cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nanoscale Matrix Topography Influences Microscale Cell Motility through Adhesions, Actin Organization, and Cell Shape

Mammalian cells are exposed to complex microenvironments of varying micro- and nanoscale structural features. These multiscale extracellular cues dictate important aspects of cell behavior, including migration, proliferation and differentiation. In this study, we fabricated anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes of either 80 or 40 nm pore diameters. We utilized these membranes as extracellular matrix scaffolds to culture NIH-3T3 fibroblast cells and investigated how the surface nanotopography might regulate their motility. We observed faster and more persistent fibroblast migration on AAO membranes with larger pores. Through various cell–matrix interaction markers, we found that the surfaces with higher nanoporosity enhance motility through larger focal adhesions, aligned actin fibers, and polarized cell morphology. Our findings reveal the importance of nanoscale topographical cues present in the matrix environment in regulating submicrometer-scale subcellular mechanisms of stress fiber organization and ...
Walter Camp: Football and the Modern Man Julie Des Jardins. New York: Oxford University Press, 2015.

Walter Camp: Football and the Modern Man Julie Des Jardins. New York: Oxford University Press, 2015.Debates are swirling around the vices and virtues of football. Does the game promote unnecessary violence? Are the known injuries worth the risk? Why does it remain the most popular sport in the United States? Julie Des Jar dins's recent biography, Walter Camp: Football and Manhood in America, provides a valuable historical perspective on the origins of football and its continued appeal to Americans. She uses the life of Walter Camp, "The Father of American Football," to analyze the cultural shifts in America at the turn of the twentieth century. She deftly traces Camp from his childhood in New Flaven, Connecticut, to his collegiate career at Yale, to his occupation as a salesman, to his advisory role in writing football's rules, and to his illustrious literary career. For writing as much as he did with thirty books and over 250 articles, he left few letters or journal entries discussing his inner feelings or daily activities. Des Jardins compensates for the lack of sources by piecing together his publications with others' descriptions of him. Camp's multifaceted life and commenters allow Des Jardins to intertwine the changing cultural tides as the nineteenth century turned to the twentieth. She argues, "Flis story is the tale of a particular New England, Anglo-Saxon set of college-educated men. And yet, viewed more broadly, it reveals just how much the developments of football and American manhood have cut across races and classes and been indelibly intertwined with each other" (xiii). To defend her thesis, she focuses on Camp's shaping American football and his defining American masculinity.Though Walter Camp worked for the New Haven Clock Company throughout his life, Des Jardins focuses almost exclusively on his relationship with football. It was the game, not watches, which made him one of the most influential culture shapers of the period. She recounts how, from his time as an undergraduate athlete, his football prowess brought him into contact with the era's most influential men. After recounting his playing career, she weaves together Camp's role in the yearly rewriting of football's rules and his bending to the cultural demands projected onto the sport. Camp, she insists, built malleability into the fabric of football. For example, the 1903 rules committee changed the lines on the field "turning the familiar gridiron into a waffle iron" to better track player movements (172). …
Assessment of the Core Features of ASD

The purpose of this chapter is to provide an overview of the assessments utilized in the examination of the core features of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) as currently defined in young children 6 years of age or younger. We begin with a brief review of the history of assessment of ASD to place into context the current understanding of three core domains of impairment in ASD: social, communication and language, and repetitive/restricted interests and behaviors. We then briefly review the clinical assessment of ASD and turn to an examination of the key features of each domain of impairment and corresponding assessment tools. Within each domain we highlight the observational methods, interview formats, questionnaires, as well as experimental approaches used to explore these domains of impairment. It is our aim to provide the reader with a hearty overview of the methods and approaches used in the assessment of the core domains of impairment in young children with ASD.
Computer Programming with Early Elementary Students with Down Syndrome

Students of all ages and abilities must be given the opportunity to learn academic skills that can shape future opportunities and careers. Researchers in the mid-1970s and 1980s began teaching youn...
Mapping of DNA methylation status of GSTP1 CpG island in human prostate tissue

