cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Handlungswerkzeug: Die 7-Schritte-Methodik

Schritt 1 – Den Kopf heben und den Blick nach ausen richten Schritt 2 – Das Problem erkennen Schritt 3 – „Komplex“ oder „nicht komplex“ bestimmen Schritt 4 – VUKA-Audit Schritt 5 – Die Mannschaft finden („Team Flow“) Schritt 6 – Ein Labor aufsetzen und ein Experiment durchfuhren Schritt 7 – Iteration und Adaption anwenden
Developing and Sustaining a Career as a Transdisciplinary Nurse Scientist.

Purpose The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of strategies to build and sustain a career as a nurse scientist. This article examines how to integrate technologies and precision approaches into clinical practice, research, and education of the next generation of nursing scholars. Design This article presents information for shaping a sustainable transdisciplinary career. Programs of research that utilize self-management to improve quality of life are discussed throughout the article. The ongoing National Institute of Nursing Research-funded (R01 grant) iPhone Helping Evaluate Atrial Fibrillation Rhythm through Technology (iHEART) study is the first prospective, randomized controlled trial to evaluate whether electrocardiographic monitoring with the AliveCor™ device in the real-world setting will improve the time to detection and treatment of recurrent atrial fibrillation over a 6-month period as compared to usual cardiac care. Methods Opportunities to sustain a career as a nurse scientist and build programs of transdisciplinary research are identified. These opportunities are focused within the area of research and precision medicine. Findings Nurse scientists have the potential and ability to shape their careers and become essential members of transdisciplinary partnerships. Exposure to clinical research, expert mentorship, and diverse training opportunities in different areas are essential to ensure that contributions to nursing science are visible through publications and presentations as well as through securing grant funding to develop and maintain programs of research. Conclusions Transcending boundaries and different disciplines, nurses are essential members of many diverse teams. Clinical relevance Nurse scientists are strengthening research approaches, clinical care, and communication and improving health outcomes while also building and shaping the next generation of nurse scientists.
A review of abusive behaviors at work: The development of a process model for studying abuse

We develop an overarching conceptual model of abuse based on the literature and discuss common antecedents and consequences of workplace abuse. We examine numerous conceptualizations of workplace a...
Brain image registration using cortically constrained harmonic mappings

Volumetric registration of brains is required for inter-subject studies of functional and anatomical data. Intensity-driven registration typically results in some degree of misalignment of cortical and gyral folds. Increased statistical power in group studies may be achieved through improved alignment of cortical areas by using sulcal landmarks. In this paper we describe a new volumetric registration method in which cortical surfaces and sulcal landmarks are accurately aligned. We first compute a one-to-one map between the two cortical surfaces constrained by a set of user identified sulcal curves. We then extrapolate this mapping from the cortical surface to the entire brain volume using a harmonic mapping procedure. Finally, this volumetric mapping is refined using an intensity driven linear elastic registration. The resulting maps retain the one-to-one correspondence between cortical surfaces while also aligning volumetric features via the intensity-driven registration.We evaluate performance of this method in comparison to other volumetric registration methods.
An Iterative Approach towards Interactive Digital Narrative --- Early Results with the Advanced Stories Authoring and Presentation System

Narrative has always played an important role in knowledge transfer between human beings. The Advanced Stories Authoring and Presentation System ASAPS was developed as the practical side to a research effort Interactive Digital Narrative IDN that combines theory and practice in a tightly coupled relationship. The first implementation of ASAPS foregrounds a robust and flexible architecture based on an extensible markup language. The early ASAPS narratives described here are an indication for the potential of this approach, which will incorporate additional technologies in the future.
Gene Therapy for Hemoglobinopathies: The State of the Field and the Future

After nearly two decades of struggle, gene therapy for hemoglobinopathies using vectors carrying β or γ-globin gene has finally reached the clinical doorsteps. This was made possible by advances made in our understanding of critical regulatory elements required for high level of globin gene expression and improved gene transfer vectors and methodologies. Development of gene editing technologies and reprogramming somatic cells for regenerative medicine holds the promise of genetic correction of hemoglobinopathies in the future. This article will review the state of the field and the upcoming technologies that will allow genetic therapeutic correction of hemoglobinopathies.
Resident simulation training improves operative time of the retropubic midurethral sling procedure for stress incontinence

