cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Robot soccer framework for learning

This paper describes an approach for developing a robot soccer framework for students. It provides the necessary framework for allowing undergraduate level students to use their programming skills for algorithm development and strategic planning. The robotic kit used is the LEGO Mindstorm, and we have developed the necessary image processing algorithms for the vision component of the framework. The system provides a very practical and fun way of exercising the programming skills and developing algorithms, which in turn can motivate students further to focus on solving real world problems.
Examination of Initial Time Step in the Neighborhood of a Planckian to Pre Planckian Space-Time

Using the early universe Heisenberg Uncertainty principle derived by the author, the HUP and also dE/dt = ( function of force, acceleration) are utilized , where E is the energy, F is a force equation, and m is mass and a acceleration. From here, we will be utilizing all of the above to derive a minimum time step . Which is pertinent to the Pre Planckian to Planckian space-time regime.
Incomplete Information and Generalized Inverse Problems

The status of approaches to the solution of generalized inverse problems is reviewed in a broad context, and an apparent divergence in viewpoint is discussed. Both those of the mathematical school of deductive inversion, and their colleagues who concentrate on the extraction of solid information from limited data, often stand in ignorance of the work of one another while addressing different aspects of the same general problem. It is argued that these differing views are not in opposition but are actually complementary, and that each approach may well benefit from the ideas of the other. In particular, analysis of incomplete data must logically take place before, and provide input to, the application of any powerful mathematical machinery employed for, say, reconstructing an object.
Evaluation of Emergency Department Management of Opioid-Tolerant Cancer Patients With Acute Pain.

Abstract Context There are no previously published studies examining opioid doses administered to opioid-tolerant cancer patients during emergency department (ED) encounters. Objectives To determine if opioid-tolerant cancer patients presenting with acute pain exacerbations receive adequate initial doses of as needed (PRN) opioids during ED encounters based on home oral morphine equivalent (OME) use. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study of opioid-tolerant cancer patients who received opioids in our ED over a two-year period. The percentage of patients who received an adequate initial dose of PRN opioid (defined as ≥10% of total 24-hour ambulatory OME) was evaluated. Logistic regression was used to establish the relationship between 24-hour ambulatory OME and initial ED OME to assess whether higher home usage was associated with higher likelihood of being undertreated. Results Out of 216 patients, 61.1% of patients received an adequate initial PRN dose of opioids in the ED. Of patients taking 400 OMEs per day at home received an adequate dose. Patients with ambulatory 24-hour OME greater than 400 had 99% lower odds of receiving an adequate initial dose of PRN opioid in the ED compared to patients with ambulatory 24-hour OME less than 100 (OR Conclusions Patients with daily home use less than 200 OMEs generally received adequate initial PRN opioid doses during their ED visit. However, patients with higher home opioid usage were at increased likelihood of being undertreated.
Age-Related Changes in Headache Days across the Cognitive Spectrum

Introduction Prior studies demonstrating age-related declines in headache prevalence have not accounted for the potentially confounding effects of cognitive impairment. Our primary goal was to assess the relationship between aging and self-reported monthly headache days across the cognitive spectrum. Methods A detailed headache questionnaire was included prospectively as part of an annual mailing to participants in the Sanders-Brown Center on Aging longitudinal cohort. Results The overall survey response rate was 58.6%, yielding a cohort of 332 cognitively normal, 71 mild cognitive impairment (median Mini-Mental Status Examination [MMSE] score = 27, interquartile range [IQR] = 25-28), and 51 demented (median MMSE score = 24, IQR = 19-26) individuals. Current headaches were reported by 22.8%, 25%, and 27.1%, respectively, across normal, mild cognitive impairment, and dementia subgroups. A negative correlation was observed between age and average headache days in cognitively normal (ρ = -0.163, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -0.246 to -0.022, P = 0.004), mild cognitive impairment (ρ = -0.255, 95% CI = -0.274 to 0.229, P = 0.0475), and dementia groups (ρ = -0.295, 95% CI = -0.457 to 0.159, P = 0.068). Ordinary least-squares regression with backward selection identified age alone, but not gender or MMSE, as predicting headache days in the overall cohort. Conclusions Aging is associated with a decline in headache days in the absence of any confounding cognitive pathology and is weakly predictive of headache days across the cognitive spectrum. Whether this represents a reporting bias due to dementia or has neurobiological significance warrants further investigation.
Building on Wachtel’s Points About Implications of Mitchell’s Ideas: Suggestions Based on the Participatory Philosophical Perspective for Locating the Person in the World of Practical Activities

In his paper “The Relationality of Everyday Life,” Wachtel (this issue) successfully moves us further along the path of the “unfinished journey” (p. 509) of Mitchell’s work. I begin my comments by ...
Assessing three waveform retrackers on sea ice freeboard retrieval from Cryosat-2 using Operation IceBridge Airborne altimetry datasets

