cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Biochemical and genetic evidence for distinct membrane-bound and cytosolic sialic acid O-acetyl-esterases: serine-active-site enzymes

A cytosolic sialic acid-specific O-acetyl-esterase was previously described that can remove O-acetyl esters from the 9-position of sialic acids. We show that rat liver Golgi vesicles contain a distinct sialic acid-esterase located within the lumen of the same vesicles that add O-acetyl esters to sialic acids. Studies of a retinoblastoma cell line genetically deficient in the cytosolic enzyme also confirm the existence of distinct membrane-associated sialic acid esterase activity. We developed a sensitive, specific and facile assay, which measures release of [3H]acetyl groups from [3H-acetyl]9-O-acetyl-N-acetylneuraminic acid. Using this assay, we show that rat liver membranes may contain different sialic acid O-acetyl-esterases. The membrane-associated enzyme(s) bind to Concanavalin A Sepharose, whereas the cytosolic enzyme does not. Membrane-bound and cytosolic esterases are inactivated by di-isopropyl-fluorophosphate, showing they are serine-active-site enzymes.
Focal origin of atrial tachycardia in dogs with rapid ventricular pacing-induced heart failure.

UNLABELLED: Mapping and Ablation of Atrial Tachycardia in Heart Failure. INTRODUCTION: Dogs with rapid ventricular pacing-induced congestive heart failure (CHF) have inducible atrial tachycardia (AT), with a mechanism consistent with delayed afterdepolarization-mediated triggered activity. We assessed the hypothesis that AT has a focal origin. METHODS AND RESULTS: Twenty-one CHF dogs undergoing 3 to 4 weeks of ventricular pacing at 235 beats/min were studied. Biatrial epicardial mapping of 20 sustained AT episodes (cycle length [CL], 175 +/- 53 msec) in 5 dogs revealed an area of earliest activation in the right atrial (RA) free wall (13 episodes), RA appendage (4 episodes), or between the pulmonary veins (3 episodes). Total epicardial activation time during AT (73 +/- 19 msec) was similar to that during sinus rhythm (72 +/- 13 msec) and on average was <50% of the AT CL. Higher-density mapping of the RA free wall during 30 sustained AT episodes (163 +/- 55 msec) in 9 dogs identified a site of earliest activation along the sulcus terminalis most frequently as a stable, focal activation pattern from a single site. Endocardial mapping of 49 sustained AT episodes (156 +/- 27 msec) in 10 dogs revealed multiple sites of AT origin arising along the crista terminalis and pulmonary veins. Right and left ATs were terminated with discrete radiofrequency ablation, but other ATs remained inducible. A rapid, left AT generating an ECG pattern of atrial fibrillation was ablated inside the pulmonary vein. CONCLUSION: AT induced in this CHF model after 3 to 4 weeks of rapid ventricular pacing has an activation pattern consistent with a focal origin. Sites of earliest activation are distributed predominately along the crista terminalis and within or near the pulmonary veins.
Face, Expression, and Iris Recognition Using Learning-based Approaches

This thesis investigates the problem of facial image analysis. Human faces contain a lot of information that is useful for many applications. For instance, the face and iris are important biometric features for security applications. Facial activity analysis such as face expression recognition is helpful for perceptual user interfaces. Developing new methods to improve recognition performance is a major concern in this thesis. In approaching the recognition problem of facial image analysis, the key idea is to use learning-based methods whenever possible. For face recognition, we propose a face cyclograph representation to encode continuous views of faces, motivated by psychophysical studies on human object recognition. For face expression recognition, we apply a machine learning technique to solve the feature selection and classifier training problems simultaneously, even in the small sample case. Iris recognition has high recognition accuracy among biometric features, however, there are still some issues to address to make more practical use of the iris. One major problem is how to capture iris images automatically without user interaction, i.e., not asking users to adjust their eye positions. Towards this goal, a two-camera system consisting of a face camera and an iris camera is designed and implemented based on facial landmark detection. Another problem is iris localization. A new type of feature based on texture difference is incorporated into an objective function in addition to image gradient. By minimizing the objective function, the iris localization performance can be improved significantly. Finally, a method is proposed for iris encoding using a set of specially designed filters. These filters can take advantage of efficient integral image computation methods so that the filtering process is fast no matter how big the filters are.
Altered ligand binding of D1 and D2 dopamine receptors in response to hypoxia and posthypoxic reoxygenation.

