cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Intestinal metaplasia and the squamocolumnar junction: what does it all mean?

See article on page 659 In theory, the diagnosis of Barrett’s oesophagus should be fairly simple, namely the presence of intestinal metaplasia anywhere in the tubular oesophagus. However, recognising where the tubular oesophagus ends and the saccular stomach begins is fraught with difficulty. The precise junction may be difficult to identify endoscopically because of the presence of a hiatus hernia, inflammation and some disassociation between the squamocolumnar junction and the lower oesophageal sphincter zone in normal individuals. Histologically, the squamous mucosa of the oesophagus accurately defines this area, but distinguishing normal gastric cardia and metaplastic changes of the distal oesophagus may be difficult. Normally, the mucosa of the cardia is composed of tightly packed mucus secreting glands with a lamina propria devoid of any significant inflammatory component. On occasion, biopsy specimens from the cardia show an increase in the amount of acute and chronic inflammatory cells, a condition termed carditis. The cardia can also have associated areas of intestinal metaplasia with goblet cells, histologically similar to the well described intestinal metaplasia in the distal stomach or classically defined as Barrett’s oesophagus when located in the tubular oesophagus. Finally, structures just do not sit still in the oesophagus during endoscopy, making precise location and biopsy even more difficult. Thus, it is difficult to know in every case whether the intestinal metaplasia is from the distal oesophagus or from the cardia. The classic definition of Barrett’s oesophagus requiring the presence of at least …
Portable dense geophone array for shallow and very shallow 3D seismic reflection surveying–Part 2: 3D imaging tests

In part I of this paper we demonstrate how the use of a portable dense geophone array increases S/N ratio and the ability to record faint near‐surface reflections. The dense array can also be used as an approximate acoustical lens with appropriate prestack imaging techniques, similar to those used in medical imaging and nondestructive testing. Such use of the array provides flexibility when imaging with sparse shot distributions and improves the overall resolution of the array. We show how, with prestack focusing, one can extend the subsurface coverage beyond conventional common‐midpoint (CMP) coverage. We study optimal imaging configurations and show that although the effective aperture of the array is reduced when focusing off‐center targets, we can still image small targets adequately. Maximum aperture and therefore best target definition occur when the source and geophone arrays are on top of the target. Both synthetic and field results show that the limited‐aperture array can image very small targets...
A clinician's take on evidence‐based group psychotherapy: a commentary

Each of the articles in this issue of the Journal of Clinical Psychology: In Session provides valuable resources to group psychotherapists looking to develop an evidence-based practice. This article provides a summary of and commentary on this information from a clinician's point of view. I discuss the clinical utility of these resources, while acknowledging and addressing the practitioner concerns associated with them. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol: In Session 64:1–5, 2008.
Decoding of trellis-encoded signals in the presence of intersymbol interference and noise

A novel receiver for data-transmission systems using trellis-coded modulation is investigated. It comprises a whitened-matched filter and a trellis decoder which combines the previously separated functions of equalization and trellis-coded modulation (TCM) decoding. TCM encoder, transmission channel, and whitened-matched filter are modeled by a single finite-state machine with combined intersymbol interference and code states. Using ISI-state truncation techniques and the set-partitioning principles inherent in TCM, a systematic method is then developed for reducing the state complexity of the corresponding ISI and code trellis. A modified branch metric is used for canceling those ISI terms which are not represented by the trellis states. The approach leads to a family of Viterbi decoders which offer a tradeoff between decoding complexity and performance. An adaptive version of the proposed receiver is discussed, and an efficient structure for reduced-state decoding is given. Simulation results are presented for channels with severe amplitude and phase distortion. It is shown that the proposed receiver achieves a significant gain in noise margin over a conventional receiver which uses separate linear equalization and TCM decoding. >
Bearing life prognosis under environmental effects based on accelerated life testing

AbstractThe reliability of a bearing is typically estabilished by repeated life testing which provides valuable information on the fatigue mechanisms from crack initiation, crack propagation to fla...
Streambank dewatering for increased stability

Streambank erosion is often the dominant source of sediment leaving modified watersheds. Mass failure of high, steep banks is one of the most serious forms of streambank erosion. The risk of a given bank experiencing mass failure is a function of bank height, angle, and soil strength, which is governed by soil moisture. Two methods for bank dewatering were tested in adjacent sections of streambank bordering a deeply incised channel in northern Mississippi: a low-cost pump system and subsurface horizontal drains. Pore water pressures (both positive and negative pressures, or matric suction) were continuously monitored for 2 years at the pumped site, at an adjacent untreated control section, and for 1 year at the site stabilized with horizontal drains. Resulting data were used to calculate a time series of the factor of safety using a computer model. Over the course of two wet seasons, average bank retreats for the control and pumped plots were 0Ð43 and 0Ð21 m, respectively. More limited monitoring revealed that the site with passive drains retreated about 0Ð23 m. At the pumped site pore water pressure was 3–4 kPa lower than at the control site during the most critical periods. Accordingly, computed factors of safety were above the failure threshold at the pumped site, but fell below unity at the control site on 11 occasions over the period of observation. Similarly, the drained site displayed generally lower pore water pressure and higher safety factors except for two events when drains were evidently overwhelmed with the volume of local surface and subsurface flows. These results suggest, but do not prove, that bank dewatering promoted lower rates of bank retreat and higher levels of stability since the three sites had slight differences in soils, geometry and boundary conditions. Initial cost of the dewatering treatments were significantly less than orthodox bank stabilization measures, but operation and maintenance requirements may be greater. Published in 2009 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
What is a Pest

