cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Coherent beam combining of high power broad-area laser diode array with a closed-V-shape external Talbot cavity

We have coherently combined a high-power broad-area laser diode array by using a feedback loop closed off-axis external Talbot cavity. The off-axis feedback from two gratings provides transverse-mode control of broad-area lasers. The Talbot configuration of the external cavity implements diffractive coupling among laser diodes. Feedback from two gratings increases external cavity quality factor and spectrum selection capability. As a result, spatial coherence was improved and spectral linewidth was narrowed down. The high visibility of the far-field profile indicates that high spatial coherence was achieved. We also observed symmetric far-field profiles indicating that laser array was phase locked to in-phase and out-of-phase super-modes, respectively. Transition between these super-modes was observed by tuning one grating's tilted angle.
Tuberculosis in the African continent: A comprehensive review

Tuberculosis continues to be a major global health problem, causing an estimated 8.8 million new cases and 1.45 million deaths annually. New drugs in the 1940s made it possible to beat the disease, and consequently, the number of cases reduced drastically. Fast-forward a few decades, drugresistant strains of varied virulence are reported consistently, disease is again on the rise and the treatment has not kept pace. Tuberculosis is the leading cause of death among HIV-infected persons in many resource-constrained settings however, it is curable and preventable. The unprecedented growth of the tuberculosis epidemic in Africa is attributable to several factors, the most important being the HIV epidemic. Analysis of molecular-based data have shown diverse genetic backgrounds among both drug-sensitive and MDR TB isolates in Africa presumably due to underlying genetic and environmental differences. The good news is that there have been important advances recently in TB drugs and diagnostics. Despite the availability of revolutionary tests that allow for faster diagnosis and of new drugs and regimens that offer better and safer treatment it is now becoming clearer that national efforts on TB control should be enhanced and focus on improving the quality of prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care services; strengthening program management, implementation and supervision. This review is an assessment of the trend in TB in Africa.
Growth optimization for high quality GaN films grown by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition

GaN layers were grown on c-plane sapphire substrates by using a conventional two step growth method via metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). The effect of different growth conditions used in the deposition of the low temperature nucleation layer and high temperature islands growth on the crystalline quality of the GaN layers was investigated by high resolution X-ray diffraction (HRXRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The polar (tilt) and azimuthal (twist) spread were estimated from the full width at half maximum (FWHM) values of the omega rocking curves (ω-RCs) recorded from planes parallel and perpendicular to the sample surface, respectively. It was found from the XRD and TEM study that the edge and mixed type threading dislocations were dominant defects so that the relevant figure of merit (FOM) for the crystalline quality should be considered only by the FWHM value of ω-RC of the surface perpendicular plane. The results showed that the mixed- and edge-types dislocation densities were strongly influenced by the growth conditions used in the deposition of the nucleation layer and high temperature islands growth.
Resource optimization and self interest: variations on the game of life

Conway's 'game of life' is extended using Axelrod's (1984) model of the prisoner's dilemma to investigate resource utilization. Totally cooperative "birth" and "death" rules in the standard game ("selfless" nodes) are combined with competitive algorithms of strategy from the prisoner's dilemma ("selfish" nodes). In prior simulation experiments, non-zero levels of "selfish" births provided counterintuitively higher resource utilization values; i.e. a larger population on a fixed sized grid. Additional results are obtained by examining the separate processes of "selfish" nodes; e.g. the relative advantage of "killing" other nodes over a derived vitality factor. These game extensions are called 'real life', which includes both processes, and 'special life', which has the vitality factor only. In order to analyze resource utilization, stability and complexity, several metrics are employed, including Hamming distance and fractal (box) dimension. Combining two strategies appears to not only enhance overall system effectiveness but also provides insight into the relationships between notions of order, complexity and chaos. >
Chapter 5. Effects of Thermal Pollution on Tropical-Type Estuaries, with Emphasis on Biscayne Bay, Florida

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the effects of thermal pollution on tropical-type estuaries focusing on the Biscayne Bay in Florida. Tropical estuarine regions undergo the rapid development and industrialization that has damaged estuarine and neritic ecosystems of the temperate zone. Thermal pollution is a real and immediate problem in tropical waters. The chapter considers the ecological situation in several types of estuaries and the effects of thermal pollution. Despite the fact that ambient temperatures are higher in tropical estuaries as opposed to temperate ones, the upper thermal lethal point of tropical estuarine organisms is not raised proportionally. There are often considerable mortalities due to high ambient temperatures caused by natural solar heating. Diverse studies in Florida, Guam, and Hawaii show temperatures of 2 °C above ambient causing sub-lethal effects and some mortalities, and 4–6 °C rises causing severe damage or total destruction of natural communities. These results indicate temperatures in excess of 30–32 °C are likely to cause mortality in tropical environments.
Social Epistemic Liberalism

