cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Policy Implications of Permanently Flooded Islands in the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta

Robyn J. Suddeth doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.15447/sfews.2011v9iss2art5 The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is in a state of inevitable transition. Physical and financial pressures are likely to transform parts of the Delta into open water within the next 100 years. Because flooded islands have different habitat, water quality, and hydrodynamic implications depending on location, depth, orientation, and other physical factors, the state may decide to intentionally flood one or more Delta islands in an effort to better manage the Delta’s ecosystem and valuable water supplies. This paper outlines three sets of near term actions the state would have to take to begin transitioning towards intentional island flooding, and discusses legal and political challenges to those actions. Several key findings include the following: (1) amendments to California’s water code and revisions to the Delta Land Use and Resource Management Plan may help the state ensure the legal authority to differentiate levee policies within the Delta; (2) permits for a first, experimental flooded island will likely require the State Water Resources Control Board to revise the Delta Water Quality Control Plan to allow for more short-term flexibility and deal with conflicting ecosystem and water supply uses; and (3) the state may want to prepare mitigation plans for private landowners on neighboring islands whose levees could face new threats of erosion and/or seepage from a nearby flooded island in order to avoid inverse condemnation lawsuits. If the state decides to shift its levee policies in the Delta, serious consideration will need to be given these and additional common, regulatory, statutory, and constitutional laws.
Design and power management of energy harvesting embedded systems

Harvesting energy from the environment is a desirable and increasingly important capability in several emerging applications of embedded systems such as sensor networks, biomedical implants, etc. While energy harvesting has the potential to enable near-perpetual system operation, designing an efficient energy harvesting system that actually realizes this potential requires an in-depth understanding of several complex tradeoffs. These tradeoffs arise due to the interaction of numerous factors such as the characteristics of the harvesting transducers, chemistry and capacity of the batteries used (if any), power supply requirements and power management features of the embedded system, application behavior, etc. This paper surveys the various issues and tradeoffs involved in designing and operating energy harvesting embedded systems. System design techniques are described that target high conversion and storage efficiency by extracting the most energy from the environment and making it maximally available for consumption. Harvesting aware power management techniques are also described, which reconcile the very different spatio-temporal characteristics of energy availability and energy usage within a system and across a network.
Compositional C++: Compositional Parallel Programming

A compositional parallel program is a program constructed by composing component programs in parallel, where the composed program inherits properties of its components. In this paper, we describe a small extension of C++ called Compositional C++ or CC++ which is an object-oriented notation that supports compositional parallel programming. CC++ integrates different paradigms of parallel programming: data-parallel, task-parallel and object-parallel paradigms; imperative and declarative programming; shared memory and messagebased programs. CC++ is designed to be transportable across a range of MIMD architectures.
Thermodynamics and the Stability of Steady States

In the preceding chapter we examined the relationship between fluctuations and the stability of steady states. That relationship depends on the dynamical character of the fluctuations, which incessantly explore nearby states testing for stability. At equilibrium there is another important connection between stability and macroscopic observations. This connection is provided by the Second Law of thermodynamics and leads to a quadratic Liapunov function for relaxation processes near equilibrium. This relationship is closely connected to the classical LeChatelier-Braun principle and, as we will see, actually follows in a simple fashion from what we learned in Chapter 7 regarding the dynamics of fluctuations. In the subsequent sections of this chapter, we show that a similar connection to thermodynamics can be made at nonequilibrium steady states by introducing a suitable generalization of the thermodynamic state functions.
Long-Term English Language Learners’ Perceptions of Their Language and Academic Learning Experiences

Long-term, adolescent English language learners (ELLs) experience persistent academic underachievement in spite of several years of schooling; yet, the research on this topic is scant. To increase our understanding of these students’ educational experiences, we explored perceptions of 13 long-term ELLs about their schooling in the context of their school history, including program placements, special education referral, and academic outcomes. Data from semistructured interviews and documents were analyzed using a grounded theory approach. Participants viewed themselves as English-proficient, motivated learners, and described their school experience as positive but challenging. The findings revealed a gap between their postsecondary aspirations and the reality of their academic performance, which raises questions about the adequacy of educational programs and identification of ELLs with disabilities.
A computable formula for the average bit error probability as a function of window size for the IEEE 802.15.3a UWB channel model

Binary signaling over the IEEE 802.15.3a ultra-wideband channel model is considered. For received waveforms observed during a finite time window, a formula is derived for the average bit error probability (BEP). The formula can be rapidly evaluated using Gaussian quadratures, and is used to study average BEP curves as a function of window size, which is then related to the percentage of energy captured. These techniques should be useful to system designers in assessing the performance impact of various signaling rates, guard times, etc.
Treatment of depressed mothers in home visiting: impact on psychological distress and social functioning

Objectives Depression is prevalent in mothers receiving home visiting. Little is known about the impact of treatment on associated features of maternal depression in this population. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of a novel, adapted treatment for depressed mothers in home visiting on psychological distress and social functioning.
Stereotactic body radiation therapy for nonresectable tumors of the pancreas.

