cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Family-based training program improves brain function, cognition, and behavior in lower socioeconomic status preschoolers

Using information from research on the neuroplasticity of selective attention and on the central role of successful parenting in child development, we developed and rigorously assessed a family-based training program designed to improve brain systems for selective attention in preschool children. One hundred forty-one lower socioeconomic status preschoolers enrolled in a Head Start program were randomly assigned to the training program, Head Start alone, or an active control group. Electrophysiological measures of children’s brain functions supporting selective attention, standardized measures of cognition, and parent-reported child behaviors all favored children in the treatment program relative to both control groups. Positive changes were also observed in the parents themselves. Effect sizes ranged from one-quarter to half of a standard deviation. These results lend impetus to the further development and broader implementation of evidence-based education programs that target at-risk families.
Effects of Process Stage and Storage on Retention of Beta-Carotene in Tomato Juice

Twelve tomato cultivars were evaluated during commercial juice production and storage for retention of betacarotene. Samples of fresh tomatoes, after extraction, pasteurization, canning, and after 7 months storage at 22°C were analyzed according to the AOAC methods (1980) for beta-carotene. There was a twofold difference in beta-carotene content between the highest and lowest cultivars in raw processed and stored product. A 20% loss of the beta-carotene content was observed during extraction and another 20% loss found after 7 months of storage.
BINOCULAR INTERACTION IN THE FROG RETINA.

Using intact frog-eye preparations (Rana pipiens and Rana catesbiana) the back of the eyeball was exposed and a microelectrode inserted into the retina. Both the intraretinal electroretinogram (ERG) and the responses of single-ganglion cells were recorded when the eye was stimulated with light flashes in the range of 0.3- to 1.5-sec duration. The responses in the test eye were compared when this eye alone was stimulated and when both eyes were stimulated. The basic experimental design was to alternate binocular and monocular stimulation, always recording the response to the test eye. It was found that under certain circumstances the magnitude of the negative intraretinal ERG was reliably increased when stimulation to the contralateral eye accompanied the test-eye response. Control procedures indicate that this effect is the result of neural interaction between the two eyes, since it cannot be attributed to the consensual pupillary response or to such experimental artifacts as light scatter or of direct response potentials from one eye to the other.With respect to the single-unit responses, no units were found that showed responses to contralateral stimulation alone. While there were some units that appeared to show altered response patterns as a result of concurrent contralateral stimulation, no reliable changes across units could be found in the limited sample tested.
Determination of torque-limits for human and cat lumbar spine specimens during displacement-controlled physiological motions.

Abstract Background context Quadruped animal models have been validated and used as biomechanical models for the lumbar spine. The biomechanics of the cat lumbar spine has not been well characterized, even though it is a common model used in neuromechanical studies. Purpose Compare the physiological ranges of motion and determine torque-limits for cat and human lumbar spine specimens during physiological motions. Study design/setting Biomechanics study. Patient sample Cat and human lumbar spine specimens. Outcome measures Intervertebral angle (IVA), joint moment, yield point, torque-limit, and correlation coefficients. Methods Cat (L2–sacrum) and human (T12–sacrum) lumbar spine specimens were mechanically tested to failure during displacement-controlled extension (E), lateral bending (LB), and axial rotation (AR). Single trials consisted of 10 cycles (10 mm/s or 5°/s) to a target displacement where the magnitude of the target displacement was increased for subsequent trials until failure occurred. Whole-lumbar stiffness, torque at yield point, and joint stiffness were determined. Scaling relationships were established using equations analogous to those that describe the load response of elliptically shaped beams. Results IVA magnitudes for cat and human lumbar spines were similar during physiological motions. Human whole-lumbar and joint stiffness magnitudes were significantly greater than those for cat spine specimens (p Conclusions The current study defined “physiological ranges of movement” for human and cat lumbar spine specimens during displacement-controlled testing, and should be observed in future biomechanical studies conducted under displacement control.
Ghrelin Receptor Agonists in Cachexia of Human Aging

Frailty is one of the key features of aging and it is associated with a loss of function, an increased risk of falls, and ultimately loss of the ability to live independently. Based on the demographic shift of the older population, as a result of the aging of the baby boomers, interventions to slow or delay the development of frailty will be of increasing importance. One of the physiologic correlates of frailty is the cachexia of aging. The underlying mechanism of the cachexia of aging is cytokine-associated wasting of protein and energy stores and ghrelin receptor agonists target some of these mechanisms. Clinical trials have shown that ghrelin receptor agonists have orexigenic effects, enhance GH secretion, and increase lean body mass and limb fat mass in the elderly. The potential benefits of ghrelin receptor agonists in the treatment of cachexia of aging and of cachexia secondary to various diseases are reviewed.
Effect of Dietary Resveratrol in the Treatment of Cancer

