cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Is Maternal Age a Risk Factor for Mental Retardation among Children

The purpose of this study was to determine whether older or very young maternal age at delivery is associated with mental retardation in children. Ten-year-old children with mental retardation (an intelligence quotient of 70 or less) were identified in 1985-1987 from multiple sources in the metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia, area. These children were subdivided into two case groups according to whether they had concomitant developmental disabilities or birth defects affecting the central nervous system (codevelopmental retardation) or did not have such disabilities (isolated retardation). Control children were randomly chosen from the regular education files of the public school systems in the study area. Data on sociodemographic variables were gathered from birth certificates. Children of teenaged mothers were not at increased risk for either form of retardation and children of mothers aged > or =30 years were not at increased risk for isolated retardation, in comparison with children of mothers aged 20-29 years. A markedly elevated risk of codevelopmental retardation was seen among black children of mothers aged > or =30 years that was not attributable to Down syndrome. A modest increase in risk for codevelopmental retardation was observed among white children born to older mothers, but it was entirely due to Down syndrome.
Clock recovery on unequalized magnetic recording channels

As new data recovery schemes based on sampling detectors are devised, a need for quick but exhaustive bit error rate characterization becomes important. Hardware prototypes provide the only practical means by which detection schemes can be evaluated at error rates required in a product. Issues such as clock recovery and automatic gain control are often ignored during the evaluation of detection schemes in software, but loom as important issues when it is time to build the prototype channel. In this paper, a technique for performing gradient based clock recovery on unequalized playback channels will be proposed. This phase detector relies on knowledge of the step response of the channel as well as the stored data. Depending upon the phase margin of the phase-locked loop during tracking mode, this phase detector can also be used in a data driven mode. >
Model-Based Fault Isolation and Reconfigurable Control of Transport-Reaction Processes with Actuator Faults

This paper presents a methodology for the design and implementation of integrated fault detection and isolation (FDI) and fault-tolerant control (FTC) systems for transport- reaction processes modeled by nonlinear parabolic partial differential equations (PDEs) with control constraints and actuator faults. Using a finite-dimensional system that captures the PDE's dominant dynamic modes, a family of nonlinear feedback controllers with well-characterized constrained stability regions are initially designed. Then, following a coordinate transformation that diagonalizes the input operator of the finite-dimensional system, a set of dedicated FDI filters - each replicating the fault-free behavior of a given state of the transformed system - are constructed. The choice of actuator locations ensures that each filter's residual is sensitive to faults in only one actuator and decoupled from the rest. Following FDI, a set of actuator reconfiguration laws are derived to preserve closed-loop stability and minimize performance deterioration. Finally, the FDI-FTC architecture is implemented on the infinite-dimensional system, and appropriate FDI thresholds and actuator reconfiguration criteria are established to provide the necessary robustness against model reduction errors. Using singular perturbation techniques, these criteria are tied to the two time-scale separation between the slow and fast eigenvalues of the differential operator.
Acute cognitive impairment after lateral fluid percussion brain injury recovers by 1 month: evaluation by conditioned fear response.

Conditioned fear associates a contextual environment and cue stimulus to a foot shock in a single training trial, where fear expressed to the trained context or cue indicates cognitive performance. Lesion, aspiration or inactivation of the hippocampus and amygdala impair conditioned fear to the trained context and cue, respectively. Moreover, only bilateral experimental manipulations, in contrast to unilateral, abolish cognitive performance. In a model of unilateral brain injury, we sought to test whether a single lateral fluid percussion brain injury impairs cognitive performance in conditioned fear. Brain-injured mice were evaluated for anterograde cognitive deficits, with the hypothesis that acute injury-induced impairments improve over time. Male C57BL/6J mice were brain-injured, trained at 5 or 27 days post-injury, and tested 48 h later for recall of the association between the conditioned stimuli (trained context or cue) and the unconditioned stimulus (foot shock) by quantifying fear-associated freezing behavior. A significant anterograde hippocampal-dependent cognitive deficit was observed at 7 days in brain-injured compared to sham. Cued fear conditioning could not detect amygdala-dependent cognitive deficits after injury and stereological estimation of amygdala neuron number corroborated this finding. The absence of injury-related freezing in a novel context substantiated injury-induced hippocampal-dependent cognitive dysfunction, rather than generalized fear. Variations in the training and testing paradigms demonstrated a cognitive deficit in consolidation, rather than acquisition or recall. By 1-month post-injury, cognitive function recovered in brain-injured mice. Hence, the acute injury-induced cognitive impairment may persist while transient pathophysiological sequelae are underway, and improve as global dysfunction subsides.
An efficient event delivery scheme in mobile ad hoc communities

