cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Carcass composition and yield of 1957 versus 2001 broilers when fed representative 1957 and 2001 broiler diets

The yield of carcass parts as well as levels of carcass fat, moisture, and ash were measured in the 1957 Athens-Canadian Randombred Control (ACRBC) and in the Ross 308 commercial broiler, when fed diets that were representative of those being fed during 1957 and 2001. The Ross 308 was used to represent 2001 commercial broilers. Comparisons of carcass weights of the Ross 308 on the 2001 diet versus the ACRBC on the 1957 diet showed they were 6.0, 5.9, 5.2, and 4.6 times heavier than the ACRBC at 43, 57, 71, and 85 d of age, respectively. Yields of hot carcass without giblets (fat pad included) were 12.3, 13.6, 12.2, and 11.1 percentage points higher for the Ross 308 than for the ACRBC at those ages. The yields of total breast meat for the Ross 308 were 20.0, 21.3, 21.9, and 22.2% and were 8.4, 9.9, 10.3, and 9.8 percentage points higher than for the ACRBC at those ages. Yields of saddle and legs for the Ross 308 broiler were approximately 31 to 32% over the four ages and were about 1.5 to 2% higher than for the ACRBC at the different ages. The Ross 308 averaged 13.7, 15.0, 18.6, and 18.5% whole carcass fat versus 8.5, 10.6, 12.7, and 14.0% for the ACRBC at the four ages. In conjunction with previous studies, the current data show that yield of broiler carcass parts has continued to increase over time and that genetics has been the major contributor to changes in yield.
Sex-reversed dominance and aggression in the cichlid fish Julidochromis marlieri

The plesiomorphic breeding system of the large fish family Cichlidae is a monogamous, biparental pair that cares for eggs and extends care to shepherding and protecting tiny fry. Typically, the male is larger than his mate and dominates her. Julidochromis marlieri, an African cichlid from Lake Tanganyika, follows this pattern but with an important difference: the female is larger than her mate; one female was reported mated to two males simultaneously (Yamagishi & Kohda 1996). We asked whether the female also dominates her mate, as in polyandrous, sex-role reversed birds. Additionally, documenting an inherent difference in aggressiveness would clarify the behavioral mechanisms that support pair-bonding in monogamous species. We staged contests between males and females of various relative sizes. When equal in size, females regularly won contests. Females were also more likely to initiate advancement to more aggressive stages of the fight. Thus dominance and aggression are sex-reversed in Julidochromis marlieri.
Spatio-temporal mode dynamics and higher order transitions in high aspect ratio Newtonian Taylor-Couette flows

Spatial and temporal frequency dynamics were experimentally tracked via flow visualization for Newtonian fluids as a function of the inner cylinder Reynolds number (Re i ) in the flow between concentric, independently rotating cylinders with a radius ratio of 0.912 and an aspect ratio of 60.7. Eight transitions from laminar to turbulent flow were characterized in detail for a stationary outer cylinder, producing highly resolved space―time and frequency―time plots for wavy, modulated and weakly turbulent states. A previously unreported early-modulated wavy vortex flow was found in our high aspect ratio geometry both with and without the presence of a dislocation. The envelope of stability for this flow state was shown to cross into the co-rotating regime, and is present up to Re o ∼ 60, where Re o is the outer cylinder Reynolds number. This early modulation is independent of acceleration in the range 0.18 15.4], states characterized by a single distinct temporal frequency for Re * = [(1.17―1.41), (3.56―5.20), (7.85―15.4)], states with multiple temporal frequencies for Re * = [(1.41―3.56), (5.20―7.85)], and a transition from laminar to weakly turbulent vortices occurs at Re * = 5.49. All flow states are characterized by symmetry/symmetry-breaking features as well as azimuthal and axial wavenumbers.
Cost-effectiveness analysis of fecal microbiota transplantation for recurrent Clostridium difficile infection.

OBJECTIVE Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) places a high burden on the US healthcare system. Recurrent CDI (RCDI) occurs frequently. Recently proposed guidelines from the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) and the American Gastroenterology Association (AGA) include fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) as a therapeutic option for RCDI. The purpose of this study was to estimate the cost-effectiveness of FMT compared with vancomycin for the treatment of RCDI in adults, specifically following guidelines proposed by the ACG and AGA. DESIGN We constructed a decision-analytic computer simulation using inputs from the published literature to compare the standard approach using tapered vancomycin to FMT for RCDI from the third-party payer perspective. Our effectiveness measure was quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). Because simulated patients were followed for 90 days, discounting was not necessary. One-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed. RESULTS Base-case analysis showed that FMT was less costly ($1,669 vs $3,788) and more effective (0.242 QALYs vs 0.235 QALYs) than vancomycin for RCDI. One-way sensitivity analyses showed that FMT was the dominant strategy (both less expensive and more effective) if cure rates for FMT and vancomycin were ≥70% and <91%, respectively, and if the cost of FMT was <$3,206. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis, varying all parameters simultaneously, showed that FMT was the dominant strategy over 10, 000 second-order Monte Carlo simulations. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that FMT may be a cost-saving intervention in managing RCDI. Implementation of FMT for RCDI may help decrease the economic burden to the healthcare system.
Release of pesticides into the environment and initial concentrations in soil, water, and plants

