cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Age and Ethnic Differences in Cold Weather and Contagion Theories of Colds and Flu

Age and ethnic group differences in cold weather and contagion or germ theories of infectious disease were explored in two studies. A cold weather theory was frequently invoked to explain colds and to a lesser extent flu but became less prominent with age as children gained command of a germ theory of disease. Explanations of how contact with other people causes disease were more causally sophisticated than explanations of how cold weather causes it. Finally, Mexican American and other minority children were more likely than European American children to subscribe to cold weather theories, a difference partially but not wholly attributable to ethnic group differences in parent education. Findings support the value of an intuitive or naive theories perspective in understanding developmental and sociocultural differences in concepts of disease and in planning health education to help both children and their parents shed misconceptions so that they can focus on effective preventive actions.
Raised floor computer data center: effect on rack inlet temperatures of chilled air exiting both the hot and cold aisles

This paper focuses on the effect of the rack inlet temperatures resulting from chilled air exhausting from perforated tiles situated in both the hot and cold aisles of a raised floor data center. Only the above floor (raised floor) flow and temperature distributions were analyzed for various flowrates exhausting from the perforated tiles. A Computational Fluid Dynamic(CFD) model was generated for the room with electronic equipment installed on a raised floor with particular focus on the effects on rack inlet temperatures of equipment heat load, placement of air conditioning (A/C) units and chilled air flowrates. Forty racks of data processing (DP) equipment were arranged in rows in a data center cooled by chilled air exhausting from perforated floor tiles. The chilled air was provided by four A/C units placed inside a room 12.1 m wide x 13.4 m long. Since the arrangement of the racks in the data center was symmetric only one-half of the data center needed to be modeled. The numerical modeling was performed using a commercially available finite control volume computer code called Flotherm (Trademark of Flomerics, Inc.). The flow was modeled using the k-e turbulence model. Results are displayed to provide some guidance on the design and layout of a data center.
Exposure and effects of perfluoroalkyl compounds on tree swallows nesting at Lake Johanna in east central Minnesota, USA.

Tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) samples were collected at a reference lake and a nearby lake (Lake Johanna) in east central Minnesota, USA contaminated with perfluorinated carboxylic and sulfonic acids. Tissues were analyzed for a suite of 13 perfluoroalkyl compounds (PFCs) to quantify exposure and to determine if there was an association between egg concentrations of PFCs and reproductive success of tree swallows. Concentrations of perfluoroocatane sulfonate (PFOS) were elevated in all tree swallow tissues from Lake Johanna compared to tissues collected at the reference lake. Other PFCs, except for two, were elevated in blood plasma at Lake Johanna compared to the reference lake. PFOS was the dominant PFC (>75%) at Lake Johanna, but accounted for <50% of total PFCs at the reference lake. There was a negative association between concentrations of PFOS in eggs and hatching success. Reduced hatching success was associated with PFOS levels as low as 150 ng/g wet weight.
Modeling the Wind-Driven Variability of the South Indian Ocean

This article describes the results of numerical experiments carried out with a general circulation ocean model to investigate the effect of the seasonal cycle of the wind forcing on the Agulhas transport. Two cases are described. The first was initialized with temperature and salinity values obtained by horizontally averaging Levitus climatology. The second experiment was designed to isolate the spatial and temporal structure of the barotropic mode. The model, therefore, was initialized with constant values of temperature and salinity. Both experiments were started from rest, forced at their surface with Hellerman and Rosenstein wind stress climatology, and spun up until dynamical equilibrium. According to the experiments there are two distinct modes of variability in the south Indian Ocean. These modes appear to be separated by the topographic ridges that run south of Madagascar. On the western side of the basin there is a dominant mode with a maximum during spring‐summer and a minimum during fall‐winter. East of Madagascar there is a marked decrease of the circulation in fall and relative maximums during late summer and late winter. The midlatitude time variability, east of 458E, appears to be dominated by advection and wave propagation. West of 458E there is dominance by local wind forcing. A comparison between baroclinic and barotropic experiments indicates that although their annual mean structure is markedly different, their monthly anomalies, south of 308S, are quite similar. This result, which agrees with previous theoretical and experimental studies, indicates that the seasonal adjustment in the south Indian Ocean is mostly accomplished by the westward propagation of barotropic planetary waves. This propagation is inhibited by the bottom topography of the Madagascar Ridge and Southwest Indian Ridge (;458E). These topographic features appear to isolate the Agulhas Current in the western region from the large-scale gyre farther east at seasonal timescales.
A study on the cytotoxiciy of low temperature plasma

Low temperature plasma is being actively considered in medical applications such as in wound healing and blood coagulation [1]. Several investigators have reported promising results regarding the treatment of chronic wounds and even the induction of apoptosis in some types of cancer cells. However, before seriously considering plasma technology for these applications and others involving biological cells, it is important to evaluate its cytotoxicity. Cells can be damaged by various agents generated by plasmas, These include heat, ultraviolet radiation, and chemically reactive species. In this paper we discuss these issues and using a multi-cell organism as a model we show that exposure to low temperature plasma jets generated by our pulsed source, the “Plasma Pencil” did not elicit negative effects on cell regeneration.
FAK regulates intestinal epithelial cell survival and proliferation during mucosal wound healing.

