cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Multichannel spectral analysis for tube leak detection

Research to develop multichannel spectral analysis methods, including classical and parametric techniques, for tube leak detection in fossil-fueled power plant boilers is described. Acoustic analysis is employed to detect leaks. The main idea is to monitor the continuous noise environment of the furnace and to look for specific acoustic signatures produced by leaks. A signal spectrum is estimated using the LabVIEW software package. The coherence spectrum of 2-channel signals estimated by the autoregressive technique is shown. >
Security for mobile and cloud frontiers in healthcare

Designers and developers of healthcare information technologies must address preexisting security vulnerabilities and undiagnosed future threats.
EVALUATION OF NPZn (10:50:1.5 Zn) COMPLEX FERTILIZER IN RICE WHEAT CROPPING SYSTEM

A field experiment was conducted during 2004–05 and 2005–06 on rice (HKR-47) and wheat (WH-711) grown in the same field. Zinc was applied @ 1.8 and 5.0 kg ha−1 through ZnSO4 and NPZn in kharif and rabi. Grain and straw yields of rice and wheat were maximum in 3.2 kg Zn through ZnSO4 + 1.8 kg Zn through NPZn. Both crops responded significantly in terms of yield attributes, number of tillers/hill and panicle weight. Phosphorus and zinc uptake in rice and wheat were found highest and significantly higher over control when Zn was applied through NPZn complex fertilizer and zinc sulphate combined. The effect of all the treatments was found non significant on N and K content but significant ontheir uptake. Agronomic efficiency of zinc for total biomass and grain yield of rice and wheat was found maximum where 5 kg Zn ha−1 was applied through both 1.8 kg through NPZn and 3.2 kg through ZnSO4. Post harvest build-up of available N, P, K and Zn was also observed.
Reversible shape‐shifting in polymeric materials

In recent years, significant progress has been made in polymeric materials, which alter shape upon external stimuli, suggesting potential applications in robotics, biomedical engineering, and optical devices. These stimuli-responsive materials may be categorized into two classes: (i) shape-changing materials in which a specific type of shape-shifting is encoded in the original material structure and (ii) shape-memory materials, which do not possess any predetermined shape-shifting as prepared, yet allow programming of complex shape transformations on demand. While shape alterations in shape-changing materials are intrinsically reversible, shape memory is usually a one-way transformation from a metastable (programmed) to an equilibrium (original) state. Recently, different principles for both one-way reversible and two-way reversible shape memory have been developed. These offer a powerful combination of reversibility and programmability, which significantly expands the range of potential applications. The goal of this review is to highlight recent developments in reversible shape-shifting by introducing novel mechanisms, materials, and applications. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016, 54, 1365–1380
Lentivirus-mediated expression of cDNA and shRNA slows degeneration in retinitis pigmentosa:

Mutations in Pde6b lead to high levels of signaling molecules cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) and Ca(2+), which ultimately result in photoreceptor cell death in certain forms of retinitis pigmentosa (RP). The level of cGMP, which is controlled by opposing activities of guanylate cyclase (GUCY) and photoreceptor phosphodiesterase-6 (PDE6), regulates the opening of cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channels [CNG] and thereby controls Ca(2+) influx into the outer segments. Using a lentiviral gene therapy approach, we have previously shown that degeneration can be temporarily slowed either by introducing wild-type PDE6β or knocking down expression of GUCY2E and CNGA1 in photoreceptors of Pde6b(H620Q), a mouse model for RP. Rescue was transient with either approach. Therefore, we tested a novel combination therapy using bipartite lentiviral vectors designed to both introduce wild-type PDE6β expression and knockdown GUCY2E or CNGA1. Immunoblot analysis shows simultaneous increases in PDE6β and decreases in GUCY2E or CNGA1 in retinas transduced by the vectors, indicating successful transduction. In Pde6b(H620Q) mutants, we observe rescue of photoreceptor function and an increase in photoreceptor rows as compared with untreated controls. However, no evidence of prolonged rescue beyond the limit of the previously tested single therapy was observed.
Carotid-Cavernous Fistulas: Intraarterial Treatment

The intraarterial treatment of carotid-cavernous fistulas can be carried out rationally by considering a number of different factors. These include the site of the fistula, its size, its supply, its clinical presentation, associated vascular injuries, and the tolerance to carotid occlusion by a direct intraarterial balloon test. Careful attention to these features and familiarity with a variety of catheter systems, detachable balloons, and tissue adhesives will allow the operator to select the best treatment for each patient. Seven patients are described to illustrate these considerations.
Sasanguasaponin-induced apoptosis of Jurkat cells through endoplasmic reticulum stress

