cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thoracic outlet syndromes.

SUMMARY TOS may arise in a variety of circumstances including trauma, but it may also be seen as a result of postural abnormalities that may be induced by different factors. Cervical ribs and other congenital anomalies are not necessary prerequisites for either the causation or diagnosis of TOS, although they are more common in the TOS population. More important than diagnostic tests are the history and physical examination of the patient. Double crush syndrome can complicate the diagnosis and treatment; however, proper selection of candidates for surgery can produce excellent and good results in a high percentage of cases. Perioperative complications can be significant, so that surgery should be restricted to only those patients who find their symptoms intolerable.
Impact of Project Management Skill on Academic Achievement – An Experimental Study on Malaysia Form 4 Students

To date there is no formal/direct training on project management given to Malaysian students at secondary schools. Project management skill is considered very important for working adults who are managing projects. It is unknown whether the learning and usage of project management skill will improve student’s academic achievement. Hence in this paper, conceptual framework and experimental study plan are developed to evaluate the impact of project management skill on academic achievement (via one Science Subject) for secondary schools’ students in Malaysia.
“A Light Out of this World”: Awe, Anxiety, and Routinization in Early Nuclear Test Coverage, 1951–1953

Abstract Above-ground atomic testing has long occupied an iconic place in twentieth-century history. The mushroom cloud was a symbol not only of the Cold War but also of promised advances in science and prosperity. An examination of 600 news articles and editorials from the early 1950s sheds light on how the tests were reported. Coverage of dozens of blasts at the Nevada Test Site reveals journalists struggling to make sense of a force that was simultaneously awe-inspiring, threatening, and routine. Accounts in national, state, and local newspapers convey a complex picture—some were enthusiastic boosters of nuclear testing, while others posed pointed questions about the health implications of radioactive fallout. The purpose of this research is to help understand reporting on atomic testing as a health and safety issue, not simply a political or military one. It complements earlier scholarship by suggesting that coverage was more influenced by news routines than by a reluctance to watchdog authority. It c...
One-Dimensional Quasi-Exactly Solvable Schr\"odinger Equations

Quasi-Exactly Solvable Schrodinger Equations occupy an intermediate place between exactly-solvable (e.g. the harmonic oscillator and Coulomb problems etc) and non-solvable ones. Their major property is an explicit knowledge of several eigenstates while the remaining ones are unknown. Many of these problems are of the anharmonic oscillator type with a special type of anharmonicity. The Hamiltonians of quasi-exactly-solvable problems are characterized by the existence of a hidden algebraic structure but do not have any hidden symmetry properties. In particular, all known one-dimensional (quasi)-exactly-solvable problems possess a hidden $\mathfrak{sl}(2,\bf{R})-$ Lie algebra. They are equivalent to the $\mathfrak{sl}(2,\bf{R})$ Euler-Arnold quantum top in a constant magnetic field. Quasi-Exactly Solvable problems are highly non-trivial, they shed light on delicate analytic properties of the Schrodinger Equations in coupling constant. The Lie-algebraic formalism allows us to make a link between the Schrodinger Equations and finite-difference equations on uniform and/or exponential lattices, it implies that the spectra is preserved. This link takes the form of quantum canonical transformation. The corresponding isospectral spectral problems for finite-difference operators are described. The underlying Fock space formalism giving rise to this correspondence is uncovered. For a quite general class of perturbations of unperturbed problems with the hidden Lie algebra property we can construct an algebraic perturbation theory, where the wavefunction corrections are of polynomial nature, thus, can be found by algebraic means.
Towards compliant reference architectures by finding analogies and overlaps in compliance regulations

Business software is subject to a variety of regulations depending on the type of application. For example, software handling of medical records must follow HIPAA; software for financial applications must comply with Sarbanes Oxley, and so on. A close examination of the policies included in those regulations shows that they have analog and common aspects. Analog parts of regulations can be expressed as Semantic Analysis Patterns (SAPs), which can lead to building similar parts in other regulations. Overlapping parts usually correspond to security patterns and can be used to add security to other regulations. If we collect SAPs and security patterns in a catalog we can build reference architectures (RAs) for existing and new regulations. The resultant Compliant RAs (CRAs) can be used as guidelines for building compliant applications.
Search and Authentication in Online Matching Markets

Compared to offline matching markets, online matchmaking firms improve search in the matchmaking process, but at the same time, increase the problem of authenticating the features and credentials of prospective matches. This paper examines the interplay between these two processes in online matchmaking, using game-theoretic models. We examine whether an online matchmaking firm should target a broad market of match seekers, or an exclusive group of high-value seekers, and how the firm can use a two-part pricing approach for search and authentication services. Our results provide valuable insights for online matchmaking firms regarding the trade-offs between search and authentication services, and providing guidelines for the pricing and positioning of their services. For instance, we show that the complementarity of the firm's optimal pricing for search and authentication services can lead to the firm offering an authentication service as a loss leader, and that higher quality authentication services may not justify higher authentication fees. We also develop guidelines for the firm's optimal strategies for different market conditions.
Homoclinic snaking near a codimension-two Turing-Hopf bifurcation point in the Brusselator model

