cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Linea vestibularis: a previously undescribed normal genital structure in female neonates.

The increasing number of evidentiary examinations conducted for sexual abuse has accentuated the importance of defining normal genital anatomy, particularly within the vestibule of female children. In female newborns, normal anatomical variations of the hymen have been described1,2 but anatomical variations of the posterior vestibule underlying the hymen have not been reported. In children evaluated for sexual abuse a vestibular structure of varying description and location has been reported. A "midline avascular streak," "scar," and "a white area" have been noted in the posterior vestibule, posterior fourchette, and hymen.1,3,4 Whether these descriptions all pertain to a single entity or are multiple lesions is not known.
The capillary network: a link between ivim and classical perfusion

MR measurements based on motion encoding gradients, such as intravoxel incoherent motion imaging, could provide, in principle, information on flowing blood volume and blood velocity. This note shows that, in addition, the knowledge of the capillary network organization may provide a link between these measurements and those obtained by conventional and MR perfusion techniques based on tracer uptake by tissues.
Bark phenolics of American beech (Fagus grandifolia) in relation to the beech bark disease

The amount of total extractable phenols was determined for bark sections obtained from behind cankers naturally induced by Nectria coccinea var. faginata and from behind mechanically inflicted wounds on stems of American beech. Healthy bark from susceptible trees was found to contain a similar level of phenolics as bark from trees determined to be resistant to the beech bark disease. Six months after wounding, wound-altered bark from susceptible trees was found to be lower in phenols than woundaltered bark from resistant trees. Inoculation of wounds with N. coccinea var. faginata resulted in decreased phenolic levels in bark sections nearest the wound surface, and increased phenolic levels in sections nearest the vascular cambium, several mm distant. Phenolic levels in injured or infected bark appear to follow similar patterns as those resulting from injury or infection of xylem tissues.
Conservative Corrections to the Innermost Stable Circular Orbit (ISCO) of A Kerr Black Hole: A New Gauge-Invariant Post-Newtonian ISCO Condition, and the ISCO Shift Due to Test-Particle Spin and the Gravitational Self-Force

The innermost stable circular orbit (ISCO) delimits the transition from circular orbits to those that plunge into a black hole. In the test-mass limit, well-defined ISCO conditions exist for the Kerr and Schwarzschild spacetimes. In the finite-mass case, there are a large variety of ways to define an ISCO in a post-Newtonian (PN) context. Here I generalize the gauge-invariant ISCO condition of Blanchet and Iyer [Classical Quantum Gravity 20, 755 (2003)] to the case of spinning (nonprecessing) binaries. The Blanchet-Iyer ISCO condition has two desirable and unexpected properties: (1) it exactly reproduces the Schwarzschild ISCO in the test-mass limit, and (2) it accurately approximates the recently calculated shift in the Schwarzschild ISCO frequency due to the conservative-piece of the gravitational self-force [L. Barack and N. Sago, Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, 191101 (2009)]. The generalization of this ISCO condition to spinning binaries has the property that it also exactly reproduces the Kerr ISCO in the test-mass limit (up to the order at which PN spin corrections are currently known). The shift in the ISCO due to the spin of the test-particle is also calculated. Remarkably, the gauge-invariant PN ISCO condition exactly reproduces the ISCO shift predicted by the Papapetrou equations for a fully relativistic spinning particle. It is surprising that an analysis of the stability of the standard PN equations of motion is able (without any form of “resummation”) to accurately describe strong-field effects of the Kerr spacetime. The ISCO frequency shift due to the conservative self-force in Kerr is also calculated from this new ISCO condition, as well as from the effective-one-body Hamiltonian of Barausse and Buonanno [Phys. Rev. D 81, 084024 (2010)]. These results serve as a useful point of comparison for future gravitational self-force calculations in the Kerr spacetime.
Predicting mutation frequencies in stem-loop structures of derepressed genes: implications for evolution.

Summary This work provides evidence that, during transcription, the mutability (propensity to mutate) of a base in a DNA secondary structure depends both on the stability of the structure and on the extent to which the base is unpaired. Zuker ' s DNA folding computer program reveals the most probable stem‐loop structures (SLSs) and negative energies of folding (‐ ∆ G) for any given nucleotide sequence. We developed an interfacing program that calculates (i) the percentage of folds in which each base is unpaired during transcription; and (ii) the mutability index (MI) for each base, expressed as an absolute value and defined as follows: MI = (% total folds in which the base is unpaired) × × × (highest ‐ ∆ G of all folds in which it is unpaired). Thus, MIs predict the relative mutation or reversion frequencies of unpaired bases in SLSs. MIs for 16 mutable bases in auxotrophs, selected during starvation in derepressed genes, are compared with 70 background mutations in lacI and ebgR that were not derepressed during mutant selection. All the results are consistent with the location of known mutable bases in SLSs. Specific conclusions are: (i) Of 16 mutable bases in transcribing genes, 87% have higher MIs than the average base of the sequence analysed, compared with 50% for the 70 background mutations. (ii) In 15 of the mutable bases of transcribing genes, the correlation between MIs and relative mutation frequencies determined experimentally is good. There is no correlation for 35 mutable bases in the lacI gene. (iii) In derepressed auxotrophs, 100% of the codons containing the mutable bases are within one codon ' s length of a stem, compared with 53% for the background mutable bases in lacI . (iv) The data suggest that environmental stressors may cause as well as select mutations in derepressed genes. The implications of these results for evolution are discussed.
Lack of Robustness of Life Extension Associated With Several Single-Gene P Element Mutations in Drosophila melanogaster

