cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A paradigm for higher-order polygonal elements in finite elasticity using a gradient correction scheme

Abstract Recent studies have demonstrated that polygonal elements possess great potential in the study of nonlinear elastic materials under finite deformations. On the one hand, these elements are well suited to model complex microstructures (e.g. particulate microstructures and microstructures involving different length scales) and incorporating periodic boundary conditions. On the other hand, polygonal elements are found to be more tolerant to large localized deformations than the standard finite elements, and to produce more accurate results in bending and shear. With mixed formulations, lower order mixed polygonal elements are also shown to be numerically stable on Voronoi-type meshes without any additional stabilization treatment. However, polygonal elements generally suffer from persistent consistency errors under mesh refinement with the commonly used numerical integration schemes. As a result, non-convergent finite element results typically occur, which severely limit their applications. In this work, a general gradient correction scheme is adopted that restores the polynomial consistency by adding a minimal perturbation to the gradient of the displacement field. With the correction scheme, the recovery of optimal convergence for solutions of displacement-based and mixed formulations with both linear and quadratic displacement interpolants is confirmed by numerical studies of several boundary value problems in finite elasticity. In addition, for mixed polygonal elements, the various choices of the pressure field approximations are discussed, and their performance on stability and accuracy are numerically investigated. We present applications of those elements in physically-based examples including a study of filled elastomers with interphasial effect and a qualitative comparison with cavitation experiments for fiber reinforced elastomers.
Local Complex-valued Correlation of Seismic Phases

Detection and characterization of faults, unconformities and salt bodies can be conducted by coherency analysis and dip estimation of the seismic images. I use the complex-valued correlation of the instantaneous phase between neighbouring seismic traces to extract two seismic attributes: correlation modulus defining coherency and correlation phase shift relating to dip of events. This method is based on circular statistics concepts. Extracted attributes are neither instantaneous nor global, but estimated smoothly and locally by using shaping regularization. The technique is computationally inexpensive and does not require any scanning but only a single iteration. I apply the method on depth migrated offshore data in West Africa.
Gender, work-family conflicts, and perceived parental success: The moderating role of gender ideology

ABSTRACTWe know little about how perceptions of conflict between work and family shape the subjective views of dual-earner parents. Given time constraints and the prevalence of gendered parenting norms, gender ideologies and work-family conflicts may help explain perceived parental success. Using data from the 2002 National Study of the Changing Workforce, I explore whether gender ideology moderates how conflicts between work and family relate to perceived parental success. Among dual-earner mothers, work-to-family conflict was negatively related to perceived parental success. For dual-earner fathers, work-to-family conflict was positively associated with perceived parental success among more traditional fathers, while the opposite was the case for more egalitarian fathers. Family-to-work conflict was only negatively related to the perceived parental success of more traditional fathers. These findings suggest that gender ideologies are more central in explaining how work-family conflicts relate to fathers...
MR of hydranencephaly.

Hydranencephaly is an encephaloclastic disorder characterized by destruction of the cerebral hemispheres and replacement by a thin membranous sac filled with CSF and necrotic debris. We report on MR imaging of a patient wih this disorder
Analysis of Influencing Factors of Output Power of Photovoltaic Power Plant

As the output of the photovoltaic generation system depends on factors such as solar radiation,temperature and so on,and it is intermittent and hard to control,the integration of large quantity of photovoltaic power into the power grid will have substantial impacts on the stability of the latter.To lessen the impacts,we need to configure energy storage devices for photovoltaic power plants and to coordinate the allocation of photovoltaic system with energy storage system,we require a thorough understanding of output characteristics of the photovoltaic system.This paper firstly analyzes the influences of the large-scale photovoltaic generation system connected onto the grid and then introduces the principles and the factors which affect the photovoltaic power output.Based on the history data of a 100 kWp photovoltaic power plant and the statistical method,the paper qualitatively and quantitatively analyzes the photovoltaic output performance;and finally puts forward the PV output power evaluation index.The conclusions of this study will provide powerful data references for follow-up studies and have practical value.
Epidermal growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor in peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis.

Objective To determine and compare the concentrations of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF) in the peritoneal fluid (PF) of women with and without endometriosis. Design Prospective study. Setting Tertiary care center affiliated with university medical school. Patients Forty-two women with endometriosis and 34 women without endometriosis confirmed by laparoscopy. Main Outcome Measures Epidermal growth factor and basic FGF concentrations were determined by highly sensitive enzyme immunoassays using monoclonal antibodies. Result Approximately 50% of the PF samples had EGF concentrations of >0.4 pg/mL (conversion factor to SI unit, 0.17) and 90% had basic FGF concentrations of >1 pg/mL (conversion factor to SI unit, 0.058). Concentrations of EGF or basic FGF in PF did not differ significantly between the two groups. In normal women, there was a significant correlation between EGF and basic FGF during the luteal phase. In women with endometriosis, EGF levels were higher during the luteal phase, but there was no correlation of either EGF or basic FGF levels with the severity of endometriosis. Conclusions The concentrations of EGF and basic FGF were highly variable in the PF of women with or without endometriosis and did not differ significantly. The concentrations were so low that neither EGF nor basic FGF in PF could bind to its receptor.
Can we still hear the call? What it means to be Catholic.

