cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Are General Surgery Residents Accurate Assessors of Their Own Flexible Endoscopy Skills

Background Surgeons in training must be able to accurately gauge their own ability and performance to better understand where additional practice is needed and can help inform self-directed learning endeavors. This study had the following 3 goals: (1) to examine the accuracy of residents’ assessments of their endoscopic skills, (2) to investigate if accuracy improves over time and practice, and (3) to compare the efficacy of 3 interventions—practice only (PO), self-observation (SO), or expert observation (EO)—on self-assessment accuracy. Methods Overall, 30 first-year general surgery residents completed a pretest on a colonoscopy simulator, which measured time to completion, time to reach the cecum, efficiency of screening, percentage of mucosal surface area examined, time the patient was in pain, and time with a clear view. Residents assigned to the SO and EO conditions reviewed a video of their own performances (SO) or an expert’s performance (EO). Residents in all conditions engaged in practice trials using an abstract endoscopy training exercise. Residents then completed a posttest. Self-assessment was examined by calculating discrepancy scores by subtracting actual measurements from participant judgments. Results Results indicated that performance for participants in the PO group significantly improved from pretest to posttest for 2 of the 6 metrics and participants in the SO and EO groups improved for 4 metrics. In terms of self-assessment discrepancy scores, only the EO group significantly improved for 2 of the 6 metrics (overall time and screening efficiency). Discussion Novice trainees are inaccurate self-assessors of their endoscopic skills before training. Allowing trainees to watch videos of themselves or an expert performing an endoscopic task enhances performance. Participants assigned to PO exhibited decreased ability to accurately judge their own performance. Those in the EO group became significantly better at assessing their overall time and overall efficiency. Summary Novice trainees are inaccurate self-assessors of their endoscopic skills before training. Allowing trainees to watch videos of themselves or an expert performing an endoscopic task enhances performance.
Performance Prediction of IoT Application: an Experimental Analysis

The ubiquitous deployment of mobile and sensor devices is creating a new environment, known as the Internet of Things (IoT). In this new realm, wireless sensor nodes, smart devices along with information and communication systems together constitute the elements of new computing environment. For wide acceptance of IoT applications, guaranteeing their performance is important. However, performance analysis of IoT applications encounters a lot of challenges such as interaction among a number of different technologies, various usage patterns of smart devices, numerous possible transactions, unavailability of suitable testing platforms and so on. In this paper, we deal with performance analysis of a scalable IoT platform that attempts to take a holistic approach for enterprise level data management in the IoT domain as well as development of IoT applications. We predict the performance of specific APIs offered by the platform using queuing network modeling and also validate them through experimental analysis on two deployment platforms. Additionally, we are able to predict performance of a real-life energy monitoring application deployed on this platform in a production environment. Our analysis is done mostly based on data extracted from production environment and requires only limited performance tests.
Molecular Structure and Biological Activity of NPP-4, An Endothelial Cell Surface Pyrophosphatase/ Phosphodiesterase That Stimulates Platelet Aggregation and Secretion Via Liberation of ADP Upon Hydrolysis of Diadenosine Triphosphate

Abstract Abstract 701 Diadenosine triphosphate (Ap3A) is a component of platelet dense granules, and is released into the extracellular space during the second wave of platelet aggregation following platelet activation by ADP and other agonists. Ap3A has long been thought to stimulate platelet aggregation after release into the extracellular space by providing a prolonged source of ADP via hydrolysis by a slow extracellular enzyme present in human plasma. Here, we identify NPP-4, a member of the nucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase enzyme family present on endothelial cell surfaces, as a potent hydrolase of Ap3A capable of stimulating platelet aggregation and secretion at nanomolar concentrations. We performed lumiaggregometry with citrated platelet-rich plasma in the presence of Ap3A with or without increasing nanomolar concentrations of NPP-4. In these experiments we determined that Ap3A alone in concentrations up to 80 uM initiated a primary wave of platelet aggregation that was followed by rapid disaggregation. In the presence of nanomolar concentrations of NPP-4, however, the primary and secondary waves of platelet aggregation and dense granule release are strongly induced in an enzyme concentration-dependent fashion. In contrast, mutant NPP-4, catalytically inactivated by an active site threonine to alanine mutation, had no effect on platelet aggregation and dense granule release under identical conditions. In order to clarify the structural basis of the enzymatic mechanism, we determined the high-resolution structure of NPP4 in the presence and absence of the enzymatic product, AMP. In aggregate, our studies define the biological, enzymatic, and molecular basis for NPP-4 and Ap3A activity in platelet aggregation and secretion in vitro and suggest that NPP-4 may play a role in hemostasis in vivo by augmenting platelet aggregation and release of granule contents at the site of vascular injury. With these studies we have thus established the molecular foundation for the rational development of a new class of therapeutics capable of modulating vascular thrombosis. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Software defined connected prosumer communities

