cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Varicella: Historical Perspective And Clinical Overview

In immunocompetent children in Europe and the United States, varicella is usually a benign disease. However, infants born to women who acquire varicella during or shortly after pregnancy are at high risk of infection. For unknown reasons, the disease is more severe in adolescents and adults, with pneumonia the most common cause of death. Varicella may also be lethal in patients of any age in the presence of biologic or iatrogenic immunosuppression. It is now well documented that varicella-zoster virus remains latent in the dorsal root and cranial ganglia following an attack of varicella. Viral reactivation appears with advancing age as cellular immunity wanes. The contemporary relative aging of the population will enhance the social significance of zoster. The immigration of nonimmune adults in temperate climates poses a major problem in terms of protection of high-risk children. A vaccination program is indicated.
Vitamin B-6 requirement and status assessment of young women fed a high-protein diet with various levels of vitamin B-6.

The vitamin B-6 requirement of young women consuming a constant high-protein diet (1.55 g/kg body wt) and the effect of various ratios of vitamin B-6 to protein on this require- ment were studied. Eight women were fed a lactoovovegetarian basal diet containing 0.45 mg vitamin B-6 (2.66 mmol as pyridox- ine) and 30 mmol carnitine for 92 d. The protocol consisted of suc- cessive baseline adjustment (9 d), depletion (27 d), and repletion (two 21-d and then one 14-d) periods. Vitamin B-6 intakes were 1.60, 0.45, 1.26, 1.66, and 2.06 mg, resulting in ratios of vitamin B-6 (in mg) to protein (in g) for the five periods of 0.016, 0.005, 0.013, 0.017, and 0.021, respectively. Direct and indirect as well as short- and long-term vitamin B-6 status measures were assessed weekly. Regression analysis revealed that the amount of dietary vit- amin B-6 required to normalize urinary 4-pyridoxic acid, plasma pyridoxal-P, erythrocyte pyridoxal-P and pyridoxal, and erythro- cyte alanine and aspartate aminotransferase activity coefficients to predepletion baseline values was 1.94 mg vitamin B-6/d (0.019 mg vitamin B-6/g protein). This study suggests that the current vitamin B-6 recommended dietary allowance of 1.6 mg/d based on 0.016 mg/g protein is not an adequate intake and may require reevalua- tion. Am J Clin Nutr 1998;67:208-20.
Feedback assisted stochastic gradient adaptation of multiantenna transmission

This paper describes a feedback assisted stochastic gradient algorithm for adapting the weights of a multiantenna transmitter in a multiuser multiple-input single-output per user (MISO) communication system, which yields both a power delivery (aperture) gain and a fading channel diversity gain from the multiple transmit antennas. Feedback from the receiver is used to attain partial channel state information at the transmitter, which attempts to maximize the power delivered to the receiver. The system utilizes a perturbation probing and update formulation: a vector perturbation probe is transmitted and perturbation sign feedback from the receiver defines the transmitter weight vector additive update. This feedback provides a coarse estimate of the gradient of the delivered power and is used to adapt the multiantenna baseband weights of the transmitter. The second moment update of the algorithm is derived, and the tracking performance of the algorithm applied to a dynamic AR1 fading channel is analyzed, with simulations confirming the analysis. Bit-error rate simulations in a dynamic fading channel show that the algorithm can perform as well or better than previously proposed vector selection feedback, and in slower fading the algorithm substantially outperforms diversity space time coding.
Walter Sutton: Physician, Scientist, Inventor

Abstract Walter S. Sutton (1877-1916) was a physician, scientist, and inventor. Most of the work on Sutton has focused on his recognition that chromosomes carry genetic material and are the basis for Mendelian inheritance. Perhaps less well known is his work on rectal administration of ether. After Sutton's work on genetics, he completed his medical degree in 1907 and began a 2-year surgical fellowship at Roosevelt Hospital, New York City, NY, where he was introduced to the technique of rectal administration of ether. Sutton modified the work of others and documented 100 cases that were reported in his 1910 landmark paper “Anaesthesia by Colonic Absorption of Ether”. Sutton had several deaths in his study, but he did not blame the rectal method. He felt that his use of rectal anesthesia was safe when administered appropriately and believed that it offered a distinct advantage over traditional pulmonary ether administration. His indications for its use included (1) head and neck surgery; (2) operations when ether absorption must be minimized due to heart, lung, or kidney problems; and (3) preoperative pulmonary complications. His contraindications included (1) cases involving alimentary tract or weakened colon; (2) laparotomies, except when the peritoneal cavity was not opened; (3) incompetent sphincter or anal fistula; (4) orthopnea; and (5) emergency cases. Sutton wrote the chapter on “Rectal Anesthesia” in one of the first comprehensive textbooks in anesthesia, James Tayloe Gwathmey's Anesthesia . Walter Sutton died of a ruptured appendix in 1916 at age 39.
Acoustical characterization of a shallow water environment from sparse data

