cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
How do online course design features influence student performance

Given the rapid growth in online coursework within higher education, it is important to establish and validate quality standards for these courses. While many online learning quality rubrics do exist, thus far there has been little empirical evidence establishing a clear link between specific course design features and concrete, student-level course outcomes. In the current study, the authors develop an online course design assessment rubric that includes four areas, and explore the impact of each area on student end-of-semester performance in 23 online courses at two community colleges. The results indicate that the quality of interpersonal interaction within a course relates positively and significantly to student grades. Additional analyses based on course observation and interview data suggest that frequent and effective student-instructor interaction creates an online environment that encourages students to commit themselves to the course and perform at a stronger academic level. A new online design assessment rubric is developed.The relationship between four online course design features and student course grades is examined.Quality of online interpersonal interaction relates positively to student grades.Typical practices of online courses with high- versus low-quality interpersonal interaction are showcased.Potential strategies to improve online learning outcomes are discussed.
Acceleration of Deep Neural Network Training with Resistive Cross-Point Devices: Design Considerations.

In recent years, deep neural networks (DNN) have demonstrated significant business impact in large scale analysis and classification tasks such as speech recognition, visual object detection, pattern extraction, etc. Training of large DNNs, however, is universally considered as time consuming and computationally intensive task that demands datacenter-scale computational resources recruited for many days. Here we propose a concept of resistive processing unit (RPU) devices that can potentially accelerate DNN training by orders of magnitude while using much less power. The proposed RPU device can store and update the weight values locally thus minimizing data movement during training and allowing to fully exploit the locality and the parallelism of the training algorithm. We evaluate the effect of various RPU device features/non-idealities and system parameters on performance in order to derive the device and system level specifications for implementation of an accelerator chip for DNN training in a realistic CMOS-compatible technology. For large DNNs with about 1 billion weights this massively parallel RPU architecture can achieve acceleration factors of 30,000X compared to state-of-the-art microprocessors while providing power efficiency of 84,000 GigaOps/s/W. Problems that currently require days of training on a datacenter-size cluster with thousands of machines can be addressed within hours on a single RPU accelerator. A system consisting of a cluster of RPU accelerators will be able to tackle Big Data problems with trillions of parameters that is impossible to address today like, for example, natural speech recognition and translation between all world languages, real-time analytics on large streams of business and scientific data, integration and analysis of multimodal sensory data flows from a massive number of IoT (Internet of Things) sensors.
Numerical Flow Simulations of Blood in Arteries

LOOD is a suspension of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets in plasma. The viscoelastic fluid behavior of blood is associated with the elastic properties of the red cell membrane and the viscosity of internal and external fluids. Red blood cells constitute more than 99% of the particulate matter in blood and 40-45% of the blood by volume (hematocrit). The material properties of the red blood cell membrane, and the fluidity of its internal contents make it easy for the cell to deform into a variety of shapes. However, the deformation of the red blood cells in vitro or in vivo in the circulation occurs at an essentially constant area, which can be attributed to the relatively high dilatational modulus of the cell membrane. B After red blood cell, white blood cells are the largest in number. However, they constitute only less than 1% of the total volume of blood cells in normal human blood and exert little influence on the bulk rheological properties of blood. The white blood cells are much less deformable than the red blood cells. The white blood cells have a viscoelastic interior that makes them several orders of magnitude stiffer than the red blood cells under rapid deformations. The stress required to cause the deformation of white blood cells is much greater than for the red blood cells. This indicates that white blood cells are more viscous as compared to red blood cells. The platelets occupy even less of the blood volume than the white blood cells. They play important role in blood clotting, but they are rheologically unimportant to consider for the normal blood simulation. Adhesion of both red blood cells and white blood cells to blood-vessel walls increases the apparent viscosity. Since one must consider different viscosities for both the red blood cells and the white blood cells, the blood must be considered as a non-Newtonian fluid for simulations. There are various aspects of the circulation of blood in the literature. There is particularly a large amount of research work and related publications because of the continued widespread incidence of cardiovascular diseases, especially coronary infarctions and arteriosclerosis. Most of the literature on blood flow is concerned about the bifurcation of the arteries, the velocity profile, pressure distribution and the shear stress induced in the bifurcation and along the walls of the artery. In most of the investigations, arterial walls are assumed to behave as rigid instead of elastic walls, whereas the concept of using elasticity is needed to obtain practical and more realistic results. With the expansion of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), it has become possible to investigate blood flow in the arteries by including most of physical aspects of blood flow. Investigators have used various numerical methods,
Validity of WebCAAFE questionnaire for assessment of schoolchildren’s dietary compliance with Brazilian Food Guidelines

