cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Super-resolved point-spread-function calibration for astronomical imaging

Physically constrained iterative deconvolution attempts to realize the solution of an ill-posed problem, the iterative estimation of both the object function and the corresponding set of image point-spread-functions given a set of noisy realizations of images obtained with less than perfect optical imaging systems. The conditions for achieving super-resolution, defined as recovery of some object spatial frequency components outside the optical passband, have been established by Hunt (see Int. J. Imaging Sys. and Tech. vol.6, p.297-304, 1995) and co-workers Sheppard et al. (see J. Opt. Sec. Am. A, 1998). Here results in astronomical imaging, both with and without adaptive optics correction are shown and the art of using physically constrained iterative deconvolution in astronomical imaging is discussed.
Stroke precipitated by moderate blood pressure reduction.

Abstract Rapid lowering of blood pressure can precipitate or worsen ischemic strokes. This usually has been observed in the setting of profoundly lowered pressure and hypotension. We report on six patients in whom ischemic neurologic injury ensued or worsened after moderate reduction of blood pressure by pharmacological treatment. The 6 patients suffered new or worsened ischemic neurologic deficits after receiving oral or intravenous antihypertensive medications, mostly after relatively small doses. Mean arterial blood pressure in these patients was decreased by 25 ± 7.7%, or 37 ± 16 mm Hg (mean ± SD) without resultant hypotension. These cases emphasize the potential hazards of moderate blood pressure reduction by antihypertensive medications in the setting of an acute ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), as well as rapidly treated hypertension even in those who have not yet manifested ischemic symptoms.
The Use of 99mTc-MDP Bone Scanning to Assess Facial Bone Growth

Bone scanning is an important technique to detect mandibular growth, and its quantitation aids in deciding the optimal timing for surgery. Here, we will discuss a case of abnormal mandibular growth and use of bone scanning to evaluate the facial bone growth.
Selective lateral compartment neck dissection for thyroid cancer.

Abstract Background Compartment-oriented lymph node dissection in patients with thyroid cancer and macroscopic lymph node metastases reduces recurrence and improves survival. However, the extent of lymph node dissection remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to examine the results of selective lateral compartment neck dissection (LCND) for thyroid cancer. Methods We completed a retrospective review of patients with thyroid cancer who underwent selective LCND from 1992–2012 to determine the extent of lymph node resection, morbidity, recurrence, subsequent operations, mortality, and duration of follow-up. Results A total of 45 LCNDs (five bilateral) were performed in 40 patients, 35 with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) and five with medullary carcinoma. Nineteen LCNDs (42%) were completed at the time of thyroidectomy. Levels IIA, III, IV, and VB were included in 43 LCNDs (96%) and levels IIA, III, and IV in two LCNDs (4%). Morbidity included neck or ear numbness in 19 patients (48%), neuropathic symptoms in 14 (35%), Horner syndrome in two (5%), marginal mandibular nerve paresis in two (5%), and wound infection in one (3%). Recurrence rate was 25% (10 patients) and one or more reoperations were performed in seven patients (18%) with a mean follow-up of 58 ± 60 mo (range, 1–244 mo). There were 3 ipsilateral recurrences (8%) after 40 LCNDs for DTC. Four patients died from systemic disease: three with medullary carcinoma and one with PTC. Conclusions Selective LCND is an effective therapeutic strategy for macroscopic lymph node metastases, with an 8% recurrence rate in the ipsilateral neck in patients with DTC. Neuropathic symptoms, however, remain an important source of morbidity.
Risk Factors for Pneumococcal Colonization of the Nasopharynx in Alaska Native Adults and Children

BACKGROUND Alaska Native children have high invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) rates, and lack of in-home running water has been shown to have a significant association with infection. Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines reduced IPD; however, this population saw substantial replacement disease and colonization with nonvaccine serotypes. We evaluated risk factors for nasopharyngeal pneumococcal colonization in Alaska Native adults and children. METHODS We conducted annual surveys from 2008 through 2011 of residents of all ages in 8 rural Alaskan villages. Interviews were conducted, medical charts were reviewed, and nasopharyngeal swabs were cultured for Streptococcus pneumoniae. Multivariate logistic regression models were developed for 3 age groups (under 10 years, 10-17 years, and 18 years and older) to determine risk factors for colonization. RESULTS We obtained 12 535 nasopharyngeal swabs from 4980 participants. Our population lived in severely crowded conditions, and 48% of households lacked in-home running water. In children <10 years, colonization was associated with lack of in-home running water, household crowding, and more children in the home. Pneumococcal vaccination status was not associated with colonization. In older children and adults, increased number of persons in the household was associated with pneumococcal colonization. CONCLUSIONS Higher colonization prevalence may partially explain increased IPD rates seen in those lacking in-home water services. Improving availability of sanitation services and reducing household crowding may reduce the burden of IPD in this population.
The Crisis of the Post-Soviet Teaching Profession in the Caucasus and Central Asia

