cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cohort Profile: The Framingham Heart Study (FHS): overview of milestones in cardiovascular epidemiology

The Framingham Heart Study (FHS) has conducted seminal research defining cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and fundamentally shaping public health guidelines for CVD prevention over the past five decades. The success of the Original Cohort, initiated in 1948, paved the way for further epidemiological research in preventive cardiology. Due to the keen observations suggesting the role of shared familial factors in the development of CVD, in 1971 the FHS began enroling the second generation cohort, comprising the children of the Original Cohort and the spouses of the children. In 2002, the third generation cohort, comprising the grandchildren of the Original Cohort, was initiated to additionally explore genetic contributions to CVD in greater depth. Additionally, because of the predominance of White individuals of European descent in the three generations of FHS participants noted above, the Heart Study enrolled the OMNI1 and OMNI2 cohorts in 1994 and 2003, respectively, aimed to reflect the current greater racial and ethnic diversity of the town of Framingham. All FHS cohorts have been examined approximately every 2-4 years since the initiation of the study. At these periodic Heart Study examinations, we obtain a medical history and perform a cardiovascular-focused physical examination, 12-lead electrocardiography, blood and urine samples testing and other cardiovascular imaging studies reflecting subclinical disease burden.The FHS has continually evolved along the cutting edge of cardiovascular science and epidemiological research since its inception. Participant studies now additionally include study of cardiovascular imaging, serum and urine biomarkers, genetics/genomics, proteomics, metabolomics and social networks. Numerous ancillary studies have been established, expanding the phenotypes to encompass multiple organ systems including the lungs, brain, bone and fat depots, among others. Whereas the FHS was originally conceived and designed to study the epidemiology of cardiovascular disease, it has evolved over the years with staggering expanded breadth and depth that have far greater implications in the study of the epidemiology of a wide spectrum of human diseases. The FHS welcomes research collaborations using existing or new collection of data. Detailed information regarding the procedures for research application submission and review are available at [http://www.framinghamheartstudy.org/researchers/index.php].
GENETIC CHARACTERIZATION OF COMMON EIDERS BREEDING IN THE YUKON-KUSKOKWIM DELTA, ALASKA

Abstract We assessed population genetic subdivision among four colonies of Common Eiders (Somateria mollissima v-nigrum) breeding in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta (YKD), Alaska, using microsatellite genotypes and DNA sequences with differing modes of inheritance. Significant, albeit low, levels of genetic differentiation were observed between mainland populations and Kigigak Island for nuclear intron lamin A and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region. Intercolony variation in haplotypic frequencies also was observed at mtDNA. Positive growth signatures assayed from microsatellites, nuclear introns, and mtDNA indicate recent colonization of the YKD, and may explain the low levels of structuring observed. Gene flow estimates based on microsatellites, nuclear introns, and mtDNA suggest asymmetrical gene flow between mainland colonies and Kigigak Island, with more individuals on average dispersing from mainland populations to Kigigak Island than vice versa. The directionality of gene flow observed may be explai...
Multi-Response Optimization in Turning of AA6061 T6 Using Desirability Function Analysis

This paper presents an ideal approach for the optimization of machining parameters on turning of AA6061 T6 aluminium alloy with multiple responses based on orthogonal array with desirability function analysis. In this study, turning parameters namely cutting speed, feed rate and depth of cut are optimized with the considerations of multiple responses such as surface roughness (Ra), roundness (O) and material removal rate (MRR). Multi response optimization of machining parameters was done through desirability function analysis. The optimum machining parameters have been identified by a composite desirability value obtained from desirability function analysis. The performance index and significant contribution of process parameters were determined by analysis of variance.
CTS 2012 plenary speech

Most work on collaboration technologies (GDSS, CSCW, etc.) has traditionally focused on supporting social action and communication in settings of relatively low goal conflict. This is appropriate in many organizational contexts, where common goals based on a shared management structure can be assumed. But much of communicative action in human societies occurs in an environment of conflict. We can distinguish at least two dimensions of conflict: one involving beliefs and one involving goals.
Pyrolysis-Induced Evolution of the Elastic and Transport Properties of the Barnett Shale

The goal of this study is to more accurately establish the cause-and-effect relationships between organic geochemistry, rock physics, and shale microstructures as the organic-rich Barnett shale matures. We build upon previous work by performing laboratory pyrolysis of core plugs at both temperature (360-425 °C) and hydrostatic confining pressures (22-25 MPa). By iteratively characterizing the velocity, porosity, permeability, and microstructure of an initially thermally immature, outcrop Barnett shale sample, we are able to determine the effect of the thermal decomposition of organic matter on the rock physics signatures of the intact composite rock.
Artistic Conception in Packaging Design

It summarized and analyzed the concepts,features and value of the artistic conception in the packaging design.It proposed a theory of "the artistic conception packaging",according to the methods and forms of artistic conception in Chinese painting.It explored how to create an artistic conception in the packaging design,to design a packaging full of aesthetic taste.To make the image of packaging not only as the prolocutor of the product,but also the messenger of the beauty can improve the communication effects of packaging,and also enhance the aesthetic value.
Introduction to endocrine focus series.

