cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Isolation and identification of a new ketone body in normal human urine.

SummaryMethyl ethyl ketone has been isolated from normal human urine and identified. Its possible origin was briefly discussed.
Sustained Propagation of Sarcoma 180 in Tissue Culture.

Summary1. A strain of Sarcoma 180 maintained by routine trocar implant passage in CFW mice has been isolated and serially propagated in vitro from biopsy specimens in a medium containing only the growth factors demonstrably essential for the HeLa cell and the L strain of mouse fibroblasts. The generation time in these media is circa 30 hrs and this cell line is now in the 32 nd transplant, having undergone more than 100 generations during 230 days in vitro. 2. Inocula prepared from these cultures after 215 days in vitro have produced characteristic sarcomata within 3-5 days in 100% of the CFW mice implanted subcutaneously with 1.0 × 105 or more cells. The ED50 in CFW mice is circa 4.5-5.0 × 103 cells, and the latent period between injection and the development of palpable tumors increases with decreasing inocula.
215 REACH OUT AND READ®: A CLINICALLY BASED PROGRAM TARGETING EARLY YOUTH LITERACY IN SHELTON, WASHINGTON.

Purpose of Project Shelton, WA, has a significant percentage of school-aged children failing to meet WASL standards in reading. A large proportion of the community is of ethnic minority and uses English as a second language. The national program Reach Out and Read (ROR) was initiated targeting early literacy in children ages 6 months to 5 years. The research shows that the ROR program is cost-effective and easy to implement in primary care offices and community hospitals. A randomized trial showed that programs, such as ROR, increase child-centered literacy orientation by nearly fivefold. Methods ROR was initiated at Shelton Family Medicine with the goal of promoting early youth literacy. This will be accomplished by giving 10 free books to children along with family counseling throughout well-child visits ages 6 months to 5 years. A patient assessment was done by interview to determine the receptiveness of the community to the ROR program. Results There was overwhelming support for the ROR program by parents, clinic staff, community organizations, and local literacy programs. New partnerships quickly grew between Shelton Family Medicine9s ROR program and: Mason County Literacy (adult literacy), Read Write program (ESL), Rotary Club, Shelton School District, and State Representative Kathryn Haigh. Conclusions Clinic-based programs targeting early youth literacy are both cost-effective and proven to improve child-centered literacy orientation. Such programs may also be effective in addressing adult literacy when partnered with other community programs.
Using Wireless EEG Signals to Assess Memory Workload in the $n$ -Back Task

Assessment of mental workload using physiological measures, especially electroencephalography (EEG) signals, is an active area. Recently, a number of wireless acquisition systems to measure EEG and other physiological signals have become available. Few studies have applied such wireless systems to assess cognitive workload and evaluate their performance. This paper presents an initial step to explore the feasibility of a popular wireless system (Emotiv EPOC headset) to assess memory workload levels in a well-known $n$ -back task. We developed a signal processing and classification framework, which integrated an automatic artifact removal algorithm, a broad spectrum of feature extraction techniques, a personalized feature scaling method, an information-theory-based feature selection approach, and a proximal-support-vector-machine-based classification model. The experimental results show that the wirelessly collected EEG signals can be used to classify different memory workload levels for nine participants. The classification accuracies between the lowest workload level (0-back) and active workload levels (1-, 2-, 3-back) were close to 100%. The best classification accuracy for 1- versus 2-back was 80%, and 1- versus 3-back was 84%. This study indicates that the wireless acquisition system and the advanced data analytics and pattern recognition techniques are promising to achieve real-time monitoring and identification of mental workload levels for humans engaged in a wide variety of cognitive activities in the modern society.
Sonifying Chemical Evolution.

This presentation-demonstration discusses the creation of FIRST LIFE, a 75-minute mixed media performance for string quartet, live audio processing, live motion capture video, and audience participation utilizing stochastic models of chemical data provided by Martha Grover’s Research Group at the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology. Each section of this work is constructed from contingent outcomes drawn from biochemical research exploring possible early Earth formations of organic compounds.
Local Ablative Therapies to Metastatic Soft Tissue Sarcoma

The approach to metastatic soft tissue sarcoma is complex and depends upon several factors, such as the extent of the disease, the histologic subtype of the primary tumor, the disease-free interval, patient status and comorbidities, and previous treatments. The effect of systemic chemotherapy is suboptimal, therefore local ablative therapies are often considered when the disease is limited, especially if confined to a single site/organ. Historically, surgery has been considered the treatment of choice for isolated lung metastases. This approach also has been extended to metastases in the liver, although a formal demonstration of its benefit has never been provided. Radiation therapy instead has been mainly used to obtain pain control and to reduce the risk of bone fracture and cord compression. Advances in techniques, such as the development of more precise conformational modalities and the employment of particles, may change the role of this modality in the strategic approach to metastatic soft tissue sarcoma. Recently, the use of interventional radiology in this scenario has expanded. Ablative approaches, such as radiofrequency ablation and cryoablation, have shown durable eradication of tumors. Catheter-directed therapies, such as hepatic artery embolization, are potential techniques for treating the patient who has multiple unresectable liver metastases. Understanding the timing and role of these three different modalities in the multidisciplinary approach to metastatic soft tissue sarcoma is critical to provide better care and to personalize the approach to the single patient.
Bahá’í Faith