Abstract In this study, three previously proposed echo waveform retracking techniques are assessed for their performances in measuring lead and sea ice elevations from Cryosat-2 (CS-2) SAR L1b data. These derived CS-2 sea ice elevations and freeboards are compared with those from seven Operation IceBridge (OIB) flights, dedicated as the CS-2 underflights during the late winter/early spring of 2011, 2012 and 2013. Results show that sea ice elevation measured by CS-2 is mostly ranged between ~− 1–0 m, after the mean sea surface (MSS) is subtracted. The mean absolute biases between the CS-2 and ATM elevations in different underflights are mostly ranged between ~ 0.02–0.71 m. For multi-year ice, empirical lead and threshold floe retracker (ELTF) is the best choice for ice elevation measurement and the waveform fitting retracker (WfF) is the best choice for ice freeboard retrieval. For first year ice, the WfF is the best choice for ice elevation measurement and the threshold first maximum retracker (TFMRA) is the best choice for ice freeboard retrieval. This study also suggests, when the TFMRA retracker is used to retrieve lead elevation, a 70% threshold of the first local maxima power is better than the 50% threshold previously used.
Modeling spray drift and runoff-related inputs of pesticides to receiving water.

Abstract Pesticides move to surface water via various pathways including surface runoff, spray drift and subsurface flow. Little is known about the relative contributions of surface runoff and spray drift in agricultural watersheds. This study develops a modeling framework to address the contribution of spray drift to the total loadings of pesticides in receiving water bodies. The modeling framework consists of a GIS module for identifying drift potential, the AgDRIFT model for simulating spray drift, and the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) for simulating various hydrological and landscape processes including surface runoff and transport of pesticides. The modeling framework was applied on the Orestimba Creek Watershed, California. Monitoring data collected from daily samples were used for model evaluation. Pesticide mass deposition on the Orestimba Creek ranged from 0.08 to 6.09% of applied mass. Monitoring data suggests that surface runoff was the major pathway for pesticide entering water bodies, accounting for 76% of the annual loading; the rest 24% from spray drift. The results from the modeling framework showed 81 and 19%, respectively, for runoff and spray drift. Spray drift contributed over half of the mass loading during summer months. The slightly lower spray drift contribution as predicted by the modeling framework was mainly due to SWAT's under-prediction of pesticide mass loading during summer and over-prediction of the loading during winter. Although model simulations were associated with various sources of uncertainties, the overall performance of the modeling framework was satisfactory as evaluated by multiple statistics: for simulation of daily flow, the Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency Coefficient (NSE) ranged from 0.61 to 0.74 and the percent bias (PBIAS)
Call Center Linguistic Analytics

Voice-based call centers enable customers query for information by speaking to human agents.
Gold Nanoparticle Formation Kinetics and Mechanism: A Critical Analysis of the "Redox Crystallization" Mechanism.

A 2013 paper proposed a “redox crystallization” (R-C) mechanism for the formation of Au0n nanoparticles from the reduction of a AuCl4– precursor. That study used an unconventional analysis of the valuable, expertly obtained kinetics data reported, and came up with multiple claims and insights collected under the putatively new R-C mechanism. If confirmed, those claims and the R-C mechanism provide a valuable addition to the knowledge of gold nanoparticle formation kinetics and mechanisms. On the other hand, if the methodology used to support the R-C mechanism is flawed so that its resultant conclusions are incorrect, then the R-C mechanism needs to be discarded until compelling evidence for it can be gathered, evidence that would have to include the disproof of the other dominant mechanism(s) of nanoparticle formation. The present work provides a critical analysis of the evidence previously offered for the R-C mechanism, efforts that are of interest to the areas of Au0n nanoparticles, the kinetics and mec...
Application of chaos theory to the particle dynamics of asymmetry-induced transport

The techniques of chaos theory are employed in an effort to better understand the complex single-particle dynamics of asymmetry-induced transport in non-neutral plasmas. The dynamical equations are re-conceptualized as describing time-independent trajectories in a four-dimensional space consisting of the radius r, rotating frame angle ψ, axial position z, and axial velocity v. Results include the identification of an integral of the motion, fixed-point analysis of the dynamical equations, the construction and interpretation of Poincare sections to visualize the dynamics, and, for the case of chaotic motion, numerical calculation of the largest Lyapunov exponent. Chaotic cases are shown to be associated with the overlap of resonance islands formed by the applied asymmetry.
Representation Functions to Predict Relaxation Modulus of Asphalt Mixtures Subject to the Action of Freeze-Thaw Cycles

AbstractThis paper provides computational analyses using three representation functions (generalized power law function, Prony series function, and Burger model–based representation function) to de...
1694c Addressing sustainable development goals by using a comprehensive approach to the burden of work-related injury, disease, and distress

The UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) on decent work and economic growth dovetails with recently published work to develop a comprehensive approach to assess the burden of work-related injury, disease, and distress. Overall, decent work is work that has a low burden of morbidity, mortality, disability, cost, and psychosocial impacts. Generally, this burden has been incompletely portrayed and underestimated. To address this underestimation a comprehensive framework for burden has been developed. The framework includes four elements: utilising multiple domains, including the individual worker, the worker’s family, the community in which the workplace is located, the employer, and society as a whole; taking a broader view of the work–relatedness of disease; assessing the impact of the entire working–life continuum; and applying the comprehensive concept of ‘well–being’ as an indicator in addressing contemporary change in the nature of work, the workforce, and the work place. Measuring the burden in these elements and their composite may serve as benchmarks to gauge progress on meeting SDG targets for decent work. For this to be practical there needs to research on developing and measuring these individual elements of burden and determining the means to integrate them. This may involve looking beyond the traditional sources of surveillance data. Various concepts in the proposed burden elements are resonant with the SDG goals and targets. For example, underemployment and unemployment which appear to have similar health effects are resonant with the target of full and productive employment. Similarly, full and productive employment should be considered across the whole working-life continuum. Taking a comprehensive view of burden and applying it to the SDG targets is worth considering and this presentation will establish that proposition. Disclaimer The opinions in this presentation are those of the author and not necessarily of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
Process Identification Using Discrete Wavelet Transforms

Abstract A time-frequency domain identification methodology using wavelet transforms is developed. This approach allows incorporation of both time-domain and frequency-domain information into identification, and also combines some advantages of each approach. Identification methodology using time-domain and frequency-domain wavelets are developed and illustrated. Merits and demerits of each approach is compared with identification methods currently used.
Calculation of Electromechanical Coupling Coefficients of Ultrasonic Lamb Waves

The electromechanical coupling coefficients of fundamental and higher order ultrasonic Lamb waves modes propagating in a piezoelectric plate have been calculated using two different methods. The first approach is from the well-known equation K2 = 2(Δv/v)=2(vo — vm)vo, where vo and vm are the wave velocities on a free and a metallized surface, respectively. The second approach is based on the Green's function method of analysis. It is found that the (Δv/v) method works satisfactorily for all modes except for the lowest order symmetric (So) and antisymmetric (Ao) modes, if the ratio h/λ (h = plate thickness, λ = acoustic wavelength) is greater than 1. The reason for this is explained.
The Yang-Mills Description of Interactions

This chapter contains an exposition of the Yang-Mills approach to interactions, based on representing them with the aid of gauge fields, i. e., connections in suitable vector bundles. Such an idea can be justified by the case of electromagnet ism, discussed in Chapter 4, where connections appear quite naturally.
Factors which facilitate inactivation of quercetin mutagenicity.

Oxygen, oxidizing enzymes such as polyphenol oxidase (tryrosinase) and alkaline pH, irreversibly inactivate the mutagenicity of quercetin in the Ames test. The loss of mutagenic activity correlates with decreases in the ultraviolet absorption maximum of quercetin near 370 nm. The extent of inactivation increases with time but apparently not significantly with temperature of exposure, and decreases with quercetin concentration. Metal salts such as ferrous and copper sulfates also facilitate inactivation, but these effects may be reversible. Understanding the factors which minimize the mutagenic potential of food ingredients should lead to safer foods.
Hemodynamic Evaluation of an Intra-Atrial Blood Pump on a Pulsatile Mock Circulatory Loop*

An intra-atrial pump (IAP) was proposed that would be affixed to the atrial septum to support the compromised left ventricle (LV) without harming the ventricular tissue in patients with early-stage heart failure. The IAP is designed to operate in parallel with the LV, drawing blood from the left atrium and unloading the LV. In previous hydraulic studies, different blade geometries were tested for the IAP; however, it is important to know how the blade geometry affects the IAP’s hemodynamic performance in the human cardiovascular system. In this study, a mock circulatory loop (MCL) with physiological response was used to evaluate the hemodynamic effects of IAP blade geometry and connection configuration in the human cardiovascular system. In a $2 \times 2$ study, two different blade geometries (with steep vs flat pressure/flow curves) were tested in two different connection configurations: the proposed configuration (left atrium to aorta) and the conventional configuration for LVADs (LV to aorta). We found that atrial cannulation is feasible and creates a beneficial hemodynamic environment, although it is inferior to the one created by ventricular cannulation. The steepgradient pump performed better than the flat-gradient pump in atrial insertion.
Palaeontology: Many Babies or Bigger Brains?

Summary A cynodont from the Early Jurassic reveals unexpectedly large litters in these early mammal relatives, supporting the hypothesis that an increase in brain size was connected to smaller litters during the early evolution of mammals.
The combined effect of wall shear stress topology and magnitude on cardiovascular mass transport

