cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Implementation of object-orientation using UML in entry level software development courses

In this paper, we establish the need (based on literature and anecdotal evidence) for an infrastructure for CS1 courses to visually support problem solving from the initial problem statement to the code. Then, we describe how using Unified Modeling Language supported by CASE software (Rational Rose) can be used with carefully prepared course materials (selected projects, prepared databases, written lab manuals), to create this infrastructure. The advantage of this infrastructure is that it can be used throughout the student's academic career in software development to support problem solving and collaborative learning. The authors' extensive experience in developing and teaching the Software Engineering and IT courses were the major factor in implementation of the Object-Orientation with Unified Modeling Language in entry level software development courses.
Imaging of maxillofacial trauma: Evolutions and emerging revolutions

The aim of diagnostic imaging for maxillofacial trauma is to provide additional information that can positively influence medical or surgical patient management. Current advances in diagnostic imaging have come from the confluence of 3 driving forces: (1) the demand from clinicians to enhance and expand their diagnostic abilities; (2) the development of new theoretical concepts by basic scientists; and (3) the application of concepts by engineers and manufacturers to provide increasingly sophisticated imaging capabilities. The role of imaging within the health care environment is, however, also buffeted by the complex, sometimes competing, interactions of external social, political, economic, and technological pressures at the national, regional, and local levels. The purposes of this review are to provide a perspective on current imaging modalities used for maxillofacial trauma and to provide an insight into the influences, both technologic and external, on future developments and applications.
Antioxidants in central nervous system diseases: preclinical promise and translational challenges.

Oxidative damage is strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and stroke (brain ischemia/reperfusion injury). The availability of transgenic and toxin-inducible models of these conditions has facilitated the preclinical evaluation of putative antioxidant agents ranging from prototypic natural antioxidants such as vitamin E (α-tocopherol) to sophisticated synthetic free radical traps and catalytic oxidants. Literature review shows that antioxidant therapies have enjoyed general success in preclinical studies across disparate animal models, but little benefit in human intervention studies or clinical trials. Recent high-profile failures of vitamin E trials in Parkinson’s disease, and nitrone therapies in stroke, have diminished enthusiasm to pursue antioxidant neuroprotectants in the clinic. The translational disappointment of antioxidants likely arises from a combination of factors including failure to understand the drug candidate’s mechanism of action in relationship to human disease, and failure to conduct preclinical studies using concentration and time parameters relevant to the clinical setting. This review discusses the rationale for using antioxidants in the prophylaxis or mitigation of human neurodiseases, with a critical discussion regarding ways in which future preclinical studies may be adjusted to offer more predictive value in selecting agents for translation into human trials.
Tryptophan fluorescence quenching by enzyme inhibitors as a tool for enzyme active site structure investigation: epoxide hydrolase.

We present the strong fluorescence effect, a new 392 nm emission peak appearing after binding of a naphtol- urea inhibitor XIIa to the enzyme epoxide hydrolase (EH), along with the quenching of the EH tryptophan fluorescence. We have studied the quenching of the 392-nm peak (attributed to XIIa bound inside the active center of the enzyme) of the mixture EH+XIIa by various strong transparent inhibitors (competing with XIIa for binding to EH), and measured the corresponding values of the Stern-Volmer constants, K(mix)SV. Strong EH inhibitors demonstrate different replacement behavior which can be used to distinguish them. We further demonstrate a novel fluorescent assay which allows to distin- guish highly potent inhibitors and to visualize the strongest among them. We generated our assay calibration curve based on the quenching data, by plotting quenching strength K(mix)SV versus inhibiting strength, IC50 values. We used moderate inhibitors for the assay plot generation. We then applied this curve to determine IC50 values for several highly potent in- hibitors, with IC50 values at the limit of the IC50 detection sensitivity by colorimetric enzyme assay. IC50 values deter- mined from our quenching assay show correlation with IC50 values determined in the literature by more sensitive radioac- tive-based assay and allow differentiating the inhibitors potency in this group. To our knowledge, this is the first inhibitor assay of such kind. Chemical inhibition of EH is an important technology in the treatment of various cardiovascular dis- eases, therefore, this tool may play a crucial role in discovering new inhibitor structures for therapeutic EH inhibition.
Real Time Limb Tracking with Adaptive Model Selection

We describe an efficient and robust method of tracking human forearms as skin colored regions. Of special consideration in the design of this system are real-time and robustness issues. We approach this as 2D tracking problem using skin color and edge information. Multiple 2D limb models are used to enhance tracking of the underlying 3D structure. This includes models for lateral forearm views (waving) as well as for pointing gestures. Experiments on test sequences demonstrate the efficacy of this approach.
Response to Pressure from Peers Vs Adults Among Soviet and American School Children

