cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Designing Practical Polar Codes Using Simulation-Based Bit Selection

The frozen set selection of polar codes, known as bit selection, determines the error-correcting performance of polar codes. The original bit selection was derived for successive cancellation decoding in a binary erasure channel. Density evolution has been used to evaluate the bit error probability in binary memoryless channel, but the computational complexity is still high and the simplified versions rely on different degrees of approximations. We propose an alternative simulation-based in-order bit selection method that evaluates the error rate of each bit using Monte Carlo decoding simulations and selects the frozen set based on the bit reliability ranking. The simulation-based method does not rely on channel models and it can be applied to any practical channels in the field. The simulation can be accelerated on an FPGA platform to significantly shorten the time required to one day for a 1024-b code design. We use three examples to demonstrate the in-order bit selection method, a (256, 128) code, a (512, 256) code, and a (1024, 512) code. Compared with the codes designed using density evolution for an AWGN channel, our (256, 128) code shows a competitive BER; our (512, 256) code outperforms at low SNR; and our (1024, 512) code outperforms across a wide range of SNR by 0.3 to 0.6 dB. The algorithm and methodology are applicable to any code rate and longer code lengths.
Host-Derived Leukotriene B4 Is Critical for Resistance against Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis.

Aspergillus fumigatus is a mold that causes severe pulmonary infections. Our knowledge of how immune competent hosts maintain control of fungal infections while constantly being exposed to fungi is rapidly emerging. It is known that timely neutrophil recruitment to and activation in the lungs is critical to the host defense against development of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA), but the inflammatory sequelae necessary remains to be fully defined. Here, we show that 5-Lipoxygenase (5-LO) and Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) are critical for leukocyte recruitment and resistance to pulmonary A. fumigatus challenge in a fungal strain-dependent manner. 5-LO activity was needed in radiosensitive cells for an optimal anti-fungal response and in vivo LTB4 production was at least partially dependent on myeloid-derived hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α). Overall, this study reveals a role for host-derived leukotriene synthesis in innate immunity to A. fumigatus.
Effect of Viscosity on Fluorescence Lifetime Measured Using Flow Cytometry

The effect of viscosity on Dronpa-3 fluorescence protein kinetics is studied using time resolved flow cytometry (TRFC). Phasor analysis and Forster Hoffman relation analysis provide the basis of studying intracellular viscosity in high throughput manner.
Analysis of repeat-protein folding using nearest-neighbor statistical mechanical models.

The linear “Ising” model, which has been around for nearly a century, treats the behavior of linear arrays of repetitive, interacting subunits. Linear “repeat-proteins” have only been described in the last decade or so, and their folding energies have only been characterized very recently. Owing to their repetitive structures, linear repeat-proteins are particularly well suited for analysis by the nearest-neighbor Ising formalism. After briefly describing the historical origins and applications of the Ising model to biopolymers, and introducing repeat protein structure, this chapter will focus on the application of the linear Ising model to repeat proteins. When applied to homopolymers, the model can be represented and applied in a fairly simplified form. When applied to heteropolymers, where differences in energies among individual subunits (i.e. repeats) must be included, some (but not all) of this simplicity is lost. Derivations of the linear Ising model for both homopolymer and heteropolymer repeat-proteins will be presented. With the increased complexity required for analysis of heteropolymeric repeat proteins, the ability to resolve different energy terms from experimental data can be compromised. Thus, a simple matrix approach will be developed to help inform on the degree to which different thermodynamic parameters can be extracted from a particular set of unfolding curves. Finally, we will describe the application of these models to analyze repeat-protein folding equilibria, focusing on simplified repeat proteins based on “consensus” sequence information.
Conserving Material Resources through Process Integration: Material Conservation Networks

Abstract: This chapter provides an overview of key problems and tools in the area of conserving material resources. The introduction discusses the primary classes and strategies of material conservation problems. Next, overall mass targeting techniques are presented to determine performance benchmarks independent of technologies and cost. Then, various techniques are discussed to attain these targets in a cost-effective manner. Examples of low/no-cost strategies are given (e.g., Water Pinch, Hydrogen Pinch, Material Recycle Pinch diagram). Targeting and synthesis techniques for medium-cost strategies are also given with a description of the basic Mass Exchange Network problem. Finally, Property Integration is discussed and a sample tool (Property-Based Material Recycle Pinch diagram) is described along with applications.
International Climate Policy

International climate policy on climate change is rooted in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The UNFCCC was agreed upon at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. The convention has now been ratified by 195 countries, including the United States. The convention, the Kyoto Protocol, strategies for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+) are all important elements of international policy on climate change.
Permeabilization of Pichia pastoris for glycolate oxidase activity

Maximum activity of glycolate oxidase was obtained from a recombinant Pichia pastoris by permeabilization with 0.1% benzalkonium chloride for 60 min at room temperature. After treatment, intracellular glycolate oxidase activity increased 10-fold with respect to untreated cells.
Effects of an online personal health record on medication accuracy and safety: a cluster-randomized trial.

