cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Discovery of Personal Development

Das Konzept der Personlichkeitsentwicklung steht im Zentrum vieler Diskurse in der Philosophie, den Kultur- und Sozialwissenschaften und auch in der Psychotherapiewissenschaft. Der vorliegende Artikel ergrundet, wann und wo die Idee entstand, dass die Personlichkeit etwas im Prinzip Entwickelbares sei, und dass man die Richtung in einem „richtigen“ Sinne beeinflussen konne. Er legt dar, dass die Forderung an den Menschen, an seiner Personlichkeitsentwicklung zu arbeiten, bereits in der Renaissance bestand. Beim Philosophen Pico della Mirandola ist er erstmals ausformuliert zu finden. Der Artikel untersucht auserdem, wie die Personlichkeitsentwicklung mit innerpsychischen Entwicklungen zusammenhangt, wie solches Wandlungsgeschehen symbolisiert und parallelisiert werden, und in welche Richtungen Personlichkeitsentwicklung idealtypisch gehen kann.
Sanitizer efficacy in preventing cross-contamination of heads of lettuce during retail crisping.

This study was conducted to provide information regarding mitigation of cross-contamination through the use of sanitizer during crisping at retail outlets. Seven non-inoculated heads and one inoculated head (≈5 log CFU/g) of lettuce were placed into commercial sink filled with 76 L of tap water (TW), electrolyzed water (EW, free chlorine: 43 ± 6 ppm), lactic acid and phosphoric acid-based sanitizer (LPA, pH 2.89), or citric acid-based sanitizer (CA, pH 2.78) and soaked for 5 min. Two subsequent batches (eight non-inoculated heads per batch) were soaked in the same solution. Soaking with EW significantly reduced the population of S. enterica (2.8 ± 1.5 log CFU/g), E. coli O157:H7 (3.4 ± 1.1 log CFU/g), and L. monocytogenes (2.6 ± 0.7 log CFU/g) inoculated on Romaine lettuce compared to TW, LPA, and CA (p 0.05) or preventing cross-contamination. Soaking with EW prevented cross-contamination among lettuce heads and controlled bacterial populations in crisping water for three consecutive batches. EW may be an effective option as a sanitizer to minimizing the cross-contamination of leafy greens during the retail crisping.
Advanced minimal access surgery in infants weighing less than 3kg: A single center experience.

Abstract Background Minimal access surgery (MAS) has gained popularity in infants less than 5kg, however, significant challenges still arise in very low weight infants. Study design A retrospective chart review was performed to identify all infants weighing less than 3kg who underwent an advanced MAS or equivalent open procedure from 2009 to 2016. Advanced case types included Nissen fundoplication, duodenal atresia repair, Ladd procedure, congenital diaphragmatic hernia repair, esophageal atresia/tracheoesophageal fistula repair, diaphragmatic plication, and pyloric atresia repair. A comparative analysis was performed between the MAS and open cohorts. Results A total of 45 advanced MAS cases and 17 open cases met the inclusion criteria. Gestational age and age at operation were similar between the cohorts, while infants who underwent open procedures had significantly lower weight at operation ( p =0.003). There were no deaths within 30days related to surgery in either group. Only 3 MAS cases required unintended conversion to open. There were 2 (4.4%) postoperative complications related to surgery in the MAS cohort and 2 (11.8%) in the open cohort. Conclusion Advanced MAS may be performed in infants weighing less than 3kg with low mortality, acceptable rates of conversion, and similar rates of complications as open procedures. Type of study Prognosis study. Level of evidence Level III.
Soil conditioning effects of Phragmites australis on native wetland plant seedling survival.

Interactions between introduced plants and soils they colonize are central to invasive species success in many systems. Belowground biotic and abiotic changes can influence the success of introduced species as well as their native competitors. All plants alter soil properties after colonization but, in the case of many invasive plant species, it is unclear whether the strength and direction of these soil conditioning effects are due to plant traits, plant origin, or local population characteristics and site conditions in the invaded range. Phragmites australis in North America exists as a mix of populations of different evolutionary origin. Populations of endemic native Phragmites australis americanus are declining, while introduced European populations are important wetland invaders. We assessed soil conditioning effects of native and non-native P. australis populations on early and late seedling survival of native and introduced wetland plants. We further used a soil biocide treatment to assess the role of soil fungi on seedling survival. Survival of seedlings in soils colonized by P. australis was either unaffected or negatively affected; no species showed improved survival in P. australis-conditioned soils. Population of P. australis was a significant factor explaining the response of seedlings, but origin (native or non-native) was not a significant factor. Synthesis: Our results highlight the importance of phylogenetic control when assessing impacts of invasive species to avoid conflating general plant traits with mechanisms of invasive success. Both native (noninvasive) and non-native (invasive) P. australis populations reduced seedling survival of competing plant species. Because soil legacy effects of native and non-native P. australis are similar, this study suggests that the close phylogenetic relationship between the two populations, and not the invasive status of introduced P. australis, is more relevant to their soil-mediated impact on other plant species.
Computational studies of peptide-induced membrane pore formation