The hypothesis tested in this study was that single-gene mutations found previously to extend the life span of Drosophila melanogaster could do so consistently in both long-lived y w and standard w (1118) genetic backgrounds. GAL4 drivers were used to express upstream activation sequence (UAS)-responder transgenes globally or in the nervous system. Transgenes associated with oxidative damage prevention (UAS-hSOD1 and UAS-GCLc) or removal (EP-UAS-Atg8a and UAS-dTOR (FRB) ) failed to increase mean life spans in any expression pattern in either genetic background. Flies containing a UAS-EGFP-bMSRA (C) transgene associated with protein repair were found not to exhibit life extension or detectable enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) activity. The presence of UAS-responder transgenes was confirmed by PCR amplification and sequencing at the 5' and 3' end of each insertion. These results cast doubt on the robustness of life extension in flies carrying single-gene mutations and suggest that the effects of all such mutations should be tested independently in multiple genetic backgrounds and laboratory environments.
Double dissociation between perspective-taking and empathic-concern as predictors of hemodynamic response to another's mistakes

Identifying another's mistakes requires a basic representation of other's action patterns as well as recognition and understanding of their failed goal-attainment. In previous work, we identified several regions, including inferior parietal cortex and rostral/ventral anterior cinguli (r/vACC), that show unique sensitivity to the observation of another's errors. Here we utilize the same sample to show that participants’ level of self-reported perspective-taking (but not empathic concern) correlated with hemodynamic response in IPC, while participants’ level of self-reported empathic concern (but not perspective taking) correlated with hemodynamic response in r/vACC. This functional dissociation provides strong evidence for separate roles for IPC and r/vACC in the processing of observed errors. IPC may foster a sense of agency by distinguishing self- from other-performed actions; r/vACC may, in turn, promote a more contextually-mediated understanding of the other's failed goal-attainment.
Constraints On Iaser-driven Accelerators For A High-energy Iinear Collider

General considerations of the requirements for a high energy linear collider (here, to be specific, taken to be 1 TeV on 1 TeV) are applied to free-space laser and laser/plasma accelerators. It is shown that the requirements impose very severe constraints upon the new accelerators-so severe, that it seems unlikely that these necessary criteria can be met in the foreseeable future.
Agent based state estimation in smart distribution grid

A novel agent based static state estimation strategy for a specific class of physical systems is proposed. Physical systems, (e.g. smart distribution grid) which are well modeled using decentralized measurements and distributed state-space formulations are considered. In such systems, sensor nodes acting as agents estimate only a subset of states, instead of evaluating local estimates of global states. In general, for each agent, the measurement model reduces to an underdetermined nonlinear system and in many cases, the state elements associated with an agent may overlap with neighboring agents. A classic example of such a physical system is a radial power distribution grid. We propose a state estimation strategy, which effectively integrates the principles of local consensus and least squares solution and illustrate its potency using the power distribution grid. We also present rigorous analysis of convergence of the proposed approach to motivate its application to other multi-agent systems.
Neurosurgical practice liability: relative risk by procedure type.

BACKGROUND Neurosurgeons have the highest exposure to litigation of all medical and surgical specialties. OBJECTIVE To determine the relative risk of claims for compensation and indemnity by procedure type. The most common alleged factors and clinical outcomes are also determined. METHODS The Physician Insurers Association of America Data Sharing Project was queried for all claims involving a neurosurgeon with an incident date during the calendar year 2006. Data were compared with the American Association of Neurological Surgeons National Neurosurgical Procedural Statistics 2006 Survey. Statistical analysis was performed using the χ test and Fisher exact test as appropriate. RESULTS Claims were most common after spine surgery, followed by medical management and cranial surgery. Compared with spine surgery, cranial surgery was significantly less likely to result in a claim (P < .0001, relative risk: 0.45). However, the average indemnity for spine surgery was $278,362 vs $423,539 for medical management and $438,183 for cranial surgery. The most common alleged factors in spine surgery were improper performance, wrong level operated on, and unindicated procedure. The most common alleged factors in medical management were errors in diagnosis and failure to monitor a patient. The most common alleged factors in cranial surgery were errors in diagnosis and improper performance. For all claims, the most common clinical outcomes were paraplegia, infection, other unspecified complications, and cauda equina syndrome. CONCLUSION Claims are statistically less likely to occur after cranial surgery. However, indemnity is higher in cranial and medical management cases than in spine surgery cases. Nonsurgical treatment is a common source of liability in neurosurgical practice.
Seismic investigation of magmatic unrest beneath Mammoth Mountain, California, USA