Objective To determine the effects of a personal health record (PHR)-linked medications module on medication accuracy and safety. Design From September 2005 to March 2007, we conducted an on-treatment sub-study within a cluster-randomized trial involving 11 primary care practices that used the same PHR. Intervention practices received access to a medications module prompting patients to review their documented medications and identify discrepancies, generating ‘eJournals' that enabled rapid updating of medication lists during subsequent clinical visits. Measurements A sample of 267 patients who submitted medications eJournals was contacted by phone 3 weeks after an eligible visit and compared with a matched sample of 274 patients in control practices that received a different PHR-linked intervention. Two blinded physician adjudicators determined unexplained discrepancies between documented and patient-reported medication regimens. The primary outcome was proportion of medications per patient with unexplained discrepancies. Results Among 121 046 patients in eligible practices, 3979 participated in the main trial and 541 participated in the sub-study. The proportion of medications per patient with unexplained discrepancies was 42% in the intervention arm and 51% in the control arm (adjusted OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.54 to 0.94, p=0.01). The number of unexplained discrepancies per patient with potential for severe harm was 0.03 in the intervention arm and 0.08 in the control arm (adjusted RR 0.31, 95% CI 0.10 to 0.92, p=0.04). Conclusions When used, concordance between documented and patient-reported medication regimens and reduction in potentially harmful medication discrepancies can be improved with a PHR medication review tool linked to the provider's medical record. Trial registration number This study was registered at [ClinicalTrials.gov][1] ([NCT00251875][2]). [1]: http://ClinicalTrials.gov [2]: /lookup/external-ref?link_type=CLINTRIALGOV&access_num=NCT00251875&atom=%2Fjaminfo%2F19%2F5%2F728.atom
Adherence to Daily Weights and Total Fluid Orders in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

Background Fluid is central to the resuscitation of critically ill children. However, many pay limited attention to continued fluid accumulation. Fluid overload (FO) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The Volume Status Awareness Program (VSAP) is a multi-phase quality improvement initiative aimed at reducing iatrogenic FO. For baseline data, the authors examined a retrospective cohort of patients admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit. Methods Cohort included diuretic-naive patients admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit at a tertiary care children's hospital in 2014. Furosemide-exposure was used to indicate provider-perceived FO. Variables included daily weight and total fluid (TF) orders, and their timing, frequency, and adherence. Implementation of VSAP phase 1 (bundle of interventions to promote consistent use of patient weights) occurred in June 2017. Results Forty-nine patients met criteria. Five (10%) had daily weight orders, and 41 (84%) had TF orders-although 7 of these orders followed furosemide administration. Adherence to TF orders was good with 32 (78%) patients exceeding TF limits by 5% FO by day 1, and 22 (51%) had > 10% cumulative FO by day 3. Following phase 1 of the VSAP, the frequency of daily weight orders increased from 6% to 88%. Conclusions In our institution, use of fluid monitoring tools is both inconsistent and infrequent. Early data from the VSAP project suggests simple interventions can modify ordering and monitoring practice, but future improvement cycles are necessary to determine if these changes are successful in reducing iatrogenic FO.
Free Space Optical System Performance using Non-Kolmogrov Spectrum over Gamma-Gamma Turbulant Atmosphere

Kolmogrov's power spectrum density model has been utilized for long time to describe the atmosphere turbulence. However, this model has not been accurate many times because it has been used for wide range of wave numbers. In this paper, we will use a generalized form of Kolmogrov model to evaluate a free space optical system performance under week turbulence regime when the communication channel is characterized by Gamma-Gamma probability distribution function (PDF). The generalized Kolmogrov spectrum uses general amplitude and exponent term. Scintillation index, probability of fade, and bit-error rate (BER) were evaluated over the generalized Kolmogrov model. The numerical results led to better system performance when the exponent term equals to 3.8 or closer to 4 than the case of conventional Kolmogrov spectrum in which the exponent term equals to 3.66.
Parametric subtracted post‐ictal diffusion tensor imaging for guiding direct neurostimulation therapy

