cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A distributed algorithmic approach for improving reliability and energy efficiency in wireless sensor networks

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) have promising features that presents unique opportunities to observe both urban and rural environments. Unlike traditional monitoring systems, WSNs components are small, inexpensive, and easy to deploy. These characteristics of WSNs offer not only capability of monitoring wider and broader areas but also prolonging the observation time without any intervention. However, implementation of WSNs brings about its own theoretical and practical challenges particularly in regards to energy efficiency, reliability, fault tolerance, and scalability. We employ distributed algorithms as our basic tool to overcome these challenges. Distributed algorithms research has an extensive repertoire of reliable and scalable methods. Starting with these methods, we design WSN specific solutions where energy efficiency, resource limitations and unreliable communication are key concerns. We specifically target reliability and energy efficiency issues. While reliability is studied within distributed algorithms research, common models and assumptions are not compatible with WSNs. The issue of energy efficiency is not studied at all, instead constraints such as memory limitations and execution time take precedence. We utilize “programming abstractions” and “mobility” approaches to provide solutions for reliability and energy efficiency problems. Through programming abstractions approach, we aspire to generate more expressive primitives simplifying the implementations of distributed algorithms. For constructing these primitives in reliable and energy efficient manners, we make use of some of the characteristics of the low power radios frequently used in WSN nodes. Mobility, more specifically mobile basestations approach, addresses the spatio-temporal features of WSNs. We propose that relocating basestation in cooperation with WSN eliminates many challenges emerging due to the dynamic nature of data generation in applications such as tracking and detection. We present analytical discussions, discrete event simulations, as well as experimental results from WSN deployments. Our initial results indicate that our approaches have the potential of improving reliability and energy efficiency in WSN deployments.
A bat algorithm for the redundancy allocation problem

This article uses a recently developed bat algorithm (BA) meta-heuristic optimization method to solve the reliability redundancy allocation problem (RAP). The RAP is a well-known NP-hard problem which has been the subject of much prior work, generally of a restricted form where each component must consist of identical components in parallel to make computations tractable. Meta-heuristic methods overcome this limitation and allow for larger instances to be solved for a more general case where different components can be placed in parallel. The BA has not yet been used in reliability design, as it was a method initially designed for continuous problems. A BA is devised and tested on a well-known suite of problems from the literature. It is shown that the BA is competitive with the best known heuristics for redundancy allocation.
Oidaematophorus monodactylus as a Biocontrol Agent of Hedge Bindweed: Development of a Rearing Program and Cost Analysis

Direct costs for rearing 10,000 3rd instars of Oidaematophorus monodactylus (L.) for field release to control hedge bindweed Convolvulus sepium L., in southwestern Virginia averaged 78¢/insect. This estimate was based on colony initiation by using field collected larvae in the summer, maintenance of a minimal population in the fall and winter, and subsequently increasing the population in spring for a June release of 3rd instars. Primary cost factors were labor, equipment, and materials; 30% were nonrecurring expenses.
Chemical and organoleptic changes in poultry meat resulting from the growth of psychrophylic spoilage bacteria at 1 degree C. 3. Glutamine, glutathione, tyrosine, ammonia, lactic acid, creatine, carbohydrate, haem pigment and hydrogen sulphide.

Synopsis Changes in breast muscle (pectoral proper and supra coracoid) and leg muscle (muscles covering the femur, fibula and tibia) attributable to the growth of microorganisms at 1° C were generally small and in case of lactic acid, creatine‐creatinine and myoglobin could not be detected. “Tyrosine”, ammonia and hydrogen sulphide increased and glutamine decreased, the magnitude of the change varying with the organism. Glutathione decreased rapidly in aseptically minced muscle at 1° C.
Effect of HVPE GaN Substrate Condition on the Characteristics and Performance of 405 nm LEDs

This article reports on the effects of HVPE GaN substrate condition on the performance of 405 nm LEDs grown by MOCVD. Three 1 cm 2 HVPE GaN substrates were received from a commercially available source and characterized for the substrate condition. AFM and optical microscope were used to characterize the surface morphology and this was found to vary from a “moonscaped” morphology to a smooth surface. The presence of nanoscale pits and substrate bowing were also found. XRD measurements showed a variation in crystalline quality of the substrates with the FWHM of the (0002) rocking curve varying from 87 arcsec to 192 arcsec with some substrates showing multiple peaks in the rocking curve. Photoluminescence was used to measure the optical quality of the substrates and both band edge luminescence and yellow luminescence were found to vary greatly within one substrate as well as from substrate to substrate. After characterization of each individual substrate a 405 nm LED structure was grown using identical growth conditions on each substrate, in separate growth runs. A GaN template was included in each growth for consistency. The surface morphology and crystalline quality of the device structures were then measured. Following this devices were fabricated and tested for electroluminescence optical output power and current-voltage characteristics. The device characteristics and performance as related to starting substrate quality will be presented with respect to substrate surface morphology and crystalline structure.
Analytical Analysis of Cyber Attacks on Unmanned Aerial Systems

Cyber security has emerged as one of the most important issues in the operation of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UASs) due to their heavy reliance on the on-board autopilot systems. As the first step to implement an autopilot system that is robust to possible cyber attacks, we have conducted a study to identify potential cyber threats and vulnerabilities inherent in the given UASs. In an attempt to study these vulnerabilities in more detail, this paper presents an analytical algorithm to test the behavior of UASs under various cyber attacks and quantify their severity accordingly. Compared to a numerical approach, the analytical algorithm enables the prediction of the most effective cyber attack combinations without the need to compute the severity of all the attack combinations, thereby greatly reducing the computational cost. The performance of the proposed algorithm is demonstrated with a linearized longitudinal motion of a rotorcraft example.
Human immunodeficiency virus infection of the CNS: characterization of "neurotropic" strains.

