cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Oaxaca: Backward Toward Revolution

The 2006 uprising in southern Mexico's Oaxaca state involved a seizure of power from below by popular organizations in the capital city and many of the rural municipalities. Although this movement has lost ground following the November repression, the state remains politically divided. The grassroots organizations—uniting in the Popular Assembly of the People of Oaxaca (APPO)—explicitly draw their model of local self-government from the indigenous past. While Marx saw the “traditions of dead generations hanging like a nightmare on the brain of the living,” the revolutionaries of Oaxaca see their indigenous traditions—which stretch back to pre-Columbian times—as a wellspring of their praxis. The project of building a post-Cold War “21st century socialism” may be gestating in its purest form in Oaxaca, precisely because it is rooted in something ancient.
Exploiting predicate-window semantics over data streams

The continuous sliding-window query model is used widely in data stream management systems where the focus of a continuous query is limited to a set of the most recent tuples. In this paper, we show that an interesting and important class of queries over data streams cannot be answered using the sliding-window query model. Thus, we introduce a new model for continuous window queries, termed the predicate-window query model that limits the focus of a continuous query to the stream tuples that qualify a certain predicate. Predicate-window queries have some distinguishing characteristics, e.g., (1) The window predicate can be defined over any attribute in the stream tuple (ordered or unordered). (2) Stream tuples qualify and disqualify the window predicate in an out-of-order manner. In this paper, we discuss the applicability of the predicate-window query model. We will show how the existing sliding-window query models fail to answer some of the predicate-window queries. Finally, we discuss the challenges in supporting the predicate-window query model in data stream management systems.
Modal cost analysis for linear matrix-second-order systems

Reduced models and reduced controllers for systems governed by matrix-second-order differential equations are obtained by retaining those modes which make the largest contributions to quadratic control objectives. Such contributions, expressed in terms of modal data, used as mode truncation criteria, allow the statement of the specific control objectives to influence the early model reduction from very high order models which are available, for example, from finite element methods. The relative importance of damping, frequency, and eigenvector in the mode truncation decisions are made explicit for each of these control objectives: attitude control, vibration suppression and figure control. The paper also shows that using modal cost analysis (MCA) on the closed loop modes of the optimally controlled system allows the construction of reduced control policies which feedback only those closed loop modal coordinates which are most critical to the quadratic control performance criterion. In this way, the modes which should be controlled (and hence the modes which must be observable by choice of measurements), are deduced from truncations of the optimal controller.
Forskolin-Induced LTP in the CA1 Hippocampal Region Is NMDA Receptor Dependent

Chemically induced long-term potentiation (cLTP) could potentially work by directly stimulating the biochemical machinery that underlies synaptic plasticity, bypassing the need for synaptic activat...
Transcendence of Place

Las Falks is a carnavalesque rite of mammoth proportions celebrated each year in neighborhood streets and plazas in the city of Valencia, Spain.1 The event’s central attraction is the 350 “fallas” erected by neighborhoods throughout the city; each falla is indelibly identified with the placeta (“small square” in Valenciano) and sponsoring neighborhood, which all share the same name. The fallas are garishly painted, sculpted, papier-mâche figures of massive scale and proportion that give expression to popular themes of satirical dissent. Under the auspices of city government, artists and neighborhood commissions collaborate to create grotesque images that ridicule and parody contemporary values, and critically comment on local, national, and international issues.
Review of Semiconductor Physics and Devices

This book assumes some elementary knowledge of semiconductor physics and devices, corresponding to that acquired in a typical electrical engineering undergraduate curriculum. At the end of this chapter, we quote a few books in this area, which may be useful in reviewing the topics commonly covered in such a course. Since it might be useful to also have the main results, which we need to quote from elementary semiconductor theory, collected in a convenient place, we will briefly review these in this chapter. This review will also serve the purpose of defining a notation which we can use throughout the book. We will cover the important concepts regarding transport of charge carriers in semiconductors: in particular it is useful to review how the concepts of effective mass, mobility and density of states follow from the energy band concept. We also review the properties of p-n-junctions and Schottky barriers, reverse breakdown, and phonons. The expansion of these elementary ideas necessary for the understanding of specific devices will be left to the appropriate later chapters in which these devices are discussed. We prefer this approach to one in which all relevant semiconductor physics would be presented first, on the grounds that the discussion of the physics material can be given a more lively presentation if it is directly connected with the device whose operation it explains.
The Imperfect and the All-Too-Perfect Home: The House as Existential Symbol in Franz Kafka’s “The Burrow” and Thomas Bernhard’s Correction

The literary motif of the home, especially in the sense of “house”, has a long and semantically diversified history. Living in a home that provides shelter, being attached to it and rooted in it, are vital functions of human life. Yet the literary image of the house often transcends these self-evident basic semantic definitions towards a broader symbolic sense, which is linked only in a rather general and rudimentary way to its original semantic content. House or home are then assigned a special idiosyncratic meaning by an author and thereby become existential symbols. In this fuller and higher sense they embody the most gratifying fulfilment of human life as well as its most painful failings, the plight or predicament of human endeavor.
Role of the Pacemaker in the Therapy of Complete A-V Heart Block, Stokes-Adams Seizures and Episodes of Cardiac Arrest

