces for the desktop environment and for mobile applications numerous changes need to be considered. Even though the use of metaphors has become looser and more abstract, it is still the common way of providing an easily graspable conceptual model of the functions and behaviors of an application, be it an operating system or a task-oriented application. How do metaphors work in Virtual Reality? How does the relationship between the metaphorical environment and the environment of operation change? What kind of cognitive support structures are necessary for the perceptual situation of Virtual Reality? Drawing from an interdisciplinary set of theories we will address these questions through high-level analysis and develop methodologies to recast the design principles for the creation of user interfaces for Virtual Reality.
Nonlinear inverse problems

This chapter develops techniques for solving nonlinear inverse problems with Gaussian statistics. A few of these problems can be solved exactly, through a linearizing transformation, although conditions required for the transformations to be valid are often lacking. More often, nonlinear problems usually have no exact solution and must be approached through approximation. A series of methods of increasing complexity are discussed. These include global search methods, such as the grid search and the Monte Carlo method, which attempt to test all points in model space, and local methods, such as Newton's method and the gradient method, which rely on iteratively improving a trial solution through a local analysis of its properties. The best qualities of these two solution strategies are combined in the simulated annealing method. Each of these methods is explained, its respective advantages and limitations are enumerated, and each is applied to the same exemplary nonlinear problem. The use of the bootstrap method to define confidence intervals for estimated model parameters of a nonlinear inverse problem is discussed and demonstrated.
Internalizing Symptoms and Personality Traits Color Parental Reports of Child Temperament

Objective: Depressed parents have negatively distorted views of the personalities and behaviors of their children. Our goal was to evaluate how other internalizing symptoms and personality traits relate to perceptions of child temperament using data from mothers and fathers as well as novel statistical method for modeling multi-informant data. Method. We applied the trifactor model (Bauer et al., 2013) to data collected from the parents of 273 children (ages 3-5 years). Results. Internalizing symptoms and personality traits were related to both mothers' and fathers' perceptions of their children. Effects varied somewhat across dimensions of child temperament. Conclusions: These results support concerns that psychological characteristics influence parental perceptions of their children. This research also provides insights about psychological predictors of potential parental biases. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Problem Posing in Leadership Education: Using Case Study to Foster More Effective Problem Solving.

This case explores Crabapple Middle, a struggling urban school in the midst of a transition that seeks new leadership that can overcome the challenges of two sub-cultures that divide the school and...
Optimized pressure pulse-decay method for laboratory estimation of gas permeability of sorptive reservoirs: Part 2 - Experimental study

Since pressure measurements can be made more conveniently and accurately compared to fluid flowrate, the pressure transient technique is considered an advanced method for laboratory permeability measurement of unconventional gas reservoir rocks, specifically, gas shales, tight gas sand, and highly-stressed coalbed methane (CBM) reservoirs. However, two major factors, compressive storage and sorption effect, can lead to enormous error when testing sorptive rocks using the pulse-decay method (PDM). In order to overcome these, an optimized PDM experimental design of the transient technique for permeability testing of unconventional gas reservoir rocks was introduced in Part 1 of this two-part series. A modified mathematical model, describing one-dimensional fluid flow in porous media and best representing the optimized PDM design, was then presented to numerically investigate the fluid flow behavior and theoretically verify the applicability of Brace et al.’s solution in permeability calculation of sorptive rocks. To experimentally illustrate and verify the applicability of the optimized experimental design under best replicated in situ stress/strain conditions, a core of coal from San Juan basin was tested under triaxial stress. The experimental results showed that accurate and time-saving measurement can be achieved by choosing appropriate fluid reservoir volumes. Based on characterization of the pressure pulse decay plots, it was concluded that the effect of compressive storage on pressure variation in the up-/down-stream reservoirs and permeability calculation can be avoided when applying the optimized PDM. CO2 was used as the test fluid to investigate the effect of sorption on pressure variation due to its higher affinity towards coal than methane. The experimental results showed that sorption effect was eliminated, leading to accurate permeability values. A similar permeability trend with pressure drawdown, as previously measured for San Juan basin coal, was established. Also, comparison of the measured pressure decay plots and those obtained from computer simulation exhibited perfect matches, indicating that Brace et al.’s solution can be used for permeability estimation of sorptive rocks by adopting the optimized transient technique.
Colloidal Gels with Extracellular Matrix Particles and Growth Factors for Bone Regeneration in Critical Size Rat Calvarial Defects

