cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Suspected lily‐of‐the‐valley (Convallaria majalis) toxicosis in a dog

Objective: To describe successful treatment of third-degree atrioventricular (AV) block using temporary noninvasive transthoracic pacing and placement of a permanent transvenous pacemaker in a case of suspected lily-of-the-valley (Convallaria majalis) intoxication in a dog. Case summary: A 2-year-old neutered male Beagle weighing 17.8 kg was presented to the emergency service for treatment of bradycardia, vomiting, and lethargy. An electrocardiogram revealed third-degree AV block that was nonresponsive to atropine. Ten hours after admission, the dog became obtunded. Treatment initially consisted of temporary noninvasive transthoracic pacing and eventually placement of a permanent transvenous pacemaker. The initial history did not suggest that the dog had access to any known cardiotoxins. However, C. majalis, which contains cardiac glycosides, was identified within the dog's environment and the dog's serum did contain digoxin or an immunologically cross-reactive compound. New or unique information provided: This is the first reported successful management of C. majalis toxicosis in a dog. Temporary noninvasive transthoracic pacing was used in the management of this case as a safe and effective bridge to permanent pacemaker implantation.
Dynamics of gene duplication in the genomes of chlorophyll d-producing cyanobacteria: implications for the ecological niche.

Gene duplication may be an important mechanism for the evolution of new functions and for the adaptive modulation of gene expression via dosage effects. Here, we analyzed the fate of gene duplicates for two strains of a novel group of cyanobacteria (genus Acaryochloris) that produces the far-red light absorbing chlorophyll d as its main photosynthetic pigment. The genomes of both strains contain an unusually high number of gene duplicates for bacteria. As has been observed for eukaryotic genomes, we find that the demography of gene duplicates can be well modeled by a birth‐death process. Most duplicated Acaryochloris genes are of comparatively recent origin, are strain-specific, and tend to be located on different genetic elements. Analyses of selection on duplicates of different divergence classes suggest that a minority of paralogs exhibit near neutral evolutionary dynamics immediately following duplication but that most duplicate pairs (including those which have been retained for long periods) are under strong purifying selection against amino acid change. The likelihood of duplicate retention varied among gene functional classes, and the pronounced differences between strains in the pool of retained recent duplicates likely reflects differences in the nutrient status and other characteristics of their respective environments. We conclude that most duplicates are quickly purged from Acaryochloris genomes and that those which are retained likely make important contributions to organism ecology by conferring fitness benefits via gene dosage effects. The mechanism of enhanced duplication may involve homologous recombination between genetic elements mediated by paralogous copies of recA.
Coherence, Synchronization and State-sharing in Distributed Shared-memory Applications

Distributed shared memory consistency protocols suffer from poor performance due their lack of application spe cific knowledge which can be exploited in message passing systems. Explicit synchronization can be used in mem ory coherence activities to realize the benefits of applica tion specific information if the user is allowed to associate data with synchronization operations. In this paper, we present a refinement of synchronization and data sharing patterns and identify attributes that can be used to asso ciate data with suitably modified synchronization primi tives. We present modifications for semaphores, read-write locks, and barriers which can be used to implement a va riety of interaction patterns including mutual exclusion, producers-consumers, readers-writers etc. We claim that the performance of applications programmed using shared memory can be comparable to their message passing imple mentation which use intermediary entities such as mail boxes. On the other hand, programming is easier with our system, since it allows for richer patterns of interaction than when directly using low-level messages.
Experimental fruit removal does not affect territory structure of wintering Hermit Thrushes

Food is generally considered to be the primary resource structuring winter territories in migrant songbirds, but there is little experimental evidence to support this. In southeastern Louisiana, ripe fruits, consumed opportunistically in the absence of preferred arthropod resources, are a primary food resource for wintering Hermit Thrushes (Catharus guttatus). To test the possible role of food in controlling space use during the winter, we reduced fruit availability in the territories of wintering Hermit Thrushes and compared responses of these thrushes to those in control territories where fruit availability was not altered. We found that thrushes did not adjust either territory size or location in response to midwinter reduction of fruit availability. One possible explanation for this lack of response is that sufficient food, including arthropods, was available in thrush territories even after removal of fruit. Another possibility is that the removal of fruit did reduce food levels below the level needed to meet energetic needs, but social constraints on territory structure, dictated by fall settlement spacing and maintained by agonistic interactions, prevented birds from adjusting territories to match food supply later in the season. SINOPSIS. Remoci´ on experimental de frutas, no afecta la estructura territorial de individ- uos invernales de Catharus guttatus El alimento es generalmente considerado la fuente principal que estructura los territorios de invierno de aves canoras migratorias. Sin embargo, hay poca evidencia experimental para sostener dicha hipEn el suroeste de Louisiana, en ausencia de los artrde su predileccila fuente principal de alimentos de individuos invernales del zorzal Catharus guttatus lo son frutas. Para poner a pruebas el posible rol del alimento en el control de espacio durante el invierno, se redujo la disponibilidad de frutas en el territorio de los zorzales y comparamos sus respuestas con individuos en territorios controles, en donde no se altero la disponibilidad de frutas. Encontramos que los zorzales no ajustaron el tama˜ no del territorio o la localizacion en respuesta a la reduccide frutas. Una posible explicaci´ on es que todav´ ia quedaba en los territorios suficiente alimento, incluyendo artrpara cumplir con la demanda energde las aves. Otra posibilidad es que la remoci´ on de frutas, sredujo de forma cr´ itica la cantidad de alimento. Sin embargo, los zorzales, ya tarde en la temporada, no pudieron ajustar el tama˜ no del territorio para cumplir con sus demandas energpor las limitaciones sociales en la estructura del territorio dictado por la magnitud de los espacios otoy mantenido por interacciones agresivas entre vecinos.
Expanding the role of striatal cholinergic interneurons and the midbrain dopamine system in appetitive instrumental conditioning

