cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inferior Epigastric Varix Masquerading as a Pelvic Mass

AbstractWe report a case of an inferior epigastric varix as another disease entity to be considered in the differential diagnoses of pelvic masses.
Reconstruction of Neglected Achilles Tendon Injury

Chronic Achilles tendon injuries are debilitating injuries that are often difficult to treat. A review of previously reported procedures is presented. A new technique for repair is presented utilizing a transfer of the flexor hallicus longus muscle and tendon to provide a dynamic repair. A review of the clinical outcome from this procedure is provided.
Review: Somatostatin analogues reduce blood products used in acute bleeding esophageal varices but do not reduce mortality.

Source Citation Gotzsche PC. Somatostatin analogues for acute bleeding oesophageal varices. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2002;(1):CD000193 (latest version 18 Oct 2001). 11869569 (All 2002 articles w...
Matching Misaligned Two-Resolution Metrology Data

Multiresolution metrology devices coexist in today’s manufacturing environment, producing coordinate measurements complementing each other. Typically, the high-resolution (HR) device produces a scarce but accurate data set, whereas the low-resolution (LR) one produces a dense but less accurate data set. Research has shown that combining the two data sets of different resolutions makes better predictions of the geometric features of a manufactured part. A challenge, however, is how to effectively match each HR data point to an LR counterpart that measures approximately the same physical location. A solution to this matching problem appears a prerequisite to a good final prediction. We solved this problem by formulating it as a quadratic integer program, aiming at minimizing the maximum interpoint distance difference among all potential correspondences. Due to the combinatorial nature of the optimization model, solving it to optimality is computationally prohibitive even for a small problem size. We therefore propose a two-stage matching framework capable of solving real-life-sized problems within a reasonable amount of time. This two-stage framework consists of downsampling the full-size problem, solving the downsampled problem to optimality, extending the solution of the downsampled problem to the full-size problem, and refining the solution using iterative local search. Numerical experiments show that the proposed approach outperforms two popular point set registration alternatives, the iterative closest point and coherent point drift methods, using different performance metrics. The numerical results also show that our approach scales much better as the instance size increases, and is robust to the changes in initial misalignment between the two data sets.
Experiences with PDG-Based IFC

Information flow control systems provide the guarantees that are required in today's security-relevant systems. While the literature has produced a wealth of techniques to ensure a given security policy, there is only a small number of implementations, and even these are mostly restricted to theoretical languages or a subset of an existing language.Previously, we presented the theoretical foundations and algorithms for dependence-graph-based information flow control (IFC). As a complement, this paper presents the implementation and evaluation of our new approach, the first implementation of a dependence-graph based analysis that accepts full Java bytecode. It shows that the security policy can be annotated in a succinct manner; and the evaluation shows that the increased runtime of our analysis—a result of being flow-, context-, and object-sensitive—is mitigated by better analysis results and elevated practicability. Finally, we show that the scalability of our analysis is not limited by the sheer size of either the security lattice or the dependence graph that represents the program.
A biologically inspired image classifier: Adaptive feature detection

Today's artificial neural networks use computational models and algorithms inspired by the knowledge of the brain in the '90s. Powerful as they are, artificial networks are impressive but their domain specificity and reliance on vast numbers of labeled examples are obvious limitations. About a decade ago, spiking neural networks (SNNs) emerged as a new formalism that takes advantage of the spike timing and are particularly versatile when depicting spatio-temporal representations. The challenge now is to design rules for SNNs that can help them interact with their environment just like humans do. Specifically for visual classification tasks, we need to design a set of simple features that can describe any input, seen and unseen, by adapting to the environment. Herein, we propose an adaptive mechanism for deducing feature detectors from input data. Our proposed method adapts online to new instances of existing categories pooled from the MNIST database of handwritten numbers. The extracted features are comparable to those found in biological neural networks for certain classes of inputs. We anticipate that our proposed model will be embedded in our ongoing effort to design an SNN for image classification.
New approaches to parameter estimation from noisy image data

In a pure estimation task, a signal is known to be present, and we wish to determine numerical values for parameters that describe it. We compared the performance of the classical Wiener estimator and a new scanning-linear estimator for the task of estimating signal location, signal volume, and signal amplitude from noisy image data. Both procedures incorporate prior knowledge of the data’s statistical fluctuations and minimize a given metric of error. First we explore the classical Wiener estimator, which operates linearly on the data and minimizes the ensemble mean-squared error among linear methods. The signal is embedded in a random background to simulate the effect of nuisance parameters. The results of our performance tests indicate the Wiener estimator is fundamentally unable to locate a signal, regardless of the quality of the image, when the background is random. Even when the simulated relationship between the object and image was reduced to noisy samples of planar objects, linear operations on the data failed to locate the signal. Given these new results on the fundamental limitations of Wiener estimation, we extend our methods to include more complex data processing. We introduce and evaluate a scanning-linear estimator that performs impressively. The scanning action of the estimator refers to seeking a solution that maximizes a linear metric, thereby requiring a global-extremum search. The linear metric to be optimized can be derived as a special case of maximum a posteriori (MAP) estimation when the likelihood is Gaussian and a slowly-varying covariance approximation is made.
A Network Analysis of Factors Leading Adolescents to Befriend Substance-Using Peers