Neurologic abnormalities have been reported in over 50% of patients with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), and in some cases can be the only clinical manifestation of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (Snider et al. 1983; Nielson et al. 1984; Petito et al. 1985; Levy et al. 1985; Navia et al. 1986a, b; de la Monte et al. 1987, Gabuzda and Hirsch 1987; Navia and Price 1987; Elder and Sever 1988; Price et al. 1988; Rosenblum et al. 1988). Substantial evidence suggests that many of the neurologic symptoms, particularly vacuolar myelopathy and progressive dementia, are the direct consequence of HIV infection of the CNS (Epstein et al. 1984–85; Ho et al. 1985a; Lipkin et al. 1985; Anders et al. 1986; Sharer et al. 1986; Cornblath et al. 1987). This apparent capacity of HIV to induce neuropathology is not surprising, since other members of the lentivirus family (for example, visna and caprine arthritis encephalitis virus) are also “neurotropic”. In the case of visna, the virus has been shown to infect cells of the choroid plexus, alveolar macrophages/monocytes, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes, both in infected animals and in tissue culture (Brahic et al. 1984; Narayan et al. 1985; Gendelman et al. 1986; Hasse 1986). However, the neurotropism of HIV raises important questions as to (a) whether specific “neurotropic” strains of HIV exist, (b) what cells in the brain are infected, and (c) what genetic factors of “neurotropic” HIV impart the ability to infect cells of the CNS.
Size-Dependent Melting Behavior of Colloidal In, Sn, and Bi Nanocrystals.

Colloidal nanocrystals are a technologically important class of nanostructures whose phase change properties have been largely unexplored. Here we report on the melting behavior of In, Sn and Bi nanocrystals dispersed in a polymer matrix. This polymer matrix prevents the nanocrystals from coalescing with one another and enables previously unaccessed observations on the melting behavior of colloidal nanocrystals. We measure the melting temperature, melting enthalpy and melting entropy of colloidal nanocrystals with diameters of approximately 10 to 20 nm. All of these properties decrease as nanocrystal size decreases, although the depression rate for melting temperature is comparatively slower than that of melting enthalpy and melting entropy. We also observe an elevated melting temperature during the initial melt-freeze cycle that we attribute to surface stabilization from the organic ligands on the nanocrystal surface. Broad endothermic melting valleys and very large supercoolings in our calorimetry data suggest that colloidal nanocrystals exhibit a significant amount of surface pre-melting and low heterogeneous nucleation probabilities during freezing.
Noninvasive brain stimulation enhances sustained muscle contractions by reducing neuromuscular fatigue: implications for rehabilitation

Neuromuscular fatigue is due, in part, to central processes that involve failure of the nervous system to drive muscles maximally during exercise. A recent study by Abdelmoula, Baudry, and Duchateau (Neuroscience 322: 94-103, 2016) showed that noninvasive brain stimulation can mitigate neuromuscular fatigue, however, does not rely on enhanced corticospinal excitability of the primary motor cortex. These findings are of high clinical importance because rehabilitative therapies are necessary to mitigate neuromuscular fatigue for patients with central nervous system disorders.
Characterization of Metalworked Surfaces

Surface characterization is a steadily growing element of metalworking quality control. Part of this is due to enhanced instrument capability, such as the great depth of field afforded by the scanning electron microscope (SEM). Some of the interest is related to increased awareness of the role of the surface character in such field service problems as fatigue, corrosion, stress corrosion cracking, and so on. Beyond this, increased focus on “net shape processes” has led to consideration of “finished” surface qualities far different from those developed by machining, grinding, and other surface conditioning operations.
Evaluation on Monocyte-Mediated Delivery of a Therapeutic Gene into the Inflamed Brain.

