cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Anti-sec Ession Law and reunification of the motherland

Anti-secession Law will be deliberated by China's top legislature, the National People's Congress (NPC), which is for the purpose of promoting the peaceful reunification of the motherland, maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits, opposing and checking the secessionist activities of the “Taiwan independence” forces. It will provide a legal ground for opposin g and checking the “Taiwan independence”. But, in essence, the occurr ence of the “Taiwan Question” is the product of the interference by ou tside forces. The development and inflation of the “Taiwan independence”forces can not be separated from the support and agitation of the outside forces. As a result, the influence of the Anti-secession Law will overflow the two sides of the “Taiwan Straits”.
Blood platelet economy during moderate and intensive heparin therapy.

A study was made of the effects of heparin on platelet survival. The same subjects were studied during control periods and during heparin treatment at two levels of dosage. In most subjects, platelet survival was considerably prolonged and platelet turnover correspondingly diminished when 8000 units of heparin were given 8-hourly, but not with smaller dosage. The evidence in no way implies that such a dosage is optimal—several patients showed little or no response to it. Comparable results were obtained with various in vitro measures of blood coagulability. There was some evidence suggesting that platelet adhesiveness was paradoxically increased when the effect of heparin was wearing off. These findings raise questions of clinical importance. Moreover, they provide yet further evidence that the survival of the blood platelet is considerably influenced by factors in its external environment.
Pathophysiology and Treatment Considerations for Erosive Pustular Dermatosis.

In this issue of JAMA Dermatology, Mervak et al1 describe the rare condition of erosive pustular dermatosis (EPD) that presented in a series of patients after undergoing fully ablative carbon dioxide laser resurfacing or deep chemical peel. Several weeks to months after the procedure, the patients exhibited facial nonhealing erythematous plaques with overlying pustules, erosions, and yellow crust. Results of histologic and microbial work-up were nondiagnostic, which was consistent with EPD. Each patient experienced an arduous and lengthy healing regimen, as is expected with this difficult diagnosis. The authors conclude that tincture of time and reassurance in addition to antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, and immunomodulators are warranted in the treatment of EPD.1 In the wake of increasing demand for elective surgical treatments, this case series highlights an important and fortunately rare adverse effect of ablative procedures. This phenomenon begs the questions, Are these cases underreported? What is the pathophysiology of EPD? What other options exist for treatment?
Gender differences in nurse practitioner salaries.

Background and purpose While male nurses have been shown to earn considerably more than female nurses, there is less evidence on gender disparities in salary among nurse practitioners (NPs). This study examines whether the gender gap in NP salaries persists after controlling for differences in work setting and demographic factors. Methods We analyzed the relationship between gender and salary (2011 pretax earnings) among 6591 NPs working as NPs at least 35 h per week, using the 2012 National Sample Survey of Nurse Practitioners. We first conducted bivariate regression analyses examining the relationship between gender and earnings, and then developed a multivariate model that controlled for individual differences in demographic and work characteristics. Conclusions Male NPs earned $12,859 more than female NPs, after adjusting for individual differences in demographics and work characteristics. The gender gap was $7405 for recent NP graduates, and grew over time. Male NPs earned significantly more than female NPs across all clinical specialty areas. Implications for practice The gender disparities in NP salaries documented here regardless of professional seniority or clinical area should spark healthcare organizations to conduct pay equity assessments of their employees’ salaries to identify and ameliorate pay inequality.
An Integrated Model for Counselor Social Justice Advocacy in Child Welfare

This article provides direction for counselor social justice advocacy within the child welfare system. Four primary concerns are identified: (1) racial disproportionality, (2) organizational issues, (3) the inaccessibility of adequate services for families, and (4) the recruitment and retention of foster parent caregivers. Although counselors are uniquely qualified to engage in social justice advocacy efforts, a review of the literature indicates that little research attention has been devoted to advocacy in child welfare from a counseling perspective. A distinctive social justice–oriented, integrated model for counselor advocacy within the child welfare system has been developed with consideration of the American Counseling Association’s competencies for counselor advocacy, multicultural counseling, and social justice competencies, and an advocacy model developed specifically for the child welfare system. Strategies for leadership and advocacy are explored, and ideas for future research are proposed.
Smart manufacturing and energy systems

