cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Time Does Not Heal All Wounds A Longitudinal Study of Reaction and Adaptation to Divorce

Cross-sectional studies show that divorced people report lower levels of life satisfaction than do married people. However, such studies cannot determine whether satisfaction actually changes following divorce. In the current study, data from an 18-year panel study of more than 30,000 Germans were used to examine reaction and adaptation to divorce. Results show that satisfaction drops as one approaches divorce and then gradually rebounds over time. However, the return to baseline is not complete. In addition, prospective analyses show that people who will divorce are less happy than those who stay married, even before either group gets married. Thus, the association between divorce and life satisfaction is due to both preexisting differences and lasting changes following the event.
Optimized radial and angular positions in Monte Carlo modeling

In Monte Carlo simulations of light transport in tissues, a grid system is set up to score physical quantities. This study of cylindrically symmetrical problems found that the optimized radial and angular positions for the averaged physical quantities in each grid element are off-center. The error of the extrapolated physical quantities at the light-incidence point using the centered radial positions is up to 14.3%.
Measurement of facial soft tissue mobility in man.

Abstract Objective: The assessment of facial mobility is a key element in the treatment of patients with facial motor deficits. In this study, we explored the utility of a three-dimensional tracking system in the measurement of facial movements. Methods and Results: First, the three-dimensional movement of potentially stable facial soft-tissue, headcap, and dental landmarks was measured with respect to a fixed space frame. Based on the assumption that the dental landmarks are stable, their motion during a series of standardized facial animations was subtracted from that of the facial and headcap landmarks to estimate their movement within the face. This residual movement was used to determine which points are relatively stable (≤1.5 mm of movement) and which are not (≥1.5 mm of movement). Headcap landmarks were found to be suitable as references during smile, cheek puff, and lip purse animations, and during talking. In contrast, skin-based landmarks were unsuitable as references because of their considera...
SPURV II-An Unmanned, Free-Swimming Submersible Developed for Oceanographic Research

SPURV II, a Self-Propelled Underwater Research Vehicle, is the latest in a series of such vehicles developed by the Applied Physics Laboratory of the University of Washington for use in its oceanographic research programs. Previous vehicles include several earlier versions of SPURV for deep ocean work (to 3000 meters) and UARS (Unmanned Arctic Research Submersible), a vehicle for under-ice research. SPURV II is a modification of one of the earlier SPURV systems and was developed specifically to improve the platform stability and increase the spatial frequency bandwidths of the oceanographic sensors. It has a shallower depth capability (1500 meters) than previous SPURVs but has increased performance in endurance and speed, a more sophisticated guidance and control system, and a greatly expanded sensor suite and associated recording system. In particular the new sensors include the measurement of temperature, conductivity and 3-axis velocity with recording frequencies of 90 Hz and the recording of hot and cold platinum film sensors at 900 Hz to measure the temperature and velocity fields associated with oceanic turbulence. This paper provides a brief description of SPURV II and its surface support equipment which includes, in addition to the vehicle handling equipment, a computer based tracking and command system and a separate larger computer system for data readout and analysis.
Crystal Structure of Coxsackievirus B3 3Dpol Highlights the Functional Importance of Residue 5 in Picornavirus Polymerases

The crystal structure of the coxsackievirus B3 polymerase has been solved at 2.25-A resolution and is shown to be highly homologous to polymerases from poliovirus, rhinovirus, and foot-and-mouth disease viruses. Together, these structures highlight several conserved structural elements in picornaviral polymerases, including a proteolytic activation-dependent N-terminal structure that is essential for full activity. Interestingly, a comparison of all of the picornaviral polymerase structures shows an unusual conformation for residue 5, which is always located at a distortion in the β-strand composed of residues 1 to 8. In our earlier structure of the poliovirus polymerase, we attributed this conformation to a crystal packing artifact, but the observation that this conformation is conserved among picornaviruses led us to examine the role of this residue in further detail. Here we use coxsackievirus polymerase to show that elongation activity correlates with the hydrophobicity of residue 5 and, surprisingly, more hydrophobic residues result in higher activity. Based on structural analysis, we propose that this residue becomes buried during the nucleotide repositioning step that occurs prior to phosphoryl transfer. We present a model in which the buried N terminus observed in all picornaviral polymerases is essential for stabilizing the structure during this conformational change.
Role of Acute Lesion Topography in Initial Ischemic Stroke Severity and Long-Term Functional Outcomes

