cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Game Theoretical Approach to Model Decision Making for Merging Maneuvers at Freeway On-Ramps

Drivers of merging vehicles decide when to merge by considering surrounding vehicles in adjacent lanes in their deliberation process. Conflicts between drivers of the subject vehicles (i.e., merging vehicles) in an auxiliary lane and lag vehicles in the adjacent lane are typical near freeway on-ramps. This paper models a decision-making process for merging maneuvers that uses a game theoretical approach. The proposed model is based on the noncooperative decision making of two players, that is, drivers of the subject and lag vehicles, without consideration of advanced communication technologies. In the decision-making process, the drivers of the subject vehicles elect to accept gaps, and drivers of lag vehicles either yield or block the action of the subject vehicle. Corresponding payoff functions for two players were formulated to describe their respective maneuvers. To estimate model parameters, a bi-level optimization approach was used. The next generation simulation data set was used for model calibrat...
Mucolipin-2 Cation Channel Increases Trafficking Efficiency of Endocytosed Viruses

Receptor-mediated endocytosis is a cellular process commonly hijacked by viruses to enter cells. The stages of entry are well described for certain viruses, but the host factors that mediate each step are less well characterized. We previously identified endosomal cation channel mucolipin-2 (MCOLN2) as a host factor that promotes viral infection. Here, we assign a role for MCOLN2 in modulating viral entry. We show that MCOLN2 specifically promotes viral vesicular trafficking and subsequent escape from endosomal compartments. This mechanism requires channel activity, occurs independently of antiviral signaling, and broadly applies to enveloped RNA viruses that require transport to late endosomes for infection, including influenza A virus, yellow fever virus, and Zika virus. We further identify a rare allelic variant of human MCOLN2 that has a loss-of-function phenotype with respect to viral enhancement. These findings establish a mechanistic link between an endosomal cation channel and late stages of viral entry.IMPORTANCE Viruses must co-opt cellular processes to complete their life cycle. To enter cells, viruses frequently take advantage of cellular receptor-mediated endocytosis pathways. A growing number of host proteins are implicated in these viral uptake pathways. Here, we describe a new role for the gated cation channel MCOLN2 in viral entry. This endosomal protein modulates viral entry by enhancing the efficiency of viral trafficking through the endosomal system. Thus, MCOLN2-mediated enhancement of infection may represent a key vulnerability in the viral life cycle that could be targeted for therapeutic intervention.
Trying to Increase Carpooling at a Major U.S. University: A Survey and an Intervention

Abstract Many universities are attempting to reduce the CO2 emissions created by employee commuting. One way to do so is to encourage carpooling. A focus group and an online survey were performed at Michigan State University (N = 1,334), to determine 1.) the prevalence of carpooling among employees, 2.) the barriers employees perceive to be entailed in carpooling, and 3.) ways to reduce these barriers. Only 7 percent of those polled carpooled most of the time and only 3.7 percent carpooled at least 90 percent of the time. Surveys suggested that modest economic incentives for carpooling would not have much influence. However, making the purchase of carpool permits more convenient would have a greater effect, as would making it easier for a carpool member to occasionally drive separately at no extra cost. A major issue cited is finding carpool partners. While there is a carpooling matching website, very few people know about it. Aside from needing better publicity, respondents suggested that having access t...
Genes, Memes, Culture, and Psychosomatic Medicine: An Integrative Model

The brain evolved as a specialized organ dedicated to processing information. Information is stored as memory, which may be a result of learning, or may be intrinsic, derived from genes. The evolution of the brain facilitated learning, survival, reproduction, and further enlargement of the brain. Learning through trial and error created information that facilitated individual and species survival, but the information contained in the memories died with the organism until the brain developed imitation as a learning tool [1].
The Enlightenment and Western Civilization

On the account of its impact and legacy in modern democratic societies and their constitutive values and institutions, the Enlightenment can be considered the critical historical point and the landmark intellectual event in contemporary, specifically postmedieval Western and world civilization since the eighteenth century. At least it can be thus considered in conjunction with the Industrial Revolution and the French and American Revolutions, as its direct or indirect economic and political outcomes, realizations, or expressions, respectively.
Evaluation of Tomlinson-Harashima Precoding for 5G Massive MU-MIMO

This paper presents the design and evaluation of a practical nonlinear precoder for downlink MU-MIMO operation in a 5G system with a large array. The proposed precoder combines conventional linear precoders with a Tomlinson-Harashima precoder (THP) to achieve a lower complexity implementation, and provide more flexibility for various types of CSI feedback while offering substantial performance gain. Through extensive and realistic simulations, we provide performance evaluation of the proposed design and benchmark its performance against widely adopted linear precoders. Our numerical results demonstrate that the proposed precoder can achieve gains in sum rate over linear precoders even with limited and delayed CSI. Furthermore, the performance of the proposed scheme is more robust to smaller array sizes and various propagation conditions.
A randomized controlled trial for aggression and substance use involvement among Veterans: Impact of combining Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Treatment and telephone-based Continuing Care