Our aim was to assess whether immediate preoperative resident simulation training decreases operative time and improves resident proficiency when performing a retropubic midurethral sling (MUS) procedure. This prospective cohort study took place over 8 months at the Icahn School of Medicine, New York, USA. During the first 4 months, all retropubic MUS procedures were performed by residents who underwent immediate preoperative simulation training. The cases completed during the following 4 months were performed by residents who had not received preoperative simulation training. During the 8-month period, residents completed self-assessment questionnaires upon completion of the surgery and attendings evaluated the residents using the Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills (OSATS) global rating scale. Operative time between the two periods were compared using two-sample Student’s t test. Comparative analysis between groups was performed based on the OSATS scores using the Wilcoxon rank-sum nonparametric test. There were 22 cases in the simulation group (SG) and 20 in the no simulation group (NSG). SG mean operative time was 12.6 min and NSG mean operative time was 14.6 min (p = 0.12). The SG mean OSATS score was 30.4 versus NSG of 27.8 (p < 0.001). This study demonstrates that preoperative simulation significantly improves operative performance of the retropubic MUS procedure among residents and also improves their confidence in the operating room. There was a decrease in mean operative time of 2 min in the SG, but the difference was not statistically significant. This data is consistent in demonstrating improved surgical performance and resident confidence with simulation training.
An Ecological Momentary Assessment of Affect, Mental Health Symptoms, and Decisions to Drink Among First-Year College Women: A Pilot Study

College women experience more consequences (e.g., blacking out, unprotected/unwanted sex) on days when they engage in their heaviest drinking. To inform prevention efforts, research is needed to understand decision-making processes that influence women’s drinking behaviors at the event level. The present study used ecological momentary assessment (EMA) methods to examine: (1) associations between positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA) and decision-making processes on days leading up to, during, and following heavy drinking events; and (2) mental health symptoms as moderators of these associations. Female undergraduate drinkers (N = 57) completed a 14-day EMA protocol on their smartphones, which included three daily assessments of PA, NA, and willingness and intentions to drink. Trait anxiety and depressive symptoms were measured before the EMA protocol and assessed as moderators. Time-varying effect models were used to examine covariation among PA, NA, and willingness and intentions to drink on the days leading up to participants’ heaviest drinking events, the day of the event itself, and the days following the event. Results revealed PA was positively associated with willingness to drink the 2 days before, the day of, and the day after the heaviest drinking event. Similar effects were observed for PA and intentions to drink. Trait anxiety moderated the association between PA and intentions to drink. Findings underscore that positive affect may influence drinking-related decision-making processes surrounding heavy drinking events, particularly in those college women low in anxiety. Results identify potential entry points for real-time intervention efforts targeting college women during times of elevated PA.
Controlling the Optoelectronic Properties of Pyrene by Regioselective Lewis Base-Directed Electrophilic Aromatic Borylation

Given that pyrene represents one of the most versatile chromophores, the development of new selective routes for its functionalization and tuning of its emission properties is highly desirable. Pyrene-based BN Lewis pair (LP)-functionalized polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were prepared by regioselective Lewis base-directed electrophilic aromatic substitution. The requisite 1,6-dipyridylpyrene ligands were accessed by Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling of 1,6-bis(pinacolatoboryl)pyrenes with 2-bromopyridine derivatives. Subsequent electrophilic borylation with BCl3 in the presence of AlCl3 and 2,6-di-tert-butylpyridine as a hindered base produced the dichloroborane complexes, which were then in situ reacted with diphenyl or diethyl zinc. The presence or absence of alkyl chains in the 3,8-positions of the pyrene moiety determined the position of the B-C bond formation (2,7 in the non-K region versus 5,10 in the K region) and thereby also the size of the BN heterocycle (five- versus six-membered). The impact of the regioisomeric borylation on the electrochemical, photophysical and structural properties was investigated and the conclusions supported by theoretical calculations. The rapid synthesis of derivatives that are borylated in the K region also suggests strong potential for the development of pyrene derivatives that are otherwise difficult to access.
PLOD1-Related Kyphoscoliotic Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

Clinical characteristics PLOD1-related kyphoscoliotic Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (kEDS) is an autosomal recessive generalized connective tissue disorder characterized by hypotonia, early-onset kyphoscoliosis, and generalized joint hypermobility in association with skin fragility and ocular abnormality. Intelligence is normal. Life span may be normal, but affected individuals are at risk for rupture of medium-sized arteries. Adults with severe kyphoscoliosis are at risk for complications from restrictive lung disease, recurrent pneumonia, and cardiac failure. Diagnosis/testing The diagnosis of PLOD1-related kEDS is established in a proband with typical clinical findings and identification of biallelic pathogenic variants in PLOD1 by molecular genetic testing. If only one or no pathogenic variant is identified, testing for a markedly increased ratio of deoxypyridinoline to pyridinoline crosslinks in urine measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) (a highly sensitive, specific, and inexpensive test) may be necessary for confirmation of the diagnosis. Management Treatment of manifestations: Management of kyphoscoliosis by an orthopedic surgeon, including surgery as needed; physical therapy to strengthen large muscle groups; bracing to support unstable joints; protective pads and helmets during active sports; control of blood pressure to reduce the risk for arterial rupture; treatment with beta blockers as needed to prevent aortic dilation. Prevention of secondary complications: Standard American Heart Association guidelines for antimicrobial prophylaxis for mitral valve prolapse. Surveillance: Regular follow up by an orthopedic surgeon for management of kyphoscoliosis; routine examination for inguinal hernia; routine ophthalmologic examination for management of myopia and early detection of glaucoma or retinal detachment; echocardiogram at five-year intervals even if the initial echocardiogram is normal. Agents/circumstances to avoid: Sports that stress the joints, such as gymnastics or long-distance running; high-impact sports for eye injury concerns. Pregnancy management: Affected pregnant women may be at increased risk for miscarriage, premature rupture of membranes, and rupture of arteries. Genetic counseling PLOD1-related kEDS is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. At conception, each sib of a proband with EDS, kyphoscoliotic form has a 25% chance of being affected, a 50% chance of being an asymptomatic carrier, and a 25% chance of being unaffected and not a carrier. Once the PLOD1 pathogenic variants have been identified in an affected family member, prenatal testing for a pregnancy at increased risk and preimplantation genetic diagnosis are possible.
Influencing outcomes with automated time zero for sepsis through statistical validation and process improvement

