cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reconstructive trends and complications following parotidectomy: incidence and predictors in 11,057 cases

Parotidectomy is a common treatment option for parotid neoplasms and the complications associated with this procedure can cause significant morbidity. Reconstruction following parotidectomy is utilized to address contour deformity and facial nerve paralysis. This study aims to demonstrate national trends in parotidectomy patients and identify factors associated with adverse postoperative outcomes. This study includes the largest patient database to date in determining epidemiologic trends, reconstructive trends, and prevalence of adverse events following parotidectomy. A retrospective review was performed for parotidectomies included in the ACS-NSQIP database between January 2012 and December 2017. CPT codes were used to identify the primary and secondary procedures performed. Univariate and multivariate analysis was utilized to determine associations between pre- and perioperative variables with patient outcomes. Preoperative demographics, surgical indications, and common medical comorbidities were collected. CPT codes were used to identify patients who underwent parotidectomy with or without reconstruction. These pre- and perioperative characteristics were compared with 30-day surgical complications, medical complications, reoperation, and readmission using uni- and multivariate analyses to determine predictors of adverse events. There were 11,057 patients who underwent parotidectomy. Postoperative complications within 30 days were uncommon (1.7% medical, 3.8% surgical), with the majority of these being surgical site infection (2.7%). Free flap reconstruction, COPD, bleeding disorders, smoking, and presence of malignant tumor were the strongest independent predictors of surgical site infection. Readmission and reoperation were uncommon at an incidence of 2.1% each. The strongest factors predictive of readmission were malignant tumor and corticosteroid usage. The strongest factors predictive of reoperation were free flap reconstruction, malignant tumor, bleeding disorder, and disseminated cancer. Surgical volume/contour reconstruction was relatively uncommon (18%). Facial nerve sacrifice was uncommon (3.7%) and, of these cases, only 25.5% underwent facial nerve reinnervation and 24.0% underwent facial reanimation. There are overall low rates of complications, readmissions, and reoperations following parotidectomy. However, certain factors are predictive of adverse postoperative events and this data may serve to guide management and counseling of patients undergoing parotidectomy. Concurrent reconstructive procedures are not commonly reported which may be due to underutilization or underreporting.
Realistic Transport Simulation: Tackling the Small Data Challenge with Open Data

MATSim is the state-of-the-art open source software for agent-based transport simulation, intended for use to evaluate transportation planning models. A standard approach to use MATSim is to conduct a user survey about their day-plans of travel, from which a synthetic dataset of agents’ day-plans for an entire region is generated for transport simulation. The simulation output can be used for various evaluations, such as congestion conditions of road segments and their peak hours.This paper aims to conduct a transportation simulation on MATSim for the region of Birmingham, AL. A traditional approach based on Iterative Proportional Fitting (IPF) is not sufficient for generating a realistic synthetic population due to the small data problem: Birmingham is a small city with limited transport data statistics, and we only have a survey of 451 people for their day-plans. To tackle the small data problem, we seek the assistance of abundant open data such as US Census data, OpenStreetMap, OpenAddresses and Birmingham Business}{Alliance to complete the fine details realistically. We also utilize various data science and machine learning techniques to build models that utilize these open data to generate a realistic population. Preliminary tests demonstrate reasonable accuracy of the simulation results.
Teacher persistence as a function of teacher-job fit: Evidence from a large suburban district, 2010–2015

Abstract This study extends the literature on teacher persistence by addressing teacher-job fit, defined as the degree to which a teacher possesses a core set of skills and related dispositions associated with the nature of the teaching profession. The sample includes 426 teachers hired out of a pool of 6207 applicants in a large suburban district. Cox regression estimates indicate that the risk of migrating out of the district is reduced by concern with equity and respect for others and by cultural sensitivity. Risk of attrition from the occupation is reduced by task orientation but is increased by effective communication.
Evaluating the applicability of the shelterwood-burn technique for regenerating the mixed-oak forests of the Allegheny National Forest

We evaluated the usefulness of the shelterwood-burn technique for regenerating upland mixed-oak (Quercus spp.) stands on the Allegheny National Forest of northwestern Pennsylvania. Two mid-spring prescribed fires were conducted in four upland mixed-oak stands that had been partly harvested due to defoliationmediated mortality and subsequent salvage logging. Overall, the technique performed reasonably well. Before the burns, red maple (Acer rubrum) and sweet birch (Betula lenta) reproduction dominated the stands in terms of stem density and height. However, two fires conducted 3 years apart killed many of the birch and maple seedlings, creating a seedling pool with a substantial oak component. Additionally, interspecific heights among the seedlings were approximately equal. If these promising trends continue through the final harvest to crown closure of the new stand, then the shelterwood-burn technique will have been shown to be a viable silvicultural method for the Allegheny National Forest.
Deep Relaxation Experience with Complementary Urban Zen Integrative Therapy: Qualitative Thematic Analysis.

