cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrometry

Fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry (FAB/MS) is one of the most successful soft ionization methods for MS analysis of nonvolatile, thermolabile, polar organic compounds. The ionization occurs as a sputtering process caused by impact of the activated fast atom beam on the sample which is generally dissolved in a viscous liquid such as glycerol. The minimun amount of the sample to obtain a good spectrum is usually 0.1 to 1.0 μg and the mass spectrum lasts 10 to 30 minutes. The sophisticated mass spectral techniques such as MS/MS and HR/MS can be successfully adapted to the FAB ionization to analyze complicated organic mixtures as well as biological samples.The ionization source and the ionization process, types of liquid matrices and their roles, instruments, linked scan, HR/MS for FAB/MS and their applications for organic and biological research areas are discussed.
Effects of Level of Automation on Errors and Consistency in Two- and Three-Dimensional Anthropometry:

This study investigated some potential sources of error, and their consequences, across different types of anthropometric measurement methods. The measurement methods included use of traditional anthropometric instruments, as well as two versions of an electromechanical approach that recorded three-dimensional locations of body parts. Several errors were hypothesized to be from aspects related to human information processing and their interaction with differing methods. Measurements obtained with the traditional approach and two versions of the electromechanical approach were then compared for two experienced anthropometrists who each took 72 measurements on a cadaveric forearm while it was clothed and unclothed. ANOVA demonstrated that there were differences in measurement consistency between individuals, measurement methods and clothing conditions. This study was an initial attempt to investigate the potential sources of error within anthropometric measurements via focusing on the information presented ...
Pay, Productivity, and the Public Sector: The Case of Electrical Engineers

Much disagreement over the status of public pay arises from the comparisons made. governments compare equivalent jobs while economists compare equivalent workers. We pursue a compromise: we apply the economists' model of salary determination of statistically equivalent workers to a sample restricted to people in equivalent jobs-electrical engineers in the public and private sectors. We also explicitly consider the possibility that privatesector workers are more productive than comparable publicsector workers. We find that public-sector workers indeed may be less productive, but these differences do not explain the pay gap: public-sector workers still earn less than comparable workers in the private sector. Workers in the defense contracting sector also appear to be less productive than comparable workers in the nondefense private sector, but there are no pay differences between these sectors.
Death Penalty Moratorium: Fairness, Integrity at Stake - Speaking Out in Favor of the ABA's Position

The American Bar Association's call for a moratorium is consistent with the highest calling of the legal profession--the protection of the integrity and fairness of the justice system against the passions and prejudices of the moment. The call comes in response to undeniable evidence that innocent individuals are being sentenced to death, that the quality of legal representation for the poor is a disgrace, that race plays a decisive role in the sentencing decision in many cases, and that many of those condemned to die are mentally ill, mentally retarded, or were children at the time of the offense. Nevertheless, the courts are providing less process and less judicial review, facilitating swifter executions.Both the legal profession and the legal system are paying an enormous price for tolerating injustice in capital cases, and, at the very least, executions should be halted until the many deficiencies in the process identified by the ABA are corrected. As former Supreme Court Justice Lewis Powell observed after his retirement, the death penalty "brings discredit on the whole legal system."
347 DIFFERENTIAL ORGAN DEVELOPMENT BETWEEN DONOR AND RECIPIENT MONOCHORIONIC TWINS IN SUBACUTE AND CHRONIC PARABIOTIC TRANSFUSION.

The overall somatic effect of twin-to-twin transfusion in utero depends on the type and number of anastomoses and the gestational age at which the transfusional pathways become well established (Baldwin, 1994). The recipient twin is generally, but not always, larger, and its skin surface is duskier, with occasional edema. Histologic assessment of a dozen pairs of parabiotic twins and one set within quadruplets at autopsy, from 23 to 33 weeks of gestation, revealed visceral distinctions useful in understanding the comparative pathophysiology and in the designation as to donor or recipient in the event that the placenta is not available for study. Referent the recipient: (1) the diameter of the umbilical cord, including the fetal end, is greater; (2) the horizontal midventricular plane of the heart shows both chambers to be enlarged in a dilated heart; (3) hypertrophic glomeruli, more so those in the juxtamedullary zone, with maturation of glomerular tufts and Bowman9s epithelium; (4) advanced thyroid maturation, with gland enlargement and hypersecretory epithelium; and (5) hypertrophy of pancreatic islets and adrenal cortex. These differences are progressively more marked as gestation proceeds and are evidence of the relative partition of the fetal circulation between monchorionic donor and recipient twins. These findings also suggest a relative hypermetabolic state in the recipient that may serve to reinforce the circulatory misallocation, a factor in the often observed earlier demise of the recipient twin.
Raise the Innovation of Preventing Corruption Ability and Level——Shaanxi Founds the Basic Experience of Anti-rotten Warning Defense Line

