cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
PowerPC/sup (TM)/ array verification methodology using formal techniques

In this paper we discuss the methodology used on PowerPC RISC microprocessors to verify the correctness of embedded array blocks. The functional behavior of these blocks cannot be verified using traditional functional simulators since the search space is too large. Our methodology combines the use of equivalence checking formal methods, simulation using ATPG test vectors, and symbolic trajectory evaluation We discuss how these techniques are applied to verify the operation of an array in during design representation formats. We also discuss how these techniques can be used for checking the consistency of different design representations.
Improving route discovery in on-demand routing protocols using two-hop connected dominating sets

Many signaling or data forwarding operations involve the broadcasting of packets, which incurs considerable collisions in ad hoc networks based on a contention-based channel access protocol. We propose the Threehop Horizon Pruning (THP) algorithm to compute two-hop connected dominating set (TCDS) using only local topology information (i.e., two-hop neighborhood). Because every node has the two-hop neighborhood information, it is possible to maintain fresh routes to all nodes within two hops. In this situation, a TCDS is ideal for the propagation of route request (RREQ) messages in the route discovery process of on-demand routing protocols. THP is shown to be more ecient than all prior distributed broadcasting mechanisms,
Rational curves and (0, 2)-deformations

Abstract We compare the count of (0, 2)-deformation moduli fields for N = ( 2 , 2 ) conformal field theories on orbifolds and sigma-models on resolutions of the orbifold. The latter involves counting deformations of the tangent sheaf. We see there is generally a discrepancy which is expected to be explained by worldsheet instanton corrections coming from rational curves in the orbifold resolution. We analyze the rational curves on the resolution to determine such corrections and discover that irreducible toric rational curves account for some, but not all, of the discrepancy. In particular, this proves that there must be worldsheet instanton corrections beyond those from smooth isolated rational curves.
Challenges Confronting the Researcher/Teacher: Conflicts of Purpose and Conduct

An increasing number of university faculty appreciate that the role of classroom teacher offers a valuable research perspective (Richardson, 1994). However, striving to be both a researcher and a teacher presents unique and serious challenges. I refer to the Aristotelian distinction between the theoretical and practical "sciences" to characterize the nature of the conflicts I experienced as a researcher/teacher. I go on to describe how it became necessary to renegotiate traditional classroom values and expectations so that the activity of research might become a more productive part of the instructional experience. I suggest that similar kinds of tensions may be inherent to any responsible, inquiry-oriented teaching and that these challenges create opportunities to contemplate important issues about the nature of research, teaching, and curriculum.
Contactor servomechanisms employing sampled data

A SINUSOIDAL RESPONSE method of analysis and synthesis of a contactor servomechanism employing sampled data in the error channel is introduced. Fig. 1 shows the block diagram of the particular servo system under investigation. Due to the presence of the sampler, clamper, and contactor the system is discontinuous in time as well as being nonlinear. An exact system performance can be obtained only by laborious computations, moreover, no exact analytic solution in closed form can be obtained. However, much can be learned about the system by employing a sinusoidal response technique. Although an approximate method, the sinusoidal method provides a useful guide in analysis and synthesis.
Towards planar GaAs nanowire array high electron mobility transistor

We have demonstrated the first planar III–V nanowire (NW) based high electron mobility transistor (NW-HEMT) with self-assembled &#60;110> planar GaAs NWs capped with Si-doped AlGaAs sheath as the channel. In contrast to vertical NW-FETs and post-growth aligned NW-FETs, self-assembled planar NW-FETs are well compatible with planar processing and can be deterministically positioned by patterning the Au catalysts [1][2]. The core-shell NW-HEMT heterostructure leaves the GaAs NWs undoped which avoids the issue of NW doping non-uniformity [3][4]. Therefore, device electrical uniformity can be achieved from uniform NWs because the epitaxial growth of AlGaAs thin film is well understood and controllable both in thickness and doping concentration.
Sphere-covering and measure concentration as source coding theorems

We state and solve a general version of the rate-distortion problem. We show that its answer contains, as corollaries: (i) Stein's lemma in hypothesis testing; (ii) Shannon's (1959) lossy source coding theorem; and (iii) new converses to measure-concentration inequalities.
Infectious Disease Pathology

The anatomic pathologist performs an important role in the diagnosis or exclusion of infectious diseases. The morphologic interpretation of biopsies and cytologic preparations allows for the definitive establishment or exclusion of a wide variety of diseases. Once the pathologist has determined that a disease is likely to be due to an infection and has characterized the inflammatory response, associated microorganisms or viral-associated cytopathic effects should be recorded. Although some microorganisms or their cytopathic effects may be clearly visible on routine hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections, additional histochemical stains are often needed for their complete characterization. Highly specific molecular techniques, such as immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, and nucleic acid amplification, may be needed in certain instances to establish the diagnosis of infection. Through appropriate morphologic diagnoses and interlaboratory communication and collaboration, the anatomic pathologist contributes greatly to the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases.
The role of physicians in conflicts and humanitarian crises. Case studies from the field missions of Physicians for Human Rights, 1988 to 1993.

