cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Does stimulant use impair housing outcomes in low-demand supportive housing for chronically homeless adults?

Background Recent research suggests low-demand housing (ie, not contingent upon abstinence) is effective in helping people exit homelessness, even among recent active substance users. Whether active users of illicit drugs and stimulants have worse housing outcomes than primary alcohol users, however, is unknown. Methods A total of 149 participants in a multisite supportive housing program who reported high levels of active substance use at program entry were classified as either (1) predominantly “Alcohol Use” (>10 of 30 days alcohol, but not >10 days of drug use) or (2) “Illicit Drug Use” (>10 of 30 days any single illicit drug use with or without alcohol use). Sub-analysis of the “Illicit Drug Use” group compared participants reporting high levels of “Stimulant Use” (>10 days cocaine, crack, or methamphetamine use) to those with high levels of “Non-stimulant Use” (>10 days marijuana or other non-stimulant drug use). Group differences in housing outcomes were examined with mixed model multivariate regression. Results During 24-month follow-up, days housed increased dramatically for both the “Alcohol Use” and the “Illicit Drug Use” groups without significant differences. Sub-analysis of illicit drug users showed stimulant use was associated with fewer days housed (p = .01) and more days homeless (p = .02) over time. Conclusions Among illicit drug users, stimulant users have somewhat less successful housing outcomes than other active drug and alcohol users, though both groups maintained substantial housing improvements in low-demand housing. (Am J Addict 2014;23:243–248)1
Early T Lineage Progenitors: New Insights, but Old Questions Remain

T cells developing in the adult thymus ultimately derive from self-renewing hemopoietic stem cells (HSCs)[2][1] in the bone marrow (BM). An understanding of the developmental steps linking HSCs to T cells is critical for understanding the T cell defects in aging, the process of malignant
Transient IGF-I gene expression during the maturation of functionally related central projection neurons

Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) is a monomeric peptide with significant homology to proinsulin. IGF-I has a number of potent effects on cultured neural tissue, including the stimulation of mitosis in sympathetic neuroblasts; the promotion of neurite outgrowth in cortical, sensory, and sympathetic neurons; and the induction of oligodendrocyte differentiation. In order to determine the sites in which IGF-I may play a role in neural development in vivo, the pattern of IGF-I gene expression in the developing rat brain has been analyzed by means of in situ hybridization histochemistry. Transient IGF-I gene expression is seen during the maturation of specific groups of functionally related sensory and cerebellar projection neurons. IGF-I mRNA is abundant within developing cerebellar Purkinje cells and in the major cerebellar relay centers, including the inferior olive, medial vestibular and lateral reticular nuclei of the brainstem, and the deep cerebellar and red nuclei. Similarly, IGF-I mRNA is localized in the synaptic stations of the developing olfactory, auditory, visual, and somatosensory systems. For example, in the auditory system, IGF-I mRNA is abundant in the cochlear nucleus, superior olive, lateral lemniscus, medial geniculate body, and inferior colliculus. In each system, IGF-I gene expression is found predominantly in long-axon projection neurons, appearing during a relatively late stage in their development, at a time of maturation of dendrites and synapse formation. The specific timing and selective localization of neuronal IGF-I gene expression described in this study suggest that IGF-I may have a role in the shaping of system-specific synaptic connections or myelinization.
STONELEY SIGNALS IN PERFECTLY BONDED DISSIMILAR THERMOELASTIC HALF-SPACES WITH AND WITHOUT THERMAL RELAXATION

The governing equations for each of two perfectly bonded, dissimilar thermoelastic half-spaces include as special cases the Fourier heat conduction model and models with either one or two thermal relaxation times. An exact solution in transform space for the problem of line loads applied in one half-space is obtained. Study of the Stoneley function shows that conditions for existence of roots are more restrictive than in the isothermal case, and that both real and imaginary roots are possible. For the limit case of line loads applied to the interface, an analytical expression for the time transform of the corresponding residue contribution to interface temperature change is derived. Asymptotic expressions for the inverses that are valid for either very long or very short times after loading occurs show that long-time behavior obeys Fourier heat conduction. Short-time results are sensitive to thermal relaxation effects. In particular, a time step load produces a propagating step in temperature for the Fourier and double-relaxation time models, but a propagating impulse for the single-relaxation time model.
The Conservation Catch-22: Indigenous Peoples and Cultural Change

Catch-22, the title of Joseph Heller’s 1961 novel, has come to signify a paradoxical situation from which any apparent means of resolution leads inevitably back to the starting point - a “no win” situation. Often people concerned with biodiversity conservation ascribe conservationist ethics to societies with limited technology, subsistence levels of production, and low population densities relative to resources. Conversely, as these societies experience demographic growth, adopt modern technologies, and become increasingly involved in market economy, they come to be regarded as a threat to the ecological sustainability of their environments. This puts these populations in somewhat of a Catch-22. As we know from common property theory, when pressure on a resource is low due to few users, limited procurement technologies, and subsistence production, there is little incentive for the development of coordinated resource use behaviors that characterize conservation. In other words, the conditions under which people are seen as ecologically friendly from this viewpoint are precisely the conditions where we would not expect conservation to develop.
Connecting Discrete Mathematics and Software Engineering

