cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Index-based sampling policies for tracking dynamic networks under sampling constraints

We consider the problem of tracking the topology of a large-scale dynamic network with limited monitoring resources. By modeling the dynamics of links as independent ON-OFF Markov chains, we formulate the problem as that of maximizing the overall accuracy of tracking link states when only a limited number of network elements can be monitored at each time step. We consider two forms of sampling policies: link sampling, where we directly observe the selected links, and node sampling, where we observe states of the links adjacent to the selected nodes. We reduce the link sampling problem to a Restless Multi-armed Bandit (RMB) and prove its indexability under certain conditions. By applying the Whittle's index policy, we develop an efficient link sampling policy with methods to compute the Whittle's index explicitly. Under node sampling, we use a linear programming (LP) formulation to derive an extended policy that can be reduced to determining the nodes with maximum coverage of the Whittle's indices. We also derive performance upper bounds in both sampling scenarios. Simulations show the efficacy of the proposed policies. Compared with the myopic policy, our solution achieves significantly better tracking performance for heterogeneous links.
miR-122 regulation of lipid metabolism revealed by in vivo antisense targeting.

Summary Current understanding of microRNA (miRNA) biology is limited, and antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) inhibition of miRNAs is a powerful technique for their functionalization. To uncover the role of the liver-specific miR-122 in the adult liver, we inhibited it in mice with a 2′-O-methoxyethyl phosphorothioate ASO. miR-122 inhibition in normal mice resulted in reduced plasma cholesterol levels, increased hepatic fatty-acid oxidation, and a decrease in hepatic fatty-acid and cholesterol synthesis rates. Activation of the central metabolic sensor AMPK was also increased. miR-122 inhibition in a diet-induced obesity mouse model resulted in decreased plasma cholesterol levels and a significant improvement in liver steatosis, accompanied by reductions in several lipogenic genes. These results implicate miR-122 as a key regulator of cholesterol and fatty-acid metabolism in the adult liver and suggest that miR-122 may be an attractive therapeutic target for metabolic disease.
Improved K-means clustering algorithm for exploring local protein sequence motifs representing common structural property

Information about local protein sequence motifs is very important to the analysis of biologically significant conserved regions of protein sequences. These conserved regions can potentially determine the diverse conformation and activities of proteins. In this work, recurring sequence motifs of proteins are explored with an improved K-means clustering algorithm on a new dataset. The structural similarity of these recurring sequence clusters to produce sequence motifs is studied in order to evaluate the relationship between sequence motifs and their structures. To the best of our knowledge, the dataset used by our research is the most updated dataset among similar studies for sequence motifs. A new greedy initialization method for the K-means algorithm is proposed to improve traditional K-means clustering techniques. The new initialization method tries to choose suitable initial points, which are well separated and have the potential to form high-quality clusters. Our experiments indicate that the improved K-means algorithm satisfactorily increases the percentage of sequence segments belonging to clusters with high structural similarity. Careful comparison of sequence motifs obtained by the improved and traditional algorithms also suggests that the improved K-means clustering algorithm may discover some relatively weak and subtle sequence motifs, which are undetectable by the traditional K-means algorithms. Many biochemical tests reported in the literature show that these sequence motifs are biologically meaningful. Experimental results also indicate that the improved K-means algorithm generates more detailed sequence motifs representing common structures than previous research. Furthermore, these motifs are universally conserved sequence patterns across protein families, overcoming some weak points of other popular sequence motifs. The satisfactory result of the experiment suggests that this new K-means algorithm may be applied to other areas of bioinformatics research in order to explore the underlying relationships between data samples more effectively.
Assessing and improving the accuracy of detecting protein adaptation with the TreeSAAP analytical software

TreeSAAP has been used in a variety of protein studies for detecting adaptation in terms of the physicochemical properties involved in amino acid replacement. The accuracy of TreeSAAP was here tested using simulated protein-coding DNA data. A sampling of 1402 simulated amino acid replacements resulted in a default accuracy of 81.1%, with most properties exhibiting >90% accuracy. More than half of the false-positive results were traced to just 11 of the 180 possible single-step amino acid exchanges. Overall accuracy increased as the number of magnitude partitions used in the analysis decreased. Sliding window size did not significantly affect accuracy.
Nizatidine disposition in subjects with normal and impaired renal function

To test the hypothesis that renal insufficiency alters nizatidine disposition, we determined the pharmacokinetics of nizatidine and its major metabolite after a single oral dose in normal volunteers and patients with various degrees of renal dysfunction, after a single intravenous dose in normal volunteers and patients with severe renal failure and during hemodialysis. After intravenous administration the elimination half-life increased from 1.5 +/- 0.2 hours in normal volunteers to 6.9 +/- 3.3 hours in patients with renal failure. The plasma clearance decreased from 0.59 +/- 0.07 L/kg/hr in normal volunteers to 0.14 +/- 0.02 L/kg/hr in patients with renal failure. Nizatidine bioavailability was nearly 100% in normal volunteers but decreased to 75% in patients with renal failure. The volume of distribution was 1.3 +/- 0.1 L/kg in normal volunteers and was not different in patients with renal failure. Nizatidine protein binding was about 30% in normal and uremic plasma. The drug was not substantially removed by hemodialysis. Patients with creatinine clearances less than 50 ml/min/1.73 m2 should receive 150 mg nizatidine once each evening. Patients with creatinine clearances less than 20 ml/min/1.73 m2 should receive 150 mg nizatidine every other night.
Incidence patterns of graphs and complexes

