cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of vaginal length after iliococcygeus fixation and sacrospinous ligament fixation

Abstract Objective To compare vaginal length after iliococcygeus fixation (ICF) and sacrospinous ligament fixation (SSLF). Methods A retrospective cohort study was performed on patients undergoing ICF or SSLF. Sixty-seven patients were identified and, of these, only 46 had complete data sets, leaving 23 patients in either group eligible for study. Results There were no significant differences in demographic data between the 2 groups. Mean vaginal length measurements were not significantly different before and after the ICF procedure (7.7 ± 0.9 cm vs 7.6 ± 0.8 cm, respectively; P = 0.68). However, the mean vaginal length was significantly shortened following SSLF (7.9 ± 0.8 cm vs 7.1 ± 1.1 cm, P = 0.001). The mean vaginal lengths preoperatively (7.7 ±0.9 cm vs 7.9 ± 0.8 cm, P = 0.51) and postoperatively (7.6 ± 0.8 cm vs 7.1 ± 1.1 cm, P = 0.07) were similar. Conclusion Iliococcygeus fixation does not significantly shorten vaginal length at the time of vaginal vault suspension, whereas the sacrospinous ligament fixation procedure does shorten vaginal length.
Whole-bowel irrigation as a treatment for acute lithium overdose

Study objective: To determine if gastrointestinal decontamination using whole-bowel irrigation (WBI) was an effective treatment for acute ingestion of sustained-release lithium. Methods: In a two-phase, crossover protocol, ten normal volunteers ingested in each phase 0.80 mEq/kg sustained-release lithium carbonate. In the second phase, WBI was begun one hour after lithium ingestion, and 10 L of polyethylene glycol solution were administered over five hours. Serum samples were collected every half hour for six hours, every hour for an additional six hours, and then every 24 hours for as long as 72 hours after ingestion. These samples were analyzed for lithium concentration. The area under the lithium serum concentration-versus-time curve was calculated for each phase. Results: The average area under the lithium serum concentration-versus-time curve in the WBI phase was 67% ± 11% less than that in the control phase ( P P = .03) within one hour of beginning WBI. Conclusion: WBI is an effective treatment for acute ingestion of sustained-release lithium. We recommend it as the decontaminant procedure of choice in this situation.
Oral Reading, Silent Reading, and Listening Comprehension: a Comparative Study:

Comprehension is achieved through three different modes of reception — oral reading, silent reading, and listening. The relative effectiveness of each of the three modes has been examined, but has ...
Work in progress-service learning opportunity: a university and community partnership in creek restoration

A service learning opportunity has been incorporated as part of a required upper-division course in civil engineering. A collaborative relationship was established between homeowners along Five-Mile Creek, an urban creek in Stockton, CA, and the University of the Pacific Civil Engineering Department. Like most surface waters in California, the creek serves multiple beneficial, and sometimes conflicting, uses. Consequently, it is affected heavily by human activities and experiences water quality problems. Creek analysis and restoration projects have been conducted as part of a water resources engineering course and have provided students with opportunities to develop and apply field, analytical, and technical skills. Students examine and develop solutions for this 'real world' problem; communicate with homeowners; and research political, social, environmental, and regulatory issues. This pilot project serves to demonstrate that community involvement (or "service learning") projects can serve an important role in support of learning while providing mutually beneficial opportunities for students and for the community.
Bolstering the Scientist Component in the Training of Scientist-Practitioners One Program’s Curriculum Modifications

This article presents three specific curriculum recommendations that have been implemented at one American Psychological Association-approved counseling psychology program to increase the didactic and experiential scientific core. The recommendations include requiring an ongoing research practicum, a qualitative methodology course, and an advanced integrative research design course specific to the discipline of counseling psychology. The institutionalized research experience is designed to help empower all students and provide equal access to research opportunities.
Broad-Scale Assessment of Rangeland Health, Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument, USA

Over a 3-yr period, the qualitative assessment protocol “Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health” was used to evaluate the status of three ecosystem attributes (soil/site stability, hydrologic function, and biotic integrity) at over 500 locations in and adjacent to Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument (Utah). Objectives were to provide data and interpretations to support the development of site-specific management strategies and to investigate broad-scale patterns in the status of different rangeland ecological sites. Quantitative data on ground cover, plant community composition, and soil stability were collected to aid the evaluation of qualitative attributes and improve consistency of the assessment process. Ecological sites with potential vegetation dominated by varieties of big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nuttall) had the highest frequencies (46.7%–75.0%) of assessments with low ratings (moderate or greater departure from expected reference conditions) for all three ecosystem attributes. In contrast, sites with potential vegetation characterized by Utah juniper (Juniperus osteosperma [Torrey] Little) and/or Colorado pinyon (Pinus edulis Engelmann) had low frequencies (0.0%–7.8%) of assessments with low ratings for all attributes. Several interacting factors likely contributed to the development of patterns among ecological sites, including 1) potential primary production and thus long-term exposure to production-oriented land uses such as livestock grazing; 2) the presence of unpalatable woody plants capable of increasing and becoming persistent site dominants due to selective herbivory, absence of fire, or succession; 3) soil texture through effects on hydrologic responses to livestock grazing, trampling, and other disturbances; and 4) past management that resulted in high livestock use of ecological sites with sensitive fine-loamy soils following treatments designed to increase forage availability. This case study illustrates an extensive application of an assessment technique that is receiving increasing use worldwide, and results contribute to an understanding of factors contributing to patterns and processes of rangeland degradation.
Bread Upon the Waters: The St. Petersburg Grain Trade and the Russian Economy, 1703–1811. By Robert E. Jones. (Pittsburgh, PA: University of Pittsburgh Press, 2013. Pp. xiv, 298. $45.00.)

