cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
FIRGEN: a computer-aided design system for high performance FIR filter integrated circuits

The authors describe automatic architecture and floorplan generation techniques for integrated circuit fixed-coefficient FIR (finite impulse response) filters that can achieve high sample rates with compact layouts. These techniques have been implemented in a filter design system called FIRGEN that can automate the entire design from filter specifications to final chip layout. It can be retargeted to new cell libraries and place and route tools. Result on four chips designed with FIRGEN are presented. These achieve sample rates ranging from 25 MHz to 112 MHz. >
Combustion Characteristics of Partially Premixed Prevaporized Palm Methyl Ester and Jet A Fuel Blends

Palm methyl ester (PME) is an attractive alternate biofuel produced by the transesterification of palm oil with methanol. This paper is a sequel to our earlier papers on the comparison of the flame structure and emission characteristics of neat PME with those of petroleum-derived fuels (No. 2 diesel and neat Jet A). Blends of prevaporized Jet A fuel and PME (25%, 50%, and 75% by volume) were studied in a laminar flame environment at burner-exit equivalence ratios of 2, 3, and 7. The global combustion characteristics including flame length, CO and NO emission indices, radiative heat fraction, and in-flame profiles of species concentration (CO, CO2, NO, and O2), temperature, and soot volume concentration were measured. The global CO emission index decreased significantly with the PME content in the blend at an equivalence ratio of 7; a 30% reduction was observed with the addition of 25% PME by volume, and a further reduction of 25% was observed with the addition of another 25% PME. The global NO emission index of the neat PME flame was 35% lower than that of the Jet A flame at an equivalence ratio of 2. The near-burner homogeneous gas-phase reaction zone increased in length with the addition of PME at all equivalence ratios. The concentration measurements highlighted the nonmonotonic variation of properties with the volume concentration of PME in the fuel blend. The fuel-bound oxygen and hydrogen of PME affected the combustion properties significantly.
Collection Reappraisal: The Experience at the University of Cincinnati

The Shorter Features department serves as a forum for sharply focused archival topics which may not require a full-length article. Members of the Society and others knowledgeable in areas of archival interest are encouraged to submit papers for consideration. Shorter Features should range from 500 to 1,000 words in length and contain no annotation. Papers should be sent to Christopher Beam, Shorter Features Editor, the American Archivist, National Archives and Records Service (NNFD), Washington, DC 20408.
Impaired Arm Function and Finger Dexterity in a Nonhuman Primate Model of Stroke: Motor and Cognitive Assessments.

Background and Purpose— Ischemic stroke is the leading cause of upper extremity motor impairments. Although several well-characterized experimental stroke models exist, modeling of upper extremity motor impairments, which are unique to primates, is not well established. Cortical representation of dexterous movements in nonhuman primates is functionally and topographically similar to that in humans. In this study, we characterize the African green monkey model of focal ischemia reperfusion with a defined syndrome, impaired dexterous movements. Methods— Cerebral ischemia was induced by transient occlusion of the M3 segment of the left middle cerebral artery. Motor and cognitive functions after stroke were evaluated using the object retrieval task with barrier-detour. Postmortem magnetic resonance imaging and histopathology were performed to map and characterize the infarct. Results— The middle cerebral artery occlusion consistently produced a necrotic infarct localized in the sensorimotor cortex in the middle cerebral artery territory. The infarction was reproducible and resulted in significant loss of fine motor function characterized by impaired dexterity. No significant cognitive impairment was detected. Magnetic resonance imaging and histopathology demonstrated consistent and significant loss of tissue on the left parietal cortex by the central sulcus covering the sensorimotor area. The results suggest that this species has less collateralization, which closely resembles humans. Conclusions— The reported nonhuman primate model produces a defined and reproducible syndrome relevant to our understanding of ischemic stroke, cortical representation, and sensorimotor integration controlling dexterous movements. This model will be useful in basic and translational research addressing loss of arm function and dexterity.
PerDome: a performance model for heterogeneous computing systems

Heterogeneous systems, consisting of different types of processors, have the potential to offer higher performance at lower energy cost than homogeneous systems. However, it is rather challenging to actually achieve the high execution efficiency promised by such a system due to the larger design space and the lack of reliable performance/energy models for aiding design space exploration. This paper fills this gap by proposing a performance model for heterogeneous systems. In processor level, the roofline model [1] can produce the performance upper bound of executed code using its ratio of computation to memory traffic. Our model, referred to as PerDome, builds on the roofline model and can reliably predict the system performance for both homogeneous execution (where each processor either executes the entire application code or none) and heterogeneous execution (where each processor executes part of the application code). Two case studies are carried out to demonstrate the effectiveness of PerDome. The results show that PerDome can indeed provide a good estimate for performance comparisons which can then be used for heterogeneous system design space exploration.
Influence of Balsam Woolly Adelgid (Homoptera: Adelgidae) on Monoterpenes Found in Bark and Sapwood of Fraser Fir

