cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Integrated hardware-software co-synthesis and high-level synthesis for design of embedded systems under power and latency constraints

This paper presents an integrated approach to hardware software co-synthesis and HLS for design of low-power embedded systems. The main motivation for this work is that fine trade-offs between latency and power can be explored at the system level only with a detailed knowledge of used hardware resources. Integrated method was realized as a simulated annealing based solution-space exploration. Exploration is guided by Performance Models, that exactly capture the relationship between performances i.e. power consumption and latency and design decisions i.e. binding and scheduling. The proposed approach permits nor only a more accurate latency and power estimation but also the exposure of RTL-level design decisions at the system level. As a result, more effective power-latency trade-offs are possible during co-synthesis as compared to traditional task-level methods.
Perceptions of addiction, attempts to quit, and successful quitting in nondaily and daily smokers

We aimed to qualitatively examine differences in perceptions of addiction, attempts to quit, and successful quitting among nondaily versus daily college student smokers. We conducted 16 focus groups with a total of 73 college student smokers from the southeastern U.S. Focus groups were homogenous in terms of gender, smoking status (nondaily, daily), and type of school (2-year college, 4-year university). Questions centered on perceptions of addiction, their own addiction, what constitutes a quit attempt, and successful quitting. Themes that emerged among all smokers regarding conceptualization of general addiction included physiological and psychological dependence and an inability to quit smoking. In terms of their own addiction, nondaily smokers referenced their ability to quit and sense of choice to smoke as factors indicating a lack of addiction, whereas daily smokers reported dependence symptoms and their inability to control their smoking indicating addiction. Nondaily smokers discussed quit attempts in terms of making the decision to quit and avoiding situational triggers, whereas daily smokers reported taking more behavioral steps toward cessation (e.g., not buying cigarettes, reducing cigarette consumption). With regard to successful cessation, both groups identified losing the desire to smoke as a hallmark. However, nondaily smokers reported that the decision to quit might constitute successful cessation; daily smokers had more strict behavioral criteria such as abstinence for an extended period of time. The different perceptions of one's own addiction, attempting to quit smoking, and successful quitting suggest the need to improve assessments of these factors, particularly among nondaily smokers.
Adaptive control algorithm design for high-speed cameras

This paper describes the design of an adaptive control algorithm for speed control of high-speed rotating-mirror cameras. Particular attention is given to the factors involved in pretuning the algorithm so that the design objectives are met. Simulation results are discussed.
A method of assessing air toxics concentrations in urban areas using mobile platform measurements.

The objective of this paper is to demonstrate an approach to characterize the spatial variability in ambient air concentrations using mobile platform measurements. This approach may be useful for air toxics assessments in Environmental Justice applications, epidemiological studies, and environmental health risk assessments. In this study, we developed and applied a method to characterize air toxics concentrations in urban areas using results of the recently conducted field study in Wilmington, DE. Mobile measurements were collected over a 4- 4-km area of downtown Wilmington for three components: formaldehyde (representative of volatile organic compounds and also photochemically reactive pollutants), aerosol size distribution (representing fine particulate matter), and water-soluble hexavalent chromium (representative of toxic metals). These measurements were used to construct spatial and temporal distributions of air toxics in the area that show a very strong temporal variability, both diurnally and seasonally. An analysis of spatial variability indicates that all pollutants varied significantly by location, which suggests potential impact of local sources. From the comparison with measurements at the central monitoring site, we conclude that formaldehyde and fine particulates show a positive correlation with temperature, which could also be the reason that photochemically generated formaldehyde and fine particulates over the study area correlate well with the fine particulate matter measured at the central site.
Banking for the Poor: State-of-the-Art Financial Offerings for the Developing World

This paper describes the opportunity of using mobile phones as a way to increase access to finance in developing counties. It also explains how mobile payments can trigger innovation and entrepreneurship at the base of the pyramid, and how they can serve to bring liquidity to rural communities.
Optimization of analytic data flows for next generation business intelligence applications

This paper addresses the challenge of optimizing analytic data flows for modern business intelligence (BI) applications. We first describe the changing nature of BI in today's enterprises as it has evolved from batch-based processes, in which the back-end extraction-transform-load (ETL) stage was separate from the front-end query and analytics stages, to near real-time data flows that fuse the back-end and front-end stages. We describe industry trends that force new BI architectures, e.g., mobile and cloud computing, semi-structured content, event and content streams as well as different execution engine architectures. For execution engines, the consequence of "one size does not fit all" is that BI queries and analytic applications now require complicated information flows as data is moved among data engines and queries span systems. In addition, new quality of service objectives are desired that incorporate measures beyond performance such as freshness (latency), reliability, accuracy, and so on. Existing approaches that optimize data flows simply for performance on a single system or a homogeneous cluster are insufficient. This paper describes our research to address the challenge of optimizing this new type of flow. We leverage concepts from earlier work in federated databases, but we face a much larger search space due to new objectives and a larger set of operators. We describe our initial optimizer that supports multiple objectives over a single processing engine. We then describe our research in optimizing flows for multiple engines and objectives and the challenges that remain.
Cultural competency: From philosophy to research and practice

