cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Twenty years of formal methods

Following Godel, consider a formal mathematical system to be a system of symbols together with rules for employing them (K. Godel, 1965). The rules may be formation rules (stipulating the strings of symbols that constitute well formed formulae), proof rules (stipulating the strings of formulae that constitute proofs), or semantic rules (mapping formulae into an algebraic domain). The rules must be recursive. The requirement that the rules be recursive is an important one since it makes it possible to construct a computer program that can determine whether a rule set has been correctly applied. This, in theory, should give us the ability to use computers to determine whether properties we attribute to specifications or computer programs hold for certain. However, the assurance that can be obtained from formal methods comes at a price. For many applications, formal methods are prohibitively expensive. The formal methods community has traditionally looked to computer security as an application area where the expense of faulty software would make the application of formal methods cost-effective. For its part, the computer security community has traditionally looked to formal methods as a source of assurance that goes beyond what is attainable by testing. Although the marriage of formal methods and computer security has not been completely smooth sailing, it has led to a substantial growth in each partner. The article documents that growth.
Protein Domains Govern the Intracellular Distribution of Mouse Sperm AKAP4

A-kinase anchor proteins (AKAPs) spatially restrict cAMP-dependent protein kinase by tethering it to various cellular structures. In the polarized sperm cell, various compartmentalized functions, such as motility generated by the flagellum, are modulated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase. This important regulatory enzyme is associated with AKAP4, the principal component of the fibrous sheath; AKAP4 is synthesized as a precursor, pro-AKAP4, which is cleaved into mature AKAP4 during fibrous sheath assembly. To define the domains responsible for the intracellular distribution and assembly of AKAP4 into a macromolecular complex, various AKAP4-green fluorescent protein (GFP) constructs were introduced into somatic cell lines. The presence of the pro domain, either alone or as part of pro-AKAP4, resulted in a diffuse cytoplasmic localization of the GFP fusion protein, suggesting that, the pro domain keeps the AKAP4 precursor unassembled in vivo until it is transported to the developing tail structure and incorporated into the fibrous sheath. When the mature AKAP4-GFP fusion protein was expressed, it localized in a punctate cytoplasmic pattern. Two domains critical for this punctate localization, T2a and T2b, are homologous to the T2-tethering domain of rat AKAP5 that is important for binding to the actin cytoskeleton in transfected HEK293 cells. In contrast to AKAP5, the distribution of AKAP4 was dependent on the microtubular cytoskeleton. The interaction of AKAP4 with the microtubular network provides evidence that the longitudinal columns of the fibrous sheath, which contain AKAP4, may interact directly with the outer microtubular doublets of the sperm axoneme.
Hope in Older Adults in Community and Institutional Settings

This study explored the meaning of hope, the influence of specific background characteristics on hope, and identified strategies that are used to foster hope in a convenience sample of 60 older adults using the technique of methodological triangulation (interview, Hope Index, and Background Data Form). Hope was described as an expectation of a brighter tomorrow for self and/or others. Perceptions of hope were found to be influenced by place of residence, age, energy level, functional ability, and health status. With the exception of those participants experiencing severe fatigue and those residing in a long-term care facility, overall hope levels among subjects were high and were found to remain stable across the background variables. Eight hope-fostering categories and four hope-hindering categories were identified based on the interview responses. Implications for practice and research are presented.
The staging of history: theatrical, temporal and economic borders of Historyland

This article presents Tony Wise’s 20th-century Wisconsin tourist attraction, Historyland, as a case study which unpacks the idea of civic landscape manipulation as historiographic operation. Beginning in 1954, Wise’s enterprise collected and displayed artifacts from the 19th-century logging industry of northern Wisconsin and the town of Hayward. Historyland featured an ‘authentic’ logging camp and an Indian Village with costumed performers. The enterprise culminated in the 1960s with the physical removal and relocation of Hayward’s historic buildings to the tourist site, where they were rearranged and staged as ‘Old Hayward’. Approaching the subject from a theatre history and theory background, this article looks at the ways Historyland produced heritage and nostalgia as touristic commodities through performance, and examines the economic repercussions of staging the history of a town by actively segregating the old from the contemporary elements.
Paradoxical effects of blood alcohol concentration charts.

Abstract Background . This study was designed to determine the association between alcohol drinking and the possession of blood alcohol concentration charts. Method . A total of 30 college-age subjects participated in the study. Subjects were randomly assigned to either an experimental or a control group. All subjects answered a short entrance questionnaire to determine their height and weight. Those assigned to the experimental group were supplied a copy of a blood alcohol concentration chart and instructed in its use. The volume of alcoholic beverages consumed was surreptitiously counted for all subjects. Prior to leaving the premises the subjects completed an exit questionnaire which asked them to estimate the amount of alcohol they had consumed, whether they had driven to the pub, and whether they intended to drive away. The time spent in the pub was noted for each subject. Results . Among those in the control group there was a tendency to overestimate the volume consumed, and for those in the experimental group, a tendency to more accurately estimate their consumption. Those given blood alcohol concentration charts consumed alcohol at a significantly higher rate than did those in the control group. Conclusion . A likely explanation for this outcome is that the chart served as a stimulus to prompt a drinker to more quickly achieve a blood alcohol level consistent with his/her drinking expectancies.
The evolutionarily conserved eukaryotic arginine attenuator peptide regulates the movement of ribosomes that have translated it.

