cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pneumatic pumping in centrifugal microfluidic platforms

Centrifugal microfluidics has emerged as a unique approach to the development of integrated total analysis systems for medical diagnostics. However, despite its many advantages, the platform has a size limitation due to the centripetal pumping mechanism in which fluids can only be moved from the center of the disc to the rim. This limits the footprint of the microfluidic network to one radius of the disc, and this in turn limits the amount of space available to embed complex assays. In order to overcome this space limitation problem, we are developing new techniques to pump fluids back toward the center of the disc as to allow greater path lengths for the fluidic network. This study presents a novel pumping mechanism for centrifugal microfluidics utilizing a combination of centrifugation and pneumatic compression. Pneumatic energy is stored during high-speed centrifugation with sample fluids trapping then compressing air in specially designed chambers. The accumulated pneumatic energy is released by spinning down, which expands the trapped air and thus pumps liquids back toward the center of the CD. This newly developed method overcomes current limitations of centripetal pumping avoiding external manipulation or surface treatments. In this article, we explore the design of appropriate chambers to induce pneumatic pumping and analytically describe the mechanics behind the pumping action. For proof of principle, we have applied pneumatic pumping to siphon priming.
Shared and Distinctive Origins and Correlates of Adult Attachment Representations: The Developmental Organization of Romantic Functioning

To test proposals regarding the hierarchical organization of adult attachment, this study examined developmental origins of generalized and romantic attachment representations and their concurrent associations with romantic functioning. Participants (N = 112) in a 35-year prospective study completed the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) and Current Relationship Interview (CRI). Two-way analysis of variance tested interactive associations of AAI and CRI security with infant attachment, early parenting quality, preschool ego resiliency, adolescent friendship quality, and adult romantic functioning. Both representations were associated with earlier parenting and core attachment-related romantic behavior, but romantic representations had distinctive links to ego resiliency and relationship-specific romantic behaviors. Attachment representations were independent and did not interactively predict romantic functioning, suggesting that they confer somewhat distinctive benefits for romantic functioning. Following the precedent set by those who elaborated organizational processes in infant attachment (e.g., Sroufe & Waters, 1977), recent romantic attachment research has turned toward the organizational implications of attachment representations for romantic functioning. At least two key gaps exist within this literature, however. The first concerns the distinct or overlapping roles of generalized representations (i.e., representations of early attachment relationships with caregivers; George, Kaplan, & Main, 1985) and romantic attachment representations (i.e., representations of specific romantic partners; Treboux, Crowell, & Waters, 2004) in organizing romantic functioning. Both gen
Bayesian model averaging approach in health effects studies: sensitivity analyses using PM10 and cardiopulmonary hospital admissions in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania and simulated data.

Generalized Additive Models (GAMs) with natural cubic splines (NS) as smoothing functions have become a standard analytical tool in time series studies of health effects of air pollution. However, standard model selection procedures ignore the model uncertainty that may lead to biased estimates, in particular those of the lagged effects. We addressed this issue by Bayesian model averaging (BMA) approach which accounts for model uncertainty by combining information from all possible models where GAMs and NS were used. Firstly, we conducted a sensitivity analysis with simulation studies for Bayesian model averaging with different calibrated hyperparameters contained in the posterior model probabilities. Our results indicated the importance of selecting the optimum degree of lagging for variables, based not only on maximizing the likelihood, but also by considering the possible effects of concurvity, consistency of degree of lagging, and biological plausibility. This was illustrated by analyses of the Allegheny County Air Pollution Study (ACAPS) where the quantity of interest was the relative risk of cardiopulmonary hospital admissions for a 20 µg/m 3 increase in PM10 values for the current day. Results showed that the posterior means of the relative risk and 95% posterior probability intervals were close to each other under different choices of the prior distributions. Simulation results were consistent with these findings. It was also found that using lag variables in the model when there is only same day effect, may underestimate the relative risk attributed to the same day effect.
DJogger: a mobile dynamic music device

Maintaining motivation during exercise can be difficult for people engaged in individual workout routines. A common method for maintaining pace and staying motivated is the introduction of a musical soundtrack. The pace of the music and selection of songs influences the workout by suggesting how one should adjust their effort, or help with the timing of a precise regimen. To explore the impact of music on pace and motivation in exercise, we present our work so far on DJogger. DJogger builds a model of a runner's pace and uses this information along with a workout plan to dynamically adjust the musical soundtrack. DJogger contributes a compelling application of HCI to fitness, and explores methods for real world wearable evaluation.
Effects of supporting structure on wireless SAR measurement

The effect of the supporting structure for SAR measurements of wireless handsets has been investigated experimentally and numerically. A phone with a quarter wave monopole antenna was used for this investigation. Various dielectric slabs were tested as the supporting structure and configurations that resulted in a significant change in the SAR values were identified. The SAR values were obtained by both measurement and simulation with and without the dielectric support structure. There is good agreement between the measured and computed differences in the SAR values with and without the support in both bands. In the 900 MHz band, the resonance frequency is shifted by 18% and the SAR is reduced by 30%. In the 1900 MHz band, the resonance frequency is reduced by 35% and the SAR is decreased by 56%.
Dyslipidemia: Pathogenesis and Management