Abstract Cardiovascular disease typically initiates at the vessel wall where near-wall transport of certain biochemicals influences disease initiation and progression. Wall shear stress (WSS) influences these transport processes in a complex manner. WSS magnitude and the shear force exerted on the endothelial cells determine the biochemical flux at the vessel wall. In addition, it has been recently shown that Lagrangian WSS structures (topological features) influence near-wall transport in high Schmidt and Peclet numbers. In this study, the influence of WSS topology and magnitude on surface concentration patterns in shear-dependent biochemical transport problems was explored in a coronary artery stenosis and a carotid artery model. Shear-enhanced and shear-reduced biochemical flux boundary conditions were defined at the wall and surface concentration patterns were obtained by solving the advection-diffusion-reaction equation using the finite element method. Surface concentration patterns were demonstrated to depend on a competition between WSS topology and magnitude. A threshold point was identified where WSS topology determined surface concentration patterns for flux equations closer to homogeneous flux, whereas WSS magnitude dominated surface concentration once the wall flux was sufficiently heterogeneous and strongly dependent on shear stress. Finally, nitric oxide (NO) transport was investigated as an example of an important biochemical with shear-enhanced flux at the vessel wall. It was shown that NO transport was close to the identified threshold where WSS topology and magnitude both influenced surface concentration. This study shows that WSS could potentially be used as a powerful parameter to predict qualitative surface concentration patterns without the need to solve numerically challenging cardiovascular mass transport problems.
Does that sound right? The effects of regulatory fit and nonfit headline frames on motivated information processing

ABSTRACTFeeling right or wrong about a message frame can be used as a heuristic to infer one’s motivational state and determine the depth of information processing. Two experiments examined how ind...
Prior Authorization Policies and Preferred Drug Lists in Medicaid Plans: Stakeholder Perspectives on the Implications for Youth with ADHD

This qualitative study describes how Medicaid policies create challenges for the delivery and receipt of mental health treatment for low-income youth in Georgia. We conducted focus groups with caregivers of Medicaid-enrolled children with ADHD and semi-structured interviews with providers and administrators at four safety net clinics that provided mental health care to these youth. Stakeholders reported that prior authorization policies for psychosocial services, restrictiveness of preferred drug lists, and changes in preferred drug lists in Medicaid plans created barriers to treatment continuity and quality for youth with ADHD and led to more administrative burden for safety-net clinics serving these youth.
Mechanical response, twinning, and texture evolution of WE43 magnesium-rare earth alloy as a function of strain rate: Experiments and multi-level crystal plasticity modeling

Abstract This work adapts a recently developed multi-level constitutive model for polycrystalline metals that deform by a combination of elasticity, crystallographic slip, and deformation twinning to interpret the deformation behavior of alloy WE43 as a function of strain rate. The model involves a two-level homogenization scheme. First, to relate the grain level to the level of a polycrystalline aggregate, a Taylor-type model is used. Second, to relate the aggregate level response at each finite element (FE) integration point to the macro-level, an implicit FE approach is employed. The model features a dislocation-based hardening law governing the activation stress at the slip and twin system level, taking into account the effects of temperature and strain rate through thermally-activated recovery, dislocation debris formation, and slip-twin interactions. The twinning model employs a composite grain approach for multiple twin variants and considers double twinning. The alloy is tested in simple compression and tension at a quasi-static deformation rate and in compression under high strain rates at room temperature. Microstructure evolution of the alloy is characterized using electron backscattered diffraction and neutron diffraction. Taking the measured initial texture as inputs, it is shown that the model successfully captures mechanical responses, twinning, and texture evolution using a single set of hardening parameters, which are associated with the thermally activated rate law for dislocation density across strain rates. The model internally adjusts relative amounts of active deformation modes based on evolution of slip and twin resistances during the imposed loadings to predict the deformation characteristics. We observe that WE43 exhibits much higher strain-hardening rates under high strain rate deformation than under quasi-static deformation. The observation is rationalized as primarily originating from the pronounced activation of twins and especially contraction and double twins during high strain rate deformation. These twins are effective in strain hardening of the alloy through the texture and barrier hardening effects.
Tunnel-FET Switching Is Governed by Non-Lorentzian Spectral Line Shape

In tunnel field-effect transistors (tFETs), the preferred mechanism for switching occurs by alignment ( on ) or misalignment ( off ) of two energy levels or band edges. Unfortunately, energy levels are never perfectly sharp. When a quantum dot interacts with a wire, its energy is broadened. Its actual spectral shape controls the current/voltage response of such transistor switches, from on (aligned) to off (misaligned). The most common model of spectral line shape is the Lorentzian, which falls off as reciprocal energy offset squared. Unfortunately, this is too slow a turnoff, algebraically, to be useful as a transistor switch. Electronic switches generally demand an on / off ratio of at least a million. Steep exponentially falling spectral tails would be needed for rapid off-state switching. This requires a new electronic feature, not previously recognized: narrowband, heavy-effective mass, quantum wire electrical contacts, to the tunneling quantum states. These are a necessity for spectrally sharp switching.
Therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty for acanthamoeba keratitis: a review of cases, complications and predictive factors