The author builds upon recent work by Allen Buchanan and develops a comprehensive version of liberalism based in a partially comprehensive social epistemic doctrine. The author then argues that this version of liberalism is sufficiently accommodating of the fact of reasonable pluralism. The conclusion is that the founding premise of political liberalism admits of a counterexample; there is a version of comprehensive liberalism that is sufficiently pluralistic.
Forage nutritive value and steer responses to grazing intensity and seed-head suppression of endophyte-free tall fescue in mixed pastures1

ABSTRACT A 2-yr grazing experiment was conducted with 8- to 10-mo old steers on pastures of endophyte-free tall fescue [Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.) Darbysh.] in mixture with other grasses to assess the effect of seed-head suppression of fescue on steer performance and forage nutritive values. Treatments with and without seed-head suppression were each combined with either light or moderate grazing intensities for assignment to twelve 1.0-ha pastures of the grass mixtures. The experiment was conducted as a randomized complete block design with 3 replications. Steer ADG was measured, and CP and in vitro DM digestibility (IVDMD) of available forage, and leaf blade and sheaths of fescue tillers, were monitored. Averaged over grazing intensities, ADG was 16% greater (P 0.18) between suppressed and nonsuppressed vegetative tillers, and both had greater (P
Adding STING to the Tale of Oncolytic Virotherapy

The identification of STING as a key cytoplasmic innate recognition molecule for DNA viruses whose function is lost in a variety of cancers has coincided with the approval of IMLYGIC for metastatic melanoma. This represents the first replication competent viral therapy approved for the treatment of any cancer in the US. The role of STING pathway in the selectivity of HSV has been addressed for the first time in Xia et al (1).
Human Hearing Loss

Hearing loss affects as much as 5% of the global human population and its negative consequences, often 5 exacerbated by cultural bias or distributive injustice, include delayed cognitive and language 6 development, learning deficits and poor academic performance, chronic unemployment and 7 dependency, poverty, elevated risk of harm and poor health. This paper is based on a review of the 8 academic literature as well as other credible published resources to identify the principal causes of 9 hearing loss; its consequences for individuals, communities, and states; and potential interventions most 10 appropriate for developing and low-resource countries where hearing loss is currently most prevalent 11 and its burdens most egregious. 12
Pick a Tree – Any Tree

A subtree is picked at random from the collection of all subtrees of a complete graph. What is the probability the subtree spans? We find the surprising answer this question and a few closely relat...
Controlling Pressure in Experimental Lithics Research

The amount of pressure exerted per unit area is critical in microwear formation. Previous researchers have incorrectly assumed that amount of pressure per unit area can be controlled by controlling the amount of external pressure [i.e., load] applied during implement usage. Research has shown that even when the external force is constant, the fracture threshold varies depending on the amount of implement edge is contact with a worked item. Since edge contact varies considerably between functionally distinct classes of artifacts, a large amount of “noise” may have been inadvertently introduced into previous experimental results. This poses a significant problem, which must be addressed by future researchers.
A Novel Technique for Determining Local Dielectric Function During Ferroelectric To Paraelectric Phase Transformation in Barium Titanate with a Transmission Eels

In this work a transmission electron microscopy (TEM) technique was used in obtaining local dielectric properties calculated from optical parameters for dynamic investigation of the effect of cubic to tetragonal phase transformation in barium titanate. In order to obtain in situ local dielectric during phase transformation, Kramers-Kronig relations were applied using the transmission electron energy loss (EELS) measurements. The optical excitations in the EELS spectra were consistent with the band structure results. The Re (1/ɛ) (real part of the dielectric function) obtained from the energy loss data indicated a change at the phase transformation. A broadening of the valence plasmon excitation suggested an order-disorder nature to the cubic to tetragonal transformation. In situ electron energy loss near edge structure (ELNES) studies from 500–700 eV energy range near the O-K edge exhibited a pre-edge feature that is associated with the Ti-Lj edge which further indicates an order-disorder nature to the phase transformation. The significance of the results is discussed.
Effect of inclination angle during melting and solidification of a phase change material using a combined heat pipe-metal foam or foil configuration