The author of this study examines an extremely important problem (how to provision the new Russian capital, St. Petersburg), but he does so within a far‐ranging analysis of eighteenth‐century Russi...
Electronic journals and academic libraries

Reflecting upon the short history and fast development of electronic journals, there is no doubt that electronic journals open up many exciting service opportunities for academic libraries. This technology possesses both advantages and disadvantages. Some advantages include multimedia capabilities, speed of production and distribution, and accessibility. Disadvantages posed are technological, sociocultural, and economic barriers. As a literature review, this article begins with a brief historical background of electronic journals. It then delineates the positive and negative aspects of the technology and reviews the crucial issues and trends concerning electronic journals, which librarians need both to be aware of and understand. Some practical implications that are unique to academic libraries are also discussed. Although it is relatively new territory, it is certain that librarians’ analytical abilities and cooperative efforts to examine and balance the factors can make electronic journals a success in academic libraries.
Pleural Effusion and Ascites Unusual Presenting Features in a Pediatric Patient with Vitamin A Intoxication

The usual presenting features of vitamin A intoxication are pseuotumor cerebri, skeletal pain, desquamative dermatitis, and hepatic inflammation. Our patient was a nine-year-old female who had increasing cough, dyspnea, and abdominal distention for a short time prior to admission. She was said to have been treated with 10,000 units of vitamin A per day for skin rashes. Radiographic studies revealed a very large right sided pleural effusion, ascites, demineralized bones, and retarded skeletal maturation. The diagnosis of hypervitaminosis A was made. More detailed medical history confirmed that the child had, in actuality, received up to 300,000 units/day of vitamin A plus desiccated liver pills and carrot juice for the previous year. Clinical symptoms completely abated following acute medical treatment for ascites and cessation of vitamin A intake. Several months later, a sample of liver, obtained and preserved at the time of exploratory laparotomy, was homogenized and extracted with ethanol/hexane. The retinyl palmitate level was significantly elevated and consistent with vitamin A poisoning.
Mencius on Management: Managerial Implications of the Writings of China's Second Sage

Often referred to as China’s Second Sage, Mencius maintained and strengthened the Confucian tradition and added his own views on topics that are relevant to modern day managers. Mencius made managerial recommendations in such diverse areas as corporate governance, interpersonal relations, economic development, and human resources. The focus of this paper will be on Mencius’ management and leadership advice.
Particle collection in magnetically stabilized fluidized filters

A study was conducted on the use of magnetically stabilized fluidized (MSF) filters for removing fine particles from gases. The effect on filter performance of a number of variables was examined, including the applied field strength, gas velocities, and bed height. The dynamic behavior of MSF filters was found to be characterized by a decreasing collection efficiency with time as a result of significant particle re-entrainment.
Generation of >100 μJ, broadband THz transients with >10 MV/cm fields via coherent transition radiation at the linac coherent light source

Highly compressed, relativistic electron bunches are fired through a thin Be foil to generate intense, broadband, high-field THz transients. Pulse energies greater than 100 μJ and field strengths greater than 10 MV/cm are measured.
Two Diverse Systems Built using Generic Components for Spoken Dialogue (Recent Progress on TRIPS)

This paper describes recent progress on the TRIPS architecture for developing spoken-language dialogue systems. The interactive poster session will include demonstrations of two systems built using TRIPS: a computer purchasing assistant, and an object placement (and manipulation) task.
Phase Transformations in Cu-Zr Multilayers

A study of phase transformations is reported for Cu-rich, Cu-Zr multilayer foils synthesized using magnetron sputter deposition and annealed using a differential scanning calorimeter. The foils range in composition from 1.6 to 9.0 at% Zr and consist of alternate layers of polycrystalline Cu and Zr. Differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray analysis and electron microscopy were used to three distinct reactions in the foils: a mixing and an amorphization of the Cu and die Zr, a crystallization on of this amorphous phase to the metastable intermetallic Cu{sub 5l}Zr{sub l4}, and a transformation of the Cu{sub 5l}Zr{sub l4} phase into the equilibrium phase Cu{sub 9}Zr{sub 2}. The as-deposited layering remained stable during the first two reactions and then broke down in the third reaction as large grains of Cu{sub 9}Zr{sub 2} encompassed the smaller Cu grains. Heats of the reactions and activation energies of these reactions are measured and are compared to values reported for bulk samples. The measured heats provide evidence that amorphous Cu-Zr alloys phase separate and that mixing and short range ordering produce 3.5 times more heat than long range ordering produces when Ca and Zr react and form Cu{sub 5l}Zr{sub l4}.
Molecular Mechanism of Ion Binding to the Liquid/Vapor Interface of Water

