cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Narcissistic Measures of Lutheran Clergy Who Self-Reported Committing Sexual Misconduct

This study sought to determine if narcissism was a factor in Lutheran clergy who self-reported committing sexual misconduct. Sexual misconduct was defined as any activity in which a clergyperson, single or married, engaged in sexual behavior (sexual intercourse, kissing, touching or hugging with sexual intent, use of sexually explicit language) with a parishioner, client, or employee of the church (Francis & Turner, 1995). The results indicated that clergy who self-reported having committed sexual misconduct and had high levels of narcissism were not significantly different from those clergy who self-reported not having committed sexual misconduct. Demographic and related findings are also discussed.
MeV Si Ions Bombardment Effects on the Thermoelectric Properties of Si/Si+Ge Multi-Layer Superlttice Nanolayered Films

Effective thermoelectric materials have a low thermal conductivity and a high electrical conductivity. The performance of the thermoelectric materials and devices is shown by a dimensionless figure of merit, ZT = S2σT/K, where S is the Seebeck coefficient, σ is the electrical conductivity, T is the absolute temperature and K is the thermal conductivity. ZT can be increased by increasing S, increasing σ or decreasing K. MeV ion bombardment caused defects and disorder in the film and the grain boundaries of these nano-scale clusters increase phonon scattering and increase the chance of an inelastic interaction and phonon annihilation. We have prepared 100 alternating layers of Si/Si+Ge nanolayered superlattice films using the ion beam assisted deposition (IBAD). The 5 MeV Si ions bombardments have been performed using the AAMU Pelletron ion beam accelerator to make quantum clusters in the nanolayered superlattice films to decrease the cross plane thermal conductivity, increase the cross plane Seebeck coefficient and cross plane electrical conductivity. We have characterized the thermoelectric thin films before and after Si ion bombardments as we measured the cross-plane Seebeck coefficient, the cross-plane electrical conductivity, and the cross-plane thermal conductivity for different fluences
Plenary lecture 4: nanotechnology research efforts in Mexico

In this plenary talk I will describe the research activities of about fifty Mexican nanotechnology research groups, comprising 300 researchers, and I will explain the need for governmental intervention in order to attain the objective of a Mexican Nanotechnology Initiative. In 2006 Mexican Council of Science of Technology funded several research groups to develop projects related to a Mexican National Initiative and in 2009 significant funds will be dedicated to technnological innovation in Mexican companies as well as technological invention derived from academic research. Proper screening of this funds may improve the production of Mexican patents and the development of large research networks all along Mexico where Nanotechnology research has been done mainly by public universities. Nanotechnology research groups in Mexico typically have five members and are devoted to a wide range of research subjects. Nanotechnology Laboratories have been founded in several Mexican States, using computational techniques, nanomicroscopy and chemical synthesis to develop new materials as well as new theoretical approaches to understand nanotechnology properties. Other Mexican nanotechnology research groups study the social and environmental impact of nanotechnology. The size frequency distribution of these research groups follows a power law in agreement with a model for social interaction although there are yet no signs of an institutional organization of these research groups which might lead to the creation of a Mexican Nanotechnology Initiative. Besides, it is also difficult to know which companies facing major economic hard times will have enough strength to complete the research and development tasks required to innovate. This will demand a proper selection of the companies funded and a careful screening of the funds devoted by CONACYT for innovation in Mexican companies.
Integrin α4β7 expression effect on intestinal immune function in experimental severe acute pancreatitis rat

[Objective] Discuss relationship between the expression of integrin α4β7-lymphocyte homing receptor and the intestinal mucosal immune function in experimental severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) rat. Analyze the possible mechanisms of changes of intestinal immune function. [Methods] Male adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into pancreatitis group and sham-operation group. Animals were sacrificed at 24, 48 and 72 hours after models were made and biopsies were harvested; endotoxin concentration in portal vein was determined by limulus methods;CD3+, CD4+, CD8+T lymphocytes in intestinal mucosal lamina propria were examined by immunohistochemistry;integrin α4β7 (+) peripheral blood lymphocytes were determined by flow cytometry. [Results] Compared to the control group, endotoxin concentration of plasma in portal vein rises to a higher level, percentage of CD3+, CD4+T lymphocytes subsets in the end of intestinal mucosal lamina propria reduced significantly, CD4+/CD8+ ratio decreased, integrin α4β7(+) lymphocyte in peripheral blood was significantly reduced at 24, 48 and 72 hours in SAP group. [Conclusions] Intestinal immune suppression occurred in the early stage and may be the main reason for bacteria and endotoxin translocation in SAP rat. The possible mechanism maybe that there were less integrin α4β7(+)T-lymphocyte in peripheral blood during SAP.
Immunogold Labeling and Electron Tomography of Plant Endosomes

