cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Towards a Cortical Prosthesis: Implementing A Spike-Based HMAX Model of Visual Object Recognition in Silico

Object recognition and categorization are computationally difficult tasks that are performed effortlessly by humans. Attempts have been made to emulate the computations in different parts of the primate cortex to gain a better understanding of the cortex and to design brain–machine interfaces that speak the same language as the brain. The HMAX model proposed by Riesenhuber and Poggio and extended by Serre attempts to truly model the visual cortex. In this paper, we provide a spike-based implementation of the HMAX model, demonstrating its ability to perform biologically-plausible MAX computations as well as classify basic shapes. The spike-based model consists of 2514 neurons and 17 $\thinspace$ 305 synapses (S1 Layer: 576 neurons and 7488 synapses, C1 Layer: 720 neurons and 2880 synapses, S2 Layer: 576 neurons and 1152 synapses, C2 Layer: 640 neurons and 5760 synapses, and Classifier: 2 neurons and 25 synapses). Without the limits of the retina model, it will take the system 2 min to recognize rectangles and triangles in 24 $\,\times\,$ 24 pixel images. This can be reduced to 4.8 s by rearranging the lookup table so that neurons which have similar responses to the same input(s) can be placed on the same row and affected in parallel.
Understanding the transition between conventional spark-ignited combustion and HCCI in a gasoline engine

We describe experimental observations of the gradual transition between conventional spark-ignited (SI) propagating flame combustion and homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) in a singlecylinder, stoichiometrically fueled gasoline engine. Our objective is to better understand the transition process in terms of characteristic changes to the combustion stability as indicated by patterns of cyclic variations. The transition was experimentally achieved by incrementally adjusting the level of internal exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) using variable exhaust valve actuation. Throttle adjustments were also made to maintain a constant fueling rate. For low levels of EGR, conventional spark ignition was stable, while at the highest EGR levels, HCCI was stable. The spark was used to ignite conventional combustion and was optionally available during HCCI. The character of the cyclic combustion oscillations that occurred between the conventional and HCCI limits suggests that it can be described as a sequence of bifurcations in a low-dimensional dynamic map. Comparisons with previous studies of lean-limit cyclic variations suggest that nonlinear EGR feedback is probably a major factor in these dynamics. Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of The Combustion Institute.
SPSSI and Poverty: Reflections at Seventy-Five

This article highlights efforts by the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI) and its members to increase understanding of poverty and social class, and to propose policies to reduce economic inequities. Our review is based on writings about poverty and social class published in SPSSI journals and newsletters, and other activities from SPSSI’s beginnings in 1936 to the present. Both strengths and shortcomings in SPSSI’s economic justice record are noted. Special attention is given to the 1930s and the 1960s–1970s, periods in which poverty was a salient topic in the United States. SPSSI’s role in advocating for institutional change within the American Psychological Association is also considered. We close with a “wish list” for SPSSI’s next 75 years. From the Great Depression to the current post-“welfare reform” landscape, social scientists have studied economic inequality and sought to inform antipoverty policy. The focus of anti-poverty initiatives and their perceived success remain highly contested, reflecting deep-rooted differences in both the perceived causes of economic inequality and potential remedies.
In-Situ Neutron Radiography of Water Freezing in a GDL

Research in fuel cells has increased considerably in the past 10 years largely due to the desire to develop dependable, low emission, and inexpensive alternatives to internal combustion engines. Already deployed in industrial applications as backup power, the widespread utilization of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) in automobiles has long been a promising prospect. In order to make fuel cells a viable option for such an application, issues of water management must be addressed. Of particular importance in automobile applications is the problem of water within the cathode gas diffusion layer (GDL) and cathode channels freezing in cold temperatures while the car is off. Freezing not only damages the membrane electrode assembly (MEA), it also hinders normal startup and operation of the fuel cell. Neutron radiography has proven effective for imaging the water transport in a fuel cell. Neutrons can easily move through many metals but are heavily attenuated by the hydrogen content of water. This has been shown to be a valuable tool for detecting water in fuel cells. By using neutron radiography the dynamics of water production and movement within a fuel cell can be imaged during normal operation. In this research we take this approach one step further by taking advantage of the water phase density changes to image the freezing dynamics within a fuel cell using neutron radiography. This imaging will aid in the design of MEAs and bipolar plates to be used in cold temperatures. The nuclear research reactor at the University of Texas at Austin includes a neutron radiography system that uses a scintillator screen and a CCD camera. This system has been shown to have sufficient mass resolution to image the small density changes observed in water freezing within a thin GDL. A fuel cell mock-up capable of replicating water production and air usage in a fully functional PEMFC was developed and employed to observe the effects of freezing temperatures on the GDL and bipolar plate channels. Preliminary results show that neutron radiography is well suited for imaging freezing within a fuel cell. This methodology will be further employed in the study of water freezing within the GDL and cathode channels in a fully working PEMFC.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Integrated risk management under deregulation

