cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Color correction for object tracking across multiple cameras

Color is a powerful attribute that is used to characterize objects for tracking and other surveillance tasks. Since color is dependent on ambient illumination and the imaging equipment, the reliability of color features decreases as the object moves through regions observed with different cameras and with different illumination conditions. Typically, this issue is addressed using alternative color spaces or highly simplified color transformation. In this paper, we propose a more methodical approach to achieving color consistency using colorimetric principles. We model the image analysis system as an observer and develop camera-specific transformations so that images of the same object appear similar to this observer. The transformations thus developed are approximated with 3D look-up tables for fast operation. Experimental results show improved color consistency even under two very different illumination conditions. The results are evaluated both qualitatively and in terms of the effect on a particle filter based object tracker.
Federalism and Legal Unification: Comparing Methods, Results, and Explanations Across 20 Systems

How and to what degree do federations produce uniform law within their system? Our comparative empirical study addresses this question comprehensively for the first time by examining legal unification in 20 federal systems around the world. We present the means and methods of legal unification, the degree of legal unification of each system (and of particular areas of the law within each system), and a first attempt to explain the driving forces of legal unity and diversity in federations more generally.
A Longitudinal Assessment of Structural and Chemical Alterations in Mixed Martial Arts Fighters.

Abstract Growing evidence suggests that temporally proximal acute concussions and repetitive subconcussive head injuries may lead to long-term neurological deficits. However, the underlying mechanisms of injury and their relative time-scales are not well documented in human injury models. The current study therefore investigated whether biomarkers of brain chemistry (magnetic resonance [MR] spectroscopy: N-acetylaspartate [NAA], combined glutamate and glutamine [Glx], total creatine [Cre], choline compounds [Cho], and myo-inositol [mI]) and structure (cortical thickness, white matter [WM]/subcortical volume) differed between mixed martial artists (MMA; n = 13) and matched healthy controls (HC) without a history of contact sport participation (HC; n = 14). A subset of participants (MMA = 9; HC = 10) returned for follow-up visits, with MMA (n = 3) with clinician-documented acute concussions also scanned serially. As expected, MMA self-reported a higher incidence of previous concussions and significantly mor...
Extraction Of Lead And Ridge Characteristics From SAR Images Of Sea Ice

Image-processing techniques for extracting the characteristics of lead and pressure ridge features in SAR images of sea ice are reported. The methods are applied to a SAR image of the Beaufort Sea collected from the Seasat satellite on October 3, 1978. Estimates of lead and ridge statistics are made, e.g., lead and ridge density (number of lead or ridge pixels per unit area of image) and the distribution of lead area and orientation as well as ridge length and orientation. The information derived is useful in both ice science and polar operations for such applications as albedo and heat and momentum transfer estimates, as well as ship routing and offshore engineering.
Eastern European Business Case Study In Entrepreneurship

This case looks at the new and continually evolving environment of capitalism and business in the Ukraine. While the Ukraine business environment shares key characteristics of other Eastern European markets, it is also distinct and unique in its challenges, products and people. A specific industry and entrepreneur offer insights and information that allow for understanding the opportunities present in this and similar markets.
Clinical factors associated with readmission for postpartum hypertension in women with pregnancy-related hypertension: a nested case control study.

Clinical factors associated with readmission for postpartum hypertension in women with pregnancy-related hypertension: a nested case control study
Modeling Physical Therapy Clinical Research Centers

Because the establishment of physical therapy clinical research centers (PTCRCs) has been of interest to the profession, this project was undertaken to (1) assess the available resources, (2) complete a systems analysis, and (3) apply the results of a Delphi survey to the resulting clinical research center models. The methodology included several techniques. First, a questionnaire that addressed the status and elements of organization of PTCRCs was distributed to 118 academic institutions and 22 other facilities. A systems analysis of clinical research centers supported by various institutes at the National Institutes of Health was then completed. A Delphi procedure was also used to query a panel of physical therapy researchers regarding the components of a PTCRC. Site visits were conducted at three facilities to assess the possibility of those facilities becoming PTCRCs. From the data derived via these methods, models for PTCRCs were developed. Results showed that as many as 40 facilities reported the capability of becoming a PTCRC, but the data also showed that only four sites had extensively contributed by means of publication in peer-reviewed journals. The Delphi survey produced a number of items regarding characteristics and foci on which consensus was reached. Considering all the data, several models for PTCRCs were developed. Allowance for diversity in the structure and focus of PTCRCs appears to be a critical factor if the development of PTCRCs is to be encouraged.
Avian leukosis-sarcoma virus antibodies in wildfowl, domestic chickens and man in Kenya.

