cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Screening for social anxiety disorder with the self-report version of the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale.

Objective: This study examined whether the self-report version of the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS-SR) could accurately identify individuals with social anxiety disorder and individuals with the generalized subtype of social anxiety disorder. Furthermore, the study sought to determine the optimal cutoffs for the LSAS-SR for identifying patients with social anxiety disorder and its generalized subtype. Methods: Two hundred and ninety-one patients with clinician-assessed social anxiety disorder (240 with generalized social anxiety disorder) and 53 control participants who were free from current Axis-1 disorders completed the LSAS-SR. Results: Receiver Operating Characteristic analyses revealed that the LSAS-SR performed well in identifying participants with social anxiety disorder and generalized social anxiety disorder. Consistent with Mennin et al.’s [2002: J Anxiety Disord 16:661–673] research on the clinician-administered version of the LSAS, cutoffs of 30 and 60 on the LSAS-SR provided the best balance of sensitivity and specificity for classifying participants with social anxiety and generalized social anxiety disorder, respectively. Conclusions: The LSAS-SR may be an accurate and cost-effective way to identify and subtype patients with social anxiety disorder, which could help increase the percentage of people who receive appropriate treatment for this debilitating disorder. Depression and Anxiety 26:34–38, 2009. & 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Using Relational Dialectics to Address Differences in Community-Campus Partnerships

Community and campus partners face inherent differences due to their distinct cultures, assumptions, practices, and constituencies. How partners handle the resulting tensions can impact how well the partnership functions article introduces relational dialectics as a framework to think about recurring tensions as natural and normal when partners span structural and cultural boundaries to work together. The authors show how three common dialectical tensions work in campus-community partnerships. Next, the ways in which partners can use learning conversations to gather detailed information related to the dialectical tensions are detailed. The authors then demonstrate different ways partners can manage the tensions, and they explain the potential impact(s) of each strategy on the partnership. Finally, the implications of relational dialectics for competency building, engagement practice, and research on community-campus collaboration are considered.
Bufalin is a potent small molecule inhibitor of the steroid receptor coactivators SRC-3 and SRC-1

Virtually all transcription factors partner with coactivators that recruit chromatin remodeling factors and interact with the basal transcription machinery. Coactivators have been implicated in cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis, including the p160 steroid receptor coactivator (SRC) family composed of SRC-1 (NCOA1), SRC-2 (TIF2/GRIP1/NCOA2), and SRC-3 (AIB1/ACTR/NCOA3). Given their broad involvement in many cancers, they represent candidate molecular targets for new chemotherapeutics. Here, we report on the results of a high-throughput screening effort that identified the cardiac glycoside bufalin as a potent small-molecule inhibitor for SRC-3 and SRC-1. Bufalin strongly promoted SRC-3 protein degradation and was able to block cancer cell growth at nanomolar concentrations. When incorporated into a nanoparticle delivery system, bufalin was able to reduce tumor growth in a mouse xenograft model of breast cancer. Our work identifies bufalin as a potentially broad-spectrum small-molecule inhibitor for cancer.
Expression equivalence checking using interval analysis

Arithmetic expressions are the fundamental building blocks of hardware and software systems. An important problem in computational theory is to decide if two arithmetic expressions are equivalent. However, the general problem of equivalence checking, in digital computers, belongs to the NP Hard class of problems. Moreover, existing general techniques for solving this decision problem are applicable to very simple expressions and impractical when applied to more complex expressions found in programs written in high-level languages. In this paper, we propose a method for solving the arithmetic expression equivalence problem using partial evaluation. In particular, our technique is specifically designed to solve the problem of equivalence checking of arithmetic expressions obtained from high-level language descriptions of hardware/software systems. In our method, we use interval analysis to substantially prune the domain space of arithmetic expressions and limit the evaluation effort to a sufficiently limited set of subspaces. Our results show that the proposed method is fast enough to be of use in practice
Opioids for chronic noncancer pain

The use of strong opioids as analgesics is established practice when managing postoperative pain and that associated with a terminal illness. It is now becoming more accepted in the treatment of chronic noncancer pain. This use is supported by significant evidence of an analgesic effect. However, a number of issues including efficacy in comparison with other drug classes and the risk of obvious and more insidious short- and long-term side effects, cause a degree of concern that may mitigate against even more widespread use.
Requesting patterns for serum calcium concentration in patients on long-term lithium therapy.

