cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tropical Convection and Precipitation Regimes in the Western United States

Abstract The authors have documented the relationship between tropical convection and precipitation regimes in the western United States. Circulation patterns associated with precipitation regimes are described and physical mechanisms are proposed. Contributions from intraseasonal and interannual bands are examined. When enhanced convection is located in the western Pacific, dry conditions in the Southwest (SW) and wet conditions in the Pacific Northwest (PNW) are observed. Fluctuations in both intraseasonal and interannual bands contribute to the rainfall variability. Enhanced convection in the western Pacific is accompanied by suppressed convection in the central Pacific. The associated Rossby wave vorticity source (S) anomalies keep the Pacific jet west of 150°W. A westward shift of the storm track to the North Pacific also contributes to dry conditions in the SW and wetness in the PNW. When enhanced tropical convection is located near 150°E, substantial contributions to outgoing longwave radiation ano...
Conjugated polymer sorting of semiconducting carbon nanotubes and their electronic applications

Summary In the past decade, single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) have aroused great interest for electronic applications due to their extraordinary charge carrier mobility, mechanical flexibility, and solution processability. However, one of the key issues preventing the wide application of SWNTs in electronics is the need to separate semiconducting SWNTs from metallic SWNTs. Sorting semiconducting SWNTs using conjugated polymers is becoming a very promising SWNT sorting method due to its high-selectivity, high-yield and simplicity of execution. In this review, we summarized the parameters that can be used to tune the selectivity and sorting yield of semiconducting SWNTs, including polymer structure, solvent, polymer-to-SWNT ratio, sonication temperature and polymer molecular weight. We also reviewed the electronic applications enabled by these polymer-sorted semiconducting SWNTs inks such as transistors, logic gates, photodetectors, solar cells and 3D electronics.
Is it Time to Liquidate Lifo

We discuss the role and economic significance of the last-in, first-out (LIFO) inventory accounting method in the current tax system, both as a matter of practice and of policy. After examining the traditional justifications for LIFO we argue that LIFO, as it is administered, is inconsistent with both its own objectives and with broader income tax principles. LIFO, as practiced in the United States today, benefits only a narrow range of businesses; they in turn rely on it entirely for its tax benefits, rather than to complement normal business operations. Further, the evidence on LIFO suggests that it creates inefficiencies in business operations, and may facilitate earnings management. We conclude that any discussion of fundamental tax reform must consider the repeal of LIFO.
Book Review: Patent Ethics: Prosecution , by David Hricik & Mercedes Meyers

Patent practitioners must navigate a complex set of overlapping, and sometimes inconsistent, rules of professional responsibility that govern their conduct. Violation of these rules can lead to severe and costly consequences for them and for their clients. In PATENT ETHICS: PROSECUTION, David Hricik and Mercedes Meyers provide excellent guidance in identifying and avoiding these ethical pitfalls, in a manner that is comprehensive, up-to-date and practical, filling an important niche that to my knowledge is not addressed in any other book. It also provides practical advice on best practices, along with exemplary language for use in reputation with clients and potential clients, and should be a welcome addition to the bookshelf of any patent prosecutors.
“Old Doc” Hitchcock: A Pioneer Physical Educator with a Humanistic Vision

(1982). “Old Doc” Hitchcock: A Pioneer Physical Educator with a Humanistic Vision. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance: Vol. 53, No. 8, pp. 22-24.
Iliac vessel injury: Operative physiology related to outcome

Background: Fifty-three patients treated at a level I trauma center with iliac vessel injury were studied to determine if body temperature and acid-base status in the operating room predicts outcome. Methods: Records were reviewed for demographics, mechanism of injury, body temperature, acid-base status, operative management, and outcome. Statistical methods included Student's t test, odds ratio determination, and chi-square analysis to determine statistical significance. Results: Fifty-three patients (47 male, 6 female) sustained 92 iliac vascular injuries (36 arterial, 56 venous). Mortality was 34%, with 72% of deaths due to shock within 24 hours. Physiologic parameters differed significantly between survivors and nonsurvivors. Odds ratio identified six conditions; the number present predicted outcome. Conclusions: (1) There are significant differences between initial and final operating room temperature and acid-base status in survivors versus nonsurvivors with iliac vessel injury. Conditions for odds ratio can be calculated and correlated with outcome. (2) A patient with two or more conditions should be considered for an abbreviated laparotomy to allow for reversal of physiologic failure.
The Paradox of the Efficient Market Hypothesis (EMH)

This paper delineates the two opposing views that have been debated in finance: are securities appropriately priced for the day, or is there a period that favors the value investor to gain profits on undervalued companies? Can it be possible that there is relevant evidence to support both sides to help the "open-minded" investor?
Optogenetic modulation in stroke recovery