Colloidal gels encapsulating natural materials and exhibiting paste-like properties for placement are promising for filling complex geometries in craniofacial bone regeneration applications. Colloidal materials have demonstrated modest clinical outcomes as bone substitutes in orthopedic applications, but limited success in craniofacial applications. As such, development of a novel colloidal gel will fill a void in commercially available products for use in craniofacial reconstruction. One likely application for this technology is cranial reconstruction. Currently, traumatic brain injury (TBI) is often treated with a hemi-craniectomy, a procedure in which half the cranium is removed to allow the injured brain to swell and herniate beyond the enclosed cranial vault. The use of colloidal gels would allow for the design of a pliable material capable of expansion during brain swelling and facilitate cranial bone regeneration alleviating the need for a second surgery to replace the previously removed hemi-cranium. In the current study, colloidal nanoparticles of hydroxyapatite (HAp), demineralized bone matrix (DBM), and decellularized cartilage (DCC) were combined with hyaluronic acid (HA) to form colloidal gels with desirable rheological properties ( $$ {\tau}_{\mathrm{y}} $$ ≥ 100 Pa). BMP-2 and VEGF growth factors were included to assess extracellular matrix (ECM) contribution of DBM and DCC. The HA-HAp (BMP-2) and HA-HAp-DCC group had 89 and 82% higher bone regeneration compared to the sham group, respectively (p < 0.01). Material retention issues observed may be alleviated by implementing chemical crosslinking. Overall, DCC may be a promising material for bone regeneration in general, and colloidal gels may hold significant potential in craniofacial applications.
Never forget a name: white matter connectivity predicts person memory

Through learning and practice, we can acquire numerous skills, ranging from the simple (whistling) to the complex (memorizing operettas in a foreign language). It has been proposed that complex learning requires a network of brain regions that interact with one another via white matter pathways. One candidate white matter pathway, the uncinate fasciculus (UF), has exhibited mixed results for this hypothesis: some studies have shown UF involvement across a range of memory tasks, while other studies report null results. Here, we tested the hypothesis that the UF supports associative memory processes and that this tract can be parcellated into sub-tracts that support specific types of memory. Healthy young adults performed behavioral tasks (two face–name learning tasks, one word pair memory task) and underwent a diffusion-weighted imaging scan. Our results revealed that variation in UF microstructure was significantly associated with individual differences in performance on both face–name tasks, as well as the word association memory task. A UF sub-tract, functionally defined by its connectivity between face-selective regions in the anterior temporal lobe and orbitofrontal cortex, selectively predicted face–name learning. In contrast, connectivity between the fusiform face patch and both anterior face patches had no predictive validity. These findings suggest that there is a robust and replicable relationship between the UF and associative learning and memory. Moreover, this large white matter pathway can be subdivided to reveal discrete functional profiles.
VCSEL based SWDM links for data centers

We review several techniques for expanding the carrying capacity of multimode fiber (MMF) data links using short wavelength division multiplexing (SWDM) and selective modal launch. Our approach utilizing four SWDM vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) and novel diffractive optical components enables 100 GbE transmission in a single 300 m OM3 MMF lane.
Researching Marketing Activities in Small Commercial Banks1

Commercial banking is going through a period of transition which is being molded by various environmental changes. A successful transition will require that banks adopt many of the marketing techniques utilized by the packaged goods industries. This observation applies to both large and small commercial banking institutions. In order to ascertain the current status of their marketing activities, 273 Illinois banks were surveyed. New product introductions, advertising, and product differentiation were found to be the most frequently used marketing techniques. Least used marketing variables included marketing research, statement of marketing objectives, timely consumer information, and employment of full time marketing staff.
Aggrecan-like biomimetic proteoglycans (BPGs) composed of natural chondroitin sulfate bristles grafted onto a poly(acrylic acid) core for molecular engineering of the extracellular matrix.

Abstract Biomimetic proteoglycans (BPGs) were designed to mimic the three-dimensional (3D) bottlebrush architecture of natural extracellular matrix (ECM) proteoglycans, such as aggrecan. BPGs were synthesized by grafting native chondroitin sulfate bristles onto a synthetic poly(acrylic acid) core to form BPGs at a molecular weight of approximately ∼1.6 MDa. The aggrecan mimics were characterized chemically, physically, and structurally, confirming the 3D bottlebrush architecture as well as a level of water uptake, which is greater than that of the natural proteoglycan, aggrecan. Aggrecan mimics were cytocompatible at physiological concentrations. Fluorescently labeled BPGs were injected into the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc ex vivo and were retained in tissue before and after static loading and equilibrium conditioning. BPGs infiltrated the tissue, distributed and integrated with the ECM on a molecular scale, in the absence of a bolus, thus demonstrating a new molecular approach to tissue repair: molecular matrix engineering. Molecular matrix engineering may compliment or offer an acellular alternative to current regenerative medicine strategies. Statement of Significance Aggrecan is a natural biomolecule that is essential for connective tissue hydration and mechanics. Aggrecan is composed of negatively charged chondroitin sulfate bristles attached to a protein core in a bottlebrush configuration. With age and degeneration, enzymatic degradation of aggrecan outpaces cellular synthesis resulting in a loss of this important molecule. We demonstrate a novel biomimetic molecule composed of natural chondroitin sulfate bristles grafted onto an enzymatically-resistant synthetic core. Our molecule mimics a 3D architecture and charge density of the natural aggrecan, can be delivered via a simple injection and is retained in tissue after equilibrium conditioning and loading. This novel material can serve as a platform for molecular repair, drug delivery and tissue engineering in regenerative medicine approaches.
Paradigm Parley: A Framework for the Dialectic Stance:

