cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
ADDITIONAL HOLOTYPE REMAINS OFAMBULOCETUS NATANS(CETACEA, AMBULOCETIDAE), AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS FOR LOCOMOTION IN EARLY WHALES

Continued excavation at the type locality of Ambulocetus natans led to the recovery of a majority of the axial skeleton of the holotype of this early Eocene cetacean, including both innominates, the sacrum, and most of the thoracic cage and thoracolumbar vertebral column. Additional appendicular, caudal, and cranial materials were also recovered, resulting in a specimen that is now approximately 80 percent complete. This new material allows refined interpretations of its functional morphology. Ambulocetus has a longer thoracolumbar column than that reported for later remingtonocetid and protocetid genera, suggesting that previous estimates of spinal length derived from models of mesonychid ancestry may be inaccurate. Ambulocetus also possesses a co-ossified ecto–mesocuneiform, a character found in some early and middle Eocene artiodactyls, but not mesonychids. New postcranial material provides further evidence of a systemic shift to aquatic locomotion.
Privatisation of Water: A Historical Perspective

This article tries to understand today’s debates on PSP in water supply from a historical perspective. It presents the history of PSP in the water supply. It then presents the current situation of the water debate and explains how it is shaped by international organisations. In the final section the article argues why PSP debate should be re-thought, not in terms of private versus public put within a general reform context.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Gynecologic Oncology: Role in Pre- and Postradiation Treatment

“The first treatment should be the best possible since it has the greatest chance for curing the patient” [1]. The choice of therapy in cancer patients in general depends on the tumor size, depth of invasion, and stage [2]. Clinical staging is often limited and inaccurate, with the resultant suboptimal therapy [2]. The cross-sectional imaging modalities ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have improved the staging of malignant disease [3]. In the pelvis, MRI offers several advantages over the other imaging modalities. In particular, MRI has excellent soft-tissue contrast resolution, allows direct multiplanar imaging, and offers variable imaging parameters (TR/TE), thus facilitating optimal tumor evaluation. However, MRI is not tissue specific, and a histologic diagnosis is required in all cases.
The Presentation of Occupational Self in Science

I examine the ways in which scientists create and present self-identities. Previous work, in particular research on social stratification in science, has underplayed identity and its contextual variations. I draw upon interviews with scientists who work in two distinct types of American universities, which provides a comparative basis on which to study identities in different contexts of scientific practice. I focus on three aspects of careers, which ground my comparative analysis: commitment, mobility concerns, and the uses of work history.
TRAP: Test Generation Driven Classification of Analog/RF ICs Using Adaptive Probabilistic Clustering Algorithm

In production testing of analog/RF ICs, application of standard specification-based tests for IC classification is not always an attractive option due to the high costs and test times involved. In this paper, a new test generation algorithm for IC classification is first developed that has the property that the corresponding DUT response signatures for devices from diverse process corners are maximally separable. In other words, the process space can be partitioned into a maximally large number of partitions and each tested IC can be uniquely diagnosed to lie in one such partition from its response to the applied test stimulus. Boolean zed representations of analog/RF circuits are used to facilitate rapid test stimulus generation. Next, the responses of ICs tested in production to the applied classification test are used to adaptively classify the ICs into clusters of "good", "bad" and "marginal" devices (TRAP). This is done through the use of probabilistic neural networks that do not require complete network retraining every time an IC with different input-output behavior is observed. The classification test applied helps in determining if a new device being tested is from a different process corner than encountered before, thereby aiding IC classification. Simulation experiments show that the learning process is rapid and minimizes device misclassification with significant savings in test time.
Comparison of Active and Cancer Registry-based Follow-up for Breast Cancer in a Prospective Cohort Study

The authors compared the relative effectiveness of two distinct follow-up designs in prospective cohort studies--the active approach, based on direct contact with study subjects, and the passive approach, based on record linkages with population-based cancer registries--utilizing available information from the New York University Women's Health Study (WHS) and the New York State Cancer Registry (NYSCR). The analyses were limited to breast cancer cases identified during the period 1985-1992, for which follow-up was considered reasonably complete by both the WHS and the NYSCR. Among 12,947 cohort members who reported a New York State address, 303 pathologically confirmed cases were identified through active follow-up and 284 through record linkage. Sixty-three percent of cancers were identified by both sources, 21% by the WHS only, and 16% by the NYSCR only. The agreement was appreciably better for invasive cancers. The percentage of cases identified only by the NYSCR was increased among subjects whose active follow-up was incomplete, as well as among nonwhites, obese patients, and parous patients. This suggests that relying on either type of follow-up alone may introduce certain biases in evaluating risk factors for breast cancer. Combining both approaches appears to be a better strategy in prospective cohort studies.
Purifying Colloidal Nanoparticles through Ultracentrifugation with Implications for Interfaces and Materials