Delivering events and advertisements to interested individuals is an important issue for mobile ad hoc communities. Providing a feasible solution to event delivery in highly dynamic and error prone mobile ad hoc environments is a challenging problem due to the inherent unreliable and unstable nature of mobile ad hoc networks. This paper proposes a novel semantics-based publish/subscribe scheme for efficient event and advertisement delivery in large-scale mobile ad hoc communities. In our proposed publish/subscribe system, mobile nodes are organised into groups and a compact semantics-based indexing is deployed in the groups. Efficient intra-and inter-group routings are proposed to facilitate efficient propagation of event notifications. The effectiveness of the system is demonstrated through a comprehensive set of simulation studies.
Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease

Early and accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) has a major impact on the progress of research on dementia. To address the problems involved in diagnosing AD in its earliest stages, the National Institute on Aging, the American Association of Retired Persons, the National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke, and the National Institute of Mental Health jointly sponsored a workshop for planning research. The purpose of the meeting was to identify the most important scientific research opportunities and the crucial clinical and technical issues that influence the progress of research on the diagnosis of AD. The 37 participants included some of the most knowledgeable and eminent scientists and physicians actively involved in the study of AD. The participants were divided among six panels representing the disciplines of neurochemistry, neuropathology, neuroradiology, neurology, neuropsychology, and psychiatry. Within each of the panels, participants discussed specific areas of research requiring further
Production of Monoclonal Antibodies to Surface Regions that are Non-Immunogenic in a Protein Using Free Synthetic Peptide as Immunogens: Demonstration with Sperm-Whale Myoglobin

Two synthetic peptides corresponding to surface regions of sperm whale myoglobin that are not antigenic in the native molecule were used in their free form (i.e. not coupled to a carrier) to immunize separate groups of Balb/cByJ mice. The synthetic peptides corresponded to regions 1–6 and 121–127. Serum samples obtained from each group of mice contained antibodies that bound specifically to myoglobin and exclusively to the immunizing peptide. Monoclonal antibodies to each of the two surface regions were subsequently obtained by hybridizing Fa/0 mouse myeloma cells with spleen cells derived from each group of mice. These monoclonal antibodies were IgM (k). They expressed the same isotype as the antigen specific serum antibodies produced by the mice whose spleen cells were used for hybridization. Solid phase radioimmunoassay studies also indicated that each monoclonal antibody, like the immune serum of the parent animals, bound specifically to myoglobin and exclusively to the synthetic peptide used as an im...
Health Literacy and Patient-Reported Outcomes: A Cross-Sectional Study of Underserved English- and Spanish-Speaking Patients With Type 2 Diabetes

This study examined associations between patient characteristics, health behaviors, and health outcomes and explored the role of health literacy as a potential mediator of outcomes. English- and Spanish-speaking adults with Type 2 diabetes used a bilingual multimedia touchscreen to complete questionnaires. The behavioral model for vulnerable populations guided multivariable regression and mediation testing. Dependent variables were diabetes self-care, health status, and satisfaction with communication. Independent variables included sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, health literacy, health beliefs, and self-efficacy. Spanish speakers had lower health literacy and poorer physical, mental, and overall health compared to English speakers. Higher health literacy was associated with less social support for diet, fewer diet and medication barriers, younger age, higher diabetes knowledge, and talking with health care professionals to get diabetes information. In contrast to expectations, health literacy was not associated with diabetes self-care, health status, or satisfaction with communication, and it did not mediate the effects of other factors on these outcomes. Diabetes self-efficacy was significantly associated with health behaviors and outcomes. The association between Spanish language preference and poorer health was not mediated by this group's lower health literacy. Increasing health-related self-efficacy might be an important clinical strategy for improving outcomes in underserved patients with Type 2 diabetes.
Invariance Techniques in Spectral Estimation and Signal Processing

High-resolution signal parameter estimation is a problem of significance in many signal processing applications. Such applications include direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation, system identification, and time series analysis. A novel approach to the general problem of signal parameter estimation is described. Though discussed in the context of direction-of-arrival estimation, ESPRIT can be applied to a wide variety of problems. It exploits an underlying rotational invariance among signal subspaces induced by an array of sensors with a translational invariance structure. A few simulation results are presented including the application of the algorithm to estimation of dispersion relations of a large molcular chain.
Managing Liposarcomas: Cutting Through the Fat

