cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Diverticulitis recurrence after percutaneous abscess drainage.

Recurrent diverticulitis has been reported in 30–50% of patients who recover from an episode of diverticular-associated abscess. Our aim was to review the outcomes of patients who underwent non-operative management after percutaneous drainage (PD) of colonic diverticular abscess. All patients with a diverticular-associated abscess were identified between 2001 and 2012. Individual charts were queried for peri-procedural data and follow-up. The most recent follow-up data were acquired via the electronic medical record or telephone call. A total of 165 patients underwent PD of diverticular-associated abscesses. Abscess locations were pelvic (n = 122), abdominal (n = 36), and both (n = 7), while median abscess size was 6.1 ± 2.2 cm. One hundred eighteen patients clinically improved following non-operative management, and 81 of these patients did not undergo subsequent colonic resection within 4 months of PD. Of these, 8 died within 12 months. Among the remaining 73 patients, there were no significant differences in demographics or abscess variables compared to those who underwent elective surgery within 4 months. Only 7 of 73 patients had documented episodes of recurrences, while 22 patients later had elective surgery (1.1 ± 1.2 years from the index case). Five-year colectomy-free survival was 55% (95%CI 42–66%), while the recurrence-free survival at 5 years was 77% (95%CI 65–86%). All recurrences were managed non-operatively initially and one patient went on to have elective resection. A sizable number of patients successfully recover from complicated diverticulitis following PD. Subsequent non-operative management carries an acceptable risk for recurrent episodes and may be considered as a reasonable management option.
Life in the Slow Lane: Stress Responses in Plethodontid Salamanders

Abstract Plethodontid salamanders are specialized for a low-energy lifestyle, offering an interesting model for studying vertebrate stress responses. Furthermore, in an increasingly changing environment, it is important to understand how plethodontid salamanders respond to a variety of different stressors. Here, I review findings from my research group on the impact of various stressors on behavior and physiology in three species of plethodontid salamanders. A robust response to putative stressors was a decrease in locomotory activity, which was found after exposure to handling, predator kairomones, and acidic environments. The change in locomotory activity was not related to changes in corticosterone (CORT), a glucocorticoid hormone (GC) considered to be a hallmark of the vertebrate stress response. The uncoupling of CORT from stress-induced behavior might relate to the fact that decreased locomotory activity is not energetically costly, while CORT is a metabolic hormone that functions to mobilize glucos...
Aortic Stiffness Is Increased in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy With Myocardial Fibrosis: Novel Insights in Vascular Function From Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Objectives The aim of the study was to determine if patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), both with and without myocardial fibrosis, have altered aortic stiffness as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) pulse wave velocity (PWV) measurements. Background Abnormal aortic stiffness implies an unfavorable prognosis and has been established in a variety of aortic diseases and ischemic cardiomyopathy. However, the relationship between aortic stiffness and HCM has not been studied previously. Methods The study was institutional review board approved and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 compliant. Velocity-encoded MRI was performed in 100 HCM and 35 normal control subjects. PWV was determined between the mid-ascending and -descending thoracic aorta. Delayed-enhancement MRI was acquired for identification of myocardial fibrosis. Results Mean age was 52.4 years in HCM and 45.3 years in control subjects. The prevalence of myocardial fibrosis in HCM was 70%. PWV was significantly higher in HCM patients compared with control subjects (8.72 ± 5.83 m/s vs. 3.74 ± 0.86 m/s, p Conclusions Increased aortic stiffness, as indicated by increased PWV, is evident in HCM patients, and is more pronounced in those with myocardial fibrosis. Further, aortic stiffening may adversely affect left ventricular performance. In addition, increased aortic stiffness correlates with myocardial fibrosis, and may represent another potentially important parameter for risk stratification in HCM, warranting further study.
Carpacio: Repurposing Capacitive Sensors to Distinguish Driver and Passenger Touches on In-Vehicle Screens

Standard vehicle infotainment systems often include touch screens that allow the driver to control their mobile phone, navigation, audio, and vehicle configurations. For the driver's safety, these interfaces are often disabled or simplified while the car is in motion. Although this reduced functionality aids in reducing distraction for the driver, it also disrupts the usability of infotainment systems for passengers. Current infotainment systems are unaware of the seating position of their user and hence, cannot adapt. We present Carpacio, a system that takes advantage of the capacitive coupling created between the touchscreen and the electrode present in the seat when the user touches the capacitive screen. Using this capacitive coupling phenomenon, a car infotainment system can intelligently distinguish who is interacting with the screen seamlessly, and adjust its user interface accordingly. Manufacturers can easily incorporate Carpacio into vehicles since the included seat occupancy detection sensor or seat heating coils can be used as the seat electrode. We evaluated Carpacio in eight different cars and five mobile devices and found that it correctly detected over 2600 touches with an accuracy of 99.4%.
Book Review: A Survey of Sustainable Development: Social and Economic Dimensions. J. M. Harris, T. A. Wise, K. P. Gallagher, and N. R. Goodwin

