cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effect of melt‐flow properties of PVC plastisols during fusion cycle on flooring wear layer surface quality

A rheological test to characterize the melt in various vinyl coating resins in a flooring wear layer formulation shows that the surface quality (absence of orange-peel) of the resilient foamed flooring is associated with the viscoelastic nature of the wear layer resin during the cure cycle: Resins with high molecular weight of a sufficiently high melt viscosity showed no entrapment of air bubbles or tendency to orange-peel, while resins with low melt viscosity produced very severe orange-peel. Orange-peel is independent of the type of foam resin used. For a given formulation, the proper selection of wear layer resin or resin mixtures that will develop the desired hot melt strength to contain the gases given off by the decomposition of the blowing agent, will help to alleviate or minimize orange-peel.
Measures of Cortical Inhibition by Paired-Pulse Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Anesthetized Rats

Paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (ppTMS) is a noninvasive method to measure cortical inhibition in vivo. Long interpulse interval (50–500 ms) ppTMS (LI-ppTMS) provokes intracortical inhibitory circuits and can reveal pathologically impaired cortical inhibition in disorders such as epilepsy. Adaptation of ppTMS protocols to rodent disease models is highly desirable to facilitate basic and translational research. We previously adapted single-pulse TMS (spTMS) methods to rats, but ppTMS has yet to be applied. Specifically, whether ppTMS elicits an inhibitory response in rodents is unknown. ppTMS in rats also requires anesthesia, a setting under which the preservation of these measures is undetermined. We therefore tested, in anesthetized rats, whether anesthetic choice affects spTMS-motor-evoked potentials (MEPs), LI-ppTMS in rats, as in humans, elicits intracortical inhibition of the MEP, and rat LI-ppTMS inhibition is acutely impaired in a seizure model. Rats were anesthetized with pentobarbital (PB) or ketamine-atropine-xylazine (KAX) and stimulated unilaterally over the motor cortex while recording bilateral brachioradialis MEPs. LI-ppTMS was applied analogous to human long interval intracortical inhibition (LICI) protocols, and acute changes in inhibition were evaluated following injection of the convulsant pentylenetetrazole (PTZ). We find that spTMS-evoked MEPs were reliably present under either anesthetic, and that LI-ppTMS elicits inhibition of the conditioned MEP in rats, similar to human LICI, by as much as 58 ± 12 and 71 ± 11% under PB and KAX anesthesia, respectively. LI-ppTMS inhibition was reduced to as much as 53% of saline controls following PTZ injection, while spTMS-derived measures of corticospinal excitability were unchanged. Our data show that regional inhibition, similar to human LICI, is present in rats, can be elicited under PB or KAX anesthesia, and is reduced following convulsant administration. These results suggest a potential for LI-ppTMS as a biomarker of impaired cortical inhibition in murine disease models.
Intrapleural Streptokinase as Adjunctive Treatment for Persistent Empyema in Pediatric Patients

Successful treatment of persistent empyema by intrapleural streptokinase is described in five pediatric patients. Their ages ranged from 18 months to 7 years. All experienced dramatic improvement in the resolution of their empyemas following intrapleural streptokinase. Improved chest tube drainage occurred concurrently with clinical improvement. Intrapleural instillation of streptokinase appears to be a safe adjunctive therapeutic tool to facilitate drainage of persistent empyema in the small number of pediatric patients in whom it has been employed. Additional study will be required to further assess the long-term therapeutic efficacy and consequences of intrapleural streptokinase therapy.
Should the neural-mechanical behaviour of a muscle be coupled or co-vary?

muscle (FDI) of the hand. By using this particular muscle, the authors were able to circumvent many of the limitations traditionally associated with making the neural‐mechanical comparisons at joints controlled by many muscles. The results from that study led the authors to conclude that the neural drive to the FDI muscle and the mechanical advantage of the muscle are coupled when the thumb changes position. The remainder of this note will focus on the impact of the study and the interpretation of the results, specifically with regard to whether the neural drive to the muscle and the muscle mechanics should co-vary or be coupled when performing motor tasks. The study by Hudson et al. (2009) recorded end-point forces produced (i) by ulnar nerve stimulation and (ii) during static index finger flexion efforts, with the thumb positioned in a number of ‘thumb up’ and ‘thumb down’ postures. Although a seemingly minor postural adjustment, ulnar nerve stimulation resulted in a 60% larger end-point twitch force in the thumb down position compared to thumb up. Furthermore, ultrasound results indicated that, relative to thumb up, the thumb down posture caused a 65% increase in the distance between the FDI tendon and the lateral tubercle of the second metacarpal, which was used to estimate FDI moment arm magnitude. Thus, the mechanical advantage for FDI force transmission across the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint was significantly increased with the thumb down, regardless of muscle force. Based on the mechanics, end-point force is directly proportional to the MCP joint torque, via the geometric configuration of the system. In other words, sincetheindexfingerwassplintedandMCP jointangleremainedconstant,momentarm magnitude was the main geometric factor determining how effectively FDI muscle force was transformed into end-point force. The end-point forces generated by supramaximal ulnar nerve stimulation (i.e. constant neural input) illustrate the proportionality between MCP joint torque and end-point force (a 65% increase in moment arm → 60% increase in end-point force). However, the mechanics are only one aspect of generating joint torques. Can, or does, the central nervous system
Prediction suppression in monkey inferotemporal cortex depends on the conditional probability between images

