cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Further properties of stochastic processes

We have seen in the previous chapter how to define a stochastic process using a sequence of Gaussian infinitesimal increments dW , and how to obtain new stochastic processes as the solutions to stochastic differential equations driven by this Gaussian noise. We have seen that a stochastic process is a random variable x(t) at each time t , and we have calculated its probability density, P(x, t) , average 〈 x(t) 〉 and variance V[x(t)] . In this chapter we will discuss and calculate some further properties of a stochastic process, in particular its sample paths, two-time correlation function , and power spectral density (or power spectrum ). We also discuss the fact that Wiener noise is white noise . Sample paths A sample path of the Wiener process is a particular choice (or realization ) of each of the increments dW . Since each increment is infinitesimal, we cannot plot a sample path with infinite accuracy, but must choose some time discretization Δ t , and plot W(t) at the points n Δ t . Note that in doing so, even though we do not calculate W(t) for the points in-between the values n Δ t , the points we plot do lie precisely on a valid sample path, because we know precisely the probability density for each increment Δ W on the intervals Δ t . If we chose Δ t small enough, then we cannot tell by eye that the resolution is limited.
Recent developments in understanding ethnocultural and race differences in trauma exposure and PTSD

Our understanding of demographic specifications that put certain individuals at greater risk for trauma exposure and subsequent development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has grown significantly over the past few decades. This brief review specifically examines the studies exploring the potential influence of ethnocultural and racial group status on trauma exposure and PTSD, with a focus on findings published recently in the past five years. We first provide a brief review of current epidemiological data examining associations among ethnicity/culture/race and trauma exposure/PTSD. We then explore a few related constructs (namely, stigma, acculturation/ethnic identity, and discrimination) in relation to trauma exposure and PTSD, with a focus on what is currently known about how these variables are empirically related to one another.
Comprehensively Deepening Reform and Stepping up Efforts to Form a Modern NGO System

The 18th National Congress of CPC first expressly proposed to speed up efforts to promote social structural reform. So far, the overall framework for social structural reform has basically taken shape. Social structural reform is the core strategy for the second stage of China’s deepening reform in all aspects; the core strategy for the first stage is economic structural reform, including reform in other fields.
Anomaly detection for a vibrating structure: A subspace identification/tracking approach

Mechanical devices operating in noisy environments lead to low signal-to-noise ratios creating a challenging signal processing problem to monitor the vibrational signature of the device in real-time. To detect/classify a particular type of device from noisy vibration data, it is necessary to identify signatures that make it unique. Resonant (modal) frequencies emitted offer a signature characterizing its operation. The monitoring of structural modes to determine the condition of a device under investigation is essential, especially if it is a critical entity of an operational system. The development of a model-based scheme capable of the on-line tracking of structural modal frequencies by applying both system identification methods to extract a modal model and state estimation methods to track their evolution is discussed along with the development of an on-line monitor capable of detecting anomalies in real-time. An application of this approach to an unknown structural device is discussed illustrating the approach and evaluating its performance.
Natural diversity facilitates the discovery of conserved chemotherapeutic response mechanisms

Organismal fitness depends on adaptation to complex niches where chemical compounds and pathogens are omnipresent. These stresses can lead to the fixation of alleles in both xenobiotic responses and proliferative signaling pathways that promote survival in these niches. However, both xenobiotic responses and proliferative pathways vary within and among species. For example, genetic differences can accumulate within populations because xenobiotic exposures are not constant and selection is variable. Additionally, neutral genetic variation can accumulate in conserved proliferative pathway genes because these systems are robust to genetic perturbations given their essential roles in normal cell-fate specification. For these reasons, sensitizing mutations or chemical perturbations can disrupt pathways and reveal cryptic variation. With this fundamental view of how organisms respond to cytotoxic compounds and cryptic variation in conserved signaling pathways, it is not surprising that human patients have highly variable responses to chemotherapeutic compounds. These different responses result in the low FDA-approval rates for chemotherapeutics and underscore the need for new approaches to understand these diseases and therapeutic interventions. Model organisms, especially the classic invertebrate systems of Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila melanogaster, can be used to combine studies of natural variation across populations with responses to both xenobiotic compounds and chemotherapeutics targeted to conserved proliferative signaling pathways.
Building a Reiki and Healing Touch volunteer program at an Academic Medical Center

Abstract As the patient experience gains more attention, hospitals are responding by offering a broader range of options to support patient health and healing. One type of integrative therapy is biofield therapy or energy-based therapy and includes practices of Reiki and Healing Touch. At 1 large Midwest medical center, a small group of care providers came together to address increasing patient interest and requests for Reiki and Healing Touch. The group developed a volunteer program in response. The purpose of this article is to outline the background, development process, and experiences with establishing a medical center's Reiki and Healing Touch volunteer program.
The Urban Apartment as “Womenspace”: Negotiating Class and Gender in Indian English Novels