Spatiotemporal Turing-Hopf pinning solutions near the codimension-two Turing-Hopf point of the one-dimensional Brusselator model are studied. Both the Turing and Hopf bifurcations are supercritical and stable. The pinning solutions exhibit coexistence of stationary stripes of near critical wavelength and time-periodic oscillations near the characteristic Hopf frequency. Such solutions of this nonvariational problem are in contrast to the stationary pinning solutions found in the subcritical Turing regime for the variational Swift-Hohenberg equations, characterized by a spatially periodic pattern embedded in a spatially homogeneous background state. Numerical continuation was used to solve periodic boundary value problems in time for the Fourier amplitudes of the spatiotemporal Turing-Hopf pinning solutions. The solution branches are organized in a series of saddle-node bifurcations similar to the known snaking structures of stationary pinning solutions. We find two intertwined pairs of such branches, one with a defect in the middle of the striped region, and one without. Solutions on one branch of one pair differ from those on the other branch by a π phase shift in the spatially periodic region, i.e., locations of local minima of solutions on one branch correspond to locations of maxima of solutions on the other branch. These branches are connected to branches exhibiting collapsed snaking behavior, where the snaking region collapses to almost a single value in the bifurcation parameter. Solutions along various parts of the branches are described in detail. Time dependent depinning dynamics outside the saddle nodes are illustrated, and a time scale for the depinning transitions is numerically established. Wavelength variation within the snaking region is discussed, and reasons for the variation are given in the context of amplitude equations. Finally, we compare the pinning region to the Maxwell line found numerically by time evolving the amplitude equations.
A study on high yield cultivation regularity of Indica rice varieties in the winter paddy field regions in the southeast Sichuan

The high yield cultivation regularity of indica rica varieties in paddy field rations in southeast Sichuan was studied through high yield cultivation trials using 25 varieties of early-middle indica rice during 1978 to 1996. The results indicated difference among varieties for sowing date, sowing rate, transplanting leaves age, the amount of N applied and transplanting seedlings per hill was not significant (P≤0 .05), but significant for the transplaning hills and the effective panicles Per ha for high yield (P≤0.05 ). Significantly negative correlations were observed between the high yield tyansplanting density and N application, the grains per panicle of varieties. There were significantly negative correlation between the effective panicles for high yield and the grains per panicle of varieties. Known a variety's grains per panicle of indica rice, we could make a decision to each variety chief cultivation technologies for high yield, because there were significantly positive correlations between grains per panicle of varieties and the length, open angle, drooping angle of 1st, 2nd and 3rd leaves from top. In conclusion, the mere the veriety's grains per panicle was, the sparser plant type was.
Evaluation on Electrochemical Potentiokinetic Reactivation for Intergranular Corrosion Performance of Super304H Welded Joints

It is easy to separate out M23C6 on the crystal boundary for reason of Super304 H steel tube working at its sensibilization temperature of 450~850 ℃in the long term which may cause intergranular corrosion and result in embrittlement and tube burst.Combining scanning electron microscope,electrochemical potentiokinetic reactivation(EPR)was applied for studying welding joint,heat affected zone of Super304 H and intergranular corrosion performance of the parent metal,analyzing influence of sensibilization on sensitivity of intergranular corrosion.EPR experiment results indicate there is no intergranular corrosion in Super304 H welding joint,heat affected zone and the parent metal without sensitizing treatment.In addition,after five hours of sensibilization at 650 ℃,reactivation rates of welding joint,heat affected zone and the parent metal all increase and sensitivity of intergranular corrosion of welding joint is lower.Scanning electron microscope result indicates that obvious intergranular corrosion occurs to heat affected zone and the parent metal.
Analysis of trace element contents in teas from Fujian Province

Objective To investigate the contents of trace elements,including iron,manganese,copper,zinc,cobalt,selenium,chromium and nickel in different varieties of teas collected from different areas in Fujian Province so as to provide scientific evidence for tea cultivation,tea nutrition and hygiene. Methods The contents of the trace elements in 135 tea samples randomly collected from Fujian Province were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry with microwave digestion.Results The ranks of the contents of the 8 trace elements in different kinds of tea samples were all Mn Fe Zn Cu Ni Cr Co≈Se,although the contents of the same trace elements were varied among them. The highest contents of the trace elements were shown as follows: Mn in Tie- guanyin tea; Fe,Zn,Cu and Cr in Gong- fu black tea; Ni in White Peony; Co in Yong-chun finger citron tea and Se in Lapsang Souchong. The average contents of Fe,Zn,Cu and Ni in the teas from northern Fujian were significantly higher than those from southern Fujian( P 0. 01),while the average content of Mn was lower( P 0. 01). No statistically significant difference was found between the average contents of the other elements in the two regions( P 0. 05).Conclusions Multiple trace elements are rich in the teas from Fujian Province,and their contents are varied in teas of various categories and from different regions.
Random Parallel Control Study of Baihegujitang Treated Recurrent Pulmonary Tuberculosis