Abstract Experiments are performed to analyze the impact of system inclination (ranging from 0° to 90°) on the melting and solidification of a phase change material (PCM) in a cylindrical enclosure. Heat transfer occurs through a concentrically located heat pipe (HP) or solid copper rod and an underlying copper disc. The HP may also be combined with aluminum foils and foam. Six configurations are investigated: HP-Foil-PCM, HP-Foam-PCM, HP-PCM, Rod-PCM, Foam-PCM and non-enhanced PCM. The PCM liquid fraction histories, temperature distributions and photographs provide insight into the influence of the inclination angle, as well as the three-dimensional melting phenomena. Experimental measurements indicate that the system orientation has a minimal effect on the solidification rates for nearly all case studies due to conduction-dominated heat transfer. However, during melting, the presence of natural convection may significantly alter the liquid fraction histories for systems without foam or foils. For the HP-PCM and Rod-PCM configurations with a horizontal orientation, the liquid fraction may be increased by up to 0.09 and 0.20 compared to a vertical orientation for a system with and without heat transfer through the base, respectively. For the HP-Foil-PCM and HP-Foam-PCM configurations, a vertical orientation achieved a slightly higher liquid fraction by approximately 0.03 and 0.05, respectively, relative to horizontal orientation. This may be attributed to the flow of the HP’s internal working fluid, in which gravity assists the return of the liquid working fluid to the HP evaporator in a vertical orientation. The time for complete melting and solidification for the HP-Foil-PCM configuration was reduced to 11% and 3% of that for a non-enhanced system, respectively, regardless of orientation. Overall, the combination of a HP with foils or foam may achieve much higher melting and solidification rates with respect to a non-enhanced system.
Extraction or adsorption? Voltammetric assessment of protamine transfer at ionophore-based polymeric membranes

Cation-exchange extraction of polypeptide protamine from water into an ionophore-based polymeric membrane has been hypothesized as the origin of a potentiometric sensor response to this important heparin antidote. Here, we apply ion-transfer voltammetry not only to confirm protamine extraction into ionophore-doped polymeric membranes but also to reveal protamine adsorption at the membrane/water interface. Protamine adsorption is thermodynamically more favorable than protamine extraction as shown by cyclic voltammetry at plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) membranes containing dinonylnaphthalenesulfonate as a protamine-selective ionophore. Reversible adsorption of protamine at low concentrations down to 0.038 μg/mL is demonstrated by stripping voltammetry. Adsorptive preconcentration of protamine at the membrane/water interface is quantitatively modeled by using the Frumkin adsorption isotherm. We apply this model to ensure that stripping voltammograms are based on desorption of all protamine molecules that a...
Modeling of Particles Dispersion on Liquid Surfaces

When small particles (e.g., flour, pollen, etc.) come in contact with a liquid surface, they immediately disperse. The dispersion can occur so quickly that it appears explosive, especially for small particles on the surface of mobile liquids like water. This explosive-like dispersion is the consequence of capillary forces pulling particles into the interface causing them to accelerate to a relatively large velocity. The maximum velocity increases with decreasing particle size; for nanometer-sized particles (e.g., viruses and proteins), the velocity on an air-water interface can be as large as 47 m/s. We also show that particles oscillate at a relatively-high frequency about their floating equilibrium before coming to stop under viscous drag. The observed dispersion is a result of strong repulsive hydrodynamic forces that arise because of these oscillations.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase expression in alveolar epithelial cells: upregulation of active ion transport by KGF.

We evaluated the effects of keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) on alveolar epithelial cell (AEC) active ion transport and on rat epithelial Na channel (rENaC) subunit and Na+-K+-adenosinetriphosphata...
Operando Studies of the Catalytic Hydrogenation of Ethylene on Pt(111) Single Crystal Surfaces

The hydrogenation of ethylene on Pt(111) single-crystal surfaces was studied by combining measurements of the kinetics of reaction using mass spectrometry detection with the simultaneous characteri...
Optical touch sensing on nonparametric rear-projection surfaces for interactive physical-virtual experiences

We demonstrate a generalizable method for unified multitouch detection and response on various nonparametric and parametric surfaces to support interactive physical-virtual experiences. The method employs multiple infrared IR cameras, one or more projectors, IR light sources, and a rear-projection surface. IR light reflected off human fingers is captured by cameras with matched IR pass filters, allowing for the detection and localization of multiple simultaneous finger-touch events. The processing of these events is tightly coupled with the rendering system to produce auditory and visual responses displayed on the surface using the projectors to achieve a responsive, interactive, physical-virtual experience. We demonstrate the method on two nonparametric face-shaped surfaces and a planar surface. We also illustrate the approach's applicability in an interactive medical training scenario using one of the head surfaces to support hands-on, touch-sensitive medical training with dynamic physical-virtual patient behavior.
Analysis of safety wind velocity of driving on sea-cross bridge based on target of no sideslip

The reasonable wind velocity must be proposed for the safety of vehicles driving on sea-cross-bridge under wind environment.The modified κ-e equation was used as the governing equation of turbulent flow model.The coefficients of resistance forces and lift forces were obtained as well as the pressure distribution of vehicles on bridges through the analysis of wind flow field around the vehicle-bridge model.The values of wind velocity for safe driving on sea-cross bridge with different surface features were suggested based on the target of no sideslip.The comparison shows that the values on sea-cross bridge are less than the ones on highways with different characters.
Development of Software Inspection Tools for Defect Examination in Machine Vision