When monkeys view two images in fixed sequence repeatedly over days and weeks, neurons in area TE of the inferotemporal cortex come to exhibit prediction suppression. The trailing image elicits only a weak response when presented following the leading image that preceded it during training. Induction of prediction suppression might depend either on the contiguity of the images, as determined by their co-occurrence and captured in the measure of joint probability P(A,B), or on their contingency, as determined by their correlation and as captured in the measures of conditional probability P(A|B) and P(B|A). To distinguish between these possibilities, we measured prediction suppression after imposing training regimens that held P(A,B) constant but varied P(A|B) and P(B|A). We found that reducing either P(A|B) or P(B|A) during training attenuated prediction suppression as measured during subsequent testing. We conclude that prediction suppression depends on contingency, as embodied in the predictive relations between the images, and not just on contiguity, as embodied in their co-occurrence.
On the Nerlove Estimate of Supply Elasticity: A Reply

In a recent paper in the Journal of Farm Economics, Zvi Griliches has adapted the work of H. Theil on specification errors to the analysis of specification bias in estimates of production functions.' The Theil-Griliches analysis applies directly to the problem which Brandow is discussing, and its use in this context leads to somewhat more rigorous conclusions than Brandow has presented. Consider the general least-squares multiple regression problem
Antireflux surgery for symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux: mechanism of action.

To determine the effects of Nissen fundoplication upon the symptoms of reflux and the diagnostic tests employed to evaluate reflux and to examine the relationship between gastroesophageal reflux and lower esophageal sphincter pressure before and after fundoplication, 10 patients with symptomatic reflux were studied before and after operation. Clinical evaluation, barium esophagography, endoscopy with mucosal biopsy, esophageal manometry, acid-perfusion and acid-reflux testing, and gastroesophageal scintiscanning were performed on each patient before and after surgery. Following fundoplication, marked symptomatic, radiographic, endoscopic, and histologic improvement was observed. Serial acid-reflux tests at increasing gastroesophageal pressure gradients returned to normal after surgery. Lower-esophageal-sphincter (LES) pressure increased from 8.2±1.3 to 12.0±1.5 mm Hg (P<0.01). In addition, surgery resulted in a significant decrease in the gastroesophageal reflux index from 17.4±2.4 to 2.7±1.1% (P<0.001). Surprisingly, the pre- and postoperative resting LES pressures did not correlate significantly with corresponding gastroesophageal reflux indices for individual patients. We conclude that increased LES pressure alone does not explain adequately the functional and clinical improvement which follows fundoplication.
1 H, 13 C and 15 N resonance assignments and secondary structure analysis of translation initiation factor 1 from Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a Gram-negative opportunistic pathogen and a primary cause of infection in humans. P. aeruginosa can acquire resistance against multiple groups of antimicrobial agents, including β-lactams, aminoglycosides and fluoroquinolones, and multidrug resistance is increasing in this organism which makes treatment of the infections difficult and expensive. This has led to the unmet need for discovery of new compounds distinctly different from present antimicrobials. Protein synthesis is an essential metabolic process and a validated target for the development of new antibiotics. Translation initiation factor 1 from P. aeruginosa (Pa-IF1) is the smallest of the three initiation factors that acts to establish the 30S initiation complex to initiate translation during protein biosynthesis, and its structure is unknown. Here we report the (1)H, (13)C and (15)N chemical shift assignments of Pa-IF1 as the basis for NMR structure determination and interaction studies. Secondary structure analyses deduced from the NMR chemical shift data have identified five β-strands with an unusually extended β-strand at the C-terminal end of the protein and one short α-helix arranged in the sequential order β1-β2-β3-α1-β4-β5. This is further supported by (15)N-{(1)H} hetero NOEs. These secondary structure elements suggest the Pa-IF1 adopts the typical β-barrel structure and is composed of an oligomer-binding motif.
Anisotropic Electron Transport in Cu/Al Multilayers

We have measured the anisotropy of the electron difTusivity in a series of Cu/Al multilayers. The Samples were made by magnetron sputtering and characterized by X-Ray diffraction. The low temperature transverse magnetoresistance of each sample was measured for two different orientations of the magnetic field—parallel and perpendicular to the plane of the sample film. The Weak Localization(WL) contribution to the magnetoresistance is sensitive to the component of the electron diffusivity in a plane perpendicular to the magnetic field. We use this fact to calculate the ratio of different components of the diffusivity from the observed dependence of magnetoresistance on the orientation of magnetic field. For our samples, the ratio of the in and out of plane components of the diffusivity, (Dxy/Dz), is seen to range between 1 and 2.2, and the anisotropy is largest for the sample with the highest conductivity.
Distribution of alpha glyceryl ethers in animal tissues.

