cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Descriptive and Mechanistic Models of Flagellar Motility

The continuing problem in flagellar motility is the formulation of control mechanisms that can explain how an underlying active sliding process is regulated to produce specific patterns of flagellar bending. Computer simulations with mechanistic models are useful for testing ideas about control mechanisms. These mechanistic models must also model the properties of the active sliding process and the structural resistances of the flagellum. Even with the best mechanistic models, comparison with reality is complicated by noise in the experimental data. Descriptive models are useful for extracting significant features of flagellar motility from noisy data. The number of parameters in descriptive models continues to increase as better data become available from higher resolution recording and computerized image analysis. Ultimately, the parameters of descriptive models should be the significant variables in mechanistic models, but that goal is still a long way off.
Direct measurements of the dynamics of self-guided femtosecond laser filaments in air

Summary form only given. High power laser pulses propagating in air form self-guided filaments due to a balance between Kerr focusing and ionization induced defocusing. These filaments are difficult to characterize because they are intense enough to damage optics. Measurements were carried out using a novel diagnostic which allows quantitative measurements of filament characteristics despite the high intensity in the filaments. The diagnostic apparatus was aligned to a rail so that measurements could be carried out at a large number of axial positions thereby allowing the dynamics of the filament propagation to be studied. It is observed that the energy in a filament remains constant for several meters despite the fact that much of the filament's energy must be expended to create just one meter of plasma. This indicates that the filament energy is constantly replenished by the surrounding radiation. The dependence of the filament dynamics on pulse length was also measured, with the surprising result that the fluence in a filament is not a strong function of pulse length. Full scale simulations of the experiment will also be presented
Scale development based on likelihood cross-validation

The use of likelihood cross-validation for guiding the scale development process is formulated and demonstrated, including choosing the number of factors, assessing item-factor allocations suggested by rotations, adjusting those allocations, reducing the number of factors, removing items, and assessing the applicability of scales to subjects other than those for whom it was originally developed. An example analysis is presented on the development of scales to measure how parents caring for a child with a chronic condition view their family's management of that condition.
Truth in Law

In this essay I offer a speech act analysis of truth evaluable content of legal prescriptions. The argument is based on two main frameworks: one, drawn from an analogy with truth in fiction, explains the prefixed nature of legal statements, and the second explores the propositional content of legal prescriptions as a species of exhortative speech acts. Overall, the essay suggests an interpretation of legal prescriptions that allows for the validity of standard legal syllogisms.
MOVIE model for open‐systems‐based high‐performance distributed computing

MOVIE (Multitasking Object-oriented Visual Interactive Environment) is a new software system for high-performance distributed computing (HPDC), currently in the advanced design and implementation stage at Northeast Parallel Architectures Center (NPAC), Syracuse University. The MOVIE system is structured as a multiserver network of interpreters of the high-level object-oriented programming language MovieScript. MovieScript derives from PostScript and extends it in the C++ syntax-based object-oriented interpreted style towards 3D graphics, high-performance computing and general-purpose high-level communication protocol for distributed and MIMD-parallel computing. The paper describes the overall open systems-based MOVIE design and itemizes currently implemented, developed and planned components of the system.
A surprisingly low prevalence of demonstrable stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse in women with multiple sclerosis followed at a tertiary neurogenic bladder clinic.

Purpose: We report the prevalence of stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse in patients with multiple sclerosis referred to a tertiary care neurogenic bladder clinic.Materials and Methods: We queried an institutional review board approved neurogenic bladder database for urodynamic and demographic data on patients with multiple sclerosis followed for lower urinary tract symptoms in a 12-year period. Demographic information included multiple sclerosis classification, age at initial visit, body mass index, parity and pelvic examination findings. Prolapse was defined as stage 2 prolapse or greater. Stress urinary incontinence was defined as urodynamic stress incontinence and/or incontinence on a supine stress test.Results: Included in analysis were 280 women with a mean age of 50 years and a mean 13-year history of multiple sclerosis. Relapse remitting multiple sclerosis was noted in 40% of patients, while 45 (16%) had stress urinary incontinence. Women with stress urinary incontinence had a hi...
Road Traffic Injury Prevention Initiatives: A Systematic Review and Metasummary of Effectiveness in Low and Middle Income Countries.

