cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Obtaining candidate words by polling in a large vocabulary speech recognition system

Considers the problem of rapidly obtaining a short list of candidate words for more detailed inspection in a large vocabulary, vector-quantizing speech recognition system. An approach called polling is advocated, in which each label produced by the vector quantizer casts a varying, real-valed vote for each word in the vocabulary. The words receiving the highest votes are placed on a short list to be matched in detail at a later stage of processing. Expressions are derived for these votes under the assumption that for any given word, the observed label frequencies have Poisson distributions. Although the method is more general, particular attention is paid to the implementation of polling in speech recognition systems which use hidden Markov models during the acoustic match computation. Results are presented of experiments with speaker-dependent and speaker-independent Markov models on two different isolated word recognition tasks. >
Effects of zero-balanced ultrafiltration on procalcitonin and respiratory function after cardiopulmonary bypass

The abnormal conditions to which blood is subjected during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) trigger an activation of the inflammatory response and cause pulmonary dysfunction. It has been suggested that high-volume, zero-balanced ultrafiltration (ZBUF) facilitates clearance of inflammatory mediators and improves post-operative pulmonary function. Procalcitonin, a newly discovered inflammatory mediator, has been found to be increased after CPB and has been proven to be an appropriate parameter for predicting pulmonary dysfunction secondary to CPB. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of zero-balanced ultrafiltration (ZBUF) on procalcitonin (PCT) and respiratory function of infants with Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) after CPB. Twenty infants with TOF undergoing open-heart total surgical correction were randomly assigned to two groups. The trial group was given ZBUF (50 ml/kg) and conventional ultrafiltration (CUF), while the control group was given CUF only. Plasma PCT and pulmonary function were monitored and compared between the two groups before the operation (T1), before rewarming (T2), at the end of the operation (T3), and at 12 h, 24 h and 48 h after the operation (T4-T6). PCT was decreased in the trial group between 12 h and 48 h post-operatively, but the differences did not reach statistical significance. The trial group's pulmonary compliance was higher at 12 h post-operatively (p 0.05). Intubation time was shorter in the trial group (P < 0.01). A positive correlation was found between peak PCT concentration and intubation time. ZBUF appeared to improve ventilation and shorten intubation time. The improved respiratory function may be due to the lower plasma PCT.
Hyperplasia and fibrosis in mice with conditional loss of the TSC2 tumor suppressor in Müllerian duct mesenchyme-derived myometria

Uterine leiomyomata are the most common tumors found in the female reproductive tract. Despite the high prevalence and associated morbidities of these benign tumors, little is known about the molecular basis of uterine leiomyoma development and progression. Loss of the Tuberous Sclerosis 2 (TSC2) tumor suppressor has been proposed as a mechanism important for the etiology of uterine leiomyomata based on the Eker rat model. However, conflicting evidence showing increased TSC2 expression has been reported in human uterine leiomyomata, suggesting that TSC2 might not be involved in the pathogenesis of this disorder. We have produced mice with conditional deletion of the Tsc2 gene in the myometria to determine whether loss of TSC2 leads to leiomyoma development in murine uteri. Myometrial hyperplasia and increased collagen deposition was observed in Tsc2(cKO) mice compared with control mice, but no leiomyomata were detected by post-natal week 24. Increased signaling activity of mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1, which is normally repressed by TSC2, was also detected in the myometria of Tsc2(cKO) mice. Treatment of the mutant mice with rapamycin significantly inhibited myometrial expansion, but treatment with the progesterone receptor modulator, mifepristone, did not. The ovaries of the Tsc2(cKO) mice appeared normal, but half the mice were infertile and most of the other half became infertile after a single litter, which was likely due to oviductal blockage. Our study shows that although TSC2 loss alone does not lead to leiomyoma development, it does lead to myometrial hyperplasia and fibrosis.
RAPIDITY AND ACCURACY OF TRACHEAL INTUBATION IN A MANNEQUIN: COMPARISON OF THE FIBREOPTIC WITH THE BULLARD LARYNGOSCOPE

Successful tracheal intubation with the flexible fibreoptic bronchoscope requires a certain amount of skill which is acquired by practice. It has been suggested that the new Bullard laryngoscope may be mastered more easily. To determine if learning was superior with a flexible fibreoptic or the Bullard device, the ease of tracheal intubation with both devices was compared by first-year anaesthetic residents, using a mannequin modified to make intubation difficult. The Bullard laryngoscope was as easy to master as the flexible fibreoptic device, but passage of the tracheal tube took longer. Both devices require a similar amount of practice.
The sound of symmetry: Voice as a marker of developmental instability.

Abstract Low fluctuating asymmetry (FA, a measure of deviation from bilateral symmetry) appears to be a phenotypic marker of reproductive viability and health. In the present study, we investigated whether ratings of voice attractiveness were correlated with variations in FA. Several bilateral traits were measured to calculate a FA index and independent raters who did not know and never saw the subjects assessed the attractiveness of recordings of each subject's voice. Voices of subjects with greater bilateral symmetry were rated as more attractive by members of both sexes than those with asymmetrical traits.
Solid state deuteron relaxation time anisotropy measured with multiple echo acquisition.

