cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bulk sound travel times and implications for mantle composition and outer core heterogeneity

We present a new methodology for con- straining mantle composition directly from observed seismic travel times. By measuring travel times of PCP, PcS, ScS, and PKiKP phases generated by the Chi- nese nuclear explosion of 21 May 1992 and recorded at cpiccntral distanccs of - loo, wc dircctly determine hulk sound travel li~r~es (T') for the mantle and outer core. This eliminates the need to combine independcnt Vp and Vs profiles, characterizing different paths and frequencies, to obtain a reference Vm profile. Our ob- served PIiiKP - PCP differential travel time indicates that the outer core model of AK135 is slow by 2.1 s (that of IASP91 bv 2.3 sl while that of PREM is slow by only 0.7 s and suggests, through comparison with other data, relative lateral homogeneity of the outer core. Furthermore, we find that T: for the crust and ~~lanlle in this region exceeds the AK135 prediction by 3.5 s (IASP91 by 3.9 s) t1.O s. Since t,he lowrr mnn- tle contribution to this delay depends upon how much arises in the upper mantle, we present two end-member models for such a slower mantle Vm, in which the delay resides entirely above or below 660 km depth. The lat- ter yields best-fitting lower mantle compositions which are less enriched in Si than those fit to T? for AK135 (or IASPSI) for the former, and neither supports Fe- enrichment of the lower mantle. Applicability of such localized observations to the larger iirantle is suggested by tomographic results indicating that lateral hctcro- geneity in i/m is very small relative to that in !4. Our results illustrate the potential utility of Tom in constrain- ing mantle composition.
Defining Rates and Risk Factors for Readmissions Following Emergency General Surgery

Importance Hospital readmission rates following surgery are increasingly being used as a marker of quality of care and are used in pay-for-performance metrics. To our knowledge, comprehensive data on readmissions to the initial hospital or a different hospital after emergency general surgery (EGS) procedures do not exist. Objective To define readmission rates and identify risk factors for readmission after common EGS procedures. Design, Setting, and Participants Patients undergoing EGS, as defined by the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma, were identified in the California State Inpatient Database (2007-2011) on January 15, 2015. Patients were 18 years and older. We identified the 5 most commonly performed EGS procedures in each of 11 EGS diagnosis groups. Patient demographics (sex, age, race/ethnicity, and insurance type) as well as Charlson Comorbidity Index score, length of stay, complications, and discharge disposition were collected. Factors associated with readmission were determined using multivariate logistic regression models analysis. Main Outcomes and Measures Thirty-day hospital readmission. Results Among 177 511 patients meeting inclusion criteria, 57.1% were white, 48.8% were privately insured, and most were 45 years and older (51.3%). Laparoscopic appendectomy (35.2%) and laparoscopic cholecystectomy (19.3%) were the most common procedures. The overall 30-day readmission rate was 5.91%. Readmission rates ranged from 4.1% (upper gastrointestinal) to 16.8% (cardiothoracic). Of readmitted patients, 16.8% were readmitted at a different hospital. Predictors of readmission included Charlson Comorbidity Index score of 2 or greater (adjusted odds ratio: 2.26 [95% CI, 2.14-2.39]), leaving against medical advice (adjusted odds ratio: 2.24 [95% CI, 1.89-2.66]), and public insurance (adusted odds ratio: 1.55 [95% CI, 1.47-1.64]). The most common reasons for readmission were surgical site infections (16.9%), gastrointestinal complications (11.3%), and pulmonary complications (3.6%). Conclusions and Relevance Readmission after EGS procedures is common and varies widely depending on patient factors and diagnosis categories. One in 5 readmitted patients will go to a different hospital, causing fragmentation of care and potentially obscuring the utility of readmission as a quality metric. Assisting socially vulnerable patients and reducing postoperative complications, including infections, are targets to reduce readmissions.
Getting to Waiver – A Legislative Solution to State Sovereign Immunity in Bankruptcy After Seminole Tribe

This article looks at the impact of Seminole Tribe of Florida v. Florida on the statutory abrogation of state sovereign immunity in Section 106(a) of the Bankruptcy Code and concludes, as have most courts faced with the issue, that Section 106(a) cannot survive constitutional scrutiny as applied to the states. After discussing why the assertion of sovereign immunity by state creditors in bankruptcy can disrupt the bankruptcy system, it examines the "solutions" to the problem of state sovereign immunity in bankruptcy that have previously been proposed. These include the inability of states to assert sovereign immunity in a suit by the federal government, the availability of the Ex parte Young doctrine to allow suits against state officers to compel compliance with federal law, and the ability of a federal court to review a question of federal law arising from a state court decision in which a state has consented to suit. Concluding that none of these approaches solves the problems created by state sovereign immunity in bankruptcy, the article suggests that only voluntary waiver of state sovereign immunity brings states into bankruptcy court as equal players. Because of the uncertainties surrounding the doctrine of waiver, the article suggests that state sovereign immunity will only be assuredly waived as to all bankruptcy cases and all claims and all state entities by state legislative or constitutional action. It concludes by discussing the ways Congress can constitutionally induce state legislatures to take this action, that is, how to "get to waiver" by state consent without running afoul of Tenth Amendment limitations on federal legislative action.
Conditional Survival and Predictors of Late Death in Patients With Ewing Sarcoma.