The paper draws lessons from the California power crisis and the recent fall of Enron and promotes integrated risk management. A general framework for integrated risk management is proposed, with the major risks listed for the deregulated energy industry. The risks are categorized into five classes-people, business, finance, shocks and information related risks. A general procedure and two risk assessment methods are also introduced for integrated risk management.
Concepts for regulation of axon integrity by enwrapping glia

Long axons and their enwrapping glia (Schwann cells and oligodendrocytes) form a unique compound structure that serves as conduit for transport of electric and chemical information in the nervous system. The peculiar cytoarchitecture over an enormous length as well as its substantial energetic requirements make this conduit particularly susceptible to detrimental alterations. Degeneration of long axons independent of neuronal cell bodies is observed comparatively early in a range of neurodegenerative conditions as a consequence of abnormalities in Schwann cells and oligodendrocytes. This leads to the most relevant disease symptoms and highlights the critical role that these glia have for axon integrity, but the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. The quest to understand why and how axons degenerate is now a crucial frontier in disease-oriented research. This challenge is most likely to lead to significant progress if the inextricable link between axons and their flanking glia in pathological situations is recognized. In this review I compile recent advances in our understanding of the molecular programs governing axon degeneration, and mechanisms of enwrapping glia’s non-cell autonomous impact on axon-integrity. A particular focus is placed on emerging evidence suggesting that enwrapping glia nurture long axons by virtue of their intimate association, release of trophic substances, and neurometabolic coupling. The correction of defects in these functions has the potential to stabilize axons in a variety of neuronal diseases in the peripheral and central nervous system.
Rapid Developmental Maturation of Neocortical FS Cell Intrinsic Excitability

Fast-spiking (FS) cells are a prominent subtype of neocortical γ-aminobutyric acidergic interneurons that mediate feed-forward inhibition and the temporal sculpting of information transfer in neural circuits, maintain excitation/inhibition balance, and contribute to network oscillations. FS cell dysfunction may be involved in the pathogenesis of disorders such as epilepsy, autism, and schizophrenia. Mature FS cells exhibit coordinated molecular and cellular specializations that facilitate rapid responsiveness, including brief spikes and sustained high-frequency discharge. We show that these features appear during the second and third postnatal weeks driven by upregulation of K(+) channel subunits of the Kv3 subfamily. The low membrane resistance and fast time constant characteristic of FS cells also appears during this time, driven by expression of a K(+) leak current mediated by K(ir)2 subfamily inward rectifier K(+) channels and TASK subfamily 2-pore K(+) channels. Blockade of this leak produces dramatic depolarization of FS cells suggesting the possibility for potent neuromodulation. Finally, the frequency of FS cell membrane potential oscillations increases during development and is markedly slower in TASK-1/3 knockout mice, suggesting that TASK channels regulate FS cell rhythmogenesis. Our findings imply that some of the effects of acidosis and/or anesthetics on brain function may be due to blockade of TASK channels in FS cells.
Planetary-Scale Preconditioning for the Onset of Blocking

Abstract The local preconditioning of the midtropospheric planetary-scale flow prior to the onset of a blocking episode during January 1985 is investigated. The preconditioned flow is anomalously diffluent, or characterized by anomalously negative planetary-scale, geostrophic stretching deformation. This deformation increases in magnitude with time during the transition to blocking; this tendency in turn is quasigeostrophically forced by the shape of the planetary-scale component of potential vorticity transports. In particular, the planetary-scale component of potential vorticity advection that became increasingly anticyclonic with eastward distance at a rate that increased northward near the block-onset region forced the local planetary-scale flow to become more diffluent prior to blocking. Self-interactions among the synoptic-scale waves and synoptic-to-planetary-scale interactions contributed more importantly than self-interactions among planetary-scale waves to this preconditioning. In the frequency ...
Neuromuscular junctions in the buccal mass of Aplysia: fine structure and electrophysiology of excitatory transmission

The lower extrinsic protractor muscle in the buccal mass of Aplysia consists of bundles of muscle fibers 4--12 mu in diameter, containing thick and thin filaments that are not arranged in a transversely striated pattern. Individual fibers come close to one another and form specialized junctional regions. Electrophysiological evidence indicates that the muscle fibers form an electrical cyncytium. Muscle bundles are innervated by more than one excitatory axon at a number of points along their length. The presynaptic terminals contain spherical electron-lucent vesicles and a few larger electron-dense vesicles. There are no obvious structural postsynaptic specializations. Graded contraction can result from summation of excitatory junctional potentials in separate axons or from summation and facilitation of junctional potentials from a single axon. The buildup of facilitation during a train of stimuli results from the linear summation of facilitation remaining from preceding impulses.
NLRP1 Is an Inflammasome Sensor for Toxoplasma gondii