Abstract Physical aggression (towards partners or non-partners) is common among patients in treatment for substance use disorders (SUDs), including among Veteran samples; however, few treatment programs provide adjunct intervention approaches targeting reduction or prevention of aggression. The primary objectives of this comparative efficacy study were to examine the impact of adjunct aggression interventions delivered during treatment on aggression and substance use outcomes, including: a) an acute treatment phase 6-session integrated Motivational Interviewing-Cognitive Behavioral Treatment intervention (MI-CBT) for aggression and substance use prevention, b) MI-CBT plus a 12-week telephone-based Continuing Care (MI-CBT + CC) intervention, and c) an acute phase single session control condition [including some discussion of violence prevention and local violence prevention resources (Enhanced Treatment as Usual (E-TAU))]. Participants (N = 180; 165 males and 15 females) were Veterans with SUD problems and past-year severe aggression who were randomized to one of three conditions: MI-CBT, MI-CBT + CC, or E-TAU. Primary 12-month outcomes included physical aggression and injury to partners, non-partners, and total aggression (collapsing across partner and non-partner relationships). Substance use outcomes included heavy drinking, marijuana use, cocaine use, and overall illicit substance use. Due to low representation in the sample (n = 4 women in each group at follow-up), women were excluded from primary analyses. According to unadjusted analyses of male participants, all groups showed similar significant declines in aggression over time, with the MI-CBT and MI-CBT + CC groups showing significant reductions in more substance use outcomes (heavy drinking, cocaine use, overall illicit drug use) than the E-TAU group. The only significant group x time interaction was for partner physical aggression by men (those in the MI-CBT + CC group showed a significantly greater decrease from baseline to follow-up). Also, neither the MI-CBT nor MI-CBT + CC groups reported any injuring of partners during the follow-up. For heavy drinking, cocaine, marijuana and overall illicit drug use, there were significant reductions over time, but no group by time interaction effects. The findings illustrate significant reductions in aggression and substance use over time for those involved in VA SUD treatment, and a potential modest benefit of additional integrated treatment approaches (MI-CBT, MI-CBT + CC) on reducing aggression. Future studies should examine dissemination efforts in the VA, cost-effectiveness, and moderators of outcome.
PMAO coated Na(Gd0.5Lu0.5)F4:Nd3+ nanocrystals as multifunctional contrast agent with NIR optical, X-ray and magnetic imaging properties.

Abstract Nanomaterials with multiple imaging functionalities are nowadays getting tremendous attention due to their several superior features compared to existing contrast agents. By developing a nanomaterial that exhibit multiple functionalities, the possibility to increase the amount of imaging information obtained in a short amount of time is becoming more and more a reality. In this work, we developed a multifunctional nanocrystals (NCs), Na(Gd0.5Lu0.5)F4:Nd3+, that combines multiple rare-earth features as an all-in-one imaging agent comprised of optical imaging, magnetic imaging, and X-ray imaging by utilizing the superparamagnetic features of Gd3+, the high X-ray absorption cross section of Lu3+, and the NIR fluorescence of Nd3+. Morphology, optical properties, and cell viability are shown in detail where the utility of this multifunctional imaging agent was confirmed by optical, X-ray and magnetic imaging experiments. Surface functionalization of the NCs is also presented to highlight the potential application of the NCs as contrast agents in biological imaging.
Binding Site Studies of Ovotransferrin by UV and NMR Spectroscopies

Abstract Ultraviolet difference titrations of apo-ovotransferrin (OTf) and Fe 2 OTf(CO 3 ) 2 reveal two binding site tyrosyl residues with abnormally low pK * s of ca . 8.5. NMR difference titrations of apo- and Ga(III) half molecules of OTf revealed two histidyl sidechains in each half molecule to have unusually high pK * s and to be involved in metal binding. Anion binding appears to perturb the pK * of a third histidyl sidechain in the C-terminal half molecule.
Evaluation of Hydrostatic High Pressure and Cold Storage Parameters for the Reduction of Campylobacter jejuni in Chicken Livers

ABSTRACT In recent years, reoccurring Campylobacter-mediated outbreaks of human disease have been linked to undercooked chicken livers. A need exists for interventions to significantly reduce Campy...
Unnecessary Cervical Epidural Injection in An Octogenarian.

