cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Behavior Change and Community Participation Assessing Causal Pathways Affecting Neonatal Mortality

Whydomillionsof infantscontinuetodieneedlesslyeachyearwhen toolsareavailable tosavethem?Mostnewborndeathsoccur inhighpoverty areas, where underskilled and underresourced home deliveries are common, prenatal andpostnatal care isminimal or nonexistent, and health systems are weak. Nevertheless, evidence suggests that neonatal mortality can be reduced by about twothirds with simple, low-cost interventions.1 What is the best way to implement behavioral change resulting in improvednewbornsurvival?Twoapproaches for changingbehavior have emerged. The first organizes groups ofwomen participating in a facilitated process to prioritize local issues affecting maternal andneonatalhealth.Thegroupsdesignand implementsolutions to the identifiedproblems.Thisapproachassumesthatmany healthproblems result frompowerlessness,particularly forwomen, which can be addressed through facilitated group learning involving a mix of peer support, dialogue, and participatory problem-solving.2 This view assumes that the use of specific messages to promote adoption of largely proven, efficacious interventions is less material than the participatory process to shape local relevance and drive acceptance and adoption of the interventions identified by community members. The second approach for inducing behavior change emphasizes community interventions based on known causes of neonatal mortality. Risk factors for neonatalmortality are assessed as arematernal andnewborn care behaviorsmodifying the risk factors. Achieving insight intothesociocultural contextof therisk factors isacriticaldeterJAMAPEDIATRICS
Solid Modeling of Yarn and Fiber Assemblies

Fibers are the basic structure in yarns, and yarns are the basic structure for fabrics. Although the approach described can be applied easily and naturally to fibers, especially when dealing with composite-material fabrics, the applications presented are thought of primarily as yarn-based assemblies. Hence, when talking about the developed model, ‘yarn’ and ‘fiber’ can be thought of as interchangeable. In general, fabric models assume underlying yarns to be of zero thickness. Those who have looked at yarns as three-dimensional structures have limited themselves to simple geometric arrangements of the yarns or have used assumptions which are non-geometric in order to simplify the model. A basic model is proposed which treats a yarn as a true three-dimensional solid object. This approach is first applied to three yarns twisted together to form a rope-like bundle. Next, the technique is used to model a woven fabric; the Peirce geometry is analyzed, and then the model is extended to look at fabric shear. An a...
Liquid carbon dioxide and the Martian polar laminas

One of the most important findings of the Mariner 9 mission was the existence of a set of apparent stacked layers in both the north and south polar regions of Mars. The total thickness of the laminated terrain is approximately several kilometers. Because the Martian atmosphere is composed largely of CO2 and because the frost point of CO2 is known to be reached in both polar regions, it has been assumed that the volatiles in the bright laminae are in appreciable part condensed CO2, although condensed H2O, and a CO2-H2O clathrate are also possible. As long as the ratio of CO2 to H2O is large, the physical properties will be dominated by the CO2.
An improved gastric lavage device for removing stomach contents from live fish

An improved gastric lavage apparatus was developed to remove stomach contents of live fish. A polypropylene pipette and polyethylene tubing were connected to a compression sprayer by quick-disconnect fittings. This enabled the operator to choose different sizes of pipettes depending on the size of the fish being sampled. Water was flushed into the stomach of the fish forcing the stomach contents out through the esophagus. Stomach contents were deposited in a measuring trough and collected on fine screening. The apparatus is inexpensive to construct and is effective in removing all of the stomach contents from fish, while causing no mortality. It is portable and contains no breakable parts, making it well suited for field work.
Using the health belief model in qualitative focus groups to identify HPV vaccine acceptability in college men

This study determines predictors of HPV vaccine acceptability among college-aged male students through the qualitative data collection strategy of focus groups. Over the course of 2 months, six focus groups were conducted with 50 participants, with approximately 10 participants in each focus group. Participants were predominately single, heterosexual, about 20 years old, Caucasian males attending a large Midwestern University. The Health Belief Model (HBM) was used as a guide in developing questions for the focus groups. Each question related to a construct of the HBM. A lack of perceived susceptibility, perceived severity of HPV, and barriers toward taking the HPV vaccine were major themes identified from the focus groups. Overall, the focus group proved to be effective in understanding predictors toward HPV vaccine acceptability. Results enabled the researchers to develop an understanding of content needed for effective interventions. This study indicates a need for more qualitative studies exploring attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors related to HPV vaccine acceptability among at-risk populations.
Resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization (2+1) in NH3 using linearly and circularly polarized light

Abstract A pulsed tunable dye laser is used for (2 + 1) REMPI in NH 3 via its C′ state with ν 2 = 2. The spectra, in the 3040-3062 A range, originate in 300 K NH 3 . Both circular and linear laser polarization is used. The results are interpreted via the formalism of McClain and Harris. Because (a) we prepare pure light polarization, (b) the transition symmetry is known, and (c) individual rotational lines are resolved, the interpretation is clear and analysis yields molecular invariants that are otherwise difficult to obtain. Comparison is made with a similar treatment for alkyl iodides in which individual lines were not resolved. Alternatively, the same NH 3 transitions are also observed via the optogalvanic effect in a discharge. Because the REMPI process occurs mainly at the focus of the laser, spatially resolved diagnostics are possible.
Pediatric and adult malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors: an analysis of data from the surveillance, epidemiology, and end results program