Background Following damage to the intestinal epithelium, restoration of epithelial barrier integrity is triggered by a robust proliferative response. In other tissues, focal adhesion kinase (FAK) regulates many of the cellular processes that are critical for epithelial homeostasis and restitution, including cell migration, proliferation and survival. However, few studies to date have determined how FAK contributes to mucosal wound healing in vivo. Methodology and Principal Findings To examine the role of FAK in intestinal epithelial homeostasis and during injury, we generated intestinal epithelium (IE)-specific conditional FAK knockout mice. Colitis was induced with dextran-sulfate-sodium (DSS) and intestinal tissues were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting. While intestinal development occurred normally in mice lacking FAK, FAK-deficient animals were profoundly susceptible to colitis. The loss of epithelial FAK resulted in elevated p53 expression and an increased sensitivity to apoptosis, coincident with a failure to upregulate epithelial cell proliferation. FAK has been reported to function as a mechanosensor, inducing cyclin D1 expression and promoting cell cycle progression under conditions in which tissue/matrix stiffness is increased. Collagen deposition, a hallmark of inflammatory injury resulting in increased tissue rigidity, was observed in control and FAK knockout mice during colitis. Despite this fibrotic response, the colonic epithelium in FAK-deficient mice exhibited significantly reduced cyclin D1 expression, suggesting that proliferation is uncoupled from fibrosis in the absence of FAK. In support of this hypothesis, proliferation of Caco-2 cells increased proportionally with matrix stiffness in vitro only under conditions of normal FAK expression; FAK depleted cells exhibited reduced proliferation concomitant with attenuated cyclin D1 expression. Conclusions In the colon, FAK functions as a regulator of epithelial cell survival and proliferation under conditions of mucosal injury and a mechanosensor of tissue compliance, inducing repair-driven proliferation in the colonic epithelium through upregulation of cyclin D1.
A Phase I Study of PF-04449913, an Oral Hedgehog Inhibitor, in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors

Purpose: To estimate the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of single-agent PF-04449913, and to evaluate safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and preliminary antitumor activity in patients with advanced tumors. Experimental Design: A 3+3 design was used in this open-label, multicenter, phase I study and dose escalation/de-escalation applied until identification of the MTD. PF-04449913 was orally administered once daily in continuous 28-day treatment cycles. The starting dose was 80 mg. Results: A total of 23 patients were enrolled; 19 were evaluable for first-cycle dose-limiting toxicity (DLT). The first-cycle DLT rate at the 640 mg dose level was 33.3%, and the MTD was estimated to be 320 mg once daily. The recommended phase II dose was not determined. PF-04449913 was generally well tolerated at doses of 80 to 320 mg once daily. The most common treatment-related adverse events (AE) were grade 1–2 dysgeusia, fatigue, decreased appetite, nausea, dizziness, dehydration, and diarrhea. Treatment-related grade 3 AEs only occurred in patients receiving PF-04449913 640 mg once daily. No treatment-related grade 4–5 AEs were reported. Pharmacokinetic analysis indicated a generally dose-proportional kinetics with biphasic elimination, supporting once-daily dosing. PF-04449913 modulated hedgehog signaling at the dose levels tested, as demonstrated by >80% downregulation of GLI1 expression in the skin of treated patients. Eight patients (34.8%) achieved stable disease; none had complete or partial response. Three patients with disease progression at enrollment had prolonged disease stabilization (≥6 months). Conclusions: The results obtained in this study support further evaluation of PF-04449913 in patients with advanced solid tumors. Clin Cancer Res; 21(5); 1044–51. ©2014 AACR .
Manipulating the Bioenergetics of Alloreactive T Cells Causes Their Selective Apoptosis and Arrests Graft-Versus-Host Disease

