cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Taking back the commons: Motivating factors for the local control of GMOs

Issues of food policy, agricultural policy, and environmental policy all converge in the discussion of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Presently, there is no established consensus as to the safety of GMO foods or the long-term effects that genetically engineered crops might have on human and environmental health. While state initiatives to label GMOs have recently received much media attention, these efforts have been largely defeated by fierce industry opposition. Yet in communities across the country, citizens are working collectively to reframe the issue of GMO policy and resist the corporatization of agriculture by advocating for local land use controls that ban the propagation of genetically modified organisms. Ultimately, these bans are less about GMOs than they are about communities reasserting their authority to build sustainable, local farm and food systems. Through a case-study methodology using structured interviews with key informants and content analysis of archival documents, this study explores the motivating factors that led citizens and farmers to pursue and enact such local ordinances in Mendocino County, California and Jackson County, Oregon. At the outset of the qualitative analysis, it was hypothesized that actors were responding to perceived environmental, social, and economic threats that cross-pollination poses to organic farmers and others that produce non-genetically engineered plants. Analysis of the primary data from interview respondents revealed a number of emergent themes that were triangulated with the content analysis of secondary sources. These themes are supported by the theory and literature concerning civic agriculture and alternative agrifood system movements. The findings of the research indicate that campaign supporters were acting upon strongly held values and beliefs concerning GMOs and corporate agribusiness, as well as
Retarding potential and induction charge detectors in tandem for measuring the charge and mass of nanodroplets

The determination of the mass of a nanoparticle via time-of-flight typically requires a direct measurement of its charge. This can be done with a differential retarding potential analyzer and an induction charge detector operating in tandem. The spectrometer described in this article selects a particle with a specified retarding potential from a beam and directs it to an induction charge detector where both its velocity and charge are measured. The retarding potential, velocity, and charge also yield the particle's mass. The particle is analyzed without the need to collect it, and therefore can be employed in a subsequent experiment. The high charge sensitivity of the induction charge detector and the capability for working at low retarding potentials make the characterization of electrosprayed nanodroplets possible for the first time.
Fabrication of nanoporous membrane and its nonlithographic patterning using Electrospinning and Stamp-thru-mold (ESTM)

The Electrospinning and Stamp-thru-mold (ESTM) technique, an integrated fabrication process which incorporates the versatility of the electrospinning process for nanofiber fabrication with the non-lithographic patterning ability of the stamp-thru-mold process is introduced. In-situ multilayer stacking of orthogonally aligned nanofibers, ultimately resulting in a nanoporous membrane, has been demonstrated using orthogonally placed collector electrode pairs and an alternating bias scheme. The pore size of the nanoporous membrane can be controlled by the number of layers and the deposition time of each layer. Nonlithographic patterning of the fabricated nanoporous membrane is then performed by mechanical shearing using a pair of pre-fabricated micromolds. This patterning process is contamination free compared to other photo lithographical patterning approaches. The ability to pattern on different substrates has been tested with and without oxygen plasma surface treatment. In vitro tests of ESTM poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) nanofibers verify the biocompatibility of this process. Simulation by the COMSOL Multiphysics tool has been conducted for the analysis of electrospun nanofiber alignment.
Characterization of stress-voiding of Cu / Low-k vias attached to narrow lines

We show that the mechanism of stress voiding in Cu/low-k vias is independent of width in the range 0.07 - 0.42 squarem. The resistance change associated with voiding shows saturation with stress time, implying that stress voiding is not a fundamental concern for continued feature size scaling. Stress voiding at narrow w is very sensitive to interconnect processing, and can give unexpected, large resistance increases with annealing.
Being a Minority: Experiences of Male Students Enrolled in an Apparel Program

The purpose of this research was to understand male college students’ experiences in a traditionally female academic major, such as apparel. Based on the analyses and interpretation of interviews with 22 male students from an apparel program, two topical areas emerged: (a) attitudes of toward male apparel students; and (b) experiences of male students in an apparel program. The first topical area describes what male apparel students encounter when they inform parents, friends, and people around them about their academic major. The second topical area portrays male student experiences in a major with an overwhelming majority of peers being women. The study contributes to the literature on men in non-traditional occupations. Such understanding is a precursor for minimizing gender-stereotypic career boundaries. Implications and recommendations for apparel program instructors, advisors, administrators, and career counselors are presented.
Maternal depression as a risk factor for children's inadequate housing conditions