Stroke is one of the leading contributors to morbidity, mortality, and health care costs in the United States. Although several preclinical strategies have shown promise in the laboratory, few have succeeded in the clinical setting. Optogenetics represents a promising molecular tool, which enables highly specific circuit-level neuromodulation. Here, the conceptual background and preclinical body of evidence for optogenetics are reviewed, and translational considerations in stroke recovery are discussed.
Three-dimensional fluorescence determination of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene,β-naphthol and 9-hydroxyphenanthrene

A novel method for direct determination of 1-hydroxypyrene(1-OHP),β-naphthol(β-NAP) and 9-hydroxyphenanthrene(9-OHPe) in human urine was performed using their three-dimensional fluorescence phenomenon,through β-cyclodextrin enhancing fluorescence and choosing wavelength of determination by three-dimensional fluorescence scan.Results showed that the linear ranges of 1-OHP,β-NAP and 9-OHPe were 0.007～8.00 μmol/L at λex/λem=275/385 nm,0.049～50.0 μmol/L at λex/λem=325/350 nm,and 0.023～40.0 μmol/L at λex/λem=260/475 nm,respectively.The detection limits of 1-OHP,β-NAP and 9-OHPe were 2.30 nmol/L,12.5 nmol/L,7.90 nmol/L,respectively.The proposed method was used to detect 1-OHP,β-NAP and 9-OHPe in human urine and the results were satisfactory in comparison with those obtained by the method of high performance liquid chromatography,moreover,we had carried on an initial study of the mechaism of the fluorescence enhancement.
Occupational Hazard Factors in Ceramic Factories in Wuming County

Objective To investigate the current status of occupational hazard factors in ceramic factories,and provide references for formulating further preventive measures.Methods Field investigation and detection were both performed to analyze the main occupational hazard factors.Results The exceeded rates of dust,noise,high-temperature in factory A were 75%,76.9% and 100% respectively;for factory B the rates were 91.7%,36.4% and 80%,correspondingly.There were no significant difference between the two factories with respects of the above indicators.The silica dust content ranged from 28.32% to 39.70% in A factory and 34.06% on average;the dust silica content ranged from 23.17% to 37.40% and 32.50% on average.Conclusion There is a serious pollution of silica dust,noise and high temperature in ceramic factory,and comprehensive measures should be timely taken to ensure the health of the workers.
Infrared spectroscopic imaging detects chemical modifications in liver fibrosis due to diabetes and disease.

The importance of stroma as a rich diagnostic region in tissue biopsies is growing as there is an increasing understanding that disease processes in multiple organs can affect the composition of adjacent connective tissue regions. This may be especially true in the liver, since this organ’s central metabolic role exposes it to multiple disease processes. We use quantum cascade laser infrared spectroscopic imaging to study changes in the chemical status of hepatocytes and fibrotic regions of liver tissue that result from the progression of liver cirrhosis to hepatocellular carcinoma and the potentially confounding effects of diabetes mellitus.
Variations in Polyphenols and Lipid Soluble Vitamins in Moringa oleifera

Abstract Moringa oleifera is a commonly used plant and a rich source of nutrients and antioxidants. Using HPLC combined with UV and MS detection, a total of 20 moringa leaf samples field-grown from the same genetic varieties introduced into and grown in Ghana, Senegal, and Zambia were collected and analyzed to give an individual account of α- and β-carotenes, α- and γ-tocopherols, and six chlorogenic analogs. The total α- and β-carotenes and α- and γ-tocopherols ranged between 4.49 –116.79 mg/100 g dry weight (d.w.). Total chlorogenic analogs ranged from 181 mg/100 g d.w. Samples varied based on the environment, country of origin and genetic and morphological characteristics. Moringa oleifera has great potential to become a far more important food source as it is a rich source of vitamins and polyphenols.
Bi0.94Sb1.06S3 Nanorod Cluster Anodes for Sodium-Ion Batteries: Enhanced Reversibility by the Synergistic Effect of the Bi2S3–Sb2S3 Solid Solution

Bi0.94Sb1.06S3 solid solution anode with a nanorod cluster morphology has been synthesized by a hydrothermal reaction and investigated in sodium-ion batteries in comparison to the binary counterparts Bi2S3 and Sb2S3. The Bi0.94Sb1.06S3–graphite composite obtained by a mechanical milling of 80 wt % Bi0.94Sb1.06S3 and 20 wt % graphite exhibits much improved cycle stability with 79% capacity retention after 200 cycles in the full voltage window of 0.01–2.8 V compared to its Bi2S3–graphite (58% retention) and Sb2S3–graphite (10% retention) counterparts, demonstrating a synergistic effect. Cyclic voltammetry scans indicate that the polarization overpotential associated with the conversion reaction in Bi0.94Sb1.06S3 is lower than those in Sb2S3 and Bi2S3. Cycling under controlled voltage windows of 2.8–0.85 V corresponding to a conversion reaction and 0.85–0.01 V corresponding to an alloying reaction reveals both highly reversible conversion and alloying reactions in the Bi0.94Sb1.06S3 solid solution anode comp...
The Capacity Region of the $L$ -User Gaussian Inverse Compute-and-Forward Problem