In the asymptomatic variety of complete A-V heart block (absence of syncopal attacks or congestive failure) no therapy is required to increase the ventricular rate. In the symptomatic variety (associated with syncopal attacks and or congestive failure) procedures are indicated to increase the ventricular rate. This may be accomplished by the use of sympathomimetic drugs (ephedrine, Isuprel) and or molar sodium lactate. Following operative correction of interventricular septal defects, complete A-V heart block occasionally occurs because of the interruption of the A-V conduction system. Heart failure and or Stokes-Adams seizures are frequent complications. In such instances the use of the pacemaker as a temporary expedient may be helpful in increasing the cardiac rate. The resulting increase in cardiac output will have a salutary effect on the congestive failure and will prevent Stokes-Adams seizures.
Distribution of Insecticide-Resistant House Flies on Neighboring Farms

The spatial distribution of insecticide-resistant strains of the house fly, Musca domestica L., in Ventura County, California, has been examined in relation to the history of use of insecticides and the distances between farms. Differences in resistance levels between populations were maximal for compounds used relatively recently (diazinon, ronnel), and minimal for those employed rarely (fenthion, dimethoate), or the use of which has been discontinued for several years (DDT, dieldrin, malathion). The evidence indicates only slow intermingling among fly populations on the farms studied. However, even a few resistant flies, dispersing to neighboring farms, would constitute the nucleus for rapid development of resistance upon treatment with the respective insecticide.
The Integrity of Nature in the Grace–Freedom Dynamic: Lonergan’s Critique of Bañezian Thomism

Lonergan makes unique, balanced contributions to the debates on the relationship between the natural and supernatural and on the grace–freedom dynamic (the de auxiliis controversy), particularly in...
Therapeutic approaches to the alcoholic marriage.

The psychiatrist must be prepared to diagnose alcoholism when evaluating a troubled marriage. This well-detailed article examines our current understanding of the disease of alcoholism and the theoretical conceptions of psychopathology in the spouse and discusses the major modalities for treating the alcoholic marriage. The author stresses the importance of involving the spouse in the treatment of the alcoholic.
Association of Androgen Deprivation Therapy With Alzheimer’s Disease: Unmeasured Confounders

approach was used to extract routine administrative and clinical data from electronic medical records of two major academic centers in the United States, found a positive and seemingly duration-dependent association between androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) among a cohort of 16,888 men with prostate cancer. The authors should be commended for their novel data-mining approach to address a salient clinical question. The methods may represent the foundation for many big data studies to come. We have several methodologic concerns. First, presence and duration of ADT is based on the presence of any one of 29 different wordsinelectronicmedicalrecords,whichrefer toaheterogeneous group of medications with disparate mechanisms and physiologic effects. For example, gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists downregulate the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis by chronic stimulation of GnRH receptors in the anterior pituitary and, thus, cause an initial surge in luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone. Other medications block GnRH or androgen receptors, which causes no such surge. Furthermore, different forms of ADT have different effects on gonadotropin levels: GnRH agonists mainly reduce LH, whereas GnRH antagonists reduce follicle-stimulating hormone and LH. Antiandrogens increase both. Given that receptors for GnRH, LH, and follicle-stimulating hormone are found in a wide variety of substrates—some with important inflammatory, vascular, and metabolic roles—it is unsurprising that differential adverse effects may be seen between forms of ADT. 2,3
Development and initial validation of the obsessive compulsive eating scale.

Objective Food cravings are common and have been implicated in eating-related pathology, including binge eating, bulimia nervosa, and unhealthy weight problems, but difficulties in defining and quantifying the phenomenon of craving are well documented. There has been an increase in focus on the study of cognitive mechanisms underlying craving, in particular the role of intrusive thoughts; however, existing craving measures fail to fully capture these aspects of the craving experience. The present study was designed to develop a psychometrically sound measure of the obsessive-compulsive aspects of food cravings. Methods The proposed 14-item Obsessive Compulsive Eating Scale (OCES) is based on the existing and well-validated Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale, a self-report measure of obsessive thoughts about drinking and compulsive behaviors directed towards alcohol consumption. The OCES was administered to 224 respondents (57.4%, n = 128 women). Results Results of confirmatory factor analyses suggested a two-factorial structure of the OCES, which mirrors that of the Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale, on which it is based. The OCES had excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.91) and demonstrated good convergent and criterion validity. Conclusions The proposed OCES is a psychometrically sound addition to the body of measurements used to assess food cravings and their role in disordered eating patterns.
Serbia's Anti-Bureaucratic Revolution as Manipulation? A Cultural Alternative to the Elite-Centric Approach