To review 12 acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) patients who required a therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty (TPK) and determine whether there are factors at the presenting visit that can predict the need for TPK. This was a retrospective case series. All diagnosed AK patients between January, 2009 and February, 2016 at Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA, were enrolled. Information regarding demographics, disease manifestation, management and complications was collected. Potential predictors for TPK were obtained by comparing TPK cases with those who were treated medically. Sixty-three eyes from 63 patients were diagnosed with AK. Twelve eyes (19%) required TPK during the course of treatment, and 51 eyes (81%) were treated medically. Reasons for performing TPK included medically non-responsive ulcer in seven eyes (58%), perforated ulcer in three eyes (25%) and significant corneal thinning in two eyes (17%). The most common post-TPK complications included graft failure (75%), cataract (50%) and uncontrolled glaucoma required glaucoma surgery (17%). Reactivation of AK was seen in one (8%) patient. Anti-amoebic treatment beginning after 25 days from the start of AK symptoms [odds ratio (OR) = 7.63; confidence interval (CI) = 1.01–55.33; p = 0.041] and poorer presenting vision (OR = 5.42; CI = 1.91–15.36; p = 0.002) were independent predictors of the need for TPK in multivariate analysis. TPK is a procedure with significant postoperative complications but is required by some patients with AK. Eyes with higher risk for needing TPK can be identified earlier and thus provided more intensive treatment and closer follow-up care.
Dynamically generating T32 training documents using structured data

Background: The US National Institutes of Health (NIH) funds academic institutions for training doctoral (PhD) students and postdoctoral fellows. These training grants, known as T32 grants, require schools to create, in a particular format, seven or eight Word documents describing the program and its participants. Weill Cornell Medicine aimed to use structured name and citation data to dynamically generate tables, thus saving administrators time. Case Presentation: The author’s team collected identity and publication metadata from existing systems of record, including our student information system and previous T32 submissions. These data were fed into our ReCiter author disambiguation engine. Well-structured bibliographic metadata, including the rank of the target author, were output and stored in a MySQL database. We then ran a database query that output a Word extensible markup (XML) document according to NIH’s specifications. We generated the T32 training document using a query that ties faculty listed on a grant submission with publications that they and their mentees authored, bolding author names as required. Because our source data are well-structured and well-defined, the only parameter needed in the query is a single identifier for the grant itself. The open source code for producing this document is at http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.2593545 . Conclusions: Manually writing a table for T32 grant submissions is a substantial administrative burden; some documents generated in this manner exceed 150 pages. Provided they have a source for structured identity and publication data, administrators can use the T32 Table Generator to readily output a table.
Leadership Proficiency: Perspectives of Athletic Trainers New to Practice

Context A broad range of knowledge, skills, and abilities related to leadership has been suggested as essential for development during the athletic training education process. Though the importance...
Esthetic dental perception comparisons between 2D- and 3D-simulated dental discrepancies.

Abstract Statement of problem Intraoral scanners (IOSs), facial scanners (FSs), and computer-aided design (CAD) software programs have become powerful tools for treatment planning. However, discrepancies in perception regarding 2-dimensional (2D) or 3-dimensional (3D) simulations by dentists, dental students, and laypeople have not been analyzed. Purpose The purpose of this observational study was to analyze the perceptions of laypersons, dental students, and dentists regarding disparities of the maxillary dental midline and the occlusal plane when analyzing the dental discrepancies on 2D- and 3D-clinical simulations. Material and methods A female model was digitized by using an FS, IOS, and a full-face smile photograph. Dental discrepancies were simulated by using a 2D photograph (2D group) and 3D scan (3D group) of the model. In both simulation groups, 2 subgroups were produced. The occlusal plane of the first subgroup was modified in 1-degree increments without changing the dental midline or the position of the maxillary dental incisors. In the second subgroup, the occlusal plane was modified by using the same increments, but the maxillary central incisors and dental midline were altered to match the inclination of the occlusal plane. A total of 300 participants (N=300) were asked to rate the 2D images (N=12) and 3D videos (N=12) on a 1-to-6 scale and answer a questionnaire. Ordinal logistic regression was used to analyze the ratings. Results The ratings decreased with the increased tilt of the occlusal plane, and the layperson group gave consistently higher ratings than the other 2 groups. For dentists, the odds of giving a higher versus lower rating decreased by almost a half for each degree of tilt. However, for students, that effect was diminished by a positive interaction term, and for laypersons, the effect was even less. Students gave similar ratings to dentists, but laypersons gave higher ratings. As the age of the participants increased, however, the ratings also increased. The use of 3D versus 2D images had a positive effect on the ratings, but the effect decreased for the student observers and decreased even further for laypersons. Furthermore, midline alteration led to higher ratings but also resulted in worsening of the odds ratio for the tilt. Seventy percent of the dentists, 57% of the dental students, and 52% of the laypersons preferred 2D simulations to 3D simulations. Conclusions Dentists, dental students, and laypersons decreased their ratings with increased inclination of the occlusal plane; however, laypersons still graded all the 2D and 3D images as esthetically pleasant, giving consistently higher ratings than the dentists and dental students. Overall, 3D simulations obtained higher ratings than 2D images, but the positive effect decreased for the student observers and decreased even further for laypersons.
The impact of Crisis Intervention Team Training for police