Cultural competency in the delivery of mental health services has gained considerable momentum. This momentum has been accompanied by questions about the meaning, usefulness, and precision of cultural competency. The author argues that cultural competency is composed of general processes (scientific mindedness, dynamic sizing, and culture-specific skills), as well as a series of concrete and trainable strategies. The incorporation of these processes and strategies into treatment can improve treatment outcomes with clients from diverse cultural backgrounds. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Factorization of Functors Having Left Adjoints

The composition of functors with left adjoints with epimorphic front adjunctions may yield a functor whose left adjoint does not have epimorphic front adjunctions as in the case of the inclusion functors from Comp to Haus and from Haus to Top. In fact it is shown that any functor T : A → X with a left adjoint can be written as T = R ◯ S where R has a left adjoint having isomorphic front adjunctions and S has a left adjoint with epimorphic front adjunctions. However if T = R ◯ S, where the properties of R and S are interchanged from the above, then the left adjoint of T must have epimorphic front adjunctions.
The Evaluation of Two Death Education Programs for EMTs Using the Theory of Planned Behavior.

The goal of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of two death education programs by comparing pretest and posttest scores of behavioral intentions and (reported) behavior of EMTs when at the scene of a death. After the interventions, the majority of EMTs intended to change their behavior at the scene of a death when compared to the control group. In a three-month follow-up study, the majority of EMTs who received the intervention (and made a death notification) changed their behavior. In this sample, these programs were effective in changing the behavioral intentions of EMTs.
Contraception during the perimenopause

Although the absolute risk of pregnancy is lower during the perimenopause due to decreased fertility and decreased coital frequency, unintended pregnancy occurs at ratios similar to those observed in young women, and pregnancies that do occur are at high risk for maternal complications and poor outcomes such as miscarriage or chromosomal abnormalities. Therefore all premenopausal women should receive counselling that includes discussion of sexual habits and contraception during routine health care encounters. The majority of US women in this age group use permanent contraception, but other methods can be safe and effective and can have non-contraceptive benefits. No contraceptive method is contraindicated based on age alone. However, estrogen-containing methods should be reserved for women without cardiovascular or thrombotic risk factors. The levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG-IUS, Mirena(®)) has particular benefits during perimenopause and is safe for use in nearly all women. The LNG-IUS is approved for treatment of heavy menstrual bleeding, a common concern during the perimenopause. A substantial literature supports the use of the LNG-IUS for endometrial protection during transition from contraception to hormone therapy, although this is off-label in the United States. Reliable contraception should be used until menopause is confirmed either by cessation of menses for 2 years prior to age 50, for 1 year after age 50, or by two elevated follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) values ≥20-30IU/l while off hormonal methods for at least 2 weeks. Sterility cannot be assumed until at least age 60 because spontaneous pregnancies have been reported in women up to age 59.
the effects of sophistication, access and monitoring on use of pornography in three technological contexts

ABSTRACT Technology has changed the varieties and means of distribution of pornography. The emergence of “hyperpornography” on the Internet is the most notable example. Yet, little attention has been given to understanding what factors contribute to pornography use. Using data from the General Social Survey in 1973, 1994, and 2000–2002, this study tests the effects of sophistication, accessibility, and monitoring by others on the likelihood of using pornography in three technological contexts: film in theaters, film in theaters or VCRs, and websites. The results indicate that sex and age are important predictors of the likelihood of pornography use, regardless of technological context. Sophistication, accessibility, and monitoring also are significant, but this differs by technological context. Results are discussed in light of how pornography use can be explained by what Wilcox, Land, and Hunt, (2003) call dynamic multi-contextual opportunities for deviance.
Unsupervised Identification of Points of Interest for Semi-Supervised Learning

We propose using a data preprocessing technique to automate the selection and labeling of points of interest from unlabeled data for the purpose of semisupervised clustering. The preprocessing approach, called MembershipMap, strives to extract the underlying sub-concepts of each attribute, and uses the orthogonal union of these sub-concepts to define a new, semantically richer, space. Using the MembershipMap, points of interest could be identified and labeled in a completely unsupervised way. We show that these points of interest could be used to convert an unsupervised learning problem into a simpler semi-supervised problem. Thus, benefiting from the advantage of semi-supervised learning without the need to manually identify and label a subset of control points. The proposed approach is applied to the problem of image segmentation
Robust performance control of electrohydraulic actuators for electronic cam motion generation

