cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Statistical Modeling Approaches to Genetic Analysis.

The application of numerical modeling to distributions of traits as they are passed from parents to their offspring began with Mendel, who realized that proportions of offspring phenotypes produced by the various mating types followed a binomial distribution and therefore implied that an underlying binary sampling process governs inheritance. The power of this observation was confirmed repeatedly in the early years of this century, and to this day the standard test for evidence of genetic control of discrete traits is conformity to the familiar Mendelian ratios in offspring sibships—a test that is fundamentally a process of model fitting. Although there are many discrete traits of interest in biomedical science that are amenable to simple Mendelian analysis, the great majority of common disease-related phenotypes, such as blood pressure, serum cholesterol levels, and body mass index, do not exhibit discrete states of presence or absence, but rather a degree of variability that is expressed in quantitative terms. Moreover, most of these quantitative traits do not show clear evidence of Mendelian patterns of inheritance. Much of biomedical research in the past has concentrated on the many environmental risk factors for disease, such as diet, smoking, and chemical pollutants. However, a strictly environmental approach has not been satisfactory, because degree of exposure often fails to correlate strongly with susceptibility. These apparent anomalies, combined with the observation that many diseases (or resistance to them) tend to run in families, suggest that genes, as well as environment, play a role. The same conclusion applies to quantitative phenotypes that are not directly related to disease. The preponderance of genetic research involving nonhuman mammals has been done with highly inbred strains of rodents, where underlying genetic variability is largely removed by enforcing a mating structure of generations of close inbreeding so that individuals belonging to each strain
Grading Mainstreamed Special Needs Students: Determining Practices and Attitudes of Secondary Vocational Educators Using a Qualitative Approach

Despite the importance of grades in our educational system, empirical research examining issues related to the grading of students with special needs has received relatively little attention. To address this situation, a qualitative research approach was used to explore a select number of these issues. An in-depth, semistructured interview was used with a purposive sample of 10 secondary vocational educators. Four themes (conclusions) emerged from an analysis of the data. First, a description of successful grading practices and problems/concerns experienced by teachers when grading students with special needs were examined. Second, the perceptions of educators concerning intended and actual messages that grades communicate to others was explored. A third issue focused on the degree of undergraduate/graduate preparation and inservice staff development teachers have received on issues related to grading students with special needs. Finally, a majority of those participating reported experiencing a developme...
Waveguide side-wall coupling in RF guns

Waveguide side-wall coupling for RF guns is investigated both theoretically and experimentally. We model this aperture-coupling problem by an integral equation which is solved by the method of moments. The analysis yields an equivalent circuit representation of the system. Of the two normal modes of cavity resonance, the /spl pi/-mode and 0-mode, we show that only the /spl pi/-mode is excited. Experimental results show good agreement with theory. >
Impact and Regulation of Lambda Interferon Response in Human Metapneumovirus Infection

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a respiratory paramyxovirus that is distributed worldwide and induces significant airway morbidity. Despite the relevance of hMPV as a pathogen, many aspects of the immune response to this virus are still largely unknown. In this report, we focus on the antiviral immune response, which is critical for viral clearance and disease resolution. Using in vitro and in vivo systems, we show that hMPV is able to induce expression of lambda interferon 1 (IFN-λ1), IFN-λ2, IFN-λ3, and IFN-λ4. The induction of IFN-λ expression by hMPV was dependent on interferon regulatory factor 7 (IRF-7) expression but not on IRF-3 expression. Treatment of hMPV-infected mice with IFN-λ reduced the disease severity, lung viral titer, and inflammatory response in the lung. Moreover, the IFN-λ response induced by the virus was regulated by the expression of the hMPV G protein. These results show that type III interferons (IFN-λs) play a critical protective role in hMPV infection. IMPORTANCE Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a pathogen of worldwide importance. Despite the relevance of hMPV as a pathogen, critical aspects of the immune response induced by this virus remain unidentified. Interferons (IFNs), including IFN-λ, the newest addition to the interferon family, constitute an indispensable part of the innate immune response. Here, we demonstrated that IFN-λ exhibited a protective role in hMPV infection in vitro and in an experimental mouse model of infection.
Nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite enhances osteoblast function

Osteoblast (bone-forming cells) adhesion, proliferation and formation of calcium-containing mineral deposits is enhanced on ceramics (such as alumina and titania) of grain sizes less than 100 nm. Conventional hydroxyapatite (HA), the major inorganic constitutent of physiological bone, has been shown to enhance osteoblast function. The present in vitro study, the first of its kind, investigated osteoblast function (specifically, adhesion and proliferation) on nanocrystalline (that is, grain sizes less than 100 nm) HA. Osteoblast adhesion as well as proliferation were significantly (p<0.01) greater on nanocrystalline (50 nm grain size) than on conventional (250 nm grain size) HA at all time periods tested. Since enhanced osteoblast function undoubtedly contributes to greater biomaterial bonding to juxtaposed bone (an event that will aid in the clinical success of orthopaedic/dental implants), the improved cytocompatibility properties of nanocrystalline HA should be considered when designing biomaterials of the future.
Numerical Simulations of Conditionally Unstable Flows over a Mountain Ridge