The basal ganglia are a collection of subcortical nuclei thought to underlie a wide variety of vertebrate behavior. Although a great deal is known about the functional and physiological properties of the basal ganglia, relatively few models have been formally developed that have been tested against both behavioral and physiological data. Our previous work (Ashby FG, Crossley MJ. J Cogn Neurosci 23: 1549–1566, 2011) showed that a model grounded in the neurobiology of the basal ganglia could account for basic single-neuron recording data, as well as behavioral phenomena such as fast reacquisition that constrain models of conditioning. In this article we show that this same model accounts for a variety of appetitive instrumental conditioning phenomena, including the partial reinforcement extinction (PRE) effect, rapid and slowed reacquisition following extinction, and renewal of previously extinguished instrumental responses by environmental context cues.
Labor Reform through Executive Orders and the EFCA: The Impact on Workers Today

The Obama administration has begun to issue executive orders and is pushing pieces of legislation such as the Employee Free Choice Act which will have the greatest impact on labor since the passage of the National Labor Relations Act in 1935. The pro-labor executive orders tend to encourage unionization or make it harder for employers to fight unionization in their companies. In the case of the Employee Free Choice Act, it will be easier for workers to unionize. While much has been written on the direct impact of these laws and unionization in general on companies, this paper presents some of these recent initiatives and discusses the positive and negative impact that these measures could have on American workers.
Basic Science of Meniscus Repair: Limitations and Emerging Strategies

Meniscal tears, especially in the inner avascular zone, have limited healing capacity and a high failure rate when repair is attempted. Endogenous repair, characterized by cell proliferation and matrix deposition at the injury site, is hindered by a lack of vascular supply, low cell density, and a catabolic state induced by inflammation. To biologically augment the healing response, experimental methods have focused on directly addressing these issues by enhancing vascularity, increasing cellularity, and providing an instructive extracellular environment via biochemical and mechanical cues. With further clinical development, these emerging regenerative strategies have potential to render meniscal repair a favorable operation in patients who would otherwise undergo partial meniscectomy (removal of the damaged segment).
Transmission of Sacbrood Disease to Individual Honey Bee Larvae

Sacbrood disease was transmitted experimentally to honey bee, Apis mellifera L. larvae of all ages from hatching to 4 days old by inoculating food in the larval cell with various filtrates of diseased larvae with a micrometer syringe. Up to 90% of the larvae died with symptoms typical of sacbrood. Microscopic examination of dead larvae confirmed the absence of bacteria. Four percent or less of control larvae treated with an equal volume of heat-sterilized filtrate or of water or left undisturbed developed sacbrood. Filtrates prepared from white (recently dead), brown (intermediate stage of decay), or black (late stage of decay) larvae which had died of sacbrood produced successively smaller percentages of infection. A severely infected comb placed in the brood nest of a normal colony did not spread the infection.
Atomic orbital-based SOS-MP2 with tensor hypercontraction. I. GPU-based tensor construction and exploiting sparsity

We present a tensor hypercontracted (THC) scaled opposite spin second order Moller-Plesset perturbation theory (SOS-MP2) method. By using THC, we reduce the formal scaling of SOS-MP2 with respect to molecular size from quartic to cubic. We achieve further efficiency by exploiting sparsity in the atomic orbitals and using graphical processing units (GPUs) to accelerate integral construction and matrix multiplication. The practical scaling of GPU-accelerated atomic orbital-based THC-SOS-MP2 calculations is found to be N2.6 for reference data sets of water clusters and alanine polypeptides containing up to 1600 basis functions. The errors in correlation energy with respect to density-fitting-SOS-MP2 are less than 0.5 kcal/mol for all systems tested (up to 162 atoms).
A Coin-Flipping Analogy and Web App for Teaching Spin–Spin Splitting in 1H NMR Spectroscopy

