cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An Efficient Implementation of RSA Digital Signature Algorithm

RSA is the most widely used digital signature algorithm in e-commerce and the complexity of large integer operation is the main factor that affects the efficiency of a RSA system. In this paper, a n carry array based large integer denotation approach is proposed to speed up the large integer calculation in RSA key generation and data encryption/decryption process, so as to improve the efficiency of a RSA system. The RSA digital signature algorithm and its mathematic foundation are discussed in detail and the feasibility of RSA algorithm is proved. An integrated large integer library is built by using C++ and the implementations of Miller-Rabin, extended Euclid and Montgomery algorithms for complex numeric operations in RSA are given.
Enhanced primary tumor delineation in pancreatic adenocarcinoma using ultrasmall super paramagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle-ferumoxytol: an initial experience with histopathologic correlation.

PURPOSE To evaluate the role of ferumoxytol-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in delineating primary pancreatic tumors in patients undergoing preoperative neoadjuvant therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS Eight patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma were enrolled in this study, and underwent MRI scans at baseline, immediate post, and at the 48 hour time point after ferumoxytol injection with quantitative T2* sequences. The patients were categorized into two groups; group A received preoperative neoadjuvant therapy and group B did not. The T2* of the primary pancreatic tumor and adjacent parenchyma was recorded at baseline and the 48 hour time point. After surgery, the primary tumors were assessed histopathologically for fibrosis and inflammation. RESULTS The mean T2* of the primary tumor and adjacent parenchyma at 48 hours in group A were 22.11 ms and 16.34 ms, respectively; in group B, these values were 23.96 ms and 23.26 ms, respectively. The T2* difference between the tumor and adjacent parenchyma in group A was more pronounced compared to in group B. The tumor margins were subjectively more distinct in group A compared to group B. Histopathologic evaluation showed a rim of dense fibrosis with atrophic acini at the periphery of the lesion in group A. Conversely, intact tumor cells/glands were present at the periphery of the tumor in group B. CONCLUSION Ferumoxytol-enhanced MRI scans in patients receiving preoperative neoadjuvant therapy may offer enhanced primary tumor delineation, contributing towards achieving disease-free margin at the time of surgery, and thus improving the prognosis of pancreatic carcinomas.
Study of photodegradation in II-VI heterostructures using n-i-n photoconductors

In this work, photo-degradation in ZnSe/Zn 0.67 Cd 0.33 Se multiple quantum well (MQW) structures was studied using photoluminescence of undoped structures and photocurrent of n-i-n photoconductors. The photoluminescence measurements were performed with respect to sample temperature, pump power and pump wavelength. The dependence of the measured photo-degradation from optical pumping on each of these parameters was quantified. To further understand this problem, n-i-n photoconductors were fabricated from these materials. Using these photoconductors, the formation of non-radiative recombination sites was monitored using standard photocurrent experiments. Moreover, the photocurrent generated was investigated as a function of applied voltage and excitation wavelength. The magnitude of the photocurrent decayed in a similar fashion to the photoluminescence measurements. Furthermore, n-i-n photoconductors fabricated from bulk material, as opposed to MQW structures, showed no evidence of photo-degradation. This implies that the photo- degradation is due to the interaction of the two constituent material systems.
Fate of methanol in an anaerobic digester

This paper mill was concerned with the anaerobic biodegradability of methanol, its by-products and the potential for gas stripping the system. A series of laboratory-scale experiments were conducted to evaluate the fate of methanol during anaerobic treatment. According to our research result, more than 99% of methanol contained in the condensate was biodegraded during anaerobic digestion. From an anaerobic digester batch test, the second order bio-degradation rate constant,k b2 , was estimated to range from 3.97×10−3 m3/g·day (when only condensate was fed) to 4.06×l0−2 m3/g·day (when condensate was fed at a proposed rate). The by-products from methanol degradation such as acetaldehyde, and methyl ethyl ketone, were degraded completely in 32 hours. Since the anaerobic treatment process has a retention time of 5 days, condensate by-products are believed to be completely biodegraded. The introduction of condensate into the existing anaerobic pretreatment process appears to improve the treatment efficiency, leading to a more stable anaerobic treatment as well as a reduced sludge generation in the aerobic wastewater treatment process due to the reduced organic loading.
Decentralized Coordination Processes

This project reveals trends in algorithm strategy which will help to optimize the performance of independent agents in coordinated decision making problems. The software test bed constructed for this purpose models a problem consisting of independent agents which must coordinate, in the absence of communication, to achieve a common goal. The only decision making tool provided, in this scenario, is an algorithm designed to help the agents make independent decisions which will ultimately be useful in achieving the goal of the group. This project was motivated by desire to investigate the potential application of coordinated decision making algorithms to robotic surveillance missions on Mars. Thus, the problem formulation is comprised of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) that have a common goal of target acquisition. We designed, implemented and tested several algorithms for success at achieving this goal. Results of this testing reveal that the impact of centralized control on algorithm performance is negligible compared to the benefits of added complexity and intelligence in coordination algorithms. This conclusion is promising for the application of coordinated decision making algorithms to robotic surveillance missions.
Stopping power measurements with the Time-of-Flight (ToF) technique

