cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The impacts of errors in individual genotyping and DNA pooling on association studies

Case-control association studies using unrelated individuals may offer an effective approach for identifying genetic variants that have small to moderate disease risks. In general, two different strategies may be employed to establish associations between genotypes and phenotypes: (1) collecting individual genotypes or (2) quantifying allele frequencies in DNA pools. These two technologies have their respective advantages. Individual genotyping gathers more information, whereas DNA pooling may be more cost effective. Recent technological advances in DNA pooling have generated great interest in using DNA pooling in association studies. In this article, we investigate the impacts of errors in genotyping or measuring allele frequencies on the identification of genetic associations with these two strategies. We find that, with current technologies, compared to individual genotyping, a larger sample is generally required to achieve the same power using DNA pooling. We further consider the use of DNA pooling as a screening tool to identify candidate regions for follow-up studies. We find that the majority of the positive regions identified from DNA pooling results may represent false positives if measurement errors are not appropriately considered in the design of the study.
Extraosseous Findings on Bone Scintigraphy Using Fusion SPECT/CT and Correlative Imaging

OBJECTIVE. Extraosseous radioactivity outside of the expected biodistribution is often encountered on 99mTc–methylene diphosphate (MDP) bone scintigraphy, and proper interpretation requires an understanding of the mechanisms underlying this uptake and knowledge of the possible causes, depending on the site or structure involved. CONCLUSION. We present examples of extraosseous radiotracer uptake seen on 99mTc-MDP bone scans in which either SPECT with integrated CT or correlative imaging improved the study's interpretation.
The Art of Queering Voices: A Fugue

Reported discourse—as theorized by Bakhtin, bringing the voices of others into our own writing through quotation, citation and paraphrase, as well as more subtle means—is at the heart of all academic writing, including basic writing. This article, both in its texture and its analysis, demonstrates that reported discourse must be regarded, and taught, as more than a simple set of surface conventions, but differently—as a resource for student writers simultaneously to be read as insiders (to harness the power provided through academic dis- course), and to maintain outsider status and perspectives (to push at the constraints of aca- demic discourse). Several intertwining metaphors and theories will be used to illustrate these seemingly paradoxical desires, including musical composition, mental illness, and queerness. These representations help this essay find its tonic as a call for contesting coercive conventions.
Microscopic and endoscopic anterior communicating artery complex anatomy as seen through keyhole approaches

The purpose of this anatomical study is to illustrate the microscopic and endoscopic anatomy of the anterior communicating artery complex as viewed through three keyhole approaches (keyhole pterional, lateral supraorbital and supraorbital) and to compare them. Each approach was carried out once on each side in five glutaraldehyde-fixed human cadaveric heads. A microscope and microscope–endoscope combination were used to grade access and visualization of the structures qualitatively using a previously published surgical exposure grading system. All three approaches provided good access and visualization of ipsilateral structures in the anterior communicating artery complex, but the pterional keyhole and the lateral supraorbital approaches gave the best access. Exposure of contralateral structures was limited overall, but was enhanced somewhat by the use of the endoscope.
Perspectives on Clinical and Preclinical Testing of New Tuberculosis Vaccines

This review hopes to improve the selection of new tuberculosis (TB) vaccines by providing several perspectives on the immunization of humans, mice, guinea pigs, rabbits, and monkeys which have not usually been considered. (i) In human TB vaccine trials, the low rate of healing of Mycobacterium bovis BCG lesions (used as the control group) would distinguish individuals who might be helped by vaccination from the 95% who do not need it and would make these trials more conclusive. (ii) The rabbit immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis is much more effective in arresting tuberculosis than those of other laboratory animals, so pulmonary tubercle counting in rabbits should be included in all preclinical TB vaccine testing. (iii) Both delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) and cell-mediated immunity (CMI) are necessary to control the growth of M. tuberculosis. The testing of new TB vaccines in mice or in guinea pigs may not detect important antigens needed for human immunization. Mice respond poorly to tuberculin-like antigens that cause DTH. Guinea pigs respond poorly to antigens that cause CMI. Rabbits and humans respond well to both DTH and CMI antigens. Since monkeys are very susceptible to M. tuberculosis, they may not be as useful as rabbits for preclinical vaccine evaluation. (iv) Critical antigens (possibly ESAT-6 or CFP-10) might increase the immunity of the host to a greater extent than that produced by a natural M. tuberculosis infection and therefore would be useful in both prophylaxis and immunotherapy. Such critical antigens would increase the host's ability to neutralize key components of M. tuberculosis that enable it to survive in both laboratory animals and humans.
Rank properties of poincare maps for hybrid systems with applications to bipedal walking

