cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Merlin: Exploratory Analysis with Imprecise Queries

Merlin supports exploratory search in large databases. The user interacts with it by specifying probability distributions over attributes, which express imprecise conditions about the entities of interest. Merlin helps the user home in on the right query conditions by addressing three key challenges: (1) efficiently computing results for an imprecise query, (2) providing feedback about the sensitivity of the result to changes of individual conditions, and (3) suggesting new conditions. We formally introduce the notion of sensitivity and prove structural properties that enable efficient algorithms for quantifying the effect of uncertainty in user-specified conditions. To support interactive responses, we also develop techniques that can deliver probability estimates within a given realtime limit and are able to adapt automatically as interactive query refinement proceeds.
Brief of Amici Curiae: The Application Developers Alliance, Wild Tangent, Inc. v. Ultramercial, LLC, et al, No. 13-255 (S. Ct. 2013)

Brief amicus curiae urging the Supreme Court to grant certiorari, arguing that the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals has worsened critical flaws in the patent system that deeply affect amicus, an association of mobile application developers. Unlike other innovators, app developers work exclusively with software, and most are small businesses with little capital. As overly broad software patents have proliferated in recent years, non-practicing patent assertion entities have launched a wave of litigation and intimidation that has made it extremely difficult for many app developers to operate. The Federal Circuit’s decision in this case exacerbates these problems by adding to its deep internal divisions over the proper threshold for patent eligibility. Furthermore, by announcing an overly permissive standard for eligibility, the Federal Circuit has immeasurably worsened the patent litigation crisis for app developers and small innovators everywhere.
Sleep Disturbances: Impact on Risk and Severity of Diabetes

There has been a significant increase in people diagnosed with diabetes. It is estimated that by 2025, 300 million people worldwide will be diagnosed as diabetic. In the U.S. alone, 19.9 million people are expected to be diagnosed with diabetes by the year 2025, and 29 million cases by the year 2050. There are two types of diabetes, type 1 and type 2. Both types of diabetes are diagnosed when blood glucose levels are above normal. Both types of diabetes have serious medical sequelae including neurologic problems with neuropathies, retinopathies, kidney failure, gastroparesis, impaired wound healing, bladder control problems, erectile dysfunction, and cardiovascular complications. Given this broad spectrum of complications, research regarding modifiable risk factors is of paramount importance. Recent research has led to the important discovery of an association between sleep loss and type 2 diabetes. There are many categories of sleep disorders, though the types of sleep disorders that have been associated with type 2 diabetes include: short sleep duration, obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia, and restless legs syndrome. While requiring further exploration, this association is of great clinical significance as it may have numerous implications in both the treatment and diagnosis of both disorders. This review outlines the most cutting-edge research involving the relationship between the above sleep disorders and the risk of diabetes. What is clear from the research is that sleep of sufficient quantity and quality is essential for health and well-being, especially in those with diabetes. Sleep disorders are associated with type 2 diabetes, impairments in glucose metabolism, elevations of glucose and insulin, and insulin resistance, and may serve as a modifiable risk factor. Efforts made to improve sleep may prevent the development of these medical sequelae, though more research is needed.
Thirty-day outcomes underestimate endocrine and exocrine insufficiency after pancreatic resection

Background Long-term incidence of endocrine and exocrine insufficiency after pancreatectomy is poorly described. We analyze the long-term risks of pancreatic insufficiency after pancreatectomy.
Die tägliche Periode der Lufttemperatur in Bodennähe und ihre geographische Verteilung

Auf Grund von Beobachtungsdaten und theoretischen Erwagungen wird eine Darstellung der Hauptglieder der taglichen Temperaturschwankung und ihrer Verteilung uber die Erde in Form von Reihen von trigonometrischen undLegendre-Funktionen gegeben. Ein Vergleich mit einer rein theoretisch erhaltenen Darstellung vonKertz zeigt in grosen Zugen eine befriedigende Ubereinstimmung beider Ergebnisse.
Comparison of Quality of Life between Before and After Orthopaedic Implant Removal Surgery

101 Copyright c 2016 The Korean Fracture Society. All rights reserved. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by-nc/4.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Received May 9, 2015 Revised (1st) June 11, 2015, (2nd) August 24, 2015, (3rd) December 6, 2015, (4th) December 16, 2015, (5th) December 18, 2015, (6th) January 8, 2016 Accepted January 10, 2016
Guaranteeing Textbook Quality as the Contents and the Needs of Cultural Development ——Valuing and Enhancing the Cultural Quality of Primary and Secondary School Textbooks

