cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Two concerns about NBTI issue: gate dielectric scaling and increasing gate current

In order to obtain a clear perspective concerning the negative bias temperature instability (NBTI) issue toward 65-nm-node and beyond, (1) the impact of thinning gate dielectric on the basic mechanism of NBTI and (2) the influence of gate electron current on NBTI degradation rate have been investigated. Both were studied with focus on the hydrogen release reaction. This is believed to be the origin of NBTI. By studying the diffusion behavior of released hydrogen, we have clarified that our experimental results of NBTI degradation obtained under voltage-accelerated conditions can be explained by the widely accepted diffusion-controlled model without taking the influence of the gate electrode interface into account even in the case of sub-nm SiON gate dielectrics. However, from numerical calculations, it has been shown that the effect of the gate electrode interface on the diffusion behavior of released hydrogen should be taken care of at stress voltage as low as that of practical operation. In particular, the possibility of NBTI worsening due to thinning gate dielectric has been suggested especially for low stress voltage. To foresee this NBTI worsening and to evaluate NBTI lifetime precisely, we have proposed temperature-acceleration test instead of voltage-acceleration test. Next, by studying NBTI of n+gate-pMOSFET in which the influence of gate electron current is dramatically emphasized, it has been examined whether electron current flowing through gate dielectric will affect NBTI or not. Although the primary driving force of NBTI is considered to be the electric field, electron tunneling current that flows under NBT stress has been shown to worsen NBTI via the suppression of the reverse reaction of hydrogen release.
Sidetrack and Recompletion Risks in Oil Fields. VIII. Reviving the Nearly Dead.

The decision to undertake rejuvenation of an oilfield that is close to extinction depends on the estimates that one makes of the likely enhanced reserves to be recovered by such a treatment relative to the proven reserves that are still producible. One trades certainty of returns, albeit small, for uncertain returns that could be significant relative to the small residual oil being produced. In addition, there is always the chance that undertaking the rejuvenation of the nearly dead field will be unsuccessful and /or kill the current known production. This paper shows how one can assess the best course of action to take dependent on the range of uncertainty for the estimated rejuvenation production and also dependent on the estimates of both a successful rejuvenation treatment and the chances of killing the known production. Sensitivity charts show which parameter is causing the greatest uncertainty in estimates of total worth both with and without the rejuvenation treatment and, therefore, where one should concentrate in order to narrow the range of uncertainty of likely profit. The decision to revive the nearly dead, or let natural death take its course for an almost exhausted production, can then be made with a greater certainty that a rejuvenation attempt will produce more worthwhile gains. Several numerical illustrations are given to illuminate these points.
Utilizing prior information to enhance self-supervised aerial image analysis for extracting parking lot structures

Road network information (RNI) simplifies autonomous driving by providing strong priors about driving environments. Its usefulness has been demonstrated in the DARPA Urban Challenge. However, the need to manually generate RNI prevents us from fully exploiting its benefits. We envision an aerial image analysis system that automatically generates RNI for a route between two urban locations. As a step toward this goal, we present an algorithm that extracts the structure of a parking lot visible in an aerial image. We formulate this task as a problem of parking spot detection because extracting parking lot structures is closely related to detecting all of the parking spots. To minimize human intervention in use of aerial imagery, we devise a self-supervised learning algorithm that automatically obtains a set of canonical parking spot templates to learn the appearance of a parking lot and estimates the structure of the parking lot from the learned model. The data set extracted from a single image alone is too small to sufficiently learn an accurate parking spot model. To remedy this insufficient positive data problem, we utilize self-supervised parking spots obtained from other aerial images as prior information and a regularization technique to avoid an overfitting solution.
Regulation of the Helicobacter pylori Fe-S Cluster Synthesis Protein NifS by Iron, Oxidative Stress Conditions, and Fur

Transcription of both chromosomal and extrachromosomally introduced nifS was regulated (up-expressed) by oxygen or by supplemental iron conditions. This up-expression was not observed in a fur mutant strain background or when an iron chelator was added. Iron-bound Fur (but not apo-Fur) recognized the nifS promoter, and Fur bound significantly farther upstream (-155 bp to -190 bp and -210 to -240 bp) in the promoter than documented Helicobacter pylori Fur binding regions. This binding was stronger than Fur recognition of the flgE or napA promoter and includes a Fur recognition sequence common to the H. pylori pfr and sodB upstream areas. Studies of Fur-regulated genes in H. pylori have indicated that apo-Fur acts as a repressor, but our results demonstrate that iron-bound Fur activates (nifS) transcription.
The impact of FOMC statements on the volatility of asset prices

