cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Constructing Probable Wind and Water Damage Sequences from Timelines — The Technical Perspective

Hurricane Katrina (2005) brought unrivaled destruction to buildings along the Mississippi Coast, generating thousands of property insurance claims. Hurricane Katrina had been a Saffir-Simpson Category 5 storm only 18 hours prior to making landfall at the Category 3 level along the Louisiana/Mississippi state line. At landfall, it still contained enormous potential for storm surge — far greater than the Category 3 landfall designation (based only on sustained windspeed) might indicate. As a result, damage from storm surge tended to be far more severe than damage from wind action, though many buildings sustained some levels of damage from both storm surge and wind. Exclusion of flood damage from standard property insurance policies has resulted in partial or full denial of many Hurricane Katrina-related damage claims, as District Court rulings in Mississippi have considered flood damage to include damage from storm surge. An unparalleled series of legal challenges has followed — pitting homeowners against insurers and requiring resolution of such questions as: 1 Was the residence destroyed by wind or water? 2 How much wind damage, if any, was sustained prior to the eventual destruction of the residence by storm surge? Settlement of these legal challenges has necessitated the separation of probable wind damage and storm-surge damage. The separation of damages is particularly complicated when structures have been completely destroyed or when engineers have been asked to determine wind and water damages long after critical evidence has been removed from the site. However, additional significant data concerning region-wide wind-speed and storm-surge levels (and the timing thereof) may not be available until several months after the hurricane, once detailed analysis of available region-wide observations has concluded. These regional timeline data provide a valuable resource for engineers in the reconstruction of probable wind/surge damage sequences some time after the hurricane damage has been removed.
Limit Theorems for Tempered Stable Distributions

In this chapter we introduce the class of extended p-tempered α-stable distributions, which is the smallest class of models that contains TS α p and is closed under weak convergence. We then characterize weak convergence of sequences in this class.
Key technical problems for tactical missile solid rocket motors

The evolution in some respects of key technical problems such as high energy propellant, carbon-fiber wound case, lightweight low-torque flexible nozzle and double pulse motor etc for tactical missile solid rocket motors are discussed.It is considered that the technical performaces of HTPB propellant has been perfect and widely used for various tactical missiles; the high-energy and low signature GAP propellant has passed the test of test motor; the carbon-fiber wound case has been brought to practical use.And the research and development of motor energy management and thrust vector control (TVC) technique are being carried out.
Design and performance of a 1.6-2.2GHz low-noise, high gain dual amplifier in GaAs E-pHEMT

The design and realization of a dual low-noise amplifier (LNA) module in the 2GHz band suitable for balanced receiver front-end application is presented. The module was designed to operate from a 5V supply with a control voltage for convenient adjustment of bias condition for optimum noise figure. The MMIC portion of the design was fabricated in Agilent Technologies' proprietary 0.5/spl mu/m GaAs enhancement-mode pseudomorphic high-electron-mobility transistor (e-pHEMT) process. This module is suitable for balanced amplifier applications when combined with external 3-dB hybrids, giving an extremely low noise figure (NF) of 0.55-0.8dB, coupled with a moderately high OIP3 (output third order intercept point) of 38-42dBm at 28-32dB gain. It is also capable of delivering a P-1dB of more than 20dBm at 180mA current drain.
Alter-Ecologies: Envisioning Papal & Ecomodernist Nuclear Energy Policy Futures

In 2015, two powerful styles of ecological thought were presented as alternatives to mainstream secular-progressive environmentalism. One was Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’, which sees climate change as a moral problem exacerbated by consumerism, technocentrism, greed, and individualistic self-absorption. The other was An Ecomodernist Manifesto: a vision for pragmatic technological progress as a means for achieving poverty reduction, environmental flourishing, and economic prosperity. This chapter puts these perspectives into dialogue with one another by analyzing them as alter-ecologies: alternative calls to re-imagine environmentalism’s future ideal worlds. From this standpoint, it unpacks how these texts, especially when read together, can inspire reflection on how to pursue meaningful lives, how to reckon futures, and how to frame climate-friendly energy policies in an uncertain world.
Risk of cesarean delivery after loop electrosurgical excision procedure.

Objective To estimate whether previous loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) affects the risk of cesarean delivery. Methods A secondary analysis of a multicenter retrospective cohort study was performed. Women who underwent a prior LEEP were compared with two unexposed cohorts: 1) women with prior screening cervical cytology only; and 2) women with prior cervical punch biopsy. The pregnancy evaluated in this analysis was the first pregnancy of a duration more than 20 weeks of gestation after the identifying cervical procedure. Stratified and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to control for confounding. Results Five hundred ninety-eight women with prior LEEP, 588 women with screening cytology only, and 552 women with cervical biopsy were included in this study. After adjusting for relevant confounders, similar rates of cesarean delivery were seen in women with prior LEEP (31.6%) and women with prior cervical cytology only (29.3%, adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.06, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.79-1.41). Likewise, no differences were found in rates of cesarean delivery when women with prior LEEP were compared with those with a prior punch biopsy (29.0%, adjusted OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.74-1.33). Among women who had a cesarean delivery, arrest of labor was the indication for cesarean delivery in a similar proportion of women in the groups (LEEP compared with cytology only, P=.12; LEEP compared with biopsy, P=.50). Loop electrosurgical excision procedure specimen size did not vary by delivery mode. Length of time between LEEP and subsequent pregnancy also did not influence delivery mode. Conclusion Loop electrosurgical excision procedure does not affect mode of delivery in the subsequent pregnancy. Level of evidence II.
Uncertainty analysis of trade-offs between multiple responses using hypervolume