[Objective]To observe the Baihegujitang treated retreatment tuberculosis curative effect.[Methods]Using random parallel control method,60 cases of clinic patients were randomly divided into two groups according to random number table method.Control group of 30 cases with 2 hbzes/6 hbe line antituberculosis treatment,isoniazid 0.3 g/H,1/d;B for the cloth(600 mg/times,1/d;Z is pyrazinamide 0.5g/ time,3 times/d,oral;E for ethambutol hydrochloride,0.5g/time 1/d,oral;S to streptomycin,0.75 g/time 1/ d,intramuscular injection.On the basis of the observation group of 30 cases in the control group used the lily solid jintang(12g Baihe,Shengdihuang,Shudihuang each 20g,Xuanshen,Maidong,Huangjing,Beimu,Jiegeng every 10g,Taizishen 24g,6gWuweizi,Shashen,Danshen,Danggui each 15g,Baishao12g,Gancao 6g).Agent/week 800mLwater till 300 mL,2 times/d.90d continuous treatment for 1 course of treatment.The clinical curative effect,X ray film,bacteria,adverse reactions were observed.Continuous treated 1 treatment course,judge curative effect.[Results]Observation group 18 cases had marked effect,8 cases,4 cases were invalid,the total effective rate was 86.67%.Effective 9 cases,control group 11 cases had marked effect,10 had no effect,the total effective rate was 66.67%.The observation group curative effect is better than that of control group(P0.05).Two groups of X ray film were improved(P0.05),the treatment group is better than that of control group(P0.05).[Conclusion]The retreatment tuberculosis effect is remarkable,is worth promoting.
Functionally distinct muscarinic receptors on gastric somatostatin cells.

The present study was designed to examine the mode of action of muscarinic agonists on somatostatin secretion in intact gastric tissues, i.e., mucosal segments from the fundus and antrum of rat and the isolated luminally perfused mouse stomach. Methacholine caused similar decreases in somatostatin secretion in segments from the fundus (35 +/- 3%; P less than 0.001) and antrum (35 +/- 2%; P less than 0.001) of rat stomach, and in whole mouse stomach (43 +/- 3%; P less than 0.001). The decrease was the net effect of a dominant inhibition and a lesser stimulation of somatostatin secretion. Pretreatment with the permeant derivative of the acetomethoxy ester form of the calcium chelator 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (BAPTA/AM, 15 microM) caused a further decrease in methacholine-induced somatostatin secretion, implying that a stimulatory component existed that was mediated by intracellular calcium. Pretreatment with pertussis toxin (125 ng/ml) for 60 min converted the decrease in som...
Acutely administered melatonin reduces oxidative damage in lung and brain induced by hyperbaric oxygen

Pablos, Marta I., Russel J. Reiter, Jin-Ing Chuang, Genaro G. Ortiz, Juan M. Guerrero, Ewa Sewerynek, Maria T. Agapito, Daniela Melchiorri, Richard Lawrence, and Susan M. Deneke. Acutely administer...
Irradiation uniformity with multiple-beam UV irradiation facility

The stringent requirements on irradiation uniformity for direct-drive laser fusion are well documented.1 At the University of Rochester the experimental constraints on achieving high levels of irradiation uniformity for the long-wavelength nonuniformities, particularly harmful to target implosion symmetry, have been investigated for the 24-beam Omega symmetric irradiation facility operating at 1054 nm.2 With the recognition that short-wavelength radiation has distinct advantages for ICF from the standpoints of increased absorption, much lower hot electron preheat levels, and high ablation pressures, comes the need to assess the implications this has for irradiation uniformity requirements.
The Use of Radioisotopes Under Federal Food and Drug Laws

Abstract The peacetime, civilian uses of radioisotopes by the biological industries warrant our closest attention—and control—according to Mr. Rankin, in this address first delivered at Oak Ridge, Tenn., April 28, 1903.
Highly Bi-Connected Subgraphs for Computational Protein Function Annotation

Identifying highly connected subgraphs in biological networks has become a powerful tool in computational biology. By definition a highly connected graph with n vertices can only be disconnected by removing more than \(\frac{n}{2}\) of its edges. This definition, however, is not suitable for bipartite graphs, which have various applications in biology, since such graphs cannot contain highly connected subgraphs. Here, we introduce a natural modification of highly connected graphs for bipartite graphs, and prove that the problem of finding such subgraphs with the maximum number of vertices in bipartite graphs is NP-hard. To address this problem, we provide an integer linear programming solution, as well as a local search heuristic. Finally, we demonstrate the applicability of our heuristic to predict protein function by identifying highly connected subgraphs in bipartite networks that connect proteins with their experimentally established functionality.
CHAPTER 24 – Organisms and Natural Products: Commercial Ecosystem Culture

