cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Short-sighted stochastic shortest path problems

Algorithms to solve probabilistic planning problems can be classified in probabilistic planners and replanners. Probabilistic planners invest significant computational effort to generate a closed policy, i.e., a mapping function from every state to an action, and these solutions never "fail" if the problem correctly models the environment. Alternatively, replanners computes a partial policy, i.e., a mapping function from a set of the state space to an action, and when and if such policy fails during execution in the environment, the replanner is re-invoked to plan again from the failed state. In this paper, we introduce a special case of Stochastic Shortest Path Problems (SSPs), the short-sighted SSPs, in which every state has positive probability of being reached using at most t actions. We introduce the novel algorithm Short-Sighted Probabilistic Planner (SSiPP) that solves SSPs through short-sighted SSPs and guarantees that at least t actions can be executed without replanning. Therefore, by varying t, SSiPP can behave as either a probabilistic planner by computing closed policies, or a replanner by computing partial policies. Moreover, we prove that SSiPP isasymptotically optimal, making SSiPP the only planner that, at the same time, guarantees optimality and offers a bound in the minimum number of actions executed without replanning. We empirically compare SSiPP with the winners of the previous probabilistic planning competitions and, in 81.7% of the problems, SSiPP performs at least as good as the best competitor.
Robust transmit precoding for underlay MIMO cognitive radio with interference leakage rate limit

This paper addresses the problem of optimizing the information rate of a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) secondary user (SU) in an underlay cognitive radio (CR) network when channel state information (CSI) from the SU to the primary user (PU) is inaccurate. Rather than applying the commonly used interference temperature metric, the proposed SU transmit precoder limits the interference leakage rate (LR) to maintain the quality of service (QoS) for the PU. We model the uncertainty in CSI as deterministic with the Schatten norm and apply the worst-case principle to derive a robust solution. Two solution methods are proposed to address the design with the LR metric. The first simplifies the LR metric that is valid under the low interference-to-noise ratio (INR) condition and the second uses an iterative linearization technique. We demonstrate the performance of the proposed solutions by numerical simulations.
Exercise and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Military Veterans: A Systematic Review.

ABSTRACTPost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a prominent mental health issue for many military veterans. Recent evidence from nonveteran populations with PTSD suggests that exercise may be a potential treatment option. As such, the purpose of this review was to (1) provide the rationale for the use of exercise in the treatment of veterans with PTSD and (2) systematically review studies examining the relationship between exercise and PTSD in military veterans. A search of electronic databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science) for relevant studies published in print or online from January 1980 to September 2015 produced 204 unique articles and 13 relevant studies (9 observational studies, 2 experimental, and 2 qualitative). Results of these initial studies are promising and suggest that regular exercise is inversely correlated with PTSD and its symptoms in military veterans. However, the longitudinal effect of exercise on PTSD in military veterans remains unclear because the current research lacks ...
Lessons from the Homeless: Civil and Uncivil Interactions with Nurses, Self-Care Behaviors, and Barriers to Care.

BACKGROUND Civility, rooted in social justice, is a fundamental value of nursing. Homeless people are particularly at risk for experiencing uncivil behavior from nurses. PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to explore homeless people's perceptions of their interactions with nurses. METHOD In this descriptive, qualitative study, we interviewed 15 homeless adults who described their experiences with nurses. The interview guide, developed by the researchers, consisted of open-ended questions and probes. Transcriptions and field notes were analyzed through thematic analysis. RESULTS Three major themes emerged: nurses should be civil, self-care behaviors, and barriers to good care. Subthemes included listening, compassion, attentiveness, and judgment as components of civility; where they go for care and who cares for them as self-care behaviors; and lack of money and homeless status as barriers to care. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Our findings indicate people who are homeless often perceive nurses to be uncivil and uncaring toward them; furthermore, our participants provide a unique description of healthcare interactions from the perspective of the homeless. These findings can be used as a basis for the development of education interventions for students and practicing nurses to assist them in learning to provide civil and compassionate care for the homeless.
Corticosteroid wean after heart transplantation-Is there a risk for antibody formation?

