cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
How Law Knows in the American Trial Court

The word "know" has an inevitably normative bite. I can believe that the moon is made of green cheese, but I cannot know it. So the question that forms the title of this essay really contains two questions: (1) What do we do in the trial court? and (2) Does that amount to knowledge? The first question calls for linguistic phenomenology, as Hannah Arendt put it, and the second question for a kind of theorizing that has a long and important history. This essay summarizes that history and then identifies some of the philosophical commitments that would allow us to say that the practical understandings that emerge at trial may fairly be called knowledge.
Air traffic management complexity maps induced by degradation of communication, navigation and surveillance

The introduction of new technologies and concepts of operation in the air transportation system is not possible, unless they can be proven not to adversely aect the system operation under not only nominal, but also degraded conditions. In extreme scenarios, degraded operations due to partial or complete technological failures should not endanger system safety. Many past system evolutions, whether ground-based or airborne, have been based on trial-and-error, and system safety was addressed only after a specic event yielded dramatic or near-dramatic consequences. Future system evolutions, however, must leverage available computation, prior knowledge and abstract reasoning to anticipate all possible system degradations and prove that such degradations are graceful and safe. Building upon prior research eorts, this paper is concerned with evaluating the ability for a given airspace structure to handle trac
FLOW AND HEAT TRANSFER IN CONCENTRIC AND ECCENTRIC ROTATING CYLINDERS WITH A POROUS SLEEVE

Analytical solutions are re ported for flow and heat transfer between two concentric and eccentric rotating cylinders with a porous sleeve attached to the outer cylinder. While the inner cylinder rotates with a constant angular velocity, the outer cylinder remains stationary. The flow in the annular gap is governed by Navier -Stokes equations and the flow inside the porous sleeve is governed by the Brinkman -extended Darcy law. The solutions are sought using the regular perturbation method. Solutions up to the second leading terms are presented. For comparison, the case with no porous sleeve is also studied. The effects of several parameters, such as the Darcy number, Brinkman number, eccentricity, and thickness of the porous sleeve, are investigated. Nomenclature a inner cylinde r radius, [m] Br Brinkman number, Br = �U 2 /�Cp(T H-TL) b porous sleeve inner radius, [m] Cp specific heat capacity, [J/kg·K] c outer cylinder radius, [m] Da Darcy number, Da = K/b 2
K-means Optimal Clustering Algorithm Based on Complex

A novel K-means algorithm is presented to overcome the weakness of the result stabilization and the effect of the initial point.First,the main principle of the complex method is introduced and an improved one is used to K-means optimal clustering,a series of formulation is educed in this paper and the realization process of the algorithm is given later.Compared with other algorithms,this method has a stable result,an efficient calculation,so it has very good application and dissemination prospect.
Color structured light imaging of skin

We illustrate wide-field imaging of skin using a structured light (SL) approach that highlights the contrast from superficial tissue scattering. Setting the spatial frequency of the SL in a regime that limits the penetration depth effectively gates the image for photons that originate from the skin surface. Further, rendering the SL images in a color format provides an intuitive format for viewing skin pathologies. We demonstrate this approach in skin pathologies using a custom-built handheld SL imaging system.
Retrospective case series analysis of characteristics and trends in unintentional pharmaceutical drug poisoning by methadone, opioid analgesics, antidepressants and benzodiazepines in Clark County, NV 2009-13.

BACKGROUND: Poisoning has become the leading cause of injury death in the USA-with opioid analgesic involved in more fatal poisonings than any other drug, including cocaine and heroin. The epidemic of prescription drug poisonings is a public health concern. This study aimed to define potential high-risk groups for unintentional prescription drug poisoning by methadone, opioid analgesics, antidepressants or benzodiazepines. METHODS: A hospital-based retrospective case series analysis of admissions related to prescription drug poisonings associated with methadone, opioid analgesics, antidepressants or benzodiazepines for hospitals in Clark County, Nevada between 2009 and 2013 was employed. RESULTS: There were 7414 admissions with a primary diagnosis of an unintentional poisoning due to methadone, opioid analgesics, antidepressants or benzodiazepines. Women had the highest rate of admissions particularly in the 45-54 age group. Higher rates of admissions were also found among non-Hispanic whites, single and uninsured populations. There were concerning increases in admissions among 65+ and Native American/Alaskan Native subgroups in 2013. Benzodiazepines and opioid analgesics were the most prevalent drug categories for prescription drug poisoning admissions. CONCLUSION: Public health professionals can utilize hospital data to identify populations at risk and in need of targeted interventions.© The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Faculty of Public Health. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com. Language: en
Physicians as Believers