All living organisms have parasites and diseases; humans are no exception. Bacteria and viruses evolve fast; in significant response to our antibiotic and antiviral defenses, these pathogens achieve circumvention on the scale of years to decades. To fight off our medical problems, we need other organisms. We need to know the offensive, defensive, structural, and functional chemistry of those organisms. We need to know that they exist and we need to characterize and classify them. We cannot survive as a species without a very wide array of other species, most of which can only exist in functioning ecosystems. Model ecosystems can provide an intimate ecological understanding. Complex systems will provide many organisms for the commercial trade. Some of the species will always be abundant, some will be moderately or occasionally abundant, and many will be erratically present or rare, in commercial quantities. For many other types of commercial operations, this relative unreliability might be unacceptable. However, this kind of species spectrum is the reality of ecosystems. Using ecosystem techniques, it is no longer necessary to routinely collect live rock, algae, or invertebrates in the wild. Living models of ecosystems from many scattered and remote environments throughout the tropics can be established in sophisticated laboratories. It is possible to achieve the high biomass production requirements once compounds that are needed from specific organisms have been identified and tested.
The Role of Monoamines and Cyclic AMP in Ischemic Brain Edema

Experimental data from our laboratory on the mechanism of formation of ischemic early brain edema suggest that development of hydrostatic pressure gradient from intra- to extravascular space is an essential factor in determining the influx of water and sodium ions into brain tissue. The significance of the ischemia-induced rise in the level of cAMP in brain tissue was demonstrated. For the resolution of the early ischemic brain edema, energy must be preserved in order to maintain cellular homeostasis until collateral circulation can remove the ischemic stress. It was shown that ischemic condition (insufficient tissue perfusion to support metabolic demands) can be resolved by either increase of tissue perfusion or decrease in the metabolic demand. Reserpine, aminophylline, phenoxybenzamine, and diphenylhydantoin, but not propranolol, exhibited a protective effect against ischemic brain injury. It is suggested that the β-adrenergic receptor sites of cerebral microvasculature may contribute to the regulation of water balance in brain tissue.
Mechanism Design (New Developments)

Game theory provides methods to predict the outcome of a given game. Mechanism design concerns the reverse question: given some desirable outcome, can we design a game which produces it? Formally, the environment is , where A is a set of feasible and verifiable alternatives or outcomes, N = {1,...,n} is a set of agents, and Θ is a set of possible states of the world. Except where indicated, we consider private values environments, where a state is θ = (θ1,..., θ n ) ∈ × i Θ i = Θ, each agent i knows his own ‘type’ θ i ∈ Θ i , and his payoff u i (a, θ i ) depends only on the chosen alternative and his own type. (This does not rule out the possibility that the agents know something about each others’ types.) If values are not private, then they are said to be interdependent. A mechanism or contract Γ = (S, h) specifies a set of feasible actions S i for each agent i, and an outcome function h : S A. An outside party (a principal or social planner), or the agents themselves, want to design a mechanism which produces optimal outcomes. These are often represented by a social choice rule (SCR) F : Θ → A. A social choice function (SCF) is a single-valued SCR. Implicitly, it is assumed that the mechanism designer does not know the true θ, and this lack of information makes it impossible for her to directly choose an outcome in F(θ). Instead, she uses the more roundabout method of designing a mechanism which produces an outcome in F(θ), whatever the true θ may be.
Abstract 1433: A mobile app for health related quality of life and symptom assessment in patients with primary brain tumors in an outpatient oncology clinic

Purpose: Primary brain tumors, and their treatments, can have a significant impact on patient quality of life due to altered mentation, mood changes, memory loss, and neurologic deficits. It has therefore been suggested that patient related outcomes need to be included as endpoints for treatment efficacy. The objective of this project was to develop and evaluate a mobile application (GlioNCI), in reporting health-related quality of life measures and symptom scoring in patients with primary brain tumors treated and followed in an outpatient oncology clinic. Experimental Procedures and Results: Apple9s Xcode Integrated Development Environment (IDE) was used to develop GlioNCI using the Swift programming language. The parameters and scores chosen had previously been validated in primary CNS tumors. Medication and steroid use is captured at each encounter, as are seizure characteristics, frequency and management. Health related quality of life questionnaires included portions of the EORTC QLQ-C30, and EORTC QLQ-BN20, and MD Anderson Symptom Inventory Brain Tumor Module, which have been validated in patients with cancer and primary CNS tumors respectively. Patients’ symptoms and effects on function are collected with the Activities of Daily Living scale, and the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale. Mood and mental state were addressed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Separate questionnaires for different encounters and time points in outpatient treatment were included to assess care provider, as well as patient related measures, allowing for flexibility of the app to the needs of both. A mobile app was developed to collect, and archive in a database, input and feedback from both patients and care providers in oncology clinics. Conclusion: The creation of a patient centered quality of life and symptom assessment mobile app, following patients with primary brain tumors over their course of treatment and in follow-up is feasible. Pilot testing and patient evaluation of the application in an oncology clinic will be used to validate GlioNCI as a tool in outpatient clinics. Citation Format: Lindsay Rowe, Tuo Dong, Terri Armstrong, Megan Mackey, Mark Gilbert, Andra Krauze, Kevin Camphausen. A mobile app for health related quality of life and symptom assessment in patients with primary brain tumors in an outpatient oncology clinic. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 1433.
Multipath Effects in GPS Receivers: A Primer