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the status of the teaching profession has begun to erode in the Caucasus and Central Asia as evidenced in such indicators as a teacher shortage, the feminization of the profession, an over-aged teaching force, a low transition rate from teacher education graduation to professional service, and a decrease of enrollment in teacher education programs at colleges and universities. While all of these indicators have been well documented, this article considers another indicator which may signal the low status of the teaching profession - the comparatively low results of centralized university examinations among students entering pre-service teacher education programs compared to more competitive, high-demand higher education programs. Using data from centralized university admission tests in Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan for the 2007-08 academic year, the article illustrates that it is the lowest-performing students who are typically entering pre-service teacher education institutions, thus further undermining the prestige of the teaching profession and the quality of education in the former Soviet republics of the Caucasus and Central Asia.
Intimal thickening of meningeal arteries after serial corticectomies for Rasmussen encephalitis.

Summary Rasmussen encephalitis is a rare cause of intractable epilepsy in children. Between 2008 and 2010, 4 patients had second cortical resections performed after a primary corticectomy for Rasmussen encephalitis. In each case, we observed some degree of vessel wall change in leptomeningeal arteries, consisting of moderate to moderately severe intimal hyperplasia. The intervals between original resection and second operation ranged from 8 months to 10 years. Ages of the patients ranged from 9 to 12 years at their first resection and from 10 to 19 years at the time of revision. Four other Rasmussen encephalitis cases operated upon in the years 2006 to 2010 and 2 surgical revisions for severe cortical dysplasia, 1 for mild cortical dysplasia and 1 for recurrent dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor, did not show significant vascular abnormalities (with surgical intervals of 10 months to 16 years). Leptomeningeal intimal hyperplasia appears to develop in the interval between repeated cortical resections for Rasmussen encephalitis, an inflammatory disorder. The pathogenesis of this vascular change may be related to meningeal inflammation in Rasmussen encephalitis. This finding in children undergoing surgical resection for Rasmussen encephalitis may itself lead to “secondary” ischemic change that contributes to worsening of epilepsy.
Finding the Key to Reform in End-of-Life Care

We conducted an observational cohort study to determine if hospital-based, reinforcing regulatory and educational interventions could encourage physicians to discuss end-of-life (EOL) care with their patients. Specifically, we measured the effect of (1) administrative prompts to encourage discussions about EOL care and (2) a mandatory educational seminar focusing on EOL issues. Study subjects were patients consecutively admitted to the medicine service who faced an anticipated 3-year mortality rate of at least 50%. The main study endpoint was the frequency of documented EOL discussions between physicians and patients. In the inception cohort of 184 patients, physicians discussed EOL care with 64 patients (34.8%), and in the follow-up cohort of 121 patients, 41 individuals (33.9%) had documented discussions regarding EOL issues (P = 0.90). Actual Do Not Resuscitate(DNR) orders were written for 53 patients (28.8%) in the inception cohort and for 33 persons (27.3%) in the follow-up cohort (P = 0.71), We conclude that enhanced, mutually reinforcing regulatory and educational efforts focusing on EOL care proved ineffectual at promoting either discussions about EOL issues or the use of DNR orders.
Single-amino-acid substitutions in open reading frame (ORF) 1b-nsp14 and ORF 2a proteins of the coronavirus mouse hepatitis virus are attenuating in mice.

A reverse genetic system was recently established for the coronavirus mouse hepatitis virus strain A59 (MHV-A59), in which cDNA fragments of the RNA genome are assembled in vitro into a full-length genome cDNA, followed by electroporation of in vitro-transcribed genome RNA into cells with recovery of viable virus. The “in vitro-assembled” wild-type MHV-A59 virus (icMHV-A59) demonstrated replication identical to laboratory strains of MHV-A59 in tissue culture; however, icMHV-A59 was avirulent following intracranial inoculation of C57BL/6 mice. Sequencing of the cloned genome cDNA fragments identified two single-nucleotide mutations in cloned genome fragment F, encoding a Tyr6398His substitution in open reading frame (ORF) 1b p59-nsp14 and a Leu94Pro substitution in the ORF 2a 30-kDa protein. The mutations were repaired individually and together in recombinant viruses, all of which demonstrated wild-type replication in tissue culture. Following intracranial inoculation of mice, the viruses encoding Tyr6398His/Leu94Pro substitutions and the Tyr6398His substitution alone demonstrated log10 50% lethal dose (LD50) values too great to be measured. The Leu94Pro mutant virus had reduced but measurable log10 LD50, and the “corrected” Tyr6398/Leu94 virus had a log10 LD50 identical to wild-type MHV-A59. The experiments have defined residues in ORF 1b and ORF 2a that attenuate virus replication and virulence in mice but do not affect in vitro replication. The results suggest that these proteins serve roles in pathogenesis or virus survival in vivo distinct from functions in virus replication. The study also demonstrates the usefulness of the reverse genetic system to confirm the role of residues or proteins in coronavirus replication and pathogenesis.
Controversies in the Treatment of Central Cord Injuries

