cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Geometry of conservation laws for a class of parabolic partial differential equations

I consider the problem of computing the space of conservation laws for a second-order parabolic partial differential equation for one function of three independent variables. The PDE is formulated as an exterior differential system \({\cal I}\) on a 12-manifold M, and its conservation laws are identified with the vector space of closed 3-forms in the infinite prolongation of \({\cal I}\) modulo the so-called "trivial" conservation laws. I use the tools of exterior differential systems and Cartan's method of equivalence to study the structure of the space of conservation laws. My main result is: Theorem.Any conservation law for a second-order parabolic PDE for one function of three independent variables can be represented by a closed 3-form in the differential ideal ${\cal I}$ on the original 12-manifold M. I show that if a nontrivial conservation law exists, then \({\cal I}\) has a deprolongation to an equivalent system \({\cal J}\) on a 7-manifold N, and any conservation law for \({\cal I}\) can be expressed as a closed 3-form on N that lies in \({\cal J}\). Furthermore, any such system in the real analytic category is locally equivalent to a system generated by a (parabolic) equation of the formA (uxxuyy-u2xy)+Buxx+2Cuxy+Duyy+E = 0 where A, B, C, D, E are functions of x, y, t, u, ux, uy, ut. I compute the space of conservation laws for several examples, and I begin the process of analyzing the general case using Cartan's method of equivalence. I show that the non-linearizable equation \( u_t = {1 \over 2} e^{-u} (u_{xx}+u_{yy}) \) has an infinite-dimensional space of conservation laws. This stands in contrast to the two-variable case, for which Bryant and Griffiths showed that any equation whose space of conservation laws has dimension 4 or more is locally equivalent to a linear equation, i.e., is linearizable.
Sparrow web: group-writable information on structured web pages

Sparrow Web is a server-based software tool that supports the creation and customization of group-writable Web pages. Templates in each page define the data schema and layout of that page's group-editable data items. Using different templates, page authors produce Web pages that support many tasks, including task lists, co-authored documents, bibliographies, home pages, faculty directories, and project lists. While lacking the rich UI of dedicated information-sharing applications, it is successful at supporting a variety of groups and tasks because it integrates information-sharing into Web pages, leveraging the affordances of the Web for supporting group work.
Depressor Effect of Kappa Opioid Agonist on Hypertension Induced by Isolation in the Rat

Previous studies by us established that peripheral and hippocampal administration of kappa opioid receptor agonists lowered blood pressure (BP) in the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR). The object of the present study was to determine whether U62, 066E, a non-peptide kappa agonist, would lower BP in another animal model of hypertension; that produced by isolation of young male rats. After 7 days of isolation had produced a sustained hypertension of approximately 40 mmHg, drug effects were determined in the isolated hypertensive animals and group-housed normotensive rats. Two drug-treated plus vehicle control groups were used as follows: (1)2 mg/kg intraperitoneally twice daily for 3 days in conscious animals and (2) intrahippocampal injection of from 1 to 10 nmol in animals anesthetized with chloralose and pentobarbital. In group (1) the drug lowered both systolic BP (SBP) and mean BP (MBP) nearly to pre-isolation levels, while having no significant effect on these parameters in group-housed normotensi...
Tracing Crustal Fluids: Applications of Natural 129I and 36Cl

The two cosmogenic isotopes 129I and 36Cl have half-lives and geochemical characteristics that make their application of interest in the tracing of crustal fluids, oil field brines, and geothermal fluids. The focus of this review is to compare 129I data from volcanic fluids with those from mud volcanoes and gas hydrate locations associated with the same subduction zone in order to demonstrate that fundamentally different hydrologic systems are present in active margins. Whereas 129I/I ratios in volcanic fluids are site dependent and show a relation to the ages of subducting marine sediments, ratios in fore arc fluids are similar in all sites investigated and are independent of the ages of the host sediments and the age of the subducting slab. Volcanic fluids contain iodine transported in sediments from the trench to the main volcanic zone, whereas iodine in fore arc fluids is derived from organic material stored in the upper plates of subduction zones.
Adapting an HIV Prevention Intervention for High-Risk, Incarcerated Adolescents

This study examined the effectiveness of an adapted 4-session HIV prevention program. Participants included 490 adolescents who participated in either the 8- or the adapted 4-session HIVEd program. Analyses to identify mean changes in HIV-related knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy, and behavioral intentions between participants in either the 4- (n = 274) or 8-session (n = 216) programs were completed. Findings indicate participants in both programs had positive changes at post interview across all study outcomes. No significant differences in changes between participants in the 4- and 8-session programs were found except that male adolescents in the 4-session program had significantly higher mean changes in condom knowledge (p < .01). The adaptation of the 8-session HIVEd program was undertaken to better reach and accommodate the needs of a high risk incarcerated adolescent population. Findings demonstrate that HIV prevention interventions for high risk populations may be successfully adapted and condensed when based on rigorously evaluated and theoretically driven programs.
Reliability Analysis Techniques