Electricity generation from renewable sources is radically increasing in an effort to achieve the Sustainable Energy for All objective of doubling the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix by 2030. However, the current grid has difficulty accommodating variable power sources like wind and solar. To accelerate the integration of renewable distributed power generation there is a need for the development of a highly reliable, self-regulating, and efficient grid. To address this challenge, we propose Software Defined Connected Prosumer Communities (SDCPC), a transformative paradigm that leverages IoT-enabled energy infrastructure (i.e., smart metering techniques, digital sensors, and intelligent control systems) that turns the electric power infrastructure into an “Internet of Energy” (IoE) to provide power utilities with digital intelligence to the network of prosumers (i.e., consumers that co-generate electricity as a result of the continuous integration of renewable generation).
Microwave photonic chaos based device fingerprinting

We propose a microwave photonic system that can be challenged to generate dynamic chaotic response as the device fingerprint. Chaotic response consistency and variability are obtained to avoid false negatives and positives.
Echo(): Listening to the Reflection of Obsolete Technology

This paper introduces two interfaces developed under the theme of 'echo()', which explores HCI and design creativities from reflective and reuse practices on broken and obsolete technologies. In this series of projects, diverse old and mundane electronics have been collected and repurposed to provide heuristic spaces where the audience can playfully communicate with forgotten materiality and outdated functionality. The first version of echo() is a sound interactive installation where the visual components of the installation respond to the frequency and volume of the audience's vocal sound. The second version of echo() is an eight channels electronic controller that allows a user to automatically switch eight different electronic devices on and off according to the selected tempo. This paper describes the concept, related works, and technical details of this project.
Validation of iFR: Clinical Registries

Initial landmark studies on coronary physiology presented the theory of coronary wave intensity analysis [1] and introduced the concept of instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR) as an index of coronary stenosis severity [2]. Whilst these earlier studies set the physiological foundations for iFR and demonstrated its close relationship with fractional flow reserve (FFR), they were limited in their ability to directly reflect the performance of iFR in clinical practice, as their samples were not selected solely from patients undergoing FFR measurement in clinical practice [3]. For instance, ADVISE evaluated iFR’s performance across a broad range of coronary stenosis severities, which included tight and mild coronary lesions, in the same line as pioneering studies of FFR [4] and other perfusion modalities [5]. However, in everyday practice, and in agreement with clinical practice guideline recommendations [6], functional intracoronary assessment of stenosis severity is predominantly used to interrogate intermediate stenoses of unclear severity. It was likely that these different strategies of lesion selection could influence the agreement between iFR and FFR on classifying coronary stenoses. Therefore, the next step in the validation of iFR as a clinically applicable index was to study its performance against FFR in clinical registries. In this chapter, we aim to demonstrate the importance of clinical registries on the initial validation of iFR and explain how they more closely reflect the true clinical performance of an index when directly applied to patients. Finally, we present the initially proposed approach to use iFR and FFR in a hybrid diagnostic pathway, a concept derived from combined clinical registries.
Treatment of Unicameral Bone Cysts of the Proximal Femur With Internal Fixation Lessens the Risk of Additional Surgery

Little data exist to guide the treatment of unicameral bone cysts in the proximal femur. Methods of treatment include corticosteroid injections, curettage and bone grafting, and internal fixation. The authors completed a multi-institutional, retrospective review to evaluate their experience with proximal femoral unicameral bone cysts. They posed the following questions: (1) Does internal fixation reduce the risk of further procedures for the treatment of a unicameral bone cyst? (2) Is radiographic healing faster with internal fixation? Following institutional review board approval, the authors conducted a retrospective review of 36 patients treated for a unicameral bone cyst of the proximal femur at their institutions between 1974 and 2014. Medical records and radiographs were reviewed to identify patient demographics and treatment outcomes. Tumor locations included femoral neck (n=13), intertrochanteric (n=16), and subtrochanteric (n=7). Initial treatment included steroid injection (n=2), curettage and bone grafting (n=9), and internal fixation with curettage and bone grafting (n=25). Mean time was 9 months to radiographic healing and 15 months to return to full activity. The number of patients requiring additional surgeries was increased among those who did not undergo internal fixation. There was no difference in time to radiographic healing. However, time to return to normal activities was reduced if patients had received internal fixation. A significant reduction in additional procedures was observed when patients had been treated with internal fixation. Although this did not influence time to radiographic healing, patients did return to normal activities sooner. Internal fixation should be considered in the treatment of proximal femoral unicameral bone cysts. [Orthopedics. 2017; 40(5):e862-e867.].
How Cancer Patients Use and Benefit from an Interactive Cancer Communication System