Background: Sepsis is a life threating complication of infection acquired by more than 1.5 million people in the United State annually. Each year, sepsis claims the lives of at least 250,000 people. Real-time, automated surveillance for sepsis among hospitalized patients is of critical importance, given that one in three people who die in hospitals have sepsis. The early identification and treatment of sepsis is associated with reduced mortality and costly intensive care bed days. The objective of this analysis was to improve the performance of an electronic medical record based sepsis algorithm (early identification) and improve evidence based bundle compliance (early intervention) with the addition of a real-time, automated time zero calculation. Methods: Data from our enterprise-wide health information systems were landed in a data lake platform and was used to statistically validate existing sepsis algorithms. An additional algorithm calculating time zero was introduced and a post-hoc comparison of measures of test performance, alert timing, bundle compliance, ICU length of stay, and all-hospital mortality were performed. Results: A total of 55,918 alerts for sepsis were generated over the one-year study period across 30 inpatient facilities. The addition of an automated time zero algorithm improved several key indicators including superior positive predictive value (37% to 52%), enhanced timing of the alert (79% occurred within six hours, 77% within the critical 180-minute SEP-1 window, 47% within an hour of time zero), a 14% increase in bundle compliance, a 10% reduction in ICU length of stay, and a decrease in mortality from sepsis. Conclusions: The addition of a real-time, automated sepsis time zero calculation improved the performance and timeliness of a predictive sepsis alert provided through a system developed mobile application for clinicians and administrators.
Teaching case study: introducing data analytics in an advanced cybersecurty course

This paper provides a group project-based teaching case that introduces students in a cybersecurity course to data security analytics. The case involves analyzing Web server log data of a fictional and deliberately vulnerable e-commerce Web site. Students are given a large Web Server log file in the combined format and asked to (i) analyze the data for evidence of potential intrusions and incidents and (ii) produce a detailed report documenting the tools they utilized, the results of analyses, and how they arrived at these results. To help guide the analyses, the students are given a list of questions whose answers can be used to uncover cybersecurity intrusions and compromises. By using traditional SQL relational databases, NoSQL databases, specialized log parsers, and/or specialized Security Analytics tools, the students will be able to conduct in-depth analyses, slice-and-dice the data across multiple dimensions/criteria, and present the results in a multitude of formats including tables, charts, time series, and/or dashboards.
Saltwater reduces potential CO 2 and CH 4 production in peat soils from a coastal freshwater forested wetland

Abstract. A major concern for coastal freshwater wetland function and health is the effects of saltwater intrusion on greenhouse gas production from peat soils. Coastal freshwater forested wetlands are likely to experience increased hydroperiod with rising sea level, as well as saltwater intrusion. These potential changes to wetland hydrology may also alter forested wetland structure and lead to a transition from forest to shrub/marsh wetland ecosystems. Loss of forested wetlands is already evident by dying trees and dead standing trees (“ghost” forests) along the Atlantic coast of the US, which will result in significant alterations to plant carbon (C) inputs, particularly that of coarse woody debris, to soils. We investigated the effects of salinity and wood C inputs on soils collected from a coastal freshwater forested wetland in North Carolina, USA, and incubated in the laboratory with either freshwater or saltwater (2.5 or 5.0 ppt) and with or without the additions of wood. Saltwater additions at 2.5 and 5.0 ppt reduced CO2 production by 41 % and 37 %, respectively, compared to freshwater. Methane production was reduced by 98 % (wood-free incubations) and by 75 %–87 % (wood-amended incubations) in saltwater treatments compared to the freshwater plus wood treatment. Additions of wood also resulted in lower CH4 production from the freshwater treatment and higher CH4 production from saltwater treatments compared to wood-free incubations. The δ13CH4 -C isotopic signature suggested that, in wood-free incubations, CH4 produced from the freshwater treatment originated primarily from the acetoclastic pathway, while CH4 produced from the saltwater treatments originated primarily from the hydrogenotrophic pathway. These results suggest that saltwater intrusion into coastal freshwater forested wetlands will reduce CH4 production, but long-term changes in C dynamics will likely depend on how changes in wetland vegetation and microbial function influence C cycling in peat soils.
III-V Clathrate Semiconductors with Outstanding Hole Mobility: Cs8In27Sb19 and A8Ga27Sb19 (A = Cs, Rb).

