cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Persistent identification of time-varying systems

Identification of time-varying systems, especially slowly time-varying systems, is of importance in the development of a comprehensive theory of adaptation. The persistent identification measures employed in this paper capture a main characterization in such identification problems, namely, one input signal must be used for identification of all possible observation windows. This paper establishes several essential features in persistent identification problems which highlight their potential utility in adaptation: 1) they have computable upper and lower bounds for typical classes of prior uncertainty sets; 2) any full rank n-periodic signals are optimal, and the simple least-squares estimates are optimal identification algorithms; 3) optimal probing inputs can be approximately generated in a closed-loop configuration when the plant and the controller are slowly time-varying; and 4) n-periodic signals are asymptotically optimal for slowly time-varying systems. The main results of this paper have been successfully combined with a certain slow H/sup /spl infin// design to derive an adaptive stabilization scheme.
Computational fluid dynamics simulation of transcatheter aortic valve degeneration

OBJECTIVES Studied under clinical trials, transcatheter aortic valves (TAV) have demonstrated good short-term feasibility and results in high-risk surgical patients with severe aortic stenosis. However, their long-term safety and durability are unknown. The objective of this study is to evaluate hemodynamic changes within TAV created by bioprosthetic leaflet degeneration. METHODS Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were performed to evaluate the hemodynamics through TAV sclerosis (35% orifice reduction) and stenosis (78% orifice reduction). A three-dimensional surface mesh of the TAV within the aortic root was generated for each simulation. Leaflets were contained within an open, cylindrical body without attachment to the sinus commissures representing the stent. A continuous surface between the annulus and TAV excluded the geometry of the native calcified leaflets and prevented paravalvular leak. Unsteady control volume analysis throughout systole was used to calculate leaflet shear stress and total force on the TAV. RESULTS Sclerosis increased total force on the TAV by 63% (0.602-0.98 N). Advancement of degeneration from sclerosis to stenosis was accompanied by an 86% increase in total force (1.82 N) but only a 32% increase in peak wall shear stress on the leaflets. Of the total force exerted on the TAV, 99% was in the direction of axial flow. Shear stresses on the TAV were greatest during peak systolic flow with stress concentrations on the tips of the leaflets. In the normal TAV, the aortic root geometry and physiologic flow dominate location and magnitude of shear stress. Following leaflet degeneration, the specific geometry of the stenosis dictates the profile of axial velocity leaving the TAV and shear stress on the leaflets. A dramatic increase in peak leaflet shear stress was observed (115 Pa stenosis vs. 87 Pa sclerosis and 29 Pa normal). CONCLUSIONS CFD simulations in this study provide the first of its kind data quantifying hemodynamics within stenosed TAV. Stenosis leads to significant forces of TAV during systole; however, diastolic forces predominate even with significant stenosis. Substantial changes in peak shear stress occur with TAV degeneration. As the first implanted TAV begin to stenose, the authors recommend watchful examination for device failure.
Alcohol, Drugs, Fighting and Suicide Attempt/Ideation

In a representative U.S. sample of 18,352 current drinkers 18 years of age and over, past-year alcohol- or other drug-related fighting and suicide attempt/ideation both showed strong positive bivariate associations with volume of alcohol intake, proportion of drinking days resulting in intoxication (the intoxication index) and past-year drug use, especially multiple drug use. After adjusting for potential confounders in a series of multiple logistic regression models, average daily ethanol intake retained a significant positive association with the odds of alcohol- and other drug-related fighting, as did the intoxication index–except among drinkers who used marijuana only (i.e., no other drugs). The odds of this outcome also were increased by use of simulants or cocaine only, use of multiple drugs and use of marijuana–the latter primarily among women. The odds of past-year suicide attempt/ideation were positively associated with the intoxication index but were not significantly associated with average dai...
Pathology of Breast Cancer

The literature contains several monographs and numerous reports dealing with the pathologic aspects of mammary carcinoma. Many are concerned with correlations of certain pathologic features of these lesions with prognosis. Examples of such studies are those relating such so-called pathologic discriminants of the tumor as nuclear and histologic grades, lymphoid infiltrate, and reactions of regional lymph nodes, to survival. There are a modest number of reports attesting to the favorable clinical course of certain histologic types of mammary carcinoma, namely, medullary, tubular, mucinous, and adenocystic types. Some studies might be regarded as principally descriptive in nature. These refer to features of mammary carcinoma which may be unappreciated by routine staining techniques, such as their elastic or mucin content. Although perusal of many of these pathologic studies may reveal information relevant to the interrelationships among several pathologic and clinical parameters, only one comprehensive, systematic study of this nature has appeared.(1) It is noteworthy that the material utilized in the latter, as well as in most other studies concerned with clinicopathologic correlations, had been retrospectively selected. As a result, its uniformity is highly debatable and prevents meaningful comparisons of results emanating from different institutions. Indeed, it is our impression that many of the divergent findings in the literature are, in large part, attributable to defects inherent in retrospective analyses.
Incorporation of non-linear effective cross-section parameterizations into a fast photolysis computation code (fast-J)