SummaryThe occurrence of infections with one or more subgroups of avian leukosis-sarcoma viruses (ALV) was indicated by the demonstration of neutralizing antibodies for these viruses in wildfowl and domestic chickens. These infections persist under natural conditions in the African bush among wildfowl as well as in chickens maintained in isolated villages or a commercial poultry farm. Infections with ALV subgroups A and B were common and some evidence was obtained for infection with subgroup D but subgroup C viruses appeared to be absent. Antibodies for ALV were also found in 14 of 68 human subjects living in the areas studied.The skillful technical assistance of Mrs. Lorraine Lorenz and Miss Nancy Fraser is gratefully acknowledged.
THE LONGITUDINAL IMPACT OF SMOKING AND SMOKING CESSATION ON INFLAMMATORY MARKERS

Cigarette smoking is associated with systemic inflammation; however the effects of smoking and smoking cessation on inflammatory markers are unclear. The Wisconsin Smokers Health Study-2 is a longitudinal cohort study of contemporary American smokers (N=1652). In this study, 1155 smokers made a
Modeling of Deep-dielectric Spacecraft Charging in Realistic Environments with NUMIT2

The NUMIT model was originally developed by A. R. Frederickson to simulate deepdielectric charging under mono-energetic, normal incident, high-energy electron bombardment—a situation common in laboratory testing. The model predicts where the electrons are deposited, the change in conductivity caused by the deposition of energy, the resulting electric fields, and the subsequent movement of charge through the dielectric. Recently, internal electric fields have been identified as the most useful predictor of electrostatic discharge events. NUMIT was a successful laboratory tool and estimated internal electric fields as a function of depth adequately. Therefore, a NUMIT-type model for the space environment should provide insight into the circumstances under which spacecraft undergo electrostatic discharge. Much progress has been made in the redesign of NUMIT into a model designed for realistic space environments. NUMIT2 is capable of modeling realistic multiple electron energy spectrums, handling isotropic incidence of electrons, and making an allowance for the backscattering of incident electrons. Simulated runs of flight times ranging from minutes to tens of hours have been performed using space environment data from the CRRES spacecraft and the appropriate AE8max spectrum. Results include plots of the developing electric field internal to dielectric slabs. Field strengths likely to cause pulsing were observed in the simulation.
Case report: Giant congenital pulmonary airway malformation initially managed and resected on ECMO

Abstract Congenital pulmonary airway malformations (CPAM) are a common congenital anomaly, occurring as a result of aberrant formation of pulmonary lobes or segments. Many patients with CPAM are treated with postnatal surgical excision within 1-year of age. CPAM that are enlarged to the point of causing an intrathoracic mass effect may cause hydrops fetalis. Fetuses affected in this way may require prenatal intervention and immediate postnatal intervention. We herein report a case of a large CPAM causing hydrops fetalis and postnatal respiratory failure, treated by an aggressive prenatal and postnatal multidisciplinary approach, culminating in resection of the lesion while on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support.
Application and demand of using blood of umbilical cord in diagnosing case of newborns infected with ABO-Haemolytic Disease

Objective:To investigate the application and demand of using the blood of umbilical cord in diagnosing the case of the newborns who′s infected with ABO-Haemolytic Disease(ABO-HDN).Methods:Three tests were performed on 531 new-born babies who′s suspected of being infected by ABO-HDN.Including direct antiglobulin testing(DAT),free antibodies testing,antibody release testing.Results:The group of the newborn who was testing using the blood of umbilical cord had a positive rate of 90.3%,positive rate of the babies within the group of born after 1~3 days was 71.6%,group of 4~7days were 29.9%,group of 8~15days were 21.1%,the group of 16~30days was zero.Conclusion:The group of the newborn testing using blood of umbilical cord has the highest positive rate of ABO-HDN.Furthermore,the rate decreases as the time gets longer.
Plastid Marker Gene Excision in Greenhouse-Grown Tobacco by Agrobacterium-Delivered Cre Recombinase

Uniform transformation of the thousands of plastid genome (ptDNA) copies in a cell is driven by selection for plastid markers. When each of the plastid genome copies is uniformly altered, the marker gene is no longer needed. Plastid markers have been efficiently excised by site-specific recombinases expressed from nuclear genes either by transforming tissue culture cells or introducing the genes by pollination. Here we describe a protocol for the excision of plastid marker genes directly in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) plants by the Cre recombinase. Agrobacterium encoding the recombinase on its T-DNA is injected at an axillary bud site of a decapitated plant, forcing shoot regeneration at the injection site. The excised plastid marker, the bar (au) gene, confers a visual aurea leaf phenotype; thus marker excision via the flanking recombinase target sites is recognized by the restoration of normal green color of the leaves. The bar (au) marker-free plastids are transmitted through seed to the progeny. PCR and DNA gel blot (Southern) protocols to confirm transgene integration and plastid marker excision are also provided herein.
Tissue Factor, Protein C Pathway, and Other Hemostasis Abnormalities in the Pathogenesis of the Antiphospholipid Syndrome

