cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Additional perspectives on feedforward neural-nets and the functional-link

It has been proved that multilayer feedforward neural-nets with as few as a single hidden layer can serve as universal approximators of functions mapping multidimensional space R/sup s/ to one-dimensional space R. Our prior experience has provided us with ample pragmatic evidence that the model can be simplified, with use of functional-links which need not be learned. In this paper, we prove theorems which provide a theoretical justification for use of the highly efficient functional-link approach.
Functional Convergence in the Tense, Evidentiality and Aspectual Systems of Quechua Spanish Bilinguals.

In this paper, I present an exploratory study on cross-linguistic interference among Quechua-Spanish bilingual children living in a language contact situation. The study focuses on convergence in the tense, aspectual and evidentiality systems of the two languages. While in Quechua past tense features are strongly linked to evidentiality in the matrix of features associated with the functional category Tense, in Spanish, past tense features are linked to aspectual features. The study presents evidence that supports the Functional Convergence Hypothesis according to which syntactic convergence among bilingual speakers is favored when the matrix of features associated with a functional category is partially divergent, as is the case for Tense in Spanish and Quechua. The Spanish results indicate that among bilinguals past tense is associated with evidentiality features and contrast sharply with the results of the monolingual comparison group. Bilingual Quechua results exhibit an incipient emergence of discourse-oriented background and foreground distinctions, similar to those found in Spanish in association with aspectual morphology.
A Novel Method of Fabricating SiC-On-Insulator Substrates for Use in MEMS

This paper reports on a novel, bonding-free method to fabricate silicon carbide-on-insulator (SiCOI) substrates. The process bypasses wafer bonding by using a high deposition rate polysilicon process in conjunction with wet chemical etching to produce wafer-thick polysilicon layers that serve as substrates for the SiCOI structures. Because wafer bonding is not used, insulators of various material types and thickness can be used. Using this method, transfer percentages over 99% are readily achievable. Various applications could benefit from this technology, including high temperature SiC-based microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and SiC electronic devices.
Design of a framed building using a probabilistic fault tree analysis method

This paper shows the application of the probabilistic fault tree analysis (PFTA) method to the design of a framed structure. The PFTA includes the development of a fault tree to represent the system, construction of an approximation function for bottom events, computation of sensitivity factors of design variables, and the calculation of the system reliability. The effect of uncertainty in the design parameters is quantified by changing the standard deviation of some of the design parameters and recomputing the probability of failure. The computer code employed for the analyses is NESSUS (Numerical Evaluation of Stochastic Structure Under Stress). A design example is presented. The importance of considering geometry among the random variables in structural design is quantified. (Author)
Treating Detained Juveniles: Measuring Mental Health Traits and Gender Differences

An understanding of gender-specific differences between detained male and female youth and how these differences relate to mental health is fundamental to understanding, assessing, and treating this population. This study examined the prevalence of mental health symptoms among a sample of 4,015 incarcerated juveniles who were assessed at intake using the BASC-2, MAYSI-2, and Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children. Significant differences were found between males and females on many of the instruments’ clinical scales, the effect size, however, was small. The prevalence of mental health symptoms varied greatly based on the instrument used (12% and 70% for males; 18% and 72% for females). Interpretations of these results and how they can be used to enhance understanding and treatment of the mental health needs of this population, specifically the females, are discussed.
Stratigraphic Model Predictions of Geoacoustic Properties

Geoacoustic properties of the seabed have a controlling role in the propagation and reverberation of sound in shallow-water environments. Several techniques are available to quantify the important properties but are usually unable to adequately sample the region of interest. In this paper, we explore the potential for obtaining geotechnical properties from a process-based stratigraphic model. Grain-size predictions from the stratigraphic model are combined with two acoustic models to estimate sound speed with distance across the New Jersey continental shelf and with depth below the seabed. Model predictions are compared to two independent sets of data: 1) Surficial sound speeds obtained through direct measurement using in situ compressional wave probes, and 2) sound speed as a function of depth obtained through inversion of seabed reflection measurements. In water depths less than 100 m, the model predictions produce a trend of decreasing grain-size and sound speed with increasing water depth as similarly observed in the measured surficial data. In water depths between 100 and 130 m, the model predictions exhibit an increase in sound speed that was not observed in the measured surficial data. A closer comparison indicates that the grain-sizes predicted for the surficial sediments are generally too small producing sound speeds that are too slow. The predicted sound speeds also tend to be too slow for sediments 0.5-20 m below the seabed in water depths greater than 100 m. However, in water depths less than 100 m, the sound speeds between 0.5-20-m subbottom depth are generally too fast. There are several reasons for the discrepancies including the stratigraphic model was limited to two dimensions, the model was unable to simulate biologic processes responsible for the high sound-speed shell material common in the model area, and incomplete geological records necessary to accurately predict grain-size
A Note on Assemble-to-Order Systems with Batch Ordering

We study an assemble-to-order inventory system. The stocks are held for components, with final products assembled only when customer orders are realized. Customer orders form a multivariate compound Poisson process, component replenishment leadtimes are constant, and demands in excess of inventory on hand are backlogged. The component inventories are controlled by R, nQ policies. We show that under certain general conditions the inventory position vector has a uniform equilibrium distribution. This result generalizes the corresponding single-item theory considerably. It allows us to express the key performance measures of the system, such as order fill rates and average order-based backorders, as the averages of their counterparts in the base-stock systems.
Images in cardiovascular medicine. Prinzmetal angina in an adolescent: adjunctive role of tissue synchronization imaging.

