cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Research on College Teaching: The Historical Background.

Experimental research on college teaching began with single variable studies of class size and lecture vs. discussion. During the 1930s, research on student ratings of teachers began, and following World War II, studies of college teaching and learning became more common. In the decades from then to the 1980s, research moved to concern with a broader range of variables, to analyses of interactions between student and classroom variables, and to attention to processes as well as products resulting from teaching. Research on college teaching clearly meets Conant's criteria for a scientific field: progress in theory, methods, and established knowledge. Moreover, we now have demonstrated that educational research can contribute to educational practice. Has research on college teaching made progress? Conant (1947) argued that a field could be called scientific when knowledge has accumulated, progress is evident in the development of new conceptual schemes resulting from experiments and observations, and the conceptual schemes lead, in turn, to more research. He suggested that one of the tests of whether a field qualifies would be to imagine the reaction of the pioneers in the field if they were to be brought back to life and viewed the current status of the research and theory. Would they acknowledge that there had been progress?
An $$\mathcal O (N \log N)$$O(NlogN) Fast Direct Solver for Partial Hierarchically Semi-Separable Matrices

This article describes a fast direct solver (i.e., not iterative) for partial hierarchically semi-separable systems. This solver requires a storage of $$\mathcal O (N \log N)$$ O ( N log N ) and has a computational complexity of $$\mathcal O (N \log N)$$ O ( N log N ) arithmetic operations. The numerical benchmarks presented illustrate the method in the context of interpolation using radial basis functions. The key ingredients behind this fast solver are recursion, efficient low rank factorization using Chebyshev interpolation, and the Sherman---Morrison---Woodbury formula. The algorithm and the analysis are worked out in detail. The performance of the algorithm is illustrated for a variety of radial basis functions and target accuracies.
Speech perception by children with the Clarion (CIs) or nucleus 22 (SPEAK) cochlear implant or hearing aids.

Multichannel cochlear implants allow many children with prelingual (< 3 years of age) profound hearing loss to obtain high levels of speech perception. New devices and processing strategies provide substantial benefit to many children with cochlear implants (CIs). Two groups of children with profound prelingual hearing loss who received implants prior to the age of six participated in the study: (1) all children in the U.S. (N=179) who received a Clarion implant (CIS strategy) prior to June 1997 and participated in the clinical trials for FDA approval; and (2) all 40 children who received a Nucleus-22 implant (SPEAK strategy) and participated in the Indiana University CI program. Twenty-six children who wear hearing aids acted as the control group in the study. Speech perception was assessed with the Mr. Potato Head Test (Robbins, 1993) a modified open-set test of word recognition. Performance for the children who use CIs was compared to predictions from a linear regression analysis of chronological age on test score for the children who use hearing aids. By 12-18 months of implant use, average performance for the children with implants equaled average performance predicted for the children with hearing aids at the same chronological age. Significant differences were not found between the two groups of children who use implants, perhaps due to the small number of participants who were followed up to 18 months in this study.
Birth Weight, Stimulus Response and Hemodynamic Variability Implicate Racial (Black–White) Contrasts of Autonomic Control of Heart Rate and Blood Pressure and Related Cardiovascular Disease

The mechanisms controlling heart rate and blood pressure (BP) are quite complex. To some extent these hemodynamic variables are interrelated but observations from the Bogalusa Heart Study suggest different mechanisms are involved in their control and are influenced by ethnicity and gender. Heart rate seems to have a greater central autonomic control, being slower in black children than in white children, while risk factors, heart rate and BP are less associated with body fatness in blacks. Heart rate variability indicates a greater vagal control in blacks. The response of heart rate to stressors is greater in white children while the response of BP to various stimuli is greater in black children. Low birth weight is also associated with long-term BP variability. Also, the long term variability of BP is greater in blacks and is associated with development of left ventricular hypertrophy, evidence of variability having a greater impact on the cardiovascular system. Based on clinical observations BP obviously involves many mechanisms, i.e. arterial wall structure, endothelial function, nitric oxide production, the renin-angiotensin system, electrolytes and other. Although epidemiologic observations do not establish such mechanisms, they have implications of their existence. The racial contrasts help elucidate such mechanisms and help guide prevention strategies.
A new perspective on coastal hypoxia: The role of saline groundwater

Abstract Processes leading to the development of coastal hypoxia are usually attributed to anthropogenic nutrient loading. We present new evidence documenting a natural process capable of producing large-scale water masses undersaturated with respect to dissolved oxygen, independent of human-caused nutrient loading and subsequent nutrient-enhanced productivity. Along the heavily developed coastline of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, the offshore discharge of saline, anoxic groundwater generates undersaturated bottom water masses which can be advected into nearshore waters. Highly elevated radium isotope activities measured in low-oxygen bottom waters cannot be supported by any known terrestrial source. Rather, discharge of cold, anoxic, high-radium water from offshore carbonate aquifers is the likely source. Density stratification inhibits mixing of these discharged waters during inshore transport. During a low-oxygen event in August 2012, this restricted mixing is likely the mechanism for the observed oxygen deficit in bottom waters. This discovery suggests benthic layers undersaturated with respect to dissolved oxygen may be considerably more prevalent than currently recognized, particularly around the carbonate-platform of the US East Coast.
Eggshell Membrane-Derived Polysulfide Absorbents for Highly Stable and Reversible Lithium–Sulfur Cells

