cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Predictive Clinical Value of Nutritional Assessment Factors in COPD

Thirty-nine stable outpatients with moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were studied prospectively to determine the predictive value of several nutritional factors on the clinical outcome. Physiologic evaluation including FEV1, diffusing capacity, PaO2, as well as nutritional evaluation including triceps skin fold (TSF), midarm muscle circumference, body weight percentage of standard, history of 5 percent weight loss in the year prior to clinic visit, and average daily caloric intake based on a three-day diet record were all done at the clinic visit. Hospitalization or death during the six months to one year following the initial evaluation were the clinical outcome factors evaluated. Five of the 16 patients (31 percent) needing hospitalization during that time had weight loss during the year prior to the initial evaluation, while eight out of the 23 (35 percent) not requiring hospitalization had weight loss. There was a significantly lower TSF percent standard (TSF%) in the subgroup who subsequently required hospitalization (p less than 0.05). Nonhospitalized patients with severe depletion of body fat (TSF% less than 60) at initial evaluation ingested significantly more calories per kilogram than the severely depleted patients requiring hospitalization in the next six to 12 months (p less than 0.05) suggesting a protective effect of increased caloric intake. Increased caloric intake did not improve mortality statistics.
Coordinating State Sales Taxes with a Federal VAT: Opportunities, Risks, and Challenges

The author writes that federal adoption of a value added tax would create opportunities for states to improve their tax systems substantially by replacing their existing retail sales taxes with VATS or reforming their existing sales taxes. There is, however, a risk that state sales taxes would be made worse, rather than better, the author says.
On Contested Concepts: Humanitarianism, Human Rights, and the Notion of Neutrality

This article starts with a discussion about the international law of humanitarianism and human rights and what they indicate about trends in international relations (also known as world affairs), moves to a discussion of neutrality, and then discusses concrete examples of neutral humanitarianism in context. Its central theme is an argument for care in usage of terms, and for the utility of traditional forms of neutral humanitarianism—within definite limits.
Amnesia: Cultural Memory, Reconciliation, and Communal Accountability in the Americas

Contributing to debates on the status of comparison in transnational American studies, this essay offers a morphologically comparative approach to memory’s cultural politics in conflict resolution, juxtaposing two histo-ries — one ‘geo-political’ (nation-state, transatlantic) and the other ‘micro-history’ (small-town, regional) — whose ensuing negotiations unsettle paradigms of silencing and forgetting, especially as these pertain to ‘reconciliation’. Offering an alternative to predominantly psychoanalytic treatments of cultural memory and power, this essay employs morphological analysis and queer theory to explore cultural amnesia through blending ethnographic and media sources on the politics of it in the assignment of accountability and belonging.
Expression of α2 adrenoceptors during rat brain development—I. α2A messenger RNA expression

The distribution of alpha 2A adrenoceptor messenger RNA expression in developing rat brain was characterized using in situ hybridization with 35S-labeled riboprobes. Intense hybridization signal was detected as early as embryonic day 14 in several areas adjacent to the forebrain and hindbrain germinal zones and in central noradrenergic neurons. A marked increase in messenger RNA expression was observed throughout the brain during late prenatal development, consistent with the migration and maturation of neurons in developing brain structures. In embryonic brain, there was a temporal and spatial correspondence in the appearance of alpha 2A messenger RNA expression and binding sites labeled with [3H]idazoxan or p-[125I]iodoclonidine, indicating translation into receptor protein at an early stage of development. Whereas the presynaptic expression remained constant throughout development, there was an early postnatal decline of alpha 2A receptor expression in many brain regions, including the olfactory bulb, cortex, caudate-putamen, hippocampus, thalamus, hypothalamus and medulla. Thereafter, messenger RNA expression increased, establishing an adult-like pattern during the second postnatal week, but remained low in areas such as the caudate-putamen, thalamus and hippocampus, which do not exhibit extensive expression in the adult. The transient perinatal expression of this alpha 2 adrenoceptor type, which coincides with a period of hyperreactivity to sensory stimuli in the locus coeruleus, may indicate a specific functional role for the alpha 2A receptor in the developing rat brain. The early and intense expression in olfactory structures suggests an involvement in early olfactory learning. The pattern of widespread, transient expression of alpha 2A receptors in the fetal brain is in marked contrast to the postnatal development of the alpha 2C receptor type.
Local, Global, and Plural Constitutionalism: Europe Meets the World

The dilemma of constitutionalism in the age of global governance has elicited two dominant responses - one local and one global. On the one hand, those alarmed by the threat of global institutions of governance have sounded retreat into local constitutionalism as the only source of legitimate public power. On the other hand, a group of enthusiasts privilege the global realm of governance as overcoming the inherent limitations of local constitutionalism.After setting out these opposing views, this essay charts a middle course by joining constitutionalism and pluralism into an alternative to the purported choice between the local and the global. The essay then turns to the European Union, which figures prominently in this debate as perhaps the most advanced institutional embodiment of taking constitutionalism beyond the state. As the European Union matures, the question arises, which of these three approaches will it embrace in its own dealings with the world beyond its borders: local, global, or plural constitutionalism?
Photodissociation of ICN in polar solvents: evidence of long lived rotational excitation in real liquids

