cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fluvastatin Suppresses Mast Cell and Basophil IgE Responses: Genotype-Dependent Effects.

Mast cell (MC)- and basophil-associated inflammatory diseases are a considerable burden to society. A significant portion of patients have symptoms despite standard-of-care therapy. Statins, used to lower serum cholesterol, have immune-modulating activities. We tested the in vitro and in vivo effects of statins on IgE-mediated MC and basophil activation. Fluvastatin showed the most significant inhibitory effects of the six statins tested, suppressing IgE-induced cytokine secretion among mouse MCs and basophils. The effects of fluvastatin were reversed by mevalonic acid or geranylgeranyl pyrophosphatase, and mimicked by geranylgeranyl transferase inhibition. Fluvastatin selectively suppressed key FceRI signaling pathways, including Akt and ERK. Although MCs and basophils from the C57BL/6J mouse strain were responsive to fluvastatin, those from 129/SvImJ mice were completely resistant. Resistance correlated with fluvastatin-induced upregulation of the statin target HMG-CoA reductase. Human MC cultures from eight donors showed a wide range of fluvastatin responsiveness. These data demonstrate that fluvastatin is a potent suppressor of IgE-mediated MC activation, acting at least partly via blockade of geranyl lipid production downstream of HMG-CoA reductase. Importantly, consideration of statin use for treating MC-associated disease needs to incorporate genetic background effects, which can yield drug resistance.
Pressurized liquid extraction of diesel and air particulate standard reference materials: effect of extraction temperature and pressure.

Four particulate matter Standard Reference Materials (SRMs) available from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) were used to evaluate the effect of solvent, number of static cycles and static times, pressure, and temperature when using pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) for the extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and nitrated-PAHs. The four materials used in the study were SRM 1648a Urban Particulate Matter, SRM 1649b Urban Dust, SRM 1650b Diesel Particulate Matter, and SRM 2975 Diesel Particulate Matter (Industrial Forklift). The results from the study indicate that the choice of solvent, dichloromethane compared to toluene and toluene/methanol mixtures, had little effect on the extraction efficiency. With three to five extraction cycles, increasing the extraction time for each cycle from 5 to 30 min had no significant effect on the extraction efficiency. The differences in extraction efficiency were not significant (with over 95% of the differences being <10%) whe...
Identification of an endotoxin and IFN‐inducible cDNA: possible identification of a novel protein family

The response of macrophages to agents such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interferon (IFN) includes the transcriptional activation of numerous genes. We have used the method of differential screening of a RAW 264.7 macrophage cell line cDNA library to isolate and characterize LPS-induced messages. One such message, LRG-47, is induced by LPS, IFN-gamma, and IFN-alpha/beta, but not by a panel of other cytokines or pharmacological activating agents. LRG-47 is homologous to two other IFN-gamma-induced genes, IRG-47 and Mg21. The LRG-47 sequence is approximately 33% identical and 52% similar to both these putative protein products. All three putative proteins, particularly Mg21, bear homology to a T cell product, Tgtp, induced by T cell receptor cross-linking. The three macrophage-derived proteins share areas of homology with GTP-binding proteins, are approximately 415 amino acids in length, and have similar kinetics of induction by IFN-gamma. This suggests that these genes may be members of a new family of IFN-inducible proteins.
The first case of Lyme disease in Shanxi province, China: a case study

Objective To provide a scientific basis for confirmation of typical Lyme disease by serological analysis of the first suspected case of Lyme disease in Shanxi province, China and to improve the clinicians' recognition of Lyme disease for prompt diagnosis and treatment.Methods Using indirect immunofluorescence assay(IFA) and Western blot(WB), the patient suspected of Lyme disease was tested for anti-Borrelia burgdorferi IgM and IgG antibodies. A comprehensive analysis was conducted given clinical symptoms. Tests were repeated half a month later.ResultsIn the first test, IgM antibodies were detected by IFA and WB. The titer of IgM antibodies was 1∶64 in IFA, and two protein bands, P41 and P31, were present in WB.IgG antibodies were not found by any of the two tests. In the second test half a month later, IgG antibodies were positive in both IFA and WB. The titer of IgG antibodies went up to 1∶256 in IFA, and two protein bands, P41 and P31, were present in WB. IgM antibodies were not found by any of the two approaches.Conclusion Based on the clinical history and progression of disease, as well as the serological results of this research, the diagnosis of Lyme disease can be confirmed, indicating the existence of typical Lyme disease in Shanxi province.
Biased Trigonometric Polynomials

(2007). Biased Trigonometric Polynomials. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 114, No. 9, pp. 804-809.
Symbolic play and novel noun learning in deaf and hearing children: Longitudinal effects of access to sound on early precursors of language

