cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Predictors of Positive Illicit Drug Tests After OEF/OIF Deployment Among Army Enlisted Service Members

ABSTRACT Objective: To identify characteristics associated with testing positive for illicit drugs postdeployment among Army enlisted members. Methods: Army active duty and National Guard/Reserve enlisted members returning from Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom deployments in fiscal years 2008 to 2011, who submitted urine specimens for random and other illicit drug tests up to 3 years postdeployment, were included. Multiple logistic regression models, stratified by component, identified demographic and deployment characteristics associated with any positive drug test (cocaine, heroin, tetrahydrocannabinol [marijuana], or amphetamine) during the 3 years postdeployment. Results: Among Army active duty and National Guard/Reserve enlisted members, respectively, 3.46% (95% confidence interval 3.40–3.52) and 3.84% (confidence interval 3.74–3.94) tested positive for 1+ illicit drugs during the 3 years postdeployment; the vast majority for marijuana. Relative to other groups, increased odds of a ...
Configuration of Generator-Transformer-Line Group Protection and Case Study

Using Fengzhen Power Plant Phase 3 Project in Inner Mongolia as an example and based on the Detailed Rules of Relay Protection Implementation: The 25 Requirements to Prevent Major Accidents in Electric Production,issued by the State Grid Corp.of China,this paper analyzes issues including generator-transformer-line group protection configuration,double redundency and failure protection,etc.It can provide a reference for similar projects.
Magnolia officinalis (Hou Po) bark extract stimulates the Nrf2-pathway in hepatocytes and protects against oxidative stress.

Abstract Ethnopharmacological relevance The highly aromatic bark of Magnolia officinalis Rehder and EH Wilson, (magnolia bark) has been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine where it is known as Hou Po. Historically the bark of the tree has been used for treating variety of disorders the most common use of magnolia bark in traditional prescription has been to treat stress and anxiety disorders. Till date it is not clear regarding the fundamental cellular pathway it modulates. NRF2 signaling has emerged as the central pathway that protects cells from variety of stressors this led us to hypothesize that basis for magnolia bark's effects could be via activating NRF2 pathway. Materials and methods We utilized variety of biochemical procedures like luciferase reporter assay, enzyme induction, gene expression to determine NRF2 inducing activity by magnolia bark extract and its significance. Further we identified the phytochemicals inducing this activity using bio-directed fractionation procedure. Results In this study, we demonstrate that magnolia bark extract activates Nrf2-dependent gene expression and protects against hydrogen peroxide mediated oxidative stress in hepatocytes. We further identified through HPLC fractionation and mass spectroscopy that magnolol, 4-methoxy honokiol and honokiol are the active phytochemicals inducing the Nrf2-mediated activity. This could be the molecular basis for its numerous beneficial activity.
Aquinas on the divine ideas as exemplar causes, by Gregory T. Doolan

Does Aquinas' metaphysics reduce God to an Aristotelian “thought thinking itself,” a first principle blissfully unaware of the world that it moves? Is Thomas successful in defending the teleologica...
Tie Formation on Twitter: Homophily and Structure of Egocentric Networks

Both homophily and tie formation remain well studied problems in the social sciences literature since several decades. Prior empirical work on networks seems to indicate that in several situations, high degree of homophily was observed to be behind an individual's desire to establish new ties. However in the context of today's social media, not all individuals are the same, topologically. That is, we observe a variety of ego network structures based on individuals' inlink-outlink relationships. In the context of tie formation in these networks, do different ego network topologies exhibit homophily along different attributes? How can we quantify and investigate these differences? To this end, we propose a variety of attributes along which homophily can be measured between individuals: including demographic attributes, activity-specific attributes and content-based attributes. We further categorize ego network structures as generators, mediators and receptors based on a measure called ego ratio. In our experiments on a large Twitter dataset comprising about 29.5M tweets, we observe, somewhat surprisingly, that for a few attributes, there was consistently high homophily (topical interest)/low homophily (gender, ethnicity) regardless of the ego network structure. Otherwise, mediators were observed to associate tie formation extensively with location, interactive ness and sentiment homophily, whereas generators were driven largely by information broadcasting behavior homophily. Implications of the findings in understanding the diverse range of motivations behind user participation in social media sites are discussed.
THE EFFECTS ON COMMODITY PRICES OF EXTRAORDINARY MONETARY POLICY

This article examines the relationship between Federal Reserve monetary policy and other macroeconomic indicators to both a broad commodity price index and an agricultural commodity price index by employing a vector error correction model. Excessive liquidity and the recent long period of ultralow interest rates appear to have played a statistically significant role in affecting prices in the commodities markets. The responses of commodity prices to monetary policy that we estimate generally conform to earlier findings, but the sensitivity of the responses appears different in the face of the unprecedented scope of recent Fed activism.
Avian Auditory Processing at Four Different Scales: Variation Among Species, Seasons, Sexes, and Individuals