Liquid-phase processing and colloidal self-assembly will be critical to the successful implementation of nanotechnology in the next generation of materials and devices. A key hurdle to realizing this will be the development of efficient methods to purify nanomaterials composed of a variety of shapes, including nanocrystals, nanotubes, and nanoplates. Although density-gradient ultracentrifugation (DGU) has long been appreciated as a valuable tool for separating biological macromolecules and components, the method has recently emerged as an effective way to purify colloidal nanoparticles by size and optical and electronic properties. In this feature article, we review our recent contributions to this growing field, with an emphasis on some of the implications that our results have for interfaces and materials. Through transient or isopycnic DGU performed in both aqueous and organic environments, we demonstrate some explicit examples of how the mechanical, electronic, and optical properties of thin films ass...
Practical Ultra-Portable Intelligent Tutoring Systems(PUPITS): An Interactive Event

Intelligent tutoring systems have shown promise as personalized learning assistants that can increase learning by as much as a standard deviation over classroom teaching. However, typically, they are expensive to build, requiring extensive technical and educational expertise. They are often difficult to develop and deploy with simple modifications often requiring weeks of time to develop and favorable deployments requiring months of negotiations. This interactive event presents an alternative to such traditional large systems that we call Practical Ultra-Portable Intelligent Tutoring Systems(PUPITS).
Postexposure Prophylaxis for Occupational Exposures to Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and Human Immunodeficiency Virus

The magnitudes of risk for occupational infection with hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV are beginning to be clarified. As more information about these risks becomes available, clinicians have begun to search for optimal management strategies for occupational exposures to these bloodbome pathogens. This article discusses these occupational risks as well as the various approaches to management of occupational exposure to these bloodbome pathogens.
Using hardware testing approaches to improve software testing: Undetectable mutant identification

Over four decades of R&D has delivered near-universal automation of test generation for digital hardware. In contrast, software testing has limited automation and hence suffers from low test quality and high cost. One of the important reasons for this difference is that hardware ATPG is fault oriented. We note that the notion of a mutation in software testing is very similar to the notion of a fault in hardware testing, but current research on mutant oriented test generation for software is not extensive and the application is impeded by the scalability and undetectable mutant problems [1]. This paper represents the first step in our identification of the similarities between software testing and hardware testing, and applying important insights from hardware testing to improve existing software mutant oriented testing. In particular, we propose the first approach for local analysis in software testing to identify mutants that are undetectable and demonstrate that our approach is effective and much more scalable than the state of the art [2], [14].
Studying Circadian Rhythm and Sleep Using Genetic Screens in Drosophila

The power of Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism lies in its ability to be used for large-scale genetic screens with the capacity to uncover the genetic basis of biological processes. In particular, genetic screens for circadian behavior, which have been performed since 1971, allowed researchers to make groundbreaking discoveries on multiple levels: they discovered that there is a genetic basis for circadian behavior, they identified the so-called core clock genes that govern this process, and they started to paint a detailed picture of the molecular functions of these clock genes and their encoded proteins. Since the discovery that fruit flies sleep in 2000, researchers have successfully been using genetic screening to elucidate the many questions surrounding this basic animal behavior. In this chapter, we briefly recall the history of circadian rhythm and sleep screens and then move on to describe techniques currently employed for mutagenesis and genetic screening in the field. The emphasis lies on comparing the newer approaches of transgenic RNA interference (RNAi) to classical forms of mutagenesis, in particular in their application to circadian behavior and sleep. We discuss the different screening approaches in light of the literature and published and unpublished sleep and rhythm screens utilizing ethyl methanesulfonate mutagenesis and transgenic RNAi from our lab.
Does a zero error standard exist for the Papanicolaou smear? A pathologist's perspective.

. A review of the error rate of cervicovaginal cytology in light of the increasing litigation over alleged misread Pap smears is presented. Public expectation for the eradication of death from carcinoma of the cervix has not been realized. The gap between that expectation and test performance of the Pap smear is examined historically and in light of current regulations that impact on cytology laboratories. It is imperative to educate the public as to the value and limitations of screening for cervical cancer by the Pap smear and to develop reasonable practitioner standards for the performance of the test. The current climate of increasing litigation over alleged false-negative Pap smears has the potential to reduce the use and availability of this test which is still considered the most effective cancer screening test devised.
Evaluation of Vapor Deposition Techniques for Membrane Pore Size Modification

