cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Biology and Agronomy of Switchgrass for Biofuels

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.)—a perennial, warm-season (C4) species—evolved across North America into multiple, divergent populations. The resulting natural variation within the species presents considerable morphological diversity and a wide range of adaptation. The species was adopted as a crop—initially as a forage—only in the last 50 yr. Its potential uses have recently been expanded to include biofuels. Management of switchgrass for biofuels is informed by an understanding of the plant's biology. Successful establishment requires attention to seed dormancy and weed control as well as proper depth and date of planting. The plant's growth rate is closely tied to temperature, but timing of reproductive development is linked to photoperiod. Accordingly, the period of vegetative growth can be extended by planting lower-latitude cultivars at higher latitudes. This strategy may provide a yield advantage, but cold tolerance can become limiting. Switchgrass is thrifty in its use of applied N; it appears a...
Related or not? Development of spontaneous Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in a patient with chronic, well-controlled HIV: A case report and review of the literature.

Background:We report a novel case of a rare disease: spontaneous Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease in a patient with well-controlled HIV. We explore the relationship between spontaneous Creutzfeldt–Jakob d...
What drives the “Smart-Money” effect? Evidence from investors’ money flow to mutual fund classes

Abstract The literature proposes two competing explanations — the “smart-money” and “persistent-flow” hypotheses — for the positive relation between mutual fund flow and future fund performance. We examine the flow-performance relation for different classes of U.S. domestic equity mutual funds. Our results show a stronger positive relation for the retail class than for the institutional class. More importantly, the significant relation for the retail class is mainly driven by funds with net outflow. This evidence is inconsistent with the smart-money hypothesis. We further show that retail funds exhibit greater persistence than institutional funds in net outflow. Once we control for expected fund flowfund flows, the flow-performance relation is no longer significant. We also perform robustness checks based on international funds and bond funds. The findings are supportive of the persistent-flow explanation.
The Transformation of Walter White: A Case Study in Bad Faith

This chapter investigates one of the most intriguing and complex concepts of Jean-Paul Sartre’s philosophy—his theory of bad faith. Sartre defines bad faith as the ultimate self-deception whereby people are able to scrupulously convert themselves into what they are not. In Breaking Bad, Walter White’s terminal diagnosis propels him to confront his own frailness and vulnerability as he comes face to face with his mortality. At the age of 50 years, he has led an unremarkable life, and plummets into a bleak existential crisis. In this, we may recognize Sartre’s philosophical theory that claims that the nature of human existence is revealed in the immanence of one’s own death. White finds incredible new vitality as Heisenberg. His metamorphosis into a ruthless, power-mongering drug lord is his escape from the pitiful predicament named Walter White. And here we find a stellar case study of Jean-Paul Sartre’s bad faith.
Kronecker covariance sketching for spatial-temporal data

Covariance sketching has been recently introduced as an effective strategy to reduce the data dimensionality without sacrificing the ability to reconstruct second-order statistics of the data. In this paper, we propose a novel covariance sketching scheme with reduced complexity for spatial-temporal data, whose covariance matrices satisfy the Kronecker product expansion model recently introduced by Tsiligkaridis and Hero. Our scheme is based on quadratic sampling that only requires magnitude measurements, hence is appealing for applications when phase information is difficult to obtain, such as wideband spectrum sensing and optical imaging. We propose to estimate the covariance matrix based on convex relaxation when the separation rank is small, and when the temporal covariance is additionally Toeplitz structured. Numerical examples are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.
Nine-year study of US high school soccer injuries: data from a national sports injury surveillance programme

Background Research on high school soccer injury epidemiology is sparse. Aim To describe high school soccer injury rates, trends and patterns by type of athlete exposure (AE), position and sex. Methods This descriptive epidemiological study used data from a large national high school sports injury surveillance programme to describe rates and patterns of soccer-related injuries including concussion sustained from 2005/2006 to 2013/2014. Injury rates are calculated per 1000 AEs. Results Overall, 6154 soccer injuries occurred during 2 985 991 AEs; injury rate=2.06 per 1000 AEs. Injury rates were higher during competition (4.42) than practice (1.05; rate ratio (RR)=4.19; 95% CI 3.98 to 4.41), and in girls (2.33) than boys (1.83; RR=1.27, 95% CI 1.21 to 1.34). Boys9 non-concussion injury rates decreased significantly (p=0.001) during the study period while reported concussion rates increased significantly (p=0.002). Girls9 non-concussion rates were relatively stable and reported concussion rates increased significantly (p=0.004). Player–player contact was the injury mechanism that led to the most competition injuries (injury proportion ratio (IPR)=2.87; 95% CI 2.57 to 3.21), while non-contact injuries were the most common mechanisms among practice injuries (IPR=2.10; 95% CI 1.86 to 2.38). Recovery from concussion was >7 days in a third of the cases. Injury patterns were similar between sexes with respect to position played and location on the field at the time of injury. Conclusions High school soccer injury rates vary by sex and type of exposure, while injury patterns are more similar across sexes. Reported concussion rates increased significantly over the study period in male and female athletes.
Anatomical Correlates of Dyslexia