High-resolution imaging of endosomal compartments and associated organelles can be achieved using state-of-the-art electron microscopy techniques, such as the combination of cryofixation/freeze-substitution for sample processing and electron tomography for three-dimensional (3D) analysis. This chapter deals with the main steps associated with these imaging techniques: selection of samples suitable for studying plant endosomes, sample preparation by high-pressure freezing/freeze-substitution, and electron tomography of plastic sections. In addition, immunogold approaches for identification of subcellular localization of endosomal and cargo proteins are also discussed.
Nonlinear Distributed Estimation

We consider the problem of nonlinear distributed continuous-discrete estimation. An algorithm showing how to combine optimal estimates made at local stations to obtain the optimal global estimate given all measurement data is presented.
Noble Metal Nanoparticle Platform

Noble metal nanoparticles are an emerging platform for cancer diagnosis and therapy, in particular gold-based nanoparticles. Since the 1950s, radioactive gold colloids have been used to treat malignancies in humans. Tunable optical properties and facile surface modifications allow rational design of gold-based nanoparticle platforms for a variety of biomedical applications associated with oncology research. Over the last decade, gold-based nanoparticles have been widely explored as nanocarriers for drug delivery, imaging agents for cancer diagnosis, and therapeutic agents for cancer treatment. This chapter summarizes the basic properties of gold-based nanoparticles and highlights their recent advances as multifunctional platforms in cancer theranostics. Despite some biological challenges, gold-based nanoparticle platforms provide many new opportunities to ultimately achieve theranostics for cancer.
Clinical Reasoning: A 73-year-old man with sarcoidosis and multifocal ischemic strokes

A 73-year-old man was admitted for evaluation of acute ischemic strokes. His medical history was notable for pulmonary sarcoidosis treated with oral prednisone 40 mg daily, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. Approximately 1 month prior to admission, he underwent elective right total knee arthroplasty at an outside institution and 1 week postoperatively developed acute delirium and fluctuating fevers. No infectious cause was identified. His mental status continued to decline and head MRI was obtained (figure, A), showing small acute infarcts in multiple vascular territories.
Contribution of minced muscle graft progenitor cells to muscle fiber formation after volumetric muscle loss injury in wild-type and immune deficient mice.

Volumetric muscle injury (VML) causes an irrecoverable loss of muscle fibers, persistent strength deficits, and chronic disability. A crucial challenge to VML injury and possible regeneration is the removal of all of the in situ native elements necessary for skeletal muscle regeneration. Our first goal was to establish a reliable VML model in the mouse tibialis anterior (TA) muscle. In adult male wild‐type and nude mice, a non‐repaired ≈20% VML injury to the TA muscle resulted in an ≈59% loss in nerve evoked muscle strength, ≈33% loss in muscle mass, and ≈29% loss of muscle fibers at 28 day post‐injury. Our second goal was to investigate if minced muscle grafts (≈1 mm3 tissue fragments) promote recovery of muscle fibers after VML injury and to understand if the graft‐derived progenitor cells directly contribute to fiber regeneration. To assess donor cell contribution, donor muscle tissue was derived from UBC‐GFP mice in a subset of experiments. Minced grafts restored ≈34% of the lost fibers 28 days post‐injury. The number of GFP+ fibers and the estimated number of regenerated fibers were similar, regardless of host mouse strain. The muscle tissue regeneration promoted by minced grafts did not improve TA muscle strength at this time post‐injury. These findings demonstrate the direct contribution of minced muscle graft‐derived myogenic stem/progenitor cells to recovery of muscle fibers after VML injury and signify the utility of autologous myogenic stem cell therapies for this indication.
Carotid artery disease and perioperative stroke risk after surgical aortic valve replacement: A nationwide inpatient sample analysis

To study the role of carotid stenosis (CS) and cerebrovascular disease as independent risk factors for perioperative stroke following surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). The National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database was used for our study. All patients who underwent SAVR from 1999 to 2011 were identified using ICD-9 codes. Univariate and multivariate analysis of baseline characteristics, Elixhauser comorbidities and other covariates were examined to identify independent predictors of perioperative strokes following SAVR. Data on 50,979 patients who underwent SAVR from 1999 to 2011 was obtained. The mean age of the study cohort was 60.5. The study patients were predominantly Caucasian (79.3%) and males (60.01%). The incidence of perioperative stroke was 2.48%. CS (OR 1.8, 95%CI 1.1-2.8, p=0.009) and cerebral arterial occlusion (OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.3-8.9) significantly increased perioperative stroke risk following SAVR. Infective endocarditis (OR 4.6, 95%CI 3.8-5.6, p=0.00) and neurological disorders (OR 4.8, 95% CI 4-5.8, p=0.00) appeared to be the strongest risk factors for strokes. Other risk factors found to be significant predictors of perioperative strokes (p<0.05) were - age, higher VWR scores, CS, cerebral arterial occlusion, infective endocarditis, DM, HTN, renal failure, neurological disorders, coagulopathy and hypothyroidsm. In conclusion, perioperative stroke risk has remained more or less constant despite advancements in surgical techniques with risk having gone up in patients <65years of age. CS and cerebral arterial occlusion significantly increase stroke risk following SAVR. Improved patient selection with pre-operative risk stratification and institution of preventive strategies are necessary to improve operative outcomes following SAVR.
How cities use regulation for innovation: The case of Uber, Lyft and Sidecar in San Francisco