SummaryA method is described for determination of lipid alpha glyceryl ethers in animal tissues. Purified tissue lipid extracts are hydrolyzed and the lipid soluble fraction of the hydrolysate is fractionated on a silicic acid column. The glyceryl ether fraction is oxidized with periodic acid and the formaldehyde formed is determined colorimetrically. The alpha glyceryl ethers are a minor component of all of the tissues examined except bone marrow. The tissues other than bone marrow range in content from 0.20 to 1.35 micromoles per gram of dry lipid-free tissue and from 0.002 to 0.010 molar ratio to lipid phosphorus.
Active Asteroids in the NEO Population

Some main-belt asteroids evolve into near-Earth objects. They can then experience the same meteoroid-producing phenomena as active asteroids in the main belt. If so, they would produce meteoroid streams, some of which evolve to intersect Earth's orbit and produce meteor showers at Earth. Only few of those are known. Meteoroid streams that move in orbits with Tisserand parameter well in excess of 3 are the Geminids and Daytime Sextantids of the Phaethon complex and the lesser known epsilon Pegasids. The observed activity appears to be related to nearly whole scale disintegrations, rather than dust ejection from volatile outgassing as observed in active comets. There is only a small population of asteroids with a main-belt origin that recently disintegrated into meteoroid streams.
Winter Survival of the Boll Weevil in the High and Rolling Plains of Texas

Cage studies of the overwintering ability of Anthonomus grandis Boheman showed that higher percentages of individuals reared on cotton bolls survived the winter than did individuals reared on squares or a cottonseed meal diet, or adults collected from the field. The time during the fall that boll weevils were placed into over-wintering cages did not affect the time of emergence in the spring. However, boll weevils installed in cages between Oct. 15 and Nov. 3 had higher survival rates than weevils installed earlier or later. Peak boll weevil emergence occurred in mid-May.
Solution for secondorder constant-coefficient non-homogeneous liner differential equation

There are only two solving process for secondorder constantcoefficient nonhomogeneous liner differential equation while the freeterm have two special for(namely f(x)=eλxPm(x) or f(x)=eαx)in the higher mathematics teaching material of engineering course. This paper gives the general solution formula of the above differential equation while the freeterm is a general continuous function f(x), using coefficientvariation and subsection integral. The coefficientvariation is more general than the undeterminedcoefficientvariation, it needn't discuss the form of function f(x) when supposing the special solution.
Business process innovation for professional librarly undar the environment of Internet

The paper has analyzed the major existing problems of professional library under the environment of the network,and pointed out that we should reengineer the business process of the library,so that we can implement active information service.
cAMP activation of chloride and fluid secretion across the rabbit alveolar epithelium

Active Na+ transport by alveolar epithelial cells has been demonstrated to contribute significantly to alveolar fluid clearance. However, the contribution of transepithelial Cl− movement to the rea...
Case Study: Effect of on-farm dairy Beef Quality Assurance training on selected welfare-related and Beef Quality Assurance–related traits in lactating dairy cows

ABSTRACT This pilot study evaluated the effect of on-farm Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) training on welfare- and BQA-related traits in dairy cows and determined practices in place on dairy farms that negatively affected dairy cow welfare and BQA. Twelve dairies participated, with 4 in each category: small (1 to 199 cows); medium (200 to 1,499 cows); and large (1,500 cows or more). Two dairies in each category received BQA training. During 2 visits (before and after training) a survey was administered to identify management practices in place that concern dairy cow welfare and BQA, and an attempt was made to evaluate every lactating cow for BCS and locomotion score. The number of measures in place to avoid residues in the food supply was greater for milk than for meat (3.4 vs. 1.9; P
Investigation of Polymer-Surfactant and Polymer-Drug-Surfactant Miscibility for Solid Dispersion

In a solid dispersion (SD), the drug is generally dispersed either molecularly or in the amorphous state in polymeric carriers, and the addition of a surfactant is often important to ensure drug release from such a system. The objective of this investigation was to screen systematically polymer-surfactant and polymer-drug-surfactant miscibility by using the film casting method. Miscibility of the crystalline solid surfactant, poloxamer 188, with two commonly used amorphous polymeric carriers, Soluplus® and HPMCAS, was first studied. Then, polymer-drug-surfactant miscibility was determined using itraconazole as the model drug, and ternary phase diagrams were constructed. The casted films were examined by DSC, PXRD and polarized light microscopy for any crystallization or phase separation of surfactant, drug or both in freshly prepared films and after exposure to 40°C/75% RH for 7, 14, and 30 days. The miscibility of poloxamer 188 with Soluplus® was <10% w/w, while its miscibility with HPMCAS was at least 30% w/w. Although itraconazole by itself was miscible with Soluplus® up to 40% w/w, the presence of poloxamer drastically reduced its miscibility to <10%. In contrast, poloxamer 188 had minimal impact on HPMCAS-itraconazole miscibility. For example, the phase diagram showed amorphous miscibility of HPMCAS, itraconazole, and poloxamer 188 at 54, 23, and 23% w/w, respectively, even after exposure to 40°C/75% RH for 1 month. Thus, a relatively simple and practical method of screening miscibility of different components and ultimately physical stability of SD is provided. The results also identify the HPMCAS-poloxamer 188 mixture as an optimal surface-active carrier system for SD.
[Occupational hazards survey of specially supervised enterprises during 2011-2012 in one district of Shenzhen, China].