Violations of human rights in wars, civil conflicts, and brutal repression mounted by governments against their own citizens often have profound consequences to individual and public health and may, in turn, produce humanitarian crises. The skills of physicians, medical and forensic scientists, and other health workers are uniquely valuable in human rights investigations and documentation, producing evidence of abuse more credible and less vulnerable to challenge than traditional methods of case reporting. Only in recent decades, however, have physicians organized specifically to meet this responsibility. This article presents case studies from the field missions of Physicians for Human Rights to illustrate the investigation and documentation of violations of medical neutrality, refugee health crises, the use of indiscriminate weapons, torture, deliberate injury and rape, and mass executions. Participation of health workers in the defense of human rights now includes investigation and documentation of health effects in threatened populations as well as individual victims. ( JAMA . 1993;270:616-620)
First Report of Race 3 of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici in Southeastern Florida.

Race 3 of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici, cause of Fusarium wilt of tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum, was first recognized in Florida in 1982 on the west coast (Hillsborough and Manatee count...
Inflammation and Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis, formerly considered a bland lipid storage disease, actually involves an ongoing inflammatory response. Recent advances in basic science have established a fundamental role for inflammation in mediating all stages of this disease from initiation through progression and, ultimately, the thrombotic complications of atherosclerosis. These new findings provide important links between risk factors and the mechanisms of atherogenesis. Clinical studies have shown that this emerging biology of inflammation in atherosclerosis applies directly to human patients. Elevation in markers of inflammation predicts outcomes of patients with acute coronary syndromes, independently of myocardial damage. In addition, low-grade chronic inflammation, as indicated by levels of the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein, prospectively defines risk of atherosclerotic complications, thus adding to prognostic information provided by traditional risk factors. Moreover, certain treatments that reduce coronary risk also limit inflammation. In the case of lipid lowering with statins, this anti-inflammatory effect does not appear to correlate with reduction in low-density lipoprotein levels. These new insights into inflammation in atherosclerosis not only increase our understanding of this disease, but also have practical clinical applications in risk stratification and targeting of therapy for this scourge of growing worldwide importance.
Change detection techniques

Timely and accurate change detection of Earth's surface features is extremely important for understanding relationships and interactions between human and natural phenomena in order to promote better decision making. Remote sensing data are primary sources extensively used for change detection in recent decades. Many change detection techniques have been developed. This paper summarizes and reviews these techniques. Previous literature has shown that image differencing, principal component analysis and post-classification comparison are the most common methods used for change detection. In recent years, spectral mixture analysis, artificial neural networks and integration of geographical information system and remote sensing data have become important techniques for change detection applications. Different change detection algorithms have their own merits and no single approach is optimal and applicable to all cases. In practice, different algorithms are often compared to find the best change detection results for a specific application. Research of change detection techniques is still an active topic and new techniques are needed to effectively use the increasingly diverse and complex remotely sensed data available or projected to be soon available from satellite and airborne sensors. This paper is a comprehensive exploration of all the major change detection approaches implemented as found in the literature.
Triprotonated Hydrogen Sulfide: Pentacoordinate Sulfonium Trication SH3+5 and the Search for its Parent Pentacoordinate Oxonium Trication OH3+5

The pentahydridosulfonium trication SH3+5 was found by ab initio MP2/ 6-31G** and QCISD(T)/6-311G** levels of calculation to be a stable minimum with Cs symmetric structure 1. It is isostructural with the parent pentacoordinate carbonium ion CH+5. Structure 1 resembles a complex between SH3+3 and molecular hydrogen forming a 2e–3c bond. This structure involving a pentaco-ordinate sulfur atom is unprecedented. Rotation of the H2 unit around the pseudo-C3 axis of SH3 is facile. The structure of SF3+5 was also calculated and compared with that of 1. In addition, our studies at the ab initio MP2/6-31G** level showed that the parent pentacoordinate oxonium trication OH3+5 is not a minimum on its potential energy surface, and dissociation into OH2+4 and H+ occurs upon optimization.
Symposium on gravity surveys in western North America

Gravity surveys involve one of the most routine and frequently used types of geophysical measurements; they are made with a steadily improving precision that now exceeds 1 part in 100,000,000 and probably rank among the most sensitive of routine scientific techniques. The surveys have a wide variety of industrial, military, and research applications and are now made by commercial companies, government agencies, universities, and research institutions, each of which has different objectives and operating procedures. The results of some surveys have commercial and military objectives. Consequently, the data remain confidential and unpublished for many years; the objectives of other groups require complicated analyses that also tend to delay publication.
Functional complementation by electroporation of human BACs into mammalian fibroblast cells