AIM To investigate the inducing effect of sasanguasaponin on the apoptosis of human leukemia Jurkat cells in vitro.METHODS Jurkat cells treated with sasanguasaponin(1-4 μg/mL) were used to observe the effect on proliferation by cell count assay.Effects on the protein expression of caspase-3,PARP,Bip,chop,Perk,ATF6 and IRE1 were analyzed by Western blot.RESULTS The proliferation of Jurkat cells was significantly inhibited after the exposure to sasanguasaponin(1-4 μg/mL) in a concentration-dependent manner.Immunoblotting results showed that caspase-3 was activated by sasanguasaponin and increased the protein expression of Cleaved PARP,then induced Jurkat cells apoptosis,which was triggered by downregulating the expression of Bip and chop,then activate endoplasmic reticulum stress transmembrane proteins(Perk,ATF6 and IRE1).CONCLUSION Sasanguasaponin(1-4 μg/mL) can inhibit the proliferation of human leukemia Jurkat cells,and induce the apoptosis through endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway.
Silence of HCMV-IE1 gene by RNA interference in vivo

Objective To evaluate the silence effect of RNAi on human cytomegalovirus immediate-early gene 1(HCMV-IE1) in vivo and provide the data for gene therapy of human cytomegalovirus(HCMV).Methods Sixty Kunming male mice were randomly divided into 3 groups: an infection group(n=20),injected with HCMVAD169;a control group(n=20),injected with saline solution;and an interfering group(n=20),injected with human embryonic lung fibroblast(HEL) expressed RNAi.The expression of HCMV-IE1 mRNA and protein and HCMV IgM level in the serum were examined by RT-PCR,Western blot(or immunohistochemistry),and ELISA,respectively.Results HCMVIE mRNA and protein expression in the interfering group was reduced by 20% and 17.6%(by immunohistochemistry) or 18.5%(by Western blot),respectively.The HCMV IgM level in the serum was reduced by 19%.Conclusion RNAi technology could be efficiently inhibit the gene expression in vivo and may be useful for gene therapy of HCMV.
Synthesis and solution properties of(1-butyl)-octyl-(p-ethyl) benzene sulfonate

By means of molecular designing,sodium(1-buty) octyl(p-ethylic) benzene sulfonate was synthesized from caprylic,α-bromobutane and ethylbenzene through several processes,involving Friedel-Crafts,Grignard reaction,reduction,sulfonation and neutralization.The structures of the intermediates were characterized by IR,and the product was obtained as expected.The purity of the surfactant was 98.3% determined by the two-phase titration method.The surface tension,interfacial tension and the dynamic in the alkane/aqueous system of the surfactant was measured.The interfacial performance and the surface properties of the surfactant were compared with another two mono-isomers.The result shows that as the benzene ring shifting to the middle of the long carbonic chain,the cmc increased,and γ_cmc reduced gradually,the surface performance of the surfactant will be better.All the values of EACN were lower than 6 or equal to 6,it means the stronger hydrophile capability of sodium laurlybenzene sulfonates.
The effects of an educational intervention for "at-risk" residents to improve their scores on the In-training Exam.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES The American Board of Family Practice (ABFP) In-training Exam (ITE) is one of the tools used to evaluate both a resident's progress through residency and the program itself. Investigators have examined the ITE's validity and reliability and predictors of resident performance, but no published studies have reported the effects of initiatives to improve residents' performance on the ITE. This study examines the impact of an educational intervention on low-scoring residents' ITE composite scores. METHODS Second-year residents at a university-based program were divided into two groups. The intervention group, who took the educational intervention, all had PGY-1 scores 400 on their composite score as PGY-1s. The educational intervention involved intensive group and independent study. RESULTS In the first year of the study, there was an increase in the average composite score of 75 points in the intervention group compared to the control group. In the second year, there was an increase of 72.5 points, but these differences were not significant. CONCLUSIONS These composite score changes are not significant, and although this educational intervention may have improved confidence among low-scoring residents, it did not clearly improve their scores on the ITE.
ACTIVATED CARBON PROCESSES FOR THE TREATMENT OF CHROMIUM (VI)-CONTAINING INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATERS

Various operational systems using activated carbon for the removal of Chromium (VI) from synthetic wastewaters have been examined in the laboratory. The influence of controllable parameters, such as pH, Cr(VI) concentration, column depth, and mixing in solution were evaluated for the possibility of scale-up to an economically feasible treatment system. Completely-mixed, column, and rotating carbon disk systems were compared as system design alternatives.
Matrix Computations and Neural Associative Memories

In view of recent interest and applications of Neural Associative Memories, it becomes increasingly important to evaluate their capacity limits and saturation effects. This paper presents a unified mathematical approach to evaluation of saturation/capacity for a large class of associative memories based upon matrix operations. This class includes, among others, Correlation Matrix Memory, Higher Order Associative Memory, Generalized Inverse Memory and Hamming net. The general model is based on Linear Algebra and is applicable to both binary and continuous-valued memories, and also includes auto-associative, hetero-associative and classification modes of operation. It is argued and demonstrated that the well-understood Linear Algebra formalism can be effectively applied to evaluate saturation/capacity limits, scaling properties and various input/output encoding schemes, as well as to compare different supervised learning (memory construction) techniques. As a practical application of our approach, we present detailed comparative analysis of the Outer Product Learning and the Generalized Inverse Memory construction rules for the auto-associative memory and the unary classification modes of operation.
Pancreatic and Digestive Function