ABSTRACT The obligate intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii is able to infect nearly all nucleated cell types of warm-blooded animals. This is achieved through the injection of hundreds of parasite effectors into the host cell cytosol, allowing the parasite to establish a vacuolar niche for growth, replication, and persistence. Here we show that Toxoplasma infection actives an inflammasome response in mice and rats, an innate immune sensing system designed to survey the host cytosol for foreign components leading to inflammation and cell death. Oral infection with Toxoplasma triggers an inflammasome response that is protective to the host, limiting parasite load and dissemination. Toxoplasma infection is sufficient to generate an inflammasome response in germfree animals. Interleukin 1β (IL-1β) secretion by macrophage requires the effector caspases 1 and 11, the adapter ASC, and NLRP1, the sensor previously described to initiate the inflammasome response to Bacillus anthracis lethal factor. The allele of NLRP1b derived from 129 mice is sufficient to enhance the B6 bone marrow-derived macrophage (BMDM) inflammasome response to Toxoplasma independent of the lethal factor proteolysis site. Moreover, N-terminal processing of NLRP1b, the only mechanism of activation known to date, is not observed in response to Toxoplasma infection. Cumulatively, these data indicate that NLRP1 is an innate immune sensor for Toxoplasma infection, activated via a novel mechanism that corresponds to a host-protective innate immune response to the parasite.
Effect of pretreatment on a platinized tin oxide catalyst used for low-temperature Co oxidation

A commercial platinized tin oxide catalyst used for low-temperature CO oxidation has been characterized using ion scattering spectroscopy (ISS), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and Electron Spectroscopy for Chemical Analysis (ESCA) before and after reduction in 40 Torr of CO for 1 hour at various temperatures from 75 to 175 C. The reduction results in loss of surface oxygen, formation of metallic tin, conversion of platinum oxides to Pt-O-Sn and Pt(OH)2 and a small amount of metallic Pt which alloys with the tin. These results should be useful in understanding how the pretreatment temperature affects the catalytic activity of platinized tin oxide toward CO oxidation.
Promoting attentional health: importance to women's lives.

Promoting attentional health is an important opportunity to support and empower women to actively participate in their own health care and function effectively in multiple roles. Attention, the ability to focus or concentrate, is a necessary cognitive resource used throughout the life span in participating in self-health care. However, women can inadvertently overuse this essential capacity, especially when responding to life’s multiple demands, resulting in mental or attentional fatigue. When women experience this mental fatigue, many daily activities, including self-health care, are more difficult. An attentional perspective in women’s health allows approaches to improve daily functioning and reduce the risk of attentional fatigue. In this article we present the conceptual dimensions of directed attention and its relevance to women’s health; practice and research implications are identified.
Sequential and morphological analyses of aberrant crypt foci formation in mice of differing susceptibility to azoxymethane-induced colon carcinogenesis.

Aberrant crypt foci (ACF), putative preneoplastic lesions, are early morphological changes induced by the colon carcinogen azoxymethane (AOM). Although inbred mice differ markedly in their susceptibility to AOM carcinogenesis, we have previously shown that ACF develop in both resistant and sensitive mouse strains after AOM treatment. The purpose of this study was to examine the sequential development and identify the morphological characteristics of ACF induced by AOM in the distal colon of sensitive and resistant mice. A/J (highly susceptible), SWR/J (relatively susceptible) and AKR/J (resistant) mice were treated with 10 mg/kg AOM or saline i.p. once a week for 6 weeks and were killed at 1, 2, 4, 6, 9 and 24 weeks after the last injection. The distal colons were stained with methylene blue and the numbers of ACF and tumors determined. Tumors were present as early as 4 weeks after AOM exposure in SWR/J and A/J mice and increased in frequency throughout the study in both strains. No tumors developed in the AKR/J mice. ACF, however, formed in all strains of mice. The greatest difference between susceptible and resistant strains was in the number of large ACF that developed at later time points. Furthermore, morphometric analysis revealed that A/J mice had the highest percentage of dysplastic ACF, followed by SWR/J mice. These data indicate that the difference in cancer risk from AOM may be due to the lack of progression of smaller ACF in the resistant mice and to the development of dysplasia in a higher percentage of ACF from susceptible strains.
Recommendations for Training in Pediatric Psychology: Defining Core Competencies Across Training Levels

OBJECTIVE: As a field, pediatric psychology has focused considerable efforts on the education and training of students and practitioners. Alongside a broader movement toward competency attainment in professional psychology and within the health professions, the Society of Pediatric Psychology commissioned a Task Force to establish core competencies in pediatric psychology and address the need for contemporary training recommendations. METHODS: The Task Force adapted the framework proposed by the Competency Benchmarks Work Group on preparing psychologists for health service practice and defined competencies applicable across training levels ranging from initial practicum training to entry into the professional workforce in pediatric psychology. RESULTS: Competencies within 6 cluster areas, including science, professionalism, interpersonal, application, education, and systems, and 1 crosscutting cluster, crosscutting knowledge competencies in pediatric psychology, are presented in this report. CONCLUSIONS: Recommendations for the use of, and the further refinement of, these suggested competencies are discussed. Language: en
Synthesis of tryptophan derivatives via a palladium-catalyzed N-heteroannulation