Bark of mature Fraser fir, Abies fraseri (Pursh.) Poir, from Mt. Mitchell, N.C., and Mt. Rogers, Va., was artificially wounded and treated with chemicals (naphthalene acetic acid, pectinase, or todomatsuic acid) suspected to be in association with balsam woolly adelgid, Adelges piceae (Ratzeburg), attack. α-and β-pinene, δ-3-carene, and limonene were the only monoterpenes found in Fraser fir at both locations. There were no differences in monoterpene content between wounds and controls at either site, but bark samples from firs at Mt. Rogers contained lower percentages of α-pinene and δ-3-carene than firs at Mt. Mitchell. Sapwood tissue beneath adelgid wool masses at the above sites and Roan Mt. were also analyzed for monoterpenes. Infested trees at Mt. Rogers contained less α and β-pinene than uninfested controls. There were no differences at Mt. Mitchell or Roan Mt.
Reliability Modeling and Prediction of Systems With Mixture of Units

Traditional reliability analysis and prediction are performed by utilizing observed failure or degradation data of test units or field observations. Reliability testing is usually performed to predict reliability or performed as acceptance testing or reliability demonstration test. Moreover, in many cases, reliability tests are performed repeatedly during the entire life of the system by testing different samples with different characteristics in the system. At the end of each test, available data only show the number and combination of failed units which are then used for reliability estimation and prediction. This paper investigates several effective approaches to obtain expressions for system reliability metrics under different scenarios, considering the mixture characteristics of the units. The proposed approaches apply to general cases when the population size, as well as the mixture of units, increase over time. A simulation model is utilized to validate the proposed models.
Re-research on Core Indictors of Quality of Life for Chinese Individuals with Mental Retardation

Research on quality of life(QOL) for individuals with mental retardation(MR) has drawn increasing attention in the world.This cross-cultural QOL study on Chinese individuals with MR is an extension of our prior inquiry endeavors in determining the major domains of QOL.It is found that individuals with MR differ from their parents and professionals in rating the importance and use of their QOL domains.By the use of factor analysis,we find a 7-factor structure of QOL for individuals with MR based upon their own perspective,a 5-factor structure of QOL in their parents' perspective,and a 3-factor structure in professionals' perspective.Individuals with MR,their parents,and professionals agree that health is the most important QOL domain.The results indicate that it is imperative to understand the views and needs of individuals with MR in the process of enhancing their QOL.
The indirect effects of childhood attention deficit hyperactivity disorder on alcohol problems in adulthood through unique facets of impulsivity

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Research has not studied unique impulsivity dimensions as prospective links between childhood attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and alcohol problems. We examined the association between childhood ADHD, five facets of impulsivity and alcohol problems in adulthood and the indirect effects of childhood ADHD-to-impulsivity-to-alcohol problems. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS Participants were from a longitudinal study (n = 289, meanage = 28.67) of individuals with (n = 170) and without (n = 119) childhood ADHD. The ADHD sample, as part of an ADHD summer treatment program, was diagnosed initially in childhood (1987-96, Pittsburgh, PA, USA) via structured parent interview and standardized parent/teacher ratings. The ADHD sample and demographically similar individuals without ADHD (living in the greater Pittsburgh area) were recruited to participate in the Pittsburgh ADHD Longitudinal Study (PALS) between 1999 and 2003. MEASUREMENTS Self-reported impulsivity (UPPS-P) and alcohol-related problems were assessed in adulthood (2011-14). FINDINGS Adults with, compared with those without, childhood ADHD had more alcohol problems (β = 0.34, P < 0.05) and higher levels of negative urgency, positive urgency, lack of perseverance and lack of planning (βs = 0.24-0.31, Ps < 0.001). Impulsivity facets (except sensation-seeking) were related to number of alcohol problems (βs = 0.34-0.61, Ps < 0.05). Negative (β = 0.26, P < 0.01) and positive (β = 0.27, P < 0.01) urgency mediated the association between childhood ADHD and number of adult alcohol problems. CONCLUSIONS Elevated levels of emotional impulsivity (negative/positive urgency) may place children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder at increased risk for alcohol problems in adulthood.
Gypsum Precipitation – A Medium to Control Sulphate Pollution of Freshwater Sediment Leachates

To treat sulphate pollution resulting from freshwater sediments,an experimental study was done. This experimental study was carried out to determine the effects of pH values and calcium supplements (as CaCl2) on the formation of gypsum in a representative wetland sediment that was aerated. It was foundthat the differences between dissolved sulphate in untreatedcontrol and the other treatments with CaCl2 amendments canbe attributed to the precipitation of gypsum. At the same time, the system was highly affected by Ca adsorption/desorption thatwas controlled by pH values. ECOSAT equilibrium simulations showed that CaCl2 additions (0.2–0.3 mol L-1) to aerated freshwater sediment resulted in removal of 78–98% ofsulphate (from its total content) from the solution. It wascaused by favourable conditions for gypsum formation i.e. acidicpH values were not increased due to the neutral character of CaCl2. On the contrary to CaCl2 amendments, CaCO3supplements (in the same Ca doses as applied in CaCl2) caused the removal of only 5–25% of sulphate. The significantincrease of pH values after the application of CaCO3 limitedgypsum formation due to high saturation of the system with CO3 -2 and HCO3 -. It resulted in the prevalence of CaCO3 formation in this system. However, theaddition of Cl- can facilitate the mobilisation of cationicmetals like Cd and Pb in the form of Cl--complexes. Therefore, CaCl2 treatment should be used in the sites thatdo not contain elevated amounts of these metals.
Genetic and behavioral risk factors for prostate cancer in African Americans

