cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Detecting smoking following smoking cessation treatment.

Abstract Our study compared the results of self-report (SR) plus breath carbon monoxide (CO) monitoring to SR plus urine cotinine (COT) analysis of recent tobacco use for a recently completed smoking cessation study that compared the efficacy of different intensities of psychosocial treatments coupled with 8 weeks of patch treatment. Treatment outcomes were assessed 9, 26, and 52 weeks from treatment initiation in 200+ patients using both measurement types. COT was able to detect self-reported smoking in over 97% of the cases at all time points, while CO detected self-reported smoking 62, 84, and 89% of the time for the three follow-up assessments. Under 2% of those reporting nonsmoking were found to be smoking via CO, whereas COT found smoking to have occurred for 23, 15, and 7% of the ‘nonsmoking’ SRs at the three time points. Abstinence rates using SR plus CO were 49, 29, and 26%, contrasted with abstinence rates of 38, 26, and 25% for SR plus COT. These findings suggest that use of urine analysis for COT may lead to more accurate but lowered measured abstinence rates.
Skeletal development: insights from targeting the mouse genome

Manipulation of the mouse genome through mis-expressing, knocking out, and introducing mutations into genes of interest has provided important insights into the genetic pathways responsible for human skeletal development. These pathways contribute to the sequential phases of skeletal morphogenesis that include patterning, condensation, and overt organogenesis of the membranous and endochondral embryonic skeletons and to subsequent linear growth. Disturbances in these pathways account for many developmental syndromes and disorders of the human skeleton. Recurrent themes include establishment of interlocking regulatory circuits involving growth factors, receptors, signalling pathways, and transcription factors that control cellular programmes such as migration, adhesion, proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis, and use of common molecules for different purposes. Technical advances suggest that genetic engineering in mice will continue to be highly instructive in the field of skeletal biology.
GABAergic involvement in the acquisition of voluntary ethanol intake in laboratory rats.

Treatment with the GABAA agonist THIP (4, 5, 6, 7-tetrahydroisoxazolo[5, 4-c] pyridin-3-ol) or the GABAB agonist baclofen was shown to enhance the acquisition of voluntary ethanol consumption in laboratory rats. THIP administration resulted in an increased intake of absolute ethanol without an increase in total fluid intake. In contrast, baclofen administration, while increasing ethanol intake in a manner similar to that seen with THIP, also increased total fluid intake, indicating that its effects may not be specific to an interaction with ingested ethanol. The data obtained in the present study support the notion that GABAergic mechanisms, particularly those related to the GABAA receptor, may be involved in the acquisition of voluntary ethanol consumption in laboratory rats.
Determination of protein location diversity via analysis of immunohistochemical images from the Human Protein Atlas

The Human Protein Atlas (HPA) is a repository of location patterns of about 11000 proteins within tissues and cell lines. In this work we summarize some of our current work on analyzing immunohistochemical images of proteins within 7 distinct tissues. Firstly, we present our efforts to analyze spatial point patterns of protein staining and determine protein subcellular location from image-derived proximity features. Next, we present a method to identify proteins that have differential location between normal and cancer tissue. These methods provide a principled way to characterize location diversity of the proteome across normal and cancer tissues.
Lethality of cell-free extract of Candida albicans for chlortetracycline-treated mice.

SummarySupersonic vibration of viable C. albicans cells released a substance lethal to mice treated with chlortetracycline. In the absence of antibiotic the cell-free preparation was inactive. The combination of supersonic extract with chlortetracycline was highly lethal to mice, that with oxytetracycline was slightly active, while that with chloramphenicol or streptomycin was inactive. Evidence was presented for the combined toxicity of viable C. albicans cells and chlortetracycline to diverse animal species.
An industrial view of utility cogeneration protection requirements

Most electric utilities have adopted a set of standardized requirements for protection at the interface with a cogenerating industrial system. Typical utility requirements are reviewed, the basis for their formulation is explained, and practical ways for the industrial cogenerator to satisfy them are suggested. The discussion covers engineering planning, fault detection, islanding, dead circuit pickup, and manual synchronization. >
AVIAN FLU: MODELING AND IMPLICATIONS FOR CONTROL

