cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Orthotope Lebertransplantation im Kindesalter: Auswirkungen der Roux-Y-Choledocho-Jejunostomie auf die Absorption von Cyclosporine

Nach orthotoper Lebertransplantation (OLT) bei Kindern bietet die schlechte Bioverfugbarkeit (BV) von Cyclosporine (CyA) wesentliche Probleme (1). Zur Erhaltung eines therapeutischen Spiegels benotigten unsere erwachsenen Patienten 1 – 8 mg CyA/kg KG/Tag; im Gegensatz dazu lag die entsprechende Dosis bei den Kindern zwischen 9 – 218 mg CyA/kg KG/Tag. Die erhohte Clearance (1, 2) vermag dabei die mehrfach reduzierte BV allein nicht zu erklaren.
Influence of Peptide Composition, Gas-Phase Basicity, and Chemical Modification on Fragmentation Efficiency: Evidence for the Mobile Proton Model

Relative energetics of fragmentation of protonated peptides are investigated by using electrospray ionization/surface-induced dissociation (ESI/SID) tandem mass spectrometry. ESI/SID fragmentation efficiency curves (percent fragmentation versus laboratory collision energy) are presented for 20 oligopeptides and are a measure of how easily a peptide fragments. The relative positions of the ESI/SID fragmentation efficiency curves depend on several parameters which include peptide composition (e.g., presence/absence of a basic amino acid residue) and peptide size. The ESI/SID fragmentation efficiency curves, in combination with quantum chemical calculations, provide a unique approach to substantiate and refine the mobile proton model for peptide fragmentation. Selected peptides are also investigated to further test and confirm the mobile proton model; these include doubly-protonated peptides and chemically-modified peptides (i.e., acetylated and fixed-charge derivatized peptides). Doubly-protonated peptides ...
Applications of Stereotactic Radiosurgery in Neuro-Oncology

Radiosurgery involves the focal administration of conformal ionizing radiation (IR) to a diseased tissue. The conformal nature of the radiation delivered limits injury to surrounding nontarget tissue. The therapeutic window of IR is based on the observation that tumor cells harbor a decreased DNA repair capacity relative to nonneoplastic cells. Therefore, radiosurgery is an important treatment option in neuro-oncology. The foundations, imaging, and applications of radiosurgery in neuro-oncology are discussed in this chapter.
Solar biofuels production with microalgae

Abstract With impending climate change and ever decreasing supplies of easily extractable fossil fuel, means to produce renewable and sustainable replacement fuels are being sought. Plants or algae appear ideal since they can use sunlight to fix CO2 into usable fuel or fuel feedstocks. However, as the world population approaches the 1010 (10 billion) mark, the use of agricultural land to produce fuel instead of food cannot be justified. Microalgal biofuel production is under intense investigation due to its promise as a sustainable, renewable biofuel that can be produced using non-arable land and brackish or non-potable water. Some species accumulate high levels of TAGs (triacylglycerols) that can be converted to fatty acid esters suitable as replacement diesel fuels. However, there are many technical barriers to the practical application of microalgae for biofuel production and thus a number of significant challenges need to be met before microalgal biodiesel production becomes a practical reality. These include developing cost-effective cultivation strategies, low energy requiring harvesting technologies, and energy efficient and sustainable lipid conversion technologies. The large culture volumes that will be necessary dictate that the necessary nutrients come from wastewaters, such as the effluents from secondary treatment of sewage. Economical and energy sparing harvesting will require the development of novel flocculation or floatation strategies and new methods of oil extraction/catalysis that avoid the extensive use of solvents. Recent advances in these critical areas are reviewed and some of the possible strategies for moving forward are outlined.
Methods for assessing treatment efficacy in trials for adjuvant therapy for breast cancer.

Findings from randomized clinical trials have demonstrated an improvement in the treatment of patients with operable breast cancer. These show that systemic adjuvant therapies are effective in reducing mortality both for premenopausal and postmenopausal patients (Bonadonna et al. 1985; Nolvadex Adjuvant Trial Organisation 1985; UK-BCTSC/UICC/WHO 1984). Despite these improvements, it is predicted that almost 30% of patients with operable breast cancer will die within 5 years of the appearance of the disease. Treatments which achieve universal cure have not yet been identified. In fact, the improvements in survival are far less than the challenges which remain. This modest effect of available treatments upon mortality was the basis for a decennial controversy on defining the usefulness of adjuvant systemic therapy. The public health impact of even moderate improvement is however large because of the relatively high incidence of the disease.
Rights-based fisheries and contested claims of ownership: Some necessary clarifications