Diabetes is the leading cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality around the world. On the basis of a number of epidemiologic studies and clinical trials, diabetes was designated a coronary heart disease (CHD)risk equivalent by the National Cholesterol Education Program’s Adult Treatment Panel III (ATPIII).1 The 10 yr risk of major CHD events in patients with diabetes generally exceeds 20%, which is comparable to that observed in nondiabetic patients with established CHD. This inference has been particularly supported by the data from a population study in Finland2 and a multinational study, the OASIS3 from patients with type 2 diabetes who frequently have multiple coexisting risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD).
Rescue and regulation of proboscipedia: a homeotic gene of the Antennapedia Complex

The extraordinary positional conservation of the homeotic genes within the Antennapedia and the Bithorax Complexes (ANT-C and BX-C) in Drosophila melanogaster and the murine Hox and human HOX clusters of genes can be interpreted as a reflection of functional necessity. The homeotic gene proboscipedia (pb) resides within the ANT-C, and its sequence is related to that of Hox-1.5. We show that two independent pb minigene P-element insertion lines completely rescue the labial palp-to-first leg homeotic transformation caused by pb null mutations; thus, a homeotic gene of the ANT-C can properly carry out its homeotic function outside of the complex. Despite the complete rescue of the null, the minigene expresses pb protein in only a subset of pb's normal domains of expression. Therefore, the biological significance of the excluded expression pattern elements remains unclear except to note they appear unnecessary for specifying normal labial identity. Additionally, by using reporter gene constructs inserted into the Drosophila genome and by comparing pb-associated genomic sequences from two divergent species, we have located cis-acting regulatory elements required for pb expression in embryos and larvae.
PEER REPORTING OF UNETHICAL BEHAVIOR: A SOCIAL CONTEXT PERSPECTIVE

This research hypothesized that two social context conditions influence group members' evaluations of peer reporting of unethical behavior and their own inclination to report peers: the misconduct threatens the interests of group members and peer reporting is denned as a role responsibility of group members. Two scenario studies provided mixed support for the hypotheses, results differing in the two hypothetical settings. In both studies, however, when subjects perceived a peer reporter as highly ethical, they simultaneously evaluated him or her as unlikable. Results of a field survey provided some support for the generalizability of the findings to an actual work setting.
Synthesis, Structures, and Spectroscopy of the Metallostannylenes (η5-C5H5)(CO)3M−S̈n−C6H3-2,6-Ar2 (M = Cr, Mo, W; Ar = C6H2-2,4,6-Me3, C6H2-2,4,6-Pri3)

The metallostannylene compounds (η5-C5H5)(CO)3MSnC6H3-2,6-Mes2 (Mes = C6H2-2,4,6-Me3; M = Cr (1), Mo (2), W (3)), (η5-C5H5)(CO)3MSnC6H3-2,6-Trip2 (Trip = C6H2-2,4,6-Pri3; M = Cr (4), Mo (5), W (6)), and (η5-1,3-ButC6H3)MoSnC6H2-2,6-Trip2 (7) were synthesized by the reaction of the appropriate aryltin(II) halide with the alkali-metal salt of the cyclopentadienylcarbonylmetalate. The compounds, which were isolated as purple (1−6) or turquoise (7) crystals, are monomeric with V-shaped two-coordinate geometries at tin. The tin−transition-metal bonds are slightly longer than the distances predicted from metallic and covalent radii or those observed in related tin(IV)−transition-metal species. The compounds were also characterized by IR and UV−vis spectroscopy as well as 1H, 13C, and 119Sn NMR spectroscopy. The 119Sn NMR spectra displayed singlet resonances whose chemical shifts were in the range 2116−2650 ppm. These shifts were consistent with the two-coordination at tin. With use of 119Sn NMR and UV−visible s...
Polymer Miscibility in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide: Free Volume as a Driving Force

In this article, we connect the experimental miscibility of several polymer/supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) mixtures with their pure component properties, such as free volume and interaction energy. We directly address the experimental observations that suggest free volume-rich polymers and those with weak polymer segment–segment interaction energies mix more favorably with scCO2. By applying our simple locally correlated lattice (LCL) theory to model the pressure–volume–temperature (PVT) behavior of the pure polymers and supercritical solvent, we obtain characteristic molecular parameters which are then used to predict the key physical properties of interest. We probe the underlying thermodynamic contributions (entropic and enthalpic) to the free energies of mixing and show that our LCL theory can explain the experimental miscibility ranking based solely on our characterization of the pure components.
Effect of phospholipase A treatment of low density lipoproteins on the dextran sulfate--lipoprotein interaction.

