cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Paleoecology and geochemistry of Early Triassic (Spathian) microbial mounds and implications for anoxia following the end-Permian mass extinction

Large microbialite mounds (1–2 m in height) have previously been reported from two units within the Spathian section of the Virgin Limestone Member of the Moenkopi Formation at Lost Cabin Spring, Nevada (United States). Previous investigations led to the interpretation that the mounds were formed under anoxic and alkaline conditions that suppressed metazoan grazers and delayed the biotic recovery from the end-Permian mass extinction. Here we report low organic carbon and total sulfur abundances throughout the section that suggest that anoxia was not prevalent during deposition. We also report that the upper mound-bearing unit contains stromatolitesponge patch reefs in which mutual encrustation between stromatolites and sponges contributed to the building of a reef framework. The stromatolite-sponge patch reefs contain discrete burrows within stromatolitic laminations, suggesting that there was suffi cient oxygen for grazing during the formation of the upper unit mounds. The enhanced ecological complexity of the upper unit mounds leads us to conclude that the mounds represent the transition to biotic recovery following the end-Permian mass extinction.
Enhanced nicotinic receptor mediated relaxations in gastroesophageal muscle fibers from Barrett's esophagus patients.

Background Increased nicotinic receptor mediated relaxation in the gastroesophageal antireflux barrier may be involved in the pathophysiology of reflux. This study is designed to determine whether the defects we previously identified in gastroesophageal reflux disease patients in- vivo are due to abnormalities of the gastric sling, gastric clasp, or lower esophageal circular (LEC) muscle fibers. Methods Muscle strips from whole stomachs and esophagi were obtained from 16 normal donors and 15 donors with histologically proven Barrett's esophagus. Contractile and relaxant responses of gastric sling, gastric clasp, or LEC fibers were determined to increasing concentrations of carbachol and to nicotine after inducing maximal contraction to bethanechol. Muscarinic receptor density was measured using subtype selective immunoprecipitation. Key Results Barrett's esophagus gastric sling and LEC fibers have decreased carbachol-induced contractions. Barrett's esophagus sling fibers have decreased M2-muscarinic receptors and LEC fibers have decreased M3 receptors. Relaxations of all three fiber types are greater in Barrett's esophagus specimens to both high carbachol concentrations and to nicotine following bethanechol precontraction. The maximal response to bethanechol is greater in Barrett esophagus sling and LEC fibers. Conclusions & Inferences The increased contractile response to bethanechol in Barrett's specimens indicates that the defect is likely not due to the smooth muscle itself. The enhanced nicotinic receptor mediated response may be involved in greater relaxation of the muscles within the high-pressure zone of the gastroesophageal junction during transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxations and during deglutitive inhibition and may be involved in the pathophysiology of gastroesophageal reflux disease.
CONSER Updates: The Serials Cataloging Cooperative Training Program at Ten Years and Revision of Integrating Resources: A Cataloging Manual

In this column, CONSER specialist Hien Nguyen recognizes the ten-year anniversary of the Serials Cataloging Cooperative Training Program. She discusses program successes, including the development of new material for Web delivery. CONSER coordinator Les Hawkins gives an update on the revision of Integrating Resources: A Cataloging Manual, the basic documentation used by CONSER and BIBCO members to create and maintain records for integrating resources.
S-band octave-bandwidth orthomode transducer for the Expanded Very Large Array

The Expanded Very Large Array (EVLA) project is currently under way to upgrade the Very Large Array (VLA) to improve the sensitivity, bandwidth, spectral resolution and frequency coverage of the existing array of 27 radio telescopes [1]. The EVLA receivers will provide continuous frequency coverage from 1 GHz to 50 GHz. Three of the cryogenically cooled EVLA receivers will provide octave band coverage for the L-band (1 GHz to 2 GHz), S-Band (2 GHz to 4 GHz) and C-band (4 GHz to 8 GHz).
The Structure of a Subtropical Prefrontal Convective Rainband. Part I: Mesoscale Kinematic Structure Determined from Dual-Doppler Measurements

Abstract In Part I of this study, structural features of a convective rainband associated with the Mei-Yu front on 25 June 1987 over northwestern Taiwan are investigated. The dynamic and thermodynamic structures and momentum budgets of the convective rainband will be reported in Part II. Dual-Doppler data were collected from CP-4 and TOGA Doppler radars positioned along the northwest coast of Taiwan during the Taiwan Area Mesoscale Experiment (TAMEX). Fields of the system-relative wind and reflectivity were derived in a horizontal domain of 40 km × 36 km using the objective analysis scheme with a 1-km grid spacing in all three directions. There were ten analysis levels in the vertical ranging from 0.8 to 9.8 km. Vertical velocities were computed from the anelastic continuity equation by integrating downward with variational adjustment. Results show that the low-level jet (LLJ) in the boundary layer provides large vertical shear ahead of the cold front. The orientation of the jet is in the direction almost...
Metabolism of Halogenated Compounds