Abstract Tryptophan derivatives were prepared from 2-(2-nitrophenyl)-2-propen-1-yl substituted pyrazines, derived from Schollkopf’s chiral auxiliary, using a palladium-catalyzed, carbon monoxide-mediated reductive N-heteroannulation reaction. A diastereomeric ratio of products ranging from 4:1 to >30:1 was observed.
WORLD BANK'S ROLE IN REDUCING IMPACTS OF DISASTERS

The mission of the World Bank is to fight poverty. An important part of this mission is to assist developing countries to prepare for and recover from natural disasters. The World Bank has a long tradition of supporting the disaster management efforts of its client countries. Between 1980 and 1998, the Bank approved approximately 200 operations related to natural disasters, amounting to more than $14 billion in loans. These figures include both postdisaster reconstruction operations as well as projects with com- ponents to mitigate losses before disaster strikes. In recent years, the Bank has placed more emphasis on integrating disaster prevention and mitigation measures into its development activities. After a discussion of the costs of disasters and how they relate to the Bank's mission, this article discusses the Bank's expe- rience in providing disaster-related assistance, provides information on current Bank initiatives aimed at making disaster reduction a central component of development, and discusses the future direction of the Bank's disaster risk-management agenda.
Arfs and membrane lipids: sensing, generating and responding to membrane curvature

Arf family GTP-binding proteins function in the regulation of membrane-trafficking events and in the maintenance of organelle structure. They act at membrane surfaces to modify lipid composition and to recruit coat proteins for the generation of transport vesicles. Arfs associate with membranes through insertion of an N-terminal myristoyl moiety in conjunction with an adjacent amphipathic alpha-helix, which embeds in the lipid bilayer when Arf1 is GTP-bound. In this issue of the Biochemical Journal, Lundmark et al. report that myristoylated Arfs in the presence of GTP bind to and cause tubulation of liposomes, and that GTP exchange on to Arfs is more efficient in the presence of liposomes of smaller diameter (increased curvature). These findings suggest that Arf protein activation and membrane interaction may initiate membrane curvature that will be enhanced further by coat proteins during vesicle formation.
Impact of photonic-electronic integration in networking and computing systems

We will review the progress and impact of photonic integration, and address the progress, challenges, and future prospects of photonic-electronic integration in networking and computing systems. Technologies include silicon CMOS photonics and InP, GaAs OEICs.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE ACUTE PHASE RESPONSE AND ANTIBODY PRODUCTION IN THE RABBIT I. CORRELATION BETWEEN THE EARLY APPEARANCE OF CX-REACTIVE PROTEIN AND SUBSEQUENT ANTIBODY PRODUCTION

It has been found that some rabbits respond to the administration of either human C-reactive protein or human gamma globulin with the production of an acute phase substance, Cx-reactive protein. A correlation was found to exist between the amount of Cx-protein produced and the subsequent production of significant titers of precipitating antibody to the two antigens employed.
Culturally Relevant Practice

This article presents a framework for culturally relevant practice that prepares students to assess the impact of institutionalized oppression on their clients, develop interventions that reduce the negative effects of sustained oppression, and empower clients to challenge existing oppressive conditions. The framework was developed as a synthesis of recurring themes from the literature on several oppressed groups, and, the author suggests, is broad enough to apply to clients from different marginalized groups. Suggestions for teaching the framework in practice courses — including assignments to evaluate student applications of the framework — are also provided.
Managed Care and the Practice of the Professions

We owe Professor Pellegrino (2002) and Professor Boisaubin (2002) a debt of gratitude for bringing to light a number of difficulties faced by the medical profession in addressing the new framework of managed care. I have a great deal of sympathy for much of what they say. In this paper, however, I plan to focus not so much on the specifics they address, as on a more general issue. Managed care introduces new moral quandaries into the profession of medicine -- so much so as to put the profession itself in jeopardy, on Dr. Pellegrino’s account. In this paper I plan to focus primarily on providing a framework for understanding the professions and professional ethics at a high level of generality. I think the framework I will provide helps us to give conceptual shape to the work of Pellegrino and Boisaubin, and also to raise some critical questions about the relationship between the profession of medicine and its institutional structures. These are questions I will raise at the conclusion of the paper.
Biopolitics, Dominance, and Critical Theory

This paper introduces biopolitical theories of human dominance, hierarchy, and obedience rooted in evolutionary theory to suggest that critical theorists were accurate in their analysis of the domination and control that fosters false consciousness and one-dimensional life. The work of Noelle-Neumann on the “silencing” of public opinion provides further support for biopolitical and critical theory and our potential for obedience to authority. The theoretical analysis closes with possibilities for practice.
Taxing and Untaxing Land: Current Use Assessment of Farmland

The author says that taxing farmland at current-use value is not enough to preserve farmland. The perceived unfairness of taxing land on the basis of its most profitable use is a complaint against all market-value assessment, not just that of agricultural land, she says.
The therapeutic use of endoscopic ultrasonography in pediatric patients is safe: A case series.

