cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Collaborative Critique: An Inspection Method for Expert Evaluation of User Interfaces

The development of the collaborative critique (CC) usability inspection method was driven by the need for systems to lessen the workload on their users. In the collaborative view of system–user interaction, the role of the system is expanded to that of a partner that must help its users achieve their goals. This perspective shifts the dynamic from focusing on the user’s ability to make effective use of the system to the system’s usefulness within a given task, user, and interaction context. The CC method consists of a walkthrough evaluation in which the questions answered at each step of the interaction assess the system’s collaborative strength. This method is further distinguished by the inclusion of questions that access the behavior of the system in error situations. This article provides a detailed description of the CC method and its application and demonstrates its usefulness in evaluating an interface.
E-Commerce/Network Security Considerations

E-Commerce security issues can be grouped under the categories of system availability, data integrity, and data privacy. System availability means that all necessary components are available to support a given users transmission requirements. Data integrity means that all valid messages that are sent are received, messages are not altered in such as way as to make them invalid, and unauthorized messages are not introduced and transmitted over the network. Data privacy means that transmitted messages contain only 'need to know' information and are seen only by their intended audience. Enterprise network security is typically reactive, and relies heavily on host security. This approach creates complicated interactions between protocols and systems that can cause incorrect behavior and slow response to attacks. Network security at both the e-commerce and customer sites must be constantly reviewed and suitable countermeasures must be planned. The security of a site depends on the security of the internal systems and the security of external networks.
Primer for Building an Effective Board for Growing Startup Companies

Having lived through two successful exit strategies in the last four years, served on a few startup boards, and mentored numerous budding entrepreneurs, I have concluded that putting together a board of directors for new companies that are beyond proof of concept often is not a top priority, but it really should be. In the span of my career, I have witnessed first-hand both functional and dysfunctional boards. This article is a distillation of lessons learned and meant to be a guide for founders of entrepreneurial startups. This article provides a high-level overview of some key questions and issues that may confront startup founders, and are in no manner meant as a substitute for recent literature available in the market, such as the excellent comprehensive book on this subject, Startup Boards: Getting the Most Out of Your Board of Directors, by Brad Feld and Mahendra Ramsinghani. Nor should the company’s founder fail to consult the regulatory framework established by the SEC, or seek legal and financial advice offered by a general counsel or a management services firm.
HathiTrust: Transforming the Library Landscape

Many in attendance at the HathiTrust Constitutional Convention (Constitutional Convention 2011, n.d.) in October 2011 seemed to feel that the event and its outcomes were historic. Whether or not that was indeed the case will be determined in the future. For now, I will offer one perspective on the organization and on the collective actions taken during three days this past fall by representatives from the voting member institutions that made up the HathiTrust community at this moment in time.
Bandwidth synthesis for stepped chirp signal: A multichannel sampling prospective

A stepped chirp signal bandwidth synthesis algorithm is proposed based on the multichannel sampling theory. The sub-band signals are viewed as the responses of a group of linear time-invariant (LTI) filters with a wideband chirp signal as the common input. The reconstruction is formulated both in the time and frequency domain using the multichannel sampling theorem. Simulation results show that the proposed method is able to suppress the paired echoes and improve the integrated sidelobe ratio in the high resolution range profile. (5 pages)
Hydrogen Production via Hydrazine Decomposition on Model Platinum–Nickel Nanocatalyst with a Single (111) Facet

Model octahedral Pt–Ni/C nanocatalyst with different particle composition (0.5 ≤ Pt/Ni ≤ 4) was prepared and researched in hydrazine decomposition for hydrogen generation. The experiments discovered dependency of the catalyst activity, selectivity, durability, and stability on both the particle composition and morphology, with the octahedral PtNi/C being found to be the most active and 100% selective, with superior durability and stability. Mechanistic studies and discussions on the reaction mechanism and kinetics were conducted by collecting the kinetic data and deriving the rate law. The finding suggests both the synergistic effect between Pt and Ni active sites and the morphology-originated geometric effect, which play crucial roles in determining the catalyst property.
Proton beam radiation induces DNA damage and cell apoptosis in glioma stem cells through reactive oxygen species

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is among the most lethal of human malignancies. Most GBM tumors are refractory to cytotoxic therapies. Glioma stem cells (GSCs) significantly contribute to GBM progression and post-treatment tumor relapse, therefore serving as a key therapeutic target; however, GSCs are resistant to conventional radiation therapy. Proton therapy is one of the newer cancer treatment modalities and its effects on GSCs function remain unclear. Here, by utilizing patient-derived GSCs, we show that proton radiation generates greater cytotoxicity in GSCs than x-ray photon radiation. Compared with photon radiation, proton beam irradiation induces more single and double strand DNA breaks, less H2AX phosphorylation, increased Chk2 phosphorylation, and reduced cell cycle recovery from G2 arrest, leading to caspase-3 activation, PARP cleavage, and cell apoptosis. Furthermore, proton radiation generates a large quantity of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which is required for DNA damage, cell cycle redistribution, apoptosis, and cytotoxicity. Together, these findings indicate that proton radiation has a higher efficacy in treating GSCs than photon radiation. Our data reveal a ROS-dependent mechanism by which proton radiation induces DNA damage and cell apoptosis in GSCs. Thus, proton therapy may be more efficient than conventional x-ray photon therapy for eliminating GSCs in GBM patients.
Comparison of dietary intake by 2 computerized analysis systems.