Objective This study was aimed to explore the potential of a non-invasive monocytes-based delivery system to transport therapeutic genes into the diseased brain. The study was conducted by first establishing the optimized conditions for lentiviral vector (LV)-mediated gene transfer into freshly isolated monocytes, followed by investigating the inflamed-brain homing efficiency and in vivo cell-mediated transgene expression by carrier monocytes in a mouse model with acute sub-regional neuroinflammation. Materials & methods Using a newly optimized spin-infection method, up to 35% of freshly isolated monocytes were successfully transduced with the LV system DHIV-101 at M.O.I. of 10. Meanwhile, cell trafficking and accumulation were detected in the inflamed brain regions in high density following intravenous (IV) administration of freshly isolated monocytes, confirming the suitability of using monocytes as cellular vehicles targeting the brain. However, LV transduced monocytes (TD-MO) displayed significantly reduced homing efficiency into the brain, possibly due to the initial unhealthy cellular states following LV transduction. Although the presence of transgene in the brain was confirmed by PCR, transgene expression was not detected within the inflammatory central nervous system (CNS) sites by RT-PCR or ELISA. Instead, high density of functional TD-MO and their transgene products were detected in the spleen. Conclusion In conclusion, this study demonstrated that IV-infused monocytes were able to migrate into the brain, and remain viable and functional in vivo following LV transduction, warranting more indepth research to fully establish the conditions in order to reduce cellular toxicity induced by vector transduction, and thus enhance the brain homing efficiency of carrier monocytes.
Biomarkers associated with bronchopulmonary dysplasia/mortality in premature infants.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) portends lifelong organ impairment and death. Our ability to predict BPD in first days of life is limited, but could be enhanced using novel biomarkers. Using an available clinical and urine biomarker database obtained from a prospective 113 infant cohort (birth weight ≤1,200 g and/or gestational age ≤31 wk), we evaluated the independent association of 14 urine biomarkers with BPD/mortality. Two of the 14 urine biomarkers were independently associated with BPD/mortality after controlling for gestational age (GA), small for gestational age (SGA), and intubation status. The best performing protein was clusterin, a ubiquitously expressed protein and potential sensor of oxidative stress associated with lung function in asthma patients. When modeling for BPD/mortality, the independent odds ratio for maximum adjusted urine clusterin was 9.2 (95% CI: 3.3–32.8, P < 0.0001). In this model, clinical variables (GA, intubation status, and SGA) explained 38.3% of variance; clusterin explained an additional 9.2%, while albumin explained an additional 3.4%. The area under the curve incorporating clinical factors and biomarkers was 0.941. Urine clusterin and albumin may improve our ability to predict BPD/mortality. Future studies are needed to validate these findings and determine their clinical usefulness.
Tantalum–Polyhedral Oligosilsesquioxane Complexes as Structural Models and Functional Catalysts for Epoxidation

Tantalum-based supported catalysts have been shown to be very selective for epoxidations with aqueous hydrogen peroxide. To gain information relative to the active site on the surface, access to molecular complexes that mimic the active site of the catalyst on the surface is of great interest. In this contribution, several new Ta-polyhedral oligosilsesquioxane (POSS) complexes with POSS ligands are used to model silica-bound Ta sites and are shown to be active as epoxidation catalysts. Notably, a Ta-POSS complex modified by germanoxy ligands and possessing a dinuclear Ta(μ-O)(μ-OH)Ta core is observed to be very efficient for the epoxidation of cyclooctene using aqueous hydrogen peroxide.
Jak2 Regulates Bcr-Abl In CD34+ Cells From Imatinib Mesylate-Resistant CML Patients.

Abstract 1220 Despite the success of imatinib mesylate (IM), complete molecular remission is difficult to achieve in IM-treated CML patients. After continuing treatment with IM, a population of leukemic stem/progenitor cells remains, which are insensitive to IM. Our previous studies have shown that Jak2 regulates Bcr-Abl signaling and maintains levels of Bcr-Abl in CML cell lines, fresh cells from blast crisis patients, and mouse hematopoietic cells transformed by wild-type and imatinib-resistant mutants of BCR-ABL (Samanta et al. ASH 2009 meeting, submitted). We hypothesize that Jak2 plays similar role in Bcr-Abl+ CD34+ stem/progenitor cells, and that inhibition of Jak2 will induce apoptosis by inhibiting critical signaling pathways. In our current studies we have examined Bcr-Abl CD34+ progenitor cells from CML blast crisis patients. These cells are resistant to IM but quite sensitive to cell death induction by the selective Jak2 inhibitor TG101209 at 5–10 μM concentrations for 48 h. Similar results were obtained with cells from IM-resistant accelerated phase and IM-resistant chronic phase patients. Western blotting of CD34+ cells from an IM-resistant blast crisis CML patient established that a four h treatment with TG101209 at 10 μM severely reduced levels of Bcr-Abl protein and levels of phosphotyrosine 177 within Bcr-Abl. To begin to assess whether Jak2 effects on Bcr-Abl signaling also occur in early stage Bcr-Abl induced disease, we assayed CD34+ cord blood cells transformed by Bcr-Abl in short-term culture (Chu S et al. Cancer Res 2007; 67: 7045–7053). The results showed that a six h treatment with TG101209 (10 μM) reduced levels of: Jak2 protein; activated Jak2 (lower levels of pTyr 1007/8); Tyr 177 within Bcr-Abl; and the Bcr-Abl protein itself. These results support our earlier findings that Jak2 regulates Bcr-Abl signaling in CML cell lines (Samanta AK, et al. Cancer Res 66 (13):6468-72, 7/2006; Samanta AK, et al., Oncogene 28 (14):1669-81, 4/2009; Tao W., et al., Oncogene 27(22):3194-200, 5/2008). Furthermore, these results suggest that Jak2 plays a critical role in progenitor CML cells from early stage and late stage patients with CML disease. Disclosures: Bhatia: Novartis: Consultancy.
Circular Foreign Object Detection in Chest X-ray Images

