cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
MOGAC: a multiobjective genetic algorithm for the co-synthesis of hardware-software embedded systems

In this paper, we present a hardware-software co-synthesis system, called MOGAC, that partitions and schedules embedded system specifications consisting of multiple periodic task graphs. MOGAC synthesizes real-time heterogeneous distributed architectures using an adaptive multiobjective genetic algorithm that can escape local minima. Price and power consumption are optimized while hard real-time constraints are met. MOGAC places no limit on the number of hardware or software processing elements in the architectures it synthesizes. Our general model for bus and point-to-point communication links allows a number of link types to be used in an architecture. Application-specific integrated circuits consisting of multiple processing elements are modeled. Heuristics are used to tackle multi-rate systems, as well as systems containing task graphs whose hyperperiods are large relative to their periods. The application of a multiobjective optimization strategy allows a single co-synthesis run to produce multiple designs which trade off different architectural features. Experimental results indicate that MOGAC has advantages over previous work in terms of solution quality and running time.
TESTICULAR VOLUME AND ASYMMETRY ARE AGE-DEPENDENT IN BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLERS (DENDROICA CAERULESCENS)

Abstract Passerine birds are favored models for studies of sperm competition and extrapair paternity, yet the intraspecific chronology of testicular maturation and its empirical and theoretical consequences in avian mating systems have been largely ignored. I analyzed age-dependent variation in testicular morphology in 25 breeding populations of the Black-throated Blue Warbler (Dendroica caerulescens) distributed throughout its geographic range in eastern North America. Yearlings (first breeding season) had significantly smaller testes than older males (≥2 years). Latitude, altitude, and Julian date had negligible effects on testicular morphology when effects of core body size were controlled. Preparator effects had significant influence on the estimation of testicular volume and asymmetry. Contrary to Moller's hypothesis that the smaller testis compensates for deficiencies in the larger, the volumes of the left and right testes were positively correlated in both yearlings and older males. Older males exh...
Alternative Therapies for the Prevention of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting.

Post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a complication affecting between 20% and 40% of all surgery patients, with high-risk patients experiencing rates of up to 80%. Recent studies and publications have shed light on the uses of alternative treatment for PONV, through their modulation of endogenous opioid neuropeptides and neurokinin ligands. In addition to reducing PONV, hypnosis was reported to be useful in attenuating postoperative pain, anxiety, and contributing to hemodynamic stability. Music therapy has been utilized to deepen the sedation level and decrease patient anxiety, antiemetic and analgesic requirements, hospital length of stay, and fatigue. Isopropyl alcohol and peppermint oil aromatherapy have both been used to reduce postoperative nausea. With correct training in traditional Chinese healing techniques, acupuncture (APu) at the P6 acupoint has also been shown to be useful in preventing early PONV, post-discharge nausea and vomiting, and alleviating of pain. Electro-acupuncture (EAPu), as with APu, provided analgesic and antiemetic effects through release of opioid neuropeptides and modulation. These non-pharmacological modalities of treatment contribute to an overall patient wellbeing, assisting in physical and emotional healing.
SINGLE-SUBJECT ANALYSES OF THREE STUDY METHODS

-Three common study methods (reading, reading with underlining, and rending with notetaking) were used by the same subject to study passages of text. T h e study methods had no differential effect on comprehension of the passages, even when time to study the passages was statistically controlled. Although study methods did not affect comprehension measured immediately after completion of each passage, there was evidence rhat these methods clifferentially affect long-term retention of information from the passages.
How people perceive environmental–security issues in Southern Africa: insights from political psychology

Environmental security is a term used by western government officials, policy analysts, and researchers to describe environmental problems that are related to national security. The principle concerns of western government officials and related research findings are summarized. To determine how individuals in developing country think about environmental and political problems, 64 "think–aloud" protocols and interviews with officials, researchers, and activists in Southern Africa were collected. These results indicate extensive overlap with the concerns expressed in the west. However, individuals in Southern Africa also identified a number of additional issues that were linked to sustainable development and the limited capacities of governments in the region. The significance of these findings for understanding how people think about environmental and political problems is discussed.
Genetic Evidence of Elimination of Chromosomes in the Hessian Fly

The characteristic difference in the physiological capacity of Races A and B of Mayetiola destructor (Say) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) to stunt ‘Monon’ wheat plants and to survive on the cultivar was used to obtain genetic evidence that paternally derived chromosomes are eliminated during spermatogenesis. Parents bred true; that is, matings of Race A produced progenies that were unable to live on or stunt Monon wheat plants, and matings of Race B produced progenies that could, but progenies of reciprocal matings between the races showed that the inability of Race A to stunt Monon wheat plants was dominant to the ability of Race B; also, the ability of the F1 hybrid progeny to survive on Monon wheat plants was intermediate between the inability of Race A and the ability of Race B. The phenotypes of the 2nd generation and the backcross progeny differed according to the heterozygosity and direction of cross of the F1 parents. Heterozygous females produced 2 kinds of gametes; homozygous females, homozygous males, and heterozygous males produced only 1 kind. The elimination of the paternally derived chromosomes was therefore demonstrated by the stunting of the wheat by progenies of the different matings and by larval survival and distribution of larval size.
Storage of Fish at a Temperature Near its Freezing Point