Background Epidural spine injections (ESI) have no documented long-term efficacy. Furthermore, cervical ESI uniquely risk intramedullary injections with resultant neurological deficits (e.g. monoplegia to quadriplegia), and intravascular vertebral injections (e.g. which potentially contribute to stroke, brain stem infarction). Case Description A patient in his mid-eighties presented with 1 year's duration of neck pain without any accompanying numbness, tingling or weakness in the upper or lower extremities. He had no radiculopathy, myelopathy, or neurological deficit. Two years earlier, the patient sustained a myocardial infarction (MI), requiring over 5 stents and a defibrillator. At the time of presentation, he was still on a baby ASA (81 mg/day), on anti-hypertensives, and cholesterol-lowering medications. His non-contrast cervical CT scan (patient had a pacemaker/defibrillator and could not have an MR) from the summer of 2018 showed no significant spinal cord or nerve root compression at any level. Nevertheless, he was subjected to two cervical epidural injections in the early fall; his baby ASA was stopped 5 days prior to each of these injections. Notably, this placed him at increased risk of MI and/or stroke. When he was seen by neurosurgery, without any neurological deficit or significant cervical radiographic findings, he was referred back to neurology for continued conservative management. Conclusions Patients are increasingly subjected to epidural cervical spinal injections that have no documented long-term efficacy, and expose them to significant risks/complications. This 80+ year-old patient, without a neurological deficit or significant cervical CT-documented pathology, underwent 2 cervical ESI that unnecessarily exposed him to potential cardiac-stent related thrombosis (e.g. stopping ASA for 5 days-a bona-fide requirement for ESI to avoid acute epidural hematomas).
The Surgical Risk Preoperative Assessment System: Determining which predictor variables can be automatically obtained from the electronic health record:

IntroductionThe Surgical Risk Preoperative Assessment System is a parsimonious, universal surgical risk calculator integrated into our local electronic health record. We determined how many of its ...
Emotion dynamics concurrently and prospectively predict mood psychopathology.

Abstract Introduction Altered emotion dynamics may represent a transdiagnostic risk factor for mood psychopathology. The present study examined whether altered emotion dynamics were associated with bipolar and depressive psychopathology concurrently and at a three-year follow-up. Methods At baseline (n = 138), participants completed diagnostic interviews, questionnaires, and seven days of experience sampling assessments. Four emotion dynamics were computed for negative affect (NA) and positive affect (PA) – within-person variance (variability), mean square of successive differences and probability of acute change (instability), and autocorrelation (inertia). At the three-year follow-up, participants (n = 108) were re-assessed via interviews and questionnaires. Results NA variability was associated with bipolar spectrum disorders at baseline and follow-up. NA instability predicted depressive symptoms and hypomanic personality at baseline, and bipolar spectrum disorders at the follow-up. NA inertia did not predict diagnoses or symptoms at either assessment. PA inertia predicted hyperthymic temperament at baseline but not follow-up. Notably, NA variability and instability predicted the development of new bipolar spectrum disorders at the follow-up. Limitations Consistent with the recruitment strategy and young age of the participants, only 50% had developed diagnosable psychopathology by the time of the follow-up assessment. Conclusions The present study provided a unique demonstration that altered emotion dynamics differentially predicted bipolar and depressive psychopathology concurrently and prospectively. Emotion dynamics are important to both digital phenotyping and mobile-based interventions as emotional instability offers a measurable risk factor that is identifiable prior to illness onset.
Emerging Concepts and Tools in Cell Mechanomemory.

Studying a cell’s ability to sense and respond to mechanical cues has emerged as a field unto itself over the last several decades, and this research area is now populated by engineers and biologists alike. As just one example of this cell mechanosensing, fibroblasts on soft substrates have slower growth rates, smaller spread areas, lower traction forces, and slower migration speeds compared to cells on stiff substrates. This phenomenon is not unique to fibroblasts, as these behaviors, and others, on soft substrates has been shown across a variety of cell types, and reproduced in many different labs. Thus far, the field has focused on discerning the mechanisms of cell mechanosensing through ion channels, focal adhesions and integrin-binding sites to the ECM, and the cell cytoskeleton. A relatively new concept in the field is that of mechanical memory, which refers to persistent effects of mechanical stimuli long after they have been removed from said stimulus. Here, we review this literature, provide an overview of emerging substrate fabrication approaches likely to be helpful for the field, and suggest the adaption of genetic tools for studying mechanical memory.
Origins of the Kuroshio and Mindanao Currents

Abstract : The long-term goal of this work is to understand the ocean s circulation in the bifurcation region of the Kuroshio and Mindanao Currents. The westward flowing North Equatorial Current runs into the Philippine coast and bifurcates into the northward Kuroshio and the southward Mindanao Current. The partitioning of the flow into the Kuroshio and Mindanao Currents is an important observable. Quantifying these flows and understanding bifurcation dynamics are essential to improving predictions of regional circulation, and to characterizing property transports that ultimately affect Pacific climate. The objective of the OKMC program is to make observations of circulation in the area of the western Pacific Ocean where the North Equatorial Current runs into the western boundary near the Philippine Archipelago and bifurcates into the northward-flowing Kuroshio Current and the southward-flowing Mindanao Current. The observations made during OKMC include glider transects, surface drifters and profiling floats. It is anticipated that the mapped circulation will be used elucidate the ocean dynamics in the bifurcation region, and will help us understand what sets the partioning of the current transports between the Kuroshio and Mindanao Currents. It will also provide improved estimates of the transport of the Mindanao Current, which has been poorly observed historically
Vitamin D3 Metabolites Demonstrate Prognostic Value in EGFR-Mutant Lung Adenocarcinoma and Can be Deployed to Oppose Acquired Therapeutic Resistance

EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR TKIs) are the standard of care treatment for patients with EGFR-mutant lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Although initially effective, EGFR TKIs are not curative. Disease inevitably relapses due to acquired drug resistance. We hypothesized that vitamin D metabolites could be used with EGFR TKIs to prevent therapeutic failure. To test this idea, we investigated the link between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) and progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with EGFR-mutant LUAD that received EGFR TKIs (erlotinib n = 20 and afatinib n = 1). Patients who were 25(OH)D3-sufficient experienced significantly longer benefit from EGFR TKI therapy (mean 14.5 months) than those with 25(OH)D3 insufficiency (mean 10.6 months, p = 0.026). In contrast, 25(OH)D3 had no prognostic value in patients with KRAS-mutant LUAD that received cytotoxic chemotherapy. To gain mechanistic insights, we tested 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) activity in vitro. 1,25(OH)2D3 promoted epithelial differentiation and restored EGFR TKI sensitivity in models of EGFR TKI resistance that were associated with epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT). 1,25(OH)2D3 was ineffective in a non-EMT model of resistance. We conclude that vitamin D sufficiency portends increased PFS among EGFR-mutant LUAD patients that receive EGFR TKIs, and that vitamin D signaling maintains drug efficacy in this specific patient subset by opposing EMT.
Two interacting ATPases protect Mycobacterium tuberculosis from glycerol and nitric oxide toxicity

The Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv genome has been sequenced and annotated over 20 years ago, yet roughly half of the protein-coding genes still lack a predicted function. We characterized two genes of unknown function, rv3679 and rv3680, for which inconsistent findings regarding their importance for virulence in mice have been reported. We confirmed that a rv3679-80 deletion mutant (Δrv3679-80) was virulent in mice and discovered that Δrv3679-80 suffered from a glycerol-dependent recovery defect on agar plates following mouse infection. Glycerol also exacerbated killing of Δrv3679-80 by nitric oxide. Rv3679-Rv3680 have previously been shown to form a complex with ATPase activity and we demonstrate that the ability of M. tuberculosis to cope with elevated levels of glycerol and nitric oxide requires intact ATP-binding motifs in both Rv3679 and Rv3680. Inactivation of glycerol kinase or Rv2370c, a protein of unknown function, suppressed glycerol mediated toxicity in Δrv3679-80 Glycerol catabolism led to increased intracellular methylglyoxal pools and Δrv3679-80 was hypersusceptible to extracellular methylglyoxal suggesting that glycerol toxicity in Δrv3679-80 is caused by methylglyoxal. Rv3679 and Rv3680 interacted with Rv1509, and Rv3679 had numerous additional interactors including proteins of the type II fatty acid synthase (FASII) pathway and mycolic acid modifying enzymes linking Rv3679 to fatty acid or lipid synthesis. This work provides experimentally determined roles for Rv3679 and Rv3680 and stimulates future research on these and other proteins of unknown function.Importance A better understanding of the pathogenesis of tuberculosis requires a better understanding of gene function in M. tuberculosis This work provides the first functional insight into the Rv3679/Rv3680 ATPase complex. We demonstrate that M. tuberculosis requires this complex and specifically its ATPase activity to resist glycerol and nitric oxide toxicity. We provide evidence that the glycerol-derived metabolite methylglyoxal causes toxicity in the absence of Rv3679/Rv3680. We further show that glycerol-dependent toxicity is reversed when glycerol kinase (GlpK) is inactivated. Our work uncovered other genes of unknown function that interact with Rv3679 and/or Rv3680 genetically or physically, underscoring the importance of understanding uncharacterized genes.
Mechanics and Differential Healing Outcomes of Small and Large Partial-Thickness Injuries of the Rat Rotator Cuff

ABSTRACT The size of rotator cuff tears affects clinical outcomes following rotator cuff repair and is correlated with risk of re-injury. This study aimed to understand how defect size influences the structural and mechanical outcomes of the injured rotator cuff attachment in vivo. We used our previously established model of partial-thickness injury of the rotator cuff tendon-bone attachment in Long Evans rats to compare differences in healing outcomes between small and large defects. Biomechanical properties, gross morphology, bone remodeling, and cell and tissue morphology were assessed at 3- or 8-weeks of healing. At the time of injury (no healing), large defects had decreased mechanical properties compared to small defects, and both defect sizes had decreased mechanical properties compared to intact attachments. The mechanical properties of the defect groups were comparable after 8-weeks of healing and significantly improved compared to no healing but failed to return to intact levels. Local bone volume at the defect site was higher in large compared to small defects on average and increased from 3- to 8-weeks. Contrastingly, bone quality, measured as bone volume percentage and trabecular morphometry, of the total epiphysis and greater tubercle decreased from 3- to 8-weeks of healing and these changes were not dependent on defect size. Qualitatively, we observed that large defects had increased disorganized collagen and neovascularization compared to small defects. In this study, we demonstrated that not only small, but also large, partial-thickness defects do not regenerate the mechanical and structural integrity of the intact rat rotator cuff attachment following healing in vivo. Statement of Clinical Significance: Our rat model of partial-thickness rotator cuff tears may be beneficial to understand and prevent tear enlargement in vivo.
The Macdonald-Kac formulas as a consequence of the Euler-Poincaré principle

