cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Saving through spending: Lessons learned from children's savings account programs and the future of asset development

Abstract Educators, policymakers, and advocates concerned about persistent achievement gaps, stagnant upward mobility, and college unaffordability are increasingly turning to Children's Savings Accounts (CSAs) as a policy intervention for catalyzing educational opportunity and equity. While state-run 529 college savings plans largely benefit middle- and upper-income families, these financial instruments can serve as platforms for CSAs in ways that help to distribute the benefits of college savings systems more equally. Asset accumulation in CSAs can be substantial. For example, some CSA models can help families accumulate as much as $31,483 by the time their child reaches 18, if they start to save at birth, use an investment vehicle such as a 529, and receive transfers and incentives that amplify their savings efforts (and here, we assume an initial deposit of $500, annual family savings of $600, and $300 in savings matches). The provision of CSAs—and the supports and features that accompany them—results in family savings rates between 8% to 30% for opt-out CSA programs and about 40% to 46% for opt-in CSA programs. While this savings reflects authentic engagement—and often, considerable family sacrifices—CSA advocates search for solutions to increase saving. Combining CSAs with reward card programs may be one way to improve saving outcomes and to increase wealth accumulation, particularly among low-income families whose ability to divert resources from consumption to saving is limited.
Radical Versus Partial Nephrectomy for cT1 Renal Cell Carcinoma

Abstract Background Nephron-sparing surgery is the preferred surgical management of cT1 renal masses, but observational and randomized data conflict regarding a survival benefit. Objective To examine the associations of radical nephrectomy (RN) versus partial nephrectomy (PN) with oncologic and nononcologic outcomes. Design, setting, and participants A total of 2459 adults were treated with RN or PN between 1990 and 2011 for a unilateral, sporadic, cT1, M0 solid renal mass. Intervention RN or PN. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis Associations of the type of nephrectomy with oncologic outcomes (local ipsilateral recurrence, distant metastases, and cancer-specific mortality [CSM]) and nononcologic outcomes (other-cause mortality [OCM], all-cause mortality [ACM], ≥10% decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate [CKD10%], and decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate to Results and limitations After PS adjustment using preoperative features, RN was associated with an increased risk of distant metastases, CSM, ACM, CKD10%, and CKD Conclusions Although RN was associated with an increased risk of chronic kidney disease compared with PN, it was not associated with a statistically significant difference in CSM or ACM among patients with cT1 RCC. Patient summary This study suggests that partial nephrectomy is not associated with markedly improved survival compared with radical nephrectomy.
TCT-677 Multivessel Versus Culprit-Lesion-Only Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Acute Myocardial Infarction Complicated by Cardiogenic Shock: An Updated Meta-Analysis

There is considerable debate regarding the optimal revascularization strategy in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) complicated by cardiogenic shock (CS), particularly regarding the management of non-culprit lesions. We conducted an updated meta-analysis of studies comparing
Classification of the real discrete specialisations of the Burau representation of B3

This classification is found by analyzing the action of a normal subgroup of B3 as hyperbolic isometries. This paper gives an example of an unfaithful specialisation of the Burau representation on B4 that is faithful when restricted to B3, as well as examples of unfaithful specialisations of B3.
Grown Ultrathin Bacterial Cellulose Mats for Optical Applications.

A facile and effective method is described for the biosynthesis of ultrathin bacterial cellulose (BC) mats, which are green, inexpensive, lightweight, and flexible. Physical properties studied include thickness, morphology, reflectance, transmittance, and crystallinity index. BC mat thickness was varied by controlling the depth of the culture broth so that films with predictable thickness, between 113 and 1114 nm, were produced. These BC films have similar fiber morphology to corresponding mm thick BC films prepared under static culture conditions. To increase BC film hydrophobicity, surface trihexylsilylated BC (THSBC) mats with DSavg 0.015 were prepared. Both native and THSBC mats were investigated as antireflection coatings for silicon substrates. The 328 ± 42 nm thick BC mat demonstrated broadband, interference type antireflection over a spectral range of 500–1800 nm. Different reflection properties obtained as a function of BC film orientation reveals that engineered density gradients can be used to ...
28.7 A Wideband Blocker-Tolerant Receiver with High-Q RF-Input Selectivity and <-80dBm LO Leakage

High-Q selectivity at RF input is strongly desirable for wideband radio receivers (WB-RX) to combat strong interferences present in today’s cellular mobile communications. Originally explored in the 1950’s, the N-path filtering technique has been revisited in recent years to realize tunable high-Q selectivity at RF input [1], [2]. From a generic perspective shown in Fig. 28.7.1, it can serve as a bandpass filter in shunt with the wideband RF LNA or as a mixer-first direct downconversion architecture. The N-path technique, however, mandates mixing switches to be directly connected to the RF port with their on-resistances required to be much smaller than $50 \Omega $This leads to excessively large switches and thus strong LO leakage of $\gt -67$dBm [1], [2] in clear infraction of the $\lt -76$dBm spurious emission requirement for 3GPP2 radios [3]. This work describes a WB-RX architecture that realizes high-Q bandpass (BP) selectivity at RX input while suppressing LO leakage down to $\lt -80$dBm. As will be described, unlike conventional N-path-based RXs, this RX avoids direct switch connection to the antenna interface, thereby breaking the fundamental trade-off between the RX input selectivity and the LO leakage.
Extravasation control with preserved vessel patency after wire perforation during neurothrombectomy: Case report and literature review.