1. Linda S. Gorman, PhD, MLS (ASCP)CM[⇑][1] 1. University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 2. Janelle M. Chiasera, PhD, MT (ASCP) 1. University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 1. Address for Correspondence: Linda S. Gorman, PhD, MLS (ASCP)CM , CLS Education Co-ordinator, Associate Professor, 900 S. Limestone Ave, Rm 126G CTW, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536-0200, (859)-218-0855, lsgorm0{at}uky.edu The endocrine system is a complex system responsible for regulating many body functions through an elaborate network of hormones. The field of endocrinology enjoys a rather rich history; but it is a young history. Terms such as hormone and endocrinology were introduced in 1905 and 1909, respectively, and the study of endocrine function began in the late nineteenth century (1890 – 1905). The first comprehensive endocrinology textbook was published in 1913 and since that time, growth in the field of endocrinology has been exponential. As a result of the complex nature of the endocrine system, the diagnosis, management, and treatment of endocrine disturbances have always been challenging. Laboratory diagnosis has ranged from a panel of laboratory tests including total and free hormone levels, uptake tests, and stimulation tests to definitive guidelines for diagnosing endocrine disturbance using sometimes fewer than two laboratory tests. Of the hormone assays performed in clinical chemistry, the most common are those associated with the thyroid gland. Numerous vendors have found ways to incorporate the thyroid hormone testing on automated platforms. Less common but equally called for are the hormone assays associated with the adrenal gland. The foundation of the hormone physiology is the negative feedback mechanism. Both thyroid hormones and adrenal hormones demonstrate this mechanism. Both have hypothalamic and pituitary hormones that respond to the gland-produced hormone in a negative feedback way. This series of articles examines the physiology and pathology associated with thyroid and adrenal hormones. How these hormones impact our metabolism normally and in… [1]: #corresp-1
Infectious complications in obese patients after trauma.

Abstract Background Obesity is a public health concern in the United States due to its increasing prevalence, especially in younger age groups. Trauma is the most common cause of death for people under aged 40 y. The purpose of this study is to determine the association between obesity and specific infectious complications after traumatic injury. Materials and methods A retrospective analysis was conducted using data from the 2012 National Trauma Data Bank. The National Trauma Data Bank defined obesity as having a body mass index of 30 or greater. Descriptive statistics were calculated and stratified by obesity status. A hierarchical regression model was used to determine the odds of experiencing an infectious complication in patients with obesity while controlling for age, gender, diabetes, number of comorbidities, injury severity, injury mechanism, head injury, and surgical procedure. Results Patients with a body mass index of 30 or greater compared with nonobese patients had increased odds of having an infectious complication (Odds Ratio, 1.59; 1.49-1.69). In addition to obesity, injury severity score greater than 29, age 40 y or older, diabetes, comorbid conditions, and having a surgical procedure were also predictive of an infectious complication. Conclusions Our results indicate that trauma patients with obesity are nearly 60% more likely to develop an infectious complication in the hospital. Infection prevention and control measures should be implemented soon after hospital arrival for patients with obesity, particularly those with operative trauma.
Hospital Characteristics, Inpatient Processes of Care, and Readmissions of Older Adults with Hip Fractures.

Objectives To determine hospital-level predictors of readmission after hip fracture or potentially related inpatient care processes. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting U.S. acute care hospitals. Participants Fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries who underwent hip fracture surgery between 2007 and 2009 (N = 458,526). Measurements Information was obtained on hospital case volumes, teaching status, bed count, nurse staffing, and technological capabilities from Medicare files, and multivariable logistic regression was used to measure the association between these factors and an endpoint of readmission or death at 30 days and between these factors and the timing of surgery. Results Participants treated in the highest-volume hospitals (>175 cases for the study period) had lower odds of readmission or death at 30 days than those treated in low-volume hospitals (≤12; adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 0.87, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.83–0.92, P < .001). Higher nurse skill mix (aOR = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.8–0.96; P = .007) and higher ratio of nurses to beds (aOR = 0.98; 95% CI = 0.97–0.99; P < .001) were also associated with better 30-day outcomes. Greater hospital case volume was associated with lower odds of surgical delay beyond 48 hours. Conclusion Better nurse staffing and higher case volumes are associated with lower rates of readmission and mortality after hip fracture surgery; individuals treated at high-volume centers experienced fewer delays in treatment, potentially indicating better inpatient care processes.
Quality Care and Academic Medical Centers: The Need for Physician Education