Complementary Health Approaches (CHAs) are used as adjunctive therapy for managing symptoms associated with chronic conditions. Little evidence exists about how patients with pulmonary hypertension...
Ordoliberalism 2.0: Towards a New Regulatory Policy for the Information Age

In the light of several ongoing antitrust investigations in the E.U. and the U.S., the following research paper analyzes whether (some of the) big tech companies – same as banks – need special regulatory (and political) attention and if so, how an (updated form of) regulatory policy for the information age could look like. It does so by utilizing – and reviving – the normative and business-ethical ideals of German neoliberalism, also known as ordoliberalism. Especially, Walter Eucken’s work has the potential to inform and enrich the current debate concerning the regulation of ‘big tech’. The main goal of the paper is to outline a potentially new regulatory paradigm – one that combines (and revises) Eucken’s ordoliberalism with the competition policy of the European Union.
MEK inhibition overcomes resistance to EphA2-targeted therapy in uterine cancer.

Abstract Background Our pilot clinical study of EphA2 inhibitor (dasatinib) plus paclitaxel and carboplatin showed interesting clinical activity in endometrial cancer with manageable toxicity. However, the underlying mechanisms of dasatinib resistance in uterine cancer are unknown. Here, we investigated potential mechanisms underlying resistance to EphA2 inhibitors in uterine cancer and examined the anti-tumor activity of EphA2 inhibitors alone and in combination with a MEK inhibitor. Methods We evaluated the antitumor activity of EphA2 inhibitors plus a MEK inhibitor using in vitro and in vivo orthotopic models of uterine cancer. Results EphA2 inhibitor induced MAPK in dasatinib-resistant uterine cancer cells (HEC-1A and Ishikawa) and BRAF/CRAF heterodimerization in HEC-1A cells. EphA2 inhibitor and trametinib significantly increased apoptosis in cancer cells resistant to EphA2 inhibitors compared with controls (p Conclusions These findings indicate that the MAPK pathway is activated in dasatinib-resistant uterine cancer cells and that EphrinA1-mediated MEK inhibition overcomes dasatinib resistance. Dual targeting of both EphA2 and MEK, combined with chemotherapy, should be considered for future clinical development.
Human Placenta Harbors a Diverse Immune Landscape With Inflammatory Potential

Throughout pregnancy, the maternal immunity is tolerant to the developing fetus. However, recent work suggests that the fetal immune system in utero is highly developed and may also contribute to tolerance. We hypothesized that each layer (maternal decidua, fetal membranes, and fetal villi) of the second trimester (ST) placenta harbors a distinct immune landscape. Mass cytometry of 11 ST placentas demonstrated that each tissue did have a unique immune profile. Specifically, the villi contain chemokine receptor (CCR)lo innate cells and enrichment of macrophages and DCs. In contrast, the decidua’s innate cells were CCRhi with abundant NK cells. Random forest classification accurately assigned samples as villi or decidua based on three distinct populations. Memory CD8 T cells were the dominant adaptive cells in all three layers and were more activated in decidua than villi. However, T cells within the villi could secrete TNFα/IFNγ when stimulated with maternal components, suggesting that villi T cells become proinflammatory upon exposure to maternal antigens. Furthermore, T cells from preterm villi had more activation transcripts than ST and term villi. Collectively, these findings illustrate a complex arsenal of immune cells within the placenta in utero and suggest that fetal T cells may contribute to preterm pathology.
Ovarian Toxicity and Metabolism of 4-Vinylcyclohexene and Analogues in B6C3F1 Mice

The industrial chemical, 4-vinylcyclohexene (VCH), is an ovarian toxicant in mice. Administration of VCH for thirty days results in depletion of ovarian follicles, including primordial follicles (Smith et al., 1990a; Hooser et al., 1994). Destruction of these non-dividing follicles produces an irreversible response that leads to the development of premature ovarian failure (Hooser et al., 1994). Since no effect in cyclicity, hormonal levels, and fertility are observed with VCH treatment until the development of ovarian failure (Hooser et al., 1994; Grizzle et al., 1994), early warning signs of ovarian toxicity are not apparent. In addition, ovarian failure is believed to be associated with the development of ovarian neoplasms (Hooser et al., 1994). An increased incidence in the occurrence of uncommon ovarian neoplasms; including mixed benign tumors, granulosa cell tumors, and granulosa cell carcinomas, is observed following chronic administration of VCH (NTP, 1986).
Topographic controls on the depth distribution of soil CO2 in a small temperate watershed