The relation between measurements of the posterior temporal lobe, inferior frontal gyrus, cerebellum and whole brain, determined by MRI, and measures of reading, spelling, verbal intelligence and language skills was studied at the University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.
Recent progress in thermoelectric nanocomposites based on solution-synthesized nanoheterostructures

Thermoelectric materials, which can convert waste heat into electricity, have received increasing research interest in recent years. This paper describes the recent progress in thermoelectric nanocomposites based on solution-synthesized nanoheterostructures. We start our discussion with the strategies of improving the power factor of a given material by using nanoheterostructures. Then we discuss the methods of decreasing thermal conductivity. Finally, we highlight a way of decoupling power factor and thermal conductivity, namely, incorporating phase-transition materials into a nanowire heterostructure. We have explored the lead telluride–copper telluride thermoelectric nanowire heterostructure in this work. Future possible ways to improve the figure of merit are discussed at the end of this paper.
Assistive technology interventions for adolescents and adults with learning disabilities

BackgroundAn increasing amount of assistive technology interventions exist for adolescents and adults with learning disabilities, but there has been no systematic review of their effectiveness. PurposeAre assistive technology interventions effective in learning disabilities for participants ages 14 and up? How do these interventions affect the lived experience of users? We performed a systematic review of both qualitative and quantitative studies to answer these questions. MethodsUsing 5 search methods, we located 38 quantitative group-design and single-subject intervention studies, 5 survey studies and 13 qualitative studies. We sorted the group-design and single-subject studies into groups by intervention type and performed meta-analyses. We provided a narrative summary of survey and qualitative publications. We used a modified version of the Downs-Black checklist to assess study quality, where applicable. ResultsWhile assistive interventions proved overall beneficial, the most commonly used interventions were unexpectedly not the most effective. Interventions based on word processing, multimedia and hypertext proved the most effective, while smart pens and text-to-speech systems presented mixed results. Speech-to-text systems had a small positive effect. Participants had mixed emotions and attitudes about their assistive technology. ConclusionsAssistive technology interventions can be helpful for adolescents and adults with learning disabilities, but interventions need to be carefully compared, and customized to the individual. Assistive technology can be useful for adolescents and adults with LD.Word processing, multimedia and hypertext interventions were the most effective.Speech-to-text interventions had a small effect.Smart pens and text-to-speech systems had mixed results.Interactions with baseline ability or age can obscure intervention success.
Correlates of second-line type 2 diabetes medication selection in the USA.

Objective Past research provides insufficient evidence to inform second-line diabetes medication prescribing when metformin is no longer sufficient. We evaluated patient, prescriber, and health plan characteristics associated with selection of second-line diabetes medications in the USA. Research design and methods We used a multiple case-comparison study design to identify characteristics associated with the probability of starting each of six second-line diabetes medication alternatives within 77 744 adults enrolled in commercial or Medicare Advantage health plans from 2011 to 2015. National administrative data were provided by a large commercial health payer. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to identify characteristics independently associated with selecting each diabetes drug class. Results From 2011 to 2015, sulfonylureas still represented 47% of all second-line drug starts, with proportionately higher use in patients ≥75 years of age (63% of drug starts). Basal insulin was more likely to be selected when a past A1c test result was >10% (13.0% vs 4.5% for those with A1c Conclusions Sulfonylureas continue to represent almost half of second-line diabetes medication starts in the USA. This could reflect overuse for some groups such as older adults, for whom some alternatives may be safer, although more costly and potentially less effective. Future research should compare outcomes of medication choices and conditions under which particular classes are most effective.
Stream transport of iron and phosphorus by authigenic nanoparticles in the Southern Piedmont of the U.S.