Publisher Summary This chapter presents a summary of a previous paper, where the authors computed the homology of certain infinite-dimensional Lie algebras and used these computations, together with the Euler-Poincare principle to obtain the identities of I. G. Macdonald and V. G. Kac, Kac. The chapter overviews certain Lie algebras associated with symmetrizable Cartan matrices and introduces the related notions of the Weyl groups and root systems of these Lie algebras. These Lie algebras and related notions were first defined and studied by Kac and Moody. The chapter introduces certain derivations D i of a Kac-Moody algebra g , and then defines an extended algebra g e , obtained by adjoining such derivations to g . The notion of a quasisimple module is presented where a certain subalgebra u - of g , associated with a certain subset of simple roots is defined. Subsequently, an overview of the combinatorial identities of Kac and Macdonald is presented in the chapter.
Evaluating the Validity of Risk Scoring in Predicting Pacemaker Rates following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

Introduction. Requirement of permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation is a known and common postoperative consequence of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). The Emory risk score has been recently developed to help risk stratify the need for PPM insertion in patients undergoing TAVR with SAPIEN 3 valves. Our aim was to assess the validity of this risk score in our patient population, as well as its applicability to patients receiving self-expanding valves. Methods. We conducted a retrospective review of 479 TAVR patients without preoperative pacemakers from November 2016 through December 2018. Preoperative risk factors included in the Emory risk score were collected for each patient: preoperative QRS, preoperative right bundle branch block (RBBB), preoperative syncope, and degree of valve oversizing. Multivariable analysis of the individual variables within the scoring system to identify predictors of PPM placement was performed. The predictive discrimination of the risk score for the risk of PPM placement after TAVR was assessed with the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Results. Our results demonstrated that, of the 479 patients analyzed, 236 (49.3%) received balloon-expandable valves and 243 (50.7%) received self-expanding valves. Pacemaker rates were higher in patients receiving self-expanding valves than those receiving balloon-expandable valves (25.1% versus 16.1%, ). The Emory risk score showed a moderate correlation with pacemaker requirement in patients receiving each valve type, with AUC for balloon-expandable and self-expanding valves of 0.657 and 0.645, respectively. Of the four risk score components, preoperative RBBB was the only predictor of pacemaker requirement with an AUC of 0.615 for both balloon-expandable and self-expanding valves. Conclusion. In our cohort, the Emory risk score had modest predictive utility for PPM insertion after balloon-expandable and self-expanding TAVR. The risk score did not offer better discriminatory utility than that of preoperative RBBB alone. Understanding the determinants of PPM insertion after TAVR can better guide patient education and postoperative management.
Development of a Nomogram to Predict Graft Survival After Penetrating Keratoplasty.

Purpose To develop a nomogram to predict the 3- and 5-year likelihood of graft survival after penetrating keratoplasty (PK) based on preoperative assessment and intraoperative plan. Design Retrospective clinical case-control study. Methods Data from 1,029 consecutive PKs in 903 eyes of 835 patients performed at a single tertiary center from May 2007 to September 2018 were extracted from electronic medical records and evaluated for corneal graft failure, defined as irreversible and visually significant graft edema, haze, or scarring. Thirty-seven variables were assessed by multivariable Cox models. A nomogram to predict the probability of graft survival was created. Results Mean recipient age was 57.1 ± 22.0 years and mean follow-up was 4.22 ± 3.05 years. Overall, 37.4% of grafts failed during follow-up. Eleven variables were significantly associated with graft failure, including active microbial infection at the time of PK (hazard ratio [HR] = 5.10, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.53-7.37), intraocular silicone oil at the conclusion of the PK (HR = 4.28, 95% CI 2.38-7.71), history of systemic autoimmune disease (HR = 2.83, 95% CI 1.63-4.90), 4 quadrants of corneal neovascularization (HR = 2.76, 95% CI 1.56-4.86), any prior anterior segment surgery (HR = 2.41, 95% CI 1.55-3.75), and lens status as anterior chamber intraocular lens at the conclusion of surgery (HR = 2.35, 95% CI 1.30-4.26). The nomogram exhibited a concordance index of 0.76 (95% CI 0.74-0.78); internal calibration plots depicted strong correlation between prediction and observation of graft survival. Conclusions PK graft prognosis may be predicted relatively accurately based on 11 variables. Although established from retrospective data, this nomogram would be valuable for data-driven patient counseling prior to corneal transplantation.
Evaluation of the Implementation of a Well-being Promotion Program for College Students