Liposarcomas are one of the most common of more than 50 histologic subtypes of soft tissue sarcomas that, themselves, are heterogeneous. Liposarcomas fall into four distinct histologic subtypes: atypical lipomatous tumor/well-differentiated liposarcoma, dedifferentiated liposarcoma, myxoid (round cell) liposarcoma, and pleomorphic liposarcoma. Definitive treatment remains surgical resection with negative margins for resectable disease. However, well-differentiated liposarcomas that are large or difficult to operate upon should be followed with close surveillance as long as there is no radiologic concern for a dedifferentiated component. In contrast, first-line chemotherapy with anthracycline with or without ifosfamide, or gemcitabine and docetaxel should be used for inoperable myxoid (round cell) or pleomorphic liposarcomas, which are relatively responsive to chemotherapy. In the second- and third-line setting, myxoid liposarcomas, in particular, seem to be sensitive to trabectedin, which was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Eribulin offered a survival benefit when compared with dacarbazine in the third-line setting in liposarcomas (other than the well-differentiated subtype) and is now FDA approved. Recent studies have identified distinct genetic aberrations that not only aid in the diagnosis of liposarcoma subtypes but represent actionable targets. Cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and murine double minute 2 are overexpressed in well-differentiated and dedifferentiated liposarcomas and offer opportunities that are being pursued in clinical trials. It is critical that liposarcomas are not approached by oncologists as one disease entity but rather subclassified into distinct subtypes using histologic and molecular tools before formalizing a treatment plan.
The Effect of Repeated Activation on Screen-Printed Carbon Electrode Cards

Screen-printed carbon electrode cards have been recognized as an inexpensive and disposable sensing option with wide application. Despite their disposability, laboratories with high sample throughput may desire repeated use from each card. This study examined the ability of a commercial brand of cards to be reused using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and the reversible redox couple, hexaammine ruthenium. Activation, which improves electrode performance, was shown to affect the shape of the CV curves, the transfer coefficient, and the real electro-active surface area. Repeated activation has a compounding effect on these parameters, which provide insight to the condition and kinetics of the electrode surface. It was determined that screen-printed carbon electrode cards should not be reused with protocols that require electrochemical activation of the working electrode.
Particulate and aromatic hydrocarbon emissions from a small-scale biomass gasifier-generator system

Distributed gasification of biomass has potential as a renewable energy alternative, but the emissions from gasifier–generator systems raise potential environmental and human health concerns. Producer gas from gasifiers contains high concentrations of aromatic compounds, tars, and particulate matter. In gasifier–generator systems, producer gas is used to feed an internal combustion engine connected to a generator. Little is known about the extent to which spark-ignited engine combustion eliminates these harmful components. This study measured emissions at three locations of a 10 kW electric, fixed-bed, downdraft gasifier–generator system to determine the effectiveness of the packed-bed filter and the spark-ignited engine to reduce pollutant concentrations in the producer gas. Emissions were compared to regulated levels. Particulate matter concentrations were approximately 75 mg/Nm3 in the pre-filtered producer gas and were reduced by about 99% by the packed-bed filter to about 1 mg/Nm3. Particulate matter...
Allogeneic transplantation is not superior to chemotherapy in most patients over 40 years of age with Philadelphia-negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia in first remission.

Survival of patients ≥40 years of age with Philadelphia-negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) remains poor with current therapeutic approaches. It is unknown whether allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) in first remission confers a survival benefit compared to a chemotherapy-only approach. We retrospectively compared the outcome of patients >40 years treated with HSCT or chemotherapy alone in first remission (n = 40 in each cohort). Three-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were not significantly different between the chemotherapy-only and HSCT groups (OS, 46% [31-68] vs. 40% [27-59], P = 0.35; DFS, 31% [18-52] vs. 40% [27-59], P = 0.98). The 3-year cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) and non-relapse mortality (NRM) were 61% [41-76] and 9% [2-21] for the chemotherapy-only group and 28% [15-43] and 32% [17-47] for the transplant group (CIR, P = 0.011; NRM, P = 0.014). Allogeneic transplantation for patients ≥40 years with Ph-negative ALL in first remission is associated with a lower CIR, but this benefit is offset by considerable NRM as compared with chemotherapy-only approach. HSCT may be beneficial in patients with high-risk disease features. Am. J. Hematol. 91:793-799, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Tempering process analysis and microstructure assessment of T91 steel

Different states of T91 steel specimens were achieved through different normalizing and tempering.Microstructural evolution and hardness change of T91 steel under different tempering condition were studied through OM,SEM and hardness measurement.The results show that the alloying elements resolve into matrix and the lath martensites coarsening gradually with rising of normalizing temperature,and the amount of retained austenite also decreases.The alloy shows the best fine martensite after normalizing at 1050 ℃.The recrystallization temperature(790 ℃)of T91 steel is close to phase transition temperature(820 ℃) during 670-820 ℃ tempering.With the increasing of tempering temperature,normalizing lath martensite begins recovery and recrystallization which made the hardness decrease gradually and the minimum hardness is obtained at 790 ℃ tempering.The tempering temperature for delivery state of T91 steel is 760-780 ℃,which can ensure that only recovery takes place without recrystallization.Therefore,it is more reasonable to call the delivery state microstructure of T91 steel the tempered martensite.
Comparison of urinary human follicle-stimulating hormone and human menopausal gonadotropins for ovarian stimulation in an in vitro fertilization program * †