BACKGROUND Corticosteroid withdrawal after heart transplantation is limited to select immune-privileged patients but it is not known whether this predisposes patients to a higher risk for sensitization. METHODS A total of 178 heart transplant recipients had panel-reactive antibody (PRA) measurements at transplant and every 6 months and were monitored for rejection with protocol endomyocardial biopsies. Corticosteroid withdrawal was initiated at 6 months post-transplant in select patients. RESULTS Patients successfully weaned off prednisone (SPW; n=103) had lower PRA compared to those maintained on prednisone (MP; n=51) at pretransplant (34% vs 63%), 6 months (18% vs 49%), 12 months (19% vs 51%), and 18 months (15% vs 47%) after transplant (P<.05). Among 68 nonsensitized patients at transplant in the SPW group, seven (10%) developed de novo PRA at 12 months, compared to four of 19 (21%) of MP patients. Freedom from any treated rejection (97% vs 69% vs 67%), acute cellular rejection (100% vs 86% vs 71%), and antibody-mediated rejection (100% vs 88% vs 88%; all P≤.001) at 2 years was higher in SPW compared to MP and those who failed prednisone wean, respectively. CONCLUSION Few patients successfully weaned off prednisone after heart transplant develop de novo circulating antibodies but are not at increased risk for developing rejection.
SET-VALUED PARAMETERS AND SET-VALUED STATISTICS

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses set-valued parameters and set-valued statistics and describes the problem of determining a minimal sufficient statistic for a random sample from the uniform distribution supported by the union of two intervals on the real line [0,θ] and [2θ,3θ], where θ > 0 is an unknown parameter. A minimal sufficient statistic for a family of uniform distributions of subsets of the line can be relatively complicated if the support of each distribution is not an interval. The chapter presents the minimal sufficient statistics for the different likelihood functions and discusses inclusion-exclusion model with complementary measures.
LTE-Advanced Pro RF Front-End Implementations to Meet Emerging Carrier Aggregation and DL MIMO Requirements

RF front-end (RFFE) architectures and implementations are developing new ways to optimize LTE-Advanced PRO (Rel 13) multi-component carrier aggregation, advanced features to increase spectral efficiency such as higher order modulation and higher order MIMO, and the concurrent operation of all of these features together. In this article, we describe best practices for meeting the challenging coexistence, harmonic management, linearity, and efficiency performance related to the functional partitioning, optimized integration, and technology selection of the RFFE. Recent trends to improve radio performance are driving specific blocks (e.g., the low noise amplifier) into the RFFE, with associated architecture changes in both primary and diversity paths. Carrier aggregation features are supported in a number of different methods with different insertion loss, isolation, and noise figure trade-offs, and here we examine benefits of a new category of highly integrated diversity receive modules to enhance receiver sensitivity across all use cases. Movement toward higher order MIMO in the DL is compounding additional RF Rx path support and requirements, and cost-effective solutions for optimum performance trade-offs require a holistic and complete RF system view of both Tx and Rx in order to address these emerging requirements.
Scientific data interpolation with low dimensional manifold model

Abstract We propose to apply a low dimensional manifold model to scientific data interpolation from regular and irregular samplings with a significant amount of missing information. The low dimensionality of the patch manifold for general scientific data sets has been used as a regularizer in a variational formulation. The problem is solved via alternating minimization with respect to the manifold and the data set, and the Laplace–Beltrami operator in the Euler–Lagrange equation is discretized using the weighted graph Laplacian. Various scientific data sets from different fields of study are used to illustrate the performance of the proposed algorithm on data compression and interpolation from both regular and irregular samplings.
Systematic review with meta-analysis: breastfeeding and the risk of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis

SummaryBackground Breastfeeding is a modifiable factor that may influence development of inflammatory bowel diseases. However, literature on this has been inconsistent and not accounted for heterogeneity in populations and exposure. Aim To conduct a meta-analysis to examine the association between breastfeeding in infancy and risk of Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Methods A systematic search of Medline/PubMed and Embase was performed for full text, English-language literature through November 2016. Studies were included if they described breastfeeding in infancy in patients with CD or UC, and healthy controls. Data were pooled using a random effects model for analysis. Results A total of 35 studies were included in the final analysis, comprising 7536 individuals with CD, 7353 with UC and 330 222 controls. Ever being breastfed was associated with a lower risk of CD (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.59-0.85) and UC (OR 0.78, 95% CI 0.67-0.91). While this inverse association was observed in all ethnicity groups, the magnitude of protection was significantly greater among Asians (OR 0.31, 95% CI 0.20-0.48) compared to Caucasians (OR 0.78, 95% CI 0.66-0.93; P = .0001) in CD. Breastfeeding duration showed a dose-dependent association, with strongest decrease in risk when breastfed for at least 12 months for CD (OR 0.20, 95% CI 0.08-0.50) and UC (OR 0.21, 95% CI 0.10-0.43) as compared to 3 or 6 months. Conclusion Breastfeeding in infancy protects against the development of CD and ulcerative colitis.
Frederic E. Mohs, MD, and the history of zinc chloride