Autonomous vehicles use global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) to provide a position within a few centimeters of truth. Centimeter positioning requires accurate measurement of each satellite's direct path propagation time. Multipath corrupts the propagation time estimate by creating a time-varying bias. A GNSS receiver model is developed and the effects of multipath are investigated. MATLABtm code is provided to enable readers to run simple GNSS receiver simulations. More specifically, GNSS signal models are presented and multipath mitigation techniques are described for various multipath conditions. Appendices are included in the booklet to derive some of the basics on early minus late code synchronization methods. Details on the numerically controlled oscillator and its properties are also given in the appendix.
Automated assembly system for large space structures

A research program to evaluate telerobotic methods for in-space assembly of large truss structures has been initiated at the NASA Langley Research Center. A commercial robot is mounted on a carriage positioning system and a tetrahedral truss which is composed of 1 02 members each 2 m long is assembled on a rotating motion base. The facility system is described and the current status of the assembly tests is discussed. Observations from these tests indicate that no problems have been encountered that would prohibit automated telerobotic assembly from being a viable in-space construction method.
R&D/Technology Integration Across the Atlantic

(1990). R&D/Technology Integration Across the Atlantic. Research-Technology Management: Vol. 33, No. 2, pp. 16-18.
Military Control over Intellectual Property

Army uniforms have several specific functions, including: to identify the wearer as belonging to a certain nation; to protect during battles; and to signify rank and status. Accordingly, the uniform is of national significance and by law its design cannot be copied without authorisation. The design of the uniform is protected as a part of the nation’s intellectual property (IP). Each new version of the design must be described in detail, entered into an IP system, numbered and sealed. Thereafter it is referred to as a ‘sealed pattern’. However, it cannot be found in the usual national IP registers. By meticulous and often time-consuming searches through archival documents, evidence of a separate IP system has come to light, a system held by the Army’s administration in collaboration with the Australian Government Clothing Factory. Together, they influenced not only the specifications of the uniform’s design, but also the use of specified fabrics, buttons and the like, and the production methods to be used in the manufacturing process. This gave the Army and Clothing Factory the power to dictate processes to any subcontractors involved in the production and the system became a gateway to the introduction of innovation in segments of the Australian clothing industry.
Radiation Pneumonitis and Noninvasive Ventilation

Radiation therapy is a major treatment modality for cancer as an intent to cure as well as palliative therapy. While its efficacy has been well proven, the complications of therapy can limit its effectiveness which ultimately affects morbidity and mortality posttreatment. Radiation exposure to the lung, in particular, can have acute and chronic toxicities manifested as radiation pneumonitis and pulmonary fibrosis, respectively.
Correction for Han et al., "Biochemical and Structural Properties of Mouse Kynurenine Aminotransferase III".

Volume 29, no. 3, p. 784–793, 2009, [https://doi.org/10.1128/MCB.01272-08][1]. Pages 789 and 790, Fig. 5 and 6: The identification of the ligands contained in the kynurenine aminotransferase (mKAT III) complexes (PDB codes [3E2F][2], [3E2Y][3], and [3E2Z][4]) presented in these figures has been
Message to the Congress of Bolivia

Bolivar, having been asked by the Bolivian Congress to submit a draft constitution, did so. This letter of transmittal describes the major features of the document and also offers advice and cautions to the members of the congress.
Anchored Asynchronous Online Discussions: Supporting Learning Conceptions

Online discussions show promise for improving students’ learning. We conducted two case studies to explore the potential benefits of using anchoring in asynchronous online discussions. We compared anchored asynchronous online discussions (AAODs) with standard asynchronous online discussions (AODs) on students’ experience and learning in a blended environment. Qualitative data were obtained from students based on a “take-home” essay. The students’ answers were coded and analyzed for differences using open, axial, and selective methods. We found that AAODs were more likely to be perceived as helping improve understanding, problem solving, comprehension, and social learning. AAOD students reported more enjoyable and positive experiences with AAODs. Overall, a significantly higher number of AAOD undergraduate students stated that they would like to use online discussions in future courses. The implications for this study are notable for theory and practice. AAODs can increase sharing of ideas, perspectives, and support learning conceptions.
Radical shifts in the first-line management of metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

In 2018, the results of multiple phase III trials in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) were presented. A phase III noninferiority trial demonstrated the importance of careful patient selection before cytoreductive nephrectomy. Additionally, three randomized phase III trials demonstrated the superiority of combination therapy with an immune-checkpoint inhibitor backbone versus sunitinib in patients with treatment-naive mRCC.
Reciprocity? International Preceptors' Perceptions of Global Health Elective Learners at African Sites.

