cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Doing things: Organizing for agency in mathematical learning

Abstract In the United States, school mathematics generally fails to help students see themselves as capable of impacting their world – a perspective Freire argues defines human agency. This analysis draws from a five-week Algebra intervention for middle school students ( n = 46) designed to promote agency through collaborative mathematical activity. Typically, students identified as underperforming (as most in this intervention were), teachers revert to procedural, low-level instruction. In contrast, this intervention was designed around tasks of high cognitive demand that required visual or symbolic representation of algebraic concepts. Qualitative coding of student interviews ( n = 46) confirm the design principles of authority, agency and collaboration were positively impactful for students. In particular, interviews evidence a changing perspective from math as boring to the possibility of math as comingling intellectual challenge and personal enjoyment. These results are traced to the design principles and in particular, the focus on organizing for agency.
Roboethics: Sharing Our World with Humanlike Robots

Major debates surround the field of robotics, making the potential development of humanlike robots one of the most controversial facets of modern technology. This is the result of the technology's young age. A new technology must meet a number of requirements before people will reach an agreement on it; legal, social, and global considerations must be explored before robotics applications will be accepted by society.
A HISTORY OF THE PASSENGER PIGEON IN MISSOURI

THE. Passenger Pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius) has been extinct for nearly half a century. But, long before its final disappearance, Missouri's skies were sometimes dramatically filled with flocks of pigeons, and oak-hickory forests of the state once fed a share of these wandering avian armies. This account is a report of the misfortunes of the Passenger Pigeon in Missouri, as. revealed in histories, diaries, travelers' journals, and popular lore. To so complete a general history as that of Schorger (1955), I cana add only the richness of local material and a clarification of certain. details.. Abundant new material undoubtedly awaits the searcher into early newspapers and market records. Records have been arranged chronologically by decades and, when possible, by. years within the decade. Early days. Many quotations from early French explorers in the Mississip.pijvalley.may.be found in Wright's papers (1910, 1911). As a rule,, it is difficult to place such quotations with much geographical precisionQ,. but two identifiable references may be mentioned. Granvier (Thwaites,. 1896-1901 (65): 109-111) wrote from below the mouth of the Ohio River, October 1700: "We saw so great a number of wood-pigeons that the sky was quite hidden by them." In 1750, Vivier (ibid., 69:. 145) credited the country in the latitude of St. Louis with wild.pigeons in "the autumn through the winter, and during a portion of the spring." 1800. While at Dubois River, Illinois, waiting to begin their ascent of the Missouri River, Lewis and Clark (1893: 1282) noted on 12 February 1804: "Pigeons, geese, and ducks . . . have returned." In travels northward on the Mississippi, before he began his great southwestern journey, Pike found a nesting colony of pigeons. In his journal for 28 April 1806, he wrote (1895 (1): 212):
Sorption of Triazine and Organophosphorus Pesticides on Soil and Biochar

Sorption and degradation are the primary processes controlling the efficacy and runoff contamination risk of agrochemicals. Considering the longevity of biochar in agroecosystems, biochar soil amendment must be carefully evaluated on the basis of the target agrochemical and soil types to achive agricultural (minimum impact on efficacy) and environmental (minimum runoff contamination) benefits. In this study, sorption–desorption isotherms and kinetics of triazine (deisopropylatrazine) and organophosphorus (malathion, parathion, and diazinon) pesticides were first investigated on various soil types ranging from clayey, acidic Puerto Rican forest soil (PR) to heavy metal contaminated small arms range (SAR) soils of sandy and peaty nature. On PR, malathion sorption did not reach equilibrium during the 3 week study. Comparison of solution-phase molar phosphorus and agrochemical concentrations suggested that degradation products of organophosphorus pesticides were bound on soil surfaces. The degree of sorption ...
New Surgical Treatment for Micropenis

Abstract We report on a patient with micropenis in whom insertion of a penile prosthesis corrected mechanical and psychological problems.
Permissive Transfinite Networks

The transfinite graphs constructed in Chapter 2 and examined in Chapter 3 were quite arbitrary in the sense that the choices of which ρ-tips would comprise which (ρ + l)-nodes were not restricted in any way. With regard to transfinite electrical networks, those choices need not reflect the ways in which currents can or cannot flow. Consider, for example, the one-way infinite ladder within the network of Figure 4.1 driven at its input by a 1 V source and having at its infinite extremity two 1-nodes, \( n_2^1 \) and \( n_2^1 \) containing, respectively, the 0-tips of the one-ended paths along its upper and lower horizontal branches. Let all of the ladder’s horizontal resistances be 1 Ω. Let the vertical resistances be arbitrary. Also, another resistor, R, is connected to those 1-nodes in a pristine way (i.e., through two extraction paths of shorts — see Section 1.4). The infinite total resistance of the horizontal resistors of the ladder prevents current from flowing through the 1-nodes and thereby through R; we restate this by saying that the 0-tips of those two horizontal one-ended paths of the ladder are “nonpermissive.” Thus, this choice of nonsingleton 1-nodes is pointless so far as the transmission of electricity is concerned.
Unifying Liberation Psychology and Humanistic Values to Promote Social Justice in Counseling