The history of zinc chloride therapy before and including Frederic E. Mohs' (1910-2002) early contributions to dermatologic oncology is presented. In 1932, Mohs devised a method of cutaneous surgery that employed zinc-chloride paste to devitalize basal or squamous cell carcinoma. Because zinc chloride coagulates malignant tissue without destroying cellular architecture, he described the surgery and its preservative effect as the fixed-tissue method. This method involved the serial removal of devitalized malignant tissue and the freezing and histologic examination of each layer; the process was continued until a cancer-free plane was reached. In 1953, a modified version of the micrographic system, the fresh-tissue method, was introduced. For improved efficiency, Mohs retained the systematic mapping of a neoplasm but eliminated the chemical escharotic. Although the fresh-tissue method has become the preferred treatment mode, zinc-chloride paste therapy remains in use today. Although the history of Mohs micrographic surgery is well documented, its background has not received sufficient attention. This paper surveys the chemical synthesis of zinc chloride, the formulation of zinc-chloride paste as a cutaneous escharotic, and the extent to which Mohs' method compares with those of 19th and early 20th century predecessors.
Early-Life Parent–Child Relationships and Adult Children’s Support of Unpartnered Parents in Later Life

Objectives The proportion of older adults who are unpartnered has increased significantly over the past 25 years. Unpartnered older adults often rely on their adult children for support. Most previous studies have focused on proximal factors associated with adult children's support of their parents, while few have examined distal factors, such as parent-child relationships formed during childhood. This study fills the gap by investigating the direct and indirect associations between early-life parent-child relationships and adult children's upward transfers to unpartnered parents. Method Data came from two supplements to the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, in which respondents were asked about their relationships with mothers and fathers before age 17 and their transfers of time and money to parents in 2013. Path models were estimated for unpartnered mother-adult child dyads and father-adult child dyads separately. Results For adult children of unpartnered mothers, psychological closeness has a direct, positive association with time transfer, while physical violence has an indirect association with time transfer through adult children's marital status. For adult children of unpartnered fathers, psychological closeness has neither a direct nor an indirect association with time or money transfer, but physical violence has a direct, negative association with time transfer. Discussion Early-life parent-child relationships play a pivotal role in influencing adult children's caregiving behavior, both directly and indirectly. Our findings suggest that by improving their relationships with children early in life, parents may be able to increase the amount of time transfer that they receive in late life.
Privacy, Employment, and Dignity

Understanding the intangible harms of privacy violations has proved daunting. Yet it is vitally important to understanding the value of privacy beyond economic harms of privacy loss. This chapter explores how violations of employee privacy affect the dignity of work as a lens for understanding intangible privacy harms. Employee privacy has drawn less attention in recent privacy discussions than informational privacy, even though it is seriously under protected in the U.S. today. Indeed, privacy has largely been linked to employment through the possibility that the information individuals reveal on social media may unwittingly affect their employment prospects and thus cause economic harm. Yet arguments for employee privacy—of information, space, and private lives—also draw on dignity in the sense of protection from vulnerability from loss of important human goods such as the ability to function as a citizen and the need for meaningful work. In this chapter, we explore these dignity-based justifications for employee privacy. We then use this discussion to illuminate when non-consensual uses of information drawn from individuals are particularly troubling with respect to the non-economic harms they may cause.
Real-time magnetic actuation of DNA nanodevices via modular integration with stiff micro-levers.

DNA nanotechnology has enabled complex nanodevices, but the ability to directly manipulate systems with fast response times remains a key challenge. Current methods of actuation are relatively slow and only direct devices into one or two target configurations. Here we report an approach to control DNA origami assemblies via externally applied magnetic fields using a low-cost platform that enables actuation into many distinct configurations with sub-second response times. The nanodevices in these assemblies are manipulated via mechanically stiff micron-scale lever arms, which rigidly couple movement of a micron size magnetic bead to reconfiguration of the nanodevice while also enabling direct visualization of the conformation. We demonstrate control of three assemblies—a rod, rotor, and hinge—at frequencies up to several Hz and the ability to actuate into many conformations. This level of spatiotemporal control over DNA devices can serve as a foundation for real-time manipulation of molecular and atomic systems. DNA molecular machines hold promise for biological nanotechnology, but how to actuate them in a fast and programmable manner remains challenging. Here, Lauback et al. demonstrate direct manipulation of DNA origami assemblies via a micrometer-long stiff mechanical lever controlled by a magnetic field.
A Wearable Microfluidic Sensing Patch for Dynamic Sweat Secretion Analysis

Wearable sweat sensing is a rapidly rising research area driven by its promising potential in health, fitness, and diagnostic applications. Despite the growth in the field, major challenges in relation to sweat metrics remain to be addressed. These challenges include sweat rate monitoring for its complex relation with sweat compositions and sweat sampling for sweat dynamics studies. In this work, we present a flexible microfluidic sweat sensing patch that enhances real-time electrochemical sensing and sweat rate analysis via sweat sampling. The device contains a spiral-patterned microfluidic component that is embedded with ion-selective sensors and an electrical impedance-based sweat rate sensor on a flexible plastic substrate. The patch is enabled to autonomously perform sweat analysis by interfacing the sensing component with a printed circuit board that is capable of on-site signal conditioning, analysis, and transmission. Progressive sweat flow in the microfluidic device, governed by the pressure indu...
The Austro-Sardinian War of 1859