Modern systems are critically dependent on software for their design and operation. The next generation of developers must be facile in the specification, design and implementation of dependable software using rigorous developmental processes. To help prepare this generation we have developed a teaching approach and materials that serve a two-fold purpose: promote an understanding and appreciation of the discrete mathematical structures (DM) that are the foundation of software engineering (SE) theory; and provide motivation and training of modern software development and analysis tools. Our teaching approach and materials form a two-course sequence establishing mastery of important SE areas: DM underlying modern SE theory (e.g., static analysis and proof); formal languages and their use (e.g., software specification languages); application of DM to SE (e.g., composition of theory and application for artifact development); and mathematics for advanced SE engineering needs (e.g., finite state machines and graph theory).
Direct and Indirect Regulation of Spinal Cord Ia Afferent Terminal Formation by the γ-Protocadherins

The Pcdh-γ gene cluster encodes 22 protocadherin adhesion molecules that interact as homophilic multimers and critically regulate synaptogenesis and apoptosis of interneurons in the developing spinal cord. Unlike interneurons, the two primary components of the monosynaptic stretch reflex circuit, dorsal root ganglion sensory neurons and ventral motor neurons, do not undergo excessive apoptosis in Pcdh-γdel/del null mutants, which die shortly after birth. However, as we show here, mutants exhibit severely disorganized Ia proprioceptive afferent terminals in the ventral horn. In contrast to the fine net-like pattern observed in wild-type mice, central Ia terminals in Pcdh-γ mutants are expanded, clumped, and fill the space between individual motor neurons; quantitative analysis shows a ~2.5 fold increase in the area of terminals. Concomitant with this, there is a 70% loss of the collaterals that Ia afferents extend to ventral interneurons, many of which undergo apoptosis in the mutants. The Ia afferent phenotype is ameliorated, though not entirely rescued, when apoptosis is blocked in Pcdh-γ null mice by introduction of a Bax null allele. This indicates that loss of ventral interneurons, which act as intermediate Ia afferent targets, contributes to the disorganization of terminals on motor pools. Restricted mutation of the Pcdh-γ cluster using conditional mutants and multiple Cre transgenic lines (Wnt1-Cre for sensory neurons; Pax2-Cre for ventral interneurons; Hb9-Cre for motor neurons) also revealed a direct requirement for the γ-Pcdhs in Ia neurons and ventral interneurons, but not in motor neurons themselves. Together, these genetic manipulations indicate that the γ-Pcdhs are required for the formation of the Ia afferent circuit in two ways: First, they control the survival of ventral interneurons that act as intermediate Ia targets; and second, they provide a homophilic molecular cue between Ia afferents and target ventral interneurons.
Clinicians Ought to View Anger Contextually

Constructions of the experiential sources of anger, both in ordinary language accounts and in scientific studies, are characterised by a proximity bias. Anger is commonly represented as being due to acute, proximate occurrences. However, anger can be alternatively understood to be a product of contextual conditions, which may involve distal or ambient determinants. The themes of embeddedness, interrelatedness, and transformationality, derived from the contextual perspective of Stokols in environmental psychology, are presented for the understanding of anger as pertinent to clinical concerns and as heuristics for anger management interventions.
Recent Advances in Chemical Modeling of Bacterial Bioluminescence Mechanism

Bacterial luciferase catalyzes the oxidation of FMNH2and a long-chain aliphatic aldehyde by O2to yield FMN, fatty acid, water, and light. The in vitro emission spectrum has a peak near 490 nm and a quantum yield of 0.1-0.2, but both could vary somewhat depending on the bacterial strain from which the luciferase is obtained. The mechanism for this bioluminescent reaction has been the focus of considerable research interests. In this report, our recent studies on the bacterial bioluminescence mechanism will be summarized, with special emphases on a new radical mechanism and the use of chemical models. Some earlier findings from our and other laboratories which are of mechanistic significance will also be briefly discussed.
Personal power-frequency magnetic field exposure in women recruited at an infertility clinic: association with physical activity and temporal variability

Current epidemiologic approaches for studying exposure to power-frequency magnetic fields and the risk of miscarriage are potentially biased due to lack of attention to the relationship of exposure with physical activity and within-individual variability in exposures over time. This analysis examines these two issues using data from a longitudinal pilot study of 40 women recruited from an infertility clinic that contributed data for up to three 24-h periods separated by a median of 3.6 weeks. Physical activity was positively associated with peak exposure metrics. Higher physical activity within environments did not necessarily lead to higher peak exposures, suggesting that movement between and not within environments increases one's probability of encountering a high field source. Peak compared with central tendency metrics were more variable over time. Future epidemiology studies associated with peak exposure metrics should adjust for physical activity and collect more than 1 d of exposure measurement to reduce bias.
Impact of histological chorioamnionitis on tracheal aspirate cytokines in premature infants.