Considerable information exists as to the initial concentrations of pesticide residues to be expected in soils, plants, and water. Empirical or theoretical models have been devel- oped for incorporating this data into exposure assessments for humans as well as terrestrial and aquatic wildlife. In addition, monitoring data exists for many older products, especially with respect to typical concentrations observed in food commodities for human consumption and in surface and ground waters. Estimated and observed concentrations of pesticides in these matrices have been routinely employed for more than 30 years in assessing the poten- tial impacts of pesticides on a variety of biologically relevant endpoints. The same data will also prove useful for exposure assessments of endocrine active substances. There are some additional research needs, however. First, further research and development is needed to en- sure that estimation and monitoring methods for pesticide concentrations in soil, water, and food are applicable and utilized for all important and relevant cultural, agronomic, and envi- ronmental conditions. This is especially true with respect to developing countries and tropi- cal climates, which are often disproportionately ignored in favor of developing countries and temperate climates. Second, methodologies for collection of monitoring data and generation of modeled estimates for pesticide residues in soil, water, and food need to be carefully de- signed with the requirements of higher-tier, probabilistic exposure assessments in view. Although worst-case, point estimates or analyses may be useful for screening-level assess- ments, advanced assessments targeted at addressing the likelihood of biologically relevant exposures are urgently required by scientists and regulatory authorities for reaching sound risk assessment and management decisions.
Testing Appellate Court Assignments as a Natural Experiment: Gender Induced Panel Effects in Sex-Discrimination Cases

The random assignment of judges in the US Appellate Courts has been underutilized in the study of court panel effects. The present study treats case assignment in the US Appellate Courts as a natural experiment, testing for panel effects of female judges in Title VII sex discrimination cases, comparing the votes of male fellow-panelists when the treatment judge is a female with the votes of fellow-panelists of the control judges who are male and of the same party as the female judge. All comparisons are within the same circuit and within the same two-year time window. The paper finds support for strong panel effects - that female judges influence the votes of male judges to be more liberal on sex discrimination cases.
Recent Shallow Swarms of Seismicity in Southeastern New York, Northern New Jersey and Central Connecticut

Shallow swarms of earthquakes comprise one type of seismicity occurring in the northeastern United States. These events occur in basement rocks that lie near the earth’s surface, have focal depths less than 3 km, exhibit maximum magnitudes of about 2 to 4-1/4, and consist of tens to hundreds of events. The swarms also tend to recur in the vicinity of previous swarms. Three recent swarms were recorded by local monitoring networks, supplemented in some cases by portable instrumentation. Detailed analyses of these three swarms, located at Annsville, NY, Tranquility, NJ, and Moodus, CT, show that their source volumes are characterized by a radius less than 1/2 km. The orientation and style of faulting exhibited are consistent with those observed for deeper events nearby. For Annsville and Moodus, where stress was measured in deep boreholes located 20 km and less than 1 km from the swarm epicenters, respectively, the orientation and style of faulting agree with those expected.
“A Good Wife Brings Her Husband Bath Water”: Gender Roles and Water Practices in Nampula, Mozambique

ABSTRACTIn the Global South, gender roles and relations are closely connected to water collection and use. The aim of this article is to move beyond the simple development associations linking improved water access with women’s empowerment by showing how gender roles, marital relations, and the division of labor are connected to everyday water practices. Ethnographic research took place in five communities in Nampula, Mozambique, during a year when residents endured seasonal dry months and later received a water supply project. This research explores how gender roles and relations are impacted by changes in community water resources, and how these impacts are understood from local perspectives. In rural Mozambique, water collection and use are not only gendered activities, but also practices that shape marital relations and cultural notions of a good wife and mother.
Impact of a decision-making aid for suspected urinary tract infections on antibiotic overuse in nursing homes