This article examines the impact of Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) statements on asset prices. Statements are found to have a much more pronounced impact on the volatility of asset prices than interest rate surprises. They influence primarily stock returns, intermediate and long-term yields, whereas short-term rates are driven both by statements and by interest rate surprises. We also find that the regime shift of May 1999 has improved the effectiveness of monetary policy, as reflected in an overall reduction in market volatility during the most recent regime. In addition, markets are equally well-prepared for the upcoming rate decision in both regimes, but the process of adjustment depends on whether a statement was issued in the old regime or not. When a statement is issued, price adjustments are very similar across both periods, whereas if no statement is issued then the rate of adjustment towards the new value is more gradual and occurs throughout the entire intermeeting period.
Learning Communities: A Business School Perspective

This paper discusses the organization and operation of a university learning community program at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG). After several years, the program administrator and certain of the faculty and staff reflected on the achievements of the program. The learning community concept is discussed as well as the nature of the learning activities both general and those specific to the business school. The program reported higher levels of student retention and students reported higher involvement in leadership skill development and the UNCG community than students who were not in the learning community program.
IN-SITU OBSERVATIONS: PLATFORMS AND TECHNIQUES

In-situ observations and satellite remote sensing together need to be viewed as an integrated system to provide observational data required by operational ocean modelling and forecasting. This chapter outlines the methods and platforms available to operational oceanography and how they complement remote sensing and each other.
The impact of physiological crowding on the diffusivity of membrane bound proteins

Diffusion of transmembrane and peripheral membrane-bound proteins within the crowded cellular membrane environment is essential to diverse biological processes including cellular signaling, endocytosis, and motility. Nonetheless we presently lack a detailed understanding of the influence of physiological levels of crowding on membrane protein diffusion. Utilizing quantitative in vitro measurements, here we demonstrate that the diffusivities of membrane bound proteins follow a single linearly decreasing trend with increasing membrane coverage by proteins. This trend holds for homogenous protein populations across a range of protein sizes and for heterogeneous mixtures of proteins of different sizes, such that protein diffusivity is controlled by the total coverage of the surrounding membrane. These results demonstrate that steric exclusion within the crowded membrane environment can fundamentally limit the diffusive rate of proteins, regardless of their size. In cells this "speed limit" could be modulated by changes in local membrane coverage, providing a mechanism for tuning the rate of molecular interaction and assembly.
Mechanism of enhanced eosinophil survival in inflammation.

In this issue of Blood , [Schwartz et al][1] identify the nuclear factor (NF)-κB/Bcl-xL pathway as critical for regulation of eosinophil survival in inflammatory conditions.[1][2] ![Figure][3] Eosinophils. (A) Schematic representation of consequences of eosinophil life or death in
Role of nitrite in cured meat flavor: A review

Little is known about the mechanism of the reactions leading to formation of cured meat flavor or of the identity of volatile and non-volatile substances responsible for it. This review of the contribution of nitrite to cured meat flavor in products such as ham, bacon and frankfurters includes sensory analyses and studies of the chemical components contributing to cured meat flavor. The antioxidant properties of nitrite in retarding development of warmed-over flavor in cured meats are also discussed.
A Goal Congruity Model of Role Entry, Engagement, and Exit: Understanding Communal Goal Processes in STEM Gender Gaps

The goal congruity perspective provides a theoretical framework to understand how motivational processes influence and are influenced by social roles. In particular, we invoke this framework to understand communal goal processes as proximal motivators of decisions to engage in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). STEM fields are not perceived as affording communal opportunities to work with or help others, and understanding these perceived goal affordances can inform knowledge about differences between (a) STEM and other career pathways and (b) women's and men's choices. We review the patterning of gender disparities in STEM that leads to a focus on communal goal congruity (Part I), provide evidence for the foundational logic of the perspective (Part II), and explore the implications for research and policy (Part III). Understanding and transmitting the opportunities for communal goal pursuit within STEM can reap widespread benefits for broadening and deepening participation.
Business Reengineering is Not New

Serious beginnings of business reengineering are traced back to around 1973. Particular attention is given to the interpretation of business reengineering as the application of a decision-making paradigm to the design of organizations. Some guidelines for introducing this paradigm into an organization are listed.
E2F-3 accumulation is regulated by polypeptide stability

E2F is a complex family of transcription factors which appears to regulate the transcription of genes required for the S phase of the mammalian cell cycle. In the present work, we have examined the mechanisms regulating E2F-3 accumulation in mouse fibroblasts. We have determined that E2F-3 DNA binding activity is restricted to the G1/S transition and S phase in both normal BALB/c-3T3 fibroblasts and in an SV40 virus-transformed BALB/c-3T3 derivative. Immunoblot analysis indicates that G0 and G1 cells have little or no E2F-3 polypeptide and that the increase in the DNA binding activity of E2F-3 at the G1/S boundary is reflected by an increase in total E2F-3 protein. In contrast to the E2F-3 polypeptide, RNAse protection assays demonstrate that the E2F-3 mRNA is clearly present in G0 and G1 cells. Finally, pulse/chase experiments indicate that the half-life of E2F-3 is approximately 40-fold greater in cells blocked in S phase relative to asynchronously growing cells. Together, these results indicate that the accumulation E2F-3 at S phase may be regulated, at least in part, at the level of protein stability.
A review of lesions in the optic fundus in various diseases of the blood.