Background Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) has emerged as a potential treatment option for local tumor control of primary malignancies of the pancreas. We report on our experience with SBRT in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma who were found not to be candidates for surgical resection. Methods The prospective database of the first 20 consecutive patients receiving SBRT for unresectable pancreatic adenocarcinomas and a neuroendocrine tumor under an IRB approved protocol was reviewed. Prior to SBRT, cylindrical solid gold fiducial markers were placed within or around the tumor endoscopically (n = 13), surgically (n = 4), or percutaneously under computerized tomography (CT)-guidance (n = 3) to allow for tracking of tumor during therapy. Mean radiation dose was 25 Gray (Gy) (range 22–30 Gy) delivered over 1–3 fractions. Chemotherapy was given to 68% of patients in various schedules/timing. Results Patients had a mean gross tumor volume of 57.2 cm3 (range 10.1–118 cm3) before SBRT. The mean total gross tumor volume reduction at 3 and 6 mo after SBRT were 21% and 38%, respectively (P Conclusion Our preliminary results showed SBRT as a safe and likely effective local treatment modality for pancreatic primary malignancy with acceptable rate of adverse events.
Rethinking the learning of belief network probabilities

Belief networks are a powerful tool for knowledge discovery that provide concise, understandable probabilistic models of data. There are methods grounded in probability theory to incrementally update the relationships described by the belief network when new information is seen, to perform complex inferences over any set of variables in the data, to incorporate domain expertise and prior knowledge into the model, and to automatically learn the model from data. This paper concentrates on part of the belief network induction problem, that of learning the quantitative structure (the conditional probabilities), given the qualitative structure. In particular, the current practice of rote learning the probabilities in belief networks can be significantly improved upon. We advance the idea of applying any learning algorithm to the task of conditional probability learning in belief networks, discuss potential benefits, and show results of applying neural networks and other algorithms to a medium sized car insurance belief network. The results demonstrate from 10 to 100% improvements in model error rates over the current approaches.
Supporting families throughout the international special needs adoption process

Abstract Due to changing trends in international adoption, a greater number of placements are now special needs. While most special needs adoptions are successful, they do present a higher risk for placement instability. Thus, adoptive parents and children are faced with an increasing need for support services. This article explores literature related to support throughout the international special needs adoption process including medical, information/education, social support and direct intervention both pre- and post-adoption. While many support strategies, both formal and informal, are utilized by families and adoption professionals, and some are promoted in policy related literature, few have been validated through empirical evidence. Findings reveal a need for further research around effective pre-adoption training programs for parents, preparation tools for children, and larger scale studies to evaluate post-placement services for each sub-group of international special needs adoptees.
A DOMINANT CONSTITUTIVE phoR MUTATION IN ESCHERICHIA COLI

A dominant constitutive mutation of the phoR locus controlling alkaline phosphatase synthesis in Escherichia coli is described. Its phenotype can be explained by the production of a poisonous subunit of the phoR gene product. The phoR gene product is inferred to consist of at least 3 or 4 subunits.
Effect of the 2012 election on health policy issues for the nephrologist.

Predictions are dangerous, especially those about the future.—Yogi BerraElections have consequences. On November 6, 2012, President Barrack Obama won an overwhelming Electoral College victory and a closer popular vote to give him a second term as president. The United States will continue to have
Measurement of Posttransfusion Red Cell Survival With the Biotin Label

The goal of this review is to summarize and critically assess information concerning the biotin method to label red blood cells (RBC) for use in studies of RBC and transfusion biology-information that will prove useful to a broad audience of clinicians and scientists. A review of RBC biology, with emphasis on RBC senescence and in vivo survival, is included, followed by an analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of biotin-labeled RBC (BioRBC) for measuring circulating RBC volume, posttransfusion RBC recovery, RBC life span, and RBC age-dependent properties. The advantages of BioRBC over (51)Cr RBC labeling, the current reference method, are discussed. Because the biotin method is straightforward and robust, including the ability to follow the entire life spans of multiple RBC populations concurrently in the same subject, BioRBC offers distinct advantages for studying RBC biology and physiology, particularly RBC survival. The method for biotin labeling, validation of the method, and application of BioRBCs to studies of sickle cell disease, diabetes, and anemia of prematurity are reviewed. Studies documenting the safe use of BioRBC are reviewed; unanswered questions requiring future studies, remaining concerns, and regulatory barriers to broader application of BioRBC including adoption as a new reference method are also presented.
Cosmopolitanism, justice & institutions