It is unknown how different calculation procedures for quantitating foods can influence variation in nutrient values. Precision of calculation and transcription, plus a double-checking procedure, is standard Bogalusa Heart Study protocol. These procedures likely would minimize human error. Nevertheless, converting gram weight values for food (BHS) into the closest household measure (NCC) could influence analysis. If calculation procedures are similar, different nutrient values in 2 food composition tables would then account for most variation in results. Consistently lower values for sucrose by the NCC likely reflect the program's carbohydrate rationale, i.e., the classification of total carbohydrate into 3 categories--sucrose, starch, and other. Sucrose may then be underestimated, as the other carbohydrate value "indicates combinations of sugars and/or sugars and starch," such as those found in commercial products. The ETNV total sucrose value is a sum of the naturally occurring sucrose and sucrose added in commercial preparations. For this small sample, the group means of selected nutrients by 2 dietary computer analyses systems are quite similar, with the exception of sucrose. With fairly large standard errors for most components, a large sample might create a statistically significant difference. Periodic comparability checks are essential to document quality and similarity of data bases. Quality control procedures in dietary methodology should be analogous to techniques for physiological and biochemical measures, e.g., the Centers for Disease Control and LRC methods and standards. Low-level correlations observed between dietary intakes and risk factor variables imply no association. Comparison and improvements of data bases are timely and should increase the probability of identifying associations between dietary components and indicators of diseases.
Residual Viremia and Viral Reservoirs in Elite Controllers

Publisher Summary Clinical outcome of human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) infection varies greatly between infected individuals. Elite controllers (ECs) are HIV-1-infected individuals who maintain viral loads of less than 50 copies/milliliter in the absence of antiretroviral treatment. ECs are seen to have a lower proportion of latently infected cells, due to low magnitude of peak viremia seen in acute infection. Continued viral evolutions are observed in residual viremia from ECs, suggesting ongoing replication that continues in patients. This indicates that even while ECs are able to maintain low viral loads (VLs), beginning early in infection, a fully pathogenic virus continues to persist in these patients at low levels. In addition, HIV-1 infection is typically characterized by peak VLs in acute infection. Viral replication continues at high levels in the absence of therapy, and progressive CD4 + T cells decline, and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) usually develops within 10 years after initial infection.
Why Pluralism = Pluralism ≠ Monism: A Decolonial Feminist Critique of Deleuze and Guattari's Concept of Becoming

This essay offers a critical engagement with Deleuze and Guattari's concept of becoming, from the perspective of postcolonial and decolonial feminism. It starts by exploring the main characteristics of becoming, including the provisional continuity of affective liberation among its various modalities. It then foregrounds the concept of ‘racialised gender’, to trace a very different sequence of affective recomposition sponsored by the colonial state. Over and against Deleuze and Guattari's monological perspective as a universal narrative of emancipation (pluralism = monism), the article calls for a multilingual approach in the semantics of evaluating its deployments (pluralism = pluralism ≠ monism).
A Sufficient Condition for Continuous-Time Finite Skip-Free Markov Chains to Have Real Eigenvalues

We provide a sufficient condition for the negative of the infinitesimal generator of a continuous-time finite skip-free Markov chain to have only real and non-negative eigenvalues. The condition includes stochastic monotonicity and certain requirements on the transition rates of the chain. We also give a sample path illustration of Markov chains that satisfy the conditions and its Siegmund dual. We illustrate our result by detailing an example which also reveals that our conditions are not necessary.
BubR1 alterations that reinforce mitotic surveillance act against aneuploidy and cancer

BubR1 is a key component of the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC). Mutations that reduce BubR1 abundance cause aneuploidization and tumorigenesis in humans and mice, whereas BubR1 overexpression protects against these. However, how supranormal BubR1 expression exerts these beneficial physiological impacts is poorly understood. Here, we used Bub1b mutant transgenic mice to explore the role of the amino-terminal (BubR1(N)) and internal (BubR1(I)) Cdc20-binding domains of BubR1 in preventing aneuploidy and safeguarding against cancer. BubR1(N) was necessary, but not sufficient to protect against aneuploidy and cancer. In contrast, BubR1 lacking the internal Cdc20-binding domain provided protection against both, which coincided with improved microtubule-kinetochore attachment error correction and SAC activity. Maximal SAC reinforcement occurred when both the Phe- and D-box of BubR1(I) were disrupted. Thus, while under- or overexpression of most mitotic regulators impairs chromosome segregation fidelity, certain manipulations of BubR1 can positively impact this process and therefore be therapeutically exploited.
Ice Cream Headache

The characteristics of cold induced headaches in a group of migraine patients were compared with the usual migraine headaches and with cold induced headaches in a control population, in a study using a retrospective questionnaire at the City of London Migraine Clinic, London, England.
Heterozygous Pitx2 Null Mice Accurately Recapitulate the Ocular Features of Axenfeld-Rieger Syndrome and Congenital Glaucoma.