Objective To analyze the results of an occupational hazards survey of specially supervised enterprises (156 enterprise-times) during 2011-2012 in one district of Shenzhen,China and find out the changes in occupational hazards in these enterprises,and to put forward countermeasures for the prevention and control of occupational hazards.Methods Occupational hazards monitoring results for specially supervised enterprises (156 enterprise-times) during 2011-2012 were included.Comparison and analysis were performed between different years,different industries,different occupational hazards,and different sizes of enterprises.Results A total of 1274 monitoring sites from these specially supervised enterprises were included,of which qualification rate was 73.55％ (937/1274),and the noise monitoring sites showed the lowest qualification rate.The overall qualification rate in 2012 (70.37％) was significantly lower than that in 2011 (80.94％) (x2=15.38,P＜0.01).In electronics industry,the qualification rate in 2012 was significantly lower than that in 2011 (x2=11.27,P=0.001).Comparison of various hazards in different industries indicated that electronic enterprises and furniture enterprises had the lowest qualification rate in noise monitoring,printing enterprises had the lowest qualification rate in organic solvent monitoring,and furniture enterprises had the lowest qualification rate in dust monitoring.Comparison between different sizes of enterprises indicated that the qualification rate of large and medium enterprises in 2012 was significantly lower than that in 2011,while the qualification rate of small enterprises in 2012 was significantly higher than that in 2011 (P＜0.01 or P＜0.05).Conclusion In the prevention and control of occupational hazards in specially supervised enterprises,special attention should be paid to the control of organic solvents in printing enterprises and noise and dust in furniture enterprises. Key words: Specially supervised enterprise; Occupational hazards; Monitoring
Competitive exclusion in evolutionary time; the case of the acorn barnacles

Barnacles living along rocky shores provide the classic example of competitive dominance in the marine ecosystem: by means of firm attachment and rapid growth, balanoid barnacles commonly undercut and overgrow the genus Chthamalus, which is thereby restricted to the upper fringe of the intertidal zone, where balanoids are physiologically incapable of living. Today, after perhaps less than 50 Myr of evolution, balanoid barnacles are in the midst of rampant adaptive radiation, being represented by about 273 species, of which about half are free-living species of intertidal or shallow subtidal habitats. Chthamaloid barnacles, in contrast, are on the decline, having originated at least 70 Myr ago but today comprising only about 53 living species, approximately 40 of which occupy the uppermost intertidal. The remainder persist as localized, relict, and often disjunct populations. Through competitive exclusion, balanoid barnacles have apparently caused the ecological restriction and decline of the chthamaloids. The balanoids have an advanced feeding mechanism, but the most important adaptive breakthrough leading to their competitive success was probably the origin of a tubiferous wall structure, which affords rapid skeletal growth for the efficient monopolization of free space and for the destruction of chthamaloids.
CHAPTER 13 – Physiologic Actions of PTH and PTHrP: I. Skeletal Actions

This chapter discusses effects of Parathyroid hormone (PTH) and a PTH-related protein (PTHrP) on the biochemistry and metabolism of bone. In view of the anabolic effects of PTH and PTHrP, evidence for a proliferative effect on osteoblast precursors is sought. Administration of PTH in vivo does not increase Messenger Ribonucleic acid (mRNA) for the proliferation marker histone H4. PTH and PTHrP increase bone resorption by stimulating both the appearance of new osteoclasts and the activity of existing osteoclasts. Both the stimulation of osteoclastogenesis and the activation of the mature osteoclast appear to require the participation of stromal cells or osteoblasts. Osteoclasts are not shown to possess high-affinity PTH/PTHrP receptors, although several groups have identified low-affinity receptors. It appears that the effects of PTH are mediated by increased expression of the cytokine on the cell surface of stromal cells. The precise target cell in the osteoblast lineage that is responsible for mediating the bone resorbing effects of PTH and PTHrP are not identified, but various marrow stromal cell lines will suffice in vitro and bone resorption is still active when mature osteoblasts have been ablated.
Analysis of the Current Indications for Microfracture of Chondral Lesions in the Hip Joint: Response.