(2001). Book Review: A Survey of Sustainable Development: Social and Economic Dimensions. J. M. Harris, T. A. Wise, K. P. Gallagher, and N. R. Goodwin. Environmental Practice: Vol. 3, No. 4, pp. 263-264.
Degradation Mechanism of Ag Nanorods for Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

This paper reports a degradation mechanism of silver (Ag) nanorods that are used as substrates for surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). The attachment of sulfur and hydrocarbons to the surfaces of Ag nanorods is observed when they are stored in ambient over four months. This attachment is observed to correlate with ~20% decrease in SERS signal. The attachment, and thereby the signal degradation, takes three weeks to complete, and remains stable after the initial decay over the rest of the four month test period. While this degradation mechanism is a limitation to the gross enhancement, the ensuing stability beyond three weeks is encouraging.
The Pursuit of the Good

We pass now from the discussion of dispositions toward the good to action and conduct involving the good. The first thing to note is the point which so much occupied Dewey; that every moral situation has an individual aspect and is to some extent unique. But what is the individual moral situation? We must be as much concerned with what makes it moral as with what makes it unique. The unique aspect is the individual aspect but the moral aspect is the general aspect. We shall find if my theory is correct that the analysis of any concrete moral situation discloses ramifications which are abstract and so must be considered apart from the concrete. There is more to a good or bad act than what appears to be local and particular; otherwise we could not consider it in a moral connection or characterize it as good or bad. All particulars are exemplifications of something general; there are no absolutely unique particulars. Action is intentional motion. A clear distinction must be drawn between the intention to act and the act itself; although of course a clear similarity connects them. The transition from intent to act is effected through decisions. We are in action concerned with overt behavior and in conduct with responsible behavior.
On the Architecture of the Folk Game: The Case of 'The Floor is Lava'

Foursquare. Hopscotch. Duck, Duck, Goose. While styles of play vary, one striking aspect of children’s folk games is their ubiquity. This characteristic poses an interesting puzzle: how do the folk games of childhood begin? How do they spread across great distances and persist across multiple generations of children? Why are they adopted in certain geographies, among certain socioeconomic groups, and certain age cohorts? How do they disappear? Folklorists of childhood have tended to emphasize the ways in which social networks and meeting points between children act as transmission points. The playground, summer camp, and school serve as prominent scenes of transaction in this work. These accounts rely on a social mode of transmission: a play practice is learned, modified, and transmitted among children in their interactions with one another. This paper offers a conjecture around an alternative mode of diffusion that emanates from the built landscape itself. It explores the notion that vernacular architecture contains a latent space of games which can facilitate the simultaneous, independent discovery of a game across geographies. It leverages what Gary Fine dubs a “ecotypic” approach to folklore, one which looks at the relationship between children’s lore and the environment that it takes place within. In doing so, this analysis aims to propose one causal link bridging broader economic, political, and social forces with the playful spaces they often accidentally create. The paper proceeds in three parts. First, the paper proposes a set of relationships between games and physical spaces. Second, it examines one case study for this conjecture, looking at the game “The Floor is Lava” and its relationship to the development of the suburban home of the United States in the mid- to late-20th century. Third, it will lay out a research agenda based on this initial analysis, suggesting a set of further explorations on the topic.
Act-Utilitarian Agreements

Would rational act-utilitarians keep their agreements? Suppose two highly rational act-utilitarians agree to meet for a walk in the park. The best outcome they can achieve is to meet as agreed, and the next best is for both to stay home and read. Because each would find it distressing to come and not find the other, the worst outcome they can achieve is for one to come to the park and the other to stay at home. Suppose everything above is common knowledge between them, in the sense that each knows it, each knows the other knows it, each knows the other knows that he knows it, and so on ad infinitem. Under these circumstances, either person would keep the agreement if he knew the other would, for he could then conclude that his coming as agreed would yield the best outcome, that they meet, whereas his staying at home would yield the worst outcome, that one comes and the other stays home. On the other hand, either would break the agreement if he knew that the other would break it, for in that case he could reason that if he came as agreed, he would achieve the worst outcome, that one comes and the other stays at home, whereas if he stayed home, he would achieve the intermediate outcome that both stay home. All this will be common knowledge between the two. Does any of it, though, give either of them grounds for keeping the agreement?
S8. Promises and limitations of biomarkers

In many “omics” fields, extraordinary promises have been made about the ability of biomarkers for detecting early cancer, for predicting prognosis, and for predicting response to therapy. Ye t very few markers are brought to clinical practice, and many are not even found to be reproducible. This essay discusses chance and bias as threats to validity that can explain the huge disconnect between promise and product, along with approaches to address those threats.
Deletion of 22q11 chromosome is associated with postoperative morbidity after unifocalisation surgery.