Despite the drastic changes occurring in the world today, certain elements of the Catholic tradition and communion can make the transition into a world colored by merger and shaped by governmental concerns for the general, not the particular. If Catholic particularism to many degrees and in many ways has been lost, the "loss" occurred before, apart from, alongside, and in many ways independent of merger and governmental contexts. "We gave it away." These are days for retrieval. The Catholic response to "the call" has been complicated by the following forces: bureaucratization of the world, acceptance of the terms of a liberal (i.e., "open") society, pluralism, and governmental involvement. These factors are formidable, and they do change contexts for response to the call. But they need not stifle the response. The following are some of the elements in "the call" that the Catholic "we" can hear and respond to, while they are also graspable and transmittable by non-Catholics in merged, governmentally related institutions and associations: Catholicholism, concern for the soul, a sacramental view, attention to human dignity, the quest for meaning, the value of ritual, human exemplarity, responsibility to community, the call to justice, and a special ethos. This sampling of elements could be debated within Catholic and in pluralistic contexts. But rather than debate, I would picture a value in conversation in each institution, system, association, or network. This conversation involves Catholics and non-Catholics alike.
Topology-optimized metasurfaces: impact of initial geometric layout

Topology optimization is a powerful iterative inverse design technique in metasurface engineering and can transform an initial layout into a high-performance device. With this method, devices are optimized within a local design phase space, making the identification of suitable initial geometries essential. In this Letter, we examine the impact of initial geometric layout on the performance of large-angle (75 deg) topology-optimized metagrating deflectors. We find that when conventional metasurface designs based on dielectric nanoposts are used as initial layouts for topology optimization, the final devices have efficiencies around 65%. In contrast, when random initial layouts are used, the final devices have ultra-high efficiencies that can reach 94%. Our numerical experiments suggest that device topologies based on conventional metasurface designs may not be suitable to produce ultra-high-efficiency, large-angle metasurfaces. Rather, initial geometric layouts with non-trivial topologies and shapes are required.
Conceptual Modeling in Accelerating Information Ingest into Family Tree

Family Tree is a wiki-like shared repository of interconnected family genealogies. Because information ingested into the tree requires human authorization as verified in source documents, ingest is tedious and time-consuming. To significantly increase ingest efficiency while maintaining human oversight, we propose a pipeline of tools and techniques to transform source document genealogical assertions into verified information in the Family Tree data repository. The automation pipeline transforms pages of printed, scanned and OCRed family history books into a GEDCOM X conceptualization that can be ingested into Family Tree. All steps of the pipeline are fundamentally grounded in ontological conceptualizations. We report on the pipeline implementation status and give results of initial case studies in semi-automatically ingesting information obtained from family history books into Family Tree.
Through Sex, Nature Is Telling Us Something Important

Theoretically, a variety of mechanisms can make amphimixis advantageous due to reshuffling of offspring genotypes. Recently, it has been shown experimentally that some of these mechanisms can indeed work in artificial populations. However, we still do not know which of them, if any, are relevant in nature, and the available indirect estimates seem to suggest that neither negative nor positive selection in natural populations is strong enough to provide evolutionary protection for obligate amphimixis. Thus, progress in understanding the evolution of amphimixis will depend on direct measurements of the strength of natural selection.
A signal processing and data analysis technique for accurate extraction and estimation of FTIR signal aberrations in microsphere-lens-enhanced MWIR photo detectors via system transfer functions mathematical modeling