The suitability of three vapor deposition techniques for pore size modification was evaluated using polycarbonate track etched membranes as model supports. A feature scale model was employed to predict the pore geometry after modification and the resulting pure water flux. Physical vapor deposition (PVD) and pulsed plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), naturally, form asymmetric nanopores that retain high flux as pore size is reduced. But PVD-modified supports exhibited poor control and reproducibility. In contrast, pulsed PECVD and plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD) were shown to deliver digital control over pore size. Moreover, good agreement was obtained between model predictions and flux measurements. Exposure limitations during PEALD introduce a degree of asymmetry, though net growth rates were 1-2 orders of magnitude smaller than pulsed PECVD and PVD. Filtration experiments using bovine serum albumin as a model solute showed that pulsed PECVD-modified membranes can be engineered to simultaneously deliver both high flux and high selectivity. For example, pulsed PECVD-modified supports were demonstrated to deliver high retention (~ 75%) while maintaining 70% of their initial pure water flux.
Concentration of Distributions of the Weighted Sums with Bernoullian Coefficients

For non-correlated random variables, we study a concentration property of the distributions of the weighted sums with Bernoullian coefficients. The obtained result is used to derive an “almost surely version” of the central limit theorem.
A semistabilizability/semidetectability approach to semistable H 2 and H ∞ control problems

A new semistable H 2 and H ∞ control framework is developed to address the robust optimal control issues of linear semistable control systems subject to white noise. To do this, a new notion of semistabilizability/semidetectability is proposed as a means to connecting semistability with the Lyapunov equation based technique. With this new notion, we develop a semistable H 2 and H ∞ control theory by exploiting the properties of semistability. Necessary and sufficient conditions for semistability of the closed-loop system have been derived in terms of the Lyapunov equation and semidetectability. Based on these results, we propose a convex optimization technique to solve the semistable H 2 and H ∞ control design.
The NBS-LRR architectures of plant R-proteins and metazoan NLRs evolved in independent events

There are intriguing parallels between plants and animals, with respect to the structures of their innate immune receptors, that suggest universal principles of innate immunity. The cytosolic nucleotide binding site-leucine rich repeat (NBS-LRR) resistance proteins of plants (R-proteins) and the so-called NOD-like receptors of animals (NLRs) share a domain architecture that includes a STAND (signal transduction ATPases with numerous domains) family NTPase followed by a series of LRRs, suggesting inheritance from a common ancestor with that architecture. Focusing on the STAND NTPases of plant R-proteins, animal NLRs, and their homologs that represent the NB-ARC (nucleotide-binding adaptor shared by APAF-1, certain R gene products and CED-4) and NACHT (named for NAIP, CIIA, HET-E, and TEP1) subfamilies of the STAND NTPases, we analyzed the phylogenetic distribution of the NBS-LRR domain architecture, used maximum-likelihood methods to infer a phylogeny of the NTPase domains of R-proteins, and reconstructed the domain structure of the protein containing the common ancestor of the STAND NTPase domain of R-proteins and NLRs. Our analyses reject monophyly of plant R-proteins and NLRs and suggest that the protein containing the last common ancestor of the STAND NTPases of plant R-proteins and animal NLRs (and, by extension, all NB-ARC and NACHT domains) possessed a domain structure that included a STAND NTPase paired with a series of tetratricopeptide repeats. These analyses reject the hypothesis that the domain architecture of R-proteins and NLRs was inherited from a common ancestor and instead suggest the domain architecture evolved at least twice. It remains unclear whether the NBS-LRR architectures were innovations of plants and animals themselves or were acquired by one or both lineages through horizontal gene transfer.
Walrus haul-out and in water activity levels relative to sea ice availability in the Chukchi Sea

An animal's energetic costs are dependent on the amount of time it allocates to various behavioral activities. For Arctic pinnipeds, the time allocated to active and resting behaviors could change with future reductions in sea ice cover and longer periods of open water. The Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) is a large Arctic pinniped that rests on sea ice or land between foraging trips to feed on the seafloor. We used behavioral data collected from radiotagged walruses in the Chukchi Sea (2008–2014) in a Bayesian generalized linear mixed effects model to estimate the probability a walrus was in water foraging, in water not foraging, or hauled out, as a function of environmental covariates. The probability of a walrus being in water increased with wind speed and decreased with air temperature, and the probability a walrus was foraging, given it was in water, increased with available benthic macrofaunal biomass. The probability of each behavior was also related to the nature and availability of haul-out substrates. The amount of time walruses spent in water foraging and hauled out was greatest when only sea ice was available, which typically occurs when walruses occupy feeding areas during summer and early autumn. This situation may be most energy efficient for walruses because it allows the highest proportion of in water energy expenditure to be allocated to foraging. Conversely, the amount of time walruses spent in water foraging and hauled out was lowest when only land was available, which typically occurs in late autumn, in years when walruses were constrained to land haul-outs because sea ice was absent over the continental shelf.
A Reference Equation for Normal Standards for VO2 Max: Analysis from the Fitness Registry and the Importance of Exercise National Database (FRIEND Registry)