Publisher Summary Tissue factor (TF) (CD 142) is the physiological initiator of normal coagulation and in many types of thrombosis. It is a transmembrane protein constitutively expressed on the surfaces of various cell types outside the vasculature, but not expressed on cells in contact with flowing blood. TF, a member of the cytokine receptor superfamily is a high affinity receptor for coagulation factor Vll/VIIa. It functions as an essential cofactor for factor VIIa to efficiently cleave its substrates, factor IX, and factor X, to their active forms. Increased TF activity has been implicated in a number of thrombotic conditions and hypercoagulable states. Increased expression of TF on the vascular endothelial cells (EC) and monocytes has been reported in the patients with cancer, gram-negative bacterial sepsis, atherosclerosis, and OKT3-induced coagulopathy in renal transplant patients. The protein C system plays a key role in normal hemostasis. Protein C, a vitamin K-dependent plasma glycoprotein, is the precursor of a serine protease. Protein C becomes activated when thrombin binds to thrombomodulin, a constitutively expressed protein on the surface of the vascular EC. On binding to thrombomodulin, thrombin's procoagulant activities are inhibited, and its ability to activate protein C is markedly enhanced. Activated protein C (APC) acts as an anticoagulant by proteolytically inactivating factors Va and VIIIa, thereby limiting the rate of thrombin generation. To efficiently inactivate factors Va and VIIIa, APC requires the cofactor activity of protein S, another vitamin K-dependent plasma glycoprotein. Protein S circulates in plasma in two forms, as a free protein and in a bimolecular complex with C4b-binding protein, a complement regulatory protein.
Pliny's Women: Pliny: Enemy of Tyrants

tot circa me iactis fulminibus … mihi quoque impendere idem exitium certis quibusdam notis augurarer. Pliny, Epistulae 3.11.3 With so many lightning bolts thrown around me … and with certain sure indications, I should have anticipated that the same type of demise loomed also for me. This study of women in Pliny begins with a particular group associated with one bloody episode during the reign of Domitian – the trial and conviction of seven defendants in 93 C.E. – Helvidius, Senecio, Mauricus, Rusticus, Arria, Fannia, and Gratilla – and their subsequent execution or relegation. Pliny's involvement with the prosecution and its aftermath frames his nine-book collection of letters and offers unquestionably the most patent example of his intent to recast his past political activity. There are eleven women in this category, by far the largest number of women who are connected with one another, and the events that Pliny discusses are far from ordinary. In fact, the treason trials of 93 must be considered the marquee event of Domitian's “reign of terror,” the final years of his principate during which many of senatorial rank were put to death.
A framework for resolving open-world referential expressions in distributed heterogeneous knowledge bases

We present a domain-independent approach to reference resolution that allows a robotic or virtual agent to resolve references to entities (e.g., objects and locations) found in open worlds when the information needed to resolve such references is distributed among multiple heterogeneous knowledge bases in its architecture. An agent using this approach can combine information from multiple sources without the computational bottleneck associated with centralized knowledge bases. The proposed approach also facilitates "lazy constraint evaluation", i.e., verifying properties of the referent through different modalities only when the information is needed. After specifying the interfaces by which a reference resolution algorithm can request information from distributed knowledge bases, we present an algorithm for performing open-world reference resolution within that framework, analyze the algorithm's performance, and demonstrate its behavior on a simulated robot.
Politics and Power in the Record Industry: The Beatles, the Beach Boys, and the Album as Art Form

The album as an art form emerged in the mid-1960s, in part because rock musicians demanded greater studio autonomy from record companies. However, an underexplored factor contributing to the emergence of the art rock album is how record companies began to market their ‘stars’ as ‘artists’ as a means to sell more records. This article focuses upon how Capitol Records capitalized upon the artistry of the Beatles and the Beach Boys to change the norms of the industry, leading to the increased marketability of the album as a coherent work of art.
On Prediction of Future Insurance Claims When the Model Is Uncertain

Predictive modeling is arguably one of the most important tasks actuaries face in their day-to-day work. In practice, actuaries may have a number of reasonable models to consider, all of which will provide different predictions. The most common strategy is to first use some kind of model selection tool to select a “best model,” and then use that model to make predictions. However, there is reason to be concerned about the use of the classical distribution theory to develop predictions because these ignore the selection effect. Since accuracy of predictions is crucial to the insurer’s pricing and solvency, care is needed to develop valid prediction methods. In this paper, we undertake an investigation of the effects of model selection on the validity of classical prediction tools and make some recommendations for practitioners.
Reduction over zeolite-based catalysts of nitrogen oxides in emissions containing excess oxygen: Unraveling the reaction mechanism