The unification of liberation psychology and humanistic values can provide counselors with a powerful tool for promoting social justice in counseling. In this article, the authors present and compare the principles of each theory. A discussion is delineated on how unifying liberation psychology and humanistic values may promote a comprehensive understanding of human concerns.
Understand spiciness: mechanism of TRPV1 channel activation by capsaicin

Capsaicin in chili peppers bestows the sensation of spiciness. Since the discovery of its receptor, transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) ion channel, how capsaicin activates this channel has been under extensive investigation using a variety of experimental techniques including mutagenesis, patch-clamp recording, crystallography, cryo-electron microscopy, computational docking and molecular dynamic simulation. A framework of how capsaicin binds and activates TRPV1 has started to merge: capsaicin binds to a pocket formed by the channel's transmembrane segments, where it takes a "tail-up, head-down" configuration. Binding is mediated by both hydrogen bonds and van der Waals interactions. Upon binding, capsaicin stabilizes the open state of TRPV1 by "pull-and-contact" with the S4-S5 linker. Understanding the ligand-host interaction will greatly facilitate pharmaceutical efforts to develop novel analgesics targeting TRPV1.
Do abiotic and ontogenetic factors influence the diet of a generalist predator? Feeding ecology of the Pacific spiny dogfish (Squalus suckleyi) in the northeast Pacific Ocean

Stomach contents from 1221 Pacific spiny dogfish (Squalus suckleyi) were collected from the Gulf of Alaska over 2004–2006 and analyzed to determine predominant prey species. Pacific spiny dogfish in the Gulf of Alaska have a variable diet suggesting that they are generalist feeders. Of the 68.30% of stomachs with prey contents, the most important prey groups based on the percent prey-specific index of relative importance (%PSIRI) were shrimp (27.06%), cephalopods (17.16%), and forage fish (17.11%). Remaining components of the diet were inconsistent. Commercially valuable species, such as salmon, Oncorhynchus spp., and rockfish, Sebastes spp. constituted only 2.37% and 1.51% of the diet of Pacific spiny dogfish, respectively. Diet diversity was not significantly influenced by spatial, temporal or ontogenetic factors; however, trophic level of prey and average prey item weight varied both interannually and with ontogeny. With increasing size, Pacific spiny dogfish incorporate larger prey items into their diet, and diet composition may be driven more by seasonal availability and prey size than any other factors.
Clinical utility and therapeutic implications of oncotype analysis in patients with breast cancer.

e11084 Background: Oncotype DX is a 21-gene assay developed for early stage, hormone receptor positive breast cancer that generates a Recurrence Score which estimates response to chemotherapy and t...
Transferring Microscopy Image Modalities with Conditional Generative Adversarial Networks

Phase Contrast (PC) and Differential Interference Contrast (DIC) microscopy are two popular non-invasive techniques for monitoring live cells. Each of these two image modalities has its own advantages and disadvantages to visualize specimens, so biologists need these two complementary modalities together to analyze specimens. In this paper, we investigate a conditional Generative Adversarial Network (conditional GAN), which contains one generator and two discriminators, to transfer microscopy image modalities. Given a training dataset consisting of pairs of images (source and destination) captured on the same set of specimens by DIC and Phase Contrast microscopes, we can train a conditional GAN, and with this well-trained GAN, we can generate the corresponding Phase Contrast image given a new DIC image, vice versa. The preliminary experiments demonstrate that our approach outperforms one state-of-the-arts method, and can provide biologists a computational way to switch between microscopy image modalities, so biologists can combine the advantages of different image modalities to better visualize and analyze specimens over time, without purchasing all types of microscopy image modalities or switching between imaging systems back-andforth during time-lapse experiments.
In silico analysis of heme oxygenase structural homologues identifies group-specific conservations.

Heme oxygenases (HO) catalyze the breakdown of heme, aiding the recycling of its components. Several other enzymes have homologous tertiary structures to HOs, while sharing little sequence homology. These homologues include thiaminases, the hydroxylase component of methane monooxygenases, and the R2 component of Class I ribonucleotide reductases (RNR). This study compared these structural homologues of HO, using a large number of protein sequences for each homologue. Alignment of a total of 472 sequences showed little sequence conservation, with no residues having conservation in more than 80% of aligned sequences and only five residues conserved in at least 60% of the sequences. Fourteen additional positions, most of which were critical for hydrophobic packing, displayed amino acid similarity of 60% or higher. Ten conserved sequence motifs were identified in HOs and RNRs. Phylogenetic analysis verified the existence of the four distinct groups of HO homologues, which were then analyzed by group entropy analysis to identify residues critical to the unique function of each enzyme. Other methods for determining functional residues were also performed. Several common index positions identified represent critical evolutionary changes that resulted in the unique function of each enzyme, suggesting potential targets for site-directed mutagenesis. These positions included residues that coordinate ligands, form the active sites, and maintain enzyme structure. ENZYMES Heme oxygenase (EC 1.14.14.18), methane monooxygenase (EC 1.14.13.25), ribonucleotide reductase (EC 1.17.4.1), thiaminase II (EC 3.5.99.2).
Chronic Granulomatous Disease