We share this planet with the million or more other species of organisms that inhabit the biosphere. This mass of organisms goes on reproducing; dying; taking up space; taking in water, air, and essential nutrients; depositing waste materials; and, most important, maintaining a delicate hierarchical balance of species, constantly eating one another. It goes on so quietly and unobtrusively that human beings are rarely conscious of this vast exchange taking place before their very eyes and beneath their very feet.
Critical Exponent Crossovers in Escape near a Bifurcation Point

In periodically driven systems, near a bifurcation (critical) point the period-averaged escape rate $\overline{W}$ scales with the field amplitude $A$ as $|\mathrm{ln}﻿\overline{W}|\ensuremath{\propto}({A}_{c}\ensuremath{-}A{)}^{\ensuremath{\xi}}$, where ${A}_{c}$ is a critical amplitude. We find three scaling regions. With increasing field frequency or decreasing $|{A}_{c}\ensuremath{-}A|$, the critical exponent $\ensuremath{\xi}$ changes from $\ensuremath{\xi}=3/2$ for a stationary system to a dynamical value $\ensuremath{\xi}=2$ and then again to $\ensuremath{\xi}=3/2$. Monte Carlo simulations agree with the scaling theory.
Relation of Changes in Left Ventricular Peak Filling Rate During Exercise to Exercise Performance in Systemic Hypertension and in Healed Myocardial Infarction

Patients with systemic hypertension and coronary artery disease (CAD) often manifest abnormalities at rest in left ventricular (LV) diastolic function and reduced exercise tolerance. It is possible that abnormalities in filling persist during exercise and are partially related to abnormal exercise tolerance. We examined rest and exercise peak filling rate (PFR) to determine if changes in PFR during exercise influence exercise performance. We studied 20 patients with systemic hypertension who had no evidence of CAD (negative thallium-201 stress imaging) and 15 patients with prior myocardial infarction, preserved ejection fraction, and no ischemia by thallium-201 stress imaging. Results were compared with 20 normal subjects. All 55 subjects had rest and exercise radionuclide angiograms Peak workload, exercise time, and LV ejection fraction were reduced in subjects with CAD (57 +/- 24 W, 7.41 +/- 2.91 min, and 60 +/- 9%) compared with subjects with hypertension (72 +/- 21 W, 9.69 +/- 3.03 min, and 70 +/- 6%, p <0.05) and controls (80 +/- 30 W, 10.82 +/- 3.50 min, and 67 +/- 6%, p <0.05). PFR at rest was reduced in CAD subjects (2.40 +/- 0.70 end-diastolic volume per second [EDV/s]) compared with those with hypertension (2.89 +/- 0.70 EDV/s, p <0.02) and controls (3.23 +/- 0.52 EDV/s, p <0.0002). The increments in PFR during exercise were reduced in CAD patients (+1.76 +/- 0.95 EDV/s) compared with hypertensive subjects (+2.93 +/- 1.7 EDV/s) and controls (+3.22 +/- 1.4 EDV/s, p <0.05). The increment in PFR during exercise was related to exercise performance (r = 0.49, p <0.0002). These findings suggest that alterations in LV diastolic filling during exercise are important determinants of exercise performance.
Structure–function relationships of complement receptor type 1

Summary: Human complement receptor type 1 (CR1) is a large, multifunctional glycoprotein which is a member of the regulators of complement activation family. Like other members of this family, it is composed mainly of tandemly arranged modules, each about 60–70 amino acids long, known as complement control protein repeats (CCPs). Each domain folds independently and contains a hydrophobic core wrapped in β sheets. These domains mediate interactions with C3/C4-derived fragments. CR1 is the most versatile inhibitor of both classical and alternative pathway C3 and C5 convertases due to its decay-accelerating activity and co-factor activity for C3b/C4b cleavage. Moreover, CR1 plays a major role in immune complex clearance due to its high affinity for C3b and C4b. CR1 is an excellent model to study structure–function relationships because its functions are mediated by two distinct but highly homologous sites, each composed of three CCPs. CR1 derivatives carrying just one active site were used to define critical sequences/amino acids. This was achieved by testing functional profiles of the proteins carrying a mutated active site produced by substituting peptides/amino acids with their counterparts from the other site. These mutated proteins, of which we analyzed over 100, permitted the fine mapping of the functional sites. CR1 on primate erythrocytes varies in size. In most cases it is smaller and has fewer active sites than does human CR1. This variation was used to determine that increased copy number (3,000 to 20,000 versus 300 for human CR1) compensates for a smaller size. Moreover, studies of primate CR1 led to the finding that subtle differences in the critical areas, as compared to human sites, produce active sites with a broader functional repertoire. These alterations ensure that short CR1 forms possess similar biologic activities to the large CR1 forms. There is much interest in producing therapeutic agents to inhibit unwanted complement activation. Based on these structure–function analyses, smaller and more potent complement inhibitors derived from CR1 can be produced. This work was supported by National Institutes of Health grant AI41592.
Implementing a Perioperative Nursing Elective in a Baccalaureate Curriculum