Depression among mothers with young children is an important public health issue that not only has implications for their own well-being, but can also potentially affect their children's health and developmental trajectories. This study explored the extent to which maternal depression is a risk factor for inadequate housing conditions related to utilities, a noteworthy risk factor for poor child health. Using data on 2965 mothers and children from a national urban cohort of U.S. births in 1998-2000, we estimated multivariate logistic regression models of associations between maternal depression during the postpartum year and a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) measure of severely inadequate housing due to heating issues, as well as a broader measure of energy insecurity that encompasses various types of utility problems. We also considered outcomes that incorporated housing instability and food insecurity in conjunction with housing inadequacy. Mothers who experienced depression had about 60% higher odds of experiencing severely inadequate housing due to heat (OR: 1.57) and 70% higher odds of experiencing energy insecurity (OR: 1.69) compared to mothers who did not experience depression. Maternal depression was even more strongly associated with multiple hardships in the forms of housing inadequacy plus housing instability and/or food insecurity than it was with housing inadequacy. This study provides robust evidence that maternal depression is a risk factor for inadequate housing and multiple hardships during a critical period of children's development. The findings suggest that policy efforts should not occur in mental health, housing, and food security silos.
Prediction of Diatomite Filter Cake Resistance

Improved diatomite filtration equations for flat and cylindrical septa were recently developed and can be used to predict filter performance. However, the use hinges on knowledge of empirical filter cake resistance indices. Over 200 actual pilot and plant-scale filter runs have been analyzed to test the validity of the equations and to develop typical prediction equations for filter cake resistance. The results indicate that the filtration equations give excellent results in describing the head loss-time relationship during a filter run with either flat or cylindrical septa. A prediction equation for filter cake resistance index is presented. It is adequate to predict the filter cake resistance for various raw waters. For most waters, the index can be correlated to the ratio C S /C D (suspended solids concentration over body feed concentration). For some waters, however, the correlation is improved If C S and C D are treated as Independent variables. The filtration equations and the filter cake resistance prediction equations have been used to optimize filtration plant design.
Curriculum Reform as Adaptive Leadership Challenge

The adaptive leadership framework developed by Ronald Heifetz, Alexander Grashow, and Marty Linsky provides a valuable strategy for curricular change.Prior to engaging in a change process, it is im...
Radiation Therapy Noncompliance and Clinical Outcomes in an Urban Academic Cancer Center

Purpose To examine associations between radiation therapy (RT) noncompliance and clinical outcomes. Methods and Materials We reviewed all patients who completed courses of external beam RT with curative intent in our department from the years 2007 to 2012 for cancers of the head and neck, breast, lung, cervix, uterus, or rectum. Patients who missed 2 or more scheduled RT appointments (excluding planned treatment breaks) were deemed noncompliant. Univariate, multivariable, and propensity-matched analyses were performed to examine associations between RT noncompliance and clinical outcomes. Results Of 1227 patients, 266 (21.7%) were noncompliant. With median follow-up of 50.9 months, 108 recurrences (8.8%) and 228 deaths (18.6%) occurred. In univariate analyses, RT noncompliance was associated with increased recurrence risk (5-year cumulative incidence 16% vs 7%, P P P Conclusion For cancer patients being treated with curative intent, RT noncompliance is associated with inferior clinical outcomes. The magnitudes of these effects demonstrate that RT noncompliance can serve as a behavioral biomarker to identify high-risk patients who require additional interventions. Treatment compliance may mediate the associations that have been observed linking SES and clinical outcomes.
The Precarious Situation of Human Rights in the United States in Normal Times and after September 11, 2001 (La Situación Precaria de los Derechos Humanos en Estados Unidos en Tiempos Normales y Después del 11 De Septiembre de 2001) (Spanish)

The paper criticizes the impact of U. S. American criminal law and procedure on the human rights of U. S. citizens in normal times and the changes that have occurred since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. It deals with racial profiling, the death penalty, Draconian prison sentences in normal times, and the use of unlimited detention, torture and expanded powers of wiretapping and evidence gathering since the attacks of S-11.
Comparative economic analysis of drip irrigation vis-a-vis flood irrigation system on productivity of Bt. cotton in Haryana

The present study was conducted to assess the response of drip method of irrigation (DMI) over flood method of irrigation (FMI) on productivity of Bt. cotton in Sirsa district of Haryana in year 2013. Forty farmers were selected on random basis from villages namely Jodhpuria, Kharia, Panniwala mota and Gigorani. The study revealed that DMI system not only reduces cost of cultivation (25 %) but also increases the productivity (27.2 %) over FMI of cotton crop. Water and electricity saving are the significant advantages of DMI farmer were able to save 2.95 H.P hours of water per hectare, which was about 33 percent saving over FMI. The major constraints faced by the producers in the production of Bt. cotton were non-availability of good quality seeds in time, lack of technical know-how, high fixed capital and imbalanced use of fertilizers. In marketing of cotton the major problem reported was under-pricing of produce, lack of storage facilities, high transportation cost and lack of credit facilities. Some of factors which inhibiting the adoption rate of micro irrigation system are subsidy is not easily available for farmers, labour-intensive operation, free electricity and low price of canal water, low quality drip material and after sale service is not satisfactory, fear about system clogging, least suitability for marginal and small farmers were observed. Therefore, it is need of hours that cotton cultivation by DMI should be promoted through appropriate policy interventions that not only helps in saving scare natural resources but also increase area and productivity of the cotton in the state.
Further exploration of Galactic disk abundance gradients

