cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ethnomedical and Sociocultural Factors of Pica Substances in Rural South India

Pica, the intentional ingestion of culturally determined "nonfood" substances, occurs cross-culturally and most commonly during pregnancy. The current study describes women's perceptions of ethnomedical and sociocultural aspects of pica along with familial acquisition and transmission of knowledge and behaviors in a South Indian population. Findings showed that in contrast to Western models of pica, nonfood consumption is not entirely taboo; consumers rely on local remedies to cure overconsumption; and perceptions of prevalence extend beyond pregnancy. Future research on pica should consider consumption patterns outside of pregnancy and the role stigma plays in individuals seeking assistance for overconsumption.
REACHING FOR GOD

The Cathedrals of Chartres and Rheims are among the greatest buildings in all of human civilization. Their respective stories have been largely ones of sustained success.
A New Cryptic Species of the Theloderma asperum Complex (Anura: Rhacophoridae) from Myanmar

Abstract I describe a new species of Theloderma from two regions in Myanmar (Chin State in western Myanmar and Kachin State in northern Myanmar). Highly similar in appearance and size to Theloderma albopunctatum and Theloderma asperum, the new species differs by the presence of small, bilateral vocal sac openings absent in T. albopunctatum and T. asperum. Molecular phylogenetic analysis from two mitochondrial and four nuclear gene fragments infers that individuals are members of a unique genetic lineage within the T. asperum Complex.
Global healthcare business development: The case of non-patient collaborations abroad for U.S. hospitals

ABSTRACTThe objective of this study was to assess the size and scope of non-patient collaborations undertaken by U.S.-based hospitals and health systems and the impact of these collaborations on international inpatient volumes at the U.S.-based campus of these organizations. This study included in-depth, semi-structured telephone interviews with leaders from international programs in U.S. health systems. Interview questions included the presence of different modes of non-patient collaborations abroad, financial and other organizational motivations for engaging in non-patient collaborations abroad, and institutional commitment for global and international activities. Of the 40 organizations participating in this study, 83% provided international education programs, 50% provided consulting and advisory services, 20% provided management services, and 10% owned patient care or educational facilities abroad. U.S.-based hospitals and health systems with international patient programs frequently engage in non-pa...
Influence of Soybean Lines Isogenic for Pubescence Type on Twospotted Spider Mite (Acarina: Tetranychidae) Development and Feeding Damage

Soybean lines isogenic for glabrous, normal, and dense pubescence developed from the genotypes ‘Davis’, ‘Tracy-M’, and D75-10169 were used in studies of the impact of pubescence on twospotted spide...
Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power

Several galleries in the United States recently hosted Witness: Art and Civil Rights in the Sixties, an exhibition that originally showed at Brooklyn Museum in 2014.1 Taking its cue from the passin...
Couple-based communication interventions for cancer: moving beyond a 'one size fits all' approach.

We are writing in regard to the review article ‘New frontiers in couple-based interventions in cancer care: refining the prescription for spousal communication’ [1]. We commend Dr. Badr for writing...
Israeli Infotech Migrants in Silicon Valley

Prior to the 1980s, Israel’s national ideology discouraged emigration and entrepreneurship among its citizens. Yet, by the late 1990s, Israeli emigrants were one of the leading immigrant nationalities in Silicon Valley. Drawing on interviews, fieldwork, a literature review, and perusal of social media, I explore the origins of Israeli involvement in high-tech activities and the extensive linkages between Israeli emigrants and the Israeli high-tech industry. I also summarize the patterns of communal cooperation that permit emigrant families to maintain an Israel-oriented way of life in suburban communities south of San Francisco, and I compare these patterns with those of Indians, a nationality engaged in the same pursuit. I conclude by considering the impact of infotech involvement on Israeli immigrants and on the U.S. economy.
The effects of home-based primary care on Medicare costs at Spectrum Health/Priority Health (Grand Rapids, MI, USA) from 2012-present: a matched cohort study.

In the United States, home-based primary care (HBPC) is increasingly proposed as a means of enabling frail elders to remain at home for as long as possible, while still receiving needed medical care. However, there are relatively few studies of either the medical outcome effects or cost benefits of HBPC. In this paper, we examine medical cost and mortality outcomes for enrollees in the HBPC program offered by Spectrum Health/Priority Health (SH/PH), a not-for-profit integrated health care/health insurance system located in Grand Rapids, MI, USA. We perform a concurrent matched cohort study. SH/PH HBPC enrollees during 2012–2014 are matched for prior costs, age, sex and comorbidities against controls selected from unenrolled insurance plan members. Twelve and twenty four-month medical costs are compared between HBPC participants and matched controls, overall and conditional on mortality status. Mortality rates of HBPC participants are studied on their own and in comparison to controls. At 12 and 24 months, in comparison to matched controls HBPC participants show higher ($2933) and lower ($8620) costs respectively. Relative costs and savings of HBPC participants are a function of short term increased costs upon entry into the program (enrollees who survive the first year cost $5866 more than controls); substantial savings at end-of-life (approximately $37,037 in savings relative to controls are realized); and the overall mortality of HBPC participants (mean residual lifespan is 37.75 months from the time of enrollment). We project the present value of lifetime medical cost savings due to enrollment in the HBPC program to be at least $14,336. The SH/PC HBPC program reduces healthcare costs while enabling frail elders to remain at home. Reduction in costs is obtained at end-of-life and is offset with a smaller initial increase in costs upon enrollment.
Suppression of tau propagation using an inhibitor that targets the DK-switch of nSMase2.