Abstract The fisheries literature is undermined by incorrect use of essential legal concepts: (1) property; (2) rights; and (3) property rights. These three ideas are often conflated when the term “rights-based” is applied to fisheries in which individual transferable quotas (ITQs) have been gifted to fishing firms. The confusion then leads to misleading suppositions concerning fishing behavior. For instance, it is often presumed that a “right to fish” (alleged to be represented by an ITQ) is behaviorally analogous to an ownership interest in fish still in the water. This erroneous extension from alleged “ownership” of a quota share to alleged “ownership” of fish stocks gives rise to confusion about how to assure sustainable fisheries governance. Talk of “perfect property rights” associated with an ITQ ads to the conceptual confusion. It is imperative that policy makers understand the difference between an alleged right to hunt for fish (such as a fishing permit or an ITQ) and a property right with respect to fish remaining in the water. The necessary implication for public policy is that private ownership of a natural resource offers no assurance that the resource will be managed sustainably. In fact, the existence of public parks and wilderness areas is evidence that private interests cannot be counted on to align with public interests.
Lag time to benefit for preventive therapies

Dr Lee and colleagues1 discussed using lag time to benefit along with magnitude of benefit when considering preventive therapies in older adults. However, using time-to-benefit information from randomized clinical trials (RCTs) entails a number of challenges that warrant discussion. Time-to-benefit information influences decision making for individual older patients in various ways.2 First, the outcome with the shortest time to benefit may not be valued as much by an older person as an incremental improvement in quality of life, which may require more time (or not occur).3
Preparation and functionalization of linear and reductively degradable highly branched cyanoacrylate-based polymers

Ethyl cyanoacrylate (ECA) was polymerized radically in the presence of small amounts of trifluoroacetic acid as effective inhibitor of incidental anionic polymerization. Methyl methacrylate and other functional vinyl monomers (e.g., 2-chloroethyl and 2-bromoethyl methacrylate) were copolymerized with ECA, yielding linear ECA-rich copolymers, which could readily undergo further modifications, for instance nucleophilic substitution with azide. In the presence of a disulfide-containing dimethacrylate crosslinker and a chain transfer agent (CBr4) during the free radical copolymerizations of ECA with methacrylates, highly branched ECA-based polymers containing disulfide groups at the branching points were obtained prior to gelation. The polymers degraded upon addition of reducing agents. The prepared polymers, which contained peripheral (chain end) alkyl bromide groups as well as pendant alkyl chloride or bromide groups were then reacted with sodium azide, affording azide-containing polymers that were reacted with functional alkynes under copper-catalyzed “click” chemistry conditions. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016, 54, 3683–3693
Accelerated ice shelf rifting and retreat at Pine Island Glacier, West Antarctica

Pine Island Glacier has undergone several major iceberg calving events over the past decades. These typically occurred when a rift at the heavily fractured shear margin propagated across the width of the ice shelf. This type of calving is common on polar ice shelves, with no clear connection to ocean-ice dynamic forcing. In contrast, we report on the recent development of multiple rifts initiating from basal crevasses in the center of the ice shelf, resulted in calving further upglacier than previously observed. Coincident with rift formation was the sudden disintegration of the ice melange that filled the northern shear margin, resulting in ice sheet detachment from this margin. Examination of ice velocity suggests that this internal rifting resulted from the combination of a change in ice shelf stress regime caused by disintegration of the melange and intensified melting within basal crevasses, both of which may be linked to ocean forcing.
Decomposing Electromagnetism's Four-potential into Quantizable and non-Quantizable Parts via Conserved Spacelike Projections of the Four-current

The classical electromagnetic four-potential has non-dynamical and physically redundant gauge field degrees of freedom as well as purely dynamical ones. As only the latter can be quantized, separating these out is highly desirable. Analysis of the physically nonredundant electric and magnetic fields reveals that it is their transverse parts which are purely dynamical, and that these have an inhomogeneous driving term which is the transverse part of the current density vector. The remaining non-dynamical, non-radiative longitudinal component of the electric field is a coulombic homogeneous closed quadrature over the charge density. It likewise turns out that the transverse spatial part of a Lorentz-condition constrained electromagnetic four-potential is purely dynamical and has the very same inhomogeneous driving term, which is the inherently conserved transverse spatial projection of the full conserved four-current. The complementary remainder of the full four-current turns out to be determined by the charge density alone, and the remaining part of the Lorentz-condition constrained four-potential is a non-dynamical homogeneous closed quadrature over it. The decomposition of a Lorentz-condition constrained four-potential into quantizable dynamical and non-quantizable, non-dynamical homogeneous closed quadrature parts is, however, by no means unique; any conserved spacelike projection of the four-current will serve as the inhomogeneous driving term of the dynamical part of such a decomposition.
The Sedimentary Record of Atmospheric Pollution in Jerseyfield Lake, Adirondack Mountains, New York

