cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Epidemiological characteristics of hand-foot-and-mouth disease in Zunyi City in 2012

[Objective]To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of hand-foot-and-mouth disease( HFMD),explore the epidemic law,and provide a basis for developing effective prevention and control strategies. [Methods]The data of HFMD in Zunyi City in 2012 were collected from the National disease surveillance information management system,and were analyzed with descriptive epidemiological methods by Excel statistical software.[Results]A total of 15 843 HFMD cases were reported in Zunyi City in 2012,including 312 severe cases and 10 death cases. The incidence rate was 257. 92/lakh,and the mortality rate was 0. 16/lakh. Most of cases were children under 5 years old,accounting for 91. 54%. The male-to-female ratio was 1. 68∶ 1,and the difference was significant(χ2= 829. 20,P 0. 01). The peak season occurred May to July( 10 922 cases),and there was a small peak in November-December,which accounted for 68. 94% and 17. 93% of total cases respectively. Scattered children and kindergarten children accounted for 72. 18% and 21. 73% respectively. 1 904 throat/anus swab specimens were detected,and 1060 specimens were positive,with the positive rate of 55. 67%. There were 480 specimens of other intestinal viruses( 45. 28%),323 specimens of CoxA16( 30. 47%) and 257 specimens of EV71( 24. 25%).[Conclusion]The epidemic situation,severe cases and death cases of HFMD show a rising trend in Zunyi City in 2012,and the pathogens include EV71,CxoA16 and other intestinal viruses.
Virtual cortical resection reveals push-pull network control mechanism preceding seizure evolution

For approximately 20 million people with drug-resistant epilepsy, recurring, spontaneous seizures have a devastating impact on daily life. The efficacy of surgical treatment for controlling seizures is hindered by a poor understanding of how some seizures spread to and synchronize surrounding tissue while others remain focal. To pinpoint network regions that regulate seizure evolution, we present a novel method to assess changes in synchronizability in response to virtually lesioning cortical areas in a validated computational network model. In human patients implanted with electrocorticographic sensors, we apply our virtual cortical resection technique to time-varying functional networks and identify control regions that synchronize or desynchronize cortical areas using an antagonistic push-pull control scheme to raise or lower synchronizability. Our results suggest that synchronizability before seizures predicts seizure evolution: in focal seizures, the strongest controllers are located outside seizure-generating areas. These methods,while applied here to epilepsy, are generalizable to other brain networks, and have wide applicability in isolating and mapping functional drivers of brain dynamics in health and disease.
Challenges managing individuals with hereditary defects of the teeth

Developmental defects of the dentition are diverse in their etiologies and clinical presentations. There can be alterations in the number, position, eruption, structure, and composition of the teeth creating unique treatment challenges. Optimal management of developmental dental defects is predicated on establishing a diagnosis and often requires a team approach due to the diversity of the clinical manifestations. It is increasingly likely that the molecular etiologies of developmental defects of the dentition are known and having this information is helpful in predicting prognosis, identifying appropriate and emerging therapies, and ensuring patients receive appropriate information regarding their condition. Many developmental defects of the dentition are associated with systemic manifestations further adding to the importance of establishing a correct diagnosis. Orthodontic management of individuals with developmental defects of the dentition will be highly varied and will be predicated on the diagnosis and clinical manifestations. Individuals with missing teeth may require space closure while people who have supernumerary teeth associated with cleidocranial dysplasia may require alignment as well as forced eruption of the succedaneous teeth. Developmental defects of the dentition are often associated with jaw abnormalities such as clefts that occur with many syndromes, skeletal open bite as occurs in cases of amelogenesis imperfecta and mid-face deficiency as seen in conditions such as ectodermal dysplasia. Collectively, developmental defects of teeth are relatively common in the population and will challenge the diagnostic and clinical skills of the practitioner who strives to achieve optimal function and facial and dental esthetics for their patients.
Current situation and consideration of pharmacokinetic study on multiple components of traditional Chinese medicine

Facing the current situation, the paper reviewed the specificity, difficulty and significance in studying the pharmacokinetics of the multiple components of traditional Chinese medicine. Some key points in present pharmacokinetic study were also analyzed respectively in this paper, including the pharmacokinetic patterns of the individual herb, the prescription and its active fraction traditional Chinese medicine, the mechanism underlying the integrative effect of traditional Chinese medicinal prescription, the interaction between traditional Chinese medicine and chemical drug, and also the different pharmacokinetic patterns in the pathological situations of "Zheng" in traditional Chinese medicine and disease in modern medicine and the differences caused by different drug preparations. In addition, some viewpoints and suggestions were also given together with the consideration of "The basic technical requirements for the injections of traditional Chinese medicine and natural medicine".
The Emphasis on History in the Historical Novel

