cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Religion, Spirituality, and Health in Medically Ill Hospitalized Older Patients

Objectives To examine the effect of religion and spirituality on social support, psychological functioning, and physical health in medically ill hospitalized older adults. Design Cross-sectional survey. Setting Duke University Medical Center. Participants A research nurse interviewed 838 consecutively admitted patients aged 50 and older to a general medical service. Measurements Measures of religion included organizational religious activity (ORA), nonorganizational religious activity, intrinsic religiosity (IR), self-rated religiousness, and observer-rated religiousness (ORR). Measures of spirituality were self-rated spirituality, observer-rated spirituality (ORS), and daily spiritual experiences. Social support, depressive symptoms, cognitive status, cooperativeness, and physical health (self-rated and observer-rated) were the dependent variables. Regression models controlled for age, sex, race, and education. Results Religiousness and spirituality consistently predicted greater social support, fewer depressive symptoms, better cognitive function, and greater cooperativeness (P Conclusion Religious activities, attitudes, and spiritual experiences are prevalent in older hospitalized patients and are associated with greater social support, better psychological health, and to some extent, better physical health. Awareness of these relationships may improve health care.
Microtubule-associated protein-4 (MAP-4) inhibits microtubule-dependent distribution of mRNA in isolated neonatal cardiocytes

Objectives Active mRNA distribution in the form of ribonucleoprotein particles moving along microtubules has been shown in several cell types, but not yet in cardiocytes. This study addresses two hypotheses: 1) a similar mRNA distribution mechanism operates in cardiocytes; 2) decoration of microtubules with microtubule-associated proteins compromises this distribution. Methods To visualize ribonucleoproteins in cultured neonatal rat cardiocytes, they were transfected with vectors encoding zipcode binding protein-1 and Staufen fused with GFP. The velocity of microtubular transport and elongation were calculated on time-lapse confocal pictures. Results: ZBP-1 and Staufen labeled particles co-localized with each other and with microtubules and moved along microtubules over a distance of 1–20 μm with a mean speed of 80 nm/s. The average speed decreased about 50% after decoration of microtubules by adenoviral microtubule-associated protein-4 (MAP-4). The elongation speed measured using the GFP-tagged end-binding protein-1 exceeded 200 nm/s and was not influenced by MAP-4. Conclusions: We demonstrate for the first time ribonucleoprotein particles in cardiocytes, their microtubular-related movement, and its inhibition (but not of the microtubular elongation), by the MAP-4 decoration of microtubules.
Defining Genetic, Taxonomic, and Geographic Boundaries among Species of the Psorophora confinnis (Diptera: Culicidae) Complex in North and South America

The Psorophora confinnis complex is currently composed of three species--Psorophora confinnis sensu stricto (Lynch Arribalzaga) in South America, Psorophora columbiae (Dyar and Knab) in North America, and Psorophora jamaicensis (Theobald) in the Caribbean. Members of the complex are of considerable importance as vectors of arboviruses, for example, Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus, and are significant biting pests throughout their range. The biological and geographic boundaries of Ps. confinnis and Ps. columbiae are unclear. In fact, the name Ps. columbiae is presently designated as "provisional." In this article, we aim to clarify the taxonomy and geographic distributions of species within the Ps. confinnis complex. A population genetics approach was employed using gene and genotypic frequency data at 26 isozyme loci. The results suggest that the Ps. confinnis complex in North and South America is composed of four species. Ps. confinnis s.s. and Ps. columbiae are distinct species in South and North America, respectively. Populations in Colombia, South America, formally designated as Ps. funiculus (Dyar) and populations in the southwestern United States and western Mexico, formally designated Ps. toltecum (Dyar and Knab), are distinct species. Psorophora toltecum and Psorophora funiculus species names should be resurrected from synonymy. In addition we identified a Ps. columbiae and Ps. toltecum hybrid zone in central Texas in a region described as being one of 13 North American suture zones, being geographical areas in which closely related species occur in sympatry and frequently hybridize.
Mitochondria damage checkpoint in apoptosis and genome stability

Mitochondria perform multiple cellular functions including energy production, cell proliferation and apoptosis. Studies described in this paper suggest a role for mitochondria in maintaining genomic stability. Genomic stability appears to be dependent on mitochondrial functions involved in maintenance of proper intracellular redox status, ATP-dependent transcription, DNA replication, DNA repair and DNA recombination. To further elucidate the role of mitochondria in genomic stability, I propose a mitochondria damage checkpoint (mitocheckpoint) that monitors and responds to damaged mitochondria. Mitocheckpoint can coordinate and maintain proper balance between apoptotic and anti-apoptotic signals. When mitochondria are damaged, mitocheckpoint can be activated to help cells repair damaged mitochondria, to restore normal mitochondrial function and avoid production of mitochondria-defective cells. If mitochondria are severely damaged, mitocheckpoint may not be able to repair the damage and protect cells. Such an event triggers apoptosis. If damage to mitochondria is continuous or persistent such as damage to mitochondrial DNA resulting in mutations, mitocheckpoint may fail which can lead to genomic instability and increased cell survival in yeast. In human it can cause cancer. In support of this proposal we provide evidence that mitochondrial genetic defects in both yeast and mammalian systems lead to impaired DNA repair, increased genomic instability and increased cell survival. This study reveals molecular genetic mechanisms underlying a role for mitochondria in carcinogenesis in humans.
Asymmetry of the perceptual span in reading