We consider an $L$ -user multiple access channel where transmitter $m$ has access to the linear equation ${\text{u}}_{m} =\bigoplus _{l=1}^{L} f_{ml}{\text{w}}_{l}$ of independent messages ${\text{w}}_{l} \in \mathbb {F}_{p}^{k_{l}}$ with $f_{ml}\in ~\mathbb {F}_{p}$ , and the destination wishes to recover all $L$ messages. This problem may be motivated as the last hop in a network where relay nodes employ the compute-and-forward strategy and decode linear equations of messages; we seek to do the reverse and extract messages from sums over a multiple access channel. In particular, we exploit the particular form of dependencies between the equations at the different relays to improve the reliable communication rates beyond those achievable by simply forwarding all equations to the destination independently. The presented achievable rate region for the discrete memoryless channel model is shown to be capacity for the additive white Gaussian noise channel.
Hepatic retinoic acid regulates group 3 innate lymphoid cells and modulates viral hepatitis (VIR9P.1151)

IL-22 is important for hepatoprotection in hepatitis; however, the source and regulation of this cytokine in the liver microenvironment are not well defined. Here, we present evidence for a significant expansion of IL-22 + intrahepatic cells in mice during adenovirus and LCMV infection. In addition to gamma/delta and double-negative T cell, a subset of IL-22 + cells belong to group 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3s). These cells contributed significantly to the establishment of the early cytokine milieu in virus-infected liver. Interestingly, retinoic acid, a metabolite of vitamin A, increased in the liver following viral infection. Moreover, retinoic acid administration promoted IL-22 production by ILC3s and protected liver from inflammatory response-related injuries. Retinoic acid inhibited Th1/CTL responses through down-regulating DC activation and T cell priming in vitro and in vivo . Mass spectrometric studies suggested that retinoic acid induced arginase 1 expression of DC and dampened its function. Lastly, hepatic IL-7 was important for ILC3-derived IL-22 production. Blockade of IL-7Ra in vivo significantly decreased IL-22 levels and exacerbated hepatic inflammation. Collectively, this study has demonstrated the importance of a unique intrahepatic subpopulation ILC3 and its cytokine production during the initial stages of viral infection in the liver.
Demand-side Explanations for Inequitable Teacher Distribution

In this chapter we discuss key junctures in the teacher pipeline where inequities in teacher distribution appear. These include: (1) the recruitment of talented young people into teacher training, initial teacher preparation, and recruitment into teaching; (2) hiring qualified teachers and distributing them equitably across regions and schools; and (3) continuously supporting and retaining teachers through attractive working conditions, induction and support for new teachers, and continuous, high-quality professional development. In the last section, we include a discussion of teacher transfers, which can either remedy or worsen inequities that occur during initial teacher hiring and assignment to schools. We also describe efforts to attract or retain teachers to work in difficult locations through monetary or non-monetary incentives. At each step, we discuss how demand-side actions reinforce an inequitable (or equitable) distribution of teachers.
Microwave heating of laminate panels

The use of microwaves to heat laminate panels occurs in a variety of industrial processes, from chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) systems to the curing of adhesives in laminate panels. The electrical conductivity of the materials used in these systems is typically temperature-dependent. Characteristically, the thickness of the laminate panel is on the order of wavelength of the incident microwave, but the thickness of the laminate sheet is much smaller. This allows us to apply asymptotic techniques to find averaged wave and heat equations when the direction of the incident microwave is normal to, or tangent to, the laminates. These equations are analyzed in the small-Biot-number limit and are numerically approximated using finite differences. The results are in excellent agreement for small Biot numbers. More importantly, heating trends are observed for a wide variety of volume fractions for two particular CVI applications. In addition, the effect of the incident polarization on the heating process are also established. In particular, the use of a TE polarized incident microwave is shown to be inefficient in certain CVI applications, but produces a more favorable temperature gradient.
Abstract LB-002: Optimizing immunogenicity prediction of neoepitopes

Epitopes that arise from a somatic mutation, so called neoepitopes, are now known to play a key role in cancer immunology and immunotherapy. Recent advances in high-throughput sequencing have made it possible to identify all mutations and thereby all potential neoepitope candidates in an individual cancer. It has however become evident that the vast majority of these neoepitope candidates do not induce a T cell response when tested in vivo or in vitro, i.e. they are not immunogenic. Especially in patients with a high mutational load, usually hundreds of potential neoepitopes are detected, highlighting the need to further narrow down this candidate list. Several studies have used different combinations of immunoinformatic tools such as MHC binding predictions to prioritize the initial set of neoepitopes candidates. The tools to use and thresholds to apply for this prioritization has so far been largely based on experience with epitope identification in other settings such as infectious disease and allergy. To establish the appropriate tools and thresholds in the cancer setting, we here curated a set of immunogenic neoepitopes from the published literature and performed detailed analyses to detect what features discriminate immunogenic neoepitopes from a background set of mutated peptides. We experimentally measured the HLA binding affinity of all curated immunogenic neoepitopes. In doing so, we aimed to identify the optimal affinity threshold to effectively identify immunogenic neoepitopes. As a next step, we sought to assess the added value of different immunoinformatics tools, including various HLA binding prediction algorithms, processing prediction, stability prediction, and immunogenicity prediction, to most effectively detect immunogenic neoepitopes. The obtained results are now going to be used to facilitate the development of more accurate prediction algorithms. Citation Format: Zeynep Kosaloglu-Yalcin, Manasa Lanka, John Sidney, Kerrie Vaughan, Jason Greenbaum, Alessandro Sette, Bjoern Peters. Optimizing immunogenicity prediction of neoepitopes [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-002. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-LB-002
Neurobehavioral outcomes in autoimmune encephalitis

