cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Aged and error differences on Memory-for-Designs.

Age reliably predicted performance of 120 volunteers, 20 to 84 yr. old, on the Memory-for-Designs test. Scoring employed both the Graham-Kendall and a modified scoring technique in which each of 15 designs was rated within six error categories (reversal, distortion, omission, rotation, embellishment, perseveration). Inter-rater reliability of four raters indicated a marked scoring consistency and the error category scoring interacted with age, i.e., older persons (greater than 60 yr.) made more omission and distortion errors than younger persons (less than 40 yr.) who committed proportionally more reversal errors. Concomitant performance on the WAIS Block Design accounted for only part of the age differences in errors. The error category scoring was more sensitive to age differences in visual memory than the usual Graham-Kendall scoring method. In addition, it provided much needed age norms.
Issue trees: a tool to aid the engineering writer

The paper surveys studies of the process model for understanding writing, focusing in particular on problem-solving strategies in the writing process. It then presents a case study of the use of issue trees-a hierarchal network of goals not unlike the decision trees used in management science and artificial intelligence-to guide the writing process of the second author as he wrote a technical report. A good issue tree shows the relationships between various pieces of information: which information is central and which is supportive or incidental. Issue trees offer engineers a visual view of their writing plan. By building a hierarchal issue tree to illustrate the logical links of the proposed writing task, the engineer can put an overlay of "technology" on the task of writing-an overlay that may "trick" the unwilling writer into writing, and writing well. >
Comparison of two exploratory data analysis methods for fMRI: fuzzy clustering vs. principal component analysis

Exploratory data-driven methods such as Fuzzy clustering analysis (FCA) and Principal component analysis (PCA) may be considered as hypothesis-generating procedures that are complementary to the hypothesis-led statistical inferential methods in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Here, a comparison between FCA and PCA is presented in a systematic fMRI study, with MR data acquired under the null condition, i.e., no activation, with different noise contributions and simulated, varying “activation.” The contrast-to-noise (CNR) ratio ranged between 1‐10. We found that if fMRI data are corrupted by scanner noise only, FCA and PCA show comparable performance. In the presence of other sources of signal variation (e.g., physiological noise ), FCA outperforms PCA in the entire CNR range of interest in fMRI, particularly for low CNR values. The comparison method that we introduced may be used to assess other exploratory approaches such as independent component analysis or neural network-based techniques. Crown Copyright r 2000. Published by Elsevier Science Inc.
Cardiopulmonary function in rats with lung hemorrhage induced by pulsed ultrasound exposure.

3and represented about 3.4% of the total lung volume. In the 6 rats that had lesions in both the left and right lungs, the left, right, and total mean lesion volumes, respectively, were 102 (16), 114 (11), and 216 (18) mm3 and represented about 3.7%, 4.2%, and 7.9% of the total lung volume. There were no statistically significant differences in cardiopulmonary measurements between baseline values and values obtained after exposure to ultrasound in the 9 rats exposed on the left lung only. The 6 rats exposed bilaterally had statistically significant differences in arterial pressure (134 ± 4 versus 113 ± 9 mm Hg; P = .047) and arterial PO 2 (70 ± 5 versus 58 ± 4 mm Hg; P = .024) between baseline values and values obtained after exposure to ultrasound. Conclusions. The severity of ultrasound-induced lesions produced in 1 lung did not affect measurements of cardiopulmonary function because of the functional respiratory reserve in the unexposed lung. However, when both the left and right lungs had ultrasound-induced lesions, the functional respiratory
Stability of the moment method in electromagnetic problems

Ill-posed electromagnetic problems with Fredholm equations of the first kind are frequently solved by the "moment method" without explicit regularization. The paper examines why and how the moment method works for ill-posed problems and what limitations are imposed by the ill-posedness. According to theoretical estimates and numerical experiments, the moment method solution converges to the exact one in the energy norm but does not converge uniformly. Comparison with the finite element method is given.
Decameric GTP cyclohydrolase I forms complexes with two pentameric GTP cyclohydrolase I feedback regulatory proteins in the presence of phenylalanine or of a combination of tetrahydrobiopterin and GTP.

Abstract The activity of GTP cyclohydrolase I is inhibited by (6R)-l-erythro-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) and stimulated by phenylalanine through complex formation with GTP cyclohydrolase I feedback regulatory protein (GFRP). Gel filtration experiments as well as enzyme activity measurements showed that the number of subunits of GFRP in both the inhibitory and stimulatory complexes is equal to that of GTP cyclohydrolase I. Because GFRP is a pentamer and GTP cyclohydrolase I was shown here by cross-linking experiments to be a decamer, the results indicate that two molecules of a pentameric GFRP associate with one molecule of GTP cyclohydrolase I. Gel filtration analysis suggested that the complex has a radius of gyration similar to that of the enzyme itself. These observations support our model that one molecule of GFRP binds to each of the two outer faces of the torus-shaped GTP cyclohydrolase I. For formation of the inhibitory protein complex, both BH4 and GTP were required; the median effective concentrations of BH4 and GTP were 2 and 26 μm, respectively. BH4 was the most potent of biopterins with different oxidative states. Among GTP analogues, dGTP as well as guanosine 5′-O-(3′-thiotriphosphate) exhibited similar inducibility compared with GTP, whereas other nucleotide triphosphates had no effect. On the other hand, phenylalanine alone was enough for formation of the stimulatory protein complex, and positive cooperativity was found for the phenylalanine-induced protein complex formation. Phenylalanine was the most potent of the aromatic amino acids.
Adipose tissue, adipokines, and inflammation.