In this paper we focus on using signal processing techniques and mathematically-derived photo-detector models, with or without microsphere-lens-enhancement, to analyze, characterize and estimate the effect of integrated aberrations on microsphere-lens-enhanced single photo-detector sensitivity. One of the difficulties here relates to the noisy nature of detector FTIR experimental signals in the MWIR band. We show how modeling of the detector spectral response signal, combined with signal boundary-absorption partial replacement, is successfully effective in estimating integrated detector system aberrations. With the detector FTIR spectral data, considered, our findings show that (a) not all four microsphere materials, considered in this work, namely, Sapphire, SLG (Soda, Lime Glass), PS (Polystyrene) and BTG (Barium Titanate Glass) necessarily result in detector sensitivity increase at all MWIR wavelengths. The PS-microsphere-lens-enhanced detector sensitivity turns out to be less than that of the detector without enhancement in the 2700–3200 wavenumber band. This is due to the fact at this band the PS material exhibits additional significant spectral absorptions. (b) there seems to exist some global detector integrated aberrations introduced by factors such as the microsphere lens material and misalignment, silicone-or-rubber adhesive materiel, photo-detector system and others, that we globally extracted/estimated using the detector experimental FTIR spectral responses and their corresponding generated detector mathematical models. (c) comparison of single detector raw experimental spectral responses (with and without microsphere-lenses of different sizes and material types) to their respective resulting models, shows realistic synthesized detector FTIR data models. With the help of theses resulting detector FTIR response models, we are able to confirm our findings that, relatively independently of the increase in the sensitivity, the microsphere lens significantly decreases the sphere-enhanced-detector Noise to Signal Ratio (NSR), including in spectral bands of high absorption, noise, and aberration. That is, based on the data considered, (1) the resulting microsphere-enhanced photo-detector is generally less sensitive to noise in the MWIR than the mesa and (2) this, seemingly is so, independently of the detector sensitivity increase, for example, due to the microsphere size of a certain material type.
Engaging families: a pilot evaluation to examine the utility of a health promotional resource on youth suicide prevention

ABSTRACTSuicide is the third leading cause of death among youth. It’s Time to Talk about It: A Family Guide for Youth Suicide Prevention is a consumer-driven, easy to read educational print resourc...
Light Scattering from Gels and a Single Polymer Chain Near Phase Transitions

In this report, we describe light scattering studies of phase transitions in polyacrylamide gels and in single polyacrylamide chains in solution. A gel is a cross-linked polymer network immersed in a gluid medium. In polyacrylamide gels, the crosslinks are permanent covalent bonds. The polymer chains constituting the network are quie flexible and consequently constantly undergo random thermal motions. Thus, the network concentration fluctuates in space and time, creating inhomogeneities in the refractive index of the gel which scatter light. In 1973, Tanaka, Hocker, and Benedek were able to observe such concentration fluctuations using the technique of laser light scattering spectroscopy.1 In this report, we shall show how the technique can provide information fundamentally important to the understanding of the physics of gels, especially near the gel phase transition, wherein a gel separates into two gel phases having higher concentration and lower concentration than the original gel. Using the same technique, we shall also demonstrate, for the first time, the existence of the coil-globule transition in a single polyacrylamide chain.
Conscience as Principled Responsibility: On the Philosophy of Stage Six

I thought I might take one minute to deal with the question Dr. Strotzka1 raised: While the history of Aquinas is of great interest and my own history is of none, I think sometimes it’s helpful to have a very short historical background to my own thinking. I left high school and went into the Navy and the merchant Marines at the end of World War II, and then I was involved in bringing displaced persons and Jewish refugees through the British blockade and through Palestine, what later became Israel, for a number of years. At that time I was quite convinced I was acting out of conscience, but I became more and more confused about the justice or rightness of what I was doing since as a side effect of these things people were being killed in combat, in connection with bringing these ships in. So, when I went back to start college at the University of Chicago, I was very interested in the question of justice and some cognitive approach to ethics which would go beyond my own confused intuitions. Chicago at the time was a very unusual place, of course dominated by Hutchins and the Great Books, but also by a very strong pragmatic tradition of Dewey and G. H. Mead.
Testing of Fiberglass-Reinforced Polyester Composite

The Wisconsin superconductive energy storage magnet requires a large, low-thermal-conductive, high-load-carrying, supporting structure to carry the radial and axial compressive loads from 1.8-K magnet coils to room temperature bedrock. For economic reasons, fiberglass-polyester composite (Extren, with glass content of 44%, manufactured by Morrison Molded Fiberglass) was chosen over fiberglassepoxy composite.
Simultaneous determination of carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen. Part II

An analytical procedure is described which allows the simultaneous determination of carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen in solid organic materials by gas-volumetric techniques. The accuracy is comparable to that obtained with the more conventional methods.
The Processing of Japanese Control Sentences

This study investigates the processing of empty embedded clause subjects in Japanese Control sentences. In these sentences, the information necessary to specify the antecedent of the empty subject is often not available until after the embedded clause, at the Control verb. Therefore, the present study examines the following questions: (a) Is an antecedent provisionally assigned to the empty embedded clause subject in Japanese Control sentences before Control information becomes available? (b) If so, which noun phrase – the main clause subject or object – is assigned as this antecedent? The experiment consisted of a region-by-region, self-paced, non-cumulative moving-window reading task. Japanese native speakers were tested on four sentence types: (a) Subject Control sentences with empty embedded clause subjects (or SC/empty sentences), (b) Subject Control sentences with overt embedded clause subjects (or SC/overt sentences), (c) Object Control sentences with empty embedded clause subjects (or OC/empty sentences) and (d) Object Control sentences with overt embedded clause subjects (or OC/overt sentences). The reading time (RT) patterns on these sentences were consistent with an Object Control bias in the provisional assignment of an antecedent to the empty embedded clause subject. Specifically, at the Control verb, RTs were significantly longer for SC/empty sentences than for SC/overt sentences; however, there was no difference between the RTs for OC/empty and OC/overt sentences at this verb. These results suggest processing difficulty at the point of Control disambiguation only for SC/empty sentences. We interpret these findings as further support for incrementality in the parsing of Japanese sentences in general and in the processing of Japanese filler-gap structures in particular.
Stability: ODE Approximations

