cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Surgical management of short bowel syndrome

For patients with short bowel syndrome (SBS), surgery can play an important role in preventing, mitigating, and, in some cases, reversing intestinal failure (IF). During intestinal resection, bowel length should be conserved to the fullest extent possible to avoid dependence on parenteral nutrition (PN). Bowel salvage may be improved by initially preserving tissue of questionable viability and later reevaluating during "second-look" procedures. Once the patient is stabilized, ostomy reversal and recruitment of distal unused bowel should be prioritized whenever feasible. Following progression to IF, surgical management of SBS depends on the symptoms and anatomical characteristics of the individual patient. For carefully selected patients with rapid intestinal transit and dilated bowel, longitudinal intestinal lengthening and tailoring (LILT) and serial transverse enteroplasty (STEP) procedures may provide benefit. Outcomes following STEP and LILT are generally similar, and the choice between these procedures may rest on surgeon preference. For patients with rapid intestinal transit in the absence of bowel dilation, segmental reversal of the small bowel may reduce PN requirements. Intestinal transplantation is the standard of care for patients in whom intestinal rehabilitation attempts have failed and who are at risk of life-threatening complications of PN. Because patients awaiting isolated intestine transplant show increased survival compared with patients awaiting combined intestine-liver transplant, early referral of appropriate patients, before the development of advanced liver disease, is critical to enhancing patient outcomes.
State Capacity in Postconflict Settings: Explaining Criminal Violence in El Salvador and Guatemala

This article proposes a systemic approach to explore the determinants of homicides. This approach examines two interrelated factors: a) the interplay between state capacities and the opportunity costs of crime; and b) consequently, the political economy of this interplay. In this article I argue that weakened state capacities in the postconflict period in El Salvador and Guatemala have helped in the creation of a systemic relationship interlocking states' agents and criminal organizations in a modality that perpetuates high rates of homicides. My purpose in this article is to discern core elements of this systemic relationship, its dynamics, and political economy and to answer: what is maintaining the system?
Cutaneous reactions as an index to desensitization to histamine

S INCE the isolation and chemical identification of histamine (Biminazolylethylamint~) from ergot by Barger and Dale,’ a great deal of investigation has been done with the drug from chemical, pharmacologic, physiologic, and clinical standpoints. In this paper I propose to deal primarily with one phase of the amine’s activity; namely, the response of the skin to intradcrmal injections. It is our purpose to describe changes in the cutaneous response to histamine after repeated subcutaneous injections of gradually increas’ed amounts. The effect of histamine on the skin was first noted by Eppinger2 in 1913. Sollman and Filcher,” in 191’7, experimenting mainly on themselvt~, produced local reactions to histamine which were identical with Eppinger’s findings. Their methods were the scarification technique, or “bloodless vaccination,” and the Mucuna technique. The latter consisted of rubbing gently on the skin, to which histamine had been applied, cowhage. or Mucuna, for one minute. This material consists of stiff hairs from leguminous seed pods. They found that the amine produced a wheal up to 1:500,000 dilution : that a 1:5,000,000 dilution had no effect. It must be remembered, when considering the dilutions I used, that Sollman and Pileher did not use the intradermal injection technique. They described the resultant wheal, it,ching and reddening (flare), but drew no further conclusions. l’lre Triple Rcspo~~sc.-The work of ldcwis and his colleagues? is most illuminating and will be considered in some detail. They described the skin reaction as a “triple response” ; namely. (1) vasodilatation of the small vessels at the site of injection; (2) a diffuse flare; and (3) an area of local edema or II-heal which appeared over the small area exhibiting the vasodilatation. The vasodilatation and wheal are due to direct action on the capillary wall; the wheal is caused by an increased permeability of the capillary wall with resultant exudation of fluid into the tissue spaces. The flare is caused by a local nerve reflex and is obtained up to five to seven days after section of the peripheral nerve, before degeneration sets in. The mechanism of this reflex will be considered later.
Dramaturgas Latinoamericanas Contemporáneas (Antologia crftica)

Dramaturgas Latinoamericanas Contemporaneas (Antologfa crftica). Elba Andrade and Hilde F. Cramsie, eds. (editors). Madrid: Verbum, 1991. 315 pp. (paper). ISBN 84–7962–014–5.
Facilitating narrative medical discussions of type 1 diabetes with computer visualizations and photography

Abstract Objective Patient-centered approaches to medicine suggest the need for physicians to become more aware of concerns and needs expressed in patient narratives. However, patients and physicians have different goals and discourse styles during consultations. We attempt to bridge these differences by providing patients with ways to collect, visualize, and describe behavioral and biomedical data. Methods We describe an intervention where individuals with type 1 diabetes photograph health-related behaviors. These images and blood glucose records are displayed in computer visualizations and used during patient–physician interviews. Results Qualitative analyses of interview data with patients who photographed their lives suggest the range of difficulties associated with diabetes self-management. The visualizations helped them articulate concerns about stress, peer relations, and unhealthy routines. Conclusion Interventions that combine biomedical and biopsychosocial data during patient–physician consultations may be beneficial for patients, helping them reflect on correlations between behaviors and health. Physicians are provided with contextual evidence to better understand patient issues around diabetes management. Practice implications We suggest that this and similar interventions could be used as an occasional diagnostic to help patients articulate stories of their health-related practices. Annotated archives of photographs and glucose data may also be useful tools for sharing diabetes experiences with newly diagnosed patients.
Statistical Learning, Letter Reversals, and Reading.