Abstract Parallel to a more widespread application of endovascular neurothrombectomy in acute ischemic stroke, it is critical to understand the nature and management of associated complications, including wire perforation of the middle cerebral artery (MCA). Sacrifice of the perforated vessel may be necessary to avoid fatal intra-cranial hemorrhage. Here we describe a case of right MCA distribution ischemia complicated by a right MCA perforation. Using super selective injection of contrast through a microcatheter, the point of extravasation was located and sealed with liquid embolic agent (Onyx) while preserving patency of the MCA. By avoiding vessel sacrifice, blood perfusion to distal areas was preserved and therefore the patient was discharged with minimal neurological impairment. Causes of perforation and technical aspects to control extravasation are further discussed.
Can Anyone Write a Survey? Coping with the Digital Disruption of the Marketing Research Industry in the Classroom: An Abstract

Do-it-yourself (DIY) research platforms, such as SurveyMonkey, Qualtrics, Google Survey, and Tableau are disrupting the marketing research industry. DIY platforms changed the supplier side of marketing research by democratizing the research process. This democratization should prompt a shift in the marketing research curriculum so that our students remain competitive on the market. Expert researchers are no longer the ones writing and analyzing surveys; instead they are conducted by DIY researchers. Using two exploratory studies, we examine both the current curriculum and the skillsets desired for entry-level candidates. In our first study, we collected and coded 86 undergraduate marketing research syllabi to gauge the content taught in the classroom. We find that most classes are not preparing DIY researchers and are instead continuing to prepare traditional marketing researchers. The major difference in these two classroom types is that the DIY researcher needs more practice writing and administering surveys because she will most likely work on the client side of marketing research and will not be surrounded by survey experts. However, traditional marketing research classes are much more analytically focused and are preparing students to work in legacy marketing research firms.
Grünbaum on Determinism and the Moral Life

Adolf Grunbaum is probably best known to professional philosophers for his technical work on philosophical problems of space and time and, more recently, on philosophical problems of psychoanalysis. However, his philosophical concerns extend to less technical questions of more general interest. Because other contributors to this volume have chosen to focus their discussions on Grunbaum’s technical work in philosophy of science, I shall try to round out the picture a bit by considering what Grunbaum has to say about one such question of general interest. I have chosen to concentrate on Grunbaum’s treatment of determinism. Although he has not written a great deal on this subject, what he has written has been widely reprinted and translated, and has thus presumably been widely influential.1 In this brief paper, I cannot discuss in depth all aspects of Grunbaum’s treatment of determinism. I shall therefore attend only to his response on behalf of determinism to the challenge posed by what he takes to be the argument from morality. I must omit consideration of his no less interesting discussions of such topics as determinism and predictability, and determinism and quantum physics. In defense of this selection of topics, I shall say only that it seems to me that it is the argument from morality, or some moral worry akin to it, which perturbs most people who find determinism a threatening doctrine.
Is Phenomenology Necessary as Introduction to Philosophy

In modern times, it has become virtually a natural assumption that before one can truly think what is, one first must investigate knowing to certify its objectivity.
Ten Applications of Financial Machine Learning

This article reviews ten notable financial applications where ML has moved beyond hype and proven its usefulness. This success does not mean that the use of ML in finance does not face important challenges. The main conclusion is that there is a strong case for applying ML to current financial problems, and that financial ML has a promising future ahead. For a presentation on this topic, see https://ssrn.com/abstract=3197726.
Kinetic trapping in protein folding

The founding principles of protein folding introduced by Christian Anfinsen, together with the numerous mechanistic investigations that followed, assume that protein folding is a thermodynamically controlled process. On the other hand, this review underscores the fact that thermodynamic control is far from being the norm in protein folding, as long as one considers an extended chemical-potential landscape encompassing aggregates, in addition to native, unfolded and intermediate states. Here, we highlight the key role of kinetic trapping of the protein native state relative to unfolded, intermediate and, most importantly, aggregated states. We propose that kinetic trapping serves an important role in biology by protecting the bioactive states of a large number of proteins from deleterious aggregation. In the event that undesired aggregates were somehow formed, specialized intracellular disaggregation machines have evolved to convert any aberrant populations back to the native state, thus restoring a fully bioactive and aggregation-protected protein cohort.
Evaluation of a multifaceted approach to antimicrobial stewardship education methods for medical residents.