BackgroundA 22q11 chromosome deletion is common in patients with tetralogy of Fallot, pulmonary atresia, and major aortopulmonary collaterals. We sought to determine whether 22q11 chromosome deletion is associated with increased postoperative morbidity after unifocalisation surgery.MethodsWe included all patients with this diagnosis undergoing primary or revision unifocalisation ± ventricular septal defect closure at our institution from 2008 to 2016, and we excluded patients with unknown 22q11 status. Demographic and surgical data were collected. We compared outcomes between those with 22q11 chromosome deletion and those without using non-parametric analysis.ResultsWe included 180 patients, 41% of whom were documented to have a chromosome 22q11 deletion. Complete unifocalisation was performed in all patients, and intracardiac repair was performed with similar frequency regardless of 22q11 chromosome status. Duration of mechanical ventilation was longer in 22q11 deletion patients. This difference remained significant after adjustment for delayed sternal closure and/or intracardiac repair. Duration of ICU stay was longer in patients with 22q11 deletion, although no longer significant when adjusted for delayed sternal closure and intracardiac repair. Finally, length of hospital stay was longer in 22q11-deleted patients, but this difference was not significant on unadjusted or adjusted analysis.ConclusionChildren with tetralogy of Fallot, pulmonary atresia, and major aortopulmonary collaterals and 22q11 deletion are at risk for greater prolonged mechanical ventilation after unifocalisation surgery. Careful attention should be given to the co-morbidities of this population in the perioperative period to mitigate risks that may complicate the postoperative course.
Understanding adolescent and parent acceptability and feasibility experience in a large Type 1 diabetes mellitus behavioural trial.

AIMS Using an 18-month, multisite randomized control trial as an exemplar, the aim of this study was to identify themes related to adolescent and parental feasibility and acceptability for participation in large behavioural trials designed to improve adolescents' Type 1 diabetes self-management. METHODS Thematic analysis methodology was used to develop themes describing factors related to acceptability and feasibility. RESULTS Based on a sample of interviews (N = 72), factors contributing to intervention acceptability and feasibility were identified. Aspects of acceptability included: a framework for goal-setting, the coach as a non-judgemental listener, perception of an ongoing benefit to participation and the delivery mode. Aspects of feasibility included: participants' altruism to help adolescents with Type 1 diabetes; pre-enrolment preparation for intervention content and duration; and the option of remote intervention delivery via telephone or video, which minimized travel time and costs. In addition, participants described positive outcomes including improvements in behaviour, Type 1 diabetes self-management behaviours and parent-adolescent communication, and emotion-attitude changes. Participants also described potential revisions that may inform future trials. CONCLUSIONS Acceptability and feasibility of behavioural interventions with adolescents with chronic illness have multifactorial dimensions. While empowering adolescent self-management, parental support is also an under-appreciated aspect to consider. Potential revisions were identified for subsequent behavioural trials.
A Soft End Effector Inspired by Cephalopod Suckers and Augmented by a Dielectric Elastomer Actuator

Abstract This article describes a soft suction cup end effector with squid-inspired suction generation and an octopus-inspired cup design that uses a dielectric elastomer actuator (DEA) to generate...
Comparing radiomic classifiers and classifier ensembles for detection of peripheral zone prostate tumors on T2-weighted MRI: a multi-site study.

For most computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) problems involving prostate cancer detection via medical imaging data, the choice of classifier has been largely ad hoc, or been motivated by classifier comparison studies that have involved large synthetic datasets. More significantly, it is currently unknown how classifier choices and trends generalize across multiple institutions, due to heterogeneous acquisition and intensity characteristics (especially when considering MR imaging data). In this work, we empirically evaluate and compare a number of different classifiers and classifier ensembles in a multi-site setting, for voxel-wise detection of prostate cancer (PCa) using radiomic texture features derived from high-resolution in vivo T2-weighted (T2w) MRI. Twelve different supervised classifier schemes: Quadratic Discriminant Analysis (QDA), Support Vector Machines (SVMs), naive Bayes, Decision Trees (DTs), and their ensemble variants (bagging, boosting), were compared in terms of classification accuracy as well as execution time. Our study utilized 85 prostate cancer T2w MRI datasets acquired from across 3 different institutions (1 for discovery, 2 for independent validation), from patients who later underwent radical prostatectomy. Surrogate ground truth for disease extent on MRI was established by expert annotation of pre-operative MRI through spatial correlation with corresponding ex vivo whole-mount histology sections. Classifier accuracy in detecting PCa extent on MRI on a per-voxel basis was evaluated via area under the ROC curve. The boosted DT classifier yielded the highest cross-validated AUC (= 0.744) for detecting PCa in the discovery cohort. However, in independent validation, the boosted QDA classifier was identified as the most accurate and robust for voxel-wise detection of PCa extent (AUCs of 0.735, 0.683, 0.768 across the 3 sites). The next most accurate and robust classifier was the single QDA classifier, which also enjoyed the advantage of significantly lower computation times compared to any of the other methods. Our results therefore suggest that simpler classifiers (such as QDA and its ensemble variants) may be more robust, accurate, and efficient for prostate cancer CAD problems, especially in the context of multi-site validation.
A Hybrid Beam Hopping Design for Non-uniform Traffic in HTS Networks