Background/Aim: Despite the safety and high diagnostic yield of endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration (EUS FNA) for the evaluation of gastrointestinal diseases in adults, literature discussing the therapeutic use of EUS FNA in pediatrics remains limited. This study reports our experience with the use of EUS in children with pancreaticobiliary disorders. Patients and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted to evaluate safety, clinical utility, and impact of therapeutic EUS on the management of children (<18 years) at a tertiary referral center. Data were collected from January 1, 2011, to April 30, 2014. Patient demographics, clinical characteristics, and EUS procedure data were reviewed. Continuous variables were described using the mean and standard deviation. Categorical variables were described using frequencies and percentages. Results: A total of 6 therapeutic EUS procedures were performed in 5 children (3 F/2 M). The mean age was 13 years (range 6–17) with a mean body mass index of 28.2 (range 18.5–38.8). The indications for EUS procedures were abdominal pain with chronic pancreatitis (3) and management of symptomatic pancreaticobiliary cysts/pseudocysts observed on previous imaging (3). All procedures were performed under general anesthesia. The 6 therapeutic procedures performed were celiac plexus block (3), cyst gastrostomy with stents placement (2), and cyst aspiration using EUS FNA (1). A celiac plexus block effectively relieved abdominal pain in 2 patients with chronic pancreatitis. Cyst gastrostomy successfully resulted in pseudocyst resolution in the follow up imaging of 2 patients (up to 6 months after the procedure). Cyst aspiration with EUS guided FNA resulted in cyst resolution and confirmation of the benign nature of the cyst in 1 patient. All the procedures were successfully completed with no reported complications. Conclusion: The therapeutic use of endoscopic ultrasound in the pediatric population is safe and has a high success rate.
Filament Fragmentation Phenomena

The effect of fiber surface treatments on the relationship between the tensile strength of a filament and the shear strength of its interphase is one of the central issues facing composite materials technologists today. We demonstrate here that analysis of fragmentation phenomena in monofilament composites can simultaneously yield information about these two parameters. Characterization of shear stress transfer zones in non-critical fragments has led us to the determination of interphase strength. A phenomenological treatment that highlights the role of the matrix in the fragmentation process is presented here. This analysis considers issues such as the strain energy exchange between a failing fiber and the matrix, as well as interphase relaxation due to the viscoelastic nature of the matrix. Our observations of the fragmentation phenomena in AU4/polycarbonate monofilament composites indicate that the fiber/matrix interaction in this system is governed by micromechanical locking.
Microscale liquid dynamics and the effect on macroscale propagation in pillar arrays.

Liquid dynamics in micropillar arrays have received significant fundamental interest and have offered opportunities for the development of advanced microfluidic, thermal management, and energy-harvesting devices. However, a comprehensive understanding of complex liquid behavior and the effect on macroscopic propagation rates in micropillar arrays is needed. In this work, we investigated the microscopic sweeping behavior of the liquid front along the spreading direction in micropillar arrays where the sweeping distance scales with the one-fifth power of time. We explain the scaling with a simplified model that captures the capillary pressure gradient at the liquid front. Furthermore, we show that such microscopic dynamics is the mechanism that decreases the macroscopic propagation rate. This effect is a result of the reduction in the interfacial energy difference used to generate the capillary pressure, which is explained with an energy-based model and corroborated with experiments. The results indicate th...
Boosting the efficiency of quantum dot sensitized solar cells through modulation of interfacial charge transfer.

The demand for clean energy will require the design of nanostructure-based light-harvesting assemblies for the conversion of solar energy into chemical energy (solar fuels) and electrical energy (s...
IMPROVING NURSING DOCUMENTATION

Background Audits in 2008 and 2009 show documentation was incomplete in 50% and 57% of cases: below an ideal standard of 91–100%. Omissions were due to poor utility by nurses and unsuitable pro-forma design, (duplication, lack of clarity, haphazard) and time consuming when transcribing to additional sheets at discharge. Nurses re-designed their pages which redressed problems highlighted and facilitated its use at discharge to community Health Care Professionals (HCPs). The resultant pro-forma was audited. Aim To ascertain completion of the new documentation compared with previous audits, confirm its use to community HCPs, and identify areas for improvement. Method The documentation was audited retrospectively using a copy of the pro-forma as the audit tool. Analysis was RAG rated: RED less than 70% completed, least acceptable, actions required. AMBER 70% – 90% completed, acceptable but scope for improvement. GREEN 91% – 100% completed, ideal standard. Results 15 sets of notes were audited (65% of one month9s admissions). Data were collected on pages completed by nurses, which totalled 117 fields. Overall, 74% of the fields achieved either GREEN or AMBER status with the remaining 26% in the RED. Information commonly omitted related to community services, such as was the patient registered as ‘palliative’ with their out-of-hours GP provider, community HCP9s contact details, and care planning post discharge. Data missing on admission included; co-morbidities, metastasises, contact numbers and expected discharge date. Results for tests/investigations were not documented in most cases. Each patient9s community HCPs were sent a copy on discharge. Conclusion Significant improvements made using the new documentation; 26% in the RED compared with 100% in both pervious audits. Patient information is more succinct, de-duplicated, streamlined, and comprehensive enough to use at discharge to community HCPs; a survey of the latter underway. Nurses encouraged, and are, more diligent in recording information. Community information pending further review.
Unilateral Cystic Parotid Lesion in a Middle-Aged Man.