Three novel unconventional clathrates with unprecedented III-V semiconducting frameworks have been synthesized: Cs8In27Sb19, Cs8Ga27Sb19, and Rb8Ga27Sb19. These clathrates represent the first examples of tetrel-free clathrates that are completely composed of main group elements. All title compounds crystallize in an ordered superstructure of clathrate-I in the Ia3 space group (No. 206; Z = 8). In the clathrate framework, a full ordering of {Ga or In} and Sb is observed by a combination of high-resolution synchrotron single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction techniques. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations show that all three clathrates are energetically stable with relaxed lattice constants matching the experimental data. Due to the complexity of the crystal structure composed of heavy elements, the reported clathrates exhibit ultralow thermal conductivities of less than 1 W·m-1·K-1 at room temperature. All compounds are predicted and experimentally confirmed to be narrow-bandgap p-type semiconductors with high Seebeck thermopower values, up to 250 μV·K-1 at 300 K for Cs8In27Sb19. The latter compound shows carrier concentrations and mobilities, 1.42 × 1015 cm-3 and 880 cm2 ·V-1·s-1, which are on par with the values for parent binary InSb, one of the best electronic semiconductors. The high hole carrier mobility is uncommon for complex bulk materials and a highly desirable trait, opening ways to design semiconducting materials based on tunable III-V clathrates.
"Shut it Down!": Teaching Heresthetic by Simulating the Budget Process

William Riker argued political skills and strategies can be developed through two methods: instruction or practice. Simulations offer opportunities for students to receive instruction in political strategies and practice developing political skills without the real-world consequences faced by policymakers. Budget simulations introduce students to collective action problems prevalent at all levels of American government. While developing and passing a budget provides students with practice, carefully constructing the simulation introduces the heresthetic tactics of agenda setting, strategic voting, and dimension manipulation. By incorporating these strategies into the simulation, students must navigate conflicting interests—maximize personal gains and risk not adopting a budget, or cooperate and approve a budget that may not align with personal preferences. When used in American government and political institution courses, the budget simulation helps students identify choices policymakers encounter and develop the skills necessary for navigating those situations and the broader policymaking process.
Utility of Early Intravascular Ultrasound after Pediatric Heart Transplantation

Purpose Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) has been used in adult heart transplant (HTX) recipients early after transplant to assess risk for long-term outcomes, along with differences in therapeutic targets for the treatment of cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV). Little is known about the utility of IVUS early after pediatric HTX. We evaluated the use of IVUS early ( Methods All pediatric HTX recipients at our hospital who underwent coronary evaluation via IVUS within 5 years after transplant were included. Maximal intimal thickness (MIT) and associated Stanford IVUS class (SIC) were analyzed and subjects were stratified into two groups [SIC 1-2 (trivial/mild) vs. 3-4(moderate/severe)]. Chi-square, t-test, and Kaplan Meier analyses were undertaken to evaluate association of SIC with long-term outcomes [CAV (diagnosed by angiography or pathology), graft loss from all causes, graft loss from CAV, and death]. Results Seventy-one subjects had IVUS performed within 5 years after HTX. Fifty-four (76%) were SIC 1-2, while 17 (24%) were SIC 3-4. Median time from transplant at IVUS was 3.8 & 3.5 years, respectively (p=0.59). Median age at transplant was 6.4 & 8.7 years, respectively (p=0.80). MIT was 0.17±0.06 & 0.53±0.23 mm, respectively (p Conclusion Early changes in IVUS (
The Ineffable Conservative Revolution: The Crisis of Language as a Motive for Weimar's Radical Right

This article provides a new look at Weimar Germany's Conservative Revolution by exploring its suspicion of conceptual and discursive language. It argues that Conservative Revolutionaries not only disdained intellectualism and public discourse; they also extolled their presumed opposites—instinct, intuition, self-evidence—as crucial ingredients in an “ineffable nationalism” which held that a true nation is based on unexpressed or difficult-to-articulate feelings and values. The origins of this ideology are found in a modernist crisis of representation and in sociological accounts of traditional “organic” communities. These themes were politicized by World War I, whose seeming incommunicability magnified the problem of representation and made the unspoken harmony of wartime comradeship an attractive model for a revitalized national community. The article's final section examines the early writings of Ernst Junger in order to show in detail how these issues came together to create the Conservative Revolutionary mind.
Relationship matters with citizens returning from prison: qualitative findings from a mentoring program