Summary Aim: Long-term lithium therapy is associated with hypercalcaemia in 10–60% of patients, but unlike creatinine and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), monitoring by general practitioners of serum calcium for patients on lithium is not a requirement of the Qualities and Outcomes Framework (QOF) of 2004. We aimed to assess requesting patterns for serum calcium in patients on long-term lithium therapy and subsequent diagnosis of hypercalcaemia. Methods: We identified 100 patients on long-term lithium therapy, as indicated by regular monitoring of lithium levels in our laboratory for at least 1 year. We determined how many of these patients had had serum calcium analysed, noting the assay date, concentration, source of request and clinical details stated. Results: Forty-three out of hundred patients had serum calcium analysed during the course of their treatment including 28 in the previous 15 months. Twenty-one patients had serum calcium analysed by their GP, including 12 in the previous 15 months. Hypercalcaemia was diagnosed in five patients (11.6%). Conclusion: A significant proportion of patients in whom calcium was checked developed hypercalcaemia on lithium therapy. However, only 12% of the patients had serum calcium requested by their GP in the previous 15 months, which compares unfavourably with TSH and creatinine, for which monitoring approaches 100%. We recommend that serum calcium be checked every 15 months along with creatinine and TSH. This might be achieved by incorporating appropriate targets into the QOF, or by reflective or reflex adding-on of calcium to lithium specimens from patients who have not had calcium analysed in the previous 15 months.
Electron-Beam Dynamics for an Advanced Flash-Radiography Accelerator

Beam dynamics issues were assessed for a new linear induction electron accelerator being designed for multipulse flash radiography of large explosively driven hydrodynamic experiments. Special attention was paid to equilibrium beam transport, possible emittance growth, and beam stability. Especially problematic would be high-frequency beam instabilities that could blur individual radiographic source spots, low-frequency beam motion that could cause pulse-to-pulse spot displacement, and emittance growth that could enlarge the source spots. Beam physics issues were examined through theoretical analysis and computer simulations, including particle-in-cell codes. Beam instabilities investigated included beam breakup, image displacement, diocotron, parametric envelope, ion hose, and the resistive wall instability. Beam corkscrew motion and emittance growth from beam mismatch were also studied. It was concluded that a beam with radiographic quality equivalent to the present accelerators at Los Alamos National Laboratory will result if the same engineering standards and construction details are upheld.
Virtual Power Outage Detection Using Social Sensors

In this paper we describe a novel approach to detecting power outages that utilizes social media platform users as “social sensors” for virtual detection of power outages. We present the underlying methodology based on analyzing Twitter and other social media data that detects bursts in tweets related to the power outages. The proposed methodology was implemented and deployed by a major company in the area of enterprise solutions for social media aggregation for the electrical utility industry as a part of their comprehensive social engagement platform. It was also field tested on the Twitter users in an industrial setting and performed well during these tests.
In Diabetic Kidney Disease Urinary Exosomes Better Represent Kidney Specific Protein Alterations Than Whole Urine

Background: Predicting or diagnosing underlying kidney disease by analyzing whole urine remains the mainstay of nephrology practice. However, whole urine is a poo
Discovering community development information from social media: a social media analytics project using IBM BlueMix: faculty poster abstract

This project aims to demonstrate how social media analytics provide a valuable set of techniques for deriving community development information from social media. Utilizing services on IBM BlueMix, we examine and provide an inside look at the activities and structure of a local community - Brooklyn Tech Triangle. Our preliminary analysis shows that the Tech Triangle initiative' social media presences present different focus and level of influence. In addition, value-added influencers play important roles in the community and have large influence on the transfer of information through the social network. This project can be customized and extended for computer science students to learn essential social media analytics techniques, create cloud applications and get to know (IBM) cognitive computing services.
What Does Asexuality Teach Us About Sexual Disinterest? Recommendations for Health Professionals Based on a Qualitative Study With Asexually Identified People

This article draws on qualitative in-depth interviews with 30 asexually identified individuals living in the United States in order to contribute to our understanding of when low sexual desire should be treated as a medical or mental health issue and when it should be treated as a benign sexual variation. The article discusses five findings of relevance to health professionals: (1) the line between a desire disorder and asexuality is not clear-cut; (2) asexually identified individuals may experience distress, so distress alone does not separate a desire disorder from asexuality; (3) asexually identified individuals may face sexual pressure from a partner or may have difficulty negotiating sexual activity with a partner; (4) asexuality does not need to be distressing, rather it can be experienced as a fulfilling form of sexuality; and (5) many asexually identified individuals believe in the usefulness of low sexual desire as a diagnostic category and support medical and mental health professionals in their...
Safety of Nurse-Led Ambulation for Patients on Venovenous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

Purpose:Venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV ECMO) is an effective therapy in patients with acute lung injury and end-stage lung disease. Although immobility increases the risk of com...
Exploring the Relationships Among Teacher Confidence, Learning, and Test Performance Within the English‐for‐Teaching Course