A nonsmoking man in his 40s with hypertension and diabetes mellitus type 2 reported a 1-year history of a mass in the region of his left parotid gland that had been steadily increasing in size. There was no associated pain, facial numbness, or weakness. Multiple aspirations of the mass had been performed, which would temporarily decrease the size. On examination, the mass was freely mobile, the facial nerve was intact bilaterally, and there was no palpable lymphadenopathy. Results from fine-needle aspiration 6 months prior to presentation were consistent with a cystic oncocytic neoplasm, and computed tomography revealed a 1.9 × 1.5 × 2.1-cm, well-circumscribed ovoid lesion in the anterior aspect of the superficial lobe of the left parotid gland (Figure, A). A left superficial parotidectomy was performed under general anesthesia with facial nerve dissection and facial nerve monitoring. No complications were encountered. Postoperative pathological analysis revealed a cystic, cribriform, papillary neoplastic growth with low-grade cytologic features and nearly complete myoepithelial rims (Figure, B and C). Calponin and p63 staining were positive in the myoepithelium surrounding the tumor nests (Figure, D), S-100was positive within the tumor, and the Ki-67 rate was approximately 5%. Extracellular mucin and occasional mucous cells were also noted. Margins were clear, and there was no evidence of perineural spread or lymphovascular invasion. The patient tolerated the procedure well, recovered appropriately, and was free of complications at his first follow-up appointment. CT image A
Workforce diversity and community-responsive health-care institutions.

While the levers for the social determinants of health reside largely outside institutional walls, this does not absolve health professional schools from exercising their influence to improve the c...
Speeding up an overrelaxation method of division in Radix-2n machine

For normalized floating point division, digital computers can take advantage of a division process that uses an iterative multiplying operation instead of repeated subtractions. An improvement of this division process by using accelerating constants in the overrelaxation has previously been proposed. Multiplication by a chosen accelerating constant accelerates the process of generating accurate digits of a quotient in division. We propose a further improvement by generalizing the accelerating constants in the overrelaxation method. Two benefits resulting from this improvement promise to yield faster division in digital computers.
Inelastic Scattering of N2 from Water Ice

We present the results from a study of the inelastic scattering of N2 from water ice performed using time- and state-resolved molecular-beam and laser spectroscopic techniques. For low incident ene...
Gross Hematuria Requiring Nephrectomy in Rejected Renal Transplants

AbstractWe report 2 cases of profuse hemorrhage from the urinary tract in patients with nonfunctioning rejected renal allografts. In both cases the etiology of the hematuria was hemorrhagic pyelitis of the transplanted kidney secondary to ischemia. Following transplant nephrectomy both patients continued on dialysis without further complications or sequelae.
Compartmentalized HIV rebound in the central nervous system after interruption of antiretroviral therapy

To design effective eradication strategies, it may be necessary to target HIV reservoirs in anatomic compartments other than blood. This study examined HIV RNA rebound following interruption of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to determine whether the central nervous system (CNS) might serve as an independent source of resurgent viral replication. Paired blood and CSF samples were collected longitudinally from 14 chronically HIV-infected individuals undergoing ART interruption. HIV env (C2-V3), gag (p24) and pol (reverse transcriptase) were sequenced from cell-free HIV RNA and cell-associated HIV DNA in blood and CSF using the Roche 454 FLX Titanium platform. Comprehensive sequence and phylogenetic analyses were performed to search for evidence of unique or differentially represented viral subpopulations emerging in CSF supernatant as compared with blood plasma. Using a conservative definition of compartmentalization based on four distinct statistical tests, nine participants presented a compartmentalized HIV RNA rebound within the CSF after interruption of ART, even when sampled within 2 weeks from viral rebound. The degree and duration of viral compartmentalization varied considerably between subjects and between time-points within a subject. In 10 cases, we identified viral populations within the CSF supernatant at the first sampled time-point after ART interruption, which were phylogenetically distinct from those present in the paired blood plasma and mostly persisted over time (when longitudinal time-points were available). Our data suggest that an independent source of HIV RNA contributes to viral rebound within the CSF after treatment interruption. The most likely source of compartmentalized HIV RNA is a CNS reservoir that would need to be targeted to achieve complete HIV eradication.
One Student at a Time: A Reflection of Support for a First-Year GSA Club and its Impact on Perceived Acceptance for LGBTQ Students

