cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Improving Book OCR by Adaptive Language and Image Models

In order to cope with the vast diversity of book content and typefaces, it is important for OCR systems to leverage the strong consistency within a book but adapt to variations across books. We describe a system that combines two parallel correction paths using document-specific image and language models. Each model adapts to shapes and vocabularies within a book to identify inconsistencies as correction hypotheses, but relies on the other for effective cross-validation. Using the open source Tesseract engine as baseline, results on a large data set of scanned books demonstrate that word error rates can be reduced by 25 percent using this approach.
Partially conserved axial-vector current and deep-inelastic electron scattering

Abstract Using soft pion method, it is shown that the structure function F L e π→ e+anything (ω) m π 2 =0 =0 . With the aid of factorization of single Regge exchange, it follows that F L eN→e+anything ( ω ) = 0 for ω where Pomeron contribu tion dominates.
Leakage Power Characteristics of Dynamic Circuits in Nanometer CMOS Technologies

Temperature-dependent subthreshold and gate-oxide leakage power characteristics of domino logic circuits under the influence of process parameter variations are evaluated in this paper. Preferred input vectors and node voltage states that minimize the total leakage power consumption are identified at the lower and upper extremes of a typical die temperature spectrum. New low-leakage circuit design guidelines are presented based on the results. Significantly increased gate dielectric tunneling current, as described in this paper, dramatically changes the leakage power characteristics of dynamic circuits in deeply scaled nanometer CMOS technologies. Contrary to the previously published techniques, a charged dynamic-node voltage state with low inputs is preferred for reducing the total leakage power consumption in the most widely used types of single- and dual-threshold voltage domino gates, particularly at low die temperatures. Furthermore, leakage power savings provided by the dual-threshold voltage domino logic circuit techniques based on input gating are all together reduced due to the significance of gate dielectric tunneling in sub-45-nm CMOS technologies
Aging is associated with diminished accretion of muscle proteins after the ingestion of a small bolus of essential amino acids

Background:Previous evidence suggests that aging in healthy persons does not result in decreased incorporation of muscle proteins after a bolus ingestion of 15 g essential amino acids (EAAs). Objective: We sought to examine whether ingestion of a smaller bolus of EAAs is associated with diminished accretion of muscle proteins in the elderly when compared with the young. Design: Eleven elderly subjects (x SEM: 68 2 y) and 8 young control subjects (x SEM: 31 2 y) were studied in the postabsorptive state and for 3.5 h after a bolus ingestion of 7 g EAAs. Muscle protein accretion and synthesis were measured with the femoralarteriovenousphenylalaninenetbalancetechniqueduringa constant infusion of L-[ring- 2 H5]phenylalanine. Results:Similartopreviousobservations,nosignificantdifferences in the postabsorptive phenylalanine net balance were observed between the groups. However, the mean (SEM) net phenylalanine uptake after EAA ingestion was significantly less in the elderly (9.9 3.7 mg/leg) than in the young (25.13.7 mg/leg;P0.05). The mean (SEM) rate of disappearance of phenylalanine during the same period significantly increased above basal rates in the young (363comparedwith303nmol·min 1 ·100mLlegvolume 1 ; P 0.05) but not in the elderly (30 3 compared with 28 5 nmol · min 1 · 100 mL leg volume 1 ; P 0.05). Conclusions: These data indicate that aging results in a diminished accretionofmuscleproteinsafteringestionofasmalldoseofEAAs. These findings may have practical implications with respect to the amount of protein contained in supplements given to the elderly for enhancing the stimulation of muscle protein synthesis. Am J Clin Nutr 2005;82:1065–73.
Teacher Questioning to Elicit Students’ Mathematical Thinking in Elementary School Classrooms:

Cognitively Guided Instruction (CGI) researchers have found that while teachers readily ask initial questions to elicit students’ mathematical thinking, they struggle with how to follow up on student ideas. This study examines the classrooms of three teachers who had engaged in algebraic reasoning CGI professional development. We detail teachers’ questions and how they relate to students’ making explicit their complete and correct explanations. We found that after the initial “How did you get that?” question, a great deal of variability existed among teachers’ questions and students’ responses.
Optimizing lead body control during lead extractions: the "Felix helix" lead compression method.

Figure 2 The twisted stylet is bent flush to the lead body, and the free lengths of the stylet are wrapped around the lead. The stylet arms are then twisted again perpendicular to the lead with a needle driver. A crucial factor in the success of a lead extraction is maintaining control of the lead body. Control of the lead can be obtained by using multiple tools. A lead locking stylet is usually placed down the pace-sense conductor of the lead to be extracted and secured. Spectranetics (Colorado Springs, CO) offers a line of lead locking devices, and Cook Medical (Bloomington, IN) offers the Liberator Beacon Tip Locking Stylet. When the lead locking device or stylet is retracted more forcibly relative to the outer components of the lead, there is an increased chance that the inner components will unravel and control of the lead may be lost. To keep the lead as one piece, the outer components of the lead need to be compressed onto the inner stylet. The outer body of the lead is usually secured with a long silk tie and half hitches may be tied to distribute the tension about the proximal portion of the lead. Cook Medical has developed the One-Tie lead compression coil that is akin to a paper clip that is wound around the lead locking stylet and half around the outer lead body. The purpose of this device is to compress the lead in a
STRUCTURAL AUTONOMY, SOCIAL NETWORKS, AND THE EXPLORATION AND EXPLOITATION OF KNOWLEDGE