A coin-flipping analogy and free corresponding web app have been developed to facilitate student understanding of the origins of spin–spin splitting. First-order splitting patterns can easily be derived and understood. “Complex” splitting patterns (e.g., doublet of quartets), are easily incorporated into the analogy. A study of the efficacy of the analogy/web app vs traditional lecture showed that the analogy worked as well as traditional lecture for overall NMR analysis, and better than traditional lecture for understanding the origins of splitting and why a signal has a given shape and peak-height ratio. The web app is freely available online, as discussed in the report.
Headache: Modern Concepts of Diagnosis and Management

Headache is a common problem for both patient and physician, but appropriate evaluation can usually lead to correct diagnosis and therapy. A simple new method of treatment described in the article can help 90 per cent of patients with chronic headache.
Reduced Hemispheric Asymmetry of White Matter Microstructure in Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Objective Many past studies have suggested atypical functional and anatomical hemispheric asymmetries in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, almost all of these have examined only language-related asymmetries. Here, we conduct a comprehensive investigation of microstructural asymmetries across a large number of fiber tracts in ASD. Method We used diffusion tensor imaging for a comprehensive investigation of anatomical white matter asymmetries across the entire white matter skeleton, using tract-based spatial statistics in 41 children and adolescents with ASD and a matched group of 44 typically developing (TD) participants. Results We found significant asymmetries in the TD group, being rightward for fractional anisotropy and leftward for mean diffusivity (with concordant asymmetries for radial and axial diffusivity). These asymmetries were significantly reduced in the group with ASD: in whole brain analysis for fractional anisotropy, and in a region where several major association and projection tracts travel in close proximity within occipital white matter for mean diffusivity, axial diffusivity, and radial diffusivity. No correlations between global white matter asymmetry and age or socio-communicative abilities were detected. Conclusion Our findings in TD children and adolescents can be interpreted as reflecting different processing modes (more integrative in the right and more specialized in the left hemisphere). These asymmetries and the "division of labor" between hemispheres implied by them appear to be diminished in autism spectrum disorder.
Improved electrical power production of thermally regenerative batteries using a poly(phenylene oxide) based anion exchange membrane

Abstract Thermally regenerative ammonia-based batteries (TRABs) can be used to harvest low-grade waste heat as electrical power. To improve TRAB performance, a series of benzyltrimethyl quaternary ammonium-functionalized poly(phenylene oxide) anion exchange membranes (BTMA-AEMs) were examined for their impact on performance relative to a commercial AEM (Selemion AMV). The synthesized AEMs had different degrees of functionalization (DF; 25% and 40%), and thicknesses (50, 100 and 150 μm). Power and energy densities were shown to be a function of both DF and membrane thickness. The power density of TRAB increased by 31% using a BTMA-AEM (40% DF, 50 μm thick; 106 ± 7 W m−2) compared to the Selemion (81 ± 5 W m−2). Moreover, the energy density increased by 13% when using a BTMA-based membrane (25% DF, 150 μm thick; 350 Wh m−3) compared to the Selemion membrane (311 Wh m−3). The thermal-electric conversion efficiency improved to 0.97% with the new membrane compared to 0.86% for the Selemion. This energy recovery was 7.0% relative to the Carnot efficiency, which was 1.8 times greater than the highest previously reported value of a system used to capture low-grade waste heat as electricity.
The Perverse Politics of Polarization

Many policies, such as trade and immigration, bear important consequences for both the size and distribution of surplus. Oftentimes, people are asked to vote on these policies despite not being all that well-informed about the consequences. This paper studies the extent to which an electorate can aggregate information when voters anticipate that some may benefit from a policy reform at a cost borne by others. We show that information aggregation may fail: with high probability, the outcome chosen when voters are privately informed departs from the outcome when all information is public. We identify a form of "negative correlation" -- where voters treat good news for others as bad news for themselves -- that is necessary and sufficient for this informational failure. Commitments to post-policy redistribution can mitigate this inefficiency, and lead voters to select better policies. We characterize features of economic environments that may foster or preclude negative correlation. Our results offer an understanding of how information can amplify electoral status quo bias, or generate popular support for ill-advised reforms that are ex post regretted and subsequently reversed.
The direct anterior approach for acetabular augmentation in primary total hip arthroplasty

Addressing acetabular bone defects can be difficult and depends on the amount of bone loss. Augments, either with bone or highly porous metals, are options that still allow the use of a hemispherical cup. Almost all previous research and publication on acetabular augments have focused on revision hip arthroplasty utilizing either a modified lateral or a posterolateral surgical approach. We describe 3 cases of augmenting acetabular bone defects through a direct anterior approach for primary total hip arthroplasty. We achieved proper cup placement, alignment, and augment incorporation while reconstructing complex acetabular deficiencies. All patients had complete pain relief and a satisfactory clinical outcome with stable radiographs at follow-up. With appropriate training, acetabular augmentation can be performed safely and efficiently with excellent clinical results through this approach.
InvisiMem: Smart Memory Defenses for Memory Bus Side Channel

