cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
vbench: Benchmarking Video Transcoding in the Cloud

This paper presents vbench, a publicly available benchmark for cloud video services. We are the first study, to the best of our knowledge, to characterize the emerging video-as-a-service workload. Unlike prior video processing benchmarks, vbench's videos are algorithmically selected to represent a large commercial corpus of millions of videos. Reflecting the complex infrastructure that processes and hosts these videos, vbench includes carefully constructed metrics and baselines. The combination of validated corpus, baselines, and metrics reveal nuanced tradeoffs between speed, quality, and compression. We demonstrate the importance of video selection with a microarchitectural study of cache, branch, and SIMD behavior. vbench reveals trends from the commercial corpus that are not visible in other video corpuses. Our experiments with GPUs under vbench's scoring scenarios reveal that context is critical: GPUs are well suited for live-streaming, while for video-on-demand shift costs from compute to storage and network. Counterintuitively, they are not viable for popular videos, for which highly compressed, high quality copies are required. We instead find that popular videos are currently well-served by the current trajectory of software encoders.
Modeling of canonical and C2′-O-thiophenylmethyl modified hexamers of RNA. Insights into the nature of structural changes and thermal stability

Modifying the ribose ring or the nucleobase within oligonucleotides of RNA is a strategy that has regained attention due to its potential to provide chemical stability, increase affinity towards a target, or introduce groups with bioorthogonal reactivity, among other applications. However introducing groups via synthetic routes can be a daunting process and may result in unexpected physical properties and structural variations. In addition, characterizing the effects of a modification within an oligonucleotide can be time consuming and expensive, e.g., NMR, crystallography. Thus the development of models that are accurate, reasonably priced and carried out over short periods of time is essential to the development of this field. Herein we report on the development and validation of computational models that explain the nature of the structural and stability changes induced by the presence of a C2′-O-methylthiophene group at various positions within duplexes conformed by two 6-mers of modified RNA as well as random coils containing the same modification(s). Through analysis of the obtained models it was concluded that the presence of the methylthiophene moiety on two strands of RNA induces a conformational change around the torsion angle (κ°) that leads to lower values in the pseudorotational angle (δ°), thus resulting in an A-form α-helix with shorter distances between phosphates than those in canonical RNA. These results provide a reasonable explanation for the experimental observations, which display the thermal stabilization of the duplexes, and are guiding efforts from our groups to control the structure and function of RNA, i.e., via functionalization of the RNA structure for attaining thermal stability while retaining the structural properties of an A-form duplex.
Haemophilus paraphrophilus Endocarditis in a Prolapsed Mitral Valve

A case of Haemophilus paraphrophilus endocarditis successfully treated with ampicillin is described. The patient, a 24-year-old woman, had a prolapsed mitral valve. The organism was initially misidentified as H. parainfluenzae , which it closely resembles. H. paraphrophilus is distinguished by its requirement of 10% CO2 for growth on NaCl-free medium and its inability to ferment xylose.
Population-based study of outcomes following an initial acute diverticular abscess.

BACKGROUND Studies examining long-term outcomes following resolution of an acute diverticular abscess have been limited to single-institution chart reviews. This observational cohort study compared outcomes between elective colectomy and non-operative management following admission for an initial acute diverticular abscess. METHODS The Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System was queried for unscheduled admissions for an initial acute diverticular abscess in 2002-2010. Bivariable and propensity-matched multivariable analyses compared stoma rates and use of healthcare in patients who had an elective resection and those receiving non-operative management. Diverticulitis recurrence rates were analysed for non-operative management. RESULTS Among 10 342 patients with an initial acute diverticular abscess, one-third (3270) underwent surgical intervention within 30 days despite initial non-operative management. Of the remaining 7072 patients, 1660 had an elective colectomy within 6 months. Of 5412 patients receiving non-operative management, 1340 (24·8 per cent) had recurrence of diverticulitis within 5 years (median 278 (i.q.r. 93·5-707) days to recurrence). Elective colectomy was associated with higher stoma rates (10·0 per cent, compared with 5·7 per cent for non-operative observation, P < 0·001; odds ratio 1·88, 95 per cent c.i. 1·50 to 2·36), as well as more inpatient hospital days for diverticulitis-related admissions (mean 8·0 versus 4·6 days respectively, P < 0·001; incidence rate ratio (IRR) 2·16, 95 per cent c.i. 1·89 to 2·47) and higher mean diverticulitis-related cost (€70 107 versus €24 490, P < 0·001; IRR 3·11, 2·42 to 4·01). CONCLUSION Observation without elective colectomy following resolution of an initial diverticular abscess is a reasonable option with lower healthcare costs than operation.
Mechanism of Hormone Peptide Activation of a GPCR: Angiotensin II Activated State of AT1R Initiated by van der Waals Attraction