Papaya fruit bar (Thandra) was stored at room temperature (25-45°C) for nine months and the physico-chemical and microbiological changes were studied during the storage period. It was also stored at different temperatures and organoleptic changes were evaluated. Sensory evaluation of fruit bar revealed higher deterioration in colour, appearance and texture on 6 and 9 months storage at higher temperature. The losses of total carotenes. β-carotene and vitamin C were 54, 46 and 43%, at the end of the storage period. The products stored for 6 months were found to be superior from the textural and odour points of view and with minimum physico-chemical changes. Microbiological count was observed on 6 months storage and increased with increase in storage temperature. Equilibrium relative humidity studies revealed that 3 mil high density polyethylene could be used to store the product for 10 months.
A State Specialist’s Viewpoint

Abstract There have been few regional poultry programs in the western United States. California and Oregon have developed effective multicounty poultry programs. Experience in California shows that this can be effective in providing high-quality programs by the Cooperative Extension Service, programs that are relevant to the poultry industry. The most common problems are in communication between Extension Service advisors (agents) or specialists, county directors, and personnel in county government in order to maintain funding.
How Hydra Eats

Sheets of epithelial cells allow animal tissues to define inside and outside, and as such are arguably the fundamental building block of metazoan life. Because of this topological role, the folding, stretching, and on occasion disruption of epithelial sheets is a central feature of both embryonic development and tissue regeneration. In this study, Carter et al. (1) examine a particularly intriguing example of epithelial gymnastics, mouth opening in the freshwater polyp, Hydra vulgaris.
Analysis of food poisoning in Baoan district of Shenzhen city from 2007 to 2012

Objective Through analysis of the characteristics of food poisoning in Baoan district in recent years, we can provide a scientific basis for the prevention and control of food poisoning for the future. Method Statistical methods were used to analyze the data of food poisoning in Baoan district 2007-2012. Results During 2007-2012, there were 23 outbreak of food poisoning, 255 were food poisoned, and 4 people died. Food poisoning mainly occurred in canteens(11) accounted for47.8% of the total, causing 166 people poisoned, accounted for 65.1% of the total number of poisoning. Bacterial food poisoning(10) accounted for 43.5% of the total, causing 173 people poisoned, accounted for 67.8% of the total number of poisoning. Conclusion Increase in supervision of the canteens and increase in the awareness of food poisoning can effectively reduce the occurrence of food poisoning in Baoan district.
Present Situation and Analysis of Fuel Testing in Thermal Power Plant in China

This paper introduces the present situation of fuel testing in thermal power plant in China from three aspects of instrument equipment, standard application and personal quality.It is also pointed out the channels for solving problems, and made related suggestions.
A Potential Dispute Before The I.C.J. (Republic of Paraguay vs. The Italian Republic)

This paper discusses a potential case involving The Republic of Paraguay, The Italian Republic and Switzerland. It focuses on the I.C.J.'s suitability regarding economic/commercial disputes involving sovereigns. Also, it provides an analysis of the forum prorogatum doctrine and its application in the I.C.J. Finally, the paper suggests the course of action that, from the author's point of view, would be the best one for The Republic of Paraguay.
Fictions of identity: (Re)imagining the stories we tell

In Perceptions of Jewish History, Amos Funkenstein argues that Jews are caught in a continuous loop of telling and retelling Jewish history. Taking medieval reimaginings as a starting point, this essay maps this loop as expressing a resistance to temporal erasure by considering modern historical fiction that reimagines Jewish presence in annus domini temporality. In essence, modern Jewish writers populate history with Jewish characters in order to write Jewish presence into the medieval now of Christian time. This essay explores what is involved in balancing the historical record (where Jews are frequently subalterns and often oppressed victims of establishment authority) with a fictionalized history (where utopian visions of the past imagine a Jew who has agency and voice).
Coupled marginalized auto-encoders for cross-domain multi-view learning