Jerseyfield Lake is a clear water oligotrophic lake of 176 hectare with a watershed of 1,936 hectare. Maximum depth is 28 meters. The present pH is about 4.8-4.9. Portions of the watershed were cut in the 1920’s, 1939–1941, ca. 1955–1961, and since 1981, concurrently with the emplacement of a circum-lake road. The chemistry of a sediment core from Jerseyfield indicates nearly steady state conditions over the period 1600–1850. The only systematic change in sediment chemistry was a persistent decline in MnO content. The cause of this is unknown. Pb, Zn, Cu, and V concentrations and deposition rates started to increase about 1850, 1900, 1925, and 1950, respectively. These changes are interpreted to be caused by increased atmospheric deposition of these metals from polluted air masses. Disturbance of the watershed, indicated by increased deposition of all major elements, occurred from ca. 1910 to 1970. This is followed by a decrease in deposition rates to 1982. Acidification of the lake water starting about 1950 is suggested by a decrease in the Zn and CaO deposition rates. The sharp reversal from Zn accumulation to Zn depletion suggests a rapid change in lake pH. The decline in MnO accelerated slightly starting about 1850. None of these changes appear to be synchronous with increased deposition of sediments, presumably related to concurrent lumbering in the watershed. The trends for changing deposition rates for Pb, Zn, Cu, V, Mn, and Ca appear to be reflective of atmospheric deposition of acids and metals.
RPI-Bind: a structure-based method for accurate identification of RNA-protein binding sites

RNA and protein interactions play crucial roles in multiple biological processes, while these interactions are significantly influenced by the structures and sequences of protein and RNA molecules. In this study, we first performed an analysis of RNA-protein interacting complexes, and identified interface properties of sequences and structures, which reveal the diverse nature of the binding sites. With the observations, we built a three-step prediction model, namely RPI-Bind, for the identification of RNA-protein binding regions using the sequences and structures of both proteins and RNAs. The three steps include 1) the prediction of RNA binding regions on protein, 2) the prediction of protein binding regions on RNA, and 3) the prediction of interacting regions on both RNA and protein simultaneously, with the results from steps 1) and 2). Compared with existing methods, most of which employ only sequences, our model significantly improves the prediction accuracy at each of the three steps. Especially, our model outperforms the catRAPID by >20% at the 3rd step. All of these results indicate the importance of structures in RNA-protein interactions, and suggest that the RPI-Bind model is a powerful theoretical framework for studying RNA-protein interactions.
Empathic nonverbal behavior increases ratings of both warmth and competence in a medical context

In medicine, it is critical that clinicians demonstrate both empathy (perceived as warmth) and competence. Perceptions of these qualities are often intuitive and are based on nonverbal behavior. Emphasizing both warmth and competence may prove problematic, however, because there is evidence that they are inversely related in other settings. We hypothesize that perceptions of physician competence will instead be positively correlated with perceptions of physician warmth and empathy, potentially due to changing conceptions of the physician’s role. We test this hypothesis in an analog medical context using a large online sample, manipulating physician nonverbal behaviors suggested to communicate empathy (e.g. eye contact) and competence (the physician’s white coat). Participants rated physicians displaying empathic nonverbal behavior as more empathic, warm, and more competent than physicians displaying unempathic nonverbal behavior, adjusting for mood. We found no warmth/competence tradeoff and, additionally, no significant effects of the white coat. Further, compared with male participants, female participants perceived physicians displaying unempathic nonverbal behavior as less empathic. Given the significant consequences of clinician empathy, it is important for clinicians to learn how nonverbal behavior contributes to perceptions of warmth, and use it as another tool to improve their patients’ emotional and physical health.
Multi-Level Social Institutions in Conflict over Sustainable Development:

An identifiable research gap in extant literature concerns how social institutions can develop more pro-sustainability attributes. Better collaboration is vital to enabling institutions to function effectively for sustainability. A conceptual scenario approach illustrates how multi-level institutions can be in fundamental conflict concerning sustainable development. A rich complexity of formal and informal institutions functions at global, regional, national, and local levels of human interaction in ways that influence both anti-sustainability and pro-sustainability behaviors, practices, and outcomes. The scenario approach underscores that the balance of anti-sustainability and pro-sustainability attributes is not readily assessed theoretically or empirically as a basis for improving social justice outcomes.
Digital Envelope Detection: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly [Tips and Tricks]

During a recent consulting job to analyze acoustic telemetry signals transmitted by a deep-sea drill pipe, I was forced to investigate a process called digital envelope detection. This process is used to estimate the instantaneous magnitude of a zero-mean fluctuating-amplitude digital signal. While much tutorial information regarding envelope detection is available, that information is spread out over a number of communications textbooks and many websites. The purpose of this article is to collect and describe various digital envelope detection methods in one concise and consistent lesson.
ETP algorithm: Increasing spatial reuse in wireless LANs dense environment using ETX

