cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Determinants of iron deficiency anemia in infants at a community of Shanghai

[Objective] To investigate the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia in infants of 6 months old and its determinants at a community of Shanghai. [Methods] One hundred and ninety 6-month-old infants born from Jan 2007 to Jun 2009 at a community of Shanghai were randomly selected as subjects,whose hemoglobin(Hb) levels were tested,with related influencing factors investigated. [Results] The prevalence rate of iron deficiency anemia in infants in this community was 21.58%.Both univariate analysis and multivariate Logistic regression showed that the feeding pattern within 6 months and adding supplementary food within 4-6 months were the determinants of iron deficiency anemia of infants,with the OR of 3.0 for group of pure breast feeding within 6 months and 19.8 for non-adding supplementary food within 4-6 months respectively.[Conclusion] At the time as breast feeding is encouraged,it should be made known that supplementary food be added and iron element be timely replenished so as to effectively decrease the incidence of iron deficiency anemia in infants.
A new practical algorithm of multi moving target detection

A detection algorithm aimed at multi moving objectives detection and segmentation is used based on the background differencing combined with three frame differencing.And an improved method for background updating has been proposed that enhances the adaptability of the background using dynamic adaptive threshold extract regional campaign from images.Background noise is further removed through median filtering and morphololgical operation.At last using a shadow suppression algorithm based on HIS space the shadow of targets are cleared out.Experiments show that this algorithm extracts targets very accurately and has strong background adaptability.
Congenital heart disease and the cost of mortality

Advances in medical care and technology over the past several decades have brought an unprecedented ability to expand the quality and length of patients' lives. Once debilitating and lethal diseases are now frequently treatable and at times curable. Evidence of this progress can be found uniquely in the field of paediatric cardiology. Only decades ago, complex congenital heart malformations such as hypoplastic left heart syndrome were uniformly lethal diagnoses with no option for surgical intervention or medical management.1 ,2 Newer and more sophisticated treatment options come with expanding use and dependence on increasingly costly medical and surgical interventions.3 Use of these interventions has placed an increasing strain on medical systems often already under significant pressure. The adoption of evidence-based medicine has led to a significant effort to understand how our interventions drive patient outcomes such as survival, quality and cost burden. While some interventions may lead to a combination of reduced cost and improved patient quality of life, others are associated with significantly increased cost and may not significantly improve quality or duration of life.1 ,3 ,4 The availability of more advanced interventions has shifted our thought process from ‘can we do something?’ to ‘can AND should we do something?’. The latter question is difficult and not always palatable, particularly to physicians whose primary goal is to improve the quality and duration of patients' lives. In the context of the medical system as a whole, patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) represent a small but particularly costly subset of the population. Prior studies have documented a disproportionately …
Optimal Low-Thrust Interplanetary Trajectories by Direct Method Techniques

A direct optimization method has been developed and utilized to compute a wide range of optimal low-thrust interplanetary trajectories. This method replaces the optimal control problem with a nonlinear programming problem which in turn is solved by using sequential quadratic programming. The direct approach is capable of modeling multiple powered and coast arcs, planetary gravity assists, and constant-thrust and variable-thrust electric propulsion systems. The advantages of the direct approach include reduction in the design space, ease of establishing good initial guesses for the design parameters, and improved flexibility for handling “mixed” optimal control problems with continuous control functions and discrete control parameters. Numerical results are presented for three interplanetary mission examples and the results from the direct method show an excellent match with published optimal trajectories. In addition, optimal trajectories are obtained for a new low-thrust interstellar transfer problem.
Communication Satisfaction: A Useful Construct?

This research explores the usefulness of the communication satisfaction construct as operationaiized by Downs and Hazen. A data base generated over the past Jive years from 18 communication audits was analyzed. This Involved a wide variety of organizations and over 1400 individuals. The analyses suggested a number of observations. First, the findings of other researchers with respect to the areas of greatest and least communication satisfaction were confirmed. Second, the usefulness of the demographic variables in explaining communication satisfaction was limited. Third, the results reaffirmed the importance of viewing organizational communication within the contingency framework. Fourth, the communication satisfaction construct provided a useful tool for explaining end‐product variables. Finally, the construct of communication satisfaction appeared to be more effective in explaining job satisfaction than job productivity. Indeed the discriminant analysis showed that those employees who were most satisfie...
Complications of Distal Biceps Tendon Repair A Meta-analysis of Single-Incision Versus Double-Incision Surgical Technique

Background:Anatomic reinsertion of the distal biceps is critical for restoring flexion and supination strength. Single- and double-incision surgical techniques have been reported, analyzing complic...
Nitrous Oxide: Yea or Nay

Nitrous oxide has been used for surgical anesthesia for more than 125 years. It is an excellent supplement to other anesthetic drugs because of its low solubility, rapid induction and recovery, and minimal complications. Circumstances where it is of questionable use are cited.
Shape of Things to Come: The On-Demand Economy and the Normative Stakes of Regulating 21st-Century Capitalism

