cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
MAT: A Multi-strength Adversarial Training Method to Mitigate Adversarial Attacks

Some recent work revealed that deep neural networks (DNNs) are vulnerable to so-called adversarial attacks where input examples are intentionally perturbed to fool DNNs. In this work, we revisit the DNN training process that includes adversarial examples into the training dataset so as to improve DNN's resilience to adversarial attacks, namely, adversarial training. Our experiments show that different adversarial strengths, i.e., perturbation levels of adversarial examples, have different working ranges to resist the attacks. Based on the observation, we propose a multi-strength adversarial training method (MAT) that combines the adversarial training examples with different adversarial strengths to defend adversarial attacks. Two training structures—mixed MAT and parallel MAT—are developed to facilitate the tradeoffs between training time and hardware cost. Our results show that MAT can substantially minimize the accuracy degradation of deep learning systems to adversarial attacks on MNIST, CIFAR-10, CIFAR-100, and SVHN. The tradeoffs between training time, robustness, and hardware cost are also well discussed on a FPGA platform.
Improving Functional Language and Social Motivation with a Parent-Mediated Intervention for Toddlers with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Recent research suggests that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may now be reliably identified in later infancy, highlighting the need for empirically-validated interventions for infants and toddlers with early symptoms of ASD. Using a multiple baseline design across 15- to 21-month-old toddlers, this study implemented a brief, parent-mediated, Pivotal Response Treatment program, focusing on improving expressive communication. The results indicated that verbal communication improved as a consequence of the intervention, with concomitant improvements in untreated areas for all participants. Following the intervention, symptoms of autism decreased and parents reported satisfaction with the program's ease of implementation and observed child gains. The results are discussed in terms of developing very early interventions to improve developmental trajectories for infants and toddlers.
Pathologic complete response (pCR) rates after neoadjuvant pertuzumab (P) and trastuzumab (H) administered concomitantly with weekly paclitaxel (T) and 5-fluorouracil/epirubicin/cyclophosphamide (FEC) chemotherapy for clinical stage I-III HER2-positive breast cancer.

577Background: Inclusion of H with chemotherapy has increased pathologic complete response (pCR) rates in HER2 positive breast cancer, and dual HER2 blockade involving H + P further increased efficacy. With dual HER2 blockade and taxane-based (+/-carboplatin followed by anthracycline) chemotherapies, pCR rates reach, 75% in estrogen receptor (ER) negative and 45% in ER+ patients. HER2 targeted therapies also increase the efficacy of anthracyclines but are not routinely combined due to potential cardiotoxicity. The goal of this phase II study was to assess pCR rate when H+P is administered during the entire treatment duration, including the anthracycline phase, of weekly T (80 mg/m2) x 12 followed by FE(75 mg/m2)C x 4 neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Methods: pCR (ypT0/is and ypN0) rate was assessed separately in ER+ and ER- cancers following Simon’s two-stage design to detect improvement in pCR rates to 90% and 70% in the ER- and ER+ cohorts, respectively. Eligibility included age <65, stage I-III, HER2+ disease...
Snapshot hyperspectral imaging Fourier transform spectropolarimeter

The design and experimental results of a snapshot spatially heterodyned imaging Fourier transform (SHIFT) spectropolarimeter are presented. The sensor utilizes common-path interferometry, which lends improved compactness and ruggedness over free-space interferometric techniques. The polarization-dependency of the optical instrument can also be leveraged to obtain both spectral and polarimetric measurements. In this paper, calibration procedures and the SHIFT data processing algorithms are described. A data-reduction matrix is utilized to transform the measured per-pixel interferograms into corresponding Stokes parameters. Using this matrix, neural networks are trained to automate the transformation process from measurement to Stokes parameters. Finally, preliminary experimental results of the SHIFT’s ability to distinguish certain spectral signatures are demonstrated.
Computer Translation of Grade 2 Braille in the American Printing House for the Blind

For the past fifteen years, braille has been translated by computer on a regular basis at the American Printing House for the Blind. The automated translation procedure begins with data entry operators, who do not know braille, entering the contents of novels, magazines, and educational texts on key disk machines. After keyverifying, the input is translated by computer. The speed of converting inkprint data to braille data is approximately 10,000 words per minute. Output from the computer is read by card-to-plate equipment automatically producing braille plates, from which an unlimited number of copies can be embossed. Experience has shown that the application of computer technology to braille translation is effective toward meeting the need in publications for the blind.
Surgical nuances of partial sacrectomy for chordoma.