Basic education plays a vital role in making our country rich in human resources and become a cultural giant.Therefore,the importance of the quality of primary and secondary school textbooks is selfevident.It follows that the quality of textbooks must not only be highly valued,but also guaranteed. There should be no tolerance of flaws and errors in textbooks.Enhancing the cultural quality of textbooks is an important part of cultural development,and textbooks should serve for boosting culture and accelerating the social progress.Textbooks are mass cultural commodities.They are a medium for educating,benefiting and enriching people through culture,and a major path for popularizing excellent culture as well.They also reflect culture and the level of cultural development.Valuing and enhancing the cultural quality of textbooks is a practical appeal in pursuing culture prosperity.
Studies on the breeding of the delete photosensitively genic male sterile line Minke107S in rice

In this study,introduced the procedure of low temperature-sensitive and genic sterile line SE152S crossing with the strong combining ability and wide adaptability zhenshan97,and the generations of which composite cross with large-panicled genic sterile line S02073.To isolate and screen the sterile plants,all the generations were planted in the area with high altitude.Then these sterile lines were recurrent selected and generation-added in different place.Finally,Minke107S was developed,and it showed stable fertility.The study showed that Minke107S can delete photosensitively and has a good application prospect in hybrid rice combination.
Study Progress on Relation Between Gene of δ-amiolevulinic Acid Dehydratase and Lead Poisoning

This article is to elaborate the relationship between ALAD gene and lead poisoning through comprehensive analysis on the different levels of access,blood lead,bone lead changes,and induced renal toxicity,neurotoxicity,hormone responses,distribution of ALAD genotype characteristics in recent years.
Pharmacology and clinical efficacy of cholinesterase inhibitors

The pharmacology and clinical efficacy of cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) are discussed. ChEIs can be classified pharmacologically on the basis of the duration of cholinesterase inhibition. The duration of inhibition is short for tacrine and donepezil, intermediate for rivastigmine, and long for metrifonate. Pharmacokinetic differences also distinguish ChEIs. The two instruments that are most accepted for use in evaluating the efficacy of drugs for AD are the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive Portion (ADAS-Cog) and the Clinician's Interview-Based Impression of Change with Caregiver Input (CIBIC-Plus). In clinical trials, all ChEIs have produced improvements in the cognitive deficits seen in patients with AD, and some have also improved behavioral problems and increased patients' ability to perform activities of daily living. Only donepezil and metrifonate are administered once daily. Except for metrifonate, the dosage of each drug should be adjusted upward over several weeks to minimize adverse effects. Hepatotoxicity, the most important adverse effect of tacrine, has not been observed with other ChEIs. Tacrine and donepezil have the potential to interact with other drugs that depend on the same metabolic pathways. Although ChEIs generally improve cognition in patients with AD, differences among these medications are substantial in some cases and should be thoroughly considered by clinicians.
Impact of team-based learning on perceived and actual retention of over-the-counter pharmacotherapy

Abstract Background Team-based learning is becoming more common in pharmacy education. The objective of the study is to evaluate the impact of the transition from traditional didactic lecture to team-based learning (TBL) in an over-the-counter (OTC) pharmacotherapy course regarding long- and short-term retention. Methods A questionnaire was distributed to students enrolled in an OTC pharmacotherapy course during fall 2012 (traditional didactic lecture) and fall 2013 (TBL). The questionnaire was designed to assess student perceptions of retention and preparedness for advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE) rotations, as well as measure long-term retention through a quiz. Short-term retention was evaluated by comparing performance on course exams between the two cohorts. Results Email requests were sent to 189 students (87 from the traditional cohort and 102 from the TBL cohort). The usable response rate, after exclusion of incomplete questionnaires, was 41%. Though not statistically significant, student perceptions favored TBL over traditional didactic lecture. No statistical differences were noted between cohorts for long-term retention. Mean exam scores from the traditional cohort (n = 95) were compared with those from the TBL cohort (n = 102), showing that the TBL cohort performed significantly better on all three course exams (p Conclusion While student perceptions and long-term retention did not differ significantly between cohorts, short-term retention through exam performance favored TBL over traditional didactic lecture. This result is promising, showing some benefits to teaching OTC pharmacotherapy in a team-based learning environment. A study involving larger cohorts may be able to detect a greater number of significant results.
The Community Physicians' Network (CPN): an academic-community partnership to eliminate healthcare disparities.