1. The frequency of retinopathy as seen on an active hematologic service in a two year period is reported. The report is based on the findings in 50 patients who had retinopathy associated with a blood disorder. 2. The occurrence of retinopathy in the course of leukemia did not significantly alter the mortality or duration of illness. 3. Anemia, thrombocytopenia, septicemia and immaturity of the leukocytes appear to be the most important factors in the production of retinopathy in hematologic diseases. 4. The various retinal lesions are illustrated in photographs. Perivascular sheathing was seen only in chronic granulocytic leukemia. Otherwise, retinopathy was not specific for any particular blood disorder.
Nanoparticle-Assisted Removal of Protein in Human Serum for Metabolomics Studies

Among human body fluids, serum plays a key role for diagnostic tests and, increasingly, for metabolomics analysis. However, the high protein content of serum poses significant challenges for nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabolomics studies because it can strongly interfere with metabolite signal detection and quantitation. Although several methods for protein removal have been proposed, including ultrafiltration and organic-solvent-induced protein precipitation, there is currently no standard operating procedure for the elimination of protein from human serum samples. Here, we introduce novel procedures for the removal of protein from serum by the addition of nanoparticles. It is demonstrated how serum protein can be efficiently, cost-effectively, and environmentally friendly removed at physiological pH (pH 7.4) through attractive interactions with silica nanoparticles. It is further shown how serum can be processed with nanoparticles prior to ultrafiltration or organic-solvent-induced protein precipitation for optimal protein removal. After examination of all of the procedures, the combination of nanoparticle treatment and ultrafiltration is found to have a minimal effect on the metabolite content, leading to remarkably clean homo- and heteronuclear NMR spectra of the serum metabolome that compare favorably to other methods for protein removal.
Climbing vines and forest edges affect tree growth and mortality in temperate forests of the U.S. Mid-Atlantic States.

Abstract In tropical forests, climbing vines are known to affect forest structure, composition, and processes, but the role of climbing vines in temperate forests is less well understood. In the tropics, climbing vine abundance appears to be increasing in most forest ecosystems, and a key driver of this trend is forest fragmentation and the creation of edge habitat. In this paper, we use a forest vegetation dataset collected in National Park Service units in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States to ask how climbing vines affect tree growth and mortality. Many of the most successful exotic plant invasions in the Mid-Atlantic region have been climbing vine species, and exotic plant abundance is often positively related to edge habitat. Therefore, we also examined how forest edges influence temporal and spatial patterns in vine recruitment to trees and compared patterns for native and exotic vines. We found that both the proportion of trees with vines and the average number of vine species on each tree is increasing in our study area, and that recruitment of climbing vines on trees is greatest near forest edges. Trees are more likely to recruit a new native vine species than they are to recruit a new exotic vine species, although this is likely due to native vines being more widespread and abundant at the start of this study. Recruitment of both exotic and native vines is highest near forest edges, although compared to native vines, recruitment of exotic vines is constrained to a narrower zone near forest edges. Finally, climbing vines in a tree’s crown reduce tree growth, particularly for large trees, and vines in the crown reduce tree survivorship particularly near forest edges. Given that the proportion of trees with vines is increasing, even small impacts of vines on tree demographics are likely to result in long-term changes in forest structure, composition, and process. Over time, the greater recruitment of climbing vines and higher tree mortality observed near forest edges may result in receding edges and diminishing size of remnant forest patches, posing grave threats to small urban forests. Active management of climbing vines near forest edges may mitigate these threats.
Cold plasma application in cancer therapy

Plasma medicine is a relatively new field that outgrew from research in application of low-temperature (or cold) atmospheric plasmas in bioengineering. One of the most promising applications of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) is the cancer therapy. Convincing evidence of CAP selectivity towards the cancel cells has been accumulated. This talk will summarize the state of the art of this emerging field presenting various aspects of CAP application in cancer such as role of reactive species (reactive oxygen and nitrogen), cell cycle modification, in vivo application, CAP interaction with cancer cells in conjunction with nanoparticles, computational oncology applied to CAP.
Victim Impact Statements and Expressive Punishment in the Age of Social Media

Victim impact statements (VIS) are long-disfavored among legal commentators for allegedly injecting unnecessary, negative emotion into sentencing at the expense of the defendant, with ambiguous informational benefits to the sentencing body. Most traditional arguments both for and against VIS turn on purely retributive or utilitarian grounds. This essay takes up the Stanford sexual assault victim’s statement to propose an expressive framework for understanding the function of VIS, which resolves much of the theoretical confusion surrounding the traditional justifications. I show how the expressive goals of criminal punishment have long been distorted by the mediation of traditional news reporting. I then analyze the legal relevance of the particular criminological values expressed in the Stanford statement to show how unmediated victim narratives may counterbalance media distortion, particularly in the age of social media transmission. I conclude that the criminal justice system better serves its expressive function by formally incorporating VIS into sentencing.
Abdominal Wall Reconstruction Using Retrorectus Self-adhering Mesh: A Novel Approach.