A commonplace in the criticism of the early nineteenth century — that Scott ranked second to Shakespeare as a delineator of character, and in his knowledge of the human heart and mind — was challenged, not long after Scott’s death, on the unexpected ground that he had violated the laws of probability. Harriet Martineau was not alone in her charge, made in her Autobiography, that The Bride of Lammermoor was Scott’s ‘one prefect plot’ because it was ‘taken bodily from real life’. The implication was that the rest of Scott’s novels, which were not so derived, had to be considered imperfect.
Supercritical Fluids as Novel Media for Chemical Reactions

Two molecular aggregates, an enzyme and micelle, in supercritical fluids have been studied with respect to their microstructures and activity for chemical reactions. Ester syntheses catalyzed by a lipase have been carried out in supercritical carbon dioxide. In the near-critical region, the rate showed a sharp maximum and (S) - (-) -terpene esters were stereoselectively synthesized from acyl donors and a primary alcohol. The structure of an enzyme and interactions between carbon dioxide and enzyme molecules have been examined by using in situ FTIR and gravimetry. The alkaline fading of crystal violet (CV) is accelerated by using a W/O microemulsion of H2O/AOT/ethane under supercritical conditions. The structure of AOT molecules and the type of interior water molecules may account for the rate enhancement.
A cost-effective modular programmable HV distribution system for photodetectors

In this paper, we present a scalable HV biasing circuit that is able to control 128 channels between FGND and FGND + 125 Volts (with FGND usually at -1800 Volts). The circuit features two boards: a floating HV board that references power and digital signals to a common floating ground (outside of the imaging head), and a HV bias board that houses four 32 channel DAC and a microcontroller elevated to -1800 V. We were able to bias dual PSAPD modules and obtain high quality flood histograms. We measured the ripple of the HV lines to be less than 20 mV RMS.
Mechanism of Action of Direct-Acting Antivirals: New Insights into the HCV Life Cycle

The urgent need for novel therapeutics to address the burden of disease associated with chronic hepatitis C has driven the development of direct-acting antivirals (DAA) that target hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication. Combination therapies targeting multiple viral proteins can increase the genetic barrier to resistance, and all-oral, interferon-free regimens combining different classes of DAA are proving highly effective in treating chronic hepatitis C. Most if not all HCV nonstructural proteins are multifunctional and act in concert with viral and cellular interaction partners in macromolecular complexes. As a consequence, inhibitors that target a single HCV protein can impact several different stages in the HCV life cycle. Studies designed to understand how DAAs act on the functions of individual HCV proteins at the molecular level have provided novel insights into the viral replicase complex, viral RNA synthesis, and virion assembly. DAAs currently used in the clinic include inhibitors that target the NS3/4A protease, the NS5A protein, and the NS5B RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. This review will discuss the mode of action of each of the major classes of antiviral drugs and how they interrupt the HCV life cycle at the molecular level.
The Wilderness Pilgrimage Code

This chapter begins by outlining the views of Stanley Hauerwas who insists that a meaningful (Christian) story is the ontological foundation upon which a person or a community develops self-identity, moral virtues, socio-political institutions, and social ethics. The chapter then moves on to the key discussion of the Wilderness Pilgrimage code strongly backed by Sang Hyun Lee. Lee finds the Abraham story in the Hebrew Bible as the narrative upon and in mimicking which Korean American Christians have constructed their own version of the “pilgrimage-in-the-wilderness” story as the community’s ontological narrative ground. The chapter introduces three style variations of the given code: the Allegorical-Typological Narrative style, the Eschatological-Symbolic Narrative style, and the Illustrative-Utilitarian Narrative style.
Discrete computational mechanics for stiff phenomena

Many natural phenomena which occur in the realm of visual computing and computational physics, like the dynamics of cloth, fibers, fluids, and solids as well as collision scenarios are described by stiff Hamiltonian equations of motion, i.e. differential equations whose solution spectra simultaneously contain extremely high and low frequencies. This usually impedes the development of physically accurate and at the same time efficient integration algorithms. We present a straightforward computationally oriented introduction to advanced concepts from classical mechanics. We provide an easy to understand step-by-step introduction from variational principles over the Euler-Lagrange formalism and the Legendre transformation to Hamiltonian mechanics. Based on such solid theoretical foundations, we study the underlying geometric structure of Hamiltonian systems as well as their discrete counterparts in order to develop sophisticated structure preserving integration algorithms to efficiently perform high fidelity simulations.
Inertial flow of a dilute suspension over cavities in a microchannel