Introduction Disparities in health care are maintained by three primary factors: 1) patient factors which include multiple risk factors and comorbidities; 2) healthcare practitioner factors comprising inconsistent application of practice guidelines due to a limited database of clinical trials of effective therapies in African Americans and other underrepresented minorities; and 3) barriers in the healthcare delivery system resulting in poor access to care. The Morehouse School of Medicine Community Physicians' Network (CPN) was established to address disparities in health care by focusing on provider-specific strategies. Objectives To: 1) use disease-specific registries to identify treatment gaps and facilitate quality improvement processes among CPN practices; 2) develop practice-specific and guideline-based educational messages to promote quality care; 3) engage and train CPN-physicians for participation in approved NIH, other government, and industry-supported clinical protocols; and 4) develop a data repository of all CPN-sponsored clinical trials that include significant numbers of African Americans and other underrepresented minorities. Methods The disease-specific outpatient registries will have the following features: 1) data structures and data elements will use standard database codes and a data dictionary; 2) HIPPA-compliant data abstraction and data transfer tool; 3) baseline chart review to establish practice patterns and provide practice-specific feedback; 4) annual update of registry; 5) data registry and repository maintained on Morehouse School of Medicine's secure servers; 6) registry publications will include only aggregate data, without identification of contributing practices; 7) an electronic medical records platform will be encouraged as the ultimate data management tool for CPN practices. In addition, up to three continuing medical education (CME) programs each year will feature national speakers and promote evidence-based practice guidelines. Results Eighty-five primary care and subspecialty practices are actively enrolled in CPN with a total of 385,000 annual outpatient visits. The makeup of insurance status is: HMO/PPO (45%); Medicare only (19%); Medicare HMO (11%); Medicare plus (8%); Medicaid (6%); Uninsured (11%). Conclusions The Community Physicians' Network will address specific gaps in the health care of African-American and other minority patients by promoting quality care among its members and by facilitating participation in approved clinical trial protocols. The unique academic community partnership is consistent with the NIH roadmap goal of eliminating healthcare disparities.
"If I give one more piece, it's gonna be the end of me": The Trauma of Teaching in an Era of High-Stakes Accountability

This paper traces the experiences of 12 elementary school teachers working at a high-poverty school in the urban Southwest, rated an “F” by the state department of education. In the tradition of phenomenological qualitative research, we utilized interviews, focus groups and participant observation over the course of one academic year to examine how teachers come to understand, negotiate and resist policy mandates that position them and their students as failing. Findings indicate that teachers experienced three dimensions of trauma as a result of increasingly oppressive policy mandates including the physical toll of an unreasonable workload, psychic disequilibrium and ongoing marginalization.
The Blast Response of Sandwich Composites with In-Plane Pre-Loading

The in-plane pre-loading in the ship hull structures during their service life will likely change the dynamic behavior of these structures under transverse blast loading. In the present study, the dynamic behavior of E-glass Vinyl Ester composite face sheet / foam core sandwich panels with in-plane pre-loading is investigated under shock wave loading. A special test fixture was designed which enables the application of uni-axial in-plane compressive loading when the panels are subjected to transverse blast loading. Blast tests are carried out under two levels of pre-loading and with no pre-loading using a shock tube apparatus. A high-speed side-view camera system and a high-speed back-view Digital Image Correlation (DIC) system are utilized to acquire the real time deformation of the sandwich panels. The results show that the in-plane pre-loading induced buckling and failure in the front face sheet. This mechanism greatly reduced the blast resistance of the sandwich composites. The back face deflections, back face in-plane strains, and mitigated energies were also experimentally quantified.
A method for the determination of the two-dimensional MTF of digital radiography systems using only the noise response

We present a new method that enables the determination of the two-dimensional MTF of digital radiography systems using the noise response measured from flat-field images. Unlike commonly-used methods that measure the one-dimensional MTF, this new method does not require precision-made test-objects (slits/edges) or precise tool alignment. Although standard methods are dependent upon data processing that can result in inaccuracies and inconsistencies, this method based on the intrinsic noise response of the imager is highly accurate and less susceptible to such problems. A cascaded-linear-systems analysis was used to derive an exact relationship between the noise power spectrum (NPS) and the presampled MTF of a generalized detector system. The NPS was then used to determine the two-dimensional MTF for three systems: a simulated detector in which the "true" MTF was known exactly, a commercial indirect flat-panel detector (FPD), and a new solid-state x-ray image intensifier (SSXII). For the simulated detector, excellent agreement was observed between the "true" MTF and that determined using the noise response method, with an averaged deviation of 0.3%. The FPD MTF was shown to increase on the diagonals and was measured at 2.5 cycles/mm to be 0.086±0.007, 0.12±0.01, and 0.087±0.007 at 0, 45, and 90°, respectively. No statistically significant variation was observed for the SSXII as a function of angle. Measuring the two-dimensional MTF should lead to more accurate characterization of the detector resolution response, incorporating any potential non-isotropy which may result from the physical characteristics of the sensor, including the active-area shape of the pixel array.
The Nature, Causes, and Implications of Ethnic Identification

Ethnicity is defined as the process resulting from the interplay of two kinds of social concourses: an inner, intersubjective concourse between the individual and a we-group, and an outer structural concourse involving the individual and we-group on the one hand and, on the other, the wider world or out-group. The inner concourse begins with consciousness of a shared crisis of alienation resolved through a commitment to the group sharing the crisis, one symbolically validated as a large endogamous kindred with a common memory. The outer concourse takes account of the sources of the crisis, its context and timing, the resources of the potential group, the arithmetic of its social relations with the wider society, and the policy of its leadership. Specific configurations of these two sets of factors determine the kind of ethnic movement and resulting ethnic groups. A consideration of the dangers of ethnic mobilization is followed by a concluding section on the sociology of ethnic knowledge.
A critical assessment of the place of post-occupancy evaluation in the critique and creation of socially responsible architecture

The buildings that architects design do not always function and perform socially as intended, or even as they should. Often the architectural statement of design intent is over-valued and the frequ...
Revealing the principal attributes of protein adsorption on block copolymer surfaces with direct experimental evidence at the single protein level.