A new method for characterizing a region using limited acoustical and environmental measurements is proposed. The acoustical response from a moored vertical source array is measured along a receiving array. Using a generalized form of Huygens' principle, these fields can be merged with sparse in situ measurements and archival data. The objective is to produce a tightly constrained real time map of the coherent field and transmission loss in the volume. In the present work, alternative extrapolation procedures are examined. The effect of interaction with a lossy sediment layer is studied in a numerical simulation. >
Células estrelladas hepáticas y estrés oxidativo

Hepatic fibrosis is a wound-healing response that takes place during chronic liver injury and is characterized by excessive production and deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) components, mainly collagen type I. Hepatic stellate cells (HSC) are responsible for the excessive production of scar tissue during liver fibrosis. Activation of HSC, the main step in the development of hepatic fibrosis, is mediated by cytokines and reactive oxygen species (ROS) released by damaged hepatocytes and/or activated Kupffer cells and even HSC themselves. While HSC usually remain quiescent, in response to factors promoting liver injury they undergo activation and become highly proliferative and fibrogenic. Indeed a key feature of HSC activation is uncontrolled production of collagen type I. Collagen is a heterotrimeric protein composed of two a1 chains and one a2 chain forming a triple helix structure. Initiation of HSC activation is largely due to paracrine stimulation, whereas the perpetuation of such activated state involves autocrine as well as paracrine loops. This review focuses on the role of oxidant stress on the activation of stellate cells.
Relationship between observable emotional expression and wandering behavior of people with dementia.

Objective This study explored the relationship between observable emotional expression and wandering behaviors of people with dementia (PWD). Methods A secondary data analysis was conducted of a multi-site study that used a cross-sectional design with repeated measures nested within subjects. Participants included 142 PWD residing in 17 nursing homes and six assisted-living facilities in Michigan and Pennsylvania who were randomly assigned to six 20-min videotaped observation periods, conducted on two non-consecutive days. Poisson hierarchical linear modeling was used to examine associations between emotional expression and wandering. Results Participants exhibited an average of 13.5 (standard deviation [SD] ± 12.4) episodes of positive emotional expression per observation; only 1.5 (SD ± 2.3) episodes of negative emotional expression per observation were noted. The mean wandering rate was 2.9 episodes (SD ± 6.9) per hour. Positive emotional expression was positively related to wandering rates, whereas negative emotional expression and higher cognitive status were negatively related to wandering rates after controlling for other predictors (age, education, gender, facility type, mobility, and time of day). Conclusions Both positive and negative emotional expressions, along with cognitive status, should be considered when developing interventions to improve wandering behaviors of PWD. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Case for Analog Circuit Verification

The traditional approach to validate analog circuits is to utilize extensive SPICE-level simulations. The main challenge of this approach is knowing when all important corner cases have been simulated. A new alternative is to utilize formal verification techniques. This paper utilizes a simple example to illustrate the potential flaws of a simulation-only based validation methodology and the potential benefits of formal verification of analog circuits.
University Business Internships: The Corporate Advantage

Participation in a university internship program can give a firm a competitive advantage. The corporation can utilize the internship program to find hard-to-fill job positions, to perform work of a high caliber, to serve as realistic job previews, and to serve as no-risk trials for future employees. In addition, other advantages of internship participation include the ability to provide a source of less expensive labor, to be able to use the permanent employees more advantageously, and to judge the intern’s ability to work as a member of a team, and to evaluate his/her human relations skills prior to offering permanent employment.
Density Currents in Sidearms of Cooling Ponds

The design of cooling ponds for dissipating the water heat from steam electric power plants requires the determination of the amount of surface heat loss from the sidearms. The similarly solutions for the velocity and temperature distributions in a sidearm of a cooling pond are derived. The derivations of rate of heat loss and rate of flow in the sidearm are presented. The analysis is compared with the numerical results and the agreement between the two results is found to be satisfactory.
Response for Genetics

We thank Dr. Sved for addressing an important topic. Computer simulations might well become an integral part of genetics undergraduate curricula. As Dr. Sved notes, these applications give us the ability to introduce students to principles of genetics by simultaneously using direct experience and
A Hybrid Multibody Model for Aircraft Occupant/Seat Cushion Crashworthiness Investigation