ABSTRACT •PERIOPERATIVE NURSING UNITS are experiencing a critical shortage of trained RNs, and new nursing school graduates are unlikely to enter this specialty unless they have had experience in a perioperative environment during their clinical rotations. •IN COOPERATION WITH a local hospital, a school of nursing developed a perioperative elective with a clinical component. •THE PERIOPERATIVE ELECTIVE has received strong support from faculty members and hospital staff members, and students believe they have enhanced their individual clinical experience through participation in this course. AORN J 80 (November 2004) 902–910.
My New Country: A Journey to Belonging

It was one of those days when I could not push back the gnawing feeling I had tried to bury all those years I have been away, the homesickness that grows back stronger every time. I really thought that staying away would make it more bearable. Eight years ago, I packed as much as I could of my previous life in a couple of suitcases and left family, friends, and a part of myself to embark toward the unknown, seeking a better medical future. Eight years ago, I became a foreign-born international medical graduate.
Cytotoxic monacolins from red yeast rice, a Chinese medicine and food

Abstract Seven new monacolins, monacolins Q–S ( 1 – 3 ), α,β-dehydromonacolin S ( 4 ), 3α-hydroxy-3,5-dihydromonacolin L ( 5 ), 3β-hydroxy-3,5-dihydromonacolin L ( 6 ), and α,β-hydromonacolin Q ( 7 ) were isolated and characterized from the methanol extract of red yeast rice. In addition, six known monacolins, α,β-dehydrodihydromonacolin K ( 8 ), dehydromonacolin K ( 9 ), dehydromonacolin L ( 10 ), monacolin K ( 11 ), dihydromonacolin K ( 12 ), dihydromonacolin L ( 13 ) and two compounds other than monacolins ( 14 , 15 ) were also isolated. Structure elucidation of the isolates was achieved by means of NMR and mass spectroscopic data analyses. Compounds 1 – 5 , 8 , 9 , 11 , and 13 were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against four cancer cell lines (SK-MEL, KB, BT-549, SK-OV-3) and two noncancerous kidney cell lines (LLC-PK1 and Vero). Monacolin Q ( 1 ), monacolin R ( 2 ) α,β-dehydrodihydromonacolin K ( 8 ), dehydromonacolin K ( 9 ), and monacolin K ( 11 ) showed cytotoxicity to most of these cell lines in terms of inhibition of cell proliferation. The cytotoxicity of monacolin K ( 11 ) was the most potent among all the tested monacolins.
Stroke risk factors

Stroke risk factors can be divided into situational risk factors (generally non-modifiable), medical risk factors, and lifestyle risk factors (both potentially modifiable). Hypertension and atrial fibrillation are the two most modifiable medical risk factors. The increased incidence of obesity in the United States may result in an increased incidence of stroke. Patients with multiple risk factors are best addressed with a multifactorial team-based approach that focuses on counseling regarding lifestyle risk factors and appropriate medication use regarding known medical risk factors.
Round Table Discussion Groups

The round-table group on (Na+ + K+)-ATPase discussed topics including the following: 1. Loss of dependence on K+ in the gills of euryhaline fish after adaptation of the fish from salt water to fresh water. Is there a replacement of one enzyme by another or controlled alteration of a single enzyme? Are there many varieties of Na+-dependent ATPase in general? Is there hormonal control of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase, particularly via aldosterone? 2. Mutagenic variation in ouabain-binding affinity of cells in tissue culture. 3. Variation in characteristics of erythrocyte (Na+ + K+)-ATPase in genetically related varieties of sheep with a high or low concentration of K+ in their red cells. 4. The relationship of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase to the transport of Na+ across epithelial tissue. 5. The mechanism of the therapeutic action of cardioactive steroids in the relief of congestive heart disease according to the hypothesis of Baker, Blaustein, Hidgkin and Steinhardt. 6. Purification of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase. Is there one or more than one peptide chain in the enzyme? 7. The reaction sequence of phosphorylation and dephosphonylation of this enzyme and remarkable effects of ethanol on the kinetics. Is there adequate evidence that so-called E1-P is necessarily a precursor of so-called E2-P?
Cognitive-behavioral and insight-oriented psychotherapy of an eleven-year-old boy with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

This article describes the use of combined cognitive-behavioral and insight-oriented psychotherapy with an 11-year-old boy who had severe obsessive-compulsive disorder of recent onset. Treatment wa...
Thermoreversible and Injectable ABC Polypeptoid Hydrogels: Controlling the Hydrogel Properties through Molecular Design

