cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interval jejunoileal bypass reduces the morbidity and mortality of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass in the super-obese.

Among Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) patients, large male patients carry the greatest risk for severe, life-threatening complications. The higher complication rate is partly related to large amounts of intra-abdominal fat that increases the technical difficulty of the RYGB. In order to minimize the risk for complications, we established a staged approach for weight loss surgery for high-risk, super-obese patients. Patients with intra-abdominal fat at exploration which precluded the performance of RYGB underwent jejunoileal bypass (JIB). Following an initial period of weight loss (6-24 months), they were converted to a RYGB during a second operation. Twenty-four patients underwent initial JIB that was associated with a major complication rate of 8.3 per cent (2/24) and no mortality. Eight patients lost 53.4 ± 6.3 kg prior to their conversion to RYGB (mean, 14.1 months). There was one major complication (12%) and no deaths (0%). Following RYGB, an additional period of weight loss resulted in overall excess weight loss (EWL) totaling 62 per cent. A two-step procedure is a safe and effective approach for minimizing complications for high-risk patients undergoing RYGB. The initial JIB was associated with low morbidity and no mortality, and the follow-up RYGB procedure was a technically simple operation that could be performed with few complications.
Modeling, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Potential Retinoid X Receptor (RXR)-Selective Agonists: Analogues of 4-[1-(3,5,5,8,8-Pentamethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-2-naphthyl)ethynyl]benzoic Acid (Bexarotene) and 6-(Ethyl(5,5,8,8-tetrahydronaphthalen-2-yl)amino)nicotinic Acid (NEt-TMN)

Sulfonic acid analogues of 4-[1-(3,5,5,8,8-pentamethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-2-naphthyl)ethynyl]benzoic acid (bexarotene, 1) as well as seven novel and two reported analogues of 6-(ethyl(5,5,8,8-tetramethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthalen-2-yl)amino)nicotinic acid (NEt-TMN) were synthesized and assessed for selective retinoid X receptor (RXR) agonism. Compound 1 is FDA-approved for treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL); however, 1 can provoke side effects by impacting RXR-dependent receptor pathways. All of the analogues in this study were evaluated for their potential to bind RXR through modeling and then assayed in an RXR–RXR mammalian-2-hybrid (M2H) system and in RXR-responsive element (RXRE)-mediated transcriptional experiments. The EC50 profiles for these unique analogues and their analogous effectiveness to inhibit proliferation in CTCL cells relative to 1 suggest that these compounds possess similar or even enhanced therapeutic potential. Several compounds also displayed more selective RXR activa...
Three new genera and three new species of Nearctic Lasiopteridi (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae: Cecidomyiinae) from Asteraceae and Caprifoliaceae, and the tribe Rhopalomyiini subsumed under Oligotrophini.

Three new Nearctic genera of gall midges (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), each with a new species, are described: Helianthecis Gagne for Helianthecis capitum Gagne, new species, that lives in flower heads of Helianthus spp. (Asteraceae) from North Dakota to Texas; Lonicerae Gagne for Lonicerae russoi Gagne, new species, and Lonicerae lonicera (Felt), new combination, that form bud galls on Lonicera spp. (Caprifoliaceae) in California; and Chiosperma Gagne for Chiosperma turgidum Gagne, new species, that forms a bud gall on Symphoricarpos albus (L.) S.F. Blake (Caprifoliaceae) in Washington. The three new genera belong to the supertribe Lasiopteridi and are placed in the tribe Oligotrophini. The tribes Oligotrophini and Rhopalomyiini are combined.
A high frequency read-out channel for bio-impedance measurement

In this paper, a high frequency read-out channel for electrical impedance imaging is presented. The channel comprises an instrumentation amplifier (IA), automatic gain control (AGC), high-resolution delta sigma analog-to-digital converter (ADC), mixer, and ADC buffer. Design details of the channel are described, and the performance of the ADC and the entire channel are reported, based on simulation results from a 0.18 μm CMOS technology. The power consumption of the proposed read-out channel is 7.6 mW.
An evaluation of wearable sensors and their placements for analyzing construction worker's trunk posture in laboratory conditions

This study investigates the effect of sensor placement on the analysis of trunk posture for construction activities using two off-the-shelf systems. Experiments were performed using a single-parameter monitoring wearable sensor (SPMWS), the ActiGraph GT9X Link, which was worn at six locations on the body, and a multi-parameter monitoring wearable sensor (MPMWS), the Zephyr BioHarness™3, which was worn at two body positions. One healthy male was recruited and conducted 10 experiment sessions to repeat measurements of trunk posture within our study. Measurements of upper-body thoracic bending posture during the lifting and lowering of raised deck materials in a laboratory setting were compared against video-captured observations of posture. The measurements from the two sensors were found to be in agreement during slow-motion symmetric bending activities with a target bending of ≤45°. However, for asymmetric bending tasks, when the SPMWS was placed on the chest, its readings were substantially different from those of the MPMWS worn on the chest or under the armpit.
Concerning closed-streamline flows with discontinuous boundary conditions