Daedalus Summer 2008 ‘Cosmopolitanism’ is not–or not yet –the name of a determinate political philosophy. Although many contemporary theorists have put forward views that they describe as cosmopolitan, there is little agreement among them about the central elements of a cosmopolitan position. Almost nobody advocates the development of the kind of global state that would give the idea of ‘world citizenship’ literal application. Instead, disparate views have been advanced under the heading of cosmopolitanism, and these views share little more than an organizing conviction that any adequate political outlook for our time must in some way comprehend the world as a whole. To some people cosmopolitanism is primarily a view about sovereignty. To others it is primarily a view about culture and identity. To many philosophers, however, it is primarily a view about justice, and in recent years there has been an increasing flow of books and articles devoted to the subject of ‘global justice.’ In part, the focus on justice reflects the continuing influence of John Rawls, who insisted that “[j]ustice is the 1⁄2rst virtue of social institutions, as truth is of systems of thought.”1 In so doing, Rawls elevated the concept of justice above other important political ideas such as liberty, law, equality, power, rights, obligation, security, democracy, and the state, and gave it a privileged place on the agenda of contemporary political philosophy. It is testimony to Rawls’s influence that justice–especially ‘distributive,’ or economic, justice– has remained a central preoccupation of political philosophers ever since.
Lake Wobegon Upside Down: The Paradox of Status-Devaluation

This paper examines a cognitive bias whereby respondents in postcommunist Bulgaria systematically decrease their self estimates on material welfare in contrast to the well-established status-enhancement bias. The analysis shows that the main reason for the occurrence of status-devaluation is the experience of relative deprivation in postcommunism, reflected in unfulfilled expectations and the perception of status loss relative to socialism. The bias is reinforced by a process of network closure under conditions of high uncertainty and accelerated social change. More homogeneous personal networks provide reference points, which make high-status actors more likely to see themselves as low-status.
Information Architecture for Threat Detection Systems

An information-centric approach is necessary to design systems for threat detection, facility protection, and decision support. The Hanscom-Lincoln testbed architecture was developed with the understanding that information, both sensor data and contextual information, is the currency of all system components. The information architecture is agnostic with regard to sensing modalities and flexible with regard to data dissemination requirements. In addition, the architecture supports both fixed-site CONOPS (e.g. airport, subway, offices) and rapid-deployment CONOPS (e.g. convention, concert). Various proactive and reactive measures can be tested as well.
Peripheral chemoreceptors in health and disease

Peripheral chemoreceptors (carotid and aortic bodies) detect changes in arterial blood oxygen and initiate reflexes that are important for maintaining homeostasis during hypoxemia. This mini-review summarizes the importance of peripheral chemoreceptor reflexes in various physiological and pathophysiological conditions. Carotid bodies are important for eliciting hypoxic ventilatory stimulation in humans and in experimental animals. In the absence of carotid bodies, compensatory upregulation of aortic bodies as well as other chemoreceptors contributes to the hypoxic ventilatory response. Peripheral chemoreceptors are critical for ventilatory acclimatization at high altitude. They also contribute in part to the exercise-induced hyperventilation, especially with submaximal and heavy exercise. During pregnancy, hypoxic ventilatory sensitivity increases, perhaps due to the actions of estrogen and progesterone on chemoreceptors. Augmented peripheral chemoreceptors have been implicated in early stages of recurrent apneas, congestive heart failure, and certain forms of hypertension. It is likely that chemoreceptors tend to maintain oxygen homeostasis and act as a defense mechanism to prevent the progression of the morbidity associated with these diseases. Experimental models of recurrent apneas, congestive heart failure, and hypertension offer excellent opportunities to unravel the cellular mechanisms associated with altered chemoreceptor function.
Thoracic Epidural Analgesia

Thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) offers a unique oppor tunity for the anesthesiologist to enhance postopera tive recovery for the thoracic surgery patient. By deliver ing analgesics to a limited dermatomal distribution, TEA can provide profound segmental analgesia and also serves to modulate neural outflow to improve cardiac and pulmonary parameters. The notable side-effects of hypotension and respiratory depression can be mini mized by using synergistic combinations of local anes thetic and opioids, and by adopting a continuous infu sion strategy. With thoughtful patient selection, careful technique, and a proactive approach to the recognition of the known hemodynamic and respiratory effects of epidural drugs, TEA can be administered safely. The significant benefits of TEA include better pain relief, increased FEV1, earlier extubation, and, perhaps, de creased morbidity and mortality.
An Adaptive Framework for Multiprocessor Real-Time System