Resveratrol (3,5,4′-trihydroxystilbene), a naturally occurring phytoalexin, is found in natural foods and food products such as grapes, peanuts, berries, and red wine. In recent years, resveratrol has gained considerable attention for its anticancer activities across multiple cancers. The anticancer effects of resveratrol are multifaceted and involve regulation of diverse cellular signaling, including apoptotic and non-apoptotic cell death, cell survival, and cell cycle progression. Anticancer activities of resveratrol are associated with engagement of AKT/PKB pathway, NF-κB pathway, death-receptor and TRAIL-induced apoptosis, and induction of p21/p27, as well as downregulation of cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases. Resveratrol has been shown to have synergistic effects with radiation therapy. Resveratrol increases the therapeutic index of anticancer agents by sensitizing cancer cells to apoptosis. In preclinical studies, evidence gathered from mouse models suggests that resveratrol has beneficial effects against several types of human cancers and has been shown to inhibit or attenuate the initiation and progression of skin, prostate, colon, and breast cancers. Although resveratrol is widely considered to be well-tolerated in clinical trials for the treatment of human cancers, a limited number of studies have so far been conducted in human population because of poor bioavailability. These preliminary studies in human clinical trials have yet to recapitulate the physiological benefits seen in mouse models. This chapter provides a comprehensive description of resveratrol-mediated modulation of cellular signaling pathways, which may be exploited to develop further strategies for cancer therapy.
Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery in the Elderly

Spine surgery in the elderly population is associated with an increased complication rate compared to the younger population. As our population ages, an asymmetric increase in those over 65 years is occurring, placing higher demands on society and surgeons to treat increasingly severe spinal pathologies in older and sometimes frail patients. At present, level2 and 3 evidence suggests that minimally invasive surgery (MIS) ofthe spine in the elderly (and younger) population lowers complication rates, allows faster surgical recovery rates, and produces equivalentoutcomes, for many common spine procedures in this patient population. Specifically related to the elderly, available literature supports MIS decompressions for cervical and lumbar stenosis, MIS discectomy for herniated disks, and lumbar interbody fusions for various pathologies via either lateral lumbar approaches or posterior MIS transforaminal approaches in the elderly population and is therefore a reasonable option and in some cases a better option than traditional open procedures. Though more scientific rigor is required, MIS techniques have the potential to be a crucial asset for optimizing the surgical treatment of spine pathology in the elderly population.
Syntheses and Structural Characterizations of Metallabis(tricarbadecaboranyl) Sandwiches, (η4-MeC3B7H9)2M (M = Ni, Pd, Pt): Tricarbadecaboranyl Analogs of (η3-C3H5)2M Complexes

The reactions of the nido-6-Me-5,6,9-C3B7H9- anion with MX2 (M = Ni, Pd, Pt) salts yield a series of new bis(tricarbadecaboranyl) (η4-MeC3B7H9)2M sandwich complexes including the following: commo-P...
Notes on Nearctic Hemerobiidae, with Descriptions of Two New Species (Neuroptera)

In a collection of Neuroptera from the University of Kansas, studied through the kindness of R. H. B earner, two new Hemerobiidae were found. One is a very pale Californian species of Sympherobius . The other, a species of Hemerobius , was previously represented in the collection of the United States National Museum and is evidently widespread and common in the Far West, but was formerly confused with Hemerobius pacificus Bks. Because of the many records of pacificus as a predator on mites and insects of economic importance, certain of these records apparently are applicable to the new form, and biological control studies may be clarified by the knowledge that pacificus as formerly treated in literature is actually a composite species. The standard reference work on the taxonomy of the Nearctic Hemerobiidae is that of Carpenter (1940),[1][1] and I have endeavored to give notes and illustrations that will be supplemental to those in his comprehensive paper. [1]: #fn-1
A New Gelled Fluoroelastomer

Abstract FKM 5737 is a highly gelled fluoroelastomer similar in composition to FKM B. It can be added to other fluoroelastomers to improve their performance in the following areas: 1) improved processing in extrusion and calendering with the greatest advantages in extrusion, 2) atmospheric curability in peroxide-curable blends with FKM GF and 3) ultra high modulus, processable compounds for oil and geothermal applications.
Aspects of the Life History and Growth of Acroneuria (Calineuria) californica in a Sierra Foothill Stream1

Aspects of the life history and growth of Acroneuria (Calineuria) californica Banks (Plecoptera: Perlidae) were studied in Squirrel Creek, Nevada County, California. Numerical standing crop ranged from 159 nymphs/m2 (in Aug. 1973) to 4 nymphs/m2 (in Nov. 1973). The Nov. minimum coincided with the onset of the rainy winter season. Nymphal life was ca. 18 months. Emergence was observed from late April through June. Eggs were laid in May and June but did not begin to hatch until the following Jan. The loss of larger nymphs during winter washouts is reflected in growth curves. Annual production, obtained by the instantaneous-growth method, was 2.26 g dry weight/m2/year, with an annual turnover ratio of 4.21. Cohort turnover, calculated from the life-history instantaneous-growth rate, was estimated at 6.5.
Anomaly Detection In Additively Manufactured Parts Using Laser Doppler Vibrometery