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract influences nutrient metabolism through several routes. First, enzymes and other cofactors necessary for digestion are secreted into or are present in the small intestine. These factors are essential to break down the complex mixture of food to available nutrients, which then are absorbed by mechanisms in the small intestinal cells. Second, the gut is capable of adapting to diet composition. Adaptation to diet may reflect the GI tract’s function in homeostasis. Third, the GI tract has its own nutrient needs. The small intestine maintains a high rate of cell renewal and several GI organs actively synthesize secretory proteins. Because of its metabolic activity, the nutrient needs of this organ system are high. The small intestine is in an advantageous position in that it can utilize available nutrients directly from the lumen.
The present impasse and steps forward

In the previous chapters, we have summarized the present state of knowledge and uncertainty on climate change. We have reviewed what is known about the climate and how it is changing, the evidence for a human contribution to the observed changes, and the range of potential changes projected for the coming century, as well as the weaker state of knowledge about potential climate-change impacts and responses. This final chapter is more political, in two senses. First, we present a detailed examination of the present deadlocked politics of the issue, reviewing both who is lining up where, and what arguments are being advanced that are contributing to the current deadlock. Second, we present our own judgments of what kind of response to the climate issue appears to be appropriate, prudent, and practical in view of present scientific knowledge and political alignments. Climate-change politics: present positions Although climate change has been on policy agendas for more than a decade, progress on the issue is stalled both domestically in the United States of America and internationally. As discussed in Chapter 4, there are several broad types of response to the climate issue, including mitigation (reducing emissions), adaptation, and geoengineering. But present controversy, and the present deadlock in policy-making, are nearly exclusively concerned with mitigation – whether to take near-term policy action to reduce emissions, and if so, how stringently and of what form.
A Citizen Army in America

The image and perceptions of the American Revolution in France powerfully influenced French military thought and reform in the late eighteenth century. When the war broke out in 1775, France was already knee-deep in its intense efforts to reform the army, and civilian French writers had been puzzling for decades over how to create a more virtuous society and a more efficient army. While military reformers attempted to improve the army by elevating the soldier’s status and increasing his sense of patriotism, they witnessed a tangible and contemporary example of victorious citizen soldiers across the Atlantic. A broader readership likewise embraced the American image of a citizen army fighting out of patriotism, and saw in the American Revolution proof that the virtue and patriotism of the ancient world had been reborn in the modern one.
Permission from the Goddess

Ramanujan was elated finally to receive a positive response from England, and he promptly replied to Hardy: “I have found a friend in you, who views my labors sympathetically.” But instead of proofs of the sometimes audacious statements he was making about infinite series, continued fractions, and integrals, Ramanujan sent Hardy more theorems. Hardy received these with disbelief. How could one young man, in a country so distant from the world centers of mathematics, come up with so many ingenious mathematical results? It was a mystery. But he persisted in requesting proofs. And Ramanujan persisted in not supplying them—instead sending even more results
First occurrences of Hyolitha (Mollusca) in the Pennsylvanian of North America

Recovery of hyoliths from the Eudora Shale in southeastern Kansas and the Wolf Mountain Shale in north-central Texas constitutes the first occurrences of this group from the Pennsylvanian of North America. All specimens are preserved as pyritized internal molds. Many are sufficiently well preserved to be distinguishable from Hyolithes on the basis of transverse section and internal ornamentation; these are referred to Lirotheca wilsoni n. gen., n. sp. All other specimens lacking ornament and other distinctive features are assigned to Hyolithes? sp. The Kansas hyoliths occur with an abundant and diverse fauna including juvenile ammonoids and other molluscs, many of which are less than 3 mm in length. This suggests that these molluscs including the hyoliths are juvenile. The Texas hyoliths occur with a normal-size marine fauna, but their degree of maturity cannot be determined readily because they are too fragmentary.--Journal abstract.
Establishment of the model system between phytochemicals and gene expression profiles in Macrosclereid cells of Medicago truncatula