Abstract Reponses d'enfants sovietiques et americains aux pressions de leurs pairs ou des adultes. Dans une etude anterieure, l'auteur et ses collegues ont attire l'attention sur le role que joue le groupe des pairs dans la socialisation aux USA et en Grande-Bretagne d'une part, en URSS d'autre part. Dans les deux premiers pays, le groupe des pairs a, dans une large mesure, une action autonome, relativement independante des valeurs du milieu adulte et qui va quelquefois a l'encontre de ces valeurs. En Union Sovietique, le groupe des pairs est utilise par la societe des adultes comme un instrument majeur d'education. Ces observations ont conduit a l'hypothese qu'en URSS, la probabilite que les enfants se trouvent confrontes a un conflit entre la pression des camarades et les valeurs des adultes. est moins grande qu'aux USA et en Angleterre; ils peuvent, en consequence, s'identifier plus fortement avec les normes de conduite approuvees par les adultes. Cette hypothese a ete testee experimentalement sur un e...
Preoperative Evaluation and Testing for GERD

Diagnostic preoperative testing is necessary to establish the diagnosis of GERD, to understand the disease, to quantify the severity of the disease and to assess the esophageal function, the hiatus, and the lower esophageal sphincter. Appropriate testing also directs the surgeon to the best surgical procedure for the treatment of each individual’s GERD. Diagnostic modalities have improved over recent years, and modern technology has given us a more thorough understanding of the disease.
The Brief Case: A Reactive HIV Rapid Antibody Test in a Pregnant Woman

A 32-year-old pregnant woman presented to her obstetrician for routine prenatal care during her 3rd month of pregnancy. She reported no major health concerns, with the exception of mild morning sickness that had been gradually improving. Upon physical examination, she appeared healthy and her vitals
Geranylgeraniol potentiates lovastatin inhibition of oncogenic H-Ras processing and signaling while preventing cytotoxicity

Oncogenic H-Ras requires farnesylation for its transforming activity. Lovastatin inhibits both protein farnesylation and geranylgeranylation by decreasing cellular pools of farnesylpyrophosphate (FPP) and geranylgeranylpyrophosphate (GGPP), respectively. Use of lovastatin as a chemotherapeutic agent has been precluded by its significant cytotoxic effects. In this report, we describe a novel approach utilizing a combination of lovastatin and geranylgeraniol (GGOH) to potentiate the ability of lovastatin to block oncogenic H-Ras signaling and concomitantly rescue lovastatin toxicity. GGOH co-treatment with lovastatin enhances inhibition of oncogenic H-Ras processing and constitutive activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and preserves the processing of geranylgeranyltransferase (GGTase) I and GGTase II protein substrates. Moreover, co-treatment with GGOH significantly (15-fold) attenuates the cytotoxic effects of lovastatin as well as prevents lovastatin-induced cell rounding. These results demonstrate that GGOH potentiates the anti-oncogenic/anti-signaling activity of lovastatin while antagonizing its cytotoxicity. These opposing effects are due to a GGOH metabolite that serves simultaneously as a potent inhibitor for farneslyltransferase as well as a substrate for GGTases I and II.
Design of Smart Home System Based on Advanced Metering Infrastructure

The main functions and features of intelligent power consumption management system are introduced in the paper,and the realization of the system in detail is also described.The development technology of advanced metering infrastructure,intelligent collection and intelligent interaction is comprehensively utilized in the system with the intelligent interactive terminal as the core platform.The real-time interaction response between the grid and the user,the enhancement of power grid comprehensive service ability,the demand of interactive marketing and the improvement of the service level can be effectively meet,thus the system has broad application prospects.
DNA Characterization with Ion Beam-Sculpted Silicon Nitride Nanopores

Solid state nanopores are emerging as robust single molecule electronic measurement devices and as platforms for confining biomolecules for further analysis. The first silicon nitride nanopore to detect individual DNA molecules were fabricated using ion beam sculpting (IBS), a method that uses broad, low energy ion beams to create nanopores with dimensions ranging from 2 to 20 nm. In this chapter, we discuss the fabrication, characterization, and use of IBS sculpted nanopores as well as efficient uses of pClamp and MATLAB software suites for data acquisition and analysis. The fabrication section will cover the repeatability and the pore size limits. The characterization discussion focuses on the geometric properties as measured by low and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM), electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS), and energy filtered TEM (EFTEM). The section on translocation experiments focuses on how to use tools commonly available to the nanopore experimenter to determine whether a pore will be useful for experimentation or if it should be abandoned. A memory efficient method of taking data using Clampex’s event-driven mode and dual channel recording will be presented, followed by an easy to implement multi-threshold event detection and classification method using MATLAB software.
HISTOLOGICAL AND FUNCTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PERITONEAL MEMBRANE OF A DIABETIC PATIENT AFTER 34 MONTHS OF CAPD

This report describes the course of a 37-year-old man with diabetic nephropathy over 34 months of CAPD. These data suggest that the functional characteristics and the histology of the peritoneum we...
Cathodic protection of pipelines