Accurate measurements of soil CO2 concentrations (pCO2) are important for understanding carbonic acid reaction pathways for continental weathering and the global carbon (C) cycle. While there have been many studies of soil pCO2, most sample or model only one, or at most a few, landscape positions and therefore do not account for complex topography. Here, we test the hypothesis that soil pCO2 distribution can predictably vary with topographic position. We measured soil pCO2 at the Susquehanna Shale Hills Critical Zone Observatory (SSHCZO), Pennsylvania, where controls on soil pCO2 (e.g., depth, texture, porosity, and moisture) vary from ridge tops down to the valley floor, between planar slopes and slopes with convergent flow (i.e., swales), and between north and south-facing aspects. We quantified pCO2 generally at 0.1–0.2 m depth intervals down to bedrock from 2008 to 2010 and in 2013. Of the variables tested, topographic position along catenas was the best predictor of soil pCO2 because it controls soil depth, texture, porosity, and moisture, which govern soil CO2 diffusive fluxes. The highest pCO2 values were observed in the valley floor and swales where soils are deep (≥0.7 m) and wet, resulting in low CO2 diffusion through soil profiles. In contrast, the ridge top and planar slope soils have lower pCO2 because they are shallower (≤0.6 m) and drier, resulting in high CO2 diffusion through soil profiles. Aspect was a minor predictor of soil pCO2: the north (i.e., south-facing) swale generally had lower soil moisture content and pCO2 than its south (i.e., north-facing) counterpart. Seasonally, we observed that while the timing of peak soil pCO2 was similar across the watershed, the amplitude of the pCO2 peak was higher in the deep soils due to more variable moisture content. The high pCO2 observed in the deeper, wetter topographic positions could lower soil porewater pH by up to 1 pH unit compared to porewaters equilibrated with atmospheric CO2 alone. CO2 is generally the dominant acid driving weathering in soils: based on our observations, models of chemical weathering and CO2 dynamics would be improved by including landscape controls on soil pCO2.
Expression of foreign proteins in a human neuronal system.

Publisher Summary This chapter describes a recently developed model human neuronal system that makes it possible to obtain unlimited quantities of fully polarized, postmitotic neurons, and approaches that can be taken to express exogenous proteins transiently and to obtain stable cell lines. Thus, this system offers a way to study dendritic and axonal transport, membrane recycling, and protein targeting at the genetic and biochemical levels. The NT2N cell system offers an attractive way to overcome some of the technical limitations inherent in working with primary neuronal cultures. It is possible to obtain large quantities of neurons with which to perform biochemical experiments, and the growth of neurites can be synchronized and controlled by varying the substrate on which the cells grow. Because the differentiated NT2N neurons are derived from a mitotically active precursor cell line in vitro , it is possible to employ a variety of techniques that are not otherwise available when working directly with postmitotic neurons, to obtain expression of foreign proteins. Because they are fully polarized, NT2N cells offer a way to study protein sorting to axons and dendrites at both the biochemical and the morphological level.
Does It Add up? Calculators as Accommodations for Sixth Grade Students with Disabilities

This study explored the performance of sixth grade students with and without disabilities on a mathematics assessment aligned to state standards when provided a calculator as an accommodation. The ...
Constraint optimization for partially adaptive subspace STAP algorithms

Space-time adaptive processing (STAP) algorithms have been widely studied for clutter nulling in airborne radar systems. Many STAP algorithms exploit subspace processing to reduce the complexity of the problem. The algorithm performance obtained by conventional projections of the constraint vector into the appropriate subspace can be improved upon by optimizing the constraint vector projection. This is demonstrated on pre-Doppler (or adapt-then-filter) algorithms, which adaptively process small subsets of radar pulses and non-adaptively Doppler filtering the results. This paper presents a new pre-Doppler algorithm which offers significant performance improvements by allowing adaptivity within the constraint vector to replace the non-adaptive Doppler processing used in conventional pre-Doppler approaches. The new approach provides improves SINR loss and provides narrower clutter notches.
The Value of Knowledge and the Pursuit of Understanding: The Gettier Problem and the Value of Knowledge

The topic for this chapter arises out of two sources. In the previous two chapters, we discovered two properties of belief that are valuable beyond that of truth, the properties of subjective justification and intellectual virtuousity. Both of these properties are valuable by themselves, so that it is epistemically better for a belief to be subjectively justified than not and it is better for a belief to be virtuous than not. Moreover, these properties have a value not swamped by the presence of truth, so that it is better to have a subjectively justified true belief than one that is true but unjustified in this sense, and it is better to have a virtuous true belief than to have a true belief that is not virtuous. In the former case, what makes the property of subjective justification valuable in a way not swamped by the value of truth is that this property is a transparent mark of truth. So it has value because of its connection to truth, but its value is not swamped by the presence of truth, as are other properties such as reliability that also have value because of their connection to truth. Intellectually virtuous belief is valuable because when a belief has this property, the believer is due credit for having a true belief.
HOW TO AVOID SECULAR TERMS IN CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS.