I present a reinvestigation of the seismic activity during an 11-mo-long seismic swarm between 1989 and 1990 beneath Mammoth Mountain in eastern California (United States). This swarm, believed to be the result of a shallow intrusion of magma beneath Mammoth Mountain, was followed by the emission of magmatic CO 2 gas, resulting in tree die-off in 1990 and posing a signifi cant human health risk around Mammoth Mountain. In this study, I apply a state-of-the-art approach to estimate the ratio of compressional- to shear-wave velocity (Vp/Vs) within similar event clusters using differential times from waveform crosscorrelation. A high-resolution three-dimensional seismic velocity model and a precise earthquake location catalog are obtained to complement the analysis of the in situ Vp/Vs ratios. The majority of the relocated seismicity below sea level is distributed in an anomalous body with low Vp and high Vp/Vs, consistent with the seismic expression of the magma body that triggered the seismic swarm. Abrupt changes in Vp/Vs ratios, with lower values for the shallow depths, are observed near sea level, indicating the source of the 1989 CO 2 fl ux is a shallow CO 2 reservoir instead of the hypothesized basaltic magma at mid-crustal depths of 10-25 km. From sea level to the surface, low Vp/Vs ratios in a near-vertical zone suggest involvement of fl uid in the upward-migration of the seismicity.
Sensory processing, participation, and recovery in adults with serious mental illnesses.

Objective People with serious mental illnesses (SMI) have different sensory processing patterns compared to the general population. The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between different sensory processing patterns and community participation and recovery-oriented outcomes to inform the development of innovative rehabilitation interventions, including those resulting in more accommodating environments. Methods A quasi-experimental, comparative research design was conducted by using data obtained from 95 adults with SMI who received public mental health services. Participants completed a sensory processing profile and measures of community participation, recovery, and quality of life. Comparisons were made between sensory profile categories for each dependent variable using multivariate analyses of variance. Results The category with more evidence of self-reported low registration and sensory sensitivity than most reported less participation and lower levels of recovery than did their peers with processing patterns in typical ranges. The category with more self-reported sensory sensitivity than most reported lower quality of life. Finally, the category in the "similar" to "more than most" range on self-reported sensory seeking had higher levels of participation and recovery. Conclusions and implications for practice Assessment of sensory processing patterns in adults with SMI can inform sensory-based interventions that might result in greater community participation and other recovery outcomes. Interventions can include those that seek to enhance person-environment fit by altering the environment, as well as interventions that enhance adaptive sensory responses to external stimuli.
Simplifying and interpreting the FACTS of noninferiority trials: A stepwise approach.

In providing evidence-based care, it is likely that new practitioners have encountered noninferiority trials in the medical literature and will continue to do so at an increasing rate. The number of noninferiority trials indexed by PubMed increased from only 1 trial published before 1999 to over 100
EFFECT OF SELEXIPAG ON MORBIDITY/MORTALITY IN PULMONARY ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION: RESULTS OF THE GRIPHON STUDY

Selexipag, an orally available, selective IP receptor agonist targeting the prostacyclin pathway, is chemically and pharmacologically distinct from prostanoids. The GRIPHON trial evaluated the long-term effect of selexipag on morbidity/mortality (M/M) as well as tolerability and safety in patients
Error versus y+ for Three Turbulence Models: Incompressible Flow Over a Unit Flat Plate

In order to facilitate the application of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) tools by aerodynamic designers, an assessment of error was made for the Menter Shear Stress Transport (SST), Spalart-Allmaras, and Nichols-Nelson Hybrid (RANS/LES) SST turbulence models. The assessment was made for incompressible flow over a smooth flat plate of unit length. Correlations of the error in drag coefficient with initial grid point spacing, expressed in terms of y+, were discovered for each model. It was found that the correlations were nonlinear and could be expressed in terms of the sine function.
Seed Development in a Shrunken Endosperm Barley Mutant

Seg8 is one of eight barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) mutants whose endosperm development is affected by the maternal plant genotype. This study was initiated to determine the nature and onset of abnormal development to provide a basis for further studies fixed at understanding the mechanism of genetic control. Seed development and synthesis and accumulation of reserve substances were compared between seg8 and its normal counterpart, cv. Klages
Meromorphic Monoidal Structures

In this article we restate some results of [KL] in a form which can be immediately generalized to the quantum case. The corresponding “quantization” is the joint work with Y. Soibelman. Unfortunately we have obtained a “quantization” of only the most elementary part of [KL]. We will use freely notations from [KL].
Precipitation Characteristics in West and East Africa from Satellite and in Situ Observations