This report compares the effects of human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) and purified urinary human follicle-stimulating hormone (hFSH) protocols in patients with irreparable tubal disease as the sole indication for in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET). The hFSH protocol was associated with significantly more uniform folliculogenesis and more effective steroidogenesis than the one using hMG. In addition, the hFSH protocol showed a trend toward more oocytes per laparoscopy and more embryos per transfer than the hMG group, although the difference was not statistically significant. More oocytes in the hMG group were classified as immature when compared with the hFSH group (P
The Use of Microcalorimetry and Impedance in Clinical Microbiology

During the past 15 years, several investigators have examined novel methods and instrumentation for use in clinical microbiology that do not rely simply on automation of standard techniques. Two of the systems studied, microcalorimetry and impedance, are described here: their principles of action, clinical laboratory applications, advantages, and limitations.
The control of N-nitrosodimethylamine, Halonitromethane, and Trihalomethane precursors by Nanofiltration.

Abstract Nanofiltration (NF) is a promising technology for removing precursors of disinfection byproducts (DBPs) from source waters prior to oxidant addition in water treatment. The aims of this study were to investigate (i) the removal efficiencies of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), halonitromethane (HNM), and trihalomethane (THM) precursors by NF membranes from different source water types (i.e. surface water, wastewater impacted surface water, and municipal and industrial wastewater treatment effluents), (ii) the impact of membrane type, and (iii) the effects of background water components (i.e., pH, ionic strength, and Ca2+) on the removal of selected DBP precursors from different source waters. The results showed the overall precursor removal efficiencies were 57–83%, 48–87%, and 72–97% for NDMA, HNM, and THM precursors, respectively. The removal of NDMA precursors decreased with the increases in average molecular weight cut off and negative surface charge of NF membranes tested, while the removal of THM precursors was slightly affected. pH changes increased the removal of NDMA precursors, but pH did not affect the removal of THM and HNM precursors in municipal WWTP effluent. On the other hand, pH changes had little or no effect on DBP removal from industrial WWTP effluent. In addition, regardless of the membrane type or background water type/characteristics, ionic strength did not show any impact on DBP precursor removals. Lastly, an increase in Ca2+ concentration enhanced the removal of NDMA precursors while a slight decrease and no effect was observed for THM and HNM precursors, respectively, in municipal WWTP effluent.
Design of sensor networks for detection applications via large-deviation theory

This paper outlines interesting applications of large-deviation theory and asymptotic analysis to the design of wireless sensor networks. Sensor networks are envisioned to contain a large amount of wireless nodes. As such, asymptotic regimes where the number of nodes becomes large are important tools in identifying good design rules for future sensor systems. Through a simple example, we show how the Gartner-Ellis theorem can be used to study the impact of density on overall performance in resource constrained systems. Specifically, we consider the problem where sensor nodes receive partial information about their environment, and then send a summary of their observations to a fusion center for the purpose of detection. Each node transmits its own data on a noisy communication channel. Observations are assumed to become increasingly correlated as sensor nodes are placed in close proximity. It is found that high node density performs well even when observations from adjacent sensors are highly correlated. Furthermore, the tools presented in this paper can be employed for a more complete analysis of the tradeoff between resource allocation, system complexity, and overall performance in wireless sensor networks.
Predictors of Tanning Dependence in White Non-Hispanic Females and Males.

Background Growing evidence suggests that some individuals may exhibit symptoms of dependence on ultraviolet (UV) light, a known carcinogen, in the context of tanning; however, few studies have investigated predictors of tanning dependence (TD). Objective To identify predictors of tanning dependence (TD). Methods Non-Hispanics of European-ancestry who had previously participated in a case-control study of early-onset basal cell carcinoma completed an online survey to ascertain TD and other behaviors (alcohol dependence, nicotine dependence, seasonal affective disorder (SAD), exercise ‘addiction’, and depression). Information on host factors, such as skin and eye color and history of sunbathing and indoor tanning, was obtained from a study in which the participants were previously enrolled. Lifetime TD was assessed using the modified Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener (mCAGE) and the modified Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision (mDSM-IV-TR) questionnaires. Participants were classified as ‘TD’ if positive on both questionnaires and not TD if negative on both questionnaires. Results In total, 499 individuals completed the online survey (81.9% participation rate), 24.4% were classified as ‘TD’. In the multivariate model, women were more likely to be TD (odds ratio (OR) 6.93; 95% Confidence Intervals (95% CI) (3.36-14.27)) than men. Alcohol dependence (OR 6.55: 95% CI 3.19-13.42), SAD (OR 2.77; 95% CI 1.26-6.09) and exercise ‘addiction’ (OR 5.47; 95% CI 1.15-26.06) were all significant predictors for TD. Conclusion Increased knowledge of those at risk for TD will allow appropriate interventions to be designed. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Peripheral Nerve Monitoring