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the ability of the academic physician to respond appropriately to demands to document and improve the quality of medical care. Such quality care issues may represent a more formidable challenge to academic medical centers (AMCs) and to their clinicians. The systems approach can be used to understand the relationships of the AMC and its academic physicians to their internal and external environments. Academic physicians are less well prepared through training, experience, or mindset to accept or respond to the new environmental and societal pressures relative to the issue of quality of care, than they are to economic restructuring. Lack of preparedness makes a negative impact on the education of future physicians. The chapter provides specific means by which AMCs can respond successfully to the issues. But there are no facile modifications of reward systems that can prepare AMCs and their physicians to meet the challenge of their environments, particularly relative to financial and quality challenges. Modifications in rewards must be accompanied by changes in the medical education process so that the physicians of the future are prepared to embrace the requisite new managerial and CQI skills as a part of their medical armamentarium.
Suicide Later in Life: Challenges and Priorities for Prevention

Suicide in later life is a major public health concern in the U.S., where more than 6,000 older adults take their own lives every year. Suicide prevention in this age group is made challenging by the high lethality of older adults’ suicidal behavior; few survive their first attempt to harm themselves. Research has revealed that factors in each of five domains place older adults at increased risk for suicide—psychiatric illness, personality traits and coping styles, medical illness, life stressors and social disconnectedness, and functional impairment. Little research has examined the effectiveness of interventions to reduce the toll of suicide in older adulthood. The study of strategies to decrease suicide deaths in later life should emphasize four areas. First is approaches to early detection of older people at risk through improved understanding of multidimensional determinants and their interactions. Second is research on the impact of general health promotion that optimizes well-being and independent functioning for older adults on suicide outcomes. Third concerns the study of approaches to the provision of mental health care that is evidence-based, accessible, affordable, acceptable, and integrated with other aspects of care. The fourth area of high priority for research is approaches to improvement of social connectedness and its impact on suicide in older adults. (Am J Prev Med 2014;47(3S2):S244–S250) & 2014 American Journal of Preventive Medicine
The 9/11 Terror Cases: Constitutional Challenges in the War against Al Qaeda.

As of April 2016, there were still 89 detainees being held by the U.S. government at Guantanamo Bay, despite the 2008 election promise by Barack Obama that he would close the detention camp during ...
Alcohol Intake Among Breast Cancer Survivors: Change in Alcohol Use During a Weight Management Intervention

Background: Daily alcohol intake in quantities as small as half a drink/day significantly increases the risk of breast cancer recurrence for postmenopausal survivors. Interventions designed to modify alcohol use among survivors have not been studied; however, lifestyle interventions that target change in dietary intake may affect alcohol intake. Objective: To evaluate change in alcohol use during a weight loss intervention for obese, rural-dwelling breast cancer survivors. Methods: Data were derived from an 18-month trial that included a 6-month weight loss intervention delivered via group conference calls, followed by a 12-month randomized weight loss maintenance phase in which participants received continued group calls or mailed newsletters. Participants who reported regular alcohol use at baseline (N=37) were included in this study. Results: Mean daily alcohol intake significantly decreased from baseline to 6 months during the weight loss intervention (19.6-2.3 g; P=.001). Mean alcohol intake did not significantly increase (b=0.99, P=.12) during the weight loss maintenance phase (months 6-18) and did not depend on randomization group (b=0.32, P=.799). Conclusions: Findings provide preliminary evidence that a weight loss intervention may address obesity and alcohol use risk factors for cancer recurrence. Minimal mail-based contact post weight loss can maintain alcohol use reductions through 18 months, suggesting durability in these effects. These results highlight a possibility that lifestyle interventions for survivors may modify health behaviors that are not the main foci of an intervention but that coincide with intervention goals. Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT01441011; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01441011 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6lsJ9dMa9) [JMIR Cancer 2016;2(2):e15]
AI policy: organizations, resources, and recent symposia

The Al Matters Policy column is a new column that is appearing twice a month in the Al Matters blog (https://sigai.acm.org/aimatters/blog/). Selected posts will be summarized in each issue of Al Matters.
End‐of‐Life Care Transition Patterns of Medicare Beneficiaries

Objectives To characterize the patterns of transitions in care and factors associated with multiple transitions in the last 6 months of life of U.S. decedents (N = 660,132). Design Retrospective study. Setting United States. Participants Medicare beneficiaries aged 66 and older who died from July to December 2011. Measurements Transitions between healthcare settings (e.g., hospital, skilled nursing facility, inpatient hospice, home hospice, home without hospice) in the last 6 months of life. A count variable for number of transitions was summarized, and Sankey diagrams were produced to illustrate the sequences of healthcare transitions. Multivariable analyses were used to identify factors associated with likelihood of having four or more transitions. Results More than 80% decedents (n = 556,437) had at least one transition within the last 6 months of life; 218,731 had four or more transitions within the last 6 months of life. The most-frequent transition pattern (19.3% of all decedents; n = 127,435) was home to hospital, back to home or skilled nursing facility, to hospital again, and then to settings other than hospital, ending with four or more transitions. The average number of transitions in the last 6 months of life varied substantially across states, ranging from 1.8 in Alaska to 3.1 in New Jersey. Transitions became more intensive for decedents approaching death. In multivariable analyses, women, blacks, individuals younger than 85, and individuals without dementia were more likely to have four or more transitions (all P < .05). Conclusion Approximately one-third of the Medicare beneficiaries who died in 2011 had four or more transitions within their last 6 months of life. Identifying interventions that can facilitate care transitions consistent with beneficiaries’ preferences is warranted.
Physics-based structural health monitoring using the time-frequency analysis of electro-mechanical impedance signals