Authigenic nanoparticles containing iron (Fe) and phosphorus (P) have been identified at the anoxic/oxic interface of various aquatic ecosystems, forming upon the oxidation of reduced Fe. Little is known about the prevalence of these authigenic nanoparticles in streams, their impact on biogeochemical fluxes, or the bioavailability of P associated with them. In this paper we used transmission electron microscopy to document the presence of authigenic (amorphous) nanoparticles, rich in Fe and P, in baseflow of streams in the Southern Piedmont region of the U.S. We used a simple centrifugation and ultrafiltration technique to separate authigenic nanoparticles from truly dissolved (<1 kDa) and crystalline mineral/coarse organic fractions in baseflow, employing three different quality control methods to verify a successful separation: X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, and stoichiometry of Fe and aluminum. This allowed us to quantify the amount of Fe and P in three different fractions of baseflow: truly dissolved, authigenic nanoparticles, and crystalline mineral/coarse organic particles. For the rural and urban stream in our study, on average, authigenic nanoparticles in baseflow transport 66% of Fe, with baseflow concentrations ranging from 80 μg/L to 650 μg/L. Authigenic nanoparticles also transport an average of 38% of reactive P, depending upon seasonality and time elapsed since the last storm event.
Effects of localized vibration on knee joint position sense in individuals with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Abstract Background Anterior cruciate ligament injury can disrupt one's mechanoreceptors and result in decreased proprioception such as joint position sense and ultimately altered motor function. The application of localized vibration has been used to investigate the integrity of the sensorimotor system and the mechanisms of quadriceps function after anterior cruciate ligament injury and reconstruction. The purpose of the study is to evaluate joint position sense with and without vibration and compare among anterior cruciate ligament reconstructed, contralateral, and control limbs. Methods Fourteen subjects with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (8 males and 6 females) and fourteen control subjects (7 males and 7 females) participated in the study. Subjects sat on an isokinetic dynamometer chair with localized vibration strapped on the quadriceps tendon while visual and auditory cues were removed. Subjects were asked to remember an active target position and replicate that position actively. The absolute difference between the target and replicated trial was used as joint position sense. There were three trials at three target positions (15, 45, and 75 degrees of knee flexion) with and without vibration. The order of testing conditions was randomized. One-way analysis of variance or non-parametric equivalent (Kruskal-Wallis test) was used to compare among limbs. Significance was set at P Findings There were no significant joint position sense differences among anterior cruciate ligament reconstructed, contralateral, and control limbs with or without vibration (P = 0.207–0.914). Interpretation There are several potential reasons for the current findings: vibration-induced post effect, locations of vibration, types of vibration, and rehabilitation status. Future studies should expand the current investigation and explore both sensory and motor functions in anterior cruciate ligament reconstructed subjects.
La estética de la metapoesía en la 'qaṣīda' panegírica de al-Mutanabbī a Abū al-Faḍl Aḥmad ibn 'Abd Allāh

This article presents first, a translation into Spanish of a poem by the 10 th century Arabic poet Abū Ṭayyib Aḥmad ibn al-Ḥusayn al-Mutanabbī al-Kindī (better known as al-Mutanabbī). The core of the analysis is the identification of the metapoetic elements used by the poet in order to establish a dialogue with the poetic tradition that precedes him and to solidify his position as one of the most important Arabic poets. How does the author negotiate what the North American critic Harold Bloom called the “anxiety of influence? Al-Mutanabbī manipulates the lexicon as well as the most recurring imagery in classical Arabic poetry so as to resolve the existing tension between inscribing himself within that tradition and producing a poem original enough to stand out from it. The result is a poem that relies on the ideal reader’s knowledge of classical Arabic poetry which allows the poet to evoke an entire poetic situation instead of repeating it.
Promotion of stem elongation by indole-3-butyric acid in intact plants of Pisum sativum L.

While indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) has been confirmed to be an endogenous form of auxin in peas, and may occur in the shoot tip in a level higher than that of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), the physiological significance of IBA in plants remains unclear. Recent evidence suggests that endogenous IAA may play an important role in controlling stem elongation in peas. To analyze the potential contribution of IBA to stem growth we determined the effectiveness of exogenous IBA in stimulating stem elongation in intact light-grown pea seedlings. Aqueous IBA, directly applied to the growing internodes via a cotton wick, was found to be nearly as effective as IAA in inducing stem elongation, even though the action of IBA appeared to be slower than that of IAA. Apically applied IBA was able to stimulate elongation of the subtending internodes, indicating that IBA is transported downwards in the stem tissue. The profiles of growth kinetics and distribution suggest that the basipetal transport of IBA in the intact plant stem is slower than that of IAA. Following withdrawal of an application, the residual effect of IBA in growth stimulation was markedly stronger than that of IAA, which may support the notion that IBA conjugates can be a better source of free auxin through hydrolysis than IAA conjugates. It is suggested that IBA may serve as a physiologically active form of auxin in contributing to stem elongation in intact plants.
Simulation-based comparison of scheduling techniques in multiprogramming operating systems on single and multi-core processors

The operating systems course is one of the essential courses in the computer science curriculum, and CPU scheduling is a crucial component of this course. Multi-core processors have become the norm of modern day processors. In this paper, we present a project that not only helps students understand the different CPU scheduling techniques but also studies the effect of multi-core processors on the different scheduling techniques. We show the results of simulating three interesting scheduling techniques using different ratios of CPU-bound to IO-bound processes on single core and multi-core processors.
On the best partitioning of the density functional energy

This essay discusses special features for two different ways of partitioning the density functional energy expression. The contribution, which is part of the special issue for Pratim Chattaraj, was stimulated by a thought-provoking suggestion by him at a recent conference.
Sets of binary sequences with small total Hamming distances

Abstract The sum of the Hamming distances between pairs of binary sequences in a set is considered. It is shown that this sum is at least 8 and 48 for sets of four and eight sequences, respectively, and is at least ( n − 1 ) 2 for sets of n sequences where n is not equal to 4 or 8. Sets meeting this minimum are explicitly specified.
Loss of Par1b/MARK2 primes microglia during brain development and enhances their sensitivity to injury