Why did nationalism and socialism combine during Serbia's “anti-bureaucratic revolution”? This article critiques the elite-centric approach prevalent in the literature and suggests a cultural argument instead. Three interconnected “elective affinities” brought nationalism and socialism together and separated them from a weak liberal alternative: (1) the emergence of bureaucracy as a “floating signifier” ; (2) the search for enemies and a predilection for conspiracy theories ; and (3) anti-intellectualism with special emphasis on the search for “one truth.” The elite-centric approach is assessed by looking at actors who, if the thesis is correct, should have been the least likely adopters of nationalist ideas.
Galbraith and Intellectual History

The present chapter attempts to place Galbraith in intellectual history. From the foregoing it is no doubt evident to the reader that the major contention here is that Galbraith is properly considered to represent the tradition of American institutionalism. This chapter maintains the argument. But there are some surrounding issues in this regard, which in some respects Galbraith shares with other institutionalists, the relation to Keynes, to modern liberalism, to more radical traditions, even to the nascent green intellectual tradition. These issues are also considered in the chapter.
Trash to Treasure: Transforming Waste Polystyrene Cups into Negative Electrode Materials for Sodium Ion Batteries

Modern society generates a huge amount of plastic wastes that are posing potential disasters to our environment and society. For example, waste polystyrene (PS), such as used PS cups and packing materials, is mainly disposed into landfills. It is very challenging to recycle PS economically. PS cannot be carbonized under conventional conditions, because PS is completely decomposed into toxic gases at moderate temperature instead of carbonization. Here, we demonstrated a facile procedure to transform waste PS cups collected from a local coffee shop into disordered carbon in a sealed reactor at moderate temperature but under high pressure. The as-obtained disordered carbon demonstrated interesting electrochemical characteristics for reversible storage of sodium ions. A highly reversible capacity of 116 mAh g–1 could be achieved for at least 80 cycles. Our preliminary results demonstrated that the trash of waste PS cups could be facilely transformed into treasure of promising negative electrode materials for ...
Adaptive systems of particle filters

We study systems of particle filters that track targets based on data acquired from a network of sensors. We build on our previous concept of symbiotic particle filtering and propose a system of particle filters, where each one of them explores a state space of minimal dimension. The number of particle filters in the system varies in that more particle filters may be added to the system, some may be removed, and some may be merged or split with time. The decision for changing the number of filters in the system depends on the estimated states of the targets that are being tracked and the locations of the sensors that sense them. We demonstrate the performance of the system by computer simulations and compare it with that of a standard particle filter.
WP744, a novel anthracycline highly apoptotic in breast cancer cells

3843 Background : Anthracycline-based therapy with doxorubicin is a mainstay of both adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapy for breast cancer patients. Accumulation of doxorubicin in sufficient concentrations in breast cancer cells is needed to achieve anti-tumor efficacy. The emergence of multidrug resistance (MDR) mechanisms that cause drug efflux have led to increased clinical resistance to therapy. The two most studied forms of MDR in human tumors are secondary to overexpression of the MDR1 gene or the MRP1 gene. Both genes encode for proteins that act as drug efflux pumps, with MDR1 producing plasma membrane glycoprotein P-gp. WP744, a doxorubicin analog benzylated at the C-4’ hydroxyl, has increased lipophilicity and steric hindrance at C-4’. We believe that these properties of WP744 may help to circumvent the P-gp mediated drug efflux. We have shown in previous studies that WP744 is highly active in vitro against a wide range of tumors including MDR1 and MRP1 phenotypes and has demonstrated activity in vivo in leukemia and orthotopic glioblastoma models. Methods and Results : In our current study, we compared the cell growth inhibitory activity and proapoptotic activity of WP744 versus doxorubicin using both doxorubicin-resistant (MCF-7, 231-GFP) and doxorubicin-sensitive (MCF-Her-18) breast cancer cells. Cells were plated at 1 x 10 4 cells/well, and then incubated with doxorubicin and WP744 at concentrations ranging from 0.05 to 0.5 μg/ml. At 72 h MTT assay was performed to assess growth inhibition, and the IC 50 was determined using data points from 6 replicate samples. WP744 was noted to be more potent (p = 0.007) in all cell lines as compared to doxorubicin, respectively: MCF-7 (IC 50 0.1 vs. >0.5 μg/ml), 231-GFP (IC 50 0.05 vs. 0.375 μg/ml), MCF-Her-18 (IC 50 0.1 vs. 0.175 μg/ml). Apoptosis was analyzed in duplicate after 72 h of incubation with concentrations of 0, 0.075, and 0.1 μg/ml with WP744 or doxorubicin, respectively. For 231-GFP apoptotic cell populations were: 30 % vs. 14 % for 0.1 μg/ml (p = 0.013). For MCF-Her-18 apoptotic cell populations were: 20 % vs. 11 % for 0.1 μg/ml (p = 0.005). Conclusions : WP744 was superior to doxorubicin at inducing both growth inhibition and apoptosis for both doxorubicin-sensitive and resistant breast cancer cell lines. Therefore, we believe that WP744 has substantial promise in future clinical development as an antitumor agent that could be significantly more efficacious that doxorubicin for the treatment of breast cancer.
Privacy and Religious Exemptions