Objective To estimate reporting bias of WebCAAFE, a web-based questionnaire for the assessment of food intake (recall of frequency of intake of thirty-two food items the day before) and physical activity in schoolchildren. Design Cross-sectional study. Self-reported food intake on WebCAAFE was compared with direct observation of school meals in five public schools. Additional data included school grade, sex, BMI, socio-economic status and access to Internet at home. Poisson regression was used to calculate the reporting bias (WebCAAFE v. direct observation) and the sample size necessary to detect a statistically significant difference between WebCAAFE reports and at least 75 % compliance with the recommendations for a healthy diet. Setting Intentional sample of five elementary public schools in Florianopolis, Brazil. Subjects Schoolchildren (n 629) from 2nd to 5th grades. Results Moderate bias magnitude was found for most food groups of interest. Frequency of consumption was not related to the bias. Sample sizes necessary to detect the compliance with dietary recommendations varied between four and seventy-four individuals for the different groups investigated. Conclusions After adjusting for moderate bias, WebCAAFE may be used as a food questionnaire for evaluation of schoolchildren's food compliance on a group level, even with a relatively small sample size.
Marital Disruption and Allostatic Load in Late Life.

Objective: This study examines the link between marital disruption and biological risk, and asks whether the association of this precarious life event with health is contingent on marital loss duration and history. Method: Data are drawn from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (N = 1,414), and Poisson regressions are presented for allostatic load and logistic regressions for individual biomarkers. Results: The currently unmarried with more distant marital disruptions exhibit higher levels of allostatic load than the currently married, which is primarily driven by dysregulation of cardiovascular and metabolic indicators. Results also reveal the differing ways marital disruption “gets under the skin” with widowhood associated with compromised inflammatory, metabolic, and cardiovascular functioning, and divorce with cardiovascular and neuroendocrine markers. Discussion: Findings lend support for both the crisis and chronic strain models, and likely reflect normative expectations of the timin...
Liquid-based three-dimensional tumor models for cancer research and drug discovery

Tumors are three-dimensional tissues where close contacts between cancer cells, intercellular interactions between cancer and stromal cells, adhesion of cancer cells to the extracellular matrix, and signaling of soluble factors modulate functions of cancer cells and their response to therapeutics. Three-dimensional cultures of cancer cells overcome limitations of traditionally used monolayer cultures and recreate essential characteristics of tumors such as spatial gradients of oxygen, growth factors, and metabolites and presence of necrotic, hypoxic, quiescent, and proliferative cells. As such, three-dimensional tumor models provide a valuable tool for cancer research and oncology drug discovery. Here, we describe different tumor models and primarily focus on a model known as tumor spheroid. We summarize different technologies of spheroid formation, and discuss the use of spheroids to address the influence of stromal fibroblasts and immune cells on cancer cells in tumor microenvironment, study cancer stem cells, and facilitate compound screening in the drug discovery process. We review major techniques for quantification of cellular responses to drugs and discuss challenges ahead to enable broad utility of tumor spheroids in research laboratories, integrate spheroid models into drug development and discovery pipeline, and use primary tumor cells for drug screening studies to realize personalized cancer treatment.
Band-Pass Filter with Ultra Wide Stop Band Based on Grounded Open-Loop Resonantor

By introducing transmission zeros near the pass band,a band pass filter with good suppression can be obtained.In this letter,a novel grounded open-loop resonator was proposed and the equivalent circuit model of this resonator was extracted.The analysis of this resonator and validity of extracted circuit models was verified through comparing the results of the unit and the ones of given circuit model.The results indicated that a transmission zero is achieved.Additional,the transmission zero can be adjusted by varying specifically parameters on the condition that the centre frequency of pass band is influenced slightly,this method is flexible.Finally,a filter with good performances and suppression was realized by connecting three units and this filter was fabricated and measured.Simulation result and measurement result are matched well.
Free radicals as a result of dioxygen metabolism.

This chapter highlights some key facts necessary to understand the radical reactions of dioxygen and reactive oxygen species (ROS). It focuses on the chemical aspects of ROS rather than the biochemical and biomedical aspects, which have been covered extensively elsewhere. A treatment of the fundamental chemistry should provide a framework for a better understanding of ROS. Dioxygen metabolism provides nature with a paradoxical dilemma. The chapter discusses that the biological catalysts of dioxygen metabolism must use one-electron processes to overcome the singlet-triplet problem. It provides a chemical and mechanistic perspective to aid in thinking about ROS chemistry by the chemical facts and analysis. Autoxidation is the oxidation of carbon-hydrogen bonds in organic molecules by dioxygen. Autoxidation causes considerable degradation in biological systems and in anything that contains oxidizable carbon-hydrogen bonds, i.e., in almost all things made of organic compounds.
Percutaneous Management of a Pyelocaliceal Diverticular Abscess

AbstractA renal abscess secondary to obstruction and infection of a pyelocaliceal diverticulum was managed successfully percutaneously. The diverticulum spontaneously re-established communication with the renal collecting system. No surgery was required and the patient was well 2 years later.
Tragedy and Due Process