Abstract While many U.S. manufacturing operations utilize optimization for individual unit processes, smart manufacturing (SM) systems that integrate manufacturing intelligence in real time across an entire production operation are not pervasive in industry. A vendor-agnostic SM platform is under development that integrates information technology, models, and simulations driven by real-time plant data and performance metrics. By utilizing existing process control and automation systems, manufacturing organizations can manage systems at a much lower cost, optimizing process knowledge and improving energy productivity. Three case studies are presented: steam methane reforming to make hydrogen, optimization of a heat treatment furnace for metals processing, and a fuel cell system, all of which utilize high fidelity models as a starting point for optimization and control. The Smart Manufacturing Leadership Coalition has led the national effort in SM, and the recently established National Manufacturing Innovation Institute funded by DOE , private industry, and state governments will be described.
Testosterone pulses at the nest site modify ultrasonic vocalization types in a monogamous and territorial mouse

Modulation of baseline testosterone (T) via long-lasting T implants alters territorial, sexual, and social behavior of animals in the field. Transient T increases occur in numerous species after social interactions, but these transient increases in T have not been manipulated in the field. In the laboratory, these T increases can influence future behavior for days, causing changes in social behavior and inducing preferences for specific locations. We manipulated transient increases in T in the field at the nests of the monogamous and territorial California mouse (Peromyscus californicus) to examine long-term (>24 hr) changes in ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs). Males of bonded male–female dyads (=pair) were administered a T injection (vs. saline) three times over seven days and USVs of the male–female dyad were measured for three days after the last injection. At T nests, the male–female dyad produced significantly more 1SV (one call SV: an SV is a sustained vocalization that is long in duration and low in modulation) and 4SV (four call SV) type USVs than controls, but no significant changes in aggressive barks. Overall, male–female dyad mice at T nests produced a greater diversity in call types such that 1SV, 4SV, 5SV, and a complex sweep were produced at T nests but not control nests. There were significantly more USVs produced at T nests on night 2 after the final injection. There were no differences in spectral characteristics of SV calls or aggressive barks between T and control nests. The function of the changes that occurred is unknown, but is consistent with increased long-term changes in behavioral interactions with nest mates and may reflect T-induced conditioned place preferences to the nest site. Significantly, transient increases in T influence future acoustic communication under field conditions with competing biotic and abiotic stimuli.
Ewing Sarcoma and Osteosarcoma

Pediatric bone tumors are treated with multiagent systemic chemotherapy combined with surgery and/or radiation therapy for local therapy.
Detection of endoplasmic reticulum stress and the unfolded protein response in naturally-occurring endocrinopathic equine laminitis

Laminitis is often associated with endocrinopathies that cause hyperinsulinemia and is also induced experimentally by hyperinsulinemia, suggesting that insulin initiates laminitis pathogenesis. Hyperinsulinemia is expected to activate pro-growth and anabolic signaling pathways. We hypothesize that chronic over-stimulation of these pathways in lamellar tissue results in endoplasmic reticulum stress, contributing to tissue pathology, as it does in human metabolic diseases. We tested this hypothesis by asking whether lamellar tissue from horses with naturally-occurring endocrinopathic laminitis showed expression of protein markers of endoplasmic reticulum stress. Three markers of endoplasmic reticulum stress, spliced XBP1, Grp78/BiP and Grp94, were upregulated 2.5–9.5 fold in lamellar tissues of moderately to severely laminitic front limbs (n = 12) compared to levels in controls (n = 6–7) measured by immunoblotting and densitometry. Comparing expression levels between laminitic front limbs and less affected hind limbs from the same horses (paired samples from 7 to 8 individual horses) demonstrated significantly higher expression for both spliced XBP1 and Grp78/BiP in the laminitic front limbs, and a similar trend for Grp94. Expression levels of the 3 markers were minimal in all samples of the control (n = 6–7) or hind limb groups (n = 7–8). Immunofluorescent localizations were used to identify cell types expressing high levels of Grp78/BiP, as an indicator of endoplasmic reticulum stress. Grp78/BiP expression was highly elevated in suprabasal epidermal keratinocytes and only observed in laminitic front limbs (10/12 laminitic samples, compared to 0/7 in sections from the hind limbs and 0/5 of controls). These data demonstrate that the endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway is active in naturally occurring cases of laminitis and is most active within a subset of epidermal keratinocytes. These data provide the rationale for further study of endoplasmic reticulum stress in experimental models of laminitis and the links between laminitis and human diseases sharing activation of this stress pathway. Pharmacological options to manipulate the endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway under investigation for human disease could be applicable to laminitis treatment and prevention should this pathway prove to be a driver of disease progression.
City-Specific Air Quality Warnings for Improved Asthma Self-Management