Conceptual stances provide guidance to the mixed methods researcher as he or she makes decisions throughout the research process, including determining the dimensions of integration or levels at wh...
Sparse matrix methods for chemical process simulation

The rigorous simulation of complex chemical processes on supercomputers requires the use of sparse methods which efficiently exploit vector and parallel architectures. On September 27, 1991 Stephen E. Zitney from Cray Research has described the approach of directly solving process flowsheeting matrices via the frontal method. The motivation for this method is to take advantage of vector computers by treating parts of the sparse flowsheeting matrix as full submatrices. This allows arithmetic operations to be performed with full matrix code and circumvent the difficulties inherent in indirect addressing on vector processors.
The viscoelastic properties of ordered latices: a self-consistent field theory

Abstract The self-consistent field model developed herein can predict both equilibrium and transport properties for ordered monodisperse latices. The osmotic pressure and shear modulus calculated from the multiparticle electrostatic interactions depend on the dimensionless surface charge density and electrolyte concentration as well as the volume fraction. The results for the dielectric permittivity and dynamic viscosity account only for the first-order effect of volume fraction. The theory reveals the critical role of the counterions in shielding the surface charge and illustrates the significant difference between systems in which the surface potential, as opposed to the surface charge, remains fixed with increasing concentration.
The Model and Energy Measurement of Energy Hub

This chapter proposes a new method to evaluate integrated energy systems which take full consideration of the utilization effect of renewable energy. Exergy analysis of multiple energy system is introduced from the perspective of quality of energy. A new power flow expression of energy hub contain storage is given in order to overcome the disadvantage of traditional power flow expression. This chapter also presents a novel droop control method of energy hubs which contain thermal and electric droop control method in a multiple energy system. The proposed energy hub droop control method can proportional allocate different energy hubs thermal and electric outputs according to the corresponding energy maximum output power of energy hubs to allow independent operation of the energy hubs and ensure the stability of the multiple energy system. The three-dimensional diagrams of energy hub droop control method is presented to integrally represent the relationship between systems parameters and the inputs of energy hub meanwhile solely represent the relationship between systems parameters and each input of energy hub that using proposed droop control method. Numerical simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed droop control method based on energy hub.
Deep and Machine Learning Approaches for Anomaly-Based Intrusion Detection of Imbalanced Network Traffic

Recently, cybersecurity threats have increased dramatically, and the techniques used by the attackers continue to evolve and become ingenious during the attack. Moreover, the complexity and frequent occurrence of imbalanced class distributions in most datasets indicate the need for extra research efforts. The objective of this article is to utilize various techniques for handling imbalanced datasets to build an effective intrusion detection system from the up-to-date Coburg Intrusion Detection Dataset-001 (CIDDS-001) dataset. The effectiveness of sampling methods on CIDDS-001 is carefully studied and experimentally evaluated through deep neural networks, random forest, voting, variational autoencoder, and stacking machine learning classifiers. The proposed system was able to detect attacks with up to 99.99% accuracy when handling the imbalanced class distribution with fewer samples, making it more convenient in real-time data fusion problems that target data classification.
Antiplane elastic waves in an anisotropic half-space: Fundamental solution, multipoles and scattering problems

Abstract The effects of the traction-free boundary of a half-space can often be incorporated using images. In the simplest situations, a point force in the half-space induces an image force at the mirror-image point outside the half-space. However, for antiplane deformations of anisotropic media, the image point has a different location, as shown by T. C. T. Ting for static problems. This observation leads to formulas for a time-harmonic half-space fundamental solution and for time-harmonic half-space multipole solutions.
Phase I Immunotherapy Trial with Two Chimeric HER-2 B-Cell Peptide Vaccines Emulsified in Montanide ISA 720VG and Nor-MDP Adjuvant in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors.