Microfluidic experiments and discrete particle simulations using the lattice-Boltzmann method are used to study interactions of finite size hard spheres and vortical flow inside confined cavities in a microchannel. The work focuses on entrapment of particles inside confined cavities and particle dynamics after entrapment. Numerical simulations and imaging of fluorescent tracers demonstrate that spiralling flow generates exchange of fluid mass between the vortical flow and the channel, contrary to the concept of a well-defined separatrix in unconfined cavities. An isolated finite size particle entrapped in the cavity migrates towards a stable orbit, i.e. a limit cycle trajectory. The topology of the limit cycle depends on cavity size, particle diameter and flow inertia, represented by Reynolds number. By studying various factors affecting the acceleration of a particle before entrapment, it is discussed that entrapment is a collective effect of flow morphology and particle dynamics. The effect of hydrodynamic interaction between particles inside the cavity, which results in deviation from the stable limit cycle orbit and depletion of cavities, will also be discussed. It is shown that a wall-confined microcavity entraps particles based on particle size, therefore it provides a platform for microfiltration.
Three-Dimensional Computer Simulation of Gas Flow and Particle Transport in a Horizontal Diffusion Furnace

Numerical simulation of gas flow, heat transfer, and particle transport in a horizontal diffusion is presented. The wafers are cooled by inlet cold gas convectively but heated by furnace wall radiatively. Gas velocity between the wafers appears to be small compared with the bulk gas flow. A significant cooling of the first wafer in the batch is observed. Trajectories of aerosol particles in the furnace are predicted by solving the corresponding Lagrangian equation of motion that includes effects of temperature, drag, lift, gravity, and Brownian motion. Particle transport and deposition on the wafers are evaluated using three-dimensional particle trajectories.
A Metaphorical Conversation: Gadamer and Zhuangzi on Textual Unity

In Truth and Method, Gadamer asserts that prior to beginning the process of understanding a text, we make certain assumptions about the text being a unity modeled on a one-on-one conversation. How should we approach a text that was composed by so many authors over such a long span of time? Using resources from the Zhuangzi, I argue for expanding the metaphor across time, space, and identity in order to rethink Gadamer's assumption and its operative metaphor.
Bias Associated with Electrofishing Estimates for Mountain Whitefish in Rivers: Four Different Ways we Killed Whitefish this Summer

Habitat degradation has been identified as one of the major factors affecting the declines of fishes in the Columbia River Basin. The condition of physical habitat and the biotic integrity of stream systems are often directly correlated with substantial alterations to key landscape attributes. As such, numerous approaches to measure watershed condition have been developed. Here, we compare two separate measures of watershed condition: 1) a GIS-based measure of condition, i.e., top down; and 2) a ground based assessment of condition, i.e., bottom up), using field data collected across 1200 sites in the Interior Columbia River Basin under the PIBO Effectiveness Monitoring Project. With our GIS approach, we integrate land management and natural disturbance from watershed upstream of sample reaches into an overall watershed condition score. With our bottom-up approach, we integrate stream temperature data, indices of macroinvertebrate health, and an index of physical habitat condition from reach-level field data into an overall condition score. Our results indicate significant differences in assessments of condition across the two methods, as the GIS approach ranked considerably more watersheds with management activities into a low condition category than found in the bottom-up approach. Conversely, the GIS approach also categorized most watersheds with no or minimal management activities, i.e., reference, as low risk, while the field-based, bottom up approach illustrated a wide range of condition of reference sites due to natural disturbances. Our results suggest GIS-based approaches tended to quantify the ‘risk’ rather than condition within watersheds. The bottom-up approach tended to quantify actual conditions within streams, without consideration of potential risks associated with land management activities. Here, we advocate the most beneficial approach that would be some combination of the two to help guide and prioritize restoration activities to enhance habitat conditions and minimize risk of catastrophic disturbances.
National Security Culture: Gender, Race and Class in the Production of Imperial Citizenship

This article is about how national security culture sets out, in raced, gendered, and classed terms, to prepare the U.S. public to take up their role as citizens of empire. The cultural imagination of national security, I argue, is shaped both by the national security state and the media industry. Drawing on archival material, I offer a contextual analysis of key national security visual texts in two periods—the early Cold War era and the Obama phase of the War on Terror. A comparative analysis of the two periods shows that while Cold War practices inform the War on Terror, there are also discontinuities. A key difference is the inclusion of women and people of color within War on Terror imperial citizenship, inflected by the logic of a neoliberal form of feminism and multiculturalism. I argue that such inclusion is not positive and urge scholars to combine an intersectional analysis of identity with a structural critique of neoliberal imperialism.
The Impact of Nontarget Concerns on the Practice of Biological Control

The recent entomological literature contains a spate of articles and volumes concerning the impact of biological control agents on nontarget species. These range from thoughtful (Louda et al. 1997) to provocative (Miller and Aplet 1993) to highly critical (Howarth et al. 1997). Taken together, they set the tone for a debate which is just beginning to attract the research funding necessary to generate data of sufficient quality and quantity to try to evaluate impacts.
Depressive symptoms and poorer performance on the Stroop Task are associated with weight gain.

