cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ex vivo produced human conjunctiva and oral mucosa equivalents grown in a serum-free culture system

Abstract Purpose We sought to develop full-thickness ex vivo produced human conjunctiva and oral mucosa equivalents using a serum-free culture system without a feeder layer and to compare conjunctiva and oral mucosa equivalents to assess their suitability as graft materials for eyelid reconstruction. Materials and methods Human conjunctival and oral mucosal keratinocytes were cultured, expanded, and seeded onto AlloDerm (LifeCell Corp, Branchburg, NJ), a cadaveric, acellular dermis, to produce ex vivo produced full-thickness mucosa equivalents. Histology of equivalents and their expression of immunoreactive Ki-67, a proliferation marker, and GLUT1, a membrane antigen seen in barrier tissues, were examined at 4, 11, and 18 days after seeding onto AlloDerm. Results Progressive epithelial stratification was observed on day 4, 11, and 18 conjunctiva and oral mucosa equivalents. Ki-67 immunoreactivity progressively increased with cultured time in both types of equivalent, indicating the continued presence of actively proliferating cells. GLUT1 immunoreactivity, concentrated in the basal keratinocytes of stratified epithelia of both types of equivalents, mimicked native tissue and indicated a high glycolytic state of the basal cells. Conclusions Conjunctival and oral mucosal equivalents are similar to native tissue and demonstrate high proliferative and glycolytic states. Due to the similarity to conjunctiva, oral mucosal equivalents may be useful for eyelid reconstruction. Their advantages for surgical reconstruction include 1) ease of obtaining autogenous oral epithelium for expansion in vitro without the possibility of contaminating cellular- or serum-borne biologic agents, 2) growth of intact, confluent epithelia on rigid, transplantable human allogeneic dermis that may be surgically transplanted, and 3) reduced donor site morbidity and surgical time.
The Effect of Grid Spacing and Domain Size on the Quality of Ensemble Regional Climate Downscaling over South Asia during the Northeasterly Monsoon

The performance of an ensemble-based dynamical regional climate downscaling system is evaluated over southern Asia in a northeasterly monsoon season for different choices in grid spacing and domain size. A seven-member ensemble of the ECHAM4.5 global climate model at a resolution of about 300-km grid size was used to drive the RegCM3 regional climate model with grid sizes of 100, 50, 25, and 20 km, respectively. The performance is reported in detail over Sri Lanka. Two sets of regional model runs were undertaken to assess the effect of grid spacing and model domain size on the downscaling performance. The RegCM3 simulation with 100-km grid size significantly underestimates the height of the central mountain range in Sri Lanka, in a manner that is too coarse to capture orographic influences on the rainfall. However, the RegCM3 simulations with grid sizes from 20 to 50 km capture mesoscale features that arise from uplift condensation on the windward side of the monsoon winds due to the topography. These simulations also capture the orographic influences on the month-to-month rainfall over Sri Lanka that were absent in the ECHAM4.5. While the ‘‘small domain’’ runs [where only the forcings for the region immediately around Sri Lanka (48‐118N, 768‐858E) are used] are computationally more efficient, the results are overly controlled by the lateral boundary driving of the ECHAM4.5 so they inherit large uncertainty from the seven ECHAM4.5 realizations used for the RegCM3 ensemble runs. The ‘‘large domain’’ simulation used a domain comprising both land and ocean (approximately 48S‐228N, 658‐968E). The large-domain group of simulations produced reasonable spatial distribution of precipitation over the region. Moreover, the ensemble spread was considerably reduced in the large-domain high-resolution runs. Therefore, fine enough grid resolution (25 km or less) and sufficiently large domain size are both needed to simulate the essential features of precipitation in this tropical and monsoonal region.
Nodal distance algorithm: calculating a phylogenetic tree comparison metric

Maintaining a phylogenetic relationship repository requires the development of tools that are useful for mining the data stored in the repository. One way to query a database of phylogenetic information would be to compare phylogenetic trees. Because the only existing tree comparison methods are computationally intensive, this is not a reasonable task. Presented here is the nodal distance algorithm which has significantly less computation time than the most widely used comparison method, the partition metric. When the metric is calculated for trees where one species has been repositioned to a distant part of the tree no further computation is required as is needed for the partition metric. The nodal distance algorithm provides a method for comparing large sets of phylogenetic trees in a reasonable amount of time.
Drug-induced pancreatitis: A critical review

We critically reviewed the English language literature pertaining to drug-induced pancreatitis and attempted to determine whether the reported association between each drug and pancreatitis was valid. The following drugs seem to cause pancreatitis: azathioprine, thiazides, sulfonamides, furosemide, estrogens, and tetracycline. Less convincing, but suggestive evidence exists for: 1-asparaginase, iatrogenic hypercalcemia, chlorthalidine, corticosteroids, ethacrynic acid, phenformin, and procainamide. Evidence implicating other drugs is either inadequate or contradictory. Little is known about the pathogenesis of drug-induced pancreatitis. Ethanol was not considered in this review.
Low Frequency Noise Measurements of GaAs FETs