An on-line computer technique was used to determine whether three skilled readers acquired visual information equally far to the left and right of central vision during fixations in reading. None of the subjects appeared to use visual information more than four character positions to the left of the fixation point (smaller distances were not tested), though all of them acquired visual information substantially further than that to the right. Thus, the region of useful visual information in reading is asymmetric around the fixation point.
Vocal fold hemorrhage: factors predicting recurrence.

Objectives/Hypothesis Vocal fold hemorrhage is an acute phonotraumatic injury treated with voice rest; recurrence is a generally accepted indication for surgical intervention. This study aims to identify factors predictive of recurrence based on outcomes of a large clinical series. Study Design Retrospective cohort. Methods Retrospective review of cases of vocal fold hemorrhage presenting to a university laryngology service. Demographic information was compiled. Videostroboscopic exams were evaluated for hemorrhage extent, presence of varix, mucosal lesion, and/or vocal fold paresis. Vocal fold hemorrhage recurrence was the main outcome measure. Follow-up telephone survey was used to complement clinical data. Results Forty-seven instances of vocal fold hemorrhage were evaluated (25M:22F; 32 professional voice users). Twelve of the 47 (26%) patients experienced recurrence. Only the presence of varix demonstrated significant association with recurrence (P = 0.0089) on multivariate logistic regression. Conclusion Vocal fold hemorrhage recurred in approximately 26% of patients. Varix was a predictor of recurrence, with 48% of those with varix experiencing recurrence. Monitoring, behavioral management and/or surgical intervention may be indicated to treat patients with such characteristics. Level of Evidence 4. Laryngoscope, 124:227–232, 2014
Particle Beams and Phase Space

The solution of the linear equations of motion allows us to follow a single charged particle through an arbitrary array of magnetic elements. Often, however, it is necessary to consider a beam of many particles and it would be impractical to calculate the trajectory for every individual particle. We, therefore, look for some representation of the whole particle beam.
Microsoft SQL Server Parallel Data Warehouse: Architecture Overview

This paper presents an architecture overview of the Microsoft SQL Server Parallel Data Warehouse (PDW) DBMS system. PDW is a massively parallel processing (MPP), share nothing, scale-out version of SQL Server focused on data warehousing workloads. The product is packaged as a database appliance built on industry standard hardware. We present an overview of the main software and hardware components of the system and an example illustrating its query processing approach.
Assessing the Influence of Different Inland Lake Management Strategies on Human-Mediated Invasive Species Spread

Species introduced to the Great Lakes region through shipping, pet and nursery trade, and as biological control have caused significant environmental damages and have increased the direct and indirect costs to boat owners and various water-dependent industries. Once established, recreational boating becomes the primary vector of spread for some of these species, such as zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha Pallas, 1771). Prevention and mitigation efforts in the past have focused on boater education, boat washing stations, and inspections; yet these management actions can be expensive with limited or largely unknown effectiveness. In this study, we used a gravity model framework to accurately simulate the spread of an aquatic invasive species. After parameterization, the constructed model effectively simulated the human-mediated movements of the historical dreissenid spread patterns, correctly predicting an average accuracy of 78.2% (standard deviation = 0.01%) lakes invaded per model run. We then used the model to determine the effectiveness of three different invasive species management scenarios in Michigan: deterring boaters from lakes with a high likelihood of invasion, targeted education at high-risk lakes, and a large-scale education effort. Results indicated that deterring boaters from high-risk lakes is effective in the first five years of an invasion, targeted education is more effective at late stages of an invasion, and large-scale education is effective at all stages of an invasion. Our results indicate that managers should be flexible in their management actions and that different strategies are likely more effective at different stages of an invasion.
The role of experience on judgments of dysphonia.