Abstract Reduction of NOx to N2 over zeolite-based catalysts is a multi-step reaction for which transition metal (TM) ions are helpful but not indispensable. The present state of understanding the mechanism is reviewed for the catalyzed NOx reduction with ammonia or alkanes; reduction with acetaldehyde is also sketched, but will be described in detail in a separate paper. A decisive step is the interaction of two reaction intermediates containing N atoms in different oxidation states. A favorable reaction path uses an organic molecule to reduce part of the NOx to ammonia, this product then reacts with NO+NO2 to give N2. Isotopic labeling shows that each N2 molecule has one N atom from the NH3 intermediate, the other from NOx. N2 is formed at room temperature, if an 1:1 mixture of NO and NO2 is in contact with an Fe/MFI catalyst covered with NH3. During NOx reduction with CH4 over Pd/zeolite catalysts, H/D exchange of methane has been observed, indicating that methane is dissociatively adsorbed on Pd0 clusters that are present in the steady-state of surface oxidation and reduction steps. BaNaY catalysts, containing negligible impurities of TM elements, catalyze NOx reduction with acetaldehyde at 200 °C. In the prevailing mechanism acetaldehyde is transformed via acetate ions and nitromethane to isocyanic acid, which is hydrolyzed to NH3. Again, N2 is ultimately produced from NH3 and N2O3 via ammonium nitrite.
"Isolated" Suprascapular Neuropathy: Compression, Traction, or Inflammation?

Background Several hypotheses have been proposed for the pathophysiology of suprascapular nerve (SSN) palsy, including compression, traction, and nerve inflammation. Objective To provide insight into the pathophysiology of isolated nontraumatic SSN palsy by performing critical reinterpretations of electrodiagnostic (EDX) studies and magnetic resonance (MR) images of patients with such diagnosis. Methods We retrospectively reviewed all patients referred to our institution for the past 20 yr with a diagnosis of nontraumatic isolated suprascapular neuropathy who had an upper extremity EDX study and a shoulder or brachial plexus MR scan. Patient charts were reviewed to analyze their initial clinical examination, and their original EDX study and MR images were reinterpreted by an experienced neurologist and a musculoskeletal radiologist, respectively, both blinded from the authors' hypothesis and from each other's findings. Results Fifty-nine patients were included. Fifty of them (85%) presented with at least 1 finding that was inconsistent with an isolated SSN palsy. Forty patients (68%) had signs on physical examination beyond the SSN distribution. Thirty-one patients (53%) had abnormalities on their EDX studies not related to the SSN. Twenty-two patients (37%) had denervation atrophy in other muscles than the spinati, or neural hyperintensity in other nerves than the SSN on their MR scans, without any evidence of SSN extrinsic compression. Conclusion The great majority of patients with presumed isolated SSN palsy had clinical, electrophysiological, and/or imaging evidence of a more diffuse pattern of neuromuscular involvement. These data strongly support an inflammatory pathophysiology in many cases of "isolated" SSN palsy.
Big Data: Implications for Organizational Research

The amount of information (data) that is generated by individuals (both within and outside of their employing organizations) may seem overwhelming at times. For example, in 2010 Eric Schmidt was se...
Effect of splenectomy of hepatic bilirubin clearance in patients with hereditary spherocytosis. Implications for the diagnosis of Gilbert's syndrome.

BRT and CBR were determined from studies of radiobilirubin kinetics in 14 patients undergoing splenectomy for hereditary spherocytosis. Studies were conducted both before and after the operation in order to assess the effects of the postsplenectomy fall in BRT on CBR. Splenectomy led to a doubling of the RBC-t1/2 from 13.0 +/- 1.7 (S.E.) days to 26.1 +/- 1.5 and a fall in BRT from 15.9 +/- 4.4 mg/kg/day to 4.3 +/- 0.9. In seven patients (group A) initially normal values for CBR were unaltered by surgery. In the remaining seven (group B), low preoperative values for CBR, suggestive of Gilbert's syndrome, uniformly improved after splenectomy, becoming normal in five patients. Nevertheless, family studies and reduced values for UDPGT activity supported the initial impression of concomitant Gilbert's syndrome in group B. These studies suggest the existence of a latent state for Gilbert's syndrome that, in some patients, may be unmasked by a hemolytic stress. As such, they have important implications for both pedigree analysis and incidence studies of this condition.
A mixed method approach to understanding the factors surrounding delayed diagnosis of type one diabetes.

Abstract Aims This study examined delayed type one diabetes (T1D) diagnosis, along with the associated severity markers, in the United States. Qualitative reflection was explored to add depth of understanding. Methods 975 parents of a minor child with T1D were recruited through snowball, social media requests to complete a 55-question online survey on the experience of diagnosis. Results 34% of children with T1D had a delayed diagnosis. When compared to those without a delayed diagnosis, these children were more likely to have an Emergency Room diagnosis (39.8% vs. 24.6%), be transported by ambulance or life flight (30.7% vs. 15.3%), be hospitalized (93.7% vs. 83.9%), spend time in an Intensive Care Unit (42.2% vs. 21.3%), and be in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) (42.2% vs. 21.3%). Younger children were at increased risk, with higher rates of DKA and fewer days of symptoms. Many parents experienced frustration receiving a prompt diagnosis for their child, including an inability to schedule a physician appointment, proper glucose testing, and concerns being dismissed by professionals. Conclusion More physician and parent education is needed. Doctors should conduct glucose screenings when diabetes symptoms are present. Parents need education to recognize excessive thirst and frequent urination as reasons to seek medical treatment.
Reversal of Immunogenicity in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients Receiving Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor Medications