AACR Annual Meeting-- Apr 12-16, 2008; San Diego, CA 4281 Background: GSTP1 has been proposed to be a caretaker gene, protecting cells against genome damage. It has been shown that the GSTP1 protein is absent in prostate cancer (CaP) and high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN). The absence of GSTP1 protein in CaP and HGPIN is related to hypermethylation of the GSTP1 CpG island. Previously we reported that while normal epithelium from cancer patients does not contain methylated GSTP1 , 6% of atrophy lesions, 68.8% of HGPIN lesions and 90.9% of CaP lesions harbor methylated GSTP1 alleles (Nakayama et al. Am J Pathol. 2003; 923-33). Moreover, density of methylation, as well as presence of methylation was likely to be associated with prostate carcinogenesis. However, the pattern of methylation of individual alleles has not been investigated previously. We used bisulfite sequencing to investigate methylation status of 39 CpG sites within the GSTP1 promoter. Design: Radical prostatectomy specimens were selected from men at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. Three 6-µm sections were cut for laser capture microdissection. The DNA was isolated with standard phenol extraction. Genomic DNA was bisulfite converted, followed by nested PCR. PCR products were sub-cloned and plasmid DNA from 10 clones was sequenced and analyzed. DNA from the prostate cancer cell line LNCaP wasused as a positive control for GSTP1 methylation, normal humanWBC DNA (Novagen) was used as a negative control. Results: The methylation levels of 39 CpG sites of the GSTP1 promoter region (-254¼+81) were determined. 163 clones from normal epithelium (18 regions), 225 clones from atrophy (25 regions), 142 clones from HGPIN (16 regions), and 153 clones from CaP (18 regions) were successfully sequenced. In general, normal epithelium and atrophic areas were either completely unmethylated or only slightly methylated--33 of 6057 sites (0.5%) were methylated in normal, 70 of 8475 sites (0.8%) were methylated in atrophy. By contrast, HGPIN lesions showed increased methylation, and the pattern tended to show partial methylation of individual clones-- 1166 of 5399 sites (22%) of HGPIN CpG sites were methylated. CaP showed a stepwise increase, usually having much more dense methylation than HGPIN--3285 of 5819 (57%) sites were methylated in CaP. 6 proximally located CpG sites (-4¼+38) were considered hot spots in HGPIN clones since among 53 moderately (7-19 out of 39) or highly (20-39) methylated clones, 50 had at least 5 methylated CpG sites in this area. Conclusion: The results support the hypothesis that methylation of individual CpG sites in the island gradually increases during progression of the neoplastic process. Since HGPIN lesions were clearly intermediate between normal and cancer, these results further support the concept that HGPIN lesions are indeed part of the stepwise molecular progression in prostate carcinogenesis.
Book Review: Teaching at Its Best: A Research-Based Resource for College Instructors , 2nd ed. by Linda B. Nilson (Anker, 2003)

Excerpt: If you are new to the scholarship of teaching and learning and want to get a solid foundation on how to make your courses more effective learning experiences, this book is an excellent choice. Teaching at Its Best is aimed directly at faculty to use for themselves, rather than for faculty developers or administrators. The content is a combination of “how to...” suggestions that will improve general teaching effectiveness as well as “what is...” sections that discuss different learning theories and methods. Active-learning
Changes at the Dinner Table and Beyond: Nourishing Our Patients Throughout the Trajectory of Their Cancer Journey.

Patients with head and neck cancers (HNC) can experience significant distress from presentation of symptoms to surveillance/survivorship and end-of-life. It is of value to all members of the HNC team to practice patient-centered care in assessment and interventions with patients and their support systems to achieve the best possible outcome given patient health status. Early assessment and referral to ancillary support provide a strong foundation across the illness trajectory. Specific attention should be given to the psychosocial implications of changes in physiologic functioning. Support around these changes involves a strong multidisciplinary team familiar with the biopsychosocial effects of HNC and its treatment.
CATS: A Color and Thermal Stereo Benchmark

Stereo matching is a well researched area using visibleband color cameras. Thermal images are typically lower resolution, have less texture, and are noisier compared to their visible-band counterparts and are more challenging for stereo matching algorithms. Previous benchmarks for stereo matching either focus entirely on visible-band cameras or contain only a single thermal camera. We present the Color And Thermal Stereo (CATS) benchmark, a dataset consisting of stereo thermal, stereo color, and cross-modality image pairs with high accuracy ground truth (
Design and fabrication of a realistic anthropomorphic heterogeneous head phantom for MR purposes.

Objective The purpose of this study is to design an anthropomorphic heterogeneous head phantom that can be used for MRI and other electromagnetic applications. Materials and methods An eight compartment, physical anthropomorphic head phantom was developed from a 3T MRI dataset of a healthy male. The designed phantom was successfully built and preliminarily evaluated through an application that involves electromagnetic-tissue interactions: MRI (due to it being an available resource). The developed phantom was filled with media possessing electromagnetic constitutive parameters that correspond to biological tissues at ~297 MHz. A preliminary comparison between an in-vivo human volunteer (based on whom the anthropomorphic head phantom was created) and various phantoms types, one being the anthropomorphic heterogeneous head phantom, were performed using a 7 Tesla human MRI scanner. Results Echo planar imaging was performed and minimal ghosting and fluctuations were observed using the proposed anthropomorphic phantom. The magnetic field distributions (during MRI experiments at 7 Tesla) and the scattering parameter (measured using a network analyzer) were most comparable between the anthropomorphic heterogeneous head phantom and an in-vivo human volunteer. Conclusion The developed anthropomorphic heterogeneous head phantom can be used as a resource to various researchers in applications that involve electromagnetic-biological tissue interactions such as MRI.
Phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation after previous descemetorhexis without endothelial keratoplasty