This study evaluates long-term neurobehavioral function in patients with clinically diagnosed autoimmune encephalitis (AE) of various etiologies through retrospective chart review and a cross-sectional structured telephone interview. Of 77 patients meeting clinical diagnostic criteria for AE over a ten year period, 39/77 (51%) patients had known AE-associated antibodies, and 38/77 (49%) had no detected antibody. 9/77 (12%) died, and 26/77 (34%) had "poor" neurologic disability score (mRS 3-5) at the last documented follow-up. 44 participants enrolled in the telephone interview, of whom 38/44 (86%) endorsed ongoing difficulties with fatigue, emotional lability, short-term memory, and/or concentration. On standardized assessment of adaptive behavior (ABAS-3), 23/44 (52%) scored "below average" (general adaptive composite: mean 86.95, standard deviation 18.45). Of the participants with "good" neurologic disability outcome (mRS 0-2), 12/30 (40%) scored "below average" in adaptive behavior. In summary, patients with AE frequently have persistent impairments in neurologic disability, neurocognitive symptomatology, and adaptive behavior, which may not be adequately captured by routine neurologic assessments. Comprehensively elucidating these persistent neurobehavioral impairments and predicting which patients are at highest risk will allow for optimal care of patients and their families.
Stabilized Symplectic Embeddings

We survey some symplectic embedding results focussing on the case when both domain and range are products of 4-dimensional ellipsoids or polydisks with Euclidean space. The stabilized problems have additional flexibility but some 4-dimensional obstructions persist.
Is prolonged cold ischemia a contraindication to using kidneys from acute kidney injury donors

To determine the impact of prolonged cold ischemia time (CIT) on the outcome of acute kidney injury (AKI) renal grafts, we therefore performed a single-center retrospective analysis in adult patients receiving kidney transplantation (KT) from AKI donors. Outcomes were stratified according to duration of CIT. A total of 118 patients receiving AKI grafts were enrolled. Based on CIT, patients were stratified as follows: (i) 20 hours (P = NS). In the nine patients with CIT >40 hours, the 4-year DCGS rate was 100%. We conclude that prolonged CIT in AKI grafts may not adversely influence outcomes and so discard of AKI kidneys because of projected long CIT is not warranted when donors are wisely triaged.
Limulus Eyes and Their Circadian Regulation

The eyes of the American horseshoe crab Limulus polyphemus, with their diverse structures, large photoreceptors, and relatively simple organization, have long served as important preparations for studying basic mechanisms of vision. Fundamental and broadly relevant aspects of photoreceptor function, sensory information processing, and circadian regulation have been discovered through studies of the Limulus visual system. The first part of this article describes the organization of the Limulus visual system, and the structure of its eyes. The second part focuses on the circadian organization of the Limulus visual system and the influence of circadian rhythms on the retina and photoreceptors.
Porosity Characterization in Fiber-Reinforced Composites by Use of Ultrasonic Backscatter

The use of ultrasonic backscatter to characterize anomalous states in fiber-reinforced composites has received considerable attention in recent years. The ultrasonic backscatter from composites with oriented fiber reinforcement, unlike that from monolithic materials, displays a strong angular dependence. Hence, three independent variables are available over which to analyze the backscatter. These are the azimuthal angle ∅ (the rotation orientation of the composite plate about the perpendicular), the elevation angle θ (the angle between the ultrasonic beam and the perpendicular to the insonified composite plate), and time. Bar-Cohen and Crane [1] considered various ways of exploiting the angular dependence of backscatter to examine anomalies in composite laminates such as fiber misalignment, cracks, and porosity. Several other efforts employing similar approaches have followed [2–4]. This paper addresses specific questions concerning the angular dependence of backscatter and the use of this angular dependence to assess porosity levels. Additionally, problems inherent in the analysis of the temporal behavior of backscatter are discussed, and an approach to the spectral analysis of backscatter for porosity assessment is demonstrated.
ISOLATED INFERIOR RECTUS PALSY AS THE SOLITARY MANIFESTATION OF THIAMINE DEFICIENCY IN A PATIENT WITH DIPLOPIA. (P5.187)