Parametric subtracted post-ictal diffusion tensor imaging (pspiDTI) is a novel imaging technique developed at our center to visualize transient, patient-specific, ictal-associated water diffusion abnormalities in hippocampal-associated axonal tissue. PspiDTI can elucidate putative connectivity patterns, tracing ictal propagation following a partial-onset seizure without generalization secondarily. PspiDTI compares two DTI volumes acquired during the early post-ictal period ( 24 hr post-seizure). This technique performs a voxel-wise parametric test to identify statistically significant transient ictal-associated changes in water diffusivity involving white matter (WM). Our technique was applied to six patients with refractory partial-onset epilepsy who were candidates for direct cortical responsive neurostimulation (RNS) therapy. Global and region-specific fractional anisotropy decreases, relative to baseline, were detected in all patients with a 17.01% (p < .01) relative mean decrement, while trace increases were found in 6/6 (100%) patients with a 13.30% (p < .01) relative global mean increment. Changes in diffusivity were anatomically compared with transient hyper-perfusion as detected by subtracted ictal SPECT co-registered to MRI (SISCOM). In 5/6 (83.33%) patients, alterations in WM diffusivity were detected adjacent to the SISCOM signal localized predominantly in gray matter. In 4/6 patients, post-implant RNS electrocorticography revealed early ictal propagation between implanted RNS depth leads guided by pspiDTI, hence validating concordant abnormal diffusivity regions detected by our technique. PspiDTI can complement the conventional pre-surgical evaluation to provide additional crucial information regarding WM ictal-propagation pathways between predominantly gray matter ictal-onset zones. When incorporated into a multi-modality pre-surgical workflow, pspiDTI can aid in defining critical nodes between ictogenic regions. This information can be used to strategically implant a limited set of two RNS depth leads for maximizing the extent to which direct cortical RNS can modulate a potentially extensive epileptogenic network.
Parental Ethnic-Racial Socialization and Children of Color's Academic Success: A Meta-Analytic Review

Increased attention is being placed on the importance of ethnic-racial socialization in children of color's academic outcomes. Synthesizing research on the effects of parental ethnic-racial socialization, this meta-analysis of 37 studies reveals that overall the relation between ethnic-racial socialization and academic outcomes was positive, though the strength varied by the specific academic outcome under consideration, dimension of ethnic-racial socialization utilized, developmental age of the child receiving the socialization, and racial/ethnic group implementing the socialization. Ethnic-racial socialization was positively related to academic performance, motivation, and engagement, with motivation being the strongest outcome. Most dimensions of ethnic-racial socialization were positively related to academic outcomes, except for promotion of mistrust. In addition, the link between ethnic-racial socialization and academic outcomes was strongest for middle school and college students, and when looking across ethnic-racial groups, this link was strongest for African American youth. The results suggest that different dimensions of ethnic-racial socialization have distinct relationships with diverse academic outcomes and that the effects of ethnic-racial socialization vary by both youth developmental levels and racial/ethnic groups.
Asymmetry Spectrum Imaging for Baby Diffusion Tractography

Fiber tractography in baby diffusion MRI is challenging due to the low and spatially-varying diffusion anisotropy, causing most tractography algorithms to yield streamlines that fall short of reaching the cortex. In this paper, we introduce a method called asymmetry spectrum imaging (ASI) to improve the estimation of white matter pathways in the baby brain by (i) incorporating an asymmetric fiber orientation model to resolve subvoxel fiber configurations such as fanning and bending, and (ii) explicitly modeling the range (or spectrum) of typical diffusion length scales in the developing brain. We validated ASI using in-vivo baby diffusion MRI data from the Baby Connectome Project (BCP), demonstrating that ASI can characterize complex subvoxel fiber configurations and accurately estimate the fiber orientation distribution function in spite of changes in diffusion patterns. This, in turn, results in significantly better diffusion tractography in the baby brain.
A Potential Role of Phospholipase 2 Group IIA (PLA2-IIA) in P. gingivalis-Induced Oral Dysbiosis.

Porphyromonas gingivalis is an oral pathogen with the ability to induce oral dysbiosis and periodontal disease. Nevertheless, the mechanisms by which P. gingivalis could abrogate the host–microbe symbiotic relationship leading to oral dysbiosis remain unclear. We have recently demonstrated that P. gingivalis specifically increased the antimicrobial properties of oral epithelial cells, through a strong induction of the expression of PLA2-IIA in a mechanism that involves activation of the Notch-1 receptor. Moreover, gingival expression of PLA2-IIA was significantly increased during initiation and progression of periodontal disease in non-human primates and interestingly, those PLA2-IIA expression changes were concurrent with oral dysbiosis. In this chapter, we present an innovative hypothesis of a potential mechanism involved in P. gingivalis-induced oral dysbiosis and inflammation based on our previous observations and a robust body of literature that supports the antimicrobial and proinflammatory properties of PLA2-IIA as well as its role in other chronic inflammatory diseases.
A Drunken Walk in Las Vegas: Catalan Convolutions and Gambling

As a mathematician in Las Vegas unwilling to hunt for positive-expected-value video poker machines, we know that eventually we will lose all the money we are willing to gamble. But how long will th...
National Analysis of Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting in Autoimmune Connective Tissue Disease

