cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Christian souls and Chinese spirits : a Hakka community in Hong Kong

How do the people of a village that is both Chinese and Christian reconcile the contradictions between their religious and ethnic identities? This ethnographic study explores the construction and changing meanings of ethnic identity in Hong Kong. Established at the turn of the century by Hakka Christians who sought to escape hardships and discrimination in China, Shung Him Tong was constructed as an "ideal" Chinese and Christian village. The Hakka Christians translate "traditional" Chinese beliefs such as ancestral worship and death rituals that are incompatible with their Christian ideals into secular form, providing a crucial link with the past and with a Chinese identity. Despite accusations to the contrary, these villagers maintain that while they are Christian, they are still Chinese.
A Note On The Graph Topology

Two topologies on unstable system have recently been given. The purpose of this note is to show that the two topologics are equivalent when placed on an algebra of unstable linear distributed systems.
The Semantic Map of the Spatial Domain and Related Functions

This paper employs the Semantic Map Model, a new tool for typological research, to study functions in the spatial domain and related domains. It takes a bottom-up approach, which starts with a limited number of dialects spoken in the single Chinese province of Hunan, and progressively moves on to include more data from other dialects of Chinese. It eventually establishes a map that can account for multifunctional patterns of relevant grams in the Chinese dataset. One highlight of this study is the Multi-layer Semantic Map Model, a methodological innovation to deal with polygrammaticalization.
‘I thought it would be more glamorous’: preconceptions and misconceptions among students in the public relations principles course

Abstract Do public relations majors and students attracted to the major know what the discipline involves? This research addresses their preconceptions as they begin their study and the misconceptions to which they ascribe. Students often enter the basic course unaware of a management focus, shocked by the level of strategic decision making required of practitioners, and surprised by the amount of research knowledge and activity necessary in the field. Data were collected at two universities over a two-year period. Two separate phases of qualitative questionnaires of students in four principles courses were conducted, and three focus groups with these students gave additional explanation. In conclusion, the public relations profession is doing a lax job of communicating its core responsibilities and activities to new and potential university majors.
Principles of economic justice: Marketplace and workplace applications

Mainstream economics argues that ethical standards are essentially relative, that they differ from one person to the next, and are entirely outside the limits of legitimate inquiry for economic science. Our view is that there are certain objective ethical standards to be applied that parallel the three modes of human interaction in economic affairs: person to person, superior to subordinate, and member to group. Those standards are given by the principle of equivalence, principle of distributive justice, and principle of contributive justice.
REVIVING CHRISTIAN HUMANISM: SCIENCE AND RELIGION*

. A possible consequence of the dialogue between science and religion is a revived religious humanism—a firmer grasp of the historical and phenomenological meanings of the great world religions correlated with the more accurate explanations of the rhythms of nature that natural science can provide. The first great expressions of religious humanism in the West emerged when Jewish, Christian, and Islamic scholars sat in the same libraries in Spain and Sicily, studying and translating the lost manuscripts of Aristotle in the ninth and tenth centuries to understand his ethics, epistemology, and psychobiology. In our day, the science-religion dialogue—exemplified by interaction among psychology, spirituality, and psychotherapy—will best support such a revival if guided by the philosophical resources of critical hermeneutics (sometimes called hermeneutical realism) supplemented by William James's brand of phenomenology and pragmatism. Here, I develop primarily the contributions of Paul Ricoeur to hermeneutic realism and his unique ability to find a place for the natural sciences within hermeneutic phenomenology in his formula of understanding-explanation-understanding.
Detecting and diagnosing navigational mistakes

This paper looks at how to detect and diagnose mistakes autonomous mobile robots make while navigating through large-scale space using vision. Mistakes are perceptual, cognitive, or motor events that divert one from the intended route. Detection and diagnosis consist of realizing a mistake has occurred, determining what it was, and when it happened. This paper describes an approach that detects mistakes by finding mis-matches between observations and expectations. It diagnoses mistakes by examining knowledge from a variety of sources, including a history of observations and actions. It supports these operations by using symbolic visual information to compare expectations with observations augmented by a priori knowledge. This paper describes MUCKLE, the simulation used to test the approach, and presents experimental results that demonstrate its effectiveness.
Punctuated anytime learning for hexapod gait generation

Punctuated anytime learning is presented as the solution for two problems: the use of anytime learning with an off-line learning module and the linking of the actual robot to its simulation during evolutionary robotics. Two methods of punctuated anytime learning, fitness biasing and the co-evolution of model parameters, are described and compared using the common task of gait generation for a hexapod robot with changing capabilities.
Recruitment potential of two perennial grasses with different growth forms at a semiarid-arid transition zone