It is helpful to found anti-rotten prevention warning defense line to practice innovation.Founding warning defense line has created the anti-rotten working content,channel and ways and construction of a clean and honest administration of Party conduct,has implemented anti-rotten strategic principle,enriches the practice of Party construction and strengthens official power.Warning defense line has carried out prevention corruption requirements;strategic demand satisfaction,working goal location and value orientation definite,main role plays,system mechanism design,practice measure option and horizontal ability promotion etc.The experience of creation and accumulation has important methodology enlightenment for raising preventing corruption level.
Orbital wall infarction in sickle cell disease: MR evaluation

Orbital wall infarction in a patient with sickle cell disease can present with periorbital swelling and subperiosteal collection and thus can mimic infection on CT. However, MR not only provides excellent morphologic information but, by characterizing the nature of the collection as containing blood, and by identifying bone marrow abnormality, can lead to the diagnosis of orbital wall infarction.
Performance characteristics of dedicated molecular breast imaging systems at low doses

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the system performance characteristics and lesion detection capability of two molecular breast imaging (MBI) systems: a multicrystal sodium iodide (NaI)-based single-head system and a cadmium zinc telluride (CZT)-based dual-head system at low administered doses (150–300 MBq) of Tc-99m sestamibi. Methods: System performance characteristics including count sensitivity, uniformity, energy resolution, and spatial resolution were measured using standard NEMA methods, or a modified version thereof in cases where the standard NEMA protocol could not be applied. A contrast-detail phantom with 48 lesions at varying depths from the collimator surface was used to assess lesion contrast-to-noise-ratio (CNR) using background count densities comparable to those observed in patient studies performed with administered doses of 150 MBq Tc-99m sestamibi. Lesions with CNR >3 were deemed to be detectable. Thirty patients undergoing MBI examinations with administered doses of 150–300 MBq were scanned for an additional view on the pixelated NaI system. CNR was calculated for lesions observed on patient images. Background count densities of patient images were measured and compared between the two systems. Results: Over the central field of view, integral and differential uniformity were 6.1% and 4.2%, respectively, for the pixelated NaI system, and 3.8% and 2.7%, respectively, for the CZT system. Count sensitivity was 10.8 kcts/min/MBq for the NaI system and 32.9 kcts/min/MBq for the CZT system. Energy resolution was 13.5% on the pixelated NaI system and 4.5% on the CZT system. Spatial resolution (full-width at half-maximum) for the pixelated NaI detector was 4.2 mm at a distance of 1.2 cm from the collimator and 5.2 mm at 3.1 cm. Spatial resolution of a single CZT detector was 2.9 mm at a distance of 1.2 cm from the collimator and 4.7 mm at 3.1 cm. Effective spatial resolution obtained with dual-head CZT was below 4.7 mm throughout a simulated breast thickness of 6 cm. From contrast-detail phantom images of lesions at distances of 1.5–4.5 cm from the collimator face, the CZT system detected 124 of 144 (86%) of lesions compared to 97 of 144 (67%) with the NaI system. In patient studies, from comparison of the same view with both systems, a total of 7 breast lesions were identified on CZT system in seven patients, and 4 of 7 (57%) were detected on NaI system. Patient image background count densities on the CZT system were on average 3.4 times higher than those on the NaI system. Conclusions: The CZT system demonstrated better uniformity, count sensitivity, spatial resolution, energy resolution, and lesion detection in phantom and patient studies compared to the NaI system. At administered doses of 150–300 MBq Tc-99m sestamibi, patient results obtained with CZT systems may not be directly translatable to NaI systems.
welcome to the moocspace: a proposed theory and taxonomy for massive open online courses

This paper describes a theoretical framework and feature taxonomy for MOOCs, with the goal of developing a shared language for researchers and designers. The theoretical framework characterizes MOOC design goals in terms of stances towards knowledge, the learner, and assessment practices, taking as a starting point the affordances of the Web and digital learning environments. The taxonomy encompasses features, course structures, and audiences. It can be mapped onto the theoretical framework, used by researchers to identify similar courses for cross-course comparisons, and by instructional designers to guide design decisions in different dimensions. Both the theory and the taxonomy are intended in the spirit of proposal, to be refined based on feedback from MOOC researchers, designers, and technologists.
Transforming curves on surfaces redux