Background and Purpose— Acute infarct volume, often proposed as a biomarker for evaluating novel interventions for acute ischemic stroke, correlates only moderately with traditional clinical end points, such as the modified Rankin Scale. We hypothesized that the topography of acute stroke lesions on diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging may provide further information with regard to presenting stroke severity and long-term functional outcomes. Methods— Data from a prospective stroke repository were limited to acute ischemic stroke subjects with magnetic resonance imaging completed within 48 hours from last known well, admission NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS), and 3-to-6 months modified Rankin Scale scores. Using voxel-based lesion symptom mapping techniques, including age, sex, and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging lesion volume as covariates, statistical maps were calculated to determine the significance of lesion location for clinical outcome and admission stroke severity. Results— Four hundred ninety subjects were analyzed. Acute stroke lesions in the left hemisphere were associated with more severe NIHSS at admission and poor modified Rankin Scale at 3 to 6 months. Specifically, injury to white matter (corona radiata, internal and external capsules, superior longitudinal fasciculus, and uncinate fasciculus), postcentral gyrus, putamen, and operculum were implicated in poor modified Rankin Scale. More severe NIHSS involved these regions, as well as the amygdala, caudate, pallidum, inferior frontal gyrus, insula, and precentral gyrus. Conclusions— Acute lesion topography provides important insights into anatomic correlates of admission stroke severity and poststroke outcomes. Future models that account for infarct location in addition to diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging volume may improve stroke outcome prediction and identify patients likely to benefit from aggressive acute intervention and personalized rehabilitation strategies.
Kindergarten Predictors of Math Learning Disability

The primary aim of the present study was to examine whether cognitive data obtained from psychoeducational or neuropsychological assessments of kindergarteners can effectively predict math achievement outcome in third grade. Although this study of predictors was not a screening study per se, the findings from the present study may have direct implications for early screening of risk for math learning disability (MLD). The findings may also contribute toward efforts to identify core deficits that underlie MLD. Relative to knowledge about reading disability (RD), there is less known about the core deficit(s) of mathematics disability, and there are few evidence-based screening tools available for detecting risk for poor achievement in mathematics. The proposed project was designed to help address these gaps in research-based practice.
Changes Over Time in High Out-of-Pocket Health Care Burden in U.S. Adults With Diabetes, 2001–2011

OBJECTIVE High out-of-pocket (OOP) costs can be an obstacle to health care access and treatment compliance. This study investigated trends in high OOP health care burden in people with diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Using Medical Expenditure Panel Survey 2001–2011 data, we examined trends in the proportion of people aged 18–64 years with diabetes facing a high OOP burden. We also examined whether the trend differed by insurance status (private insurance, public insurance, or no insurance) or by income level (poor and near poor, low income, middle income, or high income). RESULTS In 2011, 23% of people with diabetes faced high OOP burden. Between 2001–2002 and 2011, the proportion of people facing high OOP burden fell by 5 percentage points ( P P P = 0.01). Among people with diabetes who were poor and near poor and those with low income, the proportion facing high OOP burden decreased by 21 ( P P = 0.01) percentage points, respectively; no significant change occurred in the proportion with private insurance or middle and high incomes between 2001–2002 and 2011. CONCLUSIONS The past decade has seen a narrowing of insurance coverage and income-related disparities in high OOP burden in people with diabetes; yet, almost one-fourth of all people with diabetes still face a high OOP burden.
Mobile Sensor Navigation Using Rapid RF-Based Angle of Arrival Localization

Over the past decade, wireless sensor networks have advanced in terms of hardware design, communication protocols, resource efficiency, and other aspects. Recently, there has been growing interest in mobile wireless sensor networks, and several small-profile sensing devices that are able to control their own movement have already been developed. Unfortunately, resource constraints inhibit the use of traditional navigation methods, because these typically require bulky, expensive, and sophisticated sensors, substantial memory and processor allocation, and a generous power supply. Therefore, alternative navigation techniques are required. In this paper we present TripNav, a localization and navigation system that is implemented entirely on resource-constrained wireless sensor nodes. Localization is realized using radio interferometric angle of arrival estimation, in which bearings to a mobile node from a small number of infrastructure nodes are estimated based on the observed phase differences of an RF interference signal. The position of the mobile node is then determined using triangulation. A digital compass is also employed to keep the mobile node from deviating from the desired trajectory. We demonstrate using a real-world implementation that a resource-constrained mobile sensor node can accurately perform waypoint navigation with an average position error of 0.95 m.
A 207Pb NMR Study of Beta''-Alumina

We report results of a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) study of lead(II) cations in s''-alumina. Measurements of line positions and spin-lattice relaxation times (T1) as a function of temperature are presented. The results show that Pb ions possess both static and dynamic disorder in low and intermediate temperature regimes, respectively. Also, a comparison is made between Lorentzian and logarithmic spectral density functions, from which we conclude that the latter provides a better fit to the dataat short correlation times (ωoτ≃1). The logarithmic form has been proposed to describe diffusive motion in 2-dimensional conductors.
Role of the spleen in immunologic enhancement of kidney grafts in rats.