The objective of this study was to quantify differences in recruitment potential (seed production, seed presence in the soil) for two congeneric perennial grasses (Bouteloua gracilis, Bouteloua eriopoda [Poaceae]) that dominate adjacent arid and semiarid grassland biomes. It was hypothesized that these species have different recruitment strategies at the biome transition zone that are related to differences in their growth form and longevity. Recruitment potential for each Bouteloua species was compared in patches dominated by one or both species or codominated by the invasive shrub, Larrea tridentata (Zygophyllaceae). Regional variation in recruitment was examined for B. gracilis for cases in which comparable data were available in the literature for a site located within the semiarid grassland biome. The short-lived stoloniferous species B. eriopoda produced more seeds per plant than the long-lived bunchgrass B. gracilis, yet seed viability ( 90%) than that of B. eriopoda, and a greater percentage of seeds produced on a square meter basis was found in the soil (10-25%). Similar patterns were found for both species in all grass-dominated patches. Bouteloua eriopoda plants growing in patches codominated by L. tridentata produced fewer seeds per plant with lower viability, and fewer seeds were found in the soil compared to grass-dominated patches. Regional comparisons found greater seed production per square meter and more seeds in the soil for B. gracilis at the transitional site compared with a cooler, wetter site located within the semiarid grassland biome. These differences in recruitment potential along with published differences in rates of seedling establishment and vegetative spread may explain, at least in part, localized patterns in species dominance.
Cardiovascular effect of angiotensin-(1–12) in the caudal ventrolateral medullary depressor area of the rat

Angiotensin (ANG)-(1–12) excites neurons via ANG II type 1 receptors (AT1Rs), which are present in the caudal ventrolateral medullary depressor area (CVLM). We hypothesized that microinjections of ANG-(1–12) into the CVLM may elicit decreases in mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), and sympathetic nerve activity. This hypothesis was tested in urethane-anesthetized adult male Wistar rats. Microinjections of ANG-(1–12) into the CVLM elicited decreases in MAP, HR, and greater splanchnic nerve activity (GSNA). ANG-(1–12)-induced responses consisted of initial (first 1–8 min) and delayed (8–24 min) phases. Prior microinjections of losartan, A-779, and captopril into the CVLM blocked initial, delayed, and both phases of ANG-(1–12) responses, respectively. Blockade of GABA receptors in the rostral ventrolateral medullary pressor area (RVLM) attenuated cardiovascular responses elicited by microinjections of ANG-(1–12) into the ipsilateral CVLM. Microinjections of ANG-(1–12) into the CVLM potentiated the reflex decreases and attenuated the reflex increases in GSNA elicited by intravenous injections of phenylephrine and sodium nitroprusside, respectively. These results indicate that microinjections of ANG-(1–12) into the CVLM elicit decreases in MAP, HR, and GSNA. Initial and delayed phases of these responses are mediated via ANG II and ANG-(1–7), respectively; the effects of ANG II and ANG-(1–7) are mediated via AT1Rs and Mas receptors, respectively. Captopril blocked both phases of ANG-(1–12) responses, indicating that angiotensin-converting enzyme is important in mediating these responses. GABA receptors in the RVLM partly mediate the cardiovascular responses to microinjections of ANG-(1–12) into the CVLM. Microinjections of ANG-(1–12) into the CVLM modulate baroreflex responses.
Biomedical implant transceiver with novel multi level LSK back telemetry and fully digital BPSK demodulation

Low power consumption and higher data rate is desired in biomedical implant transceivers. A novel fully digital Binary Phase Shift Keying (BPSK) demodulator and a multi-level Load Shift Keying (LSK) for passive back telemetry are implemented to reduce the power consumption and increase the data rate for implant transceivers. The digital architecture allows the BPSK demodulator to consume much less power compared to prior art. We demonstrate silicon realization of the BPSK demodulator operating at 13.56MHz with data rate as high as 800kbits/s in a 0.5µm CMOS process with power consumption of 2.3mW. A multi-level Load Shift Keying (LSK) for passive back telemetry is implemented using discrete components and works by modulating the load impedance at the implant to create distinct reflections at the primary coil of the reader. The back telemetry techniques is verified through simulation and measurement results and demonstrate a 2X improvement in data rate compared to conventional bi-level back telemetry.
Study of beam decoherence in the presence of head-tail instability using a two-particle model

The decoherence behavior of a beam centroid motion after a kick is studied using a two-particle model. A simple theory based on averaging of the governing equation is developed. The effects of a finite chromaticity and synchrotron motion are taken into account. Increasing the tune spread in the beam, a transition from a head-tail instability to a stable decay of an initial kick is explicitly demonstrated.
Influence of relative time of emergence on nitrogen responses of corn and velvetleaf

Abstract Nitrogen (N) management markedly affects weed competition with crops. The effect of N availability on plant competition varies with a plant's abilities to capture and use N. Accordingly, we expected the N effect on plant competition to change with the relative emergence time of competing individuals. This hypothesis was tested by growing corn and velvetleaf plants in target and neighbor roles and comparing their N responses. Sowing times were varied, so that target plant emergent dates were constant, whereas neighbor plants were sown to emerge 7 d before, with, or 7 d after targets. Seedlings were fertilized daily with 2.5 mmol (“low N”) or 10.0 mmol (“high N”) ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3). Corn had greater total weight, leaf area, and root-to-shoot ratio (RSR) than velvetleaf. Different dry weights may have reflected seed weights; corn seed weight was greater than velvetleaf. Regardless of role, corn and velvetleaf dry weight and leaf area were greater with high N than low N; in contrast, RSR was l...
Orbital Vascular Tumors