Loss of response to anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) agents in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a major consideration to maintain sustained response. Reversal of immunogenicity can re-establish response and increase the durability of these agents. Strategies to reverse immunogenicity include dose-intensification and/or the addition of an immunomodulator. However, there is a relative paucity of data on the efficacy of such interventions in pediatric IBD patients. Available reports have not strictly utilized homogenous mobility shift assay, which reports on anti-drug antibodies even in the presence of detectable drug, whereas prior studies have been confounded by the use of drug sensitive assays. We report four pediatric inflammatory bowel disease patients with successful reversal of immunogenicity on an anti-TNF agent using dose intensification and/or addition of an immunomodulator.
AFGHANISTAN: THE SHIFTING RELIGIO-ORDER AND ISLAMIC DEMOCRACY

The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between the Islamic religio-order and the fledgling democratic institutions in contemporary Afghanistan. This paper challenges the predominant notion that Islam and democracy are not compatible in Afghanistan by producing a historical account that traces the history of the Afghan religio-order in relation to the ever-changing political sphere. I argue that the Afghan religio-order has historically been co-opted and controlled by Afghan political institutions, no matter what political and ideological system was in place. The legitimation of the political sphere by the Islamic religio-order reveals that Islamic authority and legitimacy given to political institutions is shaped by political interests as opposed to religious doctrine. Finally, this paper builds on the historical analysis to argue that the contemporary Islamic democratic system provides for the first time in contemporary Afghan history an autonomous Islamic religio-order via the Afghan judiciary.
Abstract 337: Long Term Safety and Efficacy of a Cardiac Graft in a Swine Model of Heart Failure

Introduction: We have shown efficacy with cardiac grafts in the rat coronary ligation model of chronic heart failure (CHF) and feasibility of implantation and assessment in a swine model. Now we pr...
Effectiveness in NEPA decision making: in search of evidence and theory

ABSTRACTThe National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 requires federal agencies to analyze the environmental impacts of proposed actions that could impact the human environment, as well as c...
Examining Positive Youth Development in Diverse Youth Through the Future Career Autobiography

Using a positive youth development (PYD) framework, a qualitative content analysis was conducted on 181 future career autobiographies (FCAs) from diverse middle and high school students in a high-p...
Copy-and-Paste in Medical Student Notes: Extent, Temporal Trends, and Relationship to Scholastic Performance.

BACKGROUND Medical students may observe and subsequently perpetuate redundancy in clinical documentation, but the degree of redundancy in student notes and whether there is an association with scholastic performance are unknown. OBJECTIVES This study sought to quantify redundancy, defined generally as the proportion of similar text between two strings, in medical student notes and evaluate the relationship between note redundancy and objective indicators of student performance. METHODS Notes generated by medical students rotating through their medicine clerkship during a single academic year at our institution were analyzed. A student-patient interaction (SPI) was defined as a history and physical and at least two contiguous progress notes authored by the same student during a single patient's hospitalization. For some students, SPI pairs were available from early and late in the clerkship. Redundancy between analogous sections of consecutive notes was calculated on a 0 to 100% scale and was derived from edit distance, the number of changes needed to transform one text string into another. Indicators of student performance included United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE) scores. RESULTS Ninety-four single SPIs and 58 SPI pairs were analyzed. Redundancy in the assessment/plan section was high (40%) and increased within individual SPIs (to 60%; p < 0.001) and between SPI pairs over the course of the clerkship (by 30-40%; p < 0.001). Students in the lowest tertile of USMLE step II clinical knowledge scores had higher redundancy in the assessment/plan section than their classmates (67 ± 24% vs. 38 ± 22%; p = 0.002). CONCLUSION During the medicine clerkship, the assessment/plan section of medical student notes became more redundant over a patient's hospital course and as students gained clinical experience. These trends may be indicative of deficiencies in clinical knowledge or reasoning, as evidenced by performance on some standardized evaluations.
Neoadjuvant carboplatin/paclitaxel with concurrent radiotherapy followed by surgery for esophageal/gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma: A single-institution experience.

e14712 Background: Esophageal and gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma is increasingly treated with trimodality therapy. We present our experience using carboplatin/paclitaxel and radioth...
A normative historiography of philosophy: room for internalism and externalism

ABSTRACTChange in the human past, studied by historians, includes changes in philosophy's past, which can be explained by causes, motives and reasons. In the case of philosophy, must explanatory an...
Implementing Position-Based Real-Time Simulation of Large Crowds

Various methods have been proposed for simulating crowds of agents in recent years. Regrettably, not all are computational scalable as the number of simulated agents grows. Such quality is particularly important for virtual production, gaming, and immersive reality platforms. In this work, we provide an open-source implementation for the recently proposed Position-based dynamics approach to crowd simulation. Position-based crowd simulation was proven to be real-time, and scalable for crowds of up to 100k agents, while retaining dynamic agent and group behaviors. We provide both non-parallel, and GPU-based implementations. Our implementation is demonstrated on several scenarios, including examples from the original work. We witness interactive computation run-times, as well as visually realistic collective behavior.
Barriers to help seeking and provider preferences for sexual functioning concerns among undergraduates.