We have carried out extensive molecular dynamics simulations to study the electrostatic surface potentials and molecular mechanism of iodide binding to the liquid/vapor interface of water using both nonpolarizable and polarizable potential models. Both simulated electrostatic surface potentials are negative with a value of about −0.50 ± 0.01 V. The simulated results are compared to the experimental estimates of the surface potentials ranging from −1.1 V to 0.4 V. This paper contributes to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of ion binding to the liquid/vapor interface of water. A free energy minimum was observed near the Gibbs dividing surface for simulations that employed polarizable models. In contrast, simulations that used nonpolarizable models provided no surface state as the iodide crossed the liquid/vapor interface of water. Corroborating observations were recently reported by Finlayson-Pitts and co-workers (Knipping, E. M.; Lakin, M. J.; Foster, K. L.; Jungwirth, P.; Tobias, D. J.; ...
New Navy Buoys Demonstrate Global Remote Sampling Capability

Abstract : Over the past two years the number of surface and air dropped expendable bathymetric observations received by the Navy has decreased from about 125 to 50 observations per day. Subsequently, the Navy has been investigating new, more economical, techniques for remote sampling of environmental data using satellite-reporting, air deployable, drifting data buoys equipped with a variety of sensors. A buoy that measures air temperature, sea surface temperature and barometric pressure for 90 days has been developed and is now in operational use. Testing of a 100 m thermistor cable on the buoy has demonstrated a 45-day potential. Additional sensors for wind speed, wind direction, and broadband ambient noise measurements are being added. Coupled with a new prototype satellite reporting system, a global, near real time, oceanographic observing and reporting system is now being demonstrated. this paper describes the Navy's test of such buoys and their application to a global remote sampling capability.
Hybrid capture 2 test results after an initial equivocal RLU/CO value are dependent on age.

The performance of the Hybrid Capture 2 (HC2) test for human papilloma virus (HPV) detection depends on the prevalence of infection. However, the current HC2 manufacturer recommended interpretative algorithm is the same for all women. This test, which may be particularly useful in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women given the morphologic complexity of their Pap tests, could be affected by the overall lower prevalence of HPV infection in this age group. We investigated HC2 equivocal and weakly positive HPV tests in women 50 years and older and the detection of high-grade dysplasia (CIN2+) on their follow-up specimens. All HC2 test data from 1,067 consecutive specimens and 85 additional specimens from women ≥ 50-years-old with equivocal and weakly positive HC2 were analyzed. Follow-up specimens from women with HC2 tests within these ranges were reviewed. No CIN2+ was found on follow-up of 49 cases of women ≥ 50 with equivocal or weakly positive HC2 results. The current HC2 algorithm resulted in “positive” reports in 63% of specimens with initial equivocal HC2 due to retests mostly within the equivocal range. These results suggest that women 50 years and older may benefit from higher HC2 thresholds. The test could also be reported as HC2 values (RLU/CO) to be interpreted in view of risk factors.
Linkages between trophic variability and distribution of Pteronarcys spp. (Plecoptera: Pteronarcyidae) along a stream continuum.

Abstract Pteronarcys stoneflies, which are traditionally considered shredders in eastern North America, inhabit second- through seventh-order streams in the Little Tennessee River (LTR) drainage basin. Because very little coarse allochthonous particulate organic matter occurs in the relatively large (sixth- and seventh-order) LTR, we analyzed the gut contents of five individuals from each of five sites and two dates (August and December) (n = 50) along a fourth- through seventh-order stretch of this stream continuum. Pteronarcids consumed significantly different percentages of some food items between sampling dates. Pteronarcys progressively consumed significantly more diatoms (from 90% of gut contents at stream order 4 to ca. 50% at stream order 7) from fourth- to seventh-order sites, and the amount of Pteronarcys production attributable to each of these food items shifted significantly along t...
SARM1, Not MyD88, Mediates TLR7/TLR9-Induced Apoptosis in Neurons

Neuronal apoptosis is a key aspect of many different neurologic diseases, but the mechanisms remain unresolved. Recent studies have suggested a mechanism of innate immune-induced neuronal apoptosis through the stimulation of endosomal TLRs in neurons. TLRs are stimulated both by pathogen-associated molecular patterns as well as by damage-associated molecular patterns, including microRNAs released by damaged neurons. In the present study, we identified the mechanism responsible for TLR7/TLR9-mediated neuronal apoptosis. TLR-induced apoptosis required endosomal localization of TLRs but was independent of MyD88 signaling. Instead, apoptosis required the TLR adaptor molecule SARM1, which localized to the mitochondria following TLR activation and was associated with mitochondrial accumulation in neurites. Deficiency in SARM1 inhibited both mitochondrial accumulation in neurites and TLR-induced apoptosis. These studies identify a non–MyD88 pathway of TLR7/ TLR9 signaling in neurons and provide a mechanism for how innate immune responses in the CNS directly induce neuronal damage.
Adoption and de-adoption of drotrecogin alfa for severe sepsis in the United States.