(2008). The Urban Apartment as “Womenspace”: Negotiating Class and Gender in Indian English Novels. South Asian Review: Vol. 29, Perspectives on South Asian Women's Writing, pp. 175-196.
Abstract P5-03-06: Novel targets of breast cancer associated with inflammatory tumor microenvironment

Breast cancer affects one in eight women in the USA. Considerable progress in the identification of genetic lesions and their modulation has resulted in newer therapies making breast cancer a manageable disease. However, triple negative breast cancer is still difficult to treat and warrants a search for newer targets. To this end, we focused our attention towards the modulation of the breast cancer epithelium by other cell types such as the endothelial cells and the macrophages. The migratory macrophages and the estrogen sensitive migratory endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) constitute the cellular milieu within the tumor microenvironment which continuously modulates breast cancer epithelium. We analyzed the interactions of the breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) with the highly proliferative human umbilical cord derived CD133+/CD34+/VEGFR-2+ EPCs and M1 polarized macrophages (activated THP-1 cell line) in two separate in vitro studies. The readouts were cell proliferation, changes in epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), and cellular differentiation. We observed morphological and cellular growth changes in the EPCs on treatment with conditioned medium (CM) generated from breast cancer cells, consistent with vasculogenesis and in vitro tubulogenesis. Both, MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 CM, treatments resulted in enhanced EPCs proliferation and differentiation. However, the differentiation patterns were distinct, with MCF-7 CM increasing the number of cell clusters, whereas MDA-MB-231 CM increasing the number of adherent spindle shaped cells. The paracrine interaction was also assessed with M1 polarized macrophages. We observed decreased cell viability in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells following activated THP-1 CM and exosome treatments. Analysis of exosomes from activated THP-1 indicated an upregulation of 13 miRNAs compared to unactivated THP-1. The miRNA hsa-miR-146a-5p had the highest upregulation (44 fold increase). This specific miRNA has been observed in senescent cell and it inhibits cell proliferation, suggesting a possible mechanism for exosome-associated growth inhibition. The analysis of the paracrine interactive mediators between breast cancer cells, EPCs, and M1 polarized macrophages is likely to yield viable novel clinically translatable therapeutic targets. Citation Format: Tiwari RK, Ben Rahoma G, Tuli N, Bednarczyk R, Maniyar RR, Chakraborty S, Singh S, Mittelman A, Geliebter J. Novel targets of breast cancer associated with inflammatory tumor microenvironment [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2017 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2017 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-03-06.
Personalized therapy following drug-eluting stenting using platelet function testing and C-reactive protein.

Recent advances in genetics and proteonomics have great potential to help tailor treatment to individual patients in remarkable ways. A focus of intense research is on “clopidogrel nonresponders,” who despite treatment with conventional-dose clopidogrel still demonstrate high on-treatment
Morphogenesis and Wound Healing in the Periodontium

Abstract The formation of new tissues during morphogenesis and wound healing involves similar processes, including cell proliferation, extracellular matrix synthesis, cell migration, and cell differentiation. However, the timing of events and the establishment of temporo-spatial boundaries between individual tissues are highly coordinated during morphogenesis, while the formation of the same tissues during wound healing appears to follow different parameters. This difference becomes especially obvious in the periodontal wound, in which differences in proliferation rate between epithelium and connective tissues cause junctional epithelium elongation, pocket formation, and a prevention of connective tissue attachment to the root surface. Moreover, the safe-guarding antimicrobial inflammatory response in adult periodontal wounds may also contribute to scar formation in periodontal tissues during wound healing [ 14 ]. The present chapter highlights some of the tissue dynamics involved in periodontal development and then revisits the history of periodontal restoration and regeneration as a classic example of the implementation of developmental biology principles in clinical practice. These classic studies first established the periodontal ligament as the key tissue capable of periodontal regeneration, and then demonstrated the deleterious effect of direct contact between alveolar bone and root cementum, resulting in ankylosis and root resorption. Guided tissue regeneration and the development of a barrier membrane preventing the apical growth of the epithelium and facilitating periodontal ligament proliferation became a logical consequence of these early studies in periodontal tissue engineering. Together, these studies resulted in the development of a number of materials and procedures for the benefit of periodontal regeneration.
Molecular genetics of lung cancer.