A knowledge of low frequency noise in FETs is essential in designing oscillators, multipliers, and broadband amplifiers for fiber optics. Measurements on commercial and research GaAs FETs are presented which show up to 25 db differences in the 1/f noise of similarly sized devices. The presence of discrete traps creates even larger differences. The importance of material quality over FET size is demonstrated. Simple equations are presented which describe the noise sources and noise figure of an FET at all frequencies.
An experimental SMI adaptive antenna array simulator for weak interfering signals

An experimental sample matrix inversion (SMI) adaptive antenna array for suppressing weak interfering signals is described. The experimental adaptive array uses a modified SMI algorithm to increase the interference suppression. In the modified SMI algorithm, the sample covariance matrix is redefined to reduce the effect of thermal noise on the weights of an adaptive array. This is accomplished by subtracting a fraction of the smallest eigenvalue of the original covariance matrix from its diagonal entries. The test results obtained using the experimental system are compared with theoretical results. The two show a good agreement. >
Phomopsis shoot blight of Colorado blue spruce.

A Phomopsis spp., identified as P. occulta Trav. was demonstrated to be the causal agent of a tip blight of Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens Engelm.) that affects both nursery and landscape tree...
Identifying Moderators of Response to the Penn Resiliency Program: A Synthesis Study.

To identify moderators of a cognitive-behavioral depression prevention program’s effect on depressive symptoms among youth in early adolescence, data from three randomized controlled trials of the Penn Resiliency Program (PRP) were aggregated to maximize statistical power and sample diversity (N = 1145). Depressive symptoms, measured with the Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI; Kovacs 1992), were assessed at six common time points over two-years of follow-up. Latent growth curve models evaluated whether PRP and control conditions differed in the rate of change in CDI and whether youth- and family-level characteristics moderated intervention effects. Model-based recursive partitioning was used as a supplementary analysis for identifying moderators. There was a three-way interaction of PRP, initial symptom severity, and intervention site on growth in depressive symptoms. There was considerable variability in PRP’s effects, with the nature of the interaction between PRP and initial symptom levels differing considerably across sites. PRP reduced depressive symptoms among youth with unmarried parents, but not among those with married parents. Finally, PRP’s effects differed across school grade levels. Although initial symptom severity moderated PRP’s effect on depressive symptoms, it was not a reliable indicator of how well the intervention performed, limiting its utility as a prescriptive variable. Our primary analyses suggest that PRP’s effects are limited to youth whose parents are unmarried. The small number of fifth grade students (n = 25; 2 %) showed a delayed and sustained intervention response. Our findings underscore the importance of evaluating site, family, and contextual characteristics as moderators in future studies.
Incidence and risk factors for mesh erosion after laparoscopic repair of pelvic organ prolapse by lateral suspension with mesh.

The objective of our study was to estimate the incidence and identify the risk factors for mesh erosion after laparoscopic repair of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) by lateral suspension with mesh. We conducted a nested case–control study among 480 women who underwent POP repair by laparoscopic lateral suspension with mesh from January 2004 to October 2012. Cases (n = 18) were women who showed mesh erosion following the first intervention through December 2014. Controls (n = 133) were women randomly selected from the same cohort who did not have any erosion. The risk of mesh erosion was 3.8 % with a mean follow-up of 82.3 months (range 28.2 – 130.6 months). The main risk factor was the use of a type 3 mesh (macroporous with either multifilamentous or microporous components) rather than a type 1 mesh (macroporous and monofilamentous; adjusted OR 13.0, 95 % CI 1.5 – 110.6; P = 0.02). Risk factors included smoking (adjusted OR 10.4, 95 % CI 2.3 – 46.5; P < 0.01) and posterior mesh placement (adjusted OR 5.1, 95 % CI 1.2 – 21.8 P = 0.03). The risk of mesh erosion is low and may be further reduced by using the appropriate mesh material, and by identifying specific patient characteristics such as tobacco use. As conventional vaginal surgery is effective for the treatment of the posterior compartment, the use of posterior mesh during laparoscopic pelvic floor repair needs to be questioned.
Spatially varying embedded stochastic galerkin methods for steady-state PDEs.

Existing discretizations for stochastic PDEs, based on a tensor product between the deterministic basis and the stochastic basis, treat the required resolution of uncertainty as uniform across the physical domain. However, solutions to many PDEs of interest exhibit spatially localized features that may result in uncertainty being severely over or under-resolved by existing discretizations. In this report, we explore the mechanics and accuracy of using a spatially varying stochastic expansion. This is achieved through an adaptive refinement algorithm where simple error estimates are used to independently drive refinement of the stochastic basis at each point in the physical domain. Results are presented comparing the accuracy of the adaptive techinque to the accuracy achieved using uniform refinement.
A SIMPLIFIED METHOD FOR DETERMINING VOLUME OF 24-HOUR SPECIMEN OF URINE.