The “sharing economy” represents a growing challenge to regulatory policy. In this article, I argue that these debates about the sharing economy are better understood as a broader normative and policy problem of updating our regulatory tools for the new dynamics of 21st century capitalism. The underlying issue is less about "sharing" and more about the shift to an “on-demand” economy driven by deeper structural changes in business organization, finance, and technology. I argue that we should analyze these changes through the normative lens of economic power: what is especially troubling about the on-demand economy is the way in which it outstrips the modes of accountability and countervailing power enabled by 20th century labor, safety net, and economic regulations. The article then suggests key frontiers for regulatory innovation, in particular: (1) expanding regulatory oversight of concentrated market and economic power among on-demand platforms; (2) expanding the relative power of workers to counteract the concentrated power of platforms in the on-demand economy (for example by expanding safety net protections and the ability to organize collectively); and (3) by reinventing systems for collective urban planning to account for the ripple effects of an on-demand economy. All three of these focus areas for regulation would entail a variety of specific interventions, but share a common premise of rebalancing economic power in this new economic order. Done right, these shifts would encourage more than an increase in welfare or efficiency, and instead offer the foundation for a new 21st century social contract that realizes genuine economic freedom and independence from domination of various kinds.
Importance of Guanxi in Chinese apparel new venture success: a mixed-method approach

The significant role of new ventures in economic and social development has led practitioners and researchers to search for the factors that affect new venture performance. In the Chinese apparel industry context, relationship (“guanxi”) as a central idea in Chinese society deeply influences all kinds of business. High quality relationships with supply chain partners, as a key resource, would help new ventures create competitive advantages and, hence, influence new venture performance. This study was designed to investigate the link between firms’ network relationships and new venture performance in the Chinese apparel industry. Using the resource-based view (Journal of Management 17:99-120, 1991) and social network theory (Administrative Science Quarterly 45:425-455, 2001), this study offers a mixed-methods exploratory approach to understanding the importance of guanxi in Chinese apparel new venture success. Results showed that three dimensions of new venture network relationship quality have positive impacts on the new ventures’ performance. This finding is consistent with social network theory and revealed that competitive advantage may be achieved through social network resources. In particular, for Chinese apparel new ventures, guanxi is an important resource for sustained competitive advantage among established businesses in China.
Formation Mechanism of NF 4 + Salts and Extraordinary Enhancement of the Oxidizing Power of Fluorine by Strong Lewis Acids

Although the existence of the NF4+ cation has been known for 51 years, and its formation mechanism from NF3 , F2 , and a strong Lewis acid in the presence of an activation energy source had been studied extensively, the mechanism had not been established. Experimental evidence had shown that the first step involves the generation of F atoms from F2 , and also that the NF3+ cation is a key intermediate. However, it was not possible to establish whether the second step involved the reaction of a F atom with either NF3 or the Lewis acid (LA). To distinguish between these two alternatives, a computational study of the NF4 , SbF6 , AsF6 , and BF4 radicals was carried out. Whereas the heats of reaction are small and similar for the NF4 and LAF radicals, at the reaction temperatures, only the LAF radicals possess sufficient thermal stability to be viable species. Most importantly, the ability of the LAF radicals to oxidize NF3 to NF3+ demonstrates that they are extraordinary oxidizers. This extraordinary enhancement of the oxidizing power of fluorine with strong Lewis acids had previously not been fully recognized.
Three-year risk of high-grade CIN for women aged 30 years or older who undergo baseline Pap cytology and HPV co-screening

BACKGROUND Papanicolaou (Pap) cytology and high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA cotesting for women aged ≥30 years are recommended for the prevention of cervical cancer. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the efficacy of this cotesting for predicting the risk of high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 3 (CIN3) during a 3-year follow-up period. METHODS A retrospective database search identified women aged ≥30 years who had baseline HPV and Pap cytology cotesting results in 2007 or 2008 and for whom 3-year follow-up results were available. The cumulative 3-year risks of developing CIN-3 were calculated. RESULTS The 3-year follow-up data after baseline Pap/HPV cotesting were available for 1986 women (mean age, 53 years). Of the 1668 women who had a baseline Pap-negative (Pap-)/HPV- cotesting result, 1561 (93.6%) had a follow-up Pap cytology result that was negative for intraepithelial lesions or malignancy. Of the 1530 women who had follow-up Pap/HPV cotesting, 1504 (98.3%) had a Pap-/HPV- result. The 3-year cumulative risk of developing CIN-3 was found to be highest for women with a baseline Pap-positive (Pap+)/HPV+ cotesting result (12.5%); the risk of CIN-3 was lower in those with a Pap-/HPV+ result (1.5%; P = .0032) or a Pap-/HPV- result (0.06%; P<.0001). The 3-year cumulative risk of CIN-3 was found to be significantly greater for women with an HPV+ result (4.8%) compared with those with an HPV- result (0.06%; P<.0001). CONCLUSIONS Pap cytology and HPV cotesting are valuable for stratifying CIN-3 risk. Pap cytology and HPV co-screening at a 3-year screening interval appears to carry a low risk of CIN-3 for women who have a baseline Pap-/HPV- cotesting result. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2017. © 2017 American Cancer Society.
Intergenerational transmission of traumatization: Theoretical framework and implications for prevention