This paper addresses digital control design and implementation for an electrohydraulic servo actuator used in electronic cam motion generation. The actuator dynamics, due to a broad range of motion trajectories, have different degrees of nonlinearity and are represented by a number of linear models with associated bounds of unmodeled dynamics. For each specified range of motion trajectories, a robust performance controller corresponding to the particular linear model is designed to ensure consistent performance under the effect of nonlinear dynamics in the range. A repetitive controller and a feedforward controller are added as plug-ins to the robust performance feedback controller. Experimental results are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the digital motion control synthesis.
Language Learning and Its Impact on the Brain: Connecting Language Learning with the Mind Through Content‐Based Instruction

ABSTRACT: Cognitive sciences are discovering many things that educators have always intuitively known about language learning. However, the important point is actively using this new information to improve both student learning and current teaching practices. The implications of neuroscience for educational reform regarding second language (L2) learning can clearly be seen in the following categories: brain structures and the corpus callosum; neuronal development and the parts of the brain dedicated to language; the Brain Plasticity Theory and Language Mapping; memory and the Information Processing Model; and of course, developing and utilizing a brain-compatible language curriculum that is meaningfully integrated into the basic content areas covered in all grade levels PreK–12. This article describes a recent study designed to address relationships between the corpus callosum and bilingual capacity, and provides recommendations to language teachers regarding brain-based learning through content-based language teaching.
Helping the Middle-Class: How Interest Rates Affect the Distribution of Housing Wealth

This paper shows that declines in interest rates cause middle-priced neighborhoods to experience large increases in house prices, while high- and low-priced neighborhoods experience no changes. These effects are linked to a transmission channel that stems from the dependence of mortgage payments to interest rates. I introduce a novel identification strategy that exploits incidental differences in the distribution of the metropolitan population to estimate a measure of latent demand for small neighborhoods. A decline in mortgage interest rates of 1.2 percentage points from July 2000 to December 2001 leads to an average increase of 7% to 8.5% in house prices for middle-priced neighborhoods. The absence of an effect in high-priced neighborhoods is likely associated with the low marginal utility of housing consumption of high-income households; while the lack of an effect in low-priced neighborhoods is likely linked to credit-constrained low-income households. Lastly, a back of the envelope estimation suggests that 15% to 20% of the variation in house price growth during the 2000s housing boom may have been caused by the reduction in interest rates between July 2000 and December 2001.
Effects of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Metabolic Syndrome on Cognitive Aging in Veterans

Purpose of the Study: With the influx of veterans entering older adulthood, it is increas ingly important to understand risk factors for cognitive decline. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the metabolic syndrome (MetS) are highly prevalent in older veterans. Although both increase risk for cognitive decline and often co-occur, it is unclear how they may interact to negatively impact cognition. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate associations among PTSD, MetS, and cognitive function in older veterans. We hypothesized that co-occurring PTSD and MetS would be associated with worse cognitive performance than seen in either illness alone. Design and Methods: P articipants completed cognitive testing to assess processing speed, verbal memory, and executive function. Data from 204 male veterans aged 55–89 were analyzed with the use of hierarchical multiple regression models. Results: V eterans with MetS demonstrated poorer performance on tasks of executive function (response inhibition and cognitive set shifting) and immediate verbal memory regardless of PTSD status. There was an interaction between MetS and PTSD on delayed verbal memory, suggesting that the negative impact of MetS on verbal memory was only significant for veterans not classified as having PTSD. Implications: This is the fir st study to examine the impact of comorbid PTSD and MetS on cognition. The results suggest that MetS is associated with poorer verbal learning and executive functioning independent of PTSD. We discuss the necessity of monitoring cerebrovascular risk factors and providing early behavioral and/or pharmaceutical interventions to lessen the risk of cognitive decline in older age.
Mirex Residues in Human Adipose Tissue

Mirex (dodecachlorooactahydro-1,3,4-metheno-1H-cyclobutal [cd] pentalene) is an organochlorine insecticide used for control of the imported fire ant ( Solenopsis richteri Forel and Solenopsis invicta Buren) in large areas of the southern United States. This chemical has an affinity for lipids, and like certain chlorinated hydrocarbons, is stored and accumulated in the adipose portion of animal tissues. In addition to its use as a pesticide, Alley (1973) reported that it is used as a fire retardant in polymers.
Endophthalmitis caused by non-albicans species of Candida

While endophthalmitis due to Candida albicans is commonly seen in clinical practice, non-albicans species of Candida (NAC) are rarely reported to cause this condition. The English-language literature from 1965 through 1989 was reviewed for cases of endophthalmitis due to NAC. Clinical details of six well-documented cases and one unpublished case are presented here. Large studies of nosocomial fungemia are also summarized to emphasize the growing contribution of NAC to the total number of infections in humans, especially immunocompromised patients. The infrequency of ocular involvement in NAC infection is supported by studies in experimental animals that demonstrate a lower incidence of NAC endophthalmitis than of C. albicans endophthalmitis in the presence of disseminated infection. Since endophthalmitis in the absence of exogenous infection suggests disseminated candidal infection and since most NAC strains are relatively resistant to amphotericin B, it is important to recognize and appropriately treat endophthalmitis due to NAC.
Antimicrobial activities of lauric arginate and cinnamon oil combination against foodborne pathogens: Improvement by ethylenediaminetetraacetate and possible mechanisms