The Inquisition notary described Pietro Marcellini as a 50-year-old physician living in the parish of San Geminiano, just west of Piazza San Marco, when he came before the Venetian Holy Office to discuss a possible case of witchcraft in 1617. However, his testimony in the case differs strikingly from the typical physician testimony we saw in the previous chapter. He told the Inquisition that despite efforts to treat the alleged victim, a certain Margarita, with “natural remedies,” her symptoms “always worsened, and her body was wasting away.” Marcellini also noted that mysterious knots were found in her bedclothes and suspicious objects in her mattresses, which pointed to an unnatural illness. Margarita continued to suffer, but when Marcellini applied “some holy relics, [her] pains eased.” These factors caused him to conclude “that she had been bewitched.” In the end, his efforts and those of the clerics he called in to help once he realized the true nature of the illness were not sufficient to save Margarita’s life. Margarita had died by the time Marcellini came to the Holy Office – and he firmly attributed her death to witchcraft.
Biomimetic Approach to the Catalytic Enantioselective Synthesis of Flavonoids

Herein is reported the direct asymmetric addition of phenol nucleophiles to benzopyrylium salts as a means to produce enantioenriched flavonoid-like compounds. This enantioselective C–C bond construction was achieved through a chiral anion phase-transfer strategy that mimics the proposed biosynthesis of this structurally diverse set of natural products. The utility of this methodology was demonstrated in enantioselective synthesis of a 2,8-dioxabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane and a 2,4-diarylbenzopyran.
Quartz-in-garnet inclusion barometry under fire: Reducing uncertainty from model estimates

Quartz inclusions in garnet are suitable for barometry because quartz is highly compressible relative to garnet, and the garnet host can maintain large stress differences generated as pressure-temperature conditions change. However, experimental validation of the quartz-in-garnet approach has been limited, raising questions concerning the accuracy of calculated entrapment pressure. Here we test the results of quartz-in-garnet barometry by conducting in-situ Raman analysis of natural inclusions over a range of temperatures (–175 to 600 °C). We assess the temperature ( T ) dependence of inclusion pressure ( P incl ) at 1 bar and compare calculated entrapment pressures derived from measurements at different temperatures. Experiments used two quartz standards (oriented [c] and ) and fully encapsulated quartz inclusions from three different terranes, retaining different P incl at room T (–444, 296, and 755 MPa). The stretched quartz inclusion ( P incl < 0) had the greatest increase in P incl (+264 MPa, during heating from 25 to 500 °C), whereas the high- P inclusions underwent less change (+138 MPa) in P incl over the same T interval. The greater T sensitivity of inclusions with low P incl reflects the greater thermal expansivity of quartz near the α to β quartz transition. While measured P incl - T trends are consistent with predictions, numerical models tend to overestimate P incl at elevated T , and calculated entrapment pressures show an unrealistic dependence on reference T . Raman spectroscopic measurements conducted in situ at elevated T provide optimal results. In addition, we have recalibrated the thermal portion of the numerical method based on the present results, and provide new empirical expressions for improved quartz-in-garnet barometry.
Suppressing N-Acetyl-l-Aspartate Synthesis Prevents Loss of Neurons in a Murine Model of Canavan Leukodystrophy.

Canavan disease is a leukodystrophy caused by aspartoacylase (ASPA) deficiency. The lack of functional ASPA, an enzyme enriched in oligodendroglia that cleaves N-acetyl-l-aspartate (NAA) to acetate and l-aspartic acid, elevates brain NAA and causes “spongiform” vacuolation of superficial brain white matter and neighboring gray matter. In children with Canavan disease, neuroimaging shows early-onset dysmyelination and progressive brain atrophy. Neuron loss has been documented at autopsy in some cases. Prior studies have shown that mice homozygous for the Aspa nonsense mutation Nur7 also develop brain vacuolation. We now report that numbers of cerebral cortical and cerebellar neurons are decreased and that cerebral cortex progressively thins in AspaNur7/Nur7 mice. This neuronal pathology is prevented by constitutive disruption of Nat8l, which encodes the neuronal NAA-synthetic enzyme N-acetyltransferase-8-like. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT This is the first demonstration of cortical and cerebellar neuron depletion and progressive cerebral cortical thinning in an animal model of Canavan disease. Genetic suppression of N-acetyl-l-aspartate (NAA) synthesis, previously shown to block brain vacuolation in aspartoacylase-deficient mice, also prevents neuron loss and cerebral cortical atrophy in these mice. These results suggest that lowering the concentration of NAA in the brains of children with Canavan disease would prevent or slow progression of neurological deficits.
Separation of double-wall carbon nanotubes by electronic type and diameter