The physiological effects of dopamine, a major striatal neurotransmitter, are mediated by several distinct receptor subtypes. On the basis of structural, pharmacological, functional, and distributional similarities, these subtypes fall into one of two groups, the D1-like receptor family and the D2-like receptor family. The D1-like receptors are linked to stimulation of adenylate cyclase via Gs proteins whereas the D2-like receptors inhibit adenylate cyclase through a Gi/o protein.1 The D1-like receptors are also associated with inositol phosphate production and calcium mobilization while the D2-like receptors stimulate potassium efflux and indirectly inhibit inositol phosphate production. Thus, changes in the properties of these dopaminergic receptors could have a major impact on cellular metabolism. Several studies have examined the effect of ischemia-hypoxia on ligand binding properties of the striatal dopaminergic receptors, particularly on adult animals, and the authors suggested that the changes in the D1 and/or D2 receptors play a key role in the pathogenesis of damage to the striatum induced by ischemia. For example, Bonfenati et al.4 proposed that reduction in the number of D1 receptors plays a key role in the pathogenesis of ischemic striatal damage. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether arterial hypoxia is associated with alterations in the affinities (Kd) and numbers (Bmax) of the dopaminergic receptor subtypes, D1 and D2, in the striatum of newborn piglets.
Sexual Infantilism in Females1

IN ANOTHER PAPER we (1) have discussed the failure of normal sexual development resulting from agenesis of the ovary and usually associated with a growth deficiency. There are a number of other conditions which cause failure of sexual maturation in the female. We shall attempt to classify them and shall present a number of cases of different types. CLASSIFICATION As shown in the accompanying table lack of development of the breasts, vagina and uterus and absence of the menarche may result either (a) from primary ovarian deficiency or (b) from a failure of the pituitary to produce the gonadotropic hormones which stimulate the maturation of the ovarian follicles. Primary Ovarian Deficiency. We have reported four cases and have collected eight others from the literature in which there is substantial pathological evidence that the gonads never developed beyond the stage of the genital ridge which is found in the embryo of 5–7 mm.
Novel Radar Signal Models Using Nonlinear Frequency Modulation

Two new radar signal models using nonlinear frequency modulation are proposed and investigated with respect to enhancing the target’s range estimation and reducing the sidelobe level. The performance of the proposed signal models is compared to the currently popular linear and nonlinear frequency modulation signal models. The Cramer Rao Lower Bound along with main lobe width and the peak to sidelobe ratio are used for comparing the signal models to show that better range accuracy and smaller sidelobes can be achieved with the proposed signal models.
Laser-assisted Processing and Diagnostics of Functional Micro/Nanomaterials☆

Abstract Lasers have proven to be efficient tools in a variety of micro/nanoscale materials processing and diagnostics. This article will be focused on presenting recent progress on producing functionalized micro/nanomaterials for various application fields via multiple laser-assisted processing routes including ablation, crystallization, sintering, and chemical vapor deposition. In addition, demonstrated strategies on the advanced in-situ laser processing monitoring under electron microscopes will be also shown.
Reliable Drug Quality: An Unresolved Problem

It is widely agreed that pharmaceuticals should be manufactured to a high standard of quality, because they are frequently critical to human health, and because the consequences of quality problems such as sub-potency, lack of sterility, or product mix-ups can be so devastating. Nevertheless, the U.
Epidemiological analysis of patients visited rabies immunization clinics in Miyun County,Beijing,2009-2011

Objective To analyze the epidemiological characters of patients visited rabies immunization clinics in Miyun County during 2009 to 2011,in order to provide reference for reducing animal injury occurrence and rabies prevention.Methods The information of patients were analyzed with descriptive epidemiological method.Results There were totally 15517 visitors during study period and only 0.41% of them received pre-exposure vaccination.Among 15496 visitors received post-exposure vaccination,the sex ratio of male to female was 1.27:1,and most patients belonged to 40 ~and 50 ~age groups.According to occupational information,labors and farmers accounted for 58.95% of all patients.There were 47.96% of patients exposed from May to August and 51.92% hurt their lower limbs.The rate of rabies exposure had a significant difference among urban,suburb and mountain areas(χ2=654.44,P0.05).Mountain areas had the lowest rate of exposure.Among all animal injury victims,there were 91.15% persons bit by dogs,of which 48.73% were domesticated and 13.88% were vaccinated.Although there were 82.45% patients visited rabies immunization clinics in the same day with exposure,only 59.80% of grade Ⅲ bites received passive immunizing agents.Conclusion Health education should be strengthened to improve rabies pre-exposure and post-exposure vaccination.Meanwhile the timely treatment of wounds and the usage of passive immunizing agents should also be encouraged in disease control.Strengthening the management and vaccination for animals,especially for dogs and cats,also play an important role in disease control.
Respiratory failure in the elderly.