Previous research on songbirds has typically focused on variation in production of vocal communication signals. These studies have addressed the mechanisms and functional significance of variation in vocal production across species and, within species, across seasons and among individuals (e.g., males of varying resource-holding capacity). However, far less is known about parallel variation in sensory processing, particularly in non-model species. A relationship between vocal signals and auditory processing is expected based on the sender–receiver matching hypothesis. Here, we review our recent comparative studies of auditory processing in songbirds conducted using auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) in a variety of field-caught songbird species. AEPs are voltage waveforms recorded from the scalp surface that originate from synchronous neural activity and provide insight into the sensitivity, frequency resolution, and temporal resolution of the subcortical auditory system. These studies uncovered variation in auditory processing at a number of different scales that was generally consistent with the sender–receiver matching hypothesis. For example, differences in auditory processing were uncovered among species and across seasons that may enhance perception of communication signals in species-specific habitats and during periods of mate selection, respectively. Sex differences were also revealed, often in season-specific patterns, and surprising individual differences were observed in auditory processing of mate attraction signals but not of calls used in interspecific contexts. While much remains to be learned, these studies highlight a previously unrecognized degree of parallel variation in songbirds, existing at diverse hierarchical scales, between production of vocal communication signals and subcortical auditory processing.
Rearing Ixodes scapularis, the Black-legged Tick: Feeding Immature Stages on Mice

Ixodes scapularis, the vector of Lyme disease, is one of the most important disease vectors in the eastern and Midwestern United States. This species is a three host tick that requires a blood meal from a vertebrate host for each development stage, and the adult females require a blood meal for reproduction. Larval ticks attach to their host for 3 - 5 days for feeding and drop off the host when fully engorged. This dependency on several different hosts and the lengthy attachment time for engorgement complicates tick rearing in the laboratory setting. However, to understand tick biology and tick-pathogen interactions, the production of healthy, laboratory-reared ticks is essential. Here, we demonstrate a simple, cost-effective protocol for immature tick feeding on mice. We modified the existing protocols for decreased stress on mice and increased tick feeding success and survival by using disposable cages without mesh bottoms to avoid contact of ticks with water contaminated with mice urine and feces.
Does Anxiety Modify the Risk for, or Severity of, Conduct Problems Among Children With Co-Occurring ADHD: Categorical and Dimensional and Analyses:

Objective: The goal was to examine whether anxiety modifies the risk for, or severity of, conduct problems in children with ADHD. Method: Assessment included both categorical and dimensional measur...
Relationship Among Orangestriped Oakworm (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) Frass Length, Frass Production, Host Plant, and Defoliation

Defoliation of urban oak trees by the orangestriped oakworm, Anisota senatoria (J. E. Smith), and associated frass has become a significant problem in southeastern Virginia. Measurements of frass length and production provided a decision-making guideline for A. senatoria management. Frass length was used to differentiate A. senatoria instars reared on Q. palustris (Muenchhausen), pin oak. Host plants significantly affected A. senatoria frass length and production per larva and host plants should be considered when determining instars. Frass length was longer and frass production higher when larvae were reared on Q. nigra (water oak), Q. phellos (willow oak), Q. coccinea (scarlet oak), and Q. palustris compared with six other species. Frass length was shorter in second, fourth, and fifth instars when larvae were reared on Q. alba (white oak) compared with six, eight, and five other species, respectively. Landscape fabrics were used to collect frass and recovered 90% of all frass deposited. Frass production...
How Christian Faith Can Animate Teaching: A Taxonomy of Diverse Approaches

How do Christian teachers steward both the academy and their faith by integrating their faith tradition into their teaching? This chapter draws upon a survey of 2309 faculty at 48 institutions in the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities to set forth a typology that helps us identify and understand a range of eight different ways teachers apply faith in the classroom. The authors examine potential weaknesses and strengths of various approaches and conclude we need a holistic approach that weaves together the disparate strands that may become weak and tattered when left to themselves. In particular, the authors encourage doctoral students and new faculty to pursue styles that they find the most authentic while maintaining a holistic approach.
Internet of Things-Based Consumer Electronics: Reviewing Existing Consumer Electronic Devices, Systems, and Platforms and Exploring New Research Paradigms

Consumer electronics (ce) based on the Internet of Things (IoT) are playing a key role in boosting the global economy by improving quality of life and creating new markets, products, and research paradigms. This special issue provides a publication medium for articles that either review existing IoTbased CE devices, systems, and platforms or explore novel research paradigms such as smart homes and smart cities. In this issue, you will find articles on smart home environments, commercial devices on the edge of IoT, consumer cognitive systems, and wearable privacy. The target audience includes educators, researchers, and students who are engaged in IoT-based research and education.
Enhancing Clinical Training with Video Grand Rounds in Counselor Education

Video grand rounds have been used in fields such as medicine, nursing, dentistry, and psychiatry to support clinical skills development. In the video grand rounds method, students observe a particu...
Level-set Fabrication Constraints for Gradient-based Optimization of Optical Devices