At present, H5N1 avian influenza (AI) is a zoonotic disease where the transmission to humans occurs from infected domestic birds. Since 2003, more than 500 people have been infected and nearly 60% of them have died. If the H5N1 virus becomes efficiently human-to-human transmittable, a pandemic will occur with potentially high mortality. A mathematical model of AI, which involves human influenza, is introduced to better understand the complex epidemiology of AI and the emergence of a pandemic strain. Demographic and epidemiological data on birds and humans are used for the parameterization of the model. The differential equation system faithfully projects the cumulative number of H5N1 human cases and captures the dynamics of the yearly cases. The model is used to rank the efficacy of the current control measures used to prevent the emergence of a pandemic strain. We find that culling without re-population and vaccination are the two most efficient control measures each giving 22% decrease in the number of H5N1 infected humans for each 1% change in the affected parameters (μb, νb for culling and βb, νb for vaccination). Control measures applied to humans, such as wearing protective gear, are not very efficient, giving less than 1% decrease in the number of H5N1 infected humans for each 1% decrease in βY, the bird-to-human transmission coefficient of H5N1. Furthermore, we find that should a pandemic strain emerge, it will invade, possibly displacing the human influenza virus in circulation at that time. Moreover, higher prevalence levels of human influenza will obstruct the invasion capabilities of the pandemic H5N1 strain. This effect is not very pronounced, as we find that 1% increase in human influenza prevalence will decrease the invasion capabilities of the pandemic strain with 0.006%.
Protecting Women from Domestic Violence: A Comparative Perspective

Domestic violence against women is a social problem that occurs in nearly every comer of the world. Recently, some states have begun to recognize that women must be protected from abuse by family members and intimates. While policies and practices designed to protect women have emerged in a number of countries, many lag behind on the issue. This paper will examine the causal factors behind the variation in protection for women. The literature on women and politics suggests that when women are able to directly influence policies, via electoral pressure or participation in decision-making, women-friendly legislation will be more prevalent. Another possibility is the social context of a society determines whether women are able to influence the popular discourse, and therefore, advocate policies that protect women. A variety of statistics were gathered to test these hypotheses. Using bi variate correlation, the political and social influence theories were each tested in order to determine the cause of variation in levels of protection. The fmdings suggest that both direct political influence by women and the social context are important; however, women's representation stands out as the strongest indicator of level of protection. There is a solid argument for the use of affIrmative action policies to increase women's representation as a strategy for increasing protection. THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROBLEM Across the world, women are beaten, tortured, mentally abused, burned, and killed by their intimate relations. Domestic violence is defined as abuse between family members, but for the context of this paper I am specifically referring to abuse against women. Until relatively recently, authorities in many states have ignored or even condoned this type of violence. For example, the phrase "rule of thumb" comes from Anglo-American common law -a husband was permitted to strike his wife with a stick as long as it was no wider than his thumb (Straus and Gelles 1986). In some cultures, domestic violence remains an acceptable means for a husband to discipline his wife. Experts generally agree that domestic violence is used to keep women in a subordinate position within the household (Seager, 2003; Straus and Gelles, 1986). Men use physical abuse against women in order to 'keep them in their place' -to exert their power as the dominant figure in the household. Historically, domestic violence has been considered a private
Experimental investigation of flow-induced microvoids during impregnation of unidirectional stitched fiberglass mat

The complexity of the resin injection step in liquid composite molding (LCM) processes, such as resin transfer molding (RTM) and structural reaction injection molding (SRIM), often results in flow-induced defects such as poor fiber wetting and void formation. These defects have a deleterious effect on the mechanical properties of composites. In this work, high resolution video-assisted microscopy was used for in situ observation of flow-induced interstitial voids or microvoids formed inside the fiber tows during mold filling. Flow visualization experiments were carried out with different liquids to better understand the microscale flow behavior that led to the formation of microvoids for flow both along and normal to the fiber tows. Microvoid formation was correlated to the modified capillary number, Ca#* = μυ/γ cos(θ). The study revealed that for axial flow, microvoids were formed at Ca#* > 10 -3 . For transverse flow, microvoids were formed at an even lower capillary number, ∼10 -4 . Once formed, microvoids were difficult to purge and remained trapped even after bleeding the liquid at much higher flow rates than those at which they were formed.
Hookah Use: Going Down in Smoke

This article provides a review of tobacco smoking using a hookah, an emerging threat to public health, especially among young adults. Knowledge deficits persist in regards to this form of smoking, because many perceive it as less harmful than cigarette smoking and little research is available. Knowledge about hookah smoking can be instrumental in guiding health professionals to address this practice with their clients and in their communities. A failure to address all tobacco products as unique, individual entities undermines any success in public policy efforts to control tobacco use.
Breathing better or wheezing worse? The changing epidemiology of asthma morbidity and mortality.

During the past few decades, there has been great interest in the epidemiologic changes in asthma morbidity and mortality (8, 16, 27, 60, 62, 92). An active literature has attempted to synthesize an explanation for these changes (13, 37, 98, 105, 117). However, a critical comparison of trends in asthma morbidity and mortality with trends in known and possible risk factors, which is necessary to build sensible ecological hypotheses, has not emerged. In this article, we provide an in-depth examination of US asthma morbidity IThe US Government has the right to retain a nonexclusive royalty-free license in and to any copyright covering this paper.
Statistical process monitoring: basics and beyond

This paper provides an overview and analysis of statistical process monitoring methods for fault detection, identification and reconstruction. Several fault detection indices in the literature are analyzed and unified. Fault reconstruction for both sensor and process faults is presented which extends the traditional missing value replacement method. Fault diagnosis methods that have appeared recently are reviewed. The reconstruction-based approach and the contribution-based approach are analyzed and compared with simulation and industrial examples. The complementary nature of the reconstruction- and contribution-based approaches is highlighted. An industrial example of polyester film process monitoring is given to demonstrate the power of the contribution- and reconstruction-based approaches in a hierarchical monitoring framework. Finally we demonstrate that the reconstruction-based framework provides a convenient way for fault analysis, including fault detectability, reconstructability and identifiability conditions, resolving many theoretical issues in process monitoring. Additional topics are summarized at the end of the paper for future investigation. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Is primary total elbow arthroplasty safe for the treatment of open intra-articular distal humerus fractures?