In automated chest X-ray screening (to detect i.e., Tuberculosis for instance), the presence of foreign objects (buttons, medical devices) hinders it’s performance. In this paper, we present a new technique for detecting circular foreign objects, in particular buttons, within chest X-ray (CXR) images. In our technique, we use a pre-processing step that enhances the CXRs. Using these enhanced images, we find the edge images performing four different edge detection algorithms (Sobel, Canny, Prewitt, and Roberts) and after that, we apply some morphological operations to select candidates (image segmentation) in the chest region. Finally, we apply circular Hough transform (CHT) to detect the circular foreign objects on those images. In all tests, our algorithm performed well under a variety of CXRs. We also compared our proposed technique’s performance with existing techniques in literature (Viola-Jones and CHT). Our technique was able to excel performance in terms of both detection accuracy and computational time.
Antimelanoma Differentiation-associated Gene 5 Dermatomyositis.

Melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) is an autoantigen target that has been described in individuals with dermatomyositis (DM). Anti-MDA5 autoantibodies can be detected in 10%–30% of cases of DM, and when present, confer a substantial risk of mortality, usually from interstitial lung disease (ILD). Serologic detection of anti-MDA5 antibodies correlates with a specific …
"Tropical" real business cycles? a bayesian exploration

?Pueden los modelos de economia pequena y abierta con choques tecnologicos explicar los ciclos economicos en paises en desarrollo? No encontramos evidencias que lo comprueben. Construimos un modelo dinamico y estocastico de equilibro general (DSGE, por sus siglas en ingles) que incluye, ademas de choques tecnologicos, perturbaciones reales tales como politicas fiscales prociclicas, fluctuaciones en los terminos de intercambio, perturbaciones en el tipo de interes externo junto con fricciones financieras. Estimamos el modelo usando metodos Bayesianos con datos de alta y baja frecuencia de un pais en desarrollo —y “tropical”—: Colombia. Encontramos que los choques en el tipo de interes son decisivos y que las fricciones financieras juegan un papel fundamental como mecanismos de propagacion de choques tecnologicos transitorios. Con solo estas dos fuerzas es posible reproducir las propiedades del ciclo economico colombiano. Otros choques estructurales, tales como las fluctuaciones en los terminos de intercambio y los cambios de nivel en el proceso de la tecnologia, no parecen haber sido relevantes en la ultima decada y media, pero su importancia aumenta cuando se estudian datos correspondientes a periodos de tiempo mas largos
Urea-glass preparation of titanium niobium nitrides and subsequent oxidation to photoactive titanium niobium oxynitrides

Titanium niobium oxynitrides (TiNbON) are an attractive category of potential photocatalysts, but strategies for preparing them remain limited. We adapt the wet chemical "urea glass" method for pure transition metal nitrides to single-phase mixed-metal titanium niobium nitrides for a range of niobium mole fractions. We then oxidize the nitrides by heating in air to prepare titanium niobium oxynitride that absorbs visible light of λ≤ 550 nm. The materials are characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and diffuse reflectance UV-vis spectroscopy. Their photochemical activity as a function of Nb fraction is benchmarked with methylene blue photomineralization promoted by full-spectrum AM 1.5G solar irradiation with and without a λ≥ 400 nm cut-on filter. First-order Langmuir-Hinshelwood rate constants for photomineralization reveal a composition with ∼8% Nb to have superior reactivity. Full compositional analysis by Kjeldahl chemical nitrogen determination and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy yields a chemical formula of Ti0.92Nb0.08O1.97N0.03. Finally, electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy correlates a localized Nb4+ defect with increased photochemical reaction rate.
Robust design and design automation for flexible hybrid electronics

Flexible electronics is promising for a number of emerging applications such as foldable smartphone, wearables and internet of things (IoT) [1], [2], [3]. However, the key elements of flexible electronics, the thin-film transistors (TFT), often suffer from large process variations and inferior reliability. There is also a lack of trustworthy compact models for these devices. This paper gives an overview of design challenges for the flexible circuits, introduces a robust design style, Pseudo-CMOS, that has been widely used for digital TFT designs, and highlights the development of a flexible hybrid electronics process design kit (FHE-PDK) supporting design automation and verification of flexible hybrid electronics.
Chemopreventive effects of dietary flaxseed on azoxymethane-induced colon tumor development in rats