Understanding protein adsorption onto polymer surfaces is of great importance in designing biomaterials, improving bioanalytical devices, and controlling biofouling, to name a few examples. Although steady research efforts have been advancing this field, our knowledge of this ubiquitous and complex phenomenon is still limited. In this study, we elucidate competitive protein adsorption behaviors sequentially occurring onto nanoscale block copolymer (BCP) surfaces via combined experimental and computer simulation approaches. The model systems chosen for our investigation are immunoglobulin G and fibrinogen introduced in different orders into the self-assembled nanodomains of poly(styrene)-block-poly(methylmethacrylate). We unambiguously reveal the adsorption, desorption, and replacement events of the same protein molecules via single protein tracking with atomic force microscopy. We then ascertain adsorption-related behaviors such as lateral mobility and self-association of proteins. We provide the much-needed, direct experimental proof of sequential adsorption events at the biomolecular level, which was virtually nonexistent before. We determine key protein adsorption pathways and dominant tendencies of sequential protein adsorption. We also reveal preadsorbed surface-associated behaviors in sequential adsorption, distinct from situations involving initially empty surfaces. We perform Monte-Carlo simulations to further substantiate our experimental outcomes. Our endeavors in this study may facilitate a well-guided mechanistic understanding of protein–polymer interactions by providing definite experimental evidence of competitive, sequential adsorption at the nanoscale. Increasingly, biomaterial and biomedical applications rely on systems of multicomponent proteins and chemically intricate, nanoscale polymer surfaces. Hence, our findings can also be beneficial for the development of next-generation nanobiomaterials and nanobiosensors exploiting self-assembled BCP nanodomain surfaces.
Aesthetics and Teleology

Epistemology (truth) and ethics (good) constitute the two main aspects of Kant’s philosophy. The former deals with the phenomena of natural causality, while the later deals with the noumena of free will. Phenomena and noumena are, in fact, necessity and freedom, and knowledge and morality in Kant’s philosophy, and constantly engage in confrontation. While theoretical reason (cognition) is unable to reach the moral realm, practical reason (ethics) can act in the cognitive realm.
Are the Concepts of Mass in Quantum Theory and in General Relativity the Same

The predominant approaches to understanding how quantum theory and General Relativity are related to each other implicitly assume that both theories use the same concept of mass. Given that despite great efforts such approaches have not yet produced a consistent falsifiable quantum theory of gravity, this paper entertains the possibility that the concepts of mass in the two theories are in fact distinct. It points out that if the concept of mass in quantum mechanics is defined such that it always exists in a superposition and is not a gravitational source, then this sharply segregates the domains of quantum theory and of general relativity. This concept of mass violates the equivalence principle applied to active gravitational mass, but may still produce effects consistent with the equivalence principle when applied to passive gravitational mass (in agreement with observations) by the correspondence principle applied to a weak field in the appropriate limit. An experiment that successfully measures the gravity field of quantum objects in a superposition, and in particular of photons, would not only falsify this distinction but also constitute the first direct empirical test that gravity must in fact be described fundamentally by a quantum theory.
Why Do We Simulate

Stochastic simulation is a method for analyzing the performance of systems whose behavior depends on the interaction of random processes, processes that can be fully characterized by probability models. Stochastic simulation is a companion to mathematical and numerical analysis of stochastic models (e.g., Nelson 1995), and is often employed when the desired performance measures are mathematically intractable or there is no numerical approximation whose error can be bounded. Computers make stochastic simulation practical, but the method can be described independently of any computer implementation, which is what we do here.
A Precision Cryogenic Temperature Data Acouisition System

A multiplexed temperature data acquisition system with an overall precision of ±25 PPM has been designed using state-of-the-art electronics to accurately read temperature between 2.4 K and 600 K from pre-calibrated transducers such as germanium, silicon diode, thermistor or platinum temperature sensors.
Bilingualism, Multilingualism, Code-Switching