In responding to the increasingly expanded emphasis on English language teaching (ELT) around the globe, Educational Testing Service (ETS) collaborated with National Geographic Learning to develop the ELTeach™ program (http://www.elteach.com), an online professional development program consisting of two courses, English-for-Teaching and Professional Knowledge for ELT, with the goal of improving ELT teachers' classroom English language proficiency. Within the English-for-Teaching course, there are three interrelated components: a precourse planner that asks teachers to rate their confidence in using English to teach English, a learning course that teaches the type of English needed to carry out essential classroom activities in English, and the TEFT™ assessment, which is developed based on the same framework as the learning course. Using data collected during the pilot administration of the ELTeach program in 2012, this study examines the relationship between self-reported confidence level and engagement with the learning course, and the relationship between self-reported confidence level and performance on the TEFT assessment. The findings suggested how users with different confidence levels might make use of the learning materials and how they might score on the TEFT assessment.
Malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the mediastinum and lung: A report of three cases

One case of primary malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the lung and two cases of that tumor in the mediastinum are reported. Primary malignant fibrous histiocytoma is rare in those areas, appearing more commonly in deep fascia and skeletal muscles of the extremities and torso and in the retroperitoneum. Most of the tumors contain both fibroblast-like and histiocyte-like cells; some contain pleomorphic giant cells and inflammatory cells. They are often confused with other sarcomas, and their true biologic potential is not clearly defined. Radiation appears to be a very useful adjunct to surgical therapy and was used in the cases reported here.
Use of a Pharmacy Technologist To Manage Technicians’ Activities

The role of a pharmacy technologist, in comparison with that of a pharmacist and a pharmacy technician, is discussed as it was developed at one hospital. Training, staffing patterns, personnel functions, acceptance and salary of the technologist are described. The use of the technologist to manage technician-level personnel is suggested as a means of providing the pharmacist with more time for professional activities.
Evaluation for suspected language disorders in preschool children.

The pediatrician should help parents identify language disorders early in a child’s development and direct families to appropriate community services. This article presents a model for clinical diagnosis of developmental language disorder and reviews screening instruments available for identification of a child at risk. The prognosis for later academic achievement is reviewed briefly.
Adaptive observers for non-square positive real infinite dimensional systems

This paper considers the adaptive estimation of parabolic partial differential equations with boundary control and observation. Structured perturbations enter at the boundary and are collocated either with the control or the measurement. Various combinations of boundary control, observation and structured perturbations are considered and viewed as evolution equations in a Hilbert space via the use of Dirichlet maps. When certain conditions are met, the systems can utilize results on the adaptive estimation of positive real infinite dimensional systems. Extensive simulation studies of 1D parabolic partial differential equation with the structured perturbation collocated either with the input or the output operator are presented to demonstrate the utilization of results on adaptive estimation of positive real infinite dimensional systems for diffusion PDEs.
Examining the Factors that Facilitate Athletic Training Faculty Socialization into Higher Education

Context: Doctoral education is the mechanism whereby athletic trainers can develop an awareness of their future roles and responsibilities in higher education. Evidence suggests that doctoral educa...
Fuzzy induction in dynamic user profiling for information filtering

In this paper we investigate the role of the user profile in information filtering and we introduce a novel algorithm for learning the user profile based on user’s initial profile and on a queries’ interpretation using fuzzy generalization (Angryk and Petry 2003). Thousands of documents are usually retrieved by search engines for a given query during an information search on WWW. One way to prune irrelevant documents is to take advantage of the user’s implicit interests to filter the documents returned by the search engine, or to reformulate the query based on these interests. One of the common representations of the documents (and queries) in information retrieval is based on the vector hyperspace model (Salton and McGill 1993). We are using the expanded version of Salton’s vector space model introduced by Barbu and Simina (2003) for its effectiveness in computing the dynamics of the user profile. In contrast with the classical vector space model, this recent model, time-words vector hyperspace, has an additional temporal dimension. The coordinates of the documents and queries vectors are calculated using the traditional TF-IDF technique. Only the queries have a temporal dimension (current interest weight) which is set to a preset positive initial value that decays in time, suggesting that some specific user interests could decrease as time goes on. The user’s categories of interest are computed based on a novel approach using Fuzzy Concept Hierarchies (FCH) extracted from the WordNet ontology. An FCH is built for each of the query’s keywords, using their hypernym chains provided by WordNet. A subunitary membership degree (weight) is assigned for each of the edges of the hierarchy via a bottom-up approach, from the lowest level concept (initial keyword) to the more abstract one. The assignment of the weights is performed according to the following two conditions: 1) The sum of weights assigned to the links outgoing from the original keyword has to be equal to unity.
The Role of 20-Hete in Mediating the Effect of Diatary K Intake on the Apical K Channels in the Mtal.