Introduction This study presents a framework for identifying “high-risk” days for asthma attacks associated with elevated concentrations of criteria pollutants using local information to warn citizens on days when the concentrations differ from Environmental Protection Agency Air Quality Index (AQI) warnings. Studies that consider the unique mixture of pollutants and the health data specific to a city provide additional information for asthma self-management. This framework is applied to air pollution and asthma data to identify supplemental warning days in Houston, Texas. Methods A four-step framework was established to identify days with pollutant levels that pose meaningful increased risk for asthma attacks compared with baseline. Historical associations between 18,542 ambulance-treated asthma attacks and air pollutant concentrations in Houston, Texas (2004–2016; analyzed in 2018), were analyzed using a case-crossover study design with conditional logistic regression. Days with historically high associations between pollution and asthma attacks were identified as supplemental warning days. Results Days with 8-hour maximum ozone >66.6 parts per billion for the 3 previous days and same-day 24-hour nitrogen dioxide >19.3 parts per billion pose an RR of 15% above baseline; concentrations above these levels pose an increased risk of 15% (RR=1.15, 95% CI=1.14, 1.16) and 30% (RR=1.30, 95% CI=1.29, 1.32), respectively. These warnings add an additional 12% days per year over the AQI warnings. Conclusions Houston uses this framework to identify supplemental air quality warnings to improve asthma self-management. Supplemental days reflect risk lower than the National Ambient Air Quality Standards and consecutive poor air quality days, differing from the AQI.
Socioeconomic Factors Associated with Lack of Treatment in Early Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

AbstractWith modern radiotherapy, stage I non-small cell lung cancer (S1NSCLC) cure is extended to nonsurgical candidates. Despite this, some S1NSCLC remains untreated. We aim to identify factors a...
Presidential Greenspeak: How Presidents Talk About the Environment and What it Means

This paper traces the public speech of presidents on the environment from Richard Nixon to the middle of the administration of George W. Bush. It analyzes the environmental rhetoric of these presidents against a set of key themes that have persisted through this period. The analysis documents considerable variation in presidential environmental rhetoric, as might be expected across administrations with different political ideologies and styles. But it also reveals a high degree of commonality in the way presidents have talked about the environment. The paper argues that both the commonalities and the differences tell us something about ourselves as a polity and help us understand American environmentalism.
Multi- and hyperspectral polarimetric imaging of the ocean surface

A novel polarization camera (Teledyne DALSA) based on the Sony first polarization imaging sensor provides a high resolution broadband image of the object in 400-900 nm spectral range, where each pixel contains four subpixels bearing built-in linear polarizers oriented at the 0, 45, 90 and -45 degrees. With an additional lens it has a field of view (FOV) of about 40° degrees. The camera was equipped with a filter wheel containing five band-pass filters, thus providing multispectral, multi-angular high quality polarimetric data with high spatial resolution. The camera has undergone radiometric calibration and was used in various illumination conditions and water environments in NYC area. Spatial and temporal distribution of water and sky Stokes vector components were characterized at various wind speeds. Polarization images were also used for the estimation of wave slope statistics from the ocean surface. Results are compared with concurrent measurements of total and polarized radiances by a state-of-the-art snapshot hyperspectral imager, which simultaneously acquires spectra with 4 nm spectral resolution in the wavelength range of 450- 750nm, also with a 40° FOV for 20 - 60° viewing angles. A computer-controlled filter wheel was installed in front of the imager, allowing division-of-time Stokes vector images from the ocean surface. The combination of these two instruments allows to observe spectral and polarization properties of the wind-roughened ocean at high spatial and temporal resolution, with the goal of advancing our understanding of the air-water interface and in-water light propagation.
The Power of Crossing SIBTEST

Crossing SIBTEST or CSIB is designed to detect crossing differential item functioning (DIF) as well as unidirectional DIF. A theoretical formula for the power of CSIB is derived based on the asympt...
Chapter 3 – Primate Lives

: This chapter provides a basic introduction to the terminology and general concepts of primate behavior and ecology. It discusses the types of habitats primates occupy and their characteristics. Primate species differ in their patterns of land use, including home ranges and day ranges. Activity patterns describe whether a species in diurnal, nocturnal or cathemeral, and how much time is spent each day on different behaviors including feeding, travel, resting, and social behavior. Primates differ in their dietary habits, and show varying degrees of faunivory, frugivory, and folivory. Locomotor behavior includes arboreal quadrupedalism, terrestrial quadrupedalism, climbing, and bipedalism. Primates live in many different social structures, including monogamy, polyandry, single-male groups, multi-male groups, and fission-fusion societies. Patterns of social organization are the result of many factors, including food distribution, predation, and threat of infanticide. Primate life histories can be characterized along many different parameters.
Chapter 14 – Enterprise Features

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses various aspects of enterprise features. Instant Virtual System is sliced vertically, and each slice represents a different customer or subscriber. Delegated administration provides a separate/admin sign-in portal for one's delegated administrators to log in and manage the system. Virtual local area networks (VLANs) are often used to segment L2 networks by marking the packet with an 802.1q-compliant tag. It is found that the packets for a subscriber can be marked as for a specific VLAN, they can easily be identified throughout the system and not just by the Instant Virtual Extranet (IVE). It is suggested that one should always use the Admin Guide to walk through creating any cluster, making sure to use the document version for specific IVE firmware. All cluster communication occurs over the internal port. It is found that if the clusters cannot reach each other over their internal ports, then clustering will not work. It is observed that high latency and/or high loss connections can cause issues for clusters.
Sex Differences in Portopulmonary Hypertension.