Background Autoimmune connective tissue diseases (CTDs) are associated with accelerated atherosclerosis and inflammation, while often requiring immunosuppression. Large-scale outcomes of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery in this population have not been reported thus far. This study characterized trends in use of CABG in patients with CTDs and the impact of the disease on mortality, in-hospital complications, length of stay, and costs. Methods The 2005 to 2015 National Inpatient Sample was used to identify all adult patients undergoing isolated CABG. The CTDs cohort included rheumatoid arthritis, lupus erythematosus, and antiphospholipid syndrome (APLS), among others. Hierarchical multivariable logistic models were used to calculate the independent impact of CTDs on clinical outcomes and costs. Results Of an estimated 2,101,591 patients, 41,567 (1.8%) were diagnosed with CTDs (rheumatoid arthritis, 58%; systemic lupus erythematosus, 12%; APLS, 11%) Although the overall annual use of CABG decreased, the proportion of patients with CTDs receiving the operation significantly increased. After adjusting for patient and hospital characteristics, CTDs were not associated with increased mortality (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 0.91; P = .34) but were protective against cardiovascular (AOR, 0.92; P Conclusions CABG in patients with CTDs provides acceptable outcomes and paradoxically improved resource use. However CABG in patients with APLS warrants careful consideration given inferior outcomes.
Peer Companionship for Mental Health of Older Adults in Primary Care: A Pragmatic, Nonblinded, Parallel-Group, Randomized Controlled Trial.

ABSTRACT Objectives To determine whether peer companionship delivered by an aging services agency to socially-disconnected older adult primary care patients was associated with improvement in suicidal ideation depression, anxiety, and psychological connectedness. Design Pragmatic, nonblinded, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial comparing peer companionship, The Senior Connection (TSC), to care-as-usual (CAU). Setting Lifespan, a nonmedical, community-based aging services agency. Participants Adult primary care patients ages 60 years or older who endorsed feelings of loneliness or being a burden on others. Intervention TSC was delivered by Lifespan volunteers who provided supportive visits and phone calls in the subjects’ homes. CAU involved no peer companion assignment. Measurements The primary outcome was suicidal ideation assessed by the Geriatric Suicide Ideation Scale; secondary outcomes were depression, anxiety, and feelings of belonging and being a burden on others. Data were collected at baseline, 3-, 6-, and 12-months. Results Subjects (55% female) had a mean age of 71 years. There was no difference between groups in change in suicidal ideation or belonging. Subjects randomized to TSC had greater reduction in depression (PHQ-9; 2.33 point reduction for TSC versus 1.32 for CAU, p = 0.05), anxiety (GAD-7; TSC 1.52 versus CAU 0.28, p = 0.03), and perceived burden on others (INQ; 0.46 TSC versus 0.09 CAU, p Conclusions TSC was superior to CAU for improving depression, anxiety, and perceived burden, but not suicidal ideation. Although effect sizes were small, the low-cost and nationwide availability of peer companionship justify further examination of its effectiveness and scalability in improving mental health outcomes of socially disconnected older adults.
Electromagnetic Redesign of NASA’s High Efficiency Megawatt Motor

NASA’s high efficiency megawatt motor (HEMM) is being developed to achieve the performance needed by single aisle class electrified aircraft. It is a 1.4 MW electric machine designed as a generator for NASA’s STARC-ABL concept vehicle. It has performance objectives of greater than 16 kW/kg electromagnetic specific power and 98% efficiency. A significant flaw in the preliminary electromagnetic design of HEMM was recently discovered. The stator teeth in the preliminary design would have caused the magnetic flux in the rotating components of HEMM to oscillate at a very high frequency (12,240 Hz). Two independent energy loss analyses are presented to show that the frequency of this oscillation would have been high enough to cause eddy current losses that significantly exceed the rotor’s loss limit (51 W), despite the very small magnitude of the oscillation (<0.01 T). To eliminate these rotor losses while continuing to meet the target performance, it was determined that the stator teeth needed to be removed and the electromagnetic geometry of the motor needed to be revised. The revised, slotless HEMM design is summarized. Also presented is a sensitivity analysis of the new design to key unknown variables such as the temperature of and number of turns in the superconducting rotor coils and the stator winding’s average temperature.
Absolute Return Equity Risk Attribution and Forecasting

This article develops an intuitive absolute return based attribution framework for the volatility and information ratio of a trading strategy. The results are valid for strategies at all trading frequencies given the appropriate selection of measurement and decision frequencies. The paper also focuses on risk forecasting through use of an ex ante version of our attribution model. The implementation emphasizes mixing a historically based volatility estimate with forecasted changes due to changing portfolio composition and information quality. These tools should be of interest to the strategy manager interested in strategy diagnostics, the high frequency risk manager whose interest is in real time control and capital allocation, and the investment consultant interested in explaining hedge fund returns.
Exploring Armenian Ethnicity as an Independent Risk Factor for Cardiovascular Disease: Findings from a Prospective Cohort of Patients in a County Hospital.