Translation of the upstream open reading frame (uORF) in the 5′ leader segment of the Neurospora crassa arg-2 mRNA causes reduced initiation at a downstream start codon when arginine is plentiful. Previous examination of this translational attenuation mechanism using a primer-extension inhibition (toeprint) assay in a homologous N. crassa cell-free translation system showed that arginine causes ribosomes to stall at the uORF termination codon. This stalling apparently regulates translation by preventing trailing scanning ribosomes from reaching the downstream start codon. Here we provide evidence that neither the distance between the uORF stop codon and the downstream initiation codon nor the nature of the stop codon used to terminate translation of the uORF-encoded arginine attenuator peptide (AAP) is important for regulation. Furthermore, translation of the AAP coding region regulates synthesis of the firefly luciferase polypeptide when it is fused directly at the N terminus of that polypeptide. In this case, the elongating ribosome stalls in response to Arg soon after it translates the AAP coding region. Regulation by this eukaryotic leader peptide thus appears to be exerted through a novel mechanism of cis-acting translational control.
The interspecific origin of B chromosomes: experimental evidence.

A centric fragment was generated during the introgression of a chromosome region from Nasonia giraulti into N. vitripennis. This neo B chromosome carries the N. giraulti or1231 gene for wild-type eye color. Using this phenotypic effect, the transmission of this chromosome was analyzed. The supernumerary chromosome showed less than Mendelian segregation rate in meiosis and some mitotic instability manifested as mosaic phenotype for eye color. However, transmission rate and mitotic stability increased over successive generations. The transmission rate through male gametogenesis was nearly 100%. These results support the interspecific hybridization model for B chromosome origin and reveal that problems in chromosome stability can persist for several generations after ''foreign chromo- somes'' are introduced into a different species. We suggest that hybrid zones should be investigated as possible sites for neo-B chromosome generation.
Prediction in Chaotic Nonlinear Systems: Time Series Analysis for Aperiodic Evolution

This chapter deals with time series analysis for observations taken on systems that exhibit aperiodic or chaotic behavior. Such systems, which must be nonlinear, abound in physical and biological applications, and have been studied for nearly a century (Poincare, 1899) in contexts ranging from classical mechanics and fluid dynamics to epidemiology. For climatic systems, the lessons of chaos for fluid dynamics are of special relevance.
Substitution and Electron Transfer Processes in Hemerythrin

The kinetics and mechanisms of reactions at the binuclear iron site of hemerythrin are discussed. These include substitution, redox and configuration changes involving deoxy, oxy, semi-met and met forms of the protein. Emphasis will be on results with the octameric and monomeric forms of the protein from Themiste zostericola.
An Empirical Analysis of Exchange Rates Cointergrating System

This paper analyzes whether the system of exchange rate time series of the Japanese yen and the South Korean won is cointegrated by using Engle and Granger's two-step approach to modeling cointegrated processes. The first step involves fitting the long-run relationship in levels by least squares. At a second step, the residuals from the static regression are employed as an error correction term in the dynamic, first-difference regression. Because the hypothesis of cointegration cannot be rejected, the estimated parameters can be considered as elements of the cointegrating vector of this system. The conclusion of this paper can provide some insights to investors who are interested in foreign exchange markets.
Rove Beetle (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) Predation on Bradysia sp. nr. coprophila (Diptera: Sciaridae)

Abstract Rove beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) are important predators of arthropods in soil habitats. However, minimal information is available on their effectiveness, including Dalotia (formerly Atheta) coriaria (Kraatz), which is a reported biological control agent of fungus gnats (Bradysia spp.) in greenhouses. In this study, predation by D. coriaria on Bradysia sp. nr. coprophila, was investigated in small containers (473 ml) in the laboratory using different numbers and ratios of predators and prey. In tests with 1–5 rove beetle adults and 10–40 fungus gnat larvae, predation was greatest at each prey density when four rove beetle adults were released, and lowest at three of four prey densities when five adult rove beetles were released. Per capita prey consumption was greatest when only one rove beetle was present, and predation efficiency decreased as predator numbers increased. This inverse relationship was strongest at the highest prey density (40 fungus gnat larvae). Thus, while using four ro...
Recent Advances in Solid-State Laser Technology

Recent progress is described on work carried out at MIT Lincoln Laboratory in the area of tunable solid state and semiconductor lasers. Included are external cavity controlled ultrastable GaAlAs diode lasers and the limiting factors contributing to the ultimate stability and linewidth of these devices, high power pulsed external cavity diode lasers, Ti:sapphire lasers and laser materials, and the optical properties of nonlinear materials used for harmonic generation such as KNbO3, KTP, and LiIO3.
Designing for culturally responsive science education through professional development