Macrosclereid cells, which are a layer in the seed coat of Medicago truncatula, accumulate large amounts of phytochemicals during their development. But little is known about the complex and dynamic changes during macrosclereid cell development. To characterize the phytochemicals and the related gene expression during the development of M. truncatula macrosclereid cells, a high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) assay and microarray study were conducted on transcriptome changes from macrosclereid cell during seed development. A total of 16 flavonoids by HPLC-MS and 4861 genes exhibited significant differences at transcript levels by microarray analysis were identified for macrosclerid cells at six different time points during seed development. 815 abiotic and biotic stress genes, 223 transcriptional factors (TFs), and 155 annotated transporter proteins exhibited differential expression during the development of macrosclereid cells. A total of 102 genes were identified as involved in flavonoid biosynthesis, phenypropanoid biosynthesis, and flavone and flavonol biosynthesis. We performed a weighted gene co-regulatory network (WGCNA) to analyze the gene-flavonoid association and rebuilt the gene regulatory network during macrosclereid cell development. Our studies revealed that macrosclereid cells are, beside as the first barrier of defense against diseases, an excellent model system to investigate the regulatory network that governs flavonoid biosynthesis.
Far From the Septum: Transcatheter Cardioform Septal Occluder Device Closure of a Descending Aortic Pseudoaneurysm Late After Interrupted Aortic Arch Repair

An asymptomatic 34-year-old woman with DiGeorge syndrome and interrupted aortic arch type B presented for care. She had undergone neonatal palliation with a 6-mm interposition graft followed by 16-mm extra-anatomic ascending to descending aortic jump graft placement in childhood. Screening cardiac
Exact Expression for the Lifting Condensation Level

AbstractMany analytic, but approximate, expressions have been proposed for the height of the lifting condensation level (LCL), including the popular expressions by Espy, Bolton, and Lawrence. Here, the exact, explicit, analytic expression is derived for an air parcel’s LCL as a function of its temperature and relative humidity. Unlike previous analytic expressions, some of which can have errors as high as hundreds or thousands of meters, this exact expression is accurate to within the uncertainty of empirical vapor pressure measurements: this translates into an uncertainty of around 5 m for all temperatures and relative humidities. An exact, explicit, analytic expression for the lifting deposition level (LDL) is also derived, and its behavior is compared to the LCL. At sufficiently cold temperatures, aerosols freeze homogeneously below the LCL; an approximate, implicit, analytic expression is given for this lifting freezing level (LFL). By comparing the LCL, LDL, and LFL, it is found that a well-mixed bou...
Design and control of a pressure-swing distillation process with vapor recompression

Abstract Pressure-swing distillation is widely used to separate minimum-boiling azeotropes when the azeotropic composition has significant pressure dependence. The two columns operate at different pressures with distillate streams having compositions close to their respective azeotropes. Heat integration is typically used since column temperatures are sufficiently different to permit heat transfer. A novel modification to achieve process intensification has recently been proposed that uses vapor recompression on both columns. The study developed a complex heat exchanger network along with the design of the two columns. Dynamic controllability was not studied. The purpose of this paper is to develop a robust control structure for this process. A novel control scheme features the flowrate of the distillate recycle from the high-pressure column as the throughput manipulator with the fresh feed brought in on level control.
Climate patterns and mosquito-borne disease outbreaks in South and Southeast Asia.

Abstract Background Vector-borne infectious diseases, particularly mosquito-borne, pose a substantial threat to populations throughout South and Southeast Asia. Outbreaks have affected this region several times during the early years of the 21st century, notably through outbreaks of Chikungunya and Dengue. These diseases are believed to be highly prevalent at endemic levels in the region as well. With a changing global climate, the impacts of changes in ambient temperatures and precipitation levels on mosquito populations are important for understanding the effects on risk of mosquito-borne disease outbreaks. This study aims to make use of a large data set to determine how risk of mosquito-borne infectious disease outbreaks relates to the highest monthly average temperature and precipitation for each year in South and Southeast Asia. Methods Generalized additive models were used in a marked point process to fit nonlinear trends relating temperature and precipitation to outbreak risk, fitting splines for temperature and precipitation. Confounding factors for nation affluence, climate type, and ability to report outbreaks were also included. Results Parabolic trends for both temperature and precipitation were observed relating to outbreak risk. The trend for temperature, which was significant, showed that outbreak risk peaks near 33.5 °C as the highest monthly average temperature. Though not significant, a trend for precipitation was observed showing risk peaking when the highest monthly average precipitation is 650 mm. Conclusions Peak levels of temperature and precipitation were identified for outbreak risk. These findings support the notion of a poleward shift in the distribution of mosquitoes within this region rather than a poleward expansion in geographic range.
Following the signs: children's use of visual cues to facilitate website evaluation

The paper discusses how research investigating reading strategies can inform web usability design for children by identifying visual cues or 'signposts' that facilitate reading and subsequent evaluation of websites. Using data obtained from a broader study of information-seeking behavior of thirdgrade students conducted in Montreal, Quebec, Canada the paper reports on the students' use of visual cues when reading and evaluating websites in their search for relevant information. It was discovered that such cues as bolded text, the chunking of textual passages, color, and the thoughtful placement of images all were factors that facilitated quick and efficient evaluation of websites.
A computer vision-based method for fire detection in color videos