Abstract Targeting of molecular pathways involved in the cell-to-cell propagation of pathological tau species is a novel approach for development of disease-modifying therapies that could block tau pathology and attenuate cognitive decline in patients with Alzheimer's disease and other tauopathies. We discovered cambinol through a screening effort and show that it is an inhibitor of cell-to-cell tau propagation. Our in vitro data demonstrate that cambinol inhibits neutral sphingomyelinase 2 (nSMase2) enzyme activity in dose response fashion, and suppresses extracellular vesicle (EV) production while reducing tau seed propagation. Our in vivo testing with cambinol shows that it can reduce the nSMase2 activity in the brain after oral administration. Our molecular docking and simulation analysis reveals that cambinol can target the DK-switch in the nSMase2 active site.
Extinction: Behavioral Mechanisms and Their Implications

Extinction is the decrease in strength of a learned behavior when the conditioned stimulus is presented without the unconditioned stimulus (in Pavlovian learning), or when the behavior is no longer reinforced (in operant or instrumental learning). This chapter reviews the behavioral literature on extinction. The first section reviews several relapse phenomena, such as the renewal effect, which suggest that extinction does not destroy original learning, but instead involves new context-dependent learning. The second section reviews theoretical explanations of the cause of extinction. The final section reviews behavioral and pharmacological ways of optimizing extinction learning and decreasing the likelihood of relapse.
Modeling InAs/GaSb/AlSb interband tunnel structures

We have implemented a simple model that allows realistic yet rapid simulation of conventional as well as interband resonant tunneling devices. Using this model we have studied InAs-GaSb-InAs broken-gap interband transmission devices and found that, despite the absence of classically forbidden barrier regions, a resonant tunneling process is involved in producing the observed negative differential resistance. Furthermore, we have found that maximum peak current densities should be found in devices with GaSb layer thicknesses corresponding to a single, rather than multiple, transmission resonance peak in the broken-gap region.
Methods for studying pesticide atmospheric dispersal and fate at treated areas

Atmospheric residues of pesticides originate principally from operations involved in their application and in post-application weathering of residual deposits. The concentration and form of airborne residues are of concern from the viewpoint of exposures for applicators, farmworkers, and others in the vicinity of treated sites, and the possible damage they might cause to sensitive plants and animals downwind from the treated areas. There is also considerable evidence that the atmosphere may be an important medium for movement of pesticides through the environment, and for break-down processes governing their residence and fate in the environment.
Ethnicized White Male Nostalgia: Sloan Wilson’s The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit

This chapter examines Sloan Wilson’s depiction of disaffected masculinity in The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit (1955). Whereas some scholars have analyzed Wilson’s portrait of postwar white masculine feelings and the new rules governing them, this chapter adds analysis of Wilson’s neglected autobiographical writings, demonstrating the sociohistorical influences of Wilson’s white Anglo-Saxon origins, labeled here (following the similar terminology of critical whiteness studies theorist Woody Doane) a “dominant hidden ethnicity.” Wilson’s protagonist responds to the postwar ideal of white men with nostalgic longings for what amounts to a wealthy, socially eminent, and ethnically specific familial past. This chapter also demonstrates that in creating literary foils for his protagonist, Wilson deployed markedly ethnic characters who amount to caricatured iterations of (following Toni Morrison) a literary “ethnicist presence.”
Improved Decision Rule Approximations for Multi-Stage Robust Optimization via Copositive Programming

We study decision rule approximations for generic multi-stage robust linear optimization problems. We consider linear decision rules for the case when the objective coefficients, the recourse matrices, and the right-hand sides are uncertain, and consider quadratic decision rules for the case when only the right-hand sides are uncertain. The resulting optimization problems are NP-hard but amenable to copositive programming reformulations that give rise to tight conservative approximations. We further enhance these approximations through new piecewise decision rule schemes. Finally, we prove that our proposed approximations are tighter than the state-of-the-art schemes and demonstrate their superiority through numerical experiments.
Optimal Query Selection Using Multi-Armed Bandits