In our review of measurements of the stopping power of ions in matter is presented along with new measurements of the stopping powers of O, Si, Ti, and Au ions in self-supporting thin foils of SiO2, Nb2O5, and Ta2O5. Moreover, a Time-of-Flight system at the Ion Beam Materials Laboratory at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, was used in transmission geometry in order to reduce experimental uncertainties. Finally, the resulting stopping powers show good precision and accuracy and corroborate previously quoted values in the literature. New stopping data are determined.
Cross-Link Formation at the Head-Tail Junction of Mammalian Spermatozoa During Aging is Dependent on Sperm Motility

A high percentage of the heads of mouse, hamster, and rabbit spermatozoa were detached from their tails by vortexing a suspension of spermatozoa that had been incubated with dithiothreitol (DTT), a sulfhydryl reagent. Similar treatment of spermatozoa that had been aged under physiologic conditions for several hours and were still motile before reaction with DDT gave a much lower percentage of head detachment. This stabilization of the sperm head-tail junction developed only if spermatozoa were motile during aging. n-Butylamine also induced head detachment of mouse spermatozoa. Motile and immotile mouse spermatozoa became resistant to n-butylamine when aged in physiologic medium and buffer, respectively. However, stabilization developed much faster if spermatozoa were motile. Stabilization of the head-tail junction of motile spermatozoa to the reagents occurred over the time periods required for capacitation and the development of hyperactivated motility. Development of resistance to the two reagents may b...
AFLP analysis of a worldwide collection of Didymella bryoniae

Didymella bryoniae (anamorph Phoma cucurbitacearum) is an ascomycete that causes gummy stem blight, a foliar disease that occurs on cucurbits in greenhouses and fields throughout the world. In a previous study using RAPD analysis, little genetic diversity was found among isolates of D. bryoniae from New York and South Carolina, USA. Here we report the use of amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis to assess the genetic variation within a worldwide collection of D. bryoniae. 102 field and greenhouse isolates from ten states in the USA (California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas) and seven other countries (Australia, Canada, China, Greece, Israel, Sweden, and The Netherlands) were examined. Seven different AFLP primer-pair combinations generated 450 bands, of which 134 were polymorphic (30%). Using cluster analysis, two groups and a total of seven subgroups were delineated. Representative isolates varied in their virulence on muskmelon and watermelon seedlings, but the degree of virulence was not strongly associated with AFLP groupings. However, isolates from the northern USA grouped separately from isolates originating from the southern USA.
DC bus grounding capacitance optimizatio for common-mode EMI minimization

This paper analyzes the effects of dc bus grounding capacitance on the input common-mode (CM) electromagnetic interference (EMI) currents in three-phase motor drive systems using uncontrolled or PWM rectifier as the front end. The dc bus grounding capacitance considered includes the parasitic capacitance of the bus bar and semiconductor devices, as well as capacitors that are purposely added between both positive and negative bus bars to the ground. Simple CM EMI models are presented for both cases to provide a basis for analysis. The dc bus grounding capacitance is shown to decrease the input CM current with diode rectifier as the front end. With a PWM rectifier as the front end, however, the dc bus grounding capacitance is shown to increase the CM current generated by the rectifier while decreasing the CM currents generated by the inverter. The bus grounding capacitance can be optimized to minimize the overall CM current emission from the motor drive systems. In both cases, large grounding capacitance may lead to CM resonance that adds to CM current emission and many manifest itself into a low-frequency power quality problem. Experimental measurements are presented to support the analyses.
A scalable, modular, multi-stage, peristaltic, electrostatic gas micro-pump

This paper presents a new high-density, scalable, peristaltic gas micropump, fabricated using a high-yield and modular technology. Previously our group introduced the first peristaltic electrostatic gas micropump, utilizing fluidic resonance and multi-stage configuration, which achieved the highest pressure and flow at the lowest power ever reported for a gas micropump. The micropump reported here utilizes the same operating principle, but with major modifications in device structure, architecture, fabrication technology, and pump assembly and packaging. The new pump is significantly more space efficient than the previous design and can be fabricated on one single sided silicon wafer and assembled modularly (in parts), providing much greater testing and characterization capabilities at different points in the process, as well as a significantly higher yield and better control over critical pump parameters.
Regeneration ecology of sugar maple (Acer saccharum): seedling survival in relation to nutrition, site factors, and damage by insects and pathogens

The possible regeneration failure of sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) as part of their decline has been not well explored using field studies. We sought to clarify the roles of maternal effects ...
On quadratic optimization in distributed parameter systems