Orbital vascular lesions may be neoplastic such as capillary and cavernous hemangioma, which expand by cellular proliferation, or anomalies representing varying types and degrees of vascular dysgenesis, or malformations. Until recently, no consensus existed among ophthalmologists to classify the types of lesions falling under the malformation category. In response, The Orbital Society created a classification system for orbital vascular malformations in 1999 to establish a standardized classification system and to reduce clinical confusion surrounding the management of these entities. This system classifies malformations based on hemodynamic behavior as opposed to their morphologic characteristics emphasizing the features most important to their management. Clinical and imaging findings are used to assign orbital vascular malformations as no flow, venous flow, or arterial flow, and the term “lymphangioma” was identified as inaccurate as these lesions lack both a true neoplastic origin. Under the new classification system, they are “no-flow” malformations, which are hemodynamically isolated.
Emergency Department–Initiated Palliative Care in Advanced Cancer: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance The delivery of palliative care is not standard of care within most emergency departments (EDs). Objective To compare quality of life, depression, health care utilization, and survival in ED patients with advanced cancer randomized to ED-initiated palliative care consultation vs care as usual. Design, Setting, and Participants A single-blind, randomized clinical trial of ED-initiated palliative care consultation for patients with advanced cancer vs usual care took place from June 2011 to April 2014 at an urban, academic ED at a quaternary care referral center. Adult patients with advanced cancer who were able to pass a cognitive screen, had never been seen by palliative care, spoke English or Spanish, and presented to the ED met eligibility criteria; 136 of 298 eligible patients were approached and enrolled in the ED and randomized via balanced block randomization. Interventions Intervention participants received a comprehensive palliative care consultation by the inpatient team, including an assessment of symptoms, spiritual and/or social needs, and goals of care. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was quality of life as measured by the change in Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–General Measure (FACT-G) score at 12 weeks. Secondary outcomes included major depressive disorder as measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, health care utilization at 180 days, and survival at 1 year. Results A total of 136 participants were enrolled, and 69 allocated to palliative care (mean [SD], 55.1 [13.1] years) and 67 were randomized to usual care (mean [SD], 57.8 [14.7] years). Quality of life, as measured by a change in FACT-G score from enrollment to 12 weeks, was significantly higher in patients randomized to the intervention group, who demonstrated a mean (SD) increase of 5.91 (16.65) points compared with 1.08 (16.00) in controls ( P = .03 using the nonparametric Wilcoxon test). Median estimates of survival were longer in the intervention group than the control group: 289 (95% CI, 128-453) days vs 132 (95% CI, 80-302) days, although this did not reach statistical significance ( P = .20). There were no statistically significant differences in depression, admission to the intensive care unit, and discharge to hospice. Conclusions and Relevance Emergency department–initiated palliative care consultation in advanced cancer improves quality of life in patients with advanced cancer and does not seem to shorten survival; the impact on health care utilization and depression is less clear and warrants further study. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier:NCT01358110
Moving Video Mapper and City Recorder with Geo-Referenced Videos

There has been growing interest in correlating co-visualizing a video stream to the dynamic geospatial attributes of the moving camera. Moving videos comes from various GPS-enabled video recording devices and can be uploaded to video-sharing websites. Such public website do not presently display dynamic spatial features correlated to a video player. Although some systems include map based playback products, there has been no unified platform for users to share geo-referenced videos that takes spatial characteristics into account. We present here Moving Video Mapper, which integrates both historical and live geo-referenced videos to give users an immersive experience in multidimensional perspectives. The platform has been evaluated using real data in an urban environment through several use cases.
Most Frequent Contributors to the Hospitality Literature: A Ten-Year Update

Academic research in the hospitality field has great importance for tenure and promotion. Consequently, the “publish or perish” pressure has not diminished in the past 25 years with the increased numbers of university programs and an increase in the number of doctoral-qualified faculty. This study updates one done in 1992 and analyzes the contributions of academics as published in the four general interest refereed hospitality journals: the Cornell Hotel and Restaurant Administration Quarterly; the International Journal of Hospitality Management; the Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Research and the Florida International University Hospitality Review. Only refereed articles and notes were used in the tabulations. Industry members, journal staffs, and editors were not included. The study ranked the academic contributors in each journal in order of total appearances and adjusted appearances. Adjusted appearances were used to distinguish between single-authored and multi-authored articles. A high correlati...
Usefulness of laboratory values in predicting effectiveness of recombinant factor VIIa in surgical patients with bleeding.