In cross-domain learning, there is a more challenging problem that the domain divergence involves more than one dominant factors, e.g., different view-points, various resolutions and changing illuminations. Fortunately, an intermediate domain could often be found to build a bridge across them to facilitate the learning problem. In this paper, we propose a Coupled Marginalized Denoising Autoencoders framework to address the cross-domain problem. Specifically, we design two marginalized denoising auto-encoders, one for the target and the other for source as well as the intermediate one. To better couple the two denoising autoencoders learning, we incorporate a feature mapping, which tends to transfer knowledge between the intermediate domain and the target one. Furthermore, the maximum margin criterion, e.g., intra-class compactness and inter-class penalty, on the output layer is imposed to seek more discriminative features across different domains. Extensive experiments on two tasks have demonstrated the superiority of our method over the state-of-the-art methods.
International Sex Trafficking

ABSTRACTSex trafficking is a type of human trafficking that disproportionately affects girls and women. This article describes the scope of international sex trafficking, relying on global comparisons such as the U.S. Department of State’s Trafficking in Persons Report and empirical research with survivors in various regions. Although international sex trafficking is often attributed to poverty and underdevelopment alone, it is fostered by a more complex matrix of economic and cultural factors. I analyze trafficking through a feminist perspective, conceptualizing gender as a universal system of social classification that assigns greater power and status to men. Gender intersects with other systems of social dominance, such as caste, tribe, and ethnicity, to produce vulnerable populations of girls and women. To understand why trafficking happens, how to prevent it, and how to care for survivors, it is necessary to understand how the gender system works and how it intersects with other systems of domination...
Handbook of Psychopathology in Intellectual Disability: Research, Practice, and Policy, edited by Elias Tsakanikos and Jane McCarthy

In their introduction to Handbook of Psychopathology in Intellectual Disability: Research, Practice, and Policy, editors Elias Tsakanikos and Jane McCarthy state that their aim is to “provide a com...
The role of stromal cancer-associated fibroblasts in pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a lethal cancer generally refractory to conventional treatments. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are cellular components of the desmoplastic stroma characteristic to the tumor that contributes to this treatment resistance. Various markers for CAFs have been explored including palladin and CD146 that have prognostic and functional roles in the pathobiology of PDAC. Mechanisms of CAF-tumor cell interaction have been described including exosomal transfer and paracrine signaling mediated by cytokines such as GM-CSF and IL-6. The role of downstream signaling pathways including JAK/STAT, mTOR, sonic hedge hog (SHH), and NFkB have also been shown to play an important function in PDAC-CAF cross talk. The role of autophagy and other metabolic effects on each cell type within the tumor have also been proposed to play roles in facilitating CAF secretory function and enhancing tumor growth in a low-glucose microenvironment. Targeting the stroma has gained interest with multiple preclinical and clinical trials targeting SHH, JAK2, and methods of either exploiting the secretory capability of CAFs to enhance drug delivery or inhibiting it to prevent its influence on cancer cell chemoresistance. This review summarizes the most recent progress made in understanding stromal formation; its contribution to tumor proliferation, invasion, and metastasis; its role in chemoresistance; and potential therapeutic strategies on the horizon.
Breast Cancer Clinical Trial of Chemotherapy and Trastuzumab: Potential Tool to Identify Cardiac Modifying Variants of Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Doxorubicin and the ERBB2 targeted therapy, trastuzumab, are routinely used in the treatment of HER2+ breast cancer. In mouse models, doxorubicin is known to cause cardiomyopathy and conditional cardiac knock out of Erbb2 results in dilated cardiomyopathy and increased sensitivity to doxorubicin-induced cell death. In humans, these drugs also result in cardiac phenotypes, but severity and reversibility is highly variable. We examined the association of decline in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at 15,204 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) spanning 72 cardiomyopathy genes, in 800 breast cancer patients who received doxorubicin and trastuzumab. For 7033 common SNPs (minor allele frequency (MAF) > 0.01) we performed single marker linear regression. For all SNPs, we performed gene-based testing with SNP-set (Sequence) Kernel Association Tests: SKAT, SKAT-O and SKAT-common/rare under rare variant non-burden; rare variant optimized burden and non-burden tests; and a combination of rare and common variants respectively. Single marker analyses identified seven missense variants in OBSCN (p = 0.0045–0.0009, MAF = 0.18–0.50) and two in TTN (both p = 0.04, MAF = 0.22). Gene-based rare variant analyses, SKAT and SKAT-O, performed very similarly (ILK, TCAP, DSC2, VCL, FXN, DSP and KCNQ1, p = 0.042–0.006). Gene-based tests of rare/common variants were significant at the nominal 5% level for OBSCN as well as TCAP, DSC2, VCL, NEXN, KCNJ2 and DMD (p = 0.044–0.008). Our results suggest that rare and common variants in OBSCN, as well as in other genes, could have modifying effects in cardiomyopathy.
Coeliac disease and the videocapsule: what have we learned till now