This paper discusses perturbation theories in classical and quantum mechanics which avoid secular terms. It is shown that the «averaging» method put forward by Bogoliubov, Mitropolsky and Kruskal can in many cases be replaced by a method constructing a formal transformation which brings the Hamiltonian into a normal form. The transformation bears great resemblance to the Foldy-Wouthuysen transformation of the Dirac equation.
Asymptotic enumeration via singularity analysis

Asymptotic formulae for two-dimensional arrays (fr,s)r,s≥0 where the associated generating function F (z, w) := ∑ r,s≥0 fr,sz w is meromorphic are provided. Our approach is geometrical. To a big extent it generalizes and completes the asymptotic description of the coefficients fr,s along a compact set of directions specified by smooth points of the singular variety of the denominator of F (z, w). The scheme we develop can lead to a high level of complexity. However, it provides the leading asymptotic order of fr,s if some unusual and pathological behavior is ruled out. It relies on the asymptotic analysis of a certain type of stationary phase integral of the form ∫ e−s·P A(d, θ)dθ, which describes up to an exponential factor the asymptotic behavior of the coefficients fr,s along the direction d = r s in the (r, s)-lattice. The cases of interest are when either the phase term P (d, θ) or the amplitude term A(d, θ) exhibits a change of degree as d approaches a degenerate direction. These are handled by a generalized version of the stationary phase and the coalescing saddle point method which we propose as part of this dissertation. The occurrence of two special functions related to the Airy function is established when two simple saddles of the phase term coalesce. A scheme to study the asymptotic behavior of big powers of generating functions is proposed as an additional application of these generalized methods.
Effect of propranolol infusion on the umbilical and uterine circulations of pregnant sheep

Abstract Propranolol was infused intravenously for 60 minutes to five ewes (4 μg per kilogram per minute) or five fetal sheep (10 μg per kilogram per minute). The umbilical blood flow was significantly decreased by 18 per cent from control at 60 minutes with either maternal or fetal propranolol infusion. Uterine blood flow and maternal and fetal mean arterial pressure did not significantly change. Maternal and fetal heart rates decreased 18 and 9 per cent from control, respectively, during maternal propranolol infusion. With propranolol to the fetus, fetal heart rate decreased 15 per cent and maternal heart rate did not change. During all infusion, maternal and fetal arterial pH, Pco 2 and Po 2 remained within normal physiologic limits.
Object storage on CRAQ: high-throughput chain replication for read-mostly workloads

Massive storage systems typically replicate and partition data over many potentially-faulty components to provide both reliability and scalability. Yet many commerciallydeployed systems, especially those designed for interactive use by customers, sacrifice stronger consistency properties in the desire for greater availability and higher throughput. This paper describes the design, implementation, and evaluation of CRAQ, a distributed object-storage system that challenges this inflexible tradeoff. Our basic approach, an improvement on Chain Replication, maintains strong consistency while greatly improving read throughput. By distributing load across all object replicas, CRAQ scales linearly with chain size without increasing consistency coordination. At the same time, it exposes noncommitted operations for weaker consistency guarantees when this suffices for some applications, which is especially useful under periods of high system churn. This paper explores additional design and implementation considerations for geo-replicated CRAQ storage across multiple datacenters to provide locality-optimized operations. We also discuss multi-object atomic updates and multicast optimizations for large-object updates.
Position Statement Design Automation Trends for VLSI in the 1980s

Substantial progress was made in implementing design aids during the 1970s; however, the development of new aids must be accelerated during the 1980s to support circuit designs of VLSI complexity. New design aids-will be required because of (I) increased design complexity 9 (2) scarcity of design engineers, (3) need to reduce circuit design time and cost~ and (4) increased emphasis in producing error-free manu~actur~ble~designs. The reduction of fabrication @O#~-~-wi~me more important as processing equipment costs and the sophistication of individual processing steps continues to increase to support VLSI complexity circuits. These design and manufacturing problems can be solved only by increasing the use of design automation and improving the design aids.
Reactive functional programming

Reactive systems respond to concurrent, possibly unsynchronized streams of input events. Programming reactive systems is challen ging without language support for event-triggered actions. It is even more challenging to reason about reactive systems. This paper explores a new conceptual basis for applying functional programming techniques to the design and formal verification of reactive systems. The mathematical foundation for this approach is based upon signature coalgebras and derived proof rules for coinduction. The concepts are illustrated with an example that has been used with the language Esterel.
A quantitative estimate of the air quality effects of methanol fuel use

A three tiered photochemical modeling system was developed to quantitatively estimate the air quality impact of methanol fuel usage in the South Coast Air Basin of California. The first level utilized a chemical kinetic model to evaluate the performance of the condensed chemical mechanism chosen for use in the second and third level of this study. This mechanism was tested by reproducing experimental data and performing a pollutant sensitivity analysis. It modeled that data quite adequately and showed similar sensitivity to large explicit mechanisms. The second level used a Lagrangian trajectory model to determine the effects of various methanol penetration scenarios on ozone and other pollutant levels along three trajectories in the Basin. Because of limitations in the trajectory formulation, these runs were used to determine relative pollutant sensitivities to specific methanol utilization scenarios.
Clustering of multivariate time-series data

A new methodology for clustering multivariate time-series data is proposed. The methodology is based on calculation of the degree of similarity between multivariate time-series datasets using two similarity factors. One similarity factor is based on principal component analysis and the angles between the principal component subspaces while the other is based on the Mahalanobis distance between the datasets. The standard K-means algorithm is modified to cluster multivariate time-series datasets using similarity factors. Data from a highly nonlinear acetone-butanol fermentation example are clustered to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology. Comparisons with existing clustering methods show several advantages of the proposed methodology.
Bare soil evaporation near a surface point-source emitter