BACKGROUND: Road traffic injuries (RTIs) are a growing but neglected global health crisis, requiring effective prevention to promote sustainable safety. Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) share a disproportionately high burden with 90% of the world's road traffic deaths, and where RTIs are escalating due to rapid urbanization and motorization. Although several studies have assessed the effectiveness of a specific intervention, no systematic reviews have been conducted summarizing the effectiveness of RTI prevention initiatives specifically performed in LMIC settings; this study will help fill this gap. METHODS: In accordance with PRISMA guidelines we searched the electronic databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, TRID, Lilacs, Scielo and Global Health. Articles were eligible if they considered RTI prevention in LMICs by evaluating a prevention-related intervention with outcome measures of crash, RTI, or death. In addition, a reference and citation analysis was conducted as well as a data quality assessment. A qualitative metasummary approach was used for data analysis and effect sizes were calculated to quantify the magnitude of emerging themes. RESULTS: Of the 8560 articles from the literature search, 18 articles from 11 LMICs fit the eligibility and inclusion criteria. Of these studies, four were from Sub-Saharan Africa, ten from Latin America and the Caribbean, one from the Middle East, and three from Asia. Half of the studies focused specifically on legislation, while the others focused on speed control measures, educational interventions, enforcement, road improvement, community programs, or a multifaceted intervention. CONCLUSION: Legislation was the most common intervention evaluated with the best outcomes when combined with strong enforcement initiatives or as part of a multifaceted approach. Because speed control is crucial to crash and injury prevention, road improvement interventions in LMIC settings should carefully consider how the impact of improvements will affect speed and traffic flow. Further road traffic injury prevention interventions should be performed in LMICs with patient-centered outcomes in order to guide injury prevention in these complex settings. Language: en
The Chemoreception of Hypoxia and Hypercapnia: Further Evidence for a Dual Sensing Mechanism

The possibility of two receptor mechanisms in the carotid body — one for O2 and one for CO2 — is supported by a growing body of evidence. The hypothesis we wished to test was: Given the assumption that there are two receptor mechanisms and given a second assumption that these mechanisms can be influenced by an extracellular acidosis, the response of the carotid body to transient hypercapnic challenges will differ from its response to transient hypoxic challenges as the extracellular milieu becomes more acidotic.
Electronic cigarettes: the renormalisation of nicotine use

We agree with McKee and Capewell’s article on Public Health England’s report.1 Unfortunately, the debate focuses on the potential harm reduction among dual users and diverts attention away from the harms of e-cigarettes,2 ignoring their impact on naive users, especially adolescents. Despite the complete ban on …
Sensitization of Eu3+ Luminescence in Eu:YPO4 Nanocrystals

Eu:YPO4·xH2O (x = 0.5–1) nanocrystals were synthesized by a liquid–solid–solution (LSS) solvothermal method and dispersed in chloroform. In order to sensitize the emission from the Eu3+ ions, 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetone (HTTFA) was used to replace a significant fraction of the oleate capping ligand on the as-prepared Eu:YPO4·xH2O (x = 0.5–1) nanocrystals. During the ligand exchange, HTTFA reacts with oleate, forming oleic acid and 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetonate, TTFA. The negatively charged TTFA then displaces the neutral oleic acid ligand from the surface of the nanoparticles. The resulting surface-modified samples were less dispersible in chloroform than were the as-prepared, oleate-capped nanoparticles but were easily dispersed in pyridine, forming very clear mixtures. The resulting surface-modified nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV–vis absorption spectroscopy, photoluminescence (PL) spectro...
Consensus based Heuristic Algorithm for Distributed Sensor Management

This paper addresses the problem of sensor-target allocation for multi-target tracking where a group of sensors is dynamically allocated to targets with the goal of maximizing tracking performance. We propose the Consensus-Based Heuristic Algorithm (CBHA) that works in two phases to solve the sensor-target allocation problem. The first phase combines the benefits of heuristic and consensus algorithms to quickly converge to a feasible solution. In the second phase, the CBHA iteratively improves the allocation, eventually leading toward a global optimal. CBHA is innovative in its ability to achieve a faster convergence to a feasible solution, and thus can be useful under conditions such as (a) rapidly changing network topologies in a highly dynamic environment, (b) discovery of pop-up threats leading to algorithm re-run, and (c) loss of a resource (node or link). Furthermore, the algorithm can be stopped any time after the first phase is completed as it always results in a feasible assignment in a dynamic and contested environment. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the algorithm using representative simulation results.
Stereotactic Brain Biopsy in the Diagnosis of Malignant Lymphoma

Fifteen patients with cerebral involvement by malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were identified, among more than 200 patients who underwent stereotactic biopsy at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. All but one of these cases were diagnosed accurately by the stereotactic biopsy procedure. In 12 of 14 patients, the material was adequate to classify the lymphoma according to the Working Formulation. Because all but one of the lesions were intermediate or high-grade neoplasms, a diagnosis of lymphoma was often possible by conventional light microscopic examination alone. Monotypic light chain expression was demonstrated by immunohistochemical techniques in six patients, and positivity for B-cell markers was observed in an additional case. In one instance, two stereotactic biopsy specimens were interpreted as being suggestive of lymphoma, but necrosis and inflammation prevented a definitive diagnosis. Nine patients had no known risk factors for cerebral lymphoma, and the diagnosis often was unsuspected clinically.
The Analysis of the RF Spoiling for Phase- Contrast Magnetic Resonance Imaging

