cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A new approach to designing computationally efficient interpolated FIR filters

More efficient use of multipliers in FIR filters can be achieved at the expense of a slight increase in delay by designing sparse filter structures. We have developed a new, relatively simple approach to designing sparse cascaded filters, also described in the literature as interpolated FIR filters. Our method is heuristic in nature, but gives surprisingly good results without requiring iterative design or investigation of a large number of alternative parameterizations. The design uses the efficient and widely available Remez exchange algorithm along with some routines that we have written for Matlab. Although the resulting designs are not optimal in a minimax-error sense, they have reduced RMS error, which may be attractive for some applications. We give design examples, and study the effects of coefficient quantization.
Describing response-event relations: Babel revisited.

The terms used to describe the relations among the three components of contingencies of reinforcement and punishment include many with multiple meanings and imprecise denotation. In particular, usage of the term “contingency” and its variants and acceptance of unsubstantiated functional, rather than procedural, descriptions of response-event relations are especially troublesome in the behavior analysis literature. Clarity seems best served by restricting the term “contingency” to its generic usage and by utilizing procedural descriptions of response-event relations.
Sally Satel and Scott Lilienfeld. Brainwashed: The Seductive Appeal of Mindless Neuroscience

“Brain scans show that swing voters distrust presidential candidate Mitt Romney!” the headlines read in a recent election. Researchers scanned the brains of various voters while they viewed the can...
Well-posedness and approximation of solutions of linear divergence-form elliptic problems on exterior regions

This paper describes well-posedness, spectral representations, and approximations of solutions of uniformly elliptic, second-order, divergence form elliptic boundary value problems on exterior regions U in when N ≥ 3. Inhomogeneous Dirichlet, Neumann, and Robin boundary conditions are treated. These problems are first shown to be well-posed in the space E1(U) of finite-energy functions on U using variational methods. Spectral representations of these solutions involving Steklov eigenfunctions and solutions subject to zero Dirichlet boundary conditions are described. Some approximation results for the A-harmonic components are obtained. Positivity and comparison results for these solutions are given. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Perceived Self-Efficacy and Its Role in Education-Related Cognitive Performance in Latino American Elderly

This article describes the methodology, data analysis, and results for a pilot study investigating perceived self-efficacy of cognitive performance among Latino American elderly. The sample included 24 Latino American elderly. A 12-week quasi-experimental design was utilized. Participants were provided with weekly 2-hr art education sessions modeled after art therapy and cognitive training techniques. Cognitive performance was evaluated using the Clock Drawing Test. Perceived self-efficacy of cognitive performance was evaluated using the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire. The results of the study indicated that perceived self-efficacy was significantly correlated to art education/art therapy session attendance among Latino American elderly.
Chase-type and GMD coset decodings

In this letter, Chase decoding algorithms are generalized into a family of bounded distance decoding algorithms, so that the conventional Chase algorithm-2 and Chase algorithm-3 become the two extremes of this family. Consequently, more flexibility in the tradeoffs between error performance and decoding complexity is provided by this generalization, especially for codes with large minimum distance. Finally this approach is extended to decoding with erasures.
Complete metastasectomy in patients with stage IV metastatic melanoma

Summary Patients with stage IV melanoma have traditionally been managed with various systemic treatments; however, overall survival with this approach has been disappointing. Findings of many retrospective, single-institution, and multicentre studies suggest that participants treated with complete metastasectomy for stage IV metastases have enhanced overall 5-year survival. Complete surgical resection of metastatic disease to stage IV sites—including skin, soft tissue, distant lymph nodes, lungs, or other non-CNS visceral regions—offers the best chance for prolonged survival. This Review will present data lending support to the idea that if complete surgical metastasectomy is technically feasible, then surgery should be the first option for properly selected patients with stage IV melanoma.
Role of serotonin in the thyroid action of reserpine.

The possible role of serotonin in the thyroid action of reserpine was studied in intact rats. Thyroid alteration by chronic reserpine medication and by chronic pharmacological treatment designed to alter serotonin levels and activity were compared with controls by three parameters. Direct effects of reserpine and serotonin were also investigated. Some evidence for reduced thyroid activity by chronic systemic reserpine administration was provided. It was found that reserpine directly in vitro slightly increased I 131 uptake, and that serotonin in direct in vitro tests significantly reduced it.
Dynorphin Block of N-Methyl-d-Aspartate Channels Increases with the Peptide Length