Reliability analysis has progressed to the point where a quantification of reliability is possible. Reliability models for electronic equipment and techniques for interpretation of field and laboratory data have been developed. Of more significance, analytical methods leading to higher reliability are available. Reliability estimates enable early pinpointing of low reliability. Catastrophic failures can be controlled and performance change failures reduced through analytical techniques. Redundant techniques allow further reliability improvement even though failures occur. Analytical techniques are a useful aspect of reliability improvement, but they comprise only a part of reliability improvement methods.
Capacity Bounds for Large Scale Wireless Ad Hoc Networks Under Gaussian Channel Model

We study the capacity for both random and arbitrary wireless networks under Gaussian Channel model when all wireless nodes have the same constant transmission power P. During the transmission, the power decays along path with attenuation exponent β > 2. We consider extended networks, where n wireless nodes {v1, v2,..., vn} are randomly or arbitrarily distributed in a square region Ba with side-length a. We randomly choose ns multicast sessions. For each source node vi, we randomly select k points pi,j (1 ≤ j ≤ k) in Ba and the node which is closest to pi,j will serve as a destination node of vi. We derive the achievable upper bounds on unicast capacity and an upper bound (partially achievable) on multicast capacity of the wireless networks under Gaussian Channel model. We found that the unicast (multicast) capacity for wireless networks under Gaussian Channel model has three regimes.
Beta Decay of Bk 250 and Bk 249

The beta decay of ${\mathrm{Bk}}^{250}$ has been studied with a beta spectrometer. ${\mathrm{Bk}}^{250}$ has two beta groups: 725\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}15 kev (89\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1% abundant) and 1760\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}50 kev (11\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1% abundant). Conversion electron lines corresponding to 42.2, 98.2, 890, 930, 990, and 1032-kev transitions were observed and their intensities measured. The information obtained from crystal spectrometer singles and coincidence measurements was combined with beta spectrometer data to construct a decay scheme for ${\mathrm{Bk}}^{250}$ involving gamma vibrational levels in ${\mathrm{Cf}}^{250}$ analogous to those found in ${\mathrm{Pu}}^{238}$. The beta half-life of ${\mathrm{Bk}}^{250}$ is 193.3\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.3 minutes. The electron capture partial half-life of ${\mathrm{Bk}}^{250}$ is estimated to be greater than 50 hours. The beta spectrum of ${\mathrm{Bk}}^{249}$ shows an allowed or first-forbidden transition with an end-point energy of 125\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2 kev.
A characterization of hard-threshold boolean functions

Boolean functions are discrete-valued functions that provide iterative models in different areas of science. They appear in theoretical computer science as automata networks, cellular, and threshold automata [2–4], and also in biomathematics as input-output functions of perceptrons and Hopfield networks [1, 5, 10]. We can also find them in physics as discrete models for disordered matter such as the spin glass problem [6]. In this paper we consider a class of n-valued boolean functions, designated hard-threshold, that represent the activity of discrete recurrent neural network (NN) models. RecurrentNNs are mathematical models consisting of a large number of parallel-operating and interconnected processing units. Information is encoded as a binary sequence (designated state vector) and is distributed among the units composing the network. This permits a high speed more economical machine implementation and avoids the expensive maintenance of a central database unit [12]. The activity of a network consists of an interchange of information stored in the units composing the net. Based on the information flow and the present state of each unit (input), the network makes a synchronous update of its state vector, the new vector is designated an output. Hard-threshold boolean functions represent the dynamics of networks that mimic specific brain activity such as associative memory [5]. Examples of such networks are those that associate to the picture of an animal its name or to a picture of a car its model. Given pairs of binary sequences (x,y), the action of an associative memory network on a given input x should result in the corresponding
Highly Selective Fluorescence Turn-On Sensor for Fluoride Detection

Through click chemistry, triazole and triazolium groups have been explored to recognize anions through C–H···A– hydrogen-bonding complexion. Herein, we demonstrate evidence of fluoride-induced deprotonation of a C–H bond and its application in fluoride detection. The combination of fluorene and triazolium units produced a highly selective fluorescence turn-on prototype sensor for fluoride. The interactions between the C–H bond and F– were studied by fluorescence spectroscopy and 1H NMR titrations. Test papers were prepared to detect fluoride in aqueous media at concentrations down to 1.9 ppm, important for estimating whether the fluoride concentration in drinking water is at a safe level.
Simplifications for scattered-light photoelasticity when using the unpolarized incident beam

A method is presented for obtaining scettered-light photoelastic data in three-dimensional problems using an unpolarized incident light beam. Using simplifying optical assumptions, the scattered-light observation path is considered tobe a series of half-wave retarders. Data are obtained through rotation of the optical analyzer and translation of the incident light beam with respect to the model. The method is applied to obtain data in problems where the secondary principal directions are: (1) fixed and (2) rotate. Results compare favorably with those obatained using a polarized incident beam.
Sampling Biologically in Forest Insect Populations

Establishment of a reliable sampling method is generally recognized as a first prerequisite to any scientific study of insect populations. The method appropriate to a particular problem will depend not only upon the habit of the insect species, the type of environment, and the nature of the distribution of the insect throughout the environment, but must also meet the requirement of practicability for use under actual field conditions.
How I treat pyoderma gangrenosum.