The effects of RF spoiling was investigated in GRE based 2D phase contrast( PC)MRI. Simulation,flowphantom experiments and in vivo experiments were used to evaluate the effects of RF spoiling in quality of PC MRI image and accuracy of measured flow. The measurements of blood flowwith 2D through-plane PC-MRI indicated that there was no difference when sufficient gradient spoiling was applied with or without RF spoiling,but there was a much better result when insufficient gradient spoiling was applied with RF spoiling compared with that without the RF spoiling. And it was also found that the CNR( contrast noise ratio) of the PC-MRI image could be increased with RF spoiling,which made it easier to differentiate the flowand stationary tissue.
States of Confusion: Regulation of Surrogacy in the United States

Some countries, including Switzerland, Germany, Spain, France, Greece, and Norway, ban commercial surrogacy (Patton, 2010, p.523). Others, like India and the Ukraine, have actively tried to be seen as a commercial surrogacy destination (Mohapatra, 2012). Unlike either of these approaches, the United States (“U.S.”) has no national stance on surrogacy. In fact, there are no national laws or regulations related to surrogacy in the U.S. (Margalit, 2014). Instead, each of the fifty states has its own approach to surrogacy-with some states embracing commercial surrogacy and others banning all types of surrogacy (Patton, 2010). This chapter provides an overview of surrogacy in the U.S., focusing particularly in California, which has emerged as an international surrogacy hub due to its permissive laws regarding commercial surrogacy.
Scintillation detection using 3 mm × 3 mm silicon photomultipliers

A silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) consists of an array of independent Geiger-mode avalanche photodiodes, each with an integrated quenching resistor. SiPMs have many potential attractive features, including high photon detection efficiency, high gain, low timing jitter, compact design, and low operating voltage. We are evaluating SiPMs for use in scintillation detectors, and present results using 3 mm x 3 mm Multi-Pixel Photon Counter (MPPCTM)prototypes from Hamamatsu Photonics K. K. coupled to LYSO scintillator crystals. Our evaluation includes energy resolution, timing resolution, and the sensitivities of these measurements to bias voltage and temperature variations. We have also used simulations to try to understand the impact of avalanche photodiode reset time and cross-talk on the observed non- linearity of the pulse-height spectrum.
Uncertainty, Technology Use, and Career Preparation Self-Efficacy

Using the Theory of Managing Uncertainty and the Technology Acceptance Model, this study examined how college students’ technology use for career exploration relates to career preparation self-efficacy. Findings indicated uncertainty is unrelated to frequency of technology use for career exploration, and competing information-seeking motives had little relationship to technology use. However, perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use of LinkedIn, SNS, and job boards significantly predicted participants’ frequency of use for career exploration. Perceived ease of use of technologies also significantly predicted participants’ career preparation self-efficacy. However, frequency of LinkedIn use was the only technology to predict career preparation self-efficacy.
Factors associated with maintenance of body mass index in the Jackson Heart Study: A prospective cohort study secondary analysis

The purpose of this study was to compare the relationship of diet quality, physical activity, and environmental factors with body mass index (BMI) maintenance in African American adults. We analyzed data from 4041 participants in the Jackson Heart Study, a prospective cohort study based in Jackson, Mississippi. Exposures were baseline American Heart Association diet quality score, American Heart Association physical activity categories, the built environment, the food environment, and neighborhood safety. The outcome was weight maintenance or loss (no BMI increase ≥1.0kg/m2) versus weight gain (BMI increased ≥1.0kg/m2) over a mean of 5.0years. We found that 63% of participants maintained or lost weight and 37% gained weight. In multivariable analyses, ideal diet quality was associated with a 6% greater likelihood of BMI maintenance (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 1.06, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03, 1.10). Living in an unsafe neighborhood was associated with a 2% lower likelihood of BMI maintenance (IRR 0.98, 95% CI: 0.96, 0.99), as was poor built environment (IRR 0.98, 95% CI: 0.97, 0.998). Physical activity and poor food environment were not associated with BMI maintenance. In conclusion, among African American adults in Jackson, Mississippi, high quality diet was the strongest factor associated with BMI maintenance.
A computational model for characterizing visual information using both spikes and Local Field Potentials

How the brain maintains the stability of visual perception across saccade is a central question in systems neuroscience; accurately characterizing visual responses in the perisaccadic period is an important step towards understanding how the visual world is represented during saccades. Here, we develop a probabilistic model in the Generalized Linear Model framework to characterize and predict the pre-, trans-, and post-saccadic responses of single Middle Temporal (MT) neurons at the level of single-trial spike trains. We fit the MT spike response to a model, consisting of a set of stimulus kernels capturing neuron's spatiotemporal filtering properties, a set of saccade kernels capturing changes in stimulus sensitivity induced by eye movement, an offset kernel capturing time-varying baseline activity relative to saccade, a post-spike kernel capturing dependencies on spiking history, a set of coupling kernels capturing correlations between neurons, and finally an LFP kernel capturing effects of brain state in generating spike responses. The model, with parameters fit directly to data, accurately predicts responses to novel stimuli on individual trials during saccadic eye movements. The model can also be used to optimally decode time-varying visual information carried by MT responses, thus providing a tool for reading out visual information and understanding the representation of visual scene during eye movements.
Classification of common human diseases derived from shared genetic and environmental determinants