Seat cushion is in the primary load path between the seat and the occupant, and the potential for injuries to an occupant in an accident highly depends on it. The seat cushion is able to dissipate the kinetic energy due to impact in a controlled manner. Wide varieties of energy absorbing materials are used in aircraft interiors for occupant safety and ergonomic purposes. Flexible polyurethane foams are one among those used in seat cushions. Although comfort and aesthetics play an important role in the seat cushion design, safety is among the top criteria. Studies on seat cushions have demonstrated that the seat cushions generally amplify the lumbar/pelvis transmitted load to the occupant, making the seat cushion design further complicated for crashworthy design. The certification of seat cushion requires that their performance be demonstrated by dynamic full scale sled testing. Due to the high costs involved in dynamic testing, a mathematical hybrid multi-body model is developed in this study to simulate the dynamic responses of a bare iron seat, the seat cushion and the occupant represented by crash test dummy. The model is utilized to predict the lumbar load sustained when subjected to the FAR Part 23 and 25 dynamic test conditions for transport and general aviation category aircraft. The model is also used to determine the relative displacement and velocity of occupant against the seat pan. The results from the dynamic model are validated with full-scale sled tests performed at the National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR), and hence can be utilized as a design tool for the selection of proper seat cushions.© 2005 ASME
A Fast Algorithm for Human Face Detection in Complex Background

For the face detection of the color images,complex background would add the detection difficulty and pro-long the detection time. This paper presents a new algorithm combining the skin model based on the nonlinear color transformation with face Gabor feature analysis and multilayer perception. This algorithm first makes the self-adaptive lighting compensation,and then,it builds the YCb?Cr? face model based on nonlinear color transformation. Using this model,the face candidates can be confirmed. Finally,the face area is found precisely through face Gabor feature and MLP method. The experiment indicates that the detection complexity and time is dramatically reduced .
Determination of lydamate loith HP-5 with capillary pillar gas chromatography

Objective:To find a method for determinating cydamate.Methods:Comparing the determination results of using HP-5 capillary pillar and using the packed column to separate the cydamate.Results:The solvent peak and the sample peak were both well separated when using HP-5 capillary pillar to separate cydamate.The shape of cydamate was clear.Conclusion:The effect of using HP-5 capillary pillar to separate cydamate is obvious and accurate quantitative result has been achieved.
IgG Antibody Detection of Rubella Virus in the Rubella Epidemiological Investigation

[Objective] To detect the IgG antibody of rubella virus by colloidal gold solid-phase immunochromatography, explore its application value in the epidemiological investigation.[Methods]The rubella antigen and goat anti-human IgG antibody were adopted as materials to establish the colloidal gold solid-phase immunochromatography. Patients and healthy population were detected, the results and clinical diagnostic significance were analyzed.[Results]In children infected rubella, there were significant differences in positive rate of IgG antibody among different age groups, but no significant difference was found in positive rate of IgG antibody among different months.Among 280 clinical samples, it was showed that the positive rate of IgG antibody increased with age.[Conclusion]The colloidal gold solid-phase immunochromatography on the IgG antibody detection of rubella virus has the advantages of simple operation, rapid response, high sensitivity, high specificity, high stability, non-radioactive and toxic hazards and high clinical coincidence rate. The method can be used as the good indicator of diagnosis and clinical observation of rubella virus infection.
Selective block of gap junction channel expression with connexin-specific antisense oligodeoxynucleotides

Gap junctions in vascular smooth muscle provide a cell-to-cell conduction pathway that may contribute to regulation and coordination of changes in vascular tone. A7r5 cells, a cell line derived fro...
The Effect of Pre-emptive Fentanyl on Formalin Pain in Mice

Background and Objectives. The aim of this study was to determine if pre-emptive systemic fentanyl administration would decrease the amount of formalin pain in mice. Methods. Under halothane anesthesia, formalin was injected in the hindpaw of mice. The animals were randomly assigned to receive no systemic fentanyl (group 1; n = 20); subcutaneous fentanyl, 50 μg/kg 5 minutes prior to formalin injection (group 2; n = 20); or subcutaneous fentanyl, 50 μg/kg 5 minutes after formalin injection (group 3; n = 20). After recovery from anesthesia, the formalin-induced paw-licking response was observed for 1 hour. The time to first paw lick, the number of paw licks, and the duration of paw licking were compared among the groups with an analysis of variance. Results. The fentanyl-treated mice in groups 2 and 3 had a significantly longer time to first paw lick, had a lower number of paw licks, and had a shorter duration of paw licking compared to the control mice in group 1. There was no significant difference in formalin pain behavior between the mice receiving fentanyl before or after formalin injection. Conclusions. Pre-emptive administration of subcutaneous fentanyl does not decrease the severity of acute pain in mice.
The good person behaving well: Rethinking the rhetoric of virtue

Important historical changes in public virtue are chronicled in a seemingly unlikely source, etiquette manuals. A careful consideration of these texts reveals that public virtue has been historically exteriorized, from an original sense of foundational values, to an intermediary sense of public appearances, to a postmodern condition in which public virtue is merely another “means of persuasion.” I describe the historically grounded meanings of “virtue” that appear in etiquette manuals, and then explore the implications of this historical reconfiguration of virtue for public discourse.
Childhood Victims of Snakebites: 2000-2013.