Existing normal standards for maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) are problematic because they tend to be population specific, lack normal distribution and portability, and are poorly represented by women. The objective of the current study was to apply the Fitness Registry and the Importance of Exercise: A National Data Base (FRIEND) Registry to improve upon previous regression formulas for normal standards for VO2 max using treadmill testing. Maximal treadmill tests were performed in 7783 healthy men and women (20-79years; maximal RER >1.0) from the FRIEND registry and a separate validation cohort of 1287 subjects. A regression equation for VO2 max was derived from the FRIEND registry and compared to the validation cohort and two commonly used equations (Wasserman and European). Age, gender, and body weight were the only significant predictors of VO2 max (multiple R=0.79, R2=0.62, p<0.001). The equation for predicting VO2 max was: [Formula: see text] Marked differences were observed in percentage predicted VO2 max achieved between commonly used reference equations, particularly among women, overweight and obese subjects. In the validation sample, the FRIEND equation closely paralleled measured VO2 max, with the validation group yielding a percent predicted VO2 max of 100.4% based on the FRIEND equation. An equation for age-predicted VO2 max derived from the FRIEND registry provided a lower average error between measured and predicted VO2 max than traditional equations, and thus may provide a more suitable normal standard relative to traditional equations.
Microstructural characterization of Ti-6Al-4V X-links from the Space Shuttle Columbia

Abstract Recovered artifacts from the Space Shuttle Columbia provide a unique opportunity to examine a broad spectrum of materials exposed to the extreme environment of earth re-entry. The degradation states of these components offer a unique perspective into material behavior in this highly reactive environment. The crew module X-links, which are composed of Ti-6Al-4V and provided structural support to the crew module within the fuselage, exhibit evidence of both oxidation and combustion phenomena. The conditions supporting ignition and combustion of bulk metals are not fully understood, due to the many compounding factors affecting variable oxidation behavior of metals. Materials characterization of the Columbia X-links will yield further insight into the discrimination between the oxidation, ignition, and combustion response of titanium alloys. Widespread use of titanium alloys in space vehicles warrants a thorough characterization of their potential failure modes to help ensure the safe and reliable operation of future spaceflight vehicles. Initial microstructural state of the X-links is assessed, and affected material exhibits microstructural gradients dependent on vehicle orientation. Three distinct microstructural states were observed across the length of the X-links, according to proximity of aggravated flow.
Web Application Security Tools Analysis

Strong security in web applications is critical to the success of your online presence. Security importance has grown massively, especially among web applications. Dealing with web application or website security issues requires deep insight and planning, not only because of the many tools that are available but also because of the industry immaturity. Thus, finding the proper tools requires deep understanding and several steps, including analyzing the development environment, business needs, and the web applications' complexity. In this paper, we demonstrate the architecture of web applications then list and evaluate the widespread security vulnerabilities. Those vulnerabilities are: Insufficient Transport Layer Protection, Information Leakage, Cross-Site Scripting, and SQL Injection. In addition, this paper analyzes the tools that are used to scan for these widespread vulnerabilities in web applications. Finally, it evaluates tools due to security vulnerabilities and gives recommendations to the web applications' users and administrators aiming to educate them.
Studying primate cognition in a social setting to improve validity and welfare: a literature review highlighting successful approaches.

Background Studying animal cognition in a social setting is associated with practical and statistical challenges. However, conducting cognitive research without disturbing species-typical social groups can increase ecological validity, minimize distress, and improve animal welfare. Here, we review the existing literature on cognitive research run with primates in a social setting in order to determine how widespread such testing is and highlight approaches that may guide future research planning. Survey methodology Using Google Scholar to search the terms "primate" "cognition" "experiment" and "social group," we conducted a systematic literature search covering 16 years (2000-2015 inclusive). We then conducted two supplemental searches within each journal that contained a publication meeting our criteria in the original search, using the terms "primate" and "playback" in one search and the terms "primate" "cognition" and "social group" in the second. The results were used to assess how frequently nonhuman primate cognition has been studied in a social setting (>3 individuals), to gain perspective on the species and topics that have been studied, and to extract successful approaches for social testing. Results Our search revealed 248 unique publications in 43 journals encompassing 71 species. The absolute number of publications has increased over years, suggesting viable strategies for studying cognition in social settings. While a wide range of species were studied they were not equally represented, with 19% of the publications reporting data for chimpanzees. Field sites were the most common environment for experiments run in social groups of primates, accounting for more than half of the results. Approaches to mitigating the practical and statistical challenges were identified. Discussion This analysis has revealed that the study of primate cognition in a social setting is increasing and taking place across a range of environments. This literature review calls attention to examples that may provide valuable models for researchers wishing to overcome potential practical and statistical challenges to studying cognition in a social setting, ultimately increasing validity and improving the welfare of the primates we study.
Group 6 Dihapto-Coordinate Dearomatization Agents for Organic Synthesis