When designing integrated optical devices, fabrication constraints need to be satisfied. We present an analytical constraint for level-set parameterizations that limits the gap/feature size and can be combined with higher order gradient-based optimization algorithms.
The Golden Rule and Proxy Decision Making

It is clear from what has been said in the previous section that using autonomy conceived as pure self-determination as a rationale for surrogate decision making reveals a serious deficiency. In the current section, I intend to show that the decision-making rationale can be identified with the Golden Rule, as formulated in the Christian Bible and then referred to by St. Thomas Aquinas. The Rule provides a sound justification for acting as a proxy, as it presupposes a meaningful account of the good and of virtue and also recognizes basic inclinations of human nature, along with the need for friendship and love.
Perceived Candidacy for Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Paris, France

Low perception of HIV risk is a challenge to PrEP implementation. We analyzed associations between perceptions of PrEP candidacy, behavioral indications for PrEP, and sexual behaviors. We recruited a sample of 580 MSM from a geosocial-networking smartphone application in Paris, France. A modified Poisson regression model was conducted to examine associations between perceived candidacy for PrEP and behavioral indications for PrEP, and relationships among engagement in group sex, transactional sex, HIV test history, and indications for PrEP. Adjusted risk ratios (aRR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. For the outcome of perceived candidacy for PrEP, a multinomial logistic regression was performed, and adjusted relative risk ratios (aRRR) were calculated. Multivariate analyses were adjusted for socio-demographics. Respondents who considered themselves PrEP candidates were more likely to meet PrEP eligibility criteria compared to those who did not consider themselves candidates (aRR 1.65; 95% CI 1.34-2.03). Those who had engaged in group or transactional sex were more likely to have behavioral indications for PrEP (aRR 1.27; 95% CI 1.07-1.50, aRR 1.32; 95% CI 1.13-1.56, respectively), whereas HIV test history was not significantly associated with behavioral indications for PrEP. Respondents who had engaged in group sex or transactional sex were more likely to perceive themselves as candidates for PrEP (aRRR 2.24; 95% CI 1.21-4.16, aRRR 2.58; 95% CI 1.09-6.13, respectively), although those never tested for HIV were less likely to perceive themselves as candidates for PrEP (aRRR 0.18; 95% CI 0.03-0.91). The elucidation of candidacy perceptions and risk behaviors is key to furthering the effective implementation of PrEP engagement interventions.
Understanding Pathways within Intimate Partner Violence: Economic Abuse, Economic Hardship, and Mental Health

The consequences of intimate partner violence (IPV) on the mental health and economic well-being of survivors can be devastating. Economic abuse, a form of emotional abuse in which an intimate part...
Spinal epidural abscess associated with an epidural catheter in a woman with complex regional pain syndrome and selective IgG3 deficiency: A case report.

AbstractRationale:Continuous epidural infusion of local anesthetic may be an alternative to sympathetic blocks in refractory cases of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Spinal epidural abscess (SEA) is a well-known complication associated with this technique, especially in patients with immune d
One In, One Out, Many More to Go.

![Figure][1] ![Figure][1] For decades, identification and quantification of myocardial ischemia has served as a foundational cornerstone of diagnostic and prognostic paradigms for patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). In the last 40 years, we have witnessed the
Outcomes of Ventral Hernia Repair in Solid Organ Transplant Patients: A Regression Analysis of the National Inpatient Sample.

Abstract Background Solid organ transplant has been identified as an independent risk factor in ventral hernia repair. Previous studies have generally focused on case studies or small samples. We sought to investigate the impact of liver or kidney transplant on ventral hernia repair outcomes using a nationally representative sample. Methods The National Inpatient Sample was used to identify ventral hernia repairs from years 2005 to 2014. We then divided them into two groups, patients with prior solid organ transplant and those without, and used logistic regression to analyze the effect of this variable on outcomes. We then investigated the relationship between various comorbidities and 30-d outcomes of surgery in both groups after adjusting for comorbidities. The primary outcome we looked at was mortality, with secondary outcomes such as length of stay and various surgical complications. Results We compared two groups consisting of patients with prior transplant (n = 3317) and patients without (n = 372,775) and found that patients with prior liver or kidney transplant did not have higher mortality rates and also did not have longer lengths of stay. In addition, in terms of preoperative variables, patients with transplant were more likely to have the following comorbidities: cardiac arrhythmia, chronic blood loss anemia, chronic pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, depression, metastatic cancer, obesity, psychoses, solid tumor without metastasis, and weight loss. Diabetes was associated with higher mortality in transplant patients. Conclusions Patients without prior liver or kidney transplant did not have higher mortality rates or lengths of stay.
Neurological, Psychiatric, and Biochemical Aspects of Thiamine Deficiency in Children and Adults