The effect of phospholipase A on the interaction of low density lipoproteins of the Sf 0-10 class with dextran sulfate was studied in phosphate buffer of pH 7.4, ionic strength 0.1, by chemical, spectrophotometric, and centrifugal methods. When low density lipoproteins that had been treated with phospholipase A were substituted for untreated lipoproteins, the amount of insoluble dextran sulfate-lipoprotein complex formed was greatly reduced. Hydrolysis of over 20% of the lecithin and phosphatidyl ethanolamine constituents of the lipoproteins prevented the formation of insoluble complex. However, even the lipoproteins in which almost all the phosphoglycerides were hydrolyzed produced soluble complex, which was converted to insoluble complex upon addition of magnesium sulfate. It is apparent that the lipoproteins altered extensively by treatment with phospholipase A retain many characteristic properties of native low density lipoproteins. Fatty acids, but not lysolecithin, released by the action of phospholipase A interfered with the formation of insoluble complex; this interference was due to association of the fatty acids with the lipoproteins. With increases in the concentration of the associated fatty acids, the amounts of magnesium ion required for the conversion of soluble complex to insoluble complex increased progressively. Charge interaction is evidently of paramount importance in the formation of sulfated polysaccharide-lipoprotein complexes.
Evidence of the AMOC interdecadal mode related to westward propagation of temperature anomalies in CMIP5 models

Climate models show a broad diversity in the simulations of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) with its leading modes of variability having different amplitudes, periods and driving mechanisms. Theoretical considerations and computations using ocean GCMs suggest that on interdecadal timescales this variability can be controlled by an internal weakly-damped oceanic mode associated with westward propagation of large-scale density anomalies in the North Atlantic Ocean. These anomalies are dominated by temperature with some compensation from salinity. The quadrature phases of this mode include the strengthening of the AMOC, followed a quarter-period later by the development of a broad warm temperature anomaly in the northern Atlantic extending to about 1000 m, then followed by the weakening of the AMOC, and then the upper-ocean cooling. Here, we investigate whether this mode is present in the simulations of Coupled Model Intercomparison Project 5 (CMIP5). Out of the 25 models investigated, we find that more than half of the models exhibit variability consistent with this mode. Some of the relevant modal features includes statistically significant spectral peaks in the band between 15 and 35 years, the westward propagation of density anomalies in the $$40^{\circ }$$ N– $$60^{\circ }$$ N latitudinal band, which sets the period of the mode, the existence of the distinct quadrature phases of the AMOC variability, and the predominant effect of temperature on density anomalies.
Surveillance Results of Keshan Disease in Lvliang City in 2006

[Objective]To explore the epidemic features and fluctuation trend of Keshan, and supply correct guidance of Keshan disease prevention and treatment. [Methods] The surveillance site groups were all examined by electrocardiogram. [Results]227 people were conducted clinical examination and electrocardiogram monitoring, no acute, sub-acute or chronic Keshan disease patients were found, 5 potential Keshan disease patients were detected. [Conclusion] Keshan disease is in a stable trend in Lvliang city.
Renal adenocarcinoma and end stage kidney disease.

AbstractThe association of end stage kidney disease with cystic degeneration and renal adenocarcinoma was first recognized in 1977. Since then a number of reports have confirmed this relationship. Duration of dialysis has been the most strongly associated risk factor. We report 8 cases of end stage kidney disease and renal adenocarcinoma. Median duration of hemodialysis was approximately 1 year, and 3 patients never had hemodialysis. Factors other than duration of dialysis, such as toxic metabolites, toxins from dialysis tubing, polyamines or other carcinogens, may be as or more important. (J. Urol., 138: 603–606, 1987)
Comparing Dislodgeable 2,4-D Residues across Athletic Field Turfgrass Species and Time

2,4-dimethylamine salt (2,4-D) is an herbicide commonly applied on athletic fields for broadleaf weed control that can dislodge from treated turfgrass. Dislodge potential is affected by numerous factors, including turfgrass canopy conditions. Building on previous research confirming herbicide-turfgrass dynamics can vary widely between species, field research was initiated in 2014 and 2015 in Raleigh, NC, USA to quantify dislodgeable 2,4-D residues from dormant hybrid bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L. x C. transvaalensis) and hybrid bermudagrass overseeded with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), which are common athletic field playing surfaces in subtropical climates. Additionally, dislodgeable 2,4-D was compared at AM (7:00 eastern standard time) and PM (14:00) sample timings within a day. Samples collected from perennial ryegrass consistently resulted in greater 2,4-D dislodgment immediately after application (9.4 to 9.9% of applied) compared to dormant hybrid bermudagrass (2.3 to 2.9%), as well as at all AM compared to PM timings from 1 to 3 d after treatment (DAT; 0.4 to 6.3% compared to 0.1 to 0.8%). Dislodgeable 2,4-D did not differ across turfgrass species at PM sample collections, with ≤ 0.1% of the 2,4-D applied dislodged from 1 to 6 DAT, and 2,4-D detection did not occur at 12 and 24 DAT. In conclusion, dislodgeable 2,4-D from treated turfgrass can vary between species and over short time-scales within a day. This information should be taken into account in human exposure risk assessments, as well as by turfgrass managers and athletic field event coordinators to minimize 2,4-D exposure.
Full length article: Carrier aggregation in power limited devices over Rayleigh fading channels