The volume of 24-hr. specimens of urine has traditionally been determined by means of simply measuring the urine in a large graduated cylinder. Understandably, most laboratory personnel regard this as a messy, smelly, time-consuming chore, to be dis­ pensed with as rapidly as possible. This attitude compounds the errors already inherent in the technic, such as foaming, spillage, and careless reading of the gradu­ ated cylinder scale. A clean, rapid, accurate, and acceptable method has been developed to overcome the objections to the older method. Simply stated, the volume of a 24-hr. specimen of urine is calculated by means of simple arithmetic when the weight and specific gravity are known. METHOD S
Non-Clostridium perfringens infectious agents producing necrotic enteritis-like lesions in poultry

Necrotic enteritis (NE) produced by Clostridium perfringens is amongst the most prevalent enteric diseases of chickens and turkeys. However, several other bacterial, parasitic and viral agents can cause clinical signs, gross and microscopic lesions in poultry very similar to those of NE and the diseases produced by those agents need to be differentiated from NE. The main differential diagnoses for C. perfringens NE include bacterial (Clostridium colinum, Clostridium sordellii, Clostridium difficile, Pasteurella multocida, Brachyspira spp.), parasitic (Eimeria spp., Histomonas meleagridis) and viral (Duck Herpesvirus type 1, Avian Paramyxovirus type 1) diseases. Confirmation of the diagnosis of these diseases requires identification of the aetiological agents by morphological, cultural and/or molecular methods.
Transitions to the Top: Race, Segregation, and Promotions to Executive Positions in the College Football Coaching Profession

This study investigates the effects of job-level, task-based, segregation on racial differences in promotions to executive positions within the college football coaching profession. Using event-history methods to analyze the careers of 323 college football coaches, the results suggest that, relative to White coaches, Black coaches’ career prospects are harmed by their disproportionate placement into jobs that inhibit mobility (i.e., noncentral positions) and their differential returns from occupying jobs that induce mobility (i.e., central positions). These findings shed light on processes related to job-level racial segregation, particularism, and racialization in the coaching profession as well as more general, high-status, labor market contexts.
Three-dimensional paper-based slip device for one-step point-of-care testing

In this study, we developed a new type of paper-based analytical device (PAD), the three-dimensional (3D) slip-PAD, to detect infectious human norovirus for global healthcare. The 3D configuration of the papers combined with a slip design provides unique features and versatility that overcome the limitations of fluidic manipulation and sensitivity in point-of-care (POC) tests. The assay can be carried out in a single step based on a moveable slip design, making it suitable for unskilled users. The 3D fluidic network developed by layered construction of wax-patterned papers provides different fluidic paths for the sequential delivery of multiple fluids without the need for peripheral equipment. The release and mixing of enhancement reagents on the device improved the sensitivity and detection limit. The assay results could be visualized by naked eye within 10 min, with subsequent amplification of the signal over time (<60 min). The device showed a broad dynamic range of detection and high sensitivity, with a detection limit of 9.5 × 104 copies ml−1 for human norovirus. These results demonstrate that the 3D slip-PAD is a sensitive diagnostic assay for detecting human norovirus infection that is particularly suitable for POC testing in regions where resources are scarce.
Analysis on the Structure, Texture and Properties of Carbon Fiber Composite Core for an Overhead Conductor

In order to understand the structure,texture and properties of the carbon fiber reinforced polymer matrix composite core developed recently for an overhead conductor,the composite cores are dissected.The internal structure and the texture characteristics are observed and analyzed by using SEM(scanning electron microscope) and other equipments.The physical properties and the mechanical properties of various cores for overhead conductors are contrasted,also its concerned actualities and problems are discussed for providing reference to the products and applications of ACCC(aluminum conductor composite core).The carbon fiber reinforced polymer matrix composite core has advantages of self damping structure,light weight,small coefficient of linear expansion and high specific strength.But at present the domestic commercial core production has some technical barriers to fully meet the various performance,which need further improvement and breakthrough of technology in the future.
Long-term Results of Cutaneous Omento-ureterostomy

AbstractSix of 11 patients have had 2 to 7½ years of followup evaluation after cutaneous omento-ureteros» tomy. Results were excellent in 3 cases and good in 1, while ureteral stomal stenosis developed in the 2 patients irradiated for bladder cancer. Complete prevention of cutaneous ureterostomy stoma stenosis remains unachieved but the use of a plastic meatal dilator seems useful.
Double-difference adjoint seismic tomography