A variety of peptides induce pores in biological membranes; the most common ones are naturally produced antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which are small, usually cationic, and defend diverse organisms against biological threats. Because it is not possible to observe these pores directly on a molecular scale, the structure of AMP-induced pores and the exact sequence of steps leading to their formation remain uncertain. Hence, these questions have been investigated via molecular modelling. In this article, we review computational studies of AMP pore formation using all-atom, coarse-grained, and implicit solvent models; evaluate the results obtained and suggest future research directions to further elucidate the pore formation mechanism of AMPs.This article is part of the themed issue 'Membrane pores: from structure and assembly, to medicine and technology'.
Arthropod diversity and assemblage structure response to deforestation and desertification in the Sahel of western Senegal

Abstract Drylands are highly vulnerable to desertification and among the most endangered ecosystems. To understand how biodiversity responds to environmental degradation in these fragile ecosystems, we examined whether arthropod, beetle, spider and ant diversity and assemblage structure differed (1) between seasons, (2) among locations (3) between protected areas of tropical dry forest and adjacent communal lands suffering from desertification, as well as (4) how vegetation impacts assemblage structures. We established 12 plots spaced homogenously throughout each protected area and the adjacent communal land at three locations: Beersheba, Bandia and Ngazobil. Within each plot, we measured canopy closure, vegetation height, percent cover of bare ground, leaf litter, grasses and forbs and collected arthropods using pitfall traps during the 2014 dry (May) and rainy (September) seasons. We collected 123,705 arthropods representing 733 morphospecies, 10,849 beetles representing 216 morphospecies, 4969 spiders representing 91 morphospecies and 59,183 ants representing 45 morphospecies. Results showed greater arthropod and beetle diversities ( P = 0.002–0.040) in the rainy season, no difference in diversity among locations for any taxonomic group and a difference ( P ≤ 0.001) in diversity for all taxa between protected areas and communal lands. Assemblage structures of all taxa responded ( P = 0.001) to vegetation characteristics, differed ( P = 0.015–0.045) between seasons and, with a few exceptions, locations and fragments. Our results illustrate the importance of a multi-taxa approach in understanding biodiversity response to anthropogenic disturbances as well as the value of protected areas in preserving biodiversity of the Sahel.
The costs of direct and indirect potable water reuse in a medium-sized arid inland community

Abstract Planned potable water reuse can improve the reliability of water supplies by providing drinking water from wastewater. While the US government predicts near-term conflict over water in numerous small-to-medium-sized arid inland communities, knowledge gaps exist regarding the cost of potable reuse for this context, making it difficult for water managers to understand the feasibility of options. This research aims to inform decision-making about potable reuse in small-to-medium-sized arid inland communities by estimating the total present worth of several indirect and direct potable reuse treatment scenarios. We find that the present worth for indirect potable reuse that uses an aquifer as an environmental buffer is only slightly higher than for direct potable reuse that includes drinking water treatment; the present worth of both of these scenarios is higher than for direct potable reuse that does not include drinking water treatment due to the additional pumping and piping requirements. Further, scenarios including reverse osmosis for advanced treatment have significantly higher present worth values than those including ozone/biological activated carbon. All reuse scenarios considered cost far less than purchased water. Costs aside, any scenario must also be acceptable to regulators and the public and approvable from a water rights perspective.
Quantification of gas phase hydrogen peroxide and methyl peroxide in ambient air: Using atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry with O2−, and O2−(CO2) reagent ions

Abstract Instrumentation and ion chemistry are described for the measurement of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and methyl peroxide (CH3OOH) in ambient air by chemical ionization mass spectrometry (CIMS). A CIMS, designed and certified for aircraft deployment, was used in this work. The reagent gas was ultrapure air containing 400 ppm CO2. The resultant reagent ions, O2− and O2−(CO2), form cluster ions with CH3OOH and H2O2, respectively, and are monitored at 80 m/z [O2−(CH3OOH)] and 110 m/z [O2− (CO2)(H2O2)]. The CIMS instrument was periodically calibrated using gas-phase standards generated from aqueous solutions. A Carulite-200® catalyst was used to remove peroxides from ambient air to blank the system to account for variations in the ambient air matrix. H2O2 also forms a stable cluster ion with O2− though its calibration behavior was more complex than that for O2−(CO2) in ambient air. The instrument was deployed on the National Center for Atmospheric Research Gulfstream-V aircraft. Representative measurements from the May-June 2012 Deep Convective Clouds and Chemistry experiment spanning altitudes between 0 and 13 km over the south-central midwest and southeastern United States are shown. Laboratory experiments, airborne experiments and theoretical molecular modeling approaches were utilized to identify and select reagent ions and to understand the ion-molecule reactions for the formation of peroxide-ion clusters in the ambient air matrix under tropospheric conditions. The analytical viability of a particular ion-molecule adduct was supported by ab-initio molecular orbital calculations.
Morphological evidence that Titan’s southern hemisphere basins are paleoseas