Abstract Objective Executive function impairments and depression are associated with obesity but whether they predict weight gain is unclear. Methods Forty-six individuals (35 m, 37 ± 10y) completed the Stroop Task, Iowa Gambling Task (IGT), Wisconsin Card Sorting Task (WCST), Inventory for Depressive Symptomatology (IDS-SR), Physical Anhedonia Scale (PAS), and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Body composition (DXA) and fasting glucose were also measured. Data from return visits were used to assess changes in weight. Results Poorer Stroop and WCST performance associated with higher BMI whereas poorer IGT and WCST performance associated with higher body fat (%; all p's ≤ 0.05). Stroop interference (p = 0.04; p = 0.05) and IDS-SR (p = 0.06; p = 0.02) associated with increased BMI and weight gain (%/yr). In a multivariate linear model Stroop interference (β = 0.40, p Conclusions Poorer response inhibition and depressive symptoms, but not glucose levels, predicted weight gain. Evaluating neurocognitive and mood deficits could improve current treatment strategies for weight loss. Clinical Trial Registration Numbers NCT00523627 , NCT00342732 , NCT01224704 . clinicaltrials.gov
The Case for Severe Mental Illness as a Disparities Category

Extensive evidence documents that people with severe mental illness have higher rates of morbidity and mortality compared with the general population and receive lower-quality and higher-cost health care. These trends, at least in part, stem from discrimination, exclusion, widespread stigma, and criminalization of individuals with mental illness. As such, severe mental illness should receive formal, national recognition as a disparities category. Such a designation would have multiple important implications in health policy, services and quality research, and advocacy.
Empathy in Internal Medicine Residents at Community-based Hospitals: A Cross-sectional Study:

Introduction:Many research reports revealed declining empathy in medical schools that continues in postgraduate years of training.Objective:The aim of this study is to examine the self-reported emp...
Private Label Sourcing Negotiation: Premium PL from Dual Brander

As private labels become proliferated, retailers are introducing premium PLs that replace marginal national brands. We examine a special case of tiered private label sourcing, in which a premium PL is supplied by the manufacturer of the corresponding NB (dual brander), and an economy PL is supplied by a dedicated PL supplier. In our model, the NB’s wholesale and retail prices are determined by the traditional bilateral Nash game. However, the premium PL’s wholesale price is determined through a profit-sharing negotiation between the channel members. From an equilibrium-negotiation solution, we derive profit implications of NB’s brand equity, the retailer’s reputation, and the intrinsic quality of the NB. Interestingly, even if the retails holds a strong negotiation power, we find it optimal for the retailer leave some chips on the table for the NB manufacturer.
Micrornas in solid tumors

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs (17–25 nt) that modulate the expression of genes by negatively regulating translation and stability of messenger RNAs (mRNAs). miRNAs have emerged as critical players in cancer initiation and progression processes due to their documented roles in either promoting (oncogenic) or suppressing (tumor-suppressors) oncogenesis. Dysregulation of miRNA expression levels and associated alterations in gene expressions have been demonstrated in various solid tumors. In this chapter, biogenesis of miRNAs and dysregulation of miRNAs in tumor formation, maintenance and metastasis as well as potential role of miRNAs as cancer biomarkers and therapeutic targets for anticancer treatment are discussed.
SYSTEMIC DISEASE | Eosinophilic Lung Diseases

Eosinophilic lung diseases are a diverse group of disorders characterized by eosinophilic infiltration of the airways or lung parenchyma, with or without extrapulmonary involvement. Some pulmonary eosinophilic disorders are due to specific causes or exposures (e.g., parasitic, fungal, or mycobacterial infections; hematological or solid malignancies; connective tissue disorders; drugs; environmental exposures) whereas in others no cause or inciting factor is recognized. Eosinophils are proinflammatory and may cause tissue injury, but may also be helpful to eradicate parasites or specific infections. Irrespective of cause, clinical, pathologic, and radiographic features of eosinophilic syndromes overlap extensively. In this article, we discuss the salient clinical features and management of the following pulmonary eosinophilic syndromes: tropical pulmonary eosinophilia, a hypersensitivity response caused by parasites (helminths); acute eosinophilic pneumonia due to other infectious causes (e.g., mycobacteria, fungi, Pneumocystis carinii); idiopathic eosinophilic pneumonias, which comprise simple pulmonary eosinophilia, acute eosinophilic pneumonia, and chronic eosinophilic pneumonia; allergic angiitis and granulomatosis (Churg–Strauss syndrome); allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis; idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome; eosinophilia–myalgia syndrome; and toxic oil syndrome.
High-Stakes Testing: Worth the Price?:

The Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) is a classic case of the high-stakes test, accompanied by rewards for high performing schools and sanctions for lower performing schools. In this stud...
Measurement of hold-up volumes in reverse-phase liquid chromatography: Definition and comparison between static and dynamic methods