Immunologic enhancement induced with alloimmune serum specifically suppresses renal allograft rejection in the rat (1, 2, 3). Several observations suggest that the recipient has an active role in enhancement. Alloantibody, rapidly fixed to tissues, disappears from the serum four hours after administration (4), and must be given at the time of grafting to insure graft survival (5). Multiple daily injections of suboptimal amounts are ineffective (5). Furthermore, enhancement of organ grafts, instead of preventing the immune response, modifies it so that the balance between graft rejection and prolonged survival is different from a primary graft response. Thus, hemagglutinating and cytotoxic antibodies appear after grafting with the same titer and kinetics as untreated grafts (3). Cell mediated immunity is similarly present (6).
Crosstalk of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway with other pathways in cancer cells

Many cancers have similar aberrations in various signaling cascades with crucial roles in cellular proliferation, differentiation, and morphogenesis. Dysregulation of signal cascades that play integral roles during early cellular development is well known to be a central feature of many malignancies. One such signaling cascade is the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, which has a profound effect on stem cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. This pathway is dysregulated in numerous cell types, underscoring its global oncogenetic potential. This review highlights regulators and downstream effectors of this receptor cascade and addresses the increasingly apparent crosstalk of Wnt with other tumorigenic signaling pathways. As understanding of the genetic and epigenetic changes unique to these malignancies increases, identifying the regulatory mechanisms unique to the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and similarly aberrant receptor pathways will be imperative.
A checklist and key to the snakes of the genus Geophis (Squamata: Colubridae: Dipsadinae), with commentary on distribution and conservation

Geophis Wagler is the fourth largest genus of colubrid snakes in the Western Hemisphere, with 46 species currently recognized. Since the last major treatment of this genus, there have been 12 new species described, three taxa elevated to the species level, and two taxa previously recognized at the species level synonymized with other taxa. We present a checklist for the genus Geophis , summarizing information on taxonomic history, type material and locality, distribution, and species group assignment for 46 species. We also provide an identification key for the 46 species, followed by a brief analysis of distributional patterns and conservation status.
Advancements in Flight Training Devices for Ab Initio Pilot Use

Ab Initio pilot training centers have access to Flight Training Devices (FTD) that can serve as an effective medium for training student pilots. This training includes tasks necessary for certification during visual meteorological conditions (VMC). High fidelity FTDs have visual systems, control loading, and aerodynamic modeling that were previously unavailable in FAA qualified FTDs. However, due to the recency of higher levels of fidelity in FTDs there is an opportunity to refine the devices in terms of perceptual fidelity and behavioral fidelity. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University conducted a two-year transfer of training (ToT) study in an effort to quantify the effects of training in an FTD for private pilot certification. Analyses of data led researchers to conclusions addressing modification of visual systems and the creation of a virtual air traffic (VAT) functionality. VAT will integrate voice and event triggered virtual air traffic control and air traffic into the FTD virtual environment with the goal of increasing realism.
Titration of organic acids in urine

Carbonates and phosphates are removed by adding 2 grams of calcium hydroxide to 100 c.c. of urine, and filtering after 10 minutes. 25 c.c. of the filtrate is brought to a pH of approximately 8 by adding 0.2 N HCl with phenolphthalein as indicator, till the pink color disappears. Then 5 c.c. of 0.02 per cent. Tropeolin 00 solution are added, and the solution is titrated to a pH of 2.7 with 0.2 N HCl, the volume being brought to approximately 50 c.c. by addition of water towards the end of the titration. The color is compared with that of 50 c.c. of a control solution with the same pH and indicator. The amount of 0.2 N HCl required to give the endpoint with a control in which water replaces the urine is subtracted. Of the organic acids known to be present in urine in quantitatively significant amounts, the titration measures from 93 to 100 per cent. of each. It also includes very weak bases, but apparently of this class of substances only creatine and creatinine are significant; they are titrated to nearly ...
New pharmacologic approaches to thromboembolic disorders.

As a result of our broadened understanding of the pathophysiology of thrombosis, new and specific classes of antithrombotic drugs are being developed and evaluated. The new therapeutic strategies are predicated on the development of more specific inhibitors. Combined use of agents with different biochemical mechanisms offers a promising approach.
Dementia, depression, and nutritional status.

SUMMARY Dementia, depression, and Parkinson’s disease are in themselves challenging problems in old age. Recognition and diagnosis are often suboptimal. In dementia, many contributing factors must be considered, including nutrition, but in all these conditions the effects of the cognitive, attitudinal, and motor changes can produce permanent and severe nutritional compromise. Yet many simple steps can be taken to prevent poor nutrition in these diseases, and the primary care practitioner is central to this process of recognition and intervention.
Culture's consequence: The relationship between income-increasing earnings management and IAS/IFRS adoption across cultures