In the largest, longitudinal study of young, deaf children before and three years after cochlear implantation, we compared symbolic play and novel noun learning to age-matched hearing peers. Participants were 180 children from six cochlear implant centers and 96 hearing children. Symbolic play was measured during five minutes of videotaped, structured solitary play. Play was coded as "symbolic" if the child used substitution (e.g., a wooden block as a bed). Novel noun learning was measured in 10 trials using a novel object and a distractor. Cochlear implant vs. normal hearing children were delayed in their use of symbolic play, however, those implanted before vs. after age two performed significantly better. Children with cochlear implants were also delayed in novel noun learning (median delay 1.54 years), with minimal evidence of catch-up growth. Quality of parent-child interactions was positively related to performance on the novel noun learning, but not symbolic play task. Early implantation was beneficial for both achievement of symbolic play and novel noun learning. Further, maternal sensitivity and linguistic stimulation by parents positively affected noun learning skills, although children with cochlear implants still lagged in comparison to hearing peers.
Pituicytomas and Sellar Ependymomas

Pituicytoma, a new pathological entity defined by the WHO in 2007, is a variant of a low-grade astrocytoma originating in the neurohypophysis. In the past, pituicytoma has been referred to as infundibuloma, choristoma, granular cell tumor, or granular cell myoblastoma. (See the following section on Granular Cell Tumor.) Pituicytoma typically occurs in adults and frequently mimics a pituitary adenoma. Astrocytoma and pituicytoma collectively comprise 0.22–0.65 % of all lesions treated in major transsphenoidal series. There is a slight male predilection of 1.6:1. Pituicytoma can present with visual loss, headache, and/or hypopituitarism. Even though pituicytoma is a primary tumor of the neurohypophysis, diabetes insipidus is not a common finding at presentation. Sellar ependymoma is a rare variant of pituicytoma, described in only four cases to date.
Generalized hypersensitivity reaction to intravesical thiotepa and doxorubicin.

AbstractWe describe an unusual case of pruritis after intravesical thiotepa, and diaphoresis, shortness of breath, chills and pruritis following intravesical doxorubicin therapy. Such generalized allergic reactions occur uncommonly after bladder instillation of thiotepa or doxorubicin.
Sideband cooling beyond the quantum backaction limit with squeezed light

Squeezed light is used to sideband cool the motion of a macroscopic mechanical object below the limit imposed by quantum fluctuations. Using techniques developed in quantum optomechanics, which studies the interaction between light and mechanical objects, researchers have been able to cool massive mechanical objects to temperature regimes close to the limit imposed by quantum fluctuations. These quantum fluctuations are a consequence of the uncertainty principle, because the position and momentum of a quantum-mechanical particle are never fixed, but rather fluctuate constantly. John Teufel and colleagues show how they can cool these massive mechanical objects even further by using 'squeezed' light—light in which the quantum noise, also arising from the uncertainty principle, has been reduced by redistributing the underlying uncertainty. This technique may allow for cooling larger and larger mechanical objects to lower and lower temperatures for metrology applications and fundamental tests of quantum mechanics. Quantum fluctuations of the electromagnetic vacuum produce measurable physical effects such as Casimir forces and the Lamb shift1. They also impose an observable limit—known as the quantum backaction limit—on the lowest temperatures that can be reached using conventional laser cooling techniques2,3. As laser cooling experiments continue to bring massive mechanical systems to unprecedentedly low temperatures4,5, this seemingly fundamental limit is increasingly important in the laboratory6. Fortunately, vacuum fluctuations are not immutable and can be ‘squeezed’, reducing amplitude fluctuations at the expense of phase fluctuations. Here we propose and experimentally demonstrate that squeezed light can be used to cool the motion of a macroscopic mechanical object below the quantum backaction limit. We first cool a microwave cavity optomechanical system using a coherent state of light to within 15 per cent of this limit. We then cool the system to more than two decibels below the quantum backaction limit using a squeezed microwave field generated by a Josephson parametric amplifier. From heterodyne spectroscopy of the mechanical sidebands, we measure a minimum thermal occupancy of 0.19 ± 0.01 phonons. With our technique, even low-frequency mechanical oscillators can in principle be cooled arbitrarily close to the motional ground state, enabling the exploration of quantum physics in larger, more massive systems.
Visibility and the Workplace Experiences of Trans Persons in the United States

According to Weeks (Theory, Culture and Society 15(35):1–19, 1998), sexual citizenship encompasses enfranchisement, inclusion and belonging. However, lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) people are often explicitly or implicitly excluded from the world of work. These experiences are complicated since, if an LGBT person remains silent, other people may assume that he or she is not gay or trans (Rich, Powers of desire: The politics of sexuality. Monthly Review Press, 1983). This assumption permits some sexual minorities to push their identity underground in order to evade the negative consequences of visibility. Nevertheless, this closeting or minimizing of identity does not resolve LGBT mistreatment; forced invisibility constitutes both a cause and a symptom of inequality (Schacter, Vanderbilt Law Review 50:361–371, 1997). Drawing on Injustice at Every Turn: A Report of the National Transgender Discrimination Survey, a recent, wide-ranging study of discrimination in the United States against trans men and women by Grant et al. (Injustice at every turn: A report of the National Transgender Discrimination Survey. National Center for Transgender Equality and National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, 2011), this chapter asks if and how minority gender identity and its visibility or invisibility affects trans and gender nonconforming persons’ workplace treatment. It questions whether the interactions between trans persons’ identity and work are similar to or distinct from the experiences of LGB individuals with whom they are often categorized.
Abstract WP168: Regulatory T Cell Transplantation Inhibits Cerebral Endothelial Inflammation In Mice Transient Focal Ischemia.