The carbonized eggshell membrane (CEM) powder with abundant micropores and high porosity is embedded within conventional sulfur cathodes (CEM-S cathodes) as a polysulfide (PS) absorbent for lithium–sulfur batteries. The CEM PS absorbent effectively limits the irreversible active material loss from CEM-S cathodes and prevents the formation of severe inactive agglomerations on the surface of the cathode during cycling. In addition to trapping the migrating PSs, the conductive and porous CEM facilitates efficient electron transport and electrolyte immersion, which ensures successive reactivation and reutilization of the trapped active material. As a result, the CEM-S cathodes with a reasonable sulfur content of 60 wt % exhibit a high capacity retention rate of 85% and a low capacity fade rate of 0.10% per cycle for 150 cycles. Such superior cycle stability suggests that natural starting materials with unique porous structures can be utilized to manufacture high-performance cell components for Li–S cells.
Assessing adequacy of collateral circulation during balloon test occlusion of the internal carotid artery with 99mTc-HMPAO SPECT

A balloon test occlusion of the internal carotid artery was performed in 11 patients with internal carotid artery aneurysms. Tolerance by patients was assessed by a combination of clinical examination; angiography; electroencephalography; 99mTc-hexamethylpropyleneamine oxime (99mTc-HMPAO) single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with relative quantification; and, in four patients, 99mTc-HMPAO SPECT with absolute quantification of cerebral blood flow. During test occlusion, angiography showed a patent circle of Willis in all patients. No patient developed new clinical findings or electroencephalographic changes. The SPECT studies of five patients in whom 99mTc-HMPAO was injected during test occlusion demonstrated changes from their baseline SPECT studies. The internal carotid artery was permanently occluded in two of these patients, neither of whom became symptomatic because of the occlusion. Three patients who demonstrated no changes between baseline and test occlusion SPECT studies underwent permanent occlusion of the internal carotid artery without incident, and postoperative SPECT images were unchanged from baseline. Our preliminary results suggest that patients who have no changes between baseline and test occlusion 99mTc-HMPAO SPECT studies should have adequate collateral circulation to sustain cerebral blood flow after occlusion of the internal carotid artery if no thromboembolic episodes occur. In contrast, a patient's tolerance of permanent occlusion cannot be consistently and reliably predicted if there are changes between baseline and test occlusion SPECT studies. In these patients, absolute quantitation of cerebral blood flow is important. Greater numbers of patients are required to confirm these initial results.
Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis.

Summary Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis is a disease that primarily affects the metaphyseal region of long bones in children. The clinical manifestations vary from a rapid onset of fever and chills, a limp, and pseudoparalysis to cases without systemic symptoms with only mild pain or swelling. Staphylococcus aureus is the most, common causative organism. Soft tissue x-ray views can be extremely helpful early in the course of the disease. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate is the most consistently elevated laboratory value and it is a good indicator of the efficacy of treatment. General supportive care with fluid replacement and temperature control is extremely important. Proper immobilization is required to relieve symptoms and prevent pathologic fractures. Antibiotics should be started as soon as cultures are obtained and given in high doses for three to four weeks intravenously, followed by an additional three weeks of oral administration. Surgical drainage is indicated when adequate medical management has failed to relieve systemic symptoms and the local disease process. Decompression occurs spontaneously in infants under two years of age, making surgical drainage of the bone unnecessary. Postoperative immobilization is essential until satisfactory bone healing has occurred.
Designing a Clinical Research Infrastructure

The design, conduct, and supervision of clinical research trials in the early twenty-first century American medical setting are increasingly complex processes. With increasing awareness that clinical trial outcomes must focus on clinically significant, rather than surrogate, outcomes, the need for larger multi-site extramurally funded studies is becoming more apparent. The administration of such studies requires careful attention to research personnel administration, careful and thorough financial accounting, and appropriate timely approval mechanisms. Institutions committed to long-term sustainable research programs will need to develop research infrastructures capable of proactive administration. This chapter provides guidelines for infrastructure development as well as specific examples from the authors’ institution.
Analysis of the AAMD Adaptive Behavior Scale: Public School Version.

Many state agencies have ruled that assignment of students to special education classes for the mentally retarded must be determined by assessment of verbal, performance, and adaptive behaviors. The AAMD Adaptive Behavior Scale: Public School Version was subjected to a normative and validation study using 291 subjects from the southcentral area of Texas. Data were collected from groups of regular and special education students, both white and nonwhite, at 8, 10, and 12 yr. of age. Results were compared to the original normative data provided in the AAMD manual and indicated that (1) the instrument is effective in discriminating between regular and special education groups; (2) a shortened version may be feasible and more practical; and (3) the derived total score may be useful and effective when used as a cut-off score for placement in special education for the mentally retarded.
Identification of the potent toxin bongkrekic acid in a traditional African beverage linked to a fatal outbreak.