This review covers publications ranging from 2005 to 2017 concerning the organic reactions of aromatic ligands η2-coordinated to tungsten or molybdenum and the use of these reactions in the synthesis of novel organic substances. An emphasis is placed on C–C bond-forming reactions using conventional building blocks of organic synthesis such as acetals, enolates, Michael acceptors, acylating reagents, and activated aromatics. Substrates activated by the metal include arenes, pyridines, pyrroles, pyrimidines, furans, and thiophenes. General reactivity patterns are elucidated, as well as stereochemical preferences. These trends are compared to those of osmium and rhenium forebears as well as to the reactivity patterns of other methods of stoichiometric transition-metal-based dearomatization (i.e., η6-arene complexes).
A Cost Analysis of a Validated Screening Tool for Pediatric Abusive Head Trauma

Doctors who treat young victims of trauma are required to make important decisions to launch or forgo child abuse evaluations in their acutely head-injured patients. To improve the accuracy of these decisions, Pediatric Brain Injury Research Network (PediBIRN) investigators derived and validated a 4-variable clinical prediction rule (CPR) that improves the detection of abusive head trauma (AHT) in pediatric intensive care units. Our objective was to estimate and compare medical costs from the health system perspective of AHT screening guided by the CPR vs. screening as usual (SAU). Cost estimates for child abuse evaluations, emergency department (ED)/pediatrician visits, and hospital admissions for AHT were combined with published data on service use and re-injury rates in children with missed or unrecognized AHT. Applying published estimates of the CPR’s potential screening performance, the cost per correctly identified child with AHT was calculated and compared for AHT screening guided by the CPR vs. SAU, and the potential medical cost savings associated with CPR application was estimated. Applied accurately and consistently, the CPR could reduce the cost per correctly identified child with AHT by 15.1%, and reduce health system costs resulting from missed AHT by 72.4%.
Ruminally degradable protein requirement of gestating beef cows grazing native winter sandhills range

Two grazing trials were conducted to determine the ruminally degradable protein requirement of gestating beef cows in the last half of pregnancy grazing winter native Sandhills range. In Trial 1, 80 crossbred cows (522 +/- 9 kg) were assigned randomly to one of the following ruminally degradable protein (RDP) treatments: 50%, 75%, 100%, or 125% of the estimated supplemental requirement. In Trial 2, 80 crossbred cows (529 +/- 8 kg) were assigned to 29%, 65%, 100%, or 139% of the estimated supplemental RDP requirement. In Trial 1, daily gain and condition score (CS) were not different (P > .15) among treatments. In Trial 2, gain responded quadratically, being higher (P = .14) for the 65% level than for the 29%, 100%, and 139% levels (.18, .05, .06, and .01 kg/d, respectively). Condition score was maintained at 65% and lost at 29%, 100%, and 139% (cubic effect, P = .06; 0, -.2, -.4, -.3, respectively). In both experiments, forage intake did not differ among treatments although OM digestibility increased linearly (P = .08) in Trial 1 with increasing level of RDP but not in Trial 2. Diet samples were collected in both experiments to estimate total nutrient intake. Forage RDP intake was 322 g/d in Trial 1 and 279 g/d in Trial 2. We conclude that gestating beef cows grazing native winter Sandhills range need between 62 and 140 g/d of supplemental RDP to meet their daily requirement of 340 to 430 g/d or 7.1% of the digestible OM.
Does CEO Ability Matter for Shareholders

I develop a model in which CEO ability affects profits, and agents learn gradually about a CEO's ability. Following good news about the CEO's ability, the level of CEO pay rises, which may offset some or all of the benefits to shareholders from the good news. I estimate the model's parameters using GMM and data on stock returns and changes in CEO pay. Estimates indicate CEO ability matters greatly for shareholders: there is a huge amount of uncertainty about a new CEO's ability, and shareholders (as opposed to the CEO) capture 96% of the surplus resulting from a change in the CEO's perceived ability. In terms of both direction and magnitude, the model helps explain the sensitivity of CEO pay to both contemporaneous and lagged stock returns, as well as the relation between CEO tenure and stock return volatility. The model makes sharp predictions about abnormal stock returns around unexpected CEO deaths, but these predictions have limited support in the data.
Implementing Yoga Into the Management of Patients With Refractory Low Back Pain in an Outpatient Clinic Setting

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of implementing yoga into the treatment of patients with chronic low back pain. Design: Quantitative analysis with opportunity for qualitative feedback. Method: Effectiveness of this complementary treatment was assessed using a pretest/posttest design of patients who volunteered to participate in yoga classes as part of their back pain management. Measurements included low back pain rating, perception of back pain interference with daily activities, and self-efficacy in dealing with chronic low back pain. Findings: Although no statistically significant findings were found due to the small sample size, most participants demonstrated improved individual scores on all measurement surveys including qualitative comments. Conclusion: Based on the findings of this pilot study, further studies on implementing yoga into the treatment of chronic low back pain are encouraged.
The relationship between aspirin use and mortality in colorectal cancer.