We introduce a new procedure for the efficient isolation and subsequent separation of double-wall carbon nanotubes (DWCNTs). A simplified, rate zonal ultracentrifugation (RZU) process is first applied to obtain samples of highly-enriched DWCNTs from a raw carbon nanotube material that has both single- and double-wall carbon nanotubes. Using this purified DWCNT suspension, we demonstrate for the first time that DWCNTs can be further processed using aqueous two-phase extraction (ATPE) for sequential separation by electronic structure and diameter. Additionally, we introduce analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC) as a new method for DWCNT characterization to assess DWCNT purity in separated samples. Results from AUC analysis are utilized to compare two DWCNT separation schemes. We find that RZU processing followed by sequential bandgap and diameter sorting via ATPE provides samples of highest DWCNT enrichment, whereas single-step redox sorting of the same raw material through ATPE yields SWCNT/DWCNT mixtures of similar diameter and electronic character. The presented methods offer significant advancement in DWCNT processing and separation while also providing a promising alternative for DWCNT sample analysis.
ADMISSION TYPES AMONG PATIENTS WITH HEART FAILURE CARED FOR BY ACCOUNTABLE CARE ORGANIZATIONS: VARIATION BY PERFORMANCE ON A MEASURE OF RISK STANDARDIZED ACUTE ADMISSION RATES

Background: Admissions among ambulatory patients with heart failure (HF) is a key quality metric for Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). Yet HF patients are at risk for many acute illnesses, HF and non-HF related, and it is unknown whether specific types of admissions explain lower or higher ACO
Early Diagnosis of Fragile X Syndrome

Surveys from 274 families with at least one child with fragile X syndrome (FXS) were used to determine factors associated with the discovery of the diagnosis in a study at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC.
Location Analyses of Foreign Firms in an Emergent Immigration Gateway in the U.S. South

ABSTRACTThrough spatial analyses of a unique foreign firm data set, this study examines the spatial patterns of foreign firms in a globalizing Southern city and the associated factors at the neighborhood level. It finds that locations with high business density, especially a historic base of foreign firms, have an advantage in attracting foreign direct investments. Further, Japanese firms stand out due to a strong relationship between the local concentration of the Japanese population and the distribution of Japanese firms. Results suggest that, in addition to traditional consideration of agglomeration effects that are highly focused on firm-level linkages and knowledge spillover, it is important to include demographic transformation and overlapped space between work and livelihood into the theoretical framework to understand the location decisions of foreign direct investment at the local level. Such a broadened view becomes more urgent with the rise of emerging economies worldwide and continuous influx ...
The Erotics of History: An Atlantic African Example

The Erotics of History challenges long-standing notions of sexuality as stable and context-free—as something that individuals discover about themselves. Rather, Donald L. Donham argues that historical circumstance, local social pressure, and the cultural construction of much beyond sex condition the erotic. Donham makes this argument in relation to the centuries-old conversation on the fetish, applied to a highly unusual neighborhood in Atlantic Africa. There, local men, soon to be married to local women, are involved in long-term sexual relationships with European men. On the African side, these couplings are motivated by the pleasures of cosmopolitan connection and foreign commodities. On the other side, Europeans tend to fetishize Africans’ race, while a few search to become slaves in master/ slave relationships. At its most wide ranging, The Erotics of History attempts to show that it is history, both personal and collective, in reversals and reenactments, that finally produces sexual excitement. “Don Donham’s new book is a stunning achievement—written in a condensed/synoptic/ telescoped form about a daring topic, it achieves its aim and then some. For me, it was a page turner, hard to put down.” CHARLES PIOT, Duke University, author of Nostalgia for the Future: West Africa after the Cold War “An amazing book that combines detailed and convincing ethnography with wide ranging knowledge and ambitious theoretical analysis. The sophisticated rethinking of representation, exchange, power, and culture is smart and riveting.” CAROLE S. VANCE, Yale University, author of Pleasure and Danger: Exploring Female Sexuality DONALD L. DONHAM is Distinguished Professor of Anthropology at the University of California, Davis. His previous books include Marxist Modern: An Ethnographic History of the Ethiopian Revolution and Violence in a Time of Liberation: Murder and Ethnicity at a South African Gold Mine, 1994.
Reflections on maintaining a spirituality in the government workplace: What it means and how to do it

This article offers ways to be spiritual in the public workplace. First, this article is not about religion but spirituality. Second, this article explains the current American context including the fact that we are a nation of seekers of spirituality. Thirdly, this article presents the elements of spirituality and the attitudes and traits of spiritual people. And finally, this article explains what it means to have spirituality in the public workplace.
Should We Resurrect the Small Sharp Spikes from Oblivion

ABSTRACT.The history of paroxysmal EEG patterns that are not closely associated with frank seizures has at times included a series of studies showing significant electro-clinical correlations to be followed by one single study with negative conclusions (2–7,10,11,14,16,19,21). ince there is a tendency for some in the medical community to equate extreme caution, even to the point of iconoclasm, with high Standards, many in EEG have then embraced that single negative study to join the ranks of the skeptics or the extremely cautious. This is the safe position which may be popular since it seems to be the one which associates itself with high Standards. Also, in any controversy we find it far easier to be against something than to be for it, not wanting to risk our professional reputations by appearing as nondiscriminating. The “other” side may then be viewed as naive with low Standards. The major problem with this dichotomous development of affairs is that it tends to inhibit any further research into these ...
Fast track article: Reliable networks with unreliable sensors