Our interest is in the systematic network selection processes that lead adolescents into friendships with substance-using peers. Theory suggests that adolescents with certain risk factors (i.e., weak attachments to conventional society and low self-control) are more likely to select substance-using friends. Our goal is to evaluate whether adolescents with particular risk factors have a greater risk for befriending substance-using peers, while controlling for common network selection processes that can produce the same friendship pattern. These selection processes are important as they help to set the stage for later peer influence on substance use. We use a Stochastic Actor-Oriented Model to examine network change among 1373 adolescents from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. We test whether low self-control and indicators of weak attachments (to family, school, and religion) predict selecting friends engaged in alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use. We find widespread evidence of the hypothesized friendship pattern within adolescent friendship networks. In most cases this pattern is a product of selection based on the risk factor and substance use, and not attributable to other selection mechanisms. We highlight the need to broaden the study of delinquency to account for how adolescents come to acquire friends who may be negative sources of peer influence. We offer theoretical and methodological insight to this question, ultimately finding that only in limited cases are adolescents with particular risk factors more likely to select friends involved in substance use. We discuss implications for theory and future investigations of peer influence.
Population Pharmacokinetic and Exposure-Response Analyses of Prasugrel in Pediatric Patients with Sickle Cell Anemia.

Prasugrel, a P2Y12 adenosine diphosphate (ADP) receptor antagonist, inhibits ADP-mediated platelet activation and aggregation in patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA). We developed a population pharmacokinetic (popPK) model in pediatric patients from 2 to <18 years of age with SCA, and performed exposure–response evaluations to characterize the effects of prasugrel in a subset of these patients who weighed 19 kg or more and experienced at least two episodes of vaso-occlusive crises (VOC) in the past year. A three-compartment popPK model adapted from that used in adults with acute coronary syndrome was used to describe the relationship between plasma concentrations of prasugrel’s active metabolite (Pras-AM) and time using data from phase II and III clinical studies in children. A VOC event rate model was developed from the phase III study to explore the exposure–response relationship between Pras-AM exposure and VOC, and included evaluation of covariates. The final popPK model for children with SCA provided a reasonable fit to Pras-AM plasma concentrations over time, with estimates of apparent clearance (CL/F) (172 L/h) and apparent volume of distribution (Vd/F) (51.7 L) that were comparable to previous studies in adults. The final model included weight as a covariate on both CL/F and Vd/F, and age as a covariate on CL/F. Analyses of safety (bleeding events requiring medical intervention) and efficacy (VOC event rate) variables showed no apparent relationship to model-predicted Pras-AM exposure quartiles, and no statistically significant effects of intrinsic or extrinsic factors on the VOC event rate were identified in the VOC event rate model. The effect of post hoc exposures on the VOC event rate did not reach statistical significance. A popPK model was developed that provided reasonable parameter estimates, goodness-of-fit diagnostics, and visual predictive checks when applied to Pras-AM plasma concentrations in pediatric patients with SCA. Post hoc exposures obtained from this model did not correlate with measures of VOC or bleeding events in this population.
Knowledge and perceptions of Zika virus among reproductive-aged women after public announcement of local mosquito-borne transmission.

Aim This study was conducted to ascertain the knowledge and perceptions of the Zika virus among reproductive-aged women living in the first affected area of the United States with local mosquito-borne transmission. Methods Reproductive-aged women were surveyed during the four weeks immediately following the announcement of local Zika virus transmission. The survey evaluated the participant's knowledge of Zika pathogenesis and transmission, sequelae of infection, epidemiology and public health information. Results Fifty-nine women (age range 18–45) completed the survey. Most patients (n = 53, 89.8%) had received information about the Zika virus from the media rather than clinicians. In 93% of the questions, a high level of knowledge was demonstrated by the participants. Personal concern about becoming infected with the Zika virus was significantly higher in those considering pregnancy (n = 13, 86.7% vs n = 21, 47.7%; P = 0.01). Conclusion In the weeks following recognized local transmission of the Zika virus in the continental United States, reproductive-aged women had a high level of knowledge of the Zika virus, but those considering pregnancy harbored the greatest concern of personal risk of infection.
A critical plane-based model for mixed-mode delamination growth rate prediction under fatigue cyclic loadings

Abstract A critical plane-based mixed-mode delamination growth model for composite materials under fatigue loadings is proposed in this study. A brief review for mixed-mode delamination is given and the special focus in the study is on a critical plane-based fracture criterion since it can automatically adapt for different local failure modes. An equivalent energy release rate range suitable for fatigue analysis is proposed for the delamination growth rate prediction under general proportional and non-proportional multiaxial loadings. The proposed methodology is validated with extensive experimental data available in the open literature. A general good agreement is observed between model predictions and experimental observations. Finally, some discussion and conclusions are drawn based on the proposed model.
Menopause and menopausal hormone therapy in women: cardiovascular benefits and risks