In this paper, we develop an adaptive scheduling framework for changing the processor shares of tasks - a process called reweighting - on real-time multiprocessor platforms. Our particular focus is adaptive frameworks that are deployed in environments in which tasks may frequently require significant share changes. Prior work on enabling real-time adaptivity on multiprocessors has focused exclusively on scheduling algorithms that can enact needed adaptations. The algorithm proposed in this paper uses both feedback and optimization techniques to determine at runtime which adaptations are needed.
Photodynamic Inactivation of Bacillus Spores, Mediated by Phenothiazinium Dyes

Spore formation is a sophisticated mechanism by which some bacteria survive conditions of stress and starvation by producing a multilayered protective capsule enclosing their condensed DNA. Spores are highly resistant to damage by heat, radiation, and commonly employed antibacterial agents. Previously, spores have also been shown to be resistant to photodynamic inactivation using dyes and light that easily destroy the corresponding vegetative bacteria. We have discovered that Bacillus spores are susceptible to photoinactivation by phenothiazinium dyes and low doses of red light. Dimethylmethylene blue, methylene blue, new methylene blue, and toluidine blue O are all effective, while alternative photosensitizers such as Rose Bengal, polylysine chlorin(e6) conjugate, a tricationic porphyrin, and a benzoporphyrin derivative, which easily kill vegetative cells, are ineffective. Spores of Bacillus cereus and B. thuringiensis are most susceptible, B. subtilis and B. atrophaeus are also killed, and B. megaterium is resistant. Photoinactivation is most effective when excess dye is washed from the spores, showing that the dye binds to the spores and that excess dye in solution can quench light delivery. The relatively mild conditions needed for spore killing could have applications for treating wounds contaminated by anthrax spores, for which conventional sporicides would have unacceptable tissue toxicity.
Instructional Alignment as a Measure of Teaching Quality

Recent years have seen the convergence of two major policy streams in U.S. K–12 education: standards/accountability and teacher quality reforms. Work in these areas has led to the creation of multi...
Robotic Laser Cutting Systems

This lecture covers the thermal processes of CO2 laser cutting, the laser qualities most important for cutting, and the mechanics of the cutting process. In addition, a comparative analysis of alternative thermal cutting processes, and alternative beam manipulation systems, are reviewed including new developments in Nd: YAG laser cutting systems with fiber optic delivery coupled to a robot. Laser cutting advantages are reviewed and actual applications of in-production laser cutting systems are discussed. The major specific subjects covered include the following: History and types of CO2 lasers for cutting; Description of laser cutting processes and related parameters; A comparative analysis of laser and other thermal cutting processes; Analysis of laser beam delivery and motion systems benefits associated with Laser Cutting Systems; New developments in Nd: YAG robotic cutting systems with fiber optic beam delivery; and, Actual applications of in-production Laser Cutting Systems.
African Immigrant Diasporas and Homeland Development

This paper will examine African immigrant diaspora-funded socioeconomic and cultural development projects using data from the West African nation of Ghana. The paper will illustrate the macrostructural organization of selected diaspora-funded projects (helathcare and water resource management) in Ghana and assess their impact on community social structure. Attention is given to the impediments facing diaspora-funded projects in Ghana and efforts are made to assess the social policy implications of these projects.
Age-associated adaptations in lower limb motor patterns during walking and cycling

Muscular strength and power generating ability decline with advancing age. Older adults adapt their lower limb motor patterns to cope with these declines in muscle function. When mechanical demands approach limits of lower limb muscular capacity, motor patterns must be adapted to produce a desired movement. The term “motor pattern” is used to broadly represent the kinematic and kinetic profile of a person accomplishing a given task. Generally, these adaptations involve higher reliance on stronger proximal muscles to compensate for limitations or weakness of distal muscles. Three studies were conducted to examine factors affecting differences between older and young adults in lower extremity mechanics for walking and cycling. In the first two studies, the effects of physical activity status, walking speed, and step length on lower extremity motor patterns of older and young adults were examined. As walking speed and step length increased, lower extremity muscular effort, as reflected by joint moments and power, increased. Differences in motor patterns between older and young participants, were preserved for multiple speed and step length conditions. In general, older adults showed higher reliance on hip musculature to compensate for lower muscle strength of plantarflexors. Moreover, sedentary and older groups, who had lower leg strength, exhibited similar lower limb motor patterns during walking. Likewise, physically active and young participants, who had higher lower extremity strength, displayed similar lower limb motor patterns. Consistent with the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, these results suggest that adopting and maintaining a physically active life-style can
POLITICAL ETHOS AND THE STRUCTURE OF CITY GOVERNMENT

For years specialists in local politics have deplored the anecdotal quality of literature in the field and have called for theoretically-based comparative research. One of the most stimulating and ambitious attempts in this direction is Edward C. Banfield and James Q. Wilson's theory of “public-regardingness” and “private-regardingness,” which states that much of what Americans think about the political world can be subsumed under one or the other of these conflicting orientations and that the prevalence of one ethos over the other influences the style, structure, and outcome of local politics. Banfield and Wilson attribute these two ethics to different elements in the population and hypothesize that a number of political forms and policies are manifestations of each ethos. We intend to examine the associations between these hypothesized consequences and the demographic characteristics that are said to be the bases of the two ethics.
Effect of medium temperature on recovery of gonococci.