Purpose Long-term survivors of Ewing sarcoma (EWS) are at considerable risk for future complications, including late relapse and death. Data on prognostic factors for late death in those who have survived beyond 5 years are lacking. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. We obtained clinical features and outcome data on 1,351 patients with EWS who had survived 60 months or more. From these data, we performed univariate and multivariable analyses of overall survival (OS) using log-rank tests and Cox proportional hazard models. Results Of 1,351 patients in the cohort, there were 209 deaths, 144 (69%) of which were reported to be due to EWS. The OS for 5-year survivors at 10 years was 87.5% (95% confidence interval 85.4–89.3%). Univariate adverse prognostic factors for late death in 5-year survivors included age ≥ 18 years at initial diagnosis, male sex, and axial/pelvic primary site. Initial stage was not prognostic. Independent adverse prognostic factors for late death included black race (hazard ratio [HR] 2.16, P = 0.01), age ≥ 18 years at diagnosis (HR 2.02, P < 0.001), male sex (HR 1.43, P = 0.01), and axial/pelvic primary site (HR 1.43, P = 0.02). Conclusions The majority of late deaths in 5-year survivors are due to EWS. Black race, age ≥18 at diagnosis, male sex, and axial/pelvic primary site (but not stage at diagnosis) are independently associated with increased risk of late death.
Defining Problems and Facilitating Change

In the context of rapid change and redefinition, the capacities for adaptability and innovation have become essential components of a professional identity (Schon, 1973; Candy, 1991). Contemporary professionals in all fields, more than ever, need the necessary skills and dispositions to engage in generative learning in order to prioritize and lead innovative work (Christensen, Baumann, Ruggles, & Sadtler, 2006).
STRESS DECAY IN AN ORTHOTROPIC HALF-PLANE UNDER LOCAL SELF-EQUILIBRATED EDGE LOADING

An exact solution is presented for the stresses in a specially orthotropic half-plane under a localized, symmetric, self-equilibrated combination of uniform normal edge loadings. “Smeared” orthotropic material properties are used to represent a broad range of balanced angle-ply graphite-epoxy laminates. Expressions for the three stresses in the half-plane are presented for isotropic material and for two orthotropic material families that contain many of the practical laminates. Particular attention Is given to the diffusion of the edge loading into the half-space and to the shear stresses caused by the discontinuous edge loading, both of which are strongly influenced by material properties. Of special interest to designers of composite structures may be a simple approximate formula, in terms of material properties, which is proposed for a lower bound on the normalized 90%-decay distance for the normal stress. Also, the results serve as further illustration of the fact that the meaningful application of Sa...
Role of ionization dynamics on copper ion acceleration driven by intense short pulse laser and ultra-thin film interaction

Acceleration of copper ions from ultra-thin targets by a short pulse laser (30fs) with intensity of 1020 W/cm2 were systematically studied using two-dimensional relativistic Particle-in-Cell code EPOCH2D1, which includes an ionization module. It was found that ionization dynamics play an important role in heavy ion acceleration, particularly in the generation of quasi-mono-energetic ion bunches. These bunches were generated from the both sides of target and accelerated by the sheath fields on the surfaces, being attributed from ionization dynamics and Target Normal Sheath Acceleration (TNSA)2,3. In study of 20 nm copper target, higher charge state ions Cu+26 and Cu+27 were generated by the laser pulse directly from the target front side. On the target rear side, we detected quasi-mono-energetic Cu+20, Cu+21, Cu+22, Cu+23, Cu+24 and Cu+25 ion bunches. The peak energy increased with ion charge number from 82 MeV (Cu+20) to 157 MeV (Cu+23), and the particle number was around 4.5×108 ∼ 7×108 for each ion species. A scan of target thickness was made to find an optimum thickness for ion acceleration for the given laser parameters, which was 10 nm. The effect of impurities was also considered in which quasi-mono-energetic O+7 and O+8 ion bunches were obtained with O+8 bunches accelerated to a peak energy of 85 MeV. In this work, it is clear that much more information of ions was obtained than normal PIC simulations, which further helped us to understand the whole interaction process to improve ion acceleration experimental design.
Analytical path-summation imaging of seismic diffractions

ABSTRACTDiffraction imaging aims to emphasize small subsurface objects, such as faults, fracture swarms, and channels. Similar to classical reflection imaging, velocity analysis is crucially important for accurate diffraction imaging. Path-summation migration provides an imaging method that produces an image of the subsurface without picking a velocity model. Previous methods of path-summation imaging involve a discrete summation of the images corresponding to all possible migration velocity distributions within a predefined integration range and thus involve a significant computational cost. We have developed a direct analytical formula for path-summation imaging based on the continuous integration of the images along the velocity dimension, which reduces the cost to that of only two fast Fourier transforms. The analytic approach also enabled automatic migration velocity extraction from diffractions using a double path-summation migration framework. Synthetic and field data examples confirm the efficienc...
Coding for Laparoscopic Surgery

