cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
StressTest: an automatic approach to test generation via activity monitors

The challenge of verifying a modern microprocessor design is an overwhelming one: increasingly complex micro-architectures combined with heavy time-to-market pressure have forced microprocessor vendors to employ immense verification teams in the hope of finding the most critical bugs in a timely manner. Unfortunately, too often size doesn't seem to matter for verification teams, as design schedules continue to slip and microprocessors find their way to the marketplace with design errors. In this paper, we describe a simulation-based random test generation tool, called StressTest, that provides assistance in locating hard-to-find corner-case design bugs and performance problems. StressTest is based on a Markov-model-driven random instruction generator with activity monitors. The model is generated from the user-specified template programs and is used to generate the instructions sent to the design under test (DUT). In addition, the user specifies key activity points within the design that should be stressed and monitored throughout the simulation. The StressTest engine then uses closed-loop feedback techniques to transform the Markov model into one that effectively stresses the points of interest. In parallel, StressTest monitors the correctness of the DUT response to the supplied stimuli, and if the design behaves unexpectedly, a bug and a trace that leads to it are reported. Using two micro-architectures as example testbeds, we demonstrate that StressTest finds more bugs with less effort than open-loop random instruction test generation techniques.
The Paradox of Children in Clergy Families

The purpose of this research is to understand the effect of the presence of children in the home on the quality of life of clergy and clergy spouses. A survey research design is used involving a random sample of 232 clergy and 169 clergy spouses. Data are collected pertaining to selected variables in the ABC-X model of family stress. Discriminant analysis reveals that the ABC-X model of family stress could be used to predict whether or not clergy and spouses have children in the home. Implications of these findings are discussed.
Effect of surface waves on Charnock coefficient under tropical cyclones

[1] The dependence of the air-sea momentum flux on surface wave fields is investigated at very high winds under tropical cyclones. A coupled wave-wind model is applied to estimate the momentum flux under ten hurricanes in the western Atlantic Ocean during 1998–2003. The model explicitly calculates the wave-induced stress vector and the total wind stress vector from a given wind speed vector and a calculated wave spectrum. It is found that the neutral drag coefficient levels off at high wind speeds under tropical cyclones, being consistent with recent observations and previous modeling studies. The most important finding of this study is that the Charnock coefficient is mainly determined by two parameters: the input wave age (wave age determined by the peak frequency of wind energy input) and the wind speed, regardless of the complexity of the wave field under a real hurricane, and that the Charnock coefficient increases with the input wave age at very high winds.
Use of curvilinear SAR for three-dimensional target feature extraction

The use of curvilinear synthetic aperture radar (CLSAR) is considered for three-dimensional feature extraction of small targets consisting of a small number of distinct point scatterers. CLSAR does not suffer from the ambiguities suffered by interferometric SAR. As CLSAR is a relatively new technology, a self-contained detailed derivation of the data model is presented. The Cramer-Rao bounds of the parameter estimates are also derived. Use of the RELAX algorithm for 3-D target feature extraction with CLSAR for different curvilinear apertures is also described.
Noncardiac surgery for patients with coronary artery stents: timing is everything.

Physicians are increasingly being confronted with questions regarding the appropriate management of patients with recently implanted coronary stents who are in need of noncardiac surgery. Specifically, what is the optimal timing of elective procedures and how should antiplatelet therapy be managed in these patients, especially in those in need of emergent procedures? Continued antiplatelet therapy through the perioperative period might increase the risk of surgical bleeding while interruption of antiplatelet therapy predisposes to stent thrombosis, particularly in the setting of systemic hypercoagulation that frequently occurs after some surgeries.1 In this issue of Anesthesiology, two papers from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota provide further insight into these perplexing issues.2,3
π-shifted Sagnac interferometer for characterization of femtosecond first- and second-order polarization mode dispersion

A novel configuration for measuring femtosecond polarization mode dispersion (PMD) with a π-shifted Sagnac interferometer is studied. The advantages of this configuration include a response that is independent of the orientation of the device under test. This independence allows characterization of the first- and second-order PMD by measurement of the wavelength dependence of the differential group delay and of the orientation of the device’s principal states of polarization. The method provides an extension of the dynamic range of the Sagnac interferometer technique to few-femtosecond PMD measurement.
Invasion in space and time: non‐native species richness and relative abundance respond to interannual variation in productivity and diversity