Query selection for latent variable estimation is conventionally performed by opting for observations with low noise or optimizing information-theoretic objectives related to reducing the level of estimated uncertainty based on the current best estimate. In these approaches, typically, the system makes a decision by leveraging the current available information about the state. However, trusting the current best estimate results in poor query selection when truth is far from the current estimate, and this negatively impacts the speed and accuracy of the latent variable estimation procedure. We introduce a novel sequential adaptive action value function for query selection using the multi-armed bandit framework, which allows us to find a tractable solution. For this adaptive-sequential query selection method, we analytically show: 1) performance improvement in the query selection for a dynamical system; and 2) the conditions where the model outperforms competitors. We also present favorable empirical assessments of the performance for this method, compared to alternative methods, both using Monte Carlo simulations and human-in-the-loop experiments with a brain–computer interface typing system, where the language model provides the prior information.
Predator driven niches vary spatially among co-occurring damselfly species

Determining how niche differences contribute to local species coexistence is a vexing problem. Previous work has shown that the ecological and evolutionary processes shaping niche differentiation can vary among populations, suggesting that the strength of niche differences among species should likewise vary geographically. Most tests of this idea compare different species in different locations, not the same species in different locations. Thus, it is unclear whether niche differences vary spatially because of variation in community composition or because populations of the same species experience differences in the strength of niche effects. To test this latter hypothesis, we used field experiments to manipulate the relative abundances of the same pair of Enallagma damselfly species at two lakes. Manipulating relative abundances allowed us to quantify the demographic signature of niche differences that could stabilize coexistence, because if species are niche differentiated, they should experience lower mortality in response to their shared fish predator, and higher growth in the face of resource competition, when rare. We found that both species experienced lower mortality when rare in one location but not the other. No differences in growth were detected, indicating that competition for prey resources may not be a key factor affecting coexistence. These results suggest the species are ecologically differentiated among populations in ways shaping survivorship in response to a shared predator, which should promote their coexistence. We discuss several factors that could contribute to the differences we observed, focusing on the ideas that either (1) niche differentiation between species evolves locally, or that (2) spatial variation in environmental factors affects the manifestation of species niche differences. We therefore argue that the problem of ‘species coexistence’ is not a problem of species, but rather is one of understanding if species’ populations coexist. Such results imply a role for microevolutionary processes in structuring communities.
Associations between vitamin D levels and polycystic ovary syndrome phenotypes

Background Studies comparing serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in women with and without polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have produced inconsistent results. Additionally, no previous studies have evaluated associations between vitamin D and specific PCOS phenotypes. Methods This case-control study was conducted among women undergoing intrauterine insemination. Cases (N.=137) were diagnosed with PCOS and then further classified into 3 diagnostic phenotypes based on combinations of the Rotterdam criteria (ovulatory dysfunction+polycystic ovaries [N.=55]; ovulatory dysfunction +androgen excess [N.=15]; and ovulatory dysfunction, +polycystic ovaries, +androgen excess [N.=67]). Controls (N.=103) were ovulatory women without PCOS who were undergoing IUI. Serum total 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations were categorized as deficient (≤20 ng/mL), insufficient (21-29 ng/mL), and sufficient (≥30 ng/mL). Prevalence odds ratios (PORs) were calculated using logistic regression. Results A higher proportion (59.9%) of PCOS cases lacked sufficient vitamin D levels compared to controls (47.6%; P value=0.06). The odds of vitamin D deficiency in all PCOS cases were twice that of controls (POR=2.03, 95% CI 0.97-4.26); however, the association was attenuated after adjusting for Body Mass Index (BMI) and race/ethnicity (adjPOR=1.43, 95% CI 0.62, 3.26). When examining PCOS phenotypes exhibiting androgen excess, crude associations were observed for deficient vitamin D levels (unadjPOR=2.93, 95% CI: 1.27, 6.77); however, the association decreased after adjustment for BMI and race/ethnicity (adjPOR=2.03, 95% CI: 0.79, 5.19). Conclusions Vitamin D deficiency occurred more frequently in PCOS cases with androgen excess, but associations were attenuated after adjusting for BMI and race/ethnicity. Combining etiologically distinct PCOS subgroups may obscure associations with lower vitamin D levels and other potential risk factors.
Growth and Recruitment of Nonnative Smallmouth Bass along the Upstream Edge of Its Riverine Distribution

Nonnative species have been widely introduced, and once established, often exhibit secondary spread to new areas. For instance, after its initial introduction in the John Day River, Oregon, smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) has expanded upstream into headwater habitats. Recruitment is a key component of successful range expansion and has been highlighted as a potential bottleneck to continued expansion by smallmouth bass. We explored growth, body lengths, and survival of young-of-the-year (YOY) smallmouth bass in the North Fork John Day River to better understand the recruitment dynamics near its invasion boundary. In 2014–2015, we collected YOY across the upstream 63 km of smallmouth bass distribution at the end of the first growth season and after a winter starvation period. We found that growth, body length, and survival showed varied correspondence with patterns in water temperature. Specifically, body lengths matched temperature predictions in upstream sites (after accounting for spawning delays) where smallmouth bass density is low. By contrast, individuals achieved smaller than predicted body lengths in downstream sites where density is relatively high. Model selection revealed that temperature and age ≥ 1 density were the most important predictors of body length. Additionally, individuals predicted to be too small to survive a winter starvation period were present. Our findings reveal nuanced recruitment dynamics at the invasion boundary, where departures from temperature-based predictions point to multiple mechanisms affecting growth and survival. Understanding mechanisms operating at invasion boundaries may help develop management strategies to prevent future spread of smallmouth bass into headwater salmon habitat.
A new genus and species of sabretooth, Oriensmilus liupanensis (Barbourofelinae, Nimravidae, Carnivora), from the middle Miocene of China suggests barbourofelines are nimravids, not felids