Objective Medical residents are an important group for antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) to target with interventions aimed at improving antibiotic prescribing. In this study, we compared antimicrobial prescribing practices of 2 academic medical teams receiving different ASP training approaches along with a hospitalist control group. Design Retrospective cohort study comparing guideline-concordant antibiotic prescribing for 3 common infections among a family medicine (FM) resident service, an internal medicine (IM) resident service, and hospitalists. Setting Community teaching hospital. Participants Adult patients admitted between July 1, 2016, and June 30, 2017, with a discharge diagnosis of pneumonia, cellulitis, and urinary tract infections were reviewed. Methods All 3 medical teams received identical baseline ASP education and daily antibiotic prescribing audit with feedback via clinical pharmacists. The FM resident service received an additional layer of targeted ASP intervention that included biweekly stewardship-focused rounds with an ASP physician and clinical pharmacist leadership. Guideline-concordant prescribing was assessed based on the institution's ASP guidelines. Results Of 1,572 patients, 295 (18.8%) were eligible for inclusion (FM, 96; IM, 69; hospitalist, 130). The percentage of patients receiving guideline-concordant antibiotic selection empirically was similar between groups for all diagnoses (FM, 87.5%; IM, 87%; hospitalist, 83.8%; P = .702). No differences were observed in appropriate definitive antibiotic selection among groups (FM, 92.4%; IM, 89.1%; hospitalist, 89.9%; P = .746). The FM resident service was more likely to prescribe a guideline-concordant duration of therapy across all diagnoses (FM, 74%; IM, 56.5%; hospitalist, 44.6%; P Conclusions Adding dedicated stewardship-focused rounds into the graduate medical curriculum demonstrated increased guideline adherence specifically to duration of therapy recommendations.
Teamwork Online: Learning From the Experience

The ability to work in teams is critical in IT. While traditional teamwork might include the expectation of face-to-face meetings, online interactions reflect the distributed environment that is becoming more common in the workplace. This paper will explore how structured analytic reflection on their own team experiences in an online course can enhance student collaborative skills.
Treatment of EML4-ALK Rearranged NSCLC

ABSTRACT Rearrangements in the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene have been detected in ∼3–7% of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Crizotinib, an ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), is clinically effective in NSCLC patients with ALK rearrangements. In the phase I clinical trial, a radiographic response rate of 54% was observed. Crizotinib was recently approved by the FDA for the treatment of ALK-positive NSLC. Current clinical trials of crizotinib include two randomized phase III clinical trials. The first compares crizotinib to second-line chemotherapy (either pemetrexed or docetaxel) in ALK-positive NSCLC patients that have failed first-line platinum-based chemotherapy. The second trial compares crizotinib with cisplatin (or carboplatin) and pemetrexed in treatment naive advanced NSCLC ALK positive patients. In addition to ALK TKIs, inhibitors of heat shock protein (HSP) 90 have demonstrated some clinical activity in EML4-ALK NSCL and are undergoing additional clinical evaluation. However, despite the impressive clinical efficacy of crizotinib, it is fully anticipated that acquired drug resistance will emerge. Drug resistance mechanisms can in general be divided into two categories: those that result in secondary mutations in the target itself (i.e. ALK) or those that activate parallel signaling pathways. For ALK-positive cancers both mechanisms have been identified to date. Secondary mutations in ALK to date include L1196M, F1174L, C1156Y and L1152R. One example of an alternative signaling pathway that leads to ALK TKI resistance is EGFR. In vitro, some ALK TKI-resistant cell lines have activated EGFR signaling (via EGFR ligands) that promote crizotinib resistance. The knowledge of a specific drug resistance mechanism is important for choosing the next treatment of ALK positive patients that have developed Crizotinib resistance. In those with evidence of an ALK secondary mutation a more potent ALK inhibitor may be effective. There are several such in preclinical and at least three in phase I clinical development. In cancers harboring activated signaling pathways (such as EGFR) an alternative strategy, a combination of an ALK and EGFR inhibitor, may be effective. A phase I clinical trial is underway combining Crizotinib with the pan-ERBB inhibitor PF299804.
The Consistency of Preschool Teacher Ratings on the Behavior Assessment System for Children-3 and the Caregiver-Teacher Report Form

Behavior rating scales are frequently used to assess social-emotional behaviors of children. While broadband behavior rating scales often measure similarly named constructs, it is unclear how consistently different instruments measure those constructs. Head Start teachers completed the preschool versions of the Behavior Assessment System for Children-3 (Reynolds and Kamphaus 2015) and the Caregiver-Teacher Report Form (Achenbach and Rescorla 2000) at the same point in time on a sample of 56 children with social-emotional concerns. The consistency of results was evaluated through correlations, mean scores, and classification consistency. The two instruments were generally consistent at measuring externalizing behavioral constructs but not internalizing ones. The results imply that much caution is needed in the use of teacher behavior rating scales when assessing internalizing behaviors at the preschool level.
Three-dimensional genome restructuring across timescales of activity-induced neuronal gene expression