The attacks on September 11 shocked the United States. The very heart of our collective understanding of the order of things was struck. This tragedy allowed many to stand up and show courage. One such anecdote involves a condemned Texas inmate and Governor Rick Perry's assurance that due process would be ensured.
Laparoscopy--new instruments for suturing and ligation

Three instruments for use in laparoscopy are described: (1) the laparoscopic ligator with open-ended circular tip; (2) the laparoscopic needle which is a forceps with handle lock and flexible curved needle with grooved distal end for attaching suture and clamp under the needle arm; and (3) the laparoscopic tissue forceps with finely corrugated grasping ends and grooved midportion for suture passage. The instruments were designed to control bleeding and have been successfully used in 38 cases to suture and ligate through the laparoscope thus avoiding exploration.
Semiactive virtual control of a hydraulic prosthetic knee

The paper considers the problem of controlling a novel hydraulic actuator to be used in a transfemoral (above-knee) prosthesis. The control objective is tracking of knee angle reference data corresponding to able-bodied walking. The forces and velocities appearing in a prosthesis when worn by a person are simulated with a two degree-of-freedom robotic hip emulator which allows the prosthesis to walk on a treadmill. The robot produces vertical hip displacement and thigh angle motions using electromechanical actuators with direct force and torque control servos, respectively. Control inputs for the prosthetic knee are the instantaneous positions of two hydraulic valves. The integrated hip robot and prosthesis is controlled using a semiactive virtual control approach. First, a virtual controller is designed for the integrated model, assuming full control authority over the joints. Then, an online optimization problem is solved to find the valve positions that minimize the difference between the actual moment and the moment demanded by the virtual controller. Simulation studies were conducted to evaluate the feasibility of the approach. Knee angle tracking was possible with a root mean square average of 2.2 degrees (approx. 3% of the full range of knee motion), with ground reaction force magnitudes comparable to able-bodied walking data.
The 6 May 2010 Elevated Supercell during VORTEX2

AbstractAn elevated supercell from the second Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment (VORTEX2) on 6 May 2010 is investigated. Observations show that the supercell formed over a stable inversion and was likely decoupled from the surface. Quintessential features of a supercell were present, including a hook echo (albeit bent anticyclonically) and midlevel mesocyclone, and the storm was quasi steady during the observing period. A weak surface cold pool formed, but it was apparently devoid of air originating from midlevels. Idealized modeling using near-storm soundings is employed to clarify the structure and maintenance of this supercell. The simulated storm is decoupled from the surface by the stable layer. Additionally, the reflectivity structure of the simulated supercell is strikingly similar to the observed storm, including its peculiar anticyclonic-curving hook echo. Air parcels above 1 km reached their LFCs as a result of the simulated supercell’s own dynamic lifting, which li...
Persistence and biodegradation of oil at the ocean floor following Deepwater Horizon

The 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster introduced an unprecedented discharge of oil into the deep Gulf of Mexico. Considerable uncertainty has persisted regarding the oil’s fate and effects in the deep ocean. In this work we assess the compound-specific rates of biodegradation for 125 aliphatic, aromatic, and biomarker petroleum hydrocarbons that settled to the deep ocean floor following release from the damaged Macondo Well. Based on a dataset comprising measurements of up to 168 distinct hydrocarbon analytes in 2,980 sediment samples collected within 4 y of the spill, we develop a Macondo oil “fingerprint” and conservatively identify a subset of 312 surficial samples consistent with contamination by Macondo oil. Three trends emerge from analysis of the biodegradation rates of 125 individual hydrocarbons in these samples. First, molecular structure served to modulate biodegradation in a predictable fashion, with the simplest structures subject to fastest loss, indicating that biodegradation in the deep ocean progresses similarly to other environments. Second, for many alkanes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons biodegradation occurred in two distinct phases, consistent with rapid loss while oil particles remained suspended followed by slow loss after deposition to the seafloor. Third, the extent of biodegradation for any given sample was influenced by the hydrocarbon content, leading to substantially greater hydrocarbon persistence among the more highly contaminated samples. In addition, under some conditions we find strong evidence for extensive degradation of numerous petroleum biomarkers, notably including the native internal standard 17α(H),21β(H)-hopane, commonly used to calculate the extent of oil weathering.
Reigniting Writers: Using the Literacy Block With Elementary Students to Support Authentic Writing Experiences

Given the importance of writing, especially in light of college and career readiness emphasis, and the observations that time spent writing in context diminishes over a student's years in school, this article proposes to reignite writing instruction in elementary classrooms through three practical approaches for supporting students in authentic writing. Examples using these three approaches in the literacy block are included so as to reignite writers.
Peptide amphiphile self-assembly