Halogenated aliphatic and aromatic compounds have come to play a constantly increasing role in our environment. A number of halogenated compounds are used medicinally as anaesthetics, antihistamines, diuretics, antihypertensives, antidiabetic agents, tranquilizers, antibiotics and antimalarials. Large amounts of halogenated compounds are used as insecticides, pesticides and as industrial solvents.
LATITUDINAL VARIATIONS IN ORGANIC DIVERSITY

? ? A NIMAL life is, on the whole, far more abundant and varied within -^-the tropics than in any other part of the globe, and a great num ber of peculiar groups are found there which never extend into temperate regions. Endless eccentricities of form and extreme richness of color are its most prominent features, and these are manifested in the highest de gree in those equatorial lands where the vegetation acquires its greatest beauty and its fullest development." Thus wrote A. R. Wallace (1878). His remarks apply equally to the vegetable and animal kingdoms, to the terrestrial realm, and to at least the surficial parts of the oceans. Surely this correlation of floral and faunal diversity with latitude is one of the most imposing biogeographic features on earth. On the one hand, its existence poses large-scale problems in evolution. On the other, it offers a potential tool to the geologist-paleontologist who attempts to wring patterns of earth history out of the fossil record. The following pages serve to review some previously known latitudinal gradients in organic diversity, to describe quantitatively gradients in molluscan diversity along North American shores, and to inquire into the origin of these patterns.
The Recruitment of Candidates for the Canadian House of Commons

Systematic empirical research into the process of political leadership recruitment has made substantial progress since World War II with emphasis given to those who occupy formal positions of authority within the political system, specifically, legislators and party activists. Generally such studies have been concerned with delineating (a) who the leaders are, (b) how and why they are where they are, and (c) the variables affecting (a) and (b).The most ambitious recent studies, in the sense that they try to deal systematically with all three aspects of recruitment, are those by Samuel J. Eldersveld, Austin Ranney, and Henry Valen. Their research, and the examples cited of other scholarship, have yielded a substantial number of propositions. Three which lend themselves to testing with data we have gathered on the recruitment of candidates for the Canadian House of Commons, 1945–65, are:1) The status of individuals recruited by a party in part is a function of the party's competitive positions. (Key, Snowiss).2) The status of individuals recruited by a party varies with the party's position on an ideological continuum (Eldersveld, Ranney, Marvick and Nixon, Valen).3) Relative urbanism and the degree of industrialization of communities affect recruitment patterns (Rokkan and Valen, Valen, Snowiss). In the present instance there should be a positive relationship between urbanism and the mean status of candidates.In testing these propositions we will compare, whenever such comparisons appear appropriate, the data for Canadian parliamentary candidates with findings from some of the previously cited studies and also indicate how, in Canada, multi-partyism is related to the status of recruited candidates.
A Survey on Occupational Health Status in Yangzhou Development Zone

[Objective]To understand the occupational health status of various industries in Yangzhou development zone,and to provide basis for strategy-making to prevent occupational diseases.[Methods]An occupational health survey to 34 enterprises covering 9 industries was conducted in September 2011.The data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel.[Results] Of the 34 enterprises investigated,the completion rates of occupational hazards evaluation and informing workers of the hazards were 38.2% and 55.9%,respectively.The measured rate of occupational hazards in 6 enterprises was less than 50%.In addition,13 enterprises did not carry out occupational health examinations in qualified hospitals or clinics.[Conclusion]The effort on occupational diseases prevention and control in the development zone is not enough.Relevant departments,therefore,should strengthen supervision over the construction projects in enterprises and regulate their occupational health work in the future.
Research on rapid determination of melamine in milk powder and dairy products by HPLC-MS-ESI

Objective To establish a determination method of melamine in milk powder and dairy products by HPLC and confirmed by LC-MS.Methods With Xtimate-C 18(4.6 mm×250 mm,5 μm) as chromatographic column,mobile phase of buffer∶acetonitrile =90∶10,PDA and Finnigan LCQ Deca XP MAX MS detector was performed.Results The linear regression function was as follows: y =1.085517×10 4 x +8.576547×10 4(r 2 =0.999925).The average recovery rates were 82.0%～94.1% with added 0.8～2.0 mg/kg,relative standard deviation 5.8%.Conclusion The HPLC-PDA method is simple,sensitive,reliable and accurate for detection of melamine in milk powder and dairy products.
Management of Major Vascular Injury During Endoscopic Endonasal Skull Base Surgery

A major vascular injury is the most feared complication of endoscopic sinus and skull base surgery. Risk factors for vascular injury are discussed, and an algorithm for management of a major vascular injury is presented. A team of surgeons (otolaryngology and neurosurgery) is important for identification and control of a major vascular injury applying basic principles of vascular control. A variety of techniques can be used to control a major injury, including coagulation, a muscle patch, sacrifice of the artery, and angiographic stenting. Immediate and close angiographic follow-up is critical to prevent and manage subsequent complications of vascular injury.
Postradiation Changes in Tissues: Evaluation by Imaging Studies with Emphasis on Fluorodeoxyglucose-PET/Computed Tomography and Correlation with Histopathologic Findings

Efforts have been made to minimize the damage to adjacent normal tissues during radiotherapy, primarily by shifting from the use of conventional radiotherapy to more advanced techniques. Reviewing the overall pattern on combined anatomic and functional imaging can enhance diagnostic accuracy. Several radiotracers can be used; [(18)F]fluorodeoxyglucose is the most common. Familiarity with the type and timing of previous radiation therapy, the spectrum of imaging findings after radiation injury, and the appropriate use of the different radiotracers can be crucial. This article summarizes postradiation histologic findings and multimodality imaging findings, with emphasis on PET/computed tomography.
The diagnosis and work-up of insomnia.