Additively manufactured parts are susceptible to non-uniform structure caused by the unique manufacturing process. This can lead to structural weakness or catastrophic failure. Using laser Doppler vibrometry and frequency response analysis, non-contact detection of anomalies in additively manufactured parts may be possible. Preliminary tests show promise for small scale detection, but more future work is necessary.
Democracy and national destinies on Taiwan

In the case of Taiwan, experts have debated whether passionate national loyalties (Taiwanese or Chinese) facilitated or stymied democratization. This paper argues that nationalism facilitated political change in Taiwan. In fact, democratization during the 1980s and the 1990s was spurred in part by the pursuit of two conflicting national destinies. The Chinese Nationalist Party legitimized reform as the end of a century-long process for the reconstruction of the Chinese nation. To many Nationalists, particularly those born on the mainland, Taiwan was the fulfilment of Sun Yat-sen's vision of China known as the Three Principles of the People. At the same time, many opponents of the regime saw successful reform as one step towards the realization of a Taiwanese nation. Dominated by those who identified themselves as Taiwanese, generally those of Chinese descent whose ancestors had lived on Taiwan prior to 1945, these activists hoped to take power through the ballot box, then implement a series of policies to strengthen an island-wide identity.
Impact of chemotherapy on medium-term physical function and activity of older breast cancer survivors, and associated biomarkers.

Abstract Objective Chemotherapy is less often prescribed in older individuals due to concerns about post-treatment morbidity and quality of life. We evaluated the physical performance of breast cancer survivors treated with and without adjuvant chemotherapy. Materials and Methods We conducted a case–control study in 56 estrogen receptor positive breast cancer survivors (BCS) on adjuvant aromatase inhibitors 1–2years after definitive surgery. Cases had received adjuvant chemotherapy (n=27; age 70.5±3.6years) versus age-matched controls who had not (n=29; age 70.0±4.3years). Measures of grip strength, physical activity and performance, walking speed, fatigue, and self-reported physical function were collected. Biological correlates of inflammation, frailty and markers of DNA and RNA oxidation were compared. Results Grip strength (controls: 21±7.4 vs. cases: 29.7±5.0kg, p=0.20), physical activity (5403±3204 vs. 6801±9320steps/day, p=0.45), physical performance (short physical performance battery score: 10.1±1.8 vs. 10.4±1.1, p=0.52) and long-distance walking speed (1.2±0.21 vs. 1.3±0.41m/s, p=0.17) were similar between the two groups. Self-reported physical function was marginally lower in cases than controls (controls: 72±24 vs. cases: 57±34AU, p=0.07). Fatigue disruptiveness was not different between groups (controls: 11.1±13.0 vs. cases: 15.7±16.2AU, p=0.24). Similarly, the inflammation, oxidation, and frailty markers did not present a significant difference between groups, except for vitamin D levels (p=0.04). Conclusion Older women who received chemotherapy reported having slightly lower physical function, but a similar physical performance compared to women who did not. These data suggest that older BCS treated with chemotherapy recover to an extent similar to survivors who only received hormonal therapy.
Gd-EOB-DTPA based magnetic resonance imaging for predicting liver response to portal vein embolization.

Gd-EOB-DTPA based magnetic resonance imaging for predicting liver response to portal vein embolization
Noninvasive Ventilation in the Premature Newborn - Is Less Always More?

Endotracheal positive-pressure ventilation with end expiratory pressure has been the cornerstone of the modern approach to care for premature infants with respiratory insufficiency since the publication of a report by Gregory and colleagues in 1971.1 They found that endotracheal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) could establish and maintain functional residual capacity in the surfactant-deficient premature lung. However, this invasive, lifesaving approach has long been considered to increase the risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia,2 the chronic lung disease of survivors of the neonatal intensive care unit. The risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia increases with the degree of anatomical and biochemical immaturity of the . . .
Ground and Excited State Interactions in Multimetal Systems

This article discusses data from this and other laboratories with respect to the electronic communication across various aromatic, nitrogen heterocyclic ligands in polymetallic complexes. As the nature and complexity of the bridging ligand in transition metal comlexes increases our understanding of the factors that affect ground- and excited-state electronic coupling must be more fully understood. The majority of the work sited here is from our laboratories and has involved numerous graduate students and post- doctoral fellows, most notably Andrea Wallace, Karen Brewer, and Rory Murphy.
NETWORK FORENSIC ANALYSIS OF ELECTRICAL SUBSTATION AUTOMATION TRAFFIC

The computations and input/output values of intelligent electronic devices that monitor and operate an electrical substation depend strongly on the state of the power system. This chapter presents an approach that correlates the physical parameters of an electrical substation with the network traffic that intelligent electronic devices send over a substation automation network. Normal network traffic in a substation automation network is modeled as a directed, weighted graph, yielding what is referred to as a model graph. Similar graph modeling is performed on unknown network traffic. The research problem of determining whether or not unknown network traffic is normal involves a subgraph isomorphism search algorithm. Normal network packets in unknown network traffic form a graph that is a subgraph of the model graph. In contrast, malware-generated network packets present in unknown network traffic produce a graph that is not a subgraph of the model graph. Time series analysis of network traffic is performed to estimate the weights of the edges in the graphs. This analysis enables the subgraph isomorphism search algorithm to find structural matches with portions of the model graph as well matches with the timing characteristics of normal network traffic. The approach is validated using samples drawn from recent industrial control system malware campaigns.
Characterization of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells with LSCF-SDC Composite Cathodes