Self-assembly is a process whereby molecules organize into structures with hierarchical order and complexity, often leading to functional materials. Biomolecules such as peptides, lipids and DNA are frequently involved in self-assembly, and this leads to materials of interest for a wide variety of applications in biomedicine, photonics, electronics, mechanics, etc. The diversity of structures and functions that can be produced provides motivation for developing theoretical models that can be used for a molecular-level description of these materials. Here we overview recently developed computational methods for modeling the self-assembly of peptide amphiphiles (PA) into supramolecular structures that form cylindrical nanoscale fibers using molecular-dynamics simulations. Both all-atom and coarse-grained force field methods are described, and we emphasize how these calculations contribute insight into fiber structure, including the importance of β-sheet formation. We show that the temperature at which self-assembly takes place affects the conformations of PA chains, resulting in cylindrical nanofibers with higher β-sheet content as temperature increases. We also present a new high-density PA model that shows long network formation of β-sheets along the long axis of the fiber, a result that correlates with some experiments. The β-sheet network is mostly helical in nature which helps to maintain strong interactions between the PAs both radially and longitudinally.
The Pope and the United States: Faith as Dialogue

Given the difficult relationship between the minority Catholics and majority Protestant population in the United States since its founding, many never expected to witness a pope addressing Congress. But it happened, and his speech did not disappoint: Pope Francis sought to move the narrow political agendas of both Republicans and Democrats to the larger questions facing our times. He did so by referencing the transformative works of four great Americans: Abraham Lincoln, Dorothy Day, Martin Luther King Jr., and Thomas Merton. By pointing out their great contributions in response to the human need of their day, Pope Francis was urging both sides to use their power to adopt policies that would promote the general welfare, by finding God in our neighbor (i.e., “the migrant is a modern-day pilgrim”). The media fascination with which side won is not the right question to pose. Rather, his address needs to be understood in terms of the larger struggles facing humankind.
Racial attitudes and emotional responses to the 2016 Republican candidates

ABSTRACTWe argue that both Obama ‘08 and Trump ‘16 benefited from unusually high enthusiasm generated during their respective campaigns, and these emotions conditioned underlying racial attitudes –...
The Never-Ending Movie: Precariousness and Self-reflexivity in Contemporary Argentine Cinema

Resulting from a deep economic crisis, the New Argentine Cinema made precariousness an aesthetic resource; many recent independent films continue to echo the precarious conditions of the industry with self-reflexive modalities that intersect with other arts, with national history, and with the films of earlier eras to explore the dynamics of a creative process in an unpredictable economy. This chapter analyzes the occupational complexities of the film worker in Argentina, and explores how a film’s self-reflexivity illuminates the concept of precariousness and the relationships between materiality, economics, and cultural work. The theoretical framework is informed by Garcia Canclini’s research on how a young generation of cultural workers defined by precariousness combines uncertainty and “connecting capitalism,” innovation, and interculturality; Rosalind Gill and Andy Pratt’s work on precariousness as the defining trait of cultural work in contemporary times; and Susan Christofferson and Katie Milestone’s reflections on gender and precariousness in cultural work. The film analysis revolves around Un rey para la Patagonia (Turturro, 2011), which deals with the present of filmmaking as it attempts to account for the unfinished works of the past, establishing links with older films, literature, drama, history, and art to highlight the precariousness present in its own contemporary creative processes. This chapter explores how, in this particular instance, self-reflexivity turns into a critical tool to interrogate the status of Argentine cinema and cultural production, and to delve into the artistic dimensions of economic precariousness.
Constructed wetland for slaughterhouse wastewater treatment

Water quality has become a burning issue as best quality water is needed for daily lives. The slaughterhouses functioning at Batticaloa district generate huge amount of effluent and discharge to surrounding environment without proper treatment. It pollutes the surface water and soil as well. Discharging slaughterhouse wastewater without treatment contributes to greatly degrading the aquatic environment as well as human health issues. Therefore, there is a need to treat slaughterhouse wastewater before discharging into the water bodies and soil to avoid environmental pollution and human health effects. The objectives of the study were to design, construct and evaluate the efficiency of constructed wetland for the treatment of slaughterhouse wastewater with special reference to the parameters of chemical oxygen demand (COD), total dissolved solid (TDS), total suspended solid (TSS), nitrate, phosphate, biological oxygen demand (BOD) and pH as well as to analyze the characteristics of slaughterhouse wastewater. The wetland was constructed with the layers of coir fiber, gravel and sand with the dimension of 1m x 1m x 0.3m. Cattail (Typha latifolia) plant was used as macrophytes. The results revealed that the removal of the above mentioned parameters increased with increasing retention time of wastewater in constructed wetland. The maximum removal efficiency of constructed wetland for the parameters of phosphate, COD, BOD5, nitrate, TDS and TSS nitrate and phosphate were 85.8%, 77.5%, 93.3%, 68%, 71.3% and 88.7% respectively. It was concluded that the constructed wetland performed well for the treatment of slaughterhouse wastewater for the parameters of COD, TSS, TDS, BOD5, nitrate and phosphate.
Generalized Geometric Programming : Theory