Ecologists have long sought to understand the relationships among species diversity, community productivity and invasion by non-native species. Here, four long-term observational datasets were analyzed using repeated measures statistics to determine how plant species richness and community resource capture (i.e. productivity) influenced invasion. Multiple factors influenced the results, including the metric used to quantify invasion, interannual variation and spatial scale. Native richness was positively correlated with non-native richness, but was usually negatively correlated with non-native abundance, and these patterns were stronger at the larger spatial scale. Logistic regressions indicated that the probability of invasion was reduced both within and following years with high productivity, except at the desert grassland site where high productivity was associated with increased invasion. Our analysis suggests that while non-natives were most likely to establish in species rich communities, their success was diminished by high resource capture by the resident community.
‘Lobola is here to stay’: rural black women and the contradictory meanings of lobolo in post-apartheid South Africa

Drawing on interviews with more than 600 black women in rural communities in KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, and the Eastern Cape, this focus examines the contradictory meanings of lobolo and the intern...
Glass microneedles for force measurements: a finite-element analysis model.

Changes in developed force (0.1–3.0 μN) observed during contraction of single myofibrils in response to rapidly changing calcium concentrations can be measured using glass microneedles. These microneedles are calibrated for stiffness and deflect on response to developed myofibril force. The precision and accuracy of kinetic measurements are highly dependent on the structural and mechanical characteristics of the microneedles, which are generally assumed to have a linear force–deflection relationship. We present a finite-element analysis (FEA) model used to simulate the effects of measurable geometry on stiffness as a function of applied force and validate our model with actual measured needle properties. In addition, we developed a simple heuristic constitutive equation that best describes the stiffness of our range of microneedles used and define limits of geometry parameters within which our predictions hold true. Our model also maps a relation between the geometry parameters and natural frequencies in air, enabling optimum parametric combinations for microneedle fabrication that would reflect more reliable force measurement in fluids and physiological environments. We propose a use for this model to aid in the design of microneedles to improve calibration time, reproducibility, and precision for measuring myofibrillar, cellular, and supramolecular kinetic forces.
Give Your Work Teams Time and Training

The article focuses on research into the effectiveness of teams in the workplace when employees and management are trained in the use of teams. The article states that research concerning work teams suggests that there is a learning curve for work teams and that the teams may require time and training before they become cohesive and productive units. It mentions that the decision-making authority given to the teams was greater than traditional quality circles but less than that of semiautonomous work groups. It talked about the process of building team structure and developing cooperation between unionized production workers and management, and states that group effectiveness improved significantly over the course of the study.
How the tobacco industry built its relationship with Hollywood.

Objective: To describe the development of the relationship between the tobacco industry and the entertainment industry. Methods: Review of previously secret tobacco industry documents available on the internet. Results: Both the entertainment and tobacco industries recognised the high value of promotion of tobacco through entertainment media. The 1980s saw undertakings by four tobacco companies, Philip Morris, RJ Reynolds (RJR), American Tobacco Company, and Brown and Williamson to place their products in movies. RJR and Philip Morris also worked to place products on television at the beginning of the decade. Each company hired aggressive product placement firms to represent its interests in Hollywood. These firms placed products and tobacco signage in positive situations that would encourage viewers to use tobacco and kept brands from being used in negative situations. At least one of the companies, RJR, undertook an extensive campaign to hook Hollywood on tobacco by providing free cigarettes to actors on a monthly basis. Efforts were also made to place favourable articles relating to product use by actors in national print media and to encourage professional photographers to take pictures of actors smoking specific brands. The cigar industry started developing connections with the entertainment industry beginning in the 1980s and paid product placements were made in both movies and on television. This effort did not always require money payments from the tobacco industry to the entertainment industry, suggesting that simply looking for cash payoffs may miss other important ties between the tobacco and entertainment industries. Conclusions: The tobacco industry understood the value of placing and encouraging tobacco use in films, and how to do it. While the industry claims to have ended this practice, smoking in motion pictures increased throughout the 1990s and remains a public health problem.
Enjoying the saints in late antiquity

The discovery at Mainz by Franĉois Dolbeau of a new collection of sermons of Augustine has enabled us to study, in far greater detail, the attitude of Augustine to the reform of the cult of the martyrs between 391 and 404. This study aims to understand Augustine’s insistence on the need to imitate the martyrs against the background of his views on grace and the relation of such views to the growing differentiation of the Christian community. It also attempts to do justice to the views of those he criticized: others regarded the triumph of the martyrs over pain and death as a unique manifestation of the power of God, in which believers participated, not through imitation but through celebrations reminiscent of the joy of pagan festivals. In this debate, Augustine by no means had the last word. The article attempts to show the continuing tension between notions of the saints as imitable and inimitable figures in the early medieval period, and more briefly, by implication, in all later centuries.
The prevalence of false-positive cardiac troponin I in ED patients with rhabdomyolysis