Abstract Research has shown that earnings management has increased amongst firms in Europe post-IFRS adoption, but the association between IFRS adoption and earnings management is not uniform across countries. We propose the culture of a firm's country of origin relates significantly with changes in earnings management pre- and post-IFRS adoption. We test our proposition using the Hofstede Model of Cultural Dimensions and find a significant increase in income-increasing earnings management after IFRS adoption amongst firms based in countries that are more power distant, uncertainty avoidant, individualistic, short-term oriented, and indulgent.
A Quantitative Assessment of the Risk of Human Salmonellosis Arising from the Consumption of Pecans in the United States

A quantitative risk assessment was conducted to assess the risk of human salmonellosis acquired from consumption of pecans in the United States. The model considered the potential for Salmonella survival, growth, and recontamination of pecans from the sheller to the consumer, including steps such as immersion in water, drying, conditioning, cracking, partitioning, and storage. Five theoretical microbial reduction treatment levels (1 to 5 log CFU) were modeled. Data from the 2010 to 2013 surveys by the National Pecan Shellers Association were used for initial prevalence and contamination levels. The impacts of atypical situations in the pecan production system were also evaluated. Higher initial contamination levels, recontamination during processing, and a delay in drying postconditioning were the modeled atypical situations. The baseline model predicted a mean risk of salmonellosis in the United States from consumption of in-shell and shelled pecans processed by cold conditioning with no microbial reduction treatment and no further home cooking as 1 case per 775,193 servings (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1 case per 1,915,709 to 178,253 servings). This predicted risk per serving was estimated as a mean of 529 cases of salmonellosis per year (95% CI: 213 to 2,295 cases). Hot conditioning for shelled pecans and microbial reduction treatment of both shelled and in-shell pecans had a significant impact on the predicted mean risk of illness. Assuming 77% of the shelled pecans sold at retail (i.e., 80% of the retail supply) received hot conditioning, the mean estimated salmonellosis cases per year from consumption of in-shell and shelled pecans uncooked at home was 203 (95% CI: 81 to 882 cases) if no additional microbial reduction treatment were applied. The predicted risk of illness per serving was higher for all atypical situations modeled compared with the baseline model, and delay in drying had the greatest impact on risk.
Governance and Patronage

This chapter emphasizes the queens’ impact on political and diplomatic matters. Much of the historical understanding of how they performed their roles depends on diplomatic dispatches. First, this chapter challenges the traditional negative interpretations of the diplomats’ comments concerning Elizabeth of York and Anne Boleyn; it then provides a revisionist view to the received wisdom that has led to inaccurate assumptions about their reigns. Finally, it explores the significant ways in which the other Tudor queens demonstrated their political abilities: Katherine of Aragon’s diplomatic service for her father, the traditional intercessory roles, the regencies of Katherine of Aragon and Katherine Parr , the queens’ influence on religious reform and publications, and their patronage of prelates.
The effect of scanning technology and UPC placement on supermarket self-checkout

Self-checking services are offered in many supermarkets. In order to checkout efficiently, customers must locate and scan the Universal Product Code (UPC) of the items with relative ease. Otherwise, their preferences toward using the self-checkout (SCO) stations may be negatively affected. The current literature has no focus on UPC location, and the scanning technology used effect on performance and preferences. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of these from an operational and ergonomic perspective. To that end, 2 UPC placement techniques (current and recommended placement) and 2 scanning technologies (bi-optic and handheld scanners) were tested. The total scanning time, individual items scanning time, trunk posture, total number of wrong twists/flips, individual items wrong flips, muscle activities, and participants' subjective preferences were measured. The results revealed that total scanning time was significantly reduced when using bi-optic scanner (F = 20.9, P < 0.01). The recommended UPC placement led to a significant improvement on UPC anticipation for both scanning technologies (F = 16.8, P < 0.01). Additionally, exposure to non-neutral trunk posture(s) was shown to be significantly decreased in the bi-optic condition (F = 10.4, P < 0.01). Proper UPCs' placement and bi-optic scanner can positively improve the efficiency and experience of the SCO.
A Behavioral Analysis of Apologies, Forgiveness, and Interpersonal Conflict

Instances of conflict can be of the most distressful experiences within a relationship or in interacting with others. There are a number of behaviors that occur to compose a conflict, however there are two behaviors that serve to restore a relationship following conflict, those of apologizing and forgiving. While plenty of attention has been provided to the issues of interpersonal conflict, apologizing, and forgiving from more traditional approaches, these accounts contrast the views of behavior analysis in a number of ways. When the behaviors involved in interpersonal conflict are assessed from a behavior-analytic perspective, many of these traditional views are directly challenged. Furthermore, we find that the manner in which conflicts are normally resolved within relationships may be contributing to harmful patterns of interactions. The present paper aims to provide a thorough behavioral analysis of the operating contingencies and behaviors that occur during episodes of interpersonal conflict. With such an understanding, suggestions are made based on behavioral principles as to how resolution may be more readily achieved and further conflict may be avoided.
A new echelon of precision polypentenamers: highly isotactic branching on every five carbons