In this chapter, we discuss the theoretical and algorithmic issues in global optimization approaches for generalized geometric programming problems. This material is based on the work of Maranas and Floudas (1997). Section 8.1 provides an introduction to generalized geometric programming. Section 8.2 focuses on the theoretical analysis for the development of a global optimization approach. Section 8.3 presents the global optimization algorithm and its proof of convergence to an e-global optimum solution. Finally, section 8.4 presents an illustrative example.
Imaging Approaches to the Epileptic Patient

Seizures are the result of excessive and abnormal electrical discharges from the cortical neurons. Epilepsy, the condition of spontaneously recurring seizures, is quite common, affecting approximately 0.4–1% of the population. The epilepsy syndromes can be categorized into localized, or partial, and generalized. Generalized seizures originate from both cerebral hemispheres simultaneously. Partial seizures are generated from a localized area of the brain. These can be further divided into complex partial, with loss of consciousness, and simple partial, without loss of consciousness. Partial seizures can secondarily generalize by spread from one area to another. Seizure classification has therapeutic and prognostic values that help in the care of patients with epilepsy.
Biogenic Ferrimagnetism: A New Biomagnetism

In its simplest form, biomagnetism is usually defined as the study of the magnetic fields originating in living systems, while the term magnetobiology refers to the effects of magnetic fields on organisms. Most biomagnetic research currently in progress today and discussed in other chapters deals with magnetic fields generated either by ionic currents flowing within an organism, those induced para- or diamagnetically by the application of external fields, or those produced by the transient high-field alignment of the magnetic moments of magnetic contaminants. However, there is another proper branch of biomagnetism that warrants discussion here: magnetic moments and fields produced by biochemically precipitated ferrimagnetic minerals. Unlike paramagnetic or diamagnetic substances, a ferrimagnetic particle of the proper size and shape will spontaneously produce a permanent magnetic moment which under normal biological conditions cannot be demagnetized. On a microscopic scale, the magnitude of the local magnetic field adjacent to these particles may be quite large, and the particles will interact strongly with the weak geomagnetic field.
Auditory-Visual Interactions in the Blind with Artificial Vision: Are Multisensory Perceptions Restored After Decades of Blindness?

Abstract In the sighted, auditory and visual perception typically interact strongly and influence each other significantly. Blindness acquired in adulthood alters these multisensory pathways. During blindness, it has been shown that the senses functionally reorganize, enabling visual cortex to be recruited for auditory processing. It is yet unknown whether this reorganization is permanent, or whether auditory-visual interactions can be re-established in cases of partial visual recovery. Retinal prostheses restore visual perception to the late blind and provide an opportunity to determine if these auditory-visual connections and interactions are still viable after years of plasticity and neglect. We tested Argus II retinal prosthesis patients (N = 7) for an auditory-visual illusion, the ventriloquist effect, in which the perceived location of an auditory stimulus is modified by the presence of a visual stimulus. Prosthetically-restored visual perception significantly modified patients’ auditory perceptions, comparable to results with sighted control participants (N = 10). Furthermore, the auditory-visual interaction strength in retinal prosthesis patients exhibited a significant partial anti-correlation with patient age, as well as a significant partial correlation with duration of prosthesis use. These results indicate that auditory-visual interactions can be restored after decades of blindness, and that auditory-visual processing pathways and regions can be re-engaged. Furthermore, they indicate the resilience of multimodal interactions to plasticity during blindness, and that this plasticity can either be partially reversed or at least does not prevent auditory-visual interactions. Finally, this study provides hope for the restoration of sensory perception, complete with multisensory integration, even after years of visual deprivation. Significance Retinal prostheses restore visual perception to the blind by means of an implanted retinal stimulator wirelessly connected to a camera mounted on glasses. Individuals with prosthetic vision can locate and identify simple objects, and identify the direction of visual motion. A key question is whether this prosthetic vision will interact with the other senses, such as audition, in the same way that natural vision does. We found that artificial vision, like natural vision, can alter auditory localization. This suggests that the brain processes prosthetic vision similarly to natural vision despite altered visual processing in the retina. In addition, it implies that reorganization of the senses during blindness may be reversible, allowing for the rehabilitation of crossmodal interactions after visual restoration.
Structural differences in gut microbiota lead to altered hepatic expression of Drug Disposition Genes (DDG) in mice

Hepatic drug metabolism is a major route of drug elimination, and it is mediated by multiple DDG. Varied expression and activity of DDG leads to inter-individual variability in drug response. Resul...
Small Modular Reactors and Innovative Efficient Enhancement Design