ABSTRACTEducational stakeholders across the globe are demanding science education reform that attends simultaneously to culturally diverse students’ needs and promotes academic excellence. Although professional development programs can foster science teachers’ growth as culturally responsive educators, effective supports to this end are not well identified. This study examined associations between specific Science Teachers are Responsive to Students (STARTS) program activities and United States high school life science teachers’ understanding and enactment of culturally responsive science teaching. Findings suggest: (a) critically examining their practices while learning of students’ needs and experiences enabled teachers to identify responsive instructional strategies and relevant science topics for culturally responsive teaching; (b) evaluating culturally responsive exemplars while identifying classroom-based needs allowed teachers to identify contextually appropriate instruction, thereby yielding a rob...
Conquerors, Brides, and Concubines: Interfaith Relations and Social Power in Medieval Iberia

In Conquerors, Brides, and Concubines, Simon Barton examines the complexities of politics, culture, and social structures in medieval Iberia by viewing them through the lens of interfaith marriages...
Review—Dopant Selection Considerations and Equilibrium Thermal Processing Limits for n+-In0.53Ga0.47As

An overview of various processing and dopant considerations for the creation of heavily-doped n-InGaAs is presented. A large body of experimental evidence and theoretical prediction point to dopant vacancy-complexing as the limiting mechanism for electrical activation in heavily Si doped InGaAs and GaAs. Dopant incorporation techniques which require thermal treatment steps to move dopants onto lattice sites like ion implantation and monolayer doping exhibit stable activation up to a limit of ≈1.5 × 1019 cm−3. Growth-based dopant incorporation methods have shown much higher (5 × 1019 cm−3) active concentrations but these activate concentrations are shown in multiple studies to be metastable. Other device specific process-flow constraints with respect to modern CMOS devices which may make some means of dopant incorporation method, or species selection more appropriate for a given application are also discussed. © The Author(s) 2016. Published by ECS. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (CC BY, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted reuse of the work in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. [DOI: 10.1149/2.0201605jss] All rights reserved.
A closed-form analysis of f/sub T/ for the bipolar transistor down to liquid nitrogen temperature

A simple closed-form expression for f/sub T/ (cutoff frequency) down to liquid nitrogen temperature has been determined by examining the emitter-collector transit time, t/sub ec/, where f/sub T/=1/(2 pi t/sub ec/). This closed-form expression gives excellent agreement with measured values for polysilicon emitter n-p-n transistors which have been fabricated with Stanford's triple-diffused BiCMOS process. It is shown that the BJT (bipolar junction transistor) f/sub T/ behavior over temperature is primarily determined by only three terms: the base minority carrier storage time, the emitter minority carrier storage time, and the base-collector space-charge-layer storage time. The match of experimental data with the closed-form f/sub T/ expression shows that an increase in the base transit time in compensated BJT base regions at low temperature due to minority carrier trapping does occur and is the main reason for the degradation of f/sub T/ at temperatures lower than 150 K in the devices considered. >
The hot Hagedorn Universe. Presented at the ICFNP2015 meeting, August 2015

In the context of the half-centenary of Hagedorn temperature and the statistical bootstrap model (SBM) we present a short account of how these insights coincided with the establishment of the hot big-bang model (BBM) and helped resolve some of the early philosophical difficulties. We then turn attention to the present day context and show the dominance of strong interaction quark and gluon degrees of freedom in the early stage, helping to characterize the properties of the hot Universe. We focus attention on the current experimental insights about cosmic microwave background (CMB) temperature fluctuation, and develop a much improved understanding of the neutrino freeze-out, in this way paving the path to the opening of a direct connection of quark-gluon plasma (QGP) physics in the early Universe with the QCD-lattice, and the study of the properties of QGP formed in the laboratory.
Social Context of Depressive Distress in Aging Transgender Adults

This study investigates the relationship between discrimination and mental health in aging transgender adults. Survey responses from 61 transgender adults above 50 ( Mage = 57.7, SD = 5.8; 77.1% male-to-female; 78.7% White non-Hispanic) were analyzed. Multivariable logistic regression models examined the relationship between gender- and age-related discrimination, number of everyday discrimination experiences, and past-week depressive distress, adjusting for social support, sociodemographics, and other forms of discrimination. The most commonly attributed reasons for experiencing discrimination were related to gender (80.3%) and age (34.4%). More than half of participants (55.5%) met criteria for past-week depressive distress. In an adjusted multivariable model, gender-related discrimination and a greater number of everyday discrimination experiences were associated with increased odds of past-week depressive distress. Additional research is needed to understand the effects of aging and gender identity on depressive symptoms and develop interventions to safeguard the mental health of this vulnerable aging population.
Grid Modernization Laboratory Consortium - Testing and Verification

This paper highlights some of the unique testing capabilities and projects being performed at several national laboratories as part of the U. S. Department of Energy Grid Modernization Laboratory Consortium. As part of this effort, the Grid Modernization Laboratory Consortium Testing Network isbeing developed to accelerate grid modernization by enablingaccess to a comprehensive testing infrastructure and creating a repository of validated models and simulation tools that will be publicly available. This work is key to accelerating thedevelopment, validation, standardization, adoption, and deployment of new grid technologies to help meet U. S. energy goals.
Verification of Parity Data in Large Scale Storage Systems.