Central cord injury or central cord syndrome is an acute cervical spinal cord injury characterized by more extensive motor weakness of the upper extremities compared with the lower extremities, usually with bladder dysfunction, and variable sensory loss below the level of the lesion. Central cord syndrome is the most common type of incomplete spinal cord injury pattern and is associated with a moderate to good prognosis. Over the last five decades, the role of surgical intervention, as well as the type and timing of surgery, continues to be the subject of considerable debate. These controversies are the focus of this article.
Opportunistic information distribution in challenged networks

Mobile nodes in some challenging network scenarios suffer from intermittent connectivity and frequent partitions e.g. battlefield and disaster recovery scenarios. Disruption Tolerant Network (DTN) technologies are designed to enable nodes in such environments to communicate with one another. Several DTN routing schemes have been proposed. In order for the DTN technology to be useful, enhancements need to be made to legacy applications e.g. emails, web browsers, instant messaging etc to enable such applications to work over DTNs. In this paper, we present a DTN Jabber proxy which we have developed to allow mobile devices to run Jabber applications over DTN. Our proxy can identify group chat messages which enable our prototype to perform last mile multicast and hence minimize the wireless bandwidth usage.
Children of One’s Own

Technologies for assisted reproduction often aim explicitly at giving hitherto infertile couples a ‘child of their own’ – that is, a child that is genetically related to them. And many couples find themselves spending enormous amounts of money, time, and energy attempting to have a child via these techniques. But why should a genetic relationship make a child any more ‘one’s own’ than other kinds of relationships – for example, those parent-child relationships forged through adoptions? There is a wide-spread assumption in much of contemporary society that genetic parenthood is important because of what it implies about the relationship between the (physical and behavioral) traits of the parents and those traits of the child; arguments relying on these assumptions have even been accepted in some legal cases. I argue here that this state of affairs is particularly unfortunate, and that the over-blown rhetoric of the Human Genome Project and related research programs is at least partially to blame. This rhetoric includes the metaphorical language of genes as ‘master controllers’, ‘blue-prints’, ‘recipes’, and as ‘carrying information’. But as none of these metaphors is well-justified by contemporary understandings of the roles played by genes in the organismal development, the metaphors ought to be rejected, and with them, the social emphasis on a genetic relationship as the most important aspect of parenthood
The 50 Year Legacy of Ronald Reagan: a Discussion on the Long-Term Impact of Reagan's Conservative Agenda on the Political and Economic Interests of Black Americans

In the years following his death, conservatives and journalists have reshaped Ronald Reagan’s image as a moderate and conciliatory conservative. When conservatives discuss Reagan in the context of the rhetoric, policies, and political tactics of today’s Republican Party, they assert that he was too moderate to be elected in the current era. This discussion of Reagan’s legacy is more likely than not to be devoid of the input from scholars with alternative views on how his role as a right wing conservative and the leader of Movement Conservatism starting in 1964 and as President continues to impact the economic, social, legal interests of African Americans. What is often missing from the current discussions of Reagan is that his rise to power and election to the White House came from the increasing influence of White resentment to the Civil Rights movement and the expansion of economic and political power of Blacks in the 1960s and 70s. To his detractors, Reagan’s policies were considered punitive and have had negatively impacted African Americans, the working class and the poor in the subsequent decades. His policies on the social safety net, civil rights enforcement, and judiciary have shaped the views and political agendas of both Republicans and Democrats in the White House and in Congress. And as a result, Reagan’s legacy continues to impose political limitations to African Americans in their efforts to eliminate the barriers caused by institutional racism that remain as impediments to reaching equality within the broader American society.
Prescribing long-acting progestin-only contraceptives for adolescents.

The long-acting progestin-only contraceptive agents Norplant and Depo-Provera may be especially appropriate for use by US adolescents. Both methods are effective coitus-independent and do not require daily compliance. An unintended advantage of Depo-Provera from the perspective of adolescents is its associated amenorrhea. In contrast the irregular bleeding induced by the Norplant implants is the most frequent reason for discontinuation of this method. Potential Norplant acceptors should be counseled about possible side effects such as disrupted menstrual cycle weight gain decreased libido headaches and mood changes. A further disadvantage of Norplant is that the adolescent must keep the implants in place for at least half the recommended treatment duration (2.5 years) to make the regimen cost-effective. In need of further investigation is the finding in a prospective study of significant decreases in bone density among adolescents after two years of Depo-Provera use compared with increases among girls using Norplant or no hormonal contraception. Another concern is that concomitant condom use will be poor among Depo-Provera and Norplant users who often have histories of sexually transmitted diseases.
SP0145 HDL as a Pro-Inflammatory Agent