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses bilingualism, multilingualism, and code switching. It explains code selection rather than only the conditions associated with different selections. The chapter highlights personal motivation factors, a set of variables well known to social psychologists but largely ignored by sociolinguists. The first sociolinguistic studies generally saw code choice as a function of the formal features of both speakers and the settings in which the speech event takes place. Many of these studies were purely taxonomic with no explanatory power. Lists of demographic features of speakers and of the possible variations in time, setting, topic, and participants that could occur in the speech situation were simply assembled. A more recent approach developed as a protest against the view that code choice correlates consistently with such static factors. Sociolinguists following this alternative approach are either members of, or influenced by, the school of ethnomethodology.
Treatment of Cushing’s Disease and Syndrome

Cure can be achieved by adrenal extirpation. This is performed by a flank approach, since such tumors are almost always unilateral. Because of the associated atrophy of the contralateral adrenal, patients will require postoperative replacement therapy for a variable time period (3–18 months) until normal adrenocortical function is regained. Cortisol replacement therapy should be maintained at a sufficient dose to avoid symptoms of hypoadrenalism without being so excessive as to prevent recovery of the suppressed pituitary ACTH secretion, which is secondary to the prior hypercortisolism produced by the adenoma. There is no evidence that ACTH treatment to enhance adrenal responsiveness will hasten recovery of such suppressed function,· since recovery at the pituitary level takes a longer time than does that of adrenal responsiveness to ACTH, and the excess Cortisol secretion engendered by such ACTH administration might further delay pituitary recovery.
The Wave Equation in Cylindrical Coordinates and Its Applications

Sound propagation in cylindrical ducts or in thin layers of fluid, sound radiation of cylinders, and a great number of other interersting problems can be solved by using cylindrical coordinates. These solutions depend on the distance r from an axis — called the z axis, on the azimuth φ, and on the z coordinate. Boundary conditions are usually specified for surfaces r = const, z = const, and possibly for φ = const.
A Characterization of Brain-Computer Interface Performance Trade-Offs Using Support Vector Machines and Deep Neural Networks to Decode Movement Intent.

Laboratory demonstrations of brain-computer interface (BCI) systems show promise for reducing disability associated with paralysis by directly linking neural activity to the control of assistive devices. Surveys of potential users have revealed several key BCI performance criteria for clinical translation of such a system. Of these criteria, high accuracy, short response latencies, and multi-functionality are three key characteristics directly impacted by the neural decoding component of the BCI system, the algorithm that translates neural activity into control signals. Building a decoder that simultaneously addresses these three criteria is complicated because optimizing for one criterion may lead to undesirable changes in the other criteria. Unfortunately, there has been little work to date to quantify how decoder design simultaneously affects these performance characteristics. Here, we systematically explore the trade-off between accuracy, response latency, and multi-functionality for discrete movement classification using two different decoding strategies – a support vector machine (SVM) classifier which represents the current state-of-the-art for discrete movement classification in laboratory demonstrations and a proposed deep neural network (DNN) framework. We utilized historical intracortical recordings from a human tetraplegic study participant, who imagined performing several different hand and finger movements. For both decoders, we found that response time increases (i.e. slower reaction) and accuracy decreases as the number of functions increases. However, we also found that both the increase of response times and the decline in accuracy with additional functions is less for the DNN than the SVM. We also show that data preprocessing steps can affect the performance characteristics of the two decoders in drastically different ways. Finally, we evaluated the performance of our tetraplegic participant using the DNN decoder in real-time to control functional electrical stimulation (FES) of his paralyzed forearm. We compared his performance to that of able-bodied participants performing the same task, establishing a quantitative target for ideal BCI-FES performance on this task. Cumulatively, these results help quantify BCI decoder performance characteristics relevant to potential users and the complex interactions between them.
Observations of Turbulent Heat and Momentum Fluxes during Wildland Fires in Forested Environments

AbstractTurbulent fluxes of heat and momentum in the vicinity of wildland fires contribute to the redistribution of heat and momentum in the fire environment, which in turn can affect the heating o...
From Man to Beast: Imprisonment and Social Death

This essay draws on 78 interviews with men who were formerly detained at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to demonstrate that for many former detainees, the treatment they found particularly difficult to endure was that which threatened their self- and social-identities. Three forms of treatment particularly facilitated this threat. The first was treating detainees as something other than human, for example as an object or number. The second was isolating detainees from other humans, whether physically or through the creation of what I refer to as 'social islands.' Social islands seem to have emerged when detainees were kept apart from others who understand their culture and / or spoke their language, a practice that seems to have been as difficult for many men to endure as physical isolation. The third mechanism was sensory deprivation. The identity endangerment that resulted from these practices frequently contributed to an experience of social death. It was this experience of social death, both in Guantanamo and especially post-release, that many labeled the worst aspect of their imprisonment.
The Methane/Graphite Phase Diagram