Reversal errors play a prominent role in theories of reading disability. We examined reversal errors in the writing of letters by 5- to 6-year-old children. Of the 130 children, 92 had a history of difficulty in producing speech sounds, a risk factor for reading problems. Children were more likely to reverse letter forms that face left, such as and , than forms that face right, such as and . We propose that this asymmetry reflects statistical learning: Children implicitly learn that the right-facing pattern is more typical of Latin letters. The degree of asymmetry that a child showed was not related to the child’s reading skill at Time 2, 2 3 /4 years later. Although children who went on to become poorer readers made more errors in the letter writing task than children who went on to become better readers, they were no more likely to make reversal errors.
Research in Home Economics Education: Past Achievements, Present Accomplishments, Future Needs

Research provides the basis for the accumulation of knowledge in any field. Scruggs and Radar (1981) narrow that definition for home economics education: “The function of research in home economics education is to contribute new knowledge for continuing development of many types of educational programs conducted by home economists” (p. 268). Since the Lake Placid Conferences, research has had a significant role in the development of the profession. Home economics educators have long recognized the importance of research to estab lish a sound theoretical base. “A look forward at research in home economics must be based on our past accomplishments and projected toward filling the gaps and anticipating future needs” (Adams, 1959, p. 12). This article applauds the many people, institutions, and events of the past 75 years which have con tributed to the continuing development of the research base in home economics education. First will be a review of the early history of home economics education research (the 1930s through the 1960s), followed by a summary of current research efforts of the 1970s and 1980's, and finally, suggestions for future research as we move from the 75th year of AHEA to the centennial celebration of the profession.
Cluster analysis versus Q-type factor analysis as a disaggregation method in hybrid conjoint modeling: An empirical investigation

The author compares the predictive performance of cluster analysis and Q-type factor analysis as disaggregation methods in hybrid conjoint modeling. The results indicate that cluster- and Q-type-factor-based models perform about equally well in predictive validity terms. The paper, however, suggests the need for more empirical research.
Higher Order Pulse Tube Modeling

A linearized model of the pulse tube is computed to second order to study heat transfer and steady mass streaming. A two-dimensional anelastic approximation of the fluid equations is used as the basis for this analysis. Anelastic theory applies because pressure drops in the open tube of the pulse tube are negligible; it allows the equations to describe compression and expansion of the gas without mathematical formation of shocks. The calculated results are given as functions of the dimensionless numbers appropriate for oscillating compressible anelastic flows. These dimensionless numbers were previously described at the 1995 Cryogenic Engineering Conferencel.
The two functions of public welfare: Income maintenance and social services

■ The 1962 amendments te the Social Security Act established, as national policy, broad new goals for public welfare and new responsibilities for social work. To move forward toward these goals, both the administration of public welfare and the social work profession must develop new capabilities. More professional social workers are needed, as well as new and more effective techniques of service to welfare clients and administrative methods appropriate to these new responsibilities. ■
Synthesis and reactivity of silylated phosphorus compounds

Abstract The preparative and derivative chemistry of several silylated (methylene)phosphines including (Me3Si)2NP[dbnd]CHSiMe3, MesP[dbnd]C(SiMe3)2, and a stable 1-phosphadiene system is reported.
Two-Dimensional Electronic Spectroscopy of the D1-D2-cyt b559 Photosystem II Reaction Center Complex

We present two-dimensional electronic spectra of isolated D1-D2-cyt b559 reaction centers (PSII RC) at 77 K. We decompose the data into two-dimensional decay-associated spectra (2D DAS) to reveal the excitation- and detection-dependent spectral signatures associated with energy and charge transfer within the PSII RC. We interpret the 2D DAS in the context of an exciton model and proposed pathways for charge separation. The 2D DAS reveal a high degree of variation in the kinetics as a function of excitation wavelength. We observe rapid ∼50−150 fs energy equilibration throughout the PSII RC and a heterogeneous distribution of time scales associated with charge transfer, ranging from ∼1−3 ps. We observe 6−8 ps energy transfer from states absorbing near 670 nm, as well as ∼40−60 ps processes consistent with secondary charge transfer from a radical pair intermediate or charge transfer from a trap state.
MANAGEMENT AND OUTCOMES OF PATIENTS WITH ATRIAL FIBRILLATION AND CANCER: THE ORBIT-AF REGISTRY