Systems described by parabolic partial differential equations are formulated as ordinary differential equations in a Hilbert space. Quadratic cost criteria are then formulated as inner products on this Hilbert space. Existence of an optimal control is proved both in the case where the system operator is "coercive" and in the case where the system operator is the infinitesimal generator of a semigroup of operators. The optimal control is given by a linear state feedback law in which the feedback operator is shown to be the bounded positive self-adjoint solution of a nonlinear operator equation of the Riccati type.
Heterogeneity in venous disease practice patterns amongst primary healthcare practitioners

IntroductionThis study aimed to describe the practice patterns of primary healthcare practitioners who diagnose and manage venous disease to determine differences in clinical evaluation of disease, recognition of venous ulcers, and referral patterns.MethodsA survey was distributed at the August 2011 Primary Care Medical Conference (Pri-Med) in Baltimore, Maryland. Pri-med is a medical education company that caters to the continued professional development needs of a variety of physicians.ResultsA total of 305 surveys were completed. Of the respondents, 91% were physicians and 9% were advanced level practitioners. In all, 93% prescribed compression stockings as first-line treatment. Heterogeneous referral patterns were reported with 81% referring to vascular surgery, 25% to a vein clinic, 10% to interventional radiology, and 3% to interventional cardiology. Up to 35% responded that they met resistance (did not have their referral accepted) when attempting referral to a vascular surgery colleague. There was...
Conscious thought does not guide moment-to-moment actions-it serves social and cultural functions.

Humans enjoy a private, mental life that is richer and more vivid than that of any other animal. Yet as central as the conscious experience is to human life, numerous disciplines have long struggled to explain it. The present paper reviews the latest theories and evidence from psychology that addresses what conscious thought is and how it affects human behavior. We suggest that conscious thought adapts human behavior to life in complex society and culture. First, we review research challenging the common notion that conscious thought directly guides and controls action. Second, we present an alternative view—that conscious thought processes actions and events that are typically removed from the here and now, and that it indirectly shapes action to favor culturally adaptive responses. Third, we summarize recent empirical work on conscious thought, which generally supports this alternative view. We see conscious thought as the place where the unconscious mind assembles ideas so as to reach new conclusions about how best to behave, or what outcomes to pursue or avoid. Rather than directly controlling action, conscious thought provides the input from these kinds of mental simulations to the executive. Conscious thought offers insights about the past and future, socially shared information, and cultural rules. Without it, the complex forms of social and cultural coordination that define human life would not be possible.
The War On Fraud: Reducing Cheating In The Classroom

The purpose of this article is to alert and inform the reader of the rampant amount of fraud (cheating) that is taking place in the classrooms across the country and to provide some measures that can be employed to reduce the likelihood of it happening in your classroom. Cheating is analyzed and diagnosed utilizing the components of the fraud triangle (pressure, opportunity, and rationalization). Activities to promote ethical behavior and making it more difficult to rationalize cheating are proposed. Strategies for reducing the opportunity to cheat are also included. “In the broadest sense, fraud can encompass any crime for gain that uses deception as its principal modus operandi” (Wells, 2005)
Change of Rings

In the discussions of the preceding chapters, the ring has stayed fixed. It has been arbitrary, but unvarying. That is about to change; we shall now be concerned with what happens when certain modifications are made to a ring. The three structural operations addressed later are the formation of matrix rings, polynomial rings, and localizations. There are some generalities to the theory, however, and they not only form a backdrop for change of rings, they also ease computations for specific rings.
A Brief Report of the Status of Central Nervous System Metastasis Enrollment Criteria for Advanced Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer Clinical Trials: A Review of the ClinicalTrials.gov Trial Registry

Abstract Introduction Central nervous system (CNS) metastases are common in non – small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), yet clinical trials of new drugs in advanced NSCLC have varying inclusion and exclusion criteria for CNS disease. The true extent of variation in CNS - related enrollment criteria in NSCLC clinical trials has not been documented. Methods We performed a systematic search of the ClinicalTrials.gov website to characterize interventional drug trials enrolling adult patients with advanced NSCLC. Results Of 413 open trials, 78 (19%) strictly excluded patients with leptomeningeal disease (LMD). Separate from LMD, patients with any history of CNS metastases were strictly excluded in 59 trials (14%), allowed after local treatment in 169 (41%), and allowed with no prior treatment in 106 (26%). No explicit mention of CNS disease was made in 79 trials (19%). In multivariate analysis looking at trial phase, location, sponsor, and treatment type, only sponsor was statistically significant, with pharmaceutical industry-sponsored trials having higher odds of excluding patients with brain metastases than did university or investigator-initiated trials (OR = 2.262, 95% confidence interval: 1.063–4.808, p = 0.0342) Conclusions With 14% to 19% of trials excluding any history of LMD or CNS parenchymal metastatic disease and 41% of trials permitting CNS disease only after prior CNS-directed treatment, direct evidence of activity of a treatment on CNS disease cannot be reliably generated in most NSCLC trials. Given the high frequency of CNS disease in NSCLC and only sponsor being associated with specific CNS exclusion criteria, sponsors should consider tailoring trial designs to explore CNS benefit more explicitly.
African American Parent–Son Sexual Communication Among a College Sample