Abstract In January 2015, 75 people died and 177 were hospitalized in the Mozambique village of Chitima after attending a funeral. The deaths were linked to the consumption of a traditional African beverage called pombe. Samples of the suspect pombe were subjected to myriad analyses and compared to a control sample. Ultimately, non-targeted liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry screening revealed the presence of the potent toxin bongkrekic acid, and its structural isomer, isobongkrekic acid. Quantitative analysis found potentially fatal levels of these toxins in the suspect pombe samples. Bongkrekic acid is known to be produced by the bacterium Burkholderia gladioli pv. cocovenenans . This bacterium could not be isolated from the suspect pombe, but bacteria identified as B. gladioli were isolated from corn flour, a starting ingredient in the production of pombe, obtained from the brewer's home. When the bacteria were co-plated with the fungus Rhizopus oryzae , which was also isolated from the corn flour, synergistic production of bongkrekic acid was observed. The results suggest a mechanism for bongkrekic acid intoxication, a phenomenon previously thought to be restricted to specific regions of Indonesia and China.
Handling stress may confound murine gut microbiota studies

Background Accumulating evidence indicates interactions between human milk composition, particularly sugars (human milk oligosaccharides or HMO), the gut microbiota of human infants, and behavioral effects. Some HMO secreted in human milk are unable to be endogenously digested by the human infant but are able to be metabolized by certain species of gut microbiota, including Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis (B. infantis), a species sensitive to host stress (Bailey & Coe, 2004). Exposure to gut bacteria like B. infantisduring critical neurodevelopment windows in early life appears to have behavioral consequences; however, environmental, physical, and social stress during this period can also have behavioral and microbial consequences. While rodent models are a useful method for determining causal relationships between HMO, gut microbiota, and behavior, murine studies of gut microbiota usually employ oral gavage, a technique stressful to the mouse. Our aim was to develop a less-invasive technique for HMO administration to remove the potential confound of gavage stress. Under the hypothesis that stress affects gut microbiota, particularly B. infantis, we predicted the pups receiving a prebiotic solution in a less-invasive manner would have the highest amount of Bifidobacteria in their gut. Methods This study was designed to test two methods, active and passive, of solution administration to mice and the effects on their gut microbiome. Neonatal C57BL/6J mice housed in a specific-pathogen free facility received increasing doses of fructooligosaccharide (FOS) solution or deionized, distilled water. Gastrointestinal (GI) tracts were collected from five dams, six sires, and 41 pups over four time points. Seven fecal pellets from unhandled pups and two pellets from unhandled dams were also collected. Qualitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to quantify and compare the amount of Bifidobacterium, Bacteroides, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes. Results Our results demonstrate a significant difference between the amount of Firmicutes in pups receiving water passively and those receiving FOS actively (p-value = 0.009). Additionally, we found significant differences between the fecal microbiota from handled and non-handled mouse pups. Discussion From our results, we conclude even handling pups for experimental purposes, without gavage, may induce enough stress to alter the murine gut microbiota profile. We suggest further studies to examine potential stress effects on gut microbiota caused by experimental techniques. Stress from experimental techniques may need to be accounted for in future gut microbiota studies.
Chapter 4 – 2-D Discrete-Space Transforms

The discrete Fourier series (DFS) is called “the Fourier transform for periodic sequences,” in that it plays the same role for them that the Fourier transform plays for nonperiodic (ordinary) sequences. The DFS also provides a theoretical stepping stone toward the DFT, which has great practical significance in signal and image processing as a Fourier transform for finite support sequences. This chapter examines discrete-space transforms such as discrete Fourier series, discrete Fourier transform (DFT), and discrete cosine transform (DCT) in two dimensions. The DFT is a heavily used tool in image and multidimensional signal processing. Block transforms can be obtained from scanning the data into small blocks and then performing the DFT or DCT on each block. The block DCT is used extensively in image and video compression for transmission and storage. Furthermore, this chapter considers the subband/wavelet transform (SWT), which can be considered as a generalization of the block DCT transform wherein the basis functions are allowed to overlap from block to block. These SWTs can also be considered as a generalization of the Fourier transform wherein resolution in space can be traded off versus resolution in frequency.
The Challenge of Foreign Fighter Returnees

This article explores the security challenges posed by foreign fighter returnees. It argues that—contrary to popular belief—most foreign fighters do not die on battlefields or travel from conflict ...
Was Kindergarten Left Behind? Examining US Kindergarten as the New First Grade in the Wake of No Child Left Behind