The advent of war in Italy placed the Papal States in great danger of undergoing a popular revolution. The Roman Curia, having feared all along that the territorial integrity of the state would be lost, asked that France guarantee papal neutrality on 26 April. Walewski could do no more than give verbal assurances.1 But the next day there was sent a carefully worded description of the neutrality presumed to exist between France and the papacy: “The government of the emperor is able to adhere to the view enunciated by the secretary of state of Holy Holiness. It considers [France’s] neutrality as being of the same essence as that of the pontifical government.” 2 This was no guarantee, although military instructions were already prepared for the retention of the three French corps at Rome.3 The question of the pope’s security was of incalculable importance in Catholic France. The clergy was instructed as to the character of this “just war,” of its consequences, of the determination of the imperial government that “the supreme chief of the church [would] be respected in all his rights of temporal power.” 4 France did not go into Italy, the emperor announced on 3 May, “to foment disorder nor to disturb the power of the Holy Father whom we have replaced on his throne.” 5
Activity-Based Advertising

This chapter discusses Activity-based Advertising, an approach to more accurately target advertisements by inferring a consumer’s activities. This chapter begins with some of the important characteristics of advertising, and explains the incentives held by consumers and marketers. We explain why consumer and advertiser interests are not necessarily at odds, and briefly survey some existing targeting technologies that benefit both. We then describe the vision and benefits of activity-based advertising, and describe how it can advance targeting technologies even further. We finish with a methodology for evaluating activity-based advertising technologies, and present some initial results of activity-based advertising’s potential.
A Summary and Illustration of Disjunctive Decomposition with Set Convexification

In this paper we review the Disjunctive Decomposition (D2) algorithm for two-stage Stochastic Mixed Integer Programs (SMIP). This novel method uses principles of disjunctive programming to develop cutting-plane-based approximations of the feasible set of the second stage problem. At the core of this approach is the Common Cut Coefficient Theorem, which provides a mechanism for transforming cuts derived for one outcome of the second stage problem into cuts that are valid for other outcomes. An illustrative application of the D2 method to the solution of a small SMIP illustrative example is provided.
Comparison of collimator choice on image quality of I-131 in SPECT/CT

2623 Objectives I-131 scan using High Energy(HE) collimator is generally used. While, Medium Energy(ME) collimator is not suggested to use in result of an excessive septal penetration effects, it is used to improve the sensitivities of count rate on lower does of I-131. This research aims to evaluate I-131 SPECT/CT image quality using by HE and ME collimator and also find out the possibility of ME collimator clinical application. Methods ME and HE collimator are substituted as Siemens symbia T16 SPECT/CT, using I-131 point source and NEMA NU-2 IQ phantom. Single Energy Window(SEW) and Triple Energy Windows(TEW) are applied for image acquisition and images with CTAC and Scatter correction application or not, applied different number of iteration and sub set are reconstructed by IR method, flash 3D. By analysis of acquired image, the comparison on sensitivities, contrast, noise and aspect ratio of two collimators are able to be evaluated. Results ME Collimator is ahead of HE collimator in terms of sensitivity (ME collimator: 188.18 cps/MBq, HE collimator: 46.31 cps/MBq). For contrast, reconstruction image used by HE collimator with TEW, 16 subset 8 iteration applied CTAC is shown the highest contrast (TCQI=190.64). In same condition, ME collimator has lower contrast than HE collimator (TCQI=66.05). The lowest aspect ratio for ME collimator and HE collimator are 1.065 with SEW, CTAC(+) and 1.024 with TEW, CTAC(+) respectively. Conclusions Selecting a proper collimator is important factor for image quality. This research finding tells that HE collimator, which is generally used for I-131 scan emitted high energy r-ray is the most recommendable collimator for image quality. However, ME collimator is also applicable in condition of lower dose, lower sensitive if utilizing energy window, matrix size, IR parameter, CTAC and scatter correction appropriately.
Successful Reduction in the Heart Failure Length of Stay through Standardized Management