Objective: To determine other isolated inferior rectus palsies as the only symptom associated with Thiamine deficiency. Background: Thiamine deficiency can result in Wernicke Encephalopathy (WE). The clinical triad of WE consists of mental status changes, ophthalmoplegia and gait ataxia. We report a patient with thiamine deficiency presenting with isolated inferior rectus palsy. Design/Methods: Case report and literature review. Literature search, using search terms “Wernike’s Encephalopathy”, “Thiamine deficiency”, and “Thiamine induced ophthalmoplegia” was conducted of English language case reports and review articles in PubMed spanning 1989 to 7/1/2014. Our case was incorporated into the review. Abstracted data included: ocular findings with and without the clinical triad of WE. Results: Our case was a 57 year old man with a history of chronic excessive alcohol ingestion presenting with 3 days of vertical diplopia. Neurological exam was normal except for right inferior rectus weakness. MRI imaging of brain, orbits, MRA and thyroid tests were normal. Thiamine level was low. Inferior rectus weakness resolved following treatment with parenteral thiamine. The largest series describing eye movements in WE was published in 1989. This series encompassed 232 patients. N-O findings were described in 216 (93%) of these cases. Subsequent to 1989, there were 82 articles published that described ocular findings in patients with symptomatic thiamine deficiency. These articles encompassed 49 case reports and 3 case series with the total number of patients in these reports being 170. None of these case reports/case series, reported isolated inferior rectus weakness. Conclusions: Our case may be the first reported of isolated inferior rectus palsy induced by thiamine deficiency. Clinicians should include thiamine deficiency in their differential of partial, pupillary sparing 3rd nerve palsy. Thiamine levels should be included in the diagnostic evaluation of inferior rectus weakness particularly if risk factors for thiamine deficiency are present. Disclosure: Dr. Fares has nothing to disclose.
DeepML: Deep LSTM for Indoor Localization with Smartphone Magnetic and Light Sensors

With the fast increasing demands of location-based service and proliferation of smartphones and other mobile devices, accurate indoor localization has attracted great interest. In this paper, we present DeepML, a deep long short-term memory (LSTM) based system for indoor localization using the smartphone magnetic and light sensors. We verify the feasibility of using bimodal magnetic and light data for indoor localization through experiments. We then design the DeepML system, which first builds bimodal images by data preprocessing, and then trains a deep LSTM network to extract the location features. Newly received magnetic field and light intensity data is then exploited for estimating the location of the mobile device using an improved probabilistic method. Our extensive experiments verify the effectiveness of the proposed DeepML system.
RNA‐Based Immunostimulatory Liposomal Spherical Nucleic Acids as Potent TLR7/8 Modulators

Immunostimulatory spherical nucleic acids (IS-LSNAs) comprised of RNA selective for toll-like receptors (TLRs) 7/8 are synthesized and characterized. These structures consist of liposomal cores functionalized with a dense shell of RNA inserted into the wall of the lipid core via hydrophobic cholesterol moieties. IS-LSNAs potently activate TLR7/8 via NF-κΒ signaling in reporter cell lines and in primary immune cells as evidenced by cytokine production and the upregulation of costimulatory receptors. Importantly, they are preferentially taken up by plasmacytoid dendritic cells, an observation that makes them potentially useful for immunotherapy. In addition, these structures contain a core that can be loaded with antigens and used to prime T cells. In this regard, it is shown that dendritic cells treated with IS-SNAs loaded with ovalbumin peptide can prime ova specific CD8+ T cells. In addition to introducing the first IS-LSNAs consisting of RNA, these experiments show that one can facilitate an antigen-specific T cell response greater than that of free or cationic lipid-transfected RNA of the same sequence selective for TLR7/8. This work points toward the promise of using IS-LSNAs comprised of RNA as potent and highly tunable TLR-specific agents for the development of vaccines and other pharmaceuticals that require selective immunomodulation.
Is Labor Green?: A Cross-National Panel Analysis of Unionization and Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Author(s): Alvarez, Camila Huerta; McGee, Julius Alexander; York, Richard | Abstract: In this article, we assess whether unionization of national workforces influences growth in national carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per capita. Political-economic theories in environmental sociology propose that labor unions have the potential to affect environmental conditions. Yet, few studies have quantitatively assessed the influence of unionization on environmental outcomes using cross-national data. We estimate multilevel regression models using data on OECD member nations from 1970 to 2014. Results from our analysis indicate that unionization, measured as the percentage of workers who are union members, is negatively associated with CO2 emissions per capita, even when controlling for labor conditions. This finding suggests that unionization may promote environmental protection at the national level.
Comparison of Vickers’ Physiolysis With Osteotomy for Primary Correction of Clinodactyly

