cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The association between postdiagnosis dietary supplement use and total mortality differs by diet quality among older female cancer survivors.

Background: Dietary supplements are widely used by cancer survivors. However, health effects among older cancer survivors are unclear. Methods: We used the Iowa Women's Health Study, a prospective cohort study with 2,118 postmenopausal women with a confirmed cancer diagnosis (1986–2002), to evaluate the association between postdiagnosis dietary supplement use assessed in 2004 and subsequent all-cause mortality. Risk of death was evaluated using multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression. We performed stratified analyses by diet quality score, dietary micronutrient intake, and perceived general health. Results: Through 2010, 608 deaths were identified. Approximately 85% of the cancer survivors used dietary supplements. Overall supplement use and multivitamin use were not associated with mortality. Iron supplement use was associated with 39% higher risk of death [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.09–1.77]. This association was stronger among survivors with deteriorating general health. Folic acid supplement use was associated with higher risk of death, only among survivors reporting low-quality diets (HR, 2.33; 95% CI, 1.33–4.08; P interaction = 0.006). Multivitamin use and using a greater number of supplements was associated with a trend towards higher mortality only among those with poor diet quality. Using vitamin E supplements in combination with multivitamin was associated with lower risk of death only among survivors with higher dietary vitamin E intake (HR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.39–0.94; P interaction = 0.02). Conclusions: Postdiagnosis supplement use was associated with higher mortality among older female cancer survivors with poor general health and/or poor dietary intake. Impact: The association between postdiagnosis dietary supplement use and mortality may differ by diet quality and health status among older female cancer survivors. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 23(5); 865–75. ©2014 AACR .
Choice and Infinitesimals

Project # 39.9.1. The idea behind the proof is fairly simple, though the proof is not. Suppose we are given set X to well-order. Choose an element of X. Call that al, the first element of X. Next, choose another element of X. Call that a2, the second element of X. Keep going until all elements of X have been ordered.
Bone mass density in adults with sickle cell disease

Summary Sickle cell disease (SCD) leads to many complications including osteoporosis and osteopenia. We studied the prevalence and predisposing factors of low bone mass density (BMD) in adults with SCD. In this retrospective study, dual X-ray absorptiometry bone scans were used to determine BMD in the lumbar spine, femoral neck and ultra distal radius of 103 patients (73 females, 30 males, aged 15‐80 years). Chart reviews and a patient questionnaire were used to collect patient characteristics, disease course and severity, and low BMD risk factors. The 79AE6% of patients (mean age 36AE 5±1 2AE5 years) had an abnormal BMD, with a predilection for the lumbar spine (P ¼ 0AE001). Analysis by 3 (low BMD versus very low BMD versus normal) or by 2 groups (abnormal versus normal) showed that abnormal BMD was associated with lower body mass index (BMI) (P ¼ 0AE003), lower Hb level (P ¼ 0AE001) and higher ferritin (P ¼ 0AE003). Low BMD patients were more likely to be SS, SC or Sb 0 thal than Sb + thal (P ¼ 0AE022). Abnormal BMD was not related to age, sex, menarche, SCD complications, number of crises, iron overload, treatment with hydroxycarbamide or desferal, renal disease, smoking or alcohol. Patients treated with hydroxycarbamide for at least 6 months were more likely to have an abnormal BMD. In this SCD population, abnormal BMD seemed to be independent of sex, age and menopause, whereas BMI, ferritin level, Hb type and level appeared to play a major role.
Imaging of earthquake sources

Elastic waves, produced by temporally and spatially finite fault ruptures during earthquakes, propagate through the Earth. Recordings of these waves at the Earth's surface provide the data for reconstruction of the source properties, including location, spatial and temporal extents, and rupture velocities. A 2D finite-difference solution of the elastic wave equation is used to numerically extrapolate synthetic observations backward in time to create images of the energy release during an earthquake.
Coherent photonic processing of microwave signals using spatial light modulators: programmable amplitude filters

This paper presents a novel coherent optical signal processing approach for synthesis of programmable microwave amplitude filters over an ultrawideband. The authors' scheme relies on a programmable hyperfine optical filter implemented in a pulse-shaping geometry, which provides arbitrary, user-defined amplitude-filtering functions over a 50-GHz bandwidth with resolution better than 0.7 GHz. In contrast to previous work on discrete time optical processing of microwave signals, their approach allows direct synthesis of microwave filter functions in spectral domain without computing filter coefficients, which is needed for a discrete-time-domain approach.
Effect of emitter contact materials on high-performance vertical p-n-p transistors