Background Sacral chordomas are rare, slow growing, locally aggressive tumors. Unfortunately, aggressive surgical resection is often associated with increased neurological morbidity. Methods This technical note focuses on the utilization of partial sacrectomy for the resection of complex spinal chordomas. Results The case presented documents the potential range of postoperative morbidity seen in patients undergoing partial sacrectomy for chordomas. Despite iatrogenic morbidity and tumor recurrence, with the cooperation of medical and surgical spine specialists, majority of patients can achieve good long-term outcomes. Conclusions Sacral chordomas are rare lesions and pose a therapeutic challenge for spinal surgeons and oncologists. En-bloc surgical resection (e.g., partial sacrectomy) is the treatment of choice for these lesions, and the cooperation between subspecialists can lead to good neurologic outcomes, particularly if gross total resection is achieved.
Insomnia as a Problem for the Elderly

The report of sleep problems, particularly insomnia, is frequent among older adults. The careful assessment and treatment of sleep problems for older adults is important not only for their sense of well-being but for their physical health and ability to function during the day. A complete understanding of the insomnia experienced by the older adult requires a working knowledge of the structure of sleep and general overview of sleep characteristics, knowledge of how the sleep of the older adult differs from that of younger individuals, and comprehension of the factors that contribute to insomnia. In this chapter, we will provide a brief overview of sleep, with a focus on changes in sleep as one ages. In addition, we will explore the multiple causes of sleep disturbance and report on current behavioral techniques used in the treatment of insomnia. Finally, we will recommend a progression of steps used in the identification of factors impacting on sleep.
The Mathematics Coach Handbook

Many schools throughout the United States are now employing coaches to support teachers in the teaching of mathematics. Very often, these are professionals selected from the current teaching ranks who did not receive any special training to serve as a coach. This book provides the skills, knowledge, and lessons from experience that lead such a mentor to function effectively. Aside from describing the basic duties of an effective math coach, we also provide a plethora of resources to enrich instruction, improve problem-solving direction, and provide teachers with a wide variety of techniques to enhance their teaching effectiveness.
Resistance to Violence Prevention Interventions in Schools: Barriers and Solutions

Studies of the prevalence and impact of aggression among school-age children and adolescents document the pervasiveness of bully-victim problems and indicate clear linkages between bully-victim problems, psychological distress, and, in rare instances, lethal attacks on perceived tormentors or towards the self. Evidence is slowly accumulating to show how well-conceived school-based strategies can be effective in addressing bully-victim problems—if implemented and sustained. However, anecdotal evidence suggests many comprehensive school-based initiatives suffer from incomplete implementation, resulting in limited effectiveness. We propose that multiple factors nested within different levels of social ecological complexity (e.g., individual, school, community, and culture) limit the widespread use of schoolwide approaches to reducing bully–victim–bystander problems. Challenges arise at each of these levels and can potentially thwart efforts to produce meaningful changes in the problems of peer victimization in and around school. Drawing from efforts to implement and evaluate bully–victim–bystander programs, we describe a core set of potential barriers at each ecological level and offer possible strategies for action.
Proton and electric charge translocation in mitochondrial energy transduction.

Despite the fact that oxidative phosphorylation was first discovered over 40 years ago, we do not yet know precisely how ATP is generated from ADP and phosphate during mitochondrial respiration. This may seem rather paradoxical, since the synthesis of ATP coupled to mitochondrial electron transport is one of the most dynamic processes in cells and necessary for most of their activities. For example, a 70 kg adult with a caloric intake of 3000 kcal per day must generate almost 400 moles of ATP per day, if we therefore assume the standard free energy is +7.5kcal/mol. This amounts to about 190 kg of ATP, or 2.5 times his body weight. Since the body contains altogether only about 50 gm of ATP, the terminal phosphate group of body ATP must turn over several thousand times per day.
Athletic Shoe Fit and Modifications

Whether treating professional athletes or weekend warriors, it is critical to select the right shoes and get the correct fit. Some foot-care professionals fit patients themselves, while others refer patients out to stores that decide what is best. Either way, patients’ needs are best served by the sports medicine specialist assessing the functional biomechanics of the lower extremity, identifying structural requirements, and creating a plan for the therapeutic objectives to be accomplished. Sports medicine professionals can best help their patients fit appropriate athletic shoes and achieve most favorable outcomes by addressing the four basics of “size, shape, stability, and style.”
The form and function of actin. A product of its unique design.

Even if actin were only found in muscle, it would be an interesting protein, but it is found in abundance in all cells of the body. For example, it is implicated in pseudopod and filopod formation, in ruffling, in the production of the acrosomal process in invertebrate sperm, in cytokinesis, in the construction of the cytoskeleton, and in specialized extensions such as microvilli and sterocilia. These systems can be quite difficult to attack experimentally and consequently much of our knowledge of actin and motility has come from the study of muscle, a highly periodic structure. In striated muscle, actin, together with troponin and tropomyosin, regulates the attachment of myosin cross-bridges, activates the myosin ATPase, and provides part of the mechanical framework necessary to couple forces from neighboring filaments. Myosin is also found in nonmuscle cells but in much lesser amounts than in muscle. Some but not all of the motile events in nonmuscle cells require myosin and, for these events, it is assumed that muscle serves as a model system. Pseudo-pod formation and cytokinesis are two motile events thought to be driven by an actomyosin contraction.* For other motile events the involvement of myosin has either been ruled out or at least seems improbable: the extension of the acrosomal process in the sperm of Thyone and Limulus, for example, involves the polymerization of actin (Thyone; Tilney, 1975a) and a change in twist of the actin filaments (Limulus; DeRosier et al.,1982). There is no convincing evidence that myosin is present in these sperm and, moreover, the direction of motion is opposite to that produced by myosin. Thus, the function of actin in muscle contraction does not fully describe its role in nonmuscle motility.
Dying to Be Old: A Sociological Analysis of Old Age as Cause of Death