Laparoscopic approaches to conventional surgery are a fundamental technique in every general surgeon’s armamentarium. While the origins of laparoscopy dates back more than a century [1], the technique, as practiced today, is relatively new. That said, once introduced to the United States, the development of laparoscopy grew exponentially.
DNA Mismatch Repair and the DNA Damage Response

DNA mismatch repair (MMR) plays a critical role in maintaining genomic integrity. Defects in MMR predispose to cancer. In the past, the ability of the MMR system to correct mismatches was considered the primary mechanism by which it contributes to genomic stability. However, recent studies reveal that MMR also contributes to genome stability by mediating DNA damage signaling in response to DNA damaging agents. MMR initiation factors MutSα and MutLα recognize DNA lesions and trigger a signaling cascade that involves a series of protein kinases and effectors for cell cycle arrest and/or apoptosis. This process eliminates damaged cells from the body, preventing tumorigenesis.
A Quantitative Platform for Super-Resolution Microscopy Imaging

Pointillistic super-resolution microscopy techniques provide nanometer scale spatial resolution and single molecule sensitivity. Thus, they are excellent tools for probing the lateral organization of molecules, especially in biological environments. Additional information on such organization can be obtained by subjecting super-resolution data to quantitative analyses. These powerful approaches are able to quantify the extent to which molecules localize into clusters and the size/occupancy of clusters. However, quantitative super-resolution approaches typically encounter two major challenges. First, it is difficult to determine optimum imaging parameters and characterize, under these conditions, the fluorescent probe's biophysical properties. Second, it is challenging to identify efficient labeling strategies for detecting endogenous proteins, particularly those that yield stoichiometric and site specific labeling. To efficiently characterize fluorescent probes, we have developed an easily implementable nano-biology assay. Using chemistry compatible with super-resolution imaging (i.e. producing minimal background signal), proteins were covalently immobilized to glass surfaces with specific orientations. Interrogating such surfaces revealed important features of both optical highlighter proteins (paGFP and pamCherry1) and proteins labeled with organic fluorophores. To efficiently label endogenous receptors, we leveraged a unique cyclic peptide called meditope, which binds within the Fab framework of engineered monoclonal antibodies. A fluorescent meditope was complexed with the engineered trastuzumab Fab. This complex was used to image both SK-BR-3 and BT-474 cells, where we delineated the distribution of epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). According to our results, the majority of HER2 receptors were monomers as expected. However, a fraction of receptors were organized as oligomers, and more significantly in BT-474 cells that are oncogene-addicted. This demonstrates that our method is capable of detecting subtle differences in endogenous receptor organization and thus offers a powerful platform for quantitative super-resolution imaging.
Optical Aberrations of Guinea Pig Eyes.

Purpose The guinea pig is widely used in studies of refractive error development and myopia which often involve experimental optical manipulations. The study described here investigated the optical quality of the guinea pig eye, for which there are limited data, despite its fundamental importance to understanding visually guided eye growth. Methods The ocular aberrations of eight adolescent New Zealand pigmented guinea pigs (6-11 weeks old) were measured after cycloplegia using a custom-built Shack-Hartmann aberrometer and fit with a Zernike polynomial function to the 10th order (65 terms). The optical quality of their eyes was assessed in terms of individual Zernike coefficients, and data were further analyzed to derive root-mean-square (RMS) wavefront errors, modulation transfer functions (MTFs), point spread functions (PSFs), Strehl ratios, and depth of focus. A 4-mm pupil was used in all computations. The derived data are compared with equivalent data from normal young adult human eyes. Results The guinea pigs exhibited low hyperopia and a small amount of positive spherical aberration, with other aberration terms decreasing with increasing order. Their average depth of focus, estimated from through-focus modulation, was 3.75 diopters. The RMS wavefront error of the guinea pig eye was found to be larger than that of the human eye for the same pupil size, reflecting a higher degree of aberrations, although the PSF (area) on the retina was smaller and sharper due to its shorter focal length. The radial average best-focus MTF derived for the guinea pig eye showed good performance at very low spatial frequencies, with a steeper decline with increasing frequency than for the human eye, dropping below 0.3 at 9 cpd. When converted to linear units (cycles/mm), the guinea pig eye had a higher spatial frequency cutoff and a slight contrast advantage for low spatial frequencies compared to the human eye. Conclusions The optical quality of the guinea pig eye is far superior to their reported behavioral visual acuity. This implies a neuroanatomical limit to their vision, which contrasts with the close match of optical and neural limits to spatial resolution in human eyes. The significance for eye growth regulation of the relative optical advantages exhibited by guinea pig eyes, when optical quality is expressed in linear rather than angular retinal units, warrants further consideration.
Identification and kinetics characterization of a wax ester hydrolase from a feather-degrading actinomycete

