cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A collaborative design process model in the sociotechnical engineering design framework

Collaborative engineering design involves various stakeholders with different perspectives. The design process is relatively complex and difficult to handle. Various conflicts always happen among the design tasks and affect the design team performance. Therefore, to represent the collaborative design process and capture the evolution of design perspectives in a structured way, it is critical to manage the design conflicts and improve the collaborative design productivity. This article provides a generic collaborative design process model based on a sociotechnical design framework. This model has a topological format and adopts process analysis techniques from Petri Nets. By addressing both the technical and social aspects of collaborative design activities, it provides a mechanism to identify the interdependencies among design tasks and perspectives of different stakeholders. Based on this design process model, a methodology of detecting and handling the design conflicts is developed to support collaborative design coordination.
Inhibition of CMP-Sialic Acid Transport in Human Liver and Colorectal Cancer Cell Lines by a Sialic Acid Nucleoside Conjugate (KI-8110)

The sialic acid nucleoside conjugate KI-8110 has been shown to inhibit the formation of hepatic metastases from human colorectal cancer cell lines in a nude mouse intrasplenic injection model. The compound does not inhibit sialyltransferases from either human colorectal tumor cells or human liver. Transport of CMP-sialic acid into endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi vesicles is inhibited and can account for the reduction in surface sialic acid found on treated cell lines. Only a 50% inhibition of CMP-sialic acid transport could be achieved suggesting the presence of more than one transport protein with differing specificities.
Image invariance, scaling features and image similarity

Under image scaling transformation, the energy of a set of simple filtering templates display interesting scaling laws. These scalings are very universal in various kinds of images, robust against noise and local deformation and thus manifest themselves as the most salient property of images. The scaling exponents change from image to image and characterize image texture, edge and surface properties. An image similarity measure is built only in terms of these scaling laws. This similarity has many graceful properties such as invariance under rotation, scaling and translation transformation, and robustness against noise and image local deformation. The performance of this similarity is very promising, achieving very high average recognition rate. Thus scaling properties of images have great weight in perceptual evaluation of image similarity.
The Emergent Landscape of Autistic Communities and Autistic Studies

I am the younger sister of Hope Block, an autistic woman well into her fifth decade. I had hoped that the two of us would collaborate in a submission to this special issue, but it was not meant to be. We lost our mother just over 2 years ago, in February 2013, and our father passed in May 2014. We are still reeling as a family from these losses, and for Hope it is particularly significant as she no longer has family living near her—I am the closest, at 4 hours away. As depicted in Block (2010), Block et al. (2012b), and Kasnitz and Block (2012), our mom was central to Hope’s communication access by supporting her typing, so her ability to collaborate with me in writing projects has been disrupted. Of course, emotionally, it is harder for us to write about the role of autism and neurodiversity discourses on our family’s life course as we careen down that course with bruising impact—too many changes happening too quickly for scholarly distance. But we are both heartened by the changes we see in how autism is being represented, studied, and lived. I am gratefully excited to be able to participate in this special issue and discuss the twenty-first century emergent landscape of autistic community, autistic studies, and perhaps even ‘‘Autistic Culture.’’ By emergent, I mean both temporally emergent, as in emerged over time and as a result of historical processes, and also emergent in the sense of a gathering critical mass. My scholarship focuses on autism from the perspectives of cultural anthropology and disability studies. Hope and I are in our fifth decade of negotiating autistic and family
Randomness of free running frequencies in coupled oscillator array with the effects of amplitude dynamics

For a linear phased array using coupled oscillators, the main beam angle can be steered by properly detuning the free running frequencies of the oscillators [1–4]. Due to the fabrication tolerance of the oscillator, the free running frequency can randomly deviate from the desired value. Such randomness of the free running frequencies can cause errors of the phase shifts between the adjacent elements, and cause an error of the main beam scanning angle (EMBSA) [5]. In this work, the influence of the randomness of the free running frequencies is investigated for oscillator arrays with different coupling strengths when amplitude dynamics are considered. The influence on the synchronization frequency and array patterns at the steady state is also demonstrated.
Circuit design criteria for stability in a class of lateral inhibition neural networks

In the analog VLSI implementation of neural systems, it is sometimes convenient to build lateral inhibition networks by using a locally connected on-chip resistive grid. A serious problem of unwanted spontaneous oscillation often arises with these circuits and renders them unusable in practice. The authors report a design approach that guarantees that such a system will be stable, even though the values of designed elements in the resistive grid can be imprecise and the location and values of parasitic elements can be unknown. The method is based on a mathematical analysis using Tellegen's theorem and the Popov criterion. The criteria are local in the sense that no overall analysis of the interconnected system is required for their use, empirical in the sense that they involve only measurable frequency response data on the individual cells, and robust in the sense that they are not affected by unmodeled parasitic resistances and capacitances in the interconnect network. >
Jonathan Edwards, Enthusiast? Radical Revivalism and the Great Awakening in the Connecticut Valley

