cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Group privacy-aware disclosure of association graph data

In the age of Big Data, we are witnessing a huge proliferation of digital data capturing our lives and our surroundings. Data privacy is a critical barrier to data analytics and privacy-preserving data disclosure becomes a key aspect to leveraging large-scale data analytics due to serious privacy risks. Traditional privacy-preserving data publishing solutions have focused on protecting individual's private information while considering all aggregate information about individuals as safe for disclosure. This paper presents a new privacy-aware data disclosure scheme that considers group privacy requirements of individuals in bipartite association graph datasets (e.g., graphs that represent associations between entities such as customers and products bought from a pharmacy store) where even aggregate information about groups of individuals may be sensitive and need protection. We propose the notion of e g -Group Differential Privacy that protects sensitive information of groups of individuals at various defined group protection levels, enabling data users to obtain the level of information entitled to them. Based on the notion of group privacy, we develop a suite of differentially private mechanisms that protect group privacy in bipartite association graphs at different group privacy levels based on specialization hierarchies. We evaluate our proposed techniques through extensive experiments on three real-world association graph datasets and our results demonstrate that the proposed techniques are effective, efficient and provide the required guarantees on group privacy.
Investigations on n-tuple coprime arrays

Coprime arrays so far combine two sparsely-spaced subarrays, undersampled by factors of M and N, in order to achieve MN degrees of freedom. To ensure that the grating lobes of each subarray can be largely eliminated, M and N must be coprime. In number theory, sets of pairwise coprime numbers can exceed just two numbers. The current work extends the theory to include coprime linear arrays with an arbitrary number, n, of subarrays. A triple coprime array comprised of n = 3 equal-aperture subarrays with M, N, and O elements, undersampled by factors of NO, MO, and MN, respectively, may use just M + N+O-1 shifts to observe MNO directions. The design frequency of such an array not only exceeds the Nyquist spatial sampling limit, but is also greater than that of a standard (double) coprime array with equivalent aperture and number of elements. A triple coprime array is constructed with subarrays of M = 3, N = 4, and O = 5 and measured in a simulated free field condition. Experimental validation of the array confirms that the triple coprime array can also observe lower frequencies up to the design frequency. This paper discusses advantages and practical significance of n-tuple coprime microphone arrays over conventional double coprime linear arrays.Coprime arrays so far combine two sparsely-spaced subarrays, undersampled by factors of M and N, in order to achieve MN degrees of freedom. To ensure that the grating lobes of each subarray can be largely eliminated, M and N must be coprime. In number theory, sets of pairwise coprime numbers can exceed just two numbers. The current work extends the theory to include coprime linear arrays with an arbitrary number, n, of subarrays. A triple coprime array comprised of n = 3 equal-aperture subarrays with M, N, and O elements, undersampled by factors of NO, MO, and MN, respectively, may use just M + N+O-1 shifts to observe MNO directions. The design frequency of such an array not only exceeds the Nyquist spatial sampling limit, but is also greater than that of a standard (double) coprime array with equivalent aperture and number of elements. A triple coprime array is constructed with subarrays of M = 3, N = 4, and O = 5 and measured in a simulated free field condition. Experimental validation of the array conf...
Gluteal Compartment Syndrome with Neurologic Impairment: Report of Two Cases and Review of the Literature (P6.124)

Objective: The purpose of this poster is to present two patients who developed atraumatic gluteal compartment syndrome (GCS) with neurologic impairment and review the published literature on this topic. Background: Compartment syndrome is an emergent condition that can lead to neurologi impairment and significant morbidity and mortality. This is confirmed with elevated intracompartmental pressure, evidence of muscle edema on imaging, and/or during surgical decompression. Surgical decompression is the established treatment and has been utilized in the setting of GCS with neurologic impairment. Atraumatic GCS with neurologic impairment, often associated with drug or alcohol overdose, may be overlooked in the acute setting and further diagnostic testing not pursued thus precluding patients from surgical decompression when it otherwise may be appropriate. Design/Methods: We reviewed the literature of cases of atraumatic GCS with neurologic impairment. The deficit was categorized into probable or definite sciatic neuropathy (SN) or lumbosacral plexopathy (LSP) based on distribution of neurologic findings and nerve conduction study and electromyography data (if available). Outcome was defined as no deficit, mild (sensory only), moderate (motor but ambulatory), and severe (nonambulatory). Results: We reviewed 25 cases. All developed GCS in the context of drug or alcohol overdose. Creatine kinase was elevated in all patients when tested and 19 (76%) developed acute renal failure. Eighteen (72%) developed probable or definite SN, 5 (20%) developed probable or definite LSP, and 2 (8%) developed deficits not otherwise defined. Sixteen (64%) were treated with fasciotomy and 9 (36%) were managed conservatively. Two did not have outcome data but 6 (43%) treated with fasciotomy and 1 (11%) treated conservatively had either no or mild deficits. No patients treated conservatively underwent measurement of intra-compartmental pressure. Conclusions: Neurologists should be aware of GCS with neurologic impairment because early recognition and further diagnostic testing may change treatment and surgical intervention is associated with better outcome. Disclosure: Dr. Kuhlman has nothing to disclose. Dr. Gwathmey has nothing to disclose.
Metallische Werkstoffe für Implantate

