cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Clinical observation of Livial on the treatment of perimenopause syndrome

Objective: To explore the curative effect of Livial on perimenopause syndrome.Methods: 160 patients with perimenopause syndrome were divided into two groups,the observation group were treated with 1.25～2.5mg Livial per day,and the control group with 1～2mg nilestriol at interval of 15 days.The climac-teric symptom,the emotional disorder,the urogenital tract symptom and the therapeutic effects were ob-served before and after treatment.Results: Many symptoms such as hot,sweating,the emotional disorder,colpoxerosis and dyspareunia were all improved during 3 months following treatment,there were 58 cases with marked effect(72.5%),21 cases with effective(26.25%),and 1 case with no-effect(1.25%) in the obser-vation group.In the control group cured 50 patients(62.5%),effectual 18 patients(22.5%)and ineffective 12 cases(15%).Conclusion: Livial is more effective than nilestriol for perimenopause syndrome.
An Age-Related Mechanism of Emotion Regulation: Regulating Sadness Promotes Children's Learning by Broadening Information Processing

Emotion regulation predicts positive academic outcomes like learning, but little is known about why. Effective emotion regulation likely promotes learning by broadening the scope of what may be attended to after an emotional event. One hundred twenty-six 6- to 13-year-olds' (54% boys) regulation of sadness was examined for changes in emotional experience, information processing, and memory for subsequent neutral information. Instructions to use specific strategies (distancing, positive reappraisal, rumination, or no strategy) predicted changes in sadness and happiness but did not predict information processing or memory. Effective regulation of sadness (regardless of instructions) predicted better memory through the indirect effect of broadened information processing but only for older children. Implications for emotion regulation processes in childhood are discussed.
Association of visual sensory function and higher-order visual processing skills with incident driving cessation.

Background Many studies on vision and driving cessation have relied on measures of sensory function, which are insensitive to the higher-order cognitive aspects of visual processing. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between traditional measures of visual sensory function and higher-order visual processing skills with incident driving cessation in a population-based sample of older drivers. Methods Two thousand licensed drivers aged 70 years or older were enrolled and followed for three years. Tests for central vision and visual processing were administered at baseline and included visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, sensitivity in the driving visual field, visual processing speed (useful field of view [UFOV] Subtest 2 and Trails B) and spatial ability measured by the Visual Closure Subtest of the Motor-free Visual Perception Test. Participants self-reported the month and year of driving cessation and provided a reason for cessation. Cox proportional hazards models were used to generate crude and adjusted hazard ratios with 95% confidence intervals between visual functioning characteristics and risk of driving cessation over a three-year period. Results During the study period, 164 participants stopped driving, which corresponds to a cumulative incidence of 8.5 per cent. Impaired contrast sensitivity, visual fields, visual processing speed (UFOV and Trails B) and spatial ability were significant risk factors for subsequent driving cessation after adjusting for age, gender, marital status, number of medical conditions and miles driven. Visual acuity impairment was not associated with driving cessation. Medical problems (63 per cent), specifically musculoskeletal and neurological problems, as well as visual problems (17 per cent) were cited most frequently as the reason for driving cessation. Conclusion Assessment of cognitive and visual functioning can provide useful information about subsequent risk of driving cessation among older drivers. In addition, a variety of factors, not just vision, influenced the decision to stop driving and may be amenable to intervention.
Characterizing Structural Performance of Unbound Pavement Materials Using Miniaturized Pressuremeter and California Bearing Ratio Tests

Comparative analyses were implemented between the miniaturized pressuremeter (MPMT) test and the California bearing ratio (CBR) test to assess the capability of the MPMT stress-strain data for predicting structural performance of unbound pavement layers. Fifty-four MPMT tests and 108 CBR tests were performed on both base and subgrade soils in Brevard County, Florida. These comparative analyses were conducted in two stages. First, statistical correlations were established by comparing MPMT parameters with structural coefficients and structural numbers obtained from CBR data and the corresponding correlations. The results indicated that initial elastic moduli and limit pressures from MPMT correlate well with structural coefficients and structural numbers. Comparing them with results reported by AASHTO validated the quality of the correlation models. Secondly, finite element analyses were carried out to predict CBR as a function of MPMT data reduced to the strain-level model. The elastic moduli from the MPMT strain level model were input into the finite element simulation. To capture actual soil behavior, six strain levels were utilized during numerical simulations. For base course materials, strain evaluation points were selected at the top, middle, and bottom of the layer. For subgrade soils, strain evaluation points were selected at the top of the subgrade, 15 cm and 30 cm below subgrade surface. The results indicate that strain level moduli at the top of the base course layers provide the best CBR estimation, with the ratio of finite element CBR to measured CBR equal to 0.91. The results of subgrade show that strain level moduli determined at the depth of 15 cm below subgrade surface yield the best CBR prediction. The ratio of finite element CBR to measured CBR was 1.00.
The Cambridge Introduction to Literature and Psychoanalysis: Literature and fantasy, toward a grammar of the subject

