cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
“A Civil Inconvenience”? The Vexed Question of Slave Marriage in the British West Indies

This article revisits the debates on the question of slave marriage that were carried on for roughly two centuries, both back and forth across the Atlantic and on the local terrain of the British West Indian plantation colonies. These debates came into critical focus during the fifty-year showdown over “amelioration,” which ended—though only in a manner of speaking—with the British Abolition Act of 1833. For a long time the lines were starkly drawn, but, in the context of laissez-faire political imperium or “indirect rule,” seldom tested. The metropolitan authorities felt some obligation to uphold the grand moral and civilizational integrity of the as-yet imperfectly imagined British Empire, as well as of Western Christendom. They, therefore, were inclined to see the slave as a species of imperial subject, still vaguely conceived within the emerging terms of reference of their global trusteeship and presumptive legal jurisdiction. They felt that, to honor the dignity of the latter, and sustain and nurture its moral legitimacy, the slaves—their subjects, ultimately—should be encouraged to marry, and their marriages should be formally marked, if only symbolically or by summary Christian rite. The planters, for their part, were unshaken in their certitude that the slaves were a species of property, their property no less, and that the idea of any kind of formal marriage among them was preposterous, a great impertinence, an attack on their authority and rights of property, a threat to public safety, and a dangerous intrusion upon the sacrosanctity of European racial exclusivity and superiority.
Effective population size does not predict codon usage bias in mammals

Synonymous codons are not used at equal frequency throughout the genome, a phenomenon termed codon usage bias (CUB). It is often assumed that interspecific variation in the intensity of CUB is related to species differences in effective population sizes (Ne), with selection on CUB operating less efficiently in species with small Ne. Here, we specifically ask whether variation in Ne predicts differences in CUB in mammals and report two main findings. First, across 41 mammalian genomes, CUB was not correlated with two indirect proxies of Ne (body mass and generation time), even though there was statistically significant evidence of selection shaping CUB across all species. Interestingly, autosomal genes showed higher codon usage bias compared to X-linked genes, and high-recombination genes showed higher codon usage bias compared to low recombination genes, suggesting intraspecific variation in Ne predicts variation in CUB. Second, across six mammalian species with genetic estimates of Ne (human, chimpanzee, rabbit, and three mouse species: Mus musculus, M. domesticus, and M. castaneus), Ne and CUB were weakly and inconsistently correlated. At least in mammals, interspecific divergence in Ne does not strongly predict variation in CUB. One hypothesis is that each species responds to a unique distribution of selection coefficients, confounding any straightforward link between Ne and CUB.
The Design, Fabrication and Characterization of 0.15 μm MOS Devices

The design, fabrication and characterization of a high performance 0.15 μm n-channel and p-channel MOS devices for room temperature operation are described. The design features 5 nm gate oxide, shallow source-drain junction extensions, thin self-aligned titanium silicides, and highly doped wells with low impurity channels for providing low threshold voltages and good turn-off characteristics. A reduced power supply of 1.8V is chosen to optimize device performances without compromising their reliability. n+ and p+ polysilicon gate electrodes are used to avoid buried channel operation of pMOS device resulting in excellent short channel characteristics. In this paper, measured device characteristics will be discussed. Simulated stage delay of 41ps for for unloaded CMOS inverter using these devices is also presented.
Weak localization of photons: contributions from the different scattering pathlengths

Using time-resolved techniques, the contribution from different scattering pathlengths to the coherent peak of backscattered light from a random medium was directly observed. Using a 30-fs pulse laser and a three-dimensional streak camera, the width of the coherent peak is found to be broader for backscattered light traveling through shorter distances, while the width decreases for the light scattered through longer paths. >
Transvaginal Color Doppler Ultrasonography in the Evaluation of Placental Circulation A Review

Transvaginal color Doppler sonography has provided the capability to qualitatively evaluate blood flow in small branches of the uterine arteries, umbilical cord arteries, and intraplacental fetal arteries in early pregnancy. Accurate identification of these small vessels and analysis of their flow characteristics have improved our understanding of the physiology and pathophysiology of early pregnancy that alters the umbilicaluteroplacental circulations. Further development of this technique may help to predict fetal outcome in highrisk pregnancies and in pregnancies with complications, such as intrauterine growth retardation, preeclampsia, and trophoblastic invasion.
Limits to solar power conversion efficiency with applications to quantum and thermal systems

An analytical framework is presented that permits examination of the limit to the efficiency of various solar power conversion devices. Thermodynamic limits to solar power efficiency are determined for both quantum and thermal systems, and the results are applied to a variety of devices currently considered for use in space systems. The power conversion efficiency for single-threshold energy quantum systems receiving unconcentrated air mass zero solar radiation is limited to 31 percent. This limit applies to photovoltaic cells directly converting solar radiation, or indirectly, as in the case of a thermophotovoltaic system. Photoelectrochemical cells rely on an additional chemical reaction at the semiconductor-electrolyte interface, which introduces additional second-law demands and a reduction of the solar conversion efficiency. Photochemical systems exhibit even lower possible efficiencies because of their relatively narrow absorption bands. Solar-powered thermal engines in contact with an ambient reservoir at 300 K and operating at maximum power have a peak conversion efficiency of 64 percent, and this occurs for a thermal reservoir at a temperature of 2900 K. The power conversion efficiency of a solar-powered liquid metal magnetohydrodydnamic generator, a solar-powered steam turbine electric generator, and an alkali metal thermoelectric converter is discussed.
ARTISTIC Critique: A Practical Approach to Viewing Dance