ObjectivesWhile several studies have examined the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in larger racial and ethnic groups within the United States, limited information is available on smaller sub-p...
Cumulative adverse childhood experiences and children’s health

Abstract Adverse childhood experiences (ACE), potentially stressful or traumatic experiences that are concentrated among already vulnerable populations such as children of color and economically disadvantaged children, can accumulate throughout childhood. The stress process perspective suggests that ACEs, such as parental incarceration or violence exposure, can have deleterious implications for childhood health. This analysis used data from the 2016 and 2017 National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH), a nationally representative sample of non-institutionalized children ages 0 to 17 in the United States (N = 71,811), to estimate the association between number of ACEs and children’s health (including three general and 12 specific health indicators). ACEs are common, with nearly half (45.3%) of children exposed to at least one ACE. Exposure to three or more ACEs, compared to no ACE exposure, is positively associated with fair or poor overall health, activity limitations, and recurring school absence, adjusting for an array of child and parent characteristics. Exposure to three or more ACEs is also positively associated with specific indicators of children’s mental (such as depression, anxiety, behavioral or conduct problems) and physical (such as asthma, allergies, headaches) health conditions. These associations exist when restricting the sample to children with similar risks of ACE exposure based on their age. These associations are also similar across child race/ethnicity and gender. Given that ACE exposure is concentrated among already vulnerable children, ACEs may exacerbate existing social disparities in children’s health.
African-Americans Are Less Frequently Assessed For Hereditary Colon Cancer.

Abstract Introduction Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common malignancy in the United States and disproportionately affects African-Americans. Approximately 5-10% of CRC results from hereditary cancer syndromes. A detailed family history is recommended as an initial component of cancer risk assessment to help determine initiation, frequency, screening method and genetic counselling referral. This study evaluated the rate of hereditary CRC risk assessment in African-American and white patients. Methods A chart review of all patients referred for CRC screening in a university gastroenterology clinic during a 3 month period was performed. Patient self-described race/ethnicity, gender, age, documentation of multi-generational family medical history (3+ generations) were obtained. Amsterdam II Criteria, Bethesda Criteria and Colorectal Cancer Risk Assessment Tool were used to determine which patients with family histories should receive referrals for genetic counselling. Statistical analysis was performed using Fisher's Exact Test with significance set at p Results 872 medical records were reviewed, including 452 African-American (276 females, 176 males; mean age 60.2), 263 White (123 females, 140 males; mean age 59.4), 45 Hispanic, and 42 Asian. Multi-generational family history was obtained from 143 (16.4%); 62 African-American (13.7%; 47 females, 15 males), 58 White (22.1%; 37 females, 21 whites), 3 Hispanic (6.7%), and 4 Asian (9.5%). There was a significant difference (p = 0.0050) in the rate of detailed family history in African-Americans and whites. However, African-Americans and Whites similarly qualified for genetic counselling when family history was obtained (p = 0.7915); 58.1% African-Americans (36; 30 females, 6 males) and 50% Whites (29: 19 females, 10 males) qualified for genetic counselling. Overall referral rate to genetic counselling was 16.5% with no significant difference (p = 0.7586) between African-Americans and whites. Conclusions CRC risk assessment with detailed family medical history was inconsistently performed in all patients. There was significantly lower rate of obtaining multi-generational family medical histories in African-Americans. Referrals of all patients for genetic counselling and testing were also insufficient. Appropriate identification of individuals at increased risk for hereditary cancer syndromes, particularly African-Americans, is critical to prevention, early detection, and treatment of CRC and improving disparities in care.
The Distracting Control Suite -- A Challenging Benchmark for Reinforcement Learning from Pixels

Robots have to face challenging perceptual settings, including changes in viewpoint, lighting, and background. Current simulated reinforcement learning (RL) benchmarks such as DM Control provide visual input without such complexity, which limits the transfer of well-performing methods to the real world. In this paper, we extend DM Control with three kinds of visual distractions (variations in background, color, and camera pose) to produce a new challenging benchmark for vision-based control, and we analyze state of the art RL algorithms in these settings. Our experiments show that current RL methods for vision-based control perform poorly under distractions, and that their performance decreases with increasing distraction complexity, showing that new methods are needed to cope with the visual complexities of the real world. We also find that combinations of multiple distraction types are more difficult than a mere combination of their individual effects.
Why We Need a Superfund for Hedge Funds

The current financial crisis has led to numerous calls for regulation of hedge funds. This article argues that the appropriate response is a combination of mechanisms: establishment of a Superfund financed by a tax on hedge funds, whose revenues are then used to conduct market purchases of "toxic" financial assets, along with supporting regulations. This article develops this solution by focusing on the market failures caused by hedge funds, namely the externalities posed by liquidity risks, and the inability of market prices to provide information about the valuation of financial securities. It then considers possible solutions through the prism of our past experiences with environmental protection. This analysis suggests that the Superfund will be not only applicable to this financial crisis, but will remain effective even as hedge funds and their strategies evolve.
Time from COVID-19 Shutdown, Gender-Based Violence Exposure, and Mental Health Outcomes Among a State Representative Sample of California Residents