chronic granulomatous disease is a rare disorder of phagocyte oxidative metabolism. The disease is characterised by recurrent infections in childhood that require prolonged courses of antimicrobial therapy. Adjunctive therapy with interferon-γ has been shown to reduce the frequency and severity of infections. Combined use of daily prophylactic antibiotics and thrice weekly therapy with interferon-γ is an effective and well tolerated treatment that reduces the risk of serious infection. We also update the progress that defines the molecular basis of the disease.
Linear and nonlinear resonant techniques for characterizing cyclic fatigue damage in composite laminate

Abstract In the present work, the linear and nonlinear resonance experiments are performed on composite laminate beam with cyclic loading damage. The effect of different cyclic loading damage on the linear and nonlinear resonance response is analyzed. The nonlinear resonance studies the amplitude dependence of different modes. The frequency and the loss factor as function of the amplitude are determined for each cyclic loading damage. For the linear resonance, the specimens are tested at low amplitude excitation. The frequency and loss factor are evaluated for each cyclic damage. The nonlinear parameters are quantified as function of the damage. The linear parameters are compared with the nonlinear parameters.
Safety of continuing warfarin therapy in patients undergoing cardiac resynchronization therapy device implantation

Background: Continuing warfarin therapy is considered safe for patient undergoing pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator procedures, but less evidence exists for patients undergoing cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) device implantation. Subjects and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 136 consecutive patients who received a CRT device. Three periprocedural anticoagulation strategies were utilized: Group 1, continuation of therapeutic warfarin; Group 2, cessation of warfarin with heparin bridging; and Group 3, cessation of anticoagulation temporarily. Groups were compared on the incidence of complications. Results: Of the 136 patients, 87 (64%) were in Group 1, 18 (13%) were in Group 2, and 31 (23%) were in Group 3. Group 1 patients had an international normalized ratio of 2.3 ± 0.5, which was significantly higher than the other two groups. Coronary sinus dissection occurred in four patients: Three in Group 1 and one in Group 2, but no patient experienced pericardial effusion or tamponade. Group 2 experienced a higher incidence of pocket hematoma (P = 0.0065) and a longer length of hospital stay (P = 0.0069) than Group 1. Transient ischemic attack occurred in one patient in Group 3. Conclusion: Continuing warfarin with therapeutic international normalized ratio seems to be safe in individuals undergoing CRT device implantation.
Exploring Cultural Differences in Expressive Suppression and Emotion Recognition

Previous research has shown that the habit of suppressing emotional expressions is associated with long-term, general reductions in social cognitive abilities and interpersonal adjustment. This may...
Conformational switching within dynamic oligomers underpins toxic gain-of-function by diabetes-associated amyloid.

Peptide mediated gain-of-toxic function is central to pathology in Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and diabetes. In each system, self-assembly into oligomers is observed and can also result in poration of artificial membranes. Structural requirements for poration and the relationship of structure to cytotoxicity is unaddressed. Here we focus on islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) mediated loss-of-insulin secreting cells in patients with diabetes. Newly developed methods enable structure-function enquiry to focus on intracellular oligomers composed of hundreds of IAPP. The key insights are that porating oligomers are internally dynamic, grow in discrete steps and are not canonical amyloid. Moreover, two classes of poration occur; an IAPP-specific ligand establishes that only one is cytotoxic. Toxic rescue occurs by stabilising non-toxic poration without displacing IAPP from mitochondria. These insights illuminate cytotoxic mechanism in diabetes and also provide a generalisable approach for enquiry applicable to other partially ordered protein assemblies.
Predict-first experimental analysis using automated and integrated magnetohydrodynamic modeling