We present a succession of structural changes involved in hormone peptide activation of a prototypical GPCR. Microsecond molecular dynamics simulation generated conformational ensembles reveal propagation of structural changes through key "microswitches" within human AT1R bound to native hormone. The endocrine octa-peptide angiotensin II (AngII) activates AT1R signaling in our bodies which maintains physiological blood pressure, electrolyte balance, and cardiovascular homeostasis. Excessive AT1R activation is associated with pathogenesis of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases which are treated by sartan drugs. The mechanism of AT1R inhibition by sartans has been elucidated by 2.8 A X-ray structures, mutagenesis, and computational analyses. Yet, the mechanism of AT1R activation by AngII is unclear. The current study delineates an activation scheme initiated by AngII binding. A van der Waals "grasp" interaction between Phe8AngII with Ile2887.39 in AT1R induced mechanical strain pulling Tyr2927.43 and breakage of critical interhelical H-bonds, first between Tyr2927.43 and Val1083.32 and second between Asn1113.35 and Asn2957.46. Subsequently changes are observed in conserved microswitches DRYTM3, Yx7K(R)TM5, CWxPTM6, and NPxxYTM7 in AT1R. Activating the microswitches in the intracellular region of AT1R may trigger formation of the G-protein binding pocket as well as exposure of helix-8 to cytoplasm. Thus, the active-like conformation of AT1R is initiated by the van der Waals interaction of Phe8AngII with Ile2887.39, followed by systematic reorganization of critical interhelical H-bonds and activation of microswitches.
Autoantibody cross-reactivity with a microbial protein from a prevalent human gut commensal in antiphospholipid syndrome

Given the vast antigenic source of the gut microbiota, we hypothesized that human gut commensal bacteria induce and sustain autoreactivity via cross-reactivity. As a paradigm, we studied the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), which is a serious autoimmune clotting disorder of unknown etiology but with a well-defined major autoantigen, b 2 -glycoprotein I (b 2 GPI). Infectious triggers are implicated in transient autoantibody production, but the persistent stimuli for anti-b 2 GPI antibodies remain unknown. To this end, we characterized b 2 GPI-specific monoclonal autoantibody reactivity to an in silico identified candidate commensal, Roseburia intestinalis ( R.int ), that is abundant in human stool from APS patients as detected by a species-specific PCR. Using an APS-derived monoclonal antibody, P1-117, that binds to the major B cell epitope in domain I of b 2 GPI (RGGMR), we tested for cross-reactivity to anaerobically cultured R.int and its candidate cross-reactive R.int protein (WP_006857340.1). P1-117 bound significantly to R.int lysates whereas a control antibody specific for another epitope within b 2 GPI did not. Further, P1-117 displayed significant binding to the recombinantly expressed R.int cross-reactive candidate protein. BALB/cJ mice immunized with whole heat-killed R.int displayed significant cross-reactive splenocytes and low titers of cross-reactive IgG autoantibodies. In conclusion, we present here in vitro and in vivo studies supporting cross-reactivity of pathogenic b 2 GPI-specific autoantibody with a common gut commensal. This study provides a concept for persistently colonizing gut commensals as chronic cross-reactive triggers in genetically susceptible autoimmune hosts such as APS patients.
(305) The Contribution of Experimental Pain to the Sex Differences in Exercise-Induced Hypoalgesia

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of baseline (pre-exercise) temporal summation (TS) on the change of TS following submaximal isometric exercise in young healthy men (M) and women (W). Fifty-seven participants (20.75 ± 1.81 years; 29 women) completed two randomized sessions (exercise or quiet rest session). Isometric exercise consisted of sustained contraction of the knee extensors at 30% of maximum voluntary contraction performed until task failure. TS was assessed by applying a mechanical noxious stimulus equivalent to either 1kg (Low group) or 1.5 kg (High group) on the index finger. The mechanical noxious stimulus was applied for one minute beyond pain threshold, and subjects were instructed to rate their pain every 15 seconds on a numerical pain rating scale (0-10). TS was evaluated before and after exercise and quiet rest. The magnitude of TS was calculated as: [last pain rating – first pain rating]. The change of TS was compared between the two groups within each sex (M-High, M-Low, W-High, and W-Low). Sex differences in exercise-induced hypoalgesia (EIH) occurred among the high TS stimulus intensity group (session X trial X sex X group; p= 0.01); only W-High group experienced EIH while M-High experienced no change (session X trial X sex; p=0.039). Among women, the W-High had greater EIH than W-Low (session X trial X group; p= 0.049). In addition, pre-exercise TS was positively correlated with the magnitude of EIH (r= 0.34, p= 0.01). These results suggest that baseline experimental pain may contribute to the magnitude of EIH and to the sex differences in EIH.
Niche breadth and vertebrate sensitivity to habitat modification: signals from multiple taxa across replicated landscapes