Elderly patients are predisposed to respiratory failure Decause ot physiological changes that occur with the aging process. These changes result in a loss of pulmonocardiac reserve and the relatively frequent need for mechanical ventilatory support. The management and weaning of elderly patients from mechanical ventilatory support is different from strategies used for younger patients. By focusing on the physiological changes that occur in the elderly, this article explains why the elderly experience more complications and higher mortality than younger patients with respiratory failure. It also suggests management strategies that incorporate newer insights into ventilatory and respiratory muscle failure.
Development of finger millet and flaxseed crackers

Finger millet oftenly known as Ragi which is one of the most nutritious crop among the major cereal crops. Ragi is a coarse grain which is rich in fiber (3.6g/100g) and calcium (350 mg/ 100 g). It has low Glycemic index which makes it a boon for people suffering from diabetes and obesity. It takes longer time to get digested and hence keeps check on the blood sugar levels and gives a feeling of fullness in the stomach whereas flax seeds are nutritionally high in alpha linoleic acid (ALA), an omega-3 fatty acid that is heart healthy and also a source of anti-inflammatory precursor molecules. They contain soluble and insoluble fibre, which helps to maintain normal cholesterol levels and promotes optimal bowel function. Different trials were done by combining finger millet and flaxseed with refined wheat flour to make nutritious product i.e. , “Crackers”, to finalize the formulation. Finalized product contained 11.04 per cent Poly-unsaturated fat fatty acid, 46.7 per cent dietary fibreand 70.3 mg/100g calcium.
Mapping the Invisible: a Methodological Strategy for Restoring the 'Disappeared' to African History

The theme of this years conference, Mobility, Migration and Flows, is premised on the assumption that scholars can trace the movement of people (as well as things, capital and ideas) through space and time. What if, however, the state made a deliberate effort to erase the comings and goings of a particular person or group of persons by disappearing them? How does one write the history of enforced disappearance? How does one resurrect the stories of those who have vanished? This paper considers the methodological challenges of writing about a crime that is supposed to leave no trace. Using transcripts and reports from various truth commissions and commissions of inquiry from across the continent, as well as human rights reports and testimonials from the families of the disappeared, it also maps out a terrain of intelligibilitythat which can be known about the disappeared and the states which make them disappear. This paper is part of a larger book project examining the gendered history of disappearance in post-colonial Africa.
Stress, sex, and the enteric nervous system.

Made up of millions of enteric neurons and glial cells, the enteric nervous system (ENS) is in a key position to modulate the secretomotor function and visceral pain of the gastrointestinal tract. The early life developmental period, through which most of the ENS development occurs, is highly susceptible to microenvironmental perturbation. Over the past decade, accumulating evidence has shown the impact of stress and early life adversity (ELA) on host gastrointestinal pathophysiology. While most of the focus has been on alterations in brain structure and function, limited experimental work in rodents suggest that the enteric nervous system can also be directly affected, as shown by changes in the number, phenotype, and reactivity of enteric nerves. The work of Medland et al. in the current issue of this journal demonstrates that such alterations also occur in pigs, a larger mammalian species with high translational value to human. This work also highlights a sex-differential susceptibility of the ENS to the effect of ELA, which could contribute to the higher prevalence of GI disorders in women. In this mini-review, we will discuss the development and composition of the ENS and related gastrointestinal sensory motor and secretory functions. We will then focus on the influence of stress on the enteric nervous system, with a particular emphasis on neurodevelopmental changes. Finally, we will discuss the influence of sex on those parameters.
Synthesis and Structural Characterization of an Unusual Platinum π-Arene Complex: (η6-C6H3Me3)Pt[(C2F5)2PMe]Me+

Treatment of cis-(dfmp)2PtMe2 (dfmp = (C2F5)2PMe) with the mesitylenium acid (C6Me3H4)+B(C6F5)4– in 1,2-difluorobenzene cleanly produces an unusually stable arene complex, [(η6-C6Me3H3)Pt(dfmp)(CH3...
Temporal expansion of annual crop classification layers for the CONUS using the C5 decision tree classifier

Crop cover maps have become widely used in a range of research applications. Multiple crop cover maps have been developed to suite particular research interests. The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) Cropland Data Layers (CDL) are a series of commonly used crop cover maps for the conterminous United States (CONUS) that span from 2008 to 2013. In this investigation, we sought to contribute to the availability of consistent CONUS crop cover maps by extending temporal coverage of the NASS CDL archive back eight additional years to 2000 by creating annual NASS CDL-like crop cover maps derived from a classification tree model algorithm. We used over 11 million records to train a classification tree algorithm and develop a crop classification model (CCM). The model was used to create crop cover maps for the CONUS for years 2000–2013 at 250 m spatial resolution. The CCM and the maps for years 2008–2013 were assessed for accuracy relative to resampled NASS CDLs. The CCM performed well agains...
Participatory Governance: Citzenship, Community, Power and the Future of Guatemalan Democracy

Though often elegantly theorized as the product of discrete factors, governance is often a complex practice that involves politics and power. This paper investigates the politics and power of local governance in Guatemala. I make use of three different lenses for viewing the dynamics will I explore: citizenship, community, and power. Each of these frames provides critical insights into the intentions and understandings that underpinned the institutionalization of a participatory governance regime. Decisions about how to understand citizenship, community, and power have shaped the practice of participatory governance in Guatemala and have broader implications for democracy in the country.
Adolescent Mothers’ Implementation of Strategies to Enhance Their Children’s Early Language and Emergent Literacy Skills