The specific genetic and epigenetic events leading to neoplastic transformation differ among tumor types, but several cellular pathways and important regulatory genes are known to be frequently involved. In lung cancer they include G protein signal transduction (ras genes and gastrin releasing peptides [GRPs]); epidermal growth factor (EGF), transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-α) and their family of receptors (EGFR and the products of the erbB-1 and erbB-2 proto-oncogenes); cell cycle regulation (involving the RB gene product, cyclins, cyclin-dependent kinases (cdk) and cdk inhibitors); and the p53 tumor suppressor gene, which integrates functions of DNA repair, genomic stability, transcription control and programmed cell death (apoptosis). Studies have also demonstrated or implied abnormal regulation and mutation of other genes and proteins, including c-myc, bcl-2, unidentified tumor suppressor genes on chromosomes 3p and 9p, and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) [1,2]. The biological and clinical significance of most of these alterations, and the nature of differences between small cell (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC), remain to be determined.
Pelvic Organ Prolapse: Planning for Surgery—Indications, Decision, Special Instruments, and Controversies

Prolapse surgery is an art form that requires considerable understanding of the female pelvic anatomy, pathophysiology of the prolapse occurrence, an appreciation of previous historical techniques, astute clinical acumen, and most importantly a sound doctor–patient relationship based on trust and informed consent. This chapter aims to provide a brief overview of the factors considered in the surgical planning for pelvic organ prolapse repair. In addition, we explored the “controversies” encountered on a common basis by pelvic floor surgeons in the surgical decision-making process.
Inter­molecular inter­actions in a phenol-substituted benzimidazole

Hydrogen bonding plays an important role in the design of solid-state structures and gels with desirable properties. 1-(4-Hydroxybenzyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-5,6-dimethyl-1H-benzimidazole was isolated as the acetone disolvate, C22H20N2O2·2C3H6O. O—H⋯N hydrogen bonding between benz­imidazole mol­ecules results in chains parallel to [010]. One of the acetone solvate mol­ecules participates in O—H⋯O hydrogen bonding with the benzimidazole derivative. C—H⋯π inter­actions are observed in the extended structure. Hirshfeld surface analysis was used to explore the inter­molecular inter­actions and density functional theory was used to estimate the strength of the hydrogen bonds.
Episodic learning

A system is described which learns to compose sequences of operators into episodes for problem solving. The system incrementally learns when and why operators are applied. Episodes are segmented so that they are generalizable and reusable. The idea of augmenting the instance language with higher level concepts is introduced. The technique of perturbation is described for discovering the essential features for a rule with minimal teacher guidance. The approach is applied to the domain of solving simultaneous linear equations.
Product Positionality as a Signal of Social Status

This study is concerned with the effect of social comparisons on consumers’ budget allocation across different product categories. We propose that consumers allocation is influenced by each category’s ability to signal social status, herein referred to as the category’s positionality. To test this assertion, we propose a metric of positionality that accounts for both visibility and expensiveness. Accordingly, we operationalize positionality as the product of visibility scores and consumption cost. The relevance of this metric is tested empirically by showing that it explains consumers’ budget allocation. The validity of the metric is established by proving that it strongly correlates with structural estimates of positionality. In addition, we investigate the conditions under which positionality is most influential. We demonstrate the moderating roles of: a) consumption disparity; b) consumers’ degree of social involvement; and c) consumers’ social class. The results indicate that the degree of social involvement is positively associated with levels of spending on positional goods. Comparison discrepancy, as approximated by income inequality, correlates negatively with levels of spending on positional product categories. However, income inequality also has a positive correlation with status consumption. Social class, as measured by occupational prestige, negatively correlates with the expenditure shares of positional goods. Implications to marketing and public policy are discussed.
Operating room PathTrac analysis of current intraoperative Staphylococcus aureus transmission dynamics

Background Operating room (OR) reservoir Staphylococcus aureus isolates have been linked to 50% of surgical site infections. We aimed to assess S aureus transmission dynamics in today's ORs to further guide health care–associated infection prevention. Methods Forty OR case-pairs were randomly selected for observation in a 5-month prospective cohort study. Case-pair S aureus transmission dynamics were mapped using OR PathTrac. Results S aureus pathogens were isolated from ≥1 OR reservoirs in 45.7% (37 of 81) of surgical cases, and epidemiologically related transmission events were confirmed in 22.5% (9 of 40) of case-pairs. Patient skin sites and provider hands provided comparable risk of OR S aureus exposure (19 of 481 patient vs 35 of 1,173 provider hands, relative risk [RR], 1.32; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.77-2.29; P = .32). Environmental contamination at case 2 start was higher than at case 1 start (case 2 start 32 of 152 sites with >20 colony-forming units vs case 1 start 7 of 163 sites with >20 colony-forming units; RR, 4.90; 95% CI, 2.23-10.77; P Conclusions Current OR S aureus exposure threats reliably include patient skin sites and provider hands. Perioperative S aureus preventive measures should extend from patient decolonization to include improved hand decontamination efforts.
Why universities voluntarily pursue US accreditation: the case of Mexico