While gerontology and issues of aging are attracting more focus and scholarship, little has been done to examine the social constructions of old age as perception, particularly in historical contexts. We use data from gravestones and burial records (1870s–1950s) of a single, large, midwestern cemetery to examine those who were said to have died of “old age” or “senility” for patterned differences in the application of these labels. We then compare this labeled group with all others of the same age range in the cemetery for fundamental demographic differences that would explain the presence or absence of these elder-status labels. Though differences in patterns between and within groups were often small and not statistically significant, they are typically in the direction predicted, and contribute to some historical sense of old age as social construction.
Acceleration of Convolutional Networks Using Nanoscale Memristive Devices

We discuss a convolutional neural network for handwritten digit classification and its hardware acceleration as an inference engine using nanoscale memristive devices in the spike domain. We study the impact of device programming variability on the spiking neural network’s (SNN) inference accuracy and benchmark its performance with an equivalent artificial neural network (ANN). We demonstrate optimization strategies to implement these networks with memristive devices with an on-off ratio as low as 10 and only 32 levels of resolution. Further, close to baseline accuracies can be maintained for the networks even if such memristive devices are used to duplicate the pre-determined kernel weights to enable parallel execution of the convolution operation.
A theory of classification and evolution of technologies within a Generalised Darwinism

This paper here proposes a theory of classification and evolution of technology based on taxonomic characteristic of interaction between technologies that is an under-studied field of research in e...
Neuronal PAS domain 2 (Npas2) facilitated osseointegration of titanium implant with rough surface through a neuroskeletal mechanism

Titanium (Ti) biomaterials have been applied to a wide range of implantable medical devices. When placed in bone marrow, Ti-biomaterials integrate to the surrounding bone tissue by mechanisms that are not fully understood. We have previously identified an unexpected upregulation of circadian clock molecule neuronal PAS domain 2 (Npas2) in successfully integrated implant with a rough surface. This study aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanism of osseointegration through determining the role of Npas2. Human bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC) that were cultured on a Ti disc with SLA surface exhibited increased NPAS2 expression compared to BMSC cultured on a machined surface. A mouse model was developed in which miniature Ti implants were surgically placed into femur bone marrow. The implant push-out test and bone-to-implant contact measurements demonstrated the establishment of osseointegration in 3 weeks. By contrast, in Npas2 functional knockout (KO) mice, the implant push-out value measured for SLA surface Ti implant was significantly decreased. Npas2 KO mice demonstrated normal femur bone structure surrounding the Ti implant; however, the recovered implants revealed abnormal remnant mineralized tissue, which lacked dense collagen architecture typically found on recovered implants from wild type mice. To explore the mechanisms leading to the induced Npas2 expression, an unbiased chemical genetics analysis was conducted using mouse BMSC carrying an Npas2-reporter gene for high throughput screening of Library of Pharmacologically Active Compounds. Npas2 modulating compounds were found clustered in regulatory networks of the α2-adrenergic receptor and its downstream cAMP/CREB signaling pathway. Mouse primary BMSC exposed to SLA Ti disc significantly increased the expression of α2-adrenergic receptors, but the expression of β2-adrenergic receptor was unaffected. Our data provides the first evidence that peripheral clock gene component Npas2 plays a role in facilitating the enhanced osseointegration through neuroskeletal regulatory pathways induced by BMSC in contact with rough surface Ti implant.
Effects of exercise on HDL functionality.

Purpose of review Low HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels are a strong predictor of cardiovascular disease risk and can be improved with regular exercise. However, raising HDL-C levels pharmacologically has not shown convincing clinical benefits. Thus, research has recently focused on identifying therapies that improve HDL function, with exercise representing such a potential therapy. The purpose of this review is to summarize the effects of exercise interventions on HDL function. Recent findings The effects of exercise and lifestyle interventions on the primary atheroprotective functions of HDL are reviewed, namely, cholesterol efflux, antioxidative, and anti-inflammatory properties. Differences in study design, study population, and assays are discussed to aid in the interpretation of the reviewed studies. Summary There is mixed evidence that regular aerobic exercise improves cholesterol efflux capacity, with recent research suggesting an exercise dose threshold needs to be exceeded to produce beneficial effects. There is preliminary evidence that exercise improves the antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties of HDL. Although exercise represents a potential therapeutic approach to improve HDL function, the heterogeneity and/or lack of findings warrants more and larger studies to determine what HDL function(s) are most responsive to regular exercise and what dose of exercise elicits the greatest improvements in HDL functionality.
Nerve transfers for peripheral nerve injury in the upper limb.