In this chapter we developed a machine vision system, mainly focusing on implementation of software inspection tools for visual measurement and analysis. With reference to the support functions of several main brands of machine vision systems, we have proposed a visual inspection procedure for defect examination, consisting of five steps, namely, image capture and pre-processing, edge and feature extraction, image segmentation and positioning, template matching, and BLOB analysis. To fulfill the proposed inspection procedure, we implemented several software inspection tools. For each tool, we demonstrated its application example for defect examination in machine vision applications. All these tools can be further arranged in a proper sequence to realize a complicated defect inspection procedure. We have applied the proposed system to defect examination of mobile phone keypads to validate its effectiveness and obtained satisfactory results.
Minority stress and inflammatory mediators: covering moderates associations between perceived discrimination and salivary interleukin-6 in gay men

Physical health disparities by sexual orientation are widespread yet under-investigated. Drawing upon theories of biological embedding of social adversity, we tested whether minority stress (in the form of perceived discrimination) is associated with salivary interleukin-6 (IL-6), an inflammatory mediator. Furthermore, we examined whether covering, a strategy involving downplaying a stigmatized social identity, modified this association. A community sample (N = 99) of gay men (n = 78) and lesbian women (n = 21) completed self-report measures of minority stress and identity management and provided saliva samples which were assayed for IL-6. Among gay men, results from generalized linear models supported a hypothesized interaction between perceived discrimination and covering, such that perceived discrimination was predictive of higher levels of IL-6 for those who engaged in less covering but not for those who engaged in more covering. This interaction was robust to a number of potential covariates (alcohol, medication, body mass index, race and age). Results for lesbian women suggested a different pattern: the only statistically significant association detected was between greater perceived discrimination and lower levels of IL-6. Findings from the current study point to an important role for inflammatory processes in understanding and remediating health disparities based upon sexual orientation that stem from exposure to prejudice and discrimination.
The Podiatric Approach

Podiatric physicians have a unique practice situation, as they generally manage onychomycosis cases on a daily basis and in a specialized population (diabetes, Chap. 17). However, toenail disease may be caused by a variety of issues that are specifically foot related and not fungal related: trauma from shoes, biomechanical issues and forces, and infection compounded by shoe gear and adjacent skin conditions to the nails (i.e., interdigital tinea pedis). It is important when discussing the management and treatment of toenail onychomycosis that the visually similar biomechanical causes of nail dystrophy are also mentioned.
When kidneys get old: an essay on nephro-geriatrics

Aging is a nearly universal phenomenon in biology only partially controlled by genetic endowment. Individuals and their organs age at varying rates. The kidneys manifest the aging process by steady loss of nephrons and a corresponding decrease in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) beginning about age 30 years. The mechanisms responsible for this observation is are elusive. However, defining chronic kidney disease based on arbitrary, fixed thresholds of GFR in the later phases of life can be problematical as it may over-diagnosis CKD in the elderly. A modest, persisting reduction of GFR (around 45-59 ml/min/1.73m2) without abnormal proteinuria does not seem to confer much of an adverse effect on mortality and remaining life expectancy in older adults and the development of end-stage renal disease in such subjects is very uncommon. Old kidneys should not be equated with "diseased" kidneys.
User Perceptions of Data Quality: Internet and Traditional Text Sources

Information retrieved from the Internet may have more severe information quality problems than information found in more traditional text sources of information such as books, journals, magazines, ...
Pharmacokinetic Model for Nalidixic Acid in Man III: Effect of Repeated Oral Dosage

In studies which involved the administration of 1-Gm. doses of nalidixic acid to human volunteers four times daily for a period of 10 days, it has been shown that the resulting plasma levels of nalidixic and of hydroxynalidixic acid could be predicted reasonably well from a model derived from single-dose studies. More satisfactory blood levels are obtained if the doses are taken at least 1 hr. before meals. Repeated dosage results in no important change in the absorption-excretion-metabolism patterns of the drug.
Teachers' Beliefs About Integrating Digital Literacy Into Classroom Practice: An Investigation Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior

AbstractThis study explored teachers' behavioral, normative, and control beliefs related to digital literacy integration into their classrooms. Ajzen's Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) was used as a theoretical framework to collect and analyze data. Findings revealed that teachers' integration of digital literacy were related to their behavioral beliefs (attitude toward outcomes of a behavior) about the value of digital literacy for developing students' 21st-century skills, increasing student engagement, and preparation for future careers; normative beliefs (social support) about meeting the expectations of administrators, parents, colleagues, and students; and control beliefs (perceived behavioral control) about ease of integrating digital literacy due to access to technology, professional development, and curriculum resources.
Do Interventions Intended to Increase Female Medical Student Interest in Radiology Work? Preliminary Findings.