A previously asymptomatic 17-year-old male athlete presented with acute onset of left-sided chest pain that awakened him from sleep. The pain was described as “crushing,” radiated to the left arm and jaw, and associated with diaphoresis. He was evaluated in the emergency department of our hospital and was found to have an abnormal ECG with ST-segment elevation in the anterolateral leads (Figure 1A). Initial troponin I and creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) were elevated, 5.7 ng/mL (0 …
Are Damages Caps Regressive? A Study of Malpractice Jury Verdicts

Caps on damages have emerged as the most common legislative response to the new malpractice crisis; they are also the most controversial. Critics decry caps as unfair, yet surprisingly little is known about the specific circumstances in which they are applied. We analyzed a sample of high-end jury verdicts in California that were subjected to the state's $250,000 cap on noneconomic damages. We found strong evidence that the cap's fiscal impact was distributed inequitably across different types of injuries. Considering the average impact of the cap in absolute dollar terms, the reductions imposed on grave injury were seven times larger than those for minor injury. In proportional terms, the largest reductions occurred for injuries in which the harm centered on pain and disfigurement. We found no evidence that women or the elderly were disparately impacted by the cap. Use of sliding scales of damages instead of or in conjunction with caps would mitigate their adverse impacts on fairness.
A Short Tour of Book Publishing for Political Scientists

gument, but too often the question investigated is too narrow, or a demonstration of the candidate's scholarly knowledge or methodological wizardry dominates. The objective of a dissertation is to prove to the candidate's faculty that the student has learned how to conduct a research project, understands the methods employed in the field, has read the relevant literature, and can communicate the results of that research
Cardiac complications in childhood cancer survivors treated with anthracyclines

Cardiovascular complications are among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among survivors of childhood cancer, after cancer relapse and secondary malignancies. Although advances in cancer treatment have improved the 5-year survival rates, the same treatments, such as anthracyclines, that cure cancer also increase the risk for adverse cardiovascular effects. Anthracycline-related cardiotoxicity in survivors of childhood cancer is progressive and can take years to develop, initially presenting as sub-clinical cardiac abnormalities that, if left undetected or untreated, can lead to heart failure, myocardial infarction, or other clinical cardiac dysfunction. A higher cumulative dose of anthracycline is associated with cardiotoxicity in children; however, sub-clinical cardiac abnormalities are evident at lower doses with longer follow-up, suggesting that there is no "safe" dose of anthracycline. Other risk factors include female sex, younger age at diagnosis, black race, trisomy 21, longer time since treatment, and the presence of pre-existing cardiovascular disease and co-morbidities. Cardioprotective strategies during treatment are limited in children. Enalapril provides only temporary cardioprotection, whereas continuous anthracycline infusion extends none. On the other hand, dexrazoxane successfully prevents or reduces anthracycline-related cardiotoxicity in children with cancer, without increased risks for recurrence of primary or second malignancies or reductions in anti-tumour efficacy. With more childhood cancer survivors now reaching adulthood, it is vital to understand the adverse effects of cancer treatment on the cardiovascular system and their long-term consequences to identify and establish optimal prevention and management strategies that balance oncologic efficacy with long-term safety.
Colus Schellenbergiae Again

Two previous collections of Colus Schellenbergiae Sumstine (7), now generally considered as probably identical with C. javanicus Penzig (4), have been reported for North America: the type, Pittsburgh, Pa., and one by Dr. Seaver in the New York Botanical Garden (5). The American plant was first illustrated by Dr. Seaver (6, pl. 8) and has not been illustrated since. The present report concerns two additional collections, as follows.
Structuralism as a Conceptual Framework

I had imagined that the central issue of this symposium would be the contrast between nomothetic, or generalizing, research and idiographic, or particularistic, research in Africa. To what extent are the conclusions of research carried out in Africa limited to a geographic or cultural area: to sub-Saharan Africa, to the Bantu, to the Southeastern Bantu? To what extent are the conclusions generalizable to a certain type of society, no matter where it is found? Such a contrast of approaches would have raised the issues of the culturally distinctive qualities of African cultures and of the unique historical influences upon them. This emphasis is clearly evident in the writing of many anthropologists who have worked in Africa, particularly those with humanistic interests. It stands in contrast to another strategy of research which seeks, not the unique qualities of African cultures, but the general principles, exemplified by African societies as well as by all other societies.
Classification of Pre-ictal and Interictal Periods Based on EEG Frequency Features in Epilepsy