In this paper we analyze, both theoretically and through simulations, the aspect of carrier aggregation in power limited devices over Rayleigh fading for use in future wireless systems. We derive analytical expressions for the probability of transmitting over K carriers, as well as an upper bound on the gain achieved with carrier aggregation and the probability of carrier aggregation yielding a certain gain over single carrier allocation. These analytical expressions are verified through simulations. The analysis gives insight to the average SNR one needs to obtain the desired gain with carrier aggregation. As suspected, carrier aggregation does not increase the spectral efficiency in the uplink of a wireless system and in the low SNR regime one does not achieve any gain with carrier aggregation. However, carrier aggregation can be employed to achieve the 4G bit-rates as stated by 3GPP, given that certain users have very good channel conditions.
Signal Processing on Graphs: Causal Modeling of Un structured Data

Many applications collect a large number of time series, for example, the financial data of companies quoted in a stock exchange, the health care data of all patients that visit the emergency room of a hospital, or the temperature sequences continuously measured by weather stations across the US. These data are often referred to as un structured. The first task in its analytics is to derive a low dimensional representation, a graph or discrete manifold, that describes well the inter relations among the time series and their intra relations across time. This paper presents a computationally tractable algorithm for estimating this graph that structures the data. The resulting graph is directed and weighted, possibly capturing causal relations, not just reciprocal correlations as in many existing approaches in the literature. A convergence analysis is carried out. The algorithm is demonstrated on random graph datasets and real network time series datasets, and its performance is compared to that of related methods. The adjacency matrices estimated with the new method are close to the true graph in the simulated data and consistent with prior physical knowledge in the real dataset tested.
Short Paper: Rusty Types for Solid Safety

Programs operating "close to the metal" necessarily handle memory directly. Because of this, they must be written in languages like C or C++. These languages lack any kind of guarantee on memory or race safety, often leading to security vulnerabilities and unreliable software. Ideally, we would like a practical language that gives programmers direct control over memory and aliasing while also offering race and memory safety guarantees. We present Rusty Types and an accompanying type system, inspired by the Rust language, that enable memory-safe and race-free references through ownership and restricted aliasing in the type system. In this paper, we formally describe a small subset of the syntax, semantics, and type system of Metal, our Rust-based language that enjoys Rusty Types. Our type system models references and ownership as capabilities, where bindings have indirect capabilities on value locations. We also present speculative extensions to Rusty Types that allow greater flexibility in single threaded programs while maintaining the same guarantees.
Single-Cell Investigation of the Role of Calcium Bursts in Human Immune Cells

The intracellular calcium concentration of immune cells is known to exhibit dramatic bursts, during which the calcium level peaks throughout the whole cell on a timescale of seconds. Despite the well-established importance of calcium ions in numerous cellular processes, the physiological role of these bursts remains unclear. What causes calcium bursts? What do they cause in turn? When do they occur, and why do they occur at those particular times? By addressing questions like these, our ongoing work aims to contribute to a deeper mechanistic understanding of the behavior of immune cells, in particular human neutrophils. Our single-cell experiments combine micropipette manipulation with fluorescence imaging of the intracellular calcium concentration. The use of micropipettes enables us to separately inspect chemotaxis, adhesion, and phagocytosis during one-on-one encounters between neutrophils and pathogenic particles, while simultaneously monitoring the cortical tension of the cells. Surprisingly, we find that cell polarization and actin remodeling during complement-mediated pure (i.e., adhesion-free) chemotaxis neither require nor cause calcium bursts. On the other hand, our experiments confirm that calcium bursts consistently accompany phagocytosis and cell spreading. Furthermore, the occurrence of calcium bursts during phagocytosis appears to roughly correlate with a drastic increase of the cortical tension. Although treatment of the cells with 100 μM caffeine, or removal of calcium from the extracellular medium, modulates the strength and dynamics of calcium bursts, the bursts still occur during all phagocytosis experiments. These findings show that adhesion, but not extracellular calcium, is essential to stimulate calcium bursts. Moreover, the concurrent rise of the cortical tension indicates that in addition to adhesion, other mechanical processes may be closely related to these bursts.
The relationship between instrumental leaf grade and Shirley Analyzer trash content in cotton lint

With the increasing acceptance of high volume instrument (HVI™) instrumental leaf grade index in both domestic and international trading, there is a continued interest in the relationship between instrumental leaf grade and equivalent trash gravimetric content (% percent by mass) from cotton customers and regulators. Due to the complexity of not only trash type, size, and its weight distribution but also the nature of HVI and gravimetric methods, it is an on-going challenge to examine such a relationship. In this study, the Shirley Analyzer (SA) was used to determine the gravimetric cotton trash in percent by mass (%). This system is the traditional cotton trash reference method that is still utilized as a routine tool in the cotton industry, despite being a destructive process that is both labor-intensive and time-consuming. This study first investigated the correlations between three SA trash readings (SAvisible, SAinvisible, and SAtotal) and respective leaf grade categories, and it revealed a general t...
Transitional Leadership: Leadership During Times of Transition, Key Principles, and Considerations for Success.