ABSTRACTIntergenerational transmission of traumatization (ITT) occurs when traumatized parents have offspring with increased risk for emotional and behavioral problems. Although fetal exposure to the maternal biological milieu is known to be one factor in ITT, PTSD-driven parent–child interactions represent an additional important and potentially modifiable contributor. The Perinatal Interactional Model of ITT presented herein proposes that PTSD leads to social learning and suboptimal parent–child interactions, which undermine child regulatory capacity and increase distress, largely explaining poor social-emotional outcomes for offspring of parents with PTSD. Psychosocial intervention, particularly when delivered early in pregnancy, holds the possibility of disrupting ITT.
Loquacious-PD facilitates Drosophila Dicer-2 cleavage through interactions with the helicase domain and dsRNA.

Loquacious-PD (Loqs-PD) is required for biogenesis of many endogenous siRNAs in Drosophila. In vitro, Loqs-PD enhances the rate of dsRNA cleavage by Dicer-2 and also enables processing of substrates normally refractory to cleavage. Using purified components, and Loqs-PD truncations, we provide a mechanistic basis for Loqs-PD functions. Our studies indicate that the 22 amino acids at the C terminus of Loqs-PD, including an FDF-like motif, directly interact with the Hel2 subdomain of Dicer-2’s helicase domain. This interaction is RNA-independent, but we find that modulation of Dicer-2 cleavage also requires dsRNA binding by Loqs-PD. Furthermore, while the first dsRNA-binding motif of Loqs-PD is dispensable for enhancing cleavage of optimal substrates, it is essential for enhancing cleavage of suboptimal substrates. Finally, our studies define a previously unrecognized Dicer interaction interface and suggest that Loqs-PD is well positioned to recruit substrates into the helicase domain of Dicer-2.
IL-8 mediates idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis mesenchymal progenitor cell fibrogenicity

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive fibrotic lung disease, but the mechanisms driving progression remain incompletely defined. We previously reported that the IPF lung harbors fibrogenic mesenchymal progenitor cells (MPCs), which serve as a cell of origin for IPF fibroblasts. Proliferating IPF MPCs are located at the periphery of fibroblastic foci in an active cellular front at the interface between the myofibroblast-rich focus core and adjacent normal alveolar structures. Among a large set of genes that distinguish IPF MPCs from their control counterparts, we identified IL-8 as a candidate mediator of IPF MPC fibrogenicity and driver of fibrotic progression. IPF MPCs and their progeny displayed increased steady-state levels of IL-8 and its cognate receptor CXCR1 and secreted more IL-8 than did controls. IL-8 functioned in an autocrine manner promoting IPF MPC self-renewal and the proliferation and motility of IPF MPC progeny. Secreted IL-8 also functioned in a paracrine manner stimulating macrophage migration. Analysis of IPF lung tissue demonstrated codistribution of IPF MPCs with activated macrophages in the active cellular front of the fibroblastic focus. These findings indicate that IPF MPC-derived IL-8 is capable of expanding the mesenchymal cell population and recruiting activated macrophages cells to actively evolving fibrotic lesions.
Keynote: Research Challenges and Opportunities in IoT Security

The Internet of Things (IoT) paradigm refers to the network of physical objects or 'things' embedded with electronics, software, sensors, and connectivity to enable objects to exchange data with servers, centralized systems, and/or other connected devices based on a variety of communication infrastructures. IoT makes it possible to sense and control objects creating opportunities for more direct integration between the physical world and computer-based systems. IoT will usher automation in a large number of application domains, ranging from manufacturing and energy management (e.g. SmartGrid), to healthcare management and urban life (e.g. SmartCity). However, because of its fine-grained, continuous and pervasive data acquisition and control capabilities, IoT raises concerns about security. IoT systems are at risk for several reasons. They do not have well defined perimeters, are highly dynamic, and continuously change because of mobility. In addition IoT systems are highly heterogeneous with respect to communication medium and protocols, platforms, and devices. IoT systems may also include 'objects' not designed to be connected to the Internet. Finally, IoT systems, or portions of them, may be physically unprotected and/or controlled by different parties. Attacks, against which there are established defense techniques in the context of conventional information systems and mobile environments, are thus much more difficult to protect against in the IoT. IoT systems thus offer challenging research opportunities in many different areas of cyber security, ranging from cryptographic protocols and public key infrastructures to application and data security. In this talk, after outlining key challenges in IoT security, we present initial approaches to securing IoT data, including firewall techniques to prevent IoT devices from being compromised and used by botnets.
Photoconversion of DAPI and Hoechst dyes to green and red-emitting forms after exposure to UV excitation.