3474 Studies have shown that fats containing ω-6 fatty acids (e.g., corn oil) enhanced and ω-3 fatty acids (e.g., fish oil, flaxseed oil) reduced chemically induced colon tumors in rats. Lignans have also been shown to prevent colon cancer development in experimental animals. The objective of the present investigation is to study the effects of dietary flaxseed meal, a source of both ω-3 fatty acids and lignans on colon cancer development, and compare with the effects of dietary corn meal. Male Fischer rats, two groups of 24 each were assigned to the AIN-93M diet supplemented with 15% corn meal and 15% flaxseed meal respectively. Carcinogenesis was initiated with subcutaneous injections of azoxymethane (15 mg/kg) once a week for three consecutive weeks. After 35 weeks of initiation, rats were sacrificed under ether anesthesia. Blood was collected by cardiac puncture. The gastrointestinal tract was isolated and flushed with ice-cold normal saline. The site, size and number of tumors were recorded. The fatty acid composition of the serum, colon and tumors was determined using Gas Chromatography-Flame Ionization detector. COX-2 activity was assayed by using Cayman COX activity assay kit in microsomes prepared from colon for both groups. Colon tumor incidence, multiplicity and size were found to be 82.6% and 29.4%; 1.3 and 0.2 tumors/rat; 44.4 and 5.3 mm 2 in corn and flaxseed groups respectively. Colon and serum samples of the corn group showed an increase in ω-6 fatty acids levels where as the flaxseed group exhibited an increase in ω-3 fatty acid levels. COX-2 activity in flaxseed group was significantly lower when compared to corn group. Dietary flaxseed meal containing high levels of ω-3 fatty acids and possibly lignans is effective in preventing colon tumor development as compared to dietary corn meal. This investigation is supported from a grant from North Dakota Oil Seed Council.
Early withdrawal of non-anesthetic antiepileptic drugs after successful termination of nonconvulsive seizures and nonconvulsive status epilepticus

Abstract Purpose Multiple antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are often necessary to treat nonconvulsive seizures (NCS) and nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE). AED polypharmacy places patients at risk for adverse side effects and drug–drug interactions. Identifying the likelihood of seizure relapse when weaning non-anesthetic AEDs may provide guidance in the critical care unit. Method Ninety-nine adult patients with successful treatment of electrographic-proven NCS or NCSE on continuous critical care EEG (CCEEG) monitoring were identified retrospectively. Patients were determined to undergo an AED wean if the number of non-anesthetic AEDs was reduced at the time of discharge compared to the number of non-anesthetic AEDs at primary seizure cessation. Primary outcome was recurrent seizures either clinically or by CCEEG during hospitalization. Secondary outcome measures included hospital length of stay and discharge disposition. Results The rate of recurrent seizures in the wean group was not statistically different when compared to the group that did not undergo an AED wean (17% vs. 13%, respectively; p = 0.77). The wean group had a median value of 4 (IQR: 3–4) non-anesthetic AEDs at the time of primary seizure cessation compared with 3 (IQR: 2–3) in the non-wean group (p Conclusions Early weaning of non-anesthetic AEDs does not increase the risk of recurrent seizures in patients treated for NCS or NCSE during their hospitalization.
Comparing mentorship and sponsorship in clinical neuropsychology

AbstractObjective: Mentoring is a well-known concept that is widely regarded as beneficial for personal and professional development. The concept of sponsoring is less recognized although it is con...
A software framework for designing localization analyses and its use in optimizing single molecule localization (Conference Presentation)

Localization of point sources represents an integral component of microscopy data analysis in applications such as the high-accuracy tracking of single molecules and the high-resolution visualization of subcellular structures labeled with stochastically activated fluorophores. The choice of a suitable method for localization and the customization of the chosen method are both critically dependent on various factors. These factors include the characteristics of the data such as the level of the signal detected from the point source and the types and amounts of noise that are present, experimental design choices such as the optics of the microscope used and the emission wavelength of the fluorophore used, and analysis requirements such as the desired processing throughput and level of localization accuracy. Consequently, the determination and customization of a localization method necessitate experimentation with various considerations, including the underlying optimization algorithm to use, the point spread function model with which to fit a point source, and the computational and algorithmic settings that affect the performance of the localization. As there are numerous combinations to evaluate, software is needed that enables one to efficiently carry out this experimentation. We describe here a software framework and implementation that addresses this important aspect of localization analysis. As a demonstration of this software, we use it to explore ways to improve the throughput of single molecule localization without sacrificing the localization accuracy. In doing so, we also highlight tools in the software that importantly allow the examination of localization results in great detail.
Detection of traumatic pancreatic duct disruption in the modern era.

Abstract Background Pancreatic trauma management hinges upon the presence or absence of pancreatic duct injury, but the optimal method of assessment is unclear. This study endeavored to evaluate the methods of pancreatic duct assessment in modern practice. Methods Patients presenting to LAC + USC Medical Center (01/2008–06/2015) with a pancreatic injury were identified (ICD-9 codes). Demographics, clinical data, technique of duct evaluation, and outcomes were analyzed. Results 71 patients with pancreatic injury were identified. 21 patients (30%) underwent CT scan (sensitivity 76%). Sixteen (76%) then underwent laparotomy while 5 (24%) were managed successfully nonoperatively. Most (n = 50, 70%) underwent immediate laparotomy. Overall, 66 patients (93%) were managed operatively. The majority were assessed intraoperatively for ductal injury with visual inspection alone (n = 62, 94%). Four (6%) underwent intraoperative pancreatography via duodenotomy/cholecystotomy, which were all inconclusive. Conclusion In the evaluation of pancreatic duct injury, intraoperative pancreatography is frequently inconclusive and should have a limited role. Clinical suspicion for ductal injury based on intraoperative visual inspection alone should guide the management of pancreatic injuries.
Maximum Principle for Potentials