Research on the exploration and exploitation of knowledge in organizations suggests that the autonomy of subsidiaries or units encourages innovation. However, that same autonomy potentially discour...
The emerging role of paclitaxel in breast cancer therapy

Introduction Multiple chemotherapeutic agents and regimens exist with documented antitumor activity against breast cancer; however, less than one in five patients with stage IV breast cancer are alive 5 years from the first detection of distant metastases (1). Although improved response proportions have been observed, overall survival for patients with metastatic breast cancer has not been significantly improved by the progress of the past three decades. Furthermore, despite the proven magnitude of benefit of adjuvant systemic therapy in reducing the risk of recurrence (2), a significant fraction of patients with early stage breast cancer still will relapse and ultimately die of metastatic disease. Clearly new active agents and strategies are needed to improve upon this situation. The development of paclitaxel (Taxol#{174}), the prototype taxane, as an anticancer agent accelerated after the elucidation of its unique mechanism of action (3) and by the initial demonstration of its activity in refractory advanced ovarian carcinoma (4). Multidisciplinary efforts to procure sufficient quantities of this agent have allowed a rapid expansion of clinical trials. This review will address the development of paclitaxel for use in breast cancer, the clinical results noted thus far in the treatment of metastatic disease, the design of presently ongoing trials, and examine avenues of future investigation.
Examination of starch-water and cellulose-water interactions with near infrared (NIR) diffuse reflectance spectroscopy

Starch-water and cellulose-water interactions were examined with NIR diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. Samples of native potato, wheat, and corn starches and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) were equilibrated to water activities (aw) ranging from 0.11 to 0.94 aw. A modified B.E.T. model was applied to the water vapor sorption isotherm (T=25°C) data. NIR spectra (1000 to 2640 nm) revealed no abrupt changes in molecular structure. However, as has been suggested in the literature, there appear to be two species of non-freezable water whose relative quantities change as aw varies. It is hypothesized that the first species represents water within the monolayer, and the second species represents multilayer water. NIR spectra of starch suggests that some multilayer water is present before the monolayer is completed. Spectra of MCC corroborate the existence of two species of higly associated water. The isotherm model was highly successful in describing sorption behavior over the aw range examined. Untersuchungen von Starke/Wasser- und Cellulose/Wasser- Wechselwirkungen durch Nahinfrarot(NIR)-Streuungs-Reflexions -Spektroskopie. Starke/Wasser- und Cellulose/Wasser-Wechselwirkungen wurden mittels NIR-Streuungs-Reflexions-Spektroskopie untersucht. Kartoffel-, Weizen- und Maisstarke sowie mikrokristalline Cellulose (MCC) wurden auf eine gleiche Wasseraktivitat (aw) von 0,11 bis 0,94 aw eingestellt. Fur die Wasserdampf-Isothermen-Werte (T=25°C) wurde ein modifiziertes B.E.T.-Modell angewendet. Das NIR-Spektrum (1000-2640 nm) zeigte keine plotzlichen Anderungen der Molekularstruktur. Wie in der Literatur erwahnt, scheinen zwei Arten von nicht gefrierbarem Wasser vorzuliegen, deren relative Mengen mit wechselndem aw variieren. Es wird angenommen, das die erste Sorte einschichtiges und die zweite mehrschichtiges Wasser reprasentieren. Die NIR-Spektra von Starke lassen vermuten, das bereits etwas mehrschichtiges Wasser vorhanden ist, bevor die Monoschicht vervollstandigt wird. Die MCC-Spektra bestatigen die Existenz von zwei Arten von hoch assoziiertem Wasser. Das Isotherm-Modell war hochst erfolgreich fur die Beschreibung des Sorptionsverhaltens in dem untersuchten aw-Bereich.
A Whole Genome Scan for Pulse Pressure/Stroke Volume Ratio in African Americans: The HyperGEN Study*