Cancer is a prothrombotic state and may further increase the risk of thrombotic events in pts with atrial fibrillation (AF). Due to the need to balance thrombotic and bleeding risks in this population and lack of evidence-based guidance, management of pts with AF and cancer is challenging. Within
Death Takes a Weekend

Doctors know that weekends in the hospital are harder and slower; things don't necessarily get done. But when you're sick and scared, it can be shocking to discover repeatedly the ways in which that's true. A sick person's calendar takes no notice of days of the week.
The Strength–Grain Size Relationship in Ultrafine-Grained Metals

Metals processed by severe plastic deformation (SPD) techniques, such as equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP) and high-pressure torsion (HPT), generally have submicrometer grain sizes. Consequently, they exhibit high strength as expected on the basis of the Hall–Petch (H–P) relationship. Examples of this behavior are discussed using experimental data for Ti, Al, and Ni. These materials typically have grain sizes greater than ~50 nm where softening is not expected. An increase in strength is usually accompanied by a decrease in ductility. However, both high strength and high ductility may be achieved simultaneously by imposing high strain to obtain ultrafine-grain sizes and high fractions of high-angle grain boundaries. This facilitates grain boundary sliding, and an example is presented for a cast Al-7 pct Si alloy processed by HPT. In some materials, SPD may result in a weakening even with a very fine grain size, and this is due to microstructural changes during processing. Examples are presented for an Al-7034 alloy processed by ECAP and a Zn-22 pct Al alloy processed by HPT. In some SPD-processed materials, it is possible that grain boundary segregation and other features are present leading to higher strengths than predicted by the H–P relationship.
Anatomical development and maturation of the lungs.

Morphologic developmental sequences in the human fetal lung are delineated. The relationship of anatomic changes in structure and cellular and subcellular changes to changing functional capacity of the developing lung and its component parts is discussed. Results of a study of the lungs of 25 human fetuses and infants are presented.
Medication effects on sleep

Each person spends one third of his or her life asleep. It is not surprising that such a complex and pervasive cognitive state should be affected by drugs in many different ways. A philosophy that remains cogent for the CNS is that new research almost always shows this system to be more complex than previously thought. Only a few years ago, if patients complained of difficulty sleeping, they were given pills, often dangerous and addictive pills, to induce sleep no matter what the basis of the complaint might be. Sleeping pills may be safer now, and the understanding of the sleep state itself has increased rapidly. Diagnoses are still diffuse, however, and treatments are often poorly directed. Depression is the offspring of the phlegmatic disposition and the melancholia of another era. Clinically, diagnosis is based on a global assessment of symptoms. It is likely that a diagnosis of depression may include a spectrum of underlying diseases that cannot now be clinically differentiated. Medications have multiple effects on sleep and have many side effects. Progress has, however, been made beyond mother's little pills. Insomnia is no longer a diagnosis but a complaint to be addressed--a symptom of 1 of 60 potential sleep disorders. Each of these disorders has specific and appropriate treatments.
Development of a Novel Xenotransplantation System for Studying Human Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

Abstract The formal demonstration of leukemia stem cells (LSC) relies on the ability of primary human leukemias to engraft in transplanted xenohosts with the subsequent demonstration of serially transplantable tumors to establish the presence of a self-renewing population. Several immunodeficient and transgenic mouse strains have been utilized as xenohosts for human AML (e.g. NOD, NOD/SCID, NOD/SCID,β2m); however, robust engraftment frequently requires that the mouse recipients be pre-treated with antibodies against mouse immune cells or that leukemic blasts and/or mouse hosts are treated with exogenous hematopoietic growth factors before and/or during transplantation. While such treatments result in a higher percentage of engrafting AML's, the overall effect on leukemic blasts, particularly the leukemic stem cell population, is unknown. In order to avoid these confounding factors as well as to potentially develop a more robust model of xenotransplantation, we have evaluated the use of the RAG2/gamma common chain double knockout mouse model to xenotransplant human AML's. Using primary human samples (n=32, patient age range 1–86, median 55), we have determined that newborn pups intravenously injected via the facial vein efficiently engraft human AML's without the use of additional growth factors or depleting antibody therapy. Among the AML's tested, 65.6% (21/32) engrafted in mice as assessed by >5% human chimerism in either the peripheral blood, spleen, or bone marrow at 12 weeks post-transplant. In contrast to other xenotransplantation mouse models, circulating leukemic cells were typically identified in the circulation by 4 weeks post-transplant and were present in stable or increasing numbers in the circulation until engraftment was assessed (12 weeks) or until recipient mouse demise. Engrafting AML's were composed of both CD34+ and CD34- AML's and included all WHO/FAB subtypes except for acute promyelocytic leukemia. These AML's included de novo and relapsed AML, as well as therapy-related AML and AML arising from pre-existing MDS or CMPD. While the number of samples tested was limited, there was no statistically significant association between engraftment and WBC at diagnosis, cytogenetic risk group, MLL or FLT3 status, age, or achievement of CR following induction therapy; however, among CD34+ AML's the percentage of putative leukemic stem cells (defined as CD34+CD38- leukemic blasts), showed a statistically significant correlation with engraftment (student T-test p 18% CD34+/CD38− leukemic blasts engrafted in the transplanted hosts. Overall, these findings demonstrate that the RAG2/gamma common chain double knockout mouse is a robust system for studying human AML and will be a useful model for future functional studies of human AML LSC's.
Management of laparoscopic adjustable gastric band erosion

