cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
CE: Inside an Ebola Treatment Unit: A Nurse's Report.

In December 2013, the first cases of the most recent outbreak of Ebola virus disease (formerly known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever) emerged in the West African nation of Guinea. Within months the disease had spread to the neighboring countries of Liberia and Sierra Leone. The international humanitarian aid organization Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF; known in English as Doctors Without Borders) soon responded by sending staff to set up treatment centers and outreach triage teams in all three countries. In August 2014, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak an international public health emergency.In September 2014, the author was sent by MSF to work as a nurse in an Ebola treatment unit in Liberia for five weeks. This article describes her experiences there. It provides some background, outlines the practices and teams involved, and aims to convey a sense of what it's like to work during an Ebola outbreak and to put a human face on this devastating epidemic.
Campbell, Donald (1916–96)

Trained as a social psychologist, Donald Campbell (1916–96) became the premier research methodologist of the social sciences and a proponent of social reform through the mechanism of “experimenting societies.” He was in particular responsible for detailing and rationalizing a wide range of quasi-experimental designs in terms of their robustness against “threats to validity,” having formulated highly useful notions of types of experimental validity. Campbell also developed the important ideas of nonreactive measurement and unobtrusive measures. Most importantly, perhaps, Campbell had great influence on many scientific fields and, ultimately, on philosophy of science by way of his innovative thinking that came to be labeled evolutionary epistemology. Keywords: experimental design; methodology; policy
Conductivity and Transparency of ZnO/SnO2-Cosubstituted In2O3

In2O3 exhibits a dramatic increase in solubility of SnO2 and ZnO when they are cosubstituted into In2O3. The resultant material, In2-2xSnxZnxO3-δ with x = 0−0.4, displays the same order of magnitude conductivity and transparency compared with bulk ITO (tin-doped indium oxide). Rapid quenching of In2-2xSnxZnxO3-δ raises the conductivity and widens the optical bandgap while lowering the optical transmission.
Widespread Public Support for Renewable Energy Mandates Despite Proposed Rollbacks

In light of recent attempts in many state legislatures to repeal or weaken renewable portfolio standards (RPSs) in the 28 states that have adopted them, the latest version of the National Surveys on Energy and Environment (NSEE) gauged public opinion on these state renewable energy requirements. The survey finds that a majority of Americans — of every race, income, level of education, religion, political party, and region of the country — support state renewables requirements. Most Americans would be willing to spend an extra $25 per year for more renewable energy — a number which exceeds the average $15 per year cost premium of current RPS programs. However, once the cost premium for an RPS rises to $50 per family per year, a majority of Americans say they would oppose an RPS. Further, though there is wide support for the idea of renewable energy requirements, few Americans know whether or not their state currently has an RPS in place.
Chemically-induced temperature sensitive mutants of dengue virus type 2. I. Isolation and partial characterization.

Temperature sensitive(ts) mutants of dengue virus type 2 (DEN-2, TH-36 isolate) were induced by replication in primary hamster kidney cells treated with 5-azacytidine. Sevents mutants were obtained from 138 clones isolated by an immunofluorescent cloning technique. Of these 7ts mutants, 5 were sufficiently stable to permit partial characterization. Complementation was detected at very low but statistically significant levels between somets mutants at 40° C. Viral double-stranded RNA production was evaluated in LLC-MK2 cells at 30° and 40° C by micro-quantitative complement fixation. The results of complementation tests and RNA production tests indicated that the 4 of 5 stablets mutants constitute 3 separate complementation groups (2 RNA+ and 1 RNA− groups), while a fifthts mutant was RNA− but non-complementable. The data presented here indicate that a genetic system can be developed without employing traditional plaque or cytopathology methods. Further, the 5 DEN-2ts mutants are believed to represent the only set of complementation-positive flavivirus mutants so far isolated.
Parasites of the Omnivorous Leaftier in Oregon

Nine species of naturally occurring hymenopterous parasites were recovered from Cnephasia longana (Haworth) in western Oregon. The most commonly recovered parasites were the braconids Agathis cincta (Cresson), Bracon hyslopi (Viereck), B. gelechiae (Ashmead), and the ichneumonid Enytus eureka (Ashmead). Other parasites reared were the ichneumons Ischnus-inquisitorius atriceps (Cresson), Itoplectis conquistor (Say), I. quadricingulata (Provancher), Phytodietus burgessi (Cresson), and Tranosema interrupta pterophorae (Ashmead). The incidence of parasitism was generally low, and larvae were not attacked until late in their activity period. There appears to be a preference differential between ichneumons and braconids in attacking omnivorous leaftier larvae infesting different host plants. None of the parasites introduced and released against the omnivorous leaftier in Oregon nearly 20 years ago have become established.
Does Motor Learning Occur in the Spinal Cord

