cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Impact of Incorporating Student Confidence Items into an Intelligent Tutor: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

For at least the last century researchers have advocated the use of student confidence as a form of educational assessment and the growth of online and mobile educational software has made the implementation of this measurement far easier. The following short paper discusses our first study of the dynamics of student confidence in an online math tutor. We used a randomized controlled trial to test whether asking students about their confidence while using an Intelligent Tutor altered their performance. We observe that (1) Asking students about their confidence has no statistically significant impact on any of several performance measures (2) Student confidence is more easily reduced by negative feedback (being incorrect) than increased by positive feedback (being correct) and (3) confidence accuracy may be a useful predictor of student behavior. This paper demonstrates how psychological ideas can be imported into Educational Data Mining and our findings point to the possibility of using student confidence to better predict performance and differentiate between students based on the way they approach items.
Weak Unit Disk and Interval Representation of Graphs

We study a variant of intersection representations with unit balls: unit disks in the plane and unit intervals on the line. Given a planar graph and a bipartition of the edges of the graph into near and far edges, the goal is to represent the vertices of the graph by unit-size balls so that the balls for two adjacent vertices intersect if and only if the corresponding edge is near. We consider the problem in the plane and prove that it is NP-hard to decide whether such a representation exists for a given edge-partition. On the other hand, we show that series-parallel graphs which include outerplanar graphs admit such a representation with unit disks for any near/far bipartition of the edges. The unit-interval on the line variant is equivalent to threshold graph coloring, in which context it is known that there exist girth-3 planar graphs even outerplanar graphs that do not admit such coloring. We extend this result to girth-4 planar graphs. On the other hand, we show that all triangle-free outerplanar graphs and all planar graphs with maximum average degree less than 26/11 have such a coloring, via unit-interval intersection representation on the line. This gives a simple proof that all planar graphs with girth at least 13 have a unit-interval intersection representation on the line.
Intra-tumor heterogeneity in head and neck cancer and its clinical implications

The presence of heritable differences among cancer cells within a tumor, called intra-tumor genetic heterogeneity, has long been suspected of playing a role in poor responses to therapy. Research over the past decade has documented the existence of such heterogeneity within tumors of individual patients and documented its potential clinical significance. The research methods for identifying this heterogeneity were not, however, readily adaptable to widespread clinical application. After a brief review of this background, we describe the development of a measure of intra-tumor genetic heterogeneity, based on whole-exome sequencing of individual tumor samples, that could be applied to biopsy specimens in a clinical setting. This measure has now been used in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) to document, for the first time, a relation of high intra-tumor genetic heterogeneity to shorter overall survival in a large, multi-institutional study. The implications of heterogeneity for research and clinical care thus now need to be addressed.
Thermal Properties of Fly Ashes and Biomass Ashes Including Wood Bagasse Ashes and Sugarcane Bagasse Ashes

AbstractMostly disposed without treatment, fly and biomass ashes have been a challenge that threatens the environment. To use them as geoenvironmental materials for thermal insulating purposes, a fundamental studying of thermal property of the pure ashes is crucial. In this study, thermal conductivities of fly (class C and F) and biomass ashes (sugarcane bagasse and wood) are studied at dry, saturated, and partial saturated conditions under different effective stresses. Moreover, silica sand and kaolinite are used for comparison. The results show that thermal conductivity dramatically increases with effective stress in dry condition, but less increases in saturated condition. Providing partial-saturated conditions, a substantial increase of thermal conductivity is observed with the degree of saturation, which shows a good consistency with an empirical fitting model using thermal conductivities of minerals of dry and saturated materials. Fly ash class C is cemented by reacting with water that causes therma...
GPCR Signaling Rides a Wave of Conformational Changes

The ability of structurally distinct ligands to "bias" G protein-coupled receptor signaling affords the opportunity to tailor efficacy to suit specific therapeutic needs. Furness et al. demonstrate that ligand structure controls not only which effectors are activated, but also the way they are activated and the kinetics of downstream signaling.
Does Economic Activity Slow in Election Years

Academic researchers and commentators have drawn attention to the potential link between heightened uncertainty experienced in a presidential election year and slower real economic activity. Our analysis looks at some of the key economic variables typically used by the NBER to date business cycles and compares the performance of these economic indicators between presidential election and non-election years since 1960. Our results suggest that the general argument that uncertainty during presidential election years results in slower economic activity does not hold water. In fact, based on our analysis, we find that several measures of economic activity are actually stronger during presidential election years.
An alternative formula for approximate extended Born inversion

ABSTRACTVarious modifications of reverse time migration (RTM) provide asymptotic inverses to the subsurface offset extended Born modeling operator for constant-density acoustics. These approximate inverses have the same quality (asymptotic accuracy) as do generalized Radon transform pseudoinverses, but they can be computed without any ray tracing whatsoever. We have developed an approximate inverse of this type whose additional computational cost, above that of subsurface offset extended RTM, is negligible.
Growth Effect of Sorbate and Selected Antioxidants on Toxigenic Strains of Staphylococcus aureus 1,2.