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) are rare soft tissue sarcomas that arise predominantly from Schwann cells. Despite the fact that MPNSTs have high local recurrence rates and are generally associated with poor prognosis, little is known about prognostic factors or effective clinical management for this tumor type. The purpose of this study was to describe the distributions of patient and tumor characteristics and to identify predictors of cause-specific survival among MPNST cases reported to SEER between 1973 and 2008. Patient and tumor characteristics were compared between pediatric and adult MPNST cases. Cox regression and tree-based survival analysis were used to examine factors associated with MPNST-related mortality separately among adults and children. A total of 1,315 MPNST cases were isolated from the 1973–2008 SEER dataset. Among pediatric cases, sex, race, and radiation therapy predicted MPNST survival, whereas among adults, tumor site, tumor grade, number of primary tumors, and tumor size were significant predictors. As tumor size at diagnosis/resection may be the only somewhat “modifiable” prognostic factor, future studies should aim to identify biological and social attributes associated with tumor size at diagnosis, separately among individuals with and without NF-1, in order to help identify earlier opportunities for clinical intervention.
The flexible Fourier form and Dickey–Fuller type unit root tests

Abstract We suggest a new unit-root test with a Fourier function in the deterministic term in a Dickey–Fuller type regression framework. Our suggested test can complement the Fourier LM and DF-GLS unit root tests. They have good size and power properties.
Two-dimensional chain folding-random energy interaction

Abstract An extended version of the Zwanzig-Lauritzen model, in which each fold contributes with a random energy, is discussed. By means of the replica trick, an exact solution is achieved for a variant of the general model proposed. Its solution shows that the second order phase transition between the folded and the extended phase, exhibited by the Zwanzig-Lauritzen model, disappears when a random energy term - depending only on the number of folds of the chain - is added.
Arrested emotional development: Connecting college men, emotions, and misconduct

This chapter presents a critical postmodern challenge to higher education professionals dealing with college men, their emotional development, and behavioral issues.
Lightning induced brightening in the airglow layer

This report describes a transient luminosity observed at the altitude of the airglow layer (about 95 km) in coincidence with a lightning flash in a tropical oceanic thunderstorm directly beneath it. This event provides new evidence of direct coupling between lightning and ionospheric events. This luminous event in the ionosphere was the only one of its kind observed during an examination of several thousand images of lightning recorded under suitable viewing conditions with Space Shuttle cameras. Several possible mechanisms and interpretations are discussed briefly.
Scalable nanoparticle synthesis in liquids using laser induced plasmas at phase boundaries

Summary form only given. Nanofluids are a new class of fluids engineered by dispersing nanoparticles of size less than 100 nm in base fluids. Nanofluids have been found to possess highly enhanced physical, chemical, thermal and transport properties compared to the base fluids, which demonstrates the great potential for combustion, liquid propellant, microelectronics, optical and thermal emission devices, energy storage, heat exchanger-cooling systems, hydrogen generation, nuclear safety, and in underwater and military applications. In this experimental investigation the feasibility results of producing scalable enhanced nanoparticles in liquids laser induced plasmas at liquid-metal (Al) phase boundaries using our laser plasma facility will be presented. The formation and dynamics of laser plasmas and shock waves at liquid-metal phase boundary was affected by the conditions of strong liquid confinement. The plasma and shock spatio-temporal dynamics and velocities varied for different laser transfer matrix and experimental conditions. The plasma electron density of the laser induced plasma at liquid-Al phase boundaries was measured using a two-wavelength laser interferometry. In order to better understand the relationship and synthesis of effective nanofluids the preliminary results of correlating the plasma characteristics with the nanoparticles size and size distribution will be presented.
Is Motherhood Important? Imprisoned Women’s Maternal Experiences Before and During Confinement and Their Postrelease Expectations

In recent years, sharp increases in the female prison population have landed more mothers behind bars. While the experiences of imprisoned women may differ substantially from free mothers, studies ...
Scaling laws in random heterogeneous networks

In this paper, we analyze the effect of scaling laws in random heterogeneous networks. This paper describes a square grid with shortcuts and a scaling law with wired shortcuts
Federal policy and postwar urban decline: A case of government complicity?