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) deployed in hostile environments suffer from a high rate of node failure. We investigate the effect of such failure rate on network connectivity. We provide a formal analysis that establishes the relationship between node density, network size, failure probability, and network connectivity. We show that large networks can maintain connectivity despite a significantly high probability of node failure. We derive mathematical functions that provide lower bounds on network connectivity in WSNs. We compute these functions for some realistic values of node reliability, area covered by the network, and node density, to show that, for instance, networks with over a million nodes can maintain connectivity with a probability exceeding 95% despite node failure probability exceeding 53%.
Addressing Misallocation of Variance in Principal Components Analysis of Event-Related Potentials

Interpretation of evoked response potentials is complicated by the extensive superposition of multiple electrical events. The most common approach to disentangling these features is principal components analysis (PCA). Critics have demonstrated a number of caveats that complicate interpretation, notably misallocation of variance and latency jitter. This paper describes some further caveats to PCA as well as using simulations to evaluate three potential methods for addressing them: parallel analysis, oblique rotations, and spatial PCA. An improved simulation model is introduced for examining these issues. It is concluded that PCA is an essential statistical tool for event-related potential analysis, but only if applied appropriately.
The Development and Validation of the Ableist Microaggression Inventory

Approximately 20% of U.S. residents are currently living with a disability. Ableism values a specific type of physical, mental, and/or emotional capital as well as supports socially constructed exp...
Classroom-Based Motivational Interviewing for Improving College Students’ Academic Performance: A Randomized Trial:

In this study, we used a randomized control trial (N = 84) to evaluate the effects of a classroom-based motivational interviewing intervention on undergraduate psychology students’ test performance...
Opioid prescribing patterns within otolaryngology

Objective: Determine current opioid prescribing patterns for adult procedures within an academic Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery training program in order to estab-lish a general guideline and more uniform approach to narcotic prescribing practices. Methods: The is a prospective, single-center pilot study. An online, anonymous survey was sent to all members of the Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery training program at Medical University of South Carolina including residents, fellows, and attending surgeons, and advanced practice providers (APP). The survey consisted of questions including demographics, most commonly prescribed analgesic and the average number of opioid tablets prescribed postoperatively for eleven of the most common adult procedures within Otolaryngology. Results: Forty-two participants responded to the survey. Of the 42 respondents, 20 were attending surgeons, 11 junior level residents (year 1-3), 6 senior level residents (year 4-5), and 5 A.P.P.s. The most commonly prescribed narcotic was hydrocodone-acetaminophen with 83.3% (35/42) of respondents prescribing this medication. Tonsillectomy or uvulopalatopharyn-goplasty had the highest average number of tablets prescribed at 32.3 (Range: 5 to 90). Neck dissection, parotidectomy, and thyroidectomy procedures all averaged over 20 tablets. Direct laryngoscopy opioid dose was the lowest at 4.8 tablets (range 0-20). Opioid prescriptions by surgery were broken down by provider class with only septoplasty showing a significant difference with attending physicians prescribing an average of 20 tablets vs 14.1 tablets for residents (P ＝0.034). Conclusion: We believe there remains an unacceptably high variability in current opioid prescribing patterns within otolaryngology especially within more painful procedures. Establishment of standardized post-operative narcotic guidelines is warranted. Key words: Opioids; Narcotics; Otolaryngology
The interleukin-4/PPARγ signaling axis promotes oligodendrocyte differentiation and remyelination after brain injury

The repair of white matter damage is of paramount importance for functional recovery after brain injuries. Here, we report that interleukin-4 (IL-4) promotes oligodendrocyte regeneration and remyelination. IL-4 receptor expression was detected in a variety of glial cells after ischemic brain injury, including oligodendrocyte lineage cells. IL-4 deficiency in knockout mice resulted in greater deterioration of white matter over 14 d after stroke. Consistent with these findings, intranasal delivery of IL-4 nanoparticles after stroke improved white matter integrity and attenuated long-term sensorimotor and cognitive deficits in wild-type mice, as revealed by histological immunostaining, electron microscopy, diffusion tensor imaging, and electrophysiology. The selective effect of IL-4 on remyelination was verified in an ex vivo organotypic model of demyelination. By leveraging primary oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs), microglia-depleted mice, and conditional OPC-specific peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) knockout mice, we discovered a direct salutary effect of IL-4 on oligodendrocyte differentiation that was mediated by the PPARγ axis. Our findings reveal a new regenerative role of IL-4 in the central nervous system (CNS), which lies beyond its known immunoregulatory functions on microglia/macrophages or peripheral lymphocytes. Therefore, intranasal IL-4 delivery may represent a novel therapeutic strategy to improve white matter integrity in stroke and other brain injuries.
Human neocortical interictal epileptiform discharges are initiated by a low-voltage negative polarity wave.