Content Literacy, 21st Century Skills, and Common Core Standards 1 are quickly becoming the buzz of current public education initiatives. As these new policies dictate educational reform, public sc...
Verifying switched-mode computer controlled systems

This paper presents a new approach to verifying properties of computer control systems with periodic sampling when the control programs include both continuous-variable computations and discrete-state transitions (mode switching). We focus on the novel aspects of the approach, which are (1) a formal model for hybrid systems with continuous-time and discrete-time behavior and (2) a method for computing conservative approximations to the sets of reachable states. The formal model and computational routines are incorporated into CheckMate, a MATLAB-based tool for verification of properties of hybrid dynamic systems. This tool is being applied to the verification of embedded controllers in automotive engines.
Social Norms and Social Assets

Social norms are often posited as an explanation of differences in the economic behavior and performance of societies that are difficult to explain by differences in endowments and technology. The successful integration of social norms into economic models requires an understanding of the basis of the differences in preferences that lead to different behaviors. I explore the difference between deep and reduced-form preferences and how both can differ across societies.
Cross-femoral venous bypass in combination with tumor resection.

The cross-femoral venous bypass procedure (also known as the Palma/Dale procedure) was introduced for unilateral iliac or common femoral vein occlusions resulting in chronic deep venous insufficiency. We have utilized the procedure successfully in a patient who required extensive pelvic tumor resection involving sacrifice of pelvic venous collateral channels and unilateral ligation of external, internal, and common iliac veins. The case report and review of the literature are presented. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Pf1 virus particle dynamics.

The overall dynamics of the Pf1 filamentous bacteriophage particle in solution are characterized by nmr experiments. The chemical-shift anisotropy powder-pattern lineshapes from both DNA and protein backbone sites of the virus are motionally averaged in the same way, indicating that the entire particle undergoes rapid (< 104 Hz) reorientation about the long axis of the filament when the virus is in solution at high pH. In contrast, the virus particles in samples at low pH are immobile on this time scale.
Cohesion and Reference in English Chatroom Discourse

This paper examines the textual structure of English chatroom discourse focusing on the cohesive elements which are utilised by the participants in order to create a semantically coherent structure. Due to multiple conversations simultaneously occurring and the linearity imposed by the chat software, conversations become intertwined with each other, and adjacent turns often appear to be semantically unrelated. Schonfeldt and Golato demonstrate that participants in a German chatgroup cope with the lack of adjacency by evoking the name of the recipient whom they are addressing. Unfortunately, every chatroom does not adopt such conventions. Based on a preliminary analysis of a Yahoo! chatgroup, this study will show that cohesive devices (e.g., referential forms) are aiding the participants. Cohesive devices such as lexical relationships and direct address are very frequent in chatroom discourse. Furthermore, certain cohesive elements that are common in spoken discourse (e.g., ellipsis) are used less often in chatrooms because they have a greater potential of leading to ambiguity and misinterpretations.
The quorum-sensing transcription factor TraR decodes its DNA binding site by direct contacts with DNA bases and by detection of DNA flexibility

TraR of Agrobacterium tumefaciens is a member of the LuxR family of transcriptional regulators, and binds to specific DNA sequences (tra boxes) at target promoters of the tumour-inducing (Ti) plasmid. Each tra box has a pronounced dyad symmetry, and each subunit of a TraR dimer binds to one half of a tra box via a helix-turn-helix (HTH) DNA binding motif. Structural analysis has suggested that TraR makes extensive sequence-specific contacts with tra box DNA. In this study, we tested these predictions using synthetic self-complementary oligonucleotides containing variant tra box sequences. Some predictions made from structural analysis were confirmed, while others were shown to be incorrect. Unexpectedly, these experiments also showed that six nucleotides at the centre of the tra box that make no direct contact with TraR are nevertheless critical for high-affinity binding and probably act by facilitating a previously described DNA bend. Variant tra boxes were also tested for transcription activity in vivo. Most transcription assays reflected in vitro binding assays. However, alterations of the outermost nucleotides had little effect on TraR binding but blocked transcription, probably by altering an overlapping -35 promoter motif.
The role of vaginal apex excision in the management of persistent posthysterectomy dyspareunia