White adipose tissue is no longer considered an inert tissue mainly devoted to energy storage but is emerging as an active participant in regulating physiologic and pathologic processes, including immunity and inflammation. Macrophages are components of adipose tissue and actively participate in its activities. Furthermore, cross-talk between lymphocytes and adipocytes can lead to immune regulation. Adipose tissue produces and releases a variety of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory factors, including the adipokines leptin, adiponectin, resistin, and visfatin, as well as cytokines and chemokines, such as TNF-α, IL-6, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, and others. Proinflammatory molecules produced by adipose tissue have been implicated as active participants in the development of insulin resistance and the increased risk of cardiovascular disease associated with obesity. In contrast, reduced leptin levels might predispose to increased susceptibility to infection caused by reduced T-cell responses in malnourished individuals. Altered adipokine levels have been observed in a variety of inflammatory conditions, although their pathogenic role has not been completely clarified.
The Doctorate in Counselor Education

The doctorate in Counselor Education and Supervision is the terminal degree in the field of counselor education within the U.S. The authors surveyed CACREP-accredited doctoral programs to assess department characteristics, clinical experience and credentials, research experience, and the admission, retention, and evaluation of students. Results indicated that the PhD was a preferable degree to other degree offerings. Programs were found to be diverse in their policies and procedures relating to admissions and retention, time to complete the program, and student expectations. International students and faculty representation was found to be sparse in CACREP-doctoral programs. Implications for future research and practice are offered.
The Algorithm Design Manual

....The most comprehensive guide to designing practical and efficient algorithms!.... The Algorithm Design Manual, Second Edition "...the book is an algorithm-implementation treasure trove, and putting all of these implementations in one place was no small feat. The list of implementations [and] extensive bibliography make the book an invaluable resource for everyone interested in the subject." --ACM Computing Reviews "It has all the right ingredients: rich contents, friendly, personal language, subtle humor, the right references, and a plethora of pointers to resources."-- P. Takis Metaxas, Wellesley College "This is the most approachable book on algorithms I have." -- Megan Squire, Elon University, USA This newly expanded and updated second edition of the best-selling classic continues to take the "mystery" out of designing algorithms, and analyzing their efficacy and efficiency. Expanding onthe first edition, the book now serves as the primary textbook of choice for algorithm design courses while maintaining its status as the premier practical reference guide to algorithms for programmers, researchers, and students. The reader-friendly Algorithm Design Manual provides straightforward access to combinatorial algorithms technology, stressing design over analysis. The first part, Techniques, provides accessible instructionon methods for designing and analyzing computer algorithms. The second part, Resources, is intended for browsing and reference, and comprises the catalog of algorithmic resources, implementations and an extensive bibliography. NEW to the second edition: Doubles the tutorial material and exercises over the first edition Provides full online support for lecturers, and a completely updated and improved website component with lecture slides, audio and video Contains a unique catalog identifying the 75 algorithmic problems that arise most often in practice, leading the reader down the right path to solve them Includes several NEW "war stories" relating experiences from real-world applications Provides up-to-date links leading to the very best algorithm implementations available in C, C++, and Java ADDITIONAL Learning Tools: Exercises include "job interview problems" from major software companies Highlighted take-home lesson boxes emphasize essential concepts Provides comprehensive references to both survey articles and the primary literature Exercises points to relevant programming contest challenge problems Many algorithms presented with actual code (written in C) as well as pseudo-code A full set of lecture slides and additional material available at www.algorist.com Written by a well-known algorithms researcher who received the IEEE Computer Science and Engineering Teaching Award, this new edition of The Algorithm Design Manual is an essential learning tool for students needing a solid grounding in algorithms, as well as a special text/reference for professionals who need an authoritative and insightful guide. Professor Skiena is also author of the popular Springer text, Programming Challenges: The Programming Contest Training Manual.
Microwave stethoscope (MiSt) as a low-cost vital signs sensor: Results from preliminary human subject studies