Pyoderma gangrenosum is a progressive ulcerative disease of the skin that occasionally is extremely fulminating and destructive and often occurs in association with chronic ulcerative colitis. Management includes local treatment of the ulcer, systemic treatment with corticosteroids, and treatment of any associated disease.
A Three Dimensional Vertical Differentiation Model: Implications for Segmentation, Targeting and Positioning

Many products have different attributes which appeal to the different segments of the market. We investigate how firms should position their products in a multi-attribute product market where consumers are heterogeneous in (1) the product attributes that they care about, and (2) their willingness to pay for product quality. We develop a duopoly model where each firm offers a product which has three attributes. There are two customer segments in the market; each segment values only two attributes of the product but not the third one. We assume that customers are heterogeneous in their willingness to pay for the quality of product attributes. In a two-stage model, where firms first simultaneously set the level of product attributes and then price the product, we find four types of positioning equilibrium, all of which are of Min-Max kind. If the range of common attribute (the attribute that both customer segments appreciate) is high enough, firm only differentiate in this attribute and agglomerate on unique attributes (the attributes that only one segment appreciate). If the range of common attribute is low enough, firms differentiate only on unique attributes. The differentiation is never enough on only one of the unique attributes, and is never necessary on all three attributes. Our results have managerial implication for segmentation, targeting and positioning in a competitive market.
Value of Ultrasonography in Diagnosis of Developmental Hip Dysplasia in Infants and Young Children

Objective To evaluate the value of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of developmental dysplasia of the hip(DDH)in infants and young children.Methods According to Graf method,100normal infant hips and 100clinically suspected cases of DDH were scanned to observe osseous structure of acetabular fossa,osseous margin and acetabular cartilage fiber glenoid labrum shape and to measure hipαangle,βangle and percentage cover of femoral head(MR).Results The ultrasound clearly showed femoral head cartilage,acetabular cartilage,joint capsule,glenoid labrum and other anatomical structures.Of the 200hips,164were normal.Theαangle,βangle and MR were(62.3±3.8)°,(45.7±5.9)°and(61.2±5.1)%,respectively.DDH was found in36hips.Theαangle,βangle and MR were(49.5±6.3)°,(55.3±9.1)°and(41.6±9.5)%,respectively.The difference was statistically significant(P0.05).Conclusion The ultrasonic measurement of hipαangle,βangle and MR is safe,convenient and practical and provides the basis for the early diagnosis of infantile DDH.Therefore,ultrasonography can be used as an auxiliary diagnostic method for DDH.
428 HYPERCALCEMIA AND SARCOIDOSIS: A PUZZLING OUTCOME.

Background Hypercalcemia during flares of sarcoidosis is reported to occur with a 5-10% incidence. The underlying mechanism is thought to involve high circulating concentrations of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, produced by 1α-hydroxylation of vitamin D within sarcoid granulomas. Granulomatous production of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTH-rp), important in humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy, may also play a role in abnormal calcium metabolism. We report a case of sarcoidosis that presented with significant hypercalcemia and simultaneous elevation of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and PTH-rp. Case Presentation A 39-year-old woman, with recently diagnosed Graves9 disease, was admitted to our hospital with palpitations, fatigue, nausea, and abdominal pain. On admission, she had hypercalcemia (15.2 mg/dL), renal insufficiency (creatinine 1.5 mg/dL), and uncontrolled hyperthyroxinemia (TSH 0.1 uIU/mL, FT4 5.6 ng/dL, and TT3 483 ng/dL). The initial serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 was inappropriately within the normal range (43 pg/mL), while intact PTH was appropriately suppressed (
Deformable Object Behavior Reconstruction Derived Through Simultaneous Geometric and Material Property Estimation

We present a methodology of accurately reconstructing the deformation and surface characteristics of a scanned 3D model recorded in real-time within a Finite Element Model (FEM) simulation. Based on a sequence of generated surface deformations defining a reference animation, we illustrate the ability to accurately replicate the deformation behavior of an object composed of an unknown homogeneous elastic material. We then formulate the procedural generation of the internal geometric structure and material parameterization required to achieve the recorded deformation behavior as a non-linear optimization problem. In this formulation the geometric distribution (quality) and density of tetrahedral components are simultaneously optimized with the elastic material parameters (Young’s Modulus and Possion’s ratio) of a procedurally generated FEM model to provide the optimal deformation behavior with respect to the recorded surface.
Efforts to prevent mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 through human milk: past, present, and future.