This paper presents a computer vision-based approach for automatically detecting the presence of fire in video sequences. The algorithm not only uses the color and movement attributes of fire, but also analyzes the temporal variation of fire intensity, the spatial color variation of fire, and the tendency of fire to be grouped around a central point. A cumulative time derivative matrix is used to detect areas with a high frequency luminance flicker. The fire color of each frame is aggregated in a cumulative fire color matrix using a new color model which considers both pigmentation values of the RGB color and the saturation and the intensity properties in the HSV color space. A region merging algorithm is then applied to merge the nearby fire colored moving regions to eliminate the false positives. The spatial and temporal color variations are finally applied to detect fires. Our extensive experimental results demonstrate that the proposed system is effective in detecting all types of uncontrolled fire in various situations, lighting conditions, and environment. It also performs better than the peer system with higher true positives and true negatives and lower false positives and false negatives.
Fixed Point Principles in Language Theory

Stir a cup of coffee with a spoon. It is a well-known fact of popular mathematics that some point in the coffee will be in its initial position after the stir. This drop of coffee is called a fixed point. Fixed points are extremely important objects in mathematics and computer science. In numerical methods, fixed points can be used to find roots of equations; in programming semantics, fixed point methods can be used to find the semantics (the meaning) of a program. Fixed point methods are useful in language theory too.
Penicillin production in corn steep media with continuous carbohydrate addition.

The work reported here presents the results of an investigation into the replacement of lactose by glucose or by sucrose in a corn steep liquor medium for the production of penicillin. Previous work has established (Johnson, 1946) that glucose and sucrose are metabolized by Penicillium chrysogenum at a more rapid rate than is lactose. Also, it has been shown that a maximum rate of penicillin production is obtained under fermentation conditions which support a slow rate of growth, such as those of the conventional lactose fermentation. In order to approximate those conditions when glucose or sucrose was used as a carbohydrate source, these sugars were fed at rates chosen so as to restrict their utilization. The optimum feed rate of each sugar for penicillin production was then determined. This work was done exclusively in 30-liter stirred and aerated stainless steel fermentors. Work of a similar nature employing a synthetic medium has been repoxted elsewhere (Hosler and Johnson, 1953).
Characterization of Microstructures Before, During and After Densification

The microstructural characterization of materials is a critical step to understand structure--property relationships in sintered materials. Altering the processing parameters during sintering can lead to variations of the materials microstructure and, hence, their macroscopic properties. This chapter reviews experimental techniques for the atomic resolution characterization of microstructural defects. Emphasis is given to a variety of electron microscopy techniques and how these can be used to gain a more fundamental understanding of sintering behavior, such as defect segregation and grain growth. The recent advent of novel in situ electron microscopy techniques has enabled the atomic-scale investigation of densification mechanisms and their kinetics that occur during sintering. A review of available techniques is presented and first experimental results are discussed.
The Large Ultraviolet/Optical/Infrared Surveyor

LUVOIR is a concept for a powerful, flexible space observatory to enable the first survey for exoplanets most similar to the Earth, search for signs of life in our Solar System and beyond, and revolutionize astrophysics in the twenty-first century.
Reactivating Christian Metaphysical Glory in the Wake of Its Eclipse: William Desmond Contra Giorgio Agamben

In his contribution, Philip Gonzales stages a dialogue between two seemingly antithetical thinkers, Desmond and Agamben. Gonzales argues that Desmond provides a reconstructed Christian metaphysics against the profaning thought of Agamben. Agamben is incapable of thinking the Sabbath or rest of God beyond the terms of retreat while metaxology provides the resources to think the Sabbath of God as part of the creatureliness of human beings.
Editorial Appreciation to Our Reviewers

Each year it is the privilege and responsibility of the Editor-in-Chief to acknowledge the reviewers whose largely anonymous efforts lie at the heart of any scientific publication, and the communities of scholars and practitioners whom it serves. As such, it is worth taking a few minutes to reflect on the purpose of the peer review process, and the contributions our reviewers make. To my mind the principal purposes of peer review are to determine whether the paper merits publication, and to help authors write better papers.
‘It’s so scary how common this is now:’ frames in media coverage of the opioid epidemic by Ohio newspapers and themes in Facebook user reactions

Deaths from opioid overdose in the US have increased five-fold since 1999. Ohio ranks second among states in drug overdose deaths, with more than 39 deaths for every 100,000 people. In light of thi...
The Effect of Task Modifications on the Fundamental Motor Skills of Boys on the Autism Spectrum: A Pilot Study