When multiple responses are considered in process optimization, the degree to which they can be simultaneously optimized depends on the optimization objectives and the amount of trade-offs between the responses. The normalized hypervolume of the Pareto front is a useful summary to quantify the amount of trade-offs required to balance performance across the multiple responses. To quantify the impact of uncertainty of the estimated response surfaces and add realism to what future data to expect, 2 versions of the scaled normalized hypervolume of the Pareto front are presented. To demonstrate the variation of the hypervolume distributions, we explore a case study for a chemical process involving 3 responses, each with a different type of optimization goal. Results show that the global normalized hypervolume characterizes the proximity to the ideal results possible, while the instance-specific summary considers the richness of the front and the severity of trade-offs between alternatives. The 2 scaling schemes complement each other and highlight different features of the Pareto front and hence are useful to quantify what solutions are possible for simultaneous optimization of multiple responses.
Do subjects from high and low context cultures attribute different meanings to tourism services with 9-ending prices?

Abstract Four symbolic meanings have been associated with 9-ending prices: Discount price, enhanced value, low quality, and misleading action. Scales were developed to measure each meaning and the relative strength of these meanings in influencing tourists' purchases among samples from the U.S., Korea and China was investigated. The analyses found no differences in the likelihood of tourists selecting 9-ending rather than even-ending prices when purchasing a sandwich, a pizza or show tickets; in their relative importance across cultures; or in the influence on purchase decisions of different symbolic meanings associated with 9-endings. However, a 9-ending discount was perceived to be more effective when compared to even-ended price discounts in the context of a hotel room. Again, however, its effectiveness could not be explained by the different symbolic meanings associated with 9-ending prices.
A Large Deformation Diffeomorphic Approach to Registration of CLARITY Images via Mutual Information

CLARITY is a method for converting biological tissues into translucent and porous hydrogel-tissue hybrids. This facilitates interrogation with light sheet microscopy and penetration of molecular probes while avoiding physical slicing. In this work, we develop a pipeline for registering CLARIfied mouse brains to an annotated brain atlas. Due to the novelty of this microscopy technique it is impractical to use absolute intensity values to align these images to existing standard atlases. Thus we adopt a large deformation diffeomorphic approach for registering images via mutual information matching. Furthermore we show how a cascaded multi-resolution approach can improve registration quality while reducing algorithm run time. As acquired image volumes were over a terabyte in size, they were far too large for work on personal computers. Therefore the NeuroData computational infrastructure was deployed for multi-resolution storage and visualization of these images and aligned annotations on the web.
CDK20 inhibition and immune checkpoint blockade: bringing cancer biology and tumour immunology together to develop novel treatment options for HCC.

On 22 September 2017 the Food and Drug Administration granted accelerated approval to nivolumab for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients who have been previously treated with sorafenib. Approval was based on a 154-patient subgroup of a multicentre, open-label trial conducted in patients with HCC and Child-Pugh A cirrhosis who progressed on or were intolerant to sorafenib.1 With an overall response rate of close to 15%, which lasted in more than 90% of the patients 6 months or longer, immune checkpoint blockade has become a treatment option for patients with HCC after many years of failures in drug development. However, these data also call for future combination studies, which will increase the number of patients responding to immunotherapy. But what is the best combination partner for an immune checkpoint inhibitor in HCC? While immune checkpoint inhibitors successfully lead to activation of T cells in patients with HCC,2 they have no effect on the microenvironment and possible immunosuppressive mechanisms such as regulatory T cells and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). MDSCs represent a population of immature myeloid cells, composite of two major subsets, monocytic CD14+ …
Vulnerability to spillovers

This paper quantifies the impact of common investors in creating vulnerability through international spillovers in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. A spillover is the impact on a country resulting from changes occurring abroad; domestic economy fundamentals are assumed to remain constant. The impact arises from a purely external shock because of changes in linked countries. A vulnerability index proposed by Kelejian and Mukerji (Pap Reg Sci 90(4):693–702, 2011) is used to measure the spillover. This paper proposes a novel method to split the vulnerability into two parts: one arising from international linkages and another from prevailing domestic conditions determining sensitivity to spillovers. Findings suggest a rising vulnerability index over successive decades, chiefly driven by international linkages.
A Delphi study to identify the core components of nurse to nurse handoff.