Background Portopulmonary hypertension (POPH), pulmonary arterial hypertension that develops in the setting of portal hypertension, can lead to right-sided heart failure and death. Being female is a known risk factor for POPH, but little is known about the effect of sex on clinical manifestations, hemodynamics, treatment response, and survival. Research Question We sought to characterize sex differences in clinical characteristics, pulmonary hemodynamics, treatment response, and survival in patients with POPH. Study Design and Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study of adult candidates for liver transplant (LT) who had POPH within the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network database. Females and males were compared. Multivariate regression was performed to assess the association between sex and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and survival. Patients were also stratified by age (50 years) to determine how age modifies the relationship between sex and hemodynamics and survival. Results We included 190 adults (103 male, 87 female). Compared with men, women had a lower model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score (12.1± 4.2 vs 13.8 ± 4.9; P = .01) and were more likely to have autoimmune liver disease. Women had a higher baseline PVR (610.6 ± 366.6 vs 461.0 ± 185.3 dynes-s-cm−5; P .05). When patients were stratified by age, being female was independently associated with worse waiting list survival after adjusting for MELD and PVR in younger patients (HR, 6.61; 95% CI, 1.25-35.08; P = .03) but not in older patients. Interpretation Compared with male candidates, female candidates for LT who had POPH had a higher PVR and lower MELD score and were more likely to have autoimmune liver disease. Women and men had similar overall survival, but female sex (or gender) was associated with worse survival in younger patients.
Dynamic Adaptation for High-Performance Data Transfers

Dynamic Adaptation for High-Performance Data Transfers 1 Jan 17, 2011 Mehmet Balman Computational Research Division Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory 1 Cyclotron Road MS 50B 3238 Berkeley, CA 94720 mbalman@lbl.gov Characteristics of the communication infrastructure determine which action should be taken when tuning data transfer operations in order to obtain high transfer rates. Local area networks and wide area networks have different characteristics, so they demonstrate diverse features in terms of congestion, failure rate, and latency. In most cases, congestion is not a concern in dedicated high bandwidth networks. However, the latency wall in data transfers over high bandwidth connections is still an issue [1,2,3]. Enough data should be obtained from the applications and storage layers for high throughput performance. Data transfer optimization has been deeply studied in the literature [4,5,6]. However, many of the solutions require kernel level changes that are not preferred by most domain scientists. In this study, we concentrate on application level auto-tuning methodologies that are applied in user-space for better transfer performance [7,8,9,10]. Using multiple data transfer streams is a common technique applied in application layer to increase the network bandwidth utilization [2,5,10]. Instead of a single connection at a time, multiple streams are opened for a single data transfer service. Larger bandwidth in a network is gained with less packet loss rate; concurrent data transfer operations that are initiated at the same time better utilize the network and system resources. Disclaimers: This document was prepared as an account of work sponsored by the United States Government. While this document is believed to contain correct information, neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor The Regents of the University of California, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by its trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof, or The Regents of the University of California. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof or The Regents of the University of California.
Respiratory, growth, and survival outcomes of infants with tracheostomy and ventilator dependence.

BACKGROUND Outcome of infants with tracheostomy have not been well described in the literature. Our objective was to describe the respiratory, growth, and survival outcomes of infants with tracheostomy. METHODS A retrospective study was conducted on 204 infants born between 2005 and 2015 with tracheostomy at <1 year of age and follow-up in the Infant Tracheostomy and Home Ventilator Clinic up to 4 years of age. RESULTS The mean age at tracheostomy was 4.5 months with median age of 3 months. Median age of decannulation was 32 months. The time from tracheostomy placement to complete discontinuation of mechanical ventilation was 15.4 months and from tracheostomy to decannulation was 33.8 months. Mortality rate was 21% and median age of death was 18 months. Preterm infants with acquired airway and lung disease (BPD) and born at <28 weeks' gestation had a significantly higher survival rate compared to term infants. The z-scores for weight and weight for length improved from the time of discharge (mean chronological age 6.5 months) to first year and remained consistent through 3 years. CONCLUSIONS Premature infants had a higher rate of discontinuation of mechanical ventilation and decannulation compared to term infants. These infants showed consistent growth and comparable survival rate. IMPACT Infants with tracheostomy and ventilator dependence followed in a multidisciplinary clinic model may have improved survival, growth, and earlier time to decannulation. Preterm infants with acquired airway and lung disease (BPD) with tracheostomy had a higher survival rate compared to term infants with various tracheostomy indications. The age at tracheostomy in infants was 4.5 months and of decannulation was 37 months. Time from tracheostomy to complete discontinuation of mechanical ventilation was 15.4 months. Addition of this data to the sparse literature will be crucial in counseling the families and education of medical staff.
Topological dynamics of volume-preserving maps without an equatorial heteroclinic curve