High-Reynolds-number (Re) flow containing closed streamlines (Prandtl-Batchelor flows), within a region enclosed by a smooth boundary at which the boundary conditions are discontinuous, is considered. In spite of the need for local analysis to account fully for flow at points of discontinuity, asymptotic analysis for Re ≪ 1 indicates that the resulting mathematical problem for determining the uniform vorticity ω0) in these situations, requiring the solution of periodic boundary-layer equations, is in essence the same as that for a flow with continuous boundary data. Extensions are proposed to earlier work [3] to enable ω0 to be computed numerically; these require coordinate transformations for the boundary-layer variables at singularities, as well as a two-zone numerical integration scheme. The ideas are demonstrated numerically for the classical circular sleeve.
Rough Surface Contact

This paper studies the contact of general rough curved surfaces having nearly identical geometries, assuming the contact at each differential area obeys the model proposed by Greenwood and Williamson. In order to account for the most general gross geometry, principles of differential geometry of surface are applied. This method while requires more rigorous mathematical manipulations, the fact that it preserves the original surface geometries thus makes the modeling procedure much more intuitive. For subsequent use, differential geometry of axis-symmetric surface is considered instead of general surface (although this “general case” can be done as well) in Chapter 3.1. The final formulas for contact area, load, and frictional torque are derived in Chapter 3.2.
Ciudades de Paz. Arte en asuntos de conflicto

Fundada en el ano 2005, la Iniciativa Ciudades de Paz (Cities of Peace ®), con sede en Nueva York, ha incluido desde su inicio pasantias y residencias de jovenes artistas, academicos y expertos venidos de mas de 25 paises, quienes -a traves del trabajo colaborativo- han creado nueve Obras Pictoricas de Ciudades de Paz, que honran la historia, la memoria y la cultura de ciudades del mundo que han sufrido los traumas de la guerra. Asi, en el ano 2015, Ciudades de Paz fue invitado especial para la septuagesima conmemoracion de la liberacion del campo de concentracion de Auschwitz-Birkenau; Tambien en 2015, Ciudades de Paz recibio invitacion del entonces primer ministro de Armenia, hoy rector de la Universidad Eslava Armenio-Rusa (RAU) para crear la decima obra pictorica de la iniciativa Ciudades de Paz, esta vez en Erevan, con motivo de la centesima conmemoracion del Genocidio Armenio. Con esto se da un cambio de enfoque sustancial en el programa: en adelante se hace la obra en la ciudad misma que esta siendo motivo del homenaje, trabajando junto con sus ciudadanos, estudiantes, artistas, academicos y directores de museos. El exito rotundo y la vitalidad de las obras realizadas en Auschwitz y en Erevan atestiguan del poder del arte creado en zonas de conflicto historico o actual. Este articulo explora los elementos que contribuyeron al espiritu y al exito de la Iniciativa Ciudades de Paz en estos lugares, mientras establece nuevas metas para continuar su desarrollo y aumentar su poder de influencia como una modalidad de construccion internacional de paz, creando asi el andamiaje y la estructura de una nueva forma de diplomacia cultural, articulada a traves del poder transformador de un arte reflexivo y capaz de iluminar.
A Semantic Extraction and Sentimental Assessment of Risk Factors (SESARF): An NLP Approach for Precision Medicine: A Medical Decision Support Tool for Early Diagnosis from Clinical Notes

Clinical notes contain information that is crucial for the diagnosis process. However, it is usually not properly manually analyzed due to the tremendous efforts and time it takes. Hence, an automated approach is eagerly needed to maximize clinical knowledge management and reduce cost. In this paper, we propose a framework SESARF: a Semantic Extractor to identify hidden risk factors in clinical notes and a Sentimental Analyzer to assess the severity levels associated with the identified Risk Factors. This tool can be customized to any disease using Linked Open Data (LOD) by selecting a specific disease and collecting its risk factors list from medical ontologies. The extracted knowledge can serve two purposes: 1) a feature vector is prepared, for any classifier in machine learning, containing risk factors and their weights based on our semantic enrichment and sentimental analyzer and 2) a proper comparison of the extracted information with wearable body sensors that can alert any major changes in a patient's health status to personalize treatment.
Noise and Parameter Heterogeneity in Aggregate Models of Thermostatically Controlled Loads