A seizure prediction system has the potential to significantly help patients with epilepsy. For a seizure forecasting system to work effectively, computational algorithms must reliably identify periods with high probability of seizure occurrence. We herein report results of a classification approach based on machine learning of EEG features in the frequency domain and aimed at differentiating between pre-ictal (close to seizure onsets) and interictal (far away from seizures onset) periods in long-term intracranial EEG recordings from the brain of 5 epileptic dogs. Evaluation of performance by the area under the ROC curve ranged from 0.84 to 0.96 in four dogs, while for the fifth dog was considerably less (0.55), resulting to a global value of 0.87 across dogs. These results offer supporting evidence that seizures may be predictable with a proper analysis of the EEG.
20 KILLING OF NOSOCOMIAL PATHOGENS BY ACID AND ACIDIFIED NITRITE: IMPLICATIONS FOR INFECTION CONTROL.

Background Proton pump inhibitors are considered safe medications, but their use has been associated with colonization or infection with nosocomial pathogens. We used a mouse model to test the hypothesis that inhibition of gastric acid production by proton pump inhibitor treatment may facilitate establishment of intestinal colonization by nosocomial pathogens such as vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Methods In vitro studies were performed to examine killing of VRE and K. pneumoniae by acid and physiologic concentrations of nitrite. Mice received subcutaneous pantoprazole or saline every 12 hours for 3 days followed by orogastric inoculation of 100 colony-forming units of VRE or K. pneumoniae in combination with subcutaneous clindamycin. The presence and density of the pathogens in stool were monitored by plating samples onto selective media. Student9s t-test was performed to compare the pH of gastric contents from pantoprazole versus saline-treated mice and chi-square test was performed to compare the frequency of acquisition of stool colonization with the pathogens. Results Exposure to pH 2 buffer or fasting human gastric contents resulted in significant killing of the pathogens and physiological concentrations of nitrite-enhanced killing. In comparison to saline controls, pantoprazole-treated mice had elevated gastric pH (mean ± SD, 4.8 ± 0.87 versus 2.3 ± 0.3; p
Determination of lead and cadmium in dried rice-field fish by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry with cloud point extraction

Objective:To determine the level of lead and cadmium in dried paddy-field-fish.Methods: Under pH 7.0,the levels of lead and cadmium were determined by graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrometry technology with enrichment of lead and cadmium in the sample solution by cloud point extraction using 2-[(5-bromine-2 pyridine) azo]-5-diethylaminophenol(5-Br-PADAP) as chelating reagent and TritonX-114 as non-ion surfactant.Results: The lead in the range of 0.00 μg/L~50.00 μg/L showed good linear relationship,with correlation coefficient of 0.9990 and the minimum detection limit was 0.11 μg/L;the cadmium in the range of 0.00 μg/L~5.00 μg/L showed good linear relationship,correlation coefficient was 0.9989,the minimum detection limit was 0.04 μg/L.Conclusion: The method is used to determine lead and cadmium in dried paddy-field-fish(High salt matrix sample);the precision and accuracy of the method,the linear relationships are quite satisfied,avoiding a lot of matrix background interference,maximizing the analysis instrument testing efficiency.
The Design of Fixture Composed of Rodless Cylinder and Toggle-Double Wedge Force Amplifier Mechanism

A new fixture composed of rodless cylinder and toggle-wedge force amplifier mechanism was introduced.Its working principles and structural features were analyzed and the corresponding formula for calculating the clamping force was given.Double wedge structure is of benefit to increase the efficiency,reduce work time.Utilizing self-locking character,the compressed air can be withdrawn to save energy while machining.
Introduction Fiction, Autobiography, History

In July 1957 Evelyn Waugh was reluctantly present at a Foyle’s Literary Luncheon to open the publicity campaign for his new novel, The Ordeal of Gilbert Pinfold. The book was so evidently autobiographical that it would have been impossible for him to have gone through the charade of warning his audience not to associate Pinfold with Waugh. He declared the book to be based on his own experience of going ‘off my head’ three years earlier. The dust jacket said the same thing less bluntly. Pinfold was Waugh. As Martin Stannard remarks, the novel ‘has always been read as autobiography rather than fiction’ (2S 396) and its author did nothing to discourage that reading. In his diary, he referred to the book as his ‘novel’, his quotation marks indicating the dubious applicability of the term (D 770). What is really remarkable in this open admission is the implication that fictionalized autobiography was a novelty in his writing. Nothing previously, it is true, had been autobiographical in the manner of Pinfold. There Waugh claimed to be transcribing reality, putting a thin coat of fiction — perhaps so that he could call it ‘a novel’ — over an exact account of what had happened to him. But there was nothing new about autobiographical experience as the foundation of his fiction. The Ordeal of Gilbert Pinfold is fascinating for the manner in which it both admits and denies this truth.
Sex Trafficking in Thai Media: A Content Analysis of Issue Framing