Implantate aus metallischen Werkstoffen werden klinisch in der Orthopadie-Traumatologie (Abb. 1 u. 2), in der Rekonstruktions- und Herzchirurgie seit Jahrzehnten mit Erfolg eingesetzt (Tabelle 1). Die heutige Auswahl an Implantatmetallen ist relativ gros unda last sich in 5 Gruppen unterteilen (Tabelle 2). Fur orthopadische Implantate beschrankte man sich in den 40er und 50er Jahren hauptsachlich auf die CoCrMo-Gus- legierung ISO 5832-4 und den rostfreien Stahl ISO 5832-1B(AISI-316L) sowie die beiden Titanschmiedelegierungen Reintitan ISO 5832-2 und TiAIV 5832-3. Erganzt wurden diese 4 Legierungen auf Eisen-, Kobalt- und Titanbasis anfangs der 70er Jahre mit der CoNiCrMo-Schmiedelegierung ISO 5832-6. Diese hochfeste und auserst korrosionsbestandige Legierung (MP35N, Protasul-10) erbrachte nach uber 10jahriger klinischer Erfahrung mit uber 500 000 Endoprothesen fur Hufte, Knie und Ellenbogen den Beweis fur bruchsichere Verankerungsschafte aus der Serienproduktion. Die Legierung MP35N wird auserdem erfolgreich bei Herzschrittmacherelektroden eingesetzt. Fur orthopadische Implantate und auch Rekonstruktionen im Schadel- und Kieferbereich kommen auserdem noch 3 weitere Kobaltbasislegierungen ISO 5832-5 (Vitallium wrought), ISO 5832-7 (Phynox) und ASTM F 563 (Syntacoben) zum Einsatz. Gegen Ende der 70er Jahre erfolgte die nach dem Pulvermetallurgie- bzw. Schmiedeverfahren hergestellte CoCrMo-Legierung (Zimaloy Micro Grain, Vitallium FHS, Protasul-21WF, Endocast SL). Diese hochfeste und verschleiswiderstands- feste Legierung ist bezuglich ihrer chemischen Zusammensetzung mit der CoCrMo- Guslegierung ISO 5832-4 (Vitallium cast, Protasul, Endocast) identisch.
Linear Systems and Linearization

Key to the analysis of nonlinear systems is determining the stability of the equilibria. The classical method of determining stability is to linearize the system about the equilibrium and to determine exponential rates of growth and decay for the associated linear system. The framework for carrying this out is taken up in this chapter. Although the method is similar to that for ODEs, the characteristic equation is more complicated, typically having infinitely many roots. Fortunately,all but finitely many of these roots have real part less than any given real number.
Parametric target chamber simulations for the Inertial Fusion Energy Integrated Test Facility

The essential physical phenomena that will occur in Inertial Fusion Energy (IFE) reactors can be studied in a facility where the driver energy and target yield are reduced. The Integrated Test Facility (ITF) will study reactor relevant phenomena affecting drivers, beam transport, targets, and target chambers. The target chambers for reactors and the ITF could be designed using any one of several target chamber concepts. This paper involves the comparison, with computer simulation, of the phenomena occurring in the target chambers of three power reactor concepts (OSIRIS, HYLIFE-II, and CASCADE) with that occurring in ITF target chambers using the same design concept.
Was the Chicago School a Creative Community

We examine two related questions. First, whether the emerging literature on collaboration in creative communities provides any insights that might assist us in understanding the Chicago School of Economics. Secondly, whether the history of Chicago economics provides any insights that might enrich the literature on creative collaboration. The Chicago School is an obvious candidate for such a study because it has several of the features often attributed to creative communities.
Prostaglandins Suppress an Outward Potassium Current in Embryonic Rat Sensory Neurons

Nicol, G. D., M. R. Vasko, and A. R. Evans. Prostaglandins suppress an outward potassium current in embryonic rat sensory neurons. J. Neurophysiol. 77: 167–176, 1997. The cellular mechanisms giving...
Abstract 5493: Targeted inhibition of glutaminase in GRM1-expressing melanoma cells inhibits cell proliferation by reducing glutamate bioavailability