Abstract Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of vaginal apex excision in the treatment of patients with posthysterectomy dyspareunia. Study Design: This was a case series with an independent third-party survey of patients with posthysterectomy dyspareunia managed at the University of Utah Pelvic Pain Clinic. Thirteen patients were first treated with local injections of anesthetics into localized vaginal pain foci. Further evaluation included formal psychometric testing and a diagnostic spinal block. Nine patients underwent surgical excision of the vaginal apex. An independent interviewer who did not know the patients assessed the effects of this procedure on dyspareunia and coital frequency at a mean of 36.4 ± 3.7 months after the operation. Results: The mean coital verbal analog pain score (1-10 scale) decreased from 9.22 ± 0.27 before excision of the vaginal apex to 3.11 ± 0.84 after the operation ( P P =.02). Of the 9 patients, 5 essentially had the dyspareunia cured. Dyspareunia was decreased and coital frequency was markedly increased in all but 1 of the other 4 cases. Conclusion: Excision of the vaginal apex is an effective treatment for carefully selected patients with posthysterectomy dyspareunia. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2000;183:1385-9.)
POR UNA LEGISLACIÓN SOCIAL EN CHILE: EL MOVIMIENTO DE LOS PANADEROS (1888-1930)

El presente articulo estudia la evolucion del movimiento de panaderos en Chile, desde fines del siglo XIX hasta 1930. En especial se hace referencia a la etapa de movilizaciones para la eliminacion del trabajo nocturno en las panaderias durante 1923 y 1924. Se plantea como tesis central que el movimiento de panaderos estaba en un proceso de transicion organizativa desde la modalidad de sociedad de resistencia hacia una organizacion sindical proclive a institucionalizar sus demandas y aceptar la legislacion, aspecto que explica la demanda en pro de la eliminacion del trabajo nocturno. El mejoramiento en las condiciones de trabajo supuso modernizar el mercado laboral y generar nuevas modalidades de control de la mano de obra.
Packaging Concept for a Miniature Low-Light-Level TV Camera

This paper presents a packaging design concept for a low-light-level TV camera that weighs less than 13 lb and is capable of displaying scenes under starlight conditions. The discussion highlights thermal problems, weight considerations, tube mounts, modular packaging of electronic components, structural design, designing for final fabrication without the need for breadboard models, and maintainability features.
Retinoic acid induces differential expression of MMP-1&-9 in fetal and adult fibroblasts

INTRODUCTION: The fetus heals wounds by reinstating normal epidermal and dermal elements,thus reestablishing pre-wounding ECM architecture. In contrast,late-gestation fetal and postnatal wounds heal w/scar. Wound repair is partially determined by matrix metalloproteinase(MMP),enzyme active at the wound site. Earlygestation and late-gestation fetal skin wounds differentially express MMP-1&–9,which degrade type I&IV collagen respectively. However,the agents regulating MMP activity have not been identified. Thus,we examined the effect of retinoic acid(RA) on the expression of MMP-1&-9,in mouse fetal fibroblasts(FF) and adult fibroblasts(AF). RA influences not only embryonic fetal development,but also adult skin. The influence of RA on MMP expression in FF&AF is unknown.
Pyocolpos presenting as a large pelvic mass after total colpocleisis

The opinions or assertions contained herein are the private views of the authors and are not to be construed as the official policy of the Department of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Department of Defense, or the US Government. Presented in part at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the Armed Forces District of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Baltimore, MD, Oct. 27-30, 2013. Corresponding author: Chad A. Hamilton, MD. chad.a.hamilton2.mil@ mail.mil
Magnetic Domain Imaging of Epitaxial thin Films by Spin-Polarized Scanning Electron Microscopy

The formation of magnetic domains in thin epitaxial Co/Au(111) films is investigated by spin-polarized scanning electron microscopy. Three-monolayer films are shown to decay into out-of-plane domains of micrometer size. The transition from out-of-plane to in-plane magnetization at a crossover thickness of 4.5 layers is followed by imaging the domains, and the transition is shown to occur as a continuous rotation of the magnetization. The domain size in field-free-grown perpendicular films depends linearly on film thickness. From high-resolution line scans across magnetization reversals we determine the resolution in magnetic imaging to be better than 40 nm.
Food Stamps and Food Spending: An Engel Function Approach

Estimation of Food Stamp Program (FSP) effects has been complicated by self-selection and by a contradiction between observed spending patterns and the economic theory of consumer choice. We developed a modified version of the traditional theory, in which participant households may be partly extramarginal even if they have some cash spending on at-home food. Using Current Population Survey (CPS) data for 2001-2005, we estimated Engel functions for at-home and away-from-home food spending for FSP participants and nonparticipants. Compared to nonparticipants with the same level of total income, participants had higher at-home food spending and lower away-from-home food spending. Copyright 2007, Oxford University Press.
Children's spatial thinking: does talk about the spatial world matter?