Academic leaders at universities around the globe pursue US accreditation as a result of increasing globalization and internationalization of higher education. Few studies have examined administrators’ experiences with US accreditation. We address the following research question: Why do some private higher education institutions in Mexico pursue and maintain accreditation by US accreditation agencies? We present findings from an exploratory qualitative study of the perceptions of higher education administrators and faculty from three private institutions in Mexico: Instituto Tecnologico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (Tec Monterrey or ITESM), Universidad de las Americas Puebla (UDLAP), and Centro de Ensenanza Tecnica Y Superior (CETYS). We identify two isomorphic processes that led the universities to undergo review by US accreditors and discuss how those processes relate to time and location. Additionally, we discuss how administrators discussed accreditation as an interplay between internal leadership motivations and responses to external influences. Finally, participants see accreditation as part of larger efforts related to pursuing international academic recognition and educational quality. At the end of the paper, we discuss implications for future research and practice.
Elementary and Middle/Secondary Educator's Pre and Post Training Perceptions of Ability To Instruct Students with Disabilities.

The following discussion describes and evaluates an innovative training approach in which one hundred sixteen general educators (64 elementary and 52 middle/secondary) were educated in instructional and behavioral strategies to better serve students with disabilities. For a period of ten weeks a collaborative consultation intern and a university coordinator were assigned to teams of four to five general educators and a special educator at six elementary, four middle and two secondary schools. All schools served predominately rural students from North Central West Virginia. Each team attended weekly problem-solving seminars at their home schools. Prior to participation in the teacher preparation project, general educators rated their ability to work with students with disabilities. They again rated their ability to work with students with disabilities after their involvement in the project. The skill ratings of elementary and middle/secondary educators were analyzed and compared using the Assessment of Ski...
Fabrication of grooved-glass substrates by phase-mask lithography

A phase-shifting mask can be used to print groove servo patterns for optical storage disks and provides improved contrast and resolution in printed photoresist images when used in a projection printer such as a Perkin-Elmer MicralignTM-500 mask aligner. Such a phase- shifting photomask structure can be fabricated in the following way. Onto a conventional photoresist coated chrome on fused quartz photomask blank is written a pattern of concentric lines and spaces or a spiral pattern. The photoresist is developed and the exposed chrome etched in the conventional way to yield a transmission mask pattern of twice the pitch desired in the final groove pattern. The quartz is then etched, using the photoresist/chrome and/or chrome pattern as the resist, by either a wet or dry process, to a uniform depth. The depth of quartz etch must be controlled as well as the width of the groove and land in the mask as well as the radius at the bottom of the etched groove walls. The chrome is then completely removed to form a 'chromeless' phase-shifting mask. Phase-shifting masks of this sort have been fabricated and used successfully to print photoresist images on glass disks yielding patterned photoresist structures of 1.5 micrometers pitch, 1.2 micrometers pitch, and 1.0 micrometers pitch. The resulting photoresist pattern could be transferred into the glass substrate by wet or dry (RIE) etch processes to generate the desired glass etch pattern after photoresist removal. Phase- shifting masks of this design require careful dimensional control in 3 dimensions. If the dimensions are not carefully controlled, the desired photoresist pattern is not obtained. For example, if the dimension of the mask groove is too large or if the bottom of the groove is rough, an alternating pattern of groove dimensions is obtained in the photoresist. Grooves etched from such a defective pattern would not be optimal for use as the servo pattern for an optical disk. One modification of the phase mask design described which simplifies the fabrication process is to alter the relative dimensions of the groove and land. If the land is made very small in relation to the groove, then the groove prints as though it were a clear feature in the transmission mask. Conversely, the land prints as though it were a chrome ('dark') feature. The contrast obtained in the image is much larger that can be obtained from a conventional transmission mask of similar dimensions. This 'darker than dark' phase- shifting mask phenomenon may prove valuable in the fabrication of complex patterns.
The Book of Why: The New Science of Cause and Effect

Judea Pearl is a giant in the field of causal inference, whose many contributions, including the discovery of the d-separation criterion, have been immeasurably valuable. He, along with science wri...
A proof of Sarnak's golden mean conjecture

Abstract For an irrational number θ, let 0 = a 0 a 1 a 2 … a m a m + 1 = 1 be the sequence of points { l θ } , 1 ≤ l ≤ m (where { x } denotes x − [ x ] , the fractional part of x) and define d θ ( m ) = max ⁡ { ( a i − a i − 1 ) , 1 ≤ i ≤ m + 1 } Sarnak conjectured that sup ⁡ m d θ ⁎ m → ∞ ( m ) ≤ sup ⁡ m d θ m → ∞ ( m ) where θ ⁎ = 1 + 5 2 is the golden mean and θ is an arbitrary irrational number. In this paper we establish the conjecture, and we determine exactly sup ⁡ m d θ ⁎ ( m ) . Four special properties of the golden mean are crucial to the proof.
Zero‐Degree Endoscopic Visualization of the Frontal Sinus Predicts Improved Topical Irrigation Delivery