Abstract This chapter outlines cathodic protection (CP) fundamentals, criteria, field data and design aspects, sacrificial and impressed current system design analysis, interference effects, attenuation, and system life prediction. A detailed description is given for monitoring methods such as potential survey (PS), close interval potential survey (CIPS), direct current voltage gradient (DCVG), and corrosion rate measurement. Sacrificial protection system design illustrates total circuit-resistance evaluation, anode output, number of anodes, and anode life. Impressed current systems (ICS) design illustrates how to evaluate the total circuit resistance and current, selection of anode, rectifier, and construction of groundbed and service life. At the end of the chapter, a computer-aided CP design is introduced, which is useful for the theoretical understanding of CP systems and the development of new designs without the need for field experimental projects.
SU-F-T-594: Dosimetric Impact of Multileaf Collimator Leaf Width On Single and Multiple Isocenter Stereotactactic IMRT Treatment Plans for Four Or More Intracranial Tumors

Purpose: To compare the impact of MLC width on the dose conformity, doses received by the normal brain tissue, and other critical structures for single isocenter (SI) and multiple isocenter (MI) stereotactic IMRT (SRT) treatments for patients with at least four brain tumors. Methods: Six patients (three with seven and three with four lesions) planned in BrainLab iPlan were evaluated using Varian HD MLC (2.5mm leaf-width) and Millennium-120 MLC (5mm leaf-width). Prescribed doses in all plans were 25 Gy delivered in five fractions normalized to 98% dose covering 98% of the target volume. Results: All plans were judged clinically acceptable. The average Paddick conformity index for 2.5mm vs 5mm SI and MI plans were (0.48±0.22 vs. 0.38±0.21, p<.01) and (0.49±0.18 vs. 0.39±0.16, p<.01), respectively. The average percent volumes of normal brain receiving, V12, V10, and V8 Gy for (2.5mm vs 5mm) SI plans were (15.3±11.5 vs. 17.8±13.2, p=0.04), (20.8±14.8 vs. 23.5±15.7, p=0.01), (28.1±18.0 vs. 30.7±18.1, p=0.05), respectively. For MI plans these values were respectively (11.8±8.3 vs. 13.2±8.9, p<0.01), (16.3±11.5 vs. 17.7±11.9, p=0.01), and (22.4±15.5 vs. 23.8±15.4, p=0.01). The average mean and maximum brainstem doses for (SI and MI) plans were (7% and 5%) and (6% and 2%) lower in 2.5mm plans than 5mm plans, respectively. For (SI and MI) plans the average mean and maximum hippocampus doses were (11% and 11%) and (7% and 5%) lower in 2.5mm plans than 5mm plans, respectively. The average mean and maximum chiasm doses for (SI and MI) plans were (5% and 30%) and (7% and 28%) lower in 2.5mm plans than 5mm plans, respectively. Conclusion: MI stereotactic IMRT treatment plans, especially with HD MLC, were capable of achieving significantly higher dose conformity, lower normal brain tissue doses, and lower doses to critical structures than SI plans for four or more intracranial tumors.
Determination of Diastolic Function Parameters: A Comparison of Two Methods

Left ventricular diastolic function can be evaluated noninvasively from gated blood-pool studies. Two of the more useful indices of diastolic function are peak filling rate and time-to-peak filling rate. We have compared two analytic methods (third order polynomial and Fourier series) for determining these parameters. We evaluated both of these methods on a set of 24 subjects and a set of simulated curves. Although there was close agreement between the results obtained with the two methods, the polynomial fit requires operator selection of boundary points which influence the measured parameters and also requires an independent determination of the time-to-end-systole. The Fourier series method does not require operator intervention and determines all relevant quantities automatically from the single fitting procedure. Thus, we conclude that the Fourier series fit is less subject to methodologic bias and is, therefore, the preferred method for the evaluation of left ventricular diastolic function.
Unemployment, Reemployment, and Health Insurance Status Among Older Workers in the Flexible Labor Market

As employment becomes more precarious, and spells of displacement become more common across the labor market, many individuals are forced to make decisions about the speed at which they seek reemployment and the types of employment they will seek. Using repeated cross-sectional data from various years of the Displaced Worker Supplement of the Current Population Survey, we examine the degree to which employer-provided health insurance and organizational provision of advanced layoff warning helped workers—particularly those from earlier birth cohorts—navigate the labor market during a period of growing employment flexibility. Our results indicate that workers from older cohorts, rather than older chronological ages, suffered more from displacement in terms of longer unemployment spells and declines in job quality upon reemployment. Workers able to obtain a job with health insurance had shorter unemployment durations, while those displaced from jobs with health insurance remained unemployed for longer periods of time. Advance notice appears to reduce some of the disproportionately negative effects of displacement for older workers, perhaps by easing the shock of a psychological contract breach. Our findings point to the importance of historical and cultural factors in shaping labor market outcomes.
A novel computer-based approach to diagnostic imaging in the gut

The goal of improved visualization in medical imaging, especially intraoperatively, presently guides computer technology. Accurate diagnosis rests not only on images but also on a conception of pathophysiological processes. Our goal is to build a computer-based diagnostic tool that can aid in the interpretation of MRI and CT images of the gut.
Chronic Physical Illness Burden and Suicidal Ideation Among Dominicans in New York City