We have investigated several methods of incorporating laboratorymeasurements of effective cross-sections (quantum yield timesabsorption cross-section) that are non-linear functions oftemperature, pressure, and wavelength, into the Fast-J photolysis codeof Wild et al. (2000). The best method was found to beparameterization of the solar weighted effective cross-section usingthe form of the effective cross-section, with numerical fitting of theparameterization constants. Using this technique on the acetone dataof Gierczak et al. (1998) produces aparameterization which fits all points to within 1%. This methodshould also benefit other photolysis codes with large wavelength bins.
Development of Argyrophile and Collagenous Fibers in Tissue Cultures.

In cultures of adult connective tissue of the rabbit which grow undisturbed on slides or in flasks in the usual plasma and embryonic extract medium for a period of 2 to 3 weeks, development of a fibrous intercellular substance can be observed in the living condition as well as after fixation and staining. In the first stages of this process, extremely delicate loose networks of thin, wavy, branching and anastomosing fibrillae appear around the isolated star shaped fibroblasts which advance into the nutritive medium. The fibrillae are argyrophile, i. e., they are electively impregnated with silver. Although in many places they follow the outlines of the fibroblasts and their processes, and even adhere closely to their protoplasm, the fibrillae are also seen from the very beginning to extend far into the surrounding medium. As the outlines of the fibroblasts are always very distinct, the existence of an exoplasm can be excluded with certainty. The fibrillae sometimes seem to follow the course of the threads...
Measurements of 3-D Stall Cells on 2-D Airfoil

The present work aims to identify and quantify underlying physics behind the formation of three-dimensional stall cell using oil flow visualization and stereoscopic particle image velocimetry (SPIV) on a two-dimensional NACA 0015 airfoil. The three dimensional structures were explored at various angles of attack ( = 14 to 18) and Reynolds numbers (Rec = 1.62∙10 5 to 4.2∙10 5 ). Surface oil flow visualization was used to qualitatively identify the stall cells and resolve associated equivalent near surface skin friction. In addition, SPIV measurements were taken in order to visualize the stall cells above the surface of the airfoil. Results showed that the stall cells are highly sensitive to Reynolds number and angle of attack, with evidence of an apparent bi-stable state existing at a Reynolds number of 3.83∙10 5 . Using SPIV the flow fields and the associated vorticity fields for the various cases were measured and correlated to the surface oil flow visualization.
Should We Create a Health Care System in the United States

An orthodoxy has arisen which claims that there is a crisis in the United States health care system such that the system needs to be reformed. This essay challenges that orthodoxy by showing that we do not have a health care system in the United States. We have a non-system of health care, just as we do for virtually all basic social institutions. Challenging the current orthodoxy surfaces two ethical issues that have been ignored: creating a health care system will (a) cause resurgent paternalism and (b) pose a threat to moral pluralism.
Molecular transport through surfactant-covered oil-water interfaces: role of physical properties of solutes and surfactants in creating energy barriers for transport.

Mechanisms of molecular transport across oil−water interfaces covered by nonionic surfactants are investigated using coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations. Resistance of the surfactant mono...
How I treat onychomycosis.

Accurate diagnosis, verified by microscopic examination or culture, is essential to treatment of onychomycosis. If the causative fungus is a nonbudding type, Trichophyton or Epidermophyton, oral griseofulvin therapy is used. Monilial infections are treated topically. Most patients do not require avulsion of the diseased nails, but the course of therapy is usually prolonged.
Observation results of plague in Yiliang County from 2004 to 2009

Objective To carry out the monitoring work in historic animal plague area continuously and the result were analyzed.Methods According to Animal Plague Monitoring Plan In Yunnan Province,monitoring small sized glires animals and testing the flea.Results A total number of 1 552 mice were caught which are 2 orders,2 families and 3 genus.Rattus norvegicus was the dominant species and covers 68.88%,Rattus flavipectus covers 25.39%.Testing the flea,carrying rats were defected with a flea carrying rate of 36.40% and Xenopsylla cheopis was dominant species covering 61.68%.During 6 years of monitoring,the average density of indoor rested rodents was 2.04%,the density of Rattus flavipectus was 0.57%.The outdoor average density was 2.42%,the density of Rattus flavipectus was 0.55%.The average carrying defected rats with a flea carrying rate of 0.85%.Flea index of Rattus flavipectus shows unimodal in terms of seasonal variation of curve.Peak value was in August.No positive results were obtained.Conclusions Monitoring work be continuously carried out.Since 1997,no more information on the prevalence of animal plague to be found.But in case of no substantial change of general natural environment,mice species and flea species,plague is possibly coming back again.So we should instantly improve our capacity of monitoring plague situation.
The Lessons of Accountability — Third World Governments: Expectations and Performance — Who’s Non-Existent Monitoring