Despite the mounting evidence of efficacy of eHealth interventions, their mechanisms of action remain unknown. The current study analyzed patient log data as each patient engaged in an eHealth system called the Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System (CHESS) and reports on how patients engage with different combinations of eHealth services over time. Newly diagnosed breast cancer patients (N = 443) were given access for 6 months to one of four different configurations of CHESS: (1) Information, (2) Information and Support, (3) Information, Support, and Coaching (Full CHESS), and (4) Full CHESS and Mentor. Besides a baseline survey, three follow-up posttests were administered. Action log data on how patients engaged with the CHESS were also collected and merged with surveys to examine how patients benefit during the cancer experience. The findings suggest that usage patterns were not competitive, implying that cancer patients’ access to more complex tools generates more use with their time spreadin...
Antioxidant Capacity of Nitrogen and Sulfur Codoped Carbon Nanodots

Carbon nanodots (CNDs) have shown potential for antioxidative activity at the cellular level. Here we applied a facile hydrothermal method to prepare fluorescent nitrogen and sulfur (N,S-)codoped CNDs using α-lipoic acid, citric acid, and urea as precursor molecules. This work describes a comprehensive study for exploring their antioxidation activity using UV–vis absorption and electrochemistry measurements of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH•), as well as a lucigenin chemiluminescence (lucigenin-CL) assay. The lucigenin-CL assay detects superoxide anion radicals, i.e., reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced through the xanthine/xanthine oxidase (XO) reaction. The electrochemically derived relationship between the unreacted nitrogen-centered DPPH• and CND concentrations agrees with that obtained from UV–vis measurements. A reaction pathway for the ROS antioxidative reaction of N,S-codoped CNDs is proposed. These findings should aid in the development of N,S-codoped CNDs for practical use in bio...
Regional Cortical Thinning and Cerebrospinal Biomarkers Predict Worsening Daily Functioning Across the Alzheimer's Disease Spectrum

BACKGROUND Impairment in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) heralds the transition from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to dementia and is a major source of burden for both the patient and caregiver. OBJECTIVE To investigate the relationship between IADL and regional cortical thinning and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers cross-sectionally and longitudinally in clinically normal (CN) elderly, MCI, and mild AD dementia subjects. METHODS Two hundred and twenty nine CN, 395 MCI, and 188 AD dementia subjects participating in the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative underwent baseline magnetic resonance imaging, baseline lumbar puncture, and clinical assessments, including the Functional Activities Questionnaire used to measure IADL, every 6 to 12 months up to 3 years. General linear regression and mixed effects models were employed. RESULTS IADL impairment was associated with the interactions between lower inferior temporal cortical thickness and diagnosis (p < 0.0001), greater lateral occipital cortical thickness and diagnosis (p < 0.0001), and greater amyloid-β 1-42 (Aβ1-42) and diagnosis (p = 0.0002) at baseline (driven by AD dementia). Lower baseline supramarginal (p = 0.02) and inferior temporal (p = 0.05) cortical thickness, lower Aβ1-42 (p < 0.0001), and greater total tau (t-tau) (p = 0.02) were associated with greater rate of IADL impairment over time. CONCLUSIONS Temporal atrophy is associated with IADL impairment in mild AD dementia at baseline, while baseline parietal and temporal atrophy, lower CSF Aβ1-42, and greater t-tau predict worsening IADL impairment over time across the AD spectrum. These results emphasize the importance of assessing IADL at the stage of MCI and even at the transition from CN to MCI.
Predicting the Mackey-Glass Timeseries With Cascade-Correlation Learning

The cascade-correlation learning algorithm has been shown to learn some binary output tasks 10-100 times more quickly than back-propagation. This paper shows that the cascade-correlation algorithm can be used to predict a real-valued timeseries. Results of learning to predict the Mackey-Glass chaotic timeseries using Cascade-Correlation are compared with other neural net learning algorithms as well as standard techniques. Learning speed results are presented in terms that allow easy comparison between cascade-correlation and other learning algorithms, independent of machine architecture or simulator implementation.
Microcrystal Structure Determination Using Synchrotron Radiation and a Ccd Detector