It is difficult to imagine Jonathan Edwards countenancing the “Confus'd, but very Affecting Noise” that erupted in Suffield, Massachusetts, on July 6, 1741. Yet there he stood, his loud voice rising in prayer above the din that emanated from an assembly of more than two hundred boisterous men and women who had gathered to listen to his exhortations in the “two large Rooms” of a private house. On the previous day, the visiting Northampton, Massachusetts, revivalist had administered the sacrament to nearly five hundred Suffield communicants, ninety-seven of whom had joined the church that very day. It was an extraordinary event—quite possibly the largest oneday church admission ritual ever observed in colonial New England.
Testing our tests: surrogate end points versus driving patient management and outcomes

Ideally, in choosing cardiovascular therapeutics for a specific clinical syndrome, we make evidence-based, outcome-driven decisions informed by the results of randomized prospective clinical trials when such information is available. This type of information forms the most robust basis of disease-
Ford's E-Business Strategy

This note is designed to facilitate a discussion and analysis of Ford Motor Company's e-commerce strategy in 1999-2000. It presents an independent analysis of costs and savings along the automotive industry's supply chain, as well as recent information regarding auto dealers' reactions to Ford's e-commerce initiatives.
Ion Implantation of Iron into an Immiscible Copper Matrix

Fluences from 1 {times} 10{sup 17} to 9.6 {times} 10{sup 17} cm{sup {minus}2} of single and doubly charged iron ions accelerated through 170 tv were implanted into polycrystalline copper substrates at room temperature. An order of magnitude decrease in selectivity was observed during implantation as a result of sputter-induced changes in surface topography and subsurface accumulation of iron. Both scanning electron microscopy and optical microscopy showed that the bombarded surfaces consisted of (110) and (100) grains having an intragranular, ridge-like structure. Significant height differences formed between grains as a result of their different sputtering yields. Transmission electron microscopy reveals that the implanted iron forms a face-centered-cubic metastable solid solution with the copper. Auger electron spectroscopy confirmed iron accumulation beneath the surface with maximum concentrations approaching in excess of 20 atomic percent.
Comparative Assays of Rodenticides on Wild Norway Rats. II. Acceptance.

SummaryThe relative efficiencies of 8 common rodenticides were determined by offering the poisons to recently trapped wild Norway rats in a standard bait (freshly ground cornmeal) under standard co...
Effect of Intervention to Commercial Sex Workers in Comprehensive Prevention Demonstrative Area of Sichuan Province

Objective To understand the result and impact of the intervention to high risk behaviors among the commercial sex workers after the second round of the AIDS comprehensive prevention and control work carried out in Sichuan province,and analyze the existing problems,take the result as the reference for the further intervention work among the commercial sex workers.Methods Data from information network reporting system,sentinel surveillance,annual report,summary,etc.in the AIDS comprehensive prevention demonstrative area of Sichuan province in 2009 and 2011 were collected for quantitative analysis.Result The coverage rate of intervention among commercial sex workers in demonstration area increased year by year,up from 73.2% in 2009 to 95.71% in 2011.The awareness rate of AIDS-related knowledge among the commercial sex workers increased from 79.26% in 2009 to 90.75% in 2011.The rate of condom use among the commercial sex workers in the recent sex trade increased from 67.33% in 2009 to 89.62% in 2011.The rate of consistent condom use among commercial sex workers in the sex trade during the latest month increased from 38.99% to 50%.All the comparison above showed statistical significance(P0.01).Conclusion The network of intervention among the commercial sex workers the demonstrative area was built,and the mechanism of intervention working was formed.Through various forms of publicity,education and behavioral intervention,the risk of HIV infection and transmission among the commercial sex workers was reduced,with the awareness rate increased,the coverage of interventions expanded,and behavior change promoted.
KBAMS: A Knowledge Based Modeling and Simulation Environment for Manufacturing

Abstract This paper describes the design and implementation of a Knowledge Based Modeling and Simulation environment (KBAMS), targeted for the manufacturing domain. One of the key design objectives was to provide an expressive modeling methodology capable of representing the complex structure and behavior of concepts commonly found in the manufacturing domain (Resource, Operation, Job, etc.). Additionally, we wanted to be able to 1) create models of large and complex manufacturing systems that serve as artifacts for humans to understand the system as well as to be used for computer analysis, 2) easily define control policies and associate them with the relevant control point objects in the model and 3) evaluate the efficacy of the design of the manufacturing system and its operational control through simulation.
THE USE OF EPIDEMIOLOGIC DATA IN THE COURTS