Religious exemptions policies raise issues of personal information privacy. If applicants for religious exemptions must demonstrate that the laws to which they object impose special burdens on them, then there is a good reason to require applicants to disclose the religious convictions that lead them to object. But how much personal information privacy is it reasonable for the state to violate in order to assess applications for religious exemptions? In some cases, very little personal information—perhaps amounting only to the fact of one’s denominational membership—may be necessary for representatives of the state to determine whether someone objects for a religious reason. Privacy violations seem justified in these cases of effective minimal mandated disclosure. However, in many cases no amount of mandated personal information disclosure will enable representatives of the state to determine whether an objector has a religious objection. Privacy violations are unlikely to be justified when they do not result in disclosure of the kind of information necessary to assess whether objectors have religious objections.
Vasa previa screening strategies: decision and cost-effectiveness analysis

Objective To perform a decision and cost-effectiveness analysis comparing four screening strategies for the antenatal diagnosis of vasa previa in singleton pregnancies. Methods A decision-analytic model was constructed comparing vasa previa screening strategies. Published probabilities and costs were applied to four transvaginal screening scenarios that were carried out at the time of mid-trimester ultrasound: no screening, ultrasound-indicated screening, screening only pregnancies conceived by in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and universal screening. Ultrasound-indicated screening was defined as performing transvaginal ultrasound at the time of the routine anatomy ultrasound scan in response to one of the following sonographic findings associated with an increased risk of vasa previa: low-lying placenta, marginal or velamentous cord insertion or bilobed or succenturiate lobed placenta. The primary outcome was cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) in US$. The analysis was performed from a healthcare system perspective with a willingness-to-pay threshold of $100 000 per QALY selected. One-way and multivariate sensitivity analysis (Monte-Carlo simulation) was performed. Results This decision-analytic model demonstrated that screening pregnancies conceived by IVF was the most cost-effective strategy, with an incremental cost effectiveness ratio (ICER) of $29186.50/QALY. Ultrasound-indicated screening was the second most cost-effective, with an ICER of $56096.77/QALY. These data were robust to all one-way and multivariate sensitivity analyses performed. Conclusions Within the baseline assumptions, transvaginal ultrasound screening for vasa previa appears to be most cost-effective when performed among IVF pregnancies. However, both IVF and ultrasound-indicated screening strategies fall within contemporary willingness-to-pay thresholds, suggesting that both strategies may be appropriate to apply in clinical practice. Copyright © 2018 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
At the Crossroads of Gender, Religion and Academia: Challenges of Black Women

In academia, the challenge to succeed is intensified by social and cultural factors, which in turn, are exacerbated by societal expectations related to gender and racial identity. Way beyond what other men and women, a black woman in academia is often confronted by challenges related to her gender and racial identity. Often overlooked is the role of religion in determining the direction and progress of women in general and Africana women in particular. In this article, I explore challenges that black women encounter in their efforts to succeed in academia, and in furthering the already existing conversation, I engage the question of religious values and how these enhance said gender and racial challenges.
A Bidirectional-Current CMOS Potentiostat for Fast-Scan Cyclic Voltammetry Detector Arrays

A potentiostat circuit for the application of bipolar electrode voltages and detection of bidirectional currents using a microelectrode array is presented. The potentiostat operates as a regulated-cascode amplifier for positive input currents, and as an active-input regulated-cascode mirror for negative input currents. This topology enables constant-potential amperometry and fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV) at microelectrode arrays for parallel recording of quantal release events, electrode impedance characterization, and high-throughput drug screening. A 64-channel FSCV detector array, fabricated in a 0.5- $\mu$ m, 5-V CMOS process, is also demonstrated. Each detector occupies an area of 45 $\mu$ m $\times$ 30 $\mu$ m and consists of only 14 transistors and a 50-fF integrating capacitor. The system was validated using prerecorded input stimuli from actual FSCV measurements at a carbon-fiber microelectrode.
Non-invasive Characterization of Focal Arrhythmia with Electromechanical Wave Imaging in Vivo

Abstract There is currently no established method for the non-invasive characterization of arrhythmia and differentiation between endocardial and epicardial triggers at the point of care. Electromechanical wave imaging (EWI) is a novel ultrasound-based imaging technique based on time-domain transient strain estimation that can map and characterize electromechanical activation in the heart in vivo. The objectives of this initial feasibility study were to determine that EWI is capable of differentiating between endocardial and epicardial sources of focal rhythm and, as a proof-of-concept, that EWI could characterize focal arrhythmia in one patient with premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) before radiofrequency (RF) ablation treatment. First, validation of EWI for differentiation of surface of origin was performed in seven (n = 7) adult dogs using four epicardial and four endocardial pacing protocols. Second, one (n = 1) adult patient diagnosed with PVC was imaged with EWI before the scheduled RF ablation procedure, and EWI results were compared with mapping procedure results. In dogs, EWI was capable of detecting whether pacing was of endocardial or epicardial origin in six of seven cases (86% success rate). In the PVC patient, EWI correctly identified both regions and surface of origin, as confirmed by results from the electrical mapping obtained from the RF ablation procedure. These results reveal that EWI can map the electromechanical activation across the myocardium and indicate that EWI could serve as a valuable pre-treatment planning tool in the clinic.
Three-step synthesis of oxylipins from D. loretense