The structure determination of the nucleoside analog metRITOne, 2-methylthio-6-b-D-ribofuranosylimidazo[2,1-][1,2,4]triazin-4(3H)-one, with the molecular formula CNOSH is presented. This molecule forms needle-shaped crystals with extremely small external dimensions (≈ 5 μm × 10 μm × 100 μm). It crystallizes in space group P222 with = 21.368(5) A, = 4.790(5) A and = 12.876(5) A. Single crystal diffraction data collected on a four circle diffractometer using a sealed tube generator with a Cu anode and a scintillation detector are compared to data collected with synchrotron radiation and a CCD (charge coupled device) detector. Least squares refinement of the two structures of metRITOne was carried out with the program . Isotropic refinement of 21 non-hydrogen atoms was carried forth to an initial reliability index (R) of about 9% in both cases. None of the hydrogen atoms could be conclusively located in the difference Fourier maps generated in the structure solution step. The final crystallographic reliability factor (R), after isotropic least squares refinement using was 0.0575 (wR = 0.1798), at a resolution of 0.99 A, for the synchrotron-CCD dataset. For the synchrotron-CCD dataset, an anisotropic refinement could only be performed on the S, O and N atoms. The C atoms yielded non-positive definite thermal ellipsoids through the first cycle of anisotropic least squares refinement. Evidently the synchrotron-CCD dataset, in agreement with the carefully collected diffractometer dataset, was not capable of yielding to a full anisotropic least squares refinement despite there being 731 independent reflections (539 independent reflections from the diffractometer dataset) and 189 independent parameters in the metRITOne molecule. Poor sampling of b* in the reciprocal space of the crystal, due to the relatively small b cell dimension (4.790(5) A) may likely have been the cause of the failure of the anisotropic refinement.
MRI screening for uterine leiomyosarcoma.

Background Uterine fibroids are a common benign tumor and can be symptomatic, necessitating resection. Surgical myomectomy is an effective treatment option with a risk of disseminating occult uterine leiomyosarcoma (LMS), creating a need for an effective presurgical screening protocol. Clinical collaboration with contrast-enhanced MRI including T2 and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) can be utilized as a screening exam. Purpose To review the accuracy and feasibility of an interdisciplinary prospective contrast-enhanced MRI pelvis with DWI screening system for LMS prior to fibroid resection. Study type Retrospective cohort study. Population In all, 1960 adult female patients aged 18-87 undergoing screening MRI pelvis prior to uterine fibroid resection. Field strength/sequence T1 and T2 -weighted imaging, DWI, and contrast-enhanced images were acquired at 1.5 T and 3.0 T. Assessment Each radiologist at the time of clinical study prospectively designated a confidence level of presence of LMS in the impression, which was reviewed retrospectively. A separate retrospective evaluation of the histologically proven LMS and the false positives was performed for the presence of five MRI features of LMS including low ADC values, intermediate/high T2 signal intensity, irregular margins, hemorrhage, and necrosis. A preliminary cost-effectiveness analysis was performed, comparing the costs of treatment of uterine fibroids with vs. without a collaborative screening protocol using MRI. Statistical tests Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were obtained from the prospective evaluations. Student's t-tests were used to compare demographics and apparent diffusion coefficient values between LMS and false-positive results. Results We prospectively identified LMS patients with 100% sensitivity and 97% specificity. Preliminary cost analysis demonstrated that the MR screening protocol increased life expectancy by 0.04 years at a cost of $12,937 per life-year gained. Data conclusion MRI is an effective and potentially economic screening test, especially with standardized reporting and coordination with clinicians. Level of evidence 3 Technical Efficacy Stage: 2 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2019.
Mission 62 advances materials research

Advances made in materials processing research from experiments performed during space shuttle mission 62 aboard the Columbia orbiter are discussed. The experiments in the US Microgravity Payload (USMP-2) included the following: a host of microgravity materials science experiments; the Critical Light Fluid Scattering Experiment; and the Long-Duration Space Environment Candidate Material Exposure Experiment. The Office of Aeronautics and Space Technology (OAST-2) experiments included the Experimental Investigation of Spacecraft Glow and the Spacecraft Kinetic Infrared Test. Various aspects of the experiments are briefly discussed.
Inflowing gas in the central parsec of M81

Spectroscopic observations of the Seyfert 1/Liner nucleus of M81, obtained recently with the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) aboard the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), have revealed a UV--visible spectrum rich with emission lines of a variety of widths, ionization potentials, and critical densities, including several in the UV that have not previously been reported. Even at the highest angular resolution currently achievable with HST, the broad-line region of M81 cannot be uniquely defined on the basis of commonly used observables such as the full-width at half maximum of the emission lines, or ratios of various emission lines. Numerous broad forbidden lines complicate interpretation of the spectra. At least three separate line-emitting components are inferred. A large, highly ionized, low density, low metallicity H${^+}$ region producing the broad Balmer lines. Located within the H${^+}$ region are smaller condensations spanning a wide-range in density, and the source of forbidden line emission through collisional excitation of the respective ions. Intermingled with the H${^+}$ region and the condensations is a curious extended source of time-variable CIV ${\lambda}$ 1548 emission. Collectively, these observations can be qualitatively understood in the context of a shock excited jet cavity within a large H${^+}$ region that is photoionized by the central UV--X-ray source. The H${^+}$ region contains ${\sim}$ 500 M${\odot}$ of low metallicity gas that is dynamically unstable to inflow. At the current rate, the available H${^+}$ gas can sustain the advection dominated accretion flow that powers the central UV--X-ray source for 10$^{5}$ years.
Two-Mode Adaptive Schemes for VAR Control With Solar Power and Energy Storage