This chapter elaborates the stability of the ordinary differential approximations. It is straightforward to determine if a finite difference scheme is stable. It is found that if a finite difference scheme is stable, then a locally good approximation yields a globally good approximation. Difference schemes for ordinary differential equations may be stable, or unstable. The definition closely parallels the definition for the stability, and well-posedness of a differential equation. A stable difference scheme is one in which small changes in the initial, and boundary data do not change the solution greatly. An unstable difference scheme is one that shows great sensitivity to the initial, and boundary data.
MYOD1-mutant spindle cell and sclerosing rhabdomyosarcoma: an aggressive subtype irrespective of age. A reappraisal for molecular classification and risk stratification.

Sclerosing and spindle cell rhabdomyosarcoma is a rare histologic subtype, designated in the latest WHO classification as a stand-alone pathologic entity. Three genomic groups have been defined: an infantile subset of spindle cell rhabdomyosarcoma harboring VGLL2-related gene fusions, a MYOD1-mutant subset commonly associated with sclerosing morphology, and a subset lacking recurrent genetic abnormalities. In this study, we focus on MYOD1-mutant rhabdomyosarcoma to further define their clinicopathologic characteristics and behavior in a larger patient cohort. We investigated 30 cases of MYOD1-mutant rhabdomyosarcoma (12 previously reported and 18 newly diagnosed) with an age range of 2–94 years, including 15 children. All cases showed morphology within the spectrum of spindle cell/sclerosing rhabdomyosarcoma (8 cases showing pure sclerosing morphology, 8 cases showing pure spindle cell morphology and 14 cases showing a hybrid phenotype of spindle, sclerosing and primitive undifferentiated areas). All tumors harbored either homozygous or heterozygous MYOD1 (p.L122R) exon 1 mutations. In 10 (33%) cases, a co-existent PIK3CA mutation was identified. Hot-spot mutations in NRAS and HRAS were each identified in a single case, respectively. Follow-up was available on 22 (73%) patients with a median duration of 28 months. Local recurrence was seen in 12 (55%) and distant recurrence in 12 (55%) cases, despite multimodality chemoradiation therapy. At last follow-up, 15 (68%) patients died of the disease, one patient was alive with disease and five had no evidence of disease. The prognosis was equally poor in pediatric and adult patients. In conclusion, MYOD1 mutation defines an aggressive rhabdomyosarcoma subset, with poor outcome and response to therapy, irrespective of age. Given that this distinct molecular subtype is characterized by an aggressive biologic behavior compared to other genetic subtypes of spindle and sclerosing rhabdomyosarcoma, the MYOD1 genotype should be used as a molecular marker in both subclassification and prognostication of rhabdomyosarcoma.
Efficiency of Charge-Transfer Doping in Organic Semiconductors Probed with Quantitative Microwave and Direct-Current Conductance.

Although molecular charge-transfer doping is widely used to manipulate carrier density in organic semiconductors, only a small fraction of charge carriers typically escape the Coulomb potential of dopant counterions to contribute to electrical conductivity. Here, we utilize microwave and direct-current (DC) measurements of electrical conductivity to demonstrate that a high percentage of charge carriers in redox-doped semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotube (s-SWCNT) networks is delocalized as a free carrier density in the π-electron system (estimated as >46% at high doping densities). The microwave and four-point probe conductivities of hole-doped s-SWCNT films quantitatively match over almost 4 orders of magnitude in conductance, indicating that both measurements are dominated by the same population of delocalized carriers. We address the relevance of this surprising one-to-one correspondence by discussing the degree to which local environmental parameters (e.g., tube–tube junctions, Coulombic stabi...
Geriatric Dysphonia: Characteristics of Diagnoses in Age-Based Cohorts in a Tertiary Voice Clinic

Objective:An aging population has increased focus on geriatric otolaryngology. Those ≥65 years old are not a uniform population, however, and recent gerontology literature recognizes important phys...
A translational pharmacokinetic rat model of cerebral spinal fluid and plasma concentrations of cefepime