Aberrant glutamatergic signaling has been implicated in many cancer types. Our laboratory has previously illustrated the role of metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 (GRM1) in neoplastic transformation of melanocytes in vitro and spontaneous metastatic melanoma in vivo. Glutamate, the natural ligand of GRM1 is also the predominant excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. We have demonstrated significant upregulation of glutaminase (GLS) expression in GRM1 expressing melanoma cells, resulting in excess glutamate production and the establishment of autocrine loops in vitro. GLS catalyzes the first step in glutamine metabolism–the conversion of glutamine to glutamate. Comparison of glutamate levels in circulating blood plasma between melanoma prone and wild type mice showed elevated glutamate levels in melanoma prone GRM1-transgenic mice, suggesting that aberrant GRM1 expression also promotes an increase in circulating glutamate, to ensure constitutive activation of the GRM1 receptor and its downstream signaling affecters in vivo. Inclusion of CB-839, a potent, selective, and orally bioavailable inhibitor of GLS, resulted in significant inhibition of GRM1+ melanoma cell proliferation compared to GRM1- ones. We also demonstrated that treatment with Riluzole, an inhibitor of glutamatergic signaling by decreasing the available ligand, glutamate, led to significantly reduced melanoma cell proliferation in vitro and tumor progression in vivo. We found that simultaneous targeting of glutamate production (CB-839) and release (Riluzole) in GRM1+ melanoma cells led to synergistic suppression of cell proliferation in vitro. Furthermore, we found that CB-839 altered the function not the expression of GLS in melanoma cells. Additionally, we also discovered that manipulation of GRM1 expression by genetic means led to robust parallel changes in gene expression levels and intracellular glutamate concentrations by mass spectrometry analysis, as well as the endogenous levels of GLS in melanoma cells, suggesting association between GRM1 and GLS. The sensitivity of GRM1+ melanoma cells to modulation of GLS point to the dependency of these cells to glutamate amounts via GLS activity. We are continuing to investigate the mechanisms and regulation of GLS in our experimental system, with the goal of developing a rational approach for the treatment of GRM1 expressing tumors. Citation Format: Raj Shah, Mengying Zhu, Andrew Boreland, Fabian Filipp, Suzie Chen. Targeted inhibition of glutaminase in GRM1-expressing melanoma cells inhibits cell proliferation by reducing glutamate bioavailability [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 5493.
Short-term change and prediction of suicidal ideation among adolescents: a daily diary study following psychiatric hospitalization.

Background Our understanding of suicidal ideation (SI) and its risk precursors is largely informed by studies spanning over wide time intervals (weeks, months, years). Little is known about SI as it occurs in daily lives of individuals at risk for suicide, the extent to which suicidal thoughts are dynamic over short periods of time, and the degree to which theoretically informed risk factors predict near-term SI. Methods Thirty-four adolescents hospitalized due to last-month suicide attempt and/or last-week SI (76% female; ages 13-17) responded to daily surveys sent to their cell phones for four consecutive weeks after discharge (n = 652 observations). Results There was notable variability in day-to-day SI, with half of ideation ratings changing at least one within-person standard deviation from one day to the next. Results of mixed effects models revealed concurrent (same-day), but not short-term prospective (next-day), associations between SI (frequency, duration, urge) and well-established predictors (connectedness, burdensomeness, hopelessness). However, synergistic effects of low connectedness with either high burdensomeness or high hopelessness were reliably associated with more severe same- and next-day suicidal ideation. Conclusions This study adds to emerging literature indicating that suicidal thoughts fluctuate considerably among individuals at risk for suicide, further extending it by focusing on adolescents in the critical posthospitalization period. Fostering high-risk adolescents' sense of connectedness to others may be an especially promising intervention target. Frequent assessment of SI and its predictors, independently and in combination, could help identify promising predictors of short-term risk and meaningful intervention targets in high-risk teens.
Conserved regulatory state expression controlled by divergent developmental gene regulatory networks in echinoids.

Evolution of the animal body plan is driven by changes in developmental gene regulatory networks (GRNs), but how networks change to control novel developmental phenotypes remains in most cases unresolved. Here we address GRN evolution by comparing the endomesoderm GRN in two echinoid sea urchins, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus and Eucidaris tribuloides , with at least 268 million years of independent evolution. We first analyzed the expression of twelve transcription factors and signaling molecules of the S. purpuratus GRN in E. tribuloides embryos, showing that orthologous regulatory genes are expressed in corresponding endomesodermal cell fates in the two species. However, perturbation of regulatory genes revealed that important regulatory circuits of the S. purpuratus GRN are significantly different in E. tribuloides . Thus for instance mesodermal Delta/Notch signaling controls exclusion of alternative cell fates in E. tribuloides but controls mesoderm induction and activation of a positive feedback circuit in S. purpuratus . These results indicate that the architecture of the sea urchin endomesoderm GRN evolved by extensive gain and loss of regulatory interactions between a conserved set of regulatory factors that control endomesodermal cell fate specification.
Postirradiation examinations of low burnup U3Si2 fuel for light water reactor applications

Abstract The United States Department of Energy Advanced Fuels Campaign in collaboration with industry is working to develop enhanced accident tolerant fuels for light water reactors. The initial irradiations of these concepts were performed in the Idaho National Laboratory Advanced Test Reactor using drop-in style irradiations. These irradiations are collectively referred to as Accident Tolerant Fuels 1 (ATF-1). The postirradiation examination of ATF-1 has begun and some concepts have now completed initial examination. This work is focused on postirradiation examination data of U3Si2 fuels at low burnup (i.e.,
Uterus transplantation as a fertility option in transgender healthcare.