Abstract The last decade has brought many challenges and uncertainties regarding the use of menopausal hormone therapy in women. Two early key studies, the Heart and Estrogen/Progestin Replacement Study (HERS) and the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) failed to prove beneficial effects of exogenous estrogen, and estrogen combined with progestin, in cardiovascular prevention. More recent studies, however, introduced the concept of a possible “window-of-opportunity” for hormonal therapy, in which menopausal hormone therapy is used early after the onset of menopause, and may lead to more favorable, cardio-protective outcomes. Despite the increasing wealth of clinical data, menopausal hormone therapy is not currently recommended for primary or secondary prevention of coronary heart disease in women. Further research is needed to understand the risk-benefit balance of menopausal hormone therapy.
Longitudinal examination of family efficacy following pediatric stem cell transplant.

Objective Pediatric stem cell transplant (pSCT) is emotionally demanding for families. Yet, we know little of how the family unit responds to the adversity of pSCT within the first year after transplant. Family efficacy, an indicator of family resilience, is linked to positive parent, child, and family adjustment. Better understanding the factors that promote family efficacy during this difficult time could inform modifiable intervention targets and improve child and parent adjustment. The primary objectives were to examine patterns of family efficacy beliefs and identify factors that promote or hinder family efficacy. Methods Ninety caregivers (71% white, 7% black, 3% Hispanic, 4% Asian, 14% multiple ethnicities) of children receiving pSCT completed demographic forms, the Psychosocial Assessment Tool, and the Filial Parental and Collective Family Efficacy Beliefs scale prior to the family's discharge, and 1, 3, 6, and 9 months post-discharge. Latent growth curve modeling was used to examine family efficacy across time. Parent, child, and sibling distress, social support, and demographic factors served as predictors. Results Latent growth curve modeling demonstrated that family efficacy was stable for 9 months post pSCT discharge. Social support was positively related to family efficacy beliefs. No other variables predicted family efficacy. Conclusion Most families perceive themselves as resilient following pSCT. Social relationships and support are critical in maintaining a family's sense of efficacy during the arduous pSCT course.
“This is not who we are”: Freedom as Moral Affect and the Whiteness of Mutuality

This paper introduces the idea of freedom as a moral affect to demonstrate the contrasting ways in which different kinds of people expressed, understood, and experienced freedom. Through an ethnographic account of a design workshop in Vietnam, this paper reveals how freedom as moral affect serves as a cultural fault line that organizes conflicting desires for social relations. Moreover, this paper critically assesses the whiteness of mutuality as the ultimate expression of freedom.
Policies needed to build inclusive cities and schools

Race and class segregation have long governed patterns of residential sorting in the American metropolis. However, as urban neighborhoods across the country experience an influx of white and middle-class residents, they could alleviate the stark economic and racial segregation that is ubiquitous to urban neighborhoods and school systems. This paper argues that gentrification is a growing phenomenon with great potential to influence neighborhoods as well as cities and the schools within them. Key steps are discussed that policymakers can take to foster neighborhood and school change that is both inclusive and equitable.
Mirror-hand selection is influenced by training perspective and model skill level in a motor-learning task

This study examined mirror and non-mirror arm selection processes in an observational learning context. Observer groups watched either a novice (instruction or discovery) or skilled model performing a bimanual task with the right arm leading the left arm. The models were viewed from a third-person perspective. Observers of the skilled model more often selected a mirror-image (left-hand) hand-lead in post-observations tests, while observers of the novice models more often selected a non-mirror image (right hand) hand-lead in post-observation tests. This is a novel finding regarding arm selection processes in a learning context, yet it is consistent with imaging data that has revealed specific neural areas linked to the selection of mirror and non-mirror imitation processes for first- and third-person viewing perspectives. The skilled model also supported more accurate and stable performance of the bimanual task in observers compared to the instruction and novice models. It is concluded that a skilled model supports attention focus being directed at pattern analysis, while novice models support attention focus being allocated to strategy identification first, followed by pattern analysis.
Reflections on Minority Cultures in China: A Photo Essay

Creative Arts Educ Ther (2018) 4(1):66–77 DOI: 10.15212/CAET/2018/4/7 Reflections on Minority Cultures in China: A Photo Essay 对中国少数民族文化的反思：一篇摄影短文 Abstract This article describes a journey by the author to China where he documents in words and photographs the lives of people from minority cultures, especially the Miao and the Dong. In further in reflecting on the journey, the author acknowledges the impact of his mentor – a refuge from mainland China in 1949 – and his own heritage as an American Jew descended from generations of East European Jews displaced by pograms and by the Holocaust. 摘要 本文描述了作者到中国的旅程。他用文字和照片记录了少数民族文化中人们的生活，特别是苗族和侗族。 此外，在回顾旅程时，作者承认他的导师-1949年来自中国大陆的难民以及他自己作为美国犹太人的后代所产生的影响，源于几代东欧反犹骚乱和大屠杀。 关键词: 戏剧治疗, 文化, 少数民族, 犹太人, 穆斯林, 苗族, 侗族
Prewash total motile count is a poor predictor of live birth in intrauterine insemination cycles