Abstract The objective of this work was to study if ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA) could enhance the antimicrobial activity of lauric arginate (LAE) and cinnamon oil (CO) combination, and the possible mechanisms. With 500 mg/L of EDTA, 5 mg/L of LAE and 200 mg/L of CO showed an increased log reduction of Escherichia coli O157: H7, Salmonella Enteritidis, and Listeria monocytogenes by ca. 4, 5, and 1 log CFU/mL, respectively. EDTA at 500 mg/L significantly increased the permeability of outer membrane of E. coli O157: H7 based on a crystal violet assay. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that 600 mg/L CO damaged the cell membrane of S. Enteritidis, while 40 mg/L LAE did not. Atomic force microscopy demonstrated that LAE caused the aggregation of DNA molecules. It was hypothesized that EDTA increased the permeability of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria to facilitate the penetration of LAE and CO enabling enhanced antimicrobial activity. Compared to the treatment with LAE or CO alone, severe damage of L. monocytogenes membrane occurred with LAE and CO in combination based on SEM, increase in loss of intracellular nucleic acids, and increase of extracellular ATP level, suggesting LAE and CO acted synergistically on L. monocytogenes cell membranes.
Effect of captopril on progressive ventricular dilatation after anterior myocardial infarction.

Abstract We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to determine whether ventricular dilatation continues during the late convalescent phase after myocardial infarction and whether therapy with captopril alters this process. Fifty-nine patients with a first anterior myocardial infarction and a radionuclide ejection fraction of 45 percent or less underwent cardiac catheterization 11 to 31 days after infarction, when they were not in overt congestive heart failure. They were randomly assigned to placebo or captopril and were followed for one year. A repeat catheterization was performed to evaluate interval changes in hemodynamic function and left ventricular volume. Thirty-eight male patients were evaluated with maximal-exercise treadmill tests every three months. No differences were detected at base line in clinical, hemodynamic, or quantitative ventriculographic variables. During one year of follow-up, the end-diastolic volume of the left ventricle increased by a mean [±SEM] of 21 ±8 ml (P<0.02...
A Splice Variant of the Transcript for Guanylyl Cyclase C Is Expressed in Human Colon and Colorectal Cancer Cells

Guanylyl cyclase C is a sensitive and specific biomarker for metastatic colorectal cancer. A variant of the guanylyl cyclase C transcript was identified that possesses a 142-bp deletion at the 3" end of exon 1 reflecting alternative splicing of mRNA, introducing a shift in the open reading frame that prevents translation of a guanylyl cyclase C-related product. This variant was identified in human intestine and colon carcinomas, but not in extraintestinal tissues or tumors. These studies demonstrate that GCC and the splice variant contribute to the pool of GCC transcripts detected by RT-PCR in human tissues. They indicate that primers for RT-PCR that amplify regions downstream from the deletion are required to assess the full complement of GCC transcripts (GCC + GCCvar) in human tissues and body fluids for staging and postoperative surveillance of patients with colorectal cancer.
The Case Study Design and Implementation

Grounded in a need to explore the role of culturally responsive pedagogy in the program design and preparation experiences of teacher candidates of color, this chapter outlines the research questions driving this study and describes the methodological process taken to investigate these queries. The study rationale, including the choice of a comparative case study approach, the selection criteria, data collection and analysis, and validity criteria are explained to provide a methodological foundation for the narrative case studies that are presented in the book.
Next-century ocean acidification and warming both reduce calcification rate, but only acidification alters skeletal morphology of reef-building coral Siderastrea siderea.

Atmospheric pCO2 is predicted to rise from 400 to 900 ppm by year 2100, causing seawater temperature to increase by 1–4 °C and pH to decrease by 0.1–0.3. Sixty-day experiments were conducted to investigate the independent and combined impacts of acidification (pCO2 = 424–426, 888–940 ppm-v) and warming (T = 28, 32 °C) on calcification rate and skeletal morphology of the abundant and widespread Caribbean reef-building scleractinian coral Siderastrea siderea. Hierarchical linear mixed-effects modelling reveals that coral calcification rate was negatively impacted by both warming and acidification, with their combined effects yielding the most deleterious impact. Negative effects of warming (32 °C/424 ppm-v) and high-temperature acidification (32 °C/940 ppm-v) on calcification rate were apparent across both 30-day intervals of the experiment, while effects of low-temperature acidification (28 °C/888 ppm-v) were not apparent until the second 30-day interval—indicating delayed onset of acidification effects at lower temperatures. Notably, two measures of coral skeletal morphology–corallite height and corallite infilling–were negatively impacted by next-century acidification, but not by next-century warming. Therefore, while next-century ocean acidification and warming will reduce the rate at which corals build their skeletons, next-century acidification will also modify the morphology and, potentially, function of coral skeletons.
Probing structural relaxation in nanosized catalysts by combining EXAFS and reverse Monte Carlo methods