The equivalence of the stability of periodic orbits with the stability of fixed points of a Poincare map is a well-known fact for smooth dynamical systems. In particular, the eigenvalues of the linearization of a Poincare map can be used to determine the stability of periodic orbits. The main objective of this paper is to study the properties of Poincare maps for hybrid systems as they relate to the stability of hybrid periodic orbits. The main result is that the properties of Poincare maps for hybrid systems are fundamentally different from those for smooth systems, especially with respect to the linearization of the Poincare map and its eigenvalues. In particular, the linearization of any Poincare map for a smooth dynamical system will have one trivial eigenvalue equal to 1 that does not affect the stability of the orbit. For hybrid systems, the trivial eigenvalues are equal to 0 and the number of trivial eigenvalues is bounded above by dimensionality differences between the different discrete domains of the hybrid system and the rank of the reset maps. Specifically, if n is the minimum dimension of the domains of the hybrid system, then the Poincare map on a domain of dimension m ≥ n results in at least m-n+1 trivial 0 eigenvalues, with the remaining eigenvalues determining the stability of the hybrid periodic orbit. These results will be demonstrated on a nontrivial multi-domain hybrid system: a planar bipedal robot with knees.
Microwave oscillators for superior short term stability and ultra-low phase noise

A survey is presented of the wide variety of available microwave oscillator capabilities, with emphasis on their phase noise and short term frequency stability. These oscillators show unique capabilities for frequency generation, making possible the lowest phase noise floors and short term stabilities of any technology. They range in complexity from a free-running transistor oscillator with an ultra-low noise floor, to cryogenic oscillators with higher frequency stability than any other source for measuring times up to approximately=100 s. Their advantages derive primarily from high operating frequency and from recent advances in resonator and circuit technology. >
Characterization of Ash Deposit Structure from Planar Sections: Results and Challenges

Three-dimensional structural parameters were measured for fouling ash deposits from two Powder River Basin subbituminous coals using direct microscopical methods on planar sections through the deposits. These parameters included solid and pore volume fractions; specific surface area; particle contiguity; and mean solid, particle, and pore chord lengths. Spatial trends in the results for the two deposits indicated that the solid volume fraction remained relatively constant from the tube side to the flame side, but the solid phase coarsened in this direction. An increase in the contiguity between ash particles indicated that the coarsening mechanism was sintering, both via increased particle agglomeration and encapsulation of particles by a glassy phase. The bulk averages of the results were identical for both deposits, with a solid volume fraction of 0.23, a specific surface area of 0.6 x 106 m−1, a contiguity of 0.23, a mean solid chord length of 16 pm, a mean particle chord length of 12 µm, and a mean pore chord length of 53 µm. In addition, a two-dimensional structural parameter, the density-density correlation function, was measured for one of the deposits. This result indicated that the cross-sectional profiles of the solid regions with diameters less than 20 µm were isotropically oriented, and that the larger solid region profiles were preferentially oriented in the direction of the incoming particle trajectories.
Revisiting MAP Estimation, Message Passing and Perfect Graphs

Given a graphical model, one of the most useful queries is to find the most likely configuration of its variables. This task, known as the maximum a posteriori (MAP) problem, can be solved efficiently via message passing techniques when the graph is a tree, but is NPhard for general graphs. Jebara (2009) shows that the MAP problem can be converted into the stable set problem, which can be solved in polynomial time for a broad class of graphs known as perfect graphs via a linear programming relaxation technique. This is a result of great theoretical interest. However, the article additionally claims that max-product linear programming (MPLP) message passing techniques of Globerson and Jaakkola (2007) are also guaranteed to solve these problems exactly and efficiently. We investigate this claim, show that it does not hold, and repair it with alternative message passing algorithms.
The Earth’s Magnetism: Paleomagnetism as a Rosetta Stone for Earth History

Paleomagnetism, the record of the geomagnetic field carried by rocks, has played a key role in our understanding of Earth. In this chapter, we review the history of our understanding of the Earth’s magnetic field and its paleomagnetic record, as an indication of what the possible record of a lunar field might yield. We also begin to consider the ubiquitous magnetic fields in the cosmos and how they are generated and maintained.
Reaction of trimethylaluminum and trimethylgallium with bifunctional amines: Syntheses and molecular structures of [Me2Al−N(CH2CH2)2−C−(OCH2)2]2 and [Me2Ga−N(Si(H)Me2)2]2

The crystalline products [Me2Al−N(CH2CH2)2−C−(OCH2)2]2 (I) and [Me2Ga−N(Si(H)Me2)2]2 (II) were prepared from reactions of trimethylaluminum and trimethylgallium with 1,4-dioxa-8-azaspiro[4.5]-decane and 1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisilazane, respectively, in toluene. The organoaluminum dimer crystallizes in the monoclinic space groupP21/c with unit cell parametersa=8.970(2) A,b=9.683(2) A,c=12.833(3) A, β=103.18(2)°,V=1085.3(3) A3, andDcalcd=1.22 g cm−3 forZ=2. Least-squares refinement based on 935 observed reflectionsI>3σ(I) in the range 3.5° 3σ(I) in the range 3.5°<2ϑ<48.0° led to a finalR factor of 0.055 (Rw=0.070). Both compoundsI andII reside about a crystallographic center of symmetry and contain a planar M2N2 (M=Al forI, Ga forII) four-membered ring withI having an Al...Al contact of 2.801 A.
Recent Research on Divine Violence in the Old Testament (with Special Attention to Christian Theological Perspectives)