Neuronal activation induces rapid transcription of immediate early genes (IEGs) and longer-term chromatin remodeling around secondary response genes (SRGs). Here, we use high-resolution chromosome-conformation-capture carbon-copy sequencing (5C-seq) to elucidate the extent to which long-range chromatin loops are altered during short- and long-term changes in neural activity. We find that more than 10% of loops surrounding select IEGs, SRGs, and synaptic genes are induced de novo during cortical neuron activation. IEGs Fos and Arc connect to activity-dependent enhancers via singular short-range loops that form within 20 min after stimulation, prior to peak messenger RNA levels. By contrast, the SRG Bdnf engages in both pre-existing and activity-inducible loops that form within 1–6 h. We also show that common single-nucleotide variants that are associated with autism and schizophrenia are colocalized with distinct classes of activity-dependent, looped enhancers. Our data link architectural complexity to transcriptional kinetics and reveal the rapid timescale by which higher-order chromatin architecture reconfigures during neuronal stimulation. This study elucidates how long-range chromatin loops are altered during short- and long-term changes in neural activity, and analyzes the interplay between the 3D genome and the linear epigenome during activity-dependent transcriptional responses.
Chemogenetic manipulation of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis counteracts social behavioral deficits induced by early life stress in C57BL/6J mice.

Trauma during critical periods of development can induce long-lasting adverse effects. To study neural aberrations resulting from early life stress (ELS), many studies utilize rodent maternal separation, whereby pups are intermittently deprived of maternal care necessary for proper development. This can produce adulthood behavioral deficits related to anxiety, reward, and social behavior. The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) encodes aspects of anxiety-like and social behaviors, and also undergoes developmental maturation during the early postnatal period, rendering it vulnerable to effects of ELS. Mice underwent maternal separation (separation 4 hr/day during postnatal day (PD)2-5 and 8 hr/day on PD6-16) with early weaning on PD17, which induced behavioral deficits in adulthood performance on two-part social interaction task designed to test social motivation (choice between a same-sex novel conspecific or an empty cup) and social novelty preference (choice between the original-novel conspecific vs. a new-novel conspecific). We used chemogenetics to non-selectively silence or activate neurons in the BNST to examine its role in social motivation and social novelty preference, in mice with or without the history of ELS. Manipulation of BNST produced differing social behavior effects in non-stressed versus ELS mice; social motivation was decreased in non-stressed mice following BNST activation, but unchanged following BNST silencing, while ELS mice showed no change in social behavior after BNST activation, but exhibited enhancement of social motivation-for which they were deficient prior-following BNST silencing. Findings emphasize the BNST as a potential therapeutic target for social anxiety disorders instigated by childhood trauma.
Persistent Variations of Blood DNA Methylation Associated with Treatment Exposures and Risk for Cardiometabolic Outcomes among Long-term Survivors of Childhood Cancer: A Report from the St. Jude Lifetime Cohort

Background: It is well-established that cancer treatment substantially increases risk of long-term adverse health outcomes among childhood cancer survivors. However, there is limited research on the underlying mechanisms. To elucidate the pathophysiology and a possible causal pathway from treatment exposures to cardiometabolic conditions, we conducted epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) to identify DNA methylation (DNAm) sites associated with cancer treatment exposures and examined whether treatment-associated DNAm sites mediate associations between specific treatments and cardiometabolic conditions. Methods: We included 2,052 survivors (median age 33.7 years) of European ancestry from the St. Jude Lifetime Cohort Study, a retrospective hospital-based study with prospective clinical follow-up. Cumulative doses of chemotherapy and region-specific radiation were abstracted from medical records. Seven cardiometabolic conditions were clinically assessed. DNAm profile was measured using MethylationEPIC BeadChip with blood-derived DNA. Results: By performing multiple treatment-specific EWAS, we identified 2,894 59-cytosine-phosphate-guanine-39 (CpG) sites mapped to 1,583 gene/regions associated with one or more cancer treatments at epigenome-wide significance level (P9x10-8). Among the treatment-associated CpGs, 298 were associated with obesity, 85 with hypercholesterolemia, 41 with hypertriglyceridemia, and four with abnormal glucose metabolism (False-Discovery-Rate-Adjusted P<0.05). We observed full mediation by methylation at five independent CpGs for association between abdominal field radiotherapy (abdominal-RT) and risk of hypertriglyceridemia, nearly full mediation (99.5%) by methylation at nine CpGs for association between abdominal-RT and hypercholesterolemia, and partial mediation (42.1%) by methylation at two CpGs for association between abdominal-RT and abnormal glucose metabolism. In addition, six CpGs partially mediated the association between brain-RT and obesity with 58.6% mediation effect, two CpGs mediated the association between glucocorticoids and obesity (32.2%) and between brain-RT and hypertriglyceridemia (15.5%). Notably, several mediator CpGs reside in the proximity of well-established dyslipidemia genes: cg17058475 (CPT1A), cg11851174 (RAI1) and cg22976567 (LMNA). Conclusions: In childhood cancer survivors, prior cancer treatments are associated with DNAm variations present decades following the exposure. Treatment-associated DNAm sites may mediate the causal pathway from specific treatment exposures to certain cardiometabolic conditions, suggesting the utility of DNAm sites as risk predictors and potential mechanistic targets for future intervention studies.
Ultrafast Dynamics of a Terahertz Dual-Fed Relativistic Electron Bunch Compressor

We present the initial characterization of a THz-based dual-fed electron bunch compressor. Intense single-cycle THz pulses, generated by optical rectification in organic crystals OH1, are coupled into a parallel-plate waveguide and characterized using electro-optic sampling.
Quantification of carboxyl-functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes in plant tissues with programmed thermal analysis.