Background Histological chorioamnionitis (CHORIO) may increase inflammatory mediators in the lungs of preterm infants. Objective To study the impact of CHORIO on tracheal aspirate (TA) cytokines in ventilated infants. Design/Methods TA samples collected within 48 hours after birth from 40 ventilated neonates (gestational age [GA] Results Twenty-six infants (GA 26.6 ± 1.4 weeks, BW 852 ± 162 g) had no CHORIO and 14 (GA 25.1 ± 1.0 weeks, BW 776 ± 164 g) had CHORIO. IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-8, and VEGF were significantly higher in TA of infants with CHORIO. After correction for dilution, IL-1α, IL-1β, and IL-8 were significantly elevated. Increased TA total cell count correlated with CHORIO, VEGF, EGF, MCP-1, IL-8, and IL-6 TA levels (all p ≤ 0.02). Ventilator, oxygen supplementation, and hospital days correlated with TA IFN-γ levels (all p ≤ 0.01). Conclusion CHORIO is associated with increased specific proinflammatory mediators in TA samples of preterm infants.
Phosphorus Runoff from Coastal Plain Forest Soil in Louisiana

ABSTRACTAlthough not a common practice, poultry litter (PL) may be used for forest fertilization. Despite usually low soil phosphorus (P) and runoff under forest, repeated or high rates of PL application may cause appreciable P loss. Phosphorus in natural runoff under loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) fertilized with PL, downslope P enrichment of surface soil, and P runoff during simulated rainfall (a) 5 years post-application and (b) where straw was harvested were measured. Relationships of runoff P (dissolved reactive, dissolved, and total) concentration and load to soil P (Bray 2 and water-extractable in two depths) and hydraulic conductivity were examined. Post-application loss of P was lower than reported for pasture. There was little downslope P movement. Runoff P was related to the corresponding form of soil P (R2 = 0.28–0.48) but likely affected by P leached from the O horizon. Loads could be estimated from regressions.
0121 Home Care Worker Ergonomic Hazards

Objectives Home care workers (HCW) are at high risk of musculoskeletal disorders related to consumer care and housekeeping tasks and need of ergonomic interventions (Arlinghaus, et al ., 2013; Baron and Habes, 2004; Hodsonetal et al ., 2010). The goal of this project is to explore HCW experiences and perceptions to document potentially hazardous tasks to inform intervention and policy. Method In 2012 researchers partnered with a labour union (SEIU) representing HCWs to recruit those with at least 3 years of experience with consumers needing moving assistance. Forty six mostly African Americans participated in four focus groups and a validation session. Participants were asked to review a listing of common tasks, describe which tasks resulted in pain, and share tips for injury prevention. Results Themes identified through content analysis of transcripts include: a) Care giving relationship--The approach that HCWs take toward their consumers impacts the consumers’ behaviours and may reduce injury risks, b) Exchanging information--HCWs want to learn about consumer conditions and assistive devices/practices to help mitigate pain and improve mobility and c) Problem solving about devices/practices--HCWs have a stake in introducing devices, educating and negotiating with consumers to impact their movement and care. Conclusions In summary, CHWs have insights into their work and should be supported to 1) identify risky tasks, 2) to document barriers and solutions to implement them, 3) to share resources and 4) to identify training needs. The findings may be explored in labour-management forums in order to create policies and procedures to reduce ergonomic risks to HCWs and their consumers.
Wolbachia in a Predator–Prey System: 16S Ribosomal Dna Analysis of Two Phytoseiids (Acari: Phytoseiidae) and Their Prey (Acari: Tetranychidae)

Using specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers, the 5' region of Wolbachia 16S ribosomal DNA from the predatory mite Metaseiulus occidentalis (Nesbitt) and the twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, was amplified. Because the prey contains Wolbachia , a method to eliminate amplification of transient Wolbachia from the gut contents was necessary. We found that if the otherwise uninfected phytoseiid Amblyseius reductus Wainstein was fed spider mite prey containing Wolbachia , a positive PCR signal was detectable immediately after feeding, but not 4 h later. M. occidentalis remained positive for Wolbachia by the PCR even 48 h after feeding, although a stronger signal was present at 24 h or less. Wolbachia DNA could be amplified from the predator's eggs, suggesting it is transovarially transmitted and a stable symbiont in this predatory mite. All but 1 of the laboratory colonies of M. occidentalis tested were positive for Wolbachia by the PCR, including those from other laboratories. One fresh collection of M. occidentalis and their prey Panonychus ulmi (Koch) were tested immediately and again 5 d after collection from the field, but a positive PCR signal was never detected. A field-collected sample of T. urticae did not test positive for Wolbachia , although a Wolbachia -specific signal was detected in a population of the strawberry spider mite, T. turkestani Ugarov & Nikolski, collected simultaneously from the same field. PCR products from 1 adult female of the Russian Select strain of M. occidentalis , 60 eggs of the COS strain of M. occidentalis , and 1 male T. urticae were directly sequenced. Phylogenetic analyses placed them within the same clade as Wolbachia from insects, clustered together with the type species, Wolbachia pipientis Hertig, from Culex pipiens L. The Wolbachia from these mites was not similar to Wolbachia persica Suiter & Weiss from another acarine, the fowl tick, Argas persicus (Oken). The sequence similarity between the mite and insect Wolbachia provides more evidence for the horizontal transfer of this microorganism between diverse arthropods.
Healthy Physical Activity Levels Below Recommended Thresholds Two Years After Lumbar Spine Surgery.