Purpose The purpose of this study is to share the preliminary findings after initiation of interventions at the medical school level, which have been suggested by the literature to increase female medical student interest in radiology at one institution. Additionally, the paper provides discussion of how to better future interventions for increasing female medical student interest. Methods Interventions to increase medical student exposure to radiology were implemented at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in 2012. Radiology was incorporated into the preclinical curriculum; flexible clinical experiences stressing patient contact were created for early exposure to radiology during third-year clerkships; and a ‘Women in Radiology’ panel was held to promote visibility of female radiologists. In addition, female radiology faculty became more involved in medical school activities and events. Results Our results suggest that early exposure in the preclinical curriculum and patient-centered electives increase overall student interest in radiology but only minimally increase female interest. Simply offering the patient-centered electives is not enough as it resulted in more male student enrollment than female (60% vs. 40%, respectively). Just one event promoting visibility of female radiologists changed female medical student perception of patient contact within radiology by a statistically significant amount. Examination of current UMass faculty radiologists by gender demonstrates that full-time, junior female radiologists—the demographic suggested to have the biggest impact on female medical students—only accounted for 4% of faculty. Conclusion This article may be informative for radiology departments looking to increase female medical student interest. Required visibility of female radiologists and active publicity of female radiologists from the first preclinical year are likely to have the biggest impact in increasing female medical student interest.
Protecting the long tail: Transparent packet security in content-centric networks

In the Content-Centric Networking (CCN) architecture, content confidentiality is treated as an application-layer concern. Data is only encrypted if the producer and consumer agree on a suitable access control policy and enforcement mechanism. In contrast, transport encryption in TCP/IP applications is increasingly opportunistic for better privacy. This type of encryption is woefully lacking in CCN. To that end, we present TRAPS, a protocol to enable transparent packet security and opportunistic encryption for all CCN data. TRAPS builds on the assumption that knowledge of a name gives one access to the corresponding content; otherwise, by design, the content remains encrypted and secure. TRAPS builds on recent advances in memory hard functions and message-locked encryption to protect data in transit. We show that the security of TRAPS is dependent on the distribution of content names and argue that it can be significantly improved if secure sessions are used to transmit small pieces of information from producers to consumers. Our performance assessment indicates TRAPS is capable of providing opportunistic encryption to CCN without significant throughput loss for reasonable packet throughput measurements.
Prevalence of physical problems detected by the distress thermometer and problem list in patients with breast cancer.

Background Patients with breast cancer have high rates of physical symptoms that negatively impact their quality of life. The relationship between women's perceptions of these physical symptoms and patient demographic and breast cancer characteristics is less well known. This study describes physical symptoms of patients with breast cancer and their relationship with patient characteristics. Methods Patients (n = 125) with breast cancer (stage 0-IV) completed questionnaires in a dedicated academic medical center breast cancer clinic. Patients reported demographics (age, race/ethnicity, marital status, and employment status) and disease characteristics (surgery type, receipt of chemotherapy, or antihormonal therapy). Patients reported whether they were bothered by any of the 22 physical problem list (PPL) variables from the distress thermometer and problem list. Results The median number of physical problems endorsed by patients was 3.0 (M = 3.43, SD = 3.42). Approximately one-fourth endorsed no physical symptoms while three-fourths reported at least 1 problem, and three-fifths endorsed 2 or more problems. Fatigue (40.0%), sleep (34.7%), skin dry/itchy (22.9%), pain (19.5%), and feeling swollen (19.5%) were most commonly reported. Age, race/ethnicity, marital status, employment status, and receipt of chemotherapy were associated with certain physical problems. Problems with breathing, eating, memory/concentration, nausea, and total number of endorsed PPL variables were associated with distress. Conclusion The breast cancer population demonstrates heavy physical symptom burden with multiple physical problems that are related to overall functioning. Special attention should be given to the physical symptom burden of younger, nonwhite, unmarried, and unemployed patients. Future research should investigate the PPL of the distress thermometer and problem list with other measures of symptom burden.
GLUTAMIC ACID INHIBITION OF ASPARTIC ACID UTILIZATION IN THREONINE BIOSYNTHESIS

The observation that Leuconostoc dextranicum 8086 requires either aspartic acid or threonine for growth resulted in studies in which a ri%e’ of aspartic acid in the biosynthesis of threonine was demonstrated in certain lactobacilli (1). In the present investigation, the nature of the requirement for either aspartic acid or threonine for growth of L. dextranicum 8086 has been found to be the result of a competitive inhibition by glutamic acid of the utilization of aspartic acid in the biosynthesis of threonine.
Behavior: Perception and Execution

From a communication and control point of view, a firm is characterized in terms of the messages it receives and the messages it sends. Its behavior is defined in terms of the relationships that connect the messages received with the messages sent. Many of the concepts and definitions that are required in order to develop the communication and control point of view are introduced in this chapter. The very general and detailed taxonomy presented here will be simplified and applied to special cases in later chapters.
The Acquisition of Pragmatic Competence in Indonesian Abroad Programs: The Importance of Informal Indonesian