PR-1 Background: Prostate cancer (Pca) is a common malignancy that disproportionately affects African American men. Epidemiological studies have suggested that exogenous agents, such as PhIp and MeIQx present in over-cooked meats and/or cigarette smoking, upon activation may contribute to the development of Pca by reacting with genomic DNA to form covalent adducts. Therefore variation in genes responsible for the bioactivation of chemical and dietary carcinogen metabolism and DNA damage repair may modulate Pca risk. In the present study, we examined genetic polymorphisms in the NAT2 gene because of its capacity to activate N-OH-PhIP and N-OH-MeIQx as well as polymorphisms in four NER genes (ERCC-6, ERCC-5, ERCC-4, and ERCC-1) because of their role in repairing DNA damaged caused by chemical adducts. We investigated the association of genetic polymorphisms in NAT2, ERCC-6, ERCC-5, ERCC-4, and ERCC-1, alone and in combination with each other and smoking status, with prostate cancer. Methods: A total of fourteen single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in NAT2, ERCC1, XPF/ERCC4, XPG/ERCC5, and CSB/ERCC6 were genotyped in a case-control study of 254 African American prostate cancer cases and 301 age-matched controls from Washington, DC. An association analysis was conducted to determine the role of the SNPs and cigarette smoking in Pca risk. Smoking status, BMI, age and genetic ancestry were included as covariates. Results: We found that individuals homozygous for the XPG/ERCC5 -72C/T promoter polymorphism had a reduction in risk for Pca (OR= 0.12; P=0.003). A haplotype trend regression test also revealed a protective effect for the haplotype bearing the T allele (P=0.003). In contrast, none of the SNPs typed for NAT2, ERCC1, ERCC4 and ERCC6 showed significant association with risk or aggressiveness. Additional tests for SNP-SNP interactions revealed a significant increased risk for Pca among individuals possessing the minor allele for rs1801280 and rs1799930 of the NAT-2 gene (OR=2.5, P=0.02) and decreased risk for rs1112005 (NAT2) and rs2228529 (ERCC6) (OR=0.22, P=0.01); rs1799930 (NAT2) and rs2020955 (ERCC4) (OR=0.44, P=0.04); rs2228529 (ERCC6) and rs17655 (ERCC5) (OR=0.48, P=0.01); and between rs2227869 (ERCC5) and rs2020955 (OR=0.55, P=0.04). Conclusions: Our results, in combination with previous observations of LOH for ERCC5 in prostate tumors, provide further evidence for a role of XPG/ERCC5 in the etiology of prostate cancer. We also report the presence of an interaction between the two genetic polymorphisms in NAT-2 (rs1801280 and rs1799930) for developing Pca. In addition, we found an absence of an interaction between smoking and the studied polymorphisms. Nominally significant P-values suggest the need for larger sample sizes and exploration of other variants in the genes.
SU-F-T-285: Evaluation of a Patient DVH-Based IMRT QA System

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical performance of a patient DVH-based QA system for prostate VMAT QA. Methods: Mobius3D(M3D) is a QA software with an independent beam model and dose engine. The MobiusFX(MFX) add-on predicts patient dose using treatment machine log files. We commissioned the Mobius beam model in two steps. First, the stock beam model was customized using machine commissioning data, then verified against the TPS with 12 simple phantom plans and 7 clinical 3D plans. Secondly, the Dosimetric Leaf Gap(DLG) in the Mobius model was fine-tuned for VMAT treatment based on ion chamber measurements for 6 clinical VMAT plans. Upon successful commissioning, we retrospectively performed IMRT QA for 12 VMAT plans with the Mobius system as well as the ArcCHECK-3DVH system. Selected patient DVH values (PTV D95, D50; Bladder D2cc, Dmean; Rectum D2cc) were compared between TPS, M3D, MFX, and 3DVH. Results: During the first commissioning step, TPS and M3D calculated target Dmean for 3D plans agree within 0.7%±0.7%, with 3D gamma passing rates of 98%±2%. In the second commissioning step, the Mobius DLG was adjusted by 1.2mm from the stock value, reducing the average difference between MFX calculation and ion chamber measurement from 3.2% to 0.1%. In retrospective prostate VMAT QA, 5 of 60 MFX calculated DVH values have a deviation greater than 5% compared to TPS. One large deviation at high dose level was identified as a potential QA failure. This echoes the 3DVH QA result, which identified 2 instances of large DVH deviation on the same structure. For all DVH's evaluated, M3D and MFX show high level of agreement (0.1%±0.2%), indicating that the observed deviation is likely from beam modelling differences rather than delivery errors. Conclusion: Mobius system provides a viable solution for DVH based VMAT QA, with the capability of separating TPS and delivery errors.
Risk Factors for Attention Deficit Disorder