In this paper, a self-diagnosis technique is introduced for structural health monitoring based on the timefrequency analysis of electromechanical impedance (EMI) signatures. It is first shown that the EMI signature is essentially a pulse-echo signal represented in the frequency domain, and it can be converted into time domain using the convolution theorem. The time-frequency plot is then generated from the recovered time domain signals to cover a wide range of excitation frequencies and provide a more comprehensive damage detection capability. Presenting the EMI signal in the time and the time-frequency domains provides the physical insights that explain how different factors influence the EMI signature. As such, the time domain signal acquired from the EMI is divided into “resonant phase” and “echo phase”. The resonant phase includes the immediate response of the sensor to the excitation and is used to monitor the sensor bonding layer condition, while the echo phase only includes wave reflections from structural damages and boundaries, and is implemented for the structural damage detection. Finally, the proposed method is implemented on a beam structure to detect and localize structural damage in the presence of a damage in the sensor bonding layer.
Liver transplantation for primary hepatic malignancies of childhood: The UNOS experience

Abstract Background/purpose The purpose of this study was to determine factors associated with patient and graft survival following orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) in children and adolescents with primary hepatic malignancies. Methods The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database was queried for all patients n =544). Five-year patient and graft survival were determined using Kaplan–Meier methodology, and independent predictors of survival were determined using multivariate Cox proportional hazards model. Results The majority of patients were diagnosed with hepatoblastoma (HB) ( n =376, 70%) with 84 (15%) hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and 84 (15%) other. HCC patients were older, more often hospitalized at the time of transplant, and more likely to receive a cadaveric organ compared to HB patients. Five-year patient and graft survival for the entire cohort was 73% and 74%, respectively, with the majority of deaths owing to malignancy. On multivariate analysis, independent predictors of 5-year patient and graft survival included diagnosis, transplant era, and medical condition at transplant. Conclusions In recent years, there has been significant improvement in posttransplant patient and graft survival for children and adolescents with primary hepatic malignancies. However, patients with HCC continue to have worse outcomes than those with other cancer types. Type of study Case series with no comparison group. Level of evidence IV.
The Forgotten Emancipator: James Mitchell Ashley and the Ideological Origins of Reconstruction

Congressman James Mitchell Ashley, a member of the House of Representatives from 1858 to 1868, was the main sponsor of the Thirteenth Amendment to the American Constitution, which declared the institution of slavery unconstitutional. Rebecca E. Zietlow uses Ashley's life as a unique lens through which to explore the ideological origins of Reconstruction and the constitutional changes of this era. Zietlow recounts how Ashley and his antislavery allies shared an egalitarian free labor ideology that was influenced by the political antislavery movement and the nascent labor movement - a vision that conflicted directly with the institution of slavery. Ashley's story sheds important light on the meaning and power of popular constitutionalism: how the constitution is interpreted outside of the courts and the power that citizens and their elected officials can have in enacting legal change. The book shows how Reconstruction not only expanded racial equality but also transformed the rights of workers throughout America.
Differential effects of short chain fatty acids on endothelial Nlrp3 inflammasome activation and neointima formation: Antioxidant action of butyrate

Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), a family of gut microbial metabolites, have been reported to promote preservation of endothelial function and thereby exert anti-atherosclerotic action. However, the precise mechanism mediating this protective action of SCFAs remains unknown. The present study investigated the effects of SCFAs (acetate, propionate and butyrate) on the activation of Nod-like receptor pyrin domain 3 (Nlrp3) inflammasome in endothelial cells (ECs) and associated carotid neointima formation. Using a partial ligated carotid artery (PLCA) mouse model fed with the Western diet (WD), we found that butyrate significantly decreased Nlrp3 inflammasome formation and activation in the carotid arterial wall of wild type mice (Asc+/+), which was comparable to the effect of gene deletion of the adaptor protein apoptosis-associated speck-like protein gene (Asc-/-). Nevertheless, both acetate and propionate markedly enhanced the formation and activation of the Nlrp3 inflammasome as well as carotid neointima formation in the carotid arteries with PLCA in Asc+/+, but not Asc-/- mice. In cultured ECs (EOMA cells), butyrate was found to significantly decrease the formation and activation of Nlrp3 inflammasomes induced by 7-ketocholesterol (7-Ket) or cholesterol crystals (CHC), while acetate did not inhibit Nlrp3 inflammasome activation induced by either 7-Ket or CHC, but itself even activated Nlrp3 inflammsomes. Mechanistically, the inhibitory action of butyrate on the Nlrp3 inflammasome was attributed to a blockade of lipid raft redox signaling platforms to produce O2•- upon 7-Ket or CHC stimulations. These results indicate that SCFAs have differential effects on endothelial Nlrp3 inflammasome activation and associated carotid neointima formation.
Immunoprecipitation of Tri-methylated Capped RNA