Microglia, the resident immune cells of the brain, exhibit various morphologies that correlate with their functions under physiological and pathological conditions. In conditions such as aging and stress, microglia priming occurs, which leads to altered morphology and lower threshold for activation upon further insult. However, the molecular mechanisms that lead to microglia priming are unclear. To understand the role of Par1b/MARK2 in microglia, we first expressed shRNA targeting luciferase or Par1b/MARK2 in primary microglial cells and imaged the cells using fluorescent microscopy to analyze for morphological changes. A phagocytosis assay was then used to assess functional changes. We then moved in vivo and used a Par1b/MARK2 knockout mouse model to assess for changes in microglia density, morphology, and phagocytosis using immunohistochemistry, confocal imaging, and 3D image reconstruction. Next, we used two-photon in vivo imaging in live Par1b/MARK2 deficient mice to examine microglia dynamics. In addition, a controlled-cortical impact injury was performed on wild-type and Par1b/MARK2-deficient mice and microglial response was determined by confocal imaging. Finally, to help rule out non-cell autonomous effects, we analyzed apoptosis by confocal imaging, cytokine levels by multiplex ELISA, and blood-brain barrier permeability using Evans Blue assay. Here, we show that loss of the cell polarity protein Par1b/MARK2 facilitates the activation of primary microglia in culture. We next found that microglia in Par1b/MARK2 deficient mice show increased density and a hypertrophic morphology. These morphological changes are accompanied with alterations in microglia functional responses including increased phagocytosis of neuronal particles early in development and decreased surveillance of the brain parenchyma, all reminiscent of a primed phenotype. Consistent with this, we found that microglia in Par1b/MARK2 deficient mice have a significantly lower threshold for activation upon injury. Together, our studies show that loss of Par1b/MARK2 switches microglia from a surveillant to a primed state during development, resulting in an increased neuroinflammatory response to insults.
Parental Educational Attainment and Chronic Medical Conditions among American Youth; Minorities’ Diminished Returns

Background: Parental educational attainment is protective against chronic medical conditions (CMCs). According to the minorities’ diminished returns (MDRs) theory, however, the health effects of socioeconomic status (SES) indicators are smaller for socially marginalized groups such as racial and ethnic minorities rather than Whites. Aims: To explore racial and ethnic differences in the effect of parental educational attainment on CMCs in a nationally representative sample of American youth. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we used baseline data of 10,701 12–17 years old youth in the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH; 2013). Parental educational attainment was the independent variable. The dependent variable was the number of CMCs in youth. Age, gender, and family structure were covariates. Race and ethnicity were the focal moderators. Linear and multinomial regression were applied to analyze the data. Results: Overall, higher parental educational attainment was associated with a lower number of CMCs. Race and ethnicity, however, showed significant interactions with parental educational attainment on a number of CMCs as well as 2+ CMCs, suggesting that the effect of parenting educational attainment on CMCs is significantly smaller for Black and Hispanic than White youth. Conclusions: In the United States, race and ethnicity alter the health gains that are expected to follow parental educational attainment. While White youth who are from highly educated families are most healthy, Black and Hispanic youth from highly educated families remain at higher risk for CMCs. That means, while the most socially privileged group, Whites, gain the most health from their parental education, Blacks and Hispanics, the least privileged groups, gain the least. The result is a disproportionately high number of CMCs in middle-class Blacks and Hispanics. Economic, social, public, and health policy makers should be aware that health disparities are not all due to lower SES of the disadvantaged group but also diminished returns of SES resources for them. Youth physical health disparities due to race and ethnicity exist across all SES levels.
Understanding the Information Environment to Win the Next Conflict Without Firing a Shot

Information and communication technology has become a powerful influencing tool to sow discord, sway sentiment, and purport cause for actions. We examine the holistic information space 10 years out to better understand how the information environment will interact with society.
How to Do Things with Theory: The Instrumental Role of Auxiliary Hypotheses in Testing

Pierre Duhem’s influential argument for holism relies on a view of the role that background theory plays in testing: according to this still common account of “auxiliary hypotheses,” elements of background theory serve as truth-apt premises in arguments for or against a hypothesis. I argue that this view is mistaken. Rather than serving as truth-apt premises in arguments, auxiliary hypotheses are employed as (reliability-apt) “epistemic tools”: instruments that perform specific tasks in connecting our theoretical questions with the world but that are not (or not usually) premises in arguments. On the resulting picture, the acceptability of an auxiliary hypothesis depends not on its truth but on contextual factors such as the task or purpose it is put to and the other tools employed alongside it.
Ostrowski Type Inequalities Involving Sublinear Integrals