AbstractIn two recent papers, the authors performed numerical simulations with a three-dimensional, explicitly cloud-resolving model for a uniform wind flowing past a bell-shaped ridge and using an idealized unstable (Weisman–Klemp) sounding with prescribed values of the relevant parameters. More recently, some observed cases of orographically forced wind profiles were analyzed, showing that, in order to reproduce larger rainfall rates, it was necessary to initialize the sounding with low-level flow toward the mountain with weak flow aloft (as observed). Additional experiments using the Weisman–Klemp sounding, but with nonuniform wind profiles, are performed here to identify the conditions in which the presence of a low-level cross-mountain flow together with calm flow aloft may increase the rain rates in conditionally unstable flows over the orography. The sensitivity of the solutions to the wind speed at the bottom and the top of a shear layer and the effect of different mountain widths and heights are ...
Fat-soluble nutrient concentrations in different layers of human cataractous lens

PURPOSE. Recent epidemiologic studies suggest that differential risk for cataract in different areas of the lens may be related to intake of carotenoids, retinol, and tocopherol. Nevertheless, there is little information about differential localization of these nutrients in the lens. To determine the spatial distribution of fat-soluble nutrients within the lens, we determined levels of these nutrients in the epithelium/ outer cortex vs. inner cortex/nucleus. METHODS. Concentrations of carotenoids, retinol, and tocopherol were determined in the epithelial/cortical (younger, more metabolically active tissue) and nuclear (older, less metabolically active) layers of human cataractous lenses (n = 7, 64–75 yr) by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). RESULTS. Lutein/zeaxanthin was the only carotenoid, which was detected, in human lens. Consistent with prior reports, no s-carotene or lycopene were detected. Concentrations of lutein/zeaxanthin, tocopherol, and retinol in epithelium/cortex t...
Monetary Intervention Really Did Mitigate Banking Panics During the Great Depression: Evidence Along the Atlanta Federal Reserve District Border

This paper argues that monetary intervention alleviated banking panics during the early stages of the Great Depression. Throughout the course of the depression, the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta aggressively intervened to stabilize its banking system. To assess the effectiveness of these policies, I analyze the performance of banks along counties straddling the border of the Atlanta Federal Reserve District. My results indicate that expansionary initiatives designed to inject liquidity into the banking system reduced the incidence of bank suspensions by 32 to 48% in some regions. Moreover, an analysis of the balance sheets of individual Federal Reserve Districts suggests that liquidity intervention did not expend large resources and that a concerted, system-wide interventionist policy response was feasible during the first half of the depression. Thus, the Federal Reserve System committed a major policy mistake by not acting as a lender of last resort to stabilize the country’s banking system in the early stages of the depression.
Nitrous oxide decomposition over Fe-ZSM-5 in the presence of nitric oxide: a comprehensive DFT study.

A number of experimental studies have shown recently that ppm-level additions of nitric oxide (NO) enhance the rate of nitrous oxide (N2O) decomposition catalyzed by Fe-ZSM-5 at low temperatures. In the present work, the NO-assisted N2O decomposition over mononuclear iron sites in Fe-ZSM-5 was studied on a molecular level using density functional theory (DFT) and transition-state theory. A reaction network consisting of over 100 elementary reactions was considered. The structure and energies of potential-energy minima were determined for all stable species, as were the structures and energies of all transition states. Reactions involving changes in spin potential-energy surfaces were also taken into account. In the absence of NO and at temperatures below 690 K, most active single iron sites (Z-[FeO]+) are poisoned by small concentrations of water in the gas phase; however, in the presence of NO, these poisoned sites are converted into a novel active iron center (Z-[FeOH]+). These latter sites are capable ...
Independent Effects of Dietary Metabolizable Energy and Protein Concentrations on Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Tom Turkeys