We examined the non-opioid actions of various forms of dynorphin A (DynA) on N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor channels in isolated rat trigeminal neurons using the whole-cell patch recording technique. All the dynorphins tested blocked NMDA-activated currents. The blocking actions were voltage-independent. The IC50 was 0.26 μM for DynA(1-32), 6.6 μM for DynA(1-17) 7.4 μM for DynA(1-13), 42.0 μM for DynA(1-10). DynA(1-8) had no detectable blocking action on NMDA responses. Thus, the IC50s of dynorphins for NMDA receptors increased 160-fold as the length of the peptides decreased from 32 to 10 amino acids. Amidation of dynorphins dramatically reduced their IC50s and eliminated the large difference in the IC50s of various lengths of dynorphins. The reduction in the IC50s of dynorphin amides could not be explained by the resistance of the peptides to enzymatic degradation. Our observations suggest that peptide processing affects dynorphin blocking actions on NMDA responses. The positively charged residues, lengths of the peptides and amidation may contribute to their affinities for NMDA receptors.
Statins and cognition: A systematic review and meta-analysis of short- and long-term cognitive effects

Objective: To evaluate the effect of statins on short-term cognitive function and the long-term incidence of dementia. Patients and Methods: A systematic search was performed of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register from their inception to April 25, 2013. Adults with no history of cognitive dysfunction treated with statins were included from high-quality randomized controlled trials and prospective cohort studies after formal bias assessment. Results: Sixteen studies were included in qualitative synthesis and 11 in quantitative synthesis. Shortterm trials did not show a consistent effect of statin therapy on cognitive end points. Digit Symbol Substitution Testing (a well-validated measure of cognitive function) was the most common short-term end point, with no significant differences in the mean change from baseline to follow-up between the statin and placebo groups (mean change, 1.65; 95% CI, e0.03 to 3.32; 296 total exposures in 3 trials). Long-term cognition studies included 23,443 patients with a mean exposure duration of 3 to 24.9 years. Three studies found no association between statin use and incident dementia, and 5 found a favorable effect. Pooled results revealed a 29% reduction in incident dementia in statin-treated patients (hazard ratio, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.61-0.82). Conclusion: In patients without baseline cognitive dysfunction, short-term data are most compatible with no adverse effect of statins on cognition, and long-term data may support a beneficial role for statins in the prevention of dementia. a 2013 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research n Mayo Clin Proc. 2013;88(11):1213-1221
Efficient time-domain vector fitting for broadband interconnect modelling

The time-domain vector fitting (TDVF) [1] was proven to be an extrapolation method which provides about a ten-fold lengthening of a recorded time-domain response and reducing Gribbs phenomenon due to the limited length of the response and its abrupt discontinuity. TDVF is the counterpart of the vector fitting (VF) [2] in the time domain (TD), but it is not popular as VF due to the fact that a technique for estimating the order of the rational function fit for TDVF is not available even though the accuracy of the model built by TDVF strongly depends on the choice of the order of the rational function fit. This paper introduces a new methodology toward an efficient and robust whole channel simulation using the TDVF algorithm which is equipped with a sound estimate for the order of the rational function fit. This method significantly reduces the computational resource, while enhances the model accuracy. As a validation study, TDVF equipped with the order estimation method was applied for modelling a socket component in multi-Gbps interconnects.
Validity of the electrostatic approximation

Criteria are derived for the existence of normal modes in a magnetized plasma for which |≇ × E|≪|≇·E|. The condition is different from the frequently quoted condition of thermal pressure ≪ magnetic pressure.
A New Species of Piper (Piperaceae) from Cordillera Nombre de Dios, Honduras

Abstract Piper picobonitoense (clade Schillria), a new endemic species of Piperaceae from Cordillera Nombre de Dios, Honduras, is described and illustrated. Distinguishing characteristics of this species include distichous leaves; lamina lanceolate or narrowly elliptic, slightly falcate, the apex extremely narrow and long-acuminate, base acute to obtuse and equilateral, drying thin-chartaceous; spikes erect, green, free of leaf-base; and triangular floral bracts, W-shaped on upper margin, glabrous. A discussion and an identification key to morphologically related species in Honduras are included.
Acute Effects of Exposure to 56Fe and 16O Particles on Learning and Memory

Although it has been shown that exposure to HZE particles disrupts cognitive performance when tested 2–4 weeks after irradiation, it has not been determined whether exposure to HZE particles acutely affects cognitive performance, i.e., within 4–48 h after exposure. The current experiments were designed to determine the acute effects of exposure to HZE particles (16O and 56Fe) on cognitive performance and whether exposure to HZE particles affected learning or memory, as well as to understand the relationship between acute changes in the levels of NOX2 (a measure of oxidative stress) and COX2 (a measure of neuroinflammation) in specific brain regions and cognitive performance. The results of these studies indicate that the acute effects of radiation exposure on cognitive performance are on memory, not learning. Further, the acute effects of exposure to HZE particles on oxidative stress and neuroinflammation and their relationship to cognitive performance indicate that, although the effects of exposure to bo...
Interdependence of Spatial Properties and Projection Patterns of Medial Vestibulospinal Tract Neurons in the Cat

Perlmutter, S. I., Y. Iwamoto, J. F. Baker, and B. W. Peterson. Interdependence of spatial properties and projection patterns of medial vestibulospinal tract neurons in the cat. J. Neurophysiol. 79...
Citizen health care: A model for engaging patients, families, and communities as coproducers of health.