The signal to noise ratio of solid state deuteron NMR line shapes can be significantly improved by recording multiple echoes, generated either by a quadrupole Carr–Purcell–Meiboom–Gill pulse train (QCPMG) or by magic angle spinning (MAS). It is shown in this article, theoretically and experimentally, that when these techniques are used to record partially relaxed spectra, the relaxation times of Zeeman order, T1Z, and quadrupole order, T1Q, measured for individual side bands in QCPMG experiments preserve relaxation time anisotropy, while rotational side bands in MAS spectra do not. The relaxation times of individual QCPMG sidebands are not identical to those measured at the same frequencies on partially relaxed quadrupole echo powder patterns, and must be computed by explicit simulation.
Urinary incontinence and self-reported health among the U.S. Medicare managed care beneficiaries.

Objectives: To examine the prevalence and management of urinary incontinence (UI) and their impact on self-reported health in the U.S. Medicare managed care beneficiaries. Methods: Data were from the 2003 Medicare Health Outcomes Survey Cohort VI Baseline. Only beneficiaries aged 65 years or older and who self-completed the telephone interview were included. Results: About 37% of the study sample (N = 82,196) reported having accidental urine leakage (the UI group). A total of 75% of the UI group indicated UI's being a problem and 41% of them had spoken with a doctor about it. Of these, 50% had received treatment. The findings indicate the UI group generally had significantly worse SF-36 Survey Scale scores than the non-UI group with and without adjusting other covariates. Discussion: UI is prevalent but undertreated as it adversely affects many health domains in this population. This study highlights the need for early detection, proper education, and access to effective treatment options for UI in the el...
Four-Year Analysis of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors, Depression Symptoms, and Antidepressant Medicine Use in the Look AHEAD (Action for Health in Diabetes) Clinical Trial of Weight Loss in Diabetes

OBJECTIVE To study the association of depressive symptoms or antidepressant medicine (ADM) use with subsequent cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor status in the Look AHEAD (Action for Health in Diabetes) trial of weight loss in type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Participants ( n = 5,145; age [mean ± SD] 58.7 ± 6.8 years; BMI 35.8 ± 5.8 kg/m 2 ) in two study arms (intensive lifestyle [ILI], diabetes support and education [DSE]) completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), reported ADM use, and were assessed for CVD risk factors at baseline and annually for 4 years. Risk factor–positive status was defined as current smoking, obesity, HbA 1c >7.0% or insulin use, and blood pressure or cholesterol not at levels recommended by expert consensus panel or medicine to achieve recommended levels. Generalized estimating equations assessed within-study arm relationships of elevated BDI score (≥11) or ADM use with subsequent year CVD risk status, controlled for demographic variables, CVD history, diabetes duration, and prior CVD risk status. RESULTS Prior year elevated BDI was associated (odds ratio [95% CI]) with subsequent CVD risk factor–positive status for the DSE arm (A1C [1.30 (1.09–1.56)]; total cholesterol [0.80 (0.65–1.00)]; i.e., protective from high total cholesterol) and the ILI arm (HDL [1.40 (1.12–1.75)], triglyceride [1.28 (1.00–1.64)]). Prior year ADM use predicted subsequent elevated CVD risk status for the DSE arm (HDL [1.24 (1.03–1.50)], total cholesterol [1.28 (1.05–1.57)], current smoking [1.73 (1.04–2.88)]) and for the ILI arm (A1C [1.25 (1.08–1.46)], HDL [1.32 (1.11–1.58)], triglycerides [1.75 (1.43–2.14)], systolic blood pressure [1.39 (1.11–1.74)]), obesity [1.46 (1.22–2.18)]). CONCLUSIONS Aggressive monitoring of CVD risk in diabetic patients with depressive symptoms or who are treated with ADM may be warranted.
The Creation and Endurance of Memory and Place Among First Nations of Northwestern Ontario, Canada

Examinations of rock art typically focus on acts of creation and compositional meaning, with little attention paid to the position of these created places in the palimpsest of history. As these sites endure, their recognition and importance within subsequent social developments, including memory and oral tradition, are both invented and reinvented as descendant populations become established or as new populations move in displacing or replacing the makers. This paper examines the ways in which oral histories of historic and contemporary First Nations populations in northwestern Ontario, Canada, challenge standard understandings of rock-art in the region, taking these sites out of the maker/meaning context and placing them within a framework of user/caretaker. The results of this contextual shift contest notions of applied cultural affiliation and traditional ownership, resulting in a perspective that reveals a transgenerational and transcultural endurance of these places in the contemporary social memory of these Indigenous communities.
An Empirical Test of Part-Record Selection for Egg Production

Abstract FOLLOWING the general demonstration by Dickerson and Hazel (1944) of the significance of the average interval between generations in evaluating the relative merits of different selection schemes, Dempster and Lerner (1947) analyzed the theoretical expectations of gains from pullet and from hen selection for high annual egg production. They showed that combined family and individual selection based on records of lay to January 1 of spring-hatched pullets should lead to more rapid progress than similar improvement programs based on a full year’s production record. In the former case females are mated for the first time when they are about a year old, while in the second instance the minimum interval between the hatching dates of dam and daughter is approximately two years. Maddison (1954) made similar computations for the conditions prevailing in his flock at Wye College and arrived at basically the same conclusions. Calculations of this sort rest on …
Ignition Characteristics of Metastable Intermolecular Composites