OBJECTIVE Management of chronic frontal rhinosinusitis is challenging with high rates of treatment failure, exacerbated by limitations of topical irrigation delivery. We hypothesize that intraoperative zero-degree visualization of the frontal sinus predicts improved postoperative irrigation penetration. Extending a Draf IIa frontal sinusotomy with a limited resection of the middle turbinate axilla-agger nasi complex can allow zero-degree endoscopic visualization of the frontal sinus. This study investigates the change in frontal sinus irrigation delivery after standard Draf IIa frontal sinusotomy versus further resection to achieve zero-degree visualization. STUDY DESIGN This is a prospective cohort study conducted in a surgical skills laboratory. METHODS The extent of irrigant penetration into the frontal sinuses was evaluated in 10 cadaveric frontal sinuses following Draf IIa sinusotomy using a standardized trephine visualization model. Irrigant penetration was assessed by three blinded reviewers using the following scale: 0 = irrigation restricted to nasal cavity; 1 = irrigation reaches frontal recess; 2 = irrigation reaches frontal sinus proper; 3 = irrigation fills entire frontal sinus. These results were compared to irrigation after achieving zero-degree endoscopic visualization by performing limited resection of the middle turbinate axilla-agger nasi complex. RESULTS Irrigant penetration following standard Draf IIa frontal sinusotomy improved after the axilla-agger nasi complex was resected to achieve zero-degree endoscopic visualization (median score 2 [interquartile range: 1-2] vs. 3 [interquartile range: 2-3], P < .01). CONCLUSION This study demonstrates improved penetration of frontal sinus irrigation following limited resection of the middle turbinate axilla-agger nasi complex to achieve zero-degree endoscopic visualization of the frontal sinus as compared to standard Draf IIa frontal sinusotomy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE N/A Laryngoscope, 131:250-254, 2021.
Chapter 6 – Water Quality

Water plays not only an essential role in the growth of produce, but also in in processing and hygienic uses pre- and postharvest. Ensuring the microbial quality of this water is critical to prevent contamination of produce by waterborne enteric pathogens. Contamination of produce may occur from the use of contaminated irrigation water or water to apply pesticides, fertilizers, hydro-cooling, hand-washing and icing. Several produce outbreaks have been known or suspected to have been due to the use of contaminated irrigation water. Currently, no microbial indicator standards exist for irrigation waters used for produce production in the United States. There are few studies on the occurrence of fecal bacteria in irrigation waters in the United States. Existing data indicates that levels are generally low, except after rainfall events. Sources of fecal bacteria in irrigation waters include birds, storm water runoff and domestic animals. The degree of crop contamination during irrigation depends on the methods of application i.e., spray, flood or sub-surface irrigation.
Can Judges Use Due Process Concepts in Obergefell to Impose Judicial Regulation of Greenhouse Gases and Climate Change?: The Crucial Case of Juliana v. United States

In the Supreme Court’s Obergefell opinion, which held that same-sex marriage is a fundamental right under the Constitution’s Due Process Clause, Justice Kennedy reasoned that substantive due process rights may evolve because of changing societal views of what constitutes “liberty” under the clause, and that judges may recognize new liberty rights in light of their “reasoned judgment.” In Juliana v. United States, United States District Judge Ann Aiken invoked the “reasoned judgment” principle of substantive due process in the Obergefell decision to conclude that there is a liberty right to a livable climate system capable of sustaining human life. However, the concept of evolving due process rights is contrary to the traditional view that fundamental due process rights must be rooted in the nation’s history and traditions. Furthermore, the evolving due process rights invoked in the Juliana decision give judges too much discretion to invent new due process rights and usurp the role of the legislature. By contrast, other district court decisions have recognized that the political branches, Congress and the Executive Branch, should decide climate change policy rather than the federal courts. Just before this article was about to be published, a divided panel of the Ninth Circuit reversed the decision of the district court and held that the plaintiffs did not have standing to sue in the federal courts because their claimed injuries were not redressable by an Article III court. In particular, the panel determined that it was beyond the power of an Article III court to order the plaintiffs’ requested remedial plan because it would require a federal judge to make complex policy choices that the Constitution assigns to the judgment and discretion of the executive and legislative branches. The Ninth Circuit correctly concluded that climate change issues are policy decisions for Congress and the President to decide, and therefore, either the en banc Ninth Circuit or the Supreme Court should reject any further appeals by the plaintiffs.
Optimal State Estimation Under the Denial-of-Service Attack: an Operator Approach

In this paper, we consider the problem of state-estimation in the presence of Denial-of-Service (DoS) attack. We formulate this problem as an state estimation problem for a plant with switching measured outputs. In the absence of attack, the state-estimator has access to all measured outputs, however, in the presence of attack, only a subset of all measurements are made available to the state-estimator. We seek to find a state-estimator that results in the minimum estimation error for the worst-case attack strategy. First, we parameterize the set of all state-estimators that result in stable estimation error. Then, we will show that any state-estimator in this set can be written as a generalized Luenberger observer with an appropriately defined observer-gain. This observer-gain, in general, can be an operator and possibly unbounded as opposed to the classical static observer-gain. Furthermore, we will show that finding the optimal state-estimator that results in the minimum estimation error can be cast as a convex program over the set of stable factors of the observer operator-gain. This optimization in, in fact, linear programming and tractable.
Framework for the natures of negativity in introductory physics