We examine the abundance gradient in the Milky Way disk via homogeneously determined data for 124 Galactic planetary nebulae (PNe). We present recent results from a detailed regression analysis of the O gradient. With O, Ne, S, Cl, and Ar available and a range of galactocentric distance ( R g ) from 0.9 to 21 kpc, we present additional exploration of the disk radial gradient by statistically analyzing a series of short segments of increasing average R g .
Unraveling the Biomolecular Snapshots of Mitosis in Healthy and Cancer Cells Using Plasmonically-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

Owing to the dynamic and complex nature of mitosis, precise and timely executions of biomolecular events are critical for high fidelity cell division. In this context, visualization of such complex events at the molecular level can provide vital information on the biomolecular processes in abnormal cells. Here, we explored the plasmonically enhanced light scattering properties of functionalized gold nanocubes (AuNCs) together with surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) to unravel the complex and dynamic biological processes involved in mitosis of healthy and cancerous cells from its molecular perspectives. By monitoring various stages of mitosis using SERS, we noticed that relatively high rate of conversion of mitotic proteins from their α-helix structure to β-sheet conformation is likely in the cancer cells during meta-, ana-, and telophases. Unique biochemical modifications to the lipid and amino acid moieties, associated with the observed protein conformational modifications, were also identified. However, in healthy cells, the existence of proteins in their β conformation was momentary and was largely in the α-helix form. The role of abnormal conformational modifications of mitotic proteins on the development of anomalous mitotic activities was further confirmed by looking at plasmonic nanoparticle-induced cytokinesis failure in cancer cells. Our findings illustrate the vast possibilities of SERS in real-time tracking of complex, subtle, and momentary modifications of biomolecules in live cells, which could provide new insights to the role of protein conformation dynamics during mitosis on the development of cancer and many other diseases.
Population Dynamics of the Bat Pipistrellus Subflavus

Populations of pipistrels hibernating in two West Virginia caves were studied over a 14-year period. Methods are developed for determining the percentages of surviving bats not recaptured in the caves, the annual survival percentages, survival rates for each sex and age group and the structure of the populations by age and sex. Sex ratios observed in the caves, which fluctuate between 69.5% and 85.1% males, do not show the sex ratio of the species; analysis of survival rates indicates that the true sex ratio is 61♂: 39♀. Life tables are presented for the species and for random cohorts of adults. Annual survival rates are different for each age group. Survival is low in youngest bats, climbs to a peak at 3.5 years and then decreases, falling rapidly as maximum life span is approached.
Apparel Sustainability from a Local Perspective

This research takes a bottoms-up approach to sustainable practices of designers within one industry in a specific locale. In researching sustainability in the apparel industry, one must consider the fashion system in which apparel designers operate. This research examines apparel designers in Minnesota and their perspectives about best practices that will encourage sustainability. Designers from a variety of small to large size businesses are interviewed and the results are analyzed to identify present and future contributions with regards to sustainability in apparel design. Processes that take into account the local context of sustainability enable a shared understanding with potential for mutually acceptable approaches to address the issues.
Medical system requirement of a large naval ship

Objective Medical system requirements of a large naval ship are presented in this paper to provide reference for ship design and construction.Methods The relations between health service missions of a large naval ship and naval strategic needs were analyzed.According to the naval strategies in the new era,the health service mission of the ship was given.Results The medical system configuration scheme and ship design requirement related to the medical system were proposed.Conclusion The medical system design requirements and configuraion scheme can effectively improve the patient-treating capability in defensive combat on high seas and in diverse missions.They are also of great significance for maintaining troop strength and promoting a country's ability to provide humanitarian aid.
Case Studies of Patients with Glioblastoma Multiforme Treated with Boron Neutron Capture Therapy at the Brookhaven Medical Research Reactor

Over the past decade, research at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) and other places in the world has led to several significant advances in boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) technology. These include the development of epithermal neutron beams1 as well as more tumor-specific boron compounds.2 In 1994, a Phase I/II clinical trial of BNCT using intravenous p-boronophenylalanine-fructose (BPA-F) and epithermal neutrons was initiated to determine both the safety and possible efficacy of BNCT for glioblastoma multiforme.3 As with any new therapy, a practical clinical experience with BNCT has been gained over time. Specific management issues seen in this trial have involved the use of steroid medication, early neurological deficits, seizure management, and BNCT-related necrosis.
Use, Abuse, and Disuse of Transitional Justice Norms in the Wake of the Arab Spring

Provides an overview of how transitional justice has been used in the five years since the start of the so-called Arab Spring.
On the Development of a Finite Element Program for Microcomputers