Cellular quiescence (also known as G0 arrest) is characterized by reduced DNA replication, increased autophagy, and increased expression of cyclin-dependent kinase p27Kip1. Quiescence is essential for wound healing, organ regeneration, and preventing neoplasia. Previous findings indicate that microRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in regulating cellular quiescence. Our recent publication demonstrated the existence of an alternative miRNA biogenesis pathway in primary human foreskin fibroblast (HFF) cells during quiescence. Indeed, we have identified a group of pri-miRNAs (whose mature miRNAs were found induced during quiescence) modified with a 2,2,7-trimethylguanosine (TMG)-cap by the trimethylguanosine synthase 1 (TGS1) protein and transported to the cytoplasm by the Exportin-1 (XPO1) protein. We used an antibody against (TMG)-caps (which does not cross-react with the (m7G)-caps that most pri-miRNAs or mRNAs contain [Luhrmann et al., 1982]) to perform RNA immunoprecipitations from total RNA extracts of proliferating or quiescent HFFs. The novelty of this assay is the specific isolation of pri-miRNAs as well as other non-coding RNAs containing a TMG-cap modification.
Craniotomy and Survival for Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma

BACKGROUND Cytoreductive surgery is considered controversial for primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL). OBJECTIVE To investigate survival following craniotomy or biopsy for PCNSL. METHODS The National Cancer Database-Participant User File (NCDB, n = 8936), Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER, n = 4636), and an institutional series (IS, n = 132) were used. We retrospectively investigated the relationship between craniotomy, prognostic factors, and survival for PCNSL using case-control design. RESULTS In NCDB, craniotomy was associated with increased median survival over biopsy (19.5 vs 11.0 mo), independent of subsequent radiation and chemotherapy (hazard ratio [HR] 0.80, P < .001). We found a similar trend with survival for craniotomy vs biopsy in the IS (HR 0.68, P = .15). In SEER, gross total resection was associated with increased median survival over biopsy (29 vs 10 mo, HR 0.68, P < .001). The survival benefit associated with craniotomy was greater within recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) class 1 group in NCDB (95.1 vs 29.1 mo, HR 0.66, P < .001), but was smaller for RPA 2-3 (14.9 vs 10.0 mo, HR 0.86, P < .001). A surgical risk category (RC) considering lesion location and number, age, and frailty was developed. Craniotomy was associated with increased survival vs biopsy for patients with low RC (133.4 vs 41.0 mo, HR 0.33, P = .01), but not high RC in the IS. CONCLUSION Craniotomy is associated with increased survival over biopsy for PCNSL in 3 retrospective datasets. Prospective studies are necessary to adequately evaluate this relationship. Such studies should evaluate patients most likely to benefit from cytoreductive surgery, ie, those with favorable RPA and RC.
Socially Responsible Apparel Purchasing Intention, Knowledge, and Attitudes: Cross-CulturalComparison of U.S. and Korean Consumers

The purpose of this study is to cross-culturally examine consumer groups most likely to engage in socially responsible (SR) apparel purchasing behavior. Numerous business studies have investigated the impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR), noting positive relationships between CSR initiatives and financial performance (e.g., McGuire, Sundgren, & Schneeweis, 1988) and attitudes held by consumers (e.g, Lichtenstein, Drumwright, & Braig, 2004).
The Influence of Decision Aids on Prostate Cancer Screening Preferences: A Randomized Survey Study.

Purpose: Shared decision making is recommended in regard to prostate cancer screening. Decision aids may facilitate this process but the impact of decision aids on screening preferences is poorly understood.Materials and Methods: In an online survey we randomized a national sample of adults to the online decision aids of 1 of 6 professional societies. We compared survey responses before and after decision aid exposure. The primary outcome was the change in participant likelihood of undergoing or recommending prostate cancer screening on a scale of 1—unlikely to 100—extremely likely. Secondary outcomes included change in participant comfort with prostate cancer screening based on the average of 6, 5-point Likert-scale questions.Results: Median age was 53 years in the 1,336 participants and 50% were men. The randomized groups did not differ significantly by race, age, gender, income, marital status or education level. The likelihood of undergoing or recommending prostate cancer screening decreased from 83 t...
Objective Measures on Videofluoroscopic Swallow Studies