Many urban commentators have implicated the federal government in the decline of central cities in the decades just after World War II. They claim that federal policies disproportionately favored suburban development over much needed urban redevelopment and exacerbated the deconcentration and decentralization of people and capital. Close scrutiny reveals flaws in this argument and four of them are examined in this article: the core premise that suburban growth and population loss in the central cities are inversely related, the lack of attention to the actual chronology of events, the failure to address the geographic incidence of population loss from the central cities, and the deemphasizing of the role of the private sector, often acting with government support. The article concludes with a brief reflection on the tenacity of the complicity claim.
Splenic rupture from colonoscopy : A report of two cases and review of the literature

Splenic injury after colonoscopy is rare. Only 15 cases previously have been reported in the English literature. Partial capsular avulsion is the proposed mechanism of injury. Any condition causing increased splenocolic adhesions may be a predisposing factor to splenic injury. Two cases of splenic injury following colonoscopy are reported in addition to a complete review of the literature.
Prostate-Specific Antigen Density Predicts Adverse Pathology and Increased Risk of Biochemical Failure

OBJECTIVES To determine whether the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) density (PSAD), measured using either ultrasound (US) or prostatic weight (PW), is an independent predictor of adverse pathologic findings or biochemical-free survival and whether it outperformed PSA. METHODS The data were obtained prospectively from 1327 patients undergoing radical prostatectomy from 1990 to 2003. The US PSAD was calculated by dividing the preoperative PSA level in nanograms per milliliter by the US measured prostate volume in cubic centimeters. The PW PSAD was calculated by dividing the PSA value in nanograms per milliliter by the measured PW of the prostatectomy specimen in grams. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine whether the US or PW PSAD was more accurate than the PSA level in predicting for adverse pathologic findings. A proportional hazards model was used to determine whether PSAD more accurately predicted for biochemical failure (PSA level greater 0.2 ng/mL). RESULTS Multivariate analysis demonstrated that US and PW PSAD were independent predictors of positive margins (odds ratio [OR] 5.00, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.65 to 9.47 and OR 29.75, 95% CI 10.18 to 86.96, respectively), extracapsular disease (OR 10.89, 95% CI 5.32 to 22.32 and OR 126.62, 95% CI 37.99 to 422.07, respectively), seminal vesical invasion (OR 6.06, 95% CI 2.96 to 12.41 and OR 33.72, 95% CI 9.79 to 116.15, respectively), and biochemical failure (hazard ratio 3.32, 95% CI 2.38 to 4.63 and hazard ratio 8.70, 95% CI 5.21 to 14.52, respectively). The C-index demonstrated that both US and PW PSAD appeared more discriminant for adverse pathologic findings and biochemical failure than did the PSA level. CONCLUSIONS The US and PW PSAD are strong predictors of advanced pathologic features and biochemical failure after radical prostatectomy. The incorporation of PSAD into the risk assessment could provide additional prognostic information beyond grade, stage, and PSA level; therefore, the inclusion of PSAD into nomograms should be considered.
Knockout of Toll-Like Receptor-2 Attenuates Both the Proinflammatory State of Diabetes and Incipient Diabetic Nephropathy

Objective— Type 1 diabetes (T1DM) is a proinflammatory state and confers an increased risk for vascular complications. Toll-like receptors (TLR) could participate in diabetic vasculopathies. Whether TLR activation contributes to the proinflammatory state of T1DM and the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy remains unknown. Methods and Results— We induced T1DM in TLR2 knockout mice (TLR2−/−) and wild-type littermates (C57BL/6J-WT) using streptozotocin (STZ). Fasting blood, peritoneal macrophages, and kidneys were obtained for flow cytometry, Western blot, microscopy, and cytokine assays at 6 and 14 weeks after induction of diabetes. Macrophage TLR2 expression and MyD88-dependent signaling were increased in diabetic mice (WT+STZ) compared with nondiabetic WT mice. These biomarkers were attenuated in diabetic TLR2−/− macrophages. WT+STZ mice showed increased kidney:body weight ratio due to cell hypertrophy, increased albuminuria, decreased kidney nephrin, podocin, and podocyte number and increased transforming growth factor-β and laminin compared with WT mice. Nephrin, podocin, and podocyte number and effacement were restored, and transforming growth factor-β and laminin levels were decreased in TLR2−/−+ STZ mice kidneys versus WT+STZ. Peritoneal and kidney macrophages were predominantly M1 phenotype in WT+STZ mice; this was attenuated in TLR2−/−+STZ mice. Conclusion— These data support a role for TLR2 in promoting inflammation and early changes of incipient diabetic nephropathy, in addition to albuminuria and podocyte loss.
Impact of Psychological Screening on Routine Outpatient Care of Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Survivors

Abstract Hematopoietic cell transplantation recipients are at high risk for psychological distress, with reported prevalence rates as high as 40%. Although published guidelines advocate periodic routine screening, it is unclear how screening affects management of psychological symptoms at routine post-HCT outpatient clinic visits. We hypothesized that providers will be more likely to act on patients' psychological symptoms if a screening survey is completed and reviewed before a clinic visit. We used a brief, diagnostically focused Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ), to assess for depressive disorders, anxiety, substance abuse, and problems in occupational or interpersonal functioning (functional disruption). Adult HCT survivors were randomized to complete the PHQ before meeting with their medical provider (n = 50; experimental group) or afterwards (n = 51; control group). Providers used the experimental group PHQ results at their discretion during the visits. Both providers and patients rated their satisfaction with management of psychological concerns after the visit. The prevalence of clinically significant depression (21%), anxiety (14%), or suicidal ideation (8%) did not differ between the 2 groups. Patients in the experimental group were significantly more likely to have discussion of psychological symptoms than the control group (68% versus 49%, P = .05). Medical providers were significantly more satisfied with the management of psychological issues for the experimental group (P
Research Evaluating Brief Behavioral Sleep Treatments for Rural Elderly (RESTORE): a preliminary examination of effectiveness.