In this section we shall prove Theorem 7.4 which states that for a measure µ of compact support the value Uµ(x) of the potential of µ is dominated by the supremum of Uµ over supp µ, for every x in ℝn.
GeV-scale messengers of Planck-scale dark matter

If dark matter (DM) originates from physics near the Planck scale it could be directly detected via its multiple scattering signals, yet this requires a large cross section for DM interactions with atoms. Hence, detection of such DM could imply mediation by new low mass messengers. We propose that a dark $U(1{)}_{d}$ remnant of the underlying spacetime geometry or a unified theory may survive down to small mass scales $\ensuremath{\sim}1\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{GeV}$, connecting low energy standard model (SM) and Planck scale phenomena. Typical required cross sections for direct detection of Planck scale DM can be achieved through the $U(1{)}_{d}$ interactions of DM with SM quarks. Low energy intense sources may uncover the GeV scale messengers of Planckian physics, allowing for testable predictions. We assume that $U(1{)}_{d}$ is gauged baryon number, which implies several new electroweak charged particles are expected to arise near the weak scale to cancel gauge anomalies. The model generically gives rise to kinetic mixing between the $U(1{)}_{d}$ gauge boson and the photon, which may be measurable. In this scenario, direct detection of DM and measurements of a low energy messenger, including its kinetic mixing with the photon, can potentially shed light on the high energy character of the scenario. Astrophysical considerations related to white dwarf stability against runaway nuclear fusion potentially disfavor DM heavier than $\ensuremath{\sim}{10}^{17}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{GeV}$ within our assumed messenger model.
Influence of riparian buffers and habitat characteristics on salamander assemblages in headwater streams within managed forests

Abstract Streamside management zones (SMZs), buffers of forest retained along streams when adjacent areas are harvested, are a primary tool for maintaining ecological functions in managed forests. However, few studies have examined the influence of SMZs on salamanders, and none have examined variation in salamander occupancy, species richness, and abundance across a gradient of SMZ widths at a large spatial scale. Further, because previous studies had limited ability to detect responses of uncommon species, little is known about interspecific variation in salamander responses or whether SMZs serve as refuges for terrestrial species during harvesting. To evaluate the role of SMZs in maintaining salamander species, we conducted four replicate surveys at 102 headwater stream sites, spanning a gradient of SMZ widths and adjacent forest stand ages, within the Ouachita Mountains, Arkansas, USA. We used a hierarchical Bayesian community occupancy model to estimate salamander species richness and species-specific occupancy responses to SMZ and overstory characteristics, while accounting for variation in occupancy and detection attributable to site and sampling covariates. Additionally, we used Bayesian binomial mixture models to examine the influence of SMZ width and surrounding stand age on abundance of two stream-associated salamanders [Ouachita dusky salamander (Desmognathus brimleyorum) and many-ribbed salamander (Eurycea multiplicata)] and three terrestrial salamanders [red-backed salamander (Plethodon serratus), slimy salamander (P. glutinosus complex), and Caddo Mountain salamander (P. caddoensis)]. Occupancy, species richness, and abundance increased with increasing SMZ width, but the strength of responses varied among species. Occupancy of uncommon species was highest at sites with wide SMZs, likely because of the need for specific habitat elements (e.g., wetlands, rocky talus). Richness was lowest in SMZs dominated by pine overstory, and lowest in mid-aged stands, consistent with a lagged decrease in richness within SMZs following harvest. Finally, we documented patterns of abundance consistent with the evacuation hypothesis, indicating that salamanders may leave recently harvested areas seeking more suitable habitat and microclimate within SMZs. Collectively, results indicate that SMZs in intensively managed forests can support robust salamander communities, provided managers continue to retain wide SMZs at some key sites across the landscape (i.e., ≥55 m on each side of the stream), a value larger than current Forestry BMP guidelines.
Robust Adaptive Control for Leader-Follower Multiagent Systems with Stochastic Disturbances, System Uncertainty, and Sensor-Actuator Attacks

In this paper, we develop a distributed robust adaptive control architecture for addressing networked multiagent systems subject to agent model uncertainty, exogenous stochastic disturbances, and compromised sensor and actuators. Specifically, for a class of linear leader-follower multiagent uncertain systems, we develop a robust adaptive control design protocol for each follower. The proposed adaptive controller guarantees uniform ultimate boundedness of the state tracking error for each agent in a mean-square sense.
Tracking linkage to care in an anonymous HIV testing context: A field assessment in Mozambique