An experiment was conducted to determine the independent and interaction effects of dietary metabolizable energy (ME) and protein concentrations on performance of Large White toms from 9 to 20 weeks of age. Diet treatments consisted of a complete factorial arrangement of three ME concentrations and three protein concentrations within each age interval (9 to 12, 12 to 16, and 16 to 20 weeks). The different ME concentrations were obtained by using an animal-vegetable fat blend at 0, 4, or 8% of the diets. Dietary protein levels tested provided approximately 88, 97, or 107% of those recommended by National Research Council (1977) for each age interval. The ME concentrations represented 95, 100, or 105% of those used most frequently in commercial feeding programs in the central United States. Dietary ME and protein concentrations had significant (P less than .03) independent effects on turkey performance. As each diet variable was increased, gain in body weight and feed efficiency were improved. Increasing dietary ME reduced the amount of protein consumed per kilogram of gain but not the ME consumed per kilogram of gain. Protein consumed per kilogram gain increased as dietary protein increased, while ME intake per kilogram gain decreased. Carcass composition and parts yield of the carcass were affected only slightly by dietary ME and protein concentration. No significant (P greater than .10) interaction effects of dietary ME and protein were detected, except in the instance of absolute quantity of carcass protein (P less than .07).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Contribution of the Na+-K+-2Cl− Cotransporter (NKCC1) to Transepithelial Transport of H+, NH4+, K+, and Na+ in Rat Outer Medullary Collecting Duct

ABSTRACT. In rat kidney, the “secretory” isoform of the Na-K-Cl cotransporter, NKCC1 (BSC-2), localizes to the basolateral membrane of the α intercalated cell, the acid secreting cell of the outer medullary collecting duct (OMCD). This laboratory has reported that NKCC1 mediates Cl − uptake across the basolateral membrane in series with Cl − secretion across the apical membrane in rat OMCD. NKCC1 transports NH 4 + , K + , and Na + as well as Cl − ; therefore, a role for the cotransporter in the process of HCl, NH 4 Cl, KCl, and NaCl secretion has been suggested. Thus, it was determined if bumetanide, an inhibitor of NKCC1, alters transepithelial cation transport in rat OMCD. OMCD tubules from deoxycorticosterone pivalate (DOCP)–treated rats were perfused in vitro . Hydration of CO 2 , rather than NH 4 + , provides the principle source of H + for net acid secretion. In HCO 3 − /CO 2 -buffered solutions, no effect of bumetanide on net K + flux was detected. Under some conditions, bumetanide addition resulted in a small reduction in secretion of net H + equivalents. Transepithelial Na + flux, J Na , was −1.5 ± 1.7 pmol/mm per min, values not different from zero. However, with the application of bumetanide to the bath, J Na was +5.2 ± 1.3 pmol/mm per min ( P + absorption. In conclusion, inhibition of NKCC1 in rat OMCD changes transepithelial movement of Na + and Cl − . The role of NKCC1 in the secretion of net H + equivalents is small.
Steady-State Experiments on Rotating Externally Pressurized Air-Lubricated Journal Bearings

Externally pressurized air journal bearings load capacity, film stiffness, attitude-eccentricity locus and mass flow, studying supply pressure and shaft rotation effects
Urbanization and Infectious Diseases: General Principles, Historical Perspectives, and Contemporary Challenges

In 2009, a major demographic line was crossed: for the first time in history, the majority of the world population lived in cities rather than in towns and countryside (Fig. 4.1). This shift has been occurring over the past 100 years, with the most rapid rate of urban growth occurring over in the latter half of the twentieth century. Urban centers in the more developed regions of the world (i.e., North America, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe) experienced earlier growth in the 1920s–1950s, and since then, the rapid rate of urban growth has been concentrated in the cities and towns of developing nations [1].
The thermal expansion of the directionally solidified AI-CuAI2 eutectic

Alloys of Al-CuAl2 eutectic composition were prepared from 99.999 pct pure materials and directionally solidified in a temperature gradient of about 45 °C/cm at different growth ratesR. The λ2R= constant relation was verified and lamellar spacings of 7.5, 3.5, 2.6, 1.8 and 1.4 μm were obtained. Dilatometer specimens were machined with axes aligned in the principal lamellae coordinate directions. Thermal expansion was measured by standard dilatometry (Cu standard) using a set point program cycling between room temperature and 500 °C. Thermal expansion of the directionally solidified Al-CuAl eutectic is greatest in the growth direction (in the plane of the lamellae), least in the tranverse direction (orthogonal to the growth direction in the plane of the lamellae) and intermediate in the direction normal to the lamellae. The most significant finding of the study is that the thermal expansion increases with decreasing lamellar spacing between limits defined approximately by the thermal expansion of the CuAl2 phase alone and the predicted thermal expansion of an isotropic elastic model of the composite.
Empowering Voters, Publicizing Wrongdoing: The Role of Election Observers in Preventing Election-Related Sexual Violence as a Tool of Voter Suppression and Intimidation