Abstract A three-step convergent synthesis of an immunostimulatory oxylipin was developed using an olefin cross metathesis approach. The alkene fragments were prepared in two steps from commercially available starting materials with high stereoselectivity. In particular, an organocatalytic aldehyde α-oxygenation gave high enantioselectivity and yield using as little as 2 mol% catalyst. This synthesis represents the shortest synthesis of any natural product containing the 3-ene-1,2,5-triol moiety and delivers an immunostimulatory oxylipin in 33% overall yield.
Test-Retest Reliability and Validity of the Nutrition-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire

Objective The purpose of this study is to test the Nutrition-Specific Quality of Life (NSQOL) questionnaire for test-retest reliability and validity in a sample of patients on maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). Design and Methods Test-retest reliability of the NSQOL questionnaire via two patient interviews and comparison of the NSQOL questionnaire to a comprehensive nutrition assessment performed by a registered dietitian nutritionist for validity testing. This study was conducted in one outpatient MHD center in Chicago, IL. Adults, aged 18 years or older, treated with MHD for at least six months prior to start of the study. A Spearman's correlation coefficient was used to determine test-retest reliability and a Cronbach's alpha was used to determine the internal consistency of the 2 NSQOL questionnaires. Validity testing was done by comparing the NSQOL questionnaire to the most recent comprehensive nutrition assessment. Results The sample consisted of 17 men (63%) and 10 women (37%), with a mean age of 60 ± 13, who were mostly African American (63%) and Caucasian (26%). There was a significant correlation (P = .001) between the initial NSQOL interview and repeat NSQOL interview in all questions except for question 14 (P = .100). The NSQOL questionnaire was found to have excellent internal consistency with an α = 0.900. No significant relationship was found among total NSQOL score and age, dialysis vintage, albumin, or normalized protein catabolic rate; however, older participants had lower total NSQOL questionnaire scores. Although not statistically significant, there was variability between NSQOL questionnaire score and nutritional status. Conclusions The NSQOL questionnaire was found to be reliable and had high internal consistency in this sample of patients receiving MHD. The NSQOL questionnaire may be beneficial for monitoring nutrition quality of life changes in-between nutrition assessment intervals.
Mario Gionfriddo and mixed hypergraph coloring

We give a brief description of the explicit and implicit contribution of Mario Gionfriddo to mixed hypergraph coloring.
Providing Care for Children in Immigrant Families

Children in immigrant families (CIF), who represent 1 in 4 children in the United States, represent a growing and ever more diverse US demographic that pediatric medical providers nationwide will increasingly encounter in clinical care. Immigrant children are those born outside the United States to non-US citizen parents, and CIF are defined as those who are either foreign born or have at least 1 parent who is foreign born. Some families immigrate for economic or educational reasons, and others come fleeing persecution and seeking safe haven. Some US-born children with a foreign-born parent may share vulnerabilities with children who themselves are foreign born, particularly regarding access to care and other social determinants of health. Therefore, the larger umbrella term of CIF is used in this statement. CIF, like all children, have diverse experiences that interact with their biopsychosocial development. CIF may face inequities that can threaten their health and well-being, and CIF also offer strengths and embody resilience that can surpass challenges experienced before and during integration. This policy statement describes the evolving population of CIF in the United States, briefly introduces core competencies to enhance care within a framework of cultural humility and safety, and discusses barriers and opportunities at the practice and systems levels. Practice-level recommendations describe how pediatricians can promote health equity for CIF through careful attention to core competencies in clinical care, thoughtful community engagement, and system-level support. Advocacy and policy recommendations offer ways pediatricians can advocate for policies that promote health equity for CIF.
Defending Progressive Prosecution

“Progressive prosecutors” are taking over District Attorney’s Offices across the nation, with a mandate to reform the criminal justice system from the inside. Emily Bazelon’s new book, Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration, chronicles this potentially transformative moment in American criminal justice. This Essay highlights the importance of Charged to modern criminal justice debates, and leverages its concrete framing to offer a generally applicable theory of prosecutor-driven criminal justice reform. The theory seeks to reconcile reformers’ newfound embrace of prosecutorial discretion with long-standing worries, both inside and outside the academy, about the dangerous accumulation of prosecutorial power. It also offers the potential to broaden the reform movement’s appeal beyond progressive jurisdictions.
Medical Student Perceptions of Emergency Medical Technician Training During the First Year of Medical School.