Objective To determine whether there is a relationship between prewash total motile count and live births in couples undergoing IUI. Design Retrospective review in a single academic center. Setting Not applicable. Patient(s) Couples with infertility undergoing ovulation induction with IUI between 2010 and 2014. Intervention(s) Not applicable. Main Outcome Measure(s) Live births. Result(s) Our cohort included 310 women who underwent 655 IUI cycles with a cumulative live birth rate (LBR) per couple of 20% and an LBR per cycle of 10%. A analysis yielded no correlation between prewash total motile count (TMC) and live births. No live births occurred with TMC 37 years (90% sensitivity, 70% specificity). The LBR per couple was decreased to 7% in women >37 years compared with 25% in women Conclusion(s) Prewash TMC is a poor predictor of live birth. There were no live births with prewash TMC 37 years with IUI was significantly lower than women
Electrode-coated alumina separators for lithium-ion batteries - effect of particle size and distribution of alumina powders

Abstract Lithium-ion batteries prepared with ceramic, powder-coated electrode separators exhibit improved safety and performance characteristics compared to those with polymeric separators prone to thermal runaway. However, electrode-coated alumina separators are thinner and more flexible than standalone ceramic powder separators. Previous studies demonstrated the success of lithium-ion batteries with an alumina separator prepared by the blade-coating method on metal oxide electrodes. The present work examines the effect of particle size of α-alumina powder on slurry processability, coating formation, and the performance of lithium-titanate/lithium half cells with an alumina powder electrode-coated separator. Alumina powders with large particles (> 10 μm) were unable to form a slurry with the consistency required to fabricate such electrode-coated separators. Alumina powders that formed a consistent slurry were directly coated onto a lithium-titanate electrode, resulting in a good quality, thin electrode-supported separator. However, submicron-sized particles of α-alumina could block the electrode surface, affecting performance and stability of the final cell with the separator. Unimodal, micron-sized particles formed low viscosity slurries that both wet and damaged the electrode. An improved cell performance was observed if the coated separator was made of alumina powder with bimodal distribution of submicron and micron-sized particles, yet good results in terms of separator formation and the performance of the resulting cells were achieved only with alumina powder of a specific bimodal distribution. Interaction of the alumina and binder in the separator was studied to understand the need for the specific bimodal distribution of the alumina powder.
Endometrial antibodies versus CA-125 for the detection of endometriosis

Detection of endometrial antibodies using an indirect immunofluorescence method along with a well-established human endometrial carcinoma cell line was evaluated and compared with CA-125 for detecting endometriosis. Two hundred two patient sera from the infertility, gynecological, and gynecological oncology services were evaluated. The sensitivity for antibody testing was 83.1% with a specificity of 78.8%, in contrast to a sensitivity of 27.3% and a specificity of 82.6% for CA-125. These preliminary findings offer promise that antibody detection methods may be a useful adjunct in the diagnosis of endometriosis.
Method of fundamental solutions: singular value decomposition analysis

The method of fundamental solutions (also known as the singularity or the source method) is a useful technique for solving linear partial differential equations such as the Laplace or the Helmholtz equation. The procedure involves only boundary collocation or boundary fitting and hence is a very fast procedure for the solution of these classes of problems. The resulting coefficient matrix, is however ill-conditioned and hence the solution accuracy is sensitive to the location of the source points. In this paper, an alternative solution procedure based on the singular value decomposition of the coefficient matrix is suggested and it is shown that the numerical results are extremely accurate (often within machine precision) and relatively independent of the location of the source points. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Role of Provinces, States, and Territories in Shaping Federal Policy for Indigenous Peoples’ Health

Under both Canadian and United States law, the availability and quality of healthcare and health services to Indigenous peoples are primarily a federal responsibility. Nevertheless, sub-national au...
Psychological safety and infection prevention practices: Results from a national survey

Background Psychological safety is a critical factor in team learning that positively impacts patient safety. We sought to examine the influence of psychological safety on using recommended health care–associated infection (HAI) prevention practices within US hospitals. Methods We mailed surveys to infection preventionists in a random sample of nearly 900 US acute care hospitals in 2017. Our survey asked about hospital and infection control program characteristics, organizational factors, and the use of practices to prevent common HAIs. Hospitals that scored 4 or 5 (5-point Likert scale) on 7 psychological safety questions were classified as high psychological safety. Using sample weights, we conducted multivariable regression to determine associations between psychological safety and the use of select HAI prevention practices. Results Survey response rate was 59%. High psychological safety was reported in approximately 38% of responding hospitals, and was associated with increased odds of regularly using urinary catheter reminders or stop-orders and/or nurse-initiated urinary catheter discontinuation (odds ratio, 2.37; P = .002) for catheter-associated urinary tract infection prevention, and regularly using sedation vacation (odds ratio, 1.93; P = .04) for ventilator-associated pneumonia prevention. Conclusions We provide a snapshot of psychological safety in US hospitals and how this characteristic influences the use of select HAI prevention practices. A culture of psychological safety should be considered an integral part of HAI prevention efforts.
Sleep and Fatigue in IBD: an Unrecognized but Important Extra-intestinal Manifestation.