Summary Objectives The objectives of the study were (1) to determine differences in judgments of overall severity (OS) and vocal effort (VE) of dysphonic speech when judgments were made by experienced and inexperienced listeners, and when self-rated by individuals with dysphonia; and (2) to determine relationships between auditory-perceptual judgments of voice and voice handicap. Study Design Prospective and exploratory. Methods Twenty speakers with dysphonia and four normal controls provided speech recordings. Participants judged their own speech samples for OS and VE and completed the Voice Handicap Index (VHI). Twenty-four inexperienced and 10 experienced listeners evaluated the same speech samples for OS and VE using 100-mm visual analog scales. Results No differences were found for judgments of OS and VE across the groups. However, relationships between judgments made by experienced and inexperienced listeners were strong, whereas those between individuals with dysphonia and other listeners were weak to moderate. All listeners' judgments of voice were moderate predictors of VHI scores, with patient-perceived VE and clinician-rated OS being relatively strongest. Conclusions Although there is no systematic effect of listener experience on judgments of dysphonia, individuals with dysphonia appear to self-rate their voices using different perceptual strategies than other listeners. Auditory-perceptual measures are only moderately related to voice handicap scores, indicating that they are complementary measures of voice.
ILM: a web server for predicting RNA secondary structures with pseudoknots

The ILM web server provides a web interface to two algorithms, iterated loop matching and maximum weighted matching, for efficiently predicting RNA secondary structures with pseudoknots. The algorithms can utilize either thermodynamic or comparative information or both, and thus can work on both aligned and individual sequences. Predicted secondary structures are presented in several formats compatible with a variety of existing visualization tools. The service can be accessed at http://cic.cs.wustl.edu/RNA/.
Internet-initiated sex crimes against minors: implications for prevention based on findings from a national study.

Purpose To describe the characteristics of episodes in which juveniles became victims of sex crimes committed by people they met through the Internet. Methods A national survey of a stratified random sample of 2574 law enforcement agencies conducted between October 2001 and July 2002. Telephone interviews were conducted with local, state, and federal law enforcement investigators concerning 129 sexual offenses against juvenile victims that originated with online encounters. Results Victims in these crimes were primarily 13- through 15-year-old teenage girls (75%) who met adult offenders (76% older than 25) in Internet chat rooms. Most offenders did not deceive victims about the fact that they were adults who were interested in sexual relationships. Most victims met and had sex with the adults on more than one occasion. Half of the victims were described as being in love with or feeling close bonds with the offenders. Almost all cases with male victims involved male offenders. Offenders used violence in 5% of the episodes. Conclusions Health care professionals and educators, parents and media need to be aware of the existence, nature and real life dynamics of these online relationships among adolescents. Information about Internet safety should include frank discussion about why these relationships are inappropriate, criminal, and detrimental to the developmental needs of youth.
O-alkylhydroxylamines as rationally-designed mechanism-based inhibitors of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-1

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-1 (IDO1) is a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of cancer, chronic viral infections, and other diseases characterized by pathological immune suppression. Recently important advances have been made in understanding IDO1's catalytic mechanism. Although much remains to be discovered, there is strong evidence that the mechanism proceeds through a heme-iron bound alkylperoxy transition or intermediate state. Accordingly, we explored stable structural mimics of the alkylperoxy species and provide evidence that such structures do mimic the alkylperoxy transition or intermediate state. We discovered that O-benzylhydroxylamine, a commercially available compound, is a potent sub-micromolar inhibitor of IDO1. Structure-activity studies of over forty derivatives of O-benzylhydroxylamine led to further improvement in inhibitor potency, particularly with the addition of halogen atoms to the meta position of the aromatic ring. The most potent derivatives and the lead, O-benzylhydroxylamine, have high ligand efficiency values, which are considered an important criterion for successful drug development. Notably, two of the most potent compounds demonstrated nanomolar-level cell-based potency and limited toxicity. The combination of the simplicity of the structures of these compounds and their excellent cellular activity makes them quite attractive for biological exploration of IDO1 function and antitumor therapeutic applications.
Influence of Bose-Einstein Statistics on the Antiproton-Proton Annihilation Process

Recent observations of angular distributions of $\ensuremath{\pi}$ mesons in $\overline{p}\ensuremath{-}p$ annihilation indicate a deviation from the predictions of the usual Fermi statistical model. In order to shed light on these phenomena, a modification of the statistical model is studied. We retain the assumption that the transition rate into a given final state is proportional to the probability of finding $N$ free $\ensuremath{\pi}$ mesons in the reaction volume, but express this probability in terms of wave functions symmetrized with respect to particles of like charge. The justification of this assumption is discussed. The model reproduces the experimental results qualitatively, provided the radius of the interaction volume is between one-half and three-fourths of the pion Compton wavelength; the dependence of angular correlation effects on the value of the radius is rather sensitive. Quantitatively, there seems to remain some discrepancy, but we cannot say whether this is due to experimental uncertainties or to some other dynamic effects. In the absence of information on $\ensuremath{\pi}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\pi}$ interactions and of a fully satisfactory explanation of the mean pion multiplicity for annihilation, we wish to emphasize the preliminary nature of our results. We consider them, however, as an indication that the symmetrization effects discussed here may well play a major role in the analysis of angular distributions. It is pointed out that in this respect the energy dependence of the angular correlations may provide valuable clues for the validity of our model.
Oestradiol Exposure Early in Life Programs Daily and Circadian Activity Rhythms in Adult Mice