Subjective assessment by experienced clinicians is unable to accurately parameters of the videofluoroscopic swallow study (VFSS). Values such as pharyngoesophageal segment (PES) opening, laryngeal elevation, pharyngeal area, and transit times cannot be reliably determined without measuring. Intra- and inter-rater agreement by experienced clinicians for the subjective assessment of some VFSS variables is as low as 70 %. The calculation of objective measures is essential to differentiate normal from disordered swallowing, to monitor the effects of time and intervention, and to provide precise outcome variables for research.
Pinwheel of Fortune

In principle, neither the global environment nor personal health should come down to gambling. In practice, however, both the law of global biodiversity protection and the constitutional debate on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) rest on astoundingly risk-seeking assumptions. Charged with conserving the global biospheric commons, the international community seems eager to place deep, out-of-the-money bets on bioprospecting of rare and endangered species for pharmaceutical gain. The truly desperate state of biodiversity and climate change law has apparently prompted some very rich countries (especially the United States) to behave as if these sources of truly irreparable environmental harm defy meaningful precautions.Within America’s own borders, the constitutional law of public health strikes a comparably risk-seeking pose. Although National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius upheld the PPACA as an exercise of the federal government's taxing authority, it reasoned that a directive aimed at uninsured individuals to buy health insurance lay beyond the power of Congress to regulate interstate commerce. If Congress may not compel people to buy health insurance, precisely because those individuals believe that they are better off bearing the relatively modest risk of catastrophic illness or injury, Congress may not have constitutional power to compel wage-earners to accept annuities or annuity-like income streams.International environmental law and American health law act perversely precisely because they force life-and-death choices at the very points where emotion overrides reason. These otherwise baffling phenomena manifest different facets of prospect theory, the leading behavioral account of risk aversion and risk-seeking. These two bodies of law provide enough material to cover the entire pinwheel-shaped “fourfold pattern” that defines prospect theory. So spins the law’s pinwheel of fortune.
Recover Multi-tensor Structure from HARD MRI Under Bi-Gaussian Assumption

We present a variational framework for determination of intra-voxel fiber orientations from High Angular Resolution Diffusion-Weighted (HARD) MRI under the assumption of biGaussian diffusion. The approach is simultaneously estimating and regularizing the two tensor fields and the field of the proportionality corresponding to the mixture of two Gaussians. The prior information on location of the voxels with strong isotropic or one-fiber diffusion is incorporated into the energy functional in order to increase the accuracy of the estimations. The prior information on voxel classification is obtained from the spherical harmonic (SH) representation of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) profiles estimated and regularized simultaneously from noisy HARD data. The performance of the proposed model has been evaluated on the human HARD MR images, and the experimental results indicate the effectiveness of the model in recovering intra-voxel multi-fiber diffusion.
Contextualizing Jury Participation: Case-, Jury-, and Juror-Level Predictors of Participation in Jury Deliberations

Fully participatory jury deliberations figure prominently in the idealized view of the American jury system, where balanced participation among diverse jurors leads to more accurate fact-finding and instills greater public confidence in the legal system. However, research more than 50 years ago indicated that jury-room interactions are shaped by social status, with upper-class men participating more than their lower-class and female counterparts. The effects of social status on juror participation have been examined only sporadically since then, and rarely with actual jurors. We utilize data from 2,306 criminal jurors serving on 311 juries in four different courts to consider whether – and in what conditions – participation in jury deliberations differs across social groups. Our results indicate the continuing importance of social status in structuring jury-room interactions, but also reveal some surprising patterns with respect to race and gender that depart from earlier research. We also find that contextual factors including location, case characteristics, and faction size shape the relationship between social status and participation. We conclude with a critical discussion of our results and urge other researchers to take into account contextual factors when examining how individual juror characteristics shape what happens inside the jury room.
The Role of the Odd Bettle, Thylodrias Contractus, in the Biodeterioration of Museum Objects

The odd beetle, Thylodrias contractus (Mots), is an unusual beetle in that it is morphologically very disimilar from its nearest relatives, the phylogenetically related dermestid carpet beetles. The adult female odd beetles are wingless and larviform while the adult males are winged and have a body shape unlike all other dermestids. In flight, males resemble small flies.
Changes in regional brain metabolism following initial therapy for breast cancer