STUDY DESIGN Prospective analysis. OBJECTIVE To quantify physical activity after lumbar surgery and identify spine-related variables associated with not meeting recommended activity thresholds. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA National guidelines recommend ≥150 minutes/week of moderate-intensity activity; however, only 52% of the general population meets this threshold. For patients not participating in exercise/sports, ≥1400 kcal/week of energy expenditure, including from walking, is another threshold. Potential spine-related variables associated with not meeting these thresholds after lumbar surgery have not been described. METHODS Clinical data were collected pre- and intraoperatively for 422 patients. Patients were contacted 2.2 years postoperatively to measure several patient-reported outcomes, including physical activity with the Paffenbarger Physical Activity and Exercise Index. The Paffenbarger Physical Activity and Exercise Index encompasses blocks walked, stairs climbed, and exercise/sports. Minutes/week of activity and total kcal/week were calculated and compared to recommended thresholds. Spine-related variables associated with not meeting thresholds were assessed in multivariable analyses. RESULTS Mean age was 57 years, 55% were men, 80% had degenerative diagnoses, and 63% had multilevel surgery. Only 35% met ≥1400 kcal/week; in multivariable analysis, not meeting this threshold was associated with revision surgery (OR 0.53, CI 0.30-0.95), surgery at ≥3 levels (OR 0.51, CI 0.31-0.84), and more postoperative back pain (OR 0.38, CI 0.24-0.59) (P <0.05 for all variables). Only 26% met ≥150 minutes/week; in multivariable analysis, not meeting this threshold was associated with degenerative diagnoses (OR 0.53, CI 0.31-0.92), subsequent spine surgery (OR 0.17, CI 0.05-0.58), and more postoperative back pain (OR 0.41, CI 0.25-0.67) (P <0.05 for all variables). All multivariable associations persisted after controlling for demographic characteristics. CONCLUSION Physical activity is below population norms after lumbar surgery and is associated with spine-related variables. Patients with stable spine conditions should be encouraged to engage in prudent physical activity to decrease their risk of long-term adverse health outcomes due to inactivity. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 3.
Immunologic and Tolerogenic Aspects of Amyloid Beta-Peptide: Implications for the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is marked by the progressive accumulation of amyloid beta-peptide (Aβ), which appears to trigger neurotoxic and inflammatory cascades. We investigated microglia as Aβ antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and their interaction with Aβ-reactive T-cells, as a potential cascade in AD pathology. We found that IFN-y-treated microglia were potent Aβ APCs measured by T-cell reactivity to Aβ1–40 and Aβ1–42, the major accumulating peptides. In B6SJL mice transgenic for human APP under the prion promoter, chronic Aβ accumulation in the circulation was associated with immune hyporesponsiveness, apparently due to the lack of T-cell help for antibody production. In preliminary studies in humans, we have identified Aβ-reactive T-cells in peripheral blood lymphocytes with a stronger response seen to Aβ1–42 than to Aβ1–40. Taken together, our results suggest that Aβ-reactive T-cells exist in humans and, depending on genetic background, may expand in response to Aβ deposition in the brain and/or neurodegenerative cascades during aging. Further investigation of these endogenous immune responses to Aβ in humans may determine whether they contribute to, or protect against, AD and also whether they are involved in immunological reactions to Aβ vaccines used to treat AD.
Theoretical guarantees for the design of near globally optimal static distributed controllers

This paper is concerned with the optimal distributed control problem for linear discrete-time deterministic and stochastic systems. The objective is to design a stabilizing static distributed controller whose performance is close to that of the optimal centralized controller (if such controller exists). In our previous work, we have developed a computational framework to transform centralized controllers into distributed ones for deterministic systems. By building on this result, we derive strong theoretical lower bounds on the optimality guarantee of the designed distributed controllers and show that the proposed mathematical framework indirectly maximizes the derived lower bound while striving to achieve a closed-loop stability. Furthermore, we extend the proposed design method to stochastic systems that are subject to input disturbance and measurement noise. The developed optimization problem has a closed-form solution (explicit formula) and can be easily deployed for large-scale systems that require low computational efforts. The proposed approach is tested on a power network and random systems to demonstrate its efficacy.
Barometric constraints based on apatite inclusions in garnet

Compiled volumetric data for fluor-, chlor-, and hydroxyl-apatite has been fitted to a pressure-volume-temperature ( P-V-T ) equation of state for volume calculation at elevated P and T . The regressions were used to assess the potential of apatite inclusions in garnet for thermobarometric applications, according to the pressurization of inclusions resulting from elastic differences between the inclusion and host minerals. Isomeke contours (lines in pressure temperature space, representing permissible entrapment conditions that yield a given inclusion pressure) were calculated and show that apatite inclusions in garnet are a particularly useful barometer, owing to the large differences in the bulk moduli and similar thermal expansivities between apatite and garnet. Heating experiments were conducted on fluorapatite inclusions in andraditic garnets from the Casting Copper skarn, Nevada, to assess the variation in measured inclusion pressure with heating relative to that predicted with isotropic elastic theory. Negligible departures between theoretical and measured pressurization suggests no significant correction is needed for applying room- T inclusion pressure measurements for barometry constraints.
Treatment for presumed BK polyomavirus nephropathy and risk of urinary tract cancers among kidney transplant recipients in the United States.