An integrated-modeling workflow has been developed for the purpose of performing predict-first analysis of transient-stability experiments. Starting from an existing equilibrium reconstruction from a past experiment, the workflow couples together the EFIT Grad-Shafranov solver [L. Lao et al., Fusion Sci. Technol. 48, 968 (2005)], the EPED model for the pedestal structure [P. B. Snyder et al., Phys. Plasmas 16, 056118 (2009)], and the NEO drift-kinetic-equation solver [E. A. Belli and J. Candy, Plasma Phys. Controlled Fusion 54, 015015 (2012)] (for bootstrap current calculations) in order to generate equilibria with self-consistent pedestal structures as the plasma shape and various scalar parameters (e.g., normalized β, pedestal density, and edge safety factor [q95]) are changed. These equilibria are then analyzed using automated M3D-C1 extended-magnetohydrodynamic modeling [S. C. Jardin et al., Comput. Sci. Discovery 5, 014002 (2012)] to compute the plasma response to three-dimensional magnetic perturbations. This workflow was created in conjunction with a DIII-D experiment examining the effect of triangularity on the 3D plasma response. Several versions of the workflow were developed, and the initial ones were used to help guide experimental planning (e.g., determining the plasma current necessary to maintain the constant edge safety factor in various shapes). Subsequent validation with the experimental results was then used to revise the workflow, ultimately resulting in the complete model presented here. We show that quantitative agreement was achieved between the M3D-C1 plasma response calculated for equilibria generated by the final workflow and equilibria reconstructed from experimental data. A comparison of results from earlier workflows is used to show the importance of properly matching certain experimental parameters in the generated equilibria, including the normalized β, pedestal density, and q95. On the other hand, the details of the pedestal current did not significantly impact the plasma response in these equilibria. A comparison to the experimentally measured plasma response shows mixed agreement, indicating that while the equilibria are predicted well, additional analysis tools may be needed. Finally, we note the implications that these results have for the success of future predict-first studies, particularly the need for scans of uncertain parameters and for close collaboration between experimentalists and theorists.
The Association among Emotions and Food Choices in First-Year College Students Using mobile-Ecological Momentary Assessments

Studies have examined the associations between emotions and overeating but have only rarely considered associations between emotions and specific food choices. The purpose of this secondary data analysis was to use mobile ecological momentary assessments (mEMAs) to examine associations between emotions and food choices among first-year college students living in residence halls. Using an intensive repeated-measures design, mEMAs were used to assess concurrent emotions and food choices in a racially/ethnically diverse sample of first-year college students (n = 663). Emotions were categorized as negative (sad, stressed, tired), positive (happy, energized, relaxed), and apathetic (bored, meh). Assessments were completed multiple times per day on four quasi-randomly selected days (three random weekdays and one random weekend day) during a 7-day period using random prompt times. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used to examine between- and within-person associations of emotional status with a variety of healthy and unhealthy food choices (sweets, salty snacks/fried foods, fruits/vegetables, pizza/fast food, sandwiches/wraps, meats/proteins, pasta/rice, cereals), adjusting for gender, day of week, and time of day, accounting for within-person dependencies among repeated measurements of eating behavior. At the between-person level, participants who reported positive emotions more frequently compared to others consumed meats/proteins more often (OR = 1.8; 99% CI = 1.2, 2.8). At the within-person level, on occasions when any negative emotion was reported (versus no negative emotion reported) participants were more likely to consume meats/proteins (OR = 1.5, 99% CI = 1.0, 2.1); on occasions when any positive emotion was reported as compared to occasions with no positive emotions, participants were more likely to consume sweets (OR = 1.7, 99% CI = 1.1, 2.6), but less likely to consume pizza/fast food (OR = 0.6, 99% CI = 0.4, 1.0). Negative and positive emotions were significantly associated with food choices. mEMA methodology provides a unique opportunity to examine these associations within and between people, providing insights for individual and population-level interventions. These findings can be used to guide future longitudinal studies and to develop and test interventions that encourage healthy food choices among first-year college students and ultimately reduce the risk of weight gain.
Introduction: New Developments in Gender Research: Multidimensional Frameworks, Intersectionality, and Thinking Beyond the Binary

In this chapter, I summarize the main contributions of this handbook. By comparing the chapters in this volume with those included in Chafetz’s (1999) first edition of the Handbook of the Sociology of Gender, I highlight three areas where research on gender has developed considerably. First, it is now common practice for gender researchers to position their work as multidimensional across the individual, interactional, and macro areas of social life. Second, researchers have become increasingly adept at using intersectional theory to consider how multiple systems of inequality affect the opportunities, rewards, and disadvantages available to particular groups as well as how systems of inequality can be co-constitutive. Third, research on gender has devoted more attention to the lived experience of those who identify as trans and genderqueer, which has shed light on the problematic nature of considering gender a strict binary. Throughout this chapter, I also consider how these developments in gender research are shaped by the lineage of feminist scholarship as well as social events that have occurred in recent history.
Cancer Prevention Among Adults Aged 45–64 Years

Abstract As part of setting the stage for this supplement to the American Journal of Preventive Medicine , a life-course perspective is presented to assist in understanding the importance of cancer prevention for adults in midlife, a period roughly spanning 20 years between ages 45 and 64 years. Drawing on disciplinary perspectives from the social sciences and public health, several life-course themes are delineated in this article: how specific life transitions present unique opportunities for interventions to inform policy and practice that can improve population health outcomes; how interventions can be focused on those at particular life stages or on the entire life course; and how the onset and progression of chronic conditions such as cancer are dependent on a complex interplay of critical and sensitive periods, and trajectory and accumulation processes. A translational research framework is applied to help promote the movement of applied public health interventions for cancer prevention into practice. Also explored are differences that can affect people at midlife relative to other age cohorts. Specifically, cancer-related risks and care networks are examined, with examples of public health strategies that can be applied to cancer prevention and control. As a conclusion, select methodologic issues and next steps for advancing research and practice are identified.
A Critical Analysis of Bulbar Urethroplasty Stricture Recurrence: Characteristics and Management