Purpose: This first-in-human phase I study (NCT 01417546) evaluated the safety profile, optimal immunologic/biological dose (OID/OBD), and immunogenicity of the combination of two peptide B-cell epitope vaccines engineered to represent the trastuzumab- and pertuzumab-binding sites. Although trastuzumab and pertuzumab have been approved for clinical use, patients often develop resistance to these therapies. We have advanced a new paradigm in immunotherapy that focuses on humoral responses based on conformational B-cell epitope vaccines. Patients and Methods: The vaccine is comprised of two chimeric HER-2 B-cell peptide vaccines incorporating a “promiscuous T-cell epitope.” Patients were immunized with the vaccine constructs emulsified with nor-muramyl-dipeptide adjuvant in a water-in-oil Montanide ISA 720VG vehicle. Eligible patients with metastatic and/or recurrent solid tumors received three inoculations every 3 weeks. Results: Forty-nine patients with a median of 4 prior lines of chemotherapy received at least 1 vaccination. Twenty-eight patients completed the 3 vaccination regimens. Six patients received 1 six-month boost after the regimen, and one patient received 7 six-month boosts. No serious adverse reactions or dose-limiting toxicities were observed. The vaccine was well tolerated with dose level 2 as the recommended phase II dose. The most common related toxicity in all patients was injection-site reactions (24%). Two patients had a partial response, 14 had stable disease, and 19 had progressive disease. Conclusions: The study vaccine is safe, exhibits antitumor activity, and shows preliminary indication that peptide vaccination may avoid therapeutic resistance and offer a promising alternative to monoclonal antibody therapies.
How and Why Effective Leaders Construct and Evolve Structural Attractors to Overcome Spatial, Temporal, and Social Complexity

This chapter suggests an analytical framework that researchers can use to explore the dual relationship connecting intentional fine-grain interaction with course-gain structures and outcomes. On the one hand, it identifies a potential causal link between individual fine-grain action and resulting course-grain outcomes, and on the other hand, it clarifies the dual link that describes the influence of coarse-grain structure on fine-grain interactions. To do this, it introduces a putative force called structural attraction that influences behavior of individuals in consistent patterns within populations. The chapter posits that a mean-field model of structural attraction reflects a biasing force that influences the behavior of individuals as they use information that they decode from the ordered structure itself. It further describes three types of structural attractors, each exploiting a distinct conceptual symmetry that signals underlying simplicity in the environment. Physical structural attractors exploit translational symmetry to reduce spatial complexity. By doing so, these attractors make physical action more efficient and predictable. Dynamic structural attraction exploits periodic symmetries to reduce temporal complexity and make iterative dynamic processes more effective and adaptive. Finally, social structural attractors exploit symmetry within equivalence classes. This reduces social complexity by sorting people into formal categories as a means to make social interactions and task coordination within and among groups more understandable and predictable. Leaders can construct each of these attractor types from the fine-grain to the coarse-grain as a means to serve various individual and organizational purposes. The chapter closes with a discussion of the benefits and risks that arise from the construction and emergence of structural attractors and an exploration of the implications that scale-crossing properties of structural attractors imply for individuals and organizations.
Antarctic Lakes. By Johanna Laybourn-Parry and Jemma L. Wadham: New York: Oxford University Press, 2014. 256 pp. $125.00 (hardcover). ISBN 9780199670499

Antarctic lakes are bizarre. Imagine a lake sealed by four meters of ice. Then, consider that the lake has been ice-covered for thousands of years, yet the ice is less than a decade old. Picture ic...
Intracerebral Hemorrhage in a Young Urban Population: Etiologies and Outcomes in Patients 50 and Younger

Abstract Goal: There is limited research on intracerebral hemorrhage in young urban populations. There is reduced access to healthcare and a high prevalence of multiple comorbidities in this vulnerable population. We studied the etiologies and outcomes of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage in an urban North Philadelphia cohort aged 50 years old and younger. Materials and methods: A retrospective chart review of subjects 50 years old and younger who presented with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage at Temple University Hospital was conducted. A novel scoring system was used to classify the cause of each intracerebral hemorrhage. This system was used to assign a degree of likelihood that hypertension, amyloid angiopathy, tumor, oral anticoagulants, vascular malformations, infrequent causes, or cryptogenic etiologies were present. Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage was excluded. The prevalence of each risk factor and outcomes were analyzed. Findings: Of the 110 patients in the study, the most common etiology was hypertension (82.7%). There was no statistically significant difference in mortality between patients with multiple possible etiologies for their hemorrhage. Vascular malformations and cavernomas were rare (5.5%). Conclusions: Hypertension was the most common cause of intracerebral hemorrhage in a young urban population. The presence of multiple possible etiologies does not correlate with a worse prognosis of mortality. There is a need for further research into hemorrhagic stroke in young populations.
Development of a Construction Project Bidding Decision-Making Tool

AbstractGiven the increasingly competitive environment in the construction industry, investigating the bidding strategies and the influential factors on bidding decisions has become a topic of rese...
Gentrification, Land Use, and Crime