Abstract : A survey of the known results on graphs and complexes associated as incidence patterns to different types of graphs, complexes, or families of sets. Among the topics discussed are interchange graphs, interval graphs, total graphs, and nerves. (Author)
Energy Distribution Analysis in Boosted HCCI-like / LTGC Engines - Understanding the Trade-Offs to Maximize the Thermal Efficiency

A detailed understanding of the various factors affecting the trends in gross-indicated thermal efficiency with changes in key operating parameters has been carried out, applied to a one-liter displacement single-cylinder boosted Low-Temperature Gasoline Combustion (LTGC) engine. This work systematically investigates how the supplied fuel energy splits into the following four energy pathways: gross-indicated thermal efficiency, combustion inefficiency, heat transfer and exhaust losses, and how this split changes with operating conditions. Additional analysis is performed to determine the influence of variations in the ratio of specific heat capacities (γ) and the effective expansion ratio, related to the combustion-phasing retard (CA50), on the energy split. Heat transfer and exhaust losses are computed using multiple standard cycle analysis techniques. Furthermore, the various methods are evaluated in order to validate the trends.
A Novel Potent Antagonist of Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor γ Blocks Adipocyte Differentiation But Does Not Revert the Phenotype of Terminally Differentiated Adipocytes

The antidiabetic thiazolidinediones, which include troglitazone and rosiglitazone, are ligands for the nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma). Their antihyperglycemic effects seem to be linked to the regulation of PPARgamma-responsive genes. Here, we report the characterization of a specific PPARgamma antagonist that blocks several of the biological activities of the PPARgamma agonist rosiglitazone. PD068235 inhibited rosiglitazone-dependent PPARgamma transcriptional activity with an IC(50) of 0.8 microM and rosiglitazone-stimulated in vitro coactivator association. The role of PPARgamma in the initiation of differentiation is well documented. In this study, we used PD068235 as a tool to evaluate the functional role of PPARgamma in the maintenance of the terminally differentiated state. Treatment of confluent, growth-arrested 3T3-L1 preadipocytes with PD068235 blocked adipocyte differentiation induced by the standard adipogenic hormonal mixture (insulin/dexamethasone/isobutylmethylxanthin) and fully antagonized rosiglitazone-induced adipogenesis. In contrast, long-term treatment of terminally differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes with PD068235 did not induce any obvious morphological changes and had no effect on basal lipolysis rates. In addition, in fully differentiated adipocytes PD068235 did not alter the basal expression of PPARgamma target genes aP2 and CAP, but it effectively blocked rosiglitazone-induced expression of both genes. These results suggest that in terminally differentiated adipocytes, the PPARgamma activity is minimal and may not be required for the maintenance of PPARgamma target gene expression.
Toward a theory of spiritual leadership

A causal theory of spiritual leadership is developed within an intrinsic motivation model that incorporates vision, hope/faith, and altruistic love, theories of workplace spirituality, and spiritual survival. The purpose of spiritual leadership is to create vision and value congruence across the strategic, empowered team, and individual levels and, ultimately, to foster higher levels of organizational commitment and productivity. I first examine leadership as motivation to change and review motivation-based leadership theories. Second, I note the accelerating call for spirituality in the workplace, describe the universal human need for spiritual survival through calling and membership, and distinguish between religion and spirituality. Next, I introduce a generic definition of God as a higher power with a continuum upon which humanistic, theistic, and pantheistic definitions of God can be placed. I also review religiousand ethics-and-values-based leadership theories and conclude that, to motivate followers, leaders must get in touch with their core values and communicate them to followers through vision and personal actions to create a sense of spiritual survival through calling and membership. I then argue that spiritual leadership theory is not only inclusive of other major extant motivationbased theories of leadership, but that it is also more conceptually distinct, parsimonious, and less conceptually confounded. And, by incorporating calling and membership as two key follower needs for spiritual survival, spiritual leadership theory is inclusive of the religious- and ethics and valuesbased approaches to leadership. Finally, the process of organizational development and transformation through spiritual leadership is discussed. Suggestions for future research are offered.
Managing Effectiveness and Acceptability in Intelligent Speed Adaptation Systems