Abstract Aggregate models are used in the analysis and control of large populations of thermostatically controlled loads (TCLs), such as air-conditioners and water heaters. The fidelity of such models is studied by analyzing the influences of noise and parameter heterogeneity on TCL aggregate dynamics. While TCLs can provide valuable services to the power systems, control may cause their temperatures to synchronize, which may then lead to undesirable power oscillations. Recent works has shown that the aggregate dynamics of TCLs can be modeled by tracking the evolution of probability densities over discrete temperature ranges or bins. To accurately capture oscillations in aggregate power, such bin-based models require a large number of bins. The process of obtaining the Markov state transition matrix that governs the dynamics can be computationally intensive when using Monte Carlo based system identification techniques. Existing analytical techniques are further limited as noise and heterogeneity in several thermal parameters are difficult to incorporate. These challenges are addressed by developing a fast analytical technique that incorporates noise and heterogeneity into bin-based aggregate models. Results show the identified and the analytical models match very closely. Studies consider the influence of model error, noise and parameter heterogeneity on the damping of oscillations.
Review A space for grace: towards an aesthetics of preaching

CILLIERS J., (Stellenbosch: Sun Press, 2016), pp. 177, Price: R300, ISBN: 978-1-920689-93-3
Break the mold: utilization of clay models in PET-CT for learning the thoracic nodal classification: a resident teaching tool

1300 Objectives Regional lymph node classification is a vital component of staging for lung cancer. Mastering lymph node anatomy of this region and accurate nodal classification on cross-sectional imaging is essential for providing accurate staging of disease with utilizing noninvasive imaging technique and invasive staging techniques. PET/CT imaging, which has become widely used in non invasive staging for lung cancer. Not uncommonly, a PET positive lymph node is not enlarged, therefore may not be easily identified. Solid anatomical recognition of lymph node station is essential for ensuring the accuracy in PET/CT staging, as well as provide anatomical guidance for invasive staging techniques. We propose an engaging learning model to facilitate residents in an active process of reinforcing the anatomy for accurate lymph node staging. We present a detailed pictorial review of regional classification of thoracic lymph nodes in conjunction with clay models. We provide a comprehensive review of the up-to-date guidelines for staging of NSCLC and recommendations for PET/CT. Methods Radiology residents were recruited to participate in a learning exercise of making clay models corresponding with cross-sectional images of the mediastinum, with each nodal level being represented by a specific color. Landmark organs may be incorporated in the arrangements. Literature review of the current clinical practice guidelines and recommendations for PET-CT. Results A clay-modeling learning method breaks up routine learning patterns and allows residents to be more engaged in studying the cross-sectional mediastinal nodal anatomy. Clay modeling improves a resident9s accuracy in identifying the nodal structures and their relationships to other mediastinal structures. Residents reported improved retention of this vital information. Conclusions Clay modeling of cross-sectional thoracic nodal anatomy is an effective and inexpensive learning tool. It allowed residents to take an active learning approach in strengthening the diagnostic skills necessary for accurate identification of thoracic nodal station, which provide vital information to both non-invasive staging using PET/CT scan and invasive staging techniques, illustrating the need for effective learning methods in this area. RESEARCH SUPPORT: WMC Department of Radiology
Effects of nodal fillets and external boundaries on compressive response of an octet truss

Abstract Additive manufacturing has enabled fabrication of weight-efficient periodic trusses over a wide range of length scales. The principal objective of the present study is to address two coupled aspects of truss design and performance: (i) the extent to which circular nodal fillets enhance node stiffness and alleviate stress concentrations, and (ii) the extent to which external boundaries affect local strut strains. To this end, octet trusses with and without filleted nodes were fabricated out of a hard thermoplastic and tested in compression, with digital image correlation used to monitor axial and bending strut strains and nodal rotations. Complementary finite element simulations were also performed. Macroscopic compressive failure occurs through bending and buckling of certain inclined struts followed by tensile rupture of struts oriented perpendicular to the loading direction. The struts experiencing the highest tensile strain and most prone to rupture are those located along the truss mid-plane and that intersect external edges. Additional boundary effects are manifested in exacerbated nodal rotations and bending of inclined struts intersecting the truss corners. Although buckling begins in the affected struts, large-scale buckling is preceded by tensile rupture. The implications for design and failure prediction of finite truss structures are discussed.
Identifying Barriers to Preemptive Kidney Transplantation in a Living Donor Transplant Cohort.

Background Despite substantial evidence demonstrating clear benefit, rates of preemptive kidney transplantation (PreKTx) remain low in the United States. Our goal was to identify barriers to PreKTx. Methods Using a telephone-administered questionnaire including questions about barriers, timing of referral, timing of education, we retrospectively studied first living donor kidney transplant recipients (2006-2010) at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. Of 235 patients, 145 (62%) responded to the questionnaire (74 PreKTx and 71 non-PreKTx). We compared categorical data with Fisher exact test and median times with Wilcoxon rank sum test. Results Polycystic kidney disease (PCKD), longer median time between diagnosis and transplant, and time between education about transplant and transplant correlated with PreKTx (P < 0.01). The presence of at least 1 patient-identified barrier (lack of referral, financial barriers, medical barriers, no identified living donor and donor evaluation delays) was associated with non-PreKTx (0.034) though no single barrier predominated. Age, education level, insurance status and source of referral (primary care, nephrology, and nonphysician referral) were not associated with the rate of PreKTx. Univariate logistic regression identified white race, PCKD, and increased time from diagnosis as factors favoring PreKTx; PCKD and increased time remained significant factors after multivariate analysis. Conclusions Even among a patient population that is primarily white, educated, and has a spouse or first-degree relative donor, PreKTx rates remain concerningly low. Increased time between diagnosis or education and transplant are predictors of PreKTx. Greater emphasis on transplant education earlier in the stages of chronic kidney disease and community outreach from transplant centers may help to increase the rate of PreKTx.
Innate immune system activation in zebrafish and cellular models of Diamond Blackfan Anemia