About a third of mothers who are positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infect their newborn infants (UNAIDS/WHO 2002). Most vertical transmission occurs during gestation and delivery (Edgeworth & Ugen 2000). Breastfeeding by an HIV-positive woman adds an additional 14% to the risk of in utero and intrapartum transmission (Dunn et al. 1992). Alternatives to breastfeeding or modulation of breastfeeding techniques that are accessible, acceptable, and safe to use in low- and middle-income countries are in demand. Thus, research on making breastfeeding safer is a high priority. The purpose of this chapter is to review treatment approaches to decrease or eliminate HIV in human milk.
Our experience with the adrenogenital syndrome: a review of 16 cases.

AbstractAn analysis of 16 children with the adrenogenital syndrome illustrates the diversity of the clinical and laboratory features of the disorder. The need for critical periodic evaluation of individual assessment of each child and the dosage of corticosteroids being used is emphasized.
Differentiated Thyroid Cancer and Brain Metastases

Brain metastases are uncommonly detected in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC), often only being identified at autopsy. Screening imaging studies to detect brain metastases are unlikely to be warranted in asymptomatic patients, but those who present with suggestive neurologic symptoms should be promptly evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging. In the setting of oligometastatic disease (one to three isolated intracerebral lesions), stereotactic radiosurgery or surgical excision is an appropriate intervention, depending upon the patient’s full extent of their disease and comorbidities; whole-brain radiotherapy would be recommended in the setting of more widespread intracerebral metastases. Radioactive iodine may provide some therapeutic benefit if there is sufficient uptake and retention of 131-I, which can be suggested by pretreatment diagnostic scanning and/or dosimetry. Pharmacologic therapy with glucocorticoids can reduce complications from peritumoral edema, and TSH-suppressive thyroid hormone therapy should be maintained. Data are lacking on the efficacy of systemic therapies such as kinase inhibitors or cytotoxic chemotherapy specific to brain metastases from DTC, but given reports suggesting benefit with these agents in the treatment of other malignancies metastatic to the brain, these therapies may also be considered when appropriate.
Proteins of the Calnexin Cycle Regulate αIIbβ3 Surface Expression in Human Megakaryocyte-Lineage Cells.

The αIIbβ3 integrin receptor mediates platelet aggregation, and individuals without functional αIIbβ3 manifest the mucocutaneous bleeding disorder Glanzmann thrombasthenia. Since platelets also participate in the pathophysiology of thrombosis, anti-αIIbβ3 agents have been successful in reducing mortality after percutaneous coronary interventions and from platelet-mediated coronary thrombosis. Accordingly, much research has focused on the structure, activation and signaling of the mature receptor on the cell surface. There is much to be gained medically and scientifically by understanding the intracellular processes by which integrins are assembled and expressed. Some forms of Glanzmann thrombasthenia result from mutations that disrupt normal integrin folding and assembly, causing the integrin subunits to be retained in the ER and degraded. These cases indicate the existence of a quality control mechanism for αIIbβ3 by which misfolded subunits are recognized, retained and degraded. Previous studies in HEK293 cells and murine megakaryocytes have identified the calnexin cycle as part of this quality control mechanism. We have expanded upon these findings and studied their functional implications by determining the effect of siRNA-induced knock down of proteins from six families of post-translational processing proteins on αIIbβ3 surface expression on human megakaryocyte-lineage cells derived from umbilical cord blood (UCB): lectins, glucosyltransferases, mannosidases, HSP90s, HSP70s, BiP, protein disulfide isomerases, and tetraspanins. We report that siRNA against two proteins in the calnexin cycle decreased surface expression of natively-folded αIIbβ3 on UCB-derived megakaryocytes as measured by binding of 10E5, an αIIbβ3 complex-dependent mAb. siRNA against UDP-glucose ceramide glucosyltransferase-like 1(UGGT, a glucosyltransferase) decreased binding by 36 +/− 9%, and siRNA against EDEM1 (a mannosidase) decreased binding by 15 +/− 14%, both p
Psychiatric Diagnoses Among Older Recipients of Publicly Funded Mental Health Services.

Objectives To compare the prevalence of psychiatric diagnoses among older recipients of publicly funded mental health services (county safety-net base services and Medicaid) to psychiatric diagnoses in an insured population of older adults from the same county. Design Secondary analysis of county human services claims data and claims from an insured population in the same county. Setting Inpatient and outpatient clinics in Allegheny County, PA. Participants Adults aged 65 and older in the county who received treatment for a psychiatric diagnosis in 2012 (county base services, n = 1,457; Medicaid, n = 641; Health plan insurance, n = 5,595). Measurements Psychiatric diagnoses were classified using the International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision (ICD-9). Results Episodic mood disorders and schizophrenia were more common among county-funded and Medicaid recipients (50–54% vs 34%). Neurotic conditions were more common among older adults with health plan insurance (18% vs 8%). Nearly a quarter of older adults receiving county base services were classified as having “ill-defined and unknown causes of morbidity and mortality,” compared <1% among insured and 6% among Medicaid recipients. Conclusions The prevalence of psychiatric conditions among older adults varies by insurance coverage, suggesting a role for social and economic factors associated with safety net coverage as well as system-level differences in delivery of mental health services. Comparing the prevalence of psychiatric diagnoses across insurance types offers insight on social determinants of risk for mental disorders in late life.
Suicide Ideation and Acceptability Toward Online Help‐Seeking