A practically feasible low-overhead hardware design that provides strong defenses against memory bus side channel remains elusive. This paper observes that smart memory, memory with compute capability and a packetized interface, can dramatically simplify this problem. InvisiMem expands the trust base to include the logic layer in the smart memory to implement cryptographic primitives, which aid in addressing several memory bus side channel vulnerabilities efficiently. This allows the secure host processor to send encrypted addresses over the untrusted memory bus, and thereby eliminates the need for expensive address obfuscation techniques based on Oblivious RAM (ORAM). In addition, smart memory enables efficient solutions for ensuring freshness without using expensive Merkle trees, and mitigates memory bus timing channel using constant heart-beat packets. We demonstrate that InvisiMem designs have one to two orders of magnitude of lower overheads for performance, space, energy, and memory bandwidth, compared to prior solutions.
Hands-on Station: Ultrasonic Energy Devices

This enrichment exercise is for the use of ultrasonic energy devices. In this exercise, the design, correct setup, and use of the ultrasonic energy devices are presented, using ultrasonic shears and generators on flank steak or bovine liver or gallbladder tissue.
Outcomes of elderly patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) treated with cystectomy or radiation therapy (RT): A surveillance epidemiology and end results (SEER) database analysis.

e16001Background: Cystectomy and RT are both utilized in the management of MIBC. Elderly pts are more likely to be treated with non-surgical approaches that include RT. Using the SEER database, we ...
Non-contact detection of reduced corneal elasticity following refractive correction surgery (Conference Presentation)

In vision correction surgeries, the corneal stroma is subject to limbal-relaxing incisions which change the focusing power of the cornea, but can damage tissue and put the patient at risk of complication. A non-invasive method to launch a mechanical wave in tissue, referred to as Acoustic Micro-Tapping (AuT), is demonstrated with phase-sensitive spectral domain OCT (SD-OCT) to probe for biomechanical changes in porcine and human cornea samples following arcuate keratotomy (AK). This method uses an air-coupled ultrasound transducer to deliver sufficient displacement on the corneal surface to launch a mechanical wave propagating as a guided mode. Rayleigh-Lamb wave propagation is captured at 100 spatial locations 6 mm across the corneal surface, resulting in a high resolution elastogram. The SD-OCT system operates in the MB mode at a functional frame rate of 47 kHz to detect local wave behavior for analysis of the group velocity, group displacement amplitude, displacement attenuation, phase velocity over the bandwidth of the excitation, mean frequency, and bandwidth. An analysis of mechanical wave behavior shows reduced wave speed up to 20% following an incision through 3/4th of the cornea in porcine tissue samples, indicating a potential reduction in elastic modulus. This technique was performed on porcine and human corneas following PRK incision to demonstrate progress toward clinical translation.
"Better Days Ahead": Teaching Revolutionary Futures and Protesting the Present

Moving beyond the basic tenets of anti-capitalist critique, this project theorizes hope not as “the bedrock of the nation” but as an important tool that allows us to imagine future alternatives to neoliberal capitalism. Ultimately, I claim that hope endows Marxism with the very possibility of a revolutionary future.
Urethral strictures in boys.

AbstractOur experience with urethral strictures in boys during a 15-year period confirms the findings of others that the most common etiology is iatrogenic. Traumatic and inflammatory strictures are rare. The congenital stricture differs fundamentally from acquired types of urethral strictures and would be termed more appropriately congenital urethral membrane. Urethral dilation and/or urethrotomy was unsuccessful in 47 per cent of our patients, leading to secondary formation of a new stricture in 2 instances. However, urethroplasty was successful in 83 per cent of our cases and seems to be indicated when 2 or more dilations are required.
Effect of multiphase slug flow on the stability of corrosion product layer

Corrosion experiments were carried out under iron carbonate scale-forming conditions in a large diameter, multiphase flow system. Both oil/water and oil/water/gas slug flows were studied at pressures up to 0.79 MPa and temperatures of 60 C and 80 C. It was found that with increasing iron concentration, the corrosion rates were reduced to negligible values in oil/water flows. However, significant corrosion was seen in slug flow with clear evidence of damage to the corrosion product layer due to impact and possible collapse of gas bubbles and a considerable reduction in the layer thickness. Details of corrosion rates and corrosion coupon surface analysis are presented.
The challenges of implementing primary arts education: What our teachers say

QUALITY ARTS EDUCATION CAN produce positive learning outcomes, such as creating positive attitudes to learning, developing a greater sense of personal and cultural identity, and fostering more crea...
Chapter 3 Rare earth metals and alloys