Abstract How do government actors facilitate or hinder private innovation in urban mobility, and how does local context mediate this relationship? In this paper we examine the regulatory response to on-demand ride services—or “ridesourcing”—through a case study of San Francisco, CA. The entry of Lyft, Sidecar, and UberX in San Francisco in 2012 raised serious questions about the legality of ridesourcing, and sparked significant conflict within regulatory agencies. After sustained debate, regulators decided to welcome the services provided by new companies and crafted a new regulatory framework that legalized the provision of for-profit, on-demand ride services using personal vehicles. We ask, given strong arguments on each side, what motivated public officials in each city to facilitate, rather than hinder, the new services? How did they achieve regulatory reform?
Comparative study of chemical neuroanatomy of the olfactory neuropil in mouse, honey bee, and human

Despite divergent evolutionary origins, the organization of olfactory systems is remarkably similar across phyla. In both insects and mammals, sensory input from receptor cells is initially processed in synaptically dense regions of neuropil called glomeruli, where neural activity is shaped by local inhibition and centrifugal neuromodulation prior to being sent to higher-order brain areas by projection neurons. Here we review both similarities and several key differences in the neuroanatomy of the olfactory system in honey bees, mice, and humans, using a combination of literature review and new primary data. We have focused on the chemical identity and the innervation patterns of neuromodulatory inputs in the primary olfactory system. Our findings show that serotonergic fibers are similarly distributed across glomeruli in all three species. Octopaminergic/tyraminergic fibers in the honey bee also have a similar distribution, and possibly a similar function, to noradrenergic fibers in the mammalian OBs. However, preliminary evidence suggests that human OB may be relatively less organized than its counterparts in honey bee and mouse.
Neotropical Thoasia Liebke, 1939 and Straneotia Mateu, 1961 of the Cryptobatida group, subtribe Agrina: Taxonomic revisions with notes on their ways of life (Insecta, Coleoptera, Carabidae, Lebiini).

Thoasia Liebke, 1939 and Straneotia Mateu, 1961 of the Cryptobatida group, subtribe Agrina, Lebiini, living in the Neotropics are diagnosed, described, and illustrated. Occurrences of known species ranges are limited to the northern and western Amazon Basin and Guyana Shield. The following species are described as new: Thoasia surinamensis Erwin & Aldebron, sp. n., Suriname, Thoasia pterosmaragdos Aldebron & Erwin, sp. n., French Guiana, Thoasia manu Erwin & Aldebron, sp. n., Ecuador, Peru; Straneotia cylindroceps Erwin & Aldebron, sp. n., French Guiana, Straneotia confundis Aldebron & Erwin, sp. n., Ecuador, and Straneotia moi Aldebron & Erwin, sp. n., French Guiana. Two of these species, Thoasia manu and Straneotia moi are known from adults collected by insecticidal fogging of lowland rainforest trees, and these trees are listed in their respective descriptions. The following species are redescribed: Thoasia rugifrons Liebke, 1939, French Guiana, Venezuela; Straneotia freyi Mateu, 1961, Brazil; Straneotia amazonica Mateu, 1961, Brazil.
G-Spotplasty: A New Surgical Plastic Intervention—The Preliminary Study

Ostrzenski’s G-pot anatomical structure discovery has been verified by the anatomy, histology, MRI in vivo, and electrovaginography in vivo studies. The objectives of this scientific-clinical investigation were to develop a new surgical reconstructive intervention (G-spotplasty); to determine the ability of G-spotplasty surgical implementation; to observe for potential complications; and to gather initial information on whether G-spotplasty improves female sexual activity, sexual behaviors, and sexual concerns. A case series study was designed and conducted with 5-year follow-up (October 2013 and October 2017). The rehearsal of new G-spotplasty was performed on fresh female cadavers. Three consecutive live women constituted this clinical study population, and they were subjected to the newly developed G-spotplasty procedure in October 2013. Preoperatively and postoperatively, a validated, self-completion instrument of Sexual Relationships and Activities Questionnaire (SRA-Q) was used to measure female sexual activity, sexual behaviors, and sexual concerns. Three out of twelve women met inclusion criteria and were incorporated into this study. All patients were subjected to G-spotplasty, completed 5-year follow-up, and returned completed SRA-Q in a sealed envelope. New G-spotplasty was successfully implemented without surgical difficulty and without complications. All patients reported re-establishing vaginal orgasms with different degrees of difficulties, observing return of anterior vaginal wall engorgement, and were very pleased with the outcome of G-spotplasty. The G-spotplasty is a simple surgical intervention, easy to implement, and improves sexual activities, sexual behaviors, and sexual concerns. The preliminary results are very promising and paved the way for additional clinical-scientific research. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .
Comparisons of Amylolytic Enzyme Activities and β-Amylases with Differing Bmy1 Intron III Alleles to Osmolyte Concentration and Malt Extract during Congress Mashing with North American Barley Cultivars1