Ion-implant doped polysilicon, in situ doped polysilicon, and in situ doped ultrahigh vacuum chemical vapor deposition (UHV/CVD) low-temperature epitaxial silicon emitter contacts were used to fabricate shallow junction vertical p-n-p transistors. The effect of these materials on emitter junction depth and on device characteristics is reported. A DC current gain as high as 45 was measured on polysilicon emitter devices. Regardless of emitter contact material, all devices showed sufficiently high breakdown voltages for circuit applications. However, only for ion-implant doped polysilicon emitter devices was the narrow-emitter effect observed through the emitter-collector punchthrough voltage, emitter resistance, and current gain measurements. >
Cannabinoids excite dopamine neurons in the ventral tegmentum and substantia nigra

Extracellular recordings were used to determine the effects of cannabinoids on the activity of dopamine neurons within the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and substantia nigra pars compacta (SNC). Systemic administration of the natural psychoactive cannabinoid delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta 9-THC) and the synthetic cannabimimetic aminoalkylindole WIN 55,212-2 produced dose-dependent increases in firing rate and burst firing in both neuronal populations. These effects appear to be specific as the non-psychoactive cannabidiol and the inactive enantiomer WIN 55,212-3 failed to alter either parameter of neuronal excitability. Furthermore, dopamine neurons in the VTA were more sensitive than those in the SNC to the stimulatory actions of delta 9-THC. These results may provide a mechanism by which psychoactive cannabinoids increase extracellular dopamine levels in mesolimbic and striatal tissues, and thereby contribute to the reinforcing effects of marijuana.
CHARACTERISTICS OF SWIFT FOX DENS IN NORTHWEST TEXAS

Abstract The swift fox (Vulpes velox) was classified in 1995 as a candidate for listing under the Endangered Species Act. Since then, several studies have addressed survey methods for monitoring swift fox populations. The purpose of this paper is to assist field researchers in documenting the presence of swift foxes by identification of recently active den sites. We propose that swift foxes have unique external den characteristics that can be distinguished during aerial surveys. We collected data from 30 swift fox den complexes on both continuous rangeland and landscapes fragmented by cropland in northwest Texas. There were no differences in den characteristics between landscape types (P > 0.10). The number of openings per den ranged from 1 to 8 and had an average opening height of 20 cm. As number of openings increased, the maximum distance between openings also increased (r = 0.88, P < 0.001). One of the most distinguishing characteristics of swift fox dens was their dirt tailing. Of 74 den openings exa...
Compact bends for multi-mode photonic crystal waveguides with high transmission and suppressed modal crosstalk

We demonstrate an extremely compact bend for a photonic crystal waveguide supporting three spatial modes. The bend exhibits nearly 100% transmission over a relative bandwidth of 1% with less than 1% crosstalk. We show that our design is robust with respect to fabrication errors. Our design method is applied to create a structure consisting of dielectric rods, as well as a structure consisting of air holes in a dielectric background.
Re-Identification of the Many-World Background of Special Relativity as Four-World Background. Part II

The re-identification of the many-world background of the special theory of relativity (SR) as four-world background in the first part of this paper (instead of two-wold background isolated in the initial papers), is concluded in this second part. The flat two-dimensional proper intrinsic spacetime, which underlies the flat four-dimensional proper spacetime in each universe, introduced as ansatz in the initial paper, is derived formally within the four-world picture. The identical magnitudes of masses, identical sizes and identical shapes of the four members of every quartet of symmetry-partner particles or objects in the four universes are shown. The immutability of Lorentz invariance on flat spacetime of SR in each of the four universes is shown to arise as a consequence of the perfect symmetry of relative motion at all times among the four members of every quartet of symmetry-partner particles and objects in the four universes. The The perfect symmetry of relative motions at all times, coupled with the identical magnitudes of masses, identical sizes and identical shapes, of the members of every quartet of symmetry-partner particles and objects in the four universes, guarantee perfect symmetry of state among the universes.
Modulare Fabrikstrukturen in der Automobilproduktion

Der Wettbewerb in der Automobilindustrie wird zunehmend anspruchsvoller. Die Anforderungen an die Fahrzeughersteller haben sich grundlegend geandert. Konnten die Automobilproduzenten bisher dem Markt die Produkte diktieren, so ist heute der Kunde der bestimmende Faktor. Diese, im Prinzip triviale Feststellung, hat jedoch revolutionare Auswirkungen auf die gesamte Prozeskette und die Unternehmenskultur. Um erfolgreich im Wettbewerb zu bestehen, mus das Kunden-Lieferanten-Prinzip durchgangig entlang der Prozeskette umgesetzt werden. Dies last sich durch eine Strukturierung des Unternehmens in eigenstandige, sich selbst organisierende und optimierende Unternehmenseinheiten realisieren. Ein Baustein dieser ganzheitlichen Betrachtung ist die modulare Fabrikstruktur. Im folgenden Beitrag werden Losungsansatze und Praxisbeispiele aufgezeigt.
Self-assembly of polyoxometalates, Pt nanoparticles and metal–organic frameworks into a hybrid material for synergistic hydrogen evolution