The fluorescent dye 4′-6-Diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) is frequently used in fluorescence microscopy as a chromosome and nuclear stain because of its high specificity for DNA. Normally, DAPI bound to DNA is maximally excited by ultraviolet (UV) light at 358 nm, and emits maximally in the blue range, at 461 nm. Hoechst dyes 33258 and 33342 have similar excitation and emission spectra and are also used to stain nuclei and chromosomes. It has been reported that exposure to UV can convert DAPI and Hoechst dyes to forms that are excited by blue light and emit green fluorescence, potentially confusing the interpretation of experiments that use more than one fluorochrome. The work reported here shows that these dyes can also be converted to forms that are excited by green light and emit red fluorescence. This was observed both in whole tissues and in mitotic chromosome spreads, and could be seen with less than 10-s exposure to UV. In most cases, the red form of fluorescence was more intense than the green form. Therefore, appropriate care should be exercised when examining tissues, capturing images, or interpreting images in experiments that use these dyes in combination with other fluorochromes.
Large angle nonmechanical laser beam steering at 4.6 μm using a digital micromirror device

Large angle, nonmechanical beam steering is demonstrated at 4.62 μm using the digital light processing technology. A 42-deg steering range is demonstrated, limited by the field-of-view of the recollimating lens. The measured diffraction efficiency is 8.1% on-axis and falls-off with a sin2 dependence with the steering angle. However, within the 42-deg steering range, the power varied less than 25%. The profile of the steered laser beam is Gaussian with a divergence of 5.2 mrad. Multibeam, randomly addressable beam steering, is also demonstrated.
Protein import deficiencies in human peroxisomal disorders.

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an overview of the mechanism of protein transport into peroxisomes and presents a comparison of this knowledge to deficiencies in peroxisomal protein import in humans. In recent years, several proteins that reside in multiple subcellular compartments have been achieved by the generation of multiple protein isoforms with organelle-specific targeting information. Much interest has focused on peroxisomes as a model for the translocation of proteins across a biological membrane and on the translocation of peroxisomal proteins from the cytoplasm, where they are synthesized, into peroxisomes. The reason for the mistargeting of L-alanine:glyoxylate aminotransferase (AGT1) to mitochondria in some primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1) patients is rooted in evolutionary history.
Quantum mechanical potential surfaces and calculations on minerals and molecular clusters

Recently, ab-initio quantum mechanical potential surfaces calculated for silicate hydroxyacid molecules were used to extract covalent potentials for use in mineral physics calculations (Lasaga and Gibbs 1987). The calculations showed that these potentials are capable of generating the structure and physical properties of silicate minerals. In this paper we explore in more detail the suitability of various covalent potentials in mimicking the topography of the ab-initio potential surfaces. We also extend the use of such quantum-derived potentials in generating the structures of hydroxyacid dimers, trimers, and pentamers of silicate tetrahedra and in studying the structure and the dynamical properties of minerals and glasses.
How to power encultured minds

Cultural psychologists often describe the relationship between mind and culture as ‘dynamic.’ In light of this, we provide two desiderata that a theory about encultured minds ought to meet: the theory ought to reflect how cultural psychologists describe their own findings and it ought to be thoroughly naturalistic. We show that a realist theory of causal powers — which holds that powers are causally-efficacious and empirically-discoverable — fits the bill. After an introduction to the major concepts in cultural psychology and describing causal power realism, we use a case study — the effects of pathogen prevalence on culture and cognition — to show the explanatory capacities of the powers framework
Focus on Epithelialized Palatal Grafts. Part 2: Implant Site Development.

Introduction The epithelialized palatal graft (EPG), introduced in 1963, has persisted as the gold standard for gingival augmentation, and in the present era, mucosal augmentation around dental implants has become an important concern. A limited body of evidence suggests peri-implant mucosal augmentation may favorably impact bone and mucosal stability and peri-implant health under some circumstances. Although more contemporary procedures for peri-implant mucosal augmentation are often preferred based on convenience and esthetic considerations, EPG augmentation at dental implant sites is distinguishable from methods which do not deepen the vestibule and eliminate unfavorable superficial soft tissue. Implant sites augmented with EPG are qualitatively distinct from sites augmented using other methods. Case series Seven generally healthy patients received EPG augmentation before dental implant placement, at implant placement, before implant uncovering, or after implant uncovering. In each case, the patient exhibited a favorable zone of attached peri-implant mucosa following treatment. Conclusions Reliable mucosal augmentation with EPG is achievable at multiple phases in the course of dental implant therapy. EPG augmentation offers distinct clinical advantages and may be preferable to other mucosal augmentation strategies at some dental implant sites.
Predator odor produces anxiety-like behavioral phenotype in planarians that is counteracted by fluoxetine.