Abstract Understanding the topological structure of phase space for dynamical systems in higher dimensions is critical for numerous applications, including the computation of chemical reaction rates and transport of objects in the solar system. Many topological techniques have been developed to study maps of two-dimensional (2D) phase spaces, but extending these techniques to higher dimensions is often a major challenge or even impossible. Previously, one such technique, homotopic lobe dynamics (HLD), was generalized to analyze the stable and unstable manifolds of hyperbolic fixed points for volume-preserving maps in three dimensions. This prior work assumed the existence of an equatorial heteroclinic intersection curve, which was the natural generalization of the 2D case. The present work extends the previous analysis to the case where no such equatorial curve exists, but where intersection curves, connecting fixed points may exist. In order to extend HLD to this case, we shift our perspective from the invariant manifolds of the fixed points to the invariant manifolds of the invariant circle formed by the fixed-point-to-fixed-point intersections. The output of the HLD technique is a symbolic description of the minimal underlying topology of the invariant manifolds. We demonstrate this approach through a series of examples.
Potential Therapeutic Benefits of Dipyridamole in COVID-19 Patients.

Background COVID-19 pandemic is caused by coronavirus also known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). The viral infection continues to impact the globe with no vaccine to prevent the infection or highly effective therapeutics to treat the millions of infected people around the world. The disease starts as a respiratory infection, yet it may also be associated with a hypercoagulable state, severe inflammation owing to excessive cytokines production, and a potentially significant oxidative stress. The disease may progress to multiorgan failure and eventually death. Objective In this article, we summarize the potential of dipyridamole as an adjunct therapy for COVID-19. Methods We reviewed the literature describing the biological activities of dipyridamole in various settings of testing. Data were retrieved from PubMed, SciFinder-CAS, and Web of Science. The review concisely covered relevant studies starting from 1977. Results Dipyridamole is an approved antiplatelet drug, that has been used to prevent stroke, among other indications. Besides its antithrombotic activity, the literature indicates that dipyridamole also promotes a host of other biological activities including antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant ones. Conclusion Dipyridamole may substantially help improve the clinical outcomes of COVID-19 treatment. The pharmacokinetics profile of the drug is well established which makes it easier to design an appropriate therapeutic course. The drug is also generally safe, affordable, and available worldwide. Initial clinical trials have shown a substantial promise for dipyridamole in treating critically ill COVID-19 patients, yet larger randomized and controlled trials are needed to confirm this promise.
Supplemental Training in Dance: A Systematic Review

Dancing, like athletics, is physically demanding, but dancing also involves aesthetics. Although athletes often use supplemental training, little information exists about its use in dancers. A review of types and effects of supplemental training on dancers' performance and injury risk indicates that, among largely female collegiate dancers, supplemental training enhances the dancers' performance, but limited evidence exists for injury risk reduction.
On the Interpersonal Function of Metaphor Use

Abstract. Empathy and perspective taking play important roles in interpersonal functioning. As prior research has linked metaphor use to emotional understanding, it is likely that metaphor use is a...
Development of HELICS-based High-Performance Cyber-Physical Co-simulation Framework for Distributed Energy Resources Applications

The rapid growth of distributed energy resources (DERs) has prompted increasing interest in the monitoring and control of DERs through hybrid smart grid communications resulting in the typical smart grid cyber-physical system. To fully understand the interdependency between them, we propose to integrate the Network Simulator 3 (NS3) into the High Engine for Large-Scale Infrastructure Co-Simulation (HELICS), a new open-source, cyber-physical-energy co-simulation platform. This paper aims to the development and case study of the HELICS-based high performance distribution-communication co-simulation framework for the DER coordination. The novel co-simulation framework for the NS3 integrating into the HELICS is developed. The DER monitoring application about hybrid smart grid communication network design is simulated and validated on this proposed HELICS-based cyber-physical co-simulation platform.
Structure and Vibration Spectra of Strontium and Magnesium Oxalates at High Pressure

We report theoretical and experimental investigations on the structures of strontium and magnesium oxalates, and corresponding Raman spectra at high pressure. These systems have shown progress in t...
Formative Assessment with Game-Based Technology.