Almost exactly 100 years ago, Max Dehn described the first combinatorial algorithm to determine whether two given cycles on a compact surface are homotopic, meaning one cycle can be continuously deformed into the other without leaving the surface. We describe a simple variant of Dehn's algorithm that runs in linear time, with no hidden dependence on the genus of the surface. Specifically, given two closed vertex-edge walks of length at most e in a combinatorial surface of complexity n, our algorithm determines whether the walks are homotopic in O(n + e) time. Our algorithm simplifies and corrects a similar algorithm of Dey and Guha [JCSS 1999] and simplifies the more recent algorithm of Lazarus and Rivaud [FOCS 2012], who identified a subtle flaw in Dey and Guha's results. Our algorithm combines components of these earlier algorithms, classical results in small cancellation theory by Gersten and Short [Inventiones 1990], and simple run-length encoding.
A view from the outside

Reactor safety is supported by qualitative evidence; more quantitative results are sought through the strengthening of systems evaluation, unremitting regulatory control and industrial incentives for greater safety
Glutathione protects against exogenous oxidant injury to rabbit renal proximal tubules

Glutathione, comprising a major portion of cellular nonprotein thiols, plays a central role in a diverse group of cell metabolic functions. Glutathione and related enzyme systems have been shown to protect against both toxin and oxidant-induced injury in several organ systems. The role of glutathione in protecting renal epithelia against oxidant stress has not been investigated previously. We report here the response of enriched, isolated rabbit renal proximal tubule segments to oxidant stress induced by tert-butyl hydroperoxide. In addition, the effects of glutathione depletion by various biochemical means and of exogenous glutathione supplementation on the response of tubule segments to tert-butyl hydroperoxide exposure are described. Depletion of cell glutathione by several distinct methods potentiates oxidant-induced injury. Augmentation of cellular glutathione affords significant protection against exogenous oxidant stress. The protective effect of glutathione may reside in its ability, in conjunction with glutathione peroxidase, to arrest the propagation of lipid peroxidation and, therefore, to minimize alterations in plasma membrane permeability. The results of this study do not exclude the possibility that glutathione prevents tert-butyl hydroperoxide induced oxidation of critical sulfhydryl groups of catalytic or structural proteins associated with control of cell cation homeostasis. These results confirm the important role of glutathione in protecting renal tubular epithelia against oxidant stress.
Deficiency of Neuropilin 2 Suppresses VEGF-Induced Retinal Neovascularization

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a central role in the development of ocular neovascularization (NV) and is an excellent target for therapeutic intervention. VEGF acts through several receptors, including VEGF receptor 1, VEGF receptor 2, neuropilin-1 (Npn1), and Npn2, but the exact role of these receptors in the development of retinal NV is unknown. In this study, we investigated the expression of npn2 mRNA during new blood vessel growth in the retina and used npn2 knockout mice to assess the impact of deficiency of Npn2 on retinal NV. The level of npn2 mRNA in the retina increased during retinal vascular development, after exposure to hyperoxia, and after the onset of retinal ischemia. Immunohistochemistry showed colocalization of Npn2 with a vascular marker in retinal NV. Compared with littermate controls, mice deficient in Npn2 had significantly less ischemia-induced retinal NV and very little subretinal NV due to expression of a Vegf transgene. These data suggest that Npn2 facilitates VEGF-induced retinal NV and may constitute a useful target for therapeutic intervention in ocular diseases complicated by NV.
Filter Inductor Design

A variety of factors constrain the design of a magnetic device. The peak flux density must not saturate the core. The peak ac flux density should also be sufficiently small, such that core losses are acceptably low. The wire size should be sufficiently small, to fit the required number of turns in the core window. Subject to this constraint, the wire cross-sectional area should be as large as possible, to minimize the winding dc resistance and copper loss. But if the wire is too thick, then unacceptable copper losses occur owing to the proximity effect. An air gap is needed when the device stores significant energy. But an air gap is undesirable in transformer applications. It should be apparent that, for a given magnetic device, some of these constraints are active while others are not significant.
Axl is required for TGF-β2-induced dormancy of prostate cancer cells in the bone marrow

Disseminated prostate cancer (PCa) cells in the marrow survive for years without evidence of proliferation, while maintaining the capacity to develop into metastatic lesions. These dormant disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) may reside in close proximity to osteoblasts, while expressing high levels of Axl, one of the tyrosine kinase receptors for growth arrest specific 6 (Gas6). Yet how Axl regulates DTC proliferation in marrow remains undefined. Here, we explored the impact of the loss of Axl in PCa cells (PC3 and DU145) on the induction of their dormancy when they are co-cultured with a pre-osteoblastic cell line, MC3T3-E1. MC3T3-E1 cells dramatically decrease the proliferation of PCa cells, however this suppressive effect of osteoblasts is significantly reduced by the reduction of Axl expression in PCa cells. Interestingly, expression of both TGF-β and its receptors were regulated by Axl expression in PCa cells, while specific blockade of TGF-β signaling limited the ability of the osteoblasts to induce dormancy of PCa cells. Finally, we found that both Gas6 and Axl are required for TGF-β2-mediated cell growth suppression. Taken together, these data suggest that a loop between the Gas6/Axl axis and TGF-β2 signaling plays a significant role in the induction of PCa cell dormancy.
Categorization of Near-Collision Close Calls Reported to the Aviation Safety Reporting System:

Close calls in aviation are frequent occurrences. Many reports have described encounters with unmanned aerial vehicles or conflicts due to increasingly congested airspace. The Aviation Safety Repor...
Audience to Evaluator: The Effect of Social Influence in Evaluation Processes

A primary goal of evaluation processes is to triangulate on the expected quality of a given candidate, good, or service (offering). Although anecdotal evidence suggests that evaluators are a small ...
The essential fatty acids.