1236 Objectives To examine effects of endocrine and chemotherapy on brain metabolism in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients in response to growing recognition that a sizeable minority of these patients report and/or demonstrate cognitive compromise. Methods Subjects(n=15) recently diagnosed with breast cancer and not yet on endocrine therapy were recruited; 10 had recently completed adjuvant chemotherapy treatment while 5 had none. Half of the subjects of each group underwent endocrine therapy during the year subsequent to initial therapy. Each subject underwent 7 PET scans at baseline and again one year later: 6 [O-15]water PET scans during performance of control and memory tasks to evaluate cognition related cerebral blood flow, and an FDG PET scan to assess resting brain metabolism. Regional brain activity was analyzed by standardized volume of interest and statistical parametric mapping methods. Results In the adjuvant chemotherapy group, subjects who also underwent endocrine therapy(n=5) experienced increased bilateral medial prefrontal metabolism(p=0.001) after one year, while subjects without endocrine therapy(n=5) experienced increased occipital/superior cerebellar metabolism(cluster-corrected p=0.001). Subjects undergoing endocrine therapy also demonstrated increased cerebral blood flow in the frontal cortex (including Broca’s area)(p Conclusions Endocrine and chemotherapy were associated with regionally specific changes in resting metabolism and activation in brains of newly diagnosed breast cancer patients. These changes may underlie the differential cognitive effects reported by the patients following therapy. Research Support Grant:NCI RO1-CA109650&Breast Cancer Research Foundatio
Source characteristics of voiceless dorsal fricatives

Aerodynamic and acoustic data on voiceless dorsal fricatives [x/χ] in Arabic, Persian, and Spanish were recorded to measure the extent to which such productions involve trilling of the uvula, thus exhibiting a sound source which, contrary to assumptions for voiceless fricatives, is mixed rather than aperiodic. Oscillation in airflow indicative of uvular vibration was present more often than not in Arabic (63%) and Persian (75%), while Spanish dorsal fricatives were more commonly produced with unimodal flow indicative of an aperiodic source. When present, uvular vibration frequencies averaged 68 Hz in Arabic and 67 Hz in Persian. Rates of uvular vibration were highly variable, however, and ranged between 40 and 116 Hz, with oscillatory periods averaging 4–5 cycles in duration, with a range of 1–12. The effect of these source characteristics on dorsal fricative acoustics was to significantly skew the spectral shape parameters (M1–M4) commonly used to characterize properties of the anterior filter; however, spectral peak frequency was found to be stable to changes in source characteristics, suggesting the occurrence of trilled tokens is not due to velar-uvular allophony, but rather is more fundamental to dorsal fricative production.
A tri-level optimization model to mitigate coordinated attacks on electric power systems in a cyber-physical environment

Abstract The electric power system is facing greater threats each year due to malicious attacks. In the recent decade, multiple attacks on both physical and cyber layers of the power system resulted in significant economic loss. In particular, a cyber-physical coordinated attack is deemed to be a destructive behavior that is likely to cause cascading failures. Therefore, this paper focuses on hedging against a coordinated cyber-physical attack from the standpoint of allocating defending resources. The coordinated attack involves physical short-circuiting of transmission lines after intruding the communication network of protection relays. The paper proposes a tri-level optimization model to formulate the coordinated attack scenario and identify the optimal defending strategy, which is a first of its kind study of defending resource allocation to hedge against the coordinated attack. Upper-level problem represents the actions of the planner and determines the optimal defending resource allocation on transmission lines and communication network of protection relays. Defending strategy achieves the lowest expected unserved energy with coordinated attacks considering multiple representative operating conditions. Middle-level problem formulates the behaviors of the attacker, who identifies the targets and attack time to maximize unserved energy. Lower-level problem simulates the actions of operator for system redispatch aimed at minimizing unserved energy. Sensitivity analyses are conducted on IEEE 14-bus system and IEEE 57-bus system to investigate the effects of attack budget, defend budget and restoration duration on unserved energy. The results indicate greater unserved energy with higher attack budget, lower defend budget, and longer restoration duration. Moreover, significant unserved energy reduction was observed when the proposed optimization model is applied to allocate defending resource.
Processes for Electrochemical Production of Electrolyte-free Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is the focus of growing attention for distributed manufacturing, reflecting its decentralized applications and shipping hazards. Two recent reports, one in Science by Wang and colleaugues and one in this issue of Joule by Surendranath, Hatton, and colleaugues, introduce innovative electrochemical methods to produce electrolyte-free aqueous solutions of hydrogen peroxide.
Citizenship profiling and diminishing procedural justice: local immigration enforcement and the reduction of police legitimacy among individuals and in Latina/o neighbourhoods

The U.S. has witnessed increases in the local policing of federal immigration law. This practice raises concerns about citizenship profiling, where local law enforcement questions individuals on su...
Plasmodium falciparum Artemisinin Resistance: The Effect of Heme, Protein Damage, and Parasite Cell Stress Response

Despite a significant decline in morbidity and mortality over the last two decades, in 2018 there were 228 million reported cases of malaria and 405000 malaria-related deaths. Artemisinin, the cornerstone of artemisinin-based combination therapies, is the most potent drug in the antimalarial armamentarium against falciparum malaria. Heme-mediated activation of artemisinin and its derivatives results in widespread parasite protein alkylation, which is thought to lead to parasite death. Alarmingly, cases of decreased artemisinin efficacy have been widely detected across Cambodia and in neighboring countries, and a few cases have been reported in the Guiana Shield, India, and Africa. The grim prospect of widespread artemisinin resistance propelled a concerted effort to understand the mechanisms of artemisinin action and resistance. The identification of genetic markers and the knowledge of molecular mechanisms underpinning artemisinin resistance allow prospective surveillance and inform future drug development strategies, respectively. Here, we highlight recent advances in our understanding of how parasite vesicle trafficking, hemoglobin digestion, and cell stress responses contribute to artemisinin resistance.
Friend or Assassin: Whose Side Is HR On, Anyway?

