cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Toward a New Theory of Waste: From ‘Matter out of Place’ to Signs of Life

This paper offers a counterpoint to the prevailing account of waste in the human sciences. This account identifies waste, firstly, as the anomalous product of arbitrary social categorizations, or ‘matter out of place’, and, secondly, as a distinctly human way of leaving behind and interpreting traces, or a mirror of culture. Together, these positions reflect a more or less constructivist and anthropocentric approach. Most commonly, waste is placed within a framework that privileges considerations of meaning over materiality and the threat of death over the perpetuity of life processes. For an alternative I turn to bio-semiotics and cross-species scholarship around the question of the animal. Specifically, the paper asks what theories of waste would look like if instead of taking ‘dirt’ as their starting point, they began with trans-species encounters with animal scat. Following bio-semiotics and efforts to deconstruct the animal/human binary, it is suggested that the objectual forms commonly referred to a...
Gene Transfer–Mediated Pre-mRNA Segmental Trans-splicing As a Strategy to Deliver Intracellular Toxins for Cancer Therapy

Virus-mediated transfer of genes coding for intracellular toxins holds promise for cancer therapy, but the inherent toxicity of such vectors make them a risk to normal tissues and a challenge to produce due to the intrinsic dilemma that expression of toxin molecules kills producer cells. We employed pre-mRNA segmental trans-splicing (STS), in which two engineered DNA fragments coding for 5' "donor" and 3' "acceptor" segments of a toxin gene, respectively, are expressed by viral vectors. When co-delivered to target cells, the two vectors generate two toxin pre-mRNA fragments which are spliced by the target cell machinery to produce functional mRNA and toxin. To test this approach, we used an enzymatic fragment of Shigatoxin1A1 (STX1A1) known to provoke apoptotic cell death. Two adenovirus vectors, Shigatoxin1A1 donor (AdStx1A1Do) and Shigatoxin1A1 acceptor (AdStx1A1Ac), respectively, were used to deliver the Stx1A1 gene fragments. HeLa, HEp2, and A549 cells transfected with AdStx1A1Do and AdStx1A1Ac had a dose-dependent reduction in viability and inhibition of protein synthesis. Intratumoral injection of AdStx1A1Do and AdStx1A1Ac into preexisting HeLa, Hep2, and A549 tumors in immunodeficient mice revealed significant inhibition of tumor growth. There was no evidence of liver damage, suggesting that there was no leakage of vector or toxin from the site of injection following intratumoral injection of AdStx1A1Do and AdStx1A1Ac. These results suggest that the obstacles preventing gene transfer of intracellular toxins for local cancer therapy could be overcome by pre-mRNA segmental trans-splicing.
Parent–Child Acculturation Discrepancy, Perceived Parental Knowledge, Peer Deviance, and Adolescent Delinquency in Chinese Immigrant Families

Parent–child acculturation discrepancy has been considered a risk factor for child maladjustment. The current study examined parent–child acculturation discrepancy as an ongoing risk factor for delinquency, through the mediating pathway of parental knowledge of the child’s daily experiences relating to contact with deviant peers. Participants were drawn from a longitudinal project with 4 years between data collection waves: 201 Chinese immigrant families participated at Wave 1 (123 girls and 78 boys) and 183 families (110 girls and 73 boys) participated at Wave 2. Based on the absolute difference in acculturation levels (tested separately for Chinese and American orientations) between adolescents and parents, one parent in each family was assigned to the “more discrepant” group of parent–child dyads, and the other parent was assigned to the “less discrepant” group of parent–child dyads. To explore possible within-family variations, the mediating pathways were tested separately among the more and less discrepant groups. Structural equation modeling showed that the proposed mediating pathways were significant only among the more discrepant parent–adolescent dyads in American orientation. Among these dyads, a high level of parent–child acculturation discrepancy is related to adolescent perceptions of less parental knowledge, which is related to adolescents having more contact with deviant peers, which in turn leads to more adolescent delinquency. This mediating pathway is significant concurrently, within early and middle adolescence, and longitudinally, from early to middle adolescence. These findings illuminate some of the dynamics in the more culturally discrepant parent–child dyad in a family and highlight the importance of examining parent–child acculturation discrepancy within family systems.
Are College Athletes Economically Exploited

This article examines evidence regarding whether student-athletes are economically exploited by their colleges. In particular, it compares an athlete’s cost to the college — including the cost of providing an athletic scholarship — and the revenue that the athlete generates for the college. In addition, it compares an athletic scholarship’s true value to a student and the net revenue (i.e., revenue minus costs) that the athlete generates for the college. The article concludes that the NCAA’s restrictions on student-athlete compensation result in many football and men’s basketball players receiving much less compensation from their colleges than they would in an unrestricted market for their athletic services. Although colleges often use these savings to fund other athletic programs, this practice raises fairness concerns and causes minority student-athletes to subsidize white student-athletes.
TailoredBRIEF: Online per-feature descriptor customization