Abstract Avoidant behavior is a characteristic feature post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and is modeled in mammals with predator odor. Light avoidance is a hallmark behavioral reaction in planarians. We hypothesized that planarians exposed to frog extract would display enhanced light avoidance that is prevented by fluoxetine. Enhanced light avoidance (i.e., less time spent in light compartment of a dish split into light and dark sides) after a 30-min frog extract exposure (0.0001–0.01%) manifested 15 min post-exposure, persisted for at least 24 h, and was counteracted by fluoxetine (10 μM). These results suggest conservation of an anxiety-like behavioral phenotype.
Confidant Network and Interpersonal Communication Associations with Depression in Older Adulthood

Social networks contribute to the well-being and longevity of older adults, yet very little research to date has attempted to identify communicative mechanisms that explain the link between social ...
Techniques of Multiview Videofluoroscopy

In Chapter 3 we briefly described the three basic views — the lateral, the frontal, and the base — so that the reader could appreciate the rationale behind the choice of the equipment with which to perform this procedure. This chapter will describe information provided by each of the views, methods of performance, and normal anatomy as seen in each of the views.
Corresponding Ideas in Corresponding Forms

Many lawyers and law students neglect the role structure can play in crafting persuasive arguments. They instead primarily focus on finding the right content. This short essay suggests a different approach: first figure out the right structure, then it can actually be easier to find—and include—the right content.
An Improved Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Assay for the Identification of Mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) Blood Meals

The analysis of vertebrate blood meals serves as an integral component of vector incrimination studies where feeding preferences and host associations influence vector-borne disease transmission. Diagnostic polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based techniques have been widely used to determine host associations, yet applications for Culex (Diptera: Culicidae), which feed primarily on bird populations, have been limited by multistep PCR techniques that approach each potential host species singly. As a result, we have developed a multiplexed primer set targeting mitochondrial cytochrome b sequences that can distinguish human, bird, and mammalian host blood meals in a single PCR reaction, an improvement over previous analyses relying on single primers or other multiplex primer approaches through the inclusion of avian primers. To validate this new methodology, we demonstrate its application on blood samples as well as field-collected Culex samples. Although designed for applications with mosquito vectors, this multiplex PCR assay is not mosquito-specific, and should serve as a valuable tool for identifying the blood meals of other blood-feeding arthropods, contributing greatly to the study of vector-borne disease.
Perceptions of Mindfulness: A Qualitative Analysis of Group Work in Addiction Recovery.

Importance While mindfulness as a treatment for addiction has been objectively studied in a variety of settings, relatively little focus has been given to the subjective experience of program participants. Objective To elicit best practices for mindfulness work in addiction recovery. Design and setting Participant observation and semi-structured interviews with participants in a mindfulness course set within a residential addiction recovery program. Results Many participants found the practice to be a useful skill for relaxation and impulse control. Most planned to continue with mindfulness practice upon completion of the course. Of particular emphasis was the importance of genuine relationships, trust, and mutual respect between participants and instructors. Some participants reported feelings of patronization, which led to decreased investment in the coursework. Conclusion Mindfulness is a promising treatment for addiction. Several benefits and barriers were identified. This study was limited by a small sample size; generalizability may be limited due to particularly severe socioeconomic stressors of the study population. [Full article available at http://rimed.org/rimedicaljournal-2019-03.asp].
The Role of Spatial Science in Environmental Case Studies: A Special Collection from the University of Southern California

Environmental degradation and climate change have become core social and political issues. Subsequently, it is critical to educate environmental studies and sciences students with respect to the appropriate conceptual models and the relevant skill sets to become effective environmental problem solvers. Spatial analysis, often implemented through the use of geographic information systems, is a key tool for exploring unique combinations of place, space, and time. Spatial analysis uses quantitative, formal techniques to facilitate an in-depth look at how environmental phenomena manifest themselves in a particular geographic location, and is an ideal fit within environmental case study pedagogy. For one, environmental problems inherently have spatial boundaries. Further, case studies regularly accommodate multiple variables. Additionally, spatial analysis can be a teaching tool that challenges students to think outside their preconceived worldviews. For these reasons, we offer this special collection of Case Studies in the Environment, which featuredss manuscripts on case studies from faculty and students at the University of Southern California Spatial Sciences Institute (SSI). Academics, researchers, and students presented with the pieces in this special collection will come away with an understanding of a wide range of spatial analysis techniques, and how they can be applied to creating actionable information around a variety of environmental topics.
Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS): Protocols in Post-Mastectomy Breast Reconstruction