Bacterial Artificial Chromosomes (BACs) have been used to complement a metabolic defect and to transfer a drug resistance marker into mammalian cells by electroporation. The selectable markers are stable and the recipient cells have BAC DNA integrated into the chromosomes as shown by fluorescent in situ hybridization, PCR and Southern hybridization.
Life Table Studies of European Corn Borer (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) with and without Inoculative Releases of Trichogramma ostriniae (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae)

Abstract Life table studies of European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner), populations with and without inoculative releases of Trichogramma ostriniae (Peng & Chen) were conducted in sweet corn and field corn. Inoculative releases of T. ostriniae (at 72,000 females per hectare) provided relatively high parasitism of European corn borer eggs (≈37%) throughout the season. The increase in egg parasitism was not offset by compensatory changes in other mortality rates such as egg predation, eggs not hatching, and death of early instars after egg hatch. Early instar disappearance was a key mortality factor accounting for >70% of total mortality from egg deposition to established larvae. Egg parasitism by T. ostriniae was also a key mortality factor. Releases of T. ostriniae increased total egg and larval mortality of O. nubilalis from 61 to 92% in sweet corn and from 80 to 93% in field corn.
Chloroplast-Retention in Ciliated Protozoa

Plastid-retention differs in important respects from algal endosymbiosis. Unlike endosymbionts, plastids lack the genes that code for the polymerases necessary to replicate their own DNA. Thus, unless suitable nuclear gene products are present in the host cell and transferred to the plastids, the plastids cannot replicate and are evolutionarily dead. However, many protozoans have evolved mechanisms to “enslave” plastids. These adaptations range from perhaps fortuitous to apparently highly evolved. They present us with the opportunity to study organelle-cell interactions and mixotrophy (use of alternative modes of nutrition; e.g., photosynthesis and phagocytosis) from a unique perspective.
Abstract TP151: Stenting of Symptomatic Intracranial Stenosis Using Balloon Mounted Coronary Stents: A Single Center Experience

Introduction: The SAMMPRIS trial demonstrated that stenting for symptomatic intracranial stenosis (ICS) (70-99%) with the Wingspan system is significantly more dangerous than best medical management. The Wingspan involves a complicated four step deployment procedure; when conversely, the balloon mounted coronary stent (BMCS) is a single step process without the need for an exchange maneuver. Based on our experience, we hypothesize that intracranial stenting with BMCS is a less complicated, clinically viable alternative for patients with symptomatic ICS. Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of all patients at our center with symptomatic ICS (defined as >70%) and attempted placement of BMCS (n=37) between 12/2005-6/2012. Pretreatment ICS was measured by conventional cerebral angiography in all cases. Clinical outcomes included peri-procedural stroke or death prior to hospital discharge and all cause stroke or mortality within serial follow-up. Procedural outcomes included complications of stent placement and long-term stent patency. Follow-up was obtained up to 48 months with a mean follow-up of 18.5 months. Results: BMCS was attempted in 37 patients (14 women, 23 men; age range 30-80 years, mean 60.8 years). There was a 97% technical success rate for the procedure with one patient suffering an asymptomatic MCA dissection. Two patients (5.4%) had small peri-procedural infarcts. There were no peri-procedural deaths. At one year follow-up, there were three non-stroke related deaths (8%), one asymptomatic stent occlusion at three months follow-up and five patients requiring angioplasty for restenosis. There were two late infarcts, one not in distribution of the stent, and one in a patient who was taken off antiplatelet regimen. Angiography in these patients demonstrated stent patency. Conclusion: This small single center experience suggests that BMCS may be a safer, less complicated, and clinically viable alternative to the Wingspan stent for patients with symptomatic ICS who fail best medical therapy. Further prospective comparative studies of BMCS for symptomatic ICS would be required to verify this experience.
Offshore wind energy systems using high frequency isolated current-fed modular converters

In this paper a new offshore wind energy power conversion architecture with grid integration using HVDC link is presented. Multi-MW multiple three-phase winding Permanent Magnetic Synchronous Generators (PMSG) captures the offshore wind energy. Each of the three-phase winding of PMSG are connected to Current Source Converters (CSC) that are controlled by MPPT. The outputs of these CSCs are series connected to from an intermediate medium voltage bus. Modular Input Series Output Parallel (ISOP) Current-Fed High Frequency (CF-HF) DC-DC converter provides galvanic isolation to the outputs of series connected CSCs and isolates them from High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) link. The outputs of CF-HF DC-DC converters from different Multi-MW PMSGs are series connected to form HVDC link. At the grid interface, ISOP connection of CF-HF DC-DC converter modules are employed to provide isolation and to maintain a constant HVDC-link current. Voltage source converters (VSC) connected to the output of the DC-DC converters provides grid interface. Control and modeling of the proposed system are detailed. Simulation results demonstrate the proposed power conversion architecture control and operation.
Meta-analytic evidence for the persuasive effect of narratives on beliefs, attitudes, intentions, and behaviors