This paper reports the study of an anode-supported SOFC cell containing an LSCF-SDC composite cathode. The SOFC cell was tested at different temperatures and reactant flow rates. After testing, the cell was sectioned and characterized using SEM/EDS. Such analysis indicated that no structural damage and no significant interdiffusion of elements among the layers occurred. The measured electrochemical performance data at different temperatures indicate an Arrhenius behavior or temperature activated processes. The low-porosity anode functional layer appears to be very sensitive to low hydrogen contents. The electrochemical performance is also affected by changing air flow rates.
Acceptance of Diabetes Education via the Telephone

Patients require education and information as they engage in self-help, self-care, and disease management activities. The objective of this study was to explore the acceptance of voice technologies in diabetes patient education. Eighteen participants listened to a total of 324 diabetes educational messages and were provided the opportunity to rate the usefulness of each message. This study demonstrated that brief telephone-based education can be acceptable and useful.
Treatment of childhood myopia with atropine eyedrops and bifocal spectacles.

BACKGROUND Animal and human studies have suggested that muscarinic antagonists and bifocal spectacles may decrease the progression of myopia in children. The purpose of this study is to report the largest known series of patients treated simultaneously with bifocals and topical atropine. DESIGN Retrospective, interventional, non-comparative case series. METHODS 706 myopic children (296 boys and 410 girls, ages 6 to 16 years) were prescribed full cycloplegic spectacle corrections, with photochromic lenses and +2.25 diopter (D) reading adds in each eye. Both eyes were treated with atropine 1% drops once daily. OUTCOME MEASURES Annual change in cycloplegic refractions of right eyes. Compliance with therapy was monitored by patient and parental report. RESULTS 496 (70%) of the 706 patients reported full compliance with the treatment regimen, whereas the remaining 210 (30%) patients were partially compliant. The median interval of treatment was 3.62 years (range, 21 days-10.1 years). The mean rate of myopic progression was significantly less (P<0.001) in patients who were fully compliant with atropine therapy and bifocals (0.08 D/year) than in patients who were partially compliant with the treatment regimen (0.23 D/per year). No serious adverse effects were associated with atropine therapy. CONCLUSIONS Full compliance with topical atropine therapy and bifocal spectacles was associated with decreased progression of myopia compared to partial compliance with treatment. For each of the treated groups, the mean rate of myopic progression was significantly less (P<0.05) than the mean annual rates of myopic progression published for the pediatric population.
Alternatively spliced fibronectin molecules in the wounded cornea: analysis by PCR.

PURPOSE: To determine whether certain fibronectin isoforms participate in corneal epithelial wound healing, the authors used the polymerase chain reaction to detect different splicing patterns of the EIIIA segment of fibronectin mRNA in epithelial scrape-wounded cornea of rats. METHODS: Specific fibronectin cDNA sequences synthesized from rat cornea with total RNA were amplified with various sets of synthetic oligonucleotide primers. RESULTS: The authors detected both the EIIIA+ and EIIIA- fibronectin mRNA isoforms during corneal wound healing. The kinetics of corneal expression of both total fibronectin mRNA and the EIIIA- fibronectin mRNA isoform was polyphasic; an initial decrease was followed by an increase at 45 minutes, a second increase at 2 hours, and a third increase at 4 days after wounding. EIIIA+ fibronectin mRNA, not found in normal cornea, also was detected during healing. CONCLUSIONS: The expression of total fibronectin mRNA and both the EIIIA+ and EIIIA- fibronectin mRNA is upregulated during corneal epithelial wound healing. The expression of EIIIA+ fibronectin mRNA during wound healing, a fibronectin isoform that was highly expressed in embryonic tissue, suggests that this fibronectin isoform is involved functionally in corneal wound healing.
A Physics-Based Simulation Tool for Leakage Currents in c-Si PV Modules

This project encompasses the development of a simulation tool for leakage currents in c-Si photovoltaic modules using the finite-element method. It accounts for variable material and surface properties due to changes in temperature, relative humidity, and surface wetting. Moisture diffusion from the module perimeter into the encapsulant and its resultant impact on charge transport is calculated. The electric field in the SiNx antireflection coating, which may affect shunting due to potential induced degradation, is also quantified; it can be greater than 10 kV/cm depending on temperature, relative humidity, and the SiNx properties. By simulating time-varying weather conditions, leakage currents in fielded modules can be predicted.
TSM2: optimizing tall-and-skinny matrix-matrix multiplication on GPUs