During elections in Zimbabwe and during the post-election crisis in Kenya, both in 2008, sexual violence was used to intimidate voters and to punish opposition supporters. Most research on sexual violence has examined its use as a weapon of war, in conflicts such as those in Rwanda, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Few scholars have examined the use of sexual violence as an election-related political tool and the gender implications of this particular type of violence. Through interviews with members of international and domestic election observer organizations, the paper will investigate the ways that observer organizations have responded to the highly publicized cases in Zimbabwe and Kenya. Some policies, such as gender mainstreaming, were in place prior to 2008 and have been re-emphasized in light of the way that sexual violence targeted and effected women voters in particular. Other practices, such as all-female observer delegations, were organized specifically to draw attention to the security concerns of women voters. The paper will analyze the effect of these practices during the 2013 elections in Kenya and evaluate the potential of these practices to empower women voters, include survivors in the political process, and to prevent recurring cases of sexual violence during elections.
Case vignettes and other brain teasers of monoclonal gammopathies

There are a number of rare monoclonal gammopathies that do not have a characteristic laboratory, imaging, or pathologic study. Recognition requires keeping the specific syndrome in mind. This article reviews 6 rare syndromes associated with monoclonal proteins and gives specific "pearls" so a clinician can be certain not to overlook these important disorders that easily can be misdiagnosed as MGUS, Waldenstrom, and multiple myeloma.
Inotropic action of acetyl-strophanthidin, strophanthidin, and tryptamine-strophanthidin.

Summary and Conclusions1. Papillary muscles from the right ventricle of the cat heart were stimulated in phosphate-buffered Krebs-Ringer solution until their force of contraction declined. 2. On addition of acetyl-strophanthidin, tryptamine-strophanthidin, or strophanthidin to the papillary muscles, their force of contraction improved, and the improvement persisted throughout the period of observation (average 4.3 hours). 3. It is concluded that these strophanthidin derivatives have a typical digitalis action on failing mammalian heart muscle.
Effects of flow rates and prepriming on the removal of cryoprotective agents using dialysis method

The removal of cryopretective agent(CPA) from frozen-thawed biomaterials is one of the main factors that affect the success of a cryopreservation. The dialysis method can remove CPAs quickly and effectively. In order to get the optimized washing procedure,the change in osmolality was measured experimentally with different blood side and dialysate side flow rates and under the conditions of prepriming. The results suggest that:during the initial period of the removal process diminishing the blood side and dialysate side flow rates and prepriming hyperosmotic solution at the dialysate side can effectively avoid the sudden change of the osmolality which can reduce the osmotic injury to the cells; during the later period of the removal process increasing the blood side and dialysate side flow rates can dramatically improve the removal efficiency and reduce the washing time.
Early repolarization in patients with spinal cord injury: prevalence and clinical significance.

Objectives: The objective was to examine the prevalence of early repolarization in a spinal cord injury (SCI) clinic and the relationship of level of injury to this electrocardiogram (ECG) finding....
Control of cell function by reversible protein phosphorylation

In conclusion, multiple protein kinases and phosphatases are involved in the mediation of the physiological response of a specific cell to extracellular stimuli. This can be achieved by changes in the intracellular levels of "mediators" or "second messengers", which alter the activity of selective protein kinases and/or phosphatases. The involvement of reversible protein phosphorylation in the modulation of the function of cell surface receptors, in the synthesis and degradation of the second messengers, altered cellular metabolism, protein synthesis and gene expression suggests a vital role for this regulatory mechanism in the control of cellular function. Protein phosphorylation may be implicated in the interplay between various second messenger systems resulting in a complex regulation of target proteins by multi-site phosphorylation. The presence of unique as well as common targets for the multiple protein kinases and phosphatases suggests a coordinated mechanism for the regulation of cellular function, which can also account for the diversity of cellular response. Future studies will establish the temporal and spatial organization of the regulatory pathways utilized by specific hormones to alter the function of subcellular compartments featured in the overall physiological response.
Blood component therapy in neonatal medicine.

Whole blood and packed red cell products, platelets, white cells, plasma, and plasma derivatives are available for support of the neonate who requires intensive care. The preparations, dosage, indications for, and disadvantages of each blood component are detailed.
Salt Marsh Values: Retrospection from the end of the Century

Two of the greatest problems in coastal waters are eutrophicaton and rapid decline in populations of important fish species. Salt marshes are important in combating both these problems. A paradigm for salt marsh function: marshes import inorganic nutrients and export organic nutrients and, as a result, grow fish. As ground and tidal water flow through salt-water wetlands, plants, bacteria and algae produce or transform the organic matter of the food chain that supports fish and shellfish populations. While salt marshes modify the principal plant nutrients, N and P, some of the pathways result in removal of nutrients from biologically active systems. Nitrogen is removed primarily either by being trapped in refractory organic matter that contributes to marsh maintenance through accretion or through loss to the atmosphere (as N2) by denitrification. Salt marshes along the Atlantic coast of the United States have changed during the past century; the number of hectares has declined and the nutrient loading per hectare has increased. We examine data on the correlation between fish catch and various marsh features from Long Island, New York in 1880. We review research on the ways salt marshes reduce both the level and rate of eutrophication of coastal waters by intercepting nitrate in discharging groundwater. Finally, we consider how these functions have changed with the decrease in area of salt marshes along the Atlantic coast from Georgia to Maine.
Control of the innermost electron radiation belt by large‐scale electric fields