Many readers of the Bible are troubled by passages in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament that portray God behaving violently and commanding others to do likewise. This article offers a survey of variou...
Lectures on Feynman Categories

These are expanded lecture notes from lectures given at the Workshop on higher structures at MATRIX Melbourne. These notes give an introduction to Feynman categories and their applications. Feynman categories give a universal categorical way to encode operations and relations. This includes the aspects of operad-like theories such as PROPs, modular operads, twisted (modular) operads, properads, hyperoperads and their colored versions. There is more depth to the general theory as it applies as well to algebras over operads and an abundance of other related structures, such as crossed simplicial groups, the augmented simplicial category or FI-modules. Through decorations and transformations the theory is also related to the geometry of moduli spaces. Furthermore the morphisms in a Feynman category give rise to Hopf- and bi-algebras with examples coming from topology, number theory and quantum field theory. All these aspects are covered.
Viewpoint: Like-Kind Exchanges and Original Sin

By refusing to extend the Supreme Court's Gregory v. Helvering rationale to like-kind exchanges, the Board of Tax Appeals transformed section 1031 into a gaping loophole that has been expanding ever since. Six weeks after the Supreme Court rendered its decision in Gregory, the Board committed what appears to have been the original sin of like-kind exchange jurisprudence when it blessed a multi-party exchange in Mercantile Trust Company of Baltimore v. Commissioner. The parallels between Mercantile Trust and Gregory are striking but the decisions are in complete conflict with each other. In the years following, many courts have drunk from the well poisoned by Mercantile Trust.
Concise Planning and Filtering: Hardness and Algorithms

Motivated by circumstances with severe computational resource limits (e.g., settings with strong constraints on memory or communication), this paper addresses the problem of concisely representing and processing information for estimation and planning tasks. In this paper, conciseness is a measure of explicit representational complexity: for filtering, we are concerned with maintaining as little state as possible to perform a given task; for the planning case, we wish to generate the plan graph (or policy graph) with the fewest vertices that is correct and also complete. We present hardness results showing that both filtering and planning are NP-hard to perform in an optimally concise way, and that the related decision problems are NP-complete. We also describe algorithms for filter reduction and concise planning, for which these hardness results justify the potentially suboptimal output. The filter-reduction algorithm accepts as input an arbitrary combinatorial filter, expressed as a transition graph, and outputs an equivalent filter that uses fewer I-states to complete the same filtering task. The planning algorithm, using the filter-reduction algorithm as a subroutine, generates concise plans for planning problems that may involve both nondeterminism and partial observability. Both algorithms are governed by parameters that encode tradeoffs between computational efficiency and solution quality. We describe implementation of both algorithms and present a series of experiments evaluating their effectiveness. Note to Practitioners —The reduced filters and plans explored in this paper are of practical interest in several contexts, including: 1) on robot platforms with severely limited computational power; 2) communication over low-bandwidth noisy channels; 3) a special instance of the previous case includes human-robot interaction settings where interfaces constrain information transfer; and 4) understanding the size and the structure of concise plans or filters for given problems provides insights into those problems (e.g., to assess the value of a particular sensor by comparing the size of filters with or without it.)
A Digital Passport to the Past: The ‘Accidental’ Public Archaeology of the Virtual Curation Laboratory

As an undergraduate student at Occidental College in Los Angeles in the 1980s, I quickly realized that being a physicist was not how I wanted to spend my few short years on this planet. This meant ...
Autonomous observation of multiple USVs from UAV while prioritizing camera tilt and yaw over UAV motion

This paper proposes a scheme for observing cooperative Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USV), using a rotorcraft Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) with camera movements (tilt and yaw) prioritized over UAV movements. Most of the current researches consider a fixed-wing type UAV for surveillance of multiple moving targets (MMT), whose functionality is limited to just UAV movements. Experiments in simulation are conducted and verified that, prioritizing camera movements increased the number of times each USV is visited (on an average by 5.68 times more), decreased the percentage of the duration that the UAV is not observing any USV (on an average by 19.8%) and increased the efficiency by decreasing the distance traveled by the UAV (on an average by 747 pixels) for the six test cases. Autonomous repositioning of the UAV at regular intervals to observe USVs during a disaster scenario will provide the operator with better situational awareness. Using a rotorcraft over a fixed-wing type UAV provides the operator with a flexibility of observing the target for the required duration by hovering and freedom of unrestricted movements, which help improve the efficiency of target observation.
Diagnosing, preventing, and treating glaucoma.