Celiac disease is diagnosed in part by finding areas of pathology in the small bowel (SB) mucosa. This can often be difficult because the pathologic alterations, including atrophy of the small intestinal villi, can often be sparse and subtle. Some of the quantitative methods for detecting and measuring the presence of villous atrophy from videocapsule endoscopy (VCE) images are presented and discussed. These methods consist of static features of measurement including texture, gray level, and presence and abundance of fissures contained within each acquired image. The methods also consist of dynamic measurements including spectral analysis, and determining motion from a sequence of endoscopic images as obtained from a VCE clip. Thus far, several methods have been found useful to characterize the SB mucosa of untreated celiac disease patients versus control patients lacking villous atrophy, which have revealed significant differences in texture, frequency, and motion on analysis of VCE. In untreated celiac patients undergoing endoscopy, there tends to be greater magnitude of changes and spatial differences in textural descriptors, longer periodic components, indicating slower periodic activity, and differences in feature location, suggesting alterations in motility at areas of pathology as compared to patients without villous atrophy. Improvements in the quantitative analysis of VCE imaging in celiac patients is important to detect pathology in suspected patients, so that biopsies can be obtained from pertinent regions of the small intestinal mucosa. Improvements are also necessary so that patients with celiac disease can be monitored to evaluate the progress of mucosal healing after onset of treatment.
The “Loop” Diuretic Drug Bumetanide-Sensitive Na + -K + -Cl - Cotransporter in Cerebral Ischemia

The electroneutral Na+-K+-Cl– cotransporter (NKCC) transports Na+, K+, and Cl– into cells under physiological conditions with a stoichiometry of 1Na+:1 K+:2Cl–. NKCC is characteristically inhibited by the sulfamoylbenzoic acid “loop” diuretics, such as bumetanide. To date, only two distinct isoforms, NKCC1 and NKCC2, have been identified. NKCC1 has a broad tissue distribution, while the NKCC2 isoform is only found in vertebrate kidney. NKCC serves multiple functions, including ion and fluid movements in secreting or reabsorbing epithelia and cell volume regulation. Understanding the role of NKCC1 in the central nervous system has just begun. NKCC1 protein is expressed in neurons throughout the brain. NKCC1 is important in the maintenance of intracellular Cl– and contributes to γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-mediated depolarization in immature neurons. Expression of NKCC1 protein has also been found in astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. In addition to its role in accumulation of Cl-, NKCC1 may also contribute to K+ clearance and maintenance of intracellular Na+ in glia. Recent studies suggest that NKCC1 activation leads to high [K+]o-induced astrocyte swelling and glutamate release as well as neuronal Na+, and Cl- influx during acute excitotoxicity. Inhibition of NKCC1 activity significantly reduces infarct volume and cerebral edema following cerebral focal ischemia. Therefore, NKCC1 represents an attractive target for novel therapeutic strategies for various neurological disorders including stroke and epilepsy.
Failed Power Plant Turns Into Mass Murder: New Insight on Mitochondrial Cardiomyopathy.

Mitochondria are known as the powerhouse of the cell. For a high-energy–consuming organ, such as the heart, continuous ATP production via oxidative metabolism in the mitochondria is essential. Apart from ATP generation, mitochondria are also key to the regulation of cellular metabolism, calcium homeostasis, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation.1 Mitochondrial dysfunction has been strongly implicated in a variety of cardiovascular diseases including ischemic heart disease and heart failure. Furthermore, a large portion of mitochondrial disease patients, a condition caused by mutation of genes for mitochondrial proteins, develop cardiomyopathy indicating a causal role of mitochondria in cardiac dysfunction. Given its significant role in the pathogenesis and the current lack of effective therapy for mitochondrial dysfunction, there is a clear need for discovery and innovation in mitochondrial medicine.2,3 Article, see p 74 It is well established that the fetal heart relies heavily on glycolysis for energy metabolism. A switch from glycolysis to oxidative metabolism in the early postnatal period is associated with explosive mitochondrial biogenesis.4,5 The switch is critical for the postnatal maturation of the heart. Loss of PGC-1α/β (peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor gamma coactivator), the powerful transcriptional regulators of mitochondrial biogenesis, in perinatal and postnatal periods, results in lethal cardiomyopathy.6,7 The role of mitochondria in the embryonic cardiomyocytes is, however, less explored. Recent studies using pluripotent cell–derived cardiomyocytes have suggested intriguing functions of mitochondria beyond energy provision in the regulation of cardiomyocytes maturation.6,8–10 …
THE ORGANIZATION OF ASSOCIATIVE MEMORY WITH LAMINATION OF ELEMENTS