Family-genetic and psychosocial risk factors for DSM-III attention deficit disorder (ADD) were evaluated among the 457 first degree relatives of clinically referred children and adolescents with ADD compared with psychiatric and normal controls at the Child Psychiatry Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston.
An Assessment of Physician Supervision of Nurse Practitioners

In 21 states, nurse practitioners (NPs) have full practice authority; they are licensed to practice and prescribe without physician oversight. The other 29 states require some level of physician supervision. The authors used an anonymous, online survey to determine the patterns of physician supervision of NPs in Florida and the relationships between physician supervision, practice setting, and NP characteristics. Physician supervision was measured by three factors: the percentage of time the physician is on site, the percentage of medical records reviewed, and the percentage of patients requiring consultations. The relationships among these factors and NP characteristics (sex, race, education, experience) and practice setting were examined. NPs with more experience and those with doctorate degrees worked without a physician on site more often, had fewer patient records reviewed, and were required to consult on fewer patients than those with less experience or without a doctorate. However, some NPs with no experience had no physician oversight, whereas some NPs with more than 20 years of experience had extensive oversight. Males were more likely to practice without a physician on site and had fewer records reviewed.
Community College Economic Workforce Development Programs and Financial Insecurity

ABSTRACTThe financial cost of economic workforce development programs for community colleges is becoming unsustainable. Economic workforce development programs are experiencing changing demands from the community, declining government support, debates over function and purpose, and escalating competition from for-profit higher education institutions. Three models are proposed to policymakers as a potential policy response to this issue: Differential tuition, reallocation of resources, or funding from grants development and each were judged using two evaluative criteria: efficiency and political acceptability. It is recommended that community college policymakers and stakeholders utilize differential tuition as a policy strategy for managing the high cost of economic workforce development programs. Nevertheless, it is recommended that state community college policymakers and directors conduct a thorough and research-based policy study before moving forward considering any of the three most policy strategie...
An evaluation of anion suitability for use in ionic liquids with long-term, high-temperature thermal stability

The stability of fourteen different PPN+ salts has been studied in 96 hour tests, in air, at temperatures of 200 °C, 250 °C, and 300 °C. The results have enabled generation of a ranking of their stabilities, and by extension, that of their anionic components. This data should prove especially useful in ongoing efforts to formulate ionic liquids for high-temperature applications.
The Effect of Downsizing on Hierarchical Work Flow Dynamics in Organizations

The objective was to determine the impact of the downsizing of management personnel on the flow of work throughout the organization, given that the quantity of workers (or technicians) must remain the same. In particular the objective of study was to assess the impact of downsizing on performance dynamics, where social factors such as power objectives of the management groups, job insecurity, and perceptions of fairness were not active variables in the process. Three groups of university students (19-33 in a group) were formed to play the Chaos Exercise in a three-level hierarchy. In the three experimental conditions, management groups were downsized during the game from 3 to 2 players, from 2 players to 1, or from 3 players to 1. Nonlinear dynamical structures were explored for each condition and at all three levels of hierarchy using production records generated by each group. Results showed chaos for two out of three conditions at the lowest level of the hierarchy, and usually a tendency toward asymptotic stabilization in middle management, although the functions themselves were markedly varied. The 2-to-1 condition, however, showed a tendency toward performance stabilization at the worker and middle management levels, but chaos at the top management level.
Where's the LGBT in integrated care research? A systematic review.

INTRODUCTION Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals experience more negative health outcomes compared with their heterosexual peers. The health disparities are often related to family and social rejection of the LGBT individuals. Integrated care, and Medical Family Therapy in particular, may aid in addressing the systemic nature of the negative health outcomes. METHOD To better understand the current state of the integrated care literature on addressing the health needs of LGBT individuals, a systematic review of the research literature was conducted from January 2000 to January 2016 for articles including integrated health care interventions for LGBT populations. Independent reviewers coded identified articles. RESULTS Only 8 research articles met criteria for inclusion out of the 2,553 initially identified articles in the search. Results indicated a lack of integrated care research on health care and health needs of LGBT individuals, and none of the articles addressed the use of family or systemic-level interventions. DISCUSSION Implications for future research and the need for better education training are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record
Inquiry and Intersubjectivity in a Reggio Emilia–Inspired Preschool