The MiSt measurement procedure for vital signs monitoring is based on the microwave reflection coefficient measurements on the patient chest using a novel microwave sensor. It is shown that MiSt provides integrated, multi-purpose, low-cost and non-invasive vital signs sensor that is capable of measuring heart-rate, respiration rate, changes in the lung water content, and the heartbeat waveform. In this paper, the improved microwave sensor design is presented. Human experiments are also conducted in clinical settings and comparisons with commercial FDA approved medical devices (Propaq LT) are given, thus, demonstrating the feasibility of MiSt in accurately detecting multiple VS. According to the human subject experiment results and its comparison with the Propaq data, the accuracy of the MiSt in measuring multiple VS including heart rate (HR), respiration rate (RR), and EKG has been established. Additional measurement capability of the lung water content is an important and unique asset of the proposed MiSt system. These experimental results clearly demonstrate the advantage of extracting multiple VS parameters using only single microwave measurement and make the MiSt a promising technology for implementation of the proactive healthcare delivery methods.
Hereditary persistence of alpha-fetoprotein

Persistently elevated alpha-fetoprotein levels were found in a 43-yr-old man in the absence of any specific pathology. Elevated serum alpha-fetoprotein levels were subsequently found in three first-degree relatives, two siblings, and one daughter. This represents the third documented family with hereditary persistence of alpha-fetoprotein. The pedigree is consistent with an autosomal dominant inheritance. Such elevated alpha-fetoprotein levels may be difficult to interpret in patients being screened for malignancy or in maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein screening programs. This rare genetic condition seems benign, with no discernable disease or functional abnormality noted in follow-up over a 6-mo period.
What's new in transplantation

Abstract "What's New in Surgery" evolves from the contributions of leaders in each of the fields of surgery. In every instance the author has been designated by the appropriate Council from the American College of Surgeons' Advisory Councils for the Surgical Specialties. This feature will be presented in issues of the Journal throughout the year beginning in 2001 (formerly published in one issue, February, of each volume of JACS) .
Exposure and emissions monitoring during carbon nanofiber production--Part II: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Production of carbon nanofibers and nanotubes (CNFs/CNTs) and their composite products is increasing globally. High-volume production may increase the exposure risks for workers who handle these materials. Though health effects data for CNFs/CNTs are limited, some studies raise serious health concerns. Given the uncertainty about their potential hazards, there is an immediate need for toxicity data and field studies to assess exposure to CNFs/CNTs. An extensive study was conducted at a facility that manufactures and processes CNFs. Filter, sorbent, cascade impactor, bulk, and microscopy samples, combined with direct-reading instruments, provided complementary information on air contaminants. Samples were analyzed for organic and elemental carbon (OC and EC), metals, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), with EC as a measure of CNFs. Transmission electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy also was applied. Fine/ultrafine iron-rich soot, PAHs, and carbon monoxide were production byproducts. Direct-reading instrument results were reported previously [Evans DE et al. (Aerosol monitoring during carbon nanofiber production: mobile direct-reading sampling. Ann Occup Hyg 2010; 54:514‐31)]. Results for timeintegrated samples are reported as companion papers in this issue. OC and EC, metals, and microscopy results are reported in Part I [Birch ME et al. (Exposure and emissions monitoring during carbon nanofiber production—Part I: elemental carbon and iron‐soot aerosols. Ann Occup Hyg 2011; 55: 1016‐36.)] whereas results for PAHs are reported here. Naphthalene and acenaphthylene were the dominant PAHs with average concentrations ranging from 115 to 336 m gm 23 and 35 to 84 m gm 23 , respectively. Concentrations of other PAHs ranged from � 1t o 10m gm 23 .
MICROSCOPIC DETERMINATION OF THE INTERLAYER BINDING ENERGY IN GRAPHITE

Abstract High-tensile-strength carbon nanotubes are nonetheless susceptible to large radial deformations. In particular, tubes may collapse so that opposing tube walls attain the graphitic interlayer spacing. A simple elastic model shows that the ratio of mean curvature modulus to the interwall attraction of graphite determines the cross-section of a collapsed tube. Transmission electron microscopy of collapsed tubes confirms the elastic model and affords the first microscopic measurement of the strength of the intersheet attraction, a quantity otherwise difficult to assess.
Could the New Women's Professional Soccer League Survive in America? How Adopting a Traditional Legal Structure May Save More than Just a Game

This article analyzes whether a new women’s professional soccer league, operating under a more traditional legal structure, is more likely to succeed than its centrally planned predecessor. Part I of this article explains the history of women’s soccer, including the game’s transition from a recreational to a professional activity. Part II explains the different legal structures that are available to an American sports league. Part III explains why implementing a traditional legal structure maximizes the new women’s professional soccer league’s likelihood of success.
Poly(ethylene oxide) bionanocomposites reinforced with chitin nanofiber networks

Abstract With excellent reinforcing performance and many remarkable inherent properties, such as renewability and high strength-per-unit-mass, chitin nanofibers (ChNFs) are attractive resources for polymer composite applications. However, significant challenges resulting from chitin's insolubility have hindered efforts to incorporate it effectively into polymer matrices. Here, ChNFs extracted from crab shells were used as fillers to reinforce polyethylene oxide (PEO). The dispersion of ChNFs in the polymer matrix and the interactions between fiber and matrix were studied by utilizing solvent-etching of the polymer matrix, FTIR spectroscopy and AFM colloidal probe adhesion measurements. The results show that the ChNFs were dispersed well and formed a fine interconnected network structure in the PEO matrix. ChNFs also exhibited strong adhesion with PEO, resulting from hydrogen bond and van der Waals forces. The ChNF interconnected network greatly enhanced the mechanical properties of PEO, with a 3-fold increase in both the tensile strength and elastic modulus of the nanocomposites at 20% ChNF loading. Processing ChNFs in suspensions with slight acidity and water-soluble polymers appears to support the formation of highly interconnected networks that makes ChNF-polymer composites excellent candidates for reinforced, light-weight, renewable materials.
The Impact of Supreme Court Signals and Circuit Effects on Responses to Precedent