Antibiotics are highly utilized in nursing homes. The aim of the study was to test the effectiveness of a decision-making aid for urinary tract infection management on reducing antibiotic prescriptions for suspected bacteriuria in the urine without symptoms, known as asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) in twelve nursing homes in Texas. A pre- and post-test with comparison group design was used. The data was collected through retrospective chart review. The study sample included 669 antibiotic prescriptions for suspected urinary tract infections ordered for 547 nursing home residents. The main measurement for the outcome variable was whether an antibiotic was prescribed for suspected urinary tract infections with no symptoms present. Most of the prescriptions for antibiotics UTIs were written without documented symptoms – thus for asymptomatic bacteuria (ASB) (71 % during the pre-intervention period). Exposure to the decision-making aid decreased the number of prescriptions written for ASB (from 78 % to 65 % in the low-intensity homes and from 65 % to 57 % in the high-intensity homes), and decreased odds of a prescription being written for ASB (OR = 0.63, 95 % CI = 0.25 – 1.60 for low-intensity homes; OR = 0.79, 95 % CI = 0.33 – 1.88 for high-intensity homes). The odds of a prescription being written for ASB decreased significantly in homes that succeeded in implementing the decision-making aid (OR = 0.35, 95 % CI = 0.16–0.76), compared to homes with no fidelity. The decision-making aid improved antibiotic stewardship in nursing homes.
Familial Breast Cancer and Genetic Predisposition in Breast Cancer

Approximately 10 % of breast cancer patients are carriers of gene mutations susceptible for the development of breast cancer. BRCA1, BRCA2, and TP53 genes are associated with a high risk of developing breast cancer in carriers and hence are referred to as high-penetrance genes. ATM (Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Gene), CHEK2, BRIP1, PALB2, RAD50, PTEN, CDH1, STK11, etc. are examples of moderate penetrance genes, while single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are considered low penetrance.
Reclaiming Multicultural Education in Transformative Spaces

S. Sharma. (2013). Girls Behind Bars: Reclaiming Education in Transformative Spaces. New York: Bloomsbury. 206 pages, $39.95 (paperback). ISBN 9781-441152329.In Girls Behind Bars: Reclaiming Educat...
Methods for Quantifying Heterogeneity in the Fluid Phase of Patients with Prostate Cancer

We have previously developed a fluid phase biopsy technology that reliably identifies rare circulating tumor cells (CTCs) found in the peripheral blood of cancer patients. This enrichment-free high-definition single-cell assay (HD-SCA) technology combines immunofluorescent staining and automated digital microscopy to target individual CTCs and circulating tumor microemboli (CTC clusters), generating high-quality and high-resolution digital images for detailed characterization of cellular morphology and protein expression. Recent developments have pushed the assay to the point of genome-wide copy number variation in single cells and multiplexed protein imaging with subcellular precision. Connecting the dynamics across this range of scales yields a comprehensive profile of the state of the disease at sequential time points during treatment. Here we describe the application of the HD-SCA to investigate tumor cells in the blood and bone marrow aspirates of metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients. We observe a broad spectrum of tumor cell subpopulations that differ in morphometric parameters, such as cell size and shape, and relative expression levels of cytokeratin and androgen receptor—the latter a key driver in the progression of prostate cancer and target of several current therapies. Additional genomic profiling, subcellular protein expression measurements, and clinical correlates over space and time are currently underway to study CTC origins, travel strategies, and implications on disease progression. Taken together, this type of multidimensional assessment will enable our ability to measure relevant changes in cancer behavior that, when integrated into the current standard of care, will likely result in improved clinical outcomes.
The dexamethasone-induced inhibitor of plasminogen activator in hepatoma cells is antigenically related to an inhibitor produced by bovine aortic endothelial cells

Glucocorticoids decrease plasminogen activator (PA) activity in HTC rat hepatoma cells by inducing a specific inhibitor of PA activity (PAI). This inhibitor is similar in several biochemical properties to the PAI purified from bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEs). We have used reverse fibrin autography and antiserum against BAE PAI to establish more fully the biochemical and immunological relationship of these inhibitors. Both inhibitors migrated with an apparent Mr of approximately 50,000, and the activity of both PAIs was stimulated by treatment with SDS suggesting that each of these molecules exists in both an active and a latent form. Antiserum to the BAE PAI immunoprecipitated all of the HTC PAI demonstrable by reverse fibrin autography. Finally, using this antiserum in a functional immunoassay, we have demonstrated that dexamethasone increases both active and latent PAI made by HTC cells. These results indicate that HTC PAI and BAE PAI are antigenically as well as biochemically related molecules.
Critical cardiologic considerations in the cancer patient.

Aggressive treatment modalities for patients with cancer are often associated with complications or side effects, fre¬quently involving the cardiovascular system. Longer sur¬vival of cancer patients can lead to the development of re¬lated or unrelated cardiac problems. This article reviews the major cardiac entities necessitating transfer of cancer patients to intensive care facilities and addresses specific management strategies.
Dual Stewart platform mobility simulator

A robotic mobility simulator is being developed to allow training on various hapticly simulated surfaces while still being in the safe clinical environment. The simulator is integrated with a rich virtual environment displayed in front of the patient. The system uses two Stewart platform robots to render the walking surface geometry and condition. The hardware components of the platforms and the considerations behind their design are presented here. In addition, the nine state algorithm used for simulating the treadmill functioning is described along with the procedure used to transform the motion of the robots into walking in the virtual environment.
"Homossexualismo: sexualidade e valor", de Samuel Rawet - um texto fundador da teoria queer brasileira