In this paper the authors highlignt the hardware and software considerations which are crucial in the development of a reliable and meaninyful finite element proyram operational on a microcomputer. The three guiding considerations in this development are user-friendliness, efficient memory utilization and speed of computation and perhaps in that order. These considerations formed the basis of a microcomputer based finite element program developed by the authors and known by the acronym SNAP/FE.
Melanoma of the external ear: A population-based study

Abstract Background Primary melanoma of the external ear (PMEE) is rare and therefore well-suited for large population-based registry analysis. The objective of this study was to utilize the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) set of cancer registries to determine the incidence, treatment, and survival characteristics of PMEE. Methods A retrospective cohort analysis of SEER data from 2004 to 2013 identified all cases of PMEE stage I-IV by AJCC 7th edition guidelines. Population-based incidence was calculated. Cancer-specific survival data by stage was assessed using Kaplan-Meier analysis and the relative effects of tumor characteristics were analyzed with Cox regression models. Results A total of 5481 patients were analyzed (mean age 66.7 years, 86.5% male, 93.6% non-Hispanic white). The incidence of PMEE was 1.91 per 100,000 persons-per-year. At diagnosis, 68.1% were stage I, 15.2% were stage II, 4.7% were stage III, 1.5% were stage IV, and 10.8% were unknown. The five-year overall and cancer-specific survival was 78.8% and 90.0%, and, according to AJCC stage, was 85.7% and 95.3% for stage I ( n = 2287), 64.6% and 81.1% for stage II ( n = 453), 50.8% and 57.0% for stage III ( n = 154), 17.2% and 20.5% for stage IV ( n = 34), and 71.0% and 87.1% for unknown stage ( n = 330), respectively. The multivariable Cox model identified tumor characteristics that were independently associated with survival. Conclusions This is the first study to characterize the epidemiology, presentation and outcome of PMEE using the SEER registries. Older age, increasing Breslow thickness, stage, presence of ulceration, positive lymph nodes and distant metastasis each independently predicted time to cancer-specific death.
Ras Proteolipid Nanoassemblies on the Plasma Membrane Sort Lipids With High Selectivity

Abstract Signal transduction on cell plasma membrane (PM) is highly compartmentalized and is largely driven by spatial segregation of lipids. An excellent example of such intricate protein–lipid nanoassembly is Ras proteins. Posttranslationally modified with lipid anchors, Ras proteins localize to the PM and form nanometer-sized domains on the PM. These nanodomains, termed as nanoclusters, serve as sites for effector binding and are thus essential to signal transduction. Ras nanoclusters contain a highly selective set of PM lipids, which serve as key structural components of Ras signaling platforms. Quantitative imaging techniques, including super-resolution electron microscopy-spatial mapping and fluorescence lifetime imaging, reveal the crucial roles of PM lipids in determining and regulating Ras functions.
SUCCESS OF A HOME-BASED CARDIAC REHABILITATION PROGRAM IN A POPULATION OF NEARLY 4 MILLION

Background: Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC) is a large HMO with nearly 4 million members of diverse ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds in rural, suburban, and urban environments. Since the early 1990s, KPNC has had a home-based cardiac rehab program implemented by nurses with
Letter by Freeman Regarding Article, “Baseline Blood Pressure Effect on the Benefit and Safety of Intra-Arterial Treatment in MR CLEAN (Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial of Endovascular Treatment of Acute Ischemic Stroke in the Netherlands)”

I read with great interest the article by Mulder et al1 on the blood pressure effect on MR CLEAN outcomes in acute stroke. The authors report a U-shaped mortality with systolic blood pressure (SBP), with an optimal SBP, or the bottom of the U being about 120 mm Hg. Either end of the U was associated with worse outcomes. The first question I ask is did the authors analyze whether …
Neighborhood Predictors of Intimate Partner Violence: A Theory-Informed Analysis Using Hierarchical Linear Modeling

Due to high prevalence rates and deleterious effects on individuals, families, and communities, intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant public health problem. Because IPV occurs in the context of communities and neighborhoods, research must examine the broader environment in addition to individual-level factors to successfully facilitate behavior change. Drawing from the Social Determinants of Health framework and Social Disorganization Theory, neighborhood predictors of IPV were tested using hierarchical linear modeling. Results indicated that concentrated disadvantage and female-to-male partner violence were robust predictors of women's IPV victimization. Implications for theory, practice, and policy, and future research are discussed.
China’s Uniform Provisions of Evidence of the People's Court and the Convergence of Civil Law and Common Law