Purpose The results of a study to determine whether certain laboratory values can predict the effectiveness of recombinant factor VIIa (rFVIIa) therapy to control postoperative bleeding in surgical patients are presented. Methods In a retrospective observational study at a large university hospital, the records of all adult patients on the cardiothoracic surgery (CTS) and general or trauma surgery (GTS) units who received rFVIIa for treatment-refractory nonsurgical bleeding episodes (an off-label use) during a 17-month period were reviewed. Collected data included blood product requirements before and after administration of rFVIIa, selected periadministration laboratory values (e.g., International Normalized Ratio, platelet count, arterial pH, fibrinogen concentration), 24-hour and 30-day mortality, and documented adverse thrombotic events. Results Among the 18 GTS and 32 CTS patients who received rFVIIa during the study period, hemostasis (as defined according to 12- and 24-hour transfusion requirements) was achieved in 50% of patients in both groups. Two of the evaluated laboratory values were found to be predictive of reduced rFVIIa effectiveness. Hemostasis was not achieved in any patient with an arterial pH of ≤7.1 or a fibrinogen concentration of <100 mg/dL. The study results did not support the hypothesis that a platelet count of <50,000 cells/L is associated with reduced effectiveness of rFVIIa therapy for the studied indication. Adverse thrombotic events occurred in 14 patients (28%) after rFVIIa administration. Conclusion CTS and GTS patients with bleeding episodes and an arterial pH of ≤7.1 or a fibrinogen concentration of <100 mg/dL were not likely to achieve hemostasis after rFVIIa therapy.
Proctoring strategies for computer-based and paper-based tests.

Academic dishonesty, including plagiarizing and cheating on tests and assignments, is an educational concern for faculty and preceptors.[1][1] Faculty and preceptors play an important role in maintaining academic integrity and preventing cheating by clearly delineating standardized procedures and
Isomerization of One Molecule Observed through Tip-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

While exploring photoisomerization of azobenzyl thiols (ABT) adsorbed on Au(111), through joint scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and tip-enhanced Raman scattering (TERS) studies, the reversible photoisomerization of one molecule is captured in TERS trajectories. The unique signature of single molecule isomerization is observed in the form of anticorrelated flip-flops between two distinct spectra with two discrete, on- and off-levels. The apparently heterogeneously photocatalyzed reaction is assigned to cis–trans isomerization of an outlier, which is chemisorbed on the silver tip of the STM. Otherwise, the ensemble of ABT molecules that lie flat on Au(111) remain strongly coupled to the surface, excluding the possibility of photoisomerization or detection through TERS.
What's the Score?: A Content Analysis of Mature Adults in Super Bowl Commercials

ABSTRACTBased on the rising mature adult population (those aged 65+), the importance of advertisers recognizing this consumer group is imperative to businesses and consumers alike. Thus, this content analysis of 272 Super Bowl commercials, from the last 5 years (2010–2014), applied framing theory to examine how mature audiences are represented in one of the most expensive and highly viewed advertising venues. Previous research suggests that older adults are typically underrepresented in all media and often stereotyped. This study shows the opposite is true for recent Super Bowl commercials. Mature adults are prominently featured in nearly one-third (31.99%) of all ads analyzed—more than double their proportion in the general population and Super Bowl audience—and are framed most often in a positive light (80.49%). This indicates a promising shift from depictions that alienate to a more inclusive culture where mature adults are part of the media landscape and recognized as a key consumer base. Results do s...
Filmic Representations of Fannie Lou Hamer and Sakia Gunn in Contemporary Black Feminist Thought: Considering Zenzele Isoke's Theories About Intramural Conversations Through Documentary Film

This paper explores the work of contemporary Black feminist thinkers Zenzele Isoke 2013 whose work operates at the intersection of urban studies, geography, and youth politics. Following Zenzele Isoke's examples of how to read the history of iconic civil rights activists more critically and with greater attention to more subtle forms of "structural intersectionality" I examine the multiple identities that are politically salient on screen in documentary films about two iconic figures: civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer (1917-1977) and 15 year old hate crime victim Sakia Gunn (1987-2003). The films Dreams Deferred: The Sakia Gunn Film Project (2008) and Everyday Battle (2004) are cases for considering “intramural conversations” and how particular intersectional identities such as age, sexual orientation, class, health, and educational status are increasingly being written about instead of minimized. Using cultural studies, Black feminist research, historical research methods and concepts offered in Isoke's work I explore the failures of histories that depict such iconic figures as being wedded to single-issue civil rights projects and highlight the role of intramural conversations in creating space for political action.
The Case of the 12-Year-Old Boy: Or, The Silence of and Relevance to Leisure Research

ABSTRACTA 12-year-old boy is shot in a public park on the grounds of being a threat, yet despite the locational relevance there was a silence within leisure research. With this in mind, the aim of this manuscript is a manifesto on the manner that leisure-related research on race, social justice, quality of life, and leisure studies (more broadly, as an academy) must confront the silence with dealing with racism as structural and systematic. If we are to advocate in varying ways on the right of populations to enjoy the life sustaining opportunities that are afforded to them as citizens through leisure, then we must also hold ourselves accountable when those very leisure settings fail to deliver on that promise, and become life-threatening. Tamir Rice, is a case of the duality of silence on the structural nature of racism while also an opportunity to assert a social relevance for leisure research.
Consequences of Puberty on Efficacy of Intraocular Pressure-Lowering Drugs in Male Dutch-Belted Rabbits.