Background: There is increasing evidence of the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and resultant shutdowns on mental health. This issue may be of particular concern to those affected by intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexual violence. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using data from a California state-representative online survey conducted in the two weeks following the state stay-at-home order, enacted March 19, 2020 (unweighted N=2081). We conducted a series of multivariate multinomial logistic regressions to assess the associations between a) days since stay-at-home order and b) gender-based violence exposure with anxiety and/or depression symptoms, accounting for demographics, and secondarily demographics and social support. Findings: Nearly one in five (17·9%) respondents reported moderate or severe mental health symptoms in the past two weeks; 15·7% had a history of IPV and 10·1% had a history of sexual violence. In models adjusting for gender, gender-based violence history, and other demographics, days since shutdown was significantly associated with greater mental health symptom severity, as were IPV and sexual violence. When social support was additional controlled for, however, effects of days from shutdown were lost and effects related to violence were slightly attenuated. Interpretation: The odds of poor mental health symptoms increased daily under COVID-19 shutdown conditions in this study, and for those with a history of IPV. These findings were respectively lost and attenuated after adjusting for social support, suggesting the value of social support programs to address mental health concerns under the pandemic. Funding: Blue Shield Foundation of California Grant RP-1907-137. Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation OPP1179208. Declaration of Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare. Ethics Approval Statement: All research procedures were approved by both NORC/University of Chicago and the University of California San Diego Institutional Review Board (Project #191904XX).
The longitudinal effects of maltreatment class membership on post-traumatic stress & depression.

Abstract Background While the link between maltreatment and mental illness has been largely established, there is a need to better understand how certain types or profiles of maltreatment place youth at heightened risk for depression and traumatic stress, and when the risk of developing symptoms may be greatest. Objective We examined the extent to which youth experiences of maltreatment co-occur and how certain combinations of maltreatment work to influence the subsequent development of depression and post-traumatic stress over time. Participants & setting Data were drawn from NSCAW-II, a nationally representative longitudinal sample of 5872 child welfare involved youth, aged 0–18. Methods Latent Class Analysis was used to investigate profiles of child maltreatment. We then used a longitudinal three-wave panel design to examine whether membership in various maltreatment classes predicted development of depression and post-traumatic stress measured at two future time points. Results Three classes emerged: Class 1 (68 %) the “Neglect and Adverse Parental Behaviors Class”, Class 2 (20 %) the “Physical Abuse Class”, and Class 3 (12 %) the “Sexual Abuse Class”. Membership in Class 2 increased depression and trauma symptoms at Wave 2, compared to Class 1 (b = 1.8 and 1.4, respectively; p Membership in Class 3 increased trauma symptoms at Wave 3, compared to Class 1 and Class 2 (b = 2.3 and 2.7, respectively; p Implications Child welfare involved youth need to be appropriately screened for psychiatric health annually and provided with services that correspond with their level of need.
Semihard scattering unraveled from collective dynamics at $\sqrt{s}$=17 GeV

We present a study of elliptic flow ($v_2$) and two-particle azimuthal correlations of charged hadrons and high transverse momentum ($p_T$) pions measured by the CERES experiment in Pb+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s}$~=~17 GeV. Azimuthal anisotropy $v_2$ increases linearly with $p_T$ to a value of 10% at $p_T$~=~1.5 GeV/$c$. Beyond this $p_T$ the slope decreases indicating a possible saturation at high $p_T$. Two-pion azimuthal anisotropies ($p_T>$~1.2 GeV/$c$) exceed $v_2$ by about 60% in semicentral collisions and reveal non-harmonic contributions at close ($\Delta\phi\approx0$) and back-to-back ($\Delta\phi\approx\pi$) angles that can be attributed to semihard processes. While the close-angle peak remains unchanged, the back-to-back peak is broadened and disappears in central collisions.
Professors Who Signal a Fixed Mindset About Ability Undermine Women’s Performance in STEM:

Two studies investigate how science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) professors’ fixed mindsets—the belief that intelligence is fixed and unchangeable—may induce stereotype threat and unde...
Cogan syndrome masquerading as corneal ectasia.

Abstract Purpose To report a case of Cogan syndrome that presented with the appearance of bilateral asymmetric corneal ectasia on Scheimpflug tomography. Methods Case Report and Literature Review. Results A 43-year-old woman previously diagnosed with keratoconjunctivitis sicca and presumed keratoconus presented with seven months of episodic eye pain and progressive bilateral blurry vision with new onset bilateral monocular diplopia. Review of symptoms were significant for tinnitus, vertigo, and sensorineural hearing loss that began many months after her initial presentation for visual symptoms. Scheimpflug tomography showed asymmetric focal steepening on anterior curvature with corresponding focal total corneal thinning, focal posterior elevation, and abnormal ARTMax (205 OD, 103 OS) and BAD-D (2.75 OD, 5.6 OS) values. Clinical examination was notable only for faint anterior corneal stromal inflammation without neovascularization, but there was significant corresponding focal hyperreflectivity on anterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT) examination with focal epithelial hypertrophy rather than thinning. Given the combined findings of interstitial keratitis and sensorineural hearing loss the patient was diagnosed with Cogan syndrome. She responded well to topical steroids and systemic immunosuppressive therapy, with near resolution of her abnormal topographic and tomographic findings and resolution of monocular diplopia in both eyes. Conclusions Cogan syndrome should be suspected for any patient with corneal stromal findings and associated with vertigo and/or hearing loss. Anterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT) can distinguish between ectatic and inflammatory diseases and may help make the appropriate diagnosis in subtle cases.
Nonlinear algebraic gain equations for the single input linear quadratic regulator