The Baha’i Faith, which today has five to six million followers worldwide, emerged in the mid-nineteenth century when a Persian nobleman, known as Baha’u’llah (1817–1892 C. E.), had a vision of God’s will for humanity and proclaimed himself one of God’s Messengers. According to the Baha’i faithful, Baha’u’llah appeared as a successor to God’s previous great Earth-based Messengers, or Manifestations, among them Krishna, Buddha, Moses, Zoroaster, Jesus and Muhammad.
Commentary on current practices and future directions for the assessment of child and adolescent intelligence in schools around the world

As with prisons, chemotherapy, and root canals, one cannot be wholeheartedly enthusiastic about intelligence tests. Even we who are strong advocates for intelligence testing can identify with the r...
Correlation and Causation

This chapter discusses the topic of structural equation models that has been approached by considering the implications of causal relationships for observable correlations or, inversely, the problem of rendering a causal interpretation of observed correlations. Taking the correlation coefficient as a point of departure has been particularly characteristic of psychometrics. But sociology, as well, has depended heavily on this measure of the degree of linear association between two quantitative variables. It has been suggested that a more fundamental view of structural equation models is secured by foregoing the algebra of correlation.
Influence of Interactions on the Pyrolytic Characteristics of Basic Components

In real combustible solid waste (CSW), basic components do not exist independently. Therefore, how to describe real mixtures from basic components involves the interactions of basic components. The interaction effect is a complicated problem involving a large amount of experiments, and the mechanisms are also very complex. In this chapter, we are trying to have a preliminary understand of this problem. Since the number of interaction experiments is large, according to the preliminary tests, we choose two kinds of interacted effect for study. One is the interactions of lignocellulosic components (hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin), which have high fractions in CSW and usually present together. The other interactions studied in this chapter are the interactions between polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and lignocellulosic basic components. PVC is special due to the high chlorine content. In addition, the preliminary tests have shown that the interactions between PVC and biomass are strong. Limited by the number of experiments, this chapter only studies the mixture of 1:1, as the representative of interactions. Generally speaking, 1:1 is the ratio with relatively strong interacted effect. In this chapter, the slow pyrolysis characteristics in thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA), the fast pyrolysis characteristics in Macro-TGA, and the fast pyrolysis in the horizontal fixed bed reactor are investigated. To study the interacted effect, the experimental results of mixtures are compared with the superposition of single components.
Designing for Data with Ask Dr. Discovery: Design Approaches for Facilitating Museum Evaluation with Real-Time Data Mining

Ask Dr. Discovery is an NSF-funded study addressing the need for ongoing, large-scale museum evaluation while investigating new ways to encourage museum visitors to engage deeply with museum content. To realize these aims, we are developing and implementing a mobile app with two parts: (1) a front-end virtual scientist called Dr. Discovery (Dr. D) for use by museum visitors that doubles as an unobtrusive data-gatherer and (2) a back-end analytics portal to be mined by museum staff, evaluators, and researchers. With the aid of our museum partners, we are developing this app to function as a platform for STEM informal education, research, and data-driven decision-making by museum staff. The Dr. D app has been designed to engage museum visitors, while connecting with an analytic system to make sense, in real time, of the large amounts of data produced by visitors’ use of the app. The analytic system helps museum staff access and interpret ongoing evaluation data, regardless of experience or museum resources, informing the practice of professionals at the front lines of informal STEM education in diverse communities. The design of the Dr. D app incorporates open-source analytic tools that make the gathering and interpretation of contextual information from visitors’ app use accessible to museum staff and educators, building their capacity for using data in their day-to-day work. The same tools are being used by our research team to probe questions about informal learning and motivation, effective application of large datasets for museum evaluation, and ways to encourage and understand use of mobile virtual experiences. In this paper, we describe our theory-based design of the Dr. D app and data analytics and describe findings from initial user testing with our museum partners.
The Long-Lasting Blues: A New Record for Phosphorescent Organic Light-Emitting Diodes

In this issue of Chem , Wong et al. report a blue Ir(III)-based phosphorescent organic light-emitting diode (PHOLED) material with high efficiency and an operational lifetime of more than 2,200 hr in a working device. These characteristics make this material one of the most robust blue PHOLEDs reported to date.
What Does Sex Have to Do with It? The Role of Sex as a Biological Variable in the Development of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.