Citizen health care is a way to engage patients, families, and communities as coproducers of health and health care. It goes beyond the activated patient to the activated community, with professionals acquiring community organizing skills for working with individuals and families who see themselves as citizens of health care— builders of health in the clinic and community—rather than merely as consumers of medical services. Over the past 7 years, the authors and their colleagues have developed and field-tested a structured process for implementing this model into everyday practice settings. In this article, we describe the origins of the model, its core tenets and practices, and examples of its implementation in community settings. We discuss how citizen health care differs from other models of collaborative and community-based work, and we outline research and training directions.
Syndromic surveillance of Flu on Twitter using weakly supervised temporal topic models

Surveillance of epidemic outbreaks and spread from social media is an important tool for governments and public health authorities. Machine learning techniques for nowcasting the Flu have made significant inroads into correlating social media trends to case counts and prevalence of epidemics in a population. There is a disconnect between data-driven methods for forecasting Flu incidence and epidemiological models that adopt a state based understanding of transitions, that can lead to sub-optimal predictions. Furthermore, models for epidemiological activity and social activity like on Twitter predict different shapes and have important differences. In this paper, we propose two temporal topic models (one unsupervised model as well as one improved weakly-supervised model) to capture hidden states of a user from his tweets and aggregate states in a geographical region for better estimation of trends. We show that our approaches help fill the gap between phenomenological methods for disease surveillance and epidemiological models. We validate our approaches by modeling the Flu using Twitter in multiple countries of South America. We demonstrate that our models can consistently outperform plain vocabulary assessment in Flu case-count predictions, and at the same time get better Flu-peak predictions than competitors. We also show that our fine-grained modeling can reconcile some contrasting behaviors between epidemiological and social models.
A Complex Adaptive Systems Investigation of the Social-Ecological Dynamics of Three Fisheries

In this paper we describe a complex adaptive systems model of interactions between coupled human and natural system. We use learning classifier systems to create adaptive agents in a simulation of the Maine lobster fishery to explore the relationships among ecological, economic, and social characteristics. Our hypothesis is that the cost of information and learning drives agents' decisions to compete or co-operate and, consequently, the emergence of long-term relationships. Initial results provide tentative support for the hypothesis and the ability of this model to provide insight into the dynamics of individual interactions and the social relationships that emerge from those interactions.
Implantation enhancement by selective assisted hatching using zona drilling of human embryos with poor prognosis

Assisted hatching by zona drilling using acidic Tyrode's solution was performed during three randomized trials in 330 in-vitro fertilization patients. The trials were designed in order to study the overall effect of the procedure and whether characteristic patient [i.e. maternal age and basal levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)] and embryonic features (i.e. zona pellucida thickness) are important for the decision to perform assisted hatching routinely. Couples (n = 137; Trial 1) in whom the female partner had normal basal FSH levels were randomized in a control group (without micromanipulation) and a zona drilling group (all embryos micromanipulated). The incidence of implantation (67/239; 28%) of zona-drilled embryos compared favourably with that of control embryos (49/229; 21%), but the difference was not significant. Retrospective analysis revealed that those embryos whose zonae were thicker than 15 microns were rescued. In order to test the validity of this finding, selective assisted hatching was performed on embryos with a poor prognosis in 163 other patients (Trial 2). The couples were randomized into a control group and a group in which embryos were selectively zona-drilled, based on zona thickness and other embryonic features. The rate of embryonic implantation in the selectively zona-drilled group was 25% (70/278), significantly (P less than 0.05) higher than that of control embryos (51/285; 18%). Although it was demonstrated retrospectively and prospectively that assisted hatching by zona drilling is effective in embryos with thick zonae (greater than or equal to 15 microns), patients whose embryos have thin (less than 13 microns) zonae may be jeopardized by the procedure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Effect of concomitant food intake on pharmacokinetics of abiraterone acetate, a 17 α hydroxylase C17,20-lyase inhibitor in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC).