Andrey Rzhetsky and colleagues analyze electronic medical records from over one-third of the US population to estimate disease heritability and to determine the genetic and environmental contributions to disease variance. They obtain 84 new heritability estimates and find that the genetic correlation values for disease pairs differ from their environmental correlation values. In this study, we used insurance claims for over one-third of the entire US population to create a subset of 128,989 families (481,657 unique individuals). We then used these data to (i) estimate the heritability and familial environmental patterns of 149 diseases and (ii) infer the genetic and environmental correlations for disease pairs from a set of 29 complex diseases. The majority (52 of 65) of our study's heritability estimates matched earlier reports, and 84 of our estimates appear to have been obtained for the first time. We used correlation matrices to compute environmental and genetic disease classifications and corresponding reliability measures. Among unexpected observations, we found that migraine, typically classified as a disease of the central nervous system, appeared to be most genetically similar to irritable bowel syndrome and most environmentally similar to cystitis and urethritis, all of which are inflammatory diseases.
Size effects in single-crystal metallic micro- and nanocubes

We study the response of single-crystal metallic micro- and nanocubes under quasistatic compression using silver as the model material. Using a seed-growth process, we synthesized the defect-free single-crystal silver cubes of near-perfect cubic geometry with their size varying from 100 nm to 2 μm. We use a nanoindentor/scanning electron microscope system to measure the stress-strain behavior and correlate it to the deformation response seen in in-situ SEM imaging. The silver cubes plastically deform through spontaneous nucleation of dislocation-slips upon reaching their yield strength. The yield strength of silver cubes exhibits strong dependence on the sample size, where the decreasing sample size results in increasing yield strength. Our studies also reveal the effects of pre-existing dislocations on the governing deformation mechanisms: the samples containing dislocations exhibit a hardening behavior with slip events of stochastic nature in contrast to the spontaneous strain-burst seen in dislocation-free sample.
Mining Nonparametric Frontiers

Data envelopment analysis (DEA) is firmly anchored in efficiency and productivity paradigms. This research claims new application domains for DEA by releasing it from these moorings. The same reasons why efficient entities are of interest in DEA apply to the geometric equivalent in general point sets since they are based on the data’s magnitude limits relative to the other data points. A framework for non-parametric frontier analysis is derived from a new set of first principles. This chapter deals with the extension of data envelopment analysis to the general problem of mining oriented outliers.
The Biology of Mallomonas

The primary goal of this chapter is to describe the ecological tolerances of all common species and sub-specific taxa of Mallomonas. Emphasis has been placed on the distributions of each taxon along pH, specific conductance, temperature, trophic and seasonal gradients. To accomplish this goal three sets of data totalling results from over seven hundred collections were used. Four hundred of the collections were taken from localities in southern New England from the State of Connecticut. Another one hundred of the collections were from waterbodies in the Adirondack Mountain region of New York State. The remainder of the collections were taken from the literature and represent waterbodies from different parts of the world (see Siver, 1989a). For the purposes of discussion the three data sets will each be considered as separate floras and referred to as the Connecticut, the Adirondack and the literature floras.
Epidermoid cyst within an intrapancreatic accessory spleen.

This is a case of an epidermoid cyst in an intrapancreatic accessory spleen at the tail of the pancreas. Concurrent epidermoid cyst within the accessory spleen is an exceedingly rare entity. The patient initially presented with abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. Imaging studies revealed a 3.6 cm cystic mass in the tail of the pancreas that was concerning for a mucinous cystic neoplasm (MCN). The patient underwent a robotic distal pancreatectomy for a suspected diagnosis of MCN, which following histologically examination was found to be an epidermoid cyst of an intrapancreatic accessory spleen. Further imaging characteristics are needed to characterise and differentiate these lesions from those of malignant potential. Robotic distal pancreatectomy is a safe alternative with many benefits including decreased length of stay and decreased blood loss.
Bitcoin: A Revolution?

Bitcoin, a cryptocurrency invented in 2008 is both puzzling and inspiring. High volatility of its price is challenges financial analysts as well as scholars. We look at the incentive mechanisms that make Bitcoin work, and we discuss current and potential uses of Bitcoin and technologies inspired by it.
The Economic Consequences Of Mortality Amenable To High-Quality Health Care In Low- And Middle-Income Countries.