ABSTRACT This study sought to define the transit of cefepime between plasma and cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) in a rat model. Male Sprague-Dawley rats received cefepime intravenously. A total daily dose of 150 mg/kg of body weight/day was administered as a single injection every 24 h for 4 days. Plasma samples were obtained via a second dedicated intravenous catheter. CSF sampling occurred via an intracisternal catheter. Cefepime levels in plasma and CSF were quantified via liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Pharmacokinetic (PK) analyses were conducted using Pmetrics for R. PK parameters and exposures during the first 24 h (i.e., area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to 24 h [AUC0–24] and maximum concentration of drug in serum from 0 to 24 h [Cmax 0–24]) were calculated from Bayesian posteriors. CSF penetration was estimated by comparing the exposure profiles between plasma and the CSF. Eleven rats contributed PK data. A four-compartmental model with a lag compartment for CSF fit the data well for both plasma (Bayesian [R2 = 0.956]) and CSF (Bayesian [R2 = 0.565]). Median parameter values (with the coefficient of variation percentage [CV%] in parentheses) for the rate constants to CSF from the lag compartment (K34), to the central compartment from the CSF compartment (K41), and to the lag compartment from the central compartment (K13) were 2.96 h−1 (116.27%), 0.47 h−1 (54.86%), and 0.13 h−1 (23.42%), respectively. The elimination rate constant (kel) was 3.15 h−1 (7.5%). Exposure estimation revealed a plasma median (with interquartile range [IQR] in parentheses) half-life, AUC0–24, and Cmax 0–24, of 1.7 (1.5 to 1.9) h, 111.3 (95.7 to 136.5) mg · 24 h/liter, and 177.8 (169.7 to 236.4) μg/ml, from the first dose, respectively. Exposure estimation of CSF demonstrated a median (with IQR in parentheses) AUC0–24 and Cmax 0–24 of 26.3 (16.6 to 43.1) mg · 24 h/liter and 6.8 (5.2 to 9.4) μg/ml, respectively. The median CSF/blood percentage of penetration was 19%. Cefepime transit to the CSF is rapid and predictable in the rat model. This model will be highly useful for understanding the therapeutic window for cefepime and neurotoxicity. IMPORTANCE This study defines the transit of cefepime between plasma and cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) in a rat model. Male Sprague-Dawley rats received cefepime intravenously. Plasma samples were obtained via a second dedicated intravenous catheter. CSF sampling occurred via an intracisternal catheter. Drug exposures and transfer from the plasma to the CSF during the first 24 h were calculated. The median CSF/blood percentage of penetration was 19%. Cefepime transit to the CSF is rapid and predictable in the rat model. This model will be highly useful for understanding the therapeutic window for cefepime and neurotoxicity.
Serial Cervical Length Evaluation in Low-Risk Women with Shortened Cervical Lengths in the Midtrimester: How Many Will Dilate Prior to 24 Weeks?

Objective To determine what proportion of women with a short cervical length (CL) without a history of spontaneous preterm birth (SPTB) will ultimately be dilated at Study Design This is a retrospective cohort study of women with singleton pregnancies with a short CL (≤25 mm) between 16 and 22 weeks' gestational age (GA). We excluded women with a history of SPTB. We examined the progression of women with short CL based on the CL measurement and GA at diagnosis. The primary outcome was cervical dilation or spontaneous delivery Results A total of 163 women were included, of whom 27 (16.6%) were ultimately dilated and 4 (2.5%) had pregnancy loss by 24 weeks. The median GA at diagnosis of short CL was 195/7 (range: 15–22) weeks. Women with a CL Conclusion In women with a short CL without a history of SPTB, the risk of dilation or pregnancy loss
Evolution of the concept of autoimmune pancreatitis and its subtypes

The concept, recognition, and characterization of autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) have evolved over the course of more than fifty years in multiple countries and centers. The possibility that pancreatitis was sometimes caused by autoimmune mechanisms was considered as early as 1959, but the characteristic clinical, imaging, and histopathologic features for such patients were not recorded until the 1990’s. Yoshida is credited with introducing the term “autoimmune pancreatitis” into the English literature in 1995 although “autoimmunpankreatitis” was mentioned in a German review by Putzke in 1979 (25,35). Acceptance of the term (AIP) and an increasing focus on diagnosis, description, and treatment of the disease is evident in Ovid searches for “autoimmune pancreatitis” in sequential intervals. There were 192 papers listed during 1996-2005 with the majority initially coming from Japan, and 888 papers with worldwide origin during 2006June 2013. Putzke suggested AIP as a possible cause of chronic sclerosing pancreatitis noting the prominence of interstitial lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates and perilobular, intralobular and periductal fibrosis in some pancreases consistent with current histopathologic criteria for the diagnosis of AIP (25). Yoshida mentioned 11 cases including one of their own and 10 others reported during 1961-1991 (35).
Basic Personal Finance and Investing

Understanding basic personal finance and investment concepts is an important skill for physicians, who are in the top 5% of US wage earners. This chapter will discuss the concept of risk and reward and will discuss stocks, bonds, and derivatives. The importance of having a diversified portfolio will be discussed as will the concept of money.
Experimental Comparison of Open Source Visual-Inertial-Based State Estimation Algorithms in the Underwater Domain