Understanding how news media frame sex trafficking in Thailand, a country with high levels of trafficking and an understudied media landscape, has strong implications for how the public and policy makers understand and respond to the issue. This quantitative content analysis examined 15 years of trafficking coverage in five English-language Thai newspapers and found a focus on female victims, official sources and crime frames, with a lack of discussion of risk factors, solutions and high-profile criminals. In doing so, this study illuminates a problematic and tightly controlled Thai media landscape.
WAVE1 in neurons expressing the D1 dopamine receptor regulates cellular and behavioral actions of cocaine

Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP) family verprolin homologous protein 1 (WAVE1) regulates actin-related protein 2/3 (Arp2/3) complex-mediated actin polymerization. Our previous studies have found WAVE1 to be inhibited by Cdk5-mediated phosphorylation in brain and to play a role in the regulation of dendritic spine morphology. Here we report that mice in which WAVE1 was knocked out (KO) in neurons expressing the D1 dopamine receptor (D1-KO), but not mice where WAVE1 was knocked out in neurons expressing the D2 dopamine receptor (D2-KO), exhibited a significant decrease in place preference associated with cocaine. In contrast to wild-type (WT) and WAVE1 D2-KO mice, cocaine-induced sensitized locomotor behavior was not maintained in WAVE1 D1-KO mice. After chronic cocaine administration and following withdrawal, an acute cocaine challenge induced WAVE1 activation in striatum, which was assessed by dephosphorylation. The cocaine-induced WAVE1 dephosphorylation was attenuated by coadministration of either a D1 dopamine receptor or NMDA glutamate receptor antagonist. Upon an acute challenge of cocaine following chronic cocaine exposure and withdrawal, we also observed in WT, but not in WAVE1 D1-KO mice, a decrease in dendritic spine density and a decrease in the frequency of excitatory postsynaptic AMPA receptor currents in medium spiny projection neurons expressing the D1 dopamine receptor (D1-MSNs) in the nucleus accumbens. These results suggest that WAVE1 is involved selectively in D1-MSNs in cocaine-evoked neuronal activity-mediated feedback regulation of glutamatergic synapses.
The Ecological and Evolutionary Challenges of Procellariiform Olfaction

Once controversial, it is now well established that certain avian species use volatile chemical cues. This is the case even though no vomeronasal organ (Portmann, 1961) or accessory olfactory bulb has been found in adult birds. The existence of a septal organ and nervus terminalis in birds is unclear and needs direct study. It has been said, with no elaboration or references, that the terminal nerve occurs in all vertebrates (Ariens Kappers et al., 1936) except cyclostomes (Larsell, 1950). Bang (1971) makes no mention of a septal organ. Peripheral olfactory structures - olfactory mucosa, nerve, and bulb - have been well documented in representatives of all 23 orders of living birds (Bang, 1971) and presumably exist in all species. The record shows, in addition, that these structures differ widely in size among the orders, and within the orders as well when enough specimens were available to provide good intraorder comparisons. Although the size of an organ is not irrefutable proof of its functional importance, it is customarily taken as strong evidence for its relative significance. A recent example is the use of the 4-fold increase in size of the male vocal control nuclei in the canary brain as a measure of its greater importance for male behavior (Nottebohm et al., 1981). In addition to the olfactory structures themselves, the avian nasal cavity is designed, sometimes very elaborately, to facilitate access of inspired air to the olfactory receptor cells and to maintain those cells in optimal condition (Bang and Wenzel, 1985).
Phylogenomic Insights into the Evolution of Stinging Wasps and the Origins of Ants and Bees

Summary The stinging wasps (Hymenoptera: Aculeata) are an extremely diverse lineage of hymenopteran insects, encompassing over 70,000 described species and a diversity of life history traits, including ectoparasitism, cleptoparasitism, predation, pollen feeding (bees [Anthophila] and Masarinae), and eusociality (social vespid wasps, ants, and some bees) [1]. The most well-studied lineages of Aculeata are the ants, which are ecologically dominant in most terrestrial ecosystems [2], and the bees, the most important lineage of angiosperm-pollinating insects [3]. Establishing the phylogenetic affinities of ants and bees helps us understand and reconstruct patterns of social evolution as well as fully appreciate the biological implications of the switch from carnivory to pollen feeding (pollenivory). Despite recent advancements in aculeate phylogeny [4–11], considerable uncertainty remains regarding higher-level relationships within Aculeata, including the phylogenetic affinities of ants and bees [5–7]. We used ultraconserved element (UCE) phylogenomics [7, 12] to resolve relationships among stinging-wasp families, gathering sequence data from >800 UCE loci and 187 samples, including 30 out of 31 aculeate families. We analyzed the 187-taxon dataset using multiple analytical approaches, and we evaluated several alternative taxon sets. We also tested alternative hypotheses for the phylogenetic positions of ants and bees. Our results present a highly supported phylogeny of the stinging wasps. Most importantly, we find unequivocal evidence that ants are the sister group to bees+apoid wasps (Apoidea) and that bees are nested within a paraphyletic Crabronidae. We also demonstrate that taxon choice can fundamentally impact tree topology and clade support in phylogenomic inference.
Raimo Tuomela’s Social Ontology

This paper summarizes some of the major concepts of Raimo Tuomela’s social ontology as it is articulated and defended in his most recent major works and provides a set of objections to it. It also ...
Real-time estimation of lesion depth and control of radiofrequency ablation within ex vivo animal tissues using a neural network.