The topic here is estimation of a function from its average. This is done by the Ostrowski type inequalities. Here we define a very general sublinear integral which generalizes the well-known Choquet and Shilkret integrals. Then we produce a series of Ostrowski type inequalities at all levels: univariate, multivariate, and fractional, acting to all possible cases. At the end we give a fractional Polya–Choquet inequality. Our upper bounds are simple, very tight, and accurate.
Pulsed Power as a Science: Predictive Simulations for Beams, Z-Pinches, and Other Applications

This article is based on my plenary presentation that was associated with my Peter Haas Award, where I overview my 40 years of research and the people with whom I have had the pleasure of working, both domestically and internationally. In 1978, Sandia’s electron beam fusion program emerged from a weapons simulator community that was machine oriented and relied on design principles and J. Charlie Martin (JCM) criteria. The simulation tools were primarily used retrospectively. Fusions’ extraordinary requirements stimulated tremendous innovation in pulsed power, beams, pinches, and simulation tools. I started by developing ion beam deposition and transport models that were integrated into radiation-hydrodynamics codes; validated by experiments on Gamble II and Proto I; and helped initiate Sandia’s light-ion-beam fusion program. Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) program research led to the development of the Integrated Tiger Series (ITS) suite of electron–photon Monte Carlo codes (1985). A research on Particle Beam Fusion Accelerator I (PBFA-I) and PBFA-II on generating, transporting, and focusing ion beams required developing transport, diagnostic simulation, and analysis tools, which were used in focusing protons to 5 TW/cm2 (1991) and lithium beams to 2 TW/cm2 and heating hohlraums to 65 eV (1996). They also helped identify anode plasma formation by electron heating as the source of diode impedance collapse leading to efforts to include electron–electrode interaction models into particle-in-cell (PIC) codes and initiating hybrid fluid-PIC development (IPROP, LSP). Electrode physics remains a power flow grand challenge for high-yield fusion. In 1999, I led rad-magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) development [arbitrary-Lagrangian–Eulerian general research applications high-energy-density physics (ALEGRA-HEDP)] and oversaw equation of state (EOS) and conductivity model development using quantum molecular dynamics/density function theory (QMD/DFT), resulting in predictive capabilities for dynamic material experiments. Improved z-pinch dynamic hohlraum modeling and experiments resulted in thermonuclear neutrons (2004). 3-D wire array dynamics were modeled and understood. We developed advanced radiographic sources and built a linear transformer driver (LTD) test bed. At the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), I have overseen advances in modeling and experiments in beams, pinches, pulsed power, and their applications (2009-). My goal throughout has been to develop and validate predictive simulation tools, making pulsed power a Science.
Cellular and molecular features of neurogenic skeletal muscle atrophy

Neurogenic atrophy refers to the loss of muscle mass and function that results directly from injury or disease of the peripheral nervous system. Individuals with neurogenic atrophy may experience reduced functional status and quality of life and, in some circumstances, reduced survival. Distinct pathological findings on muscle histology can aid in diagnosis of a neurogenic cause for muscle dysfunction, and provide indicators for the chronicity of denervation. Denervation induces pleiotypic responses in skeletal muscle, and the molecular mechanisms underlying neurogenic muscle atrophy appear to share common features with other causes of muscle atrophy, including activation of FOXO transcription factors and corresponding induction of ubiquitin-proteasomal and lysosomal degradation. In this review, we provide an overview of histologic features of neurogenic atrophy and a summary of current understanding of underlying mechanisms.
Modelling users’ perceptions of video information seeking, learning through added value and use of curated digital collections:

Information seeking research has provided models of users in the search for information across many different contexts and situations. Digital content curation has emerged as a means for managing i...
The carbon opportunity cost of animal-sourced food production on land

Extensive land uses to meet dietary preferences incur a ‘carbon opportunity cost’ given the potential for carbon sequestration through ecosystem restoration. Here we map the magnitude of this opportunity, finding that shifts in global food production to plant-based diets by 2050 could lead to sequestration of 332–547 GtCO2, equivalent to 99–163% of the CO2 emissions budget consistent with a 66% chance of limiting warming to 1.5 °C. Shifting global food production to plant-based diets by 2050 can sequester 99–163% of the CO2 emissions budget towards limiting climate warming to 1.5 °C.
Gambling and military Service: Characteristics, comorbidity, and problem severity in an epidemiological sample

Abstract Active military members and veterans both show elevated risk of Gambling Disorder. However, research comparing these groups to civilians in epidemiological samples is sparse. There is also some research suggesting that there is a stronger association between military service and poor mental outcomes for women. The current study applies bivariate analyses and generalized linear modelling predicting Problem Gambling Severity Index scores to a representative, complex survey sample of 2176 New Jersey adult residents. The results show that problem gambling scores for past and current military service members were more than double that of the civilian participants after controlling for relevant demographic and behavioral characteristics. Additionally, the relationship between problem gambling scores and military service was significantly stronger for women than men. Bivariate analyses indicated that active military service members scored higher on the Problem Gambling Severity Index, indicated greater weekly participation in online gambling, lottery, electronic gambling machine, and sports betting, and nearly 20 times the rate of suicidal ideation compared with civilians. Additional regression analysis show that among military service members problem gambling scores were associated with suicidal ideation, tobacco use, and substance use problems. The results are discussed in the context of a period of expansion of online gambling opportunities. Constrained options for leisure coupled with the high propensity for risk taking among military service members and the relative ease of concealing online gambling on base may expose military service members to disproportionately higher risk of Gambling Disorder.
Characteristics of Suspected Endometriosis without Histologic Confirmation