Increasing penetration of photovoltaic can cause high voltage variation that needs to be mitigated; this has been the focus of recent studies for many volt–ampere reactive (VAR) control strategies. Though voltage-variation mitigation is very important, it is also important to minimize power loss throughout the distribution when voltage variation is no longer an issue. Therefore, a complete adaptive sequential strategy for VAR control in distribution networks with solar energy is developed in this paper. In this adaptive sequential scheme, a two-way switch is designed to work with two operational modes: 1) voltage-variation minimization mode ( $V\_{Mode}$ ) aimed to minimize voltage variations along the distribution network and 2) power-loss minimization mode ( $P\_{Mode}$ ) aimed to minimize power loss. According to the operator needs for different situations, this two-way switch can be used to satisfy either the $V\_{Mode}$ or $P\_{Mode}$ requirements in a control loop fashion. Simulations are conducted with defined parameters in a radial distribution network. By comparing with no control (or baseline) in simulation, we show that the two-way switch works well in balancing the user needs (requirement) for the purpose of minimizing voltage variation and power loss in order to gain higher energy savings over a specified time duration.
Morphological Cell Types Projecting from V1 Layer 4B to V2 Thick and Thin Stripes

In macaque visual cortex, different cytochrome oxidase stripes of area V2 receive segregated projections from layers (L)2/3 and 4B of the primary visual cortex (V1), and project to dorsal or ventral stream extrastriate areas. Parallel V1-to-V2 pathways suggest functionally specialized circuits, but it is unknown whether these circuits arise from distinct cell types. V1 L4B includes two morphological types of excitatory projection neurons: pyramids, which carry mixed magnocellular (M) and parvocellular (P) information to downstream areas, and spiny stellates, which carry only M information. Previous studies have shown that, overall, V2 receives ∼80% of its L4B inputs from pyramids, thus receiving mixed M and P signals. However, it is unknown how pyramids and stellates distribute their outputs to the different V2 stripes, and whether different stripes receive inputs from morphologically distinct neuron types. Using viral-mediated labeling of V2-projecting L4B neurons in male macaques, we show that thick stripes receive a greater contribution of L4B inputs from M-dominated spiny stellates compared with thin stripes. Both stripe types, however, receive a much larger contribution from spiny stellates than previously shown for V2 overall, indicating that a larger amount of M information than previously thought flows into both the dorsal and ventral streams via the V2 thick and thin stripes, respectively. Moreover, we identify four types of V2-projecting L4B cells differing in size and complexity. Three such cell types project to both thin and thick stripes, but one type, the giant spiny-stellate neuron, resembling L4B neurons projecting to motion-sensitive area MT, was only found to project to thick stripes.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Area V1 partitions visual information into functionally specialized parallel pathways which terminate into distinct stripes of area V2. We asked whether V1 inputs to different V2 stripes arise from morphologically different cell types. V1 layer (L)4B has two cell types: pyramids, which carry both magnocellular (M) and parvocellular (P) visual signals, and spiny stellates, which carry only M signals. We find that V2 thick stripes, which project to areas processing object motion, receive a larger fraction of L4B input from M-dominated stellates compared with thin stripes, which project to areas processing object attributes. We also identify four morphological types of V2-projecting L4B neurons, suggestive of four functionally specialized cell types.
Field efficacy of soil insecticides on pyrethroid‐resistant western corn rootworms (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte)

Background Field-evolved pyrethroid resistance has been confirmed in western corn rootworm (WCR) populations collected from the United States (US) western Corn Belt. Resistance levels of WCR adults estimated in lab bioassays were confirmed to significantly reduce the efficacy of foliar-applied bifenthrin. The objective of the present study was to investigate the impact of WCR pyrethroid resistance levels on the performance of common soil-applied insecticide formulations (23.4% tefluthrin, 17.15% bifenthrin, and 0.1% cyfluthrin + 2.0% tebupirimphos). Field trials were conducted in 2016 and 2017 in three Nebraska, US, counties (Saunders, Clay, and Keith) where distinct levels of WCR susceptibility to pyrethroids (susceptible, moderately resistant, and highly resistant) had been previously reported in adult and larval bioassays. Results All soil insecticide treatments effectively protected maize roots from a pyrethroid-susceptible WCR population at Saunders. In contrast, the efficacy of bifenthrin and tefluthrin soil insecticides was significantly reduced at Clay and Keith, where pyrethroid-resistant WCR populations were reported. At Keith, where an additional failure of the cyfluthrin + tebupirimphos soil insecticide was observed, WCR laboratory dose-response bioassays showed a consistent ∼5-fold resistance level to the active ingredients bifenthrin, tefluthrin, and cyfluthrin. Conclusion The efficacy of common soil insecticides used in the US for WCR management was significantly reduced in populations exhibiting relatively low levels of WCR pyrethroid resistance. Using a multitactical approach to manage WCR within an integrated pest management framework may mitigate resistance evolution and prolong the usefulness of WCR insecticides within the system. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.
Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) landscape in metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer patients with germline alterations.