We introduce a `double-difference' method for the inversion for seismic wavespeed structure based on adjoint tomography. Differences between seismic observations and model predictions at individual stations may arise from factors other than structural heterogeneity, such as errors in the assumed source-time function, inaccurate timings, and systematic uncertainties. To alleviate the corresponding nonuniqueness in the inverse problem, we construct differential measurements between stations, thereby reducing the influence of the source signature and systematic errors. We minimize the discrepancy between observations and simulations in terms of the differential measurements made on station pairs. We show how to implement the double-difference concept in adjoint tomography, both theoretically and in practice. We compare the sensitivities of absolute and differential measurements. The former provide absolute information on structure along the ray paths between stations and sources, whereas the latter explain relative (and thus higher-resolution) structural variations in areas close to the stations. Whereas in conventional tomography a measurement made on a single earthquake-station pair provides very limited structural information, in double-difference tomography one earthquake can actually resolve significant details of the structure. The double-difference methodology can be incorporated into the usual adjoint tomography workflow by simply pairing up all conventional measurements; the computational cost of the necessary adjoint simulations is largely unaffected. Rather than adding to the computational burden, the inversion of double-difference measurements merely modifies the construction of the adjoint sources for data assimilation.
The sounds of racialized masculinities: examining the affective pedagogies of Allahu Akbar

ALLAHU AKBAR!!!!!Often when audiences in the West hear this sound, their faces cringe and their bodies become smaller. They shrink because there is a sense of certainty that this sound will be foll...
Common Femoral Artery Lesions

Common femoral artery (CFA) atherosclerotic disease usually presents with claudication or critical limb ischemia. It may be isolated; however, it is usually present in conjunction with multilevel disease which may involve the iliac, superficial femoral (SFA), and profunda femoris (PF) arteries. Endovascular procedures via the CFA approach are associated with potential iatrogenic complications including CFA dissections, occlusions and perforation, pseudo-aneurysms, hematoma, bleeding, and closure device-related complications.
A Journey of Healing from Addiction: One Person’s Story

ABSTRACTRecovery from addiction to alcohol/drugs is more often than not presented in the literature in an almost exclusively clinicalized version, and the voices of those who suffer from this disease are never heard. This story seeks to present one person’s voice as she tells of her journey from addiction to recovery and serenity. The story emanates from a larger study that focused on a particular methodological format—one that sought to embody the wholeness of the person rather than portray a fractured description of reality. This article shares one person’s story of her experience represented in an aesthetic format.
An interactive online approach to small-group student presentations and discussions.

Student presentations had been widely implemented across content areas, including health sciences education. However, due to various limitations, small-group student presentations in the classroom ...
Does social insurance enrollment improve citizen assessment of local government performance? Evidence from China.

Abstract Although many studies claim that social policies are “carrots” that authoritarian leaders use to garner public support, the assumption that social benefits can boost public support of government has been rarely tested empirically, especially at the local levels. This article investigates the effects of social insurance enrollment on citizens' assessment of local government performance using data from the 2010 China Family Panel Study. We use propensity score matching to reduce selection bias and ordered probit regressions with fixed effects to examine these possible effects. We find that social insurance enrollment had a significant positive effect on rural citizens' assessment of government performance, but this effect did not exist for their urban and migrant peers. This discrepancy could be largely due to the groups' different expectations for government redistribution and their distinct experiences of China's social welfare reform. We conclude that the Chinese authoritarian government has achieved partial success in its attempt to use social policies to maintain popular support.
Are You Reviewer 2: Three Ideas for Better Reviewing

Dear colleagues in the HRI community, I have been given the honor and privilege to write the editorial introduction for this final issue of the Journal of Human-Robot Interaction, before its reemergence as the ACM Transactions on Human-Robot Interaction. It has been a distinct pleasure to serve as the JHRI Managing Editor for the last two and a half years. I am grateful to our founding editors, Sara Kiesler and Mike Goodrich, for giving me this opportunity. Working with our current editors, Chad Jenkins and Selma Sabanovic, we have made great steps to continue advancing the journal and its scholarship. All of us are already working hard to produce an outstanding first issue of ACM THRI!
Data-Driven Formal Reasoning and Their Applications in Safety Analysis of Vehicle Autonomy Features

Analyzing the safety of automotive systems at the application level is -especially challenging as often very complex or even incomplete models are available. The authors combine formal reasoning with simulation data to effectively -validate safety or estimate worst case situations of automotive control systems. —Hans-Joachim Wunderlich, Universitat Stuttgart
Recalled early life adversity and pain: the role of mood, sleep, optimism, and control

Early life adversity (ELA) has been associated with pain symptomatology in adulthood, but mechanisms and moderators of these associations are unclear. Using recall based and concurrently assessed self-report data, we examined associations between ELA, mood, sleep, and recent pain intensity and interference, and whether optimism and perceived control weakened these associations in a midlife community sample of diverse adults reporting some ELA. Controlling for demographic variables and BMI, higher levels of ELA were associated with more pain intensity and interference; greater sleep disturbance and negative mood accounted for these associations. When moderation was examined, only the path from sleep disturbance to pain interference was significantly attenuated for those with higher optimism and higher perceived control. These findings suggest that higher levels of ELA may link with pain in adulthood through poorer mood and sleep, and that resilience resources such as optimism and control may buffer some of these pathways.
Closure of the Thoracotomy