Most adults have difficulty sleeping at some time in their lives, with problems falling asleep, staying asleep, or having nonrestorative sleep. When these symptoms continue for ≥1 month and are associated with daytime dysfunction or distress, they reach the status of an insomnia disorder. Roughly 10% of adults in the United States have an insomnia disorder (hereafter referred to as insomnia), ie, that which is present on most nights and lasts ≥4 weeks. Insomnia can be primary, in which the sleep disturbance exists in the absence of co-existing medical or psychiatric disorders, or comorbid, when it is accompanied by one of these disorders.Although a diagnosis of insomnia requires difficulty with sleep, insomnia is a 24-hour disorder. Individuals with insomnia describe difficulties with concentration, fatigue, and mood, which both influence, and are influenced by, the sleep disturbance. In addition, insomnia is associated with a substantially elevated risk of incident major depressive disorder (MDD), panic disorder, and substance abuse disorders. There is also emerging evidence that insomnia increases the risk for incident hypertension and diabetes.
Flutter stability analysis of a wedge shaped airfoil with nonzero thickness in non-viscous airflow

Using a wedge shaped camber and a classical Goland beam model, we in- vestigate the effect of camber thickness on flutter speed in an inviscid airflow setting. We explicitly derive the Possio equation corresponding to the aerodynamic poten- tial flow which relates the pressure jump to the downwash (normal velocity of the wing). The solution to this boundary value problem is obtained in the M = 0 and M = 1 cases, and is used to compute the lift and moment forces and solve for the structural dynamics. We find that in the M = 0 case which signifies incompressible flow, the flutter speed increases with camber thickness. On the other hand, the sonic M = 1 case demonstrates the opposite pattern with a flutter speed that decreases with camber thickness.
Validation of a personalized curved muscle model of the lumbar spine during complex dynamic exertions

Abstract Previous curved muscle models have typically examined their robustness only under simple, single-plane static exertions. In addition, the empirical validation of curved muscle models through an entire lumbar spine has not been fully realized. The objective of this study was to empirically validate a personalized biologically-assisted curved muscle model during complex dynamic exertions. Twelve subjects performed a variety of complex lifting tasks as a function of load weight, load origin, and load height. Both a personalized curved muscle model as well as a straight-line muscle model were used to evaluate the model's fidelity and prediction of three-dimensional spine tissue loads under different lifting conditions. The curved muscle model showed better model performance and different spinal loading patterns through an entire lumbar spine compared to the straight-line muscle model. The curved muscle model generally showed good fidelity regardless of lifting condition. The majority of the 600 lifting tasks resulted in a coefficient of determination (R 2 ) greater than 0.8 with an average of 0.83, and the average absolute error less than 15% between measured and predicted dynamic spinal moments. As expected, increased load and asymmetry were generally found to significantly increase spinal loads, demonstrating the ability of the model to differentiate between experimental conditions. A curved muscle model would be useful to estimate precise spine tissue loads under realistic circumstances. This precise assessment tool could aid in understanding biomechanical causal pathways for low back pain.
Ab initio calculations of uranium and thorium storage in CaSiO3-perovskite in the Earth’s lower mantle

Earth’s mantle convection is powered in part by the radiogenic heat released by the decay of 238 U, 235 U, 232 Th, and 40 K. We present ab initio calculations of uranium and thorium incorporation in CaSiO 3 -perovskite with and without aluminum, and propose that aluminous calcium silicate perovskite is the likely host of uranium and thorium in the lower mantle. At 15 GPa, the enthalpies of solution into aluminum-free CaSiO 3 -perovskite are 10.34 kJ/mol for U 4+ and 12.52 kJ/mol for Th 4+ in SiO 2 saturated systems, while the enthalpies are 17.09 kJ/mol and 19.27 kJ/mol, respectively, in CaO saturated systems. Coupled substitution of U 4+ and Th 4+ with aluminum is thermodynamically favored, with the enthalpies of solution negative for U 4+ and near 0 kJ/mol for Th 4+ throughout the stability field of CaSiO 3 -perovskite. Therefore, U incorporation into CaSiO 3 -perovskite is spontaneous in the presence of aluminum while Th forms a near ideal solid solution, implying these elements are potentially compatible with respect to partial melting in the transition zone and lower mantle. Furthermore, the solid solution reactions of U 4+ and Th 4+ are broadly similar to each other, suggesting a restriction on the fractionation of these actinides between the upper and lower mantle. U and Th compatibility in the presence of Al has implications regarding actinide transport into the deep mantle within subducting slabs and the geochemical content of seismic anomalies at the core-mantle boundary.
High resolution ultra wideband arrays