200Background: Circulating tumor-DNA (ctDNA) in mCRPC patients (pts) provides a viable approach for examining the genetic landscape of prostate cancer. In this follow-up, we report ctDNA variants i...
Podcasting as Public Media: The Future of U.S. News, Public Affairs, and Educational Podcasts

This article identifies a U.S.-based podcasting ecology as public media and then examines the threats to its future. It first identifies characteristics of a set of podcasts in the United States that allow them to be usefully described as public podcasting . Second, it looks at current business trends in podcasting as platformization proceeds. Third, it identifies threats to public podcasting’s current business practices. Finally, it analyzes responses within public podcasting to the potential threats. The article concludes that currently, the public podcast ecology in the United States maintains some immunity from the most immediate threats, but there are also underappreciated threats to it, both internally and externally.
Understanding GPU-Based Lossy Compression for Extreme-Scale Cosmological Simulations

To help understand our universe better, researchers and scientists currently run extreme-scale cosmology simulations on leadership supercomputers. However, such simulations can generate large amounts of scientific data, which often result in expensive costs in data associated with data movement and storage. Lossy compression techniques have become attractive because they significantly reduce data size and can maintain high data fidelity for post-analysis. In this paper, we propose to use GPU-based lossy compression for extreme-scale cosmological simulations. Our contributions are threefold: (1) we implement multiple GPU-based lossy compressors to our open-source compression benchmark and analysis framework named Foresight; (2) we use Foresight to comprehensively evaluate the practicality of using GPU-based lossy compression on two real-world extreme-scale cosmology simulations, namely HACC and Nyx, based on a series of assessment metrics; and (3) we develop a general optimization guideline on how to determine the best-fit configurations for different lossy compressors and cosmological simulations. Experiments show that GPU-based lossy compression can provide necessary accuracy on post-analysis for cosmological simulations and high compression ratio of 5 ∼ 15× on the tested datasets, as well as much higher compression and decompression throughput than CPU-based compressors.
LOTEs in U.S. Universities: Benefits, Trends, Motivations, and Opportunities

Although the United States does not have an official language, the most widely used language is English. The widespread use of English in the United States, along with the current use of global English due to sociopolitical trends, leads to difficulty in promoting the study of languages other than English (LOTEs) in Anglophones contexts, such as the United States. As such, this chapter provides an overview of language learning trends in the American university context, using new data that has been published by the Modern Language Association (MLA) in 2016 (https://apps.mla.org/flsurvey_search). Case studies of several states representing different regions, sizes, and demographics are included to paint a picture of LOTE study in a variety of contexts. Additionally, benefits of and motivations for studying LOTEs are also addressed. The chapter concludes with a summary of opportunities for language study at the post-secondary level in the U.S. context, as well as a call for language educators to help students see the relationship of studying LOTEs to their career goals and as a path to becoming articulate and savvy global citizens.
Forced convection cooling of additively manufactured single and double layer enhanced microchannels

Abstract Metal based additive manufacturing (AM) is gaining increasing attention in the thermal management community due to the ability to fabricate intricate internal cooling features with acceptable accuracy. The non-traditional designs possible with AM can be leveraged to fabricate enhanced microchannel geometries which allow removal of high heat fluxes from power electronic devices. This study thereby explores the marriage of additive manufacturing and microchannel cooling where microchannels are fabricated using Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS). Microchannels arranged in single layer and double layer configurations are evaluated for their heat transfer and pressure drop performance over Reynolds number, based on channel hydraulic diameter, ranging from 200 - 900 with water as the coolant. The double layer microchannels present a more complex geometry, with two layers of microchannels stacked one on top of the other which promises improved thermal performance based on literature. Enhancement features in the form of periodic oblique and alternating oblique secondary channels, known to augment fluid mixing and disrupt boundary layer growth are incorporated in both configurations aimed at augmenting the overall performance. Seven AM microchannel geometries, three in single and four in double layer configurations are tested. AM parts analyzed for their surface roughness and dimensional accuracy exhibit high surface roughness and deviation from design intent dimensions. Straight microchannel, fabricated using conventional manufacturing where the channel walls exhibit lower roughness levels serves as the baseline case. Comparing the performance of straight microchannels fabricated via conventional and additive methods reveal roughness induced augmentation in heat transfer and pressure drop of about 10-15%. Incorporation of secondary flow channels results in enhanced thermal hydraulic performance in both single and double layer configurations. Microchannels ranked based on thermal-hydraulic performance show double layer microchannel featuring oblique secondary channels offering the best performance with ~60% higher performance than baseline. The findings from this study highlight the potential of AM in developing sophisticated microchannels.
Financial Literacy Literature in U.S. Public Libraries: Exploring Common Resources in Our Collections

As libraries continue to explore their role in the financial literacy movement, it is important to understand the role libraries’ collections might play. Public libraries in the United States frequ...
Membrane-bound KRAS approximates an entropic ensemble of configurations.