Deficiency of ribosomal proteins (RPs) leads to Diamond Blackfan Anemia (DBA) associated with anemia, congenital defects, and cancer. While p53 activation is responsible for many features of DBA, the role of immune system is less defined. The Innate immune system can be activated by endogenous nucleic acids from non-processed pre-rRNAs, DNA damage, and apoptosis that occurs in DBA. Recognition by toll like receptors (TLRs) and Mda5-like sensors induces interferons (IFNs) and inflammation. Dying cells can also activate complement system. Therefore we analyzed the status of these pathways in RP-deficient zebrafish and found upregulation of interferon, inflammatory cytokines and mediators, and complement. We also found upregulation of receptors signaling to IFNs including Mda5, Tlr3, and Tlr9. TGFb family member activin was also upregulated in RP-deficient zebrafish and in RPS19-deficient human cells, which include a lymphoid cell line from a DBA patient, and fetal liver cells and K562 cells transduced with RPS19 shRNA. Treatment of RP-deficient zebrafish with a TLR3 inhibitor decreased IFNs activation, acute phase response, and apoptosis and improved their hematopoiesis and morphology. Inhibitors of complement and activin also had beneficial effects. Our studies suggest that innate immune system contributes to the phenotype of RPS19-deficient zebrafish and human cells.
Alpine Tundra Soil Bacterial Responses to Increased Soil Loading Rates of Acid Precipitation, Nitrate, and Sulfate, Front Range, Colorado, U.S.A.

To determine if the soil bacterial community exhibited a response to perturbations from acid rain, the effects of increased soil loading rates of acid precipitation, nitrate, and sulfate on the alp...
Predictors and variation of routine home discharge in critically ill adults with cystic fibrosis.

Abstract Background The short-term outcomes of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) surviving critical illness were not examined systematically. Objectives To determine the factors associated with and variation in rates of routine home discharge among ICU-managed adult CF patients. Methods Predictors of routine home discharge and its hospital-level variation were examined in ICU-managed adults with cystic fibrosis in Texas during 2004–2013. Results Older age, rural residence, and severity of illness decreased odds of routine home discharge, while hospitalization in facilities accredited as part of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Care Center Network nearly doubled the odds of routine home discharge. The median (interquartile) adjusted rate of routine home discharge was 62.0% (31.5–82.5). Conclusions The identified determinants of routine home discharge can inform clinical decision-making, while the demonstrated wide variation in adjusted across-hospital rates of routine home discharge of ICU-managed adults with CF can provide benchmark data for future quality improvement efforts.
Leaf-Inspired Self-Healing Polymers

Summary Hierarchical multiphase fibrous morphologies provide strength and elasticity for biological species, facilitating responses to environmental changes. Wound closure of leaves is one example. If polymers can be formed in a similar manner by introducing multiphase-separated morphologies, self-healing in a variety of commodity materials can be achieved. In these studies, we demonstrate the role of phase morphologies, interphases, and viscoelasticity-driven shape memory effects on self-healing. We synthesized phase-separated polycaprolactone-polyurethane fibrous thermoplastic polymers in which microphase separation facilitates the formation of stable interfacial regions between hard and soft segments. Self-healing can be repeated many times. This behavior is attributed to the shape memory effect, given that micron-scale interphase reduces chain slippage, enabling entropic energy storage during damage. Chemically identical but nanophase-separated copolymers do not exhibit this behavior. These studies show that self-healing can be achieved by morphology control and facilitated by thermal or other volume-induced transitions.
Worst-Case Execution Time Estimation for Hardware-Assisted Multithreaded Processors

Publisher Summary This chapter introduces the problem of estimating worst-case performance for network processing programs running on multithreaded processors. An initial estimation method suitable for a limited class of programs executing under a restricted set of conditions is described. The method is based on the implicit path-enumeration technique for worst-case program execution time estimation, and casts the worst-case estimation problem as an integer linear program. To evaluate the method, worst-case processing rates for a number of programs running on Intel IXP 1200-like microengines are compared to some corresponding simulated processing rates for that network processor. Results are presented for programs with one, two, and four threads. In the multiple thread cases, the estimates are found to be between 40% and four times greater than the results gathered via simulation. The program sort is an outlier due to a pessimistic bound on the number of worst-case nested loop iterations.
Exploring the Correlation between the Cognitive Benefits of Drug Combinations in a Clinical Alzheimer Disease Database and the Efficacies of the Same Drug Combinations Predicted from a Computational Model