P95 We have used the patch clamp technique to study the effect of dietary-K intake on the apical K channels in the medullary thick ascending limb (mTAL) of rat kidneys. The channel activity, defined by NPo, of the 30 pS and 70 pS K channel was 0.18 and 0.11 in the mTAL from rats on a K-deficient diet, respectively. In contrast, NPo of the 30 pS and the 70 pS K channels increased to 0.60 and 0.80 in the tubules from animals on a high-K diet, respectively. We have also used GC/MC to measure the intracellular production of 20-hydroxyeicosanotetraenoic acid (20-HETE) in the mTAL. The concentration of 20-HETE was 0.8 pg/μg protein in the mTAL from rats on a high-K diet and increased significantly to 4.6 pg/μg protein in the tubules from rats on a K-deficient diet. Addition of N-methylsulfonyl-12,12-dibromododec-11-enamide (DDMS) or 17-octadecynoic acid (17ODYA), agents which inhibit the formation of 20-HETE, had no significant effect on the activity of the 30 pS K channels. However, DDMS/17ODYA significantly increased the activity of the apical 70 pS K channel from 0.11 to 0.91 in the mTAL from rats on a K-deficient diet. In contrast, inhibition of the cytochrome P450 metabolism of arachidonic acid (AA) increased NPo from 0.64 to 0.81 in the tubules from animals on a high-K diet. Furthermore, the concentration of 20-HETE required to block the channel activity by 50% was the same in the mTAL from rats on a high K diet as that on a K-deficient diet. This indicates that the diminished response of the 70 pS K channel to the inhibition of P450 metabolism of AA is not the result of decreasing 20-HETE sensitivity in the mTAL from rats on a high K diet. Finally, the pretreatment of the tubules with DDMS increased NPo of the 70 pS K channels in the mTAL from rats on a K-deficient diet to 0.76, a value which is not significantly different from the NPo in the tubules from rats on a high-K diet. We conclude that an increase in 20-HETE production is involved in reducing the activity of the apical 70 pS K channels in the mTAL from rats on a K-deficient diet.
Towards a Method for Leakage Quantification and Remediation Monitoring in the Near-surface at Terrestrial CO2 Geologic Storage Sites

Abstract The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) states that quantification of leakage emissions at CO2 geological storage sites will require direct monitoring techniques rather than standardized emissions factors. In addition, IPCC guidelines state that leakage emissions should be distinguished from natural baseline emissions. Current methods measure only bulk CO2 emissions and therefore do not have the capability to separate these components. We discuss that a process-based soil gas approach could potentially be used with an open chamber emissions quantification method to translate process-based concentration data into surface flux rates. In doing so, the various components of surface gas flux could be attributed, separated and individually quantified. We use soil gas data from the ZERT controlled release experimental site as the basis for our discussion and show that such a method may improve the accuracy and ease of leakage quantification. For accounting purposes, such capabilities could be used to more accurately assess the number of credits to be surrendered for leakage. For monitoring purposes, added benefits could include delineating the spatial extent of leakage emissions and providing real-time information on the effectiveness of remediation efforts.
Place as Pedagogy: Toward Study Abroad for Social Change:

Background: Emergent bodies of literature have uncovered problematic trends in U.S. study abroad that reproduce hierarchies of power and colonialism, perpetuate views of an exotic cultural “other,”...
Central Venous Access

Venous access plays a vital role in patient care and is necessary for the treatment and management of those with a wide range of illnesses. Central venous access allows for safe, long-term delivery of a variety of therapies that cannot be delivered through peripheral venous access. While the role of central venous access in modern medicine was established by surgeons and anesthesiologists, the development of percutaneous (rather than surgical) venous access, advances in ultrasound and fluoroscopic guidance, and innovative interventional techniques have led interventional radiology to become the dominant provider of more than five million central venous catheters each year in the United States. While in the remote past IRs were regarded as predominately technicians, this crucial role in patient care has expanded the IR’s role to include consultant and clinician. As experts in central venous access, IRs are relied upon to determine the proper access device for each patient, to safely and reliably place these devices, and to provide long-term follow-up care of those who have a device in place. A proper understanding of the types of central venous access devices, the data supporting their placement by interventional radiologists, and their indications, complications, and techniques for placement are of utmost importance to the IR in training.
Engagement and Disengagement: Rethinking Somalia

This paper outlines three international policy options for Somalia in an effort to begin working towards solving the issues that have plagued the Horn of Africa for over 40 years. A short introduction summarizing Somalia’s tumultuous history precedes an examination of the three policy options. The first proposal, as supported and practiced by the U.S. State Department, is an interventionist policy involving political, economic, and in the past, military intervention. The policy would continue to allow the U.S. to closely monitor Somalia’s struggling government in an effort to maintain and protect its regional interests. The second proposal reconsiders Somaliland’s de facto secession and discusses the possibility of reunification with Somalia. Although not internationally recognized, Somaliland has become largely independent from southern Somalia and functions much like an autonomous state. This policy considers the benefits of Somaliland’s reunification with Somalia. The third and final proposal is the controversial containment policy recommended by several analysts familiar with the condition of Somalia. The containment policy would require the international community to disengage from the current government and allow the country to recover—or ruin—itself. After outlining three possible policies, this paper recommends a variation of the third proposal offered—a policy of international containment towards Somalia, as well as giving further analysis and supporting data. The discussion will conclude with considerations of inevitable challenges and potential long-term goals for the recommended policy.
Measuring the self concept of ability as a worker.