Abstract Purpose In between seizures, the brain of a patient with epilepsy will generate isolated, sporadic discharges (interictal epileptiform discharges [IEDs]). IED identification enables clinicians to diagnose epilepsy, and an understanding of IED waveforms may yield new insights into basic epilepsy mechanisms. I show that intracranial EEGs disclose a previously unreported negative polarity, low-voltage pre-potential at IED onset (i.e., a negative wave [n-wave]). I describe the features of n-waves and propose a plausible mechanism of their generation. Method In intracranial EEGs of the human neocortex, I assessed n-waves’ occurrence, anatomical location, amplitude, kinetics, and association with the subsequent positive pre-potential. I computed a model simulation of IED onset to identify plausible mechanisms behind n-wave generation. Results N-waves manifested in 40% of patients, in zones with and without seizures, and without a statistically significant prevalence in their anatomical location. These waveforms exhibited voltages of 140 + 42 μV and durations of 39.9 + 12.2 msec and were coupled with a positive pre-potential. In simulations of IED onset, n-waves can be generated by sequential recruitment of distinct microfoci over superficial cortical laminae. Conclusions N-waves represent an overlooked component of IED waveforms. They prolong the duration of IED onset and can facilitate synaptic hypersynchrony. They may also be associated with chronic epilepsy.
How Much Certainty do We Need to Punish? A Reply to Kolber

Scene: Outside Brooklyn Law School, mid-morning. CHADF, a law professor, reads something on his phone while waiting for an Uber. He is holding a cup of coffee in his other hand. KOLBERT, also a law professor, is walking quickly, deep into editing his latest law review article, mostly oblivious to the outside world. KOLBERT collides with CHADF, causing him to spill coffee all over his shirt.
Utilizing Comprehensive Preassessment Procedures for Differentiating Language Difference From Language Impairment in English Learners

The growing number of English Learners (ELs) in American schools has led to increasing referrals of these students for special education, including speech-language services. These ELs are frequentl...
Estimating habitat-specific abundance and behavior of several groundfishes using stationary stereo still cameras in the southern California Bight

Abstract The increasing use of underwater cameras to estimate fish abundance often does not account for the behavior of target species. These behaviors can affect detectability of fish and bias density estimates. This study estimated abundance and behavior of several rockfishes (Sebastes spp.) and lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus) at Footprint Bank, a small offshore bank using images from randomly deployed stationary cameras. Deployments collected images at 30-second intervals over ∼24 h periods to examine the behaviors of rockfish that might impact abundance estimates. The results showed that time of day and tidal change had a significant effect on the probability of presence, estimated abundance and species composition of fish, with densities highest for most species during daylight hours. The time elapsed since camera deployment did not have a significant effect on fish density. Fish density was significantly affected by habitat composition, an effect primarily driven by speckled rockfish (Sebastes ovalis) which exhibited a 5-fold increase in abundance in bedrock habitats. Speckled rockfish were the most abundant rockfish at depths less than 150 m, with an estimated abundance of 12,994 fish (SE = 6,722) on Footprint Bank. The abundance estimates and coefficients of variation were comparable to surveys conducted in 2011 and 2012 using remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and manned submersibles. The implications of this study are that habitat and behavior as well as timing of the survey (day/night) are important considerations determining the perceived density of fishes from underwater image surveys.
Inflammasomes: a preclinical assessment of targeting in atherosclerosis.

Inflammasomes are central to atherosclerotic vascular dysfunction with regulatory effects on inflammation, immune modulation, and lipid metabolism. The NLRP3 inflammasome is a critical catalyst for...
Parental Perceptions and Exposure to Advertising of Toddler Milk: A Pilot Study with Latino Parents.

Marketing of toddler milk (i.e., typically sugar-sweetened nutrient-fortified milk-based drinks marketed for children 12–36 months) is an emerging public health problem in the US. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends against the consumption of toddler milk because it often contains added sugar and can displace nutrient-dense foods. Studies have not examined toddler milk perceptions among Latinos, an important gap given Latino children in the US are at high risk of having poor diet quality, and toddler milk is extensively advertised on Spanish-language TV. This study used an online survey of a convenience sample of 58 Latino parents to examine parents’ experiences with toddler milk, understand their perceptions of the healthfulness and the nutrition-related claims on toddler milk, and describe their exposure to toddler milk advertising. Nearly half (44%) of parents in the sample reported purchasing toddler milk. When asked to provide open-ended interpretations of claims on toddler milk, almost all parents gave positive answers, suggesting potential “health halo” effects of the claims. More than half (56%) of parents reported seeing toddler milk advertisements, most commonly on Spanish-language TV. The misperceptions about toddler milk identified should be explored in further research using larger, more representative samples.
The Heart’s Halo: Caring for Pediatric Pneumopericardium