The bidirectional relationship between sleep disorders and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has gained considerable attention in recent years. It has been suggested that poor sleep and fatigue are extra-intestinal manifestations of IBD. This review reports recent studies exploring subjective and objective assessments of sleep in the adult IBD population. In ulcerative colitis patients, poor sleep has been independently linked to depression and poorer IBD-related quality of life. Using home polysomnography, IBD patients were shown to have less rapid eye movement sleep and Crohn’s patient had increased lighter sleep. A study utilizing surveys assessing circadian rhythms described circadian misalignment in IBD patients and reported that circadian misalignment in Crohn’s disease was associated with a more aggressive disease phenotype. The use of biologics may improve sleep disturbances in patients with IBD. Translational and clinical studies have reported that disturbances in sleep quality are linked to intestinal inflammation and a heighted systemic immune response. IBD patients appear to have disturbed sleep. Poor sleep is also suggested as a marker for subclinical disease activity. Recent studies have suggested circadian misalignment in IBD patients, and future studies are needed to assess these clinical implications.
Relationship between the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) computer adaptive testing and legacy instruments in patients undergoing isolated biceps tenodesis.

Hypothesis The purpose of this study was to correlate the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) computer adaptive testing (CAT) domains with commonly used legacy patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) preoperatively in a population of patients presenting to a tertiary care orthopedic center for biceps and labral pathology. Methods Prospective data were collected on 175 patients scheduled to undergo isolated biceps tenodesis at a tertiary center. Enrollees completed legacy scores (Veterans RAND 12-Item Health Survey, Short Form 12, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons [ASES] Assessment Form, Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation, and Constant-Murley score) and PROMIS CAT questionnaires (Upper Extremity [UE], Pain Interference [PIF], and Depression). In addition, patients were asked to provide an assessment of the strength, function, and pain of the affected shoulder using a custom visual analog scale (VAS) questionnaire. Spearman rank correlations of the PROMIS CAT with legacy measures and the custom VAS were calculated. Floor and ceiling effects were assessed. Results The UE CAT yielded moderate correlations with the ASES score (r = 0.57) and the custom VAS strength score (r = 0.50-0.57). The PIF CAT demonstrated moderate correlations with the VAS pain score (r = 0.45) and high-moderate correlations with the ASES score, VR6D score, and UE CAT (r = 0.61-0.66). The Depression CAT demonstrated high-moderate correlations with the mental health legacy measures (r = –0.64 to –0.61). There was a significant relative floor effect for the Depression CAT at a score of 34.2 (19%). Conclusion The PIF CAT was comparable to the ASES score, the current gold standard. Compared with legacy measures, both the UE CAT and PIF CAT are less burdensome and have few floor or ceiling effects. The PIF CAT may be a viable alternative to describe the physical and psychosocial impact of pain in biceps tenodesis patients.
Extensive and deep sequencing of the Venter/HuRef genome for developing and benchmarking genome analysis tools

We produced an extensive collection of deep re-sequencing datasets for the Venter/HuRef genome using the Illumina massively-parallel DNA sequencing platform. The original Venter genome sequence is a very-high quality phased assembly based on Sanger sequencing. Therefore, researchers developing novel computational tools for the analysis of human genome sequence variation for the dominant Illumina sequencing technology can test and hone their algorithms by making variant calls from these Venter/HuRef datasets and then immediately confirm the detected variants in the Sanger assembly, freeing them of the need for further experimental validation. This process also applies to implementing and benchmarking existing genome analysis pipelines. We prepared and sequenced 200 bp and 350 bp short-insert whole-genome sequencing libraries (sequenced to 100x and 40x genomic coverages respectively) as well as 2 kb, 5 kb, and 12 kb mate-pair libraries (43x, 97x, and 122x physical coverages respectively). Lastly, we produced a linked-read library (133x physical coverage) from which we also performed haplotype phasing.
Superconductivity from Luttinger surfaces: Emergent Sachdev-Ye-Kitaev physics with infinite-body interactions