The relationship of self concept of ability to performance is discussed, and the need for a measurement device for the self concept of work ability of educable mentally retarded adolescents is identified. A scale described in this article employs an interview technique and is intended to be used by teachers and vocational workers. Statistical evidence concerning reliability and internal consistency are presented. The scale is offered for both research and program evaluation as well as client centered diagnostic purposes.*
Involvement of the TEL Gene in Hematologic Malignancy by Diverse Molecular Genetic Mechanisms

Cloning of chromosome translocation breakpoints have identified abnormal gene products which contribute to the pathogenesis of hematologic malignancy. Examples include the PML-RARα fusion associated with t(15; 17) acute promyelocytic leukemia (APML)(1’3), the AMLl-ETO fusion associated with t(8;21) acute myeloid leukemia (4), the CBFβ-MYHII fusion associated with inv(16) acute myelomonocytic leukemia and eosinophilia (5), and MLL fusions at 11q23 breakpoints with various fusion proteins associated with acute myeloid leukemias (6).
Case structure systems

A logic for case structure systems is presented which allows variations in the order and number of terms in atomic formulas. This logic is used to describe and characterize four existing case systems. A computer program which allows flexible case structures is then described. Applications of the program to medical record analysis and disease modeling are used to illustrate important concepts about case systems. Several open problems are also discussed.
Ureteroscopic Stone Extraction in Cross-Fused Renal Ectopia.

Background: Urinary stone disease in cross-fused renal ectopia is rare and the aberrant anatomy poses challenges to treatment options. The available literature on treatment modalities remains limited. In this study, we present a case of ureteral stone in a cross-fused renal ectopia managed through retrograde approach. Case Presentation: We present a case of a 69-year-old woman with an obstructing ureteral stone in a cross-fused renal ectopia managed with ureteroscopic stone extraction. With the use of a ureteral access sheath, holmium laser, and Nitonol basket, the stone was fragmented and removed through retrograde access. The stone composition was 100% calcium oxalate monohydrate and her 24-hour urine collection was only significant for low volume. Conclusion: With special modifications and attention to the individual patient's anatomy, retrograde approach with the use of an access sheath is safe and effective for treatment of ureteral stones in patients with cross-fused renal ectopia.
Adaptive Nonlinear Equalization of a Tunable Bandpass Filter

The mitigation of third-order intermodulation distortion produced by a nonlinear tunable bandpass filter (BPF) in a digital receiver channel is demonstrated. An iterative solution is proposed, in the use of the least-mean-square algorithm, as an effective way to allow the correction coefficients to adapt to the changes in the system characteristics when the center frequency is changed. Results are shown using a two-pole, varactor-loaded BPF, and an Analog Devices AD9371 transceiver.
TROPICAL METEOROLOGY AND CLIMATE | Intraseasonal Oscillation (Madden–Julian Oscillation)

The Intraseasonal Oscillation (Madden–Julian Oscillation) reflects the west-to-east movement of very large-scale atmospheric circulation cells in the equatorial plane. Locally, associated variables like surface pressure, winds, and convection oscillate with a typical timescale of 45 days. It is associated with much of equatorial weather variations on the intraseasonal timescale.
Etiology, Evaluation, and Management of Dislocation After Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty.

The rate of dislocation after primary total hip arthroplasty has decreased, but given the high volume of total hip arthroplasty procedures that are performed, dislocation remains a common complication.The etiology of dislocation after total hip arthroplasty is multifactorial and depends on the patie
US State constitutional entrenchment and default in the 19th century

Constitutional scholars emphasize the importance of an enduring, stable constitutional order, which North and Weingast (1989) argue is consistent with credible commitments to sustainable fiscal policies. However, this view is controversial and has received little empirical study. We use 19th-century US state-level data to estimate relationships between constitutional design and the likelihood of a government default. Results indicate that more entrenched and less specific constitutions are associated with a lower likelihood of default.
Remote Ligand Modifications Tune Electronic Distribution and Reactivity in Site-Differentiated, High-Spin Iron Clusters: Flipping Scaling Relationships.