INTRODUCTION: Identification of drug combinations that could be effective in Alzheimer treatment is made difficult by the number of possible combinations. This analysis identifies as potentially therapeutic those drug combinations that rank highest when their efficacy is determined jointly from two independent data sources. METHODS: Estimates of the efficacy of the same drug combinations were derived from a clinical dataset and from pre-clinical data, in the form of a computational model of neuroinflammation. Standard linear regression was used to show that the two sets of estimates were correlated, and to rule out possible confounds. RESULTS: The ten highest ranking, jointly determined drug combinations most frequently consisted of COX2 inhibitors and aspirin, along with various antihypertensive medications. DISCUSSION: Ten combinations of from five to nine drugs, and the three-drug combination of a COX2 inhibitor, aspirin, and a calcium-channel blocker, are discussed as candidates for consideration in future clinical and pre-clinical studies.
Size effects in lattice-structured cellular materials: edge softening effects

Cellular materials possess size-dependent mechanical behavior. This work examines the causes of these size effects in periodic thin-walled cellular materials, modeled as a network of beam elements. The literature has attributed stiffening size effects to the local beam bending behavior of these materials; there is an additional stiffness connected to the rotation of the beam nodes at lattice vertices that causes a stiffening size effect. This work decomposes the strain energy of the beams in the lattice into energy from axial stretching and beam bending and shows that size effects are connected to bending strain energy in certain situations. Other literature has shown a softening size effect in stochastic foams caused by damaged or incomplete cells on free surfaces. This work uses a strain map of the lattice model along with the micropolar constitutive law to show that these edge softening effects can appear in periodic cellular materials when surface cells are neither damaged nor incomplete. This edge softening effect is due to the truncation of repeated unit cells found in the interior of the body. This effect is only observed for certain lattice topologies and is quantified and connected to a global size effect. In conjunction with the beam bending size effect, this edge effect is able to explain the origin of size effects for a variety of lattice topologies and boundary conditions.
Pressing questions in the study of psychological and behavioral diversity.

Extreme biased sampling of research participants and the neglect of their cultural context are increasingly recognized as threats to the generalizability of much of what we know about human thought and behavior (1, 2). In addition to reinforcing narrow views of what it means to be human, these parochial research practices have also shaped the methodological core of the human sciences by favoring tasks that are tailored to the skills, motivations, and social expectations of a very rarefied set of humanity (3). Despite decades of calls for reform, there is little evidence that increasing awareness of this threat has led to changes in practice or publishing (2, 4). This special issue stems from the Sackler Colloquium on “Pressing Questions in the Study of Psychological and Behavioral Diversity” (September 7–9, 2017) designed to address these issues. Building on discussions emerging from two National Science Foundation-funded workshops held in 2016 and 2017, the colloquium convened scholars from a wide range of disciplines who have conducted important research with diverse populations. The colloquium participants identified barriers that discourage researchers from harnessing the full breadth of human diversity for understanding human thought and behavior. These included concerns about current peer review practices, methodological narrowness, lack of researcher diversity, and the need for theoretical frameworks that are sensitive to cultural, social, and ecological variation. Participants also shared innovations and insights from their own research that can foster and inform future investigations of human diversity. In this introduction, we highlight three threads that weave together the 10 papers in this special issue. The first thread documents the theoretical and practical payoffs of engaging with a broader range of participants (and the pitfalls of failing to do so). The second thread identifies barriers to pursuing such work and proposes potential solutions to overcome them. … [↵][1]1To whom correspondence should be addressed. Email: dhruschk{at}asu.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
‘Mon petit essai’: Émilie du Châtelet’s Essai sur l’optique and her early natural philosophy

ABSTRACTEmilie du Châtelet’s recently-discovered Essai sur l’optique offers new insights into her early natural philosophy. Here I analyse the Essai in detail, focusing on Du Châtelet’s use of attr...
Microwave Photonic Links: Optimizing SiP Modulator Design and Operation

We experimentally demonstrate improved microwave photonic link performance by optimizing integrated modulator biases and show that plasma-dispersion modulators may achieve intrinsic linearity on par with lithium niobate modulators with link SFDRs greater than 100 dB-Hz2/3.
Fifteen year overall survival rates after autologous stem cell transplantation for AL amyloidosis