In this paper, we discuss and propose a novel & hybrid approach for future High Throughput Satellite (HTS) networks using beam hopping and comparing the overall performance and capabilities of the proposed solution. This work focuses on a time switched payload configuration by monitoring the system resources and traffic demands based on geographical distribution. The proposed work, develops a standard protocol between satellite operators’ Network Management System (NMS) and their telemetry, tracking and control (TT&C) division to enhance overall efficiency of HTS networks which results in reducing the operational cost and boosting users’ overall experience.
Optimal Evading Strategies and Task Allocation in Multi-player Pursuit–Evasion Problems

Pursuit–evasion problems involving multiple pursuers and evaders are studied in this paper. The pursuers and the evaders are all assumed to be identical, and the pursuers are assumed to follow either a constant bearing or a pure pursuit strategy, giving rise to two distinct cases. The problem is simplified by adopting a dynamic divide and conquer approach, where at every time instant each evader is assigned to a set of pursuers based on the instantaneous positions of all the players. In this regard, the corresponding multi-pursuer single-evader problem is analyzed first. Assuming that the evader knows the positions of all the pursuers and their pursuit strategy, the time-optimal evading strategies are derived for both constant bearing and pure pursuit cases for the pursuers using tools from optimal control theory. In the case of a constant bearing strategy, and assuming that the evader can follow any strategy, a dynamic task allocation algorithm is proposed for the pursuers. The algorithm is based on the well-known Apollonius circle and allows the pursuers to allocate their resources in an intelligent manner while guaranteeing the capture of the evader in minimum time. For the case of pure pursuit, the algorithm is modified using the counterpart of the Apollonius circle leading to an “Apollonius closed curve.” Finally, the proposed algorithms are extended to assign pursuers in the case of a problem with multiple pursuers and multiple evaders. Numerical simulations are included to demonstrate the performance of the proposed algorithms.
Toward accurate inferences of response class membership

In their review of synthesis within the functional analysis (FA) literature, Slaton and Hanley (2018) reported that most synthesized contingency analyses have included multiple topographies of problem behavior in the reinforcement contingency class. This leaves the question of whether one, some, or all forms of problem behavior are sensitive to the synthesized reinforcement contingencies in published analyses. To address this ambiguity, all topographies of problem behavior that were reported by caregivers to co-occur with the most concerning problem behavior were analyzed for 10 participants. We implemented extinction across one or more forms of problem behavior to determine whether all forms reported to co-occur were sensitive to the same synthesized reinforcement contingency. For nine of 10 participants, the most concerning topographies were sensitive to the same synthesized reinforcement contingencies as the less concerning topographies (results were inconclusive for one). Implications for inferring response class membership from single analyses are discussed.
Physiological Regulation of the Activity of the Actomyosin System

Ich bin sehr dankbar, das ich eingeladen wurde, an diesem Meyerhof-Memorial mitzuwirken. Denn als Schulerin sowohl meines Vaters wie vor allem des grosen Freundes von Otto Meyerhof, A. V. Hill, fuhle ich mich durch den Geist von Meyerhof wissenschaftlich gepragt. Daruber hinaus verehre ich auch Meyerhofs Personlichkeit aus eigenem Erleben tief, seitdem er mich 1951 in Woods Hole in den engeren Kreis seiner Bekannten aufgenommen hatte. Nur Meyerhofs fruher Tod hat verhindert, das ich auch unmittelbar seine wissenschaftliche Schulerin wurde. Denn er hatte mir zum 1. Januar 1952 die Aufnahme in sein Labor angeboten.
An Efficient Implementation of Phase Field Method with Explicit Time Integration

The phase field method integrates the Griffith theory and damage mechanics approach to predict crack initiation, propagation, and branching within one framework. No crack tracking topology is needed, and complex crack shapes can be captures without user intervention. In this paper, a detailed description of how the phase field method is implemented with explicit dynamics into LS-DYNA is provided. The displacement field and the damage field are solved in a staggered approach and the phase field equation is solved every Nth time step (N is refered to as calculation cycle) to save computational time. An N value smaller than 1/400 of the total time step numbers is suggested. Several simulations are presented to demonstrate the feasibility of this solving scheme.
Select methods for microbial forensic nucleic acid analysis of trace and uncultivable specimens