A growing body of research has shown children on the autism spectrum are behind their peers developmentally in regard to their gross motor skill development. Given the increased risk for obesity and other health related co-occurring conditions associated with autism spectrum disorder, building foundational gross motor skills is vitally important so that individuals grow into physically active adults. However, the research on motor skill interventions for children on the autism spectrum is limited. Therefore, a multi-element multiple baseline across behaviors single subject design was employed to test the effectiveness of a motor intervention based on task modifications developed based on Dynamic Systems Theory. Using a purposive sample of two boys, aged 7 and 8 years, on the autism spectrum, task modifications were evaluated to understand the impact on the child’s motor performance and their performance’s persistence across two skills (i.e., horizontal jump and two-hand strike; P1jump-pre = 3; P1strike-pre = 4; P2jump-pre = 2; P2strike-pre = 2). As a result of the task modifications, both boys scores increased according to developed skill criterion and the raw scores of the Test of Gross Motor Development, 3rd Edition (Ulrich 2018; P1jump-post = 6; P1strike-post = 6; P2jump-post = 6; P2strike-post = 8). Once the modifications were faded, both boy’s two-hand strike performance persisted; however, one boy’s horizontal jump performance returned to baseline levels. Yet, for this still there remained a high level of non-overlap (90.5%). This study demonstrates the potential impact that an intervention designed around task modifications can have; however, it also shows that interventions may need to be designed at an individual level and contain the flexibility to adjust to the needs of the child.
Management of keratinocyte carcinoma - Special considerations in the elderly

Abstract Keratinocyte carcinomas (KCs) are now an epidemic in The United States of America, especially in elderly patients. KCs, including basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, can lead to disfigurement and occasionally death. However, the lower mortality rate associated with KC compared with melanoma allows for increased flexibility in the selection of treatment. Flexibility in treatment is particularly important in the elderly given that this patient population often has medical comorbidities that should be considered. These patients may have multiple KCs, higher risk tolerance to recurrence, and different concerns about cosmetic outcomes compared with their younger counterparts. We review treatment options for KCs and how the selection of each option may affect the elderly patient.
Predictors of Neurologic Recovery in Patients Who Undergo Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Refractory Cardiac Arrest.

Objective The use of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation as a rescue strategy during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) is increasingly being used for non-responders to conventional CPR. To identify patients most likely to benefit from ECPR, we investigated predictors of hospital discharge with good neurologic function. Design Retrospective cohort analysis Setting Single institution academic medical center Participants Patients Interventions Venoarterial-ECMO initiation for refractory witnessed cardiac arrest from 2009-2019 Measurements and Main Results Baseline characteristics and post-ECMO outcomes were compared between patients who had good versus poor neurologic function at discharge. Good neurologic function was defined as a cerebral performance category (CPC) 1-2, whereas poor neurologic function was defined as a CPC 3-5. Of 54 patients, 13 (24%) were discharged with good neurologic function and 41 (76%) had poor neurologic function (n=38 in-hospital deaths; n=3 discharged with severe disability.) Survivors with good neurologic function were younger (41 vs 61 years, p=0.03), more likely to arrest due to pulmonary embolism (46% vs 10%, p=0.01), and more likely to receive concurrent impella placement while on ECMO (38% vs 12%, p=0.03.) Young age was the most important predictor of good neurologic function (OR 0.92 [0.87-0.97], p=0.004) with a threshold for improved survival around 60 years. For all patients, survival to discharge was 30%; however, among survivors with good neurologic function, five-year survival was 100%. Conclusions ECPR is associated with high rates of neurologic morbidity and mortality. However, in select patients, it may be an acceptable option with favorable long-term survival. Additional studies are indicated to further define appropriate selection criteria for ECPR implementation.
Chronic Kidney Disease–Mineral and Bone Disorders

Abstract The disruption of a multiorgan systems biology produced by renal injury in early stages of kidney injury and disease was unrecognized until its elucidation during the investigation of the chronic kidney disease–mineral bone disorder (CKD-MBD). The disordered systems biology causes the CKD-MBD and contributes major components of increased cardiovascular risk for CKD patients. The outcome of the syndrome, in addition to previously recognized renal osteodystrophy (ROD), is increased cardiovascular mortality in CKD patients. The inception of the CKD-MBD was only recently realized to be with the early effects of kidney disease. Its pathophysiology involves circulating factors produced by renal repair and newly discovered hormones, such as fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23) and cleaved klotho. Progressing from its inception, the disruption of the multiorgan system leads to the pathophysiology previously recognized as secondary hyperparathyroidism, hyperphosphatemia, calcitriol deficiency, and ROD that are now incorporated into the CKD-MBD syndrome, along with vascular disease (especially calcification) and cardiac disease (especially hypertrophy and heart failure). The new pathophysiology brings attention to extreme need for advances in treatment of the CKD-MBD, which is currently focused on the late components of the syndrome, and which have been shown in clinical trials not to affect the mortality associated with the syndrome.
Step toward Roadside Sensing: Noninvasive Detection of a THC Metabolite from the Sweat Content of Fingerprints

The sudden increase in states legalizing marijuana has forced law enforcement into a situation where the use and consumption are legal, but there are no limitations for what is acceptable for driving or operating machinery. Using ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, fingerprints from volunteers who had used marijuana were analyzed via a competitive immunoassay for the detection of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), the main psychoactive component of marijuana, and 11-nor-9-carboxy-THC (THC-COOH), one of the main metabolites produced in the body following the use/consumption of THC-related products. In this research, the THC-COOH metabolite and the enzyme-labeled conjugate compete against each other as the antigens for the system. The antibody used in this assay has a greater affinity for the metabolite; so, as its concentration increases, the absorbance of the system decreases due to less binding of the enzyme-labeled conjugate.
Opioid prescribing patterns among generalists & oncologists for Medicare Part D beneficiaries from 2013-2017.