Researchers who have studied help-seeking for sexual health concerns have consistently documented that individuals, couples, and families underutilize sexual health services. Additionally, research...
Learners’ perceptions of a Wiki-enhanced TBLT approach designed and implemented at the syllabus level

Abstract This study examines learners’ perceptions of an approach for improving Chinese-as-a-Foreign-Language learners’ language proficiency, especially their speaking ability. Built upon the Distributed Design Model, a wiki-enhanced, Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT) approach was designed at the syllabus level, taking into consideration various learning contexts. The approach was implemented and evaluated. Findings show that the overall design of this approach and most of the different components of the pre-task, core-task (interviews with native speakers, wiki-writing, and in-class presentations), and post-task activities were very positively perceived by the students. All students liked this design and enjoyed the class. The main reasons include (1) Students valued the opportunity to interact with native speakers outside the classroom; (2) The in-class presentations gave them an opportunity to express their personalities; (3) They liked the fact that the wiki-essay writing was connected to the in-class presentation because this helped them prepare the content of their presentation, also enabled them to develop writing and speaking on a single topic so they could become more advanced in that topic; (4) They also liked the consistency in organization and the eight units being procedurally similar. The learners held varying views on a few components of the pre-task and post-task activities.
Vitamin D Analogues and Coronary Calcification in CKD Stages 3 and 4: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Calcitriol Versus Paricalcitol.

Rationale & Objective Mineral and bone disorder in chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with progression of coronary artery calcification (CAC). Mineral and bone disorder often is treated with calcitriol and other vitamin D receptor activators, including paricalcitol, agents that may have differential effects on calcium, phosphate, and parathyroid hormone levels. Accordingly, we investigated whether these agents have differential effects on CAC progression in patients with CKD. Study Design Randomized, double-concealed, 48-week clinical trial. Setting & Participants CKD stage 3 or 4 with secondary hyperparathyroidism with CAC score>0 and no prior treatment with activated vitamin D. Intervention Calcitriol versus paricalcitol. Outcomes The primary outcome was log-transformed CAC change. Secondary outcomes included percent change in CAC volume, valvular calcifications, and bone mineral metabolism markers. Results Among 44 individuals randomly assigned, mean age was 65 years and mean estimated glomerular filtration rate was 27mL/min/1.73m2. Median CAC score was 140 (IQR, 55-277) Agatston units at baseline. There was no significant difference in CAC progression between treatment arms (P=0.06). After adjustment for baseline CAC score (log), treatment group remains nonsignificant (P=0.08). Further adjustment for creatinine level and/or CKD stage did not change the association. In secondary analyses adjusting for dose level of activated vitamin D, treatment group was significant (P=0.01), and when dose level was also included in the model, the coefficient for individuals in the paricalcitol group was significantly associated with CAC progression (P=0.02). An interaction term between dosing level and CKD stage was significant at the highest dosing level (P=0.04). Limitations Pilot single-center study. Conclusions In patients with CKD with secondary hyperparathyroidism naive to activated vitamin D therapy, there was no difference in CAC or valvular progression in participants receiving calcitriol compared with paricalcitol during a 48-week period. Funding Abbvie, Inc. Trial Registration NCT00752102
Ophthalmic and psychosocial sequelae in Ebola virus disease survivors: ongoing need for health systems strengthening across disciplines.

The most recent outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD), in the North Kivu province of eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern ...
A new numerical approach to the solution of PDEs with optimal accuracy on irregular domains and Cartesian meshes—part 2: numerical simulations and comparison with FEM

A new numerical approach for the time-dependent wave and heat equations as well as for the time-independent Poisson equation developed in Part 1 is applied to the simulation of 1-D and 2-D test problems on regular and irregular domains. Trivial conforming and non-conforming Cartesian meshes with 3-point stencils in the 1-D case and 9-point stencils in the 2-D case are used in calculations. The numerical solutions of the 1-D wave equation as well as the 2-D wave and heat equations for a simple rectangular plate show that the accuracy of the new approach on non-conforming meshes is practically the same as that on conforming meshes for both the Dirichlet and Neumann boundary conditions. Moreover, very small distances ( $$0.1 h - 10^{-9}h$$ where h is the grid size) between the grid points of a Cartesian mesh and the boundary do not decrease the accuracy of the new technique. The application of the new approach to the 2-D problems on an irregular domain shows that the order of accuracy is close to four for the wave and heat equations and is close to five for the Poisson equation. This is in agreement with the theoretical results of Part 1 of the paper. The comparison of the numerical results obtained by the new approach and by FEM shows that at similar 9-point stencils, the accuracy of the new approach on irregular domains is two orders higher for the wave and heat equations and three orders higher for the Poisson equation than that for the linear finite elements. Moreover, the new approach yields even much more accurate results than the quadratic and cubic finite elements with much wider stencils. An example of a problem with a complex irregular domain that requires a prohibitively large computation time with the finite elements but can be easily solved with the new approach is presented.
Postactivation Potentiation Effect of Heavy Sled Towing on Subsequent Sprints.