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols have become common for patients undergoing breast reconstruction, catalyzed by the recent opioid crisis. Here, we review standard ERAS protocol structure and the supporting evidence. A perioperative multidisciplinary team and multimodal pain management appropriately are the two critical factors for ERAS success. Preoperative counseling, both antibiotic and venous thromboembolic prophylaxis, and multimodal antiemetics are crucial to optimize results. Regional nerve blocks provide an alternative to oral and intravenous opioids. Intraoperative minimization of inhaled anesthetics and complete IV analgesia is recommended along with team communication. A postoperative opioid-sparing approach with medications such as acetaminophen, NSAIDs, and gabapentin is needed along with an early diet, patient mobilization, and IV fluid and Foley catheter discontinuation. ERAS protocols for breast reconstruction have shown a decrease in length of stay, intraoperative and postoperative narcotic use, and perioperative costs while simultaneously increasing patient satisfaction.
MoM An Effort to Comprising CBT in Digital Gaming

Mental disorder has its widespread presence and increasing around the globe at an alarming rate. In spite of the existence of effective psychotherapeutic strategies, a significant percentage of individuals do not get access to mental healthcare facilities. A handful amount of research has been conducted to facilitate the existing therapies more accessible via digitization. In this paper, we have proposed a digitized game that is able to magnify the impact of one of the strategies of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). This can provide an opportunity for self assessment of individuals' emotional state and enhance impulsive dominance on positive thinking. We have developed a serious game Militant of the Maze (MoM), accessible via handheld devices (e.g. cell phone, tablet) that comprises strategies of CBT that emphasizes the consequence of ‘alternation’ to prevail over challenges of everyday life. We hypothesized that perseverance of the ability of ‘alternation’ can notably improve treating the patients dealing with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). The experimental outcome demonstrated that the existence of ‘alternation’ in gameplay can significantly improve players' positive affect and decreases the negative affect, which can impact improving the efficacy of psychotherapeutic treatment by influencing players' mindset of opting for an alternative solution while confronting circumstances in everyday life.
Laparoscopic Management of a Second Trimester Tubal Ectopic Pregnancy

Study Objective To demonstrate the safe laparoscopic management of a tubal ectopic pregnancy presenting at an advanced gestational age. Design Narrated video tutorial for safe laparoscopic management of this rare presentation. Setting Ectopic pregnancy most often occurs within the fallopian tube commonly presenting as vaginal bleeding and abdominal or pelvic pain during the first trimester. Second-trimester tubal ectopic pregnancies are extremely rare and carry a significantly higher level of maternal morbidity and mortality compared to first-trimester presentation. Second-trimester tubal ectopic pregnancies are challenging to diagnose by ultrasound alone and may appear as peritoneal or ovarian ectopics. A high degree of suspicion must be maintained to ensure the best maternal outcomes. Patients or Participants We present a case of a bleeding tubal ectopic pregnancy diagnosed at 13 weeks and 4 days at an academic tertiary care hospital. Interventions A laparoscopic approach to manage a tubal ectopic pregnancy at 13 weeks and 4 days gestational age. Measurements and Main Results Laparoscopic approach was utilized with several key steps: 1. Confirmation of the tubal location of the ectopic pregnancy 2. Sequential cuts through the mesosalpinx minimizing injury to the adjacent ovary while limiting intraoperative blood loss 3. Specimen containment and umbilical extraction Conclusion Advanced gestational age tubal ectopic pregnancy represents an extremely rare clinical situation that requires the surgeons appreciation for the potential for massive maternal bleeding. Ultrasound diagnosis alone can be very challenging and thus high clinical suspicion should be maintained and appropriate preoperative planning is crucial.
Information Warfare and Democratic Decay

This paper is the first chapter of a book entitled Tyrants on Twitter: Protecting Democracies from Chinese and Russian Information Warfare (forthcoming, Stanford University Press). The book analyzes the threat presented by Chinese and Russian cyber troops, who exploit U.S. social media platforms to conduct information warfare. The book also presents a detailed proposal for transnational regulation of social media to protect democracies from information warfare. The first chapter analyzes the relationship between information warfare and democratic decay: the recent decline in the number of democratic states and the corresponding increase in the number of authoritarian states. The chapter defines “information warfare” as the exploitation of social media to conduct foreign influence operations (FIOs) or, alternatively, as “organized social media manipulation” (OSM) that is directed towards a foreign audience or foreign policy objective. Thus, information warfare lies at the intersection between OSM and FIOs. I argue that the combination of OSM, FIOs and information warfare—viewed in the aggregate—is a major factor contributing to the phenomenon of democratic decay. This chapter also presents a brief summary of the proposal for transnational regulation, which is developed in greater detail in later chapters.
Implementation of Drive-through Testing for COVID-19 with Community Paramedics.