Abstract Two field studies were conducted to estimate bare soil evaporation for 7 days following surface trickle irrigation from a point-source emitter. A microlysimeter method and an infrared thermometer method were used to estimate evaporation at several sites within both wetted and non-wetted areas surrounding the emitter. Based on data from both methods, evaporation accounted for about 33–40% of the applied water in both studies. Where the soil was wet, the microlysimeter method tended to estimate higher values than the infrared thermometer method. For dry soil conditions the infrared thermometer method estimates were higher. Agreement between the two methods was good for the cumulative 7-day total evaporation estimates in both studies.
Remote densitometric analysis of stenotic lesions.

Abstract In conventional densitometric evaluation of stenoses the digitized angiogram is displayed on a multi-grey-level scope to facilitate operator interaction. With a remote terminal, linked to the computer with regular telephone lines, such display is unacceptably slow. To circumvent this difficulty, the projection of the original image is used for interactions through a sonic pen digitizer interfaced to the computer. A coordinate system can be defined on the projected image, in addition to the blood vessel segment to be analyzed by the operator. The computer can retrieve these features on the stored pre-digitized image to carry out the quantitative evaluation of the stenosis. This method reduces the time of analysis and allows several institutions to share the same computing facility.
Britain and World War One. By Alan G. V. Simmonds. (New York, NY: Routledge, 2012. Pp. 326. $35.95.)

In this study, the author largely succeeds in his aim of providing a concise overview of Britain's home front experience between 1914 and 1918. Alan G. V. Simmonds, in trying to steer a path betwee...
Synthesis of 21-3H-corticosteroids.

Abstract General methods for the synthesis of (21R-21- 3 H) and (21S-21- 3 H) corticosteroids are described. The mixed isomeric products were synthesized chemically by reduction of 21-dehydrocorticosteroids with sodium borotritiide. The individual enantiomeric forms were synthesized by stereospecific enzyme-catalyzed reactions of appropriately labeled 21-dehydrocorticosteroids and NADH to form the (21R-21- 3 H) isomer and of unlabeled corticosteroids and NAD-4S- 3 H for the 21S-21- 3 H isomer.
Appendix B—Report of Subcommittee on Bibliography of Special Committee on Flood‐Waves

The Subcommittee on Bibliography appointed by the Chairman of the Special Committee on Flood-Waves on September 2, 1937. consists of H. N. Eaton, Robert E. Horton, R. S. Goodridge, M. P. O'Brien, and F. T. Mavis, Chairman. The Subcommittee was instructed to prepare “an annotated bibliography of classical and recent works on flood-waves … probably giving consideration to unanalyzed experimental data as fully as to mathematical treatments.” As a first step, a list of some 300 references has been assembled. This list will probably be reduced somewhat after those articles having inconsequent bearing on the flood-waves problem have been eliminated. These references have been distributed to all members of the Subcommittee, and each member has been asked to prepare or enlist assistance in preparing annotations and abstracts on articles pertinent to flood-waves.
Construction and testing of polynomials predicting software maintainability

Assessing software maintainability is complicated by the many aspects of software and software systems that affect maintenance activity. In an earlier study of 35 published works on software maintainability, we coalesced software maintainability definitions into a hierarchical structure containing 92 known maintainability attributes (Oman et al., 1991). The tree structure is refined through successive subtrees until a leaf node, representing an identified maintainability attribute, is defined. Our hierarchy serves as a taxonomic definition for software maintainability that is compatible with the 35 published works on which it is based. In a subsequent study, we showed how these software maintainability attributes can be measured via a battery of metrics and discussed methods to create a single value (hybrid metric) that represents the maintainability of the software system (Oman and Hagemeister, 1992). We were charged with identifying the smallest set of metrics useful in predicting the maintainability of a suite of software modules.’ In this article, we show how the set of applicable measures can be reduced to the minimum number of metrics useful in predicting maintainability. The maintainability assessment polynomials presented here are accurate models of the test data on which they were constructed. We do not claim that these are the only models for predicting maintainability, nor do we claim they are the best overall, but they are automated working models that can be used to quickly and easily predict software maintainability. The models presented here have been used in conjunction with two prototype software tools developed at the University of Idaho: Hewlett-Packard Software Maintainability Estimation Spreadsheet
Influence of habitat and temperature on dispersal behaviour of two pteromalid parasitoids of houseflies during an inundative release at a dairy barn