Linear algebra operations have been widely used in big data analytics and scientific computations. Many works have been done on optimizing linear algebra operations on GPUs with regular-shaped input. However, few works are focusing on fully utilizing GPU resources when the input is not regular-shaped. Current optimizations lack of considering fully utilizing the memory bandwidth and computing power, therefore they could only achieve sub-optimal performance. In this paper, we propose a performant tall-and-skinny matrix-matrix multiplication algorithm on GPUs - TSM2. It focuses on optimizing linear algebra operation with none regular-shaped input. We implement the proposed algorithm and test on three different Nvidia GPU micro-architectures: Kepler, Maxwell, and Pascal. Experiments show that our TSM2 speedups the computation by 1.1x - 3x, improves memory bandwidth utilization by 8% - 47.6%, and improves computing power utilization by 7% - 37.3% comparing to the current state-of-the-art works. We replace the original matrix operations in K-means and Algorithm-Bases Fault Tolerance (ABFT) with TSM2 and achieve up to 1.89x and 1.90x speed up.
Surgical Treatment of Meralgia Paresthetica

Meralgia paresthetica (MP) is a neuropathy of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LCFN) resulting in pain, dysesthesias and decreased sensation over the anterolateral thigh [1]. It was first reported by German pathologist, Martin Berhardt, in the late nineteenth century. Vladimir Karlovich Roth observed the same phenomenon in cavalry soldiers with tight belts and termed it meralgia paresthetica from the Greek words for thigh (meros) and pain (algos) [2–5].
Red cell transfusion practices after stage 1 palliation: a survey of practitioners from the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Society.

Introduction Neonates may require increased red cell mass to optimise oxygen content after stage 1 palliation; however, data informing transfusion practices are limited. We hypothesise there is a patient-, provider-, and institution-based heterogeneity in red cell transfusion decision-making after stage 1 palliation. Methods We conducted an online survey of Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Society practitioners in 2016. Respondents answered scenario-based questions that defined transfusion indications and identified haematocrit transfusion thresholds. Respondents were divided into restrictive and liberal groups based on a haematocrit score. Fisher's exact test was used to determine the associations between transfusion likelihood and patient, provider, and institutional characteristics. Bonferroni correction was applied to adjust the p-value to 0.004 for multiple comparisons. Results There was a 21% response rate (116 responses). Most were male (58.6%), attending physicians (85.3%) with >5 year of intensive care experience (88.7%) and subspeciality training in critical care medicine (47.4%). The majority of institutions were academic (96.6%), with a separate cardiac ICU (86.2%), and performed >10 stage 1 palliation cases annually (68.1%). After Bonferroni correction, there were no significant patient, respondent, or institutional differences between the restrictive and liberal groups. No respondent or institutional characteristics influenced transfusion decision-making after stage 1 palliation. Conclusions Decision-making around red cell transfusion after stage 1 palliation is heterogeneous. We found no clear relationships between patient, respondent, or institutional characteristics and transfusion decision-making among surveyed respondents. Given the lack of existing data informing red cell transfusion after stage 1 palliation, further studies are necessary to inform evidence-based guidelines.
Clinic analysis of cervical lymph node lesions in children

Objective:Explore the clinical features of cervical lymph node lesions in children with different pathological types, and provide help for the early diagnosis of the disease. Method:The data of 73 children with cervical lymph node disease diagnosed by lymph node biopsy were collected, and the gender composition, age distribution, lymph node characteristics and clinical manifestations of children with different pathological types were analyzed. Result:Among the 73 children with cervical lymph node disease, the incidence of male patients in the benign disease group was less than that of female ones, and the incidence of male patients in the malignant disease group was greater than that of female ones, the difference in gender composition between the two groups was statistically significant（P<0.05）. The benign disease group had the largest proportion in the school-age period（27.4%）, and the malignant disease group had a larger proportion in the preschool period（21.9%） and school-age period（20.5%）, both groups had a relatively smaller proportion in the infant and adolescent period, the difference in age distribution within the group was statistically significant（P<0.01）. Among the various pathological types, the proportion of 73 children with lymph node inflammatory reactive hyperplasia was the largest, 35.6%（26/73）, and was mainly at school age; the second was Hodgkin's lymphoma, accounting for 20.5%（15/73）, mainly in the preschool and school age. The average maximum transverse diameter of lymph nodes in the malignant disease group was greater than that in the benign disease group（P<0.05）. The lymph nodes in the benign disease group were mainly distributed in areas Ⅰ, Ⅱ, and Ⅲ, and the lymph nodes in the malignant disease group were mainly distributed in areas Ⅱ, Ⅲ, Ⅳ, and Ⅴ, there was a statistically significant difference in the distribution of enlarged lymph nodes between the two groups（P<0.01）. Conclusion:Different pathological types of cervical lymph node lesions in children are different in gender composition, age distribution, lymph node size and distribution, and cervical lymph node lesions in children have their own characteristics.
Carl Theodor, Duke in Bavaria (1839-1909): A royal ophthalmologist.

Carl Theodor (1839–1909), a royal Duke in the ruling house of the Kingdom of Bavaria, was born to a life of wealth, privilege, and leisure. As was usual for sons of the nobility, he trained as a mi...
The risk factors of local recurrence and distant metastasis on pT1/T2N0 mid-low rectal cancer after total mesorectal excision.