Following Hamlet’s structural indecision and strategic postponing, a psychoanalytic reading usually takes into account the time one needs to understand the riddle, a mystery postulated at the core of the text. As we have seen, Hamlet was more impatient than hesitant. So was Freud, especially when he seems to be going too fast in his reading of the famous play. This haste is inevitable for one main reason: literature implies a deferred temporality. This idea was first adumbrated by Freud when discussing short stories by Conrad Ferdinand Meyer, a prominent Swiss writer who also happened to be Wilhelm Fliess’s favorite author. Freud wanted to prove to his friend Fliess that one could analyze the “unconscious” not only of people but also of literary characters, thus, he would find illustrations of psychoanalytical concepts in popular fiction. He wrote to Fliess: “I am reading C. F. Meyer with great pleasure. In Gustav Adolf’s Page I found the idea of deferred action twice: in the famous passage you discovered, the one with the slumbering kiss, and in the episode involving the Jesuit, who insinuates himself as little Christine’s teacher” (LWF, p. 316). This very letter was to introduce a key concept for psychoanalysis.
Time series analysis of malaria in Afghanistan: using ARIMA models to predict future trends in incidence

Malaria remains endemic in Afghanistan. National control and prevention strategies would be greatly enhanced through a better ability to forecast future trends in disease incidence. It is, therefore, of interest to develop a predictive tool for malaria patterns based on the current passive and affordable surveillance system in this resource-limited region. This study employs data from Ministry of Public Health monthly reports from January 2005 to September 2015. Malaria incidence in Afghanistan was forecasted using autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) models in order to build a predictive tool for malaria surveillance. Environmental and climate data were incorporated to assess whether they improve predictive power of models. Two models were identified, each appropriate for different time horizons. For near-term forecasts, malaria incidence can be predicted based on the number of cases in the four previous months and 12 months prior (Model 1); for longer-term prediction, malaria incidence can be predicted using the rates 1 and 12 months prior (Model 2). Next, climate and environmental variables were incorporated to assess whether the predictive power of proposed models could be improved. Enhanced vegetation index was found to have increased the predictive accuracy of longer-term forecasts. Results indicate ARIMA models can be applied to forecast malaria patterns in Afghanistan, complementing current surveillance systems. The models provide a means to better understand malaria dynamics in a resource-limited context with minimal data input, yielding forecasts that can be used for public health planning at the national level.
What Happens When Threading is Suppressed in Blends of Ring and Linear Polymers

Self-diffusivity of a large tracer ring polymer, D r , immersed in a matrix of linear polymers with N l monomers each shows unusual length dependence. D r initially increases, and then decreases with increasing N l . To understand the relationship between the nonmonotonic variation in D r and threading by matrix chains, we perform equilibrium Monte Carlo simulations of ring-linear blends in which the uncrossability of ring and linear polymer contours is switched on (non-crossing), or artificially turned off (crossing). The D r ≈ 6 . 2 × 10 − 7 N l 2 / 3 obtained from the crossing simulations, provides an upper bound for the D r obtained for the regular, non-crossing simulations. The center-of-mass mean-squared displacement ( g 3 ( t ) ) curves for the crossing simulations are consistent with the Rouse model; we find g 3 ( t ) = 6 D r t . Analysis of the polymer structure indicates that the smaller matrix chains are able to infiltrate the space occupied by the ring probe more effectively, which is dynamically manifested as a larger frictional drag per ring monomer.
FATE OF COLIFORMS IN YOGURT, BUTTERMILK, SOUR CREAM, AND COTTAGE CHEESE DURING REFRIGERATED STORAGE1

Aerobacter (Enterobacter) aerogenes and Escherichia coli were inoculated separately into commercially produced samples of yogurt, buttermilk, sour cream, and cottage cheese. Inoculated products were stored at 7.2 C and were tested daily for up to 10 days to determine changes in numbers of coliforms and in pH values. The number of viable coliforms in yogurt declined dramatically and was markedly different from the initial value after only 24 hr of storage. Usually, survival of coliforms in yogurt did not exceed 3 days of holding. In buttermilk, most often a marked decline in numbers of coliforms was evident after 24 hr of storage. A substantial reduction in numbers (>50% of organisms present initially) of A. aerogenes B199 occurred in sour cream during the first 24 hr of storage, but a similar decline in numbers of E. coli and A. aerogenes FD was not evident until after 3 days of storage. Changes in numbers of E. coli and A. aerogenes in cottage cheese generally were not as rapid as in other products durin...
High speed pulsatile operation of miniature oxygen electrodes.