Streptomyces fradiae var. k11 is a Gram-positive soil microorganism capable of degrading chicken feathers. Apart from being mostly protein, chicken feathers have a considerable level of lipids, with wax esters being the largest lipid class. The waxes may pose a challenge while rendering the feathers into coproducts, such as feather meal, and so the identification of a wax-ester hydrolase is warranted. A draft genome sequence of S. fradiae var. k11 was used to identify 14 gene sequences of potential lipid-degrading enzymes. The genes were expressed in E. coli BL21(DE3) cells on a pET vector and screened for activity. Four of the 14 enzymes had detectable activity, with two of the enzymes, SFK3309 and SFK3087, active against p-nitrophenyl palmitate, a representative water-insoluble substrate. A modified enzymatic assay was designed to measure activity against three model wax substrates: jojoba oil, beeswax, and cetyl-palmitate. SFK3309 was characterized to hydrolyze all three wax substrates. Kinetic experiments for SFK3309 were performed with cetyl-palmitate at 37°C, pH 8.0. The Km was determined to be 850 μM and the Kcat was 11.63 s-1. Through the characterization of SFK3309 as a wax-ester hydrolase, biotechnological implications of wax ester hydrolases in the rendering of many industrial wastes can be substantiated for further studies.
Potential Limitations on Integrated Silicon Photonic Waveguides Operating in a Heavy Ion Environment

The impacts of heavy-ion induced radial ionization profiles in integrated silicon photonic waveguides are investigated. Drude theory is applied to the case of a highly excited silicon waveguide to obtain relations for relevant optical properties to the heavy ion induced electron-hole pair density. 3-D finite-difference time-domain simulations are used to ascertain transmission characteristics through a variety of ionization profiles. Transient free-carrier absorption and phase shifts due to transient free-carrier dispersion are identified as potential single event effect degradation mechanisms for photonic integrated circuits operated in space.
Aortic Valvuloplasty or Rootplasty for Aortic Regurgitation

At present, aortic valvuloplasty is considered an effective procedure for treatment of aortic regurgitation in pediatric patients. It has encouraging mid- and long-term results. The improved outcome is primarily related to better understanding of the functional anatomy of the normal valve and the different factors that alter it. It is also related to the realization that outcome after valvuloplasty is dependent on comprehensive repair of all of the involved components of the aortic root. Refinement in preoperative diagnosis has helped identify these abnormal components and focus the surgical approach on the needed reconstruction. Although the technical aspects of valvuloplasty are well defined, suboptimal long-term results still occur in some cases because the patch material used for valve repair can become fibrotic or calcified. This review summarizes the surgical approach to and the management of the different abnormal root components in pediatric patients with significant aortic valve regurgitation.
Reasoning in expressive extensions of the RDF semantics

The research proposed here deals with reasoning in expressive semantic extensions of the RDF Semantics specification, up to the level of OWL 2 Full. The work aims to conduct an in-depth study of the distinctive features and the degree of implementability of OWL Full reasoning. This paper describes the core problem, presents the proposed approach, reports on initial results, and lists planned future tasks.
Establishment and characterization of antigen-presenting cell lines (XS series) derived from newborn mouse epidermis.

Activation of naive T cells occurs primarily through antigen presentation by a distinct class of leukocytes, termed dendritic cells (DC) (reviewed in 1). Langerhans cells (LC) are a skin-specific member of this family and play a pivotal role in the induction of T cell-mediated immunity against various antigens that are present in or penetrate into skin, which include reactive chemicals (contact hypersensitivity), alloantigens (skin graft rejection), microorganisms (protective anti-infectious immunity), and tumor-associated antigens (protective antitumor immunity) (reviewed in 2). A major limitation in studying the biology of LC has been the absence of stable, long-term cell lines. To overcome this limitation, we have established a series of antigen presenting cell lines (XS series) from newborn BALB/c mouse epidermis (3,4). Here we describe the establishment and characterization of XS lines.
Renal Cortical Deterioration in Children With Spinal Dysraphism: Analysis of Risk Factors

Background/Objective: Because hydronephrosis and reflux are reversible, we believe cortical loss represents true renal deterioration in children with spinal dysraphism. Our goal was to better define risk factors for cortical loss.
Introduction to Wavelet Transform and Time-Frequency Analysis

The wavelet transform has been developed in recent years and has attracted growing attention from mathematicians as well as engineers. In this introductory chapter, we would like to review briefly some basic concepts and methods of this new approach under the more general framework of time-frequency analysis methods. We will discuss the Fourier transform, the short-time Fourier transform and time-frequency distributions, followed by a discussion of wavelet theory and its variations.
Military Psychology Special Issue on Building Adaptive Capacity Within Multicultural Teams

The current operating environment is one in which military units are increasingly performing in unstable, rapidly changing, and culturally complex environments. Moreover, collaborating to accomplis...
Cascade Regulation of Vaccinia Virus Gene Expression