This review highlights the neurobiological aspects of sex differences in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), specifically focusing on the physiological responses to trauma and presents evidence supporting hormone and neurosteroid/peptide differences from both preclinical and clinical research. While others have suggested that trauma type or acute emotional reaction are responsible for women’s disproportionate risk to PTSD, neither of these explanations fully accounts for the sex differences in PTSD. Sex differences in brain neurocircuitry, anatomy, and neurobiological processes, such as those involved in learning and memory, are discussed as they have been implicated in risk and resilience for the development of PTSD. Gonadal and stress hormones have been found to modulate sex differences in the neurocircuitry and neurochemistry underlying fear learning and extinction. Preclinical research has not consistently controlled for hormonal and reproductive status of rodents nor have clinical studies consistently examined these factors as potential moderators of risk for PTSD. Sex as a biological variable (SABV) should be considered, in addition to the endocrine and reproductive status of participants, in all stress physiology and PTSD research.
Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Is a Team Sport: Institutional Survival Benefits of a Formalized ECMO Team.

Objectives At the authors’ institution, prior to 2014, patients requiring care in the peri-extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) period were treated by intensivists with specific training in ECMO but worked independently. This isolated form of care was addressed in late 2013 with the formal initiation of an ECMO team. The authors wanted to assess the difference in overall mortality for ECMO patients cared for prior to the initiation of a multidisciplinary team compared to after its establishment. Design This was a retrospective chart review-based study. Setting This was a single-center university-based hospital setting. Participants The study included all adult patients at the authors’ institution who required ECMO support between the years 2009 and 2017. Interventions The new multidisciplinary ECMO team established a set of protocols and guidelines to care for ECMO patients. The formal ECMO team consisted of cardiac surgery, cardiac anesthesia, intensivists, cardiology heart failure specialist, intensive care unit nursing (NP/RN), perfusion services, respiratory therapy, nutrition, physical and occupational therapy, and an ethics committee member. Measurements and Main Results Manual chart review was conducted and survival to discharge was collected and separated into 2 groups, 2009 to 2013 (pre-ECMO team) and 2014 to 2017 (post-ECMO team). In a total of 279 charts reviewed, patients required ECMO support. Survival to discharge for patients between 2009 and 2013 was 37.7% compared to a survival to discharge of 52.3% between 2014 and 2017 (p value = 0.02). Conclusions Patients cared for after the initiation of an ECMO team showed improved survival compared to patients cared for prior to the creation of the ECMO team.
Bank mergers and competition in Japan

Using H-statistic of the Panzar-Rosse model, this paper examines commercial bank merger waves in Japan and their effect on competition in the Japanese banking market during 1983-2006. The H-statistic is estimated separately for three different time periods, the boom, the burst and the recovery. This paper concludes that the bank mergers that took place in Japan have not led to a higher level of market power except during the period of financial crisis around the time of bubble burst. Recent mergers in the Japan’s banking sector do not seem to harm the competition level in the banking market. An increase in individual bank’s market share and an increase in overall market concentration have not materialized in higher net interest margin in Japan.
Structural Characterization of Molecules and Reaction Intermediates on Surfaces Using Synchrotron Radiation

One of the principal reasons for studying surfaces is to gain insight into industrially important chemical processes such as catalysis. Advancement in this area in surface chemistry has been aided by several developments in spectroscopic techniques over the past decade which have allowed increasingly detailed characterization of polyatomic adsorbates on single-crystal surfaces. For example, with vibrational spectroscopy [7.1] one can now routinely determine the character of the bonds within polyatomic adsorbates containing a dozen or more atoms and limited information on orientation can be obtained. Further structural information such as bond distances and binding sites have remained elusive, however, except for the simplest of cases. In this chapter we examine two related techniques employing synchrotron radiation which hold promise of providing such structural information: surface extended X-ray absorption fine structure (SEXAFS) and near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS). These techniques are particularly useful in studying surface chemistry in that they provide structural information not only about the surface-adsorbate bond but also about bonds within the adsorbate itself.
Abstract 3782: Transcriptional regulation of MHC Class II in tumor associated plasmacytoid dendritic cells in glioblastoma