Objective To test the effectiveness of brief behavioral intervention for insomnia in rural elderly. Methods Twenty older insomniacs (≥65 years of age) were randomly assigned to sleep hygiene education (SHE; N = 9) or multicomponent behavioral treatment (MBT; N = 11). Rural care providers individually administered treatment (two in-person sessions/two telephone follow-ups). Training involved a two-day workshop. Results At posttreatment, 10 MBT participants no longer met criteria for insomnia compared to 3 SHE participants. Conclusion Brief behavioral intervention for late-life insomnia can be quickly taught and effectively delivered by “real-world” care providers in rural primary care settings.
Sex differences in criminal sentencing: Chivalry or patriarchy?

The effects of legal and extralegal variables on sentences are compared for separate samples of male and female felony imprisonment cases from a state justice system. Although no gross sex differences in sentence severity were found, the variables that predict sentence severity were found to differ by sex. Race affected sentence length for men but not for women; employment status affected the sentences of women but not of men. The effect of offense seriousness on sentence length varied by sex. Family status variables were found to have weak and inconsistent effects on the sentences of female offenders. Qualitative analysis of the official narratives of the cases studied revealed some evidence that sex differences in legal processing reflect the influence of patriarchal values.
Synthesis of plasma membrane-associated and secretory immunoglobulin in diploid lymphocytes.

The half disappearance time for detectable plasma membrane-associated and cytoplasmic immunoglobulin after treatment of continuously growing diploid lymphocytes with inhibitors of protein and RNA synthesis was studied. Also, the amount of plasma membrane-associated and cytoplasmic immunoglobulin of synchronized cells in the G1 phase of the cell cycle has been studied. Plasma membrane-associated immunoglobulin has a half disappearance time of 45 min after inhibition of protein synthesis. By contrast, after treatment of cells with actinomycin D for 24 hr, plasma membrane-associated immunoglobulin remains relatively unchanged whereas cytoplasmic immunoglobulin decreased by almost 90%. In the G1 phase of the cell cycle, plasma membrane-associated immunoglobulin and cytoplasmic immunoglobulin were 70 and 10%, respectively, of that in logarithmically growing cells, and the half disappearance of M-Ig after treatment of cells with puromycin was again 45 min. In toto, these results suggest that perhaps secreted and plasma membrane-associated immunoglobulin may be separately controlled by the cells.
CASINO USE BY COLLEGE STUDENTS

College students' gambling behavior (N = 238) at the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut was investigated using the South Oaks Gambling Screen. Of the 730 randomly sampled students, 238 returned usable questionnaires, a return rate of 32.5%. Only 35 (14.8%) of the students indicated having visited Foxwoods, of these, 26 (11% of the total) reported having gambled. Rates of problem were relatively low (6 students; 2.5%) and few underage students (3 students; 1.9%) reported using Foxwoods in the fall of 1994. As in other studies of casino gambling by students, slot machines and blackjack were the most frequent activities.
General Approach for the synthesis of macroline/sarpagine related indole alkaloids Via the asymmetric pictet-spengler reaction: the enantiospecific synthesis of the Na-H, azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonone template

Abstract N a -H, N b -benzyltetracyclic ketone 1a , a potential intermediate for the synthesis of numerous sarpagine-related alkaloids, has been synthesized enantiospecifically from D-(+)-tryptophan via the asymmetric Pictet-Spengler reaction.
Assessment of Naturalistic Use Patterns of Advanced Infotainment Systems

The objective was to examine naturalistic usage of infotainment systems to assess use characteristics and patterns. Infotainment systems continue to evolve in terms of their capabilities and information availability, raising concerns about their distraction potential. Assessing potential distraction requires understanding how challenging different tasks are and how frequently they occur during driving. High-end infotainment system use was observed across 17 participants over a period of approximately 4 weeks each. One of two different infotainment systems was provided to participants. Audio, video, and driving performance data were collected and observed by trained reductionists. The two infotainment systems integrated iPod™, satellite radio, CD/DVD/MP3 playback, AM/FM, and, in one case, navigation functionalities. Systems differed in their vehicle integration and advanced infotainment features offered. The median participant interacted with the infotainment systems once every 4 hr (90th percentile: 6.1 interactions/hr). More than 50% of these interactions involved adjusting the volume. Although there were a few lengthy interactions, the median duration was 2.2 s (90th percentile: 24.6 s), which required measurable visual involvement when compared to a matched baseline. The median total eyes-off-road time across interactions was 1 s (90th percentile: 11.4 s) and differed significantly across type of system interaction. Longer interactions tended to occur when the vehicle was stationary. Drivers habitually interact with infotainment systems while driving; this includes advanced functions. Some self-regulation was observed. These data provide a comparison basis for use in examining driver interactions with future infotainment systems.
Neotropical anachronisms: the fruits the gomphotheres ate.