Vaccinia virus provides a facile system for combined biochemical and genetic analyses. The three regulatory classes of vaccinia virus genes — early, intermediate and late — have distinctive promoters and stage specific virus-encoded transcription factors. The expression of vaccinia virus early genes occurs soon after infection of the cell and entry of the virus particle into the cytoplasm. The core associated RNA polymerase, VETF, capping and methylating enzymes, and poly(A) polymerase produce viral transcripts that resemble eukaryotic mRNAs in structure and are translated efficiently. The products of the early mRNAs include RNA polymerase, capping enzyme, and poly(A) polymerase subunits, DNA polymerase and factors for specific transcription of intermediate genes. The virion DNA cannot serve as a template for intermediate gene expression, probably because core proteins restrict access by the newly synthesized transcription complex. Following DNA replication, however, intermediate genes are transcribed. The products of the intermediate genes include three transactivators of late gene expression. In the third phase of the cycle, the late genes are expressed and virion enzymes, early transcription factor and structural proteins are assembled into infectious progeny viral particles to begin the cycle again.
The Economic and Social Philosophy of Albert Einstein: A Study in Comparative Methods

Albert Einstein was both an extraordinary scientist and world personality. In a series of papers written between 1905 and 1917, he almost single-handedly dismantled and then reconstructed man’s conception of the universe and, thereby, man’s perception of himself. Geneticist J.B.S. Haldane once referred to Einstein as “the greatest Jew since Jesus.”1 Such a characterization is no doubt a modest overstatement; but biographer Banesh Hoffman, who wrote of Einstein’s life in the context of his scientific work, reminds us that in Einstein’s own time “he became a living legend, a veritable folk hero, looked upon as an oracle, entertained by royalty, statesmen, and other celebrities, and treated by public and presidents as if he were a movie star rather than a scientist.”2
Consumer Internet Standard Form Contracts in India: A Proposal

India has experienced a dramatic increase in consumer Internet shopping due to its convenience and the myriad choices of the Internet. Further, India enjoys a rapidly developing economy, rising living standards, and improving middle-class income, all of which promote Internet shopping. However, worldwide, few consumers read their e-standard forms and India is likely no exception. In addition, the legal framework in India is inadequate to police vendor opportunism in the form of drafting unfair e-standard terms. Because consumer confidence is a prerequisite to growing Internet commerce, a more comprehensive and direct solution would be beneficial to India’s economy Consumer Internet Standard Form Contracts in India: A Proposal first examines existing strategies to protect consumers and concludes they may be inadequate. The article argues that the most promising approach to consumer protection comes from the American Law Institute’s (ALI) Principles of the Law of Software Contracts. The ALI Principles strategy is to encourage early Internet disclosure of a vendor’s standard terms, before a consumer initiates a transaction. The Principles treat such disclosure as a “best practice” that increases the likelihood of enforcement of the vendor’s e-standard terms. The ALI Principles also call for a more robust judicial use of policing tools, including unconscionability and public policy, despite the limitations of these principles. The ALI disclosure approach likely would not improve consumer reading of e-terms. However, rating services and watchdog groups (of which there are many on the Internet) would have better access to problematic terms and could publicize vendors’ use of them. Vendors would be motivated to draft reasonable terms to establish and preserve good will and good reputations.
A Retrospective Chart Review of Buspirone for the Treatment of Anxiety in Psychiatrically Referred Youth with High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Abstract Objectives: Anxiety disorders (ADs) are commonly associated with high-functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder (HF-ASD) and often worsen with age. Buspirone is a commonly prescribed anxiolytic...
Twenty Years of Middle School STEM Camps at UW-La Crosse

UW-La Crosse has offered middle school science and mathematics camps for twenty years through a partnership of its College of Science and Health and its Office of Continuing Education and Extension. This paper will give information on the history of the program, overall camp design, specific examples of workshop offerings, and details on the administration of the programs.
Optimal mechanical properties of biodegradable natural rubber-toughened PHBV bioplastics intended for food packaging applications

Abstract Incorporation of natural rubber (NR) into poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) through melt blending improves PHBV flexibility and toughness but sacrifices tensile strength, due to low NR modulus and insufficient compatibility between NR and PHBV. These unbalanced mechanical properties restrict NR/PHBV use in packaging applications. A response surface methodology (RSM), with a Box-Behnken design, was used to optimize the mechanical properties of PHBV/NR blends enhanced with synergistic use of TMPTA coagent and peroxide. Notched impact strength (toughness) of the blends increased with increasing coagent and peroxide, maximal at 15 wt. % rubber loading. Tensile strength increased with increasing coagent, decreased with increasing rubber content, but was independent of peroxide. In contrast, flexibility, which also was independent of peroxide, decreased with coagent and increased with rubber loading. The optimal PHBV/NR blend was obtained at 15 wt. % NR, 4.2 phr peroxide, and 3 phr coagent, with a tensile strength of 28.1 MPa, notched impact strength of 27.5 J/m, flex modulus (1% secant modulus) of 8,679 MPa. The blends degraded by ˜15% in 53 days in a lab-scale aerobic composting system at 58 °C. Trays made from the optimized PHBV/NR blend had water vapor permeability and sealability comparable to polypropylene (PP), and migration studies indicated that the trays were safe for food-contact applications.
The Free-Market Family and Children’s Caretaking