Highly thinned or sparsely filled arrays can reduce the quantity of electronics supporting the array and the data-handling requirements of a high resolution imaging system for a fixed number of array channels, greatly enlarge the aperture, and correspondingly improve its resolving power. It is well-known that the cost is a dramatic decrease in dynamic range, or contrast. Aperture thinning generally leaves the shapes of the main lobe and near-in sidelobes intact, but the loss in absolute gain implies that main lobe energy has been redistributed into the side radiation region. In conventional narrowband arrays, periodic thinning produces grating lobes of similar shape and strength to the main lobe. Aperiodic thinning destroys the coherent sidelobe buildup in the grating lobes but not the grating lobe energy, which becomes distributed throughout the visible region in a manner determined by the particular thinning procedure. It is common knowledge that sidelobe statistics are similar for a wide variety of thinning procedures, both deterministic and random, with a few notable exceptions [1]. Thus many proposed designs for high resolution two-dimensional arrays are based upon a random distribution of elements [2].
Connecting the Dots: Public Engagement with Environmental Data

ABSTRACTAir pollution and other environmental hazards are often imperceptible and need to be made publicly visible. The paper argues for the importance of visualizations in drawing public attention to imperceptible hazards and in providing the public with access to empirical data describing the risks. It also argues for critical inquiry into hazards’ selective visibility as it is produced by visualizations. The impact of visualizations and their selective visibility are considered through the example of a public art project called Particle Falls installed in 2014 in Pittsburgh, a city with a long history of both ignoring air pollution and working to ameliorate this problem. I examine the impact and selective visibility of Particle Falls by considering the underlying production of data, as well as context and support systems for this visualization, and by comparing it with other visualizations of local air quality.
Providing School-Based Learning in Elementary School Mathematics: The Case of a Professional Development School Partnership.

AbstractSchool–university partnerships also known as professional development school (PDS) partnerships provide potential for universities and schools to establish partnerships that can benefit university faculty, school teachers, university students, and school students. This study examines the impact of a PDS partnership in which the author served as a school-based mathematics coach for two years in a high-need elementary school. Data sources included interviews, surveys, and field notes from classroom observations. Inductive qualitative analyses which were situated in a multi-level framework for researching professional development found that teachers posed more cognitively demanding mathematical tasks and high-level questions in year two compared to year one of this project. Further, student achievement was noted on both state-wide and district-created assessments. Also teachers reported that the school-based approach to professional development led to some teachers taking on more informal leadership ...
DC link bus design for high frequency, high temperature converters

Advancements in IGBT device performance and reliability have been important for widespread electric vehicle (EV) and hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) adoption. However, further improvements in device performance are now limited by silicon's (Si) inherent material characteristics. New improvements are being realized in converter efficiency and power density with wide bandgap materials, such as silicon-carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN), which permit faster switching frequencies and higher temperature operation. On the horizon are ultra-wide bandgap materials such as aluminum nitride (AlN) and aluminum gallium nitride (AlGaN) which hold the potential to push the envelope further. As device operating temperatures and switching frequencies increase, however, the balance of the power conversion system becomes more important: DC bus design, filter components and thermal management. This paper considers a typical 6-puIse inverter application common in EV and HEV power systems and provides an alternative, cost-effective solution to the design of a low-impedance DC bus. In contrast to systems that use bus bars with film or electrolytic dc link capacitors, the proposed high-frequency (HF) bus design reduces parasitic resistance and inductance, tolerates higher temperature and is potentially scalable to MHz frequencies. A prototype was built and compared in simulation to the DC bus design documented for the 2010 Toyota Prius.
Impact of laparoscopic liver resection on bleeding complications in patients receiving antithrombotics

Impact of laparoscopic liver resection on bleeding complications in patients receiving antithrombotics
The Structure of Scientific Revolutions

This important book1 is a sustained attack on the prevailing image of scientific change as a linear process of ever-increasing knowledge, and an attempt to make us see that process of change in a different and, Kuhn suggests, more enlightening way. In attacking the “concept of development-by-accumulation,” Kuhn presents numerous penetrating criticisms not only of histories of science written from that point of view, but also of certain philosophical doctrines (mainly Baconian and positivistic philosophies of science, particularly verification, falsification, and probabilistic views of the acceptance or rejection of scientific theories) which he convincingly argues are associated with that view of history. In this review, I will not deal with those criticisms or with the details of the valuable case studies with which Kuhn tries to support his views; rather, I will concentrate on certain concepts and doctrines which are fundamental to his own interpretation of the development and structure of science. His view, while original and richly suggestive, has much in common with some recent antipositivistic reactions among philosophers of science—most notably, Feyerabend, Hanson, and Toulmin—and inasmuch as it makes explicit, according to Kuhn, “some of the new historiography’s implications” (p. 3), it is bound to exert a very wide influence among philosophers and historians of science alike. It is therefore a view which merits close examination.
Control and Systems Theory for Advanced Manufacturing