INTRODUCTION: Cerebral endothelial cells express large amounts of adhesion molecules, attracting peripheral immune cells to infiltrate into brain parenchyma. Regulatory T cell (Treg) was recently reported as a key cerebroprotective immunomodulator in ischemic stroke. HYPOTHESIS: We assessed the hypothesis that Treg transplantation could protect the ischemic brain from endothelial inflammation via cell-cell interaction. METHODS: Transient focal cerebral ischemia was induced in C57/BL6 mice by unilateral middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 60 minutes. Tregs (2x10 6 /mouse) or same numbers of splenocytes were injected intravenously at 2 hours after MCAO. RESULTS: We found that Treg transplantation could inhibit ICAM-1 expression on endothelial cells in vitro by 3.86±0.04 folds (P -/- Tregs, however, failed to migrate. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, Treg transplantation protected the ischemic brain against ICAM-1 experssion on endothelial cells and profoundly inhibited peripheral immune cell infiltration. A novel contributing mechanism was defined that CCR5 and CCL3 mediated recruitment of Tregs to inflamed endothelial cells and played an important role in the cell-cell interaction between Tregs and endothelial cells.
Abstract LB-181: KLF4 suppresses T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia by inhibiting the stress kinase MAP2K7 pathway

T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive hematological malignancy with the highest incidence of relapse of any pediatric ALL. A minimal two-hit model of leukemogenesis suggests that an initial genetic driver transforms hematopoietic progenitor cells into LICs, whereas a secondary genetic alteration would endow LICs with proliferative and survival advantages. Although most T-ALL patients exhibit activating mutations in NOTCH1 , the cooperating genetic events required to accelerate onset of leukemia and worsen disease progression are largely unknown. Here, we show that low levels of the transcription factor KLF4 in children with T-ALL were associated with methylation of its promoter. Consistent with a tumor suppressor function, loss of KLF4 accelerated the development of NOTCH1-induced T-ALL in mice by enhancing the G1-to-S transition and promoting the expansion of leukemia-initiating cells that are responsible for chemoresistance and relapses. Mechanistically, KLF4 represses the gene encoding the kinase MAP2K7, and thus loss of KLF4 activates MAP2K7 and downstream effector JNK both in murine model of T-ALL and lymphoblasts from pediatric patients with T-ALL. Furthermore, pharmacological inhibition of JNK reduced leukemia burden in a xenograft model of human T-ALL and small molecule inhibitors exhibited anti-leukemic properties in patient-derived xenograft cells. In summary, our findings demonstrate a novel tumor suppressor function of KLF4 in a T-ALL mouse model and in pediatric T-ALL and support a model of leukemia inhibition by repression of the stress kinase MAP2K7 and its downstream targets JNK, c-JUN, and ATF2. In addition, our study provides proof-of-principle pre-clinical data supporting JNK inhibition as a potential targeted therapy for T-ALL and prompts future studies in high-risk T-ALL patients with refractory and relapsed disease. Citation Format: Ye Shen, Chun Shik Park, Koramit Suppipat, Toni-Ann Mistretta, Monica Puppi, Terzah Horton, Karen Rabin, Daniel Lacorazza. KLF4 suppresses T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia by inhibiting the stress kinase MAP2K7 pathway. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-181.
Effect of cycle frequency on high-temperature oxidation behavior of alumina-forming alloys

Cycle frequency affects both high-temperature oxidation behavior and the method in which the cyclic test is conducted. Several issues are discussed using examples taken from results for Ni-base and Fe-base, alumina-forming alloys. For alloys that form adherent scales, cycle frequency has little effect on results over extended test times ( ≥500 hr). When an alloy forms a less adherent scale, reducing the cycle time often has the expected effect of increasing the mass loss per unit exposure time; however, the opposite effect is observed in other cases. Low-frequency cycle experiments can be conducted with specimens contained in alumina crucibles. This has the important benefit of collecting the spalled oxide and measuring the “total” mass gain, equivalent to the metal wastage. However, higher-frequency-cyclic tests cannot be performed with crucibles because of the large thermal mass and thermal-shock problems of alumina crucibles. The test method and cycle frequency ultimately have a strong effect on lifetime predictions.
School Notes Managing Infectious Diseases in School and Child Care Settings

The decision to exclude a child from day care or school leads to widespread educational, social, and economic ramifications for affected families. By understanding and improving how these decisions are made, health care providers and policy makers can promote child well-being throughout the state.
RhoGTPases Spread the Word for Synaptic Crosstalk

Excitatory synaptic strengthening and the corresponding enlargement of dendritic spines are thought to be essential for learning and memory. In two recent Nature papers, Harward et al. (2016) and Hedrick et al. (2016) provide insight into the mechanisms that regulate these processes and illuminate the molecular basis of crosstalk between synapses.
PNPLA3 as a Genetic Determinant of Risk for and Severity of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Spectrum.