Thiamine (vitamin B1) is an essential nutrient that serves as a cofactor for a number of enzymes, mostly with mitochondrial localization. Some thiamine-dependent enzymes are involved in energy metabolism and biosynthesis of nucleic acids whereas others are part of the antioxidant machinery. The brain is highly vulnerable to thiamine deficiency due to its heavy reliance on mitochondrial ATP production. This is more evident during rapid growth (i.e., perinatal periods and children) in which thiamine deficiency is commonly associated with either malnutrition or genetic defects. Thiamine deficiency contributes to a number of conditions spanning from mild neurological and psychiatric symptoms (confusion, reduced memory, and sleep disturbances) to severe encephalopathy, ataxia, congestive heart failure, muscle atrophy, and even death. This review discusses the current knowledge on thiamine deficiency and associated morbidity of neurological and psychiatric disorders, with special emphasis on the pediatric population, as well as the putative beneficial effect of thiamine supplementation in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neurological conditions.
SmartStreamer: Preference-Aware Multipath Video Streaming Over MPTCP

Simultaneous access to multiple interfaces (e.g., WiFi and cellular networks) can significantly improve the users’ quality of experience (QoE) in video streaming. However, some interfaces could be more expensive to use and less energy efficient. Therefore, in this paper, we propose a preference-aware multipath video streaming algorithm over HTTP using multipath TCP (MPTCP). First, we formulate the quality decisions of the video chunks and the chunk's download policy subject to the chunk's deadlines, the available bandwidth of the different paths, and the link preferences as a non-convex optimization problem. The objective is to optimize a novel QoE metric that maintains a tradeoff between maximizing the quality of every video's chunk and ensuring quality fairness among all chunks for the minimum re-buffering (stall) duration, and without violating the link preference constraint. Second, we develop a polynomial time complexity algorithm to solve the proposed optimization problem, and provide guarantees for the proposed algorithm. We further propose a sliding window based online algorithm where several challenges including short bandwidth prediction with prediction errors are addressed. Extensive emulated experiments with real bandwidth traces of public datasets reveal the robustness of our scheme and demonstrate its significant performance improvement compared to the state-of-the-art multi-path streaming algorithms.
Shared Lifetimes, Multigenerational Exposure, and Educational Mobility

In this article, we report analyses of the effects of fertility and mortality trends on the mutual exposure of grandparents and grandchildren and their consequences for multigenerational processes of social mobility in the United States from 1900 to 2010. Using historical vital statistics and stable population models, we report systematic analyses of grandparent-grandchild exposures from both prospective (grandparent) and retrospective (grandchild) perspectives. We also estimate exposure levels and trends specific to education levels of grandparents and grandchildren and decompose the overall trend into the effect of changing mortality, fertility level, and fertility timing. We show that changes in mutual exposure of grandparent and grandchild generations may have contributed to an increasing association between grandparents' and grandchildren's educational attainments.
The Visual Field of Barbadian Elite Schooling: Towards Postcolonial Social Aesthetics

In this chapter, we explore schooling in the postcolonial context as a particular type of cultural artifact. Eschewing dominant qualitative research tendencies that privilege the word and the text over the visual and the physical, we argue that deeper complexities and nuances come to the fore when we focus on the visual fields, noting that the visual field is always a production enmeshed within a social context.
Comparison of the Bleeding Cricothyrotomy Model to SimMan for Training Students and Residents Emergency Cricothyrotomy.

Introduction: A cricothyroidotomy is an emergency procedure that few emergency medicine residents see or perform during their training. Therefore, there is a need for low cost, high fidelity models for training. In this study, we explore a new training model for cricothyroidotomies (the bleeding CRIC [cost-effective realistic interactive cricothyroidotomy]) to determine if this new tasktrainer is non-inferior compared to the current standard of training.Methods: Authors conducted a randomized control noninferiority study. There were seventeen residents and medical students enrolled by convenience sample to partake in the study. The participants were randomized by block randomization to be taught how to perform a ricothyroidotomy on either the new task trainer or the current standard task trainer and then wereasked to perform the procedure on a pig trachea model. Primary outcome measures were scores on a previously validated objective assessment tool and secondary outcomes were comfort levels andrealism scores based on pre and post survey results which were analyzed with ANOVA. Results: There was found to be no statistically significant difference between the groups in assessment scores, time to completion, or comfort levels pre- and post-intervention. There was a statistically significant difference in that the participants gave higher realism scores in post-test analysis to the Bleeding CRIC compared to the SimMan. Both groups demonstrated that they had significantly improved comfort levels from baseline post-intervention.Conclusion: Overall, the new task trainer was rated by learners to feel more realistic than the current standard. This study demonstrates non-inferiority of the new task trainer and further studies with larger sample sizes should be conducted to determine its true efficacy.
Subtype specific targeting of calcium signaling in breast cancer.