Abstract Cassini has shown that modern liquid bodies are largely restricted to North polar latitudes ( > 55°) with a comparatively small volume of liquid in the southern hemisphere. This dichotomy has previously been attributed to Saturn’s current orbital configuration, but if correct, the configuration is transient and southern depositional basins equivalent in volume to the northern seas are required. In the South polar region, we have identified four dry broad depressions, equivalent in area to the northern seas. Morphologic and topographic data suggest that they represent paleoseas that were filled during an earlier epoch more favorable to the accumulation of southern liquids. All four basins are characterized by topographically low, SAR-dark plains, along with dissected margins that mark putative paleo-shorelines. These characteristics imply that these depressions represent depositional basins. Topographically, the basins have a combined volume that is ∼ 3 times greater than the northern seas, sufficiently large to contain all of the northern liquids. A lack of evidence for 5-µm bright material, interpreted as evaporite, challenges our interpretations in the absence of efficient removal or burial mechanisms. The long time scale over which fluids migrate, however, suggests that any deposits have ample time to be altered/removed.
Impact of decentralized pharmacy technicians on medication delivery and nursing satisfaction

It is known that a positive relationship between pharmacy and nursing services is crucial to ensure timely medication delivery to patients within a large academic medical center. Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, explored the impact of a decentralized pharmacy technician (DPT) model on nursing satisfaction with pharmacy as well as on the medication delivery process. During this two-week prospective study, two DPTs were assigned to service either an intensive care unit or a general medicine floor. Two parameters were implemented to assess the effectiveness of this model: 1) nursing satisfaction surveys were distributed at the beginning and end of the study period, and 2) the number of missing medication requests sent to the central pharmacy during the study period was monitored. The results of the study found a statistically significant (p<0.001) increase in all five survey questions administered anonymously to nursing staff, measured on a Likert scale (1=strongly disagree, 5=strongly agree), representing an overall positive response to the DPT model. It was also noted that 74% of medications previously requiring physical pick-up by nurses at the central pharmacy were delivered to patient rooms by DPTs during the study period, thereby reducing nursing workload. However, the study did not find a significant decrease in the number of electronic missing medication requests (463 pre-intervention versus 453 during intervention). Overall, the DPT model shows promise in developing more timely and effective medication delivery system while also bridging the communication gap between pharmacy and nursing services. Further studies needed to evaluate the long-term effects of the DPT model.
A randomized controlled trial comparing efficacy of early video capsule endoscopy with standard of care in the approach to nonhematemesis GI bleeding (with videos)

Background and Aims Patients presenting with nonhematemesis GI bleeding (NHGIB) represent a diagnostic challenge for physicians. We performed a randomized controlled trial to assess the benefits of deployment of a video capsule soon after admission in the management of patients presenting with melena, hematochezia, or severe anemia compared with standard of care management. Methods Patients admitted with NHGIB were randomized and placed into 1 of 2 study groups. In the experimental group, patients ingested a video capsule soon after admission to the hospital. These patients had further endoscopic workup based on the findings from the capsule. Patients in the control group underwent endoscopic evaluation (ie, upper endoscopy, capsule endoscopy, and/or colonoscopy) to identify the source of bleeding as directed by the attending gastroenterologist's interpretation of their clinical presentation. The primary endpoint for this study was the rate of localization of bleeding during hospitalization. Results Eighty-seven patients were included in this study: 45 randomized to the standard of care arm and 42 to the early capsule arm. A bleeding source was localized in 64.3% of the patients in the early capsule arm and in 31.1% of the patients in the standard of care arm (P Conclusions For patients admitted to the hospital for NHGIB, early capsule endoscopy is a safe and effective alternative for the detection of the source of bleeding. (Clinical trial registration number: NCT02442830.)
Exploring Aesthetic Discomfort in the Experience of the Comic and the Tragic: John Marston’s Antonio and Mellida and Antonio’s Revenge