Abstract Strain-induced structure relaxation, large structural disorder and complex non-Gaussian shape of the interatomic distances distribution are characteristic even for the simplest monometallic nanocatalysts, and may have significant impact on many properties, including catalytic ones. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy is able to provide unique information on the structure of nanosized catalysts due to its sensitivity to short-range order in the material. The EXAFS studies of disorder effects in small nanoparticles (with size 1–2 nm) are, however, challenging due to the assumption of quasi-Gaussian bond length distributions that is made in the conventional analysis. One possible solution shown in this study for bare gold nanoparticles is a novel advanced approach: EXAFS data modeling using reverse Monte Carlo and evolutionary algorithm methods. In addition, we use here classical molecular dynamics simulations to validate the obtained results.
MANAGEMENT OF HEAD AND NECK IRRADIATED PATIENTS

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses how cancerocidal levels of irradiation in the area of the head and neck produce not only very painful problems in the oral soft tissues but also a ravaging form of dental caries that is remarkably destructive. In an experiment described in the chapter, ten white males received 224 rads per day, four days per week, over a six-week period. Unstimulated whole saliva flow rate decreased by 60% after the first week of treatment, and only 5% of total flow remained at the end of the six-week treatment period. In another experiment involving unstimulated whole saliva, the flow rate decreased markedly during the initial three treatment days and gradually thereafter until a minimal flow rate was attained. Early in the treatment, variable degrees of recovery were seen on Mondays following a weekend without treatment. It appears clear that the radiation within itself does not exert a direct deleterious effect on the teeth.
Clonal Lymphoproliferations in a Patient With Common Variable Immunodeficiency

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) comprises a heterogeneous group of disorders of humoral immunity, characterized by marked deficiencies in serum immunoglobulins. Immune dysregulation causes susceptibility to recurrent bacterial infections, as well as autoimmune and lymphoproliferative disorders. Although the lymphoid cells comprising the atypical proliferations are often clonally related, their malignant potential and clinical significance differ from similar lesions in individuals with immunocompetence. Herein, we describe a Caucasian woman with CVID who over 7 years developed multiple clonal lymphoproliferative lesions, comprising a spectrum of morphologic characteristics. Many of the lesions harbored distinct clonal populations. Though a majority responded to conservative intervention, 1 lesion persisted, met the diagnostic criteria for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, and responded well to conventional chemotherapeutic treatment. The patient subsequently developed additional lymphoproliferations, but the lesions were clonally distinct and responded to conservative therapy. The clinical course of this patient emphasizes the variable nature of lymphoproliferative lesions arising in patients with CVID and underscores an individualized approach to pathologic interpretation and diagnostic intervention.
Speculative execution across layers

To achieve good performance on modem hardware, software must be designed with a high degree of parallelism. New advancements in processor design and manufacturing have produced chips that offer greater computation capacity, but they do this primarily by providing more processing cores rather than by greatly improving per-core performance. Speculative execution is a technique that can be used improve the parallelism of sequential programs by predicting the dependencies between tasks, allowing a later task to run concurrently with an earlier one. Software systems are composed of many different cooperating layers: CPU, virtual machine, operating system, language runtime, and program code. The effects of speculative execution are traditionally confined to a single layer. Code running at higher layers is unaware that its execution is speculative, and code running at lower layers never observes any speculative behavior or output from higher layers. This thesis explores the benefits of letting speculative executions be visible across the many layers of a software system. Components of the system can be aware of speculative computations and, with controlled access rather than isolation, can be designed to handle speculative state and effects correctly. With cooperation among layers, new opportunities for parallelization appear. This dissertation shows how visible speculations across layers can be applied to application development, network protocols, and dynamic application analysis. I develop a new programming model for applications that separates the mechanism used to implement safety from the policy that describes how to control an individual speculation. The operating system implements the mechanism, leaving each application to describe its own custom policy. I then describe a new agreement protocol for Byzantine fault-tolerant services that is optimized for client applications capable of executing speculatively. Finally, I develop an algorithm for parallelizing data race detection by expressing speculative parallelism and handling it in the algorithm itself.
Knowing your face: A componential analysis of self-perceived facial attractiveness.