AbstractUsing in situ data, three precipitation classes are identified for rainy seasons of West and East Africa: weak convective rainfall (WCR), strong convective rainfall (SCR), and mesoscale convective systems (MCSs). Nearly 75% of the total seasonal precipitation is produced by the SCR and MCSs, even though they represent only 8% of the rain events. Rain events in East Africa tend to have a longer duration and lower intensity than in West Africa, reflecting different characteristics of the SCR and MCS events in these two regions. Surface heating seems to be the primary convection trigger for the SCR, particularly in East Africa, whereas the WCR requires a dynamical trigger such as low-level convergence. The data are used to evaluate the performance of the recently launched Integrated Multisatellite Retrievals for Global Precipitation Measurement (IMERG) project. The IMERG-based precipitation shows significant improvement over its predecessor, the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Multisatelli...
Viral and Rickettsial Diseases

Viral infection is a major source of cutaneous disease, and skin lesions are frequently biopsied. Viropathic changes help to identify various types of viruses, while in some cases secondary changes, such as keratinocyte dysplasia, identify the offending virus. Viral infections can be limited to the skin, but systemic infection may also give rise to cutaneous manifestations. Rickettsial infections are far less commonly biopsied. Skin involvement is generally associated with systemic disease that is often quite serious.
Interwoven feeding networks for limited-scan phased array systems

A multi-port phased-array feeding network with each phase shifter feeding all of the antenna elements is proposed. The network creates a sinc-like current distribution over the array which results in a box-car like element pattern. This element pattern is then used to suppress the unwanted grating lobes. The passive network coefficients and the inter-element spacing is used to control the width of the scan region.
Comparison of prasugrel and ticagrelor in patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: A meta-analysis of randomized and non-randomized studies.

Abstract Background The newer oral P2Y12 receptor antagonists (i.e. prasugrel and ticagrelor) are recommended over clopidogrel for patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) going for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). As the superiority of one agent over the other remains unclear, we designed a systematic review and meta-analysis of these agents in patients with ACS undergoing PCI. Methods PUBMED, EMBASE, Cochrane CENTRAL, CINAHL and manual search were performed through 11/02/2016. Mortality, myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, repeat revascularization, stent thrombosis (ST) and BARC bleeding ≥2 were the major outcomes. Results A total of 9 studies with 21,360 total patients were included in the meta-analysis. Compared to ticagrelor, prasugrel was associated with lower rate of MI [0.8% vs. 1.9%; 0.54 (0.29–0.99); P=0.05] but no difference was noted in mortality [2.1% vs. 2.4%; 0.84 (0.64–1.09); P=0.19], repeat revascularization [1.6% vs. 2.1%; 0.82 (0.61–1.10); P=0.19] and stroke [0.2% vs. 0.3%; 0.68 (0.25–1.83); P=0.44] between two agents. In addition, prasugrel was associated with lower risk of BARC ≥2 bleeding [2.5% vs. 3.8%; 0.75 (0.59–0.95); P=0.02] and showed a trend toward a lower risk of ST [0.3% vs. 0.6%; 0.55 (0.28–1.07); P=0.08] in comparison with ticagrelor. Conclusions Based on this meta-analysis of observational and randomized studies, prasugrel appears to be equivalent or superior to ticagrelor in patients with ACS undergoing PCI on the 30-day follow up. Larger randomized trials with longer follow-ups are needed to establish superiority of one agent over the other.
Levels of circulating follicular helper T cells, T helper 1 cells, and the prognostic significance of soluble form of CD40 ligand on survival in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis.

Abstract Background Excessive drinkers (ED) and patients with alcoholic liver disease (ALD) are several times more susceptible to bacterial and viral infections and have a decrease in antibody responses to vaccinations. Follicular helper T (TFH) cells are essential to select B cells in the germinal center and to produce antibodies. TFH cells express both a membrane-associated and a soluble form of CD40 ligand (sCD40L), in which the latter form is released to circulation upon T cell activation. The effect of alcohol on TFH cells has not been studied. Objectives The goals of this study are to determine the levels of TFH and T helper 1 (Th1) cells in ED and those with alcoholic cirrhosis (AC) when compared to healthy controls and to determine the prognostic significance of sCD40L in a cohort of patients with AC. Methods Controls, ED, and those with AC were enrolled. Baseline demographic, laboratory tests, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated and assessed via flow cytometry for TFH cells. In vitro study was performed to determine the ability of PBMCs to secrete interferon (IFN)-ɣ upon stimulation. Serum sCD40L was also determined and its prognostic significance was tested in a cohort of AC patients. Results The levels of circulating TFH (cTFH) cells were significantly lower in peripheral blood of subjects with ED and AC compared to controls (P Conclusions Patients with AC had significantly lower level of cTFH and sCD40L. The level of sCD40L was an independent predictor of mortality in these patients.
Searching for climate-conflict links