Publisher Summary This chapter explains structural requirements, metabolism of action, and the role of the essential fatty acids. These acids are metabolized in ways common to other unsaturated fatty acids. In addition, the unsaturated acids possessing the 9, 12 double bond system (C18 acids) or the 11–14 double bond system (C20 acids) possesses special properties that are essential to the animal. Presumably, they function in esterified forms rather than as free fatty acids, and their essential roles may be determined by relative concentrations of phospholipids, glycerides, and sterol esters, which in turn seem to involve hormonal regulation. There is evidence to suggest that they are concerned, via phospholipids, in membrane integrity. This may be related to certain biochemical lesions that have been reported in connection with a deficiency of essential fatty acids in cases where membranes possess recognized biochemical activity, for example, in mitochondria. The essential fatty acids are the precursors of the prostaglandins, but the relationships of the latter to the classical deficiency symptoms is not certain and there is no evidence suggesting a relationship of this hormone family to the reported biochemical lesions of the deficiency.
AC signal characterization for optimization of a CMOS single-electron pump

Pumping single electrons at a set rate is being widely pursued as an electrical current standard. Semiconductor charge pumps have been pursued in a variety of modes, including single gate ratchet, a variety of 2-gate ratchet pumps, and 2-gate turnstiles. Whether pumping with one or two AC signals, lower error rates can result from better knowledge of the properties of the AC signal at the device. In this work, we operated a CMOS single-electron pump with a 2-gate ratchet style measurement and used the results to characterize and optimize our two AC signals. Fitting this data at various frequencies revealed both a difference in signal path length and attenuation between our two AC lines. Using this data, we corrected for the difference in signal path length and attenuation by applying an offset in both the phase and the amplitude at the signal generator. Operating the device as a turnstile while using the optimized parameters determined from the 2-gate ratchet measurement led to much flatter, more robust charge pumping plateaus. This method was useful in tuning our device up for optimal charge pumping, and may prove useful to the semiconductor quantum dot community to determine signal attenuation and path differences at the device.
Qualitative Neuromuscular Monitoring: Patterns of Stimulation, Site of Monitoring, and Accuracy in Detecting Residual Neuromuscular Blockade

Muscle paralysis is a component of many general anesthetics, and monitoring of neuromuscular function is integral to ensuring complete and safe recovery. Recommendations for qualitative neuromuscular blockade have been well-described in the literature for decades; however practitioners frequently do not follow recommendations, resulting in patient harm from inadequate reversal of paralysis. This review will focus on evidence-based techniques for patterns of stimulation, sites of monitoring, and accuracy in detecting residual neuromuscular blockade; furthermore, the review will also discuss barriers to implementation of best practices.
Development, Anatomy, and Physiology of the Pharynx

The pharynx plays an essential role in deglutition. It is a highly complex common cavity for swallowing and respiration and serves a vital function in the fundamental separation of food passage and air exchange. A thorough understanding of pharyngeal anatomy and physiology is essential to understand swallowing.
Expanding Patient Access to Investigational New Drugs: Overview of Intermediate and Widespread Treatment Investigational New Drugs, and Emergency Authorization in Public Health Emergencies.

Summary Individual patients with life-threatening or severely debilitating diseases can petition the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) through their physicians to have expanded access (EA) to drugs that are in clinical trials but have not reached full FDA approval (the “single-patient” investigational new drug [IND] application). Additionally, recent state and federal laws—so-called “right to try legislation”—allow patients to approach drug companies directly for access prior to FDA approval. While these pathways provide potential access for individual patients to investigational drugs, different EA pathways permit entire groups of certain patients to access investigational drugs prior to FDA approval. This review focuses on special categories of EA INDs intended for multiple patients—the intermediate-group IND and the widespread-treatment IND—as well as emergency authorization for use of investigational drugs and biological products (e.g., vaccines) in public health emergencies.
Special Population Consideration in ASD Identification and Treatment