A polyoxometalate (POM), Pt nanoparticles (NPs) and a metal–organic framework (MOF, NH2-MIL-53) self-assemble into a hybrid material, PNPMOF, that displays synergistic activity for visible-light-driven catalytic hydrogen evolution (the PNPMOF is far more active than any of the three functional components alone). The POM has four targeted functions in this hybrid material: it reduces H2PtCl6 to Pt NPs, stabilizes the Pt NPs, induces a strong electrostatic association of the negatively charged Pt NPs with the protonated NH2-MIL-53 sites on the particle surfaces, and facilitates the catalytic reduction reaction itself. The NH2-MIL-53 in this work protects the light sensitive 2-aminoterephthalate groups in the pores from oxidation by the POMs, while the surface protonated NH2 units on the MOF particle surfaces strongly bind the negatively charged POM-stabilized Pt NPs.
DieTalgdrüse als Transporter für Vitamin E

Human sebum is produced by sebaceous glands and reaches the skin surface via secretion through the hair shaft. There is experimental evidence that the sebaceous glands and sebum serve as a transport mechanism taking the lipophilic antioxidant vitamin E from the blood to the skin surface. The highest levels of vitamin E are found in the sebum and in the skin lipid film in sebum-rich areas such as facial skin. Recent studies indicate that daily oral supplementation of moderate doses of alpha-tocopherol for at least 3 weeks leads to significant increases of vitamin E levels in human skin sites with a high density of sebaceous glands, such as the face. Thus, the potential photoprotective and antioxidants effects of oral vitamin E, as well as possibly other antioxidants, are site-dependent. These findings should be considered when designing clinical studies to assess the efficacy of oral antioxidants against oxidative stress in the skin.
Gene coexpression modules in human cognition

Analysis of human hippocampus identifies two modules of coexpressed genes that are conserved throughout the human cortex and in mouse hippocampi. These modules are enriched for genetic variants associated with both cognitive phenotypes and neuropsychiatric disorders.
Business Model Design

A business model creates, delivers, monetizes, and sustains customer value. The more efficient and sustainable the business model, the lower is the uncertainty of the cash flow and the greater is the venture valuation. The greater the customer, supplier, and strategic partner lock-in, the more sustainable is the business model design. In this chapter, a framework is provided to configure the value chain and supply chain configuration to meet the customer demand efficiently and effectively. Activity-based costing may be employed to analyze and estimate the cost structure and identify the cost drivers. The five-force analysis can be used to identify the critical success factors that a startup may consider when configuring the value chain. The more indirect and sustained the attack on the competitors, the more effective is the startup’s go-to-market strategy. Several revenue models and their implementation challenges are examined. In a sustained business model, the gross margin on a product must exceed twice the ratio of the customer acquisition cost to the customer lifetime value. A business model design with a high gross margin and high operating leverage is more investable. The customer share measure can assess the effectiveness of the customer engagement strategy.
Molecular Dissection of Seedling Salinity Tolerance in Rice ( Oryza sativa L .) Using a High-Density GBS-Based SNP Linkage Map

Salinity is one of the many abiotic stresses limiting rice production worldwide. Several studies were conducted to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for traits associated to salinity tolerance. However, due to large confidence interval for the position of QTLs, utility of reported QTLs and the associated markers has been limited in rice breeding programs. The main objective of this study is to construct a high-density rice genetic map for identification QTLs and candidate genes for salinity tolerance at seedling stage. We evaluated a population of 187 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) developed from a cross between Bengal and Pokkali for nine traits related to salinity tolerance. A total of 9303 SNP markers generated by genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) were mapped to 2817 recombination points. The genetic map had a total map length of 1650 cM with an average resolution of 0.59 cM between markers. For nine traits, a total of 85 additive QTLs were identified, of which, 16 were large-effect QTLs and the rest were small-effect QTLs. The average interval size of QTL was about 132 kilo base pairs (Kb). Eleven of the 85 additive QTLs validated 14 reported QTLs for shoot potassium concentration, sodium-potassium ratio, salt injury score, plant height, and shoot dry weight. Epistatic QTL mapping identified several pairs of QTLs that significantly contributed to the variation of traits. The QTL for high shoot K+ concentration was mapped near the qSKC1 region. However, candidate genes within the QTL interval were a CC-NBS-LRR protein, three uncharacterized genes, and transposable elements. Additionally, many QTLs flanked small chromosomal intervals containing few candidate genes. Annotation of the genes located within QTL intervals indicated that ion transporters, osmotic regulators, transcription factors, and protein kinases may play essential role in various salt tolerance mechanisms. The saturation of SNP markers in our linkage map increased the resolution of QTL mapping. Our study offers new insights on salinity tolerance and presents useful candidate genes that will help in marker-assisted gene pyramiding to develop salt tolerant rice varieties.
Proton: A visuo-haptic data acquisition system for robotic learning of surface properties