In this paper we examine the relations between parent spatial language input, children’s own production of spatial language, and children’s later spatial abilities. Using a longitudinal study design, we coded the use of spatial language (i.e. words describing the spatial features and properties of objects; e.g. big, tall, circle, curvy, edge) from child age 14 to 46 months in a diverse sample of 52 parent–child dyads interacting in their home settings. These same children were given three non-verbal spatial tasks, items from a Spatial Transformation task (Levine et al., 1999), the Block Design subtest from the WPPSI-III (Wechsler, 2002), and items on the Spatial Analogies subtest from Primary Test of Cognitive Skills (Huttenlocher & Levine, 1990) at 54 months of age. We find that parents vary widely in the amount of spatial language they use with their children during everyday interactions. This variability in spatial language input, in turn, predicts the amount of spatial language children produce, controlling for overall parent language input. Furthermore, children who produce more spatial language are more likely to perform better on spatial problem solving tasks at a later age.
Aldol- and Mannich-type reactions via in situ olefin migration in ionic liquid.

An aldol-type and a Mannich-type reaction via the cross-coupling of aldehydes and imines with allylic alcohols catalyzed by RuCl2(PPh3)3 was developed with ionic liquid as the solvent. The solvent/catalyst system could be reused for at least five times with no loss of reactivity.
Block of neuronal fast chloride channels by internal tetraethylammonium ions.

The classical potassium-selective ion channel blocker tetraethylammonium ion (TEA) was shown to block chloride-selective ion channels from excised surface membranes of acutely dissociated rat cortical neurons when applied to the formerly intracellular membrane surface. The patch voltage clamp method was used to record single channel currents from fast Cl channels in the presence of TEAi. At the filtering cut-off frequencies used (3-12.4 kHz, -3 dB) the TEAi-induced block appeared as a reduction in single channel current amplitude, which was interpreted as the result of extremely fast on the off rates for the blocking reaction. Under the conditions of these experiments, the magnitude of TEAi block was independent of membrane potential. Analysis of dose-response experimental results suggests that TEA binding resulted in a partial block of these channels with an equilibrium dissociation constant of approximately 12-15 mM. Analysis of amplitude distributions in the absence and presence of TEAi using the method of Yellen (1994. Journal of General Physiology. 84:157-186.) produced a similar equilibrium dissociation constant and provided a blocking rate constant of approximately 16,000 mM-1.s-1 and an unblocking rate constant of approximately 200,000 s-1. The distributions of open and closed interval durations were fit with a blocking scheme where TEAi binds to the open kinetic state with the constraint that the channel must reenter the open state before TEA can dissociate. The increase in the mean lifetime of the open state could be well fit by this model, but the distribution of closed interval durations could not, suggesting a more complex underlying blocking mechanism.
Flattening maps for the visualization of multibranched vessels

We present two novel algorithms which produce flattened visualizations of branched physiological surfaces, such as vessels. The first approach is a conformal mapping algorithm based on the minimization of two Dirichlet functionals. From a triangulated representation of vessel surfaces, we show how the algorithm can be implemented using a finite element technique. The second method is an algorithm which adjusts the conformal mapping to produce a flattened representation of the original surface while preserving areas. This approach employs the theory of optimal mass transport. Furthermore, a new way of extracting center lines for vessel fly-throughs is provided.
The impact of user information on power-delay tradeoffs in bursty packetized systems

This paper explores the power-delay tradeoff for a time-slotted multiple user system with random packet arrivals and limited sharing of user queue information. The average power consumption to minimize delay with full and only local queue information, as well as without regards to delay is analyzed. A simple scheme with one bit of global queue information is presented. The scheme uses superposition coding to afford reliably received in the presence of collisions and can achieve power-delay trade-offs between minimizing energy and minimizing delay.
Leveraging anatomical information to improve transfer learning in brain-computer interfaces.

Objective. Brain–computer interfaces (BCIs) represent a technology with the potential to rehabilitate a range of traumatic and degenerative nervous system conditions but require a time-consuming training process to calibrate. An area of BCI research known as transfer learning is aimed at accelerating training by recycling previously recorded training data across sessions or subjects. Training data, however, is typically transferred from one electrode configuration to another without taking individual head anatomy or electrode positioning into account, which may underutilize the recycled data. Approach. We explore transfer learning with the use of source imaging, which estimates neural activity in the cortex. Transferring estimates of cortical activity, in contrast to scalp recordings, provides a way to compensate for variability in electrode positioning and head morphologies across subjects and sessions. Main results. Based on simulated and measured electroencephalography activity, we trained a classifier using data transferred exclusively from other subjects and achieved accuracies that were comparable to or surpassed a benchmark classifier (representative of a real-world BCI). Our results indicate that classification improvements depend on the number of trials transferred and the cortical region of interest. Significance. These findings suggest that cortical source-based transfer learning is a principled method to transfer data that improves BCI classification performance and provides a path to reduce BCI calibration time.
The Dirac Equation

Nonrelativistic quantum mechanics, which was developed in the previous chapters, is very successful when applied to problems like the hydrogen atom, where the typical velocity (speaking semiclassically) is small compared to c. (Recall v/c=β=α≅.1/ 137 in the ground state.) But even in this case, there are measurable (fine-structure) corrections of the order of (v/c)4 which have to be put in by hand. If these corrections are to emerge naturally and if relativistic systems (high-Z atoms, for example) are to be described well, it is clear that we need an equation for the electron that has relativity built into it from the start. Such an equation was discovered by Dirac. We study it here with the main goal of seeing the coherent emergence of several concepts that were introduced disjointly at various stages—the spin of the electron, its magnetic moment (g = 2), the spin-orbit, and other fine-structure corrections.
Operation analysis of Longquan converter station HVDC control and protection system