This investigation has been an in vitro study of pulsatile amperometric techniques suitable for application in blood and tissue. Parameters of the study were selected to enhance spatial resolution, to obtain a faster time response to reveal changes in p02 within the cardiac cycle, and for low electrode O2 consumption. Faster time response may provide new physiological information for possible future application in a research or clinical setting.
Poultry Litter Placement Effects on Cotton Seedling Emergence and Early Growth

Interest in using poultry litter (PL) as a nutrient source for row crop production has increased in the southeastern United States. Poultry litter is generally broadcasted on the soil surface. This practice exposes N to volatilization and P to loss with surface water runoff, which potentially negatively impacts the environment. Placing PL in narrow bands below the soil surface has been shown to reduce such losses and improve crop yield, but the influence of band placement on seedling emergence and growth is not well understood. A glasshouse experiment was conducted with a Marvyn loamy sand to determine the effects of PL placement on emergence and early growth of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). Poultry litter placement was compared with ammonium sulfate (AS); both were applied at a rate of 112 kg N ha–¹. The PL and AS treatments consisted of surface broadcasting, banding 5 cm below or to the side of seed, seeding directly in bands, and an unfertilized control. Banding 5 cm to the side of seeds produced emergence rates, plant biomass, leaf area, leaf chlorophyll content, and root morphological parameters similar to those of the control and surface broadcast treatments for cotton fertilized with AS and PL. However, seeds placed directly in PL or AS bands had the lowest emergence rate and growth parameters. Therefore, banding PL 5 cm or more to the side of seeds may be an effective fertilizer management strategy for cotton production.
Quantitative imaging of bone–cartilage interactions in ACL-injured patients with PET–MRI

Summary Objective To investigate changes in bone metabolism by positron emission tomography (PET), as well as spatial relationships between bone metabolism and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) quantitative markers of early cartilage degradation, in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)-reconstructed knees. Design Both knees of 15 participants with unilateral reconstructed ACL tears and unaffected contralateral knees were scanned using a simultaneous 3.0T PET–MRI system following injection of 18 F-sodium fluoride ( 18 F-NaF). The maximum pixel standardized uptake value (SUV max ) in the subchondral bone and the average T 2 relaxation time in cartilage were measured in each knee in eight knee compartments. We tested differences in SUV max and cartilage T 2 relaxation times between the ACL-injured knee and the contralateral control knee as well as spatial relationships between these bone and cartilage changes. Results Significantly increased subchondral bone 18 F-NaF SUV max and cartilage T 2 times were observed in the ACL-reconstructed knees (median [inter-quartile-range (IQR)]: 5.0 [5.8], 36.8 [3.6] ms) compared to the contralateral knees (median [IQR]: 1.9 [1.4], 34.4 [3.8] ms). A spatial relationship between the two markers was also seen. Using the contralateral knee as a control, we observed a significant correlation of r = 0.59 between the difference in subchondral bone SUV max (between injured and contralateral knees) and the adjacent cartilage T 2 (between the two knees) [ P r = 0.73, slope = 0.60 ms/a.u.) of cartilage compared to superficial layers ( r = 0.40, slope = 0.43 ms/a.u.). Conclusions 18 F-NaF PET–MR imaging enables detection of increased subchondral bone metabolism in ACL-reconstructed knees and may serve as an important marker of early osteoarthritis (OA) progression. Spatial relationships observed between early OA changes across bone and cartilage support the need to study whole-joint disease mechanisms in OA.
I Want to Be a Mathematician: An Automathography. By Paul R. Halmos

(1987). I Want to Be a Mathematician: An Automathography. By Paul R. Halmos. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 94, No. 7, pp. 700-702.
Single Synaptic Observation of Cholinergic Neurotransmission on Living Neurons: Concentration and Dynamics

Acetylcholine, the first neurotransmitter identified more than a century ago, plays critical roles in human activities and health; however, its synaptic concentration dynamics have remained unknown. Here, we demonstrate the in situ simultaneous measurements of synaptic cholinergic transmitter concentration and release dynamics. We used nanoscale electroanalytical methods: nanoITIES electrode of 15 nm in radius and nanoresolved scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM). Time-resolved in situ measurements unveiled information on synaptic acetylcholine concentration and release dynamics of living Aplysia neurons. The measuring technique enabled the quantitative sensing of acetylcholine with negligible interference of other ionic and redox-active species. We measured cholinergic transmitter concentrations very close to the synapse, with values as high as 2.4 mM. We observed diverse synaptic transmitter concentration dynamics consisting of singlet, doublet and multiplet events with a signal-to-noise ratio of ...
Signal Transduction in Biological Membranes

Information processing is the key to the biology of learning and adaptation. Receptors are essential components of such cognitive systems. However, it should be emphasized that receptors per se have no intrinsic function; i.e., as with facts, they cannot speak for themselves. To be functional, receptors must be incorporated into systems that process or transduce the incoming signals. On the other hand, to the extent that their removal results in loss of information processing, receptors are the key to the phenomenon known as habituation or desensitization, i.e., the waning of information processing observed on repeated signal input.
The Effects of Antioxidants on the Induction of Malignant Transformation in Vitro