This chapter discusses perspectives on ASD among females and racial and ethnic minority people: two populations where there continue to be troubling disparities in the diagnosis of ASD. The first portion of the chapter examines prevalence differences between males and females with ASD, and explores the biological and sociological reasons for these differences. The second part of the chapter more specifically examines racial and ethnic differences in ASD prevalence and hypothesized family, community, provider and system-level reasons for these disparities. The final section of this chapter discusses implications for practice and policy concerning autism care, advocacy, future research, and ethical issues. We conclude the chapter with a note from the editors that further illuminates why issues related to females and racial and ethnic minorities are important to include in the conversation on ASD and TSRD.
A System for Performance Porting of Iterative Structured Grid Applications in HPC Environments

This paper presents a system for the efficient implementation of cellular automata problems on heterogeneous HPC platforms, with separation of the numerical models developed by domain scientists from the low-level details that are typically handled by experienced programmers familiar with MPI+X programming models. We describe a framework designed to reduce development and maintenance time required for new applications, which can also be used to port existing applications to a new HPC environment. We demonstrate how to use the framework to implement cellular automata problems while highlighting the various differences in performance between framework-assisted and native implementations. The evaluation of the framework shows that the performance of application developed using the frame work is comparable to the same application optimized for a specific architecture.
Diabetes and obesity: part 1.

Perspectives on the News commentaries are now part of a new, free monthly CME activity. The Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York, is designating this activity for 2.0 AMA PRA Category 1 credits. If you wish to participate, review this article and visit www.diabetes.procampus.net to complete a posttest and receive a certificate. The Mount Sinai School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. This is the fourth in a series of articles based on presentations at the American Diabetes Association's 67th Scientific Sessions, 22–26 June 2007 in Chicago, discussing aspects of the interrelationships between diabetes and obesity. Gerald Reaven (Stanford, CA) argued that obesity is not synonymous with insulin resistance. Measuring the steady-state plasma glucose (SSPG) during infusion of glucose and insulin to characterize insulin sensitivity, there is a continuous distribution of levels with a six- to eightfold variation from least to most insulin sensitive in the apparently normal population. SSPG correlates with both waist circumference and BMI in men and women but, Reaven noted, with “enormous variability” (1), only explaining ∼25% of the variability in this measure. BMI and waist are similar in their power to identify individuals with abnormal SSPG, as well as in predicting abnormalities of glucose, triglyceride, HDL cholesterol, and other parameters associated with insulin resistance. A study of individuals of Malay, Chinese, and Indian ethnicity showed that metabolic syndrome frequently occurs without satisfying criteria for abdominal obesity (2), with metabolic syndrome similarly only being moderately associated with directly measured visceral fat. Furthermore, not all obese individuals have insulin resistance, and those obese individuals showing metabolic benefits of weight loss belong to the insulin-resistant subset in the lowest tertile of insulin sensitivity. Comparing adipocyte cell size distributions of insulin-resistant versus …
“It Helped a Lot to Go Over it”: Intimate Partner Violence Research Risks and Benefits from Participating in an 18-month Longitudinal Study

In conducting research with a vulnerable population, researchers must assure that benefits of research outweigh costs. The present study qualitatively examined intimate partner violence (IPV) survivors’ experiences of participating in an 18-month, longitudinal study of IPV screening and intervention within a primary healthcare setting. A structured interview was administered to 24 participants who completed their 18-month study interview and assessment. The structured interview queried changes made, safety risks during study participation, and advice for researchers. Most participants reported making positive changes in their lives during study participation, often partially attributing the changes to study participation. In particular, participants spoke to the importance of talking about the abuse with trusted others, gaining increased awareness and information about IPV and resources, and recognizing that they were capable of change. Feedback about the study experience was largely neutral or positive, with only one hypothetical safety worry raised. We conclude that the potential benefits to study participation outweigh potential costs. These findings suggest that research with IPV survivors can be designed to address IRB concerns about risks to participants and cost-benefit analyses of research participation.
Rude or shrewd? Reframing media devices as care structures and child use as accommodation

ABSTRACTCommunication research has traditionally defined its subject as language and the chief gratification of media use as the exchange of information between senders and receivers. However, info...
Circular-Like and Circular Elements in Free Product Banach $${*}$$-Algebras Induced by p-Adic Number Fields $$\mathbb {Q}_{ p}$$Q p Over Primes p

In this paper, we study weighted-circular, and circular elements in a certain free product Banach \(*\)-probability space \((\mathfrak {LS}\), \(\tau ^{0})\) induced by measurable functions on p-adic number fields \(\mathbb {Q}_{p},\) for primes p. To do that, we first construct-and-consider weighted-semicircular, and semicircular elements in \((\mathfrak {LS},\) \(\tau ^{0}) \). From our (weighted-)semicircular elements, we establish (weighted-)circular elements and study their free distributions by computing joint free moments of them and their adjoints. The circular law is re-characterized by joint free moments of our circular elements and their adjoints. More interestingly, our weighted-circularity dictated by p-adic analysis is fully characterized by weights of weighted-semicircular elements containing number-theoretic data obtained from fixed primes p.
Pediatric clinician perspectives on communicating diagnostic uncertainty.