The passage of the infant formula code was a manifestation of strong opposition by a multitude of private and public groups to the unbridled promotion and sale of infant formula products, especially in Third World countries. The preamble to the WHO Code states that infant malnutrition is part of the wider problem of illiteracy, poverty, and social inequality within a society. The removal of these wider problems and the protection and encouragement of breastfeeding is the primary responsibility of local governments.
State Trauma Registries as a Resource for Occupational Injury Surveillance and Research: Lessons From Washington State, 1998-2009

Objectives:Work-related traumatic injury is a leading cause of death and disability among US workers. Occupational injury surveillance is necessary for effective prevention planning and assessing p...
Visualization of Aspergillus fumigatus biofilms with Scanning Electron Microscopy and Variable Pressure-Scanning Electron Microscopy: A comparison of processing techniques

Aspergillus fumigatus biofilms consist of a three-dimensional network of cellular hyphae and extracellular matrix. They are involved in infections of immune-compromised individuals, particularly those with cystic fibrosis. These structures are associated with persistence of infection, resistance to host immunity, and antimicrobial resistance. Thorough understanding of structure and function is imperative in the design of therapeutic drugs. Optimization of processing parameters, including aldehyde fixation, heavy metal contrasting, drying techniques and Ionic Liquid treatment, was undertaken for an ultrastructural approach to understand cellular and extracellular biofilm components. Conventional and Variable Pressure Scanning Electron Microscopy were applied to analyze the structure of biofilms attached to plastic and formed at an air-liquid interface.
Knowledge, Education, Power and Production: Public Interest Design in North America

Using historical, theoretical and empirical methods, this article examines the relationship between knowledge, education, and power in the production of the built environment of North America. Public Interest Design (PID) is examined as a method that challenges conventional modes of production by hybridizing formal and experiential knowledge, thus transforming power relations that guide decision making. Although some argue that PID should become a profession distinct from architecture, empirical data suggest that the method is better situated to renovate the transdisciplinary pedagogy of community service rooted in the Morrill Act of 1862 as the epistemological basis for production of the built environment.
Analysis of robust pole clustering in a sector region for uncertain LQR control systems

Abstract This paper presents a general analysis of robust pole clustering in a sector region for uncertain H 2 optimal linear quadratic regulator (LQR) control systems. Control system poles located in a sector region of the left half-plane provide a good performance, such as the transient behavior, overshoot, damping ratio and so on, for control systems. The general Lyapunov theory and Rayleigh principle along the norm theory are applied to analyze robust pole clustering. The H 2 optimal state feedback LQR control systems are considered. The concerned uncertainties are both unstructured and structured uncertainties, including interval matrices. The preservation of H 2 optimality of the LQR in face of uncertainties is discussed. The results are useful for analysis and design of robust control combining robust stability and robust performance.
A Longitudinal Analysis of Peripapillary Choroidal Thinning in Healthy and Glaucoma Subjects.

Purpose To evaluate the rate of peripapillary choroidal thinning in glaucoma patients and healthy controls using spectral domain optical coherence tomography. Design Cohort study. Methods Participants from the multicenter African Descent and Glaucoma Evaluation Study and Diagnostic Innovations in Glaucoma Study were included. The San Diego Automated Segmentation Algorithm was used to automatically segment and measure peripapillary choroidal thickness (PCT) from circle scans centered on the optic nerve head. The rate of PCT thinning was calculated using mixed effects models. Results Two hundred ninety-seven eyes with a median follow-up of 2.6 years were included. At baseline, the global mean PCT was significantly thinner in glaucoma patients than healthy control subjects (141.7 ± 66.3 μm vs 155.7 ± 64.8 μm, respectively; P P = .38). Both healthy controls and glaucoma patients had a significant decrease in mean (95% confidence interval) PCT change over time (−2.18 [−2.97 to −1.40 μm/year] and −1.88 [−3.08 to −0.67 μm/year], respectively) and mean PCT percent change over time (−3.32% [−4.36 to −2.27 μm/year] and −2.85% [−4.64 to −0.99 μm/year], respectively). No significant difference was found between healthy control subjects and glaucoma patients in the mean rate of PCT change ( P = .28) or PCT percentage change over time ( P = .23). Conclusions The rate of peripapillary choroidal thinning was not significantly different between healthy and glaucoma eyes during this relatively short follow-up period. Longer follow-up is needed to determine whether monitoring the rate of PCT change has a role in glaucoma management.
Russian, Ukrainian, and Belarusian listings: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017

Due to the volume of materials published in Russian that may be of potential interest to EEJA readers, many of which are geared more to a general rather than a specialist audience, brief summaries ...
Pediatric Vital Sign Distribution Derived From a Multi-Centered Emergency Department Database.