This chapter describes systems and control theory for advanced manufacturing. These processes have (1) high to infinite state dimension; (2) probabilistic parameter uncertainties; (3) time delays; (4) unstable zero dynamics; (5) actuator, state, and output constraints; (6) noise and disturbances; and (7) phenomena described by combinations of algebraic, ordinary differential, partial differential, and integral equations (that is, generalizations of descriptor/singular systems). Model predictive control formulations are described that have the flexibility to handle dynamical systems with these characteristics by employing polynomial chaos theory and projections. Implementations of these controllers on multiple advanced manufacturing processes demonstrate an order-of-magnitude improved robustness and decreased computational cost. Some promising directions are proposed for future research.
Imagination in Human and Cultural Development, by Tania Zittoun and Alex Gillespie, New York: Routledge, 2018, 184 pp., $49.95 (Paperback).

Tania Zittoun and Alex Gillespie have written an ambitious book about the imagination. Their approach is partly developmental—they discuss the ontogenesis of the imagination in early childhood—but ...
Variance Reduction Techniques for Simulating Value-at-Risk

This paper describes, analyzes and evaluates an algorithm for estimating portfolio loss probabilities using Monte Carlo simulation. Obtaining accurate estimates of such loss probabilities is essential to calculating value-at-risk, which is a quantile of the loss distribution. The method employs a quadratic ("delta-gamma") approximation to the change in portfolio value to guide the selection of effective variance reduction techniques; specifically importance sampling and stratified sampling. If the approximation is exact, then the importance sampling is shown to be asymptotically optimal. Numerical results indicate that an appropriate combination of importance sampling and stratified sampling can result in large variance reductions when estimating the probability of large portfolio losses.
Gangs, Culture, and Society in the United States

Despite being labeled ‘deviant’ and ‘criminal’ by members of the legal profession and general public, gangs have been a persistent part of American society for more than two hundred years.
Unified positivism: philosophy for uninomic psychology

Abstract Logical positivism has been employed as a fundamental philosophy to guide psychology's work. The position taken is that logical positivism was based on the natural sciences and thus could not contribute to the solution of psychology's special problems, particularly those from being a ‘modern disunified science.’ Without a philosophical framework to indicate some of its fundamental tasks, psychology has developed a crisis of empirically-centered aimlessness. As a consequence, new subjective philosophies have emerged. Unified positivism, however, recognizes the fundamental empirical nature of science, including psychology, although observations are not considered the ultimate, nonsubjective truth. The new subjective philosophies will not provide the answer. The crisis of psychology is seen to stem from its disunity, the characteristics of which stamp the science with insuperable obstacles to achieving the general meaning, cohesiveness, consensual purposiveness, and so on, of the unified sciences. Unified positivism is a philosophy for the disunified science. A framework is provided showing paths of development for advancing psychology from its present chaos of knowledge to the powerful characteristics of the unified science. The philosophy and methodology create the basis for a new field of study - to be called uninomic (unification) psychology. Various areas of theoretical work are outlined in describing this new field.
The Need for Qualified Speech-Language Pathologists in Rural/Remote Areas.

Administrators in rural/remote areas often ask if the speech-language pathologist must have a master's degree to provide services. This article includes discussions of the types of services provide...
The Bullet and Its Meaning: Forgiveness, Nonforgiveness, and Their Confrontation

One of the biggest challenges that a person can face is to forgive those who killed those they love. This is so whether the killer is a single individual acting alone, or a member of an opposing social class, nation, or bygone empire. In such a situation the pain is so great, the hurt goes so deep that if someone tells you that you should forgive, it twists the knife that is already deep inside your chest and causes it to go deeper, causing more grief and agony than before.
50GHz Silicon Cascaded Mach-Zehnder Wavelength Filter and Automatic Phase Error Correction

We demonstrate a silicon photonic 50GHz 16-channel cascaded Mach-Zehnder wavelength filter with over 26dB extinction ratio. An automatic phase error correction method was also proposed and implemented to guarantee filter transfer characteristic.
Immunity and Aging

The gradual decline in immune function observed with aging has been thought to contribute to the diseases of aging and even the aging process itself.1 It may be reasonable to relate the increasing incidence of infection or cancer to immune senescence. The precise contribution of changing immune competence to other diseases of aging such as Alzheimer’s disease, atherosclerosis, and diabetes must be considered speculative. However, extensive basic and clinical studies of immune function in experimental animals and humans of different ages clearly indicate that the immune system, like many other systems, changes with age. In this chapter we will provide an overview of these studies, particularly as they relate to clinical immune senescence. Methodological problems encountered in immunological studies and aging will be considered and summarized at the end of this chapter.
Secondary Alveolar Bone Graft Using Recombinant Human Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 (rh-BMP2) May Be as Efficacious as Autologous Grafting in Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate Patients.