Abstract Objective Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is considered the most specific marker of cardiac muscle injury. We encountered several patients with rhabdomyolysis and elevated cTnI, although they did not otherwise have evidence of cardiac injury. We determined the prevalence of false-positive cTnI in emergency department (ED) patients with rhabdomyolysis. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of ED patients admitted with a diagnosis of rhabdomyolysis. Patients were included in the study if they had a serum creatine kinase (CK) of 1000 U/L or greater and at least one serum cTnI determination. Patients with positive cTnI were considered true positives if they had either electrocardiography (EKG) or echocardiography abnormalities; false positives if both the EKG and the echocardiography were considered normal; or indeterminate if they did not have both an EKG and an echocardiogram. The primary outcome of the study was the prevalence of false-positive cTnI. Secondary outcomes included risk stratification by cocaine use, myoglobinuria, and renal failure and correlation of peak CK and troponin levels. Results One hundred nine patients were included in the final analysis; 55 (50%) patients had a positive cTnI. Of the 55 patients with positive cTnI, 32 (58%) were true positives, 18 (33%) were false positives, and 5 (9%) were indeterminate. The prevalence of false-positive cTnI was 17% (18/109, 95% confidence interval 0.10-0.25). There was no association between false-positive cTnI and cocaine use, renal failure, or myoglobinuria. There was poor correlation between peak CK and peak cTnI levels (r = −.08, 95% confidence interval −0.34 to 0.19). Conclusion The prevalence of false-positive cTnI in ED patients with rhabdomyolysis is 17%.
Long-range correlations in smoke-particle aggregates

Ultrafine smoke particles stick together to form chain-like aggregates. We find that the particle density has long-range correlations of the same form in iron, zinc or silicon dioxide aggregates. The correlation data suggest a power-law spatial dependence giving a Hausdorff dimension between 1.7 and 1.9. We discuss the consistency of these results with a model based on percolation. We also compare our results with a random-walk model, which has a nominal Hausdorff dimension of 2.
There’s No Free Lunch, Even Using Bitcoin: Tracking the Popularity and Profits of Virtual Currency Scams

We present the first empirical analysis of Bitcoin-based scams: operations established with fraudulent intent. By amalgamating reports gathered by voluntary vigilantes and tracked in online forums, we identify 192 scams and categorize them into four groups: Ponzi schemes, mining scams, scam wallets and fraudulent exchanges. In 21 % of the cases, we also found the associated Bitcoin addresses, which enables us to track payments into and out of the scams. We find that at least $11 million has been contributed to the scams from 13 000 distinct victims. Furthermore, we present evidence that the most successful scams depend on large contributions from a very small number of victims. Finally, we discuss ways in which the scams could be countered.
Maximal specification synthesis

Many problems in program analysis, verification, and synthesis require inferring specifications of unknown procedures. Motivated by a broad range of applications, we formulate the problem of maximal specification inference: Given a postcondition Phi and a program P calling a set of unknown procedures F_1,…,F_n, what are the most permissive specifications of procedures F_i that ensure correctness of P? In other words, we are looking for the smallest number of assumptions we need to make about the behaviours of F_i in order to prove that $P$ satisfies its postcondition. To solve this problem, we present a novel approach that utilizes a counterexample-guided inductive synthesis loop and reduces the maximal specification inference problem to multi-abduction. We formulate the novel notion of multi-abduction as a generalization of classical logical abduction and present an algorithm for solving multi-abduction problems. On the practical side, we evaluate our specification inference technique on a range of benchmarks and demonstrate its ability to synthesize specifications of kernel routines invoked by device drivers.
Metabolic noise reduction for enzymatic reactions: The role of a negative feedback

This note deals with a basic (though rather general) enzymatic reaction scheme, and investigates the role of a negative feedback with respect to the noise reduction. To this end, three distinct cases are considered: one with the enzyme produced without feedback regulation, another with the enzyme regulated in feedback by the product of the enzymatic reaction, and a third one where the enzyme is self-regulated. Metabolic noise is evaluated in terms of the coefficient of variation of the product of the enzymatic reaction, aiming at measuring its fluctuations around the average steady-state value. Due to the high dimensionality and to the double time-scale of the considered reaction network, which makes unfeasible the classical theoretical/statistical computations of the equilibrium distribution, the system is investigated by means of the Linear Noise Approximation (LNA) approach and numerical results are reported. Furthermore, the assumption of Quasi-Steady- State Approximation (QSSA) is employed to obtain approximate analytical expressions of the noise. The results show the unmistakable role of the negative feedback, which always manages to reduce the metabolic noise with respect to the unregulated case.
Engaging Engineering Students With Transportation Safety