Photodissociation dynamics in a liquid environment are of considerable complexity and interest. In liquids, effects such as caging and collisions with surrounding solvent molecules that cause dissipation of electronic, translational, rotational and vibrational energy to the surrounding solvent must be considered in addition to the often complex dissociation dynamics in the gas phase. The A band photodissociation of ICN is an excellent candidate to study the effects of the solvent on dissociation. This system has been studied extensively in the gas phase, both experimentally and theoretically. Three electronic states comprise this band and two product channels, ICN* I+CN and I*+CN, are observed [1]. In the I + CN channel, the CN is produced highly rotationally excited, N~50, making this system an excellent choice for the study of relaxation of a highly rotationally excited molecule in the liquid phase.
Polymer Single Crystal-Decorated Superhydrophobic Buckypaper with Controlled Wetting and Conductivity

Herein we report fabrication of uniform, free-standing nanohybrid buckypaper with high carbon nanotube (CNT) contents (13–70%) using polymer single crystal-decorated CNTs as the precursor. Polyethylene single crystals were periodically grown on CNT surfaces, forming a nanohybrid shish kebab (NHSK) structure. Vacuum filtering a NHSK suspension led to polymer single crystal-decorated buckypaper (named as NHSK paper) with a wide range of CNT contents and uniform CNT dispersion. Porosity, surface roughness, and conductivity of NHSK paper can be controlled by tuning the polymer single crystal size. Because of the hierarchical roughness created by intra- and inter-NHSK nanostructure, NHSK paper with controlled kebab size exhibits both superhydrophobicity and high surface water adhesion, which mimics the rose petal effect. We anticipate that this unique NHSK paper can find applications in sensors, electrochemical devices, and coatings.
Substrate-specific Analysis of Proteolytic Enzymes in the Larval Midgut of Calliphora vicina

Data obtained from the hydrolysis of the trypsin-specific substrates, N-benzoyl-DL-arginine-p-nitroanilide and Nbenzoyl-L-arginine ethyl ester, by separate fore-midgut, mid-midgut, and hind-midgut homogenates at p H 7.0 confirm that trypsin-like or chymotrypsin-like enzymes are responsible for the basic proteolytic activity in each midgut segment of 3rd-stage larvae of Calliphora vicina (Robineau-Desvoidy). At least 2 such enzymes in each midgut segment are indicated by electrophoresis, and their mobilities are distinctly less than that of mammalian trypsin. Inhibition by soybean trypsin inhibitor of basic proteolytic activity of homogenates of each midgut segment confirms the presence of trypsin-like and chymotrypsinlike enzymes. Evidence for the presence of chymotrypsin is based on the hydrolysis of N-acetyl-L-phenylalanyl diiodotyrosine, which is specific for chymotryptic activity at p H 7.0. Hydrolysis of the pepsin-specific substrates, N-carbobenzoxy- a-glutamyl-L-tyrosine and N-acetyl-L-phenylalanyl diiodotyrosine, by fore-midgut and mid-midgut homogenates at p H 2.5 indicates that a pepsin-like enzyme is responsible for acidic proteolytic activity in these segments. Inhibition of acidic proteolytic activity by diphenyldiazomethane of fore-midgut and mid-midgut homogenates confirms the presence of a pepsin-like enzyme. Electrophoresis indicates that it is a single enzyme. Results of p H runs with aseptic larvae are similar to those with conventional larvae, indicating that the enzymes are autogenous.
Effects of low-molecular-weight organic acids on the dissolution of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles

Hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (HANPs) have recently been advocated as a highly efficient and environmentally benign ‘green’ phosphorus (P) nanofertilizer in modern agriculture. However, knowledge of how low-molecular-weight organic acids (LMWOAs) secreted by plants in agricultural soils mediate the dissolution of HANPs and release of dissolved phosphate is nonexistent. Here, three of the most commonly occurring LMWOAs (acetic, oxalic, and citric acids) were evaluated for their roles in HANPs dissolution in both batch and column systems. Particularly, O-isotopic ratios of dissolved phosphate during HANPs dissolution were measured to disentangle mechanisms controlling isotope fractionation. Our results reveal that in a batch system HANPs dissolution was very fast but the overall dissolution efficiency was low (≤30%), unlike in a column system where ∼100% dissolution was achieved. The low dissolution efficiency of HANPs in the batch system was due predominantly to rapid consumption of protons, whereas in the column system the HANPs were progressively dissolved by low pH LMWOAs and reaction products were eluted out. Regardless of LMWOA type and experimental system, the isotopically lighter phosphate (P16O4) was preferentially released during the initial phases of dissolution and dissolved phosphate became gradually P18O4-enriched with time. This fractionation was less in batch (−0.3‰ to +1.1‰) than in column (−1.3‰ to +1.1‰) systems due primarily to lower dissolution efficiency and higher P16O4 and P18O4 exchange between HANPs and dissolved phosphates. The Rayleigh model well described O-isotopic fractionation of dissolved phosphate under different LMWOAs. Overall, our findings provide important insights into the dissolution kinetics and O-isotopic evolution of phosphate-based NPs that are relevant to plant–soil systems particularly at the rhizosphere.
Diagrammatic Monte Carlo for dual fermions