Intelligent speed adaptation (ISA) systems hold great promise for improving roadway safety by reducing instances of speeding. However, previous evaluations of these systems have revealed a significant paradox. Mandatory systems that strictly enforce speed limits, while effective, face significant consumer acceptance hurdles. Moreover, young male drivers, who would benefit the most from ISA, tend to be the most negatively disposed towards these systems. Voluntary and advisory systems, on the other hand, are more acceptable to drivers. However, these systems are significantly less effective in reducing speeding. In addition to the tradeoff between effectiveness and acceptability, there is also significant concern that ISA systems may, in fact, have an adverse affect on roadway safety. This paper reviews the research that has been conducted on ISA, and presents possible strategies to maximize both effectiveness and acceptability and mitigate deleterious effects on roadway safety
Association between plasma fluorescent oxidation products and erectile dysfunction: A prospective study

Existing epidemiological studies of the association between oxidative stress and erectile dysfunction (ED) are sparse and inconclusive, which is likely due to cross-sectional design and small sample size. Therefore, we investigated the association between biomarkers of oxidative stress and ED in prospective setting among a relatively large sample size of men. We conducted the prospective study among 917 men ages between 47 and 80 years at the time of blood draw, which is a part of nested prospective case–control study of prostate cancer in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. Plasma fluorescent oxidation products (FlOPs), a global biomarker for oxidative stress, were measured at three excitation/emission wavelengths (360/420 nm named as FlOP_360; 320/420 nm named as FlOP_320 and 400/475 nm named as FlOP_400). Approximately 35 % of men developed ED during follow-up. We did not find an independent association between FlOP_360, FlOP_320, FlOP_400 and risk of ED in the multivariable adjusted model (Tertile 3 vs. tertile 1: odds ratio [OR] = 0.90, 95 % confidence interval [CI] = 0.61-1.34, Ptrend = 0.54 for FlOP_360; OR = 0.73, 95 % CI = 0.49-1.07, Ptrend = 0.27 for FlOP_320; and OR = 0.98, 95 % CI = 0.66-1.45, Ptrend = 0.72 for FlOP_400). Further analysis of the association between FlOPs and ED in the fasting samples or controls only (free of prostate cancer incidence) did not change the results appreciably. Plasma FlOPs were not associated with the risk of ED, suggesting oxidative stress may not be an independent risk factor for ED.
Critical temperature of trapped interacting bosons from large- N -based theories

Ultracold atoms provide clues to an important many-body problem regarding the dependence of the Bose-Einstein condensation transition temperature ${T}_{c}$ on interactions. However, cold atoms are trapped in harmonic potentials and theoretical evaluations of the ${T}_{c}$ shift of trapped interacting Bose gases are challenging. While previous predictions of the leading-order shift have been confirmed, more recent experiments exhibit higher-order corrections beyond available mean-field theories. By implementing two large-$\mathcal{N}$-based theories with the local density approximation (LDA), we extract next-order corrections of the ${T}_{c}$ shift. The leading-order large-$\mathcal{N}$ theory produces results quantitatively different from the latest experimental data. The leading-order auxiliary-field (LOAF) theory, containing both normal and anomalous density fields, captures the ${T}_{c}$ shift accurately in the weak-interaction regime. However, the LOAF theory shows incompatible behavior with the LDA, and forcing the LDA leads to density discontinuities in the trap profiles. We present a phenomenological model based on the LOAF theory, which repairs the incompatibility and provides a prediction of the ${T}_{c}$ shift in the stronger-interaction regime.
Evaluators’ Perspectives on Research on Evaluation

Program evaluators are giving increasing attention to research on evaluation (RoE), but little is known about their perceptions of RoE. In this chapter, we report the methods and results of a questionnaire survey that drew from the Theory of Planned Behavior and addressed a broad swath of evaluators’ attitudes toward, beliefs about, and knowledge of RoE; time and opportunities to participate in RoE; application of RoE findings; and involvement in RoE. The results show that evaluators (a) believe RoE is important, (b) report a moderate degree of access and opportunities to read or use the RoE literature, (c) have little time and few opportunities to conduct RoE, (d) report knowing enough about RoE to attend presentations but lack the knowledge to conduct RoE, and (e) describe little involvement in conducting RoE. University faculty, those with doctorates, and those with an advanced level of understanding of evaluation report the greatest participation in RoE. These results confirm our sense of current perceptions about evaluators’ participation in various RoE activities and set the stage for developing steps to encourage RoE in its various manifestations.
Understanding the Dynamics of the Stem Cell Niche in the Small Intestine with Femtosecond Laser Photodisruption

In the stem cell niche, contact between different cells is thought to regulate stem cell self-renewal. We investigate how lost stem cells are replaced by ablating cells with in vivo femtosecond laser photodisruption in mice.
Issues in Classification and Subtype Derivation

The historical and neuropsychological foundations for conceptualizing learning disabilities in a multidimensional fashion and the many clinically and empirically based studies addressing the heterogeneous nature of this group of disorders attest to the remarkable progress made in the field of learning disability subtyping in a relatively brief amount of time. This progress has been impeded, however, by a number of fundamental issues related to these classification efforts. Rourke (1983), for example, presented issues that face the learning disability field in general. These included: (a) definitional concerns, (b) methodological issues, (c) the determination of reliable subtypes, (d) learning disability prediction, and (e) treatment issues. Clearly, all of these issues are directly related to the need for nosological clarification.
Growth of human urologic tumors on extracellular matrix.