Effect of potassium sorbate with and without added antioxidants on Staphylococcus aureus 196, S-6, 137 and 326 in a liquid system was evaluated. We found (a) potassium sorbate a 1, 3, and 5% levels in combination with BHA, BHT, PG (50 and 100 ppm) exerted greater bactericidal and bacteriostatic effects on S. aureus strains at pH 5 than at pH 7; at pH 6 the effect was more pronounced at 3 and 5% compared with 1% sorbate, (b) TBHQ was highly inhibitory to S. aureus strains with or without the addition of sorbate, (c) in combination with sorbate, BHA exerted greater bactericidal effects compared with BHT and PG, (d) higher concentration of antioxidants exerted more bactericidal and bacteriostatic effects on test organisms, (e) S. aureus S-6 was more resistant than 196, 326, and 137 in the presence of sorbate and antioxidants and (f) shake cultures of S. aureus grew better than static cultures in the presence of sorbate and BHA.
The effect of continuous positive airway pressure on post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms in veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and obstructive sleep apnea: a prospective study

Abstract Objectives Previous retrospective studies have shown that continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) exerts salutary effect on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and nightmare distress. The relative magnitude of therapeutic benefits from CPAP and the strength of associations between duration of CPAP use and PTSD symptomatology are unknown. Methods A prospective cohort design involving 47 combat veterans with PTSD and documented obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) by overnight polysomnography. Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) score, PTSD checklist-Military (PCL-M), Nightmare Distress Questionnaire (NDQ), and Nightmare Frequency Questionnaire (NFQ) were administered at baseline and 3 months after CPAP therapy. Objective adherence was assessed at the 3-month follow-up. Results Twenty-two veterans with mild-to-moderate PTSD (PCL-M score 17–59) and 18 with severe-to-very-severe PTSD (PCL-M score 60–85) completed the study. There was a dose-dependent response of PCL-M to duration of CPAP usage ( r = 0.45; p = 0.003). Veterans with severe-to-very-severe PTSD had a larger improvement in PTSD symptoms ( d = 0.65; p = 0.004) compared with those with mild-to-moderate PTSD ( d = 0.47; p = 0.04). CPAP usage was the only significant predictor of overall subjective improvement in PTSD symptoms (OR 10.5; p = 0.01). Significant changes in NDQ and NFQ scores following 3 months of treatment were observed in veterans adherent to CPAP, but the correlations with duration of CPAP use were not statistically significant ( r = 0.24; p = 0.13 and r = 0.13; p = 0.4, respectively). Conclusions Improvement of PTSD symptoms in veterans with OSA was more pronounced with prolonged use of CPAP. Adherence to treatment was linked to abatement in nightmare distress and frequency. Future investigation of multimodal treatment, including behavioral intervention combined with CPAP, is warranted.
Thoracic Spine Biopsy

1. To review the radiologic anatomy that is pertinent toward the safe performance of thoracic spine biopsy 2. To review the indications and contraindications for thoracic spine biopsy 3. To learn image-guided percutaneous thoracic spine biopsy approaches and techniques
Deducing 3-dimensional polarization fields from projective measurements

We developed a method to extract information of 3-dimensional coherent fields using projective measurements. We are particularly interested in 3-dimensional fields that are produced by the intersection of two orthogonally polarized light beams. We find that for specific symmetric conditions we are able to deduce the 3-dimensional polarization ellipse of the every point in space.
Dual-resonator MEMS Lorentz force magnetometer based on differential frequency modulation

This paper presents a new dual-resonator MEMS magnetic sensor utilizing the Lorentz force. Sensor operation is demonstrated using quadrature frequency modulated (QFM) readout, where the magnetic field strength is measured by monitoring the change in oscillation frequency. The Lorentz force sensor, comprising of a matched pair of differentially operated closed-loop resonators on the same silicon die, produces two similar oscillation frequencies with nearly identical temperature sensitivities, providing a temperature-compensated FM output. The frequencies of the two oscillators are experimentally demonstrated to track each other over temperature, reducing the maximum drift error by a factor of 27 to ±2.2 µT, improving the sensor's bias instability from 170 nT to 63 nT, and increasing the averaging time to reach the bias instability from 0.3 s to 1.1 s. With 1 mA bias current, the device has a measured sensitivity of 2180 Hz/T and Brownian-noise-limited resolution of 60 nT/√Hz which is comparable to, or even better than, that of Hall-effect sensors available today.
Changes in expression of annexin A2 in lung tissues in rats with hepato-pulmonary syndrome