Over the past twenty years, many US cities have seen urban revitalization and population changes associated with an increased desire for urban living among the affluent. As inner-city neighborhoods...
Analysis of Production and Marketing Constraints of Tomato among Rural Farmers in Talensi Nabdam District of Upper East Region of Ghana

The study focused on the analysis of production and marketing constraints of tomato among rural farmers in Talensi Nabdam district of Upper East Region of Ghana.A total of 100 respondents were interviewed using questionnaire. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics to describe the socio economic characteristics of the farmers and Kendall’s Coefficient of Concordance was used to rank the constraints. Lack of access to credit and lack of reliable market were the major constraints the farmers were facing. Male’s form 89% of the respondents and 11% were females. This indicates that, majority of the tomato farmers were males. Moreover, 55% of the respondents have no access to basic education. 15% have access to primary and 11% to Senior high School and lastly 4% to tertiary institution which means more than half of the tomato farmers were illiterate.77% of the respondents have been in the practice of tomato production for more than 5 years, this result shows that tomato production is an age long profession of the people in the study area
Informal and Formal Social Integration Shape Eating and Drinking of Older Black and White Americans.

Objective: Health behaviors are seen as one possible pathway linking race to health outcomes. Social integration has also been consistently linked to important health outcomes but has not been exam...
Super properties and net weight

Abstract We show that it is consistent with MA ( ℵ 1 ) to have a super HG (suHG) space of uncountable net weight. This suHG property and the weaker Hereditarily Good (HG) (or pointed ccc) property are discussed in papers [3] , [4] ; the HG is a natural strengthening of both Hereditarily Separable (HS) and Hereditarily Lindelof (HL).
BRAIN AGE ESTIMATION IN LATE-LIFE DEPRESSION: ASSOCIATION WITH COGNITIVE PERFORMANCE AND DISABILITY

Introduction Mental health disorders are associated with several biological markers of accelerated aging. Recent advances in machine learning can provide an estimation of brain age that may differ from actual, chronological age in the setting of neuropsychiatric disease and accelerated aging. We examined whether depressed elders exhibited a calculated brain age that was older than expected when compared with chronological age, and if so whether that difference was related to cognitive performance and disability Methods 154 elders (118 depressed, 36 never-depressed) enrolled in three studies with common entry criteria, undergoing structural brain MRI, a cognitive battery assessing episodic memory, executive function, processing speed, and working memory, and assessment of disability using the WHODAS 2.0. A machine-learning model estimated brain age based on MRI data, which was compared to chronological age to yield a brain-age gap (BAG). (BAG; relative difference between calculated age and chronological age). Analyses examined whether BAG was greater in depressed elders and whether it was associated with cognitive performance and disability. We also examined the depressed cohort alone to test for interactive effects between BAG and depression severity on function. Results After adjustment for covariates, late-life depression was associated with a higher brain-age gap (Wald χ2=8.84, p=0.0029), or a calculated age greater than chronological age. Across all subjects, a higher brain-age gap was associated with poorer episodic memory performance (Wald χ2=4.10, p=0.0430). Among depressed adults, higher BAG was associated with slower processing speed (Wald χ2=4.43, p=0.0354.) We also observed an interaction between BAG and depression severity, where increasing depression severity in context of higher BAG resulted in poorer performance in domains of executive function (Wald χ2=5.89, p=0.0152) and working memory (Wald χ2=4.47, p=0.0346.) Across all subjects, a higher BAG was also associated with greater disability (Wald χ2=6.00, p=0.0143). Conclusions Late-life depression is associated with a higher BAG, indicating brains appear older than expected by chronological age alone. Higher BAGs have cognitive and functional implications and may moderate the effect of depression severity on cognitive performance. This research was funded by: NIH grants R01MH102246, R21MH099218
An Overflow-free Quantized Memory Hierarchy in General-purpose Processors

Data movement comprises a significant portion of energy consumption and execution time in modern applications. Accelerator designers exploit quantization to reduce the bitwidth of values and reduce the cost of data movement. However, any value that does not fit in the reduced bitwidth results in an overflow (we refer to these values as outliers). Therefore accelerators use quantization for applications that are tolerant to overflows. We observe that in most applications the rate of outliers is low and values are often within a narrow range, providing the opportunity to exploit quantization in general-purpose processors. However, a software implementation of quantization in general-purpose processors has three problems. First, the programmer has to manually implement conversions and the additional instructions that quantize and dequantize values, imposing a programmer's effort and performance overhead. Second, to cover outliers, the bitwidth of the quantized values often become greater than or equal to the original values. Third, the programmer has to use standard bitwidth; otherwise, extracting non-standard bitwidth (i.e., 1–7, 9–15, and 17-31) for representing narrow integers exacerbates the overhead of software-based quantization. The key idea of this paper is to propose a hardware support in the memory hierarchy of general-purpose processors for quantization, which represents values by few and flexible numbers of bits and stores outliers in their original format in a separate space, preventing any overflow. We minimize metadata and the overhead of locating quantized values using a software-hardware interaction that transfers quantization parameters and data layout to hardware. As a result, our approach has three advantages over cache compression techniques: (i) less metadata, (ii) higher compression ratio for floating-point values and cache blocks with multiple data types, and (iii) lower overhead for locating the compressed blocks. It delivers on average $1.40/1.45/1.56\times$ speedup and 24/26/30% energy reduction compared to a baseline that uses full-length variables in a 4/8/16-core system. Our approach also provides $1.23\times$ speedup, in a 4-core system, compared to the state of the art cache compression techniques and adds only 0.25% area overhead to the baseline processor.
Resourcing expertise: How existing schemas and communication processes shape the meaning of expert work in a global organization