Research regarding specific strategies adolescent mothers (AMs) may utilize to facilitate early language and emergent literacy skills in their children is lacking. This exploratory study investigat...
Context cue focality influences strategic prospective memory monitoring

Monitoring the environment for the occurrence of prospective memory (PM) targets is a resource-demanding process that produces cost (e.g., slower responding) to ongoing activities. However, research suggests that individuals are able to monitor strategically by using contextual cues to reduce monitoring in contexts in which PM targets are not expected to occur. In the current study, we investigated the processes supporting context identification (i.e., determining whether or not the context is appropriate for monitoring) by testing the context cue focality hypothesis. This hypothesis predicts that the ability to monitor strategically depends on whether the ongoing task orients attention to the contextual cues that are available to guide monitoring. In Experiment 1, participants performed an ongoing lexical decision task and were told that PM targets (TOR syllable) would only occur in word trials (focal context cue condition) or in items starting with consonants (nonfocal context cue condition). In Experiment 2, participants performed an ongoing first letter judgment (consonant/vowel) task and were told that PM targets would only occur in items starting with consonants (focal context cue condition) or in word trials (nonfocal context cue condition). Consistent with the context cue focality hypothesis, strategic monitoring was only observed during focal context cue conditions in which the type of ongoing task processing automatically oriented attention to the relevant features of the contextual cue. These findings suggest that strategic monitoring is dependent on limited-capacity processing resources and may be relatively limited when the attentional demands of context identification are sufficiently high.
Multimodality endoscopic optical coherence tomography and fluorescence imaging technology for visualization of layered architecture and subsurface microvasculature

Endoscopic imaging technologies, such as endoscopic optical coherence tomography (OCT) and near-infrared fluorescence, have been used to investigate vascular and morphological changes as hallmarks of early cancer in the gastrointestinal tract. Here we developed a high-speed multimodality endoscopic OCT and fluorescence imaging system. Using this system, the architectural morphology and vasculature of the rectum wall were obtained simultaneously from a Sprague Dawley rat in vivo. This multimodality imaging strategy in a single imaging system permits the use of a single imaging probe, thereby improving prognosis by early detection and reducing costs.
Patient Safety – Automated Detection and Reporting

The release of the 1999 Institute of Medicine report To Err is Human brought focus on iatrogenic harm in healthcare and spotlighted technology’s potential role in mitigating adverse events. However, the use of health information technology to report on safety events and patient harm is a relatively nascent collaboration. To date, many healthcare organizations still rely on traditional methods of harm detection such as voluntary reporting or manual chart review. Automated reporting of safety events through the use of electronic “triggers” confers many advantages over those methodologies. Accurate, timely and complete reporting of adverse events allows institutions to analyze the quality of care they provide and identify any weaknesses in the care delivery system that may contribute to patient harm. Pediatric populations are particularly vulnerable to certain types of harm such as adverse drug events and have higher event rates than adults. The judicious use of electronic reporting systems in children can be used to detect past safety events as well as predict which patients are at risk for future events. This chapter will begin with a brief overview of pediatric safety events and reporting mechanisms including automated systems integrated with the electronic health record. The advantages, disadvantages, and challenges of electronic reporting will then be discussed, including research opportunities in informatics. Challenges with automated event detection specifically related to the pediatric population will be addressed, including examples from the author’s institution. In closing, we will discuss other related topics and future areas of research in this rapidly evolving field.
Oro e Idolatría en El Nuevo Mundo descubierto por Colón de Lope de Vega

The Spanish theater of the Golden Age presents the colonization of the New World as an heroic national triumph that ensures the expansion of the Empire and the propagation of the Catholic faith. While most Spanish playwrights believe that the conquest is justified because of the American Indians' idolatrous religious practices, Lope de Vega presents a more complex view of imperial expansion in El Nuevo Mundo descubierto por Colon. Although Lope never questions the religious motivation of Columbus or the Catholic Kings, he demonstrates that many Spanish sailors were guilty of the sin of idolatry because of their worship of American gold. More importantly, Lope also suggests that the American Indians have the right to defend themselves against the worst abuses of the Spanish conquerors. While remaining loyal to the Empire and the monarchy, Lope is therefore the only Spanish playwright of the Golden Age who questions the standard justification of the conquest of the New World.
Dissonant Politics in Mubarak’s Egypt

For years now political scientists have been asking questions about why the Middle East remains one of the world’s least democratic regions. Given the recent Middle East war and the United States’ current project to build a democracy in Iraq, the question seems more significant than ever.Yet the topic continues to puzzle researchers around the globe as they contribute to a growing body of possible explanations for the phenomenon.While these explanations vary widely in form, they also reflect a constant and underlying question regarding what factors inhibit the formation of sustainable Middle Eastern democracies. This paper examines one such model in the context of contemporary Egypt to test its relevance to events actually occurring in the Arab world.
Crafting your scientist brand