Objective To evaluate the changes in the expression of annexin A2 (ANXA2) in lung tissues in rats with hepato-pulmonary syndrome.Methods Healthy 3-4-month-old Sprague-Dawley rats of both sexes,weighing 220-250 g,were randomly divided into 3 groups:control group (group C,n =10),sham operation group (group S,n =10) and hepatopulmonary syndrome group (group HPS,n =20).The rats were anesthetized with intraperitoneal 3％ pentobarbital sodium 0.1 ml/100 g.Hepatopulmonary syndrome was produced by chronic ligation of the common bile duct.After 5 weeks,the rats were sacrificed and lungs were removed for determination of ANXA2 and smooth muscle actin α (SM-α-actin) mRNA and protein expression in lung tissues by RT-PCR and Western blot,respectively.Results There was no significant difference in the expression of ANXA2 and SM-α-actin mRNA and protein between groups C and S (P ＞ 0.05).The expression of ANXA2 and SM-α-actin mRNA and protein was significantly higher in group HPS than in groups C and S (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The expression of ANXA2 in lung tissues is up-regulated in rats with hepato-pulmonary syndrome. Key words: Hepatopulmonary syndrome; Annexin A2; Lung
Prim-Dijkstra Revisited: Achieving Superior Timing-driven Routing Trees

The Prim-Dijkstra (PD ) construction [1] was first presented over 20 years ago as a way to efficiently trade off between shortest-path and minimum-wirelength routing trees. This approach has stood the test of time, having been integrated into leading semiconductor design methodologies and electronic design automation tools. PD optimizes the conflicting objectives of wirelength (WL) and source-sink pathlength (PL) by blending the classic Prim and Dijkstra spanning tree algorithms. However, as this work shows, PD can sometimes demonstrate significant suboptimality for both WL and PL. This quality degradation can be especially costly for advanced nodes because (i) wire delays form a much larger component of total stage delay, i.e., timing-driven routing is critical, and (ii) modern designs are severely power-constrained (e.g., mobile, IoT), which makes low-capacitance wiring important. Consequently, achieving a good timing and power tradeoff for routing is required to build a market-leading product[2]. This work introduces a new problem formulation that incorporates the total detour cost in the objective function to optimize the detour to every sink in the tree, not just the worst detour. We then propose a new PD-II construction which directly improves upon the original PD construction by repairing the tree to simultaneously reduce both WL and PL. The PD-II approach achieves improvement for both objectives, making it a clear win over PD, for virtually zero additional runtime cost. PD-II is a spanning tree algorithm (which is useful for seeding global routing); however, since Steiner trees are needed for timing estimation, this work also includes a post-processing algorithm called DAS to convert PD-II trees into balanced Steiner trees. Experimental results demonstrate that this construction outperforms the recent state-of-the-art academic tool, SALT [36], for high-fanout nets, achieving up to 36.46% PL improvement with similar WL on average for 20K nets of size ≥ 32 terminals from DAC 2012 contest benchmark designs [37].
Ripstein on private wrongs and torts

Arthur Ripstein has written an elegant and insightful book on private wrongs and tort law.1 Like Ernest Weinrib, Jules Coleman, and Robert Stevens, he defends an account of tort law as a system of ...
Methods for empirical game-theoretic analysis

An emerging empirical methodology bridges the gap between game theory and simulation for practical strategic reasoning.
Evaluations of Retrieved Dental Implant Devices

ABSTRACT Dental implant devices include a wide range of designs constructed from commercially pure (CP.) titanium and titanium-6 aluminum-4 vanadium, cobalt-chromium-molybdenum and iron-chromium-nickel alloys; alumina, sapphire, hydroxylapatite and tricalcium phosphate ceramics; and carbon and carbon-silicon compounds. The major designs include endosseous blades, root forms, frames and transosseous systems plus the subperiosteal frame devices. It is relatively common to find custom devices that are combinations of these major classifications. The current program on device retrieval and the statistical analyses of in-vivo systems started in 1975 and has continued since that first survey. The statistical analysis included a letter survey and visits to practitioner's offices to collect patient record information. The first survey in 1975 included approximately 1500 dental implants. The expansion in clinical applications since that period has been extensive. The device retrieval analyses from submitted systems has included general surface analysis, metallography and scanning electron microscopy (where indicated), histological evaluations of tissues (if available), and a general analysis of the biomaterial and biomechanical considerations for each device. This paper will emphasize the laboratory analyses of retrieved dental implant devices collected and analyzed over the past ten years. Failure mechanisms where determined, will be presented.
2001 DIVISION 27 PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS: Emotional Intelligence and the Good Community

Suggests various ways in which the concept of emotional intelligence (EI) can inform community research and action. Begins by defining EI and reviewing the growing body of research on its contribution to educational, health, and occupational outcomes. Next distinguishes between EI and the related concept of emotional and social competence. Then considers the connection between EI and several topics of interest to community action researchers including prevention and wellness promotion, implementation and dissemination of innovative programs, community development, and the value of diversity. Concludes by suggesting that the ecological perspective can help inform research and practice relating to EI.
The Proliferative Nature of Atherosclerosis: Adaptive and Reparative

The concept of a preliminary proliferative phase of the process of atherosclerosis not necessarily dependent on injury was discussed by Dr. Junge-Hulsing and Dr. O’Neal.
Early plant succession in loblolly pine plantations as affected by vegetation management