This study was conducted to determine the relationships between patterns of activity of malt amylolytic enzymes (α-amylase, β-amylase, and limit dextrinase) and the patterns of osmolyte concentrati...
Feminist Epistemology, Feminist Methodology, and the Study of Gender

To build adequate knowledge, we need to be explicit about our epistemological assumptions so we can use these to critically assess our methodological choices. Of the four epistemologies in circulation, two, Positivism and Postmodernism, are inadequate for gender scholars’ goals. Positivist assumptions that we can minimize the impact of the subjectivity of the knower are undermined by social science findings. Postmodernist rejection of the possibility of achieving a rational understanding of the known undercut the very purpose of social science. So we are left with two choices—Critical Realism and Standpoint Theory. Critical Realism offers a nuanced and dynamic theory of the known but it is blind to the impact of the knower’s position in social relations of power. Standpoint Theory’s analysis of the knower as operating from a specific physical, social, and cultural context makes up for that deficit. Integrating the two in a Critically Realistic Standpoint Epistemology implies four methodological principles: (1) begin inquiry from the standpoint of the marginalized, (2) ground each person’s interpretation of phenomena in their material interests and experience, (3) maintain a strategically diverse discourse, and (4) create knowledge that empowers the disadvantaged.
Fasting and its Therapeutic Impact in Brain Tumors

Each year 40,000 people are diagnosed with primary brain tumors. Malignant gliomas account for more than 50% of them and are universally fatal despite aggressive surgery and combined chemoradiotherapy. Identification of novel therapeutic targets has been challenging. New areas of interest are now focusing on exploiting special metabolic adaptations these tumors have developed in response to the stress caused by their rapid growth rate, exceeding their vascular supply. This article is an attempt to review a controversial strategy of modulating tumor biology by understanding their metabolic characteristics, how they differ from normal healthy cells, and implementing therapies that include nutritional interventions. Although fasting as part of the management of brain malignancies is controversial and may be contrary to popular opinion, developing supportive evidence in targeting their special metabolic profile is promising and fascinating.
Instrument commissioning timeline for NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR)

The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) is a joint collaboration between NASA and India's national space agency, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). This Earth-orbiting radar mission, which will be launched from Sriharikota (India) in December 2021 in a near-polar, sun-synchronous orbit, is designed to systematically and globally study solid Earth, ice masses, and ecosystems. Following NISAR's launch, the first 90 days will be dedicated to performing ‘in-orbit checkout’, or the ‘commissioning’ period, during which there will be a step-by-step buildup in capability to full observatory operations. Activities performed during commissioning will be aimed at demonstrating the full functionality of the radar instruments (L-band and S-band), the reflector antenna, spacecraft and flight systems, characterizing and confirming their nominal performance within specifications. All ground systems and infrastructure, including Ground Data Systems (GDS), Science Data Systems (SDS) and Mission Operations Systems (MOS), as well as the compatibility of all system interfaces, will be tested and validated. Calibration strategies for monitoring instrument stability will be tested during initial instrument calibrations. The scheduling of these initial instrument calibration activities takes into account factors like the satellite orbit and attitude after launch, requirements on specific instrument configurations for operation, required ground targets and the corresponding number and frequency of overflight times during a satellite repeat cycle (12 days). A timeline for NISAR instrument checkout that takes into account these factors and constraints is presented in this paper.
Autonomy in the Doctor-Patient Encounter

In our previous chapters we described autonomy behaviors as characteristics of identity in the rich complex of daily life. We also compared decision making in normal situations and in exceptional health care situations. Regarding the latter, we focused on circumstances in which restrictions were imposed by the patient’s condition and the medical/professional environment.
Women and AIDS in Sub Saharan Africa: The Case of Zimbabwe and its Policy Implications

Since the late 1980s, HIV/AIDS is having devastating effects on Africa. According to the June 2000 report of the Joint UN Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), about 71% of the estimated 34.3 million people with HIV/AIDS live in sub-Saharan Africa. Twenty- nine countries in sub-Saharan Africa have an HIV prevalence of 2 percent or more. Southern Africa holds the majority of the world’s hard-hit countries. In Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland and Zimbabwe, current estimates show that between 20% and 26% of people aged 15-49 are living with HIV or AIDS. In countries hard hit by the pandemic, morbidity and mortality have risen and are expected to continue to rise. The major route of AIDS in Sub- Saharan Africa is heterosexual intercourse, estimated to account for 93 percent of all adult cases, followed by blood transfusions, and vertical transmission of the AIDS virus from mother to fetus.
Old Age and Old Artists