In this paper, we will introduce a newly created education module in transportation safety. The module is aimed at undergraduate engineering students, whose exposure to this topic is extremely limited, if they are exposed at all. Topics in the module include driver speed compliance, distracted driving, pedestrian safety, and vulnerable road users (VRUs) with an emphasis on young drivers. The module incorporates a number of items, including lecture material (both instructor and student versions), in-class activity, and laboratory exercises. The learning module is intended to supplement existing courses in engineering curricula. The goal of this learning module is to provide industrial engineering students with current research and knowledge in transportation safety. The module was recently piloted in an undergraduate Industrial Ergonomics courses. Results regarding the effectiveness of the module, as well as results on the student attainment of educational objectives, will be discussed.
Levofloxacin versus Cefpodoxime for Antibacterial Prophylaxis in Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation.

ABSTRACT National guidelines recommend antimicrobial prophylaxis for allogeneic stem cell transplant patients during the pre-engraftment period because of increased infection risk during neutropenia. Fluoroquinolones have demonstrated lower rates of bacteremias and incidence of neutropenic fever, but there is limited evidence in the use of alternative antibacterials such as cefpodoxime. The primary objective of this study is to compare the rates of antibiotic prophylaxis failure between levofloxacin and cefpodoxime in allogeneic stem cell transplant recipients. Secondary objectives include comparing and characterizing number and type of infections, mortality at day 100 post-transplant, and hospitalizations for infectious causes in the first 100 days of transplant. This is a single-center, retrospective chart review of adult patients who received an allogeneic stem cell transplant from matched related and matched unrelated donors and antibacterial prophylaxis with levofloxacin or cefpodoxime from January 1, 2011, to October 1, 2014. A total of 142 patients were evaluated (71 levofloxacin, 71 cefpodoxime). Both levofloxacin and cefpodoxime groups had similar rates of neutropenic fever and antibiotic prophylaxis failure (58% versus 58%, P = NS). There were similar incidences of Clostridioides difficile and Multi-drug resistant (MDR) infections among both levofloxacin and cefpodoxime groups. Rates of infections, hospitalizations, and mortality in the first 100 days were similar among both groups. Cefpodoxime can be used as an alternative to levofloxacin for antibiotic prophylaxis in allogeneic stem cell transplant patients.
Chickens and Eggs: Does Custody Move Support, or Vise-Versa?

Most, if not all, of the theoretical work on child support presupposes that it becomes an issue only when couples separate, that is, that the flow moves between custody and child support and that the duty to make monetary payments is typically owed by the noncustodial parent. (I realize, of course, that there can be issues regarding the identity of the payor and that there are criminal and civil actions possible when parents refuse or neglect to provide support to dependent children.)Some empirical work confirms the relationship between the two. For example, Judith Seltzer, Weiss and Willis, and Brinig and Buckley in the early 1990s showed that more frequent access to children was associated with more adherence to court ordered support. This intuition has been confirmed by the research team from the Institute for Poverty at the University of Wisconsin. More recently, psychologist Robert Emery and his colleagues have demonstrated that mediated child custody decisions tend to result in higher payment of child support. In fact, one impetus of the custody mediation movement has been to strengthen and stabilize parental relationships (custody) to secure more support security. Child support guidelines that adjust to account for shared parenting also presuppose that custodial arrangements determine (or at least affect) child support.However, there are some indications that the direction of flow may be ambiguous. Web sites for fathers’ rights groups couple the two, but suggest that unfair child support “tribute” is a reason for demanding equal parenting time. In Illinois, Oregon, and perhaps other states, enforcement of parenting time/visitation orders now mirrors the stringent remedies mandated for child support. Child support enforcement agencies study whether noncustodial parents seek parenting time that would just reach thresholds for reduction in child support. Since 2014, child support enforcement agencies establishing support primarily to recoup TANF payments offer voluntary establishment of parenting time arrangements. Some feminist scholars, concerned about the parenting time drift first noted by Maccoby and Mnookin in the early 1990s, question whether the modern increases in parenting time reflect a desire of noncustodial parents to opportunistically claim more time with children than they actually want, or will use.This project, both theoretical and empirical, will develop these questions, answering some of them based upon a longitudinal study of more than 1000 divorcing and separating couples in two US states.
Challenging the epistemological fog: The roles of the scholar/activist in education:

This is a very difficult time in education. Neoliberal and neoconservative policies have had major effects on schools, on communities, on administrators, on teachers, and on all school staff. A new alliance has integrated education into a wider set of ideological commitments. The objectives in education are the same as those that guide economic and social welfare goals. They include the dramatic expansion of that eloquent fiction, the free market; the drastic reduction of government responsibility for social needs; the reinforcement of intensely competitive structures of mobility both inside and outside the school; the lowering of people’s expectations for economic security; the ‘disciplining’ of culture and the body; and the popularization of what is clearly a form of Social Darwinist thinking. In response to this, I detail nine tasks in which the critical scholar/activist should engage in fulfilling the role of the public intellectual. Such tasks are crucial if we are to collectively deal with the curre...
The effect of cis hydroxyproline on ventral prostatic growth in rats