Article Title and Bibliographic Information Secondary alveolar bone grafting using autologous versus alloplastic material in the treatment of cleft lip and palate patients: systematic review and meta-analysis. Scalzone A, Flores-Mir C, Carozza D, d'Apuzzo F, Grassia V, Perillo L. Prog Orthod 2019;20(6):1-10. Source of Funding The authors received no financial support for this study. Type of Study/Design Systematic review and meta-analysis.
Rapid visual screening of soft-story buildings from street view images using deep learning classification

Rapid and accurate identification of potential structural deficiencies is a crucial task in evaluating seismic vulnerability of large building inventories in a region. In the case of multi-story structures, abrupt vertical variations of story stiffness are known to significantly increase the likelihood of collapse during moderate or severe earthquakes. Identifying and retrofitting buildings with such irregularities—generally termed as soft-story buildings—is, therefore, vital in earthquake preparedness and loss mitigation efforts. Soft-story building identification through conventional means is a labor-intensive and time-consuming process. In this study, an automated procedure was devised based on deep learning techniques for identifying soft-story buildings from street-view images at a regional scale. A database containing a large number of building images and a semi-automated image labeling approach that effectively annotates new database entries was developed for developing the deep learning model. Extensive computational experiments were carried out to examine the effectiveness of the proposed procedure, and to gain insights into automated soft-story building identification.
Cancer neoantigens as potential targets for immunotherapy.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) targeting the cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein-4 (CTLA-4) and programed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) or its ligand PD-L1 have increased the survival and cure rates for patients with many cancer types in various disease settings. However, only 10-40% of cancer patients benefited from these ICIs, of whom ~ 20% have treatment interruption or discontinuation due to immune-related adverse events that can be severe and even fatal. Current efforts in precision immunotherapy are focused on improving biomarker-based patient selection for currently available ICIs and exploring rationale combination and novel strategies to expand the benefit of immunotherapy to more cancer patients. Neoantigens arise from ~ 10% of the non-synonymous somatic mutations in cancer cells, are important targets of T cell-mediated anti-tumor immunity for individual patients. Advances in next generation sequencing technology and computational bioinformatics have enable the identification of genomic alterations, putative neoantigens, and gene expression profiling in individual tumors for personal oncology in a rapid and cost-effective way. Among the genomic biomarkers, defective mismatch DNA repair (dMMR), microsatellite instability high (MSI-H) and high tumor mutational burden (H-TMB) have received FDA approvals for selecting patients for ICI treatment. All these biomarkers measure high neoantigen load and tumor antigenicity, supporting the current development of neoantigen-based personalized cancer vaccines for patients with high TMB tumor. Several studies have shown neoantigen vaccines are feasible, safe and have promising clinical activity in patients with high TMB tumors in both metastatic and adjuvant settings. This review summarizes the emerging data and technologies for neoantigen-based personalized immunotherapy.
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Access to Local Anesthesia for Inguinal Hernia Repair.

ABSTRACT Background Many studies have identified racial disparities in healthcare, but few have described disparities in the use of anesthesia modalities. We examined racial disparities in the use of local versus general anesthesia for inguinal hernia repair. We hypothesized that African American and Hispanic patients would be less likely than Caucasians to receive local anesthesia for inguinal hernia repair. Materials and methods We included 78,766 patients aged ≥ 18 years in the Veterans Affairs Surgical Quality Improvement Program database who underwent elective, unilateral, open inguinal hernia repair under general or local anesthesia from 1998-2018. We used multiple logistic regression to compare use of local versus general anesthesia and 30-day postoperative complications by race/ethnicity. Results In total, 17,892 (23%) patients received local anesthesia. Caucasian patients more frequently received local anesthesia (15,009; 24%), compared to African Americans (2353; 17%) and Hispanics (530; 19%), P Conclusions Although local anesthesia was associated with enhanced recovery for African American patients, they were less likely to have inguinal hernias repaired under local than Caucasians. Addressing this disparity requires a better understanding of how surgeons, anesthesiologists, and patient-related factors may affect the choice of anesthesia modality for hernia repair.
Hemodialysis Catheter Insertion

Non-tunneled temporary hemodialysis catheters (NHTCs) are large bore, double-lumen central venous catheters (often referred to using colloquialisms such as Quinton, Trialysis, Mahurkar, Permacath, Vascath, etc.). They are most often inserted in the ICU setting in preparation for acute hemodialysis, although they can also be used for plasmapheresis or large-volume resuscitation; they are distinguished from other CVCs by their size and lumen configuration, which are optimized to allow high-volume blood flow. There are no absolute contraindications for their use, and relative contraindications are generally technical, such as the presence of vascular abnormalities or coagulopathies. The right internal jugular site is preferred over the left, and the femoral veins are preferred over the subclavians, which are prone to venous stenosis hampering later surgical dialysis access. Insertion technique is similar to that of other CVCs, with additional dilation; however, the larger cannula size mandates a particular emphasis on stringent error-free technique. Careful catheter positioning may also be needed to ensure adequate post-placement blood flow. Real-time ultrasound-guided technique is recommended. CPT billing codes are the same as for other non-tunneled CVCs. Overall, NHTC placement is an important tool in the acute care setting and can be performed safely at the bedside by properly trained critical care clinicians.
Hemichorea as the Presenting Symptom of Severe Hyperglycemia (2248)