Purpose To investigate whether reports of parent–child sexual communication (PCSC) varied by parental gender, education and living environments among African American adolescent and young male students attending a historically black university (n=146). Design and Methods Using secondary data a paired t-test was used to determine mean differences for PCSC by gender. Factorial ANOVA was calculated to examine the interaction between PCSC and living environment. Results Overall African American mothers were significantly more likely to engage in PCSC with their sons than African American fathers ( t (68)=4.143, p t (137)=−2.295, p =0.023). No significant difference in PCSC by parental educational level was found. Conclusion Findings from this research suggest that African American mothers continue to be the primary conversant in PCSC with their sons. Additional research is needed to understand the role that living environment (urban vs. suburban) plays in the father PCSC process. Practice Implications PCSC can play an important role in reducing adolescent sexual risk behaviors. Nurses should encourage and support PCSC among African American parents and their adolescent and young adult sons.
The Genus Uranotaenia Lynch Arribalzaga in Puerto Rico

The discovery of Uranotaenia cooki Root in Puerto Rico has made it desirable to restudy all stages of the three local species of Uranotaenia . Uranotaenia Lynch Arribalzaga (1891) is such a well-defined genus that a number of authorities such as Dyar (2) and Neveu-Lemaire (8) have felt justified in making it the type genus of a distinct tribe Uranotaeniini in the subfamily Culicinae.
Energetic costs of producing muscle work and force in a cyclical human bouncing task.

Muscles expend energy to perform active work during locomotion, but they may also expend significant energy to produce force, for example when tendons perform much of the work passively. The relati...
Abstract 4611: Growth inhibitory effects of lapatinib on letrozole resistant breast cancer cells via HER2-AIB1-ERα crosstalk

Aromatase inhibitors (AI), such as letrozole, provide effective endocrine therapy for estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancers, but not all patients respond to AIs and those that do may become resistant. Thus, it is clinically important to determine the factors and signaling mechanisms involved in AI resistance and provide potential therapeutic strategies to overcome and/or prevent it. Previous work from this laboratory comparing long-term letrozole treated MCF-7Ca breast cancer (LTLTCa) cells resistant to growth inhibition by letrozole with their parental letrozole-sensitive MCF-7Ca cells, indicated that AI resistance involves a switch from estrogen (E 2 )-ERα dependent to HER2/MAPK pathway-dependent growth and that inhibition of HER2/MAPK pathway signaling via trastuzumab can restore ERα levels and letrozole sensitivity. We observed that the upregulation of HER2 is through protein stabilization and not gene amplification. This current study further investigates the factors and mechanism(s) involved in letrozole resistance in LTLTCa cells, specifically steroid receptor coactivator Amplified in Breast Cancer-1 (AIB1/SRC-3). AIB1 is often overexpressed in breast cancer cells, is associated with poor prognosis, and has been linked with both E 2 -ERα and HER2 signaling. Indeed, western blot analyses showed that LTLTCa cells have 2.8-fold higher AIB1 protein levels than MCF-7Ca cells (p Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4611.
Cladistic analysis of zoogeography and polyploid evolution in the stinkbug genus Banasa Stal (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae).

Three chromosomal cytotypes occur in the stinkbug genus Banasa Stal, 2n = 14, 2n = 16, and 2n = 26. The 14-chromosome lineage, represented by species occurring in the lowland tropics of Guyana and Amazonia, is proposed as plesiomorphic. An aneuploid 16-chromosome lineage invaded the lowland tropics of the Caribbean region and, subsequently, derivatives of this lineage spread into North America. A polyploid lineage, derived from the 14-chromosome karyotype, has come to occupy high elevational habitats in the equatorial region and temperate latitudes in both the northern and southern hemispheres. Polyploidy, rather than being an evolutionary dead end, seems to have led to an expansion and radiation of these insects.
Tatian and his Discourse to the Greeks

To one who is familiar with the New Testament and the writings of the Apostolic Fathers, Tatian's Discourse to the Greeks comes as quite a surprise. Supposedly an apology for Christianity, there is within it not one mention of Christ or Christianity (at least, not in these terms). Other familiar words such as “Jesus,” “Lord,” “Church,” “Savior,” “salvation,” etc., are also absent. Except for a passing reference to “the God who suffered” (15, 5–6), and the unqualified statement that “God was born in the form of a man” (23, 6), one might overlook altogether the fact that Tatian was a Churchman.
Extended Release of Native Drug Conjugated in Polyketal Microparticles.