Background Arterial stiffness is reported in numerous family studies to be heritable. Linkage analysis has identified genomic regions that likely harbor genes contributing to its phenotypic expression. We sought to identify loci contributing to arterial stiffness in a large group of African-American hypertensive families. Methods We performed a genome scan on 1251 African Americans in families participating in the HyperGEN (Hypertension Genetic Epidemiology Network) study. Children of the hypertensive proband generation were also included in the analysis. Arterial stiffness was estimated as pulse pressure (PP; systolic − diastolic blood pressure [BP]) divided by echocardiographically determined stroke volume (SV). The PP/SV ratio was adjusted for several nongenetic sources of variation, including demographic and lifestyle factors. The residual phenotype was analyzed using multipoint variance components linkage implemented in SOLAR 2.0.3. Results Arterial stiffness was 20% heritable in African Americans. Two regions were highly suggestive of linkage, one between markers D1S1665 and D1S1728 in the 215-cM region of chromosome 1 (LOD = 3.08), and another between D14S588 and D14S606 in the 85-cM region of chromosome 14 (LOD = 2.42). Two candidate genes (GPR-25, SMOC-1) are located in the linked regions. SMOC-1 is of physiological interest because it codes a secreted glycoprotein with five domains, each containing regions homologous to those on other proteins that mediate cell–matrix interactions. GPR-25 is homologous to receptors involved in BP regulation. Conclusions At least two chromosomal regions in humans are likely to harbor genes contributing to interindividual variation in PP/SV ratio, an index of arterial stiffness, in African Americans.
The National Agenda for Quality Palliative Care: The National Consensus Project and the National Quality Forum

The release in 2007 of the National Quality Forum (NQF) preferred practices is a significant advance in the field of palliative care. These NQF preferred practices build on the clinical practice guidelines for palliative care developed by the National Consensus Project (NCP). The NQF is dedicated to improving the quality of American health care, and their focus on palliative care recognizes its growing place within the broader scope of health care. This article reviews the work of both the NCP and NQF and presents the domains and preferred practices that should guide quality improvement efforts in hospice and palliative care.
Frost, Drought, and Heat Resistance

With the exception of Chapter 5, the present work deals solely with plants. This was necessary because the author is a botanist and not familiar with the animal literature. It is also reasonable, since tolerance plays a greater role in the resistance of plants. The greater complexity of animal morphology, which may lead to the death of a whole organism as a result of injury to a single organ, also results in basic differences between the kinds of resistance in the two groups. In recent years, however, much work has been done on the frost resistance of individual animal cells, and this is more strictly comparable to the plant work. These researches prompted the author to include a chapter on frost resistance in animals, In the hope that this work may help to solve the whole problem for both plants and animals.
Cultural Barriers to African American Participation in Anxiety Disorders Research

Anxiety disorders are understudied, underdiagnosed, and undertreated in African Americans. Research focused on the phenomenology, etiology, and treatment of anxiety in African Americans has been hampered by lack of inclusion of this population in clinical research studies. The reason for exclusion is not well understood, although cultural mistrust has been hypothesized as a major barrier to research participation. This article reviews the relevant literature to date and examines the experience of 6 African American adults who participated in a larger clinical assessment study about anxiety. Drawing upon in-depth semistructured interviews about their subjective experiences, we examined participant perspectives about the assessment process, opinions about African American perception of anxiety studies, and participant-generated ideas about how to improve African American participation. Based on a qualitative analysis of responses, feelings of mistrust emerged as a dominant theme. Concerns fell under 6 categories, including not wanting to speak for others, confidentiality, self and group presentation concerns, repercussions of disclosure, potential covert purposes of the study, and the desire to confide only in close others. Suggestions for increasing African American participation are discussed, including assurances of confidentiality, adequate compensation, and a comfortable study environment.
HOX Genes: Major Actors in Resistance to Selective Endocrine Response Modifiers

Long term treatment with therapies aimed at blocking the estrogen- (ER) or androgen receptor (AR) action often leads to the development of resistance to selective modulators of the estrogen receptor (SERMs) in ERα-positive breast cancer, or of the androgen receptor (SARMs) in AR-positive prostate cancer. Many underlying molecular events that confer resistance are known, but a unifying theme is yet to be revealed. Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) such EGFR, ERBB2 and IGF1R are major mediators that can directly alter cellular response to the SERM, tamoxifen, but the mechanisms underlying increased expression of RTKs are not clear. A number of HOX genes and microRNAs and non-coding RNAs residing in the HOX cluster, have been identified as important independent predictors of endocrine resistant breast cancer. Recently, convincing evidence has accumulated that several members belonging to the four different HOX clusters contribute to endocrine therapy resistant breast cancer, but the mechanisms remain obscure. In this article, we have reviewed recent progress in understanding of the functioning of HOX genes and regulation of their expression by hormones. We also discuss, in particular, the contributions of several members of the HOX gene family to endocrine resistant breast cancer.
Capital Structure and Assets Revaluation

This paper forms part of the broader field of theoretical and empirical research on the capital structure of firms. In addition to extending the literature to a new institutional framework (Lebanon), the effect of assets revaluation on firms leverage is being introduced theoretically and tested empirically. The results demonstrate that registering revaluation spreads in the balance sheet increases the borrowing capacity of firms. This procedure that does not bring any cash flows affects the policies and the financing choices of firms. Indeed, a positive and highly significant relation exists between the financial leverage and the revaluation surplus variable. This relation shows the asymmetry of information that exists between bankers and firms regarding the assets of the latter and their present value. All in all, the conclusion is that before revaluation, a firm in an environment touched by a monetary devaluation has a lower debt ratio and a lower borrowing capacity than a firm having exactly the same characteristics but acting in a non-inflationary environment (all else equal).
St. Kizito Clinic Primary Health Care Centre