Abstract Purpose Drotrecogin alfa was a landmark drug for treatment of severe sepsis, yet little is known about how it was adopted and de-adopted during its 10-year period of availability. Methods We used hospitalization data on fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries from 2002 to 2011 to characterize trends in the use of drotrecogin alfa in the United States. Results Drotrecogin alfa use peaked at 5.87 per 1000 severe sepsis hospitalizations in 2003 and then steadily declined to 0.94 administrations per 1000 severe sepsis hospitalizations in 2010. Large teaching hospitals were more likely to use drotrecogin alfa than small, nonteaching hospitals. The addition of “add-on payments” to hospitals for using drotrecogin alfa in 2002 was associated with significantly increased use ( P P P > .05). Conclusions Drotrecogin alfa use declined over time, with marked changes in use associated with drug-specific financial incentives but not the publication of clinical practice guidelines or clinical trials.
Under-Deposit Caustic Corrosion on Sodium Carbonate Pipeline☆

Abstract Under deposit corrosion (UDC) is defined as a localized corrosion that develop beneath or around deposit on a metal surface. UDC represents an important threat in the integrity matrix of petroleum and petrochemical production and transportation facilities, and has been cited as responsible for high corrosion rates and loss of containment during operations. For a sodium carbonate production process, crude caustic from the caustic plant enters the sodium carbonate storage tanks. When the batch cycle begins, crude caustic is pumped to the top of the carbonation tower. The caustic stream flows down through two packed sections where it contacts boiler's stack flue gas rising up through the tower. The caustic (sodium hydroxide) reacts with the carbon dioxide in the flue gas to form sodium carbonate. A carbon steel pipeline then transports sodium carbonate. This carbon steel pipeline experiences frequent leaks. An investigation was conducted to identify the types and possible causes of the corrosion on the sodium carbonate pipeline. XRF (X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry) and carbon/sulfur analyzer and XRD were used to chemically identify the deposited materials in the pipeline and to study the damage morphology. It was concluded the failure of the pipeline is attributed to caustic corrosion aggravated by deposited of process carry-over materials.
Exploring agile processes

Agile software processes are becoming more pervasive in industry settings; however these same processes have not been widely adopted in academic settings. A common thread among agile software processes is the iterative approach to the software lifecycle. It can be challenging to integrate a pure agile process in a typical software projects course due to the time constraints of a semester, but integrating elements of the agile approach can be useful from both an instructor and student perspective. This tutorial will introduce the participants to the key principles of the agile software process which proclaims to value: • Individuals and interactions over processes and tools. • Working software over comprehensive documentation. • Customer collaboration over contract negotiation. • Responding to change over following a plan. There are many flavors of agile processes and this tutorial will focus the Scrum model. Examples of how Scrum can be used to organize a classroom software development project will be discussed. Several open source tools that can be useful in supporting agile software projects from the requirements gathering phase through development and testing will be demonstrated. Participants will engage in a participatory game to illustrate some of the main components of the agile software process model. Attendees will leave this tutorial with ideas for integrating agile approaches into their own software projects courses.
Text Indexation with INTEX

INTEX is a linguistic development environment that includes large-coverage dictionaries and grammars, and parses texts of several million words in real time. INTEX has tools to create and maintain large-coverage lexical resources as well as morphological and syntactic grammars. Dictionaries and grammars are applied to texts in order to locate morphological, lexical and syntactic patterns, remove ambiguities, and tag simple and compound words. INTEX can build lemmatized concordances and indices of large texts with respect to all types of Finite State patterns. INTEX is used as a corpus processor, to analyze literary, journalistic and technical texts. I describe here the subset of tools used to perform advanced search requests on large texts.
Criteria and Problems in the Use of Quantitative Analytical Procedures for Public Development Investments

IN DECISIONS concerning the allocation of public resources to conservation and development projects, quantitative analytical techniques involving partial equilibrium microeconomic theory are considered useful in providing information to aid in the decision process.2 Two notable examples of techniques for analyzing watersheds in a microeconomic framework are the procedures (hereafter called manual programming) currently used by the Soil Conservation Service in analyzing P.L. 566 and other federal proposals,3 and the highly detailed procedures (hereafter called mechanical programming)4 suggested in the current literature which utilizes the linear programming technique. Conceptually, there is no difference between the two procedures.5 Although there is con-
Magnolia (Magnoliaceae) in Mexico and Central America: a synopsis

As a result of a recent alpha-taxonomic study of the genusMagnolia s. str. in Mexico and Central America, four new species and four new subspecies ofMagnolia sect.Theorhodon are proposed, includingM. iltisiana, M. panamensis, M. tamaulipana, M. sororum subsp.lutea, andM. pacifica, consisting of three subspecies:pacifica, pugana, andtarahumara. Additionally, a new combination,M. guatemalensis subsp.hondurensis, is made, and a new section,M. sect.Splendentes, is erected for the Caribbean species. The results have implications for understandingMagnolia biogeography, andM. tamaulipana has potential for horticulture in temperate zones. Keys to genera, sections, and species, and maps of species distributions are presented.Magnolia grandiflora L. andM. schiedeana Schltdl. are lectotypified.
Linking the Occupational Pressures of College Presidents to Presidential Turnover.