Although HDL levels are traditionally inversely related to atherosclerosis, the relationship is complex and involves both HDL quantity and function. HDL has been described as “chameleon-like,” anti -inflammatory in the basal state and pro -inflammatory (piHDL) during an acute-phase response. In piHDL, levels of anti-inflammatory components of HDL such as apo A-I and HDL-associated paraoxonase activity are reduced. Additionally, acute phase HDL is greatly enriched in acute phase reactants such as serum amyloid A. Dysfunctional piHDL cannot perform many of the anti-atherogenic functions of normal HDL; it cannot prevent oxidation of LDL-C and actually increases it, leading to impairment of reverse cholesterol transport and increased recruitment of monocytes to the cell wall. Oxidatively modified HDL also stimulates an enhanced inflammatory response, including upregulation of the adhesion molecule VCAM-1 on endothelial cells. Chronic inflammatory responses and oxidative stress may be a mechanism for HDL dysfunction in patients with rheumatic diseases. Indeed, our group has found that HDL function is abnormal in many SLE and RA patients; 45% of women with SLE, compared to 20% of rheumatoid arthritis patients and 4% of controls, had pro-inflammatory HDL that was not only unable to prevent oxidation of LDL but caused increased levels of oxidation. Subsequent studies have indicated that 85% of SLE women with plaque on carotid ultrasound have piHDL, indicating that piHDL may be a biomarker of risk for atherosclerosis in SLE. In addition, HDL appear to be dysfunctional in primary antiphospholipid syndrome. Accumulating evidence suggests that dysfunctional pro-inflammatory HDL may not only be a biomarker for increased atherosclerotic risk but may also directly contribute to systemic inflammation and organ manifestations in patients with rheumatic diseases. Disclosure of Interest None Declared
Late Partial Dissociation of a Humeral Head Morse Taper Associated with Periprosthetic Proximal Humeral Fracture: A Case Report.

Case: A fifty-two-year-old man who had undergone total shoulder arthroplasty ten years previously presented following a mechanical fall onto his operatively treated shoulder, resulting in a periprosthetic humeral fracture and partial dissociation of the humeral head from the stem. Conclusion: Shoulder surgeons should consider late disengagement of the Morse taper as a potential cause of surgical failure. Partial late dissociation of the humeral head from the stem after shoulder arthroplasty is possible and can be associated with a fracture. The shoulder surgeon should be aware of this potential complication when evaluating periprosthetic proximal humeral fractures, emphasizing the importance of attention to detail when evaluating patients.
Effects of Growth-period Type and Nitrogen Application Level on the RVA Profile Characteristics for Japonica Rice Genotypes

A field experiment was conducted using 46 japonica rice varieties belonging to three growth-period types in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River.The results were as follows:(1) Generally,with increasing nitrogen application rate,the peak viscosity and the breakdown value decreased,the setback value and the pasting temperature increased accordingly,while the hot viscosity,the final viscosity and the consistency value showed no apparent changes.(2) The peak viscosity and the breakdown value decreased sharply with delaying growth duration among different growth-types of rice cultivars,the setback value,the consistency value and the pasting temperature increased,while the hot viscosity and the final viscosity increased at first and then decreased.(3) As the growth-period prolonged,the influence of nitrogen application rate on the RVA profile changed from the positive to the insensitive and at last to the entirely invalid.(4) Correlation analysis proved that,final viscosity,breakdown,consistency,setback value and pasting temperature were significantly or very significantly correlated with gel viscosity and taste value.Using the regression equation containing breakdown,final viscosity,pasting temperature and taste value,the taste quality could be predicted quantitatively from RVA values.
Peer Support for the Hardly Reached: A Systematic Review.

Background. Health disparities are aggravated when prevention and care initiatives fail to reach those they are intended to help. Groups can be classified as hardly reached according to a variety of circumstances that fall into 3 domains: individual (e.g., psychological factors), demographic (e.g., socioeconomic status), and cultural–environmental (e.g., social network). Several reports have indicated that peer support is an effective means of reaching hardly reached individuals. However, no review has explored peer support effectiveness in relation to the circumstances associated with being hardly reached or across diverse health problems.Objectives. To conduct a systematic review assessing the reach and effectiveness of peer support among hardly reached individuals, as well as peer support strategies used.Search methods. Three systematic searches conducted in PubMed identified studies that evaluated peer support programs among hardly reached individuals. In aggregate, the searches covered articles publi...
Optimum control of structures