BACKGROUND: Snakebites are not a reportable condition (to state health departments), and 1 major assessment of US children with snakebites was published 50 years ago. Increasing urbanization, population shifts south and west, newer antivenom therapy, and the importation of exotic snakes may have changed snakebites. Poison control centers are often consulted on treatment and collect surveillance data. METHODS: Generic codes for venomous, nonvenomous, and unknown snakebites were used to characterize victims aged ≤18 years reported to US poison control centers between 2000 and 2013. Data included demographic characteristics, snake types, and outcomes. RESULTS: Callers reported 18 721 pediatric snakebites (annual mean, 1337). Two-thirds were male ( n = 12 688 [68%]), with a mean age of 10.7 years. One-half of the snakebites were venomous ( n = 9183 [49%]), with copperheads ( n = 3602 [39%]) and rattlesnakes ( n = 2859 [31%]) the most frequently identified. Reported copperhead bites increased 137% and unknown crotalids (venomous) increased 107%. Exotic (nonnative) exposures were reported in 2% of cases. All 50 states reported snakebites, but one-quarter occurred in Texas and Florida. Rates for total snakebites and venomous snakebites were highest in West Virginia, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. One-fifth required ICU admission. Limited data for 28% of bites for antivenom treatment suggests increasing use. Four victims died. CONCLUSIONS: The epidemiology of pediatric snakebites is changing. One-half of the reported exposures were venomous, and copperhead bites and exotic species are being reported more frequently. Although snakebite-related deaths are rare, ICU admission is common. Antivenom treatment is incompletely reported, but its use is increasing.
On the Job: Bridging the Clinical Research Divide

In this column, an author who has seen both sides considers the different perspectives that investigators and monitors have in conducting clinical research.
The Evolution of in loco parentis Plus

Courts treat educational institutions very differently than they treat parents—potentially holding us to a much higher standard of care.The conceptual return of in loco parentis to higher education...
Capturing saccades in multiple sclerosis with a digitized test of rapid number naming.

The King–Devick (K–D) test of rapid number naming is a visual performance measure that captures saccadic eye movements. Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) have slowed K–D test times associated with neurologic disability and reduced quality of life. We assessed eye movements during the K–D test to identify characteristics associated with slowed times. Participants performed a computerized K–D test with video-oculography. The 25-Item National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ-25) and its 10-Item Neuro-Ophthalmic Supplement measured vision-specific quality of life (VSQOL). Among 25 participants with MS (age 37 ± 10 years, range 20–59) and 42 controls (age 33 ± 9 years, range 19–54), MS was associated with significantly longer (worse) K–D times (58.2 ± 19.8 vs. 43.8 ± 8.6 s, P = 0.001, linear regression models, accounting for age). In MS, test times were slower among patients with higher (worse) Expanded Disability Status Scale scores (P = 0.01). Average inter-saccadic intervals (ISI) were significantly longer in MS participants compared to controls (362 ± 103 vs. 286 ± 50 ms, P = 0.001), and were highly associated with prolonged K–D times in MS (P = 0.006). MS participants generated greater numbers of saccades (P = 0.007). VSQOL scores were reduced in MS patients with longer (worse) K–D times (P = 0.04–0.001) and longer ISI (P = 0.002–0.001). Patients with MS have slowed K–D times that may be attributable to prolonged ISI and greater numbers of saccades. The K–D test and its requisite eye movements capture VSQOL and make rapid number naming a strong candidate efferent visual performance measure in MS.
Plant-Knowledge Adaptation in an Urban Setting: Candomblé Ethnobotany in New York City

Candomble is an African-Brazilian religion that resulted from the adaptation of West African (especially Yoruba) beliefs in Brazil during and after the slave trade. This study seeks to understand the current evolution of Candomble ethnobotanical knowledge as it travels from Brazil to New York City (NYC), therefore going through a second adaptation process. We identified which Brazilian plant species are still in use, which are being incorporated and/or replaced, and what factors are contributing to the ethnobotanical adaptation that is taking place in NYC. To accomplish this, we compiled an inventory of liturgical plants used by five highly skilled Candomble practitioners living in NYC and then compared the vernacular and binomial Latin names of these plants to inventories previously published in Brazil by other authors. By doing this, we were able to distinguish patterns of knowledge continuity, assimilation, or substitution. Nearly two-thirds of the species identified in NYC’s inventory were cases of knowledge continuity, where most plants were used by at least four practitioners. Many of these frequently used species have survived the adaptation process from Africa to Brazil, and now from Brazil to NYC. Practitioners also assimilated (20%) and substituted (16%) some species. The assimilation process was mainly influenced by Santeria, another Yoruba-derived religion widely practiced in NYC. Substitutions, however, were driven by two distinct forces. In one cohort (7%), species were morphologically and organoleptically similar to the original material, and replacements were mostly influenced by the easy accessibility of botanical materials. The other cohort (9%) was marked by a logical substitution process based on Yoruba rules of plant classification. Our results show that Candomble practitioners in NYC are maintaining a notable level of cultural continuity, while cautiously assimilating new species and consciously or subconsciously replacing others. Although both accessibility of plant material and cultural forces play a role in the adaptation mechanism, the latter appears to be the most relevant to these highly skilled practitioners.
Direct Cost Comparison of Open Carpal Tunnel Release in Different Venues