An introduction to the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of glaucoma in adults and children. Virtual Mentor is a monthly bioethics journal published by the American Medical Association.
Multiple scattering and scattering cross sections

The scattering cross section for a cluster of scatterers can be calculated using various methods, either exactly or by invoking various approximations. Of special interest are methods in which the scattering properties of individual members of the cluster are used. The underlying question is: Can the contribution to the cluster's cross section from any one member of the cluster be identified? Except for situations in which all effects of multiple scattering are ignored, no such method of identification has been found.
Hallucination and Trance: An Anthropologist’s Perspective

Ten years ago, in a paper written for a psychiatric audience, the anthropologist A. F. C. Wallace spoke of hallucination as “one of the most ancient and widely distributed modes of human experience” [9]. This broad claim is facilitated by his definition of hallucination as “pseudo-perception”, which includes dreams and hypnagogic imagery. While I do not wish to make my definition quite so broad, I must recognize the considerable difficulty which exists in distinguishing waking hallucinations from the two other types of pseudo-perceptions in the self-reporting of ethnographic informants. For example, in many North American Indian societies, young men went out in quest of a vision, to obtain the help of a guardian spirit. From their reports, usually narrated many years after the event, it is often impossible to tell whether the “vision” they experienced was, in fact, a waking hallucination, a sleeping dream or hypnagogic imagery and, for the purposes for which they sought the vision, this distinction is, in fact, quite immaterial.
Unisys on CIM

Unisys was created in 1986 by the merger of Burroughs and Sperry. The new company is a major supplier of business, financial and manufacturing systems worldwide. The paper describes the Unisys view of CIM and the approaches which should be adopted both by the computer systems vendor and the implementing company. Particular emphasis is placed on the requirement to integrate devices and applications from several sources. The attitude which logically follows from this is that an 'open' approach to systems and communications on the part of all parties involved is the criterion most likely to bring success when selecting the CIM system elements.
Hypertensive Retinopathy: Description, Classification, and Prognosis

Abstract In 1898 Marcus Gunn described the changes in retinal vessels noted with hypertension. Arteriolar narrowing, caliber irregularity, alterations of the light reflex, and hiding of the arterial blood column were noted. Arteriovenous crossing changes and capillary bed abnormalities, such as cotton-wool spots, retinal hemorrhages, and retinal edema were also mentioned, as well as blurred discs. In the 83 intervening years, little has been added to the description of hypertensive retinopathy, but our understanding has increased. Retinal vessels respond to elevations of systemic blood pressure by generalized arteriolar constriction. This can lead to arteriolar necrosis, retinal edema, cottonwool spots, hemorrhage, and disc edema. If the blood pressure is controlled, or slow rising, or if arteriolar sclerosis is present in the retinal arteries, then a picture of arteriolar irregularity will be noted and, depending upon the ability of the retinal vessels to contract, segmental constriction will be seen. In separating hypertensives from nonhypertensives, the most consistent ophthalmoscopic finding is arteriolar narrowing with focal irregularity. In prognosticating for survival, the best method available is the Keith-Wagener-Barker classification. However, the difficulty in separating Groups 1 and 2 of this classification has lead to numerous modifications that make comparisons from one study to another difficult.
“Yet That's Not Much”: Age Differences in Othello

Critics recently have focused attention on the roles of race and gender in Shakespeare's Othello, examining how the play interrogates social norms and disagreeing over whether those norms ultimately are subverted or upheld. However, in focusing on the play's Caucasian, patriarchal society, critics have largely overlooked the textual issue of age: Othello and Desdemona are separated by as much as a generation. The mature Othello would bring to mind for early modern audiences several theatrical and social conventions, from the Roman comedic tradition to the role of the aged cuckold. These conventions generally are challenged in the early part of the play, then upheld in later acts as Othello descends into Iago's alternative reality. This article demonstrates how early modern views of age and aging work with racial stereotypes both to ennoble the character of Othello and to destroy him.
Read, Understand, Learn, & Excel (RULE): Development and Feasibility of a Reading Comprehension Measure for Postsecondary Learners

Purpose There is a lack of quick, reliable, and valid standardized reading comprehension assessments appropriate for postsecondary readers. We attempted to address this gap by designing Read, Under...
Internalizing and Externalizing Behaviors among Ukrainian Children: The Role of Family Communication and Maternal Coping.

This study aims to explore the relationship of mother’s ways of coping with stress and family communication with the child internalizing and externalizing behaviors in Ukraine. In a cross-sectional sample of 294 mother-and-child (9–16 years of age) Ukrainian dyads, mothers answered questions from the revised Ways of Coping Checklist, FACES Family Communication scale, Child Behavior Checklist, and questions about their sociodemographic characteristics. Robust regression results suggest increased internalizing behaviors were statistically associated with poor family communication (b = −.19, 95% CI [−.30, −.08], p < .01), maternal coping by accepting responsibility (b = 2.14, 95% CI [.44, 3.84], p < 0.05), escape-avoidance (b = 3.79, 95% CI [1.00, 6.58], p < 0.01), planful problem solving (b = 2.80, 95% CI [.61, 4.99], p < 0.05), child female gender (b = −2.53, 95% CI [−4.22, −.83], p < .01) and lower family income (b = −.003, 95% CI [−.006, −.0001], p < .01). Increased child externalizing behaviors were statistically associated with maternal seeking social support (b = 3.25, 95% CI [1.06, 5.43], p < .01), decreased positive reappraisal (b = −1.52, 95% CI [−2.91, −.12], p < .05), maternal unemployment (b = −2.80, 95% CI [−5.30, −.30], p < .05), poor family communication (b = −.46, 95% CI [−.59, −.34], p < .001), and child male gender (b = 3.48, 95% CI [1.53, 5.44], p < .01). Poor family communication was linked with significantly higher increase in internalizing behaviors for girls compared to boys (b = .17, 95% CI [.03, .32], p < .05). When examining child internalizing and externalizing behaviors it is important to consider the role of family communication and maternal coping.
A Bounds Approach to Inference Using the Long Run Multiplier