1. About 11,000 each of Muscidifurax raptor Girault and Saunders and Urolepis rufipes (Ashmead) were released weekly for 7 weeks at a commercial dairy farm in central New York state, U.S.A. Dispersal behaviour was monitored by parasitism rates of house fly, Musca domestica L., pupae placed in sentinel bags. 2. M. raptor, which was released inside the barn, parasitized fly pupae both inside and outside, and it achieved highest rates of parasitism in indoor straw calf-bedding and in outdoor manure and silage. 3. U. rufipes, which was released outside the barn, did not attack pupae inside the barn, and its highest rates of parasitism occurred in outdoor manure and silage. 4. M. raptor appeared to be more effective than U. rufipes in parasitizing pupae located at sites where natural fly-breeding occurred. 5. Interspecific competition did not appear to explain these distribution patterns. 6. There was no significant trend in parasitism by M. raptor as a function of distance from the release station. Furthermore, high rates of parasitism near open doorways and at an outdoor site 30 m away suggests that M. raptor dispersed throughout the barn and its immediate surroundings. 7. Air temperature was positively correlated to flight activity, but not to parasitization activity in natural fly-breeding substrates.
Moving on upstream: the role of health departments in addressing socioecologic determinants of disease.

The publication in 1993 of McGinnis and Foege’s manuscript on the actual causes of death in the U.S. was a key document in examining the problem behind the problem. 1 Heart disease, cancer, and stroke became less important than those etiologic factors responsible for the disease: tobacco, diet, exercise, and drug misuse. Simultaneously with that work, Berkman 2 and Kawachi 3 began to develop our understanding of the nature of even more distal disease determinants. Through the use of social epidemiology they illustrated the relationship between health status and factors not in the immediate sphere of health. The work of Marmot and the Whitehall study in the UK also began to plow new ground in our understanding of disease etiology. 4 In addition, the publication of Bowling Alone by Robert Putnam gave credence to the notion that our relationships to each other and sense of community are important determinants of health, affecting both our physical and mental well-being. 5
Security at Western Kentucky University Libraries: A Case Study and Overview

Abstract Using an actual incident from the spring of 2006, this article provides an overview of the security arrangements at WKU libraries. They include a Library Security Officer, student patrollers, security gates and strips in books and other materials in the library, as well as a networked system of security cameras. The article includes conclusions drawn from the discussed incident and recommendations for other libraries.
Changes in visual recovery functions produced by temporal lobe stimulation in monkeys.

Abstract The effect of continuous stimulation of the inferotemporal portion of the posterior “association” cortex on potential changes evoked in a primary sensory projection area was studied and changes were found to occur. Further, these changes were found to be restricted to one sensory mode. Lastly, the changes were of such a nature that they permit a model of the action of this system to be suggested.
The caffeine CO2 breath test: dose response and route of N-demethylation in smokers and nonsmokers.

The optimal conditions for performing the caffeine CO2 breath test (CBT) were investigated in smokers and nonsmokers. Caffeine labeled with13C or 14C in all three (1, 3, and 7) methyl groups or specifically in the 1-, 3-, or 7-methyl groups were orally administered to healthy adults and the expiration of labeled CO2 was measured for 8 or 24 hr. The absolute rate of labeled CO2 excretion from trilabeled caffeine was proportional to the dose up to 3 mg/kg in all subjects. In smokers, the rate of labeled CO2 excretion averaged twice that in nonsmokers at all doses. A correlation was observed between the 2-hr cumulative CO2 excretion from trilabeled caffeine and the apparent oral metabolic clearance rate (MCR) of caffeine (r = 0.90). Monolabeled CBTs in smokers and nonsmokers demonstrated that 80% ± 4% of labeled CO2 expired in the breath during the first 2 hr of a trilabeled CBT was derived from the 3 position; at 6 to 8 hr equal amounts were derived from the 3 and 7 positions. Little N-demethylation was observed from the 1 position at any time during the 8-hr test. The results indicate that the 2-hr cumulative excretion of labeled CO2 could be used to accurately predict the metabolic clearance rate of caffeine and is the best CBT parameter for detecting the effect of smoking on caffeine N-demethylation. The data suggest that the primary routes of caffeine metabolism are 3-N-demethylation and ring hydroxylation and confirm that caffeine metabolites are N-demethylated primarily in the 3 and 7 positions. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1982) 32, 261–269; doi:10.1038/clpt.1982.157
POLY(METHYL METHACRYLATE-CO-ACRYLONITRILE)

Abstract Stable macroradicals of methyl methacrylate were prepared by the azobisisobutyronitrile-initiated polymerization of methyl methacrylate in hexane whose solubility parameter value (δ) differed from that of the macroradical by more than 1.8 hildebrand units and in 1-propanol at temperatures below its theta temperature (84.5°C). The rates of heterogeneous polymerization in hexane and 1-propanol were much faster than that of the homogeneous polymerization in benzene. Stable macroradicals were not obtained in benzene which was a good solvent nor at temperatures above the glass transition temperature ( T t ) of the macroradicals. Thus, stable macroradicals of butyl methacrylate ( T g 20°C) and and methyl acrylate ( T g 3°C) were not obtained at a polymerization temperature of 50°C. Good yields of block copolymers of methyl methacrylate and acrylonitrile were obtained by the addition of acrylonitrile to the methyl methacrylate macroradical in methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol and hexane at 50°C. The rate of formation of the block copolymer decreased in these poor solvents as the differences between the solubility parameter of the solvent and macroradical increased. The block copolymer samples prepared at temperatures of 50°C and above were dissolved in benzene which is a non-solvent for acrylonitrile homopolymer, but is a good solvent for poly(methyl methacrylate) and the block copolymer. The presence of acrylonitrile and methyl methacrylate in the benzene-soluble macromolecule was demonstrated by pyrolysis gas chromatography, infra-red spectroscopy and differential thermal analysis.
Cotyledonoid Dissecting Leiomyoma of the Uterus: A Review of Clinical, Pathological, and Radiological Features