Rationale and Objectives To suggest a methodical approach for refining transitional management abilities, including empowerment of a growing leader, leading in an unfamiliar organization or leading in an organization that is changing. Materials and Methods Management approaches based on the body of work dealing with leadership studies and transitions and dealing with leadership during times of transition and change management were consolidated and categorized. Results Transitional leaders can benefit from effective leadership training including defining and prospectively accruing necessary experiences and skills; strengthening information gathering skills; effectively self-assessing; valuing and implementing mentoring; formulating strategy; and communicating. Conclusions A categorical approach to transitional leadership may be implemented through a systems-based and methodical approach to gaining the definable, and distinct sets of skills and abilities necessary for transitional leadership success.
Efficacy and perioperative timing of bromfenac in the management of ocular discomfort after femtosecond laser-assisted laser in situ keratomileusis.

Purpose To evaluate the safety, efficacy, and appropriate perioperative timing of the use of topical bromfenac ophthalmic solution 0.07% after femtosecond laser–assisted laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). Setting Keil LASIK Vision Center, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA. Design Prospective case series. Methods Ocular discomfort was assessed 1, 2, and 5 hours postoperatively and the following morning using the Ocular Comfort Grading Assessment in patients treated with topical bromfenac 0.07% or artificial tears just before, just after, or before and after femtosecond laser–assisted LASIK. Visual outcomes and complications were noted up to 24 hours. Results The study enrolled 64 patients (120 eyes). Patients who were treated with bromfenac 0.07% just before or before and after femtosecond laser–assisted LASIK showed the greatest statistically significant decrease in several discomfort scores within the first few hours in comparison with the control group. Two hours after surgery, the majority of patients who were treated before and after LASIK were sleeping comfortably. There were no significant differences in visual acuity; 1 day postoperatively, the uncorrected distance visual acuity was 20/20 in 106 eyes (89%) and 20/25 or better in 116 eyes (97%). At 3 months, all patients had binocular distance visual acuity of 20/20 or better and 86% of patients had 20/15 or better. Conclusion Ocular discomfort after femtosecond laser–assisted LASIK was reduced with a single dose of topical bromfenac 0.07% given immediately before surgery or given just before and after surgery and was typically minimal in all groups the morning after surgery.
Copper complexes containing thiosemicarbazones derived from 6-nitropiperonal: Antimicrobial and biophysical properties

Abstract A series of four thiosemicarbazones from 6-nitropiperonal along with the corresponding copper complexes were synthesized. The biophysical characteristics of the complexes were investigated by the binding to DNA and human serum albumin. The binding to DNA is moderate; the binding constants run from (0.49–7.50) × 10 4 M − 1 . In relation to HSA, the complexes interact strongly with binding constants on the order of 10 5 M − 1 . The complexes also display antioxidant behavior as determined by the ability to scavenge diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (dpph) and nitric oxide radicals. The antimicrobial profiles of the compounds, tested against a panel of microbes including five of the ESKAPE pathogens ( Staphylococcus aureus , MRSA , Escherichia coli , Klebsiella pneumoniae , MDR , Acinetobacter baumannii , Pseudomonas aeruginosa ) and two yeasts ( Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii ), are also described. The compounds contain a core moiety that is similar to oxolinic acid, a quinolone antibiotic that targets DNA gyrase and topoisomerase (IV). The binding interaction between the complexes and these important antibacterial targets were studied by computational methods, chiefly docking studies. The calculated dissociation constants for the interaction with DNA gyrase B (from Staphylococcus aureus ) range from 4.32 to 24.65 μM; the binding was much stronger to topoisomerase IV, with dissociation constants ranging from 0.37 to 1.27 μM.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY OF LANE SNAPPER, Lutjanus synagris (PERCIFORMES: LUTJANIDAE), OFF NORTHERN PERNAMBUCO STATE, BRAZIL

A total of 704 specimens of lane snapper, Lutjanus synagris , caught off Pernambuco State, Northeast Brazil, by small-scale artisanal fishing boats, were analyzed with regard to gonad maturation, gonadosomatic index, size at first sexual maturity, fecundity, and type and time of spawning. Of the sampled specimens, 364 were males and 340 females, resulting in a sex-ratio of 1.1 M : 1.0 F. Size at first sexual maturity was estimated at 16.4 cm TL for males and 17.1 cm TL for females. The monthly mean gonadosomatic index and the frequency of mature gonads suggest that the spawning season of the species in the studied region spans period from September to April. Absolute fecundity ranged from 30,870 to 59,280 oocytes.
Multidimensional human capital formation in a developing country: Health, cognition and locus of control in the Philippines