Purpose The purpose of this analysis was to assess the utility of Pitx2+/- mice as a model for the ocular features of Axenfeld-Rieger Syndrome and for congenital glaucoma. Methods Eyes of Pitx2+/- and wild-type littermates were examined clinically using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and fundus photography. Intraocular pressures were measured using a TonoLab rebound tonometer. Eyes were examined histologically to assess PITX2 expression, structural integrity, and optic nerve and ganglion cell content. Results PITX2 is present postnatally in the corneal endothelium and stroma, iris stroma, trabecular meshwork, and Schlemm's canal. Reduced central corneal thickness, iris defects, and iridicorneal adhesions are all prevalent in Pitx2+/- eyes. Although optic nerve heads appear normal at postnatal day 7, IOP is elevated and optic nerve head cupping is fully penetrant in Pitx2+/- eyes by 3 weeks of age. Neurodegeneration is present in a significant percentage of optic nerves from Pitx2+/- mice by 3 weeks of age, and is fully penetrant by 2 months of age. Pitx2+/- eyes show significant reductions in specifically ganglion cell density in all four quadrants by 2 months of age. Conclusions Pitx2+/- mice model the major ocular features of Axenfeld-Rieger Syndrome and will be an important resource for understanding the molecular mechanisms leading to anterior segment dysgenesis and a high prevalence of glaucoma in this disease. In addition, these mice may provide an efficient new model for assessing the molecular events in glaucoma more generally, and for developing and testing new treatment paradigms for this disease.
Solvent effects on the properties of Bi2S3 nanoparticles: photocatalytic application

Well-segregated bismuth sulfide nanorods and nanoparticles with a high order of crystallinity have been successfully prepared by simple reflux method for 2 h using different solvents. Bismuth nitrate, thiourea and citric acid are used as starting materials. Different solvents like dimethylformamide, ethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol have been used. The effect of solvent on the properties of the bismuth sulfide has been investigated and reported. The powder X-ray diffraction patterns indicated that the product had orthorhombic phase. The Scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope studies reveal that the product Bi2S3 can be tuned to different morphologies by altering the solvent. The optical properties of these Bi2S3 nanorods and nanoparticles were characterized by UV–Vis spectrometer (UV) and the bond vibrations present in the product were identified using FT-IR spectra. The room temperature photoluminescence spectra of Bi2S3 nanoparticles revealed an emission band centered at 585 nm corresponding to yellow region. The photocatalytic activities of the Bi2S3 nanorods have been evaluated by decomposing methylene blue (MB) under light irradiation and complete degradation of MB was witnessed after 120 min.
Conflict of interest in academic oncology: moving beyond the blame game and forging a path forward.

Conflict of interest in academic oncology: moving beyond the blame game and forging a path forward
Developing Best Practices for Creating an Authentic Learning Experience in an Online Learning Environment: Lessons Learned

Online learning and the professionals who provide online instruction are under a myriad of pressures to constantly adapt to emerging user needs and to look forward to new directions and approaches. Online instructors have moved from “sage on a stage,” attempting to duplicate regular, face-to-face instruction to “meddler in the middle,” facilitating interactive, technology-driven learning experiences. Librarians are the consummate “meddlers,” partnering with instructors to provide meaningful information literacy learning in the distributed learning environment. This chapter examines strategies used and lessons learned by a library at a mid-sized institution that has transformed from a traditional brick and mortar university to an active online academic community. The chapter discusses the application of online learning tools in the creation of an authentic learning experience for students in a distributed environment. Authors offer practical, in-the-trenches advice and reflections on their experiences and how they informed the development of best practices for providing library services in an online environment at Eastern Kentucky University Libraries. By offering their experiences, the authors hope to provide a framework for others working in distributed learning environments.
Kinetic Off-Rates of Membrane Associated Proteins Measured in Unroofed Cells