Abstract KRAS4B is a membrane-anchored signaling protein and a primary target in cancer research. Predictions from molecular dynamics simulations that have previously shaped our mechanistic understanding of KRAS signaling disagree with recent experimental results from neutron reflectometry, NMR, and thermodynamic binding studies. To gain insight into these discrepancies, we compare this body of biophysical data to back-calculated experimental results from a series of molecular simulations that implement different subsets of molecular interactions. Our results show that KRAS4B approximates an entropic ensemble of configurations at model membranes containing 30% phosphatidylserine lipids, which is not significantly shaped by interactions between the globular G-domain of KRAS4B and the lipid membrane. These findings revise our understanding of KRAS signaling and promote a model in which the protein samples the accessible conformational space in a near-uniform manner while being available to bind to effector proteins.
Der Bereich der Betriebssoziologie

Die Gruppe ist die elementare Beobachtungseinheit der Soziologie. Immer wenn sich Menschen versammeln und aufeinander einwirken, entsteht ein Netz sozialer Beziehungen. Die einen ubernehmen Fuhrerfunktionen, andere bilden die Gefolgschaft; Freundschaften werden geschlossen und Feindschaften entstehen. Beziehungen der Uber- und Unterordnung, des Widerstandes und der Sympathie, der Zusammenarbeit und des Wettbewerbes entfalten sich und wirken als soziale Krafte auf die Mitglieder der Gruppe. Die Arbeitsgruppe besitzt alle diese Merkmale. Dadurch, das Arbeiter zueinander in Beziehung treten, entstehen gemeinsame Verhaltensweisen, die sich durch standige Wiederholung zu sozialen Gewohnheiten entwickeln und bald eine gewisse traditionelle Sanktionierung erlangen. Die Grusform, die Art sich zu kleiden und zu sprechen, stellen vertraute Beispiele fur Gewohnheiten dar, die W. G. Sumner als „folkways“ bezeichnet.
Testing of Digital Systems: Synthesis for testability

Synthesis for testability refers to an area in which testability considerations are incorporated during the synthesis process itself. There are two major sub-areas: synthesis for full testability and synthesis for easy testability. In the former, one tries to remove all redundancies from the circuit so that it becomes completely testable. In the latter, one tries to synthesize the circuit in order to achieve one or more of the following: less test generation time, less test application time, and high fault coverage. Of course, one would ideally like to achieve both full and easy testability. Synthesis for easy testability also has the potential for realizing circuits with less hardware and delay overhead than design for testability techniques. However, in practice, this potential is not always easy to achieve. In this chapter, we look at synthesis for testability techniques applied at the logic level. We discuss synthesis for easy testability as well as synthesis for full testability. We consider both the stuck-at and delay fault models, and consider both combinational and sequential circuits. Under the stuck-at fault (SAF) model, we look at single as well as multiple faults. Under the delay fault model, we consider both gate delay faults (GDFs) and path delay faults (PDFs).
Scalability analysis tools for SPMD message-passing parallel programs

Tools to study the scalability of parallel programs, as number of processors (p) executing the program and problem size (n) being solved are increased, are a critical component of performance debugging environments for parallel programs. Simulations and scalability metrics have been used to address this issue. Simulation can accurately predict the execution time of a program for a specific (n,p) pair. However, it suffers from the drawback that one needs to simulate the program for each (n,p) pair of interest. On the other hand, while scalability metrics express the program performance as functions of n and p, they have been targeted to specific applications and there are no tools to automatically obtain simple first order scalability trends for generic parallel programs. We address the issue of automatically obtaining scalability trends for a class of data-independent message passing SPMD parallel programs. We validate our approach by considering example parallel programs executed on the Intel iPSC/860 hypercube. We show that insight into the scalability of the program can be obtained, using this approach. >
Histidine protein kinases: key signal transducers outside the animal kingdom

Histidine protein kinases (HPKs) are a large family of signal-transduction enzymes that autophosphorylate on a conserved histidine residue. HPKs form two-component signaling systems together with their downstream target proteins, the response regulators, which have a conserved aspartate in a so-called 'receiver domain' that is phosphorylated by the HPK. Two-component signal transduction is prevalent in bacteria and is also widely used by eukaryotes outside the animal kingdom. The typical HPK is a transmembrane receptor with an amino-terminal extracellular sensing domain and a carboxy-terminal cytosolic signaling domain; most, if not all, HPKs function as dimers. They show little similarity to protein kinases that phosphorylate serine, threonine or tyrosine residues, but may share a distant evolutionary relationship with these enzymes. In excess of a thousand known genes encode HPKs, which are important for multiple functions in bacteria, including chemotaxis and quorum sensing, and in eukaryotes, including hormone-dependent developmental processes. The proteins divide into at least 11 subfamilies, only one of which is present in eukaryotes, suggesting that lateral gene transfer gave rise to two-component signaling in these organisms.
CD38 ligation inhibits normal and leukemic myelopoiesis.