Many transgender and gender diverse people want to have children, but cross-sex hormone treatments limit fertility and complete gender affirming genital surgeries preclude it (Auer et al., 2018; Ch...
Deep convolutional neural network target classification for underwater synthetic aperture sonar imagery

In underwater synthetic aperture sonar (SAS) imagery, there is a need for accurate target recognition algorithms. Automated detection of underwater objects has many applications, not the least of which being the safe extraction of dangerous explosives. In this paper, we discuss experiments on a deep learning approach to binary classification of target and non-target SAS image tiles. Using a fused anomaly detector, the pixels in each SAS image have been narrowed down into regions of interest (ROIs), from which small target-sized tiles are extracted. This tile data set is created prior to the work done in this paper. Our objective is to carry out extensive tests on the classification accuracy of deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs) using location-based cross validation. Here we discuss the results of varying network architectures, hyperparameters, loss, and activation functions; in conjunction with an analysis of training and testing set configuration. It is also in our interest to analyze these unique network setups extensively, rather than comparing merely classification accuracy. The approach is tested on a collection of SAS imagery.
Incidence of waterborne lead in private drinking water systems in Virginia

Although recent studies suggest contamination by bacteria and nitrate in private drinking water systems is of increasing concern, data describing contaminants associated with the corrosion of onsite plumbing are scarce. This study reports on the analysis of 2,146 samples submitted by private system homeowners. Almost 20% of first draw samples submitted contained lead concentrations above the United States Environmental Protection Agency action level of 15 μg/L, suggesting that corrosion may be a significant public health problem. Correlations between lead, copper, and zinc suggested brass components as a likely lead source, and dug/bored wells had significantly higher lead concentrations as compared to drilled wells. A random subset of samples selected to quantify particulate lead indicated that, on average, 47% of lead in the first draws was in the particulate form, although the occurrence was highly variable. While flushing the tap reduced lead below 15 μg/L for most systems, some systems experienced an increase, perhaps attributable to particulate lead or lead-bearing components upstream of the faucet (e.g., valves, pumps). Results suggest that without including a focus on private as well as municipal systems it will be very difficult to meet the existing national public health goal to eliminate elevated blood lead levels in children.
Phenotypic variability can promote the evolution of adaptive plasticity by reducing the stringency of natural selection.

Adaptive phenotypic plasticity is a potent but not ubiquitous solution to environmental heterogeneity, driving interest in what factors promote and limit its evolution. Here, a novel computational model representing stochastic information flow in development is used to explore evolution from a constitutive phenotype to an adaptively plastic response. Results show that populations tend to evolve robustness to developmental stochasticity, but that this evolved robustness limits evolvability; specifically, robust genotypes have less ability to evolve adaptive plasticity when presented with a mix of both the ancestral environment and a new environment. Analytic calculations and computational experiments confirm that this constraint occurs when the initial mutational steps towards plasticity are pleiotropic, such that mutant fitnesses decline in the environment to which their parents are well-adapted. Greater phenotypic variability improves evolvability in the model by lessening this decline as well as by improving the fitness of partial adaptations to the new environment. By making initial plastic mutations more palatable to natural selection, phenotypic variability can increase the evolvability of an innovative, plastic response without improving evolvability to simpler challenges such as a shifted optimum in a single environment. Populations that evolved robustness by negative feedback between the trait and its rate of change show a particularly strong constraining effect on the evolvability of plasticity, revealing another mechanism by which evolutionary history can limit later innovation. These results document a novel mechanism by which weakening selection could actually stimulate the evolution of a major innovation.
Cross-modality super-resolution in fluorescence microscopy enabled by generative adversarial networks (Conference Presentation)

We present a cross-modality super-resolution microscopy method based on the generative adversarial network (GAN) framework. Using a trained convolutional neural network, our method takes a low-resolution image acquired with one microscopic imaging modality, and super-resolves it to match the resolution of the image of the same sample captured with another higher resolution microscopy modality. This cross-modality super-resolution method is purely data-driven, i.e., it does not rely on any knowledge of the image formation model, or the point-spread-function. First, we demonstrated the success of our method by super-resolving wide-field fluorescence microscopy images captured with a low-numerical aperture (NA=0.4) objective to match the resolution of images captured with a higher NA objective (NA=0.75). Next, we applied our method to confocal microscopy to super-resolve closely spaced nano-particles and Histone3 sites within HeLa cell nuclei, matching the resolution of stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy images of the same samples. Our method was also verified by super-resolving the diffraction-limited total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy images, matching the resolution of TIRF-SIM (structured illumination microscopy) images of the same samples, which revealed endocytic protein dynamics in SUM159 cells and amnioserosa tissues of a Drosophila embryo. The super-resolved object features in the network output show strong agreement with the ground truth SIM reconstructions, which were synthesized using 9 diffraction-limited TIRF images, each with structured illumination. Other than resolution enhancement, our method also offers an extended depth-of-field and improved signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in the network inferred images compared against the corresponding ground truth images.
A new paradigm for the development of PKCε-targeted small-molecule cancer therapeutics