To address the issues related to the extreme densification of wireless networks, namely increased interference and lower overall throughput, the IEEE 802.11ax project was formed to revise the standard specifications for IEEE 802.11ac in order to increase the spectrum efficiency and most notably the per-user throughput by a factor of four. Improving Spatial Reuse (SR) is seen as one of the main techniques for achieving this goal. In this paper, we explore the so-called Overlap Basic Service Set Physical Detection (OBSS_PD)-based SR technique introduced in IEEE 802.11ax, which aims to increase SR by adapting both stations' Carrier Sensitivity Threshold (CST) and transmission power. To that end, OBSS_PD PD-based SR defines a proportional relationship between CST and the transmission power. In this article, we propose a novel and dynamic algorithm to implement an OBSS_PD PD-based SR. This so-called ETX To Power (ETP) algorithm uses the Expected Transmission Count (ETX) metric to dynamically compute the transmission power and the CST to use. Simulations are used to evaluate ETP in a dense scenario. We show that the overall system throughput is improved by 40 % compared to IEEE 802.11 legacy networks and at the same time the 5th percentile throughput is also increased by 22 %.
Analysis of the impact of race on blood transfusion in pediatric scoliosis surgery

SummaryIntroduction Surgical correction of pediatric scoliosis is associated with significant blood loss. Minimizing estimated blood loss and blood transfusion is beneficial as transfusions have been associated with increased morbidity, including risk of surgical site infections, longer hospitalizations, and increased cost. Although there is evidence that African-American or Black adults are more likely to require intraoperative blood transfusion compared with Caucasian or White adults, the reasons for this difference are unclear. Methods The electronic records for all patients <18 y/o undergoing primary corrective scoliosis surgery by a single pediatric orthopedic surgeon at a single academic medical center between 2013 and 2015 were collected and reviewed. Multivariate models were performed to assess the association between Black race and blood loss/transfusion in primary pediatric scoliosis surgery. Results In a multivariate model, Black race was independently associated with 1.61 times higher estimated blood loss than White race (P < .01; 95% CI = 1.16-2.23). Additionally, compared to a White patient, the odds a Black patient received blood transfusion was 6.25 times higher (P = .03; 95% CI = 1.56-25.06) and among the patients who received blood transfusion, Black race was independently associated with 2.61 times greater volume of blood transfusion than White race (P < .01; 95% CI = 1.54-4.41). Conclusion Black race was independently associated with increased estimated blood loss, increased rate of blood transfusion, and increased amount of blood transfused during surgical correction of pediatric scoliosis. Further investigation is needed to better understand the etiology of the disparity and assess opportunities for improving outcomes.
Ecocritical contestations with neoliberalism: Teaching to (un)learn “normalcy”:

This article seeks to address often overlooked cultural assumptions embedded within neoliberalism; specifically, the researchers explore what ecofeminist Val Plumwood describes as centric thinking,...
An Argument for Amphetamine-Induced Hallucinations in an Invertebrate

Hallucinations - compelling perceptions of stimuli that aren't really there - occur in many psychiatric and neurological disorders, and are triggered by certain drugs of abuse. Despite their clinical importance, the neuronal mechanisms giving rise to hallucinations are poorly understood, in large part due to the absence of animal models in which they can be induced, confirmed to be endogenously generated, and objectively analyzed. In humans, amphetamine (AMPH) and related psychostimulants taken in large or repeated doses can induce hallucinations. Here we present evidence for such phenomena in the marine mollusk Tritonia diomedea. Animals injected with AMPH were found to sporadically launch spontaneous escape swims in the absence of eliciting stimuli. Deafferented isolated brains exposed to AMPH, where real stimuli could play no role, generated sporadic, spontaneous swim motor programs. A neurophysiological search of the swim network traced the origin of these drug-induced spontaneous motor programs to spontaneous bursts of firing in the S-cells, the CNS afferent neurons that normally inform the animal of skin contact with its predators and trigger the animal's escape swim. Further investigation identified AMPH-induced enhanced excitability and plateau potential properties in the S-cells. Taken together, these observations support an argument that Tritonia's spontaneous AMPH-induced swims are triggered by false perceptions of predator contact - i.e., hallucinations-and illuminate potential cellular mechanisms for such phenomena.
A Method for Identifying Defining Contrasts for 2k-p Experiments

The defining relation for a two-level fractional factorial design uniquely characterizes the design. From it the design can be identified and compared, all the aliases can be found, the resolution determined, and the design can be reproduced, if necessa..
On Fréchet Bounds of Biyariate Distributions

The Frechet bounds of a set of bivariate distributions with fixed marginals are characterized by the monotonicity of their supports. Also they are characterized by their totally positive dependence of order 2 (TP2) and reverse regular of order 2 (RR2) properties. A corollary of these results is the existence of a measurable transformation which transforms two different random variables of a location-scale parameter family defined by a symmetric probability density function into the same continuous random variable.
Pharmacological Classification of High-Threshold Calcium Channels in Rat Neurons

Voltage-dependent calcium channels are present in all neurons. They are closed at normal resting potentials, and they open when a membrane is depolarized by an action potential. One important function of calcium channels in neurons is to mediate release of neurotransmitter from presynaptic nerve terminals. In addition, calcium channels help initiate electrical action potentials in various cell bodies and dendrites. It is very likely that calcium entry through voltage-dependent calcium channels is also important for a whole range of phenomena triggered by increases in internal calcium levels. Among these phenomena may be cell death resulting from prolonged calcium entry subsequent to long-lasting depolarizations, as may occur during ischemia.
30-day all-cause readmission rates among a cohort of individuals with rare conditions.