Since the passage of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) in 2001, public schools in the United States have witnessed an influx of reforms intended to elevate students’ academic standing in a global economy. The unprecedented federal involvement in education resulting from the passage of NCLB has propelled a nationwide movement to standardize instruction, raise achievement levels, and hold schools accountable for improved student outcomes. The kindergarten classroom has not been immune to these efforts. This critical review of literature published within the years 2001-2016 synthesizes empirical and theoretical research centered on US kindergarten post-NCLB. Connecting NCLB’s increased emphasis on standards and accountability to issues of kindergarten readiness, the role of academics, play, and developmental appropriateness in kindergarten, and changes in kindergarten literacy instruction, the author examines the complicated nature of teaching and learning in kindergarten in the wake of NCLB, with implications for research, policy, and practice.
Pharmacokinetic determinants in the design and evaluation of sustained-release dosage forms.

A new method employing the principle of superimposition was developed to aid in the formulation of sustained-release dosage forms. Independently absorbed components of a product, e.g., waxed pellets for an oral capsule, are administered separately and their plasma level-time profiles determined. Using a trial and error procedure, the ratios of pellets are varied to obtain a desired plasma level-time profile. The use of (1) time averaged plasma concentration-time data, (2) amount remaining to be absorbed (excreted) plots, and (3) cumulative amount absorbed (excreted) plots were all shown to be inappropriate for pharmacokinetic analyses in general, and evaluation of sustained-release products in particular. It was recommended that raw plasma concentration-time data be made available for sustained-released products, and that individual rate of absorption plots be used to assess absorption kinetics. It was concluded that much of the sustained-release pharmacokinetic data presently in the literature have been presented in such a manner, e.g. averaged data, as to be of limited value.
Testing in child custody evaluations: An overview of issues and uses

ABSTRACTThe use of tests in child custody evaluations is controversial. Few tests were designed specifically for use in the custody context or include norm samples of parents involved in custody disputes. Use of data derived from tests administered in the custody context can create both scientific and ethical concerns in some cases. However, surveys of child custody evaluators indicate that test usage is common and has in fact increased substantially over the past several decades. The current article reviews the literature regarding the use of tests with adults and children involved in custody disputes and cases with alleged intimate partner violence. Psychometric properties of commonly used tests are discussed, as well as the risks and limitations of test usage in custody evaluations.
Gardens in Stoppard, Austen, and Goethe

Three authors use landscape gardening in different ways. Tom Stoppard uses this activity to reveal the essence of different historical ages and to highlight the situation facing an intelligent woman in each era. Jane Austen uses attitudes toward landscape gardening to individualize her characters, and Goethe’s use is even more complex.
Oxidized Lipid Uptake by Scavenger Receptor CD36 (Cluster of Differentiation 36) Modulates Endothelial Surface Properties and May Contribute to Atherogenesis.

For many years, vascular biologists and pathologists have known that atherosclerosis is a spatially discontinuous disease; plaque tends to form in specific locations, especially branch points in large arteries, where blood flow is discontinuous and disordered. Furthermore, plaque formation progresses temporally from the proximal arterial tree to more distal vessels. It is also well known that vascular endothelial cells are sensitive to shear stress patterns and blood flow1 and, in fact, express a robust mechanosensory system made up of intracellular signaling pathways that are triggered by integrins, selectins, and cilia.2 Unidirectional flow in straight vessels, such as the distal aorta, is atheroprotective, whereas disordered flow (DF) at curvatures and branch points, such as the aortic arch, promotes inflammatory signaling, endothelial dysfunction, leukocyte recruitment, and plaque formation.3 An article by Le Master et al4 published in this issue of Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology presents elegant new data that helps integrate these observations into a pathogenic model that relates disordered blood flow to upregulated endothelial cell expression of the scavenger receptor CD36 (cluster of differentiation 36), increased uptake of oxidized lipids, and increased endothelial cell stiffness. See accompanying article on page 64 The …
Immuno-PET in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Imaging CD4-Positive T Cells in a Murine Model of Colitis