Qualitative findings from a reentry mentoring program evaluation demonstrate the importance of establishing and maintaining relationships with specific characteristics during the process of success...
Research advances of bone morphogenetic protein in pediatric orthopedics

In recent years, as one of the most extensively studied osteoinductive agents, bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) has been widely applied in clinical practice. Here a brief overview of BMP is a summary of its therapeutic efficacies for various fractures, including pathological fracture. Also some dilemmas and research advances of its clinical applications are also discussed. Key words: Bone morphogenetic protein; Fracture; Osteoinduction
Nutritional Risk Index: A Predictive Metric for Mortality After Lung Transplant

Background Malnourishment is associated with poor outcomes after lung transplantation. Validated screening tools for patients awaiting lung transplants are needed. We assessed the association of the Nutritional Risk Index (NRI) with outcomes after lung transplantation. Methods We categorized adult patients (aged more than 18 years) undergoing incident lung transplantation in the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients between 2005 and 2018 (n = 13,392) according to NRI categories of malnutrition: none, 100 or greater; mild, 97.5 to 100 or less; moderate, 83.5 to 97.5 or less; and severe, less than 83.5. We used Cox models to characterize the association of NRI categories with all-cause mortality within 5 years, graft failure within 1 year, and length of stay. In a subset of patients (n = 11,634), we used logistic regression to assess the association of NRI with airway dehiscence, reintubation, and chest tube placement. Results Of the 13,392 lung transplant recipients (mean age 55 years; 58.6% male) in the study, the most common indication for transplant was idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (36.2%), followed by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (27.3%), and cystic fibrosis (12.6%). Based on the NRI, 54.4% were non-malnourished, 12.4% mildly, 25.9% moderately, and 7.2% severely malnourished. Five-year mortality was higher among patients with severe malnutrition (44.6%) compared with patients who were non-malnourished (38.9%). Severe malnourishment remained significantly associated with higher mortality risk, with adjustment for covariates (hazard ratio 1.47; 95% confidence interval, 1.26 to 1.58). The length of stay was significantly longer among patients with severe malnutrition (median 15 days) compared with non-malnourished recipients (median 18 days). This difference persisted after adjustment for covariates (severe malnutrition hazard ratio 0.85; 95% confidence interval, 0.79 to 0.91). Conclusions The NRI before transplant is an independent predictor of postoperative mortality and morbidity among lung transplant patients
High Throughput Argon-37 Field System

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) has developed a unique fieldable 37Ar measurement system designed to measure 37Ar activity concentrations from soil gas samples to detect above ground and underground nuclear explosions. The Argon-37 Field System is modular in design to accommodate both chemical processing and nuclear detection. The system can be packed into shipping crates and shipped to a location near where the sampling is taking place. The system can process six 2-m3 whole-air samples in 24 h and can measure the 37Ar activity in each of the samples using six proportional counters. The proportional counters, designed and built at PNNL, are surrounded with both active and passive shielding to reduce background and can achieve a minimum detection concentration of 10 mBq/m3 of 37Ar in whole-air equivalent. The Argon-37 Field System has undergone extensive testing against rigorous requirements to assure the system meets the needs of the noble gas nuclear explosion monitoring community.
Multi-scalar and Multi-dimensional Conceptions of Social Capital and Mental Health Impacts After Disaster: The case of Hurricane Harvey.

While much research investigates how social capital relates to mental health after disasters, less work employs a multi-scalar, multi-dimensional framework on social capital. We apply such a framework of social capital to an analysis of novel survey data of approximately 1,000 urban and rural Texans after Hurricane Harvey. On the individual level, we find that greater social support is linked to less mental health impacts, but that greater civic and organizational engagement is linked to greater mental health impacts. At the community level, we find that neither a density of bridging social capital organizations nor of bonding social capital organizations is associated with poorer mental health, although we find that greater bonding organizations are linked to negative mental health impacts for rural residents. We conclude by focusing on how individual and community social capital relationships with mental health are contingent on measurement, scale, and rural or urban location. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Impact of BMPs on water quality: A case study in Big Sunflower River watershed, Mississippi

Impact of Best Management Practices (BMPs) can be evaluated using hydrologic and water quality models. Although numerous models with diverse function, capability and degree of complexity are availa...
Effects of forced cohesin eviction and retention on X-inactivation and autosomes