Environmental scarcity caused by climate change has been implicated as a driver of violent conflict. Now, research shows significant bias in the regions analysed for climate–conflict links. This may limit understanding of the socioeconomic and political conditions in which such conflict occurs, and how these conflicts could be prevented.
Energy band engineering of metal oxide for enhanced visible light absorption

Abstract Light absorption of a semiconductor is dependent on its electronic energy band structure. This chapter deals mainly with how to enhance the visible light absorption of metal oxides by engineering their energy band. The chapter begins with a brief discussion on the basic concepts of the electronic energy band and its relationship with light absorption and optoelectronic properties, followed by an examination of the principles of photocatalytic solar fuel generation, which clarify the crucial processes involved in determining the efficiency of the final solar-to-chemical conversion process. Metal oxide photocatalysts are then reviewed in terms of electronic energy band structure, and representatives are highlighted. A comprehensive review of the strategies commonly used to improve the visible light absorption of metal oxides by engineering their energy band is then presented. Finally, directions for further development for enhanced visible light absorption of metal oxides are proposed.
Genetik der Eukaryonten: Meiotische Analyse bei Diploiden

Im letzten Kapitel haben wir die Mendelsche Unabhangigkeitsregel besprochen. Kurz zusammengefast bedeutet sie folgendes: Kreuzt man ein Individuum, das zwei rezessive ungekoppelte Allele tragt, mit einem anderen Individuum gleichen Genotyps (z.B. AaBb × AaBb), so spalten die Phanotypen der Nachkommen im Verhaltnis 9 AB : 3 Ab : 3 aB : 1 ab. Bei der Ruckkreuzung AaBb × aabb erhalt man eine Aufspaltung der Phanotypen der Nachkommen von 1 AB : 1 Ab : 1 aB : 1 ab. Die Ruckkreuzung ist daher eine Methode zur Unterscheidung von Kopplung oder Nichtkopplung zweier Gene. Falls die Werte signifikant von der l:l:l:l-Aufspaltung abweichen, so das zu viele Parentaltypen oder zu wenige Rekombinanten entstehen, dann muste man die beiden untersuchten Gene als gekoppelt ansehen (Abb. 14.1).
Proteomic biomarker discovery in cerebrospinal fluid for neurodegenerative diseases

The clinical diagnosis of major neurodegenerative disorders, e.g. Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and dementia with Lewy body, remains unsatisfactory based on current clinical criteria and limited laboratory investigations. The possibility of identifying multiple novel biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases, those related to disease pathogeneses in particular, has been greatly enhanced with recent advances in genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics. In this chapter, we will be reviewing a few issues related to proteomic identification of proteins in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) as well as unique protein markers that could be used for clinical diagnosis of various neurodegenerative diseases or monitoring their progression. Great attention has been directed to practical considerations and limitations of several major aspects of proteomic analysis of human CSF.
Visible-Light-Induced, Copper-Catalyzed Three-Component Coupling of Alkyl Halides, Olefins, and Trifluoromethylthiolate To Generate Trifluoromethyl Thioethers

Photoinduced, copper-catalyzed coupling reactions are emerging as a powerful method for generating Csp3-Y (Y = C or heteroatom) bonds from alkyl electrophiles and nucleophiles. Corresponding three-component couplings of alkyl electrophiles, olefins, and nucleophiles have the potential to generate an additional Csp3-Y bond and to efficiently add functional groups to both carbons of an olefin, which serves as a readily available linchpin. In this report, we establish that a variety of electrophiles and a trifluoromethylthiolate nucleophile can add across an array of olefins (including styrenes and electron-poor olefins) in the presence of CuI/binap and blue-LED irradiation, thereby generating trifluoromethyl thioethers in good yield. The process tolerates a wide range of functional groups, and an initial survey of other nucleophiles (i.e., bromide, cyanide, and azide) suggests that this three-component coupling strategy is versatile. Mechanistic studies are consistent with a photoexcited Cu(I)/binap/SCF3 complex serving as a reductant to generate an alkyl radical from the electrophile, which likely reacts in turn with the olefin and a Cu(II)/SCF3 complex to afford the coupling product.
Has Collusion Returned to Baseball? Analyzing Whether a Concerted Increase in Free Agent Player Supply Would Violate Baseball's

This article argues that a concerted agreement among baseball clubs to increase the supply of free agent players violates baseball's collusion clause, and therefore, MLB clubs are at risk of losing another collusion grievance. Part I of this article explains the evolution of baseball's collusion clause and discusses three past collusion grievances filed by the MLBPA in the 1980s. Part II explains baseball's collusion-free period, which began with the settlement of 1980s collusion disputes. Part III discusses why MLB clubs may have again violated the "collusion clause" in the 2002-03 off-season.
Modulation of anticipatory postural adjustments using a powered ankle orthosis in people with Parkinson's disease and freezing of gait.