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews a reasonable accounting of the magnetic and transport properties of rare earth metals and their alloys. The rare earths, or lanthanides, are the trivalent 4f shell transition metals. Their magnetic properties stem from unpaired electrons in the 4f shell. 4f electron wave functions are confined close to the nucleus and that wave function overlap with neighboring atoms in a lattice is vanishingly small. To account for the observed magnetic order in the rare earths, an indirect exchange mechanism via three 5d–6s conduction electrons is invoked. Strong evidence to support this view comes from the observed spin polarization of the conduction electrons. A wide variety of magnetic structures are displayed by the rare earth metals and their alloys. These range from simple ferromagnetism to complex sinusoidal or helical ordering; the magnetic structure sometimes involves sublattices. Because of the low magnetic moments of the light rare earths it is possible for electric crystal field effects to dominate the magnetic exchange interaction.
Stoichiometry of Energy Coupling by Proton-Translocating ATPases: A History of Variability

One of the central energy-coupling reactions in living systems is the intraconversion of ATP with a transmembrane proton gradient, carried out by proton-translocating F- and V-type ATPases/synthases. These reversible enzymes can hydrolyze ATP and pump protons, or can use the energy of a transmembrane proton gradient to synthesize ATP from ADP and inorganic phosphate. The stoichiometry of these processes (H+/ATP, or coupling ratio) has been studied in many systems for many years, with no universally agreed upon solution. Recent discoveries concerning the structure of the ATPases, their assembly and the stoichiometry of their numerous subunits, particularly the proton-carrying proteolipid (subunit c) of the FO and V0 sectors, have shed new light on this question and raise the possibility of variable coupling ratios modulated by variable proteolipid stoichiometries.
The cost of habitat selection in prairie voles: an empirical assessment using isodar analysis

The ideal free distribution assumes that habitat selection is without cost and predicts that fitness should be equal in different habitats. If habitat selection has a cost, then individuals should only move to another habitat when potential fitness in the new habitat exceeds that in the source habitat by an amount greater than the cost of habitat selection. We used isodar techniques to assess the cost of habitat selection. In an experimental landscape, we monitored density, movement, and reproductive success of adult female prairie voles, Microtus ochrogaster, in adjacent paired habitats with low and high cover. We tested the following hypotheses: (1) adult female prairie voles exhibited density-dependent habitat selection; (2) the cost of habitat selection was density-independent. Habitat quality based on population density and fitness of adult females was higher in high cover habitats. Net movement was from low cover to high cover habitats. The results indicated that adult female prairie voles exhibited density-dependent habitat selection. Furthermore, there was a significant cost of habitat selection, and the cost was density-independent.
Pediatric Tetanus in Central Pennsylvania

Approximately 20% of the nationally reported tetanus infections in children aged 0 to 14 years that occurred in the United States between 2005 and 2015 were treated at Penn State Children's Hospital. With an electronic medical record search, we identified 5 cases of pediatric tetanus; 100% of these cases occurred in unimmunized children. Their median length of stay was 10 days, and the costs were significant.
Catenary Tether Shape Analysis for a UAV - USV Team

The quasi-static catenary curve of a semi-slack tether between an essentially stationary unmanned air vehicle (UAV) and a small unmanned surface vehicle (USV) is investigated and characterized. An empirical analysis, performed over a discretized space of vertical and horizontal separations of the two vehicles, determines an optimum cable length & tension for maximizing system robustness during the vertical heave of the USV due to high seas. Operating at this optimum condition allows for equal displacements of the USV in the up and down directions, minimizing the possibility of both fouling (with the tether touching the water) and excessive downforce on the UAV (with the tether pulled taut) during dynamic heave events. Scaling the horizontal offset, tether length, and tension by the flying height collapses all empirical results into convenient curves depending only on a nondimensional relative position parameter $(\Delta x/\Delta y)$, accurately fit by low order polynomials. This eliminates the need for a lookup table, and decreases computation time during implementation. The heave robustness analysis results in a recommended operating relative position of $\Delta x/\Delta y\approx.46$. Experimental results are presented and confirm the catenary analysis for the proposed tether.
Behaviour of structural insulated panels (SIPs) subjected to short-term out-of-plane transverse loads

Structural insulated panels (SIPs) are a panelized building system composed of external oriented strand board (OSB) wood sheets bonded to a lightweight boardstock or pour-in-place foam core. This p...
Diversity and Inclusion Within AAPL.

The medical profession is well known to lack diversity. Recent estimates indicate that 4.1 percent of U.S. physicians are African-American while 12.3 percent of the U.S. population is African-American; further, the number of African-American male medical students peaked in 1978 and has been falling
Fast equilibration dynamics of viscous particle-laden flow in an inclined channel

A viscous suspension of negatively buoyant particles released into a wide, open channel on an incline will stratify in the normal direction as it flows. We model the early dynamics of this stratification under the effects of sedimentation and shear-induced migration. Prior work focuses on the behaviour after equilibration where the bulk suspension either separates into two distinct fronts (settled) or forms a single, particle-laden front (ridged), depending on whether the initial concentration of particles exceeds a critical threshold. From past experiments, it is also clear that this equilibration time scale grows considerably near the critical concentration. This paper models the approach to equilibrium. We present a theory of the dramatic growth in this equilibration time when the mixture concentration is near the critical value, where the balance between settling and shear-induced resuspension reverses.
Efficient Community Detection in Boolean Composed Multiplex Networks.