The temperature of the isolation medium exerted no significant effect on the rate of positive cultures for Neisseria gonorrhoeae . However, significantly more colonies were obtained on ambienttemperature medium than on cold (4 C) medium. A small number of specimens (six) failed to grow on cold medium but grew on ambient-temperature medium. Viable counts showed essentially no effect of medium temperature on the nondiscriminating strain, a 90% reduction on the cold medium for the cold-intolerant strain, and for the strains with warm medium preference, about twice as many colonies on warm as on cold or ambient-temperature medium.
The Growing Demand for Synoptic Minds in Industry

Criticizes business school operations in relation to management. Critical importance of administrative quality; Conception of business schools of their role in society; Implications for problems an...
Thyroglossal duct cyst. Report of a case.

Abstract In the growth and development of the head and neck there are many areas which are subject to congenital malformations. These are due many times to remnants of embryonic tissue from the embryonic state which fail to close or become obliterated. One such congenital malformation is a thyroglossal duct cyst, an interesting case of which has been presented here.
Sickle cell anemia.

For general practitioners, as well as specialists, this department offers the latest, proved methods of treatment of conditions encountered in an average practice. It is not, of course, intended to present these discussions as the only acceptable therapeutic procedures to be used, but rather to offer simple regimens and recommendations based on the extensive experience of the physicians who prepares these summaries.
Metabolic alterations in cancer cells and therapeutic implications

Cancer metabolism has emerged as an important area of research in recent years.Elucidation of the metabolic differences between cancer and normal cells and the underlying mechanisms will not only advance our understanding of fundamental cancer cell biology but also provide an important basis for the development of new therapeutic strategies and novel compounds to selectively eliminate cancer cells by targeting their unique metabolism.This article reviews several important metabolic alterations in cancer cells,with an emphasis on increased aerobic glycolysis (the Warburg effect) and glutamine addiction,and discusses the mechanisms that may contribute to such metabolic changes.In addition,metabolic alterations in cancer stem cells,mitochondrial metabolism and its influence on drug sensitivity,and potential therapeutic strategies and agents that target cancer metabolism are also discussed.
Appropriateness of Twenty-four-Hour Antibiotic Prophylaxis After Spinal Surgery in Which a Drain Is Utilized: A Prospective Randomized Study.

Background: Wound drains that are left in place for a prolonged period of time have a higher rate of bacterial contamination. Following spinal surgery, a drain is often left in place for a longer period of time if it maintains a high output. Given the major consequences of an infection following spinal surgery and the lack of data with regard to the use of antibiotics and drains, we performed a study of patients with a drain following spinal surgery to compare infection rates between those who were treated with antibiotics for twenty-four hours and those who received antibiotics for the duration for which the drain was in place. Methods: We performed a prospective randomized trial of 314 patients who underwent multilevel thoracolumbar spinal surgery followed by use of a postoperative drain. The patients were randomized into two groups, one of which received perioperative antibiotics for twenty-four hours (twenty-four-hour group) and the other of which received antibiotics for the duration that the drain was in place (drain-duration group). Data collected included demographic characteristics, medical comorbidities, type of spinal surgery, and surgical site infection. Results: Twenty-one (12.4%) of the 170 patients in the twenty-four-hour group and nineteen (13.2%) of the 144 in the drain-duration group developed a surgical site infection (p = 0.48). There were no significant differences between the twenty-four-hour and drain-duration groups with respect to demographic characteristics (except for the American Society of Anesthesiologists [ASA] classification), operative time, type of surgery, drain output, or length of hospital stay. Conclusions: Continuing perioperative administration of antibiotics for the entire duration that a drain is in place after spinal surgery did not decrease the rate of surgical site infections. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level I. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Thrombolytics and neuroprotective agents in the treatment of the patient with an acute cerebrovascular ischemic accident