This paper presents some comparisons between speeches of advanced learners of Indonesian with those of the native speakers, which indicates that many advanced learners do not communicate the way native speakers usually do. This can be attributed to the Indonesian language programs that focus mostly on teaching formal Indonesian grammar and vocabularies, neglecting informal conversational Indonesian which is essential for the acquisition of pragmatic competence. This paper discusses the importance of pragmatic competence in Indonesian language learning, including learning various speeches commonly used in daily interactions. Based on recordings of learners’ interactions as well as notes on observations of teaching-learning activities in selected Indonesian abroad programs, this paper describes the challenges of developing pragmatic competence based on examples of learners’ non-grammatical errors as well as inappropriate interactional uses of Indonesian. In addition, this paper will explain issues and challenges of achieving pragmatics competence in these programs and suggests possible solutions.
Electronic Structure Predictions of the Energetic Properties of Tellurium Fluorides

The heats of formation, bond dissociation energies (BDEs), fluoride affinities (FA), fluorocation affinities (FCA), electron affinities (EA), and ionization energies (IP) of TeFn (n = 1–6) have bee...
Distributed Inference of the Multiplex Network Topology of Complex Systems

Many natural and engineered systems can be modeled as a set of nonlinear units interacting with each other over a network of interconnections. Often, such interactions occur through different types of functions giving rise to so-called multiplex networks. As an example, two masses can interact through both a spring and a damper. In many practical applications, the multiplex network topology is unknown, and global information is not available. In this paper, we propose a novel distributed approach to infer the network topology for a class of networks with both nonlinear node dynamics and multiplex couplings. In our strategy, the estimators measure only local network states but cooperate with their neighbors to fully infer the network topology. Sufficient conditions for stability and convergence are derived using appropriate Lyapunov functions. Applications to networks of chaotic oscillators and multirobot manipulation are presented to validate our theoretical findings and illustrate the effectiveness of our approach.
Vocal Communication With Canonical Syllables Predicts Later Expressive Language Skills in Preschool-Aged Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Purpose We examined associations between vocal communication with canonical syllables and expressive language and then examined 2 potential alternative explanations for such associations. Method Sp...
Effect of Revealing Authors' Conflicts of Interests in Peer Review: Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract Objective To assess the effect of disclosing authors’ conflict of interest declarations to peer reviewers at a medical journal. Design Randomized controlled trial. Setting Manuscript review process at the Annals of Emergency Medicine. Participants Reviewers (n=838) who reviewed manuscripts submitted between 2 June 2014 and 23 January 2018 inclusive (n=1480 manuscripts). Intervention Reviewers were randomized to either receive (treatment) or not receive (control) authors’ full International Committee of Medical Journal Editors format conflict of interest disclosures before reviewing manuscripts. Reviewers rated the manuscripts as usual on eight quality ratings and were then surveyed to obtain “counterfactual scores”—that is, the scores they believed they would have given had they been assigned to the opposite arm—as well as attitudes toward conflicts of interest. Main outcome measure Overall quality score that reviewers assigned to the manuscript on submitting their review (1 to 5 scale). Secondary outcomes were scores the reviewers submitted for the seven more specific quality ratings and counterfactual scores elicited in the follow-up survey. Results Providing authors’ conflict of interest disclosures did not affect reviewers’ mean ratings of manuscript quality (Mcontrol=2.70 (SD 1.11) out of 5; Mtreatment=2.74 (1.13) out of 5; mean difference 0.04, 95% confidence interval –0.05 to 0.14), even for manuscripts with disclosed conflicts (Mcontrol= 2.85 (1.12) out of 5; Mtreatment=2.96 (1.16) out of 5; mean difference 0.11, –0.05 to 0.26). Similarly, no effect of the treatment was seen on any of the other seven quality ratings that the reviewers assigned. Reviewers acknowledged conflicts of interest as an important matter and believed that they could correct for them when they were disclosed. However, their counterfactual scores did not differ from actual scores (Mactual=2.69; Mcounterfactual=2.67; difference in means 0.02, 0.01 to 0.02). When conflicts were reported, a comparison of different source types (for example, government, for-profit corporation) found no difference in effect. Conclusions Current ethical standards require disclosure of conflicts of interest for all scientific reports. As currently implemented, this practice had no effect on any quality ratings of real manuscripts being evaluated for publication by real peer reviewers.
Outer-Sphere Tyrosine 159 within the 3-Mercaptopropionic Acid Dioxygenase S-H-Y Motif Gates Substrate-Coordination Denticity at the Non-Heme Iron Active Site.