Suicidal individuals are unlikely to engage in face-to-face treatment. The Internet is emerging as an innovative approach for intervention delivery, particularly for those unable or unwilling to attend traditional treatment. Participants (N = 459) were recruited to fill out online questionnaires on suicide ideation and help-seeking modality preference. The majority of participants endorsed preferring face-to-face help over web-based help. Results from multinominal logistic regression indicated that suicide ideation was significantly related to preferring online methods versus face-to-face methods. This study highlights that the Internet can provide a novel platform to treat individuals at risk of suicide.
Organizing an After-School Program

Approximately eight million students in the United States attend after-school programs (Durlak et al. 2010a). After-school programs range from homework assistance to organized recreational games, and to academically oriented skills training and prevention activities. The US government spends about $1 billion annually to support after-school programs (US Department of Education 2009). This expense is justi?able if it helps students improve in school. Indeed, one estimate suggests that approximately $1.4 billion could be saved each year from the criminal justice system if a mere 1 % of those male students who drop out before graduation were to ?nish high school (Levin and Holmes 2005). Failure in school leads to failure in life (Miech et al. 2005)
A Mechanism for Eliciting Second-Order Beliefs and the Inclination to Choose

This paper describes a direct revelation mechanism for eliciting decision makers’ introspective beliefs on sets of subjective prior or posterior probabilities. The proposed scheme constitutes a revealedpreference procedure for measuring the inclination of decision makers to choose one alternative over another modeled by Minardi and Savochkin (2015).
Type 1 immune-mediated polyarthritis in dogs and lack of a temporal relationship to vaccination.

Objectives To investigate whether there is a temporal relationship between vaccination and the onset of type 1 immune-mediated polyarthritis in dogs. Materials and Methods Retrospective case–control study: 39 dogs from a referral hospital with a diagnosis of type 1 immune-mediated polyarthritis were age-matched with 78 control dogs with other diagnoses. A temporal association between vaccination and polyarthritis was considered positive if recent vaccination had been performed within 28 days of the onset of clinical signs of immune-mediated polyarthritis. The odds ratio association of recent vaccination with immune-mediated polyarthritis was calculated using matched case–control methods. Results Of the 39 dogs in the type 1 immune-mediated polyarthritis group, four had been vaccinated within 28 days before onset of clinical signs compared to six dogs in the control group. The odds ratio for a dog developing type 1 immune-mediated polyarthritis if vaccinated within the last 28 days was estimated to be 1·44 (95% confidence interval 0·25 to 8·24, P = 0·88). Clinical Significance There was no evidence of a temporal relationship between vaccination and type 1 immune-mediated polyarthritis, although the large confidence interval on the odds ratio suggests a need for larger studies to confirm this finding.
ONIS: Inferring TCP/IP-based Trust Relationships Completely Off-Path

We present ONIS, a new scanning technique that can perform network measurements such as: inferring TCP/IP-based trust relationships off-path, stealthily port scanning a target without using the scanner's IP address, detecting off-path packet drops between two international hosts. These tasks typically rely on a core technique called the idle scan, which is a special kind of port scan that appears to come from a third machine called a zombie. The scanner learns the target's status from the zombie by using its TCP/IP side channels. Unfortunately, the idle scan assumes that the zombie has IP identifiers (IPIDs) which exhibit the now-discouraged behavior of being globally incrementing. The use of this kind of IPID counter is becoming increasingly rare in practice. Our technique, unlike the idle scan, is based on a much more advanced IPID generation scheme, that of the prevalent Linux kernel. Although Linux's IPID generation scheme is specifically intended to reduce information flow, we show that using Linux machines as zombies in an indirect scan is still possible. ONIS has 87% accuracy, which is comparable to nmap's implementation of the idle scan at 86%. ONIS's much broader choice of zombies will enable it to be a widely used technique which can fulfill various network measurement tasks.
Fungal and Parasitic Infections

Fungal infections have emerged as major causes of morbidity and mortality among patients with hematological malignancies (Int J Antimicrob Agents 31:193–197, 2008). Although several new antifungal agents have become available for clinical use in the past few years, mortality from fungal infections remains above 20%. Advances in the management of hematological malignancies, including use of more aggressive regimens and expansion of the range of potential recipients to include patients who had previously not been considered for such treatments (e.g., elderly patients or patients with particular types of comorbid conditions), have led to increases in the number of patients at risk for invasive fungal infections (IFIs), as well as potentially more severe suppression of immune function (Int J Antimicrob Agents 31:193–197, 2008).
An Internet-Based Communication Model for A/E/C Industry

Among the most significant factors contributing to projects’ success in the A/E/C industry is effective communication. One shortcoming of current project websites is that the published information may be static and does not enable professionals to take advantage of the wide range of functionality available through the Internet. This has generally led to an overflow of information that may not be useful to all project participants. This paper proposes a new model called the “smart document” that enables higher level of communication and collaborations among all parties. Other developments have helped create a common platform that significantly enhances the performance of processes such as bidding and procurement.
The impact of savings and credit on health and health behaviours: an outcome-wide longitudinal approach.