The peripheral nervous system is comprised of a complex and vast network of nerves that work synergistically to achieve unique functions in the human body. Neuronal diversity lends nerves in this system to be vulnerable to a variety of injury types that have different management strategies. Peripheral nerve monitoring has been proven to be a useful asset for intraoperative management of nerve lesions. Physical examination alone of nerve lesions has been shown to be an unreliable and often misleading method to assess nerve integrity and regeneration. Intraoperative peripheral nerve assessment provides clinicians with unique, real-time information that is otherwise unavailable via preoperative nerve examination. This additional information can help to guide clinical decision making and subsequently improve patient outcomes. This chapter will provide a brief overview of the physiology and anatomy of the peripheral nervous system, review nerve injury classifications, and detail the equipment and techniques utilized for effective intraoperative peripheral nerve assessment.
Rate Adjustment Mechanism for Controlling Incast Congestion in Data Center Networks

Data Center Transmission Control Protocol (DCTCP) gained more popularity in academic as well as industry areas due to its performance in terms of high throughput and low latency and is widely deployed at data centers nowadays. According to recent research about the performance of DCTCP, the authors found that most of the times the sender’s congestion window reduces to one segment which results in timeouts. To address this problem, we modified the calculation of sender’s congestion window size for improving the throughput of TCP in data center networks. The results of a series of simulations in a typical data center network topology using Qualnet, the most widely used network simulator demonstrates that the proposed solution can significantly reduce the timeouts and noticeably improves the throughput by more than 10% compare to DCTCP under various network conditions.
National Institutes of Health–Funded Cardiac Arrest Research: A 10‐Year Trend Analysis

Background Cardiac arrest (CA) is a leading cause of death in the United States, claiming over 450 000 lives annually. Improving survival depends on the ability to conduct CA research and on the translation and implementation of research findings into practice. Our objective was to provide a descriptive analysis of annual National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding for CA research over the past decade. Method and Results A search within NIH RePORTER for the years 2007 to 2016 was performed using the terms: “cardiac arrest” or “cardiopulmonary resuscitation” or “heart arrest” or “circulatory arrest” or “pulseless electrical activity” or “ventricular fibrillation” or “resuscitation.” Grants were reviewed and categorized as CA research (yes/no) using predefined criteria. The annual NIH funding for CA research, number of individual grants, and principal investigators were tabulated. The total NIH investment in CA research for 2015 was calculated and compared to those for other leading causes of death within the United States. Interrater reliability among 3 independent reviewers for fiscal year 2015 was assessed using Fleiss κ. The search yielded 2763 NIH‐funded grants, of which 745 (27.0%) were classified as CA research (κ=0.86 [95%CI 0.80‐0.93]). Total inflation‐adjusted NIH funding for CA research was $35.4 million in 2007, peaked at $76.7 million in 2010, and has decreased to $28.5 million in 2016. Per annual death, NIH invests ≈$2200 for stroke, ≈$2100 for heart disease, and ≈$91 for CA. Conclusions This analysis demonstrates that the annual NIH investment in CA research is low relative to other leading causes of death in the United States and has declined over the past decade.
Territoriality mediates atypical size‐symmetric cannibalism in the Amblypygi Phrynus longipes

Cannibalism can have important demographic and ecological effects on populations. Typically, cannibalism is size‐structured, where larger individuals eat smaller conspecifics. Initial cursory observations of the whip spider, Phrynus longipes, however, suggested that cannibalism might not be size‐structured in this species, perhaps because cannibalism is often a by‐product of territory contests. We staged paired interactions and recorded latency to escalate to physical aggression or cannibalize to understand the dynamics of cannibalism and resource contests. We employed a multimodel comparative approach to tease apart the contest characteristics that best predicted cannibalism during behavioral trials between P. longipes opponents. We found that, while armament size symmetry predicted escalation of contests, cannibalism was best predicted by body mass asymmetry. Further, cannibalism was most likely to occur among individuals similar in armament, but dissimilar in body mass. This suggests a discrepancy between phenotypes that may have evolved to communicate resource holding potential (e.g., armaments which benefit individuals if dishonest), and body mass as a cue of resource holding potential.
Changes in tourists’ perception of well-being based on their use of emotion regulation strategies during vacation

Based on the theoretical foundation of emotion regulation, this exploratory study aimed to examine changes in tourists’ perceived well-being and to determine whether these changes were due to use of emotion regulation strategies (ERSs) during their vacation. This study used travel diaries to record tourists’ use of ERSs on a daily basis, and also measured tourists’ perceived well-being one day before and after their vacation. Results indicated that tourists had significantly higher perceptions of well-being after vacation, and those who used ERSs were more likely to indicate a higher sense of well-being after vacation. The results provide new insight into which aspects of tourists’ subjective and psychological well-being can be boosted by taking vacations and how these aspects may be enhanced by using different ERSs.
Closed range of ∂¯ in L2-Sobolev spaces on unbounded domains in Cn

Abstract Let Ω ⊂ C n be a domain and 1 ≤ q ≤ n − 1 fixed. Our purpose in this article is to establish a general sufficient condition for the closed range of the Cauchy–Riemann operator ∂ ¯ in appropriately weighted L 2 -Sobolev spaces on ( 0 , q ) -forms. The domains we consider may be neither bounded nor pseudoconvex, and our condition is a generalization of the classical Z ( q ) condition that we call weak Z ( q ) . We provide examples that explain the necessity of working in weighted spaces both for closed range in L 2 and, even more critically, in L 2 -Sobolev spaces.
Impacts of fire smoke plumes on regional air quality, 2006-2013.