Background: Glioblastoma (GBM), an aggressive grade IV astrocytoma, is the most common primary brain tumor in adults and carry very poor prognosis. One of the hallmark features of GBM is tumor induced dense immunosuppression that renders immunotherapeutic strategies against GBM ineffective. In order to develop successful immunotherapeutic strategies for GBM, it is critical to understand the mechanism of immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment (TME). In our previous publication, we have shown that plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) accumulate in TME and preferentially up-regulate MHC-II expression in comparison to myeloid DCs (mDCs). GBM infiltrating pDCs are immunosuppressive in nature and lack the ability to secrete IFN-alpha, and MHC-II upregulation by immunosuppressive pDCs lead to development of tumor tolerance. MHC-II molecules are transcriptionally regulated by the multiprotein complex enhanceosome consisting of a catalytic Class II transactivator (C2ta) in a cell type-dependent mechanism. There are no studies clearly showing differential enhanceosome and C2ta regulation in GBM associated pDC and mDC. In the present study, we investigated the mechanism of differential expression of enhanceosome multiprotein complex in GBM associated pDC and mDC and identify the upstream regulators and downstream effectors. Methods: GL261 cells were intracranially injected (i.c.) in C57BL6 mice and allowed to establish tumors. Tumor and normal brain (n=5), along with cervical lymph nodes (cLN), were collected and processed for isolation of pDC and mDC using flow sorting. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis was used to determine the enhanceosome components. IHC/IF and Western blot analysis were performed to confirm differential expression of enhanceosome components in mouse and human GBM specimens. Cytokine/chemokine protein array and ELISA methods were used to determine the differential expression of cytokines/chemokines in pDC and mDC. Results: We found differential expression of enhanceosome components in tumor associated pDC compared to mDC. Additionally, we found that GBM derived cytokines regulate differential expression of enhanceosome in tumor associated pDC and mDCs. Conclusions: In conclusion results from our studies show that GBM microenvironment regulates differential expression of enhanceosome transcription factors in pDC compared to mDC in a cytokine dependent process. This in turn helps to maintain an immunosuppressive microenvironment for continued tumor growth. Citation Format: Sreenivasulu Chintala, Brij N. Tewari, Mario Henriquez, Kaleigh Fetcko, Anna Filley, Mahua Dey. Transcriptional regulation of MHC Class II in tumor associated plasmacytoid dendritic cells in glioblastoma [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 3782.
Surgical resection of lymph node positive intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma may not improve survival.

Abstract Background Nodal positivity is a predictor of poor survival following resection for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of surgical resection on survival in patients with lymph node (LN) positive ICC. Methods An augmented version of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program database was utilized to identify patients with LN-positive ICC without distant metastases from 2000 to 2014. Patients were stratified by treatment: chemotherapy alone or surgical resection with/without chemotherapy. Survival was evaluated using Kaplan–Meier and Cox proportional hazard models. Results 169 patients who underwent treatment for LN-positive ICC were identified. 88% underwent surgical resection and 12% underwent chemotherapy alone. The median survival for patients who underwent surgical resection was not different from patients treated with chemotherapy alone (19 months 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 17–33 versus 20 months CI 10–27, p = 0.323). A cox-proportional hazard ratio model demonstrated that black race was associated with worse survival (p Conclusion Surgical resection for patients with LN-positive ICC may not improve survival compared to chemotherapy alone. Pathologic LN evaluation should be performed prior to surgical resection, to improve patient selection and ensure receipt of optimal therapy.
Threading the Needle of Fair Housing Law in a Gentrifying City with a Legacy of Discrimination

This essay tells the story of an extended and complex conflict between San Francisco and HUD and the creative solution that emerged from their negotiations. The conflict concerned the application of a community preference to a proposed senior housing development that would be located in a traditional African American neighborhood in San Francisco and its potential violation of federal fair housing law. After a brief background discussion of some of the policy and legal issues raised by community preferences, the essay tells the story of the conflict and its resolution. The essay concludes with reflections on the potential value of the solution to other similarly situated cities in the context of ongoing gentrification and displacement.
Preliminary analysis of resting state functional connectivity in young adults with subtypes of bipolar disorder.

Abstract Background A precision medicine approach to bipolar disorder (BD) requires greater knowledge of neural mechanisms, especially within the BD phenotype. The present study evaluated differences in resting state functional connectivity (RSFC) between young adults followed longitudinally since childhood with full-threshold type I BD (BD-I)—characterized by distinct manic episodes—or a more sub-syndromal presentation of BD (BD Not Otherwise Specified [BD-NOS]), compared to one another and to healthy controls (HC). Independent Components Analysis (ICA), a multivariate data-driven method, and dual regression were used to explore whether connectivity within resting state networks (RSNs) differentiated the groups, especially for characteristic fronto-limbic alterations in BD. Methods Young adults (ages 18–30) with BD-I (n = 28), BD-NOS (n = 14), and HCs (n = 52) underwent structural and RSFC neuroimaging. ICA derived 30 components from RSFC data; a subset of these components, representing well-characterized RSNs, was used for between-group analyses. Results Participants with BD-I had significantly greater connectivity strength between the executive control network and right caudate vs. HCs. Participants with BD-NOS had significantly greater connectivity strength between the sensorimotor network and left precentral gyrus vs. HCs, which was significantly related to psychiatric symptoms. Limitations Limitations included small BD-NOS sample size and variation in BD mood state and medication status. Conclusions Results for BD-I participants support prior findings of fronto-limbic alterations characterizing BD. Alterations in the sensorimotor network for adults with BD-NOS aligns with the small but growing body of evidence that sensorimotor network alterations may represent a marker for vulnerability to BD. Further study is required to evaluate specificity.
Forest degradation promotes fire during drought in moist tropical forests of Ghana