BACKGROUND In abdominal wall reconstruction, the retrorectus plane offers an ideal location for mesh placement. Mesh fixation in this plane is often achieved using transfascial sutures, which risks entrapping intercostal nerves and causing significant pain, and takes time to place. A novel alternative is the use of sutureless self-adhering mesh. Although the use of this mesh in inguinal hernias has been well described, studies on its use in abdominal wall reconstruction are lacking. METHODS Consecutive patients who underwent ventral hernia repair with retrorectus mesh were reviewed. This included patients who received transfascially sutured mesh and those who received sutureless self-adhering mesh. All patients were followed up for at least 12 months. The amount of narcotics required by each patient postoperatively was calculated. Surgical-site occurrences (SSOs) and hernia recurrence and bulge were measured. RESULTS Twenty-six patients underwent abdominal wall reconstruction with retrorectus mesh. This included 12 patients with transfascially sutured mesh and 14 patients with self-adhering mesh. Mean follow-up was 600 days. Baseline characteristics were similar between the 2 groups. Patients receiving self-adhering mesh required significantly less narcotics than patients with transfascially sutured mesh. There were no significant differences in the rate of SSOs between the 2 groups. No hernia recurrences, bulges, or chronic pain occurred in either group. CONCLUSIONS This is the first study to compare the outcomes of retrorectus self-adhering mesh and transfascially sutured mesh in abdominal wall reconstruction. Our results show low rates of SSO, recurrence, and bulge with both options, with significantly less acute pain with self-adhering mesh.
Audience Validation from Demographic Mix and Insufficient Individual Data

An advertiser usually provides a specific demographic target to a content publisher. But due to the limited profile information on each viewer, the publisher suffers from low accuracy in targeting. Once an advertisement is shown to viewers, a third party (like Nielsen, Comscore) validates how close the publisher was to the target audience. Publisher also receives the demographic mix of each show from the third party. Low accuracy in targeting is expensive as the publisher gets paid only for the impressions which were on target. In this work, we propose a new approach to incorporate user level latent features developed from the show-wise demographic mix provided by the third party, along with session level features of viewers to improve the demographic predictions. In congruence with current industry practice, we train our model on a small labeled demographic segment and establish the effectiveness of our approach over existing approaches through experiments.
The Effect of Pelvic Tilt and Femoral Head Size on Hip Range-of-Motion to Impingement.

Abstract Background About 50%-70% of dislocators have cups placed within so-called “safe zones.” It has been postulated that factors such as femoral head size and pelvic tilt, obliquity, or rotation may influence postoperative stability. Therefore, we assessed varying degrees of pelvic tilt and head sizes on the range of motion (ROM) to impingement. Methods A hip simulator was used to import models of 10 subjects who performed object pickup, squatting, and low-chair rising. Parameters were set for pelvic tilt, stem version, and the specific motions as defined by the subjects. Femur-to-pelvis relative motions were determined for abduction/adduction, internal/external rotation, and flexion/extension. Varying tilt angles were tested. Thirty-two millimeter and 36-mm head with a standard cup and 42-mm dual mobility cup were tested. Cup orientations for abduction and anteversion combinations were chosen, and computations of minimum clearances or impingement between components were made. Results The ROM to impingement varied with the different pelvic tilts and femoral head sizes and with the different motions. The larger the head size, the larger the impingement-free ROM. Negative 10° of pelvic tilt led to the largest impingement-free zone, whereas 10° of forward tilt was associated with fewer impingement-free cup anteversion and abduction angle combinations. Variations in pelvic tilt had the greatest influence on object pickup and affected the impingement-free “safe zone.” Conclusion Targets for impingement-free motion may be smaller when considering varying pelvic tilts and femoral head sizes, particularly for certain activities, such as object pickup. These findings may indicate the need for more individualized patient planning.
Solving the Spent Nuclear Fuel Problem by Fissioning Transuranics in Subcritical Advanced Burner Reactors Driven by Tokamak Fusion Neutron Sources