Abstract Genetic characterization of microorganisms is facilitated by their inherent amplification process. Microbial growth in vitro is an enrichment process that can be exploited to obtain sufficient, if not substantial, amounts of nucleic acids for molecular characterization. However, the vast majority of microorganisms cannot be cultured in the laboratory, and, even of those forensically relevant pathogens than can be cultured, there will be microbial forensic investigations where residual nucleic acids may be of low quantity and/or highly damaged. Genetic analysis of uncultivable microorganisms and/or highly compromised DNA samples is one of the challenges facing analysts. However, advances in molecular biology have provided tools for the characterization of a variety of molecular targets. A number of high throughput methods have been developed that employ next-generation sequencing or microarrays to genetically characterize biological evidence. All of these methods require some form of target enrichment to reliably identify the pathogen and to attempt some degree of attribution. In this chapter, capture and whole genome amplification strategies are described to provide insight into how poor quality and limited quantity microbial nucleic acid samples may be analyzed. With such strategies, the analytical repertoire of the microbial forensic scientist is augmented allowing for more successful investigative leads to support attribution.
How far is the journey before malaria is knocked out of Zimbabwe? (or Africa): a commentary

Recent publications and statements have drawn attention to a sustainable system of managing malaria control interventions globally but especially on the Continent of Africa. Arbitrary and unstable governments often interfere with health programmes, causing upsurges in malaria transmission as well as other health issues. A well-run health infrastructure will deal with public health as a whole. This commentary follows historical conditions in Zimbabwe where much original work on malaria control was initiated and implemented and where unstable conditions happened through local politics. These periodic conditions of instability on the ground challenge the current philosophical thrust to eradication and stress the need and role of an established and well-staffed health infrastructure in each country. Such facilities should be well staffed and supplied with drugs and point-of care diagnostic tests to manage malaria and should be sustained to serve the community even after tools that can eradicate malaria are developed.
Mobilizing the Youth Vote? Early Voting on College Campuses

Might additional opportunities to cast a ballot prior to Election Day increase the probability that an individual turns out to vote? More narrowly, does convenience voting have differential effects...
Variation in the physiological costs and benefits of rumination and distraction: The moderating effect of habitual thought suppression

Abstract Whereas traditional theories of emotion regulation have differentiated between categorically adaptive and maladaptive strategies, contemporary research has emphasized the role of context in strategy efficacy. The current study sought to determine whether the effects of rumination, which is typically considered to be a maladaptive strategy, and the effects of distraction, which is typically considered to be an adaptive strategy, are moderated by trait thought suppression. In a sample of 50 participants, habitual thought suppression was measured and participants underwent either a rumination induction or distraction induction while respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), a physiological index of flexible response to stimuli, was monitored. Results demonstrated that among trait thought suppressors, induced rumination resulted in increased RSA, suggesting enhanced regulatory flexibility, while induced distraction resulted in decreased RSA, suggesting less flexibility. Among individuals who are not prone to thought suppression, the converse was observed. These results provide support for the context-dependent theory of emotion regulation, and indicate that the efficacy of rumination and distraction may be moderated by proneness to thought suppression.
DENT-seq for genome-wide strand-specific identification of DNA single-strand break sites with single-nucleotide resolution.

DNA single-strand breaks (SSBs), or "nicks," are the most common form of DNA damage. Oxidative stress, endogenous enzyme activities, and other processes cause tens of thousands of nicks per cell per day. Accumulation of nicks, caused by high rates of occurrence or defects in repair enzymes, has been implicated in multiple diseases. However, improved methods for nick analysis are needed to characterize the mechanisms of these processes and learn how the location and number of nicks affect cells, disease progression, and health outcomes. In addition to natural processes, including DNA repair, leading genome editing technologies rely on nuclease activity, including nick generation, at specific target sites. There is currently a pressing need for methods to study off-target nicking activity genome-wide to evaluate the side effects of emerging genome editing tools on cells and organisms. Here, we developed a new method, DENT-seq, for efficient strand-specific profiling of nicks in complex DNA samples with single-nucleotide resolution and low false-positive rates. DENT-seq produces a single deep sequence data set enriched for reads near nick sites and establishes a readily detectable mutational signal that allows for determination of the nick site and strand with single-base resolution at penetrance as low as one strand per thousand. We apply DENT-seq to profile the off-target activity of the Nb.BsmI nicking endonuclease and an engineered spCas9 nickase. DENT-seq will be useful in exploring the activity of engineered nucleases in genome editing and other biotechnological applications as well as spontaneous and therapeutic-associated strand breaks.
Understanding Attitudes Towards Same-Sex Marriage in the U.S.