Abstract Surgical specimens of fifty urologic tumors, 19 renal, 19 bladder, nine prostate and three testicular, were disaggregated into a cell suspension by a two step mechanical and enzymatic method. Viability, cytology and flow cytometry (FCM) for DNA ploidy were subsequently determined. Growth of urological tumors on extracellular matrix (ECM) was carried out as follows: 2.5 to 5 × 10 5 cells were placed in plastic T 25 flasks in RPMI 1640 + 10 per cent fetal bovine serum (FBS). 1.0 to 5 × 10 4 cells were plated in wells coated with ECM derived from bovine corneal endothelial cells with RPMI 1640 + 10 per cent FBS. Cultures were incubated for seven to 10 days at 37C. Only one (renal) out of 28 tumors grew on plastic. Forty out of 50 tumors (80 per cent) established primary cultures on ECM as determined by cell counting, protein determination, and/or [ 3 H] thymidine incorporation. Previous experience with 106 urologic tumors grown on double layer agar demonstrated an overall success rate of 48 per cent. On ECM renal tumors showed 95 per cent growth success, prostate 89 per cent, bladder 63 per cent and testicular 67 per cent. Unlike viability by trypan blue exclusion, tumor DNA ploidy and percentage of malignant cells plated on ECM had no effect on growth success. The malignant nature of the cultured cells was confirmed by cytology. Twelve high grade and metastatic tumors caused degradation of the ECM. DNA ploidy was similar in four and different in six tumors before and after culture. Five tumors underwent in vitro drug testing on ECM with significant growth inhibition observed in three cases. The extracellular matrix seems to be a promising model for growing urologic tumors with excellent potential for drug testing in vitro.
Simultaneous Erb’s and Klumpke’s palsy: Case report

Mapping nerve deficits during a physical exam after trauma to the upper extremity can help determine not only if the brachial plexus was injured but also which nerve roots were involved. A 28-year-old male presented with simultaneous signs and symptoms of Erb's (C5) and Klumpke's (C8, T1) palsy, with sparing of the C6 and C7 roots. The patient presented several months ago to his local emergency room with shortness of breath, which was determined to be caused by left diaphragmatic paralysis through clinical and radiographical evidence. However, the etiology of the current nerve dysfunction in the upper extremity remained unknown. With persistent questioning and establishing the patient's trust in the caregivers, it was revealed that the patient had attempted suicidal hanging. We describe the clinical features and the likely mechanism of injury leading to this previously unreported combination of brachial plexus injuries. The unique injuries to this patient's brachial plexus can be explained by the sequence of events during the attempted suicidal hanging. The upper brachial plexus was injured during the initial moments where the neck was excessively stretched and the lower brachial plexus was injured due to the patient reaching up and holding himself by his arm for an extended period of time.
Experiential psychoanalysis and the engagement of selves : Ferenczi's vision and the psychoanalytic present

Recent interest in the life and work of Sandor Ferenczi reconsiders his pivotal role within the development of clinical psychoanalysis (Nemes, 1988; Thompson, 1988). Ferenczi's contributions have been linked to therapeutic orientations that include Rogerian humanistic psychology; Kohutian self psychology; the object relational approach of D. W. Winnicott; and interpersonal psychoanalysis (Katz, 1988; Lum, 1988; Rachman, 1988). Among his analysants were such divergent psychoanalytic pioneers as Ernest Jones, Melanie Klein, Michael Balint, Sandor Rado, and Clara Thompson.
Superficial Dorsal Venous Rupture of the Penis: False Penile Fracture That Needs to be Treated as a True Urologic Emergency

A 38-year-old man with history of repaired penile fracture presented with rapid detumescence, penile pain, and ecchymosis during vaginal sexual intercourse concerning for recurrent fracture. Surgical exploration revealed ruptured superficial dorsal vein of the penis, which was subsequently ligated. Patients with traumatic penile vascular injuries often present with clinical features indistinguishable from a true penile fracture. Gradual detumescence and an absence of characteristic popping sound may indicate a vascular injury but they cannot safely rule out a true penile fracture. Both true and false penile fractures require emergent surgical exploration and repair to prevent long-term complications.
In individuals at intermediate risk for cardiovascular disease, treatment with rosuvastatin but not candesartan plus hydrochlorothiazide lowers cardiovascular disease event rates