Background: The increased efficiency and cost savings have led many surgeons to move their practice away from the traditional operating room (OR) or outpatient surgery center (OSC) and into the clinic setting. With the cost of health care continuing to rise, the venue with the lowest cost should be utilized. We performed a direct cost analysis of a single surgeon performing an open carpal tunnel release in the OR, OSC, and clinic. Methods: Four treatment groups were prospectively studied: the hospital OR with monitored anesthesia care (OR-MAC), OSC with MAC (OSC-MAC), OSC with local anesthesia (OSC-local), and clinic with local anesthesia (clinic). To determine direct costs, a detailed inventory was recorded including the weight and disposal of medical waste. Indirect costs were not included. Results: Five cases in each treatment group were prospectively recorded. Average direct costs were OR ($213.75), OSC-MAC ($102.79), OSC-local ($55.66), and clinic ($31.71). The average weight of surgical waste, in descending order, was the OR (4.78 kg), OSC-MAC (2.78 kg), OSC-local (2.6 kg), and the clinic (0.65 kg). Using analysis of variance, the clinic's direct costs and surgical waste were significantly less than any other setting (P < .005). Conclusions: The direct costs of an open carpal tunnel release were nearly 2 times more expensive in the OSC compared with the clinic and almost 7 times more expensive in the OR. Open carpal tunnel release is more cost-effective and generates less medical waste when performed in the clinic versus all other surgical venues.
Journal of Materials Chemistry A Editor’s choice web collection: “Recent advances in solar fuels and photocatalysis research”

Frank E. Osterloh introduces a Journal of Materials Chemistry A Editor’s choice web collection on recent advances in solar fuels and photocatalysis research (https://rsc.li/PhotoCat).
CtBP as a Redox Sensor in Transcriptional Repression

The corepressor CtBP (carboxyl-terminal binding protein) is involved in transcriptional pathways important for development, cell cycle regulation, and transformation. We demonstrate that CtBP binding to transcription repressors is stimulated by NAD+ and NADH, with NADH being two to three orders of magnitude more effective. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer studies of CtBP show a > 100-fold higher affinity for NADH than NAD+, in agreement with the tighter interaction observed in the crystal structure of NADH-bound CtBP. Levels of free nuclear nicotinamide adenine dinucleotides, determined using two-photon microscopy, correspond to the concentrations required for half-maximal CtBP binding. Free cellular NAD+ concentration greatly exceeds that of NADH and the redox changes are mainly reflected by NADH levels. Agents increasing NADH levels stimulate CtBP binding to its partners in vivo and potentiate CtBP-mediated repression. These findings suggest that the transcriptional corepressor CtBP may serve as a redox sensor to provide a link between gene expression and metabolism.
Proton Transfer Pathways in the Reaction Center of Rhodobacter Sphaeroides: A Computational Study

We address the problem of determining proton transfer pathways from solution to the secondary quinone (QB) in the photosynthetic reaction center (RC) of Rb. sphaeroides. Based on the crystal structures for Rb. sphaeroides 1,2 and Rps. Viridis, 3 the QB binding site is buried in the protein, out of contact with the aqueous solution. Thus, protons have to pass through the protein to reach the QB site. The mechanism of this transfer is important in understanding how reaction centers mediate the conversion of light energy into chemical energy.
The Relationship of Class Size Effects and Teacher Salary.