Pediatric pneumomediastinum (PM) and pneumopericardium (PPC) are rare complications which can arise from various etiologies. We report a case …
Air quality, Environment and Respiratory Outcomes in Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia, the AERO-BPD cohort study: design and adaptation during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

INTRODUCTION: Almost half of all school-age children with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) have asthma-like symptoms and more suffer from lung function deficits. While air pollution and indoor respiratory irritants are known to affect high-risk populations of children, few studies have objectively evaluated environmental contributions to long-term respiratory morbidity in this population. This study aimed to examine the role of indoor environmental exposures on respiratory morbidity in children with BPD. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The Air quality, Environment and Respiratory Ouctomes in BPD (AERO-BPD) study is a prospective, single-centre observational study that will enrol a unique cohort of 240 children with BPD and carefully characterise participants and their indoor home environmental exposures. Measures of indoor air quality constituents will assess the relationship of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), particulate matter (PM2.5), nitric oxide (NO), temperature and humidity, as well as dust concentrations of allergens, with concurrently measured respiratory symptoms and lung function.Adaptations to the research protocol due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic included remote home environment and participant assessments. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Study protocol was approved by the Boston Children's Hospital Committee on Clinical Investigation. Dissemination will be in the form of peer-reviewed publications and participant information products. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT04107701.
The impact of frailty on the postoperative outcomes of patients undergoing cholecystectomy: propensity score matched analysis of 2011-2017 US hospitals.

Abstract Background Frailty is an aggregate variable that encompasses debilitating geriatric conditions, which potentially affects postoperative outcomes. In this study, we evaluate the relationship between clinical frailty and post-cholecystectomy outcomes using a national registry of hospitalized patients. Methods 2011–2017 National Inpatient Sample database was used to identify patients who underwent cholecystectomy. Patients were stratified using the Johns Hopkins ACG frailty definition into binary (frailty and no-frailty) and tripartite frailty (frailty, prefrailty, no-frailty) indicators. The controls were matched to study cohort using 1:1 propensity score-matching and postoperative outcomes were compared. Results Post-match, using the binary term, frail patients (n = 40,067) had higher rates of mortality (OR 2.07 95%CI 1.90–2.25), length of stay, costs, and complications. In multivariate, frailty was associated with higher mortality (aOR 2.06 95%CI 1.89–2.24). When using tripartite frailty term, prefrail (n = 35,595) and frail (n = 4472) patients had higher mortality (prefrailty: OR 2.04 95%CI 1.86–2.23; frailty: OR 2.49 95%CI 1.99–3.13), length of stay, costs, and complications. In multivariate, prefrailty and frailty were associated with higher mortality (prefrailty: aOR 2.02 95%CI 1.84–2.21; frailty: aOR 2.54 95%CI 2.02–3.19). Conclusion This study shows the presence of frailty (and prefrailty) is an independent risk factor of adverse postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing cholecystectomy.
Assessing the Impact of Unfolding Case Study Scenarios during High-Fidelity Pediatric Simulation among Undergraduate Nursing Students

Simulation helps to prepare prelicensure nursing students for practice by providing opportunities to perform clinical skills and make decisions in a safe environment. The integration of nursing knowledge, skills, and decision-making abilities during simulated unfolding case-study scenarios may enhance student self-confidence and foster clinical judgement skills. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of simulation using unfolding case-study scenarios on undergraduate nursing students’ self-confidence in pediatric nursing knowledge, skills, and clinical judgment/decision-making abilities. This mixed methods study included a pre- and post-survey design to evaluate undergraduate nursing students’ confidence in pediatric nursing knowledge, skills, and decision-making abilities after participation in both an instructor-led (guided) and a student-led (decision-making) simulation involving unfolding case-study scenarios. Friedman’s ANOVA analyses revealed that all 16-items demonstrated statistically significant differences between the three measured responses (pre-simulation and both post-simulation surveys). Post-hoc Wilcoxon signed-rank tests revealed statistically significant differences in student ratings pre-simulation and post-instructor-led (guided) experience for all 16-scored items. The qualitative themes identified were perception of experience, pediatric nursing care, assimilation of knowledge, and critical thinking. Unfolding case-study simulation experiences positively impact the learning, self-confidence, and clinical judgement of undergraduate nursing students.
A comment on Thomas Saaty's proposed International Center for Conflict Resolution