It is difficult to make generalizations concerning the type of epidemiologic data currently preferred in the courts because trial judges' decisions are infrequently published, appellate judges' decisions are not always accompanied by an opinion, and there is often disparity between the opinions and standards of different courts. In this paper I have chosen cases either for their legal significance or their illustrative nature. The cases essentially represent numerator data, and therefore, I cannot determine definite trends in the courtroom use of epidemiologic data. When trying to determine if a causal relationship exists between an exposure and illness, epidemiologists attempt to examine the statistical strength, consistency, specificity, temporal sequence, dose-response characteristics, and biologic plausibility of the association. In contrast, a widely used legal standard of proof of association is "reasonable probability." However, the interpretation of "reasonable probability" is evolving. And just as epidemiologists may be pushed to the limit of their methods in trying to determine if and at what level a health risk exists, so the courts have had to forge new legal paths in considering whether epidemiologic evidence is sufficient to establish a causal relation between exposure to a substance and ill health. Furthermore, it is not certain what standard of significance the courts will require in the future. In 1975 in Reserve Mining Company vs. EPA, and Ethyl Corporation vs. EPA, the theoretical existence of risk was adequate to move the Appeals Courts to take precautionary action. But when considering a standard for safe levels of an occupational toxin, the Supreme Court has rejected a theoretical risk as significant (in Industrial Union vs. American Petroleum Institute) and instead, has required factual evidence of a dose-response relationship (as in American Textile Manufacturer's Institute vs. Donovan) because it did not want to extrapolate the risk of low levels of exposure from data based on high levels of exposure. Since demonstration of a dose-response relationship, although rarely obtained easily, is one of the criteria used by epidemiologists to infer a causal relationship, there can be no doubt that such evidence will strengthen any attempt to prove future damages from low level exposure to toxins. In addition, I predict evidence of attributable risk or attributable fraction will be useful in determining the extent of potential losses and, therefore, the value of future damages.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Lamotrigine and Pregnancy

A 29-year-old woman is followed by you as her epileptologist for the past 5 years. She has a diagnosis of focal epilepsy of right lateral temporal lobe origin due to cortical dysplasia. She is on lamotrigine 100 mg twice daily and was seizure free for 2 years. She makes an urgent appointment with you due to experiencing a generalized tonic-clonic seizure while teaching in her classroom. When at your office she informs you that she is 5 weeks pregnant. On further questioning, she has experienced three episodes of auras in the past 2 weeks. She is wondering whether she has to increase the dose of lamotrigine? She has several questions including how often she needs to be checked for the lamotrigine levels and how much does she need to increase the dose by? She is worried and is asking you whether the increase in the dose of lamotrigine will increase the risk to her baby? How do you manage lowering the lamotrigine dose in the immediate postpartum period and thereafter?
Knowledge Management (KM) Processes in Organizations: Theoretical Foundations and Practice

Knowledge Management (KM) is an effort to increase useful knowledge in the organization. It is a natural outgrowth of late twentieth century movements to make organizational management and operations more effective, of higher quality, and more responsive to constituents in a rapidly changing global environment. This document traces the evolution of KM in organizations, summarizing the most influential research and literature in the field. It also presents an overview of selected common and current practices in knowledge management, including the relationship between knowledge management and decision making, with the intention of making a case for KM as a series of processes and not necessarily a manipulation of things. The final section highlights the use of social networking and commonly adopted Web applications to increase the value of social capital and to connect practitioners with clients and colleagues.
Reply to ``Comment on `Ramsey spectroscopy, matter-wave interferometry, and the microwave-lensing frequency shift' ''

The Comment by Jefferts et al. [Phys. Rev. A 91, 067601 (2015)] discusses the microwave-lensing frequency shift's possible dependence on the initial wave-packet size and two effects of wall interactions, the frequency shifts that they produce, and the nature of how dressed states are clipped by apertures. I identify conceptual errors in their criticisms, some of which are related to fundamental problems in their lensing treatment [Ashby et al., Phys. Rev. A 91, 033624 (2015)] for the NIST-F1 and NIST-F2 atomic clocks [K. Gibble, arXiv:1505.00691]. Aside from typesetting errors that they note, the criticisms in the Comment are shown to be incorrect.
First Report of Target Spot Caused by Corynespora cassiicola in Louisiana Cotton

During the summer of 2014, Louisiana cotton producers in 13 parishes experienced an outbreak of what appeared to be target spot caused by Corynespora cassiicola. Defoliation due to the suspected di...
A criação de "Numa clara manhã de abril", de Marcos Iolovitch, no contexto histórico