Abstract An important component of breast milk, calcium also appears as radiographically prominent microcalcifications in breast tissue that are often the earliest sign of malignancy. Ionic Ca2+ is a universal second messenger that controls a wide swathe of effector pathways integral to gene transcription, cell cycle control, differentiation, proliferation, cell migration, and apoptosis. Whereas prolonged elevation in resting Ca2+ levels drives proliferation to initiate and sustain tumor growth, depletion of calcium stores and attenuation of calcium influx pathways underlies tumor chemoresistance and evasion of apoptosis. This paradox of Ca2+ homeostasis highlights the challenge of targeting Ca2+ signaling pathways for breast cancer therapy. Furthermore, breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease classified into distinct subtypes based on tumor origin, stage of invasiveness and hormone receptor status. Classification is important for tailoring treatment, and in predicting clinical outcome or response to chemotherapy. There have been numerous reports of dysregulated expression, localization or activity of Ca2+ channels, regulators and pumps in breast cancer. An important aspect of these alterations is that they are specific to breast cancer subtype, as exemplified by a reciprocal switch in secretory pathway Ca2+-ATPase isoforms SPCA1 and SPCA2 depending on receptor status. In this review, we discuss the current knowledge of subtype specific changes in calcium channels and pumps, with a focus on functional insights that may inform new opportunities for breast cancer therapy.
Astrocytic Ephrin-B1 Controls Excitatory-Inhibitory Balance in Developing Hippocampus

Astrocytes are implicated in synapse formation and elimination, which are associated with developmental refinements of neuronal circuits. Astrocyte dysfunctions are also linked to synapse pathologies associated with neurodevelopmental disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. Although several astrocyte-derived secreted factors are implicated in synaptogenesis, the role of contact-mediated glial-neuronal interactions in synapse formation and elimination during development is still unknown. In this study, we examined whether the loss or overexpression of the membrane-bound ephrin-B1 in astrocytes during postnatal day (P) 14-28 period would affect synapse formation and maturation in the developing hippocampus. We found enhanced excitation of CA1 pyramidal neurons in astrocyte-specific ephrin-B1 KO male mice, which coincided with a greater vGlut1/PSD95 colocalization, higher dendritic spine density, and enhanced evoked AMPAR and NMDAR EPSCs. In contrast, EPSCs were reduced in CA1 neurons neighboring ephrin-B1-overexpressing astrocytes. Overexpression of ephrin-B1 in astrocytes during P14-28 developmental period also facilitated evoked IPSCs in CA1 neurons, while evoked IPSCs and miniature IPSC amplitude were reduced following astrocytic ephrin-B1 loss. Lower numbers of parvalbumin-expressing cells and a reduction in the inhibitory VGAT/gephyrin-positive synaptic sites on CA1 neurons in the stratum pyramidale and stratum oriens layers of KO hippocampus may contribute to reduced inhibition and higher excitation. Finally, dysregulation of excitatory/inhibitory balance in KO male mice is most likely responsible for impaired sociability observed in these mice. The ability of astrocytic ephrin-B1 to influence both excitatory and inhibitory synapses during development can potentially contribute to developmental refinement of neuronal circuits.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT This report establishes a link between astrocytes and the development of excitatory and inhibitory balance in the mouse hippocampus during early postnatal development. We provide new evidence that astrocytic ephrin-B1 differentially regulates development of excitatory and inhibitory circuits in the hippocampus during early postnatal development using a multidisciplinary approach. The ability of astrocytic ephrin-B1 to influence both excitatory and inhibitory synapses during development can potentially contribute to developmental refinement of neuronal circuits and associated behaviors. Given widespread and growing interest in the astrocyte-mediated mechanisms that regulate synapse development, and the role of EphB receptors in neurodevelopmental disorders, these findings establish a foundation for future studies of astrocytes in clinically relevant conditions.
Fabrication of micro-tubular solid oxide fuel cells using sulfur-free polymer binder via a phase inversion method

Abstract Three sulfur-free polymer binders (ethyl cellulose (EC), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polyetherimide (PEI)) and sulfur-containing polyethersulfone (PESf) polymer binder were used to fabricate NiO–BaZr 0.1 Ce 0.7 Y 0.1 Yb 0.1 O 3−δ (BZCYYb) anode substrates. The overall influence of polymer binder on the anode supports was evaluated. Sulfide impurity in the anode substrate was identified when sulfur-containing PESf was used as the polymer binder. Single cells based on different anode supports were characterized in anode-supported MT-SOFCs with the cell configuration of Ni-BZCYYb anode, BZCYYb proton-conducting electrolyte and La 0.6 Sr 0.4 Co 0.2 Fe 0.8 O 3−δ (LSCF)-BZCYYb cathode at 650 °C, 600 °C and 550 °C, using humidified hydrogen as fuel and ambient air as oxidant. MT-SOFCs of the anode fabricated using PEI show maximum power density of 0.45 Wcm −2 , 0.34 Wcm −2 and 0.23 Wcm −2 at 650 °C, 600 °C and 550 °C respectively, compared with 0.35 Wcm −2 , 0.27 Wcm −2 and 0.18 Wcm −2 for cells fabricated with PESf. The difference in cell performance was attributed to the phase purity of the anode fabricated by different polymer binders. Sulfur-free polymer binder PEI exhibits advantages over the commonly applied PESf and other sulfur-free polymer binders, pointing to a new direction in the fabrication of micro-tubular oxide substrates for energy conversion and storage.
HDG Methods for Stokes Equation Based on Strong Symmetric Stress Formulations