A series of allylic substituted cyclopentene monomers with increasing steric bulk are investigated by ring opening metathesis polymerization to understand the effects of these substituents on the microstructural outcomes of the resulting polypentenamers. 3-Triethylsiloxycyclopentene is discovered to polymerize to a highly regular microstructure with up to 96% trans olefins and 92% head-to-tail positional isomers. Dynamic resolution after synthetic modifications produced an enantiopure version (∼92% ee) of this monomer which subsequently produced a precision isotactic and regioregular polypentenamer for the first time. Synthetic investigations, mechanistic aspects, and basic thermal properties are discussed.
A high frequency, high frame rate front end for electrical impedance tomography

Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is an imaging modality that takes spectral images of the tissue under study. The EIT imaging approach, compared to the other imaging techniques such as X-ray, offers an affordable, non-ionizing portable device for home health monitoring. A front-end with high frame rate that covers a wide range of frequencies is essential for such applications. This paper presents the circuit design and implementation of a high frequency, high frame rate front-end for electrical impedance tomography system. The proposed front-end comprises a wide bandwidth programmable gain instrumentation amplifier, a mega-sample per second analog-to-digital converter (ADC), and an ADC driver. The readout channel is designed and fabricated in a 0.18 μm CMOS technology. The measurement results show that the proposed front-end covers the wide frequency range of 100 Hz to 10 MHz, with a frame rate of 30 frames per second for a 16-electrode system, with an average signal-to-noise ratio of more than 60 dB. The entire read-out channel consumes between 6.9 mW and 21.8 mW based on its operation frequency.
Abstract 16383: Contemporary Costs of Care Stratified by INTERMACS Profiles Among Patients Undergoing Primary Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation

Introduction: Durable mechanical circulatory support (dMCS) is an integral part of advanced heart failure (AHF) management. Risk stratification for patients undergoing dMCS using the Interagency Re...
Long-term results of cholecystectomy for biliary dyskinesia: outcomes and resource utilization

Background The purpose of this study is to describe a cohort of pediatric patients undergoing cholecystectomy for biliary dyskinesia (BD) and characterize postoperative resource utilization. Methods Single-institution, retrospective chart review of pediatric patients after cholecystectomy for BD was done. Patient demographics and clinical characteristics as well as operative details and postoperative interventions were abstracted. Telephone follow-up was performed to identify persistent symptoms, characterize the patient experience, and quantify postoperative resource utilization. Results Forty-nine patients were included. Twenty-two patients (45%) were seen postoperatively by a gastroenterologist, of which, only 32% were known to the gastroenterologist before surgery. Postoperative studies included 13 abdominal ultrasounds for persistent pain, 13 esophagogastroduodenoscopies, five endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatographies (ERCPs), one endoscopic ultrasound, one magnetic resonance cholangiopancreaticogram, and five colonoscopies. Of the patients with additional diagnostic testing postoperatively, one had mild esophagitis, three had sphincter of Oddi dysfunction, and one was suspected to have inflammatory bowel disease. Telephone survey response rate was 47%. Among respondents, 65.2% reported ongoing abdominal pain, nausea, or vomiting at an average of 26 mo after operation. Of note, all patients who underwent postoperative ERCP with sphincterotomy reported symptom relief following this procedure. Conclusions Relief of symptoms postoperatively in pediatric patients with BD is inconsistent. Postoperative studies, though numerous, are of low diagnostic yield and generate high costs. These findings suggest that the initial diagnostic criteria and treatment algorithm may require revision to better predict symptom improvement after surgery. Improvement seen after ERCP/sphincterotomy is anecdotal but appears to merit further investigation.
Do complementary and integrative medicine therapies reduce healthcare utilization among oncology patients? A systematic review of the literature and recommendations.

Abstract Purpose Complementary and integrative medicine (CIM) is frequently used by oncology teams for reducing physical and emotional side-effects related to cancer treatment. In light of the changing healthcare system, evidence is needed regarding the economic implications of these interventions. The purpose of this study was to: (1) systematically examine the literature for links between CIM interventions and healthcare utilization (2) provide recommendations for growing this area of research. Method PubMed and EBSCO databases were reviewed for articles reporting on healthcare utilization associated with CIM therapy use in oncology populations. CIM intervention characteristics and healthcare utilization were extracted and summarized from 7 articles meeting inclusion criteria. Results Studies included various CIM modalities. Most studies targeted physical symptoms (i.e., pain, infection, nausea/vomiting; n = 4). Healthcare utilization included medication use/cost (n = 4) and hospitalization length/cost (n = 5). All four studies (prospective/retrospective between-group, n = 2; within-subject pre-post, n = 1; RCT, n = 1) examining medication reduction noted decreased medication costs or use. Mixed findings emerged for studies examining hospitalizations (retrospective between-group, n = 2; within-subject pre-post, n = 1; RCT, n = 2), with only one study (retrospective between-group) indicating lower hospitalization duration in the CIM group. Conclusions Findings indicate the potential for CIM therapy to reduce healthcare utilization in oncology populations, particularly medication use. However, this research is limited both in size and quality. To increase the uptake of these interventions and to advocate for insurance coverage of CIM interventions, high quality economic evaluations are needed.
The Social Security Program and Its Funding Problems