That a scientist might shape and cultivate a personal brand is a relatively new concept but one that is finding increasing acceptance in this new age of rapid communications and social media. A key driver is the abrupt rise in well-funded and organized antiscience movements, especially in North America and Europe, such that society now benefits from scientists with strong personal brands and public personas who are willing to engage general audiences. In this sense, branding itself can advance science, the sharing of information, and the promotion of science as a public good. Still another dimension to branding is that it affords an opportunity to mentor younger scientists and helps you to become an important role model for the next generation. There is also a practical side, as today, fewer scientists spend their entire career at a single institution, so owning a strong brand can sometimes create easier paths for transitions and mobility. However, brand cultivation ideally begins in collaboration with your institutional office of communications and is done in a way that is seen as a win for both you and your university or research institution. Described here are some steps to consider when embarking on brand cultivation and how to avoid some of the potential pitfalls.
Parameter Identification Approach to Series DC Arc Fault Detection and Localization

In this paper, series dc arc fault localization within a system of parallel loads in a distribution node is investigated. The high frequency noise of series arc can travel to adjacent loads possibly triggering multiple detectors. To accurate localize the faulted line/load, a parameter identification technique based on a gradient algorithm with projection is used. The main goals of this approach is to monitor the condition of the line parameters, including its resistance and inductance. By identifying these values, it is possible to accurately determine the faulted line even when large noise from series arc is present. Simulation and experimental results are conducted to verify the proposed algorithm.
Precarities, Resistance, and Care Communities in South Asia

August is the cruelest month. In both the country of my birth and my adopted homeland. As I wrote this Guest Editor’s Column for the special issue of South Asian Review on “Precarity, Resistance, a...
[Depressed, biased, forgetful: The interaction of emotional and cognitive dysfunctions in depression].

Bei Depressionen kommt es charakteristischerweise zu Veranderungen des emotionalen Befindens, z. B. dem verminderten Erleben positiver Emotionen, sowie zu kognitiven Beeintrachtigungen, wie Konzentrations- und Gedachtnisschwierigkeiten. Diese emotionalen und kognitiven Dysfunktionen sind eng miteinander verknupft und tragen entscheidend zur Entstehung und Aufrechterhaltung der depressiven Symptomatik bei. So zeigen Patienten mit Depression beispielsweise eine negativ-verzerrte Informationsverarbeitung, die sowohl die Aufmerksamkeit und das Gedachtnis als auch die Reaktion auf Feedback betrifft. Hinzu kommt eine erhohte Vermeidungsmotivation bezuglich negativ bewerteter Zustande und eine gleichzeitig verminderte Motivation zur Annahrung an positive Ziele. Zudem zeigen depressive Patienten auch haufig einen veranderten Denkstil, der als Rumination bezeichnet wird und das wiederholte, intensive Nachdenken uber Ursachen, Folgen und Symptome der eigenen negativen Gefuhle umfasst. Die verschiedenen Zusammenhange zwischen diesen emotionalen, motivationalen und kognitiven Symptomen depressiver Patienten sollen in dieser Arbeit ubersichtsartig dargestellt werden. Dabei wird vor allem auch der Einfluss ihres Zusammenwirkens auf die kognitive Leistungsfahigkeit genauer beleuchtet. Die hier hervorgehobene klinische Relevanz der emotional-kognitiven Dysfunktionen sollte auch in therapeutischen Interventionen vermehrt Berucksichtigung finden.
Depression and quality of life among African Americans with epilepsy: Findings from the Managing Epilepsy Well (MEW) Network integrated database.

Abstract Depression and worse quality of life (QOL) are significantly associated with epilepsy. However, limited descriptive data on depression and quality of life among African Americans with epilepsy are available. This study sought to describe the prevalence of depression among African Americans with epilepsy participating in self-management studies and to examine the relationship between depression and QOL. Using data from the Managing Epilepsy Well (MEW) research network, a subgroup of African Americans with epilepsy were selected for the analytic sample. Descriptive statistics indicated the prevalence of depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9 [PHQ-9]) and reports of epilepsy-specific QOL (Quality of Life in Epilepsy-10 [QOLIE-10]) in the sample. Multiple linear regression examined the relationship between depression and QOL while controlling for sociodemographic characteristics and seizure frequency. The prevalence of depression (PHQ-9 ≥; 10) was 47.7%. Quality of life was the only variable significantly associated with depressive symptoms in multivariable analyses, suggesting that depressive symptoms have a stronger relationship with QOL than seizure frequency. With the high levels of depression and the significant relationship with QOL, regular screening of depression is needed among African Americans with epilepsy. Self-management programs that improve mood may also play an important role in improving the lives of African Americans with epilepsy.
Exploring Complex Relationships through the Use of Historical Case Studies

