cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of photoionization on propagation and branching of positive and negative streamers in sprites

[1] Modeling studies indicate that double-headed streamers originating from single electron avalanches in lightning-driven quasi-static electric fields at mesospheric altitudes accelerate and expand, reaching transverse scales from tens to a few hundreds of meters and propagation speeds up to one tenth of the speed of light, in good agreement with recent telescopic, high-speed video and multichannel photometric observations of sprites. The preionization of the medium ahead of a streamer by the ionizing UV photons originating from a region of high electric field in the streamer head (i.e., photoionization) significantly modifies the streamer scaling properties as a function of air pressure in comparison with those predicted by similarity laws. The photoionization leads to lower peak electric fields in the streamer head, lower streamer electron densities, wider initial streamer structures, and lower acceleration and expansion rates of streamers at sprite altitudes 40–90 km, when compared to the ground level. The primary reason for the observed differences is that the effective quenching altitude of the excited states of the molecular nitrogen b1Πu, b′1, and c′41 that give photoionizing radiation is about 24 km. The quenching of these states is therefore negligible at sprite altitudes, leading to a substantial enhancement of the electron-ion pair production ahead of the streamer tip because of the photoionization, when compared to the ground level. The maximum radius of the expanding streamers is predominantly controlled by the combination of the absorption cross section χmin = 3.5 × 10−2 cm−1 Torr−1 of the molecular oxygen (O2) at 1025 A and the partial pressure of O2 in air, Streamers exhibit branching when their radius becomes greater than Model results indicate a lower branching threshold radius for positive streamers in comparison with negative streamers, under otherwise identical ambient conditions. These results are in good agreement with recent results of high-speed photography of laboratory streamers in near-atmospheric pressure N2/O2 mixtures and similar morphology documented during recent telescopic and high-speed video observations of sprites.
Drug transport in HEMA conjunctival inserts containing precipitated drug particles

This paper focuses on exploring the mechanism of cyclosporine A transport in hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) rods to develop conjunctival inserts for extended ocular delivery. Cylindrical conjunctival HEMA inserts were prepared by thermal polymerization in presence of drug at high loadings to create rods containing particles of drug dispersed in the matrix. The drug release rates were measured to explore the effect of length, drug loading, crosslinking, and mixing in the release medium. Also microstructure of the inserts was characterized by SEM imaging. The inserts release the drug for a period of about a month at therapeutic rates. The rates of drug release are zero order and independent of drug loading and crosslinking for certain period of time. These effects were shown to arise due to a mass-transfer boundary layer in the fluid and a mathematical model was developed by coupling mass transfer in the insert with that in the boundary layer in the surrounding fluid. The model with diffusivity in the insert and boundary layer thickness as parameters fits the experimental data and explains all trends in release kinetics. The fitted diffusivity is about twice that obtained by direct measurements, which agreed well with the value obtained by using the Brinkman's equation but only after accounting for drug binding to the polymer.
Personality correlates of physical fitness

In this article, I examine the relation between personality and physical fitness. One group (N = 97) of male adults completed the Hogan Personality Inventory and five nationally recognized physical fitness batteries. A second group (N = 35) completed the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory and a set of medical and physical performance assessments. Results indicate that physical fitness must be defined in multidimensional terms and that fitness is related to self-confidence and self-discipline. Measures of psychopathology were unrelated to measures of health and fitness. These data suggest that the personal qualities associated with fitness are also those that promote and extend health.
Electronic information exchange between emergency departments and poison control centers: a Delphi study.

Context. The US emergency departments and poison control centers use telephone communication to exchange information about poison exposed patients. Electronically exchanged patient information could better support care for poisoned patients by improving information availability for decision making and by decreasing unnecessary emergency department telephone interruptions. As federal initiatives push to increase clinical health information exchange (HIE), it is essential to assess the readiness of US poison control centers. We conducted a nationwide Delphi study to determine consensus on legal, operational, and clinical considerations that are important for electronic information exchange between emergency departments and poison control centers. Materials and methods. A national panel of US experts (n = 71) in emergency medicine and poison control participated in a Delphi study, September–December 2010. Panelists rated statements describing concepts related to implementation, adoption, or potential outcome...
Gardner, A. L. (ed.). 2007 [2008]. Mammals of South America. Volume 1: Marsupials, Xenarthrans, Shrews, and Bats. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, Illinois, and London, United Kingdom, 669 pp. ISBN-13: 978-0-226-28240-4, price (hardbound), $75.