Cells generate adenosine triphosphate (ATP) by glycolysis and by oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). Despite the importance of having sufficient ATP available for the energy-dependent processes involved in immune activation, little is known about the metabolic adaptations that occur in vivo to meet the increased demand for ATP in activated and proliferating lymphocytes . We found that bone marrow (BM) cells proliferating after BM transplantation (BMT) increased aerobic glycolysis but not OXPHOS, whereas T cells proliferating in response to alloantigens during graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) increased both aerobic glycolysis and OXPHOS. Metabolomic analysis of alloreactive T cells showed an accumulation of acylcarnitines consistent with changes in fatty acid oxidation. Alloreactive T cells also exhibited a hyperpolarized mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), increased superoxide production, and decreased amounts of antioxidants, whereas proliferating BM cells did not. Bz-423, a small-molecule inhibitor of the mitochondrial F 1 F 0 adenosine triphosphate synthase (F 1 F 0 -ATPase), selectively increased superoxide and induced the apoptosis of alloreactive T cells, which arrested established GVHD in several BMT models without affecting hematopoietic engraftment or lymphocyte reconstitution. These findings challenge the current paradigm that activated T cells meet their increased demands for ATP through aerobic glycolysis, and identify the possibility that bioenergetic and redox characteristics can be selectively exploited as a therapeutic strategy for immune disorders.
Effect of Crowding and Cage Shape on Productivity and Profitability of Caged Layers: A Survey

Abstract We studied research published between 1971 and 1983 on the effects of crowding and cage shape on performance of layers. Three density categories were selected for analysis based on cage floor area per hen: 1) low, ranging from 432 to 561 cm2, averaging 516 cm2; 2) medium, ranging from 355 to 426 cm2, averaging 387 cm2; and 3) high, ranging from 271 to 348 cm2, averaging 310 cm2. Comparisons were made of exactly reversed, deep vs. shallow cages and not exactly reversed, deep vs. shallow cages. Although direct comparisons of all three densities were seldom available within studies, the overall results suggest a curvilinear relationship with performance traits decreasing more rapidly at higher densities. Reducing floor space per hen from an average of 387 cm2 (medium) to 310 cm2 (high) reduced eggs per hen housed by 16.6 (P
Predictors of Inpatient PTSD Treatment Noncompletion Among OEF/OIF/OND Veterans

ABSTRACTVeterans returning from Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), and Operation New Dawn (OND) display high rates of noncompletion from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment. The present study included 282 male OEF/OIF/OND veterans and examined predictors of noncompletion from inpatient evidence-based treatment (EBT) for PTSD. Logistic regression analyses identified younger age, higher military rank, less improvement in symptom reduction, less improvement in overall functioning, and greater concurrent drug use at admission as significant and unique predictors of noncompletion. Overall, these findings reveal clinically relevant predictors of noncompletion and provide information that may increase PTSD treatment completion.
Urban desertification and a phenomenology of sustainability: the case of El Paso, Texas

My thesis is that current cities and the way that cities are being developed is unsustainable and poses global problems for the long-term flourishing of the world’s inter-related and interdependent economies, for matters of justice and happiness in socio-cultural relations between peoples, and for the health of our natural environments. I argue that ‘urban desertification’ happens in the complex relationship between cities (both urban and suburban) and rural environments that support them as both a natural and ethical phenomenon that I study using a form of analysis called phenomenological ethics. First, I briefly present sketches of phenomenology and sustainability in order to introduce the method of phenomenological ethics to develop a more adequate understanding of urban sustainability. Then, I make a connection between desertification and urbanisation. Finally, I focus on the city of El Paso, Texas in order to provide an empirical and relevant case study of the existing problems of desertification and sustainability.
Chlorinated Hydrocarbon Insecticide Residues in Soils of Urban Areas, Battle Creek, Michigan

The present broad concern about pesticide residues in agricultural soils stimulated interest in the probability of gross contamination of some urban soils. In agricultural areas insecticide applications to soil are made, in most instances, according to recommendations of qualified extension agriculturists. In contrast, when urban soils are treated for control of pests, such applications are often made by inexperienced users and may involve a wide variety and range of dosages of materials. The study reported here was made to determine the magnitude and distribution of chlorinated hydrocarbon residues in soils of a typical city, Battle Creek, Michigan. During the fall of 1963, turf and cultivated soil samples were collected from the city (about 8 samples from each square mile). These samples were analyzed for residues of chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticides.
At the Threshold of Representation: Cremation and Cremated Remains in Classical Latin Literature

This paper considers a set of passages from classical Latin literature of the first century BC and first century AD that indicate awareness of the particular transformations undergone by a human body during the process of open-air cremation. Evidence for the extent of cremation throughout the Roman West is reviewed, as are indications that mourners frequently remained near the pyre throughout the lengthy transformation of the corpse into bone-remnants and ash. In addition, archaeological, ethnographic, and forensic evidence documenting the step-by-step changes undergone by the burning body is introduced. Against this backdrop, numerous passages from authors such as Horace, Vergil, Propertius, Tibullus, Ovid, Seneca, Lucan, Statius, and Suetonius take on new significance. Although authors occasionally cite crematory details as such, they more frequently make use of such details in non-crematory contexts in order to achieve a variety of literary and aesthetic goals, including economy of description, reflection on the circulation of substance, and clarification of the process of ekpyrosis , or cosmic conflagration. For these writers considered as a group cremation serves as an indicator of both the abject nature of the human condition and of its potential sublimity. The calculated displacement of key aspects of the crematory process onto non-crematory events and practices mirrors and extends the liminality associated with crematory rites.
Behavior of the copper band of cytochrome c oxidase in rat brain during FC-43-for-blood substitution.