Since the early 2000s, a revival of a felid relationship for barbourofeline sabretooths has become popular due to recent discoveries of fragmentary fossils from Africa. According to this view, barb...
A target device to measure speed and accuracy in an open and closed environment

(1972). A Target Device to Measure Speed and Accuracy in an Open and Closed Environment. Research Quarterly. American Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation: Vol. 43, No. 2, pp. 239-242.
Sternal-Sparing Approach for LVAD Implantation Allows for a More Consistent Inflow Cannula Angle

Purpose Prior study has suggested an association between angulation of the inflow cannula and outcomes following left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. A potential benefit of the sternal-sparing LVAD implantation technique is superior visualization of the apex in its natural anatomic position. Our hypothesis was the sternal-sparing technique would result in more consistent angle of LVAD implantation. Methods This single-center, retrospective review included consecutive patients implanted from September 2015 through September 2019. Patients were stratified via surgical technique: sternal-sparing or median sternotomy. The coronal angle of the inflow cannula relative to the horizontal line was measured on the first available postoperative anterior-posterior chest radiograph (Figure 1). All measurements were calculated by trained radiologists. A randomly selected subgroup of patients was repeated by multiple readers to assess interrater reliability. Results Of the 161 patients included in the study, 102 (63%) were implanted via the sternal-sparing approach. Preoperative patient characteristics were similar between cohorts. The inflow cannula angle was significantly different between cohorts (Figure 1, p=0.020). The sternal-sparing cohort had a more consistent angle (median [IQR], 18 [6-29] degrees) compared to the sternotomy patients (25 [10-42] degrees, p=0.020). Significantly more sternal-sparing patients had an angle ≤65 degrees (100% vs 93%, p=0.017), which has previously been associated with improved patient outcomes with a different model pump. Conclusion Our data suggests the angle of the inflow cannula after LVAD implantation is more consistently reproduced when utilizing the sternal-sparing approach compared to median sternotomy. Further research is needed to examine the relationship between inflow cannula angle and patient outcomes to determine the ideal inflow cannula angle for the fully magnetically levitated pump.
Evaluation of the BioFire® FilmArray® Pneumonia Panel for Detection of Viral and Bacterial Pathogens in Lower Respiratory Tract Specimens in the Setting of a Tertiary Care Academic Medical Center

ABSTRACT Our objective was to evaluate the diagnostic yield and accuracy of the BioFire FilmArray pneumonia panel (BFPP) for identification of pathogens in lower respiratory tract specimens (n = 200) from emergency department (ED) and intensive care unit (ICU) patients at a tertiary care academic medical center. Specimens were collected between January and November 2018, from patients ≥18 years of age, and culture was performed as part of standard-of-care testing. The BFPP identified a viral or bacterial target in 117/200 (58.5%) samples, including Staphylococcus aureus in 22% of samples and Haemophilus influenzae in 14%, and both a viral and bacterial target in 4% of samples. The most common viruses detected by BFPP were rhinovirus/enterovirus (4.5%), influenza A virus (3%), and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) (2%). Overall, there was strong correlation between BFPP and standard methods for detection of viruses (99.2%) and bacteria (96.8%). Most bacteria (60/61 [98.4%]) detected by standard methods were also identified by BFPP, and 92 additional bacteria were identified by BFPP alone, including 22/92 (23.9%) additional S. aureus isolates and 25/92 (27.2%) H. influenzae isolates, which were more frequently discordant when detected at low concentrations (S. aureus, P
Sensitivity of Nutrition Indicators to Measure the Impact of a Multi-Sectoral Intervention: Cross-Sectional, Household, and Individual Level Analysis.