Commentary on: Lonn EM, Bosch J, Lopez-Jaramillo P, et al. Blood-pressure lowering in intermediate-risk persons without cardiovascular disease. N Engl J Med 2016;374:2009–20[OpenUrl][1][CrossRef][2][PubMed][3]. Yusuf S, Bosch J, Dagenais G, et al . Cholesterol lowering in intermediate-risk persons without cardiovascular disease. N Engl J Med 2016;374:2021–31. Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the number one cause of death globally: more people die annually from CVDs than from any other cause.1 The incidence of CVD rises progressively with increasing blood pressure (BP) and with increasing levels of total and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Pharmacological treatment of BP with several classes of drugs and of lipids with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) have been demonstrated to reduce the incidence of CVD.2 ,3 Antihypertensive trials have predominantly enrolled individuals at specific BP levels and titrated medications to achieve either a specific target BP or a specific decrease in BP. In contrast, lipid trials have enrolled individuals at increased risk for CVD, most commonly with increased LDL, and treated with a fixed dose of a statin with no specific target. A major clinical question remains inadequately answered with existing evidence: who should be treated with medications for BP or lipids for primary prevention of CVD? The Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation (HOPE)-3 trial was a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial (RCT) at 228 centres in 21 countries, using a 2×2 factorial design. The trial included men aged ≥55 years and women aged ≥65 years without CVD who had at least one of the following CVD risk factors: elevated waist-to-hip ratio, history of low concentration of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, tobacco use, dysglycaemia, family history of premature coronary artery disease, … [1]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DN%2BEngl%2BJ%2BMed%26rft.volume%253D374%26rft.spage%253D2009%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1056%252FNEJMoa1600175%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F27041480%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=10.1056/NEJMoa1600175&link_type=DOI [3]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=27041480&link_type=MED&atom=%2Febmed%2F21%2F6%2F228.atom
Base drag prediction on missile configurations

New wind-tunnel data have been taken, and a new empirical model has been developed for predicting base drag on missile configurations. The new wind-tunnel data were taken at NASA Langley Research Center in the unitary wind tunnel at Mach numbers from 2.0 to 4.5, angles of attack to 16 deg, fin control deflections up to 20 deg, fin thickness-to-chord ratio of 0.05 to 0.15, and fin locations flush with the base to two chord lengths upstream of the base. The newly developed empirical model uses these data along with previous wind-tunnel data. It estimates base drag as a function of all the preceding variables along with boattail and power-on or power-off effects. In comparing the new empirical model to that used in the former aeroprediction code, the new model gives improved accuracy compared to wind-tunnel data. The new model also is more robust due to inclusion of additional variables. On the other hand, additional wind-tunnel data are needed to validate or modify the current empirical model in areas where data are not available.
Operation of amorphous silicon detectors for chest radiography within system latency requirements

A timing sequence for operation of an amorphous silicon detector within a digital chest radiography system is evaluated. Measurements of large-area spatial non-uniformities (i.e., artifacts) resulting from various implementations of the sequence are presented. Based on these measurements, a method for operation is determined which successfully eliminates large-area artifacts and which satisfies several important system latency requirements. In addition, a method for quantifying artifacts of the type observed in these experiments is presented.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Review: Glorious Visions: John Soane’s Spectacular Theater by Helene Furján

Helene Furjan. Glorious Visions: John Soane’s Spectacular Theater . London and New York: Routledge, 2011, 198 pp., 38 color and 15 b/w illus. $54.95 (paper), ISBN 9780415781589. The intricately connected spaces of Sir John Soane’s house at 13 Lincoln’s Inn Fields and the themes that lace together the varied objects in those rooms, along with the strict legal requirement that it all be maintained in perpetuity, muddle the presumptively distinct functions of a house, an office, a museum, and a memorial. Historical accounts of this complicated assemblage (including those written during Soane’s lifetime) have in response tended to employ clarifying genres—the catalogue raisonne , for example, or biography, with its evident priority of chronology, or a summary tour, leading from entry hall to bedchamber. Helen Furjan’s Glorious Visions: John Soane’s Spectacular Theatre adopts a different structure of explication, one that depends not upon the physical ordering of the house or upon the life of its architect, but that draws selectively from both those sources and, more decisively, from the culture within which they were immersed. The chapters of the book present what Furjan calls a “series of tropes,” which she uses to isolate particular characteristics and implications of the architecture of Soane’s house (6). There are eight in all—“Genius,” “Models,” “Scenes,” “Mirrors,” “Associations,” “Fictions,” “Shadows,” and “Mementos”—which collectively illuminate the composite quality of Soane’s own “poetry of architecture.” In these chapters, Furjan situates aspects of 13 Lincoln’s Inn Fields within the cultural knowledge and the social conventions of Soane’s period in order to reveal how one or another register of the architectural interior resonated with the concerns and interests beyond its walls. Thus the chapter “Genius” discusses the prevailing concern for artistic invention, Coleridge’s distinction of imagination and fancy, and the value of individual style as a professional currency. The chapter called “Mirrors” explores the technology of the mirror and the changing fashion for different …
Hope & Kinesiology: The Hopelessness of Health-Centered Kinesiology

Hope is necessary for kinesiology. Hope is profoundly human, because it is a fact of our nature. Human life is organic. We hope because we are by nature oriented to the future. Motion, growth, deve...
The J Integral Approach in Elastic-Plastic Fatigue Crack Propagation

Linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) is a consequence of the analytical description of the elastic stress distribution surrounding a crack tip [1] which is independent of geometry and applied load. As a consequence of LEFM the stress intensity can be uniquely described in terms of component geometry and applied load via the well known stress intensity factor, KI [2]. The resistance of a material to fracture is commonly described in terms of the experimentally determined fracture toughness KIC [3,4] and when used in conjunction with analytically determined component stress intensity factors, engineering judgements can be made regarding the possibility of eminent failure.
An approximation for parallelism in ACOPF based stochastic optimal transmission switching with battery energy storage systems

Deterministic optimal transmission switching and energy storage devices such as battery energy storage system (BESS) are proposed to improve power system flexibility and efficiency in the past decade. The growing penetration of renewable sources in the modern power grids brings more unpredictability in the daily operation. As a result, in the day-ahead scheduling stage, a stochastic programming formulation should be adopted to calculate the optimal switching plan and optimal battery charging/discharging pattern considering grid uncertainties. In this paper, the mathematical formulation for ACOPF based stochastic optimal transmission switching with BESS is proposed. Parallelism is explored to solve the multi-stage stochastic programming problem. The IEEE reliability test system with batteries installed is used to demonstrate the validity and effectiveness of the proposed method. The expected operational cost of the system could be reduced significantly by using optimal transmission switching and BESS.
A Preliminary Investigation for Application of an Advanced X-Ray Diffraction Analyzer to In-Process Texture Assessment of Aluminum Alloy Sheet

The objective of the this preliminary investigation was to assess the possibility of the use of rapid x-ray diffraction technology to non-destructively distinguish various texture conditions of aluminum can stock.
Psychiatrist-Led Outpatient Groups: Putting Our Minds Together

Psychiatrist-led outpatient group therapy for patients with significant mental illness or substance use problems is a powerful treatment vehicle for combining medical and psychosocial treatments in an efficient and accessible format. It was once widespread as the focus of treatment for persons with severe illness as they were shifted from state hospitals to community mental health centers (Stone 1993). Despite significant clinical evidence for its effectiveness, few psychiatrists currently run groups for these patients. Most psychiatrists experienced with group psychotherapy do not treat patients with severe mental illness and most psychiatrists specializing in the treatment of severe mental illness do not run groups. Today, group psychotherapy is rarely part of psychiatric residency training. Despite this course of events, as economics create pressure for systems change, group medical visits as an alternative to individual appointments will likely be encouraged. Likewise, as mental health and primary care systems converge, group treatments offer an attractive and efficient option for people seeking care outside traditional behavioral health settings.
Examining the Relationships Between Jail Detention Deputies and Promotional Opportunities: Perceptions Across Racial Groups

Prior research regarding the relationship between officer race and job satisfaction in correctional environments has revealed mixed findings. Additionally, the link between perceptions of the promo...
Cryovolcanic rates on Ceres revealed by topography

Cryovolcanism, defined here as the extrusion of icy material from depth, may be an important planetary phenomenon in shaping the surfaces of many worlds in the outer Solar System and revealing their thermal histories. However, the physics, chemistry and ubiquity of this geologic process remain poorly understood, especially in comparison to the better-studied silicate volcanism on the terrestrial planets. Ceres is the only plausibly cryovolcanic world to be orbited by a spacecraft up to now, making it the best opportunity to test the importance of cryovolcanism on bodies in the outer Solar System and compare its effects to silicate volcanism on terrestrial planets. Here, we analyse images from NASA’s Dawn mission and use the finite element method to show that Ceres has experienced cryovolcanism throughout its geologic history, with an average cryomagma extrusion rate of ~10^4 m^3 yr^(−1). This result shows that volcanic phenomena are important on Ceres, but orders of magnitude less so than on the terrestrial planets.
The human lung mucosa drives differential Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection outcome in the alveolar epithelium

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) is deposited into the alveolus where it first encounters the alveolar lining fluid (ALF) prior contacts host cells. We demonstrated that M.tb-exposure to human ALF alters its cell surface, driving better M.tb infection control by professional phagocytes. Contrary to these findings, our results with non-professional phagocytes alveolar epithelial cells (ATs) define two distinct subsets of human ALFs; where M.tb exposure to Low (L)-ALF or High(H)-ALF results in low or high intracellular bacterial growth rates in ATs, respectively. H-ALF exposed-M.tb growth within ATs was independent of M.tb-uptake, M.tb-trafficking, and M.tb-infection induced cytotoxicity; however, it was associated with enhanced bacterial replication within LAMP-1+/ABCA1+ compartments. H-ALF exposed-M.tb infection of ATs decreased AT immune mediator production, decreased AT surface adhesion expression, and downregulated macrophage inflammatory responses. Composition analysis of H-ALF vs. L-ALF showed H-ALF with higher protein tyrosine nitration and less functional ALF-innate proteins important in M.tb pathogenesis. Replenishment of H-ALF with functional ALF-innate proteins reversed the H-ALF-M.tb growth rate to the levels observed for L-ALF-M.tb. These results indicate that dysfunctionality of innate proteins in the H-ALF phenotype promotes M.tb replication within ATs, while limiting inflammation and phagocyte activation, thus potentiating ATs as a reservoir for M.tb replication and survival.
Data-driven Prognosis of Fatigue-induced Delamination in Composites using Optical and Acoustic NDE methods