RATIONALE Effective human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention requires a coordinated continuum of services to foster early diagnosis and treatment. Early linkage to care (LTC) is critical, yet programmes differ in strategies to monitor LTC. METHODS In 2014, we visited 23 HIV testing and care service delivery points in Mozambique to assess programme strategies for monitoring LTC. We interviewed key informants, reviewed forms, and matched records across service points to identify successful models and challenges. RESULTS Forms most useful for tracking LTC included individual identifiers, eg, patient name, unique identifier (ie, National Health Identification Number [NID]), sex, and date of birth. The majority (67%) of records matched occurred in the presence of a unique NID. Key informants described challenges related to processes, staffing, and communication between service delivery points to confirm LTC. CONCLUSIONS While tracking clients from HIV testing to care is possible, programmes with insufficient tracking procedures are likely to underreport LTC. Adoption of additional patient identifiers in testing registers and standardized protocols may improve LTC programme monitoring and reduce underreporting.
On the initial-boundary value problem for the Euler equations in presence of a rarefaction wave

We study the initial-boundary value problem for the general non-isentropic 3D Euler equations with data which are incompatible in the classical sense, but are “rarefaction-compatible”. We show that...
Evaluating the influences of major depression and posttraumatic stress disorder on trauma and alcohol cue reactivity.

Abstract Despite support for the role of self-medication alcohol use in the etiology and maintenance of comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD), theoretical and empirical models of PTSD-AUD rarely account for the role of common comorbidities in risk processes, such as major depressive disorder (MDD). The current study examined the main and interactive effects of PTSD and depressive symptoms on patterns of trauma and alcohol cue reactivity to elucidate potential influences of depression on conditioned craving responses to trauma memories. It was hypothesized that depressive symptoms would be associated with greater cue reactivity (i.e., craving and salivation) to personalized trauma cues, above and beyond the influence of PTSD symptoms. Participants were 184 trauma-exposed young adults (50% female) endorsing current weekly alcohol use. Patterns of craving and salivation were assessed in response to four combinations of narrative (trauma vs. neutral) and beverage (alcohol vs. water) cues. Forward-fitted linear mixed effects models with deviance testing were conducted to ascertain the impact of the within-subjects factors (narrative and beverage cues) and covariates (PTSD and depressive symptoms) on self-reported and physiological (salivation) alcohol craving. Depressive symptoms were associated with elevated drinking coping motives, AUD symptom severity, and alcohol use problems at baseline; however, depressive symptoms did not show main or interactive effects with narrative or beverage cues to predict craving or salivation, p’s > 0.05. Results suggest that, in the context of PTSD symptoms, depressive symptoms may not exacerbate alcohol craving responses to trauma reminders or alcohol cues.
Debating Women’s Issues on Turkish Television: Exploring the Role of Political Power in Women’s Talk

In this contribution, I provide an in-depth rhetorical and textual analysis of a television debate program broadcast in 2015 on the mainstream television news channel, Haberturk TV in Turkey. The debate brought together women committed to varying political projects, including Kemalism, Islamism, leftist movements, Kurdish women’s movements, and feminism. I find this debate program unique because it took place at a crucial moment in Turkey’s recent history, preceding increasing restrictions on the media that eventually cost more than half of the program participants’ jobs and positions. In my analysis, I focus on how the program’s moderator and the women participants define “women’s issues” in an increasingly authoritarian and conflictual political climate where women are divided with regard to supporting or opposing the Justice and Development Party’s (Adalet ve Kalkinma Partisi—AKP) political program. The results of my analysis show that “sisterhood” does not provide common ground for women in a politically polarized environment and women with more political power dominate the conservation.
A Shape Memory Polymer Adhesive Gripper For Pick-and-Place Applications

Over the past few years, shape memory polymer (SMP) has been extensively studied in terms of its remarkable reversible dry adhesive properties and related smart adhesive applications. However, its exceptional properties have not been exploited for further opportunities such as pick-and-place applications, which would otherwise advance the robotic manipulation. This work explores the use of an SMP to design an adhesive gripper that picks and places a target solid object employing the reversible dry adhesion of an SMP. Compared with other single surface contact grippers including vacuum, electromagnetic, electroadhesion, and gecko grippers, the SMP adhesive gripper interacts with not only flat and smooth dry surfaces but also moderately rough and even wet surfaces for pick-and-place with high adhesion strength (> 2 atmospheres). In this work, associated physical mechanisms, SMP adhesive mechanics, and thermal conditions are studied. In particular, the numerical and experimental study elucidates that the optimal compositional and topological SMP design may substantially enhance its adhesion strength and reversibility, which leads to a strong grip force simultaneously with a minimized releasing force. Finally, the versatility and utility of the SMP adhesive gripper are highlighted through diverse pick-and-place demonstrations.
Differential Expression Profiling Reveals Stress-Induced Cell Fate Divergence in Soybean Microspores