A series of ABC triblock copolypeptoids [i.e., poly(N-allyl glycine)-b-poly(N-methyl glycine)-b-poly(N-decyl glycine) (AMD)] with well-defined structure and varying composition have been synthesized by sequential primary amine-initiated ring-opening polymerization of the corresponding N-substituted N-carboxyanhydride monomers (Al-NCA, Me-NCA, and De-NCA). The ABC block copolypeptoids undergo sol-to-gel transitions with increasing temperature in water and biological media at low concentrations (2.5-10 wt %). The sol-gel transition is rapid and fully reversible with a narrow transition window, evidenced by the rheological measurements. The gelation temperature (Tgel) and mechanical stiffness of the hydrogels are highly tunable: Tgel in the 26.2-60.0 °C range, the storage modulus (G') and Young's modulus (E) in the 0.2-780 Pa and 0.5-2346 Pa range, respectively, at the physiological temperature (37 °C) can be readily accessed by controlling the block copolypeptoid composition and the polymer solution concentration. The hydrogel is injectable through a 24 gauge syringe needle and maintains their shape upon in contact with surfaces or water baths that are kept above the sol-gel transition temperature. The hydrogels exhibit minimal cytotoxicity toward human adipose derived stem cells (hASCs), evidenced from both alamarBlue and PicoGreen assays. Furthermore, quantitative PCR analysis revealed significant up-regulation of the Col2a1 gene and down-regulation of ANGPT1 gene, suggesting that the hydrogel exhibit biological activity in inducing chondrogenesis of hASCs. It was also demonstrated that the hydrogel can be used to quantitatively encapsulate water-soluble enzymes (e.g., horseradish peroxidase) by manipulating the sol-gel transition. The enzymatic activity of HRP remain unperturbed after encapsulation at 37 °C for up to 7 d, suggesting that the hydrogel does not adversely affect the enzyme structure and thereby the enzymatic activity. These results suggest that the polypeptoid hydrogel a promising synthetic platform for tissue engineering or protein storage applications.
FORAMINIFERAL POPULATION RESPONSE TO FLUCTUATING INFLOW INTO NUECES BAY, TEXAS

Freshwater input into Texas estuaries is critical to maintaining habitat, and foraminiferal populations can provide a means for assessing the effects of natural inflow as well as mandated releases. Nueces Bay receives freshwater from the Nueces River, which enters on the southwest shore. From 2002–2007 foraminifera were sampled on a mid-bay, north-south transect at five different stations. The populations were sampled during periods of low inflow (2002), high inflow (2003), and then low/moderate inflow (2007). During low inflow, the Central Power and Lighting Plant (CPL) was in operation at the south shore, pumping heated, more saline coolant water into the bay. Salinities were nearly constant, ranging from 23–27 at the stations, population densities were low, and there was a high incidence of shell dissolution. The high-inflow samples were taken after the CPL closed and the area received abundant precipitation, with salinities in the bay varying from 12 at the south shore to 21 at the north shore. Foraminiferal abundance was 6–98× greater than it was during low inflow, and there was a low percentage of shell dissolution. With lowmoderate inflow, salinities were from 21–30, densities were somewhat higher than those observed during low inflow, and shell dissolution again increased. Statistical analysis of all three discharge periods shows that population density varies with flow regime. At low and low/moderate discharge there are pronounced density differences among the stations, with higher densities near river input. At high discharge, population density is high at each station. This study establishes the receptivity of foraminifera to relatively short-term changes in freshwater inflow, and highlights their value for monitoring the effects of inflow on biota in Texas estuaries. The unique geographic distribution of each species may be a characteristic that imparts species resilience through time.
Recent Progress in The Omvpe Growth of HgCdTe

The last two years has seen rapid development in the growth of mercury cadmium telluride material for use in far infrared detectors. This paper will briefly review the progress before this period, and will focus on recent developments in these materials. The emphasis will be on the direct alloy growth of HgCdTe material by organometallic vapor phase epitaxy (OMVPE).
Local distributed estimation

Based on partial differential equations of motion the closed form solution for the optimal estimation of a spatially continuous state vector is derived, using a continuously distributed sensor. Local control is shown to be the feedback that minimizes a quadratic performance index of sensor and process disturbances. A detailed example of the control of a string in tension is presented.
The Isoelectric Point of Gelatin in Relation to its “Minimum Physical Properties.”:

Most investigators are of the opinion that the physical properties of gelatin (viscosity, conductivity, osmotic pressure) are at a minimum at its isoelectric point and that its opacity is a maximum at this point. This erroneous conception is partly due to the notion that ash-free gelatin is necessarily isoelectric. Gelatin, whose high degree of purity is indicated by an exceptionally low conductivity when it is free from diffusible electrolytes is not isoelectric. Cataphoresis experiments show that purified gelatin derived from lime conditioned stock migrates to the anode in an electrical field, while gelatin from acid conditioned stock migrates toward the cathode. The former must therefore be a weak acid while the latter is a weak base. The physical properties of gelatin are at a minimum in pure gelatin and not in isoelectric gelatin, which is a salt of gelatin and more highly ionized than pure gelatin.Pure gelatin from any source should have the formula HONH3 × COOH (where × represents the main gelatin ...
Laboratory Surveillance of Measles in Loudi City,2006