These are some ideas that we use in the Business and Society course, specifically the sections we teach to INTO Mason students. This particular group of students does not have a background or experience in United States business, and this course is in reality Business in the U. S. society, and our course content is derived from a U.S. textbook. We concluded as a faculty team that students would better understand the complex and dynamic business-societal relationships if we carried our core objectives with historical examples in our curriculum. For example, at the beginning of the semester, one assignment requires each student to research a different prominent U.S. businessman from the past, such as Andrew Carnegie, J.P. Morgan and Lee Iacocca, who had formative impacts on the current aspects of the relationships U.S. businesses have with society today. Similarly, we build our argument about the history of corporate social responsibility drawing on the comparison between how early U.S. business enterprises operated at their inception with what they do today, focusing on companies such as King Arthur Flour and Jim Beam Bourbon. Specifically, we ask students to track the various business challenges these companies have undergone to meet their customer demand during their hundreds of years of operation and to examine historical shifts in societal values that influence the configuration and power of these US corporations today. In separate assignments, we explore topics ranging from the role of corporations in politics to the consumer rights movement that has evolved during the past century. Within each topic we require our students to compare and contrast how things are done in the U.S. with what is happening in their own country. We could include representative positive exemplars from these assignments to display the sorts of insights our approach generates.
Modelling disease risk for amyloid A (AA) amyloidosis in non-human primates using machine learning

Objective: Amyloid A (AA) amyloidosis is found in humans and non-human primates, but quantifying disease risk prior to clinical symptoms is challenging. We applied machine learning to identify the best predictors of amyloidosis in rhesus macaques from available clinical and pathology records. To explore potential biomarkers, we also assessed whether changes in circulating serum amyloid A (SAA) or lipoprotein profiles accompany the disease. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study using 86 cases and 163 controls matched for age and sex. We performed data reduction on 62 clinical, pathological and demographic variables, and applied multivariate modelling and model selection with cross-validation. To test the performance of our final model, we applied it to a replication cohort of 2,775 macaques. Results: The strongest predictors of disease were colitis, gastrointestinal adenocarcinoma, endometriosis, arthritis, trauma, diarrhoea and number of pregnancies. Sensitivity and specificity of the risk model were predicted to be 82%, and were assessed at 79 and 72%, respectively. Total, low density lipoprotein and high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were significantly lower, and SAA levels and triglyceride-to-HDL ratios were significantly higher in cases versus controls. Conclusion: Machine learning is a powerful approach to identifying macaques at risk of AA amyloidosis, which is accompanied by increased circulating SAA and altered lipoprotein profiles.
Reproducible Modal Testing Using a Flexure-Based Impact Excitation System

Impact excitation is a common technique used for modal testing of structures. The quality and bandwidth of the dynamic model of a structure obtained through impact testing directly depends on the characteristics of the impact excitation. However, applying optimal, or even satisfactory, impact excitation to structures manually (using impact hammers) requires considerable experience. Indeed, even experienced personnel may have much difficulty in applying single-impact, repeatable (force magnitude, impact location, impact orientation) excitations with a required frequency bandwidth. As such, impact testing can become very time consuming, necessitating very large number of repetitions to obtain acceptable coherence values and an accurate dynamic model of the structure in the form of frequency response functions (FRFs).
Negotiating a Feminist Musical Language in a Twenty First Century Senegalese Muslim Society

This chapter examines the language of Muslim feminism as expressed in Senegal’s signature pop music genre called mballax. First, it defines and contextualizes Senegalese moderate Muslim feminism vis-a-vis global feminisms and as iterated in the country’s broader literary and artistic discourses. Then, it draws from selected Wolof pop songs to examine how female Senegalese Muslim musicians have used music to negotiate feminist expression and tease out latent patterns of gender inequity in a twenty-first-century majority-Muslim African country. In doing so, the chapter argues that the female mballax singers have created a modern musical language articulating a double-edged feminist social commentary that embodies a woman’s self-praise, on the one hand, and an anti-patriarchal satire, on the other.
A Case for Portability and Reproducibility of HPC Containers

Containerized computing is quickly changing the landscape for the development and deployment of many HPC applications. Containers are able to lower the barrier of entry for emerging workloads to leverage supercomputing resources. However, containers are no silver bullet for deploying HPC software and there are several challenges ahead in which the community must address to ensure container workloads can be reproducible and inter-operable. In this paper, we discuss several challenges in utilizing containers for HPC applications and the current approaches used in many HPC container runtimes. These approaches have been proven to enable high-performance execution of containers at scale with the appropriate runtimes. However, the use of these techniques are still ad hoc, test the limits of container workload portability, and several gaps likely remain. We discuss those remaining gaps and propose several potential solutions, including custom container label tagging and runtime hooks as a first step in managing HPC system library complexity.
Using Four Modalities for Malware Detection Based on Feature Level and Decision Level Fusion.