The arts have great appeal: they require little or no expertise to be accepted or rejected, appreciated or despised, unlike scientific and technological accomplishments. A glance at a painting, the sound of the opening chords of a symphony, and the sight of the first few lines of a novel instantly arouse interest or indifference. Artists, too, are attractive: they are adept at translating abstract ideas into concrete images, illustrating broad generalizations with dramatic instances, softening polarities with subtle distinctions, conveying personal values, anticipating major changes in society, and revealing life’s complexities—and in dramatic and compelling ways. The public’s fascination with a Zola, Mozart, Rembrandt, and van Gogh were translated into popular biographies, novels, and films (Armour, 1980; Walker, 1996).
Micropropagation of two tropical conifers: Pinus oocarpa Schiede and Cupressus lusitanica Miller

Plantlet regeneration of 2 tropical conifer species (Pinus oocarpa Schiede and Cupressus lusitanica Miller) was accomplished using expiants obtained from embryonic and seedling tissues. Adventitious buds were induced on P. oocarpa cotyledonary expiants obtained from 7- and 10-day-old seedlings. The expiants were placed on a defined nutrient medium containing cytokinin alone or in combination with an auxin for 21 days and then were transferred to a culture medium without hormones. Further bud development and shoot elongation occurred in this medium. Hypocotylary expiants obtained from 4-week-old C. lusitanica seedlings were cultured for 21 days on nutrient medium supplemented with various cytokinins alone or in combination with an auxin. Further development of buds and subsequent shoot elongation occurred when the expiants were transferred to nutrient medium without growth regulators. Elongated shoots of both species were rooted after treatment with an auxin. Successful transfer of the rooted plantlets to soil under greenhouse conditions has been achieved for both species.
Multivariable Artificial Pancreas for Various Exercise Types and Intensities.

Abstract Background: Exercise challenges people with type 1 diabetes in controlling their glucose concentration (GC). A multivariable adaptive artificial pancreas (MAAP) may lessen the burden. Meth...
Mechanism for Al2O3 Atomic Layer Deposition on LiMn2O4 from In Situ Measurements and Ab Initio Calculations

Summary Here, we elucidate the mechanism for Al2O3 atomic layer deposition (ALD) on LiMn2O4 (LMO) cathodes for lithium-ion batteries by using in situ and ex situ experimental characterization coupled with density functional theory (DFT) calculations. We demonstrate that not only does Al2O3 coat the LMO, but the Al heteroatom of the trimethylaluminum (TMA) precursor also dopes to interstitial sites on the LMO surface, thereby reducing the oxidation state of near-surface Mn ions. DFT calculations further suggest facile transfer of methyl groups from the TMA precursor to oxygen atoms on the LMO surface, which blocks adsorption sites for subsequent TMA adsorption. These predictions are supported by quartz crystal microbalance experiments demonstrating inhibited growth below ten ALD Al2O3 cycles, suggesting that sub-monolayer coverages of alumina are present on the LMO surface in the early stages of film growth. In comparison with fully conformal films, these sub-monolayer coatings show enhanced electrochemical capacity when cycled in coin cells.
Complications of Cryolipolysis: Paradoxical Adipose Hyperplasia (PAH) and Beyond.

BACKGROUND Cryolipolysis is a fairly popular procedure performed in North America, Europe, and many other countries. Although it is considered a rather safe procedure, there are underreported side effects such as paradoxical adipose hyperplasia (PAH), contour irregularities, skin and soft tissue atrophy, and asymmetries. Our knowledge regarding the prevalence and treatment of such complications is limited. OBJECTIVES We hereby report a case series of 5 patients treated for various complications of cryolipolysis, including PAH, that persisted for more than 12 months after their last treatment. METHODS Five patients with various complications of cryolipolysis (4 patients with PAH and 1 with atrophy and indentations) presented in our private office between 2015 and 2018. Three of the 4 patients with PAH were treated at other facilities with ultrasonic liposuction, laser lipolysis, and radiofrequency skin tightening devices respectively. The fourth patient developed PAH after liposuction at another facility. The fifth patient developed several areas of indentations and atrophy and received mesotherapy and lymphatic massages at another facility. All 5 patients were subsequently treated in our office by means of a customized approach specific to their underlying complications. RESULTS Near-normal results were achieved in all 5 patients. None of our patients showed any recurrences of their initial complication for which they were treated. All 5 patients were extremely satisfied with their results. CONCLUSIONS Cryolipolysis, just like any other form of lipolysis, has certain specific adverse effects associated with it, including but not limited to PAH. Complications of cryolipolysis must be individually recognized and treated accordingly. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4
Book Review of After Combat: True War Stories from Iraq and Afghanistan by Marian Eide & Michael Gibler