Background: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA), a method of inducing thermal ablation (cell death), is often used to destroy tumours or potentially cancerous tissue. Current techniques for RFA estimatio...
Alginate-Encapsulated Bacteria for the Treatment of Hypersaline Solutions in Microbial Fuel Cells.

A microbial fuel cell (MFC) based on a new wild-type strain of Salinivibrio sp. allowed the self-sustained treatment of hypersaline solutions (100 g L-1 , 1.71 m NaCl), reaching a removal of (87±11) % of the initial chemical oxygen demand after five days of operation, being the highest value achieved for hypersaline MFC. The degradation process and the evolution of the open circuit potential of the MFCs were correlated, opening the possibility for online monitoring of the treatment. The use of alginate capsules to trap bacterial cells, increasing cell density and stability, resulted in an eightfold higher power output, together with a more stable system, allowing operation up to five months with no maintenance required. The reported results are of critical importance to efforts to develop a sustainable and cost-effective system that treats hypersaline waste streams and reduces the quantity of polluting compounds released.
Cutaneous B-Cell Lymphomas

Cutaneous lymphoproliferative disorders are a markedly heterogeneous group of diseases and ­represent one of the most challenging areas in dermatopathology. Careful correlation of clinical, histopathological, immunophenotypic, and molecular findings is essential for the accurate ­diagnosis and proper classification of these neoplasms [1]. There are several types of B-cell ­lymphoma which may show skin involvement, either primarily or as a secondary manifestation [2, 3]. While the vast majority of nodal/systemic lymphomas are of B-cell lineage [4, 5], primary cutaneous B-cell neoplasms represent only a minority of all primary cutaneous lymphomas [2, 3]. Primary cutaneous lymphomas often demonstrate different clinical behaviors, prognoses, and responses to therapy as compared with systemic/nodal lesions of similar lineage with secondary skin involvement [2, 3]. This is particularly true for cutaneous B-cell lymphomas [2, 3]. Appropriate staging at the time of diagnosis is necessary for accurate classification of a neoplastic lymphocytic infiltrate in the skin [2, 3].
Reading's Impact on Democratic Citizenship in America

Polls conducted for the Times Mirror/Pew Research Center for The People & The Press enable us to explore reading's impact on democratic citizenship in the United States. After exploring literacy's meaning and significance, we assess how much Americans read and how reading affects key facets of democratic citizenship: attention to, knowledge of, and participation in public affairs and tolerance for unpopular groups. A measure of time spent reading the day before being interviewed is a significant predictor of democratic citizenship, even when other key factors' effects are taken into account. Reading remains essential to the quality of citizenship in modern democracy.
A Ka-Band Frequency Reconfigurable Circularly Polarized Antenna Array Using a Ring Resonator

This paper introduces a new frequency reconfigurable filter used to frequency tune an antenna array at Ka-band. The frequency reconfiguration is achieved without affecting the radiation pattern of the array. A reconfigurable filter provides the desired resonant frequencies by activating an integrated PIN diode that modifies the length of a stub. The overall design also includes a sequential rotating feeding approach that provides an improved right hand circular polarization (RHCP) for an array antenna.
CLINICAL IMPACT OF ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY IN PATIENTS WITH LEFT VENTRICULAR ASSIST DEVICES: ANALYSIS FROM A US NATIONAL DATABASE

Utilization of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) has increased significantly in recent years. Many of these LVAD patients have end-organ dysfunction, including renal injury, before or after LVAD implantation. We evaluated the impact of acute kidney injury (AKI) and in-hospital outcomes on
Dialysis Is Not Associated with Increased Risk of Perioperative Complications in TKA Patients after Adjusting for Pertinent Confounders.

With a growing prevalence for chronic renal failure, arthroplasty surgeons will find it more likely to have dialysis dependent patients present for knee replacement. Previous retrospective studies using a matched cohort of patients have reported worse perioperative outcomes for dialysis-dependent patients. However, many of these studies failed to control for pertinent confounders. This study aims to fill in that void. The present study compares lengths of stay, discharge status, and 30-day outcomes between dialysis-dependent TKA recipients and a matched cohort of nondialysis dependent TKA recipients. The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was used to identify the study cohorts. Patients were propensity score matched based on patient-specific demographic variables, preoperative functional status, and preoperative laboratory values. Generalized regression models were conducted to assess the effects of dialysis dependency on perioperative outcomes. Dialysis dependent patients demonstrated longer mean lengths of stay (+1.14) and a lower likelihood for home discharge (odds ratio [OR] = 0.503). There was no increased risk of 30-day complications in dialysis dependent TKA patients. Our findings demonstrate no increased risk of 30-day complications after TKA when adjusting for pertinent confounders. This suggests TKA is safe for well optimized dialysis dependent patients prior to surgery.
Technical note: The effect of freezing on Warner-Bratzler shear force values of beef longissimus steaks across several postmortem aging periods