Objective Diagnosis often evolves over time, involves uncertainty, and is vulnerable to errors. We examined pediatric clinicians' perspectives on communicating diagnostic uncertainty to patients' parents and how this occurs. Design We conducted semi-structured interviews, which were audiotaped, transcribed, and analyzed using content analysis. Two researchers independently coded transcripts and then discussed discrepancies to reach consensus. Setting A purposive sample of pediatric clinicians at two large academic medical institutions in Texas. Participants Twenty pediatric clinicians participated: 18 physicians, 2 nurse practitioners; 7 males, 13 females; 7 inpatient, 11 outpatient, and 2 practicing in mixed settings; with 0-16 years' experience post-residency. Intervention(s) None. Main outcome measure(s) Pediatric clinician perspectives on communication of diagnostic uncertainty. Results Pediatric clinicians commonly experienced diagnostic uncertainty and most were comfortable seeking help and discussing with colleagues. However, when communicating uncertainty to parents, clinicians used multiple considerations to adjust the degree to which they communicated. Considerations included parent characteristics (education, socioeconomic status, emotional response, and culture) and strength of parent-clinician relationships. Communication content included setting expectations, explaining the diagnostic process, discussing most relevant differentials, and providing reassurance. Responses to certain parent characteristics, however, were variable. For example, some clinicians were more open to discussing diagnostic uncertainty with more educated parents- others were less. Conclusions While pediatric clinicians are comfortable discussing diagnostic uncertainty with colleagues, how they communicate uncertainty to parents appears variable. Parent characteristics and parent-clinician relationships affect extent of communication and content discussed. Development and implementation of optimal strategies for managing and communicating diagnostic uncertainty can improve the diagnostic process.
Tropical cyclones and the organization of mangrove forests: a review.

Background Many mangrove ecosystems are periodically exposed to high velocity winds and surge from tropical cyclones, and often recover with time and continue to provide numerous societal benefits in the wake of storm events. Scope This review focuses on the drivers and disturbance mechanisms (visible and functional) that tropical cyclones of various intensities have on mangrove ecosystem properties around the world, as well as the potential ecosystem services role offered by mangroves along storm-ravaged coastlines. When viewed together, studies describe repeatable types of impact and a variety of responses of mangroves that make them ecologically resilient to high velocity winds, and which have served to advance the notion that mangroves are disturbance-adapted ecosystems. Conclusions Studies have documented massive tree mortality and forest structural shifts as well as high variability of spatial effects associated with proximity and direction of the tropical cyclone trajectory that influence biogeochemical processes, recovery of individual trees, and forest regeneration and succession. Mangroves provide coastal protection through surge and wind suppression during tropical cyclones, and yet are able to overcome wind effects and often recover unless some alternative environmental stress is at play (e.g. hydrological alteration or sedimentation). Structural elements of mangroves are influenced by the legacies imposed by past tropical cyclone injury, which affect their current appearance, and presumably their function, at any point in time. However, much is yet to be discovered about the importance of the effects of tropical cyclones on these fascinating botanical ecosystems, including the role of storm-based sediment subsidies, and much more effort will be needed to predict future recovery patterns as the frequency and intensity of tropical cyclones potentially change.
Decline in global transmission rates of COVID-19 through May 6 2020

Abstract We analyzed COVID-19 data through May 6th, 2020 using a partially observed Markov process. Our method uses a hybrid deterministic and stochastic formalism that allows for time variable transmission rates and detection probabilities. The model was fit using iterated particle filtering to case count and death count time series from 55 countries. We found evidence for a shrinking epidemic in 30 of the 55 examined countries. Of those 30 countries, 27 have significant evidence for subcritical transmission rates, although the decline in new cases is relatively slow compared to the initial growth rates. Generally, the transmission rates in Europe were lower than in the Americas and Asia. This suggests that global scale social distancing efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 are effective although they need to be strengthened in many regions and maintained in others to avoid further resurgence of COVID-19. The slow decline also suggests alternative strategies to control the virus are needed before social distancing efforts are partially relaxed.
Updated safety phase I trial of anti-LAG-3 alone and in combination with anti-PD-1 in patients with recurrent GBM.