It is becoming clear that the plasticity of the sensory-motor networks of the adult mammalian lumbosacral spinal cord is much greater than and is more dependent on the specific patterns of use than has been previously assumed. Using a wide variety of experimental paradigms in which the lumbar spinal cord is isolated from the brain, it has been shown that the lumbosacral spinal cord can learn to execute stepping or standing more successfully if that specific task is practiced. It also appears that the sensory input associated with the motor task and/or the manner in which it is interpreted by the spinal cord are important components of the neural network plasticity. Early evidence suggests that several neurotransmitter systems in the spinal cord, to include glycinergic and GABAergic systems, adapt to repetitive use. These studies extend a growing body of evidence suggesting that memory and learning are widely distributed phenomena within the central nervous system. NEUROSCIENTIST 3:287–294, 1997
A Study of the Impact of the Siena College S-STEM Program on Student Outcomes

The experimental group for this study included 38 students who entered the Tech Valley Scholars (TVS) program over the course of three academic years, from 2009-10 through 2011-12. Two groups of controls were used: a randomly selected sample of STEM students who matriculated in the same time frame; and a matched sample. The TVS students and controls were compared on two primary outcome variables: graduation (or retention to senior year), and final cumulative GPA. The major findings of this study are that (1) the TVS students had better outcomes than both the randomly selected comparison group and the matched control group, (2) unmet financial need is an important risk factor for non-retention, (3) students with moderately high unmet need can be academically successful if retained, and (4) the TVS program is having a positive impact on at-risk students. Recommendations for effective and efficient allocation of scholarship funds are given and future statistical studies are recommended.
Reconstruction of Implicit Surfaces from Uncalibrated Camera Image Sequences

To improve the quality of 3D geometric models reconstructed from uncalibrated image sequences,a feature tracking algorithm was proposed to match more points among a sequence of images.In the algorithm,a dense grid in the first frame is drawn,and easily tracked feature points near the grid points are determined.The sub-pixel coordinates of the feature points are found by iteration.The optical flow for this sparse feature set is calculated using iterative Lucas-Kanade method in pyramids.An even and dense 3D point-cloud is reconstructed with a self-calibration algorithm.Finally,an RBF(radial basis function) implicit surface reconstruction was applied to generate the surface model of the object.By experimenting with a number of image sequences,the reconstruction results show that the algorithm can obtain satisfactory surfaces for images with rich texture.
Sensitivity of measured steam oxidation kinetics to atmospheric control and impurities

Abstract The most direct means of improving the ability of water cooled reactors to withstand excessive cladding oxidation during a loss of coolant accident is to either modify or replace zirconium cladding. It is important to understand what level of agreement is to be expected as a function of systematic differences in steam oxidation testing techniques and instrumentation among testing facilities. The present study was designed to assess the sensitivities of some of the current and proposed reactor cladding materials. Steam oxidation sensitivity of Zircaloy-2, FeCrAl and Mo to O2 impurities in steam were examined. It was shown that the effect of O2 impurities is negligible for the two former materials while significant in the case of Mo.
Ischemic nephropathy: noninvasive testing

Ischemic nephropathy is defined as hypertension and a defect in renal function and/or loss of renal parenchyma caused by hemodynamic changes secondary to a renal artery stenosis. A work-up should be reserved for those patients considered candidates for intervention with percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty (PTRA) or reconstructive surgery in whom there is hypertension with clinical features suggestive of ischemic nephropathy and/or a significant size disparity between the kidneys. Therefore, all patients suspected of ischemic nephropathy should undergo a renal ultrasound examination to quantitate renal size and a test of overall renal function (creatinine clearance or DTPA plasma disappearance). The diagnostic accuracy of functional tests for renovascular hypertension can be seriously impaired in the presence of renal insufficiency, and they have not been evaluated systematically in this clinical setting. Therefore, tests are reserved for those patients in whom the clinical clues of ischemic nephropathy are equivocal. Available evidence suggests that angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI)-induced changes in the Hippuran or Mag3 renogram are predictive of reversible renovascular hypertension in the presence of renal insufficiency. Duplex ultrasound scanning of the renal arteries is an accurate method to identify renal artery stenosis in experienced hands. However, there is no quantitative information to judge the utility of noninvasive tests in predicting which patients with ischemic nephropathy will have an improvement in renal function after intervention.
Alkane–Metal Interfacial Structure and Elastic Properties by Molecular Dynamics Simulation

The structure of amorphous materials near the interface with an ordered substrate can be affected by various characteristics of the adjoining phases, such as the lattice spacing of the adherent surface, polymer chain length, and adhesive strength. To discern the influence of each of these factors, four FCC metal lattices are examined for three chain lengths of n-alkane and van der Waals interfacial interactions are controlled by adjusting the Lennard–Jones 12-6 potential parameters. The role of interaction strength is investigated for a single chain length and substrate combination. Four nanoconfined systems are also analyzed in terms of their mechanical strength. A strong layering effect is observed near the interface for all systems. The distinctiveness of polymer layering, i.e., the maximum density and spatial extent, exhibits a logarithmic dependence on the interaction strength between polymer and substrate. Congruency with the substrate lattice parameter further enhances this effect. Moreover, the el...
Causality and the Ecology of Human Development