Radical resection is associated with good prognosis among patients with cT1/T2Nx rectal cancer. However, still some of the patients experienced cancer recurrence following radical resection. This study tried to identify the postoperative risk factors of local recurrence and distant metastasis separately. This retrospective, single-center study comprised of 279 consecutive patients from Linkou branch of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in 2005–2016 with rectal adenocarcinoma, pT1/T2N0M0 at distance from anal verge ≤ 8cm, who received curative radical resection. The study included 279 patients with pT1/pT2N0 mid-low rectal cancer with median follow-up of 73.5 months. Nineteen (6.8%) patients had disease recurrence in total. Nine (3.2%) of them had local recurrence, and fourteen (5.0%) of them had distant metastasis. Distal resection margin < 0.9 (cm) (hazard ratio = 4.9, p = 0.050) was the risk factor of local recurrence. Preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) ≥ 5 ng/mL (hazard ratio = 9.3, p = 0.0003), lymph node yield (LNY) < 14 (hazard ratio = 5.0, p = 0.006), and distal resection margin < 1.4cm (hazard ratio = 4.0, p = 0.035) were the risk factors of distant metastasis. For patients with pT1/pT2N0 mid-low rectal cancer, current multidisciplinary treatment brings acceptable survival outcome. Insufficient distal resection margin attracted the awareness of risk factors for local recurrence and distant metastasis as a foundation for future research.
Exome variant discrepancies due to reference genome differences.

Despite release of the GRCh38 human reference genome more than seven years ago, GRCh37 remains more widely used by most research and clinical laboratories. To date, no study has quantified the impact of utilizing different reference assemblies for the identification of variants associated with rare and common diseases from large-scale exome-sequencing data. By calling variants on both the GRCh37 and GRCh38 references, we identified single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) and insertion-deletions (indels) in 1,572 exomes from participants with Mendelian diseases and their family members. We found that a total of 1.5% of SNVs and 2.0% of indels were discordant when different references were used. Notably, 76.6% of the discordant variants were clustered within discrete discordant reference patches (DISCREPs) comprising only 0.9% of loci targeted by exome sequencing. These DISCREPs were enriched for genomic elements including segmental duplications, fix patch sequences, and loci known to contain alternate haplotypes. We identified 206 genes significantly enriched for discordant variants, most of which were in DISCREPs and caused by multi-mapped reads on the reference assembly that lacked the variant call. Among these 206 genes, eight are implicated in known Mendelian diseases and 53 are associated with common phenotypes from genome-wide association studies. In addition, variant interpretations could also be influenced by the reference after lifting-over variant loci to another assembly. Overall, we identified genes and genomic loci affected by reference assembly choice, including genes associated with Mendelian disorders and complex human diseases that require careful evaluation in both research and clinical applications.
Self-compassion mindsets can predict statistics course performance via intelligence mindsets and statistics anxiety

Abstract One consistent impediment to college students' performance in statistics courses is statistics anxiety. However, people who endorse intelligence growth mindsets report lower statistics anxiety and achieve higher grades. We examined whether adopting a self-compassion growth mindset was an antecedent to an intelligence growth mindset, reduced statistics anxiety, and ultimately, lead to better grades. Ninety undergraduate students who took an Introductory Research Methods and Statistics course at a mid-south university reported their implicit theories of self-compassion and intelligence, statistics anxiety, and demographic information twice during the semester. Final grade percentages were obtained directly from the course instructor after the semester concluded. The results demonstrated a serial indirect effect of self-compassion growth mindset affecting the final grade received, first through intelligence growth mindset and then through statistics anxiety. Alternative serial indirect effect models were conducted, but none were significant. Implications of these results for the broader implicit theories, statistics anxiety literature, and education were discussed.
Survey of Practice Pattern in Patients With Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia Requiring Cardiopulmonary Bypass.

Background Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is an immune-mediated adverse reaction to heparin. Patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) are routinely anticoagulated with heparin before the initiation of bypass. Heparin is contraindicated, however, in patients with acute HIT, and alternatives to routine practice are often used. While guidelines have recently been published addressing this topic 10, there remains variance between institutions in how these cases are treated. Our goal was to better delineate practice trends in the diagnosis and management of HIT patients requiring CPB. Methods We surveyed members of the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists (SCA) and the American Society for Extracorporeal Technology (AmSECT) using an online survey tool. Results We received 304 completed surveys (5.8% response rate), 75% completed by an anesthesiologist, and 24% by a perfusionist. The majority of respondents used clinical history and/or antibody testing (71% and 63%, respectively) to diagnose HIT. Seventy-five percent of respondents reported using an institutional protocol for HIT-CPB cases. Most respondents (89%) reported having at least 1 case in the last 3 years, with a total case experience of at least 785 cases (785 = the minimum number of cases in each case volume category × the number of respondents choosing that category). The strategy recommended in published guidelines, bivalirudin, was the most commonly reported alternative anticoagulation strategy (75%) used by respondents in HIT cases, with most (83%) using the activated clotting time (ACT) to monitor anticoagulation. Conclusions Most responding SCA and AmSECT members reported that their institution used a protocol or guideline for HIT/CPB cases, and most guidelines directed the use of bivalirudin as an alternative anticoagulant. Various other methods such as plasmapheresis are also being used with success in this patient population. Further research, including comparison studies of alternative anticoagulant strategies, is required to elucidate the best approach to these difficult cases.
Visual Memory Scan Slopes: Their Changes over the First Two Seconds of Processing.