After the legalization of same-sex marriage in 2015, some people believed that discrimination based on sexual orientation had ended, just as some people believed that discrimination based on race had ended with Obama’s Presidency in 2008. But the truth of the matter is, localized cohorts among the general population, i.e. older Americans, southerners, African Americans, evangelical Protestants, and Republicans continue to oppose gay marriage quite strongly, despite a majority of Americans supporting same-sex marriage. Whereas some argue that this has to do with factors like education and religiosity, others recognize that support has increased steadily, even among those most opposed, making this phenomenon in public opinion quite unique. As a result, researchers suggest that increases in support may represent a larger, cultural shift within society, which has made Americans more tolerant of sexual minorities, like homosexuals. In fact, in 2013, most Americans believed that the legal recognition of same-sex marriage was “inevitable,” according to polls collected by the Pew Research Center. But does this inevitability actually translate into acceptance of same-sex marriage and sexual minorities more generally?
Between a rock and a hard place: second-order minorities in the Aceh conflict

Secessionist movements are often motivated by a sense of exclusion, abuse, and assimilation at the hands of host states. But in waging armed struggles and constructing ethnic nationalisms, they may replicate such grievances against their own minorities. This paper seeks to provide a deeper understanding of how ‘second-order minorities’ respond to secessionist ethno-nationalism. Based on ethnographic research in Aceh, Indonesia, this paper looks to how Javanese, Malay, Alas, and Gayo communities responded to Acehnese secessionism. Aceh’s minorities did not support Aceh’s rebels, opting to flee or resist rebellion. In explaining their reaction, I suggest that the same ethno-nationalist project which united many Acehnese in the secessionist struggle served to repel non-Acehnese communities, leading to ethno-nationalist revivals among Aceh’s minorities and continued tensions in the post-conflict era.
Altruism and the Statistical Value of Human Life for Policy and Regulation

Policymakers use estimates of the Value of a Statistical Life (VSL) in performing regulatory reviews to assess the benefits and costs of policies that affect mortality. This paper empirically estimates an adjustment to conventional VSL measures to account for altruistic sentiments and concludes that conventional VSL measures are underestimated by a factor of two to three, suggesting we are greatly undervaluing life in regulatory reviews. This conclusion is attained by estimating the VSL multiplier suggested by Jones-Lee (Econ J 102(410):80-90, 1992), which hinges on assessing whether individuals are more health altruistic than wealth altruistic. The estimated VSL multiplier is greatest for policies that affect children's mortality, as health altruism is dominant regarding children. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11205-021-02784-7.
Machines and free weight exercises: a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing changes in muscle size, strength, and power.

Introduction To compare changes in muscle size, strength, and power between free-weight and machine-based exercises. Evidence acquisition The online databases of Pubmed, Scopus, and Web of Science were each searched using the following terms: ""free weights" OR barbells OR dumbbells AND machines" up until September 15, 2020. A three-level random effects meta-analytic model was used to compute effect sizes. Evidence synthesis When strength was tested using a free-weight exercise, individuals training with free-weights gained more strength than those training with machines [ES: 0.655; (95% CI: 0.269, 1.041)]. When strength was tested a machine-based exercise incorporated as part of the machine-based training program, individuals training with machines gained more strength than those training with free-weights [ES: -0.784 (95% CI: -1.223, -0.344)]. When strength was tested using a neutral device, machines and free-weight exercises resulted in similar strength gains [ES: 0.128 (95% CI: -0303, 0.559)]. There were no differences in the change in power [ES: -0.049 (95% CI: -0.557, 0.460)] or muscle hypertrophy [ES: -0.01 (95% CI: -0.525, 0.545)] between exercise modes. Conclusions Individuals looking to increase strength and power should take into account the specificity of exercise, and how their strength and power will be tested and applied. Individuals looking to increase general strength and muscle mass to maintain health may choose whichever activity they prefer and are more likely to adhere to.
Transient Hot-Carrier Transport

When a system with many time constants is excited by a temporally varying forcing function, the system’s response can exhibit a variety of features such as overshoots, undershoots, and phase shifts. When the forcing function varies slowly on the scale of the time constants, it is common to use quasi-static analysis techniques in which the instantaneous time-varying response is modeled by using the steady-state response of the system to a constant forcing function equal in magnitude to the actual instantaneous forcing function. For the transport problems considered here, the system is an ensemble of carriers embedded in a set of energy bands and interacting with a phonon bath. The time constants include energy and momentum relaxation times or various scattering rates, the forcing function is the electric field, and the response of greatest interest is the ensemble average carrier velocity. The quasi-static analysis technique is the use of a steady-state drift-diffusion transport law. The response of the ensemble in situations where this steady-state or quasi-static analysis is inappropriate is called the transient dynamic response (TDR). Describing carrier transport in the TDR regime is the central topic of this chapter.
Abstract P2-13-26: Trend in primary tumor resection and disease specific survival in patients with metastatic breast cancer: A SEER database analysis (1988-2011)