Nerve transfer has become a common and often effective reconstructive strategy for proximal and complex peripheral nerve injuries of the upper limb. This case-based discussion explores the principles and potential benefits of nerve transfer surgery and offers in-depth discussion of several established and valuable techniques including: motor transfer for elbow flexion after musculocutaneous nerve injury, deltoid reanimation for axillary nerve palsy, intrinsic re-innervation following proximal ulnar nerve repair, and critical sensory recovery despite non-reconstructable median nerve lesions.
An Advanced Practice Practitioner-Based Program to Reduce 30- and 90-Day Readmissions After Liver Transplantation.

Hospital readmissions after liver transplantation (LT) are common and associated with increased morbidity and cost. High readmission rates at our center motivated a change in practice with adoption of a nurse practitioner (NP)-based posttransplant care program. We sought to determine if this program was effective in reducing 30- and 90-day readmissions after LT and to identify variables associated with readmission. We performed a retrospective cohort study of all patients undergoing LT from July 1, 2014, to June 30, 2017, at a tertiary LT referral center. A NP-based posttransplant care program with weekend in-house nurse coordination providers and increased outpatient NP clinic availability was instituted on January 1, 2016. Postdischarge readmission rates at 30 and 90 days were compared in the pre-exposure and postexposure groups, adjusting for associated risk factors. A total of 362 patients were included in the analytic cohort. There were no significant differences in demographics, comorbidities, or index hospitalization characteristics between groups. In the adjusted analyses, the risk of readmission in the postexposure group was significantly reduced relative to baseline at 30 days (hazard ratio [HR] 0.60, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.39-0.90; P = 0.02) and 90 days (HR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.34-0.71; P < 0.001). Risk factors positively associated with 30-day readmission included peritransplant dialysis (HR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.13-2.58; P = 0.01) and retransplant on index hospitalization (HR, 10.21; 95% CI, 3.39-30.75; P < 0.001). Male sex was protective against readmission (HR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.45-0.97; P = 0.03). In conclusion, implementation of expanded NP-based care after LT was associated with significantly reduced 30- and 90-day readmission rates. LT centers and other service lines using significant postsurgical resources may be able to reduce readmissions through similar programs.
Use of transnasal humidified rapid-insufflation ventilatory exchange (THRIVE) to facilitate the management of subglottic stenosis in pregnancy.

Abstract Subglottic stenosis is a rare condition. Diagnosis is often delayed as symptoms are attributed to other causes, such as asthma. This problem may be compounded in pregnancy when dyspnoea may be attributed to normal physiological changes. In respiratory compromise, surgical intervention may be required and airway management is challenging as endotracheal intubation may be traumatic or, in severe cases, impossible. Transnasal humidified rapid-insufflation ventilatory exchange (THRIVE) is a novel open-airway apnoeic technique using high-flow nasal oxygen. It does not expose the patient to the risks of jet ventilation, nor does it require the placement of an airway device to effectively oxygenate the patient. In pregnancy, elevation of maternal carbon dioxide is of particular concern as it may result in a worsening fetal acidosis. While THRIVE has been shown to provide some clearance of carbon dioxide, a patent airway is required for it to function effectively. In this case report we describe the management of a pregnant patient who underwent balloon dilatation for severe subglottic stenosis at 23 weeks’ gestation using THRIVE and we summarise the evidence supporting the use of this new technique in pregnant women.
Object-in-Hand Feature Displacement with Physically-Based Deformation

Data deformation has been widely used in visualization to obtain an improved view that better helps the comprehension of the data. It has been a consistent pursuit to conduct interactive deformation by operations that are natural to users. In this paper, we propose a deformation system following the object-in-hand metaphor. We utilize a touchscreen to directly manipulate the shape of the data by using fingers. Users can drag data features and move them along with the fingers. Users can also press their fingers to hold other parts of the data fixed during the deformation, or perform cutting on the data using a finger. The deformation is executed using a physically-based mesh, which is constructed to incorporate data properties to make the deformation authentic as well as informative. By manipulating data features as if handling an object in hand, we can successfully achieve less occluded view of the data, or improved feature layout for better view comparison. We present case studies on various types of scientific datasets, including particle data, volumetric data, and streamlines.
A hierarchical model for estimating exposure-response curves from multiple studies

Cookstove replacement trials have found mixed results on their impact on respiratory health. The limited range of concentrations and small sample sizes of individual studies are important factors that may be limiting their statistical power. We present a hierarchical approach to modeling exposure concentrations and pooling data from multiple studies in order to estimate a common exposure-response curve. The exposure concentration model accommodates temporally sparse, clustered longitudinal observations. The exposure-response curve model provides a flexible, semi-parametric estimate of the exposure-response relationship while accommodating heterogeneous clustered data. We apply this model to data from three studies of cookstoves and respiratory infections in children in Nepal, which represent three study types: crossover trial, parallel trial, and case-control study. We find evidence of increased odds of disease for particulate matter concentrations between 50 and 200 $\mu$g/m$^3$ and a flattening of the exposure-response curve for higher exposure concentrations. The model we present can incorporate additional studies and be applied to other settings.
Cost-Consequences of Fondaparinux Use for Treatment of Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia.