Interventions tackling multiple drivers of child malnutrition have potential, yet the evidence is limited and draws on different analysis and nutrition outcomes, reducing comparability. To better understand the advantages and disadvantages of three different analytical approaches on seven common nutrition indicators, we use panel data (2012, 2014, 2015) on 1420 households from a randomized control study of a multi-sectoral intervention in Chad. We compare program impact using three types of analysis: a cross-sectional analysis of non-matched children; a panel analysis on longitudinal outcomes following the worst-off child in the household; and a panel analysis on longitudinal outcomes of matched children. We find that the sensitivity of the nutrition outcomes to program impact increases with each subsequent analytical approach, despite the reduction in sample size, as the analysis is able to control for more non-measured child and household characteristics. In the matched child panel analysis, the odds of a child being severely wasted were 76% lower (CI: 0.59–0.86, p = 0.001), the odds of being underweight were 33% lower (CI: 0.15–0.48, p = 0.012), and weight-for-height z-score was 0.19 standard deviations higher (CI: 0.09–0.28, p = 0.022) in the treatment versus control group. The study provides evidence for multi-sectoral interventions to tackle acute malnutrition and recommends the best practice analytical approach.
Mistiming Death: Modeling the Time-Domain Variability of Tumor Apoptosis and Implications for Molecular Imaging of Cell Death

Apoptosis, in the context of cancer, is a form of programmed cell death induced by chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy. As this is a central pathway in treatment response, considerable effort has been expended on the development of molecular imaging agents to non-invasively measure tumor apoptosis prior to quantitative changes in tumor dimensions. Despite these efforts, clinical trials directed at imaging apoptosis by PET, SPECT, and MRI have failed to robustly predict response to treatment with high sensitivity and specificity. Although these shortcomings may be linked to probe design, we propose that the combination of variability in the timing of maximal in vivo tumor apoptosis and sub-optimal sampling times fundamentally limits the predictive power of PET/SPECT apoptosis imaging. Herein, we surveyed the literature describing the time course of therapy-induced tumor apoptosis in vivo and used these data to construct a mathematical model describing the onset, duration, amplitude, and variability of the apoptotic response. Uncertainty in the underlying time of initiation of tumor apoptosis was simulated by Gaussian, uniform, and Landau distributions centered at the median time-to-maximum apoptotic rate derived from the literature. We then computationally sampled these models for various durations to simulate PET/SPECT imaging agents with variable effective half-lives. Models with a narrow Gaussian distribution of initiation times for tumor apoptosis predicted high contrast ratios and strong predictive values for all effective tracer half-lives. However, when uncertainty in apoptosis initiation times were simulated with uniform and Landau distributions, high contrast ratios and predictive values were only obtained with extremely long imaging windows (days). The imaging contrast ratios predicted in these models were consistent with those seen in pre-clinical apoptosis PET/SPECT imaging studies and suggest that uncertainty in the timing of tumor cell death plays a significant role in the maximal contrast obtainable. Moreover, when uncertainty in both apoptosis initiation and imaging start times were simulated, the predicted contrast ratios were dramatically reduced for all tracer half-lives. These studies illustrate the effect of uncertainty of apoptosis initiation on the predictive power of PET/SPECT apoptosis imaging agents and suggest that long integration times are required to surmount uncertainty in the time domain of this biological process.
The North Korea Problem: Perspectives on the Nuclear Debate, Economic Reforms and Beyond

Despite a plethora of research on North Korea, understanding and managing the challenges posed by the country have long been complicated with no simple solution to put an end to this decades-long s...
Understanding public blame attributions when private contractors are responsible for civilian casualties

When the actions of private military contractors result in civilian casualties during war, who do citizens blame? This study argues blame attributions can be shaped by people’s inferences about the motivation of actors operating on behalf of the government. Using national survey data, this study randomizes whether casualties are the result of state military forces or private military forces contracted by the government. The results show that inferences about the motivation of state military forces insulate both military personnel and public officials from blame, while inferences about the motivation of private contractors disperse blame onto contractor personnel and the government. The results provide new theoretical insight into how citizens evaluate government performance and the potential drawbacks of utilizing private contractors to achieve public policy objectives.
An Improved Murine Premalignant Squamous Cell Model: Tobacco Smoke Exposure Augments NTCU-Induced Murine Airway Dysplasia.

Tobacco smoke-induced squamous cell lung cancer (SCC) develops from endobronchial dysplastic lesions that progress to invasive disease. A reproducible murine model recapitulating histologic progression observed in current and former smokers will advance testing of new preventive and therapeutic strategies. Previous studies show that prolonged topical application of N-nitroso-tris-chloroethylurea (NTCU) generates a range of airway lesions in sensitive mice similar to those induced by chronic tobacco smoke exposure in humans. To improve the current NTCU model and better align it with human disease, NTCU was applied to mice twice weekly for 4–5 weeks followed by a recovery period before cigarette smoke (CS) or ambient air (control) exposure for an additional 3–6 weeks. Despite the short time course, the addition of CS led to significantly more premalignant lesions (PML; 2.6 vs. 0.5; P
Measuring Distress Risk: The Effect of R&D Intensity

Because of upward trends in research and development activity, accounting measures of financial distress have become less accurate. We document that (1) higher research and development spending increases the likelihood of misclassifying solvent firms, (2) adjusting for conservative accounting of research and development increases the number of correctly identified distressed firms, and (3) adjusted measures of distress alleviate previously documented anomalously low returns of large high distress risk, low book-to-market firms. The results hold after updating stale parameters and under various tax assumptions. Our evidence raises concerns about interpretation of extant literature that relies on accounting measures of distress.
Sex differences in long-term outcomes after traumatic injury: A mediation analysis