Little is known about the association between chronic illness and suicidal ideation (SI) among Dominicans living in the United States. This study used data from a community survey of 2753 Dominican adults in New York City. SI included thoughts of self-harm or being better off dead in the past month. Chronic physical illness burden was categorized as having 0, 1, or 2+ diagnosed conditions. Adjusted logistic regressions evaluated the association between number of conditions and SI, overall and stratified by sex and age. Adjusted models yielded a strong association between chronic illness burden and SI among men [odds ratio (OR) 5.57, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 2.19–14.18] but not women (OR 0.80, 95 % CI 0.50–1.29; interaction p = 0.011). The association of interest did not differ significantly between younger and older adults. Screening for SI in health care practice, particularly among Dominican men with multiple chronic health conditions, may be warranted.
Broken TALEs: Transcription Activator-like Effectors Populate Partly Folded States

Transcription activator-like effector proteins (TALEs) contain large numbers of repeats that bind double-stranded DNA, wrapping around DNA to form a continuous superhelix. Since unbound TALEs retain superhelical structure, it seems likely that DNA binding requires a significant structural distortion or partial unfolding. In this study, we use nearest-neighbor "Ising" analysis of consensus TALE (cTALE) repeat unfolding to quantify intrinsic folding free energies, coupling energies between repeats, and the free energy distribution of partly unfolded states, and to determine how those energies depend on the sequence that determines DNA-specificity (called the "RVD"). We find a moderate level of cooperativity for both the HD and NS RVD sequences (stabilizing interfaces combined with unstable repeats), as has been seen in other linear repeat proteins. Surprisingly, RVD sequence identity influences both the overall stability and the balance of intrinsic repeat stability and interfacial coupling energy. Using parameters from the Ising analysis, we have analyzed the distribution of partly folded states as a function of cTALE length and RVD sequence. We find partly unfolded states where one or more repeats are unfolded to be energetically accessible. Mixing repeats with different RVD sequences increases the population of partially folded states. Local folding free energies plateau for central repeats, suggesting that TALEs access partially folded states where a single internal repeat is unfolded while adjacent repeats remain folded. This breakage should allow TALEs to access superhelically-broken states, and may facilitate DNA binding.
Integrated neural interfaces

Electronic interfaces to the nervous system are increasingly important for experimental neuroscience as well as medical diagnostics and therapies. Existing neural interfaces are limited, however, by the use of passive recording and stimulation devices that are connected to active electronics on separate physical platforms through large amounts of passive wiring. This manuscript proposes a new approach to integrate active electronics directly with neural recording and stimulation devices using state-of-the-art silicon processing, assembly, and packaging techniques. System concepts are described for fully wireless operation as well as wireline interfacing through FDA-cleared implantable leads and connectors. The approach offers a more modular paradigm of neural interface design, which is greatly needed as the demand for higher channel counts grows.
Quantum healing of spacetime singularities: A review

Singularities are commonplace in general relativistic spacetimes. It is natural to hope that they might be “healed” (or resolved) by the inclusion of quantum mechanics, either in the theory itself (quantum gravity) or, more modestly, in the description of the spacetime geodesic paths used to define them. We focus here on the latter, mainly using a procedure proposed by Horowitz and Marolf to test whether singularities in broad classes of spacetimes can be resolved by replacing geodesic paths with quantum wave packets. We list the spacetime singularities that various authors have studied in this context, and distinguish those which are healed quantum mechanically (QM) from those which remain singular. Finally, we mention some alternative approaches to healing singularities.
Cu+-specific CopB transporter: Revising p1B-type ATPase classification

The copper-transporting P1B-ATPases, which play a key role in cellular copper homeostasis, have been divided traditionally into two subfamilies, the P1B-1-ATPases or CopAs and the P1B-3-ATPases or CopBs. CopAs selectively export Cu+ whereas previous studies and bioinformatic analyses have suggested that CopBs are specific for Cu2+ export. Biochemical and spectroscopic characterization of Sphaerobacter thermophilus CopB (StCopB) show that, while it does bind Cu2+, the binding site is not the prototypical P1B-ATPase transmembrane site and does not involve sulfur coordination as proposed previously. Most important, StCopB exhibits metal-stimulated ATPase activity in response to Cu+, but not Cu2+, indicating that it is actually a Cu+ transporter. X-ray absorption spectroscopic studies indicate that Cu+ is coordinated by four sulfur ligands, likely derived from conserved cysteine and methionine residues. The histidine-rich N-terminal region of StCopB is required for maximal activity, but is inhibitory in the presence of divalent metal ions. Finally, reconsideration of the P1B-ATPase classification scheme suggests that the P1B-1- and P1B-3-ATPase subfamilies both comprise Cu+ transporters. These results are completely consistent with the known presence of only Cu+ within the reducing environment of the cytoplasm, which should eliminate the need for a Cu2+ P1B-ATPase.
A stochastic multiscale algorithm for modeling complex granular materials