The optimal gains of the standard linear quadratic regulator (LQR) solution for single input systems are shown to satisfy a set of nonlinear algebraic equations. The inverse LQR problem is solved first and the set of equations is developed by exploiting the structure of the system when expressed in the phase-canonic form. A numerical example is included. >
Built Space as Story

Policy analysis, both of a positivist and of an interpretivist bent, often focuses on the explicit, formal language of legislation. But policy meanings are also communicated through agency acts that take place in settings. In this essay I explore what we might learn for policy analysis in seeing built spaces–that is, policy settings–as texts, and specifically as stories.
Major Dynamic Power Management methods in wired networks: A new taxonomy

Electricity consumption of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) reached a total of about 900 TWh per year in 2012 and electricity generation for ICT continues to contribute over 2% of the human-generated CO 2 to the atmosphere. Energy costs are rapidly becoming the major operational expense for ICT and may soon dwarf capital expenses as software and hardware continue to drop in price. Energy consumption of wired networks as the dominant communications technology in enterprises and datacenters has been subject to significant research in the past years to reduce this cost and making networks more energy-efficient. This paper focuses on the major methods at the system-level to achieve this goal, and systematically reviews them in the context of a new taxonomy.
Effect of Rapamycin on the Gene Expression Signature of Focal Lesions in a Model of Progenitor-Derived HCC

Given that current treatment options for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are of limited efficacy, we have focused on chemoprevention and the mechanistic Target Of Rapamycin (mTOR), a nutrient-sensin...
The effect of migration on black incomes: evidence from the 1940 census.

Abstract Evidence from the 1940 census reveals that southern-born blacks who left the region prior to 1935 had higher incomes than non-southern born blacks. The income gap between migrants and non-migrants declined with schooling.
Solar abundances and the role of nucleogenesis in low-to-medium mass stars in the galaxy

The pattern of solar elemental abundances agrees well with that shown by Cl chondrites for nonvolatile elements. For metals of the iron peak, the chief source of uncertainty seems to be the structure of the solar atmosphere. Lines of rare elements are frequently masked by atomic and molecular lines of abundant species. The vast majority of stars (including the sun) will do little to change the bulk composition of the interstellar medium from which new stars are formed. He, C, and N in small quantities are supplied by stars from 1 to 8 solar masses as they evolve and produce nebular envelopes that dissipate into the interstellar medium, but as has long been recognized, oxygen, heavier elements, and all r-process and proton-rich nuclides are made in massive stars.
The Human Image System and Thinking Critically in the Strong Sense

The purpose of this paper is to see whether the concept of the image system throws light on the enterprise of thinking critically in the strong sense. To do this, we shall first sketch what strong sense critical thinking involves, according to its major proponents. We shall then examine the concept of the image system together with its growth and dynamics. This will prepare us to deal explicitly with our principal task-developing the connections between the image system and strong sense critical thinking. We shall conclude with certain practical and philosophical considerations, in particular considerations on teaching people to be strong sense critical thinkers.
A robust sensor covering and communication problem

We consider the problem of placing sensors across some area of interest. The sensors must be placed so that they cover a fixed set of targets in the region, and should be deployed in a manner that allows sensors to communicate with one another. In particular, there exists a measure of communication effectiveness for each sensor pair, which is determined by a concave function of distance between the sensors. Complicating the sensor location problem are uncertainties related to sensor placement, for example, as caused by drifting due to air or water currents to which the sensors may be subjected. Our problem thus seeks to maximize a metric regarding intrasensor communication effectiveness, subject to the condition that all targets must be covered by some sensor, where sensor drift occurs according to a robust (worst-case) mechanism. We formulate an approximation approach and develop a cutting-plane algorithm to solve this problem, comparing the effectiveness of two different classes of inequalities. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2015
NADH Preparations as They Affect Reliability of Serum Lactate Dehydrogenase Determinations

We observed large variations in the activity of lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27) in serum when random lots of NADH were used in its determination. The imprecision, caused by variable amounts of lactate dehydrogenase inhibitor in the NADH preparations, was greatly lessened by using only a single lot of NADH; reliability was improved further by selecting an NADH preparation having a negligible amount of inhibitor. A method is described for assessing the quality of commercial NADH preparations, so as to have a satisfactory reagent and to maintain continuously comparable results over an extended period of time. The results have possible relevance for proposed governmental regulation of commercial kits and reagents used for clinical laboratory testing, and for improved intraand inter-laboratory comparability of lactate dehydrogenase determinations.
Natural populations of Arabidopsis thaliana differ in seedling responses to high-temperature stress