Networks (or graphs) are used to model the dyadic relations between entities in a complex system. In cases where there exists multiple relations between the entities, the complex system can be represented as a multilayer network, where the network in each layer represents one particular relation (or feature). The analysis of multilayer networks involves combining edges from specific layers and then computing a network property. Different subsets of the layers can be combined. For any Boolean combination operation (e.g. AND, OR), the number of possible subsets is exponential to the number of layers. Thus recomputing for each subset from scratch is an expensive process. In this paper, we propose to efficiently analyze multilayer networks using a method that we term network decomposition. Network decomposition is based on analyzing each network layer individually and then aggregating the analysis results. We demonstrate the effectiveness of using network decomposition for detecting communities on different combinations of network layers. Our results on multilayer networks obtained from real-world and synthetic datasets show that our proposed network decomposition method requires significantly lower computation time while producing results of high accuracy.
Status of weak scale supersymmetry after LHC Run 2 and ton-scale noble liquid WIMP searches

After completion of LHC Run 2, the ATLAS and CMS experiments had collected of order 139 fb−1 of data at √s = 13 TeV. While discovering a very Standard Model-like Higgs boson of mass mh ≃ 125 GeV, no solid signal for physics beyond the Standard Model has emerged so far at LHC. In addition, no WIMP signals have emerged so far at ton-scale noble liquid WIMP search experiments. For the case of weak scale supersymmetry (SUSY), which is touted as a simple and elegant solution to the gauge hierarchy problem and likely low energy limit of compactified string theory, LHC has found rather generally that gluinos are beyond about 2.2 TeV whilst top squark must lie beyond 1.1 TeV. These limits contradict older simplistic notions of naturalness that emerged in the 1980s–1990s, leading to the rather pessimistic view that SUSY is now excluded except for perhaps some remaining narrow corners of parameter space. Yet, this picture ignores several important developments in SUSY/string theory that emerged in the 21st century: 1. the emergence of the string theory landscape and its solution to the cosmological constant problem, 2. a more nuanced view of naturalness including the notion of “stringy naturalness”, 3. the emergence of anomaly-free discrete R-symmetries and their connection to R-parity, Peccei-Quinn symmetry, the SUSY μ problem and proton decay and 4. the importance of including a solution to the strong CP problem. Rather general considerations from the string theory landscape favor large values of soft terms, subject to the vacuum selection criteria that electroweak symmetry is properly broken (no charge and/or color breaking (CCB) minima) and the resulting magnitude of the weak scale is not too far from our measured value. Then stringy naturalness predicts a Higgs mass mh ~ 125 GeV whilst sparticle masses are typically lifted beyond present LHC bounds. In light of these refinements in theory perspective confronted by LHC and dark matter search results, we review the most likely LHC, ILC and dark matter signatures that are expected to arise from weak scale SUSY as we understand it today.
Sniffin’ Sticks to Measure Olfactory Function and Recovery Following Bilateral Superior Turbinate Resection as Part of Endoscopic Transsphenoidal Approach:

Background:Extended endoscopic transsphenoidal (EET) approaches can include complete resection of both superior turbinate (ST) for wider exposure. Moreover, ST resection has been associated with po...
A cross-sectional analysis of associations between lifestyle advice and behavior changes in patients with hypertension or diabetes: NHANES 2015-2018.

Abstract Clinicians supporting patients in lifestyle behavior change is an important strategy to help reduce chronic disease burden. Using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 2015 to 2018, this study assessed rates of and associations between patient-reported receipt of lifestyle behavior change advice and corresponding self-reported behavior change for four different lifestyle behaviors: 1) weight loss, 2) increase physical activity, 3) reduce sodium, and 4) reduce fat and calories. Adult survey respondents with hypertension and/or diabetes (n = 4716) who received lifestyle advice ranged from 43% to 58%, with the most common recommendation being to increase physical activity. Between 61% and 73% of respondents reported currently modifying health behaviors, with the greatest number reporting weight loss. Multiple logistic regression models were used to test associations for each lifestyle behavior advice-behavior change pair, adjusting for demographic characteristics. Compared to those who received no advice, respondents who received advice had significantly higher odds of reporting losing weight (aOR: 1.93; 95% CI: 1.51, 2.48); increasing physical activity (aOR 2.02; 95% CI: 1.73, 2.37); reducing dietary sodium (aOR 4.95; 95% CI: 3.93, 6.25); and reducing intake of fat/cal (aOR 3.57; 95% CI: 2.86, 4.45). This study utilized population level data to lend further evidence that provider advice about lifestyle behaviors for patients who have hypertension or diabetes may influence patient behavior. However, prevalence of advice is low, and differences in rates of behavior change exist across socioeconomic status and race/ethnicity, indicating a need to further research how providers might better support patients with varying social needs.
From Morning to Mourning: A Meditation on Possibility in Black Education

This article insists on a reframe of mourning, away from a period of sadness or weeping alone, to a vision of its merits for discovering and unlocking possibility in Black Education. For example, m...
Cannabidiol-Driven Alterations to Inflammatory Protein Landscape of Lipopolysaccharide-Activated Macrophages In Vitro May Be Mediated by Autophagy and Oxidative Stress.