Background Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) was a popular procedure in the USA and Europe in the past decade. However, its use has currently declined. Band erosion (BE) is a rare complication after LAGB with a reported incidence rate of 1.46 %. Controversies exist regarding the management, approach and timing for the band removal. The aim of this study is to describe the rate, clinical presentation and perioperative outcomes of BEs at our institution and provide overall recommendations regarding the diagnosis and management of BE.
SOX2, OCT3/4 and NANOG expression and cellular plasticity in rare human somatic cells requires CD73

Endogenous Plastic Somatic (ePS) cells isolated from adult human tissues exhibit extensive lineage plasticity in vitro and in vivo. Here we visualize these rare ePS cells in a latent state, i.e. lacking SOX2, OCT3/4 and NANOG (SON) expression, in non-diseased breast specimens through immunohistochemical analysis of previously identified ePS-specific biomarkers (CD73+, EpCAM+ and CD90-). We also report a novel mechanism by which these latent ePS cells acquire SON expression and plasticity in vitro. Four extracellular factors are necessary for the acquisition of SON expression and lineage plasticity in ePS cells: adenosine (which is produced by the 5' ecto-nucleotidase CD73 and activates in turn the PKA-dependent IL6/STAT3 pathway through the adenosine receptor ADORA2b), IL6, FGF2 and ACTIVIN A. Blocking any pathway component renders ePS cells incapable of SON expression and lineage plasticity. Notably, hESCs do not use adenosine or IL6 nor they express CD73 or ADORA2b and inhibition of adenosine signaling does not ablate their plasticity. Therefore, the data presented here delineate novel circuitry and physiological signals for accessing SON expression in rare, undifferentiated human cells.
Current Methods in Cardiac Gene Therapy: Overview

During the last decade, there has been a significant progress toward clinical translation in the field of cardiac gene therapy based on extensive preclinical data. However, despite encouraging positive results in early phase clinical trials, more recent larger trials reported only neutral results. Nevertheless, the field has gained important knowledge from these trials and is leading to the development of more cardiotropic vectors and improved delivery systems. It has become more evident that humans are more resistant to therapeutic transgene expression compared to experimental animals and thus refinement in gene delivery tools and methods are essential for future success. We provide an overview of the current status of cardiac gene therapy focusing on gene delivery tools and methods. Newer technologies, devices, and approaches will undoubtedly lead to more promising clinical results in the near future.
Layer-dependent third-harmonic generation in multilayer graphene

We report third-harmonic generation in multilayer graphene on fused silica with layer numbers of up to <50. Calibration of the thickness is carried out using atomic-force microscopy. High-contrast microscopy demonstrates its layer-dependence and coherent nature.
A general theory for bandgap estimation in locally resonant metastructures

Abstract Locally resonant metamaterials are characterized by bandgaps at wavelengths that are much larger than the lattice size, enabling low-frequency vibration attenuation. Typically, bandgap analyses and predictions rely on the assumption of traveling waves in an infinite medium, and do not take advantage of modal representations typically used for the analysis of the dynamic behavior of finite structures. Recently, we developed a method for understanding the locally resonant bandgap in uniform finite metamaterial beams using modal analysis. Here we extend that framework to general locally resonant 1D and 2D metastructures (i.e. locally resonant metamaterial-based finite structures) with specified boundary conditions using a general operator formulation. Using this approach, along with the assumption of an infinite number of resonators tuned to the same frequency, the frequency range of the locally resonant bandgap is easily derived in closed form. Furthermore, the bandgap expression is shown to be the same regardless of the type of vibration problem under consideration, depending only on the added mass ratio and target frequency. For practical designs with a finite number of resonators, it is shown that the number of resonators required for the bandgap to appear increases with increased target frequency, i.e. more resonators are required for higher vibration modes. Additionally, it is observed that there is an optimal, finite number of resonators which gives a bandgap that is wider than the infinite-resonator bandgap, and that the optimal number of resonators increases with target frequency and added mass ratio. As the number of resonators becomes sufficiently large, the bandgap converges to the derived infinite-resonator bandgap. Furthermore, the derived bandgap edge frequencies are shown to agree with results from dispersion analysis using the plane wave expansion method. The model is validated experimentally for a locally resonant cantilever beam under base excitation. Numerical and experimental investigations are performed regarding the effects of mass ratio, non-uniform spacing of resonators, and parameter variations among the resonators.
Global Institution of Business? Comparing Role-of-Business Expectations in USA, South Korea, Hong Kong and Singapore

We examined the structure and content of people’s beliefs about the role of business in society. Institutional Theory and global economic integration would lead one to expect cross-cultural alignment and isomorphism regarding the institution of business.
Anti-inflammatory effects of octadecylamine-functionalized nanodiamond on primary human macrophages.