The pairing of two electrons on a Fermi surface due to an infinitesimal attraction between them always results in a superconducting instability at zero temperature ($T=0$). The equivalent question of pairing instability on a Luttinger surface (LS)---190a contour of zeros of the propagator---instead leads to a quantum critical point (QCP) that separates a non-Fermi liquid and superconductor. A surprising and little understood aspect of pair fluctuations at this QCP is that their thermodynamics maps to that of the Sachdev-Ye-Kitaev (SYK) model in the strong coupling limit. Here, we offer a simple justification for this mapping by demonstrating that (i) LS models share the reparametrization symmetry of the $q\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\infty}$ SYK model with $q$-body interactions close to the LS, and (ii) the enforcement of gauge invariance results in a $\frac{1}{\sqrt{\ensuremath{\tau}}}$ ($\ensuremath{\tau}\ensuremath{\sim}{T}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$) behavior of the fluctuation propagator near the QCP, as is the feature of SYK conformal Green functions, but leaves the overall form of the free energy map robust.
Microstructure and physical properties of composite nonwovens produced by incorporating cotton fibers in elastic spunbond and meltblown webs for medical textiles

The objective of this research was to produce elastomeric nonwovens containing cotton by the combination of appropriate process. Such nonwovens are in demand for use in several healthcare, baby car...
Scholarly Communication Outside the R1: Measuring Faculty and Graduate Student Knowledge and Interest at a Doctoral/Professional University

INTRODUCTION This study explores the baseline knowledge and interest of faculty and graduate students at a Carnegie-classified Doctoral/Professional University regarding different components of scholarly communication. METHODS A survey was developed to inquire about such topics as scholarly research, scholarly publishing, access to research, copyright, measuring impact, promoting research, and open-educational resources. Responses more significantly represented the humanities and social sciences versus the natural and applied sciences. RESULTS & DISCUSSION Results showed some hesitancy in embracing the open access (OA) publishing model, especially the use of article processing charges (APCs). Faculty largely collect original data and believe public access to original data is important, but this varies by college and includes almost one-fourth of faculty who do not feel that sharing data is important. The areas in which respondents expressed the highest level of knowledge correlate directly with the areas in which respondents expressed the most interest in professional development. Preferences in professional development modality were split between virtual and in-person sessions. With virtual sessions specifically, graduate students prefer synchronous sessions while faculty prefer pre-recorded sessions. CONCLUSION Respondents were generally aware of the library’s current scholarly communications services, but additional promotion and marketing is still needed, especially for colleges with the lowest areas of engagement.
Aggregating Complex Annotations via Merging and Matching

Human annotations are critical for training and evaluating supervised learning models, yet annotators often disagree with one another, especially as annotation tasks increase in complexity. A common strategy to improve label quality is to ask multiple annotators to label the same item and then aggregate their labels. While many aggregation models have been proposed for simple annotation tasks, how can we reason about and resolve annotator disagreement for more complex annotation tasks (e.g., continuous, structured, or high-dimensional), without needing to devise a new aggregation model for every different complex annotation task? We address two distinct challenges in this work. Firstly, how can a general aggregation model support merging of complex labels across diverse annotation tasks? Secondly, for multi-object annotation tasks that require annotators to provide multiple labels for each item being annotated (e.g., labeling named-entities in a text or visual entities in an image), how do we match which annotator label refers to which entity, such that only matching labels are aggregated across annotators? Using general constructs for merging and matching, our model not only supports diverse tasks, but delivers equal or better results than prior aggregation models: general and task-specific.
WFPC2 Observations of the Cooling Flow Elliptical in Abell 1795

We present WFPC2 images of the core of the cooling flow cD galaxy in Abell 1795. An irregular, asymmetric dust lane extends 7 \h75 kpc in projection to the north-northwest. The dust shares the morphology observed in the H$\alpha$ and excess UV emission. We see both diffuse and knotty blue emission around the dust lane, especially at the ends. The dust and emission features lie on the edge of the radio lobes, suggesting star formation induced by the radio source or the deflection of the radio jets off of pre-existing dust and gas. We measure an apparent R$_V$ significantly less than 3.1, implying that the extinction law is not Galactic in the dust lane, or the presence of line emission which is proportional to the extinction. The dust mass is at least 2$\times10^{5} h_{75}^{-2}$ M\solar\ and is more likely to be 6.5$\times10^{5} h_{75}^{-2}$ M\solar.
COMPACT: Flow-Based Computing on Nanoscale Crossbars with Minimal Semiperimeter