ABSTRACTBy utilizing inquiry processes, such as observing and questioning, young children learn to investigate and use evidence to evaluate information. Through intersubjectivity, or social collaboration and mutual focus, children coconstruct an understanding of the world. Children’s inquiry and intersubjectivity were observed in a range of activities in this case study over a 5-month period at a preschool in the United States. The role of teacher guidance and the influences of a mixed-age grouping were also investigated. Although younger and older children were equally likely to engage in the basic inquiry processes of observing and questioning, analyses confirmed that older children were more likely to use advanced inquiry processes, such as planning and evaluating. Teacher guidance techniques of inquiry-based guidance, directing attention, and articulating goals were significantly associated with levels of children’s engagement in inquiry. Reciprocal conversation among peers was most frequently observe...
“The Odéon is Open”: Performative Politics and the Paris 1968 Uprising

On May 15, 1968, during a season of revolt that seriously threatened the stability of the entire French nation, a group of several hundred Parisian protestors stormed the Odeon, the venerable theatre on the Left Bank of the Seine.
New Is Not Always Improved: Evidence-Based Practice in Play and Social Skills Intervention

This chapter focuses on the importance of evidence-based practice and discusses issues in the context of interventions designed to teach play and social skills to children with ASD. The chapter aims to (a) provide a brief historical overview of the evidence-based practice movement beginning in the field of medicine and moving to psychology and education, (b) describe the common approaches to defining and identifying evidence-based practices, (c) identify specific evidence-based practices suitable for teaching play and social skills to children with ASD and note where each of those practices is presented in this text, and (d) discuss the reasons why practitioners and families may select practices that are not evidence-based. Ultimately, this chapter is intended to set the stage for subsequent chapters that focus on a variety evidence-based treatment options that have been repeatedly demonstrated to be capable of improving the play and social skills of children with ASD.
Distributed writing as a lens for examining writing as embodied practice

The author argues for a reinvigorated focus on writing “as material, corporeal action” and proposes a framework of “distributed writing” through which to enact this focus. This framework highlights...
Reduction of Brettanomyces bruxellensis Populations from Oak Barrel Staves Using Steam

Brettanomyces bruxellensis, a spoilage yeast associated with red wines, can be difficult to remove from oak barrels. New (16 L) and used (225 L) barrels representing French or American oaks with different toasting levels were obtained. A commercially prepared Cabernet Sauvignon wine was transferred into the new barrels and inoculated with B. bruxellensis for 6 to 7 mos of aging. Upon disassembly of all barrels, yeast penetration into the wood was evaluated by collecting shavings from 2.5 cm diameter holes or by sawing staves into 3 × 10 cm blocks and then into 4 mm-thick cross sections. Additional blocks from the center of staves were exposed to steam for different times before being sawn into cross sections. Shavings and cross sections were transferred to either enhancement (shavings) or wine recovery (cross sections) media to detect culturable cells. In general, staves contained populations of ≤103 cfu/mm3 at depths up to 4 mm, with lower populations (≤102 cfu/mm3) occasionally detected between 5 to 8 mm, depending on the oak species or barrel age. During steaming, 2 to 3 min was required to achieve 55°C at a depth of 4.5 mm, but slightly longer times were needed for 9.5 mm (~4 min). Yeast present in 0 to 4 mm cross sections required a total steaming time of 9 min for inactivation, whereas 12 min was necessary for a depth of 5 to 9 mm. Because it is not possible for wineries to routinely determine yeast penetration depths in individual barrels, a minimum steaming time of 12 min can be used to limit future infections by B. bruxellensis in contaminated barrels.
Fixation in Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernia Repair

There is a broad spectrum of fixation options for laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair. Categories of fixation include no fixation, adhesive fixation, and penetrating mechanical fixation. Given the confinements of the preperitoneal space, all forms of fixation are adequate with the exception of no fixation, which should be used in select scenarios where the patient has a small indirect defect. Understanding the biomechanics of each fixation type, however, enhances the surgeon’s ability to select appropriate fixation based on a patient’s hernia characteristics.
Mean Level Differences in the Vividness, Meaning, and Coherence of Life Story High and Low Points: How Valenced Life Stories Do and Do Not Differ

The current paper examines systematic differences in life story high and low points. Narratives from a young adult sample (n = 145) and a late midlife adult sample (n = 154) were coded for vividnes...
Evaluating Impacts of Deep Oil Spills on Oceanic Marine Mammals

The Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill may be indicative of future large, deep spills that may occur in the coming decades. Given that future deepwater spills are possible, critical considerations include (1) establishing baselines for oceanic marine mammal and populations in at-risk areas, (2) understanding the implications of response choices for oceanic marine mammals, (3) designing studies with adequate coverage for post-spill monitoring, and (4) identifying effective strategies for oceanic marine mammal restoration. In this chapter, we consider these four stages in the context of a series of hypothetical oil spill scenarios, identifying ways that lessons learned from the DWH oil spill and prior events can be applied to future disasters.
Optical Observations on Propagation Characteristics of Dart Leader in Natural Lightning Striking on Canton Tower