There is now much evidence to suggest that free radicals play a role in malignant transformation. Several of the agents which suppress malignant transformation in vivo and in vitro may do so by inhibiting free radical reactions, either by prevention of free radical induction/formation (presumably, the action of protease inhibitors) or by the detoxification of free radicals through a variety of mechanisms. The agents we’ve studied which have effects on radiation induced transformation in vitro and are known to have a role in free radical detoxifying reactions include: catalase, superoxide dismutase, selenium, vitamin E, dimethylsulfoxide and several copper containing compounds such as CuDIPS (Cu II) (3,5-diisopropyl-salicylate2), cuprous chloride and cupric chloride.
Optimization of Signal-to-Noise Ratio in Linear Systems

Useful, deterministic signals passing through various transmission devices often acquire extraneous random components due to, say, thermal noise in conducting materials, radio clutter or aurora borealis magnetic field fluctuations in the atmosphere, or deliberate jamming in warfare. If there exists some prior information about the nature of the original useful signal and the contaminating random noise, it is possible to devise algorithms to improve the relative power of the useful component of the signal, or, in other words, to increase the signal-to-noise ratio of the signal, by passing it through a filter designed for the purpose. In this short chapter we give a few examples of such designs just to show how the previously introduced techniques of analysis of random signals can be applied in this context.
Plasma catecholamines in hypertension and pheochromocytoma determined using ion-pair reversed-phase chromatography with amperometric detection: investigation of the separation mechanism and clinical methodology.

Abstract The retention behavior of catecholamines (CAs) in ion-pair reversed-phase chromatography is examined. From the effect of pH, ionic strength and a secondary ion-pairing reagent (citric acid), under our chromatographic conditions, the retention behavior can be explained by assuming a mixed ion-exchange mechanism with octyl sulfate and citrate, on the column and in the mobile phase, respectively. The developed separation method was applied to the analysis of CAs in plasma samples purified by alumina adsorption and detectd amperometrically. This method provides the basis for the determination of the short-term magnitude of CA response to physical and physiological interventions, as well as the baseline CA levels in essential hypertension and pheochromocytoma. The results seen for norepinephrine and epinephrine are consistent with the functional roles of these CAs as hormones or peripheral transmitters.
Substrate modulation of cultured rabbit conjunctival epithelial cell differentiation and morphology.

This study demonstrated that growth and differentiation of rabbit conjunctival epithelial cells could be promoted by such substrata as collagen gel, matrigel or various mixtures of collagen and matrigel in a defined culture system. On conventional plastic or glass culture, the conjunctival epithelial cells adopted a monolayer of small epithelioid cells in primary culture. They became enlarged, squamoid and exhibited notable senescence upon subcultures. On collagen gel, cells formed an organized monolayer sheet with cuboid shape and cell polarity. On matrigel, cells formed globules with stratified appearance including the basal layer of the outer part of globule and the squamoid cells of the central part of globule. The epithelial origin of these cultures was verified by the positive immunostaining of anti-keratin monoclonal antibodies. Expression of mucin antigen was lost on plastic or glass culture, but promoted on collagen gel or matrigel, as demonstrated by staining with periodic acid Schiff's reagent and anti-mucin monoclonal antibody stainings. These results indicate that both collagen gel and matrigel can provide a permissive substrate environment for goblet cell differentiation. Furthermore, this unique phenotypic expression may be possessed only by a selective cell subpopulation. This culture system will allow us to further explore the mechanism by which the goblet cell differentiation is controlled. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 29:1565-1576,1988 The ocular surface is covered by corneal and conjunctival epithelia. Conjunctiva contains mucin-producing goblet cells of which differentiation and function are crucial for ocular surface integrity. Conjunctival epithelial cell proliferation and differentiation can be altered by a number of ocular surface diseases, resulting in squamous metaplasia, 1 ' 2 manifested by mucin deficiency secondary to goblet cell loss and keratinization. In order to investigate the pathogenesis of squamous metaplasia, we have to understand normal conjunctival epithelial cell differentiation, especially for goblet cell differentiation. The development of an in vitro culture system for rabbit conjunctival epithelial cells would be important in this regard. Previously, researchers have found that growth and differentiation of epithelial cells are limited when conventional plastic or glass substra
Metrics for risk determination in large-scale distributed systems maintenance