Abstract Forest reserves in Ghana are the only significant refugia of natural tropical forests, but they are threatened by land use pressures that have led to widespread forest degradation. Additional stress from climate perturbations, such as droughts, can reduce fuel moisture and lead to fires that render the reserves more vulnerable to further degradation. Here, we explore recent drought-associated wildfires in the forest zone of Ghana to better understand the combined effects of forest degradation and drought stress on fire in the forest reserves. We used remotely sensed Earth observations from MODIS and Landsat 8 along with Climate Hazards Group Infrared Precipitation with Stations (CHIRPS) precipitation data, to study fires that occurred during drought conditions in 2016. Fires were widespread in 2016, with an estimated 2137 km2 of forest reserve area burned. During the period 2003–2017, forest reserves experienced the most active fire detections in 2016. The majority of these fires were located in the moist semi-deciduous forests, the largest and most economically valuable forest type, accounting for more than 50% of all active fires and burned area. Forest reserves within the moist semi-deciduous forest type also had the highest standardized fire anomalies in 2016. There was a higher percentage of burned area in degraded forest reserves than in more intact reserves. These results underscore the vulnerability of Ghana’s forest reserves, particularly in the moist semi-deciduous type, to fires during severe droughts. Although drought predisposes moist tropical forests to fire, forest degradation also influences the spatial pattern and extent of burned forests. Fire-induced forest degradation presents a major challenge for conservation of humid tropical forests in the region. Within the context of REDD+ and other climate change mitigation and adaptation programs in West Africa, it will be imperative to incorporate effective fire management strategies into ongoing efforts to reduce forest degradation and sustain forest resilience.
Informational approach to cosmological parameter estimation

We introduce a new approach for cosmological parameter estimation based on the information-theoretical Jensen-Shannon divergence (${\mathcal{D}}_{\mathrm{JS}}$), calculating it for models in the restricted parameter space ${{H}_{0},{w}_{0},{w}_{a}}$, where ${H}_{0}$ is the value of the Hubble constant today, and ${w}_{0}$ and ${w}_{a}$ are dark energy parameters, with the other parameters held fixed at their best-fit values from the Planck 2018 data. As an application, we investigate the ${H}_{0}$ tension between the Planck temperature power spectrum data (TT) and the local astronomical data by comparing the $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}\mathrm{CDM}$ model with the $w\mathrm{CDM}$ and the ${w}_{0}{w}_{a}\mathrm{CDM}$ dynamic dark energy models. We find agreement with other works using the standard Bayesian inference for parameter estimation; in addition, we show that while the ${\mathcal{D}}_{\mathrm{JS}}$ is equally minimized for both values of ${H}_{0}$ along the $({w}_{0},{w}_{a})$ plane, the lines of degeneracy are different for each value of ${H}_{0}$. This allows for distinguishing between the two, once the value of either ${w}_{0}$ or ${w}_{a}$ is known.
The Degeneracy of the Dominant Mode in Rectangular Waveguide

We explore the exceptional point of degeneracy (EPD) at the cutoff of the dominant mode in a uniform rectangular waveguide. We show that the system matrix describing the wave propagation is similar to a Jordan matrix, and we look at the field at the degeneracy point that exhibits algebraic growth along the waveguide as a result of the Jordan matrix description. Field expressions for the dominant mode are derived at the EPD. A numerical example is used to show the degeneracy and its associated field behavior.
Triggered Transience of Plastic Materials by a Single Electron Transfer Mechanism.

Transient polymers rapidly and controllably depolymerize in response to a specific trigger, typically by a chain-end unzipping mechanism. Triggers, such as heat, light, and chemical stimuli, are ge...
Ethics of Surgical Innovation for Congenital Heart Diseases

This chapter explores the nature of surgical and medical innovation and considers the ethical principles that guide the moral application of innovation to patient populations. Historical milestones are discussed that have resulted in significant innovation in thoracic and cardiovascular surgery that has resulted in the development of the heart-lung machine, open heart surgery, the intensive care unit, myocardial protection strategies as well as countless new operations, modified procedures, and new devices. Historical annotations and careful review of these innovations show that most of these advances were not considered casually and were not impromptu ideas applied haphazardly by surgeons who were seeking acclaim, promotion, or monetary gain. Ethical issues are discussed with regard to regulation of surgical innovation, moral duty, rational discussion, introduction of innovation into, and future considerations. Throughout the chapter are rich historical anecdotes that have framed and highlighted the history of surgical innovation.
Chapter 16 – Sulfur, Selenium, and Tellurium