ABSTRACTFacial attractiveness (FA) is a highly agreed upon and socially important characteristic, but contemporary research has not fully investigated individuals’ enhancement of their FA. We used the social relations model (SRM) to analyze data from 187 participants. In face-to-face groups of four, participants rated their own and others’ FA. We assessed the degree of FA enhancement using unconfounded measures of both self-insight and social comparison. Results indicated African Americans and men enhanced more than Caucasians and women. Race effects were mediated by psychological adjustment, while gender effects were related to meta-perceptions. Men tended to view themselves through a “frog prince” lens, such that they accurately predicted others’ lesser views of them but persisted in overly positive self-perceptions of FA. Findings suggest further consideration of SRM measures, meta-perceptions, and a focus on sample diversity in the study of self-enhancement.
Abstract 339: Association of the American Heart Association’s Life’s Simple 7 Metric for Cardiovascular Health with Risk of Venous Thrombosis: the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke Cohort

Background The AHA released a metric, Life’s Simple 7 (LS7), in 2010 to track cardiovascular health. The AHA 2020 Goals include improving population levels of LS7 by 20%. LS7 classifies 7 health components into poor, intermediate or ideal levels. The 7 components are physical activity, diet, smoking, body-mass index, glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol. Associations of these individual components with risk of venous thrombosis (VT) vary in the literature, but we hypothesized a decreased risk of VT with favorable LS7 summary scores. Methods We recruited 30,239 black and white participants age ≥45 across the US in 2003-7. With 4.6 years of follow up we validated 278 cases of first-time VT, including deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolus. We considered a 14 point summary score for LS7 and divided it into inadequate (0-4 points), average (5-9 points) and optimum (10-14) cardiovascular health. Cox proportional hazards models were used to relate baseline LS7 score to risk of subsequent VT, adjusting for age, sex, race, income, education and region of residence. Results Cases of VT were older and more likely to be male than noncases. Across categories of optimum, average and inadequate baseline health based on the summary LS7 score, the incidence rates of VT were 1.8, 2.1 and 3.1 per 1000 person years, respectively. Compared to those with inadequate health, persons with average health had an adjusted HR of VT of 0.60 (95% CI 0.42-0.84) while those with optimum health had a HR 0.52 (95% CI 0.36-0.77). The HR for a 1 point improvement in overall score (analogous to improvement of one of the 7 factors from poor–>intermediate or intermediate–>ideal) was 0.87 (95% CI 0.81-0.94). The individual factors of LS7 most strongly related to VT risk were ideal physical activity level (HR 0.61, 95% CI 0.46-0.83) and ideal body-mass index (HR 0.42, 95% CI 0.30-0.60); these associations were independent of each other. All associations were similar in blacks and whites. Conclusions A summary measure of cardiovascular health was strongly associated with reduced risk of VT in this US population sample. Results suggest that lifestyle interventions might be effective in reducing incidence of VT, and that achieving AHA’s 2020 Goals will also reduce VT incidence.
Socioemotional developmental surveillance in young children: monitoring and screening best identify young children that require mental health treatment.

Background Widely recommended socioemotional developmental surveillance methods include monitoring and development screening techniques. Currently, very little research has compared the effectiveness of monitoring and screening together, and existing research primarily focuses on the relationship between surveillance techniques and referrals or receipt of early intervention (EI). This study investigates the relationship between monitoring and screening and mental health treatment receipt in 3–5 year olds. Methods The authors conducted logistic regression analyses on data from the National Surveys of Children's Health (NSCH; 2007) and NSCH (2011/2012) on the odds of mental health treatment receipt in children aged 3–5 years of age who either received (a) screening only, (b) monitoring only, (c) both monitoring and screening, or (d) no monitoring or screening. Sociodemographic control variables were also considered. Results In both 2007 and 2011/2012 datasets, monitoring and screening together was the best predictor of mental health treatment receipt. Neither screening alone nor monitoring alone was associated with mental health treatment receipt. Conclusions Children who received monitoring and screening together had the greatest odds of treatment receipt compared with children receiving screening only, monitoring only, or no monitoring or screening.
Intlp compounds for Underwater Solar Energy Harvesting

With the rising interest in oceanic monitoring, climate awareness and surveillance, the scientific community need for developing autonomous, self-sustaining Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) increased as well. Limitations on the size, maneuverability, power consumption, and available on-site maintenance of these UUVs make a number of proposed technologies to power them harder to implement than others; solar energy harvesting stands as one of the more promising candidates to address the need for a long-term energy supply for UUVs due to its relatively small size and ease of deployment. Studies show research groups focusing on the use of Si cells (amorphous and crystalline), InGaP, and more recently Organic Photovoltaics to convert the attenuated solar spectrum under shallow depths (no deeper than 9.1 m) into electrical energy used or stored by the UUV’s power management system (P. P. Jenkins et al. 2014; Walters et al. 2015). In our study, we consider the ternary compound In1-xTlxP that allows for varying the quantum efficiency of the cell, and by extension the overall harvesting efficiency of the system by altering the Tl content (x) in the compound. In1-xTlxP on InP is a low strain system since the compound exhibits very little change in its lattice constant with changing Tl content due to the comparable atomic size and forces of In and Tl allowing for relatively easy growth on InP substrates. The study focuses on studying the spectral response and comparing the performance of an optimized single junction In1-xTlxP cells to In1-yGayP cells while accounting for the optical losses of the solar irradiance underwater for various depths.
Sensing the stress in steel by capacitance measurement