INTRODUCTION Cerebrovascular disease occupies second place amongst the causes of mortality in the world. Rapidly after onset of an acute ischemic cerebrovascular accident (CVA) there is irreversible formation of an area affected by the ischemic process (necrotic centre) surrounded by a zone in which reduction of blood flow is less marked. Although the neurons of this region, known as the 'ischemic penumbra', are in a state of 'electrical silence', they may recover if effective treatment is started in time. DEVELOPMENT Treatment of the patient with an acute ischemic CVA should be concentrated in two areas: restoration of blood flow and neuroprotection. In spite of better understanding of the biochemical, genetic and molecular processes which occur during the process of cerebral ischemia, the development of neuroprotector strategies has been largely fruitless. However, restoration of cerebral blood flow is currently possible in a certain group of patients. The fibrinolytic system is formed by an inactive proenzyme, plasminogen, which may be converted to the active form, plasmin, in the presence of specific activators such as tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA). CONCLUSIONS The effect of thrombolytic treatment is due to dissolution of the fibrin present in the occluding thrombus, with subsequent restoration of the blood flow to the ischemic area. Nevertheless the use of thrombolytic agents has dramatically changed the clinical management of patients with acute ischemic cerebrovascular incidents. Their use involves a significant risk of intracerebral bleeding, which together with the narrow therapeutic window, has made this one of the most controversial fields of current neurology.
Cardiorespiratory and autonomic interactions during snoring related resistive breathing.

Study objectives We hypothesized that blood pressure (BP) is less during snoring as compared to periods of non-snoring in non-apneic individuals. Furthermore, we hypothesized that this reduction may be accompanied by a simultaneous decrease in sympathetic (SNSA) and parasympathetic (PNSA) nervous system activity and an increase in heart rate (HR). Design N/A. Setting N/A. Patients or participants N/A. Measurements The variables mentioned above in addition to breathing frequency were measured in 9 subjects during NREM sleep. In addition, the lowest systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) during inspiration and the highest SBP and DBP during expiration was determined breath-by-breath from segments selected from each NREM cycle. Heart rate variability was used as a marker of autonomic nervous system activity. Results Our results showed that BP during snoring decreased compared to non-snoring and the breath-by-breath BP analysis suggested that this difference may have been mediated by changes in intrathoracic pressure. In conjunction with the decrease in BP, SNSA decreased and HR increased however PNSA remained constant. Thus, a decrease in PNSA was likely not the primary mechanism responsible for the HR response. Conclusions We conclude that BP responses and SNSA during snoring are similar to that reported previously in non-snoring individuals. However, the causal mechanisms maybe different and manifested in other measures such as HR. Thus, nocturnal cardiovascular and autonomic function maybe uniquely different in non-apneic snoring individuals.
Propensity Score Matching and Prevention Science

Although the strongest evidence in prevention science comes from well-designed and faithfully implemented randomized control trials, sometimes randomization is not feasible and sometimes randomized control trials do not unfold as planned. This chapter reviews standards of evidence in prevention science, discusses how research can fall short of these standards, and suggests ways propensity score matching can fill the gaps. It then presents the propensity score matching framework and contemporary best practices, followed by an empirical example and a discussion of future directions.
Suitability of NoSQL systems — Cassandra and ScyllaDB — For IoT workloads

Motivated by the increasing trend of storing data for web applications in fast NoSQL systems, in this paper, we experiment with the leading NoSQL datastore — Cassandra — and a latest generation re-design of Cassandra — ScyllaDB — meant to deliver bleeding-edge performance on modern multicore machines. We evaluate the scalability claim of ScyllaDB, in terms of the number of clients, and provide diagnostic evidence through OS-level metrics, such as, disk utilization and cache-miss rates. Specifically we are motivated by the need to store large amounts of IoT-generated data in nearby datastores. Our evaluation is the first in the line of objective benchmarking of these two technologies that are finding widespread adoption in data centers and other modern computing platforms. For example, we find hitherto unreported performance instability of ScyllaDB when the servers are replicated while we identify the root cause of improved read performance of ScyllaDB compared to Cassandra.
Case of Secondary Tics Associated With Olanzapine in an Adult.

Atypical antipsychotic medications, such as risperidone, aripiprazole, and olanzapine, have utility in treating motor tics, particularly in Tourette syndrome. In rare cases, atypical antipsychotic medications have been associated with adult-onset motor tics. Such adverse drug reactions (ADRs) have been documented in response to quetiapine, aripiprazole, and amisulpride. Here, we report, to our knowledge, the first case of adult onset motor tics related to olanzapine administration.
Broadening access to computer science education

On September 25, 2017, the White House announced $200 million in Department of Education funding to support expanded education in computer science and STEM in K-12 schools. We also expect another announcement of private sector funding for the effort. Supported programs should be designed for women and underrepresented minorities, and should address rural communities and/or inner cities. Funding will be available for schools and districts for the 2018 fiscal year.
Audiovisual Speech Integration: Neural Substrates and Behavior