A. L. Gardner (ed.). 2007 [2008]. Mammals of South America. Volume 1: Marsupials, Xenarthrans, Shrews, and Bats. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, Illinois, and London, United Kingdom, 669 pp. ISBN-13: 978-0-226-28240-4, price (hardbound), $75. The 1st meeting of the American Society of Mammalogists that I attended was at East Lansing, Michigan, in 1977, when my advisor, Phil Myers, had the unenviable chore of introducing a tongue-tied youngster to senior colleagues from other institutions. Thus it was, on the 2nd or 3rd day of the meetings, that I met Al Gardner, Jim Patton, and Syd Anderson huddled together like conspirators over lunch in the Michigan State University cafeteria. Mute with admiration, I listened to their just-hatched plan to edit a 3-volume taxonomic treatise on the mammals of South America. Thirty years later, volume 1 is finally published. It was worth the long wait. The mammalian fauna of South America is one of the most diverse of any continent, and its taxonomic literature has deep historical roots in the European exploration of the New World (Hershkovitz 1987). The 1st formal descriptions of South American mammals published by 18th century taxono-mists (e.g., Linnaeus 1758) were based on the reports of even earlier explorer-naturalists like Georg Markgraf (1610–1644—Whitehead 1979) or on natural history specimens amassed by amateur collectors like Albert Seba (1665–1736—Engel 1937). Unfortunately, early South American mammal names were often poorly diagnosed and lacked definite type localities and type specimens. Inevitably, subsequent mammalogists disagreed about the application of such problematic names, some of which remain destabilizing sources of nomenclatural confusion to the present day. Taxonomic practice improved steadily throughout the 19th century, with the result that most species of South American mammals described from about 1830 onward were based on actual specimens from known localities. However, the taxonomic literature of the 1800s is mostly contained in rare books and obscure journals that are now available only to researchers at …
Supply and Support for Grassroots Political Reform in Rural China

Evidence suggests that the quality of grassroots political reform varies throughout rural China from fair elections to electoral manipulation. This reflects an uneven supply of reforms. However, top-down implementation is not a complete measure of success when it comes to the introduction of grassroots reform. Rural folks are good judges of institutional qualities, such as procedural fairness. It is their attitudes that are associated with the support for democracy. This is called the supply and support model. I modify and apply this model to rural China, and show that support for democratic institutions and ideals can develop within an authoritarian regime such as the People’s Republic of China.
Number Comprehension by a Grey Parrot (Psittacus erithacus), Including a Zero-Like Concept

A Grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus) that was able to quantify 6 item sets (including subsets of heterogeneous groups, e.g., blue blocks within groupings of blue and green blocks and balls) using English labels (I. M. Pepperberg, 1994a) was tested on comprehension of these labels, which is crucial for numerical competence (K. C. Fuson, 1988; see also record 1987-98811-000). He was, without training, asked "What color/object [number]?" for collections of various simultaneously presented quantities (e.g., subsets of 4, 5, and 6 blocks of 3 different colors; subsets of 2, 4, and 6 keys, corks, and sticks). Accuracy was greater than 80% and was unaffected by array quantity, mass, or contour. His results demonstrated numerical comprehension competence comparable to that of chimpanzees and very young children. He also demonstrated knowledge of absence of quantity, using "none" to designate zero.
Staying Informed: Supervised and Semi-Supervised Multi-View Topical Analysis of Ideological Perspective

With the proliferation of user-generated articles over the web, it becomes imperative to develop automated methods that are aware of the ideological-bias implicit in a document collection. While there exist methods that can classify the ideological bias of a given document, little has been done toward understanding the nature of this bias on a topical-level. In this paper we address the problem of modeling ideological perspective on a topical level using a factored topic model. We develop efficient inference algorithms using Collapsed Gibbs sampling for posterior inference, and give various evaluations and illustrations of the utility of our model on various document collections with promising results. Finally we give a Metropolis-Hasting inference algorithm for a semi-supervised extension with decent results.
Distinct phenotypes and regenerative potentials of early endothelial progenitor cells and outgrowth endothelial progenitor cells derived from umbilical cord blood

The capability of postnatal neovascularization makes circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) promising for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. Using EPCs isolated from umbilical cord blood, this study aimed to clarify the transition of functional properties from early EPCs (e-EPCs) to outgrowth EPCs (og-EPCs) for potential applications in regenerative medicine. Mononuclear cells were collected from umbilical cord blood via density gradient centrifugation and further negatively selected by CD45. EPCs were sorted from mononuclear cells by the expression of CD34. e-EPCs (7 days of culture) and og-EPCs (3 weeks of culture) were characterized by morphology, intake of acetylated low-density lipoprotein, vessel-cord formation, cell surface phenotype and the expression of angiogenic genes. e-EPCs and og-EPCs were also compared for osteogenic differentiation under the stimulation of BMP-2. Chemotaxis by SDF-1 was compared among og-EPCs and the first- and second-day attached e-EPCs. Based on the expression of angiogenic genes, e-EPCs possessed few angiogenic properties in vitro and og-EPCs were angiogenic. e-EPCs, however, expressed significant CXCR4 and migrated toward the SDF-1 gradient. og-ECPs did not express CXCR4 and showed no response to SDF-1. During culture, gaining an angiogenic phenotype by og-EPCs is associated with the loss of homing potential. These contrast properties determine different potentials of e-EPCs and og-EPCs in regenerative medicine.
Effects of Facilitated Team Meetings and Learning Collaboratives on Colorectal Cancer Screening Rates in Primary Care Practices: A Cluster Randomized Trial