Recent case series describe detection of BK polyomavirus (BKV) in urinary tract cancers in kidney transplant recipients, suggesting that BKV could contribute to the development of these cancers. We assessed risk for urinary tract cancers in kidney recipients with or without treatment for presumed BKV nephropathy (tBKVN) using data from the United States Transplant Cancer Match Study (2003-2013). Among 55 697 included recipients, 2015 (3.6%) were reported with tBKVN. Relative to the general population, incidence was similarly elevated (approximately 4.5-fold) for kidney cancer in recipients with or without tBKVN, and incidence was not increased in either group for prostate cancer. In contrast, for invasive bladder cancer, incidence was more strongly elevated in recipients with versus without tBKVN (standardized incidence ratios 4.5 vs. 1.7; N = 48 cases), corresponding to an incidence rate ratio (IRR) of 2.9 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.0-8.2), adjusted for sex, age, transplant year, and use of polyclonal antibody induction. As a result, recipients with tBKVN had borderline increased incidence for all urothelial cancers combined (renal pelvis, ureter, and bladder cancers: adjusted IRR 2.2, 95% CI 0.9-5.4; N = 89 cases). Together with reports describing BKV detection in tumor tissues, these results support an association between BKV and urothelial carcinogenesis among kidney transplant recipients.
Parallel Pleistocene amphitropical disjunctions of a parasitic plant and its host.

Premise of the study Aphyllon is a clade of holoparasites that includes closely related North American and South American species parasitic on Grindelia. Both Aphyllon (Orobanchaceae) and Grindelia (Asteraceae) have amphitropical disjunctions between North America and South America; however, the timing of these patterns and the processes to explain them are unknown. Methods Chronograms for the Orobanchaceae and Grindelia and their relatives were constructed using fossil and secondary calibration points, one of which was based on the inferred timing of horizontal gene transfer from a papilionoid legume into the common ancestor of Orobanche and Phelipanche. Elevated rates of molecular evolution in the Orobanchaceae have hindered efforts to determine reliable divergence time estimates in the absence of a fossil record. However, using a horizontal gene transfer event as a secondary calibration overcomes this limitation. These chronograms were used to reconstruct the biogeography of Aphyllon, Grindelia, and relatives using a DEC+J model implemented in RevBayes. Key results Aphyllon had two amphitropical dispersals from North America to South America, while Grindelia had a single dispersal. The dispersal of the Aphyllon lineage that is parasitic on Grindelia (0.40 Ma) took place somewhat after Grindelia began to diversify in South America (0.93 Ma). Using a secondary calibration based on horizontal gene transfer, we infer more recent divergence dates of holoparasitic Orobancheae than previous studies. Conclusions Parallel host-parasite amphitropical disjunctions in Grindelia and Aphyllon illustrate one means by which ecological specialization may result in nonindependent patterns of diversity in distantly related lineages. Although Grindelia and Aphyllon both dispersed to South America recently, Grindelia appears to have diversified more extensively following colonization. More broadly, recent Pleistocene glaciations probably have also contributed to patterns of diversity and biogeography of temperate northern hemisphere Orobancheae. We also demonstrate the utility of using horizontal gene transfer events from well-dated clades to calibrate parasite phylogenies in the absence of a fossil record.
Patterns of relapse for children with localized intracranial ependymoma

We examined patterns of relapse and prognostic factors in children with intracranial ependymoma. Records of 82 children diagnosed with localized intracranial ependymoma were reviewed. 52% first presented to our institution after relapse. Median age at initial diagnosis was 4 years (range 0–18 years). Gender was 55% male. Initial tumor location was infratentorial in 71% and supratentorial in 29%. Histology was WHO Grade II in 32% and Grade III in 68%. As part of definitive management, 99% had surgery, 70% received RT (26% 2D/3D-conformal RT[CRT], 22% intensity-modulated RT [IMRT], 22% proton), and 37% received chemotherapy. Median follow-up was 4.6 years (range 0.2–32.9). Overall, 74% of patients relapsed (50% local, 17% distant, 7% local + distant) at a median 1.5 (range 0.1–17.5) years. Five-year OS and FFS for patients presenting prior to relapse are 70% (95% confidence interval [CI], 50–83%) and 48% (95% CI 30–64%), respectively. On log-rank, superior overall survival (OS) was demonstrated for gross total resection (p = 0.03). Superior failure-free survival (FFS) was demonstrated for age 0.05). On multivariate analysis, age ≤ 5 was independently associated with a lower risk of death and failure versus older patients (p < 0.05). Contrary to previous reports, young age may not be a poor prognostic factor in patients who can tolerate intensive treatment. Future studies examining patients stratified by clinical and molecular attributes are warranted.
Coding and non-coding RNA dysregulation in bipolar disorder