Purpose Medical schools look for ways to provide clinical experiences and skill development in connection with knowledge. One method used is to provide emergency medical technician (EMT) training to medical students; however, limited data are available concerning EMT training in medical education. Therefore, the aim of this study was to review student feedback about the EMT curriculum through multiple iterations of the curriculum. Methods Students completed a voluntary school administered survey upon completion of their first year of medical school. Student responses to statements related to the EMT course and program were analyzed for classes matriculating in academic years 2012-2017. A one-way ANOVA with post hoc Tukey Honestly Significant Difference (HSD) was performed across all years for each survey statement. Results Mean response scores to statements related to the EMT course were higher when the EMT course was a standalone course and lower when integrated with biomedical science coursework. Students "strongly agreed" or "agreed" with most statements related to experiences and clinical skill development provided by the EMT program. Response rates ranged between 46-52 (88-100%) for 2012, 40-46 (74-85%) for 2013, 72-79 (88-96%) for 2014, 73-86 (71-83%) for 2015, 47-65 (46-63%) for 2016, 62-82 (59-78%) for 2017. Conclusion Our data show that first year medical students liked the course design best when the EMT course was a standalone course at the start of the M.D. program while students liked experiences and clinical skill development provided by the EMT program regardless of course design.
Application of the 2019 European League Against Rheumatism/American College of Rheumatology systemic lupus erythematosus classification criteria in clinical practice: a single center experience:

Originally developed as research tools, different classification criteria sets for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are also used to diagnose SLE in routine clinical care. The recently developed European League Against Rheumatism/American College of Rheumatology (EULAR/ACR) 2019 criteria set is noted to perform better than previous SLE classification criteria. This study applied the new criteria schema to a tertiary center SLE cohort, ascertained its performance, and identified the clinical characteristics of patients who did not fulfill these criteria. From the 217 patients who were included, 11 (5%) did not meet the new criteria, mainly because of the antinuclear antibody entry criterion, resulting in a diagnostic sensitivity of 94%. Within this group, we found that constitutional and renal manifestations were unusual. Additionally, specific SLE antibodies as well as hypocomplementemia were less likely to be present. We did not observe a statistically significant difference in outcomes between the two groups of patients (fulfilling vs. unfulfilling the new criteria). We conclude that the EULAR/ACR criteria may misclassify a small subset of SLE patients with milder disease. It is important to be cognizant of key clinical and serologic features of these patients and treat them accordingly to prevent further irreversible damage.
The impact of normative message types on off-trail hiking

Depreciative activities and high annual visitation levels threaten the health and sustainability of the giant Sequoia. Signage is one route to managing visitor behavior. Research suggests a two-by-...
Toward Identifying Subseasonal Forecasts of Opportunity Using North American Weather Regimes

AbstractLarge-scale atmospheric circulation regime structures are used to diagnose subseasonal forecasts of wintertime geopotential height fields over the North American sector, from the NCEP CFSv2...
Stereotactic Body Radiation for Refractory Ventricular Tachycardia in Patients with Left Ventricular Assist Devices

Purpose Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) combined with electrocardiographic mapping has emerged as a potential noninvasive ablation technique for the treatment of refractory ventricular tachycardia (VT). The role of SBRT in patients with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is unknown. Methods Retrospective chart review was performed on all heart failure (HF) patients who underwent SBRT from January 1, 2018 to September 1, 2019. In this case series, we describe two patients who underwent SBRT after LVAD implantation. Results Of eleven heart failure patients who underwent SBRT, two had LVADs. The first was a 51 year old male with nonischemic cardiomyopathy and ventricular tachycardia refractory to medical therapy and stellate ganglion block. Given his intractable VT and cardiogenic shock, he underwent HeartMate 3 LVAD implantation as bridge-to-transplant (BTT). After LVAD implantation, he continued to have refractory VT despite subsequent VT ablations. CT cardiac mapping identified a 4 mm arrhythmic scar along the lateral wall of the right ventricle, and SBRT was performed with a single fraction of 25 Gy. Two weeks after SBRT, he experienced recurrent VT and eventually underwent orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT) four months after VT recurrence. The second patient was a 66 year old male with a history of nonischemic cardiomyopathy status post HeartWare LVAD as BTT who presented with recurrent VT three years following LVAD implantation. He was referred for SBRT after failure of antiarrhythmic drug (AAD) therapy and VT ablation. 4D-CT simulation defined a myocardial scar in the left ventricular outflow tract, and SBRT was performed with a single fraction of 25 Gy. His ventricular arrhythmias returned after four months, and additional AAD were utilized to suppress the arrhythmias until he underwent OHT two months later. The frequency of hospitalizations for VT did decrease following SBRT (Pt 1: 6 pre-SBRT vs. 3 post-SBRT, Pt 2: 4 pre-SBRT vs. 2 post-SBRT), but did not reach statistical significance (p= 0.12). Conclusion LVAD patients are prone to ventricular arrhythmias, and noninvasive SBRT may serve as an alternative therapy if AAD and traditional VT ablation have been unsuccessful, potentially keeping ventricular arrhythmias quiescent while awaiting heart transplantation. Further research is needed in this patient population.
Progressive Choriocapillaris Impairment in ABCA4 Maculopathy Is Secondary to Retinal Pigment Epithelium Atrophy.