Aim The aim of this study was to identify the core components of nurse-nurse handoffs. Background Patient handoffs involve a process of passing information, responsibility and control from one caregiver to the next during care transitions. Around the globe, ineffective handoffs have serious consequences resulting in wrong treatments, delays in diagnosis, longer stays, medication errors, patient falls and patient deaths. To date, the core components of nurse-nurse handoff have not been identified. This lack of identification is a significant gap in moving towards a standardized approach for nurse-nurse handoff. Design Mixed methods design using the Delphi technique. Methods From May 2016 - October 2016, using a series of iterative steps, a panel of handoff experts gave feedback on the nurse-nurse handoff core components and the content in each component to be passed from one nurse to the next during a typical unit-based shift handoff. Consensus was defined as 80% agreement or higher. Results/findings After three rounds of participant review, 17 handoff experts with backgrounds in clinical nursing practice, academia and handoff research came to consensus on the core components of handoff: patient summary, action plan and nurse-nurse synthesis. Conclusion This is the first study to identify the core components of nurse-nurse handoff. Subsequent testing of the core components will involve evaluating the handoff approach in a simulated and then actual patient care environment. Our long-term goal is to improve patient safety outcomes by validating an evidence-based handoff framework and handoff curriculum for pre-licensure nursing programmes that strengthen the quality of their handoff communication as they enter clinical practice.
Regional Distribution, Asymmetry, and Clinical Correlates of Tau Uptake on [18F]AV-1451 PET in Atypical Alzheimer's Disease.

Background Despite common pathology, Alzheimer's disease (AD) can have multiple clinical presentations which pathological studies suggest result from differences in the regional distribution of tau pathology. Positron emission tomography (PET) ligands are now available that can detect tau proteins in vivo and hence can be used to investigate the biological mechanisms underlying atypical AD. Objective To assess regional patterns of tau uptake on PET imaging in two atypical AD variants, posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) and logopenic progressive aphasia (lvPPA). Methods Eighteen PCA and 19 lvPPA subjects that showed amyloid-β deposition on PET underwent tau-PET imaging with [18F]AV-1451. Group comparisons of tau uptake in PCA and lvPPA were performed using voxel-level and regional-level analyses. We also assessed the degree of lobar tau asymmetry and correlated regional tau uptake to age and performance on clinical evaluations. Results Both syndromes showed diffuse tau uptake throughout all cortical regions, although PCA showed greater uptake in occipital regions compared to lvPPA, and lvPPA showed greater uptake in left frontal and temporal regions compared to PCA. While lvPPA showed predominant left-asymmetric tau deposition, PCA was more bilateral. Younger subjects showed greater tau uptake bilaterally in frontal and parietal lobes than older subjects, and sentence repetition, Boston naming test, simultanagnosia, and visuoperceptual function showed specific regional tau correlates. Conclusion Tau deposition is closely related to clinical presentation in atypical AD with age playing a role in determining the degree of cortical tau deposition.
Velocity-based Adaptive Registration and Fusion for Fractionated Stereotactic Radiosurgery Using the Small Animal Radiation Research Platform.

Purpose To implement Velocity-based image fusion and adaptive deformable registration to enable treatment planning for preclinical murine models of fractionated stereotactic radiosurgery (fSRS) using the small animal radiation research platform (SARRP). Methods and Materials C57BL6 mice underwent 3 unique cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans: 2 in the prone position and a third supine. A single T1-weighted post-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) series of a murine metastatic brain tumor model was selected for MRI-to-CBCT registration and gross tumor volume (GTV) identification. Two arms were compared: Arm 1, where we performed 3 individual MRI-to-CBCT fusions using rigid registration, contouring GTVs on each, and Arm 2, where the authors performed MRI-to-CBCT fusion and contoured GTV on the first CBCT followed by Velocity-based adaptive registration. The first CBCT and associated GTV were exported from MuriPlan (Xstrahl Life Sciences) into Velocity (Varian Medical Systems, Inc, Palo Alto, CA). In Arm 1, the second and third CBCTs were exported similarly along with associated GTVs (Arm 1), while in Arm 2, the first (prone) CBCT was fused separately to the second (prone) and third (supine) CBCTs, performing deformable registrations on initial CBCTs and applying resulting matrices to the contoured GTV. Resulting GTVs were compared between Arms 1 and 2. Results Comparing GTV overlays using repeated MRI fusion and GTV delineation (Arm 1) versus those of Velocity-based CBCT and GTV adaptive fusion (Arm 2), mean deviations ± standard deviation in the axial, sagittal, and coronal planes were 0.46 ± 0.16, 0.46 ± 0.22, and 0.37 ± 0.22 mm for prone-to-prone and 0.52 ± 0.27, 0.52 ± 0.36, and 0.68 ± 0.31 mm for prone-to-supine adaptive fusions, respectively. Conclusions Velocity-based adaptive fusion of CBCTs and contoured volumes allows for efficient fSRS planning using a single MRI-to-CBCT fusion. This technique is immediately implementable on current SARRP systems, facilitating advanced preclinical treatment paradigms using existing clinical treatment planning software.
Reflection from a Rigid Boundary Involving Separation