The purpose of the current research was to determine the types of educational technology preferred by students and instructors, and to compare formative and summative scores within student classes. During a unit of study within a semester-long class, 44 volunteer student participants were administered four technology-based assessments designed to help them prepare for the summative exam. Following the summative assessment, students were asked to complete a feedback form to explain what type of technology assessment they felt was most helpful in providing them with feedback on their knowledge and which was most interesting to use. Instructors also provided feedback on ease of use and collected students’ scores on formative and summative assessments. The results of this study suggest that technology-based formative feedback can be effective in helping students prepare for summative exams and that students mostly preferred competitive and fun tools that provide immediate feedback.
Learning human–environment interactions using conformal tactile textiles

Recording, modelling and understanding tactile interactions is important in the study of human behaviour and in the development of applications in healthcare and robotics. However, such studies remain challenging because existing wearable sensory interfaces are limited in terms of performance, flexibility, scalability and cost. Here, we report a textile-based tactile learning platform that can be used to record, monitor and learn human–environment interactions. The tactile textiles are created via digital machine knitting of inexpensive piezoresistive fibres, and can conform to arbitrary three-dimensional geometries. To ensure that our system is robust against variations in individual sensors, we use machine learning techniques for sensing correction and calibration. Using the platform, we capture diverse human–environment interactions (more than a million tactile frames) and show that the artificial-intelligence-powered sensing textiles can classify humans’ sitting poses, motions and other interactions with the environment. We also show that the platform can recover dynamic whole-body poses, reveal environmental spatial information and discover biomechanical signatures. Large-scale sensing textiles that can conform to arbitrary three-dimensional geometries and are created through digital machine knitting of piezoresistive fibres can be used to record, monitor and learn human–environment interactions.
Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy: Mechanisms, Genetics, and Their Clinical Implications

Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) represents a collection of cardiomyopathies with etiologies convergent upon highly arrhythmogenic clinical presentations not explained by ischemic, hypertensive, or valvular heart disease. This review describes the current state of knowledge regarding molecular mechanisms and genetic diagnosis in ACM. Clinical manifestations, specifically structural presentations, of ACM may span the right and left side of the heart. The umbrella definition of ACM encompasses disease mechanisms involving disruption of cell-cell adhesion, mechanotransduction, transcription, calcium handling, and post-transcriptional regulators. As such, the underlying genetics are themselves wide ranging but generally map to perturbations of proteins comprising the desmosome and regulating downstream cellular signaling. The recognition that many genetic forms of ACM share the feared outcomes of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia and heart failure motivates the identification of causative genetic variants for family screening and in some cases precision therapy. In turn, contemporary clinical practice has shifted towards broadened genetic testing strategy and the discovery of complex gene-specific clinical ramifications. The molecular mechanisms of ACM are complex, and the genetic architecture is ever evolving. Given this, multidisciplinary patient care for the incorporation of genetics and family cardiovascular care is critical. Future work will refine the understanding of gene-specific outcomes in ACM and implications for tailored therapy.
Qualitative Review of Organizational Responses to Rumors in the 2014-2016 Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak in Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Introduction Rumors and misperceptions were a persistent challenge in the response to the 2014-2016 Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in West Africa. This study aimed to document organizational approaches to identifying and addressing rumors and provide practical recommendations for future outbreaks. Methods We conducted semistructured interviews with 34 individuals who participated in the EVD response in Liberia and/or Sierra Leone. Interviews focused on the general organizational approach and organizational response to specific rumors. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Results Most respondents reported that rumors were considered an organizational priority and their importance increased over time. Formal rumor identification systems using community-level reporters were described in Liberia and Sierra Leone as well as varied informal systems. A wide range of approaches was used to address rumors including Community Led Ebola Action, Community Led Total Sanitation, drama performances, Ebola Treatment Center/Unit-based approaches, radio, leveraging community leaders as an information source, and organization change. Interpersonal and community-led approaches were described most often. Staff whose professional roles did not involve rumor management reported informally addressing rumors with colleagues and beneficiaries. Rumors reflecting valid concerns with the EVD response, such as potential infection in health care facilities, were addressed through organizational change and improvement. Discussion Interpersonal and community-led approaches were considered effective by participants and hold promise for future outbreaks. Informal systems developed at Ebola Treatment Centers/Units highlighted how these facilities may be utilized as an information hub. Professionals who interact with beneficiaries, especially local staff, are likely to address rumors informally and organizations may benefit from considering local staff an asset in rumor management. Rumors alerted responders to issues in the EVD response, but this may not be the most efficient mechanism to receive and address concerns.
Effect of Relative Density on the Drained Seismic Compression of Unsaturated Backfills