Objective In this manuscript, we discuss the implementation and deployment of mobile integrated health and community paramedicine (MIH/CP) testing sites to provide screening, testing, and community outreach during the first months of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in the metropolitan region of Charlotte, North Carolina. This program addresses the need for an agile testing strategy during the current pandemic. We disclose the number of patients evaluated as "persons under investigation" and the proportion with positive severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2) results from these sites. We describe how the programs were applied to patient care and include considerations on how additional staffing, scalability, and flexibility of these services may be applied to future patient and health care crises. Methods This is a descriptive report of the implementation of MIH/CP test sites in our health care system's early response to the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. Retrospective data on the number of patients and their associated demographics are reported here as raw data. No statistical analysis was performed. Results Between March 15, 2020, and April 15, 2020, our 6 MIH/CP test sites evaluated 4342 patients. Of these, 401 patients (9.2%) had positive test results, 62.8% of whom were women. The estimated duration of each patient encounter under investigation was 3 to 5 minutes. The paramedics were able to perform a brief history, specific physical examination, and screening for signs of hypoxemic respiratory failure. There were no cases of accidental exposure or failure of personal protective equipment for the MIH/CP paramedics. Conclusions In our health care system, we pivoted the traditional MIH/CP model to rapidly initiate remote drive-through testing for COVID-19 in pre-screened individuals. This model allowed us to test patients with suspected COVID-19 patients away from traditional health care sites and mitigate exposure to health care workers and other patients.
Bacterial Flora Found in Common Indoor Insects

Abstract The most common indoor arthropods that are considered pests include cockroaches, flies, and ants. They are often associated with unsanitary conditions because they thrive in environments with high organic content such as sewage, garbage, and other decomposing material. Although these insects are very capable of hosting and transmitting bacteria, entomologists and medical professionals rarely consider them to be of medical significance. As a result, an experiment was conducted in which sticky traps were utilized to collect specimen within various buildings on Texas A&M University’s campus. The collected specimens included cockroaches, house flies, fire ants, and a cricket. The specimens were then swabbed on agar plates and the plates were left for 72 hours to allow for microbial growth. In addition, different segments of the captured specimens were swabbed to determine which area of the exoskeleton contained the highest concentration of bacteria. The results indicated that all the specimens had microbial growth on their plates. However, the cockroach, Periplaneta fuliginosa, and cricket, Acheta domesticus, had the most bacterial growth out of all the specimen. In both Periplaneta fuliginosa and Acheta domesticus, the wings were the areas that showed the most microbial growth. The presence of microbes indicates that these specimens do have the potential to have medical importance because they are found in indoor environments where human activity is prevalent. The fact that most of the growth developed from their wings indicates that they could easily spread pathogens during flight by releasing it into the air.
Asymmetric Auctions with Endogenous Participation

We study endogenous participation in asymmetric second price auctions where one bidder is "special". We show seller revenue decreases whenever the special bidder becomes more dominant in the sense of FOSD, or more generally whenever the other bidders' profits are reduced. We also establish an equivalence result for second price auctions - any arbitrary distribution of the special bidder's value is "competitively equivalent" to one that is a power function of the value distribution of the other bidders. Finally, we analyze first-price auctions numerically and show that our results extend to this alternate mechanism.
Behavioral Phenotypes of Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

Objective To identity phenotypes of self-reported symptoms of psychopathology and their correlates in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Method 96 patients with TLE and 82 controls were administered the Symptom Checklist 90-Revised (SCL-90-R) to characterize emotional-behavioral status. The nine symptom scales of the SCL-90-R were analyzed by unsupervised machine learning techniques to identify latent TLE groups. Identified clusters were contrasted to controls to characterize their association with sociodemographic, clinical epilepsy, neuropsychological, psychiatric, and neuroimaging factors. Results TLE patients as a group exhibited significantly higher (abnormal) scores across all SCL-90-R scales compared to controls. However, cluster analysis identified three latent groups: (1) unimpaired with no scale elevations compared to controls (Cluster 1, 42% of TLE patients), (2) mild-to-moderate symptomatology characterized by significant elevations across several SCL-90-R scales compared to controls (Cluster 2, 35% of TLE patients), and (3) marked symptomatology with significant elevations across all scales compared to controls and the other TLE phenotype groups (Cluster 3, 23% of TLE patients). There were significant associations between cluster membership and demographic (education), clinical epilepsy (perceived seizure severity, bitemporal lobe seizure onset), and neuropsychological status (intelligence, memory, executive function), but with minimal structural neuroimaging correlates. Concurrent validity of the behavioral phenotype grouping was demonstrated through association with psychiatric (current and lifetime-to-date DSM IV Axis 1 disorders and current treatment) and quality-of-life variables. Significance Symptoms of psychopathology in patients with TLE are characterized by a series of discrete phenotypes with accompanying sociodemographic, cognitive, and clinical correlates. Similar to cognition in TLE, machine learning approaches suggest a developing taxonomy of the comorbidities of epilepsy.
Membrane Env Liposomes Facilitate Immunization with Multivalent Full-Length HIV Spikes.