Este artigo procura inserir no contexto historico o primeiro trabalho literario a usar a comunidade judaica brasileira como tema principal, o romance autobiografico Numa clara manha de abril , de Marcos Iolovitch, originalmente publicado em 1940. Iolovitch foi um imigrante que veio da Russia no inicio do seculo XX para uma comunidade agricola estabelecida pela Jewish Colonization Association (JCA ou ICA) na regiao sul do Brasil. Pretendemos discutir as condicoes sociais, culturais e economicas tanto na Russia quanto no Brasil, assim como as acoes governamentais destes paises durante o periodo 1801-1930, que contribuiram para a escrita deste romance e formaram o pano de fundo para os eventos e as ideias discutidas pelo autor. Nossa discussao inclui o estabelecimento de comunidades agricolas judaicas na Russia e o papel dos menonitas em sua administracao, os esforcos do Barao Maurice Hirsch e da ICA para estabelecer comunidades agricolas para imigrantes russos, os motivos comerciais da ICA no Brasil, o efeito de convulsoes politicas e economicas no Brasil sobre os imigrantes judeus e o incentivo oferecido a escritores pela rica vida intelectual em Porto Alegre, a capital do estado do extremo sul do Brasil. Alem das fontes secundarias, fundamentamos nossa discussao com memorias originais de menonitas e com relatorios e documentos do Departamento de Estado dos Estados Unidos da America das primeiras decadas do seculo XX. The Creation of On a clear April morning , by Marcos Iolovitch, in historical context - Abstract: This article seeks to place in historical context the first literary work to use the Brazilian Jewish community as subject matter, the autobiographical novel, On a Clear April Morning, by Marcos Iolovitch, originally published in 1940. Iolovitch was an early 20 th century immigrant to the farming communities set up by the Jewish Colonization Association (JCA) in the south of Brazil. We propose to discuss social, cultural, and economic conditions in both Russia and Brazil, as well as governmental actions in both countries during the period 1801-1930 that led to the writing of this novel and formed the background for the events and ideas discussed by the author. Our discussion will include the establishment of Jewish farming communities in Russia and the role of Mennonites in their administration, the efforts by Baron Maurice Hirsch and the JCA to establish farming communities for Russian immigrants, the commercial motives of the JCA in Brazil, the effect of political and economic upheavals in Brazil on Jewish immigrants and the support offered to writers by the rich intellectual life in Porto Alegre, Brazil’s southernmost state capital. In addition to secondary sources, we will support our discussion with published interviews with Marcos Iolovitch, original Mennonite memoirs and early 20 th Century U.S. Department of State reports and documents.
Mice overexpressing chromogranin A display hypergranulogenic adrenal glands with attenuated ATP levels contributing to the hypertensive phenotype.

Objective:Elevated circulating chromogranin A (CHGA) is observed in human hypertension. CHGA is critical for granulogenesis and exocytosis of catecholamine stores from secretory large dense core vesicles (LDCV). This study aims to understand the morphological, molecular and phenotypic changes becaus
Experimental multiphysical characterization of an SMA driven, camber morphing owl wing section

In the context of aerospace engineering, morphing structures are useful in their ability to change the outer mold line (OML) while improving or maintaining certain aerodynamic performance metrics. Skin-based morphing is of particular interest in that it minimizes installation volume. Shape memory alloys (SMAs) have a high force to volume ratio that makes them a suitable choice for skin-based morphing. Because the thermomechanical properties of SMAs are coupled, strain can be generated via a temperature variation; this phenomenon is used as the actuation method. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the interaction of the system not only with aerodynamic loads, but with thermal loads as well. This paper describes the wind tunnel testing and in situ thermomechanical analysis of an SMA actuated, avian inspired morphing wing. The morphing wing is embedded with two SMA composite actuators and consists of a foam core enveloped in a fiberglass-epoxy composite. As the SMA wire is heated, the actuator contracts, morphing the wing from the original owl OML to a highly cambered, high lift OML. Configuration characteristics are analyzed in situ using simultaneous three dimensional digital image correlation (DIC) and infrared thermography, thereby coupling strain and thermal measurements. This method of testing allows for the nonintrusive, multiphysical data acquisition of each actuator separately and the system as a whole.
Delayed Left Main Narrowing From the Native Left Aortic Valve Leaflet After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement With the Lotus Valve: A Successful Intervention for a Novel Complication.

An 89-year-old woman with severe symptomatic aortic valve stenosis and poor surgical candidacy underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) with a 23-mm Lotus valve (Boston Scientific, Marlborough, Massachusetts). Preoperative computed tomography demonstrated aortic sinuses and coronary
Evaluation Issues in the Educational Product Life Cycle

The product development group continued to examine the two small books. As they turned the books over and on end, opened them, flipped through the pages, and flexed the covers, they continued to discuss the advantages of each design.
Mechanism of Action of Tetrodotoxin (TTX) and Saxitoxin (STX)

Marine toxins such as TTX and STX have aroused the interest of physiologists, biochemists, pharmacologists, and biological warfare people, as well as writers of spy and mystery stories. In the hands of the neuroscientist they have been turned into helpful instruments vital for the study of nerve function and excitable membranes. In this chapter on modes of action, I shall limit myself to the studies of TTX and STX on nerve and muscle. On these tissues they have been studied extensively and in some depth. Neither the historical development nor chemistry of these compounds will be discussed, because there are a number of excellent papers available covering the subject (Kao, 1966). Before discussing the mode of action of TTX and STX, one must say something about the nature of the nerve impulse.
Abstract 2607: Blood based biomarkers and association with clinical outcome (CO) in advanced stage patients (pts) treated with immunotherapy (IO)