C2 Background . Abiraterone acetate (CB7630 - Cougar Biotechnology Inc.) is an oral inhibitor of CYP17 (17 α hydroxylase and C 17,20 -Lyase), enzymes responsible for adrenal steroid synthesis. It is a prodrug to abiraterone that inhibits CYP17 irreversibly. In a phase I study, the pharmacokinetics (PK) of escalating doses of abiraterone acetate tablets administered in the fed versus fasted state were studied in patients (pts) with CRPR (also referred to as androgen-independent or hormone refractory prostate cancer). Methods: Eligible pts had progressive CRPC by consensus criteria and normal organ and adrenal function. Dose escalation was performed in both the fasted and fed state at doses of 250, 500, 750 and 1000 mg daily. All single dose pK analysis was performed on day -7 prior to the onset of continuous daily dosing. In the fed group, a high fat 800-1000 calorie meal was eaten within 30 minutes. PK analysis was performed within a detectability range of 5-500nM at timepoints of 1,2,4,6,8,12,24 and 48 hours post dose. Results: Twenty-seven pts have been enrolled, 17 were previously treated with ketoconazole. Median baseline PSA and testosterone levels are 24.6 ng/mL and 5.5 ng/dL, respectively. PK data is available from 6 pts at 250 mg (3 fasted, 3 fed), 9 at 500 mg (6 fasted, 3 fed), 6 at 750 mg (3 fasted, 3 fed) as well as in 6 pts at the 1000 mg dose (fasted only). No abiraterone acetate was detectable, suggesting complete conversion to abiraterone. Maximum drug concentration (Cmax) was achieved within 2.1 hours irrespective of dose or fed vs fasted state (p=0.213). At the 500 and 750 mg but not 250 mg doses a significant increase in Cmax and AUC (p=0.010) was observed in the fed pts (a 2-, 5-fold increase at 500mg and 750 mg respectively). The mean terminal t 1/2 was comparable in the fed and fasted groups at all doses (approximately 7-8 hours). Administration of abiraterone acetate with food resulted in lower interpatient variability (up to 2 fold vs 7 fold differences in Cmax and AUC) and a more linear proportionality of AUC to dose (R2 =0.773 fed versus R2 =0.035 fasted). No difference between fed and fasted groups in adrenal metabolites levels or safety is observed. Overall, 14 of 27 (51%) patients, irrespective of prior therapy with ketoconazole, have responded with a confirmed PSA decline of >50%. Responses by food state and dose are: 250 mg 2 of 3 fasted, 0 of 3 fed; 500 mg 4 of 6 fasted, 1 of 3 fed; 750 mg 1 of 3 fasted, 3 of 3 fed; 1000 mg 3 of 6 fasted, n/a fed. Conclusions: Administration of abiraterone acetate tablets with food increases absorption although the half-life and safety profile is unaffected, suggesting a wide safety margin for this agent. The PSA response rate of 51% and safety profile associated with this agent are encouraging. Randomized phase III trials of abiraterone acetate will start enrollment in 2008.
The Asymptotic Solutions of the Capacity Maximal Quantization Problem

This paper proposes approximation approaches to the problem of finding optimal quantization schemes that maximize the mutual information of Gaussian channels, by deriving asymptotic solutions that are simple and analytical. Two major results are presented: i) we derived an approximation scheme with its quantization thresholds linearly depending on the standard deviation of noise, which has negligible loss on the entire range of the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for 2-PAM modulated channels; ii) based on the high-rate limit, we derived a simple estimator of the relative capacity loss, which is inversely proportional to the square of the number of quantization intervals. These solutions can potentially reduce the complexity of the design and implementation process of quantization schemes.
Decellularized Scaffold Hydrogel Materials for MI Treatment: Could “The Matrix” Really Be the Future?∗

The past several decades have witnessed a steady decrease in mortality from myocardial infarction (MI) [(1)][1]. However, adult myocardium is incapable of spontaneously regenerating the billions of cardiomyocytes lost during MI. Consequently, the increased number of survivors translates to a
Homeostasis is the key to the intelligent building

I consider the questions: what is an intelligent building, and what could make a building ‘intelligent’. The answer to this question turns on the more fundamental question: what is intelligence? I propose that two metaphors for intelligence are informative. On the one hand is intelligence through top-down engineered computation and code, what might be called the executive metaphor for intelligence. On the other is emergent intelligence, in which intelligence emerges as the outcome of an infinitude of negotiations between multitudinous cognitive agents. Emergent intelligence is the logic of the core biological principle of homeostasis: the emergence of persistent and low-entropy disequilibria. Architecture and engineering, in contrast, have long been immersed in the executive metaphor for intelligence. I suggest architects and engineers will be able to build a truly intelligent building when they embody within their constructions the emergent metaphor for intelligence.
The mucosal barrier, IgE-mediated gastrointestinal events, and eosinophilic gastroenteritis.

SUMMARY The “mucosal barrier” plays an important role in regulating immune responses in the gastrointestinal tract. Although the precise mechanisms controlling mucosal immune responses have not been defined, when an abnormal response such as IgE production is initiated, a variety of complex and incompletely understood pathophysiologic events occur and can result in gastrointestinal pathology. This article attempts to present the complexity of such abnormal responses. Although more questions have emerged than were answered, in recent years our knowledge of the pathophysiology of IgE-mediated events in the gastrointestinal tract has advanced significantly. Our understanding of the pathophysiology of these events will ultimately allow the development of more directed and effective therapeutic interventions for allergic gastrointestinal diseases. In addition, through further clinical and basic research, we should begin to unravel the more enigmatic conditions affecting the gastrointestinal tract, such as EG.
Belief in Free Will: Implications for Practice and Policy