Background As the focus to decrease in-hospitalization medical expenses increases, length of stay (LOS) has become a focal point of analysis particularly in the heart failure (HF) population. This is a reasonable goal as HF is the leading cause of hospital admission in patients older than 65 years old and research has shown that shorter LOS is associated with better outcomes. The purpose of this project was to standardize the management of HF patients and to decrease the HF average length of stay (ALOS) by one day. Method In this single center observational study, five areas of potential improvement were identified: Initial Furosemide dosage, early involvement of cardiology team, utilization of a standardized HF order set, multi-disciplinary rounding and close monitoring from the nursing staff. The data showed that the majority of the HF patients were receiving Furosemide 40mg or less as the first dose in the Emergency Department (ED) which was associated with a two day increase in the length of stay, as compared to those receiving 60mg and higher. Furthermore, the data also showed low utilization of the HF order set, and lack of early cardiology consultation. Process benchmarking revealed an opportunity to restructure the multidisciplinary rounds to give focus on the progression of care. Review of literature uncovered the need to restructure the responsibilities of the HF nurse coordinator to support the initiative. Based on the identified opportunities, a HF management algorithm was created to standardize the approach. A HF nurse was appointed to oversee and promote these 5 key areas of focus. Results Improvements in the aforementioned processes, utilization of at least Furosemide 60mg in the ED increased from 22% to 67% in six months. Furthermore, order set utilization increased from 32% to 81% and cardiology consult increased from 75% to 95% both within a few months. These enhancements resulted in a 1.04 day reduction in the ALOS. In HF admissions, ALOS decreased from 7.72 days (2016) to 6.68 days (01/2017 - 07/2017). A true measure of this improvement is the LOS index which is the ratio of actual LOS over expected LOS. HF LOS index steadily trended down from 1.42 (01/2017) to 1.1 in (6/2017) (Vizient data). Conclusion In conclusion, the expansion of these five key milestones were the fundamental drivers in lowering the LOS by more than 1 day.
"If It May Please the Court": Analyzing the Use of Rhetorical Elements in Courtroom Opening Statements

Despite all of the research done on the influence of intertextuality, word choice, formatting, and the presentation of the speaker on opening statements in a courtroom, we still do not know which components of these statements are the most important, from a rhetorical perspective, for lower and appellate courts, respectively. My research studied opening statements from both lower and appellate court cases and simultaneously compared the aforementioned components in each. My analysis of these opening statements finds that categories which have been deemed important in existing discussions of opening statements are truly impactful, and yields some insight into what exactly makes each type of opening statement effective.
Which features of psychopathy and impulsivity matter most for prison violence? New evidence among female prisoners

Prison violence is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon. While a great deal of research has been conducted in male samples, very few studies are dedicated to understanding violence committed by female offenders. Two constructs that have emerged as important predictors of violence are psychopathy and impulsivity. These constructs may be an important line of inquiry due to the close association between psychopathy, impulsivity, and violence. In a sample of 166 female offenders, we used the 3-facet model of psychopathy and 3-factor model of trait impulsivity with the goal to statistically explain two types of prison violence: official reports of violent misconducts over a 12-month period, and self-report of deliberately instigating a violent altercation. We conducted three separate regression models to test the independent contribution of psychopathy and impulsivity, as well as accounting for the overlap between psychopathy and impulsivity. When impulsivity and psychopathy were not competing within the same model, affective and behavioral psychopathic traits, and nonplanning impulsiveness predicted violent misconducts. However, when accounting for impulsivity and psychopathy within the same model, only affective psychopathic traits remained significant. When predicting if an offender deliberately started a violent altercation, separate statistical models showed affective and interpersonal psychopathic traits, and nonplanning impulsiveness were significant. When competing for variance within the same statistical model, only affective and interpersonal psychopathic traits remained as significant predictors. This suggests an overlap between psychopathic traits and nonplanning impulsivity when understanding violent misconducts in female offenders, while affective psychopathic explains female prison violence, regardless of impulsivity.
Impact of Media in Transport Study on Cell Monolayer Integrity and Permeability.

Abstract Literature review shows that various media have been used for in vitro transport study, but their impact on the monolayer integrity and permeability has been somehow neglected, and there is no systemic study on this subject. This study aims to investigate the impact of 6 commonly used media on Madin-Darby Canine Kidney cell viability and adherence, and the permeation of mannitol and propranolol. Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium (DMEM), cMedium (DMEM with serum), Hanks’ balanced salt solution (HBSS), HBSS− (without Ca2+/Mg2+), Dulbecco's phosphate-buffered saline (DPBS), and DPBS− (without Ca2+/Mg2+) exhibited no cytotoxicity. Cell detachment was observed in 4 media in the order of DPBS− ≈ HBSS− > DPBS > HBSS. HBSS−/DPBS− caused 70% TEER reduction and 4-fold higher apparent permeability (Papp) of mannitol than the other media. The addition of D-glucose in DPBS− decreased the Papp of mannitol. Cations and glucose negligibly influenced the Papp of propranolol. The addition of 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid (HEPES) in HBSS increased the Papp of both mannitol and propranolol for 2-3 folds without TEER reduction. In conclusion, the media compositions (Ca2+/Mg2+, glucose, vitamins, amino acids, and HEPES) can affect the monolayer integrity and permeability. DMEM and cMedium without HEPES are hence suggested as the media in transport study to avoid the potential impact on the monolayer integrity and permeability by the media.
The Factor Structure of Child Behavior Checklist Scores With Elementary School Students Referred to Counseling Within Low-Income Communities:

The Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) is one of the most frequently used assessments of social, emotional, and behavioral functioning; however, previous research has noted inconsistency in the factor...
Pigeons process actor-action configurations more readily than bystander-action configurations.