Background:Data on the efficacy of microfracture for treatment of chondral defects in the hip are currently limited, and the recommended criteria for its use (minimal osteoarthritis; a focal, contained lesion <4 cm2 in size) have been taken from those that were established for the knee.Purpose:To determine if the current microfracture (ie, knee) criteria are appropriate for chondral lesions in the hip.Study Design:Case series; Level of evidence, 4.Methods:Seventy patients who had hip arthroscopy and 2 years of follow-up after treatment of labral tears and cam and pincer bony deformities, as well as microfracture of full-thickness chondral defects, are the basis of this study. The size and location of the chondral defects were recorded on each patient’s “hip sheet” and operative note at the time of hip arthroscopy and were confirmed from intraoperative photographs. The chondral defects were debrided and microfractured regardless of their size. All hips were assessed with the 100-point modified Harris Hip S...
Design and Synthesis of Dynorphin A-(1–11) Analogs with C-Terminal Modifications and Evaluation of their Opioid Activity

Dynorphin A (Dyn A) is a natural kappa opioid receptor (κ) agonist that contains a characteristic tetrapeptide sequence Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe at the N-terminus termed the “message” sequence, followed by a unique C-terminal sequence termed the “address” [1]. The message sequence is proposed to confer opioid activity, whereas the address sequence is thought to impart high affinity for κ opioid receptors. However, the structural and conformational requirements for antagonist activity as opposed to agonist activity are not clear from the structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies of Dyn A.
Nitric Oxide Regulation of H-NOX Signaling Pathways in Bacteria

Nitric oxide (NO) is a freely diffusible, radical gas that has now been established as an integral signaling molecule in eukaryotes and bacteria. It has been demonstrated that NO signaling is initiated upon ligation to the heme iron of an H-NOX domain in mammals and in some bacteria. Bacterial H-NOX proteins have been found to interact with enzymes that participate in signaling pathways and regulate bacterial processes such as quorum sensing, biofilm formation, and symbiosis. Here, we review the biochemical characterization of these signaling pathways and, where available, describe how ligation of NO to H-NOX specifically regulates the activity of these pathways and their associated bacterial phenotypes.
Trade, Politics, and the Poor: Is Sen Right and Bhagwati Wrong?

The current debate between two of the world’s finest economists—Amartya Sen and Jagdish Bhagwati—has not only roiled India but also attracted global attention. Is trade liberalization associated with improved welfare outcomes for the poor, as Bhagwati contends? Or is Sen correct that policymakers in liberalizing economies need to change their governance priorities to focus on redistribution? This analysis draws on existing literature to develop testable hypotheses that attempt to resolve the Sen–Bhagwati divide. Using fixed effect panel regressions and simultaneous equation models, we find that although there is empirical support for both arguments, the results on balance favor Sen: The positive relationship between trade and improved poverty is conditional upon more equitable distributions of income. In effect, Bhagwati’s predictions about the beneficial impacts of openness on social welfare occur only in a subset of developing nations, findings which have very different implications for the poor in developing countries.
Horses in the cloud; big data exploration and mining of fossil and extant Equus (Mammalia, Equidae)

Abstract. Extant species of the genus Equus (e.g., horses, asses, and zebras) have a widespread distribution today on all continents except Antarctica. Extinct species of Equus represented by fossils were likewise widely distributed in the Pliocene and even more so during the Pleistocene. In order to understand the efficacy of “big data” for (paleo)biogeographic analyses, location records (latitude, longitude) and fossil occurrences for the genus Equus were mined and further explored from six databases, including iDigBio, Paleobiology Database, VertNet, BISON, Neotoma, and GBIF. These were chosen from a priori knowledge of where relevant data might be aggregated. We also realized that these databases have different objectives and data sources and therefore would provide a useful comparative study of the widespread taxon Equus in space and time. The mining of Equus data from these six sources yielded a combined total of 123.8 K location records, including 116.2K fossil specimens. These include individual p...
Is a Routine Chest X-ray Necessary in Every Patient After Percutaneous CT-Guided Lung Biopsy? A Retrospective Review of 278 Cases.