This case is useful for introducing the dynamics of not-for-profit marketing and organizational structuring. It reinforces the view of marketing as the range of activities involved in continuing to meet customer needs while generating value in return irrespective of the context--consumer, business-to-business, or nonprofit. It also demonstrates how charitable organizations could be funded as nonprofits but grow into revenue-generating organizations. St. Kizito Clinic in Nigeria had grown in the number of patient visits, number of services provided, and number of staff members since its inception 15 years earlier. The scope and quality of services were comparable to those provided by a number of competing secondary institutions. The clinic's location had evolved from a slum in a rural area to a slum in an urban area, leading to an increasing number of visits from the more affluent members of the surrounding communities. Medical Director Chiara Mezzalira, MD, faced the challenge of balancing the clinic’s mission, which had as its primary audience the poor, the needy, and the underprivileged members of the society with environmental pressures wealthier clients presented. She was also mindful of the pressures from the clinic’s Italian founder, the Association of Volunteers in International Services, to institutionalize proper management and accounting systems and reduce its financial dependence on the organization.
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy in the setting of acute hydrocephalus secondary to neurocysticercosis

We report the case of a 45-year-old male who presented with transient neurogenic stunned myocardium, or takotsubo cardiomyopathy, secondary to acute hydrocephalus caused by obstruction of the third ventricle by neurocysticercosis.
Meter, Phrase, and Form in the Compositions of Maria Schneider

OF DISSERTATION METER, PHRASE, AND FORM IN THE COMPOSITIONS OF MARIA SCHNEIDER The central claims of this study are that Maria Schneider relies on normative rhythmic structures from the jazz tradition, and that her expressive deviations from those norms are comprehensible to experienced listeners in real time. The study proposes a non-recursive model of hypermeter wherein the measure is formed through entrainment, the four-bar sub-unit is formed through recognizable qualia at the measure level, and the eight-bar level is formed through the expectation for sub-units to group into pairs. I introduce the “structural phrase” as a unit that, while normatively hypermetrical, is distinct from the issue of hypermeter in its formal aspects and its ability to diverge from hypermetrical organization. Structural phrases mediate our sense of place in the music, and they most often begin with an audibly clear attentional peak that I call the “structural phrase onset.” I posit that experienced listeners understand how structural phrases operate in Schneider’s compositional style through awareness of the relative frequency of each structural phrase type. Based on data gathered from a corpus of twenty-four pieces, comprised of 1,105 structural phrases, I find that 61% of Schneider’s structural phrases are normative. Further, the influence of the normative structural phrase supersedes its literal appearance on the surface of an acoustic signal, serving as the conceptual background for nine dialogic deviations: 31% of structural phrases are deviational yet operate in direct dialogue with the norm. Only three deviation types, accounting for 8% of structural phrases, are entirely independent of the normative organization. Structural phrases function as shallow-level formal units that group into deeper levels. This study categorizes Schneider’s formal approach as a hybrid between two practices: (1) traditional big band arranging, in its emphasis on improvised solos and idiosyncratic features such as the “ensemble feature” section; and (2) sonata form, in its motivic-thematic emphasis, freely unfolding sectional organization, and broadly threepart design. I refer to the three parts at the deepest structural level as “three-Spaces,” including Exposition, Solo, and Recapitulation Spaces. These Spaces are comprised of seven types of sections at a lower structural level: introduction, expositional, transition,
Clinical use of the Turbidimetric Analysis of Sperm Motility: Comparison With Visual Techniques

Semen characteristics of men with apparent fertility problems are analyzed primarily by routine visual techniques. Although these techniques provide quantitative information regarding the sperm count, they give only qualitative information about sperm motility. We compared visual microscopic ratings of sperm motility (based on an arbitrary scale of 0 to 4 in half-unit steps) with turbidimetric spectrophotometric analyses for 100 patients from our male fertility clinic. In the turbidimetric method, semen is layered on the bottom of a cuvette filled with Lopata's medium, and motility is quantitated as the rate of change in optical density as the sperm swim upward into the light path. The visual sperm motility rating did not correlate with the turbidimetric rating. Whereas most of the patients had visual ratings of 2.5 to 3.0 (indicating normal motility), the majority had turbidimetric motility factors that were well below the average motility factor for a control group. On the basis of these studies we believe that the turbidimetric analysis of sperm motility is a much more accurate measure of sperm motility than is visual microscopic analysis. Its major advantages are that (1) it provides a quantitative measure of sperm motility; (2) it does not rely on arbitrary rating by an individual; and (3) the sperm must perform work in order to be measured (i.e., leave the semen and swim upward into the light path).
What Is Being Done About Emerging Drugs