Objective: NA Background: Nonketotic hyperglycemic hemichorea also known as chorea hyperglycemia basal ganglia syndrome (C-H-B-G) is a disorders that presents with hemichorea/hemiballismus in the setting of severe hyperglycemia, which is associated with T1 hyperintensities in the basal ganglia. In the majority of the case reports and case series that describe this phenomena the demographic that is affected are older women with a mean age of 67–71, typically of Asian descent. The resolution of the hemichorea usually requires weeks to months of treatment with antihyperglycemic medications. The use of neuroleptics such as Haloperidol, or benzodiazepines in these cases have also been used to treat hemichorea. The objective of this case report is to highlight the young age of the patient that experienced this phenomena, and discuss the rapid resolution of her symptoms. Design/Methods: We present a case of a 28 year old African American female with type two diabetes, diagnosed at the age of 14, who arrived to the hospital after one brief episode of left hand hemichorea in the setting of hyperosmolar hyperglycemia. Her presenting blood glucose level was 512 and her hemaglobin A1c was 14.4. This episode resolved without intervention (the use of antihyperglycemic medications or neuroleptics) prior to her arrival to the hospital. Results: NA Conclusions: This phenomena that causes the patient to experience hemichorea, and appear as T1 hyperintensities in the basal ganglia, is thought to be related to years of chronic focal vascular injury, petechial hemorrhages, and aberrations of the blood brain barrier in the basal ganglia secondary to increased metabolism in this region. This was believed to be the reason the average age of patients being affected is between 67 and 71. However, there may be an increase in similar presentations among juveniles and young adults in the future due to the increased rate of uncontrolled diabetes in this population. Disclosure: Dr. Sukhdeo has nothing to disclose. Dr. Moein has nothing to disclose. Dr. Deep has nothing to disclose. Dr. Schroeder has nothing to disclose. Dr. Elahi has nothing to disclose.
Maternal Support and Physical Dating Violence Perpetration among Disconnected Young Women

Parental support is a well-documented protective factor against dating violence perpetration. However, no studies have investigated this relationship among disconnected, young urban Black women, despite higher reported instances of perpetration among this group. We hypothesized that higher levels of parental support would be associated with lower levels of dating violence perpetration. Participants were 374 disconnected, young urban Black women (ages 16–23) recruited from two employment training programs in Baltimore, Maryland. We used multivariate logistic regression analyses to assess the association between youth reported maternal and paternal support and physical dating violence perpetration. Over 20% of the sample reported past-year physical dating violence perpetration. Experience with recent dating violence victimization was the most robust correlate of physical dating violence perpetration (aOR = 6.44, p = 0.000). Contrary to prediction, maternal support was associated with a 37% increase in the odds of physical dating violence perpetration among participants (aOR = 1.37, p = 0.027). Findings highlight the need for additional research on the complex relationship between maternal support and physical dating violence perpetration among disconnected, young urban Black women.
Interactive Information Visualization in the Digital Flora of Texas

The Digital Flora of Texas project is a collaborative research effort that relies on botanical research centers in Texas to create and maintain digital library collections on the flora of Texas. The project focuses on developing web-accessible collections for botanists and botanically-interested nonspecialists. The Herbarium Specimen Browser (HSB) is the main portal to the collections of the Digital Flora of Texas. The HSB allows examination of the collections through several types of interactive information visualizations: a hierarchical taxonomic browser, specimen distribution and density maps, and stackable bar graphs of temporal specimen data. The interactive information visualization tools of the HSB are designed to help users extract as much information from the data as possible while minimizing the associated learning cost and complexity of these tools.
In Vitro Assay for Predicting Protein Efficiency Ratio as Measured by Rat Bioassay: Collaborative Study

Seven laboratories collaborated in testing the calculated protein efficiency ratio (C-PER and DC-PER). The collaborative study required each laboratory to analyze 6 foods and a control protein (ANRC casein) for in vitro apparent protein digestibility, amino acid composition, and PER via rat bioassay. The 6 foods or food ingredients tested were nonfat dry milk, cooked chicken muscle, protein-fortified dry breakfast cereal, textured soy protein, oat-based dry breakfast cereal, and durum wheat flour. Data obtained from the study were analyzed statistically for the intralaboratory variation for each method of analysis (i.e., amino acid analysis, PER, etc.). The ability of the C-PER to rapidly predict rat PER was also measured. The C-PER and DC-PER methods were adopted official first action.
Some Factors Affecting Drainage of Moisture from Wet Insulation in Flat Roofs