With recent judicial reforms in both civil and common law jurisdictions, the distinctions between the two systems are lessening. As these reforms continue, the civil law/common law categories are loosing meaning and, except as an historical construct, may become irrelevant. One hallmark of the civil law system has been the judge who frames issues and calls and questions witnesses. Other civil law characteristics include a reliance upon written evidence, minimal use of precedent, and an indistinct trial process. Conversely, common law systems grant attorneys great control over the trial process, have complex codes controlling the introduction of evidence, rely heavily upon precedent, and have a distinct trial process. Now in many civil law countries, attorneys are taking a lead role in calling and questioning witnesses. At the same time, common law judges are becoming more active in framing issues and controlling the litigation process. China, a traditionally civil law country, is in the process of developing and adopting rules of evidence that are partially inspired by the evidence rules in place in the United States, a common law country. In developing and implementing the Uniform Provisions of Evidence, China’s reform effort mirrors the merger in civil law and common law countries that is taking place in so many other countries. This article focuses on the historical distinctions between civil and common law countries, the merger that is taking place between the two systems, and China’s Draft Uniform Provisions of Evidence as an example of this harmonization of the civil and common law systems.
The MrgA Multimeric Complex: a self-assembled nanostructure for inorganic synthesis

Utilization of protein cages in biomimetic chemistry allows for the deposition of inorganic materials within an organic construct, controlling the size and amount of material deposited within a constrained reaction environment. Previously, protein cages such as viral capsids and ferritins have been used in the constrained synthesis of inorganic materials. The MrgA protein displays a high sequence homology to both bacterial DNA-protecting proteins (Dps) found in many bacterial genera and Ferritin-like proteins (Flp), which have been shown to functionally sequester and store iron in a biologically available form. Here we demonstrate recombinant production, purification and characterization of the MrgA protein and provide evidence that this protein self-assembles to form a multimeric complex. This complex demonstrates characteristics similar to that of ferritin-like proteins such as resistance to iron toxicity, iron incorporation, and resistance to thermal and chemical denaturation. The ability to deposit iron within the putative internal cavity of this protein cage will allow the MrgA complex to be utilized as a spatially constrained reaction vessel for nanomaterial synthesis of other inorganic materials. From a materials science perspective, it will be interesting to see if these organic/inorganic hybrid materials can be harnessed for catalysis, nanomagnetics, and other applications.
Oxidation of stainless steel 316 and Nitronic 50 in supercritical and ultrasupercritical water

Abstract Corrosion of stainless steel 316 and Nitronic 50 exposed to supercritical and ultrasupercritical water was studied as a function of temperature and exposure time. Post-exposure surface analysis was performed using Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies to determine the chemistry of the oxides formed as a result of the exposure. When exposed to supercritical water, Nitronic 50 and stainless steel 316 were observed to have similar weight gains; however, stainless steel 316 was found to gain less weight than Nitronic 50 in exposure tests performed in ultrasupercritical water. Stainless steel 316 developed surface films primarily composed of iron oxides, while the surface of Nitronic 50 contained a mixture of iron, chromium and manganese oxides. Based on these analyses, the differences in weight gain and oxidation characteristics of the two materials are attributed to the higher concentration of Cr and Mn in Nitronic 50 compared to stainless steel 316.
Clinical predictors of antitachycardia pacing response in implantable cardioverter defibrillator patients.

BACKGROUND Antitachycardia pacing (ATP) provides safe and painless termination of reentrant ventricular arrhythmias in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICDs), improving their quality of life. Established predictors of ATP responsiveness are not well known; only longer ventricular tachycardia (VT) cycle length and higher ejection fraction have been found to predict ATP success. OBJECTIVE To investigate clinical and ECG predictors of ATP response in ICD patients with monomorphic VT. METHODS The ICD clinic database was searched for monomorphic VT events requiring ICD therapy in patients with ischemic or non-ischemic cardiomyopathy. Each patient's first ICD encounter for VT was assessed. Patient demographics, clinical characteristics, VT rate, and ATP responsiveness (always, sometimes, and never successful) were recorded. An ECG was analyzed for QRS morphology and duration. Data was assessed for predictors of ATP responsiveness. RESULTS In 527 patients, characteristics associated with always successful ATP included ACE-I/ARB therapy and slower VT rate (never successful ATP 197 ± 28 bpm, sometimes successful ATP 190 ± 27 bpm, always successful ATP 183 ± 22 bpm, P < .0001). Secondary prevention indication, amiodarone therapy, and longer QRS duration were associated with ATP failure. After multivariate analysis, only faster VT rate and amiodarone therapy were predictive of ATP failure. CONCLUSIONS Neither QRS morphology nor duration was predictive of ATP success. Slower VT rate was predictive of repeated ATP responsiveness. Amiodarone therapy, which is known to increase VT cycle length, interestingly was associated with ATP failure for unclear reasons. More individualized and possibly more aggressive ATP programming may be warranted in patients on amiodarone.
High-Throughput Communications Modulated Over Radar Transmit Waveforms