ABSTRACTAlthough narratives are often credited with the capacity to change opinions, empirical tests of this prediction have produced mixed results. To provide a more precise test of narrative's effect on beliefs, attitudes, intentions, and behaviors, we performed meta-analyses on studies that evaluated narrative's persuasive influence on these outcomes. Results suggested positive relationships between exposure to a narrative and narrative-consistent beliefs (k = 37; N = 7,376; r = .17), attitudes (k = 40; N = 7,132; r = .19), intentions (k = 28; N = 5,211; r = .17), and behaviors (k = 5; N = 978; r = .23). Moderator analyses on the effect of fictionality yielded mixed results. Neither medium of presentation nor research design influenced the magnitude of the narrative-persuasion relationship. However, results suggested the presence of unidentified moderators.
Characterization and bonding of the cation [Ge[N(C6H3-2,6-i-Pr2)CMe](2)CH](+): comparison with the isoelectronic Ga[N(C6H3-2,6-i-Pr2)CMe](2)CH.

Reaction of Ge(Cl)Dipp2nacnac (Dipp2nacnac = {N(C6H3-2,6-i-Pr2)C(Me)}2CH) with B(C6F5)3 in the presence of H2O affords the salt [Ge(Dipp2nacnac)][HO{B(C6F5)3}2] whose cation [Ge(Dipp2nacnac)]+ is isoelectronic to its neutral gallium analogue Ga(Dipp2nacnac).
Morphing Structural Concepts Evaluation Criteria Using Dimensionless Analysis and Computer Simulation

Predicting the behavior of new airplanes or space structures that undergo large geometry changes in flight present an engineering and scientific challenge. NASA’s Morphing Project and the International Space Station program are both facing these challenges. The task at hand is the study of methodologies to assist engineers and scientists in evaluating and analyzing these so called “morphing” structures. In order to establish a methodology several approaches from dimensionless parameter determinations to solid modelling and computer simulation methods have been used. The determination of critical parameters and in which way they can be used to gain an appreciation of the value of a concept is an integral part of this research. Computer models that use finite element models combined with state of the art dynamic system simulation techniques such as Bond Graph Modelling are presented to demonstrate not only the concept but also structural performance under loads. Several factors from weight, structural responses, volume, and mechanical/electrical power are all considered to establish a criterion to compare different designs. Also presented is historical data to compare new designs to existing designs on the basis of weight.
Electric Field Energy Harvesting Around AC Transmission Line Using Impedance Conversion of Transformer

To provide safe and reliable power supply for the on-line monitoring system equipped around the transmission line, we proposed an electric field energy harvesting method to harvest electric field energy away from the power transmission line. The principle of the proposed electric field energy harvesting method was analyzed, and the palisade harvester was designed based on the fringe effect of plate capacitor. The principle and the effect of palisade harvester were verified by experiment, in which the stray capacitance was 43 p F between the harvester and the upper plate of the electric field generator, when the testing voltage was 50 k V, about 257 m W was obtained on a 300 ? resistor. By optimizing the harvesting plate, enough energy can be harvested to power the transmission on-line monitoring system.
Voronoi Diagram-based Mobile Element Schedule Algorithm

Mobile Element(ME) are usually exploited for collecting and relaying data in sparse wireless sensor networks.This paper proposes the Voronoi Diagram-based Mobile Element Schedule(VDMES) algorithm to construct the shortest possible path for ME data collection.ME are scheduled to visit a small subset of Voronoi vertices,which exactly covers all sensor nodes in a given transmission radius.Simulation experimental result shows that the path concatenating the Voronoi vertices is much shorter than that formed by regular sensor nodes.
Frailty and Cause-Specific Hospitalization Among Persons Aging With HIV Infection and Injection Drug Use.

Background Hospitalization events exact a substantial toll across the age spectrum. Frailty is associated with all-cause hospitalization among HIV-uninfected adults aged 65 years and older. Limited data exist on the frailty relationship to hospitalization among HIV-infected persons or those aged less than 65 years. Comparative investigation of the frailty relationship to specific classes of hospitalizations has rarely been reported among adults of any age. This study sought to determine the frailty relationship to three distinct classes of hospitalization events among HIV-infected persons and their uninfected counterparts. Methods Frailty was ascertained semiannually among persons with prior injection drug use using the five Fried phenotypic domains. Hospitalization events were categorized using Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality clinical classification software into chronic, infectious, and nonchronic, noninfectious conditions. Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine the frailty relationship to time to first hospitalization event. Results Among 1,303 subjects, mean age was 48 years; 32% were HIV-infected. Adjusting for sociodemographics, comorbidity, substance use, and HIV disease stage, time-updated frailty status was associated with risk for all hospitalization classes. Baseline frailty was significantly associated with all-cause (hazards ratio [HR] 1.41; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06, 1.87), chronic (HR 2.13; 95% CI, 1.46, 3.11), and infectious disease hospitalization (HR 2.51; 95% CI, 1.60, 3.91) but not with nonchronic, noninfectious hospitalization risk (HR 1.09; 95% CI, 0.74, 1.61). Conclusion The frailty phenotype predicts vulnerability to chronic and infectious disease-related hospitalization. Frailty-targeted interventions may mitigate the substantial burden of infectious and chronic disease-related morbidity and health care utilization in HIV-infected and uninfected populations.
Incorporating Communication into the Theory of Planned Behavior to Predict Condom Use Among African American Women