Samuel Rawet’s essay “Homossexualismo: sexualidade e valor” (1970) is the first detailed examination in Brazilian culture of the phenomenon of so-called homosexuality. Rawet, in a true gesture of ideological innovation, distances himself from models that see homosexuality as, alternatively, a sin, a pathology, and a criminal act and defends it as an example of free human choice that he grounds philosophically in existential values of the human condition.
Soil water content monitoring for irrigation management:A geostatistical analysis

With the increasing attention to site-specific or variable rate irrigation management, it is helpful to reconsider the quantity and placement of soil water monitoring locations in this context. Volumetric soil water content (θv) was monitored using a neutron probe (NP) at 72 locations in a center pivot irrigated field in eastern Nebraska. Variance reduction and temporal stability analyses were performed on θv from shallow (∼top 46 cm) and full profile (∼122 cm) readings for four monitoring cycles in the 2015 growing season and 2016 preseason. Eleven additional cycles were included for a subset of the data for the temporal stability analysis. The spatial correlation scale for θv was found to be less than the closest spacing of monitoring locations in the study (i.e. <37 m). For this field site, approximately three neutron probe monitoring locations were required to determine mean soil water depletion (±2 cm) for the field or for a management zone. Little economy would be gained in variance reduction for areal mean θv from using a stratified network for management areas of reasonable size in a center pivot irrigated field. Temporally stable monitoring locations were identified. However, relatively low-cost spatial predictor variables, including elevation, deviation from mean elevation, apparent electrical conductivity, and mean relative difference of interpolated cosmic ray neutron probe surveys, were not consistent predictors of NP mean relative difference. The small range of variability of θv within the study field is thought to be a contributing factor. It is possible that for fields with similar variability, or for site-specific irrigation where zones have been selected to reduce within-zone variance, that sensor quantity is more important than sensor placement in quantifying the areal mean θv for irrigation management.
Germanium Nanostructures Fabricated by PLD

Quantum confined nanostructures of semiconductors such as Ge and Si are being actively studied due to their interesting optical and electronic transport properties. We fabricated Ge nanostructures buried in the matrix of polycrystalline-AIN grown on Si(111) by pulsed laser deposition at lower substrate temperatures than that used in previous studies. The characterization of these structures was performed using high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), photoluminescence and Raman spectroscopy. HRTEM observations show that the Ge islands are single crystal with a pyramidal shape. The average size of Ge islands was determined to be 15 nm, considerably smaller than that produced by other techniques. The Raman spectrum reveals a peak downward shift, upto 295 cm −1 , of the Ge-Ge mode caused by quantum confinement in the Ge-dots. Photoluminescence (PL) was observed both with a single layer of Ge nanodots embedded in the AlN matrix and from ten layers of dots interspersed with AIN. The PL of the dots was blue shifted by ˜0.266 eV from the bulk Ge value of 0.73 eV at 77 K, resulting in a distinct peak at ˜1.0 eV. The full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the peak was 13 meV, for the single layer and 8 meV for the ten layered sample, indicating that the Ge nanodots are fairly uniform in size, which was found to be consistent with our HRTEM results. The importance of pulsed laser deposition (PLD) in fabricating novel nanostructures is discussed.
Taxol®: The First Microtubule Stabilizing Agent.

Taxol®, an antitumor drug with significant activity, is the first microtubule stabilizing agent described in the literature. This short review of the mechanism of action of Taxol® emphasizes the research done in the Horwitz’ laboratory. It discusses the contribution of photoaffinity labeled analogues of Taxol® toward our understanding of the binding site of the drug on the microtubule. The importance of hydrogen/deuterium exchange experiments to further our insights into the stabilization of microtubules by Taxol® is addressed. The development of drug resistance, a major problem that arises in the clinic, is discussed. Studies describing differential drug binding to distinct β-tubulin isotypes are presented. Looking forward, it is suggested that the β-tubulin isotype content of a tumor may influence its responses to Taxol®.
Investigating the minimum scan parameters required to generate free-breathing motion artefact-free fast-helical CT.