Article contains the description of parallel search in associative memory. Initial operands (words) гeceive a dual impression. The source text is presented in the form of a line or in the form of a matrix. The sample is presented by a two-dimensional form. It consists in splitting a sample into even and odd character sets. Addition of the second coordinate for a sample allows to execute the alternating development of symbols and provides the anticipatory analysis of symbols of a sample of rather next symbols.This feature of the form of a sample allows to process each character set parallely. Processing of character sets is carried out on bit cutoffs in the associative memory at the same time. For the hardware support of steps of retrieval operation the original structure of the associative memory is offered. The structure contains new communications between storage cells, two retrieval registers for storage of character sets and original a circuitry element for foliation of characters on sets.
Ovarian-Follicular Apparatus

The ovarian follicular apparatus is the functional unit of the ovary that is responsible for sex steroid production and reproductive function.
Defining and Measuring Target Behaviors

Once target behaviors—and any environmental events to be measured—have been identified for data collection, they should be defined explicitly, with the help of the child or adults involved, so the information will accurately reflect those behaviors. Each definition should be as objective as possible, referring to observable characteristics of the behavior or environment.
Pyramid algorithms on processor arrays

A class of adaptive grid size algorithms, called pyramid algorithms, have received much attention in recent years for computer vision applications. Special hardware architectures which are optimal for grid resolution transformations have been proposed to implement these algorithms. In this chapter analysis techniques are described which measure the effectiveness of different architectures. A comparison is made between the more conventional planar or flat architecture and the optimal pyramid architecture. It is shown that in many cases the additional hardware of the pyramid scheme offers little improvement in performance.
Integration of TED-Ed Lessons and TED and TEDx Talks to Enhance College Classroom Instruction

Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) obtained a TEDx license to offer educational events and additional learning resources to enhance college classroom instruction. TEDxFSCJ has organized annual conferences and salons with selected faculty, graduates, and students as speakers. This work presents how TEDxFSCJ Talks and other TEDx and TED Talks have been used to create innovative TED Ed Lessons as tools to expand learning beyond course content and textbooks. Innovative learning experiences include video discussions and roundtables, workshops for faculty to learn how to create TED Ed Lessons, workshops and mentoring to TEDxFSCJ speakers to create their own TED Ed Lessons, combined online discussions in different courses using TED Ed platform, interactive TEDxFSCJ Salons, simulcasts, Learning Adventures, and integration of all TED resources in blogs and Learning Management Systems. TEDxFSCJ Learning Adventures have been used in Management courses during academic year to plan and deliver team projects using selected talks related to leadership, social responsibility and Sustainable Development Goals. Results show that new TED Ed Lessons can be created to follow up engagement. Additionally, team projects in other disciplines can be developed using this innovative methodology. TED resources offer global learning opportunities to build engagement.
3,3′-(1-Oxopropane-1,3-di­yl)bis­(1,3-thia­zolidine-2-thione) chloro­benzene hemisolvate

The title compound, C9H12N2OS4·0.5C6H5Cl, which contains two 1,3-thia­zolidine-2-thione rings, is a by-product of the synthesis of 3-acryloyl-1,3-thia­zolidine-2-thione. The dihedral angle between these rings is 79.95 (9)°, with both rings displaying a twisted conformation. The twist angle of the amide group is 5.6 (1)°. In the crystal, the molecules are linked into [001] chains by C—H⋯O interactions. The chloro­benzene solvent mol­ecule was found to show unresolvable disorder about a centre of inversion and its contribution to the scattering was removed with the SQUEEZE option in PLATON [Spek (2009). Acta Cryst. D65, 148–155].
The joint contribution of participation and performance to learning functions: Exploring the effects of age in large-scale data sets

Large-scale data sets from online training and game platforms offer the opportunity for more extensive and more precise investigations of human learning than is typically achievable in the laboratory. However, because people make their own choices about participation, any investigation into learning using these data sets must simultaneously model performance-that is, the learning function-and participation. Using a data set of 54 million gameplays from the online brain training site Lumosity, we show that learning functions of participants are systematically biased by participation policies that vary with age. Older adults who are poorer performers are more likely to drop out than older adults who perform well. Younger adults show no such effect. Using this knowledge, we can extrapolate group learning functions that correct for these age-related differences in dropout.
Multicenter investigation of the reliability and validity of the live donor assessment tool as an enhancement to the psychosocial evaluation of living donors.