Polyketals, which can be biodegradable, have good biocompatibility, and are pH-sensitive, could have broad applicability in drug delivery and other biomedical applications. However, facile synthesis of high molecular weight polyketals is challenging, and short durations of drug release from polyketal particulate formulations limit their application in drug delivery. Here we report the synthesis of a di-isopropenyl ether monomer and its use to synthesize high molecular weight estradiol-polyketal conjugates by addition polymerization. Microparticles were prepared from the estradiol-polyketal conjugate, where estradiol was incorporated into the polymer backbone. The particles had high drug loading and significantly prolonged drug release. Release of estradiol from the drug-polyketal conjugate microparticles was acid-responsive, as evidenced by faster drug release at low pH and with co-incorporation of PLGA. Tissue reaction to the microparticles was benign in vivo. Polyketal drug conjugates are promising cand...
Metallurgical Applications of Ion Implantation

Ion implantation can be used to produce atomic mixtures of controlled composition, independent of thermodynamic constraints, and to introduce lattice damage at rates exceeding 1 dpa/sec. These unique capabilities are being exploited for the study of intermetallic alloys in two different temperature regimes. At lower temperatures, where atomic mobilities are nil, the technique is being used to investigate new metastable phases. These have included substitutional solid solutions of immiscible elements, amorphous alloys, and improved superconductors of nonequilibrium compositions. At higher temperatures, where appreciable atomic diffusion occurs over experimental times, implantation is being employed to study equilibrium alloys. Previously unavailable information about phase diagrams and diffusion rates has been obtained at much lower temperatures and in complex alloy systems.
Sedimentary Sequence and Landform Development in the Kotoh Plain in the Ohmi Basin, Central Japan:

The author studied the alluvial lowland in the lower reaches of the Hino and the Echi Rivers, to clarify landform development of the Kotoh plain to the east shore of Lake Biwa, central Japan, during the middle and late Pleistocene.Four major litho-stratigraphic units (A-D) and five tephra layers (Sakate, AT, DNP, hpm2, Ng-1) were detected from standard penetration test samples of Kominami borehole site cores from the lower reaches of the Hino River. Judging from the facies of the borehole samples and a geological cross-section through the Kominami site in the lower reaches of the Hino and the Echi Rivers, coarse sediments were deposited at least 4 or 5 times during the last 300 ka and the distribution of gravel deposits was much larger especially during the period from ca. 80 to 27 ka than at present. The appearance and shrinkage of the area where gravels were deposited seem to be related to interglacial-glacial or the interstadial-stadial cycles.
White attitudes about descriptive representation in the US: the roles of identity, discrimination, and linked fate

ABSTRACTMany white Americans feel that whites are discriminated against, identify as white, and feel a sense of linked fate with whites. Scholars have studied these psychological connections to one's racial group among nonwhites, but little attention in political science has been given to how they operate among whites. However, changing social, demographic, and electoral patterns point to inevitable challenges to their traditional status and power. This study examines the extent to which these psychological connections to whites as a group exist and shape how whites feel about descriptive representation. Using a nationally representative survey, it finds that identifying as white, thinking whites are discriminated against, and seeing one's fate as tied to the fate of whites overall are common and make it more likely that whites will say it is important to have a political candidate who is white. These findings reveal a striking similarity in how whites and nonwhites form attitudes about descriptive repres...
A Systems Engineering Approach to Restoring Kidney Structure and Function

The pathogenesis of kidney disease and injury is complex, as are the multiple functions that the kidney performs and the microenvironment characteristics within the organ. It should not be surprising that engineering solutions to the treatment of these conditions have been extremely difficult to develop, unlike the situation in the heart, where multiple technologies play significant roles in reducing mortality and morbidity. Transplantation is by far the best solution for end-stage renal failure, giving much better outcomes than chronic hemodialysis. The bioartificial kidney has been very difficult to develop to the point where it can be clinically and commercially successful, while attempts at kidney tissue engineering are still in their infancy. This chapter reviews the engineering challenges that are faced in the search for alternative therapies, which are much needed in the light of continuing donor organ shortages, and attempts to bring a systems engineering approach to these problems.
The Dependence on the New Venture on CVC and IVC, and Its Likelihood of Exit Through IPO

In this paper, we study power dynamics among corporate venture capital, independent venture capital investors, and new ventures through resource dependence logic. Venture capital funding is the utm...
Influence of weight concerns on breastfeeding: Evidence from the Norwegian mother and child cohort study

Objectives High body mass index (BMI) often predicts truncated breastfeeding, although why is unclear. We test a proposed mediating role of body concerns on breastfeeding initiation and child's age at weaning using longitudinal data for 55,522 mothers from the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa). Methods A linear regression-based mediation analysis with bootstrapping estimates the indirect effects of BMI on breastfeeding decisions (ever-initiation of breastfeeding, child's age at weaning, and duration of any breastfeeding beyond six months) through the variables of concern around prepregnancy weight and weight gains due to pregnancy. Results Contrary to prediction, Norwegian mothers with greater prepregnancy weight concerns had a higher likelihood of initiating breastfeeding. Concerns about weight gain during pregnancy, however, predicted earlier weaning. This relationship was the same for higher and lower BMI mothers. Conclusion In this very large sample, body image affects some breastfeeding decisions. However, this effect is independent of mother's body size.
Challenges in the teaching of environmental journalism