Highly available storage uses replication and other redundant storage to recover from a component failure. If parity data calculated from an erasure correcting code is not updated or becomes otherwise corrupted, recovery from a failure does not recover the correct data but mostly garbled data. This paper presents an algebraic signature scheme that can detect parity discrepancies for parity calculated with XORing, generalized Reed-Solomon codes, or convolutional array codes. Maintaining and checking the signature of client and parity data allows us to ensure coherence in the storage system and thus to accurately rebuild data on lost devices. Our scheme is combined with disk scrubbing, necessary to detect masked disk failures.
A Tool Set for Exploring the Value of RFID in a Supply Chain

In recent years, radio-frequency identification (RFID) has emerged as an important technology to facilitate the management of a supply chain. Because the technology is expensive and time-consuming to implement on a large scale, most enterprises require a relatively rigorous business case to support the decision whether or when to adopt the technology. To enable the development of such business cases, a tool set has been developed to quantify the business value of RFID for different participants in a manufacturing-retail supply chain. The tool set consists of two tools which are linked: A business value model, implemented as an in-house developed application using commercial spreadsheet software, and a business process model, implemented using a commercial discrete-event simulation package. The business process model computes and provides certain supply chain performance metrics to the business value model, which are otherwise difficult to obtain. Because it is not trivial to capture the full range of potential benefits of RFID, it is necessary to coordinate two different types of decision support tools (spreadsheets and computer simulation).
Endovascular Aneurysm Repair (Talent-Bifurcated Graft)

Infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) >5 cm ­(nonruptured), enlarging AAA >4.0 cm (grown >5 mm in 6 months).
Case report: Osteitis/osteomyelitis pubis simulating acute appendicitis

There is a continuum between Athletic (Sports) Hernia, Osteitis Pubis, and Osteomyelitis Pubis. The pubis is the site of attachment of many "core" muscles. A lay term used to describe a hernia is "rupture". Athletic hernia denotes a tear. Chronic musculotendinous strain may cause inflammation (osteitis pubis). An inflammatory focus may become a nidus for infection (osteomyelitis pubis). The symptoms caused by these three entities blur one with the other and with those characterizing acute appendicitis. This is an important association for clinicians to know.
Frequency content of environmental variability and extinction risk of age-structured populations: Chinook salmon ( Oncorhynchus tschawytscha ) as an example

Investigations into the influence of environmental variability on population extinction have assessed the role of noise “color” (e.g., “white” or “reddened”), but the influence of spectral sensitivity of age-structured populations on extinction risk is not well understood. Recent findings indicate that age-structured populations are more sensitive to environmental variability that occurs on time scales near their mean age of spawning and on long time scales, particularly when populations are at low abundance. This raises the question of how variability at those sensitive time scales would influence extinction risk. We used an age-structured population model with density-dependent recruitment based on the life history of spring-run Chinook salmon, as an example, to investigate how the spectrum of environmental variability influences (1) variability of spawning female abundance, (2) the probability of quasi-extinction, and (3) the distribution of times to quasi-extinction. Population simulations were run with different spectra to investigate the influence of: (a) low frequencies, (b) frequencies equal to the inverse of the mean age of spawning (generational time scales), (c) both of these at once, and (d) “reddened” white noise. Results showed that even though variability on generational time scales causes greater population variability than other time scales, by itself, it does not increase probability of quasi-extinction. However, environmental variability at the other peak in sensitivity at low frequencies increased extinction in a way similar to the reddened signal. Environmental variability distributed over both sensitive frequency bands (i.e., low frequency and cohort frequencies) actually had less effect on extinction than low frequency variability alone.
The Glass Transition and Related Transitions in Liquids Under Pressure

Abstract Studies of the pressure-induced glass transition in liquid lubricants were not uncommon 40 years ago. As classical elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) adopted pressure–viscosity models which understated the viscosity at EHL pressure, the need for this information vanished since the viscosity would not be expected to reach into the glassy state. Based upon data for molten minerals from experiments in geophysics, an “universal” glass transition viscosity was considered to be 1012 Pa s. The gear oil shown in Fig. 5.1 would reach this viscosity at pressure of 170 GPa using the third Roelands model, Eq. (6.33), with parameters from classical EHL shown in the figure. A more reasonable glass viscosity for organic liquids might be 108 Pa s. The popular pressure–viscosity model would still not reach this value until a pressure of 50 GPa. Fitting the viscometer data of Fig. 5.1 to the Hybrid equation (6.40), results in the glass transition at 1.9 GPa, a pressure sometimes reached in EHL. The more fragile traction fluids and some mineral oils will encounter the transition at less than 1 GPa. Clearly, with the move toward a quantitative approach, the glass transition should be revisited.
FRI0609 EXPERIENCE WITH BIOLOGIC AGENTS FOR THE TREATMENT OF CARDIAC SARCOIDOSIS IN A U.S. ACADEMIC MEDICAL CENTER