Based on the high-speed video camera and electric field measurement, dart leader propagation prior to four subsequent return strokes (RS) in one negative lightning flash striking on the top of Canton tower has been recorded. The optical observations show that dart leaders develop downward following the same channel path as the first RS event, with the approximate leader durations ranging from 240 μs to 720 μs and interstroke intervals from 21 ms to 76 ms. Two-dimensional (2D) average speeds of dart leader propagation are mainly in the order of 106 m/s. As the increasing stroke order of the subsequent strokes, the corresponding leader could propagate faster, increasing to the order of 107 m/s, and the luminosity of subsequent stroke could be enhanced. Preceding all the subsequent strokes, there is no clear evidence of upward connecting leaders (UCLs) detected on the top of the tower associated with the descending dart leaders.
Predictions of Lean Meat Yield in Lambs Using Dexa and Chemical Analyses Proximate

ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to compare the use of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and chemical analyses for the prediction of carcass lean yield. This was done to decrease the total amount of time utilized in analyzing carcass composition. The scanning of carcasses on a DEXA takes approximately 2 min per carcass compared to chemical analyses that can take days of work in the lab. Materials and MethodsSuffolk wethers (n = 44) were put on a high-energy diet and then finished to 59 kg or d 185 post weaning. At this point the wethers were slaughtered. Hot carcass weight was obtained and the hot carcass was scanned using DEXA to measure carcass fat and lean composition. At 24h postmortem, the carcasses were scanned again using the DEXA. Carcass data were collected and the right side of the carcass was fabricated manually to obtain total lean and fat mass, and then ground. Samples of the ground lamb were taken and a total lipid analysis was performed. ResultsA linear regression model was used then to compare carcass fat composition estimated from the total lipid analysis versus total carcass fat estimated by the DEXA. Each method was compared on a percent total lipid basis and a total lipid mass basis. Values received from both hot and cold scans of the carcasses were used. Regression analyses found that DEXA scans on the cold carcass for total fat mass had the best agreement with the total lipid mass estimated from total lipid analyses (r² = 0.75). When compared on a percentage basis, the percent fat estimated from DEXA compared to percentage of total lipid from chemical analyses had lower agreement (r² = 0.49). The DEXA scans from the hot carcasses did not yield results with as high of agreement with chemical analyses for total lipid mass basis (r² = 0.47) or a total percent fat basis (r² = 0.13.) Stepwise regression was used to develop prediction equations for carcass fat mass or lean meat yield estimated from DEXA scans or chemical analyses using hot carcass weight, carcass traits or muscle weights. For DEXA fat mass, an equation including the variables for hot carcass weight (HCWg) and ribeye area (REAcm) were deemed most significant (r² = 0.7673, r² = 0.7915). The equation for DEXA percent fat mass used the same variables, HCWg and REAcm but with less agreement than DEXA fat mass (r² = 0.2310, r² = 0.3079). ConclusionThe data collected from the DEXA scans on the cold carcasses for total fat mass can be utilized in predicting total carcass composition. These findings can help in time management and overall human resources when conducting a large-scale animal carcass study.
Demographic and Socioeconomic Predictors of Behavioral Trajectories from Age 3 to 15: A Longitudinal Mixed Effects Approach

Socioeconomically disadvantaged children face elevated risk for behavior problems. Greater understanding of the relationships between a range of socioeconomic factors and behavioral trajectories across childhood is needed to improve prevention efforts. The present study leveraged a large longitudinal survey to examine how gender, race, household socioeconomic status, and home environment influence behavior from early childhood to adolescence. Multivariate imputation by chained equations maximized available data across 12 years. Linear mixed effects models compared behavioral trajectories by gender, as well as the longitudinal effects of socioeconomic status on internalizing and externalizing behavior problems accounting for within- and between-child differences from age 3 to 15. Results indicated declines in both internalizing and externalizing scores over time. On average, boys displayed higher initial scores, but more rapid declines; by age 15, boys scored substantially lower than girls on internalizing problems, while externalizing scores were similar for both genders. Household income (βInternalizing = −0.02; βExternalizing = −0.01) and higher quality interior home environment (βInternalizing = −0.43; βExternalizing = −0.60) both protected against behavioral problems while perceived material hardship and exterior home environment had no effects. Gender moderated the effects of race and the interior environment on externalizing problems. Findings suggest unique developmental trajectories by gender whereby girls display more persistent internalizing problems and African American boys face highest risk for externalizing problems. Children in socioeconomically disadvantaged families face elevated risk for behavior problems, but the home environment remains an opportunity for prevention.
Chapter 30 – Vascular, Cardiovascular, and Neurological Actions of Parathyroid-Related Protein