Abstract Objectives Total elbow arthroplasty (TEA) is a viable treatment for elderly patients with distal humerus fracture who frequently present with low-grade open fractures. This purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of a protocol of serial irrigations and debridements (ID range 56–86 years) with open (two Grade I and five Grade 2) distal humerus fractures (OTA 13C) who were treated between 2001 and 2007 with a standard staged protocol that included TEA were studied. Baseline Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) scores were obtained during the initial hospitalization, and the 6- and 12-month follow-up visits. Elbow range of motion (ROM) measurements were obtained at each follow-up visit. Results Follow-up averaged 43 (range 4–138) months. There were no wound complications and no deep infections. Complications included one case of heterotopic ossification with joint contracture, one olecranon fracture unrelated to the TEA, and two loose humeral stems. The average final ROM was from 21° (range 5–30°) to 113° flexion (range 90–130°). DASH scores averaged 25 at pre-injury baseline and 48 at the most recent follow-up visits. Conclusions TEA has become a mainstream option for the treatment of distal humerus fractures which are on occasion open. There is hesitation in using arthroplasty in an open fracture setting due to a potential increased infection risk. The absence of any infectious complications and satisfactory functional outcomes observed in the current series indicates that TEA is a viable treatment modality for complex open fractures of the distal humerus.
"One Problem Became Another": Disclosure of Rape-Related Pregnancy in the Abortion Care Setting

Abstract Objective We sought to explore the experiences of women who disclosed that their pregnancies resulted from rape in the abortion care setting, as well as the experiences of professionals involved in care of women with rape-related pregnancy. Methods In-depth interviews were conducted with 9 patients who had terminated rape-related pregnancies and 12 professionals working in abortion care or rape crisis advocacy (5 abortion providers, 4 rape crisis center advocates, 2 social workers, and 1 clinic administrator). Transcribed interviews were coded and analyzed for themes related to the experiences of disclosing rape and the consequences of disclosure in the abortion care setting. Results Patients and professionals involved in care of women with rape-related pregnancy described opportunities arising from disclosure, including interpersonal (explaining abortion decision making in the context of assault, belief, and caring by providers), as well as structural opportunities (funding assistance, legal options, and mental health options). Whereas most patients did not choose to pursue all three structural opportunities, both patients and professionals emphasized the importance of offering them. The most important consequence of disclosure for patients was being believed and feeling that providers cared about them. Conclusion Rape-related pregnancy disclosure in the abortion care setting can lead to opportunities for interpersonal support and open options for funding, legal recourse, and mental health care. Those working in abortion care should create environments conducive to disclosure and opportunities for rape survivors to access these additional options if they desire.
Dual control guidance for simultaneous identification and interception

An adaptive dual control guidance algorithm is presented for intercepting a moving target in the presence of an interfering target (decoy) in a stochastic environment. Two sequences of measurements are obtained at discrete points in time; however, it is not certain, which sequence came from the target of interest and which from the decoy. Associated with each track, the interceptor also receives noisy, state dependent feature measurements. The optimum control for the interceptor which is given by the solution of the stochastic dynamic programming equation is not numerically feasible to obtain. An approximate solution of this equation is obtained by evaluating the value of the future information gathering. This is done through the use of preposterior analysis - approximate prior probability densities are obtained and used to describe the future learning and control. In this way, the interceptor control is used for information gathering in order to reduce the future target and decoy inertial measurement errors and enhance the observable target/decoy feature differences for subsequent discrimination between the true target and the decoy. Simulation studies have shown the effectiveness of the scheme.
Analysis of the isomer ratios of polymethylated-DOTA complexes and the implications on protein structural studies