In appropriately selected patients with AL amyloidosis, autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) is an established treatment modality with excellent outcomes and decreasing transplant related mortality (TRM) over time. We report on 15-year overall survival (OS) in 159 patients undergoing ASCT from 1996 to 2003, with median follow up of 17.1 years. Day 100 TRM was 13.2% (n = 21). The OS of ≥15 years was observed in 30% (47/159) of patients. Patients surviving ≥15 years were younger (53 vs 56 years, P = .02), less likely to have lambda as the involved light chain (62% vs 78%, P = .03) and were less likely to have heart involvement (32% vs 56%, P = .005). Median OS of patients with heart involvement vs not was 4.0 vs 11.1 years, P = .006 and actuarial 15-year OS was 23% vs 43%, respectively. A higher proportion of patients with OS ≥15 years received full-dose melphalan conditioning (81% vs 61%, P = .01), and achieved day 100 complete response (CR) (64% vs 24%, P < .001). Median OS amongst patients who achieved CR vs not was 19.3 vs 5.4 years, P < .001. Heart involvement, receiving full-dose melphalan and achieving CR remained independent predictors of OS. AL amyloidosis and related complications were the cause of death in 52% of patients overall (1-5 years post-transplant: 81%; 5-10 years: 62% and 10-15 years: 55%). These results reinforce the key role of ASCT in AL amyloidosis. With improvements in TRM and more options for relapsed disease, we expect the long-term survival post-transplant to improve significantly in the future.
Defending Discontinuism, Naturally

The more interest philosophers take in memory, the less agreement there is that memory exists—or more precisely, that remembering is a distinct psychological kind or mental state. Concerns about memory’s distinctiveness are triggered by observations of its similarity to imagination. The ensuing debate is cast as one between discontinuism and continuism (Perrin, D in Seeing the Future: Theoretical Perspectives of Future Oriented Mental Time Travel, 39–61, 2016). The landscape of debate is set such that any extensive engagement with empirical research into episodic memory places one on the side of continuism. Discontinuists concerns are portrayed as almost exclusively conceptual and a priori. As philosophers of memory become increasingly interested in memory science, this pushes continuism into an apparent lead. The aim of this paper is to challenge this characterization of the (dis)continuism debate—namely, that a naturalistic approach to the philosophy of mind and memory favors continuism. My response has two components. First, I argue for weakening the alignment between naturalism and continuism. Second, I defend a naturalistically oriented, empirically-informed discontinuism between memory and imagination. I do so by introducing seeming to remember, which I argue is distinct from other mental attitudes—most importantly, from imagining.
Autoperforation of two-dimensional materials to generate colloidal state machines capable of locomotion

A central ambition of the robotics field has been to increasingly miniaturize such systems, with perhaps the ultimate achievement being the synthetic microbe or cell sized machine. To this end, we have introduced and demonstrated prototypes of what we call colloidal state machines (CSMs) as particulate devices capable of integrating sensing, memory, and energy harvesting as well as other functions onto a single particle. One technique that we have introduced for creating CSMs based on 2D materials such as graphene or monolayer MoS2 is "autoperforation", where the nanometer-scale film is fractured around a designed strain field to produce structured particles upon liftoff. While CSMs have been demonstrated with functions such as memory, sensing, and energy harvesting, the property of locomotion has not yet been demonstrated. In this work, we introduce an inversion moulding technique compatible with autoperforation that allows for the patterning of an external catalytic surface that enables locomotion in an accompanying fuel bath. Optimal processing conditions for electroplating a catalytic Pt layer to one side of an autoperforated CSM are elucidated. The self-driven propulsion of the resulting Janus CSM in H2O2 is studied, including the average velocity, as a function of fluid surface tension and H2O2 concentration in the bath. Since machines have to encode for a specific task, this work summarizes efforts to create a microfluidic testbed that allows for CSM designs to be evaluated for the ultimate purpose of navigation through complex fluidic networks, such as the human circulatory system. We introduce two CSM designs that mimic aspects of human immunity to solve search and recruitment tasks in such environments. These results advance CSM design concepts closer to promising applications in medicine and other areas.
Biofilm propensity of Staphylococcus aureus skin isolates is associated with increased atopic dermatitis severity and barrier dysfunction in the MPAACH pediatric cohort

Background Atopic dermatitis (AD) patients are often colonized with Staphylococcus aureus, and staphylococcal biofilms have been reported on adult AD skin lesions. The commensal S epidermidis can antagonize S aureus, although its role in AD is unclear. We sought to characterize S aureus and S epidermidis colonization and biofilm propensity and determine their associations with AD severity, barrier function, and epidermal gene expression in the first US early-life cohort of children with AD, the Mechanisms of Progression of Atopic Dermatitis to Asthma in Children (MPAACH). Methods The biofilm propensity of staphylococcal isolates was assessed by crystal violet assays. Gene expression of filaggrin and antimicrobial alarmins S100A8 and S100A9 was measured in keratinocyte RNA extracted from skin tape strips. Staphylococcal biofilms sampled from MPAACH skin were visualized using scanning electron microscopy. Results Sixty-two percent of staphylococcal isolates (sampled from 400 subjects) formed moderate/strong biofilms. Sixty-eight percent of subjects co-colonized with both staphylococcal species exhibited strains that formed cooperative mixed-species biofilms. Scanning electron microscopy verified the presence of staphylococcal biofilms on the skin of MPAACH children. Staphylococcus aureus strains showing higher relative biofilm propensity compared with S epidermidis were associated with increased AD severity (P = .03) and increased lesional and nonlesional transepidermal water loss (P = .01, P = .03). Conclusions Our data suggest a pathogenic role for S aureus biofilms in AD. We found that strain-level variation in staphylococcal isolates governs the interactions between S epidermidis and S aureus and that the balance between these two species, and their biofilm propensity, has important implications for AD.
Redefining Pain and Addiction: Creation of a Statewide Curriculum.