We report the synthesis, characterization, and reactivity of [LFe3O(RArIm)3Fe][OTf]2, the first Hammett series of a site-differentiated cluster. The cluster reduction potentials and CO stretching f...
The case for spectrum access

Fundamentally, this book seeks to capture the salient aspects of the exceedingly complex topic of radar and communication spectrum sharing, which is itself a menagerie of different problem spaces that depend on the particular goals one is attempting to achieve. The most prominent problem, and consequently the one most often first considered, is that of sharing between commercial communications and monolithic, stationary radars (e.g. for weather monitoring or air traffic control). Due to the sheer breadth of this topic, we do not attempt to codify all the many ways in which spectrum sharing could be performed. In fact, with the notion of radar spectrum sharing only rather recently becoming manifest due to the confluence of exponentially growing spectrum demand and emerging software-driven radio capabilities, one could well contend that we are now only glimpsing what will later be considered the earliest stages of spectrum sharing innovations.
Genetic Basis of Tooth Agenesis, Supernumerary Teeth, and Other Dental Abnormalities

Tooth agenesis is the most common congenital abnormality in humans. The identification of gene mutations in severe forms of tooth agenesis (oligodontia) provided a tool for the acceleration of the understanding of dental development. An association between oligodontia and cancer has added to the relevance of studying these conditions. Most cases of tooth agenesis, as well as other dental abnormalities, fit a multifactorial or complex mode of inheritance. Genetic studies of supernumerary teeth and other dental abnormalities are emerging, but the lack of comprehensive annotations of these phenotypes is likely to preclude the ability to study these abnormalities in populations with large-scale genotyping data.
Task-based Automated Test Case Generation for Human-machine Interaction:

Testing is an effective approach for finding discrepancies between intended and actual system behavior. However, the complexity of modern system can make it difficult for analysts to anticipate all...
Post-War Military Tribunals

After the war, the Allied Forces established a series of military tribunals in Asia to indict and prosecute Japanese war criminals. The United States tried Japanese war criminals at Shanghai, Manila and Guam; Australia conducted trials at Morotai, Wewak, Labuan, Rabaul, Darwin, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Maunus Island; Great Britain had trials at Singapore, Malaya, North Borneo, Burma, and Hong Kong; China had military tribunals at Beijing, Shenyang, Nanjing, Shanghai, Ji’nan, Guangzhou, Hankou, Taiyuan, Xuzhou and Taipei; the Netherlands tried Japanese criminals at Batavia (Jakarta); France established a military tribunal at Saigon; and the Soviet Union did their trials at Khabarovsk. The most significant and prominent of all the military tribunals, however, is undoubtedly the International Military Tribunal for the Far East in Tokyo, primarily because all the Class A war criminals were prosecuted at Tokyo. All the other tribunals tried only Class B and Class C war criminals. Of all the tribunals, only the Tokyo Trial and the Nanjing Trial indicted and prosecuted Japanese war criminals in connection with the Nanjing Massacre.
Effects of Filler Type in Bismaleimide Matrix on Corrosion Resistance of Steel in Sea Salt

Bismaleimide (BMI) coating with and without aluminum oxide (Al2O3), silica oxide (SiO2), hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN), or organophilic montmorillonite clay 30B (OMMT) fillers on 1018 steel substrates was studied. Bilayer coatings consisting of BMI with one of the fillers at 5 wt.% for the first layer and pure BMI for the second layer were applied on 1018 steel substrates. The corrosion resistance of all coated samples was investigated through potentiodynamic polarization by using Tafel method in 4.2 wt.% sea salt solution. The results of the test showed that pure BMI coating improved the corrosion resistance by reducing the corrosion rate by 88%. Addition of 5 wt.% of OMMT or SiO2 fillers increased the efficiency of the coating in reducing corrosion rate by 99 and 97%, respectively. Adding 5 wt.% h-BN showed marginal improvements in the reduction in corrosion rates (89%). Addition of 5 wt.% Al2O3 as a filler dropped the efficiency of BMI coating to 64%. Adhesion of the coated steel was also affected depending on the filler type. Micro-hardness measurements using Vickers scale were taken to assess coating hardness, and scanning electron microscopy was used to investigate the dispersion of filler particles in the matrix.
The cardiovascular in-training examination: development, implementation, results, and future directions.

Abstract Background The American College of Cardiology (ACC), in collaboration with the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME), developed the first standardized in-training examination (ITE) for cardiovascular disease fellows-in-training (FITs). In addition to testing knowledge, this examination uses the newly developed ACC Curricular Milestones to provide specific, competency-based feedback to program directors and FITs. The ACC ITE has been administered more than 5,000 times since 2011. Objectives This analysis sought to report the initial experience with the ITE, including feasibility and reliability of test development and implementation, as well as the ability of this process to provide useful feedback in key content areas. Methods The annual ACC ITE has been available to cardiovascular disease fellowship programs in the United States since 2011. Questions for this Web-based, secure, multiple-choice examination were developed by a group of cardiovascular disease specialists and each question was analyzed by the NBME to ensure quality. Scores were equated and standardized to allow for comparability. Trainees and program directors were provided detailed feedback, including a list of the curricular competencies tested by those questions answered incorrectly. Results The ITE was administered 5,118 times. In 2013, the examination was taken by 1,969 fellows, representing 194 training programs. Among the 3 training years, there was consistency in the examination scores. Total test scores and scores within each of the content areas increased with each FIT year (there was a statistically significant difference in each cohort’s average scale score across administration years). There was also significant improvement in examination scores across the fellowship years. Conclusions The ACC ITE is a powerful tool available to all training programs to assess medical knowledge. This examination also delivers robust and timely feedback addressing individual knowledge gaps, and thus, may serve as a basis for improving training curricula.
Pheochromocytoma of the Organ Zuckerkandl.