The objective of this study was to compare fresh and frozen protocol procedures for Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF) determination on steaks aged for different periods of time. The fresh protocol consisted of measuring WBSF on steaks cooked on the exact day the aging period ended. The frozen protocol consisted of measuring WBSF on steaks that were aged, frozen (-16 degrees C) for approximately 2 mo, thawed for 24 h, and then cooked. Twenty-two strip loin steaks from each of 20 crossbred heifers and steers were individually vacuum-packaged and assigned to either the fresh or frozen protocol and one of 11 aging periods (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 14, 21, or 35 d). The frozen protocol resulted in lower (P < 0.05) WBSF values than the fresh protocol for beef longissimus steaks that were aged for 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 14, or 35 d postmortem. An interaction (P < 0.05) between protocol and postmortem aging resulted from larger differences between protocols at shorter aging periods than at longer aging periods. Correlations and mean differences revealed that frozen protocol WBSF values were not highly indicative of fresh protocol WBSF values at the same period of postmortem aging, but rather suggested that frozen protocol WBSF values at shorter aging times were useful in estimating WBSF values from fresh protocols at longer aging times. Cooking loss was higher (P < 0.05) for frozen vs fresh protocol steaks at all aging periods except for 14, 21, or 35 d. These findings suggest that if research constraints warrant the freezing of samples, shorter aging periods before freezing (6 and 7 d) should be used to estimate WBSF of fresh aged beef (14 to 21 d). In trials in which several postmortem aging periods or very short aging periods are of interest, we recommend that WBSF be assessed using the fresh protocol.
Alcohol and drug use, partner PrEP use and STI prevalence among people with HIV

Objectives People with HIV (PWH) have a high burden of bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs). We examined the relationship of alcohol and drug use and partner pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use to STI prevalence in a cohort of PWH with a history of unhealthy alcohol use. Methods We analysed data from a primary care-based alcohol intervention study at Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC). Participants were recruited between April 2013 and May 2015 and were followed for up to 24 months. We linked participant responses to questions from the 24 month follow-up interview, including alcohol and drug use and partner PrEP use, with STI test results (ie, syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhoea) in the KPNC electronic health record. Prevalence ratios (PR) were estimated using Poisson models fitted with robust variance estimators to evaluate the association of substance use and partner use of PrEP with STIs. Results In the analytic sample (n=465), the median age was 52 years (IQR 45–59); 67% were white; 95% were men who have sex with men. Thirty-two per cent of participants had HIV-positive partners only; 31% had HIV-negative partners with at least one on PrEP in the previous year and 37% had HIV-negative partners without any on PrEP. Twenty-three per cent reported alcohol and drug use prior to sex in the last 6 months. Eight per cent of participants had an STI. Partner PrEP use (adjusted PR (aPR) 2.99 (95% CI 1.11 to 8.08)) was independently associated with higher STI prevalence. Participants who reported use of alcohol (aPR 1.53 (0.61 to 3.83)), drugs (aPR 1.97 (0.71 to 5.51)) or both (aPR 1.93 (0.75 to 4.97)) prior to sex had a higher STI prevalence. Conclusions The higher prevalence of STIs among PWH with unhealthy alcohol use who have partners on PrEP suggests that this subgroup may be a high-yield focus for targeted outreach, STI screening and sexual health counselling.
Mutually Regressive Point Processes

Many real-world data represent sequences of interdependent events unfolding over time. They can be modeled naturally as realizations of a point process. Despite many potential applications, existing point process models are limited in their ability to capture complex patterns of interaction. Hawkes processes admit many efficient inference algorithms, but are limited to mutually excitatory effects. Non- linear Hawkes processes allow for more complex influence patterns, but for their estimation it is typically necessary to resort to discrete-time approximations that may yield poor generative models. In this paper, we introduce the first general class of Bayesian point process models extended with a nonlinear component that allows both excitatory and inhibitory relationships in continuous time. We derive a fully Bayesian inference algorithm for these processes using Polya-Gamma augmentation and Poisson thinning. We evaluate the proposed model on single and multi-neuronal spike train recordings. Results demonstrate that the proposed model, unlike existing point process models, can generate biologically-plausible spike trains, while still achieving competitive predictive likelihoods.
18F-DCFPyL PET/CT Imaging in Patients with Biochemically Recurrent Prostate Cancer After Primary Local Therapy.