Abstract Background Freezing of gait (FOG) during gait initiation in people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) may be related to a diminished ability to generate anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs). Externally applied perturbations that mimic the desired motion of the body during an APA have been demonstrated to shorten and amplify APAs; however, no portable device has been tested. In this study, a portable powered ankle-foot orthosis (PPAFO) testbed was utilized to investigate the effect of mechanical assistance, provided at the ankle joint, on the APAs during gait initiation. Research question Does mechanical assistance provided at the ankle joint improve APAs during gait initiation in people with PD and FOG? Methods Thirteen participants with PD and FOG initiated gait across five test conditions: two self-initiated (uncued) conditions in walking shoes [Baseline-Shoes], and the PPAFO in unpowered passive mode [Baseline-PPAFOPassive]; three “go” cued conditions that included an acoustic tone with the PPAFO in unpowered passive mode [Acoustic + PPAFOPassive], the mechanical assistance from the PPAFO [PPAFOActive], and the acoustic tone paired with mechanical assistance [Acoustic + PPAFOActive]. A warning-cue preceded the imperative “go” cue for all the cued trials. Peak amplitudes and timings of the vertical ground reaction forces (GRFs) and center of pressure (COP) shifts from onset to toe-off were compared across conditions. Results Mechanical assistance significantly increased the peak amplitudes of the GRFs and COP shifts, reduced APA variability, and decreased the time to toe-off relative to the passive conditions. Significance These findings demonstrate the potential utility of mechanical assistance at the ankle joint (with or without an acoustic cue) as a method to generate more consistent, shortened, and amplified APAs in people with PD and FOG.
Investigating Stakeholders' Perceptions of Feasibility and Implications of Modular Construction-Based Post-Disaster Reconstruction

Natural Disasters cause major adverse social and financial effects by destroying homes and infrastructures. For example, Hurricane Katrina in August 2005 damaged over 214,700 homes in New Orleans and forced over 800,000 citizens to live outside of their homes due to flooding. Thus, these disasters require a quick and efficient response to post-disaster housing issues and provide resources for temporary houses for short-term disaster relief and reconstruction of destroyed and damaged housing for full rehabilitation. Reconstruction of permanent housing for disaster victims is one of the most time-consuming activities in the post-disaster recovery process. However, time is a critical factor which should be minimized for the restoration of affected communities. Modularized construction is a promising solution for improving the process of post-disaster housing reconstruction because of its inherent characteristic of time-efficiency. This paper aimed to evaluate prefabricated modular construction potentials as an approach that can facilitate the design and construction phase of post-disaster reconstruction. An extensive literature review has been carried out to identify the features of modularized construction which can add value to the post-disaster recovery process. To investigate the suitability and feasibility of implementing modular construction for post-disaster reconstruction and also identify major barriers of its implementation, a survey has been conducted in 2018 among AEC experts who were experienced in the prefabricated construction industry and/or involved in post-disaster reconstruction projects. The results of the study indicate that prefabricated modular construction is a promising approach to improve time-efficiency of post-disaster reconstruction and tackle challenges of current practices by its unique benefits such as reduced demand for on-site labor (overcome local labor pool constraints impacted by the disaster) and resources (overcome shortage of equipment and materials), shorter schedule (due to concurrent & non-seasonal), reduced site congestion, and improved labor productivity (due to assembly line-like and controlled environment).
Demographics, Usage Patterns, and Safety of Male Users of Clomiphene in the United States

Purpose The aim of this study was to characterize the demographics, usage patterns and complication rates of clomiphene use in male patients. Materials and methods We retrospectively analyzed male patients from ages 20 to 55 years old who were prescribed clomiphene citrate from 2001 to 2014 using the Truven Health MarketScan, a US claims database. We collected data regarding associated medical diagnoses, diagnostic testing, duration of use, and reported side effects including thrombotic events, vision problems, gynecomastia, mental disorders, liver disease, nausea, or skin problems. Results In total, 12,318 men took clomiphene and represented the primary study cohort, with a mean age of 37.8 years. The percentage of men prescribed clomiphene increased over the study period, as did the average age of clomiphene users. Associated diagnoses included male infertility (52.0%), testicular hypofunction (13.5%), erectile dysfunction (2.4%), and low libido (0.4%). Associated testing included semen analysis (43.7%), testosterone (23.5%), luteinizing hormone (19.3%), and follicle-stimulating hormone (21.1%) levels. The median time of clomiphene use was 3.6 months, with 63% of men stopping within 6 months. No increased risk of reported clomiphene side effects were apparent in men taking the medication. Conclusions There is a rising prevalence of clomiphene usage without associated adverse side effects in the US. The variability in associated diagnoses, diagnostic testing, and duration of use suggest a need for greater awareness of the proper evaluation and treatment of the men who are prescribed clomiphene.
DEM Modeling of Grain Size Effect in Brittle Granular Soils