Image feature descriptors composed of a series of binary intensity comparisons yield substantial memory and runtime improvements over conventional descriptors, but are sensitive to viewpoint changes in ways that vary per feature. We propose a method to improve the matching performance of such descriptors by specifically reasoning about the reliability of test results on a feature-by-feature basis. We demonstrate an intuitive method to learn improved descriptor structures for individual features. Further, these learned results can be efficiently applied during matching with little increase in runtime. We provide an evaluation using a standard, ground-truthed, multi-image dataset.
Rhetoric of Teacher Comments on Student Writing

The present study replicates Dana Ferris’s study of classroom rhetoric via one method of professional communication between teacher and students: teacher commentary on student papers. Ferris has analyzed student revision using the measures of the length, types, use of hedges, and text-specificity of teacher comments on rough drafts. The rhetoric that an instructor applies in comments is hypothesized to correlate to the students’ decisions to revise thoroughly and their ability to do so. The present study includes primary research conducted with a section of Analytical Reading and Writing (WRT 102), a required first-year writing course at a small (5,000 students), private college in south central Pennsylvania.1 Teacher comments on ten mid-draft student papers are categorized according to length, type, use of hedges, and text-specificity. Subsequent student revision is analyzed given the classification of the comments. The results of this study are compared to those Ferris found in her 1997 study at California State University. This research draws conclusions about the best method for teachers to employ in their comments on student writing to maximize the potential for revision.
Energy detection analytical model for handoff process to support mobile cloud computing environment

Mobile devices play an integral role in our day lives and have brought the revolutionary change in business, education, and entertainment. Moreover, the emergence of cloud computing technology greatly extended the significance of smart device. On the other hand, the smart devices experience the problem when obtaining the multiple cloud services during the handoff process. In this paper, we propose an energy detection (ED) analytical model for handoff process that calculates the energy consumption for each handoff process in the cloud computing environment. Our ED analytic model is developed to examine the consumed energy for different handoff processes in cloud computing. The model helps the mobile users to get prior information for the status of the mobile when executing the handoff process. To reconfirm the validity of ED analytical model, we have test programmed in NS2. The results demonstrate that the ED analytical model efficiently detects the energy consumption of mobile devices during the handoff process in cloud computing environment.
Response of Diapausing and Nondiapausing Larvae of Plodia interpunctella to Hydrogen Cyanide and Methyl Bromide

Investigations of the response of diapausing and nondiapausing (normal) larvae of Plodia interpunctella (Hubner), showed that the diapausing larvae were very sensitive to hydrogen cyanide (HCN), although not differing significantly in toxicity response from the normal larvae. Methyl bromide (MB) was more toxic to normal than to diapausing larvae. HCN depressed overall respiration in both larvae, but MB accelerated CO2 output of the diapausing form, lending support to the view that the respiration of the diapausing larvae is probably through pathways alternate to the triearboxylic acid cycle.
Nicotinic receptors in chronic kidney disease

Tobacco smoking remains the most important modifiable risk factor for improving overall morbidity and mortality. In addition to being a risk factor for cancer, cardiovascular and lung diseases, strong evidence from human and animal studies has demonstrated that cigarette smoking accelerates the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Clinical studies have shown a strong association between cigarette smoking and worsening CKD in patients with diabetes mellitus, hypertension, polycystic kidney disease, and post kidney transplant. Nicotine, in addition to being responsible for the addictive properties of cigarette smoking, also has other important biological effects on a variety of organs and tissues. In humans, nicotine induces transitory increases in blood pressure accompanied by reductions in glomerular filtration rate and effective renal plasma flow. In animals, nicotine increases the severity of renal injury in subjects with diabetic nephropathy, CKD, and acute kidney injury (AKI). These effects of nicotine on the kidney are linked to increased generation of reactive oxygen species and activation of pro-fibrotic pathways. There are several nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subunits which are expressed in the normal kidney, and the specific blockade of α7-subunit ameliorates the effects of nicotine in animal models with CKD. In summary, the clinical and experimental evidence indicates that nicotine, via the activation of specific nAChRs, is partly responsible for the deleterious effects of cigarette smoking in the progression of CKD. Better understanding of these mechanisms may result in the development of novel strategies to ameliorate the effects of cigarette smoking in CKD.
Analysis on Monitoring Results of Rural Drinking Water Quality,Haiyang City,2010-2012

Objective To understand the hygienic status of drinking water quality and waterborne diseases in the rural areas of Haiyang city,grasp the main factors affecting the safety of drinking water,so as to provide the scientific basis for improving the safety of rural drinking water by government for decision-making. Methods A total of 60drinking water supplying sites were monitored in the rural areas of Haiyang city by detecting the finished water and tip water during the dry season and the rain season,2010-2012. Results A total of 240water samples were tested during 2010-2012,of which 96 were qualified,with the total passing rate of 40.00%.The eligible rate in different years was 37.50%,41.25%and 41.25%(P 0.05);The qualified rate of dry season was 47.50%,and rain season,32.50%(P 0.05);finished water,42.50%,and tip water,37.50%(P 0.05).The total number of bacterial colonies(35.83%),the total coliform(79.17%),the thermotolerant coliforms(89.58%),and the turbidity(85.42%)were below the standards. Conclusion The qualified rate of rural drinking water quality is lower in Haiyang city,and the main influencing factors are microbial indicators.
Current Status of Intravascular Ultrasound for Evaluation of Coronary Plaque Tissue Characterization