Economic success depends on multiple human capital stocks whose production is interrelated and occurs over many life stages. Yet, much empirical work fails to account for human capital's multidimensional nature and limits its focus to specific childhood stages. Using longitudinal data from the Philippines, I estimate a model of multidimensional human capital formation from birth through adulthood where health, cognitive, and noncognitive dimensions are jointly produced. I examine during which developmental stages parental investment is most influential and address the endogeneity of investment using a policy function where investment depends on child characteristics, exogenous conditions at birth and local prices. Findings imply that not only will early human capital disparities persist into adulthood without early remediation but also that cognitive gains yielded from early remediation will be lost without complementary investment in adolescence. Findings further suggest that interventions will be undervalued if their multidimensional effects are not accounted for.
Radiometric characterization of Landsat Collection 1 products

Landsat data in the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) archive are being reprocessed to generate a tiered collection of consistently geolocated and radiometrically calibrated products that are suitable for time series analyses. With the implementation of the collection management, no major updates will be made to calibration of the Landsat sensors within a collection. Only calibration parameters needed to maintain the established calibration trends without an effect on derived environmental records will be regularly updated, while all other changes will be deferred to a new collection. This first collection, Collection 1, incorporates various radiometric calibration updates to all Landsat sensors including absolute and relative gains for Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager (OLI), stray light correction for Landsat 8 Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS), absolute gains for Landsat 4 and 5 Thematic Mappers (TM), recalibration of Landsat 1-5 Multispectral Scanners (MSS) to ensure radiometric consistency among different formats of archived MSS data, and a transfer of Landsat 8 OLI reflectance based calibration to all previous Landsat sensors. While all OLI/TIRS, ETM+ and majority of TM data have already been reprocessed to Collection 1, a completion of MSS and remaining TM data reprocessing is expected by the end of this year. It is important to note that, although still available for download from the USGS web pages, the products generated using the Pre-Collection processing do not benefit from the latest radiometric calibration updates. In this paper, we are assessing radiometry of solar reflective bands in Landsat Collection 1 products through analysis of trends in on-board calibrator and pseudo invariant site (PICS) responses.
Abstract 17757: Use of Mechanical and Non-Invasive Ventilation in STEMI: 12-year Trends and Prognostic Impact From the National Inpatient Sample

Introduction: There are few data detailing the incidence and prognostic impact of the use of invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) and non-invasive ventilation (NIV) in acute ischemic heart disease. Hypothesis: The use of IMV and NIV in STEMI is common and such patients are at a higher risk of mortality. Methods: We used the National Inpatient Sample to characterize the use of IMV and NIV in patients with STEMI over a 12-year period. STEMI, IMV, and NIV use were identified using ICD-9-CM codes. Patients with STEMI who required IMV or NIV within 24 hours of hospital admission were compared to those who received neither modality. Cox proportional hazard regression was performed to quantify the magnitude of associated hazard for in-hospital mortality in patients requiring IMV and NIV. Results: Of 1,867,114 STEMI patients included, 72,220 were treated with IMV (3.9%) and 7030 were treated with NIV (0.4%). The use of both IMV and NIV in STEMI increased over 12 years (Figure: P Conclusion: Approximately 1 in 23 patients with STEMI will require respiratory support with noninvasive or mechanical ventilation, and the incidence is increasing over time. Need for respiratory support in STEMI patients confers adverse prognosis. Studies to optimize care and to identify the optimal mode of respiratory support for acute MI patients are needed.
The choice of linker for conjugating R848 to inactivated influenza virus determines the stimulatory capacity for innate immune cells

Inactivated influenza vaccines are not approved for use in infants less than 6 months of age due to poor immunogenicity in that population. While the live attenuated influenza vaccine has the potential to be more immunogenic, it is not an option for infants and other vulnerable populations, including the elderly and immunocompromised individuals due to safety concerns. In an effort to improve the immunogenicity of the inactivated vaccine for use in vulnerable populations, we have used an approach of chemically crosslinking the Toll-like receptor (TLR) 7/8 agonist R848 directly to virus particles. We have reported previously that an R848-conjugated, inactivated vaccine is more effective at inducing adaptive immune responses and protecting against lung pathology in influenza challenged neonatal African green monkeys than is the unmodified counterpart. In the current study, we describe a second generation vaccine that utilizes an amide-sulfhydryl crosslinker with different spacer chemistry and length to couple R848 to virions. The new vaccine has significantly enhanced immunostimulatory activity for murine macrophages and importantly for monocyte derived human dendritic cells. Demonstration of the significant differences in stimulatory activity afforded by modest changes in linker impacts our fundamental view of the design of TLR agonist-antigen vaccines.
Second-harmonic generation in nanophotonic PPLN waveguides with ultrahigh efficiencies

We demonstrate second-harmonic generation in periodically poled lithium niobate nanophotonic waveguides with normalized conversion efficiencies up to 2600%/W-cm2. We achieve a 53% conversion within a 4-mm long waveguide at a pump power of 220 mW.
Conservative management of nivolumab-induced pericardial effusion: a case report and review of literature