In order to explore the reflection of elastic waves under unilateral constraints that allow separation between two solids, the paper considers the reflection of incident P-waves from a rigid frictionless boundary. The problem is reduced to dual series equations that can be solved analytically. The results show that the reflected waves contain higher frequencies and have several other features that are not encountered in the absence of separation.
Insect Hemolymph Proteins from the Ig Superfamily

Antibodies have not been identified in invertebrates. It appears that rearranging immunoglobulin (Ig) genes and clonal selection arose in vertebrates after their evolutionary divergence from the invertebrates (Marchalonis and Schluter 1990). However, insects have been shown to mount a humoral response to bacterial infections, which includes the synthesis and secretion of a battery of antibacterial proteins (Dunn 1990; Hultmark 1993). It has recently been recognized through analysis of amino acid sequences deduced from cloned cDNAs that one of the hemolymph proteins induced by bacteria in the lepidopteran insects Hyalophora cecropia and Manduca sexta is a member of the Ig superfamily (Sun et al. 1990; Ladendorff and Kanost 1991). This protein, which has been named hemolin (previously known as P4), has no direct antibacterial activity but may function in recognition of bacteria and/or in modulation of the adhesive properties of hemocytes. Hemolin is composed of four Ig domains (see Sect. 4) which have more similarity in amino acid sequence to Ig domains from cell adhesion molecules than to those from antibodies. We will review the short history of research on hemolin and pose some hypotheses regarding the functions of hemolin in insect immunity.
A study of isobaric temperature differences over Alaska

Daily isobaric temperature differences, for the 10 year period from June 1960 to May 1970, were computed for the following pairs of upper air stations in the Alaskan area: Anchorage—Fairbanks, Fairbanks—Nome, Fairbanks—Barrow, and St. Paul Island—Nome.
Fibrin(ogen)-Pathogen Interactions Support Antimicrobial Host Defense Following Staphylococcus Aureus Peritonitis Infection

Abstract Staphylococcus aureus is a common gram-positive bacterium that is a frequent cause of community and hospital-acquired infections. The emergence of antibiotic resistant S. aureus hashighlighted a renewed need to better understand host-pathogen interactions for defining novel treatment strategies. The clotting factor fibrinogen is a target of several S. aureus virulence factors. Clumping factor A (ClfA) is a well characterized fibrin(ogen) binding protein known to mediate bacterial adhesion and clumping in blood plasma and has been shown to play an important role in several types of S aureus infections. Studies using Fib-/- (fibrinogen deficient) and FibAEK (mice expressing fibrinogen unable to form a fibrin polymer) indicated that fibrinogen and subsequent fibrin polymer formation are critical for clearance of USA300 S. aureus following peritonitis. Here, we tested the hypothesis that ClfA-fibrin(ogen)interactions are a key mechanistic feature of host antimicrobial function following S. aureus peritonitis. Analyses were performed with FibγΔ5 mutant mice, which express a mutant form of fibrinogen lacking the final 5 amino acids of the g chain encoding the bacterial ClfA binding motif. In vitro studies confirmed that fibrinogenWT supported robust bacterial adhesion and clumping whereas a complete absence of adhesion and clumping was observed using fibrinogenγΔ5. Infection studies of WT and FibγΔ5 mice revealed that ClfA-mediated, fibrin(ogen)- S. aureus interactions are an important determinant of host antimicrobial function in the context of peritonitis. Taken together, these data indicate that direct, ClfA-mediated binding of bacteria to fibrin(ogen) is a critical mechanistic component of host antimicrobial function following S. aureus peritonitis. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Review of Kecskes, Istvan & Chaofen Sun (2017) Key issues in Chinese as a second language research

This article reviews Key issues in Chinese as a second language research by Istvan Kecskes, Chaofen Sun 978-1138960534
Modeling the impact of ex-nido transmitted parasites on ant colony dynamics

Infectious disease outbreaks are a common constraint of group living organisms. Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) live in large, dense colonies and are host to a diverse range of parasites and pathogens, facilitating the possibility of epidemic-induced collapse. However, the majority of parasites infecting ants require a period of development outside of the nest before they can transmit to their next ant host (ex-nido transmission) and the impact of these parasites on colony dynamics is unknown. Here we develop a mathematical model to assess ant colony dynamics in the presence of such parasites. We find that under field-realistic model conditions, such parasites are unlikely to cause the epidemic collapse of mature ant colonies, unless colony birth rate drops below 0.2328 ants/day. The preponderance of ex-nido transmitting parasites infecting ants and their limited epidemiological impact on colony dynamics may partly explain why collapsed ant colonies are rarely, if ever, observed in natural populations.
Increased handling sensitivity of molten erythritol tetranitrate (ETN).