Chronic inflammatory disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis are characterized by excessive pro-inflammatory or “M1” activation of macrophages, the primary cells of the innate immune system. Current treatments include delivery of glucocorticoids (e.g. dexamethasone – Dex), which reduce pro-inflammatory M1 behaviour in macrophages. However, these treatments have many off-target effects on cells other than macrophages, resulting in broad immunosuppression. To limit such side effects, drug-incorporated nano- and microparticles may be used to selectively target macrophages via phagocytosis, because of their roles as highly effective phagocytes in the body. In this study, surface-modified nanodiamond (ND) was explored as a platform for the delivery of dexamethasone to macrophages because of ND's rich surface chemistry, which contributes to ND's high potential as a versatile drug delivery platform. After finding that octadecylamine-functionalized nanodiamond (ND-ODA) enhanced adsorption of Dex compared to carboxylated ND, the effects of Dex, ND-ODA, and Dex-adsorbed ND-ODA on primary human macrophage gene expression were characterized. Surprisingly, even in the absence of Dex, ND-ODA had strong anti-inflammatory effects, as determined by multiplex gene expression via NanoString and by protein secretion analysis via ELISA. ND-ODA also inhibited expression of M2a markers yet increased the expression of M2c markers and phagocytic receptors. Interestingly, the adsorption of Dex to ND-ODA further increased some anti-inflammatory effects, but abrogated the effect on phagocytic receptors, compared to its individual components. Overall, the ability of ND-ODA to promote anti-inflammatory and pro-phagocytic behaviour in macrophages, even in the absence of loaded drugs, suggests its potential for use as an anti-inflammatory therapeutic to directly target macrophages through phagocytosis.
Spectral beam splitting in hybrid PV/T parabolic trough systems for power generation

Abstract The solar-to-electric conversion potential of hybrid solar CPV/CSP parabolic trough collector (PTC) systems incorporating spectral beam splitting (SBS) is examined. Single and novel two-stage PTCs are paired with four different solar cells (c-Si, CdTe, GaAs, InGaP) and simultaneously simulated for the first time with spectral and temperature optimization to maximize solar-to-electric conversion. All cases show improvement, with the limiting case of an ideal, lossless optical filter enhancing conversion efficiency over typical PTC CSP plants by 25% with c-Si and 50% with GaAs. Typical interference (dichroic) filter systems demonstrate greater conversion efficiencies than systems with novel semi-transparent and back-reflecting solar cell beam splitters. Two-stage systems recover high operating temperatures in the CSP subsystem under partial illumination without reducing the overall conversion efficiency, enhancing the dispatchability of the thermal power. Economic analysis reveals a hybrid solar CPV/CSP beam splitting system with interference filters and c-Si cells can be built for $2.39/W. A new economic model comparing hybrid CPV/CSP to side-by-side PV/CSP is presented, demonstrating the limitations of c-Si paired systems and the potential of III-V cell SBS systems.
Accessibility and content of individualized adult reconstructive hip and knee/musculoskeletal oncology fellowship web sites.

Abstract Background Accessible, adequate online information is important to fellowship applicants. Program web sites can affect which programs applicants apply to, subsequently altering interview costs incurred by both parties and ultimately impacting rank lists. Web site analyses have been performed for all orthopaedic subspecialties other than those involved in the combined adult reconstruction and musculoskeletal (MSK) oncology fellowship match. Methods A complete list of active programs was obtained from the official adult reconstruction and MSK oncology society web sites. Web site accessibility was assessed using a structured Google search. Accessible web sites were evaluated based on 21 previously reported content criteria. Results Seventy-four adult reconstruction programs and 11 MSK oncology programs were listed on the official society web sites. Web sites were identified and accessible for 58 (78%) adult reconstruction and 9 (82%) MSK oncology fellowship programs. No web site contained all content criteria and more than half of both adult reconstruction and MSK oncology web sites failed to include 12 of the 21 criteria. Conclusions Several programs participating in the combined Adult Reconstructive Hip and Knee/Musculoskeletal Oncology Fellowship Match did not have accessible web sites. Of the web sites that were accessible, none contained comprehensive information and the majority lacked information that has been previously identified as being important to perspective applicants.
Adaptive RNN Tree for Large-Scale Human Action Recognition