Electron measurements from the MagEIS instruments on Van Allen Probes, for kinetic energies ∼100 to 400 keV, show characteristic dynamical features of the innermost ( L≲1.3) radiation belt: rapid injections, slow decay, and structured energy spectra. There are also periods of steady or slowly increasing intensity and of fast decay following injections. Local time asymmetry, with higher intensity near dawn, is interpreted as evidence for drift shell distortion by a convection electric field of magnitude ∼0.4 mV/m during geomagnetically quiet times. Fast fluctuations in the electric field, on the drift time scale, cause inward diffusion. Assuming they are proportional to changes in Kp, the resulting diffusion coefficient is sufficient to replenish trapped electrons lost by atmospheric scattering. Major electric field increases cause injections by inward electron transport. An injection associated with the June 2015 magnetic storm is consistent with an enhanced field magnitude ∼5 mV/m. Subsequent drift echoes cause spectral structure.
Improving lidar turbulence estimates for wind energy

Remote sensing devices (e.g., lidars) are quickly becoming a cost-effective and reliable alternative to meteorological towers for wind energy applications. Although lidars can measure mean wind speeds accurately, these devices measure different values of turbulence intensity (TI) than an instrument on a tower. In response to these issues, a lidar TI error reduction model was recently developed for commercially available lidars. The TI error model first applies physics-based corrections to the lidar measurements, then uses machine-learning techniques to further reduce errors in lidar TI estimates. The model was tested at two sites in the Southern Plains where vertically profiling lidars were collocated with meteorological towers. Results indicate that the model works well under stable conditions but cannot fully mitigate the effects of variance contamination under unstable conditions. To understand how variance contamination affects lidar TI estimates, a new set of equations was derived in previous work to characterize the actual variance measured by a lidar. Terms in these equations were quantified using a lidar simulator and modeled wind field, and the new equations were then implemented into the TI error model.
Association between plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and severity of liver injury and cardiovascular risk in children with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

SummaryBackground Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is the primary inhibitor of the endogenous fibrinolytic system and is known to be increased in obesity, insulin resistance and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We previously demonstrated that PAI-1 levels were closely related to the amount of hepatic steatosis in children. Objectives The aim of this study was to characterize plasma PAI-1 in relationship to severity of inflammation and fibrosis, as well as to plasma lipids in children with NAFLD. Methods In 44 children with NAFLD, plasma PAI-1 levels and lipids were measured at the time of a liver biopsy. Hepatic histological features were systematically scored. Trend analysis was applied to determine the correlation of plasma PAI-1 levels with lipid markers for cardiovascular disease and with the staging of histological features in the liver. Results We found that plasma PAI-1 levels were significantly increased in children with increased severity of steatosis, lobular inflammation, ballooning and fibrosis. Furthermore, PAI-1 was strongly correlated with plasma lipids and insulin resistance indices. Conclusions PAI-1 appears to be tightly related to both histologic severity of NAFLD as well as systemic features of the disease including insulin resistance and dyslipidemia. PAI-1 may be a mediator of disease progression and future cardiovascular complications in children with NAFLD.
Transverse diffusion in microfluidic systems

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the importance of diffusion in micro devices, most specifically diffusion perpendicular to the direction of flow of fluid. The transport of molecules in fluids in the absence of flow is carried out exclusively by diffusion, which is the random motion of all particles driven by thermal excitation. The negative side of diffusion in microfluidics is that it is generally nontrivial to fully mix two solutions in systems operating at low Reynolds numbers. There are different types of mixtures, namely, the “Manz mixer”, the “T-shaped mixer”, “The flip turn device,” and “Chaotic adjective mixers.” The T-shape mixer is the simplest fluidic device for mixing two solutions. The Manz mixer has low dispersion for use with pulsatile or bolus samples. Flip-turn mixers revert the fluid to the original side-by-side configuration. The “chaotic adjective mixers” allow mixing of simple fluids to occur in rectangular channels when operated at Reynolds numbers between 1 and 100. The power and versatility of microfluidics is directly attributable to its operating in a size range where diffusion is a dominant means of transport. Microfluidic devices generally operate in the presence of flow, so diffusional transport is complemented by convectional transport. However, at low Reynolds number conditions, the absence of turbulence both simplifies the transport and slows it substantially; transport perpendicular to flow relies entirely on diffusion.
Quantifying damage in polycrystalline ice via X-Ray computed micro-tomography