The present research extends the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to investigate how communication-related variables influence condom use intention and behavior among African American women. According to the TPB, attitudes, subjective norms, and self-efficacy are associated with behavioral intent, which predicts behavior. For women, it was argued that condom negotiation self-efficacy was more important than condom use self-efficacy in predicting consistent condom use. Moreover, an important environmental factor that affects condom use for African American women is fear or worry when negotiating condom use because the sex partners might leave, threaten, or abuse them. Fears associated with negotiating condom use were predicted to be negatively associated with attitudes, subjective norms, and self-efficacy. African American women (N = 560; M age = 20.58) completed assessments of TPB variables at baseline and condom use 3 months later. Condom negotiation self-efficacy was a significant indicator of behaviora...
Cytogenetics of soft tissue tumors.

The past decade has witnessed tremendous advances in our understanding of the chromosomal and DNA mutations responsible for soft tissue sarcomas. Many research groups have characterized cytogenetic and molecular genetic mutations in soft tissue sarcomas, and a surprising number of sarcoma mutations have proved to be specific for particular histologies (Tables 1 and 2). Virtually all malignant soft tissue tumors contain clonal cytogenetic aberrations [1–4], and clonal cytogenetic aberrations are also found in many benign soft tissue tumors [2–4]. Sarcoma cytogenetic aberrations arise by diverse physical mechanisms. Common mechanisms include deletions, amplifications, and rearrangements of various chromosomal regions.
Semantics-Based Threat Structure Mining for Homeland Security

1RUTGERS University, CIMIC, Newark, New Jersey, U.S.A. (email: adam, vandana, aabhas, atluri@cimic.rutgers.edu); 2City University of New York, Staten Island, New York, U.S.A. (email: chun@mail.csi.cuny.edu); 3Operations and Emergency Management, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, U.S.A. (email: jfcooper, jpaczkow@panynj.gov); 4SAP Labs, LLC, Palo Alto Research Center, Palo Alto, California, U.S.A. (email: christof.bornhoevd, joachim.schaper@sap.com)
Galbraith’s Preference Mappings: Needs and Wants Evidence from the 2005 Consumer Budget Study

(2008). Galbraith’s Preference Mappings: Needs and Wants Evidence from the 2005 Consumer Budget Study. Journal of Economic Issues: Vol. 42, No. 3, pp. 853-862.
Hormonal therapy in female pattern hair loss.

Female pattern hair loss is the most common cause of hair loss in women and one of the most common problems seen by dermatologists. This hair loss is a nonscarring alopecia in which loss occurs on the vertex scalp, generally sparing the frontal hairline. Hair loss can have significant psychosocial effects on patients, and treatment can be long and difficult. The influence of hormones on the pathogenesis of female pattern hair loss is not entirely known. The purpose of this paper is to review physiology and potential hormonal mechanisms for the pathogenesis of female pattern hair loss. We also discuss the current hormonal and hormone-modifying therapies that are available to providers as they partner with patients to treat this frustrating issue.
Colorectal cancer in 2017: Practice-changing updates in the adjuvant and metastatic setting.

2017 has been full of new discoveries that will influence the treatment of colorectal cancer. In the adjuvant setting, 3 months of chemotherapy might now be considered a new standard of care. Various other new treatments and promising biomarkers have also become available that will improve survival outcomes and the quality of life of many patients with metastatic disease.
DISCRIMINACIÓN: EL CASO DE LORENZA CAYUHÁN

El articulo se refiere a la sentencia de la Corte Suprema chilena que acogio un recurso de amparo en favor de Lorenza Cayuhan, embarazada privada de libertad, para cuyo traslado se aplicaron medidas de seguridad que se prolongaron hasta el momento del parto. Se destaca la utilizacion del concepto de discriminacion “interseccional” para fundamentar la decision en favor de la peticionaria. Se plantea que este caso permite ilustrar la necesidad de incorporar la perspectiva de genero en el ambito penitenciario. Full version of this article (English)
Quantum Networks for Distributed Quantum Information Processing