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) in humans are characterized in part by aberrant CD4-positive (CD4+) T-cell responses. Currently, identification of foci of inflammation within the gut requires invasive procedures such as colonoscopy and biopsy. Molecular imaging with antibody fragment probes could be used to noninvasively monitor cell subsets causing intestinal inflammation. Here, GK1.5 cys-diabody (cDb), an antimouse CD4 antibody fragment derived from the GK1.5 hybridoma, was used as a PET probe for CD4+ T cells in the dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) mouse model of IBD. Methods: The DSS mouse model of IBD was validated by assessing changes in CD4+ T cells in the spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) using flow cytometry. Furthermore, CD4+ T cell infiltration in the colons of colitic mice was evaluated using immunohistochemistry. 89Zr-labeled GK1.5 cDb was used to image distribution of CD4+ T cells in the abdominal region and lymphoid organs of mice with DSS-induced colitis. Region-of-interest analysis was performed on specific regions of the gut to quantify probe uptake. Colons, ceca, and MLNs were removed and imaged ex vivo by PET. Imaging results were confirmed by ex vivo biodistribution analysis. Results: An increased number of CD4+ T cells in the colons of colitic mice was confirmed by anti-CD4 immunohistochemistry. Increased uptake of 89Zr-maleimide-deferoxamine (malDFO)-GK1.5 cDb in the distal colon of colitic mice was visible in vivo in PET scans, and region-of-interest analysis of the distal colon confirmed increased activity in DSS mice. MLNs from colitic mice were enlarged and visible in PET images. Ex vivo scans and biodistribution confirmed higher uptake in DSS-treated colons (DSS, 1.8 ± 0.40; control, 0.45 ± 0.12 percentage injected dose [%ID] per organ, respectively), ceca (DSS, 1.1 ± 0.38; control, 0.35 ± 0.09 %ID per organ), and MLNs (DSS, 1.1 ± 0.58; control, 0.37 ± 0.25 %ID per organ). Conclusion:89Zr-malDFO-GK1.5 cDb detected CD4+ T cells in the colons, ceca, and MLNs of colitic mice and may prove useful for further investigations of CD4+ T cells in preclinical models of IBD, with potential to guide development of antibody-based imaging in human IBD.
El fin de la historia en la Nueva corónica y buen gobierno de Felipe Guaman Poma de Ayala

El mapamundi de la Nueva coronica y buen gobierno combina y celebra una gran constelacion de imagenes e ideas. Guaman Poma lo construye graficamente, aprovechando la representacion simbolica del espacio de la Europa medieval igual que la cosmologia y cosmografia andinas. Guaman Poma complementa la organizacion espacial del mapamundi pictorico con formulaciones de valor temporal: su conceptualizacion de tiempos pasados, “las edades del mundo” en la Nueva coronica, y la de tiempos futuros, en el capitulo de “Conzederaciones” morales en el Buen gobierno. Propongo que el enigmatico mapamundi es el apice de la obra, la culminacion simbolica que resume y condensa la compleja vision de su autor. Postulo, ademas, que el mapamundi presenta su conceptualizacion profetica del “fin de la historia,” es decir, el cumplimiento del destino historico y trascendental de “las Indias del Peru”.
Axon initial segments: structure, function, and disease

The axon initial segment (AIS) is located at the proximal axon and is the site of action potential initiation. This reflects the high density of ion channels found at the AIS. Adaptive changes to the location and length of the AIS can fine-tune the excitability of neurons and modulate plasticity in response to activity. The AIS plays an important role in maintaining neuronal polarity by regulating the trafficking and distribution of proteins that function in somatodendritic or axonal compartments of the neuron. In this review, we provide an overview of the AIS cytoarchitecture, mechanism of assembly, and recent studies revealing mechanisms of differential transport at the AIS that maintain axon and dendrite identities. We further discuss how genetic mutations in AIS components (i.e., ankyrins, ion channels, and spectrins) and injuries may cause neurological disorders.
BIOMASS PRODUCTION IN TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS

Abstract Forest biomass is the fresh or oven dry weight of the standing forest per unit area at some moment in time and biomass productivity is the accumulation of biomass per unit area per unit of time. Due to a variety of climatic and soils factors in the many terrestrial ecosystems biomass will range from 28-500 or more tons per hectare and biomass productivity will range from 0.1-715 tons per hectare per year. Estimation of the availability of forest biomass for microbial energy conversion must begin with a complete forest biomass inventory of all tree and woody shrub species for all components both above and below ground. Competing uses of forest land such as parks and natural areas, conventional uses of wood as well as potential new uses of forest vegetation and the cost of harvesting and transporting forest material must be considered. Forest residuals and forest industry residues will probably be the primary source of biomass for energy conversion. Even though this may be a small portion of the total terrestrial biomass it will be a significant amount provided adequate plans and arrangements are made to maintain a constant flow to microbial energy conversion plants.
Theory and Applications of Fuzzy Statistics

In this paper we develop the concept of typicality via the use of fuzzy statistical techniques for the analysis of imprecise data and knowledge. Many problems arising in scientific investigations generate data incorporating non-statistical uncertainty. In such instances a fuzzy axiomatic structure for dealing with such problems usually increase both their mathematical tractability and physical realism. In this paper we deal with the extension of analytical concepts based on real analysis to the theory of fuzzy sets. Specifically, we discuss the formulation of such a framework called the theory of typicality, and its applicability to the investigation of fuzzy systems. General principles can be applied to a variety of fields dealing with the problem of decision making in an imprecise environment in both science and engineering. The technique illustrates that the concepts introduced may be very useful in analyzing economic, urban, social, biological, and other human oriented systems as well as imprecise expert systems in science and engineering.
Clinical Use of the Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time and Prothrombin Time for Screening: A Review of the Literature and Current Guidelines for Testing

Although the activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time, and international normalized ratio are widely used in routine preoperative testing, these hemostatic tests are not reliable predictors of perioperative bleeding in patients without known bleeding risk factors. In contrast, a preoperative bleeding history and physical examination are usually obtained in an attempt to identify important bleeding risk factors. However, these coagulation tests are used extensively for monitoring anticoagulation with different pharmacologic agents.
Value of SPECT/CT for Sentinel Lymph Node Localization in the Parotid and External Jugular Chain.