2070Background: In response to the opioid crisis, recent policies aiming to reduce opioid prescribing, misuse, & abuse have generated concern that patients with cancer pain may unintentionally expe...
Characteristics of Adolescents with Differing Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Phenotypes.

Abstract Study Objective To analyze clinical, metabolic, hormonal, and ultrasound characteristics of adolescents with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) phenotypes. Design We performed a retrospective analysis of quality improvement data. We divided patients by phenotype based on clinical or biochemical diagnosis of hyperandrogenism (HA), irregular menstruation (IM), and presence or absence of polycystic ovarian morphology (PCOM) on pelvic ultrasound (PUS), if obtained. The 5 resulting groups were: 1) HA/IM/normal PUS, n=28; 2) HA/PCOM, n=10; 3) IM/PCOM, n=18; 4) HA/IM/PCOM, n=40; and 5) HA/IM/no PUS obtained, n=80. We compared parameters between groups using the non-parametric Wilcoxon rank sum test. Setting Boston Children’s Hospital, 2012 to 2016. Participants 176 females aged 11-25 years Intervention N/A Main Outcome Measures: 1) Clinical, metabolic, and hormonal characteristics; 2) pelvic ultrasound measurements Results Groups with HA had significantly higher acne scores, Ferriman-Gallwey scores, and total and free testosterone concentrations than groups without HA. Significant differences in HbA1c were found between the IM/PCOM and HA/IM/PCOM groups (5.1% vs 5.3%, p = 0.01) and the IM/PCOM and HA/IM/no PUS groups (5.1% vs 5.3%; p Conclusion Limited differences in clinical, metabolic, and hormonal characteristics exist between adolescents with different phenotypes of PCOS, and are mostly related to the presence or absence of hyperandrogenism. Of patients with ultrasounds, only two had clinically actionable incidental findings.
Allelic response of yield component traits to resource availability in spring wheat

Investigation of resource availability on allele effects for four yield component quantitative trait loci provides guidance for the improvement of grain yield in high and low yielding environments. A greater understanding of grain yield (GY) and yield component traits in spring wheat may increase selection efficiency for improved GY in high and low yielding environments. The objective of this study was to determine allelic response of four yield component quantitative trait loci (QTL) to variable resource levels which were manipulated by varying intraspecific plant competition and seeding density. The four QTL investigated in this study had been previously identified as impacting specific yield components. They included QTn.mst-6B for productive tiller number (PTN), WAPO-A1 for spikelet number per spike (SNS), and QGw.mst-3B and TaGW2-A1 for kernel weight (KWT). Near-isogenic lines for each of the four QTL were grown in multiple locations with three competition (border, no-border and space-planted) and two seeding densities (normal 216 seeds m−2 and low 76 seeds m−2). Allele response at QTn.mst-6B was driven by changes in resource availability, whereas allele response at WAPO-A1 and TaGW2-A1 was relatively unaffected by resource availability. The QTn.mst-6B.1 allele at QTn.mst-6B conferred PTN plasticity resulting in significant GY increases in high resource environments. The gw2-A1 allele at TaGW2-A1 significantly increased KWT, SNS and GPC offering a source of GY improvement without negatively impacting end-use quality. QGw.mst-3B allelic variation did not significantly impact KWT but did significantly impact SPS. Treatment effects in both experiments often resulted in significant positive impacts on GY and yield component traits when resource availability was increased. Results provide guidance for leveraging yield component QTL to improve GY performance in high- and low-yield environments.
Issues in transferring education research across dental schools.

ISSUE Almost all dental educational research describes statistically significant changes using a one-time intervention at a single program. It is hoped that the most significant of these interventions will transfer to other schools. APPROACH But the research logic of context-specific investigations does not always generalize with the same impact to new situations. This is the transfer problem. There is virtually no systematic research exploring the extent to which transfer from the dental educational literature is attempted, how successful it is, and what factors improve transfer. IMPACT The paper discusses some of the more prominent issues in transferability such as (a) the meaning of "identical" conditions upon which inductive statistics are based, (b) isolation of causal factors, (c) generalizability, (d) reliability and validity, (e) measures of effect, (f) statistical versus practical significance, and (g) the need to build theory in discussion sections. Eight suggestions are offered for making dental educational research more transferable.
A Concise History of the New Deal