We estimated deaths amenable to high-quality health care globally and then modeled the macroeconomic impact in low- and middle-income countries using two macroeconomic perspectives: a value-of-lost...
CHAPTER VI – POLYNUCLEOTIDES AND THEIR COMPONENTS

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the polynucleotides and their components. The study of nucleic acids is concerned with the elucidation of the structures of these compounds as well as their metabolism. The degradation of ribonucleic acid by RNAase was found to result in the accumulation of a mixture of pyrimidine mononucleotides and a so-called core. The core is not an individual structure; it is a mixture of oligonucleotides in which the bases are predominantly purines. Ribonuclease catalyzes transfer reactions in addition to hydrolyses. The synthesis of large polymers of ribose nucleotides is catalyzed by an enzyme named polynucleotide phosphorylase. Both purines and pyrimidines occur as components of nucleotides. The only known biosynthetic formation of purine rings is one in which the intermediates are all derivatives of ribose-5-phosphate, and the product is an intact nucleotide. In pyrimidine biosynthesis, nucleotide formation does not take place until the ring is formed. The existence of enzymes that form ribotides from preformed bases requires that alternate mechanisms of synthesis be considered.
Towards speaker-independent continuous speech recognition

Speaker-independent continuous speech recognition is an extremely difficult task. In this paper, we analyze the nature of its difficulty. Moreover, we propose a new approach to speaker-independent continuous speech recognition through the use of hidden Markov models, context-dependent phonetic units, perceptually motivated parameters, and two speaker-adaptation algorithms. Finally, we present some preliminary results, and outline future plans.
Healthy living initiative: Running/walking club

This study was grounded in the public health literature and the call for schools to serve as physical activity intervention sites. Its purpose was twofold: (a) to examine the daily distance covered by students in a before-school running/walking club throughout 1 school year and (b) to gain insights on the teachers’ perspectives of the club. Participants were students (N = 251) and teachers (N = 24) from an elementary school in one American Indian community in the southwestern United States. Physical activity (i.e., distance) data were collected over 4 weeks throughout the school year, and formal, semistructured interviews were conducted with a subsample of the teachers (n = 15). Physical activity data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, repeated measures ANOVAs, one-way ANOVAs, and independent t tests. Interview data were analyzed using inductive analysis and constant comparison. Findings indicated that students covered between 0.6 and 1.0 mile per day during the running/walking club. Also, findings indicated a significant increase in the average daily distance students covered over time as well as grade level and gender differences. Two themes emerged from the interview data: (a) teachers had positive perceptions of the running/walking club, and (b) teachers perceived themselves as positive physical activity role models for the students. The findings of this study point out that a before-school running/walking club can significantly contribute to students’ daily physical activity and that teachers have the potential to contribute to students’ physical activity and wellness outside of the classroom.
Unjust Freedom: The Ethics of Client Self-Determination in Runaway Youth Shelters

Client self-determination has been called “the most confounding and professionally debilitating concept of all the intellectual principles under-girding social work” (Rothman, 1989). Identifying the appropriate parameters of client self-determination is a particularly acute problem for social workers employed by runaway and homeless youth shelters where minors are making adult decisions free from parental guidance. We examine the ethical dimensions of practice with minor clients in runaway shelters by arguing that a conflict exists between the liberty-based principle of self-determination and the justice-based notion of client competency. We analyze the conflict by using minimal distributive justice as the organizing principle of social work practice. We conclude that client self-determination in runaway shelters should be restricted and that presuming client competence violates the basic value tenets of the profession.
Demographic and Cultural Dissimilarity's Effects on Responses to Offense

Two studies of different methodologies investigated ethnic and gender similarity's effect on responses to offense episodes. Despite the different methodologies, common findings were obtained. Cumulatively, our findings show that: (1) victims of offensive workplace interactions do not always choose revengeful responses; instead, they sometimes opt to forgive and/or reconcile with their offender, and (2) the offender's perceived similarity to the victim influences the victim's coping strategy. Additionally, we found that the importance that perceived similarity has on people's responses to workplace-offenses apparently differs across (at least U.S. and Korean) cultures. Implications are discussed.
Plasma cell-free DNA for noninvasive molecular profiling in high-risk stage 4 neuroblastoma.

10554Background: Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) allows real-time molecular analysis of solid tumors. Neuroblastoma, the most common extracranial pediatric solid tumor, is known to have a higher mutational b...
Self-Efficacy as a Target for Social Work Intervention:

The construct of self-efficacy has found widespread application in many disciplines but has only recently begun to penetrate social work literature. Self-efficacy is a person's belief in his or her...
BATSE observations of BL Lac Objects

The Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) on the Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory has been shown to be sensitive to non-transient hard X-ray sources in our galaxy, down to flux levels of 100 mCrab for daily measurements, 3 mCrab for integrations over several years. We use the continuous BATSE database and the Earth Occultation technique to extract average flux values between 20 and 200 keV from complete radio- and X-ray- selected BL Lac samples over a 2 year period.
Differentiation Capacity of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells into Keratocyte Lineage.