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a severe complication of therapy with heparin and low molecular-weight heparins and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Furthermore, HIT constitutes an economic burden on health care systems. Direct thrombin inhibitors (DTIs) lepirudin and argatroban; the approved agents for HIT treatment; are expensive and require intravenous administration with substantial use of resources and increased duration of hospital stay. Indeed, the cost of management of HIT utilizing DTIs in heart surgery has been estimated to range from over $100 to $300 million dollars nationwide. Published case reports, abstracts, and our own data support the use of fondaparinux, a pentasaccharide, in the management of HIT as an effective and safe alternative to DTIs. We evaluated the cost associated with fondaparinux use in a series of patients with HIT treated at our tertiary care teaching institution. We performed a retrospective review of 18 patients with HIT receiving fondaparinux during study period from January 2002 through June 2006. HIT diagnosis was found in 77.7% of patients during their hospital stay and in 22.2% at admission. Ten patients were initially treated with argatroban (9) or lepirudin (1) before switching to fondaparinux due to concerns of increased risk of bleeding mandating the use of an anticoagulant with short half-life or to renal failure prohibiting the use of fondaparinux. The total cost for the group including actual direct variable (room, pharmacy, lab, and supplies), actual direct fixed, and indirect costs was $1,484,297 and the mean was $82,462±70,153. The actual direct variable cost was $888,461 with a mean of $49,359±43,047 per patient. The actual direct fixed cost was $344,563 with a mean of $19,142±15,257. The indirect cost was $251,273 with a mean of $13,960±12,094. In this series, the daily cost of anticoagulant per patient based on average wholesale price (AWP) $407. This compared favorably to a daily cost per patient of $1093.76 for argatroban and $1732.8 for lepirudin. The total cost of drug for all patients was $70,414 as opposed to an estimated cost of $189,220 or $299,774 should argatroban or lepirudin have been used, respectively. This translated into an estimated savings from $129,000 to $229,000. In summary, the utilization of fondaparinux in HIT treatment at our institution resulted in a dramatic drug cost reduction. Coupled with its subcutaneous route of administration and the absence of need for laboratory monitoring, allowing reduction in hospital stay and spared resources, fondaparinux would represent an attractive alternative to DTIs in the management of HIT pending further clinical studies to confirm its safety and efficacy.
Transport phenomena in flow battery ion-conducting membranes

Abstract Selectively tuning ion transport through redox flow battery separators is a promising approach toward increasing cell capacity, power density, and, ultimately, economic feasibility. However, this process is complex with numerous forces and coupled molecular interactions driving and impacting transport under different operating regimes. A fundamental description of ion transport in flow-battery separators can guide the development of new separators by identifying the nature of ion selectivity under given conditions. In this paper, we highlight different contributing factors of transport phenomena, explore how these factors influence cell performance, and the performance tradeoffs inherent in membrane design.
Horacio Castellanos Moya’s Moronga and the narrative destabilization of neoliberal mentality

Horacio Castellanos Moya’s 2018 novel Moronga gives voice to the Honduran-Salvadoran author’s disillusionment with the results of the Central American revolutionary wars of the closing decades of t...
Mental health care use in men with comorbid diabetes and depression: The role of age and race.

Objectives Older adults with diabetes have double the normal average risk for depression. While women also report higher rates of depression, men are less likely than women to recognize symptoms and seek assistance for mental health treatment. Racial disparities in mental health care use among men have also been identified. While age and gender differences in mental health care use have been accounted for in adults with comorbid diabetes and depression little is known about within group differences among men. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of age and race on mental health service use in a sample of men with comorbid diabetes and depression. Methods This study utilized secondary data from a large health care delivery system serving in a Midwestern urban city and included 335 Black, and non-Latino White men with comorbid type 2 diabetes and depression. Results and Discussion Findings indicate that men under the age of 55 were less likely to experience a 6-month or more delay in receiving a psychiatric medication prescription after their initial depression diagnosis. Black men over 55 years of age were significantly more likely to experience a delay of over six months to receiving psychiatric medication. More research is needed to explore preferred depression treatment methods for older Black men with type 2 diabetes, in addition to any issues with access to pharmacological medications to treat depression.
Structure and mechanism of a primate ferroportin