This technique shows a sturdy repair closure sparing compression of the intercostal nerves to reduce postoperative pain, and also sealed closure of the periosteum and intercostal muscular layer.
Association Between Employment and Sexual Risk-Taking Behaviors Among Public High School Adolescents

We examined the relationship between adolescent after school and weekend employment and sexual intercourse behavior in a cross-sectional sample of public high school students in South Carolina. The CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey was used to secure usable data from 4,800 subjects. Thirty-nine percent of the sample worked at a job for pay during the academic year of the study. The majority of all race/gender groups reported having sexual intercourse in their lifetime and during the past 3 months prior, with the exception of Caucasian females. For Caucasian males employment ranging from 1-5 to 31+ hours per week was associated with sexual risk-taking. Caucasian female employment was associated with sexual risk-taking at 16-20 and 21-25 hours of work per week. For African American males, the relationship between employment and sexual risk-taking was evidenced at the 1-5 and 26-30 hours of work per week levels. Similar trends were determined for Caucasians (males and females) regarding sexual intercourse in the past 3 months prior and working for pay during the academic year. Youth working above 10 hours per week during high school may have an increased risk for unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.
Implementation of Self-Directed Supports for People With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in the United States:

Self-direction is an approach to human service delivery within long-term services and supports that aims to provide greater control for individuals with disabilities and their closest supporters. T...
Urinary trace metals individually and in mixtures in association with preterm birth

One in ten infants born in the United States is born preterm, or prior to 37 weeks gestation. Exposure to elevated levels of metals, such as lead and arsenic, has been linked to higher risk of preterm birth (PTB), but consequences of lower levels of exposure and less studied metals are unclear. We examined the associations between 17 urinary trace metals individually and in mixtures in relation to PTB. The LIFECODES birth cohort enrolled pregnant women at <15 weeks gestation at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. We selected cases of PTB (n = 99) and unmatched controls (n = 291) and analyzed urine samples for a panel of trace metals (median: 26 weeks gestation). We used logistic regression models to calculate the odds ratio (OR) for PTB and subtypes of PTB based on presentation at delivery. Subtypes included spontaneous and placental PTB. We used elastic net (ENET) regularization to identify individual metals or pairwise interactions that had the strongest associations with PTB, and principal components analysis (PCA) to identify classes of exposures associated with the outcome. We observed increased odds of PTB (OR: 1.41, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.12, 1.78) in association with an interquartile range difference in urinary copper (Cu). We also observed an increased OR for selenium (OR: 1.33, 95% CI: 0.98, 1.81). ENET selected Cu as the most important trace metal associated with PTB. PCA identified 3 principal components (PCs) that roughly reflected exposure to toxic metals, essential metals, and metals with seafood as a common source of exposure. PCs reflecting essential metals were associated with increased odds of overall and spontaneous PTB. Maternal urinary copper in the third trimester was associated with increased risk of PTB, and statistical analyses for mixtures indicated that after accounting for correlation this metal was the most important statistical predictor of the outcome.
Effect of Race on Outcomes Following Early Coronary Computed Tomographic Angiography or Standard Emergency Department Evaluation for Acute Chest Pain.

Objective: To examine racial differences in outcomes with coronary computed to­mographic angiography (CCTA) vs standard emergency department (ED) evaluation for chest pain. Design: Retrospective analysis of the pro­spective, randomized, multicenter Rule Out Myocardial Ischemia/Infarction by Comput­er Assisted Tomography (ROMICAT-II) trial. Setting: ED at nine hospitals in the United States. Participants: 940 patients who were Cau­casian or African American (AA) presenting to the ED with chest pain. Interventions: CCTA or standard ED evalu­ation Main Outcome Measures: Length of stay, hospital admission, direct ED discharge, downstream testing and repeat ED visit or hospitalization for recurrent chest pain at 28 days. Safety end points: missed acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and cumulative radiation exposure during the index visit and follow-up period. Results: 659 (66%) patients self-identified as Caucasian and 281 (28%) self-identified as AA. AA were younger and more often female compared with Caucasians, had a higher prevalence of hypertension (64% vs 49%, P<.001) and diabetes (23% vs 14%, P<.001) and a lower prevalence of hyperlipidemia (28% vs 51%, P<.001). ACS was more frequent among Caucasians (10% vs 2%, P<.001). Randomization to CCTA resulted in a reduction in median LOS for Caucasians (7.4 vs 24.7 hours, P<.001) and AA (8.9 vs. 26.3, P<.001; P-interac­tion=.88). Both AA and Caucasian patients experienced greater radiation exposure and more downstream testing with CCTA compared with standard evaluation. Conclusions: Early CCTA reduced median LOS for both AA and Caucasian patients presenting to the ED with chest pain by ap­proximately 17 hours compared with stan­dard evaluation. Ethn Dis. 2018;28(4):517- 524; doi:10.18865/ed.28.4.517.
Online Tools for Uncertainty Quantification in nanoHUB