Background: We hypothesized that current vital sign thresholds used in pediatric emergency department screening tools do not reflect observed vital signs in this population. We analyzed a large multi-centered database to develop heart rate and respiratory rate centile rankings and z-scores that could be incorporated into electronic health record emergency department screening tools and we compared our derived centiles to previously published centiles and Pediatric Advanced Life Support vital sign thresholds. Methods: Initial heart rate and respiratory rate data entered into the Cerner™ electronic health record at 169 participating hospitals’ emergency departments over five years (2009 through 2013) as part of routine care were analyzed. Analysis was restricted to non-admitted children (0 to <18 years). Centile curves and z-scores were developed using Generalized Additive Models for Location, Scale, and Shape. A split-sample validation using two-thirds of the sample was compared with the remaining one-third. Centile values were compared with results from previous studies and guidelines. Results: HR and RR centiles and z-scores were determined from ~1.2 million records. Empirically-derived 95th centiles for heart rate and respiratory rate were higher than previously published results and both deviated from Pediatric Advanced Life Support guideline recommendations. Conclusions: Heart and respiratory rate centiles derived from a large real-world non-hospitalized emergency department pediatric population can inform the modification of electronic and paper-based screening tools to stratify children by the degree of deviation from normal for age rather than dichotomizing children into groups having “normal” versus “abnormal” vital signs. Furthermore, these centiles also may be useful in paper-based screening tools and bedside alarm limits for children in areas other than the ED and may establish improved alarm limits for bedside monitors.
Soft Tissue Atrophy Related to Corticosteroid Injection: Review of the Literature and Implications for Hand Surgeons.

Corticosteroid injections (CIs) are frequently used by hand surgeons to treat a wide range of pathology including de Quervain tenosynovitis and lateral epicondylitis. Although generally viewed as a benign modality, and a way to potentially avoid or postpone surgical intervention, common complications from CI should be considered and discussed with patients before the procedure. One such complication is local soft tissue atrophy and hypopigmentation after injection. We discuss the incidence of soft tissue–related adverse effects from CI, the pathophysiology and influence of different steroid preparations on soft tissues, and potential treatment options once atrophy has occurred.
A Faint-Hearted Libertarian at Best: The Sweet Mystery of Justice Anthony Kennedy

This is a review of Helen J. Knowles's book, 'The Tie Goes to Freedom: Justice Anthony M. Kennedy on Liberty" (Rowman & Littlefield 2009). Knowles argues that Kennedy's jurisprudence is 'modestly libertarian.' I conclude that this argument, in the limited ways Knowles makes it - with respect to free speech, equal protection, and individual dignity - is probably sound. Still, this is a small discovery considering the broad swath of Supreme Court jurisprudence. Moreover, it says little about whether Justice Kennedy is faithful to the Constitution, which is a stronger measure of libertarianism.
Synopsis of a Triarchic theory of Human Intelligence

Theories of intelligence are not all theories of the same thing. Rather, they tend to be theories of different aspects of intelligence. To make matters worse, the theorists who propose these theories almost never make it clear just what aspects of intelligence their theories embrace. Consequently, it is difficult to know in what respects the claims of the various theories are complementary, and in what respects these claims are antagonistic. The end result is a continual state of “theory warfare” in which different kinds of theories are pitted against each other, whether or not they are truly competitive.
The Macro Effects of Unemployment Benefit Extensions: A Measurement Error Approach

By how much does an extension of unemployment benefits affect macroeconomic outcomes such as unemployment? Answering this question is challenging because U.S. law extends benefits for states experiencing high unemployment. We use data revisions to decompose the variation in the duration of benefits into the part coming from actual differences in economic conditions and the part coming from measurement error in the real-time data used to determine benefit extensions. Using only the variation coming from measurement error, we find that benefit extensions have a limited influence on state-level macroeconomic outcomes. We apply our estimates to the increase in the duration of benefits during the Great Recession and find that they increased the unemployment rate by at most 0.3 percentage point.
Intravenous fluid delivery time improvement: application of cross-docking system

The cost of pharmaceutical supply chain due to drug waste is one of the current major issues in health care. Drug waste associated with intravenous (IV) fluid form of medication is one of the crucial issues for many pharmacies. The purpose of this paper is to apply a cross-docking model to minimize the IV delivery lead time to reduce drug waste by scheduling staff in a local hospital’s inpatient pharmacy.,A mixed integer linear programming model is applied to the IV delivery system of a hospital. The parameters are selected based on the observations made in the inpatient pharmacy.,The result implies that cross-docking approach can be effectively applied to IV delivery system. In fact, the cross-docking optimization model employed in this case study reduces the IV delivery completion time of the inpatient pharmacy by 41 percent.,The scope of this research is limited to the activities performed after IV preparation.,The application of cross-docking system in staff scheduling will be beneficial for health care organizations that aim to minimize medication waste.,The prime value of this study lies in the introduction of a cross-docking concept in an internal hospital ordering process. Cross-docking models are widely used in general supply chain systems; however, their application for specific activities inside hospitals is the novelty of this study, which can fill the research gap in terms of drug waste management within the inpatient pharmacy.
Neutrophils Derived from Genetically Modified Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Circulate and Phagocytose Bacteria In Vivo