Hormone signalling during critical periods organises the adult circadian timekeeping system by altering adult hormone sensitivity and shaping fundamental properties of circadian rhythmicity. However, the timing of when developmental oestrogens modify the timekeeping system is poorly understood. To test the hypothesis that alterations in postnatal oestrogenic signalling organise adult daily activity rhythms, we utilised aromatase knockout mice (ArKO), which lack the enzyme required for oestradiol synthesis. ArKO and wild-type (WT) males and females were administered either oestradiol (E) or oil (OIL) daily for the first 5 postnatal days (p1-5E and p1-5OIL , respectively) because this time encompasses the emergence of clock gene rhythmicity and light responsiveness in the suprachiasmatic nucleus, a bilateral hypothalamic structure regarded as the 'master oscillator'. After sexual maturation, gonadectomy and exogenous oestradiol supplementation, locomotor parameters were assessed. We determined that altered oestrogenic signalling in early life exerts organisational control over the expression of daily and circadian activity rhythms in adult mice. Specifically, p1-5E reduced total wheel running activity in male and female ArKO and female WT mice but had no effect on WT male activity levels. In females, wheel running was consolidated by p1-5E to the early versus late evening, a phenomenon characteristic of male mice. The time of peak activity was advanced by p1-5E in WT and ArKO females but not males. P1-5E shortened the length of the active phase (alpha) in WT males but had no effect on ArKO males or females of either genotypes. Finally, p1-5E altered the magnitude of photic-induced shifts, suggesting that developmental oestrogenic signalling impacts adult circadian functions. In the present study, we further define both a critical period of development of the adult timekeeping system and the role that oestrogenic signalling plays in the expression of daily and circadian activity rhythms throughout life.
The Diagnostic Value of Aspiration Smears

Our experience with 996 aspiration biopsies over a 2-year period is reported. Most of the specimens were obtained from breast (46%), lymph nodes (22%), and bone or soft tissue tumors (19%). Of 576 cases in which a diagnosis of malignant tumor was made, there was only one error (recognized on review as an error in judgment). In approximately 16% of the patients with cancer the aspirate was too scanty for a positive diagnosis and biopsy was necessary, emphasizing the need for biopsy when sampling is poor or clinical suspicion is not confirmed by the aspiration specimen.
The preliminary design of the optical Thomson scattering diagnostic for the National Ignition Facility

The National Ignition Facility (NIF) is a 192 laser beam facility designed to support the Stockpile Stewardship, High Energy Density and Inertial Confinement Fusion programs. We report on the preliminary design of an Optical Thomson Scattering (OTS) diagnostic that has the potential to transform the community's understanding of NIF hohlraum physics by providing first principle, local, time-resolved measurements of under-dense plasma conditions. The system design allows operation with different probe laser wavelengths by manual selection of the appropriate beamsplitter and gratings before the shot. A deep-UV probe beam (λ0 between 185-215 nm) will optimally collect Thomson scattered light from plasma densities of 5 x 1020 electrons/cm3 while a 3ω probe will optimally collect Thomson scattered light from plasma densities of 1 x 1019 electrons/cm3. We report the phase I design of a two phase design strategy. Phase I includes the OTS recording system to measure background levels at NIF and phase II will include the integration of a probe laser.
Abandoning an Unpopular Policy: An Analysis of the Decision Granting the Mormon Priesthood to Blacks

The decision admitting blacks into the Mormon priesthood is explained as an adaptation to environmental pressures, the logical outcome of organizational practices, and the resolution of internal contradictions. Adverse publicity from the media, pressures from the black community, and threats of successful litigation reflected environmental hostility; an organizational imperative of growth, the quest for respectability, and the internationalization of Mormonism predisposed the church toward adaptation; and challenges from Mormon intellectuals and activists, pressures from black Mormons, and the leadership of the president reinforced adaptive strategies. Revelation, as a technique of internal control, ensured the consensus of officials and strengthened Mormon hegemony.
An analysis of synthetic processing of odor mixtures in the honeybee (Apis mellifera).

Both sensory transduction and central processing of odor mixtures can give rise to several different kinds of interaction, which can influence how well individual components are perceived and processed. In particular, odor mixtures are believed to give rise to 9configural9 or 9synthetic9 properties that are not characteristic of the components. However, the exact nature of these effects, particularly with regard to their expression in behavior, remains to be examined in detail. Here we use feature-negative and transwitching conditioning paradigms to show that honeybees can use configural cues in odor processing. However, the nature of these configural cues is not similar to that predicted by some models of conditioning. We propose that configural models may be capable of accounting for a substantial portion of odor mixture processing.
Succinct Garbling Schemes and Applications.