This paper is focused on multimodal approaches to malware detection, which have not been explored widely in related works. We use static code-based features and dynamic power-based, network traffic-based, and system log-based features, and propose multimodal approaches that use feature level and decision level fusion. Our findings include: (1) For all considered learners, power-based features alone were very good predictors; some learners performed well using only network traffic-based features. (2) For most standard supervised learning algorithms, feature level fusion improved all performance metrics. If Recall is the highest priority, Random Forest or J48 with feature level fusion should be selected. (3) The proposed deep neural network with decision level fusion had lower Recall, but higher Precision and (1-FPR) values, which led to comparable F-score and better G-score than the Random Forest with feature level fusion. In addition to improving classification performance, multimodal approaches make malware evasion of detection much harder.
Factors Associated with Refractory Nasal Congestion Following Adenoidectomy.

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to better characterize factors associated with refractory rhinitis in pediatric patients who underwent adenoidectomy compared to those who had symptom resolution. METHODS The authors conducted a case series of patients younger than 18 years old who underwent adenoidectomy at Boston Medical Center from October 2012 to December 2018. Patients who underwent tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy or who underwent adenoidectomy for indications other than rhinitis were excluded. Patients who had refractory rhinitis symptoms postoperatively were compared to those who had resolution of their symptoms using Chi-square analysis and t-tests. RESULTS One hundred three patients who had refractory symptoms following adenoidectomy were compared to 139 patients who had resolution of symptoms. Patients who had refractory symptoms had significantly higher proportion of use (89.3%, P = .0011) and higher mean number of preoperative (1.50, P = .0226) and postoperative (1.10, P < .0001) medications, including nasal saline, intranasal steroids, antihistamines, and/or antibiotics. They were more likely to receive postoperative allergy evaluations (50%, P = .0068) and repeat surgery (30.1%, P < .0001), and had a higher proportion of reported history of allergies (24.3%, P = .0089). CONCLUSION Use and number of preoperative medications, reported history of allergies, and postoperative allergy evaluation were significantly higher in patients with refractory chronic rhinitis following adenoidectomy. This study identified differences in patients who developed refractory symptoms that may help clinical decision making for surgical management.
Strong coupling of plasmons to single quantum dots: Tip-enhanced strong coupling

Strong quantum-mechanical coupling between single emitters and plasmonic nanocavities has the potential to enable new classical and quantum photonic technologies at room temperature. Through a new technique of tip-enhanced strong coupling, we have demonstrated the ability to systematically study and dynamically control strong coupling between plasmons and single quantum dots at room temperature.
Whole Body Kinematic Sex Differences Persist Across Non-dimensional Gait Speeds

Sex differences in human locomotion are of interest in a broad variety of interdisciplinary applications. Although kinematic sex differences have been studied for many years, the underlying reasons behind several noted differences, such as pelvis and torso range of motion, are still not well understood. Walking speed and body size in particular represent confounding influences that hinder our ability to determine causal factors. The purpose of this study was to investigate sex differences in whole body gait kinematics across a range of controlled, non-dimensional walking and running speeds. We hypothesized that as task demand (i.e. gait speed) increased, the influences of modifiable factors would decrease, leading to a kinematic motion pattern convergence between sexes. Motion capture data from forty-eight healthy young adults (24 M, 24 F) wearing controlled footwear was captured at three walking and three running Froude speeds. Spatiotemporal metrics, center of mass displacement, and joint/segment ranges of motion were compared between sexes using 2x6 mixed-model ANOVAs. Three dimensional time-series waveforms were also used to describe the time-varying behavior of select joint angles. When controlling for size, sex differences in spatiotemporal metrics and center of mass displacement disappeared. However, contrary to our hypothesis, sagittal plane ankle, frontal plane pelvis, and transverse plane pelvis and torso range of motion all displayed sex differences that persisted or increased with gait speed. Overall, most spatiotemporal sex differences appear to be related to size and self-selection of gait speeds, while in contrast, sex differences in joint motion may be more inherent and ubiquitous than previously thought. Discussion on potential causal factors is presented.
Learning and Applying Mindfulness to Relational Client Systems: A Phenomenological Analysis of CMFT Students’ Experiences in a Mindfulness Course

The benefits of mindfulness have been well established in mental health research, and many couple, marriage, and family therapists (CMFTs) incorporate mindfulness techniques into clinical practice. Despite its widespread use, there is a dearth of literature examining CMFTs’ experiences with mindfulness education within the MFT field. Using a participatory research design, our study analyzed 35 journal entries of seven CMFT graduate students (N = 7) enrolled in a 5 week, summer mindfulness course within a COAMFTE-accredited program. Data were analyzed using the immersion/crystallization phenomenological technique. Findings illuminated 12 themes, all relating to CMFTs’ experiences of learning and applying mindfulness techniques in clinical practice. These themes were grouped within three categories that corresponded with our research questions (Role of the Mindfulness Class, Personal Mindfulness Experience, and Application of Mindfulness in Clinical Practice). Clinical and training implications for CMFTs are discussed throughout.
Peripheral Nerve Blockade with Combined Standard and Liposomal Bupivacaine in Major Lower-Extremity Amputation.