The smaller-sized nuclear reactors were becoming instrumental during the pioneering days of commercial nuclear power to facilitate the development and demonstration of early reactor technologies and to establish operational experience for the fledgling nuclear power industry starting with the first powered US Navy nuclear submarine. As part of innovative approach in design of small modular reactors (SMRs) in the new era of nuclear power energy to meet the demand for electricity due to growth of population, researchers are in quest of a more efficient electrical outpower by these types of reactors known as advanced small modular reactors (AdvSMRs) suggested as the air Brayton cycle is an open-air cycle and the steam Rankine cycle is a closed cycle. The air Brayton cycle for a natural gas-driven power plant must be an open cycle, where the air is drawn in from the environment and exhausted with the products of combustion to the environment.
A Review of the Use of Cryoballoon Ablation for the Treatment of Persistent Atrial Fibrillation

Cryoballoon ablation is the standard-of-care treatment for patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, but its efficacy in addressing persistent atrial fibrillation is unclear. Current research is underway to identify origins of persistent atrial fibrillation in locations outside of the pulmonary veins, which are likely high-yield targets for catheter ablation. Randomized studies suggest that targeting non-pulmonary vein (PV) locations has not proven to significantly improve outcomes in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation. A growing body of evidence suggests that cryoballoon ablation achieves freedom from persistent atrial fibrillation with pulmonary vein isolation alone. Use of cryoballoon ablation for non-PV regions is ongoing but still novel. Application of the cryoballoon to non-PV regions may improve with further development of the cryoballoon catheter.
Updating annual average daily traffic estimates at highway-rail grade crossings with geographically weighted Poisson regression

Highway-rail grade crossings (HRGCs) are unique nodes in the transportation system that facilitate the movement of rail and highway traffic. Various mathematical models are available that provide s...
Effect of Liquidity and Dividend Pay-out on Financial Performance of Deposit Taking SACCOs in Kenya

Capital structure is one of the fundamental aspects to the success of Deposit Taking Savings (DPS) and Credit Cooperative Societies (CCS) as it influences the realization of its objectives and goals. The study intended to determine the effect of two capital structure determinants; liquidity and dividend payout, on financial performance as measured by Return on Assets of DPS and CCS, in Kenya. The study was grounded on the Pecking order and Free cash flow capital structure theories. The study utilized a mixed research design using primary and secondary data for the period 2013 to 2017. The population of the study was 174 DPS and CCS. Stratified and purposive sampling technique was employed. Descriptive statistics and a regression model were used to analyze the data. Results revealed that liquidity and dividend pay-out had a significant and positive effect on the financial performance of DPS and CCS in Kenya. The study concluded that liquidity and dividend pay-out play a significant role in the financial performance of DPS and CCS. The study recommends having in place an Assets and Liabilities Committee in each DPS and CCS that would help manage the assets and liabilities of the institution, ensuring adequate liquidity and cash flow management. Having in place a robust dividend policy that addresses; the basis of the rate of payments and activities that would require funding of which internally generated funds by way of dividend retention, is also critical.
Changes in use of cigarettes and non-cigarette alternative products among college students

Abstract Introduction The present study examined change in use of various smoked and smokeless non-cigarette alternative products in a sample of college students, stratified by current, or past 30-day, cigarette smoking status. Methods Participants were 698 students from seven four-year colleges in Texas. Participants completed two waves of online surveys regarding tobacco use, knowledge, and attitudes, with 14 months between each wave. Results The most prevalent products used by the entire sample at Wave 1 were cigarettes, followed by hookah, cigars/cigarillos/little cigars, and electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes). At Wave 2, prevalence of e-cigarette use surpassed use of cigars/cigarillos/little cigars. Snus and chew/snuff/dip were relatively uncommon at both waves. Examination of change in use indicated that e-cigarette use increased across time among both current cigarette smokers and non-cigarette smokers. Prevalence of current e-cigarette use doubled across the 14-month period to 25% among current smokers and tripled to 3% among non-cigarette smokers. Hookah use also increased across time, but only among non-cigarette smokers, whereas it decreased among current cigarette smokers. Use of all other non-cigarette alternatives remained unchanged across time. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the socio-demographic predictors of Wave 2 e-cigarette use, the only product that increased in use among both current cigarette smokers and non-cigarette smokers. Results indicated that Wave 1 current cigarette use and Wave 1 current e-cigarette use, but not gender, age, or race/ethnicity, were significantly associated with Wave 2 e-cigarette use. Conclusions Findings underscore the need to track changes in the use of non-cigarette alternatives and call for additional research examining the factors contributing to change in use.
Initial in vivo testing of TPO-receptor agonist eltrombopag in osteosarcoma patient-derived xenograft models by the pediatric preclinical testing consortium.

Eltrombopag is a small molecule, thrombopoietin receptor agonist approved for the treatment of patients with aplastic anemia and chronic immune thrombocytopenia. It is also a polyvalent cation chel...
The Effect of Electronic Health Record Usability Redesign on Annual Screening Rates in an Ambulatory Setting.