When dealing with the maintenance and upgrade of a large geographically distributed computer system, project management must address how to assess the risks involved in delivering, on time and within budget a system that meets its goals. Assessment and management of risks is an essential activity in project management. By collecting and continuously monitoring measurement data (metrics), management can gain insight into the project status and plan for contingencies to keep the project on track. The primary goal of our research, as described in this dissertation, is to examine the maintenance phase in upgrades of COTS-based widely geographically distributed systems, and to develop and analyze metrics to predict risks that could affect successful project completion. A focus of our research is on the utility of information theory-based metrics to measure this risk. To our knowledge, information-theoretic metrics have never before been examined on a COTS-based distributed system undergoing maintenance. Another focus of our research is predicting the behavior of future upgrades. Our analysis of systems status is performed using in information from an inventory database—few studies have previously been performed in this area, which thus yields an extra dimension to this research. The two primary areas we examine in our research are Maintenance Phase Behavior Analysis, in which we compare and predict behavior in different environments, and Maintenance Phase Risk Assessment, using both simple inventory-based metrics and information theory-based metrics. The data we examine in our studies is maintenance/inventory data that was collected during a massive nationwide computer upgrade by a very large United States government agency for the year 2000 (Y2K) effort. Based on the results of our research, it is possible to predict the behavior of upgrades in one kind of hardware/software environment using information collected in a different hardware/software environment, when the labor and scheduling assumptions are the same. Also, using our metrics it is possible to identify risks during the course of the maintenance project so that management can allocate resources to mitigate those risks. Due to the large scale of this research, the results of our analysis have great significance.
Solving Problems: Perchance to Dream

Those who teach mathematical modeling (or even general problem solving involving “story problems”) universally recognize the difficulty in teaching the subject. Part of the difficulty is that students have no idea how difficult problems are actually solved. Instead, they are given procedures to follow, techniques to apply, and reports to be written. With hard problems, however, defined as those for which common procedures and techniques do not work, creative exploration is required - and the avenue to creative thought and unpredictable insight often takes an unanticipated path through dreams. To sleep: perchance to dream … (Hamlet, Act iii Scene 1)
Compatibilization Improves Performance of Biodegradable Biopolymer Composites Without Affecting UV Weathering Characteristics

With growing interest in the use of eco-friendly composite materials, biodegradable polymers and composites from renewable resources are gaining popularity for use in commercial applications. However, the long-term performance of these composites and the effect of compatibilization on their weathering characteristics are unknown. In this study, five types of biodegradable biopolymer/wood fiber (WF) composites were compatibilized with maleic anhydride (MA), and the effect of accelerated UV weathering on their performance was evaluated against composites without MA and neat biopolymers. The composite samples were prepared with 30 wt% wood fiber and one of the five biodegradable biobased polymer: poly(lactic) acid (PLA), polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV), Bioflex (PLA blend), or Solanyl (starch based). Neat and composite samples were UV weathered for 2000 h (hours), and characterized for morphological, physical, thermal, and mechanical properties before and after weathering. Compared to composites without MA, composites containing MA grafted polymers exhibited improved properties due to increased interfacial adhesion between the fiber and matrix. Upon accelerated weathering, thermal and mechanical properties of 70% of the samples substantially decreased. Surfaces of all the samples were roughened, and drastic color changes were observed. Water absorption of all the samples increased after weathering exposure. Even though the compatibilization is shown to improve composite properties before weathering, it did not affect weathering of samples, as there were no considerable differences in properties exhibited by the composites with MA and without MA after weathering. The results suggest that compatibilization improves properties of biodegradable biobased composites without affecting its UV degradation properties.
Avoiding Trouble: Exploring Environmental Risk Information Avoidance Intentions.:

This study explores predictors of risk information avoidance intentions in the context of a novel environmental threat—induced earthquakes in Texas. Given the paucity of research on risk informatio...
The Garveyite Influence: The African, 1944–1946

There was a strong Garveyite influence on the African from October 1944 to December 1946; the two editors were Garveyites, Amy Jacques Garvey’s articles were published more consistently, Victoria Johnson Schaack began contributing articles and the Garvey family portrait graced the cover of the September 1946 issue. The militancy of the African was amplified, which resulted in its ban in the Congo and the women’s contribution was observed heavily. This chapter explores the articles of the African from October 1944 to December 1946 while highlighting the Garveyite influences. The primary themes during this period were self-government, progress, women’s contributions, and the glorious African past.
Differential Expression of Plasma Metabolites in Patients with Pulmonary Sarcoidosis is Associated with Clinical Behavior

Introduction: We hypothesized that a comprehensive metabolomic analysis of plasma from sarcoid patients (pts) would identify potential biomarkers of disease severity. Methods & Results: This study is a cross-sectional analysis of sarcoid pts seen at our Center between February 2003 and July 2014. Plasma from 60 pulmonary sarcoid patients and 40 aged-matched donor controls were tested (Table 1) was subjected to metabolomic profiling (Metabolon) for 893 known biochemicals. Following normalization to volume extracted, log transformation and imputation of missing values, if any, with the minimum observed value for each compound, ANOVA contrasts and Welch’s two-sample t-test were used to identify biochemicals that differed significantly between experimental groups. Differential expression of chemicals that were decreased in sarcoid included steroids, but notably not prednisone, which is consistent with steroid treatment and adrenal suppression. Differential expression of chemicals that were increased in sarcoid mapped to amino acid metabolism. In sarcoid pts only, based on Pearson correlations, one amino acid, N-acetylthreonine, was associated with FVC (R=−0.38, P Conclusion: Metabolomics profiling for biomarker discovery in sarcoid is feasible, and candidate biomarkers should be prioritized for further testing.
Learning and Evaluating General Linguistic Intelligence.