Wildlife species differ in their resistance to landscape modifications including habitat loss and fragmentation. We hypothesized that niche breadth is positively related to both (1) overall species occurrence and (2) species response to landscape modification, because species with a wide range of diet and/or habitat preferences should be able to colonize and survive in more patches than specialized species. We tested the hypothesis using occurrence data from 65 species spanning multiple taxonomic groups (birds, small mammals, bats, and aquatic turtles) collected in thirty-five 23 km2 landscapes in the Midwestern United States that varied in degree of modification. Niche breadth for each species was obtained from a combination of sources on habitat and diet requirements. We fit models for occurrence and response to modification as a function of niche breadth while accounting for imperfect detection and phylogenetic relatedness among species. As predicted, niche breadth was positively related to occurrence for all taxonomic groups. Response to landscape modification was positively related to niche breadth for birds, but there was no effect for the other taxonomic groups. Neither imperfect detection nor phylogeny affected relationships qualitatively. The lack of an effect of niche breadth on response to modification may be due to a long history of human land-use in the study region, resulting in assemblages in which all extant species have at least some resistance to agricultural disturbance.
Same As It Ever Was: The Nexus of Race, Ability, and Place in One Urban School District

Lack of access to general education for students with disabilities, particularly students with extensive support needs, students of color, and students from low-income households, reflects continue...
Liberalized harvest regulations have not affected overabundant Snow Geese in Northern Manitoba

Large amounts of money are spent each year to control overabundant species that imperil biodiversity and ecosystem functioning across the globe. Lesser Snow Geese (Anser caerulescens caerulescens) are emblematic of this issue, as their overabundance has affected a whole suite of plant, insect, and bird communities via a trophic cascade that managers have attempted to stop before it spreads further across the North American (sub)Arctic. To achieve this goal, liberalized harvest measures designed to decrease Lesser Snow Goose survival and abundance were implemented almost 2 decades ago. Our previous quantitative assessment of management effectiveness indicated that the growing Lesser Snow Goose population quickly overwhelmed a satiated hunter population despite liberalized harvest regulations, eventually reducing the fraction of Lesser Snow Geese being harvested each year. Consistent with the philosophy of adaptive resource management, we apply improved methods to additional years of monitoring data to evaluate the ongoing impact of harvest conservation efforts on Lesser Snow Goose harvest rates. Our previous results suggested little effect of liberalized harvest regulations on harvest rates, but our new findings suggest even less of an impact. Harvest rates have recently stabilized at ∼3%, the lowest levels observed over the last 48 yr of our study. Barring adverse effects of environmental change on natural mortality or reproductive success, additional measures will need to be taken to reduce Lesser Snow Goose overabundance and their ecosystem damage.
Trends in the use of surgical antibiotic prophylaxis in general pediatric surgery: Are we missing the mark for both stewardship and infection prevention?

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to assess compliance with antimicrobial spectrum guidelines in the use of surgical antibiotic prophylaxis (SAP) in pediatric surgery. Methods A retrospective cohort study of children undergoing elective clean-contaminated and clean surgical procedures with foreign body implantation using the Pediatric Health Information System database (10/2015–6/2018) was performed. Compliance rates with consensus guidelines surrounding appropriate spectrum of SAP coverage were calculated for each procedure. Undertreatment was defined as the use of SAP with inappropriately narrow coverage (or omission altogether), while overtreatment was defined as inappropriately broad coverage. Results Eight procedure groups including a total of 15,708 patients were included. Overall, 44% of cases received inappropriate prophylaxis, of which 58% were considered undertreatment and 42% overtreatment. Procedures with the highest rates of overtreatment included small bowel procedures (77%), colorectal procedures (29%), and hepatobiliary procedures (20%), while the highest rates of undertreatment were associated with placement of tunneled central venous catheters and ports (43%), hepatobiliary procedures (24%), and colorectal procedures (20%). Conclusion Noncompliance with the recommended spectrum of coverage for surgical antibiotic prophylaxis is common in pediatric surgery, with both over and undertreatment being common themes. Improved compliance is needed to optimize both antibiotic stewardship and infection prevention. Type of study Treatment study. Level of evidence Level III.
Immunoassay Automation: an Updated Guide to Systems. D.W. Chan, ed. San Diego: Academic Press, Inc., 1996, 312 pp. $59.95. ISBN 0-12-167640-4.