Abstract This paper provides the first report of the sensing of stress in a metal (namely steel and stainless steel) by capacitance measurement. The method involves the measurement of the in-plane capacitance (2 kHz) between two coplanar electrodes that are on the same surface of the specimen. The capacitance decreases with increasing normal compressive stress. The fractional decrease in capacitance (up to 20%) is higher than the compressive strain calculated based on the elastic modulus by orders of magnitude. The capacitance decrease is essentially reversible and is attributed to the direct piezoelectric effect. Because an LCR meter is not designed to measure the capacitance of an electrical conductor, it is essential for a dielectric film to be positioned between the electrode and specimen. Two configurations are used for the electrodes. Configuration I involves aluminum foil as the electrode and a stack of 3 layers of double-sided adhesive tape as the dielectric film; no pressure is used. Configuration II involves copper sheet as the electrode and a glass fiber polymer-matrix composite film as the dielectric film, with normal pressure applied to the stack. The fractional decrease in capacitance per unit stress is much greater for configuration I than configuration II. Configuration I is better for sensing low stresses, whereas configuration II is better for sensing high stresses. Configuration I is less expensive and more practical than configuration II.
Site-Specific Gene Editing of Human Hematopoietic Stem Cells for X-Linked Hyper-IgM Syndrome

Summary X-linked hyper-immunoglobulin M (hyper-IgM) syndrome (XHIM) is a primary immunodeficiency due to mutations in CD40 ligand that affect immunoglobulin class-switch recombination and somatic hypermutation. The disease is amenable to gene therapy using retroviral vectors, but dysregulated gene expression results in abnormal lymphoproliferation in mouse models, highlighting the need for alternative strategies. Here, we demonstrate the ability of both the transcription activator-like effector nuclease (TALEN) and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-associated protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) platforms to efficiently drive integration of a normal copy of the CD40L cDNA delivered by Adeno-Associated Virus. Site-specific insertion of the donor sequence downstream of the endogenous CD40L promoter maintained physiologic expression of CD40L while overriding all reported downstream mutations. High levels of gene modification were achieved in primary human hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), as well as in cell lines and XHIM-patient-derived T cells. Notably, gene-corrected HSCs engrafted in immunodeficient mice at clinically relevant frequencies. These studies provide the foundation for a permanent curative therapy in XHIM.
Gabapentin-induced eczematous drug eruption of the bilateral foot.

Abstract Drug eruptions represent a wide spectrum of cutaneous reactions to various pharmaceutical agents. Given their complexity and varied patterns of presentation, these phenomena are the subject of study of many fields of medicine. Gabapentin is a widely prescribed medication, with numerous drug reactions previously reported. We present a unique case of a gabapentin-induced drug eruption primarily affecting the feet.
Altered Signal Transduction in Melanoma

Our understanding of signal transduction pathways involved in the regulation of melanoma development and resistance to treatment has advanced significantly in recent years. Here we focus on the current understanding of major cascades—from the receptors (including HGF, TNFR-associated factors, and Wnt), to kinases (including phosphatidylinositol phosphate 3’-phosphate and mitogen-activated protein kinase), to the affected corresponding transcription factors (including activating transcription factor 2 [ATF2], nuclear factor-κB, β-catenin, and Stat)—that contribute to the course of melanoma development.
Reproductive Biology of Pigs

This report describes aspects of sexual development and maturation, hormonal regulation in boars, hormones and puberty in gilts )including the environment and hormone treatment, estrous cycle, ovulation rate, conception rates, embryo survival, and litter size), pregnancy, lactation, and sows at weaning. In addition, genes that affect these developmental and reproductive processes are included.
A patient's perspective on genetic counseling and predictive testing for Alzheimer's disease.