ABSTRACTDespite gains in the LGBTQ community, many schools still feel cold and unwelcoming for LGBTQ youth. Identity development is important for adolescents, but LGBTQ students often see the ability to freely share their identity limited in public education. Providing a gay–straight alliance (GSA) club within the school has been shown to increase feeling of acceptance and well-being for LGBTQ students. This article looks at the history of GSA in education, the positive and negative outcomes of LGBTQ inclusion and the author's personal reflection of successes and challenges as a sponsor for a GSA club during its inception year.
Phenotypic selection varies with pollination intensity across populations of Sabatia angularis

Summary Pollinators are considered primary selective agents acting on plant traits, and thus variation in the strength of the plant–pollinator interaction might drive variation in the opportunity for selection and selection intensity across plant populations. Here, we examine whether these critical evolutionary parameters covary with pollination intensity across wild populations of the biennial Sabatia angularis. We quantified pollination intensity in each of nine S. angularis populations as mean stigmatic pollen load per population. For female fitness and three components, fruit number, fruit set (proportion of flowers setting fruit) and number of seeds per fruit, we evaluated whether the opportunity for selection varied with pollination intensity. We used phenotypic selection analyses to test for interactions between pollination intensity and selection gradients for five floral traits, including flowering phenology. The opportunity for selection via fruit set and seeds per fruit declined significantly with increasing pollen receipt, as expected. We demonstrated significant directional selection on multiple traits across populations. We also found that selection intensity for all traits depended on pollination intensity. Consistent with general theory about the relationship between biotic interaction strength and the intensity of selection, our study suggests that variation in pollination intensity drives variation in selection across S. angularis populations.
INTERMACS Analysis of Stroke During Support With Continuous-Flow Left Ventricular Assist Devices: Risk Factors and Outcomes

Abstract Objectives This study sought to evaluate predictors of stroke during left ventricular assist device (LVAD) support from data available prior to implantation, and quantify stroke-related morbidity and mortality. Background Stroke is a major complication after LVAD. Pre-implant factors that influence stroke are not well understood. Methods We evaluated all patients in INTERMACS (Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support) who were implanted with continuous flow LVADs from May 1, 2012, to March 31, 2015. Pre-operative risk factors for stroke and stroke incidence, morbidity, and mortality were analyzed. Results During the study period, 7,112 patients underwent continuous flow LVAD placement. Median follow-up was 9.79 months (range 0.02 to 34.96 months). Of all patients, 752 (10.57%) had at least 1 stroke, with an incidence rate of 0.123 strokes per patient-year. A total of 447 (51.38%) strokes were ischemic and 423 (48.62%) were hemorrhagic. Patients with hemorrhagic stroke had worse survival than those with ischemic strokes (30-day survival: 45.3% vs. 80.7%; p Conclusions Despite improvements in LVAD technology, stroke-related morbidity and mortality is substantial. Further investigation is necessary to decrease the risk of this devastating complication.
Two-Factor Authentication with End-to-End Password Security

We present a secure two-factor authentication (TFA) scheme based on the possession by the user of a password and a crypto-capable device. Security is “end-to-end” in the sense that the attacker can attack all parts of the system, including all communication links and any subset of parties (servers, devices, client terminals), can learn users’ passwords, and perform active and passive attacks, online and offline. In all cases the scheme provides the highest attainable security bounds given the set of compromised components. Our solution builds a TFA scheme using any Device-Enhanced PAKE, defined by Jarecki et al., and any Short Authenticated String (SAS) Message Authentication, defined by Vaudenay. We show an efficient instantiation the modular, generic construction we give is not PAKE-agnostic because it doesn’t even use PAKE, but the instantiation of this scheme which instantiates DE-PAKE with PTR+PAKE is PAKE-agnostic as you say of this modular construction which utilizes any password-based client-server authentication method, with or without reliance on public-key infrastructure. The security of the proposed scheme is proven in a formal model that we formulate as an extension of the traditional PAKE model.
Use of Neural Response Telemetry for Pediatric Cochlear Implants: Current Practice.

Objectives:Evaluate usage trends of neural response telemetry (NRT) in cochlear implant centers across the nation and assess reported benefits of intraoperative NRT for pediatric cochlear implant r...
4‐(Trifluoromethyl)Pyridine

[3796-24-5] C6H4NF3 (147.10) InChI = 1S/C6H4F3N/c7-6(8,9)5-1-3-10-4-2-5/h1-4H InChIKey = IIYVNMXPYWIJBL-UHFFFAOYSA-N (building block in heterocycle synthesis) Physical Data: bp 107–110 °C; nD20 1.4147 Solubility: soluble in most organic solvents. Form Supplied in: colorless liquid. Analysis of Reagent Purity: GC, 1H NMR, 13C NMR. Preparative Methods: while the reagent is commercially available, there are two methods of preparation that can be adapted to the laboratory setting and may be flexible in accommodating more complex substitution about the pyridine ring. Addition of the allyl Grignard reagent to ethyl trifluoroacetate affords the tertiary alcohol 1. Ozonolysis and treatment with ammonia in methanol affords the title compound in 60% overall yield from ethyl trifluoroacetate (eq 1).1 (1) Alternatively, treatment of 4-iodopyridine with trifluoromethylcopper (eq 2) affords the title compound. While a variety of methods for the generation of the copper reagent is known,2-5 the most convenient method would seem to involve treatment of (trifluoromethyl)trimethylsilane with cuprous iodide and potassium fluoride.6 In the case of reaction 2, the isolated yield is 25%. (2) Purification: purification is carried out through either column chromatography or distillation. Handling, Storage and Precautions: as with most pyridine derivatives, the material should be considered hygroscopic, malodorous, and air sensitive.
Learning Strategies for Voice Disorder Detection