Background: Short-term global health electives (STGHEs) have become increasingly common, with evidence showing educational and clinical benefits for short-term learners (STLs). Despite increased recognition that STGHEs should be mutually beneficial for host sites and STLs, evidence demonstrating the impact on international host preceptors is lacking. Objectives: To understand international host preceptors’ perceptions regarding benefits and burdens of hosting STLs. Methods: Focus group discussions with a convenience sample of 10 of 18 eligible preceptors were conducted at pediatric STGHE sites in Malawi and Lesotho. Qualitative content analysis was performed to identify themes using a deductive-inductive approach. Findings: Common themes regarding benefits to preceptors included increased knowledge and resources for learning from STLs, broadened differential diagnoses, and the satisfaction of teaching. Regarding burdens, preceptors perceived that supervising STLs decreases efficiency. Preceptors identified the burden of having to intervene in instances that could lead to patient harm. Some preceptors perceived that STLs under-valued preceptors’ clinical decision-making in resource-limited contexts. Conclusions: Our findings emphasize the need for institutions to identify mutuality of benefits between STLs and host sites when developing STGHEs. Host preceptors identified robust pre-departure training for STLs, lengthened duration of STGHEs, and formal preceptor orientation as ways to enhance mutuality of benefits.
The zeta(2) limit in the random assignment problem

The random assignment (or bipartite matching) problem studies the random total cost A_n of the optimal assignment of each of n jobs to each of n machines, where the costs of the n^2 possible job-machine matches has exponential (mean 1) distribution. Mezard - Parisi (1987) used the replica method from statistical physics to argue non-rigorously that EA_n converges to zeta(2) = pi^2/6. Aldous (1992) identified the limit as the optimal solution of a matching problem on an infinite tree. Continuing that approach, we construct the optimal matching on the infinite tree. This yields a rigorous proof of the zeta(2) limit and of the conjectured limit distribution of edge-costs and their rank-orders in the optimal matching.
American political development and new challenges of causal inference

Members of the subfield of American Political Development (APD), like other political scientists, are confronting the identification revolution in the social sciences. They are exploring whether and how evolving standards of causal inference can shape the research the subfield performs. Almost by definition, APD research involves analyzing observational data, where variation in the data is provided by ‘nature’, and thus faces the formidable challenges that follow from the inability of the researcher to manipulate the assignment of units of interest to treatment and control conditions. Fortunately, the very scope of historical analysis can create opportunities to take advantage of natural experiments and exogenous inputs that alter the course of events to produce more convincing causal analyses. Yet, historical investigation presents unique challenges to standard methodological approaches, certainly no less the case when causal identification is prioritized. Understanding and confronting these challenges is essential to taking advantage of inferential opportunities presented by historical data, as our consideration of scholarship on economic development demonstrates.
Temporal Graph Traversals Using Reinforcement Learning With Proximal Policy Optimization

Graphs in real-world applications are dynamic both in terms of structures and inputs. Information discovery in such networks, which present dense and deeply connected patterns locally and sparsity globally can be time consuming and computationally costly. In this paper we address the shortest path query in spatio-temporal graphs which is a fundamental graph problem with numerous applications. In spatio-temporal graphs, shortest path query classical algorithms are insufficient or even flawed because information consistency can not be guaranteed between two timestamps and path recalculation is computationally costly. In this work, we address the complexity and dynamicity of the shortest path query in spatio-temporal graphs with a simple, yet effective model based on Reinforcement Learning with Proximal Policy Optimization. Our solution simplifies the problem by decomposing the spatio-temporal graph in two components: a static and a dynamic sub-graph. The static graph, known and immutable, is efficiently solved with $A^{*}$ algorithm. The sub-graphs interconnecting the static graph have unknown dynamics and we address such issue by estimating the unknown dynamic portion of the graph as a Markov Chain which correlates the observations of the agents in the environment and the path to be followed. We then derive an action policy through Proximal Policy Optimization to select the local optimal actions in the Markov Process that will lead to the shortest path, given the estimated system dynamics. We evaluate the system in a simulation environment constructed in Unity3D. In partially structured and unknown environments, with variable environment parameters we’ve obtained an efficiency 75% greater than the comparable deterministic solution.
A classification-based approach for integrated service matching and composition in cloud manufacturing