Abstract Purpose: To investigate the changes in intraocular pressure (IOP), aqueous flow, and outflow facility, as well as efficacy of IOP-lowering drugs before and after sexual development in rabbits. Methods: Male Dutch-belted rabbits were studied at night between the ages of 8 and 44 weeks. During these times, body weight, testicular volume, and serum testosterone were measured to monitor sexual maturity. Ocular measurements included anterior chamber depth, central corneal thickness, IOP, aqueous flow, and outflow facility. Systemic acetazolamide or topical timolol, latanoprost, or saline were administered pre- and postpuberty to assess drug effects on these parameters. Results: Body weight, testicular volume, and serum testosterone increased until 28 weeks of age. IOP increased during prepuberty (R2 = 0.49, P = 0.003), dropped significantly during puberty, rising again immediate postpuberty, and changing little thereafter. Postpuberty compared with prepuberty found higher IOP (P < 0.0001), slower aque...
Estimation of building energy performance for local energy policy at urban scale

Abstract Cities play a key role in sustainability policies aimed at reducing environmental impacts and increasing energy efficiency in the building sector. At urban level, the analysis models are split in bottom-up and top-down types as a function of the methodological approach of input data processing, aggregated in the first case and disaggregated in the second one. The present paper describes the methodological approach adopted for the implementation of a bottom-up model able to estimate the energy performance of buildings and to define an energy diagnosis process at urban scale. Starting from the information provided by tools available at the Public Authorities and at the most relevant statistical studies on the national energy market, the model provides an estimation of the energy consumption and performance of buildings. The model is applied to a real district of Bologna and the derived spatial database allows the energy performances of buildings to be mapped.
Export Market Diversification and Export Performance of Sri Lanka: A Cointegration Analysis

This paper aims to investigate the existence of geographical export market diversification and its relations with export performance of Sri Lanka. The paper identifies the existence of geographical export market diversification by using Herfindahl Index, and empirically investigates the long run and the short run relationship between market diversification and export performance. The time series data extracted from the World Bank database are used to construct Index and appropriate variables. Johansen’s co-integration analysis was performed to investigate the relationships between export market diversification over a period 1999 to 2015. The trend of the Herfindhal Index reveals that market diversification exists in the structure of export patterns. The findings derived from the analyses further suggest that the existence of geographical export market diversification of Sri Lanka has long run relationship with export performance.
Photopolymerization of cell-laden gelatin methacryloyl hydrogels using a dental curing light for regenerative dentistry.

Abstract Photopolymerized hydrogels, such as gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA), have desirable biological and mechanical characteristics for a range of tissue engineering applications. Objective This study aimed to optimize a new method to photopolymerize GelMA using a dental curing light (DL). Methods Lithium acylphosphinate photo-initiator (LAP, 0.05, 0.067, 0.1% w/v) was evaluated for its ability to polymerize GelMA hydrogel precursors (10% w/v) encapsulated with odontoblast-like cells (OD21). Different irradiances (1650, 2300 and 3700 mW/cm2) and photo-curing times (5–20 s) were tested, and compared against the parameters typically used in UV light photopolymerization (45 mW/cm2, 0.1% w/v Irgacure 2959 as photoinitiator). Physical and mechanical properties of the photopolymerized GelMA hydrogels were determined. Cell viability was assessed using a live and dead assay kit. Results Comparing DL and UV polymerization methods, the DL method photopolymerized GelMA precursor faster and presented larger pore size than the UV polymerization method. The live and dead assay showed more than 80% of cells were viable when hydrogels were photopolymerized with the different DL irradiances. However, the cell viability decreased when the exposure time was increased to 20 s using the 1650 mW/cm2 intensity, and when the LAP concentration was increased from 0.05 to 0.1%. Both DL and UV photocrosslinked hydrogels supported a high percentage of cell viability and enabled fabrication of micropatterns using a photolithography microfabrication technique. Significance The proposed method to photopolymerize GelMA cell-laden hydrogels using a dental curing light is effective and represents an important step towards the establishment of chair-side procedures in regenerative dentistry.
The Expression of the Passions: The Origin and Influence of Charles LeBrun's "Conference sur l'expression generale et particuliere"

Part 1: Le Brun's Complete Theory of Expression Charles Le Brun, Painter of Expression The Tradition of Expression in the Other Arts The Tradition of Expression in the Visual Arts The Academy Acceptance and Rejection. Part 2: Le Brun's Lecture on Expression Le Brun's Lecture on Expression - Translation. Appendices: The Date and Reception of the Lecture The Drawings The Sources Testelin's Text of Expression Claude Nivelon's Account of the "Ouvrage sur la Physionomie" editions, versions and derivations.
Succession of toxicity and microbiota in hydraulic fracturing flowback and produced water in the Denver-Julesburg Basin.