Cotyledonoid dissecting leiomyoma is a rare benign uterine tumor whose gross and radiological appearance may raise the possibility of a malignancy. The authors summarize herein the clinical, radiological, and pathological features of the 41 previously reported cases. The patients typically presented with menorrhagia or symptoms that were ultimately relatable to the presence of a pelvic mass. The median patient age was 46 years (range 23-73). The average tumor size was 15.4 cm (range 4-41); most were exophytic, multinodular, occasionally cystic masses with a congested, spleen or placenta-like color, protruding over the uterine serosa and, variably, the broad ligaments and adjacent organs. In most cases, the exophytic component was contiguous with the intramural dissecting leiomyomatous components. Histological features suggestive of malignancy, such as cytological atypia, necrosis, or increased mitotic activity were absent. Intravascular growth, as assessed histologically, was present in 20% of reported cases, and this finding is apparently devoid of clinical significance based on limited data. Reported information on radiological features is limited. However, these lesions are typically isointense to myometrium on T1-weighted MRI and are in general less heterogeneous on T2 and postcontrast-imaging than sarcomatous lesions. The tumor may display extension to but not frank invasion of surrounding organs. Ultrasound features are nonspecific. Follow-up information was available in 25 (61%) of 41 reported patients: none experienced a tumor recurrence or metastases during the follow-up period, which ranged from 1 month to 41 years. This affirms the benign nature of this tumor, its alarming gross appearance and growth patterns notwithstanding.
Characterization of modes of release of amino acids in the ischemic/reperfused rat cerebral cortex

Abstract Brain extracellular levels of glutamate, aspartate, GABA and glycine increase rapidly following the onset of ischemia, remain at an elevated level during the ischemia, and then decline over 20–30 min following reperfusion. The elevated levels of the excitotoxic amino acids, glutamate and aspartate, are thought to contribute to ischemia-evoked neuronal injury and death. Calcium-evoked exocytotic release appears to account for the initial (1–2 min) efflux of neurotransmitter-type amino acids following the onset of ischemia, with non-vesicular release responsible for much of the subsequent efflux of these and other amino acids, including taurine and phosphoethanolamine. Extracellular Ca 2+ -independent release is mediated, in part by Na + -dependent amino acid transporters in the plasma membrane operating in a reversed mode, and by the opening of swelling-induced chloride channels, which allow the passage of amino acids down their concentration gradients. Experiments on cultured neurons and astrocytes have suggested that it is the astrocytes which make the primary contribution to this amino acid efflux. Inhibition of phospholipase A 2 attenuates ischemia-evoked release of both amino and free fatty acids from the rat cerebral cortex indicating that this group of enzymes is involved in amino acid efflux, and also accounting for the consistent ischemia-evoked release of phosphoethanolamine. It is, therefore, possible that disruption of membrane integrity by phospholipases plays a role in amino acid release. Recovery of amino acid levels to preischemic levels requires their uptake by high affinity Na + -dependent transporters, operating in their normal mode, following restoration of energy metabolism, cell resting potentials and ionic gradients.
REVERSAL OF URÆMIC IMPOTENCE BY ZINC

In eight impotent haemodialysed men with low plasma-zinc levels sexual function, including potency, frequency of intercourse, libido, and plasma testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinising hormone levels, was determined before and after therapy with zinc (four patients) or placebo (four patients). Dialytic administration of zinc strikingly improved potency in all patients and raised the plasma-testosterone to normal in the two with low pretreatment plasma-testosterone levels. Placebo did not improve sexual function in any patient. Zinc deficiency is a reversible cause of gonadal dysfunction in uraemia.
Practical Structure Design and Control for Digital Clay

Digital Clay is a proposed novel three-dimensional computer input and output device for surface shape and haptic effects. The device consists of an array of fluidic actuators under the control of valves connected to two pressure reservoirs in a manner ultimately suitable to an implementation in MEMS technology. The challenges to build this device lie in both the kinematical structure design and the control architecture. Though it is proposed to ultimately build the actuators and control valves using MEMS technology, conventional methods are used at the current prototype stage. In this paper, several designs of the practical kinematical structure will be discussed and the proposed control architecture for the Digital Clay will be introduced.
Compositional and temperature effects of phosphoric acid fractionation on Δ47 analysis and implications for discrepant calibrations