Abstract Background There is a need to examine health care utilization of individuals with the rare conditions muscular dystrophies, spina bifida, and fragile X syndrome. These individuals have a greater need for health care services, particularly inpatient admissions. Prior studies have not yet assessed 30-day all-cause readmission rates. Objective To estimate 30-day hospital readmission rates among individuals with three rare conditions. Hypothesis Rare conditions patients will have a higher 30-day all-cause readmission rate than those without. Methods Data from three sources (2007–2014) were combined for this case-control analysis. A cohort of individuals with one of the three conditions was matched (by age in 5 year age groups, gender, and race) to a comparison group without a rare condition. Inpatient utilization and 30-day all-cause readmission rates were compared between the two groups. Logistic regression analyses compared the odds of a 30-day all-cause readmission across the two groups, controlling for key covariates. Results A larger proportion in the rare condition group had at least one inpatient visit (46.1%) vs. the comparison group (23.6%), and a higher 30-day all-cause readmission rate (Spina Bifida-46.7%, Muscular Dystrophy-39.7%, and Fragile X Syndrome-35.8%) than the comparison group (13.4%). Logistic regression results indicated that condition status contributed significantly to differences in readmission rates. Conclusions Higher rates of inpatient utilization and 30-day all-cause readmission among individuals with rare conditions vs. those without are not surprising, given the medical complexity of these individuals, and indicates an area where unfavorable outcomes may be improved with proper care coordination and post discharge care.
Knowing it When You See it: The Need for Continuing Innovation in Research on Healthcare Discrimination

Healthcare discrimination is pervasive, yet difficult to identify. Research in the behavioral sciences shows that unconscious bias is pervasive among physicians,1,2 and social and system scientists have demonstrated the impact of discrimination on care and outcomes in particular organizations and across healthcare systems.3,4 At analytical levels in between the unconscious and organizational, however, it is difficult to pinpoint the actual behaviors by healthcare professionals that constitute discrimination or create its effects. Providers may not realize that they discriminate against certain patient groups, or social desirability bias may make healthcare professionals reluctant to acknowledge when their own behavior may constitute discrimination. In either case, when it comes to discrimination, healthcare providers resemble the residents of Garrison Keillor’s fictional town of Lake Wobegon, where everyone is “above average.”
Controversies of justice, scale, and siting: The uneven discourse of renewability in Austrian waste-to-energy development

Abstract Many geopolitical jurisdictions, including the European Union, demonstrate a growing commitment to mitigating climate change through a transition to renewable energy production. While ambitious targets and the transformations they inspire should be celebrated, it is nevertheless increasingly important to understand how renewable energy policies and discourses are being mobilized in the rollout of controversial energy technologies such as waste incineration. This paper engages analytical lenses from environmental justice scholarship on discourse, scale, and waste siting controversies to contribute to the emerging literature on the competing ways that actors frame controversial energy technologies. Specifically, drawing on case study research conducted in Austria from 2013 to 2015, it asks in what contexts, and by whom, are discourses of renewability enrolled in relation to waste-to-energy planning and management? Findings demonstrate the divergent ways in which Austrian and European Union policy elites and local residents frame waste incineration vis-a-vis its renewability. Ultimately, the article argues that framing discrepancies between policy elites and local residents are a reflection of procedural injustice.
A Review of Research on Violence in Same-Gender Couples: A Resource for Clinicians

This paper reviews current research that has primarily focused on domestic violence among same-gender couples. Several key issues pertaining to the identification, assessment, and treatment of domestic violence among same-gender couples are examined and outlined to assist clinicians in effectively working with gay and lesbian clients who may be experiencing domestic violence. Resource information is included to help mental health clinicians recognize specific stressors of marginalized individuals as well as assessment and treatment recommendations are made.
Economic voting in Turkey: single- vs. multi-party governments

ABSTRACTThis study investigates the strength of economic voting in Turkey under various types of governments. A vote equation developed for this purpose, which takes into account all of the key fac...
Knowledge-sharing rewards in enterprise social networks: effects of learner types and impact of digitisation

The era of total digitisation demands companies to seek innovative approaches in managing digital assets. This paper presents and studies an analytical model of an enterprise social network (ESN) e...
Mean Cardiopulmonary Dose and Vertebral Marrow Dose Differentially Predict Lineage-Specific Leukopenia Kinetics During Radiotherapy for Esophageal Cancer