ObjectivesIn response to a declared statewide public health emergency due to opioid-related overdose deaths, the Arizona Department of Health Services guided the creation of a modern, statewide, ev...
No more nursing homes? Changes in consumer preferences for long-term care facilities following COVID-19

Since the first COVID-19 case was discovered in December 2019, over 12.1 million cases have been reported in more than 188 countries and territories. In the USA, the Centers for Disease Control and...
Exploring Attitudes About the Legality of Self-Managed Abortion in the US: Results from a Nationally Representative Survey

Twenty-four states have at least one law in place that could be used to prosecute people for self-managed abortion (SMA), or the termination of a pregnancy outside of the formal healthcare system. We investigated factors associated with public attitudes about SMA legality and legal access to abortion more generally. In August 2017, we surveyed a nationally representative sample of English- and Spanish-speaking women ages 18–49 years in the United States (US) using Ipsos Public Affairs’ KnowledgePanel. Unadjusted and adjusted multinomial logistic regression estimates identify characteristics associated with believing that SMA should not be against the law, compared to should be against the law, with weighting to account for sampling into the panel. Overall, 76% (95% CI: 74.3%-77.1%) and 59% (95% CI: 57.3%-60.4%) of participants (n = 7,022, completion rate 50%) reported that abortion and SMA, respectively, should not be against the law; 1% and 19% were unsure. Among those living in a state with at least one law that could be used to prosecute an individual for SMA, the majority (55%, 95% CI: 52.7%-57.9%) believed SMA should not be against the law. Factors associated with believing SMA should not be against the law, compared to should be against the law, included prior abortion experience and higher levels of education and income. Most reproductive age women in the US believe that SMA should not be criminalized. There is more uncertainty about SMA legality than about the legality of abortion more generally. US laws that criminalize SMA are not supported by the majority of the people living in their jurisdictions.
A surface-mesh gradation tool for generating gradated tetrahedral meshes of microstructures with defects

Abstract A framework for generating tetrahedral meshes of polycrystalline microstructures with optimal element-size distribution, as determined by the underlying defects (e.g., cracks and voids), is proposed. The framework utilizes a conformal surface mesh of each grain boundary and a point-cloud file to describe, respectively, the polycrystal and its underlying defects. The input meshes are first preprocessed to remove undesired mesh artifacts. To create a suitable element-size distribution informed by the defect structure, elements near the defects are locally refined via edge splitting, while elements far from the defects are coarsened by edge collapsing. The quality of the gradated mesh is improved via edge swapping. The presented framework is robust and flexible, and its ability to selectively refine and coarsen a given mesh is demonstrated by three proof-of-concept models: (1) a polycrystalline open-cell foam with intra-ligament voids, (2) an experimentally measured microstructure with an observed fatigue crack, and (3) an additively manufactured polycrystalline microstructure with an evolving crack. The framework is shown to generate gradated meshes that are converged with respect to both global (e.g., macroscopic stress–strain curve) and local (e.g., crack-front kink angles) metrics, with a significant reduction in both element count and computation time and a minimal reduction in element quality as compared to a uniform mesh. The gradated meshes generated using this framework also provide similar simulation results as produced by their highly refined and uniform mesh counterparts, with the advantage of being more computationally efficient.
Profiling the Police: Flipping 20 Years of Whren on its Head

In this article, I argue a simple, time-honored philosophy - What's good for the goose is good for the gander. The Supreme Court and a large swath of law enforcement appear to be comfortable with the idea of profiling - racially and generally. Simultaneously, historically marginalized communities throughout the country are calling for increased protection from those who are sworn to protect them. In other words, these communities are asking: Who is policing the police? While the question, who is policing the police, is not new, suggestions for how to accomplish that task are rare. This article provides a tool - profiling the police. If profiling is good enough for police to use, it must be good enough to be used on police.
Community-Based Participatory Research partnership with faith-based organizations to address obesity and glucose control

OBJECTIVES To explore the lived (narrative) experience of obesity and/or diabetes mellitus within focus groups consisting of individuals and community support persons residing in Genesee County, Michigan. DESIGN Qualitative study, using Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) methodology to design and conduct focus group interviews. SAMPLE Nineteen participants from faith-based organizations (FBOs) in Genesee County (74.5% Caucasian, 3.0% Hispanic American). MEASUREMENTS Semi-structured narrative focus group interviews, using thematic coding and qualitative analysis software (Otter.com). RESULTS Participants from diverse FBOs revealed barriers that prevent them from reaching their weight goals and preventing or controlling diabetes. A shared theme included the concern that providers do not actively inquire about patient concerns at appointments, and they fail to offer practical strategies beyond pharmaceutical interventions. CONCLUSION Focus group interviews with community residents revealed issues and barriers patients and their support persons face in health care experiences. Utilizing CBPR (methodology) is an opportunity for advanced practice nurses (health care professionals) to co-create strategies and interventions with the community that can assist them in successfully reaching their weight loss and diabetes prevention goals.
An open intelligent information systems architecture