A 58-year-old woman with bilateral Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy presented with predominantly central guttata in the left eye causing visually significant stromal edema. A 4.0 mm descemetorhexis without endothelial keratoplasty was performed. At the 6-week follow-up, the central cornea had cleared completely and the central endothelial cell density (ECD) was 541 cells/mm2. The central corneal clearing remained stable for 2 years after the procedure; however, vision declined because of a visually significant cataract in the left eye. Uneventful phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation was performed with a target refraction of −0.50 diopters. At 1.5 months postoperatively, the uncorrected distance visual acuity was 20/20 with a manifest refraction of −0.25 −0.25 × 60 and the central ECD was 2373 cells/mm2 (increased from 1471 cells/mm2 prior to phacoemulsification). Cataract surgery by phacoemulsification years after descemetorhexis without endothelial keratoplasty appears to be well-tolerated, with good clinical and predictive refractive outcomes.
Informing students about assignment evaluation: The rubric

In past columns, I have introduced class assignments in a basic reference class as examples of how to assist graduate students to prepare for future careers as information specialists. In m...
Natural antimicrobial delivery systems: formulation, antimicrobial activity, and mechanism of action of quillaja saponin-stabilized carvacrol nanoemulsions.

Abstract The objective of this research was to develop antimicrobial nanoemulsions using quillaja saponin as a natural surfactant, carvacrol as an antimicrobial agent, and medium chain triglyceride (MCT) oil as a ripening inhibitor. Oil-in-water antimicrobial nanoemulsions were fabricated by homogenizing 10 wt% oil phase (carvacrol and MCT) with 90 wt% aqueous phase (quillaja saponin in 5 mM sodium citrate buffer, pH 3.5). The physical stability and antimicrobial activity of these systems was compared to nanoemulsions formed using a synthetic non-ionic surfactant (Tween 80). Stable nanoemulsions with small mean droplet diameters (d
SAH of Unknown Etiology: Natural History and Further Evaluation

Abstract Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) of unknown etiology is a relatively common occurrence, representing approximately 10%–15% of nontraumatic SAHs. The key factors in determining the management strategy for a presumed nonaneurysmal SAH are the distribution, location, and amount of subarachnoid blood. Hemorrhage distribution on computed tomography (CT) can be categorized as follows: perimesencephalic, diffuse, sulcal, primary intraventricular, and CT-negative. The extent of the workup required in determining the etiology of hemorrhage in these patients depends on the distribution of blood. Patients with perimesencephalic, primary intraventricular, and sulcal SAH generally have a lower diagnostic yield of repeat cerebral angiography than those with diffuse SAH. Prognosis also depends on the distribution of hemorrhage as patients with perimesencephalic, sulcal, and CT-negative hemorrhage of unknown etiology generally have a very good prognosis whereas those with intraventricular or diffuse SAH with a poor Fisher grade have worse short- and long-term clinical outcomes. In this chapter, we review the differential diagnosis, acute and long-term follow-up strategies, and outcomes of patients with SAH of unknown etiology.
Locally Finite Simple Groups of Finitary Linear Transformations

The classification of the groups of the title is a natural successor to the classifications of finite simple groups and of locally finite linear simple groups. The statement of the classification is given along with an explanation of the examples. The proof is then discussed.
Uranium-235 Measurement in Waste Material by Resonance Neutron Radiography

The use of resonance neutron radiography as a means of monitoring the amount of /sup 235/U in waste material is investigated. A matrix material simulating incinerator ash is inoculated with /sup 235/U in concentrations ranging from 4.8 X 10/sup -4/ to 4.6 X 10 /sup 3/ g/cm/sup 3/. The observed uncertainty agrees well with an analytical model and ranges from 16% for the lowest concentration to 2.5% for the highest concentration. The effect of inhomogeneity of matrix and sample is determined and found to be in agreement with analytical models. The technique is demonstrated on sample sizes ranging from 2-l bottles to 55-gal drums.
iSPEED: a scalable and distributed in-memory based spatial query system for large and structurally complex 3D data

The recent technological advancement in digital pathology has enabled 3D tissue-based investigation of human diseases at extremely high resolutions. Discovering and verifying spatial patterns among massive 3D micro-anatomic biological objects such as blood vessels and cells derived from 3D pathology image volumes plays a pivotal role in understanding diseases. However, the exponential increase of available 3D data and the complex structures of biological objects make it extremely difficult to support spatial queries due to high I/O, communication and computational cost for 3D spatial queries. In this demonstration, we present our scalable in-memory based spatial query system iSPEED for large-scale 3D data with complex structures. Low latency is managed by storing in memory with progressive compression including successive levels of detail on object level. On the other hand, low computational cost is achieved by pre-generation of global spatial indexes in memory and additional on-demand generation of indexing at run-time. Furthermore, iSPEED applies structural indexing on complex structured objects in multiple query types to gain performance advantage. During query processing, the memory footprint of iSPEED is minimal due to its indexing structure and progressive decompression on-demand. We demonstrate iSPEED query capability with three representative queries: 3D spatial joins, nearest neighbor and spatial proximity estimation on multiple datasets using a web based RESTful interface. Users can furthermore explore the input data structure, manage and adjust query pipeline parameters on the interface.
Acoustic Denial of Service Attacks on Hard Disk Drives