SUMMARY Depletion of architectural factors globally alters chromatin structure, but only modestly affects gene expression. We revisit the structure-function relationship using the inactive X chromosome (Xi) as a model. We investigate cohesin imbalances by forcing its depletion or retention using degron-tagged RAD21 (cohesin subunit) or WAPL (cohesin release factor). Interestingly, cohesin loss disrupts Xi superstructure, unveiling superloops between escapee genes, with minimal effect on gene repression. By contrast, forced cohesin retention markedly affects Xi superstructure and compromises spreading of Xist RNA-Polycomb complexes, attenuating Xi silencing. Effects are greatest at distal chromosomal ends, where looping contacts with the Xist locus are weakened. Surprisingly, cohesin loss created an “Xi superloop” and cohesin retention created “Xi megadomains” on the active X. Across the genome, a proper cohesin balance protects against aberrant inter-chromosomal interactions and tempers Polycomb-mediated repression. We conclude that a balance of cohesin eviction and retention regulates X-inactivation and inter-chromosomal interactions across the genome.
Treatment Options in Airway Obstruction in Congenital Heart Disease: Stents and Splints

Patients with pediatric congenital heart disease (CHD) have high rates of concomitant airway obstruction most commonly manifesting as tracheobronchomalacia. These patients airways can be difficult to manage and have traditionally been managed by positive pressure and tracheostomy. Options for management have evolved with airway stenting and splinting providing viable treatment options in this population. The field of airway stenting has evolved with time, moving from non-bioabsorbable stents, metal, and silicone to bioabsorbable stents. These bioabsorbable stents have moved into the pediatric population and have offered the ability to treat tracheobronchomalacia in CHD with the goal to get to definitive treatment often. Beyond stenting, a role for external airway reinforcement has been developed with recent advances in bioabsorbable splints. Three-dimensional (3D) printing has played a crucial role in the success of the external airway splints. Evolution in the fields of endoluminal stenting and external airway splinting has improved the treatment of airway obstruction associated with CHD. Advances in materials and 3D printing have allowed for greater success with reduced complications.
Infrastructures of Decolonization: Scales of Worldmaking in the Writings of Frantz Fanon:

Political theorists are increasingly drawn to the recovery of anticolonial thinkers as global figures. Frantz Fanon is largely excluded from these discussions because of his presumed commitment to ...
Mining High Resolution Earth Observation Data Cubes

Earth observation data is collected by ever-expanding fleets of satellites including Landsat1-8, Sentinel1 & Sentinel2, SPOT1-7 and WorldView1-3. These satellites generate at spatial resolutions (pixel size) from 30m to 31cm and provide revisit rates of as frequent as every 5 days. This allows us not only to look at high-resolution images of every corner of the Earth, but also to track events and observe change over time. During the past 5 years, medium spatial resolution satellite data (30 − 10m pixels) have developed very high temporal revisit frequencies of 5-16 days and spatial-temporal structures have been developed to manage these vast data sets. However, high resolution satellite images and rapidly increasing revisit rates create major data management and mining challenges. This work discusses six challenges of integrating observations at different times, from different sensors, at different spatial resolutions and different temporal frequencies into a unified Earth Observation Data Cube, that is, a tensor of location, time, and spectral bands. Challenges include creating a unified data cube from heterogeneous sensors, scaling geo-registration (mapping pixel between images), accounting for uncertainty across observations, imputing missing observations, broad area event detection, and ultimately, predicting the future state of our planet. With such a unified Earth Observation Data Cube in place, we describe potential application areas such as detecting anthropogenic land cover change, early warning of natural hazards, tracing movement of animals, finding missing airplanes, and rapid detection of forest fires.
Concepts to Enhance Specification and Inspection of Curing Effectiveness in Concrete Pavement Design and Construction

This paper presents an approach that can be used to consider the effect of the quality of curing and the time of placement (collectively referred to as “curing effectiveness”) on the development of the set gradient and its importance to long-term performance of jointed concrete pavement structures. The approach involves the definition of a curing quality index, referred to as the “effectiveness index,” that is reconfigured to function as a boundary interface to account for the effect of ambient conditions and represent the method of curing on potential moisture evaporation during hardening shortly after construction. Moisture and temperature boundary conditions are incorporated into a simple spreadsheet tool to evaluate heat and moisture transfer mechanisms at the cured surface of a concrete pavement during placement operations. Key parameters for development of set gradients in a concrete slab are identified, and a discussion is presented about how these parameters can be included in construction specifi...
Decision making [human-centered computing]

Computers, including intelligent systems, assist human decision making in many ways. Expert systems can be considered decision aids, as can systems that use statistical methods to assist in diagnostic procedures. Decision aids can provide information involved in deciding or information pertinent to evaluating states of the world. To support these situation assessment and monitoring activities, computers can integrate and display information and assist in replanning. We sharpen the focus for new and potentially useful applications of intelligent systems technologies.
Sulfur: Organic Polysulfanes