We define general linguistic intelligence as the ability to reuse previously acquired knowledge about a language's lexicon, syntax, semantics, and pragmatic conventions to adapt to new tasks quickly. Using this definition, we analyze state-of-the-art natural language understanding models and conduct an extensive empirical investigation to evaluate them against these criteria through a series of experiments that assess the task-independence of the knowledge being acquired by the learning process. In addition to task performance, we propose a new evaluation metric based on an online encoding of the test data that quantifies how quickly an existing agent (model) learns a new task. Our results show that while the field has made impressive progress in terms of model architectures that generalize to many tasks, these models still require a lot of in-domain training examples (e.g., for fine tuning, training task-specific modules), and are prone to catastrophic forgetting. Moreover, we find that far from solving general tasks (e.g., document question answering), our models are overfitting to the quirks of particular datasets (e.g., SQuAD). We discuss missing components and conjecture on how to make progress toward general linguistic intelligence.
An analysis of Chinese lacquerwares from the Bugry cemetery (Altay Krai, Russia) in the State Hermitage Museum

Chinese lacquerware from Barrow 1 of the Bugry cemetery (late third century BC) in Altay Krai (Russia) features surviving paint fragments that allow for a comparative description of lacquer compositions and to reconstruct the object type. This article presents the results of the study of the characteristics of the paints and the technologies used in producing the colorings in the lacquer. Methods used includes optical microscopy, cross-section, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry (FTIR), and X-ray analysis. Object fragments allowed the reconstruction of the type of objects and comparative studies of lacquer composition. Differential thermal analysis (DTA) detected specific differences in thermal degradation of the lacquer films in the range 700 °C that clearly reflect the structure of the paint of each artifact. The multilayer coatings of the lacquer fragments were made by a special technology using a natural material that is derived from the Sap of the Chinese lacquer tree. The base material is a biopolymer of urushiol, a mixture of pyrocatechols contained in the Sap of lacquer tree (Rhus verniciflua; Chinese qi shu 漆树, English qi-lacquer, Japanese urushi). Comparison of the suite of physico-chemical analyses shows some differences with the compositions of the lacquer objects from the Noyon uul Barrows, but they also show similarities in chemical composition between the even earlier archaeological coating lacquers from the Bugry Barrows with lacquer artifacts from the burial Pazyryk in the Altai region.
Solution-Processed Angle-Insensitive Structural Colors via Electrodeposition of Thin-Films

Applications of structural-colors has been limited due to their high fabrication cost. Here, we introduce an electrodeposition-process for the fabrication of structural-colors at ambient conditions, thereby avoiding the need for vacuum-based systems.
The composition and structure of Enceladus' plume from the complete set of Cassini UVIS occultation observations

Abstract Observations acquired at ultraviolet wavelengths are uniquely well-suited to investigate the composition and structure of Enceladus' plume. This paper describes the observations, analysis techniques and results of all the Enceladus occultations observed by Cassini's Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph (UVIS) and other observations designed to study the plume. Limits on gas at non-polar latitudes are derived. Constraints on the minor constituents' composition of Enceladus' primarily water vapor plume are evaluated. The overall source rate variability over a time span of 13 years is
Increasing use of positron emission tomography among medicare beneficiaries undergoing radical cystectomy.

OBJECTIVE To examine factors associated with PET scan use in the pre-operative evaluation of patients diagnosed with bladder cancer. METHODS Using SEER-Medicare data, we identified bladder cancer patients who underwent radical cystectomy from 2006 to 2011 (n = 4,138). The primary outcome was PET scan use within 6 months before surgery. To examine predictors of PET scan use, we fit a mixed logit model with health service area as a random effect to account for patients nested within health service areas. We also calculated the adjusted probability of use over time and examined variation among the highest volume surgeons. RESULTS Among the 4,138 patients, 406 (10%) received a pre-operative PET scan. The adjusted probability of a patient undergoing a PET scan increased from 0.04 in 2004 to 0.10 in 2011 (p < .001). Among the 78 highest volume surgeons, there was significant variation in PET scan use (p < .001). Patients with non-urothelial histology, measurement of alkaline phosphatase levels, and receipt of neoadjuvant chemotherapy were more likely to receive PET scan (all p < .05). CONCLUSION Use of PET prior to radical cystectomy doubled over a 5-year period, suggesting its increased use in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer, particularly those with high-risk disease. Whether its use is warranted and improves patient outcomes is not clear and requires further studies.
Impact of Physician-Patient Language Concordance on Patient Outcomes and Adherence to Clinical Chest Pain Recommendations.