This study evaluated decisions related to debt and savings on physical health, emotional health and health behaviours. The longitudinal data from the Polish biennial household panel—Social Diagnosis Survey—were used. Evidence for a link between credit/savings and health/health behaviours was presented using three waves of the data and an outcome-wide regression analysis. To circumvent endogeneity, variables temporally prior to exposure were used as controls. Sensitivity analysis for unmeasured confounding, conducted using E-values, provided a check for robustness. Debt proved a significant stressor, affecting three of five physical health measures. Over-indebted individuals suffered even more in terms of physical health outcomes. The role of savings in physical health was much less significant, yet had significant bearing on measures of emotional health. In terms of emotional health, debt (over-indebtedness in particular) influenced loneliness and increased suicidal thoughts. With respect to health behaviours, savings appeared significant in reducing smoking and increasing uptake of sport activities, while debt had no significant effect in these areas. Recommendations are formulated to foster saving activity and develop institutional solutions for over-indebtedness.
Deciding to look: revisiting the linking hypothesis for spoken word recognition in the visual world

The visual world paradigm (VWP) studies of spoken word recognition rely on a linking hypothesis that connects lexical activation to the probability of looking at the referent of a word. The standar...
Educating business integrators with a computer-based simulation game in the flipped classroom

Many educators utilize simulations to create active learning environments suitable for learning outcome achievement and soft skill development, which are critical for student success in the workfor...
Aqueous film forming foam and associated perfluoroalkyl substances inhibit methane production and Co-contaminant degradation in an anaerobic microbial community

Aqueous film forming foams (AFFF) can contain gram per liter concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and are often released in large quantities directly to the environment as they are used to fight fires. AFFF composition is complex and contains many unknown PFAS in addition to ingredients such as hydrocarbons, solvents, and corrosion inhibitors. While biological effects of single PFAS have been studied, the effects of PFAS-containing mixtures, such as AFFF, are unknown. The effect of PFAS on microorganisms is also not well understood; nevertheless, we rely on microorganisms in locations containing elevated PFAS concentrations to perform certain functions, such as carbon cycling and co-contaminant degradation. This study focused on determining the functional consequences of AFFF and PFAS exposure in a microbial community in both the presence and the absence of a co-contaminant. AFFF, select PFAS, and a PFAS mixture were tested to determine the effect of AFFF on an anaerobic microbial community and the characteristics of the PFAS that drive toxicity in such mixtures. To study this, anaerobic digester communities were exposed to PFAS and a co-contaminant (2,4-dichlorophenol, DCP); methane production, as an indicator of toxicity and the community's ability to cycle carbon, and co-contaminant degradation were monitored. Results showed that PFAS and AFFF can alter the toxicity of DCP, inhibit DCP degradation, decrease the number of methanogens present, and change the microbial community structure. DCP was also able to decrease the toxicity of the PFAS perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), possibly by changing the sorption of PFOS to the microorganisms present. Additionally, it was determined that while PFOS was responsible for AFFF toxicity, no single PFAS or simple PFAS mixture accurately accounted for the inhibition of DCP degradation caused by AFFF exposure.
Textile Electrocardiogram (ECG) Electrodes for Wearable Health Monitoring

Wearable health-monitoring systems should be comfortable, non-stigmatizing, and able to achieve high data quality. Smart textiles with electronic elements integrated directly into fabrics offer a way to embed sensors into clothing seamlessly to serve these purposes. In this work, we demonstrate the feasibility of electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring with sewn textile electrodes instead of traditional gel electrodes in a 3-lead, chest-mounted configuration. The textile electrodes are sewn with silver-coated thread in an overlapping zig zag pattern into an inextensible fabric. Sensor validation included ECG monitoring and comfort surveys with human subjects, stretch testing, and wash cycling. The electrodes were tested with the BIOPAC MP160 ECG data acquisition module. Sensors were placed on 8 subjects (5 males and 3 females) with double-sided tape. To detect differences in R peak detectability between traditional and sewn sensors, effect size was set at 10% of a sample mean for heart rate (HR) and R-R interval. Paired student’s t-tests were run between adhesive and sewn electrode data for R-R interval and average HR, and a Wilcoxon signed-rank test was run for comfort. No statistically significant difference was found between the traditional and textile electrodes (R-R interval: t = 1.43, p > 0.1; HR: t = −0.70, p > 0.5; comfort: V = 15, p > 0.5).
Association of Estimated Daily Lactose Consumption, Lactase Persistence Genotype (rs4988235), and Gut Microbiota in Healthy U.S. Adults

Objectives Lactase persistence (LP) is a heritable trait in which lactose can be digested into adulthood. Lactase non-persisters (LNP) who consume lactose may experience microbial adaptations in response to the undigested lactose. The objective of this study was to determine the interaction between lactose consumption, LP genotype and gut microbiota in an observational cross-sectional study of healthy U.S. adults.
Vulvodynia Viewed From a Disease Prevention Framework: Insights From Patient Perspectives.