In this study, carboxyl functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes (c-MWCNTs) in plant (lettuce [Lactuca sativa Bionda Ricciolina]) tissues were quantitatively analyzed with programmed thermal analysis coupled with a sequential digestion. Programmed thermal analysis evidenced a linear relationship between c-MWCNT-bound C and elemental C detected. A detection limit of 114-708 μg C g-1 plant tissues (dry mass) was achieved for analysis of c-MWCNTs. The method was demonstrated using the tissues of lettuce cultured hydroponically for 3 wk with c-MWCNTs at an exposure of 10 and 20 μg ml-1 . This quantitative analysis can be used to provide insights into carbon nanotube exposure through agricultural products and promote its sustainable application.
Northern Colorado SARS-CoV-2 Biorepository (NoCo-COBIO): A Multi-Matrix, Longitudinal Biobank of COVID-19 Patient Specimens (preprint)

Background: SARS-CoV-2 has swept across the globe and caused over 1.5 million deaths worldwide. Successful prevention and treatment of COVID-19 is dependent on in-depth knowledge of viral behavior across the spectrum of patient phenotypes and physiologic responses. Biobanking provides a valuable resource of easily-accessed, quality-controlled samples for researchers to study current and future pandemics. Methods: Patients with a history of a positive SARS-CoV-2 nasopharyngeal PCR are recruited to enroll in the Northern Colorado SARS-CoV-2 Biorepository (NoCo-COBIO). Participants are enrolled in the acute phase of their disease or from the community during convalescence. Blood, saliva, nasopharyngeal, and stool specimens, as well as extensive clinical and demographic data, are collected at the time of enrollment. This biobanking effort has a longitudinal patient follow-up of four time points, with standardized multi-matrix sample and data collections over a 6-month period. One-year follow up will be performed to assess mortality data and sequelae. Findings: To date, we have enrolled and collected samples from 60 acute and 40 convalescent participants. Twenty (33%) of the acute participants have had one or more follow-up visits, and 90% of participants enrolled during convalescence have completed 2 or more visits. Interpretation: We have successfully created a multi-faceted biobank of specimens from individuals with COVID-19 to advance human SARS-CoV-2 research. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05603677). Funding Statement: The biorepository was initiated by and supported with funding and translational research infrastructure in the CSU ERHS department (Elizabeth P. Ryan) and with the University of Colorado Health Northern Colorado Trauma Research Department (Julie Dunn). Declaration of Interests: The authors disclose no conflict of interest related to the manuscript. Ethics Approval Statement: This biorepository was approved by CSU’s Research Integrity and Compliance Review Office Institutional Review Board (protocol ID 20-10063H), as well as UCH Institutional Review Board (Colorado Multiple Institutional Review Board 20-6043).
The COVID-19 Vaccine Is Here—Now Who Is Willing to Get It?

The U.S. vaccine campaign against COVID-19 began in December 2020, but many individuals seem reluctant to get vaccinated. During the first week of the vaccination campaign, we collected data from 1017 individuals with an online survey to identify factors that were associated with willingness to get the vaccine once it is available. Most participants (55.3%) were willing to get the vaccine, although 46.2% also expressed some fear of the vaccine. Political ideology was by far the most consistent predictor of both willingness to be vaccinated and fear of the vaccine, followed by participant sex, education level, income, and race/ethnicity. Our findings suggest that, for the vaccine campaign to be broadly supported and successful, it will be important for frontline healthcare workers to discuss the role of inoculation for COVID-19 in a manner consistent with each individual patient's political and sociological worldview.
Comparative Study of Different Hybrid Life Cycle Assessment Methodologies Applied to Biomass-based Chemical Production

Abstract The environmental benefits of switching to biomass-based feedstock have been demonstrated in numerous life cycle assessment (LCA) studies. Currently, most LCA research follows the process LCA approach, which is inevitably subject to missing flows and truncation errors. Hybridization methods have been developed to reduce truncation error by incorporating the economic input-output model into the traditional process LCA. In this work, the tiered and integrated hybrid LCA, along with their double-counting elimination methods, are applied to five different biomass-based chemical productions. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the hybrid LCA in eliminating truncation error and the significance of hybridization method selection.
The use of tracheostomy to support critically ill children receiving orthotopic liver transplantation: a single-center experience.