Cellular function is orchestrated by the vast network of interacting biological molecules in the cell, and these interactions are governed by the kinetics of association and dissociation. The biochemist's in vitro toolkit provides a means to measure a small part of this network with high precision, unveiling a mechanism of action. It is in this regard that careful measurements of kinetics and binding equilibria of proteins and lipids reconstituted as mimetic plasma membrane has provided valuable insights into cell function (Knight and Falke, Biophys. J. 2009). From these studies in the in vitro setting it is worthwhile asking if the same measurements may be made in the cellular context to further refine our understanding of protein - plasma membrane interactions. In order to frame our study of protein - plasma membrane interaction within a cellular context we relied on cell “unroofing” for the nearly instantaneous production of a plasma membrane sheet exposed to a buffer solution. Upon unroofing, the rapid shift in equilibrium experienced by GFP-PLCδ-PH (a PIP2 binding protein, residing on the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane) led to an exponential loss of GFP fluorescence that was recorded and fit to a kinetic off-rate (1.1 ± 0.3 s−1; N=3). These results demonstrate a practical approach to measuring the dissociation rate constant for plasma membrane associated proteins in the cellular context and potentially open the door to studying binding interactions that have been intractable as in vitro experiments.
Captive Breeding and the Evolutionarily Significant Unit

Recent efforts to conserve biodiversity below the species level have been guided by the concept of Evolutionarily Significant Units (ESUs) – populations or groups of populations that contribute substantially to the evolutionary legacy of the species as a whole. A variety of published frameworks for defining ESUs exist, but all focus on identifying evolutionary lineages. Captive breeding programs for endangered species can present special challenges to ESU evaluations, particularly when legal protection depends on ESU membership. An alternative ESU framework that focuses on current ecological context rather than evolutionary lineages provides a novel way of thinking about captive-wild systems.
On the use of photoelastic composite models - Two approaches for the derivation of material constants for plane-stress layered photoelastic composite materials are presented. Photoelastic models are used to test basic assumptions in the theory and to evaluate experimental equivalent moduli in tension and in shear

Emphasis in the paper is placed on establishing the validity of employing photoelastic composite models to study assumptions used in composite-material analysis. Two approaches for the derivation of material constants for plane-stress layered composite materials are presented. Basic assumptions of the theories are studied. The theoretical and experimental equivalent moduli for test specimens loaded in tension and in shear are also compared.
Misunderstandings of Effect Sizes in Message Effects Research

ABSTRACTWidespread acknowledgement of the weaknesses of null hypothesis significance testing has led to correspondingly greater appreciation of the central role of effect size estimation in social-scientific research. But in the context of message effects research, it is easy to confuse an effect size—a quantitative representation of the effect of a variable on an outcome—with the size of the effect of a message on an outcome. Illustrations of this misunderstanding are offered, its unhappy consequences specified, and remedies discussed.
Current Issues in the Overdiagnosis and Overtreatment of Breast Cancer.

OBJECTIVE. The discovery of breast cancer at earlier stages with screening brings the risk that some cancers will be overdiagnosed or overtreated. Reasonable estimates show the overdiagnosis rate due to screening mammography to be low, 1–10%. CONCLUSION. Overdiagnosis should not be used as a reason to delay the onset or decrease the frequency of screening, because neither strategy will decrease overdiagnosis. Improvements in personalized treatment will diminish the morbidity of treatment and, therefore, the significance of overdiagnosis.
The Need to Reassess Dietary Fiber Requirements in Healthy and Critically Ill Patients

This article provides evidence that current dietary fiber intake levels may be insufficient to maintain colonic mucosal health and defense, and reduce inflammation and cancer risk in otherwise healthy people. Current commercial tube feeds generally overlook the metabolic needs of the colon and may predispose patients to dysbiosis, bacterial overgrowth with pathogens such as Clostridium difficile, and acute colitis. These results raise concern about the wide-scale use of prophylactic antibiotics in the intensive care unit and the use of elemental, fiber-depleted tube feeds. Nutrition support is not complete without the addition of sufficient fiber to meet colonic nutritional needs.
Myonuclear Positioning and Aneurysms Are LINC’d by Ariadne

In this issue of Developmental Cell, Tan et al. (2018) show how a novel player in myonuclear positioning, the ubiquitin ligase Ari-1, regulates levels of Koi, a member of the LINC mechanosensing complex, and affects nuclear morphology and positioning in both Drosophila muscles and human vascular smooth muscle cells.
Philosophy of Management Between Scientism and Technology

This article addresses the difficulty in pursuing a philosophical engagement with management without falling into the trap of scientism. It also explores the option to turn management theorists away from science to seek insights from technology. The article is organized in four parts: a preliminary discussion on management from a philosophical viewpoint, a crucial distinction between philosophy of management as a mode of inquiry and a field of study, an analysis of the risk of scientism in the current philosophical work on management, and an initial inspection across the waters separating management and philosophy of technology.
Wiener-Hopf Factorization of the S Matrix