A common study design has been used at 13 locations across the South to examine loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) plantations established using four vegetation control treatments after mechanical site preparation: (a) No Control, (b) Woody Control, (c) Herbaceous Controlfor 4 yr, and (d) Total Control. This research, the Competition Omission Monitoring Project (COMP), is monitoring both pine growth and plant succession. During the first 8 yr, the cover of herbaceous components and prevalent genera, along with pine, woody (nonpine), and total herbaceous cover were estimated annually in September. Stem numbers and heights of arborescent and nonarborescent woody species were measured during the first 5 yr and yr 8. There were 101 prevalent genera of herbaceous plants and 76 species/gener a of woody plants present on the study sites, with a core group common to most. Herbaceous cover was rapidly reestablished on No Control and Woody Control treatments, with greater than 80% cover in the first year. After the first year, herbaceous cover steadily declined on No Control plots and was sustained when woody plants were eliminated. In general, grasses dominated the herbaceous layer (mainly Andropogon and Panicum spp.) with cover peaking in yr 4. Woody control increased the actual cover of both grasses andforbs, but only the relative proportion offorbs,
A novel mouse model overexpressing Nocturnin results in decreased fat mass in male mice

Nocturnin (NOCT) belongs to the Mg2+ dependent Exonucleases, Endonucleases, Phosphatase (EEP) family of enzymes that exhibit various functions in vitro and in vivo. NOCT is known to function as a deadenylase, cleaving poly-A tails from mRNA (messenger RNA) transcripts. Previously, we reported a role for NOCT in regulating bone marrow stromal cell differentiation through its interactions with PPARγ. In this study, we characterized the skeletal and adipose tissue phenotype when we globally overexpressed Noct in vivo. After 12 weeks of Noct overexpression, transgenic male mice had lower fat mass compared to controls, with no significant differences in the skeleton. Based on the presence of a mitochondrial target sequence in NOCT, we determined that mouse NOCT protein localizes to the mitochondria; subsequently, we found that NOCT overexpression led to a significant increase in the preadipocytes ability to utilize oxidative phosphorylation for ATP (adenosine triphosphate) generation. In summary, the effects of NOCT on adipocytes are likely through its novel role as a mediator of mitochondrial function.
A Simple and Low Cost Land-Mobile-Radio Design for Interoperability Among Radio Networks in a Public Safety Scenario

Interoperability amongst various radio networks is one of the core objectives of software defined radios. To address this core concept for public safety, future radio networks would benefit, only if those would be dynamically adaptable and reconfigurable in order to ensure interoperability. These radios are supposed to be multi-band, multi-standard across wide radio frequency spectrum and also be compatible with legacy transceivers systems. In this paper we propose a land-mobileradio design as a simple and low cost solution for this key issue of interoperability in a public safety scenario. Our proposed radio design is capable to receive and simultaneously down-convert and digitize desired channels from the bands allocated by Federal Communications Commission, USA, for public safety radio. Based on direct RF bandpass sampling, our design requires a low speed ADC upto 10 Msps, having wide input bandwidth of 800 MHz and hence gives assurance in reduction of system cost, complexity without any compromise on fast detection and processing of radio channels.
A Culture of Success: Black Alumnae Discussions of the Assets-Based Approach at Spelman College.

Some campuses are exemplars for best practices for racial inclusion in higher education, and they offer a vital opportunity to understand how to better include Black students. This critical life st...
Multiple Uses for Procedural Simulators in Continuing Medical Education Contexts

Simulators have been widely adopted to help surgical trainees learn procedural rules and acquire basic psychomotor skills, and research indicates that this learning transfers to clinical practice. However, few studies have explored the use of simulators to help more advanced learners improve their understanding of operative practices. To model how surgeons with different levels of experience use procedural simulators, we conducted a quantitative ethnographic analysis of small-group conversations in a continuing medical education short course on laparoscopic hernia repair. Our research shows that surgeons who had less experience with laparoscopic surgery tended to use the simulators to learn and rehearse the basic procedures, while more experienced surgeons used the simulators as a platform for exploring a range of hernia presentations and operative approaches based on their experiences. Thus simple, inexpensive simulators may be effective with both novice and more experienced learners.
Support for the Transmission-Clearance Trade-Off Hypothesis from a Study of Zika Virus Delivered by Mosquito Bite to Mice.