Hydraulic fracturing flowback and produced water (FPW) samples were analyzed for toxicity and microbiome characterization over 220 days for a horizontally drilled well in the Denver-Julesberg (DJ) Basin in Colorado. Cytotoxicity, mutagenicity, and estrogenicity of FPW were measured via the BioLuminescence Inhibition Assay (BLIA), Ames II mutagenicity assay (AMES), and Yeast Estrogen Screen (YES). Raw FPW stimulated bacteria in BLIA, but were cytotoxic to yeast in YES. Filtered FPW stimulated cell growth in both BLIA and YES. Concentrating 25× by solid phase extraction (SPE) revealed significant toxicity throughout well production by BLIA, toxicity during the first 55 days of flowback by YES, and mutagenicity by AMES. The selective pressures of fracturing conditions (including toxicity) affected bacterial and archaeal communities, which were characterized by 16S rRNA gene V4V5 region sequencing. Conditions selected for thermophilic, anaerobic, halophilic bacteria and methanogenic archaea from the groundwater used for fracturing fluid, and from the native shale community. Trends in toxicity echoed the microbial community, which indicated distinct stages of early flowback water, a transition stage, and produced water. Biota in another sampled DJ Basin horizontal well resembled similarly aged samples from this well. However, microbial signatures were unique compared to samples from DJ Basin vertical wells, and wells from other basins. These data can inform treatability, reuse, and management decisions specific to the DJ Basin to minimize adverse environmental health and well production outcomes.
Sampling Theory of Visual Resolution and its Clinical Applications

Visual resolution appears to be limited by neural sampling everywhere in the visual field except the very center, where optical limitations dominate. Consequently, visual acuity represents a non-invasive estimate of the spatial density of the mosaic of photoreceptors (in parafoveal retina) or ganglion cells (in peripheral retina) of the living human eye. Recent experiments have paved the way for clinical applications of this approach to the problem of monitoring the spatial densities of neurons in a variety of retinal diseases.
Evolution, hypermedia learning environments, and conceptual change: a preliminary report

This paper describes a study of high school students using a case-based hypermedia learning environment, the Evolution Thematic Investigator, to help learn a neo-Darwinian model of evolution. This hypermedia program has a number of features based on recent cognitive learning theory and research, such as: a conceptual change lesson, multiple cases of evolutionary biology, case-theme commentaries to make explicit the situated variability of the neo-Darwinian mental model, on-line scaffolded problem-solving modules, and guided thematic criss-crossing of knowledge synthesis study questions. The experiment collected written assessment measures, detailed verbal protocols, and interviews of eight students using the program and solving evolutionary biology problems. The main experimental findings indicated that there was a significant change in the students' mental models about evolution. The implications of this research for learning about evolution, and for the design of hypermedia environments that promote learning and conceptual change of complex knowledge, are also considered.
Abstract 195: Electrochemical treatment produces pH changes in the tumor microenvironment that are toxic to cancer cells

Background: Locoregional therapy is playing an increasingly central role in the management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), where ablation is distinguished among these techniques by its capacity to effect cure. Electrochemical treatment (EChT), a technique that facilitates necrosis via the application of direct current at low voltages shows promise; however, widespread use has been limited as studies of the underlying biology and the mechanism of action have been limited. Methods: A novel assay for the study of EChT mechanism was designed, wherein HCC cells (2.5e5 cells/mL) were embedded in low-melting temperature agarose (1.5%). EChT was performed on these assays between nitinol cathodes (d = 0.5 mm) and platinum anodes (d = 0.5 mm) in a variety of geometries. Buffering capacity of the encapsulation assay was varied via the addition of HEPES buffer at final concentrations of 10mM, 50mM, or 200mM. Either during or immediately following EChT, the following measurements were recorded: cell viability, pH, ROS burden, transmembrane potential, and temperature. Results: Following EChT, acidic pH was appreciated surrounding the anodes and basic pH surrounding the cathodes in regions where cell death was observed by fluorescence microscopy. Upon increasing the buffering capacity of the assay, the total area of cell death decreased (p 10.8 or Conclusions: The mechanism of EChT-induced cancer cell death is through the spread of acidic and basic species generated by hydrolysis of water upon electron transfer at the electrodes. The diffusion of these species leads to cell death in a predictable, pH dependent manner. These results suggest that an electrochemical ablation device could treat complex HCC tumor geometries with appropriate electrode placement and charge delivery. Citation Format: Nicholas Perkons, Elliot Stein, Chike Nwaezeapu, Joseph Wildenberg, Daniel Ackerman, Gregory Nadolski, Stephen Hunt, Terence Gade. Electrochemical treatment produces pH changes in the tumor microenvironment that are toxic to cancer cells [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 195.
Thursday, September 27, 2018 1:05 PM–2:05 PM Lumbar Spine Surgery: What You Need to Know: 110. Lumbar spine surgery and the affordable care act: effects on racial and ethnic disparities 2006-2014