In the post-9/11 era, there have been numerous accounts of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq written from a variety of perspectives and for multiple purposes. Whether biographical accounts of real events, authoritative news essays, or fictional stories of war-time heroism and loss, the American public has been offered untold perspectives on what military service and sacrifice in this new era looks like. After Combat: True War Stories from Iraq and Afghanistan by Marian Eide and Michael Gibler, is a unique collection of stories of military service in the combat theater as told by the veterans, themselves.
Encounters across networks: Windows into principles of genomic regulation

Gene regulatory networks account for the ability of the genome to program development in complex multi-cellular organisms. Such networks are based on principles of gene regulation by combinations of transcription factors that bind to specific cis-regulatory DNA sites to activate transcription. These cis-regulatory regions mediate logic processing at each network node, enabling progressive increases in organismal complexity with development. Gene regulatory network explanations of development have been shown to account for patterning and cell type diversification in fly and sea urchin embryonic systems, where networks are characterized by fast coupling between transcriptional inputs and changes in target gene transcription rates, and crucial cis-regulatory elements are concentrated relatively close to the protein coding sequences of the target genes, thus facilitating their identification. Stem cell-based development in post-embryonic mammalian systems also depends on gene networks, but differs from the fly and sea urchin systems. First, the number of regulatory elements per gene and the distances between regulatory elements and the genes they control are considerably larger, forcing searches via genome-wide transcription factor binding surveys rather than functional assays. Second, the intrinsic timing of network state transitions can be slowed considerably by the need to undo stem-cell chromatin configurations, which presumably add stability to stem-cell states but retard responses to transcription factor changes during differentiation. The dispersed, partially redundant cis-regulatory systems controlling gene expression and the slow state transition kinetics in these systems already reveal new insights and opportunities to extend understanding of the repertoire of gene networks and regulatory system logic.
An endoscopic training and assessment model for argon plasma coagulation.

Abstract Purpose Argon plasma coagulation (APC) is a standard modality for the treatment of gastrointestinal bleeding. However, there are no metrics to assess technical proficiency. We aimed to determine if a Quick APC Training Test (QAPCTT) can improve performance and assess proficiency with this modality. Materials and methods Endoscopy trainees at various levels of training were asked to perform the QAPCTT with an in vivo model before and after an APC curriculum with didactic lectures and additional hands-on experience. As trainees performed the test, endoscopic supervisors recorded the time required to complete each task as well as the number of inadvertent mucosal touchdowns. Each partipant was assigned a technical proficiency score by supervising endoscopists. Results Fourteen adult gastroenterology fellows participated in the course. 100% of fellows were comfortable with generator settings and APC equipment after the course compared to only 21% (p Conclusions Dedicated APC training is required to achieve competence with this modality. A structured curriculum improves knowledge about the technique and hands-on training is important for achieving technical proficiency. The QAPCTT appears improve APC technique and may readily identify trainees in need of additional APC experience to gain proficiency.
Breastfeeding in Women on Opioid Maintenance Therapy: A Review of Policy and Practice.

Introduction Opioid use is epidemic in the United States. Opioid use disorder (OUD) in pregnancy, as well as neonatal abstinence syndrome, has quadrupled in the last decade, and opioid maintenance therapy is recommended for pregnant women with OUD. Breastfeeding is an important means of improving outcomes for these vulnerable women and newborns. The purpose of this study was to review current policy on breastfeeding and opioid maintenance therapy, the rates of breastfeeding among women in this population, and facilitators and barriers to implementing policy recommendations. Methods CINAHL, PubMed, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Embase, and Web of Science were searched. Inclusion criteria included publication between 2013 and 2018, English language, human only, and original data (except for policy statements). Studies were excluded if they did not report original data and did not examine breastfeeding for women on opioid maintenance therapy. Results Eight policy statements and 17 original research studies were identified that met the search criteria. All the policy statements support breastfeeding for women who are stable on opioid maintenance therapy and do not have HIV. Despite this, rates of breastfeeding among women receiving opioid maintenance therapy remain low compared with women in the general population. Results of qualitative research indicates that women on opioid maintenance therapy face numerous barriers to breastfeeding, including misinformation from health care professionals. Quantitative research has only begun to identify interventions to improve breastfeeding outcomes in this population. Research was conducted primarily with white women receiving care at urban health care centers. Discussion Practice lags behind policy in terms of supporting breastfeeding in women receiving opioid maintenance therapy. There is a need for more research that includes African American and rural women on opioid maintenance therapy, as well as quantitative research that uses findings from qualitative research to identify the best possible interventions for improving breastfeeding outcomes for women on opioid maintenance therapy and their newborns. One significant need is for health care provider education regarding these policies as well as best practices for providing breastfeeding education and support to this population.
Super-resolution enhancement with active convolved illumination and correlations