The birth of the modern environmental movement in the 1970s sparked more extended and in-depth news coverage of ecological issues and awakened interest among journalism educators and prospective jo...
Role of Aldosterone Receptor Antagonists in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction

Aldosterone receptor antagonists have recently been added to the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association/Heart Failure Society of America 2017 guideline update for serving a role ...
Eliciting energy ideas in thermodynamics

To explore the impact of typical instruction on student ideas about energy, we asked students to articulate their ideas in assessments administered early in the school year. This embedded activity elicited ideas, the first step in the knowledge integration framework (Linn, 2006). Students articulate their repertoire of ideas and develop criteria to guide the construction of coherent approaches to understanding scientific phenomena. Pretests show that although eighth grade students had greater technological fluency and higher literacy levels than sixth graders, their ideas about energy were not significantly more coherent than the sixth graders' ideas.
Characteristics and Short-Term Outcomes of Hepatitis C Antibody Positive Organs for Heart Transplantation: UNOS Analysis

Purpose Heart transplant centers are increasingly utilizing organs from donors infected with Hepatitis C virus (HCV). Aside from single-center experiences, there is little existing data regarding the characteristics of recipients of HCV Antibody (Ab)+ organs as well as short-term outcomes and graft survival. Methods We analyzed the United Network for Organ Sharing registry from January 2016 and March 2018 to include adults ≥18 who had undergone heart transplantation with a HCV Ab+ donor. Information regarding nucleic acid amplification testing (NAT) was also available. Results Between January 2016 and March 2018, 159 recipients underwent heart transplantation with HCV Ab+ donors. When comparing recipients of HCV+ to HCV- hearts, there were no differences between recipient age (53.4 vs 53.6 years, p =0.86), donor age (33.2 vs 31.9 years, p =0.055), female donor (26.0 vs 27.7%, p =0.64), body mass index (27.3 vs 27.6, p =0.47), and serum creatinine at transplant (1.4 vs 1.4, p = 0.36). There were no differences in the use of ventricular assist devices at time of transplant between groups. Recipients of HCV+ organs were more likely to be Blood Type O (55.3% vs 38.9%, p Conclusion While recipient baseline characteristics were similar between those receiving HCV+ and HCV- transplants, recipients of HCV+ organs had significantly longer ischemic times with longer distances from the donor hospital to the transplant center. Short-term survival appears similar between groups.
Messages from Former Students and Families: Analysis of Statements from One State's Post-School Outcomes Survey.

We conducted an exploratory descriptive qualitative study on extant data of responses to the state’s open-ended question from their annual post-school outcomes survey: “If you could tell your schoo...
Towards On-Demand Virtual Physical Therapist: Machine Learning-Based Patient Action Understanding, Assessment and Task Recommendation

In this paper, we propose a machine learning-based virtual physical therapist (PT) system to enable personalized remote training for patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Three physical therapy tasks with multiple difficulty levels are selected to help patients with PD improve balance and mobility. Patients’ movements are captured by a Kinect sensor. Criteria for each task are carefully designed by our PT co-author such that the patient’s performance can be evaluated in an automated manner. Given the patient’s motion data, we propose a two-phase human action understanding algorithm TPHAU to understand the patient’s movements, and an error identification model to identify the patient’s movement errors. To enable automated task recommendation, a machine learning-based model is trained from real patient and PT data to provide accurate, personalized, and timely task update recommendation for patients with PD, thereby emulating a real PT’s behavior. Real patient data have been collected in the clinic to train the models. Experiments show that the proposed methods achieve high accuracy in patient action understanding, error identification and task recommendation. The proposed virtual PT system has the potential of enabling on-demand virtual care and significantly reducing cost for both patients and care providers.
Implementation Science: A Path Toward Strengthening School Counselor Practice:

Implementation science (IS) includes deliberate actions that facilitate the translation of research into practice. School counselors can use IS within the context of evidence-based practice to deli...
Role of monocarboxylate transporters in regulating metabolic homeostasis in the outer retina: Insight gained from cell-specific Bsg deletion

The neural retina metabolizes glucose through aerobic glycolysis generating large amounts of lactate. Lactate flux into and out of cells is regulated by proton-coupled monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs), which are encoded by members of the Slc16a family. MCT1, MCT3, and MCT4 are expressed in the retina and require association with the accessory protein basigin, encoded by Bsg, for maturation and trafficking to the plasma membrane. Bsg-/- mice have severely reduced electroretinograms (ERGs) and progressive photoreceptor degeneration, which is presumed to be driven by metabolic dysfunction resulting from loss of MCTs. To understand the basis of the Bsg-/- phenotype, we generated mice with conditional deletion of Bsg in rods (RodΔBsg), cones (Cone∆Bsg), or retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPEΔBsg). RodΔBsg mice showed a progressive loss of photoreceptors, while ConeΔBsg mice did not display a degenerative phenotype. The RPEΔBsg mice developed a distinct phenotype characterized by severely reduced ERG responses as early as 4 weeks of age. The loss of lactate transporters from the RPE most closely resembled the phenotype of the Bsg-/- mouse, suggesting that the regulation of lactate levels in the RPE and the subretinal space is essential for the viability and function of photoreceptors.
Scoping review of prevalence of neurologic comorbidities in patients hospitalized for COVID-19.