Background: The nonpsychotropic phytocannabinoid cannabidiol (CBD) presents itself as a potentially safe and effective anti-inflammatory treatment relative to clinical standards. In this present st...
Abstract 1041: Targeted inhibition of c-MET, Axl and DDR signaling pathways by merestinib enhances gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel standard chemotherapy activity in pancreatic cancer models

Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is among the most lethal malignancies in Western countries. Gemcitabine (Gem) plus nab-paclitaxel (NPT) is the standard chemotherapy treatment for PDAC leading to an average survival of 8.5 months. Activated signaling of c-MET, Axl and DDR1/2 pathways have been implicated in tumorigenic growth in many cancers including PDAC. Merestinib (Mer) is a potent, multikinase inhibitor that blocks c-MET, Axl and DDR1/2 pathways with IC50 values in the low nanomolar range. In this study, we investigated the antitumor potency of merestinib to enhance standard chemotherapy response in preclinical PDAC models. Methods: In vitro cell proliferation assays of PDAC-associated cells were evaluated by colorimetric WST-1 reagent. The mechanism of action was determined by Immunoblot analysis. Tumor growth studies were conducted in 6-week-old female NOD/SCID mice in subcutaneous xenografts. Results: In human PDAC AsPC-1 cell-derived subcutaneous xenografts, gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel and merestinib inhibited tumor growth while their combination had an additive effect. The net increase in tumor size was 357 mm3 in controls, 102 mm3 after Gem+NPT, 177 mm3 after Mer and 66 mm3 after Gem+NPT+Mer. Gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel and merestinib suppressed in vitro cell proliferation of PDAC epithelial cells and stromal cells. Importantly, the combination treatment demonstrated additive inhibitory effects. Inhibition in cell proliferation by Gem+NPT, Mer and Gem+NPT+Mer treatments was 54%, 14% and 82% (AsPC-1 cells, at medium dose levels), 54%, 4% and 73% (PANC-1 cells, at the highest dose level), 55%, 58% and 92% (PDAC-associated fibroblasts, at the medium dose level). Immunoblot analysis revealed that merestinib caused a decrease in the expression of phospho-c-MET, phospho-Axl, phospho-IGF-1R, phospho-AKT and an increase in apoptosis-related protein cleaved caspase-3 in PDAC cells either alone or in combination with gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel. Conclusion: Simultaneous inhibition of c-MET, Axl and DDR1/2 pathways by merestinib has antitumor efficacy in PDAC and it can significantly improve the standard chemotherapy response. This therapeutic approach might lead to a clinically relevant combination to increase PDAC patients9 survival. Citation Format: Eda Shi, Margaret A. Schwarz, Md Sazzad Hassan, Urs von Holzen, Roderich E. Schwarz, Niranjan Awasthi. Targeted inhibition of c-MET, Axl and DDR signaling pathways by merestinib enhances gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel standard chemotherapy activity in pancreatic cancer models [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr 1041.
Does Appraiser and Borrower Race Affect Valuation

Following concerns about undervaluation of minority-owned homes, we examine the incidence of racial appraisal bias using a nationwide sample of refinanced mortgages from 2000 to 2007. A unique feature of our data is that they allow us to observe the race of the both the homeowner and the appraiser. We do not observe large, systematic differences in the ratio of appraised values to automated valuation model (AVM) estimates between Black- and White-owned homes. Moreover, the appraiser's race and its interaction with the owner's race are not related to valuations. Our findings suggest that racial appraisal bias is either uncommon in the mortgage refinance market or has a relatively minor effect on valuations, on average.
Adaptation is context specific

Flooding-adaptation studies often ignore unique social, cultural and institutional drivers. Now, research illuminates the drivers that are unique versus shared across socio-cultural contexts and adaptations, which vary in ease of implementation.
The Neuroscience of Bilingualism: Cross-Linguistic Influences and Cognitive Effects

Coderre reviews the cognitive and neural effects of bilingualism, beginning with an overview of how and where language is processed in the monolingual brain, and then extending this to multiple languages in the bilingual brain. Cross-linguistic effects of bilingualism are specifically discussed, including how a bilingual’s two languages can interact with each other during production and comprehension, and how these interactions can lead to facilitation or interference in processing. Coderre also discusses the cognitive advantages and disadvantages of bilingualism. In particular, bilinguals have a delay in lexical processing speed but have an increase in the efficiency of cognitive control.
Adherence: a concept analysis.