Background and Aims:Patatin-like phospholipase domain protein 3 (PNPLA3) polymorphisms (rs738409 C>G) are associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the association of PNPLA3 polymorphisms with the spectrum and severity of this disease. Methods: Studies evaluating the association between the PNPLA3 polymorphism spectrum (fatty liver, steatohepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma) and NAFLD were included. Pooled data are reported as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals. Results: Of 393 potentially relevant studies, 35 on NAFLD were included in the analysis. Compared to healthy controls, the pooled ORs for rs738409 CG and GG compared to CC among patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) were 1.46 (1.16-1.85) and 2.76 (2.30-3.13), and were 1.75 (1.24-2.46) and 4.44 (2.92-6.76) among patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis respectively. The respective ORs for CG and GG compared to the CC genotype were 2.35 (0.90-6.13) and 5.05 (1.47-17.29) when comparing non-alcoholic hepatocellular carcinoma to NAFL patients. Among the NAFLD patients, the ORs for G allele frequency when comparing steatosis grade 2-3 to grade 0-1 NAFL, when comparing the NAFLD activity score of ≥ 4 to score ≤ 3, when comparing NASH to NAFLD, when comparing the presence of lobular inflammation to absence, and when comparing the presence of hepatocyte ballooning to absence were 2.33 (1.43-3.80), 1.80 (1.36-2.37), 1.66 (1.42-1.94), 1.58 (1.19-2.10), and 2.63 (1.87-3.69) respectively. Subgroup analysis based on ethnicity showed similar results. Conclusions:PNPLA3 polymorphisms have strong association with the risk for and severity of NAFLDs. PNPLA3 polymorphism plays an evolving role in diagnosis and treatment decisions in patients with NAFLD.
A potential ???green??? organotin: Bis-(methylthiopropyl)tin dichloride, [MeS (CH2)3]2SnCl2

Abstract The tetravalent organotin compound [MeS(CH2)3]2SnCl2, 1, has been synthesized in high yield and structurally characterized as being hexa-coordinate at tin with two intramolecular Sn-S bonds. The specific structure has been shown by theoretical calculations to be the low energy geometric structure available, and the differences associated with the experimental and calculated Sn-S bond lengths ascribed to crystal packing issues. The intramolecular Sn-S bonding produces a benign organotin compound with respect to its interactions with human natural killer cells; however, this blocking of coordination sites at Sn does not reduce its capacity to act as an efficient esterification catalyst.
Robustizing Mixture Analysis Using Model Weighting

This paper presents two methods for modifying a statistical estimation or model fitting procedure. The first shows how to extend the procedure to mixture distributions. The second shows how to make the procedure more robust using weighting. The two modifications are then combined to produce robust methods for mixture analysis.
Don’t Name Them, Don’t Show Them, But Report Everything Else: A Pragmatic Proposal for Denying Mass Killers the Attention They Seek and Deterring Future Offenders

Prior research has shown that many mass shooters have explicitly admitted they want fame and have directly reached out to media organizations to get it. These fame-seeking offenders are particularly dangerous because they kill and wound significantly more victims than other active shooters, they often compete for attention by attempting to maximize victim fatalities, and they can inspire contagion and copycat effects. However, if the media changes how they cover mass shooters, they may be able to deny many offenders the attention they seek and deter some future perpetrators from attacking. We propose that media organizations should no longer publish the names or photos of mass shooters (except during ongoing searches for escaped suspects), but report everything else about these crimes in as much detail as desired. In this article, we (1) review the consequences of media coverage of mass shooters, (2) outline our proposal, (3) show that its implementation is realistic and has precedent, (4) discuss anticip...
Optimizing the supply chain configuration and production-sales policies for new products over multiple planning horizons

Abstract The objective of this paper is to jointly optimize supplier selection, pipeline and safety stock inventories, and production-sales policies for new products over multiple planning horizons such that the total profit over the product's life-cycle is maximized. A mixed-integer nonlinear programming model is proposed that not only allows for adjusting the level of pipeline and safety stocks at different supply chain stages, but also for switching suppliers and/or modifying their demand allocations in different planning horizons in response to changes in the new product's demand. A representative supply chain network for computer assembly is then used to illustrate the applicability of the model. The findings from our numerical experiments with the model can potentially have important implications for future research and practice. In contrast to the traditional understanding of flexibility, the results indicate that the total profit may not necessarily be an increasing function of the number of planning horizons. The performance of commonly used heuristic policies for supplier selection as well as different myopic and build-up production-sales policies are also compared with the model's prescribed solutions in order to provide insight on when such heuristic policies and combinations thereof can be effective. The interdependency between supplier switching cost and the number of build-up periods is also illustrated.
Messenger RNA in the Brain