Over the past few years, it has become possible to monitor tissue oxygenation in situ by measuring changes in oxygen-dependent absorption of near infrared (NIR) light by tissue chromophores. Soft tissues and bone are relatively translucent to near infrared light. Hemoglobin (Hb), oxyhemoglobin (HbO2) and the oxidized copper band of cytochrome c oxidase (cytochrome a,a3) have oxygen-dependent absorption spectra in the 700-900 nm wavelength region. These concepts were first reported when Jobsis (1977) demonstrated transmission of NIR light through intact tissues and the feasibility of NIR monitoring of changes in both the oxygenation of hemoglobin and the oxidation level of cytochrome a,a 3 in living brain. NIR signals acquired from intact brain must be partitioned into absorption changes proportional to the concentrations of each of the three absorbers because of overlap of the NIR absorption spectra of Hb, HbO2 and oxidized cytochrome a,a 3. The NIR contributions of Hb, HbO2, and cytochrome a,a 3 to the spectrum of each of the other absorbers in brain tissue (t) can be accounted for by means of algorithms that calculate changes in the relative amounts of each component. The algorithms resolve changes in absorption at several wavelengths according to the relative contribution of each absorber at each wavelength. Since three overlapping absorption spectra must be deconvoluted, spectral data from at least three NIR wavelengths are necessary to correct for the contributions of the three molecular species. In some situations, four wavelength algorithms appear to provide more accurate approximations of the NIR absorption properties of living tissues.
Direct model-based tomographic reconstruction of the complex refractive index

X-ray propagation-based phase contrast tomography (XPCT) has become popular as a method for tomographically reconstructing the complex refractive index of a material from single distance measurements. XPCT has two major advantages over traditional X-ray computed tomography (CT): It can be used at higher cone-beam magnifications, and it typically produces higher contrast. However, current XPCT reconstruction algorithms are limited to near-field diffraction, which limits both their use and the quality of reconstructions. In this paper, we present a model-based iterative reconstruction (MBIR) algorithm called complex refractive index tomographic iterative reconstruction (CRITIR). CRITIR is based on a non-linear physics based model for X-ray propagation and a prior model for the complex refractive index of the object being imaged. Unlike conventional methods, CRITIR is designed to work within and beyond the near-field diffraction region. We use simulation to show that our algorithm accurately reconstructs the object while the conventional methods result in inaccurate reconstructions with blurry edges beyond the near-field region.
Implementation of Disaster and Risk Management Policy in the East-Cost of Madagascar

The implementation of Disaster and Risk Management (DRM) policy in Madagascar was a great success and an evolution from its birth until today thanks to these different stakeholders. This implementation that has helped a lot the improvement of living standards of the local population in eastern of Madagascar before, during and after the passage of an aleas. Yet blocking factors even been known because the implementation is not fully satisfactory. This study aims to analyze the problems of implementation. Despite unceasing improvement, the local population still has a very low impact strength and after each cyclone crossing ,the same situation returns. To improve this implementation, I will also suggest few solutions that could solve these problems, so that each level actors can improve their own policy and work method. Note that these solutions were made after long lived with the community.
Employing UNICEF Open Source Software Tools in mHealth Projects in Nicaragua

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is a UN organization whose charter is to protect and improve the lives of children around the world. Maternal and child health are health-related areas where UNICEF has developed innovative Information and Communication Technology (ICT) solutions in the general domain of mHealth in which text messages have been used to address particular health issues. We have used two UNICEF open source software packages, Rapid SMS and Rapid Pro, in tele-health projects in Nicaragua. In this paper we describe the implementation of these projects and the relative advantages/disadvantages of using these two software tools in implementing our solutions.
The Planning for the “Planned Ventral Hernia”

Damage-control laparotomy and temporary abdominal closure have become important components of the armamentarium of many surgeons. Although the goal was to achieve delayed primary fascial closure in these patients, the most critically injured patients will require a different management scheme. We apply a 3-staged management algorithm to patients in whom delayed fascial closure is unattainable and will require future abdominal wall reconstruction. We will share lessons that we have learned after studying abdominal wall reconstruction for the past 25 years. We found that the standard component separation technique was insufficient to close the giant abdominal wall defects. For this reason, we developed a modification that we refer to as the Memphis modification for component separation. This modification allows us to reconstruct the abdominal wall using native tissue in a greater number of patients and thus avoids insertion of prosthetics. We will review the preoperative workup for planned ventral hernia repair, give a detailed step-by-step intra-operative description of the Memphis modification, and discuss postoperative complication and long-term results.
Neighborhood social and physical environments and type 2 diabetes mellitus in African Americans: The Jackson Heart Study