Background: Optimal biomarkers for cancer pts treated with IO are currently lacking. Markers of inflammation, such as neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are readily available and associated with poor outcomes. We investigated the association between these markers and CO in pts treated with IO. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of 90 pts with advanced cancer treated on IO-based phase I trials at the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University between 2009-2017. Baseline NLR, MLR, and PLR were treated as continuous variables and rescaled by their own standard deviation. Overall survival (OS) was measured from the first dose of IO to date of death or hospice referral. Progression-free survival (PFS) was determined from first dose of IO to clinical or radiographic progression or death. We defined clinical benefit (CB) as complete response, partial response, or stable disease. Univariate association (UVA) and multivariable analysis (MVA) were carried out using Cox proportional hazard model or logistic regression model. Baseline covariates included race, gender, ECOG PS, # of prior therapies, Royal Marsden Hospital (RMH) risk group, IO indication, and # of metastatic sites. Results: The median pt age was 63 years and most (59%) were men. The most common histologies were melanoma (33%) and GI cancers (22%). The majority (81%) were RMH good risk. 46% of pts had CB on IO. The median NLR, MLR, and PLR was 3.63, 0.48, and 182.65, respectively. Increased NLR, MLR, and PLR were all associated with worse OS, PFS, and chance of CB (Table 1). NLR, MLR and PLR are highly correlated to each other (Pearson correlation coefficients ≥ 0.8, all p Conclusion: NLR, MLR, and PLR are strongly associated with CO in pts treated with IO. Prospective validation of these findings are warranted. Table 1: UVA and MVA of NLR, MRL, and PLR with CO *statistically significant Citation Format: Dylan J. Martini, Yuan Liu, Colleen Lewis, Hannah Collins, Mehmet Akce, Haydn Kissick, Bradley C. Carthon, Walid L. Shaib, Olatunji B. Alese, Rathi Pillai, Conor E. Steuer, Christina Wu, David H. Lawson, Ragini Kudchadkar, Bassel El-Rayes, Viraj A. Master, Suresh Ramalingam, Taofeek K. Owonikoko, R Donald Harvey, Mehmet Asim Bilen. Blood based biomarkers and association with clinical outcome (CO) in advanced stage patients (pts) treated with immunotherapy (IO) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2607.
Botulinum Toxin Therapy for Complications of Stroke

Stroke is the most common cause of disability in the US. Many complications of stroke are managed sub-optimally by currently available therapies. This chapter discusses the role of botulinum toxin therapy in management of stroke-related symptoms such as spasticity, muscle spasms, painful postures, abnormal movements (dystonia), bladder dysfunction and drooling.
Privatization, Marketization, and Neoliberalism—The Political Dynamics of Post-Katrina New Orleans: A Discussion of Cedric Johnson's The Neoliberal Deluge: Hurricane Katrina, Late Capitalism, and the Remaking of New Orleans

Hurricane Katrina was a “disaster” both “natural” and “social.” The storm destroyed a major American city that, like most American cities, was already the site of great inequality and vulnerability. It also dramatically put to the test both the logistical capabilities and the political responsibilities of national, state, and local governmental institutions. The Neoliberal Deluge: Hurricane Katrina, Late Capitalism, and the Remaking of New Orleans is an important collection of essays on the dynamics of “remaking New Orleans” and the limits of that effort. We have thus asked a diverse group of political scientists to review the book, and at the same time to treat it as an opportunity to reflect on two related questions: 1) What are the most important economic, cultural, and political dimensions of the crisis precipitated by Katrina, both for New Orleans and for US cities more generally? 2) What resources does political science as a discipline possess to help us understand these issues, and can political science as a discipline do a better job on this score?—Jeffrey C. Issac, Editor
Nanoindentation on Monolayer MoS2 Kirigami.

Mechanical properties of materials can be altered significantly by the ancient art of kirigami. We study the mechanical properties of atomically thin kirigami membranes of MoS2 using molecular dyna...
Implications of Demographics and Socioeconomic Factors in Breast Cancer Reconstruction.

BACKGROUND Not all women undergo breast reconstruction despite its vital role in the recovery process. Previous studies have reported that women who are ethnically diverse and of lower socioeconomic status are less likely to undergo breast reconstruction, but the reasons remain unclear. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the demographic characteristics of our patient population and their primary reason for not undergoing breast reconstruction. METHODS An institutional review board-approved, single-institution study was designed to evaluate all female breast cancer patients of all stages who underwent mastectomy but did not undergo breast reconstruction from 2008 to 2014. Patients were contacted via telephone and asked to participate in a validated, prompted survey. Data regarding their demographic information and primary reason for not undergoing breast reconstruction were collected. RESULTS Inclusion criteria were met by 181 patients, of which 61% participated in the survey. Overall, the most common reason for not undergoing breast reconstruction (26%) was unwillingness to undergo further procedures. However, the most common reason for patients that identified as Hispanic, Spanish-speaking, high school graduates, or having an annual income less than US $25,000 (P < 0.05) was insufficient information received. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates that ethnicity and socioeconomic factors play a key role in determining why patients forego breast reconstruction. Ethnicity, language, education, income, and employment status are associated with patients not receiving appropriate education regarding their reconstructive options. Breast surgeons with a diverse patient population should ensure that these patients are adequately educated regarding their options, and if perhaps, more of these patients would decide to partake in the reconstruction process.
Abnormal Peyer patch development and B-cell gut homing drive IgA deficiency in Kabuki syndrome.