In this work, we present the RNN Tree (RNN-T), an adaptive learning framework for skeleton based human action recognition. Our method categorizes action classes and uses multiple Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs) in a treelike hierarchy. The RNNs in RNN-T are co-trained with the action category hierarchy, which determines the structure of RNN-T. Actions in skeletal representations are recognized via a hierarchical inference process, during which individual RNNs differentiate finer-grained action classes with increasing confidence. Inference in RNN-T ends when any RNN in the tree recognizes the action with high confidence, or a leaf node is reached. RNN-T effectively addresses two main challenges of large-scale action recognition: (i) able to distinguish fine-grained action classes that are intractable using a single network, and (ii) adaptive to new action classes by augmenting an existing model. We demonstrate the effectiveness of RNN-T/ACH method and compare it with the state-of-the-art methods on a large-scale dataset and several existing benchmarks.
Commentary on latent class, latent profile, and latent transition analysis for characterizing individual differences in learning

Abstract The collection of articles in this special issue focus on latent variable mixture models including latent class analysis (LCA), latent profile analysis (LPA), and latent transition analysis (LTA). These are all methods for summarizing observed variables by postulating an underlying categorical latent variable representing a type or status; in the case of LTA, the status of an individual may change over time and the pathways of change are of interest. As the introductory article by Hickendorff, Edelsbrunner, McMullen, Schneider, and Trezise points out, these methods are useful when theory suggests that a learning or problem-solving process can occur in distinct modes or phases. They can also be useful when it is desirable to give qualitative descriptions of individuals' approaches to a task based on their responses across several variables rather than just simple numerical scores. The articles in this special issue use latent variable mixture models in creative and insightful ways, demonstrating their versatility and practicality. However, some challenges remain for researchers using these methods. A number of exciting future directions remain for quantitative methodologists and applied researchers to work together to address new questions in learning and individual differences research. Latent variable mixture modeling will continue to be a powerful tool learning researchers can use to address the critical, sophisticated, theoretically based research questions facing the field.
Improvement of polynomial methods for reproducing functional dependences

A comparative analysis is made of polynomial methods of reproducing functions. Recommendations on reducing the errors and/or increasing the interpolation interval for Newton polynomials are proposed in a general form and also using the example of the sinβ function.
Parameter Estimation of Signals Corrupted by Noise Using a Matrix of Divided Differences

The problem of estimating the parameters of exponential signals corrupted by noise is addressed. A remarkable, new signal processing tool for approaching this problem based on a certain matrix of divided differences is presented. Its relation to the well known approaches based on Prony’s method and its extensions that rely on Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) are discussed. This new method has its origins in the work of Cauchy, Jacobi and Loewner.
Body-on-a-Chip Systems Design, Fabrication, and Applications

Abstract Developing drugs is an expensive, yet inefficient endeavor. It relies on cell cultures and animal models to predict whether a new compound will cure a patient's condition, but the interactions between a drug and human cell cultures or animal models often differs from the path a drug takes in a human body. That deviation can lead to higher drug toxicity and lower efficacy than expected. Body-on-a-chip systems can predict human metabolic pathways, and therefore may help with uncovering unanticipated effects of new drugs. Here we will discuss what researchers need to know to build body-on-a-chip devices. We will provide equations for designing body chips, introduce fabrication techniques needed to build such systems, and explain how to experiment with them. We will also review the research that has been done to suggest that body-chips can predict drug action in the human body. Future directions for body-on-a-chip systems include in vitro-to-in vivo extrapolation, and a brief section about commercialization of this technology.
Interactions for Untangling Messy History in a Computational Notebook

Experimentation through code is central to data scientists' work. Prior work has identified the need for interaction techniques for quickly exploring multiple versions of the code and the associated outputs. Yet previous approaches that provide history information have been challenging to scale: real use produces a high number of versions of different code and non-code artifacts with dependency relationships and a convoluted mix of different analysis intents. Prior work has found that navigating these records to pick out the relevant information for a given task is difficult and time consuming. We introduce Verdant, a new system with a novel versioning model to support fast retrieval and sensemaking of messy version data. Verdant provides light-weight interactions for comparing, replaying, and tracing relationships among many versions of different code and non-code artifacts in the editor. We implemented Verdant into Jupyter Notebooks, and validated the usability of Verdant's interactions through a usability study.
Dissolution Kinetics of Epitaxial Cadmium Carbonate Overgrowths on Dolomite

Thin films grown on mineral surfaces can immobilize toxic metals in natural systems, but the effects of epitaxy and film thickness on dissolution rates of the overgrowth are typically unknown. To explore these effects, otavite (CdCO3) films were grown on dolomite (104) surfaces from aqueous solutions containing [Cd] = [Ca] = [CO3] = 0.2 mM for 1–48 h and then dissolved in deionized water. Films of various thicknesses and strain states were obtained by varying the growth reaction time. Growth for up to 3 h produced strained thin films with Cd coverages of <4.3 ± 0.6 equivalent monolayers (ML) (corresponding to a thickness of up to 17 A), whereas reaction times of up to 48 h produced thicker films with as many as 114 ± 14 equivalent ML of Cd. Intrinsic dissolution rates were measured as a function of otavite film thickness by a combination of synchrotron X-ray fluorescence, specular X-ray reflectivity, and atomic force microscopy. The initial dissolution rates for unstrained films were comparable to those r...
When neighborhoods matter: Developmental timing and youth reading achievement and problem behaviors.