Study Objective We aim to describe the clinical and laparoscopic features of suspected endometriosis lacking histologic confirmation. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Quaternary community medical center. Patients or Participants All consecutive pathology reports from patients who underwent surgery for clinically suspected endometriosis by three surgeons from the Division of Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery between 01/01/2016 and 12/31/2019 were reviewed and categorized in two groups: endometriosis histologically confirmed, and endometriosis not histologically confirmed. A retrospective analysis of the patients without confirmed endometriosis was performed by evaluating clinical, surgical, and histologic characteristics. Interventions Laparoscopic surgery. Measurements and Main Results Of 487 patients, endometriosis was histologically confirmed in 419 (86.0%) and not confirmed in 68 (14.0%). Study group age range was 16 to 48 (median 30.5). Patients clinically presented with a variety of symptoms suspicious for endometriosis. 23 (33.8%) of the 68 patients without confirmed endometriosis had other gynecologic abnormalities, including leiomyomata, endometrial polyps or adenomyosis. 39 cases (57.3%) without confirmed endometriosis had non-specific histopathologic findings such chronic inflammation, fibrosis, adhesions, reactive changes, and hemosiderin deposits, while the remaining 29 (42.6%) had no histologic abnormalities. On laparoscopic evaluation, lesions appeared heterogeneous and suspicion of endometriosis was high in 10 (15%), low in 36 (53%), and absent in 22 (32%) patients. Laparoscopically, there were 14 cases without any abnormality visualized in the group with no histologic abnormalities (48%) compared to only 5 cases in the group with histologic findings (13%). Conclusion Despite the absence of histologically confirmed endometriosis, patients with clinically suspected disease still experience significant symptoms and management decisions remain challenging for both patientsand clinicians. Over half of the patients without confirmed endometriosis had non-specific histopathologic findings. Further research should analyze how these findings correlate to the clinical symptoms of patients with suspected endometriosis and role in management in such patients.
Modelling Mobile Signal Strength by Combining Geospatial Big Data and Artificial Intelligence

Estimating mobile signal strength accurately is a crucial task for network providers and their customers. However, current methodologies to estimate mobile signal strength present limitations in their practical implementation (i.e. physical based models), portability (i.e. spatial interpolation methods), simplicity and accuracy (i.e. path loss models). In this paper we present a novel approach that takes advantage of geospatial Big Data and advanced Artificial Intelligence to predict mobile signal strength at scale. Particularly, we used open access geo-spatial information about weather, tree coverage, land use, imperviousness, altitude and network infrastructure (i.e. a total of 174 features) to train and test uncertainty-aware artificial neural networks to predict mobile signal strength on data from the NetBravo crowdsourcing platform across all the United Kingdom (UK). Our model scored a best performance of 7.9 (standard deviation of 0.2) dBm for Root Mean Squared Error and 5.7 (standard deviation of 0.4) dBm for the Mean Absolute Error. Feature importance analysis showed that mobile cell tower characteristics and geospatial features showing the distribution of imperviousness and tree cover density over the line of sight between the mobile cell tower and the receiver as well as relative humidity were among the top 20 most important features.
Patient experiences and strategies for coping with SLE: A qualitative study:

ObjectiveThis study explored challenges that patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and childhood-onset SLE (cSLE) face to identify modifiable influences and coping strategies in patient ...
Protecting Neurons

Summary: Brain injury evolves over time, often taking days or even weeks to fully develop. It is a dynamic process that involves immediate oxidative stress and excitotoxicity followed by inflammation and preprogrammed cell death. This article presents a brief overview of mechanisms of neuroprotection in the developing brain. Although the focus is on ischemic injury, the conclusions drawn apply to any type of brain insult—epileptic seizures, trauma, or ischemia. Strategies of neuroprotection include salvaging neurons through the use of targeted pharmacotherapies, protecting neurons through preconditioning, and repairing neurons by enhancing neurogenesis. Drug therapies that dampen the impact of immediate and downstream postinjury events are only modestly effective in protecting the brain from ischemic injury. In experimental models, complete or true protection can be achieved only through preconditioning, a process during which an animal develops tolerance to an otherwise lethal stressor. Although of no clinical use, preconditioning models have provided valuable insight into how repair systems work in the brain. Cumulative evidence indicates that the same genes that are upregulated during preconditioning, those mediating true protection, are also upregulated during injury and repair. Specifically, hypoxic preconditioning and hypoxic-ischemic insult have been shown to induce hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) and its target survival genes, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and erythropoietin (Epo) in rodents. Of particular interest is the upregulation of Epo, a growth factor that may have therapeutic potential in the treatment of ischemic stroke. At this time, however, the postinjury enhancement of neurogenesis appears to offer the best hope for long-lasting functional recovery following brain injury.
CHAPTER 5 – Optimal Industrial Structure in Banking*