Introductory physics students struggle to make sense of positive signs as well as negative signs.
Predicting college students’ intention to purchase local food using the theory of consumption values

While extensive research has been conducted on local food and consumer behavior, there is little research investigating college students’ intention regarding purchasing local food. The purpose of t...
Hemostatic Testing in Critically Ill Infants and Children

Children with critical illness frequently manifest imbalances in hemostasis with risk of consequent bleeding or pathologic thrombosis. Traditionally, plasma-based tests measuring clot formation by time to fibrin clot generation have been the "gold standard" in hemostasis testing. However, these tests are not sensitive to abnormalities in fibrinolysis or in conditions of enhanced clot formation that may lead to thrombosis. Additionally, they do not measure the critical roles played by platelets and endothelial cells. An added factor in the evaluation of these plasma-based tests is that in infants and young children plasma levels of many procoagulant and anticoagulant proteins are lower than in older children and adults resulting in prolonged clot generation times in spite of maintaining a normal hemostatic "balance." Consequently, newer assays directly measuring thrombin generation in plasma and others assessing the stages hemostasis including clot initiation, propagation, and fibrinolysis in whole blood by viscoelastic methods are now available and may allow for a global measurement of the hemostatic system. In this manuscript, we will review the processes by which clots are formed and by which hemostasis is regulated, and the rationale and limitations for the more commonly utilized tests. We will also discuss selected newer tests available for the assessment of hemostasis, their "pros" and "cons," and how they compare to the traditional tests of coagulation in the assessment and management of critically ill children.
Writing H.D. and Bryher in double dimensions’ – an invitation to H.D. & Bryher: An Untold Modernist Love Story

This piece describes a biographical journey of writing a dual biography particularly during the last four years, introducing readers to H.D. and Bryher's prescience during World War II, layering in...
Sequence-based modeling of genome 3D architecture from kilobase to chromosome-scale

Abstract The structural organization of the genome plays an important role in multiple aspects of genome function. Understanding how genomic sequence influences 3D organization can help elucidate their roles in various processes in healthy and disease states. However, the sequence determinants of genome structure across multiple spatial scales are still not well understood. To learn the complex sequence dependencies of multiscale genome architecture, here we developed a sequence-based deep learning approach, Orca, that predicts genome 3D architecture from kilobase to whole-chromosome scale, covering structures including chromatin compartments and topologically associating domains. Orca also makes both intrachromosomal and interchromosomal predictions and captures the sequence dependencies of diverse types of interactions, from CTCF-mediated to enhancer-promoter interactions and Polycomb-mediated interactions. Orca enables the interpretation of the effects of any structural variant at any size on multiscale genome organization and provides an in silico model to help study the sequence-dependent mechanistic basis of genome architecture. We show that the models accurately recapitulate effects of experimentally studied structural variants at varying sizes (300bp-80Mb) using only sequence. Furthermore, these sequence models enable in silico virtual screen assays to probe the sequence-basis of genome 3D organization at different scales. At the submegabase scale, the models predicted specific transcription factor motifs underlying cell-type-specific genome interactions. At the compartment scale, based on virtual screens of sequence activities, we propose a new model for the sequence basis of chromatin compartments: sequences at active transcription start sites are primarily responsible for establishing the expression-active compartment A, while the inactive compartment B typically requires extended stretches of AT-rich sequences (at least 6-12kb) and can form ‘passively’ without depending on any particular sequence pattern. Orca thus effectively provides an “in silico genome observatory” to predict variant effects on genome structure and probe the sequence-based mechanisms of genome organization.
Esophageal dysmotility and lung disease in patients with systemic sclerosis: is there a possible association or correlation? A retrospective chart review.

Our aim was to evaluate the relationship between esophageal dysmotility and lung disease by correlating the results of Echocardiogram and Pulmonary Function Test (PFT) with Esophageal Transit Study (ETT). Charts of Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) patients fulfilling 2013 ACR/EULAR classification criteria seen in Rheumatology clinics were reviewed and their demographics, ETT result, PFT, and echocardiogram data were collected at baseline, years 1, 3, 5, and 10. Patients were divided based on their ETT status and were compared with respect to each variable using a two-sided two-sample t test for continuous variables and a Fisher’s exact test for categorical variables. 130 patients were identified with either limited cutaneous SSc (109) or diffuse cutaneous SSc (21) with a mean age of 52.65 years. The mean DLCO was statistically worse in abnormal ETT patients [p value = 0.0004] as were the progression rates per year for DLCO at − 2.25 (p value = 0.019). Progression rate of FVC per year was statistically significant in the abnormal ETT group, although the mean value was not. The number of patients with abnormal PASP was not statistically different between the two groups (p values 0.104, 0.178, 0.653 at baseline, years 3 and 5, respectively). The presence of esophageal dysmotility was associated with increased pulmonary involvement in the form of abnormal DLCO with worsening progression rates per year. There was no statistically significant difference in PASP and FVC between the two groups; however, the progression rate for FVC was worse in adjusted models.
P28 Herbs and Spices Found in a Grocery Store Where Low-Income Mexicans Frequently Shop