Objectives Improving the usability of electronic health records (EHR) continues to be a focus of clinicians, vendors, researchers, and regulatory bodies. To understand the impact of usability redesign of an existing, site-configurable feature, we evaluated the user interface (UI) used to screen for depression, alcohol and drug misuse, fall risk, and the existence of advance directive information in ambulatory settings. Methods As part of a quality improvement project, based on heuristic analysis, the existing UI was redesigned. Using an iterative, user-centered design process, several usability defects were corrected. Summative usability testing was performed as part of the product development and implementation cycle. Clinical quality measures reflecting rolling 12-month rates of screening were examined over 8 months prior to the implementation of the redesigned UI and 9 months after implementation. Results Summative usability testing demonstrated improvements in task time, error rates, and System Usability Scale scores. Interrupted time series analysis demonstrated significant improvements in all screening rates after implementation of the redesigned UI compared with the original implementation. Conclusion User-centered redesign of an existing site-specific UI may lead to significant improvements in measures of usability and quality of patient care.
A Comparison Study of Machine Learning Enabled Filtering Methods for Battery Management

Prognostics and health management has become a prominent field for the analyses of dynamic system degradation. Specifically, methods for forecasting remaining useful life have been studied extensively, including some hybrid approaches that have indicated successful results. Mainly, a combination of machine learning and filtering techniques have shown to be the most effective. Currently, there exists a need to determine an optimal general method for remaining useful life estimation in complex systems. This paper focuses on a comparison between successful hybrid approaches. The methods are applied to modeling capacity degradation in lithium-ion batteries, with the NASA dataset utilized for this study.
Genetic and epigenetic determinants of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common type of lymphoma and is notorious for its heterogeneity, aggressive nature, and the frequent development of resistance and/or relapse after treatment with standard chemotherapy. To address these problems, a strong emphasis has been placed on researching the molecular origins and mechanisms of DLBCL to develop effective treatments. One of the major insights produced by such research is that DLBCL almost always stems from genetic damage that occurs during the germinal center (GC) reaction, which is required for the production of high-affinity antibodies. Indeed, there is significant overlap between the mechanisms that govern the GC reaction and those that drive the progression of DLBCL. A second important insight is that some of the most frequent genetic mutations that occur in DLBCL are those related to chromatin and epigenetics, especially those related to proteins that “write” histone post-translational modifications (PTMs). Mutation or deletion of these epigenetic writers often renders cells unable to epigenetically “switch on” critical gene sets that are required to exit the GC reaction, differentiate, repair DNA, and other essential cellular functions. Failure to activate these genes locks cells into a genotoxic state that is conducive to oncogenesis and/or relapse.
Giant cell myocarditis

Giant cell myocarditis (GCM) usually affects previously healthy adults and is a rapidly progressive and frequently fatal disease. It has a median survival of 3 months to death or transplant without appropriate therapy. Hence, early diagnosis is critical, with evidence showing rapidly instituted cyclosporine-based immunosuppression can improve transplant-free survival. Although transplant is an effective strategy, GCM can recur in 25% of transplanted hearts. We present a case of GCM in a patient who presented with conduction abnormalities and fulminant heart failure.
Characterizing forbidden subgraphs that imply pancyclicity in 4-connected, claw-free graphs

Abstract In 1984, Matthews and Sumner conjectured that every 4-connected, claw-free graph contains a Hamiltonian cycle. This still unresolved conjecture has been the motivation for research into the existence of other cycle structures. In this paper, we consider the stronger property of pancyclicity for 4-connected graphs. In particular, we show that every 4-connected, { K 1 , 3 , N ( i , j , k ) } -free graph, where i , j , k ≥ 1 and i + j + k = 6 , is pancyclic. This, together with results by Ferrara, Morris, Wenger, and Ferrara et al. completes a characterization of the graphs Y such that every { K 1 , 3 , Y } -free graph is pancyclic. In addition, this represents the best known progress towards answering a question of Gould concerning a characterization of the pairs of forbidden subgraphs that imply pancyclicity in 4-connected graphs.
The Federal and State Battle Over Partisan Redistricting

In the second half of the 2010-decade, legal challenges regarding partisan gerrymandering to North Carolina’s redistricting efforts came to a culmination in both federal and state court rulings. Following legislative redistricting that focused purely on partisan dynamics, three important North Carolina court cases would define the concept of partisan gerrymandering by federal court rulings, as well as by a North Carolina court ruling that signaled a new approach to confronting partisan gerrymandering.
Economic Feasibility Analysis of Charging Infrastructure for Electric Ground Fleet in Airports

Many airports are converting their ground fleets to electric vehicles to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase airport operation sustainability. Although this paradigm shift is relevant to t...
Level matrix, N 16 β decay, and the C 12 (α,γ ) 16 O reaction