Policing persons with mental illness and/or emotional/behavioral issues is complex and difficult. Police interactions and encounters of this nature are expected to increase due to dwindling budgets...
Epigenetic Reexpression of Hemoglobin F Using Reversible LSD1 Inhibitors: Potential Therapies for Sickle Cell Disease.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is caused by a single nucleotide polymorphism on chromosome 11 in the β-globin gene. The resulting mutant hemoglobin S (HbS) is a poor oxygen transporter and causes a vari...
A Bottom-Up Approach to Testing Hypotheses That Have a Branching Tree Dependence Structure, With Error Rate Control

Modern statistical analyses often involve testing large numbers of hypotheses. In many situations, these hypotheses may have an underlying tree structure that both helps determine the order that te...
A dependent Dirichlet process model for survival data with competing risks

In this paper, we first propose a dependent Dirichlet process (DDP) model using a mixture of Weibull models with each mixture component resembling a Cox model for survival data. We then build a Dirichlet process mixture model for competing risks data without regression covariates. Next we extend this model to a DDP model for competing risks regression data by using a multiplicative covariate effect on subdistribution hazards in the mixture components. Though built on proportional hazards (or subdistribution hazards) models, the proposed nonparametric Bayesian regression models do not require the assumption of constant hazard (or subdistribution hazard) ratio. An external time-dependent covariate is also considered in the survival model. After describing the model, we discuss how both cause-specific and subdistribution hazard ratios can be estimated from the same nonparametric Bayesian model for competing risks regression. For use with the regression models proposed, we introduce an omnibus prior that is suitable when little external information is available about covariate effects. Finally we compare the models' performance with existing methods through simulations. We also illustrate the proposed competing risks regression model with data from a breast cancer study. An R package "DPWeibull" implementing all of the proposed methods is available at CRAN.
Emergency seed funding for COVID-19 research: lessons from Johns Hopkins University.

Seed grant programs are an efficient mechanism for universities to invest in high-risk ideas, incite collaborative research, support early career faculty, and direct faculty towards a specific goal. At the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Johns Hopkins leadership quickly mobilized to support research teams as they pivoted to gather preliminary data and seek solutions to save lives. Here we discuss key lessons learned from the program.
Abstract 17202: Racial/Ethnic Minority Underreporting and Underrepresentation in Guideline-Driving Blood Cholesterol Clinical Trials

Introduction: Cholesterol management is the cornerstone of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease prevention. Diverse racial/ethnic participation in high-impact cholesterol trials is essential for ...
From Interatomic Distances to Protein Tertiary Structures with a Deep Convolutional Neural Network

Elucidating biologically-active protein structures remains a daunting task both in the wet and dry laboratory, and many proteins lack structural characterization. This lack of knowledge continues to motivate the development of computational methods for protein structure prediction. Methods are diverse in their approaches, and recent efforts have debuted deep learning-based methods for various sub-problems within the larger problem of protein structure prediction. In this paper, we focus on such a sub-problem, the reconstruction of three-dimensional structures consistent with given inter-atomic distances. Inspired by a recent architecture put forward in the larger context of generative frameworks, we design and evaluate a deep convolutional network model on experimentally- and computationally-obtained tertiary structures. Comparison with convex and stochastic optimization-based methods shows that the deep model is faster and similarly or more accurate, opening up several venues of further research to advance the larger problem of protein structure prediction.
Exploiting KRAS-Driven Ferroaddiction in Cancer Through Ferrous Iron-Activatable Drug Conjugates (FeADC)

KRAS mutations cause a quarter of cancer mortality and currently are not sensitive to any targeted, FDA-approved agents. Several inhibitors of the MAPK pathway are FDA approved but exhibit low clinical tolerability at doses needed to adequately extinguish KRAS signaling. We discovered an avidity for ferrous iron (Fe2+) induced by and dependent on oncogenic KRAS signaling. We leveraged anFDA-approved MEK inhibitor to produce a prototypical Ferrous Iron–Activatable Drug Conjugate (FeADC) and with this novel agent achieved MAPK blockade in tumor cells while sparing normal tissues. These improvements allowed sustainable, effective treatment of tumor bearing animals with superior tolerability. Iron-activated therapeutics are unknown outside of antiparasitic therapy, but may hold significant promise for the treatment of KRAS-driven solid tumors.
Impact of A Practice-Based Professional Development on Secondary Science Teachers’ Use of Disciplinary Literacy Practices: A Design Research Project

This design-based research investigated the context and impact of a three-year practice-based professional development (PD) project introducing science teachers to pedagogical shifts required for f...
Techno-economic analysis of integrated torrefaction and pelletization systems to produce torrefied wood pellets