Community colleges are expected to serve the needs of their local communities. Hence, college presidents are called on to lead this collaboration between the college and the community. Presidents, ...
The Impact of Context on the Ability of Leaders to Signal Resolve

ABSTRACTThis article explores the impact of context on the ability of leaders to signal resolve in international disputes. Leaders make statements of resolve in various contexts, and the context in which a leader speaks affects the size and composition of the audience as well as how adversaries are likely to interpret the statements. I focus on comparing five main contexts in which leaders commonly make resolved statements: speeches to the nation, both scripted and unscripted interactions with the press, remarks to narrow audiences, and campaign events. I offer hypotheses regarding how the effectiveness of statements at conveying resolve will vary among these contexts and test them using a data set that codes resolved statements made by US presidents. I find that resolved statements made in national speeches and scripted remarks to the press have the most significant impact on dispute outcomes, suggesting greater effectiveness at conveying resolve. However, statements made in other contexts also appear to...
Further Characterization of Cylindrocladium Spathiphylli from Spathiphyllum in Hawaii and Florida

(1992). Further Characterization of Cylindrocladium Spathiphylli from Spathiphyllum in Hawaii and Florida. Mycologia: Vol. 84, No. 5, pp. 810-814.
Fault Current Limiting Measures and Their Recent Progress

Configuring large power supply in high load density networks and interconnections between power grids will cause enormous short-circuit current. If the short-circuit current rating of the equipment in the system is exceeded,the equipment must be replaced,which is a very cost-and/or time-intensive procedure. A fault current limiter offers an alternative in such case. First,this paper attempts to give an overview of fault current limiting measures for medium and high voltage applications. Then several representative fault current limiters including developing and developed measures are examined with an emphasis upon the thyristor protected series capacitor (TPSC) based short-circuit current limiter (SCCL). Finally,the demonstration project of the fault current limiter in East China 500kV power grid is introduced. The main circuit diagram and the over-voltage protection control used are also presented. Besides,the development trend of fault current limiter is outlined.
A Study of the Effects of Work-Family Climate on Work-Family Conflicts and Satisfaction:from the Perspective of Chinese Culture

Through an analysis of the survey data from Chinese knowledge employees, this study tries to examine the different outcomes of different work-family climates of the knowledge employees.The results indicate that both the family-sacrificed climate in the work and the work- sacrificed climate in the family have positive significant effects on work-family conflicts; while both the family-caring climate in the work and the work-caring climate in the family have positive significant effects on work satisfaction and family satisfaction. It is worth noting that the family-sacrificed climate in this sample has positive significant effects on work satisfaction. This reflects a special phenomenon in the work-family climate in the context of Chinese culture, thus, this paper tries to interprete the above results from the perspective of Chinese tranditional Confucian ethics and gender differences.
Genetic variability in combustion particle-induced chronic lung injury

Occupational exposure to anthropogenic particles is associated with lung injury in humans. We hypothesized that residual oil fly ash (ROFA), an emission source particulate, may induce acute lung injury and fibrosis in sensitive rat strains and that fibronectin (Fn) gene expression will correspond to the development of fibrosis. Male Sprague-Dawley (SD), Wistar (WIS), and Fischer 344 (F-344) rats (60 days old) were exposed to saline or ROFA (8.3 mg/kg) by intratracheal instillation and examined for up to 12 wk. Histology indicated focal areas of lung damage showing inflammatory cell infiltration as well as alveolar, airway, and interstitial thickening in all three rat strains during 1-7 days postexposure. Trichrome staining of the lung sections indicated a sporadic incidence of focal alveolar fibrosis at 1, 3, and 12 wk in SD rats, whereas WIS and F-344 rats showed only a modest increase in trichrome staining in the septal areas. Of all Fn mRNA isoforms examined by polymerase chain reaction, only EIIIA(+) was upregulated during 6 h-1 wk in ROFA-exposed SD and WIS rats but not in F-344 rats. In situ hybridization analysis in SD rats revealed Fn mRNA expression by macrophage and alveolar and airway epithelium and within fibrotic areas. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed increased presence of Fn EIIIA(+) protein in the areas of fibrotic injury and basally to the airway epithelium. In summary, Fn EIIIA(+) increases early in the course of particle-induced lung injury and remodeling, which may or may not result in discernible alveolar fibrosis. There is a rat strain variation in ROFA-induced fibrosis and associated Fn EIIIA(+) expression.
Survey of Intersex Occurrence in Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides) from the Upper Illinois River Waterway