Objective:A recently proposed “5DCT” protocol uses deformable registration of free-breathing fast-helical CT scans to generate a breathing motion model. In order to allow accurate registration, free-breathing images are required to be free of doubling-artefacts, which arise when tissue motion is greater than scan speed.Methods:Using a unique set of digital phantoms based on patient data and verified with a motion phantom, this work identifies the minimum scanner parameters required to successfully generate free-breathing artefact-free fast-helical scans. A motion phantom and 5 patients were imaged 25 times under free-breathing conditions in alternating directions with a 64-slice CT scanner employing a low-dose fast-helical protocol. A series of high temporal resolution (0.1 s) 5DCT scan data sets was generated in each case. A simulated CT scanner was used to “image” each free-breathing data set. Various CT scanner detector widths and rotation times were simulated, and verified using the motion phantom res...
¿Lo mío y lo tuyo?: El Estado kantiano

Kant says there is a duty to exit the state of nature and enter into a civil state: a duty of right (Rechtspflicht), not a duty of virtue. The article examines the argument he provides in support of this view, as well as contemporary discussion of the relationship between this duty of right and the categorical imperative. From this analysis emerges a distinctive view of the Kantian state that challenges the conventional account: rather than defining the state as a protector of preexisting individual property rights, property rights are seen as stemming from the constitution of the state.
Sparse structure selection and estimation

This paper studies the sparsity selection and estimation in nonparametric additive models. The sparsity refers to two types — across and within variables. Sparsity across variables corresponds to t...
Therapeutics targeting of dysregulated redox equilibrium and endothelial dysfunction.

All forms of WHO Group 1 PAH share a progressive and complex vasculopathy. At the center of this derangement lies the pulmonary vascular endothelium, which plays a crucial role in maintaining a delicate and precise balance of opposing vasoconstricting and vasodilating forces. In PAH, endothelial cell damage and dysfunction alter vascular homeostasis in favor of vasoconstriction. There is evidence of increased expression and activity in the vasoconstrictor and mitogen endothelin-1 signaling system and a decreased production of the potent vasodilator prostacyclin. These pathways have been a major focus of FDA approved PAH-specific therapies. Beyond these pathways, there is the dysfunction within the endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase signaling pathway and dysregulation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS) that contribute to the pathogenesis of PAH. The dysregulation of vasodilator systems in PAH in large part involves the NO pathway, with almost every step subject to impairments. This includes a reduction in endothelial NO synthase function (eNOS), the enzymatic “uncoupling” of eNOS, increased scavenging of NO by superoxide and cell-free hemoglobin, the elaboration of endogenous competitive inhibitors of eNOS (ADMA), and the oxidation of the NO target, soluble guanylyl cyclase. The dysregulation of NO signaling pathways occurs in the setting of parallel upregulation of vascular oxidases that generate ROS. Enzymatic sources of ROS in PH that have been identified include the NAPDPH oxidases 1, 2, and 4, xanthine oxidase, uncoupled eNOS, and complex III of the mitochondrial electron transport chain. Superoxide produced from these sources reacts with NO to form the reactive nitrogen species peroxynitrate, further diverting bioavailable NO to more injuries species. In PAH, this upstream dysregulation of ROS/NO redox homeostasis severely impairs vascular tone and contributes to the pathological activation of mitogenic pathways, leading to cellular proliferation and obliteration of the pulmonary vasculature. Therapeutic strategies are being evaluated that target the associated dysregulated redox equilibrium and endothelial dysfunction in PAH. Therapeutic interventions reviewed in this chapter include NO donor or NO generating drugs, therapies that recouple eNOS or directly increase cGMP levels via inhibition of phosphodiesterase 5 or stimulation of soluble guanylyl cyclase, and therapies that inhibit vascular oxidases or scavenge ROS.
Pollution: the nose and sinuses

The nose and sinuses are constantly exposed to the huge quantities of gases needed to maintain life. Not only is the human nose well-equipped to warm and humidify this inhaled air, but it is also uniquely able to clean much of it. Any material other than physiologic amounts of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and water that accompanies the airstream can be considered a pollutant, and this pollutant could potentially injure the individual. The following discussion will review the defense mechanisms that allow the nose and sinuses to protect the lower airways. The effects of pollutants on the respiratory mucosa will then be described, including some recent trends in those effects. These trends include specific population consequences of indoor and outdoor air pollution, and changes in risk for individuals in several occupations. Throughout these discussions, specific areas that would benefit from further research will be mentioned.
African American emerging adults' experiences with racial discrimination and drinking habits: The moderating roles of perceived stress.

Objectives Despite the abundance of research aimed at quantifying the impact of racism on the mental and physical health of African Americans, results remain inconclusive largely because of challenges with operationalization, as well as conflation with the concept of racial discrimination, which may be more readily assessed. The purpose of the current study was to: (a) determine whether racial discrimination had an impact on the degree of alcohol use and binge drinking among African American emerging adults, and if so, (b) determine whether perceived stress linked to racially discriminatory experiences moderated these associations. Method We used a series of hierarchical regressions to examine associations among racial discrimination, perceived stress, and degree of alcohol consumption in a sample of African American emerging adults in the southeast (n = 235). Results We found that the association between racial discrimination and degree of alcohol consumption (alcohol use and binge drinking) was strongest among individuals who reported greater levels of perceived stress linked to racial discrimination experiences. This association, however, was not significant for individuals who reported lower levels of perceived stress in response to racial discrimination. Conclusions African Americans who experience a high degree of perceived stress in response to experiences with racial discrimination may be at greater risk for problem drinking than their peers with less perceived stress. These findings highlight the need for novel intervention efforts aimed at mitigating the effects of stress and racial discrimination on health outcomes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).
APPLICATION OF THE ANALYTIC HIERARCHY PROCESS FOR MAKING SUBJECTIVE COMPARISONS BETWEEN MULTIPLE AUTOMATION/DISPLAY OPTIONS