We introduce a numerical algorithm to stochastically sample the dual fermion perturbation series around the dynamical mean field theory, generating all topologies of two-particle interaction vertices. We show results in the weak and strong coupling regime of the half-filled Hubbard model in two dimensions, illustrating that the method converges quickly where dynamical mean field theory is a good approximation, and show that corrections are large in the strong correlation regime at intermediate interaction. The fast convergence of dual corrections to dynamical mean field results illustrates the power of the approach and opens a practical avenue towards the systematic inclusion of nonlocal correlations in correlated materials simulations. An analysis of the frequency scale shows that only low-frequency propagators contribute substantially to the diagrams, putting the inclusion of higher order vertices within reach.
Introduction: Reality and Contradiction

A Foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds. Emerson “CONSTANT ANXIETIES” AND THE JOY OF STRUGGLE To be engaged in the eternal struggle of the human mind – to contemplate the tensions and ambiguities of a perpetually mysterious universe – was Alexander Crummell's definition of heaven. The necessity and the pleasure of mental exertion must eternally engage both the living and the dead, he asserted in his address, “The Solution of Problems: The Duty and Destiny of Man.” “Grappling with indeterminate questions is one of the inevitabilities of life”; and it was even more than that. “This fashion of our life” presages eternity, he asserted. It “fills us with perplexities and breeds constant anxieties, but these are the heritage of all God's spiritual creatures, above and below; for both angels and men are created for the unending, the everlasting ventures and anxieties of their spirits in the deep things of God.” The poet, Paul Laurence Dunbar, showed little knowledge of the man when in his elegy, “Alexander Crummell: Dead,” he thought to tempt the old battler with an invitation to eternal rest. Crummell's concept of heaven was incompatible with the poet's ideas of relaxation or repose. Indeed, Crummell defined poetry as the “ofttimes agonized strain of the heart of man to pierce the mystery of being, and to solve the inscrutable problems of existence.”
Structures and Conformations of Alkanedithiols on Gold and Silver Nanoparticles in Water

Organodithiols with two distal thiols have been used extensively in gold and silver nanoparticle (AuNP and AgNP) applications. However, understanding the structures and conformations of organodithiols on these nanoparticles is challenging. Reported in this work is a combined surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), transmission electron microscope (TEM), inductively coupled plasma mass-spectrometry (ICP-MS), and localized surface plasmonic resonance (LSPR) study of alkyldithiol (ADT, (HS-(CH2)n-SH, n = 2, 4, and 6) interactions with AuNPs and AgNPs in water. These complementary techniques revealed a series of new insights that would not be possible using individual methods. A large-fraction of ADTs lies flat on AuNP surfaces. The upright ADTs are dimerized horizontally through disulfide-bond, or remain as monothiolates on the AuNP surfaces. The possibility of a significant amount of vertically disulfide-linked organodithiol on the surface is excluded on the basis of ICP-MS and AuNP LSPR experiments. AD...
American Idiom: Sarah Hale’s Flora’s Interpreter and the Figuration of National Identity

The volume’s opening chapter recalls Sarah Josepha Hale’s efforts to encourage ‘the idioms of America’ in her popular Flora’s Interpreter, or the American Book of Flowers and Sentiments. Although aimed at promoting American cultural heritage, this flower book (an ‘anthology’ in more than one sense) was also a collection of British poetry, and Jasper’s account illustrates the importance of English literature as an elegant medium of American expression. This chapter thus immediately sets forth key tensions at work in nineteenth-century literary culture, as Jasper shows Hale executing the complex task of rooting American literature in a British cultural past while simultaneously clearing sufficient ground for its independent growth. With careful attention to the publishing conventions of the flower book genre, this essay invites us to consider particular insights that book history offers into the processes that bring transnational circuits of culture into national service, and demonstrates how the idea of an American identity rooted in landscape and place continued to interact with more fluid cultural identities independent of place.
An edge detection technique in images

A novel edge detection method based on a neighbourhood similarity criterion is presented in this paper. In this algorithm, the pixels in the original image that have minimum numbers of similar pixels among its neighbouring pixels in the filtering window are labelled as edge pixels. Simulation results demonstrate that this approach performs well in noise-free images but it is superior to the others in images corrupted by AWGV. Moreover, the algorithm is fast and has low computational complexity.
Incidence and risk factors for surgical site infection post-hysterectomy in a tertiary care center