Frugivory by extinct horses, gomphotheres, ground sloths, and other Pleistocene megafauna offers a key to understanding certain plant reproductive traits in Central American lowland forests. When over 15 genera of Central American large herbivores became extinct roughly 10,000 years ago, seed dispersal and subsequent distributions of many plant species were altered. Introduction of horses and cattle may have in part restored the local ranges of such trees as jicaro ( Crescentia alata ) and guanacaste ( Enterolobium cyclocarpum ) that had large mammals as dispersal agents. Plant distributions in neotropical forest and grassland mixes that are moderately and patchily browsed by free-ranging livestock may be more like those before megafaunal extinction than were those present at the time of Spanish conquest.
Integrated link/CPU voltage scaling for reducing energy consumption of parallel sparse matrix applications

Reducing power consumption is quickly becoming a first-class optimization metric for many high-performance parallel computing platforms. One of the techniques employed by many prior proposals along this direction is voltage scaling and past research used it on different components such as networks, CPUs, and memories. In contrast to most of the existent efforts on voltage scaling that target a single component (CPU, network or memory components), this paper proposes and experimentally evaluates a voltage/frequency scaling algorithm that considers CPU and communication links in a mesh network at the same time. More specifically, it scales voltages/frequencies of both CPUs in the network and the communication links among them in a coordinated fashion (instead of one after another) such that energy savings are maximized without impacting execution time. Our experiments with several tree-based sparse matrix computations reveal that the proposed integrated voltage scaling approach is very effective in practice and brings 13% and 17% energy savings over the pure CPU and pure communication link voltage scaling schemes, respectively. The results also show that our savings are consistent with the different network sizes and different sets of voltage/frequency levels.
Document image decoding in the Berkeley Digital Library

The UC Berkeley Environmental Digital Library Project is one of six university led projects that were initiated in the fall of 1994 as part of a four year digital library initiative sponsored by the NSF, NASA and ARPA. The Berkeley project is particularly interesting from an image processing perspective because its testbed collection consists almost entirely of scanned materials. As a result, the Berkeley project is making extensive use of document recognition and other image analysis technology to provide content based access to the collection. The Document Image Decoding (DID) group at Xerox PARC is a member of the Berkeley team and is investigating the application of DID techniques to providing high quality (accurate and properly structured) transcriptions of scanned documents. The paper briefly describes the Berkeley project, discusses some of its recognition requirements and presents an example of an advanced structured document created using DID technology.
A mechanism-based multi-scale model for predicting thermo-oxidative degradation in high temperature polymer matrix composites

Abstract This paper describes a mechanism-based multi-scale model for life prediction of high temperature polymer matrix composites (HTPMC) under thermo-oxidative aging conditions. The multi-scale model incorporates molecular level damage such as inter-crosslink chain scission in a thermoset polymer due to thermo-oxidative aging of the polymer resin. The degradation of inter-laminar stress depends on remaining inter-crosslink density of thermo-set polymer in fiber/matrix interface region subjected to thermo-oxidative aging environment. The degradation of inter-laminar shear stress of thermo-oxidatively aged unidirectional IM-7/PETI-5 composite specimens at 300 °C was modeled using an in-house test-bed FEA code (NOVA-3D). A micromechanics based viscoelastic cohesive layer model was used to model delamination. The model is fully rate dependent and does not require a pre-assigned traction-separation law. Viscoelastic regularization of the constitutive equations of the cohesive layer used in this model not only mitigates numerical instability, but also enables the analysis to follow load–deflection behavior beyond peak failure load. The model was able to successfully simulate delamination failure in thermo-oxidatively aged unidirectional IM-7/PETI-5 composite, and the model predictions were verified using test data.
The Morphology and Spatial Distribution of Late Quaternary Periglacial Landforms, Snake Range, Nevada: A Gis-Based Approach to Prioritizing Field Sites

ABSTRACT We present new data describing relict periglacial landforms preserved in the interior Great Basin of the southwestern United States. This summary is significant because a thorough understanding of the occurrence and spatial distribution of these landforms is still lacking after 60 years of geomorphic studies in this region. This is largely because many landforms are often un-recognized and because many mountains in the Great Basin are remote and offer poor access. To help address this knowledge gap, we use a GIS with high-resolution imagery and field mapping to identify and describe features that indicate a locally extensive periglacial environment existed in the Snake Range of east-central Nevada during the Late Quaternary. We also compare the location of these landforms with solar radiation models produced using ESRI's Solar Analyst to evaluate the efficacy of using solar modeling as means to predict suitable field sites for periglacial landforms. This simple modeling technique accurately ident...
Differences in impacts of Hurricane Sandy on freshwater swamps on the Delmarva Peninsula, Mid-Atlantic Coast, USA