A major goal of HIV vaccine design is to elicit broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs). Such bNAbs target HIV's trimeric, membrane-embedded envelope glycoprotein spikes (mEnv). Soluble Env (sEnv) trimers have been used as vaccines, but engineering sEnvs for stability, multivalency, and desired antigenicity is problematic and deletes key neutralizing epitopes on glycoprotein 41 (gp41) while creating neoepitopes that elicit unwanted antibodies. Meanwhile, multivalent mEnv vaccines are challenging to develop due to trimer instability and low mEnv copy number amid other extraneous proteins on virus-like particles. Here, we describe a multivalent mEnv vaccine platform that does not require protein engineering or extraneous proteins. mEnv trimers were fixed, purified, and combined with naked liposomes in mild detergent. On removal of detergent, mEnv spikes were observed embedded in liposome particles (mean diameter, 133 nm) in correct orientation. These particles were recognized by HIV bNAbs and not non-NAbs and are designated mEnv liposomes (MELs). Following a sequential immunization scheme in rabbits, MELs elicited antibodies that neutralized tier 2 HIV isolates. Analysis of serum antibody specificities, including those to epitopes involving a missing conserved N-glycosylation site at position 197 near the CD4 binding site on two of the immunogens, provides clues on how NAb responses can be improved with modified immunogens. In sum, MELs are a biochemically defined platform that enables rational immunization strategies to elicit HIV bNAbs using multimerized mEnv. IMPORTANCE A vaccine that induced broadly neutralizing antibodies against HIV would likely end the AIDS pandemic. Such antibodies target membrane-embedded envelope glycoprotein spikes (mEnv) that HIV uses to enter cells. Due to HIV Env's low expression and instability, soluble stabilized Env trimers have been used as vaccine candidates, but these have an altered base that disrupts targets of HIV broadly neutralizing antibodies that bind near the membrane and are not available for all HIV isolates. Here, we describe membrane Env liposomes (MELs) that display a multivalent array of stable mEnvs on liposome particles. MELs showed the expected antibody recognition properties, including targeting parts of mEnv missing on soluble Envs. Immunization with MELs elicited antibodies that neutralized diverse HIV isolates. The MEL platform facilitates vaccine development with potentially any HIV Env at high valency, and a similar approach may be useful for eliciting antibodies to membrane-embedded targets of therapeutic interest.
Forward Entrainment: Evidence, Controversies, Constraints, and Mechanisms

Abstract We define forward entrainment as that part of the entrainment process that outlasts the entraining stimulus. In this study, we examine conditions under which one may or may not observe forward entrainment. In part 1, we review and evaluate studies that have observed forward entrainment using a variety of psychophysical methods (detection, discrimination and reaction times), different target stimuli (tones, noise, gaps), different entraining sequences (sinusoidal, rectangular or sawtooth waveforms), a variety of physiological measures (MEG, EEG, ECoG, CSD), in different modalities (auditory and visual), across modalities (audiovisual and auditory-motor), and in different species. In part 2, we review those studies that have failed to observe forward entrainment, with emphasis on evaluating the methodological and stimulus design differences that may clarify the contrasting findings across these two classes of studies. In part 3, we describe those experimental conditions under which we ourselves have failed to observe forward entrainment, and provide new data on use of complex envelope patterns as entraining stimuli, show data on intersubject variability, and provide new findings on psychometric functions that characterize the strength of forward entrainment at different SNRs. In part 4 we theorize on potential mechanisms, describe how neurophysiological and psychophysical studies approach the study of entrainment, and caution against drawing direct causal inferences between the two without compelling evidence beyond correlative measures.
A rigorous test and improvement of the Eagar-Tsai model for melt pool characteristics in laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing

Abstract The accurate prediction of the thermal histories and melt pool characteristics during additive manufacturing (AM) is necessary to understand the factors responsible for the quality and integrity of the manufactured part. More importantly, the determination of optimal process windows and even feed-forward and in-line feedback control of the manufacturing process require computationally cheap, fast-acting, quantitative models connecting (local) processing parameters to melt and solidification conditions. Initially developed in the context of welding, the Eagar-Tsai (E-T) model stands out among the most widely used computationally cheap models to predict melt pool characteristics during AM. Despite its widespread use, its statistical validity in the context of AM has yet to be thoroughly verified. In this work, we study the E-T model in a systematic manner, from an uncertainty quantification/propagation (UQ/UP) perspective. E-T model parameters are calibrated against high quality single-track experimental data on the melt pool geometries of several materials through Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampling. Posterior distributions of the model parameter values are then propagated. We find that there are considerable discrepancies between predicted and measured melt pool depths when process conditions correspond to keyholing. We then apply a physics-based correction and find that it is possible to achieve much better agreement with experiments without increasing significantly the complexity of the E-T model. Although there might be some uncertainties due to the missing physics and assumptions in the model, the model accuracy and trend are satisfactory for the purpose of accelerated product design under uncertainty.