Methane adsorbed on graphite has been one of the most intensely studied of all multilayer film systems. A rather detailed phase diagram for the system was proposed by Goodstein et al. in 1984, [1] elaborated and embellished by Wortis in 1984,[2] and modified by Pettersen et al. in 1986.[3] The purpose of proposing the phase diagram was to stimulate further research by presenting hypotheses to be tested and drawing attention to open questions. The authors of the phase diagram had to confront some of the most interesting and vexing issues in the field of adsorbed films today: Does the adsorbed solid wet the substrate, and if so, why? Is there evidence of roughening, capillary condensation, or surface melting? Most intriguing of all, can one observe a dimensional crossover, from 2D to 3D behavior in the melting transition? The authors proposed answers to all of those questions. The purpose of this paper is to reexamine those proposed answers in the light of subsequent experimental and theoretical work on methane/graphite and other related systems. As we shall see, although much has been learned, many of the questions remain open. This is very much a work in progress.
Regularized deep learning with a non-convex penalty.

Regularization methods are often employed in deep learning neural networks (DNNs) to prevent overfitting. For penalty based DNN regularization methods, convex penalties are typically considered because of their optimization guarantees. Recent theoretical work have shown that nonconvex penalties that satisfy certain regularity conditions are also guaranteed to perform well with standard optimization algorithms. In this paper, we examine new and currently existing nonconvex penalties for DNN regularization. We provide theoretical justifications for the new penalties and also assess the performance of all penalties with DNN analyses of seven datasets.
Gender, insurgency, and terrorism: introduction to the special issue

‘A four-year military operation to flush out the Islamic State from its territory in Iraq and Syria ended as the last village held by the terrorist group was retaken in March 2019 … ’.1 In the mont...
Insulin Resistance and Oligodendrocyte/Microvascular Endothelial Cell Dysfunction as Mediators of White Matter Degeneration in Alzheimer’s Disease

ABSTRACT In Alzheimer’s disease (AD), white matter (WM) degeneration begins early, increases with disease progression, and contributes to cognitive impairment, yet the mechanisms are poorly understood. This article reviews the roles of myelin loss, oligodendrocyte dysfunction, and microvasculopathy in relation to AD WM degeneration. Myelin loss impairs axonal function and its breakdown promotes oxidative stress, inflammation, and lipid peroxidation, further compromising the structure and function of axons. Oligodendrocyte dysfunction impairs homeostatic mechanisms needed to maintain myelin. Microvascular disease with endothelial cell pathology leads to thrombin activation and pro-inflammatory cytokine release, oxidative stress, and increased vascular permeability. Progressive fibrotic replacement of smooth muscle cells reduces vaso-responsiveness to metabolic demands. Fibrotic thickening of vessel walls narrows the lumens, rendering them more susceptible to occlusion, endothelial cell injury, and thrombin activation. Since normal physiological functions of oligodendrocytes and microvascular endothelial cells rely on intact insulin/insulin-like growth factor (IGF) signaling through cell survival, metabolic and anti-inflammatory pathways, conceivably, WM degeneration in AD is mediated by insulin and IGF resistance with attendant pathogenic targeting of oligodendroglia and endothelial cells. The apolipoprotein E-e4 genotype may serve as a co-factor in AD associated glial-vascular WM degeneration due to its role as a mediator of insulin resistance.
Design Thinking and Empowerment of Students in Trinidad and Tobago

This article highlights a study in which critical pedagogy was introduced through design thinking strategies to primary school students in rural Trinidad and Tobago. By encouraging interactive discussions between students and instructors, the overarching objective was achieved. In order to build students’ critical awareness, agency and empowerment, during three weeks in a summer camp, the students and instructors engaged actively, in repeated dialogues concerning student rights, media bias, change, and utopian ideas for a better future. As the process unfolded, the students took more control of their learning. They identified and suggested solutions for community problems. The case study demonstrated that student-centred strategies which foster critical awareness and development of social consciousness, can be successfully implemented in schools with limited resources.
Pediatric Oral Systemic Health: From Fetus to Adolescence

Every species depends on adaptation to survive. Humans have managed to survive and flourish while directly influencing the environment of the entire planet, encompassing all other forms of life. While there may be philosophical disagreements
Formal Development and Statistical Analysis for Software in Larger Trusted Embedded Systems

Adding software can overcome limitations of hardware-only embedded systems. Here we expand previous results on reliability benchmarks for trusted embedded software to larger, more complex systems.
Moral education: the cultural significance of higher education in the discourse of non-traditional undergraduates