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the physiology of PTHrP in vascular smooth muscle, cardiovascular system, and central nervous system. In all smooth muscle cell beds studied to date, induction of PTHrP expression occurs in close association with normal physiological stimuli. Application of PTHrP to precontracted smooth muscle preparations induces relaxant activity, precisely mimicking the actions described previously for PTH. The ability of PTHrP to modulate vascular smooth muscle cell growth suggests that the protein might function during the development of the cardiovascular system. Although the cardiovascular system appears to develop normally in the PTHrP knockout mouse, homologous deletion of the PTH1R receptor results in a higher incidence of early fetal death at approximately embryonic day 9–10, coincident with development of the heart and major blood vessels. Transgenic mice expressing high levels of PTHrP and its receptor in vascular smooth muscle, created by crossing the ligand and receptor overexpressing mice, die at day E9.5 with severe thinning of the ventricle and disruption of ventricular trabeculae. PTHrP exerts its vasodilatory actions by activating the PTH1R. This receptor is expressed in rat vascular smooth muscle beds, and relaxation of aortic preparations is accompanied by an increased accumulation of cAMP. The hot spots for PTHrP gene expression are neuronal populations that have a number of features in common, including high-density L-VSCC expression as well as high-density expression of excitatory amino acid receptors and a known susceptibility to excitotoxicity.
Sex Differences in the Brain: Divergent Results from Traditional Machine Learning and Convolutional Networks

Neuroimaging research has begun adopting deep learning to model structural differences in the brain. This is a break from previous approaches that rely largely on anatomical volumetric or thickness-based features. Currently, most studies employ either convolutional deep learning based models or traditional machine learning models that use volumetric features. Because of this split, it is unclear which approach yields better predictive performance, or whether the two approaches will lead to different neuroanatomical conclusions, potentially even when applied to the same dataset. To address these questions, we present the largest single study of sex differences in the brain using 21,390 UK Biobank T1-weighted brain MRIs, which we analyzed through both traditional volumetric and 3D convolutional neural network models. Overall, we find that 3D-CNNs outperformed traditional machine learning models, with sex classification area under the ROC curve of 0.849 and 0.683, respectively. When performing sex classification using only single regions of the brain, we observed better performance from 3D-CNNs in all regions tested, indicating sex differences in the brain likely represent both structural and volumetric changes. In addition, we find little consensus in terms of brain region prioritization between the two approaches. In summary, we find that 3D-CNNs show exceptional sex classification performance, extract additional relevant structural information from brain regions beyond volume, and possibly because of this, prioritize sex differences in neuroanatomical regions differently than volume-based approaches.
A Hierarchical Approach to Scaling Batch Active Search Over Structured Data.

Active search is the process of identifying high-value data points in a large and often high-dimensional parameter space that can be expensive to evaluate. Traditional active search techniques like Bayesian optimization trade off exploration and exploitation over consecutive evaluations, and have historically focused on single or small (<5) numbers of examples evaluated per round. As modern data sets grow, so does the need to scale active search to large data sets and batch sizes. In this paper, we present a general hierarchical framework based on bandit algorithms to scale active search to large batch sizes by maximizing information derived from the unique structure of each dataset. Our hierarchical framework, Hierarchical Batch Bandit Search (HBBS), strategically distributes batch selection across a learned embedding space by facilitating wide exploration of different structural elements within a dataset. We focus our application of HBBS on modern biology, where large batch experimentation is often fundamental to the research process, and demonstrate batch design of biological sequences (protein and DNA). We also present a new Gym environment to easily simulate diverse biological sequences and to enable more comprehensive evaluation of active search methods across heterogeneous data sets. The HBBS framework improves upon standard performance, wall-clock, and scalability benchmarks for batch search by using a broad exploration strategy across coarse partitions and fine-grained exploitation within each partition of structured data.
Degenerate circuits use distinct mechanisms to respond similarly to the same perturbation

There is considerable flexibility embedded within neural circuits. For example, separate modulatory inputs can differently configure the same underlying circuit but these different configurations generate comparable, or degenerate, activity patterns. However, little is known about whether these mechanistically different circuits in turn exhibit degenerate responses to the same inputs. We examined this issue using the crab (Cancer borealis) stomatogastric nervous system, in which stimulating the modulatory projection neuron MCN1 and bath applying the neuropeptide CabPK II elicit similar gastric mill (chewing) rhythms in the stomatogastric ganglion, despite differentially configuring the same neural circuit. We showed previously that bath applying the peptide hormone CCAP or stimulating the muscle stretch-sensitive sensory neuron GPR during the MCN1-elicited gastric mill rhythm selectively prolongs the protraction or retraction phase, respectively. Here, we found that these two influences on the CabPK-rhythm elicited some unique and unexpected consequences compared to their actions on the MCN1-rhythm. For example, in contrast to its effect on the MCN1-rhythm, CCAP selectively decreased the CabPK-rhythm retraction phase and thus increased the rhythm speed, whereas the CabPK-rhythm response to stimulating GPR during the retraction phase was similar its effect on the MCN1-rhythm (i.e. prolonging retraction). Interestingly, despite the comparable GPR actions on these degenerate rhythms, the underlying synaptic mechanism was distinct. Thus, degenerate circuits do not necessarily exhibit degenerate responses to the same influence, but when they do, it can occur via different underlying mechanisms. Significance StatementCircuits generating seemingly identical behaviors are often thought to arise from identical circuit states, as that is the most parsimonious explanation. Here we take advantage of an alternate scenario wherein a well-defined circuit with known connectivity generates similar activity patterns using distinct circuit states, via known mechanisms. The same peptide hormone modulation of these distinct circuit states produced divergent activity patterns, whereas the same sensory feedback altered these circuit outputs similarly but via different synaptic pathways. The latter observation limits the insights available from comparable studies in systems lacking detailed access to the underlying circuit.
Liver Injury in Liver Transplant Recipients With Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): U.S. Multicenter Experience.