Voice disorder is a health issue that is frequently encountered, however, many patients either cannot afford to visit a professional doctor or neglect to take good care of their voice. In order to give a patient a preliminary diagnosis without using professional medical devices, previous research has shown that the detection of voice disorders can be carried out by utilizing machine learning and acoustic features extracted from voice recordings. Considering the increasing popularity of deep learning and feature learning, this study explores the possibilities of using these methods to assign voice recordings into one of the two classes-Normal and Pathological. While the results show the general viability of deep learning and feature learning for the automatic recognition of voice disorder, they also demonstrate the shortcomings of the existing datasets for this task such as insufficient dataset size and lack of generality.
Blind MIMO Cooperative Jamming: Secrecy via ISI Heterogeneity Without CSIT

We investigate the secure degrees of freedom (SDoF) of the multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) wiretap channel with intersymbol interference (ISI) in the presence of a multi-antenna cooperative jammer. We focus on the practically relevant setting with no channel state information at the transmitters (CSIT). More specifically, the legitimate transmitter and the cooperative jammer only have statistical knowledge of the channel in terms of the effective number of ISI channel taps, i.e., channel impulse response (CIR) lengths, toward the legitimate receiver and the eavesdropper. Our main contribution is to show that in the absence of CSIT, positive SDoF can be achieved by carefully exploiting: 1) the heterogeneity of the CIR lengths toward both receivers and 2) the relative number of antennas at the four terminals. To achieve secrecy, we propose a scheme in which the transmitter strategically sends a mixture of information and artificial noise symbols in a way that exploits the heterogeneity of CIR lengths. Additionally, the cooperative jammer transmits artificial noise symbols in a way that completely masks all the information symbols that are received at the eavesdropping node. Under the proposed scheme, positive SDoF can be achieved, even when the number of antennas at the legitimate receiver is less than the number of antennas at the eavesdropper.
Pediatric drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms: A systematic review of the literature.

Background Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) is a severe adverse drug reaction including integumentary and internal organs. An extensive literature review of DRESS in the pediatric population has not been performed. Methods A literature search was performed to find reports of pediatric DRESS published between 1997 and March 2019. If not already included, each case was scored based on RegiSCAR criteria. Only "probable" or "definite" cases of DRESS were included in the analysis, totaling 130 cases. Results In the pediatric population, the average age of diagnosis for DRESS was 8.7 years old. The most common causative drugs include antiepileptics (50%) and antibiotics (30.8%). Time from drug exposure to DRESS presentation averaged 23.8 days. Common clinical symptoms include rash (99.2%) (typically morbilliform (89.2%)), fever (96.2%), eosinophilia (90%), and lymphadenopathy (74.6%). Human herpesvirus-6 reactivation was observed in 16.1% of cases. The most commonly affected internal organ was the liver (80%), followed by the spleen (21.5%) and kidney (15.4%). Management strategies involved, either alone or in combination, included corticosteroids (intravenous 60.8% and oral 41.5%), intravenous immunoglobulins (12.3%), plasmapheresis (2.3%), and ganciclovir (1.5%). Long-term sequelae occurred in 10.8% of patients, most commonly hypothyroidism (3.8%), liver failure (3.1%), and diabetes (2.3%). The mortality rate was 5.4%. Conclusion This literature review highlights the presentation and course of pediatric DRESS. Morbilliform eruption, fever, and eosinophilia appear to be clinical hallmarks of pediatric DRESS. Common causative agents, specifically carbamazepine, are comparable to the adult population. Furthermore, the mortality rate from DRESS is significant and is similar between pediatric and adult patients.
An Interprofessional Nutrition Education Session for Senior Medical Students on Evidence-Based Diet Patterns and Practical Nutrition Tips

Introduction Dietary factors are recognized as a major contributor to the global burden of disease, and the obesity epidemic continues to be a major public health problem. Patients rely on doctors ...
Sound and constraint: Bangkok is ringing: sound, protest, and constraint, by Benjamin Tausig, Oxford & New York, Oxford University Press, 2019, 224 pp., $24.95 (Paperback), ISBN: 9780190847531

Benjamin Tausig’s Bangkok is Ringing: Sound, Protest, and Constraint is an immersion into “unresolved networks of sound and political energy” at the height of Thailand’s Red Shirt movement (2). Unf...