Objective: To investigate the lesion detection rate of 18F-DCFPyL-PET/CT, a prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) targeted PET agent, in biochemical relapse prostate cancer patients after primary local therapy. Methods: This is a prospective institutional review board-approved study of 90 patients with documented biochemical recurrence (median PSA 2.5 ng/mL, range 0.21-35.5 ng/mL) with negative conventional imaging after primary local therapies, including radical prostatectomy (n = 38), radiation (n = 27) or combination (n = 25). Patients on androgen deprivation therapy were excluded. Patients underwent whole-body 18F-DCFPyL-PET/CT (299.9±15.5 MBq) at 2 h p.i. PSMA-PET lesion detection rate was correlated with PSA, PSA kinetics and original primary tumor grade. Results: Seventy patients (77.8%) showed a positive PSMA-PET scan, identifying a total of 287 lesions: 37 prostate bed foci, 208 lymph nodes, and 42 bone/organ distant sites; 11 patients had a negative scan and 9 patients showed indeterminate lesions, which were considered negative in this study. The detection rates were 47.6% (n = 10/21), 50% (n = 5/10), 88.9% (n = 8/9), and 94% (n = 47/50) for PSA >0.2 to <0.5, 0.5 to <1.0, 1 to <2.0, and ≥2.0 ng/mL, respectively. In post-surgical patients, PSA, PSAdt and PSAvel correlated with PET results but the same was not true for post-radiation patients. These parameters also correlated with the extent of disease on PET (intrapelvic vs. extrapelvic). There was no significant difference between the rate of positive scans in patients with higher grade vs lower grade primary tumors (Gleason score ≥4+3 vs <3+4). Tumor recurrence was histology confirmed in 40% (28/70) of patients. On a per-patient basis, positive predictive value was 93.3% (95% CI, 77.6-99.2%) by histopathologic validation, and 96.2% (95% CI, 86.3-99.7%) by the combination of histology and imaging/clinical follow-up. Conclusion:18F-DCFPyL-PET/CT imaging offers high detection rates in biochemically recurrent prostate cancer patients; and is positive in about 50% of patients with PSA
Relationship of Anxiety, Inflammation, and Telomere Length in Postpartum Women: A Pilot Study.

Background:The postpartum period can be a vulnerable time during which many women are prone to mood disturbances. Since telomere length (TL) is known to be associated with dysphoric moods, inflamma...
Node-Asynchronous Spectral Clustering On Directed Graphs

In recent years the convergence behavior of random node asynchronous graph communications have been studied for the case of undirected graphs. This paper extends these results to the case of graphs having arbitrary directed edges possibly with a nondiagonalizable adjacency matrix. Assuming that the graph operator has eigenvalue 1 and the input signal satisfies a certain condition (which ensures the existence of fixed points), this study presents the necessary and sufficient condition for the mean-squared convergence of the graph signal. The presented condition depends on the graph operator as well as the update probabilities, and the convergence of the randomized asynchronous updates may be achieved even when the underlying operator is not stable in the synchronous setting. As an application, the node-asynchronous updates are combined with polynomial filtering in order to obtain a spectral clustering for directed networks. The convergence is also verified with numerical simulations.
Written Prescription for Over-the-Counter Nonopioid Pain Medications Does Not Increase the Likelihood of Use after Ambulatory Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery

Introduction This study looked to determine how providing written prescriptions of nonopioids affected postoperative pain medication usage and pain control. Materials and Methods Patients undergoing hand and upper-extremity surgery (n = 244) were recruited after the implementation of a postoperative pain control program encouraging nonopioids before opioids. Patients were grouped based on procedure type: bone (n = 66) or soft tissue (n = 178). Patients reported postoperative medication consumption and pain control scores. Two-tailed t-tests assuming unequal variance were performed to look for differences in postoperative pain control and medication consumption between those who were and were not given written prescriptions for nonopioids. Results For both soft tissue and bone procedure patients, a written prescription did not significantly affect patients’ postoperative pain control or medication consumption. Regardless of receiving a written prescription, patients who underwent soft tissue procedures consumed significantly more daily nonopioids than opioids. Conclusion Receiving written prescriptions for nonopioids may not have a significant effect on postoperative pain control or medication consumption. Patients undergoing soft tissue hand and upper extremity procedures may be more likely to consume more daily nonopioids than opioids postoperatively compared to bone procedure patients regardless of whether they receive a written prescription for nonopioids.
Exterior-point Operator Splitting for Nonconvex Learning

In this paper, we present the nonconvex exterior-point operator splitting (NExOS) algorithm, a novel linearly convergent first-order algorithm tailored for constrained nonconvex learning problems. We consider the problem of minimizing a convex cost function over a nonconvex constraint set, where projection onto the constraint set is single-valued around local minima. A wide range of nonconvex learning problems have this structure including (but not limited to) sparse and low-rank optimization problems. By exploiting the underlying geometry of the constraint set, NExOS finds a locally optimal point by solving a sequence of penalized problems with strictly decreasing penalty parameters. NExOS solves each penalized problem by applying an outer iteration operator splitting algorithm, which converges linearly to a local minimum of the corresponding penalized formulation under regularity conditions. Furthermore, the local minima of the penalized problems converge to a local minimum of the original problem as the penalty parameter goes to zero. We implement NExOS in the open-source Julia package NExOS.jl, which has been extensively tested on many instances from a wide variety of learning problems. We study several examples of well-known nonconvex learning problems, and we show that in spite of being general purpose, NExOS is able to compute high quality solutions very quickly and is competitive with specialized algorithms.
Masculine Embodiment Among Sexual Minorities in a Women’s Prison