Organic polysulfanes are compounds of the type RSnR with n > 2. They may be chain-like or cyclic. The organic residues (alkyl or aryl) are linked to the sulfur atoms via carbon atoms. In the literature these compounds are often termed as organic polysulfides, but the IUPAC recommended nomenclature is polysulfanes. Sulfur-rich organic polysulfanes can be viewed as intermediates between organic and inorganic compounds. On one hand, they are characterized by organic substituents R, which terminate the sulfur chain or close this chain to form a ring. On the other hand, compounds with sulfur chains of three or more sulfur atoms are ‘inorganic’ enough to attract the interest of inorganic chemists who have contributed much to this area. Organic polysulfanes with up to 16 sulfur atoms in the molecules have so far been obtained as pure substances, but species with up to 35 sulfur atoms in a chain or ring have been prepared in mixtures. Organic polysulfanes play an important role not only in basic research and industry, they are also found as natural products in organisms and occur in the inanimate nature. The main importance of organic polysulfanes comes, however, from their role in the large scale industrial vulcanization of natural and synthetic rubber. In this article, the preparation, structure, modern analysis, basic reactions, natural occurrence, biological activity, and practical importance of organic polysulfanes with three or more neighboring sulfur atoms in a chain or ring have been presented. Keywords: antiradiation drugs; cyclic organic polysulfanes; organic polysulfanes; polysulfane oxide; polysulfanes; polysulfide polymers; sulfur cement; vulcanization
Vibration of Stepped Beams

Summary Some results from the theory of integral equations, applicable to the problem of free lateral vibration of beams, are presented and the Cauchy function method is utilized in the solution, by successive approximations, for the lowest frequency and modal configuration of a stepped beam. The results are then com­ pared to the exact solution based on the differential equation of motion.
Improving the realism of modeling agronomic adaptation to climate change: Simulating technological substitution

The purpose of the paper is to propose and test a new approach to simulating farmers' agronomic adaptation to climate change based on the pattern of adoption of technological innovation/substitution over time widely described as a S-shaped (or logistic) curve, i.e., slow growth at the beginning followed by accelerating and then decelerating growth, ultimately leading to saturation. The approach we developed is tested using the Erosion Productivity Impact Calculator crop model applied to corn production systems in the southeastern U.S. using a high-resolution climate change scenario. Corn is the most extensively grown crop in the southeastern U.S. The RegCM limited area model nested within the CSIRO general circulation model generated the scenario. We compare corn yield outcomes using this new form of adaptation (logistic) with climatically optimized (clairvoyant) adaptation. The results show logistic adaptation to be less effective than clairvoyant adaptation in ameliorating climate change impacts on yields, although the differences between the two sets of yields are statistically significant in one case only. These results are limited by the reliance on a single scenario of climate change. We conclude that the logistic technique should be tested widely across climate change scenarios, crop species, and geographic areas before a full evaluation of its effect on outcomes is possible.
Prolipoprotein signal peptidase of Escherichia coli requires a cysteine residue at the cleavage site.

Abstract A signal peptidase specifically required for the secretion of the lipoprotein of the Escherichia coli outer membrane cleaves off the signal peptide at the bond between a glycine and a cysteine residue. This cysteine residue was altered to a glycine residue by guided site-specific mutagenesis using a synthetic oligonucleotide and a plasmid carrying an inducible lipoprotein gene. The induction of mutant lipoprotein production was lethal to the cells. A large amount of the prolipoprotein was accumulated in the outer membrane fraction. No protein of the size of the mature lipoprotein was detected. These results indicate that the prolipoprotein signal peptidase requires a glyceride modified cysteine residue at the cleavage site.
Induction of the Sugar-Phosphate Stress Response Allows Saccharomyces cerevisiae 2-Methyl-4-Amino-5-Hydroxymethylpyrimidine Phosphate Synthase To Function in Salmonella enterica.

ABSTRACT Thiamine pyrophosphate is a required cofactor for all forms of life. The pyrimidine moiety of thiamine, 2-methyl-4-amino-5-hydroxymethylpyrimidine phosphate (HMP-P), is synthesized by different mechanisms in bacteria and plants compared to fungi. In this study, Salmonella enterica was used as a host to probe requirements for activity of the yeast HMP-P synthase, Thi5p. Thi5p synthesizes HMP-P from histidine and pyridoxal-5-phosphate and was reported to use a backbone histidine as the substrate, which would mean that it was a single-turnover enzyme. Heterologous expression of Thi5p did not complement an S. enterica HMP-P auxotroph during growth with glucose as the sole carbon source. Genetic analyses described here showed that Thi5p was activated in S. enterica by alleles of sgrR that induced the sugar-phosphate stress response. Deletion of ptsG (encodes enzyme IICB [EIICB] of the phosphotransferase system [PTS]) also allowed function of Thi5p and required sgrR but not sgrS. This result suggested that the role of sgrS in activation of Thi5p was to decrease PtsG activity. In total, the data herein supported the hypothesis that one mechanism to activate Thi5p in S. enterica grown on minimal medium containing glucose (minimal glucose medium) required decreased PtsG activity and an unidentified gene regulated by SgrR. IMPORTANCE This work describes a metabolic link between the sugar-phosphate stress response and the yeast thiamine biosynthetic enzyme Thi5p when heterologously expressed in Salmonella enterica during growth on minimal glucose medium. Suppressor analysis (i) identified a mutant class of the regulator SgrR that activate sugar-phosphate stress response constitutively and (ii) determined that Thi5p is conditionally active in S. enterica. These results emphasized the power of genetic systems in model organisms to uncover enzyme function and underlying metabolic network structure.
The Impact of College Student Financial Health on Other Dimensions of Health.