An extensive literature suggests that U.S. Supreme court justices are policy entrepreneurs who are strongly concerned with the impact of their decisions. Such a concern for the policy impact of their decisions raises a number of puzzles: 1) under what conditions do Court precedents have the broadest impact on the lower courts? 2) What motivates the circuits to respond differently to Supreme Court precedent? 3) What, if any, strategies does the Court employ to influence the responses of the courts below? These queries require scholars to examine the aggregate impact of the decisions of the Court. We provide a framework for aggregate lower court responses to Court precedent. We argue that given the finite ability of the Supreme Court to review the large number of lower court decisions, justices of the Court should primarily be interested in aggregate patterns of compliance. We posit that a signal by the Supreme Court in the form of its summary decisions and a number of circuit-level influences primarily drive lower court responses to Court precedent. The empirical results provide robust support for our account.
The double helix of marketing: The complementary relationship between marketing history and marketing theory

This brief note explores the complementary relationship between the history of both marketing thought and marketing practice and the development of marketing theory, a relationship best described a...
Host digestion to determine populations of the northern fowl mite, Ornithonyssus sylviarum (Acari: Macronyssidae), on mature chickens

Cook's technique proved effective in determining the density and distribution of northern fowl mite ( Ornithonyssus sylviarum ) populations on mature chickens. Skin and feathers were digested, and the entire arthropod population was collected. This system allows quantification of mite populations including eggs, two nymphal instars, adults, and gravid females in absolute terms, so that economic injury levels can be accurately determined. However, the technique requires that the host be sacrificed. The vent was the most heavily mite-infested body region, followed by breast, thighs, and back.
Dermatologic manifestations of rheumatic disorders.

SUMMARY Many rheumatic disorders have cutaneous lesions and sometimes skin lesions are the initial or most problematic manifestation of a patient’s rheumatic disease. Many of the skin lesions encountered in these disorders are rather nonspecific. Other lesions, however, have characteristic and sometimes specific gross or histopathologic findings that often help the clinician diagnose the underlying rheumatic disease process. Additionally, drug-induced skin diseases are often encountered in patients being treated for rheumatic disease.
Exercise and induced-parturition effects on dystocia and rebreeding in beef cattle

The study involved 44 primiparous, 2-yr-old heifers and 74 multiparous cows, 3 or 4 yr old, bred to a single Charolais bull. Variables were dam age (heifer, H; or cow, C), restricted (RE) or forced (FE) exercise for the last 90 d precalving, and natural (NP) or induced (IP) parturition. The RE dams were held in drylots; FE dams were on range until d 260 to 267 and walked 3.2 km/d for feed and water. Dams with IP received 10 mg of flumethazone on d 269 of gestation. Diets for FE and RE dams contained the same hay and grain, but FE dams were fed in amounts projected to give weight changes approximating those of RE dams. All dams were calved in drylots; thereafter, all pairs were maintained together on pasture to the end of the study. Exercise did not affect dystocia score or incidence, increased feed requirement 31% (P < .01), and gave a 14.8% higher (P < .05) pregnancy rate in the subsequent 45-d breeding season. We hypothesize the increased pregnancy may have resulted from a feed-endocrine effect related to body weight gain, body composition-metabolic changes, or subsequent higher feed intake.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Equilibria and vibration of a buckled beam with attached masses or spring–mass systems

Abstract A buckled beam with immovable pinned ends is considered. Attached to the beam are either one concentrated mass, two concentrated masses, a spring–mass system (that could model a human, robot, or passive vibration absorber), or a horizontal rigid bar with two vertical end springs (a “bounce–pitch” system that could model an animal or a vehicle). In the theoretical analysis, the beam is modeled as an inextensible elastica. Equilibrium configurations are determined first. Then small free vibrations about equilibrium are examined, and the lowest frequencies and corresponding modes are computed. The effects of various parameters are investigated, such as the ratio of the span to the total arc length of the beam, the locations and weights of the attached masses and systems, and the stiffnesses of the springs. For the case of a single attached mass, experiments are conducted and the results are compared to the theoretical ones.
Two Fluted Points from the Kaibito Plateau, Northeastern Arizona

ABSTRACTRecently found at two separate locations on the Kaibito Plateau of northeastern Arizona are a fragmentary untyped fluted point and a complete Clovis point. The points and their locations are described. The discovery context of the Clovis point is notable for the presence of probable Pleistocene sediments.
The Nicaraguan Revolution in Health: From Somoza to the Sandinistas