In recent years, at both the state and federal level (even a few rare local ordinances) have addressed a perceived threat in several American communities in the past decade. However, there does not appear to be any consistency on how these substances are regulated nor on who should be primarily responsible for their oversight. The divergence between state and federal drug laws regarding emerging drugs is particularly noteworthy as inconsistent policies appear to be increasingly common. Along with the legal mechanisms to regulate emerging drugs, many challenges exist in the enforcement and detection of these substances. At this time, only a few local jurisdictions appear to be taking a proactive enforcement role at any level. Federal regulators have been more active in focusing on cases dealing with large volumes of product, but rarely center efforts on end users. This chapter outlines the mechanisms in which new drugs are regulated and how these policies are enforced. It also explores the impact of these regulations and their enforcement on usage.
Hybrid fs/ps coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering for non-equilibrium environments

N2 vibrational and rotational distributions are probed using hybrid CARS to investigate a ns-laser spark environment. Experiments and simulations explore measurement feasibility and accuracy when rotational and vibrational temperature and number density are unknown.
Introduction to Atmospheric Physics

A brief introduction to the physics of the neutral atmospheres is given by reviewing some fundamental concepts. Some fluid mechanical principles of atmospheric physics are highlighted. To a good approximation, Earth’s atmosphere and most other planetary atmospheres can be treated as an ideal gas that is in hydrostatic equilibrium. Thermodynamical laws are powerful in describing the basics of energy conservation in the atmosphere. Transport phenomena, such as diffusion, conduction, viscosity, and radiation are discussed briefly in order to provide some insight in the mechanisms of energy and momentum transfer processes in planetary atmospheres.
Culture war counter-mobilization: Gay rights and religious right groups in the states

The counter-mobilization hypothesis long ago fell on hard times. Despite its inherent plausibility, the notion has suffered from the lack of solid empirical testing and use in a wide variety of contexts. Nevertheless, counter-mobilization merits attention since it remains at the heart of pluralist theory. Without a clear response to competing interests, organizational representation of interests is a problematic concept. In this paper, we revisit the counter-mobilization hypothesis in the context of two groups often said to be key players in the culture wars – religious right and LGBT organizations – in a time period, 2001–2010, where we expect there to be responses to the other’s actions. Examining group counts in the states, we find evidence of counter-mobilization in the classic sense Truman intended. Moreover, we find a link between legislative polarization and the mutual presence of these groups that reinforces the relevance of this concept.
Hydrogen sulfide-induced vasodilation mediated by endothelial TRPV4 channels.

This is the first study to demonstrate that H2S-induced vasodilation involves TRPV4 channels and strengthens our previous observation that endothelial large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels (...
Class and Capitalism in the Gulf Arab States

In an interview published in The Happy Hypocrite, Qatari artist Sophia al-Maria asks the novelist William Gibson if he has any thoughts on oil — “As a fuel. As power. As a monster?” Gibson replies ...
Paths to International Public Service: The Service-Choice Spiral and Implications for Graduate Education Programs

Increasingly, students express a desire to take an active role in addressing the economic, social, healthcare and other problems facing the world, and they seek a path leading to international or domestic public service.The field of public administration has been a major route to public service, as has the growing nonprofit management specialization and the subfield of development management. This paper offers insight into the skills, competencies, and value issues that face students who are pursuing careers in international development and introduces the concept of a service-choice spiral that shows the four steps through which a new or mid-career development manager progresses.The four steps are mutually reinforcing, leading to an expansion of personal and professional development and career options.
Critical Thinking Dispositions as an Outcome of Art Education

This article discusses findings of a study that investigated the variance in critical thinking dispositions between arts and non-arts undergraduates. A consensus of findings in research literature on education and critical thinking indicates that an inquiry-based curriculum positively influences gains in critical thinking. Research shows, as well, that learning in the arts is largely inquiry-based. The synthesis of those findings and the results of this study indicate that exposure to learning in the arts positively influences students' disposition to think critically. The study reported in this article utilized quantitative data from the California Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory (CCTDI), a survey instrument. Data were collected from a sample of 141 undergraduates at a large, urban, public university on the U.S. east coast. The sample consisted of two discipline groups: arts and non-arts undergraduates; and two class rank groups: freshmen and juniors/seniors. As would be expected, when the class ...
Store-directed price promotions and communications strategies improve healthier food supply and demand: impact results from a randomized controlled, Baltimore City store-intervention trial.