This paper outlines an approach to research on the ecology of human development that emphasizes a multidimensional view of causality. From an Aristotelian perspective, causality incorporates material, formal, efficient, and final causes. Each type of Aristotelian cause may be defined specifically in ecological research on human development, and particular examples of variables that represent each type of cause may be identified. Suggested are research designs that involve the intersection of Bronfenbrenner’s (1979) ecological approach with Aristotelian causal types. These designs might involve variables associated with one type of cause across several levels of ecological organization, or variables representing all types of causes within a level or across all levels of the ecosystem. Research on child maltreatment is used to provide an example of the approach proposed in this paper.
Intervenção com homens que praticam violência contra seus cônjuges: reformulações teórico-conceituais para uma proposta de intervenção construtivista-narrativista com perspectiva de gênero

Este artigo constitui-se em uma reflexao teorico-pratica e critica realizada a partir da propria experiencia em psicoterapia com homens que praticaram violencia contra seus conjuges. Tal reflexao indaga sobre os pressupostos tacitos contidos nos modelos dominantes de intervencao com homens que exercem violencia no casal. Serao explicitadas e discutidas as formulacoes conceituais contidas em tais pressupostos para: a) a violencia contra o conjuge; b) as consideracoes sobre o ser humano e suas possibilidades de mudanca; c) o lugar do/a facilitador/a, psicoterapeuta ou educador/a; e d) a formulacao conceitual que se tem sobre dois topicos transversais relacionados: a identidade e o genero. Como conclusao, serao sinalizados alguns apontamentos relevantes no estabelecimento de um marco Construtivista-Narrativista (Construtivista e Socioconstrucionista), com perspectiva de genero (CNPG) centralizado nos processos e fortalezas humanas para a compreensao, interpretacao e intervencao neste problema psicossocial.
Transfection with mRNA for CD19 Specific Chimeric Antigen Receptor Restores Natural Killer Cell Mediated Killing of CLL Cells.

B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common leukemia in the western world and is characterized by monoclonal proliferation of functionally deficient lymphocytes, with relative decrease in T and Natural Killer (NK) cells. Available monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapies elicit a response in almost half of the patients, but durable remissions are rare. B-CLL cells are virtually impervious to T and NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity. However, a feasible approach to overcome this resistance is to redirect the specificity of T or NK cells by making them express chimeric antigen receptors (CAR). Such a method has been successfully tested in NK cells against a number of CD19-expressing cells; however the loading of cells with CD19-CAR relied on retrovirus-based transfection methods. We describe here a non-retroviral method for obtaining NK cells expressing high levels of CD19-CAR, based on electroporation of messenger RNA (mRNA). We used a CAR that is comprised of the single chain Fv portion of a mouse mAb against CD19 fused to the signaling intracellular domain of CD3ζ subunit. The corresponding cDNA was subcloned by PCR into a plasmid allowing T7-dependant mRNA synthesis. In vitro synthesis of the CD19-CAR mRNA was followed by a poly-adenylated tail elongation step in order to improve in vivo stability and translation of the messenger. Electroporation of NK-92 cells with this construct, using a Biorad GenePulser II apparatus, yields up to 78% expression efficiency and as high as 90% cell survival. Cytotoxicity of transfected NK-92 cells was tested against 3 target cell lines (NK sensitive, CD19 negative K562; CD19 expressing, NK resistant REH and SUPB15) as well as primary CLL cells from 6 untreated patients. A non-radioactive fluorochrome-based flow cytometric assay was used to determine NK-mediated cytotoxicity, at effector to target (E:T) ratios ranging from 1:1 to 10:1. Expression of the CD19-CAR on the surface of NK-92 cells do not change their cytolytic properties against K562: 70% ±5% killing compared to 74% ±2% killing for non-transfected NK-92, (E:T ratio of 10:1). Expression of CD19-CAR in NK-92 cells completely overcomes the resistance of REH and SUPB15 cell lines: 76% ±7% and 73% ±5% killing respectively, compared to 21% ±10% and 18% ±7% killing respectively with non-transfected NK-92 (E:T ratio of 10:1). Moreover, previously resistant primary CLL cells became highly sensitive to lysis by NK-92 expressing CD19-CAR: 46–82% killing, as opposed to 7–22% killing for non-transfected NK-92 (E:T ratio of 10:1). These results show that NK cells can be engineered using mRNA transfection by electroporation to target and effectively kill resistant primary CLL cells.
Relative effectiveness of adjuvant chemotherapy for invasive lobular compared with invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast.