Quantum networks for the processing and distribution of quantum information could consist of quantum “nodes” for the manipulation and storage of quantum information, with these nodes linked by quantum “channels” for the transmission of quantum states. The leading proposal for the realization of such networks utilizes atoms within optical cavities as the “nodes.” Conversion of internal atomic state information into optical photons that propagate from one cavity to another forms the basis for the “channels.” Unfortunately, even in terms of laboratory “proof-of-principle” demonstrations, technical capabilities are far short of those required to implement such quantum networks. However, along the road to these ends, there lies a rich set of scientific problems that are the subject of this paper, including nonlinear optics with single atoms and photons, trapping of individual atoms within high finesse optical cavities, and teleportation of quantum states.
Behavior Management of Recurrent Pain in Children

Recurrent pain represents a clinically significant health problem for many children and adolescents. Recurrent pain is characterized by repeated painful episodes experienced across several months that occur in the absence of well-defined organic pathology. The most common types of recurrent pain involve headaches and recurrent abdominal pain (RAP), and those most affected are typically school-aged children and adolescents who are usually healthy and pain-free between episodes.
The diagnostic decision in uncertainty circumstances

In the paper a trial was made to describe selected dependability characteristic of technical objects. The creation of dependability related states of an object was considered. Triangularly probability distribution was used in order to describe in detail the characteristics such as inefficiency recognition threshold and limiting value of diagnostic parameter.
Häufige Fehldiagnosen bei exanthematischen Krankheiten

Exantheme spielen in der inneren Medizin, besonders bei den Infektionskrankheiten, aber auch in verschiedenen anderen Bereichen, eine wichtige differentialdiagnostische Rolle. Bei der Beurteilung eines Exanthems sind folgende Kriterien zu berucksichtigen: Art (z.B. Macula, Papula, Vesikula, Pustula, Urticaria, Hamorrhagie), Farbe, Grose und Lokalisation der Effloreszenzen sowie Verlauf und ubrige klinische Krankheitserscheinungen einschlieslich der Anamnese.
A Qualitative Examination of African Americans’ Organ Donation-Related Medical Mistrust Beliefs

Medical mistrust is one of the most prominent barriers to organ donation registration for African Americans, who comprise a disproportionate number of individuals on the organ transplant waiting li...
Situated experimental agents for scientific discovery

Robotics-based scientific methodologies carry substantial warrant from decades of success within biorobotics ( 1 ). Increasingly clever robot designs provide platforms for both testing neuromechanical hypotheses as well as demonstrating progress toward emulating animal-like agility and dexterity. Robots as physical models for biological organisms, however, only scratch the surface of the vast potential for robotics to serve a broader and more revolutionary scientific purpose. Over the past decade, a breadth of scientific insight has materialized that is attributable to integrating robots into experimental science outside traditional areas of biorobotics or purpose-driven robot design. This nascent field of “robophysics” has led to a predictive theory of terradynamics within complex rheological substrates ( 2 ), a unifying geometric dynamics of self-propulsion ( 3 ), and an entirely new experimental behavioral biology of eusocial and collective animals ( 4 ). Even limited and relatively unsophisticated robotic interactions have been revealing emergent properties while simultaneously challenging theorists to realistically account for sources of noise, uncertainty, and variability that have yet to be modeled. In addition to robophysical interaction, integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into experimental design has led to systems capable of autonomously shaping experimental discovery. Salient advances have stemmed from the University of Glasgow, where evolutionary algorithms and machine learning have been used to evolve functional molecule synthesis while also uncovering relationships between nonlinear chemical environments and the collective behavior of biological protocells ( 5 , 6 …
Exposome-wide association study of semen quality: Systematic discovery of endocrine disrupting chemical biomarkers in fertility require large sample sizes.

OBJECTIVES Exposome-wide association studies (EWAS) are a systematic and unbiased way to investigate multiple environmental factors associated with phenotype. We applied EWAS to study semen quality and queried the sample size requirements to detect modest associations in a reproductive cohort. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING We conducted 1) a multivariate EWAS of 128 endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) from 15 chemical classes measured in urine/serum relative to 7 semen quality endpoints in a prospective cohort study comprising 473 men and 2) estimated the sample size requirements for EWAS etiologic investigations. RESULTS None of the EDCs were associated with semen quality endpoints after adjusting for multiple tests. However, several EDCs (e.g., polychlorinated biphenyl congeners 99, 105, 114, and 167) were associated with raw p < 0.05. In a post hoc statistical power analysis with the observed effect sizes, we determined that EWAS research in male fertility will require a mean sample size of 2696 men (1795-3625) to attain a power of 0.8. The average size of four published studies is 201 men. CONCLUSION Existing cohort studies with hundreds of participants are underpowered (<0.8) for EWAS-related investigations. Merging cohorts to ensure a sufficient sample size can facilitate the use of EWAS methods for assessing EDC mixtures that impact semen quality.
Poverty Measurement in the Era of Food Away from Home : Testing Alternative Approaches in Vietnam