How can market societies like our own best ensure that children get the circumstances they need to flourish? It turns out that there are two different reining visions of the role government should play when it comes to public policies that support families, each of which dominates the public policies in different countries. This essay considers which of these two systems does best at getting children the circumstances they need to develop well. The first of these visions, which I call “free-market policy,” expects that families do best when they arrange for what they need privately through the market. The idea behind free-market policy is that families thrive when they provide what their members need on their own. In a free-market system, workers are supposed to bargain with employers privately about work hours. Parents are supposed to fund the material provision their children need. They must negotiate individually for family leave and other time off they need for caretaking of children and others. Parents are also supposed to provide caretaking themselves for kids or, alternatively, to arrange and pay for this caretaking. All this means that, under free-market policy, policymakers don’t focus on making sure children get what they need. Instead, they focus on creating strong markets and on increasing the size of the economic pie. This way, the rationale goes, every family will have a big enough slice of the pie to arrange privately for what their members need through market transactions. The second vision of the role government should play when it comes to families, which I call “pro-family policy,” is premised on the view that government should work together with families to support the conditions that children need. Pro-family policy is built on the belief that families do better when government actively supports the conditions that they need to thrive. Like free-market policy, pro-family policy recognizes the importance of work and a strong economy. Yet, at the same time, this policy actively supports helping families get the circumstances children need to do best. This model sees the government’s role as helping people to harmonize paid work and family, as well as assisting parents in providing the circumstances children need. Free-market policy, as the reader likely recognizes by now, is the reining vision in the United States. Meanwhile, pro-family policy dominates in most other wealthy democracies. This essay investigates how well each of these policy systems does in ensuring that children get the conditions they need to thrive.
Have we oversold the Silicon Valley model of entrepreneurship

The Silicon Valley model of entrepreneurship has captured the imagination of the public, the attention of the public policy community throughout the world who want to emulate it, and the focus of scholars seeking to understand it. Entrepreneurship has enabled the Silicon Valley region to harness the opportunities afforded by globalization rather than succumbing as a victim. The purpose of this paper is to suggest that there are limits to the Silicon Valley model of entrepreneurship in addressing the most compelling contemporary economic and social problems and that a broader, more inclusive understanding of and approach to entrepreneurship might be more useful.
Meta-analysis of risk factors for substance abuse in the US military

This article describes the results from a meta-analytic review of 55 studies and 78 independent samples containing information about the demographic, contextual, and psychological factors associate...
Using Reduced Graphs for Efficient HLS Scheduling

High-Level Synthesis (HLS) is the process of generating digital circuits from high-level algorithmic descriptions. One of the major steps in this design approach is scheduling, which uses the Control/Data Flow Graph (CDFG) of the software code and determines in which order operations must occur. Traditionally, the scheduling process is time and memory intensive. In this paper, we present a new approach to replace the conventional scheduling portion of the HLS tool chain. This new technique significantly reduces the complexity of scheduling, resulting in improved memory usage and lower computational effort. The results demonstrate that an average 16 times speedup on the time required to determine the schedule can be achieved, with just a fraction (1/5 on average) of the memory usage, and with only 0 to 6% of added cost on the final hardware execution time.
Swallow Safety in Infant Pigs With and Without Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Lesion

Aerodigestive coordination is critical for safe feeding in mammals, and failure to do so can result in aspiration. Using an infant pig model, we analyzed the impact of recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) lesion on aerodigestive coordination and swallow safety at two time points prior to weaning. We used high-speed videofluoroscopy to record 23 infant pigs longitudinally at two ages (7 days, 17 days) feeding on barium milk. We measured respiration with a plethysmograph and used the Infant Mammalian Penetration–Aspiration Scale (IMPAS) to identify unsafe swallows. We tested for changes in swallow safety longitudinally in control and lesion pigs, and whether there was any interaction between the four different groups. On postnatal day 7, lesioned pigs exhibited differences in the frequency distribution of IMPAS scores relative to control pigs on day 7, and 17 day old lesion and control pigs. There were longitudinal changes in performance following RLN lesion through time, suggesting that the impact of RLN lesion decreases with time, as older lesioned pigs performed similarly to older control pigs. We found minimal differences in the impact of aerodigestive coordination on swallow safety, with shorter delays of inspiration onset reflecting higher rates of penetration in young lesioned pigs. Healthy pigs aspirated at a similar rate to those with an RLN lesion indicating that the occasional occurrence of dysphagia in infants may be a normal behavior.
Isolation and biophysical characterization of GSU0105, a triheme c-type cytochrome from Geobacter sulfurreducens