2193 Critical roles played by protein kinase C-epsilon (PKCe) in neoplastic transformation and progression provide a rationale for developing selective, small-molecule PKCe inhibitors as antineoplastic drugs. PKCe is cytoprotective against death receptor- and mitochondrial- triggered apoptosis in human breast, NSCLC (lung), and other cancer cell lines. Consistent with its anti-apoptotic role in cancer cells in vitro, PKCe is oncogenic and pro-metastatic in transgenic mice. Furthermore, elevated PKCe expression is a predictive biomarker of aggressive human breast cancer that is significantly associated with estrogen receptor-negative status, disease recurrence and cancer mortality. Several groups have generated PKCe knockout mice that are healthy and fertile, which supports the notion that PKCe-targeted cancer therapy would likely be well tolerated. Unfortunately, attempts to design selective PKCe inhibitors, e.g., small-molecule ATP-competitive inhibitors, have not met with success. We now report an innovative strategy for selective PKCe inhibitor development that nullifies PKCepsilon activity by permanent modification of an active-site cysteine residue (Cys452) that is conserved in only ELEVEN of the several hundred protein kinase genes in the human genome. We previously established that physiological disulfides such as cystamine inactivate PKCe by thiol-disulfide exchange. We now report that replacement of the active-site residue Cys452 with Ala, by site-specific mutagenesis of either human PKCe or a constitutively active PKCe truncation mutant, renders PKCe resistant to inactivation in disulfide-treated cells. Mass spectrometric analysis of peptide digests of cystamine-inactivated PKCe detected a peptide S-cysteaminylated at Cys452, indicating that Cys452 S-cysteaminylation is a stable modification. These results provided compelling structural evidence that Cys452 S-thiolation was necessary and sufficient for PKCe inactivation, i.e., inactivation did not require S-cysteaminyl-Cys452 rearrangement to an intra-protein disulfide. In corroboration of this, we established that PKCe inactivation by the alkylating agent N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) was Cys452-dependent in NEM-treated cells and NEM-treated cell lysates. Hence, PKCe activity can be nullified by small molecules that permanently modify Cys452. In principle, small-molecules designed to bind protein kinase active-sites in an orientation that positions an electrophilic substituent proximal to the side-chain of Cys452 would only need to distinguish PKCe from the other ten human protein kinases that conserve Cys452 to selectively and permanently inhibit PKCe. We propose permanent Cys452 modification as a new paradigm for the development of PKCepsilon-targeted cancer therapeutics.
Ion Migration Magnified Photoresponse in Perovskite Devices

Here, we have studied the effect of ion migration on the photoresponse of the photovoltaic perovskite devices by changing the contact material behavior in a lateral structure. Two devices were fabricated by making perovskite micro-channel using capillary motion. Indium tin oxide (ITO) Schottky contact and copper contact with a linear characteristic were used as the electrode to form two separate lateral structures with the perovskite material. The devices were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM) imaging and energy dispersive X-Ray spectroscopy (EDS). The electrical and optical properties of the samples were measured by the Potentiostat. In both devices, the photocurrent increased with time. A non-capacitive currentvoltage hysteresis was observed which was independent of the contact behavior with the perovskite material. However, it depended on the biasing history and lighting condition. The nonsteady state part of the photoresponse was significantly changed over time. The magnified photoresponse was attributed to the light-induced ion drift at the perovskite/contact interfaces which lead to a bandgap modification. This study may help in better understanding of the nature of the ion migration in perovskite solar cells.
Self-tracking real-time wide-field OCT angiography (Conference Presentation)

In this study, we demonstrate a novel self-tracking method to suppress eye motions on wide-field optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) with a high scanning efficiency. GPU-based real-time OCTA image acquisition and processing software was developed to calculate the eye motion artifacts. An instantaneous motion index was introduced to evaluate the strength of motion artifact on en face OCTA images. Areas with suprathreshold motion and eye blinking artifacts can be rescanned in real-time.
Principles of Ethical Consideration in Safety Critical Software Systems Development

Current concerns with the operation failure and mal-performance of safety critical software systems have heightened a review of methodologies and strategies applied in the development of these systems. Prior reviews were focused on the technical and business policies and procedures applied in development such systems but it is now recognized that there needs to be a broader review of the causes associated with the undesired performance of safety critical software systems. The existence of stringent specifications for the development of safety critical systems in multiple application domains have not been sufficient for ensuring the highest level of confidence in these systems. This report examines the impact ethical consideration may have on increasing public confidence in the application of safety critical software systems in the daily activities of the general population. The work is centered on software development in the avionic industry but the findings are applicable to the more general area of safety critical software operations.
6 – Thermoset Elastomers