Abstract We investigated the techno-economic analysis of two integrated torrefaction and pelletization systems: (1) Torrefaction befOre Pelletization and (2) Torrefaction After Pelletization configurations to produce torrefied wood pellets. The detailed mass and energy balances and operating parameters were obtained from the process simulation model developed with the base case plant capacity of 100,000 Mg yr−1 using natural gas as an auxiliary fuel source. A discounted cash flow analysis was conducted for both configurations to estimate the capital expenditure, operating expenses, production cost, and the minimum selling price of torrefied pellets. The minimum selling price of torrefied pellets at the plant gate was $207 Mg−1 ($8.5 GJ−1) for the Torrefaction before Pelletization and $197 Mg−1 ($8.1 GJ−1) for the Torrefaction After Pelletization configurations. An increase in the plant capacity of up to 200,000 Mg yr−1 for both configurations decreased the minimum selling price by 10%. The sensitivity analysis of various operational and financial parameters demonstrated that the feedstock cost and torrefaction product yield were the most sensitive parameters influencing the minimum selling price of torrefied pellets. Future opportunities exist to reduce the minimum selling price of torrefied pellets to become competitive to conventional wood pellets and coal.
Physical health, behavioral and emotional functioning in children of gulf war veterans.

Abstract Objective We examined whether the prevalence of medical and behavioral conditions is higher in children of deployed veterans (DVs) versus non-deployed veterans (NDVs) after the 1991 Gulf War. Methods We examined 1387 children of 737 veterans. Children ages 2-18 had physical exams and parental reports of physical history and behavior. Results Physical health was analyzed using GEE models. Behavioral health [total, internalizing, and externalizing behavior problems (TBP, IBP, EBP)] was analyzed with mixed-effects regression models. Analyses were conducted by age group (2-3, 4-11, 12-18), and gender (ages 4-11, 12-18). Children of DVs ages 2-3 had significantly worse dentition (13.9% vs. 4.8%, P = 0.03) and more EBP {least square means (lsmeans) 54.31 vs. 47.59, P = 0.02}. Children of DVs ages 4-11 had significantly more obesity (18.8% vs. 12.7%, P = 0.02). Among children 4-11, male children of DVs had significantly more TBP (lsmeans 70.68 vs. 57.34, P = 0.003), IBP (lsmeans 63.59 vs. 56.16, P = 0.002) and EBP (lsmeans 61.60 vs. 52.93, P = 0.03), but female children did not. For children ages 12-18, male children of DVs had more EBP (lsmeans 63.73 vs. 43.51, P = 0.008), while female children of DVs had fewer EBP (lsmeans 45.50 vs. 50.48, P = 0.02). Veteran military characteristics and mental health, and children's social status and health, including obesity, predicted children's TBP for one or more age groups. Conclusions Children of DVs experienced worse dentition, greater obesity, and more behavioral problems compared to NDV children, suggesting adverse health effects associated with parental deployment in need of further exploration.
Detecting pathological exercise in college men: An investigation using latent profile analysis

Objective Pathological exercise is a dangerous behavior often observed in eating disorders. Data investigating associated characteristics of pathological exercise in men are lacking, despite college men and women being at equally elevated risk for developing eating disorders. Participants Two hundred and twenty-four college men who exercise regularly completed a series of self-report questionnaires. Methods Latent profile analysis was used to identify empirically-derived homogenous subgroups of regular exercisers based on severity of other eating disorder attitudes and behaviors. Profiles were also compared on differences in exercise motivation and general psychopathology (i.e., depression, anxiety). Results Fit indices indicated a three-profile solution. Profiles described an eating psychopathology group, a low psychopathology group, and a high exercise frequency group without eating disorder features. Conclusions Pathological exercise cannot be identified using exercise frequency alone. Other features like body dissatisfaction and exercise motivation style are relevant in identifying pathological exercise behavior in college men.
In Vitro Studies on Protein Synthesis by Malignant Cells

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the procedures developed for the isolation of in vitro systems from cancer cells and the characteristics and preparations of these systems. The results obtained from the systems of cancer cells are compared and contrasted with the results obtained from systems from microbial cells and animal tissues. One of the initial studies of the incorporation of labeled amino acids by an in vitro system of tumor origin has been reported in 1957. In this study, the Ehrlich mouse ascites tumor was utilized for preparing pH 5-insoluble and microsornal fractions. Deoxycholate-insoluble particles and a NaCl-insoluble fraction were obtained from the crude microsoinal pellets. The deoxycholate-insoluble particles showed three major peaks. The incorporation of C13-amino acids into proteins was determined by the addition of glucose, buffer, and labeled amino acid to the whole ascites fluid. The findings from the study were found to be consistent with the concept that most of the amino acids incorporated into whole cell proteins pass through the ribonucleoproteins. Another investigation to compare the mechanism of protein synthesis of tumor cells with that of other mammalian cells was reported in 1964. Strain DNA X Swiss hybrid mice were inoculated intraperitonially with L-1210 mouse ascites leukemia cells. An active amino acid-incorporating system was developed utilizing the Novikoff rat ascites tumor. This hepatoma, initially induced by the administration of diets containing carcinogenic azo dyes, possesses many advantages for the investigation of in vitro protein biosynthesis. From the studies reviewed in this chapter, it may be assumed that same general mechanism for amino acid activation, aminoacyl transfer, and amino acid polymerization is operative in mammalian cells, and that malignant cells do not differ radically in this respect.
ANAEROBIC COLUMNAR DENITRIFICATION OF HIGH NITRATE WASTEWATER