Using data from Jackson Heart Study, we investigated the associations of neighborhood social and physical environments with prevalence and incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in African Americans (AA). Among non-diabetic participants at baseline (n=3670), 521 (14.2%) developed T2DM during a median follow-up of 7.3 years. Measures of neighborhood social environments, and food and physical activity resources were derived using survey-and GIS-based methods. Prevalence ratios (PR) and Hazard ratios (HR) were estimated using generalized estimating equations and Cox proportional hazards models. Higher neighborhood social cohesion was associated with a 22% lower incidence of T2DM while higher density of unfavorable food stores was associated with a 34% higher incidence of T2DM after adjusting for individual-level risk factors (HR=0.78 [95% CI:0.62, 0.99] and HR=1.34 [1.12, 1.60], respectively). In addition, neighborhood problems was also associated with prevalence of T2DM (PR=1.12 [1.03, 1.21]) independent of individual-level risk factors. Our findings suggest that efforts to strengthen community ties or to attract healthy food retail outlets might be important strategies to consider for prevention of T2DM in AA.
Machine learning based estimation of Ozone using spatio-temporal data from air quality monitoring stations

In this paper, models are created to predict the levels of ground level Ozone at particular locations based on the cross-correlation and spatial-correlation of different air pollutants whose readings are obtained from several different air quality monitoring stations in Gauteng province, South Africa, including the City of Johannesburg which is on the cusp of being one of the world's megacities and is currently the most polluted city in the country. Datasets spanning several years collected from the monitoring stations and transmitted through the Internet-of-Things are used. Big data analytics and cognitive computing is used to get insights on the data and create models that can estimate levels of Ozone without requiring massive computational power or intense numerical analysis.
The most intense current sheets in the high-speed solar wind near 1 AU

Electric currents in the solar wind plasma are investigated using 92 ms fluxgate magnetometer data acquired in a high-speed stream near 1 AU. The minimum resolvable scale is roughly 0.18 s in the spacecraft frame or, using Taylor's “frozen turbulence” approximation, one proton inertial length di in the plasma frame. A new way of identifying current sheets is developed that utilizes a proxy for the current density J obtained from the derivatives of the three orthogonal components of the observed magnetic field B. The most intense currents are identified as 5σ events, where σ is the standard deviation of the current density. The observed 5σ events are characterized by an average scale size of approximately 3di along the flow direction of the solar wind, a median separation of around 50di or 100di along the flow direction of the solar wind, and a peak current density on the order of 0.5 pA/cm2. The associated current-carrying structures are consistent with current sheets; however, the planar geometry of these structures cannot be confirmed using single-point, single-spacecraft measurements. If Taylor's hypothesis continues to hold for the energetically dominant fluctuations at kinetic scales 1<kdi≲40, then the results suggest that the most intense current-carrying structures in high-speed wind occur at electron scales, although the peak current densities at kinetic and electron scales are predicted to be nearly the same as those found in this study.
Regulatory T Cells Do Not Affect Human Hematopoietic Stem Cell Engraftment and Prevent T Cell Alloreactivity Against CD34+ Cells: A Preclinical Study.