Assuming the existence of iO for P/poly and one-way functions, we show how to succinctly garble bounded-space computations (BSC) M : the size of the garbled program (as well as the time needed to generate the garbling) only depends on the size and space (including the input and output) complexity of M , but not its running time. The key conceptual insight behind this construction is a method for using iO to “compress” a computation that can be performed piecemeal, without revealing anything about it. As corollaries of our succinct garbling scheme, we demonstrate the following: • functional encryption for BSC from iO for P/poly and one-way functions; • reusable succinct garbling schemes for BSC from iO for P/poly and one-way functions; • succinct iO for BSC from sub-exponentially-secure iO for P/poly and sub-exponentially secure one-way functions; • (Perfect NIZK) SNARGS for bounded space and witness NP from sub-exponentially-secure iO for P/poly and sub-exponentially-secure one-way functions. Previously such primitives were only know to exists based on “knowledge-based” assumptions (such as SNARKs and/or differing-input obfuscation). We finally demonstrate the first (non-succinct) iO for RAM programs with bounded input and output lengths, that has poly-logarithmic overhead, based on the existence of subexponentially-secure iO for P/poly and sub-exponentially-secure one-way functions. ∗University of California at Santa Barbara, Email: huijia@cs.ucsb.edu. †Cornell University, Email: rafael@cs.cornell.edu.
Nutrition policy--from neglect and uncertainty to debate and action.

Until recent years, nutrition has received little attention in U.S. agriculture, food, and health policies. This circumstance is changing. In the late sixties and early seventies, reports of hunger and malnutrition sparked public reaction and a shift in policy. The White House Conference on Food, Nutrition and Health in 1971 prompted the Senate select Committee on Nutrition and Human Needs to address itself to this problem, with the result that the Food Stamp, child nutrition, WIC, and Nutrition for the Elderly programs were initiated or expanded. Then, in the mid-seventies, the Select Committee turned its attention to broader issues of nutrition and health and declared that the goal of any food system is the maintenance and improvement of nutritional health of the population. This objective emerged as public policy in the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977. As the Select Committee continued its work, problems of overnutrition became more apparent. The culmination of its studies was the issuance early in 1977 of the "Dietary Goals for the United States," designed to improve the nutrition and reduce health problems of the population. To that same end, the Select Committee has also made recommendations regarding food labeling and nutrition education.
EPR of Organic Conductors

The contribution of EPR measurements of organic metals to the understanding of these compounds is described. The particular examples discussed are: 1. The respective roles of the different stacks in the different phase transitions of TTF-TCNQ. 2. The EPR linewidth magnitude as a measure of the deviation of the band structure from one dimensionality.
Distributed and configurable architecture for neuromorphic applications on heterogeneous cluster

With the proliferation of application specific accelerators, the use of heterogeneous clusters is rapidly increasing. Consisting of processors with different architectures, a heterogeneous cluster aims at providing different performance and cost tradeoffs for different types of workloads. In order to achieve peak performance, software running on heterogeneous cluster needs to be designed carefully to provide enough flexibility to explore its variety. We propose a design methodology to modularize complex software applications with data dependencies. The software application designed in this way have the flexibility to be reconfigured for different hardware platforms to facilitate resource management, and features high scalability and parallelism. Using a neuromorphic application as a case study, we present the concept of modularization and discuss the management, scheduling and communication of the modules. We also present experimental results demonstrating the improvements and effects of system scaling on throughput.
Pediatric Migraine Headache — Still Searching for Effective Treatments

Migraine headaches are common in children, adolescents, and adults. In children, migraines have a considerable effect on development, often leading to missed school days, educational delays, and decreased socialization.1 In adults, migraine headaches result in a considerable number of days lost from work. Although there have been hundreds of randomized clinical trials evaluating prophylactic treatment of migraine headache in adults, there have been few controlled studies involving children. In adults, tricyclic antidepressants have shown the greatest benefit in reducing the incidence of migraine headache, but the reduction is modest (a relative difference of approximately 30% as compared with placebo), leaving . . .
Superposition and Geometry for Evidence and Quantum Mechanics in the Tensor Calculus

In this chapter we prove that the interference in Coherent Quantum Mechanics is represented by a deformed space of the intensity for different particle beams. In the interference the complex number representation of the quantum mechanics is substituted by general real coordinates where the angles between general coordinates are the difference of the phases. To reformulate the traditional quantum model, we use the evidence theory and its geometric image. The evidence theory defines a non additive probability denoted basic probability assignment. We assume that in quantum mechanics for interference and entanglement phenomena, the probability is not the traditional probability but is the basic probability assignment in the evidence theory.
The biomechanical effect of tunnel placement on ACL graft forces in double-bundle ACL reconstruction - A 3D computational simulation.