We propose a hybridizable discontinuous Galerkin (HDG) method for Stokes equation based on strong symmetric stress formulations. Stress-based method stands out compared to gradient or vorticity-based methods by its simple and natural way of enforcing Neumann type boundary conditions. Our method uses the polynomial spaces of orders $${\text {k}}-({\text {k}}+1)-{\text {k}}$$ for the stress–velocity–pressure triplet, and orders $${\text {k}}-({\text {k}}+1)$$ for the tangential and the normal components of the numerical trace space. By sending the normal stabilization to infinity, we obtain another method that provides exactly divergence-free solution and is pressure-robust. We prove that both methods are optimal for all variables and achieve super-convergence for the numerical trace. In addition, we build a quantitative connection between the normal stabilization and the pressure-robustness. Numerical experiments are also presented to validate our theoretical discoveries.
Be Wise: A complementary and alternative medicine health literacy skill-building programme.

Background:Health literacy has been found to be the strongest predictor of health status; and without adequate health literacy, consumers may not understand/adequately evaluate the myriad of choice...
Structural analysis of cross α-helical nanotubes provides insight into the designability of filamentous peptide nanomaterials.

The exquisite structure-function correlations observed in filamentous protein assemblies provide a paradigm for the design of synthetic peptide-based nanomaterials. However, the plasticity of quaternary structure in sequence-space and the lability of helical symmetry present significant challenges to the de novo design and structural analysis of such filaments. Here, we describe a rational approach to design self-assembling peptide nanotubes based on controlling lateral interactions between protofilaments having an unusual cross-α supramolecular architecture. Near-atomic resolution cryo-EM structural analysis of seven designed nanotubes provides insight into the designability of interfaces within these synthetic peptide assemblies and identifies a non-native structural interaction based on a pair of arginine residues. This arginine clasp motif can robustly mediate cohesive interactions between protofilaments within the cross-α nanotubes. The structure of the resultant assemblies can be controlled through the sequence and length of the peptide subunits, which generates synthetic peptide filaments of similar dimensions to flagella and pili. Peptide-based filamentous assemblies are successfully used for generation of structurally ordered materials, but their de novo design and structural characterization is challenging. Here, the authors provide a strategy for the design of self-assembling peptide nanotubes based on modifications of an arginine clasp interaction motif, and report the cryo-EM structures of seven designed nanotubes.
ANESTHETIC CONSIDERATIONS FOR OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA PATIENTS

SUMMARY Patients with OSA clearly benefit from close collaboration between surgeon and an- esthesiologist. They present interesting challenges to both. A good understanding of the pathophysiology of OSA as well as concomitant diseases helps the anesthetic planning, which must include a detailed plan of action to handle the most significant problems these patients present, namely airway management, cardiovascular disease, and pulmonary disease.
Stakeholders' assessment of US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's contributions to the development of National Public Health Institutes in seven countries.

National Public Health Institutes (NPHIs) can strengthen countries' public health capacities to prevent, detect, and respond to public health emergencies. This qualitative evaluation assessed the role of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in NPHI development and strengthening of public health functions. We interviewed NPHI staff (N = 43), non-NPHI government staff (N = 29), and non-governmental organization staff (N = 24) in seven countries where CDC has supported NPHI development: Cambodia, Colombia, Liberia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Zambia. Participants identified four areas of support that were the most important: workforce capacity building, technical assistance for key public health functions, identifying institutional gaps and priorities, and funding to support countries' priorities. Participants underscored the need for capacity building directed toward country-driven priorities during planning and implementation. Continued support for NPHI development from CDC and other partners is vital to building stronger public health systems, improving population health, and strengthening global health security.
The oesophageal detector device. An assessment of accuracy and ease of use by paramedics.

Summary Accuracy, ease and speed of recognition of tracheal tube position were assessed using the oesophageal detector device in a series of 40 tests on 29 patients. A single blind method was used, with each paramedic performing a single test on each patient. The tests were randomly split between two groups consisting of those tests performed on the tracheal or oesophageal tube respectively. Of the 40 tests performed, 21 were on tracheal tubes and 19 on oesophageal tubes. Correct placement was diagnosed with 100% accuracy by the paramedics, none of whom had previously used the oesophageal detector device. Each paramedic also graded speed of recognition of position and ease of use of the device. Recognition of position was graded as instant in 37 out of 40 tests. Use of the oesophageal detector device by previously inexperienced paramedics has thus been shown to be accurate, rapid and easy to learn.
Thermal swing adsorption in supercritical fluids