Author(s): Dos Santos, Aurelie; Balayan, Alis; Funderburgh, Martha L; Ngo, John; Funderburgh, James L; Deng, Sophie X | Abstract: PurposeMesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been extensively studied for their capacity to enhance wound healing and represent a promising research field for generating cell therapies for corneal scars. In the present study, we investigated MSCs from different tissues and their potential to differentiate toward corneal keratocytes.MethodsAdipose-derived stem cells, bone marrow MSCs, umbilical cord stem cells, and corneal stromal stem cells (CSSCs) were characterized by their expression of surface markers CD105, CD90, and CD73, and their multilineage differentiation capacity into adipocytes, osteoblasts, and chondrocytes. MSCs were also evaluated for their potential to differentiate toward keratocytes, and for upregulation of the anti-inflammatory protein TNFα-stimulated gene-6 (TNFAIP6) after simulation by IFN-γ and TNF-α.ResultsKeratocyte lineage induction was achieved in all MSCs as indicated by the upregulated expression of keratocyte markers, including keratocan, lumican, and carbohydrate sulfotransferase. TNFAIP6 response to inflammatory stimulation was observed only in CSSCs; increasing by 3-fold compared with the control (P l 0.05).ConclusionsBased on our findings, CSSCs appeared to have the greatest differentiation potential toward the keratocyte lineage and the greatest anti-inflammatory properties in vitro.
Non-Line-of-Sight Around the Corner Human Presence Detection Using Commodity WiFi Devices

As robots penetrate into real-world environments, practical human-robot co-existence issues such as the requirement for safe human-robot interaction are becoming increasingly important. In almost every vision-capable mobile robot, the field of view of the robot is occluded by the presence of obstacles such as indoor walls, furniture, and humans. Such occlusions force the robots to be stationary or to move slowly so that they can avoid collisions and violations of entry into the personal spaces of humans. We see this as a barrier to robots being able to optimally plan motions with reasonable speeds. In order to solve this problem, we propose to augment the sensing capability of a robot by using a commodity WiFi receiver. Using our proposed method, a robot can observe the changes in the properties of received signals, and thus be able to infer whether a human is present behind the wall or obstacles, which enhances its ability to plan and navigate efficiently and intelligently.
Autonomy and professional identity formation in residency training: A qualitative study

Context Professional identity formation (PIF) involves the development of professional values, actions and aspirations and is central to medical education. Current understanding of PIF is informed by psychological and sociological theories. One ideal of medicine is responsibility to the patient; the development of this ideal is related to learner autonomy. The purpose of this study was to further theorise the relationships between the individual and contextual aspects of PIF through exploring the associations amongst autonomy, making decisions and responsibility for patients during residency training. Methods Using constructivist grounded theory, we conducted 23 semi-structured interviews with internal medicine residents at an academic medical centre. Interview transcripts were de-identified and processed through open coding and analytic memo writing. During data collection and analysis, we identified social cognitive theory (SCT), specifically reciprocal determinism, or the triadic and reciprocal relationship between context, person and behaviour, as a useful theoretical lens through which to illuminate the relationship between autonomy and PIF. Using SCT to guide analysis, we organised themes, identified relationships amongst themes, and refined them through group discussion and constant comparison with new data. Results Residents discussed three main themes: autonomy; making decisions, and responsibility for patient care. Autonomy allowed residents to feel personally responsible for patient care, and build confidence and trust. Autonomy allowed residents to feel engaged in making 'real decisions' for patient care. By displaying confidence in their decision making, residents were granted more autonomy. Lack of autonomy led to disengagement and lack of ownership over patient care. Conclusions This study highlighted the role of autonomy in the PIF of learners. Exploring the tension between autonomy and supervision through the lens of SCT highlighted the interconnectedness of context, behaviour and identity in PIF. To ensure optimal learning environments for PIF, educators should weigh the need for autonomy against the demands for supervision and patient safety.
An improved method for analyzing and reporting patterns of in-field recurrence after stereotactic ablative radiotherapy in early-stage non-small cell lung cancer.