Purpose: We evaluated the management of recurrent bulbar urethral stricture disease after urethroplasty at our institution.Materials and Methods: We performed an institution review board approved, retrospective case study of our urethroplasty database to collect stricture related and postoperative information with an emphasis on bulbar urethral stricture disease recurrence after urethroplasty between 1996 and 2012. Repair types included primary anastomotic, augmented anastomotic and onlay repair. Recurrence, which was defined as the need for intervention, was diagnosed with cystoscopy or retrograde urethrogram.Results: We identified 437 men who underwent urethroplasty of bulbar urethral stricture disease as performed by 2 surgeons from January 1996 to December 2012. Of the men 395 had available followup data. Recurrence was identified in 25 men (6.3%), of whom all presented with symptoms, including a weak stream in 23, urinary tract infection in 1 and pyelonephritis in 1. Median time to recurrence was 10 ...
Fair Housing After “Big Government”: How Tax Credits Are Reshaping the Legal Fight Against Racial Segregation

ABSTRACTIn June 2015, the Supreme Court ruled, in a 5–4 split decision, that facially neutral state policies and practices that unintentionally segregated minorities could violate the Fair Housing ...
Impact of a Multidisciplinary Treatment Pathway for Atrial Fibrillation in the Emergency Department on Hospital Admissions and Length of Stay: Results of a Multi‐Center Study

Background Variability in the management of atrial fibrillation (AF) in the emergency department (ED) leads to avoidable hospital admissions and prolonged length of stay (LOS). In a retrospective s...
Susceptibility of Carrier Erythrocytes to a Natural Hemolytic System

Carrier erythrocytes are currently been employed as a specific tool for the delivery of therapeutically active agents in cancer chemotherapy.1 The preparation of drug-loaded erythrocytes involves usually the generation of temporary membrane pores to entrap the desired agent. This procedure naturally affects membrane permeability which is subsequently restored by an annealing process. However, a question raised about carrier erythrocytes has been the normalcy of lipid content and the spatial arrangement of lipids to the external surface in comparison to normal erythrocytes. The long in vivo half-life of loaded carrier erythrocytes2–5 suggests that the cell surfaces are still maintaining a status similar to normal erythrocytes which prevents carrier cells from being removed from circulation by immunological devices. It has been shown by scanning electron microscopy that the morphology of carrier erythrocytes from different mammal species (caprine, cervine, human) is near to normal erythrocytes.6 Also, analysis of membrane phospholipid compositions of normal bovine and bovine carrier erythrocytes reveals no significant differences.6
Antiphospholipid Antibodies Impair the Clearance of Apoptotic Platelets.

Background: Thrombocytopenia is frequent in patients with the Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS). The mechanism(s) that lead to abnormal platelet destruction is not understood. Phosphatidylserine (PS) that is exposed in the outer leaflet of the membrane of aged human platelets (AHP) and β2glycoprotein I (β2GPI) mediate their phagocytosis by macrophages without inducing inflammatory or immune responses. We hypothesized that antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) affect the clearance of AHP and induce immunogenicity of AHP leading to the production of anti-platelet antibodies. Methods: To examine that question, we studied phagocytosis of AHP by macrophages in the presence of β2GPI, IgG aPL or control IgG (IgG-NHS). AHP labeled with CM-Orange, were incubated with β2GPI and aPL IgG or with IgG-NHS, and added to a monolayer of cultured phagocytes. The fluorescent-positive phagocytes (FPPC) were then tested by fluorescence microscopy. Then the cells were trypsinized and analyzed by flow cytometry. We also examined the immunogenicity (production of anti-platelet antibodies) of AHP treated with IgG aPL and with IgG-NHS by immunizing Balb/c mice with AHP and IgG-aPL or IgG-NHS. The patterns of reactivity of the sera of the immunized mice was examined by immunoblot of human platelet lysates. Results: aPL IgG produced a significantly lower % FPPC compared to the IgG-NHS-treated cells (15.33 ± 5.31 vs 89.0 ± 7.94, respectively). This was confirmed in the flow cytometric studies: IgG aPL produced significantly lower % of FPPC when compared to IgG-NHS-treated platelets (42.49 ±11.77 vs 78.11± 5.43, respectively).. Mice immunized with AHP and aPL IgG produced significantly higher titers of anti-platelet antibodies (as detected by ELISA) when compared to mice immunized with IgG-NHS (p=0.0033). Furthermore, there was a different pattern of reactivity of the sera with respect to recognition of platelet antigens, when sera of immunized mice were analyzed by immunoblot. Conclusions: The data indicate that aPL impair the clearance of apoptotic platelets and affect their immunogenicity. This may lead to the production of anti-platelet antibodies and thrombocytopenia in APS.
The enduring legacy of Koji Nakanishi's research on bioorganic chemistry and natural products. Part 1: Isolation, structure determination and mode of action