Behavior requires an actor. Two experiments using complex conditional action discriminations examined whether pigeons privilege information related to the digital actor who is engaged in behavior. In Experiment 1, each of two video displays contained a digital model, one an actor engaged in one of two behaviors (Indian dance or martial arts) and one a neutrally posed bystander. To correctly classify the display, the pigeons needed to conditionally process the action in conjunction with distinctive physical features of the actor or the bystander. Four actor-conditional pigeons learned to correctly discriminate the actions based on the identity of the actors, whereas four bystander-conditional birds failed to learn. Experiment 2 established that this failure was not due to the latter group’s inability to spatially integrate information across the distance between the two models. Potentially, the colocalization of the relevant model identity and the action was critical due to a fundamental configural or integral representation of these properties. These findings contribute to our understanding of the evolution of action recognition, the recognition of social behavior, and forms of observational learning by animals.
Virtual reality as a promising tool to promote climate change awareness

Abstract Being environmentally literate is essential to building a sustainable relationship with the environment and to understanding the threat posed by pressing issues such as climate change. However, environmental literacy is challenging because it encompasses many complex dimensions. Moreover, there is often a gap in understanding the connections between individual actions and their consequences on the environment. Immersive virtual reality (IVR) could be a promising tool to address these challenges. This chapter reviews 13 papers addressing the use of IVR to promote environmental literacy and accounts for the current state of research in this field. It highlights gaps in knowledge that need to be filled if we want to leverage the potential of IVR to contribute to one of the most pressing challenges of our society, namely environmental issues.
Autophagic adaptation to oxidative stress alters peritoneal residential macrophage survival and ovarian cancer metastasis

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) affect cancer progression and therapy. Ovarian carcinoma often metastasizes to the peritoneal cavity. Here, we found 2 peritoneal macrophage subsets in mice bearing ID8 ovarian cancer based on T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain containing 4 (Tim-4) expression. Tim-4+ TAMs were embryonically originated and locally sustained while Tim-4– TAMs were replenished from circulating monocytes. Tim-4+ TAMs, but not Tim-4– TAMs, promoted tumor growth in vivo. Relative to Tim-4– TAMs, Tim-4+ TAMs manifested high oxidative phosphorylation and adapted mitophagy to alleviate oxidative stress. High levels of arginase-1 in Tim-4+ TAMs contributed to potent mitophagy activities via weakened mTORC1 activation due to low arginine resultant from arginase-1–mediated metabolism. Furthermore, genetic deficiency of autophagy element FAK family-interacting protein of 200 kDa resulted in Tim-4+ TAM loss via ROS-mediated apoptosis and elevated T cell immunity and ID8 tumor inhibition in vivo. Moreover, human ovarian cancer–associated macrophages positive for complement receptor of the immunoglobulin superfamily (CRIg) were transcriptionally, metabolically, and functionally similar to murine Tim-4+ TAMs. Thus, targeting CRIg+ (Tim-4+) TAMs may potentially treat patients with ovarian cancer with peritoneal metastasis.
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Developing After a Coral Snake Bite: A Case Report.

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) usually occurs after an inciting injury. Poor understanding of pathophysiology, management, and disease awareness has led to misdiagnosis of this condition. We report a rare case of a 69-year-old male who developed CRPS following a Florida Coral snake bite on his right foot. Initially, it was misdiagnosed as recurrent cellulitis; however, he developed chronic right lower extremity (RLE) pain with worsening flares associated with right leg swelling and erythema. Examination was remarkable for nonpitting edema, erythema, and severe tenderness to light touch of the RLE, all symptoms that highly supported the diagnosis of CRPS. Treatment was initiated and consisted of physical therapy in addition to gabapentin which resulted in marked improvement. CRPS remains a challenging diagnosis due to lack of gold standard test and can be easily misdiagnosed. Clinical evaluation applying Budapest criteria can aid with diagnosis and should be routinely used for all patients with suspected CRPS.
Disparities Among Leading Publishers of Arthroplasty Research