Abstract Introduction Persons with vulvodynia (a chronic vulvar pain condition) suffer many barriers to diagnosis and treatment, several of which may be exacerbated by the sociocultural and geographical context in which they live. Aim We drew on the experiences of patients with vulvodynia who were living in small urban and rural communities to learn what they perceived as the major barriers to diagnosis and treatment as well as to probe for possible solutions. Methods For this qualitative case study, we conducted 3 focus groups with a total of 10 participants, drawn from patients seen at our academic tertiary referral center, with a goal of understanding their lived experience with vulvodynia. Main Outcome Measures The patient dialogue was coded into themes and temporally grouped to illustrate struggles and victories in diagnosis and treatment. Results Participants confirmed that healthcare provider knowledge and attitudes as well as system challenges (specialist and allied healthcare provider availability) are major barriers to timely diagnosis. Of novel interest are other factors that exacerbate distress and delay diagnosis such as patients’ inadequate knowledge of sexual functioning and sociocultural messages regarding “normal” sexual activity. Our work suggests that a disease prevention framework that includes comprehensive sexual education before or at the onset of sexual activity may be of benefit in reducing the burden of vulvodynia when added to strategies to increase healthcare provider knowledge and improve access to effective treatments. Conclusion While healthcare provider knowledge and attitudes are often at the forefront of barriers to diagnosis, our study suggests that to minimize patient distress and expedite diagnosis, resources must also be directed to promoting comprehensive sexual health education. Webber V, Miller ME, Gustafson DL, et al. Vulvodynia Viewed From a Disease Prevention Framework: Insights From Patient Perspectives. Sex Med 2020;8:757–766.
The Elliptic Curve Logarithm Problem

We begin in Section 5.1, by introducing the Weil pairing and Miller’s algorithm for efficiently computing it. We then use the Weil pairing in Section 5.2 to reduce the elliptic curve logarithm problem to the logarithm problem in a finite field. The reduction is efficient if the curve is supersingular. In Section 5.3, we discuss the cryptographic implications of the reduction. Finally, in Section 5.4, we use the Weil pairing to determine the type of an elliptic curve group. Before proceeding, the reader might find it useful to first review the definitions and terminology introduced in Section 2.7.
Anti-s antibody-associated delayed hemolytic transfusion reaction in patients with sickle cell anemia.

Purpose: Signs and symptoms of delayed hemolytic transfusion reaction (DHTR) may resemble those of vaso-occlusive crises in patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA). The diagnosis of DHTR therefore presents a challenge to the clinician when treating such patients. The current study describes a patient with SCA and DHTR secondary to red cell anti-s antibody, manifesting as painful extremeties, severe hemolytic anemia, and acute oliguric renal failure. Patient and Methods: A 17-year-old patient with homozygous hemoglobin S presented 8 days after partial exchange transfusions with severe anemia and signs and symptoms resembling vaso-occlusive crisis. Clinical course was complicated by intravascular hemolysis and acute renal failure. Results: Anti-s antibody was detected in the eluate. Diagnosis of DHTR was made. Treatment included single volume whole blood exchange transfusion and continuous veno-venous hemofiltration with dialysis. Conclusions: The possibility of DHTR should be considered in a patient with SCA with hemolytic anemia. Acute renal failure is a rare complication of anti-s antibody-associated DHTR. Such reactions can be successfully managed with exchange transfusion and continuous hemofiltration with dialysis.
The Limits of Insurance as Governance: Professional Liability Coverage for Civil Rights Claims Against Public School Districts

Insurance intersects with people throughout their lives, sometimes with elements that are unobserved or misunderstood. That is often the case with “insurance as governance,” a form of private contractual regulation. This theory assumes that insurers, to minimize their financial losses, attempt to shape policyholder conduct by employing private regulatory measures, primarily through underwriting and contractual loss prevention methods. Insurance as governance is about risk reduction. This article addresses a question regarding civil rights — do insurers influence the civil rights policies of public school districts? A broad legal arc encompasses civil rights litigation against schools, from freedom of speech complaints to sex-based claims involving students. School boards purchase professional liability insurance to defend their operational policies and actions. Previous research has not examined whether insurers attempt to shape school officials’ conduct to reduce these claims. This article finds that insurer influence is surprisingly minimal despite the financial and potential societal benefits. Landmark scholarship (Rappaport, Harvard Law Review, 2017) established that insurers could positively influence police officer conduct, resulting in fewer civil rights claims against police entities. But this school environment research determines that insurers of public schools do not employ assertive loss prevention methods to limit civil rights claims. This lack of private regulation is because school boards want and exercise significant local control authority, and the administrators of inter-local risk pools — the leading type of insurer discussed within — have political concerns about membership stability, leading to regulatory hesitation. This empirical study makes two main contributions. First, it involves a discussion of why insurer private regulation does not linearly increase when school district civil rights exposures rise. This contribution includes a review of the school districts’ mutual ownership of the predominant school insurer, the inter-local pool; an examination of the strong local control desires of school boards; and an analysis of the attendant political concerns of the inter-local pool administrators. Second, it reviews the policy adoption process of school boards, notes how school officials interact with and tend to resist insurers, and documents how this socio-legal setting creates insurers’ reluctance to attempt conduct-shaping with school districts regarding civil rights. This article will further private regulation scholarship regarding governmental entities and allow scholars to reassess the reach of insurance as governance.
Parallelism strategies for the tuneable golden-claw finding problem