Conventional intravascular ultrasound permits plaque to be characterized as soft,fibrous or calcified.Radiofrequency data analysis can analyze the spectral parameters of the reflected or backscattered signal to determine plaque composition.Virtual histology is a new technique based on radiofrequency data analysis that can distinguish different plaque tissue using a colour-coded map(green,fibrous;yellow,fibrofatty;white,calcified;red,necrotic lipid core plaque).Intravascular ultrasound elastography uses imaging techniques that assess local plaque elasticity based on the principle that tissue deformation by mechanical stress is a function of its elastic properties,assessing proneness to plaque rupture and imaging their elastic material composition.
Abstract LB-043: Improving rectal cancer therapy using a patient-derived tumor xenograft model

Mechanisms of locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) neoadjuvant chemoradiation resistance are poorly understood. Current research models to study this issue are incomplete and restricted by the limited supply of untreated tissue samples. Patient-derived xenografts (PDX) are commonly developed from surgical specimens and can serve as effective tools to investigate therapy. We previously demonstrated that the SNAI2/ miR-145 signaling axis enhanced the tumor-initiating cell (TIC) and chemotherapy resistance. We developed a unique PDX model from pre-neoadjuvant therapy LARC biopsy samples to study chemoradiation resistance. Further, we hypothesized that TICs isolated from LARC patient-derived xenografts would demonstrated increased SNAI2/ miR-145 signaling. Methods: Fresh LARC endoscopic biopsy samples were digested using Liberase DH to yield a dissociated single-cell solution. All in vivo experiments consisted of injecting cells with Matrigel subcutaneously into NSG NODSCID/IL2Rgnull immunocompromised mice. Xenograft (Passage 1, P1) single cells were resuspended in ALDEFLUOR assay buffer. ALDEFLUOR and EPCAM positive cells (ALDH+/EPCAM+) were then detected using a flow cytometer to identify the TICs. Using the negative control ALDH inhibitor, DEAB (1.5 μM), identify the ALDH+ cells compared with background. For limited dilution (LD) in vitro spheroid assay, 5000 EPCAM+/ALDH+ and ALDH- cells were cultured in ultra-low attachment plates in cancer stem-cell medium (DMEM-F12; 1X B-27, βEGF, βFGF, 1% penicillin/streptomycin, BSA, heparin, β-mercaptoethanol). For LD in vivo study, EPCAM+ ALDH sorted cells were implanted subcutaneously with Matrigel and closely observed. Droplet Digital PCR was conducted using the QX200 Droplet Digital PCR System. miR-145 PCR was performed using TaqMan MicroRNA Assays (Applied Biosystems) and normalized to RNU6B. Results: Our LARC PDX model had high outgrowth and engraftment rates of 70 and 85% respectively and maintained critical histologic features. Both LD in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that EPCAM+/ALDH+ cells were highly tumorigenic suggestive of TICs (p Conclusions: The lack of novel strategies plays a central role in the inability to overcome therapeutic resistance in LARC. Our results demonstrate a novel model to investigate LARC and suggest that a novel miR-145 therapeutic strategy may be able to target the TIC in LARC patients. Citation Format: Ernest R. Camp, Cindy Wang, Katie Hurst, Lourdes M. Nogueira, Victoria J. Findlay. Improving rectal cancer therapy using a patient-derived tumor xenograft model. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-043.
Export Performance of Indian Firms: A Panel Study

This paper studies the export behavior of a panel of Indian manufacturing firms for a period of 4 years from 2003 to 2006. Specifically, we look at whether exporting firms in manufacturing differ from domestic firms in size, productivity, remuneration levels, etc. We find that exporters systematically outperform non-exporters over a number of characteristics. We find evidence of "self-selection'' for Indian manufacturing firms, i.e., firms that are more productive enter the export market as they are more capable of meeting the challenges of an international market. We also find evidence of learning and growth for variables like labor productivity and employment for Indian manufacturing firms. We find little evidence of total factor productivity growth.
Impact of inter- and intra-molecular movements on thermoset polymerization reactions

Abstract The large increase in viscosity during thermoset reactions leads to reduced frequencies of reacting moiety collisions with respective reduced reaction rates. Molecular diffusion substantially ends after the gel point; however, reactions continue after the gel point through mechanisms involving local movement (and reacting moiety contact) of polymer sections/branches which is referred to as intra-molecular movement. The impact of inter- and intra-molecular movements was simulated for polyurethane reactions to better understand the impact of mass transfer on polymerization reactions. Inter-molecular reaction mechanisms are dominant prior to the gel point, and intra-molecular mechanisms are dominant after the gel point. Representing the Arrhenius pre-exponential factor as a sum of a viscosity-dependent term and a viscosity-independent term was identified as the most efficient method to model this phenomenon. Good agreement of simulation results for reaction temperature, foam height, and viscosity profile with the experimental data were obtained.
Analysis of Systemic Risk: A Dynamic Vine Copula-Based ARMA-EGARCH Model