2018 was a pivotal year for the Social Security program. It was the first year since the 1983 amendments that the Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance (OASDI) trust funds spent more than the...
How Differing Trade Policies May Impact U.S. Agriculture:The Potential Economic Impacts of TPP, USMCA, and NAFTA

In the last two years, the United States has reversed the post-World War II trend toward the lowering of trade barriers and a commitment towards multilateral free trade. Citing a need to “level the playing field” and hold trading partners accountable to their commitments, the current Administration has moved towards a more protectionist and perhaps mercantilist position vis-a-vis trade policy. One of the Administration’s first actions in this regard was the decision to leave the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, followed thereafter by raising tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. The Administration’s actions on trade are likely to have significant implications for U.S. farmers as these actions target three of the largest markets for U.S. agricultural exports – Canada, China and Mexico – accounting for some 44%, and representing an average of $63 billion, of U.S. agricultural exports 2013 to 2015. Commissioned by the Farm Foundation Farm Foundation Forum (March 4, 2019) Forum audio Food and Agricultural Trade Resource Center Farm Foundation Forum (October 31, 2018) van der Mensbrugghe Interview
FAILURE OF RADIUM NEEDLE LEAK TESTING PROCEDURES

—The extreme personnel health hazard due to radium contamination associated with the use of radium needles and tubes in the medical profession was recognized several decades ago. Chief among the concerns was, and remains, the need to detect those needles which are likely to leak radium. The most widely used procedures rely on the collection of radon gas, a daughter product of radium, which emanates from openings too small for radium salt to pass through. Such tests are frequently required by law at six-month intervals. Results of such tests can be misleading unless the exposure of the needles or tubes to liquids is known. Liquids which are likely to have been in contact with radium needles and tubes include washing and sterilizing solutions. In this paper, long term observations of radon leak rate modification by liquids are presented for about a dozen radium needles and tubes. Other methods for predicting needle and tube failure are discussed including subjection to elevated temperatures under controlled conditions.
Reasons students at a US University do or do not enrol in a human sexuality course

In this exploratory study, students at a US university were asked about their motivations for enrolling or not enrolling in a human sexuality course. Questionnaires were given to 617 undergraduate ...
Identifying which children with persistent asthma have preventive medications available at home.

Objective: To compare caregiver-reported preventive medication use and pharmacy data with medications available at home for children with persistent asthma, and identify factors associated with hav...
Pediatric Vaccines-for- children (vfc) Vaccine Error Reduction: A Process Improvement Project

Objective: To develop a standardized process for the administration and documentation of vaccines, in order to improve efficiency and prevent errors. Background: In our clinical experience, there are frequent errors in vaccine administration. Since the majority of our patients get their vaccines from the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program, where supply is determined by utilization, there is no room for documentation error. Unaccounted vaccines are not replaced by the state, resulting in an inadequate vaccine supply for the most vulnerable populations. Ultimately, the impact of these errors results in delayed …
Preparedness and Community Resilience in Disaster-Prone Areas: Cross-Sectoral Collaborations in South Louisiana, 2018

Objectives. To determine how community-based organizations (CBOs) define priorities for bolstering community resilience, challenges in addressing these priorities, and strategies to address challenges.Methods. The Community Resilience Learning Collaborative and Research Network (C-LEARN) is a multiphase study examining opportunities to improve community resilience to the threats of disaster and climate change in South Louisiana. Phase I of C-LEARN involved using the National Health Security Strategy and Implementation Plan for directed content analysis of key informant interviews with CBO representatives from 47 agencies within South Louisiana between February and May 2018.Results. CBO interviewees highlighted the importance of forging relationships and building trust through diverse cross-sector collaborations and partnerships before disasters. Such collaborations and partnerships were shown to tailor disaster response to the needs of particular communities and populations as well as address key challenges such as gaps in information, services, and resources.Conclusions. Our results encourage a culture of community resilience and community preparedness through partnerships and community-engaged strategies. C-LEARN will utilize the results of our interviews in the design of phase II of our agency-level coalition-building intervention.
Is tPA/DNase Effective in the Management of Pleural Empyema?