The name of the proposed organization IS ItS most questionable aspect. To me, the term 'center' denotes a set of physical facilities and an organization of people capable of performing certain activities (towards goals and objectives) within a space-restricted geographic location, the selection of which could provoke much confusion and unnecessary argument, as Saaty himself points out. What he advocates is really the creation of an international network that will constitute a complex global system of component subsystems (each a national center unlimited in space and time), all completely decentralized, amorphous and elastic, but interlocking and interacting, and capable of dealing with problems of human systems management and development at different magnitudes of geographic importance and relevance personal, local, regional, national, continental, global (on land, underwater, or in the air) and including even the extraterrestrial. Thanks to the phenomenal advances that are being made in computer science and technology and in electronic telecommunication and teleconferencing (both audio and visual), network planning and design on an infinitely variable worldwide scale has now become possible. Unhappily,
The effect of harpin from Erwinia amylovora on the plasmalemma of suspension-cultured tobacco cells

Abstract The hypersensitive reaction (HR) is characterized by the rapid death of plant cells, and its expression is associated with localization of the pathogen to prevent tissue colonization. Many physiological, biochemical, and molecular features of the bacteria-induced HR have been investigated and described in detail since its discovery. Harpin, the hrpN gene product of Erwinia amylovora, elicits the HR in tobacco without the presence of bacteria. In this study, membrane potential and extracellular K+ and H+ measurements were conducted to observe the effects of harpin treatment on the plasmalemma of plant cells. The membranes of suspension-cultured tobacco cells, Nicotiana tabacum cv. Hicks, depolarized to the diffusion potential within minutes after exposure to 24 μg of harpin protein ml-1. The typical membrane hyperpolarization and extracellular acidification caused by the fungal toxin fusicoccin was abolished when cells were treated with harpin in conjunction with the fusicoccin. The harpin-induced potassium efflux, extracellular alkalinization, and membrane potential depolarization were blocked by treatment with K252a, a protein kinase inhibitor.
Accountability, Affordability, Access: A Review of the Recent Trends in Higher Education Policy Research

The following research note surveys the most recent literature published in the past two years on higher education policy and politics in the United States. We identify three prominent themes in the literature including research on accountability, affordability, and issues concerning access and equity. We observe that there has been increased attention paid to theories of politics by those who study higher education, which has played a vital role in pushing the boundaries of education research to help begin answering many of the field's most complex and multi-dimensional questions. This theoretical development has allowed education policy scholars to better understand why various policies are adopted, how they change over time, which groups benefit, and how institutions are affected by changes in the economic and political landscape.
1. Spin-Polarized Electron Sources

This chapter focuses on the polarized electron sources that are used, based on photoemission from negative electron affinity (NEA) semiconductor photocathodes, such as GaAs and related compounds. In addition to producing spin-polarized beams, these photocathodes have other advantageous features, such as their high brightness, narrow energy spread of the emitted beam, and the possibility of modulating the beam intensity with an arbitrary time structure by controlling the photoexciting light. The chapter presents the experimental techniques for electron guns, with NEA photocathodes, are also relevant for such guns in their numerous applications beyond those involving spin polarizations. Because there is no simple polarization filter for electrons equivalent to a calcite prism for light or a Stern-Gerlach magnet for atoms, a number of spin-dependent processes have been tried in attempts to produce beams of spin-polarized electrons. For most applications, photoemission from NEA GaAs and related materials provides the most suitable source of polarized electrons. The source based on chemi-ionization of metastable He is competitive for applications that require high polarization in a continuous beam of moderate intensity and has the further advantage that ultrahigh vacuum is not required. The chapter discusses the advances in GaAs-polarized electron source technology, to present important information and considerations for someone building such a source, and to compare its performance with that of other polarized electron sources. A source of spin-polarized electrons can be characterized by a number of parameters that allow one to determine how well it will meet the requirements of a particular application.
Traditional versus Non-traditional Teaching: Perspectives of Students in Introductory Statistics Classes.

Although there has been a considerable amount of work evaluating the effects of different (non-traditional) instructional styles, inquiries into students' preferences of instructional style have be...
Two SP-C genes encoding human pulmonary surfactant proteolipid.

Abstract Human pulmonary surfactant proteolipid of Mr = 5,000, now termed surfactant protein C (SP-C), is produced by proteolytic processing of an Mr = 22,000 precursor. The active hydrophobic peptide imparts surface active properties to pulmonary surfactant phospholipids. We have determined the entire nucleotide sequence of two distinct genes encoding SP-C from a genomic library prepared from human leukocytes. SP-C genes were encoded by approximately 3.0 kilobase pairs of DNA containing six exons and five introns. In both genes, the active hydrophobic region of the polypeptide was located in the second exon that encodes a peptide of 53 amino acids. The entire nucleotide sequences of the two classes of SP-C genes differed by only 1%. Two cDNAs encoding SP-C were distinguished on the basis of an 18-nucleotide deletion at the beginning of the fifth exon; no such deletion was detected within the two classes of SP-C genes. Comparison of the 3'-untranslated regions of SP-C cDNA clones and the two classes of genomic clones demonstrated that cDNAs with and without the 18-base pair deletion could be derived from both of the genes. This 18-base pair deletion occurs in nucleotide sequences compatible with two distinct RNA splice sites. One additional cDNA clone showed the addition of an 8-base pair insert at the end of exon 5, which was also compatible with two distinct splice sites. Both classes of SP-C genes were represented by cDNAs, demonstrating that both classes of genes are actively transcribed. The two SP-C genes were readily distinguished on the basis of their nucleotide sequences and restriction fragment analyses of their flanking DNA. Two distinct classes of human SP-C genes are transcribed, and the heterogeneity in the SP-C RNAs appears to result from differential splicing.
Dynamic wettability switching by surface roughness effect