In the past decade the interest in using active control systems to improve structural performance has increased dramatically. The basic idea is to build structures which use an active control system as a substitute for strength, stiffness or damping. An early application of the concept was the gust-alleviation system designed to prolong the fatigue life of the aging fleet of B-52 bombers. In that application, sensors were used to anticipate gust loads on the wing, and control surface on the wing were deflected to cancel part of these gust loads. Today, these types of systems are already considered in the preliminary design stage (e.g. Ref. 1). The same idea may be used to improve the ride quality in an airplane. Other aeronautical applications such as active flutter suppression are discussed in Ref. 2.
Obesity Stigma and Negative Perceptions of Political Leadership Competence

This study investigated whether the leadership competence of an overweight candidate is affected by exposure to weight-stigmatizing and nonstigmatizing messages. Participants read one of four messa...
A Critical Role of TRPM7 As an Ion Channel Protein in Mediating the Mineralization of the Craniofacial Hard Tissues

Magnesium ion (Mg2+) is the fourth most common cation in the human body, and has a crucial role in many physiological functions. Mg2+ homeostasis is an important contributor to bone development, however, its roles in the development of dental mineralized tissues have not yet been well known. We identified that transient receptor potential cation channel, subfamily M, member 7 (TRPM7), was significantly upregulated in the mature ameloblasts as compared to other ameloblasts through our whole transcript microarray analyses of the ameloblasts. TRPM7, an ion channel for divalent metal cations with an intrinsic serine/threonine protein kinase activity, has been characterized as a key regulator of whole body Mg2+ homeostasis. Semi-quantitative PCR and immunostaining for TRMP7 confirmed its upregulation during the maturation stage of enamel formation, at which ameloblasts direct rapid mineralization of the enamel matrix. The significantly hypomineralized craniofacial structures, including incisors, molars, and cranial bones were demonstrated by microCT analysis, von Kossa and trichrome staining in Trpm7Δkinase/+ mice. A previously generated heterozygous mouse model with the deletion of the TRPM7 kinase domain. Interestingly, the skeletal phenotype of Trpm7Δkinase/+ mice resembled those found in the tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (Alpl) KO mice, thus we further examined whether ALPL protein content and alkaline phosphatase (ALPase) activity in ameloblasts, odontoblasts and osteoblasts were affected in those mice. While ALPL protein in Trpm7Δkinase/+ mice remained at the similar level as that in wt mice, ALPase activities in the Trpm7Δkinase/+ mice were almost nonexistent. Supplemented magnesium successfully rescued the activities of ALPase in ameloblasts, odontoblasts and osteoblasts of Trpm7Δkinase/+ mice. These results suggested that TRPM7 is essential for mineralization of enamel as well as dentin and bone by providing sufficient Mg2+ for the ALPL activity, underlining the key importance of ALPL for biomineralization.
Electrification of turbocharger and supercharger for downsized internal combustion engines and hybrid electric vehicles-benefits and challenges

Forced induction technology (turbocharging and supercharging) can enhance the performance of an internal combustion engine by compressing inlet air charge, allowing full engine power to be produced efficiently. As the fuel economy and greenhouse gas emission standards are projected to be much more stringent globally, the use of a forced induction engine in passenger cars and light duty trucks has become a new inevitable trend in the automotive industry. However, the conventional forced induction system suffers from the slow transient response, especially when the engine speed is low, a phenomenon typically known as turbo lag. The electrification of forced induction system, called electric forced induction system (EFIS), has emerged as a feasible solution and it also possesses numerous benefits depending on its topologies. This paper provides a comprehensive study on EFIS by investigating system level topologies, performance, various types of high-speed machines, power electronics, and control techniques. The advantages and disadvantages of existing electric forced induction system are summarized and the new challenges and opportunities are also introduced.
Effects of Brood Density and Spawning Substrate Type and Orientation on the Reproductive Output of Seminole Killifish in Tanks

AbstractAquaculture of baitfish has the potential to produce and supply desired species and sizes to meet year-round market demand. The Seminole Killifish Fundulus seminolis is native to Florida and has recently emerged as a candidate for marine baitfish aquaculture because of its ability to survive acclimation to seawater, fast growth, and resilient larvae. Experiments were conducted to identify which spawning substrate materials and orientations were preferred by Seminole Killifish and to evaluate effects of broodfish stocking density on reproductive output. Results indicated that Seminole Killifish required a suitable substrate to be present for successful spawning and egg deposition. Broodstock spawned nearly all eggs onto fiber spawning mats when offered both mat and sand substrates. There was no significant difference in the number of eggs recorded among spawning mats regardless of orientation. Seminole Killifish held in outdoor tanks at a 2:1 (female : male) sex ratio had similar total egg producti...
CULTIVATING COMIDA: Finding Comida in Our Everyday Lives