ObjectivePreoperative single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) imaging may aid in the localization of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) in cutaneous head and neck maligna...
Greenhouse gas emissions and crop yield in no-tillage systems: A meta-analysis

Abstract No-tillage (NT) has been touted as one of several climate-smart agriculture (CSA) management practices that improve food security and enhance agroecosystem resilience to climate change. However, the sustainable effectiveness of NT greatly depends on trade-offs between NT-induced changes in crop yield and greenhouse gas (GHG, i.e. CH4, CO2, and N2O) emissions. Such trade-offs are regulated by climate fluctuations and heterogeneous soil conditions and have not been well addressed. Supporting CSA management decisions requires advancing our understanding of how NT affects crop yield and GHG emissions in different agroecological regions. In this study, a meta-analysis was conducted using 740 paired measurements from 90 peer-reviewed articles to assess the effects of NT on crop yield, GHG emissions, and the global warming potential (GWP) of major cereal cropping systems. Compared to conventional tillage (CT), NT reduced in GHG emissions and increased crop yield in dry, but not humid, climates, and reduced in the GWP at sites with acidic soils. Across different cropping systems, NT enhanced barley yield by 49%, particularly in dry climates, and it decreased the GWP of rice fields through a 22% reduction in both CO2 and CH4 emissions. Our synthesis suggests that NT is an effective CSA management practice because of its potential for climate change mitigation and crop yield improvement. However, the net effect of NT (relative to CT) was influenced by several environmental and agronomic factors (climatic conditions, tillage duration, soil texture, pH, crop species). Therefore, agroecological setting must be taken into consideration when conducting a comparative evaluation of different tillage practices.
A New Quantification Method Using Electrochemical Mass Spectrometry.

Mass spectrometry-based quantification method has advanced rapidly. In general, the methods for accurate quantification rely on the use of authentic target compounds or isotope-labeled compounds as standards, which might be not available or difficult to synthesize. To tackle this grand challenge, this paper presents a novel approach, based on electrochemistry (EC) combined with mass spectrometry (MS). In this approach, a target compound is allowed to undergo electrochemical oxidation and then subject to MS analysis. The oxidation current recorded from electrochemistry (EC) measurement provides information about the amount of the oxidized analyte, based on the Faraday’s Law. On the other hand, the oxidation reaction yield can be determined from the analyte MS signal changes upon electrolysis. Therefore, the total amount of analyte can be determined. In combination with liquid chromatography (LC), the method can be applicable to mixture analysis. The striking strength of such a method for quantitation is that neither standard compound nor calibration curve is required. Various analyte molecules such as dopamine, norepinephrine, and rutin as well as peptide glutathione in low quantity were successfully quantified using our method with the quantification error ranging from − 2.6 to + 4.6%. Analyte in a complicated matrix (e.g., uric acid in urine) was also accurately measured.
Malnutrition associated with an increased risk of postoperative complications following hepatectomy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to analyze the nutritional risk factors for postoperative complications following hepatic resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods The preoperative nutritional status of patients with HCC who underwent hepatic resection was evaluated using the scored Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA). The perioperative variables were compared between well-nourished and malnourished patients. Regression analysis was employed to identify the risk factors for postoperative complications. Results The overall operative mortality and morbidity of 287 patients who underwent resection for HCC were 1.7% and 44.3%, respectively. Upon admission, 96 (33.4%) study participants were malnourished, which was associated with a significantly higher PG-SGA score (P Conclusions The PG-SGA score is an effective tool for predicting postoperative complications in patients with HCC following hepatic resection.
MaxNVM: Maximizing DNN Storage Density and Inference Efficiency with Sparse Encoding and Error Mitigation

Deeply embedded applications require low-power, low-cost hardware that fits within stringent area constraints. Deep learning has many potential uses in these domains, but introduces significant inefficiencies stemming from off-chip DRAM accesses of model weights. Ideally, models would fit entirely on-chip. However, even with compression, memory requirements for state-of-the-art models make on-chip inference impractical. Due to increased density, emerging eNVMs are one promising solution. We present MaxNVM, a principled co-design of sparse encodings, protective logic, and fault-prone MLC eNVM technologies (i.e., RRAM and CTT) to enable highly-efficient DNN inference. We find bit reduction techniques (e.g., clustering and sparse compression) increase weight vulnerability to faults. This limits the capabilities of MLC eNVM. To circumvent this limitation, we improve storage density (i.e., bits-per-cell) with minimal overhead using protective logic. Tradeoffs between density and reliability result in a rich design space. We show that by balancing these techniques, the weights of large networks are able to reasonably fit on-chip. Compared to a naive, single-level-cell eNVM solution, our highly-optimized MLC memory systems reduce weight area by up to 29×. We compare our technique against NVDLA, a state-of-the-art industry-grade CNN accelerator, and demonstrate up to 3.2× reduced power and up to 3.5× reduced energy per ResNet50 inference.
Race Differences in Characteristics and Experiences of Black and White Caregivers of Older Americans