This paper presents a novel wettability (i.e., contact angle) switching mechanism for micro-droplet transportation by surface roughness effect. A roughness switchable device, with a thin polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membrane bonded on the top of a rough PDMS substrate, was fabricated and tested. It was found that the surface wettability can be dynamically switched from medium hydrophobic to super hydrophobic states by deflecting the membrane with a pneumatic method. The reported mechanism is the first demonstration of wettability switching by roughness modification. This technology enables a microscale liquid droplet transport mechanism by surface tension without using thermal effect or electrical potential.
Validated Leverett Approach for Multiphase Flow in PEFC Diffusion Media I. Hydrophobicity Effect

This work is the second part of a series of papers to describe the multiphase transport mechanism in thin-film polymer electrolyte fuel cell ! PEFC" diffusion media ! DM" . The present work is devoted to delineating the effects of compression. Direct measurements of drainage capillary pressure-saturation curves for SGL series carbon paper DM tailored with a range of mixed wettability were performed at room temperature under various compressions ! 0, 0.6, and 1.4 MPa" typically encountered in a fuel cell assembly. Based on these benchmark data, an appropriate form of the Leverett approach, including a Leverett-type empirical function that incorporates the effect of compression and the mixed wettability characteristics of the tested DM samples, was developed. The presented approach can determine the capillary pressure as a function of hydrophobic additive content, liquid saturation, compression, and uncompressed porosity of the DM. Compression leads to an increase in capillary pressure, effectively caused by the corresponding reduction in effective porosity. Any increase in hydrophobicity amplifies the compression effect, yielding a higher capillary pressure for the same saturation level. Furthermore, the fraction of connected hydrophilic pores is observed to be reduced with an increase in compression, leading to a favorable reduction in water storage capacity of the fuel cell DM.
Influenza vaccine safety in pregnancy: can we identify exposures?

Purpose To assess the feasibility of identifying influenza vaccine exposure in pregnancy. Methods Two study designs were used. (i) Women who contacted the Organization of Teratology Information Specialists (OTIS) network and were referred to their research center or contacted the center directly were invited to participate. (ii) Vaccine exposure information was gathered within an ongoing case–control surveillance program, the Slone Birth Defects Study (BDS). To confirm vaccine exposure and obtain details (e.g., brand name, presence of thimerosal), we requested medical records. If records were not available, we contacted the provider for information regarding the vaccine product used in that setting. If the provider used only one vaccine product during the reported exposure period, we assumed those vaccine details applied to the reported exposure. Otherwise, no details could be inferred. Results Between September 2006 and February 2008, OTIS enrolled 106 women who reported influenza vaccine exposure during pregnancy. Vaccine was confirmed for 100 (94.3%); brand was confirmed for 87 (82.1%). Among 2177 BDS interviews completed during the same period, 462 (20.8%) reported influenza vaccine exposure; brand and formulation were available for 314 (69.5%). Over one quarter of the BDS women (29%) received their vaccine in nontraditional settings, where influenza vaccine exposure would not likely be recorded in their medical record. Conclusions We demonstrated the capacity both to identify influenza vaccine exposure in pregnancy and to obtain important details of the specific vaccine administered. Many women receive influenza vaccines outside of typical health care settings, which has important implications for influenza vaccine studies that rely on medical records. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Rupture of an intracranial aneurysm is the leading cause of subarachnoid hemorrhage not due to trauma. This review summarizes both the approach to establishing the diagnosis and treatment options, including the placement of intravascular coils to arrest the bleeding. Common management problems include vasospasm, hydrocephalus, and rebleeding.
Automated segment-based visual enhancement of photographs

In this paper we describe an automated method for the enhancement of digital photographic images. The enhancement incorporates the basic photographic principle that films have best detail in mid-tones and suppressed detail toward the extremes. This means that the subject or the visually strong areas must comprise of mid-tones in order to have good detail. Hence appropriate regions of visual significance within an image are first identified based on the features of focus, contrast, and texture. Enhancement of the image then follows by a gray level transformation of different pixels using a simulated exposure-density curve of photographic films. The enhancement is influenced strongly by the visually significant areas rather than the entire image (global statistics). This allows the subject or important areas to be enhanced to an optimum level (mid-tones) rather than achieving good overall balance but with a dull (over-exposed or underexposed) subject.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.