Autonomous robots need to efficiently walk over varied surfaces and grasp diverse objects. We hypothesize that the association between how such surfaces look and how they physically react during contact can be learned from a database of matched haptic and visual data recorded from various end-effectors' interactions with thousands of real-world surfaces, such as wood flooring, upholstered fabric, asphalt, grass, and anodized aluminum. As the first step in this effort, we detail the design and construction of the Proton, a multimodal data acquisition system that a human operator can use to gather the envisioned data set. Its sensory modalities include RGBD vision, ego motion, contact force, and contact vibration. Three interchangeable end-effectors (a SynTouch BioTac artificial fingertip, an OptoForce three-axis force sensor, and a steel tooling ball) allow for different material properties at the contact point and provide additional tactile data. This sensor suite emulates the capabilities of the human senses of vision and touch, with the goal of learning surface classification methods that are robust over different sensory modalities. We detail the calibration process for the motion and force sensing systems, as well as a proof-of-concept surface discrimination experiment using the tooling ball end-effector and a Vicon motion tracker. A multi-class SVM trained on the collected force and vibration data achieved 82.5% classification accuracy among five sample surfaces.
Estradiol modulates the anorexic response to central glucagon-like peptide 1.

Estrogens suppress feeding in part by enhancing the response to satiation signals. Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) acts on receptor populations both peripherally and centrally to affect food intake. We hypothesized that modulation of the central GLP-1 system is one of the mechanisms underlying the effects of estrogens on feeding. We assessed the anorexic effect of 0, 1, and 10 μg doses of GLP-1 administered into the lateral ventricle of bilaterally ovariectomized (OVX) female rats on a cyclic regimen of either 2 μg β-estradiol-3-benzoate (EB) or oil vehicle 30 min prior to dark onset on the day following hormone treatment. Central GLP-1 treatment significantly suppressed food intake in EB-treated rats at both doses compared to vehicle, whereas only the 10 μg GLP-1 dose was effective in oil-treated rats. To follow up, we examined whether physiologic-dose cyclic estradiol treatment influences GLP-1-induced c-Fos in feeding-relevant brain areas of OVX females. GLP-1 significantly increased c-Fos expression in the area postrema (AP) and nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS), and the presence of estrogens may be required for this effect in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN). Together, these data suggest that modulation of the central GLP-1 system may be one of the mechanisms by which estrogens suppress food intake, and highlight the PVN as a region of interest for future investigation.
Athermalization and achromatization of visible/SWIR optics using instantaneous Abbe number

An update to the classic γν-ν diagram is being proposed, which utilizes instantaneous Abbe number and peak wavelength. This update allows for better glass selection in the Visible/SWIR band for joint athermalization and achromatization.
“Hey Dad, I just wanna say hello”: Digital Leisure among Nonresident Fathers

Geographical separation of nonresident fathers from their children creates multiple constraints to their involvement with their children. Many interactions nonresident parents in the United States have with their children occur in a leisure context. Therefore, mobile technology and digital leisure may mitigate limitations associated with fathers’ nonresidency. This study presents findings from eight interviews with African-American and Caucasian nonresident fathers about the use of digital leisure in their fathering. Findings from this study suggest that nonresident fathers both dislike and appreciate use of mobile technology by their children. Moreover, digital leisure and mobile technology represent a part of their generative fathering practices, and appear to have some symbolic meaning in their construction of fatherhood. We further discuss these findings in the context of social justice issues associated with fathering.
Short communication: Rational hodographs

An equation for the hodograph control points for a rational degree n Bezier curve is derived. If, for a rational Bezier curve with positive weights, all weights are set to one, then the hodograph for this integral Bezier curve will bound the tangent directions of the rational curve.
Early Childhood Parenting Predicts Late Childhood Brain Functional Connectivity During Emotion Perception and Reward Processing.

Seventy-nine 3-year olds and their mothers participated in a laboratory-based task to assess maternal hostility. Mothers also reported their behavioral regulation of their child. Seven years later, functional magnetic resonance imaging data were acquired while viewing emotional faces and completing a reward processing task. Maternal hostility predicted more negative amygdala connectivity during exposure to sad relative to neutral faces with frontal and parietal regions as well as more negative left ventral striatal connectivity during monetary gain relative to loss feedback with the right posterior orbital frontal cortex and right inferior frontal gyrus. In contrast, maternal regulation predicted enhanced cingulo-frontal connectivity during monetary gain relative to loss feedback. Results suggest parenting is associated with alterations in emotion and reward processing circuitry 7-8 years later. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Harnessing the Temporal Dimension to Improve Object-Based Image Analysis Classification of Wetlands