Increases in the severity and frequency of large fires necessitate improved understanding of the influence of smoke on air quality and public health. The objective of this study is to estimate the effect of smoke from fires across the continental U.S. on regional air quality over an extended period of time. We use 2006–2013 data on ozone (O3), fine particulate matter (PM2.5), and PM2.5 constituents from environmental monitoring sites to characterize regional air quality and satellite imagery data to identify plumes. Unhealthy levels of O3 and PM2.5 were, respectively, 3.3 and 2.5 times more likely to occur on plume days than on clear days. With a two-stage approach, we estimated the effect of plumes on pollutants, controlling for season, temperature, and within-site and between-site variability. Plumes were associated with an average increase of 2.6 p.p.b. (2.5, 2.7) in O3 and 2.9 µg/m3 (2.8, 3.0) in PM2.5 nationwide, but the magnitude of effects varied by location. The largest impacts were observed across the southeast. High impacts on O3 were also observed in densely populated urban areas at large distance from the fires throughout the southeast. Fire smoke substantially affects regional air quality and accounts for a disproportionate number of unhealthy days.
The genetic architecture of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is the most common pediatric spinal deformity, affecting 2–3% of school-age children worldwide. This disease is typically classified by age at onset, with the great majority occurring around the time of the adolescent growth spurt, the so-called AIS. AIS can progress rapidly, threatening pain, deformity, and pulmonary dysfunction. Heritability of AIS is high, and population studies have consistently found that AIS is best explained by a polygenic inheritance model, in which many genetic risk factors combine to cause the disease. Population studies have associated AIS with genetic markers near interesting candidate genes, including the homeobox transcription factor LBX1, the G protein-coupled receptor GPR126, the paired box transcription factors PAX1 and PAX3, as well as the SRY-box SOX9. Moreover, gene targeting in zebrafish and mouse model systems have identified candidate genes, which offer an exciting new area of investigation into molecular mechanisms of AIS. AIS candidate genes thus far identified function in muscle, nerve, and cartilage specification in early development, suggesting neuromuscular and/or cartilage disease origins, but their role in later human development and growth of the axial spine is an unexplored area of developmental biology. Continued gene discovery efforts, aided by next-generation genomic platforms, are a priority for the field and will provide the tools for biological investigations of AIS pathogenesis.
FIR Digital Filters

A finite impulse response (FIR) digital filter, as the name implies, has an impulse response sequence that is of finite duration as opposed to an IIR digital filter, which has an impulse response that is of infinite duration. Therefore, the Z-transform of the impulse response of an FIR digital filter in general can be written as
The Socratic Problem

“Any account must begin with the admission that there is, and always will be, a ‘Socratic problem’,” W. K. C. Guthrie (1969: 6) warned; and having said that, he immediately set out hopefully to find a solution. I welcome the precedent. The ‘Socratic problem’ is a tar baby of questions arising from the fact that Socrates wrote nothing, but appears variously (some would say irreconcilably) as a character in works by an assortment of his contemporaries. Who was the real Socrates? Did Plato represent Socrates accurately? Did Aristophanes? Xenophon? What reasons can be given for privileging any one of these accounts? The theoretical difficulty presents itself that authors, Plato included, are always and necessarily presenting interpretations of the personalities and lives of their characters, whether they mean to or not, whether they write biography or fiction or philosophy (if the philosophy they write has characters). And perhaps that difficulty is magnified when the authors in question lack our modern categories of, or sensibilities about, what constitutes historical accuracy or poetic license. More certainly complicating the issue is the incontrovertible fact-and there are precious few of those-that Plato was some forty years younger than Socrates, so their acquaintance could only have been in Socrates’s later years. Was the life and personality of Socrates so consistent that Plato’s characterization of a man in his fifties and sixties should utterly undo a lampooning account of the younger Socrates? To what extent is Socrates idealized? Do the Socratics, and Plato in particular, feel a mission of apologia as strong as the desire of Aristophanes to ridicule? 1
Observation of the decay ξc0→Ω−K+