A rigidified and symmetrical polymethylated 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (DOTA) ligand bearing four SSSS methyl groups in both the tetraaza ring and the acetate arms (SSSS-SSSS-M4DOTMA) was prepared. The isomer ratio of SSSS-SSSS-M4DOTMA complexed with a series of lanthanide ions was carefully investigated using RP-HPLC and NMR. A square antiprismatic (SAP) configuration was exclusively observed for the early lanthanides, while the twisted square antiprismatic (TSAP) geometry was preferred as the lanthanide ion size decreases. The late lanthanides preferentially adopted the TSAP geometry. One of the pendant arms was modified with a pyridyl disulfide group (SSSS-SSSS-M8SPy) for cysteine attachment and displayed a similar isomer trend as the parent compound, Ln-SSSS-SSSS-M4DOTMA. Covalent attachment to the ubiquitin S57C mutant showed resonances whose intensities are in agreement with the isomeric population observed by RP-HPLC. Furthermore, the NOE experiments combined with quantum chemical calculations have unequivocally demonstrated that the SAP of Pr-SSSS-SSSS-M4DOTMA and Pr-SSSS-SSSS-M8SPy, as well as the TSAP of Yb-SSSS-SSSS-M8SPy are more stable than their corresponding isomers.
Detailed Reaction Modeling

To understand the complex reactions in the plasma, Kushner constructed “complete” kinetic models for the etching of Si and SiO2 in CnFm/H2 and CnFm/O2 plasmas, by balancing the surface reactions. He was able to fit the experimental observations for these systems; however, the model included a large number of reactions with unknown rate coefficients that were estimated. Shown in Fig. 31 is an abbreviated reaction scheme for a CF4 discharge.
Implementation of WENO Scheme to Incompressible Navier Stokes Equations in Generalized Coordinate System

A high order explicit weighted essentially non-oscillatory (WENO) scheme for solving the two-dimensional incompressible Navier-Stokes equations in a generalized coordinate system is presented. An exact projection method/fractional-step scheme is used to solve the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations. Convective terms of the Navier-Stokes equations are solved using fifth order WENO spatial operators, and for the diffusion terms, a sixth order compact central difference scheme is employed. The third order Runge Kutta (RK) explicit time integrating scheme with total variation diminishing (TVD) is adopted for the unsteady flow computations. The advantage of using WENO scheme is that it can resolve applications involving strong shear such as turbulence. Three test cases, namely, driven cavity flow, couette flow and the double shear layer problem are performed to investigate the accuracy and efficiency of the scheme.
Stereochemistry of cis‐ and trans‐1‐hydroxy‐1‐phenylquinolizidines

cis and trans-1-Hydroxy-1-phenylquinolizidines were prepared from 1-ketoquinolizidine and isolated by column chromatography. Infrared and nuclear magnetic spectral data were utilized for the elucidation of the structures.
A framework for modeling contaminant impacts on reservoir water quality

Summary This study presents a framework for using hydrodynamic and water quality models to understand the fate and transport of potential contaminants in a reservoir and to develop appropriate emergency response and remedial actions. In the event of an emergency situation, prior detailed modeling efforts and scenario evaluations allow for an understanding of contaminant plume behavior, including maximum concentrations that could occur at the drinking water intake and contaminant travel time to the intake. A case study assessment of the Wachusett Reservoir, a major drinking water supply for metropolitan Boston, MA, provides an example of an application of the framework and how hydrodynamic and water quality models can be used to quantitatively and scientifically guide management in response to varieties of contaminant scenarios. The model CE-QUAL-W2 was used to investigate the water quality impacts of several hypothetical contaminant scenarios, including hypothetical fecal coliform input from a sewage overflow as well as an accidental railway spill of ammonium nitrate. Scenarios investigated the impacts of decay rates, season, and inter-reservoir transfers on contaminant arrival times and concentrations at the drinking water intake. The modeling study highlights the importance of a rapid operational response by managers to contain a contaminant spill in order to minimize the mass of contaminant that enters the water column, based on modeled reservoir hydrodynamics. The development and use of hydrodynamic and water quality models for surface drinking water sources subject to the potential for contaminant entry can provide valuable guidance for making decisions about emergency response and remediation actions.
Biology and Control of the Spittlebug Prosapia bicincta in Coastal Bermuda Grass

Since 1957 the spittlebug Prosapia bicincta (Say) has become an increasingly important pest of Coastal Bermuda grass in South Carolina. Biological investigations indicated that the complete life cycle required a minimum of 46 days under field conditions. Eggs were deposited in the soil, in trash, on the plant, and occasionally inserted partially into the stem of the plant either singly or in cluster. The egg served as the overwintering stage and a single female laid as many as 81 eggs in a lifetime. Five nymphal instars were observed during the nymphal feeding period. Feeding was observed on a wide variety of host plants. Injury to plants was observed resulting from the feeding of both the nymph and adult stages. Guthion® ( O,O - dimethyl S - (4-oxo-l,2,3-benzotriazin-3 (4 H ) -ylmethyl) phosphorodithioate), endosulfan, endrin, and DDT were the most effective insecticides tested as foliage sprays against nymphs. Heptachlor and endosulfan were also effective as granular formulations. Guthion, malathion, mevinphos, endosulfan, and carbaryl were 100% effective as foliage sprays in controlling adults. Parathion, naled, and methoxychlor were slightly less effective.
Modeling of Tissue Fatigue Damage in Bio-Prosthetic Heart Valve

Bio-prosthetic heart valves (BHVs) with leaflets made of glutaraldehyde-treated bovine pericardium (GLBP), have been used extensively to replace diseased heart valves. BHVs display superior hemodynamics to mechanical valves and eliminate the need for anticoagulant therapy; however, they exhibit poor durability resulting from in vivo degradation and fatigue damage of the leaflets.© 2011 ASME
The changing emphasis in the management of renal diseases.