Objective To reveal the distribution characteristics of measles IgM and their implication for measles control in Loudi City.Methods Samples from suspected measles cases were tested by measles IgM-capture ELISA and results were analyzed using MS Excel and SPSS software package.Results Total IgM positive rate was 50.99% for the 308 adequate samples submitted to the city CDC laboratory and that for the 219 samples that met the information requests for detailed analysis was 49.32%.Of the 219 samples,positive rates were 38.46%,46.52% and 52% for the groups of cases:(1) vaccinated,(2) unvaccinated and(3) no documented vaccination,respectively,showing no statistical differences(χ2=1.793 0,P=0.408 0),and positive rates were significantly higher(χ2=16.967 0,P0.000 1)for the group of samples taken between 5-10 days post rash onset.Only 4 showed weak positive results when 34 measles IgM-negative sera were tested for differential diagnosis from rubella.Conclusions The optimum sampling time for measles IgM detection was 5-10 days post rash onset.Gaps in population immunity and primary failures in immunization were principle factors leading to measles infection and epidemic in Loudi City.
Causality and Markovianity: Information Theoretic Measures

Many Information Theoretic Measures have been proposed for a quantitative assessment of causality relationships. While Gourieroux, Monfort, and Renault (1987) had introduced the so-called “Kullback Causality Measures,” extending Geweke’s (1982) work in the context of Gaussian VAR processes, Schreiber (2000) has set a special focus on Granger causality and dubbed the same measure “transfer entropy.” Both papers measure causality in the context of Markov processes. One contribution of this paper is to set the focus on the interplay between measurement of (non)-markovianity and measurement of Granger causality. Both of them can be framed in terms of prediction: how much is the forecast accuracy deteriorated when forgetting some relevant conditioning information? In this paper we argue that this common feature between (non)-markovianity and Granger causality has led people to overestimate the amount of causality because what they consider as a causality measure may also convey a measure of the amount of (non)-markovianity. We set a special focus on the design of measures that properly disentangle these two components. Furthermore, this disentangling leads us to revisit the equivalence between the Sims and Granger concepts of noncausality and the log-likelihood ratio tests for each of them. We argue that Granger causality implies testing for non-nested hypotheses.
Epidemiology of Cancer in Pregnancy

A diagnosis of cancer during pregnancy is rare, occurring in 17–38 cases/100,000 births. The incidence rate of cancer diagnosed during pregnancy has increased over time, in part due to women delaying childbearing to later in their reproductive years. This chapter reviews current information regarding the incidence and prognosis of seven cancers that are frequently diagnosed during pregnancy: breast cancer, cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, Hodgkin lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, leukemia, and melanoma. Pregnancy does not appear to impact the prognosis of cancer for any of these seven cancers with the possible exception of breast cancer.
Corpora Lutea of the Large Domestic Animals

In the cow ewe and sow LH plays an important luteotropic role although supporting evidence in the sow is less conclusive than for the cow and ewe. Prolactin does not seem to play an important luteotropic role in either the cow ewe or sow. There is little evidence to indicate the role of FSH in the large animals. Exogenous estrogens are luteolytic in the cow and ewe but luteotropic in the sow. In all 3 species lysosomal activity appears to initiate luteolysis. Administration of exogenous estrogen in the cow and ewe causes luteal regression. Exogenous progesterone early in the cycle decreases the length of the cycle in the cow and ewe but not in the sow. The uterus produces at least 1 substance which can cause regression of the corpus luteum in all 3 species. In the cow and ewe prostaglandin F-2-alpha in the uterine vein is thought to be responsible. In vitro studies do not fully substantiate the assumed role of prostaglandins. Anatomical relationships between the uterine vein and ovarian artery in species in which the uterus plays a luteolytic role suggest a possible but still unsubstantiated transfer process between the uterine vein and ovarian artery.
Evaluating a Medical School's Climate for Women's Success: Outcomes for Faculty Recruitment, Retention, and Promotion

Abstract Objective: Women are under-represented in academia. Causative factors include challenges of career–family integration. We evaluated factors reflecting institutional culture (promotion, retention, hiring, and biasing language in promotion letters) as part of an intervention to help shift culture and raise awareness of flexibility policies at the University of California, Davis (UCD). Materials and Methods: Data on faculty use of family-friendly policies were obtained at baseline, and surveys for policy awareness were conducted pre(2010)/post(2013) an NIH-funded study educational intervention. Data on hires, separations, and promotions were obtained pre(2007–2009, 2234 person-year data points)/post(2010–2012, 2384 person-year data points) intervention and compared by logistic regression and for gender differences. Department promotion letters (53) were also analyzed for biasing language. Results: Policy use was overall low, highest for female assistant professors, and for maternity leave. Awareness...
Antimony selenide nanostructures: morphology control through modulation of ligand chemistry and variation of the precursor ratio