A superb book ...useful reading not only for those concerned about health in Nicaragua but also for anyone concerned about the transformation of health care programs througout the world. Social Science and Medicine Raises significant issues ...for courses in medical and political anthropology, international health, and health education, as well as for health professionals in the international arena. Medical Anthropology Quarterly
Slavery and inter-imperial leprosy discourse in the Atlantic World

ABSTRACTIn medieval Europe, leprosy had been widespread, but concern faded with the disease during the early modern period, until it reappeared in force in the Americas connected to Africans and the slave trade. In the Spanish Americas, lazarettos were built as early as the sixteenth century for lepers of all races, but by the eighteenth century, leprosy became an issue of note for doctors and government officials in plantation-rich French, British, and Dutch Caribbean islands. Medical treatises and academic periodicals discussing leprosy identified it as primarily an African disease, and often defined it in relation to syphilis and yaws – two other ulcerative maladies with distasteful moral connotations and physical symptoms. By the 1760s, the growing international community of European physicians and scientists began to cross-reference observations made by just a few medical practitioners and travelers in the American colonies, and to translate one another’s racially coded interpretations of the disease...
High-throughput pulsed laser manufacturing etch process for complex and released structures from bulk 4H-SiC

This paper documents the implementation of a one-step process for the manufacture of complex and released structures from bulk silicon carbide (4H-SiC) using a pulsed neodymium-doped yttrium orthovanadate (Nd/YVO 4 ) laser. The process employs a pulsed laser (∼1 kW) to scribe a crosshatch pattern in the 4H-SiC substrate, etching features directly from the bulk material. The effective etch rate and resulting surface roughness of the process are characterized with respect to the scribe speed of the laser, the scribed laser line spacing, and the number of laser passes. Finally, a planetary gear assembly is rapidly (15 minutes) manufactured from bulk 4H-SiC. The technique described is a step toward cheaply and efficiently manufacturing SiC microstructures at the die level in lieu of more expensive fabrication techniques such as deep reactive ion etching (DRIE).
Ferroelectricity in HfO 2 thin films as a function of Zr doping

We have studied the effect of Zr doping, from 0% to 100%, on the ferroelectric properties of HfO 2 . Amorphous Hf x Zr 1−x O 2 on TiN and Si substrates is deposited using atomic layer deposition (ALD) and then annealed in a rapid thermal processing (RTP) tool while capped by 20 nm of sputtered TiN. Based on our experiments, Zr doping of up to 50% results in ferroelectricity in polycrystalline Hf x Zr 1−x O 2 , whereas Zr doping of 70% and above shows antiferroelectricity. Our results show how the properties of ferroelectric HfO 2 can be engineered through changing doping and annealing conditions, thereby demonstrating the flexibility of ferroelectric HfO 2 for integration in future memory and logic devices.
Racial Disparity in the Perioperative Care for Patients Undergoing Total Knee and Hip Arthroplasty: A Retrospective Propensity-Matched Cohort Study

Total joint arthroplasty is an effective treatment for osteoarthritis-related symptoms not resolved with non-surgical therapy. There is a growing body of evidence supporting the use of neuraxial anesthesia for these surgical procedures. We utilized the American College of Surgeons-National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database to study the effects of race on the type of anesthesia and postoperative outcomes in elective total joint replacement surgery. We included African-American and White adult patients (age > 18 years) undergoing elective primary total knee or hip arthroplasty under general or neuraxial (spinal or epidural) anesthesia (2005–2013). A 1:3 matched sample of African-American vs. White patients was created based on propensity scores. The differences in anesthetic technique and postoperative complications between the two groups were evaluated before and after matching. A total of 102,122 patients were included. African-American patients were younger (mean ± standard deviation, 62.08 ± 11.17 vs. 66.37 ± 10.53 years, p < 0.001) and had a lower modified Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) score (3.07 ± 1.39 vs. 3.42 ± 1.33, p < 0.001). General anesthesia was used more commonly in the African-American patients group (64.56 vs. 62.25%, p < 0.001). However, when the two groups were matched, the differences in the type of anesthesia disappeared (odds ratio [OR] 0.96, 95% confidence limits [CL] 0.85–1.08, p = 0.455). African-American patients had a higher rate of 30-day postoperative complications before matching (3.08 vs. 2.20%, p < 0.001) and after matching (3.63 vs. 2.33%) (OR 1.58, 95% CL 1.13–2.21, p = 0.007). There is no significant difference in the type of anesthesia received for total joint arthroplasty between African-American and White patients; however, there is a disparity in the postoperative outcomes in favor of the White patient group. Further studies needed to explain the reasons for these findings.
Exactly Solvable Model of a Two-Level Quantum System Interacting with Spin Environment

An exactly solvable model of a two-level quantum system interacting with spin environment is considered. The interaction is assumed to be such that the state of the environment is conserved. Dynamics of the reduced density matrix of the two-level system is calculated for arbitrary coupling strength. The stationary state of the spin is obtained explicitly in the t→∞ limit.
Performance of PROMIS Physical Function Compared with KOOS, SF-36, Eq5d And Marx Activity Scale in Patients Who Undergo ACL Reconstruction:

Objectives:Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is a commonly performed orthopaedic procedure. PROMIS (Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System) was developed by the National In...
Clostridium difficile Infection in Trauma, Surgery, and Medical Patients Admitted to the Intensive Care Unit

Abstract Background: Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) causes significant morbidity and mortality rates, especially for patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Data comparing trauma and surgery patients with CDI in the ICU with medical patients with CDI in the ICU are limited. Methods: In a single-center study, we analyzed retrospective data from 25 trauma patients and 13 surgery patients aged 18 years or older who had CDI and had been admitted to the ICU. A comparison group of 156 medical patients aged 18 years or greater who had CDI and were admitted to the ICU also was identified. Results: The trauma/surgery patients had a significantly higher mean number of ventilator days (13.5 ± 9.3 vs. 7.3 ± 7.2; p < 0.0004), Foley catheter days (11.9 ± 6.8 vs. 8.0 ± 7.9; p = 0.005), mean ICU length of stay (LOS) (12.34 ± 9.7 vs. 5.9 ± 5.9 days; p < 0.0003), and mean total LOS (16 ± 9.3 vs. 10.7 ± 8.4 days; p = 0.0008). However, the medical group had a significantly higher mean number of vasopressor days (2....
The Historical Meaning of the Crisis in Psychology

Lately more and more voices are heard proclaiming that the problem of general psychology is a problem of the first order. What is most remarkable is that this opinion does not come from philosophers who have made generalization their professional habit, nor even from theoretical psychologists, but from the psychological practitioners who elaborate the special areas of applied psychology: psychiatrists and industrial psychologists, the representatives of the most exact and concrete part of our science. The various psychological disciplines have obviously reached a turning point in the development of their investigations, the gathering of factual material, the systematization of knowledge, and the statement of basic positions and laws. Further advance along a straight line, the simple continuation of the same work, the gradual accumulation of material, are proving fruitless or even impossible. In order to go further we must choose a path.
Utilitarian Constitutionalism: A Comparison of Bentham & Madison

Jeremy Bentham (1748–1832), the father of modern utilitarianism, had much in common, ideologically, with James Madison (1751–1836), the father of the U.S. Constitution. This Article is an attempt to bridge the literature on the two figures and to show that knowledge of Bentham’s constitutional theory is useful in understanding the intellectual environment that produced the U.S. Constitution. Although lawyers’ knowledge of Bentham might be limited to catchphrases such as, “nonsense upon stilts,” or concepts associated with modern surveillance technology like the Panopticon (his design for a prison), Bentham was a serious legal and political philosopher. His interests extended to the United States, so much so, that he engaged in serious analysis of the U.S. Constitution and communicated with leading American politicians, including Madison, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, Aaron Burr, and John Quincy Adams. This Article demonstrates the similarities of thought between Bentham and Madison and argues that the Constitution is best viewed as a document inspired by, and compatible with, the rationalism represented by English utilitarianism.
Strudel-Scour Craters on Shallow Arctic Prodeltas

Strudel scours are craters in the sea floor, typically 3 m deep and 15 m wide, but ranging to as much as 7.5 m deep and greater than 30 m wide (Figs. 1 and 2). They are excavated by vertical drainage spouts of fresh water during the yearly spring flooding of vast reaches of shore-fast ice surrounding arctic deltas (Fig.3)[Reimnitz and Bruder, 1972; Reimnitz et al., 1974]. Off northern Alaska, the craters form as far as 15 km from river mouths, to water depths of 5 to 8 m. In one particular year, an average of 2–3 craters was estimated to have actually formed every km2 across a shallow prodelta, and filled with sandy, organic-rich sediments within a period of 2 to 3 years [Reimnitz and Kempema, 1983; Alpha and Reimnitz, 1995]. Internal sedimentary structures in vibra-cores from Alaskan Arctic deltas record this history of repeated strudel-scour excavation and filling (cut-and-fill), and show that this filling occurs by bedload transport from the east (Fig. 4). Cut-and-fill is also recorded in high-resol-ution seismic profiles of Arctic prodeltas that cross the outer boundary of a flooded area (Fig. 5).
Hitting Times to a Target for the Baker’s Map

A targetting theorem for ergodic systems without control is presented. It states that the average hitting time depends only on the size of the target, not its location. An algorithm is then presented to compute average hitting times for ergodic processes.
Journey to the center of the protein: allostery from multitemperature multiconformer X-ray crystallography