Evolutionary theory indicates that virus virulence is shaped by a trade-off between instantaneous rate of transmission and duration of infection. For most viruses, infection is curtailed by immune clearance, but there are few empirical tests of the transmission–clearance trade-off hypothesis. We exposed A129 mice to bites from groups of 1, 2–4, or 6–9 Aedes albopictus mosquitoes infected with Zika virus (ZIKV). We predicted that a higher number of infectious mosquito bites would deliver a higher total dose of the virus, and that increasing dose would result in earlier onset, higher magnitude, and shorter duration of viremia, as well as a more robust neutralizing antibody response. We found that increases in the number of mosquito bites delivered resulted in significantly different virus replication dynamics with higher, earlier peak titers. All mice experienced a transient weight loss following infection, but the nadir in weight loss was delayed in the mice that received the highest number of bites. Viremia persisted past the period of measurement in this study, so we did not capture its duration. However, the association at the level of the individual mouse between the estimated virus dose delivered and neutralizing antibody titer was remarkably strong, supporting the transmission–clearance trade-off hypothesis.
Macrophages in Atherosclerosis Regression

Macrophages play a central role in the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), which encompasses coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, and aortic atherosclerosis. In each vascular bed, macrophages contribute to the maintenance of the local inflammatory response, propagate plaque development, and promote thrombosis. These central roles, coupled with their plasticity, makes macrophages attractive therapeutic targets in stemming the development of and stabilizing existing atherosclerosis. In the context of ASCVD, classically activated M1 macrophages initiate and sustain inflammation, and alternatively activated M2 macrophages resolve inflammation. However, this classification is now considered an oversimplification, and a greater understanding of plaque macrophage physiology in ASCVD is required to aid in the development of therapeutics to promote ASCVD regression. Reviewed herein are the macrophage phenotypes and molecular regulators characteristic of ASCVD regression, and the current murine models of ASCVD regression.
Empirical Intersectionality: A Tale of Two Approaches

Intersectionality theory has been characterized as the most significant intellectual contribution of gender studies to the world. Surprisingly, at least part of its success has been attributed to its vagueness. Nowhere is this more true than in the empirical applications of intersectionality. When enacted empirically, intersectionality theory is usually conceptualized as a theory that fits four standards of empirical social research: (1) It explains a phenomenon. (2) It is grounded in a substantive literature. (3) It is falsifiable. (4) It is methodologically agnostic. Is this, however, the most appropriate way to empirically operationalize the legal theory of intersectionality? This chapter examines two contrasting empirical operationalizations of intersectionality theory and suggests a series of trade-offs between them, including preservation of theoretical integrity and current litigational utility. To do so, the author uses an ongoing research project concerning same-sex marriage, or marriage equality as it is termed by advocates, to illustrate distinct empirical methodologies that are compatible with the intersectionality-as-testable explanation and paradigm intersectionality approaches, respectively.
What are the current limits on determination of protonation state using neutron macromolecular crystallography

The rate of deposition of models determined by neutron diffraction, or a hybrid approach that combines X-ray and neutron diffraction, has increased in recent years. The benefit of neutron diffraction is that hydrogen atom (H) positions are detectable, allowing for the determination of protonation state and water molecule orientation. This study analyses all neutron models deposited in the Protein Data Bank to date, focusing on protonation state and properties of H (or deuterium, D) atoms as well as the details of water molecules. In particular, clashes and hydrogen bonds involving H or D atoms are investigated. As water molecules are typically the least reproducible part of a structural model, their positions in neutron models were compared to those in homologous high-resolution X-ray structures. For models determined by joint refinement against X-ray and neutron data, the water structure comparison was also carried out for models re-refined against the X-ray data alone. The homologues have generally fewer conserved water molecules where X-ray only was used and the positions of equivalent waters vary more than in the case of the hybrid X-ray model. As neutron diffraction data are generally less complete than X-ray data, the influence of neutron data completeness on nuclear density maps was also analyzed. We observe and discuss systematic map quality deterioration as result of data incompleteness.
Microstructural Statistics Informed Boundary Conditions for Statistically Equivalent Representative Volume Elements (SERVEs) of Polydispersed Elastic Composites

The statistically equivalent RVE or P-SERVE have been introduced in Swaminathan et al. (J Compos Mater 40(7):583–604, 2006) and Ghosh (Micromechanical analysis and multi-scale modeling using the voronoi cell finite element method. CRC Press/Taylor & Francis, Boca Raton, 2011) as the smallest microstructural volume element in non-uniform microstructures that has effective material properties equivalent to those of the entire microstructure. An important consideration is the application of appropriate boundary conditions for optimal SERVE domains. The exterior statistics-based boundary conditions or ESBCs have been developed in Ghosh and Kubair (J Mech Phys Solids 96:1–24, 2016), Kubair and Ghosh (Int J Solids Struct 112:106–121, 2017), Kubair et al. (J Comput Mech 52(21):2919–2928, 2018), accounting for the statistics of fiber distributions and interactions in the domain exterior to the SERVE. The ESBC-based SERVEs have been validated for effective convergence in evaluating homogenized stiffnesses and optimal domains for micromechanical analysis. Validation is also conducted with an experimentally studied carbon-fiber epoxy-matrix polymer matrix composite (PMC). The performance of the SERVE with ESBCs is compared with other boundary conditions, as well as with the statistical volume elements (SVE). The tests clearly show the significant advantages of the ESBCs in terms of accuracy of the homogenized stiffness and efficiency.
The Impact on “Informational Entropy” of Disproof of the Boltzmann Relation