Bacterial and fungal infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in neutropenic patients. Donor-derived neutrophil transfusions have been used for prophylaxis or treatment for infection in neutropenic patients. However, the short half-life and the limited availability of large numbers of donor-derived neutrophils for transfusion remain a significant hurdle in the implementation of neutrophil transfusion therapy. Here, we investigate the in vitro and in vivo activity of neutrophils generated from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC), a potentially unlimited resource to produce neutrophils for transfusion. Phenotypic analysis of iPSC-derived neutrophils reveal reactive oxygen species production at similar or slightly higher than normal peripheral blood neutrophils, but have an ∼50%-70% reduced Escherichia coli phagocytosis and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate induced formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NET). Signaling of granulocytic precursors identified impaired AKT activation, but not ERK or STAT3, in agonist-stimulated iPSC-derived neutrophils. Expression of a constitutively activated AKT in iPSC-derived neutrophils restores most phagocytic activity and NET formation. In a model of bacterial induced peritonitis in immunodeficient mice, iPSC-derived neutrophils, with or without corrected AKT activation, migrate similarly to the peritoneal fluid as peripheral blood neutrophils, whereas the expression of activated AKT significantly improves their phagocytic activity in vivo. Stem Cells Translational Medicine 2019;8:557-567.
Ciudades sin tugurios, ciudades sin alma. Repensando los conceptos y las consecuencias de la marginalidad en las favelas de Río de Janeiro

“Ciudades sin barrios marginales” equivale a “Ciudades sin alma”. Este ensayo reflexiona sobre los conceptos y las consecuencias de la Marginalidad, a partir de investigaciones en las favelas de Rio de Janeiro. Este ensayo de Janice Perlman, autora del legendario estudio antropologico publicado hace 40 anos, El mito de la marginalidad , fue realizado durante numerosas conferencias en preparacion de Habitat III, la tercera Cumbre de Naciones Unidas sobre la Vivienda y el Desarrollo Urbano de 2016. La coyuntura invitaba a revisar las transformaciones en las politicas habitacionales desde Habitat I, la primera cumbre sobre la vivienda y las ciudades de 1976, cuando las discusiones fueron dirigidas por John Turner y sus colegas. Para ellos, los asentamientos informales latinoamericanos eran una solucion habitacional y no una “monstruosidad” o una “degeneracion” urbana, en un proceso de urbanizacion que comenzaba en aquellos anos (y que esta en curso). En los ultimos cuarenta anos, los politicos progresistas reconocieron los beneficios sociales y politicos del mejoramiento de las viviendas y de los barrios autoconstruidos, en lugar de las demoliciones y los desalojos; y defendieron la autoconstruccion como un instrumento de la politica de vivienda. Perlman ha validado empiricamente los logros de la urbanizacion popular en el marco de un estudio de largo plazo sobre Rio de Janeiro, recientemente publicado. Ella confirma algunas constantes en las politicas habitacionales desde los pioneros programas de vivienda de Brasil hasta los mas nuevos: la destruccion de favelas y los desalojos forzosos. Asi, en el contexto de la remodelacion urbana para la Copa Mundial de Futbol de 2014 y los Juegos Olimpicos de 2016, habitantes de favelas han sido desplazados a la monotona vivienda masiva de la periferia urbana.
Veterans with PTSD and comorbid substance use disorders: Does single versus poly-substance use disorder affect treatment outcomes?

Abstract Introduction Substance use disorders (SUD) frequently co-occur with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Little is known, however, about how individuals with a single SUD diagnosis (relating to only one substance) compare to individuals with poly-SUD diagnoses (relating to more than one substance) on substance use and PTSD treatment outcomes. To address this gap in the literature, we utilized data from a larger study investigating a 12-week integrated, exposure-based treatment (i.e., Concurrent Treatment of PTSD and Substance Use Disorders using Prolonged Exposure, or COPE) to examine treatment outcomes by single vs. poly-SUD status. Method Participants were 54 Veterans (92.6% male, average age = 39.72) categorized as having single SUD (n = 39) or poly-SUD (n = 15). T-tests characterized group differences in baseline demographics and presenting symptomatology. Multilevel models examined differences in treatment trajectories between participants with single vs. poly-SUD. Results Groups did not differ on baseline frequency of substance use, PTSD symptoms, or treatment retention; however, individuals with poly-SUD evidenced greater reductions in percent days using substances than individuals with a single SUD, and individuals with a single SUD had greater reductions in PTSD symptoms than individuals with poly-SUD over the course of treatment. Discussion The findings from this exploratory study suggest that Veterans with PTSD and co-occurring poly-SUD, as compared to a single-SUD, may experience greater improvement in substance use but less improvement in PTSD symptoms during integrated treatment. Future research should identify ways to enhance treatment outcomes for individuals with poly-SUD, and to better understand mechanisms of change for this population.
Restraint in paediatrics: A delicate balance