Abstract Ferroportin is the only cellular iron exporter in human and essential for iron homoeostasis. Mutations in ferroportin are associated with hemochromatosis or ferroportin diseases characterized by a paradoxical combination of anemia and abnormal accumulation of iron in cells. Ferroportin is also the target of hepcidin, which is a hormone that downregulates ferroportin activity. However, due to a lack of three-dimensional structures, the mechanism of iron transport by ferroportin and its regulation by hepcidin remains unclear. Here we present the structure of a ferroportin from the primate Philippine tarsier (TsFpn) at 3.0 A resolution determined by cryo-electron microscopy. TsFpn has a structural fold common to major facilitator superfamily of transporters and the current structure is in an outward-open conformation. The structure identifies two potential ion binding sites with each site coordinated by two residues. Functional studies demonstrate that TsFpn is a H+/Fe2+ antiporter and that transport of one Fe2+ is coupled to the transport of two H+ in the opposite direction such that the transport cycle is electroneutral. Further studies show that the two ion binding sites affect transport of H+ and Fe2+ differently. The structure also provides mechanistic interpretation for mutations that cause ferroportin diseases.
Chapter 25 – Xenopus laevis

Xenopus laevis, also known as the African clawed frog, has played a significant role in understanding the causes of epilepsy and in identifying and characterizing effective treatments. This has largely been accomplished through the use of the oocytes of Xenopus, which possess many qualities that make them well-suited for the study of ion channels, neurotransmitter receptors, and membrane transporters involved in the generation of epileptic seizures. The Xenopus tadpole has also been used in important toxicology studies of antiepileptic drugs and as a model of chemically-induced seizures. In this chapter, the use of Xenopus as a model in the study of epilepsy and seizures will be detailed, as well as the advantages and limitations of its use.
Optimizing Rapid Sequence Intubation for Medical and Trauma Patients in the Pediatric Emergency Department.

Introduction Rapid sequence intubation (RSI) is a critical procedure for severely ill and injured patients presenting to the pediatric emergency department (PED). This procedure has a high risk of complications, and multiple attempts increase this risk. We aimed to increase successful intubation within two attempts, focusing on medical and trauma patients separately to identify improvement barriers for each group. Methods A multifaceted intervention was implemented using quality improvement methods. The analysis included adherence to the standardized process, successful intubation within two attempts, and frequency of oxygen saturations <92% during laryngoscopy. Trauma and medical patients were analyzed separately as team composition differed for each. Results This project began in February 2018, and we included 290 patients between April 2018 and December 2019. Adherence to the standardized process was sustained at 91% for medical patients and a baseline of 55% for trauma patients with a trend toward improvement. In May 2018, we observed and sustained special cause variations for medical patients' successful intubations within two attempts (77-89%). In September 2018, special cause variation was observed and sustained for the successful intubation of trauma patients within two attempts (89-96%). The frequency of oxygen saturation of <92% was 21% for medical patients; only one trauma patient experienced oxygen desaturation. Conclusion Implementation of a standardized process significantly improved successful intubations within two attempts for medical and trauma patients. Trauma teams had more gradual adherence to the standardized process, which may be related to the relative infrequency of intubations and variable team composition.
Learning the Chinese language on a non-traditional path: a case study

This case study examines the journey of a successful Chinese language learner who has become a Chinese language instructor. His path of learning Chinese is found to be different than that of most n...
Evaluation of the Protective Performance of the Lightning Arrester for the Lightning Shielding Failure of $\pm 800\mathrm{kV}$ Yibin-Jinhua UHVDC Transmission Line

The detour lighting has become the primary factor affecting the reliability of UHVDC transmission lines, and the surge arrester is one of the most important measures in lightning protection. This paper takes $\pm 800\mathrm{kV}$ Yibin-Jinhua UHVDC transmission line as example evaluating the performance of the surge arrester based on the lightning simulation. The protective performance of the arrester for two typical towers under single return stroke are calculated and analyzed. The detour lightning resistance level with and without the lighting arrester is compared, and the influence of the tower wave impedance and the grounding resistance is obtained. The simulation results show that with the installation of the arrester, the detour lightning resistance level of the UHVDC transmission lines can be significantly improved. The tower wave impedance has little effect on the detour lightning resistance level which can be ignored. With the increase of the tower ground resistance, the arrester shows slight decrease in peak current and absorbed energy.
Ley aplicable a los smart contracts y lex crytographia

Blockchain-based smart contracts pose significant challenges for Contract Law and Private International Law. At the same time, smart contracts using blockchain technology can largely operate outside the legal system and thereby, challenge the traditional legislative monopoly of the State. Some even predict that algorithms will eventually replace the law and the judicial system, once the socalled Lex Cryptographia is consolidated. Against this background, the present article addresses three main issues: First, it deals with the applicable law to smart contracts under the Rome I Regulation. Second, it studies the phenomenon of the Lex Cryptographia and its interaction with the state legal system. Finally, it analyses the ability of Private International Law to respond to some of the main challenges that arise in relation to smart contracts, namely, the need to provide legal certainty and a right balance between regulation and technological development.
A Psychophysical Technique for Testing Explanations of Sensitivity Loss Due to Retinal Disease