Objective The emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) presents a challenge for neurologists caring for patients with preexisting neurologic conditions hospitalized for COVID-19 or for evaluation of patients who have neurologic complications during COVID-19 infection. We conducted a scoping review of the available literature on COVID-19 to assess the potential effect on neurologists in terms of prevalent comorbidities and incidence of new neurologic events in patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Methods We searched MEDLINE/PubMed, CINAHL (EBSCO), and Scopus databases for adult patients with preexisting neurologic disease who were diagnosed and hospitalized for COVID-19 or reported incidence of secondary neurologic events following diagnosis of COVID-19. Pooled descriptive statistics of clinical data and comorbidities were examined. Results Among screened articles, 322 of 4,014 (8.0%) of hospitalized patients diagnosed and treated for COVID-19 had a preexisting neurologic illness. Four retrospective studies demonstrated an increased risk of secondary neurologic complications in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 (incidence of 6%, 20%, and 36.4%, respectively). Inconsistent reporting and limited statistical analysis among these studies did not allow for assessment of comparative outcomes. Conclusion Emerging literature suggests a daunting clinical relationship between COVID-19 and neurologic illness. Neurologists need to be prepared to reorganize their consultative practices to serve the neurologic needs of patients during this pandemic.
Using Lung Point-of-care Ultrasound in Suspected COVID-19: Case Series and Proposed Triage Algorithm

Author(s): Duggan, Nicole M.; Liteplo, Andrew S.; Shokoohi, Hamid; Goldsmith, Andrew J. | Abstract: Introduction: First detected in December 2019, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 pandemic upended the global community in a few short months. Diagnostic testing is currently limited in availability, accuracy, and efficiency. Imaging modalities such as chest radiograph (CXR), computed tomography, and lung ultrasound each demonstrate characteristic findings of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Lung ultrasound offers benefits over other imaging modalities including portability, cost, reduced exposure of healthcare workers as well as decreased contamination of equipment such as computed tomography scanners.Case Series: Here we present a case series describing consistent lung ultrasound findings in patients with confirmed COVID-19 despite variable clinical presentations and CXR findings. We discuss a triage algorithm for clinical applicability and utility of lung point-of-care ultrasound in the setting of COVID-19 and advocate for judicious and targeted use of this tool.Conclusion: Lung point-of-care ultrasound can provide valuable data supporting diagnostic and triage decisions surrounding suspected cases of COVID-19. Prospective studies validating our proposed triage algorithm are warranted.
A Wrong Turn in Embryologic Development: A Case of a Primary Right Ventricular Intracardiac Tumor

![Figure][1] [![Graphic][3] ][3][![Graphic][4] ][4] A 62-year-old woman presented with shortness of breath and lower extremity swelling for several years, which had worsened over the previous few months. Clinical examination indicated systolic ejection murmur, moderate lower
AnguLoc: Concurrent Angle of Arrival Estimation for Indoor Localization with UWB Radios

The angle of arrival (AoA) estimation is one of the commonly used techniques for indoor localization. Ultrawideband (UWB) radios facilitate AoA estimation through the measurement of the phase difference of arrival (PDoA) at multiple receiver antennas. Concurrent transmissions in UWB radios aim to increase the efficiency of localization systems by exploiting wireless interference. This paper first investigates the feasibility of AoA estimation with UWB radios in a concurrent scheme. State-of-the-art UWB indoor localization solutions use time difference of arrival (TDoA) in a concurrent scheme. These solutions rely on accurate timestamping of the concurrently received packets. However, due to the scheduling uncertainty of the UWB transmitter platform used in this area, an unavoidable timing jitter of 8 ns causes up to 2.4 m of the localization error. Therefore, the accuracy of solutions based on concurrent TDoA relies on additional timestamp correction, which adds to the complexity of the system. Our results show that concurrent AoA estimation remains unaffected by the transmitter scheduling uncertainties. AoA-based localization techniques face two main challenges: (1) front-back ambiguity of AoA for antenna array of size two; and (2) AoA measurement device’s unknown tilting. This paper then presents AnguLoc, an efficient and scalable indoor localization system that makes use of concurrent AoA estimation to reduce the number of required packet exchanges. AnguLoc uses an Angle Difference of Arrival (ADoA) technique, also generalizable to sequential AoA, to overcome the front-back angle measurement ambiguity problem, and to work with unknown tag tilting. We evaluate AnguLoc in an office environment on a recently introduced platform, Decawave PDoA node (DWM1002). Our results show that AnguLoc is 4 times faster than sequential AoA and improves the localization accuracy by up to 44.33% compared to state-of-the-art concurrency-based indoor localization solutions without relying on additional timestamp correction.
3D optical/CT as a preclinical companion imaging platform for glioblastoma drug development.