Little is known about adaptive within-species variation in thermotolerance in wild plants despite its likely role in both functional adaptation at range limits and in predicting response to climate change. Heat shock protein Hsp101, rapidly heat induced in Arabidopsis thaliana, plays a central role in thermotolerance in laboratory studies, yet little is known about variation in its expression in natural populations. We explored variation in thermotolerance and Hsp101 expression in seedlings from 16 natural populations ofA. thaliana sampled along an elevation and climate gradient. We tested both naive controls (maintained at 22 8C until heat stress) and thermally pre-acclimated plants (exposed to a 38 8C 3-h acclimation treatment). After acclimation, seedlings were exposed to one of two heat stresses: 42 or 45 8C. Thermotolerance was measured as post-stress seedling survival and root growth. When stressed at 45 8C, both thermotolerance and Hsp101 expression were significantly increased by pre-acclimation. However, thermo- tolerance did not differ between pre-acclimation and control when followed by a 42 8C stress. Immediately after heat stress, pre-acclimated seedlings contained significantly more Hsp101 than control seedlings. At 45 8C, Hsp101 expression was positively associated with survival (r 2 ¼ 0.37) and post-stress root growth (r 2 ¼ 0.15). Importantly, seedling survival, post-stress root growth at 45 8C and Hsp101 expression at 42 8C were significantly correlated with the home sites' first principal component of climate variation. This climate gradient mainly reflects a temperature and precipitation gradient. Thus, the extent of Hsp101 expression modulation and thermotolerance appear to be interrelated and to evolve adaptively in natural populations of A. thaliana.
Selling Souls: The Effect of Globalization on Human Trafficking and Forced Servitude

Globalization and regional integration have contributed to human trafficking becoming the fastest growing and the third most widespread criminal enterprise in the world after drugs and weapons trafficking. The rush to integrate trading blocs and to compete in the international marketplace has led unscrupulous entrepreneurs and international criminal organizations to create a supply chain of men, women, and children for exploitation in agriculture, manufacturing, services industries, construction, and worst of all, sexual servitude in the sex tourism industry. The crimes perpetrated by human traffickers constitute egregious human rights abuses and crimes against international law. This article examines the nexus between globalization and human trafficking, why human trafficking is growing at a alarming rate worldwide, and what can be done by nation states to control and stop this most insidious international crime.
In vivo formation of nitrosocarbamates in the stomach of rats and guinea pigs

The N‐nitrosocarbamates are potent mutagens and carcinogens, and have been synthesized under acid conditions that prevail in the human stomach. However, it has never been documented that nitrosocarbamates are actually formed in vivo in the stomach of any mammalian species. Using 14 C‐labeled carbaryl and carbofuran, attempts were made to isolate the nitroso derivatives from the stomach contents of rats and guinea pigs treated orally with the carbamate and sodium nitrite. Only trace quantities of nitrocarbamate were recovered from the rat stomach, whereas 0.5 to 2.0% of the carbamate doses were isolated as the nitroso derivative from the contents of the guinea pig stomach. The rather low apparent yields resulted in port from the instability of the nitrosocarbamates and from absorption of the carbamate and/or nitrosocarbamate from the stomach. Higher rates of synthesis were indicated by incubating the carbamates with sodium nitrite in the presence of the stomach contents at 37°C for 15 min. About 30% nitros...
WE‐C‐330A‐06: FEA and Phantom Tests of Ultrasound Temperature Maps During Thermal Therapy

Purpose: The ability to noninvasively monitor heating patterns during radiofrequency ablation therapy would provide invaluable guidance to clinicians during these procedures. We are investigating ultrasonically recorded and scaled “apparent tissue displacements”, caused by sound speed changes and tissue expansion, for generating temperature maps during ablation. This paper reports FEA simulations and experiments in novel phantoms to determine whether ultrasound can successfully record temperatures.Method and Materials:FEAmodels were applied to determine the temperature distribution from a radiofrequency ablationelectrode in liver.FEA analysis enabled creation of both temperature and tissue expansion maps during simulated procedures. The expansion maps in turn were combined with sound speed changes and used to modelultrasoundecho data at intervals during the ablation. In addition, experimental data were acquired using a reusable slurry phantom with embedded sensors surrounding an ablationelectrode. Frames of echo data were acquired using a linear array transducer during a 15‐minute heating sequence. For both simulated and real data, two‐dimensional cross‐correlation of echo signals from successive frames yielded accumulated tissue displacements. Scaled gradients of these displacements estimate local temperatures.Results:Temperature maps generated from simulated echo signals correspond well to the underlying temperature maps created with FEA. The zone of elevated temperatures can be easily visualized on these maps. Isothermal curves on the temperature maps may be useful in determining areas that may have incurred cell death or tissue necrosis. Preliminary results indicate good correlation between fiber optic temperature sensor measurements and ultrasoundtemperature measurements over 1cm2 ROI's surrounding the probe. Conclusion:Temperature maps estimated using ultrasound signals correspond well to the FEA generated temperature maps. Temperature mapping can therefore be used to visualize the zone of heating during a radiofrequency ablation procedure. This result is confirmed by temperature measurements done in an ultrasound phantom.