Research related to object-based image analysis has typically relied on data inputs that provide information on the spectral and spatial characteristics of objects, but the temporal domain is far less explored. For some objects, which are spectrally similar to other landscape features, their temporal pattern may be their sole defining characteristic. When multiple images are used in object-based image analysis, it is often constrained to a specific number of images which are selected because they cover the perceived range of temporal variability of the features of interest. Here, we provide a method to identify wetlands using a time series of Landsat imagery by building a Random Forest model using each image observation as an explanatory variable. We tested our approach in Douglas County, Washington, USA. Our approach exploiting the temporal domain classified wetlands with a high level of accuracy and reduced the number of spectrally similar false positives. We explored how sampling design (i.e., random, stratified, purposive) and temporal resolution (i.e., number of image observations) affected classification accuracy. We found that sampling design introduced bias in different ways, but did not have a substantial impact on overall accuracy. We also found that a higher number of image observations up to a point improved classification accuracy dependent on the selection of images used in the model. While time series analysis has been part of pixel-based remote sensing for many decades, with improved computer processing and increased availability of time series datasets (e.g., Landsat archive), it is now much easier to incorporate time series into object-based image analysis classification.
Heterogeneity of Ly6G + Ly6C + Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cell Infiltrates during Staphylococcus aureus Biofilm Infection.

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are a heterogeneous population of immature monocytes and granulocytes. While neutrophils (polymorphonuclear leukocytes [PMNs]) are classically identified as highly differentiated cells specialized for antimicrobial defense, our laboratory has reported minor contributions of PMNs to the immune response during Staphylococcus aureus biofilm infection. However, these two cell types can be difficult to differentiate because of shared surface marker expression. Here we describe a more refined approach to distinguish MDSCs from PMNs utilizing the integrin receptor CD11b combined with conventional Ly6G and Ly6C expression. This approach separated the Ly6G+ Ly6C+ population that we previously identified in a mouse model of S. aureus orthopedic implant infection into two subsets, namely, CD11bhigh Ly6G+ Ly6C+ MDSCs and CD11blow Ly6G+ Ly6C+ PMNs, which was confirmed by characteristic nuclear morphology using cytospins. CD11bhigh Ly6G+ Ly6C+ MDSCs suppressed T cell proliferation throughout the 28-day infection period, whereas CD11blow Ly6G+ Ly6C+ PMNs had no effect early (day 3 postinfection), although this population acquired suppressive activity at later stages of biofilm development. To further highlight the distinctions between biofilm-associated MDSCs and PMNs versus monocytes, transcriptional profiles were compared by transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq). A total of 6,466 genes were significantly differentially expressed in MDSCs versus monocytes, whereas only 297 genes were significantly different between MDSCs and PMNs. A number of genes implicated in cell cycle regulation were identified, and in vivo ethynyldeoxyuridine (EdU) labeling revealed that approximately 50% of MDSCs proliferated locally at the site of S. aureus biofilm infection. Based on their similar transcriptomic profiles to those of PMNs, biofilm-associated MDSCs are of a granulocytic lineage and can be classified as granulocytic MDSCs (G-MDSCs).
Using Ada for industrial embedded microprocessor applications, II

In [1], we illustrated how Ada could be used to separate the high level logical operations of an embedded control program from the low level details of how to access the various physical devices controlled by the program. We further illustrated how this information hiding could be achieved without loss of storage or run-time efficiency. In this paper, we continue our investigation by illustrating how one can use the exception handling facility of Ada to separate the normal operation of a control program from the handling of exceptional conditions. The goals are (1) to be able to view the normal flow of control and the error recovery separately, without having to embed one in the other, (2) after recovering from an error, to be able to restart or continue operation of the system, and (3) to accomplish goals 1 and 2 without loss of efficiency.The third goal is particularly important, since many real-time control applications are characterized by the use of minimal hardware. While such programs do not use the full power of the Ada language, it is important that one be able to compile highly optimized code for those features that are used.Our discussion centers around a typical application in factory automation - a control program for an industrial trolley. While this is not one of our intended applications, it includes many characteristics of actual applications.
Delegation or Dereliction? When Governments Assign Too Many Defense Posts to Military Officials

Sometimes democratic political leaders voluntarily cede the armed forces too much authority, assigning them positions that should have gone to civilians. The over-delegation of posts to soldiers ca...
Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Mutations Blocking Differentiation Lead to Distinct Leukemic Subtypes

A 70-year-old African-American male presented to the emergency room for 1 month of fatigue, progressive dyspnea on exertion, and easy bruising. He endorsed a past medical history significant for insulin-dependent diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and nonischemic cardiomyopathy. He denied a family history of malignancy and noted he was a retired army mechanic with prior exposure to Agent Orange. At triage, his vital signs were within normal limits. His physical exam revealed pale mucous membranes, a normal cardiopulmonary exam, no hepatosplenomegaly, and trace peripheral edema. A complete blood count showed leukocytosis of 26,450 cells/μL comprised of 2.1% neutrophils, 11.8% lymphocytes, and 86.1% blasts. He had a normocytic anemia with hemoglobin 9.3 g/dL and thrombocytopenia of 18,000 platelets/μL. Coagulation studies identified an elevated international normalized ratio (INR) of 1.6 (normal ≤1.1) and prothrombin time of 17.1 s (normal 8.9–11.4 s) and a decreased fibrinogen of 106 mg/dL (normal 217–420 mg/dL). A peripheral blood smear presented numerous circulating immature myeloid cells intermediate in size with scant cytoplasm, azurophilic granules, and folded nuclei (Fig. 15.1).
Mechanical Performance of Transverse Flux Machines