Background The posterolateral (PL) graft experiences a high failure rate in anterior cruciate ligament double-bundle (DB) reconstruction. It is hypothesized that tunnel positions could dramatically affect the graft forces. Methods A validated computational model was used to simulate DB reconstruction with various femoral PL tunnel locations (8–11 mm center–center tunnel spacing). Graft fixation was simulated at both 0° and 30°. Knee biomechanics were examined with the knee under a 134 N anterior load and 400 N quadriceps load at 0°, 30°, 60°, and 90° of flexion. Graft forces, tibial translation, and tibial rotation were calculated. Results PL graft forces at full extension increased with increasing tunnel spacing under both fixation settings, but the knee kinematics was not dramatically affected. Conclusion Small changes in the femoral PL tunnel position could result in large changes in graft forces, implying that precise PL tunnel position is an important factor in a successful DB reconstruction.
On the inherent robustness of optimal and suboptimal nonlinear MPC

Abstract Suboptimal model predictive control (MPC) is a control algorithm that uses suboptimal solutions to optimal control problems to provide control actions quickly. In MPC, terminal control laws and terminal region constraints are frequently used to ensure recursive feasibility and stability. Suboptimal MPC was proven to be inherently robust for systems with soft terminal region constraints in Pannocchia et al. (2011). We extend that work to systems with hard terminal region constraints. If these hard constraints are defined as sublevel sets of appropriate terminal cost functions, a well-chosen initial guess (warm start) for the optimization algorithm is robustly feasible. As a result, the system controlled by suboptimal MPC admits an ISS-Lyapunov function and is therefore inherently robust. The authors of Yu et al. (2014) noted that the result in Pannocchia et al. (2011) applied only to systems with continuous optimal cost functions. However, discontinuous optimal cost functions may be present in systems with hard terminal region constraints. We include a simple example of a continuous dynamical system with a provably discontinuous optimal value function that, as a consequence of the main result of this work, is inherently robust. This example is to our knowledge the first such system reported in the literature.
An Embedded Real-Time Processing Platform for Optogenetic Neuroprosthetic Applications

Optogenetics offers a powerful new approach for controlling neural circuits. It has numerous applications in both basic and clinical science. These applications require stimulating devices with small processors that can perform real-time neural signal processing, deliver high-intensity light with high spatial and temporal resolution, and do not consume a lot of power. In this paper, we demonstrate the implementation of neuronal models in a platform consisting of an embedded system module and a portable digital light processing projector. As a replacement for damaged neural circuitry, the embedded module processes neural signals and then directs the projector to optogenetically activate a downstream neural pathway. We present a design in the context of stimulating circuits in the visual system, but the approach is feasible for a broad range of biomedical applications.
The Dominant Role of the East Siberian Sea in Driving the Oceanic Flow Through the Bering Strait—Conclusions From GRACE Ocean Mass Satellite Data and In Situ Mooring Observations Between 2002 and 2016

It is typically stated that the Pacific-to-Arctic oceanic flow through the Bering Strait (important for Arctic heat, freshwater, and nutrient budgets) is driven by local wind and a (poorly defined) far-field “pressure head” forcing, related to sea surface height differences between the Pacific and the Arctic. Using monthly, Arctic-wide, ocean bottom pressure satellite data and in situ mooring data from the Bering Strait from 2002 to 2016, we discover the spatial structure of this pressure head forcing, finding that the Bering Strait throughflow variability is dominantly driven from the Arctic, specifically by sea level change in the East Siberian Sea (ESS), in turn related to westward winds along the Arctic coasts. In the (comparatively calm) summer, this explains approximately two thirds of the Bering Strait variability. In winter, local wind variability dominates the total flow, but the pressure head term, while still correlated with the ESS-dominated sea level pattern, is now more strongly related to Bering Sea Shelf sea level variability.
The Journey from Discovery to Scientific Change: Scientific Communities, Shared Models, and Specialised Vocabulary

ABSTRACTScientific communities as social groupings and the role that such communities play in scientific change and the production of scientific knowledge is currently under debate. I examine theor...
J-Curve Phenomenon: Does It Exist?

Numerous studies over the past few years have documented an non-linear relationship between blood pressure and cardiovascular events (i.e., a J-shaped curve), especially in patients with known coronary artery disease. In most of these studies though a J-curve relationship was seen, there was a shallow part of the J-curve for systolic pressure range of 110–140 mm Hg and diastolic pressures of 70–90 mm Hg, below and above which the risk of cardiovascular outcomes increased exponentially. Although this J-curve relationship has been extensively debated, the possibility of confounders cannot be completely ruled out. This can only be addressed in a randomized trial powered to test this association. Regardless of whether a J-curve exists within physiological range of BP, there is no evidence to date to suggest that aggressive BP control lower than 130–140 mm Hg is beneficial for cardiovascular outcomes (except stroke) but is associated with increase in the risk of serious adverse effects including hypotension. It would be prudent, though, for healthcare providers to set targets judiciously in select patient populations considering the underlying pathophysiology and individual patients risk of cerebrovascular and coronary artery disease.
Animal Model of Non-arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy

To have an animal model simulating a human disease is helpful, sometimes critical, in obtaining information about the pathogenesis, management and other aspects of a disease, since it is not always either possible or ethical to explore many aspects of a disease in the human.
Echocardiographic findings in patients meeting task force criteria for arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia: New insights from the multidisciplinary study of right ventricular dysplasia

Objectives The purpose of this study was to quantify the echocardiographic abnormalities in probands who were newly diagnosed with arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD). Background The diagnosis of ARVD remains challenging. The Multidisciplinary Study of Right Ventricular Dysplasia was initiated to characterize the cardiac structural, clinical, and genetic aspects of ARVD. Methods Detailed echocardiograms were performed in 29 probands and compared with echoes from 29 normal control patients matched for age, gender, body size, and year of echo. Right atrial (RA) and right ventricular (RV) chamber dimensions, RV regional function, and the presence of morphologic abnormalities (hyper-reflective moderator band, trabecular derangement, and sacculations) were assessed. The RV systolic function was calculated as RV fractional area change (FAC). Results The RV dimensions were significantly increased, and RV FAC was significantly decreased in probands versus control patients (27.2 ± 16 mm vs. 41.0 ± 7.1 mm, p = 0.0003). The right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) was the most commonly enlarged dimension in ARVD probands (37.9 ± 6.6 mm) versus control patients (26.2 ± 4.9 mm, p 30 mm occurred in 89% of probands and 14% of controls. The RV morphologic abnormalities were present in many probands (trabecular derangement in 54%, hyper-reflective moderator band in 34% and sacculations in 17%) but not in controls. Conclusions Probands with ARVD have significant RA and RV enlargement and decreased RV function, which can be easily assessed on standard echocardiographic imaging. These parameters should be measured when ARVD is suspected and compared with normal values.
Correlates of alcoholics anonymous affiliation among justice-involved women.

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) constitutes a major public health problem and is associated with a substantial amount of disability and premature death worldwide. Several treatment and self-help options including Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings are available. Nevertheless, factors associated with AA affiliation in some disadvantaged groups such as justice-involved women are not well understood. The purpose of this study is to report on previously unexamined correlates of past year AA affiliation among women in pretrial jail detention. The current study used cross-sectional data from 168 women with DSM-5 diagnosis of AUD in pretrial jail detention. The study examined factors related to women’s concept of self and others (i.e., disbelief that others are trustworthy, lack of autonomy to choose who they interact with, experience of violent victimization, low investment in self-care, higher stress levels, and homelessness) as correlates of past-year AA affiliation, controlling for severity of AUD and demographic factors. Women who believe that others are inherently trustworthy, women who met less AUD criteria, and women who are older reported more past-year AA affiliation in both univariate and multivariate analyses. Introducing AA outreach and alternative interventions for younger, less severely addicted women might improve AUD outcomes. Moreover, designing more individualized treatment plan for women who believe others are not trust worthy might help AUD treatment engagement in this population. NCT01970293 , 10/28/2013.
The Eton Montem custom c. 1750–1844: privilege, pageantry and sanctioned misrule

ABSTRACTMontem, a triennial customary march by Eton scholars, consolidated into a public expression of patrician social identity under the patronage of the monarchy in the late eighteenth century. This analysis of Montem’s history traces its development from a boy-led pageant of misrule to a public performance of elite patriotism. The custom, which attracted national attention, sheds new light on boy governance and self-fashioning in the period’s elite schools. This article argues that a study of Montem disrupts the standard historiographical narrative of anarchy and violence in the great schools and suggests that boy culture was more complex than previously acknowledged.
Hydrogen isotope effect on the embrittlement and fatigue crack growth of steel

Abstract The deleterious effect of hydrogen on steel is a long-standing problem. Embrittlement in the presence of hydrogen is, in part, a consequence of the fast diffusion of hydrogen in ferritic steels. Because of the identical chemical properties but large differences in mass between hydrogen isotopes, interaction of hydrogen isotopes with steel structures are of interest as a tool to study the role of diffusion in hydrogen embrittlement under all-else-equal conditions. In this paper, we present tensile and fatigue data for steel samples measured in air, in hydrogen, and in deuterium. Tensile measurements show deuterium causes a loss of ductility comparable to the loss due to hydrogen. In fatigue, a large pressure effect on deuterium-assisted fatigue crack growth was observed, an effect which is not exhibited in uniaxial tensile measurements. With sufficient pressure to show an enhanced fatigue crack growth effect, the fatigue crack growth rate is well-predicted assuming a scaling of the diffusion coefficient by 1 / 2 . These results suggest surface adsorption kinetics play a large role in hydrogen-assisted fatigue crack growth at low pressure. At higher pressures, hydrogen-assisted fatigue crack growth is primarily affected by the kinetics of diffusion of hydrogen within the steel lattice.
The care of young Piñon Jays (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus) and their integration into the flock

Pinon Jays live year round in a social flock that may number from 50 to 300 birds. Young birds form into creches immediately after leaving the nest. Begging calls are important in the formation of creches. In these creches young interact with each other and with their parents. This study was designed to 1. gain an understanding of the parent-young relationships, 2. investigate the operation of the creche, 3. determine the relationship of young jays to other cohorts in the flock.
The association of exercise and sedentary behaviours with incident end-stage renal disease: the Southern Community Cohort Study.