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to evaluate a primary care practice–based quality improvement (QI) intervention aimed at improving colorectal cancer screening rates. METHODS The Supporting Colorectal Cancer Outcomes through Participatory Enhancements (SCOPE) study was a cluster randomized trial of New Jersey primary care practices. On-site facilitation and learning collaboratives were used to engage multiple stakeholders throughout the change process to identify and implement strategies to enhance colorectal cancer screening. Practices were analyzed using quantitative (medical records, surveys) and qualitative data (observations, interviews, and audio recordings) at baseline and a 12-month follow-up. RESULTS Comparing intervention and control arms of the 23 participating practices did not yield statistically significant improvements in patients’ colorectal cancer screening rates. Qualitative analyses provide insights into practices’ QI implementation, including associations between how well leaders fostered team development and the extent to which team members felt psychologically safe. Successful QI implementation did not always translate into improved screening rates. CONCLUSIONS Although single-target, incremental QI interventions can be effective, practice transformation requires enhanced organizational learning and change capacities. The SCOPE model of QI may not be an optimal strategy if short-term guideline concordant numerical gains are the goal. Advancing the knowledge base of QI interventions requires future reports to address how and why QI interventions work rather than simply measuring whether they work.
Person-by-Situation Perspectives on Close Relationships

In this chapter, we review theories and research that have adopted interactional (person-by-situation) approaches to the study of relationships. We fi rst discuss interactional thinking within social and personality psychology, highlighting the fundamental ways in which individuals and situations intersect. We then review three major theoretical models that are exemplars of person-by-situation frameworks and have important implications for interpersonal processes: the cognitive-affective processing system (CAPS) model (Mischel & Shoda, 1995), interdependence theory (Kelley & Thibaut, 1978), and attachment theory (Bowlby, 1969, 1973, 1980). Following this, we explain how and why different person-by-situation approaches have expanded our understanding of individuals within relationships, focusing on romantic relationships. We spotlight programs of research on self-esteem and dependency/ risk regulation, promotion versus prevention orientations, and diathesis-stress models based in attachment theory. These lines of inquiry have documented that certain types of situations elicit unique reactions in people who have specifi c dispositional strengths (e.g., high self-esteem, greater attachment security) or vulnerabilities (e.g., low self-esteem, greater attachment insecurity). Collectively, this research confi rms that one cannot predict or understand how individuals think, feel, or behave in relationships without knowing the relational context in which they are embedded. We conclude by identifying new directions in which interactional-based thinking might head, focusing on how functional strategies can further our understanding person-by-situation effects.
Structure of the reaction product of pentaphenylgermole and diiron enneacarbonyl: μ-(1-(1,2,3,4-tetraphenylbutadienyl)phenylgermylene)octacarbonyldiiron(FeFe)

Abstract Pentaphenylgermole (1-germa-1,2,3,4,5,-pentaphenylcyclopenta-2,4-diene) reacts with diiron enneacarbonyl in refluxing diethyl ether to produce an orange, crystalline complex. This complex was established by single crystal X-ray diffraction to be the result of a novel hydroferration of the GeC σ-bond of the germacyclopentadiene moiety. The structure is of the type, RR′Ge[Fe(CO)4]2, in which R is a phenyl and R′ is the butadienyl fragment. The RR′Ge group bridges the FeFe bond of the Fe2(CO)8 fragment. The coordination about each iron atom is distorted octahedral with one Fe, the Ge, and 4 CO's making up the coordination sphere. Three pairs of carbonyls are eclipsed and the structure shows severe distortions to relieve the non-bonded repulsions between these eclipsed carbonyl groups. The relevant crystal parameters are: a 11.466(3), b 11.228(4), c 16.178(5) », α 91.41(2), β 108.99(2), γ 101.34(2)°, V 1922(1) »3, ρ = 1.46, Z = 2, space group = P 1 . The final R-values, vased 3234 reflections with I > 3σ(I) are R = 0.079 and Rw = 0.095 with all non-hydrogen atoms included with isotropic temperature factors except for the two iron and germanium atoms which are anisotropic. Some molecular parameters are (distances in pm): GeFe1, 240.8(2); GeFe2, 243.0(2); Fe1Fe2, 278.5(3); FeCO, 174 ± 2; GeC, 198 ± 2, CO, 117 ± 2; Fe1-GeFe2, 70.30(8); GeFe1Fe2, 55.23(6); GeFe2Fe1, 54.47(6); and CGeC, 105.5(5).
Microstructural and Rheological Evolution of a Mantle Shear Zone