Sulfur, S8, is found uncombined below the earth’s surface and in many minerals. Selenium and tellurium are usually found with sulfur compounds. Chemically, Se and Te are more metallic in character than is sulfur, but they form oxides and halides in reactions with oxygen and halogens. Although SF6 is almost inert, SF4 is a reactive fluorinating agent. Except for SF6, the halogens of S, Se, and Te undergo hydrolysis reactions. Sulfur, selenium, and tellurium form binary compounds in reactions with metals. Compounds with hydrogen include H2X, but sulfur also forms some sulfanes, H2Sn, that contain chains of sulfur atoms with hydrogen atoms in terminal positions. The oxides of the elements are acidic with the most important being SO3, the anhydride of sulfuric acid, the chemical that is produced in largest quantity. The major use of H2SO4 is in the production of fertilizers, but there are many other important uses.
Personality: Big Five Personality Characteristics

Abstract The creativity and personality link has been studied for over half a century. Conceptions of personality applied in that work have evolved to the current, primary use of Big Five personality models. Research-based and theoretical relationships between the McCrae and Costa Big Five factors (openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, neuroticism) and creativity are described. Facet and aspects within the factors are highlighted in detail. Issues of domain and context-specificity are raised. The importance of considering creativity measurements and conceptions is framed in the context of personality and creativity studies.
High Acuity Polytrauma Centers in Orthopaedic Trauma: Decreasing Patient Mortality With Effective Resource Utilization

Abstract Background There is a select number of massive-volume, high-acuity trauma centers (HACs) in the United States. Expertise in polytrauma care has been associated with improved mortality in general surgery trauma, though has not been investigated in orthopaedic trauma. With complex polytrauma proficiency comes the inherent risk of intensive care, complications, and prolonged inpatient stays, without a commensurate increase in allocated resources. The purpose of this study was to compare mortality, complications, and length of stay in polytraumatized orthopaedic patients treated at HACs vs. low-acuity trauma centers (LACs). Methods The National Trauma Data Bank was queried for orthopaedic injuries with injury severity score (ISS)>15 and mortality, complications, hospital length of stay, ICU length of stay, ventilation duration, and demographics. Hospitals where at least 13% (median percentage of patients with ISS > 15 admitted to all hospitals) of total admissions had an ISS>15 were classified as HAC; all others were LACs. Results HACs admitted 86.8% of 28,314 patients with ISS>15. On univariate analysis, patients at HACs have 16% decreased odds of in-hospital mortality vs. LACs (p=0.005); the effect increased to 27% (p=0.002) on multivariate analysis. Patients at HACs have 63% greater odds of ICU admission (p Conclusion Severely injured orthopaedic trauma patients have decreased mortality at HACs, despite having a higher average ISS and a higher prevalence of obesity and active smoking. While there is a higher incidence of ICU admission, mechanical ventilation, complications, and unplanned reoperation on univariate analysis, correction for ISS and patient factors enhances the effect of HACs on mortality, but removes the effect on secondary measures. Thus, HACs are life-saving institutions for polytraumatized orthopaedic patients, and the known resource demand of these hospitals is supported by their favorable outcome profile. Level of evidence IV
Salary History Ban: Gender Pay Gap and Spillover Effects

We study the effect of the US salary history ban which restricts employers from inquiring about applicants' pay history during the hiring process. We find that the bans reduce gender pay gap by 4.2% points in hourly wages, and by 4.5% points in weekly earnings. About 40% of the reduction in the weekly earnings gap comes from a decrease in the earnings of mostly middle-aged men. The increase in female earnings comes from both young and middle-aged women with at least some college education. While the gender pay gap closes in the private sector, public sector gaps increase, primarily because of an increase in men's earnings. We do not find any evidence for spillover effects of public sector bans in the private sector. In contrast, salary history bans for private employers generate negative spillover effects for public sector workers by reducing their earnings. We do not detect any effects of the ban on labor market participation and turnover rates.
VIRUS2: Interfaces to the 2.7 m Harlan J Smith Telescope

The VIRUS2 instrument is a fiber-fed multiplexed IFU spectrograph consisting of 6 units, each with 4 spectral channels, to provide large on-sky area coverage coupled with broad spectral coverage. As a new NSF-funded facility instrument on the McDonald Observatory 2.7 m Harlan J Smith Telescope, VIRUS2 will cover a 2.5 square arcminute field of view, with 1536 2.6 arc-second spatial elements. An additional 192 sky fibers are deployed in a separate integral field unit for sky subtraction. This paper addresses those elements which connect VIRUS2 to the focal plane of the telescope, as well as the facility infrastructure required to support its functionality. It also addresses the operational modes including deployment, observing rules, and IFU storage. The IFU input, acquisition & guide camera, & calibration system are discussed. The IFU design, routing and handling strategy are detailed. The instrument location, thermal management, & other critical support systems are also covered.
Redo-mitral valve replacement and predictors of operative mortality: a single-institute experience