Patient restraint in health care is currently under intense review. There are two disparate groups that should be considered. First, infants and young children are commonly restrained while undergoing simple medical procedures such as venepuncture or immunisation, and this practice may be better framed as 'hugging' not 'holding'. Second, there is a distinct but significant group of children and adolescents with serious psychiatric or organic illness with behavioural disturbances necessitating restraint, who are the primary focus of this paper. Nevertheless, the balance between restraining any young person in health care and causing preventable harm is delicate: any form of child restraint, whether physical, chemical or seclusion, merits ethical reflection and should be undertaken judiciously. All clinicians should prioritise the dignity and privacy of the young person while weighing the vulnerability of this cohort of patients.
Trust in Cloud-Based Services: A Framework for Consumer Adoption of Software as a Service

Guidelines originating from practice suggest the Trust Services Criteria of security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy should be key factors affecting the trust of c...
Reasoning, rationality, and representation

Recently, a cottage industry has formed with the goal of analyzing reasoning. The relevant notion of reasoning in which philosophers are expressly interested is fixed through an epistemic functional description: reasoning—whatever it is—is our personal-level, rationally evaluable means of meeting our rational requirements through managing and updating our attitudes. Roughly, the dominant view in the extant literature as developed by Paul Boghossian, John Broome, and others is that reasoning (in the relevant sense) is a rule-governed operation over propositional attitudes (or their contents) that results in a change in attitude (e.g., the adoption of a new belief). In this paper, I argue that our personal-level operations over mental models and visuospatial imagery, which are representations in a non-propositional/analogue format, can be rationally evaluable processes of managing our attitudes and, thus, should be considered reasoning in the relevant sense. Furthermore, I show that if reasoning can occur through operations over mental models and imagery, then the dominant rule-following account mischaracterizes (a) the cognitive operations and representational states assumed to be constitutive of reasoning and (b) what grounds the rational status of a line of reasoning.
Systemic Immune Response and Cancer Risk: Filling the Missing Piece of Immuno-Oncology

While immuno-oncology has made significant advances in activating local tumor immune responses, leading to improved outcomes, the role of systemic immunity in cancer incidence remains poorly understood. Le Cornet and colleagues prospectively studied circulating immune cells quantified by DNA methylation markers in relation to incidence of breast, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancer among initially healthy individuals. A positive association with cancer risk was observed for higher FOXP3+ T-cell-mediated immune tolerance and lower CD8+ T-cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Further studies of systemic immunity in cancer development are crucial to identify novel prediction markers and interventional targets for cancer immunoprevention.See related article by Le Cornet et al., p. 1885.
Laparoscope-assisted diagnosis and treatment for small intestinal atresia and stenosis in children-a report of 12 cases

Objective To retrospectively analyze the laparoscope-assisted diagnosis and treatment for small intestinal atresia and stenosis in children.Methods Between September 2009 and February 2010,12 infants with small intestinal atresia and stenosis underwent laparoscope-assisted surgery at this center.Among the patients,1 was diagnosed as jejunum stenosis,2 as type I duodenum atresia,3 as typeⅡ atresia(25%),and 6 as type Ⅲ atresia(50%).No evident dilated abdomen was noted on the patients with jejunum stenosis or type I duodenum atresia,and the laparoscopic operations were performed to remove the septum and restore intestinal continuity.(ha the patients with type ⅡandⅢatresia,the bowel dilated evidently,laparoscopic inspection was performed to identify the location and the type of the malformations,and then the proximal and distal ends of the atresia were exteriorized through the umbilical port site for end-to-oblique anastomosis.Results The operative time for jejunum stenosis and type I duodenum atresia ranged from 80 to 100 minutes(average,92 minutes).The operative time for typeⅡand type Ⅲ atresia ranged from 40 to 65 minutes(average 48 minutes).The incision of umbilical port was 1.5-2cm long.One premature infant was abandoned by the parents,all the other cases recovered from surgery.Feeding started between postoperative day 3 and 7.No dilated abdomen and vomit was noted.The patients were discharged from hospital between postoperative day 9 and 16.No patients died after surgery.Eleven patients were followed-up for 1-6 months,no severe complications was noted.Conclusions Laparoscope-assisted surgery is minimally invasive and produces good outcomes in the diagnosis and treatment for congenital intestinal obstruction. Key words: Laparoscopic surgical procedures; Intestinal atresia; Anastomosis,surgical
A 3D printed suturing trainer for medical students.