Abstract Erythritol tetranitrate (ETN) is a well-studied homemade explosive (HME), which is known for its ability to be melt-cast at a fairly low temperature. We have observed dramatically increased handling sensitivity of ETN in the molten state, using temperature controlled drop-weight impact sensitivity measurements. Impact testing was performed using ERL Type 12 drop hammer equipment using a 2.5 kg weight, a 0.8 kg striker, an anvil and sound detection equipment. Most experiments were performed in the absence of standard grit paper, due to the elevated temperature measurements with a liquid. At room temperature, ETN exhibited an impact sensitivity of 14.7 ± 3.4 cm, which changed to 1.0 ± 0.6 cm in the liquid state at 65 °C. The change in sensitivity in the liquid state was found to be reversible upon solidification, and did not appear to correlate with temperature. Control experiments were performed in the same setup using standard explosives pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) and triacetone triperoxide (TATP). This is the most sensitive material that we have been able to measure using our instrumentation, and indicates that ETN be handled with extreme caution during the melt-casting process.
Bovine pregnancy associated glycoproteins can alter selected transcripts in bovine endometrial explants

Abstract This study was designed to examine changes in target transcript abundance in endometrial explants exposed to pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAGs). Endometrial explants from pregnant and non-pregnant heifers collected on day18 (day 0: day of insemination) were incubated in the absence or presence of PAGs (15 μg/ml). The PAGs represented a mixture comprised of approximately equal amounts of bovine PAGs 4, 6, and 9. Samples were harvested for RNA extraction after 24 h or 96 h of incubation. Transcript abundance for target genes related to prostaglandin synthesis (PTGES), a chemokine (CXCL5) and tissue remodeling (EMMPRIN; MMPs 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, and 9; PLAU; SPP1; TIMP1 and TIMP2) were analyzed by quantitative PCR. Changes in relative transcript abundance for MMP1, MMP3, MMP7, PLAU, EMMPRIN and SPP1 were observed after PAG exposure in both non-pregnant and pregnant endometrium (P
How are medical groups identified as high-performing? The effect of different approaches to classification of performance

Payers and policy makers across the international healthcare market are increasingly using publicly available summary measures to designate providers as “high-performing”, but no consistently-applied approach exists to identifying high performers. This paper uses publicly available data to examine how different classification approaches influence which providers are designated as “high-performers”. We conducted a quantitative analysis of cross-sectional publicly-available performance data in the U.S. We used 2014 Minnesota Community Measurement data from 58 medical groups to classify performance across 4 domains: quality (two process measures of cancer screening and 2 composite measures of chronic disease management), total cost of care, access (a composite CAHPS measure), and patient experience (3 CAHPS measures). We classified medical groups based on performance using either relative thresholds or absolute values of performance on all included measures. Using relative thresholds, none of the 58 medical groups achieved performance in the top 25% or 35% in all 4 performance domains. A relative threshold of 40% was needed before one group was classified as high-performing in all 4 domains. Using absolute threshold values, two medical groups were classified as high-performing across all 4 domains. In both approaches, designating “high performance” using fewer domains led to more groups designated as high-performers, though there was little to moderate concordance across identified “high-performing” groups. Classification of medical groups as high performing is sensitive to the domains of performance included, the classification approach, and choice of threshold. With increasing focus on achieving high performance in healthcare delivery, the absence of a consistently-applied approach to identify high performers impedes efforts to reliably compare, select and reward high-performing providers.
I’m Not Sure You’d Call It Leadership

I was fortunate to have been born at the time and place that I was–Milwaukee in the 1940s. This afforded exceptional opportunities for high school and university education, including teachers and fellow students who served as edifying role models. The National Defense Education Act (NDEA) provided a fellowship at Syracuse University for doctoral studies in Instructional Communications. I spent most of my professional career in the graduate program of Instructional Systems Technology at Indiana University. My professional interests followed those of my mentor, Don Ely–exploring the philosophical and psychological foundations of Educational Technology–as reflected in the textbook, Instructional Media and The New Technologies of Instruction, and the “definition” book of the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT), Educational Technology: A Definition with Commentary. Thanks to an early insight, I followed a different theory of leadership: not standing above others, but standing with them to work for the common good.
Meta-analysis of Usefulness of Phrenic Nerve Stimulation in Central Sleep Apnea

Transvenous neurostimulation of the phrenic nerve (PNS) is a potentially improved and unique approach to the treatment of central sleep apnea (CSA). There have been multiple studies with limited individuals evaluating the efficacy of PNS. Our aim was to review and pool those studies to better understand whether phrenic nerve stimulation is efficacious in the treatment of CSA. The initial search on Pubmed retrieved a total of 97 articles and after screening all articles, only 5 could be included in our quantitative analysis. Pooling of data from 5 studies with a total of 204 patients demonstrated a reduction of mean apnea hypopnea index with PNS compared to controls by -26.7 events/hour with 95% confidence interval and P value of [CI (-31.99, -21.46), I2 85, p 0.00]. The mean difference in central apnea index was -22.47 [CI (-25.19, -19.76), I2 0, p 0.00]. The mean reduction in the oxygen desaturation index of 4% or more demonstrated a decrease in PNS group by -24.16 events/hour [(CI -26.20, -22.12), I2 0, p 0.00] compared with controls. PNS resulted in mean reduction in arousal index of -13.77 [CI (-16.15, -11.40), I2 0, p 0.00]. The mean change in percent of time spent in rapid eye movement sleep demonstrated a nonsignificant increase in PNS group by 1.01 % [CI (-5.67, 7.86), I293, p 0.75]. In conclusion, PNS therapy for treating CSA demonstrated positive outcomes but larger randomized studies are needed to evaluate the safety and clinical outcomes.
Patient and Parent Decision-Making in the Setting of Chemotherapy-Induced Sensorineural Hearing Loss.