Pesaran, Shin, and Smith (2001) (PSS) proposed a bounds procedure for testing for the existence of long run cointegrating relationships between a unit root dependent variable ( ) and a set of weakly exogenous regressors when the analyst does not know whether the independent variables are stationary, unit root, or mutually cointegrated processes. This procedure recognizes the analyst’s uncertainty over the nature of the regressors but not the dependent variable. When the analyst is uncertain whether is a stationary or unit root process, the test statistics proposed by PSS are uninformative for inference on the existence of a long run relationship (LRR) between and . We propose the long run multiplier (LRM) test statistic as a means of testing for LRRs without knowing whether the series are stationary or unit roots. Using stochastic simulations, we demonstrate the behavior of the test statistic given uncertainty about the univariate dynamics of both and , illustrate the bounds of the test statistic, and generate small sample and approximate asymptotic critical values for the upper and lower bounds for a range of sample sizes and model specifications. We demonstrate the utility of the bounds framework for testing for LRRs in models of public policy mood and presidential success.
Ofatumumab is safe and effective as front-line treatment in older patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and severe co-morbidities, including other malignancies.

Abstract Background The majority of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) are older and have multiple comorbidities, including other cancer diagnoses. These patients are routinely excluded from participation in clinical trials. Objective In this phase II study, we determined the activity and toxicity of ofatumumab, a fully human anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, in older patients with CLL, poor performance status and comorbidities. Methods Treatment-naive patients with CLL aged ≥65 years with an ECOG performance status of 2–3 or Charlson comorbidity index ≥2 were eligible. Ofatumumab was administered intravenously weekly for the first month, then monthly for a total of 12 months. Results Thirty-four patients were enrolled. Median age was 73 years, and 29% had another cancer diagnosis. Among 32 patients evaluable for response, the overall response rate was 72%. We observed complete responses in 19% of patients and partial responses in 53%. The median progression-free survival duration was 21 months, and the estimated proportion of patients alive at 36 months was 87%. All 34 patients were evaluable for toxicity. Treatment was well tolerated, with infusion-related reactions being the most common treatment-related adverse event. Only one patient had a grade 3 infection. Additional grade 3 adverse events that may have been related to ofatumumab were diarrhea, nausea/vomiting, hyperglycemia, pulmonary embolism, and hypersensitivity reaction, each in one patient. No grade 4 adverse events were observed. Conclusion Single-agent ofatumumab is a well-tolerated and effective therapeutic approach for treatment-naive older patients with CLL; it can be safely administered to patients with significant comorbidities and other cancer diagnoses.
Coming home: Why veterans with disabilities withhold workplace accommodation requests:

Veterans with disabilities are often hesitant to request an accommodation in the workplace, despite the fact that many intranational legal frameworks require employers to provide reasonable accommo...
The Politics of Electoral Reform in Ukraine

Since independence, Ukraine has had three major electoral reforms, moving from a majoritarian system to a mixed system (1997), to proportional representation (2004), and back to a mixed system (201...
Recommendations for Lowering Prescription Drug Spending in Public Programs.

The editorialist discusses the American College of Physicians' recommendations for increasing competition aimed to reduce the cost of prescription drugs.
Sleep and Exercise Behaviors Do Not Differ Based Upon Aerobic Capacity or Hand Grip Strength

Background: Despite the known benefits of physical activity (PA), most of the population in the United States fails to meet minimum recommended levels, and this lack of activity is believed to affect their health and well-being. Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare lifestyle behaviors of exercise and sleep in low, moderate, and high performers for maximal aerobic capacity (VO2max) and hand-grip strength (GS). Methods: Participants (n = 107, 19-62 years old) performed physical fitness assessments: estimated VO2max through submaximal cycle ergometry, and GS. Physical activity (PA) and sleep were assessed via self-reported questionnaires: physical activity as a vital sign (PAVS) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Participants were categorized according to age and gender-specific normative values as low, medium, and high performer (LP, MP, and HP). Group characteristics were compared for each ranked variable using Kruskall-Wallis tests. Results: PAVS scores revealed 66.3% (n=68) of participants met minimum PA of 150 min/week (221.6 ± 177.8). According to VO2max performance groups, the LP group was taller, heavier, had higher diastolic blood pressure, and had a larger waist circumference than MP or HP (p =.000-.029), with moderate and high effect sizes. When categorized by relative GS, the LP group was heavier and had larger waist and hip circumferences than the HP group (p =.003-.011), all with high effect sizes. Conclusion: Despite high levels of self-report PA in this cohort, this did not translate to better cardiorespiratory fitness or muscular strength. Participants met PA guidelines but achieved suboptimal scores for VO2max and GS signifying elevated risk of mortality. The incongruity between PA levels and fitness classification suggest that lifestyle habits may not be a suitable surrogate for objective measurement of fitness.
Error-corrected sequencing strategies enable comprehensive detection of leukemic mutations relevant for diagnosis and minimal residual disease monitoring.