Bridging concepts from information security and resonance theory, we propose a novel denial of service attack against hard disk drives (HDDs). In this attack, acoustic signals are used to cause rotational vibrations in HDD platters in an attempt to create failures in read/write operations, ultimately halting the correct operation of HDDs. We perform a comprehensive examination of multiple HDDs to characterize the attack and show the feasibility of the attack in two real-world systems, namely, surveillance devices and personal computers. Our attack highlights an overlooked security vulnerability of HDDs, introducing a new threat that can potentially endanger the security of numerous systems.
Liberalism and Suffrage, 1866–85

In 1866 liberalism appeared to be the motivating force in the political life of England and Germany. In England, Gladstone was attempting to reform the suffrage. In Germany, Prussian liberals were still bitterly fighting the Constitutional Conflict with Bismarck, but the situation was about to be transformed by the Austro-Prussian War of 1866 and the formation of the North German Confederation. National unification, one of the most heart-felt goals of German liberalism, was in sight. Even in France, liberals led by Thiers participated in the new-found parliamentary life of the Second Empire and played an important role in French politics.
DIRAS3-Derived Peptide Inhibits Autophagy in Ovarian Cancer Cells by Binding to Beclin1

Autophagy can protect cancer cells from acute starvation and enhance resistance to chemotherapy. Previously, we reported that autophagy plays a critical role in the survival of dormant, drug resistant ovarian cancer cells using human xenograft models and correlated the up-regulation of autophagy and DIRAS3 expression in clinical samples obtained during “second look” operations. DIRAS3 is an imprinted tumor suppressor gene that encodes a 26 kD GTPase with homology to RAS that inhibits cancer cell proliferation and motility. Re-expression of DIRAS3 in ovarian cancer xenografts also induces dormancy and autophagy. DIRAS3 can bind to Beclin1 forming the Autophagy Initiation Complex that triggers autophagosome formation. Both the N-terminus of DIRAS3 (residues 15–33) and the switch II region of DIRAS3 (residues 93–107) interact directly with BECN1. We have identified an autophagy-inhibiting peptide based on the switch II region of DIRAS3 linked to Tat peptide that is taken up by ovarian cancer cells, binds Beclin1 and inhibits starvation-induced DIRAS3-mediated autophagy.
SEACON and Resilient FRP-RC/PC Solutions: The Halls River Bridge

The SEACON project features the University of Miami (UM), the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), along with European partners (Politecnico di Milano) and representative of the industrial sector working toward the development of innovative material solutions to address sustainability and resilience challenges in construction. The project aims to develop sustainable concrete solutions using seawater and chloride-contaminated aggregates. An integral component involves validating Fiber Reinforced Polymers (FRP) and stainless steel (SS) as non-corrosive reinforcement for Reinforced Concrete (RC) and Prestressed Concrete (PC) applications. The Halls River Bridge (HRB) features large-scale implementation of innovative materials. It showcases the SEACON research outcomes and serves as a proof-of-concept for the validation of design philosophies to be included in the new generation of FRP design guidelines. This paper speaks about the issues of design of a non-corrosive FRP-RC/PC structure. HRB is presented as a successful case study.
A Multi-Layer Swarm Control Model for Information Propagation and Multi-Tasking

While individuals in natural swarms are collectively performing complex tasks such as foraging or synchronization, critical information such as predator warnings propagate across the swarm almost instantly and presumably without explicit communication between the individuals. In this paper, we propose a multi-layer control model composed of an interplay of decentralized algorithms for perception and swarming. Through this novel model, we demonstrate implicit information propagation and multi-tasking in swarms using only local interactions and without explicit communication or prescribed formations. For a complete graph, we prove that variations on individual speed are implicitly propagated across the swarm, which causes the swarm to turn almost instantly. Additionally, we prove that the spatial variances of the shape of the swarm are bounded, which implicitly ensures the connectivity of the graph. Finally, we provide various simulation results demonstrating the effectiveness of the model for swarms with complete and non-complete graphs performing collective synchronization and source seeking while avoiding a predator. The proposed model has the potential to be used in various applications such as designing tactics for a swarm of drones to avoid or chase a malicious agent.
HEARING THE BODY OF CHRIST IN EARLY MODERN PRAGUE

The multi-confessional cities of early modern Central Europe resounded with sacred music. People sang to express faith, to challenge the beliefs of others, and to lay claim to shared urban spaces. This study considers how such music was heard in Prague, the capital of the Holy Roman Empire, during the reign of the Habsburg Emperor Rudolf II (1576–1612). During this period, the city’s Catholics jostled for supremacy with Czech-speaking Utraquists (followers of Jan Hus), who vastly outnumbered them, and a growing population of German-speaking Lutherans. Focusing on the sonically rich Corpus Christi processions held by Prague’s Jesuits, this article examines how sounds that aggressively promoted Catholic Eucharistic doctrine were received by those who were––by chance or by design––within earshot. Viewing Catholic claims alongside non-Catholic resistance suggests that music’s power lay as much in the fact of its performance as in its deployment of specific texts and sounds.
Implementation of Federal Dependent Care Policies for Physician-Scientists at Leading US Medical Schools.