The live donor assessment tool (LDAT) is the first psychosocial assessment tool developed to standardize live donor psychosocial evaluations. A multicenter study was conducted to explore reliability and validity of the LDAT and determine its ability to enhance the psychosocial evaluation beyond its center of origin. Four transplant programs participated, each with their own team of evaluators and unique demographics. Liver and kidney living donors (LDs) undergoing both standard psychosocial evaluation and LDAT from June 2015 to September 2016 were studied. LDAT interrater reliability, associations between LDAT scores and psychosocial evaluation outcome, and psychosocial outcomes postdonation were tested. 386 LD evaluations were compared and had a mean LDAT score of 67.34 ± 7.57. In 140 LDs with two LDATs by different observers, the interrater scores correlated (r = 0.63). LDAT scores at each center and overall stratified to the conventional grouping of psychosocial risk level. LDAT scores of 131 subjects who proceeded with donation were expectedly lower in LDs requiring postdonation counseling (t = -2.78, P = .01). The LDAT had good reliability between raters and predicted outcome of the psychosocial evaluation across centers. It can be used to standardize language among clinicians to communicate psychosocial risk of LD candidates and assist teams when anticipating postdonation psychosocial needs.
Highly Enantioselective Organocatalytic Conjugate Addition of Nitromethane to α,β‐Unsaturated Aldehydes: Three‐Step Synthesis of Optically Active Baclofen

An efficient, organocatalytic, highly enantioselective, conjugate addition reaction of nitromethane with α,β-unsaturated aldehydes has been developed. The process serves as the key step for a practical 3-step synthesis of chiral baclofen, an anti-spastic drug.
Reaction Kinetics of Wet Chemically Prepared Gadolinium-Iron Garnet

The reaction kinetics of Gd3Fe5O12 garnet prepared by a wet-chemical method from alcohol solutions of gadolinium and iron nitrate, thoroughly dried and decomposed, have been investigated at temperatures from 600° to 700°C. Degree of reaction is calculated from magnetic moment measurement at 4.2°K. The data indicate that a complex reaction occurs which does not obey simple reaction equations. The best data fit is obtained from a rate equation of increasing order with increasing temperature. The process has a high activation energy and is complicated by sintering of the extremely small reactant particles and by the formation of a perovskite as a side reaction. At higher temperatures the reaction slows down markedly with time, and it is probable that a diffusion mechanism is operative.
Outpatient Urinary Tract Infections in an Era of Virtual Healthcare: Trends From 2008 to 2017.

Background Urinary tract infections (UTIs) occur commonly, but recent data on UTI rates are scarce. It is unknown how the growth of virtual healthcare delivery affects outpatient UTI management and trends in the United States. Methods From 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2017, UTIs from outpatient settings (office, emergency, and virtual visits) were identified from electronic health records at Kaiser Permanente Southern California using multiple UTI definitions. Annual rates estimated by Poisson regression were stratified by sex, care setting, age, and race/ethnicity. Annual trends were estimated by linear or piecewise Poisson regression. Results UTIs occurred in 1 065 955 individuals. Rates per 1000 person-years were 53.7 (95% confidence interval [CI], 50.6-57.0) by diagnosis code with antibiotic and 25.8 (95% CI, 24.7-26.9) by positive culture. Compared to office and emergency visits, UTIs were increasingly diagnosed in virtual visits, where rates by diagnosis code with antibiotic increased annually by 21.2% (95% CI, 16.5%-26.2%) in females and 29.3% (95% CI, 23.7%-35.3%) in males. Only 32% of virtual care diagnoses had a culture order. Overall, UTI rates were highest and increased the most in older adults. Rates were also higher in Hispanic and white females and black and white males. Conclusions Outpatient UTI rates increased from 2008 to 2017, especially in virtual care and among older adults. Virtual care is important for expanding access to health services, but strategies are needed in all outpatient care settings to ensure accurate UTI diagnosis and reduce inappropriate antibiotic treatment.
Altered plasma levels of arginine metabolites in depression

Abstract L-Arginine pathway metabolites appear to play differential roles in the pathogenesis of major depressive disorder (MDD). Studies have revealed an antidepressant and anxiolytic effect of agmatine and putrescine. Possible mechanisms of these effects include inhibition of nitric oxide synthase and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors. The present study sought to determine whether MDD is associated with altered levels of arginine metabolites and whether these metabolites are associated with depression, anxiety and stress severity. Seventy seven MDD patients 21–65 years of age with a minimum score of 18 on the Hamilton Depression Scale, and 27 age and sex matched healthy controls (HC) were included. Patients with uncontrolled physical diseases, abnormal routine lab tests, other psychiatric diagnoses, or under psychotropic medication were excluded. HC subjects were recruited from the community. Rating instruments included Hamilton Depression and Anxiety Scales, Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventory and Perceived Stress Scale. Fasting blood was drawn between 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) was used to measure plasma arginine metabolites. ADMA (Asymmetrical dimethylarginine) and putrescine were significantly lower while SDMA (Symmetric dimethylarginine), agmatine and ornithine were significantly higher in MDD patients (p˂0.05). Depression, anxiety and stress severity were negatively correlated with ADMA and putrescine (p˂0.05). Stress was positively correlated with citrulline, NOHA (N-omega-hydroxy-nor-l-arginine), SDMA, agmatine and ornithine (p˂0.05). Lower putrescine levels predicted depression diagnosis (p = 0.039) and depression severity (p = 0.003). Low ADMA level predicted depression severity as well. Arginine pathway metabolites are associated with the pathophysiology of depression. Putrescine may be a biomarker to predict MDD.
Cadaver Donor Kidney for Non-Compliant Dialysis Patient