It is critical to accurately predict the seismic compression of backfill soils supporting bridge decks, pavements, or railways as small backfill settlements may have substantial impacts on the performance of these overlying transportation systems. Although several studies have evaluated the seismic compression of loose unsaturated soils, there has not been significant focus on the seismic compression of denser soils. This study presents the results from series of strain-controlled cyclic simple shear tests performed on unsaturated sand specimens having different initial relative densities and initial matric suctions representative of near-surface backfills. Although the seismic loading process may involve rapid, undrained shearing, the cyclic simple shear tests were performed in drained conditions with a slow shearing rate to isolate the effect of matric suction. The results showed that soils with higher initial suctions (or lower initial degrees of saturation) experienced smaller volumetric strains, but the effect of suction (or degree of saturation) decreases as the relative density increases.
Nanoparticles With Affinity for α-Synuclein Sequester α-Synuclein to Form Toxic Aggregates in Neurons With Endolysosomal Impairment

Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases. It is characterized pathologically by the aggregation of α-synuclein (αS) in the form of Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites. A major challenge in PD therapy is poor efficiency of drug delivery to the brain due to the blood-brain barrier (BBB). For this reason, nanomaterials, with significant advantages in drug delivery, have gained attention. On the other hand, recent studies have shown that nanoparticles can promote αS aggregation in salt solution. Therefore, we tested if nanoparticles could have the same effect in cell models. We found that nanoparticle can induce cells to form αS inclusions as shown in immunocytochemistry, and detergent-resistant αS aggregates as shown in biochemical analysis; and nanoparticles of smaller size can induce more αS inclusions. Moreover, the induction of αS inclusions is in part dependent on endolysosomal impairment and the affinity of αS to nanoparticles. More importantly, we found that the abnormally high level of endogenous lysosomotropic biomolecules (e.g., sphingosine), due to impairing the integrity of endolysosomes could be a determinant factor for the susceptibility of cells to nanoparticle-induced αS aggregation; and deletion of GBA1 gene to increase the level of intracellular sphingosine can render cultured cells more susceptible to the formation of αS inclusions in response to nanoparticle treatment. Ultrastructural examination of nanoparticle-treated cells revealed that the induced inclusions contained αS-immunopositive membranous structures, which were also observed in inclusions seeded by αS fibrils. These results suggest caution in the use of nanoparticles in PD therapy. Moreover, this study further supports the role of endolysosomal impairment in PD pathogenesis and suggests a possible mechanism underlying the formation of membrane-associated αS pathology.
How do molecular aberrations guide therapy in MDS

Abstract Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) represent a cluster of genetically and phenotypically heterogeneous hematological disorders. While molecularly targeted therapies have entered the standard of care for other hematological malignancies like acute myeloid leukemia, this approach has been elusive in MDS. This review has summarized recent evidence to determine how molecular aberrations can be used to guide therapy in MDS and improve outcomes among patients.
Wildfire response to changing daily temperature extremes in California's Sierra Nevada.

Burned area has increased across California, especially in the Sierra Nevada range. Recent fires there have had devasting social, economic, and ecosystem impacts. To understand the consequences of ...
Dysmaturation of the default mode network in autism.

Two hypotheses of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) propose that this condition is characterized by deficits in Theory of Mind and by hypoconnectivity between remote cortical regions with hyperconnectivity locally. The default mode network (DMN) is a set of remote, functionally connected cortical nodes less active during executive tasks than at rest and is implicated in Theory of Mind, episodic memory, and other self-reflective processes. We show that children with ASD have reduced connectivity between DMN nodes and increased local connectivity within DMN nodes and the visual and motor resting-state networks. We show that, like the trajectory of synaptogenesis, internodal DMN functional connectivity increased as a quadratic function of age in typically developing children, peaking between, 11 and 13 years. In children with ASD, these long-distance connections fail to develop during adolescence. These findings support the “developmental disconnection model” of ASD, provide a possible mechanistic explanation for the Theory-of-Mind hypothesis of ASD, and show that the window for effectively treating ASD could be wider than previously thought.
Energy management and engineering realities