Background Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disease of unclear etiology characterized histologically by non-caseating granulomas. Lungs are the most common organs affected but sarcoidosis can affect almost any organ system. While clinically manifest cardiac involvement occurs in only about 5% of patients with sarcoidosis, a significant proportion have clinically silent disease. Symptomatic cardiac involvement portends a poorer prognosis with manifestations varying from heart failure and conduction abnormalities to ventricular arrhythmias including sudden death. Immunosuppression with corticosteroids and DMARDs such as methotrexate and mycophenolate mofetil has been the mainstay of treatment despite a paucity of data. There is a subset of patients that are either non-responders to these agents or in whom the side effect profile is prohibitive for their long term use. Biologic agents, mainly TNF alpha antagonists, have been used as salvage therapies in these patients. However, the evidence regarding their efficacy and safety is limited to a few case reports. In fact, there remains much apprehension regarding the use of TNF alpha antagonists in patients with systolic heart failure due to concerns that they can exacerbate heart failure. Objectives To study the efficacy and safety of using biologics for the treatment of cardiac sarcoidosis. Methods We conducted a retrospective and prospective observational study of all adult patients with cardiac sarcoidosis treated with biologics at an academic medical center in Washington D.C, USA between 2013 and 2018. Results We identified 9 patients (3 men and 6 women) diagnosed with cardiac sarcoidosis at our institution. The mean age at diagnosis was 49.9 (SD 8.6). 1 patient was Caucasian and the rest (n=8) were African American. Lungs were the most common extra cardiac organ involved (n=7) followed by CNS (n=4), liver (n=4) and skin (n=3). 5 of the patients presented with systolic heart failure (EF Conclusion Based on our small cohort, biologics (mainly TNF alpha antagonists) appear to be safe and efficacious as salvage therapy for cardiac sarcoidosis. However, there is a need for prospective studies to further validate these findings as well as to identify the subset of patients that would benefit from early initiation of these therapies. References [1] Birnie, D. H., Nery, P. B., Ha, A. C., & Beanlands, R. S. B. (2016). Cardiac Sarcoidosis. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 68(4), 411. Disclosure of Interests None declared
Early palliative care reduces stress in parents of neonates with congenital heart disease: validation of the "Baby, Attachment, Comfort Interventions".

To test our hypothesis that an innovative method of early palliative care called “Baby, Attachment, Comfort Interventions” reduces psychological distress in parents of neonates with congenital heart disease. Prospective cohort study of parents of neonates with congenital heart disease. Distress was evaluated at admission and discharge using Neonatal Unit Parental Stressor Scale and Depression Anxiety Stress Index-21. Control parents received standard of care. Intervention parents received interdisciplinary interventions aimed at improving neonatal comfort and parenting experience. Seventy-seven parents participated. Stress decreased in the intervention group (26 parents) but not in the control group (51 parents). There was no decrease in anxiety or depression in either group. Early palliative care reduces stress in parents of neonates with congenital heart disease. Further work is needed to address depression/anxiety in this group of high-risk parents.
Modeling of aqueous species interaction energies prior to nucleation in cement-based gel systems

Abstract Arguably the most ubiquitous construction material in modern civilization, concrete is enabling the development of megacities around the globe together with increasing living standards in developing nations. However, the exact formation mechanisms of the strength-giving calcium-rich gels remain a topic of debate. Using density functional modeling, we simulate the fundamental solution-based building blocks of cement hydrates (calcium ions and silicate and aluminate monomers) and their propensity to form pair-wise complexes with bonding environments characteristic of those found in calcium-silicate-hydrate, calcium-alumino-silicate-hydrate and sodium-containing calcium-alumino-silicate-hydrate gels, as assessed from Gibbs free energies of chemical reactions. By accurately simulating the high pH pore solution chemistry in Portland cements and related systems, along with discrete solvation of the species, we hypothesize potential early age formation routes of the gels and discuss limitations and future work associated with this approach.
Pure Random Search and Pure Adaptive Search

A theoretical analysis of the performance of two stochastic methods is presented, pure random search (PRS) and pure adaptive search (PAS). These two random search algorithms can be viewed as extremes and are not intended to be practical algorithms, but rather are used to provide insight and bracket the performance of stochastic algorithms. Pure random search samples points from the domain independently, and the objective function has no impact on the technique of generating the next sample point. In contrast, pure adaptive search samples the next point from the subset of the domain with strictly superior objective function values. Pure random search is extreme in the sense that the iterates are completely independent and never use previous information to affect the search strategy, while pure adaptive search is extreme in an opposite sense because the iterates completely depend on each other, and the search strategy forces improvement by definition. These two extreme stochastic methods are analyzed and it is shown that, under certain conditions, the expected number of iterations of pure adaptive search is linear in dimension, while pure random search is exponential in dimension. The linearity result for pure adaptive search implies that adapting the search to sample improving points is very powerful.
Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy Findings in Children With Obstructive Sleep Apnea With vs Without Obesity or Down Syndrome