We propose a flexible methodology for the design of dual-use waveform alphabets which are suitable for simultaneous use in radar and wireless communications. Suitability for radar is enforced by one or more freely-specifiable waveform constraints. The resulting alphabets are shown to have a structure amenable to use with existing capacity-approaching coding techniques, enabling a high-throughput communications channel encoded in a waveform-diverse radar pulse train. At moderately high SNRs (5 to 16 dB) we demonstrate simulated throughputs double the closest competitor technique, using waveforms whose average radar pulse compression sidelobes are comparable to an LFM, and radar pulse-compression filter loss of −1 dB.
Parental Perceptions of Mental Health Disorders, and the Effect on Their Children

Could parental perceptions of mental health disorders affect the mental health of their own children? There has been research on the importance of a strong parent-child relationship for child development, but very little has been done to identify other possible factors. The current literature identifies parent child arguments, parent mental health disorders, and parent-child closeness as factors in poor child mental health. This paper will focus on the childrenâ€™s awareness of their parentsâ€™ perception of people with mental health disorders. This was done by conducting an online survey over a series of weeks. The results show a correlation between a parentâ€™s poor attitudes towards mental health, and the poor mental health of their own children.
Machine learning methods for robust parameter estimation

Abstract After having explored how to build efficient models of cardiac physiology, this chapter introduces methods to estimate their parameters such that the simulated cardiac function matches clinical observations. This step, called model personalization, is traditionally performed using inverse problem techniques like optimization or variational approaches. A cost function, which measures the misfit between simulation and measurements, is minimized. In this chapter, we explore how machine learning concepts can be used to solve the inverse problem. A first approach consists in learning a regression model that maps clinical measurements to model parameters directly. The method is illustrated for the case of cardiac electrophysiology. A second approach builds upon reinforcement learning techniques to learn the optimization process, leading to a potentially more efficient (i.e. less number of iterations) and more robust (i.e. less prone to local minima) algorithm than black box optimization methods.
Developing the DELTA: Capturing Cultural Changes in Undergraduate Departments.

Understanding departmental culture is important for sustained change, so the Departmental Education and Leadership Transformation Assessment (DELTA) survey was developed to characterize departmenta...
Prevalence and Possible Predictors of Drug-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa in External Ocular Infections: A Single-Center, Retrospective, Cross-Sectional Study.

Objective Ocular infections due to multi-drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MDRP) have been reported in recent years. This study was undertaken to determine the culture-positivity rate of P. aeruginosa and drug resistance among patients with suspected external ocular infections and to predict systemic risk factors for drug resistance in P. aeruginosa. Methods This retrospective, single-center, cross-sectional study involved 781 consecutive patients who provided samples for aerobic culture to test for a suspected external ocular infection. DRP was defined as a strain resistant to one or two of three antibiotics, levofloxacin, gentamicin, and imipenem; MDRP was defined as that which was resistant to all three. Results Among 108 patients in whom gram-negative bacilli were observed, P. aeruginosa was isolated from nine patients, including three DRP-positive cases; no MDRP was isolated. P. aeruginosa was not isolated from those <69 years of age. Among patients in whom gram-negative bacilli were detected, the isolation rate of P. aeruginosa was 0 for patients aged ≤64 and 0.1 for those aged ≥65, indicating a significant difference. For patients with gram-negative bacilli, the DRP-positivity rate was significantly higher for hospitalized patients than outpatients. Thus, in addition to being geriatric, being hospitalized was a risk factor for DRP infection among patients with gram-negative bacilli. All the P. aeruginosa strains isolated were susceptible to colistin. Conclusions Our findings may suggest that once gram-negative bacilli are isolated in an elderly hospitalized patient, possible DRP infection and the topical use of colistin should be taken into consideration even before the results of culture and susceptibility testing are obtained.
Antiviral Drug Discovery To Address the COVID-19 Pandemic

The magnitude of the morbidity and mortality inflicted upon the global population in less than 1 year has driven the inescapable conclusion that the discovery and development of effective antiviral drugs for COVID-19 are urgent and should be prioritized. The antiviral drug discovery programs that emerged for HIV and hepatitis C virus have enabled technology and expertise to accelerate this process for SARS-CoV-2. The description of candidate lead inhibitors for the viral main protease (Mpro) exemplifies this accelerated approach and reminds us of the needs and opportunities for addressing this pandemic.
Defining the First Part of the Oncogenic KRAS Journey

Discovered as a proto-oncogene 40 years ago, mutations in KRAS exist in ∼30% of all human cancers. In this issue of Cell Stem Cell, Dost et al. (2020) combine the power of analyzing organoid cultures, patient samples, and mouse models with scRNA-seq to elucidate early events occurring with oncogenic KRAS activation.
Ethnicity and Entrepreneurship in America: Toward an Explanation of Racial and Ethnic Group Variations in Self-Employment