Abstract Cloud manufacturing has been acknowledged as a transformative manufacturing paradigm aiming towards producing highly customized products via sharing distributed manufacturing resources and capabilities. One of the pivotal challenges regarding the practical realization of this idea is the process of matching manufacturing resources with personalized service demands. This problem contains two main steps: (1) retrieval of functionally similar services through assessing semantic similarity between resources’ and subtasks’ descriptions and (2) optimal composition of subtasks according to non-functional quality of service (QoS) indexes. However, almost all the research work in the field so far has focused on tackling each of these dimensions individually which barely represents actual conditions of the cloud manufacturing paradigm. To this end, this paper aims towards a novel integrated approach that first, successfully retrieves candidate sets for each corresponding subtask via implementing five classification algorithms and using TF-IDF (term frequency–inverse document frequency) vectors extracted from the manufacturing capability data. Then, optimal composite services are obtained for each scenario by using two well-known metaheuristic algorithms. Results obtained from the experiments have proven the advantages of this method resulting in a more comprehensive and realistic way for dealing with the service composition problems.
Pre-ischemia physical activity improved cognition and modified ascorbate change in medial prefrontal cortex after cerebral ischemia

Objective To investigate the effect of pre-ischemia physical activity on cognition and ascorbate content in medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) after cerebral ischemia.Methods Twenty-four Sprague-Dowley rats were enrolled in this study and randomly divided into the following 4 groups:running-ischemia group,running group,ischemia group and shame operation group.Cerebral ischemia was brought about by permanent 2 vessels occlusion (2-VO) method.Treadmill running was used as physical activity training.Ascorbate in mPFC was monitored with in vivo microdialysis coupled with on-line electrochemical flow cell analysis.Passive avoidance was used to test cognitive function at 24 hours after 2-VO cerebral ischemia.Results Neurochemistry study showed that ascorbate level in mPFC increased within 3 hours after 2-VO ischemia and the increase was attenuated in the running-ischemia group.The baseline level of mPFC ascorbate in the four groups has no significant difference.Behavioral data indicated that 3 weeks pre-ischemia running promoted cognitive function recovery after 2-VO ischemia.Conclusion The pre-ischemia physical activity could increase the ascrobate storage in mPFC and enhance the antioxidant ability of this region.Therefore,it is one of the possible neurochemical mechanism underlying pre-ischemia physical activity for the improvement of cognitive function after cerebral ischemia.Thus pre-ischemia physical activity can be of benefit to cognition rehabilitation after stroke. Key words: Cerebral ischemia; In vivo microdialysis; Medial prefrontal cortext; Ascorbate; Passive avoidance
Assessment of Gynecologic Laparoscopy Simulation Curriculum for Development of Fundamentals of Laparoscopy Surgery Psychomotor Skills.

Study Objective To investigate the utility of a gynecologic laparoscopy simulation curriculum designed for mid-level obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN) residents in the five Fundamentals of Laparoscopy Surgery (FLS) skills. The hypothesis was that residents would demonstrate significant improvement in all tasks. Design A cohort study. Setting A community based OBGYN residency education program. Patients or Participants A total of 51 2nd and 3rd year residents. Interventions A comprehensive, 10 – week-long gynecologic endoscopy program, comprising both cognitive and manual skills. After an orientation week, formal assessment of baseline time and accuracy for each of the 5 FLS exercises was obtained on each resident by an FLS-certified faculty. Each week thereafter comprised a 3-hour training session with the same faculty that included approximately 90 minutes of hands-on psychomotor training using the FLS Laparoscopic System. All residents had 24 hour a day access to a training facility. On week 9, formal testing was repeated by the same faculty and the data entered into an Excel database. Measurements and Main Results There were 51 residents in the 10-year period and between 38 and 46 pairs of data for the 5 skills were evaluable. The baseline and week 9 completion times in seconds (SD) were as follows: Peg transfer 90.8 (40.1) and 59.4 (20.5); Pattern cut 190.7 (87.9) and 113.8 (51.0); Ligating loop 92.1 (39.6) and 65.1 (31.2); Extracorporeal tie 230.9 (88.3) and 137.8 (42.2); Intracorporeal tie 249.3 (97.9) and 134.1 (69.5). All differences were significant P Conclusion Mid-level OBGYN residents exposed to this gynecologic laparoscopy simulation training program significantly improved performance in the five FLS skills. Consequently, it may serve as a model for residency training programs. However, the absence of a cognitive and psychomotor hysteroscopic component in FLS is noteworthy and a shortcoming for OBGYN training programs.
Depressive and anxiety symptoms in early childhood education teachers: Relations to professional well-being and absenteeism

Abstract This study investigated how early childhood education teachers’ (N = 444) depressive and anxiety symptoms predicted their professional well-being outcomes and absenteeism over the course of one school year in Ghana. Higher anxiety and depressive symptoms predicted lower job motivation and job satisfaction and higher levels of emotional exhaustion at the end of the school year. Increased depressive symptoms were further associated with more days absent over the course of the school year. Findings point to the importance of considering teachers’ mental health for early educational quality. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.
Molecular mechanisms of assembly and TRIP13-mediated remodeling of the human Shieldin complex