Pediatric leukemias have a diverse genomic landscape associated with complex structural variants, including gene fusions, insertions and deletions, and single nucleotide variants. Routine karyotype and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) techniques lack sensitivity for smaller genomic alternations. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) assays are being increasingly utilized for assessment of these various lesions. However, standard NGS lacks quantitative sensitivity for minimal residual disease (MRD) surveillance due to an inherently high error rate. Primary bone marrow samples from pediatric leukemia (n = 32) and adult leukemia subjects (n = 5), cell line MV4–11, and an umbilical cord sample were utilized for this study. Samples were sequenced using molecular barcoding with targeted DNA and RNA library enrichment techniques based on anchored multiplexed PCR (AMP®) technology, amplicon based error-corrected sequencing (ECS) or a human cancer transcriptome assay. Computational analyses were performed to quantitatively assess limit of detection (LOD) for various DNA and RNA lesions, which could be systematically used for MRD assays. Matched leukemia patient samples were analyzed at three time points; diagnosis, end of induction (EOI), and relapse. Similar to flow cytometry for ALL MRD, the LOD for point mutations by these sequencing strategies was ≥0.001. For DNA structural variants, FLT3 internal tandem duplication (ITD) positive cell line and patient samples showed a LOD of ≥0.001 in addition to previously unknown copy number losses in leukemia genes. ECS in RNA identified multiple novel gene fusions, including a SPANT-ABL gene fusion in an ALL patient, which could have been used to alter therapy. Collectively, ECS for RNA demonstrated a quantitative and complex landscape of RNA molecules with 12% of the molecules representing gene fusions, 12% exon duplications, 8% exon deletions, and 68% with retained introns. Droplet digital PCR validation of ECS-RNA confirmed results to single mRNA molecule quantities. Collectively, these assays enable a highly sensitive, comprehensive, and simultaneous analysis of various clonal leukemic mutations, which can be tracked across disease states (diagnosis, EOI, and relapse) with a high degree of sensitivity. The approaches and results presented here highlight the ability to use NGS for MRD tracking.
HomeModAR: A Home Intervention Augmented Reality Tool for Occupational Therapists

This paper reports on the exploration of a tablet-based augmented reality (AR) application for use by occupational therapists (OTs). The application enables OTs to support individuals with physical impairment and disability when making home modifications. This is a necessary process that empowers these individuals to compensate for their reduced abilities and to maintain independent living. Through semi-structured interviews and a participatory workshop, current home modifications and the challenges involved in the process of implementation were investigated, and an AR prototype was co-designed with the OTs. They found the AR tool to be potentially beneficial as it allows them to search, find, and select assistive technologies (ATs) for use in homes and to demonstrate the home-modification plans to users. The tool will enable users to envision the most appropriate scenarios when purchasing and utilizing ATs in the home.
Increasing evacuation flow through school bus emergency roof hatches

Emergency escape roof hatches are used to evacuate school buses in rolled-over orientations. In the United States, the minimum opening size of a roof hatch is defined by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) no. 217. With the prevalence of rising obesity rates among children, the minimum roof hatch opening size may not be large enough to accommodate larger passengers. Post-accident conditions such as injuries, disorientation, and exit obstructions may also prevent unobstructed passage for egress within acceptable time limits. The purpose of this study was to redesign and fabricate a roof hatch with a larger opening and evaluate its egress characteristics for a range of typical school bus passengers. The larger roof hatch opening allows greater evacuation flow rates, and is almost functionally equivalent to the evacuation flow rate of the front door on an upright school bus.
Agenda Discussion: Computer Techniques

The previous Agenda Discussions dealt largely with problems and ideas concerned with the construction of atomic potential energy interaction functions (potential functions) and the results of computer experiments on crystal lattice defect properties. In these discussions the primary interest was centered on the intrinsic merit of the potential functions considered and the realism of the results obtained for defect properties based on these potentials. In contrast, the Computer Experiment Techniques session was concerned with the practical aspects of using computer experiments to compute crystal lattice defect properties and to simulate the lattice dynamics behavior of a crystal. The primary interest was focussed on how to perform a computer experiment correctly, given a set of potential functions, rather than on the merit of the potential functions. Said in another way, the primary interest was focussed on how to be certain that one was actually computing what one intended to compute. It is usually easy to compute the properties of a defect that disturbs crystal perfection in a simple and local way because, in this instance , there are only a few possible configuration states and the equilibrium state configuration develops quickly in a simulation of the defect. However, when the defect disturbs the crystal perfection either in a complex way or extensively, then there are usually many possible configuration states with comparable state energies. In these instances it is difficult to be certain that one has indeed simulated the intended equilibrium state, in either a static or a dynamic simulation.
Direct Anterior Approach to the Hip Does Not Increase the Risk for Subsequent Periprosthetic Joint Infection