Modeling of granular materials in which the grains have irregular shapes and surface is a long-standing problem that has been studied for decades. Almost all the current models either represent the grains as particles with geometrically-regular shapes or attempt to infer some low-order statistical properties of the materials in order to describe granular media. We use an approach to modeling of granular materials that utilizes a two- or three-dimensional image of the material’s morphology. It reconstructs realizations of the image based on a Markov process, and uses a multiscale approach and graph-theoretical concepts to refine the realizations and make them free of artefacts. The method is applied to several complex 2D and 3D examples of granular materials. Various morphological properties of the models are computed and are compared with those of the original images; very good agreement is found for all the cases. Furthermore, the computational cost of the method is very low and, therefore, the method can generate large-size models for complex granular materials.
The extended partitioning problem: hardware/software mapping, scheduling, and implementation-bin selection

In system-level design, applications are represented as task graphs where tasks (called nodes) have moderate to large granularity and each node has several implementation options differing in area and execution time. We define the extended partitioning problem as the joint determination of the mapping (hardware or software), the implementation option (called implementation bin), as well as the schedule, for each node, so that the overall area allocated to nodes in hardware is minimum and a deadline constraint is met. This problem is considerably harder (and richer) than the traditional binary partitioning problem that determines just the best mapping and schedule. Both binary and extended partitioning problems are constrained optimization problems and are NP-hard. We first present an efficient(O(N 2)) heuristic, called GCLP, to solve the binary partitioning problem. The heuristic reduces the greediness associated with traditional list-scheduling algorithms by formulating a global measure, called global criticality (GC). The GC measure also permits an adaptive selection of the optimization objective at each step of the algorithm; since the optimization problem is constrained by a deadline, either area or time is optimized at a given step based on the value of GC. The selected objective is used to determine the mapping of nodes that are "normal", i.e. nodes that do not exhibit affinity for a particular mapping. To account for nodes that are not "normal", we define "extremities" and "repellers". Extremities consume disproportionate amounts of resources in hardware and software. Repellers are inherently unsuitable to either hardware or software based on certain structural properties. The mapping of extremities and repellers is determined jointly by GC and their local preference. We then present an efficient ( O(N 3 + N 2 B), for N nodes and B bins per node) heuristic for extended partitioning, called MIBS, that alternately uses GCLP and an implementation-bin selection procedure. The implementation-bin selection procedure chooses, for a node with already determined mapping, an implementation bin that maximizes the area-reduction gradient of as-yet unmapped nodes. Solutions generated by both heuristics are shown to be reasonably close to optimal. Extended partitioning generates considerably smaller overall hardware as compared to binary partitioning.
Lanthanide extraction selectivity of a tripodal carbamoylmethylphosphine oxide ligand system.

Four tripodal carbamoylmethylphosphine oxide (CMPO)-based ligands are reported here and assessed with regard to lanthanide (Ln) coordination chemistry and selective extraction of lanthanide ions from aqueous solution. Inspired by previous liquid–liquid extraction studies that suggested a preference for terbium(III), the current work further probes the extraction behavior of a tris-(2-aminoethyl)amine (TREN) capped, ethoxy substituted CMPO ligand with respect to the entire series of lanthanides. Upon confirmation of Tb3+ extraction selectivity versus the whole series, experiments were conducted to assess the effect of increasing the alkyl chain length within the ligand TREN cap, as well as changing the CMPO substituents by replacing the ethoxy groups with more hydrophobic phenyl groups to promote solubility in the organic extraction solvent. Extraction efficiencies remained low for most lanthanides upon increasing the cap size, with %E values consistently around 5%, and a complete loss of Tb3+ preference was noted with a decrease in %E from 18% to 3.5%. For the agent employing the original, smaller TREN cap but with phenyl substituents on the CMPO units, an increase in extraction toward the middle of the row was again observed, albeit modest, with relatively high %E values for both Gd3+ and Tb3+versus the other lanthanides (13 and 11%, respectively). A more dramatic extraction selectivity for the phenyl substituted ligand was achieved upon modification of the ligand to metal ratio, with a 100 : 1 ratio resulting in a near linear decrease in %E from 41% for La3+ to 3.7% for Lu3+. Finally, modification of the TREN capping scaffold by adding an oxygen atom to the central nitrogen led to consistently low %E values, revealing the effect of TREN cap oxidation on Ln extraction for this tripodal CMPO ligand system.
General Theory and Global Criminology: Childhood Environments, Problem Behaviors, and a Focus on Prevention

General theories of crime and delinquency are tested in part by their ability to explain the empirical findings of cross-national research. Systematic research using comparable survey methods provides a rich body of data from many countries and settings that inform such tests. There are several aspects of the general theory proposed by Gottfredson and Hirschi (1990) that facilitate the idea of global criminology which, coupled with this growing research literature, support the idea of general theories of crime. These include use of a “crime-free” definition for dependent variables, disciplinary-free assumptions about human nature, appreciating the distinction between propensities and events in crime theory, incorporating the burgeoning empirical literature from many disciplines stressing the importance of childhood environments and self-control, and focusing on recent successful prevention efforts. A set of research needs stimulated by modern global criminology are also proposed.
Attitudes, Beliefs, and Cost-Related Medication Nonadherence Among Adults Aged 65 or Older With Chronic Diseases.