Background Children with end-stage liver disease and multi-organ failure, previously considered as poor surgical candidates, can now benefit from liver transplantation (LT). They often need prolonged mechanical ventilation (MV) post-LT and may need tracheostomy to advance care. Data on tracheostomy after pediatric LT are lacking. Method Retrospective chart review of children who required tracheostomy in the peri-LT period in a large, freestanding quaternary children's hospital from 2014 to 2019. Results Out of 205 total orthotopic LTs performed in 200 children, 18 (9%) required tracheostomy in the peri-transplant period: 4 (2%) pre-LT and 14 (7%) post-LT. Among those 14 needing tracheostomy post-LT, median age was 9 months [IQR = 7, 14] at LT and 10 months [9, 17] at tracheostomy. Nine (64%) were infants and 12 (85%) were cirrhotic at the time of LT. Seven (50%) were intubated before LT. Median MV days prior to LT was 23 [7, 36]. Eight (57%) patients received perioperative continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). The median MV days from LT to tracheostomy was 46 [33, 56]; total MV days from initial intubation to tracheostomy was 57 [37, 66]. Four (28%) children died, of which 3 (21%) died within 1 year of transplant. Total ICU and hospital length of stay were 92 days [I72, 126] and 177 days [115, 212] respectively. Among survivors, 3/10 (30%) required MV at home and 8/10 (80%) were successfully decannulated at 400 median days [283, 584]. Conclusion Tracheostomy though rare after LT remains a feasible option to support and rehabilitate critically ill children who need prolonged MV in the peri-LT period.
Return to Sport Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: Women's Lacrosse

Participation in women’s lacrosse has increased in popularity over the last 20 years with a subsequent rise in sports-related injuries. Despite this increase, there is a paucity of research examining this population, particularly regarding guidelines for safe return to lacrosse after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. A lacrosse-specific functional rehabilitation program is critical to the success of the athlete. The athlete must be prepared and demonstrate the ability to cut, pivot, jump, pass, and shoot with the incidental contact required for sport clearance. A criterion-based program delineating a progression of range of motion, mobility, strength, neuromuscular control, agility, and cardiovascular training is an essential part of ACL rehabilitation. Early incorporation of lacrosse-specific skills emphasizing multiplanar neuromuscular control should gradually progress to more challenging field-based tasks as the athlete transitions through their rehabilitation program. A multidisciplinary team of physicians, physical therapists, athletic trainers, strength and conditioning specialists, coaches, and parents must collaborate effectively to reduce the athlete’s risk for reinjury, meet the demands of the sport, and facilitate returning to the field without complications. Associated video content
The Witnesses and Their Encounter with International Justice

INTRODUCTION There is a tendency to think of witnesses who testify before an international criminal tribunal in terms of how the individual is affected by the experience. The witnesses, however, are not passive vessels whom the Tribunal shapes. Witnesses appear before the ICTY with their own unique set of experiences, reasons for testifying, and interpretations of what this testimonial process has meant to them. Their personal encounters with the international justice system are the subject of this chapter as we seek to understand the reasons that motivate individuals to testify, what they know about this foreign court that has called on them to bear witness, and how they perceive their own personal treatment by the ICTY. We examine the micro- or individual-level impact of the ICTY to ultimately understand what this process means to the individual. We take up separately in Chapter 6 the witnesses’ assessments of the ICTY as an international institution that is charged with administering justice, advancing deterrence, and promoting peace. This chapter proceeds as follows. First, we look at witness knowledge and preparation regarding the testimonial process before describing the reasons why individuals testify, their own assessments of the fairness with which they were treated by various actors involved in the judicial process, and finally, their own sense of personal satisfaction with their performance on the witness stand. The second part of the chapter focuses on an in-depth and multivariate analysis of two of the most critical issues pertaining to the witness experience. We examine how ethnicity, gender, and wartime trauma are related to the reasons why some individuals feel more compelled to testify than others. We find that while individuals who identify as Croatian or Serbian are less likely to report being motivated to testify because of a desire to “tell their story,” almost all witnesses regardless of ethnicity report being motivated to testify because of larger, external concerns such as “speaking for the dead” and “as a moral duty to all victims of wars.” Those individuals who suffered the most trauma, however, are more likely to report testifying for both external reasons and internal reasons.
Production of Liquid Nitrate Using Atmospheric Air Plasma Driven by Short Repetitive Pulses

The process of synthesizing nitrate fertilizer with water, air, and electric spark has been known for a long time, but due to low nitrate yield and high energy consumption, this process was replaced by the Haber-Bosch one in the first half of the 20th century. The Haber-Bosch process, however, has several disadvantages: it requires natural gas as a raw material, fixes nitrogen in the form of ammonia, and generates carbon monoxide and dioxide as byproducts. Thus, the concept of manufacturing nitrogen fertilizer with only water, air and electricity is still appealing.
A causal and talker-independent speaker separation/dereverberation deep learning algorithm: Cost associated with conversion to real-time capable operation