To determine the rate, clinical significance, and predictors of delayed pneumothorax after CT-guided lung biopsy. Medical and imaging records of all patients who underwent CT-guided lung biopsy between January 1, 2012, and January 9, 2015, were reviewed. “Early pneumothorax” was defined as one visualized on CT scan at the time of biopsy, “delayed pneumothorax” as one discovered on the first follow-up chest X-ray (CXR), and “clinically significant pneumothorax” as one requiring chest tube placement. Three hundred fifty-seven lung biopsies were performed; 79 patients did not have follow-up CXR and were excluded. Out of 278 cases included in the study, early pneumothorax occurred in 109 patients. Follow-up CXRs were available in the remaining 169 patients without early pneumothorax and were obtained 3.1 ± 2.9 h after biopsy. The rate of delayed pneumothorax was 8.6% (24/278). Clinically significant pneumothorax occurred in 10/24 (41.7%) patients with delayed pneumothorax, including one case of tension pneumothorax. Patients with delayed pneumothorax (n = 24) had smaller lesion long axial diameter (18.58 ± 9.84 vs 25.83 ± 17.69 mm, p = 0.005), longer intrapulmonary needle tract (23.45 ± 14.98 vs 14.17 ± 14.49, p = 0.004), and lower FEV1/FVC ratio (53.30 ± 22.47 vs 71.15 ± 13.77, p = 0.015), compared to those without delayed pneumothorax (n = 145). The length of intrapulmonary needle tract was the only independent predictor of delayed pneumothorax (p = 0.008) and symptomatic delayed pneumothorax (p = 0.019). Obtaining a routine follow-up CXR in all patients after CT-guided lung biopsy appears warranted, given the high rate of delayed pneumothorax and large percentage of patients who will require a chest tube. The only independent predictor of (symptomatic) delayed pneumothorax was the length of intrapulmonary needle tract.
Analysis of the effects of connected-automated vehicle technologies on travel demand

Connected–automated vehicle (CAV) technologies are likely to have significant effects not only on how vehicles operate in the transportation system, but also on how individuals behave and use their vehicles. While many CAV technologies—such as connected adaptive cruise control and ecosignals—have the potential to increase network throughput and efficiency, many of these same technologies have a secondary effect of reducing driver burden, which can drive changes in travel behavior. Such changes in travel behavior—in effect, lowering the cost of driving—have the potential to increase greatly the utilization of the transportation system with concurrent negative externalities, such as congestion, energy use, and emissions, working against the positive effects on the transportation system resulting from increased capacity. To date, few studies have analyzed the potential effects on CAV technologies from a systems perspective; studies often focus on gains and losses to an individual vehicle, at a single interse...
Beyond Profit and Politics: Reciprocity and the Role of For-Profit Business

Standard accounts of reciprocal citizenship hold that citizens have a duty to participate in politics. Against this, several business ethicists and philosophers have recently argued that people can satisfy their obligations of civic reciprocity non-politically, by owning, managing, or working in for-profit businesses. In this article, I reject both the standard and the market accounts of reciprocal citizenship. Against the market view, I show that the ordinary work of profit maximization cannot take the place of traditional political activity. Yet contra the standard political account, I show that a special class of the actions we perform in our work as employers and employees in for-profit companies can fulfill our obligations of reciprocity. Business ethicists must therefore develop a more nuanced account of the relationship between for-profit business endeavors and the debts we owe fellow citizens who undertake burdensome political work to our benefit.
Evaluating Nurse Practitioners Perceived Knowledge, Competence, and Comfort Level in Caring for the Sexually Abused Child.

Objective The purpose of this project was to evaluate nurse practitioners' (NPs') current approach and self-reported competence in the care of the sexually abused child in the primary care setting. Methods A 50-question survey was distributed to 5,734 NPs who were members of a state nursing organization and nursing alumni. Inclusion criteria included NPs caring for pediatric patients in a primary care setting in New York State. Results A total of N = 325 responses were obtained, and 110 participants met the inclusion criteria. Very few NPs felt competent to perform a medical forensic examination on a sexually abused child (25.5%), and even fewer felt competent to render a definitive opinion on sexual abuse (17.3%) or to testify in court (12.7%). Most NPs felt the need for more training on child sexual abuse (78.2%). Most would prefer to refer children who are suspected of sexual abuse to an expert (77.3%), but very few (19.1%) are being referred to a local resource, like a Child Advocacy Center when a parent calls the office with a concern. Conclusion More research is needed to evaluate clinical practices regarding child sexual abuse. NPs see value in pursuing specialist referrals for child sexual abuse but do not have access to the appropriate resources or are unaware of the availability within their community. Practice implications NPs should be aware of their own limitations and seek out education to improve their knowledge and skills. Forensic nurses are ideally situated to provide education on the available resources and the recommended clinical guidelines for referral.
Thermodynamic properties of CaCO 3 –SrCO 3 –BaCO 3 liquids: a molecular dynamics study using new empirical atomic potentials for alkaline earth carbonates