BACKGROUND Medical students must be able to suture competently upon graduation. To learn suturing technique, students must have access to practice materials. The purpose of this pilot study was to develop a novel suturing trainer and to evaluate its ability to provide realistic and accessible suturing practice. A cohort of senior students at one institution compared the device with standard suture-training media (porcine feet and sponges). METHODS Using 3D printing and silicone casting, a novel suturing trainer was developed and a cohort of senior medical students trialed the device in a standardised suturing workshop. Participants evaluated the novel suturing trainer, porcine feet and sponges for simulating human tissue with regard to: (i) tissue layers; (ii) tissue texture; (iii) ability to perform interrupted suturing; (iv) running subcuticular suturing; and (v) knot tying. RESULTS Compared with porcine feet and sponges, the suturing trainer had significantly higher mean scores (p < 0.001) for the simulation of human tissue layers and texture, as well as for the ability to facilitate the practice of interrupted suturing, running suturing and knot tying. All (n = 32) participants identified the silicone trainer as the best tool upon which to practice suturing, and 92% (n = 23) responded that their suturing skills would improve if the silicone trainer replaced porcine feet and sponges. DISCUSSION The silicone suturing device provides a more realistic and accessible suture learning experience than porcine feet and sponges. Further validation is required to assess its long-term effectiveness in medical education.
Multiple sclerosis in a young woman with sickle cell disease.

Abstract Background Comorbidities can impose diagnostic and treatment challenges in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Sickle cell disease (SCD) and MS are both inflammatory diseases featuring immune system dysregulation, and the reciprocal interaction of these diseases deserves investigation. Methods/Results We present the case of a 28-year-old woman with SCD who developed a sickle cell crisis and acute chest syndrome during corticosteroid treatment for a first MS attack. We then provide a review of the literature on co-management of SCD and MS. In patients with SCD experiencing an acute MS exacerbation, pre-treatment with red blood cell exchange transfusion before corticosteroids may reduce adverse vaso-occlusive events. Plasma exchange may also be considered. Finally, we discuss innovative pre-clinical research that suggests that natalizumab or dimethyl fumarate may ameliorate SCD symptoms while preventing MS relapses; human trials, however, are needed. Conclusion The co-occurrence of inflammatory disorders, in this case MS and SCD, requires providers to appropriately manage each condition with consideration of the other. Future studies may generate shared avenues for treatment.
One in the Hand Worth Two in the Bush? Reproductive Effort of Young Males Is Not Affected by the Presence of Adult Males

Reproduction is a costly endeavor, and most large, long-lived, and iteroparous mammals exhibit conservative life-history tactics wherein an individual may forego or abandon a reproduction event for the sake of survival. Nevertheless, risks and benefits associated with reproduction are not equal across males and females, nor across their life. Whereas expenditure for females is associated with rearing young (e.g., lactation), expenditure for males occurs with securing mating opportunities. Young males may be more successful when dominant males are lacking, but it is less clear whether—and at what cost—young males will expend effort when those opportunities arise. We designed an experiment to quantify reproductive effort (e.g., food intake, somatic loss [body mass and fat]) of male white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) to better understand the reproductive ecology of male ungulates, with an emphasis on determining how adult males (≥4.5-years old) affect timing and extent of reproductive effort expended by yearling males (1.5-years old). Food intake, hormone levels, body mass, and somatic loss during rut were similar between yearling males that interacted with adult males and those that did not. Somatic loss by all males was greatest during peak estrus of females, but forage intake relative to metabolic body mass for yearling males was nearly twice that of adult males. Testosterone levels were lower for yearling than adult males early in rut and were related negatively to forage intake. Whereas adult males lost 20% (23.5kg) of body mass and 31% (5.3 percentage points [ppt]) of body fat during the rut, yearling males lost 12% (9.3kg) of body mass and 22% (4.7ppt) of body fat. Reproductive effort by young males was not influenced by the presence of adult males, though young males expended less reproductive effort than adults. Instead, reproductive allocation occurred in a state-dependent manner, where pre-season levels of somatic reserves dictated reproductive effort, regardless of age. Like female ungulates, male deer displayed risk-sensitive reproductive allocation wherein current reproductive allocation occurred as a function of resources garnered during the prior season and were expended in a way that should have avoided over-investing and creating a tradeoff between reproduction and survival.
P1AC: Revisiting Absolute Pose From a Single Affine Correspondence.