Author(s): Lee, Shinduk; Jiang, Luohua; Dowdy, Diane; Hong, Y Alicia; Ory, Marcia G | Abstract: IntroductionCost-related medication nonadherence (CRN) can negatively affect chronic disease prevention and management in an aging population. Limited data are available on the interacting influences among such factors as availability of financial resources, attitudes and beliefs of patients, and CRN. The objective of this study was to examine the causal paths among financial resource availability, patient attitudes and beliefs, and CRN.MethodsWe used a nationally representative sample (n = 4,818) from the 2015 National Health Interview Survey; selected respondents were aged 65 or older, had a diagnosis of hypertension or diabetes or both, and were prescribed medication for at least 1 of these conditions. We performed structural equation modeling to examine whether perceived medication affordability, access to health care, and patient satisfaction influenced the effects of financial resource availability on CRN (skipped doses, took less medicine, or delayed filling a prescription to save money).ResultsSix percent of respondents reported CRN in the previous 12 months. The model showed a good to fair fit, and all paths were significant (P l .05) except for age. The effects of financial resource availability on CRN was mediated through perceived medication affordability, access to health care, and patient satisfaction with health care services.ConclusionThis study suggests that patients' attitudes and beliefs can mediate the effects of financial resource availability on CRN. We call for senior-friendly public health interventions that can address these modifiable barriers to reduce CRN among older adults with chronic conditions.
Control estadístico de procesos en organizaciones del sector servicios

espanolAntecedentes: Existen casos de estudio individuales que mencionan el uso del control estadistico de procesos, sin embargo nose ha evidenciado un documento que compile conceptos y aplicacion de esta herramienta en empresas de servicios. Como lomenciono Zeithalm [1], en su investigacion sobre la calidad en los servicios, la informacion que se encuentra esta dedicada, casiexclusivamente, en la aplicacion de productos tangibles. Objetivo: Identificar la aplicacion del control estadistico de procesosen empresas de servicios. Metodo: Se realizo la busqueda documental, previa definicion del periodo historico para la correspondientebusqueda, en diferentes bases de datos: Redalyc, Scielo, Ebsco, Ebrary, Proquest, y Virtualpro. Con esta informacion seclasificaron los documentos que aplican al tema tratado. Resultados: Se identifican los conceptos relacionados con el controlestadistico de procesos, y su aplicacion en empresas de diferentes sectores de servicios (educacion, financiero, entre otros).Conclusion: El control estadistico de procesos es una herramienta aplicable en cualquier tipo de sector economico, incluyendoempresas de servicios, permitiendo mejorar el desempeno de los procesos que la conforman y, seguramente, aumentar lasatisfaccion del cliente. Palabras Claves: Calidad,Control estadistico de procesos,Empresas de servicios,Graficos de control EnglishBackground: There are individual case studies that mention the use of statistical process control, however has not been shown adocument that compile concepts and application of this tool in business services. As mentioned Zeithalm [1], in his research onthe quality of services, the information is is dedicated almost exclusively in implementing tangible products. Objective: Identifythe application of statistical process control in service companies. Methods: documentary search was conducted, prior definitionof the historical period for the corresponding search in different databases: Redalyc, Scielo, Ebsco, Ebrary, Proquest, andVirtualpro. With this information the documents were classified apply to the subject treated. Results: The concepts related tostatistical process control are identified, and their application in companies of different sectors (education, financial, etc.).Conclusions: Statistical process control is a tool applicable in any economic sector, including service companies, allowingimprove the performance of the processes that shape it and certainly increase customer satisfaction. Keywords: Quality,Statistical process control,Service companies,Control Charts
Spin-Coupled Generalized Valence Bond Description of Group 14 Species: The Carbon, Silicon and Germanium Hydrides, XH n ( n = 1-4)

Although elements in the same group in the Periodic Table tend to behave similarly, the differences in the simplest Group 14 hydrides-XH n (X = C, Si, Ge; n = 1-4)-are as pronounced as their similarities. Spin-coupled generalized valence bond (SCGVB) as well as coupled cluster [CCSD(T)] calculations are reported for all of the molecules in the CH n/SiH n/GeH n series to gain insights into the factors underlying these differences. It is found that the relative weakness of the recoupled pair bonds of SiH and GeH gives rise to the observed differences in the ground state multiplicities, molecular structures, and bond energies of SiH n and GeH n. A number of factors that influence the strength of the recoupled pair bonds in CH, SiH, and GeH were examined. Two factors were identified as potential contributors to the decrease in the strengths of these bonds from CH to SiH and GeH: (i) a decrease in the overlap between the orbitals involved in the bond and (ii) an increase in Pauli repulsion between the electrons in the two lobe orbitals centered on the X atoms. Finally, an analysis of the hybridization of the SCGVB orbitals in XH4 indicates that they are closer to sp hybrids than sp3 hybrids, which implies that the underlying cause of the tetrahedral structure of the XH4 molecules is not a direct result of the hybridization of the X atom orbitals.
The Gothic Future of Eurasia