AbstractThe Georgia Tech concept of the Subcritical Advanced Burner Reactor (SABR) spent nuclear fuel (SNF) transmutation reactor and supporting analyses to date are summarized. SABR is based on the fast reactor physics and technology prototyped in Experimental Breeder Reactor-II (EBR-II) and proposed for the Integral Fast Reactor and the PRISM Reactor and on the tokamak fusion neutron source physics and technology that will be prototyped in ITER. Preliminary fuel cycle calculations indicate that subcritical operation would enable a proliferation-resistant fuel reprocessing cycle that would safely accommodate fuel with up to 100% TRU content and that introduction of SABRs in a 1-to-3 power ratio with light water reactors would reduce the required SNF high-level waste repository capacity (defined on the basis of decay heat released) by a factor of 10 to 100. Preliminary dynamic safety calculations indicate that SABRs could be shut down to the decay heat level by turning off the plasma heating power without...
Is Midtrimester Cervical Length Associated with Preterm Birth in Women Evaluated for Preterm Labor

Objective This article aims to evaluate whether midtrimester cervical length (CL) is associated with improved prediction of preterm delivery in women presenting with preterm labor. Study Design This is a retrospective cohort study of women with a singleton gestation who underwent routine CL screening between 18 and 24 weeks of gestation between 2010 and 2014 who were later evaluated for preterm labor. Women were stratified by midtrimester CL quartile. Bivariable and multivariable analyses were performed to identify factors independently associated with preterm birth Results A total of 460 women were evaluated for preterm labor and had midtrimester CL measurements available. When CL quartile was incorporated into a regression model including demographic and clinical characteristics associated with preterm birth, the area under the ROC curve was not improved (0.775 vs. 0.786, p = 0.20). Conclusion While a shorter midtrimester CL quartile is associated with an increased incidence of preterm delivery in women evaluated for preterm labor, the addition of this variable to an existing model does not improve prediction of preterm birth.
Neurophysiological and Anatomical Interrelationships of the Basal Ganglia

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the knowledge regarding relationships of the neurophysiology and anatomy of the basal ganglia in adult animals, with the implications of this knowledge for studies in normal and abnormal aspects of the developmental process. It also focuses on the basal ganglia, a group of telencephalic and diencephalic nuclei that include the caudate nucleus, putamen, globus pallidus, substantia nigra, and the interconnections of these structures.. To understand the neurophysiology of the basal ganglia, basal ganglionic functions in the developing organism are stressed. For this, the chapter explains the intrinsic activity of caudate and pallidal neurons, and the responses that can be evoked in these neurons by stimulation of their afferents. The chapter also focuses on non-motoric aspects of ganglionic function.
Automorphisms of Free Groups and Outer Space

This is a survey of recent results in the theory of automorphism groups of finitely-generated free groups, concentrating on results obtained by studying actions of these groups on Outer space and its variations.
CloudCmp: shopping for a cloud made easy

Cloud computing has gained much popularity recently, and many companies now offer a variety of public cloud computing services, such as Google Ap-pEngine, Amazon AWS, and Microsoft Azure. These services differ in service models and pricing schemes, making it challenging for customers to choose the best suited cloud provider for their applications. This paper proposes a framework called CloudCmp to help a customer select a cloud provider. We outline the design of CloudCmp and highlight the main technical challenges. CloudCmp includes a set of benchmarking tools that compare the common services offered by cloud providers, and uses the benchmarking results to predict the performance and costs of a customer's application when deployed on a cloud provider. We present preliminary benchmarking results on three representative cloud providers. These results show that the performance and costs of various cloud providers differ significantly, suggesting that CloudCmp, if implemented, will have practical relevance.
Evaluating the efficacy of best practice alerts to improve Clostridium difficile early detection in hospital settings: A 6-month interim analysis of the 2-year prospective study.

Introduction: Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a leading cause of hospital-associated gastrointestinal illness with high burden on the health-care system. Design: Observational, retrospective, prospective, pre- and post-intervention study on the incidence and prevalence rates of CDIs. The primary outcome is the healthcare-onset CDIs (HO-CDIs) incidence rate and proportion. Methods: Best practice alerts (BPAs) for CDI were developed in electronic medical records and released on July 13, 2016. When high-risk patients for CDI are identified, BPAs are triggered requiring nurses to order contact isolation and stool studies followed by other subsequent BPAs encouraging providers to de-escalate antibiotics and order probiotics. Data on admission count, patient-days, CDIs categories prevalence, and incidence rates were collected for the 24-month preintervention and will be collected for the 24-month postintervention period. Results: An interim analysis comparing the data from the first 6-month postintervention period with the average 6-month data of the preintervention period showed that short-term BPAs use is associated with significant increase in the overall CDI infection rate (71.47 vs. 38.38, P
Evaluation of a multiplex liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for congenital adrenal hyperplasia in pediatric patients