Food consumed outside the home in restaurants or other food establishments is a growing segment of consumption in many developing countries. However, the survey methods that are utilized to collect data on expenditures on food away from home are often simplistic and could potentially result in inaccurate reporting. This study addresses the potential inaccuracy of commonly used methods and tests potentially superior methods to inform best practices when collecting data on consumption of food away from home. A household survey experiment was implemented in Hanoi, Vietnam, to test these different methods. Using a food away from home consumption diary as a benchmark, the study finds that many of the alternative methods considered -- including asking about consumption in one line (the existing practice in Vietnam) or asking each individual about their food away from home -- lead to underreporting (33 and 22 percent underestimates, respectively). Surprisingly, using one respondent and helping them with recall with a simple worksheet as well as bounding (two-visits) results in food away from home estimates that are indistinguishable from those reported in the benchmark diary. This finding implies that there is a more cost-effective way to collect accurate data on food away from home than an intensive daily diary. Furthermore, it highlights the inaccuracy associated with collecting data on consumption of food away from home from a single question in a survey. Although limited analysis can be conducted on the implications for poverty, the study finds that the profiles of the poorest households differ across different methods of collecting information on food consumed away from home.
Big Data Challenges from a Nursing Perspective

Nursing’s holistic perspective and focus on responses to actual or potential health problems has significant implications for the benefits, promise, and challenges of big data streams and data science methods for nursing. The purpose of this chapter is to summarize the benefits and key challenges related to big data streams and data science from the perspective of nursing. The benefits and challenges are considered from the components of data governance, data science infrastructure, and data science pipeline and illustrated through six case examples: (a) electronic health records and symptom science, (b) omics, (c) dementia caregiving and social media, (d) prediction and Sepsis Campaign, (e) intelligent sensors and aging in place, and (f) dashboards and nurse numeracy and graph literacy. In addition, two cross-cutting issues (ethical conduct of research and data science competencies) are addressed. Both the availability of data sources to address questions of interest to nurses and reports of the application of data science methods by nurses are on the rise. Expanding the data science infrastructure available to nurses and improving the data science competencies of nurses in various roles are key foundational priorities to increase the use of data science to advance nursing science, patient care, and health.
Off-Duty Deviance in the Eye of the Beholder: Implications of Moral Foundations Theory in the Age of Social Media

Drawing from moral foundations theory, we show that differences in sensitivity to distinct moral norms help explain differences in the perceived (un)fairness of punishing employees for off-duty deviance. We used an initial study to validate realistic examples of non-criminal behavior that were perceived as violating a specific moral foundation. Participants in the main study (n = 166) evaluated scenarios in which co-workers were fired for those behaviors, which took place outside of work but were revealed via social media. The extent to which participants valued the norm violated by the co-worker positively predicted perceived fairness of the firing, and negatively predicted expressed intent to take retributive action against the responsible manager. This effect was moderated by the presence of a pre-existing organizational policy regarding off-duty conduct, which uniformly decreased negative reactions to the firing. Because social media now makes the revelation of an employee’s off-duty behavior to a broad audience increasingly likely, our results suggest the importance of developing an approach for responding to employee off-duty deviance while highlighting the relevance of moral pluralism to the study of third-party reactions.
Cost-effectiveness of Interventions to Manage Diabetes: Has the Evidence Changed Since 2008?

OBJECTIVE To synthesize updated evidence on the cost-effectiveness (CE) of interventions to manage diabetes, its complications, and comorbidities. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We conducted a systematic literature review of studies from high-income countries evaluating the CE of diabetes management interventions recommended by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and published in English between June 2008 and July 2017. We also incorporated studies from a previous CE review from the period 1985–2008. We classified the interventions based on their strength of evidence (strong, supportive, or uncertain) and levels of CE: cost-saving (more health benefit at a lower cost), very cost-effective (≤$25,000 per life year gained [LYG] or quality-adjusted life year [QALY]), cost-effective ($25,001–$50,000 per LYG or QALY), marginally cost-effective ($50,001–$100,000 per LYG or QALY), or not cost-effective (>$100,000 per LYG or QALY). Costs were measured in 2017 U.S. dollars. RESULTS Seventy-three new studies met our inclusion criteria. These were combined with 49 studies from the previous review to yield 122 studies over the period 1985–2017. A large majority of the ADA-recommended interventions remain cost-effective. Specifically, we found strong evidence that the following ADA-recommended interventions are cost-saving or very cost-effective: In the cost-saving category are 1) ACE inhibitor (ACEI)/angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) therapy for intensive hypertension management compared with standard hypertension management, 2) ACEI/ARB therapy to prevent chronic kidney disease and/or end-stage renal disease in people with albuminuria compared with no ACEI/ARB therapy, 3) comprehensive foot care and patient education to prevent and treat foot ulcers among those at moderate/high risk of developing foot ulcers, 4) telemedicine for diabetic retinopathy screening compared with office screening, and 5) bariatric surgery compared with no surgery for individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2). In the very cost-effective category are 1) intensive glycemic management (targeting A1C CONCLUSIONS Complementing professional treatment recommendations, our systematic review provides an updated understanding of the potential value of interventions to manage diabetes and its complications and can assist clinicians and payers in prioritizing interventions and health care resources.
Three cases with three different causes of lip and mouth swelling

Background Allergists are often consulted to diagnose and manage patients presenting with edema of the lips, tongue and mouth. It is often feared that the swelling would extend and jeopardize the airway and therefore treatment for presumed anaphylaxis may be initiated. We present three cases where the presentation was thought to due to an allergic reaction, but the etiologies were determined to be different.
The impact of low pressure pneumoperitoneum in robotic assisted radical prostatectomy: a prospective, randomized, double blinded trial.