Introduction Pheochromocytomas (PCCs);, or intra-adrenal paragangliomas (PGLs);, are neuroendocrine tumors arising within the adrenal medulla. Extra-adrenal paragangliomas may arise in the sympathetic or parasympathetic paraganglia and more rarely in other organs. One of the most common extra-adrenal sites is in the organ of Zuckerkandl, a collection of chromaffin cells near the origin of the inferior mesenteric artery or near the aortic bifurcation. The following is a case of a patient with resistant hypertension secondary to an extra-adrenal paraganglioma in the organ of Zuckerkandl. Case The patient is a 43 year old man with a history of depression, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and hypertension who was sent to the emergency department by his primary care physician for severely elevated blood pressures. Patient also had diaphoresis, tachycardia, and a new, fine tremor of his left hand. Upon presentation, the patient's blood pressure was 260/120 mmHg with a heart rate of 140 beats per minute. Plasma fractionated metanephrines sent on admission revealed significantly elevated levels of total plasma metanephrines (2558 pg/mL);, free metanephrine (74 pg/ml); and free normetanephrine (2484pg/mL);. An I-123 metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG); scan showed abnormal uptake in the lower abdomen at the level of the aortic bifurcation. Patient was started on alpha-blockade, with subsequent addition of a beta-blocker prior to surgery. Patient underwent surgical removal of the tumor with pathology consistent with a paraganglioma. Discussion Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas are responsible for approximately 0.5 percent of cases of secondary hypertension. Many different biochemical markers have been used to aid in the diagnosis of PCC/PGL including plasma catecholamines, plasma metanephrines, urine fractionated metanephrines, urine catecholamines, total metanephrines and vanillymandellic acid. Definitive management of a PCC and PGL involves surgical removal of the tumor. Finally, there should be a discussion with each patient to determine if he or she should undergo genetic testing, as studies show that approximately 25 percent of catecholamine producing PCCs and PGLs are due to heritable genetic mutations.
Clinical Applications of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance in Congenital Heart Disease

Cardiovascular malformations occur in approximately 1% of live births. Improved diagnostic techniques and therapeutic interventions have reduced early mortality substantially, and long-term survival has improved. Management issues, however, are challenging, and cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) provides much diagnostic information to guide decisions. This article provides an approach to CMR evaluation of several common congenital heart lesions.
Multi-transcription factor reporter mice delineate early precursors to the ILC and LTi lineages

Transcription factor (TF) reporter mice have proved integral to the characterization of murine innate lymphoid cell (ILC) development and function. Here, we implemented a CRISPR/Cas9-generated combinatorial reporter approach for the simultaneous resolution of several key TFs throughout ILC development in both the fetal liver and adult bone marrow. We demonstrate that the Tcf7-expressing early innate lymphoid precursor (EILP) and the common helper ILC precursor (CHILP) both contain a heterogeneous mixture of specified ILC and lymphoid tissue inducer (LTi) precursors with restricted lineage potential rather than a shared precursor. Moreover, the earliest specified precursor to the LTi lineage was identified upstream of these populations, before Tcf7 expression. These findings match dynamic changes in chromatin accessibility associated with the expression of key TFs (i.e., GATA3 and RORγ(t)), highlighting the distinct origins of ILC and LTi lineages at the epigenetic and functional levels, and provide a revised map for ILC development.
Behavior Change in Urban Mammals: A Systematic Review

As cities expand to accommodate a growing human population, their impacts to natural ecosystems and the wildlife residing within them increase. Some animals that persist in urban environments demonstrate behaviors distinct from their rural counterparts. These potential behavioral changes are the subject of a growing body of research in the areas of wildlife ecology, biology, and conservation. In spite of increasing urban wildlife research, studies focused specifically on changing behavior in urban mammals is limited. We conducted a systematic literature review to synthesize current research on behavior changes in wild urban mammals. We found 83 papers published between 1987 and March 2020. Omnivores were the leading subject of study, closely followed by carnivores and the specific behaviors most widely studied were home range and vigilance. Among the reviewed studies, there were 166 observations of 44 distinct behaviors with 155 occurrences of behavior change relative to conspecifics in less urban areas. The most commonly studied and observed type of behavior change was alert behavior. Results indicate urban environments drive adaptive responses in behavior including changes in home range and diet preference, shifts in activity budget and vigilance, decreased flight initiation distance, and increased nocturnal activity. Some urban mammal species even demonstrated the ability to modulate behaviors based on environmental cues. Our results highlight the need for long-term wildlife behavior studies across a variety of urban settings to promote successful urban wildlife management and conservation.
The Impact of Adjuvant Management Strategies on Outcomes in Women With Early Stage Uterine Serous Carcinoma.