INTRODUCTION: The value of primary tumor resection in patients with metastatic breast cancer is a topic of ongoing debate. We aimed to analyze the trend and impact of primary tumor resection on survival over the last two decades using a national database. We hypothesized that there would be a decreasing utilization of primary tumor resection over time with an increase in disease specific survival. METHODS: All patients with stage IV breast cancer at diagnosis between the years 1988 and 2011 were identified in the SEER database. Univariate and multivariate descriptive and survival analyses were performed. RESULTS: A total of 41,601 patients with stage IV breast cancer were included in the study, 98.9 % (41,162) were females and 1.1% were males. Forty percent underwent surgery. Table 1 summarizes the other significant differences in demographic and tumor-related characteristics of patients who did and did not receive PTR. Over the 23- year study period there was a statistically significant temporal trend of decreased primary tumor resection (62% of patients underwent PTR in 1988, 42.4% in 2000 and 27.7% in 2011). On univariate analysis, patients who underwent PTR had a greater median disease-specific survival (DSS), (34 vs. 18 months, p CONCLUSIONS: Results from this retrospective study suggest a survival advantage in patients with stage IV breast cancer who undergo primary tumor resection. However, there has been a marked reduction in the number of patients undergoing surgery, most likely reflecting more focused patient selection. Ongoing randomized controlled trials will help address the impact of primary tumor surgery on survival of patients diagnosed with metastatic disease. Citation Format: Mahvish Muzaffar, Swapnil D Kachare, Timothy L Fitzgerald, Jan H Wong, Kathryn Verbanac, Nasreen A Vohra. Trend in primary tumor resection and disease specific survival in patients with metastatic breast cancer: A SEER database analysis (1988-2011) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Seventh Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2014 Dec 9-13; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(9 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-13-26.
Deep resequencing of 17 glutamate system genes identifies rare variants in DISC1 and GRIN2B affecting risk of opioid dependence

The N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptors play important roles in the pathophysiology of substance dependence (SD), but no strong genetic evidence has associated common variants in NMDAR-related genes to SD. We hypothesized that rare variants (RVs) with minor allele frequency 1000× coverage. We identified 454 variants, including 380 RVs. Based on case-control allele count differences, we genotyped 11 exonic RVs in 6751 additional subjects, and the 1520 subjects from the sequencing stage for validation. All alleles of the 11 RVs called in the sequencing stage were confirmed. We found a statistically significant association of the 11 RVs with OD in African Americans (P = 0.00080). Results from gene-based association tests showed that the association signal derived mostly from DISC1 (P = 0.0010) and GRIN2B (P = 0.00085). DISC1 is a well-validated schizophrenia risk gene. This is the first demonstration that RVs affect the risk of OD and the first demonstration of biological convergence of schizophrenia and OD risk-via DISC1.
The role of circulatory buffers in fetal tolerance to stress

Abstract The behavior of uteroplacental hemodynamics during maternal hypotensive and hypertensive conditions has been investigated. The impact of a maternal hypotensive crisis on fetal cardiovascular functions has been assessed. The data show that a decrease in uteroplacental blood flow and oxygen transfer occurs invariably during maternal hypotension regardless of the cause of the blood pressure fall. These alterations on the maternal side lead to a fall in fetal blood oxygen tension. The fall in fetal blood P O 2 triggers a chain reaction in various fetal vascular structures which act physiologically as "circulatory buffering systems" that assist the fetus to tolerate maternal stress. The first structures to "sense" the P O 2 decrease are the ductus arteriosus and the pulmonary vascular bed; the former dilates and the latter constricts, thereby diverting blood from the pulmonary toward the systemic circuits. This diversion, together with the increased right-to-left flow through the foramen ovale, serves to maintain a normal fetal effective cardiac output and a normal perfusing pressure in the presence of maternal shock. In addition, a redistribution of flows and resistances takes place in the fetal circulation during maternal stress. This redistribution permits more blood to be diverted toward the cephalic circulation which undergoes vasodilatation when the fetal P O 2 falls and the P CO 2 rises.
Topology Control and Network Lifetime in Three-Dimensional Wireless Sensor Networks

Coverage and connectivity issues of three-dimensional (3D) networks are addressed in [2], but that work assumes that a node can be placed at any arbitrary location. In this work, we drop that assumption and rather assume that nodes are uniformly and densely deployed in a 3D space. We want to devise a mechanism that keeps some nodes active and puts other nodes into sleep so that the number of active nodes at a time is minimized (and thus network life time is maximized), while maintaining full coverage and connectivity. One simple way to do that is to partition the 3D space into cells, and only one node in each cell remains active at a time. Our results show that the number of active nodes can be minimized if the shape of each cell is a truncated octahedron. It requires the sensing range to be at least 0.542326 times the transmission radius. This value is 0.5, 0.53452 and 0.5 for cube, hexagonal prism, and rhombic dodecahedron, respectively. However, at a time the number of active nodes for cube, hexagonal prism and rhombic dodecahedron model is respectively 2.372239, 1.82615 and 1.49468 times of that of truncated octahedron model. So clearly truncated octahedron model has the highest network lifetime. We also provide a distributed topology control algorithm that can be used by each sensor node to determine its cell id using a constant number of local arithmetic operations provided that the sensor node knows its location. We also validate our results by simulation.
Application of frequency domain adaptive IIR filtering for identification of flexible structure dynamics