C-type cytochromes play an important role in respiration of dissimilatory metal-reducing bacteria. They form extended conduits for charge transfer between the cellular metabolism and external electron acceptors such as particles of iron oxide, metal ions, and humic substances. Out of more than a hundred c-type cytochromes in Geobacter sulfurreducens, only a small fraction has been previously characterized. Here we present our results on expression and biophysical characterization of GSU0105, a novel 3-heme cytochrome, important for Fe(III) respiration in G. sulfurreducens. We successfully cloned the gene and achieved ~3 mg/L of culture GSU0105 expression in E.coli. Despite a similar size (71 amino acids) and the same number of c-type hemes to the members of the cytochrome (cyt) c7 family, multiple sequence alignment suggests that GSU0105 does not belong to the cyt c7 family. UV-Vis spectroscopy revealed typical c-type cytochrome spectral features, including a weak iron-sulfur charge transfer band suggesting that at least one heme is ligated with a methionine residue. Far UV circular dichroism studies demonstrate approximately 35% content of α-helices and β-sheets, each, as well as thermal aggregation occurring above 60C. A combination of SAXS and analytical size exclusion chromatography data shows that GSU0105 is monomeric in solution. Finally, affinity pull-down assays demonstrate high binding affinity to PpcD and weaker binding to the other members of the cyt c7 family.
The effects of left-turn traffic-calming treatments on conflicts and speeds in Washington, DC.

Abstract Introduction: Left-turning vehicles pose considerable safety risks to pedestrians at intersections. Left-turn traffic-calming treatments are designed to slow left-turn traffic. This study examined the effects of one type of left-turn calming, the hardened-centerline treatment, on the numbers of conflicts between left-turning vehicles and pedestrians and left-turn speeds in Washington, DC. Method: Numbers of conflicts between left-turning vehicles and pedestrians, as well as left-turn speeds, were collected at selected intersections in Washington, DC, where the hardened centerline was installed, as well as at control intersections in the city where no treatment was installed, before and after installation. Poisson regression evaluated the change in numbers of conflicts associated with the hardened-centerline treatment. The effect of the treatment on left-turn speeds was estimated by a log-linear regression model, and the effect on the odds of left-turning vehicles exceeding 15 mph was estimated by a logistic regression model. Results: The treatment was associated with a 70.5% reduction in conflicts between left-turning vehicles and pedestrians, a 9.8% reduction in mean left-turn speeds, and a 67.1% reduction in the odds of left-turning vehicles exceeding 15 mph. All the reductions were statistically significant. Conclusions: The study demonstrates that the hardened-centerline treatment can reduce conflicts between left-turning vehicles and pedestrians, and slow down left-turn traffic at intersections. Practical applications: The treatment should be added to the toolbox for communities looking to improve pedestrian safety at intersections.
Bone Regeneration of Maxillary Molar Proximal Class 2 Furcation Defects Treated With Microscope-Assisted Papilla Preservation Technique and DFDBA: A Case Series

Introduction Periodontal regeneration of maxillary molar proximal furcation defects are challenging due to limited access. While combination therapy of open flap debridement with barrier membrane, bone graft, and biologics are reported to be more successful than monotherapeutic approaches, combination therapy can be complicated and costly. Case presentation A total of four teeth in three patients are presented to demonstrate radiographic bone regeneration of deep Class 2 maxillary molar proximal furcation defects (MMPFD) treated with microscope-assisted papilla preservation technique (PPT) and demineralized freeze-dried bone allograft (DFDBA). Conclusion(s) Radiographic bone regeneration of deep Class 2 MMPFD is possible with microscope-assisted PPT and DFDBA. Furthermore, treatment outcomes appear to be superior to those from previous clinical trials of Class 2 MMPFD treatment.
Sensors based Lane Keeping and Cruise Control of Self Driving Vehicles

The safety and security of self-driving vehicles is challenging considering large types of sensors and computational units developed by multiple manufacturers. In this paper, a method of identifying the optimal combination of sensors, methods and algorithms are presented for the safety of lane keeping and cruise control functionality of self-driving vehicles. Moreover, an adaptive model predictive control approach is presented that incorporates optimal number of sensors to improve the performance of such vehicles. Results indicate that the presented approach could improve the safety of lane keeping and cruise control functionality as compared to other approaches. This work could pave the way for the future smart and safe self-driving transportation systems.
What’s faith got to do with it? A scoping study on local faith communities supporting child development and learning

Abstract In a scoping study on the role of local faith communities in relation to child development and learning in low- and middle-income countries, we note the need for more scholarly attention on this topic, especially in the areas of ECD and primary and secondary education. We find very little literature that explores the current contributions of these faith communities or the impact of interventions. Most literature focuses on interventions driven by international actors that engage faith-actors in instrumentalist ways. We argue for an approach that seeks to recognize and support faith-communities as existing systems that support child development and learning, and believe such an approach will be more sustainable, respectful, and effective.
The discriminant in universal formulas for the canonical lifting

Abstract In this paper we study formulas for the coordinates of the Weierstrass coefficients a = ( a , A 1 , A 2 , … ) and b = ( b , B 1 , B 2 , … ) of the canonical lifting. More precisely we show that there are formulas for A 1 and B 1 that are given by modular functions, universal (meaning, single formulas that work in every possible case), and with no factor of Δ in their denominators. Two possible constructions are given. Moreover, a sufficient condition is given for the existence of A 2 and B 2 with these properties. Finally, we prove that the Hasse invariant, given as a polynomial on the Weierstrass coefficients of an elliptic curve of characteristic p ≥ 5 , has no repeated factors.
Novel DNAH17 mutations associated with fertilization failures after ICSI.