Proteins inherently fluctuate between conformations to perform functions in the cell. For example, they sample product-binding, transition-state-stabilizing and product-release states during catalysis, and they integrate signals from remote regions of the structure for allosteric regulation. However, there is a lack of understanding of how these dynamic processes occur at the basic atomic level. This gap can be at least partially addressed by combining variable-temperature (instead of traditional cryogenic temperature) X-ray crystallography with algorithms for modeling alternative conformations based on electron-density maps, in an approach called multitemperature multiconformer X-ray crystallo­graphy (MMX). Here, the use of MMX to reveal alternative conformations at different sites in a protein structure and to estimate the degree of energetic coupling between them is discussed. These insights can suggest testable hypotheses about allosteric mechanisms. Temperature is an easily manipulated experimental parameter, so the MMX approach is widely applicable to any protein that yields well diffracting crystals. Moreover, the general principles of MMX are extensible to other perturbations such as pH, pressure, ligand concentration etc. Future work will explore strategies for leveraging X-ray data across such perturbation series to more quantitatively measure how different parts of a protein structure are coupled to each other, and the consequences thereof for allostery and other aspects of protein function.
Analytical elastoplastic analysis of heteroepitaxial core-shell nanowires

Semiconductor nanowires, grown heteroepitaxially, have many unique properties compared to heteroepitaxial thin films: e.g., the possibility of lateral relaxation, high surface to volume ratio and lower strain energy. While the onset of plastic deformation in flat thin films has been studied extensively, much less is understood about this phenomenon in the nanowire geometry. Here, we report development of a continuum analytical model that predicts not only the onset of plastic deformation for core-shell structures with anisotropic slip system, but also the evolution of stress and strain fields beyond the initial yield. This is the first analytical elastoplastic study of heteroepitaxial core-shell nanowires. Our model is verified against finite element simulations. To illustrate trends predicted by the model, we choose InGaAs for core-shell system as an example. We find that most energetically favorable positions for formation of the first dislocations in the heterostructure have misorientation of 0, π/2, π, and 3/2π from the principal slip planes in zinc-blend structures. We demonstrate that anisotropy in slip systems of the heterostructure reduces the critical misfit strain. Finally, we find that there is a critical ratio (χ) of shell thickness to core radius that maximizes the thickness of the elastoplastic region. This critical ratio is independent of geometry and depends only on material properties such as elastic moduli and yield strength of the heterostructure.Semiconductor nanowires, grown heteroepitaxially, have many unique properties compared to heteroepitaxial thin films: e.g., the possibility of lateral relaxation, high surface to volume ratio and lower strain energy. While the onset of plastic deformation in flat thin films has been studied extensively, much less is understood about this phenomenon in the nanowire geometry. Here, we report development of a continuum analytical model that predicts not only the onset of plastic deformation for core-shell structures with anisotropic slip system, but also the evolution of stress and strain fields beyond the initial yield. This is the first analytical elastoplastic study of heteroepitaxial core-shell nanowires. Our model is verified against finite element simulations. To illustrate trends predicted by the model, we choose InGaAs for core-shell system as an example. We find that most energetically favorable positions for formation of the first dislocations in the heterostructure have misorientation of 0, π/2, π...
Controls on Mineral Carbonation Reactions in Basalt Fracture Networks

Basalts could provide secure long-term CO2 sequestration through mineral carbonation. Here, a series of flow-through experiments was conducted to investigate the effects of temperature, brine chemistry, and transport limitations on carbonation reactions in basalt microfractures. Post-reaction sample characterization revealed that carbonates preferentially formed in diffusion-limited vesicles and dead-end fractures, while injection paths were altered to clay minerals. The extent of secondary precipitation increased with increasing influent [NaHCO3] (from 6.3 to 640 mM) and temperature (from 100 to 150°C). Elevated [NaHCO3] also enhanced Mg- and Fe-uptake into carbonate minerals while carbonation at low [NaHCO3] was limited to Ca-carbonates that were strongly localized on Ca-rich pyroxene grains, consistent with predictions from complimentary 2D reactive transport models. The results highlight how complex coupling between fluid chemistry and transport conditions govern the extent and location of mineral carbonation reactions in natural basalts, which can inform selection of favorable storage sites and CO2 injection schemes with respect to long-term carbonation efficiency.
Pharmacokinetics of vatinoxan in male neutered cats anesthetized with isoflurane

Abstract Objective To characterize the pharmacokinetics of vatinoxan in isoflurane-anesthetized cats. Study design Prospective experimental study. Animals A group of six adult healthy male neutered cats. Methods Cats were anesthetized using isoflurane in oxygen. Venous catheters were placed to administer the drug and sample blood. Vatinoxan, 1 mg kg–1, was administered intravenously over 5 minutes. Blood was sampled before and at various times during and up to 8 hours after vatinoxan administration. Plasma vatinoxan concentration was measured using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. Compartment models were fitted to the time–concentration data using population methods and nonlinear mixed effect modeling. Results A three-compartment model best fitted the data. Typical value (% interindividual variability) for the three volumes (mL kg–1), the metabolic clearance and two distribution clearances (mL minute–1 kg–1) were 34 (55), 151 (35), 306 (18), 2.3 (34), 42.6 (25) and 5.6 (0), respectively. Hypotension increased the second distribution clearance to 10.6. Conclusion and clinical relevance The pharmacokinetics of vatinoxan in anesthetized cats were characterized by a small volume of distribution and a low clearance. An intravenous bolus of 100 μg kg–1 of vatinoxan followed by constant rate infusions of 55 μg kg–1 minute–1 for 20 minutes, then 22 μg kg–1 minute–1 for 60 minutes and finally 10 μg kg–1 minute–1 for the remainder of the infusion time is expected to maintain the plasma concentration within 90%–110% of the plasma vatinoxan concentration previously shown to attenuate the cardiovascular effects of dexmedetomidine (25 μg kg–1) in conscious cats.
Effects of Sources and Meteorology on Ambient Particulate Matter in Austin, Texas