The hold-up volumes, V(M) of two series of RPLC adsorbents were measured using three different approaches. The first method is based on the difference between the volumes of the empty column tube (150x4.6mm) and of the material packed inside the column. It is considered as giving the correct value of V(M). This method combines the results of the BET characterization of the adsorbent before packing (giving the specific pore volume), of carbon element analysis (giving the mass fraction of silica and alkyl bonded chains), of Helium pycnometry (providing silica density), and of inverse size exclusion chromatography (ISEC) performed on the packed column (yielding the interparticle volume). The second method is static pycnometry, which consists in weighing the masses of the chromatographic column filled with two distinct solvents of different densities. The last method is based on the thermodynamic definition of the hold-up volume and uses the dynamic minor disturbance method (MDM) with binary eluents. The experimental results of these three non-destructive methods are compared. They exhibit significant, systematic differences. Pycnometry underestimates V(M) by a few percent for adsorbents having a high carbon content. The results of the MDM method depend strongly on the choice of the binary solution used and may underestimate or overestimate V(M). The hold-up volume V(M) of the RPLC adsorbents tested is best measured by the MDM method using a mixture of ethanol and water.
Helminth-Nematode: Trichinella spiralis and Other Trichinella Species

Nematode parasites of the genus Trichinella are found in a wide variety of animals in virtually every country where it has been studied. A considerable body of new knowledge on the systematics and phylogeny of this parasite has emerged in recent years, along with a better understanding of its transmission patterns. Historically associated with pork, human trichinellosis, resulting from the ingestion of Trichinella larvae in raw or undercooked meat, can be a serious disease. In many parts of the world, pork no longer poses a significant risk to consumers due to a combination of effective meat inspection programs and biosecure pork production systems which prevent exposure to the parasite; however, pork remains a source of infection when pigs are raised under unsanitary conditions including exposure to rodents and wildlife. Game meats (e.g., bear) and atypical hosts (e.g., horses) are also important sources of human infection. New strategies for control including, certifying pork production systems as having negligible risk based on controlled management will further reduce the risk of human exposure to this foodborne parasite.
What Are the Net Benefits of Reducing the Ozone Standard to 65 ppb? An Alternative Analysis.

In October 2015, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lowered the level of the ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) from 0.075 ppm to 0.070 ppm (annual 4th highest daily maximum 8-h concentration, averaged over three years). The EPA estimated a 2025 annual national non-California net benefit of $1.5 to $4.5 billion (2011$, 7% discount rate) for a 0.070 ppm standard, and a −$1.0 to $14 billion net benefit for an alternative 0.065 ppm standard. The purpose of this work is to present a combined toxicological and economic assessment of the EPA’s benefit-cost analysis of the 2015 ozone NAAQS. Assessing the quality of the epidemiology studies based on considerations of bias, confounding, chance, integration of evidence, and application of the studies for future population risk estimates, we derived several alternative benefits estimates. We also considered the strengths and weaknesses of the EPA’s cost estimates (e.g., marginal abatement costs), as well as estimates completed by other authors, and provided our own alternative cost estimate. Based on our alternative benefits and cost calculations, we estimated an alternative net benefit of between −$0.3 and $1.8 billion for a 0.070 ppm standard (2011 $, 7% discount rate) and between −$23 and −$17 billion for a 0.065 ppm standard. This work demonstrates that alternative reasonable assumptions can generate very difference cost and benefits estimates that may impact how policy makers view the outcomes of a major rule.
Contralateral Lateral Femoral Condyle Allografts Provide an Acceptable Surface Match for Simulated Classic Osteochondritis Dissecans Lesions of the Medial Femoral Condyle

Background:Osteochondral allograft transplantation is an effective technique for repairing large lesions of the medial femoral condyle (MFC), but its use is limited by graft availability.Purpose/Hy...
New measurement of the 238 U decay constant with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

The 238U decay constant (λU-238) is fundamental to radioisotope-based chronometry in the Earth and planetary sciences, yet only a single published λU-238 value (Jaffey et al. in Phys Rev C 4(5):1889–1906, 1971) is widely applied. We have determined λU-238 via the novel approach of measuring of 234Th ingrowth in high-purity 238U solutions, using isotope dilution mass spectrometry (ID-MS). The 234Th decay constant (λTh-234) was measured via decay counting with high-purity Ge (HPGe) γ detectors. Preliminary results for λU-238 agree with the value determined by α-counting [1] within the elevated uncertainty of 0.462% (k = 2). Ongoing efforts to reproduce λU-238 with reduced experimental uncertainties will inform future conclusions.
GRAND: Unbiased Connectome Atlas of Brain Network by Groupwise Graph Shrinkage and Network Diffusion