The antigen-antibody thesis of the pathogenesis of nephritis led to the trials of nitrogen mustard, ACTH and cortisone. They proved useful in a limited group of nephrotic patients but not in nephritis. The management of renal insufficiency is directed toward the maintenance of the internal environment of the body rather than elimination. The artificial kidney and other extrarenal diffusion methods are designed to serve these functions for short periods. Hence their greatest usefulness is in patients with reversible renal injury.
Electronic and magnetic structures of the rare-earth compounds R 2 Fe 17 N ξ

Structural and magnetic properties of the rare-earth compounds ${\mathit{R}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Fe}}_{17}$${\mathrm{N}}_{\ensuremath{\xi}}$ have been studied with neutron-diffraction measurements and self-consistent spin-polarized electronic-structure calculations. The diffraction results indicate for the Nd compound that N goes into two sites in two or more phases of varying fractional N occupations. For the Y compound N occupies only one site. Electronic-structure calculations for ${\mathrm{Y}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Fe}}_{17}$ and ${\mathrm{Y}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Fe}}_{17}$${\mathrm{N}}_{3}$ give excellent results for site-dependent Fe moments, and, with spin-fluctuation theory, explain the large change in the Curie temperature on nitrogenation.
Living With Maternal HIV: Spirituality, Depression, And Family Functioning

Risk factors such as depression and low SES often affect an HIV infected mother’s ability to function within her family. Spirituality may interact with such risk factors contributing to the resiliency of these mothers. The current study explored spirituality’s influence on the relationship between depression and perceptions of family functioning in African American women living with HIV. High levels of spirituality were associated with decreased psychological distress and spirituality served as a significant predictor of family cohesion. Findings from this study support the importance of spirituality in the lives of African American women living with HIV and their families.
Myasthenia Gravis and Neuromyelitis Optica Association

Investigators at the University of Oxford, UK and 8 other international neurology centers describe the clinical, serological, and temporal associations of myasthenia gravis (MG) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) in 16 patients.
The future is unsupervised

Gene expression data reflect biological processes, as well as technical artifacts. An analysis guided by known biology that only considers features corresponding to an understood process may help avoid artifacts but could limit the novelty of the findings. So how do we discover biologic features
THE EVALUATION AND USE OF GEAR EFFICIENCIES IN THE ESTIMATION OF ESTUARINE FISH ABUNDANCE

ABSTRACT Accurate estimates of fish abundance are necessary for models of many estuarine processes, but they have generally been unavailable because fish sampling methods are biased. A major source of bias is a fish's avoidance of sampling gear. A brief discussion of theoretical and qualitative information concerning net avoidance and a simple gear efficiency model is presented. Results of quantitative studies on the efficiency of sampling gear have potential for correcting bias due to net avoidance. Discussion of gear efficiency studies for a plankton net, beam trawls, portable drop-net, haul seines and otter trawls are provided and indicate that such research is feasible and can yield useful information. Our ongoing investigation on the efficiency of a 6.1 m otter trawl for Lagodon rhomboides and Leiostomus xanthurus in a North Carolina estuary during 1975 indicates that trawl abundance estimates for these species were only 9 to 51% of the true values. General recommendations are given to assist in limiting the problem of fish sampling bias.
Millimeterwave (60 GHz) Imaging Wireless Sensor Network: Recent Progress

In this paper, we report recent progress on an experimental 60-GHz wireless sensor network based on an virtual imaging approach. The results of indoor radio experiments, including the bit-error-rate (BER) and sensor range measurements, are discussed. Basic link tests of low-power CMOS sensors are also presented.
Chemistry, growth kinetics, and epitaxial stabilization of Sn2+ in Sn-doped SrTiO3 using (CH3)6Sn2 tin precursor

PbTiO3-based ferroelectrics have impressive electroactive properties, originating from the Pb2+ 6s2 electron lone-pair, which cause large elastic distortion and electric polarization due to cooperative pseudo Jahn-Teller effect. Recently, tin-based perovskite oxide (SnTiO3) containing Sn2+ and a chemistry similar to that of the 6s2 lone-pair has been identified as a thermally stable, environmentally friendly substitute for PbTiO3-based ferroelectrics. However experimental attempts to stabilize Sn2+ on the A-site of perovskite ATiO3 have so far failed. In this work, we report on the growth of atomically smooth, epitaxial, and coherent Sn-alloyed SrTiO3 films on SrTiO3 (001) substrates using a hybrid molecular beam epitaxy approach. With increasing Sn concentration, the out-of-plane lattice parameter first increases in accordance with the Vegard’s law and then decreases for Sn(Sr+Ti+Sn) at. % ratio > 0.1 due to the incorporation of Sn2+ at the A-site. Using a combination of high-resolution X-ray photoelectr...
New insights and interventions for short bowel syndrome.