BACKGROUND CONTEXT The Affordable Care Act (ACA) aimed to (1) make affordable health insurance available to more people (2) expand Medicaid to cover all low-income adults and (3) lower health care costs. In practice, the effectiveness of the ACA has been highly debated. With implementation, the percent uninsured decreased in all race or ethnic groups – decreasing the White-Black and White-Hispanic coverage gap for both private and public health insurance. Using data from 2000 to 2009, we have demonstrated that Black and Hispanic patients undergo surgery at significantly reduced rates compared to White patients (0.59 and 0.34 vs. 1.07 per 1,000 persons, respectively) after adjusting for age, gender, insurance coverage and geographic region. PURPOSE To determine whether ACA passage reduced the White-Black and White-Hispanic gap in rate of lumbar spine surgery. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING Nationwide Inpatient Sample and March Supplement of the Current Population Survey for 2006-2014. PATIENT SAMPLE Hospital discharge data for admissions meeting strict ICD-9CM based criteria for definite lumbar surgery – diagnosis of herniated disc, disc degeneration, spinal stenosis, instability or low back problems with procedure of laminectomy, discectomy or fusion – in the absence of primary cervical or thoracic pathology or procedure. OUTCOME MEASURES Rate of definite lumbar spine surgery calculated as number of hospital discharges divided by the population estimate, matched for socio-demographic characteristics. Calendar year was stratified for ACA passage: 2006-2010; 2011-2014. METHODS Using probability weights, Poisson regression was used to model the rate of hospital discharge for definite lumbar spine surgery as a function of race/ethnicity after adjusting for adjusting for age, gender, insurance coverage and geographic region. To determine the effect of ACA passage, we examined the interaction of calendar year (stratified before and after ACA passage) and race/ethnicity. Significant post-ACA passage interaction terms would indicate a change in White-Black or White-Hispanic gap. RESULTS Using our diagnostic criteria, there were 3.2 million hospital discharges (1.9 million before and 1.3 million after ACA passage). After ACA passage, the overall median discharge rate decreased (1.84 vs. 1.58, p CONCLUSIONS Based on population-adjusted data, there were marked decreases in the White-Black and White-Hispanic gap in hospital discharge for definite lumbar spine surgery after ACA passage. The gap was further reduced among those states that expanded Medicaid coverage to all low income adults (income below 138% of federal poverty level). This preliminary evidence demonstrates the utility of expanding insurance coverage to allow equitable musculoskeletal care. FDA DEVICE/DRUG STATUS This abstract does not discuss or include any applicable devices or drugs.
Direct Alpha Spectrometry of Irradiated Nuclear Fuel

Alpha-particle spectrometry was performed on irradiated nuclear fuel using a single-crystal (sc) diamond semiconductor particle detector. The detector was manufactured using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) methods, square in shape measuring 4.6-mm per side, and 0.5-mm thick. Square aluminum electrodes deposited on each side of the detector, 4.0-mm per side, defined the semiconductor’s sensitive area while a smaller, 1-mm diameter round aperture defined the region of the detector exposed to the fuel. This aperture was approximately 3 mm from the substrate face. The fuel sample consisted of a rectangular piece of irradiated nuclear fuel measuring approximately $2.2 \mathrm{mm} \times $ 0.5 mm in area and 0.15-mm thick. The fuel was made as a compact of metallic fuel powder in an aluminum matrix. The powder was an alloy of 93% uranium and 7% molybdenum (U7Mo), with a 235U starting enrichment of 19.75%. Fuel powder particles ranged in size from 10 μm to 100 μm in diameter. The pre-irradiation uranium density in the fuel was 8 g U cm−3. The sample’s burn-up was exceptionally high at 42% FIMA (fissions per initial metal atom). The on-contact photon dose rate from the sample was measured to be ~1 R hr−1 (0.01 Gy hr−1), the oncontact beta dose rate from the sample was measured at ~ 30 R hr−1 (0.3 Gy hr−1). Data was collected in air for 8,572 s with the detector suspended over the fuel sample by approximately 10 mm. The spectrum collected during the measurement showed the presence of significant quantities of higher-order transmutation actinides including 238Pu, 241Pu, and 244Cm, in agreement with radiochemical assay data for the sample. The beta-particle event rate in the detector exceeded the alpha-particle rate by a factor of $\sim 5 \times 10^{5}$. Despite this high count rate, the extremely fast signals from the scCVD diamond semiconductor allowed operation with a dead-time of 10.62% during the measurement.
Highly compact, free-standing porous electrodes from polymer-derived nanoporous carbons for efficient electrochemical capacitive deionization