Prevailing perspectives attribute higher education’s immense and increasing importance in modern societies nearly exclusively to the economic value of a college degree and role of higher education in the legitimation of stratification. This forecloses consideration of the possibility that higher education’s power and influence may derive, in part, from its own considerable moral or symbolic significance in modern culture. Through analysis of in-depth interviews with adult undergraduates in the United States I explore the meaning of higher education in contemporary culture, drawing principally on institutional theory. The bachelor’s degree emerges as the central and default indicator of not only intelligence but valued moral traits: responsibility, tenacity, and ambition. College completion confirms/constitutes graduates as agentic selves to both others and themselves, and indicates assimilation of scientific and cosmopolitan universalism. I suggest that these findings can be explained through three interrelated, institutionalized interpretation rules: education is a strong moral good, education changes the self, and education accesses the universal. And I argue that we must take seriously the insight—often made but little-explored—that higher education is a quasi-religious as well as an economic institution.
High and Low Carbon Footprint Feedback Produces Similar Levels of Proenvironmental Intentions Over Time

Although there is an increasing number of studies that have investigated the effects that negative emotions have on proenvironmental intentions and environmental attitudes, there is almost no resea...
Surfing Injuries: A Review for the Orthopaedic Surgeon

» Surfing is safe: the risk of injury ranges from 0.26 to 0.90 injuries per surfer per year, 0.06 to 3.5 injuries per 1,000 days of surfing, and 1.1 to 13.0 injuries per 1,000 hours of surfing. » The most common acute surfing injuries are lacerations, contusions, and sprains; the head and the neck as well as the lower extremities are the locations that are affected most. » The most common mechanism of injury is striking a surfer's own board or that of another surfer. » A pathology that is unique to surfers is surfer's myelopathy; bites and/or stings by sea life and infections caused by marine life also occur in surfers.
Low-temperature (< 200 °C) degradation of electronic nicotine delivery system liquids generates toxic aldehydes.

Electronic cigarette usage has spiked in popularity over recent years. The enhanced prevalence has consequently resulted in new health concerns associated with the use of these devices. Degradation of the liquids used in vaping have been identified as a concern due to the presence of toxic compounds such as aldehydes in the aerosols. Typically, such thermochemical conversions are reported to occur between 300 and 400 °C. Herein, the low-temperature thermal degradation of propylene glycol and glycerol constituents of e-cigarette vapors are explored for the first time by natural abundance 13C NMR and 1H NMR, enabling in situ detection of intact molecules from decomposition. The results demonstrate that the degradation of electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) liquids is strongly reliant upon the oxygen availability, both in the presence and absence of a material surface. When oxygen is available, propylene glycol and glycerol readily decompose at temperatures between 133 and 175 °C over an extended time period. Among the generated chemical species, formic and acrylic acids are observed which can negatively affect the kidneys and lungs of those who inhale the toxin during ENDS vapor inhalation. Further, the formation of hemi- and formal acetals is noted from both glycerol and propylene glycol, signifying the generation of both formaldehyde and acetaldehyde, highly toxic compounds, which, as a biocide, can lead to numerous health ailments. The results also reveal a retardation in decomposition rate when material surfaces are prevalent with no directly observed unique surface spectator or intermediate species as well as potentially slower conversions in mixtures of the two components. The generation of toxic species in ENDS liquids at low temperatures highlights the dangers of low-temperature ENDS use.
Specific Detection of Endogenous S129 Phosphorylated α-Synuclein in Tissue Using Proximity Ligation Assay

Abstract BACKGROUND Synucleinopathies are a group of neurodegenerative disorders that are pathologically characterized by the accumulation of protein aggregates called Lewy Bodies. Lewy bodies are primarily composed of α-synuclein (asyn) protein, which is phosphorylated at serine 129 (pS129) when aggregated. Currently available commercial antibodies used to stain for pS129 asyn can cross react with other proteins, thus making it difficult to specifically detect endogenous pS129 asyn and to interpret pS129 asyn staining. OBJECTIVE To develop a staining procedure that detects pS129 asyn with high specificity and low background. METHODS We use the fluorescent and brightfield in situ Proximity Ligation Assay (PLA) to specifically detect pS129 asyn in cell culture, mouse and human brain sections. RESULTS The pS129 asyn PLA specifically stained for endogenous, soluble pS129 asyn in cell culture, mouse brain sections, and human brain tissue without significant cross-reactivity or background signal. CONCLUSIONS This PLA method can be used to specifically detect pS129 asyn in order to further explore and understand its role in health and disease.
The impossible woman and sexist realism on NBC’s Parks and Recreation

This article critically interprets the NBC television program Parks and Recreation, analyzing its main character Leslie Knope as emblematic of an emerging rhetorical figure in public culture: the i...
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Titration During Pediatric Drug Induced Sleep Endoscopy.