BACKGROUND Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) and invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) have distinct clinical, pathologic, and genomic characteristics. The objective of the current study was to compare the relative impact of adjuvant chemotherapy on the survival of patients with ILC versus those with IDC. METHODS Women with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 1 (HER2) -negative, stage I/II IDC and ILC who received endocrine therapy were identified from the 2000 to 2014 California Cancer Registry. Patient, tumor, and treatment characteristics were collected. Ten-year overall survival (OS) was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional-hazards modeling. RESULTS In total, 32,997 women with IDC and 4638 with ILC were identified. The receipt of chemotherapy significantly decreased during the study for both subtypes. For patients with IDC, the 10-year OS rate was 95% among those who received endocrine therapy alone versus 93% (P < .01) among those who received endocrine therapy plus chemotherapy. For patients with ILC, the 10-year OS rate was 94% among those who received endocrine therapy alone versus 92% (P < .01) among those who received endocrine therapy plus chemotherapy. After adjusting for patient and treatment factors, adjuvant chemotherapy was significantly associated with a decreased 10-year hazard of death for patients with IDC (hazard ratio, 0.83; 95% confidence interval, 0.74-0.92). In contrast, adjuvant chemotherapy was not independently associated with the adjusted 10-year hazard of death for patients with ILC (hazard ratio, 1.14; 95% confidence interval, 0.90-1.46). CONCLUSIONS Adjuvant chemotherapy was not associated with improved OS for patients with ER-positive, HER2-negative, stage I/II ILC. Avoidance of ineffective chemotherapy will markedly reduce the adverse effects and economic burden of breast cancer treatment for a large proportion of patients with breast cancer. Cancer 2017;123:3015–21. © 2017 American Cancer Society.
The Econometric Work of Gerhard Tintner

Gerhard Tintner was born September 29, 1907 of Austrian parents in Nurnberg, Germany. He studied economics, statistics and law at the University of Vienna, where he received his Doctor’s degree in 1929. In 1930 he spent some time in research work at the London School of Economics. Then, under a fellowship extended to him by the Rockefeller Foundation, he took postdoctoral work at Harvard University, Columbia University, the University of California (Berkeley) and Stanford University in the United States, at the Institut Henri Poincare in Paris, France and at Cambridge University in England. By training and by temperament, Tintner has been able to collate ideas from many sources; his professional work bears the mark of his own originality and has been singularly free from the stamp of a particular school or tradition.
The Comparative Psychotogenic Effects of L-Dopa and ET-495

The ability of amphetamine and methylphenidate to cause a schizophreniform psychosis in non-schizophrenic individuals is one of the bases for the hypothesized relationship between dopaminergic hyperactivity and some psychotic states (Connell, 1958; Griffith, Cavanaugh, and Oates, 1970; Angrist and Gershon, 1970; Spensley and Rockwell, 1972; Bell, 1973). The demonstration that these same drugs caused florid exacerbation of symptomatology when administered to schizophrenics (Janowsky, El-Yousef, Davis, and Sekerke, 1973; Janowsky and Davis, 1974) gave impetus to this concept. However, amphetamine and methylphenidate clearly affect both norepinephrine and dopamine (Lewander, 1974; Scheel-Kruger, 1971; Ferris, Tang, and Maxwell, 1972) thereby making it difficult to specifically implicate dopaminergic mechanisms in their psychotogenic effects with certainty.
Scale Formation in Flagellates

In the context of a cell wall, the term scale is used to describe a discrete, morphologically distinct wall subunit synthesized within the cell. Following exocytosis, the scales become arranged on the surface of the cell in one or more layers forming a cell wall. This simple functional definition belies the great diversity of scale morphology and composition. Scales range from 30 nm (Manton and Ettl 1965) to 14 nm (Manton et al. 1976 a) in diameter, some bearing spines up to 75 µm in length (Moestrup 1974 a, Manton 1978 a). In some species, the scales are constructed of organic micro– fibrils (Brown et al. 1970), and may bear crystals of calcium carbonate (Manton and Leedale 1969). In others, the scales are composed of silica and may be three-dimensional, reticulate structures (Pennick and Clarke 1972) or flat plates with perforations (Harris and Bradley 1958). Still other species produce membranous scales with no discernible substructure (Belcher and Swale 1967, Darley et al. 1973). Despite this diversity in morphology and composition, for most organisms in which scale biosynthesis has been investigated, the scales have been shown to arise within the cisternae of the Golgi apparatus (Moestrup 1974 a, Olive 1975).
Broadband terahertz polarization conversion using metasurfaces (Conference Presentation)

Two-dimensional metamaterials - metasurfaces - offer tremendous opportunities in realizing exotic optical phenomena and functionalities to address the technological challenges encountered in the terahertz frequency regime. By tailoring the resonant response of basic building blocks as well as their mutual interactions, we are able to effectively control of amplitude, phase, and polarization state of terahertz waves. Here we report the realization of highly efficient polarization conversions including: (1) Reflective linear polarization rotation using an array of anisotropic resonators backed with a ground plane; (2) Transmissive linear polarization rotation using an array of anisotropic resonator array sandwiched by two orthogonal gratings; and (3) Reflective linear-to-circular polarization conversion using two cascading arrays of complementary resonators. They operate over a broad bandwidth more than one octave and approaching two octaves in some cases. We further show that the linear polarization rotation is accompanied by a tunable phase discontinuity, which allows us to demonstrate an ultrathin terahertz flat lens enabling diffraction-limited focusing. The broadband linear-to-circular polarization may also find applications including terahertz circular dichroism spectroscopy and excitation of valley polarization in 2D materials.
Pyrometallurgical principles involved in the combustion synthesis of advanced materials