Metastable Intermolecular Composite (MIC) materials are comprised of a mixture of oxidizer and fuel with particle sizes in the nanometer range. They are a subclass of materials known as thermites. The mechanism responsible for the propagation of reaction in loose compacts is not well understood. We have conducted a series of experiments using high-speed photography and pressure transducers in an attempt to identify the dominant mechanism. We studied a mixture of aluminum and molybdenum trioxide. Of the four possible candidates (radiation, convection, conduction, and acoustic/compaction), these preliminary studies identify convection as the most likely. However, the extent of contribution of the other modes is not yet known and this will receive further study.
Lessons from an Online Stop-Smoking Intervention: Adaptations for Mobile Implementation

A web-based tailored intervention yields valuable lessons for transitioning content from personal computers to the smaller form factor of a mobile device. Lessons learned from a stop-smoking intervention designed for the National Cancer Institute site www.smokefree.gov can provide a useful framework for developing tailored mHealth apps. Issues of instrument deployment, data quality, item design, user characteristics, motivation to improve health, barriers to improvement, and health behavior history and current status may be essential considerations in creating an engaging, effective user experience. Appropriate, relevant inclusion of alternative approaches could help users set and maintain health behaviors such as tobacco abstinence.
The role of regulatory T cells in Lewis rats resistant to EAE

Abstract Adult Lewis (LEW) rats are highly susceptible to experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), induced actively by immunization with guinea pig (GP) myelin basic protein (MBP) in complete Freund's adjuvant or adoptively transferred with activated T lymphocytes reactive to GP MBP peptide 68–88. Once LEW rats recover from active EAE or when given MBP in incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA), they become resistant to further attempts to induce active or passive EAE. In this study, we examined whether such EAE-resistant rats after MBP-IFA immunization have reduced frequencies of MBP-reactive T cells, whether these T cells are anergized, and whether the activity of regulatory T cells is increased to the event that they prevent activation of MBP-specific T cell subpopulations. By limiting dilution analyses (LDA) of unfractionated splenic T cells, the levels of MBP-reactive T cells in EAE-resistant rats appeared to be approximately 5% of the levels in EAE-susceptible rats. However, a subsequent analysis of CD4 + enriched T cell populations, depleted of the CD8 + subset, showed similar frequencies of MBP-reactive cells in susceptible and resistant LEW rats. Not only were the frequencies on LDA altered by suppressor cells, but also LDA comparisons based on cell proliferation and cytokine production as indicators of MBP reactive cell frequencies gave markedly different results. We conclude that MBP-reactive T cells in this model of EAE-resistant LEW rats are hyporeactive to MBP as the result of an increased activity of a regulatory subset of CD8 + T cells. These results also demonstrate that the quantitation of MBP-reactive CD4 + T cells by LDA is strongly influenced by the presence of functionally antagonistic CD8 + T cells, which cause an underestimation of responder T cell frequencies, and by the method of detecting T cell reactivity.
Mechanism of Pd-Catalyzed Decarbonylation of Biomass-Derived Hydrocinnamic Acid to Styrene following Activation as an Anhydride

All elementary steps in the mechanism of Pd-catalyzed decarbonylation of hydrocinnamic acid through formation of a mixed anhydride species have been characterized through electronic structure calculations. Oxidative addition of the mixed anhydride to a singly or doubly ligated Pd is followed by decarbonylation, alkene formation, and catalyst regeneration. Metal-assisted deprotonation of the alkyl-Pd species by a coordinated carboxylate is predicted to be the rate-determining step; theory suggests that bulkier phosphine ligands (e.g., P(o-Tol)3) reduce the free energy of activation substantially, while variation of the auxiliary anhydride has little influence on efficiency.
Does Hospital Investment in Quality Improvement Improve Quality? Evidence from a Panel Study of Florida Hospitals

For over a decade, and with renewed intensity since the passage of the Affordable Care Act, there has been heightened awareness and concern about the safety and quality of inpatient hospital care. In this paper, we estimate the impact of investment in quality improvement, as well as change in the policy environment, on patient safety (adverse) events in a 2004-2012 panel of hospitals in the state of Florida. We find hospital quality investment has favorable, but modest, effects on quality. On the other hand, policy change, which brings public attention to the issue, may have stronger effects. On average, we find a 10 percent increase in hospital quality investment leads to a 2 to 6 percent decrease in adverse events. In contrast, passage of the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act, in 2005, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid’s policy of withholding reimbursement, in 2008, had much larger effects (45 and 10 percent decreases in adverse events, respectively). Thus, reputation and professionalism may be more important than a “business case” for promoting health care quality. We also find evidence of spillover effects of quality investment from large research (“leading”) hospitals to less-resourced hospitals.
Data sets: the circle of life in ruby hosting, 2003-2015

Studying software repositories and hosting services can provide valuable insights into the behaviors of large groups of software developers and their projects. Traditionally, most analysis of metadata collected from hosting services has been conducted by specifying some short window of time, typically just a few years. To date, few - if any - studies have been built from data comprising the entirety of a repository's lifespan: from its birth to its death, and rebirth. Thus, the first contribution of this data set is to support the historical analysis of over ten years of collected metadata from the now-defunct RubyForge project hosting site, as well as the follow-on successor to RubyForge, the RubyGems hosting facility. The data sets and sample analyses in this paper will be relevant to researchers studying both software evolution and the distributed software development process.
Effects of cholecystokinin on adenylate cyclase activity in dispersed pancreatic acinar cells.