Moisture often finds its way into flat roofs where it causes a reduction in the thermal resistance of the insulations and sometimes leads to the destruction of the roofing system. Various methods for removing moisture have been studied, but effective drying is usually difficult to achieve because the natural forces acting to remove moisture are small. Some moisture may be drained from wet roofs, but because the slope is small or nonexistent and absorptive forces tend to retain moisture it is not usually an effective method. If the retentive forces can be overcome, however, drainage rates can be substantially increased. In one outdoor study carried out on an experimental roof deck with 2 percent slope glass fiber, perlite-fiber, and wood fiber insulations were found to drain very slowly. Of the moisture contained in the insulation at the outset less than 25 percent drained out in the first 4 months of test. In a second, laboratory study tests were carried out on a deck 2.4 m long with slopes of 2, 4, and 8 percent using a variety of underlays beneath wet glass fiber insulation. Drainage was slow when a plastic sheet underlay was used, but rates were higher with soil and vermiculite-asphalt underlays. The fourth underlay, polyester fabric, produced drainage rates that varied with deck, slope, and length of flap allowed to hang down at the end of the deck. This flap provides a suction force that increases the rate of moisture flow. As an example, moisture content was reduced from over 70 percent to less than 5 percent by volume in a period of 4 days with a slope of 2 percent and a 75 mm flap.
Energy shifts of L x-rays from 70 ⩽ Z ⩽ 90 elements due to multiple M vacancies

The transition energies of L x-rays for states with 0-11 M-shell spectator vacancies are calculated by using a Dirac-Fock computer program. The calculations are done for seven elements with atomic numbers in the 70< or =Z< or =90 range. In each of these elements, the transition energies of 10 L x-rays (L/sub l/, L/sub ..cap alpha..//sub 2/, L/sub ..cap alpha..//sub 1/, L/sub eta/, L/sub ..beta..//sub 1/, L/sub ..gamma..//sub 1/, L/sub ..gamma..//sub 2/, L/sub ..gamma..//sub 3/, L/sub ..gamma..//sub 4//sub prime/, L/sub ..gamma..//sub 4/) are calculated as differences of average-of-configuration energies. The energy shifts of these x-rays for various multiple M vacancy states are deduced from the transition energies and plotted as a function of atomic number.
Theory of correlation measurement in time and frequency domains with 252Cf

Abstract The theory of cross-correlation measurements between the pulses from an ionization counter containing a 252Cf neutron source, which furnished the initiators of fission chains in a neutronmultiplying assembly, and the pulses from a detector observing the particles from the fission chains is reviewed. The expression for the detector response in this type of measurement is first presented in the time domain. Then the cross-power spectral densities in the frequency domain measurements are developed. The theory of the usual two-detector noise measurement is reformulated to incorporate a modified Diven factor that includes the effects of neutrons from external sources such as spontaneous fission of the californium and the reactor fuel. Finally, the equivalence between both the time and frequency domain expressions is demonstrated. A new method of reactivity determination is proposed which avoids some of the difficulties of the present methods, such as dependence on detection efficiency and inherent source strength, and the requirement for a calibration near delayed criticality.
SOME ASPECTS OF INFORMATION RETRIEVAL

Since its formation in 1950 the Aslib Aeronautical Group has been concerned with various aspects of classification, particularly with regard to the retrieval of information from research reports. During the last year the Documentation Committee of the Advisory Group for Aeronautical Research and Development of N.A.T.O. has been working along the same lines. While the application has been restricted to the field of aeronautics, it is felt that the conclusions are valid for other branches of science and engineering.
Bidirectional Selection for Novel Pheromone Blend Ratios in the Almond Moth, Cadra cautella

The sex pheromone of the almond moth, Cadra cautella, is a blend of (Z,E)-9,12-tetradecadienyl acetate (Z9,E12–14:Ac, the major component capable of inducing attraction alone) and (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate (Z9–14:Ac, the minor component, which is unattractive alone but augments attraction of the major component). In this study, the ratio of the two components responded to artificial directional selection in five of six selected lines, whereas no change was observed in the three control lines. The mean ratio (±SE) of Z9,E12–14:Ac to Z9–14:Ac went from 13.72 ± 1.02:1 to 20.13 ± 0.68:1 in high line 1, an increase of 47%. In the second high-selected line, the mean ratio (±SE) increased from 9.87 ± 0.54:1 to 15.89 ± 0.85:1, an increase of 61%. In low line 1, the mean ratio (±SE) in the parental generation was 10.74 ± 0.78:1 and 7.35 ± 0.41:1 in the last selected generation, a decrease of 32%. The response to selection was greater in low line 2, as the mean ratio (±SE) decreased from 10.11 ± 0.66:1 to 5.65 ± 0.55:1 in the last generation, a decrease of 44%. In low line 3, the mean ratio (±SE) in the parental generation was 13.63 ± 0.82:1 and 6.47 ± 0.26:1 in the last generation, a decrease of 53%. The response to selection was approximately symmetrical with a mean increase of 54% and a mean decrease of 43%. The increases in ratio observed in the high lines were caused by an increase in the titer of the Z9,E12–14:Ac component with no concurrent change in the titer of the component Z9–14:Ac. Among the low selected lines, the titers of both components increased; however, there was a greater relative increase in the titer of the component Z9–14:Ac. The absolute and relative titers of the sex pheromone components had decreased significantly in the F10 generation in some of the selected lines, five generations after the discontinuation of selection.