Purpose of Review This review summarizes recent innovations in the treatment of patients with short bowel syndrome.
CHARACTERIZING PHOTORECEPTOR CHANGES IN ACUTE POSTERIOR MULTIFOCAL PLACOID PIGMENT EPITHELIOPATHY USING ADAPTIVE OPTICS.

Purpose:To characterize lesions of acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy (APMPPE) by multimodal imaging including adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (AOSLO).Methods:We included patients with APMPPE at different stages of evolution of the placoid lesions. Color fundus p
Financial Concept Element Mapper (FinCEM) for XBRL interoperability

The use of eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) to represent financial reports (particularly 10-K and 10-Q filings) is a requirement of all public companies in the United States. The intention of the XBRL mandate is to streamline the financial reporting pipeline by providing full automaticity with respect to the collection, collation and analysis of financial information on the Web. However, the current lack of acceptable XBRL interoperability prevents the realization of the mandate's potential. This paper reports on a comprehensive solution to this problematic situation. The proposed design artifact, called FinCEM, is undergirded by channel theory and seeks to capture and leverage the semantics of XBRL calculation linkbases towards improved XBRL interoperability. The design artifact is instantiated and evaluated against XBRL filings from companies included in the S&P 100. The artifact, which operates automatically and without human intervention, is shown to provide significant improvements over alternative approaches as it attains high accuracy with respect to its core information retrieval task. This study aims to resolve the element heterogeneity issue in XBRL filings.Using channel theory, we modelled the problem of XBRL interoperability.We used XBRL calculation linkbases to resolve semantic heterogeneity across multiple XBRL filings.Our design artifact, called FinCEM, is capable of mapping heterogeneous financial elements used in XBRL filings.
Symbolic Reachability Analysis of Hybrid Systems

Abstract A hybrid system consists of discrete dynamics mixed with continuous dynamics. Typical examples arise in mechanical systems such as robot controllers, engine controllers, and chemical batch processing systems. This tutorial paper outlines a methodology for verifying safety properties of a hybrid system by analyzing an overapproximation of its set of reachable states. A controller for the fluid level of a tank is studied as an example.
“You have to be able to adjust your own self”: Latinx students’ transitions into college from a low-performing urban high school

This case study explores the first year college transition experiences of a cohort of eight first generation Latinx students who graduated from the same low-performing urban high school. Drawing on...
DECISÕES RACIONALMENTE ARBITRÁRIAS NO DIREITO ADMINISTRATIVO

How should administrative law cope with genuine uncertainty, in which probabilities cannot be attached to outcomes? I argue that there is an important category of agency decisions under uncertainty in which it is rational to be arbitrary. Rational arbitrariness arises when no first-order reason can be given for the agency’s choice, yet the agency has valid second-order reasons to make a particular choice. When these conditions obtain, even coin flipping may be a perfectly rational strategy of decision making for agencies. Courts should defer to rationally arbitrary decisions. There is a proper role for courts in ensuring that agencies have adequately invested resources in information gathering, which may dispel uncertainty. Yet in some cases the value of further investments in information gathering will be genuinely uncertain. If so, courts should defer to agencies’ second-order choices about informational investments on the same grounds that justify deference to agencies’ first-order choices under uncertainty.
Endoscopic Stone Measurement During Ureteroscopy.

Abstract Introduction: Currently, stone size cannot be accurately measured while performing flexible ureteroscopy (URS). We developed novel software for ureteroscopic, stone size measurement, and t...
Assessing Perspectivalism in Patient Participation: An Evaluation of FDA Patient and Consumer Representative Programs

Recent research in rhetoric of health and medicine (RHM) has worked to evaluate the effectiveness of patient inclusion initiatives in health policy decision-making. Extending this line of research, this article evaluates the extent to which the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) patient and consumer representative programs meaningfully engage patient experiences. In so doing, this study provides directed and summative content analyses of pharmaceuticals policy deliberation at 163 FDA drug advisory committee meetings. The results indicate that the current implementation of the patient and consumer representative programs do not adequately ensure that patient experiences are being included as a part of advisory committee deliberation or subsequent pharmaceuticals policy. Additionally, the results presented support the growing concern that attempts to include patient perspectives in health policy may actually further marginalize patient populations.
Rampant cryptic sex chromosome drive in Drosophila