Abstract Purpose. Researchers examined college students' financial health and other health indicators to determine whether the integration of financial health into undergraduate health courses is justified and justify financial health as the newest dimension of health within the field of health promotion. Design. The study utilized a cross-sectional design. Setting. The study was conducted at a large public university located in the western region of the United States. Participants completed the survey from any computer with Internet access. Subjects. A sample of 3000 undergraduate students was selected. A total of 686 surveys were completed (22.9% response rate). Data were collected from college students ages 18 to 30 during the first 2 weeks of June 2013. Measures. Participants completed an online survey regarding their financial health and other dimensions of health. Analysis. SPSS version 19.0 was used to examine the relationships between financial health and individual health variables using χ2, inde...
Infostations: New Perspectives on Wireless Data Networks

We discuss file delivery issues for a new approach to inexpensive, high rate wireless data called Infostations. As opposed to ubiquitous coverage, infostations offer geographically intermittent coverage at high speed (1Mbps to 1Gbps) since data, as compared to voice, can often tolerate significant delay. The infostations paradigm flips the usual “slowradio/fast-network” scenario upside down and offers intriguing new design problems for wireless data networks. Collectively, we at WINLAB believe that the infostations scenario, especially with the emergence of the World Wide Web as both a communications medium and defacto standard is one way to obtain low cost wireless data. And perhaps conroversially, we offer arguments that currently proposed extensions to cellular systems (such as the coming Third Generation) will not be able to offer data as inexpensively. In this chapter we describe the infostations concept and then concentrate on issues above the physical layer. Specifically, we worry about delay bounds on information delivery for variety of simple user mobilityscenarios and infostation geometries. We then provide heuristic algorithms which closely approach these bounds.
A priority ceiling protocol for multiple-instance resources

A systematic optimization process for multiple-instance resource sharing in real-time systems is presented. The authors derive the schedulability condition for systems with such resources and present an algorithm which can be used to divide a resource pool into smaller groups in order to improve the worst-case blocking behavior. They present the system model used and review some related work. The multi-instance priority ceiling protocol and its properties are discussed, the effect of resource preallocation on the schedulability of a system is studied, and an optimal resource preallocation algorithm is presented. >
Maintenance training simulator fidelity and individual differences in transfer of training

This study was undertaken to investigate the relationship between simulator fidelity and training effectiveness. Two aspects of simulator fidelity were manipulated, namely, the degree to which a training simulator “looked like” actual equipment (physical fidelity), and the extent to which it “acted like” real equipment (functional fidelity). A transfer of training design was used to assess learning. Performance on an electromechanical troubleshooting task was correlated with a number of individual difference variables. Results indicated that physical and functional fidelity were interdependent and that temporal measures were most sensitive to fidelity manipulations. Low functional fidelity was associated with longer problem solution and inter-response times. Persons with high analytic abilities took longer to solve problems, but required fewer troubleshooting tests and made fewer incorrect solutions.
The novel interaction between microspherule protein Msp58 and ubiquitin E3 ligase EDD regulates cell cycle progression

Microspherule protein Msp58 (or MCRS1) plays a role in numerous cellular processes including transcriptional regulation and cell proliferation. It is not well understood either how Msp58 mediates its myriad functions or how it is itself regulated. Here, by immunoprecipitation, we identify EDD (E3 identified by differential display) as a novel Msp58-interacting protein. EDD, also called UBR5, is a HECT-domain (homologous to E6-AP carboxy-terminus) containing ubiquitin ligase that plays a role in cell proliferation, differentiation and DNA damage response. Both in vitro and in vivo binding assays show that Msp58 directly interacts with EDD. Microscopy studies reveal that these two proteins co-localize in the nucleus. We have also found that depletion of EDD leads to an increase of Msp58 protein level and extends the half-life of Msp58, demonstrating that EDD negatively regulates Msp58's protein stability. Furthermore, we show that Msp58 is upregulated in multiple different cell lines upon the treatment with proteasome inhibitor MG132 and exogenously expressed Msp58 is ubiquitinated, suggesting that Msp58 is degraded by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Finally, knockdown of either Msp58 or EDD in human lung fibroblast WI-38 cells affects the levels of cyclins B, D and E, as well as cell cycle progression. Together, these results suggest a role for the Msp58/EDD interaction in controlling cell cycle progression. Given that both Msp58 and EDD are often aberrantly expressed in various human cancers, our findings open a new direction to elucidate Msp58 and EDD's roles in cell proliferation and tumorigenesis.