The molecular mechanisms underlying bipolar disorder (BPD) have remained largely unknown. Postmortem brain tissue studies comparing BPD patients with healthy controls have produced a heterogeneous array of potentially implicated protein-coding RNAs. We hypothesized that dysregulation of not only coding, but multiple classes of RNA (coding RNA, long non-coding (lnc) RNA, circular (circ) RNA, and/or alternative splicing) underlie the pathogenesis of BPD. Using non-polyadenylated libraries we performed RNA sequencing in postmortem human medial frontal gyrus tissue from BPD patients and healthy controls. We found twenty genes, some of which not previously implicated in BPD, differentially expressed. PCR validation and replication confirmed the implication of these DE genes. Functional analyses identified enrichment of angiogenesis, vascular system development and histone H3-K4 demethylation. In addition, ten lncRNA transcripts were differentially expressed. Furthermore, we detected an overall increased number of alternative splicing events in BPD, as well as an increase in the number of genes carrying alternative splicing events. Finally, we report altered levels of two circular transcripts, cNEBL and cEPHA3. In conclusion, our non-coding RNA findings demonstrate that RNA dysregulation in BPD is not limited to coding regions, opening avenues for future pharmacological investigations and biomarker research.
Waveform optimization for resonantly driven MEMS switches electrostatically biased near pull-in

Biasing a MEMS switch close to static-pull in reduces the modulation amplitude necessary to achieve resonant pull-in, but results in a highly nonlinear system. In this work, we present a new methodology that captures the essential dynamics and provides a prescription for achieving the optimal drive waveform which reduces the amplitude requirements of the modulation source. These findings are validated both experimentally and through numerical modeling.
A Model for Field Failure Prediction Using Dynamic Environmental Data

Due to the dynamics of the environment and the variability in product usage, product units in the field are usually exposed to varying failure-causing stresses. Some products are equipped with sensors and smart chips that measure and record usage/environmental information over the life of the product. For some products, it is possible to track environmental variables dynamically, even in real time, providing useful information for field-failure prediction. In many applications, predictions are needed for individual units, giving the remaining life of individuals, and for the population, giving the cumulative number of failures at a future time. It is always desirable to obtain more accurate predictions for both the population and the individuals. This paper outlines a model and methods that can be used for field-failure prediction using dynamic environmental data. Multivariate time series models are also used to describe the dynamic covariate information. The cumulative exposure model is used to link the explanatory variables which are recorded as a multivariate time series, and the failure-time model.
Fiduciary-Based Standards for Bailout Contractors: What the Treasury Got Right and Wrong in Tarp

Congress authorized the Treasury Department to use outside entities (contractors and financial agents) to implement the TARP bailout program. Treasury embraced this authority, engaging in the wholesale delegation of the administration of TARP to these outsiders. While outsourcing government work is common, one aspect of Treasury’s outsourcing is not: its imposition of fiduciary-based ethics standards on these outsiders.This Article examines Treasury’s imposition of ethics standards on its contractors and financial agents. It identifies one provision in Treasury’s agreements with these outsiders that until now has escaped scrutiny: the requirement that outsider personnel submit manuscripts relating to their TARP work to Treasury prior to publication, even if the manuscript does not contain any confidential information. This requirement for pre-publication review is unusual outside the intelligence field. This Article recommends that before imposing additional ethics standards on government contractors, the government should examine Treasury’s experience more closely to determine the costs and benefits of imposing such standards.
DPDA: A Differentially Private Double Auction Scheme for Mobile Crowd Sensing

Mobile crowd sensing (MCS) takes advantage of pervasive mobile devices that are equipped with multi-sensors to collect rich data of a certain geographic area. Because of the importance of incentivizing users to participate, auction-based open MCS markets have been proposed in past literature. Note that their focus is to achieve critical economic properties but fail to protect bid privacy. Although there are limited schemes dealing with this issue, they are designed only for single-side auctions and are unsuitable for double-side auctions whose properties are quite different. In this paper, inspired by uniform pricing and ex-ponential mechanism, we propose a differentially private double auction (DPDA) scheme for MCS to protect bid privacy for both auction sides. In addition, the traditional economic properties, such as γ-truthfulness, individual rationality and budget balance, are guaranteed as well. Besides, we derive closed forms over the computation complexity and the approximate optimal platform revenue achieved by the scheme. Extensive simulations have been conducted on real-world datasets to validate the efficiency and effectiveness of DPDA.
Design of a parallel cluster-randomized trial assessing the impact of a demand-side sanitation and hygiene intervention on sustained behavior change and mental well-being in rural and peri-urban Amhara, Ethiopia: Andilaye study protocol