We have previously demonstrated that allogeneic blood T cells stimulate cord blood (CB) CD34+ cell differentiation into professional antigen presenting cells (APC) in-vitro and in-vivo (Abbasian J, Blood2006:108:203–208). In this study we immunomagnetically selected human CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) and showed that >80% of these cells were positive for FoxP3 intracellular expression. Then we tested whether Tregs may affect CB CD34+ cell clonogenic activity in-vitro an in-vivo, and if co-incubation of Tregs and CD34+ cells may modify the phenotype and function of Tregs. A colony-forming cells (CFU-C) assay performed with CD34+ cells mixed with allogeneic Tregs at 1:2 ratio resulted in comparable numbers of Granulocyte- Macrophage CFU (CFU-GM), burst-forming unit-erythroid (BFU-E) and CFU-Mix as compared to cultures with CD34+ cells alone (p=0.2, p=0.5 and p=0.5, respectively)(n=3 exps). Human CD34+ cells were co-transplanted with human CD4+CD25+ allogeneic Tregs into NOD/SCID mice at 1:1 and 1:2 ratio. After 6 weeks mice marrow was harvested and showed a 1.3±1.1% (n=3 mice) and 1.6±0.8% (n=4 mice) engraftment of huCD45+ cells, respectively, which was comparable to the engraftment observed in control animals transplanted with CD34+ cells alone (1.4±0.4). In addition, among the engrafted huCD45+ cells similar proportion of CD33+ myeloid cells, CD14+ monocytes and CD1c+ dendritic cells were observed in the three groups of animals. Mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) experiments showed that irradiated CD34+ cells stimulated brisk proliferative responses of CD4+CD25- cells (S:R=1:2), but did not induce any proliferation of Tregs (n=3 exps). After incubation with CD34+ cells in the presence of IL2, on average >80% CD4+CD25+ cells maintained the intracellular expression of FoxP3 and surface expression of CD62L and CD152 (n=3 exps). Then, Tregs autologous to CD34+ cells were isolated from the CB CD34- cell fraction while allogeneic Tregs were isolated from healthy individuals’ peripheral blood. When 2.5 x 10 4 autologous or allogeneic Tregs were added to an MLC with 2.5 x 10 4 irradiated CD34+ stimulator cells and allogeneic responders at 1:2 ratio, they suppressed T cell alloreactivity to CD34+ cells on average by 68±14% and 41±16%, respectively (n=3 exps). Our findings suggest that co-transplantation of CD34+ cells and autologous or allogeneic Tregs may allow normal stem cell engraftment while limiting T cell alloreactivity. These results will prompt the design of new strategies in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, particularly in an HLA incompatible setting.
International Human Rights Litigation: A Guide for Judges

This Guide was written to assist federal judges in managing and resolving federal cases involving international human rights claims, and it provides a comprehensive analysis of all substantive and procedural issues involved. A detailed analysis is provided on the Alien Tort Statute, Torture Victim Protection Act, and other federal statutes. The book also includes a model scheduling order for human rights cases as well as case summaries, tables, and research references. The Guide was drafted to be neutral as between human rights plaintiffs and defendants, and thus should provide useful information for all. Because it was commissioned by a federal government agency (the FJC) for the benefit of federal judges, lawyers, and agencies, the Guide has been placed in the public domain and is available as a free resource. Readers can freely distribute, print, and otherwise use and transmit the Guide in its present form, provided that no changes are made to the manuscript itself. Recommended Citation: David Nersessian, INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LITIGATION: A GUIDE FOR JUDGES (Federal Judicial Center 2016).
Decoupling the effects of surface topography and material heterogeneity on indentation modulus: A simple numerical linear-elastic model

Abstract One complication in interpreting indentation modulus measurements in inhomogeneous structural materials is the coupling between surface topography and material heterogeneity. Typically, the specimen surface is prepared to be as smooth and flat as possible, yet there are always limits to how flat a sample surface will be. Moreover, when a compositional interface is sensed mechanically, via a change in modulus, any non-flat surface topography near the interface is combined with the phase changes to influence the total elastic-modulus measurement. This paper uses a linear elastic finite element model to suggest how to decouple these two phenomena. Three axisymmetric models are presented: (1) convex and concave surfaces with material uniformity, (2) a flat surface with a lateral-graded material interface, and (3) convex and concave surfaces with a laterally-graded material interface. Using the exact Hertzian formulae, the indentation modulus is computed assuming that all the models have flat surfaces, like physical experiments often assume, and are elastically uniform. The results of (1) and (2), which have only a non-flat surface topography or material heterogeneity, are used to interpret (3), which has both. The competition between the contact radius and the distance from the indentation point to the material interface significantly influences the calculated elastic modulus. The flat-surface assumption can yield significant errors when extracting the elastic modulus in solids with pronounced curved surfaces. An empirical relation based upon contact pressure and displacement data is used to accurately extract the true material elastic modulus when both surface curvature and material interface are present.
Moving beyond rhetoric: Can Islamic banking become mainstream in Pakistan

Abstract. Challenging economic theory that is developed at micro level is a common practice among macro-economic behaviors of conventional economic system. In this context the paper analyses Islamic banking that tries to bring an interest free financial system. The paper explains the circumstances that may lead to a universal application of Islamic banking in Pakistan. This is done after presenting a detailed discussion on the rational for conventional banking. Keywords. Islamic banking, Capitalism, Islamic economics, Interest rates. JEL. E50, E52, E60.
Neurocognitive correlates of treatment response in children with Tourette's Disorder