We conducted a microstructural study of a high-strain mantle shear zone from the Josephine Peridotite, SW Oregon, USA. The goal of this study is to understand how microstructural evolution at large strains leads to transitions in rheological behavior. The shear zone we investigated exhibits higher strain and greater localization than previously studied shear zones in the Josephine Peridotite. The margins of the shear zone have a homogeneous microstructure, characterized by moderately strong olivine fabrics, fairly weak orthopyroxene fabrics, and grain sizes of 2^3 mm. The highly deformed samples from the center of the shear zone display two distinct microstructural domainsca relatively coarse-grained domain (� 550m) that contains only olivine and a finer-grained domain (� 250m) that contains both olivine and orthopyroxene. The coarse-grained domain has a strong E-type olivine lattice-preferred orientation (LPO). Within the fine-grained domain the olivine LPO is also E-type, but significantly weaker.The E-type fabrics are rotated slightly past the shear plane, providing the first field-based confirmation of similar experimental observations. The presence of E-type fabrics, which form in the presence of moderate quantities of water, also highlights the potential importance of water to shear zone evolution.The orthopyroxene in the fine-grained domains has no LPO, suggesting that a transition to grain-size sensitive deformation occurred. The microstructural transition in orthopyroxene may have resulted in a marked weakening of the rock, suggesting that orthopyroxene plays a critical role in shear localization. These samples provide a crucial microstructural link between moderately localized shear zones and highly deformed ultramylonites.
Natural epigenetic polymorphisms lead to intraspecific variation in Arabidopsis gene imprinting

Imprinted gene expression occurs during seed development in plants and is associated with differential DNA methylation of parental alleles, particularly at proximal transposable elements (TEs). Imprinting variability could contribute to observed parent-of-origin effects on seed development. We investigated intraspecific variation in imprinting, coupled with analysis of DNA methylation and small RNAs, among three Arabidopsis strains with diverse seed phenotypes. The majority of imprinted genes were parentally biased in the same manner among all strains. However, we identified several examples of allele-specific imprinting correlated with intraspecific epigenetic variation at a TE. We successfully predicted imprinting in additional strains based on methylation variability. We conclude that there is standing variation in imprinting even in recently diverged genotypes due to intraspecific epiallelic variation. Our data demonstrate that epiallelic variation and genomic imprinting intersect to produce novel gene expression patterns in seeds.
Minimization of dependency length in written English

Gibson's Dependency Locality Theory (DLT) [Gibson, E. 1998. Linguistic complexity: locality of syntactic dependencies. Cognition, 68, 1-76; Gibson, E. 2000. The dependency locality theory: A distance-based theory of linguistic complexity. In A. Marantz, Y. Miyashita, & W. O'Neil (Eds.), Image, Language, Brain (pp. 95-126). Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.] proposes that the processing complexity of a sentence is related to the length of its syntactic dependencies: longer dependencies are more difficult to process. The DLT is supported by a variety of phenomena in language comprehension. This raises the question: Does language production reflect a preference for shorter dependencies as well? I examine this question in a corpus study of written English, using the Wall Street Journal portion of the Penn Treebank. The DLT makes a number of predictions regarding the length of constituents in different contexts; these predictions were tested in a series of statistical tests. A number of findings support the theory: the greater length of subject noun phrases in inverted versus uninverted quotation constructions, the greater length of direct-object versus subject NPs, the greater length of postmodifying versus premodifying adverbial clauses, the greater length of relative-clause subjects within direct-object NPs versus subject NPs, the tendency towards "short-long" ordering of postmodifying adjuncts and coordinated conjuncts, and the shorter length of subject NPs (but not direct-object NPs) in clauses with premodifying adjuncts versus those without.
Overview of methods for flexible endoscopic training and description of a simple explant model

The question of how to train surgeons in flexible endoscopy has been debated over the years as these skills have become an essential part of residency and practice. As many as two-thirds of surgeons perform flexible endoscopy, and for many, endoscopy represents up to 50% of their practice. Training in flexible endoscopy has evolved over many decades from an apprenticeship-type model to a more formal training program. Surgical residencies vary widely in their approach, with some having dedicated endoscopy rotations and others using an integrated approach. Innate to a good training program are faculty dedicated to teaching, an established curriculum, and adequate exposure of residents to proper training tools, whether as patient-based learning or supplemented by simulators. Hands-on models for teaching surgical endoscopy include mechanical, animal, and computer-based platforms. Herein, we describe our experience with a low-cost approach using porcine stomach explants that offers a breadth of endoscopic training including scope navigation, band ligation, endoscopic mucosal resection, hemostasis management, esophageal stenting, foreign body extraction, and ERCP. Simulation-based learning must be validated from a construct and internal validity perspective to be considered useful. Correlation between simulator learning and improvement in clinically relevant skills must then be shown using a validated scale, such as the Global Assessment of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Skills. Competency in flexible endoscopy, which is currently measured by case volume, may be replaced by objective programs, such as Fundamentals of Endoscopic Surgery, that combine didactic teaching, cognitive assessment, and hands-on technical skills evaluation to determine a minimum level of proficiency.
The Application of Hydroacoustic Techniques to Determine the Spatial and Distribution and Abundance of Fishes in the Nearshore Area in the Vicinity of Thermal Generating Stations