Antonio’s Revenge, a violent revenge tragedy, is an unlikely follow-up to a romantic comedy, Antonio and Mellida. The two plays share an almost identical set of characters and the same place of action; the time elapsed in between the two plot lines is brief, not even allowing for the wedding of Antonio and Mellida or the reuniting of Antonio’s parents. The impact of the shocking opening scene of Antonio’s Revenge, with Piero as a blood-covered murderer, is intensified by our sense of incredulity that the regress of Piero into his old tyrant self happens so soon after the happy conclusion of Antonio and Mellida. The constant reversal of the comic scenes, however, into serious scenes, some with the clearly suggested possibility of tragic outcome, is actually quite common in Elizabethan drama. Indeed, such a pattern of reversal is a founding principle behind the plot of Antonio and Mellida. However, the critics of Marston have objected to what they consider the playwright’s exaggerated tendency to juxtapose the serious investigation of Senecan stoicism with elements of comedy, the grotesque, and buffoonery. They have complained about this excess as leading to dramatic disunity of structure and tone, crudeness and folly. Some critics have tried to ascribe this excess to and justify it by the experimental spirit of Marston’s writing, by which Marston supposedly succeeds in averting the danger of disunity of structure and tone.
An Overview of Sociological Approaches to Food and Nutrition

This chapter argues in support of the emerging field, the sociology of food and nutrition. A skeptic may well ask why sociology needs yet another field, particularly one that has several apparent shortcomings. The first fault is the obvious overlap that such a field would have with rural sociology and medical sociology, and the second is the atheoretical, applied-appearing nature of such a field. I will argue that while the sociology of food and nutrition shares some of the same subject matter as rural sociology and medical sociology, it also encompasses topics left untouched by these two fields.
Metabolic Concerns in Drug Design

Due to recent technological innovations, such as genomics, combinatorial chemistry, and high-throughput screening, the identification of disease targets and of compounds that are active against these targets (‘‘leads’’) can now be carried out efficiently.With the acceleration of these early steps of the drug discovery process, the last step of lead optimization has become the new ‘‘bottleneck’’ that is responsible for a substantial portion of the estimated $800 million and the approximately 14 years that it takes to get a new drug to market (Dimasi 2001; Lehmann Brothers 2001). Lead optimization aims to maximize a compound’s ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, toxicity) properties while at the same time maintaining its potency and selectivity for the target. A variety of approaches have been developed to expedite lead optimization. These approaches include in vitro ADMET screens with increased throughput and quick in vivo assays early in the discovery process. However, these lead optimization strategies still require multiple cycles of compound design, synthesis, and screening. They are cumbersome and often fail to predict the in vivo human condition. The net result is thatmany compounds with poor ADMETprofiles are progressing from early discovery to the pre-development threshold where they fail as drugs. Pfizer reports that only one out of every 12 compounds that enter its development pipeline successfully emerges as a commercial drug (Milne 2000). An estimated 21–35% of these compound failures result from toxicity (Prentis, Lis and Walker 1988).
Relativity: X-Ray and Auger Transitions

In this talk, I want to explore some aspects of the question of what role the effects of relativity play in determining the parameters that characterize the deexcitation of atomic inner-shell vacancies, i.e., energies, hole-state widths, radiative and radia-tionless transition probabilities, and fluorescence yields. Of course, relativity cannot be turned off and on; it is an integral part of a reasonably complete description of the physical world. Yet, the question we are asking is of interest from the point of view of basic physics as well as for practical reasons: the non-relativistic problem is very much easier to solve, and one would like to know whether and when he must go to the additional labor and expense of doing a calculation relativistically.
Intracellular Voltammetry with Ultrasmall Carbon Ring Electrodes

Direct measurements of neurotransmitter concentrations inside single nerve cells can provide unique information concerning neurotransmitter storage and dynamics. Intracellular measurement of cell membrane potential1–3 and inorganic ion concentration4, 5 are possible with ultrasmall glass pipettes filled with a saline solution or a liquid ion exchanger, respectively. We6 and others7, 8 have developed voltammetric electrodes small enough to place inside single cells while maintaining cell viability. The aim of this paper is to present data characterizing ultrasmall ring-shaped carbon electrodes and their application to monitoring the concentration of the neurotransmitter dopamine inside single nerve cells.
Response to Splenectomy in 65 Patients With Hairy Cell Leukemia: An Evaluation of Spleen Weight and Bone Marrow Involvement

Sixty-five patients with hairy cell leukemia underwent splenectomy; 27 had a complete remission as defined by a return in WBC, RBC, and platelet counts to a defined level, and 38 had a partial remission with a return of only one or two of these parameters to the defined level. The 5-yr actuarial survival for all patients is 68%; for CR patients it is 76%, and for PR patients 62%. The response to splenectomy did not correlate with the spleen weight. Seventeen patients had a postsplenectomy platelet count of less than 200 x 10(9)/liter, and 34 patients had a postsplenectomy platelet count of 200 x 10(9)/liter or greater. A presplenectomy bone core biopsy hairy cell index (HCI) was calculated by multiplying the percent marrow cellularity by the percent of hairy cells in the marrow for 51 patients. The difference in the mean HCI between the two platelet response groups is statistically significant (p less than 0.05). Of the 15 patients with a presplenectomy HCI of 0.7 or greater, 9 (60%) did not have a satisfactory platelet response to splenectomy, whereas of 36 patients with an HCI of 0.7 or less, only 8(22%) did not have a satisfactory platelet response to splenectomy (p less than 0.01). The HCI appears to indicate the significance of underproduction of platelets as a result of marrow replacement by hairy cells.
Why Policymaking Should Not Be Based on Evolutionary Accounts of Human Behavior