Speech perception is multisensory, making use of information from both the auditory modality (the talker’s voice) and the visual modality (the talker’s face). This chapter describes recent advances in our understanding of the neural processing of audiovisual speech, driven by studies using blood-oxygen level-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD fMRI), electrocorticography, causal inference modeling, and transcranial magnetic stimulation. An area of special importance is the posterior superior temporal sulcus and adjacent superior temporal gyrus and middle temporal gyrus. An audiovisual speech illusion known as the McGurk effect, in which incongruent auditory and visual syllables are perceived as a third syllable, has been a useful tool for interrogating the cortical speech network. There is a previously unappreciated level of intersubject and interstimulus variability in the behavioral and neural responses to this illusion.
Synthesis of 6-Oxo-1,2,3,4,6,7,12,12b-octahydroindolo[2,3-a]quinolizine

An efficient synthesis of 6-oxo-1,2,3,4,5,7,12,12b-octahydroindolo[2,3-α]quinolizine from 2-acetylpyridine and phenylhydrazine is described. This derivative of the natural alkaloid desbromoarborescidine A is an important entry point to the sarpagine-vobasine family of plant alkaloids.
Houdini Tumor: Case Report and Literature Review of Pregnancy-Associated Meningioma.

Background Meningiomas are common intracranial neoplasms of undetermined etiology. Accelerated growth during episodes of elevated serum estrogen and progesterone have been demonstrated in pregnant patients, as exhibited by an overexpression of estrogen or progesterone on immunohistochemical analysis. This case report and literature review describe a case of complete meningioma regression in a postpartum patient. Case Description A 23-year-old female presented at 37 weeks of pregnancy with 1-month history of fluctuating severe left-sided headaches, periodic blurry vision, nausea, and vomiting. She had 2 previous pregnancies without complication. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a dural-based, heterogeneously enhancing mass along the left tentorium, just posterior to the transverse sinus, with supratentorial extension and surrounding edema. Differential diagnoses included meningioma versus hemangioma versus hemangiopericytoma. The patient followed up with neurosurgery 1 month after delivery. She had continued left-sided headaches but no longer complained of visual changes. A postpartum surgical resection via left occipital and suboccipital craniotomy was planned. Approximately 1 month later (now about 3 months after delivery) a repeat magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a marked decrease in meningioma size, and the previously seen edema had resolved. In light of the sudden disappearance of the meningioma, no further surgical intervention was pursued. Conclusions Because meningioma shrinkage or disappearance may occur after pregnancy, repeat imaging is advised as part of a preoperative evaluation. In addition, it is possible that an undetermined amount of meningioma removal surgeries may be avoided with further research into monitoring hormone levels connected to meningioma growth.
Automatic feature modeling techniques for volume segmentation applications

In many volume segmentation and visualization tasks, the ability to correctly identify the boundary surface of each volumetric feature of interest in the data is desirable. This surface can be used in subsequent quantitative studies of the segmented features. In this paper, we present an automatic approach to generate accurate representations of a feature of interest from volume segmentation. Our method first locates a set of points, which tightly define the boundary of the volumetric feature. This set of points can then be used to construct a boundary surface mesh. We also describe how to construct an anti-aliased volume representation of the segmented feature from this point set to enable high-quality volume rendering of the feature. These three representations - point set, boundary surface mesh, and anti-aliased volume segment - have a wide variety of applications.
CRISPR and the Ethics of Gene Drive in Mosquitoes

CRISPR Cas9-powered gene drive allows for the rapid alteration of malaria-causing mosquitoes to spread an infertility gene or resistance to malaria among their species. Malaria eradication would be a great boon to human health. But many are concerned with driving genetic changes through a natural species. This chapter catalogs objections to the use of gene drive in mosquitoes for eradicating malaria. In-principle objections to gene drive use are not compelling. The most urgent concerns are related to the safety of the technology for the environment and human health. Philosophers play a critical role in working along scientists to develop risk/benefit models that weigh the reasons for and against gene drive to eradicate malaria based on our best scientific knowledge and rigorous normative reasoning.
177 Increasing in vitro embryonic development through improved oocyte maturation in cattle oocytes