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare the Vickers physiolysis procedure with osteotomy for correction of digital clinodactyly and determine which method provides better correction at final follow-up or whether the patient's age, preoperative angulation, or presence of syndactyly affects final outcomes. Methods: All patients of skeletal immaturity who underwent surgical correction of clinodactyly were evaluated with clinical examination and radiographs to determine the percentage and absolute change in the degree of clinodactyly pre- versus postoperatively, in addition to stratification based on the degree of deformity, age, and presence of syndactyly. Results: Vickers' physiolysis and osteotomy were undertaken in 30 and 11 digits, respectively. The angulation significantly improved from 43.0° to 23.9°, with a 46.2% correction of deformity in the Vickers group at 46.3 months. The angulation decreased from 39.2° to 22.4° in the osteotomy group, with a 55.3% correction of deformity at 55.3 months. There was better correction in those with isolated clinodactyly compared with those with concomitant syndactyly and better percentage of correction in patients with lesser deformity in the Vickers group. There were more reoperations in the osteotomy group. Conclusions: The use of osteotomy may lead to more revision cases, whereas the Vickers procedure has minimal complications and need for revision. The Vickers physiolysis procedure is more effective in those with angulation <55°.
MiniVite: A Graph Analytics Benchmarking Tool for Massively Parallel Systems

Benchmarking of high performance computing systems can help provide critical insights for efficient design of computing systems and software applications. Although a large number of tools for benchmarking exist, there is a lack of representative benchmarks for the class of irregular computations as exemplified by graph analytics. In this paper, we propose miniVite as a representative graph analytics benchmark tool to test a variety of distributed-memory systems. Graph clustering, popularly known as community detection, is a prototypical graph operation used in numerous scientific computing and analytics applications. The goal of clustering is to partition a graph into clusters (or communities) such that each cluster consists of vertices that are densely connected within the cluster and sparsely connected to the rest of the graph. Modularity optimization is a popular technique for identifying clusters in a graph. Efficient parallelization of modularity optimization-based algorithms is challenging. One successful approach was conceived in Vite, a distributed-memory implementation of the Louvain algorithm that incorporates several heuristics. We introduce miniVite as a representative but simplified variant of Vite, to serve as a prototypical graph analytics benchmarking tool. Unlike other graph-based methods such as breadth-first search and betweenness centrality, miniVite represents highly complex computational patterns stressing a variety of system features, which can provide crucial insight for co-design of future computing systems.
Phonological Learning Influences Label-Object Mapping in Toddlers.

Purpose Infants rapidly acquire the sound patterns that characterize their native language. Knowledge of native language phonological cues facilitates learning new words that are consistent with th...
Simple Method to Evaluate Strength and Relaxation Properties of Asphalt Binders at Low Temperature

Low temperature cracking represents the main distress in asphalt pavements built in cold regions. During the Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP) two test methods were developed to investigate...
Theopolis Monk: Envisioning a Future of A.I. Public Service

Visions of future applications of artificial intelligence (AI) tend to veer toward the naively optimistic or frighteningly dystopian, neglecting the numerous human factors necessarily involved in the design, deployment and oversight of such systems. The dream that AI systems may somehow replace the irregularities and struggles of human governance with unbiased efficiency is seen to be non-scientific and akin to a religious hope, whereas the current trajectory of AI development indicates that it will increasingly serve as a tool by which humans exercise control over other humans. To facilitate the responsible development of AI systems for the public good, we discuss current conversations on the topics of transparency and accountability.
A Comparative Study of Automated Pulsed Bolus versus Continuous Basal Infusion on Distribution of Contrast in the Transversus Abdominis Fascial Plane in a Cadaver: A Technical Report.

Integrating regional anesthesia and multi-modal pain management is a well described and successful strategy to reduce post-operative pain. The use of transversus abdominis plane (TAP) blocks has been well-described for abdominal surgery, which includes various injection sites to improve analgesic coverage and catheter usage to prolong duration of analgesia. After a cadaver contrast study, our investigation illustrates that, for a TAP catheter block, a programmed intermittent bolus provides greater spread of the injection in the fascial plane as compared to a continuous infusion. Clinical trials are needed to investigate if these findings translate to greater analgesic coverage of the anterior abdominal wall, particularly in the subcostal region.
Study on Teaching Administration of Teaching Secretary in Universities

As a basal teaching manager,the teaching secretary plays an very important role in teaching administration,take the work of tache,administration,serving and instruction,and plays the important role of assistant and brainman.It is emphasized to unify the serviing and administration,reform the mode of teaching and administration,establish the scientific and effective adminnistration machanism,improve the monitoring system of teaching quality,and rase their own quality to heighten their level of teaching administration.
Mps1 expression is critical for chromosome orientation and segregation in yeast with high ploidy

In aneuploid cancer cells, the chromosome segregation apparatus is sensitive to increased chromosome number. The conserved protein kinase, Mps1, is a critical actor of this machinery, orienting the chromosomes properly on the spindle. Abnormally high levels of this kinase have been found in tumors with elevated chromosome number. However, it remains unclear, mechanistically, if and how cells with higher ploidy become dependent upon increased Mps1 levels. To answer these questions, we explored Mps1 dependence in yeast cells with increased sets of chromosomes. We discovered that having more chromosomes affects the ability of cells to orient chromosomes properly. The cells with increased numbers of chromosomes are particularly sensitive to the reduction of Mps1 activity. In mps1 loss of function mutants, cells display an extended prometaphase with a longer spindle and a delay in orienting properly the chromosomes. Altogether, our results suggest that increased numbers of chromosomes render cells more dependent on Mps1 for orienting chromosomes on the spindle. The phenomenon described here may be relevant in understanding why hyperdiploid cancer cells become excessively reliant on high Mps1 expression for successful chromosome segregation.
States of Justice: The Politics of the International Criminal Court