Thiol dioxygenases are non-heme mononuclear iron enzymes that catalyze the O2-dependent oxidation of free thiols (-SH) to produce the corresponding sulfinic acid (-SO2-). Regardless of the phylogenic domain, the active site for this enzyme class is typically comprised of two major features: (1) a mononuclear ferrous iron coordinated by three protein-derived histidines and (2) a conserved sequence of outer Fe-coordination-sphere amino acids (Ser-His-Tyr) spatially adjacent to the iron site (∼3 A). Here, we utilize a promiscuous 3-mercaptopropionic acid dioxygenase cloned from Azotobacter vinelandii (Av MDO) to explore the function of the conserved S-H-Y motif. This enzyme exhibits activity with 3-mercaptopropionic acid (3mpa), l-cysteine (cys), as well as several other thiol-bearing substrates, thus making it an ideal system to study the influence of residues within the highly conserved S-H-Y motif (H157 and Y159) on substrate specificity and reactivity. The pKa values for these residues were determined by pH-dependent steady-state kinetics, and their assignments verified by comparison to H157N and Y159F variants. Complementary electron paramagnetic resonance and Mossbauer studies demonstrate a network of hydrogen bonds connecting H157-Y159 and Fe-bound ligands within the enzymatic Fe site. Crucially, these experiments suggest that the hydroxyl group of Y159 hydrogen bonds to Fe-bound NO and, by extension, Fe-bound oxygen during native catalysis. This interaction alters both the NO binding affinity and rhombicity of the 3mpa-bound iron-nitrosyl site. In addition, Fe coordination of cys is switched from thiolate only to bidentate (thiolate/amine) for the Y159F variant, indicating that perturbations within the S-H-Y proton relay network also influence cys Fe binding denticity.
An assessment of parental knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs regarding influenza vaccination

Abstract Introduction Seasonal influenza imposes a significant clinical and economic burden. Despite the availability of an annual vaccine to prevent influenza infection and reduce disease severity, influenza vaccination rates remain suboptimal. Research suggests personal experience, perceived effectiveness, and concerns regarding vaccine safety and side effects are the most influential factors in predicting a parent’s decision to vaccinate. However, current literature is primarily focused on the vaccine decision-making of healthcare workers and those at high risk for influenza complications. Methods To assess parental attitudes and beliefs regarding the influenza vaccine, a brief mixed-methods survey was developed and optimized for an electronic platform. The Health Belief Model informed survey design and data analysis. Questions were classified into five core concepts: knowledge, barriers, benefits, experience, and severity. Participants were solicited from a population of parents whose children had participated in a school-based influenza surveillance study (n = 244, 73% response rate). We tested associations between responses and children’s influenza vaccination status the prior season. Categorical questions were tested using Pearson's chi-squared tests and numerical or ordered questions using Mann-Whitney tests. P-values were corrected using the Bonferroni method. Results Doubting effectiveness, concerns about side effects, inconvenience, and believing the vaccine is unnecessary were barriers negatively associated with parents’ decision to vaccinate their children during the 2017–18 flu season (p Conclusion Understanding barriers and motivators behind parents’ decision to vaccinate provides valuable insight that has the potential to shape vaccine messaging, recommendations, and policy. The motivation to vaccinate to prevent influenza transmission in high-risk populations is a novel finding that warrants further investigation.
A Vulnerability Risk Index of Self‐Neglect in a Community‐Dwelling Older Population

Background The only way to systematically screen for self-neglect among older adults is through in-home observations, which are often difficult and unfeasible for healthcare providers. To fill this gap, we need a robust and efficient prognostication tool to better treat and prevent self-neglect among older adults. Objectives To develop a predictive index that can be used to assess risk prognostication of the onset of self-neglect among community-dwelling older populations. Design Two waves of longitudinal data from the Chicago Health and Aging Project (CHAP), collected during 2008 to 2012 with approximately 3-year follow-up intervals. Setting Non-Hispanic black or non-Hispanic white community-dwelling older adults in three adjacent neighborhoods in Chicago, IL. Participants A total of 2885 individuals who were participants of the CHAP study. Measurements The main outcomes are incident self-neglect cases. A total of 86 potential predictors were considered in the domains of sociodemographic and socioeconomic, general well-being, health behavior, medical health, medicine/healthcare, cognitive function, physical well-being, social well-being, and psychological well-being. Results The 3-year self-neglect incidence rate is 241 (8.4%). A 10-item predictive model (with a c-statistic of 0.76) was developed using stepwise selection in multivariable logistical regression models. After corrections of overfitting by validating in 100 bootstrapping samples, the predictive accuracy of the model dropped to 0.71, suggesting at least moderate overfitting. A point-based risk index was developed based on parameter estimates of each predictive factor in the final logistic model. The index has an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.76. Conclusion The study developed an efficient index with good predictive ability of self-neglect. Further external validation and impact studies are necessary before practitioners can apply this index to determine risk of self-neglect among other community aging populations. J Am Geriatr Soc 68:809-816, 2020.
Epistemic Foundation: Epistemologies and Worldviews, the Bible and Public Schools