This chapter discusses the inherent tension between the HR/OD/coaching practitioner’s role as an employee advocate versus their duty to implement strategies and vision of their senior leaders. Takeaways for Practitioners Insight into the complexity of their organizational role and why both employees and senior leaders are often equally confused about whose “side” they are on Understanding about the inherent conflict that exists because of the duality of their roles and their confidentiality commitments
Learning local behavioral sequences to better infer non-local properties in real multi-robot systems

When members of a multi-robot team follow regular motion rules sensitive to robots and other environmental factors within sensing range, the team itself may become an informational fabric for gaining situational awareness without explicit signalling among robots. In our previous work [1], we used machine learning to develop a scalable module, trained only on data from 3-robot teams, that could predict the positions of all robots in larger multi-robot teams based only on observations of the movement of a robot’s nearest neighbor. Not only was this approach scalable from 3-to-many robots, but it did not require knowledge of the control laws of the robots under observation, as would a traditional observer-based approach. However, performance was only tested in simulation and could only be a substitute for explicit communication for short periods of time or in cases of very low sensing noise. In this work, we apply more sophisticated machine learning methods to data from a physically realized robotic team to develop Remote Teammate Localization (ReTLo) modules that can be used in realistic environments. To be specific, we adopt Long–Short-Term–Memory (LSTM) [2] to learn the evolution of behaviors in a modular team, which has the effect of greatly reducing errors from regression outcomes. In contrast with our previous work in simulation, all of the experiments conducted in this work were conducted on the Thymio physical, two-wheeled robotic platform.
Sodium-Glucose Co-Transporter 2 Inhibitors and Insights from Biomarker Measurement in Heart Failure Patients.

Background Several large trials have demonstrated cardiac benefits in patients with and without established cardiovascular disease treated with sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i). Most recently, in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), the risk of worsening HF or cardiovascular death was lower among those who received dapagliflozin than among those who received placebo, regardless of the presence or absence of diabetes. Biomarkers may provide insight into understanding the mechanism of cardiovascular benefit observed in patients receiving SLGT2i. Several mechanisms have been proposed, including improvement in ventricular unloading due to the natriuretic effects, afterload reduction via reduction in blood pressure and improvement in vascular function, improvement in cardiac metabolism and bioenergetics, and reduction in cardiac fibrosis and necrosis, among others. Content We discuss several animal and human studies on the effect of SGLT2i on various biomarkers. Modest reduction or blunting of rise over time in concentrations of atrial natriuretic peptide, B-type natriuretic peptide, and N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide and reduction in high-sensitivity troponin has been observed in patients receiving SLGT2i. Concentrations of biomarkers such as sST2 and galectin-3 have been unchanged whereas inflammatory markers such as fibronectin 1, interleukin-6, matrix metalloproteinase 7, and tumor necrosis factor-1 are decreased with SGLT2i therapy. Summary The effect of SLGT2i on various circulating biomarkers allows insight into the understanding of mechanisms of cardiovascular benefits with SGLT2i use. Further studies are needed to understand such mechanisms and to understand how biomarkers can be used for risk prediction and personalization of care in patients receiving SLGT2i.
Flow and thermal transport characteristics of Triply-Periodic Minimal Surface (TPMS)-based gyroid and Schwarz-P cellular materials

High-porosity “cellular materials” are desirable for manufacturing multifunctional heat exchangers. While stochastic metal foams and regular strut-based topologies have been the focus of many prior...
The United States, the International Criminal Court, and the Situation in Afghanistan

This essay explores the increasingly tense relationship between the United States and the International Criminal Court (“ICC”). These tensions recently came to a head over the ICC Prosecutor’s request to open an investigation into war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Afghanistan. Given that the investigation would certainly implicate U.S. military officials, the Trump administration responded aggressively, ultimately prompting the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber to reject the Prosecutor’s requested investigation and bend to U.S. pressures. This essay traces the complicated history of the U.S. – ICC relationship and examines the background of and reasons for the Court’s decision denying the request for an investigation into Afghanistan. The essay concludes by shedding light on the significant and detrimental impacts this decision may ultimately have on the future of the ICC, U.S. foreign policy, and the victims of the tragic crimes committed in Afghanistan.