Stress-induced microspore embryogenesis is a widely employed method to achieve homozygosity in plant breeding programs. However, the molecular mechanisms that govern gametophyte de- and redifferentiation are understood poorly. In this study, RNA-Seq was used to evaluate global changes across the microspore transcriptome of soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merrill) as a consequence of pretreatment low-temperature stress. Expression analysis revealed more than 20,000 differentially expressed genes between treated and control microspore populations. Functional enrichment illustrated that many of these genes (e.g., those encoding heat shock proteins and cytochrome P450s) were upregulated to maintain cellular homeostasis through the mitigation of oxidative damage. Moreover, transcripts corresponding to saccharide metabolism, vacuolar transport, and other pollen-related developmental processes were drastically downregulated among treated microspores. Temperature stress also triggered cell wall modification and cell proliferation-characteristics that implied putative commitment to an embryonic pathway. These findings collectively demonstrate that pretreatment cold stress induces soybean microspore reprogramming through suppression of the gametophytic program while concomitantly driving sporophytic development.
Refractory Hypotension Following Heart Transplantation

Introduction Bicaval anastomosis is the most adopted surgical technique for OHT. We present a case of IVC stenosis following bicaval OHT; a rare but potentially catastrophic complication. Case Report A 59-year-old woman with ischemic cardiomyopathy presented for OHT. Her intraoperative course was unremarkable. She was on stable doses of inotropes/vasopressors postoperatively. Four hours later, she became tachycardic and hypotensive requiring escalating vasopressor support. Swan-Ganz catheterization revealed low cardiac indices and filling pressures. She was resuscitated with 5 L of crystalloid and albumin without improvement in hypotension. She notably developed progressive abdominal distention corresponding with fluid resuscitation. TEE showed a small hyperdynamic LV and a small underfilled RV (Figure 1A). Flow acceleration was noted at the IVC-RA junction with velocity of 2 m/s (Figure 1B). The gradient across the junction was 16 mmHg (Figure 1C). A femoral CVC was placed and transduced to measure pressure in the IVC. The transduced gradient across the SVC and IVC was 18 mmHg; consistent with that found on TEE. She was emergently taken to the operating room. Evidently, the IVC anastomosis was obstructed by presence of a thickened eustachian valve. The valve was completely excised. The IVC orifice and anastomosis were confirmed to be widely patent and the anterior wall of the anastomosis was closed. TEE following resection showed resolution of IVC-RA pressure gradient (Figure 1D). Her hemodynamics subsequently showed hypervolemia for which aggressive diuresis was started. She was slowly weaned off vasopressor support. Her cardiac index improved to >2.0. She later had an uncomplicated course and overall recovery. Summary IVC stenosis is an underrecognized cause of hypotension following bicaval OHT. Prompt recognition using TEE is crucial for immediate repair and prevention of multi-organ failure. A thickened donor eustachian valve can result in IVC stenosis and may require surgical resection if hemodynamically significant.
The Nostalgia of Pencils, Chalk, and Typewriters.

Nostalgia is characterized by feelings of sentimentality and wistful speaking. Once considered pathologic, nostalgia is now recognized to be a normal and perhaps essential part of the human condition. Closely related to but distinct from nostalgia is a phenomenon known as ‘rosy retrospection.’ Rosy retrospection is a bias where individuals judge the past as being disproportionally superior to the present. Nostalgia plays a role in helping individuals and society gauge its progress and accomplishments. It also serves to offer comfort in difficult times. Individuals should be careful to understand the differences between nostalgia and rosy retrospection and in turn make efforts to build nostalgic moments with colleagues and family members both inside and outside of the classroom.
Complementary strengths? Evaluation of a hybrid human-machine scoring approach for a test of oral academic English

Human raters and machine scoring systems potentially have complementary strengths in evaluating language ability; specifically, it has been suggested that automated systems might be used to make co...
Dynamic Imaging of the Aorta In-Vivo with 10 MHz Ultrasound

This paper describes a new technique for measuring the inner and outer radii of deep blood vessels in vivo using three 10 MHz ultrasound transducers mounted at the tip of a 7 French intravascular catheter. The method permits dynamic study of the vascular radii as functions of time and pressure throughout the cardiac cycle. Only minor surgery is required, and the vessel under study need not be excised or dissected from its connective tissue bed. The measurements obtainable with this system promise to be useful in the calculation of Young’s modulus of elasticity of blood vessels, the evaluation of animal models of atherosclerosis and related arterial pathologies, and the study of fundamental mechanical properties of arteries in situ.
Action as a Fast and Frugal Heuristic

Decision making is usually viewed as involving a period of thought, while the decision maker assesses options, their likely consequences, and his or her preferences, and selects the preferred option. The process ends in a terminating action. In this view errors of thought will inevitably show up as errors of action; costs of thinking are to be balanced against costs of decision errors. Fast and frugal heuristics research has shown that, in some environments, modest thought can lead to excellent action. In this paper we extend this work to situations in which action is taken after little or no thought. We show that these `highly active' or `decision cycles' processes can lead to excellent results at the cost of almost no thought. The paper examines the settings in which this effectiveness is possible, and lists a number of environmental features that are required for decision cycles to work well. Several research directions for analytical, laboratory, and field-based research are identified.
Effect of Transverse Electric Fields on the Incommensurate Phase of NaNO2

Elastic neutron scattering experiments on sodium nitrite in transverse electric fields are reported. The results are interpreted with the Ishibashi phenomenological free energy. Although no true Lifshitz point is possible, the analysis shows that the incommensurate phase can be narrowed by a suitable perturbation and can disappear at a triple point.