In this brief review on Koji Nakanishi's remarkable career in natural products chemistry, we have highlighted a number of his accomplishments that illustrate the broad diversity of his interests. These include the isolation, structure determination, and biological mechanism of action of many natural products including the triterpenoid pristimerin; the diterpenoid ginkgolides; insect and crustacean molting hormones; phytoalexins; the toxic red tide principle brevetoxin; the vanadium tunicate pigments; philanthotoxin from killer wasps; antisickling agents; mitomycin DNA adducts; insect antifeedants; a mitotic hormone, the small molecule fish attractants from the sea anemone; new isolation and purification technologies; molecular chemistry of vision; age-related macular degeneration; and the development of the exciton circular dichroism (CD) chirality method for microscale determination of absolute configuration of natural products and chirality of other chiral molecules and supramolecular assembly.
Recommendations for control and prevention of infections for pediatric orthopedics during the epidemic period of COVID-19

The outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged and spread rapidly throughout the world. As of February 29, 2020, 79 389 cases of COVID-19 have been reported, and the outbreak is linked to 2838 deaths. The population is generally susceptible to the disease, and differences in incubation periods after infection exist among individuals. These two aspects of COVID-19 pose significant challenges to pediatric orthopedic diagnosis and treatment. As a dedicated center for managing pediatric cases of SARS-CoV-2 in Shanghai, our hospital has mobilized all branches and departments to undertake joint actions for scientific prevention and control, precise countermeasure and comprehensive anti-epidemic efforts. Combined with our experience, we have consulted the relevant national regulations and the latest research advances and have formulated the prevention and control measures of SARS-CoV-2 infection, including outpatient, emergency, inpatient and surgical cares, for clinical practices of pediatric orthopedics according to the physicochemical properties of SARS-CoV-2. It may serve as practical references and recommendations for managing SARS-CoV-2 infection in other pediatric specialties and in other hospitals.
The not-so-blue jays.

Watching birds is great entertainment, and there's fascinating physics behind how some get their colours, says Chanda Prescod-Weinstein
MoViz: A Visualization Tool for Comparing Motion Capture Data Clustering Algorithms

Motion capture data is useful for machine learning applications in a variety of domains (e.g. movement improvisation, physical therapy, character animation in games), but many of these domains require large, diverse datasets with data that is difficult to label. This has precipitated the use of unsupervised learning algorithms for analyzing motion capture datasets. However, there is a distinct lack of tools that aid in the qualitative evaluation of these unsupervised algorithms. In this paper, we present the design of MoViz, a novel visualization tool that enables comparative qualitative evaluation of otherwise "black-box" algorithms for pre-processing and clustering large and diverse motion capture datasets. We applied MoViz to the evaluation of three different gesture clustering pipelines used in the LuminAI improvisational dance system. This evaluation revealed features of the pipelines that may not otherwise have been apparent, suggesting directions for iterative design improvements. This use case demonstrates the potential for this tool to be used by researchers and designers in the field of movement and computing seeking to better understand and evaluate the algorithms they are using to make sense of otherwise intractably large and complex datasets.
A Case Report of Likely Nosocomial-Acquired COVID-19 in a Trauma Patient

As the pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to spread worldwide, there has been an increase in unique clinical presentations leading to delayed diagnoses and nosocomial transmissions. One of the patient populations most at risk includes patients in the critical care units. Early diagnosis and isolation are paramount to avoid nosocomial transmission amongst these closely hospitalized patients. While quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) is the current method for testing, we highlight the importance of utilizing chest computed tomography (CT) and laboratory findings for early diagnosis. We report a 48-year-old trauma patient who suddenly became hypoxemic, nine days postoperative from uncomplicated right lower extremity fracture repair. CT angiogram chest revealed bilateral extensive consolidations, hazy opacities, and pleural effusions. The patient continued to desaturate on noninvasive respiratory support and eventually required intubation. He was empirically treated with azithromycin and hydroxychloroquine due to high clinical suspicion of COVID-19, despite negative qRT-PCR results. The patient progressed clinically and was successfully extubated after 5 days. This unique presentation of acute hypoxemic respiratory failure warrants a discussion on the importance of clinical manifestations, CT findings, and laboratory findings in diagnosis of COVID-19, to prevent further nosocomial spread within a closed critical care unit. J Curr Surg. 2020;10(3):37-40 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jcs409
Comparing the Precision and Reliability Between Three Radiographic Techniques for Measuring Sporadic Vestibular Schwannomas.