Background Since herbs, spices, spice blends, and salts (HS 2) nutrition educators could benefit from additional cultural cuisine training; and 3) approaching the study of non-Western cultures with an ethnocentric bias may prohibit a thorough understanding of how people may use H&S at home.
Airbags and Children

The article "Effect of Pediatricians9 Counseling on Infant Restraint Use," by Reisinger et al (Pediatrics 67: 201, 1981) is an excellent statement of the importance of constantly reminding parents to safely restrain children and infants while they are traveling by automobile. In addition, the authors9 recommendation that pediatricians and other child care personnel actively support legislation to promote safer vehicle (including school bus) design and use is an important point. On one issue, however, I take strong exception to the authors9 conclusions; their suggestion that pediatricians support legislation requiring the use of air bags is, in my opinion, incorrect.
Epithelial Transport by Frog Skin

In multicellular organisms not only must substances pass into and out of individual cells, those substances must pass across layers of cells to reach yet other cells beyond. Among the means for satisfying such basic needs is epithelial transport. An epithelium is a layer of closely juxtaposed cells covering a surface of animals or organs. Like plasma membranes of cells, epithelia are both barriers and entryways. Indeed, the central physiological role of an epithelium in many cases is absorption and excretion, as in transport epithelia lining the intestinal lumen, where foodstuffs are absorbed, or those lining the kidney tubules, where wastes are excreted and nutrients salvaged.
The Superior Performance of Companies with Small Boards of Directors

This paper evaluates recent proposals in the legal and finance literature for limiting the sizes of boards of directors. After controlling for firm size and industry membership, I find evidence of an inverse association between board sizes and firms market values in a sample of 792 large U.S. public corporations between 1984 and 1991. Using Tobin s Q as an approximation of market valuation, I find a negative association with board size over the range between four and ten directors, after which the relation levels off. Ratios measuring profitability and operating efficiency have similar associations with board size. More tentative results indicate that CEOs compensations incentives operate more powerfully when boards are small. The evidence suggests that smaller boards of directors serve as more effective monitors of top managers.
Group work with adolescents: Principles and practice (3rd ed.) by Malekoff, A.

The first edition of Andrew Malekoff’s Group Work with Adolescents was published in 1997, and the second in 2004. During that time, it has become a modern classic without peer in the clinical liter...
A recursive information flow system for distributed control arrays

The problem of distributed control by an array of sensors and actuators is discussed. A method is presented to implement control laws with regard to global objectives, but only requiring the communication of each unit with the adjacent elements of the array. The method is based on local estimates of the distant measurements which are recursively updated by communicating with their neighbors. The implications of this approach on the question of global stability is analyzed, leading to guidelines on the communication requirements of the array.
Temporal Conditions with Retroactive and Proactive Updates

In this paper, we extend the temporal rule language introduced in [1] to support pro- and retro- active updates. Such updates may cause the time when a condition is satisfied to differ from the time when it is detected. We enrich the rule language by providing a set of alternative actions in each rule; this allows execution of one of the alternative actions depending on the difference between condition-satisfaction time and detection time. We identify a subset of the temporal condition language PTL [1], called decomposable PTL, that is amenable to more efficient evaluation. We present an evaluation algorithm for decomposable PTL. We also describe the implementation of the system on top of the Sybase DBMS.
Effect of morphology on the superconductor-insulator transition in one-dimensional nanowires

We study the effect of morphology on the low-temperature behavior of superconducting nanowires which vary in length from 86 nm to 188 nm. A well-defined superconductor-insulator transition is observed only in the family of homogeneous wires, in which case the transition occurs when the normal resistance is close to ${h/4e}^{2}.$ Inhomogeneous wires, on the other hand, exhibit a mixed behavior, such that signatures of the superconducting and insulating regimes can be observed in the same sample. The resistance versus temperature curves of inhomogeneous wires show multiple steps, each corresponding to a weak link constriction (WLC) present in the wire. Similarly, each WLC generates a differential resistance peak when the bias current reaches the critical current of the WLC. Due to the presence of WLC's an inhomogeneous wire splits into a sequence of weakly interacting segments where each segment can act as a superconductor or as an insulator. Thus the entire wire then shows a mixed behavior.
The effect of carbon on 2.25 Cr-1 Mo steel: (II). Creep—rupture properties☆