Nivolumab is an immune checkpoint inhibitor targeting programmed death-1 protein and has been approved for the treatment of multiple advanced malignancies. Adverse effects of immune checkpoint inhibitors are distinct from conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy and can be life-threatening if left unrecognized. Here, we present a case of nivolumab-induced pericardial effusion successfully managed with high-dose corticosteroids. A 70-year-old Caucasian female with a history of 50-pack-year cigarette smoking was diagnosed of recurrent adenocarcinoma of lung after initial surgery. She progressed through multiple lines of chemotherapy and was eventually started on nivolumab. She developed a large pericardial effusion, grade 3 by Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v4.0, about 4 days after receiving first nivolumab treatment. She was treated with oral prednisone at 1 mg/kg daily with gradual resolution of pericardial effusion over 5 weeks while she still received nivolumab every 2 weeks. Prednisone treatment was eventually tapered off about 10 weeks from initial nivolumab treatment. However 1 week after stopping prednisone, she again presented with shortness of breath and bilateral ankle edema, imaging confirmed recurrent pericardial effusion measuring 2.8 cm. Nivolumab was stopped and patient was again started back on prednisone 1 mg/kg daily which resulted in complete resolution of pericardial effusion in 3 weeks. Nivolumab was resumed 1 week afterwards while patient was on tapering dose of prednisone. There was no recurrent pericardial effusion when she continued low-dose prednisone during the remaining course of nivolumab treatment. With increasing use of immune checkpoint inhibitors, clinicians need to be aware of the unusual immune-related adverse events in order to provide timely management and effective patient care. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of immune-related pericardial effusion from nivolumab successfully managed with high-dose corticosteroids. Furthermore, recurrent pericardial effusion was prevented by using low-dose corticosteroids as maintenance in order for patient to continue nivolumab treatment.
THE USE OF LARGE-SCALE TEST FACILITIES IN STUDIES OF THE ROLE OF MICROORGANISMS IN COMMERCIAL LEACHING OPERATIONS

Although temperature profiles have been identified in a few commercial leach dumps (such as Kennecott Copper Corporation's Midas test dump at Bingham Canyon, Utah), there is no correlation on this large scale with bacterial activity (defined quantitatively as the most probable number, MPN, or number of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans per gram or cc of sample) or oxygen consumption. Recent experiments on unitized copper-bearing waste bodies weighing approximately 1.7 × 10 5 kg in insulated stainless steel (dewartype) containers 3.07 m in diameter and 12.3 m in height have allowed vertical temperature profiles in these ore bodies to be correlated with bacterial population (T. ferrooxidans most probably number, MPN) in the ore body, and oxygen distribution and consumption. It is suggested from these experiments that bacterial catalysis is somewhat critical within a range above about 10 5 organisms/g sample in the waste body. Oxygen consumption initially occurs when MPN reaches approximately 10 7 cells/g; independent of marked temperature influence. While the temperature profiles observed for two different waste bodies show varying degrees of correspondence with the mean ambient temperature, there is overwhelming evidence that the reaction kinetics (mainly exothermic pyrite oxidation) develop intrinsic temperatures within the ore body since temperatures have been observed as high as 59°C. This high temperature seems to be correlated with a marked decline in the Thiobacillus ferrooxidans population, and a concomitant indication that a high-temperature microorganism exists. One waste body (containing Kenneoott Corp. Chino Mines type 1 waste) has been stabilized at temperatures above 52°C. That is, a temperature plateau has been established between 50 and 60°C, and this is suggestive of bacterial control of the temperature of the waste body. The implications of bacterial control of the waste-body temperature and the use of high-temperature microorganisms to establish higher temperature plateaus and enhanced reaction kinetics is discussed in relation to commercial leaching operations.
Thrombolytic Agents: Biologic Properties and Issues Regarding Products Derived by Recombinant DNA Technology

Fibrin deposition plays a role not only in hemostasis, but also in the inflammatory response, defense mechanisms against bacterial invasion, and wound healing. For this mechanism that is perpetually ready to spring into action, the body pays the price of potential accumulation of fibrin microdeposits which constitute a hazard: thrombosis. Counterbalancing this potential danger is the fibrinolytic system which destroys fibrin deposits. In this respect, fibrin deposition may be considered a fundamental mechanism of injured tissue repair and fibrinolysis (thrombolysis) its physiologic antithesis.
Pseudopotential theory of nanometer silicon quantum dots