A 32 year old postman had progressive diabetic nephropathy due to insulin-dependent (type 1 ) diabetes with onset at the age of 17 years, disrupting the patient’s plans for a career in professional football. Despite counseling at school, the patient followed a consistent pattern of minimal compliance with his medical regimen. He had two or more episodes of ketoacidosis per year for the past decade but failed to perform finger stick blood glucose tests. Although he sustained a “minor stroke” due to uncontrolled hypertension, the patient rarely took antihypertensive or diuretic medications. He is blind in the right eye because of retinal hemorrhages but missed several recent appointments for laser surgery of the left eye — a vital step to preserve vision. While the right great toe has been amputated because of an nonhealing ulcer, the patient has not accepted a prescription for orthopedically correct “old ladies” shoes. Currently, the patient is consistently late for hemodialysis appointments, gains more than five kgs between treatments because of dietary indiscretion, and does not test his blood glucose level. Requesting a place on the transplant recipient list, the patient states that should he be given a new kidney, “I will try to do what the doctors say.” In the opinion of the patient’s nephrologist, a kidney transplant for this patient is a wasted organ, a past pattern of noncompliance is sufficient to presume future noncompliance.
The utility of electrocautery for suture passage through bone: A biomechanical study.

Electrosurgical devices are routinely employed during surgery. The use of a Bovie Electrosurgical Unit (ESU) to facilitate the passage of a suture needle through bone has not been studied in the literature. This study aimed to identify force reduction with the application of Bovie ESU to the suture needle through the bone. Peak and the average axial force required for a suture needle to penetrate cadaveric proximal humeri were measured using a custom setup. Twenty-four trials were conducted without electricity, and 72 trials were conducted with a Bovie ESU applying current. Needle size and Bovie ESU power settings were varied. t Tests and analysis of variance were used with p ≤ 0.05 denoting statistical significance. The application of electricity reduced the peak and average axial force needed for a needle to pierce bone, regardless of the Bovie ESU power setting (p < 0.001). The average peak force with the Bovie ESU was 65.7 N, compared with 126.0 N without (p < 0.001), a 47.9% reduction. The average axial force with the Bovie ESU was 38.2 N compared with 81.8 N without (p < 0.001), a 53.3% reduction. There was no significant difference in peak or average axial forces between power settings. At 30 and 90 W of power, larger needle size was associated with significantly lower peak (p = 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively) and axial (p = 0.002 and p = 0.004, respectively) force. The Bovie ESU reduces the axial force required to pass a suture needle through bone. The use of this technique may allow for the avoidance of drilling for soft tissue repair. © 2019 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 38:954-960, 2020.
Case Article—Workforce Scheduling for Airport Immigration on the Island of Tropical Paradise

This case study focuses on modeling and analyzing the practices concerning the staffing of the immigration agency at the Island of Tropical Paradise International Airport (ITPIA), which is responsi...
Optimal Steering of Stochastic Mobile Robots that Undergo Collisions with their Environment

The paper introduces a state-feedback closed-loop control approach with integrated collision exploitation. We represent the system’s kinematics in the form of a drift-diffusion stochastic differential equation, and follow a stochastic switching framework to model the transition between states of free motion and in collision with the environment. We formulate an optimal steering problem and compute the control input related to state feedback. Collisions are found beneficial in terms of increasing task success probability when steering a robot from an initial to a target spatial distribution. In certain cases, collisions may help reduce the control energy for the task when compared to optimal steering with collision avoidance. We provide a mathematical basis to explain this finding, perform several parametric analyses in simulation to validate the theoretical analysis, and conduct realistic physics simulations to quantify the impact of realistic constraints (bounded control input, physical impact of collision, and friction) on control energy and success probability. Further, we validate the proposed approach experimentally with an omni-directional collision-resilient wheeled robot.
Dark-state optical potential barriers with nanoscale spacing

Optical potentials have been a versatile tool for the study of atomic motions and many-body interactions in cold atoms. Recently, optical subwavelength single barriers were proposed to enhance the atomic interaction energy scale, which is based on nonadiabatic corrections to Born-Oppenheimer potentials. Here we present a study for creating an alternative landscape of nonadiabatic potentials---multiple barriers with subwavelength spacing at tens of nanometers. To realize these potentials, spatially rapid-varying dark states of atomic $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}$ configurations are formed by controlling the spatial intensities of the driving lasers. As an application, we show that bound states of very long lifetimes on the order of seconds can be realized. Imperfections and experimental realizations of the multiple barriers are also discussed.
Estimating the Heritability of Developmental Change in Neural Connectivity, and Its Association With Changing Symptoms of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