Abstract CLEO has observed a signal corresponding to the previously unseen decay ξ c 0 →Ω − K + . The observation of this decay mod points to W-exchange diagrams being an important contributor to the decays of the ξc0.
Toward a Better Understanding of Fan Aggression and Dysfunction: The Moderating Role of Collective Narcissism

Team identification is among the most widely studied concepts in sport fan behavior; however, with few exceptions, scholars have focused on the healthy and stable attachments fans form with their f...
Design of a Modular SPECT Camera with Improved Spatial Resolution near Edges

We are designing a modular SPECT camera for specialized imaging applications. We proposed to use NaI(Tl) as our scintillation crystal whose shape is hexagonal with $\sim$ 100 mm side lengths and > 5 mm thickness. Our target average spatial resolution is $\sim$ 1.5 mm (FWHM) which corresponds to a$\sigma$ (RMSE) of 0.45 mm. We propose putting SiPMs on the edges to help improve the spatial resolution. Our preliminary simulation result shows that with 8 mm crystal thickness, 6 mm light guide, and 37 close-packed photomultiplier tubes (1.0’’ diameter), the root mean squared error (RMSE) across the detector plane is 2.84 mm, due to the very high bias and variance in regions close to the edges; By attaching 4 SiPMs on each edge, the RMSE is improved to 1.34 mm; If the SiPMs’ window material and coupling medium’s refractive index is increased to 1.82, the RMSE is improved to 1.00 mm. We are still optimizing the detector design by tuning the parameters such as thickness of crystal, thickness of light guide, positions of SiPMs on the edges and number of PMTs to achieve the target spatial resolution without a significant trade-off on the detection sensitivity.
Flura-seq identifies organ-specific metabolic adaptations during early metastatic colonization

Metastasis-initiating cells dynamically adapt to the distinct microenvironments of different organs, but these early adaptations are poorly understood due to the limited sensitivity of in situ transcriptomics. We developed fluorouracil-labeled RNA sequencing (Flura-seq) for in situ analysis with high sensitivity. Flura-seq utilizes cytosine deaminase (CD) to convert fluorocytosine to fluorouracil, metabolically labeling nascent RNA in rare cell populations in situ for purification and sequencing. Flura-seq revealed hundreds of unique, dynamic organ-specific gene signatures depending on the microenvironment in mouse xenograft breast cancer micrometastases. Specifically, the mitochondrial electron transport Complex I, oxidative stress and counteracting antioxidant programs were induced in pulmonary micrometastases, compared to mammary tumors or brain micrometastases. We confirmed lung metastasis-specific increase in oxidative stress and upregulation of antioxidants in clinical samples, thus validating Flura-seq's utility in identifying clinically actionable microenvironmental adaptations in early metastasis. The sensitivity, robustness and economy of Flura-seq are broadly applicable beyond cancer research.
Injustice and Redemption: The Education of Latinx Emergent Bilinguals

This chapter introduces the volume by providing foundational knowledge related to bilingual education in the state of Texas with a focus on racial injustice in Mexican American immigrant communities. The chapter also provides a discussion of Latinx students and their academic needs, a Latinx critical race theory framework to consider inequities confronting Latinx children in public schools, and a brief overview of the efficacy of dual language education.
The Human Genome Project Era

This chapter describes the history of modern-day psychiatric genetics, beginning with the linkage studies of the late 1980s, the candidate-gene studies of the 1990s, and the genome-wide association studies that continue to the present day. Despite all the media hype, scientists have not found one gene for mental illness, because no such gene exists. The meaning of the phrase “a gene for” mental illness or any other trait is discussed. This chapter features my visit to the laboratory of Richard Huganir, Director of both the Department of Neuroscience and the Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute at the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions.
A New Aspect of the Li Diffusion Enhancement Mechanism of Ultrathin Coating Layer on Electrode Materials

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) coating on active material particles has been widely considered as an effective and efficient strategy to improve the capacity and cycle life of lithium-ion batteries....
Expanding Acute Stroke Care in Rural America: A Model for Statewide Success

Background: The state of West Virginia (WV) is often seen as a health care desert with a scarcity of hospitals and resources. The prevalence of cerebrovascular disease and associated comorbidities ...
[Determination of zearalenone and α-zearalenol in vegetable oil and grain products by C_(18)-Al_2O_3 solid phase extraction column purification coupled with ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry].