In this chapter, I argue that evolutionary explanations are not appropriate for understanding contemporary human behavior. It follows that public policy that is concerned with human beings cannot be based on such accounts. Human behavior, I argue, is always proximately caused in specific contexts. While evolutionary accounts seek to show that extant human behavior is related to the behavior of our prehistoric ancestors, such accounts face insurmountable obstacles. I discuss some difficulties presented by the proximate/ultimate distinction as well as the challenge of individuating behaviors. On each of these fronts, there are difficulties. For these reasons and others, I argue that evolutionary accounts of human behavior cannot provide what is needed for public policymaking.
A high-fat diet alters genome-wide DNA methylation and gene expression in SM/J mice

While the genetics of obesity has been well defined, the epigenetics of obesity is poorly understood. Here, we used a genome-wide approach to identify genes with differences in both DNA methylation and expression associated with a high-fat diet in mice. We weaned genetically identical Small (SM/J) mice onto a high-fat or low-fat diet and measured their weights weekly, tested their glucose and insulin tolerance, assessed serum biomarkers, and weighed their organs at necropsy. We measured liver gene expression with RNA-seq (using 21 total libraries, each pooled with 2 mice of the same sex and diet) and DNA methylation with MRE-seq and MeDIP-seq (using 8 total libraries, each pooled with 4 mice of the same sex and diet). There were 4356 genes with expression differences associated with diet, with 184 genes exhibiting a sex-by-diet interaction. Dietary fat dysregulated several pathways, including those involved in cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, chemokine signaling, and oxidative phosphorylation. Over 7000 genes had differentially methylated regions associated with diet, which occurred in regulatory regions more often than expected by chance. Only 5–10% of differentially methylated regions occurred in differentially expressed genes, however this was more often than expected by chance (p = 2.2 × 10− 8). Discovering the gene expression and methylation changes associated with a high-fat diet can help to identify new targets for epigenetic therapies and inform about the physiological changes in obesity. Here, we identified numerous genes with altered expression and methylation that are promising candidates for further study.
Gender Equity in Humanitarian Surgical Outreach: A Decade of Volunteer Surgeons.

Abstract Background Workforce trends in surgery demonstrate persistent gender inequity. Humanitarian surgical outreach opportunities exist for surgeons; however, it is unclear as to whether gender disparities exist in this arena. This pilot study examines gender equity among volunteer surgeons using a decade of compiled data from a surgical nongovernmental organization (NGO) that hosts multinational surgical outreach. We aim to evaluate gender proportions among surgical volunteers, compare the gender profiles of NGO surgeons with local and nationwide cohorts, and examine the productive output of surgical volunteers by gender. Materials and methods A retrospective review was conducted of the records of the International Surgical Health Initiative, an NGO that hosts short-term surgical missions, to generate a demographic roster of volunteers between 2009 and 2018. Comparisons were made of gender profiles within volunteer cohorts against local institutional data and nationwide surgical workforce data. Productivity outputs of surgical volunteers were compared. Chi-square tests and Wilcoxon two-sample statistical t-tests were used. Results A total of 23 short-term surgical trips were inclusive of 227 volunteers, and 61% (139) were female. Physicians were less likely to be female than other volunteers. In addition, nonsurgical volunteers were more likely to be female compared with surgical volunteers (67% versus 44%, P Conclusions Females contribute substantially to surgical outreach, representing more than half the volunteers in this organization. Gender profiles of female surgeons in this NGO are in parity with those of surgical attendings and residents in the national census. Male and female volunteer surgeons are equally productive. There is an equitable gender representation among volunteer surgeons in this NGO. Further studies of other surgical organizations participating in surgical outreach are required toward a more complete understanding of female participation in international humanitarian efforts.
The Prevalence, Clinical Characteristics, and Functional Significance of Ankle Brachial Index Defined Peripheral Arterial Disease in Patients with Heart Failure