Abstract This paper describes the application of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) as an experimental tool for obtaining subjective preferences in Human Factors studies. The AHP utilizes redundant paired comparisons to obtain a relative ranking between alternatives under study. Compared with other approaches of analyzing subjective data, the AHP has the advantage of allowing multiple alternatives while accommodating a small sample size. It incorporates the use of judgment matrices, ratio scales, and eigenvector weightings in computing a weighted ranking of the options under study. The methodology is explained and demonstrated using data from a study involving cockpit displays of Enhanced Vision Systems.
Multi-robot Exploration and Coverage: Entropy-based Adaptive Maps with Adjacency Control Laws

Prior works have sought to improve exploration-coverage algorithms by developing multi-agent control techniques that either account for the states of neighboring agents, or utilize information-theoretic concepts to explore regions of high information content. In addition, variably-sized grid maps have been investigated to reduce computational expense. However, to the authors' knowledge, these three aspects have not been effectively harnessed together. In this paper, we present a multi-agent exploration and coverage mission which uses an entropy grid to effectively guide agents to explore and cover regions of high uncertainty, while also adaptively re-sizing and discretizing the grid world representation in real time. The adaptive grid presented is an improvement over constant-sized grids due to lower memory and processing requirements while still containing comparable information content. The entropy grid, when combined with adjacency-based control, allows the multi-agent system to effectively explore and cover environments that have time-varying target densities. The effectiveness of our approach is demonstrated through a real-time simulation with 75 agents.
Palladium-catalyzed coupling reactions on functionalized 2-trifluoromethyl-4-chromenone scaffolds. Synthesis of highly functionalized trifluoromethyl-heterocycles.

The chromenone core is an ubiquitous group in biologically active natural products and has been extensively used in organic synthesis. Fluorine-derived compounds, including those with a trifluoromethyl group (CF3), have shown enhanced biological activities in numerous pharmaceuticals compared with their non-fluorinated analogues. 2-Trifluoromethylchromenones can be readily functionalized at the 8- and 7-positions, providing chromenones cores of high structural complexity, which are excellent precursors for numerous trifluoromethyl heterocycles.
Transitions in drinking behaviors across the college years: A latent transition analysis.

Abstract Objective College student alcohol use remains a considerable concern. While many colleges provide universal interventions surrounding matriculation, trends indicate alcohol use increases over the college years. This study utilized a person-centered approach to examine changes in drinking across college and predictors (expectancies, attitudes, norms, and gender) of increases in risky drinking. Understanding transitions in drinking patterns and predictors of risky transitions can help identify risky students, periods of increased risk, and inform prevention efforts. Method 1429 first-year students were recruited from three universities across the USA. Students were assessed in the fall of each of the four years of college using a wide variety of drinking-related measures. Results Latent transition analysis (LTA) identified five classes of students (Non-Drinkers, Weekend Light Drinkers, Weekend Heavy Drinkers, Occasional Heavy Episodic Drinkers, Heavy Drinkers). Heavy-Drinkers were not likely to move out of their status during all four years of college. All psychosocial factors were shown to predict class membership during the first year (e.g., higher positive expectancies were associated with greater likelihood of being in a higher risk class). Increased psychosocial risk factors also predicted transitioning to higher risk drinking classes, mostly for Non-Drinkers. Differences by gender were observed. Conclusions Results indicate many students maintain or increase risky drinking practices, rather than mature out, suggesting continued need for early prevention. Targeting positive attitudes during the first year may be particularly important for later transitions. Males may benefit more from targeted intervention during the transition between third and fourth years.
Cognitive Style and Field Knowledge in Complex Design Problem-Solving: A Comparative Case Study of Decision Support Systems

Cognitive differences between how people perceive and process information have been broadly studied in the fields of education and psychology. Previous findings show that comprehension is optimized when information presentation aligns with the cognitive abilities and preferences of an individual. On the other hand, the possession of field knowledge has also been studied to influence learning outcome and perception. This paper aims to understand the effects of individual’s information processing styles and field knowledge on design decision-making, specifically focusing on designer learning and user experience. Two distinct decision support systems interfaces were developed to better examine the effect using a mixed model design. A total of 48 college students participated in the experimental study and interacted with the two different interfaces of a satellite design system in a randomized order. Analysis results show significant impacts of field knowledge and visual processing style on both learning and user experience. Potential interaction effects with the design support system interface type and cognitive styles were also observed.
Inverse Scattering and Global Well-Posedness in One and Two Space Dimensions