AbstractThe size-dependent strength of individual particles controls several key aspects of the constitutive response of brittle granular materials. Capturing this factor in numerical analyses is e...
14 – Logical behaviorism

Publisher Summary This chapter presents an overview on logical behaviorism. It distinguishes five varieties of behaviorism—methodological behaviorism, logical behaviorism, analytic behaviorism, eliminative behaviorism, and interpretative behaviorism. Eliminative behaviorism is the attempt to deny or eliminate mentalistic terms by claiming there are no mental entities to which mentalistic terms refer. The standard account of the relation between logical behaviorism and psychology is that the logical behaviorism provides the philosophical foundations for psychological behaviorism. By contrast, logical behaviorism seems to be a version of semantic behaviorism, a thesis about the meaning of mentalistic terms. Logical behaviorism is usually interpreted as a form of semantic behaviorism. The conceptual problems that arise concerning logical behaviorism are often due to the unclarity as to whether it is meant to identify a psychological sentence with the physical microstate (identity theory, central state materialism) or to the disposition BD (behaviorism).And finally, Analytic behaviorism is typically identified with the latter alternative, where the ultimate basis is a set of conditionals.
A Reinforcement Learning Approach to Strategic Belief Revelation with Social Influence

The study of social networks has increased rapidly in the past few decades. Of recent interest are the dynamics of changing opinions over a network. Some research has investigated how interpersonal influence can affect opinion change, how to maximize/minimize the spread of opinion change over a network, and recently, if/how agents can act strategically to effect some outcome in the network's opinion distribution. This latter problem can be modeled and addressed as a reinforcement learning problem; we introduce an approach to help network agents find strategies that outperform hand-crafted policies. Our preliminary results show that our approach is promising in networks with dynamic topologies.
Effects of processing conditions on stability of immune analytes in human blood

Minimizing variability in collection and processing of human blood samples for research remains a challenge. Delaying plasma or serum isolation after phlebotomy (processing delay) can cause perturbations of numerous analytes. Thus, a comprehensive understanding of how processing delay affects major endpoints used in human immunology research is necessary. Therefore, we studied how processing delay affects commonly measured cytokines and immune cell populations. We hypothesized that short-term time delays inherent to human research in serum and plasma processing impact commonly studied immunological analytes. Blood from healthy donors was subjected to processing delays commonly encountered in sample collection, and then assayed by 62-plex Luminex panel, 40-parameter mass cytometry panel, and 540,000 transcript expression microarray. Variance for immunological analytes was estimated using each individual’s baseline as a control. In general, short-term processing delay led to small changes in plasma and serum cytokines (range − 10.8 to 43.5%), markers and frequencies of peripheral blood mononuclear cell phenotypes (range 0.19 to 3.54 fold), and whole blood gene expression (stable for > 20 K genes)—with several exceptions described herein. Importantly, we built an open-access web application allowing investigators to estimate the degree of variance expected from processing delay for measurements of interest based on the data reported here.
Protecting religious liberties? Security concerns at places of worship in Chicago

Abstract Following a number of high-profile attacks, security has become a key concern for diverse places of worship in the United States and abroad. However, the impacts of these threats on religious practice and community, and their relationship with questions of citizenship and belonging, remain under-explored. Through interviewing a range of religious leaders in Chicago, this investigation seeks to fill this gap in the literature. It first highlights the ways in which security issues now represent a proxy for religious groups’ place in American society, with Muslim and Jewish communities feeling especially vulnerable to attack and accordingly operationalizing a number of security policies. It subsequently demonstrates how these strategies are helping to reshape religious practice today, as congregating as a religious community becomes increasingly private and additionally requires members to both relinquish a degree of personal freedom and accept paying increased dues in order to cover the costs necessitated by security. The article concludes by addressing the unevenness of security concerns among religious communities, revealing how attending a place of worship confident of one’s safety has become a privilege not available to all.
Structural analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis M13 metalloprotease Zmp1 open states.

Summary Zinc metalloprotease 1 (Zmp1), a Mycobacterium tuberculosis 75 kDa secreted enzyme, mediates key stages of tuberculosis disease progression. The biological activity of Zmp1 presumably stems from its ability to degrade bacterium- and/or host-derived peptides. The crystal structures of Zmp1 and related M13 metalloproteases, such as neprilysin and endothelin-converting enzyme-1 were determined only in the closed conformation, which cannot capture substrates or release proteolytic products. Thus, the mechanisms of substrate binding and selectivity remain elusive. Here we report two open-state cryo-EM structures of Zmp1, revealed by our SAXS analysis to be the dominant states in solution. Our structural analyses reveal how ligand binding induces a conformational switch in four linker regions to drive the rigid body motion of the D1 and D2 domains, which form the sizable catalytic chamber. Furthermore, they offer insights into the catalytic cycle and mechanism of substrate recognition of M13 metalloproteases for future therapeutic innovations.
Code of Conduct Conversations in Open Source Software Projects on Github