Background: Aspirin use lengthens survival in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). We aimed to add to the evidence examining this relationship and to compare the survival benefit between aspirin started before CRC diagnosis with those started after CRC diagnosis. Methods: The study involved 173 consecutive patients who had a histopathologic diagnosis of colorectal carcinoma between 1996 and 2014. The electronic medical record was used to collect data on demographic characteristics (age, sex, and race), family history of cancer, use or non-use of aspirin before and after cancer diagnosis, cancer stage at diagnosis, and days from cancer diagnosis to death. Patients were divided into aspirin using and non-aspirin using groups. Results: Aspirin users (ASAU, n=90) were older than non-aspirin users (NASAU, n=83; 70.8±9.1 vs . 66.2±10.2 years; P=0.004). The two groups were similar in sex, race, and family history of cancer, but the non-users of aspirin were more likely to have stage III or stage IV CRC (NASAU =57.5%; ASAU =38.6%; P=0.014). Aspirin users survived more than twice the number of days than non-users (ASAU median =941 days; NASAU median =384 days; P=0.003). Patients who used aspirin only before their CRC diagnosis had a short survival period from diagnosis to death (median =149). Conclusions: Our findings support the relationship of aspirin use and duration of use with enhanced survival in patients with CRC. Physicians may want to recommend that patients at increased risk for CRC and those already diagnosed, but not yet on aspirin, start an aspirin regimen.
Is rapid urbanization in India happened at the cost of health of urban poor

Aims: To examine the health and causes prevailing diseases among urban poor in India, the paper is emphasizing the environmental condition in slums and its effect on people living there vis a vis i...
Abstract TP87: Gaze Deviation on Initial CT as Predictor of Large Vessel Occlusion

Introduction: Treatment of large vessel occlusion (LVO) stroke is traditionally preceded by imaging evaluation of vessels using computed tomographic angiography (CTA). However, CTA may not be feasi...
Evaluation of Rectal Vancomycin Irrigation for Treatment of Clostridioides difficile Infection in Patients Post-Colectomy for Toxic Colitis

Abstract Background: Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) accounts for as many as 25% of episodes of antibiotic-associated diarrhea and is the most common cause of healthcare-associated diarrhe...
Once more—a computer revolution

Much depends on knowing what limits to impose on the application of computers to human affairs and on knowing the impact of the computer on human dignity.
Reduced Poaceae pollen under conditions of severe summer drought in the Middle East: Implications for rainfall seasonality in pollen diagrams

Abstract Based on the facts that the Poaceae, in general, require summer precipitation, and that Artemisia and many Chenopods thrive in conditions of 4 summer drought, I have previously attributed the rise in grass pollen at the expense of Artemisia and Chenopodiaceae in Middle Eastern pollen diagrams at the end of the Pleistocene to a period of summer precipitation. Here, using present-day Iraq as an example, I assemble ecological and physiological information providing additional support for minimal Poaceae pollen release under conditions of summer drought, including: (1) dominance of the annual life-form over the usual perennials due to their ability to survive the summer as drought-resistant seeds and their ability to grow rapidly in the autumn, (2) abbreviated flowering of the annuals, (3) increased self-fertilization, including cleistogamy, in both annuals and perennials, and (4) the prevalence of vegetative reproduction, including apomixes, in the perennials.
Physician Practice Patterns for Performing Thoracentesis in Patients Taking Anticoagulant Medications

Background Patients undergoing thoracentesis often have comorbid conditions or take medications that potentially put them at higher bleeding risk. Direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) use has also increased significantly. There are no published guidelines or consensus on when to perform thoracentesis in patients on anticoagulants. Recent studies support the safety of a more liberal approach for thoracentesis among patients with coagulopathy. Methods We conducted a survey to ascertain the practices of physicians regarding thoracentesis in patients with increased bleeding risk. The survey was administered to the email distribution lists of the American Association of Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology and of the American Thoracic Society. Results The survey was completed by 256 attending physicians. Most of them were general pulmonologists practicing at academic medical centers. Most of them would perform a thoracentesis in patients receiving acetylsalicylic acid or prophylactic doses of unfractionated heparin or low molecular weight heparin (96%, 89%, and 88%, respectively). Half of the respondents would perform a thoracentesis in patients on antiplatelet medications (clopidogrel and ticagrelor, 51%; ticlopidine, 53%). A minority would perform thoracentesis in patients on direct oral anticoagulants or infused thrombin inhibitors (19% and 12%, respectively). The only subgroup that had a higher proclivity for performing thoracentesis without holding medications were attending physicians practicing for under 10 years. Relative to noninterventional pulmonologists, there were no significant differences in the responses of interventional pulmonologists. Conclusion There was variation in the practice patterns of attending physicians in performing thoracentesis in patients with elevated bleeding risk. Further data and guidelines regarding the safety of thoracentesis in these patients are needed.
Vicinal, Double C-H Functionalization of Alcohols via an Imidate Radical-Polar Crossover Cascade.