Objective Small food store interventions show promise to increase healthy food access in under-resourced areas. However, none have tested the impact of price discounts on healthy food supply and demand. We tested the impact of store-directed price discounts and communications strategies, separately and combined, on the stocking, sales and prices of healthier foods and on storeowner psychosocial factors. Design Factorial design randomized controlled trial. Setting Twenty-four corner stores in low-income neighbourhoods of Baltimore City, MD, USA. Subjects Stores were randomized to pricing intervention, communications intervention, combined pricing and communications intervention, or control. Stores that received the pricing intervention were given a 10-30 % price discount by wholesalers on selected healthier food items during the 6-month trial. Communications stores received visual and interactive materials to promote healthy items, including signage, taste tests and refrigerators. Results All interventions showed significantly increased stock of promoted foods v. Control There was a significant treatment effect for daily unit sales of healthy snacks (β=6·4, 95 % CI 0·9, 11·9) and prices of healthy staple foods (β=-0·49, 95 % CI -0·90, -0·03) for the combined group v. control, but not for other intervention groups. There were no significant intervention effects on storeowner psychosocial factors. Conclusions All interventions led to increased stock of healthier foods. The combined intervention was effective in increasing sales of healthier snacks, even though discounts on snacks were not passed to the consumer. Experimental research in small stores is needed to understand the mechanisms by which store-directed price promotions can increase healthy food supply and demand.
Awareness of Surgical Smoke Risks and Assessment of Safety Practices During Electrosurgery Among US Dermatology Residents.

This study assessed clinician awareness of surgical smoke risks and current safety practices during active electrosurgery among dermatology residents.
Tunable multimodal adhesion of 3D, nanocrystalline CoFe2O4 pollen replicas.

3D replicas of sunflower pollen microparticles, comprised of a multicomponent magnetic spinel ferrite (CoFe2O4) with tailorable adhesive properties, have been synthesized for the first time via a conformal layer-by-layer (LbL) surface sol-gel (SSG) deposition process followed by organic pyrolysis and oxide compound formation at a peak temperature of 600 °C-900 °C. These high-fidelity ferrite pollen replicas exhibited multimodal (van der Waals, vdW, and magnetic) adhesion that could be tuned via control of the CoFe2O4 nanoparticle and crystal sizes. The CoFe2O4 pollen replicas exhibited a non-monotonic change in short-range (~10 nm) vdW adhesion with an increase in the peak firing temperature, which was consistent with the counteracting effects of particle coarsening on the size and number of nanoparticles present on the sharp tips of the echini (spines) on the pollen replica surfaces. The longer-range (up to ~1 mm) magnetic force of adhesion increased monotonically with an increase in firing temperature, which was consistent with the observed increases in the values of the saturation and remanent magnetization of CoFe2O4 with an increase in average nanocrystal size. By adjusting the nanocrystal/nanoparticle sizes of the CoFe2O4 pollen replicas, the total force of adhesion (vdW + magnetic) to a magnetic substrate could be increased by a factor of ~3 relative to native pollen grains.
From Exclusion to Exclusivity: Chinese American Property Ownership and Discrimination in Historical Perspective

Chinese investors are now the largest number of foreign investors in US residential and commercial real estate. Many buy in upscale, exclusive markets. It is little known, however, that in the past Chinese faced severe property discrimination in the US. This paper traces three eras of Chinese property ownership and discrimination. Many Chinese first came to the US for the 1849 Gold Rush and for building the first transcontinental railroad. However, during the Exclusion Era (1882-1943), Chinese were prohibited from immigrating to the US and becoming citizens because they were deemed unassimilable. Racial restrictive covenants in deeds were first used against the Chinese. Chinese lived in Chinatowns not only because of restrictive covenants, but because of extreme violence against them elsewhere. During the Cold War era, Chinese Americans were deemed a "model assimilated minority" worthy of living in suburbs. The Chinese had not changed, but geopolitics had. Unfortunately, the model minority myth pitted minority groups against each other. In the Post-Cold War era, the Chinese American population has multiplied. However, along with other Asian Americans and minorities, Chinese Americans face housing, education, and job discrimination. I conclude that we must unearth the past history of property discrimination to address continuing discrimination, leverage the current investment, and to seek property equity and healing communities for all.
Detection of colorectal masses in CT colonography: application of deep residual networks for differentiating masses from normal colon anatomy

Even though the clinical consequences of a missed colorectal cancer far outweigh those of a missed polyp, there has been little work on computer-aided detection (CADe) for colorectal masses in CT colonography (CTC). One of the problems is that it is not clear how to manually design mathematical image-based features that could be used to differentiate effectively between masses and certain types of normal colon anatomy such as ileocecal valves (ICVs). Deep learning has demonstrated ability to automatically determine effective discriminating features in many image-based problems. Recently, residual networks (ResNets) were developed to address the practical problems of constructing deep network architectures for optimizing the performance of deep learning. In this pilot study, we compared the classification performance of a conventional 2D-convolutional ResNet (2D-ResNet) with that of a volumetric 3D-convolutional ResNet (3D-ResNet) in differentiating masses from normal colon anatomy in CTC. For the development and evaluation of the ResNets, 695 volumetric images of biopsy-proven colorectal masses, ICVs, haustral folds, and rectal tubes were sampled from 196 clinical CTC cases and divided randomly into independent training, validation, and test datasets. The training set was expanded by use of volumetric data augmentation. Our preliminary results on the 140 test samples indicate that it is feasible to train a deep volumetric 3D-ResNet for performing effective image-based discriminations in CTC. The 3D-ResNet slightly outperformed the 2D-ResNet in the discrimination of masses and normal colon anatomy, but the statistical difference between their very high classification accuracies was not significant. The highest classification accuracy was obtained by combining the mass-likelihood estimates of the 2D- and 3D-ResNets, which enabled correct classification of all of the masses.
Recasts and output-only prompts, individual learner factors and short-term EFL learning