During the 1930s, Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal carried out a program of dramatic reform to counter the unprecedented failures of the market economy exposed by the Great Depression. Contrary to the views of today's conservative critics, this book argues that New Dealers were not 'anticapitalist' in the ways in which they approached the problems confronting society. Rather, they were reformers who were deeply interested in fixing the problems of capitalism, if at times unsure of the best tools to use for the job. In undertaking their reforms, the New Dealers profoundly changed the United States in ways that still resonate today. Lively and engaging, this narrative history focuses on the impact of political and economic change on social and cultural relations.
Facilitating the acquisition of strategic skills: The role of traditional and soft managerial skills

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether managers can acquire strategic skills using management education methods in lieu of experience. It demonstrates that experienced‐based pedagogical methods can be effective in developing traditional skills or “hard” skills and “soft” skills such as interpersonal communication, which then facilitate the acquisition of strategic skills.Design/methodology/approach – The paper uses data from questionnaires and achievement scores from capstone classes to determine whether exposure to an experiential technique called large‐scale simulation can lead students to acquire traditional, soft and strategic managerial skill sets.Findings – The results show that soft and traditional skills are complementary and together lead to better acquisition of strategic skills and also imply that mastering soft skills may enhance the mastery of traditional skills.Research limitations/implications – A limitation of the research stems from the use of students as research s...
Distribution functions in quantum optics

Perhaps the simplest way of including quantum mechanics, in various problems in quantum optics, is by use of the classical-quantum-correspondence method, by means of which one replaces quantum-mechanical operators by complex numbers. This is carried out by means of quasi-classical distribution functions and here we address the question of which is the best choice of function from the large selection available. Whereas Glauber's P(α) distribution is useful in many applications, it does not exist as a well-behaved function in many others. In such cases, a more useful function is the generalized P-representation of Drummond and Gardiner. However, based on simplicity and overall applicability, we conclude that Wigner's function also has a claim to be the optimum choice.
Electronic states of two-dimensional materials and heterostructures

The electronic states of two-dimensional (2D) materials and heterostructures are discussed, comparing theoretical predictions and experimental results for vertical tunneling devices and other structures. For graphene-insulator-graphene (GIG) junctions, predicted current-voltage characteristics display a resonant peak arising from momentum conservation in the junctions,1 as illustrated in Fig. 1. Recent experiments have confirmed those predictions, including dependence FIG 1. (a)–(c) Band diagrams for a doped GIG junction, at voltages of (a) V 2ΔE/e, and (c) V = 2ΔE/e. In (a) and (b), states satisfying k-conservation (i.e. in limit of large electrode area) are shown by the rings located at an energy midway between the Dirac points for the two electrodes. In (c), states at all energies satisfy k-conservation. (d) Qualitative current-voltage (I-V) characteristic. In actual physical devices, the delta-function (arrow) will be broadened into a Gaussianlike characteristic.
Ultraviolet Absorption, Circular Dichroism, and Optical Rotatory Dispersion in Biomembrane Studies

The fundamental concerns in applying optical methods to the study of biomembranes arise from complications introduced by their particulate nature; the basic objective is not solely to describe the actual absorbance by separating it from the effects of light scattering in the heterogeneous system. Moreover, the objective is to correct the spectrum to the absorbance, or difference absorbance, values that would occur if the molecules were uniformly distributed while retaining their membrane conformational state. This, of course, is because the reference state, for which there is much information, is one in which the polypeptide or protein species of interest is molecularly dispersed in solution. In order to proceed in a more sure-footed manner, a brief review of the fundamentals of absorption and the factors that alter absorption intensity and spectral position is warranted. Achieving a satisfactory perspective of the fundamentals allows for a more confident approach to the unique problems of membrane systems.
Spatiotemporal neighborhood discovery for sensor data

The focus of this paper is the discovery of spatiotemporal neighborhoods in sensor datasets where a time series of data is collected at many spatial locations. The purpose of the spatiotemporal neighborhoods is to provide regions in the data where knowledge discovery tasks such as outlier detection, can be focused. As building blocks for the spatiotemporal neighborhoods, we have developed a method to generate spatial neighborhoods and a method to discretize temporal intervals. These methods were tested on real life datasets including (a) sea surface temperature data from the Tropical Atmospheric Ocean Project (TAO) array in the Equatorial Pacific Ocean and (b)highway sensor network data archive. We have found encouraging results which are validated by real life phenomenon.
Large visualizations for system monitoring of complex, heterogeneous systems

As systems grow larger in size and complexity, it becomes increasingly difficult for administrators to maintain some shared sense of awareness of what’s going on in the system. We implemented a large public display with appropriately designed visualizations that allow for rapid assessment and peripheral awareness of system health. By placing the visualizations on a large display in a shared, commonly used team location, system administrators can monitor behavior as they walk past. Such a display helps administrators identify emerging problems early on and be a focal point for discussions of the system. It allows them not only to share information with colleagues on an “as-noticed” basis, but also highlights interconnected problems that would not be otherwise evident. We found that this approach significantly reduces the workload of individual system administrators, changing the nature of their work by radically simplifying a complex task through social sharing of peripherally noticed state.