Author(s): Ormseth, Cora H; Mangurian, Christina; Jagsi, Reshma; Choo, Esther K; Lowenstein, Daniel H; Hsia, Renee Y
¡Ya Basta! Countering the Effects of Neoliberal Reform on an Urban Turnaround High School:

This article provides an account of the ways in which students and adult supporters of an urban turnaround high school mobilized to defy the rhetoric of neoliberal reforms and the subsequent defici...
Aligning Statistical Dynamics Captures Biological Network Functioning

Empirical studies of graphs have contributed enormously to our understanding of complex systems. Known today as network science, what was originally a theoretical study of graphs has grown into a more scientific exploration of communities spanning the physical, biological, and social. However, as the quantity and types of networks have grown so has their heterogeneity in quality and specificity. This has hampered efforts to develop general network theory capable of inferring functioning and predicting dynamics across study systems. We have successfully approached this challenge by aligning networks to each other rather than comparing parameter estimates from individually fitted models or properties of edge topologies. By comparing the predictability of statistical dynamics originating from each network's constituent nodes we were able to build a functional classifier that distinguished underlying processes in both synthetic and real-world network data spanning the entire biological scale from cellular machinery to ecosystems.
Brainstem atrophy in Gulf War Illness.

Abstract Background Gulf War Illness (GWI) is a condition that affects about 30 % of veterans who served in the 1990-91 Persian Gulf War. Given its broad symptomatic manifestation, including chronic pain, fatigue, neurological, gastrointestinal, respiratory, and skin problems, it is of interest to examine whether GWI is associated with changes in the brain. Existing neuroimaging studies, however, have been limited by small sample sizes, inconsistent GWI diagnosis criteria, and potential comorbidity confounds. Objectives Using a large cohort of US veterans with GWI, we assessed regional brain volumes for their associations with GWI, and quantified the relationships between any regional volumetric changes and GWI symptoms. Methods Structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans from 111 veterans with GWI (Age = 49 ± 6, 88 % Male) and 59 healthy controls (age = 51 ± 9, 78 % male) were collected at the California War Related Illness and Injury Study Center (WRIISC-CA) and from a multicenter study of the Parkinson’s Progression Marker Initiative (PPMI), respectively. Individual MRI volumes were segmented and parcellated using FreeSurfer. Regional volumes of 19 subcortical, 68 cortical, and 3 brainstem structures were evaluated in the GWI cohort relative to healthy controls. The relationships between regional volumes and GWI symptoms were also assessed. Results We found significant subcortical atrophy, but no cortical differences, in the GWI group relative to controls, with the largest effect detected in the brainstem, followed by the ventral diencephalon and the thalamus. In a subsample of 58 veterans with GWI who completed the Chronic Fatigue Scale (CFS) inventory of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), smaller brainstem volumes were significantly correlated with increased severities of fatigue and depressive symptoms. Conclusion The findings suggest that brainstem volume may be selectively affected by GWI, and that the resulting atrophy could in turn mediate or moderate GWI-related symptoms such as fatigue and depression. Consequently, the brain stem should be carefully considered in future research focusing on GWI pathology.
Snares or Turning Points? Examining the Relevance of Fatherhood Entry Timing and Number of Children for Offending in Adulthood:

Past research on desistance from offending has indicated the importance of both turning points and snares in the life course. Despite similarities, there has been little effort to reconcile the int...
ReviewProspects for broadly protective influenza vaccines

The development of vaccines that could provide broad protection against antigenically variant influenza viruses has long been the ultimate prize in influenza research. Recent developments have pushed us closer to this goal, and such vaccines may now be within reach. This brief review outlines the current approaches to broadly protective vaccines, and the probable hurdles and roadblocks to achieving this goal.
Highly accurate operator factorization methods for the integral fractional Laplacian and its generalization.

In this paper, we propose a new class of operator factorization methods to discretize the integral fractional Laplacian $(-\Delta)^\frac{\alpha}{2}$ for $\alpha \in (0, 2)$. The main advantage of our method is to easily increase numerical accuracy by using high-degree Lagrange basis functions, but remain the scheme structure and computer implementation unchanged. Moreover, our discretization of the fractional Laplacian results in a symmetric (multilevel) Toeplitz differentiation matrix, which not only saves memory cost in simulations but enables efficient computations via the fast Fourier transforms. The performance of our method in both approximating the fractional Laplacian and solving the fractional Poisson problems was detailedly examined. It shows that our method has an optimal accuracy of ${\mathcal O}(h^2)$ for constant or linear basis functions, while ${\mathcal O}(h^4)$ if quadratic basis functions are used, with $h$ a small mesh size. Note that this accuracy holds for any $\alpha \in (0, 2)$ and can be further increased if higher-degree basis functions are used. If the solution of fractional Poisson problem satisfies $u \in C^{m, l}(\bar{\Omega})$ for $m \in {\mathbb N}$ and $0 < l < 1$, then our method has an accuracy of ${\mathcal O}\big(h^{\min\{m+l,\, 2\}}\big)$ for constant and linear basis functions, while ${\mathcal O}\big(h^{\min\{m+l,\, 4\}}\big)$ for quadratic basis functions. Additionally, our method can be readily applied to study generalized fractional Laplacians with a symmetric kernel function, and numerical study on the tempered fractional Poisson problem demonstrates its efficiency.
Real-time regression and classification of functional near infrared spectroscopy signals acquired during motor tasks

Functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a non-invasive technique for quantifying functional changes in cortical blood volume and oxygenation. Regression techniques are used in cognitive research to separate the neural component from strong physiological and motion artifacts. In this work, we used single stimulus Kalman filter regression to estimate the hemodynamic response function (HRF) produced by subjects performing one of four different tasks (left vs. right finger tapping either overt or covert). We train a linear discriminant analysis (LDA) classifier with a subset of the data and perform cross-validation to estimate mean classification accuracy. The HRF regressed signal displays decreased noise and a modest increase in classification accuracy compared to classification performed on the raw chromophore concentration signal.
A narrative review of updates in deprescribing research

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES Deprescribing is a strategy intended to reduce harms associated with potentially inappropriate medications. Reflective of the growing interest in deprescribing, there has been an increase in related research to better understand the landscape, opportunities for improvement, how best to develop and implement interventions, and remaining knowledge gaps that can be addressed with additional study. DESIGN We conducted a narrative review of recent deprescribing literature. SETTING As part of the US Deprescribing Network's inaugural conference in October 2020, we presented a narrative review of recent deprescribing literature to an audience with a range of clinical and research expertise. PARTICIPANTS We searched four databases for English-language articles published between January 1, 2019 and August 31, 2020. MEASUREMENTS We evaluated titles, abstracts, and full-length manuscripts for relevance, novelty, rigor and variety of methods; we also aimed for broad representation of authors, institutions, and nations. RESULTS The initial search returned 199 citations, from which we reviewed 18 full-length manuscripts, selecting 10 articles to present. Salient themes included missed opportunities to deprescribe in potentially eligible patients, with variable impact of medication- and patient-level factors, along with differing perspectives and behaviors between geriatricians, internists, and cardiologists. Clinical, financial, and economic drivers were also evaluated. Finally, attention was given to issues applicable to deprescribing research, including difficulty recruiting trial participants, perspectives of investigators, and integration of findings into clinical practice. CONCLUSION This narrative review summarizes key advances in the field while also identifying priority areas for additional research.
RANCANG BANGUN KONSTRUKSI PORTABLE TRACK PADA AUTOMATIC WELDING CARRIER MACHINE

Seiring perkembangan di dalam dunia industri manufaktur terutama dalam bidang pengelasan, perubahan teknologi dalam sistem manual ke sistem otomatis perlu dilakukan untuk menambah efisiensi pada proses pelaksanaanya dan peningkatan kualitas hasil di dalamnya. Ditinjau dari alat dan teknologi saat ini digunakan, masih banyak alat mempunyai mobilitas yang rendah sehingga jangkauan kerja pada alat menjadi terbatas. Dalam pembuatan sebuah alat las otomatis perlu adanya suatu alat yang dapat meningkatkan mobilitas, jangkauan kerja alat serta menambah kualitas hasil pada prosesnya yang bersifat otomasi Penelitian ini bertujuan merancang sebuah alat untuk membantu alat las secara portable dalam mendukung otomasisasi pada proses pengelasan. Mobilitas serta jangkauan kerja alat didukung dengan sebuah track dari bahan yang ringan dan kuat serta dirancang dengan dimensi yang relatif kecil dan dilengkapi dengan sistem kontrol magnet yang berguna menambah jangkauan kerja alat dalam setiap kebutuhan pada proses pengelasan. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode eksperimental dan simulasi, serta perhitungan secara empiris untuk mengetahui hasil yang relevan dengan proses simulasi. Data yang didapat setelah dilakukan perhitungan dengan pembebanan pada track 68 N, tegangan tekan yang terjadi pada track adalah 1,730 Pa, lebih kecil dari pada Modulus of Elasticity bahan PVC, sehingga bahan yang digunakan dikatakan mampu dan aman sehingga Portable Track dapat digunakan dalam Automatic Welding Carrier Machine.
The Impact of Walkability on the Sales Price of Commercial Properties When Controlling for the Effects of Economic Recession: A Case Study of Omaha, Nebraska

In this paper, we assess the potential impact of walkability on commercial property sales prices in Omaha, Nebraska in the years during and following the “Great Recession.” Walkability was determin...
Truth and Reconciliation through Dialogue and Deliberation: Reflections from a Racially Divided America

How can deliberation help America heal from racial divisions? Palma Joy Strand tells us how one community in Nebraska is working towards addressing legacies of racial injustice through decentred strategies of creative dialogue, collective commemorations and honest conversations.
No Association Between Intrauterine Contraceptive Devices and Musculoskeletal Hip Joint Pain.