OBJECTIVES Children with malignancies may be exposed to ototoxic therapies resulting in sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). There is no consensus as to when intervention with amplification is necessary due to a variety of factors such as disease status, speech and language development, perceived difficulty with communication, and limitations of technology to fit these challenging losses. The decision to proceed with amplification after cancer can be difficult for patients and families. The purpose of this study is (1) to understand the decision-making (DM) process of childhood cancer survivors (CCSs) with SNHL and their parents and (2) to identify their decisional needs. DESIGN Semi-structured interviews guided by the Ottawa's decision support framework were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Inclusion criteria were CCSs ages 8 to 30 years old with a Chang grade >1b SNHL and off-therapy; parents of this group were also eligible. Patients with active disease were excluded. Prompts inquired of sources of decisional conflict, role in DM, and DM behaviors. Inductive content analysis of the narrative qualitative data was used. RESULTS Seven parents of CCSs and 6 CCSs participated. Themes in the CCS group included: (1) making sense of ototoxic SNHL; (2) desiring personalized education and treatment of SNHL; (3) playing an active role in the joint DM process; and (4) accepting hearing aids requires time and effort. The parent group shared the first and last theme with the CCS group and had two unique themes: (1) needing experts to respect the individual's journey to SNHL acceptance and (2) moving past the cancer experience to acceptance. Parents more often framed their DM within the context of already experiencing the trauma of cancer, whereas CCSs did not. One parent said, "You see all the rubble and you've lived through the devastation of the storm, but now you got to figure out what's broken." CCSs expressed bodily concerns regarding amplification, such as discomfort to the ear and difficulty in adjusting to the volume. The following needs were identified: early, re-enforced education regarding late effects risks; open communication among providers, CCSs, and parents; and audiogram result interpretations in patient- and parent-friendly language. CONCLUSIONS Understanding the DM process from the CCS and parent's perspectives should be considered when providing counseling for hearing amplification in the setting of cancer-related SNHL. Earlier and consistent delivery of late effects education, open communication regarding risk for SNHL, and improved delivery of audiogram results should be targets for meeting unmet needs. These findings should inform the development of decision aids to reduce decisional conflict in this population.
Delayed and rapid deglaciation of alpine valleys in the Sawatch Range, southern Rocky Mountains, USA

Abstract. We quantify retreat rates for three alpine glaciers in the Sawatch Range of the southern Rocky Mountains following the Last Glacial Maximum using 10Be ages from ice-sculpted, valley-floor bedrock transects and statistical analysis via the BACON program in R. Glacier retreat in the Sawatch Range from at (100 %) or near ( ∼83 %) Last Glacial Maximum extents initiated between 16.0 and 15.6 ka and was complete by 14.2–13.7 ka at rates ranging between 35.6 and 6.8 m a −1 . Deglaciation in the Sawatch Range commenced ∼2 –3 kyr later than the onset of rising global CO2 and prior to rising temperatures observed in the North Atlantic region at the Heinrich Stadial 1–Bolling transition. However, deglaciation in the Sawatch Range approximately aligns with the timing of Great Basin pluvial lake lowering. Recent data–modeling comparison efforts highlight the influence of the large North American ice sheets on climate in the western United States, and we hypothesize that recession of the North American ice sheets may have influenced the timing and rate of deglaciation in the Sawatch Range. While we cannot definitively argue for exclusively North Atlantic forcing or North American ice sheet forcing, our data demonstrate the importance of regional forcing mechanisms for past climate records.
The Two-Lens Approach: A holistic theoretical framework for studying the form, content, and context of children’s narratives

Abstract Over the past 30 years we have seen a welcome growth in the understanding of narrative as a complex and broadly defined set of concepts. While the complexity of children’s narrative development has been brought to light by researchers and theorists across multiple fields of study, reflecting this growth by comprehensively analyzing narrative complexity still remains a challenge. One reason for this ongoing challenge is the isolated, disparate focus of the approaches, either in analyzing solely story structure, content, or function. Few approaches combine these disparate dimensions to comprehensively analyze children’s narratives. In response, we build on research from the past 30 years to develop the Two-Lens Approach, a holistic theoretical framework for analyzing the form, content, and context of children’s narratives. This paper presents and applies this approach in an effort to start closing the gaps among the field of narrative analysis and narrative theory.
Endoscopic laryngeal findings in patients undergoing thyroid and parathyroid surgery.