Hydroacoustic surveys of the nearshore population of fishes along the Southern California coastline have been conducted in the vicinity of thermal generating stations since 1976. A digital echo integration system was used in conjunction with Simrad EK 120 and Ross 105 kHz echo sounders. The nature of the hydroacoustic data made it far superior to net measurements of fish density because of the quantity, the speed, and the accuracy of the information collected. The hydroacoustic data revealed that significant changes in the nearshore fish density occurred between days and diel periods. This finding indicates that conventional net sampling techniques are inadequate to describe nearshore fish densities because of the length of time required for deployment of the nets. The acoustic surveys were supported by data from lampara seine catches.
Contempt and Defensiveness in Couple Relationships Related to Childhood Sexual Abuse Histories for Self and Partner

This study examined the relationship between a history of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) for one or both members of a romantic couple and perceptions of contempt and defensiveness for self and partner. Data from the Relationship Evaluation (RELATE) were analyzed for 10,061 couples. The findings suggest that when either or both partner(s) has a history of CSA, contempt and defensiveness in the couple relationship are greater than when neither reports a history of CSA. Furthermore, the males’ experience of CSA had a greater impact on their perceptions of self and partner’s contempt and defensiveness than females’ experience of CSA. Explanations of gender differences are offered and implications for future research and practice are suggested. Past research has studied adult outcomes related to childhood sexual abuse (CSA), including adult intimate relationship factors; however, the majority of this research is based solely on the females’ reports of CSA. Little research exists on the effects of CSA on adult relationships when the male reports CSA. Furthermore, fewer studies have examined adult relationships when both partners report histories of CSA. The purpose of this research was to examine the relationship between a history of CSA for one or both members of a romantic couple and the level of contempt and defensiveness in their relationship. Besides mere presence of CSA, we were interested in how the frequency of the abuse affected each partner’s perception of contempt and defensiveness in their interactions. A unique feature of this research is that we have CSA data and contempt ⁄ defensiveness data from both members of the relationship. Six research questions are addressed. First, do male and female survivors of CSA (this applies to all six research questions) report higher levels of contempt and defensiveness for themselves compared with individuals reporting no history of CSA? Second, do survivors of CSA report higher levels of contempt and defensiveness for their nonabused partners? Third, do partners of CSA survivors report higher levels of contempt and defensiveness for themselves, and fourth, do the partners report higher levels of contempt and defensiveness for the CSA survivors? Fifth, are there significant differences in perceived contempt and defensiveness among couples and between sexes when neither partner reports CSA, when only the female or male reports CSA, and when both partners report CSA? Finally, does the frequency of abuse affect reports of contempt and defensiveness? Our research and conclusions addressed each of these questions as we sought to explore the relationship between CSA and contempt and defensiveness within adult intimate relationships. Explanations for differences between male and female participants are also explored and explanations are offered.
A mechanistic analysis of early Eocene latitudinal gradients of isotopes in precipitation

We use a one-dimensional reactive transport model of isotopes in precipitation (δ18O) to investigate the physical mechanisms controlling global meridional isotope profiles under early Eocene hothouse conditions. Simulations of early Eocene precipitation isotopes display reduced meridional gradients relative to the modern climate with the largest increases in δ18O occurring at high latitudes, matching proxy data. These reduced gradients are controlled primarily by polar amplification that increases high-latitude length scales of specific humidity and match our compilation of proxy-based reconstructions. Comparing Eocene general circulation model simulations run with pCO2 of 2240 and 4480 ppm, we find that meridional isotopic profiles are insensitive to the associated 5°C change in global temperatures due to the relative lack of polar amplification. Finally, we hypothesize that observed negative δD anomalies in precipitation during peak warming of early Eocene hyperthermal events are the result of a theorized reduction in the strength of midlatitude transient eddies.
Safety of large‐volume leukapheresis for collection of peripheral blood progenitor cells