Abstract Background Despite the importance of diversity in advancing scientific progress, diversity among leading authors in arthroplasty has not been examined. This study aimed to identify, characterize, and assess disparities among leading authors in arthroplasty literature from 2002 to 2019. Methods Articles published between 2002 and 2019 from 12 academic journals that publish orthopedic and arthroplasty research were extracted from PubMed. Original articles containing keywords related to arthroplasty were analyzed. Author gender was assigned using the Genderize algorithm. Gender and characterization of the top 100 male and female authors utilized available information on academic profiles. Results From the 14,692 articles that met inclusion criteria, the genders of 23,626 unique authors were identified. Women were less likely than men to publish 5 years after beginning their publishing careers (adjusted odds ratio 0.51, 95% confidence interval 0.45-0.57, P Conclusion While the majority of authors with high arthroplasty publication volume were orthopedic surgeons, there were significant gender disparities among the leading researchers. We should continue working to increase gender representation and supporting the research careers of women in arthroplasty.
The role of primary care providers in oral health education for patients with diabetes.

Abstract Objective In this manuscript, we provide information and guidance on oral health education for diabetes care management, which will be beneficial to primary care providers and educators as it serves to fill a current knowledge gap. Results There is a lack of awareness on the relationship between diabetes mellitus and oral health complications along with less frequent dental visits by adult patients with diabetes, which can be attributed to the great variation in the volume and intensity of training on oral health information between current diabetes education programs. Conclusions There is a general lack of reliable oral health assessment tools incorporated in diabetes education curricula in addition to a lack of familiarity and time to complete the existing tools among diabetes patient educators in the busy primary care setting. Practice implications We propose a simplified, more feasible oral health assessment tool that can be incorporated in office visits of primary care educators and providers. The intention of this manuscript is to generate sufficient awareness to motivate a follow-up effectiveness study to test the validity and use of the proposed tool.
To break the feudal bonds: the Soviets, Reza Khan, and the Iranian left, 1921-25

From 1921-25, the USSR normalized its relations with Iran, withdrawing support from the Soviet Socialist Republic of Iran in the northern province of Gilan (SSRI, 1920-21), and signing the Irano-So...
Cytoreductive surgery with or without hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in patients with peritoneal hepatocellular carcinoma

Background and Objectives The benefit of Sorafenib is not well described in patients with peritoneal hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Although cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) have shown favorable outcomes in certain malignancies, their role in peritoneal HCC remains unknown. We present a series of patients with peritoneal HCC treated with CRS +/− HIPEC and evaluate their clinicopathologic characteristics and outcomes. Methods Between 07/07-08/12, 14 patients with limited disease to the peritoneum underwent CRS. Seven of these patients received additional HIPEC treatment. Primary endpoint was overall survival. Results Operative treatment was directed for metachronous peritoneal disease in the majority (92.8%) of patients. Mean intraoperative PCI was 9.9 (± 8.3) and complete mascroscopic cytoreduction (CCR 0-1) was achieved in all but one case. Overall major morbidity rate (Clavien-Dindo III-IV) at 30 days was 7.1%. One postoperative death occurred in a patient with extensive tumor burden (PCI = 33, CCR2). Median follow-up after initial surgery was 43.8 months and the median time to metachronous peritoneal recurrence was 23 months. Three-year recurrence rate after peritoneal resection was 100%. Median survival of the cohort CCR0-1 was 35.6 months. Conclusion Treatment of peritoneal HCC remains challenging and survival is poor. In well-selected candidates, however, CRS +/− HIPEC may prolong survival compared to systemic therapy alone in patients with peritoneal HCC. J. Surg. Oncol. 2014 110:786–790. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Effects of Mixing Variables and Mold Temperature on Prebaked Anode Quality

Bench-scale work was carried out to determine effects of mixing time on quality of pressed and vibrated prebaked anodes. Effects of coke and pitch preheating and mix and mold temperatures were determined also. Green and baked apparent densities of pressed anodes increased by 0.02 Mg/m3 on increasing mixing time from 5 to 60 minutes. Most of the density increase occurred and baked anode electrical resistivity minimized after 30 minutes of mixing. Coke and pitch preheating had little effect on the bench-scale pressed anodes. A mold temperature 30°C over the pitch softening point (cube-in-air) improved pressed anode properties compared with a mold temperature 10oC over the softening point. Vibrated anode properties were optimum with a 15-minute mixing time. With longer mixing times, properties were greatly degraded. A mix and mold temperature 40oC over the pitch softening point was optimum for vibrated anodes.
Arginine Vasopressin Is a Blood-Based Biomarker of Social Functioning in Children With Autism