AbstractThe conviction one holds about free will serves as a foundation for the views one holds about the consumption activities of other consumers, the nature of social support systems, and the constraints that should or should not be placed on industry. Across multiple paradigms and contexts, the authors assess people’s beliefs about the control consumers have over consumption activities in the face of various constraints on agency. They find that beliefs regarding personal discretion are robust and resilient, consistent with their finding that free will is viewed as noncorporeal. Nonetheless, they also find that these beliefs are not monolithic but vary as a function of identifiable differences across individuals and the perceived cause of behavior, particularly with regard to physical causation. Taken together, the results support the general wisdom of libertarian paternalism as a framework for public policy and highlight current and emerging situations in which policy makers might be granted greater ...
Textual Research on Four Properties of Nuzhenzi

In the process of systemizing Chinese materia medica of Nuzhenzi in all ages,it is believed that Nuzhenzi's property is neither neutrality nor stenothermal,but cool.
Relational data base structures and concept formation in the social sciences

Relational data base procedures developed in computer science for constructing more efficient data bases are described and shown to be useful for concept formation in the social sciences. These procedures take advantage of dependencies among concepts to develop a com prehensive conceptual framework reflecting the natural structure of those concepts. That framework organizes concepts into the formal categories of entities, attributes, and relationships. These procedures, when examined in depth in a sociological application, are found to meet criteria for concepts advocated by Hempel and Blumer; to offer promising substantive insights; and to be compatible with established procedures for typology construction, facet analysis, and multidimensional scaling.
An analysis of generalization as a search problem

The problem of concept learning, or forming a general description of a class of objects given a set of examples and non-examples, is viewed here as a search problem. Existing programs that generalize from examples are characterized in terms of the classes of search strategies that they employ. Several classes of search strategies are then analyzed and compared in terms of their relative capabilities and computational complexities.
Reply to “Letter to the editor: Comments on Stuart et al. (2016): ‘Myosin content of individual human muscle fibers isolated by laser capture microdissection’”

reply: Dr. Schiaffino is a highly respected and experienced investigator who has been very involved in muscle fiber type characterization for nearly three decades. In his comments ([2][1]) about our previous publication ([4][2]), he made several points. He is concerned about our data showing that
The Impact of Family Unification Housing Vouchers on Child Welfare Outcomes.

This study addresses whether providing housing vouchers through the Family Unification Program (FUP) to families involved in the child welfare system reduces child maltreatment and the need for child welfare services. The study uses child welfare administrative data on 326 children in Portland, Oregon, and 502 children in San Diego, California from the point at which their families were referred to the program through 18 months post-referral. Using a quasi-experimental waitlist comparison design, probit regressions show little impact of FUP on preventing child removal from home, but some positive impact on reunification among children already placed out of home. Hazard estimations show receipt of FUP speeds up child welfare case closure. Impacts on new reports of abuse and neglect are mixed, but point toward reduced reports. Low rates of removal among intact comparison families and high rates of reunification for children in out-of-home care suggest poor targeting of housing resources. Housing vouchers are being given to families not bearing the risks the program is intended to address. The presence of some positive findings suggests that housing vouchers might help reduce child welfare involvement if better targeting were practiced by child welfare agencies.
Treatment of Genito-Pelvic Pain/Penetration Disorder

The objective of this chapter is to review strategies for management of genito-pelvic pain/penetration disorder (GPPPD). GPPPD refers to pain or fear of pain with sexual genital contact or vaginal penetration. This broad diagnosis demands a comprehensive evaluation and a multiplatform management strategy. GPPPD is commonly associated with specific diagnoses including localized vulvodynia, vulvar dermatoses, hormonally related atrophy, neuropathy, vaginismus, pelvic floor hypertonus and myalgia, and chronic pelvic pain conditions such as endometriosis and bladder pain syndromes. Typically, multiple diagnoses underlie dyspareunia. Treatment is dependent on identification of all components of pain. Psychological, interpersonal, and cultural dynamics must be addressed. Multidisciplinary management generally combines medication, physical therapy, psychological therapy, and when indicated, surgery. This chapter presents evidence-based treatment modalities for each of the conditions commonly associated with GPPPD.
RRP42, a Subunit of Exosome, Plays an Important Role in Female Gametophytes Development and Mesophyll Cell Morphogenesis in Arabidopsis.

The exosome complex plays a central and essential role in RNA metabolism. However, current research on functions of exosome subunit in plants is limited. Here, we used an egg cell-specific promoter-controlled CRISPR/Cas9 system to knock out RRP42 which encodes a core subunit of the Arabidopsis exosome and presented evidence that RRP42 is essential for the development of female gametophytes. Next, we designed three different amiRNAs targeting RRP42. The rrp42 knock-down mutants mainly displayed variegated and serrated leaves, especially in cauline leaves. The internal anatomy of cauline leaves displayed irregularly shaped palisade cells and a reduced density of mesophyll cells. Interestingly, we detected highly accumulated mRNAs that encode xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolases (XTHs) and expansins (EXPAs) during later growth stages in rrp42 knock-down mutants. The mRNA decay kinetics analysis for XTH19, EXPA10 and EXPA11 revealed that RRP42 had a role in the decay of these mRNAs in the cytoplasm. RRP42 is localized to both the nucleus and cytoplasm, and RRP42 is preferentially expressed in cauline leaves during later growth stages. Altogether, our results demonstrate that RRP42 is essential for the development of female gametophytes and plays an important role in mesophyll cell morphogenesis.
BiBlade sampling tool validation for comet surface environments