Abstract Background Twin studies show that age-related change in symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is heritable. However, we do not know the heritability of the development of the neural substrates underlying the disorder. Here, we estimated the heritability of developmental change in white matter tracts and the brain’s intrinsic functional connectivity using longitudinal data. We further determined associations with change in ADHD symptoms. Methods The study reports on 288 children, which included 127 siblings, 19 cousins, and 142 singletons; 150 (52%) had a diagnosis of ADHD (determined by clinician interview with parent); 188 were male. All had two clinical assessments (overall baseline mean age: 9.4 ± 2.4 years; follow-up: 12.5 ± 2.6 years). Diffusion tensor imaging estimated microstructural properties of white matter tracts on 252 participants. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging estimated intrinsic connectivity within and between major brain networks on 226 participants. Total additive genetic heritability (h2) of the annual rate of change in these neural phenotypes was calculated using SOLAR (Sequential Oligogenic Linkage Analysis Routines). Results Significant heritability was found for the rates of change of 6 white matter tract microstructural properties and for change in the connectivity between the ventral attention network and both the cognitive control and dorsal attention networks. Change in hyperactivity-impulsivity was associated with heritable change in white matter tracts metrics and change in the connectivity between the ventral attention and cognitive networks. Conclusions The relatively small number of heritable, ADHD-associated developmental neural phenotypes can serve as phenotypes for future gene discovery and understanding.
Abstract PR13: Surgical excision of the primary tumor in osteosarcoma model results in enhanced metastatic growth by modulating the lung immune microenvironment

Surgery has been shown to enhance metastasis in a number of cancers. To examine this in the context of osteosarcoma, we implanted syngeneic murine K7M2 cells into the tibia of BALB/c mice, which we had shown previously to result in immediate seeding of K7M2 cells into the lung. One week post-implantation, mice were assigned to either control or surgical groups and all mice were euthanized at week 4 post-implantation. Mice that underwent amputation of the primary tumor displayed an increase in the number of pulmonary surface nodules as compared to tumor-bearing control animals (17 vs. 9.5; p This abstract is also being presented as Poster B38. Citation Format: Michelle P. Kallis, Caroline Maloney, Morris Edelman, Samuel Z. Soffer, Marc Symons, Bettie M. Steinberg. Surgical excision of the primary tumor in osteosarcoma model results in enhanced metastatic growth by modulating the lung immune microenvironment [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on the Advances in Pediatric Cancer Research; 2019 Sep 17-20; Montreal, QC, Canada. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(14 Suppl):Abstract nr PR13.
Spheres of Influence: A Walzerian Approach to Business Ethics.

Michael Walzer is one of the most distinguished political philosophers and social critics of this century. His ideas have had great import and influence in political philosophy and political discussion, yet very few of his ideas have been incorporated explicitly into the business ethics literature. We argue that Walzer's work provides an important conceptual canvas for business ethics scholars that has not been adequately explored. Scholars in business ethics often borrow from political theory and philosophy to generate new insights and develop new substantive contributions. Many valuable theoretical resources are already used extensively-particularly Aristotle, Kant, Marx and a variety of utilitarian philosophers. Walzer offers another set of resources to bring to the conversation of what business ethics is and how business ethicists add value. This paper provides an opportunity to delve further into Walzer's writings, particularly themes that are tied to business ethics, and to illustrate how his ideas can be extended to reshape our understanding of the field and develop new perspectives on ethical issues in commerce.
The Impact of Automation Etiquette on User Performance and Trust in Non-Personified Technology

Previous research has shown that good automation etiquette can yield positive effects on user performance, trust, satisfaction, and motivation. Automation etiquette is especially influential in per...
Estimation of electromagnetic far-field from near-field using machine learning

In this development, we proposed a method to use machine learning to estimate a far-field from a near-field. A signal source and wires randomly arranged on the substrate are used as a radiation source. The near and far-fields emitted from the substrate are calculated by electromagnetic field simulation to produce the data necessary for machine learning. We used XGBoost for machine learning. The Route Mean Square Percentage Error (RMSPE) of the far-field strength of the estimated and test data was calculated and was less than 7.1 % at 1-6 GHz.
Who Identifies as Anti-Racist? Racial Identity, Color-Blindness, and Generic Liberalism:

Although decades old, the terms “anti-racism/antiracism” and “anti-racist/antiracist” have grown in usage by scholars, authors, and activists to convey the necessity of active opposition to racial ...