Abstract Hurricane wind and saltwater surge may have different influences on the subsequent composition of forests. During Hurricane Sandy, while damaging winds were highest near landfall in New Jersey, inundation occurred along the entire eastern seaboard from Georgia to Maine. In this study, a comparison of damage from salinity intrusion vs. wind/surge was recorded in swamps of the Delmarva Peninsula along the Pocomoke (MD) and Nanticoke (DE) Rivers, south of the most intense wind damage. Hickory Point Cypress Swamp (Hickory) was closest to the Chesapeake Bay and may have been subjected to a salinity surge as evidenced by elevated salinity levels at a gage upstream of this swamp (storm salinity = 13.1 ppt at Nassawango Creek, Snow Hill, Maryland). After Hurricane Sandy, 8% of the standing trees died at Hickory including Acer rubrum , Amelanchier laevis , Ilex spp., and Taxodium distichum . In certain plots of Hickory, up to 25% of the standing trees were dead, corresponding with high soil salinity. The most important variables related to structural tree damage were soil salinity and proximity to the Atlantic coast as based on Stepwise Regression and NMDS procedures. Wind damage was mostly restricted to broken branches although tipped-up trees were found at Hickory, Whiton and Porter (species: Liquidamabar styraciflua , Pinus taeda , Populus deltoides , Quercus pagoda and Ilex spp.). These trees fell mostly in an east or east-southeast direction (88–107°) in keeping with the wind direction of Hurricane Sandy on the Delmarva Peninsula. Coastal restoration and management can be informed by the specific differences in hurricane damage to vegetation by salt vs. wind.
Preoperative Outcomes and Weight Loss in Super-Super Obese Male Patients

Introduction: Body Mass Index (BMI) is an independent predictor of overall mortality and risk of vascular disease. In the U.S., obesity (BMI 440) rates are 32.6% among males and 36.2% among females. Bariatric surgery is associated with weight loss and the reduction of certain medical comorbidities in obese adult patients However, there is limited literature regarding male sex as a predictor of periand post-operative outcomes in super-super obese patients who underwent bariatric surgery. The aim of this study was to examine whether male sex predicts pre-surgical comorbidities, perioperative outcomes and % excess weight loss in super-super obese patients who underwent bariatric surgery. Material and Methods: This study was a nonrandomized, controlled, retrospective review of 750 patients who underwent sleeve gastrectomy (SG) or Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB) surgery at the University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System from January 2008 to June 2014. From this group, 89 SSO patients were selected for inclusion in this study. Patients were divided into two groups (male/female) based on sex. Patient demographics, pre-surgical comorbidities, perioperative outcomes, post-operative complications (leak and conversions to open surgery), operating time, length of hospitalization, and percent excess weight loss (% EWL) at 6, 12 and 24 months were examined. Results: Out of 89 super-super obese patients, 19.1% (n1⁄417) patients were male and 81.9% (n1⁄462) were female. In males, 52.9% (n1⁄49) were African-American, 41.2% (n1⁄47) were Caucasian, and 5.8% (n1⁄41) were Hispanic (po.05). All male patients underwent SG. There were no significant sex differences in presurgical comorbidities, length of hospitalization, or post-operative complications (1 vs. 0) between males and females, respectively. Perioperative parameters showed operative time was longer in males versus females (po.05). Percent excess weight loss at 6 months was 24.2% vs. 32.7%, (n.s.), 34.3% vs. 47.9% at 12 months (po.05) and 35.3% vs. 52.7% at 24 months (n.s.) followup for males and females respectively. Conclusions: Male sex predicted longer operative time and lower % excess weight loss at 6 months. A larger sample size with longer follow up is warranted in order to further understand reasons for the sex differences in these variables in order to improve weight loss outcomes in both males and females.
Extent and Role of Margin Control for DCIS Managed by Breast-Conserving Surgery

The appropriate negative margin width for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) remains a controversial issue for patients treated both with and without adjuvant radiation therapy. The optimal margin minimizes the potential residual disease in the breast and the risk of local recurrence while maximizing the cosmetic outcome. Studies consistently report worse local control for positive margins but are inconsistent in identifying a negative margin width greater than no ink on tumor that is appropriate for all patients with DCIS. Deciding the appropriate margin for a patient with DCIS is a multifactorial process. Here, we review important clinical and pathological factors that impact patient-specific margin management including the volume of DCIS near a margin, the anatomic location of close margins within the breast, the plan for adjuvant therapy, the appearance of a post-procedure mammogram, tissue handling, and margin assessment.
Plenary lecture 1: profile based information system using radio frequency identification STEM courses with virtual reality based course delivery system

This paper is a first step in describing theoretical foundations for use and application of the Profile based Information System using Radio Frequency Identification (PISR) as a tool designed to tailor learners' retrieval and access to information to their individual learning styles. The system has been designed to manage large caches of data, including user profile handling, while automating information extraction according to the user's preloaded personal profile. PISR manages the information assignment and retrieval processes more efficiently then current systems while dramatically reducing human involvement.
The Real Genus of p -Groups