Background Kabuki syndrome (KS) is commonly caused by mutations in the histone-modifying enzyme lysine methyltransferase 2D (KMT2D). Immune dysfunction is frequently observed in individuals with KS, but the role of KMT2D in immune system function has not been identified. Objective We sought to understand the mechanisms driving KS-associated immune deficiency (hypogammaglobulinemia [low IgA], splenomegaly, and diminished immunization responses). Methods We performed a comprehensive evaluation of humoral immunity and secondary lymphoid tissues in an established KS (Kmt2d+/βGeo) mouse model and validated select findings in a patient with KS. Results Compared with wild-type littermates, Kmt2d+/βGeo mice demonstrated deficiencies in multiple B-cell lineages and reduced serum IgA and elevated IgM levels across multiple ages. The bone marrow, spleen, and intestine of Kmt2d+/βGeo mice contained diminished numbers of IgA-secreting cells, while elevated germinal center B cells were found in the mesenteric lymph node and Peyer patches. Kmt2d+/βGeo mice have decreased size and numbers of Peyer patches, a finding confirmed in human samples. We identified deficiency of Itgb7 RNA and protein expression, a gene encoding an adhesion protein that mediates intestinal homing, and we demonstrated KMT2D-dependent control of ITGB7 expression in a human cell line. Conclusions Kmt2d haploinsufficiency has broad deleterious effects on B-cell differentiation, specifically hampering gut lymphocyte homing and IgA+ plasma cell differentiation. Intestinal lymphoid defects caused by ITGB7 deficiency have not previously been recognized in KS, and these results provide new mechanistic insights into the pathogenesis of KS-associated immune deficiency.
Unstructured un-split geometrical Volume-of-Fluid methods – A review

Abstract Geometrical Volume-of-Fluid (VoF) methods mainly support structured meshes, and only a small number of contributions in the scientific literature report results with unstructured meshes and three spatial dimensions. Unstructured meshes are traditionally used for handling geometrically complex solution domains that are prevalent when simulating problems of industrial relevance. However, three-dimensional geometrical operations are significantly more complex than their two-dimensional counterparts, which is confirmed by the ratio of publications with three-dimensional results on unstructured meshes to publications with two-dimensional results or support for structured meshes. Additionally, unstructured meshes present challenges in serial and parallel computational efficiency, accuracy, implementation complexity, and robustness. Ongoing research is still very active, focusing on different issues: interface positioning in general polyhedra, estimation of interface normal vectors, advection accuracy, and parallel and serial computational efficiency. This survey tries to give a complete and critical overview of classical, as well as contemporary geometrical VOF methods with concise explanations of the underlying ideas and sub-algorithms, focusing primarily on unstructured meshes and three dimensional calculations. Reviewed methods are listed in historical order and compared in terms of accuracy and computational efficiency.
Magical capitalism, gambler subjects: South Korea’s bitcoin investment frenzy

‘First, it was just tech people. Now, literally everyone is interested in bitcoin’, said CNN News while reporting on the bitcoin mania that haunted South Korean society in the winter of 2017–2018. ...
Errors in identifying emotion in body postures and facial expressions among pediatric patients with bipolar disorder.

Facial emotion processing impairments have been consistently demonstrated among patients with pediatric bipolar disorder (PBD). However, less is known about other domains of nonverbal emotion recog...
Monolithically-integrated BiVO4/p+-n GaAs1-xPx tandem photoanodes capable of unassisted solar water splitting

Abstract Monolithically-integrated tandem photoanodes were fabricated on substrates consisting of epitaxial n-GaAs1-xPx (x ≅ 0.32) grown on n+-GaAs wafers. A p+-n junction photovoltaic (PV) cell was first formed by zinc diffusion into the n-GaAs0.68P0.32 from a deposited ZnO coating. After diffusion the ZnO serves as a transparent electrical contact to the resulting p+-GaAs0.68P0.32 surface layer. Transparent, conducting SnO2:F provides chemical and mechanical protection for the ZnO and the underlying PV cell, and it electrically connects this cell to a top BiVO4 photocatalyst layer. In some photoanodes, a WO3 thin film was interposed between the SnO2:F and BiVO4. All oxide coatings were produced by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis except WO3, which was spin coated. Unassisted (unbiased) solar water splitting was achieved, with a solar-to-hydrogen efficiency approaching 2%, without addition of any co-catalyst to the BiVO4 surface. This work can provide insights to other researchers regarding scalable, low cost approaches for the planar monolithic integration of oxide photoanode materials with PV cells to create new tandem devices.
Conformal Coating of Orthopedic Plates with X-ray Scintillators and pH Indicators for X-ray Excited Luminescence Chemical Imaging through Tissue