Changes in prostatic collagen were measured in Sprague-Dawley rats to gain further insight into the relationship between this stromal component and androgen mediated prostatic growth. Regulation of prostatic collagen by other endocrine factors was also studied. Collagen content per prostate was estimated by determination of tissue levels of hydroxyproline. The 1st experiment examined changes in the content of hydroxyproline in the prostate during pre- and post-pubertal growth with the use of rats between 21 and 80 days of age. As the animals grew, their prostatic weights and hydroxyproline contents increased in a parallel fashion (correlation coefficient R = 0.977, p less than 0.01). In the 2nd experiment, rats were castrated for a period up to 28 days. The hydroxyproline content in the prostate did not change significantly by castration despite a marked decrease in prostatic weights. Results of the 3rd experiment indicated that castration-hypophysectomy or castration-hypophysectomy plus estrogen treatment did not significantly change the content of prostatic hydroxyproline from that in the untreated intact animals. The 4th experiment studied the effect of the collagen synthesis inhibitor, cis-4-hydroxyproline, on prostatic growth. Subcutaneous injection of cis-4-hydroxyproline to castrated testosterone treated rats caused a significantly slower increase in total ventral prostatic weights and contents of protein, DNA and hydroxyproline than those of saline treated controls. This inhibition in prostatic growth is unlikely to be related to any antiandrogenic effect of cis hydroxyproline as the protein/DNA ratio in the prostate was the same for both saline and cis-4-hydroxyproline treated groups. Electron microscopic studies revealed that cis-4-hydroxyproline treatment resulted in a derangement of the basement membrane in the ventral prostate. The above results suggest that collagen plays an important role in limiting prostatic growth since inhibition of collagen synthesis by cis-4-hydroxyproline retarded the testosterone induced increase in prostatic weight, DNA, protein and hydroxyproline content in the prostate of rats.
Explaining the worldwide decline in the length of mandatory military service, 1970–2010

Compulsory military service has declined considerably since 1970. This explained by changes on both the extensive and intensive margins by governments. While the decision to use conscription for military purposes has been studied extensively, in this paper we examine empirically the factors underlying the decline in the duration of military service obligations. Employing data from the Economic Freedom of the World index observed at 5-year intervals from 1970 to 2010, we find that the probability of a shorter military service time is positively associated with smaller country populations, smaller lagged army sizes, increases in primary schooling among young males, and having common law legal origins. Our empirical approach also highlights how the elderly population exhibits a nonlinear relationship with the length of conscriptees’ time in uniform.
Maternal Hemorrhage Quality Improvement Collaborative Lessons.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to describe user experience with implementation of an obstetric hemorrhage toolkit and determine the degree of implementation of recommended practices that occurred during a 31-hospital quality improvement learning collaborative. Study design and methods This descriptive qualitative study included semistructured interviews with 22 implementation team leaders and review of transcripts from collaborative reporting calls recorded during the hemorrhage collaborative. Interviews included open-ended, closed, and ranking questions. Numeric responses were analyzed with descriptive statistics. Open-ended responses and call transcripts were analyzed thematically. Results Each of the 10 core toolkit components was ranked as currently "implemented" or "implemented and sustained" by at least 77% of interviewees. Most core elements were deemed "critical to retain." Respondents found debriefing the most difficult element of the toolkit to implement and sustain. Organizational context was the overarching theme regarding factors facilitating or constraining implementation. This included organizational structure and culture, previous experience with quality improvement, resources, and clinician engagement. Nurses were deeply involved in implementation and "physician buy-in" was a frequently mentioned facilitator when present and barrier when absent. Clinical implications Greater understanding of and attention to organizational context and resources, greater appreciation for nursing involvement, and increased recognition of the role of organizational leadership are needed to facilitate widespread improvement initiatives in maternity care. Implementation science approaches may be useful in achieving national goals for maternal quality improvement and safety.
Robust decision making in data scarce contexts: addressing data and model limitations for infrastructure planning under transient climate change