2512Background: Preclinical GBM data targeting the checkpoint molecule Lag-3 have shown promising anti-tumor immune response with resultant improved survival when combined with anti-PD-1. Here we r...
Silverfish Lepisma saccharina Linnaeus (Insecta: Zygentoma: Lepismatidae)

Silverfish is a common name used to refer to many species in the order Zygentoma. The Entomological Society of America designates the term silverfish as the official common name to only one species, however: Lepisma saccharina Linnaeus. Lepisma saccharina is a pest in urban settings. It is a voracious feeder on materials high in starches, glue, and cellulose such as paper. Lepisma saccharina is a common pest in libraries and museums where paper books and labels are abundant. It can also be found outdoors under rocks, leaf litter, in caves, and in ant nests. Includes: Introduction - Distribution - Description - Life Stages and Biology - Hosts - Economic Importance - Survey and Detection - Management - Selected References.https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in1211 Also published at http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/URBAN/silverfish.HTM
European Imperialism and the Remaking of the World

Imperialism has its root in imperial: of an empire. Imperialism is the extension of a country’s power by acquisition—usually through force—of dependencies. Every epoch, every geographical region, every race, has witnessed—and engaged in—imperialism. However, no region has practiced imperialism with such dramatic consequences as a handful of Western European countries, sometimes called the Atlantic states (because they all faced the Atlantic), in the period stretching roughly from the 1450s to the end of World War II. During this four hundred-year period, all corners of the world were visited—and often assaulted. Colonies were established, given at least crude boundaries and some sort of administrative structure. More often than not, they were also encouraged or cajoled into participating in a desired economic activity, producing something of interest to their European masters and receiving goods in trade.
Provably Safe and Efficient Motion Planning with Uncertain Human Dynamics

Ensuring human safety without unnecessarily impacting task efficiency during human-robot interactive manipulation tasks is a critical challenge. In this work, we formally define human physical safety as collision avoidance or safe impact in the event of a collision. We developed a motion planner that theoretically guarantees safety, with a high probability, under the uncertainty in human dynamic models. Our two-pronged definition of safety is able to unlock the planner’s potential in finding efficient plans even when collision avoidance is nearly impossible. The improved efficiency is empirically demonstrated in both a simulated goal-reaching domain and a real-world robot-assisted dressing domain. We provide a unified view of two approaches to safe human-robot interaction: human-aware motion planners that use predictive human models and reactive controllers that compliantly handle collisions.
"Goodbye, My Friendcels": An Analysis of Incel Suicide Posts

While an increasing number of researchers, non-profit organizations, and law enforcement agencies have expressed growing concern about the relationship between involuntary celibates (i.e., incels) and violence, no research to date has examined the potential for suicide and self-harm among men who call themselves incels. This study examines suicide posts shared to incel sub-Reddits that were collected by u/IncelGraveyard (N=80). The posts reveal that the notes discuss six subordinate themes, including the method of their planned attempt, the ways they used the internet, the online incel community, failed alternatives and coping, the effects of their suicide on others, and the afterlife. These broad themes offer a new and unique perspective about incels’ experiences, perceptions, and coping strategies and add to the growing body of literature by highlighting the complexity of incel grievances. This study can inform future research and policy by encouraging gender-based and incel-specific treatment, reframing the incel discourse among researchers and mental health professionals, and arguing for a suicide prevention model to also prevent mass violence.
Risk factors for hyperthermia mortality among emergency department patients.

Abstract Purpose This study examines risk factors for heat-related mortality due to hyperthermia in emergency department patients, a vulnerable population. Methods This matched case-control study used statewide, longitudinally linked emergency department (ED) data and death records from California. Cases comprised California residents (≥18 years) who presented to a state-licensed ED and died of hyperthermia during the study period (2009–2012). For each case, up to five ED patients were randomly selected as live controls and matched on sex and age. Patients’ demographic characteristics and history of ED utilization for alcohol use, drug use, psychiatric disorders, heart-related conditions, chronic respiratory disease, neurodegenerative disorders, and cerebrovascular disease were assessed in relationship to hyperthermia mortality. Results Using multivariate conditional logistic regression models, hyperthermia mortality cases had higher odds of prior ED utilization for alcohol use (OR = 11.16, 95% CI = 3.87, 32.17) compared to controls. Cases were also more likely than controls to have Medicare insurance (OR = 5.80, 95% CI = 1.70, 15.15) or self-pay (OR = 5.39, 95% CI = 1.73, 16.79), at their most recent ED visit. Conclusions ED patients presenting with alcohol problems may face increased risk of hyperthermia mortality. To help reduce heat-related mortality, EDs should consider interventions that target patients vulnerable to heat exposure.
Fedoryuk’s Global Theory of Second-Order Equations