Robotic surgery has revolutionized postoperative outcomes across surgical specialties. However, the use of pneumoperitoneum comes with known risks given the change in physiological parameters that accompany its utilization. A recent internal review found a 7% decrease in postoperative ileus rates when utilizing a pneumoperitoneum of 12 mmHg over the standard 15 mmHg in robotic assisted radical prostatectomies (RARP). The purpose of this study is to prospectively evaluate the utility of lower pressure pneumoperitoneum by comparing 8 mmHg and 12 mmHg during RARP. Patients were randomly assigned to undergo robotic assisted radical prostatectomy at a pneumoperitoneum pressure of 12 mmHg or 8 mmHg. The primary outcome was development of postoperative ileus and secondary outcomes were length of operation, estimated blood loss and positive surgical margin status. A total of 201 patients were analyzed; 96 patients at 8 mmHg and 105 patients at 12 mmHg. The groups were adequately matched as there were no differences between demographic parameters or medical comorbidities. There was a decrease in postoperative ileus rates with lower pneumoperitoneum pressures; 2% at 8 mmHg and 4.8% at 12 mmHg. There were no clinically significant differences in estimated blood loss, total length of operative time and positive margin status. Lower pressure pneumoperitoneum during robotic assisted radical prostatectomy is non-inferior to higher pressure pneumoperitoneum levels and the experienced surgeon may safely perform this operation at 8 mmHg to take advantage of the proposed benefits.
Screening and Management of Obesity by Pediatric Residents

Background: Residents serve as front-line providers and play an important role caring for and counseling pediatric patients with obesity. Identifying practice patterns related to obesity screening and counseling by residents can inform efforts to improve success of obesity management. The objective of this study was to identify pediatric obesity diagnosis, screening and management patterns by pediatric residents. Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of preventive visits conducted by residents at an academic continuity practice …
Changes in Brain Matrix Glycan Sulfation Associate With Reactive Gliosis and Motor Coordination in Mice With Head Trauma

Perineuronal nets (PNNs) are extracellular matrix (ECM) structures that enmesh and regulate neurocircuits involved in motor and sensory function. Maladaptive changes to the composition and/or abundance of PNNs have been implicated in preclinical models of neuroinflammation and neurocircuit destabilization. The central nervous system (CNS) is limited in its capacity to repair and reorganize neural networks following traumatic brain injury (TBI) and little is known about mechanisms of ECM repair in the adult brain after TBI. In this study, adult male C57BL/6 mice were subjected to a TBI via a controlled cortical impact (CCI) to the right motor and somatosensory cortices. At 7 days following CCI, histological analysis revealed a loss of Wisteria floribunda agglutinin (WFA) positive PNN matrices in the ipsilateral cortex. PNNs are comprised of chondroitin sulfate (CS) and dermatan sulfate (DS)-glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), the composition of which are known to influence neuronal integrity and repair. Using an innovative liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method, we analyzed the relative abundance of six specific CS/DS-GAG isomers (Δ4S-, Δ6S-, Δ4S6S-, Δ2S6S-, Δ0S-CS, and Δ2S4S-DS) from fixed-brain sections after CCI injury. We report a significant shift in CS/DS-GAG sulfation patterns within the rostro-caudal extent of the injury site from mice exposed to CCI at 7 days, but not at 1 day, post-CCI. In the ipsilateral thalamus, the appearance of WFA+ puncta occurred in tandem with gliosis at 7 days post-CCI, but weakly colocalized with markers of gliosis. Thalamic WFA+ puncta showed moderate colocalization with neuronal ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCHL1), a clinical biomarker for TBI injury. A shift in CS/DS-GAG sulfation was also present in the thalamus including an increase of 6S-CS, which is a specific isomer that associates with the presence of glial scarring. Upregulation of the 6S-CS-specific sulfotransferase (CHST3) gene expression was accompanied by reactive gliosis in both the ipsilateral cortex and thalamus. Moreover, changes in 6S-CS extracted from the thalamus positively correlated with deficits in motor coordination after CCI. Collectively, these data argue that CCI alters CS/DS-GAG sulfation in association with the spatiotemporal progression of neurorepair. Therapeutic interventions targeting restoration of CS/DS-GAG sulfation patterns may improve outcomes from TBI.