Theory predicts that selfish genetic elements that increase their transmission are prone to originate on sex-chromosomes but create strong selective pressure to evolve suppressors due to reduced fertility and distorted population sex-ratios. Here we show that recurrent genetic conflict over sex-chromosome transmission is an important evolutionary force that has shaped gene-content evolution of sex-chromosomes. We demonstrate that convergent acquisition and amplification of spermatid-expressed gene-families are common on Drosophila sex-chromosomes, and harbor characteristics typical of meiotic drivers. We experimentally verify a novel cryptic sex-chromosome-distortion system in Drosophila pseudoobscura using transgenics. Knockdown of Y-linked copies of the S-Lap1 gene-family result in abnormal spermatogenesis, a deficiency of Y-bearing sperm and female-biased sex-ratios, and meiotic drive and suppression likely involves RNAi mechanisms. Our finding suggests that recurrent conflict over sex-chromosome transmission has shaped widespread genomic and evolutionary patterns, including the epigenetic regulation of sex-chromosomes, the distribution of sex-biased-genes, and the evolution of hybrid sterility.
DNA assembly with error correction on a droplet digital microfluidics platform

Custom synthesized DNA is in high demand for synthetic biology applications. However, current technologies to produce these sequences using assembly from DNA oligonucleotides are costly and labor-intensive. The automation and reduced sample volumes afforded by microfluidic technologies could significantly decrease materials and labor costs associated with DNA synthesis. The purpose of this study was to develop a gene assembly protocol utilizing a digital microfluidic device. Toward this goal, we adapted bench-scale oligonucleotide assembly methods followed by enzymatic error correction to the Mondrian™ digital microfluidic platform. We optimized Gibson assembly, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and enzymatic error correction reactions in a single protocol to assemble 12 oligonucleotides into a 339-bp double- stranded DNA sequence encoding part of the human influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) gene. The reactions were scaled down to 0.6-1.2 μL. Initial microfluidic assembly methods were successful and had an error frequency of approximately 4 errors/kb with errors originating from the original oligonucleotide synthesis. Relative to conventional benchtop procedures, PCR optimization required additional amounts of MgCl2, Phusion polymerase, and PEG 8000 to achieve amplification of the assembly and error correction products. After one round of error correction, error frequency was reduced to an average of 1.8 errors kb− 1. We demonstrated that DNA assembly from oligonucleotides and error correction could be completely automated on a digital microfluidic (DMF) platform. The results demonstrate that enzymatic reactions in droplets show a strong dependence on surface interactions, and successful on-chip implementation required supplementation with surfactants, molecular crowding agents, and an excess of enzyme. Enzymatic error correction of assembled fragments improved sequence fidelity by 2-fold, which was a significant improvement but somewhat lower than expected compared to bench-top assays, suggesting an additional capacity for optimization.
What a Difference Five Years Haven't Made: Justice Kennedy and the First Amendment, 2007-2012

This article shows that for all the changes that have taken place on the U.S. Supreme Court during the past five Terms, what has not altered in any appreciable manner is the First Amendment free speech jurisprudence of Justice Kennedy. Several of Kennedy’s colleagues have said that he has “‘a thing’ about the First Amendment.” In THE TIE GOES TO FREEDOM: JUSTICE ANTHONY M. KENNEDY ON LIBERTY (2009), I argued that this “thing” was the “universal element” of his jurisprudence. This is Kennedy’s commitment to a robust, libertarian defense of expressive freedom, and the belief that the concept of toleration underpinning the First Amendment prohibits governmental attempts to choose which viewpoints are socially acceptable. This article reflects upon the time since the end of the October 2006 Term – the end of the period analyzed in the book, and analyzes the opinions penned by the Justice in two cases involving content-based restrictions on free speech (Citizens United v. FEC (2010) and United States v. Alvarez (2012)). This analysis makes extensive use of a paragraph from one of the drafts of Justice Kennedy’s dissent in Austin v. Michigan Chamber of Commerce (1990), a paragraph that was left out of the final published opinion. It also uses the Justice’s opinions in commercial speech cases to evaluate his arguments in Citizens United.In this paper I reach two main conclusions. First, the “universal element” of Justice Kennedy’s jurisprudence is alive and well. Second, for all the attention focused upon, and boisterous analysis accompanying Citizens United, there are several reasons why the doctrinal legacy of Alvarez has the potential to be far more significant. In short, it is Alvarez rather than Citizens United that provides us with a good understanding of Kennedy’s free speech jurisprudence and the role played by that jurisprudence on the current Court.(This is a significantly revised version of a previous draft)
Differential expression of estrogen receptor beta isoforms in human breast cancer tissue