Using the prime–probe comparison paradigm, Jacob, Breitmeyer, and Trevino (2013) demonstrated that information processing in visual short-term memory (VSTM) proceeds through three stages: sensory visible persistence (SVP), nonvisible informational persistence (NIP), and visual working memory (VWM). To investigate the effect of increasing the memory load on these stages by using 1, 3, and 5 display items, measures of VSTM performance, including storage, storage-slopes, and scan-slopes, were obtained. Results again revealed three stages of VSTM processing, but with the NIP stage increasing in duration as memory load increased, suggesting a need, during the NIP stage, for transfer and encoding delays of information into VWM. Consistent with this, VSTM scan-slopes, in ms/item, were lowest during the first NIP stage, highest during the second NIP stage, and intermediate during the third, non-sensory VWM stage. The results also demonstrated a color-superiority effect, as all VSTM scan-slopes for color were lower than those for shape and as all VSTM storages for color are greater than those for shape, and the existence of systematic pair-wise correlations between all three measures of VSTM performance. These findings and their implications are related to other paradigms and methods used to investigate post-stimulus processing in VSTM.
Validation of the Bayesian sensory uncertainty model of motor adaptation with a remote experimental paradigm

Understanding human motor learning and adaptation processes is an integral step in developing rehabilitative engineering solutions and training strategies for assistive technologies. Natural skill acquisition enables continually precise movements despite inherent noise in motor execution, sensory perception, and dynamic changes in body parameters (growth, age, etc.) and the external environment. As an initial step, motor learning research has aimed to identify the mechanisms of natural human adaptation during the acquisition of motor skills. Results presented here confirm previous work on motor adaptation using a remote web-based experimental paradigm that could provide a valuable option to conduct additional future work with expanded more diverse subject populations.
Response of juvenile red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) to practical diets supplemented with medium chain triglycerides.

Medium chain triglycerides (MCT), mostly C6–C12, are physiologically active compounds which are readily absorbed, transported and appear to be preferentially utilized as an energy source but are not deposited in lipid stores in a variety of terrestrial animals. Consequently, the incorporation of MCT in feeds may allow the utilization of higher levels of lipids, possibly increasing protein sparing, without affecting the proximate composition of the fish. To evaluate the response of red drum to varying levels of menhaden fish oil (MFO) and MCT's supplements, two growth trials were conducted utilizing a basal diet containing 44% protein and 5.7% lipid. The first growth trial utilized an incomplete factorial design to evaluate the general response of red drum to MCT's and MFO. The final weights and feed utilization of the fish was significantly affected by lipid source and level of supplementation as well as their interaction. In general, final weights of the fish and feed utilization were significantly higher for fish receiving diets supplemented with 0,4 or 8% MFO and lowest in fish offered the basal diets supplemented with 4% MCT. The performance of fish receiving diets supplemented with 8% MCT or a combination of 4% MFO and 4% MCT was intermediate. In the second experiment, low levels of MCT (0–4%) were evaluated in conjunction with low (3%) and high (8%) lipid supplement to the basal diet. Although, not significantly different from the high lipid basal diet, the largest fish and best feed utilization were found in fish offered the high lipid diet containing 1% MCT. However, as the level of MCT supplement was increased performance of the fish in terms of growth and feed utilization was reduced. Increasing the levels of MCT in the diet resulted in a reduction of intraperitoneal fat deposition. The fatty acid profiles of the intraperitoneal fat as well as the polar and neutral lipid fractions from the liver were determined. In general lipid content of the selected tissues reflected the FA profile of the diet. Based on FA profiles of the intraperitoneal fat, it appears that MCT are incorporated into fat stores of red drum. Based on the observed results, the response of red drum to MCT appear similar to other vertebrates but that MCT are incorporated into lipid stores. The incorporation of MCT in diets appears to be a suitable mechanism to reduce excessive lipid deposition in fish; however, with the exception of high lipid diet supplements may result in poor performance of the fish.
Interaction between floral color change and gender transition in the protandrous weed Saponaria officinalis