This paper discusses the research agenda on optimal bank productive efficiency and industrial structure. One goal of this agenda is to answer some fundamental questions in financial industry restructuring, such as what motivates bank managers to engage in mergers and acquisitions, and to evaluate the costs and benefits of consolidation, which is essentially an empirical question. The paper reviews the recent literature, including techniques for modeling bank production and the empirical results on scale economies, scope economies, and efficiency in banking.
A Date Which Will Live: Pearl Harbor in American Memory

Acknowledgments ix Introduction 1 I. Signifying Pearl Harbor: The First Fifty Years 9 1. Infamy: Reinvigorating American Unity and Power 11 2. Backdoor Deceit: Contesting the New Deal 34 3. Representations of Race and Japanese-American Relations 53 4. Commemoration of Sacrifice 71 II. Reviving Pearl Harbor after 1991 99 5. Bilateral Relations: Pearl Harbor's Half-Century Anniversary and the Apology Controversies 101 6. The Memory Boom and the "Greatest Generation" 113 7. The Kimmel Crusade, the HIstory Wars, and the Republican Revival 126 8. Japanese Americans: Identity and Memory Culture 140 9. Spectacular History 155 10. Day of Infamy: September 11, 2001 174 Notes 191 Bibliography 213 Index 229
Drug Discovery in Non‐Life‐Threatening Disorders: Erectile Dysfunction, Insomnia, and Smoking Cessation

Drug discovery for non-life-threatening disorders is an active area of medicinal chemistry research. This chapter will describe the discovery and properties of phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors for erectile dysfunction, the medicinal chemistry of agents for treatment of insomnia, and smoking cessation. Keywords: insomnia; phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors; smoking cessation
Hypoventilation improves oxygenation after bidirectional superior cavopulmonary connection.

Abstract Objective Bidirectional superior cavopulmonary connection may be complicated by systemic hypoxemia. Previous work has shown that hyperventilation worsens systemic oxygenation in patients after bidirectional superior cavopulmonary connection. The likely mechanism is that hyperventilation-induced hypocarbia decreases cerebral, superior vena caval, and pulmonary blood flow. The aim of the current study was to determine whether the converse approach, hypoventilation, improves oxygenation after bidirectional superior cavopulmonary connection. Methods This is a prospective, patient-controlled study of 15 patients (median age 8.0 months, range 4.7-15.5) who underwent bidirectional superior cavopulmonary connection. Patients were studied in the intensive care unit, within 8 hours of surgery, while sedated, paralyzed, and mechanically ventilated. To avoid acidosis during hypoventilation, sodium bicarbonate was administered before hypoventilation. Cerebral blood flow velocity was measured by transcranial Doppler sonography of the middle cerebral artery. Results Hypoventilation following administration of sodium bicarbonate (pH-buffered hypoventilation) produced hypercarbia (mean P co 2 = 58 mm Hg versus 42 mm Hg at baseline). During hypoventilation, there were significant increases in both mean arterial P o 2 (from 50 mm Hg at baseline to 61 mm Hg; P P P P Conclusions This study demonstrates that hypoventilation improves systemic oxygenation in patients after bidirectional superior cavopulmonary connection. The likely mechanism for this effect is that hypoventilation-induced hypercarbia decreases cerebral vascular resistance, thus increasing cerebral, superior vena caval, and pulmonary blood flow. Hypoventilation may be a useful clinical strategy in patients who are hypoxemic in the early postoperative period after bidirectional superior cavopulmonary connection.
Culturally sensitive treatment of adolescent Puerto Rican girls and their families

Adolescence for the Puerto Rican girl in the United States constitutes a phase of life in which developmental tasks are strained by the demands of her family and exposure to two cultures. This stress renders her adaptive potentials vulnerable to dysfunction. The authors describe the Puerto Rican family, the girl's socialization, the stress of living in dual cultures, and implications for behavioral problems. These factors are integrated to help the practitioner design culturally sensitive interventions.
Prenatal therapy for pericardial teratomas

Although the majority of reported pericardial teratomas have been excised successfully in the postnatal period, the outcome of prenatally diagnosed pericardial teratomas remains less favorable. Two recent cases of prenatally diagnosed pericardial teratomas and a review of previously reported cases suggest a new management algorithm for those pericardial teratomas discovered in utero. Fetuses in whom hydrops does not develop may be safely followed up and treated postnatally. However, if hydrops develops, the fetus requires treatment with either aspiration of the pericardial effusion, or fetal surgery and resection.
Characterization of ultra-high-speed pseudomorphic AlGaAs/InGaAs (on GaAs) MODFETs