Abstract Background Recent studies suggest an increased risk for periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) utilizing the direct anterior (DA) approach to the hip. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether such an increased risk does indeed exist on a large cohort of patients, operated by experienced surgeons and taking into account various confounders. Methods This was a single institutional study, including all patients who underwent primary total hip arthroplasty during the last decade, who were operated on by four high-volume arthroplasty surgeons utilizing a single surgical approach. Three of them utilized the direct lateral (DL) approach while one of them used the DA approach throughout the entire study. Patient characteristics, demographics, and comorbidities were assessed as well as operative and perioperative factors and their association with PJI. Association between surgical approach and PJI was evaluated in a univariate followed by a multivariate regression analysis. Results A total of 10,201 patients were included in the study. Of those, 4390 (43.0%) underwent total hip arthroplasty through the DA approach and 5811 (57.0%) through the DL approach. PJI rates were 0.9% (38/4390) in the DA group compared with 1.3% (73/5811) in the DL group (P = .068). Results from a regression analysis showed no significant association between PJI and DA approach (adjusted odds ratio 0.760, 95% confidence interval 0.428-1.348, P = .348). The risk remained nonsignificant in patients with higher body mass index. There were also no significant differences in the infecting organisms between the two groups. Conclusion The DA approach to the hip does not increase the risk for subsequent PJI.
CARACTERIZAÇÃO NUTRICIONAL E ATIVIDADE ANTIMICROBIANA DE PLANTAS ALIMENTÍCIAS NÃO CONVENCIONAIS (PANC’S)

Objetivou-se determinar a composicao centesimal e o potencial antimicrobiano das PANC’s Yucca guatemalensis e Hovenia dulcis. O teor de proteinas, cinzas, lipidios e umidade foram determinados pela metodologia descrita pelo IAL, as fibras de acordo com o metodo Ba6a-05 da AOAC e os carboidratos por diferenca. Foram obtidos extratos aquosos e hidroalcoolicos das plantas. A atividade antibacteriana dos extratos foi avaliada atraves de ensaios de disco-difusao e determinacao da CMI e CMB, frente a cinco bacterias. Os resultados mostram que as PANC’s testadas podem ser alternativas viaveis para complementar a alimentacao humana, alem de poder ser utilizados como antimicrobianos naturais.
Sensitivity of the mangrove-estuarine microbial community to aquaculture effluent.

Summary Mangrove-dominated estuaries host a diverse microbial assemblage that facilitates nutrient and carbon conversions and could play a vital role in maintaining ecosystem health. In this study, we used 16S rRNA gene analysis, metabolic inference, nutrient concentrations, and δ13C and δ15N isotopes to evaluate the impact of land use change on near-shore biogeochemical cycles and microbial community structures within mangrove-dominated estuaries. Samples in close proximity to active shrimp aquaculture were high in NH4+, NO3− NO2−, and PO43−; lower in microbial community and metabolic diversity; and dominated by putative nitrifiers, denitrifies, and sulfur-oxidizing bacteria. Near intact mangrove forests we observed the presence of potential nitrogen fixers of the genus Calothrix and order Rhizobiales. We identified possible indicators of aquaculture effluents such as Pseudomonas balearica, Ponitmonas salivibrio, family Chromatiaceae, and genus Arcobacter. These results highlight the sensitivity of the estuarine-mangrove microbial community, and their ecosystem functions, to land use changes.
Strings-and-Coins and Nimstring are PSPACE-complete.

We prove that Strings-and-Coins -- the combinatorial two-player game generalizing the dual of Dots-and-Boxes -- is strongly PSPACE-complete on multigraphs. This result improves the best previous result, NP-hardness, argued in Winning Ways. Our result also applies to the Nimstring variant, where the winner is determined by normal play; indeed, one step in our reduction is the standard reduction (also from Winning Ways) from Nimstring to Strings-and-Coins.
An ILP representation of a DAG scheduling problem

The use of integer linear programs for solving complex real-time scheduling problems is investigated. The problem of scheduling a workload represented as a directed acyclic graph (DAG) upon a dedicated multiprocessor platform is considered, in which each individual vertex of the DAG is assigned to a specific processor and the entire DAG is required to complete execution within a specified duration. A representation of this scheduling problem as a zero-one integer linear program is obtained. Some guidelines are proposed for identifying scheduling problems amenable to solution by converting to integer linear programs.
Fault Injection in Model-Based System Failure Analysis of Highly Automated Vehicles