We introduce a novel solution to the problem of estimating the pose of a calibrated camera given a single observation of an oriented point and an affine correspondence to a reference image. Affine correspondences have traditionally been used to improve feature matching over wide baselines; however, little previous work has considered the use of such correspondences for absolute camera pose computation. The advantage of our approach (P1AC) is that it requires only a single correspondence in the minimal case in comparison to the traditional point-based approach (P3P) which requires at least three points. Our method removes the limiting assumptions made in previous work and provides a general solution that is applicable to large-scale image-based localization. Our evaluation on synthetic data shows that our approach is numerically stable and more robust to point observation noise than P3P. We also evaluate the application of our approach for large-scale image-based localization and demonstrate a practical reduction in the number of iterations and computation time required to robustly localize an image.
Assessing Geospatial Technology Implementation Capacity for Natural Resource Management Networks: A Proposed Framework

Using the U.S. National Trails System (NTS), we examined the adoption and implementation of geospatial technologies for natural resource management (NRM). Technology adoption is the decision to use geographic information systems (GIS), whereby implementation represents the delivery of that technical system. We used soft technology, or the human characteristics of user skill and experience, to understand the capacity for delivery of the technical system across the network. The inter-organizational structure of geographically dispersed network members, characteristic of the NTS, provided opportunity to evaluate and compare GIS use and users for NRM. We inventoried GIS adoption and implementation for 23 trail network groups to produce a geospatial technology profile (GTP) of the NTS. Based on the GTP, we developed a framework to calculate an implementation capacity index (ICI) for each network, and then compared network capacity to the level of user engagement (application intricacy) deployed. Results show that higher implementation capacity is not indicative of higher levels of user engagement. Outcomes demonstrate the value of geocollaborative tool evaluations, highlighting the benefits of an assessment framework based on type and use of GIS platform. As an advantage in the process of evaluation, our proposed framework assists networks with implementation strategies, balancing user abilities and mapping capabilities. Additionally, the proposed framework provides a foundation to refine GIS implementation assessment for NRM networks. Understanding the range of GIS technologies and applications used by multiple, geographically dispersed networks can further inform development and deployment strategies that mitigate barriers to successful GIS implementation in inter-organizational scenarios.Subscribe to JPRA
New Drugs 2021, Part 1.

ABSTRACT This article reviews seven drugs recently approved by the FDA, including indications, precautions, adverse reactions, and nursing considerations.
A developmental lineage-based gene co-expression network for mouse pancreatic β-cells reveals a role for Zfp800 in pancreas development.

To gain a deeper understanding of pancreatic β-cell development, we used iterativeWGCNA to calculate a gene co-expression network (GCN) from eleven temporally- and genetically-defined murine cell populations. The GCN, which contained 91 distinct modules, was then used to gain three new biological insights. First, we found that the clustered protocadherin genes are differentially-expressed during pancreas development. Pcdhγ is preferentially expressed in pancreatic endoderm, Pcdhβ in nascent islets, and Pcdhα in mature β-cells. Second, after extracting sub-networks of transcriptional regulators for each developmental stage we identified 81 zinc finger protein (ZFP) genes that are preferentially expressed during endocrine specification and β-cell maturation. Third, we used the GCN to select three ZFPs for further analysis by CRISPR mutagenesis of mice. Zfp800 null mice exhibited early post-natal lethality, and at E18.5 their pancreata exhibited a reduced number of pancreatic endocrine cells, alterations in exocrine cell morphology, and marked changes in expression of genes involved in protein translation, hormone secretion, and developmental pathways in the pancreas. Together, our results suggest that developmentally-oriented GCNs have utility for gaining new insights into gene regulation during organogenesis.
Teaching Contemplatively for Unified Hearts and Communities

This paper highlights contemplative pedagogy as an educational approach with a demonstrated capacity to facilitate unification within the individual and among different people. The early parts of t...
Angels of Denial: White Injury, Racial Transposition, and the U.S. Politics of Family Separation

This paper critically analyzes a June 2018 Trump administration press conference, carried out in response to public outcry over U.S. policies designed to separate migrant children from their parents. The press conference featured a large group of so-called “angel parents” – the parents of children who were killed by undocumented immigrants – who argued that because they are permanently separated from their children, they have it worse than parents who had their children taken away by the U.S. government. Despite the speakers being relatively diverse, qualitative analysis of their speeches reveals a rhetoric that coincides with the ideology of white injury (Cacho, 2000). I account for this using the concept of racial transposition (HoSang & Lowndes, 2020), which suggests that such multiculturalism actually helps right-wing movements create a facade of racial innocence as they further deny state violence, criminalize migrants, and justify tough-on-migration policies.
“This School Helps A Lot”: Personal Agency Among Black Youth Within a Supportive School Environment

We collected field observation notes, accessed student demographic data, and interviewed sixteen Black high school youth (50% male; Mage = 16.1) to explore experiences that contributed to their personal agency within a supportive school. Students were recruited from a public academy school that was designed to support youth who are disadvantaged due to environmental and structural barriers. Findings revealed that participants strived to pursue academic goals to create a better life for themselves and their families. Their expression of behaviors and attitudes associated with personal agency (e.g., choice/decision making, self-regulation, self-advocacy, self-efficacy), including their capacity to cope with emotional challenges, helped them in their pursuits. Moreover, the support they received from teachers, family members, peers, and community mentors, as facilitated by school personnel, was integral to their expression of behaviors and attitudes associated with personal agency.