Background Preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis and surgical technological advances have greatly reduced, but not totally eliminated surgical site infection (SSI) posthysterectomy. We aimed to identify risk factors for SSI posthysterectomy among women with a high prevalence of gynecologic malignancies, in a tertiary care setting where compliance with the Joint Commission's Surgical Care Improvement Project core measures is excellent. Methods The study was a matched case–control, 2 controls per case, matched on date of surgery. Study time was January 2, 2012-December 31, 2015. Procedures included abdominal and vaginal hysterectomies (open, laparoscopic, and robotic). SSI (superficial incisional or deep/organ/space) was defined as within 30 days postoperatively, per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria. Statistical analysis included bivariate analysis and conditional logistic regression controlling for demographic and clinical variables, both patient-related and surgery-related, including detailed prophylactic antibiotic exposure. Results Of the total 1,531 hysterectomies performed, we identified 52 SSIs (3%), with 60% being deep incisional or organ/space infections. All case patients received appropriate preoperative antibiotics (timing, choice, and weight-based dosing). Bivariate analysis showed that higher median weight, higher median Charlson comorbidity index, immune suppressed state, American Society of Anesthesiologists score ≥ 3, prior surgery within 60 days, clindamycin/gentamicin prophylaxis, surgery involving the omentum or gastrointestinal tract, longer surgery duration, ≥4 surgeons present in the operating room, higher median blood loss, ≥7 catheters or invasive devices in the operating room, and higher median length of hospital stay increased SSI risk ( P P P = .02). Conclusions In our population of women with multimorbidity and hysterectomies largely due to underlying gynecologic malignancies, duration of surgery, presumed a marker of surgical complexity, is a significant SSI risk factor. The choice of preoperative antibiotic did not alter SSI risk in our study.
Resonance of the Arab Spring: Solidarities and youth opinion in the Global South

The Arab Spring exemplifies to many a kind of globalisation from below. It cuts across borders and challenges liberal and technocratic elites. But how far does its global resonance really go? Are p...
Quantitative analysis of a scar's pliability, perfusion and metrology

The primary effect of scarring is the loss of function in the affected area. Scarring also leads to physical and psychological problems that could be devastating to the patient’s life. Currently, scar assessment is highly subjective and physician dependent. The examination relies on the expertise of the physician to determine the characteristics of the scar by touch and visual examination using the Vancouver scar scale (VSS), which categorizes scars depending on pigmentation, pliability, height and vascularity. In order to establish diagnostic guidelines for scar formation, a quantitative, accurate assessment method needs to be developed. An instrument capable of measuring all categories was developed; three of the aforementioned parameters will be explored. In order to look at pliability, a durometer which measures the amount of resistance a surface exerts to prevent the permanent indentation of the surface is used due to its simplicity and quantitative output. To look at height and vascularity, a profilometry system that collects the location of the scar in three-dimensions and laser speckle imaging (LSI), which shows the dynamic changes in perfusion, respectively, are used. Gelatin phantoms were utilized to measure pliability. Finally, dynamic changes in skin perfusion of volunteers’ forearms undergoing pressure cuff occlusion were measured, along with incisional scars.
The Primary Role of Mental Health Treatment in Resolution of Persistent Post-concussive Symptoms

Symptoms that persist beyond the expected period of recovery following a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI)/concussion are strongly linked to non-neurologic variables, notably mental health conditions such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), particularly among Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans. Despite acknowledgement of poor recovery in a sizeable minority of concussion cases and the strong contribution of psychological factors to this presentation, treatment of comorbid, and likely primary, mental health conditions, is not as widely practiced as the evidence would support. The attention drawn to TBI as a “signature injury” of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as from contact sports has had a positive impact on TBI awareness, identification, and prevention efforts. However, it may have had the unintended consequence of overshadowing treatment of comorbid mental health conditions and other symptomatic treatments that are likely to impart the greatest symptom reduction and treatment gains. Individuals with a history of concussion can successfully engage in structured mental health treatments and using cognitive behavioral treatments for psychiatric conditions, such as PTSD and depression, as primary treatment approaches for reducing persistent post-concussive symptoms is supported by the current research literature.
Abstract 165: Functional Consequences of a Lysosomal Acid Lipase Variant Associated With Coronary Artery Disease