Background and purpose Lymphopenia is associated with poor outcomes in esophageal cancer (EC) patients undergoing chemoradiotherapy (CRT). We hypothesized that radiation dose to marrow (central) vs. circulating (peripheral) leukocytes (WBCs) may have unique effects on WBC counts and clinical outcomes in EC. Materials and methods Weekly and 90-day post-CRT blood cell counts were evaluated for 46 patients with stage II-III EC treated with CRT. Thoracic vertebral volume spared (TVS) radiation was extracted from dose volume histograms (DVH). Mean cardiopulmonary dose (mCPD) was calculated as mean dose to the volumetric sum of heart, lungs, and great vessels as a surrogate for circulating blood pool. Linear and logistic regression identified associations between dosimetric variables and hematologic toxicities (HT). Repeated measures ANOVA tested associations between cell count trends and clinical predictors. Results WBCs and platelets reached nadir at week 6 of CRT. On multivariate analysis, mCPD was associated with lower WBC and neutrophil nadirs (p 67) and diabetes on normalized lymphocyte trend (all p Conclusions mCPD and volume of thoracic marrow spared radiation differentially predict lineage-specific leukopenias during CRT for EC. mCPD is significantly associated with lower total WBC and neutrophil nadirs. In contrast, greater thoracic marrow spared radiation is associated with mitigation of lymphopenia during CRT. Clinical factors such as sex, age, and diabetes may be associated with a more rapid decline in hematologic counts during treatment.
Public preference for river restoration in the Danda Basin, Nepal: A choice experiment study

Abstract This paper develops a choice experiment method to assess the potential for sustainable management of a freshwater system, the Danda River, in Nepal. We use a primary survey data from 637 households, and the empirical analysis is conducted using the Generalized Multinomial Logit (GMNL) model. The findings indicate substantial demand for restoration of the Danda River, and it is indicative of the local public's preferences for an improvement in the Danda river ecosystem. Households were willing to pay up to $1.63/year to move away from the status quo level of services in the Danda River. Our analysis incorporates the respondents' preference uncertainty, and we also explore the presence of spatial heterogeneity using the method of hot spot analysis. We find the inclusion of preference uncertainty slightly increased the precision of the marginal willingness to pay estimates, while the hot spot analysis indicates that heterogeneity in preferences for the ecosystem services surfaces primarily from an urban center. Finally, results also indicates that households prefer community-based management of the Danda River, which highlights the need for policymakers to decentralize their management to the local communities so as to enhance interest in conservation of common pool resources like river ecosystems.
Real-Time Bangla License Plate Recognition System using Faster R-CNN and SSD: A Deep Learning Application

Traffic control and vehicle owner identification become major problems in Bangladesh. Most of the time it is difficult to identify the driver or the owner of the vehicles who violate the traffic rules or do any accidental work on the road. Moreover, it is very time-consuming for a traffic police officer to physically check the license plate of every vehicle. So, an automatic license plate recognition system is a much-needed solution to solve these problems. The existing Bangla license plate recognition systems are mostly based on character segmentation and these methods are not implemented in real-time. In this study, two separate Deep Convolutional Neural Network (DCNN) models are used to identify the license plate and the characters on the license plate from the real-time video streaming. The first CNN model detects the license plate from the live video of a vehicle on the road. Than it crop the license plate area from the video frames. The cropped frame is then fed into the second CNN to detect the characters on that license plate. The characters are detected as individual objects. After detecting all the characters and numbers on the license plate, they are rearranged according to their position on the plate. To train the proposed model total of 292 images are collected used. Moreover, an open-sourced Bangla handwritten character dataset named BanglaLekha-Isolated is also used to train the model with synthetic character data. The trained model is tested using 18 live videos and 6 still image data. Finally, the proposed methodology gains a 100% precision on detecting the license plate, and 91.67% precision for detecting the characters on the license plate for the given test dataset.
Heating of Enceladus due to the dissipation of ocean tides

Abstract Given Cassini observations of a large and unexplained endogenic heat source, the subsurface ocean on Enceladus is an important test bed for modeling icy-satellite ocean tides and the dissipative heat generated. Here we revisit and expand estimates of the ocean tidal power (heating rate) to describe how the power depends on input parameter and process assumptions. The approach taken in this (and previous) work by this author is that the dissipation process in Enceladus' ocean is unknown and cannot be reliably modeled from first principles. Considered instead are generic dissipation forms that cover specific physical dissipation processes as special cases (specific cases described here include linear/nonlinear drag, eddy viscosity, viscoelastic ice coupling, and vertical wave damping). The justification for basing conclusions primarily on the generic (rather than specific) dissipation forms is that whatever the ocean dissipation process, it must draw from the stored energy (kinetic or potential) in the ocean tidal response, and this process must have an associated time scale for the dissipation to take place. By treating this time scale (as well as the Lamb number/wave speed) as free parameters, millions of tidal solutions are calculated to sample the full domain of tidal scenarios that arrive from different combinations of these two parameters, as well as the assumed dissipation form. Conclusions drawn from the general behavior in this larger solution domain are then considered to be more robust than conclusions drawn from the subdomain that assumes the validity of a specific physical dissipation process. The results show plausible states whereby the ocean tides (even if Enceladus is covered with thick ice) generate the observed heat flux. While the same results show that low-power, non-resonant states are also allowed, an argument is presented that these low-power states may not be stable in the presence of secular trends (e.g. cooling, stratification). Rather, self-tuned resonance stabilizes the tidal configuration in a near-resonant forced state with high power and dissipative heat.
Is thirty-two three tens and two ones? The embedded structure of cardinal numbers.