Purpose To investigate the association between intrauterine device (IUD) use and hip pain, orthopaedic visits for hip pain, and arthroscopic hip surgery. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study of patients aged 18-44 years old using either IUDs or subdermal implants for contraception in a large commercial claims database (MarketScan) from 2012 to 2015. All patients had at least 12 months of continuous enrollment both before and after contraceptive placement. Patients with a history of hip pain or surgery were excluded. The primary outcome was new hip pain. Secondary outcomes included visiting an orthopaedic or sports medicine provider for a hip complaint, intra-articular hip injection, and arthroscopic hip surgery. Outcomes were analyzed with Cox proportional-hazard models. Results We identified a total of 242,383 patients, including 216,541 (89.3%) with IUDs and 25,842 (10.7%) with subdermal contraceptive implants. In time-to-event analysis, IUDs (vs implants) were not associated with increased risk of new hip pain diagnoses (hazard ratio [HR] 0.95, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.87-1.03, P = .21). In contrast, both age (P < .001) and region (P < .001) were associated with increased risk of new hip pain. Similar results were seen for the secondary outcomes, including risk of orthopaedic visits for hip complaints (HR 1.06, 95% CI 0.83-1.35, P = .63), intra-articular injections of the hip (HR 0.94, 95% CI 0.63-1.41, P = .77), and hip arthroscopy procedures (HR 1.13, 95% CI 0.53-2.40, P = .75). Conclusions In this study, we found no evidence that IUDs were associated with hip pain or surgery. Level of Evidence Level III, retrospective cohort.
AccoMontage: Accompaniment Arrangement via Phrase Selection and Style Transfer.

Accompaniment arrangement is a difficult music generation task involving intertwined constraints of melody, harmony, texture, and music structure. Existing models are not yet able to capture all these constraints effectively, especially for long-term music generation. To address this problem, we propose AccoMontage, an accompaniment arrangement system for whole pieces of music through unifying phrase selection and neural style transfer. We focus on generating piano accompaniments for folk/pop songs based on a lead sheet (i.e., melody with chord progression). Specifically, AccoMontage first retrieves phrase montages from a database while recombining them structurally using dynamic programming. Second, chords of the retrieved phrases are manipulated to match the lead sheet via style transfer. Lastly, the system offers controls over the generation process. In contrast to pure learning-based approaches, AccoMontage introduces a novel hybrid pathway, in which rule-based optimization and deep learning are both leveraged to complement each other for high-quality generation. Experiments show that our model generates well-structured accompaniment with delicate texture, significantly outperforming the baselines.
Solution-shearing of dielectric polymer with high thermal conductivity and electric insulation.

Polymer dielectrics, an insulating material ubiquitous in electrical power systems, must be ultralight, mechanically and dielectrically strong, and very thermally conductive. However, electric and ...
DNS Cache Poisoning Attack: Resurrections with Side Channels

DNS is one of the fundamental and ancient protocols on the Internet that supports many network applications and services. Unfortunately, DNS was designed without security in mind and is subject to a variety of serious attacks, one of which is the well-known DNS cache poisoning attack. Over the decades of evolution, it has proven extraordinarily challenging to retrofit strong security features into it. To date, only weaker versions of defenses based on the principle of randomization have been widely deployed, e.g., the randomization of UDP ephemeral port number, making it hard for an off-path attacker to guess the secret. However, as it has been shown recently, such randomness is subject to clever network side channel attacks, which can effectively derandomize the ephemeral port number. In this paper, we conduct an analysis of the previously overlooked attack surface, and are able to uncover even stronger side channels that have existed for over a decade in Linux kernels. The side channels affect not only Linux but also a wide range of DNS software running on top of it, including BIND, Unbound and dnsmasq. We also find about 38% of open resolvers (by frontend IPs) and 14% (by backend IPs) are vulnerable including the popular DNS services such as OpenDNS and Quad9. We have extensively validated the attack experimentally under realistic configuration and network conditions and showed that it works reliably and fast.
RESEARCH ARTICLE: Preparing students for pharmacy practice using critical thinking and reflection

Background: Social, behavioural, and administrative sciences are among the Accreditation Council of Pharmacy Education (ACPE) mandated foundational knowledge requirements for pharmacy school curricula. However, they are often taught in isolation, whereby students lose sight of their meaning and significance in the Pharmacists’ Patient Care Process (PPCP). Objective: The objective was to assess performance and critical thinking skills and explore student perceptions of a Longitudinal Patient Case assignment that integrates knowledge from multiple domains into a learning experience exploring how patients and pharmacists navigate the complexities of the US healthcare system. Methods: Student pharmacists developed their case throughout the term by incorporating course concepts, then submitted a narrated PowerPoint presentation. Quantitative data sources included overall scores, scores for each domain, midterm and final examination scores, and final course grades, analysed using descriptive statistics and Pearson’s correlation. Student reflections encouraged self-discovery and professional identity development and served as the qualitative data source. Thematic analysis occurred through a multi-phase approach. Results: All first-year student pharmacists (n = 153) participated. Scores on the narrated PowerPoint were significantly correlated with midterm and final exams and were moderately correlated with overall course grades. Themes that evolved from students’ self-reflections focused on project execution and learning/knowledge. Conclusions: Synthesising and applying content across a course in this manner enables students to make connections, think critically, and be creative.
Circuit Split Cracks the Foundation of the Indirect Purchaser Rule: The Co-Conspirator Exception's Circuit Split Exposes Need to Overturn Illinois Brick but Keep Hanover Shoe