Sexual minority women are disproportionately incarcerated and more likely to experience structural and interpersonal violence while incarcerated than heterosexual cisgender women. To build knowledg...
Legacies of Segregation and Disenfranchisement: The Road from Plessy to Frank and Voter ID Laws in the United States

This article explores how voter ID laws further the dismantling of voting rights and the promises of full political engagement for racial minorities, especially African Americans. The authors highlight the racial politics that inform the emergence of these laws, and the racial intent and impact these laws have in diluting minority voting access and therefore political power. It begins with a short historical overview of voting rights since the eradication of slavery, then offers background on the current legal climate in which voter ID laws are situated. The essay concludes with an analysis of Frank v. Walker as a case study exposing the intent and impact of voter ID laws.
Detecting Chemical Vapor Diffusion through Firefighter Turnout Gear.

Firefighters are exposed to burning materials that may release toxic partial combustion and pyrolysis products into the environment, including compounds listed as priority pollutants by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). A novel passive sampling dosimeter device containing firefighter turnout gear as a diffusion membrane and an activated charcoal strip (ACS) for volatile analyte collection was designed and used to monitor potential exposures of firefighters to volatile organic compounds. Solvent extracts from the ACS and turnout gear diffusion layer were analyzed using Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) to determine the diffusion of compounds from burned substrates through firefighter turnout gear and compound adsorption to the turnout gear. The compounds in these samples were identified using target factor analysis (TFA). An activated carbon layer (ACL) was added to the dosimeter between the turnout gear and the ACS. The presence of combustion and pyrolysis compounds identified on the ACS in the dosimeter was reduced.
Current Drugs to Treat Infections with Herpes Simplex Viruses-1 and -2

Herpes simplex viruses-1 and -2 (HSV-1 and -2) are two of the three human alphaherpesviruses that cause infections worldwide. Since both viruses can be acquired in the absence of visible signs and symptoms, yet still result in lifelong infection, it is imperative that we provide interventions to keep them at bay, especially in immunocompromised patients. While numerous experimental vaccines are under consideration, current intervention consists solely of antiviral chemotherapeutic agents. This review explores all of the clinically approved drugs used to prevent the worst sequelae of recurrent outbreaks by these viruses.
Trump and US soft power

President Trump’s leadership style departed from any other presidents in the US. Trump’s unconventional speeches, offhanded remarks, and unilateral foreign policies raised concerns among politician...
The Impact of the Economy on Presidential Elections Throughout US History

As numerous studies in the US and elsewhere document, voters often hold incumbents accountable for recent economic circumstances. However, our knowledge of the conditions that allow voters to do so remains incomplete. In particular, most findings about economic voting come from studies of modern economies (post World War II). Modern economies have a host of characteristics that seem to lend themselves to economic voting. Their governments play a large role in the economy and have the Keynesian toolset necessary to influence the economy. Their voters are educated and have access to detailed economic data from ubiquitous media. Are these and other modern conditions necessary for economic voting? Would voters still hold politicians accountable even under adverse conditions? Using economic measures now available back to the 1790s, we study economic voting from the earliest days of the US Republic when none of these conditions were met. Voters, we find, appear to judge incumbent presidents on the economy all the way back to George Washington. Consistent with this pattern, we also find that the economy appears to shape presidents' decisions to run again throughout US history. These findings support recent comparative evidence that economic voting is pervasive across a variety of contexts.
Disclosure of Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors Across Sexual and Gender Identities.

OBJECTIVES Evidence suggests that sexual minority (SM) and gender minority (GM) youth are more likely to experience self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (SITBs) than heterosexual and cisgender youth. A major barrier to identifying and treating SITBs is nondisclosure. In this study, we explored differences in SITB disclosure patterns between SM and GM youth and their heterosexual and cisgender peers. In this study, we further examined the association between discrimination experiences and SITB disclosure. METHODS Adolescents (N = 931) completed questionnaires assessing demographics, SITBs, disclosure history, disclosure barriers, future intentions to disclose SITBs, and discrimination history. RESULTS Few differences in SITB disclosure patterns emerged between SM and GM youth and heterosexual and cisgender youth (P > .05). SM and GM youth endorsed greater rates of fear of disclosure to and worrying parents, two parent-related barriers ( χ 2 2 = 8.11, P = .017; χ 2 2 = 7.25, P = .027). GM youth reported greater discrimination experiences than SM youth (F = 6.17, P = .002); discrimination experiences impacted their willingness to disclose future SITBs more so than their SM and heterosexual and cisgender peers (F = 11.58, P CONCLUSIONS Minority stress experiences may interfere with SITB disclosure, particularly among GM youth. Targeted interventions should be considered to reduce minority stress and support disclosure.
Making Appropriate Revisions to Your Manuscript

The editorial feedback received by a traveler who aspires to have their travel work published should be considered and responded to seriously. The extent to which the writer can understand, address, and incorporate solutions suggested by a well-intentioned reader will determine the likelihood of future acceptance and publication of their work.