Stress that undergraduate students experience is a growing public health concern, and there is increasing attention to programs that promote protective factors and skills to support resilience and well-being. Be REAL (REsilient Attitudes and Living) is a program that has been shown to increase students' use of effective coping strategies, mindfulness, and sense of well-being. This study examined whether the program would be effective when delivered by university staff who mentor or advise students. Methods: Eleven university staff advising or mentoring students delivered Be REAL in a variety of campus settings to 271 students, and 116 students completed pre- and post-test assessments to evaluate potential changes in stress reduction, managing emotions, coping, social connections, well-being and mental health. Results: Students who participated in Be REAL showed significant pre to post-test improvements in perceived stress, emotion dysregulation, coping, social connection, self-compassion, and symptoms of anxiety. There was also a trend toward improvements in symptoms of depression. Conclusions: The findings suggest that training university staff who work with students to deliver well-being programs is a potential avenue for supporting college student mental health, and a more rigorous evaluation of the Be REAL program is warranted.
Cardiovascular complications associated with novel agents in the chronic lymphocytic leukemia armamentarium: A pharmacovigilance analysis.

Abstract Introduction Over the last few years, improved outcomes in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) have been credited to the introduction of novel agents for its treatment. However, the overall cardiovascular safety profile of these agents has not been studied adequately. Methods We searched the Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database for adverse events reported for several of these novel agents: ibrutinib, acalabrutinib, venetoclax, and idelalisib. Results A total of 6074 cardiac adverse events were identified; ibrutinib (4832/36581; 13.2%) was found to have the highest risk of cardiac adverse events. The frequency of atrial fibrillation was highest (41.5%) in the ibrutinib group, while the idelalisib and acalabrutinib groups had the highest reported frequencies of heart failure (25.1%) and myocardial infarction (13.6%), respectively. Hypertension was noted to be relatively higher in the acalabrutinib (25.6%) and venetoclax (11.8%) groups. Overall reported mortality associated with cardiac events was highest in the venetoclax (29.4%) and idelalisib (27.1%) groups. Conclusion Novel agents in the CLL armamentarium have been associated with several cardiovascular adverse events. Further studies are needed to identify high-risk groups that would benefit from robust cardiovascular surveillance after initiation of treatment with these novel agents.
Skin-tone modified emoji and first-person indexicality

Beginning in 2015, people have been able to transform many emoji – typically 18 byte, 12 × 12-pixel images inserted into digital text – with “skin-tone modifiers.” Racialized aspects of self-presen...
The effect of genetic background on phosphorus utilization for growth and bone integrity in pigs

iv Chapter 1: General Introduction Introduction 1 Thesis Organization 2 References 2 Chapter 2: Literature Review Environmental Impact of P from Animal Production 4 Methods for Reducing P Excretion by Animals 4 P Deficiency and P Homeostasis 9 Genetics of Bone Integrity and Nutrition 13 References 14 Chapter 3: Response To Dietary P Deficiency Is Affected By Genetic Background In Growing Pigs Abstract 24 Introduction 25 Materials and Methods 26 Results 30 Discussion 33 Tables 39 Figures 43 References 48
Data bases of accommodative aids for computer users with disabilities

Computers offer an almost limitless range of opportunities for persons with nearly any type and degree of disability. Standard computer configurations, however, can be difficult to access for users with disabilities. Six of the major data bases that describe adaptive computer hardware and software for users with disabilities are reviewed. The most appropriate data base to use depends not only on the type of aid desired but also on the means of access available to the individual, the frequency of use of the data base, and the price of the data base information. None of the data bases reviewed contains the detailed information needed when choosing devices compatible with the user's physical skills and task needs. Consequently, a less-than-systematic approach is currently taken when choosing accommodative aids. An integrated approach combining a capability assessment, a comprehensive needs analysis based on the tasks to be performed, a more detailed data base describing hardware and software, and usability testing is recommended for selecting the appropriate accommodative aid for computer users with disabilities.
Computational performance of level set methods for etching, deposition, and lithography development

The application of level set techniques to problems of two and three dimensional surface evolution in etching, deposition, and lithography development have been described. The techniques are robust, accurate, unbreakable, and extremely fast, and can be applied to highly complex two and three dimensional surface topography evolutions, including sensitive flux/visibility integration laws, simultaneous etching and deposition, effects of non-convex sputter laws demonstrating faceting, as well as ion-sputtered re-deposition and re-emission with low sticking coefficients, and surface diffusion. In this paper, we will focus on efficient algorithms for some of the most complex problems, and discuss the computational requirements and performance of these techniques.
The Atomic Physics Potential of New Accelerators

The use of accelerators by atomic physicists is now in a rapid growth stage. We will attempt to assess types of future accelerators and modes of accelerator usage which seem most promising for atomic physics. The acceleration of heavy-ion beams followed by the stripping process is a powerful method for taking atoms apart. We will make estimates of beam energies required to take apart the heavier atoms and what this implies for future accelerators. Another area of interest is the small accelerator which is equipped with a powerful ion source to produce highly-charged heavy-ions. We will describe the existing Oak Ridge facility. The combined use of accelerators and lasers is an exciting possibility. We illustrate this use by describing the 3 MV Van de Graaff facility at Oak Ridge which has studied atomic excited states with a nanosecond pulsed proton beam and a pulsed laser beam.
Redesign of cylindrical shells by large admissible perturbations.