A double functionalization of vicinal sp3 C–H bonds has been developed, wherein a β amine and γ iodide are incorporated onto an aliphatic alcohol in a single operation. This approach is enabled by ...
An Electrochemical Study of Hydrogen in Molten 2LiF-BeF2 (FLiBe) with Addition of LiH

Abstract The chemical and transport behavior of hydrogen isotopes in molten 2LiF-BeF2 (FLiBe) is of interest for the design of tritium management systems in nuclear fission and fusion reactors that use FLiBe. The chemical reaction of LiH with FLiBe is used to introduce hydrogen in the molten salt and electrochemical methods are used for in situ studies of hydrogen in FLiBe. LiH reacts with molten FLiBe to generate an electroactive species whose voltammetry peak is proportional to the added quantity of LiH. The cyclic voltammetry reaction potential of 2.009 ± 0.050 V v s B e B e F 2 and the electron exchange of n = 0.8 ± 0.5 are consistent with the one-electron oxidation of Ho to H+. The concentration of dissolved H in zero valence state, Ho, is estimated by linear sweep voltammetry at 60% to 80% of the hydrogen introduced by reaction of 0.42 mol% LiH with FLiBe; over eleven hours the concentration decreases to about 40%. It is postulated that covalent BeH2 is formed in FLiBe upon LiH addition, as a FLiBe-soluble quasi-stable intermediate product. The results provide an evaluation of LiH as a means of introducing dissolved hydrogen in FLiBe, enabling electrochemical methods as tools to advance the understanding the chemistry of hydrogen isotopes in FLiBe.
The Mind and Heart As Partners

A common cultural belief in technologically advanced societies is that emotion and reason are opposites, with reason superior to emotion. This belief is not supported by recent results in neuroscience and experimental psychology which show instead that emotion and cognition are strongly interconnected and depend on each other). Moreover, the belief is also harmful to society because it contributes indirectly to racism, sexism, homophobia, and the appeal of demagogues. Scientific understanding can help to heal the cultural split between emotion and reason in the service of building a partnership society.
The Child Opportunity Index 2.0 and Hospitalizations for Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Hospitalizations for ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSCs) are thought to be avoidable with high-quality outpatient care. Morbidity related to ACSCs has been associated with socioeconomic contextual factors, which do not necessarily capture the complex pathways through which a child9s environment impacts health outcomes. Our primary objective was to test the association between a multidimensional measure of neighborhood-level child opportunity and pediatric hospitalization rates for ACSCs across 2 metropolitan areas. METHODS This was a retrospective population-based analysis of ACSC hospitalizations within the Kansas City and Cincinnati metropolitan areas from 2013 to 2018. Census tracts were included if located in a county where Children9s Mercy Kansas City or Cincinnati Children9s Hospital Medical Center had >80% market share of hospitalizations for children RESULTS We included 604 943 children within 628 census tracts. There were 26 977 total ACSC hospitalizations (46 hospitalizations per 1000 children; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 45.4–46.5). The hospitalization rate for all ACSCs revealed a stepwise reduction from 79.9 per 1000 children (95% CI: 78.1–81.7) in very low opportunity tracts to 31.2 per 1000 children (95% CI: 30.5–32.0) in very high opportunity tracts (P CONCLUSIONS Links between ACSC hospitalizations and child opportunity extend across metropolitan areas. Targeting interventions to lower-opportunity neighborhoods and enacting policies that equitably bolster opportunity may improve child health outcomes, reduce inequities, and decrease health care costs.
Molecular techniques for studying systematics and phylogeny of Chrysomelidae

Chrysomelidae, one of the largest beetle families, contains some 37,000 described species divided into 19 subfamilies and over 2,000 genera (Jolivet et al., 1988). A common feature of this family is its phytophagous feeding habit which is shared by the beetle families Curculionidae, Cerambycidae and Bruchidae. The importance of Chrysomelidae in pure and applied entomology has stimulated considerable interest in taxonomic and systematic studies. Several recent symposia and books have concerned the bio-systematics and biology of this important beetle family (First and Second International Symposia of Chrysomelidae, see Furth & Seeno, 1985, 1989; Jolivet et al., 1988). Phylogenetic relationships within Chrysomelidae and between related phytophagous beetle families have also been the subject of considerable discussion (Hennig, 1981; Crowson, 1981; Chen, 1985; Jolivet, 1988; Jolivet et al., 1988). Morphological and anatomical traits are traditionally used for systematic treatments of various taxa. Studies of phylogenetic origin and divergence among taxa have been hindered by the lack of fossil records for Chrysomelidae and related beetle families and, increasingly, biological data have been employed to elucidate the relationships between taxa. Thus, life history traits, biogeography, cytogenetics, host plant associations, behavior, and biochemical profiles have been used to delineate phylogenetic relationships in selected taxa.
A 2.1-GHz monolithic frequency synthesizer with robust phase switching prescaler and loop capacitance scaling