Unimproved water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) behaviors are key drivers of infectious disease transmission and influencers of mental well-being. While WASH is seen as a critical enabler of health, important knowledge gaps related to the content and delivery of effective, holistic WASH programming exist. Corresponding impacts of WASH on mental well-being are also underexplored. There is a need for more robust implementation research that yields information regarding whether and how community-based, demand-side interventions facilitate progressive and sustained adoption of improved sanitation and hygiene behaviors and downstream health impacts. The purpose of this protocol is to detail the rationale and design of a cluster-randomized trial evaluating the impact of a demand-side sanitation and hygiene intervention on sustained behavior change and mental well-being in rural and peri-urban Amhara, Ethiopia. Together with partners, we developed a theoretically-informed, evidence-based behavioral intervention called Andilaye. We randomly selected and assigned 50 sub-districts (kebeles) from three purposively selected districts (woredas); half to receive the Andilaye intervention, and half the standard of care sanitation and hygiene programming (i.e., community-led total sanitation and hygiene [CLTSH]). During baseline, midline, and endline, we will collect data on an array of behavioral factors, potential moderators (e.g., water and sanitation insecurity, collective efficacy), and our primary study outcomes: sanitation and hygiene behaviors and mental well-being. We will perform a process evaluation to assess intervention fidelity and related attributes. While CLTSH has fostered sanitation and hygiene improvements in Ethiopia, evidence of behavioral slippage, or regression to unimproved practices in communities previously declared open defecation free exists. Other limitations of CLTSH, such as its focus on disgust, poor triggering, and over-saturation of Health Extension Workers have been documented. We employed rigorous formative research and practically applied social and behavioral theory to develop Andilaye, a scalable intervention designed to address these issues and complement existing service delivery within Ethiopia’s Health Extension Program. Evidence from this trial may help address knowledge gaps related to scalable alternatives to CLTSH and inform sanitation and hygiene programming and policy in Ethiopia and beyond. This trial was registered with clinicaltrials.gov ( NCT03075436 ) on March 9, 2017.
Medications Development for Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder

This review describes methods for preclinical evaluation of candidate medications to treat opioid use disorder (OUD). The review is founded on the propositions that (1) drug self-administration procedures provide the most direct method for assessment of medication effectiveness, (2) procedures that assess choice between opioid and nondrug reinforcers are especially useful, and (3) states of opioid dependence and withdrawal profoundly influence both opioid reinforcement and effects of candidate medications. Effects of opioid medications and vaccines on opioid choice in nondependent and opioid-dependent subjects are reviewed. Various nonopioid medications have also been examined, but none yet have been identified that safely and reliably reduce opioid choice. Future research will focus on (1) strategies for increasing safety and/or effectiveness of opioid medications (e.g., G-protein-biased μ-opioid agonists), and (2) continued development of nonopioid medications (e.g., clonidine) that might serve as adjunctive agents to current opioid medications.
Patterns of polyp histology: predictors of peril in the mucosa

Background Precursor colonic polyps of varied subtypes correlate with the known neoplastic pathways. When patients present with synchronous pre-malignant polyps of multiple histologies, multiple genetic mechanisms are likely to be active, potentially resulting in a more unstable, tumourigenic mucosa. Methods We hypothesized that patients with a combination of sessile serrated adenomas/polyps (SSA/Ps), hyperplastic (HP) polyps and adenomas would be at highest risk of developing dysplasia/cancer compared to SSA/Ps alone, due to the synergistic effect of multiple active carcinogenic pathways. A prospective colonoscopy database was examined for patients with a history of SSA/P. Patients were placed into four groups based on patterns of polyp histology as follows: (i) only SSA/Ps; (ii) SSA/P + HP; (iii) SSA/Ps + adenomas; and (iv) SSA/Ps + HP + adenomas. These groups were compared in terms of the numbers, size, location and histology of polyps and personal or family history of colorectal cancer. Results A total of 374 patients were included. The average age was 70 years (range 21-88), and 43% were male. There was a trend towards the most aggressive neoplastic pattern in group 4, associated with a tendency to larger SSA/Ps, more villous architecture in the adenomas and more high-grade dysplasia in both types of polyps. It was also associated with multiplicity of both SSA/Ps and adenomas. No SSA/Ps existing in the absence of adenomas had cytological dysplasia. Conclusion The combination of SSA/Ps, HP and adenomas in the colorectal epithelium seems to be a marker for aggressive carcinogenesis and suggests that accurate and effective surveillance is important to manage this risk.
Isotope Shift in the Muonic K X Rays of O 16 -O 18 , Ca 40 -Ca 44 , Sn 116 -Sn 124 , and Gd 155 -Gd 160

Measurements have been made of the isotope shift in the muonic $K$ x rays for the pairs of isotopes ${\mathrm{O}}^{16}$-${\mathrm{O}}^{18}$, ${\mathrm{Ca}}^{40}$-${\mathrm{Ca}}^{44}$, ${\mathrm{Sn}}^{116}$-${\mathrm{Sn}}^{124}$, and ${\mathrm{Gd}}^{155}$-${\mathrm{Gd}}^{160}$. The measurements were limited in resolution by the conventional NaI detectors used: no fine or hyperfine structure was resolved. The results confirm the indications from optical isotope-shift measurements that the expansion in charge distribution of a nucleus on addition of neutrons is less than the expansion in the density distribution, and indicate that this trend is even more marked in the light nuclei examined.
Passive Cavitation Mapping by Cavitation Source Localization From Aperture-Domain Signals—Part II: Phantom and In Vivo Experiments