After the nightmare of 2008 financial subprime crisis, systemic risk has become a major concern for policymakers and supervisory authorities. In this paper, we use S&P 500 sector indices and S&P 500 index to be our components and system, respectively. A dynamic model for analyzing each U.S. Equity sector’s risk contribution (VaR ratio), the ratio of the Value-at-Risk of a sector to the Value-at-Risk of the system (S&P 500 Index), with dynamic vine Copula-based ARMA-EGARCH (1, 1) modeling is presented. Vine copula modeling not only has the advantage of extending to higher dimensions easily, but also provides a more flexible measure to capture an asymmetric dependence among assets. We investigate systemic risk in 10 S&P 500 sector indices in the U.S. stock market by forecasting one-day ahead VaR and one-day ahead VaR ratio during the 2008 financial subprime crisis. Our evidence reveals vine Copula-based ARMA-EGARCH (1, 1) is the appropriate model to forecast and analyze systemic risk.
Hydraulic Modeling of Fish Screens

Hydraulic model studies coupled with available knowledge of fish behavior can be important component in the development of fish-screening systems. To reproduce in a model the flow field through and around a fish screen, the model screen must have the same headloss coefficient as the prototype screen. A series of tests is currently being conducted at IIHR to obtain headloss coefficients for various fish screen configurations. The screen include perforated plates, bar screens, and combinations of perforated plates and bar screens at various angles with the flow. The paper gives a summary of the results obtained to date.
Privacy-preserving outsourced collaborative frequent itemset mining in the cloud

Big Data management and analytics has revolutionized the way how organizations collect, store, process and retrieve, huge volumes of data. In order to fully leverage the potential of big data, it is often that organizations need to collaborate and analyze their combined data, and thus, improving the accuracy of results. However, due to government regulations and internal privacy policies, organizations cannot freely share their data with one another. Existing secure multiparty computation techniques along this direction are very expensive. In this paper, we develop a protocol that facilitates multiple users to outsource their encrypted databases as well as the frequent itemset mining task to a cloud environment in a collaborative and privacy-preserving manner. Our solution is built using the well-known apriori algorithm in order to boost the performance of frequent itemset mining in the cloud. Our comprehensive analysis has demonstrated that the proposed solution preserves the confidentiality of participating users. Additionally, our solution ensures that the entire frequent itemset mining task is performed on the cloud-side, thereby fully utilizing the cloud computing services to handle big data needs and incurring negligible cost on the end-users.
Antibody receptors steal the sweet spotlight

Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies function, in part, through ligation of cell-surface Fc receptors such as FcγRIIIA (also known as CD16A). IgG glycosylation is known to impact antibody function, but the role of FcγRIIIA glycans, if any, is unclear. Patel et al. now reveal that these glycans do impact protein conformation and IgG affinity and display cell-specific glycosylation patterns, leading to a potential model in which the affinity and possibly function of Fc receptors is dictated by the cell type and its surface glycome.
Predictors of Improvement in Physical Function in Older Adults in an Evidence-Based Physical Activity Program (EnhanceFitness).

Background and purpose Declines in strength, flexibility, and balance in older adults can lead to injuries and loss of independence and are particularly common in those of greater age and in worse health. EnhanceFitness (EF) is a nationally disseminated, evidence-based group exercise program for older adults that has been shown to improve function through cardiovascular, strength, flexibility, and balance exercises. This article examines changes in, and predictors of, participant physical function from baseline through 2 program cycles of EF as measured by 3 physical function tests: arm curls, chair stands, and 8-foot up-and-go. Methods We analyzed data on participants who attended at least 2 consecutive 16-week program cycles between January 2005 and June 2016. We ran 3 random-effects linear regression models, 1 for each physical function test, and accounted for missing data and clustering by class site. Independent variables included attendance, demographics, and health status. Results and discussion A total of 7483 participants completed baseline and 2 sets of follow-up physical function tests. For all 3 physical function tests, participants showed some degree of improved physical function at each follow-up, and greater program attendance predicted clinically significant improvements. Some participants had less improvement: females, those less active at baseline, older than 75 years, not married or partnered, or in fair or poor health, those who had experienced at least 1 fall, and those with a disability. Conclusion EnhanceFitness program providers may need to implement additional measures to support the participants who could benefit most from EF, such as targeting messaging, coordinating with referring providers to emphasize attendance and general activity in specific participants, and offering additional support to groups who show less improvement during classes. The evidence presented here may inform clinical decision making for older adult patients and increase health care provider confidence in EF and similar exercise programs, thereby providing a mechanism to maintain and continue functional gains made in clinical or rehabilitation settings.
Chapter 4 SiGe/Si processing