Abstract This article addresses the relations between contemporary post-Soviet Gothic and radical conservative projects regarding the social structure of Russian society. The author demonstrates that the Gothic imposes a language and aesthetic that resonate not only with post-Soviet fiction but also with the neo-Eurasian dream of a New Russian Middle Ages. Neo-Eurasian ideology becomes a potent tool for subverting the concepts of democracy and citizenship in Russia, offering, to the same extent as the post-Soviet vampire novel, a caste utopia as Russia’s future. The relations between the Gothic and historical memory are another important focus of this article.
Animals in Upright Postures Attract Attention in Humans

Individual predators differ in the level of risk they represent to prey. Because prey incur costs when responding to predators, prey can benefit by adjusting their antipredator behavior based on the level of perceived risk. Prey can potentially assess the level of risk by evaluating the posture of predators as an index of predators’ motivational state. Like other prey species, humans might evaluate predator body posture as a prominent cue for assessing danger. We tested whether human participants adjusted their visual attention based on the postures of predators by presenting participants with photographic arrays of predators (lions) that varied in postures while we recorded the participants’ gaze behavior. The participants searched for a standing lion (representing a high-risk target) among an array of reclining lions (representing low-risk distractors) or searched for a reclining lion among an array of standing lions. They also searched through similar arrays consisting of non-threatening prey (impalas) standing or reclining, rather than predators. Participants detected standing lions and impala faster than reclining lions and impala. Surprisingly, they detected standing lions at similar latencies as standing impala. They detected the reclining lions and impala more slowly because they spent more time looking at the standing lion and impala distractors and looked at more of those distractors. These results show that upright animals, regardless of whether they are predators or prey, attract attention in humans, and this could allow humans to rapidly evaluate predatory threats or the flight readiness of hunted game.
Leadership Challenges: Handling Sexual Assault on Campus and Promoting Socioemotional Learning:

Joaquin, a 15-year-old Latino high school student, was arrested and removed from the Upward Bound (UB) program following a student-on-student sexual assault allegation. UB adopted a student-centere...
Adhesion of Nectria haematococca macroconidia

Abstract Prior to germ tube emergence, macroconidia of the squash pathogen Nectria haematococca mating population I (anamorph, Fusarium solani f. sp. cucurbitae race 1) attach to polystyrene. We developed a radiological assay to quantify spore adhesion and to study the attachment process. Macroconidia adhere when harvested and allowed to attach at 24 °C, but not when harvested and allowed to attach at 1 °C. However, macroconidia adhere when harvested at 24 °C and allowed to attach at 1 °C. The data suggest that the process of macroconidial adhesion can be divided into two phases. The first phase is temperature-dependent. The second phase, in which the spores physically attach to the surface, is relatively temperature-independent. Adhesion is inhibited by sodium azide and cycloheximide, suggesting respiration and protein synthesis are required for macroconidial attachment. However, adhesion was not affected by tunicamycin, monensin or actinomycin D, indicating glycosylation, intracellular transport, and RNA synthesis are not required for spore adhesion. The data from the inhibitor and the temperature-shift experiments indicate that metabolism is required for the development of adhesive macroconidia, but not for the physical binding to the surface.
Electronic DNA Analysis of CSF Cell-free Tumor DNA to Quantify Multi-gene Molecular Response in Pediatric High-grade Glioma.

Purpose: Pediatric high-grade glioma (pHGG) diagnosis portends poor prognosis and therapeutic monitoring remains difficult. Tumors release cell-free tumor DNA (cf-tDNA) into cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), allowing for potential detection of tumor-associated mutations by CSF sampling. We hypothesized that direct, electronic analysis of cf-tDNA with a handheld platform (Oxford Nanopore MinION) could quantify patient-specific CSF cf-tDNA variant allele fraction (VAF) with improved speed and limit of detection compared with established methods. Experimental Design: We performed ultra-short fragment (100–200 bp) PCR amplification of cf-tDNA for clinically actionable alterations in CSF and tumor samples from patients with pHGG (n = 12) alongside nontumor CSF (n = 6). PCR products underwent rapid amplicon-based sequencing by Oxford Nanopore Technology (Nanopore) with quantification of VAF. Additional comparison to next-generation sequencing (NGS) and droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) was performed. Results: Nanopore demonstrated 85% sensitivity and 100% specificity in CSF samples (n = 127 replicates) with 0.1 femtomole DNA limit of detection and 12-hour results, all of which compared favorably with NGS. Multiplexed analysis provided concurrent analysis of H3.3A (H3F3A) and H3C2 (HIST1H3B) mutations in a nonbiopsied patient and results were confirmed by ddPCR. Serial CSF cf-tDNA sequencing by Nanopore demonstrated correlation of radiological response on a clinical trial, with one patient showing dramatic multi-gene molecular response that predicted long-term clinical response. Conclusions: Nanopore sequencing of ultra-short pHGG CSF cf-tDNA fragments is feasible, efficient, and sensitive with low-input samples thus overcoming many of the barriers restricting wider use of CSF cf-tDNA diagnosis and monitoring in this patient population.
Developing a novel fair-loan-predictor through a multi-sensitive debiasing pipeline: DualFair.