Abstract Multiplexed adrenal steroid measurement provides critical diagnostic information for patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) as confirmation of newborn screening (NBS) or as initial diagnosis. This study reports the implementation of an adrenal steroid profiling method with a turnaround time (TAT) of less than 24 h using liquid chromatography and tandem-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). A lab-developed multiplexed LC-MS/MS assay was used to quantify levels of 11-deoxycortisol, cortisol, 17-hydroxy-progesterone (17-OHP), androstenedione, and testosterone. Intra and interassay imprecision were found to be 0.990. Linearity ranges were established from the lowest to upper limit calibrator concentrations with 100- to 800-fold maximum dilution. Run to run carryover was
Equine and Bovine Oocyte Maturation in a Novel Medium Without CO2 Gas Phase

Abstract Routinely, immature equine oocytes are placed in complex or simple embryo holding media (HM) at room temperature overnight, followed by a CO2 phase incubation before intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and culture. The present study's objectives were to (1) evaluate effects of a novel shipping/maturation medium without CO2 phase (EqMM) on oocyte developmental and metabolic competence using bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes for initial validation and (2) evaluate developmental competence of immature equine oocytes matured in EqMM in a clinical program. In experiment 1, bovine oocytes were aspirated from follicles of abattoir-derived ovaries, matured for 22–24 hours in M199 at 6% CO2 in air (control-M), or in EqMM in a portable incubator at 38.5°C in atmospheric air, fertilized in vitro, and cultured for 7.5 days. Cleavage and blastocyst rates were evaluated and a subset of blastocysts were stained for lipid content or for mitochondrial activity. In experiment 2, immature equine oocytes recovered by ovum pick up were placed either in EqMM for 30 hours at 38.5°C in atmospheric air, or in HM for 18 hours at 23°C and then in control-M for 30 hours followed by ICSI and cultured for 8 days. Resulting blastocysts were transferred into recipients. In experiment 1, cleavage, blastocyst rates, and lipid content were similar for control-M and EqMM groups. However, mitochondrial activity was higher in embryos obtained in EqMM. In experiment 2, for EqMM and control-M, maturation, cleavage, blastocyst, and pregnancy rates were similar. In conclusion, EqMM supports developmental competence of bovine and equine immature oocytes without CO2 gas phase.
Exposure of urban food–energy–water (FEW) systems to water scarcity

Abstract Income and population growth increase demands for commodities such as food, energy, and water in cities. Water resources are used outside of cities to produce the food and energy goods that are eventually consumed in cities. In this way, urban water scarcity is impacted directly by local water shortages and indirectly by water scarcity in locations along the supply chain. Both direct and indirect water scarcity risks have important implications for urban water, food, and energy security. In this study, we develop a novel metric of the urban food–energy–water (FEW) nexus that quantifies both direct and indirect water scarcity exposure to urban areas. We quantify and visualize direct and indirect FEW water scarcity for 69 metropolitan statistical areas within the continental United States. We show that cities typically import commodities from nearby locations with similar water resource constraints, and generally have similar local and indirect water scarcity. In particular, cities in the western United States have scarce local water resources and also import commodities from other water-scarce western locations. This study improves our understanding of water scarcity exposure of critical food and energy resources in U.S. urban areas, enabling policy makers to improve the reliability of urban food and energy receipts.
Connecting Art Images and Bibliographic Data: Creating a Tool for Distance Education through Collaboration.

About the only way a small non-profit art museum and its library can hope to create and disseminate information about both its art and bibliographic collections is through collaboration and co-operation. The Akron Art Museum, the University of Akron Libraries, and OhioLink (the state-wide library and multimedia consortium) joined forces to compile the necessary records, images and software to connect information in the museum library’s catalogue to image files, and other biographic and bibliographic databases. Selected portions of the newly created resources are refashioned and merged with web-based lesson plans for use within the museum itself, out in the greater metropolitan area, and wherever Internet-based web resources can reach.
An Analysis of Nonsignificant Results in Audiology Using Bayes Factors

Purpose Null hypothesis significance testing is commonly used in audiology research to determine the presence of an effect. Knowledge of study outcomes, including nonsignificant findings, is important for evidence-based practice. Nonsignificant p values obtained from null hypothesis significance testing cannot differentiate between true null effects or underpowered studies. Bayes factors (BFs) are a statistical technique that can distinguish between conclusive and inconclusive nonsignificant results, and quantify the strength of evidence in favor of 1 hypothesis over another. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of BFs in nonsignificant results in audiology research and the strength of evidence in favor of the null hypothesis in these results. Method Nonsignificant results mentioned in abstracts of articles published in 2018 volumes of 4 prominent audiology journals were extracted (N = 108) and categorized based on whether BFs were calculated. BFs were calculated from nonsignificant t tests within this sample to determine how frequently the null hypothesis was strongly supported. Results Nonsignificant results were not directly tested with BFs in any study. Bayesian re-analysis of 93 nonsignificant t tests found that only 40.86% of findings provided moderate evidence in favor of the null hypothesis, and none provided strong evidence. Conclusion BFs are underutilized in audiology research, and a large proportion of null findings were deemed inconclusive when re-analyzed with BFs. Researchers are encouraged to use BFs to test the validity and strength of evidence of nonsignificant results and ensure that sufficient sample sizes are used so that conclusive findings (significant or not) are observed more frequently. Supplemental Material https://osf.io/b4kc7/.
P-0199 Mechanisms Mediating The Negative Interaction Between Oxaliplatin and Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Inhibitors in Patients With KRAS Mutant Colorectal Cancer