Five isoforms of estrogen receptor beta (ER-B) have been cloned, and were shown to have different amino acid sequences at their ligand binding domains. The aim of this study was to determine the protein expression of ER-B isoforms in human breast cancer tissues. Sections of formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue from 17 invasive breast carcinomas were immunostained for ER-B1, 2, 3 and 5 using affinity purified antibodies and the immunoperoxidase technique. ER-B1, 2, 3 and 5 expression in cancer cells was variable, with both nuclear and cytoplasmic staining seen. ER-B1 and ER-B2 were the most commonly expressed, whereas ER-B3 was uncommon. ER-B3 and ER-B5 expression was associated with larger tumor size and higher proliferative activity, but only ER-B3 expression was associated with lymph node metastasis. ER-B1, 2 and 5 were detected in normal epithelial cells; ER-B1 and 2 in endothelial, stromal, and myoepithelial cells; and ER-B2 in nerves. Our findings show that ER-B isoforms are differentially expressed in breast cancer cells and in benign epithelial and non-epithelial components of breast tissue, and suggest that ER-B isoform specific agonists and antagonists are likely to have different biological effects on normal and cancerous cells and tissues.
Toward an institutional perspective on social capital health interventions: lay community health workers as social capital builders

This article argues that social capital health research should move beyond a mere focus on social cohesion and network perspectives to integrate an institutional approach into the development of social capital health interventions. An institutional perspective, which is unique in its emphasis on linking social capital in addition to the bonding and bridging forms, contextualises social capital, allowing researchers to confront the complexity of social relationships. This perspective allows for the construction of interventions that draw on the resources of diverse actors, particularly the state. One intervention strategy with the potential to create community linkages involves lay community health workers (LCHWs), individuals who are trained to perform a variety of health-related functions but lack a formal professional health education. This article begins with a review of the institutional social capital-building literature. It then goes on to briefly review the social capital and health literature and discuss the state of intervention research. Thereafter, it describes LCHWs and discusses studies that have utilised LCHWs to tackle community health problems. In doing so, this article presents an institutional-based systematic framework for how LCHWs can build social capital, including a discussion of the ways in which LCHWs can successfully promote bonding, bridging and linking social capital.
Linear rheology of nanoparticle-enhanced viscoelastic surfactants

Abstract Nanoparticles have been mixed with viscoelastic surfactants to improve the thermal sensitivity and elastic features of the original surfactant solution. The resulting mixtures have demonstrated improvements on rheology and thermal stability. However, very little attempt has been made to implement novel models that can accurately predict their rheological behavior in the linear regime. In this study, we present the capability of the Continuous Maxwell Model on representing the Maxwellian rheological behavior of nanoparticle-enhanced viscoelastic surfactant solutions at high frequencies and various temperatures. This capability is demonstrated by using rheological data from five different solutions: one data set generated in this work, and four from the literature. We, for the first time, provide evidence for the frequency-dependence of the relaxation time for these mixtures. We also found that for the prepared solution (Aromox APA-TW surfactant and aluminum oxide nanoparticle mixture) the Al2O3 nanoparticles increased the viscosity but only slightly affected the viscoelastic properties of the solution. A plausible hypothesis for the nanoparticle-micelle interactions that explains the results is proposed.
A Novel Model Incorporating Pectoralis Muscle Measures to Predict Mortality After Ventricular Assist Device Implantation.

Abstract Background We have previously demonstrated that pectoralis muscle mass and tissue attenuation obtained on preoperative CT scans were powerful predictors of mortality after left ventricular assist device implantation. In this analysis, we confirm our findings in a separate left ventricular assist device implantation cohort, and we present a novel, user-friendly mortality-prediction model incorporating these measures. Methods and Results Patients with chest CTs performed ≤ 3 months prior to left ventricular assist device implantation at University of Minnesota (n = 143) and Houston Methodist Hospital (n = 133) were identified. Unilateral pectoralis muscle mass indexed to body surface area (PMI) and attenuation (approximated by mean Hounsfield units) (PHUm) were measured on preoperative chest CT scans. To develop a prediction model incorporating pectoralis muscle measures, we implemented a cross-validated model-selection approach using Cox proportional hazards regression models. The final model included PHUm, PMI, African American race, creatinine, total bilirubin, body mass index, bridge to transplant, and presence or absence of contrast. Receiver-operating characteristic curves for 30-, 90- and 365-day survival were generated. The area under the curve for the model at 30, 90 and 365 days was 0.78, 0.76 and 0.76, respectively. Conclusions The Minnesota Pectoralis Risk Score had favorable discrimination in this multicenter dataset. These skeletal-muscle measures appear to add important information to preoperative risk assessment.
Morphology of an autotomy fracture plane explains some of the variation in the latency to autotomize

A gecko dropping its tail to escape predation beautifully illustrates the anti-predatory benefits associated with autotomy, i.e., the self-induced loss of a limb. The amount of time it takes an organism to drop its autotomizable limb can dramatically vary from one individual to the next, and the factors that are responsible for this variation remain unclear. Here, we investigated whether the size of the auototomy fracture plane, a morphological character, could explain variation in the latency to autotomize. We found that individuals with larger fracture planes took longer to autotomize when we statistically controlled for an individual’s body size and sex. These results support previous assumptions about the relationship between fracture plane size and latency to autotomize. Namely, large individuals, with relatively small autotomy fracture planes, can drop their autotomizable limbs quickly, which likely improves their success in using this anti-predatory tactic.