Multimodality 3D Optical Imaging (OI)/CT has the potential to play a major role in drug development for glioblastomas (GBM), as it is an accessible preclinical method. To demonstrate the potential ...
Symbolic victories and strategic risk

This article studies the rational side of symbolic victories. It opens with the broad question, why are some battles more significant than others? Extending the literature on bargaining and war, it...
Empirical Tests of Two-State-Variable Heath-Jarrow-Morton Models

Models for pricing interest rate claims, developed under the Heath-Jarrow-Morton paradigm, differ according to the volatility structure imposed on forward rates. For most general HJM structures the resultant path dependence creates implementation problems. Ritchken and Sankarasubramanian have recently identified necessary and sufficient conditions on the class of volatility structures of forward rates that enable the term structure dynamics to be captured by a finite set of state variables. The class is quite rich. The instantaneous spot rate volatility may be quite general, but the model curtails the structure of forward rate volatilities relative to this spot rate volatility. This article provides empirical tests for this class of volatility structures. Unlike other studies, the volatility structure is examined over a broad section of maturities in the yield curve. Using Treasury data over the period 1982-1994, we find support for this class. Furthermore, unlike other studies, no evidence of a "volatility" hump is identified.
Once in Debt, Always in Debt? Effects of Student Loans on Debt Holdings

Both student loans and household debt are at their peaks. This paper investigates how student loans causally impact debt holdings of individuals in the medium-run using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997. To identify the causal effect of student loans on future debt holdings, I instrument the amount of student loan debt with eligibility for merit grants, using a triple differences estimation in the first stage. I find that student loans mechanically increase debt holdings at age 25 but decrease debt holdings at age 30 by reducing credit card debt. I explore potential explanations for this decrease. I find that student loans positively impact the educational outcomes of students, but do not increase their risk aversion or impact their mental well-being. Furthermore, the effects are driven by individuals from poorer families. These results suggest that individuals with larger student loans reduce their borrowing because of education and credit constraint channels, but not because they become more averse to debt.
How the Child Welfare System Works

This chapter describes how the child welfare system works and the various steps throughout the life of a case in child welfare, including intake, investigations, placement, and adoption. It includes information about various roles within child protection, how to navigate the system, and who some of the key players are in the child welfare system. The chapter explores the importance of working in teams both within child welfare and across systems. It also provides an overview of preparing for and testifying in court.
Why are Wages Still Lower in Eastern and Central Europe

This new working paper explores why there is a persistent wage gap between western Europe and the new EU Member States of eastern and central Europe. Why is it still the case that after 27 years of transition from state socialism and 14 years of EU membership the closing of the gap in living standards between western Europe and eastern and central Europe remains as elusive as ever, with little likelihood of any meaningful convergence happening any time soon. How has this situation been allowed to happen? What role have economic policies, particularly the dependence on low wages to attract inward foreign direct investment, played. And why do wages in those countries remain significantly lower than in western Europe. These are just some of the questions this timely publication addresses.
Adaptive Photonic Microwave Instantaneous Frequency Estimation Using Machine Learning

Instantaneous microwave frequency estimation enables numerous essential applications in the commercial, defense, and civilian marketplace. The advancement of applications is hindered by the bottleneck in electronic-based frequency measurement systems including narrow bandwidth, high errors rate, and low dynamic range. Photonics-based frequency estimation approaches not only increase the operation frequency range and provide rapid measurement response, but also benefit from immunity to electromagnetic interference and enhancement in system adaptability. Despite the unique advantages offered by photonics-based frequency estimation approaches, it is challenging to obtain linear mapping between the unknown frequency and the measured optical characteristics due to the nonlinear response in electro-optical devices, which consequently results in degradation in measurement precision and a complex calibration relationship. Therefore, it is critical to mitigate the challenge to achieve dynamic, adaptive, and high-precision estimation of microwave frequency. To this end, this paper presents the design and demonstration of a high-precision photonic based instantaneous frequency estimation system driven by machine learning. A three-layer deep neural network is used to tackle device nonlinearity and system noise, resulting in absolute error of < 50 MHz and root mean square error of 1.1 MHz.
Real Time Optical Information Processing

Coherent optical processing systems are particularly well-suited for handling the very large amount of information contained in two-dimensional images, since they can perform in parallel any of several operations on all the information in the image. This inherent advantage of such systems over the conventional serial approach of digital computing systems is well known and has been exploited in the past [1] to great advantage for such applications as contrast enhancement, filtering of correlated noise in telemetered images, recognition, etc., and more recently techniques have been developed for image deblurring [2].