This paper examined neurocognitive functioning and its relationship to behavior treatment response among youth with Tourette's Disorder (TD) in a large randomized controlled trial. Participants diagnosed with TD completed a brief neurocognitive battery assessing inhibitory functions, working memory, and habit learning pre- and post-treatment with behavior therapy (CBIT, Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics) or psychoeducation plus supportive therapy (PST). At baseline, youth with tics and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) exhibited some evidence of impaired working memory and simple motor inhibition relative to youth with tics without ADHD. Additionally, a small negative association was found between antipsychotic medications and youth's performance speed. Across treatment groups, greater baseline working memory and aspects of inhibitory functioning were associated with a positive treatment response; no between-group differences in neurocognitive functioning at post-treatment were identified. Within the behavior therapy group, pre-treatment neurocognitive status did not predict outcome, nor was behavior therapy associated significant change in neurocognitive functioning post-treatment. Findings suggest that co-occurring ADHD is associated with some impairments in neurocognitive functioning in youth with Tourette's Disorder. While neurocognitive predictors of behavior therapy were not found, participants who received behavior therapy exhibited significantly reduced tic severity without diminished cognitive functioning.
Suspended Affixation as Morpheme Ellipsis: Evidence from Ossetic Alternative Questions

This paper provides novel evidence that ellipsis can target bound morphemes. The evidence comes from suspended affixation of case markers in alternative questions in Digor and Iron Ossetic. The current literature on alternative questions (e.g. Does Mary like coffee or tea?) proposes that in many languages they are derived by disjunction of and ellipsis in constituents as large as a vP or even as a CP. Language-specific evidence in favor of such structure of alternative questions is available for Ossetic as well. Accordingly, the ostensible disjuncts coffee or tea do not actually form a constituent and case must be separately assigned to each of the DPs. Therefore, a case suffix shared under suspended affixation cannot attach to the orP as a whole. A deletion-based analysis can successfully derive the properties of suspended affixation in Ossetic alternative questions. I advance a specific proposal that incorporates ellipsis into the Distributed Morphology derivation.
Robust Links in Scholarly Communication

Web resources change over time and many ultimately disappear. While this has become an inconvenient reality in day-to-day use of the web, it is problematic when these resources are referenced in scholarship where it is expected that referenced materials can reliably be revisited. We introduce Robust Links, an approach aimed at maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record in a dynamic web environment. The approach consists of archiving web resources when referencing them and decorating links to convey information that supports accessing referenced resources both on the live web and in web archives.
Existence and finite-dimensionality of attractors for the Landau-Lifschitz equations

The Landau-Lifschitz equations describe the time-evolution of magnetization in classical ferro- and antiferromagnets and are of fundamental importance for the understanding of nonequilibrium magnetism. We sketch a proof that, under quite general conditions, dissipative forms of these equations have attracting sets which are finite-dimensional in a suitable sense. In particular, upper bounds are obtained for the Hausdorff and fractal dimensions of these sets.
Effects of boundary conditions on vortex-induced vibration of a fully submerged flexible cylinder

Vortex-induced vibration of a fully submerged, highly flexible circular cylinder placed horizontally in the test section of a re-circulating water tunnel and fixed at both ends is studied experimentally. The cylinder is tension-dominated with an aspect ratio of 73 and a low-mass ratio of a 1.2. Two synchronized high-speed cameras recorded the oscillations of the cylinder in the crossflow (CF) and inline (IL) directions for a reduced velocity range of U* = 4.8–29.0, corresponding to a Reynolds number range of Re = 250–1525. A modal analysis-based technique was implemented to reconstruct a continuous response of the cylinder from limited measurement points. Mono- and multi-frequency responses as well as transition from low mode numbers to high mode numbers are observed. The effect of symmetry breaking at the boundaries of the cylinder is studied using two different, carefully controlled boundary conditions. The response of the system is observed to be highly sensitive to any minimal asymmetry introduced to the system, in particular at higher reduced velocities where higher modes of oscillations are excited. Regardless of the type of boundary conditions, both odd and even mode shapes are excited in the crossflow and inline directions. The amplitude of oscillations along the length of the cylinder in both the CF and IL directions is observed to be asymmetric even in the case of symmetric boundary conditions.
Does long hair belong in a clinical setting

Nurses wearing hair up and out of the face may be seen as outdated, but proponents say keeping hair up is an evidence-based practice that contributes to infection prevention and optimal patient outcomes. This article raises questions concerning hair restraint and infection control and explores the evidence.
Minimally Invasive Muscle Embedding Generates Donor-Cell-Derived Muscle Fibers that Express Desmin and Dystrophin.

Introduction The aim of this study was to quantify the extent of donor-cell-derived myogenesis achieved by a novel surgical technique known as Minimally Invasive Muscle Embedding (MIME). Materials and methods Through MIME, we implanted a single extensor digitorum longus muscle from donor mice (N = 2) that expressed a red fluorescent protein (RFP), into the left tibialis anterior (TA) muscle of immunodeficient host mice (N = 4) that expressed a green fluorescent protein (GFP). Soon after MIME, we injected a myotoxin (barium chloride), into the host TA muscle, to trigger concerted muscle degeneration and regeneration. In lieu of MIME, we performed a SHAM procedure on the right TA muscle of the same set of animals. Results In MIME-treated muscles, 22% ± 7% and 78% ± 7% muscle fibers were RFP+ and GFP+, respectively (mean ± standard deviation); and all RFP+ fibers were positive for desmin and dystrophin. Conclusion. We conclude that MIME helps generate muscle fibers of donor origin, in host muscle.
Assessing the biofidelity of in vitro biomechanical testing of the human cervical spine.