In dispersed acinar cells prepared from guinea pig pancreas secretin and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) but not carboxyl terminal octapeptide of cholecystokinin (CCK-OP) or [Ala32]CCK-OP increased cyclic AMP. At concentrations above 10-5 m CCK-OP as well as the 32-alanine analogue inhibited noncompetitively the increase in cyclic AMP caused by secretin or VIP. In homogenates of acinar cells secretin, VIP and CCK-OP but not [Ala32]CCK-OP increased adenylate cyclase activity. At concentrations below 10− 5 m , [Ala32]CCK-OP potentiated the increase in adenylate cyclase caused by secretin or VIP. At concentrations above 10-5 m , CCK-OP and the 32-alanine analogue inhibited noncompetitively the increase in adenylate cyclase activity caused by secretin and VIP. Analogues and fragments of CCK-OP showed a pattern for increasing adenylate cyclase activity which differed from that for increasing calcium outflux from intact acinar cells. These findings suggest that in addition to the class of receptors which mediate the effects of CCK-OP on calcium outflux and cyclic GMP, pancreatic acinar cells possess two additional classes of receptors via which CCK-OP alters adenylate cyclase activity. One of these two classes of receptors is accessible only in broken cell preparations and when occupied by CCK-OP increases adenylate cyclase activity, whereas when occupied by the 32-alanine analogue potentiates the effects of secretin or VIP on adenylate cyclase activity. The other class of receptors is accessible to CCK-OP or [Ala32]CCK-OP in intact cells as well as in homogenates, and when occupied by either of these two peptides inhibits the stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity by secretin, VIP, or CCK-OP.
A Rare Case of Teratoma Arising From the Cervical Region in a 30-Year-Old Woman

Teratoma originates from multipotent primitive germ cells, leading to different tissues that are foreign to the anatomical site of origin. They can occur in any part of the body, with only 3.4% of cases in the cervical region. Cervical teratoma is an extremely rare entity and has been said to arise …
Mental health benefit design: striving to achieve parity in Washington State.

In 1993 Washington became the first state in the nation to pass comprehensive health care reform legislation mandating universal coverage, a standard minimum benefit package, and managed competition. This column describes features of the law as well as recommendations of the group established to develop consensus about the mental health component of the plan.
Abstract 14394: Reduction of Myocardial Perfusion During Acute Hyperglycemia Is More Marked in the Presence of Insulin Resistance: A Noninvasive Bedside Evaluation Using Vasodilator Myocardial Contrast Echocardiography

Background: The effect of insulin resistance (IR) on coronary perfusion in humans is poorly studied. We evaluated the association of IR during acute hyperglycemia on myocardial blood flow (MBF) and coronary flow reserve (CFR) as measured by myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) in nondiabetic volunteers Methods: We prospectively enrolled 19 [5 males] nondiabetics. IR status was based on glucose infusion rate (GIR, mg/kg/min) during euglycemic hormone clamp [somatostatin, replacement glucagon, growth hormone, and insulin]. Glucose was infused for total of 4 hrs (arterialized blood glucose (BG) monitored every 10 min) to achieve euglycemic (BG 95± 6.8mg/dl) and hyperglycemic (BG 233 ± 18 mg/dl) states. For each glycemic state, MCE was done (Definity: 1.3 ml in 60 cc 0.9% saline at 200 ml/hr;) at rest and during stress (regadenoson 400 ug IV bolus) to measure myocardial blood volume (A dB); microbubble velocity (β sec -1 ); MBF (dB/sec); and CFR Results: Stress MBF, CFR and β reserve were significantly reduced during acute hyperglycemia vs. euglycemia [stress MBF 4.5± 2.1 vs. 5.5± 2.5, P=0.040, CFR 2.07 ± 0.89 vs. 3.2 ± 1.3, P Figure . Using a threshold GIR of 5.5 ± 3.3 mg/kg/min (median 5 mg/kg/min), MBF and CFR were significantly differentiated, although, clinical characteristics were not , Table Conclusions: During acute hyperglycemia, the degree of underlying insulin resistance correlates with the magnitude of reduction in myocardial blood flow and coronary flow reserve as determined noninvasively by vasodilator MCE in nondiabetics.
Investigations on atomization mechanisms in hydride-generation atomic absorption spectrometry