Although a retinal disease may affect a patient’s ability to differentiate colors and discriminate details, perhaps the most fundamental change is a loss of sensitivity to light. There are many explanations for a disease-related sensitivity loss. For example, a major component of this loss is often attributed to a decrease in quantum catching ability of the photoreceptors. A loss of photopigment, a misalignment of the photoreceptors, or a clouding of the lens or vitreous all decrease the number of quanta caught by the photoreceptors. In this paper, we show how an explanation, like the one above, can be tested using a psychophysical technique. In addition, we reject this particular explanation for the early loss of foveal sensitivity due to retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and suggest instead, that in this disease, and in several other retinal diseases we have studied, sensitivity loss is caused by a decreased responsiveness of individual retinal elements.
Regulation of Photosynthetic Unit Structure in Rhodospirillum Rubrum Whole Cells

The photosynthetic unit (PSU) in Rhodospirillum rubrum consists of a reaction center (RC) which is about 95 kd (Gingras, 1978) and a light-harvesting (LH) antenna complex which has a molecular weight of about 150 kd (Picorel et al., 1983). The RC contains 3 polypeptides, 4 bacteriochlorophyll, 2 bacteriopheophytin and severalubiquinone molecules. The LH complex contains 21±3 bacteriochlorophyll, 10±2 carotenoid and 9 to 12 copies of each of two small polypeptides. Thus, the total size of this fundamental unit is about 250 kd.
AdaptCast: An integrated source to transmission scheme for wireless sensor networks

This paper introduces AdaptCast, an integrated source to transmission scheme for wireless sensor networks (WSNs) that efficiently represents collected data and increases their robustness against channel errors across a wide range of signal to noise (SNR) values in a rateless fashion. AdaptCast leverages sparsity inherent in the majority of physical signals in order to parsimoniously represent them without relying on a specific signal model. The proposed scheme does not suffer from the sudden degradation in the tradeoff between distortion and SNR of rated channel coding schemes due to its direct, relative bit importance preserving modulation mapping. In addition, it does not require continuous feedback or channel state information (CSI) as a result of its rateless operation. Apart from point-to-point transmission, AdaptCast enables efficient multicasting to a set of nodes, serving each of them at a rate commensurate to its individual channel quality. We demonstrate AdaptCast's application-independent operation by using several typical signals captured in WSNs. Based on our analysis and simulation results, considering the tradeoff between distortion and channel quality, AdaptCast performs close in a point-to-point scenario to an idealized layered transmission scheme with instantaneous CSI and offers significant benefits in multiuser settings.
A study of the correlations between Augmented Reality and its ability to influence user behavior

Video game play is traditionally associated with sedentary activity, but it may be possible in the new mobile, ubiquitous game play paradigm to encourage users to engage in healthy exercise. Augmented Reality may be an ideal vehicle for this type of change, as it can add virtual game elements to a user's physical world. In this paper, we leveraged concepts drawn from mobile health monitoring as well as game design to discover whether a mobile platform with Augmented Reality game elements could have a greater effect on user health behavior than a platform with no ties to the physical world. We created a game (Imaginary Dragon) which allowed the user to care for a virtual pet by engaging in short breaks from sedentary activity. In a short term 30 person study, users indicated a strong preference for the game that contained AR elements. In a longer term study of 15 participants, it was found that the game with AR elements was used approximately ten times more than the game without AR elements.
Kroll process beryllium

High-purity beryllium metal was prepared on a laboratory scale by Kroll process procedures in which sodium was used as a reductant. Crude beryllium chloride, purchased from commercial sources, was purified by vacuum sublimation and fused-salt scrubbing. Purified beryllium chloride was vaporized and reacted at a controlled rate with molten sodium at temperatures ranging from 650° to 750°C to form beryllium sponge. Excess metal reductant and byproduct salt were removed from the sponge metal by vacuum distillation. Beryllium sponge metal was wet ball milled to −200 or −400 mesh powders. Beryllium powder metal, subsequently consolidated by isostatic pressing, was hot extruded and machined into tensile specimens for evaluation of mechanical properties. Evaluation indicates that the beryllium described in this study is of higher purity than comparable commercial grades of metal; also it is more ductile but has somewhat lower strength. The overall process appears to have an excellent potential from an economic standpoint.
Vehicle/Atmosphere Interaction Glows: Far Ultraviolet, Visible, and Infrared

Spacecraft glow information has been gathered from a number of spacecraft including Atmospheric and Dynamic satellites, and Space Shuttles (numerous flights) with dedicated pallet flow observations on STS-39 (DOD) and STS-62 (NASA). In addition, a larger number of laboratory experiments with low energy oxygen beam studies have made important contributions to glow understanding. The following report provides information on three engineering models developed for spacecraft glow including the far ultraviolet to ultraviolet (1400-4000 A), and infrared (0.9-40 microns) spectral regions. The models include effects resulting from atmospheric density/altitude, spacecraft temperature, spacecraft material, and ram angle. Glow brightness would be predicted as a function of distance from surfaces for all wavelengths.
Interval Tools for Computer Aided Proofs in Analysis