Electrochemical capacitive deionization (CDI) is a promising technology for distributed and energy-efficient water desalination. The development of high-performance, low-cost capacitive electrodes is critical for enhancing CDI performance and scaling up its applications. Here, we report a novel design of highly compact, free-standing nanoporous carbon film electrodes for high-performance CDI. Such porous electrodes are fabricated by slip-roll compressing polypyrrole (PPy)-derived activated microporous carbon particles (PPy-AMC) with a small amount of polymer binder (5 wt%). The unique PPy-AMCs are synthesized from a rigid polymer precursor using a scalable carbonization-activation process, which is adopted in the manufacturing of commercial activated carbons. With small and uniform particle size, large specific surface area and short diffusion length, the PPy-AMC-based compact carbon electrodes offer very high salt adsorption capacity and enable very fast desalination, which significantly outperforms the state-of-the-art porous carbon-based CDI electrodes. This work provides an important strategy to design and fabricate compact yet porous carbon electrodes for efficient water desalinization and can be potentially extended to other applications such as energy storage and conversion.
Nonlinear tax-induced migration: an overlooked tale

The empirical literature on tax-induced migration (TIM) primarily focused on estimating the average elasticity of migration to interregional tax differentials but ignores the potential effect of the variations around this average. This paper extends the work of Moretti and Wilson (Am Econ Rev 107:1858–1903, 2017) and finds salient nonlinearity in the TIM of star scientists between 1977 and 2010. The results suggest that differences in personal income tax and research and development (R & D) tax credits between two states generate nonlinear impacts on migration; there is evidence of an important inertia range in which the differences generate little impact on migration. In contrast, the corporate income tax has approximately linear effects and investment tax credit has consistent effects only when the destination state initially has higher credits than the origin state. As different taxes or tax credits have distinctive nonlinear effects on migration, decision makers are cautioned of using average elasticities of TIM in policy making.
Simulated Marksmanship Performance Methodology: Assessing Lethality, Mobility and Stability Across the Preparation, Execution and Recovery Stages of a Military Field Training Exercise

Marksmanship, a key cornerstone of military training, is one area of military assessment that includes standardized quantifiable measures. However, assessment of marksmanship in a traditional live-fire setting can be costly, time consuming, and dangerous, while frequently only providing rudimentary objective measures of performance. This research created an enhanced combined marksmanship assessment methodology, which builds on earlier static and dynamic methodologies. The successful portions of previous methods, to include static and dynamic shooting with acquisition assessments, were integrated and additional pertinent assessment areas were added (i.e., targets of varying height and increased distance to force gross movements in transitions across engagements), while minimizing execution time and still using a mobile, low-cost weapon simulator. This methodology is executable in any setting, is easy to assemble, provides streamlined metrics on the entire marksmanship process across two critical shooting styles, and can track changes in marksmanship across various performance periods throughout a training cycle.
Cohort study of respiratory hospital admissions, air quality and sociodemographic factors in preterm infants born in California.

Background Preterm infants suffer from respiratory morbidity especially during the first year of life. Objective To investigate the association of air quality and sociodemographic indicators on hospital admission rates for respiratory causes. Methods This is a retrospective cohort study. We identified all live-born preterm infants in California from 2007 to 2012 in a population-based administrative data set and linked them to a data set measuring several air quality and sociodemographic indicators at the census tract level. All sociodemographic and air quality predictors were divided into quartiles (first quartile most favourable to the fourth quartile least favourable). Mixed effect logistic models to account for clustering at the census tract level were used to investigate associations between chronic air quality and sociodemographic indicators respiratory hospital admission during the first year of life. Results Of 205 178 preterm infants, 5.9% (n = 12 033) were admitted to the hospital for respiratory causes during the first year. In the univariate analysis, comparing the first to the fourth quartile of chronic ozone (risk ratio [RR] 1.29, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.21, 1.37), diesel (RR 1.10, 95% CI 1.02, 1.17) and particulate matter 2.5 (RR 1.07, 95% CI 1.01, 1.14) exposure were associated with hospital admission during the first year. Following adjustment for confounders, the risk ratios for hospital admission during the first year were 1.53 (95% CI 1.37, 1.72) in relation to educational attainment (per cent of the population over age 25 with less than a high school education) and 1.23 (95% CI 1.09, 1.38) for poverty (per cent of the population living below two times the federal poverty level). Conclusions Among preterm infants, respiratory hospital admissions in the first year in California are associated with socioeconomic characteristics of the neighbourhood an individual is living in.
The Brief Case: Cutaneous Fungal Infection in a Pediatric Patient with Newly Diagnosed Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia.

A 4-year-old male presented to the emergency department with a worsening skin lesion at the prior intravenous (i.v.) injection site on his left arm. He had been diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) 10 days prior and was currently undergoing induction chemotherapy. The lesion was first
Gender Bias: The Male Victim

Intimate partner violence is a major public health issue. Many people have now come to be more sensitive to the plight of women in violent relationships. However, women abuse their partners as well. Whom does an abused man turn to? Are there similar resources for men? Are there places for him to seek sanctuary? Often, men who are victims of intimate partner violence are met with sneers and are derided by their contemporaries. IPV among men is a complicated issue that involves understanding (and sometimes challenging) concepts of gender roles, societal norms, self-identity, and masculinity.