Experiments are carried out where hydrides are collected in a cold trap, revolatilized, and conducted into a heated quartz tube with a controlled stream of pure or mixed gases. In the presence of hydrogen, atomization proceeds via hydrogen radicals formed in the quartz tube in a rather restricted area. Lifetime of the analyte atoms is at least three orders of magnitude longer than that of the H radicals. In the absence of hydrogen the hydrides are thermally decomposed but only in part atomized. The species formed during the thermal decomposition, probably an oxide and/or the element, are retained in the heated quartz tube to essentially 100%. The deposited species can be re-volatilized and atomized in part when hydrogen enters the heated quartz tube at a later time.
What Are People Tweeting About Zika? An Exploratory Study Concerning Its Symptoms, Treatment, Transmission, and Prevention

Background: In order to harness what people are tweeting about Zika, there needs to be a computational framework that leverages machine learning techniques to recognize relevant Zika tweets and, further, categorize these into disease-specific categories to address specific societal concerns related to the prevention, transmission, symptoms, and treatment of Zika virus. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the relevancy of the tweets and what people were tweeting about the 4 disease characteristics of Zika: symptoms, transmission, prevention, and treatment. Methods: A combination of natural language processing and machine learning techniques was used to determine what people were tweeting about Zika. Specifically, a two-stage classifier system was built to find relevant tweets about Zika, and then the tweets were categorized into 4 disease categories. Tweets in each disease category were then examined using latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) to determine the 5 main tweet topics for each disease characteristic. Results: Over 4 months, 1,234,605 tweets were collected. The number of tweets by males and females was similar (28.47% [351,453/1,234,605] and 23.02% [284,207/1,234,605], respectively). The classifier performed well on the training and test data for relevancy (F1 score=0.87 and 0.99, respectively) and disease characteristics (F1 score=0.79 and 0.90, respectively). Five topics for each category were found and discussed, with a focus on the symptoms category. Conclusions: We demonstrate how categories of discussion on Twitter about an epidemic can be discovered so that public health officials can understand specific societal concerns within the disease-specific categories. Our two-stage classifier was able to identify relevant tweets to enable more specific analysis, including the specific aspects of Zika that were being discussed as well as misinformation being expressed. Future studies can capture sentiments and opinions on epidemic outbreaks like Zika virus in real time, which will likely inform efforts to educate the public at large. [JMIR Public Health Surveill 2017;3(2):e38]
Electrification as development for sustainable livelihoods at Mt. Kasigau, Kenya

AbstractKenya’s Vision 2030 is expanding the electric grid as a national development initiative. We examine its introduction since 2009 to three rural villages at Mt. Kasigau, using participatory G...
De-duping URLs with Sequence-to-Sequence Neural Networks

Many URLs on the Internet point to identical contents, which increase the burden of web crawlers. Techniques that detect such URLs (known as URL de-duping) can greatly save resources such as bandwidth and storage for crawlers. Traditional de-duping methods are usually limited to heavily engineered rule matching strategies.In this work, we propose a novel URL de-duping framework based on sequence-to-sequence (Seq2Seq) neural networks. A single concise translation model can take the place of thousands of explicit rules. Experiments indicate that a vanilla Seq2Seq architecture yields robust and accurate results in detecting duplicate URLs. Furthermore, we demonstrate the efficiency of this framework in the real large-scale web environment.
Micelles with ultralow critical micelle concentration as carriers for drug delivery.

Conventional micellar carriers disassemble into free surfactants when diluted at concentrations below the critical micelle concentration (CMC). This limits the bioavailability in vivo of injected hydrophobic drugs encapsulated in micellar systems. Here, we show that a micelle comprising a superhydrophilic zwitterionic polymer domain and a superhydrophobic lipid domain has an undetectable CMC below 10−6 mM—a value that is orders of magnitude lower than the CMCs (>10−3 mM) of typical micellar systems. We also show that zwitterionic moieties or zwitterionic polymers added to a micelle solution stabilize the micelles at concentrations below their inherent CMC. In a mouse model of melanoma, ultralow-CMC micelles encapsulating docetaxel led to the complete eradication of tumours, whereas conventional docetaxel micellar formulations did not reverse tumour growth. Ultralow-CMC micelles might become next-generation carriers for drug delivery. Polymer–lipid micelles with an ultralow undetectable critical micelle concentration make ultrastable drug carriers that significantly enhance therapeutic outcomes in a mouse model of melanoma.
Early American Women Writers: The Potentiality of the Continual Self-Creating Act

This chapter introduces the essays on early American women’s writing; it revisits and extends Sharon Harris’s powerful concept of the woman’s “self-creating act” within the contexts of liminality and hybridity. Focusing on women’s literature spanning the eighteenth century, between 1709 and 1793, Allukian presents readers with a wide range of familiar themes in women’s literature—some of which include marriage, race, girlhood, education, diary-keeping, and place—that become defamiliarized when read through the lens of liminality and hybridity.
Teaching Public Affairs in Heraclitus’ World

(2013). Teaching Public Affairs in Heraclitus’ World. Journal of Public Affairs Education: Vol. 19, No. 3, pp. ii-v.
Is There a Role for Immunotherapy in Osteosarcoma