Abstract The use of X-ray computed micro-tomography (micro-CT) is presented here as a useful tool for the analysis and quantification of damage in polycrystalline ice. Although known to be useful for characterizing damage in many other materials, the use of micro-CT has not yet been adapted to the non-trivial case of also characterizing damage in polycrystalline ice. Samples of polycrystalline ice were tested in uniaxial compression at six different strain rates, spanning four orders of magnitude, from 1 × 10−6 s−1 to 1 × 10−3 s−1, and two different testing temperatures of −10 °C and −20 °C. The extent of cracking from each test is characterized via micro-CT imaging and is quantified via a newly proposed variant of the crack density tensor, which accounts for any anisotropy in the mean crack orientation and is shown to be equivalent to the materials anisotropy tensor. To account for anisotropy in the distribution of cracks, an eigenanalysis is also performed. The results show that micro-CT can be a useful tool for both visualizing and quantifying damage in polycrystalline ice and that a 3-D analog of the traditional second-rank crack density tensor can be readily calculated via commercially available software.
Women’s land ownership and participation in decision-making about reproductive health in Malawi

Given the centrality of land to rural livelihoods and the high rates of fertility in Africa, there is a need for more research that explores the intersection between gendered patterns of land ownership and reproductive health outcomes. Drawing on a household bargaining framework, I hypothesize that women’s land ownership should be associated with increases in women’s decision-making in multiple domains in the household including financial decision-making (the focus of bargaining literature), but also decision-making about reproductive health. Using the 2010 Malawi Demographic Health Survey (DHS), I find women’s ownership of land (sole or joint) is associated with increases in women’s participation in financial decision-making in the household and women’s sole ownership of land is associated with increases in women’s participation in reproductive health decision-making. However, women’s joint ownership of land with spouses is negatively associated with participation in reproductive health decision-making, perhaps because of backlash or intra-household conflict.
Stromal keratitis following selective laser trabeculoplasty

A 77-year-old man presented with stromal keratitis that began shortly after he had selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT). The patient had no history of keratitis. One week after SLT, the corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) had decreased from 20/25 to 20/40. Anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) showed near full-thickness corneal stromal opacification without thinning. The patient was empirically treated for herpes simplex virus keratitis with oral antiviral and topical corticosteroid medications. He ultimately developed a corneal scar, and 1 year after the procedure, the CDVA stabilized at 20/50. Although uncommon, keratitis after SLT can be an idiopathic condition or the result of herpes virus reactivation. This case shows the diagnostic challenge associated with diagnosing and managing post-SLT keratitis and is 1 of the first cases of this type using corneal imaging obtained with AS-OCT.
A Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Using Cermet Electrodes in Low Temperature Cofire Ceramics

Low temperature cofired ceramics (LTCC) is becoming more integrated as ceramic microsystems. Microsystems allow the integration of numerous components, including embedded passives, high-density interconnects, highperformance thermal management systems, sensors and actuators, mechanical, fluidic, and optical components. The development of these systems have led to enhanced processing capabilities including enhanced properties by controlled sintering or the development of cavities and microelectromechanical structures using fugitive inserts which are removed during firing. LTCC devices have produced meso and macroscale channels, large volume cavities, microcavities, wick, and controlled porosity structures. LTCC has been used to fabricate the cavities and channels required in a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC), using an externally attached membrane electrode assembly (MEA) which consists of a carbon matte anode with a platinum catalyst, a Nafion® proton exchange membrane (PEM) and a platinum/ruthenium cathode. The DMFC has a maximum thermodynamic voltage of 1.18 V at 25°C, defined by the anode and cathode half cell reactions:
Metabo-miR: miR-211 Regulates Mitochondrial Energy Metabolism in Vitiligo

The study by Sahoo et al. established miR-211 as a critical regulator of cellular metabolism in vitiligo cells. miR-211, which is expressed from the transient receptor potential melastatin 1 intronic region, regulates oxidative phosphorylation and mitochondrial energy metabolism in vitiligo. Loss of miR-211 in melanocytes was shown to alter expression patterns of newly identified target genes, and those that regulate respiratory functions in melanocytes are among them. This study highlights the importance of miR-211 for the melanocyte biology and development of vitiligo.
Sensitivity analysis on modeling heterogeneous thermostatically controlled loads using Markov chain abstraction

This paper investigates modeling a heterogeneous group of Thermostatically Controlled Loads (TCLs) as a discrete-time discrete-state Markov model. Details of the Markov model development process using a statistical learning technique with full parameter heterogeneity are described and evaluated. The learning process is based on a training data sets which are obtained via Monte Carlo simulation of individual end-users' devices. The performance of various Markov models is evaluated under different initial conditions to determine representative models that can approximates the TCLs dynamics for the short-term and long-term applications. A detailed analysis of the model's eigenvalues is used to derive an accurate distribution of the TCL devices during steady-state conditions. This distribution is validated and tested against the actual devices' simulation. The study is applied to a group of 10,000 heterogeneous air-conditioning devices and the simulations are performed using MATLAB (R2015a).
Variability in Elongation and Failure of the Medial Collateral Ligament After Pie-Crusting With 16- and 18-Gauge Needles.