Objectives The objective was to evaluate if there is an association between patient-physician language concordance and adverse patient outcomes or physician adherence to clinical recommendations for emergency department (ED) patients with chest pain. Methods We conducted a retrospective observational study of adult ED chest pain encounters with a troponin order from May 2016 to September 2017 across 15 community EDs. Outcomes were 30-day acute myocardial infarction or all-cause mortality, hospital admission/observation, or noninvasive cardiac testing. To assess patient outcomes, we used the overall cohort. To assess adherence to clinical recommendations, we used a subgroup of patients with a low-risk HEART score. A mixed-effects logistic regression model was used to compare the odds of the outcomes between language concordant and discordant patient-physician pairs, controlling for patient characteristics. Results Overall, 52,014 ED encounters were included (10,791 low-risk HEART encounters). Of those 6,452 (12.4%) encounters were language discordant and 1.7% in each group had an adverse outcome. Adjusted models demonstrated no increased risk for language discordant ED encounters when comparing adverse outcomes (odds ratio [OR] = 0.96, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.6 to 1.5) for all patients or recommended care (OR = 1.02, 95% CI = 0.87 to 1.2) for low-risk patients. Conclusions No associations were found between patient-physician language concordance and outcomes or physician adherence to clinical recommendations for ED patients with chest pain. Accessible and effective interpretation services, combined with a decision support tool with standard clinical recommendations, may have contributed to equitable care.
The effects of highways on school segregation

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of interstate highway building on school segregation in US cities. The simple ordinary least squares (OLS) model might suffer from endogeneity bias and therefore an instrumental variables (IV) model is employed to account for endogeneity of highway routes. Dissimilarity and interaction indices are used to measure segregation and the results of the OLS and IV models indicate that school segregation increased due to the additions to the highway system. The estimates suggest that highways can explain 7–10% of the variation in school segregation. El proposito de este articulo es investigar los efectos de la construccion de carreteras interestatales en la segregacion escolar en las ciudades de EE.UU.. El modelo simple de minimos cuadrados ordinarios (MCO) podria verse afectado por un sesgo de endogeneidad, por lo que se empleo un modelo de variables instrumentales (VI) con el que poder tener en cuenta la endogeneidad de las rutas por carretera. Para medir la segregacion se utilizaron indices de disimilitud e interaccion y los resultados de los modelos de MCO y de VI indican que la segregacion escolar aumento debido a las adiciones a la red de carreteras. Las estimaciones sugieren que las carreteras pueden explicar entre el 7 y el 10% de la variacion de la segregacion escolar. 本稿では、米国の都市における州間高速道路建設の分離教育(school segregation)に対する影響を検討する。シンプルな最小2乗回帰(OLS)モデルは内生性のバイアスを受ける可能性があるため、高速道路のルートの内生性に対処するために操作変数(IV)モデルを採用する。非類似性指数と相互作用指数を用いて分離度を測定し、OLSモデルおよびIVモデルの結果から、高速道路システムへの追加により教育の分離度が増加していることが指摘される。推定から、分離教育における変化の7~10%は高速道路によるものであることが示唆される。
The Effect of Ambient Pressure on Blast Reflected Impulse and Overpressure

Reflected blast pressure and impulse for bare 226.8 g spherical C-4 charges under various atmospheric pressure conditions were studied both experimentally and numerically. Blast pressure measurements were conducted using an array of high resonant frequency tourmaline-based piezoelectric pressure transducers to record normally reflected blast pressure histories at a 61 cm standoff. The explosive detonation and pressure measurements were conducted inside a pressure vessel which allowed the ambient pressure surrounding the C-4 charge to be varied. The recorded pressure histories were analyzed for blast wave arrival time, peak reflected overpressure, and positive phase impulse. The numerical analysis of blast pressures under varying ambient conditions was conducted using an axi-symmetric Arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian (ALE) finite element technique with LS-DYNA. Numerical predictions were carried out for a 61 cm standoff that allowed direct comparison to the measured data. Additionally, the ALE simulations considered the effects of ambient pressure on blast impulse for varying standoff distances in the range of 12.7 to 61 cm. At a 61 cm standoff, measured peak reflected pressures showed no significant effect of varying ambient pressure while normally reflected impulses increased with increasing ambient pressure. Predictions by LS-DYNA for standoffs less than 61 cm showed a decreasing effect of ambient pressure on the normally reflected impulse as the standoff distance decreased. For small standoff distances it was predicted that the effects of ambient air pressure on normally reflected impulse were not significant. As the standoff distance between the explosive charge and the reflecting structure increases, higher ambient air pressures did cause a significant increase in reflected impulse.
Gastroscopic balloon dilation of duodenal stenosis in children

Objective To explore the efficacies of gastroscopic balloon dilation in the treatment of pediatric duodenal stenosis.Methods Four patients with duodenal stenosis from January 2012 to December 2012 were retrospectively analyzed.Duodenum was dilated by balloon under gastroscopy.Such complications as bleeding and intestinal perforation were observed.And the follow-up studies included clinical symptoms,dietary and growth (weight & height),follow-up gastroscopy and iodine water angiography.Results The diameters of duodenal diaphragm hole expanded from 12 to 16 mm.And neither retraction nor obstruction was observed during follow-up.All of them had a normal diet without vomiting or bloating.And their growth and development were similar to those of other sameage children.Conclusions Gastroscopic balloon dilation is an effective non-invasive treatment for pediatric duodenal stenosis patients. Key words: Endoscopes; Balloon dilatation; Duodenum
Epileptogenic Network Formation