Combustion synthesis, or self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS), reaction systems are discussed with respect to thermodynamics and kinetics. In particular, the effect of the process parameters, e.g. particle size, ΔHf, ignition and combustion temperatures, on these self-sustaining reactions is discussed. Combustion theory is used to investigate the effect of the overall activation energy of the SHS reaction on the combustion front propagation rate and in obtaining a clearer understanding of the transition from stable to unstable propagation. Finally, examples of the application of combustion synthesis to advanced materials processes are made, in particular the synthesis of Ni-Ti-X intermetallic shape memory alloys, TiC-Al2O3 and ZrB2-Al2O3 ceramic composite materials.
Firework: Data Analytics in Hybrid Cloud-Edge Environment

Now we are entering the era of the Internet of Everything (IoE) moreover, billions of sensors and actuators are connected to the network.
Neural Correlates of Social Perception in Children with Autism: Local versus Global Preferences

The Weak Central Coherence account of autism spectrum disorders posits that individuals with ASD utilize a detail-oriented information processing bias. While this local bias is helpful in visual search tasks, ASD individuals falter in social cognition tasks where coherence is advantageous. The present study examined the neural correlates of Weak Central Coherence in ASD during visual and social processing. Fifteen ASD and sixteen typically developing children/adolescents completed a social/visual information processing task in an fMRI scanner. The stimuli consisted of human characters, composed of geometrical shapes, displaying different emotions. In the locally oriented Shape condition, participants indicated whether a given shape was present in a figure. In the Emotion condition, participants identified the emotion conveyed by the character in the figure at the global level. Whole-brain within- and between-group activation and seed-to-voxel functional connectivity analyses were conducted in SPM12 and the CONN toolbox. The ASD group was significantly faster in shape identification, but less accurate in emotion identification. The TD group showed significantly increased areas of activity over the ASD group in the Shape task in regions associated with executive control, such as the medial prefrontal cortex and middle frontal gyrus, suggesting increased interference from the global/social information. During the Emotion condition, the ASD group showed decreased connectivity between frontal and posterior regions and between body perception and motor networks, suggesting a possible difference in mirroring. The findings suggest that social cognitive factors, not visual processing biases, underlie the observed behavioral differences.
Using a collaborative action research approach to negotiate an understanding of formative assessment in an era of accountability testing

Abstract This collaborative action research explored science educators' negotiation with implementing formative assessment in the context of summative accountability testing in the U.S. We identified six themes: (1) negotiating learning goals, (2) restructuring instruction, (3) implementing effective assessment strategies, (4) negotiating time constraints, (5) modifying summative tests, and (6) negotiating with students. This study indicates that with substantial support, teachers can create coherent instructional and assessment practices that enhance students’ conceptual understanding and meet the need to address accountability measures. It has implications for teacher professional development and building a more coherent assessment system in an era of summative accountability testing.
Anatomic Trajectory for Iliac Screw Placement in Pediatric Scoliosis and Spondylolisthesis: An Alternative to S2-Alar Iliac Portal.

Single-center retrospective study. To analyze two-year postoperative outcomes following spinopelvic fixation in pediatric patients using the anatomic trajectory (AT) portal for iliac screws. Iliac fixation is crucial in situations requiring fusion to sacrum. Challenges include complex anatomy, pelvic deformation, severe deformity, and previous surgery. The PSIS portal requires significant dissection, rod connectors, and complex bends. The SAI portal requires navigating the screw across the SI joint to the ilium. The anatomic trajectory (AT), first reported in 2009, is between the PSIS and SAI portal, without prominence, connectors, or complex bends. Fifty-four patients aged ≤18 years requiring instrumentation to the Ilium with minimum follow-up of two years (mean 44 months) were clinically and radiographically evaluated. Changes in coronal curve magnitude and pelvic obliquity were assessed using paired t test for patients with cerebral palsy. Spondylolisthesis reduction was assessed in patients with moderate- to high-grade spondylolisthesis (Meyerding grade 3 and 4). A total of 108 iliac screws were inserted using AT portal in 54 patients. Twenty-eight neuromuscular and syndromic patients had an initial mean coronal curve of 85° corrected to 23° at two years (p < .001) and a pelvic obliquity of 22° corrected to 4° (p < .001). Twenty patients with moderate- to high-grade spondylolisthesis treated with reduction and interbody fixation improved significantly with respect to their slip angles (7° ± 14.7° to −7.9° ± 6.1°, p = .003). In the neuromuscular group, two surgical site infections occurred, two had implant fractures, and 12 had asymptomatic iliac screw loosening, none requiring revision. In the spondylolisthesis group, there were no neurologic complications and one had prominent screw requiring removal. Of 108 iliac screws, 2 rod connectors were employed. Iliac screw insertion using the AT portal is a safe and effective method of pelvic fixation in pediatric patients with satisfactory radiographic correction and minimal complications. Level 4.
Parliamentary Open Big Data: A case study of the Norwegian Parliament´s open data platform