The chapter offers information on SiGe/Si processing. The chapter presents a discussion on the device physics and the design optimization for the important device Si/SiGe heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT). Other devices such as Si/SiGe metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) also are discussed. The chapter provides some insight on what Si/SiGe heterostructures can do to benefit the successful scaling of devices for the integrated circuit (IC) industry. Whereas the device characteristics need to be accurately modeled for circuit designers to use, the chapter includes a discussion on the device modeling issues for Si/SiGe devices, with an emphasis on rf device modeling. Limitations on the SPICE-Gummel-Pooh model and some rf testing issues are discussed. The reliability issues for the Si/SiGe devices also are discussed in brief. After the topics on Si/SiGe materials properties, processing, device physics, and compact modeling are discussed; the exact advantages of using Si/SiGe for advanced IC designs, particularly for rf communication circuits and high-speed ICs, are also discussed. A few circuit examples are presented to illustrate the points more clearly. The chapter then discusses the existing products that use the Si/SiGe technology and presents some examples for potential Si/SiGe system-on-a-chip applications. The concept of bandgap engineering has been around for a long time.
Alternative Visual Cycles in Müller Cells

The vertebrate retina contains two types of photoreceptor cells, rods, and cones. Rods are specialized for vision in dim light, while cones are specialized for color vision in bright light. Each type of photoreceptor expresses its own light-sensitive opsin pigment. All opsins use the same visual retinaldehyde chromophore, which is isomerized by absorption of a photon. Isomerized chromophore is released from the bleached opsin and regenerated by a multi-step enzyme pathway located in the retinal pigment epithelium. Here, we review the evidence for a second visual cycle, located in Muller cells of the retina. This alternate pathway is present in cone-dominant retinas, and may assist cones in avoiding competition from rods for visual chromophore in bright light.
Impact of a Physical Education Teacher’s Age on Elementary School Students’ Perceptions of Effectiveness and Learning

Purpose: To examine the impact of a physical education teacher’s age on students’ learning and perceptions of the teacher. Method: A total of 188 elementary students were randomly assigned to view ...
Changing Spatiotemporal Patterns of 5- and 10-Day Illinois Heavy Precipitation Amounts, 1900–2018

AbstractThis study examined the spatiotemporal variability associated with 5-/10-day heavy precipitation amounts for 48 high-quality and long-duration (1900–2018) stations in Illinois. The top five...
Impact of gaps in care for malnourished patients on length of stay and hospital readmission.

Few published articles have focused on identifying the gaps in care that follow a malnutrition diagnosis and their effects on length of stay (LOS) and 90-day readmission. We hypothesized that length of stay and readmission were associated with these gaps in care. Two registered dietitians retrospectively reviewed charts of 229 adult malnourished patients admitted to a medicine unit to determine their system level gap in care: communication, test delay, or discharge planning. In this secondary analysis, both readmission and length of stay were regressed on each gap in care. Any system level gap was associated with a greater length of stay (β: 1.48, 95% CI: 1.15–1.91) and specifically the gap related to procedure/testing (β: 2.01, 95% CI: 1.62–2.47) resulted in a two-fold increase in length of stay. There was no association between 90-day readmission and any of the gaps in care. There was a strong association between those who had any gap in their care and increased length of stay. Mitigating gaps in care may decrease length of stay and, in turn, result in less risk of infection and could potentially lead to reduced healthcare costs.
Interracial contact experience during recreational basketball and soccer: Korean American males' perspectives.

This study employed intergroup contact hypothesis to investigate Korean Americans' interracial contact experiences within the context of recreational sports. Interviews with 15 Korean American male...
Effects of Pseudomonas aeruginosa on Microglial-Derived Extracellular Vesicle Biogenesis and Composition

The packaging of molecular constituents inside extracellular vesicles (EVs) allows them to participate in intercellular communication and the transfer of biological molecules, however the role of EVs during bacterial infection is poorly understood. The goal of this study was to examine the effects of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) infection on the biogenesis and composition of EVs derived from the mouse microglia cell line, BV-2. BV-2 cells were cultured in exosome-free media and infected with 0, 1.3 × 104, or 2.6 × 104 colony forming units per milliliter P. aeruginosa for 72 h. The results indicated that compared with the control group, BV-2 cell viability significantly decreased after P. aeruginosa infection and BV-2-derived EVs concentration decreased significantly in the P. aeruginosa-infected group. P. aeruginosa infection significantly decreased chemokine ligand 4 messenger RNA in BV-2-derived infected EVs, compared with the control group (p ≤ 0.05). This study also revealed that heat shock protein 70 (p ≤ 0.05) and heat shock protein 90β (p ≤ 0.001) levels of expression within EVs increased after P. aeruginosa infection. EV treatment with EVs derived from P. aeruginosa infection reduced cell viability of BV-2 cells. P. aeruginosa infection alters the expression of specific proteins and mRNA in EVs. Our study suggests that P. aeruginosa infection modulates EV biogenesis and composition, which may influence bacterial pathogenesis and infection.
Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist use following heart failure hospitalization.