Abstract This study investigated the effects of recasts and output-only prompts (i.e., clarification requests, elicitations, and repetitions) on short-term EFL learning regarding three learner factors (i.e., learner level, language anxiety, and orientation to correction). Ninety Mandarin-speaking learners at a Chinese university were randomly assigned to one of two experimental groups or a control group. While all the learners completed the pre-/post-tests and had their weekly English lessons as usual, only the learners in the experimental groups received feedback treatment in three extracurricular lessons. Learner level was differentiated according to the pre-test performances, and data on language anxiety and orientation to correction were collected through a questionnaire at the end of the treatment. Results show that all the learners in the recast group benefited from the treatment regardless of their trait for each learner factor, whereas the learners in the prompt group who benefited from the treatment lessons scored low in the pre-test, had a low level of language anxiety, or showed a high level of orientation to correction. These results suggest that recasts can be more advantageous for learning than prompts in certain classroom contexts, for example, the focused context of the present study.
Risk Factors for Violence Against Refugee Women

Among the many humanitarian challenges facing refugees, women and girls are particularly vulnerable to gender-based violence in their countries of origin, during their journeys, and in their destination countries. In this chapter, we examine gendered social and power relations in both source and host countries to elaborate on the risks for violence against women among refugees at these different stages of the migration process. We find that risks for violence against female refugees are not shaped by gender alone but instead stem from intersectional inequalities based on gender, race, ethnicity, social class, and legal status that may have different meanings at different stages of the transnational migration experiences of refugees. This fluidity makes it difficult to generalize across refugees’ experiences and to improve resources for reducing violence against refugee women.
Giant Food and Elensys: Looking Out For Customer Gross Privacy Invasion?

This case describes the privacy issues surrounding Giant Food’s decision to outsource a prescription drug compliance program to Elensys. Under the arrangement, Elensys would send refill reminders to Giant’s pharmacy customers. As approximately half of all patients stop taking their medication within the first six months of being prescribed, compliance programs which remind patients to refill their prescriptions help address a major public health issue. However, these programs also raise privacy issues because they involve the reuse of sensitive personal information. The case provides students with an opportunity to assess the privacy issues raised by this situation. The case also provides an opportunity for students to grapple with the challenges of developing a “privacy sensitive” implementation strategy for Giant and for CRM programs more generally.
Discovery of a Highly Potent and Broadly Effective Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor and HER2 Exon 20 Insertion Mutant Inhibitor.

Exon 20 insertion (Ex20Ins) mutations are the third most prevalent epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activating mutation and the most prevalent HER2 mutation in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Novel therapeutics for the patients with Ex20Ins mutations are urgently needed, due to their poor responses to the currently approved EGFR and HER2 inhibitors. Here we report the discovery of highly potent and broadly effective EGFR and HER2 Ex20Ins mutant inhibitors. The co-crystal structure of compound 1 b in complex with wild type EGFR clearly revealed an additional hydrophobic interaction of 4-fluorobenzene ring within a deep hydrophobic pocket, which has not been widely exploited in the development of EGFR and HER2 inhibitors. As compared with afatinib, compound 1 a exhibited superior inhibition of proliferation and signaling pathways in Ba/F3 cells harboring either EGFR or HER2 Ex20Ins mutations, and in the EGFR P772_H773insPNP patient-derived lung cancer cell line DFCI127. Our study identifies promising strategies for development of EGFR and HER2 Ex20Ins mutant inhibitors.
Biomechanical analysis of unidirectional knotless suture loop weld integrity after passage through a cadaveric body wall.

Objective To evaluate the integrity of the welded end loop on unidirectional knotless suture after transabdominal passage in a canine cadaver. Study design Ex vivo biomechanical study. Study population Four variations of unidirectional knotless suture and 1 canine cadaver. Methods Welded end loop on strands consisted of 0 Quill polydioxanone (QP; n = 22), 0 Quill monoderm (QM; n = 23), 2-0 V-Loc 90 (V9; n = 12), and 2-0 V-Loc 180 (V18; n = 12). Half of the suture strands in each group were passed percutaneously through an insufflated cadaveric body wall, and the remaining half served as intact controls. A linear testing machine was used to load the sutures to failure. Modes of and loads to failure were compared within and between suture types. Results Loads to failure did not differ between sutures passed through the body wall and their controls when the loop remained intact. Sutures V9, V18, and QM sustained higher loads to failure compared with QP. All Quill suture lines failed at the weld during testing. Thirty-three percent of QP sutures failed at the weld during initial passage through the body wall. V-Loc sutures failed at the suture-apparatus interface, within the welded loop, or a combination. Conclusion Passing suture through a cadaveric body wall did not affect the integrity of the welded end loop of any of the unidirectional knotless sutures tested here when the loop remained intact. Clinical significance Unidirectional knotless suture (V9, V18 and QM) can be safely passed through a canine body wall for use in laparoscopic procedures. The use of QP in this manner cannot be recommended.
On the Need for a Taxonomy for Interventional Radiology: Initiating Dialogue for the Future.