Let G be a finite group. The real genus p(G) is the minimum algebraic genus of any compact bordered Klein surface on which G acts. We show that a non-cyclic p-group G has real genus not congruent to (1 — p3) (mod 2p3) if and only if G is in one of 14 families of groups. The genus formula for each of these 14 families of groups is determined. A consequence of this classification is that almost all positive integers that are the real genus of a p-group are congruent to (1 p3) (mod 2p3). Finally, the integers that occur as the real genus of a p-group with Frattini-class 2 have density zero in the positive integers.
Intra- and Interspecific Trappings of Two Sympatric Peridomestic Cockroaches (Dictyoptera: Blattidae)

Intra- and interspecific trappings of American, Periplaneta americana (L.), and smokybrown, P. fuliginosa (Serville), cockroaches were examined in laboratory experiments. More P. americana were caught in live traps than P. fuliginosa . Overall, more individuals were caught with a conspecific bait than with a heterospecific bait. Significantly more adult male, female, and total P. americana were caught in traps baited with a conspecific than with unbaited traps. Heterospecific nymphs were repellent to male and female P. americana . More P. americana were caught with conspecific females and nymphs as bait than with heterospecific nymphs. For P. fuliginosa , only more males were caught with a trap with a conspecific compared with an unbaited trap. Traps with nymphal P. fuliginosa caught more conspecifies than did unbaited traps or traps with heterospecific nymphs. Nymphal P. fuliginosa were repelled by nymphal P. americana . P. americana were captured more frequently and were more selective in interspecific associations than P. fuliginosa . These results partly account for differences in sampling these species in areas of sympatry and suggest that volatile semiochemicals are produced and detected by most stages of these cockroaches.
Modeling Multi Operator-Multi-UAV (MOMU) Operator Attention Allocation Problem

This paper addresses the operator-task attention allocation problem in multiple operators managing multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (MOMU) setting. Previous works related to UAV operator-task attention allocation are mainly focused on single operator single UAV (SOSU) or single operator multiple UAVs (SOMU) models with emphasis on reward maximization only. Present research addresses two important issues viz. multi-operator paradigm, and workload imbalance in MOMU task attention allocation problem. Assigning multiple operators to multiple UAVs can improve the flexibility of human-system decision making. This added flexibility comes at a cost of added modeling complexity. Specifically, we consider important issue of operator workload imbalance in a team setting. We model workload imbalance in MOMU setting and through computational simulations show a balance between reward maximization and operators’ workload minimization is possible.© 2013 ASME
Mental Health Issues in Elderly African Americans

In order to provide a context for a discussion of the mental health issues of older African Americans, a brief overview of the demographic characteristics and psychosocial characteristics of African Americans aged 65 and older is presented. After a concise summary of the medical problems present in older African Americans, specific concerns regarding diagnostic bias are reviewed. Existing epidemiologic data on the prevalence of psychiatric symptoms and disorders are summarized. Within this context, specific mental health issues affecting older African Americans is presented.
A Cross-national Analysis of Religion and Attitudes toward Premarital Sex Do Economic Contexts Matter?

This study examines how micro-level religious effects and macro-level economic contexts shape individuals’ attitudes toward premarital sex. It then investigates whether the effects of individual-level religiosity on approval of premarital sex are contingent on the economic characteristics of a nation, reflected by a country’s gross domestic product (GDP) per capita. Multilevel analyses of data from the sixth wave of the World Values Survey (2010–2014) reveal that both individual religiosity and GDP per capita are important predictors of attitudes toward premarital sex. Furthermore, cross-level interactions suggest that individual religiosity has a greater negative effect on approval of premarital sex in countries that are more economically developed. I discuss how these findings speak to theories about religion, economic modernization, and the ways that macro-level contexts are linked with micro-level factors.
Pharmacokinetics and protein binding of salicylate metabolites in rats.

The present investigation was designed to assess the pharmacokinetics and protein binding of salicyluric acid and salicyl phenolic glucuronide in rats.
Formation of Potential Interstellar Noble Gas Molecules in Gas and Adsorbed Phases

The discovery of naturally occurring ArH+ in various regions of the interstellar medium has shown the need for more understanding of the reactions that lead to covalently bonded noble gas molecules. The test comes with trying to predict the formation of other small noble gas molecules. Many molecules have been observed in various interstellar environments, which possess the possibility of bonding with noble gases. This work explores how both argon and neon can form bonds to ligands made of these species through quantum chemical computations. Argon and neon are chosen as they are among the most abundant atoms in the universe but are more polarizable than the more common but smaller helium atom. Reactions leading to noble gas molecules are modeled in the gas phase as well as through the adsorbed phase by catalysis with a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) surface. The adsorption energy of the neutral noble gas atoms to the surface increases as the size of the PAH also increases but this is still less tha...
Effects of latency and quantization noise on digital discrete-time non-Foster circuits

Digital discrete-time implementations of non-Foster circuit elements offer an alternative approach to the design of devices such as negative capacitors and negative inductors. However, practical implementations of high-speed digital non-Foster circuits are affected by latency and noise, where latency can arise from analog-to-digital conversion time and computation time. Thus, the present work explores the impact of latency and quantization noise on digital non-Foster circuits. Simulation results for a digital negative capacitor show useful performance can be obtained, even with latencies as large as one conversion clock cycle. In addition, quantization noise effects in digital non-Foster circuits are considered.
Implication of the neurotrophin receptor p75NTR in vascular diseases: beyond the eye.