Empyema is a common and complicated disease process that is associated with a high mortality rate. Failure of initial interventions with antibiotics and thoracostomy tube placement poses a challenge to the thoracic surgeon. A decision must be made whether to manage the patient operatively or non-operatively. Diagnosis is often delayed, further complicating treatment. The use of tPA-DNase decreases pleural opacification, reduces the need for late surgical intervention, and likely shortens hospital stay when compared to thoracostomy tube alone in management of empyema. It is a safe intervention with low rates of complications. The current literature does not address how this intervention compares to early decortication, and further studies are needed to answer this important question.
A tutorial on tomographic synthetic aperture radar methods

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) is a type of radar that is mounted on an airborne platform and aims to increase the resolution of the acquisitions by traveling over the target area. The signals acquired by SAR are two dimensional, but it is possible to create three dimensional models using signal processing methods. Tomography is the method of creating three dimensional models from multiple two dimensional signals. This method can be applied to SAR acquisitions to create three dimensional models of the landscape. The goal of this study is to create a comprehensive tutorial on how to work with SAR data, what toolbox to use for analysis, how to create a tomographic SAR dataset, and how to use different methods of spectral estimation for SAR tomography. In this work, first, we focus on the main problem of SAR tomography followed by SAR preprocessing steps, a brief description of data levels, and finally, we discuss the different spectral estimation methods used in SAR tomography along with examples at every step.
Learning-to-Fly RL: Reinforcement Learning-based Collision Avoidance for Scalable Urban Air Mobility

As hundreds of Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) operate within urban airspaces, automated and decentralized UAS traffic management (UTM) will be critical to maintain safe and efficient operations. In this work, we present Learning-to-Fly with Reinforcement Learning (L2F-RL), a decentralized, on-demand Collision Avoidance (CA) framework that systematically combines machine learning with cooperative model predictive control for UAS collision avoidance while retaining satisfaction of higher-level mission objectives. L2F-RL consists of: 1) RL-based policy for conflict resolution (CR) with discrete-decision making, 2) decentralized, cooperative model predictive control for CA. To accelerate training with RL, we utilize reward shaping and curriculum learning. Our approach outperforms baseline approaches with a 99.10% separation rate (ratio of success to total test cases) in the worst case, improving to 100% in the best case with a 1000X improvement in computation time compared to centralized methods. Our results demonstrate the potential of combining learning approaches with optimization-based control, making it a significant contribution towards scalable, decentralized UTM.
Activation-Induced Reorganization of Energy Transport Networks in the β 2 Adrenergic Receptor

We compute energy exchange networks (EENs) through the β2 adrenergic receptor (β2AR), a G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR), in inactive and active states, based on the results of molecular dynamics simulations of this membrane bound protein. We introduce a new definition for the reorganization of EENs upon activation that depends on the relative change in rates of energy transfer across noncovalent contacts throughout the protein. On the basis of the reorganized network that we obtain for β2AR upon activation, we identify a branched pathway between the agonist binding site and the cytoplasmic region, where a G-protein binds to the receptor when activated. The pathway includes all of the motifs containing molecular switches previously identified as contributing to the allosteric transition of β2AR upon agonist binding. EENs and their reorganization upon activation are compared with structure-based contact networks computed for the inactive and active states of β2AR.
On the Theory of Printed Circuit Antennas for Millimeter Waves

This paper presents a basic theory for modeling printed circuit antennas for millimeter wave applications. Printed circuit dipoles are considered and the Pocklington integral equation is solved for the antenna current distribution. Substrates of arbitrary thickness and dielectric constant can be taken into account in this model and the precise contribution of surface wave modes to antenna parameters is discussed.
The Prevalence of Autoimmune Diseases in Patients with Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma Undergoing Ophthalmic Surgeries.

Purpose To assess the prevalence of autoimmune disease (AiD) in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) undergoing ophthalmic surgery. Design Retrospective, cross-sectional study. Participants Patients with POAG undergoing any ophthalmic surgery and control subjects undergoing cataract surgery at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear from March 2019 to April 2020. Methods All available medical records with patient demographics, ocular, and medical conditions were reviewed. Differences in AiD prevalence were assessed and adjusted for covariates using multiple logistic regression. Additionally, a subgroup analysis comparing the POAG patients with and without AiD was performed. Main Outcome Measures To assess the prevalence of AiD based on the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association list. Results A total of 172 patients with POAG and 179 controls were included. The overall prevalence of AiD was 17.4% in the POAG group and 10.1% in the controls (P = 0.044); 6.4% of POAG patients and 3.4% of controls had more than 1 AiD (P = 0.18). The most prevalent AiDs in POAG group were rheumatoid arthritis (4.6%) and psoriasis (4.1%), which were also the most common in controls (2.8% each). In a fully adjusted multiple logistic regression analysis accounting for steroid use, having an AiD was associated with 2.62-fold increased odds of POAG relative to controls (95% confidence interval, 1.27–5.36, P = 0.009); other risk factors for POAG derived from the analysis included age (odds ratio [OR], 1.04, P = 0.006), diabetes mellitus (OR, 2.31, P = 0.008), and non-White ethnicity (OR, 4.75, P 0.13, for both). Conclusions A higher prevalence of AiD was found in POAG patients compared with control patients undergoing ophthalmic surgery. The presence of AiD was associated with increased risk for POAG after adjusting for covariates. Additional factors may have prevented a difference in RNFL thickness in POAG patients with and without AiD. Autoimmunity should be explored further in the pathogenesis of POAG.
Tracking extracellular vesicle (EV) cargo as a platform for studying EVomics, signaling, and targeting in vivo