Author(s): Duran, Jason M; Gad, Shady; Brann, Alison; Greenberg, Barry | Abstract: AimsPatients hospitalized for heart failure (HF) are at increased risk for events post-discharge. Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) improve the clinical course of patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction. We assessed MRA use in high-risk patients following an HF hospitalization to determine rate of MRA prescription, likelihood of drug continuation post-discharge, reasons for discontinuation, and association between MRA maintenance and outcomes.Methods and resultsPatients admitted to our hospital system between 2011 and 2013 were identified retrospectively through automated search of electronic medical records for appropriate ICD 9 and 10 codes. Patients with left ventricular ejection fraction l40%, New York Heart Association class III-IV symptoms, g1nyear of follow-up and no contraindication to MRA use were included. Of 271 patients meeting inclusion criteria, 105 (38.7%) were prescribed an MRA on discharge from index admission. Over a median follow-up of 3.12n±n0.09nyears, 70 (66.7%) continued MRA therapy, while 35 (33.3%) discontinued MRA therapy. Hyperkalemia, which occurred in 43 of the 105 patients (40.1%), was the most frequent cause of MRA discontinuation. Patients who maintained MRA therapy had significantly less all-cause, cardiovascular, and HF hospitalizations and significantly better survival compared with those who discontinued drug.ConclusionsA minority of HF with reduced ejection fraction patients who were eligible for an MRA received them following HF hospitalization and nearly a third of them discontinued drug. Patients who discontinued an MRA were more likely to be hospitalized or die during follow-up. These findings indicate a need for better strategies to increase MRA prescription and maintain therapy following a hospitalization for HF.
Large-Scale Generation and Validation of Synthetic PMU Data

In spite of the challenges associated with obtaining actual PMU measurements for research purposes and analytic methods testing, it remains crucial that experimental input data exhibits similar quality features of real measurements for proper grid assessment and planning. The objective of this paper is to generate and validate large sets of synthetic, but realistic, PMU datasets obtained from complex grid models. A study of different variability components in PMU measurements is first presented followed by the proposed steps in generating synthetic datasets. Random variations of resource inputs are used in a simulation platform to generate prior voltage data from a synthetic 2,000-bus system, followed by a data modification process to infuse further realism into the dataset. The validation process used to assess the accuracy of the generated voltage dataset utilizes a variability metric to determine the level of inherent variations in individual measurements, and further applies a dimension reduction technique to identify the extent of electrical dynamics retained in the overall synthetic dataset.
Exploring the Challenges and Opportunities of Theory-Laden Observation and Subjectivity: A Key NOS Notion

One key NOS aspect often recommended for inclusion in school science programs is the issue of subjectivity and bias (sometime called theory-laden observations) when viewing the world. Everyone has some expectations or prior “theories” when making observations and students should have opportunities to explore this notion and understand the role of theory-laden observations in science. The purpose of this chapter is to help teachers understand this issue both with discussion of the issue and an example. First, we explore the idea of subjectivity related to the way in which all humans—scientists included—engage in observing. In many cases, what observers expect to see can be helpful in allowing the observer to ignore things that are not important. In other cases, when observers expect to see something, they do. Second, this chapter reports the results of an experiment in which observers expected to see the heart of a tiny aquatic crustacean—daphnia—speed up or slow down when exposed to chemicals such as nicotine or alcohol. This experiment demonstrated the expectancy effect because, although students reported the anticipated results, there were no active chemicals involved but students believed that alcohol or nicotine was introduced to the daphnia.
Alignment as a Fundamental Validity Issue in Standards-Based K-12 English Language Proficiency Assessments

In U.S. K-12 education, large-scale, standards-based English language proficiency (ELP) assessments have a far-reaching impact at many levels—from individual students to education systems. Validation for K-12 ELP assessments is undeniably crucial. One essential aspect of validation is a determination of how well the content of an assessment aligns with the target domain. Although this alignment has often been considered as a type of validity evidence based on test content, this paper highlights its extensive role pertaining to the consequences of K-12 ELP assessment uses. The paper discusses how Bachman and Palmer’s Assessment Use Argument framework helps us integrate an expanded view of alignment by reinforcing consideration of the consequences of assessment uses in validity. A range of pressing areas of research on alignment evaluation for K-12 ELP assessments is also discussed.
Characterization of Aerosol Generation during Various Intensities of Exercise.