This research examines the structural and vibrational characteristics of double-sided flux-concentrating transverse flux machines (TFMs), designed for direct-drive application. Two prototypes of TFM with different stator cores, one with Quasi U-Core and the other with E-Core, have been used for this study. Three-dimensional finite element analysis has been carried out to determine the no-load and with-load performances of the TFMs along with their fluctuating axial electromagnetic force densities acting on the stator teeth. The deformation response of the stator cores was observed in the static structural analysis. Acceleration and noise measurements were experimentally obtained to characterize the vibrational performance of the prototypes.
Use of the facelift incision for excision of non-tuberculous mycobacterial lymphadenitis in children.

Abstract Objectives To present cases of pediatric periparotid nontuberculous mycobacterial lymphadenitis excised through a facelift incision in order to review the advantages of this approach to parotidectomy. We also aim to discuss scenarios in which to forgo the facelift incision in favor of a traditional modified Blair incision. Methods Retrospective series of seven consecutive patients who underwent parotidectomy for nontuberculous mycobacterial lymphadenitis between 2013 and 2018. Results The series included three uses of the facelift incision and four uses of the modified Blair incision, which was specifically selected for cases of bulky lymphadenopathy anterior to the masseter muscle. All cases of Modified Blair incision involved circumferential dissection of the marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve. The facelift incision permitted complete removal of disease in cases located posterior to the masseter as well as neck dissection as inferiorly as level III. Post-operatively, temporary marginal mandibular nerve weakness was seen in all cases of Modified Blair incision. Scar widening was most notable in patients who required skin excision or dermal curettage. Conclusion The facelift incision offers a more hidden scar. This may serve as an alternative approach to parotid surgery in young children with nontuberculous mycobacterial lymphadenitis, except in cases of bulky disease anterior to the masseter muscle for which optimal exposure of the marginal mandibular nerve via a modified Blair incision is warranted.
Electrochemical memristive devices based on submonolayer metal deposition

This paper explores the concept of an analog memristive device based on reversible electrochemical deposition and deplating of a submonolayer metal layer on a 108 Ω resistive bar. Initial feasibility experiments demonstrate a continuous resistance change by seven orders of magnitude during physical vapor deposition of Cu on TaNx/SOI, with the most promising range from 5.6 × 107 to 1.1 × 107 Ω/□ during a 0.64 monolayer Cu deposition. Cyclic electrochemical deposition and deplating of Cu on a metal seed on SiO2 in a 0.01M CuSO4/H2SO4 pH 1.4 solution demonstrates a reversible resistance variation with a minimum of 10 ± 1 discrete resistance states. These initial results are promising but also reveal a key materials challenge: the need for controlled and reversible electrochemical deposition/deplating of a submonolayer metal on the surface of a relatively high resistivity (≥10−2 Ω m) material.This paper explores the concept of an analog memristive device based on reversible electrochemical deposition and deplating of a submonolayer metal layer on a 108 Ω resistive bar. Initial feasibility experiments demonstrate a continuous resistance change by seven orders of magnitude during physical vapor deposition of Cu on TaNx/SOI, with the most promising range from 5.6 × 107 to 1.1 × 107 Ω/□ during a 0.64 monolayer Cu deposition. Cyclic electrochemical deposition and deplating of Cu on a metal seed on SiO2 in a 0.01M CuSO4/H2SO4 pH 1.4 solution demonstrates a reversible resistance variation with a minimum of 10 ± 1 discrete resistance states. These initial results are promising but also reveal a key materials challenge: the need for controlled and reversible electrochemical deposition/deplating of a submonolayer metal on the surface of a relatively high resistivity (≥10−2 Ω m) material.
What Prompts Parents of Children with Sickle Cell Disease to Consider a Curative Option in This Era of Novel Hematopoietic Cell Donor Sources and Gene Modification