Background and objectives Optimizing perioperative analgesia for patients undergoing major lower-extremity amputation remains a considerable challenge. The utility of liposomal bupivacaine as a component of peripheral nerve blockade for lower-extremity amputation is unknown. Methods We conducted an observational study comparing three different perioperative analgesic techniques for adults undergoing major lower-extremity amputation under general anesthesia between 2012 and 2017 at an academic medical center: (1) no regional anesthesia, (2) peripheral nerve blockade with standard bupivacaine, and (3) peripheral nerve blockade with a mixture of standard and liposomal bupivacaine. The primary outcome of cumulative opioid oral morphine milligram equivalent utilization in the first 72 hours postoperatively was compared across groups utilizing multivariable linear regression. Results A total of 631 unique anesthetics were included for 578 unique patients, including 416 (66%) without regional anesthesia, 131 (21%) with peripheral nerve blockade with a mixture of standard and liposomal bupivacaine, and 84 (13%) with peripheral nerve blockade with standard bupivacaine alone. Cumulative morphine equivalents were lower in those receiving peripheral nerve blockade with combined standard and liposomal bupivacaine compared with those not receiving regional anesthesia (multiplicative increase 0.67; 95% CI 0.50 to 0.90; P = 0.007). There were no significant differences in opioid utilization between peripheral nerve blockade groups (P = 0.59). Conclusions Peripheral nerve blockade is associated with reduced opioid requirements after lower-extremity amputation compared with general anesthesia alone. However, the incorporation of liposomal bupivacaine is not significantly different to blockade employing only standard bupivacaine.
AnS matrix theory for classical nonlinear physics

The basic concepts appropriate for anS matrix theory for classical nonlinear physics are formulated here. These concepts are illustrated by a discussion of shock wave diffraction patterns. Other information concerning solutions of non-linear conservation laws is surveyed, so that a coherent picture of this theory can be seen. Within thisS matrix framework, a number of open problems as well as a few solved ones will be discussed.
Exploring the empirical literature on mass shooting: A mixed-method systematic review of peer-reviewed journal articles

Abstract Due to the devastating impact on victims and society, scholars have started to pay more attention to the phenomenon of mass shootings (MS) in the United States. While the extant literature has given us important insights, disparities in conceptualizations, operationalizations, and methods of identifying and collecting data on these incidents have made it difficult for researchers and audiences to come to a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of the characteristics of offenders, causes and consequences. Using a mixed-method systematic review, this study seeks to assess the state of scholarly research in journal articles regarding MS in the United States. Using SCOPUS as the search database, a total of 73 peer-reviewed journal articles on MS within the United States published between 1999 and 2018 were included in this study. This study finds the number of articles published on MS has increased dramatically between 1999 and 2018. Also, most of the MS studies tend to rely heavily on open-source data using the different definitions of MS. We further examined and discussed theoretical frameworks, methodology, and policy suggestions used in each study. Based on the findings of this study, we suggested implications for future research.
Self-Perceptions About Academic Achievement

A growing body of evidence suggests that people exhibit large biases when processing information about themselves, but less is known about the underlying inference process. This paper studies belief updating patterns regarding academic ability in a large sample of students transitioning from middle to high school in Mexico City. The paper takes advantage of rich and longitudinal data on subjective beliefs together with randomized feedback about individual performance on an achievement test. On average, the performance feedback reduces the relative role of priors on posteriors and shifts substantial probability mass toward the signal. Further evidence reveals that males and high-socioeconomic status students, especially those attending relatively better schools, tend to process new information on their own ability more effectively.
Safety factor for electrostimulation with nanosecond pulses

While electrical stimulation with pulses of milli- or microsecond duration is possible without electroporation, stimulation with nanosecond pulses typically entails electroporation, and nanosecond pulses can even cause electroporation without stimulation. A recently proposed explanation for this intriguing finding is that stimulation requires not only that a threshold membrane potential is reached, but also that it is sustained for a certain time tmin, while electroporation occurs almost immediately after a higher threshold potential is reached. Here we analytically derive stimulation and electroporation thresholds for membranes that satisfy these assumptions. We analyze the safety factor, i.e. the ratio between electroporation and stimulation threshold and its dependence on pulse duration, membrane charging time constant, and tmin. We find that the safety factor is sharply reduced if both the pulse duration and the membrane charging time constant are below tmin. We discuss different approaches to get models with varying tmin that could be used to experimentally test this theory and cardiac applications.