Abstract Background We sought to examine the association and potential mediators between sex and long-term trauma outcomes. Methods Moderately-to-severely injured patients admitted to 3 level-1 trauma centers were contacted between 6 and 12-months post-injury to assess for functional limitations, use of pain medications, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Multivariable adjusted regression analyses were used to compare long-term outcomes by sex. Potential mediators of the relationship between sex and outcomes was explored using mediation analysis. Results 2607 patients were followed, of which 45% were female. Compared to male, female patients were more likely to have functional limitations (OR: 1.45; 95% CI: 1.31–1.60), take pain medications (OR: 1.17; 95% CI: 1.02–1.38), and screen positive for PTSD (OR: 1.60; 95% CI: 1.46–1.76) post-injury. Age, extremity injury, previous psychiatric illness, and pre-injury unemployment, partially mediated the effect of female sex on long-term outcomes. Conclusions There are significant sex differences in long-term trauma outcomes, which are partially driven by patient and injury-related factors.
Monitoring Mental States of the Human Brain in Action: From Cognitive Test to Real-World Simulations

Functional mental state of operators in real-world workspaces is a crucial factor in many cognitively demanding tasks. In this paper, we present our recent efforts in studying electroencephalograph (EEG) biomarkers to be used to assess cognitive states of operators. We studied these biomarkers from a simple cognitive task to low- and high-fidelity simulated air traffic control (ATC) tasks, with both novices and professional ATC operators. EEG data were recorded from 25 subjects (in three studies) who performed one of three different cognitively demanding tasks up to 120 min. Our results identified two EEG components with similar spatial and spectral patterns at the group level across all three studies, which both indicated the time-on-task effects in their temporal dynamics. With further developments in the future, the technology and identified biomarkers can be used for real-time monitoring of operators’ cognitive functions in critical task environments and may even provide aids when necessary.
Computational Challenges in Systems Biology

Publisher Summary This chapter examines the challenges and some of the recent advances in computational systems biology. Research in computational systems biology has moved beyond interaction networks based simply on clustering and correlation. There are two paradigms in computational systems biology: the iterative cycle of biochemical model—mathematical model—computational model, and integration of novel data and legacy knowledge to develop context-specific biochemical, mathematical, and computational models. Challenges in building biochemical models include the complexity of proteomic states and interactions, integration of diverse data to infer biochemical interactions, and the temporal state of biochemical models. Challenges in building mathematical models include incorporating statistical/probabilistic information into analytical models, using qualitative constraints in mathematical models, and incomplete knowledge and coarse-graining. Challenges in computational modeling include the absence of knowledge about model parameters such as rate constants, local versus global concentrations of species and multiple scales of distance and time, and variation among different cell types and subpopulation variability, or variability among biological repeats. Advanced research in coarse graining will pave the way for progress in the development of multiscale multidomain modeling that can connect fundamental research in network biology to clinical research.
Evoked Potentials in Neurointensive Care Medicine

ABSTRACT.Severe, acute disorders of the central nervous system account for a large proportion of patients seen in neurointensive care units (NICUs). In such cases of actual or threatened brain damage, it is necessary, for diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic purposes, to be able to ascertain and to monitor underlying cerebral function. An increasingly sophisticated battery of tests is available to help establish a correct diagnosis in the critically ill patient, including neuroradiologic techniques such as CT and MRI imaging and neurophysiologic studies such as EEG and evoked potentials (EPs). Research tools, such as magnetoencephalography and PET scanning may come into more widespread clinical use in the future. In addition to their usefulness in evaluation of anatomic and physiologic function at a particular moment, some of these techniques may prove adaptable to providing continuous monitoring of cerebral metabolic activity. At the present time, however, the single best monitoring tool is the serial...
Temperature, modulation and reliability characteristics of 1.3 /spl mu/m-VCSELs on InP with AlGaInAs/InP lattice matched DBR

Lasing operation up to 125 /spl deg/C of 1.3 /spl mu/m InP-based VCSELs with AlGaInAs/InP DBR has been demonstrated. A single mode power of 0.6 mW at 85 /spl deg/C, 10 Gbit/s transmission through 10 km and >2500 hours lifetime have been achieved.
An improved mu lower bound via adaptive power iteration

Many robustness analysis problems can be reduced to that of computing the structured singular value, mu . The general mixed mu problem (i.e., including real uncertainty) is now known to be NP complete. This emphasizes the importance of computing good bounds. It is shown that the mixed mu lower bound can be addressed by means of a power algorithm, which is computationally inexpensive. A detailed study of this power algorithm is presented, and several modifications are developed, including a mixed power/inverse-power iteration. This leads to an adaptive power iteration that significantly enhances performance over the original scheme. >
Single NV zero-phonon line emission into waveguide-coupled GaP-on-diamond disk resonators