Much of the protein encoding portion of the genome is expressed in the mammalian brain. Hence, it may be expected that a large number of brain-restricted proteins are to be found. Most of these proteins are probably low in abundance as most brain-specific mRNAs are rare copy species. However, a variety of molecular cloning approaches provide the amplification required to identify and characterize individual, low abundance proteins. Alignment of rare copy mRNAs with their respective proteins is an important step in establishing the functional significance of rare copy mRNAs. Many brain mRNAs appear during the course of postnatal development. It is suggested that some of these late mRNAs encode for proteins involved in the last major developmental phase of the brain, namely, establishment of connectivity. Most of the postnatal brain mRNAs lack a 3′,-poly(A) tract and appear to be transcriptionally regulated. Some mRNAs are apparently bimorphic with respect to the presence or absence of poly(A) tracts. The coupling of molecular genetics with anatomy and cytology should provide a powerful new approach toward gaining an understanding of brain function in the context of specialized cell populations. Proteins, such as receptors and components of synaptic membranes, are attractive targets for investigation.
Morbidity and mortality of local failure after definitive therapy for prostate cancer.

AbstractWe reviewed our experience with morbidity and mortality associated with clinical local failure after definitive therapy for adenocarcinoma of the prostate by interstitial 125iodine implantation, external beam radiation therapy or radical prostatectomy. Morbid complications included unilateral ureteral obstruction; bladder obstruction and/or incontinence requiring treatment by transurethral resection, or placement of a urethral or suprapubic catheter; hematuria requiring intervention for clot evacuation or fulguration, and perineal and/or pelvic pain. Lethal complications included bilateral ureteral obstruction or bowel obstruction.We treated 108 patients with 125iodine, 178 with external beam radiotherapy and 67 with radical prostatectomy. Clinical local failure occurred in 26 per cent of the 125iodine, 17 per cent of the external beam radiotherapy and 12 per cent of the radical prostatectomy groups. The total incidence of local failure with 125iodine was statistically higher than for radical pros...
Recent Developments on Numerical Modeling and Simulation of Sediment Transport

Sediment transport processes in hydraulic systems including watersheds, streams, rivers, lakes, estuaries, coastal waters, etc., have been of great interest as well as importance to the geological formation of the Earth and the civilization of mankind, because these processes have great effects on soil conservation, water quality, navigation, marine environment, etc. Therefore, the interesting phenomena of sediment movement have been observed and studied in the field for a long time. Due to the complexity of the interaction between the turbulent flow and sediment particles suspended in the flow as well as moving along the erodiable boundary, the completely analytical model has not been developed yet. Tremendous efforts by scientists and engineers all over the world in experimental investigations have resulted in numerous useful empirical relations. Although each empirical relation can usually be applied to a limited number of special cases, they have, nevertheless, provided us with approximate predictions for solving some pressing problems. Furthermore, they can also assist us in analytical and numerical modeling of the complicated sediment transport problems.
A Forensic HF/E Analysis of a Trip and Fall Injury Event Involving a Wheel Stop in a Parking Lot

Built (constructed) environments should have level surfaces to promote mobility and avoid injuries from trips and falls. Wheel stops (usually long concrete slabs with bolts to hold them in place) are sometimes placed in parking lots to limit and control how drivers position their vehicle in designated spaces. However, they present potential problems for pedestrians traversing through the area due to obstructed views and visual attention directed elsewhere. A forensic human factors and ergonomics (HFE) analysis of a specific scenario derived from a legal case is described. Issues and potential solutions are discussed.
A Mobile App With Optical Imaging for the Self-Management of Hand Rheumatoid Arthritis: Pilot Study

Background: Patient outcomes are improved and the burden to the health care system is reduced when individuals are active self-managers of their own health. There is a need for technology that facilitates self-management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and can reduce the number of patient visits, promptly identify treatment needs, and reduce the costs associated with poor RA management. A mobile app named LiveWith Arthritis (eTreatMD, Vancouver, BC) has been developed that allows patients with RA to use their mobile device to regularly collect self-management data and to take objective measurements of the impact of RA on their finger joints using optical imaging technology. Objective: The objectives of this pilot study were to (1) gather preliminary data as to whether a mobile app with hand optical imaging capabilities improves self-management behaviors (self-efficacy in managing symptoms and patient activation), (2) determine if app use shows promise in improving health outcomes (Pain, Health Assessment Questionnaire-II [HAQ-II]), and (3) determine barriers to using the mobile app in adults with RA. Methods: This pilot study used a mixed-methods design. The quantitative portion was a traditional 2-group experimental design, and the qualitative portion was a follow-up telephone interview for intervention participants who did not complete the study. Measures of self-management included the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) self-efficacy in managing symptoms (P-SEMS) and Patient Activation Measure (PAM). Health outcomes included pain by Visual Analog Scale and disability by HAQ-II. Results: The final sample consisted of 21 intervention participants and 15 controls. There was a statistically significant improvement in P-SEMS and promising trends for improvement in PAM, HAQ-II, and pain scores for participants who used the app. Of the intervention participants who did not complete the study, 12 completed the qualitative interview on barriers to use. Qualitative content analysis revealed 3 themes for barriers to using the app, including (1) frustration with technology, (2) RA made the app difficult to use, and (3) satisfaction with current self-management system. Conclusions: The LiveWith Arthritis app shows promise for improving self-management behaviors and health outcomes in adults with RA. Future study with a larger sample size is required to confirm findings. Initial app experience is important for adoption and continual use of the app. Individuals with significant disability to the hand would benefit from voice-activated app features. Participants who already have a system of managing their RA may not feel compelled to switch methods, even when a novel optical imaging feature is available.
Neurodevelopmental assessment of infants with congenital heart disease in the early postoperative period.