With the introduction of effective systemic chemotherapy, the prognosis for patients with osteosarcoma has improved dramatically. Estimates of overall survival for osteosarcoma patients prior to 1975 ranged from 5 to 20%, even for patients with localized disease of the extremity treated with amputation. The majority of these patients eventually developed pulmonary metastases and succumbed to their disease. The introduction of effective chemotherapy has dramatically improved the outcome of patients with localized disease, but has not altered the survival of patients with metastatic disease. Moreover, there has been little, if any, improvement in the outcomes of patients with localized disease since the mid-1980s. This has led to the investigation of other treatment approaches, including immunotherapy. Coincident with the initial development of chemotherapy, there were early attempts at immunotherapy. These met with little success. Subsequent approaches to harnessing the immune system have yielded more encouraging results. This chapter will review these various approaches, highlighting the role that immunotherapy might play in the multi-modality treatment of localized and metastatic osteosarcoma.
Children Are Not Small Adults: Importance of Molecular Analysis for Diagnosis, Prognosis, and Treatment of Pediatric CNS Tumors

CNS tumors account for 20–24 % of all pediatric neoplasms, making brain tumors the most common type of solid neoplasm in children and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths for children under the age of 14 years (Pediatrics 5:263–270, 2010). In overall frequency among pediatric neoplasms, CNS tumors are second only to leukemias, which account for 30 % of cases. Overall there are about 3,400 new cases a year within the USA (Curr Opin Pediatr 19:670–674, 2007). The biggest groups include gliomas (65 %), medulloblastomas and other embryonal tumors (26 %), and craniopharyngiomas (4 %) (J Child Neurol 24:1375–1386, 2009). There may be some variation in the frequency of specific tumors in different geographic areas. In Japan and Taiwan, for example, germ cell tumors and craniopharyngiomas are more common while medulloblastomas are rarer (Child’s Nerv Syst 26:1029–1034, 2010). The absolute number of cases presenting with a particular tumor is small because of the large diversity of pediatric brain tumors (Pediatrics 5:263–270, 2010).
Negative-parity excitations in 144Nd.

High angular momentum states in $^{144}\mathrm{Nd}$ are studied via the \ensuremath{\gamma} rays produced in the $^{130}\mathrm{Te}$${(}^{18}$O, 4n${)}^{144}$Nd reaction. In addition to the previously known sequence of states built on the ${3}_{1}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ state, we have observed another negative-parity sequence built on the 3395 keV ${9}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ state, which is apparently of a two quasiparticle nature. These two negative-parity sequences probably interact and mix significantly. The present $^{144}\mathrm{Nd}$ results raise questions regarding the interpretation of medium spin states of $^{146}\mathrm{Nd}$ in terms of strong octupole correlations.
Meta-Analysis Comparing the Efficacy, Safety, and Cost-Benefit of Direct Acting Oral Anticoagulants Versus Enoxaparin Thromboprophylaxis to Prevent Venous Thromboembolism Among Hospitalized Patients.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a potentially fatal complication of hospitalization. Thromboprophylaxis using subcutaneous low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) can result in local irritation, pain, and ecchymoses, leading to nonadherence. Direct acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are an alternative, but their efficacy and safety for short-term inpatient-only use versus LMWH, in medically hospitalized patients, has not been rigorously assessed. We performed a systematic review with meta-analyses and exploratory cost effectiveness analysis of Phase III randomized controlled trials comparing DOACs to LMWH for VTE prophylaxis to determine the risk and benefit of each. The primary efficacy end point (composite of total VTE and any-cause mortality) occurred in 1,321 of 10,978 (11.4%) of patients receiving DOAC prophylaxis and 1,084 of 10,600 (10.2%) with LMWH (odds ratio [OR] 0.84; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.63 to 1.13). The primary safety end point (composite of major bleeding and clinically relevant bleeding) occurred in 519 of 16,131 (3.2%) of patients receiving DOACs and 381 of 14,616 (2.6%) with LMWH (OR 1.12; 95%CI 0.83 to 1.53). Subgroup analyses for efficacy (n = 9,233) and safety (n = 12,584) was conducted on patients randomized to Apixaban or LMWH. The primary efficacy end point occurred in 294 of 4618 (6.4%) patients on Apixaban and 383 of 4615 (8.3%) on Enoxaparin (OR 0.82; 95% CI 0.55 to 1.24). Major and clinically relevant bleeding occurred in 157 of 6278 (2.50%) and 185 of 6,306 (2.9%), respectively (OR 0.86; 95% CI 0.58 to 1.26). Exploratory cost effectiveness analysis suggested that Apixaban compared with Enoxaparin thromboprophylaxis could result in long-term cost savings. In conclusion, this systematic review of randomized controlled trials and meta-analysis, stratified by type of patients and drug, indicates noninferiority of DOACs in efficacy, safety, and cost for short-term VTE thromboprophylaxis among patients hospitalized for medical illness.
Testing Nonprofit State Culture: Its Impact on the Health of the Nonprofit Sector