In-memory computing is a promising solution strategy for data-intensive applications to circumvent the von Neumann bottleneck. Flow-based computing is the concept of performing in-memory computing using sneak paths in nanoscale crossbar arrays. The limitation of previous work is that the resulting crossbar representations have large dimensions. In this paper, we present a framework called COMPACT for mapping Boolean functions to crossbar representations with minimal semiperimeter (the number of wordlines plus bitlines). The COMPACT framework is based on an analogy between binary decision diagrams (BDDs) and nanoscale memristor crossbar arrays. More specifically, nodes and edges in a BDD correspond to wordlines/bitlines and memristors in a crossbar array, respectively. The relation enables a function represented by a BDD with $n$ nodes and an odd cycle transversal of size $k$ to be mapped to a crossbar with a semiperimeter of n+k. The $k$ extra wordlines/bitlines are introduced due to crossbar connection constraints, i.e. wordlines (bitlines) cannot directly be connected to wordlines (bitlines). For multi-input multi-output functions, COMPACT can also be applied to shared binary decision diagrams (SBDDs), which further reduces the size of the crossbar representations. Compared with the state-of-the-art mapping technique, the semiperimeter is reduced from 2.13n to 1.09n on the average, which translates into crossbar representations with 78% smaller area. The power consumption and the computation delay are on the average reduced by 7% and 52%, respectively.
Signaling and Control

Control processes are responsible for maintenance of the organism’s internal environment (homeostasis) and, therefore, inextricable from the very definition of living matter. Optimal homeostasis involves adaptation and relies on processing of signals from the environment. Signaling and control processes are considered that exhibit nonlinear effects such as an all-of-nothing response, switches, modulation of oscillations, and hysteresis. Examples are drawn from intracellular molecular systems, as well as multicellular and inter-organ control networks: protein kinase cascades with feedback, dynamics of the transmembrane electrochemical potential, regulation of gene expression by metabolism, and control of breathing.
Efficacy of Withania somnifera supplementation on adult's cognition and mood.

The present study examined the effects of a proprietary Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) root and leaf extract (NooGandha® Specnova LLC, USA) supplement for improving cognitive abilities, cortisol levels, and self-reported mood, stress, food cravings, and anxiety with adults who have perceived stress. Healthy adults (n = 43 women and n = 17 men; mean age = 34.41 years) who reported experiencing perceived stress were randomized to the following groups: Ashwagandha (400 mg/d), Ashwagandha (225 mg/d), and placebo for 30 days. The following outcomes were assessed at Day 0, Day 15, and Day 30: saliva cortisol levels, cognitive performance (i.e., CNS vital signs), and the self-reported measures of Trait Anxiety Inventory, Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, and Food Cravings Questionnaire-15. For the self-report assessments, significant main effects for time were evidenced for anxiety, depression, perceived stress, and food cravings, p's < 0.01. The main effect for group and the interactions were non-significant. For the CNS vital signs, significant differences were observed in cognitive flexibility, visual memory, reaction time, psychomotor speed, and executive functioning, p's < 0.05, with the Ashwagandha groups often out-performing the placebo group. Both Ashwagandha groups had reductions in cortisol levels over time, with significant reductions evidenced for the Ashwagandha 225 mg/d group from Day 0 to Day 15 to Day 30. The placebo group had a non-significant increase in cortisol levels from Day 0 to Day 15-30. No adverse events were reported. In conclusion, Ashwagandha supplementation may improve the physiological, cognitive, and psychological effects of stress.
Drought impacts on ecosystem functions of the U.S. National Forests and Grasslands: Part I. Evaluation of a water and carbon balance model.

Abstract Understanding and quantitatively evaluating the regional impacts of climate change and variability (e.g., droughts) on forest ecosystem functions (i.e., water yield, evapotranspiration, and productivity) and services (e.g., fresh water supply and carbon sequestration) is of great importance for developing climate change adaptation strategies for National Forests and Grasslands (NFs) in the United States. However, few reliable continental-scale modeling tools are available to account for both water and carbon dynamics. The objective of this study was to test a monthly water and carbon balance model, the Water Supply Stress Index (WaSSI) model, for potential application in addressing the influences of drought on NFs ecosystem services across the conterminous United States (CONUS). The performance of the WaSSI model was comprehensively assessed with measured streamflow (Q) at 72 U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) gauging stations, and satellite-based estimates of watershed evapotranspiration (ET) and gross primary productivity (GPP) for 170 National Forest and Grassland (NFs). Across the 72 USGS watersheds, the WaSSI model generally captured the spatial variability of multi-year mean annual and monthly Q and annual ET as evaluated by Correlation Coefficient (R = 0.71–1.0), Nash–Sutcliffe Efficiency (NS = 0.31–1.00), and normalized Root Mean Squared Error (0.06–0.48). The modeled ET and GPP by WaSSI agreed well with the remote sensing-based estimates for multi-year annual and monthly means for all the NFs. However, there were systemic discrepancies in GPP between our simulations and the satellite-based estimates on a yearly and monthly scale, suggesting uncertainties in GPP estimates in all methods (i.e., remote sensing and modeling). Overall, our assessments suggested that the WaSSI model had the capability to reconstruct the long-term forest watershed water and carbon balances at a broad scale. This model evaluation study provides a foundation for model applications in understanding the impacts of climate change and variability (e.g., droughts) on NFs ecosystem service functions.
Non-linear Bayesian orbit determination based on the generalized admissible region