Background The prevalence and impact of lower extremity peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in patients with heart failure (HF) remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to prospectively examine the prevalence and clinical characteristics associated with PAD defined by the ankle brachial index (ABI) in an outpatient cohort of HF patients. Methods Clinical history, laboratory, and echocardiographic data were collected prospectively. Subjects underwent ABI measurement with calculation of both the ABI-HI (highest pedal pressure/highest brachial pressure) and ABI-LO (lowest pedal pressure/highest brachial pressure). Subjects also underwent a 6-MWD, sit to stand test, and quality of life questionnaires (QoL). Results A total of 103 patients were included. Abnormal ABI-LO and ABI-HI were identified in 28 (27%) and 16 (16%) of the patients, respectively. The average 6MWD was 387mts. By ABI-LO 24(23%) subjects had an ABI≤0.9 and 4(4%) had an ABI>1.4. Using ABI-HI 9(9%) had an ABI≤0.9 and 7(7%) had an ABI>1.4 An ABI-HI≤0.9 was more common in those with claudication (16% v. 3%, p=0.02). After adjusting for age and gender, the presence of neuropathy(OR:3.55, 95%CI:1.23-10.22), cardiomyopathy (ischemic vs non-ischemic; OR:3.10,95%CI:1.03-9.28), and worse NYHA class (OR:2.41, 95%CI:1.21-4.80) were associated with an abnormal ABI-LO. Conversely, in a model adjusted for age and gender, eGFR(OR:0.96, 95%CI:0.94-0.99) and peripheral neuropathy (OR:6.70, 95%CI:1.76-25.48) were significantly associated with an abnormal ABI-HI. ABI-LO but not ABI-HI was correlated with 6MWD Conclusions PAD may be as high as 27% in the ambulatory HF population and vary by calculation method. Ischemia, worsening HF, and eGFR were commonly associated with abnormal ABIs. ABIs had a small but significant correlation with 6-MWD but not of quality of life scores.
Joint Multi-Modal Longitudinal Regression and Classification for Alzheimer’s Disease Prediction

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a serious neurodegenerative condition that affects millions of individuals across the world. As the average age of individuals in the United States and the world increases, the prevalence of AD will continue to grow. To address this public health problem, the research community has developed computational approaches to sift through various aspects of clinical data and uncover their insights, among which one of the most challenging problem is to determine the biological mechanisms that cause AD to develop. To study this problem, in this paper we present a novel Joint Multi-Modal Longitudinal Regression and Classification method and show how it can be used to identify the cognitive status of the participants in the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) cohort and the underlying biological mechanisms. By intelligently combining clinical data of various modalities ( i.e. , genetic information and brain scans) using a variety of regularizations that can identify AD-relevant biomarkers, we perform the regression and classification tasks simultaneously. Because the proposed objective is a non-smooth optimization problem that is difficult to solve in general, we derive an efficient iterative algorithm and rigorously prove its convergence. To validate our new method in predicting the cognitive scores of patients and their clinical diagnosis, we conduct comprehensive experiments on the ADNI cohort. Our promising results demonstrate the benefits and flexibility of the proposed method. We anticipate that our new method is of interest to clinical communities beyond AD research and have open-sourced the code of our method online. 1 1 The code package for the proposed Joint Multi-Modal Longitudinal Regression and Classification model have been made publicly available online at https://github.com/minds-mines/jmmlrc .
A systematic overview of transportation equity in terms of accessibility, traffic emissions, and safety outcomes: From conventional to emerging technologies

Abstract Emerging transportation technologies (e.g., electric vehicles) and services (e.g., shared mobility) provide efficient, sustainable and cost-effective alternatives to traditional travel modes. However, whether these innovative technologies bring benefits to different population groups in an equal and reasonable manner is still an open question. The various methods applied to evaluate the equity performance of these systems are also not clearly comparable. In this paper, we comprehensively review methods from the existing literature for assessing the equity of a few important system outcomes: accessibility, traffic emissions, and safety. We also identify the existing challenges of analyzing equity for emerging transportation technologies. We unify the existing methodologies into a three-step framework that includes population measurement, cost/benefit measurement and equity assessment, and we summarize the applicable measurements for each step, in detail. A handful of literature focusing on emerging transportation technologies, such as shared mobility and autonomous vehicles, were also identified and surveyed; the methodologies used were found to fit with the three-step framework. We summarize the major findings and discuss promising directions for developing more sophisticated equity assessment methodologies for emerging transportation technologies. Overall, based on a comprehensive review, this paper contributes a framework for assessing the equity of transportation systems that integrates accessibility, traffic emissions, and safety outcomes. The summarized framework can be an overview resource to assist researchers and transportation planners who require equity analysis methods. The research gaps identified also provide directions for equity research on emerging transportation technologies.
On Certifying Robustness against Backdoor Attacks via Randomized Smoothing

Backdoor attack is a severe security threat to deep neural networks (DNNs). We envision that, like adversarial examples, there will be a cat-and-mouse game for backdoor attacks, i.e., new empirical defenses are developed to defend against backdoor attacks but they are soon broken by strong adaptive backdoor attacks. To prevent such cat-and-mouse game, we take the first step towards certified defenses against backdoor attacks. Specifically, in this work, we study the feasibility and effectiveness of certifying robustness against backdoor attacks using a recent technique called randomized smoothing. Randomized smoothing was originally developed to certify robustness against adversarial examples. We generalize randomized smoothing to defend against backdoor attacks. Our results show the theoretical feasibility of using randomized smoothing to certify robustness against backdoor attacks. However, we also find that existing randomized smoothing methods have limited effectiveness at defending against backdoor attacks, which highlight the needs of new theory and methods to certify robustness against backdoor attacks.
(Un)settled sojourners in cities: the scalar and temporal dimensions of migrant precarity

In this Special issue, we focus on temporary migrants as an important and often overlooked demographic in urban areas around the world. We demonstrate through empirical evidence that these migrants...
The small-dollar loan industry: a new era of regulatory reform—and emerging competition?