Rationale and Objectives Several methods exist for measuring vestibular schwannoma (VS) size radiographically. Our aim was to compare the precision and reproducibility of three different radiographic measurement techniques for assessing VS tumor size. Material and Methods Twenty patients with unilateral, sporadic VS previously untreated were identified. All patients had thin-slice T1 weighted, postcontrasted magnetization prepared rapid acquisition gradient echo images. Three measurement techniques were performed using within-subject and between-subject comparison. Experimental comparison of interobserver agreement between techniques was calculated. Interobserver intraclass correlation coefficients, repeatability coefficients, and relative smallest detectable difference were calculated and compared. Results Mean tumor measurements were: 10.3 mm (maximum linear dimension, [MLD]), 495.9 mm3 (orthogonal volumetric analysis, [OVA]), and 572.1 mm3 (segmented volumetric analysis, [SVA]). Interobserver correlation coefficient was excellent for all measurement techniques, but highest for segmented volumetric analysis. Repeatability coefficient was 1.44 mm for MLD, 298.9 mm3 for OVA, and 174.8 mm3 for SVA. The smallest detectable difference was 13.9% for MLD, 60.2% for OVA, and 30.6% for SVA. A subgroup analysis was performed for small tumors ( 14 mm) and demonstrated increased precision of segmented volumetric analysis for larger tumors. Conclusion Semi-automated segmented volumetric analysis appears more precise than either linear measurement or orthogonal volumetric analysis for reporting VS tumor size, and becomes increasingly precise for larger tumors. Tumor volume and tumor volume change over time using SVA may be more sensitive in surveilling VS than current measurement techniques.
BOW: Breathing Operand Windows to Exploit Bypassing in GPUs

The Register File (RF) is a critical structure in Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) responsible for a large portion of the area and power. To simplify the architecture of the RF, it is organized in a multi-bank configuration with a single port for each bank. Not surprisingly, the frequent accesses to the register file during kernel execution incur a sizeable overhead in GPU power consumption, and introduce delays as accesses are serialized when port conflicts occur. In this paper, we observe that there is a high degree of temporal locality in accesses to the registers: within short instruction windows, the same registers are often accessed repeatedly. We characterize the opportunities to reduce register accesses as a function of the size of the instruction window considered, and establish that there are many recurring reads and updates of the same register operands in most GPU computations. To exploit this opportunity, we propose Breathing Operand Windows (BOW), an enhanced GPU pipeline and operand collector organization that supports bypassing register file accesses and instead passes values directly between instructions within the same window. Our baseline design can only bypass register reads; we introduce an improved design capable of also bypassing unnecessary write operations to the RF. We introduce compiler optimizations to help guide the write-back destination of operands depending on whether they will be reused to further reduce the write traffic. To reduce the storage overhead, we analyze the occupancy of the bypass buffers and discover that we can significantly down size them without losing performance. BOW along with optimizations reduces dynamic energy consumption of the register file by 55% and increases the performance by 11%, with a modest overhead of 12KB increase in the size of the operand collectors (4% of the register file size).
Photospheric signatures imprinted on the gamma-ray burst spectra

A solution is presented for the spectrum of high-energy gamma-ray burst photons confined to a quasi-thermal baryonic photosphere. The solution is valid in the steady-state limit assuming the region under consideration is optically thick to the continuously injected photons. It is shown that for a high luminosity photosphere, the non-thermal electrons resulting from gamma-ray Compton cooling lose their energy by upscattering the soft thermalised radiation. The resulting spectral modifications offer the possibility of diagnosing not only the burst comoving luminosity but also the baryon load of the ejecta. This model leads to a simple physical interpretation of X-ray rich bursts and anomalous low-energy slopes.
A numerical study of backdraft phenomena under normal and reduced gravity

Abstract Backdrafts are violent events that occur when oxygen is suddenly introduced to an oxygen-depleted compartment fire and are primarily driven by the presence of gravity currents. However, with human travel potentially expected beyond the confines of earth gravity, it is not clear how the magnitude of the gravity constant can contribute to the intensity of these events. This issue can be relevant when dealing with fires on space stations or on future bases on the Moon and Mars. In this study, we carry out backdraft simulations in a compartment under different reduced gravity conditions using the NIST Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) code. A combustion compartment, initially containing under-ventilated heated methane, is opened to the surroundings using a vertical opening slot. Through the bottom of the opening flows a gravity current of oxygen. When the current reaches the far wall of the combustion compartment, the mixture is ignited, and a violent backdraft event occurs. Measures of heat release, fire development, and pressure rise suggest that the effects of backdraft are highly nonlinear based on the gravity constant. Even small values of the gravity constant (as low as 0.01g) can trigger relatively strong backdrafts.
Results in L-algebras