Abstract Intersex condition (ooctyes in testicular tissue) has been documented in many watersheds among a diverse variety of fishes worldwide. However, few studies have tested for the occurrence of the condition in fishes from rivers of the American Midwest. Midwestern watersheds, such as the Illinois River Waterway, U.S.A. may provide important new information about the effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) on fishes because of the variety of urban, industrial, and agricultural land uses within the watersheds. A first step in the study of EDCs in any ecosystem is a survey to document the symptoms of EDC exposure, such as intersex condition. Our objective was to test for intersex condition in male largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides in the lower Des Plaines River, an area directly affected by surface runoff and wastewater effluents from the Chicago Metropolitan Area. Histological analysis indicated that testicular oocytes were present in 21 of 51 (41%) largemouth bass sampled and oocyte numbe...
A Computational/Experimental Assessment of Antitumor Activity of Polymer Nanoassemblies for pH-Controlled Drug Delivery to Primary and Metastatic Tumors

Polymer nanoassemblies (PNAs) with drug release fine-tuned to occur in acidic tumor regions (pH PNA2 > PNA3 (slowest)]. Computational simulations projecting the transport, drug release, and antitumor activity of PNAs in primary and metastatic tumor models of colorectal cancer correspond well with experimental observations in vivo. The simulations also reveal that all PNAs could reach peak drug concentrations in tumors at 11 h post injection, while PNAs with slower drug release (PNA2 and PNA3) reduced tumor size more effectively than fast drug releasing PNA1 (24.5 and 20.3 vs 7.5%, respectively, as fraction of untreated control). A combined computational/experimental approach may help to evaluate pH-controlled drug delivery targeting aggressive tumors that have substantial acidity.
Medium frequency soft switching DC/DC converter for HVDC transmission system

An isolated medium frequency zero voltage zero current switching (ZVZCS) DC/DC converter for HVDC transmission system is proposed. Soft switching is achieved over the entire load range, via resonance between transformer leakage inductance and capacitance across primary switches. Since transformer leakage inductance is utilized in the resonant circuit, its design procedure is elaborated as well. Finite element simulation aided iterative design ensures transformer has leakage inductance close enough to desired value. Controller design is completed and the closed-loop system is simulated in PLECS®. Converters series connected at the output are also simulated to show scalability.
Stephen Lawrence, Institutional Racism and Mary Seacole in the National Curriculum

Mainstream educational publishers had long ago introduced Black and BAME characters into their reading texts, but history texts remained largely concentrated on white Britons and white British history. The advent of a National Curriculum with an emphasis on “British values,” the teaching of history more regularly to primary school children, and the racially motivated murder of 18-year-old Stephen Lawrence provided impetus to publishers to provide more Black history. The emergence of Mary Seacole, a Jamaican-born nurse who treated British soldiers in the Crimean War, as the acceptable (and sometimes only) face of Black Britain in history texts for children is investigated in this chapter.
Upgrade to DIII-D National Fusion Facility PCS and Neutral Beam Systems: In-Shot Variation of Neutral Beam Particle Energy

On the DIII-D National Fusion Facility tokamak plasma diagnostics continue to improve and experiments increase in complexity. Hence the utility of dynamic control of the beam energy (and therefore also the injected torque, ion heating fraction, etc.) has become apparent. Here we report on upgrades that have been incorporated into the DIII-D Plasma Control System (PCS) and Neutral Beam Injection (NBI) systems in order to allow the beam acceleration voltage (Vaccel) to be varied continuously in a ≤20 kV range during a shot for the first time, generating new capabilities such as smooth plasma transitions and controllable interactions with Alfven waves.
While the United States Slept, South America Walked

Since the terrorist attacks on the United States mainland in September 2001, the strong political and economic influence that the United States once wielded over South America has steadily eroded as a result of rising new global economic powers and a multiplicity of self-inflicted foreign policy fiascos under the Bush administration that forced officials in Washington, D.C. to turn their attention elsewhere in the world. Despite initial promising rhetoric from the Obama administration of a new relationship with the South American continent premised on a partnership, particularly on the issues of energy security and climate change, the loss of influence continues. The United States remains mired in intractable conflicts in Western Asia, its economic recovery tenuous, and a highly partisan political system at the Federal level makes it impossible to achieve a consensus on addressing major issues of importance to the future of not only the country but the planet.
OSHA Compliance Issues

This inspection for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was initiated as a result of a three-item, worker health and safety complaint. The complaint items included the followin...
Phosphoinositide 3-kinases-a historical perspective.

The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI 3-K) signal relay pathway represents arguably one of the most intensely studied mechanisms by which extracellular signals elicit cellular responses through the generation of second messengers that are associated with cell growth and transformation. This chapter reviews the many landmark discoveries in the PI 3-K signaling pathway in biology and disease, from the identification of a novel phosphoinositide kinase activity associated with transforming oncogenes in the 1980s, to the identification of oncogenic mutations in the catalytic subunit of PI 3-K in the mid 2000s. Two and a half decades of intense research have provided clear evidence that the PI 3-K pathway controls virtually all aspects of normal cellular physiology, and that deregulation of one or more proteins that regulate or transduce the PI 3-K signal ultimately leads to human pathology. The most recent efforts have focused on the development of specific PI 3-K inhibitors that are currently being evaluated in clinical trials for a range of disease states.
Early Conversion to Belatacept in Kidney Transplant Recipients With Low Glomerular Filtration Rate.