Background In spite of improved survival of first-time mitral valve replacement (MVR), operative mortality associated with redo-mitral valve surgery is still higher than that of the primary operation. Consequently, more patients require redo-MVR, and studies investigating the operative outcome with current techniques and prostheses are thus needed. Patients and methods This is a nonrandomized prospective study that included 83 patients who underwent redo-MVR with either bioprosthetic or mechanical valves between March 2014 and December 2017 at National Heart Institute. Recorded data were analyzed using the statistical package for social sciences, version 23.0 (IBM SPSS). All preoperative and operative data were analyzed in univariate model to identify predictors of operative mortality and prolonged hospital stay (more than 10 days). Results A total of 46 (55.4%) females and 37 (44.5%) males constituted the study population. Overall, 16 (19.3%) patients in this study had ejection fraction below 50%. Indications for reoperation included endocarditis in 38 (45.8%) patients, para-prosthetic leak in 23 (27.7%) patients, structural valve degeneration in 12 (14.4%) patients, and prosthetic valve thrombosis in 10 (12.0%) patients. In-hospital mortality was 11 (13.3%) patients. Mean hospital stay was 13.68 ± 3.87 days (range, 7–22 days). Univariate analysis showed that operative mortality was associated with the left ventricular ejection fraction less than 50% (P = 0.018), structural valve degeneration (P = 0.027), and total operative time in hours (P Conclusion Repeat MVR can be done safely and with a good overall clinical outcome. Although left ventricular ejection fraction less than 50%, structural valve degeneration, and total operative time in hours are associated with early hospital mortality, higher preoperative EuroSCORE is associated with prolonged hospital stay.
Cochlear implants: implications for deaf identities

This article focuses on the role that cochlear implants may play in psychosocialjidentity development. It also explains the concept of identity, how it evolves, and what deaf-related identities mean. The important message in this article is that the cochlear implant is merelya toeI. It does not define a person. How the person with a cochlear implant is defined depends both on hisjher internal resources, personality, and how welcoming and supportive is the environment.
Simulation and Comparison of Weak-Signal VHF Propagation

Space weather's intense variance has a seemingly random effect on radio wave propagation in the Very High Frequency (VHF) portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. In this paper, key models are developed to analyze and estimate performance of wireless systems in weak-signal propagation mediums. Chiefly, meteor burst communication, auroral propagation, and earth-moon-earth communication models are constructed and simulated with MATLAB. The experimental results are confirmed through experimental testing and data comparison. Overall, modeling of these space weather events is used in predicting the effectiveness of radio equipment through these weak-signal modes.
Past the Horizon: Introduction

When I was preparing to write Parable of the Talents, I needed to think about how a country might slide into fascism–something that America does in Talents. So I reread The Rise and Fall of the Thi...
SOCIAL SUPPORT RECEIVED ONLINE AND OFFLINE BY INDIVIDUALS DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER

SOCIAL SUPPORT RECEIVED ONLINE AND OFFLINE BY INDIVIDUALS DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER By Jessye Cohen, M.S. A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2011 Major Director: Kathleen M. Ingram, J.D., Ph.D. Associate Professor, Department of Psychology Life after treatment for cancer has become a primary focus for health service provider communities as the number of individuals living longer grows. The medical and psychosocial needs of cancer survivors have been prominent in the popular and scientific literature. A major focus for psychologists has been the relationships and social support networks of individuals diagnosed with cancer. The current study explored a recent phenomenon within this realm, the use of Internet resources for online support. The purpose of this study was to compare social support received online and social support received offline among people diagnosed with cancer who use the Internet for cancerrelated support. Specifically, the study first compared types of support received online and offline. Based on the existing literature, the study then explored relationships between offline and online social support and other psychological variables, including positive affect, health-related quality of life, and coping. The research design was crosssectional, and self-report data were collected from 102 participants who had been diagnosed with cancer. Participants reported a variety of reasons for using cancer-related websites and online communities and provided information regarding types, frequency, and intensity of online activities. Most hypotheses were supported for traditional social support but were not supported for online support. Consistent with hypotheses, total social support received offline was higher than support received online. Emotional support and informational support were significantly higher offline than online. As predicted, participants experienced fewer unsupportive interactions online than offline. Also consistent with the hypotheses, emotional support received from the main support person was positively associated with positive affect and health related quality of life, whereas online emotional support was only positively associated with Focus on the Positive coping. Contrary to the hypotheses, hierarchical regression equations indicated that received informational support was positively associated with avoidant coping. This study contributes to the literature as one of the first studies to explore social support received online in a systematic manner. The results have important research and clinical implications for understanding the distinct and overlapping elements of social support received online and offline by individuals with cancer. Future research directions are also discussed.
Charisma and Charismatic