nanoHUB is a cyberinfrastructure for cloud computing, where simulation tool developers can make their products available to their community and users can run fully interactive simulations from a standard web-browser. We report recent cyberinfrastructure developments and workflows that enable calibration and automatic uncertainty propagation for the 400+ nanoHUB tools that use the rapid application infrastructure (Rappture). A Jupyter notebook enables users to upload training datasets, connect these data with the desired tool outputs and specify the calibration variables. The tool uses the Dakota software package that enables various calibration methods. We demonstrate its use via Bayesian calibration of an interatomic potential for molecular dynamics. We also extended Rappture to include automatic uncertainty propagation in deterministic tools. Real-valued tool inputs can be specified as a distribution, and nanoHUB uses collocation to perform multiple simulations spanning the input ranges. Simulation results are post-processed to create surrogate models, perform sensitivity analysis and uncertainty propagation.
Stability of Deterministic and Stochastic Nonlinear Discrete-Time Systems by Means of Fixed Point Theory

In this paper, stability analysis of deterministic and stochastic nonlinear discrete-time dynamical systems is considered. It is shown that some difficulties, such as independency or identical distribution of random variable sequence, that may arise in using Lyapunov's and LaSalle's approaches for stability analysis of discrete-time stochastic systems may be overcome by means of fixed point theory. Furthermore, suitable definitions of stability are provided. Ultimately, numerical examples are given in order to show the results.
Fundamentals of the Neurologic Exam and Other Considerations in the Setting of Progressive Neurological Disease

The neurologic exam plays a critical role in the care of patients with progressive neurological conditions. It is through an exam that the degree of progression can be determined and the foundations of care plans be established. Key elements of the neurologic exam include the mental status exam (cognition, language, and speech), evaluation of cranial nerves I to XII, tests of motor, sensory, and cerebellar systems, reflexes, and gait. The clinician should also be wary of other non-neurologic medical conditions which can confound the neurologic exam.
Performance of different layers of graphene as protective coating for copper wire

Abstract Graphene can be used as an anti-oxidation and anti-corrosion layer due to its impermeability to oxygen or etchant and its atomically thin thickness. In this study, monolayer, bi-layer, and multilayer graphene were grown on copper (Cu) wire samples using a low-pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) process, and their performances for copper wire protection were characterized experimentally. The results show that multilayer graphene provided anti-oxidation protection up to 350 °C under continuous heating of 30 min. The etching time of copper wire with multilayer-graphene protection doubled comparing to their bare Cu wire counterparts. Furthermore, multilayer graphene protection significantly reduced the contact resistance between twisted-pair copper wires.
The North Star

The Proserve incident was a mistake I was determined never to make again. I vowed that my primary criterion for a new technology venture would be a strong technical founder who would accept my guidance in business and marketing as I would accept theirs in technology. When things go bump—and with startups it’s not a question of if things will go bump, it’s a question of when—I want a team or, at the very least, a person, that I can rely on. I want to be working with someone who is indispensable to the technology development, who sees me as a partner, and who has my back as we work through the inevitable challenges.
Mental health and psychosocial needs of patients being treated for opioid use disorder in a primary care residency clinic

Purpose: Primary care is an ideal setting to deliver efficacious treatments for opioid use disorder (OUD). Primary care providers need to be aware of other concerns patients with OUD might have in order to provide comprehensive care. This study describes the prevalence of mental health, comorbid substance use, and psychosocial concerns of patients seeking treatment for OUD in primary care and their relation to 6-month treatment retention. Methods: Patients (N = 100; M age = 34.9 years (SD = 10.8), 74% white, 46% female) with OUD who were starting treatment with buprenorphine at an academic family medicine residency clinic completed surveys of mental health concerns (depression, anxiety, trauma), psychosocial needs (food insecurity, income, transportation, employment), and demographic variables. Chart reviews were conducted to gather information on comorbid substance use, mental health diagnoses, and 6-month treatment retention. Results: Mental health symptoms were highly prevalent in this sample (44% screened positive for anxiety, 31% for depression, and 52% for posttraumatic stress disorder). Three-quarters reported use of illicit substances other than opioids. Many patients also had significant psychosocial concerns, including unemployment (54%), low income (75%), food insecurity (51%), and lacking reliable transportation (64%). Two-thirds (67%) of the sample were retained at 6 months; patients who previously used intravenous opioids were more likely to discontinue treatment (P = .003). Conclusions: Many patients receiving treatment for OUD have significant mental health problems, comorbid substance use, and psychosocial concerns; interestingly, none of these factors predicted treatment retention at 6 months. Primary care clinics would benefit from having appropriate resources, interventions, and referrals for these comorbid issues in order to enhance overall patient well-being and promote recovery.
A Conservative Guide to the Antitrust and Big Tech Debate