The level matrix corresponding to the scrK-matrix parametrization of a resonant nuclear reaction is derived and applied to the spectrum of \ensuremath{\alpha} particles emitted following $^{16}\mathrm{N}$ \ensuremath{\beta} decay. The parametrized spectrum is fitted to data simultaneously with the E1 capture cross section of the $^{12}\mathrm{C}$(\ensuremath{\alpha},\ensuremath{\gamma}${)}^{16}$O reaction and the p-wave phase shift of $^{12}\mathrm{C}$(\ensuremath{\alpha},\ensuremath{\alpha}${)}^{12}$C. Our analysis shows that new measurements of the \ensuremath{\alpha} spectrum from $^{16}\mathrm{N}$ \ensuremath{\beta} decay could be used to significantly reduce the uncertainty of the $^{12}\mathrm{C}$(\ensuremath{\alpha},\ensuremath{\gamma}${)}^{16}$O astrophysical S factor at 0.3 MeV. Various constraints on the parameters are analyzed and suggestions are made for further reducing the uncertainty in this crucial reaction rate.
Evolutionary Aspects of Neuroendocrine Control Processes

The orientation of this symposium should bring into focus not only the evolution and diversification of behavioral patterns but also the basic principles of their governance. In essence, the adjustment of an animal’s behavior to variable conditions, ensuring the survival of the individual and the species, requires an apparatus for the reception, sorting out, and integration of relevant signals and the activation of effective response mechanisms. In simple as well as elaborate systems, the organ responsible for both the design of strategy and the execution of appropriate behavioral actions is the brain.
Representing Knowledge in A-Prolog

In this paper, we review some recent work on declarative logic programming languages based on stable models/answer sets semantics of logic programs. These languages, gathered together under the name of A-Prolog, can be used to represent various types of knowledge about the world. By way of example we demonstrate how the corresponding representations together with inference mechanisms associated with A-Prolog can be used to solve various programming tasks.
A Stimulus Response Method for the Analysis of Environmental and Health Events Related in Time

(1971). A Stimulus Response Method for the Analysis of Environmental and Health Events Related in Time. Environmental Letters: Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 23-34.
Phage pattern-specific oxacillin-resistant and borderline oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in U.S. hospitals: epidemiological significance.

For a 13-year period (1978 through 1990), oxacillin-resistant (MIC, greater than 4 micrograms/ml) Staphylococcus aureus (ORSA) strains were collected from Clinical Center (National Institutes of Health) patients and patients from five other U.S. hospitals. From Clinical Center patients, 251 of 253 isolates (99%) were bacteriophage typed as phage group III. Five other hospitals contributed 203 ORSA strains, of which 188 (93%) were group III. The group III ORSA strains predominantly included a characteristic core pattern of phages, 7/47/53/54/75/77. For the low-level (borderline) oxacillin-resistant strains (MIC, 2 to 4 micrograms/ml), amoxicillin-clavulanic acid combination (Augmentin) testing disclosed 62 hyper-beta-lactamase producers, of which 59 (95%) were of a separate, distinct S. aureus strain, with the phage pattern 92/94/96/292/D-11 (group V). Thus, ORSA and hyper-beta-lactamase producing S. aureus are distinct epidemic strains.
The Practice of Multimodal Therapy: Systematic, Comprehensive, and Effective Psychotherapy

This book offers a practical, step-by-step guide to every phase of assessment and therapy, from the initial interview to follow-up treatments aimed at preventing relapse once formal treatment is over.
Effect of Adrenalectomy on the Diurnal Variation in Glycogen Metabolism in Starved-Refed Rats

The role of glucocorticoid (GC) in the diurnal variation of glycogenesis, glycogenolysis and hepatic glycogen levels was studied in starved-refed rats. Intact, adrenalectomized (ADX) and ADX-GC supplemented rats were either ad libitum fed a 65% glucose diet or starved for 48 hours and refed the glucose diet. At the end of the starvation period and at 4-hour intervals thereafter, rats from all six treatment groups were killed and hepatic glycogen levels, glycogen synthase and phosphorylase activity determined. Ad libitum-fed animals displayed the usual diurnal glycogen and enzyme activity rhythms. Adrenalectomy was without effect in the ad libitum-fed rats on glycogen level and glycogen synthase activity and, at most points, on phosphorylase activity. Starvation-refeeding profoundly affected both the synthesis and degradation of glycogen and these effects could, in part, be attributed to the presence or absence of the adrenals. The phosphorylase activity and the hepatic glycogen level appeared to be cued by GC, whereas GC was without effect on glycogen synthase. Starvation-refeeding stimulated glycogen synthase activity within the first 4 hours of refeeding in the intact rats and within the first 8 hours of refeeding in the ADX-GC rats. These results suggest that the glycogen response to starvation refeeding is, in part, mediated by the adrenal hormones.