Purpose To analyze the progression of choriocapillaris (CC) impairment in recessive Stargardt disease (STGD) and compare it to the progression of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) atrophy. Methods Fifty-five patients with a clinical diagnosis of STGD and genetic confirmation of pathogenic biallelic variants in ABCA4 were imaged with short-wavelength fundus autofluorescence (SW-AF) and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) at a single clinic visit, whereas a subset of 12 patients were imaged with the same modalities at two different clinic visits. Results We observed three stages of CC impairment: an area of bright yet intact macular CC (11 patients), regions of vascular rarefaction and incomplete CC atrophy within an area of bright CC (10 patients), and areas of extensive CC atrophy (26 patients). These changes correlated to the degree of RPE atrophy observed in SW-AF imaging. Furthermore, 8 patients presented with early changes on SW-AF, but healthy CC. Quantitative analyses of the atrophic changes revealed that the area of RPE atrophy is larger (9.6 ± 1.7 mm2 vs. 6.9 ± 1.3 mm2, P < 0.001) and that it progresses at a faster rate (1.1 ± 0.1 mm2/year vs. 0.8 ± 0.2 mm2/year, P = 0.004) than the corresponding area of CC atrophy. Conclusions CC impairment is progressive and OCTA imaging can be used to demonstrate the stages, which culminate in extensive CC atrophy. Furthermore, CC impairment is secondary to RPE atrophy in STGD. We further advocate the use of SW-AF and OCTA imaging in monitoring the progression of STGD.
Surgical outcomes of Glaucoma associated with Axenfeld-Rieger syndrome.

The surgical management of glaucoma associated with Axenfeld-Rieger Syndrome (ARS) is poorly described in the literature. The goal of this study is to compare the effectiveness of various glaucoma surgeries on intraocular pressure (IOP) management in ARS. Retrospective cohort study at a university hospital-based practice of patients diagnosed with ARS between 1973 and 2018. Exclusion criterion was follow-up less than 1 year. The number of eyes with glaucoma (IOP ≥ 21 mmHg with corneal edema, Haabs striae, optic nerve cupping or buphthalmos) requiring surgery was determined. The success and survival rates of goniotomy, trabeculotomy±trabeculectomy (no antifibrotics), cycloablation, trabeculectomy with anti-fibrotics, and glaucoma drainage device placement were assessed. Success was defined as IOP of 5-20 mmHg and no additional IOP-lowering surgery or visually devastating complications. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and the Wilcoxon test were used for statistical analysis. In 32 patients identified with ARS (median age at presentation 6.9 years, 0–58.7 years; median follow-up 5.4 years, 1.1–43.7 years), 23 (71.9%) patients were diagnosed with glaucoma at median age 6.3 years (0–57.9 years). In glaucomatous eyes (46 eyes), mean IOP at presentation was 21.8 ± 9.3 mmHg (median 20 mmHg, 4-45 mmHg) on 1.0 ± 1.6 glaucoma medications. Thirty-one eyes of 18 patients required glaucoma surgery with 2.2 ± 1.2 IOP-lowering surgeries per eye. Goniotomy (6 eyes) showed 43% success with 4.3 ± 3.9 years of IOP control. Trabeculotomy±trabeculectomy (6 eyes) had 17% success rate with 14.8 ± 12.7 years of IOP control. Trabeculectomy with anti-fibrotics (14 eyes) showed 57% success with 16.5 ± 13.5 years of IOP control. Ahmed© (FP7 or FP8) valve placement (8 eyes) had 25% success rate with 1.7 ± 1.9 years of IOP control. Baerveldt© (250 or 350) device placement (8 eyes) showed 70% success with 1.9 ± 2.3 years of IOP control. Cycloablation (4 eyes) had 33% success rate with 2.7 ± 3.5 years of IOP control. At final follow-up, mean IOP (12.6 ± 3.8 mmHg, median 11.8 mmHg, 7-19 mmHg) in glaucomatous eyes was significantly decreased (p < 0.0001), but there was no difference in number of glaucoma medications (1.6 ± 1.5, p = 0.1). In our series, greater than 70% of patients with ARS have secondary glaucoma that often requires multiple surgeries. Trabeculectomy with anti-fibrotics and Baerveldt glaucoma drainage devices showed the greatest success in obtaining IOP control.
Preferential Stripping of a Lithium Protrusion Resulting in Recovery of a Planar Electrode