The Shieldin complex, composed of REV7, SHLD1, SHLD2, and SHLD3, protects DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) to promote nonhomologous end joining. The AAA+ ATPase TRIP13 remodels Shieldin to regulate DNA repair pathway choice. Here we report crystal structures of human SHLD3-REV7 binary and fused SHLD2-SHLD3-REV7 ternary complexes, revealing that assembly of Shieldin requires fused SHLD2-SHLD3 induced conformational heterodimerization of open (O-REV7) and closed (C-REV7) forms of REV7. We also report the cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of the ATPγS-bound fused SHLD2-SHLD3-REV7-TRIP13 complexes, uncovering the principles underlying the TRIP13-mediated disassembly mechanism of the Shieldin complex. We demonstrate that the N terminus of REV7 inserts into the central channel of TRIP13, setting the stage for pulling the unfolded N-terminal peptide of C-REV7 through the central TRIP13 hexameric channel. The primary interface involves contacts between the safety-belt segment of C-REV7 and a conserved and negatively charged loop of TRIP13. This process is mediated by ATP hydrolysis-triggered rotatory motions of the TRIP13 ATPase, thereby resulting in the disassembly of the Shieldin complex.
Addressing the gate blocking of minority faculty.

Abstract There have been ongoing efforts to increase the presence of underrepresented minorities in medicine (URMM), including faculty development initiatives, mentoring programs and outreach efforts. However, URMM faculty face unique challenges that are crucial for academic institutions and leaders to recognize in order to improve retention of this group and allow for meaningful advancement in the field. This paper introduces the concept of gate blocking, defined as what happens to minority faculty as a result of the consequences of the minority tax and systems designed to advantage some and disadvantage others. In addition to defining gate blocking, the authors make recommendations to address this concern in academic medicine and promote the advancement and retention of URMM faculty.
Comparison of Clinical Scoring Tools to Predict Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia in Cardiac Surgery.

The 4Ts and HIT-Expert Probability (HEP) scoring tools for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) have not been validated in cardiac surgery patients, and the reported sensitivity and specificity of the Post-Cardiopulmonary Bypass (CPB) scoring tool vary widely in the 2 available analyses. It remains unclear which of the available scoring tools most accurately predicts HIT in this population. Forty-nine HIT-positive patients who underwent on-pump cardiac surgery within a 6-year period were loosely matched to 98 HIT-negative patients in a 1:2 case-control design. The 4Ts, HEP, and CPB scores were calculated for each patient. Sensitivity and specificity of each tool were calculated using standard cut-offs. The Youden method was utilized to determine optimal cut-offs within receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves of each score, after which sensitivities and specificities were recalculated. Using standard cut-offs, the sensitivities for the CPB, HEP, and 4Ts scores were 100%, 93.9%, and 69.4%, respectively. Specificities were 51%, 49%, and 71.4%, respectively. The AUC of the scoring tool ROC curves were 0.961 for the CPB score, 0.773 for the HEP score, and 0.805 for the 4Ts score. Using the Youden method-derived optimal cut-off of ≥3 points on the CPB score, sensitivity remained 100% with improved specificity to 88.9%. The CPB score is the preferred HIT clinical scoring tool in adult cardiac surgery patients, whereas the 4Ts score performed less effectively. A cut-off of ≥ 3 points on the CPB score could increase specificity while preserving high sensitivity, which should be validated in a prospective evaluation.
The Rise of Shadow Banking and Dodd-Frank Regulations

The unbridled rise in shadow banking in the last few decades was an important contributing factor for the financial crisis of 2007-2008. This paper discusses the growth in shadow banking and its role in the great recession. The paper also explores the Dodd-Frank (D-F) Act which was introduced in aftermath of the Great Financial Crisis (GFC) of 2007-08 to rein in excesses committed by banks and other financial institutions and to bring all banking activities, whether they are carried out by traditional banks or bank like financial intermediaries, under the umbrella of one regulatory framework.
Robust Portfolio Selection

Robust portfolio selection is the process of allocating assets in such a way that the resulting portfolio is less sensitive to errors in the predicted behavior of the assets in the portfolio. Tools from robust and Bayesian statistics, simulation, and stochastic and robust optimization are often used to improve the stability, theoretical properties, and computational tractability of models for portfolio selection. Keywords: portfolio allocation; robust parameter estimation; robust optimization; portfolio risk measures; uncertainty sets; distributional uncertainty; multiperiod portfolio optimization
An interactive object segmentation system for MPEG video

A smart interactive video object generation (SIVOG) system for semantic object extraction from image sequences is presented in this work. SIVOG provides a semi-automatic segmentation system, which uses a semantic layer to interact with the user. It interprets user's input and adaptively determine a processing algorithm. The proposed system is evaluated for several typical MPEG-4 test sequences, in which accurate and consistent results are obtained.