A plethora of state estimation techniques have appeared in the last decade using visual data, and more recently with added inertial data. Datasets typically used for evaluation include indoor and urban environments, where supporting videos have shown impressive performance. However, such techniques have not been fully evaluated in challenging conditions, such as the marine domain. In this paper, we compare ten recent open-source packages to provide insights on their performance and guidelines on addressing current challenges. Specifically, we selected direct and indirect methods that fuse camera and Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) data together. Experiments are conducted by testing all packages on datasets collected over the years with underwater robots in our laboratory. All the datasets are made available online.
Political Polarization Drives Online Conversations About COVID-19 in the United States.

Since the outbreak in China in late 2019, the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has spread around the world and has come to dominate online conversations. By linking 2.3 million Twitter users to locations within the United States, we study in aggregate how political characteristics of the locations affect the evolution of online discussions about COVID-19. We show that COVID-19 chatter in the US is largely shaped by political polarization. Partisanship correlates with sentiment toward government measures and the tendency to share health and prevention messaging. Cross-ideological interactions are modulated by user segregation and polarized network structure. We also observe a correlation between user engagement with topics related to public health and the varying impact of the disease outbreak in different US states. These findings may help inform policies both online and offline. Decision-makers may calibrate their use of online platforms to measure the effectiveness of public health campaigns, and to monitor the reception of national and state-level policies, by tracking in real-time discussions in a highly polarized social media ecosystem.
Implications of Biomolecular Corona for Molecular Imaging

The development of nanoparticle probes has opened up new possibilities for molecular imaging in the era of precision medicine. There are a wide range of nanoprobes that are being used for various modalities that have demonstrated promising potential in early detection, disease monitoring, and theranostics. However, the rate of successful clinical translation of the nanoprobes is very low and is affected by the lack of our understanding about nanoparticle interaction with biological fluids after systemic administration, thus representing an unmet clinical need. One of the poorly understood issues relates to the formation of biomolecular corona, a layer of biomolecules formed on the surface of nanoscale materials during their interactions with biological fluids. The biomolecular corona has several significant effects on the biodistribution of nanoprobes and their imaging ability by (i) reducing their targeting efficacy and (ii) affecting the intrinsic imaging properties (e.g., contrast capacity of magnetic nanoprobes). This review provides insights on the importance of considering biomolecular corona in the development of nanoprobes, which may enable their more efficient utilization for molecular imaging applications.
Outcome of revision surgery for adverse local tissue reactions in patients with recalled total hip arthroplasty

Recalls of total hip arthroplasty (THA) implants, including metal-on-metal (MoM) THA and dual taper stems, due to increased risk of adverse local tissue reaction (ALTR), represent a challenge for both surgeons and patients. This study aims to analyze the revision surgery outcomes for ALTR in patients with recalled THA implants. A total of 118 consecutive patients who underwent revision surgery due to ALTR with recalled THA were analyzed. Sub-group analysis was performed for recalled MoM THAs, head-neck modular stems, and dual taper neck-stems. At a mean follow-up of 6.6 years, the complication and reoperation rates of the recalled THAs were 32.2% and 25.4% respectively. The most common post-revision complication was dislocation (16%). Revision of modular taper corrosion THA and high-grade intraoperative tissue damage were risk factors associated with post-revision complications. This study reports high complication and reoperation rates of recalled THAs at mid-term follow-up. The high revision surgery complication rates in both groups suggest the importance of a systematic evaluation of all THA patients with at-risk implants. Level III, case control retrospective analysis
Local velocity of thermoresponsive colloidal gels in rate-driven flow

The interplay between flow and attractive interactions in colloidal gels results in complex particle trajectories and velocity profiles that are not evident from bulk rheological measurements. We use high-speed confocal microscopy to investigate the local velocity of a low volume fraction (ϕ = 0.20) thermogelling nanoemulsion system as it flows through a cylindrical capillary at temperatures below and above the gel point. The nanoemulsions are composed of poly(dimethyl siloxane) droplets in a continuous phase of sodium dodecyl sulfate, de-ionized water, and a gelator molecule, poly(ethylene glycol diacrylate). The trajectories of fluorescent polystyrene tracer beads in the oil-rich domains are tracked using two-dimensional image processing. While the velocity profiles agree with those computed from rheometry measurements for nanoemulsion suspensions below the gel point temperature, increasing attractive interactions above the gel point results in statistically significant deviations. Specifically, the velocity measurements indicate a higher yield stress and a larger degree of shear thinning than expected from bulk rheology measurements, resulting in a more plug-shaped velocity profile as temperature and associated interdroplet attraction increase. These deviations from theoretical predictions are likely due to structural heterogeneity. Confocal microscopy images show that small, fluidized clusters are found in high shear rate regions near the capillary walls, while large dense clusters form in low shear rate regions closer to the center of the capillary.
Abstract 3850: Genetic and intermediate phenotypic susceptibility markers of gastric cancer in Hispanic-Americans: A case control study