The authors report a detailed characterization of ultrahigh-speed pseudomorphic AlGaAs/InGaAs (on GaAs) modulation-doped field-effect transistors (MODFETs) with emphasis on the device switching characteristics. The nominal 0.1- mu m gate-length device exhibit a current gain cutoff frequency (f/sub t/) as high as 152 GHz. This value of f/sub t/ corresponds to a total delay of approximately 1.0 ps and is attributed to the optimization of layer structure, device layout, and fabrication process. It is shown that the electron transit time in these very short gate-length devices still accounts for approximately 60% of the total delay, and, as a result, significant improvements in switching speed are possible with further reductions of gate length. The results reported clearly demonstrate the potential of the pseudomorphic AlGaAs/InGaAs MODFET as an ultrahigh-speed device. Its excellent switching characteristics are attributed to the high saturation velocity ( approximately 2*10/sup 7/ cm/s), 2DEG sheet density (2.5*10/sup 12/ cm/sup -2/), and current drive capability (>200 mA/mm at the peak transconductance). >
SU‐FF‐T‐664: Dose Grid Effects in Adaptive Planning of Helical TomoTherapy for Hypofractionated Treatments

Purpose: To evaluate potential dosimetry discrepancies generated by varying the dose grid resolution in adaptive planning of TomoTherapy for hypofractionated treatments.Method and Materials: Twelve patients with intracranial lesions treated with image guided helical TomoTherapy under a hypofractionated protocol are reviewed. Due to the short course and high dose per fraction, we use the adaptive planning tool to obtain the delivered dose distribution. The associated pretreatment MVCT and planning KVCT images are fused and the treatment doses are calculated comparing the fine dose grid (1.51×1.51×2mm3) and the normal grid (3.02×3.02×2mm3) settings. The summative dosimetry of the targets is analyzed to identify the effects of dose grid size on adaptive planning. Results: The mean difference in coverage of the GTVs by the prescription dose, calculated with fine versus normal dose grid, over all patients is 2.6%±10.5. When segregated by size the mean difference and standard deviation in GTV coverage for small lesions ( 7.5cc) lesions at 0.6%±0.6 and 1.4%±2.5, respectively. For all the patients the mean variation between the fine and normal grids in the calculated coverage of the PTVs by the prescription dose is 16.3%±17.4. For small PTVs alone ( 15cc). Conclusion: While performing critical adaptive planning evaluation for intracranial patients treated with TomoTherapy, influence of the dose grid on the summation dosimetry must be considered. In our study, there is an appreciable difference in calculated target coverage amongst different dose grid resolutions, especially for small targets treated under hypofractionated protocols. Consequently, the use of fine dose grid is necessary if adaptive planning is performed for assessing positioning errors.
Screening Mercury Levels in Fish with a Selective Fluorescent Chemosensor

Societal concerns over toxic mercury accumulation in humans from fish and other dietary and environmental sources provide motivation to develop new tools and tactics for mercury detection in a wide range of laboratory and field settings. Here we report the synthesis, properties, and application of a selective and sensitive small-molecule chemosensor for fluorescence screening of mercury levels in fish. Mercuryfluor-1 (MF1) is a water-soluble, fluorescein-based reagent that features excellent selectivity for Hg2+ over competing analytes and the largest turn-on fluorescence response to date (>170-fold increase) for reporting this heavy metal ion in aqueous solution. Combining this chemoselective Hg2+ probe with a microwave digestion protocol provides a facile method for assaying mercury levels in fish samples with mercury concentrations spanning 0.1 to 8 ppm, a range well matched with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) standard for the maximum safe level of mercury in edible fish (...
Erratic monetary policy and the dispersion of commodity prices

Abstract This paper develops a closed economy macroeconomic model with many goods, where information flows are not instantaneous. Economic agents form rational expectations of future economic variables based on present information, and measure the future price level with a true cost-of-living index that allows for substitutions among commodities as relative prices change. The major inference drawn from our model is that, when information flows are imperfect, an increase in the variance of the money supply injects noise into economic agents forecasts of prices, and increases the equilibrium level of dispersion in commodity prices.
Looking for Clouds in a Silver Lining: Self-Esteem, Mental Simulations, and Temporal Confidence Changes

Abstract Two studies demonstrated that the relations between mental simulations and confidence are further moderated by self-esteem. In Study 1, low-self-esteem (LSE) students' confidence on exam day was lessened in comparison to 3 weeks prior, and this was shown to correlate with upward simulations and negative affect. In contrast, high-self-esteem (HSE) students' confidence did not decrease as the exam approached. In Study 2, upward simulations were manipulated directly before laboratory tasks. When performance was immediate, LSE participants instructed to assimilate upward simulations behaved like HSE participants, whereas HSE participants instructed to contrast upward simulations behaved like LSE participants, suggesting that a mechanism involving differing construals of upward simulations may be responsible for temporal confidence changes among the two groups.