Background Characterization of aerosol generation during exercise can inform the development of safety recommendations in the face of COVID-19. Research Question Does exercise at various intensities produce aerosols in significant quantities? Study Design and Methods In this experimental study, subjects were eight healthy volunteers (six men, two women) who were 20 to 63 years old. The 20-minute test protocol of 5 minutes rest, four 3-minute stages of exercise at 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% of age-predicted heart rate reserve, and 3 minutes active recovery was performed in a clean, controlled environment. Aerosols were measured by four particle counters that were place to surround the subject. Results Age averaged 41 ± 14 years. Peak heart rate was 173 ± 17 beat/min (97% predicted); peak maximal oxygen uptake was 33.9 ± 7.5 mL/kg/min; and peak respiratory exchange ratio was 1.22 ± 0.10. Maximal ventilation averaged 120 ± 23 L/min, while cumulative ventilation reached 990 ± 192 L. Concentrations increased exponentially from start to 20 minutes (geometric mean ± geometric SD particles/liter): Fluke >0.3 μm = 66 ± 1.8 → 1605 ± 3.8; 0.3-1.0 μm = 35 ± 2.2 → 1095 ± 4.6; Fluke 1.0-5.0 μm = 21 ± 2.0 → 358 ± 2.3; P-Trak anterior = 637 ± 2.3 → 5148 ± 3.0; P-Trak side = 708 ± 2.7 → 6844 ± 2.7; P-Track back = 519 ± 3.1 → 5853 ± 2.8. All increases were significant at a probability value of Interpretation Our data suggest exercise testing is an aerosol-generating procedure and, by extension, other activities that involve exercise intensities at or above 50% of predicted heart rate reserve. Results can guide recommendations for safety of exercise testing and other indoor exercise activities.
A novel mixed integer programming model for freight train travel time estimation

Abstract Travel time estimation is a crucial problem in the field of transportation. While this problem has been extensively studied for over-the-road and air travel modes of transportation and researchers have accomplished substantial advancements in improving the accuracy of the related models, we still observe a significant lack of accurate methods for estimating the travel time of freight trains. The planned train schedule is often dramatically affected by the delays that occur in complex networks due to various reasons such as train movement conflicts, resource unavailability, and unforeseen conditions. We develop a novel mixed integer programming model to address this problem. Considering the current train schedule, characteristics of the railroads, availability of resources, operational restrictions, different types of delay, and congestion-related factors, the proposed model obtains the estimated travel time of trains by minimizing the total amount of deviation from the planned timetable. This optimization scheme enables us to impose all business constraints and network restrictions on the model. Our proposed formulation is generic and can be utilized for other railway networks with minor modifications. To evaluate our model, we use the network characteristics and planned trains movement data of Prorail in Netherlands. The model is implemented in Julia and solved with Gurobi solver efficiently which demonstrates the superiority of our approach.
Perceived discrimination and sexual precursor behaviors in Mexican American preadolescent girls: The role of psychological distress, sexual attitudes, and marianismo beliefs.

OBJECTIVES This study explored the relation between perceived discrimination and sexual precursor behaviors among 205 Mexican American preadolescent middle school girls. In addition, this study examined whether psychological distress and sexual attitudes mediated and whether marianismo beliefs moderated this relation. METHOD A categorical confirmatory factor analysis (CCFA) of the Marianismo Beliefs Scale (MBS) was conducted to test the factor structure with a preadolescent Mexican American population (ages 11-14). A path analysis of analytic models was then performed to examine the hypothesized relations between perceived discrimination, psychological distress, sexual attitudes, marianismo beliefs, and sexual precursor behaviors. RESULTS Results of the CCFA did not support the original 5-factor structure of the MBS for preadolescent Latina girls. However, a revised version of the MBS indicated an acceptable model fit, and findings from the path analysis indicated that perceived discrimination was both directly and indirectly linked to sexual precursor behaviors via psychological distress. Marianismo was not found to moderate the relation between perceived discrimination and sexual risk behaviors, however certain marianismo pillars were significantly negatively linked with sexual attitudes and precursor behaviors. CONCLUSIONS This study underscores the importance of psychological distress in the perceived discrimination and sexual precursor link as well as the compensatory aspects of marianismo against sexual precursor behaviors in Mexican American preadolescent girls. (PsycINFO Database Record
Identification of potential host plant mimics of CLAVATA3/ESR (CLE)-like peptides from the plant-parasitic nematode Heterodera schachtii

In this article, we present the cloning of two CLAVATA3/ESR (CLE)-like genes, HsCLE1 and HsCLE2, from the beet cyst nematode Heterodera schachtii, a plant-parasitic cyst nematode with a relatively broad host range that includes the model plant Arabidopsis. CLEs are small secreted peptide ligands that play important roles in plant growth and development. By secreting peptide mimics of plant CLEs, the nematode can developmentally reprogramme root cells for the formation of unique feeding sites within host roots for its own benefit. Both HsCLE1 and HsCLE2 encode small secreted polypeptides with a conserved C-terminal CLE domain sharing highest similarity to Arabidopsis CLEs 1-7. Moreover, HsCLE2 contains a 12-amino-acid CLE motif that is identical to AtCLE5 and AtCLE6. Like all other plant and nematode CLEs identified to date, HsCLEs caused wuschel-like phenotypes when overexpressed in Arabidopsis, and this activity was abolished when the proteins were expressed without the CLE motif. HsCLEs could also function in planta without a signal peptide, highlighting the unique, yet conserved function of nematode CLE variable domains in trafficking CLE peptides for secretion. In a direct comparison of HsCLE2 overexpression phenotypes with those of AtCLE5 and AtCLE6, similar shoot and root phenotypes were observed. Exogenous application of 12-amino-acid synthetic peptides corresponding to the CLE motifs of HsCLEs and AtCLE5/6 suggests that the function of this class of CLEs may be subject to complex endogenous regulation. When seedlings were grown on high concentrations of peptide (10 µm), root growth was suppressed; however, when seedlings were grown on low concentrations of peptide (0.1 µm), root growth was stimulated. Together, these findings indicate that AtCLEs1-7 may be the target peptides mimicked by HsCLEs to promote parasitism.
Imitation as a mechanism in cognitive development: a cross-cultural investigation of 4-year-old children's rule learning.