First paragraph: As a professor, I am convinced that tinkering with a course syllabus is one of the best parts of the job. Each semester (admittedly, sometimes just a few days before it starts), redesigning the outline of required texts, assignments, and course expectations gives me a thrill that few other aca­demic obligations do. This routine yet incredibly creative task allows me to stay up-to-date on the latest research, return to the classics, and consider what this generation of students must know about the anthropology of food. Over the course of ten years, from the time I was a graduate student to my current faculty position, I have had the pleasure of teaching various iterations of a class on Food and Culture. This class has ranged from a summer seminar of just 20 students to a large lecture of over 100, and from the University of Washington campus in urban Seattle to the University of Vermont, located in a state where we joke that cows outnumber people. Across these differences of time and geography, the ever-changing develop­ments in the international movements for food justice, food sovereignty, and local food systems have provided a compelling framework for con­templating the meaning of food and our relation­ship to it. From the time of Mary Douglas and Marvin Harris arguing over the symbolic and eco­logical foundations for the pork taboo in Islamic and Jewish traditions to considering how LGBTQ rights intersects with food politics, the academic treatment of food is rarely dull.... See the press release for this article.
New method for generators' angles and angular velocities prediction for transient stability assessment of multi-machine power systems using recurrent artificial neural network

Summary form only given. Recurrent radial basis function (RBF), and multi-layer perceptron (MLP) artificial neural network (ANN) schemes are proposed for dynamic system modeling, and generators' angles and angular velocities prediction for transient stability assessment. The method is presented for multi-machine power systems. In this scheme, transient stability is assessed based on monitoring generators' angles and angular velocities with time, and checking whether they exceed the specified limits for system stability or not. Data generation schemes have been proposed. The proposed recurrent ANN scheme is not sensitive to fault locations. It is only dependent on the post-fault system configuration.
Teaching Psychiatric Interviewing as a Core Physician Skill

The authors have developed an approach for teaching psychiatric interviewing that relates closely to the aspects of physical diagnosis that medical students are learning. This includes interview analogies to the physical exam skills of observation, palpation, auscultation, and percussion, as well as psychiatric review of systems. Relevance of interview techniques to medical management is dramatized by a medical anecdote. Techniques explained include: open-ended questions, using the patient’s coinage, use of silence, and reading nonverbal communication and connotations of verbal communication. Mental defense mechanisms are illustrated by examples relating to the student’s situation. The article provides sample wording actually used with students. Students receiving this approach showed significant (p <.01) improvement on an attitude scale compared to no significant change for control students in similar preceptorships without this approach.
Monkeys play the odds

Animals -- like humans -- are thought to make decisions based on the expected size and probability of rewards. A neural correlate of this behaviour has now been demonstrated by experiments in which rhesus monkeys have to switch their gaze to a particular target for a juice reward. The number of signals fired by neurons in the lateral intraparietal cortex is found to vary depending on the size of the expected reward.
Advancing biological therapies against a rising tide of American anti-science and other external threats.

Since the beginning of this new millennium, we have seen dramatic improvements in global public health by providing access to new health technologies. This observation is especially true for vaccin...
Progressive dissociation of cortical and subcortical network development in children with new-onset juvenile myoclonic epilepsy.

Objective Structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have consistently documented cortical and subcortical abnormalities in patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME). However, little is known about how these structural abnormalities emerge from the time of epilepsy onset and how network interactions between and within cortical and subcortical regions may diverge in youth with JME compared to typically developing children. Methods We examined prospective covariations of volumetric differences derived from high-resolution structural MRI during the first 2 years of epilepsy diagnosis in a group of youth with JME (n = 21) compared to healthy controls (n = 22). We indexed developmental brain changes using graph theory by computing network metrics based on the correlation of the cortical and subcortical structural covariance near the time of epilepsy and 2 years later. Results Over 2 years, normally developing children showed modular cortical development and network integration between cortical and subcortical regions. In contrast, children with JME developed a highly correlated and less modular cortical network, which was atypically dissociated from subcortical structures. Furthermore, the JME group also presented higher clustering and lower modularity indices than controls, indicating weaker modules or communities. The local efficiency in JME was higher than controls across the majority of cortical nodes. Regarding network hubs, controls presented a higher number than youth with JME that were spread across the brain with ample representation from the different modules. In contrast, children with JME showed a lower number of hubs that were mainly from one module and comprised mostly subcortical structures. Significance Youth with JME prospectively developed a network of highly correlated cortical regions dissociated from subcortical structures during the first 2 years after epilepsy onset. The cortical-subcortical network dissociation provides converging insights into the disparate literature of cortical and subcortical abnormalities found in previous studies.
Diagnostic Performance of Macular Versus Peripapillary Vessel Parameters by Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography for Glaucoma.