Objective Mortality rates for children with congenital heart disease (CHD) have significantly declined, resulting in a growing population with associated neurodevelopmental disabilities. American Heart Association guidelines recommend systematic developmental screening for children with CHD. The present study describes results of inpatient newborn neurodevelopmental assessment of infants after open heart surgery. Outcome measures We evaluated the neurodevelopment of a convenience sample of high-risk infants following cardiac surgery but before hospital discharge using an adaptation of the Newborn Behavioral Observation. Factor analysis examined relationships among assessment items and consolidated them into domains of development. Results We assessed 237 infants at a median of 11 days (interquartile range [IQR]: 7-19 days) after cardiac surgery and median corrected age of 21 days (IQR: 13-33 days). Autonomic regulation was minimally stressed or well organized in 14% of infants. Upper and lower muscle tone was appropriate in 33% and 35%, respectively. Appropriate response to social stimulation ranged between 7% and 12% depending on task, and state regulation was well organized in 14%. The vast majority (87%) required enhanced examiner facilitation for participation. Factor analyses of assessment items aligned into four domains of development (autonomic, motor, oral motor, and attention organization). Conclusion At discharge, postoperative infants with CHD had impairments in autonomic, motor, attention, and state regulation following cardiac surgery. Findings highlight the challenges faced by children with CHD relative to healthy peers, suggesting that neurodevelopmental follow-up and intervention should begin early in infancy.
The Role of Machine Learning and Radio Reconfigurability in the Quest for Wireless Security

Wireless networks require fast-acting, effective and efficient security mechanisms able to tackle unpredictable, dynamic, and stealthy attacks. In recent years, we have seen the steadfast rise of technologies based on machine learning and software-defined radios, which provide the necessary tools to address existing and future security threats without the need of direct human-in-the-loop intervention. On the other hand, these techniques have been so far used in an ad hoc fashion, without any tight interaction between the attack detection and mitigation phases. In this chapter, we propose and discuss a Learning-based Wireless Security (LeWiS) framework that provides a closed-loop approach to the problem of cross-layer wireless security. Along with discussing the LeWiS framework, we also survey recent advances in cross-layer wireless security.
Measurement of nutrients in saline and hypersaline waters by discrete analyzer colorimetry without matrix matched calibration standards.

Abstract Automated, colorimetric analysis of nutrients in samples with high and variable salinity can be time consuming due to the need to matrix match calibration and reference solution matrices with those of samples—particularly when using flow-based analyzers that are prone to detector artifacts caused by optical inhomogeneities, “schlieren,” that form at interfaces between samples and deionized water carrier or wash solutions. Such detector artifacts do not occur in discrete analyzers. Here we report spike recoveries when nitrite plus nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, orthophosphate, and silica were determined in estuarine waters, seawater, and hypersaline surface water samples without calibrator matrix matching using an automated discrete analyzer set up with standard colorimetric methods. Salinities of these samples varied from 0 to 22%. Spike recoveries and precision were excellent for nitrite and nitrite plus nitrate analyses in samples with salinities up to 15%, for ammonia in samples with salinities up to about 1.7%, and for orthophosphate in samples with salinities up to about 3.5%. Orthophosphate spike recoveries were high biased in hypersaline matrices (salinity >3.5%), likely due to an unidentified sample matrix interference. After applying linear correction factors to account for chemistry-related salt effects, spike recoveries were acceptable for ammonia analyses in samples with salinities in the range of 1.7–3.5%, and for silica analyses in samples with salinities in the range of 0–3.5%.
Some Statistical Considerations in Design and Analysis for Nonrandomized Comparative Studies Using Existing Data as Controls for Medical Device Premarket Evaluation