A brief description is given of the circumstances that led to the use of the term “entropy” in information science. The similar developments in biology (leading to “negentropy”) and in physics (leading to “negative absolute temperatures”) are also reviewed. In each case the essential feature is the use of the Boltzmann relation, S = k ln(Ω), which supposedly connects the thermodynamic entropy, S, with a statistical quantity, Ω. A rigorous disproof of this relation is discussed and explained; the analysis in question involves the action of a gravitational force on an initially uniform volume of an ideal gas. Qualitative evidence against the Boltzmann relation is also presented and the basic statistical phenomena involved are discussed. Use of a term such as informationaluncertainty avoids the problems arising from the thermodynamic implications of the entropy concept. An analysis of Shannon’s basic treatment of information science reveals its formal character and demonstrates that no such quantity as thermodynamic entropy is implicit in the treatment.
Dysimmune small fiber neuropathies

Abstract Small-fiber polyneuropathy (SFN) consists of exclusive or preferential damage to very thin A-delta and thinner sensory and autonomic/trophic C-fibers, the most vulnerable axons. Lack of myelination and a high axolemma/axoplasm ratio leave their distal neurites most likely to malfunction and degenerate in suboptimal conditions. SFN’s cardinal symptoms—symmetric neuropathic pain and itch, postexertional fatigue, postural orthostasis, and postprandial gastrointestinal distress—are so nonspecific that confirmation with PGP9.5-immunolabeled skin biopsies is recommended for uncertain cases. Sensory symptoms reflect excess axonal firing plus deafferentation of central inhibitory circuits. Internal symptoms also reflect premature hypoxia and impaired cardiac return from malfunctioning sympathomotor blood-vessel regulation. With half of fibromyalgia patients having evidence of SFN, it could be the most common peripheral neuropathy, but currently, SFN symptoms are often managed palliatively leaving the SFN undiagnosed and untreated, particularly in children. Among the many patients without diabetes or evidence cause (initially idiopathic SFN/iiSFN), dysimmunity is increasingly implicated. Almost all nonlength-dependent iiSFN (sensory and/or autonomic ganglionitis/neuronitis) is autoantibody-mediated, with Sjogren’s syndrome most common. B-cells also appear involved in acute, Guillain-Barre-like and chronic length-dependent iiSFN, akin to chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy. A large series documents elevated prevalences of immune markers, and a passive-transfer experiment reproduced iiSFN behaviorally and pathologically in mice injected with patient sera. A small case series documents the responsiveness of apparently dysimmune SFN to corticosteroids, with four larger series reporting efficacy of intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIg). For immune-mediated SFN, pain management alone is only marginally effective, and it permits damage to continue, risking disability and medication dependence. In contrast, immunomodulation not only can improve symptoms, but also reduce medication use and encourage small-fiber regrowth and recovery. When SFN is arrested, the prognosis is good for restoring life quality and trajectory, particularly in young and otherwise healthy patients. Hence, the need to improve the diagnosis and treatment of dysimmune SFN.
Working with the ‘Enemy’: Free Space in Facilitating Cold War Space Collaboration

Although collaboration between competing organizations is one of the most challenging tasks in management, our knowledge about social-cognitive mechanisms that facilitate the collaborative interact...
ARSB gene variants causing Mucopolysaccharidosis VI in Miniature Pinscher and Miniature Schnauzer dogs.

Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) VI is a lysosomal storage disease caused by a deficiency of N-acetylgalactosamine-4-sulfatase, also called arylsulfatase B (ARSB, EC 3.1.6.12). Dogs with MPS VI show progressive predominantly oculoskeletal signs homologous to those in human and feline patients. We report herein two pathogenic ARSB gene variants in Miniature Pinscher and Miniature Schnauzer dogs with MPS VI and a genotyping survey in these breeds. All exons and adjacent regions of the ARSB gene were sequenced from three affected Miniature Pinschers and three affected Miniature Schnauzers. Allelic discrimination assays were used for genotyping. A missense variant (NM_001048133.1:c.910G>A) was found in exon 5 of MPS VI-affected Miniature Pinschers that is predicted to result in a deleterious amino acid substitution of a highly conserved glycine to arginine (NP_001041598.1:p.Gly304Arg). In MPS VI-affected Miniature Schnauzers, a 56 bp deletion (NM_001048133.1:c.-24_32del) was found at the junction of exon 1 and its upstream region, predicting no enzyme synthesis. All clinically affected Miniature Pinschers and Miniature Schnauzers were homozygous for the respective variants, and screened healthy dogs in each breed were either heterozygous or homozygous for the wt allele. Whereas the Miniature Pinscher variant seemed to occur commonly (0.133 allele frequency), the Miniature Schnauzer variant was presumed to be rare. In conclusion, two breed-specific pathogenic ARSB gene variants were identified in Miniature Pinscher and Miniature Schnauzer dogs with MPS VI, allowing for genotyping and informed breeding to prevent the production of affected offspring.
Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy: Diagnostic Pitfalls in a Medically Underserved Community (468)