Importance Persistent obstructive sleep apnea after adenotonsillectomy is common in children with Down syndrome or obesity. Drug-induced sleep endoscopy could help to identify anatomic differences in these patients that might affect surgical decision-making. Objective To assess drug-induced sleep endoscopy findings in surgically naive children with obstructive sleep apnea with obesity or Down syndrome and compare these findings with children without obesity or Down syndrome. Design, Setting, and Participants This cross-sectional analysis of data from a prospective cohort study of patients enrolled between May 1, 2015, and December 31, 2019, was conducted at an academic tertiary care children’s hospital and included a consecutive sample of surgically naive children (age 2-18 years) who underwent drug-induced sleep endoscopy at the time of adenotonsillectomy for sleep-disordered breathing. Indications for sleep endoscopy included severe sleep apnea, age older than 7 years, obesity, African American race, and Down syndrome. Exposures Drug-induced sleep endoscopy. Main Outcomes and Measures Sleep endoscopy findings were scored according to the Sleep Endoscopy Rating Scale. Ratings at 6 anatomic levels for children with obesity and those with Down syndrome were compared with controls without obesity or Down syndrome using several measures of effect size (Cohend, CramerV, and η2). Results A total of 317 children (158 girls [50%]; 219 [69%] White, 20 [6%] Black, and 103 [34%] Hispanic; mean [95% CI] age, 9.6 [9.2-10.0] years) were included, of whom 115 (36%) were controls without obesity or Down syndrome, 179 (56%) had obesity without Down syndrome, and 23 (7%) had Down syndrome. The mean apnea-hypopnea index was 16 (95% CI, 13-19), and the mean minimum O2saturation was 83% (95% CI, 81%-85%). Compared with controls without obesity or Down syndrome, children with Down syndrome demonstrated greater overall obstruction (mean sleep endoscopy rating scale total score of 5.6 vs 4.8; Cohend, 0.46), and greater tonsillar (percentage of complete obstruction: 65% vs 54%), tongue base (percentage of complete obstruction: 26% vs 12%), and arytenoid obstruction (percentage of at least partial obstruction, 35% vs 6%). Children with obesity had greater tonsillar (percentage of complete obstruction, 74% vs 54%) and less base of tongue obstruction (percentage of complete obstruction, 2% vs 12%) compared with controls. Conclusions and Relevance In this cohort study, surgically naive children with obesity with obstructive sleep apnea had predominantly tonsillar obstruction, whereas children with Down syndrome demonstrated greater obstruction of the tonsils, tongue base, and arytenoids compared with controls. Routine drug-induced sleep endoscopy should be considered in surgically naive children with Down syndrome to help inform the surgical plan.
Form Subdivisions for Curriculum Materials

Several formats found in curriculum collections do not have representation as Library of Congress form subdivisions. There are form subdivisions that are appropriate for books, such as Juvenile fic...
Potential health benefits of edible insects

Animal-based foods have traditionally been viewed as dietary staples because they provide many essential nutrients; however, edible insects have the potential to serve as healthy, sustainable alternatives to these because of their nutrient contents. Edible insects may have superior health benefits due to their high levels of vitamin B12, iron, zinc, fiber, essential amino acids, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, and antioxidants. The addition of edible insects such as crickets to the human diet could offer a myriad of environmental and nutritional benefits including an overall reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, decreased agricultural use of land and water, improved prevention and management of chronic diseases like diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease, and enhanced immune function. Future research should aim to understand the beneficial effects of whole insects or insect isolates in comparison to traditional animal- and plant-based foodstuffs. Ultimately, insects have the potential to be used as meat substitutes or dietary supplements, resulting in human health and environmental benefits. The purpose of this review is to provide additional insight on the nutrient composition of edible insects, their potential use as meat substitutes or dietary supplements, the associated health and wellness benefits, and their potential role in exercise performance.
“Feeling good as hell”: Black women and the nuances of fat resistance

Activism and resistance are two often conflated terms in both academic and social movement discourses. However, the conflation renders invisible the ways oppressed people engage in activism and/or ...
Ex-Vivo Repair of Complex Hilar Renal Artery Aneurysms and Auto-Transplantation of Solitary Kidney

Renal artery aneurysms (RAA) are rare and challenging to repair. We present a case of a 48-year-old female with solitary right kidney who had complex aneurysms near the renal hilum. CT angiogram showed fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) features of the renal artery and 2 saccular aneurysms measuring 2.3 cm and 1 cm. An additional small lower pole renal artery added to the complexity of the case. Ex-vivo aneurysm repair was performed after the kidney was removed and flushed with preservation solution. This was followed by auto-transplantation to the right external iliac vessels. The patient did well postoperatively without need for dialysis with serum creatinine returning to normal 5 weeks after.
Comparative Analysis of Host Range, Ability to Infect Tomato Cultivars With Tm-22 Gene, and Real-Time Reverse Transcription PCR Detection of Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus.