The fundamental requirement for real-time operation of a speech-processing algorithm is causality—that it operate without utilizing future time frames. In the present study, the performance of a fully causal deep computational auditory scene analysis algorithm was assessed. Target sentences were isolated from complex interference consisting of an interfering talker and concurrent room reverberation. The talker- and corpus/channel-independent model used Dense-UNet and temporal convolutional networks and estimated both magnitude and phase of the target speech. It was found that mean algorithm benefit was significant in every condition. Mean benefit for hearing-impaired (HI) listeners across all conditions was 46.4 percentage points. The cost of converting the algorithm to causal processing was also assessed by comparing to a prior non-causal version. Intelligibility decrements for HI and normal-hearing listeners from non-causal to causal processing were present in most but not all conditions, and these decrements were statistically significant in half of the conditions tested—those representing the greater levels of complex interference. Although a cost associated with causal processing was present in most conditions, it may be considered modest relative to the overall level of benefit.
Mineral leaching, iron precipitation, and the sulfate requirement for chemolithotrophic iron oxidation

The leaching of pyrite by Thiobacillus ferrooxidans results in formation of an aqueous Fe(III) sulfato complex that leaches pyrite and precipitates excess iron sulfate. However, until recently most general texts stated that the deposits formated by bacterial leaching of pyrite consited of ferric hydroxide, implying that the massive presence of sulfate played no role in the oxidation or precipitation of iron. Actually, the reverse is true; T. ferrooxidans requires sulfate in order to oxidize iron; the Fe(III) product of oxidation forms as a sulfato complex within the periplasm of the bacterial cell and precipitates as a polymeric Fe(III) sulfate outside the cell wall. The process by which sulfate becomes complexed with Fe(III) reflects its involvement in the transfer of electrons from a reduced iron sulfur cluster of the iron oxidase to the oxidized copper of rusticyanin, an intermediate of the electron transport pathway to oxygen. Substrate Fe(II) reduces the oxidized iron sulfur cluster in the absence of sulfate, but sulfate is required for the removal of newly formed Fe(III) from the oxidase. This permits reoxidation of the iron sulfur cluster and uptake of another substrate Fe(II) by the oxidase enzyme. The Fe(III)sulfato complex, liberated by the cells, precipitates slowly at pH 2.5, but remains in solution below pH 1.8 at 20 C. ATR-FTIR spectra of membrane filtered solutions in the pH range of 2.0 to 2.5 show that the soluble complex has the same asymmetric SO4 v3 IR band in solution, as the precipitates. The positive temperature coefficient for precipitation of the complex, its x-ray amorphous structure and variable composition point to polymerization as the mechanism of aggregate formation. Unlike polymer formation in bacterially oxidized ferrous sulfate solution, which was deposited from solution in the absence of cells, polymer is formed on the cell walls of T. ferrooxidans oxidizing iron derived from the acid corrosion of steel. The difference is attributed to the sequestration of the iron substrate from dilute solution in the case of steel corrosion, and increase in pH as the metal is corroded. An interesting but unexplained characteristic of the hydrated sediments is their inability to incorporate deuterium by exchange with D2O. This is particularly remarkable because of the reactivity of the complex. Changes of pH, and ionic composition in the bacterially oxidized iron solution produce oxyhydroxides or jarosites which readily exchange hydrogen and deuterium. By increasing the pH above 5.0, α-FeOOH (goethite) is formed from the Fe(III)sulfato complex: above neutrality Fe3O4 (magnetite) is formed. In the presence of certain cations, (K+, Na+, NH4+ etc.), crystalline jarosites MFe3(SO4)2(OH6) are formed if sufficient sulfate is present. The precipitation of Fe(III) and sulfate as ammoniojarosite has been suggested as a means for bioremediation of mineral leachates and acid coal mine drainage. The proposed operation would convert the ammonio jarosite to useful products of iron oxide and ammonium sulfate.
Life stress and clinically elevated MMPI scales: Gender differences in the moderating influence of coping

Coping styles were evaluated as moderators of life stress-psychopathology relationships. Five hundred twenty-one undergraduates (271 females and 250 males) completed the Life Experiences Survey, the Coping Strategies Inventory, and the MMPI. To assess maladaptive coping styles, groups were constructed for each of 8 clinical scales (Hs, D, HY, PD, PA, PT, SC, and MA) composed of all subjects with a clinically significant elevation on that scale. The coping styles of these “clinical” groups were compared to the coping styles of “normal” groups, made up of subjects whose life stress scores were approximately the same but whose corresponding MMPI scale scores were within normal limits. To assess adaptive coping styles, a group of effective copers (with high life stress but normal MMPI profiles) was compared to a group of less effective copers (with high life stress but with at least one scale outside of normal limits). All groups were constructed separately for gender. The predicted gender differences and specific coping style-psychopathology relationships were, by and large, found. Coping style differences between the effective and less effective copers were also found. These findings suggest that several coping styles are important moderators of life event stress - psychopathology relationships.
Heirlooms in the Attic

As the human genome was being sequenced, many people suggested just sequencing protein-coding regions because the rest of the genome is "junk" DNA. As [Johnston and Stormo][1] explain in their Perspective, thankfully those who advocated sequencing the entire genome did us all a big service. It turns out that a surprising proportion of the so-called junk DNA is highly conserved ([ Dermitzakis et al ][2].), suggesting that even though it is noncoding DNA, it does have important functions that have yet to be elucidated. [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/302/5647/997 [2]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/302/5647/1033
Associations of tryptophan hydroxylase gene polymorphisms with irritable bowel syndrome.