Anaerobic columns were used to test the effectiveness of biological denitrification of nitrate solutions ranging in concentration from 1 to 10 kg NO 3 /m 3. Several sources of nitrate (Ca(NO 3 ) 2 , NaNO 3 NH 4 NO 3 and actual nitrate wastes from an UO 2 fuel fabrication plant) were evaluated as well as two packing media. The two packing media were anthracite coal particles, whose effective diameter size ranged between 2 and 3 mm, and polypropylene Raschig rings 1.6 x 1.6 cm diameter. The anthracite coal proved to be the better packing media as excessive hydraulic short circuiting occurred in a 120 x 15 cm diameter glass column packed with the polypropylene rings after 40 days operation. With anthracite coal, floatation of the bed occurred at flow rates > 0.80 cm 3 /s. Tapered columns packed with anthracite coal eliminated any floatation problems even at flow rates as high as 5 cm 3 /s, and under optimum operating conditions took on many properties of a fluidized bed. Maximum denitrification rates were 1.0-1.4 g NO 3 /m 3 /s based on initial bed volume. Denitrification kinetics indicated that rates of denitrification became substrate inhibited at nitrate concentrations > 6.5 kg NO 3 /m 3. Anaerobic columns packed with anthracite coal appear to be an effective method of nitrate disposal for nitrate rich wastewater generated at UO 2 fuel fabrication plants and nuclear fuel reprocessing facilities.
Clinical applications of techniques used in human in vitro fertilization research.

Abstract Human in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer not only provides an opportunity for pregnancy in women who were previously considered to be sterile, but also provides a unique method by means of which basic reproductive physiology can be investigated. From September, 1981, to September, 1982, 71 women with normal cycles who elected to attempt in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer underwent timed laparoscopy for recovery of oocytes. Oocytes were recovered in 60 patients, with embryo transfer resulting in 50 patients, and normal implantation occurred in nine patients. There was a significant correlation between ultrasound observation of follicle size and serum estradiol levles, thus making ultrasound monitoring of follicular growth during stimulation with clomiphene citrate or human menopausal gonadotropin in anovulatory women clinically useful. The technique of sperm washing employed for in vitro fertilization has now been used with good results for intrauterine insemination in patients with infertility due to a cervical factor or oligospermia. Therefore, the techniques used in human in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer are now clinically applicable for couples with infertility due to causes other than tubal disease.
Conceptual thermal design and analysis of a far-infrared/mid-infrared remote sensing instrument

This paper presents the conceptual thermal design and analysis results for the Spectroscopy of the Atmosphere using Far-Infrared Emission (SAFIRE) instrument. SAFIRE has been proposed for Mission to Planet Earth to study ozone chemistry in the middle atmosphere using remote sensing of the atmosphere in the far-infrared (21-87 microns) and mid-infrared (9-16 microns) spectra. SAFIRE requires that far-IR detectors be cooled to 3-4 K and mid-IR detectors to 80 K for the expected mission lifetime of five years. A superfluid helium dewar and Stirling-cycle cryocoolers provide the cryogenic temperatures required by the infrared detectors. The proposed instrument thermal design uses passive thermal control techniques to reject 465 watts of waste heat from the instrument.
"Los perros del paraíso" de Abel Posse. Hipertextualidad, intertextualidad, carnavalización y descubrimiento del nuevo mundo

En la obra "Los Perros del paraiso" de Abel Posse, el autor logra volver a actualizar, contextualizar, vitalizar y sacar del limbo de la historia oficial un acontecimiento fundamental y trilladopor un sin numero de historiadores y escritores: el Descubrimiento del Nuevo Mundo.
Reconstruction of a Large Anterior Ear Defect after Mohs Micrographic Surgery with a Cartilage Graft and Postauricular Revolving Door Flap

A novel postauricular revolving door island flap and cartilage graft combination was employed to correct a large defect on the anterior ear of an 84-year-old man who underwent Mohs micrographic surgery for an antihelical squamous cell carcinoma. The defect measured 4.6 × 2.4 cm and spanned the antihelix, scapha, a small portion of the helix, and a large segment of underlying cartilage, with loss of structural integrity and anterior folding of the ear. The repair involved harvesting 1.5 cm2 of exposed cartilage from the scaphoid fossa and then sculpting and suturing it to the remnant of the antihelical cartilage in order to recreate the antihelical crura. The skin of the posterior auricle was then incised just below the helical rim and folded anteriorly to cover the cartilage graft. The flap remained attached by a central subcutaneous pedicle, and an island designed using the full-thickness defect as a stencil template was pulled through the cartilage window anteriorly to resurface the anterior ear. This case demonstrates the use of the revolving door flap for coverage of large central ear defects with loss of cartilaginous support and illustrates how cartilage grafts may be used in combination with the flap to improve ear contour after resection.