Two tightly linked common intronic variants at the LIPA locus (which encodes for Lysosomal Acid Lipase - LAL) are present in nearly one-third of the population and are known to increase the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) by 13-17% in large-scale genome-wide association studies. LAL mediates the hydrolysis of cholesteryl esters and patients with rare loss-of-function mutations develop hypercholesterolemia and CAD. However, these common LIPA variants are non-coding, not associated with lipid abnormalities, and result in increased LIPA transcripts in monocytes, a constellation of findings that has hindered further mechanistic understanding. We have discovered a previously unrecognized coding variant in tight linkage with the intronic variants that is equally associated with CAD risk. This coding variant involves a shift from a nonpolar to polar amino acid (T16P) in the predicted signal peptide region of LAL, providing a highly biologically plausible link to altered enzyme trafficking and function. We hypothesized that the coding variant is the causative SNP by altering LAL subcellular distribution and enzyme activity with functional consequences in lipid handling. In monocytes isolated from a large cohort of human patients, we show the coding variant leads to both increased LIPA mRNA expression and LAL enzyme activity in whole-cell lysates. To more precisely implicate the coding variant’s effects on LAL function, we studied several in vitro overexpression models assessing the coding variant in the absence of the intronic variants. We show the T16P alteration is sufficient to alter LAL trafficking away from the lysosome with a portion favoring the secretory pathway. These findings have important implications for macrophage lipid handling in the atherosclerotic plaque and provide a novel mechanism for one of the most common genomic variants in cardiovascular disease.
Adverse Childhood Experiences, Health‐Related Quality of Life, and Chronic Disease Risks in Rural Areas of the United States

Exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) is associated with increased odds of high‐risk behaviors and adverse health outcomes. This study examined whether ACE exposure among individuals living in rural areas of the United States is associated with adult activity limitations, self‐reported general poor health status, chronic diseases, and poor mental health. Data from the 2011 and 2012 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) (N=79,810) from nine states were used to calculate the prevalence of ACEs in rural and urban areas. ACE scores were determined by summing 11 survey items. Multiple logistic regression was used to examine the association between ACE scores and health outcomes, including self‐reported general health status, chronic diseases, and health‐related quality of life. Approximately 55.4% of rural respondents aged ≥18 years reported at least one ACE and 14.7% reported experiencing ≥4 ACEs in their childhood, compared to 59.5% of urban residents who reported at least one ACE and 15.5% reporting ≥4 ACEs. After adjusting for sociodemographic covariates, compared to rural respondents who never reported an ACE, rural respondents who experienced ≥1 ACEs had increased odds of reporting fair/poor general health, activity limitations, and heart disease, which is consistent with previous studies. The odds of experiencing a heart attack were higher for rural residents reporting 2 and ≥4 ACEs; the odds of diabetes were higher for those with 3 ACEs; and the odds of ever having asthma or poor mental health was higher for those with ≥3 ACEs. Although individuals in rural areas are less likely to experience ACEs, over half of rural respondents reported experiencing an ACE in childhood. Programs aimed at preventing ACEs, including child maltreatment, can benefit rural areas by reducing adult morbidity and increasing quality of life.
Developing a telemedicine triage system to manage patient flow at a high volume cancer center urgent care.

e18517Background: MSKCC sees a high volume of patients with acute presentations at its 21 bed Urgent Care Center (UCC). We examined the incidence and underlying reasons for unplanned inpatient admi...
Pilot of Community-Based Diabetes Self-Management Support for Patients at an Urban Primary Care Clinic

Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States (1). Furthermore, diabetes prevalence, diabetes-related hospital admissions and re-admissions, and risk factors are disproportionately higher in racial and ethnic minorities, indicating the need to focus efforts on reducing these disparities while also improving outcomes for all (2–4). Diabetes care and management vary significantly by race/ethnicity and insurance status and are less likely to be optimal in certain minority groups and the uninsured (5,6). Because most resources and barriers to diabetes management are present within the broader context in which patients carry out their daily lives, the ability to support self-management from within health care delivery systems is limited. Conversely, the capacity for health care systems to partner with community-based programs to manage diabetes is almost limitless. For example, an expert synthesis of strategies to reduce diabetes disparities concluded that community-based efforts and health information technology are the “new frontier” for eliminating diabetes disparities (7). Health care is shifting from volume to value, from treatment to prevention, from patients to populations, and from discrete clinical encounters to whole-person care. In this new model, collaborative partnerships to promote health and well-being within communities are increasingly relevant. Evidence suggests that chronic disease self-management support provided in the community setting improves outcomes in patients with complex chronic conditions (8–10). Previous studies on peer-led support have shown improvements in participant self-care (i.e., nutrition, physical activity, and glucose monitoring), psychosocial outcomes (i.e., quality of life, self-efficacy, and depression), and treatment and appointment engagement (8,11). Positive social support has been shown to influence diabetes self-management practices such as eating a healthy diet, exercising, and monitoring blood glucose (8). Peer-led diabetes social support in a community setting is gaining traction among people with diabetes (12). Pairing …
Does dose of early intervention matter for preschoolers with externalizing behavior problems? A pilot randomized trial comparing intensive summer programming to school consultation.