ABSTRACT Williams, JJ, Heron, R, Spradley, B, and Saracino, P. Postactivation potentiation effect of heavy sled towing on subsequent sprints. J Strength Cond Res 35(5): 1229-1233, 2021-Recent research supports heavy sled towing as a tool used to improve subsequent sprints as part of postactivation potentiation (PAP) protocols. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of heavy sled towing using a velocity decrement (Vdec) on subsequent unloaded sprinting in high school football (soccer) athletes sprinting on artificial turf. A sled load equating to a 40-50% Vdec range was used (66-70% body mass). Fifteen (n = 9 boys and n = 6 girls) high school football players volunteered for this study. The sled-towing intervention consisted of a dynamic warm-up, 3 submaximal sprint efforts (50, 75, and 95%), and 3 maximum speed 15-m sled sprints, separated by 2-minute rests, of which the fastest time was recorded for analysis. Peak preintervention 15-m baseline sprint times were compared with peak post sled-towing 15-m sprint times using a paired samples t-test. Thirteen of 15 athletes ran faster peak post sled-towing sprint times than peak preintervention baseline sprint times (9 boys and 4 girls). On average, peak post sled-towing sprint times (2.60 ± 0.10 seconds) were 0.10 seconds faster (p < 0.0001; Cohen's d = 0.92) than peak preintervention baseline sprint times (2.70 ± 0.09 seconds). This research established that sled-towing protocols using loads corresponding to Vdec of 40-50% significantly improved subsequent sprints in high school football (soccer) athletes running on artificial turf.
Overriding the Boundary Conditions in a Planar Waveguide Via Hybrid Space-Time Modes

We show that propagation-invariant ‘space-time’ wave packets can be used to tailor the guided-mode characteristics in a thin film waveguide, including mode size, group index, and group velocity dispersion, independently of the boundary conditions.
The Invisible Circumstances of Notice

The due process right of notice—isolated from its close cousin, the opportunity to be heard—is relatively understudied and under-analyzed compared to other fundamental rights. This analytical deficit would be less troubling if the modern American execution of notice and its mechanics were mostly unproblematic, but for a number of participants in the modern-day adversarial system, notice does not function particularly well. This Article provides a new and comprehensive account of why notice matters as a due process right and why it has been largely ignored. The current case-by-case approach articulated in Mullane v. Central Hanover Bank contains the seeds of adaptability, but its central paradox is that, by encouraging judges to consider the individual circumstances of the parties and case before them, judges have failed to see the broader changes in circumstances within which litigation and notice take place. This “modern” standard for notice is actually an expansion and reification of the old and the project of this Article is to unpack the hidden contents of this Pennoyer/Mullane standard. It serves as a benchmark against which judges and lawmakers evaluate the sufficiency of new tools and methods. The permissibility of such innovations depends on how closely they mimic or improve on the methods within an existing hierarchy of old methods. Once one understands how the new circumstances of notice no longer fit the old framework, it becomes far easier to evaluate and promote newer and more technologically advanced methods of notice because they need not be evaluated against antiquated benchmarks that reflect older circumstances. These invisible circumstances of notice are a set of shared assumptions about what “real” or “good notice” is—who serves it and how; who receives it and where; and what “process” is. The extent to which other forms of service deviate from the Pennoyer/Mullane world of invisible circumstances and determines their constitutional and sub-constitutional acceptability. The invisible circumstances of notice center around five core attributes of in-hand personal service, the paradigm of ideal notice and service from the Pennoyer era. These attributes—thought to be long discarded as mandates—continue to dominate how notice rules are promulgated and how notice plans and practices are evaluated. The Article concludes by suggesting that lawmakers and courts must rethink the “circumstances of the circumstances,” the idea that the circumstances of notice are unique to each lawsuit and arrive fully formed. Contrary to this implicit assumption, courts and lawmakers are active participants in creating and maintaining the invisible circumstances of notice. Lawmakers should not wait for the circumstances of notice to change – key changes can be forged by the state and the judiciary itself.
Clinical Application of Genetic Prediction in the Management of CAD

Sequencing of the human genome followed by the HapMap project made possible the unbiased genome-wide association studies that led to the discovery of hundreds of genetic risk variants predisposing to CAD. The total genetic risk for CAD can be expressed in a single number based on the number of variants inherited. A GRS derived from genotyping with microarrays containing these risk variants has been evaluated in over 1 million individuals. Risk stratification for CAD based on the GRS was shown to be superior to conventional risk factors. Placebo-controlled clinical trials showed individuals with high genetic risk had a 40-50% reduction in cardiac events with a favorable lifestyle, and cholesterol-lowering drugs. The risk of CAD based on conventional risk factors such as hypertension are age-dependent, occurring primarily in the sixth or seventh decade which is too late for primary prevention. The GRS is independent of age and can be determined at birth if needed. Incorporation of the GRS into clinical practice would transform the primary prevention of CAD, the number one killer.
Computer Modeling of Eddy Current Probability of Crack Detection