The BiBlade sampling chain was developed for use in a potential Comet Surface Sample Return mission. Following prior versions of the sampling tool, a new tool was developed and validated to TRL 6. Sample acquisition testing was performed across a range of comet simulants and operational conditions. Tool operation was validated in a thermal-vacuum chamber. The end-to-end sampling chain was validated including sampling, sample measurement, and sample transfer. The sampling system is now ready for flight implementation.
Spontaneous Regression of a Nail Matrix Melanocytic Nevus in a Child.

A 14-year-old Hispanic boy presented with a 0.25-mm wide, sharply demarcated, dark brown band of longitudinal melanonychia of the left thumbnail. A clinical diagnosis of nail matrix nevus was made and the boy was scheduled for follow-up. The band showed proximal fading after 6 months and had completely faded after 11 months, with the proximal nail fold showing small dark brown dots on dermoscopy. We documented the spontaneous regression of melanonychia over 11 months.
Mathematical modeling and numerical simulation of the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway in tumor microenvironments

Abstract Mammalian cells respond in a variety of ways to concentrations of activated transforming growth factor (TGF) in the extracellular domain via intracellular Smad signaling pathways. TGF-β/Smad interaction is prevalent in a wide range of tumor environments with both autocrine and paracrine mechanisms driving temporal evolution. TGF-β has been reported to exhibit both pro- and antagonistic roles in tumor progression and survival. It has been argued that tumor cells upregulate TGF-β production by modifying the TGF-β/Smad pathway. Although several numerical studies of the tumor microenvironment have been conducted, most are based on PDEs where the cells are represented as a continuum or on discrete agent-based methods. Here, we develop a hybrid/cells-based model for the tumor microenvironment with cells represented as discrete entities in which diffusion and reaction in the extracellular environment as well as protein/receptor surface interactions are described using immersed interface methods. We develop a model for the cellular TGF-β/Smad pathways with the intracellular processes represented by systems of ODE's. In this study, we investigate the variation in cellular response with different levels of TGF-β in the extracellular environment. Our numerical results show that the model can account for experimental results on tumor cell lines when intracellular production and secretion of TGF-B based on activated Smad concentrations are included in the model system. Additionally, we studied the intracellular and surface levels of TGF-β in two different types of cells and observed variation in the extracellular domain.
Changes in Acceptance of Evolution and Associated Factors during a Year of Introductory Biology: The Shifting Impacts of Biology Knowledge, Politics, Religion, Demographics, and Understandings of the Nature of Science

Recent research has identified many factors influencing student acceptance of biological evolution, but few of these factors have been measured in a longitudinal context of changing knowledge and acceptance of evolution over a period of instruction. This study investigates factors previously associated with evolution acceptance as well as other potential factors among students over the course of a year-long majors and non-majors introductory biology sequence at a private, research-intensive university in the northeastern United States. Acceptance of evolution was measured using the Measure of Acceptance of the Theory of Evolution (MATE) instrument, and other factors were measured using well-established instruments and a demographic survey. As expected given the context, evolution was widely accepted among the population (71% of our sample scored in the "high" or "very high" acceptance range), but 160 students were in the very low to moderate acceptance range. Over the course of the academic year, regressions on measures of normalized change revealed that as knowledge of the Nature of Science (NOS) increased, evolution acceptance increased (R2 = .378, p << 0.001). Increasing levels of genetic literacy (R2 = .214, p << 0.001) and Evolutionary Knowledge (R2 = .177, p << 0.001) were also significantly associated with increases in acceptance of evolution. We also examined the longitudinal effect of combining various factors into unified working models of acceptance of evolution, and this is the first study by our knowledge to do so. From fall to spring, the influence of student knowledge of NOS on evolution acceptance increased, as did the influence of genetic literacy. Conversely, the influence of religious variables decreased, as did the influence of political inclinations and race/ethnicity. Our results indicate that as students learn more about the nature of science, they may rely more on scientific explanations for natural phenomena. This study also underscores the importance of using longitudinal, multifactorial analyses to understand acceptance of evolution.
Simulations for the global quantum efficiency of MicroBooNE optical units