Objective To determine the impact of different adjuvant strategies on outcomes in women with early-stage uterine serous carcinoma (USC). Methods Our retrospective database for women with endometrial carcinoma was queried for women with 2009 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stages I-II USC who underwent surgical staging between January 1991 and April 2019 followed by adjuvant management (observation, radiation therapy (RT), chemotherapy (CT), or combined modality treatment (CRT)). Chi-square tests were performed to compare differences in outcome by type of adjuvant management. Recurrence-free survival (RFS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and overall survival (OS) were assessed by Kaplan-Meier and log-rank tests. Univariate and multivariate analyses (MVA) were performed to identify statistically significant predictors of survival endpoints. Results We identified 171 women who met our inclusion criteria. The median follow-up time was 70.5 months. Seventy-five percent of the study cohort was FIGO stage IA, 13% were stage IB, and 12% were stage II. All women underwent pelvic lymph node dissection with a median number of dissected lymph nodes of 14. Omentectomy was performed in 64% of patients. Adjuvant RT was utilized in 56% of women (65 patients received vaginal brachytherapy alone, 10 patients received pelvic RT, and 21 patients received a combination of both). The most commonly used chemotherapy regimen was carboplatin and paclitaxel with a median number of cycles of six. A total of 44% of the cohort received CRT, 12% received RT alone, 19% received chemo alone, and 25% were observed. Five-year RFS was 73% for those who received CRT, 84% for those who received RT alone, 68% for those who received CT alone, and 55% for those who were observed (p=0.13). Five-year DSS was 81%, 94%, 71%, and 60%, respectively (p=0.02). Five-year OS was 76%, 70%, 60%, and 56%, respectively (p=0.11). On MVA of OS and DSS, a higher percentage of myometrial invasion, the presence of lower uterine segment involvement, positive peritoneal cytology, and receipt of chemotherapy alone/observation were independent predictors of worse outcomes. The sole independent predictor of worse RFS on MVA was the presence of positive peritoneal cytology. Conclusion In this cohort of women with early-stage USC who underwent surgical staging, adjuvant radiation treatment with or without chemotherapy was associated with improved survival endpoints and trended toward improved recurrence rates.
Avoid the trap: Targeting PARP1 beyond human malignancy

PARP1 is a poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) enzyme that plays a critical role in regulating DNA damage response. The main enzymatic function of PARP1 is to catalyze a protein post-translational modification known as poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation (PARylation). Human cancers with homologous recombination deficiency are highly sensitive to PARP1 inhibitors. PARP1 is aberrantly activated in many non-oncological diseases, leading to the excessive NAD+ depletion and PAR formation, thus causing cell death and tissue damage. PARP1 deletion offers a profound protective effect in the relevant animal models. However, many of the current PARP1 inhibitors also induce PARP1 trapping, which drives subsequent DNA damage, innate immune response and cytotoxicity. This minireview provides an overview of the basic biology of PARP1 trapping, and its implications in disease. Furthermore, we also discuss the recent development of PARP1 PROTAC compounds, and their utility as "non-trapping" PARP1 degraders for the potential amelioration of non-oncological diseases driven by aberrant PARP1 activation.
Sull’umiltà nella Commedia:

Dante deals specifically with the theme of humility only in the canto of the superbs (Purgatory, X–XII). Still, the topic permeates the entire poem, from the moment Vergil invites Dante to follow h...
Machine Learning Approach to Detection of Atrial Fibrillation Using High Quality Facial Videos

Videoplethysmography (VPG) is an emerging technology that uses a video camera to capture subtle skin color variations caused by blood volume flow. VPG offers a seamless, non invasive long term cardiac monitoring solution which is necessary to capture a-symptomatic heart conditions such as early stages of Atrial Fibrillation (AF). In this work we investigate the ability of VPG based on high end Basler RGB camera to identify AF in a controlled hospital setting. We conduct a clinical study and explore various modern Machine Learning (ML) algorithms and feature extraction methods to provide classification among three groups: healthy subjects, subjects with AF before and after they undergo direct current cardioversion. Our results reveal that when features represent statistical, dimensional and time-frequency properties of the underlying VPG signal, all non-linear and ensemble classifiers under test achieve close to perfect performance in both 2- and 3-class classification. Among them, random forest and extreme gradient boosting classifier consistently attain the highest accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of almost 100%. These results suggest that the VPG technology relying on a high quality camera combined with intelligent ML classifiers and smart feature selection can be used to facilitate diagnosis of heart conditions within a controlled hospital environment and has a great potential to go beyond.