Large volume leukapheresis (LVL) reduces the number of procedures required to obtain adequate peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPCs) for autologous hematopoietic reconstitution. LVL involves the processing of > 15 L or 5 patient blood volumes using high flow rates. We report our experience with LVL evaluating its efficiency and adverse effects in 71 adult patients with hematologic or solid organ malignancies. All were mobilized with chemotherapy and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). All collections used a double lumen apheresis catheter. Mean values per LVL were as follows: blood processed, 24.6 L; patient blood volumes processed, 5.9; ACD-A used, 1,048 ml; heparin used, 6,148 units; collect time, 290 min; blood flow rate, 89 ml/min. Eighty percent of the collections were completed in one or two procedures to obtain > or = 6.0 x 10(8) MNCs/kg body weight. The most frequent side effect (39%) was parasthesia due to citrate-related hypocalcemia. This was managed with oral calcium supplements and/or slower flow rates. Post-LVL electrolyte changes were generally asymptomatic. Prophylactic oral potassium supplements were administered in 57% of cases. Other reactions included hypotension (4%), prolonged parasthesia (1.4%), and headache (1.4%). Catheter problems in 9 (13%) of the procedures were attributed to clot formation (37%) or positional effects (63%). No bleeding occurred. Post-LVL decreases in hematocrit and platelet count averaged 3.5% and 46%, respectively. Six (4%) of the procedures required red blood cell transfusions. Platelet transfusions were given in 19 (13%) of the procedures. We conclude that adverse reactions with LVL are similar to those reported for conventional PBPC collections, making it safe and efficacious as an outpatient procedure.
Modeling and simulation of patient admission services in a multi-specialty outpatient clinic

Tactical planning of resources in healthcare clinics concerns elective patient admission planning and the intermediate term allocation of resource capacities. Its main objectives are to achieve equitable access for patients, to serve the strategically agreed number of patients, and to use resources efficiently. In this paper, we describe a simulation model for an outpatient healthcare clinic facing multiple issues related to patient admission and resource workflow. The main problems identified at the clinic are: 1) phones are not answered promptly and 2) patients experience long wait time to check in and check out. The simulation model focuses on the front desk operations. We investigate different resource allocation policies and report on computational results based on a real clinic, historical data, and both patient and management performance measures.
Arylacetamide deacetylase activity towards monoacetyldapsone. Species comparison, factors that influence activity, and comparison with 2-acetylaminofluorene and p-nitrophenyl acetate hydrolysis.

Abstract The deacetylation of monoacetyldapsone (MADDS) was examined in liver microsomes and cytosol from male Sprague-Dawley rats, Golden Syrian hamsters, and Swiss Albino mice. All three rodent species demonstrated greater MADDS deacetylation activity in liver microsomes than in liver cytosol. Further investigations were conducted in hamsters. The velocity of MADDS deacetylation in major organs in the hamster was greatest in the intestine, followed by the liver and kidney. The effect of pretreatment with common inducers on liver microsomal deacetylation activity was also examined in the hamster. Phenobarbital, 100 mg/kg/day × 3 days, did not alter activity, while dexamethasone at the same dose reduced 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AFF), MADDS, and p-nitrophenyl acetate (NPA) hydrolysis by at least 50%. Due to a previous report that KI activated the deacetylation of an arylacetamide in vitro (Khanna et al., J Pharmacol Exp Ther262: 1225–1231, 1992), the effects of the halides KF, KCl, KBr and KI on MADDS hydrolysis in vitro were tested. Of the halides studied, only KF altered MADDS hydrolysis, resulting in an almost complete inhibition of deacetylase activity at 50 mM (with the initial concentration of MADDS at 0.6 mM) with an IC50 = 0.16 mM. Cornish-Bowden and Dixon plots indicated that the inhibition exerted by KF was non-competitive. The rank order of inhibitor potencies was constructed using phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF), bis(p-nitrophenyl)phosphate (BNPP), physostigmine, and KF with 2-AFF, MADDS, and NPA as substrates. Different rank order potencies were obtained for each of the substrates tested. The substrates 2-AFF, MADDS, and NPA did not act as competitive inhibitors on the hydrolysis rates of each other. Liver microsomal arylacetamide deacetylase activity was greater in male hamsters than in females with either MADDS or 2-AAF as substrates; however, hydrolysis of NPA was similar in both male and female hamsters. These data support the hypothesis that the enzyme which catalyzes the hydrolysis of MADDS differs from that catalyzing either 2-AAF or NPA hydrolysis.
Progress towards self-healing polymers for composite structural applications

Abstract Repair in composite materials is tending towards autonomic healing systems. This is a technological departure from the mechanical repair currently practiced in industry. For reinforced polymer matrix composites, failure tends to occur in the matrix or matrix-reinforcement interface. The most common failure mode is the formation and propagation of microcracks that reduce the material's structural capabilities. Damage may be fixed through traditional bolted or bonded repair methods, but such repair requires temporary decommission of a part, collection of repair materials, and employee time and effort to enact the repair. This review describes methods of self-repair and healing for polymeric materials with a focus on structural applications of these self-healing materials. From intrinsically healing polymers to self-healing-enabled polymer composites with dispersed agents or vascular networks, this review examines the chemistries and mechanisms which enable self-healing.
Community-Engaged GIS for Urban Food Justice Research