Natural selection has directed the evolution of floral traits so that pollinator visits are manipulated to maximize the fitness of individual plants by directing which other individual sires its seeds. In some plants, flowers change color over time and may have the ability to direct pollinators to rewarding flowers. In addition, by varying when pollen is available and when stigmas are receptive, protandrous plants can show variation in selfing rates. In this study, the association between color change and gender transition in flowers of Saponaria officinalis was examined. Anthocyanins were extracted from flowers of each gender stage to measure color using spectrophotometry. Female-phase flowers were found to have significantly higher anthocyanin concentration than male-phase flowers in both natural populations and experimental plots. This color change corresponded to a decrease in male sexual function, which was measured by the percentage of pollen grains stained as viable by lactophenol aniline blue and germinated on Brewbaker–Kwack media. Color change was phenotypically plastic. Plants grown in full sun had a more extensive color change than those grown in shaded experimental plots, and this effect was reversed the following year when the shading was removed. Pollinator observations documented both diurnal and nocturnal insect visitation. Fruit and seed set were equivalent on inflorescences bagged during daylight versus night, indicating that both diurnal and nocturnal insects are effective pollinators. If pollinators discriminate based on color, this could potentially reduce within-plant floral visits and also geitonogamy. This study is the first to document flower color change and moth pollination in Saponaria officinalis.
A Religious Motivation to Volunteer? Exploring the Linkage Between Volunteering and Religious Values

ABSTRACT Although the literature on volunteerism is considerable and growing, there is not a substantial body of research dealing with the association between religious values and volunteerism. There may be a relationship between religious values and community volunteerism. There may be a relationship between religious values and church volunteerism. These issues have not been examined in depth. The purpose of this article is to examine the relationship between religious values and secular volunteering and the relationship between religious values and religious volunteering.
Handling Qualities Results of an Initial Geared Flap Tilt Wing Piloted Simulation

An exploratory simulation study of a novel approach to pitch control for a tilt wing aircraft was conducted in 1990 on the NASA-Ames Vertical Motion Simulator. The purpose of the study was to evaluate and compare the handling qualities of both a conventional and a geared flap tilt wing control configuration. The geared flap is an innovative control concept which has the potential for reducing or eliminating the horizontal pitch control tail rotor or reaction jets required by prior tilt wing designs. The handling qualities results of the geared flap control configuration are presented in this paper and compared to the conventional (programmed flap) tilt wing control configuration. This paper also describes the geared flap concept, the tilt wing aircraft, the simulation model, the simulation facility and experiment setup, and the pilot evaluation tasks and procedures.
A novel current mode variable frequency control for DC-DC converters with adaptive voltage positioning

This paper presents a novel implementation of current-mode variable-frequency control. The system architecture features a dual-loop feedback and a unique structure with symmetric signal paths for voltage and current signals. The symmetric structure provides practical advantages for integrated controller design to achieve accurate Adaptive Voltage Positioning. The system dynamics is analyzed with the small-signal model. Design guide lines are derived for simple compensation circuits to achieve constant output impedance. With variable switching frequency, the system achieves good dynamic response without requiring high switching frequency at steady state. The system performance was verified by a two-channel interleaved controller chip implemented with CMOS technology.
Controlled Study of Transpyloric and Intermittent Gavage Feeding in the Small Preterm Infant

There were 53 appropriate for gestational age infants with a birth weight of less than 1,700 gm admitted to the Children9s Hospital in Denver who were randomly assigned to two groups for gavage or transpyloric (nasojejunal) feedings. The two groups were not significantly different in terms of gestational age, birth weight, and morbidity. No significant differences were observed for caloric intake after 4 days of age, growth parameters (weight, length, and head circumference), serum total protein levels, feeding-related complications, duration of intravenous fluid supplementation, and length of hospitalization. The results indicate that intermittent gastric gavage feedings are as efficacious as transpyloric feedings in supplying nutrition to the low birth-weight infant. Because of inherently greater risks, costs, radiation, and requisite personnel expertise, transpyloric feedings cannot be recommended as a routine method of feeding for the low birth-weight infant.
Type I Phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate 5-Kinases Are Distinct Members of This Novel Lipid Kinase Family

Phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate 5-kinases (PIP5K) synthesize phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate, a key precursor in phosphoinositide signaling that also regulates some proteins and cellular processes directly. Two distinct PIP5Ks have been characterized in erythrocytes, the 68-kDa type I (PIP5KI) and 53-kDa type II (PIP5KII) isoforms. Using peptide sequences from the erythroid 68-kDa PIP5KI, we have isolated cDNAs encoding PIP5KIα from human brain. Partial cDNAs obtained for a second isoform, PIP5KIβ, established that the human STM7 gene encoded a previously unrecognized PIP5KI. However, the peptide sequences demonstrated that erythroid PIP5KI corresponded to PIP5KIα. Recombinant, bacterially expressed PIP5KIα possessed PIP5K activity and was immunoreactive with erythroid PIP5KI antibodies. By Northern analysis, PIP5KIα and PIP5KIβ had wide tissue distributions, but their expression levels differed greatly. PIP5KIs had homology to the kinase domains of PIP5KIIα, yeast Mss4p and Fab1p, and a new Caenorhabditis elegans Fab1-like protein identified in the data base. These new isoforms have refined the sequence requirements for PIP5K activity and, potentially, regulation of these enzymes. Furthermore, the limited homology between PIP5KIs and PIP5KIIα, which was almost exclusively within the kinase domain core, provided a molecular basis for distinction between type I and II PIP5Ks.