Charisma is associated with the sociology of Max Weber, especially his typology of authority and legitimacy. Weber developed his famous contrast between tradition, charisma, and legal-rational authority. Charisma was seen to be a revolutionary form of authority, and charismatic religious leaders claimed authority on the basis of an extraordinary dispensation. With the death of the charismatic leader, followers either abandoned the movement or it became more traditional and eventually even legal-rational. Weber called this process the ‘routinization of charisma.’ There is much debate as to whether charisma still operates in modern society, and whether the theory can be generalized to Asian religions.
Iraq: Down and Out in Baghdad and Basra?

Iraq has had one of the most severe and enduring sanctions imposed on it for more than a decade. A survival-conditions based 'two-gap model' provides an expedient explanation of the economic sclerosis arising out of the sanctions imposed on Iraq. This essay supplements Nordhaus' (2002) study, which estimates United States' long-term cost of war on Iraq but does not attempt to assess Iraq's economic conditions and the level of deprivation in Iraq. An estimate of the economic consequences of sanctions to Iraq is provided here. It is shown that the losses from sanctions amount to nearly US $168 billion (2002 US dollars). Using Sen's (1999) concepts, it is argued that the Iraqis are alienated from Iraq's rulers and 'the international community.'
Race, Descent, and Tribal Citizenship

What is the relationship between descent-based tribal citizenship requirements and race or racism? This question was a focus of debates about the 2013 Violence Against Women Act amendments securing tribal domestic violence jurisdiction over non-Indians, and reappeared a few months later in oral arguments in the “Baby Veronica” case about the Indian Child Welfare Act. This essay argues that tribal citizenship laws that require Indian or tribal descent are generally neither the product nor the source of racism in federal Indian law and policy. And while descent does affect multiple areas of federal Indian law and policy, citizenship requirements do not drive many of them. Descent as used in tribal citizenship criteria, moreover, only has a tenuous connection to race as it is commonly understood. More importantly, recognizing governmental authority in tribes that use descent-based citizenship criteria does not violate either federal law or federal norms.
Nonliner behavior of light-driven plasma instabilities

A common feature of light-plasma coupling is the excitation of plasma instabilities by the intense laser light. The instabilities give rise to light absorption, reflection and the production of energetic particles. The nonlinear behavior of many of these instabilities has been examined in computer simulations and theory. We present a nonlinear theory for the turbulent heating due to parametric instabilities near the critical density (where the laser light frequency equals the electron plasma frequency). The linear instability is saturated by mode coupling of unstable electron plasma waves into Landau damped ones, and the electrons are heated by velocity space diffusion in the plasma waves. The theoretical predictions are in good agreement with computer simulation results. We also present computer simulations of laser light back-scattering in the underdense plasma outside the critical density due to the Raman and Brillouin instabilities. The light reflection is shown to decrease rapidly as the ratio of the light pressure to the plasma pressure is made small. Several techniques to suppress these reflective processes are demonstrated. Finally we briefly discuss recent simulations of the 2 ωpe decay instability and self-focusing.
Brief Report: Simplified Myeloperoxidase Stain Using Benzidine Dihydrochloride

A method is described for demonstrating leukocyte peroxidase activity in which benzidine dihydrochloride is used as the indicator compound instead of the more commonly used but potentially more hazardous benzidine base. The method is highly sensitive and rapid and permits the use of fixed blood smears and organ imprints. The incubation mixture, which incorporates safranin as a counterstain, may be used over and over again, for as long as 6 months. The method is also applicable to fresh frozen tissue sections.
Left ventricular pseudoaneurysm following undiagnosed myocardial infarction: the curious case of the woman with three ventricles

A 66-year-old woman with a medical history of hypertension and tobacco use presented with progressive exertional dyspnoea over the past 6 months. She reported being treated with antibiotics earlier for bronchitis. She described dyspnoea on exertion, which improved when supine. Physical examination was notable for tachycardia, clear lung sounds and a new high-pitched III/VI systolic murmur best heard at the apex and radiating to the axilla. ECG showed a possible old inferior infarct (figure 1). Chest X-ray revealed a new retro-cardiac mass. Transthoracic echocardiogram was suspicious for a large posterobasal pseudoaneurysm with two rupture sites at the inferior base, and a preserved ejection fraction. The patient was urgently referred for cardiac catheterisation and ventriculogram to further identify her pseudoaneurysm and possible concomitant coronary artery disease. Figure 1 ECG showing sinus rhythm, old inferior infarct, and conduction delay …