Objective To examine whether lifestyle factors, including sedentary time and physical activity, could independently contribute to risk of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Study design Case-cohort study. Setting South-eastern USA. Participants The Southern Community Cohort Study recruited ~86 000 black and white participants from 2002 to 2009. We assembled a case cohort of 692 incident ESRD cases and a probability sample of 4113 participants. Predictors Sedentary time was calculated as hours/day from daily sitting activities. Physical activity was calculated as metabolic equivalent (MET)-hours/day from engagement in light, moderate and vigorous activities. Outcomes Incident ESRD. Results At baseline, among the subcohort, mean (SD) age was 52 (8.6) years, and median (25th, 75th centile) estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was 102.8 (85.9–117.9) mL/min/1.73 m2. Medians (25th–75th centile) for sedentary time and physical activity were 8.0 (5.5–12.0) hours/day and 17.2 (8.7–31.9) MET-hours/day, respectively. Median follow-up was 9.4 years. We observed significant interactions between eGFR and both physical activity and sedentary behaviour (p 27 MET-hours/day. High levels of sitting time were associated with increased ESRD risk only among those with reduced kidney function (eGFR ≤30 mL/min/1.73 m2); this association was attenuated after excluding the first 2 years of follow-up. Conclusions In a population with a high prevalence of chronic kidney disease risk factors such as hypertension and diabetes, physical activity appears to be associated with reduced risk of ESRD among those with preserved kidney function. A positive association between sitting time and ESRD observed among those with advanced kidney disease is likely due to reverse causation.
Key characteristics influencing risk perceptions of unconventional energy development

Abstract Assessing the sustainability of energy systems must include attention to the local social and environmental impacts of such energy production, though these do not always easily align with more regional and global concerns. Social science research demonstrates that public perceptions of the social and environmental risks associated with unconventional oil and gas development (glossed by critics as “fracking”) vary both at an individual and community level. This article provides a comparative analysis of three proposed factors that influence risk perceptions: trust in government institutions, socioeconomic profile, and historical experiences with industry. We compare two Colorado communities that each had established a participatory local governance framework to minimize negative environmental impacts from oil and gas developments, but that were characterized by distinct socioeconomic profiles and industrial histories. Our quantitative analysis of citizen comments during public hearings suggests two key findings that were not predicted by the existing literature: neither trust in local government nor historical ties to heavy industry were associated with diminished risk perceptions. These findings suggest new pathways for more constructive engagement among industry, state and local government, and citizens.
Functional Outcomes Regarding Facial Artery Musculomucosal Flap for Reconstruction of Partial Glossectomy Defects.

Background The surgical management and reconstruction after ablation of squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue and floor of mouth are quite challenging. If not reconstructed properly, the deficits resulting from the extirpation of even relatively small (T1 and T2) tumors of the tongue can impact speech and deglutition via tongue tethering and poor anterolateral mobility. Functional outcome studies regarding the utility of the pedicled facial artery musculamucosal (FAMM) flap for reconstruction of partial glossectomy defects are limited. Methods This is a retrospective single institutional study of patients who underwent FAMM flap reconstruction for oral cavity defects resulting from partial glossectomy (2009-2013). Follow-up data included postoperative complications, defect size, operative time, and subjective functional results (tongue mobility, speech, and swallowing capabilities).The MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory and a limited self-assessment of speech were sent to all living patients in this initial tongue cancer cohort to assess aspects of functional status. Results Of the 21 patients studied in this initial FAMM flap cohort, 18 are currently living. The MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory and a limited self-assessment survey of speech were sent to these individuals 6 months after treatment completion. Eight patients (44%) returned completed questionnaires. All of the respondents disagreed or strongly disagreed with the statement that they felt excluded from others because of their eating habits, 6 of the 8 of the respondents stated that they disagreed or strongly disagreed with the statement that they have to limit their food intake, and none felt that others were irritated by their eating habits. All felt that their speech was either good, very good, or excellent. No surveyed patient reported having job difficulty because of their speech. Conclusions The FAMM flap is a reliable alternative for reconstruction of small oral tongue defects without functional deficits and a great alternative to free flap reconstruction of medium-sized defects. The encouragement of patient functional outcome studies and longitudinal follow-up studies need to be conducted in efforts to best tailor a reconstruction plan for patients with oral tongue cancers.