The paper presents a case study on the use of open big data in the Norwegian Parliament. A set of policy documents was examined to find motivation for publishing open data. The case study was based on an examination of the parliament website, combined with document studies and interviews. The paper concludes that third parties have used open data to create new applications that generate value for their users. Applying our findings to the open government benchmarking framework, we identify some national barriers and possible solutions to further promote the use and publication of open data.
Comparing internal and external validation in the discovery of qualitative treatment-subgroup effects using two small clinical trials

Abstract In a two-arm randomized trial where both arms receive active treatment (i.e., treatments A and B), often the primary goal is to determine which of the treatments, on average, is more effective. A supplementary objective is to understand possible heterogeneity in the treatment effect by identifying multivariable subgroups of patients for whom A is more effective than B and, conversely, patients for whom B is more effective than A, known as a qualitative interaction. This is the objective of the qualitative interaction trees (QUINT) algorithm developed by Dusseldorp et al (Statistics in Medicine, 2014). We apply QUINT to a small randomized trial comparing facilitated relaxation meditation to facilitated life completion and preparation among patients with life-limiting illness (n = 135). We then conduct an internal validation of the QUINT solution using bootstrap resampling and compare it to an external validation with another, similarly conducted small randomized trial. Internal and external validation showed the apparent range in effect sizes was over-estimated, and subgroups identified were not consistent between the two trials. While the qualitative interaction trees algorithm is a promising area of data-driven multivariable subgroup discovery, our analyses illustrate the importance of validating the solution, particularly for trials with smaller numbers of participants.
Nasal Placode Development, GnRH Neuronal Migration and Kallmann Syndrome.

The development of Gonadotropin releasing hormone-1(GnRH) neurons is important for a functional reproduction system in vertebrates. Disruption of GnRH results in hypogonadism and if occompanied by anosmia is termed Kallmann Syndrome (KS). From their origin in the nasal placode, GnRH neurons migrate along the olfactory-derived vomeronasal axons to the nasal forebrain junction and then turn caudally into the developing forebrain. Although research on the origin of GnRH neurons, their migration and genes associated with KS have identified multiple factors which influence development of this system, several aspects still remain unclear. This review discusses development of the olfactory system, factors that regulate GnRH neuron formation and development of the olfactory system, migration of the GnRH neurons from the nose into the brain, and mutations in humans with KS that result from disruption of normal GnRH/olfactory systems development.
The Anglophone question: between a “regime-made disaster” and the ethnic politics of a fragmented nation

During the 2018 annual meeting of the African Studies Association, the North American Association of Scholars on Cameroon organized a roundtable on the Anglophone crisis. The question we were charg...
Computational modelling and docking insight of bacterial peptide as ideal anti-tubercular and anticancer agents

Abstract The present investigation was assessed to predict the anti-tubercular and anticancer attributes of bacterial peptide SMANF2 using in silico docking tool. Initially, the structure of peptide SMANF2 was modelled and its stereo-chemical, physiochemical, and functional parameters were determined using various computational tools. Further, in silico molecular docking between peptide and targeted proteins of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and cancer cells (lung cancer – A540 cell line; colon cancer – HT-29 cell line) were predicted using Hex 8.0.0 docking software. Results predicted good stereo-chemical, physiochemical, and functional features of peptide SMANF2. The peptide exhibited the highest negative energy value (E-value) of -747.99 kJ/mol with LysA, followed by -735.43, -631.07, -549.28, and -285.06 kJ/mol with ribonucleotide reductase, alanine racemase, DNA gyrase, and isocitrate lyase, respectively of M. tuberculosis. Among targeted proteins of A540 cell line, peptide SMANF2 revealed the highest docking score of -539.12 kJ/mol with Bcl-2. On the other hand, the peptide showed highest negative E-value of -422.70 kJ/mol with Bcl-xL among targeted HT-29 cell line. In a nutshell, this in silico study predicted the anti-tubercular and anticancer traits of peptide SMANF2 that can be used as auspicious therapeutic agent in future.
Is the pharmacological management of bulimia nervosa plausible

Bulimia nervosa (BN) is a severe psychiatric disorder that is characterized by (1) eating, in a discrete period of time, an amount of food that is definitely larger than most people would eat durin...
A Framework for Hardware Trojan Vulnerability Estimation and Localization in RTL Designs

As the design complexity increases, the attack space for malicious modifications in the design also increases. Attackers in untrusted phases during the Integrated Circuit (IC) design cycle may embed a Hardware Trojan (HT). A potential and stealthy HT is triggered with nets that rarely switch during regular circuit operation. Detection of HT in the host design requires exhaustive simulation to activate the HT during pre- and post-silicon. For analyzing HT vulnerability, we present a modeling approach to capture the rare nets using word-level statistics of the inputs. It provides the capability to locate macro-block(s) in a Register Transfer Level (RTL) design to estimate the rare triggering nets. Given RTL description of a design, we decompose the design into a subset of basic arithmetic modules, each of which is pre-characterized (empirically and analytically) by which we evaluate the design for quick estimation of HT vulnerable macro-block(s). The relative impact of mapping the design to a particular module from its analytical characteristics can be used to detect “low activity” and “local regions” without expensive low-level simulation. We implement the model over a wide range of input signal statistics for Digital Signal Processing (DSP) Intellectual Property (IP) cores, and the average estimation error for different bit-widths and correlations is less than 2%. We also propose cost functions during mapping and show that identification of rare activity blocks (nets) at a higher level is closely related to the simulation results. The final mapping that identifies the candidate arithmetic modules can minimize HT vulnerability in design at the cost of accuracy.
A Self-Biased Low Modulation Index ASK Demodulator for Implantable Devices