The objective of this work was to demonstrate the application of eddy current modeling to the determination of the probability of crack detection. The method of calculation, derived from previously reported work on the boundary element method (BEM) [1], used concepts discussed in other works on probability of detection (POD) calculations [2,3]. In contrast to the earlier POD investigations, which were concerned with crack-like flaws in flat plates with a simple circular coil as the probe, the present modeling deals with a realistic part geometry and a split-D probe configuration with ferrite cores and shield. Figures 1 and 2 show the part and probe geometries, respectively; the specifics of the inspection problem are described in the first section of this paper.
Evaluation of YAP as a therapeutic target in HCC and CCA

Background: For Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), the outcome is dismal; incidence is rapidly increasing, and mechanistic understanding is limited. YAP, the effector of Hippo signaling pathway, is an oncoprotein that promotes cell proliferation and inhibits apoptosis. Genetic manipulation of YAP results in biliary hamartoma and HCC. Therefore, we hypothesize that YAP is driver of liver cancer and a potential therapeutic target. Methods: Expression of YAP and its transcriptional targets GPC3 and Survivin was surveyed in normal human liver and primary liver cancer tissues. Efficacy of YAP inhibitor Vertepofin and Survivin inhibitor YM155 was tested in HCC and CCA cell lines with MTT assay. Results: Compared to the non-tumor tissue, nuclear YAP expression significantly increased in both HCC and ICC specimens. Nuclear YAP levels significantly correlate with nuclear Survivin levels in HCC and ICC tissues, but not with GPC3 in HCC tissues. We also found that verteporfin and YM155 supp...
Present Status of Blood Component Therapy

It is not possible for me to begin my presentation without pausing momentarily to honor the memory of the physician and scientist who would have preceded me on this program but for an abrupt and untimely death earlier this month. It is paradoxical that I delivered the eulogy at his funeral just a fortnight ago, and now once again follow his footsteps on a program that particularly illuminates his decades of interest in the lymphoproliferative disorders. I was not a student of Bill Dameshek, and I never even collaborated with him on a scientific paper. But I always cherished his provocative nature and the blithe spirit of his imaginative mind — even to the coining of such illegitimate words as immunocyte — to categorize a type of stimulated lymphocyte — which gave off an aura of globulin synthesis. It is never possible to refer to someone as great or possessing of genius when one is a contemporary. Rather, such appellations are pounded out in the hard mill of history. But to me, Dr. Dameshek was a unique person. He was warm. He was compassionate. He was a born teacher. He could inspire others to achieve heights greater than themselves. Most of all, I remember him, not for his specific deeds or any single scientific paper, but rather for the broad brush of his personality as a physician, an editor, and an investigator. He was a Twentieth Century version of the Seventeenth Century natural philosopher.
Spliceosomal snRNPs Autoantibodies

Publisher Summary This chapter includes intensive efforts to standardize the assay, define associations with disease or clinical presentation, and characterize antigenic and biological properties of spliceosomal snRNPs autoantibodies. Autoantibodies against the snRNP particles recognize both protein and RNA epitopes, including the trimethylguanosine cap. The categorizations for anti-snRNP antibodies include soluble nuclear specificity termed Sm and ribonucleoprotein (RNP) antibodies. The anti-Sm specificity includes autoantibodies that target proteins of the common Sm core, and anti-RNP refers to anti-U 1 snRNP-specific autoantibodies that target the U1 RNA or the U1- specific proteins 70K, A or C. Detection of anti-snRNP antibodies includes the indirect immunofluorescent antinuclear antibody test (ANA). The antispliceosomal snRNP autoantibodies are definitive specificities found in various rheumatological diseases. The anti-snRNP antibodies are described in several connective tissue diseases, especially systemic lupus erythematosus and mixed connective tissue disease.
Biological and Biomaterials‐Assisted Synthesis of Precious Metal Nanoparticles

The biological synthesis of precious metal nanoparticles is becoming an important area of research and a new innovative method for the synthesis of such materials. Interest in biological means to synthesize nanoparticles has increased over the past few years because the method does not require toxic/hazardous chemicals, as do many traditional chemical reduction techniques. This chapter describes some of the many biological methods currently being used to synthesize precious metal nanoparticles, including the use of inactivated biomasses from different organisms, extracts from plants and fruits, fungal- and bacterial-mediated nanoparticle synthesis, and living plant-mediated synthesis. The chapter also briefly describes the analytical techniques used to characterize precious metal nanoparticles, including ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Particular attention is paid to the bioreduction of gold and silver, as these are the most commonly used precious metals in the biological synthesis of precious metal nanoparticles. Keywords: nanoparticles; growth process; precious metals; fungi; plants; bacteria