Abstract The goals of this study were to (a) isolate the ideal length (i.e., 4 or 8 weeks) of the Summer Treatment Program for Kindergarteners (STP-PreK) for improving school readiness and kindergarten success outcomes of preschool children with externalizing behavior problems (EBPs) during the transition to kindergarten; and (b) compare the STP-PreK model to a more standard approach in school settings (i.e., behavioral school consultation). Forty-five preschool children (82% boys; Mage = 5.16 years; 93% Hispanic/Latino background) were randomized to one of three intervention conditions: 1) 8-week STP-PreK (8W); 2) 4-week STP-PreK (4W); or 3) school year behavioral consultation (SC). Both STP-PreK groups included an 8-week parent training component. Baseline, post-intervention, and 6-month follow-up data were collected on children's school readiness and kindergarten success outcomes including parent, teacher, and objective assessment measures. Analyses using linear mixed models indicated that children's behavioral, academic, social-emotional, and self-regulation functioning significantly improved across groups. Few significant differences were found between children receiving the 4W and 8W programs, suggesting that both programs have the potential to prepare preschool children with EBP for the transition to school. Both 4W and 8W groups experienced greater initial growth across time in most domains compared to children in the SC group. However, by the end of the kindergarten year, children in the SC group caught up to children in both 4W and 8W groups on most domains. Overall, these findings suggest that all three intervention doses are effective in improving kindergarten year functioning, with some important considerations for intervention timing in preparation for the transition to elementary school. Clinical implications for school personnel are discussed.
SCAR: Strong Consistency using Asynchronous Replication with Minimal Coordination.

Data replication is crucial in modern distributed systems as a means to provide high availability. Many techniques have been proposed to utilize replicas to improve a system's performance, often requiring expensive coordination or sacrificing consistency. In this paper, we present SCAR, a new distributed and replicated in-memory database that allows serializable transactions to read from backup replicas with minimal coordination. SCAR works by assigning logical timestamps to database records so that a transaction can safely read from a backup replica without coordinating with the primary replica, because the records cannot be changed up to a certain logical time. In addition, we propose two optimization techniques, timestamp synchronization and parallel locking and validation, to further reduce coordination. We show that SCAR outperforms systems with conventional concurrency control algorithms and replication strategies by up to a factor of 2 on three popular benchmarks. We also demonstrate that SCAR achieves higher throughput by running under reduced isolation levels and detects concurrency anomalies in real time.
Understanding results of trials in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: remembering forgotten lessons and enduring principles.

In this issue of the Journal , Holland et al. ([1][1]) provide a valuable contribution to the literature by reporting the first meta-analysis of medication trials for heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). This work is important, since HFpEF is the most common and fastest
Maternal Acceptance of Children’s Negative Emotions Among Spanish-Speaking Latinas Who Have Experienced Intimate Partner Violence

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant social concern, with high prevalence rates among Latinas and resulting serious negative outcomes, including parenting difficulties. Parenting following exposure to IPV is paramount as IPV can be frightening to children as well as disruptive to their development of emotional and self-regulation abilities. In fact, prior research has found that parents who are accepting of the expression of negative emotion in children may be able to protect them against some of the harmful effects of IPV. However, little is known about the way in which IPV-exposed Latina mothers approach their children’s negative emotions. The aim of this study was to examine factors associated with maternal acceptance of children’s negative emotions in IPV-exposed Spanish-speaking Latinas. This study examined predictors of Latinas’ acceptance of their children’s negative emotion, including the amount of IPV experienced, depressive and posttraumatic stress symptoms, and demographic factors. Results revealed that depressive symptoms were associated with lower levels of maternal emotion acceptance while maternal employment and domestic violence shelter use were associated with greater maternal acceptance of children’s negative emotions. Finding suggest that there are potentially modifiable factors that may be associated with levels of acceptance of child negative emotions among Spanish-speaking Latinas who have experienced IPV. The limitations and implications of the findings are discussed.
Pigment Intensity in Dogs is Associated with a Copy Number Variant Upstream of KITLG

Dogs exhibit a wide variety of coat color types, and many genes have been identified that control pigment production, appearance, and distribution. Some breeds, such as the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever (NSDTR), exhibit variation in pheomelanin pigment intensity that is not explained by known genetic variants. A genome-wide association study comparing light red to dark red in the NSDTR identified a significantly associated region on canine chromosome 15 (CFA 15:23 Mb–38 Mb). Coverage analysis of whole genome sequence data from eight dogs identified a 6 kb copy number variant (CNV) 152 kb upstream of KITLG. Genotyping with digital droplet PCR (ddPCR) confirmed a significant association between an increased copy number with the dark-red coat color in NSDTR (p = 6.1 × 10−7). The copy number of the CNV was also significantly associated with coat color variation in both eumelanin and pheomelanin-based Poodles (p = 1.5 × 10−8, 4.0 × 10−9) and across other breeds. Moreover, the copy number correlated with pigment intensity along the hair shaft in both pheomelanin and eumelanin coats. KITLG plays an important role in melanogenesis, and variants upstream of KITLG have been associated with coat color variation in mice as well as hair color in humans consistent with its role in the domestic dog.
Design of monophasic pulsed magnetic fields for use in low bias fields