ABSTRACT Introduction Platinum agents are a standard of care for the treatment of many cancers. Phase 3 trials have shown that patients (pts) with mutant (MT) KRAS tumors have shorter progression-free survival and overall survival when panitumumab or cetuximab is added to oxaliplatin (Ox)-containing chemotherapy (CT). This negative interaction has not been observed in pts with wild-type (WT) KRAS tumors receiving an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor and platinum-CT or with MT KRAS tumors receiving an EGFR inhibitor with irinotecan. Our goal was to understand the pharmacodynamic interaction between EGFR inhibitors and Ox in KRAS MT colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. Methods Isogenic MT and WT KRAS-expressing HCT116 CRC cells were treated with Ox, SN-38 (the active metabolite of irinotecan), panitumumab, gefitinib, or inhibitors of MEK, PI3K or Src as single agents or in combination. Viability was measured using an ATPlite assay. Cellular distribution of EGFR was visualized by a confocal microscopy. Downstream activation of MAPK and PI3K was detected by Western blotting. Results Treatment with gefitinib, but not panitumumab, reversed the anti-proliferative effects of Ox in the MT KRAS-expressing CRC cells vs Ox alone (p Conclusion Feedback though AKT may contribute to the increased resistance to Ox in KRAS MT cells. Inhibitors of MEK, PI3K, or Src reversed the negative interaction between the EGFR inhibitors and Ox in a MT-KRAS genetic background.
Genetics of Circadian and Sleep Measures in Adults: Implications for Sleep Medicine

In this review, we comprehensively discuss recent reports of heritability and genetic associations using candidate gene and genome-wide association (GWA) approaches in circadian and sleep phenotypes in adults, including chronotype (morningness-eveningness), sleep duration and daytime sleepiness, circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders, and insomnia. Recent findings derive from GWA studies with objective measures and candidate gene studies examining the role of genetic ancestry and health disparities for sleep and circadian measures. The discovery of key, novel genetic markers using various methods has critical implications for future research in terms of identification, treatment, and countermeasures in the field of sleep medicine.
Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging (FLIm) for intraoperative pathology detection in transoral robotic surgery (Conference Presentation)

In this work, we evaluate the potential for Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging (FLIm) to complement a surgeon's visual, endoscopic, and pathologic assessment of the adequacy of intraoperative tumor resection in clinical cancer applications of the oral cavity and oropharynx. Using a custom-built FLIm instrument during both non-robotic and robotic assisted surgical procedures, we show that intrapatient contrast between healthy and tumor tissue can be achieved intraoperatively in vivo prior to cancer resection with statistical significance (p<0.001) in 9/9 patients using at least 1/6 FLIm parameters, and ex vivo for surgically excised specimens (p<0.001) for 8/9 patients. We employ a multi-parameter linear discriminant analysis approach to demonstrate superior pathology discrimination ability through leveraging a weighted combination of all FLIm metrics. We also highlight interpatient comparisons to evaluate how FLIm signatures vary across different patients and disparate tissue anatomies.
Fast X-ray detectors based on bulk β-Ga 2 O 3 (Fe)

(010) EFG-grown Fe-doped β-Ga2O3 was tested as a low-noise X-ray detector with Ti/Au electrodes vertical structure. Its performance at low, high and no applied voltages was examined. The fabricated detector showed high X-ray detection performance manifested in its signal’s short fall and rise time ( 103). Moreover, the X-ray-induced current signal exhibits high stability. Sub-band UV photocurrent signal showed a significantly slower response compared to X-ray-induced conductivity signal. Possible charge transport mechanisms involving ion migration are suggested and discussed. In this study, Fe doping is shown to significantly improve X-ray detection performance of Ga2O3, consolidating the applicability of Ga2O3 as a next-generation X-ray detector functioning with low power, high SNR and linearity, and significantly improved transient characteristics.
An economic comparison of organic and conventional grain crops in a long-term agroecological research (LTAR) site in lowa

Based on the interest of organic and conventional farmers in Iowa in long-term analysis of organic systems, the Neely-Kinyon Long-Term Agroecological Research (LTAR) site was established in 1998 to examine the agronomic and economic performance of conventional and organic systems, using certified organic production practices. We report the results of the economic analysis from 3 years of production (1999–2001). Using organic price premiums for organic crops, returns for corn within the organic corn-soybean-oat and corn-soybean-oat-alfalfa rotations were significantly greater than conventional corn-soybean rotation returns (US$739 ha−1 for the organic com-soybean-oat-alfalfa rotation.
A contrast analysis of iodine nutrition levels of residents before and after implementing the new standard of iodized salt in Anyang of Henan Province