Using data from the 1983–1987 General Social Surveys, this paper investigates the degree to which being self-employed is more prevalent within certain racial and ethnic groups than others. Those of...
Magnetic Resonance Features of a Recent Catheter Ablation of Left Posterior Fascicular Ventricular Tachycardia

A 71-year-old male patient with a past medical history of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and chronic kidney disease stage II presented with a complaint of intermittent palpitations for three months and was found to have wide complex tachycardia on the electrocardiogram (ECG). The patient was given adenosine and amiodarone, following which he underwent synchronized cardioversion at 150 Joules followed by 200 Joules without successful conversion. He was subsequently initiated on lidocaine drip at the rate of 1 to 4 mg/minute to maintain adequate rhythm control, which converted him to sinus rhythm and relieved his symptoms. An eventual assessment with an electrophysiology study identified the presence of incessant left ventricular tachycardia (VT). The mechanism was confirmed to be left posterior fascicular ventricular tachycardia (LPF-VT). Successful mapping and ablation for the LPF-VT were achieved. Post-procedure cardiac MRI showed two small areas of near-transmural delayed enhancement. These areas are associated with nulled areas in the inferolateral wall at the left posterior His-Purkinje fascicle. This case highlights fascicular VT as a separate clinical entity, with its characteristic ECG features and acute MRI features after ablation.
Stresses at Tunnel Intersections

The experimental program described herein was conducted to determine the stress distributions associated with three common types of cylindrical tunnel intersections (tee, cross, and right angle) when they are located in a uniform, uniaxial, stress field. The stresses were determined by using conventional three-dimensional photoelasticity methods. The results of the study indicate that the maximum tensile stresses (circumferential and axial) in the region of the intersections are equal to or slightly less than those that exist in the tunnel away from the intersection. The maximum compressive stresses at the corner of the intersection are approximately 60% greater than the compressive stresses in the tunnel away from the intersection. The high stress region is localized, however, and the maximum circumferential compression decays to the tunnel value within a distance of one diameter of the intersection. The maximum compressive stress on the wall of the tunnel opposite the corner (tee and right angle intersections) is not significantly influenced by the presence of the intersection.
CICS, IMS And Others Go Web Via Business Objects

CICS and IMS applications can be accessed by WWW using business objects that are generated from CICS or IMS applications. An application programmer builds business objects and fills them with data via a tool that encapsulates transactions. The business objects’ attributes can be connected to a user interface running on the same computer or to a HTML page that allows to access the business objects and thus the data from the underlying transaction system.
Soil Profile Modification for Increasing Crop Production

Burnett (1969) stated that any tillage operation which alters any part of the soil profile can be considered as a form of soil profile modification. However, profile modification generally means some form of tillage, with or without chemical or physical amendments, to depths greater than ordinary plowing (Unger, 1979). In this review, our discussion will be restricted to profile modification to depths of 0.25 m or more. Some examples are plowing, subsoiling, vertical mulching, completely disrupting and mixing the profile, trenching, and installation of subsurface barriers.
Generalized Watson transforms I: General theory

This paper introduces two main concepts, called a generalized Watson transform and a generalized skewWatson transform, which extend the notion of a Watson transform from its classical setting in one variable to higher dimensional and noncommutative situations. Several construction theorems are proved which provide necessary and sufficient conditions for an operator on a Hilbert space to be a generalized Watson transform or a generalized skew-Watson transform. Later papers in this series will treat applications of the theory to infinite-dimensional representation theory and integral operators on higher dimensional spaces.
Antiproliferative and cytotoxic effects of geldanamycin, cytochalasin E, suramin and thiacetazone in human prostate xenograft tumor histocultures.

Purpose. We have shown that the three human prostate xenograft tumors, i.e. the androgen-dependent CWR22 tumor, and the androgen-resistant CWR22R and CWR91 tumors, are comparable to patient tumors in their expression of prostate specific antigen, multidrug resistance p-glycoprotein, p53 and Bcl-2 and in their sensitivity to doxorubicin and paclitaxel. The present study used histocultures of these xenograft tumors to evaluate the antiproliferative and cytotoxic effects of several drugs (geldanamycin, cytochalasin E and thiacetazone), which have diverse action mechanisms and have shown activity against primary cultures of human prostate cancer cells. Suramin, a clinically active compound was included for comparison.
Epigenetic changes during cell transformation.