Fertilization is a key event in human reproduction. The male genetic factors associated with total fertilization failure (TFF) are largely unknown. To date, only mutations in PLCZ1 have been report...
Simulation Improves Internal Medicine Resident Confidence With Defibrillation, Cardioversion, and Transcutaneous Pacemaker Use.

Introduction While many graduate medical education programs require residents to be certified in advanced cardiac life support, this does not cover all aspects of cardiac stabilization in patients with a pulse. Residents are often on the front lines of providing care to patients with life-threatening dysrhythmias. Our residents expressed a lack of confidence in their ability to provide this care. Methods A convenience sample of internal medicine, preliminary medicine, and transitional year residents from our large community-based tertiary care hospital participated in our survey and training. We utilized a pre-post survey method of our residents’ confidence in domains that are critical to caring for patients requiring cardiac resuscitation and stabilization. Our pre-post survey was a modified Likert scale. Our training consisted of a 1-hour faculty-led hands-on training session focused on these critical domains in our hospital’s simulation suites. Follow-up survey data were collected immediately after the training and at six and 11 months after the training using mean confidence across all five domains as the study variable. Results Resident mean confidence in the five domains (placing leads and pads, manipulating defibrillator controls, performing defibrillation, performing synchronized cardioversion, and performing transcutaneous pacemaker use) increased immediately after our training compared to before the training (p<0.001). This increase in confidence from before the training was sustained at six and 11 months after the training (p=0.001 and p=0.002, respectively). Confidence was lower at six and 11 months than immediately after training (p=0.01 and p=0.004, respectively). Conclusion Our project showed that simulation-based training was effective in improving our trainee’s confidence in providing care to patients with life-threatening dysrhythmias. As with previous studies in simulation, confidence degradation was seen over time and likely mirrors skill degradation in these low-frequency encounters. As such, future aims include identification of ideal time intervals between training.
Substance Misuse Algorithm for Referral to Treatment Using Artificial Intelligence (SMART-AI): Multi-Modal Validation with Interpretation and Bias Assessment

Background: Substance misuse is a heterogeneous and complex set of behavioral conditions that are highly prevalent in hospital settings and frequently co-occur. Few solutions exist to comprehensively and reliably identify these conditions hospital-wide to prioritize care and guide treatment. The aim is apply natural language processing (NLP) to admission notes in the electronic health record (EHR) to accurately screen for substance misuse. Methods: The reference dataset was derived from a hospital-wide program that used structured diagnostic interviews to manually screen admitted patients over 26 months (n=54,915). Temporal validation was provided over the subsequent 12 months (n=16,917) and external validation at a separate health system (n=1,991). The Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test and Drug Abuse Screening Tool served as reference standards. The first 24 hours of notes in the EHR were mapped to standardized medical vocabulary and fed into neural network models. The primary outcome was discrimination for alcohol misuse, opioid misuse, or non-opioid drug misuse. Discrimination was assessed by the area under the receiver operating curve (AUROC). Findings: The model was trained on a cohort that had 3.5% (n=1,921) with any type of substance misuse. Nearly 11% of patients with substance misuse had more than one type of misuse. The multi-label convolutional neural network classifier had an average AUROC of 0.97 (95% CI: 0.96, 0.98) during temporal validation for all types of substance misuse. The model was well calibrated and demonstrated good face validity with model features containing explicit mentions of aberrant drug-taking behavior. The false-negative and false-positive rates were similar between non-Hispanic Black and non-Hispanic White groups. In external validation, the AUROC for alcohol and opioid misuse remained above 0.85. Interpretation: We developed a novel and accurate approach to leveraging the first 24 hours of EHR notes for screening multiple types of substance misuse. Funding Information: Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute On Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health under Award Numbers R01-DA051464 (MA), K23-AA024503 (MA), UL1-TR002389 (NK), KL2-TR002387 (NK), R01-DA041071 (NK), UG1-DA049467 (NK), R01-LM010090 (DD), R01-LM012973 (DD), K12-HS-026385 (HT), and R01-GM123193 (MMC). Declaration of Interests: Dr. Churpek has a patent pending (ARCD. P0535US.P2) for risk stratification algorithms for hospitalized patients, and has received research support from EarlySense (Tel Aviv, Israel). All other authors have nothing to declare. Ethics Approval Statement: This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board at RUMC and LUMC.