With increasing use of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites in several industries such as aviation, automotive and construction, effective reliability analysis of composites has become imperative in recent years. Periodic inspection by robust non-destructive evaluation (NDE) techniques and accurate health prognosis is essential for condition-based maintenance (CBM) of the safety-critical components and structures. Prediction of future damage level in composites often becomes challenging due to lack of physics-based damage growth models for unknown materials which leaves us to rely solely on the NDE data for prognosis. In this study, delamination growth in glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) joints, under Mode I cyclic loading, was monitored by guided waves(GW) using miniature surface-mounted piezoelectric wafers(PZT). Data-driven prognosis techniques such as Kalman filter and particle filter were implemented on the indirect CBM data obtained from GW signals to predict future delamination area and validated against optical transmission scans (OTS) of damaged samples. A comparison of data-driven prognosis methods with static regression versus dynamic update of estimated parameters is presented in this paper. Results show that even when a simple logarithmic fit is assumed, use of NDE data to estimate function parameters in a stochastic framework outperforms the static regression approach leading to a robust sensor-aided reliability analysis.
Quality-of-life trajectories after stereotactic radiosurgery for brain metastases

Objective Quality of life (QOL) is an important endpoint measure of cancer treatment. The authors' goal was to evaluate QOL trajectories and prognostic value in cancer patients treated with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for brain metastases. Methods Patients who underwent Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS) between January 2016 and November 2019 were prospectively evaluated for QOL using the EQ-5D-3L questionnaire before SRS and at follow-up visits. Only patients who had pre-SRS and at least 1 post-SRS QOL assessment were considered. Results Fifty-four cancer patients underwent 109 GKRS procedures. The first post-SRS visit was at a median of 2.59 months (range 0.13-21.08 months), and the last post-SRS visit was at 14.72 months (range 2.52-45.21 months) after SRS. There was no statistically significant change in the EQ-5D index score (p = 0.539) at the first compared with last post-SRS visit. The proportion of patients reporting some problems on the EQ-5D dimension of self-care increased during the course of follow-up from 9% (pre-SRS visit) to 18% (last post-SRS visit; p = 0.03). The proportion of patients reporting problems on the EQ-5D dimensions of mobility, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression remained stable during the course of follow-up (p ≥ 0.106). After adjusting for clinical variables, a higher recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) class (i.e., worse prognostic category) was independently associated with greater odds for EQ-5D index score deterioration (p = 0.050). Upfront whole-brain radiation therapy predicted deterioration of the EQ-5D self-care (p = 0.03) and usual activities (p = 0.024) dimensions, while a greater number of lesions predicted deterioration of the EQ-5D anxiety/depression dimension (p = 0.008). A lower pre-SRS EQ-5D index was associated with shorter survival independently from clinical and demographic variables (OR 18.956, 95% CI 2.793-128.64; p = 0.003). Conclusions QOL is largely preserved in brain metastasis patients treated with SRS. Higher RPA class, upfront whole-brain radiation therapy, and greater intracranial disease burden are independent predictors of post-SRS QOL deterioration. Worse pre-SRS QOL predicts shorter survival. Assessment of QOL is recommended in brain metastasis patients managed with SRS.
Weight Bias, Shame, and Self‐Compassion: Risk/Protective Mechanisms of Depression and Anxiety in Prebariatic Surgery Patients

Objective Psychopathology in bariatric surgery patients may contribute to adverse postoperative sequelae, including weight regain, substance use, and self-harm. This cross-sectional study aimed to advance the understanding of the risk and protective paths through which weight bias associates with depressive and anxiety symptoms in bariatric surgery candidates (BSC). Methods BSC recruited from a surgical clinic (N = 213, 82.2% women, 43 [SD 12] years, mean BMI: 49 [SD 9] kg/m2 ) completed measures of experienced weight bias (EWB), internalized weight bias (IWB), body and internalized shame, and self-compassion; anxiety and depression screeners were accessed from medical charts. Multiple regression and PROCESS bootstrapping estimates tested our hypothesized mediation model as follows: EWB→IWB→body shame→shame→self-compassion→symptoms. Results After accounting for EWB and IWB, internalized shame accounted for greater variance in both end points than body shame. EWB was associated with greater anxiety through risk paths implicating IWB, body shame, and/or internalized shame. Protective paths associated EWB with fewer depressive and anxiety symptoms among those with higher self-compassion. Conclusions The findings suggest a potentially important role for weight bias and shame in psychological health among BSC and implicate self-compassion, a trainable affect-regulation strategy, as a protective factor that may confer some resiliency. Future research using longitudinal and causal designs is warranted.
United States of America v. Majid Shoukat Khan: Guantánamo's first ruling to consider torture in mitigating sentencing for detainees.