We measured ambient submicron aerosol at an urban background site in Austin, Texas in June 2018 (summer) and October–November 2014 (fall). We report the NR-PM1 (non-refractory particulate matter wi...
Prediction of minimum postmortem submersion interval (PMSImin) based on eukaryotic community succession on skeletal remains recovered from a lentic environment.

Abstract Although recent studies explored using microbial succession during decomposition to estimate the postmortem interval (PMI) and postmortem submersion interval (PMSI), there is currently no published research using aquatic eukaryotic community succession to estimate the minimum postmortem submersion interval (PMSImin). The goals of this study were to determine whether eukaryotic community succession occurs on porcine skeletal remains in a lentic environment, and, if so, to develop a statistical model for PMSImin prediction. Fresh porcine bones (rib N = 100, scapula N = 100) were placed in cages (10′’ x 10′’) attached to floatation devices and submerged in a fresh water lake (Crozet, VA), using waterproof loggers and a YSI Sonde to record temperature and water quality variables, respectively. In addition to baseline samples, one cage, containing five ribs and five scapulae, and water samples (500 mL) were collected approximately every 250 accumulated degree days (ADD). Nineteen sample cohorts were collected over a period of 5200 ADD (579 Days). Variable region nine (V9) of the 18S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) was amplified and sequenced using a dual-index strategy on the MiSeq FGx sequencing platform. Resulting sequences underwent quality control parameters and analysis in mothur v 1.42.3, R v 3.5.3, and R v 3.6.0. Permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA) revealed a significant difference in phylogenetic β-diversity among ribs, scapulae and water (p = 0.001) and among ADD (p ≤ 0.011), which was supported by distinct clustering of samples associated with each ADD in UniFrac distance based non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) ordinations. Using similarity percentage (SIMPER) analysis of class and family level taxa, differences observed between bone types were attributed to Peronosporomycetes_cl, Eukaryota_unclassified, and Intramacronucleata (e.g., Armophorida), however these differences were not statistically significant. Alpha diversity revealed a non-linear increase in phylogenetic diversity with an increase in ADD. Random forest models for ribs and scapulae predicted PMSImin with an error rate within±104 days (937 ADD) and±63 days (564 ADD), respectively. In conclusion, this study suggests that eukaryotic succession is capable of predicting long term PMSImin in lentic systems.
Terrorizing gender: transgender visibility and the surveillance practices of the U.S. security state: by Mia Fischer, Lincoln, University of Nebraska Press, 2019, 282pp., ISBN: 978-1-4962-0674-9

Mia Fischer’s Terrorizing Gender: Transgender Visibility and the Surveillance Practices of the U.S. Security State punctures the popular “trans tipping point” myth that visibility in the media alon...
The Perfect Predator: A Scientist’s Race to Save Her Husband, by Drs. Steffanie Strathdee and Thomas Patterson

This is a book review of “The Perfect Predator: A Scientist’s Race to Save Her Husband” by Drs. Steffanie Strathdee and Thomas Patterson.
Improved Prediction of Smoking Status via Isoform-Aware RNA-seq Deep Learning Models

Abstract Most predictive models based on gene expression data do not leverage information related to gene splicing, despite the fact that splicing is a fundamental feature of eukaryotic gene expression. Cigarette smoking is an important environmental risk factor for many diseases, and it has profound effects on gene expression. Using smoking status as a prediction target, we developed deep neural network predictive models using gene, exon, and isoform level quantifications from RNA sequencing data in over 2,000 subjects in the COPDGene Study. We observed that models using exon and isoform quantifications clearly outperformed gene-level models when using data from 5 genes from a previously published five gene prediction model. Whereas the test set performance of the previously published model was 0.82 in the original publication, our exon-based models including an exon-to-isoform mapping layer achieved a test set AUC of 0.88 using data from the same 5 genes and an AUC of 0.94 using a larger set of exon quantifications. Isoform variability is an important source of latent information in RNA-seq data that can be used to improve clinical prediction models. Author summary Predictive models based on gene expression are already a part of medical decision making for selected situations such as early breast cancer treatment. Most of these models are based on measures that do not capture critical aspects of gene splicing, but with RNA sequencing it is possible to capture some of these aspects of alternative splicing and use them to improve clinical predictions. Building on previous models to predict cigarette smoking status, we show that measures of alternative splicing significantly improve the accuracy of these predictive models.