Network science is enhancing our understanding of how the human brain works at a systems level. A complete population-wise mapping of region-to-region connections, called connectome atlas, is the key to gaining a more full understanding for network-related brain disorders and for discovering biomarkers for early diagnosis. Since a brain network is commonly encoded in an adjacency matrix, it is difficult to apply the state-of-the-art atlas construction approaches by normalizing and averaging the individual adjacency matrices into a common space. In this paper, we propose a novel data-driven approach to construct an unbiased connectome atlas to capture both shared and complementary network topologies across individual brain networks, offering insight into the full spectrum of brain connectivity. Specifically, we employ a hypergraph to model the manifold of a population of brain networks. In this hypergraph, each node represents the individual participant’s brain network, and the edge weight captures the distance between two participants’ brain networks. The construction of a connectome atlas can be achieved using a hierarchical process of graph shrinkage toward the latent common space where the network topologies of all individual brain networks gradually become similar to each other. During the graph shrinkage, the adjacency matrix of each brain network is transformed to the common space by a series of diffusion matrices which exchange the connectome information with respect to the adjacency matrices on the neighboring hypergraph nodes such that the most representative characteristics of network topology are eventually propagated to the final connectome atlas. We have validated our connectome atlas construction method on the simulated brain network data and DTI data of 111 twin pairs in determining the genetic contribution of the structural connectivity.
Influence of raceway surface finish on white etching crack generation in WEC critical oil under rolling-sliding conditions

Abstract In this work, cylindrical roller thrust bearings (CRTBs) with different raceway surface finishes were life tested under rolling-sliding conditions in WEC critical oil. After testing, white etching cracks (WECs) had formed in the raceways of the commercially available standard CRTBs from the test rig manufacturer. However, after embedded abrasive particles were introduced into the raceways (from the lapping process), neither the post-test raceways nor the rollers had WECs, and the damage mode had changed. When the embedded particles were removed by a polishing step, the raceways again showed damage from WECs. The WEC-damaged raceways had “hump”-like raised areas on their tribosurfaces, and each raised area had WECs underneath it. The raised areas were observed to be the locations of surface cracking or spalls. Although WECs are generated in the subsurface, their formation depends on the surface quality of the raceways, and the results suggest that WECs formation is surface driven phenomena. Owing to its fatigue resistance, case-carburized 3310 steel showed significant life improvement in WEC critical oil and in rolling-sliding conditions, irrespective of the damage mode.
Special Populations in Implantable Auditory Devices: Pediatric.

"Hearing loss in the pediatric population can have significant social and developmental implications. Early auditory rehabilitation by at least 6 months of age is imperative. Although traditional hearing aids are often a first-line treatment option, there is a wide array of implantable auditory devices available. This article describes the indications for such devices as they pertain to the pediatric population, including osseointegrated bone-conduction devices, middle ear implants, cochlear implants, and auditory brainstem implants."
Reduction of Surrogates for Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella during the Production of Nonintact Beef Products by Chemical Antimicrobial Interventions

The efficacy of chemical antimicrobials for controlling Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella during production of marinated nonintact beef products was evaluated using nonpathogenic surrogates. Boneless beef strip loins were inoculated with either approximately 5.8 or 1.9 log CFU/cm2 (high and low inoculation levels, respectively) of nonpathogenic rifampin-resistant E. coli. Inoculated strip loins were chilled at 2°C for 24 h, vacuum packaged, and aged for 7 to 24 days at 2°C. After aging, strip loins received no treatment (control) or one of five antimicrobial spray treatments: 2.5% l-lactic acid (pH 2.6), 5.0% l-lactic acid (pH 2.4), 1,050 ppm of acidified sodium chlorite (pH 2.8), 205 ppm of peroxyacetic acid (pH 5.2), or tap water (pH 8.6). Mean application temperatures were 53, 26, 20, and 18°C for lactic acid, water, peroxyacetic acid, and acidified sodium chlorite treatments, respectively. Treated and control strip loins were vacuum tumbled in a commercial marinade. Samples were collected throug...
Multilingual Whispers: Generating Paraphrases with Translation.

Naturally occurring paraphrase data, such as multiple news stories about the same event, is a useful but rare resource. This paper compares translation-based paraphrase gathering using human, automatic, or hybrid techniques to monolingual paraphrasing by experts and non-experts. We gather translations, paraphrases, and empirical human quality assessments of these approaches. Neural machine translation techniques, especially when pivoting through related languages, provide a relatively robust source of paraphrases with diversity comparable to expert human paraphrases. Surprisingly, human translators do not reliably outperform neural systems. The resulting data release will not only be a useful test set, but will also allow additional explorations in translation and paraphrase quality assessments and relationships.
Secretive Marsh Bird Densities and Habitat Associations in the Prairie Pothole Region