This research draws on a resourcing perspective to challenge the assumption that expertise should be conceptualized as an asset with consistent value for organizations, and offers an alternative vi...
Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Injury After Thyroid Surgery: An Analysis of 11,370 Patients.

Abstract Background Recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury is a well-known, potentially serious complication of thyroid surgery. We investigated factors associated with RLN injury during thyroid surgery using a multi-institutional data set. Materials and methods Patients who underwent either lobectomy or total thyroidectomy were abstracted from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program thyroidectomy-specific database (2016-2017). Baseline and operative factors associated with RLN injury ≤30 d of surgery were analyzed using bivariate and multivariate methods. Secondary complications of interest included unplanned reintubation and hypocalcemia. Results RLN injury occurred in 6.0% (n = 677) of the 11,370 patients included in the study. The RLN injury rate varied significantly based on the primary indication for surgery, from 4.3% in patients undergoing surgery for a single nodule to 9.0% in patients undergoing surgery for differentiated cancer (P Conclusions In this large multi-institutional study, RLN injury ≤30 d of surgery occurred in nearly 6% of thyroid surgeries. This comprehensive analysis of RLN injury can be used to guide informed consent discussions and aid surgeons in identifying candidates who may be at higher risk for injury.
Using a multisensory storytelling approach to improve language and comprehension: A pilot study:

Tactile object boxes, object walks, and object experience books are common practices that are recommended for children with visual impairment to promote language development and early literacy skil...
Rescue therapies for seizure emergencies: current and future landscape

Seizure emergencies—status epilepticus and seizure clusters—require rapid evaluation and treatment. Several consensus-based guidelines support a prompt use of intravenous benzodiazepines as the first-line therapy in seizure emergencies. However, most seizure emergencies start outside the hospital settings. Until recently, approved prehospital rescue therapies were limited to rectal diazepam and buccal midazolam (Europe only). The author provides a narrative review of rescue therapies for seizure emergencies based on a comprehensive literature review (PubMed and OvidSP vendors with appropriate keywords to incorporate recent evidence) to highlight the changing landscape of seizure recue therapies. A commercial version of intranasal midazolam was approved by the FDA in 2019 for 12 ≥ years old with seizure clusters. In 2020, the FDA also approved a proprietary vitamin E solution–based diazepam nose spray to abort seizure clusters in ≥ 6 years old subjects. Other than these two new options, the author discussed two previously approved therapies: rectal diazepam and buccal midazolam. The review also includes the use of intramuscular diazepam and midazolam, clonazepam wafer, sublingual and intranasal lorazepam in seizure emergencies. Besides the availability of new therapies from successful trials in controlled settings, the real-world challenges of using rescue medicines in community settings are slowly emerging. With multiple options, a more robust and updated cost-effective analysis of different rescue medicines needs to be performed using effectiveness data from the literature and cost data from publicly available market prices. Further research is also ongoing to develop alternative non-intravenous treatment options for outpatient settings. Lastly, several other non-benzodiazepine drugs, such as allopregnanolone, propofol, and brivaracetam, are also currently under development for seizure emergencies.
A Response to the Society of American Law Teachers Statement on the Bar Exam

In a perfect world there would be no tests, and a test like the bar exam would probably be outlawed instead of required for the practice of law. But in our world competence matters, as it does in the case of a lawyer's ability to engage in critical analysis. The bar examination, by testing competency in the most basic and essential analytical skills required for the practice of law, serves a necessary function.SALT's is but one of a growing number of voices criticizing the bar exam and advocating significant change. But there are serious flaws in SALT's understanding of the bar exam and its perception of the exam's role in the licensing process. Because such inaccuracies appear not only in the SALT statement but in other proposals to change the bar exam, they must not be allowed to go unchallenged.
Assessing the impact of novel polymers and thermal management in a power electronics module using machine learning approaches