Passive cavitation mapping (PCM) techniques typically utilize a time-exposure acoustic (TEA) approach, where the received radio frequency data are beamformed, squared, and integrated over time. Such PCM-TEA cavitation maps typically suffer from long-tail artifacts and poor axial resolution with pulse–echo diagnostic arrays. Here, we utilize a recently developed PCM technique based on cavitation source localization (CSL), which fits a hyperbolic function to the received cavitation wavefront. A filtering method based on the root-mean-square error (rmse) of the hyperbolic fit is utilized to filter out spurious signals. We apply a wavefront correction technique to the signals with poor fit quality to recover additional cavitation signals and improve cavitation localization. Validation of the PCM-CSL technique with rmse filtering and wavefront correction was conducted in experiments with a tissue-mimicking flow phantom and an in vivo mouse model of cancer. It is shown that the quality of the hyperbolic fit, necessary for the PCM-CSL, requires an rmse In vivo cavitation experiments showed that PMC-CSL showed a significant improvement over PCM-TEA and yielded acceptable localization of cavitation signals in mice.
Evolution of Lyman Break Galaxies Beyond Redshift Four

The formation rate of luminous galaxies seems to be roughly constant from z~2 to z~4 from the recent observations of Lyman break galaxies (LBGs) (Steidel et al 1999). The abundance of luminous quasars, on the other hand, appears to drop off by a factor of more than twenty from z~2 to z~5 (Warren, Hewett, & Osmer 1994; Schmidt, Schneider, & Gunn 1995). The difference in evolution between these two classes of objects in the overlapping, observed redshift range, z=2-4, can be explained naturally, if we assume that quasar activity is triggered by mergers of luminous LBGs and one quasar lifetime is ~10^{7-8} yrs. If this merger scenario holds at higher redshift, for the evolutions of these two classes of objects to be consistent at z>4, the formation rate of luminous LBGs is expected to drop off at least as rapidly as exp(-(z-4)^{6/5}) at z>4.
Pembrolizumab Induced Acute Persistent Airway Disease in a Patient with Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis (RRP).

Objective To present an uncommon but serious, recently identified complication of checkpoint inhibitor therapy in a patient treated with pembrolizumab infusion for disseminated recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP). Methods Case report. Results A 43-year-old woman with underlying asthma developed acute hypoxic respiratory failure within 24 hours of her third infusion of pembrolizumab for treatment of intractable, disseminated recurrent respiratory papillomatosis. Pulmonary function testing revealed a severe intra-thoracic obstructive ventilatory defect. Discontinuation of pembrolizumab, ventilatory support, and treatment with systemic and inhaled corticosteroids resulted in resolution of respiratory failure; however, her underlying asthma remains poorly controlled. Conclusion To our knowledge, this case is the first report of pembrolizumab-induced obstructive respiratory failure in a patient being treated for RRP.
Doublet (FOLFOX or FOLFIRI) versus triplet (FOLFOXIRI) backbone chemotherapy regimen as first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer: A meta-analysis and systematic review.

3593Background: Doublet chemotherapy FOLFOX and FOLFIRI are standard for first‐line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Recently, use of triplet chemotherapy FOLFOXIRI has shown an in...
Child-Robot Interaction to Integrate Reflective Storytelling Into Creative Play

When young children create, they are exploring their emerging skills. And when young children reflect, they are transforming their learning experiences. Yet early childhood play environments often lack toys and tools to scaffold reflection. In this work, we design a stuffed animal robot to converse with young children and prompt creative reflection through open-ended storytelling. We also contribute six design goals for child-robot interaction design. In a hybrid Wizard of Oz study, 33 children ages 4-5 years old across 10 U.S. states engaged in creative play then conversed with a stuffed animal robot to tell a story about their creation. By analyzing children’s story transcripts, we discover four approaches that young children use when responding to the robot’s reflective prompting: Imaginative, Narrative Recall, Process-Oriented, and Descriptive Labeling. Across these approaches, we find that open-ended child-robot interaction can integrate personally meaningful reflective storytelling into diverse creative play practices.
Confronting (de)humanizing remote teaching practices

This colloquium discusses the critical need to reimagine human connections in the context of remote instruction necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Educators should envisage humanizing and carin...
TRAK adaptors coordinate the recruitment and activation of dynein and kinesin to control mitochondrial transport

Abstract In neurons, mitochondria are transported to distal regions for supplying energy and buffer Ca2+. Mitochondrial transport is mediated by Miro and TRAK adaptors that recruit kinesin and dynein-dynactin. To understand how mitochondria are transported by these opposing motors and stalled at regions with elevated Ca2+, we reconstituted the mitochondrial transport machinery in vitro. We show that the coiled-coil domain of TRAK activates dynein-dynactin motility, but kinesin requires an additional factor to efficiently transport Miro/TRAK. Unexpectedly, TRAK adaptors that recruit both motors move towards kinesin’s direction, whereas kinesin is excluded from binding TRAK transported by dynein-dynactin. The assembly and motility of the transport machinery are not affected by Ca2+. Instead, the mitochondrial docking protein syntaphilin is sufficient to oppose the forces generated by kinesin and stall the motility. Our results provide mechanistic insight into how mitochondria are transported by the coordinated action of motors and statically anchored to regions with high neuronal activity.