Illinois Brick v. Illinois’s indirect purchaser rule must be overturned, but the rule’s defensive counterpart—Hanover Shoe v. United Shoe Machinery’s pass-on defense prohibition—must remain good law. The current circuit split regarding the scope of the indirect purchaser rule’s co-conspirator exception has exposed a crack in the reasoning behind the indirect purchaser rule that cannot be ignored. In any vertical antitrust conspiracy, members of the first non-conspiring level of the distribution chain are the party directly injured by the conspiracy and are therefore the direct purchasers of all of the conspirators. Under the Supreme Court’s 2019 holding in Apple v. Pepper this means they must, regardless of what type of vertical conspiracy exists, have standing to collect damages from all the conspirators under Section 4 of the Clayton Antitrust Act. Therefore, the price-fixing-only interpretation of the co-conspirator exception is meritless. The alternative, all-vertical-conspiracies interpretation of the co-conspirator exception, requires extensive use of pass-on analysis. The indirect purchaser rule was the Supreme Court’s attempt to best balance competing antitrust principles. The Court believed that eliminating pass-on analysis, as well as compulsory joinder, was necessary to effectively deter would-be antitrust violators. The Court sacrificed compensation for victims in favor of deterrence and avoiding duplicative liability. In light of the practical realities posed by the all-vertical-conspiracies interpretation of the co-conspirator exception, the balance struck by the Illinois Brick majority must be reevaluated. In doing this reevaluation, this Comment considers whether any of three possible alternatives would better balance competing antitrust principles than the current state of the law, ultimately concluding that the Supreme Court must overturn Illinois Brick but keep Hanover Shoe. Doing so will best serve Section 4 of the Clayton Antitrust Act’s interest in compensating injured victims and deterring antitrust violators. While this solution will allow for duplicative recoveries, the benefits it brings to Section 4’s competing interests far outweigh the costs.
High-Strain-Rate Compression Testing of Ice

In the present study a modified split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) was employed to study the effect of strain rate on the dynamic material response of ice. Disk-shaped ice specimens with flat, parallel end faces were either provided by Dartmouth College (Hanover, NH) or grown at Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland, OH). The SHPB was adapted to perform tests at high strain rates in the range 60 to 1400/s at test temperatures of -10 and -30 C. Experimental results showed that the strength of ice increases with increasing strain rates and this occurs over a change in strain rate of five orders of magnitude. Under these strain rate conditions the ice microstructure has a slight influence on the strength, but it is much less than the influence it has under quasi-static loading conditions. End constraint and frictional effects do not influence the compression tests like they do at slower strain rates, and therefore the diameter/thickness ratio of the samples is not as critical. The strength of ice at high strain rates was found to increase with decreasing test temperatures. Ice has been identified as a potential source of debris to impact the shuttle; data presented in this report can be used to validate and/or develop material models for ice impact analyses for shuttle Return to Flight efforts.
Multi‐RCM ensemble downscaling of NCEP CFS winter season forecasts: Implications for seasonal hydrologic forecast skill

[1] We assess the value of dynamical versus statistical downscaling of National Centers for Environmental Prediction's (NCEP) Climate Forecast System (CFS) winter season forecasts for seasonal hydrologic forecasting. Dynamically downscaled CFS forecasts for 1 December to 30 April of 1982–2003 were obtained from the Multi-RCM Ensemble Downscaling (MRED) project that used multiple Regional Climate Models (RCMs) to downscale CFS forecasts. Statistical downscaling of CFS forecasts was achieved by a much simpler bias correction and spatial downscaling method. We evaluate forecast accuracy of runoff (RO), soil moisture (SM), and snow water equivalent produced by a hydrology model forced with dynamically (the MRED forecasts) and statistically downscaled CFS forecasts in comparison with predictions of those variables produced by forcing the same hydrology model with gridded observations (reference data set). Our results show that the MRED forecasts produce modest skill beyond what results from statistical downscaling of CFS. Although the improvement in hydrologic forecast skill associated with the ensemble average of the MRED forecasts (Multimodel) relative to statistical downscaled CFS forecasts is field significant for RO and SM forecasts with up to 3 months lead, the region of improvement is mainly limited to parts of the northwest and north central U.S. In general, one or more RCMs outperform the other RCMs as well as the Multimodel. Hence, we argue that careful selection of RCMs (based on their hindcast skill over any given region) is critical to improving hydrologic forecast skill using dynamical downscaling.