Abstract The Schrodinger S matrix is regarded as a function from the real axis to the group of unitary operators L 2 (S) → L 2 (S), where S is the unit sphere in R 3 . We pose a standard left factorization problem with respect to the real line. Such a Wiener-Hopf factorization is not identical with the kind of factorization that defines the Jost function and which has been found to be a useful tool for the solution of the inverse scattering problem. A number of results will be given that relate the two factorizations, their existence as well as the indices they give rise to. Some known results on the standard factorization lead to new results for the inverse scattering problem.
THE STRUCTURE OF THE “MONSTER” SIMPLE GROUP

Publisher Summary This chapter presents some evidence for the existence of a simple group F, called the monster. It was discovered independently by Fischer and Thompson. Using computer techniques, existence has been proven for F 3 and F 5 by P. Smith and S. Norton, respectively. However, the existence and uniqueness questions for F 2 and F = F 1 , remain to be settled. F has exactly two classes of involutions. F has trivial multiplier and trivial outer automorphism group. Also, F 2 has multiplier of order at most 2 and trivial outer automorphism group. The chapter also presents a few results about representations of F.
Numerical simulation of aquatic locomotion on Cartesian grids

Publisher Summary This chapter develops a numerical method for solving the 3D, unsteady, incompressible Navier-Stokes equations in domains with flexible immersed boundaries. Geometrically complex bodies are treated as sharp interfaces using a hybrid Cartesian/immersed-boundary formulation. Results have been presented for flow past a flexible fishlike body and a dorsoventrally flattened, flexible body whose shape is inspired by the morphology of ray fishes. The chapter demonstrates the promise of a Cartesian/immersed boundary formulation in simulations of flows in domains containing complex, 3D, flexible immersed boundaries. The computations have provided new insight into the 3D structure of coherent vortices in the wake of swimming fishes. It focuses on: refining the geometrical features of the biologically inspired bodies to closely mimic the anatomy of real fishes; prescribing biologically inspired kinematics; and investigating the ensuing fluid/structure interaction for various body shapes and kinematical scenarios to identify mechanisms that lead to drag reduction and enhance propulsive efficiency.
Exaggerated reaction to novelty as a predictor of incipient cognitive decline among community-dwelling older adults.

Objective: The ability to detect covert markers of incipient cognitive decline among older adults before cognitive decline becomes overtly evident on traditional cognitive tests represents an impor...
Formal finance and informal safety nets of the poor: Evidence from a savings field experiment

Abstract Using a field experiment on financial service information delivery in over 320 villages in Malawi, I find that formal savings increases agricultural investments and crop income, and raises private transfers to other households during the hungry season. Households with higher education adopt accounts and experience rises in savings and income, while low education households do not. However, the benefits to adopters are used to help insure the rest of the village – in contrast to suggestions elsewhere in the literature that savings may negatively impact sharing through networks. Non-savers experience large rises in transfer receipts, improved food consumption, and better health. The worst-off households experience particularly strong increases in informal aid. Findings show financial markets expansion has immediate effects beyond service-users, with large and surprising impacts on informal support systems. Results also support the effectiveness of a novel method to spur service uptake and accelerate financial deepening.
Computer-Based Substance Use Reporting and Acceptance of HIV Testing Among Emergency Department Patients.

More than 10 years after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended routine HIV testing for patients in emergency departments (ED) and other clinical settings, as many as three out of four patients may not be offered testing, and those who are offered testing frequently decline. The current study examines how participant characteristics, including demographics and reported substance use, influence the efficacy of a video-based intervention designed to increase HIV testing among ED patients who initially declined tests offered by hospital staff. Data from three separate trials in a high volume New York City ED were merged to determine whether patients (N = 560) were more likely to test post-intervention if: (1) they resembled people who appeared onscreen in terms of gender or race; or (2) they reported problem substance use. Chi Square and logistic regression analyses indicated demographic concordance did not significantly increase likelihood of accepting an HIV test. However, participants who reported problem substance use (n = 231) were significantly more likely to test for HIV in comparison to participants who reported either no problem substance use (n = 190) or no substance use at all (n = 125) (x2 = 6.830, p < 0.05). Specifically, 36.4% of patients who reported problem substance use tested for HIV post-intervention compared to 30.5% of patients who did not report problem substance use and 28.8% of participants who did not report substance use at all. This may be an important finding because substance use, including heavy alcohol or cannabis use, can lead to behaviors that increase HIV risk, such as sex with multiple partners or decreased condom use.
Participatory plant breeding and social change in the Midwestern United States: perspectives from the Seed to Kitchen Collaborative

There is a strong need to connect agricultural research to social movements and community-based food system reform efforts. Participatory research methods are a powerful tool, increasingly used to give voice to communities overlooked by academia or marginalized in the broader food system. Plant breeding, as a field of research and practice, is uniquely well-suited to participatory project designs, since the basic process of observing and selecting plants for desirable traits is accessible to participants without formal plant breeding training. The challenge for plant breeders engaged in participatory research is to consider not only how their work incorporates farmer input in developing new varieties, but also how it interacts with broader questions of food sovereignty, food justice, diversity and democratization in the food system. This article examines these issues in the context of the Seed to Kitchen Collaborative, a participatory variety evaluation and breeding project at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
A Reaction-Based Approach to Information Cascade Analysis