Objective To observe the degree of airway collapse at varying levels of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) during drug pediatric induced sleep endoscopy. Methods Using our institutional anesthesia protocol for pediatric DISE procedures, patients were anesthetized followed by evaluation of the nasal airway, nasopharynx, velum, hypopharynx, arytenoids, tongue base, and epiglottis. CPAP titration was performed under vision to evaluate the degree of airway collapse at the level of the velum. Comparison was made with pre-operative polysomnography findings. Results Twelve pediatric patients underwent DISE with intraoperative CPAP titration. In 7/12 patients, DISE observed CPAP titration was beneficial in elucidating areas of obstruction that were observed at pressures beyond those recommended during preoperative sleep study titrations. In 3 patients, DISE observations provided a basis for evaluation in children not compliant with sleep study CPAP titration testing. With regard to regions effected, airway collapse was observed at the velum and oropharynx to a greater degree when compared with the tongue base and epiglottis. Conclusion DISE evaluation of the pediatric patient with obstructive sleep apnea may present a source for further patient evaluation with respect to CPAP optimization and severity of OSA assessment, particularly in syndromic patients.
Analysis of Centrosome Replication Events in Mammalian Cells

The centrosome complex plays a fundamental role in cell division events. The centrosome, which nucleates and organizes all of the cellular microtubules, must be duplicated once, and only once, during each cell cycle. At the onset of M-phase the replicated daughter centrosomes then separate and move to opposite ends of the cell where the centrosomes serve as the spindle poles. in this capacity, the mitotic centrosomes nucleate the spindle microtubules that are responsible for chromosome segregation. Clearly, the fidelity of chromosomal segregation is dependent upon the regulated replication of the centrosome complex in each cell cycle.
WS11.8 Early diagnosis through newborn screening (NBS) improved long-term growth and adult height at age 18 years in CF patients with pancreatic insufficiency

Objectives To determine if early growth benefit of NBS sustains to adulthood, we compared adolescent peak height velocity (PHV) between screened (diagnosed early via NBS) and control (identified by symptoms) groups in the Wisconsin RCT. Methods Data from 106 patients born in 1985–94 and followed through 2012 with the same care protocol were analyzed. Results Pancreatic sufficient patients (n = 18) achieved normal pubertal PHV and adult height at age 18 y ( th %tile). Meconium ileus patients (MI, n=25) had reduced PHV and shorter adult height at age 18 y (males: 34 th %tile; females: 17 th %tile). In non-MI patients who had pancreatic insufficiency (n = 64), boys in the screened group (n = 22) had normal and slightly higher PHV (9.5 cm/y at 13.5 y) than the control group (n = 29, 8.9 cm/y at 13.6 y), girls in the screened group (n = 13) had later and slightly lower PHV (7.3 cm/y at 12.5 y) compared to control group (n = 11, 7.9 cm/y at 11.7 y), but the lower PHV in screened girls coincided with later menarche (13.6 y vs. 12.2 y) and was compensated by longer duration of pre-pubertal growth. Thus, adult heights at age 18 y in both sexes were taller in screened compared to control (50 th vs. 29 th %tile, p=0.025), which remained significant after adjusting for parental height (32 nd vs 15 th %tile, p=0.003). Multiple regression analysis revealed that the taller adult height in the screened group was primarily due to achievement of better pre-pubertal height (e.g., 47 th vs. 27 th percentile at age 7 y) rather than greater adolescent PHV. Conclusion This longest duration cohort study shows that early diagnosis/care can promote better long term growth and is a sustained benefit of NBS.
Abstract 15515: Sexual Dimorphism in Cardiac Response to Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR)

Background: Poor fetal nutrient availability predisposes to adult cardiovascular disease (CVD). We have developed a fetal baboon model of maternal undernutrition resulting in Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR) in both male and female fetuses (Li, et al, J Endocrinol, 2013). MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression through mRNA degradation and translational repression. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that IUGR is accompanied by cardiac dysfunction and dysregulation of cardiac miRNAs. Methods: Six control pregnant baboons ate ad libitum, and six nutrient restricted pregnant baboons ate a globally reduced diet (70% of control feed) from 0.16 gestation (G) through pregnancy resulting in fetal IUGR compared to controls (p Results: While no differences in myofiber orientation were observed, IUGR male but not female fetuses showed a reverse correlation between birth weight and accumulation of fibrotic tissue in the heart (r=-0.831, p=0.01). We next investigated the expression of the extracellular matrix proteins thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF). A reverse correlation between birth weight and cardiac TSP-1 levels (r=-0.77, p=0.03) was found in male but not female fetuses. No changes in CTGF were observed. Sexual dimorphism was observed in fetal cardiac miRNA expression within both IUGR and control groups. In male IUGR group, the increase in levels of TSP-1 was associated with more than 50% reduction in expression of its targeting miRNA-19a, reduction in which has been implicated in CVD. Other CVD-related and differentially expressed miRNAs in male IUGR included miRNA-23b, 27b, 99b, 143, 181a, and 378-3p. Summary: IUGR resulting from decreased maternal nutrition is associated with sexual dimorphism in cardiac structure and miRNA expression. If the changes observed in male IUGR fetuses persists postnatally they may program offspring for higher CVD risk later in life.