In the face of deeply uncertain climate change projections, robust decision frameworks are becoming a popular tool for incorporating climate change uncertainty into water infrastructure planning. These methodologies have the potential to be particularly valuable in developing countries where extensive infrastructure development is still needed and uncertainties can be large. However, many applications of these methodologies have relied on a sophisticated process of climate model downscaling and impact modeling that may be unreliable in data-scarce contexts. In this study, we demonstrate a modified application of the robust decision making (RDM) methodology that is specifically tailored for application in data-scarce situations. This modification includes a novel method for generating transient climate change sequences that account for potential variable dependence but do not rely on detailed GCM projections, and an emphasis on identifying the relative importance of data limitations and uncertainty within an integrated modeling framework. We demonstrate this methodology in the Lake Tana basin in Ethiopia, showing how the approach can highlight the vulnerability of alternative plans across different time scales and identify priorities for research and model refinement. We find that infrastructure performance is particularly sensitive to uncertainty in streamflow model accuracy, irrigation efficiency, and evaporation rates, suggesting that additional research in these areas could provide valuable insights for long-term infrastructure planning. This work demonstrates how tailored application of robust decision frameworks using simple modeling approaches can provide decision support in data-scarce regions where more complex modeling and analysis may be impractical.
Effects of In-plane Restraint on Progression of Collapse in Flat-Plate Structures

AbstractThis paper presents experimental and numerical studies of reinforced concrete flat-plate structures. Experiments were performed on six interior slab-column connections without structural in...
Convergence for Series With Terms Defined by a Recurrence Relation

AbstractWe investigate whether a series with terms defined recursively by the relation xn+1 = f(xn), for all n ≥ 1, converges or diverges. For the examples studied, the ratio test is inconclusive. We provide a theorem to decide whether such series are either convergent or divergent under some natural analytic conditions.
Diagnosing Parametric Faults in Induction Motors with Nonlinear Parity Relations

Abstract Induction motors are described by nonlinear differential equations which involve the inaccessible flux variables. Changes in the electrical parameters appearing in those equations (resistances and inductances) are indicative of faults such as overheating and short circuits in the winding. The motor is also subject to a disturbance in the form of load variations. We propose here a parity equation scheme, based on discretized versions of the nonlinear motor equations, to detect and isolate the parametric faults while being insensitive to the load variations. This is first done for the full set of equations, including the flux variables, then for a reduced set of equations from which the flux has been eliminated.
On-chip waveguides for self-referencing low-power and high-repetition-rate laser frequency combs

Using silicon nitride and aluminum nitride chip-integrated waveguides, we demonstrate supercontinuum spanning 500-4000 nm. We detect the carrier-envelope-offset frequency using total optical power below 15 mW, or, alternatively, directly from the waveguide output.
Mobile Phone Interventions for Sleep Disorders and Sleep Quality: Systematic Review

Background: Although mobile health technologies have been developed for interventions to improve sleep disorders and sleep quality, evidence of their effectiveness remains limited. Objective: A systematic literature review was performed to determine the effectiveness of mobile technology interventions for improving sleep disorders and sleep quality. Methods: Four electronic databases (EBSCOhost, PubMed/Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science) were searched for articles on mobile technology and sleep interventions published between January 1983 and December 2016. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they met the following criteria: (1) written in English, (2) adequate details on study design, (3) focus on sleep intervention research, (4) sleep index measurement outcome provided, and (5) publication in peer-reviewed journals. Results: An initial sample of 2679 English-language papers were retrieved from five electronic databases. After screening and review, 16 eligible studies were evaluated to examine the impact of mobile phone interventions on sleep disorders and sleep quality. These included one case study, three pre-post studies, and 12 randomized controlled trials. The studies were categorized as (1) conventional mobile phone support and (2) utilizing mobile phone apps. Based on the results of sleep outcome measurements, 88% (14/16) studies showed that mobile phone interventions have the capability to attenuate sleep disorders and to enhance sleep quality, regardless of intervention type. In addition, mobile phone intervention methods (either alternatively or as an auxiliary) provide better sleep solutions in comparison with other recognized treatments (eg, cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia). Conclusions: We found evidence to support the use of mobile phone interventions to address sleep disorders and to improve sleep quality. Our findings suggest that mobile phone technologies can be effective for future sleep intervention research. [JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2017;5(9):e131]
The association between social cohesion and community resilience in two urban slums of Port au Prince, Haiti

Abstract Multiple recent global agendas have advanced the case for resilience to underpin humanitarian action and disaster risk reduction. These agendas have been incorporated into multiple efforts but evidence to guide action has lagged behind. This study examines a specific link, often cited through qualitative research, between social cohesion and community resilience in two urban slums of Port au Prince, Haiti. Scales to measure social cohesion and resilience are applied to these communities to develop a quantitative measure of these two characteristics. These two characteristics are then analyzed with various other demographic variables of community members to quantitatively explore associations among them. The results show that a higher social cohesion score is statistically associated with a higher resilience score and among the variables tested, social cohesion had the greatest impact on the community resilience as measured by these scales. and shows a statistical association between the two. The findings add to the growing but nascent literature on empirical evidence for resilience characteristics. Further examinations are drawn out of the findings and future investigations should tackle the inductively derived characteristics of resilience to further guide programs and policy.
The malleus cap: Anatomic description of cartilage of the lateral process of the malleus.