The effects of class size on academic achievement have been studied for decades. Although the results of small-scale, randomized experiments and large-scale, econometric studies point to positive effects of small classes, some scholars see the evidence as ambiguous. Recent analyses from a 4-year, large-scale, randomized experiment on the effects of class size (Project STAR in Tennessee) provide evidence that small classes in the early grades lead to increased academic achievement. A major question is whether these benefits of small classes are uniformly distributed across schools and districts. The analyses reported here suggest that class size effects at the 3rd grade vary across districts and that the variation in effects is linked to average teacher salaries in those districts. The question of how to allocate resources to most effectively further the aims of educational systems is one of the enduring questions facing educational researchers and policymakers. Among the most fundamental allocation decisions is the decision of how to assign instructional staff to classes. This includes the decision of how large classes should be and whether ancillary instructional staff, such as classroom aides, should be used. Manipulating class size is a policy option that is gaining increasing attention throughout the nation. In the last two decades many states have adopted policies that reduce class sizes with the goal of improving achievement, and class size reduction often is included in state and local education initiatives. Although decisions about resource allocation (and class size in particular) ^re made in every educational system, there is serious debate about whether these Gary Peevely is research director of the Academic Skills Unit in the Center of Excellence for Research & Policy at Tennessee State University. Larry Hedges is the Stella M. Rowley Professor of Psychology and Sociology at the University of Chicago. Barbara A. Nye is executive director of the Center of Excellence for Research 8c Policy at Tennessee State University. JOURNAL OF EDUCATION FINANCE | 3IH SUMMER 2005 IOI-IO9 101 This content downloaded from 207.46.13.118 on Sun, 11 Sep 2016 05:25:55 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms 102 JOURNAL OF EDUCATION FINANCE allocation decisions influence academic achievement and other desired outcomes of education. This research investigates whether assignment to small classes affects academic achievement and, if so, how those effects are distributed across schools with different social compositions and teacher characteristics. The variable of local district teacher salary and its effects is also investigated.
Predator-Prey Dynamics for Rabbits, Trees, and Romance

The Lotka-Volterra equations represent a simple nonlinear model for the dynamic interaction between two biological species in which one species (the predator) benefits at the expense of the other (the prey). With a change in signs, the same model can apply to two species that compete for resources or that symbiotically interact. However, the model is not structurally stable, since persistent time-dependent (oscillatory) Solutions occur for only a single value of the parameters.
Introduction: The Ethics of Embryo Adoption and the Catholic Tradition

In vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET or more commonly IVF), first successfully accomplished in humans in 1978 (Steptoe & Edwards, 1978), has become the treatment of choice for infertile couples in the developed world. IVF, along with other forms of assisted reproductive technology (ART) are considered morally impermissible according to official teachings of the Roman Catholic Church (Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, 1987). In IVF procedures, highly skilled technicians facilitate the creation of embryos in a Petri dish after obtaining ovum and sperm. Prior to fertilization, the ova are assessed and those deemed of highest quality are mixed with the highest quality of sperm. Two to five days after fertilization, a number of embryos are implanted via a catheter into the woman’s uterus, which has been prepared through hormonal therapy so that uterine conditions are suitable for embryo implantation (De los Santos et al., 2003). Success rates for live births using fresh eggs obtained from the woman undergoing embryo transfer hover between 20% and 30%, with even the most successful clinics reporting rates less than 51% according to reports by the Center for Disease Control (2006) and the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (2005).
Self-Fulfilling Prophecies and Self-Defeating Behavior

One of the most theoretically important findings to emerge from the sociological and psychological literatures has been the discovery that expectations frequently create the conditions that bring about their own fulfillment—an effect that Merton termed the self-fulfilling prophecy (Merton, 1948). Much of the excitement in the research that has followed Merton’s statement has been generated by its clear relevance to societal concerns, including the ways in which negatively stereotyped children are left behind in the educational process, to ways in which those who have sought treatment for mental difficulties are labeled by others and treated in a fashion that can sustain or increase their difficulties. In short, the idea that one individual, entrapped in the expectations and stereotypes of others, can somehow be caused to fulfill those expectations holds out the promise of understanding many social phenomena. Similarly, there is a great deal of interest in self-defeating behaviors—the nation that we sometimes engage in behaviors that harm or defeat us. And, as with the self-fulfilling prophecy, a deeper understanding of self-defeating behaviors may enable us to design interventions that minimize their harmful effects.
An Army of One: Predaceous Diving Beetle Life History Stages Affect Interactions With Shared Mosquito Prey

Predators with complex life cycles often differ in their morphology, behavior, and trophic position across their ontogeny, and may thus have variable effects on shared prey. We used the predaceous diving beetle Laccophilus fasciatus rufus as our predator, whose larvae and adults often co-occur in freshwater lentic systems. As a shared prey we used early and late instar Culex quinquefasciatus, a common wetland mosquito. We found that single adult predators were more likely to consume late instar prey compared to juvenile predators, who ate early and late instar prey equally. A mixture of juvenile and adult predator stages led to higher consumption of prey when compared to either predator type alone. Adult dytiscids consumed three times as many dead prey compared to living ones, thus implying a role in scavenging for this life-history stage. Our work highlights that predators with complex life-history stages may affect shared prey in complicated and unpredictable ways.
An OAuth-Based Authorization Framework for Access Control in Remote Collaboration Systems