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is one of the most important vegetables in the world. However, tomato is also susceptible to many viral diseases. Several tobamoviruses, including tomato mosaic vir...
Domain general and specific contributions to algebra: A sequenced longitudinal path model

Abstract Algebra I is critical for future STEM aspirations. However, current understanding of key predictors has focused on large-scale big data studies (which often lack a strong set of potential cognitive and mathematical predictors) or on individual differences or experimental studies (with relatively small sample sizes). The present study was designed with a strong set of theoretically and empirically motivated mathematical and cognitive predictors of algebra performance and large sample size: 532 students taking Algebra I in Grades 8 or 9. Students were evaluated at the beginning and end of their course. Results revealed direct and indirect effects for an array of domain-general and domain-specific factors, with the most robust effects for language, whole number arithmetic, arithmetic concept understanding, and fractions competency. General patterns held in the context of a variety of demographic covariates though more generally for students taking Algebra I at the standard time relative to those taking it earlier. To prepare students for algebra, and while considering a host of contextual factors, results support the need to build direct and indirect supports for domain-general resources at younger ages, and to provide practice with domain-specific skills.
hVPS41 Is Expressed in Multiple Isoforms and Can Associate with Vesicles through a RING-H2 Finger Motif

Abstract Vps41p, the protein encoded by the yeast gene VPS41, has been shown to mediate formation of AP-3 transport vesicles from the Golgi apparatus and to facilitate the docking and fusion of lysosomal vesicles. Although both of these activities involve transient association with membrane structures, the mechanisms that mediate those interactions have not been determined. Orthologues of VPS41 have been identified in humans, Drosophila, tomato, and Arabidopsis; the degree of sequence similarity among these genes suggests a highly conserved function. Here we provide evidence that hVps41, the human homologue of Vps41p, is expressed in two isoforms that differ in that one contains a C-terminal RING-H2 sequence motif. Transient expression analysis suggests that this RING-H2 domain is responsible for membrane association. This observation was further supported by the cytosolic localization of site-specific mutants. A truncated construct containing only the hVps41 RING-H2 domain was found to associate with a class of intracellular vesicles that originated from the Golgi and showed partial coincidence with the δ subunit of the adaptor protein complex-3. Together with information from the homologous yeast system, these results suggest that hVps41 may also be involved in the formation and fusion of transport vesicles from the Golgi.
Activation of the action potential Na+ ionophore of cultured neuroblastoma cells by veratridine and batrachotoxin

The activation of the action potential Na+ ionophore by veratridine and batrachotoxin is time- and concentration-dependent and completely reversible. Batrachotoxin acts more slowly than veratridine. The concentration dependence of activation at equilibrium suggests reversible interaction of each toxin with a single class of independent sites having dissociation constants at physiologic ion concentrations of 80 plus or minus 13 muM for veratridine and 0.4 plus or minus muM for batrachotoxin. The maximum velocity of Na+ uptake at 50 mM Na+ is 128 plus or minus 12 nmol/min/mg in the presence of batrachotoxin compared to 48 plus or minus 4 nmol/min/mg in the presence of veratridine. Treatment of cells with excess veratridine in addition to batrachotoxin inhibits batrachotoxin-dependent 22-Na+ uptake. The concentration dependence of this inhibition suggests that it reflects competitive displacement of batrachotoxin from its binding site by veratridine. The activation by veratridine and batrachotoxin is inhibited in a competitive manner by divalent cations. The inhibition by divalent cations exhibits significant ion specificity with Mn-2+ greater than Co-2+ greater than Ni-2+ greater than Ca-2+ greater than Mg-2+ greater than Sr-2+. The inhibition constants (KI) for Ca-2+ are 0.84 mM for veratridine-dependent 22-Na+ uptake and 1.2 mM for batrachotoxin-dependent 22-Na+ uptake. The activation by veratridine and batrachotoxin is inhibited in a noncompetitive manner by tetrodotoxin. The apparent KD for tetrodotoxin as 11 plus or minus 1 nM in the presence of 150 mM Na+ and approximately 8.5 nM in 50 mM Na+. Divalent cations do not affect the apparent KD for tetrodotoxin. A hypothesis is presented which suggests that batrachotoxin, veratridine, and divalent cations interact with an activation site associated with the action potential Na+ ionophore, whereas tetrodotoxin interacts with a physically and functionally independent site involved in the transport of monovalent cations by the ionophore.
Mexicanization: A Survival Strategy for Guatemalan Mayans in the San Francisco Bay Area