In Section 2.3 a general method for finding formal solutions was illustrated by applying it to the simple equation $$\in y\prime = \left( {\begin{array}{*{20}{c}} 0&1 \\ {a(x)}&0 \end{array}} \right)y,$$ (9.1-1) which is equivalent to the scalar equation ∈2un — a(x)u = 0. The result was the Liouville—Green approximation (2.3-24), which is the matrix form of $$u(x, \in ) = \left[ {{{(a(x))}^{ - 1/4}} + \cdots } \right]\exp \left\{ { \pm \frac{1}{ \in }\int {{{(a(x))}^{1/2}}dx} } \right\}.$$ (9.1-2)
Lifting the Veil: Drawing insights about design teams from a cognitively-inspired computational model

Novel design methodologies are often evaluated through studies involving human designers, but such studies can incur a high personnel cost. It can also be difficult to isolate the effects of specific team or individual characteristics. This work introduces the Cognitively-Inspired Simulated Annealing Teams (CISAT) modeling framework, a platform for efficiently simulating and analyzing human design teams. The framework models a number of empirically demonstrated cognitive phenomena, thus balancing simplicity and direct applicability. This paper discusses the model's composition, and demonstrates its utility through simulating human design teams in a cognitive study. Simulation results are compared directly to the results from human designers. The CISAT model is also used to identify the most beneficial characteristics in the cognitive study.
Trusting routers and relays in ad hoc networks

The current generation of ad hoc networks relies on other nodes in the network for routing information and for routing the packets. These networks are based on the fundamental assumption that the nodes will cooperate and not cheat. This assumption becomes invalid when the network nodes have tangential or contradictory goals. A novel method of enhancing routing strategies, and enhancing cooperation is to use "reputations" computed from peer recommendations. Reputation assignment and use cajole cooperation from the nodes in the network even if they do not share the same goal. This paper provides a mechanism that can use reputations in ad hoc network for trusting routers and relays. In addition, it enumerates the issues involved in using reputation in ad hoc networks. The simulations show that the throughput of the network increases by 0% - 71.6% when the neighbor reputations and shortest path are considered, for deciding the next hop. The throughput of the network improves from 3% to 143% when the next hop of the packet is decided using only reputations and ignoring the shortest path. The average hop length is the same irrespective of the fact that reputations are used.
Optimal Catheter Placement for Chemotherapy

Abstract This paper addresses the problem of optimal administration of chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of brain tumors by convection-enhanced drug delivery. The optimal catheter position is located by a novel optimization technique, which simultaneously maximizes drug concentration in the desired brain region, while ensuring that the final drug concentration does not fall below a therapeutically effective level or rise above the toxic threshold in non-treatment areas. A modified finite volume discretization method is used inside a nonlinear hybrid optimization algorithm. The distributed optimization problem with an embedded transport problem is solved on a coarse computational mesh, while searching for the optimal catheter position in a separate continuous coordinate system. In order to obtain continuous positional dependency of the objective function, two reference systems are used for solving the transport equations. The first analytical method projects the outflow from a specific catheter position inside the coarse finite volume cell onto its vertices. Once the cell face flux resulting from a specific continuous catheter positions are thus determined, the remaining two-dimensional transport problem is solved rigorously with a classical finite element method. A score function φ evaluates the match between the drug distributions achieved by a particular catheter placement with the therapy goals. Genetic inheritance adjusts the catheter locations to identify the globally optimal solution. Using the novel multi-scale algorithm, it is possible to optimize catheter placement and design, as well as to control drug distribution volume without the need for mesh refinement for different catheter positions.
Subunit Structure of δ-Aminolevulinate Dehydratase from Mouse Liver

Abstract δ-Aminolevulinate dehydratase purified from livers of Swiss Webster mice has a molecular weight of 250,000 by sedimentation-diffusion, gel filtration chromatography, and centrifugation in sucrose gradients. Each mole of enzyme can bind 6 moles of substrate as shown by reduction of the intermediate Schiff base with NaBH4. Denaturation with 6 m guanidine hydrochloride or sodium dodecyl sulfate in the presence of reducing agents dissociates the native enzyme into subunits of 39,500 molecular weight. No NH2-terminal amino acid can be detected after reaction with dansyl chloride. There are 14 arginine and 12 lysine residues per 39,500 g of δ-aminolevulinate dehydratase polypeptide. Hydrolysis with trypsin yields approximately 27 peptides, 14 of which contain arginine. All evidence is consistent with mouse liver δ-aminolevulinate dehydratase being composed of six identical polypeptide chains. Alleles at the levulinate locus control the level of hepatic δ-aminolevulinate dehydratase by regulating the rate at which the enzyme is synthesized. Combined isotopic and immunochemical techniques reveal no differences in the subunit composition, number of active sites, or pattern of tryptic peptides between δ-aminolevulinate dehydratase from inbred strains of mice homozygous for different alleles at the levulinate locus. These results provide additional evidence that mutations of the levulinate locus do not affect the primary structure of hepatic δ-aminolevulinate dehydratase.