This book theorizes the ways in which states that are presumed to be weaker in the international system use the International Criminal Court (ICC) to advance their security and political interests. Ultimately, it contends that African states have managed to instrumentally and strategically use the international justice system to their advantage, a theoretical framework that challenges the “justice cascade” argument. The empirical work of this study focuses on four major themes around the intersection of power, states' interests, and the global governance of atrocity crimes: firstly, the strategic use of self-referrals to the ICC; secondly, complementarity between national and the international justice system; thirdly, the limits of state cooperation with international courts; and finally the use of international courts in domestic political conflicts. This book is valuable to students, scholars, and researchers who are interested in international relations, international criminal justice, peace and conflict studies, human rights, and African politics.
Chemically distinct regions of Venus’s atmosphere revealed by measured N 2 concentrations

A defining characteristic of the planet Venus is its thick, CO2-dominated atmosphere. Despite over 50 years of robotic exploration of Venus, including thirteen successful atmospheric probes and landers, our knowledge of N2, the second most abundant compound in the atmosphere, is highly uncertain1. We report the first measurement of the nitrogen content of Venus’s atmosphere at altitudes between 60 and 100 km. Our result, 5.0 ± 0.4 v% N2, is 40% higher than the value of 3.5 v% N2 reported for the lower atmosphere (<50 km altitude). Our discovery of altitude-dependent variations in the N2 content of the atmosphere defies early expectations of homogeneous composition below 100 km (for example, see ref. 1), and necessitates complete chemical modelling to investigate chemical versus physical explanations for the enhanced N2 in the upper atmosphere. The existence of chemically distinct lower and upper atmosphere regions complicates the use of remote sensing measurements of the upper atmosphere to infer the properties of the lower atmosphere and surface, an important lesson that also extends to the growing field of exoplanet astronomy. A MESSENGER flyby of Venus has detected a difference in N2 composition between the upper and lower atmosphere. The presence of substantially distinct regions within Venus’s atmosphere has implications on remote sensing techniques for exoplanets.
Chapter 25 – Pain System

The pain system is the set of neural pathways responsible for mediating the sensations interpreted as pain. Sensory-discriminative aspects of pain originating from the body surface include coding for the precise quality, intensity, duration, and location of the sensory input. Pain arising from visceral organs and other deep structures of the body is usually poorly localized and has a different, dull aching quality. Neurons that signal the sensory-discriminative components of pain sensation encode these aspects of painful stimuli in a manner generally similar to that used by other sensory systems, such as the visual and auditory systems. However, pain more powerfully engages mechanisms of attention and arousal in limbic regions of the brain than is generally the case for vision and audition. The sense of pain is more often accompanied by strong motivational-affective responses, including emotional reactions (suffering, anxiety, depression), somatic and autonomic reflexes, and endocrine changes. This is especially true for visceral pain. The neural pathways that mediate the motivational-affective components of pain overlap to some extent those involved in pain sensation, but also include additional neural structures and pathways. A better understanding of many complex mechanisms and circuitries underlying sensory dysfunction gained through the study of animal models has translated into existing successful therapies. Focus on the neuroplasticity and dysfunctional mechanisms induced in chronic pain models is leading to the development of better future therapeutics.
Biscuits and cookies: a global history: by Anastasia Edwards, London, Reaktion Books, 2019, 136 pp., ISBN: 978-1789140491

In researching the cookery of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, a number of food scholars such as Anastasia Edwards have endeavored to bring to light culinary chronicles that have remained ...
Detonation performance of the CL-20-based explosive LX-19

Abstract The generation of constitutive detonation performance model components for high explosives (HEs) invariably involves reference to experiment, as reliable first-principles determinations of these models are beyond our current capability. Whatever its form or complexity, the detonation performance model must be able to accurately capture the detonation wave timing and the energy release that it triggers upon arrival. Specifically, the HE products equation-of-state (EOS), which largely determines the detonating HE’s ability to do useful work on its surroundings, is typically inferred from cylinder expansion tests where metal-confined HE cylinders are detonated and the ensuing outer confiner wall-expansion trajectory is recorded. Expensive, iterative comparisons to multimaterial hydrodynamic (or “hydrocode”) simulations of these experiments are then used to constrain the parameters of the chosen EOS form. Here, we report on new detonation performance experiments produced for the highly-ideal, plastic-bonded explosive and CL-20-based LX-19 which are used to produce a new sub-scale detonation performance model for the explosive. This includes new products EOS and a new Detonation Shock Dynamics front propagation law. We also confirm the capability of two new, non-hydrocode-based products EOS generation techniques to accelerate the HE model parameterization process. This latter development is particularly significant for detonation performance modeling of new HE formulations.
Let Chromosomes Speak: The Cytogenetics Project at the Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission (ABCC)