GIScience research has enhanced citizen engagement through advancements in web-based geospatial techniques and qualitative GIS methodologies, which provide opportunities for new forms of knowledge production. This paper draws on two interrelated approaches to demonstrate the ways qualitative GIS and Web 2.0 can provide nuanced analysis and foster collaborations to advance, in particular, food justice goals, which include developing equity in access to quality nutritious foods. First, the authors create a multicriteria food environment index utilizing GIS-based multicriteria modeling to represent food environments as constituted by multiple food sources and access dimensions. This enables visualization of food environment quality and indicates that food environment quality varies within a single neighborhood. Second, they utilize web GIS technologies to capture and visualize volunteered geographic information about urban food environments, demonstrating the importance of citizen perspectives to developing more nuanced understandings of these environments.
Reticulate evolutionary history and extensive introgression in mosquito species revealed by phylogenetic network analysis

The role of hybridization and subsequent introgression has been demonstrated in an increasing number of species. Recently, Fontaine et al. (Science, 347, 2015, 1258524) conducted a phylogenomic analysis of six members of the Anopheles gambiae species complex. Their analysis revealed a reticulate evolutionary history and pointed to extensive introgression on all four autosomal arms. The study further highlighted the complex evolutionary signals that the co-occurrence of incomplete lineage sorting (ILS) and introgression can give rise to in phylogenomic analyses. While tree-based methodologies were used in the study, phylogenetic networks provide a more natural model to capture reticulate evolutionary histories. In this work, we reanalyse the Anopheles data using a recently devised framework that combines the multispecies coalescent with phylogenetic networks. This framework allows us to capture ILS and introgression simultaneously, and forms the basis for statistical methods for inferring reticulate evolutionary histories. The new analysis reveals a phylogenetic network with multiple hybridization events, some of which differ from those reported in the original study. To elucidate the extent and patterns of introgression across the genome, we devise a new method that quantifies the use of reticulation branches in the phylogenetic network by each genomic region. Applying the method to the mosquito data set reveals the evolutionary history of all the chromosomes. This study highlights the utility of 'network thinking' and the new insights it can uncover, in particular in phylogenomic analyses of large data sets with extensive gene tree incongruence.
Composite Chitosan-Calcium Phosphate Scaffolds for Cartilage Tissue Engineering

Cartilage covering the articulating surfaces of bones in diarthrodial joints provides for almost frictionless motion. If this tissue is damaged either due to traumatic injury or disease, it lacks the ability of self-repair. The goal of cartilage tissue engineering is to regenerate healthy hyaline cartilage by combining chondrocytes or stem cells with a variety of natural and synthetic scaffold materials. Chitin is one of the most abundant naturally occurring polysaccharides. Its deacetylated derivative chitosan is biocompatible, biodegradable, and may retain functional characteristics that promote site-appropriate tissue reconstruction. This chapter includes methods for fabrication of chitosan-calcium phosphate (CHI–CaP) composite scaffolds, scaffold physical characteristics, as well as techniques for creation of cartilage/CHI–CaP biphasic constructs. Coating CHI–CaP scaffolds with type I collagen facilitates formation of a continuous layer of neocartilage with approximately uniform thickness over the cell-seeded area. Aspects of the scaffold’s degradation are also discussed.
Carcinogen-induced neoplasia with metastasis in a South American primate, Saguinus oedipus.

SummarySarcoma, with a latent period of 16 months, was induced in a South American primate, Saguinus oedipus (cottontop marmoset) by the subcutaneous inoculation of benzo(a)pyrene and also by 7,-12-dimethylbenz(a) anthracene. Spindle-cell sarcoma was induced by benzo(a)pyrene, and rhabdomyosarcoma, with metastasis to an inguinal lymph node, was induced with 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene. These carcinogens were toxic to a related South American primate, Saguinus fuscicollis (white-lipped tamarin) and resulted in death within 5 weeks.
Patterns of autonomic and central nervous system responding during human operant heart-rate conditioning

Automatic and central nervous system responding was assessed during human operant heart-rate acceleration and deceleration conditioning. The results indicated that the decelerative changes in heart rate that developed were relatively independent of responses in other physiological modalities. For subjects who were informed of the response-reinforcement contingencies, operant heart-rate acceleration was associated with an increase in respiratory rate. Both heart-rate acceleration and deceleration were superimposed upon a background of increased sympathetic-like skin responding. No significant changes in chin muscle tension and bi-temporal electroencephalographic alpha activity were noted during either operant heart-rate acceleration or deceleration. Individual subjects exhibited response stereotypy over sessions, although there were considerable differences between individuals in physiological response patterns. The results of the study and their relation to current theories concerning the mediation of operant heart-rate changes are discussed.
Genetic Testing and Post-Testing Decision Making among BRCA-Positive Mutation Women: A Psychosocial Approach