BACKGROUND Our aim was to determine the impact of converting from tacrolimus to belatacept in patients with stable low estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) early after kidney transplant. METHODS This is a single-center retrospective case control study. During this study period, we had a clinical protocol to convert patients to belatacept if they had a stable but low GFR and they were at least 1-month posttransplant. Eligible patients had stable but low eGFR usually < 40 mL/min per 1.73 m. We used direct matching to select 1 control case for each patient converted to belatacept. The primary outcome was the change in eGFR from the point of belatacept conversion to 4 months postconversion (delta eGFR). RESULTS There were 30 patients in the conversion group and 30 in a direct matched control group. The median preconversion eGFR for the entire cohort was 23.0 mL/min per 1.73 m with an interquartile range of 15.7 to 31.4. The delta eGFR was 11.0 (12.9) mL/min per 1.73 m in belatacept group and 4.8 (10.5) mL/min per 1.73 m in the control group (P = 0.045). Acute rejection postconversion occurred in 5 (16.7%) in the conversion group and none of the control group (P = 0.052). Although the delta improvement in eGFR was about 6 mL/min better in the Belatacept group, there was no difference in the slope of inverse creatinine during the 12-month period after conversion between the groups. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that early belatacept conversion in kidney transplant recipients with stable low eGFR may only result in a modest increase in GFR.
Instructional Communication Theory and Research: An Overview of Classroom Interaction

While communication is central to effective classroom instruction, surprisingly little attention by communication scholars has been paid to classroom talk. This chapter surveys the classroom intera...
Accounting for Driver Distraction and Socioeconomic Characteristics in a Crash Risk Index: Naturalistic Driving Study:

Distracted driving has long been acknowledged as one of the main contributors to crashes in the United States. According to past studies, driving behavior proved to be influenced by the socioeconomic characteristics of drivers. However, few studies attempted to quantify that influence. This study proposed a crash risk index (CRI) to estimate the crash risk associated with the socioeconomic characteristics of drivers and their tendency to experience distracted driving. The analysis was conducted with data from the SHRP 2 Naturalistic Driving Study. The proposed CRI was developed on a grading system of three measures: the crash risk associated with performing secondary tasks during driving, the effect of socioeconomic attributes (e.g., age) on the likelihood of engagement in secondary tasks, and the effect of specific categories within each socioeconomic attribute (e.g., age older than 60) on the likelihood of engagement in secondary tasks. Logistic regression analysis was performed on the secondary tasks, ...
Adaptive channel bonding in wireless LANs under demand uncertainty

Channel bonding is one promising approach to cope with rising WLAN data demand, given scarce spectrum resources. An access point (AP) can aggregate multiple contiguous channels to satisfy demand. Optimizing the network performance under deterministic demands has been well-studied. It is still an open question of how to optimally utilize available frequency bands under uncertainty in AP demands. We propose two approaches to tackle this problem using a stochastic optimization framework. First, we develop a static joint stochastic center frequency and bandwidth allocation scheme. The goal of this scheme is to minimize the total occupied bandwidth while satisfying the demand of each AP with probability at least s. Second, we develop a two-stage joint stochastic center frequency and adaptive bandwidth allocation scheme. In contrast to the static scheme, the two-stage allocation scheme allows adaptability of the bandwidth allocated to each AP in response to its demand variation, while keeping the total occupied bandwidth fixed. Our numerical results demonstrate the advantages of (i) stochastic compared to naive allocation and (ii) adaptive compared to static allocation. They also explain the bandwidth-user satisfaction trade-off provided by the adaptive allocation approach.
Parental Influences on Low-Income, First-Generation Students’ Motivation on the Path to College

Reports abound about the challenges that first-generation, low-income students face on the path to higher education. Yet despite these barriers, millions of low-income, first-generation students pe...
Introduction to Phononic Crystals and Acoustic Metamaterials

The objective of this chapter is to introduce the broad subject of phononic crystals and acoustic metamaterials. From a historical point of view, we have tried to refer to some of the seminal contributions that have made the field. This introduction is not an exhaustive review of the literature. However, we are painting in broad strokes a picture that reflects the biased perception of this field by the authors and coauthors of the various chapters of this book.
The Estimation of Plasma Androgens by Gas-Liquid Chromatography

During the past few years several methods have been developed for the measurement of plasma testosterone. Finkelstein et al. (1) reported a method based on the enzymatic conversion to estradiol of testosterone isolated by paper chromatography. The estradiol was estimated by fluorometry. Double isotope derivative techniques using either H-acetic anhydride (2) or S-thiosemicarbazide (3) have been described. Although remarkable in their sensitivity and reproducibility, these methods are extremely complicated and expensive.
Model uncertainty analysis using data analytics for life-cycle assessment (LCA) applications