Machine learning (ML) models are increasingly used for high-stake applications that can greatly impact people's lives. Despite their use, these models have the potential to be biased towards certain social groups on the basis of race, gender, or ethnicity. Many prior works have attempted to mitigate this "model discrimination" by updating the training data (pre-processing), altering the model learning process (in-processing), or manipulating model output (post-processing). However, these works have not yet been extended to the realm of multi-sensitive parameters and sensitive options (MSPSO), where sensitive parameters are attributes that can be discriminated against (e.g race) and sensitive options are options within sensitive parameters (e.g black or white), thus giving them limited real-world usability. Prior work in fairness has also suffered from an accuracy-fairness tradeoff that prevents both the accuracy and fairness from being high. Moreover, previous literature has failed to provide holistic fairness metrics that work with MSPSO. In this paper, we solve all three of these problems by (a) creating a novel bias mitigation technique called DualFair and (b) developing a new fairness metric (i.e. AWI) that can handle MSPSO. Lastly, we test our novel mitigation method using a comprehensive U.S mortgage lending dataset and show that our classifier, or fair loan predictor, obtains better fairness and accuracy metrics than current state-of-the-art models.
Small Autonomous Robot Actuator (SARA): A Solar-Powered Wireless MEMS Gripper

Solar-powered actuation of a 15 mN electrostatic MEMS gripper was demonstrated while wirelessly triggered by IEEE 802.15.4 RF signals. The solar-powered gripper was shown to actuate at a rate of 640 um/s. The complete system is composed of three capacitors and three chips: MEMS gripper, microprocessor/crystal-free radio, and solar cell array/high voltage buffer. Control signals for the electrostatic inchworm motors originate from the 3×2×0.3 mm3 chip with an ARM Cortex-M0 microprocessor and are passed through 119 V high voltage buffers. Power for all components, including the crystal-free radio, microprocessor, and 119 V buffers, is supplied by a multi-output array of solar cells on a CMOS SOI chip under 200 mW/cm2 irradiation.
In situ study of the fractionation of hydrogen isotopes between aluminosilicate melts and coexisting aqueous fluids at high pressure and high temperature – Implications for the δD in magmatic processes

Abstract The hydrogen isotopic composition of melt inclusions trapped in phenocrysts during their crystallization and growth in a magma may contribute to a better understanding of the water cycle between the atmosphere, the hydrosphere and the lithosphere. Such understanding relies on the knowledge of the hydrogen isotopic fractionation factors between aqueous fluids, silicate melts, and minerals at temperature and pressure conditions relevant to the Earth's interior. Significant D/H fractionation between silicate melts and aqueous fluids was reported at hundreds of MPa and °C by using in situ measurements in hydrothermal diamond anvil cell (HDAC) experiments ( Mysen, 2013a , Mysen, 2013b , Am. Mineral. 98, 376–386 and 1754–1764). However, the available dataset is focused on fluids and melts with D/H ratios close to unity. The relevance of such data for natural processes that involve per mil variations of δD-values may not always be clear. To address such concerns, the effect of the bulk D/H ratio on hydrogen isotope partitioning between water-saturated silicate melts and coexisting silicate-saturated aqueous fluids has been determined in the Na2O–Al2O3–SiO2–H2O–D2O system. To this end, in situ Raman spectroscopic measurements were performed on fluids and melts with bulk D/H ratios from 0.05 to 2.67 by using an externally-heated diamond anvil cell in the 300–800 °C and 200–1500 MPa temperature and pressure range, respectively. In these pressure/temperature ranges, the D/H ratios of fluids in equilibrium with melt barely change with temperature (in average Δ H fluid = 0.47 ± 1.15 kJ / mol ). In contrast, the D/H ratios of coexisting melts display strong dependence on temperature (average Δ H melt = 7.18 ± 1.27 kJ / mol ). The temperature-dependence of the D/H fractionation factor between melt and fluid ( α fluid - melt = D / H fluid / D / H melt ) is comparable in all the experiments and can be written: 1000 ⋅ ln ⁡ ( α fluid - melt ) = 263 ( ± 26 ) ⋅ T − 2 – 126 ( ± 48 ) . Therefore, the αfluid-melt is independent of the bulk D/H ratio of the melt + fluid system. Experimentally determined αfluid-melt using D-enriched fluids, therefore, can be applied to natural systems. It follows that for water-saturated magma strong isotopic fractionation of D and H between water dissolved in magmas and deep aqueous fluids may occur. The δD-values in melt inclusions in phenocrysts in such water-saturated magma will reflect such fluid/melt fractionation effects. A likely result is underestimation of the δ D isotopic composition of slab fluids based on δD-values in melt inclusions. The temperature-dependent hydrogen isotope fractionation must be taken into account in the modeling of slab fluid–magma interaction in the mantle wedge.