These notes are a considerably revised and expanded version of lectures given at the Fields Institute workshop on “Nonlinear Dispersive Partial Differential Equations and Inverse Scattering” in August 2017. These lectures, together with lectures of Walter Craig, Patrick Gerard, Peter D. Miller, and Jean-Claude Saut, constituted a week-long introduction to recent developments in inverse scattering and dispersive PDE intended for students and postdoctoral researchers working in these two areas.
Impact of Hemodynamic Ramp Test-Guided HVAD RPM and Medication Adjustments on Exercise Tolerance and Quality of Life: The RAMP-IT-UP Multicenter Study

Summary of Objectives Ramp tests are used to optimize left ventricular assist device (LVAD) speed and tailor medical therapy. The addition of invasive hemodynamics to the ramp test has the potential to provide further information that will improve patient management. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of a hemodynamic-guided approach to LVAD management on clinical outcomes, including exercise capacity and quality of life measures. Methods RAMP-IT-UP is a multi-center, randomized trial comparing two management strategies for LVAD patients: a hemodynamic approach employing a hemodynamic ramp study to optimize LVAD speed and medical therapy (HR arm) and a standard of care approach employing transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) for optimization of LVAD speed and medical therapy (TTE arm). This study enrolled 41 patients (22 in HR arm, 19 in TTE arm) who had an HVAD LVAD and were 1-3 months post-implantation. All patients will be followed for six months after enrollment. Primary endpoints are changes in the 6-minute walk test, New York Heart Association Class and Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire score. Exploratory endpoints will include the incidence of clinical events (mortality, heart failure admission, arrhythmias, gastrointestinal bleeding, stroke, pump thrombosis, aortic insufficiency and driveline infection). The analysis will include 6-month results for the full study cohort. The last patient was enrolled in September 2018, and will complete follow-up in March 2019. Endpoints This is the first randomized study of two different clinical management strategies for chronic LVAD patients. This study will evaluate the benefits of a hemodynamic-guided approach on quality of life and outcomes of LVAD patients. (Funded by Medtronic; ClinicalTrials.gov Number, NCT03021239)
Differential susceptibility of Cotesia orobenae, a parasitoid of the cross-striped cabbageworm, to commonly used insecticides in Cruciferae

The larval endoparasitoid Cotesia orobenae Forbes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is an effective natural enemy of the cross-striped cabbageworm, Evergestis rimosalis (Guenee) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), in southwest Virginia. Routine use of insecticides to control Plutella xyostella (L.) and other lepidopterous larvae in commercial plantings of cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli can disrupt populations of C. orobenae, causing localized outbreaks of the cross-striped cabbageworm to occur. Since the use of insecticides is the choice insect pest management tactic of growers in southwest Virginia, we examined the differential susceptibility of this hymenopteran parasitoid to four frequently used pesticides, methomyl (carbamate), permethrin and esfenvalerate (pyrethroids), and Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner subsp. Kurstaki (bacterium). Filter paper dipped into four different concentrations of methomyl, permethrin, and esfenvalerate were left to dry and then exposed to C. orobenae. Two concentrations of B. thuringiensis were also tested by contact bioassay, and an additional test was conducted by mixing B. thuringiensis with honey and water as a food source for the insects. Ten adult parasitoids were exposed to each treatment, replicated 10 times. Significant differences in mortality among insecticides tested (p < 0.05) were found. Most toxic to C. orobenae was permethrin, followed by esfenvalerate and methomyl. The parasitoid was not affected by B. thuringiensis when placed in contact with B. thuringiensis-treated broccoli leaves, or by ingestion of honey mixed with it (p < 0.05).
Radical Rebound Hydroxylation Versus H-Atom Transfer in Non-Heme Iron(III)-Hydroxo Complexes: Reactivity and Structural Differentiation

The characterization of high-valent iron centers in enzymes has been aided by synthetic model systems that mimic their reactivity or structural and spectral features. For example, the cleavage of d...
LiDAR Data Integrity Verification for Autonomous Vehicle Using 3D Data Hiding

Autonomous vehicle is becoming a complex cyberphysical system with many interfaces to the external world like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular, and vehicle to anything (v2x) networks. These interfaces open new attack surfaces that can put the onboard sensors used in autonomous driving at risk of internal and external cyber-attacks that are capable of manipulating the sensor data. Since the control algorithms that define the autonomous vehicle behavior rely on the data from these onboard sensors like LiDAR, camera and RADAR, failure to secure the sensor data could lead to erroneous decisions and may result in fatal accidents. In this paper, we propose a 3D QIM based data- hiding technique to secure the raw data from LiDAR sensor. The proposed technique detects the tampering of the LiDAR sensor data and also locates the tampered region. The evaluation of the proposed method on KITTI dataset showed that the method can successfully detect and localize insider data tampering attacks such as fake target insertion (FTI) and valid target deletion (VTD).
P52 A baseline review of the activity of the PICU pharmacists using electronically captured data