Background Alterations in serotonin (5-HT) are suspected in the pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) is the rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of serotonin and has two isoforms: TPH1 and TPH2. Genetic variants in both genes have been studied in various disorders related to serotonin dysregulation. The aim of this study was to examine whether TPH gene variants were associated with IBS and IBS-related gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. Methods Five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from the TPH1 and one SNP from the TPH2 were genotyped in 199 IBS patients and 79 healthy controls. All subjects were Caucasian women of European origin. Irritable bowel syndrome patients filled in a daily diary with five GI symptoms and stool characteristics for 28 days. Key Results The TPH1 SNPs showed no association with the diagnosis of IBS. However, among IBS patients, all five TPH1 SNPs showed some association with diarrhea and loose type of stool consistency, with P-values rating from 0.01 to 0.20. The TPH2 SNP showed a trend towards a reduced risk of IBS and possible associations with stool characteristics, both hard and loose stools. However, no P-values were less than the conservative multiple-comparison-adjusted threshold of 0.001 and hence these results must be interpreted cautiously. Conclusions & Inferences This study is the first to assess associations of TPH gene variants with IBS-related GI symptoms and stool characteristics. The possible association of TPH gene variants with diarrhea needs to be verified in an independent sample.
On the Growth of Perturbations as a Test of Dark Energy and Gravity

The strongest evidence for dark energy at present comes from geometric techniques such as the supernova distance-redshift relation. By combining the measured expansion history with the Friedmann equation, one determines the energy density and its time evolution and hence the equation of state of dark energy. Because these methods rely on the Friedmann equation, which has not been independently tested, it is desirable to find alternative methods that work for both general relativity and other theories of gravity. Assuming that sufficiently large patches of a perturbed Robertson-Walker spacetime evolve like separate Robertson-Walker universes, that shear stress is unimportant on large scales, and that energy and momentum are locally conserved, we derive several relations between long-wavelength metric and matter perturbations. These relations include generalizations of the initial-value constraints of general relativity. For a class of theories including general relativity we reduce the long-wavelength metric, density, and velocity potential perturbations to quadratures including curvature perturbations, entropy perturbations, and the effects of nonzero background curvature. When combined with the expansion history measured geometrically, the long-wavelength solution provides a test that could distinguish modified gravity from other explanations of dark energy.
Laparoscopic Gastrostomy Versus Open Gastrostomy in Head and Neck Cancer Patients

Alimentation in the surgically treated head and neck cancer patient frequently requires bypassing the upper aerodigestive tract. The laparoscopic gastrostomy fulfills this criterion. The authors compared 25 laparoscopic gastrostomies (group 1) with 18 open gastrostomies (group 2) performed on head and neck cancer patients. The length of operation, morbidity, mortality, and cost were evaluated. Operative time was significantly shorter in group 1 (40 ± 2 minutes) than in group 2 (56 ± 4 minutes), with P=.003. The major complication rate was 9% for group 1 and 11% for group 2. There was no procedure-related mortality in group 1, but 1 patient died in the immediate postoperative period in group 2. The cost was not significantly different. It is concluded that the laparoscopic gastrostomy is a safe and cost-effective alternative to open gastrostomy in this patient group.
Fabrication of dc sputtered Ag/Al:Si bilayers with improved optical reflectance

Abstract Highly textured Ag/Al:Si bilayers were developed on flexible stainless steel substrates by dc magnetron sputtering to improve light scattering properties. The evolution of the surface texture of the back reflectors was examined by changing the deposition temperature of the Al:Si bottom layers, followed by the deposition of highly reflective Ag top layers to increase the reflectance of the bilayers. With increasing deposition temperatures from room temperature to 500 °C, the surface roughness of the Al:Si films increased from 11.2 nm to 87.8 nm by abnormal grain growth according to the structure zone model, while that of the pure Ag films increased from 6.6 nm to 46.6 nm under the same deposition conditions. While the pure Al:Si layers had larger surface feature dimensions in comparison to the pure Ag films, these films exhibited poor light scattering properties due to their low reflectivity and reflection losses on the highly textured surface. After depositing 100-nm-thick Ag films on textured Al:Si films prepared at 300 °C, the diffuse reflectance of the Ag/Al:Si bilayers was found to be vastly superior to that of the pure Ag films at 500 °C throughout the 500–1000 nm range. The relationship between surface features and the light scattering properties of the Ag/Al:Si bilayers fabricated under various deposition conditions was investigated in detail.
The maturation of cortical sleep rhythms and networks over early development

Objective Although neuronal activity drives all aspects of cortical development, how human brain rhythms spontaneously mature remains an active area of research. We sought to systematically evaluate the emergence of human brain rhythms and functional cortical networks over early development.