Government monitors, regulates, and funds nonprofit organizations, making it is a key player in the health of the nonprofit sector in the United States. However, not all states treat nonprofits similarly. Prior work identified three types of state nonprofit culture (Pettijohn, S. L., and E. T. Boris. 2017. State Nonprofit Culture: Assessing the Impact of State Regulation on the Government-Nonprofit Relationship. Grand Rapids, MI: ARNOVA Presentation.), or a unique set of attitudes and beliefs that shape the operating norms between state government and nonprofits. This article analyzes whether differences among state nonprofit culture are measureable in the government-nonprofit relationship. Using data from the Urban Institute’s 2013 Nonprofit-Government Contracting and Grants survey, we find there are significant differences in the government-nonprofit funding relationships, which means nonprofits operating in certain state nonprofit cultures face different types and degrees of risk to their organization’s overall health.
Orthopedic Manifestations of Bruck Syndrome: A Case Series with Intermediate to Long-term Follow-Up

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of contractures, fractures, and deformities in four patients with Bruck syndrome treated in our facility. Data were collected from medical records, radiographs, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scans, genetic tests, and gait analysis. All had contractures at birth and genotypic findings including mutations in PLOD2 or FPKB10. Three cases were treated with bisphosphonates with improvement in bone density verified by DEXA. In Bruck syndrome, orthopedic deformities include the following sequential aspects: contractures, characterized by upper and lower extremity contractures such as clubfeet; fractures, characterized by multiple diaphyseal fractures in the long bones of the extremities; and deformities, characterized by malalignment of extremities and the spine. Physical therapy and bracing proved helpful for the contractures to try to stop progression. Bone fragility needs to be considered when deciding to attempt cast correction. Surgeries in the soft tissues can be performed to retain joint movement. In fractures with angulation, intramedullary nail fixation was useful, and in cases without deformity, casting alone was successful. We suggest monitoring the bone density with DEXA, nutrition support with vitamin D and calcium, and treatment with bisphosphonates. Spine deformities were successfully treated by spinal fusion and instrumentation.
A donor-chromophore-catalyst assembly for solar CO2 reduction.

We describe here the preparation and characterization of a photocathode assembly for CO2 reduction to CO in 0.1 M LiClO4 acetonitrile. The assembly was formed on 1.0 μm thick mesoporous films of NiO using a layer-by-layer procedure based on Zr(IV)–phosphonate bridging units. The structure of the Zr(IV) bridged assembly, abbreviated as NiO|-DA-RuCP22+-Re(I), where DA is the dianiline-based electron donor (N,N,N′,N′-((CH2)3PO3H2)4-4,4′-dianiline), RuCP2+ is the light absorber [Ru((4,4′-(PO3H2CH2)2-2,2′-bipyridine)(2,2′-bipyridine))2]2+, and Re(I) is the CO2 reduction catalyst, ReI((4,4′-PO3H2CH2)2-2,2′-bipyridine)(CO)3Cl. Visible light excitation of the assembly in CO2 saturated solution resulted in CO2 reduction to CO. A steady-state photocurrent density of 65 μA cm−2 was achieved under one sun illumination and an IPCE value of 1.9% was obtained with 450 nm illumination. The importance of the DA aniline donor in the assembly as an initial site for reduction of the RuCP2+ excited state was demonstrated by an 8 times higher photocurrent generated with DA present in the surface film compared to a control without DA. Nanosecond transient absorption measurements showed that the expected reduced one-electron intermediate, RuCP+, was formed on a sub-nanosecond time scale with back electron transfer to the electrode on the microsecond timescale which competes with forward electron transfer to the Re(I) catalyst at t1/2 = 2.6 μs (kET = 2.7 × 105 s−1).
Cas12a trans-cleavage can be modulated in vitro and is active on ssDNA, dsDNA, and RNA

ABSTRACT CRISPR-Cas12a (Cpf1) are RNA-guided nuclease effectors of acquired immune response that act in their native organisms by cleaving targeted DNA sequences. Like CRISPR-Cas9 RNA-guided DNA targeting enzymes, Cas12a orthologs have been repurposed for genome editing in non-native organisms and for DNA manipulation in vitro. Recent studies have shown that activation of Cas12a via guide RNA-target DNA pairing causes multiple turnover, non-specific ssDNA degradation in trans, after single turnover on-target cleavage in cis. We find that the non-specific trans nuclease activity affects RNA and dsDNA in addition to ssDNA, an activity made more evident by adjustment of reaction buffer composition. The magnitude of the trans nuclease activity varies depending on features of the guide RNA being used, specifically target sequence composition and length. We also find that the magnitude of trans nuclease activity varies between the three most well-studied Cas12a orthologs and that the Cas12a from Lachnospiraceae bacterium ND2006 appears to be the most active.
‘It’s a gassy world’: starting with students’ wondering questions to inform climate change education

There is extensive evidence showing that the climate system is warming and human behavior is linked to the change. Despite increasing attempts to integrate climate change into school curricula, tea...
An invitation to approximate symmetry, with three applications to intertheoretic relations