Objectives This study aimed to report the pre- and post-operative laryngeal endoscopic findings in patients referred by non-otolaryngologists who are undergoing thyroid and/or parathyroid surgery, and to determine the number and nature of referrals before and after the release of the clinical practice guideline for improving voice outcomes after thyroid surgery. Methods This retrospective cohort study, conducted at a tertiary care academic hospital, comprised adult patients referred by the endocrine surgery service for laryngoscopy from 2007 to 2018 (n = 166). Data regarding patient demographics, reason for referral and endoscopic findings were recorded. Results The number of referrals increased significantly after the release of the practice guideline. The most common indication for referral pre- and post-operatively was voice change. The most common finding during laryngoscopy was normal examination findings (pre-operatively) and unilateral vocal fold immobility (post-operatively). Conclusion Peri-operative thyroid and/or parathyroid patients have laryngoscopic findings other than vocal fold immobility. Laryngoscopy to detect structural and functional pathology is warranted.
An Adaptive Metric for Node Substitution-Based BDD Minimization

Modern computing workloads are becoming increasingly demanding and data-intensive. ASIC implementations designed for such computing workloads can consume valuable resources in terms of device size and system cost. Approximate Computing helps in preserving such resources in the case of applications that are error tolerant. We propose an Approximate Computing method that uses an adaptive heuristic to reduce the size of Reduced Ordered Binary Decision Diagrams through node substitutions. We establish the efficacy of our technique by showing improvement over a range of ISCAS-89 benchmarks.
What do local governments teach about in ethics training? Compliance versus integrity

Ethics research has focused on issues such as codes of conduct and ethical values and less on ethics training. This paper examines evidence from a national survey of local governments on what appro...
Case Report: Cardiac Tamponade following COVID-19 Vaccination

Abstract Background Acute pericarditis is a diffuse inflammation of the pericardial sac with many well-defined etiologies. Acute pericarditis as a vaccine-related adverse event is a rare entity and the association between pericarditis and the immunogenic response to COVID-19 vaccines is still being fully characterized. Case Report A previously healthy 18-year-old male presented with fever, pleuritic chest pain, and shortness of breath shortly after receiving the first dose of a COVID-19 mRNA-based vaccine. The patient was found to have a large pericardial effusion with early tamponade physiology requiring pericardiocentesis. Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This : As COVID-19 vaccination becomes more prevalent globally, physicians should be aware of pericarditis as a rare but potentially serious adverse reaction.
Refractive Index Measurement of the Monkey Crystalline Lens Using Optical Coherence Tomography

An optical coherence tomography system has been developed that was designed specifically for imaging the isolated crystalline lens. Cross-sectional OCT images were recorded on 40 lenses from 32 human donors with an age range of 6 – 82 years. A method has been developed to measure the axial thickness and average refractive index of the lens from a single recorded image. The measured average group refractive index at the measurement wavelength of 825 nm was converted to the average phase refractive index at 589 nm using lens dispersion data from the literature. The average refractive index for all lenses measured was 1.408 ± 0.005 which agrees well with recent MRI measurements of the lens index gradient. A linear regression of the data resulted in a statistically significant decrease in the average refractive index with age, but a simple linear model was insufficient to explain the age dependence. The results presented here suggest that the peak refractive index in the nucleus is closer to 1.420, rather than the previously accepted value of 1.406.
Prescribing patterns of surgical oncologists: are we surgeons, oncologists, or both? Results of a society of surgical oncology survey.

Although surgical treatment is the centerpiece of our specialty, what differentiates surgical oncology from other areas in surgery is the oncology experience and expertise needed in dealing with all aspects of cancer management in a multidisciplinary fashion. ... The salient feature of differentiation is that surgical oncology is both a technical and cognitive specialty involving a chronic disease process. What is a surgical oncologist? Ann Surg Oncol 1993; 1:4 Despite our stated purpose of surgical oncology as a specialty, it would probably not surprise the readers of the Annals that there is still a fairly widespread perception among medical oncologists and members of the pharmaceutical companies that ‘‘surgeons spend their time in the operating room and have a relatively minor role in prescribing oncology and supportive drugs.’’ Recently, I talked with a senior marketing executive of a major pharmaceutical company who stated that their company would not advertise in our journal, exhibit at our meeting, or fund SSO educational grants or sponsorships. This was because of their perception that surgeons—including surgical oncologists—neither prescribe their drug products nor influence their use in surgical patients. Perhaps less well understood by both the medical oncology community and the pharmaceutical leadership is that many, if not the majority, of cancer patients look to the surgeon who made the diagnosis and initiated the primary treatment for advice about systemic therapy. Furthermore, surgical oncologists have led the way in defining predictors of survival outcomes for the majority of cancers, thereby identifying those at greatest risk of occult distant metastases, and hence are knowledgeable as to which of their surgical patients might benefit from systemic therapy. While we may know this perception is untrue at an individual level, there is nothing better than having good data to break such molds of misperception. That is why I was pleased with the enormous response from our SSO members to a survey conducted by the Annals of Surgical Oncology Editors and Springer Verlag Publishers. One component of this survey was to tabulate prescribing practice patterns of 532 surgical oncologists. This is more than onethird of the active membership and makes the survey results very creditable and representative. (The entire TABLE 1. On average, how many drug orders (inpatient or outpatient) do you or a trainee under your supervision prescribe each week? (520 responses)
Changing Societies, Changing Party Systems