Abstract The creep-rupture properties of normalized-and-tempered 2.25 Cr-1 Mo steel with 0.009, 0.030, 0.120, and 0.135 wt % C were determined at 454, 510, and 565°C; the results show an effect of carbon that depends on temperature. At all three temperatures, the 0.120 and 0.135 wt % C steels have similar strengths, and at 565°C are considerably stronger than the 0.009 and 0.030 wt % C steels, which also have similar strengths. At 454 and 510°C, however, the properties for the 0.030 wt % C steel are superior to those of the 0.009 wt % C steel and approach those for the 0.120 and 0.135 wt % C steels. These observations can be explained in terms of the type of carbide precipitation reactions that occur in 2.25 Cr-1 Mo steel.
Multi-view modeling to support embedded systems engineering in SysML

Embedded systems engineering problems often involve many domains, each with their own experts and tools. To help these experts with analysis and decision making in their domain, it is desirable to present them with a view of the system that is tailored to their particular task. In this paper, a model integration framework is demonstrated to address issues associated with multi-view modeling. The Systems Modeling Language (OMG SysMLTM) is used as a general language to represent a common model for the system as well as the dependencies between the different domain-specific tools and languages. To maintain consistency between these domain-specific views, model transformations are defined that map the interdependent constructs to and from a common SysML model. The approach is illustrated bymeans of amechatronic design problem involving views in multiple domain-specific tools, namely EPLAN FluidTM (to create production ready layouts) and Modelica® (for dynamic system analysis).
A Distribution-freeCUSUMChart for Monitoring Variability of AutocorrelatedProcesses

We present a distribution-free tabular cumulative sum chart for monitoring the variability of an autocorrelated process. A quantity known as the asymptotic variance parameter is employed as a measure of the variability, and a distribution-free tabular cumulative sum chart is applied to variance estimates calculated from batches of nonoverlapping samples. The proposed chart is applicable to a stationary process with a general marginal distribution and a general autocorrelation structure. It also determines control limits analytically without trial-and-error simulations. The performance of the proposed chart is tested on stationary processes with both normal and nonnormal marginals with various autocorrelation structures. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Metrics in the Space of High Order Networks

This paper presents methods to compare high-order networks, defined as weighted complete hypergraphs collecting relationship functions between elements of tuples. They can be considered as generalizations of conventional networks where only relationship functions between pairs are defined. Important properties between relationships of tuples of different lengths are established, particularly when relationships encode dissimilarities or proximities between nodes. Two families of distances are then introduced in the space of high-order networks. The distances measure differences between networks. We prove that they are valid metrics in the spaces of high-order dissimilarity and proximity networks modulo permutation isomorphisms. Practical implications are explored by comparing the coauthorship networks of two popular signal processing researchers. The metrics succeed in identifying their respective collaboration patterns.
Process optimization and consumer acceptability of salted ground beef patties cooked and held hot in flavored marinade.

: Food safety is paramount for cooking hamburger. The center must reach 71 °C (or 68 °C for 15 s) to assure destruction of E. coli O157:H7 and other food pathogens. This is difficult to achieve during grilling or frying of thick burgers without overcooking the surface. Thus, the feasibility of partially or completely cooking frozen patties in liquid (93 °C water) together with hot holding in liquid was investigated. Initial studies demonstrated that compared to frying, liquid cooking decreased (P 7.0 (like moderately) for appearance, juiciness, flavor, and texture. Practical Application: Grill-marked and marinade-cooked ground beef patties reached a safe internal cooking temperature without overcooking the surface. Burgers cooked using this method maintained high consumer acceptability right after cooking and for up to 4 h of hot holding. Consumers and foodservice operations could use this method without specialized equipment, and instead use inexpensive and common equipment such as a soup pot or a restaurant steam table. Use of marinades (salt/caramel color or others) in this cooking and holding method provides a nearly endless culinary flavoring opportunity.
The recycling of material culture today and during the Paleolithic

Archaeologists are being increasingly challenged to apply their methods and perspectives to address contemporary global concerns, such as material consumption and recycling. The archaeological investigation of recycling can contribute to understanding its behavioral causes and situational contexts because it can reveal systematic patterning in its temporal, spatial, and formal dimensions. In this paper, I review some of the archaeological evidence of artifact recycling and a few lessons drawn from those studies, including general patterns in lithic recycling behavior and needs to address ambiguity in the definition of recycling, compounding factors of equifinality in lithic reduction, and recognizing opportunism in recycling behavior. This evidence is also used to consider the behavioral and environmental circumstances of patterned recycling in the broader study of material culture and human behavior. It is argued that archaeological studies can offer useful contributions to such universal theories and that archaeological explanations about recycling behavior would benefit from greater integration with the larger body of historical and social science studies on this topic.