Background: Hispanics are the largest non-white ethnic group in the U.S. and account for approximately 17% of U.S. population. Hispanics have higher incidence and mortality rates for gastric cancer than whites or Asians. Association studies have identified several genetic susceptibility loci and intermediate phenotypic biomarkers for gastric cancer in whites and Asians. However, no studies have evaluated genetic susceptibility and intermediate phenotypic biomarkers in Hispanics. Methods: In a case-control study of 132 Hispanic gastric cancer patients and 125 Hispanic controls, we evaluated the association of 5 previously identified, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) predisposing to gastric cancer in whites and/or Asians. In addition, two intermediate phenotypic markers in peripheral blood leukocytes, i.e., telomere length and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number, were examined with respect to risk for gastric cancer. Results: The variant C allele of the SNP rs2294008 in PSCA gene was associated with a significantly reduced risk of gastric cancer (per allele OR=0.60, 95%CI, 0.41-0.88; P=0.009) after adjusting for age, gender, and smoking status. Low mtDNA copy number was associated with a significantly increased risk of gastric cancer (OR=6.83; 95%CI, 3.33-14.00; P Conclusion: Hispanics share certain genetic susceptibility loci and intermediate phenotypic biomarkers with whites and Asians, but may also have distinct genetic susceptibility factors related to risk for gastric cancer Citation Format: Yuhui Sun, John Stroehlein, Jaffer Ajani, David Chang, Xifeng Wu, Jian Gu. Genetic and intermediate phenotypic susceptibility markers of gastric cancer in Hispanic-Americans: A case control study. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 3850. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-3850
RasGRP1 opposes proliferative EGFR–SOS1–Ras signals and restricts intestinal epithelial cell growth

The character of EGFR signals can influence cell fate but mechanistic insights into intestinal EGFR-Ras signalling are limited. Here we show that two distinct Ras nucleotide exchange factors, RasGRP1 and SOS1, lie downstream of EGFR but act in functional opposition. RasGRP1 is expressed in intestinal crypts where it restricts epithelial growth. High RasGRP1 expression in colorectal cancer (CRC) patient samples correlates with a better clinical outcome. Biochemically, we find that RasGRP1 creates a negative feedback loop that limits proliferative EGFR-SOS1-Ras signals in CRC cells. Genetic Rasgrp1 depletion from mice with either an activating mutation in KRas or with aberrant Wnt signalling due to a mutation in Apc resulted in both cases in exacerbated Ras-ERK signalling and cell proliferation. The unexpected opposing cell biological effects of EGFR-RasGRP1 and EGFR-SOS1 signals in the same cell shed light on the intricacy of EGFR-Ras signalling in normal epithelium and carcinoma.
Variation in the impact of exotic grasses on native plant composition in relation to fire across an elevation gradient in Hawaii

The impact that an exotic species can have on the composition of the community it enters is a function of its abundance, its particular species traits and characteristics of the recipient community. In this study we examined species composition in 14 sites burned in fires fuelled by non-indigenous C4 grasses in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii. We considered fire intensity, time since fire, climatic zone of site, unburned grass cover, unburned native cover and identity of the most abundant exotic grass in the adjacent unburned site as potential predictor variables of the impact of fire upon native species. We found that climatic zone was the single best variable for explaining variation in native cover among burned sites and between burned and unburned pairs. Fire in the eastern coastal lowlands had a very small effect on native plant cover and often stimulated native species regeneration, whereas fire in the seasonal submontane zone consistently caused a decline in native species cover and almost no species were fire tolerant. The dominant shrub, Styphelia tameiameia, in particular was fire intolerant. The number of years since fire, fire intensity and native cover in reference sites were not significantly correlated with native species cover in burned sites. The particular species of grass that carried the fire did however, have a significant effect on native species recovery. Where the African grass Melinis minutiflora was a dominant or codominant species, fire impacts were more severe than where it was absent regardless of climate zone. Overall, the impacts of exotic grass-fuelled fires on native species composition and cover in seasonally dry Hawaiian ecosystems was context specific. This specificity is best explained by differences between the climatic zones in which fire occurred. Elevation was the main physical variable that differed among the climatic zones and it alone could explain a large percentage of the variation in native cover among sites. Rainfall, by contrast, did not vary systematically with elevation. Elevation is associated with differences in composition of the native species assemblages. In the coastal lowlands, the native grass Heteropogon contortus, was largely responsible for positive changes in native cover after fire although other native species also increased. Like the exotic grasses, this species is a perennial C4 grass. It is lacking in the submontane zone and there are no comparable native species there and almost all native species in the submontane zone were reduced by fire. The lack of fire tolerant species in the submontane zone thus clearly contributes to the devastating impact of fire upon native cover there.
Financial Problems and Divorce