1. Introduction 2. Social heterogeneity and the number of parties: a theory 3. Describing social heterogeneity: measures and testable hypotheses 4. Social heterogeneity and party system fragmentation: empirical evidence across space and time 5. Israel: new parties for new groups? 6. Israel: testing hypotheses about sectarian party success 7. The United States: new parties for new groups? Testing hypotheses 8. Conclusion: party system fragmentation and beyond.
Radiation therapy for transitional cell bladder carcinoma. A ten-year experience.

Abstract From 1969 to 1979, 185 patients with transitional cell bladder carcinoma were curatively irradiated; 147 were treated with radiation alone (RT) and 38 received a combined radiation + surgery (RT + S). At presentation, 40 percent of the patients had obstructive uropathy which yielded a much lower five-year survival (18 %) than when it was absent (50 %). The overall five-year disease free survival was 30 percent and 53 percent for patients treated with radical RT and RT + S, respectively. Among patients subjected to preoperative irradiation, downstaging was seen in 40 percent of postsurgical specimens, with 27 percent of the specimens showing no evidence of tumor; these patients had excellent survival. Severe complications were seen in 3 percent, 10 percent, and 27 percent of patients in the radical RT, RT + S, and radical RT + salvage cystectomy groups. Survival results, pelvic controls, and patterns of failure are presented.
Surface water–groundwater interaction at restored streams and associated reference reaches

Stream restoration goals include improving habitat and water quality through reconstruction of morphological features found at analogous, pristine stream reaches. Enhancing hyporheic exchange may facilitate achieving these goals. Although hyporheic exchange at restoration sites has been explored in a few previous studies, comparative studies of restored versus reference or control streams are largely absent. We hypothesized that restoration cross-vanes enhance hyporheic exchange, resulting in biogeochemical alteration of stream water chemistry in the streambed. Two streams restored using cross-vanes to control erosion and improve habitat were compared with their associated reference reaches, which provided the basis for the restoration design. Thirteen temperature profile rods with vertically stacked sensors were installed at each site for 2 weeks. Heat tracing was used to quantify vertical flux in the streambed from the diurnal temperature fluctuations in the subsurface. Stream water and bed pore waters from mini-piezometers were analysed for ion and nutrient chemistry. In general, mean vertical flux rates through the streambed were small throughout reference sites (−0.3 to 0.3 m/day) and at most locations at restored sites. Immediately adjacent to cross-vanes, vertical flux rates were larger (up to 3.5 m/day). Geochemistry of pore waters shows distinct differences in the sources for the reference and restored sites. Strong downwelling zones adjacent to cross-vanes showed high dissolved oxygen (10.75 mg/l) and geochemistry in the streambed similar to surface water. Reference sites had lower dissolved oxygen in the streambed (0.66–5.14 mg/l), and geochemical patterns suggest a mixture of discharging groundwater and surface water in the hyporheic zone. Restored sites also clearly show sulfate and nitrate reduction occurring in the streambed, which is not observed at the reference sites. The stream restoration sites studied here enhance rapid hyporheic exchange, but upwelling of groundwater has a stronger influence on streambed geochemistry at reference sites. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Selective Electrode Coatings for Electroanalysis

Tremendous strides have taken place in recent years in our ability to modify electrodes chemically to enhance their selectivity and sensitivity for electroanalyses. Four different categories of selective electrode coatings have been chosen for discussion in this article: self-assembled monolayers (SAMs); polymer coatings; Langmuir–Blodgett films; and immobilized enzymes. Each of these chemical modifications is discussed in terms of the necessary materials, the methods of preparation and characterization, and some examples of analytical applications.
A Remark on Sensory Encoding of Two-Parameter Signals

A sensory system with two neurons can unambiguously code all two-parameter stimuli, even though the ``best value'' of one parameter is the same for both neurons.
Hecke operators and the stable homology of GL(n)

Let R be a field of any characteristic and A a principal ideal domain. We make a conjecture that asserts that any Hecke operator T acts punctually on any Hecke eigenclass in the stable homology with trivial coefficients R of a principal congruence subgroup Γ in GL(n, A), i.e., as multiplication by the number of single cosets contained in T. In the case where A = ℤ, this conjecture implies that the Galois representation consisting of the sum of the 0th, 1st, ⋅, n − 1st powers of the cyclotomic character is attached to any stable Hecke eigenclass. When A = ℤ and Γ =GL(n, ℤ), this conjecture was already made by Calegari and Venkatesh. We obtain partial results giving evidence for the conjecture. These results imply that some part of the Hecke algebra acts punctually. If the characteristic of R is 0, they show that the entire Hecke algebra acts punctually, which was already known in a completely different way using a result of A. Borel.