Policymakers across the political spectrum are debating the virtue of the application of antitrust law to the technology sector. Some are proposing radical reshaping of federal antitrust law that would expand federal control over the economy. Others appear to want to use antitrust as a way to punish Big Tech. Conservatives are right to be concerned about how dominant Internet platforms stifle certain conservative speech, but antitrust is the wrong tool for addressing these concerns. Instead, conservatives should be fighting far-left efforts to make it easier for the federal government to use antitrust law to reshape and control the technology sector and other sectors of the economy. Conservatives should also fight attacks on the consumer welfare standard in antitrust law, one of the most important developments in decades that promotes free enterprise and economic freedom. Policymakers should recognize that modern antitrust law is perfectly capable of addressing genuine anticompetitive behavior.
8-Day-old male infant with bilious emesis and hematochezia.

Abstract The differential diagnosis for bilious emesis and hematochezia in newborns is broad and includes structural abnormalities (malrotation with volvulus, atresia, pyloric stenosis, intussusception), infectious colitis, necrotizing enterocolitis, milk protein intolerance, vascular malformations, and other bleeding disorders. Here we report a case of bilious emesis and hematochezia in an 8-day-old male infant who was ultimately found to have goat's milk protein intolerance after an extensive workup ruling out other pathology. There have been limited studies that examine goat's milk protein intolerance in pediatric patients, and to our knowledge, our paper presents the youngest patient presenting with bilious emesis related to goat's milk intake.
Mouse model and human patient data suggest critical roles for Pten and p53 in suppressing POLE mutant tumor development

Mutations in the exonuclease domain of POLE are associated with tumors harboring very high mutation burdens. The mechanisms linking this significant mutation accumulation and tumor development remain poorly understood. Pole+/P286R;Trp53+/- mice showed accelerated cancer mortality compared to Pole+/P286R;Trp53+/+ mice. Cells from Pole+/P286R mice showed increased p53 activation, and subsequent loss of p53 permitted rapid growth, implicating canonical p53 loss of heterozygosity in POLE mutant tumor growth. Somewhat surprisingly, however, p53 status had no effect on tumor mutation burden or single base substitution signatures in POLE mutant tumors from mice or humans. Pten has important roles in maintaining genome stability. We find that PTEN mutations are highly enriched in human POLE mutant tumors, including many in POLE signature contexts. One such signature mutation, PTEN-F341V, was previously shown in a mouse model to specifically decrease nuclear Pten and lead to increased DNA damage. We found tumors in Pole+/P286R mice that spontaneously acquired PtenF341V mutations and were associated with significantly reduced nuclear Pten and elevated DNA damage. Taken together with recent published work, our results support the idea that POLE-mediated hypermutagenesis is necessary, but not entirely sufficient, for tumorigenesis. Disabling surveillance of nuclear DNA damage is a likely sufficient factor.
Velocity Profiles and Minimum Stream Power

The velocity distribution of laminar and turbulent flows in a wide open channel was analyzed using the theory of minimum rate of energy expenditure or, equivalently, the theory of minimum stream power. The solution for the laminar flow is the classical parabolic velocity distribution. For turbulent flow it is necessary to assume the functional forms of the velocity distribution and the corresponding eddy viscosity distribution. A number of constants or parameters in the assumed functions were determined using the minimization theory and appropriate constraint equations. By assuming that the turbulent flow may consist of a logarithmic inner layer and a parabolic outer layer, the minimization theory determines that the thicknesses of the two layers must be equal. Two constants remain to be determined using experimental data. It is suggested that the two empirical constants are best determined by measured maximum and mean velocities. Theoretical results are verified with data available in the literature.
De Wied and colleagues II: further clarification of the roles of vasopressin and oxytocin in memory processing.

Publisher Summary De Wied and colleagues concluded that vasopressin (VP) and oxytocin (OT) have important roles in modulating the formation of long-term memory, but are not importantly involved in the early learning phase of memory processing. This chapter discusses the role of VP and OT in memory processing. Tested in both aversive and appetitive paradigms, peripherally administered VP consistently facilitated memory consolidation. The influence of OT is examined only in aversive paradigms in which it produces an amnestic effect. However, dose level and route of administration (central versus peripheral) are important parameters determining the specific type of memory modulation produced by this peptide. Although this early phase of their research launched the view referred to as the “VP/OT central memory theory,” the heavy reliance on the peripheral route of administration opened the door for a number of alternative explanations of the means by which these injected neuropeptides exerted their behavioral effects on learning paradigms.
The Selling of Supreme Court Nominees