Abstract Background In knee arthroplasty with preoperative varus deformity, medial collateral ligament (MCL) release may be needed to achieve balance. Pie-crusting allows for controlled release, but questions remain regarding its ability to obtain predictable results. We compared 16- vs18-gauge needle punctures and determined the number of punctures required to (1) lengthen the MCL by 1 mm and (2) cause ligament failure. Methods Thirteen knees were dissected, leaving the femur and tibia with an isolated MCL, and randomly assigned to 16- or 18-gauge groups. Initial stiffness was assessed by cycling the ligament to 300 N for 5 cycles. The selected needle was used to make 10 punctures centered over the area of greatest tension. Cyclic testing was repeated after each set of punctures. Changes in MCL length and stiffness were measured. This process was repeated until failure. Results No differences occurred between the 16- and 18-gauge groups in cross-sectional area, initial stiffness, number of punctures to lengthen the MCL by 1 mm, or number of punctures to failure. As the number of punctures increased, a linear increase in elongation and decrease in stiffness occurred. Conclusion Needle size was not the influencing factor. Variability in number of punctures, regardless of needle size, to elongate or fail the MCL shows the difficulty in developing a reproducible pie-crusting technique. This suggests that a standard number of punctures do not achieve controlled MCL lengthening for all patients, but that the number of punctures needed can be calculated for an individual knee based on the initial elongation after 10 punctures.
Freezing of water confined in porous materials: role of adsorption and unfreezable threshold

It has been widely accepted in scientific communities that water confined in porous materials gradually freezes from large pores to small pores at subfreezing temperatures (< 0 °C), though we still describe a soil as frozen or unfrozen in engineering practice and daily life. Therefore, it is more accurate to say “how frozen” instead of “whether frozen.” This gradual freezing process is temperature-dependent because water in pores of different sizes has different energy levels, which requires different temperatures for its phase transition, leading to a relationship between unfrozen water content and temperature in soils. However, the understanding of this relationship, i.e., the Phase Composition Curves (PCC), is still incomplete, especially in the low-temperature range. We still lack answers to even the most fundamental questions for frozen soils and their PCCs: (1) How much pore water could be frozen? (2) How do capillarity and adsorption control the freezing of pore water? This study investigates two basic physical mechanisms, i.e., unfreezable threshold and adsorption, for their dominant roles in the low-temperature range of the PCC. To quantify the effects of the unfreezable threshold, molecular dynamics simulation was employed to identify the unfreezable threshold of cylindrical pores. The simulation results, for the first time, revealed that the unfreezable threshold corresponds to a pore diameter of 2.3 ± 0.1 nm and is independent of the wettability of the solid substrates. Combining this unfreezable threshold with a modified Gibbs–Thomson equation, a mathematical model was proposed to predict the melting temperature in pores of different sizes, which considers both unfreezable threshold and adsorption. Comparisons of the results calculated with the new model and other two conventional equations against experimental results indicated that the model can improve conventional equations which have been used for centuries by including the two mechanisms, which significantly improved our understanding of frozen soils.
Histogram Methods for Monte Carlo Data Analysis

In this talk, I will discuss new methods for optimizing the analysis of data from Monte Carlo computer simulations. The heights and locations of peaks in the specific heat and the susceptibility can be found with high accuracy for relatively short simulations. For multiple simulations to cover a wide range of values, explicit error estimates allow objective planning of the lengths of runs and the parameter values to be simulated. Since information can cover a large temperature range, it is possible to include both zero and infinite temperature to generate the free energy and entropy over the full range. The methods are applicable to simulations in a variety of fields related to statistical mechanics.
Cross-Sector Leadership Development for Preparedness

After fall 2001, scientists and professionals recognized the importance of integrating public health with traditional first-response professions in planning and training for disasters. However, operationalizing this approach among professionals in the field confronted barriers that were both inter-cultural and jurisdictional. The Pennsylvania Preparedness Leadership Institute (PPLI) is a collaboration of the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the University of Pittsburgh Center for Public Health Preparedness. Team members are recruited from public health, emergency medicine, emergency management, hospitals, and public safety agencies from each of nine multi-county regions in Pennsylvania. Each team takes on a year-long project that addresses a strategic problem as a focus for capacity-building within its region. Unexpectedly during PPLI's first year in operation, a hepatitis-A outbreak tested whether one regional team could successfully mount the necessary integrated response. This experience, as well as the planned evaluation for PPLI, demonstrated both the successful processes and the positive impact of this integrated leadership training initiative.
Wayfair and the Retroactivity of Constitutional Holdings