The promise of high-resolution imaging beyond the diffraction limit has been a core motivation for research in the fields of metamaterials and plasmonics. However, the problems with material losses have quelled some of the enthusiasm which once existed. Here, we review our recent approach relying on imaging theory and correlations to push the limits of super-resolution imaging in the presence of losses and noise. Starting with plasmon injection scheme for compensating losses, we subsequently extended the same principle to a broad range of near-field and far-field imaging systems involving both coherent and incoherent light, and hence termed this approach more encompassing active convolved illumination" (ACI). In ACI a relatively narrow range of spatial frequencies are amplified at a time. Since the total power in the active image does not change significantly, the spectral SNR is significantly improved in the region of amplification. This improves the overall resolution of the images. We also present potential extension of ACI into different research domains including atmospheric imaging, time-domain spectroscopy, and quantum computing.
A High Voltage, Self-Matching, Nanosecond Pulser for Calibration and Experimentation

Laboratory equipment is often required to be calibrated in-situo and, in those scenarios, a pulse with frequency content exceeding the intended voltage source is needed. Moreover, for sensors that are highly attenuated, the calibration pulser must also be high voltage and very reproducible. Because the calibration pulser is intended to be used across a wide variety of experiments, it has been made to be independent of the load impedance- known as a self-matching circuit. This variable high voltage self-matching pulser gives the user the ability to analyze his or her equipment using a consistent pulse. The self-matching aspect of this device is what makes it so unique and consistent. The pulser is made using a transmission line whose impedance is matched to several resistors. These resistors are responsible for absorbing the reflections that are generated by the load/transmission line interface. Because of this, the user’s output will show the voltage pulse across the load and the reflections at this interface will travel to the transmission line/resistor interface where the pulse will be absorbed due to matching impedances. In practice however, there are slight reflections generated due to a mismatch between the resistors and the transmission line, but because the pulse itself is so consistent the device can still be used for calibration purposes. The variable high voltage self-matching pulser can be used between 500 volts and 30 kilovolts, and although the amplitude of the pulse may change with the variable voltage, the shape of the pulse does not change. It has proven to be a useful calibration tool as well as a pulsed source.
Quality factor tuning of micromechanical resonators via electrical dissipation

Sensitive capacitive transduction of micromechanical resonators can contribute significant electrical dissipation, which degrades the quality factor of the eigenmodes. We theoretically and experimentally demonstrate a scheme for isolating the electrical damping of a mechanical resonator due to Ohmic dissipation in the readout amplifier. The quality factor suppression arising from the amplifier is strongly dependent on the amplifier feedback resistance and parasitic capacitance. By studying the thermomechanical displacement noise spectrum of a doubly clamped micromechanical beam, we confirm that electrical dissipation tunes the actual, not effective, quality factor. Electrical dissipation is an important consideration in the design of sensitive capacitive displacement transducers, which are a key component in resonant sensors and oscillators.
Pain intensity, alcohol use motives, and alcohol use among firefighters: The moderating role of pain-related anxiety

Abstract Firefighters are an understudied population that reports high rates of alcohol use and hazardous drinking. Pain, which is also commonly experienced by firefighters, may be associated with alcohol use and alcohol use motives, as research among the general population suggests that pain is associated with coping-oriented drinking. Pain-related anxiety, reflecting a tendency to respond to pain with anxiety or fear, may link pain to coping-oriented drinking among firefighters. Therefore, the current study examined the moderating role of pain-related anxiety on the association between pain intensity and alcohol use motives as well as alcohol use severity. The sample was comprised of 189 (Mage = 40.33, SD = 9.97, 89.9% male) firefighters. Results from the current study supported a significant moderation effect of pain-related anxiety on the association between pain intensity and alcohol use coping motives, whereby the association between pain intensity and coping motives was stronger for those with high compared to low pain-related anxiety. No significant moderation effects were documented for social, enhancement, or conformity motives; and no significant moderation effect was found for alcohol use severity. These results highlighted the potential importance of pain intensity and pain-related anxiety in coping-oriented alcohol use among firefighters.
Perceptual Mechanisms of Visual Hallucinations and Illusions in Psychosis

Psychosis has been associated with neural anomalies across a number of brain regions and cortical networks. Nevertheless, the exact pathophysiology of the disorder remains unclear. Aberrant visual perceptions such as hallucinations are evident in psychosis, while the occurrence of visual distortions is elevated in individuals with genetic liability for psychosis. The overall goals of this project are to: (1) use psychophysical tasks and neuroimaging to characterize deficits in visual perception; (2) acquire a mechanistic understanding of these deficits through development and validation of a computational model; and (3) determine if said mechanisms mark genetic liability for psychosis. Visual tasks tapping both low- and high-level visual processing are being completed as individuals with psychotic disorders (IPD), first-degree biological siblings of IPDs (SibIPDs) and healthy controls (HCs) undergo 248-channel magneto-encephalography (MEG) recordings followed by 7 Tesla functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). By deriving cortical source signals from MEG and MRI data, we will characterize the timing, location and coordination of neural processes. We hypothesize that IPDs prone to visual hallucinations will exhibit deviant functions within early visual cortex, and that aberrant contextual influences on visual perception will involve higher-level visual cortical regions and be associated with visual hallucinations. SibIPDs who experience visual distortions—but not hallucinations—are hypothesized to exhibit deficits in higher-order visual processing reflected in abnormal inter-regional neural synchronization. We hope the results lead to the development of targeted interventions for psychotic disorders, as well as identify useful biomarkers for aberrant neural functions that give rise to psychosis.
Macular microvascular parameters in the ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer derived by optical coherence tomography angiography: Vascular structure-central visual function analysis