Abstract The acquisition and representation of natural numbers have been a central topic in cognitive science. However, a key question in this topic about how humans acquire the capacity to understand that numbers make ‘infinite use of finite means’ (or that numbers are generative) has been left unanswered. While previous theories rely on the idea of the successor principle, we propose an alternative hypothesis that children's understanding of the syntactic rules for building complex numerals—or numerical syntax—is a crucial foundation for the acquisition of number concepts. In two independent studies, we assessed children's understanding of numerical syntax by probing their knowledge about the embedded structure of cardinal numbers using a novel task called Give-a-number Base-10 (Give-N10). In Give-N10, children were asked to give a large number of items (e.g., 32 items) from a pool that is organized in sets of ten items. Children's knowledge about the embedded structure of numbers (e.g., knowing that thirty-two items are composed of three tens and two ones) was assessed from their ability to use those sets. Study 1 tested English-speaking 4- to 10-year-olds and revealed that children's understanding of the embedded structure of numbers emerges relatively late in development (several months into kindergarten), beyond when they are capable of making a semantic induction over a local sequence of numbers. Moreover, performance in Give-N10 was predicted by other task measures that assessed children's knowledge about the syntactic rules that govern numerals (such as counting fluency), demonstrating the validity of the measure. In Study 2, this association was tested again in monolingual Korean kindergarteners (5–6 years), as we aimed to test the same effect in a language with a highly regular numeral system. It replicated the association between Give-N10 performance and counting fluency, and it also demonstrated that Korean-speaking children understand the embedded structure of cardinal numbers earlier in the acquisition path than English-speaking peers, suggesting that regularity in numerical syntax facilitates the acquisition of generative properties of numbers. Based on these observations and our theoretical analysis of the literature, we propose that the syntax for building complex numerals, not the successor principle, represents a structural platform for numerical thinking in young children.
Clinical Outcomes of Acute Pancreatitis in Patients with Cirrhosis According to Liver Disease Severity Scores

Literature on acute pancreatitis (AP) outcomes in patients with cirrhosis is limited. We aim to investigate the mortality and morbidity of AP in patients with cirrhosis. We conducted a retrospective cohort study, and propensity score matching was done to match cirrhotic with non-cirrhotic patients on a 1:2 basis. Outcomes included inpatient mortality, organs failure, systemic inflammatory response syndrome, and length of hospital stay. We performed subgroup analysis of cirrhotics according to Child–Pugh and MELD scores. Multivariable logistic regression models were tested. From 819 AP patients, cirrhosis prevalence was 4.9% (40). There was no significant difference between cirrhotics and non-cirrhotics for inpatient mortality (7.5% vs. 1.3%, p = 0.1), severe AP (17.5% vs. 7.5%), shock (7.9% vs. 3%), respiratory failure (10% vs. 3.8%), need for intensive care unit (15% vs. 6.3%), systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) on admission (22.5% vs. 32.5%), and SIRS on day 2 (25% vs. 15%). Cirrhotics had similar rates of pancreatic necrosis, ileus, BISAP score, Marshall score, admission hematocrit, BUN, and hospital length of stay. Finally, cirrhotics who had severe AP, required ICU, and/or die in-hospital appeared to have more severe liver diseases (Child-C, higher MELD score > 17) and had lower AP severity scores (BISAP < 3, Marshall scores < 2). In our study, cirrhotics hospitalized with AP had similar morbidity and mortality when compared to non-cirrhotics.
APDS Task Force on Resident Transfers: Guidelines for Program Directors.

Objective Resident attrition from the field of General Surgery has been extensively studied. Attrition from one General Surgery program to the benefit of another has not. General Surgery programs can be negatively affected when a resident decides to leave the program for another. When a resident in a general surgery residency program decides to attempt transfer to another program several decisions must be made. The resident applies for the open position, interviews and then may be offered a position in that program. If an offer is made and the resident accepts, at what point is the resident's current Program Director notified? At what point in the process does the resident leave his/her current program to begin the new program? At what point does the new Program Director obtain a summative evaluation of the resident? Does the resident experience retribution as a result of informing his/her fellow residents and faculty that s/he is leaving? These are all questions that Program Directors struggle with when they find themselves with an unexpected opening to fill. The APDS Task Force on Resident Transfers attempted to answer these and other questions. Design A 19-question survey was distributed via the APDS to all General Surgery Program Directors who utilize the list serve. The survey asked questions related to the following: acceptable reasons for transfer; timeline for the application, interview and transfer process; retaliation against residents who chose to transfer; and transparency in the transfer process. Setting The survey was distributed via e-mail nationwide. Participants General Surgery Residency Program Directors are participated in the survey. Results The majority of the 99 respondents agreed to the following guidelines: (1) Program Directors must promote transparency in the transfer process; (2) Program Directors must make a statement against retaliation; (3) personal or family preference is the most acceptable reason for transfer; (4) an established transfer date must be agreeable to both programs; and, (5) a recruitment timeline should be established for both programs. All data are included below. Conclusions The reasons that a resident chooses to leave a program and the effect this has on the program and the other residents requires further study. Program Directors should educate residents about the transfer process and that procedure should be available as a written policy. When a resident desires transfer to another program, following these guidelines may make the transition easier for all involved. The APDS supports putting them into practice.
Treatment of feline gastrointestinal intermediate- or large-cell lymphoma with lomustine chemotherapy and 8 Gy abdominal cavity radiation therapy:

ObjectivesThe goal of this study was to document the outcomes and toxicity of a novel multimodality treatment protocol for feline gastrointestinal intermediate- or large-cell lymphoma (FGL) in whic...
The Qur’ānic Dialogue with the Mystical Theology of Logos in John’s Gospel

The Qur’ān, the “Holy Writ” of Islam, builds its rationale of revelation on the scriptural model of biblical tradition. Embracing direct divine intervention in worldly affairs as the first principle within the constrictions of monotheistic theology, the Qur’ān resurrects biblical purview of an intermediary agency linking the transcendent divine with the terrestrial human, which the author of John’s Gospel identifies as “Logos”. This article argues that the Qur’ānic conception of kalām-Allah, at a conceptual level, engages with John’s mystical theology of the divine origin of the Logos-incarnate and reinterprets the conception as well as its application. This cornerstone of John’s theology formulates a crucial basis for the Qur’ānic narrator’s self-reflection through both content and form of revelation as such. Biblical literature written prior to Johannine appropriation of Logos does not cohere with John’s mystical paradigm, which the Qur’ān, on the other hand, brings to a whole new level of theological maturation. The Qur’ān dialogues with John’s Gospel at multiple levels on the principal question of God’s personal interaction with humanity and presents its nuanced metaphysical construct in conversation with the Logos principle, but in distinction from John’s incarnation theology.
Factors Associated with COVID-Related Mortality: the Case of Texas.

Texas ranks 2nd in the count of COVID cases. Pre-existing disparities in healthcare may be intersecting with COVID-19 outcomes. To explore the relationship between county-level race/ethnic composition and COVID-19 mortality in the state of Texas and determine whether county-level health factors, healthcare access measures, and other demographic characteristics explain this relationship. This retrospective study uses county-level case and fatality data obtained from the Texas Department of State Health Services and merged with the 2020 Robert Wood Johnson foundation (RWJF) county health rankings data. The outcome variables were fatalities per 100,000 population. A two-part/hurdle model examined (1) the probability of having a COVID-19 fatality and (2) fatalities per 100,000 population in counties with 1+ fatalities. For both parts of the hurdle model, we examined the impacts of racial and ethnic composition, adjusting for county characteristics and health factors. The odds of having a COVID-19 fatality decreased with a unit increase in the rate of primary care physicians in a county (OR = 0.93; 95% CI = 0.89, 0.99). In the second part of the model, there was a statistically significant increase in COVID-19 fatalities/100,000 population with every 1 % increase in the proportion of Hispanics (β = 5.41; p = 0.03) and African Americans (β = 5.08; p value = 0.04). Counties with higher rates of minorities, specifically Hispanics and African Americans, have a higher COVID-19 fatality burden. Targeted interventions are needed to raise awareness of preventive measures in these communities.
Neural Network Training With Stochastic Hardware Models and Software Abstractions

Machine learning inference is of broad interest, increasingly in energy-constrained applications. However, platforms are often pushed to their energy limits, especially with deep learning models, which provide state-of-the-art inference performance but are also computationally intensive. This has motivated algorithmic co-design, where flexibility in the model and model parameters, derived from training, is exploited for hardware energy efficiency. This work extends a model-training algorithm referred to as Stochastic Data-Driven Hardware Resilience (S-DDHR) to enable statistical models of computations, amenable for energy/throughput aggressive hardware operating points as well as emerging variation-prone device technologies. S-DDHR itself extends the previous approach of DDHR by incorporating the statistical distribution of hardware variations for model-parameter learning, rather than a sample of the distributions. This is critical to developing accurate and composable abstractions of computations, to enable scalable hardware-generalized training, rather than hardware instance-by-instance training. S-DDHR is demonstrated and evaluated for a bit-scalable MRAM-based in-memory computing architecture, whose energy/throughput trade-offs explicitly motivate statistical computations. Using foundry data to model MRAM device variations, S-DDHR is shown to preserve high inference performance for benchmark datasets (MNIST, CIFAR-10, SVHN) as variation parameters are scaled to high levels, exhibiting less than 3.5% accuracy drop at $10 \times $ the nominal variation level.