After centuries of wetland modification, wetland-dependent wildlife are of high conservation concern. Particularly important are secretive marsh birds, a cryptic and understudied guild of wetland-dependent birds, many of which have experienced population declines concurrent with anthropogenic modification of wetlands. We used point-based sampling to investigate densities and habitat associations of secretive marsh birds at multiple spatial scales in the Prairie Pothole Region of North Dakota. We focused on five species for modeling. The most abundant species was Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola; 0.20 individual-ha SE = 0.04), followed by Sora (Porzana carolina; 0.13 individual-ha SE = 0.02), American Coot (Fulica americana; 0.08 individual-ha SE = 0.02), American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosis; 0.07 individual-ha SE = 0.03), and Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps; 0.06 individual-ha SE = 0.01). Densities of all species were best explained by multi-scale models. Despite a few commonalities, secretive marsh birds have diverse habitat requirements and models suggest species-specific wetland complex management will likely be most effective. This information provides a baseline for species with previously unknown densities and informs conservation actions and policy for secretive marsh birds in the northern Great Plains.
Primary pleural angiosarcoma: Case report and literature review.

Primary pleural angiosarcoma is an exceptionally rare malignancy of pleura originating from the vascular endothelial cells. Here, we present a 70-year-old African-American female who presented with...
The Persistence Potential of Mobile Genetic Elements

Abstract Mobile genetic elements (MGEs), such as plasmids, phages, and transposons, play a critical role in mediating the transfer and maintenance of diverse traits and functions in microbial communities. This role depends on the ability of MGEs to persist. For a community consisting of multiple populations transferring multiple MGEs, however, the conditions underlying the persistence of these MGEs are poorly understood. Computationally, this difficulty arises from the combinatorial explosion associated with describing the gene flow in a complex community using the conventional modeling framework. Here, we describe an MGE-centric framework that makes it computationally feasible to analyze such transfer dynamics. Using this framework, we derive the persistence potential: a general, heuristic metric that predicts the persistence and abundance of any MGEs. We validate the metric with engineered microbial consortia transferring mobilizable plasmids and quantitative data available in the literature. Our modeling framework and the resulting metric have implications for developing a quantitative understanding of natural microbial communities and guiding the engineering of microbial consortia.
Conformal gradient-index phononic crystal lens for ultrasonic wave focusing in pipe-like structures

We explore a conformal gradient-index phononic crystal lens integrated within a pipe to amplify guided wave modes toward improved ultrasonic inspection of pipelines. The proposed conformal lens is composed of an array of cylindrical steel stubs attached to the outer surface of a steel pipe, which are tailored according to the hyperbolic secant profile of refractive index in the circumferential direction of the pipe. Hence, the ultrasonic guided wave energy is focused in the axial direction of the pipe and amplified at the focal point of the lens. Refractive indices are calculated using dispersion curves obtained from the finite element simulations of the stubbed unit cells, and the curved lens is designed for the second longitudinal wave mode of the pipe, which is commonly used in guided wave testing. The proposed lens design is implemented on a steel pipe, which is typically used in the distribution networks utilized in cities, and simultaneous focusing of longitudinal wave modes in a broad frequency range is verified through both numerical models and experimental measurements.
Emotion attribution in intermittent explosive disorder.

Abstract Background Accurate recognition of the emotions of others is an important part of healthy neurological development and promotes positive psychosocial adaptation. Differences in emotional recognition may be associated with the presence of emotional biases and can alter one's perception, thus influencing their overall social cognition abilities. The present study aims to extend our collective understanding of emotion attribution abnormalities in individuals with Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED). Methods Two-hundred and forty-two adults participated, separated into groups of those diagnosed with IED according to DSM 5 criteria, Psychiatric Controls (PC), and Healthy Controls (HC). Participants completed a modified version of the Emotional Attribution Task wherein they attributed an emotion to the main character of a short vignette. Results Participants with IED correctly identified anger stories and misattributed anger to non-anger stories significantly more often than PC and HC participants. They were also significantly less likely than HC participants to correctly identify “sad stories.” Limitations We utilized self-report assessments in a community-recruited sample. Replication in a clinical is suggested. Conclusions Findings from this study support the validity of IED as a diagnostic entity and provide important information about how individuals with psychiatric disorders perceive and experience emotional cues.
News-Driven Peer Co-Movement in Crypto Markets

When large idiosyncratic shocks hit a cryptocurrency, some of its peers experience unusually large returns of the opposite sign. The co-movement is concentrated among peers that are co-mentioned with shocked cryptos in the news, and that are listed in the same exchanges as shocked cryptos. It is a form of mis-pricing that vanishes after several weeks, giving rise to predictable returns. We propose a profitable trading strategy that exploits this predictability, and explain our results with a slow information processing mechanism. To establish our results, we develop a novel natural language processing technology that identifies crypto peers from news data. Our results highlight the news as a key driver of co-movement among peer assets.
Using Contextual Information to Selectively Adjust Preprocessing Parameters

It is generally accepted that some of the problems and ambiguities at the low level of recognition and processing can not be resolved without taking into account contextual expectations. However, in most recognition systems in use today, preprocessing is done using only bottom-up information. In this work we present a working stystem that is inspired by human perception and can use contextual information to modify preprocessing of local regions of the input pattern in order to improve recognition. This is especially useful, and often necessary, during the recognition of complex objects where changing the preprocessing of one section improves recognition of that section but has an adverse effect on the rest of the object. We present the results of our recognition system applied to on-line cursive script where in some cases the error rate is decreased by 20%.
The impact of endoscopic sinus surgery on total direct healthcare costs among patients with chronic rhinosinusitis.