Structural redesign is the process of finding a new design that satisfies a set of performance requirements starting from a poorly performing design. Structural redesign is formulated as a two-state problem where the baseline design exhibits undesirable response characteristics and the objective design satisfies the design requirements. A LargE Admissible Perturbations (LEAP) methodology is developed to formulate and solve the problem of structural redesign of cylindrical shells for modal dynamics. First, the nonlinear perturbation equations of cylindrical shells for modal dynamics are derived relating the baseline to the unknown objective design. The redesign problem is formulated as an optimization problem. Next, an algorithm is developed to solve the nonlinear problem and to identify a locally optimal design that satisfies the given modal dynamics specifications. The developed LEAP algorithm calculates incrementally without trial and error or the repetitive finite-element analyses the structural design variables of the objective design. Numerical applications of cylindrical shell redesign for modal requirements are used to verify the methodology and test the algorithm. The developed methodology identifies incompatible frequency requirements where solutions cannot be achieved. Further, systematic redesign applications show that even for strip uniform shells, modes are linked, making satisfaction of multiple frequency objectives impossible.
The data-centric revolution in networking

Historically, there has been little overlap between the database and networking research communities; they operate on very different levels and focus on very different issues. While this strict separation of concerns has lasted for many years, in this talk I will argue that the gap has recently narrowed to the point where the two fields now have much to say to each other. Networking research has traditionally focused on enabling communication between network hosts. This research program has produced a myriad of specific algorithms and protocols to solve such problems as error recovery, congestion control, routing, multicast and quality-of-service. It has also led to a set of general architectural principles, such as fate sharing and the end-to-end principle, that provide widely applicable guidelines for allocating functionality among network entities.
Blindness effects in ground plane-backed TEM horn arrays

Arrays of TEM (transverse electromagnetic) horn antennas are possible candidates for ultrawideband (UWB) applications. Those applications require focused radiation or reception of transient waveforms without dispersion. Previous work showed that the useful bandwidth of TEM horn arrays extended from the grating lobe limit down to that frequency at which the entire antenna is one half wavelength across. However, due to the fact that they are open to free space in both directions, there is considerable back lobe energy. When a ground plane is added to prevent the back robe radiation a scan blindness appears due the presence of a trapped wave mode between the hems and the ground plane. This paper summarizes numerical experiments that characterize this blindness phenomenon.
Diabetes: A smart insulin patch

A microneedle-containing patch that is designed to sense elevated blood glucose levels and to respond by releasing insulin could offer people with diabetes a less-painful and more-reliable way to manage their condition.
A descriptive study of baccalaureate nursing students' responses to suicide prevention education

Internationally, little is known regarding the amount of educational content on suicide in undergraduate nursing curriculum. The literature conducted found few published research studies on implementation of suicide prevention instruction in baccalaureate nursing curriculum, even though various international healthcare and nursing initiatives address suicide prevention. The aim was to describe senior baccalaureate students' responses to an evidence-based suicide prevention gatekeeper training program entitled Question-Persuade-Refer implemented in a required course. This is a multi-method descriptive study. Data were collected utilizing a pre-post-survey questionnaire administered to 150 students in four classes of a psychiatric nursing course over a two-year period. The quantitative data were statistically significant (p < 0.000) indicating an overall positive rating of the training. From the qualitative data, the main theme was 'becoming capable intervening with persons at risk for suicide'. Students responded very positively to the evidence based suicide prevention gatekeeper training program. The instruction addresses various national initiatives and strategies filling a void in nursing curriculum, as well as empowering students to engage in suicide prevention interventions.
Anaerobic biotransformation of trichlorofluoroethene in groundwater microcosms

The biological reduction of trichlorofluoroethene (TCFE) was investigated in anaerobic groundwater microcosms. TCFE was reductively dehalogenated by microorganisms to produce three dichlorofluoroethene isomers, with cis-1,2-dichlorofluoroethene (c-DCFE) being the main isomer formed. Further sequential biological transformation of these compounds to mono-chlorofluoroethene isomers was incomplete and occurred at much slower rates. The rates of TCFE reduction were compared to the rates of reduction of two common chlorinated solvents, perchloroethene (PCE) and trichloroethene (TCE), when present at similar concentrations. Aqueous concentrations ranged from 7.0 to 14.0 mg/L for TCFE and from 7.5 to 15.0 mg/L for PCE and TCE. Similar rates of PCE and TCE transformation relative to TCFE were observed in single-compound tests (PCE, TCE, and TCFE in separate microcosms) and when the contaminants were present together as mixtures in the microcosms. The close similarities between the time course and kinetics of TCFE...
Wet etching of GaN, AlN, and SiC : a review