This article explores “Mexicanization,” a survival strategy for Guatemalan Mayans during the migratory and settlement process in the United States. This term describes the Guatemalan Mayans’ ambiguous relations with Mexico and Mexicans. The symbolic role of Mexico is present throughout the Guatemalan migration process, from the preparatory phase in Guatemala or in the Mexican refugee camps, through the perilous journey north, during which Guatemalans attempt to blend into Mexican society to avoid deportation or extortion by Mexican authorities. On entering the United States, this pattern continues as Guatemalans claim Mexican identity so that if detained, INS officials will send them only to the Mexican side of the border. As Guatemalans settle in the United States, they often live in communities dominated by Mexican businesses, products, food, culture, and social networks. The experience of Mexicanization varies according to gender and background.
Towards High-Level Analog and Mixed-Signal Synthesis From VHDL-AMS Specifications

This paper presents our experience on high-level synthesis of Σ - Δ analog to digital converters (ADC) from VHDL-AMS descriptions. The proposed VHDL-AMS subset for synthesis is discussed. The subset has the composition semantics, so that specifications offer enough insight into the system structure for automated architecture generation and optimization. A case study for the synthesis of a fourth order Σ - Δ ADC is detailed. Compared to similar work, the method is more flexible in tackling new designs, and more tolerant to layout parasitic.
Initial Reliability and Validity of the Life Satisfaction Scale for Problem Youth in a Sample of Drug Abusing and Conduct Disordered Youth

Responses to Life Satisfaction Scale for Problem Youth (LSSPY) items were examined in a sample of 193 substance abusing and conduct disordered adolescents. In responding to the LSSPY, youth endorse their percentage of happiness (0 to 100%) in twelve domains (i.e., friendships, family, school, employment/work, fun activities, appearance, sex life/dating, use of drugs, use of alcohol, money/material possessions, transportation, control of one’s life). Results indicated that the LSSPY yielded three factor structures (i.e., Social Satisfaction, External Obligations Satisfaction, Substance Use Satisfaction), demonstrated good initial psychometric properties, and appears to be a useful instrument in the evaluation of treatment outcome in problem youth. Males were more satisfied in the Social and External Obligations domains than females, although no gender differences were indicated in Substance Use Satisfaction. Caucasian, African-American, and Hispanic youths responded to LSSPY items similarly. Future directions are discussed in light of these results.
Suprapubic cystostomy for the management of urethral injuries during penile prosthesis implantation.

Introduction Urethral injury is an uncommon surgical complication of penile prosthesis (PP) surgery. Conventional dogma requires abortion of the procedure if the adjacent corporal body is involved or delayed implantation to avert device infection associated with urinary extravasation. Besides the setback of the aborted surgery, this management approach also presents the possible difficulty of encountering corporal fibrosis at the time of reoperation.
The 0---1-Exclusion Families of Tasks

Interesting tasks are scarce. Yet, they are essential as an investigation material, if we are to understand the structure of the tasks world. We propose a new collection of families of tasks called 0-1 Exclusion tasks, and show that families in this collection are interesting. A 0-1 Exclusion task on n processors is specified by a sequence of n *** 1 bits b (1),b (2),...,b (n *** 1). For participating set of size k , 0 < k < n , each processor is to output 0 or 1 but they should not all output b (k ). When the participating set is of size n , then they should all output neither all 0's nor all 1's. A family of tasks, one for each n , is created by considering an infinite sequence of bits b (k ), k = 2,3,..., such that the sequence that specifies instant n , is a prefix of the sequence that specifies the n + 1'st instance. Only one family in the collection, the one specified by b (1) = b (2) = ...= 1, was implicitly considered in the past and shown to be equivalent to Set- Consensus. In this initial investigation of the whole collection we show that not all of its members are created equal. We take the family specified by b (1) = 1,b (2) = b (3) = ... = 0, and show that it is read-write unsolvable for all n , but is strictly weaker than Set-Consensus for n odd. We show some general results about the whole collection. It is sandwiched between Set-Consensus from above and Weak-Symmetry-Breaking from below. Any Black-Box of n ports that solves a 0-1 Exclusion task, can be used to solve that task for n processors with ids from unbounded domain. Finally we show an intriguing relation between Strong-Renaming and the 0-1 Exclusion families, and make few conjectures about the implementations relationships among members of the collection, as well as possibly tasks outside it.
Operating fixed-speed and wide-slip wind turbines in isolated microgrids

This paper demonstrates the feasibility of operating wind farms consisting of fixed-speed wind turbines (FSWTs) and wide-slip wind turbines (WSWTs) in an isolated microgrid. Operating requirements of the microgrid and additional equipment needed to operate the wind farms in a standalone microgrid are described. The microgrid and wind farm models are developed in a time-domain simulation platform. The microgrid test system is a distribution feeder consisting of wind farms. This microgrid is initially connected to the grid, but operates as an isolated microgrid during a fault restoration period. Energy storage systems, fixed capacitor banks, and STATCOMs are proposed to be installed to manage real and reactive power of the wind farms. This paper also describes the size of energy storage systems required and the amount of reactive power compensation needed.