Free floating sub-mm and mm sized brain implants can communicate through a backscatter-based link in a presence of the EM field generated by the external coil. This link reduces the bandwidth requirement in the uplink communication of these implants to the external coil and enables a close-loop operation of the distributed implant system through reduced latency. The critical challenge in the link design stems from the low modulation index in the incident signal at the receiving coil. This calls for the design of the ASK demodulator that can resolve signals with low modulation index. We propose a demodulator design comprising a self-biased common-source based envelope detector that provides sufficient conversion gain and at the same time operates with a low power consumption. With 90 MHz carrier frequency and 50-kbps data rate, the ASK demodulator, implemented in 65 nm CMOS technology, resolves input RF signal with 1% modulation index consuming less than 100 nW when amplitude of the input RF signal is 200 mV.
Using meta-population models to guide conservation action

Abstract Biodiversity conservation is limited by resources, data, and time for execution. To maximize efficacy, it is best if conservation plans are strategically evaluated for cost, feasibility, and likely impact prior to implementation. We present a framework to systematically examine the likely impact of proposed conservation plans for threatened taxa. As a case study of this framework we use the national Action Plan for Seabird Conservation in New Zealand and 27 threatened seabirds identified for conservation interventions. To evaluate impact, we applied a recently developed seabird meta-population viability analysis model (seabird mPVA) that employs the most current population and adjustable demographic data to assess threatened seabird viability at a global scale under various management scenarios. This publicly available, web-based tool is intended to meet the needs of threatened seabird managers at the initial phase of conservation planning. We used the seabird mPVA to model population trends and potential seabird viability gains from conservation actions that include: bycatch mitigation, invasive species removal, and seabird translocation prescribed in the action plan for individual species. Our model’s ranking of New Zealand seabirds by current quasi-extinction vulnerability roughly correlated with the seabirds’ IUCN Red List status and New Zealand Threat Classification System. We found modeled conservation impact of proposed actions and assigned priority to be generally positively correlated, but variable in magnitude. If all prescribed conservations actions were implemented, our model predicted significant mitigation of quasi-extinction risk for nine species (Antipodean Albatross, Auckland Island Shag, Black-fronted Tern, Fairy Tern, Rough-faced Shag, Northern Royal Albatross, Pitt Island Shag, Stewart Island Shag, Yellow-eyed Penguin). This approach, and our model, can be adapted to other taxonomic groups to provide a consistent framing for the prioritization of species for conservation investment and predictions about the benefits of specific conservation actions for those species.
A Case Report on Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia, Varicella Zoster Infection, Varicella Encephalopathy & Cerebellitis

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) comprises a family of autosomal recessive disorder and it will disrupt adrenal steroidogenesis. The most common form of CAH is due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency associated with mutations in the cyp21a2 gene which is located at chromosome 6p21. The clinical features associated with this adrenal steroidogenesis represent a clinical spectrum reflecting to the consequences of the specific mutations. Treatment goals include normal linear growth velocity and “on-time” puberty in affected children. [1] Infection with Varicella zoster virus (vzv) causes chickenpox means Varicella that can be severe in immunocompromised individuals, infants and adults. The primary infection is followed by latency in ganglionic neurons. During this time, no virus particles will produce and no obvious neuronal damage occurs. Reactivation of virus leads to virus replication, which will causes zoster (shingles) in tissues innervated by the involved neurons, inflammation and cell death [2]. Potential complications of this infection are involved in the central nervous system causing encephalitis. An increased risk of this complication is associated with the immunocompromised patient. [3]
A dietary source of antibiotic tolerance.

Antibiotic tolerance enables microorganisms to survive the exposure to antibiotics and serves as a precursor to antibiotic resistance. In a recent issue of Nature Microbiology, Liu et al. (2021) describe that high-fat-diet-induced changes in the intestinal microbiome and metabolome facilitate the development of antibiotic tolerance by bacterial pathogens.
Examining instructors’ conceptualizations and challenges in designing a data-driven rating scale for a reading-to-write task

Abstract Integrated reading-to-write (RTW) tasks have increasingly taken the place of independent writing-only tasks in assessing academic literacy; however, previous research has rarely investigated the development and use of rating scales to interpret and score test takers’ performance on such tasks. This study investigated how four highly experienced ESL instructors developed an empirically derived, binary choice, boundary definition (EBB) rating scale. EBB scales are known to be reliable and effective for assessing specific writing tasks administered for a single population. Nonetheless, evidence suggests that factors outside the curriculum also influence the criteria which shape an EBB scale and thus final placement scores. Analysis of the recorded deliberations provides evidence of instructors’ conceptualizations of reading, writing, and language in the RTW task although each is not equally transparent in the EBB rating scale developed. Understanding the task and the curriculum as well as considering the future training of raters were additional challenges in designing this EBB scale. Despite such challenges, an EBB rating scale has potential to help us better understand the relative contribution of hybrid constructs to the overall quality of RTW task performance and to enhance the linkages among teaching, rating, and future rater-training.
Intracellular studies of electrical membrane properties of opossum esophageal circular smooth muscle.