Abstract The wet etching of GaN, AlN, and SiC is reviewed including conventional etching in aqueous solutions, electrochemical etching in electrolytes and defect-selective chemical etching in molten salts. The mechanism of each etching process is discussed. Etching parameters leading to highly anisotropic etching, dopant-type/bandgap selective etching, defect-selective etching, as well as isotropic etching are discussed. The etch pit shapes and their origins are discussed. The applications of wet etching techniques to characterize crystal polarity and defect density/distribution are reviewed. Additional applications of wet etching for device fabrication, such as producing crystallographic etch profiles, are also reviewed.
Force-indentation study of transversely isotropic composite materials using a conical-tip indenter☆

Abstract An experimental and analytical study was conducted on the force-indentation relations of composite materials with a rigid, conical-tip indenter. The analytical analysis was developed based on two models: transversely isotropic elastic, and perfectly plastic. In both cases, the force was proportional to the square of the indentation. The proportional constants were also evaluated for the elastic and plastic models. The elastic proportional constant was found to be much larger than that of the plastic at a given load. Scotchply composite oaminae were experimentally evaluated. Comparison of analytical models and the experimental results indicated that the square-power relation was satisfied. The experimentally determined proportional constant was found to be between the elastic and plastic models, indicating that the actual case is a combination of both models. The plastic model showed the lower bound, while the elastic model showed the upper bound for the proportional constants. As the force increased, the results approached the plastic model and deviated substantially with the elastic model.
Dynamics of Molecules near Ionization

In this paper, we report our experimental studies, using femtosecond-resolved mass spectrometry, and theoretical calculations of the potential energy surfaces, using density functional theory, for 10 aliphatic amines (substituted ammonia) excited directly near the ionization continuum. By probing parent and fragment masses, we are able to decipher pathways of the reactive α-cleavage and the nonreactive internal conversion, a precursor for the following chemistry. The bifurcation in these channels is related to the structure, as evidenced by the dramatic effect of α-substitution vs N-substitution on the time scale of the dynamics-femtosecond vs picosecond rates. For all molecules studied, the observed branching is dependent on the change of character of the state, ionic and/or neutral, along the reaction coordinate, and this change blurs the distinction between Rydberg and Superexcited states in their subsequent reactivity.
Respiratory and Laryngeal Measures of Children and Women With Bilateral Vocal Fold Nodules

Simultaneous assessment of laryngeal and respiratory function was completed on 8 children and 10 women with bilateral vocal fold nodules and compared to that of 8 children and 10 women with normal ...
Manual physical therapy combined with high-intensity functional rehabilitation for severe lower extremity musculoskeletal injuries: a case series*

Objectives: Severe lower extremity trauma accounts for large healthcare costs and often results in elective amputation and poor long-term outcomes. The purpose of this case series is to describe an orthopedic manual physical therapy (OMPT) approach combined with a return to run (RTR) clinical pathway consisting of high-intensity functional rehabilitation with a custom energy-storing orthosis.Methods: Three consecutive male patients, aged 21–23 years, with severe lower extremity musculoskeletal injuries were treated with a combined intervention that included a mean (SD) of 12 (2·1) OMPT sessions and 24 (8·7) functional rehabilitation sessions over a mean of 6 weeks (1·0). Additional training with a custom energy-storing orthosis consisted of a mean of 15 (1·2) additional sessions over 4 weeks. Patient self-report outcome measures and a variety of physical performance tests captured change in function.Results: Baseline lower extremity functional scale (LEFS) and foot and ankle ability measure activities of ...
Exposing multiple User-Specific Data Denominated Products from a single small satellite data stream

This paper presents a research work on small satellite data stream and related distribution to associated stakeholders, which is a field that needs to get explored in more detail. The algorithm that is presented to extract USDDP (User-Specific Data Denominated Products) is a self managing body, which will be within as Open Space Box environment or OSBE as a novel idea. It contains an individual stream transmitted by the small satellite, which later is to be converted into USDDP. The context defined here deals with area in detail. Contexts are vitally important because they control, influence and affect everything within them by dominating its pervasive content(s). This paper shows in depth the achievement of USDDP, which deals with a satellite's transmitting device to the ground station's and associated stakeholders' devices, which are to be spontaneous, readily self-manageable on autonomic basis. This paper shows an actual implementation of USDDP or can also be said as data management, which contains append and update of data received from the satellite, which later is to be used by the payload users to all related devices for further processing and storage needs. Data recharging is utilized to transmit and receive data.