Children learn about the social and physical world by observing other people’s acts. This experiment tests both Chinese and American children’s learning of a rule. For theoretical reasons we chose the rule of categorizing objects by the weight. Children, age 4 years, saw an adult heft four visually-identical objects and sort them into two bins based on an invisible property—the object’s weight. Children who saw this categorization behavior were more likely to sort those objects by weight than were children who saw control actions using the same objects and the same bins. Crucially, children also generalized to a novel set of objects with no further demonstration, suggesting rule learning. We also report that high-fidelity imitation of the adult’s “hefting” acts may give children crucial experience with the objects’ weights, which could then be used to infer the more abstract rule. The connection of perception, action, and cognition was found in children from both cultures, which leads to broad implications for how the imitation of adults’ acts functions as a lever in cognitive development.
Spatial patterns of primary productivity in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

Landscapes are often heterogeneous in abiotic factors such as topography, climate, and soil, yet little is known about how these factors may influence the spatial distribution of primary productivity. We report estimates of aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) in 90 sample stands stratified by cover type and elevation class, and use the results to predict ANPP across a portion of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Tree ANPP was estimated by sampling tree density by species and diameter classes and estimating average annual diameter increment by tree coring. Biomass for current tree diameter and past tree diameter were calculated by species and diameter class for each stand using the dimension analysis software BIOPAK. Shrub ANPP was estimated by calculating current biomass from basal area using BIOPAK and dividing by the assumed average life span of the shrubs. Clipping at the end of the growing season was used to estimate herb ANPP. Differences in ANPP among cover types and elevation classes were examined with analysis of variance. Multiple regression was used to examine relationships between ANPP, and soil parent material, topography, and cover type. The best regression model was used to predict ANPP across the study area.
Loss model for off-design performance analysis of radial turbines with pivoting-vane, variable-area stators

An off-design performance loss model for a radial turbine with pivoting, variable-area stators is developed through a combination of analytical modeling and experimental data analysis. A viscous loss model is used for the variation in stator loss with setting angle, and stator vane end-clearance leakage effects are predicted by a clearance flow model. The variation of rotor loss coefficient with stator setting angle is obtained by means of an analytical matching of experimental data for a rotor that was tested with six stators, having throat areas from 20 to 144% of the design area. An incidence loss model is selected to obtain best agreement with experimental data. The stator vane end-clearance leakage model predicts increasing mass flow and decreasing efficiency as a result of end-clearances, with changes becoming significantly larger with decreasing stator area.
Credible Commitments and Public Borrowing in Nineteenth-Century Argentina

This paper examines the role of constitutions in establishing credibility, and the role of political stability in enhancing it. I focus on the effect of limited government on the risk premium of Argentine government debt traded in London and Buenos Aires in the nineteenth century. During the period between 1820 and 1859, the absence of constitutional limitations was associated with credit rationing, short-term borrowing, and the use of money creation to finance public deficits. In contrast, after the adoption of a liberal constitution in 1860, there was a substantial reduction in the cost of borrowing and Argentina's debt capacity increased substantially. Despite these overall trends, the Argentine experience suggests that the establishment of a limited government did not fully resolve the problem of government credibility. Additional conditions, such as political and monetary stability, were further required to reduce the perceived risk associated with government bonds. These findings validate and support the view that constitutional checks and balances are a necessary but not a sufficient condition for sound public finance.
Resistant polynomials and stronger lower bounds for depth-three arithmetical formulas

We derive quadratic lower bounds on the *-complexity of sum-of-products-of-sums (ΣΠΣ) formulas for classes of polynomials f that have too few partial derivatives for the techniques of Shpilka and Wigderson [10,9]. This involves a notion of "resistance" which connotes full-degree behavior of f under any projection to an affine space of sufficiently high dimension. They also show stronger lower bounds over the reals than the complex numbers or over arbitrary fields. Separately, by applying a special form of the Baur-Strassen Derivative Lemma tailored to ΣΠΣ formulas, we obtain sharper bounds on +, *-complexity than those shown for *-complexity by Shpilka and Wigderson [10], most notably for the lowest-degree cases of the polynomials they consider.