In this work, the design of a pulsed magnetic field generator, with user-selective pulsed modulation frequency is described. The ability to operate at various frequencies (single-frequency below 10 MHz) makes the system valuable to several areas such as medical treatments and pulsed switching systems. In this work, the pulsed magnetic field generator is designed to create localized field effects in portable magnetic resonance systems. Users may operate at a Larmor precession frequency between 100 kHz - 10 MHz and can achieve high currents through the load. Certain tunability can also be obtained by varying the load inductance or switching device conditions. In summary, this paper will describe the design considerations and challenges for portable monophasic pulsed magnetic field systems.
Pathophysiology and Symptoms of Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis

Food allergies are increasing in prevalence, have a highly variable clinical presentation, and can result in life-threatening reactions. In order for clinicians to accurately diagnose and manage food allergies, they must have a clear understanding of the symptoms and underlying pathophysiology. Food allergies by definition are immune-mediated responses that occur reproducibly on food ingestion, which differentiates them from non-immunologic adverse food reactions like lactose intolerance or food poisoning. Food allergies can be IgE mediated, non-IgE/cell mediated, or mixed IgE and non-IgE mediated with varying clinical presentations depending on the underlying immune mechanisms. IgE-mediated food allergies produce symptoms that affect the cutaneous (hives, pruritus, angioedema), gastrointestinal (abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea), respiratory (rhinorrhea, dyspnea, wheezing), and cardiovascular (hypotension, syncope) systems. IgE-mediated food allergies can progress to anaphylaxis, which is a severe and potentially fatal systemic reaction that requires timely recognition and treatment. Non-IgE- or cell-mediated reactions are typically delayed or chronic, and include food protein-induced allergic proctocolitis (FPIAP), food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES), celiac disease, and food-induced pulmonary hemosiderosis (Heiner syndrome). Mixed IgE- and non-IgE-mediated reactions occur in eosinophilic esophagitis or eosinophilic gastroenteritis, which present with symptoms of dysphagia, vomiting, reflux, and abdominal pain related to eosinophilic infiltrates in the GI tract. This chapter describes the clinical manifestations of food allergies with an emphasis on anaphylaxis and the pathophysiology behind these reactions.
CHEST PAIN: THINKING BEYOND CORONARY DISEASE

A patient presenting with chest pain yields a wide array of possible etiologies from common gastrointestinal causes, to life-threatening acute myocardial infarction. With such a vast differential, chest pain can prove to be a diagnostic challenge. A 54 year old male, with past medical history of
High-Speed Low-Voltage Waveguide-Integrated Ge-on-Si Avalanche Photodiodes

We demonstrate waveguide-integrated silicon-germanium avalanche photodiodes. With a unity-gain responsivity of 0.95 A/W, gain of 16 and bandwidth of 33 GHz are achieved. 32 G-baud PAM-4 eyes are demonstrated without digital signal processing.
An Approach Towards Action Recognition using Part Based Hierarchical Fusion

The human body can be represented as an articulation of rigid and hinged joints which can be combined to form the parts of the body. Human actions can be thought of as a collective action of these parts. Hence, learning an effective spatio-temporal representation of the collective motion of these parts is key to action recognition. In this work, we propose an end-to-end pipeline for the task of human action recognition on video sequences using 2D joint trajectories estimated from a pose estimation framework. We use a Hierarchical Bidirectional Long Short Term Memory Network (HBLSTM) to model the spatio-temporal dependencies of the motion by fusing the pose based joint trajectories in a part based hierarchical fashion. To denote the effectiveness of our proposed approach, we compare its performance with six comparative architectures based on our model and also with several other methods on the widely used KTH and Weizmann action recognition datasets.
The development of a new oxide replacement process to meet the high process cleanliness requirements of mSAP Production

Follow the development of electronic manufacturing for future microelectronics application where cleanliness of the process is becoming substantial concern, a new oxide replacement process is developed. This work demonstrates a newly developed oxide replacement process (MOR HP) achievement with sludge free etching solution as the focus. While, basic performances for inner-layer bonding still can be maintained in the same quality as the conventional oxide replacement (COR) system. Those are: excellent uniformity of surface cosmetic, excellent adhesion and thermal reliability of inner-layer bonding, superior acid resistance serves an excellent protection against pink ring and wedge void. Furthermore, a brief proposal of sludge formation and prevention in oxide replacement system is also presented. This new developed oxide replacement process shows great operational benefits, where having the process significantly reduce equipment maintenance and downtime frequency due to sludge free characteristic. It is showing the best approach to be adapted in surface treatment process to meet the high process cleanliness requirements of mSAP Production
Trends in Early Mortality From Multiple Myeloma: A Population-Based Analysis

Abstract Introduction Despite significant improvements in multiple myeloma (MM) treatment modalities, patient mortality early in the course of disease has been identified as a persistent phenomenon with variable reported rates and causes. Trends in early mortality over time have not been clearly defined. Patients and Methods The Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database was used to identify adult patients with MM between 1975 and 2015. Association of available sociodemographic factors with all-cause and MM-specific early mortality (death within 6 months after the diagnosis of MM) was conducted by multivariate analysis. Trends in early mortality were studied by joinpoint regression analysis. Results Of the 90,975 MM cases included in this analysis, early mortality was noted in 21%. Median age was 68 years overall, and 75 years for the early mortality cohort (P Conclusion Early mortality remains a significant unmet need for MM patient care, despite improving trends in recent years. Understanding the factors associated with early mortality can help develop individualized plans of patient care and mitigate circumstances that may contribute to early mortality among MM patients.
A Mean Shift-Based Pattern Formation Algorithm for Robot Swarms