This paper presents the design of a 2.1-GHz fully integrated /spl Sigma//spl Delta/ fractional-N frequency synthesizer in 0.35 /spl mu/m CMOS technology. The improved low-voltage, low-power, inherently glitch-free phase switching prescaler is used in this work. With capacitance scaling, large capacitors in the loop filter can be integrated on chip within small area. With several different digital /spl Sigma//spl Delta/ modulators designed on chip, optimal design of the digital /spl Sigma//spl Delta/ modulator for the fractional-N synthesizer will be investigated experimentally. The supply voltage is 1.5 V for VCO and prescaler and 2-V for other blocks. The synthesizer dissipates 16 mW and has an area of 0.85 mm/sup 2/ excluding pads.
Synthetic melanin polymers with antithrombotic activity (833.3)

I evaluated the anticoagulant properties of a family of novel water soluble melanin polymers (Mels) synthesized by a patented process (12/809,369). Mels were screened for activity in standard assay...
Mechanisms that couple histone modifications to transcription elongation and regulate transcription termination (108.2)

During transcription elongation, multiple regulatory factors associate with RNA polymerase II and coordinate RNA processing and chromatin modification with transcript synthesis. The eukaryotic Paf1...
What Causes The Asymmetric Effects Of Monetary Policy: Size or Sign of Money-Supply Shocks?

Abstract Recent research has moved from the question of whether the effects of monetary policy are asymmetric to the question of why. This paper sheds some light on the nature of these asymmetries by focusing on two distinct types: sign asymmetry (monetary expansions have different effects than monetary contractions) and size asymmetry (large monetary shocks have different real effects than smaller monetary shocks). Using quarterly data from the 1964–2004 period, money-supply shocks and their effects on output, consumption, and investment are estimated for a panel of 12 OECD countries. The paper's findings support both types of asymmetries.
Introduction to the Handbook of Financial Engineering

Publisher Summary This chapter presents an overview of the book Handbook in Operations! Research and Management Science (financial engineering) . Financial engineering (FE) is an interdisciplinary field focusing on the applications of mathematical and statistical modeling and computational technology to problems in the financial services industry. The book is organized in six parts: Introduction, Derivative Securities: Models and Methods, Interest Rate and Credit Risk Models and Derivatives, Incomplete Markets, Risk Management, and Portfolio Optimization. This division is somewhat artificial as many chapters are equally relevant for several or even all of these areas. Nevertheless, this structure provides an overview of the main areas of the field of financial engineering.
The Relation of Cognitive and Affective Measures to Achievement during an Instructional Sequence.

The major purpose of this study was to examine the stability of both cognitive and affective “aptitudes” as they relate to learning during an instructional sequence. One hundred and eleven (111) seventh-grade students learned a series of language arts concepts over a five week period. During this period, three achievement measures were administered. Prior to the instruction, a number of measures reflecting the GcGfGv and AiAxAc aptitude complexes suggested by Snow (1976) were administered. Path analyses of the aptitude-achievement relations suggested that some aptitudes relate differentially to achievement during the learning process, with the affective aptitudes demonstrating more instability than the cognitive aptitudes. It is argued that ability requirements research will need to take into account the temporal ordering of aptitude-achievement relations if it is to provide an accurate picture of the learning process as it unfolds. And it is suggested that the results of ability requirements research may provide useful empirical descriptions of instructional treatments.
FURTHER EVIDENCE FOR A SIMPLE CL CONDUCTANCE PATHWAY IN NUTRIENT MEMBRANE OF FROG STOMACH

A decrease in nutrient Cl- increases the negativity of the nutrient relative to the secretory side. It seemed possible that Cl- transport could result from a neutral Cl- mechanism in the nutrient membrane coupled to a simple Cl- conductance pathway in the secretory membrane. Experiments in HCO3(-)-free, K(+)-free and Na(+)-free solutions in both bathing media gave for a 10-fold change in nutrient Cl- a PD change of 9.5 mV. Similar experiments with 0.5 mM DIDS in the nutrient solution gave for a 10-fold change in nutrient Cl- a PD change of 7.9 mV. These experiments eliminated a neutral Cl(-)-HCO3- exchanger, a NaCl and a KCl symport. Thus the change in PD could best be explained by a simple Cl- conductance in the nutrient membrane.