Merely approximate symmetry is mundane enough in physics that one rarely finds any explication of it. Among philosophers it has also received scant attention compared to exact symmetries. Herein I invite further consideration of this concept that is so essential to the practice of physics and interpretation of physical theory. After motivating why it deserves such scrutiny, I propose a minimal definition of approximate symmetry—that is, one that presupposes as little structure on a physical theory to which it is applied as seems needed. Then I apply this definition to three topics: first, accounting for or explaining the symmetries of a theory emeritus in intertheoretic reduction; second, explicating and evaluating the Curie-Post principle; and third, a new account of accidental symmetry.
Mechanism of Initiation Stereocontrol in Polymerization of rac-Lactide by Aluminum Complexes Supported by Indolide–Imine Ligands

The solid state and fluxional behaviors in solution of complexes L2AlOBn and L7AlOBn (Bn = benzyl) supported by an analog of salen incorporating indolide arms connected via their 2- and 7-positions...
Digital Financial Incentives for Improved Population Health in the Americas

Across the globe, sedentary lifestyles and convenience foods are creating an increasing epidemic of obesity. For example, the US National Health and Examination Survey (NHANES) documented significant increases in the prevalence of obesity from 1999–2000 to 2015–2016 in both adults and youth. Obesity increases risk not only for cardiovascular disease, but also for many types of cancer. A promising approach to address this challenge is using digital financial incentives to promote healthier lifestyles. For example, researchers found that clients given money for losing weight were significantly more successful than counterparts in traditional programs. Similarly, using a mobile app, the Fitness Bank encourages regular exercise by rewarding savers with higher interest rate based on their average daily number of steps. Here we propose a design concept aligned with a digital architecture framework for the Americas, where smartphone penetration is increasing. Tech organizations will develop apps that link patients’ digital health indicators (e.g., steps, weight, and adherence) with their electronic health records, doctors and health and life insurers. The apps and doctors can offer advice and encouragement. Artificial intelligence can identify and engage future participants. Under this model, insurers will share some savings with the doctors, their staff, and clients in a virtuous circle, using an adaptive digital architecture. The evaluation will assess impact and cost, refine the model, and build on best practices.
A compact mechanical power take-off for wave energy converters: Design, analysis, and test verification

Abstract Power Take-off (PTO) is one of the most critical components in the field of ocean wave energy conversion. This paper introduces a novel compact mechanical PTO using a ball screw mechanism and a Mechanical Motion Rectifier (MMR) to improve the energy conversion performance. The proposed MMR PTO converts the bidirectional oscillatory motion of the ocean waves into the unidirectional rotation. The detailed design and working principle of the MMR PTO are explicitly explained. Dynamic analysis is presented for the three most important factors that influence the performance, including the equivalent mass, the equivalent damping, and the excitation frequency. The analytical relationship between these factors and the disengaged freewheeling motion caused by the MMR mechanism is derived, and the analytical solution is verified through dry lab testing. Experimental results in bench tests show that compared with the traditional linear PTO which uses the ball screw to drive the generator directly, the MMR PTO is more efficient because of the unique freewheeling motion, achieving a maximum 81.2% energy transfer efficiency. After integrating the prototyped PTO with a single-body point absorber type of wave energy converter, the testing in a water tank show that the MMR PTO can achieve total efficiency up to 62.4%, showing promising potential for real applications.
Sledding-Related Injuries Among Children and Adults Treated in US Emergency Departments From 2008 to 2017

Objective To describe the epidemiology of sledding-related injuries among children and adults treated in US emergency departments (EDs). Design The researchers performed a retrospective analysis using data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS). Setting The NEISS collects data on consumer products-related and sports-related injuries treated in US EDs from approximately 100 hospitals that represent a probability sample of >5000 hospitals. Patients Children (≤19 years of age) and adults who were treated for sledding-related injuries in EDs from 2008 to 2017. Independent variables The researchers analyzed characteristics that included sex, body part injured, injury diagnosis, disposition from the ED, injury locale, injury mechanism, and sled type. Main outcome measures All cases of sledding-related injuries were identified using NEISS product codes for sleds (1217), toboggans (1273), snow disks (1274), and snow tubes (1299). Results An estimated 220 488 patients [95% confidence interval (CI): 169 839-271 137] were treated in EDs for sledding-related injuries. Overall, the injury rate decreased significantly for both children and adults. Children accounted for 69.7% of the injury cases. Fractures were the most common injury diagnosis for children (23.9%) and adults (27.4%). Compared to adults, children were more likely to sustain a head injury [relative risk (RR): 1.91 (95% CI: 1.73-2.13)] and be diagnosed with a concussion or closed-head injury (CHI) [RR: 1.58 (95% CI: 1.35-1.84)]. Most patients were injured by a collision (63.2%). Snow tube and disk riders were more likely to sustain a concussion or CHI compared to sled and toboggan riders [RR: 1.53 (95% CI: 1.18-1.99)]. Injuries predominantly occurred when patients collided with objects in the environment (47.2%). Conclusions Although sledding-related injuries decreased over the study period, more research and education to prevent these injuries is needed. The injury patterns and risk of injury type differed by age, with more head injuries sustained by children. Sledding should be performed in obstacle-free areas to reduce the risk of collision and while wearing helmets to mitigate head injuries.