Advanced human-computer interaction systems have made it possible for helpers (professionals) to remotely collaborate with workers (individuals seeking assistance from the professionals). For example, a professional can remotely help a worker fix automobiles or electronics, identify how much of what medication to take, or perform household repairs. We have presented a system, Collaborative Appliance for Remote-help (CARE) that allows for such collaborations. Our system allows a skilled professional or other helper to remotely access and control a worker's locally deployed resources over the Internet. These locally deployed resources may include cameras, microphones, speakers, processors, and memory. The remote helper then directs the worker to perform specific tasks to complete the job at hand. Like other Internet of Things (IoT) based systems, CARE is input-constrained. That is, a worker cannot provide input via a touch screen or keyboard. The resources are accessed over the Internet. Thus, security and privacy are big concerns. In this paper, we present the authorization and access control framework for the input-constrained CARE system. This framework has been implemented using the OAuth 2.0 Authorization Framework and has been designed to meet the needs of resource owners who have no technical knowledge. We have shown that our proposed framework is very effective and consistent with the access control guidelines set by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
The Effects of Relying on Financial Incentives vs. Non-Financial Motivation to Induce Internal Whistle-Blowing

Employers could recover significant losses arising from internal misconduct, such as worker theft, if co-workers who observed the misconduct blew the whistle. Generally, employers rely on workers’ goodwill to induce whistle-blowing. However, some employers are considering offering workers a financial reward for whistle-blowing, thus relying on financial self-interest to induce whistle-blowing rather than only goodwill. I compare these approaches in a setting in which employers make wage offers to workers for a fixed level of effort; probabilistically incur welfare losses from internal theft that only workers observe; and recover their losses by inducing workers to blow the whistle on theft. I vary whether employers can offer workers a financial reward for whistle-blowing (Reward vs. No Reward condition), but in both conditions I allow them to foster goodwill by offering workers higher wages. As predicted, when making whistle-blowing decisions, workers in the Reward condition perceive lower sensitivity to wage level versus reward level and, also, have less perceived sensitivity to wage level than workers in the No Reward condition. Employers in the Reward condition generally offered a whistle-blowing reward but also offered lower wages than employers in the No Reward condition. Consequently, employers offered similar levels of expected compensation in both conditions. Workers blew the whistle more frequently when offered a reward, and therefore employers earned higher payoffs by offering rewards for whistle-blowing. Using a third condition, I find that the benefits of both approaches exceed the related costs. My findings should help executives make more informed decisions about how to use financial resources to induce whistle-blowing on internal misconduct.
Does FinTech Compete with or Complement Bank Finance

We consider comprehensive data on crowdfunding in the U.S., including debt (marketplace lending), rewards, donations, and equity crowdfunding, to formally test for the first time if banks are complements or substitutes to crowdfunding. The data indicate that bank failures in a county are associated with a reduction in debt and rewards crowdfunding, and total crowdfunding (including donations and rewards as well, however, bank failures are statistically unrelated to those types of crowdfunding in our empirical setting). The data are consistent with bank failures being associated with a reduction in the aggregate number of entrepreneurs in a county, while the remaining entrepreneurs seeking crowdfunding are less reliant on external debt finance in their county. Overall, the data indicate crowdfunding and traditional bank finance are complements.
Design of a Methane Control Expert System

SUMMARY The Bureau of Mines, U.S. Department of the Interior, has developed sound technical solutions to address the mining industry's excess methane emission problems. However, a problem still exists in how to transfer this knowledge into all the different mine scenarios exhibiting high methane emissions. An obvious solution in this age of computers is to provide every mine with a computer program capable of analyzing a mine's methane problem and recommending methane control strategies to permit the safe extraction of coal. A knowledge-based expert system was selected as the mechanism by which the transfer of knowledge could best be made. This paper will illustrate the expert-level decision making process for applying methane drainage techniques to underground coal mines and how it is being reduced to a comprehensive set of production rules for implementation in a methane control expert system known as METHPRO.
“There’s like no support system”: the life course stories of women with children about growing up, becoming mothers, and becoming homeless

The current study reports on a narrative analysis of the stories of women (N = 20, 40% African American) with children who have been or are currently homeless with a focus on the women’s experience...
Parent mentoring relationships as a vehicle for reducing racial disparities: Experiences of child welfare-involved parents, mentors and professionals

Abstract This qualitative study examines the Minnesota One-Stop for Communities Parent Mentor Program (MPMP). African American parents previously involved in the child welfare system conceptualized and spearheaded this program for parents currently involved in the system to reduce the involvement of families of color in child welfare, provide support and build protective factors. The MPMP exists alongside of, not as part of, state, county or tribal child welfare systems. This study included 15 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with parent mentors, parents and stakeholders, as well as participant observations and document reviews. Findings establish transferability of some of the positive findings of previous qualitative research on programs embedded within child welfare systems to the MPMP including the centrality of relationships to successful mentoring. It builds on existing research by providing insights into how to reduce racial disparities in the involvement of families of color in the child welfare system. Participants argued that by positioning their program outside of the formal child welfare system, they were better able to build trust and engage parents from African American and Indigenous communities, more flexibly address parent needs, and include parent mentors with a wide variety of life experiences. Implications for future research are discussed.
Tenodesis Effect Mimicked by Flexor Tendon Entrapment in a Paediatric Midshaft Forearm Fracture: a Case Report and Review of the Literature