Abstract Extracellular vesicle (EV)-based signaling is a challenge to study, due to EV small size, heterogeneity, and limited information on cargo content in vivo. We present Caenorhabditis elegans as a discovery platform that allows single EV tracking from source to target tissue in living animals. We enriched ciliary EVs using GFP-tagged PKD-2 cargo followed by mass spectrometry analysis to identify 2,888 cargo candidates. By integrating our dataset with single-cell transcriptomic data, we identified EV cargo produced by individual neurons and other cell and tissue types. A single cilium produces multiple EVs with distinct protein content. Ciliary EVs carry nucleic acid binding proteins. We observed transfer of EV cargo from the male reproductive tract to the hermaphrodite uterus during mating, a direct demonstration of animal-to-animal EV targeting. One-Sentence Summary Here we present a discovery platform for studying animal extracellular vesicle composition and biogenesis.
Review article : A dynamical model estimating the upper and lower bounds of the infectivity of the HTLV-III/LAV virus for the male bisexual and homosexual population in the absence of preventative measures

Abstract A dynamical, random probability model is constructed which describes the HTLV-III/LAV viral epidemic in the male bisexual and homosexual population in major population centers. Among the many results of this model are upper and lower bounds to the infection transmission probability per partner, also known as the infectivity ƒ. We find the extreme limits to ƒ are 0.0245
Towards modeling trust based decisions: a game theoretic approach

Current trust models enable decision support at an implicit level by means of thresholds or constraint satisfiability. Decision support is mostly included only for a single binary action, and does not explicitly consider the purpose of a transaction. In this paper, we present a game theoretic model that is specifically tuned for decision support on a whole host of actions, based on specified thresholds of risk. As opposed to traditional representations on the real number line between 0 and +1, Trust in our model is represented as an index into a set of actions ordered according to the agent's preference. A base scenario of zero trust is defined by the equilibrium point of a game described in normal form with a certain payoff structure. We then present the blind trust model, where an entity attempts to initiate a trust relationship with another entity for a one-time transaction, without any prior knowledge or recommendations. We extend this to the incentive trust model where entities can offer incentives to be trusted in a multi-period transaction. For a specified risk threshold, both models are analyzed by using the base scenario of zero trust as a reference. Lastly, we present some issues involved in the translation of our models to practical scenarios, and suggest a rich set of extensions of the generalized game theoretic approach to model decision support for existing trust frameworks.
Comparison of New Dynamic Accumulation Method for Measuring Oxygen Transmission Rate of Packaging against the Steady-State Method Described by ASTM D3985

A new dynamic accumulation method for measuring the oxygen transmission rate (OTR) of packages and packaging films using robust and inexpensive fluorescence oxygen sensing technology has been developed. The method allows for oxygen to transfer through a given area of packaging or sample film and accumulate over time. The test volume incorporates a fluorescence-based oxygen sensor that does not consume oxygen and therefore does not interfere with the real-time measurement of oxygen concentration. The new method was tested against a widely used, commercially available instrument (Mocon Oxtran 2/20; Mocon, Inc., Minneapolis, MN, USA) designed around the steady-state gas permeation measurement approach described by ASTM D3985. Sample films were chosen to provide comparison over several orders of magnitude of OTR. Specifically, sample films with OTR values in the range of 101, 103 and 104 ml O2/m2/day were measured, and results using the two methods were compared. Results showed that the new dynamic accumulation method provides comparable results with the steady-state method (ASTM D3985). Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Application of A Multiple-Step Phenomenological Soot Model to HSDI Diesel Multiple Injection Modeling

Multiple injection strategies have been revealed as an efficient means to reduce diesel engine NOx and soot emissions simultaneously, while maintaining or improving its thermal efficiency. Empirical soot models widely adopted in engine simulations have not been adequately validated to predict soot formation with multiple injections. In this work, a multiple-step phenomenological (MSP) soot model that includes particle inception, surface growth, oxidation, and particle coagulation was revised to better describe the physical processes of soot formation in diesel combustion. It was found that the revised MSP model successfully reproduces measured soot emission dependence on the start-of-injection timing, while the two-step empirical and the original MSP soot models were less accurate. The revised MSP model also predicted reasonable soot and intermediate species spatial profiles within the combustion chamber. In addition, the revised MSP model provides information about the soot particle number density, soot precursor radical, and acetylene growth species concentration during diesel combustion. This provides more insight about the soot formation process which is helpful to emissions reduction studies.