OBJECTIVE. Interventional radiology (IR) needs comprehensive structure. The reactive structure of the past is strategically unwise for long-term growth of IR. CONCLUSION. IR needs a structured appr...
Dechlorination comparison of octachlorodibenzofuran over ball-milled zero-valent magnesium with and without activated carbon in different solvent systems

Abstract Polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) are a class of highly toxic organic compounds that have been detected in all compartments of the ecosystem. In this research, a novel method using ball-milled ZVMg and ZVMg with activated carbon in acidified ethanol and acidified 2-butoxyethanol solvents has been applied to investigate reductive dechlorination of the selected PCDF congeners under ambient conditions. Octachlorodibenzofuran (OCDF) was chosen as a model for high-chlorinated congeners and 2,8-dibenzofuran was chosen as a model for low-chlorinated congeners. Both congeners were degraded efficiently in all systems. The addition of activated carbon enhanced the degradation kinetics for both congeners. Complete conversion of OCDF to dibenzofuran, the chlorine-free compound was achieved by ball-milled ZVMg in ethanol. When 2-butoxyethanol was used, the final products were dichlorodibenzofuran as well as dibenzofuran. Complete kinetic studies were conducted for the high- and low-chlorinated congeners. The results demonstrate that the reactions follow pseudo- first order kinetics with respect to analyte degradation for all systems studied. A degradation pathway for the dechlorination of OCDF is proposed. Overall, this technology is promising as part of a remediation option for PCDF contaminants.
Tracking multidecadal lake water dynamics with Landsat imagery and topography/bathymetry.

An edited version of this paper was published by AGU. Copyright 2019 American Geophysical Union.
Differential Effects of Elevation and Microtopography on Gopher Tortoise Burrow Distributions in Southern Florida

In southern Florida, Gopher Tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus) occupy mesic flatwoods and Florida scrub communities where habitat and climatic conditions differ from other portions of the species' range. Both of these habitats appear suboptimal for tortoises due to saturated soils in mesic flatwoods and low forage abundance in scrub. Nonetheless, these habitats support large numbers of tortoises in southern Florida, albeit at low intensities. We assessed influences of elevation and microtopography on the spatial distributions of tortoise burrows and examined burrow use patterns within six sites at Avon Park Air Force Range in south-central Florida. The six sites differed in dominant soil types and vegetation communities, allowing comparisons of burrow distributions among mesic flatwoods, Florida scrub, and mixed flatwoods-scrub habitats (two replicate sites each). Point-process modeling identified significant influences of microtopography on burrow intensities that superseded the effects of site-wide elevation trends in five of the six sites. The effects of microtopography were most pronounced in flatwoods, suggesting greater reliance on areas of slightly higher elevation in mesic habitat, presumably in response to saturated soils and frequent flooding. Burrow use patterns during an exceedingly wet year also suggested that tortoises respond behaviorally to unsuitable hydrology by moving frequently among burrows that were flooded with groundwater. Microtopographic variation may be an important predictor of small-scale habitat use for fossorial reptiles, especially in mesic soils, which could be readily explored using increasingly available LiDAR-derived elevation data combined with the modeling approach demonstrated here.
Genetic Engineering of Wheat and Barley

We have obtained stably transformed cell lines of wheat and barley by biolistics-mediated delivery of an improved plasmid pRC62 (ACT-1D-GUS::NPTII-NOS) into the non-embryogenic cell cultures. Enzyme assays and Southern hybridization confirmed functional expression and stable integration of the chimeric genes into the wheat and barley genomes. These results demonstrated that efficient delivery and stable expression of foreign genes into wheat and barley cells was no longer a constraint for accomplishing genetic engineering of these crops. However, the major problem which remained was the lack of an efficient system for regeneration of fertile plants from transformed cells. We have now resolved this problem by developing a system for enhanced somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration from isolated scutellar tissue of wheat and barley. This scutellar-based regeneration system has been successfully used for developing a simple and reproducible protocol for the production of self-fertile transgenic wheat plants. Using this protocol, transgenic wheat plants carrying the bar, gus and npt genes have been produced. Molecular and biochemical analyses confirmed stable integration and functional expression of transgenes in R0 and R1 transgenic plants. Mendelian inheritance of bar gene was observed in R1 and R2 progeny. The protocol is being optimized for production of transgenic barley plants. Since the protocol avoids the need for establishing long-term callus, cell suspension or protoplast regeneration procedures, it has the potential for becoming a practical system for gene transfer in wheat and barley. The procedure will facilitate manipulation of various agronomic and quality traits by direct gene transfer into these major cereal grain crops.