Objective uncertainty quantification (UQ) of a product life-cycle assessment (LCA) is a critical step for decision-making. Environmental impacts can be measured directly or by using models. Underlying mathematical functions describe a model that approximate the environmental impacts during various LCA stages. In this study, three possible uncertainty sources of a mathematical model, i.e., input variability, model parameter (differentiate from input in this study), and model-form uncertainties, were investigated. A simple and easy to implement method is proposed to quantify each source. Various data analytics methods were used to conduct a thorough model uncertainty analysis; (1) Interval analysis was used for input uncertainty quantification. A direct sampling using Monte Carlo (MC) simulation was used for interval analysis, and results were compared to that of indirect nonlinear optimization as an alternative approach. A machine learning surrogate model was developed to perform direct MC sampling as well as indirect nonlinear optimization. (2) A Bayesian inference was adopted to quantify parameter uncertainty. (3) A recently introduced model correction method based on orthogonal polynomial basis functions was used to evaluate the model-form uncertainty. The methods are applied to a pavement LCA to propagate uncertainties throughout an energy and global warming potential (GWP) estimation model; a case of a pavement section in Chicago metropolitan area was used. Results indicate that each uncertainty source contributes to the overall energy and GWP output of the LCA. Input uncertainty was shown to have significant impact on overall GWP output; for the example case study, GWP interval was around 50%. Parameter uncertainty results showed that an assumption of ± 10% uniform variation in the model parameter priors resulted in 28% variation in the GWP output. Model-form uncertainty had the lowest impact (less than 10% variation in the GWP). This is because the original energy model is relatively accurate in estimating the energy. However, sensitivity of the model-form uncertainty showed that even up to 180% variation in the results can be achieved due to lower original model accuracies. Investigating each uncertainty source of the model indicated the importance of the accurate characterization, propagation, and quantification of uncertainty. The outcome of this study proposed independent and relatively easy to implement methods that provide robust grounds for objective model uncertainty analysis for LCA applications. Assumptions on inputs, parameter distributions, and model form need to be justified. Input uncertainty plays a key role in overall pavement LCA output. The proposed model correction method as well as interval analysis were relatively easy to implement. Research is still needed to develop a more generic and simplified MCMC simulation procedure that is fast to implement.
Systematic review addressing nurse practitioner reimbursement policy: Part one of a four-part series on critical topics identified by the 2015 nurse practitioner research agenda.

ABSTRACTBackground and purpose:The growth and sustainability of nurse practitioners (NPs) requires transparent, fair and equitable reimbursement policies. Complicating this issue is variation in reimbursement policy within and across federal, state, and other payers. Even with explicit regulations,
Fully printed parallel plate capacitance humidity sensors

Printed humidity sensors on flexible substrates has potential to be low cost platform. A novel capacitance-humidity sensor was screen printed with silver electrodes and cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB) as the dielectric on flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate. The parallel plate design achieves capacitance between 400–500pF at ambient conditions. This study found that the sensor exhibits superior linearity from 10–70%RH with R2 of 0.9975, and acceptable linearity between 10–85% with R2 of 0.9779 with <10s response times.
Recent Advances in the Application of Ring-Closing Metathesis for the Synthesis of Unsaturated Nitrogen Heterocycles

This short review summarizes recent advances relating to the application of ring-closing olefin-olefin and carbonyl-olefin metathesis reactions towards the synthesis of unsaturated five- and six-membered nitrogen heterocycles. These developments include catalyst modifications and reaction designs that will enable access to more complex nitrogen heterocycles. 1 Introduction 2 Expansion of Ring-Closing Metathesis Methods 3 Evaluation of Catalyst Design 4 Indenylidene Catalysts 5 Unsymmetrical N-Heterocyclic Carbene Ligands 6 Carbonyl-Olefin Metathesis 7 Conclusions
Angle-Resolved Photoemission Extended Fine Structure Study of Chemisorbed c(2×2)P/Fe(100): Comparison with Self-Consistent-Field Xα Scattered Wave Calculations

Angle-resolved photoemission extended fine structure (ARPEFS) was used to determine the structure of c(2x2)P/Fe(100). P 1s core-level photoemission data were collected normal to the (100) surface and 45{degree} off-normal along the [011] direction at room temperature. Close analysis of the auto-regressive linear prediction based Fourier transform and multiple-scattering spherical-wave calculations indicate that the P atoms adsorb in the high-coordination fourfold hollow sites. The P atoms bond 1.02 {angstrom} above the first layer of Fe atoms and the Fe-P-Fe bond angle is 140.6{degree}. It was also determined that there is no expansion of the Fe surface. Self-consistent-field X{alpha} scattered wave calculations were performed for the c(2x2)P/Fe(100) and the c(2x2)S/Fe(100) systems. These independent results are in excellent agreement with this P/Fe structure and the S/Fe structure previously published, confirming the ARPEFS determination that the Fe{sub 1}-Fe{sub 2} interlayer spacing is contracted from the bulk value for S/Fe but not for P/Fe.