Purpose To compare the diagnostic ability of the vessel parameters in macular and peripapillary regions measured using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography angiography (SD-OCTA) in differentiating primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) from healthy eyes. Methods POAG patients and healthy subjects underwent 6 × 6-mm scans centered on the macula and optic nerve head. Commercially available automatic segmentation created en face images from SD-OCTA of the superficial retinal layer (SRL) of the macular (m) and peripapillary (cp) regions. Vessel area density (VAD), vessel skeleton density (VSD), vessel complexity index (VCI), and flux were calculated. Area under curve (AUC) statistics controlled for age and intereye correlation. Results Of 126 eyes from 79 patients who underwent SD-OCTA macula and peripapillary imaging, 50 eyes from 35 POAG patients and 37 healthy eyes from 25 control subjects had good quality imaging and were studied. Diagnostic accuracies of four perfusion parameters, VAD, VSD, VCI, and flux, were significantly greater in the peripapillary compared with the macular regions. For VAD, the cpAUC was 0.84 and mAUC was 0.73 (AUC difference: P = 0.026). For VSD, the cpAUC was 0.84 and mAUC was 0.72 (ΔP = 0.015). For VCI, the cpAUC was 0.80 and mAUC was 0.70 (ΔP = 0.045). For flux, the cpAUC = 0.87 and mAUC was 0.76 (ΔP = 0.0091). Conclusions Peripapillary perfusion parameters performed better than macular perfusion parameters for glaucoma diagnosis, supporting the idea that glaucomatous superficial retinal vascular changes are more pronounced in the peripapillary region. Translational relevance The diagnostic accuracy of OCTA perfusion parameters of the superficial retinal microcirculation was greater for the peripapillary region than the macular region in the diagnosis of glaucoma.
A modified Wald test for reference scaled assessment of analytical equivalence.

For the reference scaled equivalence hypothesis to reduce the deficiency of the current practice in analytical equivalence assessment, the Wald test with Constrained Maximum Likelihood Estimate (CM...
Safety and efficacy of intraoperative gastric feeding during burn surgery.

Abstract Background Large burns are associated with a dramatic increase in metabolic demand, and adequate nutrition is vital to prevent poor wound healing and septic complications. However, enteral nutrition (EN) support is frequently withheld perioperatively, risking nutritional deficits. We retrospectively examined the safety and feasibility of continuing EN during surgery in patients with an established airway, and estimated the impact of perioperative fasting on overall caloric intake. Methods Mechanically ventilated patients admitted to our urban, verified burn center between January 2012 and July 2017 with greater than 20% total body surface area (TBSA) burns were included in this retrospective analysis. The total volume of EN received by the patient during each 24-h period and goal EN volume as determined by a clinical dietitian were collected. Results A total of 45 patients met criteria with mean TBSA of 44% (range 20–84%). Most patients had a gastric feeding tube (86%). Each patient underwent a median of 4 operations (range 1–33) for a total of 249 operative days and 991 non-operative days. There were no aspiration events. On non-operative days, patients met 85% of estimated caloric needs. EN was held on 170 operative days (69%), and on these days, only 34% of total caloric needs were met. EN was continued on 77 operative days (31%), and on these days, 95% of total caloric needs were met (p Conclusions Continuing EN intraoperatively in patients with an established airway appears to be a safe and efficacious way to meet patients’ nutritional needs, including when feeding is delivered via a gastric route. This is particularly important given that placement of nasojejunal feeding tubes can be difficult, particularly in resource-poor settings where endoscopic or fluoroscopic-guided placement may not be practical.
Learning to Fail: Adolescent Resistance in Extreme Sports:

Employing dysfunctional or arrested development, extreme sports tricksters cultivate diverse strategies of sporting identity. Through parody, satire, and mockery, adolescent performances and repres...
Thrombin and Factor XII Drive Prostate Tumor Growth In Vivo