Abstract The success of thermal swing adsorption in the separation of multiple solute mixtures, depends on the ability to control thermal wave velocity relative to each solute velocity as they pass through the column. For a ternary system operating conditions must be cycled such that the velocity of the thermal wave in one instance exceeds the velocities of both solutes, in another the velocity of one component is exceeded, and finally that the velocities of both solutes exceed that of the thermal wave. The sensitivity of supercritical solvents to thermally induced changes in heat conductivity provides a unique means of controlling the velocity of the thermal wave, in order to affect such separations. A dynamic model is presented which allows prediction of the wave velocities for use in determining the appropriate operating conditions for a given mixture. A pilot scale separation unit under investigation for recycled thermal swing separations is also descirbed.
Forensic Evidence Identification and Modeling for Attacks against a Simulated Online Business Information System

Forensic readiness can support future forensics investigation or auditing on external/internal attacks, internal sabotage and espionage, and business frauds. To establish forensics readiness, it is essential for an organization to identify what evidences are relevant and where they can be found, to determine whether they are logged in a forensic sound way and whether all the needed evidences are available to reconstruct the events successfully. Â Our goal of this research is to ensure evidence availability. First, both external and internal attacks are molded as augmented attack trees/graphs based on the system vulnerabilities. Second, modeled attacks are conducted against a honeynet simulating an online business information system, and each honeypot's hard drive is forensic sound imaged for each individual attack. Third, an evidence tree/graph will be built after forensics examination on the disk images for each attack. The evidence trees/graphs are expected to be used for automatic crime scene reconstruction and automatic attack/fraud detection in the future.
Statins Are Associated With a Decreased Risk of Decompensation and Death in Veterans With Hepatitis C-Related Compensated Cirrhosis.

Background & Aims Statins decrease portal pressure in patients with cirrhosis and increase survival times of patients who have bled from varices. However, statins can be hepatotoxic. It is important to determine whether long-term statin use will be beneficial or detrimental for patients with cirrhosis because physicians are reluctant to prescribe statins to patients with liver disease. We investigated the effects of statins on decompensation and survival times in patients with compensated cirrhosis. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort using the Veteran Affairs Clinical Case Registry, which contains nationwide data from veterans infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV). We identified patients with compensated cirrhosis from January 1996 through December 2009. Statin use was according to filled prescriptions. Cirrhosis and decompensation were determined from International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision codes, using a validated algorithm. Results Among 40,512 patients with HCV compensated cirrhosis (98% male; median age, 56 y), 2802 statin users were identified. We developed a propensity score model using variables associated with statin prescription, and new statin users were matched with up to 5 nonusers; 685 statin users were matched with 2062 nonusers. Discrimination of the propensity score model was 0.92. Statin users had a lower risk of decompensation (hazard ratio [HR], 0.55; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.39–0.77) and death (HR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.46–0.69), compared with nonusers. Findings persisted after adjustment for age, FIB-4 index score, serum level of albumin, model for end-stage liver disease and Child-Turcotte-Pugh scores (HR for decompensation, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.39–0.78), and death (HR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.45–0.68). Conclusions Based on data from the Veteran Affairs Clinical Case Registry, statin use among patients with HCV and compensated cirrhosis is associated with a more than 40% lower risk of cirrhosis decompensation and death. Although statins cannot yet be recommended widely for these patients, their use should not be avoided.
Meeting North Carolina's Health Care Needs Through Interprofessional Education and Practice

To meet the future health care needs of North Carolinians, health professions students must learn how to work together as part of an interdisciplinary team. This commentary describes how interprofessional education and team-based care can decrease the number of adverse events, improve health care delivery, and support consistent outcomes.
Abstract T P412: Cerebral Microbleeds and Cognition: The Framingham Heart Study

Objective: To study the association of cerebral microbleeds (CMB) on MRI and performance on a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery in a community based cohort free of stroke and dementia. Background: CMB represent hemorrhage-prone cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) and have been related to increased risk of dementia. In non-demented individuals, CMB may negatively affect cognition and the pattern of impaired cognitive performance may differ according to lesion topography. Methods: We evaluated 1744 Framingham Offspring Study participants (mean age 64.6 years, 54% women) attending a baseline examination (1998-2008), who had brain MRI allowing for CMB detection and underwent concurrent NP testing. Using multivariable linear regression we related CMB presence overall and stratified by brain location (lobar, deep or mixed) to performance on NP tests representing cognitive domains including memory, executive function, abstraction, language and visuospatial function. Results: CMB were observed in 7.7%...
Lessons from community college programs targeting welfare recipients

Many community colleges have pursued aggressive initiatives to serve students on welfare, creating new academic programs or expanding existing ones. This chapter highlights case studies of best practices that illustrate how institutional initiatives targeting welfare students have resulted in an expanded capacity to educate and serve mainstream students.
Chinese Maps: Images of "All Under Heaven"