Entrapment of the flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) tendon following radius and ulna midshaft paediatric forearm fractures has been reported rarely in the literature. To date, 19 cases have been described. A characteristic fracture pattern, persistent cortical defect at the fracture site and flexion contracture not responsive to hand therapy are all hallmarks of the condition. We present a case along with a review of the literature. A 12-year-old boy underwent exploration of a primary right open radius and ulna fracture site 22 months following initial open reduction and titanium elastic nail system (TENS) fixation. The little finger FDP tendon was found interposed between the ulna bone with a significant defect in the cortical surface of the ulna, correlating with a lucency identified on plain radiograph preoperatively. Removal of all interposed tissue, debridement of the bone edges and Pulvertaft tendon weave of the FDP of the little finger to the ring finger were performed. The patient recovered full upper limb function. Clinicians should be vigilant to identify this complication when managing patients with forearm fractures. A thorough clinical examination pre– and post–open or closed forearm fracture reduction should be performed to ensure early recognition of this rare complication. If the tenodesis effect and post-operative adhesions cannot be adequately released by therapy, interposition of the tendon at the fracture site should be considered as a differential diagnosis. If the complication is suspected, early operative intervention should be performed to ensure optimal fracture healing and restoration of function.
Maintaining High-Quality Multidisciplinary Pain Medicine Fellowship Programs: Part I: Innovations in Pain Fellows' Education, Research, Applicant Selection Process, Wellness, and ACGME Implementation During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background Pain fellowship programs are facing unique challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Restrictions from state governments and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have resulted in a rapidly changing and evolving learning environment for todays' fellows. Innovative solutions must be sought to guarantee that proper education is maintained and to ensure the well-being of our trainees. Methods We assembled a panel of pain program directors who serve as officers/board members of the Association of Pain Program Directors to provide guidance and formulate recommendations to pain fellowship directors nationally. This guidance is based on reviewing current changes to the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and American Board of Anesthesiology policies and best available evidence and expert opinion on the use of remote educational activities, research endeavors, and trainee wellness. Conclusions The country is in the midst of an unprecedented pandemic. The impact on pain management fellowships has been severe and will likely last for months, resulting in extraordinary challenges to the administration of pain fellowship programs and the education of our fellows. Understanding revisions to ACGME policies, using technology to promote remote learning opportunities, and providing trainees with opportunities to alleviate their anxiety and encourage mental health are beneficial strategies to implement. Together, we can implement innovative solutions to help overcome these challenges.
Spacetime Geometry with Geometric Calculus

Geometric Calculus is developed for curved-space treatments of General Relativity and comparison is made with the flat-space gauge theory approach by Lasenby, Doran and Gull. Einstein’s Principle of Equivalence is generalized to a gauge principle that provides the foundation for a new formulation of General Relativity as a Gauge Theory of Gravity on a curved spacetime manifold. Geometric Calculus provides mathematical tools that streamline the formulation and simplify calculations. The formalism automatically includes spinors so the Dirac equation is incorporated in a geometrically natural way.
Predictors of CrossFit Open Performance.

The 2018 CrossFit Open (CFO) was the initial stage of an annual competition that consisted of five weekly workouts. Current evidence suggests that a variety of fitness parameters are important for progressing beyond this stage, but little is known about which are the most important. To examine relationships between CFO performance, experience, and physiological fitness, sixteen experienced (>2 years) athletes (30.7 ± 6.9 years, 171 ± 12 cm, 78.0 ± 16.2 kg) volunteered to provide information about their training and competitive history, and then complete a battery of physiological assessments prior to competing in the 2018 CFO. Athletes’ resting energy expenditure, hormone concentrations, body composition, muscle morphology, cardiorespiratory fitness, and isometric strength were assessed on two separate occasions. Spearman correlations demonstrated significant (p < 0.05) relationships between most variables and performance on each workout. Stepwise regression revealed competition experience (R2 = 0.31–0.63), body composition (R2 = 0.55–0.80), vastus lateralis cross-sectional area (R2 = 0.29–0.89), respiratory compensation threshold (R2 = 0.54–0.75), and rate of force development (R2 = 0.30–0.76) to be the most common predictors. Of these, body composition was the most important. These fitness parameters are known targets with established training recommendations. Though preliminary, athletes may use these data to effectively train for CFO competition.