We study some classes of L-algebras and we give characterizations of commutative KL-algebras and CL-algebras. It is proved that any commutative KL-algebra is a BCK-algebra and any self-similar CL-algebra is commutative. The commutative ideals are defined and studied, and it is proved that a CL-algebra is commutative if and only if all its ideals are commutative. We also present the L-algebras arising from other structures, such as BCK-algebras, pseudo MV-algebras, pseudo BL-algebras, pseudo-hoops, bounded R $$\ell $$ -monoids, BE-algebras, Hilbert algebras.
Barriers to and Facilitators of User Engagement With Digital Mental Health Interventions: Systematic Review

Background: Digital mental health interventions (DMHIs), which deliver mental health support via technologies such as mobile apps, can increase access to mental health support, and many studies have demonstrated their effectiveness in improving symptoms. However, user engagement varies, with regard to a user’s uptake and sustained interactions with these interventions. Objective: This systematic review aims to identify common barriers and facilitators that influence user engagement with DMHIs. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in the SCOPUS, PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases. Empirical studies that report qualitative and/or quantitative data were included. Results: A total of 208 articles met the inclusion criteria. The included articles used a variety of methodologies, including interviews, surveys, focus groups, workshops, field studies, and analysis of user reviews. Factors extracted for coding were related to the end user, the program or content offered by the intervention, and the technology and implementation environment. Common barriers included severe mental health issues that hampered engagement, technical issues, and a lack of personalization. Common facilitators were social connectedness facilitated by the intervention, increased insight into health, and a feeling of being in control of one’s own health. Conclusions: Although previous research suggests that DMHIs can be useful in supporting mental health, contextual factors are important determinants of whether users actually engage with these interventions. The factors identified in this review can provide guidance when evaluating DMHIs to help explain and understand user engagement and can inform the design and development of new digital interventions. Trial Registration:
Comparison of Extreme Value Distributions for Electrostatic Discharge Magnitudes in Spacecraft Charging Tests

Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) induced by the accumulation of charge in the space environment is known to cause spacecraft anomalies and failures. While it is critical to estimate the worst-case expected ESD, sensitive radar instruments can be impacted by high rates of occurrence of very small ESD. To estimate the correct extreme behavior, it is important to select the correct extreme value distribution for extrapolation of test results limited in time and sensitivity. Quantile-quantile (Q-Q) analysis is used to compare electron beam-induced ESD test data to several statistical distributions used in the published literature. The best-fit distribution is shown to vary between tests on different materials; however, it is clear that power law distributions are not good approximations for low amplitude events. Q-Q analysis is a convenient graphical method for evaluating multiple theoretical extreme-value distributions simultaneously.
Sparse Multi-Channel Synthetic Aperture Radar Based Motion Induced Distortion Correction and Classification of Maritime Scenes

Multi-channel Synthetic Aperture Radar (MSAR) in the maritime environment has proven to be an effective technique for improved image fidelity and scene characterization. Past demonstrations of MSAR-based methods for improvements such as motion induced distortion correction and image classification were performed using a uniformly spaced array of phase centers. In this paper, we derive novel extensions of these techniques to the case of sparse and non-uniformly spaced phase center configurations and demonstrate their effectiveness for a variety of platforms and sensor arrangements. We establish general techniques for correcting motion induced distortions, establish theoretical bounds of performance, and empirically validate our techniques on data derived from our airborne MSAR system. We then use these images to characterize the structure of the maritime scene using our MSAR-based classification technique. Our imaging and classification techniques are amenable to efficient implementation on diverse hardware platforms and sensor arrangements, and thus can find ready application in practical multichannel radar systems.
Indirect effects of dissociation on the relationship between lifetime PTSD symptoms and condomless sex among men who have sex with men with a history of childhood sexual abuse.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms may interfere with gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men's (MSM) ability to engage in safe sex practices. An indirect relationship with dissociation may help to elucidate the relationship between PTSD symptom severity and condomless sex among MSM with childhood sexual abuse (CSA) histories. These relationships have not previously been examined in this group, which has a unique vulnerability for HIV acquisition. A cross-sectional sample of MSM with histories of CSA (N=290) was recruited at study sites in Boston, MA, and Miami, FL. Participants had a mean age of 37.95 years (SD=11.68), 22% were African American and 29.4% identified as Latino. The sample reported a mean of 10.47 (SD=4.38) lifetime PTSD symptoms and 26.4% met the clinical threshold for dissociation. Logistic regression models (adjusted for age, education, and substance use disorder) were used to assess indirect effects of dissociation on the relationship between lifetime PTSD symptoms and condomless anal/vaginal sex episodes with serodiscordant or unknown status partners in the past 3 months. Dissociation accounted for the association between lifetime PTSD symptom severity and condomless sex episodes. The Sobel test (Sobel = 2.04, p= .042; CI 95% bias-corrected bootstrap) suggested significant indirect effects for dissociation. Dissociation among MSM with CSA histories may compromise accurate appraisals of sexual risk and safety and increase vulnerability for HIV acquisition. Further research is warranted to address HIV prevention in the context of PTSD symptom severity to improve the mental health of MSM and increase the effectiveness of HIV prevention interventions.