We present results from waveguide-coupled GaP-on-diamond disk resonators coupled to single nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond. We estimate zero-phonon line emission rates into one direction of a bus waveguide as high as 1.2 × 104 s−1.
Building Trust and Security in Peer-to-Peer Systems

The popularity and wide spread usage of peer-to-peer (P2P) systems has soared over the past several years. Throughout the evolution of P2P systems the definition of P2P has changed along with the software architecture of the various P2P applications. While the initial popular usage of P2P systems was for file sharing (more specifically the sharing of music files in mp3 format) [4] the problem domain that P2P systems address today cover the range from data sharing to collaboration to distributed computing and beyond. For the continued increased usage of P2P systems, the need for security and trust arises. This chapter covers evolution of P2P systems through the examination of Napster, Gnutella, KaZaa, and BitTorrent [9], system capabilities and shortcomings, and security needs, which highlights the need for trust in P2P systems. With this basis we then present our vision for trust and security followed by a literature review of trust in P2P systems. We then introduce and develop a Universal Trust Set as a foundation for building trustworthy environment, and then our approach for implementing the set, and the future of P2P systems where we will discuss other open issues that need addressing. We close this chapter with some concluding remarks.
Intracellular signaling controls endothelial cell prostacyclin secretion and regulation of blood clotting time.

Blood is constantly in contact with a biological material, the blood vessel wall, without the need for anticoagulants to prevent clot formation on the vessel wall; however, man-made biomaterials require anticoagulants to prevent clot formation on the biomaterial. This study seeks to understand how some biomaterials elicit anticoagulant responses from endothelial cells (ECs), whereas others do not. Partial least squares regression analysis was used to correlate the activity of four relevant signaling molecules [extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), Akt, and IκB kinase (IKK)] with human umbilical vein EC secretion of prostacyclin and clotting time of whole blood in contact with these cells. Prostacyclin secretion was increased when JNK activity (mean of all time-points) was elevated and IKK activity at 30 min was reduced. In addition, the clotting time, R-time measured by thromboelastography, was increased (reduced coagulability) when activity of both ERK and JNK (mean of all time-points) were increased and when Akt activity was increased at longer contact times (24–72 h after cell contact with material). Inhibition of each signaling molecule with subsequent testing for prostacyclin secretion and R-time confirmed the interrelationship between EC intracellular signaling and prostacyclin secretion. Generally, JNK inhibition decreased and IKK inhibition increased prostacyclin secretion. Inhibition of ERK or JNK generally increased coagulability, and Akt inhibition decreased the R-time of samples normally eliciting reduced coagulability. These findings increase our understanding of the signaling pathways involved in endothelial prostacyclin release and suggest targets for developing EC-seeded biomaterial surfaces that can minimize coagulation. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 100A:3374–3383, 2012.
Physiological features of embryonic development in terrestrially-breeding plethodontid salamanders

Terrestrial breeding in plethodontid salamanders, in comparison to aquatic breeding in amphibians in general, is associated with long incubation time, large ovum and hatchling size, and high degree of development at hatching. These features are interrelated with each other and two presently described features. (1) The rate of embryonic development in terrestrially-breeding plethodontids is slow. The time to develop to the end of neurulation at 14–15°C is 18.6, 26.6, 30.4, and 40.2 d in Desmognathus ochrophaeus, Aneides ferreus, A. flavipunctatus, and Ensatina eschscholtzii, respectively. (2) The time an embryo spends developing beyond neurulation, relative to the time spent previously (= ‘relative incubation time’, RIT), is large. RIT in D. ochrophaeus and E. eschscholtzii averages 28% longer than that of non-plethodontid salamanders. Data for oxygen consumption during embryonic development of E. eschscholtzii indicates that the large ovum size is probably due mostly to selection for large hatchling size, rather than the need for energy during the protracted development. Large ovum size is associated with a slow rate of embryonic development which, together with the long RIT, accounts for the long incubation time.
Data set preprocessing and transformation in a database system

In general, there is a significant amount of data mining analysis performed outside a database system, which creates many data management issues. This article presents a summary of our experience and recommendations to compute data set preprocessing and transformation inside a database system (i.e. data cleaning, record selection, summarization, denormalization, variable creation, coding), which is the most time-consuming task in data mining projects. This aspect is largely ignored in the literature. We present practical issues, common solutions and lessons learned when preparing and transforming data sets with the SQL language, based on experience from real-life projects. We then provide specific guidelines to translate programs written in a traditional programming language into SQL statements. Based on successful real-life projects, we present time performance comparisons between SQL code running inside the database system and external data mining programs. We highlight which steps in data mining projects become faster when processed by the database system. More importantly, we identify advantages and disadvantages from a practical standpoint based on data mining users feedback.
Answer to March 2015 Photo Quiz