Nowadays there is a big concern about the energy resources all over the world. Energy is a very popular word, but it is a very abstract concept. It is a well-known fact that the energy cannot be created nor destroyed. It can readily be converted from one form into another. We should not be concerned about running out of energy. Energy is a property of the matter and is everywhere around us. For example, one pound of air as ideal gas at standard temperature of 77°F and pressure of 1 atm. contains a tremendous amount of energy (91.51 Btu/lb). The real question here should be: “How much useful work could be obtained from this energy?” Surprisingly, the work potential of this huge energy reservoir, the atmosphere, is near zero. We want to bring to the table a discussion about the engineering and economic realities in the context of constantly increasing demands for energy. Several examples and sample calculations will demonstrate that we must be concerned not only with the quantity, but also with the quality of the energy.
“Levans”: VIII. Structural changes during acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of S. salivarius levan

The acid hydrolysis of Streptococcus salivarius levan was followed by observing changes in molecular weight, Mw, continuously in the light scattering cell, including intrinsic viscosity, [η], changes. Since zero-order reactions were observed from light scattering and viscosity measurements, plots of Mw vs [η] were constructed for two samples over a range of 105–108 daltons and 0.05 to 0.15 dl g−1, respectively. The data suggest that in the course of hydrolysis, the fragmented levan moieties retain their branched structure of uniform density up to 5 × 105 daltons. At lower molecular weights, the [η] dropped precipitously while the Mw remained virtually unchanged.
Burdening Constitutional Rights: The Supreme Court's License to Prosecutors

The Supreme Court’s Agard decision is deeply troubling. It seems so inconsistent with earlier precedents such as Griffin and Doyle, and insidious as a matter of criminal justice policy. But the decision is completely in keeping with the increasingly laissez-faire attitude by the Supreme Court towards prosecutors. State courts, of course, can impose more rigorous standards on prosecutors than the federal judiciary. And although unlikely, lawmakers troubled by an increasingly distorted criminal justrice system may see the need for legislative reforms either to correct the imbalance, or make prosecutors who misconduct themselves more accountable.
Establishment of an unrelated umbilical cord blood bank qualification program: ensuring quality while meeting Food and Drug Administration vendor qualification requirements.

Background Qualification of a cord blood bank (CBB) is a complex process that includes evaluation of multiple aspects of donor screening and testing, processing, accreditation and approval by professional cell therapy groups, and results of received cord blood units. The University of Minnesota Medical Center Cell Therapy Laboratory has established a CBB vendor qualification process to ensure the CBB meets established regulatory and quality requirements. Study Design and Methods The deployed qualification of CBBs is based on retrospective and prospective review of the CBB. Results Forty-one CBBs were evaluated retrospectively: seven CBBs were disqualified based on failed quality control (QC) results. Eight CBBs did not meet the criteria for retrospective qualification because fewer than 3 cord blood units were received and the CBB was not accredited. As of March 2012, three US and one non-US CBBs have been qualified prospectively. One CBB withdrew from the qualification process after successful completion of the comprehensive survey and subsequent failure of the provided QC unit to pass the minimum criteria. One CBB failed the prospective qualification process based on processing methods that were revealed during the paper portion of the evaluation. Conclusions A CBB qualification process is necessary for a transplant center to manage the qualification of the large number of CBBs needed to support a umbilical cord blood transplantation program. A transplant center that has utilized cord blood for a number of years before implementation of a qualification process should use a retrospective qualification process along with a prospective process.
Highly sensitive enhanced chemiluminescence immunodetection method for herpes simplex virus type 2 Western immunoblot.

Three Western blot (immunoblot) methods for detecting antibodies to herpes simplex virus type 2 were compared: (i) nitrocellulose blots with 4-chloro-1-naphthol immunostaining (4CN-WB); (ii) polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) blots with 3,39,5,59-tetramethylbenzidene immunostaining (TMB-WB); and (iii) PVDF blots with enhanced chemiluminescence (ECL-WB). TMB-WB was 10-fold more sensitive than 4CN-WB, while ECL-WB was as much as 500-fold more sensitive. Images
News Feed: A Profile of News Use on Social Networking Sites

Facebook and other social networking sites are altering the way individuals communicate. These online environments allow users to keep up with friends, network with colleagues, and share their personal views and observations with others. Previous work describes typical social networking site users as young, extroverted, and technologically savvy. Little research exists, however, on the emerging role of news in the social network environment. With over 500 million global Facebook users, both print and television based media outlets are making concerted efforts to become part of this important and increasingly ubiquitous virtual world. The present study uses a sample of students, faculty, and staff from a large university to investigate the factors that are related to news use on Facebook. Findings indicate that while news use is still a minor component of overall social network site activity, certain key variables, such as gender and life satisfaction, have a significant impact on how Facebook is used for news-related purposes. Future implications for news in the social networking world are presented and discussed.