Abstract Introduction Patterns of local, regional, and distant failure after stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have been widely reported. However, reliable methods for analyzing causes of local failure are lacking. We describe a method for analyzing and reporting patterns of in-field recurrence after SABR, incorporating dosimetric parameters from initial treatment plan as well as geometric information from diagnostic images at recurrence. Material and methods Diagnostic CT images at recurrence were registered with initial treatment planning images and radiation dose by deformable image registration. Recurrent gross tumor volume (rGTV) and centroid (geometric center of rGTV) were delineated. In-field failure was classified as centroids originating within the original planning target volume. Dose-volume histograms for each rGTV were used to further classify in-field recurrences as central high-dose (dose to 95% of rGTV [rGTVD95%] ≥95% of dose prescribed to PTV) or peripheral high-dose (rGTVD95% Results 634 patients received SABR from 2004 to 2014 with 48 local recurrences. 35 of these had evaluable images with 16 in-field recurrences: 9 central high-dose, 6 peripheral high-dose, and 1 had both. Time to and volume of recurrence were not statistically different between central versus peripheral high-dose recurrences. However mean rGTV dose, mean centroid dose, and rGTVD95% were higher for central versus peripheral high-dose recurrences. Conclusion We report a standardized method for analysis and classification of in-field recurrence after SABR. There were more central as opposed to peripheral high-dose recurrences, suggesting biological rather than technical issues underlying majority of in-field failures.
A model for crack formation during active solid pyrolysis of a char-forming solid: crack patterns; surface area generation; volatile mass efflux

A model is developed for the formation and propagation of cracks in a material sample that is heated at its top surface, pyrolyses, and then thermally degrades to form char. In this work the sample...
Rapid detection of COVID-19 clusters in the United States using a prospective space-time scan statistic: an update

Novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is a pandemic with 1,420,299 confirmed cases and 85,992 total deaths within the United States as of May 15th, 2020. As the number of cases continues to climb, detecting clusters of COVID-19 is critical to alleviate the strain on our public health system through improved resource allocation and decision-making. Here, we report on an analysis of daily case data at the county level using the prospective spatial-temporal scan statistic. In previous work, we performed the analysis for March 27th 2020 [1], and here we report updated results as of April 27th 2020, producing a new set of "active" and emerging clusters present. Our analysis resulted in sixteen significant space-time clusters of COVID-19 at the county level in the U.S. during the time span of March 22nd -- April 27th. The spacetime pattern of significant clusters mirrors active and emerging disease hot-spots at the end of our study period. The statistic can be rerun to support timely surveillance of COVID-19, as demonstrated here.
Trends in Legionnaires’ Disease-Associated Hospitalizations, United States, 2006–2010

Background Legionella pneumophila is a waterborne cause of both healthcare-associated and community-acquired pneumonia. Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 is responsible for 80% of infections. There is currently limited published disease burden data on Legionnaires' disease-associated hospitalization in the United States. Methods In this study, we estimated the annual incidence of Legionnaires' disease-associated hospitalizations in United States and identified demographic, temporal, and regional characteristics of individuals hospitalized for Legionnaires' disease. A retrospective study was conducted using the National Hospital Discharge Survey (NHDS) data from 2006 to 2010. The NHDS is a nationally representative US survey, which includes estimates of inpatient stays in short-stay hospitals in the United States, excluding federal, military, and Veterans Administration hospitals. All discharges assigned with the Legionnaires' disease International Classification of Diseases 9th Clinical Modification discharge diagnostic code (482.84) were included in this study. Results We observed the annual incidence and number of Legionnaires' disease-associated hospitalizations (per 100 000 population) in the United States by year, age, sex, race, and region. Over a 5-year period, 14 574 individuals experienced Legionnaires' disease-associated hospitalizations in the United States The annual population-adjusted incidence (per 100 000 population) of Legionnaires' disease-associated hospitalizations was 5.37 (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.12-5.64) in 2006, 7.06 (95% CI, 6.80-7.40) in 2007, 8.77 (95% CI, 8.44-9.11) in 2008, 17.07 (95% CI, 16.62-17.54) in 2009, and 9.66 (95% CI, 9.32-10.01) in 2010. A summer peak of Legionnaires' disease-associated hospitalizations occurred from June through September in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2010. Conclusions Legionnaires' disease-associated hospitalizations significantly increased over the 5-year study period. The increasing disease burden of Legionnaires' disease suggests that large segments of the US population are at risk for exposure to this waterborne pathogen.
Continued Participation in Congregate Meal Programs: The Role of Geographic Access to Food.

The Nutrition Services Program is the largest program that provides prepared meals to older adults in need. However, little is known about the factors associated with participants’ continued receip...
Does aspirin prevent venous thromboembolism

Venous thromboembolism (VTE; deep vein thrombosis and/or pulmonary embolism) is a well-established cause of morbidity and mortality in the medical and surgical patient populations. Clinical research in the prevention and treatment of VTE has been a dynamic field of study, with investigations into various treatment modalities ranging from mechanical prophylaxis to the direct oral anticoagulants. Aspirin has long been an inexpensive cornerstone of arterial vascular disease therapy, but its role in the primary or secondary prophylaxis of VTE has been debated. Risk-benefit tradeoffs between aspirin and anticoagulants have changed, in part due to advances in surgical technique and postoperative care, and in part due to the development of safe, easy-to-use oral anticoagulants. We review the proposed mechanisms in which aspirin may act on venous thrombosis, the evidence for aspirin use in the primary and secondary prophylaxis of VTE, and the risk of bleeding with aspirin as compared with anticoagulation.
Dynamic Calibration of GPS Effective Isotropic Radiated Power for GNSS-Reflectometry Earth Remote Sensing

Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Reflectometry uses reflected GNSS signals for Earth remote sensing applications. Absolute calibration of a Delay Doppler Map (DDM) requires an accurate estimate of the effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP) of the GNSS transmitter, e.g., Global Positioning System (GPS). However, variable transmit power by numerous Block II Follow-on (IIF) and II Replenishment-Modernized (IIR-M) GPS space vehicles has been observed due to their flex power mode. Nonuniformity in the GPS antenna gain patterns further complicates EIRP estimation. A dynamic calibration approach is developed to address GPS EIRP variability. It uses measurements by the direct received GPS signal to estimate GPS EIRP in the specular reflected direction and then incorporates it into the calibration of normalized bistatic radar cross section (NBRCS). Error analyses using Monte Carlo simulations and a root sum of squares (RSS) approach show that the resulting error in NBRCS is about 0.32 dB. Dynamic EIRP calibration instantaneously detects and corrects for power fluctuations in the GPS transmitters and significantly reduces errors due to GPS antenna gain azimuthal asymmetry. It allows observations with the most variable Block IIF transmitters (approximately 37% of the GPS constellation) to be included in the standard data products and further improves the calibration quality of NBRCS and geophysical data products.
Characterization of mechanical discontinuities based on data-driven classification of compressional-wave travel times

Abstract Wave propagation and diffusive transport phenomena are influenced by the mechanical discontinuities in material. This study shows that certain bulk properties of the network of low-velocity mechanical discontinuities (e.g. air-filled cracks) in a material can be characterized by processing compressional-wave travel times using traditional data-driven classification techniques. To that end, we perform three tasks in chronological order: (1) use the discrete fracture network (DFN) method to create two-dimensional (2D) numerical models of crack-bearing material embedded with various types of low-velocity mechanical discontinuities, (2) use the fast marching method (FMM) to simulate the propagation of the wave/diffusion front from a single source through the 2D crack-bearing material to multiple receivers placed on the boundary of the material, and (3) train 9 data-driven classifiers to characterize the crack-bearing materials (i.e. bulk properties of the network of mechanical discontinuities in the crack-bearing material) by learning from the simulations of travel times detected by multiple receivers placed around the crack-bearing material. The classifiers identified the orientation, spatial distribution, and dispersion of the low-velocity mechanical discontinuities. Voting classifier performs the best among the 9 classifiers. For the characterization of bulk dispersion and distribution of discontinuities, the sensors located on the adjacent boundaries are more important; whereas for the characterization of bulk orientation of discontinuities, the sensors located on the opposite side are more important.
Temporal Dominance: Controlling Activity Cycles When Time Is Scarce, Sudden, and Squeezed:

Constant interaction, digital interruptions, and shrinking time to think and act characterize much of present-day communication. The management of time pressures is a key concern for contemporary w...
Cytopathology of Vitreous Specimens in Acute Retinal Necrosis.

Purpose: To report the cytopathology of vitreous biopsy samples in patients with acute retinal necrosis (ARN) who underwent pars plana vitrectomy (PPV). We also describe two patients with unique cl...
Biology, prevention, and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)

Abstract The spread of the SARS-CoV-2 novel coronavirus, the cause of the COVID-19 pandemic, has recently emerged as a global concern. It has spread rapidly across the globe, which originally began in the town of Wuhan in the People’s Republic of China and is believed to come from the community of Rhinolophus bats. In this chapter we have discussed the basic biological features of the virus including how it replicates and causes the disease. In addition, we reviewed how does the virus spread and what interventions limit the spread. We also discussed the most promising drugs from clinical trials and preclinical developments to date.
Cultural Aspects of Cancer Prevention and Control

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses cultural aspects of cancer prevention and control. Cancer is one of the most serious health threats in the United States. Currently, cancer has become increasingly prevalent and it is the second leading cause of death. This chapter focuses on culture's impact on individuals during their cancer experience. In this chapter, the concept of culture includes the central areas thought to define a cultural group, encompassing shared common beliefs, ideas, experiences, knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors, as all of these elements pertain to variations in cancer experiences. The chapter also discusses patterns of cancer in different ethnic groups; ethnic and cultural differences in knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors about cancer; cancer prevention, screening, and early detection; reactions to a diagnosis of cancer; and living with cancer. It emphasizes on the largest ethnic subgroups in the United States (African Americans, Native Americans, Asians and Pacific Islanders, and Hispanics) and comparisons are made with the majority population (White). The chapter concludes that 1500 Americans die of cancer each day stands as a stark reminder of the need for research, as well as its tremendous potential to make a positive difference.