ABSTRACTIntroduction: The p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) is a member of TNF-α receptor superfamily that bind all neurotrophins, mainly regulating their pro-apoptotic actions. Ischemia is a common pathology in different cardiovascular diseases affecting multiple organs, however the contribution of p75NTR remains not fully addressed. The aim of this work is to review the current evidence through published literature studying the impact of p75NTR receptor in ischemic vascular diseases. Areas covered: In the eye, several ischemic ocular diseases are associated with enhanced p75NTR expression. Ischemic retinopathy including diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity and retinal vein occlusion are characterized initially by ischemia followed by excessive neovascularization. Beyond the eye, cerebral ischemia, myocardial infarction and critical limb ischemia are ischemic cardiovascular diseases that are characterized by altered expression of neurotrophins and p75NTR expression. We surveyed both clinical...
The Ciliopathy Gene ahi1 Is Required for Zebrafish Cone Photoreceptor Outer Segment Morphogenesis and Survival.

Purpose Joubert syndrome (JBTS) is an autosomal recessive ciliopathy with considerable phenotypic variability. In addition to central nervous system abnormalities, a subset of JBTS patients exhibit retinal dystrophy and/or kidney disease. Mutations in the AHI1 gene are causative for approximately 10% of all JBTS cases. The purpose of this study was to generate ahi1 mutant alleles in zebrafish and to characterize the retinal phenotypes. Methods Zebrafish ahi1 mutants were generated using transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs). Expression analysis was performed by whole-mount in situ hybridization. Anatomic and molecular characterization of photoreceptors was investigated by histology, electron microscopy, and immunohistochemistry. The optokinetic response (OKR) behavior assay was used to assess visual function. Kidney cilia were evaluated by whole-mount immunostaining. Results The ahi1lri46 mutation in zebrafish resulted in shorter cone outer segments but did not affect visual behavior at 5 days after fertilization (dpf). No defects in rod morphology or rhodopsin localization were observed at 5 dpf. By 5 months of age, cone degeneration and rhodopsin mislocalization in rod photoreceptors was observed. The connecting cilium formed normally and Cc2d2a and Cep290 localized properly. Distal pronephric duct cilia were absent in mutant fish; however, only 9% of ahi1 mutants had kidney cysts by 5 dpf, suggesting that the pronephros remained largely functional. Conclusions The results indicate that Ahi1 is required for photoreceptor disc morphogenesis and outer segment maintenance in zebrafish.
Demographics of uterine serous cancer (USC) patients: A single institutional experience.

e15581 Background: The common uterine cancer (UC) occurs in obese, diabetic (DM), hypertensive (HTN), postmenopausal women and are estrogen dependent. Small institutional series suggest USC occurs ...
Enhanced precipitation promotes decomposition and soil C stabilization in semiarid ecosystems, but seasonal timing of wetting matters

Changing precipitation regimes in semiarid ecosystems will affect the balance of soil carbon (C) input and release, but the net effect on soil C storage is unclear. We asked how changes in the amount and timing of precipitation affect litter decomposition, and soil C stabilization in semiarid ecosystems. The study took place at a long-term (18 years) ecohydrology experiment located in Idaho. Precipitation treatments consisted of a doubling of annual precipitation (+200 mm) added either in the cold-dormant season or in the growing season. Experimental plots were planted with big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata), or with crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum). We quantified decomposition of sagebrush leaf litter, and we assessed organic soil C (SOC) in aggregates, and silt and clay fractions. We found that: (1) increased precipitation applied in the growing season consistently enhanced decomposition rates relative to the ambient treatment, and (2) precipitation applied in the dormant season enhanced soil C stabilization. These data indicate that prolonged increases in precipitation can promote soil C storage in semiarid ecosystems, but only if these increases happen at times of the year when conditions allow for precipitation to promote plant C inputs rates to soil.
Sulfur redox reactions on nanostructured highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) electrodes: Direct evidence for superior electrocatalytic performance on defect sites

Abstract Fundamental research of sulfur redox reactions on well-defined controlled model electrode surfaces can provide new information to design high-performance lithium-sulfur batteries. Herein, we study the electrochemical reduction and oxidation of sulfur on the nanostructured HOPG electrodes with pure basal planes, step plans, and pure edge planes. Our results directly indicate that electrochemical reduction and oxidation of sulfur is significantly affected by the carbon surface structure, namely, the electrochemical reversibility of sulfur redox reaction is much better on edge plane, compared with basal plane and step plane.