Online social media provides massive open-ended platforms for users of a wide variety of backgrounds, interests, and beliefs to interact and debate, facilitating countless information cascades across many subjects. With numerous unique voices being lent to the ever-growing information stream, it is essential to consider the question: how do the many types of conversations within an information cascade characterize the process as a whole? In this paper we analyze the underlying features of the dynamics of communication, and use those features to explain the inherent properties of the encompassing information cascade. Utilizing "microscopic" trends to describe "macroscopic" phenomena, we set a paradigm for analyzing information dissemination through the individual user interactions that sprout from a source topic, instead of trying to interpret the emergent patterns themselves. This paradigm yields a set of unique tools for a myriad of application in the field of information cascade analysis: from topic classification of sources to time-series forecasting. We use these tools in a 88-million-row dataset for Reddit to show their conceptual effectiveness and accuracy when compared to the ground truth.
Valve-sparing root replacement in patients with bicuspid aortopathy: An analysis of cusp repair strategy and valve durability

Abstract Objective Valve-sparing root replacement using reimplantation techniques is increasingly applied to bicuspid aortopathy. Long-term durability of cusp repair is unclear. We analyze midterm results using a conservative approach to cusp repair. Methods From 2006 to 2018, 327 patients underwent valve-sparing reimplantation, 66 with bicuspid valves. Leaflets were analyzed after reimplantation. A majority (51/66) required no cusp repair. Fifteen patients had cusp repair limited to closure of unfused raphe or central plication. Patients were followed by echocardiography. Results Mean age of patients was 44.7 ± 12.3 years. The cusp repair group had a higher incidence of preoperative moderate (10% vs 40%) or severe (4% vs 33.3%) aortic insufficiency (P Conclusions Valve-sparing root replacement is reliably performed with bicuspid aortic valves whether or not cusp reconstruction is necessary. Few patients progress to greater than mild aortic insufficiency. Need for reoperation is rare in midterm follow-up.
A new model isolates glioblastoma clonal interactions and reveals unexpected modes for regulating motility, proliferation, and drug resistance

Tumor clonal heterogeneity drives treatment resistance. But robust models are lacking that permit eavesdropping on the basic interaction network of tumor clones. We developed an in vitro, functional model of clonal cooperation using U87MG glioblastoma cells, which isolates fundamental clonal interactions. In this model pre-labeled clones are co-cultured to track changes in their individual motility, growth, and drug resistance behavior while mixed. This highly reproducible system allowed us to address a new class of fundamental questions about clonal interactions. We demonstrate that (i) a single clone can switch off the motility of the entire multiclonal U87MG cell line in 3D culture, (ii) maintenance of clonal heterogeneity is an intrinsic and influential cancer cell property, where clones coordinate growth rates to protect slow growing clones, and (iii) two drug sensitive clones can develop resistance de novo when cooperating. Furthermore, clonal communication for these specific types of interaction did not require diffusible factors, but appears to depend on cell-cell contact. This model constitutes a straightforward but highly reliable tool for isolating the complex clonal interactions that make up the fundamental "hive mind" of the tumor. It uniquely exposes clonal interactions for future pharmacological and biochemical studies.
Topological and supersymmetric laser arrays (Conference Presentation)

Recent years have witnessed an inflow of ideas from quantum field theory and condensed matter physics into the field of optics. In this talk, we describe how notions from topological physics and supersymmetry can be used in designing novel laser arrays with properties that are of interest in some applications. Likewise, such lasing arrangements can be used to emulate a variety of topological and supersymmetric phenomena, beyond what is possible in their respective original platforms.
Multiscale Modeling of Shingled Cell Photovoltaic Modules for Reliability Assessment of Electrically Conductive Adhesive Cell Interconnects

New interconnect schemes that replace metallic solders with electrically conductive adhesives (ECA) are appearing in recent embodiments of crystalline silicon photovoltaic (PV) modules. Recently, potential ECA interconnect failure modes were identified and characterized, which included cohesive cracking and debonding of the adhesive joint. In this work, we elucidate on how and to what extent the driving force for ECA degradation develops in shingled cell modules. We have employed a multiscale modeling approach, using the finite-element method, to accurately predict the driving force for both accelerated stress testing conditions and on-sun exposure of PV modules. When we compare our driving force predictions for a generic PV module with the experimentally characterized fracture properties of a candidate ECA, we found that interconnect failure of only poor quality or otherwise damaged joints is likely to occur. Furthermore, we show how a 2-D submodel can efficiently predict limits for the debond driving forces without needing to employ the multiscale modeling approach.
Large Retroperitoneal Hematoma: A Rare Intraoperative Complication of Total Vaginal Hysterectomy