PURPOSE To investigate the relationships between global and sectoral macular vascular microcirculation parameters in the ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) assessed by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), and global and sectoral visual field (VF) central mean sensitivity (CMS) assessed by standard automated perimetry. METHODS Fifty-four eyes with open angle glaucoma were scanned using a swept-source OCTA (Plex Elite 9000, Zeiss, Dublin, CA) and macular vascular microcirculation was measured by calculating the overall flux and vessel area density (VAD) over the entire 6mm x 6mm area, excluding large retinal vessels. Central 10-degree VF CMS was calculated based on 24-2 VF. Pearson correlation was used to investigate the correlation between global and sectoral OCTA parameters and global and sectoral VF CMS. RESULTS Both global GCIPL flux and VAD were significantly correlated with VF CMS (p<0.001). For the sectoral analysis, sectoral VAD was significantly correlated with sectoral VF CMS in all comparisons except for the inferonasal VF CMS with supero-temporal (ST) GCIPL VAD (p = 0.097). Although highest correlation was observed for both ST VF CMS with inferior GCIPL VAD and infero-temporal VF CMS with superior GCIPL VAD (r = 0.683, p<0.001), there was no significant difference in correlation when compared to the global VAD and other sectors' correlation coefficients (p≥ 0.091), except for the ST GCIPL VAD (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Global and sectoral macular vascular microcirculation in the GCIPL, as determined by OCTA, was significantly correlated with global and sectoral VF CMS in glaucomatous patients. OCTA can aid in the understanding of the structure-function relationships of the macular region.
Microplastic abundance in gull nests in relation to urbanization.

Abstract Human activity and urbanization are having profound effects on natural landscapes and ecosystems. The presence and persistence of human-made materials such as microplastics can have major impacts on the health of organisms in both marine and terrestrial environments. We quantified microplastics in herring gull (Larus argentatus) and great black-backed gull (Larus marinus) nests at three colonies in the northeast United States that varied in their degree of urbanization: Jamaica Bay (JB) in New York City, Youngs Island (YI) on Long Island, New York, and Tuckernuck Island (TN) in Massachusetts. Nests in urban colonies contained a higher proportion of microplastics than those in the more remote colony. Our results link urbanization with microplastic accumulation in coastal environments and suggest that assessing microplastics in seabird nests could provide a means of evaluating microplastics encountered by seabirds and other coastal marine animals.
Measuring motivational interviewing self-efficacy of pre-service students completing a competency-based motivational interviewing course

Abstract Background Improving health outcomes requires health care practitioners to work collaboratively with clients to make healthy lifestyle changes. Motivational interviewing (MI) is an evidence-based approach found to evoke and support behavior change. Objective The aim of this study was to examine changes over time in pre-service professional students' confidence in their MI skills after a 15-week interprofessional MI course. Methods Students (N = 22) completed a newly developed 24-item Motivational Interviewing Confidence Survey (MICS pre and post participation in the course). Summary statistics, initial scale reliability assessment and t-tests were carried out. Results MICS was a reliable measure (Cronbach's a = 0.98) and detected significant changes in students' self-perceived skill set. Using t-tests, significant differences were noted in pre- and post-assessments in students' confidence in their skills; students (p values Conclusion After participating in the course, students' confidence in their MI skills improved significantly. Adding pre-service training in MI may increase future healthcare practitioners' confidence in their MI skills and improve their capacity to engage in individually tailored, client-driven practice.
The valuation of American barrier options using the decomposition technique

In this paper, we propose an alternative approach for pricing and hedging American barrier options. Speci"cally, we obtain an analytic representation for the value and hedge parameters of barrier options, using the decomposition technique of separating the European option value from the early exercise premium. This allows us to identify some new put-call&symmetry’ relations and the homogeneity in price parameters of the optimal exercise boundary. These properties can be utilized to increase the computational e$ciency of our method in pricing and hedging American options. Our implementation of the obtained solution indicates that the proposed approach is both e$cient and accurate in computing option values and option hedge parameters. Our numerical results also demonstrate that the approach dominates the existing lattice methods in both accuracy and e$ciency. In particular, the method is free of the di$culty that existing