Because of longer operating time and performance defects, HVDC control and protection system of Longquan converter station malfunctioned frequently in recent years, then it has adverse effect on power grid operating security. The faults that occurred in recent years of Longquan converter station is summarized, the fault reason is analyzed, and the problem in operation and maintenance of HVDC control and protection system is pointed out. Based on above analysis results, the technical transformation scheme is proposed. The scheme can not only solve the defects and problems of Longquan converter station HVDC control and protection system effectively, but also play a certain reference role for guiding construction, operation and maintenance of others HVDC project.
Impedance planimetry: an integrated approach for assessing sensory, active, and passive biomechanical properties of the human esophagus.

Objectives Our objective was to study the biomechanical properties and their relationships to the sensory and motor function of the esophagus, which has seldom been examined in humans. Methods We used impedance planimetry, to study these properties. This system measures cross-sectional area (CSA) and intraluminal pressure simultaneously and facilitates calculation of some of the biomechanical properties of the esophageal wall. We performed 15 studies in 12 healthy volunteers. In three subjects, the studies were repeated to test reproducibility. Results Stepwise increments in balloon pressure from 5 to 40 cm H2O induced an increase in CSA (mean +/- SD), 91 +/- 27 to 469 +/- 63 mm2, the wall tension 27 +/- 4 to 484 +/- 32 mm x cm H2O, and the strain 0.2 +/- 0.1 to 1.3 +/- 0.3. The tension/strain relationship increased exponentially. The compliance did not change. The threshold for first sensation was 30 +/- 11 cm H2O (mean +/- SD). In three subjects, when the balloon was distended > 40 cm H2O, chest pain was induced at a threshold of 62 +/- 3 cm H2O, and the compliance decreased. Balloon distension induced tertiary contractions and secondary peristalsis at thresholds of 15 +/- 4 cm H2O, and 19 +/- 5 cm H2O. Repeat studies showed good correlation (r = 0.9). Conclusion Graded balloon distension increases esophageal CSA, wall tension, and strain. When a threshold is reached, tertiary contractions and secondary peristalsis develop at pressures less than 50% of sensory threshold. At higher pressures, chest pain is induced. Impedance planimetry promises to be a simple, objective, reproducible, and comprehensive technique for evaluating the sensory, motor, and viscoelastic properties of the esophagus.
The management of schizophrenia: safety, treatment, and continuity of care. Introduction.

Schizophrenia affects ~1% of the population and is associated with enormous personal suffering, family distress and burden, and tremendous healthcare and societal costs. Although considerable progress has been made in treating this illness enormous challenges remain.Early detection and treatment are at present a distant goal. There is undue delay between the onset of full-blown psychosis and appropriate diagnosis and treatment. Continuity of care is often spoken about rather than truly implemented. Adverse effects remain a critical challenge, and comorbid medical conditions as well as suicide result in a markedly diminished life expectancy. Substance abuse affects a substantial proportion of patients, creating an impediment to optimum outcome. Nonadherence remains a very common, but inadequately appreciated obstacle to adequate and sustained treatment response and contributes enormously to a high rate of preventable relapse and rehospitalization.The focus of this CNS Spectrums supplement is to address many of these topics in a clinically relevant manner by reviewing the latest research findings in pharmacologic and behavioral treatments, with an emphasis on evaluating appropriate treatment for each patient while considering the host of issues that should inform our clinical decision-making. Historically, a major focus of treatment has been positive symptom control. Though this is clearly important, negative symptoms, cognitive dysfunction, depression, demoralization, and comorbid substance abuse are also critical targets in enhancing functional outcome. Concepts such as remission and recovery are useful metrics to help establish targets and goals for treatment planning and for creating a framework for assessing outcome.
How Workable are Class-Based and Race-Neutral Alternatives at Leading American Universities?

This Essay reviews and synthesizes contemporary social science research relevant to the constitutional question, in Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin and more broadly, of whether consideration of socioeconomic status and percent plan admissions based on high school rank represent viable race-neutral alternatives to race-based affirmative action programs. The strong weight of the evidence discussed herein, including simulation studies on a national level and studies of particular states and university systems, shows that socioeconomic status and percent plan admissions are not effective alternatives to race-conscious measures with respect to undergraduate diversity at America’s selective private and public colleges and universities. In addition, socioeconomic-based approaches are very costly due to the combination of increasing financial aid offerings and foregoing tuition revenues, which implicates the U.S. Supreme Court’s language about “tolerable administrative expense” being a factor to weigh in the analysis of race-neutral alternatives. The author concludes by noting that too often a false choice is presented between race-conscious measures and class-based approaches to diversity. In the real world, however, it is the institutions that holistically consider race as a plus factor that are more likely to exhibit a commitment to consider socioeconomic disadvantage in admissions.
Routing Algorithm in Ad Hoc Networks

As a routing algorithm in ad hoc networks, various algorithms have been proposed. A routing algorithm proposed in this paper is a hybrid algorithm, which, considering both residual battery lifetime of relay nodes and ad hoc network size, selects either residual battery lifetime or ad hoc network size according to service requirements. Characteristics of the proposed hybrid algorithm are described
Venous Samples are a Less-Painful Starting Point for the Evaluation of Patients with Acute Exacerbation of COPD.