Nonrandomized comparative studies have been widely proposed and conducted in the premarket safety and effectiveness evaluation of medical devices. Sometimes, applicants conduct such studies in which the control data are formed from external sources, such as prior clinical studies. This type of study becomes even more popular with the availability of widely available real-world data such as patient registries of reasonable quality being sources for the control group. While such studies may potentially save time and money, bias can be introduced in every stage of such studies. To maintain the objectivity of study design and validity of study results, propensity score methodology is utilized and proper procedure of study design need to be implemented. In this article, considerations of the design and analysis of the non-randomized studies using the propensity score methodology are discussed from the statistical and regulatory perspectives.
Digital methods for the coincident measurement of the energies of positron-induced electrons and Doppler-shifted annihilation gamma quanta

Abstract Here we describe the methods employed for the analysis of digitized data produced by electron time-of-flight and gamma spectrometers that are part of the recently completed advanced positron beam system at the University of Texas at Arlington. The digitization of the data acquisition methods enabled the coincident measurement of the energies of the positron-induced electrons and the Doppler shifted annihilation gamma. Additionally, the digitization of data acquisition methods has led to the development of a multi-stop time-of-flight spectrometer. The digital analysis methods employed in the extraction of timing and energy information from the detector traces have resulted in (i) a digital time-of-flight spectrum of positron-induced secondary electrons utilizing signals from a micro-channel plate (MCP) electron detector and a high-purity germanium gamma detector (HPGe); (ii) a two-dimensional spectrum representing the correlation between the energy of the annihilation gamma and the times-of-flight of positron-induced secondary electrons; and (iii) the first spectra of positron-induced multiple secondary electrons. The digital analysis methods, when applied to positron annihilation-induced Auger electron spectroscopy (PAES), will be capable of providing the energy and momentum of the electron with which the positron annihilates. This information will allow the determination of the contribution of individual atomic orbital levels to the total Doppler broadening spectrum, and may contribute to the understanding of the interaction of positrons with novel two-dimensional materials. The digital multi-stop time-of-flight spectrometer is expected to aid in the quest to unravel the complex decay pathways associated with the Auger decay of annihilation-induced core holes.
Multi-cell characterization: Developing robust cells and abstraction for Rapid Single Flux Quantum (RSFQ) Logic

RSFQ, a Josephson-junction based technology, is becoming attractive due to its low energy and high speed. Researchers have designed cells and built circuits via composition of cells. Some designs have been fabricated and their functionalities and performance verified. This hierarchical approach relies on an abstraction for characterization of cells and composition of cells to design circuits. Researchers have developed such abstractions and methods for characterization of RSFQ cells. However, some instances of cells that are certified as being robust during cell characterization fail when incorporated into circuits. This motivated this research, which we view as the first step in the development of a systematic methodology for verification of cells and circuits in emerging technologies (such as RSFQ) leading to development of more robust abstractions and methods. In this paper, we present a new method for characterization of RSFQ cells to expose a much larger set of vulnerabilities, a systematic approach for identifying the root causes of these vulnerabilities to guide the refinement of cells designs, and a new way to extend test generation approaches to perform design validation at the circuit level. We demonstrate that our new methods and tools expose a large number of vulnerabilities and help identify root causes leading to refined cell designs which almost completely eliminate these vulnerabilities. Finally, we describe our extensions of ATPG for circuit level verification and use it to verify that our refined cells can indeed be composed to create error-free circuits.
Investigation on Lyme disease infection status in Jincheng

Objective To understand the infection, prevalence and incidence of Lyme disease in Jincheng. Methods Collecting the blood samples of residents in mountain forest area in 5 countries of Jincheng jurisdiction who had a history of tick bites or local skin lesions etc. , a serological investigation on Lyme disease was conducted by means of immunofluorescence assay. Combining with epidemiology and clinical symptoms, the situation of infection of Lyme disease was analysed. Results Of 608 residents in mountain forest area investigated, epidemiology investigation was made among 113 residents who had a history of tick bites or local skin lesions, and the serological test indicated that 3 residents were positive with the positive rateof 2.65%. Conclusion The investigation showed for the first time that Lyme disease exists in mountain forest area of Jincheng. Key words: Lyme disease; Infection; Investigation
A Control Scheme to Mitigate the Dead-Time Effects in a Wireless Power Transfer System

In practice, a dead-time is always provided between the complementary switching instances of the inverter phase-leg devices. At higher operating frequencies, the dead-time issues in wireless power transfer (WPT) systems become critical, especially as the power level increases. In certain operating conditions, the dead-time effect in wireless power transfer system affects the switching characteristics. Consequently, the switching losses in the power semiconductor devices increase and also impact the efficiency of the overall system. In this paper, a simple control scheme is proposed to eliminate the dead-time effect (or voltage polarity reversal) in the WPT inverter. The proposed control scheme monitors the inverter output voltage, and the switching frequency is auto-tuned to eliminate the undesired switching instances in the inverter voltage. The proposed control scheme is validated using the closed-loop simulations in PLECS, and the experimental results on a 5.6 kW WPT prototype are also presented. After eliminating the voltage-polarity-reversal at the inverter output, the inverter losses were reduced by ∼40%, and the overall system losses were reduced by ∼17%.
Primary Palliative Care Education in U.S. Residencies and Fellowships: A Systematic Review of Program Leadership Perspectives.