Objective: We aim to explore the pitfalls that frequently lead to misdiagnosis of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). Background: Misdiagnosis of CIDP is common in outpatient neurology. This leads to unnecessary immunomodulatory treatments that subject patients to potential side effects and increased healthcare spending without much benefit. Design/Methods: We analysed seven cases of supposed CIDP referred to our center over a period of seven months. A second opinion was sought by the referring providers. Analysis and interpretation were based on clinical examination, ancillary tests and European Federation of Neurological Societies/Peripheral Nerve Society (EFNS/PNS) criteria. Results: Majority of patients (5/7) failed to meet the diagnostic criteria for CIDP. CSF studies pursued in (3/7) cases showed only mild protein elevation in two cases diagnosed as CIDP. Interestingly, proteins were also mildly elevated in the third case which was deemed not to have CIDP. Electrodiagnostic studies were much more forthcoming towards a correct diagnosis. Nerve conduction studies in patients without CIDP were either normal or showed a variety of heterogeneous findings including length dependent axonal polyneuropathy or a cervical or lumbar polyradiculopathy. Features of demyelination noted in some cases were better explained by an etiology other than CIDP like DM. We noted frequent mismatch between perceived subjective improvements by the patient in absence of any objective signs of improvement on examination. Absent or depressed reflexes in some cases were attributed to alternate etiologies like axonal neuropathy or prior spine surgery rather than CIDP. Conclusions: Propagation of incorrect prior chart diagnosis, reliance on subjective rather than objective parameters for treatment responsiveness, errors and technical artifacts in nerve conduction studies, confounding sural nerve biopsy results and over-reliance on mild CSF albuminocytological dissociation are some of the common pitfalls in misdiagnosis of CIDP. Our study helps to understand, address and improve upon this quality gap for better patient care. Disclosure: Dr. Shukla has nothing to disclose.
Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on orthodontics in predoctoral and postdoctoral programs in the United States.

Introduction The study aimed to characterize the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on predoctoral and postdoctoral orthodontic education. Methods Electronic surveys were distributed via e-mail to predoctoral orthodontic directors at accredited dental schools (n = 66), postgraduate orthodontic program directors at orthodontic programs (n = 73), and craniofacial orthodontic fellowship directors (n = 5) in the United States and Canada. Results The predoctoral orthodontic survey received a response rate of 38%, of the which 62% indicated significant curriculum modifications. However, orthodontic curriculum hours were largely unchanged because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Of the responding predoctoral orthodontic programs with graduate orthodontic programs in which dental students can gain clinical experience (n = 14), all but 2 reported not allowing or limiting observation or assisting opportunities. The postdoctoral orthodontic survey received a response rate of 39% and was affected by clinic modifications, including financial limitations, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 testing, decreased clinical hours, among other modifications. Conclusions COVID-19 pandemic has had a measurable impact on orthodontic clinical education for the predoctoral and postdoctoral orthodontic programs evaluated. Overall, less patient care was delivered, potentially resulting in delayed treatment for patients and fewer training opportunities for learners, particularly for predoctoral dental students, whose clinical observation and assisting hours were limited.
Freeze/Thaw Retrieval Over High Altitude Areas with CYGNSS

Soil Freeze/Thaw (F/T) transition monitoring is essential for quantifying climate change and hydrologic dynamics over cold regions. In this work, we investigated the use of Earth-reflected Global Positioning System (GPS) L-band signals as collected by the CYclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) mission for F/T retrieval over high altitude areas. CYGNSS can potentially detect the freezing and thawing of soil surface due to changes of dielectric constant when frozen, at an improved spatio-temporal sampling as compared to traditional microwave radiometry missions. A feasibility study has been performed over the Andes Mountains to further advance on this topic. Sensitivity in CYGNSS data to F/T transitions was demonstrated by comparing reflectivity differences between Summer and Winter to soil and snow temperature as provided by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecast (ECMWF) ERA 5-Land numerical reanalysis model. Finally, F/T retrievals with CYGNSS showed a better performance than those derived with the Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) mission.
Oncologic Nuclear Medicine

Nuclear medicine plays a multifaceted role in oncology, including diagnostic imaging and therapy. The few examples given in this chapter highlight some of the more common tests and applications, but there are many more that could not be included due to the limited space and scope. Metastatic skeletal disease is covered in the chapter on skeletal nuclear medicine.
Web-based Solutions

for many of you, web development is either entirely new or a skill you want to acquire. Unlike Al Gore who apparently “invented” the Internet some time ago and knows all about it, I am in the group of people who had to learn about the Web the hard way—through trial and error and a lot of reading. This chapter assumes very little. It starts out with basic Web development architecture and tries to bring everyone up to speed on the terminology and how ADO functions differently in an ASP.
Evaluation of child and parent outcomes after a pediatric cardiac camp experience