Epilepsy is characterized by specific alterations in network organization. The main parameters at the basis of epileptogenic network formation are alterations of cortical thickness, development of pathologic hubs, modification of hub distribution, and white matter alterations. The effect is a reinforcement of brain connectivity in both the epileptogenic zone and the propagation zone. Moreover, the epileptogenic network is characterized by some specific neurophysiologic biomarkers that evidence the tendency of the network itself to shift from an interictal state to an ictal one. The recognition of these features is crucial in planning epilepsy surgery.
Surgical Portosystemic Shunts: History, Evolution, and Current Applications

Mechanical obstruction, thrombus, intrinsic liver disease causing fibrosis or cirrhosis, or an outflow obstruction at the level of the sinusoids or hepatic venous obstruction can cause an increase in pressure or resistance, or both, leading to portal hypertension (PH). Portosystemic shunts (PSS) are usually performed to relieve the congestion that inevitably occurs in the setting of PH. Since their introduction, surgical PSS were often the treatment of choice to prevent recurrent bleeding in patients with clinically significant PH. Development of novel pharmacological therapies, continuous improvement of endoscopic approaches, the introduction of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt, and advancements in transplantation has provided an evolution in the approach for PH and has precipitated the steady decrease in the proportion of patients needing surgical shunts. Despite this, PSS remain important tools in the surgeon's armamentarium, as they are often employed in the pediatric population with extrahepatic portal vein obstruction and are frequently being used for portal inflow modulation to achieve better portal hemodynamics in resections and transplantation. This has become of great relevance to decrease the risk of small-for-size syndrome and portal hyperperfusion in liver transplantation, and to decrease the risk of posthepatectomy liver dysfunction after major resections in hepatobiliary surgery.
Boosting Feature Matching Accuracy With Pairwise Affine Estimation

Local image feature matching lies in the heart of many computer vision applications. Achieving high matching accuracy is challenging when significant geometric difference exists between the source and target images. The traditional matching pipeline addresses the geometric difference by introducing the concept of support region. Around each feature point, the support region defines a neighboring area characterized by estimated attributes like scale, orientation, affine shape, etc. To correctly assign support region is not an easy job, especially when each feature is processed individually. In this article, we propose to estimate the relative affine transformation for every pair of to-be-compared features. This “tailored” measurement of geometric difference is more precise and helps improve the matching accuracy. Our pipeline can be incorporated into most existing 2D local image feature detectors and descriptors. We comprehensively evaluate its performance with various experiments on a diversified selection of benchmark datasets. The results show that the majority of tested detectors/descriptors gain additional matching accuracy with proposed pipeline.
Analytical Method to Estimate Railroad Spike Fastener Stress

Previous research indicates that spike fastener fatigue failures have led to at least ten derailments since 2000. Given that railroads continue to install fastening systems that have experienced sp...
Potassium Trajectories prior to Dialysis and Mortality following Dialysis Initiation in Patients with Advanced CKD.

Introduction: Patients with advanced non-dialysis-dependent CKD (NDD-CKD) have a reduced ability for maintaining plasma potassium ( K) in normal range. Deviation from normal plasma K ranges is associated with increased mortality; however, the average trajectory of plasma K over time in patients with advanced NDD-CKD and the outcomes associated with plasma K trajectory are unknown. Methods: We identified 34,167 US veterans with advanced NDD-CKD transitioning to dialysis between October 2007 and March 2015 with at least 1 K measurement each year over a 3-year period prior to dialysis transition (3-year prelude). The K trajectory defined as the change in K (slope) per year over the entire 3-year prelude was estimated using linear mixed-effects models. The association between unadjusted (crude) K slope (categorized as stable [−0.09 to 0.09 mEq/L/year], decreasing [≤−0.10 mEq/L/year], and increasing [≥0.10 mEq/L/year]) and time to all-cause and cardiovascular mortality during the 6 months following dialysis initiation was assessed using multivariable-adjusted survival models. Results: The crude and multivariable-adjusted K slopes (mean, 95% CI) over the 3-year prelude were 0.008 (0.0059, 0.0110) and −0.15 mEq/L/year (−0.19, −0.11), respectively. Decreasing K slope was associated with higher multivariable-adjusted risk of all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [95% CI] vs. stable K slope: 1.08 [1.00–1.17]). No association was observed between K slope and cardiovascular mortality. Discussion/Conclusion: The average intraindividual plasma K trajectory is remarkably stable in patients with advanced NDD-CKD. A decreasing K slope is associated with higher all-cause mortality risk.