In June 2020, a Guantanamo military judge ruled in United States of America v. Majid Shoukat Khan that he has the legal authority to mitigate Khan's criminal sentence as a remedy for illegal pretrial punishment if his attorneys prove that he suffered torture and other cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment in government custody. This commentary analyzes the ruling and its implications for Guantanamo's legal system, detainees, and forensic medicine.
The CEBPE rs2239633 genetic polymorphism on susceptibility to childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia: an updated meta-analysis.

We performed an updated meta-analysis to clarify the relationship between the CEBPE rs2239633 polymorphism and the childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (CALL) susceptibility. All the case-control studies were updated on October 5, 2020, through Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) electronic database. The heterogeneity in the study was tested by the Q test and I2, and then the random ratio or fixed effect was utilized to merge the odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). We also performed sensitivity analysis to estimate the impact of individual studies on aggregate estimates. Publication bias was investigated by using funnel plot and Egger’s regression test. All statistical analyses were performed using Stata 12.0. A total of 20 case-control studies were selected, including 7014 patients and 16,428 controls. There was no association of CEBPE rs2239633 polymorphism with CALL (CC vs CT + TT: OR = 1.08, 95% CI = 0.94–1.26; CC + CT vs TT: OR = 1.10, 95% CI = 0.94–1.30; C vs T: OR = 1.02, 95% CI = 0.92–1.13). In the subgroup analysis by ethnicity, there is no significant association of this polymorphism and CALL risks among Asian and Caucasian populations in the three genetic models (CC vs CT + TT, CC + CT vs TT, and C vs T). This meta-analysis found no significant association between the CEBPE rs2239633 polymorphism and susceptibility to CALL.
Inner City Blues: Children Raised in Inner-Cities Face Comparable PTSD Causing Conditions and Consequences as Military Veterans and Deserve Our Attention

Check your surroundings, trust no one, move quickly, and leave no man behind. These instructions may sound like the words by which military personnel live. But they are also utilized by youth in many inner cities of the United States. Many children in places like Chicago, Baltimore and other cities experience the same posttraumatic-stress disorder symptoms as military veterans. This is the result of growing up in crime ridden cities which sometimes have higher rates of violence than those locations military personnel are deployed to. Despite this, little is said about the effects the crime rates have on children living in American cities. It is not the goal of this Article to diminish the experiences of military personnel, but rather to compare the similarities and differences between the two. Military veterans and children are expected to grow and function as ordinary citizens. A noticeable difference, however, is that while veterans may return to the comfort of their own home, for inner city youth, the war never ends. This Article addresses more of the similarities and differences that these two groups share. The objective is to highlight the need for positive coping strategies, preventative programs, and guidance to those children growing up in these environments. The author accomplishes this by explaining the history of posttraumatic stress disorder in relation to children and veterans, using United States crime statistics, and presenting remedies for the issue, some of which have been proven by the YMCA in Chicago via the Urban Warriors Program, and others which have been recognized by Rodney Walker, an author and former child of an inner city. Only by recognizing and taking action may we end the elements that contribute to a cycle of violence and overshadowed youth.
Racial Disparities in Pediatric Kidney Transplantation under the New Kidney Allocation System in the United States.

Background and Objectives: In December 2014, the Kidney Allocation System (KAS) was implemented to improve equity in access to transplantation, but preliminary studies in children show mixed results. Thus, we aimed to assess how the 2014 KAS policy change affected racial/ethnic disparities in pediatric kidney transplantation access and related outcomes. Design, setting, participants, and measurements: A retrospective cohort study of children <18 years of age active on the kidney transplant list from 2008 to 2019 using the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients. Log-logistic accelerated failure time models were used to determine time from first activation on the transplant list and time on dialysis to deceased-donor transplant, each with KAS era or race/ethnicity as the exposure of interest. We used logistic regression to assess odds of delayed graft function. Log-rank tests assessed time to graft loss within racial/ethnic groups across KAS eras. Results: All children experienced longer wait times from activation to transplantation post-KAS. In univariable analysis, Black or Hispanic children or other children of color experienced longer times from activation to transplant compared to White children in the both eras; this finding was largely attenuated after multivariable analysis (time ratio 1.16, (95% CI 1.01-1.32); 1.13 (1.00-1.28); 1.17 (0.96-1.41) post-KAS, respectively). Multivariable analysis also showed that racial/ethnic disparities in time from dialysis initiation to transplantation in the pre-KAS era was mitigated in the post-KAS era. There were no disparities in odds of delayed graft function. Black or Hispanic children experienced longer times with a functioning graft in the post-KAS era. Conclusions: No racial/ethnic disparities from activation to deceased donor transplantation were seen before or after implementation of KAS in multivariable analysis, while time on dialysis to transplantation and odds of short-term graft loss improved in equity after KAS, without compromising disparities in delayed graft function.