There is very good agreement between arterial and venous measurements of pH and bicarbonate, and fairly good agreement at higher levels between arterial and peripheral measures of oxygen saturation. These authors suggest an algorithm for patients with acute exacerbation of COPD that includes an arterial blood gas analysis only if the patient's initial pulse oximetry is less than 80% or if the venous pH is less than 7.35, which would obviate the need for two-thirds of arterial blood gasses.
Non-Myeloablative Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation (UCBT): Low Transplant-Related Mortality in 59 High-Risk Adults.

Abstract Conventional allogeneic HSC transplantation is limited by lack of rapidly available, HLA-matched donors & excess transplant-related mortality (TRM) in high-risk adults. Therefore, we investigated the combined use of unrelated donor UCB, utilizing 2 units to augment graft cell dose, with non-myeloablative (NMA) conditioning in adults with advanced or high-risk hematologic malignancy. From 10/01 to 3/04, 59 consecutive adults [median age 49 years (range 19–60), median weight 78 kg (range 53–114)] received NMA UCB UCBT. Patients were eligible if: age >45 years (n=43; 73%); &/or extensive prior therapy (n=25; 42%, inc. 14 prior transplants); &/or serious co-morbidity (n=18; 31%). Patients received cyclophosphamide 50 mg/kg (day-6), fludarabine 200 mg/m2 (40 mg/m2 days−6 to −2), & 200 cGy TBI (day-1), with cyclosporine-A to at least day 100 & mycophenolate mofetil to day 30. Twelve patients without recent chemotherapy also received ATG during conditioning. Patients received either single (n=14) or double (n=45) UCB units with a median total infused cell dose of 3.4 x 107 NC/kg (range 1.1–5.7). Of the 104 units used, 61 were 4/6, 35 were 5/6 & 8 were 6/6 HLA-A,B,DRB1-antigen matched with the recipient. Of 58 evaluable patients, neutrophil recovery to >0.5 x 109/l occurred at a median of 8 days (range 5–32) with a cumulative incidence of sustained donor engraftment of 89% (95%CI: 81–97). In patients with sustained donor engraftment the median BM chimerism was 85% (range 8–100) at day 21, 100% (range 72–100) at day 100, & 100% (range 87–100) at 1 year after transplant. Four patients had primary graft failure & 2 had secondary graft rejection. Of the 44 patients with a prior autograft or chemotherapy within 3 months prior to UCBT, 43 (98%) achieved sustained engraftment as compared to 9/14 (64%) patients who had no chemotherapy or whose chemotherapy was at least 4 months prior to UCBT. The cumulative incidences of grade II–IV & III–IV acute GVHD were 63% (95%CI: 49–77) & 25% (95%CI: 14–36) at day 100, & chronic GVHD was 28% (95%CI: 16–40) at 1 year. TRM was 19% (95%CI: 9–29) at day 180, & relapse/progression was 33% (95%CI: 20–46) at both 1 & 2 years. Regression of relapsed or persistent disease has been seen in patients with MDS (n=2), CML (n=1), intermediate and low grade NHL/CLL (n=11), Hodgkins disease (n=1) & myeloma (n=1). With a median follow-up of 16 months (range 4–30), the probability of overall & progression-free survival was 52% (95%CI: 39–65) & 37% (95%CI: 24–50) at 1 year, & 44% (95%CI: 30–58) & 37% (95%CI: 24–50) at 2 years, with no difference in outcome between single & double unit recipients. Notably, day 180 TRM in patients aged >45 years was 14% (95%CI: 4–24), & in those with extensive prior therapy was 24% (95%CI: 8–40). Serious co-morbidity, however, was associated with a higher day 180 TRM of 44% (95%CI: 20–68)(p
Human Trafficking and Country Borders

The primary purpose of this study is to empirically test whether neighboring countries within the Schengen region have similar human trafficking prevalence rates. It is argued that the free flow of...
A Review of: “Robert Romanyshyn, The Wounded Researcher: Research With Soul in Mind”

In a recent interview for The Nation, novelist Toni Morrison comments on the nature of language, which happens to be one of the most prominent features in Romanyshyn's book: “Language changes—and s...
Reducing Violence and Aggression in Police Officers

Police organizations employ a variety of means to minimize aggression and violence in their officers, from recruitment and selection processes to on-the-job training and monitoring as well as policy development. This chapter touches upon all of these means through a consideration of US police departments but particularly focuses on the ways in which police agencies attempt to locate and intervene with officers who exhibit performance problems, particularly with regard to aggressive and violent behavior. While there exists a body of work around police misconduct regarding aggression and violence on the part of officers, there is much less knowledge around whether or not current intervention efforts are sufficient, so the chapter concludes with a discussion of future research efforts to help illuminate this issue. Keywords: early intervention systems; police accountability; police violence
Abstract 18558: A Puzzling Case of Dyspnea on Exertion