Brain arginine vasopressin (AVP) critically regulates normative social behavior in mammals, and experimental disruption of the AVP signaling pathway produces social impairments in rodent models. We therefore hypothesized that AVP signaling deficits may contribute to social impairments in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Since blood measures (which are far easier to obtain than brain measures) of AVP are most meaningful if they are related to brain AVP activity, Study 1 tested the relationship between AVP concentrations in concomitantly collected blood and CSF samples from children and adults (N = 28) undergoing clinical procedures. Study 2 tested whether blood AVP concentrations: 1) differed between children with ASD (N = 57), their ASD discordant siblings (N = 47), and neurotypical controls (N = 55); and 2) predicted social functioning (using the NEPSY-II Theory of Mind and Affect Recognition tasks and the Social Responsiveness Scale) in this large, well-characterized child cohort. Blood AVP concentrations significantly and positively predicted CSF AVP concentrations (F1,26 = 7.17, r = 0.46, p = 0.0127) in Study 1. In Study 2, blood AVP concentrations did not differ between groups or by sex, but significantly and positively predicted Theory of Mind performance, specifically in children with ASD, but not in non-ASD children (F1,144 = 5.83, p = 0.017). Blood AVP concentrations can be used: 1) as a surrogate for brain AVP activity in humans; and 2) as a robust biomarker of theory of mind ability in children with ASD. These findings also suggest that AVP biology may be a promising therapeutic target by which to improve social cognition in individuals with ASD.
Toward a Contractual Approach to Arbitral Immunity

In the United States and elsewhere, arbitrators like judges typically enjoy an absolute immunity from civil liability. For more than a century, and despite the emergence of a robust competitive market for dispute resolution services, that doctrine has gone unquestioned in both the case law and, with few exceptions, in the scholarship as well. Employing a law and economics methodology, this article takes an original approach and argues that the doctrine of arbitral immunity should be abolished. Instead, any limit on or elimination of the arbitrator's liability should come in the form of contractually negotiated liability waivers, a perfectly viable option under most institutional rules. Replacing the dominant regulatory regime with a contractual one better reflects the incentives in the marketplace for dispute resolution services, corrects price distortions caused by the immunity doctrine and encourages the use of arbitration.
High performance RDMA protocols in HPC

Modern network communication libraries that leverage Remote Directory Memory Access (RDMA) and OS bypass protocols, such as Infiniband [2] and Myrinet [10] can offer significant performance advantages over conventional send/receive protocols. However, this performance often comes with hidden per buffer setup costs [4]. This paper describes a unique long-message MPI [9] library ‘pipeline' protocol that addresses these constraints while avoiding some of the pitfalls of existing techniques. By using portable send/receive semantics to hide the cost of initializing the pipeline algorithm, and then effectively overlapping the cost of memory registration with RDMA operations, this protocol provides very good performance for any large-memory usage pattern. This approach avoids the use of non-portable memory hooks or keeping registered memory from being returned to the OS. Through this approach, bandwidth may be increased up to 67% when memory buffers are not effectively reused while providing superior performance in the effective bandwidth benchmark. Several user level protocols are explored using Open MPI's PML (Point to point messaging layer) and compared/contrasted to this ‘pipeline' protocol.
Optimizing erbium doped materials for optical processing, memory, and laser frequency stabilization applications at 1.5 /spl mu/m

Dramatically lengthened coherence lifetimes in erbium doped crystals for spatial-spectral holography applications at 1.5 /spl mu/m were obtained through optimization of multiple material design parameters. Microscopic processes responsible for spin dynamics were elucidated and quantitatively modeled.
A remark on the Bellman equation for optimal control problems with exit times and noncoercing dynamics

This note continues my work (1997) on uniqueness questions for viscosity solutions of Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equations (HJBs) arising from deterministic control problems with exit times. I prove a general uniqueness theorem characterizing the value functions for a class of problems of this type for nonlinear systems as the unique solutions of the corresponding HJBs among continuous functions with appropriate boundary conditions when the dynamical law is non-Lipschitz and noncoercing. The class includes Sussmann's (1996) reflected brachystochrone problem (RBP), as well as problems with unbounded nonlinear running cost functionals. I show that the RBP value function is the unique viscosity solution of the corresponding HJB among the continuous functions which vanish on the target and which are bounded below. Value function characterizations of this kind have been studied by many authors for a large number of stochastic and deterministic optimal control problems. However, these earlier characterizations assume the dynamics are coercing and positive lower bounds on the running cost functionals and therefore do not apply to many standard problems. Our work is part of a larger research program which extends uniqueness results from viscosity theory to versions covering well-known optimal control problems with unbounded cost functionals or dynamics that do not have uniqueness of solutions.
Characterization of microsatellite loci in the creek chub (Semotilus atromaculatus)

Thirty-two polymorphic microsatellite loci (29 novel, 3 cross-species) are characterized in the creek chub, Semotilus atromaculatus, a widespread and abundant North American minnow. Novel repeat-containing sequences were isolated using a standard microsatellite enrichment procedure. A set of di-, tri-, and tetranucleotide markers with allele numbers ranging from two 16 are now available for estimating relatedness within and among populations in this ecologically important species.