Confusion surrounding the correct interpretation of a letter written by Pope Gelasius I at the end of the fifth century forged a path over the next eight centuries of reliance on demonstrative logical arguments to justify the privileged position of Christianity in medieval politics. But another less-traveled path via the Greco-Islamic tradition advanced the logic and value of inductive arguments. This inductive turn laid the epistemic foundation of the religious axis and its contribution to American political architecture. Protestant worldviews emerged to challenge the epistemic foundation and argue for a return to demonstrative arguments based on presuppositional premises originating in the Bible. Influential in electoral politics of conservative evangelicals, Reformed Christianity reached back to its Calvinist roots to develop political theologies to stave off further moral degeneration of American society. Present efforts of religious conservatives include legal challenges and other political means to return the Bible to public classrooms.
METABOLIC SYNDROME AND AUTOMATED EPICARDIAL ADIPOSE TISSUE MEASURES PREDICT LONG-TERM RISK OF CARDIAC EVENTS IN ASYMPTOMATIC SUBJECTS

We evaluated the association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) quantified from coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring computed tomography (CT) with long-term risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in asymptomatic subjects. 2,068 subjects (56±9 years,
Should Noninvasive Ventilation Be Used for Treatment of Acute Cardiogenic Pulmonary Edema? A Cochrane Review Summary With Commentary.

Acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema is common in patients with heart disease. It can result in derangements in gas exchange and hemodynamics, leading to hypoxia and death. Standard medical care includes oxygen, diuretics, morphine, and an afterload reducer such as nitroglycerin. Noninvasive
Resilience Mediates the Relationship Between PTSD Symptoms and Disordered Eating in College Women Who Have Experienced Sexual Victimization.

It is widely known that sexual assault disproportionately affects women, and college-aged women are particularly at risk. Sexual assault can occur at any age and may have a varying range of emotion...
Predictors and Outcomes of Cardiac Events following Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair in Descending Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm and Dissection.

Background Cardiac events following thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) have been associated with significant morbidity and mortality. However, predictors of post-TEVAR cardiac events in descending thoracic aortic aneurysm or dissection are poorly understood. Methods A retrospective analysis of completed TEVAR procedures performed from 2010 to 2016 was conducted using the ACS-NSQIP (American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program) participant user file database. Adult patients (≥18 years) who underwent TEVAR for descending thoracic aortic aneurysm or dissection were identified and 30-day outcomes were examined. An initial univariate analysis was performed to determine associations between all patient variables and cardiac events, defined as myocardial infarction or cardiac arrest that occurred ≤30 days of surgery. Multivariate logistic regression was subsequently performed to identify independent risk factors for cardiac events following TEVAR. Results The study identified 150 out of 2,905 (5.2%) patients who underwent TEVAR for descending thoracic aortic aneurysm or dissection who developed cardiac events. No significant difference in incidence of cardiac events was noted among patients presenting with aortic aneurysm or dissection (p = 0.339). The overall 30-day mortality rate for all patients was 9.1%. Independent preoperative predictors of post-TEVAR cardiac events included emergency procedure (odds ratio [OR] 2.80, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.9–4.1, p 3 (OR 1.71, 95% CI 1.1–2.6, p = 0.01), ventilator dependence (OR 2.33, 95% CI 1.3–4.2, p Conclusions Cardiac events following TEVAR are associated with significant mortality. Patients with these risk factors should be appropriately monitored to improve outcomes.
Intravenous injection of extracellular vesicles to treat chronic myocardial ischemia.

Background Mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) appear to be a very exciting treatment option for heart disease. Here, we used a swine model of chronic myocardial ischemia to evaluate the efficacy of a less-invasive method of injection of EVs via a peripheral intravenous route. Methods Sixteen Yorkshire swine underwent placement of an ameroid constrictor on the left circumflex (LCx) artery at age 11 weeks to induce chronic myocardial ischemia. Two weeks later, they were divided into two groups: control (CON; n = 8), and intravenous injection of EVs (EVIV; n = 8). At 18 weeks of age, animals underwent final analysis and euthanasia. The chronically ischemic myocardium (LCx territory) was harvested for analysis. Results Intravenous injection (IV) of EVs induced several pro-angiogenic markers such as MAPK, JNK but not Akt. Whereas IV injections of EVs decreased VEGFR2 expression and inhibited apoptotic signaling (caspase 3), they increased expression of VEGFR1 that is believed to be anti-angiogenic. Injection of EVs did not result in an increase in vessel density and blood flow when compared to the control group. Conclusions Although IV injection of EVs upregulated several pro-angiogenic signaling pathways, it failed to induce changes in vascular density in the chronically ischemic myocardium. Thus, a lack of increase in vascular density at the doses tested failed to elicit a functional response in ischemic myocardium.