Author(s): Maslyn, JA; Mcentush, KD; Harry, KJ; Frenck, L; Loo, WS; Parkinson, DY; Balsara, NP | Abstract: Lithium metal is a high-energy-density battery electrode material, but the largely irreversible growth of lithium protrusions on an initially planar electrode during cycling makes it unsuitable for incorporation into a commercial battery. In this study, a lithium electrode with globular protrusions was stripped electrochemically, and the local morphology of the electrode as a function of time was determined by hard X-ray tomography. We demonstrate that globules are preferentially stripped compared to a planar electrode in our system, which incorporates a nanostructured block copolymer electrolyte. We report current density at the electrode as a function of micron-scale position and time. The local current density during the electrode healing process calculated from a reference frame at the electrode/electrolyte interface provides insight into the driving forces responsible for selective stripping of the globule. These results imply the possibility of discharging protocols that may return a lithium electrode to its initial planar state.
Developing Computer Resources to Automate Analysis of Students' Explanations of London Dispersion Forces.

Computer-assisted analysis of students’ written responses to questions is becoming a possibility due to developments in technology. This could make such constructed response questions more feasible for use in large classrooms where multiple choice assessments are often considered a more practical option. In this study, we use a previously developed prompt and coding scheme to characterize students’ explanations of the origins of London dispersion forces in order to develop machine learning resources that can carry out such an analysis for large numbers of students. We found that by using large numbers of human coded student responses (N = 1,730) we could subsequently automatically characterize students’ responses at a high level of accuracy compared to human coders. Furthermore, these resources were developed using responses from several different groups of students across multiple institutions to ensure both that our resources can work well with students from different backgrounds and that these computer resources can detect the different ways in which students explain this phenomenon. Such resources may help instructors to administer more complex open-ended assessment tasks to larger numbers of students and analyze the responses capturing language corresponding to causal mechanistic reasoning. Instructors could then use this information to better support their students’ learning.
Determining daytime resting site habitats of exurban feral cats

Predicting daytime resting sites (DRS) in feral cat (Felis catus) populations provides a means for further understanding what habitat characteristics are used by the species, which in turn may help in managing their populations. Between May – August 2013, we identified 319 summer DRSs used by 24 radiocollared feral cats in Russellville, Arkansas. Our goal was to characterize summer DRS use by feral cats via microhabitat and macrohabitat analysis in an exurban city. We identified DRSs by homing in on individuals between 1000 and 1600 h and sampled the habitat of one DRS for each cat weekly. We developed 13 a priori models focused on six micro- and macrohabitat variables that explained 97% of the data variability. Most cats used DRSs in thick vegetation or under anthropogenic structures, but we also observed cats inside anthropogenic structures, underground openings, and in open areas with no protective cover. Most DRSs were located within the open-low intensity developed land cover type. Two competing models that included 82% of the model weights indicated that DRS locations with relatively cooler temperatures, high overhead cover, and high ground-level visual obscurity were used frequently by cats. We also observed seven occasions of DRS sharing which were all within 165 m to known artificial food sources. Given the variety of habitats used by feral cats in this study, it would be difficult to predict specific daytime trapping locations with no established colony associated with a subsidized feeding area.
AI for System - Infusing AI into Cloud Computing Systems

In the past fifteen years, the most significant paradigm shift in the computing industry is the migration to cloud computing, which brings unprecedented opportunities of digital transformation to business, society, and human life. The implication of this is profound. It means that cloud computing platforms have become part of the basic infrastructure of the world. Therefore, the non-functional properties of cloud computing platforms, including availability, reliability, performance, efficiency, security, sustainability, etc., become immensely important. The distributed nature, massive scale, and high complexity of cloud computing platforms ranging from storage to networking, computing and beyond present huge challenges to achieve effective and efficient building and operation of such software systems. There is huge wealth of various types of data available throughout the entire development lifecycle of software systems. This is manifested even stronger with the paradigm shift to cloud computing as much more data are available on system runtime and workloads. Leveraging the amount of data, AI for System is to utilize AI/ML technologies to design and build high-quality cloud systems at scale. In this talk, I will first introduce the concept of AI for System and its research landscape. Then using a few projects at Microsoft as examples [1-10], I will talk about the work from Microsoft Research on AI for System and its impact. I will also discuss the research challenges and opportunities in AI for System moving forward.
Karazin’s ethnographic project and travelogues: topography and typography

Chapter six offers analysis of the ethnographic aspect in Karazin’s works. There was a great interest among the Russian public in the artifacts and images reflecting Russia’s new territories. Karazin’s ethnographic endeavors are analyzed in their connection to the imperial “scientific networks” which linked Turkestan to the metropole, as well as in their links to government, military, and scientific players in both the center and the periphery. Karazin presents a virtual reality panorama of Turkestan, being attentive to every detail of people’s life and their natural environment. As the ethnography of the time was expected to complement Russian domination, the artist did not avoid the occasional presentation of local people as ethnic types. However, similar to the rest of his art, Karazin’s ethnography is marked with the spirit of shared humanity.