PURPOSE To anatomically describe a cartilaginous cap attached to the lateral process of the malleus. STUDY DESIGN Histologic and gross anatomic review. METHODS Twenty temporal bones were histologically reviewed. The anatomical relationship between the tympanic membrane and malleus was then defined at the level of the lateral process of the malleus and the long process of the malleus. Separately, gross evaluation of these levels at the macroscopic level was undertaken through endoscopic imaging in five subjects. RESULTS All temporal bones reviewed revealed the presence of a cartilaginous cap articulating between the tympanic membrane and the lateral process of the malleus. The cartilaginous cap was also readily identifiable in gross evaluation of the tympanic membrane from views lateral and medial to the tympanic membrane during endoscopic evaluation. CONCLUSION The cartilaginous cap of the lateral process of the malleus is an important and reliable anatomical structure of the middle ear that has not previously been described. Through knowledge of the structure surgeons may exploit its presence by creating a cleavage plane between the cartilaginous cap and the malleus during tympanoplasty, possibly allowing for safer and more efficient surgery.
Third-Party Onboarding Organizations as Gatekeepers for Student Placement Decisions

Health system human resource departments are putting new requirements, paperwork, and processes in place to meet new Joint Commission standards for treating students like employees who onboard at the beginning of employment. These processes have significantly increased the workload of experiential education offices and present an additional burden to students. In an attempt to streamline these processes, health systems are contracting with third-party tracking and placement organizations. Converting this process to an electronic one (such as what third-party organizations offer) could present advantages; however, there are many concerns about going through a third-party organization that could control placement decisions. This commentary describes these concerns and provides guidance to schools should they choose to work with one of these organizations.
Modular Organization of Exploratory Force Development Under Isometric Conditions in the Human Arm.

Muscle coordination of isometric force production can be explained by a smaller number of modules. Variability in force output, however, is higher during exploratory/transient force development pha...
Religiosity and interpersonal problems explain individual differences in self esteem among young adults with child maltreatment experiences.

Abstract Child maltreatment can have a lasting impact, which is why it is important to understand factors that may exacerbate or mitigate self-esteem difficulties in adulthood. Although there is tremendous benefit that can come from religion and spirituality, few studies examine religious views after child maltreatment. Subsequent interpersonal difficulties may also affect self-esteem in maltreatment survivors. This study sought to examine interpersonal problems and religiosity as mediators in the link between childhood maltreatment and self-esteem in adulthood. The study recruited 718 women ( M = 19.53 years) from a large public university. Participants completed questionnaires related to child abuse and neglect, interpersonal problems, religiosity, and self-esteem. Results demonstrated that all forms of maltreatment were associated with negative views of God and with more interpersonal difficulties. Viewing God as a punishing figure mediated the relationship between childhood emotional abuse and low adult self-esteem, along with several areas associated with interpersonal problems. Further, for both child emotional neglect and physical abuse, viewing God as less supportive mediated the relationship between child maltreatment and low adult self-esteem. The results may help in intervention for child maltreatment survivors by increasing awareness of the importance of religiosity in treatment to self-esteem issues in both childhood and adulthood.
A net ecosystem carbon budget for snow dominated forested headwater catchments: linking water and carbon fluxes to critical zone carbon storage

Climate-driven changes in carbon (C) cycling of forested ecosystems have the potential to alter long-term C sequestration and the global C balance. Prior studies have shown that C uptake and partitioning in response to hydrologic variation are system specific, suggesting that a comprehensive assessment is required for distinct ecosystems. Many sub-humid montane forest ecosystems in the US are projected to experience increased water limitation over the next decades and existing water-limited forests can be used as a model for how changes in the hydrologic cycle will impact such ecosystems more broadly. Toward that goal we monitored precipitation, net ecosystem exchange and lateral soil and stream C fluxes in three semi-arid to sub-humid montane forest catchments for several years (WY 2009–2013) to investigate how the amount and timing of water delivery affect C stores and fluxes. The key control on aqueous and gaseous C fluxes was the distribution of water between winter and summer precipitation, affecting ecosystem C uptake versus heterotrophic respiration. We furthermore assessed C stores in soil and above- and below-ground biomass to assess how spatial patterns in water availability influence C stores. Topographically-driven patterns in catchment wetness correlated with modeled soil C stores, reflecting both long-term trends in local C uptake as well as lateral redistribution of C leached from upslope organic soil horizons to convergent landscape positions. The results suggest that changes in the seasonality of precipitation from winter snow to summer rain will influence both the amount and the spatial distribution of soil C stores.
Crack twisting and toughening strategies in Bouligand architectures