Elastomers are defined by their very large deformability with essentially complete recoverability. For a material to exhibit such elasticity, it must consist of polymeric chains; these must have a high degree of flexibility and mobility and be joined into a network structure by cross-linking pairs of segments, thereby preventing stretched polymer chains from irreversibly sliding past one another. These elastomers are frequently included in the category of “thermosets,” which are polymers with a network structure that is generated or “set” by thermally induced chemical cross-linking reactions. The term often takes on the more specific meaning of networks that are very heavily crosslinked and below their glass transition temperatures. These are very hard materials with none of the high extensibility associated with typical elastomers. Applications of thermoset elastomers include tires, gaskets, drive belts, biomedical devices (e.g., contact lenses, prostheses, catheters), and parts of living organisms (e.g., skin, veins, heart, and lung tissue).
Chapter 7 – Fractal Functions and Wavelets

Publisher Summary This chapter presents a brief introduction to wavelet theory, developing the necessary notation and terminology needed later. It also presents the basic concepts of wavelet theory: refinable shift-invariant function spaces, scaling functions, multiresolution analyses, and reconstruction and decomposition algorithms. There are two approaches to obtain wavelet decompositions. The first uses the concept of multiresolution analysis. This multiresolution analysis yields, in general, a finite set of scaling functions that are then used to define the wavelets and the wavelet decompositions. The second method begins with a dilation equation for a given function or set of functions. The nontrivial solutions of this dilation equation then give scaling functions that generate a multiresolution analysis. The chapter presents a construction of wavelets based on fractal functions and presents a method for constructing stable shift- and dilation-invariant function spaces using the fractal functions.
Evaluating interventions to delay the progression of prediabetes to type-2 diabetes mellitus in an uninsured Hispanic population.

Background Diabetes is a chronic progressive disease affecting 34 million Americans. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 12.5% of people aged 20 years or older diagnosed with diabetes are Hispanic. The American Diabetes Association further estimates that 84.1 million Americans aged 20 years and older have prediabetes based on fasting blood sugar and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels alone. Local problem In Georgia, the overall rate of diagnosed diabetes is 9.7%, undiagnosed is 6.5%, and prediabetes is 1.1%. The prevalence of diabetes for the Hispanic population in Georgia is 9% and is 10% among Clayton County residents. The purpose of this quality improvement project (QIP) was to evaluate interventions implemented to delay the progressions of prediabetes to type-2 diabetes in an uninsured Hispanic population. Methods Retrospective chart review was conducted comparing pre- and postmeasurements for HbA1c and body mass index (BMI) in Hispanic patients identified as having prediabetes. Interventions Patients with HbA1c of 5.7-6.1% were provided with a diabetes tool kit, whereas patients with an HbA1c of 6.2-6.4% were given the diabetes tool kit plus metformin. Results A decrease in mean HbA1c was noted in both groups of patients. However, a paired sample t-test indicated nonsignificant decrease in HbA1c for the diabetes tool kit group (p = .51) but significant decrease for the diabetes tool group kit plus metformin group (p Conclusions Although this QIP did not reveal statistically significant changes in HbA1c and BMI for both groups, the results were clinically significant among this Hispanic population.
Exhausted Parents Experience of Anger: The Relationship Between Anger and Burnout:

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between anger and burnout among parents (N =226). The results revealed burnout contrast and exhaustion predicted anger experience, and burn...
Gastroenterology Fellowship Applicants' Perspectives on GI Program Preferences.

Gastroenterology fellowship continues to be highly competitive among internal medicine subspecialties. Recruiting excellent applicants is also important for GI fellowship program directors. We aim to examine factors that influence GI fellowship applicants’ perspectives about a fellowship program. The authors conducted an anonymous online survey of applicants focusing on program characteristics including location, faculty, research/clinical opportunities, website, and interview day experience. Anonymous survey responses were recorded regarding program characteristics, and subsequent candidate preferences were evaluated for factors influencing their decision. Candidates were also asked to evaluate their interview experience and share other comments about the program. Though GI fellowship applicants have varying preferences regarding the ideal training program, some opinions converged. The study of these trends can inform program directors regarding areas for improvement that in turn can help attract the best applicants.
Human health risk assessment of selected metal(loid)s via crayfish (Faxonius virilis; Procambarus acutus acutus) consumption in Missouri