This essay analyzes the issue of retroactivity with respect to the Supreme Court case of South Dakota v. Wayfair.
Bilinear Matrix Factorization Methods for Time-Varying Narrowband Channel Estimation: Exploiting Sparsity and Rank

In this paper, the estimation of a narrowband time-varying channel under the practical assumptions of finite block length and finite transmission bandwidth is investigated. It is shown that the signal, after passing through a time-varying narrowband channel reveals a useful parametric low-rank structure that can be represented as a bilinear form. To estimate the channel, two strategies are developed. The first method exploits the low-rank bilinear structure of the channel via a non-convex strategy based on an alternating direction optimization between the delay and Doppler directions. While prior Wirtinger flow methods have exhibited good performance with proper initialization, this is not true in the current scenario. Due to the non-convex nature of this approach, this first approach is sensitive to local minima. Furthermore, the convergence rate of the Wirtinger flow method is shown to be provably modest. Thus, a novel convex approach based on the minimization of the atomic norm using measurements of the signal at the time domain is proposed based on a second bilinear parametrization of the channel. For the convex approach, optimality and uniqueness conditions, and a theoretical guarantee for noiseless channel estimation with small number of measurements are characterized. Numerical results show that the performance of the proposed algorithm is independent of the leakage effect and the new methods can achieve a 5–12 dB improvement, on average, compared to a classical $l_1$ -based sparse approximation method that does not consider the leakage effect, and 2 dB improvement over a basis expansion method that considers the leakage effect.
A Mixture Modeling Approach to Evaluating Indices of Careless Responses in Survey Data

When data are collected via anonymous Internet surveys, particularly under conditions of obligatory participation (such as with student samples), data quality can be a concern. However, little guid...
O19.4 Molecular epidemiology of HIV among foreign-born residents of king county, washington, USA, using HIV surveillance data

Background In King County, one-third of HIV diagnoses occur among foreign-born individuals, a 50% increase since 2010. The extent to which these infections are locally acquired is unclear, but has important implications for HIV prevention and incidence estimation. Methods Using HIV surveillance (2010–2018) and partner services (PS) (2010–2016) data from Public Health–Seattle & King County, HIV-1 pol gene sequences from routine drug resistance testing were linked to demographic, clinical, and epidemiological information. We identified genetic similarity clusters of 2+ individuals using TN93 pairwise genetic distance with a 0.02 threshold. Belonging to a cluster is suggestive of local transmission, therefore correlates of clustering were identified using logistic regression, adjusted for early infection (CD4 >500 cells/mm at diagnosis). We also calculated the proportion of foreign-born cases with a negative HIV test in the U.S. before diagnosis. Results From 2010–2018, 2,521 people were diagnosed with HIV in King County: 663 (26%) occurred among foreign-born individuals, primarily from Latin America (N=232), sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) (N=214), and Asia (N=98). Among individuals with a PS interview (75% Latin American, 56% SSA, 69% Asian-born), HIV testing histories suggest that 40% of Latin American, 19% of SSA, and 36% of Asian-born individuals likely acquired HIV locally. Individuals with non-B HIV subtypes similarly varied by region of birth: 2% of US, 5% of Latin American, 93% of SSA, and 46% of Asian-born people. Among 1,754 individuals with an available sequence (70% of U.S. versus 63% of foreign-born), 1,092 (62%) clustered in 304 genetically similar clusters. Odds of clustering, compared to US-born, was 0.44 (95%CI: 0.31,0.60) among Latin American, 0.08 (95%CI: 0.05,0.14) among SSA, and 0.40 (95%CI: 0.24,0.66) among Asian-born. Conclusion Our results suggest that local HIV acquisition occurs least frequently among SSA-born, followed by Asian-born and Latin American immigrants. Incident estimates that include all diagnoses among foreign-born people may overestimate HIV incidence. Disclosure No significant relationships.
Canadian Aboriginals: A Debate

This is a debate between Walter Block and Lorne Gunter on public policy with regard to Canadian Aboriginals and human rights legislation.
Mania and psychosis associated with right parietal meningioma.

ObjectiveMeningioma is the most common type of primary central nervous system and intracranial tumor, and psychiatric changes attributed to meningioma include depression, apathy, psychosis, and per...
Driver’s Situational Awareness and Impact of Phone Interface Modality in Conventional and Semi-autonomous Vehicles

This project investigated how different modes of interaction of drivers with a smartphone (i.e., manual texting vs. voice usage) affected driver’s situational awareness in both conventional and semi-automated vehicles. The study, which was executed in a human-in-the-loop setting, shows that participants expressed personal preferences for the vocal interface in all the tested scenarios. However, few metrics actually showed statistical significance and an improvement of performance with the vocal interface as compared to the manual one.