Retroperitoneal (RP) hematoma is a rare complication of total vaginal hysterectomy. A 45-year-old female G4P3013 with a history of abnormal uterine bleeding refractory to treatment by endometrial ablation and stress urinary incontinence underwent total vaginal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingectomy, bilateral uterosacral ligament suspension, anterior colporrhaphy, and cystoscopy. After the hysterectomy the left uterine artery pedicle was hemostatic; however, the patient became hemodynamically unstable and anemic. Laparoscopy revealed a stable zone III RP hematoma. Intraoperative observation revealed no further expansion of the hematoma. Left iliac angiography and aortography revealed there was no extravasation from the uterine arteries and gonadal vessels. Four days post-operative abdominal CT showed a stable hematoma. Hemodynamic instability resolved over the post-operative course. RP hematoma must be included in the differential for the evaluation of acute intraoperative hemodynamic instability with an unclear source.
Adapting to the Long Tail: A Meta-Analysis of Transfer Learning Research for Language Understanding Tasks

Natural language understanding (NLU) has made massive progress driven by large benchmarks, paired with research on transfer learning to broaden its impact. Benchmarks are dominated by a small set of frequent phenomena, leaving a long tail of infrequent phenomena underrepresented. In this work, we reflect on the question: have transfer learning methods sufficiently addressed performance of benchmark-trained models on the long tail? Since benchmarks do not list included/excluded phenomena, we conceptualize the long tail using macro-level dimensions such as underrepresented genres, topics, etc. We assess trends in transfer learning research through a qualitative meta-analysis of 100 representative papers on transfer learning for NLU. Our analysis asks three questions: (i) Which long tail dimensions do transfer learning studies target? (ii) Which properties help adaptation methods improve performance on the long tail? (iii) Which methodological gaps have greatest negative impact on long tail performance? Our answers to these questions highlight major avenues for future research in transfer learning for the long tail. Lastly, we present a case study comparing the performance of various adaptation methods on clinical narratives to show how systematically conducted meta-experiments can provide insights that enable us to make progress along these future avenues.
Simulation of seawater intrusion resulting from proposed expanded pumpage in New York City, USA

Ground-water flow and movement of the freshwater/saltwater interface on western Long Island, N.Y., were simulated to evaluate the effects of a proposed increase in ground-water pumpage to meet the New York City's growing demand for freshwater without causing saltwater intrusion. Accurate simulation of the long-term movement of the freshwater/saltwater interface is limited by uncertainty as to the rate of sea-level rise since the Pleistocene glaciation and the amount of flow that moves through offshore breaches in a shallow confining unit, the Gardiners Clay. Reasonable estimates of these and related factors were applied to a three-dimensional version of the U.S. Geological Survey's SUTRA model to predict interface movement in response to the proposed increase in pumpage. Hypothetical wells for the proposed expansion were sited to minimize the effects of saltwater intrusion and ground-water flooding of subsurface structures in low-lying areas. Overpumping on western Long Island induced severe saltwater intrusion in the 1940's, which necessitated well abandonment and has resulted in ground-water flooding through the ensuing water-table recovery. The results of this investigation indicate that well locations and pumping rates can be optimized to minimize saltwater intrusion while providing the benefits of the increased pumpage.
Understanding the competencies needed to customize jobs: A competency model for customized employment

BACKGROUND: Customized employment (CE) has been shown to be a viable employment option for individuals with disabilities [1, 2], but to implement CE solutions, service providers need expanded capabilities that they may not have. OBJECTIVE: The specific purpose of this research was to develop a CE competency model embodying the knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics necessary to provide CE solutions. METHOD: Using a job analysis approach, data collection activities included interviews with subject matter experts (SMEs) and a series of iterative SME panel reviews to develop task, knowledge, skills and ability lists. Next, competencies were developed using a Q-sort methodology. The CE competency model was then verified to ensure its accuracy, completeness, and relevancy through SME ratings. RESULTS: The final model contained 31 tasks grouped into four CE components, and 84 KSAOs grouped into nine competencies. CONCLUSION: The CE competency model has a number of strengths that will make it a useful tool for the vocational rehabilitation field. Future research should seek to identify, develop or obtain objective measures of CE outcomes and test the relationship between the CE competency model and CE outcomes.
Neonatal leukemoid reaction associated with Candida albicans chorioamnionitis.