Background and aims Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with liver injury, but the prevalence and patterns of liver injury in liver transplantation (LT) recipients with COVID-19 are open for study. Approach and results We conducted a multicenter study in the United States of 112 adult LT recipients with COVID-19. Median age was 61 years (interquartile range, 20), 54.5% (n = 61) were male, and 39.3% (n = 44) Hispanic. Mortality rate was 22.3% (n = 25); 72.3% (n = 81) were hospitalized and 26.8% (n = 30) admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Analysis of peak values of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) during COVID-19 showed moderate liver injury (ALT 2-5× upper limit of normal [ULN]) in 22.2% (n = 18) and severe liver injury (ALT > 5× ULN) in 12.3% (n = 10). Compared to age- and sex-matched nontransplant patients with chronic liver disease and COVID-19 (n = 375), incidence of acute liver injury was lower in LT recipients (47.5% vs. 34.6%; P = 0.037). Variables associated with liver injury in LT recipients were younger age (P = 0.009; odds ratio [OR], 2.06; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.20-3.54), Hispanic ethnicity (P = 0.011; OR, 6.01; 95% CI, 1.51-23.9), metabolic syndrome (P = 0.016; OR, 5.87; 95% CI, 1.38-24.99), vasopressor use (P = 0.018; OR, 7.34; 95% CI, 1.39-38.52), and antibiotic use (P = 0.046; OR, 6.93; 95% CI, 1.04-46.26). Reduction in immunosuppression (49.4%) was not associated with liver injury (P = 0.156) or mortality (P = 0.084). Liver injury during COVID-19 was significantly associated with mortality (P = 0.007; OR, 6.91; 95% CI, 1.68-28.48) and ICU admission (P = 0.007; OR, 7.93; 95% CI, 1.75-35.69) in LT recipients. Conclusions Liver injury is associated with higher mortality and ICU admission in LT recipients with COVID-19. Hence, monitoring liver enzymes closely can help in early identification of patients at risk for adverse outcomes. Reduction of immunosuppression during COVID-19 did not increase risk for mortality or graft failure.
Systematic Approach to Evaluation of Melanoma and Sarcoma with PET

A systematic approach to the evaluation of melanoma and sarcoma using PET involves looking first at the maximum intensity projection image to gauge technical issues, followed by evaluation of the usual drainage pattern of the tumor, and then a head-to-toe examination. A quick look at the brain with the proper window is useful as a few metastases can occasionally be detected despite the overall lack of sensitivity here. Sites of importance include head and neck nodes, lungs, mediastinal and hilar nodes, liver, retroperitoneal and inguinal nodes, and skeleton everywhere in the body. Melanoma in particular is usually imaged from head to toe rather than the skull base to mid-thigh limits typical for other tumors. It can also send metastases to otherwise less common sites such as the bowel, adrenals, and muscle and even to viscera that are relatively rare sites of disease. Immunotherapies for melanoma may produce false-positive lesions due to immune activation, and the patient is often reimaged to ensure that a recurrence is real. Sarcoma has a wide variety of pathologies and is often heterogeneous in uptake, and the most avid area by PET may be targeted for biopsy. Sarcoma metastasizes to typical sites such as liver, lung, and lymph nodes, but has a particular predilection for sending metastases lung.
No-Charge Nonsurgical Facial Aesthetic Clinic in a Residency Program: A Single-Center Experience.

BACKGROUND In 2014, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education set minimum case requirements for injectable procedures as a surrogate for procedural competency. Despite the implementation of resident-run aesthetic surgery clinics, evidence suggests that many feel inadequately prepared as they go into practice even after meeting this requirement. To address this issue, our institution has implemented a separate resident clinic dedicated to neurotoxin and filler injections. OBJECTIVE The authors discussed the logistics and benefits of how residents, faculty, clinic staff, and industry representatives together have created a no-cost, volunteer patient-based resident injectable clinic. DESCRIPTION Two half-day, no-cost clinics per week were established, with 1 clinic day coinciding with the chief resident aesthetic clinic. Designated staff coordinate patient visits and allocate specific rooms for this clinic. Industry representatives have provided injectable products at no cost through resident injectable education programs. Residents in postgraduation years 4 to 6 provide their own patients and perform procedures under direct faculty supervision. All encounters are documented in the electronic health record. To assess the utility of this clinic, a survey was sent to all recent graduates, some of whom participated in this program. Since its inception in May 2018, this injectable clinic has been running successfully with overwhelmingly positive feedback from all eligible residents who participated. To date, there have been no adverse events from these injections. CONCLUSIONS At our institution, the no-cost, volunteer patient-based resident injectable clinic has provided regular educational opportunities for plastic surgery residents to increase their experience with injectable procedures.