Background and objectives Racial disparities in health and socioeconomic characteristics of older adults have implications for the experiences of their family and unpaid caregivers, but knowledge to date has primarily drawn from convenience samples. Using a population-based sample, we examine associations between caregiver race and caregiving-related effects. Research design and methods Study participants include white (n = 992) and black (n = 556) respondents to the 2015 National Study of Caregiving who assisted community-dwelling older adults with disabilities who participated in the National Health and Aging Trends Study. Guided by Pearlin's Stress Process Model, hierarchical logistic regression models were constructed to examine race differences in caregiving-related effects after adjusting for caregiving context, stressors, and resources. Results Relative to white caregivers, blacks more often provided in excess of 40 hr of care per week (54.3% vs 38.6%) and more often cared for an older adult with dementia (27.1% vs 20.7%) who was living below the federal poverty line (31.7% vs 11.9%) or was Medicaid-eligible (42.2% vs 11.8%). Black caregivers more often used supportive services (32.9% vs 24.8%). In fully adjusted regression models, black caregivers were more likely to report gains and less likely to report emotional difficulty than whites. Service utilization did not attenuate caregiving-related emotional difficulty or participation restrictions, regardless of race. Discussion and implications Findings highlight caregiving disparities and counterintuitive differences in experiences and indicate the importance of identifying supports such as paid family leave and faith and community-based programming to better support community-dwelling low-income older adults and their family and unpaid caregivers.
Abstract 3374: Development of novel and improved monoclonal antiMUC16 antibodies for the targeted therapy of ovarian cancer

There is a need for the development of better targeted therapies in the treatment of ovarian cancer. Monoclonal antibodies directed towards MUC16, a diagnostic and prognostic marker for ovarian cancer, with improved selectivity and specificity would be an instrumental component in the construction of novel methods of drug delivery and immunotherapies. C57BL/6 mice were immunized with various MUC16 peptides and truncated MUC16 constructs to extend the scope of MUC16 epitopes within the proximal COOH portion of the retained elements. Three rounds of hybridomas were made from harvested murine splenocytes, and subsequent rounds of peptide-based ELISA and cell-based flow cytometry were performed to select the most promising subclones from each of the fusions. Over 50 hybridomas producing antibodies against MUC16 have been identified and screened for reactivity with MUC16 peptide sequences and native, full-length MUC16 protein presented on the surface of ovarian cancer cell line cells. The antibodies were isotyped, and 10 have been selected for initial characterization. Non-overlapping epitopes were mapped via sequential and tandem peptide-based ELISA. With improved selectivity and specificity, these monoclonal antibodies will be used in the construction of antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) as potential targeted therapies in the treatment of ovarian cancer. Efficacy testing of the candidate antibodies in Matrigel invasion and direct growth inhibition assays is underway. Comparative effectiveness of the binding, internalization, and killing by ADCs in ovarian cancer cell lines will be presented. Antibodies against key MUC16 epitopes may have value in the development of antigen directed therapy. Citation Format: Ian Laster, Oladapo Yeku, David Spriggs. Development of novel and improved monoclonal antiMUC16 antibodies for the targeted therapy of ovarian cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 3374.
Effect of Polymer Chemistry on the Linear Viscoelasticity of Complex Coacervates

Complex coacervates can form through the electrostatic complexation of oppositely charged polymers. The material properties of the resulting coacervates can change based on the polymer chemistry an...
Psychiatric diagnoses are associated with means selection in united states suicide deaths

The purpose of this study was to examine whether the choice of means by persons who die by suicide is associated with a prior psychiatric diagnosis. In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed suicide surveillance data from 18 states reporting to the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) between 2003 and 2014. NVDRS compiled data from multiple sources (e.g., coroner’s reports, police reports, death certificates) on every violent death within reporting jurisdictions, including information on indicated psychiatric disorders and suicide means. We assessed whether the selected suicide means were associated with diagnoses using multinomial logistic regression. Adjusted models suggested that, compared to decedents using firearms, those using poisoning were more likely to have each psychiatric disorder examined, including bipolar disorder (aOR: 2.17 [95% CI 2.03–2.32]), schizophrenia (aOR: 1.81 [1.61–2.04]), depression (aOR: 1.64 [1.58–1.70]), anxiety disorder (aOR: 1.46 [1.35–1.57]), and PTSD (aOR: 1.41 [1.22–1.64]). A far greater proportion of individuals who died from less common means (other than firearms, suffocation, or poisoning) had schizophrenia (aOR: 4.52 [4.00–5.11]). Many existing and proposed means restriction interventions have focused on firearms. Additional focus on access to potential agents of poisoning (e.g., the type and quantity of medication administered to patients) among individuals with psychiatric diagnoses may be warranted.
Loving: Who Can the IRS Regulate?