A brief survey of theory and software implementations of interval and related techniques for computing with machine representable sets is presented with applications to computer aided proofs in analysis. Recent work on variable precision software is discussed.
Synthesis of Pyrrolidines and Pyrroles via Tandem Amination/Cyanation/Alkylation and Amination/Oxidation Sequences

Starting from a primary amine-tethered alkyne 1, a copper-catalyzed three-component tandem amination/cyanation/alkylation sequence gives α-CN pyrrolidine 6 in good yield and regioselectivity. Also, a silver mediated tandem amination/oxidation of a secondary amine-tethered alkyne 7 produces functionalized pyrrole 8 in good yield. All reactions were conducted in one pot without any protection/deprotection steps.
Cultural evolution in software testing

In order to successfully apply any modern test technique, it is imperative to establish a corresponding training program. The deployment of appropriate tools is only a part of the task, in fact, in some cases - a minor task. The bigger question remains, as to how to plan the cultural shift of an organization. Several successful companies, for example IMA of Colorado, make their business in helping organizations transition into a different culture. This paper explores this important subject, as it pertains to the deployment of the operational profiles-based technique. >
Reactions of conjugated fatty acids. III. Kinetics of the Diels‐Alder reaction

The kinetics of a Diels-Alder-type reaction between diethylazodicarboxylate andt,t-9,11-octadecadienoic acid has been studied in various solvent systems and with acidic catalysts. The rate of the reaction was found to vary as follows: a) the reaction rate is faster in polar solvents than in nonpolar solvents; b) addition of acidic catalysts to nonpolar solvents increases the rate of the reaction, and acidic catalysts appear to have no effect on the rate of reaction in polar solvents; c) when compatibility can be maintained, addition of water to polar solvent systems appears to increase the reaction rate in proportion to the amount of water added.
Radio and Meteor Science Outcomes From Comparisons of Meteor Radar Observations at AMISR Poker Flat, Sondrestrom, and Arecibo

Radio science and meteor physics issues regarding meteor “head-echo” observations with high power, large aperture (HPLA) radars, include the frequency and latitude dependency of the observed meteor altitude, speed, and deceleration distributions. We address these issues via the first ever use and analysis of meteor observations from the Poker Flat AMISR (PFISR: 449.3 MHz), Sondrestrom (SRF: 1,290 MHz), and Arecibo (AO: 430 MHz) radars. The PFISR and SRF radars are located near the Arctic Circle while AO is in the tropics. The meteors observed at each radar were detected and analyzed using the same automated FFT periodic micrometeor searching algorithm. Meteor parameters (event altitude, velocity, and deceleration distributions) from all three facilities are compared revealing a clearly defined altitude “ceiling effect” in the 1,290 MHz results relative to the 430/449.3 MHz results. This effect is even more striking in that the Arecibo and PFISR distributions are similar even though the two radars are over 2,000 times different in sensitivity and at very different latitudes, thus providing the first statistical evidence that HPLA meteor radar observations are dominated by the incident wavelength, regardless of the other radar parameters. We also offer insights into the meteoroid fragmentation and “terminal” process.
Formation of jarosite-bearing deposits through aqueous oxidation of pyrite at Meridiani Planum, Mars

[1] The discovery of sulfate-rich layered deposits with hematite spherules at the landing site of the Opportunity rover is consistent with mineral deposition in an aqueous environment. We evaluate conditions responsible for the formation of a jarosite-goethite-gypsum assemblage with speciation calculations. The results show that the assemblage could have precipitated from acidic solutions formed through near-surface aqueous oxidation of pyrite. Our hypothesis is that regional heating in the Meridiani Planum caused a release of sulfide-rich hydrothermal waters, leading to formation of pyrite-rich regional deposits in a depression. Aqueous oxidation of these deposits by atmospheric O2 created an acidic environment that allowed formation of sulfates and goethite. Partial neutralization of the solution caused further goethite precipitation and conversion of jarosite to goethite, leading to formation of goethite concretions. Subsequent dehydration of goethite to coarse-grained hematite would also have been facilitated by regional heating.
A brief tutorial on the estimation of the process standard deviation

We consider the common SQC problem of estimating a process standard deviation based on several sample ranges or sample standard deviations. Simple, well-known facts that are used to produce “control chart constants” can also provide guidance in the combining of such ranges or standard deviations for normal processes. Root mean squared errors for both unbiased linear estimators common in the literature and some (biased) optimal estimators are shown to be simple functions of these constants.
Appreciating the Legacy of Kubler-Ross: One Clinical Ethicist's Perspective

Elisabeth Kubler-Ross had a brief intersection with the nascent and emerging field and practice of Clinical Ethics in the 1970s. She fertilized and influenced the field in distinctive ways, some mo...