The MicroBooNE detector uses scintillation light from particle interactions in liquid argon as a data acquisition trigger. This scintillation light has wavelengths in the vacuum ultra violet (VUV) range, and must be converted into visible light to be detected by photomultiplier tubes (PMTs). To convert the light, MicroBooNE uses wavelength shifting plates coated with Tetraphenyl butadiene (TPB) placed in front of its PMTs. While basic tuning of this plate-PMT system is sufficient for triggering, precise calibration of the system makes additional calorimetry possible. This note will outline how a photon simulation which accounts for the geometry and optical details of the MicroBooNE detector can accompany a measurement of observed photoelectrons in a plate-PMT test stand, and how the results may be used to determine a "global quantum efficiency" for the plate-PMT system. This global quantum efficiency is one required ingredient for improving the capabilities of the light collection system.
Introduction: Issues and Themes in Forgiveness and Reconciliation

Throughout the world, we continue to see violent outbreaks between individuals and groups. For many years, psychologists committed to peace viewed violence through the narrow lens of the Cold War struggle for world dominance between the United States and the Soviet Union. At that time, the prevention of nuclear war was the preeminent concern for those who called themselves peace psychologists.
Lower cutaneous microvascular reactivity in adult cancer patients receiving chemotherapy

Cancer survivors treated with chemotherapy experience an increased risk of cardiovascular events, linked to both cardiac and vascular toxicity. The major finding of this study is that microvascular...
Individual, social, and structural factors affecting antiretroviral therapy adherence among HIV-positive people who inject drugs in Kazakhstan.

Abstract Background HIV-infected people who inject drugs (PWID) are particularly vulnerable to suboptimal ART adherence. The fastest-growing HIV epidemics globally are driven by injection drug use, but only a small percentage of HIV-positive PWID have achieved viral suppression. Virally suppressed individuals have better HIV-related health outcomes and effectively no risk of transmitting HIV to others. Hence, ART adherence is important for both HIV treatment and HIV prevention. There is a paucity of data on barriers and facilitators of ART adherence among PWID in low and middle income countries, which is problematic given the growing HIV epidemics among PWID in these countries. Methods Using the Theory of Triadic Influence, this paper examines individual, interpersonal, and structural barriers and facilitators of ART adherence among HIV-positive PWID in four cities in Kazakhstan. Eight focus groups were conducted (two in each city) with a total of 57 participants. Data were coded and analyzed by three researchers. Results We found a number of barriers and facilitators to ART adherence among PWID at the individual, interpersonal, and structural levels. Individual barriers to ART adherence include misperceptions about ART, forgetfulness due to the effects of illicit drug use, and medication side effects. Interpersonal facilitators of ART adherence include social support and good relationships with healthcare providers. Structural barriers include poverty, legal challenges, disruptions in the ART supply, and stigma and discrimination. Conclusion The paper highlights important factors related to ART adherence for HIV-positive PWID and identifies potential strategies for intervention efforts, including couple-based interventions, electronic reminders, linkage to drug treatment services, and patient navigation. Effectively enhancing adherence to ART among PWID will likely require multi-level approaches and strategies. Further research should be conducted on potential methods and interventions for improving ART adherence among this vulnerable population.
Homogeneous Multifunction Devices Designing and Layered Implementing Based on Rotary Medium

Multifunctional device with homogeneous anisotropic material parameters are proposed and designed based on linear transformation optics and rotary medium. Four examples including rotating concentrator, rotating amplifying device, rotating shrinking device and rotating transparent device are reported. All of them have bi-functional effects, i.e., they possess concentrating, amplifying, shrinking and transparent effects respectively while have the fields been rotated an angle of π/N simultaneously in common, where N is the sides number of polygon. All these devices have potential applications, such as energy accumulation or controlling, military camouflage, wireless communication system and radar/antenna protection. Furthermore, alternating isotropic layered structure based on effective medium theory is utilized to remove the anisotropic property of these devices. Simulation results show that the layered structure device behaves almost as perfect as the ideal one when it has sufficient divided layers. The feasibility of designing multifunctional device by natural isotropic materials instead of metamaterials with complicated artificial composite structure would dramatically reduce the fabrication difficulty and move the device a step further towards the practical application.
Smooth Muscle Tumors of the Visceral Adnexal and Uterine Ligaments and Adnexal Connective Tissue: A Clinicopathologic Study of 67 Cases

The endopelvic fascia is a biomechanical network of supportive tissue that suspends and secures the female reproductive organs to the pelvic sidewall. Several visceral adnexal and uterine ligaments are part of this framework, and we have observed that smooth muscle tumors (SMTs) arising from these s
Data Security and Privacy Protection in Public Cloud

This paper discusses about the challenges, advantages and shortcomings of existing solutions in data security and privacy in public cloud computing. As in cloud computing, oceans of data will be stored. Data stored in public cloud would face both outside attacks and inside attacks since public cloud provider themselves are untrusted. Conventional encryption could be used for storage, however most data in cloud needs further computation. Decryption before computation will cause large overheads for data operation and lots of inconvenience. Thus, efficient methods to protect data security as well as privacy for large amount of data in cloud are necessary.In the paper, different mechanisms to protect data security and privacy in public cloud are discussed. A data security and privacy enabled multi-cloud architecture is proposed.
Will Sexual Minority Rights Be Trumped? Assessing the Policy Sustainability of LGBTI Rights Diplomacy in American Foreign Policy