An essential procedure to increase the analytical efficiency of Delta(47) measurements requires raising the temperature of phosphoric acid digestion for carbonate materials. This temperature change introduces a fractionation offset in Delta(47) that must be accounted for prior to calculation of temperatures of carbonate formation and to allow interlaboratory comparison of results. We measured the phosphoric acid fractionation factor relative to reaction at 25 degrees C for calcite, aragonite, and dolomite across a temperature range from 25 to 90 degrees C. Significantly, all three minerals behave similarly during phosphoric acid digestion, allowing for a single temperature dependent acid fractionation relationship:1000 ln infinity CO2(Acid)-Delta(47) = (0.022434 +/- 0.001490) * 10(6)/T-2 - (0. 2524 +/- 0: 0168)where a is the phosphoric acid fractionation factor, and T is in degrees Kelvin. Mineralogical or isotopic compositional effects on the fractionation factorwere not observed, suggesting that this acid fractionation factor may be valid for all carbonate minerals. We also present inorganic temperature calibrations for both calcite and aragonite at low temperatures ( 5-70 degrees C) and find them to agree with prior published data. Using the new acid fractionation factor, published Delta(47)-temperature calibrations are recalculated. This analysis confirms a statistically significant Delta(47)-temperature calibration difference between data analyzed at 25 degrees C versus higher temperatures. The origin of the discrepancy remains unknown, but it appears that the acid fractionation factor is not the cause. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Mechanics of composite elasmoid fish scale assemblies and their bioinspired analogues

Inspired by the overlapping scales found on teleost fish, a new composite architecture explores the mechanics of materials to accommodate both flexibility and protection. These biological structures consist of overlapping mineralized plates embedded in a compliant tissue to form a natural flexible armor which protects underlying soft tissue and vital organs. Here, the functional performance of such armors is investigated, in which the composition, spatial arrangement, and morphometry of the scales provide locally tailored functionality. Fabricated macroscale prototypes and finite element based micromechanical models are employed to measure mechanical response to blunt and penetrating indentation loading. Deformation mechanisms of scale bending, scale rotation, tissue shear, and tissue constraint were found to govern the ability of the composite to protect the underlying substrate. These deformation mechanisms, the resistance to deformation, and the resulting work of deformation can all be tailored by structural parameters including architectural arrangement (angle of the scales, degree of scale overlap), composition (volume fraction of the scales), morphometry (aspect ratio of the scales), and material properties (tissue modulus and scale modulus). In addition, this network of armor serves to distribute the load of a predatory attack over a large area to mitigate stress concentrations. Mechanical characterization of such layered, segmented structures is fundamental to developing design principles for engineered protective systems and composites.
Perspectives on self and other: Male-female differences in perceptions of communication behavior

Two studies were conducted to examine male-female differences in perceptions of subjects' own and their best-liked others' communication behavior. The results of the first study indicated that males and females hold relatively stereotypical views of their own communication behavior. Males perceived themselves as more controlling and detached, while females saw themselves as more nurturant and more dependent. The results from the second study indicated that the discriminating dimensions for the same-sex friendships of both males and females were attention-seeking and self-dramatizing communication behaviors. In an opposite-sex relationship, however, the discriminating communication behaviors for males and females were nurturance and dependency. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Milk Thistle ( Silybum marianum ) for the Therapy of Liver Disease

Silymarin, derived from the milk thistle plant, Silybum marianum, has been used for centuries as a natural remedy for diseases of the liver and biliary tract. As interest in alternative therapy has emerged in the United States, gastroenterologists have encountered increasing numbers of patients taking silymarin with little understanding of its purported properties. Silymarin and its active constituent, silybin, have been reported to work as antioxidants scavenging free radicals and inhibiting lipid peroxidation. Studies also suggest that they protect against genomic injury, increase hepatocyte protein synthesis, decrease the activity of tumor promoters, stabilize mast cells, chelate iron, and slow calcium metabolism. In this article we review silymarin's history, pharmacology, and properties, and the clinical trials pertaining to patients with acute and chronic liver disease.
The History of the Marketing College Is a Work in Progress

This essay examines the relations between the College on Marketing and its parent societies-first TIMS, then ORSA as well, and, after the two societies merged, INFORMS. There are stories to tell, but also questions to answer. Historians say that a good history has a theme or cluster of questions at its core. If we are to evaluate the institutional relationships, we should ask: Has the College been successful? If so, why? Did the parent organizations help or hinder? College members started a conference and later a journal. Were these acts cooperative or competitive with the parent societies? After all, TIMS and ORSA were running meetings and journals in which marketing people could participate. And, if the College has been successful, where does it go from here? Is success stable? Or, in today's dynamic world, is stability really decline in disguise? Our analysis suggests that TIMS provided a hospitable environment for the birth of marketing science as a field. However, organizational problems did appear, and we shall see that small changes in events or people could have dramatically altered outcomes. We find good evidence of success but also centrifugal challenges for the College today.