Abstract Consistent evidence links neighborhood socioeconomic status with children's development outcomes. However, it is less clear precisely whether or when neighborhoods are most strongly associated with children's socioemotional functioning and achievement. Couched in bioecological and developmental theory, this study tests two models of neighborhood effects: childhood and adolescent exposure. We used the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods, a longitudinal, multi-cohort study of children in Chicago in the 1990s and 2000s. We examined two cohorts of children, early childhood and adolescence, to compare the relative associations between neighborhood socioeconomic advantage and disadvantage, as measured by U.S. Census data. We conducted multilevel latent growth models (MLGMs), investigating children's initial status and growth in reading, internalizing and externalizing behaviors across the three developmental periods by neighborhood characteristics, controlling for a rich set of child- and family-level covariates. Results provided some support for the childhood and adolescent exposure models, but not precisely as hypothesized.
A Proposal for Including Patient-Generated Web-based Creative Writing Material into Psychotherapy: Advantages and Challenges.

Creative writing presents both a challenging and promising modality for psychotherapy. Though it has been used in various settings, the application within a session can be difficult. This case study presents a use of a web-based format to engage a resistant patient through her creative writing. Benefits and potential pitfalls of using a patient’s writing in therapy are discussed.
A Resonant Switched-Capacitor Converter With GaN Transistors for High-Efficiency Power Delivery to Series-Stacked Processors

The series-stacked architecture provides a method to increase power delivery efficiency to multiple processors by leveraging the inherent voltage step-down properties of series-connected elements. With a series stack, differential power processing (DPP) is needed to ensure that processor voltages remain within design limits, as the individual loads vary. This paper demonstrates a switched-capacitor (SC) converter to balance a stack of four ARM Cortex-A8-based embedded computers. We investigate hard-switched and resonant modes of operation in a ladder SC DPP converter implemented with GaN transistors. Operation within supply limits of each embedded computer is demonstrated in a four-series-stack configuration with realistic computational workloads. Moreover, we demonstrate hot-swapping of individual computers with maintained voltage regulation at all nodes. A peak stack power delivery of 99% is experimentally measured, and DPP switching frequencies from 200 kHz to 2 MHz are demonstrated.
Advancing Genome-Resolved Metagenomics beyond the Shotgun

Exploration of environmental microbiomes has shed light on the ecological and evolutionary principles at play in natural ecosystems and has been further accelerated through the reconstruction of population genomes to provide genome-centric context. Yet technical challenges with traditional shotgun metagenomics remain for computationally intense short-read assembly, strain heterogeneity within communities, and depth of coverage required for low-abundance microbes. In this Perspective, we highlight three main avenues for promising future developments, including coupling stable isotope probing and genome-resolved metagenomics, applying fluorescence-activated cell sorting approaches to target mini-metagenomes within a larger community, and utilizing single-molecule long-read and synthetic long-read technology to link mobile elements to host microbial cells. These developments on the horizon will undoubtedly advance genome-resolved metagenomic approaches and enable a better understanding of uncultivated microbes in their natural environments.
Collective Political Rationality and Aggregate Economic Evaluations

In order to better understand information processing at the aggregate level, I a) describe a model of information processing of aggregate opinion that is consistent with the individual-level models, b) show how this information processing model works in the context of the public's evaluation of the economy and c) compare aggregate opinion about the economy to a benchmark of strict "rational" decision-makers represented by the opinions of professional forecasters compiled in the Survey of Professional Forecasters.
Safety Integrity Level in Valves

Safety integrity level (SIL) is a part of an international standard such as IEC 61508 that provides suppliers and end users with a common framework to design products and systems for safety-related applications. SIL provides a scientific and numeric approach to specifying and designing safety systems, enabling risk of failure to be quantified. The probability of failure on demand and probability of dangerous failure per hour on safety functions for each SIL level are given in the IEC standard. This paper reviews a 20″ pneumatic actuated ball valve in low-temperature carbon steel material ASTM A352 LCC and pressure class 1500 equal to 258.6 barg at ambient temperature (38 °C) that has an emergency shutdown (ESD) function. The ball valve is installed on a gas export pipeline that transfers the gas from an offshore platform to onshore. The ball valve is usually open, but it will be closed in case of failure in the pipeline to stop production and allow maintenance on the pipeline. The system includes an integrated valve, actuator, and control panel as a single unit that corresponds to one-channel (1oo1) architecture in international standards such as IEC 61508. Associated failure possibilities such as dangerous detected and undetected as well as safe failure types were assigned to the valve, actuator, and control panel separately. Calculating the safe failure fraction for the whole system as well as each single component separately proved that the safety level of the system is categorized as SIL 2, which is according to the client demand.
ENDF/B-VII.0, ENDF/B-VI, JEFF-3.1, AND JENDL-3.3 RESULTS FOR UNREFLECTED PLUTONIUM SOLUTIONS AND MOX LATTICES (U)