Farmed crustaceans are an important component in addressing the rising animal protein demand. The present study determined the concentrations of fourteen elements (Ag, As, Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Sn, Pb, and Zn) in the edible abdominal muscle of cultured freshwater crayfish species (Faxonius virilis; Procambarus acutus acutus) from Missouri. Also, this paper describes the dietary intake and the human health risks from the consumption of crayfish muscle in the adult population. Overall, 172 animals were captured between February 2017 and January 2018 for assessment. Concentrations of metals (Ag, Be, Cd, Cu, Co, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sn, Mo, and Zn) and metalloid (As) in the muscle tissue were determined after microwave-assisted acid digestion by ICP - OES. Health indices (EDI/EWI: estimated daily/weekly intakes; THQ: target hazard quotient; TTHQ: total target hazard quotient; ILCR: incremental lifetime cancer risk; and ∑ILCR: cumulative lifetime cancer risk) were calculated and compared to thresholds. Of all samples, the highest concentrations (mg kg -1 wet weight) of metal(loid)s in muscle were Ag (0.11), As (3.15), Be (0.21), Cd (0.11), Co (0.32), Cr (1.22), Cu (107), Fe (23.0), Mn (8.54), Mo (0.62), Ni (2.65), Pb (1.76), Sn (5.91), and Zn (19.2). In both species, the average As, Cd, and Zn concentrations were below the legal limits. However, the levels of Cu, Pb, and As, in some samples, were in exceedance of the maximum levels. In both species, a significant correlation (p 0.05) among the sexes. Non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test results indicated significant differences (p 10-5 and ∑ILCR >10-5) to the adult population. High metals/metalloid exposure from crayfish muscle consumption posed potential health hazards to the adult population.
Does Pro Re Nata Oral Medication Shorten Outburst Duration in Children

We report a prospective, naturalistic, institutional review board-approved study of 104 children ages 5-12 in a psychiatric hospital, of whom 59 were treated with oral PRN medications per parent/guardian-consent, given at nursing discretion, with physicians informed subsequently, and intramuscular STAT medication and/or seclusion/restraint/holds (S/R/H) in dangerous situations when oral medication failed. Intramuscular STAT medication and/or S/R/H were ordered by physicians with parents informed subsequently. The outcome of interest was the duration of the outburst and whether this differed by PRN medication.
Female sex is independently associated with in-hospital mortality after endovascular aortic repair for ruptured aortic aneurysm.

OBJECTIVE Endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) can treat anatomically compatible ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (rAAA), but registry data suggests that women undergo more open abdominal aneurysm repairs than men. We evaluate in-hospital outcomes of EVAR for rAAA by sex. METHODS The Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI) registry was queried from 2013 to 2019 for rAAA patients treated with EVAR. Univariate analysis was performed with Student's t-test and chi-squared tests. Multivariable logistic regression was then performed to assess the association between female sex and inpatient mortality. RESULTS 1775 patients were included (23.8% female). Female rAAA patients were older (p < 0.01) and weighed less (p < 0.01). They were less likely to have smoked (p <. 001) and had lower creatinine (1.29 vs 1.43, p <0.01) and hemoglobin (10.7 vs 11.7, p < 0.01). Women had smaller maximum aortic diameters (74 vs 66 mm, p < 0.01) and were less likely to have iliac aneurysms (p <.001). Women were more likely to have concomitant femoral endarterectomy (8.5% vs 4.6%, p=.03). Despite having no significant difference in complication or reintervention rates, women had higher rates of in-hospital mortality (45.9% vs 34.5%, p < 0.01). In a logistic regression model for predictors of in-hospital mortality (χ2 < .01), increased age (OR 1.08, p < 0.01), female sex (OR 1.7, p=0.02), preoperative cardiac arrest (OR 5.29, p<0.01), concurrent iliac stenting (OR 2.38, p =0.02), postoperative mesenteric ischemia (OR 2.51, p<0.01) and postoperative transfusion (OR 1.06, p <0.01) were independently associated with in-hospital mortality. Increased preoperative hemoglobin was protective (OR 0.89, p < 0.01) CONCLUSIONS: Female sex is independently associated with in-hospital mortality after EVAR for rAAA, suggesting a relationship beyond anatomical, biochemical, and procedural covariates.
Ways & Means Bill Lobbyist Change-Less Subpart F More Profit Shifting

This is a letter to the editor of Tax Notes Federal that highlights some changes to subsections (d) and (e) of section 954. These are the definitional rules for what is foreign base company sales income and foreign base company services income. I see this as something that was likely drafted by a disingenuous lobbyist to fall under the radar so that no one would notice it. It significantly reduces what would be subpart F income under current law. This reduction comes from two things. First, a new limitation greatly reduces the transactions that will cause FBCSI and FBCSvcI. Second, the change completely eliminates the FBCSI "branch rule" from the law, something that goes completely unmentioned in both the W-M and JCT section-by-section summaries. Not only does the change in the law look really innocuous, but this major revenue loser shows up in the JCT estimated revenue figures as a revenue gainer since it is mixed in with other items included in the same section of the draft bill. This is a major revenue loser because each dollar that is transformed from subpart F income to GILTI will be taxed at the significantly lower GILTI tax rate. Further, some of this income could be covered by the QBAI exemption that would continue under the Ways & Means bill. Any such income would be free of any U.S. tax and could be repatriated under the section 245A dividend received deduction. This is clearly something that should be eliminated from the bill before it gets enacted.
Philosophy of Religion: An Historical Introduction