We highlight the predictive utility of machine learning (ML) techniques in estimating thermal performance benefits in power electronics modules, resulting from the use of high thermal conductivity polymers and thermal management techniques. The thermal performance of a commercial 1.2kV/444A SiC half-bridge module is quantified via high fidelity numerical simulations. Parametric simulations are conducted by considering the thermal conductivity of i) encapsulant (anisotropic), ii) baseplate and iii) heat sink as variable parameters, along with the coolant temperature and convection heat transfer coefficient. These simulations generate a data set of more than 2500 data points, which is used to train and evaluate the performance of machine learning algorithms to estimate the maximum junction temperature (T j ) of the package. Parameters are varied to represent a broad spectrum of possibilities ranging from high thermal conductivity polymer-based heat sinks to copper heat sinks; and air to two-phase liquid cooling technologies. The performance of three different statistical machine learning models is evaluated: polynomial regression, random forest, and support vector machines in predicting T j . While polynomial regression does not predict T j with a reasonable accuracy, random forest and support vector machines demonstrate excellent prediction accuracies w ith overall R2 of 99.6 and 99.98%, respectively. To estimate the relative contribution of the underlying thermal parameters, we use SHAP (Shapley Additive exPlanations) dependence plots in combination with random forest algorithm to identify parameters which strongly influence T j. We observe that the thermal conductivity of heat sink material and heat transfer coefficient have the maximum impact on T j reduction, whereas the thermal conductivity of the polymeric encapsulant has the least influence on T j . The presently used approach of simulations-based training of ML algorithms can be adapted for the thermal design and parameter optimization in other electronics packages.
High-Throughput On-Chip Human Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Potency Prediction.

Human mesenchymal stromal cells (hMSCs) are a promising source for regenerative cell therapy. However, hMSC clinical use has been stymied by product variability across hMSC donors and manufacturing practices resulting in inconsistent clinical outcomes. The inability to predict hMSC clinical efficacy, or potency, is a major limitation for market penetration. Standard metrics of hMSC potency employ hMSCs and third-party immune cell co-cultures, however, these assays face translational challenges due to third-party donor variability and lack of scalability. While surrogate markers of hMSC potency have been suggested, none have yet had translational success. To address this, we present a high-throughput, scalable, low-cost, on-chip microfluidic potency assay with improved functional predictive power and recapitulation of in vivo secretory responses compared to traditional approaches. By comparison of hMSC secretory responses to functional hMSC-medicated immune cell suppression, we demonstrate the shortcomings of current surrogate potency markers and identify on-chip microfluidic potency markers with improved functional predictive power compared to traditional planar methods. Furthermore, we show similar hMSC secretory performance achieved in the on-chip microfluidic system compared to an in vivo model. Our results underscore the shortcomings of current culture practices and present a novel system with improved functional predictive power and hMSC physiological responses. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Depression, Psychosis, and Agitation in Stroke

This chapter discusses various aspects of depression, psychosis, and agitation in stroke. Depressions are the most frequent emotional disorders occurring as a consequence of stroke. Mood disorder due to stroke with major depressive-like episode is the diagnostic term for severe poststroke depression. The course of major depression after stroke is variable. Many patients showed remissions within 3 months, while others developed chronic depression lasting more than 3 years. Two basic approaches have been used for the treatment of secondary delusional and hallucinatory syndromes. One of them is anticonvulsant therapy. This approach has its rationale in the frequent coexistence of seizure disorder and hallucinatory phenomena. Psychosis is relatively rare but right parietal–temporal lesions, seizures, and subcortical atrophy all increase the likelihood of developing poststroke delusions or hallucinations. Agitation can include both anxiety and aggressive behavior. Several clinical factors including lesion location and depression appear to increase the likelihood of developing agitation. The treatment includes antidepressants, benzodiazepines, and other medications that need to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
N‐Phenyl‐1,4‐Phenylenediamine and Benzidine Oxidation Products Identified Using On‐Line Electrochemistry/Electrospray Fourier Transform Mass Spectrometry

Electrochemical oxidation products of N-phenyl-1,4-phenylenediamine and benzidine formed in aqueous methanol solution at pH 4 were identified on the basis of exact molecular mass using electrochemistry coupled on-line with electrospray Fourier transform mass spectrometry. The main N-phenyl-1,4-phenylenediamine oxidation product observed was N-phenyl-1,4-phenylenediimine formed by a nominal two-electron, two-proton oxidation process. A less abundant product was identified as the quinone formed by hydrolysis of this oxidized species. In the case of benzidine, the main oxidation product was identified as the cation radical formed by a nominal one-electron oxidation process. No hydrolysis product was observed.
Defect chemistry and transport properties of Pb(Zr1/2Ti1/2)O3