This paper proposes a distributed pattern formation algorithm for robot swarms that uses the mean shift algorithm as a central means for calculating robot movement. The proposed solution aims to allow for fast and scalable pattern formation. By representing the pattern as a discrete set of points on a coordinate plane, robots can use the mean shift algorithm to move towards nearby pattern points. The mean shift algorithm is further used to get robots to distribute around the pattern and prevent collisions among other robots by representing each neighboring robot as a negative pattern point that pushes robots away. In this way, the mean shift algorithm is used for both aggregation towards the pattern as well as regulating robot positions on the pattern. The simulation results presented demonstrate an ability of a swarm to form the pattern with a varying number of robots, showing scalability of the algorithm.
Motivating Computer Science Students in Lower-Division Undergraduate Curriculum

The student retention in undergraduate computer science degrees has been decreasing over the past 15 years where an attrition rate as high as 30% to 40% was observed during that period, with most students leaving the field after taking some introductory courses. Observing a similar trend or worse could be possible during or after the COVID-19 pandemic. A possible solution for this problem is to introduce highly motivating topics in the lower-division courses that will keep the students intrigued and wanting to learn more, and eventually, register in higher division courses. In this paper we provide a systematic review of the topics and subjects adopted in many institutions to motivate students of computer science in lower-division undergraduate curriculum. Then, we summarize the common attributes of these motivating subjects. In addition, we propose to leverage data processing subjects or big data problems to motivate college students to learn in lower-division courses. Based on the attributes of the existing motivating topics and the method of logic inference, we show that it is feasible and effective to motivate students’ learning by injecting data processing subjects or big data problems in lower-division computer science courses.
Competition, Product Proliferation, and Welfare: A Study of the US Smartphone Market

We consider a structural model of demand and supply where firms endogenously offer vertically differentiated products and exercise second-degree price discrimination. We apply this model to the smartphone industry and quantify the welfare effects of price discrimination and competition. We use counterfactual simulations to assess how the welfare changes when each firm only offers its highest-quality product. We also study the market outcomes such as price, product variety and welfare if later entrants in the market entered earlier.
Transforming the preparation of physics graduate teaching assistants: Curriculum development

An example of an evidence-based physics graduate teaching assistant preparation course for first-year PhD students.
In vivo confocal microscopic features of naturally acquired canine herpesvirus-1 and feline herpesvirus-1 dendritic and punctate ulcerative keratitis.

OBJECTIVE To describe the in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) features of the corneal epithelium and stroma in dogs and cats with herpetic dendritic ulcerative keratitis. ANIMALS 6 client-owned dogs...
The influence of LiH and TiH2 on hydrogen storage in MgB2 I: Promotion of bulk hydrogenation at reduced temperature

Abstract Mg(BH4)2 is an attractive hydrogen storage material, owing to its high gravimetric capacity of 14.9 wt %. However, the dehydrogenated material MgB2 is very difficult to rehydrogenate, requiring excessive pressures and temperatures. Here we report the influence of LiH and TiH2 on hydrogen storage reactions involving Bulk MgB2 using XRD, XAS, FTIR and NMR. In ball-milled mixtures of LiH/MgB2, the LiH loses crystallinity but remains undissociated, forming a weakly bound complex with MgB2. The weak interactions produce minor variations in the local electronic structure at B and Mg, but do not markedly affect the underlying MgB2 hexagonal crystal structure. No evidence is found for a mixed-metal boride Mg1-xLixB2 in the as-prepared LiH/MgB2 materials. The presence of LiH dramatically improves the hydrogenation of MgB2 at 700 bar, forming borohydride 100 °C below the minimum hydrogenation temperature of pure MgB2 and without the formation of undesirable intermediates such as [B3H8]-, [B10H10]2- or [B12H12]2-. Evidence is reported for a mixed-metal borohydride of the type Mg(3-x)/2Lix(BH4)3 produced by the hydrogenation. Subsequent desorption is also improved compared to pure Mg(BH4)2 and LiBH4, showing single-step hydrogen release up to ∼8 wt% by 380 °C, whereas Mg(BH4)2 and LiBH4 still retain significant amounts of hydrogen at this temperature. The material produced by desorption contains both MgB2 and Mg metal, revealing the original LiH/MgB2 system is not fully reversible. In contrast to LiH, TiH2 is essentially inert when ball-milled with MgB2, and high-pressure hydrogenation leaves only unreacted TiH2 and MgB2. Thus, added TiH2 provides no benefit to MgB2 hydrogenation.