Aim To date there are no metrics for the clinical pharmacist service to PICU. It is accepted that use of a Clinical Information Management System (CIMS) has a role in medication safety,1 however there are few studies that review the information potential of a CIMS for collecting pharmacist activity.2 Method Additional fields and custom reports were configured in the CIMS to enable PICU pharmacists to record their activity in the following areas: Medicines reconciliation within 72 hours of admission to PICU Discharge kardex review Analgesia and sedation (A&S) review Clinical pharmacy review Other interventions & medication error reporting continued as per normal practice. Data was analysed using Microsoft Excel®. Results Complete data was available from July 2017 to end of 2018. There were 1274 medicines reconciliations by a pharmacist within 72 hours of admission (78% admissions). 14% of discharge kardexes had been reviewed prior to discharge to the ward. There was an average of 190 pharmacy reviews per 100 bed days. A total of 780 Pharmacist A&S Plans were documented by the clinical pharmacists – an average of 2 per working day, and 48% of admissions. Comparisons between each six month period showed a significant increase in the number of pharmacists medicines reconciliations (p Conclusion This study has shown that electronic tracking of pharmacist ward activity is possible. It has the potential to demonstrate compliance with external or internal standards and audits. This data continues to be collected, and therefore these results will be used as a baseline to compare future activity. The findings of this study may encourage other units to replicate, providing data that can be used for comparison. Further configuration of the CIMS to capture other metrics such as TDM, and document discrepancies in medicines reconciliation is planned. References Forni A, Chu H, Fanikos J. Technology Utilization to Prevent Medication Errors. Current Drug Safety. 2010;5:13–18. Nelson S, Poikonen J, Reese T, El Halta D, Weir C. The pharmacist and the EHR. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association. 2016;24:193–197. Health and Information Quality Authority. Guidance for health and social care providers; Principles of good practice in medication reconciliation. Dublin: HIQA; 2014
Active Scene Classification via Dynamically Learning Prototypical Views.

Scene classification is an important computer vision problem with applications to a wide range of domains including remote sensing, robotics, autonomous driving, defense, and surveillance. However, many approaches to scene classification make simplifying assumptions about the data, and many algorithms for scene classification are ill-suited for real-world use cases. Specifically, scene classification algorithms generally assume that the input data consists of single views that are extremely representative of a limited set of known scene categories. In real-world applications, such perfect data is rarely encountered. In this paper, we propose an approach for active scene classification where an agent must assign a label to the scene with high confidence while minimizing the number of sensor adjustments, and the agent is also embedded with the capability to dynamically update its underlying machine learning models. Specifically, we employ the Dynamic Data-Driven Applications Systems paradigm: our machine learning model drives the sensor manipulation, and the data captured by the manipulated sensor is used to update the machine learning model in a feedback control loop. Our approach is based on learning to identify prototypical views of scenes in a streaming setting.
Bullying and Youth with Disabilities and Special Health Needs: Victimizing Students with Physical, Emotional/Behavioral, and Learning Disorders

In Chap. 7, we discuss how and why youth with disabilities and special health needs are vulnerable to bullying at school. Research suggests that youth with learning and developmental disabilities are at an elevated risk of peer victimization. Youth with observable disabilities in segregated settings are more likely to be victimized by their peers without disabilities in school than those with non-observable disabilities. Psychosocial problems, such as depression and anxiety, are also factors related to the likelihood of being bullied at school. Depressed youth are more likely to be victimized by their peers than are children without a history of depression.
Newer Methods Drive Recent Insights into Rab GTPase Biology: An Overview.

The conserved Ypt/Rab GTPases regulate all major intracellular protein traffic pathways, including secretion, endocytosis and autophagy. These GTPases undergo distinct changes in conformation between their GTP- and GDP-bound forms and cycle between the cytoplasm and membranes with the aid of their upstream regulators. When activated on the membrane in the GTP-bound form, they recruit their downstream effectors, which include components of vesicular transport. Progress in the past 5 years regarding mechanisms of Rab action, functions, and the effects of disruption of these functions on the well-being of cells and organisms has been propelled by advances in methodologies in molecular and cellular biology. Here, we highlight methods used recently to analyze regulation, localization, interactions, and function of Rab GTPases and their roles in human disease. We discuss contributions of these methods to new insights into Rabs, as well as their future use in addressing open questions in the field of Rab biology.
“Here I was Obliged to Leave Off”: The Unfinished Business of Shelleyan Thought and the Errors of Completion

In the philosophical fragments of Percy Bysshe Shelley that have come to be called, after Mary Shelley’s posthumous designation, the “Speculations on Metaphysics,” Percy Shelley attempts to pursue ...