Background: More medical residents and fellows outside of palliative care (PC) will need to be trained in primary PC (PPC) to meet an increasing patient need. Objective: To systematically review su...
Wafer Map Defect Patterns Classification using Deep Selective Learning

With the continuous drive toward integrated circuits scaling, efficient yield analysis is becoming more crucial yet more challenging. In this paper, we propose a novel methodology for wafer map defect pattern classification using deep selective learning. Our proposed approach features an integrated reject option where the model chooses to abstain from predicting a class label when misclassification risk is high. Thus, providing a trade-off between prediction coverage and misclassification risk. This selective learning scheme allows for new defect class detection, concept shift detection, and resource allocation. Besides, and to address the class imbalance problem in the wafer map classification, we propose a data augmentation framework built around a convolutional auto-encoder model for synthetic sample generation. The efficacy of our proposed approach is demonstrated on the WM-811k industrial dataset where it achieves 94% accuracy under full coverage and 99% with selective learning while successfully detecting new defect types.
Inclusion of Condominium Units in Luxury Hotels as a Diversification Strategy: Property Performance Perspective:

There is a new wave of mixed development where luxury hotels come with condominium units, though this type of diversification has gained scant attention. Prior hospitality literature on diversifica...
Dietary Macronutrient Imbalances Lead to Compensatory Changes in Peripheral Taste via Independent Signaling Pathways.

Food choice, in animals, has been known to change with internal nutritional state and also with variable dietary conditions. To better characterize mechanisms of diet-induced plasticity of food preference in Drosophila melanogaster, we synthesized diets with macronutrient imbalances and examined how food choice and taste sensitivity were modified in flies that fed on these diets. We found that dietary macronutrient imbalances caused compensatory behavioral shifts in both sexes to increase preference for the macronutrient that was scant in the food source, and simultaneously reduce preference for the macronutrient that was enriched. Further analysis with females revealed analogous changes in sweet taste responses in labellar neurons, with increased sensitivity on sugar-reduced diet and decreased sensitivity on sugar-enriched diet. Interestingly, we found differences in the onset of changes in taste sensitivity and behavior, which occur over 1-4 d, in response to dietary sugar reduction or enrichment. To investigate molecular mechanisms responsible for diet-induced taste modulation, we used candidate gene and transcriptome analyses. Our results indicate that signaling via Dop2R is involved in increasing cellular and behavioral sensitivity to sugar as well as in decreasing behavioral sensitivity to amino acids on dietary sugar reduction. On the other hand, cellular and behavioral sensitivity to sugar relies on dilp5 and a decrease in sugar preference following dietary sugar abundance was correlated with downregulation of dilp5 Together, our results suggest that feeding preference for sugar and amino acid can be modulated independently to facilitate food choice that accounts for prior dietary experience.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTAnimals adjust their feeding preferences based on prior dietary experiences. Here, we find that on dietary macronutrient deprivation, flies undergo compensatory changes in food preference. The altered preference correlates with changes in peripheral taste sensitivity. While Dop2R mediates changes following dietary sugar reduction, downregulation of dilp5 is associated with changes caused by a sugar-enriched diet. This study contributes to a better understanding of neurophysiological plasticity of the taste system in flies, and its role in facilitating adjustment of foraging behavior based on nutritional requirements.
Integrating Justice through Course Design: A Report from Uganda Christian University Faculty of Law

Integrating aspects of justice into curriculum is a welcome and necessary challenge for Christian course designers. This is especially true in the case of legal education in the developing world. The Faculty of Law at Uganda Christian University incorporates Biblical justice principles into its courses in various ways ranging from the practical to the theoretical. This paper is a survey of the justice education strategies and techniques employed within four course subjects offered to law students at Uganda Christian University: (1) “Introduction to the Bible for Lawyers” introduces the students to God’s heart for justice, presents a wide variety of justice issues from a Biblical context, and begins the justice conversation in the classroom though the use of simple and thought-provoking vignettes; (2) The “Jurisprudence” provides students with wide philosophical perspectives on the nature of justice that are assessed through a Christian lens; (3) “Law and Christian Political Thought in Africa” offers students an opportunity to test and apply theoretical approaches to justice to their present political environment through reading, writing, presenting and class discussion; (4) “Clinical Legal Education” allows students to act on justice principles through community outreach and clinical legal work dedicated to justice-based causes.
Recovery and Treatment of Acquired Reading and Spelling Disorders

Studies of recovery and treatment of acquired language disorders are not new, but the application of such investigations to the development of neuropsychological models of language is a relatively recent development. Patterns of recovery and effects of treatment provide insight into the relations of the functional components of the language system and dynamics of processes that mediate verbal and written language. This chapter aims to acquaint the reader with recent advances in the study of recovery and treatment of reading and spelling impairments resulting from acquired brain damage.