A 59 year-old Caucasian male with a past medical history of presumed pulmonary sarcoidosis, asthma, hypothyroidism, and allergic rhinitis presented to our institution with dyspnea on exertion. One ...
REMOTE INTERPRETATION OF CORONARY COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC ANGIOGRAPHY (CCTA) CAN SAFELY EXPAND ACCESS TO ADVANCED CARDIOVASCULAR IMAGING TO EVALUATE ACUTE CHEST PAIN IN COMMUNITY HOSPITAL SETTING

Telemedicine offers access to advance technologies and expertise that may only be available in tertiary centers. The use of CCTA to triage acute chest pain in low to intermediate risk patients has been shown to reduce emergency room length of stay and hospital admissions. However, this technology is
Self-assessment in Vocabulary Tutoring

To individualize instruction, a tutor must infer which knowledge components the student knows and does not know. Self-assessments, by which the student directly reports to the tutor whether a certain item is known, are a fast measure of student knowledge. We investigate their use to initialize a learner model used to individualize instruction ESL vocabulary. Experimental results indicate that self-assessments can be useful measures of knowledge for use in a tutoring system for vocabulary. Self-assessments appear to be particularly reliable when learners claim that words are not known.
Role of Strategic Planning in Physiatric Practice

Strategic planning in physiatric practice is the key to survival in the new health care environment. The basis of strategic planning is the establishment of sound vision that incorporates consideration of the changing environment and the practice’s strengths, weaknesses, and objectives. Key factors involved in strategic planning include participation of all physicians in the practice and consideration of all elements of environmental influences.
Association of CYP17A1 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) with response to abiraterone acetate (AA) in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).

e16603Background: Abiraterone acetate (AA) is a potent inhibitor of enzymes encoded by CYP17A1 and HSD3β2 in the sex steroid synthesis pathway in the testis, adrenal glands, and prostate cancer cel...
Beyond smartphones and sensors: choosing appropriate statistical methods for the analysis of longitudinal data.

Objectives As smartphones and sensors become more prominently used in mobile health, the methods used to analyze the resulting data must also be carefully considered. The advantages of smartphone-based studies, including large quantities of temporally dense longitudinally captured data, must be matched with the appropriate statistical methods in order draw valid conclusions. In this paper, we review and provide recommendations in 3 critical domains of analysis for these types of temporally dense longitudinal data and highlight how misleading results can arise from improper use of these methods. Target audience Clinicians, biostatisticians, and data analysts who have digital phenotyping data or are interested in performing a digital phenotyping study or any other type of longitudinal study with frequent measurements taken over an extended period of time. Scope We cover the following topics: 1) statistical models using longitudinal repeated measures, 2) multiple comparisons of correlated tests, and 3) dimension reduction for correlated behavioral covariates. While these 3 classes of methods are frequently used in digital phenotyping data analysis, we demonstrate via actual clinical studies data that they may sometimes not perform as expected when applied to novel digital data.
Associations of biological stress markers in hurricane survivors: Heartrate variability, Interleukin-2 and Interleukin-6 in depression and PTSD.

Objective: Inflammatory and immunologic cytokines and vagal activity have important roles in health and mental health, and may influence each other. The authors assessed relationships of representative biomarkers linked to disaster exposure—heart rate variability (HRV) with Interleukin-2 (IL-2, cell-medicated immunity) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6, proinflammatory and pro-immunologic), stratified by psychiatric diagnosis. Design: Participants were assessed for psychiatric diagnosis, IL-2, IL-6, HRV, and HR reactivity to trauma reminders. Setting: Outpatient university psychiatry clinics in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Participants: Relocated Katrina survivors and demographically matched controls, not on psychiatric, cardiovascular, or inflammatory medications. Main outcome measures: SCID-IV, baseline serum IL-2 and IL-6, HRV through power spectral analysis. Results: Survivors had higher sympathetic and lower parasympathetic activity at baseline and lower parasympathetic HR reactivity than controls, with flattened parasympathetic reactivity in the presence of depression and of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Survivors’ IL-2 and IL-6 did not differ from controls and did not differ in PTSD or depression. Depressed survivors’ sympathetic reactivity correlated negatively with IL-2 and parasympathetic reactivity correlated positively with IL-2. Conclusions: HRV differed after hurricane exposure and with survivors’ depression and/or PTSD, more sensitively capturing somatic sequelae than assessed cytokines. Higher sympathetic HR reactivity associated with lower immunologic IL-2 may indicate a double biological “hit” in depressed disaster survivors, possibly rendering them more vulnerable to cardiovascular and immunologic illness as well as depression. Associations of HRV with IL-2 may support reciprocal influences of cytokines and vagal activity. Lack of significant correlations of IL-6 with HRV measures is consistent with its pleiotropic role.
Endoscopic third ventriculostomy inpatient failure rates compared with shunting in post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus of prematurity

Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) has gained traction as a method for treating post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus of prematurity (PHHP) in an effort to obviate lifelong shunt dependence in neonates. However, data remains limited regarding inpatient failures. A retrospective analysis of the NIS between 1998 and 2014 was performed. Discharges with age < 1 year and ICD-9-CM codes indicating intraventricular hemorrhage of prematurity (772.1x) and ETV/shunt (02.22 and 02.3x) were included. Patients with ICD-9-CM codes for ventricular drain/reservoir (02.21) were excluded to prevent confounding. Time trend series plots were created. Yearly trends were quantified using logarithmic regression analysis. Kaplan-Meier curves were utilized to analyze time to treatment failure. Time to failure for each treatment was compared using log-rank. A total of 11,017 discharges were identified. ETV was more likely to be utilized at < 29 weeks gestational age (p = 0.0039) and birth weight < 1000 g (p = 0.0039). Shunts were less likely to fail in older and heavier newborns (OR 0.836 p = 0.00456, OR 0.828 p = 0.0001, respectively). Those initially shunted had lower failure rates compared with ETV (OR 0.44, p < 0.0001) but time to failure was longer with ETV (p = 0.04562). 79.5% of ETVs that failed were shunted after the first failure. Shunts were much less likely to undergo ETV if they failed (OR 0.21, p < 0.0001). Higher grade IVH was predictive of shunt failure but not ETV (OR 2.36, p = 0.0129). Although ETV can be effective in PHHP, it has a much higher initial failure rate than shunting and should thus be chosen based on a multifactorial approach.
A Reliable Method of Assessing Isometric Strength

Abstract The reliability of isometric right wrist flexor strength in test-retest situations was studied. Based upon certain premises of Hettinger's work, an experiment was designed to test measurement schedules which theoretically were capable of eliminating any pure strength development effects upon criterion strength measures. On one day three matched groups each of ten subjects were given one, two, or three sessions respectively each of five trials. They were retested two weeks later. Results indicated that: (a) the varying number of trials on the first day had no significant effect upon criterion strength measures in the retest situation either as a main effect or at different levels of absolute strength, and (b) measurement schedules investigated represented a highly reliable procedure for assessing criterion isometric strength without the intrusion of non-pertinent effects of measurement schedules themselves.
Forty years of study on the thermostable β-glycosidase from S. solfataricus: Production, biochemical characterization and biotechnological applications

The aim of this paper is to make the point on the fortieth years study on the β-glycosidase from Sulfolobus solfataricus. This enzyme represents one of the thermophilic biocatalysts, which is more extensively studied as witnessed by the numerous literature reports available since 1980. Comprehensive biochemical studies highlighted its broad substrate specificity for β-d-galacto-, gluco-, and fuco-sides and also showed its remarkable exo-glucosidase and transglycosidase activities. The enzyme demonstrated to be active and stable over a wide range of temperature and pHs, withstanding to several drastic conditions comprising solvents and detergents. Over the years, a great deal of studies were focused on its homotetrameric tridimensional structure, elucidating several structural features involved in the enzyme stability, such as ion pairs and post-translational modifications. Several β-glycosidase mutants were produced in the years in order to understand its peculiar behavior in extreme conditions and/or to improve its functional properties. The β-glycosidase overproduction was also afforded reporting numerous studies dealing with its production in the mesophilic host Escherichia coli, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Pichia pastoris, and Lactococcus lactis. Relevant applications in food, beverages, bioenergy, pharmaceuticals, and nutraceutical fields of this enzyme, both in free and immobilized forms, highlighted its biotechnological relevance.
Financial and Economic Well-Being: A Decade Review from Journal of Family and Economic Issues

This review examines the papers published in the Journal of Family and Economic Issues focusing on financial and economic well-being over the last decade. The papers examining financial and economic well-being encompass a range of issues and areas such as social and mental health, labor issues, unique populations of study, and broader life satisfaction and wellness. The synopses of papers are grouped into two broad sections: financial and economic well-being throughout the life course and financial and economic well-being related to gender, family structure, and support systems. Finally, this paper discusses insights from the past decade and future directions for research and practitioners related to financial and economic well-being.
pQCD-based Approach to Parton Production and Equilibration in High-Energy Nuclear Collisions

A pQCD-based model for parton production and equilibration in ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions is reviewed. The model combines pQCD processes including initial and final state radiations together with string phenomenology for nonperturbative soft processes. Nuclear effects on the initial parton production, such as multiple parton scattering and nuclear shadowing of parton distribution functions are considered. Comparisons with existing data are made and further tests of the model to constrain model parameters are proposed. With the obtained space-time history of the parton production, evolution of the minijet gas toward a fully equilibrated parton plasma is studied. Direct probes of the early parton dynamics, such as pre-equilibrium photon and dilepton production, open charm production, $J/\psi$ suppressionand jet quenching are also reviewed.