Nanocrystalline antimony chalcogenides belong to a class of materials that offer significant potential for photovoltaics, display and lighting applications. However, a lack of synthetic methodologies that allow facile solution-based access to these nanomaterials currently restricts their practical use. Herein, a new synthetic route for the controlled preparation of antimony selenide nanostructures through colloidal chemistry is reported. A collection of nanostructures ranging from nanorods and nanocrystals to hollow spheres was successfully synthesized through the reported methodology, for which the morphological control during the particle formation was accomplished through both modulation of ligand chemistry for passivating the nanocrystal surface and accurate adjustment of the precursor ratio.
Racial Disparity in Gastrointestinal Cancer Risk

Cancer from the gastrointestinal tract and its associated excretory organs will occur in more than 300,000 Americans in 2017, with colorectal cancer responsible for >40% of that burden; there will be more than 150,000 deaths from this group of cancers in the same time period. Disparities among subgroups related to the incidence and mortality of these cancers exist. The epidemiology and risk factors associated with each cancer bear out differences for racial groups in the United States. Esophageal adenocarcinoma is more frequent in non-Hispanic whites, whereas esophageal squamous cell carcinoma with risk factors of tobacco and alcohol is more frequent among blacks. Liver cancer has been most frequent among Asian/Pacific Islanders, chiefly due to hepatitis B vertical transmission, but other racial groups show increasing rates due to hepatitis C and emergence of cirrhosis from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Gastric cancer incidence remains highest among Asian/Pacific Islanders likely due to gene−environment interaction. In addition to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, cancers of the small bowel, pancreas, and colorectum show the highest rates among blacks, where the explanations for the disparity are not as obvious and are likely multifactorial, including socioeconomic and health care access, treatment, and prevention (vaccination and screening) differences, dietary and composition of the gut microbiome, as well as biologic and genetic influences. Cognizance of these disparities in gastrointestinal cancer risk, as well as approaches that apply precision medicine methods to populations with the increased risk, may reduce the observed disparities for digestive cancers.
Aging out of crime: exploring the relationship between age and crime with agent based modeling

Criminologists have long observed a strong correlation between age and crime. The age crime relationship has withstood stringent testing since the 1920's and repeatedly demonstrated that criminal activity peaks at age seventeen and then gradually declines. These efforts have resulted in the formation of several theories; however, quantitative assessment of these theories are incomplete and fail to fully examine the role of sociological and cultural factors. In this paper, we create an agent-based model (ABM) that generates a society where individuals age out of a predisposition to commit crimes. We also extend the model into a tool for decision makers to gather actionable insight with respect to competing crime reduction policies. Our results demonstrate that modeling crime through an ABM enables decision makers to test the viability of crime-related policies by reducing the uncertainty associated with the potential crime reduction outcomes while examining the effectiveness of resource allocations.
A Small-Sample Test for Non-Normality

A self-contained computer program is given which provides a test for non-normality of small sample sizes of from n = 10 to n = 50 observations. The criterion used in the Shapiro-Francia W' statisti...
Postoperative Outcome of the Modified Broström Procedure in the Active Duty Military Population: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Ankle sprains are common injuries and typically treated conservatively. Chronic ankle instability, however, can require surgery when nonoperative measures fail. We evaluated the clinical outcomes of an active duty population in a retrospective study of patients who had undergone a modified Brostrom procedure at our facility from January 2010 through April 2014 by a single surgeon. The electronic medical records and Army E-profile database were reviewed to determine whether the patients had returned to active duty and whether they had any permanent postoperative lower extremity activity restrictions. A total of 127 patients met the inclusion criteria and had undergone the modified Brostrom procedure during the study period; 34 (26.8%) separated from the military postoperatively. Of these 34 patients, 23 (18.1%) were unfit for reasons related to their ankle and 11 (8.7%) required military separation for reasons unrelated to their ankle. Thus, 93 patients (73.2%) were able to remain on active duty after undergoing the Brostrom procedure. Of the 93 patients able to remain on active duty, 38 (40.9%) required activity modifications and 55 (59.1%) were able to return to full duty. Chronic ankle instability in active duty patients can be severely limiting. The modified Brostrom procedure can provide significant improvement in symptoms and allow patients to remain on active duty. In our high-demand population, ~73% of patients were able to remain on active duty after their injury and subsequent surgery, 60% of whom returned to their previous level of duty without any physical restrictions.
Biologic Treatment of Crohn’s Disease: Briakinumab and Ustekinumab

Interleukin-12 and interleukin-23 are innate immune system inflammatory cytokines that drive interferon-gamma and interleukin-17 responses, respectively. IL-12 and IL-23 share the same protein subunit, p40, which is contained in each of their heterodimeric structures. Crohn’s disease is characterized by increased production of the IL-12/INFγ and IL-23/IL-17 cytokines. Targeting p40 in several animal models of Crohn’s disease such as TNBS and CD4CD45RBhigh T cell transfer colitis has resulted in successful prevention and treatment of established gut inflammation. Briakinumab and ustekinumab are fully human monoclonal antibodies being tested for treatment in human Crohn’s disease. Preliminary results of clinical trials suggest that the early success of this novel strategy may be improved with better understanding of the drug’s pharmacology in Crohn’s patients and the validation of biomarkers that identify high probability of clinical response and remission.
Re-Thinking U.S. V. Microsoft in Light of the E.C. Case