The availability of genetic testing for Alzheimer's disease is anticipated to be widespread in the future. As an individual at risk with a family history of Alzheimer's disease, I discuss why I sought predictive tests and how I would use the information from such tests. I relay what I learned in my genetic counseling session, my response to the counseling process, and steps I have since taken. I discuss life planning, psychological and fear of discrimination issues from a patient's perspective.
Chemical Properties and Isotope Systematics

The origin of igneous rocks is now understood in considerable detail based on interpretations of mineralogical, chemical, and isotopic data. The insights that have been gained about the petrogenesis of different kinds of rocks have enhanced our understanding of how the Earth works on a global scale, and how it has evolved since it formed about 4.5 × 109 years ago. The evidence that has provided these insights has come from many sources, including the concentrations of trace elements and the isotope compositions of strontium (Sr), neodymium (Nd), lead (Pb), hafnium (Hf), and osmium (Os) all of which have radiogenic isotopes. In addition, a complete listing of all sources of isotopic data includes certain elements of low atomic number (e.g. H, C, O, N, and S) whose stable isotopes are fractionated by physical, chemical, and biological processes. The resulting theory explains igneous activity as a manifestation of the complex dynamic processes that occur in the mantle of the Earth. The objective of this book is to use the isotope compositions of Sr, Nd, and Pb in volcanic and plutonic rocks to demonstrate how isotopic data have been used to explain the origin of igneous rocks. This chapter contains brief summaries of relevant facts and theories that will facilitate the scientific journey we are about to undertake. Additional information is available in a textbook by Faure (1986).
Comparison of Lateralizing Calcaneal Osteotomies for Varus Hindfoot Correction.

Background:There is limited consensus on the optimal operative technique for correcting heel varus in patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease. This comparative study evaluated the ability o...
Long-Acting Lipoglycopeptides: "Lineless Antibiotics" for Serious Infections in Persons Who Use Drugs.

Background Injection drug use is associated with serious infections. Due to challenges with medical management of addiction, relapses and additional infections are common. Persons who use drugs (PWUD) are more likely to leave against medical advice before completing treatment, which could result in treatment failure. Prolonged intravenous (IV) antimicrobial therapy in PWUD may be complicated by concern for IV catheter misuse, sometimes requiring prolonged hospitalization. Ideal alternatives would provide the following: (1) high success rate; (2) reduced rate of medical complications; (3) improved safety profiles; and (4) improved cost-effectiveness. Long-acting lipoglycopeptides present such opportunity for treatment of serious Gram-positive infections. Methods We performed a system-wide, retrospective analysis of adults admitted to University of Colorado Health from September 2015 to June 2018 and treated with dalbavancin or oritavancin based on clinical judgment of their treating physicians. Results Fifty-six patients met inclusion criteria (17 PWUD vs 39 non-PWUD). The PWUD group were younger, healthier by Charlson comorbidity index, more likely insured by Medicaid, and admitted for conditions requiring longer treatment. Ten patients were lost to follow-up. Of the patients with follow-up, clinical failure was met in 1 PWUD patient (6%) and 6 non-PWUD patients (15%) (P = .413). The median hospital length-of-stay reduction was 20 days (interquartile range [IQR], 10-30 days) in PWUD vs 11 days (IQR, 9-14 days) in non-PWUD; P = .133. Estimated median savings were $40 455.08 (IQR, $20 900.00-$62 700.00) in PWUD vs $19 555.08 (IQR, $15 375.08-$23 735.08) in non-PWUD; P = .065. Conclusions Long-acting lipoglycopeptides may be equally effective as standard-of-care, present a safety advantage, and secure earlier discharge and significant cost-savings.
A Potential Role for the Existence of Pericytes in the Neurovascular Unit of the Sexually Dimorphic Nucleus of the Rat Preoptic Area to Control Blood-Brain Barrier Function.

BACKGROUND The present study aimed at determining pericytes, a missing component in the previously proposed living neurovascular unit (NVU) of the sexually dimorphic nucleus of the preoptic area (SDN-POA) in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS Calbindin D28K-immunoreactivities (CB28-irs) were used to delineate the SDN-POA in which CD13-immunoreactivities (CD13-irs) or alpha-smooth muscle actinimmunoreactivities (αSMA-irs), two pericyte biomarkers serving the indexes of pericytes, were tagged using two adjacent brain sections (90-micron intervals). In addition, the nestinimmunoreactive (nestin-ir) cells in the SDN-POA were counted as pericytes referring to additional standards: location and nucleic and cellular morphology. Male SDN-POA volume (5.0±0.3x10-3 mm3) was significantly larger than the female (1.7±0.3x10-3 mm3). Within the SDN-POA, the CD13-irs were characterized as dots, densely packed and net-like in distribution, while the αSMAirs, excluding pipe-like or circular structures, appeared as short rod-like structures that were sparsely distributed. RESULTS The immunoreactive counts of alpha-smooth muscle actin were 353±57/mm2 in males and 124±46/mm2 in females (p<0.05). On the other hand, densities of the dot-like CD13-irs were similar between males (4009±301/mm2) and females (4018±414/ mm2). There was no difference between the male and the female in the nestin-ir pericyte count in the SDN-POA. CONCLUSION In conclusion, the present study adds new information concerning pericytes to the living NVU of the SDN-POA. There is a difference of sex in the count of the αSMA-irs in the living NVU of the SDN-POA. However, why such a difference exists warrants further investigations.