Abstract The Bouligand structure in some arthropods is a hierarchical composite comprised of a helicoidal arrangement of strong fibers in a weak matrix. In this study, we focus on the Bouligand structure present in the dactyl club of the smashing mantis shrimp due to its exceptional capability to withstand repetitive high-energy impact without catastrophic failure. We carry out a combined computational and experimental approach to investigate the high damage resistance of the Bouligand structure through a biomimetic composite material. This is studied by performing specific fracture experiments on the helicoidal composites specimens, where it was found that crack twisting, driven by the fiber architecture, is the main fracture mechanisms. This crack twisting mechanism competes with other alternative mechanisms such as crack branching and delamination, delaying catastrophic failure. The main mechanism of crack twisting is studied through specifically designed specimens in which the crack propagation path is controlled. Further quantification of the toughening mechanisms and crack growth rate is analyzed with analytical and finite element models. The biomimetic helicoidal composites are shown to have improved fracture resistance as the crack twists mainly driven by the increase in crack surface area and fracture mode mixity. Our analysis allowed us to study the effect of crack front shape, stress distribution and energy dissipation mechanisms.
Alcohol Use and Cognitive Functioning Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults in China: Findings of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study Baseline Survey.

Background Alcohol use and its associated problems are on the rise in China. In this study, we examined the associations between alcohol use and cognitive functioning in a representative sample of adults aged 45 years and older in China. Methods Baseline data for 16,328 participants of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study were analyzed. Alcohol use was measured by drinking status (never, former, moderate, and at-risk drinkers), number of standard drinks per week, and years of drinking. Cognitive functioning was assessed for visuospatial ability, episodic memory, orientation/attention, and overall cognitive functioning. Multivariate linear and logistic regressions were used to examine the independent association between alcohol use and cognitive functioning controlling for age, gender, education, domestic partner status, and depressive symptoms. Results The study participants were, on average, 66 years old (median 59, range 45 to 102). The prevalence of ever drinking during lifetime and current at-risk drinking (>14 drinks per week) in this population was 34.6 and 6.7%, respectively. Drinking was more common among men with 48.8% being ever drinkers and 14.4% current at-risk drinkers, respectively. At-risk drinkers, compared to people who never drank alcohol, had worse episodic memory (β = -0.11, p = 0.048). Moreover, number of standard drinks per week was associated with worse episodic memory (β = -0.001, p = 0.02). None of the other measures of alcohol use was associated with the overall or domain-specific cognitive functioning. Conclusions At-risk drinking status was associated with worse episodic memory. Clinicians should incorporate alcohol use assessment into routine care for middle-aged and older adults in China and provide them with resources and strategies to effectively manage their alcohol use. This may help preserve episodic memory in this population.
Cancer screening in the United States, 2009: A review of current American Cancer Society guidelines and issues in cancer screening

Each year, the American Cancer Society (ACS) publishes a report summarizing its recommendations for early cancer detection, data and trends in cancer screening rates, and select issues related to cancer screening. In 2008, the ACS, the American Gastroenterological Association, the American College of Gastroenterology, the Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, and the American College of Radiology issued a joint update of guidelines for colorectal cancer screening in average-risk adults. In this issue, the current ACS guidelines and recent issues are summarized, updates of testing guidelines for early prostate cancer detection and colorectal cancer screening by the United States Preventive Services Task Force are discussed, and the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and the National Health Interview Survey pertaining to participation rates in cancer screening are described.
Atmospheric Water Generation (AWG): Performance Model and Economic Analysis

United Nation’s 2018 Water Development Report estimated that more than 2 Billion people all around the world lack access to clean drinking water. In addition, many of our freshwater sources are declining. Therefore, exploring new methods of collecting clean drinking water is vital. Use of Atmospheric Water Generators (AWG) is one of these methods with the potential to contribute towards the salvation of our water problems. However, AWG’s performance is quite volatile in different environmental conditions and its economic feasibility is questionable. In this paper, an indicator model is developed to predict AWG’s performance in different conditions. This model is then used to examine the performance of AWG in Austin, Texas during a 4 year period. An economic analysis is carried out on the performance of the AWG system for a 4 year period from a single users’ perspective that exhibited an NPV value of $5964. This analysis showed that AWGs may indeed be financially feasible when utilized in Austin’s environment.