Purpose This study evaluated the effects of a cardiac camp experience on children with heart disease and their parents. Design and Methods A repeated measures design was used with 49 parent–child dyads. Repeated measures evaluated the effects of camp on anxiety, attitude toward illness, and psychosocial functioning of the children. Parental anxiety was also evaluated. Results Results demonstrated decreases in parent anxiety, decreases in child trait anxiety, and positive psychosocial outcomes in the areas of self-esteem, social, physical, and emotional functioning. Practice Implications Findings can be used to support decisions for those contemplating a camping experience for the child with heart disease.
Does GNP have a unit root?: Evidence for the UK

Abstract A number of recent studies have considered whether U.S. real GNP has a unit root with mixed results. In this letter a variety of tests are conducted to evaluate the evidence for the U.K.
A T/R antenna pair with polarization-based reconfigurable wideband self-interference cancellation for simultaneous transmit and receive

This paper proposes a transmit and receive (T/R) antenna pair with a novel wideband self-interference cancellation (SIC) feature for simultaneous transmit and receive (STAR) or full-duplex applications. The T/R antennas have orthogonal linear polarizations and an auxiliary port which is cross-polarized with the receive port is introduced on the receive antenna. Introduction of a reconfigurable reflective termination on the auxiliary port reflects the coupled signal to cancel the self interference at the RX port. The reconfigurable termination mimics the required conductance and susceptance across a wide frequency range to achieve wideband SIC. When SIC is activated, isolation between the T/R antenna pair is higher than 50 dB over 300MHz centered at 4.6 GHz. The proposed cancellation technique provides 20 dB improvement in the T/R isolation over 400 MHz. It can be reconfigured in the presence of environmental changes and reflections to recover the degradation in the cancellation. The antenna pair is also employed in a transceiver built using off the shelf components and 70 dB total SIC is achieved in conjunction with digital cancellation.
Studies on the mechanism of fatty acid synthesis: VII. Biosynthesis of fatty acids from malonyl CoA

Abstract Malonyl CoA can serve as the starting point for the synthesis of long-chain fatty acids in animal tissues. For any given tissue the rate of formation of fatty acids from malonyl CoA is many times faster than that form acetyl CoA. TPNH and one enzyme fraction (R 2 ) are required for the synthesis of fatty acids from malonyl CoA. DPNH is much less effective than TPNH in some tissues. The fatty acids formed from malonyl CoA by the isolated enzyme system of cow mammary gland are similar in chain length distribution to those found in milk.
Variants in adiponectin signaling pathway genes show little association with subclinical CVD in the diabetes heart study.

Objective Understanding the interplay between adiposity, inflammation, and cardiovascular complications in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remains a challenge. Signaling from adipocytes is considered important in this context. Adiponectin is the most abundant adipocytokine and has been associated with various measures of cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study examines the relationships between genetic variants in the adiponectin (ADIPOQ) and adiponectin-related signaling pathway genes and measures of subclinical CVD (vascular calcified plaque and carotid intima-media thickness), plasma lipids, and inflammation in T2DM. Design and Methods Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in ADIPOQ (n = 45), SNPs tagging ADIPOR1 (n = 6), APIPOR2 (n = 8), APPL1 (n = 6) and known rare coding variants in KNG1 (n = 3) and LYZL1 (n = 3) were genotyped in 1220 European Americans from the family-based Diabetes Heart Study. Associations between SNPs and phenotypes of interest were assessed using a variance components analysis with adjustment for age, sex, T2DM-affected status, and body mass index. Results There was minimal evidence of association between SNPs in the adiponectin signaling pathway genes and measures of calcified plaque; eight of the 71 SNPs showed evidence of association with subclinical CVD (P = 0.007-0.046) but not with other phenotypes examined. Nine additional SNPs were associated with at least one of the plasma lipid measures (P = 0.008-0.05). Conclusion Findings from this study do not support a significant role for variants in the adiponectin signaling pathway genes in contributing to risk for vascular calcification in T2DM. However, further understanding the interplay between adiposity, plasma lipids, and inflammation may prove important in the prediction and management of cardiovascular complications in T2DM.
Field and experimental evidence that competition and ecological opportunity promote resource polymorphism

Resource polymorphism – the occurrence within a single population of discrete intraspecific morphs showing differential resource use – has long been viewed as an important setting for evolutionary innovation and diversification. Yet, relatively few studies have evaluated the ecological factors that favour resource polymorphism. Here, we combine observations of natural populations with a controlled experiment to assess the role of intraspecific competition (specifically, the density of conspecifics) and ecological opportunity (specifically, the range of resources available) on the expression of resource polymorphism in spadefoot toad tadpoles. We found that greater conspecific densities and a greater range of available resources together promoted the expression of resource polymorphism. We conclude that, ecological opportunity, in the form of diverse available resources, along with intraspecific competition, may be a prerequisite for resource polymorphism to evolve, because such polymorphisms require diverse resources onto which each morph can specialize as an adaptive response to minimize competition. © 2010 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2010, 100, 73–88.