In vitro biomechanical studies of the osteoligamentous spine are widely used to characterize normal biomechanics, identify injury mechanisms, and assess the effects of degeneration and surgical instrumentation on spine mechanics. The objective of this study was to determine how well four standards in vitro loading paradigms replicate in vivo kinematics with regards to the instantaneous center of rotation and arthrokinematics in relation to disc deformation. In vivo data were previously collected from 20 asymptomatic participants (45.5 ± 5.8 years) who performed full range of motion neck flexion-extension (FE) within a biplane x-ray system. Intervertebral kinematics were determined with sub-millimeter precision using a validated model-based tracking process. Ten cadaveric spines (51.8 ± 7.3 years) were tested in FE within a robotic testing system. Each specimen was tested under four loading conditions: pure moment, axial loading, follower loading, and combined loading. The in vivo and in vitro bone motion data were directly compared. The average in vitro instant center of rotation was significantly more anterior in all four loading paradigms for all levels. In general, the anterior and posterior disc heights were larger in the in vitro models than in vivo. However, after adjusting for gender, the observed differences in disc height were not statistically significant. This data suggests that in vitro biomechanical testing alone may fail to replicate in vivo conditions, with significant implications for novel motion preservation devices such as cervical disc arthroplasty implants.
Survey on Applications of Multi-Armed and Contextual Bandits

In recent years, the multi-armed bandit (MAB) framework has attracted a lot of attention in various applications, from recommender systems and information retrieval to healthcare and finance. This success is due to its stellar performance combined with attractive properties, such as learning from less feedback. The multiarmed bandit field is currently experiencing a renaissance, as novel problem settings and algorithms motivated by various practical applications are being introduced, building on top of the classical bandit problem. This article aims to provide a comprehensive review of top recent developments in multiple real-life applications of the multi-armed bandit. Specifically, we introduce a taxonomy of common MAB-based applications and summarize the state-of-the-art for each of those domains. Furthermore, we identify important current trends and provide new perspectives pertaining to the future of this burgeoning field.
Identifying Practice Facilitation Delays and Barriers in Primary Care Quality Improvement

Objective Practice facilitation is an effective approach to implementing quality improvement (QI) interventions in practice-based research networks (PBRNs). Regular facilitator-practice interactions are necessary for successful facilitation, and missed engagements may hinder the process of practice improvement. This study employs a mixed-methods approach to characterize the dynamics of practice facilitation and examine facilitation delays and barriers, as well as their association with the achievement of QI program goals in a PBRN initiative. Methods This study presents a secondary analysis of data from 226 primary care practices that participated in the Healthy Hearts in the Heartland (H3) initiative. We performed a time series analysis to identify delays in facilitation activities, and then qualitatively analyzed practice facilitators' notes (n = 4358) to uncover facilitation barriers. Finally, we assessed the relationship between delays, barriers, and QI intervention completion. Results While most facilitation activities occurred at regular, practice-specific tempos, nearly all practices experienced at least 1 delay. Practices with more delays had lower QI intervention completion rates. Practices with more delays were more likely to have encountered barriers such as lack of time and staff, lack of staff engagement, technical issues, and staff turnover. Discussion and conclusion This study is the first to quantify irregular intervals between facilitation activities and demonstrate their negative association with project completion. The analytic method can be applied to identify at-risk practices and to accelerate timely interventions in future studies. Our delay detection algorithm could inform the design of a decision support system that notifies facilitators which practices may benefit from timely attention and resources.
Utility of a virtual counselor (VICKY) to collect family health histories among vulnerable patient populations: A randomized controlled trial.

Abstract Objectives This study is a randomized controlled trial comparing the efficacy of a virtual counselor (VICKY) to the My Family Health Portrait (MFHP) tool for collecting family health history (FHx). Methods A total of 279 participants were recruited from a large safety-net hospital and block randomized by health literacy to use one of the digital FHx tools, followed by a genetic counselor interview. A final sample of 273 participants were included for analyses of primary study aims pertaining to tool concordance, which assessed agreement between tool and genetic counselor. Results Tool completion differed significantly between tools (VICKY = 97%, MFHP = 51%; p Conclusions A virtual counselor overcomes many of the literacy-related barriers to using traditional digital tools and highlights an approach that may be important to consider when collecting health histories from vulnerable populations. Practice implications The usability of digital health history tools will have important implications for the quality of the data collected and its downstream clinical utility.