Malignant cancer emerges from normal healthy cells in a multistep ­process that involves both genetic and epigenetic lesions. Both genetic and environmental inputs participate in driving the epigenetic changes that occur during human carcinogenesis. The pathologic changes seen in DNA methylation and histone posttranslational modifications are complex, deeply intertwined, and act in concert to produce malignant transformation. To better understand the causes and consequences of the pathoepigenetic changes in cancer formation, a variety of experimentally tractable human cell line model systems that accurately reflect the molecular alterations seen in the clinical disease have been developed. Results from studies using these cell line model systems suggest that early critical epigenetic events occur in a stepwise fashion prior to cell immortalization. These epigenetic steps coincide with the cell’s transition through well-defined cell proliferation barriers of stasis and telomere dysfunction. Following cell immortalization, stressors, such as environmental toxicants, can induce malignant transformation in a process in which the epigenetic changes occur in a smoother progressive fashion, in contrast to the stark stepwise epigenetic changes seen prior to cell immortalization. It is hoped that developing a clearer understanding of the identity, timing, and consequences of these epigenetic lesions will prove useful in future clinical applications that range from early disease detection to therapeutic intervention in malignant cancer.
Decoding binary expansions of low-rate Reed-Solomon codes far beyond the BCH bound

Binary expansions of low-rate Reed-Solomon codes typically are capable of correcting far more binary errors than guaranteed by the BCH bound on the Reed-Solomon code. Practical decoding algorithms that often correct beyond the true minimum distances of the binary codes are described.
Comparison of age distributions estimated from environmental tracers by using binary-dilution and numerical models of fractured and folded karst: Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and West Virginia, USA

Measured concentrations of environmental tracers in spring discharge from a karst aquifer in the Shenandoah Valley, USA, were used to refine a numerical groundwater flow model. The karst aquifer is folded and faulted carbonate bedrock dominated by diffuse flow along fractures. The numerical model represented bedrock structure and discrete features (fault zones and springs). Concentrations of 3H, 3He, 4He, and CFC-113 in spring discharge were interpreted as binary dilutions of young (0–8 years) water and old (tracer-free) water. Simulated mixtures of groundwater are derived from young water flowing along shallow paths, with the addition of old water flowing along deeper paths through the model domain that discharge to springs along fault zones. The simulated median age of young water discharged from springs (5.7 years) is slightly older than the median age estimated from 3H/3He data (4.4 years). The numerical model predicted a fraction of old water in spring discharge (0.07) that was half that determined by the binary-dilution model using the 3H/3He apparent age and 3H and CFC-113 data (0.14). This difference suggests that faults and lineaments are more numerous or extensive than those mapped and included in the numerical model.
Multicrossvalidation and the Jackknife in the Estimation of Shrinkage of the Multiple Coefficient of Correlation

The jackknife, multicrossvalidation, and analytical formulae methods are discussed and compared with respect to the estimation of shrinkage of the multiple coefficient of correlation. The validation and comparison of the techniques are based on estimates generated from a random data set and a prestructured data set. Multicrossvalidation is demonstrated to be a preferable technique to the jackknife and analytical formulae methods.
Implementing inequality and nondeterministic specifications with bi-rewriting systems

Rewriting with non-symmetric relations can be considered as a computational model of many specification languages based on non-symmetric relations. For instance, Logics of Inequalities, Ordered Algebras, Rewriting Logic, Order-Sorted Algebras, Subset Logic, Unified Algebras, taxonomies, subtypes, Refinement Calculus, all them use some kind of non-symmetric relation on expressions. We have developed an operational semantics for these inequality specifications named bi-rewriting systems. In this paper we show the applicability of bi-rewriting systems to Unified Algebras and nondeterministic specifications. In the first case, we give a canonical bi-rewriting system implementing the basic theory of these algebras. In the second case, nondeterministic specifications are viewed as inclusion specifications, thus bi-rewriting is a sound, although not always complete deduction method. We show how a specification has to be completed in order to have both soundness and completeness.
Distributed Microstructure Models of Porous Media

Laminar flow through fissured or otherwise highly inhomogeneous media leads to very singular initial-boundary-value problems for equations with rapidly oscillating coefficients. The limiting case (by homogenization) is a continuous distribution of model cells which represent a valid approximation of the finite (singular) case, and we survey some recent results on the theory of such systems. This is developed as an application of continuous direct sums of Banach spaces which arise rather naturally as the energy or state spaces for the corresponding (stationary) variational or (temporal) dynamic problems. We discuss the basic models for a totally fissured medium, the extension to include secondary flux in partially fissured media, and the classical model systems which are realized as limiting cases of the microstructure models.
Measures of five aspects of affective well-being at work

Validation evidence is provided for scales that measure five aspects of affective well-being in relation to the work context: anxiety-comfort, depression-pleasure, bored-enthusiastic, tiredness-vigour and angry-placid. Confirmatory factor analysis is used to test four alternative structures for the items in the scales in two samples (n = 871, n = 1915). Analyses in both samples support one structure. The final scales have acceptable internal reliability. The unique explanatory power of each scale is suggested by partial correlations with theoretically related variables. Confirmatory factor analysis indicates that the five factor solution has a better fit with the data than other first order solutions with fewer factors. Second order factor analysis shows that two superordinate factors, corresponding to negative and positive affect, can account for the relationships amongst the five first order factors.