The active safety control systems of highly automated vehicles for SAE level 3 and higher are still not fully developed and facing some unresolved issues. The deployment of automated driving systems and the functional safety development present challenges in driver – machine control relationship when there is a system failure or malfunction. The current definition of the product development and controllability classes of the road vehicles functional safety (ISO26262) are not feasible in highly automated vehicles (HAV). This research developed an overview of fault or disturbance injection on the steering system of highly automated model to study the impact of steering system sensors malfunction. The approach was to study the fault propagation using a model-based engineering development in a virtual environment of MATLAB. Subsequently, the steering control system of automated vehicle was developed using an adaptive model predictive control structure to study the control system sensors failures on a system-feature level of the vehicle. It was concluded that the steering wheel angle sensor failure has a significant impact on the planned trajectory of the vehicle and thus it was classified as ASIL D, which represents the highest critical safety component and requires comprehensive safety mechanisms to meet the safety goals of the system. The study also introduced a new criterion for controllability classes suitable for highly automated systems based on the global vehicle position relative of the lane marker lines, to deal with the active safety systems and risk handling strategies. The drivers – vehicle control systems are changing significantly in SAE level 3 automated vehicle and above that driving functions are controlled by the vehicle control systems. This presents human factors challenge in this interactive system with moving to SAE levels 4 and 5. Hence, several human machine interfaces and scenario-based testing are introduced to mitigate any risk or safety uncertainty resulting from control handing-over between the driver and the vehicle control system.
Prevalence of, Qualities, and Barriers Associated with Mentoring Relationships from Medical Students' Perspective: A Multi-Institutional Cross-Sectional Study.

OBJECTIVES Reports of medical student mentorship prevalence range between 26% and 77%. This broad range likely reflects the tendencies of studies to focus on specific populations of medical students. There is little consensus about the characteristics of mentoring relationships among medical students. The primary goal of this study was to determine the reported prevalence of mentorship among medical students in the United States. The secondary goals were to assess the desired qualities of and barriers to successful mentoring from a medical student perspective. METHODS A cross-sectional online survey was administered via Qualtrics to all medical students at participating accredited medical schools from July 2018 to March 2019. The questionnaire contained a subsection of questions that assessed the existence of mentoring, facilitators, and barriers in finding a mentor, and the desired qualities of a successful mentor. RESULTS With a 94% completion rate, 369 (69%) of 532 medical students reported having a mentor. Adjusted analysis showed that fourth-year medical students were significantly more likely to have a mentor compared with first-year (odds ratio [OR] 2.65, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.49-4.73, P = 0.001), second-year (OR 2.07, 95% CI 1.14-3.76, P = 0.016), and third-year medical students (OR 2.16, 95% CI 1.2-3.90, P = 0.011). Compassion (64%) was the most commonly reported quality in a successful mentoring relationship. Lack of time from mentor (75%) was the most commonly reported barrier. CONCLUSIONS This study may serve as a guide to fostering more supportive mentoring relationships. Each mentoring relationship should be tailored to the needs of the mentee, however.
Current status of pig liver xenotransplantation

The shortage of organs from deceased human donors is a major problem limiting the number of organs transplanted each year and results in the death of thousands of patients on the waiting list. Pigs are currently the preferred species for clinical organ xenotransplantation. Progress in genetically-engineered (GE) pig liver xenotransplantation increased graft and recipient survival from hours with unmodified pig livers to up to 9 days with normal to near-normal liver function. Deletion of genes such as GGTA1 (Gal-knockout pigs) or adding genes such as human complement regulatory proteins (hCD55, hCD46 expressing pigs) enabled hyperacute rejection to be overcome. Although survival up to 9 days was recorded, extended pig graft survival was not achieved due to lethal thrombocytopenia. The current status of GE pig liver xenotransplantation with world experience, potential factors causing thrombocytopenia, new targets on pig endothelial cells, and novel GE pigs with more genes deletion to avoid remaining antibody response, such as beta1,4-N-acetyl galactosaminyl transferase 2 (β4GalNT2), are discussed.
Exclusionary Zoning Enforcement: Passe or Alive and Kicking?

This article reviews several recent state cases challenging zoning actions as exclusionary. It identifies patterns in the cases and finds that under certain circumstances courts will limit local governments’ exclusionary actions.
Effects of moisture, residual thermal curing stresses and mechanical load on the damage development in quasi-isotropic laminates

This investigation demonstrates how moisture absorbed in (0/+ or - 45/90)s and (0/90/+ or - 45)s graphite epoxy laminates significantly alters the stress state and chronology of damage development along the laminate edge during static tension and tension-tension cyclic loading. Emphasis is placed on using reasonable approximations for wet and dry elastic properties, including out-of-plane properties (nu sub 23 and G sub 23), since these properties are required by finite element and shear lag models to predict the stress state at the laminate edge. Moisture was observed to alter the dry edge stress state in the 90-deg plies of the (0/+ or - 45/90)s laminate such that delaminations occurred at a lower load and transverse cracks occurred at a higher load. A model was developed which predicted the differences in loads required to initiate damage in the 90-deg plies of the two laminates in the wet and dry conditions. Although moisture can alter the chronology of damage development, the damage state in each laminate observed prior to fracture appeared to be independent of moisture content.