In 2011, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) amended its regulations of practice before the IRS. Previously, Circular 230 regulated only attorneys, CPAs, and “enrolled agents” (who pass a special examination to allow them to represent taxpayers). But for several years Congress and the National Taxpayer Advocate had expressed serious concerns with hundreds of thousands of individuals who prepare tax returns but are not attorneys, CPAs, or enrolled agents. Several studies and audits confirmed that tax return preparers who were incompetent or unscrupulous created significant problems for not only the government but also the taxpayers whose returns they prepared. The new 2011 regulations established requirements for registration, a certification test, and continuing education for these tax return preparers. But in Loving v. Internal Revenue Service, the district court for the District of Columbia invalidated the new regulations as beyond the scope of the authorizing statute. Preparing a tax return was not, in the court’s opinion, “presenting a case” to the IRS. This article argues that the court’s decision was incorrect, as the text of the authorizing statute is sufficiently ambiguous to encompass the regulations issued by the IRS. It further points out the possible effect of the court’s interpretation of the statute on other practitioners whom the IRS regulations. Circular 230 also regulates actions by other practitioners concerning the preparation of tax returns. The regulation of written advice might also be subject to question, as it also does not involve “presenting a case” if – as is often the case – it is provided before the client files a tax return.
Bridging the Gap: The Compatibility of CBT-Based Approaches with Twelve-Step Programs in the Treatment of Substance Use Disorders

Background: Cognitive-behavioral therapy is an umbrella term which encompasses a wide range of distinct, yet related interventions, several of which have been shown to be efficacious in the treatme...
Special Case: Perioperative Information Management Systems

Perioperative information management systems (PIMS) have evolved from simple automated intraoperative record keepers to sophisticated hardware and software solutions capable of managing and documenting a patient’s entire perioperative experience. The use of PIMS and clinical decision support has proven to be an effective method for adjusting anesthesia providers’ behavior, with resultant improvements in clinical performance, resource utilization, and patient care. PIMS implementations have resulted in numerous financial, organizational, research, and patient care benefits that have been described in the peer-reviewed literature. These benefits in combination with recent legislation promoting the implementation of electronic record systems ensure the ongoing development of clinical and research applications of PIMS.
The Submodular Facility Location Problem and the Submodular Joint Replenishment Problem

In this paper we consider natural generalizations of the facility location problem and the joint replenishment problem in which the opening cost of facilities and the ordering cost over the planning horizon is characterized by a submodular set function in the oracle model. Specifically, we can access the function only through a blackbox that returns the value of the function for a given set. We prove information theoretic lower bounds that these two problems cannot be approximated by any polynomial-time algorithm better than a ratio of \(O(\sqrt{n}/\log ^2{n})\). Moreover, we give \(O(\sqrt{n}\cdot \log n)\)-approximation algorithms for the two problems.
EVALUATION OF DIAZEPAM (VALIUM) IN THE SYMPTOMATIC TREATMENT OF RHEUMATIC DISORDERS. A CONTROLLED COMPARATIVE STUDY.

Abstract 1. 1. Diazepam was compared with chlormezanone and carisoprodol in the symptomatic treatment of chronic rheumatic disorders. 2. 2. Sixty-five patients with active arthritis (rheumatoid, osteo-, or gouty), or fibrositis, received 2-week courses of each drug in random sequence, utilizing a double-blind cross-over technique. Administered in matching capsules, the average daily dosages amounted to 7.5 mg of diazepam, or 600 mg of chlormezanone, or 1050 mg of carisoprodol. 3. 3. Clinical response to each agent was measured by the relative degree of improvement in five symptoms—muscle spasm, pain, limitation of motion, anxiety and tension, and interference with daily activities—over the symptom severity present before each drug course. The differences in averaged symptom improvement scores (of each group of patients on each drug) represented the relative efficacy of each drug in relieving each symptom. 4. 4. Over-all results showed: 24 per cent of the diazepam-treated patients became symptom-free vs. 11 per cent on each of the two other drugs; in approximately 65 per cent of patients on each drug, moderate improvement was achieved, while only minimal improvement occurred in 11 per cent of those on diazepam vs. 24 per cent on each of the other drugs. Two patients, one on carisoprodol and one on chlormezanone, were unimproved. 5. 5. The differences in scored results between pairs of the 3 drugs, submitted to statistical analysis, indicated that diazepam effected significantly greater symptomatic improvement than did chlormezanone or carisoprodol. 6. 6. Side-effects occurred in 27 patients during diazepam therapy, in 38 on chlormezanone, and in 34 on carisoprodol; drowsiness was the most common side-reaction with each drug; none was of sufficient severity to discontinue medications.