Purpose To utilize a Wilsonian method of concept analysis to define and describe the concept of adherence. Data Sources Published research articles, nursing literature, published books, and national and international advisory reports. Data Synthesis The concept of adherence was analyzed using the Wilson method. Results, applications, and practice implications in regards to the concept of adherence were then derived from the analysis. Conclusions Adherence is a complex, multifaceted concept that can greatly impact patient behaviors and nursing practice. Further clarification of adherence is needed to help delineate this concept from other related terms. Implications Healthcare providers should have an understanding of the concept of adherence in the context of patient care in order to guide patient self-care behaviors.
Examining the prevalence and correlates of a ‘senior citizen discount’ in US federal courts

Few studies focus on age as a factor influencing judicial decision-making, in spite of the widespread use of age as a control variable. Although the limited research to have done so is inconsistent, most scholars agree that age may be race- and/or gender-graded in a manner that produces more severe sentences for certain race–gender–age combinations, especially for young males who are Black or Latino. Less consensus exists with regard to whether older defendants are granted more leniency in the sentencing process and, if so, if the effects of older age are also race- and/or gender-graded. The present study examines this question by examining data from the United States Sentencing Commission. The data presented reveal three noteworthy findings. First, a ‘senior citizen discount’ exists insofar as judges afford more leniency in sentencing to older offenders than their younger counterparts. Second, compared to older males, older females were treated with greater leniency by judges. Finally, whereas Latinos 60...
The displacement of Sr from organic chelates by hydroxide, carbonate, and calcium in concentrated electrolytes

The effects of calcium, hydroxide, and carbonate on the displacement of Sr from four organic chelates: ethylenedinitrilotetraacetic acid (EDTA), N-(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenedinitrilotriacetic acid (HEDTA) nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), and iminidiacetic acid (IDA) was studied in solutions with high base and carbonate concentration. Comparison of solutions with and without added chelators allowed the speciation changes in solution to be directly determined. Increases in both carbonate and calcium concentration were effective in displacing Sr from the chelators even under high carbonate concentration. Increases in hydroxide were ineffective in removal of Sr from the chelators, even at base concentrations as high as 6M. Under certain specific conditions, most notably when both CaCO3(s) and SrCO3(s) are present in solution, chemical equilibrium constraints result in cancelation of activity coefficient changes for aqueous Sr and Ca organic chelate complexes. Under such conditions the predicted ratios of chelated Ca and Sr become independent of the ionic media and predictive relations using known equilibrium constants give very good representations of the experimental data. These results indicate that manipulation of metal ion displacement reactions during chemical processing of Sr–chelate solutions can result in the displacement of Sr from organic chelators. The implications of such strategies in processing high level waste supernatants stored at Department of Energy (DOE) sites is discussed.
On hardness amplification of one-way functions

We continue the study of the efficiency of black-box reductions in cryptography. We focus on the question of constructing strong one-way functions (respectively, permutations) from weak one-way functions (respectively, permutations). To make our impossibility results stronger, we focus on the weakest type of constructions: those that start from a weak one-way permutation and define a strong one-way function. We show that for every “fully black-box” construction of a e(n)-secure function based on a (1–δ(n))-secure permutation, if q(n) is the number of oracle queries used in the construction and l(n) is the input length of the new function, then we have $q \geq {\it \Omega}(\frac {1}{\delta}\cdot {\rm log}\frac {1}{\epsilon})$ and l ≥ n + ${\it \Omega}$(log 1/e) – O(log q). This result is proved by showing that fully black-box reductions of strong to weak one-way functions imply the existence of “hitters” and then by applying known lower bounds for hitters. We also show a sort of reverse connection, and we revisit the construction of Goldreich et al. (FOCS 1990) in terms of this reverse connection. Finally, we prove that any “weakly black-box” construction with parameters q(n) and l(n) better than the above lower bounds implies the unconditional existence of strong one-way functions (and, therefore, the existence of a weakly black-box construction with q(n)=0). This result, like the one for fully black-box reductions, is proved by reasoning about the function defined by such a construction when using the identity permutation as an oracle.
Bedside hand-carried ultrasound by internal medicine residents versus traditional clinical assessment for the identification of systolic dysfunction in patients admitted with decompensated heart failure.

Background The rapid detection of left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) is an important step in the clinical management of patients admitted with acute decompensated heart failure, because it allows the initiation of treatment specific to LVSD and avoidance of contraindicated therapies. The aim of this study was to determine whether internal medicine residents with limited ultrasound training could use hand-carried ultrasound (HCU) to identify LVSD. Methods Fifty patients admitted with acute decompensated heart failure were imaged from the parasternal window at the bedside with an HCU device by residents blinded to all clinical data, who had undergone limited cardiac ultrasound training (20 practice studies). Ejection fraction (EF) on HCU was graded as >40% or Results The average formal EF was 32 ± 16% (range, 7%–70%), with 66% of patients having EFs Conclusions Residents with limited training in cardiac ultrasound were able to identify LVSD in patients with acute decompensated heart failure with superior accuracy compared with clinical, physical exam, lab, and electrocardiographic findings and an average of 22 hours before the results of formal echocardiography were available.