Hibakusha (atomic bomb survivors) are “witnesses” of the atomic bombings, not just in a standard sense but also in the instrumental sense. For medical and scientific experts, hibakusha are biological resources of unparalleled scientific value. Over the past seventy years, the hibakusha bodies have narrated what it means to be exposed to radiation. In this paper, I explore studies at the Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission (ABCC) that examined hibakusha bodies as sites where risk could be read. I focus on a period from the mid-1950s to 1975, during which new methods, practices, and technologies allowed ABCC scientists to investigate chromosomes as a way to study radiation exposure and human risk. By focusing on chromosomal aberrations, ABCC scientists connected their work directly to the emerging infrastructure for radiobiology at the time. ABCC administrators actively sought out such prestige, especially given their relationship with the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC). The shift in approach would also alleviate some public relations problems with which the institution was struggling. Launching a cytogenetics program required some older practices that had assumed American privilege and dominance to be abandoned. Eventually, the decision to let chromosomes speak of radiation exposure brought about fundamental changes in ABCC, which came to symbolize the model for future studies at the organization, especially as ABCC was transitioning to a US-Japan binational organization. More broadly, this case highlights the intricate scientific negotiation of radiation risk where uncertainties necessarily prevail.
Opening the “black box”: Four common implementation strategies for expanding the use of medications for opioid use disorder in primary care:

Background:Despite the persistent increase in overdose deaths, access to medications for opioid use disorders remains limited. Recent federal funding aimed at increasing access prompts a need to un...
Agricultural Trade, Firms and the State: Extrapolations From the Case of Japanese Beef Imports

Until a tariffication policy on beef imports was implemented on April 1, 1991, the Japanese government played a direct role in managing beef imports into that country through it's quasi-independent subsidiary, the livestock Industry Promotion Corporation. Liberalization substantially reduced the role of the Japanese government in regulating beef imports by permitting Japanese and American firms to trade with one another directly. Yet, in spite of this change, many academics and journalists continue to describe the trade of beef that flows from the United States and other countries into Japan as though it takes place between countries, rather than between the organizations that organize the production, trading and marketing of beef. Building upon a review of the theoretical discussions about the relationship between firms and markets, as well as globalization and the transformation in the global economy from fordism to postfordism, this study analyses the establishment of business ties between Japanese and non-Japanese firms, including a case study of how American producers are attempting to produce Japanese-style Wagyu beef in order to gain a foothold in the Japanese market. These data demonstrate the need to employ an analytical approach in the social sciences for examining international trade that conceptualizes trade as taking place between firms and not in unregulated markets across international boundaries. The paper concludes with a discussion about the relationship between markets and inter-firm networks in the global economy.
Improving On-Campus Digital Mental Health Support for Underrepresented University Students

Recent studies have shown a growing demand on college campuses for mental health support and services. At the same time, Black and Latinx students have a higher incidence of unsatisfied needs for mental wellbeing and are more likely to encounter difficulties with mental health services. A technological approach for the navigation of mental health services on campus is a promising approach to meeting Black and Latinx students’ mental health needs. This paper presents the results of an exploratory study that focuses on understanding the technology habits and preferences correlated with students' mental health and how those relate to what is presented by college and university counseling center websites. Findings illustrate how the college students' preferences for applications that integrate with their current on-campus programs clashed with the easily available offerings of campus counseling centers. These results demonstrate the disconnect between Enterprise UX and modern college students' technology practices.
Nominal Mass

The current IUPAC-recommended definition of the term “nominal mass,” based on the most abundant naturally occurring stable isotope of an element, is flawed. We propose that Nominal mass should be defined as the sum of integer masses of protons and neutrons in any chemical species. In this way, all isotopes and isotopologues can be assigned a definitive identifier.
Patterns and Fractions

We find, in the form of a continued fraction, the generating function for the number of (132)-avoiding permutations that have a given number of (123) patterns, and show how to extend this to permutations that have exactly one (132) pattern. We find some properties of the continued fraction, which is similar to, though more general than, those that were studied by Ramanujan.
The influence of opening windows and doors on the natural ventilation rate of a residential building

An analysis of air exchange rates due to intentional window and door openings in a research test house located in a residential environment is presented. These data inform the development of ventilation rate control strategies as building envelopes are tightened to improve the energy efficiency of residential structures. Common physical processes in the building are evaluated for their ability to alter building air exchange rates through increased natural ventilation. The impact on indoor air quality as related to contaminant concentrations is not considered. Air exchange rates were determined for door opening frequency in addition to several window open areas using multiple zone tracer gas decay measurements. Data analysis shows that window opened area, door opening frequency, and indoor-to-outdoor temperature differences have the greatest effect on air exchange rates out of the measured parameters.