In this paper we study a strategy for adapting the “Tiny Claw” Grover-based attack of Biasse and Pring (A framework for reducing the overhead of the quantum oracle for use with Grover's algorithm w...
Rad-Bio-App: a discovery environment for biologists to explore spaceflight-related radiation exposures.

In addition to microgravity, spaceflight simultaneously exposes biology to a suite of other stimuli. For example, in space, organisms experience ionizing radiation environments that significantly differ in both quality and quantity from those normally experienced on Earth. However, data on radiation exposure during space missions is often complex to access and to understand, limiting progress towards defining how radiation affects organisms against the unique background of spaceflight. To help address this challenge, we have developed the Rad-Bio-App. This web-accessible database imports radiation metadata from experiments archived in NASA’s GeneLab data repository, and then allows the user to explore these experiments both in the context of their radiation exposure and through their other metadata and results. Rad-Bio-App provides an easy-to-use, graphically-driven environment to enable both radiation biologists and non-specialist researchers to visualize, and understand the impact of ionizing radiation on various biological systems in the context of spaceflight.
Short-term outcomes following dehydrated micronized allogenic cartilage versus isolated microfracture for treatment of medial talar osteochondral lesions

Abstract Background Osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLTs) have been traditionally treated with bone marrow stimulation techniques such as microfracture. However, conventional microfracture results in a biomechanically weaker repair tissue of predominantly type I collagen. Acellular micronized cartilage matrix (MCM) serves as a bioactive scaffold to restore hyaline cartilage. The purpose was to compare short-term outcomes after microfracture with and without augmentation with MCM for medial-sided OLTs. Methods A retrospective review was performed between 2010–2019 for medial-sided OLTs undergoing treatment with either microfracture augmented with MCM or isolated microfracture. The MCM was hydrated with either bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) or platelet-rich plasma (PRP). Outcomes included visual analogue scale (VAS) pain scores, Foot and Ankle Activity Measure (FAAM) scores, return-to-daily activities, and return-to-sport. Results 48 patients (14 MCM with PRP, 6 MCM with BMAC; 28 isolated microfracture) with average age 35.5 years (range: 13.8–67.2 years) and mean follow-up 4.0 ± 3.4 years (range,.13–10.7) were included. There was no difference in average lesion size between MCM and microfracture groups (64.0 ± 49.4 mm2 versus 57.3 ± 44.2 mm2, P = .63) and a trend toward larger lesion size for BMAC compared to PRP (106.5 ± 59.2 versus 45.9 ± 32.1 mm2, P = .056). There was no difference in time to return-to-activity (83.5 ± 18.8 versus 87.3 ± 49.1 days) or return-to-sports (151.9 ± 62.2 versus 165 ± 99.2 days) with MCM versus isolated microfracture. However, the MCM group had a significantly greater improvement in VAS pain score at final follow-up (4.9 ± 2.2 versus 2.7 ± 2.6, P = .0032) and significantly higher post-operative FAAM-Activities of Daily Living subscale scores (97.2 ± 8.2 versus 79.7 ± 32.8, P = .033). Conclusions Augmenting microfracture with MCM hydrated with PRP or BMAC may result in beneficial changes in pain scores and activities of daily living, but similar return-to-activities and return-to-sport times compared to microfracture alone in management of medial OLT. Level of evidence IV.
Data Visualization and Communication

Every medical device development program needs to begin with a set of basic information that allows the team to galvanize on a common objective. Even rough contextual inquiries done very early in the design process can be used for inspiration and provide vision and reference in long and arduous product development processes. Visualizing and communicating the findings acts is the source of this clue and can serve as a constant reminder of the user and the use environment. This chapter describes the types of data visualization that can be produced and how the data can be used throughout device development. Example illustrations and templates are provided.
Office lighting: a review of 80 years of standards and recommendations

The author traces the development of quantitative office lighting standards from its beginnings to the present. He discusses the sources of recommended lighting practice, the nature of the quantitative recommendations, and trends in recommended values on a comparative basis. A critical assessment of contemporary standards is provided within this historical context. >