Several hemostatic factors are known to strongly influence the metastatic process by promoting the survival of early metastases. Despite this consistent phenomenon observed across multiple tumor cell types and multiple procoagulant components of the hemostatic system, the role of hemostasis in the establishment and growth of primary tumors is highly context dependent. One clinically relevant context where coagulation appears to be important for tumor development/outgrowth is prostate cancer. Men on long-term anticoagulation appear to be at significantly lower risk for developing prostate cancer compared to men on short-term anticoagulation or those not on anticoagulation. Here, we report that multiple hemostatic proteases drive prostate tumor growth in vivo. To test the hypothesis that the central hemostatic protease, thrombin, promotes prostate tumor growth, mice with a life-long genetically-imposed diminution in circulating prothrombin levels (fIILox/-), or mice administered a prothrombin-specific antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) gapmer that limits prothrombin expression, were inoculated subcutaneously with the murine-derived prostatic adenocarcinoma cell line TRAMP-C2Re3 in parallel with appropriate controls. Genetically or pharmacologically lowering prothrombin expression significantly impeded prostate tumor growth. In complementary experiments, treatment with the prothrombin-specific ASO gapmer significantly impeded the growth of human-derived prostate cancer cells (PC3) in immunodeficient mice. Detailed histological analysis revealed that tumors harvested from mice with diminished prothrombin expression had significantly lower mitotic indices, suggesting that thrombin promotes tumor proliferation in vivo. Lowering prothrombin levels did not affect apoptosis, vascular density, or the presence of tumor-associated macrophages. Previous studies have indicated that tumor cell-associated tissue factor expression is one important mechanism by which cancer cells can locally generate thrombin. However, the relative importance of the contact pathway of coagulation system activation in cancer progression is less defined. In order to determine whether fXII plays a role in prostate cancer growth, mice challenged with prostate cancer were treated with a fXII-specific ASO gapmer or a control oligonucleotide with no homology in the murine genome in parallel. Remarkably, tumors from anti-fXII ASO gapmer treated mice were ~3-fold smaller than those harvested from control animals at the end of the ~3 week experiment. To our knowledge, this finding is the first demonstration that the contact system protease fXII plays a significant role in tumor growth. In sum, these data show that thrombin promotes the growth of prostate cancer, and suggest that contact activation of the coagulation cascade may be a critical factor in prostate cancer growth. Disclosures Monia: Isis Pharmaceuticals: Employment, Other: Shareholder. Revenko: SIS Pharmaceuticals Inc.: Employment.
Toward a framework for heritage learner service learning in languages for specific purposes

Building on previous research and the author’s own experience, this article concerns service learning design for heritage learners in languages for specific purposes. Heritage learner prior knowledge of and identification with the culture and language of study distinguishes them from L2 learners. As a result, the distinct learning needs of heritage learners pose a challenge to language educators attempting to integrate service learning, whether in languages for specific purposes or otherwise. Yet despite the need to rethink service learning in languages for specific purposes to meet the needs of this growing student population, few studies on the subject exist. Through a survey of the relevant extant literature, the author identifies the known benefits of service learning for heritage learners and considers the implications of heritage learner needs in the design of languages for specific purposes service learning projects. Best practices identified in the literature and through the author’s own experience are then used to develop a service learning framework specific to heritage learners in languages for specific purposes. Specifically, best practices observed in the literature include project and learning objectives that build on, strengthen, and expand five key areas: heritage learner previous knowledge of and identification with the culture and language; critical awareness of social and cultural issues relevant to heritage learner identity; cultural competence; heritage learner professional career goals; and heritage learner knowledge of specialized written and spoken language skills in formal and informal registers. The author concludes that an asset-based approach, evident in existing heritage learner service learning projects, is key to maximizing service learning benefits for heritage learners. Rethinking service learning in this way is significant in developing cultural and communicative competence among heritage learners in languages for specific purposes.
The Strange and Futile World of Trade Wars

U.S. President Donald Trump has a misguided, mercantilist view of international trade. He believes that an external (or “trade”) deficit is a “problem,” and that this deficit is caused by foreigners engaging in unfair trade practices. Accordingly, the president and his followers feel that the U.S. is being—and has long been—victimized by foreigners. The reality, however, is that the negative external balance in the U.S. is neither a “problem” nor is it attributable to foreigners engaging in nefarious activities. The U.S.'s negative external balance, which the country has registered every year since 1975, is “made in the USA.” External balances are always and everywhere homegrown; they are the reflection and the result of the relationship between domestic savings and domestic investment. And it is the gap between a country's savings and domestic investment that is the fundamental driver and determinant of its external balance. Specifically, the current account balance, or “trade deficit,” is the sum of the private savings‐investment gap and the public savings‐investment gap, or what is known as the “fiscal balance.” From 1972 until the end of 2018, for example, the cumulative private sector savings‐investment gap in the U.S. was a positive $12.8 trillion; that is, U.S. companies and individuals collectively saved—that is, earned and retained—some $12.8 trillion more than they consumed and invested domestically. But this positive balance was completely overshadowed by the cumulative negative government gap—or cumulative fiscal deficits—of $24.2 trillion during this 47‐year period. And thus the U.S. as a whole experienced a savings‐investment gap of negative $11.4 trillion that is entirely attributable to the country's fiscal deficits. What's more, the fact that the U.S. recorded a cumulative current account deficit of $11.5 trillion during this period confirms that the U.S. external deficits simply mirror what is happening in the U.S. domestic economy, just as the savings‐investment identity suggests. And, of course, the savings‐investment identity holds true for all countries, even those with significant external surpluses. Japan and China have both long experienced savings surpluses, and both have run current account surpluses that have mirrored their positive savings‐investment gaps. If the U.S. mercantilists understood what causes trade and current account deficits, they would direct their ire at profligate government spending rather than at foreigners. But they don't understand. And the leader of the mercantilists, President Trump, is flying blind and presiding over ever‐expanding fiscal deficits—which will only ensure that the current account deficits not just continue, but get bigger.