We present a systematic approach to the study of the electronic structure of thousand atom (nanometer scale) quantum structures. This approach uses the empirical pseudopotential method to approximate the Hamiltonian and a plane wave basis to expand the wavefunctions. Two complementary, newly developed methods are used to calculate the electronic structure of the system. The first method solves for the discrete near-edge states (the valence band maximum and the conduction band minimum). Its computational time scales linearly with the size of the system. The second method calculates statistically the electronic density of states and optical absorption spectra. For a given resolution and statistical accuracy, its computational time is independent of the size of the system for systems smaller than ≈10,000 atoms. The combination of these two methods is used to study the electronic and optical properties of up to thousand Si atom quantum dots passivated by hydrogen. The properties studied include: (1) band gap vs size; (2) band gap vs shape; (3) analysis of band edge states in terms of bulk Bloch functions; (4) total electronic density of state and optical absorption spectra; (5) dielectric constant vs size; (6) photoluminescence radiative lifetime vs luminescence photon energy. The results are compared with tight binding and other model calculations. Comparison with experimental data is made whenever possible. Good agreements with experiment are obtained for photoluminescence lifetime and for the ratio between conduction band shift and valence band shift.
Research challenges for the security of control systems

In this paper we attempt to answer two questions: (1) Why should we be interested in the security of control systems? And (2) What are the new and fundamentally different requirements and problems for the security of control systems? We also propose a new mathematical framework to analyze attacks against control systems. Within this framework we formulate specific research problems to (1) detect attacks, and (2) survive attacks.
Narcissist or Narcissistic? Evaluation of the Latent Structure of Narcissistic Personality Disorder

We investigated the latent structure of narcissistic personality disorder by comparing dimensional, hybrid, and categorical latent variable models, using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), nonparametric and semiparametric factor analysis, and latent class analysis, respectively. We first explored these models in a clinical sample and then preregistered replication analyses in 4 additional data sets (with national, undergraduate, community, and mixed community/clinical samples) to test whether the best-fitting model would generalize across different data sets with different sample compositions. A 1-factor CFA outperformed categorical models in fit and reliability, suggesting the criteria do not serve to distinguish a narcissist class or subtypes; rather, a narcissistic dimension underlies the narcissistic personality disorder construct. The CFA also outperformed hybrid models, indicating that people fall within the same continuous distribution, rather than composing homogenous groups of relative severity (nonparametric factor analysis) or pulling apart into mixtures of discrete distributions (semiparametric factor analysis) along that spectrum. (PsycINFO Database Record
Positive Unknown Input Observer for Fault Detection of Positive Distributed Systems

We consider robust fault detection in distributed systems with first and second order agent models. In such systems, we show that a ubiquitous class of consensus protocols leads to collective dynamics that lie in a nonnegative invariant set. Based on this, we derive LMI conditions for residual generators to sense faults in the nonnegative invariant set. An illustrative example is provided to highlight our approach and to show that it can reduce the time interval between fault occurrence and fault detection.
Adapting BH to One- and Two-Way Classified Structures of Hypotheses

Multiple testing literature contains ample research on controlling false discoveries for hypotheses classified according to one criterion, which we refer to as one-way classified hypotheses. Although simultaneous classification of hypotheses according to two different criteria, resulting in two-way classified hypotheses, do often occur in scientific studies, no such research has taken place yet, as far as we know, under this structure. This article produces procedures, both in their oracle and data-adaptive forms, for controlling the overall false discovery rate (FDR) across all hypotheses effectively capturing the underlying one- or two-way classification structure. They have been obtained by using results associated with weighted Benjamini-Hochberg (BH) procedure in their more general forms providing guidance on how to adapt the original BH procedure to the underlying one- or two-way classification structure through an appropriate choice of the weights. The FDR is maintained non-asymptotically by our proposed procedures in their oracle forms under positive regression dependence on subset of null $p$-values (PRDS) and in their data-adaptive forms under independence of the $p$-values. Possible control of FDR for our data-adaptive procedures in certain scenarios involving dependent $p$-values have been investigated through simulations. The fact that our suggested procedures can be superior to contemporary practices has been demonstrated through their applications in simulated scenarios and to real-life data sets. While the procedures proposed here for two-way classified hypotheses are new, the data-adaptive procedure obtained for one-way classified hypotheses is alternative to and often more powerful than those proposed in Hu et al. (2010).
Was Obsidian Used for Camelid Shearing in Ancient Peru? An Experimental and Use-Wear Study

ABSTRACTObsidian flake tools are an important component of Early Horizon (ca. 800–400 B.C.) lithic assemblages in highland Peru. However, the functions of these tools have not been ascertained. In this paper, we present the results of an experimental project that tests the hypothesis that flake tools were used for shearing domesticated camelids (alpacas and llamas). A collection of 10 replicated flake tools were used to shear an alpaca over different amounts of time. Our results indicate that these implements provide an efficient means of shearing camelids, though their efficiency declines after prolonged use. Following the shearing experiment, optical light microscope (OLM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analyses were undertaken to determine what kinds of use-wear were present on the tools. We tentatively conclude that shearing does leave recognizable edge-wear, including micro-chipping, faint striations, and residues, which we believe could be visible in Peruvian archaeological lithic assemblages.
Misoprostol Alone is Associated with High Rate of Successful First-Trimester Abortion.

Misoprostol alone was associated with a nearly 80% success rate in the first trimester of pregnancy on meta-analysis.