Answer: Weissella confusa. The diagnosis of bacteremia due to Weissella confusa was confirmed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The organism, based on the production of alpha-hemolysis, the Gram stain, and the catalase-negative reaction, was preliminarily reported as “Lactobacillus-like, identification to follow.” Repeat blood cultures were subsequently negative after removal of the peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) and therapy switch from vancomycin to daptomycin. We believe that her bacteremia was related to the indwelling PICC, total parenteral nutrition (TPN) dependency, and the history of altered gut flora with multiple abdominal surgeries. W. confusa is a nonmotile Gram-positive, alpha-hemolytic, catalase-negative coccobacillus that grows at 25, 35, and 42°C and is positive for esculin hydrolysis and arginine deamination (1). Originally identified as Lactobacillus confusus, the organism was reclassified into a novel genus in 1993 along with other lactobacilli and Leuconostoc paramesenteroides (2). Thus, this organism is frequently confused with Lactobacillus- or Leuconostoc-like organisms, which are inherently vancomycin resistant and often considered contaminants (3, 4). W. confusa has been isolated from sugar cane, carrot juice, milk, fermented cereals, and vegetables (5). Though an exceedingly rare human pathogen and usually nonfatal, W. confusa has been demonstrated to cause clinical disease such as abscess, bacteremia, prosthetic joint infection, and infective endocarditis (4, 6, 7, 8). Immunocompromised states, prior exposure to vancomycin, altered gut flora, recent gastrointestinal procedures, and TPN dependency are all suspected to be risk factors for the development of Lactobacillus species bacteremia (4). Due to the rarity of W. confusa, the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) has not established breakpoints for susceptibility testing. However, based on MICs, the preferred therapy includes penicillin, clindamycin, erythromycin, aminoglycosides, and imipenem (6). Daptomycin has also been shown to have activity, as was the case with our patient's isolate, which had a daptomycin MIC of 0.38 μg/ml by Etest (3). Though a rare entity, W. confusa should be considered for any patient presenting with bacteremia caused by a Gram-positive organism and underlying risk factors for infection with Lactobacillus species. Since vancomycin is the empirical first-line therapy for bacteremia caused by a Gram-positive organism, early consideration of this organism is important due to its inherent vancomycin resistance, which necessitates alternative therapy. (See page 759 in this issue [doi:10.1128/JCM.00941-13] for photo quiz case presentation.)
Spectrophotometric quantification of glycine in serum and urine.

A method for quantitative determination of glycine in serum and urine, involving degradation to formaldehyde with chloramine-T and subsequent measurement by the Hantzsch reaction or chromotropic acid, has been evaluated and modified. The inhibitory effect of some physiological constituents on the analysis is pointed out. We recommend that samples be purified by passage through a column of ion-exchange resin before analysis. Results for urinary glycine obtained by a single-column amino acid analyzer system compare very favorably with those obtained by the proposed spectrophotometric method. Values for free and total glycine and for glycine/creatinine ratios in the urine of a group of infants are presented along with revised data on the concentration of free glycine in serum.
Biophysical controls on dissolved organic carbon concentrations of Alaskan coastal temperate rainforest streams

Coastal carbon cycling models remain incomplete in key continental margins worldwide. Large quantities of labile terrestrial DOC are transferred to the Gulf of Alaska in a flow of freshwater discharge from thousands of watersheds that equals the discharge of the Mississippi River. The coastal margin of southeast Alaska and British Columbia is a potential hotspot of worldwide DOC metabolism and the mass and reactivity of DOC in rivers and estuaries of the region make quantifying and modeling DOC export a priority. Scaling DOC export requires a well-constrained model of streamwater DOC concentrations. We established models for prediction of DOC streamwater concentrations through a broad sampling of streams across a large, diverse landscape in 61 independent watersheds. Stream DOC concentrations were significantly related to the amount of wetlands in a watershed confirming the necessity of understanding the fate of the mass of carbon stored within them. Several measures of slope were useful in predictive models of streamwater DOC concentrations suggesting that slope predicts the presence of wetland soils better than current wetland map layers. We also provide evidence that suggests watersheds with large salmon spawning runs have distinct characteristics that influence the relationship between wetlands and carbon cycling that may provide additional insights into how carbon is processed.
Determination of Methyldopa in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms and Biological Fluids Based on Oxidation at the Tubular Carbon Electrode

A method for the determination of methyldopa in pharmaceutical dosage forms based on electrochemical oxidation at the tubular carbon electrode is presented. The method is highly specific and may be used to analyze methyldopa in the presence of other types of pharmaceuticals. A comparison with two other colorimetric procedures of analysis shows the new method to have fewer manipulative steps with comparable precision and accuracy. In addition, the utility of the method in determining methyldopa in urine, plasma, and whole blood is demonstrated.
A simple cable for reduction of movement artifact in electroencephalographic recordings.

Abstract The construction of a simple cable for reduction of movement-induced artifact is described.