CD38 is a transmembrane molecule whose expression varies during hematopoietic cell differentiation. We used stroma-supported cultures of human myeloid cells to assess the effects of CD38 ligation on myeloid differentiation. In 8 experiments with CD34+cells purified from normal bone marrow or cord blood, flow cytometry used with antibodies to CD34 and myeloperoxidase (MPO) identified 4 cell populations after 7 days of culture. Addition of anti-CD38 (T16) to the cultures induced a profound reduction of the most mature (CD34−MPO++) cell population, which includes promyelocytes, myelocytes and metamyelocytes; mean (± SD) cell recovery was 12.8% ± 9.8% of that in parallel cultures with an isotype-matched control antibody. The suppressive effect of CD38 ligation on phenotypically more immature normal cells was inconsistent but generally less pronounced. Recovery of CD34++MPO− cells was 63.3% ± 24.4%, recovery of CD34[+/−]MPO− cells was 95.3% ± 35.1%, and recovery of CD34−MPO+cells was 42.0% ± 18.7% of that in control cultures. However, anti-CD38 suppressed recovery of cells obtained from 6 patients with CD38+ acute myeloid leukemia; after 7-day cultures, cell recovery was 25.2% ± 21.7% of that in control cultures. Cell recovery was also reduced by F(ab′)2 or Fab fragments of anti-CD38. CD38 ligation dramatically suppressed recovery of murine 32D myeloid cells transfected with human CD38 and cocultured with stroma (3.8% ± 7.3%; n = 7). CD38 ligation of CD38 + 32D cells also induced cell aggregation, tyrosine kinase activity, and Ca++ influx. We conclude that CD38 mediates signals that culminate in suppression of myeloid cell growth and survival.
Precise quantitative determination of human blood lipids by thin-layer and triethylaminoethylcellulose column chromatography: II. Plasma lipids

Abstract Two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography (TLC) alone or following ion-exchange (TEAE and DEAE) cellulose column chromatography is shown to provide improved separation of human erythrocyte polar lipids. With both procedures, a number of uncharacterized phospholipids occurring in small amounts are detectable in human erythrocytes. Determination in quadruplicate of phosphorus in spots after two-dimensional TLC is shown to be a rapid, reproducible procedure for accurate analysis of phospholipid composition, standard deviations for major components being in the 1–2% range. Washing of red cells with an isosmotic wash solution is shown to be essential if values for total lipid phosphorus and cholesterol content are to be expressed per milliliter of packed cells.
Geriatric Care Boot Camp: An Interprofessional Education Program for Healthcare Professionals

In response to the need for interprofessional geriatrics education, a half-day geriatric care boot camp for healthcare professionals was held that covered core concepts in geriatric medicine: delirium and dementia, medication management, palliative care, ethics, and a general overview of older adults. Aspects of the curriculum focused on interprofessional education, and the attendees and presenters were healthcare professionals from a wide variety of fields. Primary objectives were to determine changes in knowledge of core concepts in geriatrics and level of comfort in caring for older adults. Secondary objectives assessed whether participants found the interprofessional approach beneficial and whether they used or shared this information with others in their professional activities. Participants completed pre- and postassessment surveys. Changes in participant understanding of each core concept were statistically significant, as was the change in comfort level of participants in caring for older adults. Furthermore, attendees found the multidisciplinary perspective of the boot camp beneficial. A 3-month follow-up survey assessed whether attendees applied and shared information learned in their own professional activities. Half of the respondents who reported sharing universally shared core concepts. Delirium and dementia information was most frequently shared. Information was most frequently shared with students, nurses, and patients’ families. Attendees less frequently shared, or did not share, with physicians, physician assistants, social workers, physical and occupational therapists, nutritionists, and dentists. The healthcare professionals who may benefit greatly from future education programs are those with whom the boot camp information was least frequently shared; thus, they are appropriate targets for advertisements for future programs.
Major questions on the interchange of thermal plasmas between the ionosphere and plasmasphere

It is for the plasmaspheric flux tube regions of the magnetospheric flux tubes that the greatest likelihood exists for a near-term, complete description of the plasma, since the magnetic field geometry is relatively well behaved and the plasma source and boundary conditions are specifiable with reasonable accuracy. It may be speculated that this emerging understanding may be useful in the study of the more complex dynamical behavior of plasma couplings within such other 'closed flux tube' geometries as the plasma sheet flux tubes, where ionospheric ions flow up to populate the flux tubes and precipitating particles from them produce the diffuse aurora.