(2010). Philosophy of Religion: An Historical Introduction. Ars Disputandi: Vol. 10, No. 1, pp. 107-111.
A Model for the Origin of Anisotropic Grain Boundary Character Distributions in Polycrystalline Materials

A model is described for the development of anisotropic grain boundary character distributions from initially random distributions. The model is based on biased topological changes in the grain boundary network that eliminate and create boundaries during grain growth. The grain boundary energy influences the rates of these topological changes by altering the relative areas of the interfaces. The model predicts grain boundary character distributions that are inversely related to the grain boundary energy and are consistent with experimental observations.
Canonical Dual Transformation Method and Generalized Triality Theory in Nonsmooth Global Optimization

This paper presents, within a unified framework, a potentially powerful canonical dual transformation method and associated generalized duality theory in nonsmooth global optimization. It is shown that by the use of this method, many nonsmooth/nonconvex constrained primal problems in \realn can be reformulated into certain smooth/convex unconstrained dual problems in \realm with m≤slant n and without duality gap, and some NP-hard concave minimization problems can be transformed into unconstrained convex minimization dual problems. The extended Lagrange duality principles proposed recently in finite deformation theory are generalized suitable for solving a large class of nonconvex and nonsmooth problems. The very interesting generalized triality theory can be used to establish nice theoretical results and to develop efficient alternative algorithms for robust computations.
Simultaneous inhibition of caudal medullary raphe and retrotrapezoid nucleus decreases breathing and the CO2 response in conscious rats

The medullary raphe (MR) and the retrotrapezoid nucleus (RTN) in the ventral medulla are two of many central chemoreceptor sites. We examine their combined function in conscious rats by focal inhibition using microdialysis. Inhibition of RTN neurons with the GABAA receptor agonist muscimol, with simultaneous dialysis of artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF) in or near to the caudal MR, causes hypoventilation (decrease in the ratio of minute ventilation to oxygen consumption, ) and reduces the ventilatory response to 7% CO2 by 24%. Inhibition of caudal MR serotonergic neurons with the 5-HT1A receptor agonist (R)-(+)-8-hydroxy-2(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT), with simultaneous dialysis of ACSF in or near to the RTN, causes hypoventilation but has no significant effect on the CO2 response. Inhibition of both the RTN and the caudal MR simultaneously produces enhanced hypoventilation and a 51% decrease in the CO2 response. The effects of treatment on the CO2 response are similar in wakefulness and in non-rapid eye movement sleep. Comparison of the effect of 8-OH-DPAT microdialysed into a more rostral portion of the MR, where the CO2 response is reduced by 22%, demonstrates heterogeneity within the MR of the function of serotonergic neurons in breathing. We conclude that serotonergic neurons within the caudal MR provide a non-CO2-dependent tonic drive to breathe and potentiate the effects of RTN neurons that contribute to a resting chemical ‘drive to breathe’ as well as the response to added CO2. These effects of caudal MR serotonergic neurons could be at a chemoreceptor site, e.g. the RTN, or at ‘downstream’ sites involved in rhythm and pattern generation.
Emergency Department Management of Atrial Fibrillation and Flutter and Patient Quality of Life at One Month Postvisit

Study objective We identify characteristics of patients with atrial fibrillation or flutter associated with favorable assessments of emergency department (ED) effectiveness and 30-day quality of life. Methods As part of a prospective observational study of ED management and short-term outcomes of patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation or flutter, we adapted a disease-specific quality-of-life instrument. By telephone, we administered the Atrial Fibrillation Effect on Quality-of-life survey to patients 30 days after an ED visit in which they were treated for newly diagnosed or recent-onset atrial fibrillation or flutter and discharged home. We also asked respondents to rate the effectiveness of ED treatment. Using data prospectively collected in the ED and extracted from electronic health records, we recorded rhythm management (cardioversion attempts and type) and patient and ED treatment characteristics. Using multivariable regression, we examined the association between these characteristics and patient-reported effectiveness of ED treatment ("very effective" or not) and any atrial fibrillation or flutter quality-of-life effect. Results Six hundred fifty-two eligible ED patients (response rate 89%) treated between May 2011 and November 2012 completed follow-up. Of these patients, 454 (69.6%) reported that their ED treatment was "very effective" and 113 (17.3%) reported no quality-of-life influence. In multivariable analyses, there was an association between ED electrocardioversion and perceived ED effectiveness (P Conclusion In this observational study, ED rhythm management strategy was associated with greater perceived effectiveness of the ED visit but not with a difference in 30-day quality-of-life score.