Politics has always been at the heart of the Supreme Court selection process. According to John Anthony Maltese, the first "Borking" of a nominee came in 1795 with the defeat of John Rutledge's nomination as chief justice. What is different about today's appointment process, he argues, is not its politicization but the range of players involved and the political techniques that they use. In this text, Maltese traces the evolution of the contentious and controversial confirmation process awaiting today's nominees to the nation's highest court. His story begins in the second half of the 19th century, when social and technological changes led to the rise of organized interest groups. Despite occasional victories, Maltese explains, structural factors limited the influence of such groups well into this century. Until 1913, senators were not popularly elected but chosen by state legislatures, undermining the potent threat of electoral retaliation that interest groups now enjoy. And until Senate rules changed in 1929, consideration of Supreme Court nominees took place in almost absolute secrecy. Floor debates and the final Senate vote usually took place in executive session. Even if interest groups could retaliate against senators, they often did not know whom to retaliate against. With these structural impediments removed, Maltese explains, the process was dramatically transformed. Senators suddenly found themselves accountable to a broader constituency. Public opinion now mattered in a very direct way, and public hearings became occasions for senators to both assess and influence public sentiment on nominees. At the same time, presidents had become more active as policy leaders dramatically expanding the White House staff and attempting to influence judicial decision-making through their court appointments. Staff units took on the tasks of screening potential nominees and mustering support for them. As a result of these changes, today's confirmation battles are public affairs open to a broad range of players who engage in overt lobbying, advertizing campaigns, public appeals and the use of focus groups and public opinion polls to fashion their messages. Televized hearings become forums for emotional debates on the issues of the day - abortion, race, sexual harassment. Maltese ends with a discussion of the recent nomination of Stephen Breyer, addressing various reform proposals made by critics of the current process.
Algorithms for the Solution of Polynomial Equations Arising in Multivarible Control Theory

In this paper, algorithms are developed for the solution of several problems arising in linear multivariable control theory. The algorithms are based on a modification of a recent algorithm by Kung and Kailath4 for the construction of a minimal basis for the left kernel of a polynomial matrix. The basis constructed here is called a modified minimal basis (MMB) and is shown to be of significance in the solutions of the polynomial equations X(s)N(s) + Y(s)D(s) = C(s) and X(s)N(s) + D(s)Y(s) = C(s).
Lower‐Extremity Osteoarthritis and the Risk of Falls in a Community‐Based Longitudinal Study of Adults With and Without Osteoarthritis

OBJECTIVE: Knee and hip osteoarthritis (OA) are known risk factors for falls, but whether they together additionally contribute to falls risk is unknown. This study utilizes a biracial cohort of men and women to examine the influence of lower limb OA burden on the risk for future falls. METHODS: A longitudinal analysis was performed using data from 2 time points of a large cohort. The outcome of interest was falls at follow up. Covariates included age, sex, race, body mass index, a history of prior falls, symptomatic OA of the hip and/or knee, a history of neurologic or pulmonary diseases, and current use of narcotic medications. Symptomatic OA was defined as patient reported symptoms and radiographic evidence of OA in the same joint. Logistic regression analyses were used to determine associations between covariates and falls at follow-up. RESULTS: The odds of falling increased with an increasing number of lower limb symptomatic OA joints: those with 1 joint had 53% higher odds, those with 2 joints had 74% higher odds, those with 3-4 OA joints had 85% higher odds. When controlling for covariates, patients who had symptomatic knee or hip OA had an increased likelihood of falling (aOR 1.39 95% CI [1.02, 1.88]; aOR 1.60 95% CI [1.14, 2.24], respectively). CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals the risk for falls increases with additional symptomatic OA lower limb joints and confirms that symptomatic hip and knee OA are important risk factors for falls. © 2014 American College of Rheumatology. Language: en
Genetic Verification of Dizygotic Twin Embryos in the White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)

The incidence of twinning in avian species is a phenomenon that has been rarely encoun- tered. A number of domestic species have been shown to produce twins but in very low numbers. In wild populations, only 14 species have been documented producing twin embryos or nestlings. Despite this, it has been postulated that birds are just as likely as any other vertebrate to produce twin offspring. Here we describe the discovery of dizygotic twins in a long-term study of breeding ecology in the White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis). The twin containing egg was 12% heavier than the mean and had a mass greater than 94% of eggs collected. The twin containing egg was wider and longer than the majority of other eggs collected during 2010 but still within the expected range for White-throated Sparrows. Genetic analysis demon- strated that the twin embryos were full siblings but of different morph and sex. This is the first documented case of twinning in our study site out of over 2000 samples over 25 years of study, and likely the first confirmed case of twinning in this species. Received 30 June 2014. Accepted 27 March 2015.
Symbiotic synthesis of the biological-mathematics research environment and computer science education

Business, industry, and government provide fertile opportunities for applications of mathematical sciences and for employment of the community of highly trained computer scientists. Heretofore, collaborations between science academia and industry have been focused on the cooperations between the research faculty members and industry scientists. The objective of this paper is to extend this industry-academia interface by designing an educational program which educates students in computer science, mathematics, and biology research and their corresponding applications to industry. These collaborations fortify the creation of a Biomedical Health Science (BHS) Career Program that is designed to provide students a working experience in the biomedical career world.