Through an analysis of an online survey of women who tested positive for the BRCA genetic mutation for breast cancer, this research uses a social constructionist and feminist standpoint lens to understand the decision-making process that leads BRCA-positive women to choose genetic testing. Additionally, this research examines how they socially construct and understand their risk for developing breast cancer, as well as which treatment options they undergo post-testing. BRCA-positive women re-frame their statistical medical risk for developing cancer and their post-testing treatment choices through a broad psychosocial context of engagement that also includes their social networks. Important psychosocial factors drive women's medical decisions, such as individual feelings of guilt and vulnerability, and the degree of perceived social support. Women who felt guilty and fearful that they might pass the BRCA gene to their children were more likely to undergo risk reducing surgery. Women with at least one daughter and women without children were more inclined toward the risk reducing surgery compared to those with only sons. These psychosocial factors and social network engagements serve as a "nexus of decision making" that does not, for the most part, mirror the medical assessments of statistical odds for hereditary cancer development, nor the specific treatment protocols outlined by the medical establishment.
Predicting China’s political future: the risky business of betting against the Chinese Communist Party

Charles de Gaulle, the great French statesman, once observed: “China is a big country, inhabited by many Chinese.” As obvious (and humorous) as this statement is, it captures an important and basic...
Dependence of solutions of nonsmooth differential-algebraic equations on parameters

Abstract The well-posedness of nonsmooth differential-algebraic equations (DAEs) is investigated. More specifically, semi-explicit DAEs with Caratheodory-style assumptions on the differential right-hand side functions and local Lipschitz continuity assumptions on the algebraic equations. The DAEs are classified as having differential index one in a generalized sense; solution regularity is formulated in terms of projections of generalized (Clarke) Jacobians. Existence of solutions is derived under consistency and regularity of the initial data. Uniqueness of a solution is guaranteed under analogous Caratheodory ordinary-differential equation uniqueness assumptions. The continuation of solutions is established and sufficient conditions for continuous and Lipschitzian parametric dependence of solutions are also provided. To accomplish these results, a theoretical tool for analyzing nonsmooth DAEs is provided in the form of an extended nonsmooth implicit function theorem. The findings here are a natural extension of classical results and lay the foundation for further theoretical and computational analyses of nonsmooth DAEs.
Liter sized ion clock with 10/sup -15/ stability

We have recently completed a breadboard ion-clock physics package based on Hg ions shuttled between a quadrupole and a 16-pole rf trap. With this architecture we have demonstrated short-term stability ~2-3times10-13 at 1 second, averaging to 10-15 at 1 day. This development shows that H-maser quality stabilities can be produced in a small clock package, comparable in size to an ultra-stable quartz oscillator required for holding 1-2times10-13 at 1 second. This performance was obtained in a sealed vacuum configuration where only a getter pump was used to maintain vacuum. We have selected materials for the vacuum tube, ion trap and UV windows that will allow a 450 C tube bake-out to prepare for tube seal-off. This approach to the vacuum follows the methods used in flight vacuum tube electronics, such as flight TWTA's where tube operation lifetime and shelf life of up to 15 years is achieved. We have made a thorough study of residual gas shifts of the ion-clock frequency and a study of alternate noble gasses as a buffer gas within the sealed tube. We find that neon is more suitable than the traditional use of helium, with 2-3 times less pressure induced frequency pulling. Since neon is heavier than helium, negligible diffusion losses will occur over the operation lifetime. We have developed a modular optical system that integrates lens, mirrors, 202Hg lamp and exciter, photomultiplier tube and pulse generation electronics, all into a small package that attaches to the vacuum tube, aligned with its optical ports and ion trap inside. Similarly, the reference magnetic field coil, an inner layer magnetic shield and a 40.5 GHz microwave feed with window have been incorporated into this breadboard
TLO 5: Examine Historical Issues by Undertaking Research According to the Methodological and Ethical Conventions of the Discipline

Threshold Learning Outcome 5 requires students to ‘examine historical issues by undertaking research according to the methodological and ethical conventions of the discipline’. This chapter explores several ideas for approaching this TLO, with a focus on developing student empowerment and agency within the classroom. By encouraging students to reflect on their own thinking processes, students are motivated to regard themselves as active participants in the creation of historical knowledge. Specifically, this chapter will emphasise the importance of: introducing students to the fundamentals of historical practice; advising students of ethical conventions; engaging students with the theoretical and methodological conventions of the discipline; and encouraging students to engage in reflective practices.
Depressive Cognition: Models, Mechanisms, and Methods

The enthusiasm for the cognitive view of depression is evidenced by the number of major review and commentary papers that have recently appeared (e.g., Blaney, 1986; Coyne, 1982; Coyne & Gotlib, 1983, 1986; Ingram & Reed, 1986; Johnson & Magaro, 1987; Segal & Shaw, 1986a, 1986b), as well as by the perspectives of many of the contributors to this volume. Although the views and conclusions of these authors vary, sometimes substantially, they do chronicle the development and tremendous growth over the last decade of the interest in cognitive mechanisms as they relate to various aspects of depressive functioning.