The “small-dollar loan”, or “payday lending”, industry offers a short-term, unsecured lump-sum loan (usually under $500) to U.S. borrowers who promise to repay the loan. Loan pricing has attracted intense scrutiny of the industry from both advocates and critics alike, as these loans have a short term (“next payday”) to maturity and the cost of borrowing, expressed as an annual percentage rate, is nearly 400%. However, due to a new industry regulatory environment emerging at the federal level, a myriad of innovative financial (“fintech”) opportunities emanating from traditional banking and credit unions will be available to the underserved population. Furthermore, increased product and price competition will likely reduce the predatory non-traditional lending presence in the industry.
Applications of Organoids for Cancer Biology and Precision Medicine

Organoid technologies enable the creation of in vitro physiologic systems that model tissues of origin more accurately than classical culture approaches. Seminal characteristics of these systems, including three-dimensional structure and recapitulation of self-renewal, differentiation and disease pathology, render organoids eminently suited as hybrids that combine the experimental tractability of traditional two-dimensional cell lines with cellular attributes of in vivo model systems. Here we describe recent advances in this rapidly evolving field and their application to cancer biology, clinical translation and precision medicine. Kuo and colleagues review the application of organoids to study cancer biology and pursue clinical translation and precision medicine.
Preparing Smart Cities for Ransomware Attacks

Ransomware has consistently been the top threat to cybersecurity in the recent years. Threat actors have begun targeting the abundant Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices present in modern smart cities. As we equip ourselves with smarter and more connected devices, the threat surface widens and exposure to Internet-based threats, such as ransomware, becomes inevitable. In this paper, we recognize the constraints on ransomware in the context of IoT components operational in smart cities and present a Ransomware Risk equation. We study 20 cases of real-world malware affecting smart cities to draw conclusions and highlight viable attack vectors for future ransomware attacks. Finally, we elucidate the new ransomware strategies that the attackers would embrace in the context of IoT devices in smart cities.
Projected HIV and Bacterial Sexually Transmitted Infection Incidence Following COVID-19-Related Sexual Distancing and Clinical Service Interruption.

BACKGROUND: The global COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to indirectly impact transmission dynamics and prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STI). It is unknown what combined impact reductions in sexual activity and interruptions in HIV/STI services will have on HIV/STI epidemic trajectories. METHODS: We adapted a model of HIV, gonorrhea, and chlamydia for a population of approximately 103 000 men who have sex with men (MSM) in the Atlanta area. Model scenarios varied the timing, overlap, and relative extent of COVID-19-related sexual distancing and service interruption within 4 service categories (HIV screening, preexposure prophylaxis, antiretroviral therapy, and STI treatment). RESULTS: A 50% relative decrease in sexual partnerships and interruption of all clinical services, both lasting 18 months, would generally offset each other for HIV (total 5-year population impact for Atlanta MSM, -227 cases), but have net protective effect for STIs (-23 800 cases). If distancing lasted only 3 months but service interruption lasted 18 months, the total 5-year population impact would be an additional 890 HIV cases and 57 500 STI cases. CONCLUSIONS: Immediate action to limit the impact of service interruptions is needed to address the indirect effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic on the HIV/STI epidemic.
Building a Bigger Table: Networking 101 For Graduate Students

Although the importance of networking is often emphasized to graduate students, straightforward guidance on how to approach this task is typically reliant on individual advisors both knowing and demystifying the discipline's hidden and informal practices. This article provides concrete, point-by-point tips for both graduate students and their supporters, building on our experiences creating an online communication forum for early-career scholars on the market. Specifically, we suggest a model of community networking focused on robust, cross-rank engagement along dimensions of similar experiences and similar interests. Community networking aims to move beyond individuals angling to get a seat at the table and instead builds a bigger, more inclusive table. While junior scholars must primarily focus on their research rather than expansive service commitments, community networking is ultimately both a service to the discipline and a fruitful strategy for raising one's profile and finding coauthors, colleagues, friends, and allies.
In Memory of Maria C. Bartelt

Fall 2004 MRS Symposium JJ: Modeling of Morphological Evolution at Surfaces and Interfaces, and these associated e-proceedings, are dedicated to the memory of Maria C. Bartelt. Maria passed away at age 41 on June 23, 2003 due to complications from an opportunistic infection. Maria had been battling non-Hodgkins lymphoma for a year and a half.
Near-field strain in distributed acoustic sensing-based microseismic observationDAS microseismic near-field strain

ABSTRACTMicroseismic monitoring with surface or downhole geophone arrays has commonly been used in tracking subsurface deformation and fracture networks during hydraulic fracturing operations. Rece...
Identification of factors related to food insecurity and the implications for social determinants of health screenings.