Thermodynamic modeling offers a powerful framework for studying melting reactions of carbonated mantle systems across a wide range of compositions, pressures, and temperatures. Such modeling requires knowledge of the standard state thermodynamic properties of the pure alkaline earth carbonate liquid components, which are difficult to determine experimentally due to their instability at 1 bar. Atomistic simulations offer a solution to these experimental difficulties by providing access to metastable states and supplying constraints on thermodynamic properties. We developed an empirically-derived potential model for the simulation of alkaline earth carbonates (MgCO3, CaCO3, SrCO3 and BaCO3), emphasizing the accurate simulation of the standard state thermodynamic properties of carbonate liquids. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of liquids in the CaCO3–SrCO3–BaCO3 system are performed over a geologically relevant temperature–pressure range (1100–3400 K and 0–43 GPa). Simulation data for each of these three components (up to a maximum of 2300 K and 30 GPa) are fitted to a temperature-dependent third-order Birch–Murnaghan equation-of-state to estimate their standard state thermodynamic properties. With a few exceptions, calculated properties agree well with available estimates from experiments and/or first-principles MD simulations. Exploration of binary mixtures supports ideal mixing of volumes, heat capacities, and compressibilities, reflecting the common liquid structure and pressure–temperature evolution for these three components. The success of this new model for CaCO3–SrCO3–BaCO3 liquids suggests that it can accurately predict the properties of MgCO3-bearing liquids, where experimental data are unavailable.
Enhancing radioiodine (RAI) incorporation into BRAFV600E-mutant, RAI-refractory thyroid cancers with the BRAF inhibitor vemurafenib: A pilot study.

6099Background: For patients with radioactive iodine (RAI)-refractory, recurrent/metastatic thyroid cancer, treatment entails indefinite exposure to tyrosine kinase inhibitors and their associated ...
More than one in three proxies do not know their loved one's current code status: An observational study in a Maryland ICU.

Rationale The majority of ICU patients lack decision-making capacity at some point during their ICU stay. However the extent to which proxy decision-makers are engaged in decisions about their patient’s care is challenging to quantify. Objectives To assess 1)whether proxies know their patient’s actual code status as recorded in the electronic medical record (EMR), and 2)whether code status orders reflect ICU patient preferences as reported by proxy decision-makers. Methods We enrolled proxy decision-makers for 96 days starting January 4, 2016. Proxies were asked about the patient’s goals of care, preferred code status, and actual code status. Responses were compared to code status orders in the EMR at the time of interview. Characteristics of patients and proxies who correctly vs incorrectly identified actual code status were compared, as were characteristics of proxies who reported a preferred code status that did vs did not match actual code status. Measurements and main results Among 111 proxies, 42 (38%) were incorrect or unsure about the patient’s actual code status and those who were correct vs. incorrect or unsure were similar in age, race, and years of education (P>0.20 for all comparisons). Twenty-nine percent reported a preferred code status that did not match the patient’s code status in the EMR. Matching preferred and actual code status was not associated with a patient’s age, gender, income, admission diagnosis, or subsequent in-hospital mortality or with proxy age, gender, race, education level, or relation to the patient (P>0.20 for all comparisons). Conclusions More than 1 in 3 proxies is incorrect or unsure about their patient’s actual code status and more than 1 in 4 proxies reported that a preferred code status that did not match orders in the EMR. Proxy age, race, gender and education level were not associated with correctly identifying code status or code status concordance.
Effect of Chronic Low Back Pain and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder on the Risk for Separation from the US Army.

INTRODUCTION Co-morbid post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and low back pain (LBP) are common reasons for increased disability in the Veteran communities. Medical discharge from the military represents a considerable financial cost to society. Little is currently known about the impact of LBP and PTSD as longitudinal risk factors for medical discharge from Active Duty military service. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective analysis of US Army Active Duty Soldiers from 2002 to 2012 was performed to determine the risk for medical discharge. Four levels of exposure for were identified as independent variables: no chronic LBP or PTSD, chronic LBP only, PTSD only, and co-morbid PTSD present with chronic LBP. Statistical analysis utilized modified Poisson regression controlling for sex, age, rank, time in service, deployment, mental health, sleep disorders, alcohol use, tobacco use, obesity, and military occupation. This study was approved by a Department of Defense Institutional Review Board. RESULTS After controlling for potential confounding variables, the RR for chronic LBP and PTSD independently was 3.65 (95% CI: 3.59-3.72) and 3.64 (95% CI: 3.53-3.75), respectively, and 5.17 (95% CI: 5.01-5.33) when both were present. CONCLUSIONS This is the first study to identify a history of both chronic LBP and PTSD as substantial risk factors for medical discharge from the US Army. PTSD and chronic LBP may mutually reinforce one another and deplete active coping strategies, making Soldiers less likely to be able to continue military service. Future research should target therapies for co-morbid PTSD and chronic LBP as these conditions contribute a substantial increase in risk of medical discharge from the US Army.
The Integration of Computer Technology in Small Businesses

In an effort to more fullv understand the use of computers and information technology in the small business sector, a survey was conducted of small business owners in the state of South Carolina. Based on this survey, the present study investigates the extent of computer and information technology integration in small businesses, identifies the major computer applications used by small business, and explores the use of e-mail and Internet technology by small businesses. The authors conclude that small business owners do not sufficiently take advantage of computers and information technology for either operational or strategic assistance, or for comunications and promotion.
Therapeutic potential of commercially-available cannabidiol oil for Alzheimer's disease using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease linked to loss of cognitive and motor abilities. The neurodegeneration is thought to be caused, in part, by the accumulation of Aβ peptides i...
Exploring the Relationship of Transdiagnostic Mood and Psychosis Symptom Domains with Motor Dysfunction