Chorioamnionitis due to Candida species is relatively rare, despite the high prevalence (20-25%) of Candida vulvovaginitis during pregnancy. We describe a case of neonatal leukemoid reaction (NLR) associated with Candida albicans chorioamnionitis. A male infant was born at 31 weeks' gestation and weighed 1864 g. Laboratory tests at birth indicated marked leukocytosis (i.e. total leukocyte count 89.8 × 10(9) /L including 66% polymorphonuclear leukocytes and 15% band forms). Samples of the infant's pharyngeal mucus and tracheal aspirate were positive for Candida albicans. On further histopathology of the placenta, C. albicans mycelia had invaded the placenta, chorioamniotic membrane, and umbilical cord. Although it is not very common, C. albicans chorioamnionitis should be considered in preterm infants with NLR.
Reducing display power consumption for real-time video calls on mobile devices

The display subsystem of a mobile device usually consumes 38%–68% [1] of the total battery power in video streaming. Therefore, a few schemes have been designed to reduce the display power consumption. The basic idea is to dim the backlight level while properly compensating the pixel luminance to maintain image fidelity. The luminance compensation and proper backlight level calculation are computation intensive and demand per-frame luminance information. For these reasons, existing schemes only work for video-on-demand where each frame (and thus the luminance information) is available in advance. In addition, they demand additional computing resource support. Otherwise, if the computation is conducted on the mobile device, the power consumption due to such computation can easily offset the power savings from dimming the backlight. In this work, we set to investigate power saving for real-time video calls on mobile devices. Different from video-on-demand, real-time video calls are highly delay sensitive and the frame luminance information is not known in advance. Moreover, video calls often involve multiple streaming sources from multiple (≥2) participants, making it more difficult. Because there are few background changes and the frame rate is usually small in video calls, we design a Greedy Display Power saving scheme, called LCD-GDP, which utilizes the commonly available GPU on mobile devices without demanding additional support. Our design is implemented on WebRTC, a popular real-time web browser based video call standard. Experiments show that our scheme can save up to 33% power consumption in video calls without affecting the video call quality.
The effects of different wavelets on image reconstruction

The effects of different types of wavelets on image reconstruction is investigated. Because there are different types of wavelets, one of the major problems is to determine the best type of wavelet to use for a particular application, for instance, a communication system. Another problem is how best to determine that the reconstructed image is a near perfect reconstruction of the original image. A simulated model of the multiresolution technique is used. Images of varying sizes, backgrounds, textures and intensities are used to test the algorithms and determine results. The results indicate that shorter wavelets perform better than longer wavelets. The results also demonstrate that orthogonal wavelets seem to perform better than biorthogonal wavelets.
Single-molecule motions and interactions in live cells reveal target search dynamics in mismatch repair

MutS is responsible for initiating the correction of DNA replication errors. To understand how MutS searches for and identifies rare base-pair mismatches, we characterized the dynamic movement of MutS and the replisome in real time using superresolution microscopy and single-molecule tracking in living cells. We report that MutS dynamics are heterogeneous in cells, with one MutS population exploring the nucleoid rapidly, while another MutS population moves to and transiently dwells at the replisome region, even in the absence of appreciable mismatch formation. Analysis of MutS motion shows that the speed of MutS is correlated with its separation distance from the replisome and that MutS motion slows when it enters the replisome region. We also show that mismatch detection increases MutS speed, supporting the model for MutS sliding clamp formation after mismatch recognition. Using variants of MutS and the replication processivity clamp to impair mismatch repair, we find that MutS dynamically moves to and from the replisome before mismatch binding to scan for errors. Furthermore, a block to DNA synthesis shows that MutS is only capable of binding mismatches near the replisome. It is well-established that MutS engages in an ATPase cycle, which is necessary for signaling downstream events. We show that a variant of MutS with a nucleotide binding defect is no longer capable of dynamic movement to and from the replisome, showing that proper nucleotide binding is critical for MutS to localize to the replisome in vivo. Our results provide mechanistic insight into the trafficking and movement of MutS in live cells as it searches for mismatches.
Compact MMIC-Compatible RF MEMS Switch

Abstract We have fabricated and tested a surface micromachined, metal-metal contacting radio frequency microelectromechanical systems (RF MEMS) switch. The switch was fabricated out of electroplated metals onsemi-insulating GaAs at process temperatures below 300°C. It was anchored by folded springs to one end of acoplanar waveguide (CPW) gap, forming a cantilever. This configuration allowed us to simplify the fabrication process by eliminating mechanical dielectric films that are normally necessary to isolate the switch contact from theactuation metal. The measured insertion loss and isolation at S band were 0.21 dB and 28 dB isolation, respectively. An average switching speed of 83 jis at 55 volts was measured. This switch demonstrated >i0 cold switching cycles without sticking, however rapid increase of the contact resistance was observed. A new switch was designed to increase isolation and reduce insertion loss by decreasing the coupling capacitance and increasing the contact force.
CRYSTAL MIMICS IN CULTURES OF DERMATOPHYTES.

Formation of crystal mimics, macroconidia-like and perithecium-like structures, is described in cultures of dermatophytes in hair-on-soil cultures and on Sabouraud glucose agar. The way how to recognize these mimics in white and in polarized light is discussed. The abundant crystal formation and the necessity to recognize it in the “mycotheca in chlorallactophenol” is underscored.