Background Food insecurity and other social determinants of health are increasingly being measured at routine health care visits. Understanding the needs and behaviors of individuals or families who screen positive for food insecurity may inform the types of resources they need. The goal of this research was to identify modifiable characteristics related to endorsement of two food insecurity screener questions to better understand the resources necessary to improve outcomes. Methods Analysis was conducted focusing on cross-sectional survey data collected in 2015-2016 from participants (N = 442) living in urban neighborhoods in Ohio with limited access to grocery stores. Food insecurity was assessed by the endorsement of at least one of two items. These were used to categorize participants into two groups: food insecure(N = 252) or food secure (N = 190). Using logistic regression, we estimated the association between several variables and the food insecure classification. Results Those that used their own car when shopping for food had lower odds of reporting food insecurity, as did those with affirmative attitudes related to the convenience of shopping for and ease of eating healthy foods. As shopping frequency increased, the odds of food insecurity increased. Food insecurity also increased with experience of a significant life event within the past 12 months. There was an 81% increase in the odds of reporting food insecurity among participants who received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits compared to those not receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. Conclusions Along with referrals to SNAP, clinicians can further address screening-identified food insecurity through provision of transportation supports and linkages to other social services while collaborating on community initiatives to promote convenient and easy access to healthy foods. The needs and behaviors associated with screens indicating food insecurity also have implications for impacting other SDH, and thus, health outcomes.
An Examination of the Relationship of ABO Blood Group and Lifespan in a Hospitalized Population in the Southeastern United States

AN EXAMINATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP OF ABO BLOOD GROUP AND LIFESPAN IN A HOSPITALIZED POPULATION IN THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES By Tara Cothran Moon, Ph.D. A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2014. Major Director: Teresa Nadder, PhD, MLS(ASCP) CM , Chairman and Associate Professor, Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences The clinical significance of ABO blood group is evident and universally accepted with regards to blood transfusion and pregnancy; however, the importance of ABO blood group as it relates to other diseases or disorders and overall mortality is not fully understood by the scientific community. Many studies have suggested associations between blood groups and disease, but consensus has not been reached regarding overall survival or longevity. This epidemiological, retrospective review of ABO blood group and age at the time of death in a hospitalized population in the Southeastern United States is the first multi-site study to examine this relationship. The study population was 56% male, 63.4% White, 31.0% Black and 2.1% Hispanic. Over half (61.1%) of the population had been transfused with red blood cells within one year of death. Overall, group O (46.6%) was the most prevalent ABO blood group, followed by group A (36.8%), Group B (12.9%) and group AB (3.7%). The population exhibited differences in the frequencies of ABO blood groups across the races, with the Hispanic population having the highest prevalence of group O (71.2%) and the Black and Asian populations having higher frequencies of group B (22.2% and 23.1% respectively) when compared to the overall population distribution. Lifespan ranged from 0 to 110 with a mean age at death of 58.7 years. While some differences in the mean age at death were noted across ABO blood groups, the main effect of ABO blood group on lifespan did not reach statistical significance when controlling for race, gender and history of red blood cell transfusion. These results contradict other studies that found an association between a particular ABO blood group and lifespan. Future work should consider including cause of death or primary disease as potential confounders and targeting expanded populations over a wider geographic area to increase generalizability and racial diversity.
The Trials of Oscar Wilde: An Account

Old Bailey, the main courthouse in London, had never presented a show quite like the three trials that captivated England and much of the literary world in the spring of 1895. Celebrity, sex, witty dialogue, political intrigue, surprising twists, and important issues of art and morality - is it any surprise that the trials of Oscar Wilde continue to fascinate one hundred years after the death of one of the world's greatest authors and playwrights?
On the mechanism of ion exchange in crystalline zirconium phosphates—III: The dehydration behavior of sodium ion exchanged phases of α-zirconium phosphate

Abstract The dehydration characteristics of two sodium ion exchanged phases of crystalline α-zirconium phosphate have been determined. The half-exchanged phase, Zr(NaPO 4 (HPO 4 · 5H 2 O, was found to form two lower hydrates and an anhydrous phase. At a temperature of 390° or higher sodium or dizirconium triphosphate, NaZr 2 (PO 4 ) 3 , was obtained. The fully exchanged phae, Zr(NaPO 4 ) 2 · 3H 2 O, forms one lower hydrate and three anhydrous phases. The sodium ion may be eluted from all of these phases to recover the original α-zirconium phosphate crystals except for the fully exchanged phase heated to 800°C which yields a new form of zirconium phosphate.