A hallmark of the Barack Obama Administration’s foreign policy was the incorporation of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender and Intersex [LGBTI] rights diplomacy. With the change to the Donald ...
Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance in a Cohort of Chronic Hepatitis C Virus-Infected Patients with Cirrhosis

Six-monthly hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) screening in cirrhotic patients has been recommended since 2011. HCC prognosis is associated with diagnosis at an early stage. We examined the prevalence and correlates of 6-monthly HCC surveillance in a cohort of HCV-infected cirrhotic patients. Data were obtained from the medical records of patients receiving care from four hospitals between January 2011 and December 2016. Frequencies and logistic regression were conducted. Of 2,933 HCV-infected cirrhotic patients, most were ≥ 60 years old (68.5%), male (62.2%), White (65.8%), and had compensated cirrhosis (74.2%). The median follow-up period was 3.5 years. Among these patients, 10.9% were consistently screened 6 monthly and 21.4% were never screened. Patients with a longer history of cirrhosis (AOR = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.80–0.93) were less likely to be screened 6 monthly while decompensated cirrhotic patients (AOR = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.06–1.81) and cirrhotic patients between 18 and 44 years (AOR = 2.01, 95% CI = 1.07–3.74) were more likely to be screened 6 monthly compared to compensated cirrhotic patients and patients 60 years and older respectively. There were no significant differences by race, gender, or insurance type. The prevalence of consistent HCC surveillance remains low despite formalized recommendations. One in five patients was never surveilled. Patients with a longer history of cirrhosis were less likely to be surveilled consistently despite their greater HCC risk. Improving providers’ knowledge about current HCC surveillance guidelines, educating patients about the benefits of consistent HCC surveillance, and systemic interventions like clinical reminders and standing HCC surveillance protocols can improve guideline-concordant surveillance in clinical practice.
A Path To High-Quality Team-Based Care For People With Serious Illness

Although most care for people with serious illness is delivered by multiple providers and agencies, there is no gold standard for how to assemble, train, unify, and sustain strong teams. Using less...
Promoting Mental Health in Asian Immigrants

This chapter focuses on promoting mental health among Asian immigrants. First, we provide background information about this growing and diverse community. Next, we discuss cultural adjustment, underuse of mental health services, and why it is important to develop services for Asian immigrants. We then describe the major factors that contribute to Asian immigrants’ mental health, including acculturation, social support, and spirituality, as well as Asian immigrants’ use of collectivistic coping strategies. Finally, implications for prevention programs, research, and education are discussed.
Contrary to Myth, Older Adults Multitask With Media and Technologies, But Studying Their Multitasking Behaviors Can Be Challenging

Background and Objectives The study's objective was to explore older adults' (aged 65 or older) descriptions of behavior related to multitasking with traditional and newer media/information and communication technologies (ICTs) and perceived benefits of such behavior, along with older adults' preference for research methods used to study their multitasking behaviors. Employing common media-use measures that heavily rely on self-reporting in populations of older adults is challenging, especially given that patterns of media/ICT use are becoming increasingly complex. Cumulatively, people spend more time using media than they are aware of because of the tendency to use some forms of media simultaneously. As cognitive ability deteriorates with age, self-reported recollection of complex patterns of media/ICT use, such as multitasking, among older adults increases the threat to data accuracy.Research Design and Methods: Twenty-eight community-dwelling older adults in a Midwestern U.S. state participated in in-depth interviews (average length was 40 minutes) to discuss their use of traditional and newer media/technologies in combination with other activities and outline methods researchers should use to study such behaviors. Results Participants reported they engaged in multitasking behaviors similar to those of younger generations, with the difference in the higher extent of using traditional media and ICTs. They talked about multitasking with radio and television for "background noise" as being a rewarding experience. They perceived the effects of multitasking to be detrimental to attention and performance and attributed this media-use habit to individual psychological and demographic differences. They preferred ethnographic observation and keeping a paper-and-pencil diary as research methods to study multitasking among their peers. Data-logging methods were less popular because they raised privacy concerns among interviewees. Discussion and Implications Different types of traditional and newer media and technologies could be used differently in situations that require older adults to focus, relax, or be efficient. The findings suggest that future researchers strive for a compromise between data access and data accuracy when they select a research method to study media use among older adults.
Apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease-1 and hepatocellular carcinoma.

563Background: The enzyme apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease-1 (APE1) is associated with protection against DNA damage and oxidative damage congruent with cancer. The purpose of this study is to in...
Urinary Tract Infections as a Continuum: Implications for Diagnostic and Antibiotic Stewardship.

No abstract available Keywords: antibiotic stewardship; asymptomatic bacteriuria; diagnostic stewardship; pyuria; urinary tract infection.