It has been suggested that regional differences in membrane properties of circular esophageal smooth muscle play an important role in the mechanism of esophageal peristalsis. The purpose of this study was to examine both the passive and active membrane properties of circular smooth muscle at proximal and distal esophageal sites so as to delineate the role of myogenic properties in the intramural mechanism of peristalsis. Intracellular recordings were made in circular muscle strips taken from proximal (8 cm above the gastroesophageal junction) and distal (2 cm above the gastroesophageal junction) sites in 10 opossums using the partition method of Abe and Tomita. At both esophageal sites, determinations were made of resting membrane potentials, time constants, space constants, thresholds for action potentials, action potential amplitudes, rates of rise of action potentials, and action potential durations at half-amplitude. The values for these parameters at the proximal and distal sites, respectively, were as follows: mean resting membrane potential, 49.7 ± 0.24 and 49.5 0.3 mV; length constant, 4.0 ± 0A and 3.8 ± 0.4 mm; time constant, 513 ± 49 and 456 ± 53 ms; threshold for action potentials, 9.3 ± 0.4 and 8.8 ± 0.3 mV; amplitude of action potentials, 36.0 ± 5.2 and 35.3 ± 1.7 mV; rate of rise of action potentials, 2.3 ± 0.3 and 2.6 + 0.4 mVlms; duration of action potentials at half-amplitude, 5.0 ± 1.2 and 4.1 ± 0.4 ms; and the conduction velocity for evoked potentials, 3.9 ± 0.3 and 3.8 ± 0.4 cm/s. Our studies show that there are no differences between proximal and distal esophageal sites in any of these determinations. These studies also show that regional differences in the electrical membrane properties of circular smooth muscle do not account for esophageal peristalsis.
CURSOS SUPERIORES DE TECNOLOGIA: O PERFIL PROFISSIONAL DO EGRESSO DESTA NOVA MODALIDADE DE CURSO E INSERÇÃO NO MERCADO DE TRABALHO

Os cursos superiores de tecnologia surgiram no Brasil na decada de 70, visando atender as inumeras mudancas e demandas ocorridas no mercado de trabalho, eles possibilitaram o acesso de diversos profissionais ao ensino superior, tendo como objetivo uma formacao voltada para a pratica. Confirmando uma tendencia do mercado por profissionais cada vez mais qualificados, pesquisas educacionais mostram que os cursos superiores de tecnologia sao os que mais crescem em numero de matriculas entre os cursos de nivel superior. Pensando neste consideravel aumento de profissionais que estao sendo formados para o mercado de trabalho e com base em pesquisa bibliografica, este artigo tem como objetivo demonstrar uma analise sobre o grau de empregabilidade dos tecnologos, atraves de uma pesquisa realizada com os alunos formandos nos cursos de Gestao em Recursos Humanos e Processos Gerenciais.
Approaches to undergraduate research: what works?

Computer Science is a fast paced discipline. All computer scientists must be able to adapt to new technology and have the skills necessary to learn new concepts and languages. However, undergraduate students often lack the ability to apply research methods to unfamiliar problems. Studies have shown that college students do not know how to use learning strategies, even in cases where they recognize that they need to learn [1]. Many institutions are taking steps to provide undergraduate students with meaningful research experiences and instruction designed to help students to acquire skills in research methods. Providing such experiences at small colleges and universities, where faculty have significant teaching responsibilities, can be challenging. This panel will focus on the efforts of several small universities to enrich the undergraduate research culture of their computer science programs.
Non-equilibrium versus equilibrium emission of complex fragments emitted in 14N induced reactions on Ag and Au at EA=20–50 MeV☆

Excitation functions have been measured for Z=3–12 fragments emitted in 14N+Ag and 14N+Au collisions and energies EA=20–50 MeV. With increasing bombarding energy, non-equilibriumemission processes grow in importance, dominating the fragment cross section at EA=50 MeV.
Current activities in standardization of high-temperature, low-cycle-fatigue testing techniques in the United States

American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standard E606-801 is a recommended testing practice for strain-controlled, low cycle fatigue (LCF) testing of uniaxially-loaded metallic test specimens. This standard was first adopted in 1977 for LCF at room temperature and was modified in 1980 to include high temperature LCF. ASTM Committee E09, which oversees ASTM fatigue activities, is currently involved in extending the recommended practices of E606-80 to other types of fatigue loading of metallic specimens. These include thermomechanical fatigue (TMF), multiaxial fatigue, and fatigue under high pressure hydrogen environments. In addition, standardization of room temperature and elevated temperature fatigue testing of metal matrix and ceramic matrix composite materials is being examined in conjunction with ASTM committee D-30 on High Modulus Fibers and Their Composites.