The paper contrasts U.S. and E.C. approaches to their Microsoft cases in light of three issues central to both cases: First, leverage theory, the central issue in both cases, which is articulated in the E.C. case but repressed in the U.S. case. Second, Microsoft's longstanding strategy of software integration. Third, attitudes toward technology interoperability. The paper concludes that U.S. judges and antitrust enforcement officials, as well as practitioners and scholars, can take three lessons from the E.C. case: 1. The value of leverage theory, particularly to analyze network industries with links to adjacent markets for system components. 2. The competitive harms of software integration, especially when an application program is bundled into a privately owned industry standard platform such as Windows. 3. The need for strong interoperability requirements, again where there is a privately owned industry standard.
Circulatory Failure/Shock

Shock is a common manifestation of many forms of critical illness. Although a patient with hypotension can have shock, shock is not necessarily defined by hypotension. That is, a patient can have a “normal” blood pressure and have shock concurrently. Accordingly, the definition of shock is based upon the concepts of oxygen delivery, the circulation-related factors that govern oxygen delivery, and tissue oxygen requirements. When tissue oxygen requirements are not met by the circulatory system, be it due to poor myocardial function, hypovolemia, and/or hypotension, a patient is said to be in shock.
Reformas al comercio exterior, credibilidad y desarrollo

Introduccion. Analisis recientes han demostrado los efectos adversos de la incertidumbre politica en la inversion en los paises en desarrollo: los inversionistas nacionales y los extranjeros pueden preferir esperar a que la incertidumbre desaparezca por si misma o invertir en el extranjero. Esto puede colocar al gobernante en una posicion de inquietud, en donde el sector privado no renovara la inversion y el crecimiento en tanto la credibilidad gubernamental sea vacilante. El gobernante puede encontrarse en la posicion del baron Von Munchausen, que buscando la manera "mas barata" de salir del lodo se aferra a su propio cabello...
Changing Signs: The Political Pragmatism of Poststructuralism

In a recent issue of The New Republic, Martha Nussbaum singled out Judith Butler for a particularly venomous attack. Nussbaum's criticism was very simple: good theory leads to practical political action, and Butler's theories do not. Nussbaum's criticism of Butler echoes a general criticism leveled against the emerging field of queer theory. Many advocates of sexual rights have suggested that poststructuralist approaches do not have practical political application. In this essay, the authors argue that Butler's work points to a new political pragmatism. In the past, many advocates of sexual rights have focused on essentialized notions of sexual identity. A politically pragmatic approach, informed by Butler's theories, can shift the debate so that the issue of homophobic discrimination, rather than sexual identity, becomes a primary focus of the sexual rights movement.
The Quality and Impact of JNM.

![Figure][1] Johannes Czernin ![Figure][1] Dominique Delbeke ![Figure][1] ![Figure][1] Recently, the 2017 Journal Citation Reports (Clarivate Analytics) was released. According to the data, JNM ranked 5th among 128 journals in its category, with a Journal Impact
Enseñanzas sobre salvación y liberación en Éxodo 14

La Biblia es un libro sobre lo que Dios ha hecho y esta haciendo para salvarnos, guiarnos y santificarnos. Podemos encontrar expresiones de como Dios hace esto a traves de las Escrituras. Por ejemplo, Exodo 14 narra la liberacion de los israelitas en el Mar Rojo y la destruccion del Faraon y el ejercito egipcio. El proposito este estudio es mostrar, a partir de Exodo 14, tres ensenanzas practicas acerca de la dependencia en la direccion, salvacion, juicio, justificacion y santificacion divinas.
User experience design for older adults: experience architecture and methodology for users aged 60+

This paper describes a study that combined interview and observation methods to explore the user experiences of 23 users aged 70+. Interviews involved questions about how and when users learned to use computers and the internet, as well as their usual online activities and difficulties completing those activities. Observations involved two sessions for each user: first, a naturalistic observation where the researcher recorded the participant interacting with the computer(s) in their home, demonstrating their typical internet use; second, a structured task analysis where participants completed a series of increasingly complex operations online, including searching for information on a specific topic, using web mapping tools, and interacting with a government website. Participants followed a think-aloud protocol during both observations, explaining the steps that they were taking and sharing their thought process and feelings with the researcher. The rich qualitative data from this work provides insights into the needs of this population in four specific areas---physical, cognitive, educational, and cultural---as well as design strategies for addressing those needs.
Rents and the Securities Markets

Here the whole argument will be pulled together, developing a picture of a cyclical pattern of interaction between the real and financial sides of the economy, drawing on an unstable money supply system, most likely culminating in a crash. The cycle is sketched, showing the forces that generate an expansion, then the upturn of financial speculation, leading to excess, followed by the changes that bring about a downturn and a crash. The role of rent-based securities in the cycle is surprisingly important, and has not previously received the attention it deserves.
Ethnic Enclaves and Pregnancy and Behavior Outcomes Among Asian/Pacific Islanders in the USA.