Background A number of motor abnormalities have been reported in psychotic disorders, including dyskinesia and psychomotor slowing. There is also evidence for many of the same motor abnormalities in biological first-degree relatives and accruing evidence for motor abnormalities in bipolar disorder. In addition to motor dysfunction, there are also shared symptom domains amongst these populations. Objectives We explored the associations of (1) current and lifetime psychosis and mood symptom domains and (2) domains of psychosis proneness with various domains of motor function in a transdiagnostic sample (n = 149). Method Individuals with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or bipolar disorder, biological first-degree relatives of individuals with a psychotic disorder, and controls completed measures of psychomotor speed and movement fluidity, and neural activity related to motor preparation (stimulus-locked lateralized readiness potential, S-LRP) and execution (response-locked LRP) was assessed using EEG. All participants completed the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale; patients were additionally assessed for lifetime psychosis and mood episode symptoms, and relatives and controls completed the Chapman psychosis proneness scales. Results Multiple regression revealed levels of current negative symptoms and mania were significantly positively associated with psychomotor slowing even after accounting for current antipsychotic medication dosage and duration of illness. S-LRP onset latency was significantly positively associated with magical ideation. Conclusion Domains of motor function are associated with various mood and psychosis symptom domains in a transdiagnostic sample, which may provide insight into brain abnormalities relevant to the expression of symptoms across disorders.
Intracranial Hypertension Following Gunshot Wound to the Torcula: Case Report and Literature Review.

Background Elevation of bone for the treatment of depressed skull fractures overlying venous sinuses is rarely required or performed. The neurosurgical literature only describes a handful of cases of surgical intervention in which the posterior two-thirds of the superior sagittal sinus was involved. Clinical course is variable, signs and symptoms suggest increased intracranial pressure, and all conservative measures should be exhausted before proceeding with the surgical route. Case Description A 27-year-old man presented with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to posterior head. On presentation, there were no neurologic complaints. On imaging, the bullet fragment was associated with a comminuted anteriorly displaced fracture over the torcula. Vessel imaging showed tapering of the superior sagittal sinus and transverse sinuses near the torcula, suggesting narrowing due to mass effect. The patient did not respond to initial conservative management and developed worsening diplopia and papilledema concerning for increased intracranial pressure. Occipital/suboccipital craniectomy was performed with elevation of depressed skull fracture, decompression of dural venous sinus, removal of bullet, and mesh cranioplasty. Repeat ophthalmology examination postoperatively showed improvement in optic disc edema and diplopia. Conslusions This case confirms that the approach of surgical management of superior sagittal venous sinus injuries associated with skull fractures described in the literature also can be used successfully for injuries over the torcula if conservative management does not help alleviate the symptoms and results in good outcome. It was felt that delayed surgery also plays an important role, as it gives time for scar tissue to form, which may help to protect the sinus from injury during surgery.
Recharacterizing Scientific Phenomena

In this paper, I investigate how researchers evaluate their characterizations of scientific phenomena. Characterizing phenomena is an important – albeit often overlooked – aspect of scientific research, as phenomena are targets of explanation and theorization. As a result, there is a lacuna in the literature regarding how researchers determine whether their characterization of a target phenomenon is appropriate for their aims. This issue has become apparent for accounts of scientific explanation that take phenomena to be explananda. In particular, philosophers who endorse mechanistic explanation suggest that the discovery of the mechanisms that explain a phenomenon can lead to its recharacterization. However, they fail to make clear how these explanations provide warrant for recharacterizing their explananda phenomena. Drawing from cases of neurobiological research on potentiation phenomena, I argue that attempting to explain a phenomenon may provide reason to suspend judgment about its characterization, but this cannot provide warrant to recharacterize it if researchers cannot infer a phenomenon’s characteristics from this explanation. To explicate this, I go beyond explanation – mechanistic or otherwise – to analyze why and how researchers change their epistemic commitments in light of new evidence.
Kidney replacement therapy in pediatric patients on mechanical circulatory support: challenges for the pediatric nephrologist

The use of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) therapies in children with medically refractory cardiac failure has increased over the past two decades. With the growing experience and expertise, MCS is currently offered as a bridge to recovery or heart transplantation and in some cases even as destination therapy. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common in patients with end-stage heart failure (ESHF). When severe AKI develops requiring kidney replacement therapy (KRT), these patients present unique challenges for the pediatric nephrology team. The use of KRT has not been adequately described in children with ESHF on the newer MCS. We also present original case series data from our center experience. The purpose of this review is to familiarize the reader with the current MCS technologies, approach to their selection, how they interact when combined with current KRT circuits, and distinguish similarities and differences. We will attempt to highlight the distinctive features of each technology, specifically focusing on growing trends in use of continuous-flow ventricular assist devices (CF-VAD) as it poses additional challenges to the pediatric nephrologist.