We describe a pH-indicating material that can be directly implanted or coated on orthopedic implant surfaces to provide high-spatial-resolution pH mapping through tissue by X-ray excited luminescence chemical imaging (XELCI). This is especially useful for detecting local pH changes during treatment of implant-associated infections. The material has two layers: an X-ray scintillator layer with Gd2O2S:Eu in epoxy, which emits 620 and 700 nm light when irradiated with X-rays, and a pH indicator dye layer, which absorbs some of the 620 nm light in a pH-dependent fashion. To acquire each pixel in the image, a focused X-ray beam irradiates a small region of scintillators and the ratio of 620 to 700 nm light is acquired through the tissue. Scanning the X-ray beam across the implant surface generates high-spatial-resolution chemical measurements. Two associated challenges are (1) to make robust sensors that can be implanted in tissue to measure local chemical concentrations specifically for metal orthopedic implants and (2) to conformally coat the implant surface with scintillators and pH indicator dyes in order to make measurements over a large area. Previously, we have physically pressed or glued a pH-sensitive hydrogel sensor onto the surface of an implant, but this is impractical for imaging over large irregular device areas such as an orthopedic plate with holes and edges. Herein, we describe a chemically sensitive and biocompatible XELCI sensor material that can conformally coat the implant surface. A two-part commercial-grade epoxy resin was mixed with Gd2O2S:Eu and adhered to the titanium surface. Sugar and salt particles were added to the surface of the epoxy as it cured to create a roughened surface and increase the surface area. On this roughened surface, a secondary layer of diacrylated polyethylene glycol (PEG) hydrogel, containing a pH sensitive dye, was polymerized. This combination of epoxy-PEG layers was found to adhere well to the metal implant unlike other previously tested polymer surfaces, which delaminated when exposed to water or humidity. The focused X-ray beam enabled 0.5 mm spatial resolution through 1 cm-thick tissue. The pH sensor-coated orthopedic plate was imaged with XELCI, through tissue, with different pH levels to acquire a calibration curve. The plates were also imaged through tissue, with a low pH region on one section due to growth of a Staphylococcus aureus biofilm. A pH sensor-coated stainless-steel rod with two distinct pH regions was inserted in a rabbit tibia specimen, and the pH was imaged through both bone and soft tissue. These studies demonstrate the use of pH sensor-coated orthopedic plates and rods for mapping the local pH through tissue during biofilm formation by XELCI.
The Future Matters

AbstractHigh courts such as the US Supreme Court announce legal rules that guide subsequent decisions by lower courts and other actors. Because legal rules are forward-looking in this sense, judges...
Survey of electron density changes in the daytime ionosphere over the Arecibo observatory due to lightning and solar flares.

Optical observations of transient luminous events and remote-sensing of the lower ionosphere with low-frequency radio waves have demonstrated that thunderstorms and lightning can have substantial impacts in the nighttime ionospheric D region. However, it remains a challenge to quantify such effects in the daytime lower ionosphere. The wealth of electron density data acquired over the years by the Arecibo Observatory incoherent scatter radar (ISR) with high vertical spatial resolution (300-m in the present study), combined with its tropical location in a region of high lightning activity, indicate a potentially transformative pathway to address this issue. Through a systematic survey, we show that daytime sudden electron density changes registered by Arecibo’s ISR during thunderstorm times are on average different than the ones happening during fair weather conditions (driven by other external factors). These changes typically correspond to electron density depletions in the D and E region. The survey also shows that these disturbances are different than the ones associated with solar flares, which tend to have longer duration and most often correspond to an increase in the local electron density content.
E-cigarette use and change in plans to quit cigarette smoking among adult smokers in the United States: Longitudinal findings from the PATH Study 2014-2019.

Abstract Introduction Much of the population-based e-cigarette use and cigarette cessation literature is restricted to smokers who have expressed intention to quit smoking, though experimental studies suggest e-cigarette use might motivate some smokers to change their quit intentions. We used U.S. nationally representative data to evaluate whether e-cigarette use by smokers initially not planning to ever quit is associated with change in plans to quit. Methods Longitudinal Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study data collected between 2014 and 2019 were analyzed. Main analyses were conducted among adult daily cigarette smokers not currently using e-cigarettes with no plans to ever quit smoking (n = 2366 observations from n = 1532 individuals). Generalized estimating equations were used to evaluate the association between change in e-cigarette use and change in plans to quit smoking within the next six months, over three assessment pairs. Results Daily cigarette smokers with no plans to quit had a higher rate of change to plan to quit if at follow-up they used e-cigarettes daily (41.4%, 95% CI: 27.1–57.3%) versus not at all (12.4%, 95% CI: 10.6–14.5%; aOR = 5.7, 95% CI: 2.9–11.2). Rate of change to plan to quit did not statistically differ between those who at follow-up used e-cigarettes some days versus not at all. Conclusions Among adult daily cigarette smokers initially not planning to ever quit, subsequent daily e-cigarette use is associated with subsequent plans to quit smoking. Population-level research on e-cigarette use that is focused on smokers already motivated to quit may limit a complete evaluation of the smoker population.
Antiresorptive Therapy for Osteoporosis