Ethnic enclaves are ethnically, spatially, and socially distinct communities that may promote health through access to culturally appropriate resources and reduced exposure to discrimination. This study examined ethnic enclave residence and pregnancy outcomes among Asian/Pacific Islander (API) women in the USA. We examined 9206 API births in the Consortium on Safe Labor (2002–2008). Ethnic enclaves were defined as hospital regions with high percentage of API residents (> 4%), high dissimilarity index (> 0.41; distribution of API and white residents within a geographic area), and high isolation index (> 0.03; interaction between API and white residents in an area). Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), preterm birth (PTB), small for gestational age (SGA), and smoking and alcohol use during pregnancy were reported in medical records supplemented with ICD-9 codes. Hierarchical logistic regression models estimated associations between ethnic enclaves and pregnancy outcomes, adjusted for maternal factors, area-level poverty, and air pollution. Women in enclaves had lower odds of GDM (OR 0.61; 95%CI 0.45, 0.82), PTB (OR 0.74; 95%CI 0.56, 0.99), and SGA (OR 0.68; 95%CI 0.52, 0.89) compared with women in non-enclaves. Prenatal smoking and alcohol use appeared less likely in enclaves, but estimates were imprecise. Within enclaves, about 10.5% of homes speak an API language, compared with 6.0% in non-enclaves. The mean percent of foreign-born API populations was 67.4% in enclaves and 68.8% in non-enclaves. API women residing in ethnic enclaves had better pregnancy outcomes than API women residing in non-enclave areas. Access to culturally appropriate social supports and resources may be important for health promotion among API populations.
Association of Surgical Resident Wellness With Medical Errors and Patient Outcomes.

OBJECTIVES The aims of this study were to: (1) measure the prevalence of self-reported medical error among general surgery trainees, (2) assess the association between general surgery resident wellness (ie, burnout and poor psychiatric well-being) and self-reported medical error, and (3) examine the association between program-level wellness and objectively measured patient outcomes. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Poor wellness is prevalent among surgical trainees but the impact on medical error and objective patient outcomes (eg, morbidity or mortality) is unclear as existing studies are limited to physician and patient self-report of events and errors, small cohorts, or examine few outcomes. METHODS A cross-sectional survey was administered immediately following the January 2017 American Board of Surgery In-training Examination to clinically active general surgery residents to assess resident wellness and self-reported error. Postoperative patient outcomes were ascertained using a validated national clinical data registry. Associations were examined using multivariable logistic regression models. RESULTS Over a 6-month period, 22.5% of residents reported committing a near miss medical error, and 6.9% reported committing a harmful medical error. Residents were more likely to report a harmful medical error if they reported frequent burnout symptoms [odds ratio 2.71 (95% confidence interval 2.16-3.41)] or poor psychiatric well-being [odds ratio 2.36 (95% confidence interval 1.92-2.90)]. However, there were no significant associations between program-level resident wellness and any of the independently, objectively measured postoperative American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality improvement Program outcomes examined. CONCLUSIONS Although surgical residents with poor wellness were more likely to self-report a harmful medical error, there was not a higher rate of objectively reported outcomes for surgical patients treated at hospitals with higher rates of burnout or poor psychiatric well-being.
SCARL: Side-Channel Analysis with Reinforcement Learning on the Ascon Authenticated Cipher

Existing side-channel analysis techniques require a leakage model, in the form of a prior knowledge or a set of training data, to establish a relationship between the secret data and the measurements. We introduce side-channel analysis with reinforcement learning (SCARL) capable of extracting data-dependent features of the measurements in an unsupervised learning approach without requiring a prior knowledge on the leakage model. SCARL consists of an auto-encoder to encode the information of power measurements into an internal representation, and a reinforcement learning algorithm to extract information about the secret data. We employ a reinforcement learning algorithm with actor-critic networks, to identify the proper leakage model that results in maximum inter-cluster separation of the auto-encoder representation. SCARL assumes that the lower order components of a generic non-linear leakage model have larger contribution to the leakage of sensitive data. On a lightweight implementation of the Ascon authenticated cipher on the Artix-7 FPGA, SCARL is able to recover the secret key using 24K power traces during the key insertion, or Initialization Stage, of the cipher. We also demonstrate that classical techniques such as DPA and CPA fail to identify the correct key using traditional linear leakage models and more than 40K power traces.
Una nota sobre los bancos centrales en el centro y en la periferia: estancamiento secular y restricción externa

Historically, central banks have been instruments of economic development, yet in developed countries their position as guardians of macroeconomic orthodoxy and price stability has taken a predominant role In an interconnected world, this limits the ability of central banks to play the same role in developing countries that their peers in developed countries played in the past This article discusses the limits of modern central banks in the context of supposed secular stagnation, and the renewed external problem that some developing countries are facing as the commodity price super- cycle ends Recently, however, all of this has been complicated in the short term by the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis © 2020 Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico All rights reserved