Background Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) from matched sibling donors has been associated with excellent outcomes in patients with SCD but has been limited by the availability of HLA identical related donors and acceptability of HCT. Improved outcomes and the availability of clinical trials of HCT from haploidentical related donors and HLA matched unrelated donors and autologous hematopoietic progenitor cells modified by gene addition and gene editing has expanded the applicability of HCT for SCD. The objective of this study was to determine from the perspective of the parent about what motivates parents of a child with SCD to consider HCT/gene therapy in the setting of alternate donors and gene modification? Methods We conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with at least one parent of a child with SCD who had scheduled a BMT consultation. Interviews were conducted pre-consultation and a second time post-consultation Audio recordings were transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed using open and axial coding stages of grounded theory methodology. Results We interviewed 22 parents and one caregiver (18 mothers, 2 fathers, and 1 grandmother). Six participants were only available for the post-consultation interview. The median age of caregivers was 43 years (range 31 to 64 years.) Median age of the child was 13 years (range 14 months to 18 years). Three main themes relevant to the research question emerged. First, the child's quality of life, limitations placed by the disease and the concern for future potential to live independently because of SCD complications. Second, knowledge acquired by parents about curative options through multiple sources. Third, recent disease exacerbation or new SCD complication. Conclusion These results provide insight into the factors that prompt parents of children with SCD to HCT and gene therapy and have the potential to inform efforts to raise awareness about curative options for patients with SCD.
How Children Search for Health Information Online: An Observational Study.

Abstract Objective To evaluate whether children could find the correct answers to obesity-related health questions on the Internet and observe the search strategies children use when searching for such information. Methods Twenty-five parent-child dyads, from a southwestern US summer day camp, participated in this cross-sectional study. Parents’ health literacy skills were evaluated. Children searched the Internet for 6 questions related to nutrition and physical activity. Search activities were recorded via Camtasia. Quantitative (ie, time spent per question) and qualitative data (ie, themes related to difficulties searching) were extracted by rewatching the recordings. Results All parents had either proficient or basic levels of health literacy. The question that had the highest rating for being correctly answered pertained to physical activity recommendations, whereas none of the children were able to find recommended servings of food groups. Conclusions and Implications Children were not successful in finding correct answers to most of the questions and used ineffective search strategies. Interventions that teach children effective search strategies for health information are needed.
Atypical Severe Shock-like Reactions in Adolescents After Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole Therapy

Severe drug hypersensitivity reactions to antibiotics are rare but trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) is uniquely associated with numerous and varied manifestations including a reaction resembling septic shock, first observed in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS patients. Over the past 25 years about 20 cases have been reported and an association with the virus and related immune system dysregulation was assumed. However, recent reports in adults have recognized similar shock-like reactions in non-HIV infected individuals. Here we review severe TMP-SMX hypersensitivity reactions and within the context of these known reactions, describe three non-HIV infected adolescent patients with shock-like reactions to TMP-SMX observed in one institution over 1.5 years.
Addressing reward bias in Adversarial Imitation Learning with neutral reward functions.

Generative Adversarial Imitation Learning suffers from the fundamental problem of reward bias stemming from the choice of reward functions used in the algorithm. Different types of biases also affect different types of environments - which are broadly divided into survival and task-based environments. We provide a theoretical sketch of why existing reward functions would fail in imitation learning scenarios in task based environments with multiple terminal states. We also propose a new reward function for GAIL which outperforms existing GAIL methods on task based environments with single and multiple terminal states and effectively overcomes both survival and termination bias.
Multigenerational social support in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic

Research documents high levels of instrumental, financial, and expressive support exchanges within multigenerational families in the 21st century. The COVID-19 pandemic poses unique challenges to support exchanges between the generations; however, the pandemic may provide opportunities for greater solidarity within families. In this review, we draw from theoretical perspectives that have been used to study family relationships to understand the implications of the pandemic for multigenerational families: the life course perspective, the intergenerational solidarity model, and rational choice/social exchange theory. We review literature on multigenerational relationships in the United States and discuss how established social support patterns and processes may be altered by the COVID-19 pandemic. We reflect on how the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on multigenerational relationships may vary by gender, race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. Finally, we provide directions for future researchers to pursue in order to understand the lasting impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on multigenerational ties.
The Role of Safety Behaviors in the Relationship between Social Anxiety and Marijuana Use Problems.

Background: Social anxiety has been associated with higher levels of and more problematic marijuana use. Research suggests that safety behaviors may play a role in the development and maintenance o...
Performing drag in a pandemic: affect in theory, practice and (potential) political mobilization

This article first traces how affect theory has reconfigured critical theory by challenging its epistemologies and by seeking out cross-disciplinary possibilities in conceptualizing happiness. The article then looks at how affect is both expressed and curtailed by drag performance in the reality/competition series RuPaul’s Drag Race, particularly for the series’ transgender competitors. It then examines how Drag Race’s transgender queens currently perform in social media space to reveal how their transgender self-identification and physical isolation have reconfigured queer politics espoused in the series. This study reveals several dimensions of affectively performing identity for drag queens negotiating cisgender, homonormative codes while sustaining careers in the confines of a pandemic. It argues that while transgender identity can be affectively expressed through alignment with political issues, consuming the body can become a site of political action. Moreover, Drag Race reveals limits over the potential for political action by transgender performers, even if social media further complicates realizing the affect of happiness through political mobilization. © 2021 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
Prep, the Probability of Replicating an Effect