An adaptive IIR filter in a parallel form realization is applied to the identification problem of flexible structure. The filter is capable of identifying systems with distinct poles. The filter's convergence rate is increased by whitening its exciting input through the discrete Fourier transform. The pole parameter update can be restricted within a sector of the unit disk, thus improving its convergence rate. This sector is typically determined by the a priori knowledge about the damping and the natural modal frequencies of the flexible structure dynamics.
Approximate dynamic programming for sensor management

This paper studies the problem of dynamic scheduling of multi-mode sensor resources for the problem of classification of multiple unknown objects. Because of the uncertain nature of the object types, the problem is formulated as a partially observed Markov decision problem with a large state space. The paper describes a hierarchical algorithm approach for efficient solution of sensor scheduling problems with large numbers of objects, based on a combination of stochastic dynamic programming and nondifferentiable optimization techniques. The algorithm is illustrated with an application involving classification of 10,000 unknown objects.
QoS management in replicated real-time databases

Providing quality of service guarantees for data services in a distributed environment is a challenging task. The presence of multiple sites in distributed environment raises issues that are not present in centralized systems. The transaction workloads in distributed real-time databases may not be balanced and the transaction access patterns may be time-varying and skewed. Data replication is an effective method to help database systems meet the stringent temporal requirements of real-time applications. We have designed an algorithm that provides quality of service guarantees for data services in distributed real-time databases with full replication of temporal data. The algorithm consists of heuristic feedback-based local controllers and global load balancers (GLB) working at each sites. The local controller controls the admission process of incoming transactions. The global load balancers collect the performance data from other nodes and balance the system-wide workload. The simulation results show that the new algorithm successfully balances the workloads in distributed real-time databases and provides tight transaction miss ratio guarantees under various transaction workloads.
Health 'Anti‐Reform' In El Salvador: Community Health NGOs And The State In The Neoliberal Era

A newly emerging component of neoliberal fiscal reform in international development policy is increased reliance on non-governmental organizations (NGOs) rather than states for services. Along those lines development banks now encourage many Third World health ministries to contract with NGOs for provision of basic health care to the poor. This new trend was described by reporter Robert Greenberger in a June 1995 Wall Street Journal article entitled "Developing Countries Pass Off Tedious Job of Assisting the Poor."
Evidence for the role of a guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory protein in the zona pellucida-induced mouse sperm acrosome reaction

Abstract Recently, it has been demonstrated that mouse sperm contain a protein with properties similar to the inhibitory guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory protein, Gi (Kopf, G. S., Woolkalis, M. J., and Gerton, G. L. 1986. J. Biol. Chem., 261, 7327–7331). Since sperm-zona pellucida interaction represents a specialized form of intercellular communication and signal transduction we examined the role of the mouse sperm Gi-like protein in the zona pellucida-induced acrosome reaction using mechanically isolated, structurally intact zonae pellucidae. Sperm capacitated for 90 min in the presence of increasing concentrations of islet-activating protein (IAP) bind to the zona pellucida to a similar extent as control sperm incubated in the absence of this toxin. The zona pellucida-induced acrosome reaction, however, is inhibited in a concentration dependent manner by IAP, with half-maximal effects at 0.1-1.0 ng/ml IAP. IAP does not affect the ability of the sperm to become capacitated, but inhibits the cells from progressing into an intermediate stage prior to the completion of the acrosome reaction. When sperm are capacitated in the presence of 100 μM guanosine-5′-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) for 60 min prior to the addition of IAP during the final 30 min, the IAP-induced inhibition of the zona pellucida-induced acrosome reaction is abolished; capacitation in the presence of 100 μM guanosine-5′-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) does not abolish the inhibitory effects of IAP. The target of the IAP effect on intact sperm appears to be at the level of the Gi-like protein since IAP-catalyzed 32P-ADP-ribosylation of the Mr = 41,000 substrate in detergent extracts of sperm is reduced when intact sperm are preincubated with IAP during capacitation. These data suggest that the mouse sperm Gi-like protein plays an intermediary role in the zona pellucida-induced acrosome reaction.
An exact (2 + 1)-dimensional optical soliton with spatially modulated nonlinearity and an external potential

An exact (2 + 1)-dimensional spatial optical soliton of the nonlinear Schrodinger equation with a spatially modulated nonlinearity and a special external potential is discovered in an inhomogeneous nonlinear medium, by utilizing the similarity transformation. Exact analytical solutions are constructed by the products of Whittaker functions and the bright and dark soliton solutions of the standard stationary nonlinear Schrodinger equation. Some examples of such composed solutions are given, in which these spatial solitons display different localized structures. Numerical calculation shows that the soliton is stable in propagating over long distances, thus also confirming the validity of the exact solution.