For nearly two thousand years the Chinese emperor, ruler of "All under heaven", demanded the obedience not only of his subjects in China but also of tributary peoples throughout the known world. This work explores the history of Chinese map-making, giving special emphasis to the political, military, and administrative uses of maps, the images of foreign "barbarians" seen in maps and encyclopaedias, and the role of these materials in the maintenance of China's image of itself as the Middle Kingdom.
Anonymity in packet scheduling under the max-min fairness criterion

Fairness is an important criterion in the design and evaluation of scheduling algorithms of data packets in networks. Ensuring fairness, however, limits the randomness in scheduling policies thus reducing the privacy of network activity from an eavesdropper. In this work, the design of max-min fair scheduling protocols is investigated from the perspective of achieving a desired degree of user anonymity. Specifically, the Fair Queueing algorithm, which is known to be max-min fair, is considered and a metric is proposed to compute the anonymity of this scheduling algorithm. It is found that the Fair Queueing algorithm does not achieve maximum anonymity even with unlimited buffer capacity. Consequently, a relaxation of the Fair Queueing algorithm is proposed, where the window of minimum fairness computation is expanded. It is shown that with sufficient relaxation, the modified fair queuing algorithm can achieve any desired degree of anonymity thus demonstrating the trade off between fairness and anonymity.
1640 COMPARED TO RADICAL NEPHRECTOMY, NEPHRON-SPARING SURGERY OFFERS A LONG-TERM SURVIVAL ADVANTAGE IN PATIENTS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 20 AND 44 WITH RENAL CELL CARCINOMAS (Â 4CM): AN ANALYSIS OF THE SEER DATABASE

Purpose: Compared with radical nephrectomy (RN), partial nephrectomy (PN) decreases the risk of developing chronic kidney disease. Although numerous studies have demonstrated the survival advantage of PN in older patients, they have been criticized by selection bias toward the procedure owing to comorbidities. We hypothesized that long-standing effects of renal preservation would manifest in a survival advantage of a younger patient population, where selection bias owing to comorbidities is minimized. Materials and methods: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results 18-registries database was queried for patients aged 20 to 44 years surgically treated between 1993 and 2003 for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) r4 cm with known grade and histology. Patients with prior RCC, multiple tumors, and metastatic or locally advanced disease were excluded. The final cohorts consisted of 222 and 494 subjects treated with PN and RN, respectively. The chi-square and log-rank analyses compared patient and tumor characteristics and patient survival, respectively. Results: There were no differences between the groups in demographics or tumor characteristics. Additionally, there was no difference in cancer-specific survival at 5 or 10 years (P ¼ 0.34 and P ¼ 0.1, respectively). Although there was no difference in 5-year overall survival (P ¼ 0.07), PN offered an advantage in 10-year overall survival (P ¼ 0.025). Conclusions: Present Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results analyses demonstrate that compared with RN, PN improved overall survival in patients with small, localized RCC. As expected, the survival advantage is observed late and supports the importance of longterm renal functional preservation. Although our study is limited by lack of comorbidities, the results suggest that detrimental effects of RN may have implications on overall survival in younger patients with RCC. r 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Calculation of laminar separation bubbles in the wake inflation/deflation regime

A new interacting boundary-layer method is developed for calculating two-dimensional incompressible laminar separation bubbles. The method relies on a completely consistent mixed boundary value treatment of the outer inviscid flow. For attached flows, the new method is found to converge as fast as the classical Cauchy-Hilbert method and to yield the same solutions. For separated flows, the new method is found to converge two to three times faster than a comparable Cauchy-Hilbert method. The physical asymptotic theories that underlie this new numerical method will be discussed, in so far as they motivate the method.
The Meaning of the Historical Jesus for Faith

It would seem quite unnecessary to set forth in any detail attempts to support the erroneous equation. To me, there are basically but two such attempts, and it is surely sufficient simply to summarize them. The one is the insistence that the two conceptions are in sober fact the same. For convenience, I would style this simply the "same as" equation. It is in essence the contention of the ultraconservatives, who insist that the written records in the Gospels and other uniquely inspired writings now securely bound together in our "Christian Bible" are precise and uninterpreted fact. In the most literal sense the writings are prose, the unaltered record of notebook and camera by reporters who were, so to speak, uniquely guided to preserve "the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth." Those who hold this view-and they are many-have a blueprint which is ageless and unchanging. In a most literal sense, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever."
Pre–Investigational New Drug Meetings With the FDA: Evaluation of Meeting Content and Characteristics of Applications for New Drug and Biologic Products

Introduction:Prior studies suggested that holding preinvestigational new drug application (PIND) meetings with FDA has a positive effect on clinical development time (CDT).Methods:New product marke...
The directionality of gaussian Schell-model beams☆

Abstract The directionality of beams produced by gaussian Schell-model planar sources is investigated by calculating the root-mean-square beam radius as a function of the distance propagated. The effects of the source size and coherence on the directionality of the beam are discussed.