Antiresorptive agents treat osteoporosis by decreasing bone resorption and include bisphosphonates, denosumab, hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs). Bisphosphonates inhibit osteoclastic bone resorption and promote osteoclast apoptosis. They are available as oral and intravenous formulations with variable dosing. They are generally the first-line treatment option for postmenopausal osteoporosis and glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis. Common side effects include gastrointestinal intolerance with oral formulations and an acute phase reaction with intravenous therapy. A drug holiday is suggested after 3–5 years of treatment with bisphosphonates. Denosumab, the first biologic agent in the class, is a fully human monoclonal antibody that inhibits RANKL to reduce bone resorption. Rare adverse events of bisphosphonates and denosumab include atypical femoral fractures and osteonecrosis of jaw. Treatment with a bisphosphonate is recommended after discontinuing denosumab to reduce a rebound increase in bone turnover. HRT and SERMs can be considered in a small subset of menopausal women.
Photonic Devices for Analog-to-Digital Conversion

In this chapter, we introduce some of the more common photonic components which can be used in photonic-based A/D converters. This coverage is not intended to be all-inclusive, but instead to lay the foundation for the photonic A/D converters to be introduced later in this book. The photonic devices discussed here provide the functionality necessary to implement the individual components of an A/D converter. These include classic components such as Mach—Zehnder interferometers, optical waveguide switches, acousto-optic devices, multiple quantum well modulators, and smart pixel devices. These photonic elements provide the functionality required for optical sampling, optical switching and demultiplexing, optical bistability for the nonlinearity required for quantization, and optical subtraction for the differencing elements required in the feedback architecture of an oversampling A/D modulator.
Skeletal muscle cultures.

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the preparation of primary muscle cell cultures, and the characteristics of different established muscle cell lines and the special culture conditions and handling they require. The recent progress in the molecular characterization of myogenic differentiation has depended largely on the successful analysis of the muscle phenotype in cell culture. Myoblasts from numerous sources can be cultured to mimic different aspects of myogenesis, from proliferation to withdrawal from the cell cycle, fusion into myotubes, and expression of contractile protein gene subsets. Certain aspects of myogenesis have been more difficult to reproduce in culture, such as the full recapitulation of contractile function and the further modulation of muscle differentiation that occurs during the generation of different fiber types. A more thorough analysis of the external environment required for the manifestation of these properties in vivo may ultimately be necessary, because it is likely that specific extracellular matrix components or heterologous cell interactions play a significant role in determining these phenotypes.
Throughput optimization for multimedia applications over high speed networks

Digital video services, scientific visualization and other multimedia applications require delivery of high network throughput to end user applications. In this paper we identify some of the bottlenecks in the data path between highspeed networks and applications which are responsible for poor application performance. We then present solutions to overcome these bottlenecks at various levels namely: network, operating system, and user. Finally, we show the effectiveness of these solutions on the performance of our multimedia applications.
Off-label use of antipsychotic medications in Medicaid.

OBJECTIVES To determine how often antipsychotics are prescribed off-label to adults without schizophrenia or bipolar disorder who are enrolled in Medicaid, which pays for more than 70% of antipsychotic prescriptions in the United States. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective analysis of 2003 administrative data from 42 state Medicaid programs. METHODS Continuously enrolled patients with at least 1 prescription for an antipsychotic medication were identified. For these patients, inpatient and outpatient records were checked for any diagnosis of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder; those without any such diagnoses were considered to have received these medications off-label. Offlabel antipsychotic use was compared across sociodemographic groups (age, race/ethnicity, sex). Multivariate logistic regression models identified characteristics associated with off-label use. RESULTS Of the 372,038 individuals given an antipsychotic medication, 214,113 (57.6%) received these agents for off-label disorders. Off-label use among patients receiving an antipsychotic was more prevalent among individuals under age 21 years (75.9%) and those 65 years and older (64.8%) than it was among those aged 21 to 64 years (49.0%). Rates of off-label use were relatively high for Hispanics (65.7%) and low for African Americans (52.3%) compared with whites (58.2%). Off-label use was most common among patients receiving risperidone and least common among patients receiving clozapine. CONCLUSIONS Off-label use of antipsychotic medications is common, particularly among the elderly and children/adolescents. Given that these drugs are expensive, have potentially severe side effects, and have limited evidence supporting their effectiveness off-label, they should perhaps be used with greater caution.