The conventional wisdom in intelligent information processing system development is that systems should be developed with global consistency and completeness. This viewpoint has increased the complexity of systems development. Hewitt and deJong (1984) suggested an alternative approach for intelligent systems development called the open-systems approach. The open-systems approach envisages intelligent systems consisting of many small autonomous intelligent subsystems which cooperate by communicating with each other during problem solving. In such an environment there is no global schema, consistency or completeness. However existing information processing conceptual architectures like composite database, federated database, production systems and blackboard systems architectures have limitations in their use toward realizing open intelligent information systems. The dissertation proposes a new conceptual architecture called an open intelligent information systems (OIIS) architecture for the design of open intelligent information systems. The architecture has many components. First there is a user interface through which the user interacts with the system. Secondly there is the provision for multiple autonomous intelligent subsystems. Thirdly there is a concept dictionary, which provides an index of specific knowledge handled by various autonomous intelligent subsystems. The mode of communication within the OIIS is based on the speech act theory of language proposed by Searle (1969). However speech acts have been modified and called message acts, and implemented in the communications dictionary component. Autonomous intelligent subsystems directly communicate with each other using message acts (communications dictionary) after making inquiries to the concept dictionary during problem solving. A business application prototype is developed in the Prolog language to test the architecture's working. The development of the OIIS architecture in the dissertation has major implications for the future development of intelligent systems, apart from providing new directions for further research.
The Bargaining Power of Health Care Unions and Union Wage Premiums for Registered Nurses

For the first time in its history, the National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses in 2008 includes a question involving union status. This study utilizes data from this sample to estimate the union/non-union wage premium for registered nurses and among some of the occupational-, workplace-, and individual-specific characteristics. The study finds that standard union wage premium estimates for registered nurses are larger than what were revealed in other relatively recent studies. Upon inspection of various characteristics of registered nurses, the study finds a positive wage gap for union nurses as experience increases. With respect to characteristics of the workplace, there is statistical evidence in the sample that suggests a wage gap for registered nurses in the private- and public- sector, although more distinct in the private-sector. Finally, a positive wage gap is found for union nurses working in hospitals. The lattermost finding is particularly interesting given a specific change in labor law that occurred in the early 1990s that may have resulted in temporal differences in union wage effects within health care. The possibilities that unions “spillover” their bargaining power to help increase the wages of nonunion workers, or that perhaps employers are paying efficiency wages to remain “union-free” are also explored.
Quantum Hall Effect: Fractional Quantization

The quantum Hall effect is a new physical phenomenon, characterized by the fact that the Hall conductance is quantized to GH = ie2/h, where e is the electronic charge, h is Planck’s constant, and the quantum number i is an integer, for integral quantization, and an odd-denominators fraction, for fractional quantization. This paper reviews recent experimental developments with emphases placed on fractional quantization from the work on GaAs-AlxGa1-xAs heterojunctions.
Family Treatment of Older Adults Who Misuse Alcohol

Abstract Older adults abuse and misuse alcohol at a high rate. The abuse and misuse often goes undetected because mental health providers and caretakers or significant others fail to acknowledge that it exists. Using the strengths perspective, this article assists practitioners in their work with the families, informal and formal supports, and social and health services, to help with the misuses of alcohol. In using a strengths perspectives, clients focus on their strengths and adaptive capacities.
An Investigation of Adaptive Control Techniques for Space Stations

Of all large space structural systems, space stations present a unique challenge and requirement to advanced control technology. Their operations require control system stability over an extremely broad range of parameter changes and high level of disturbances. During shuttle docking the system mass may suddenly increase by more than 100% and during station assembly the mass may vary even more drastically. This coupled with dynamic model uncertainties require highly sophisticated controller and control architectures. An adaptive control algorithm along with the proposed inner-loop plant augmentation for controlling the space station under severe conditions of shuttle docking, mass and inertia change and modal truncation are investigated in this paper. Simulation results with a simplified Initial Operation Center model show that the controller is robust and the plant dynamics closely follows that of the reference model. Reasonable results have been observed even with the constraints of excessive control hardware saturation.
Modeling and Robustness Issues in Control Design for Flexible Structures

Recent flexible space structure control design studies have identified several important and to some extent surprising features of this class of problem suggesting that much simpler models than those obtained by traditional modal truncation methods may suffice for even very high bandwidth control systems. Implications regarding how one should do modeling and model order reduction for control and regarding how one may want to improve control design methods will be discussed.