Abstract In order to gain insight into the degradation mechanisms associated with ferroelectric thin films, such as fatigue and imprint, an understanding of the defect chemistry and transport properties of the material is needed. In this study several complimentary techniques have been used to either measure or calculate indirectly the various thermodynamic parameters governing defect formation and transport in Pb(Zr1/2Ti1/2)O3, (PZT). By combining the results of DC equilibrium conductivity, thermoelectric power and the sealed cell techniques, “constant composition oxygen activity” and “constant composition conductivity,” values for the oxidation enthalpy (ΔHox), hole trapping energy (E A) and the enthalpy of motion for holes (ΔE A) have been determined to be −0.49 eV, ≤0.9 eV and ≥0.1 eV, respectively. From these results, it is apparent that PZT is an oxygen excess p-type semiconductor in the experimental regime of 500°–700°C and P(O2) ≥ 10−4 atm. Furthermore, the results indicate that there is a signifi...
A Review of: “Being a Brain-Wise Therapist: A Practical Guide to Interpersonal Neurobiology. Bonnie Badenoch”

Systems theory is intuitive for most mental health practitioners, so understanding the complexities of the brain as a system and the psychotherapeutic process as grounded in systems thinking are co...
The value of semi-quantitative mycobacterial cultures for predicting culture conversion during MAC lung disease therapy

Background : The key measure of treatment success for Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) lung disease is conversion of sputum mycobacterial cultures. Decreasing semi-quantitative mycobacterial culture scores have been interpreted, though not systematically evaluated, as predictive of culture conversion. Methods : Mycobacterial cultures obtained every 1-2 months for 12 months from MAC lung disease patients on therapy were evaluated with a semi-quantitative ordinal score; 0=no growth, 1=liquid media growth only; 2= Results : We evaluated 180 MAC lung disease patients on therapy with mean of 13.3±7.7 cultures collected/patient. For each unit decrease in the 2 nd culture result (median= 35 days from baseline culture), for each unit change in the 3 rd culture result (median= 36 days from culture 2) and for each unit change in the 4 th culture result (median= 113 days from culture 3), patients were, respectively 40% (p=0.002), 2 (p nd cultures, and for each unit change in the difference between the baseline and 3 rd cultures, patients were 9.5 (CI 4.3-21.1) and 12.1 (CI 4.8-30.3) times, respectively, more likely to have culture conversion. Conclusions : Early decreases in semi-quantitative culture scores are predictive of mycobacterial culture conversion for patients on therapy for MAC lung disease.
The Outcomes Question in Teacher Education.

Abstract This article begins with the premise that it is possible to trace teacher education development and reform in terms of the major questions that have driven the field and the sometimes competing ways these questions have been constructed, debated, and enacted in research, policy, and practice. The author argues that currently “the outcomes question” is driving teacher education. Generally, the outcomes question includes debates about what impacts teacher education should be expected to have on teacher learning, professional practice, and student learning as well as debates about how, by whom, and for what purposes outcomes should be documented, demonstrated, and/or measured. The article identifies three major ways that the outcomes question in teacher education is being constructed in the research literature, the policy arena, and the media: outcomes as long term impact, outcomes as teacher test scores, and outcomes as professional performance. Each of these is analyzed in some detail, drawing on related analyses from policy and teacher education practice. Finally the article suggests several concerns about how the outcomes question is being constructed in teacher education, questioning some of the viewpoints that are being legitimized or undermined and drawing particular attention to the impact of these for a just and democratic society.
AlxIn1−xAs1−ySby/GaSb effective mass superlattices grown by molecular beam epitaxy

A detailed study of the growth of Al x In 1-x As 1-y Sb y /GaSb multilayers on GaSb(100) substrates by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) has been performed as part of an investigation for the use of this materials system for kinetic heterojunctions (KHJs). KHJs exploit kinetic energy variations brought about by an effective mass discontinuity across the junction. Multiple kinetic heterojunctions or effective mass superlattices (EMSs) are predicted to exhibit unique features, such as equally spaced subbands, not found in conventional superlattices which may lead to a new generation of devices based on kinetic confinement rather than potential confinemnet. Al x In 1-x As 1-y Sb y /GaSb EMSs were synthesized by MBE focusing on tailoring the composition such that there is a zero conduction band offset at the Γ point, a zero modulation of the electron affinity and lattice matching across the heterojunction facilitating studies of purely kinetic effects. This is achieved when x = y ≅ 0.5, which lies in the center of the predicted miscibility gap, therefore a detailed study of the growth of the quaternary has been performed. High-quality EMSs were grown in the range (0.3 ≤ x ≤ 0.6, 0.5 ≤ y ≤1.0) as assessed by X-ray diffraction. Magneto-transport measurements were performed to determine layer mobility and conductivity. Shubnikov-de Haas (SdH) analyses were performed to verify two-dimensional carrier confinement.