Previous studies have indicated that ENDF/B-VII preliminary releases {beta}-2 and {beta}-3, predecessors to the recent initial release of ENDF/B-VII.0, produce significantly better overall agreement with criticality benchmarks than does ENDF/B-VI. However, one of those studies also suggests that improvements still may be needed for thermal plutonium cross sections. The current study substantiates that concern by examining criticality benchmarks for unreflected spheres of plutonium-nitrate solutions and for slightly and heavily borated mixed-oxide (MOX) lattices. Results are presented for the JEFF-3.1 and JENDL-3.3 nuclear data libraries as well as ENDF/B-VII.0 and ENDF/B-VI. It is shown that ENDF/B-VII.0 tends to overpredict reactivity for thermal plutonium benchmarks over at least a portion of the thermal range. In addition, it is found that additional benchmark data are needed for the deep thermal range.
Free Exercise of Religion and Public Funds

Controversy over the meaning of neutrality emerges clearly in disputes over the scope of religious exercise by organizations receiving public funds. For some, neutrality requires the denial of financial aid equally to all religious organizations. For others, neutrality requires that religious organizations have equal access to public benefits without having to shed their religious character. Otherwise, they suffer from a disaggregated neutrality that burdens religion through a denial of substantive exemptions, but that denies religious benefits that formal neutrality would allow as the incidental result of general laws. This formulation, however, results in disaggregated neutrality in reverse. That is, religious organizations would receive benefits on the same basis as secular groups, but they would also receive exemptions not available to secular groups under generally applicable laws. Public funding for religiously based organizations has no place in a liberal polity unless these organizations are separately incorporated and thus governed by laws against proselytization and discrimination in hiring. Allowing the government to decide which religious groups are worthy of support is divisive and results in favoring some groups over others. These groups should not receive public funds when their policies impact those who may not share their values.
RECONSTRUCTIONS OF HYDROLOGIC VARIABLES IN THE NORTH PLATTE RIVER BASIN

Reconstructions of hydrologic variables are commonly created using tree-ring chronologies (TRCs) to generate information about historic climate and potential future variability. This study used TRCs to reconstruct annual streamflow, April 1st Snow Water Equivalent (SWE), and soil moisture in the North Platte River Basin (NPRB). Stepwise linear regression was performed to determine which of the 55 moisture sensitive TRCs were the best predictors of hydrologic variation. The regressions explained 63% of the variability in streamflow, 55% of the variability in SWE, and 66% of the variability in soil moisture. This study then maximized the overlapping period of records which resulted in a decrease in the percent of variability explained but indicated that the regression models were stable for long reconstruction periods. This study successfully reconstructed all three hydrologic variables for NPRB to 1438 or earlier. Temporal wet and dry periods for streamflow and SWE were closely aligned while soil moisture did not follow similar temporal patterns. This was likely due to a natural “lag” between soil moisture and streamflow / SWE given soil moisture tends to retain antecedent signals. The availability of reconstructed hydrologic data in NPRB allows for a better understanding of the long-term hydrologic variability in the region.
The flash visual evoked potential-P2 and the detection of amnestic mild cognitive impairment: A review of empirical literature

Abstract Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI) is now recognized as an early risk state for the development of Alzheimer's dementia (AD). Biomarkers, including those that are cerebrospinal fluid or brain imaging based, have yet to provide the ultimate marker variable. A need currently exists for a non-invasive, easy to administer biomarker that contains aMCI/AD specific pathognomic information. Objective The objective of the present investigation was to provide an updated review of the Flash Visual Evoked Potential-P2 (FVEP-P2) as a biomarker for amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and Alzheimer's dementia (AD). The FVEP-P2 has been shown to possess AD specific pathognomic information. Method A review was conducted of all articles published between the years 1976 and 2019 that examined the clinical utility of the FVEP-P2 in the diagnosis of aMCI or AD. Only 17 published investigations met the criteria of the review. Result The weighted average effect size, as measured by Cohen's d, was 1.07, with patients diagnosed with either aMCI or AD exhibiting a significant delay in the FVEP-P2 latency. The weighted mean latency for the controls was 143.92 ms (SD = 17.13). The weighted mean latency for the aMCI/AD was 164.02 ms (SD = 21.33). Estimates of sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were based on the weighted means and standard deviations and were equal to 0.73. The area under the curve was equal to 0.78. Conclusion The results of the current review suggest that the FVEP-P2 latency possesses AD specific pathognomic information and that it should be included as part of a much larger assessment process that includes neuropsychological, cerebrospinal fluid, and brain imaging findings.