In vitro maturation (IVM) is an important process in the in vitro production of embryos. It has been recently shown that 3 cytokines: fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2), leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) have increased the efficiency of IVM, blastocyst production, and in vivo development in pig (Yuan et al. 2017 Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 114, E5796-E5804). In vitro maturation in medium supplemented with cytokines doubled the blastocyst rate and quadrupled the litter size when transferred. It was observed that the addition of cytokines to IVM medium had an effect on the regulation of pMAPK1/3, cumulus cell expansion, and transzonal projections in cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC). This study was designed to assess the effect of these 3 cytokines on IVM in bovine oocytes and their consecutive development to blastocyst. Intracellular glutathione level (GSH), frequently used as an indicator of metaphase II (MII) oocyte quality, was also evaluated. The COC were retrieved from abattoir-derived ovaries and matured for 21 h in either our standard maturation medium [TCM-199 (Gibco/Life Technologies, Grand Island, NY, USA), containing 10% fetal bovine serum, 0.5 µg mL−1 FSH, 5 µg mL−1 LH, and 100 U mL−1 penicillin/streptomycin] or maturation medium supplemented with 20 ng mL−1 human LIF, 20 ng mL−1 human IGF1, and 40 ng mL−1 human FGF2. After IVM, COC were placed in fertilization medium and incubated with frozen-thawed sperm for 20 h. Cumulus cells were removed from fertilized COC and cultured in SOF culture medium at 38.5°C in 5% CO2/humidified air. Cleavage and blastocyst rates were assessed at 48 h and Day 8 post-IVF, respectively. To assess GSH level, MII oocytes were incubated in 20 µM CellTracker Blue CMF2HC (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA) and observed under blue fluorescent light. All statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA and data are presented as mean ± s.e.m. The MII rate, assessed by the presence of the first polar body, was significantly higher in the maturation medium supplemented with cytokines compared with the control medium (167/202; 82.4 ± 2.02% v. 136/198; 68.8 ± 1.1%; P 0.05, 5 replicates), respectively. However, a significant increase in blastocyst rate was observed in the cytokine-containing medium (64/351; 17.7 ± 2.06%) compared with the control group (42/358; 11.0 ± 1.96%; P < 0.05, 5 replicates). Furthermore, our preliminary data indicate an increase in GSH in MII oocytes matured in the cytokine-containing medium. In conclusion, the addition of FGF2, LIF, and IGF1 to maturation media improves bovine IVM efficiency and quality of the MII oocytes, leading to a greater blastocyst development rate. Supported by RFBR (18-29-07089) and UAES (1343).
Traffic Congestion Control on Two-lane Aw-Rascle-Zhang Model

This paper develops full-state feedback boundary control to reduce two-lane traffic congestion in a freeway segment. The macroscopic traffic dynamics is described by a two-lane Aw-Rascle-Zhang(ARZ) model with lane-changing between a fast and a slow lane. The traffic density and speed of each lane is governed by a coupled second-order, nonlinear hyperbolic partial differential equations(PDEs). Lane-changing interactions lead to exchanging source terms between these two second-order PDEs. We linearize it around a reference system regarding driver's preference over the fast and slow lane. To stabilize the oscillations of traffic densities and speeds in this two-lane problem, two variable speed limits are applied at outlet boundary, controlling the traffic speed of each lane respectively. Using backstepping transformation, we map the coupled hetero-directional hyperbolic system into a cascade target system, in which traffic oscillations can be damped through the actuation of speeds at outlet boundary. Two full-state feedback boundary control laws are developed and the finite time convergence to equilibrium is achieved for the closed-loop system.
Implementing Pediatric Asthma Pathways in Community Hospitals: A National Qualitative Study.

BACKGROUND Pathways can improve the quality of care and outcomes for children with asthma; however, we know little about how to successfully implement pathways across diverse hospital settings. Prior studies of pathways have focused on determining clinical effectiveness and the majority were conducted in children's hospitals. These approaches have left crucial gaps in our understanding of how to successfully implement pathways in community hospitals, where most of the children with asthma are treated nationally. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to identify the key determinants of successful pediatric asthma pathway implementation in community hospitals. METHODS We conducted a qualitative study of healthcare providers that served as project leaders in a national collaborative to improve pediatric asthma care. Data were collected by recording semi-structured discussions between project leaders and external facilitators (EF) from December 2017 to April 2018. Using inductive thematic analysis, we identified the themes that describe the key determinants of pathway implementation. RESULTS Project leaders (n = 32) from 18 hospitals participated in this study. The key determinants of pathway implementation in community hospitals included (1) building an implementation infrastructure (eg, forming a team of local champions, modifying clinical workflows, delivering education/skills training), (2) engaging and motivating providers (eg, obtaining project buy-in, facilitating multidisciplinary collaboration, handling conflict), (3) addressing organizational and resource limitations (eg, support for electronic medical record integration), and (4) devising implementation solutions with EFs (eg, potential workflow modifications). CONCLUSIONS Our identification of the key determinants of pathway implementation may help guide pediatric quality improvement efforts in community hospitals. EFs may play an important role in successfully implementing pathways in community settings.