Background This study investigates how endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) impacts total direct healthcare costs, medication usage, and frequency of imaging among patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Methods Data were obtained from the MarketScan® Commercial Claims and Encounters databases (Truven Health Analytics); patients who underwent ESS for CRS in 2008 were identified. Healthcare costs, days of antibiotic and oral steroid usage, and number of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies were collected for 12 months prior to and 36 months after surgery and compared in 1-year intervals. Results A total of 8963 surgical patients were included. Median total direct costs fell from $4750 at preoperative baseline (95% confidence interval [CI], $4661 to $4838) to $4212 by year 3 after surgery (95% CI, $4078 to $4346). Disease-specific costs related to conditions commonly associated with CRS—asthma, allergy, depression, and headache–all decreased in the years after surgery; the reduction was significant for all conditions but asthma. Mean days of antibiotic usage per year decreased from 28.2 days before surgery to 15.9 days by year 3 after surgery, p value <0.001. Days of oral corticosteroid usage remained stable at just over 7 days. Mean number of imaging studies fell from an average of 1.6 in the year before surgery to 0.2 by year 3 after surgery, p value <0.001. Conclusion Among patients who underwent ESS for CRS, total direct healthcare costs, antibiotic usage, and number of imaging studies decreased after surgery, and remained below preoperative levels throughout all 3 years of follow-up. Oral corticosteroid usage remained stable.
Stress and Terrorism

Terrorism has long occupied a place in human history, yet we have only recently begun to systematically investigate its effects on our mental and physical health. Extant research finds evidence that direct and indirect exposure to terrorism is associated with psychological distress, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression. Surprisingly, research also suggests that exposure to terrorism can trigger processes of adaptation that stimulate resilience in individuals and communities. This entry reviews the various types and forms of terrorism (transnational and domestic, state-sponsored and non-state-sponsored), and the links between terrorism and adverse health outcomes. Special attention is paid to the emerging research on the positive consequences arising from exposure to terrorism. The various response trajectories of individuals who have been exposed to terrorism are outlined. The entry focuses, in particular, on interdisciplinary explanations for the heterogeneous nature of individuals’ responses to terrorism, and concludes by examining whether the current research agenda can be further expanded to better understand the multilevel factors that contribute to adverse health consequences after exposure to terrorism. Keywords: conflict; post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); stress; war
The Technical Writing of Scientific Papers

ABSTRACT.This article reviews the steps used in preparing a scientific article as well as the process used by a journal in preparing a manuscript for publication. The author needs to select a topic, then read articles on the topic before continuing with the paper. These steps help the author to formulate a thesis and outline, and to set up a working bibliography. Careful notetaking during library research will make the paper easier to organize and will facilitate putting the final bibliography together. The recommended order of actually writing the paper is the following: write the body of the paper topic by topic as it appears in the outline, revise it as needed, then write the introduction and the conclusion. Papers published by the American Journal of EEG Technology are approved by three or more peer reviewers. The editor helps the author by checking the copy for spelling and grammar and by working with the printers to assure an accurate, professional final product.
Alteration in Lipoprotein Composition with Intravenous Compared to Intragastric Fat-Free Feeding in the Rat

Rats were fed continuously for 7 d with fat-free total parenteral nutrition solutions delivered intravenously (IV) or intragastrically (IG) to determine changes in plasma lipoprotein composition due to elimination of intestinal nutrient absorption. IV feeding resulted in significantly lower plasma levels of apoA-I and A-IV, which are synthesized by the intestine, and in a 40% reduction in the weight of intestinal mucosa. Higher apoE levels in plasma, a greater proportion of apoE-enriched HDL1 particles and proportionately more HDL cholesterol were observed in IV- than in IG-fed animals. IV feeding also resulted in lower apoC-II levels in the HDL fraction. These differences in plasma apolipoprotein and HDL composition suggest alterations in lipoprotein metabolism with IV compared to IG feeding in the rat.
Vitamin D-sensitive and quinacrine-sensitive zinc transport in human intestinal cell line Caco-2

We studied the mechanism of transepithelial zinc (Zn) transport using monolayers of Caco-2 cells grown on permeable filter supports. 65Zn transport could be fitted to a modified Michaelis-Menten eq...