The rapid growth of open source software necessitates a deeper understanding of moderation and governance methods currently used within these projects. The code of conduct, a set of rules articulating standard behavior and responsibilities for participation within a community, is becoming an increasingly common policy document in open source software projects for setting project norms of behavior and discouraging negative or harassing comments and conversation. This study describes the conversations around adopting and crafting a code of conduct as well as those utilizing code of conduct for community governance. We conduct a qualitative analysis of a random sample of GitHub issues that involve the code of conduct. We find that codes of conduct are used both proactively and reactively to govern community behavior in project issues. Oftentimes, the initial addition of a code of conduct does not involve much community participation and input. However, a controversial moderation act is capable of inciting mass community feedback and backlash. Project maintainers balance the tension between disciplining potentially offensive forms of speech and encouraging broad and inclusive participation. These results have implications for the design of inclusive and effective governance practices for open source software communities.
Comparison of Simulated and True Keratometry Measurements Using Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography and Dual Scheimpflug-Placido Imaging.

Purpose. To compare simulated and total keratometry and corneal astigmatism values between the IOLMaster 700 and Galilei G4 devices. Methods. A retrospective chart review was conducted for all patients undergoing phacoemulsification by a single surgeon (RTP) from March through September 2020 and who underwent imaging with both the IOLMaster 700 and Galilei G4. Exclusion criteria were prior corneal surgery, keratectatic diseases and inability to obtain a reliable image during image acquisition. Mean, flat, and steep keratometry values as well as astigmatism magnitude were compared. Results. A total of 200 eyes of 100 patients were included. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were moderate or high for all variables. Mean difference ± SD in SimK and TrueK between devices (G4-IOLM) was 0.05 ± 0.318 diopters and −1.1156 ± 0.438 diopters, respectively ( for both). The IOLM measured steeper TrueK value than the G4. For SimK, there was a statistically significant difference between devices only for mean keratometry (K), whereas for TrueK, there were significant differences in flat K, steep K, and mean K. Astigmatism analysis revealed a difference in mean (±SD) SimK of 0.07 (±0.57) D at 94 degrees and in mean TrueK of 0.04 (±0.85) D at 108 degrees. Conclusion. Though there is overall good correlation between the IOLMaster 700 and Galilei G4 in SimK and astigmatism measurements, there is a significant difference in TrueK measurements, with the IOLM measuring steeper values by about 1.0 diopter as compared to the G4.
ARDS - Paradigms Lost and Found.

Abstract Therefore, we inevitably increase tidal volume, driving pressure, and MP in individuals with the most severe lung injury such that these parameters may be associated with, but not causal to, the outcomes in acute lung injury. However, I remember all too well the assumptions that drove the paradigm in which I trained and am in favor of pushing to better understand at the tissue and even cellular level how much ‘volutrauma’ we are causing in individual patients, and testing whether or not new therapeutic ‘targets’ beyond the current ‘6 cc/kg tidal volume’ will enable us to better care for patients with ARDS and improve on the survival gains we have made in the past two decades.
Efficacy of Pfizer-BioNTech in SARS-CoV-2 Delta cluster.

The SARS-CoV-2 sublineage B.1.617.2 or Delta, a variant that began circulating in India and is becoming dominant in the United States, has been responsible for significant morbidity and mortality. In May 2021, Delta was escalated to a variant of concern by international authorities. We report a cluster of SARS-CoV-2 Delta cases detected in Boston, Massachusetts, in May 2021 involving a recent traveler from India and subsequent transmission to two of three close contacts. All three close contacts experienced the same primary exposure events but differed in vaccination status. The two close contacts that eventually tested positive were unvaccinated. The other had received one dose of the BNT162b (Pfizer-BioNTech) vaccine prior to exposure and received their second dose two days after exposure. This case series illustrates the effectiveness of partial vaccination in blocking Delta transmission to the vaccinated individual under circumstances where the transmission probability is high for unvaccinated individuals.
Might Routine Vitamin A Monitoring in Cystic Fibrosis Patients Reduce Virus-Mediated Lung Pathology?

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive gene disorder that affects tens of thousands of patients worldwide. Individuals with CF often succumb to progressive lung disease and respiratory failure following recurrent infections with bacteria. Viral infections can also damage the lungs and heighten the CF patient’s susceptibility to bacterial infections and long-term sequelae. Vitamin A is a key nutrient important for immune health and epithelial cell integrity, but there is currently no consensus as to whether vitamin A should be monitored in CF patients. Here we evaluate previous literature and present results from a CF mouse model, showing that oral vitamin A supplements significantly reduce lung lesions that would otherwise persist for 5-6 weeks post-virus exposure. Based on these results, we encourage continued research and suggest that programs for the routine monitoring and regulation of vitamin A levels may help reduce virus-induced lung pathology in CF patients.