In this paper, we propose a non-linear Bayesian estimation technique where, for a set of observations, the physical limits of the knowledge of the observed object are represented not as likelihood functions but as probability density functions (pdfs). When the codimension of the observations are high, a direct numerical implementation of Bayes' theorem is practical. The pdfs are mapped analytically in time by means of a special solution to the Fokker-Planck equations for deterministic systems. This approach requires no a priori information, enables direct comparison of observations with any probabilistic data, and is robust to outlier observations.
Supporting the development of new air traffic management software

One factor inhibiting adoption of new air traffic management systems is the inability to provide sufficient assurance for the safety-critical software components. This paper describes an approach to specifying and validating safety-critical systems called SpecTRM (specification tools and requirements methodology). An experimental demonstration of SpecTRM applied to the conflict alert/mode-C intruder (CA/MCI) function of the standard terminal automation replacement systems (STARS) is used as an example. Using SpecTRM to build a model of blackbox software functionality, such as CA/MCI, helps in validating system design early in the development process and in building safety into the design from the beginning. The use of SpecTRM informal and formal specifications/models to specify the system and software functions assists in eliminating inconsistencies and discrepancies common in plain-English documents. In addition, the specifications and models are executable and analyzable. Finally, the resulting specification provides documentation for reference during the maintenance phase of the software life cycle, including the design rationale and the design features related to safety.
Factors associated with treatment received by men diagnosed with prostate cancer in queensland, australia.

COOPERBERG EDITORIAL COMMENT FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH TREATMENT RECEIVED BY MEN DIAGNOSED WITH PROSTATE CANCER IN QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA Prostate cancer incidence and management varies markedly around the world based on a range of genetic, clinical, sociodemographic, cultural and economic variables [ 1 ] . Understanding the relative contribution of these factors in different regions may be expected to yield important new insights into the global impact of both the disease and its treatment. In recent years, a growing number of studies have emerged from increasingly well-organized and broadly representative cohorts in Australia. In the present paper, Baade et al . report from a cohort of men assembled from 10 public hospitals in Queensland, comprising > 10% of all diagnoses in the state. Overall the practice patterns were not greatly dissimilar to those previously published for contemporaneous USA-based patients [ 2 ] . A plurality of men underwent E720 prostatectomy, and almost as many received radiation, with or without androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). As in the USA, conservative management was uncommon as of the mid-2000s; perhaps the most striking difference is that ADT monotherapy – endorsed by guidelines in Asia but not in other regions – was much less common. Factors associated with treatment selection are also broadly similar to those previously reported from other analyses. The fi nding that men living farther from radiation facilities were more likely to receive radiation is somewhat counterintuitive, and bears further investigation. This pattern is sharply different from that observed in the USA, where radiation is more favourably reimbursed than other treatments, and radiation facilities are often heavily marketed, infl uencing local practices [ 3 ] . The principal limitations of the study are refl ective of those dogging most research relying on broad cancer registries – specifi cally a relative paucity of clinical detail, which precludes critical analyses of risk-stratifi ed treatment. Management of prostate cancer continues to evolve extremely rapidly, and prospective, longitudinal cohorts driven by urologists will grow in importance for understanding treatment patterns and outcomes around the world. Matthew R. Cooperberg , Department of Urology, UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, CA, USA REFERENCES Jemal A , Bray F , Center MM , Ferlay J , Ward E , Forman D . Global cancer statistics . CA Cancer J Clin 2011 ; 61 : Cooperberg MR , Broering JM , Carroll PR . Time trends and local variation in primary treatment of localized prostate cancer . J Clin Oncol 2010 ; 28 : 1117 – 23 Aaronson DS , Odisho AY , Hills N , Cress R , Carroll PR , Dudley RA , Cooperberg MR . Proton beam therapy and treatment for localized prostate cancer: if you build it, they will come . Arch Intern Med 2012 ; 172 : 280 – 3 BJU INTERNATIONAL 2012 THE AUTHOR 2 0 1 2 B J U I N T E R N A T I O N A L | 11 0 , E 7 2 0 | doi:10.1111/j.1464-410X.2012.11535.x
Supporting dynamically changing authorizations in pervasive communication systems

In pervasive computing environments, changes in context may trigger changes in an individual's access permissions. We contend that existing access control frameworks do not provide the fine-grained revocation needed to enforce these changing authorizations. In this paper, we present an authorization framework, in the context of the Gaia OS for active spaces, which integrates context with authorization and provides fine-grained control over the enforcement of dynamically changing permissions using cryptographic mechanisms. Our design, implemented in middleware using distributed objects, addresses the limitations of traditional authorization frameworks and the specific access control needs of pervasive computing environments. As part of our proposed framework, we define cryptographic protocols that enforce access to the system's communication channels and provide secure delivery of messages. We also provide a proof of correctness of key agreement and freshness using the standard BAN deduction system.
On the Generation of Dual Polar Spaces of Symplectic Type over Finite Fields

It is demonstrated that the dual polar space of typeSp2n(q),q>2, can be generated as a geometry by[formula]points.