Prep, gives the probability that an equally powered replication attempt will provide supportive evidence—an effect of the same sign as the original, or, if preferred, the probability of a significant effect in replication. Prep is based on a standard Bayesian construct, the posterior predictive distribution. It may be used in three modes: to evaluate evidence, to inform belief, and to guide action. In the first case the simple prep is used; in the second, it is augmented with estimates of realization variance and informed priors; in the third it is embedded in a decision theory. Prep throws new light on replicability intervals, multiple comparisons, traditional α levels, and longitudinal studies. As the area under a diagnostic sensitivity versus specificity curve, it constitutes a criterion-free measure of test quality. Keywords: effect size; evidence; expected utility of an effect; methodology; modeling; null hypothesis significance tests; replication
Neutron Thermalization Calculations for a Heterogeneous Lattice Containing Uranium and Plutonium Fuel in Water

In a low-enrichment reactor at sufficiently high temperature that the P/ sup 239/ absorption cross section departs appreciably from 1/v. plutonium build- up increases the sensitivity of the calculated thermal cross sections to the thermalization techniques used. Thermal neutron spectra are compared for two thermalization models in a heterogeneous lattice of a low-enrichment water- moderated reactor. Using blackness theory, equivalent homogeneous, monoenergetic cross sections for the lattice are computed at closely spaced cnergy intervals over the thermal energy range. The energy distribution of the thermal neutron flux is then obtained using both the Wigner-Wilkins and the Wilkins thermalization equations. Calculations are made with the fuel elements assumed to contain only U/sup 235/ and U/sup 238/ yielding almost pure l/v absorption. and also for the case of appreciable Pu/sup 239/ present in addition to the uranium re sulting in a significant departure from 1/v absorption. Sensitivity of the calculated spectrum to the effective mass of the hydrogen is tested by allowing wide variations of the xi sigma /sub s/ values for water at low energies in several applications of the Wilkins equation. Variations in the thermal neutron spectra, resulting from the choice of the thermalization equation (Wigner-Wilkins or Wilkins), from changingmore » xi sigma /sub s/, or as a result of plutonium build-up, are evaluated in terms of isotopic cross sections averaged over the spectrum in each case. (auth)« less
ODC SYMPOSIUM II: PERSPECTIVES ON THE CORE AND EXTENSIONS

Whatever else, Organization Development and Change (henceforth, ODC) is preeminently an integrative area of concentration. Thus, ODC encompasses a broad range of arts and sciences; it blends values, as well as empirical research and theory in applications; and those applications in diverse settings include the cross‐national and the cross‐cultural.
Human and Machine Thinking

This book aims to reach an understanding of how the mind carries out three sorts of thinking -- deduction, induction, and creation -- to consider what goes right and what goes wrong, and to explore computational models of these sorts of thinking. Written for students of the mind -- psychologists, computer scientists, philosophers, linguists, and other cognitive scientists -- it also provides general readers with a self-contained account of human and machine thinking. The author presents his point of view, rather than a review, as simply as possible so that no technical background is required. Like the field of research itself, it calls for hard thinking about thinking.
Increasing haemoglobin β-chain synthesis in foetal development is associated with a declining γ- to α-mRNA ratio

DURING human foetal development, the predominant haemoglobin in erythrocytes switches twice (Fig. 1). First, ɛ chains of embryonic haemoglobins in erythroblasts of yolk sac origin are replaced by γ chains of foetal haemoglobin and traces of β chains of adult haemoglobin. This switch occurs very early in foetal development, coincident with the appearance of a new type of peripheral erythrocyte of hepatic origin. Second, at about 32 weeks of gestation, predominantly γ-chain production gives way to increased β-chain synthesis within a constant cell type1. This double haemoglobin switch also occurs in other animals, including sheep2. Not only is very little known about the biological basis for the switch from γ- to β-chain production, but the basic changes in gene activity involved in the switching process are obscure. An understanding of the γ to β switch has clinical importance, for if one could block the switch and increase γ-chain production, sickle cell anaemia and β-thalassaemia could be treated effectively. We present here data concerning changes in globin gene activity, as assessed by globin mRNA levels, which are temporally related to the turning up of β-chain synthesis. These observations were originally made in erythroid cells of aborted human foetuses and were extended to cells from foetal sheep.
Evidence for ancient mare volcanism.

The results of the present study suggest that dark-haloed impact craters are indicative of excavated mafic materials, originally emplaced as volcanic units, but subsequently buried by impact ejecta deposits from large craters and basins. Consequently, mapped light plains units should be viewed as soil units that may not reflect the origin of the underlying rock. Some observations which support these conclusions are examined.