Abstract Virtually no studies exist that support the still popular belief that financial problems are the number one cause of divorce. Recent studies have found financial problems to be poor predictors of divorce. This study investigated the effect of selected demographic characteristics on the relationship between financial problems and divorce for individuals who were in their first marriages. Discriminant analysis techniques were used to analyze the data. Although all of the discriminant functions were statistically significant, the demographic and financial-problem variables generated no meaningful predictive power. That is, the variables used in this study were not useful in discriminating the divorced from the nondivorced.
Kiosk application for multimedia enhancement of public spaces

A prototype application for public spaces, using an interactive multimedia kiosk, is described. The application focuses on the use of AI perception technology to support natural, and non-trained user input. This particular kiosk configuration uses a large, projection, non-touch sensitive screen. We describe the kiosk and its ntended uses, and also present a vision-based virtual mouse interface for the kiosk. The virtual mouse utilizes a robotic head, visual tracking of the users head and hand positions, and recognition of user hand signs to control an intelligent kiosk. The user interface supports, among other things, smooth control of the mouse pointer and buttons using hand signs and movements. The algorithms and architecture of real-time vision and robot controller are described.
Motor Output from the Brain and Spinal Cord

All skeletal muscles are controlled by activation and inhibition of motor neurons in the spinal cord and brainstem. Motor neurons integrate information from a wide variety of sources in the brain and spinal cord. Simple limb reflexes and basic patterns of limb movements, including locomotion, are coordinated by spinal cord interneurons and sensory neurons. Descending inputs from the reticular formation, the vestibular nuclei and the superior colliculus in the brainstem are important in the control of automatic, axial, postural and locomotor movements. Descending inputs from several areas of the cerebral cortex and from the red nucleus are important in the control of voluntary, distal limb and fine movements. The basal ganglia in the basal forebrain and the cerebellum in the hindbrain are involved in the modification and learning of movements. These structures act indirectly on motor output, via outputs through the thalamus to widespread areas of the cerebral cortex. Key Concepts: All voluntary movement involves motor neurons in the spinal cord and brainstem that cause contraction of skeletal muscles. Neurons in many areas of the brain and spinal cord are active at overlapping times to control voluntary movements. The spinal cord can produce coordinated movements of the limbs, such as locomotion, as well as simple reflexes. The superior colliculus can trigger orienting movements, especially of the eyes and head. Voluntary limb movements involve neurons in several parts of the cerebral cortex, including especially the frontal lobe, which project axons to the spinal cord. Cortical movement control signals are modified by loops to and from the basal ganglia and the cerebellum, going through the thalamus. The basal ganglia modify the speed and amplitude of movements and contribute to learning new movement sequences. The cerebellum adapts movements to altered sensory feedback and may also contribute to a wide variety of other functions, including memory, language and emotion. Patients with movement disorders may in the future be able to control a limb or prosthetic device with ‘their thoughts’, via a brain–machine interface that monitors the activity of some of their cortical neurons. Keywords: motor neuron; interneuron; spinal cord; locomotion; central pattern generator; motor cortex; cerebellum; basal ganglia; superior colliculus; motor learning
On the correlation structure of water vapor and carbon dioxide in the atmospheric surface layer : A basis for flux partitioning

[1] High-frequency measurements of water vapor (q) and carbon dioxide (c) concentrations were collected over the course of a transition from dry to wet surface conditions in an agricultural setting on the eastern shore of Virginia. Daytime correlation coefficients between q and c were close to −1 during the dry conditions but became degraded during the wet conditions. An application of wavelet analysis to the high-frequency time series showed that the degraded q-c correlations on the wet day were mainly caused by the influence of large-scale eddies, which introduced positively correlated q-c components to the half-hour time series. Consistent differences in q-c correlation were also observed for smaller eddy scales, which are more indicative of the surface-atmosphere exchange. Correlations between q and c for this range of eddy scales were likewise closer to −1 for dry conditions, when transfer efficiencies of both scalars exhibited greater similarity. These correlations are influenced by the nonidentical source-sink distributions of the water vapor and carbon dioxide fluxes and the relative magnitude of their constituent fluxes. A new method is introduced to estimate the components of the water vapor flux (transpiration and direct evaporation) and carbon dioxide flux (photosynthesis and respiration) by applying flux variance similarity assumptions separately to the stomatal and the nonstomatal exchange and by considering q-c correlation. Water use efficiency for the vegetation, and how it varies with respect to vapor pressure deficit, is the only input needed for this approach that uses standard eddy covariance measurements. Reasonable estimates yielded by this technique when applied to the contrasting wet and dry days demonstrate its potential for flux partitioning.