Objective To study the change of iodine nutrition levels of rural residents before and after implementing the new standard of iodized salt in Anyang, and to provide a theoretical basis for adjusting the strategy of prevention and treatment timely. Method Linzhou City, Tangyin County and Hua County were selected as three different water iodine concentration counties in Anyang City in 2009 (before mplementing the new standard of iodized salt) and 2013 (after implementing the new standard of iodized salt), the monitoring data which include water iodine of drinking-water, salt-iodine of households, urine iodine of children aged 8 to 10 and pregnant women were collected, compared and analyzed. Results The water iodine concentration range of Linzhou City, Tangyin County and Hua County in 2009 was 0.76-164.87 μg/L, the medians of water iodine were 1.18, 5.37 and 36.40 μg/L, respectively. The differences of water iodine of the three counties were statistically significant (χ2 = 52.60, P < 0.05). Totally 864 iodized salt samples were collected in 2009, the median of iodized salt was 30.94 mg/kg. Totally 298 and 155 urine samples of children and pregnant women were collected; the medians were 360.20 and 303.90 μg/L, respectively. Totally 900 iodized salt samples were collected in 2013, the median of iodized salt was 25.04 mg/kg. Totally 134 and 147 urine samples of children and pregnant women were collected; the medians were 209.55 and 185.80 μg/L, respectively. The resident iodine intake of children and pregnant women were lower than those of 2009 (Z =-8.51,-4.81, all P < 0.05) . Conclusion After implementing the new standard in Anyang City, the iodine intake of rural resident has decreased, the levels of urinary iodine of children and pregnant women have decreased to varying degrees, but the intake of normal population and special people has still reached the standard in general. Key words: Iodine; Deficiency diseases; Urine; Salts; Child; Pregnant women
Analyzing the economic impact of sustainable development programs in the Brazilian Amazon

Over the last forty years, the Brazilian Amazon has been the object of many development and industrialization programs. The vast majority of those programs have been “mega-projects” implemented by the Brazilian federal government. Recently, several states have implemented their own style of economic development programs in the Amazon. These smaller scale “local” sustainable development programs offer policy makers an alternative to the “mega-projects.” This paper seeks to identify the strengths and weaknesses of each economic development model. Additionally, this paper provides an economic impact analysis of one “local” sustainable development project, Projeto Castanha-do-Brasil. JEL Classification: Q01.
Machine Learning to Classify Intracardiac Electrical Patterns During Atrial Fibrillation: Machine Learning of Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Advances in ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) continue to be hindered by ambiguities in mapping, even between experts. We hypothesized that convolutional neural networks (CNN) may e...
Long-term association of parental warmth with depression and obesity: Mediation by conscientiousness.

Objective The current study examined the psychosocial processes related to the health outcomes of depression and obesity. Specifically, the mediating role of participant's trait conscientiousness on the relation between early experiences of paternal/maternal warmth and later depressive symptoms/obesity across 20 years and how this relationship is moderated by age across adulthood. Method The current study utilized a national longitudinal data set, Midlife in the United States. Participants (N = 2,257) completed a survey rating the warmth they received from their fathers and mothers as children at Time 1 (T1; Ages 25-75). Participants reported their trait conscientiousness 10 years later (Time 2; T2). Depressive symptoms and body mass index were collected 10 years later (Time 3; T3). A moderated mediation model was used to examine whether the effect of parental warmth on health outcomes was mediated by trait conscientiousness and moderated by age. Results An indirect effect of maternal warmth on depressive symptoms and obesity, mediated by conscientiousness, was found. This effect is moderated by age such that the indirect effect is stronger in older adults. While paternal warmth did not have a significant indirect effect on either depressive symptoms or obesity, the effect was not significantly different from the maternal indirect effect. Conclusion The study supported the role of trait conscientiousness in linking the effect of early parental warmth to later health outcomes. This study also found that the strength of the indirect effect of parental warmth through conscientiousness increases with age. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
A Case of Possible SARS-COV-2 Induced Beta-Cell Failure

Background: There are several known viral triggers of ketosis-prone diabetes, including SARS-1 and HHV-81,2. SARS-COV-2 can bind ACE-2 receptors on the beta-cell causing destruction and acute impairment of insulin secretion3. There is accruing evidence to suggest that COVID-19 infection can worsen preexisting diabetes or induce new disease4.
Critically Appraising Systematic Reviews in the Field of Speech-Language Pathology: A How-to Guide for Clinician Readers

Purpose This tutorial will provide speech-language pathologists with foundational knowledge about systematic reviews and their importance in everyday practice. It will also assist clinicians in dev...