OBJECTIVE To develop a method for simultaneous determination of zearalenone( ZEN) and α-zearalenol( α-ZEL) in vegetable oil and grain products by solid phase extraction column purification coupled with ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. METHODS Firstly, ZEN and α-ZEL in grain products were extracted by hexane/ethyl acetate( 50 : 50, V/V), and then extracted as vegetable oil by acetonitrile-water solution( 90: 10, V/V), and purified by C_(18)-Al_2O_3 solid phase extraction column. ZEN and α-ZEL was separated by UPLC with acetonitrile-water gradient elution on C_(18) column( 2. 1 mm × 100 mm, 1. 6 μm), and qualified/quantified by mass spectrometry with ESI negative MRM mode with ~(13)C_(18)-zearalenone as internal standard. RESULTS The linearity of ZEN and α-ZEL ranged from 1. 0-500 ng/mL. The limit of detection for ZEN and α-ZEL in vegetable oil and grain products was 0. 3 and 0. 2 μg/kg, respectively. The limit of quantification for ZEN and α-ZEL in vegetable oil and grain products was 1. 0 and 0. 5 μg/kg. The average recoveries of ZEN and α-ZEL for spiked samples of 1. 0-100 μg/kg were 93. 5%-108. 0% and 92. 0%-105. 0%. The relative standard deviations of ZEN and α-ZEL were 3. 2%-8. 5% and 4. 6%-7. 8%( n = 6). 55 samples sold in Hangzhou supermarkets were analyzed. ZEN was detected in all corn germ oil with median and maximum contents of 126. 2 and 453. 1 μg/kg. α-ZEL was detected in 50% corn germ oil with median and maximum contents of 2. 0 and 5. 0μg/kg. CONCLUSION The method possesses several advantages including sensitivity, precision, good efficiency of purification, simplicity and economy, and it is applicable to the batch analysis of zearalenone and α-zearalenol in vegetable oil and grain products.
Sexual Double Standards in "Misery Business":How Social Power Aids in Reproducing and Challenging Gender Inequality

On September 7, 2018, the band Paramore announced their decision to stop playing the song “Misery Business” live. After years of scrutiny and self-reflection, Hayley Williams recognized the detrimental role that slutshaming plays in society, and chose to right the wrongs presented in the song. Over the past decade, “Misery Business” has become a staple in the pop punk genre, despite the negative message it portrays: the decision to stop playing it shows a tremendous amount of growth and recognition both by the members of Paramore, and by the rest of society. While it is important to recognize how stigmatizing women for their sexual behavior can be damaging, it is also crucial to look at what is being done to move away from this problem and what created this problem in the first place. While little to no scholarly research exists about the song “Misery Business” itself, there are a multitude scholarly articles on feminism, traditional gender roles, the sexual double standard, slutshaming, and media’s role in perpetuating these ideologies. The point of this paper is not to patronize Williams or other artists for perpetuating the gender double standard, but rather to understand how that mistake affects society and how this discourse can be challenged. Popular media such as the song “Misery Business” are a result of the institutionalized discourse in society that maintains male dominance. This paper argues that slutshaming prominent in the song “Misery Business” reproduces gender inequality through internalized oppression; therefore, the researcher argues that the choice to stop playing the song live has far more societal impact and shows progression toward a single sexual standard for men and women.
Environmental Control Units for Inpatient Care at Veterans Affairs Spinal Cord Injury Centers: Heuristic Evaluation and Design Recommendations

Heuristic evaluation is a valid and widely accepted method for evaluating system usability. Findings from such evaluations provide valuable insight concerning which system elements should be targeted in future design iterations for improved functionality and user experience. This paper details a heuristic evaluation, utilizing Nielsen’s Heuristics and Shneiderman’s Golden Rules of Interface Design, of an inpatient environmental control unit used at the VA Spinal Cord Injuries and Disorders (SCI/D) Centers nationwide. Results identified a number of usability issues inherent to the currently deployed interface at varying levels of severity. Design recommendations for addressing these significant issues in future iterations of this system are provided in an effort to foster independence and enhance quality of life in veterans with spinal cord injuries and disorders.
Resisting a rhetoric of active-passivism: How evangelical women have enacted new modes and meanings of citizenship in response to the election of Donald Trump

Among the most oft-cited statistics from the 2016 presidential election is that 81 percent of self-identified evangelicals voted for Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton. Scholars and pundits maintain...
Recruitment of a multi-site randomized controlled trial of aerobic exercise for older adults with amnestic mild cognitive impairment: The EXERT trial.

Introduction Effective strategies to recruit older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) into nonpharmacological intervention trials are lacking. Methods Recruitment for EXERT, a multisite randomized controlled 18-month trial examining the effects of aerobic exercise on cognitive trajectory in adults with amnestic MCI, involved a diverse portfolio of strategies to enroll 296 participants. Results Recruitment occurred September 2016 through March 2020 and was initially slow. After mass mailings of 490,323 age- and geo-targeted infographic postcards and brochures, recruitment rates increased substantially, peaking at 16 randomizations/month in early 2020. Mass mailings accounted for 52% of randomized participants, whereas 25% were recruited from memory clinic rosters, electronic health records, and national and local registries. Other sources included news broadcasts, public service announcements (PSA), local advertising, and community presentations. Discussion Age- and geo-targeted mass mailing of infographic materials was the most effective approach in recruiting older adults with amnestic MCI into an 18-month exercise trial.