A balanced mix of academic and commercial scientists have compiled the essential information necessary for a critical comparison of automated immunoassay systems. This text focuses on systems that are fully automated, dedicated analyzers for immunodiagnostics, combining continuous access, primary tube sampling, bar-code reading, sophisticated information processing, and a diverse menu of available analytes to provide for workstation consolidation. The book begins with an excellent overview of the role of random-access immunoassay analyzers in addressing the challenges to today’s hospital laboratories and guiding …
Stroke readmissions: Playing defense?

What if avoiding hospitalization were as simple as seeing your regular doctor? Readmissions are common: up to 22% of individuals experience 30-day readmissions after neurologic hospitalization.1 With high face validity, research has suggested that rapid postacute outpatient visits are associated with reduced readmissions.2
American Provisioning and the Environmental Impact on Islands in the Indian Ocean

Studies of Indian Ocean commerce have focused on the role of commodities such as silver or spices in creating and sustaining connections within the ocean and beyond. This emphasis obscures the exig...
Success Factors that Shape Black Male Transfer and Academic Experiences in Engineering

Although many Black male students begin their collegiate experience at community colleges, a greater understanding of their four-year transfer experience is needed. This qualitative narrative study...
g m /I D Design Considerations for Subthreshold-Based CMOS Two-Stage Operational Amplifiers

The g m /I D -based design of analog integrated circuits introduced by Silveira, et al. in 1996 [1] employs an empirical transistor sizing methodology using SPICE-generated lookup tables. In the design of ultra-low-power amplifiers, the iconic plots of g m /I D vs V OV suggest that some devices should be operated deep in weak inversion (e.g., V OV &#x2243; −0.2V) where gm/ID is near maximum. Performance parameters such as gain, bandwidth, thermal noise, power dissipation, etc., benefit from this choice. However, in applications where small-signal settling time is critical (e.g., precision switched-capacitor circuits), the unity-gain phase margin, PM, is a parameter of paramount importance. PM (i.e., small-signal settling time) vs. V OV (i.e., strong, moderate or weak inversion) design considerations are presented in this paper. The key result is that as the design choice of V OV moves the region of operation from strong to moderate to weak inversion, PM is reduced substantially and settling time is increased dramatically. In addition to new design insights, area-efficient device layout techniques are illustrated that improve performance.
What Counts? Sources of Knowledge in Children’s Acquisition of the Successor Function

Although many U.S. children can count sets by 4 years, it is not until 5½-6 years that they understand how counting relates to number-that is, that adding 1 to a set necessitates counting up one number. This study examined two knowledge sources that 3½- to 6-year-olds (N = 136) may leverage to acquire this "successor function": (a) mastery of productive rules governing count list generation; and (b) training with "+1" math facts. Both productive counting and "+1" math facts were related to understanding that adding 1 to sets entails counting up one number in the count list; however, even children with robust successor knowledge struggled with its arithmetic expression, suggesting they do not generalize the successor function from "+1" math facts.
What Therapeutic Regimen Will Be Optimal for Initial Clinical Trials of Pig Organ Transplantation

We discuss what therapeutic regimen might be acceptable/successful in the first clinical trial of genetically engineered pig kidney or heart transplantation. As regimens based on a calcineurin inhibitor or CTLA4-Ig have proved unsuccessful, the regimen we administer to baboons is based on induction therapy with antithymocyte globulin, an anti-CD20 mAb (Rituximab), and cobra venom factor, with maintenance therapy based on blockade of the CD40/CD154 costimulation pathway (with an anti-CD40 mAb), with rapamycin, and a corticosteroid. An anti-inflammatory agent (etanercept) is administered for the first 2 wk, and adjuvant therapy includes prophylaxis against thrombotic complications, anemia, cytomegalovirus, and pneumocystis. Using this regimen, although antibody-mediated rejection certainly can occur, we have documented no definite evidence of an adaptive immune response to the pig xenograft. This regimen could also form the basis for the first clinical trial, except that cobra venom factor will be replaced by a clinically approved agent, for example, a C1-esterase inhibitor. However, none of the agents that block the CD40/CD154 pathway are yet approved for clinical use, and so this hurdle remains to be overcome. The role of anti-inflammatory agents remains unproven. The major difference between this suggested regimen and those used in allotransplantation is the replacement of a calcineurin inhibitor with a costimulation blockade agent, but this does not appear to increase the complications of the regimen.
Impact of Messaging Strategy on Consumer Understanding of Food Date Labels

Abstract Objective Explore consumer understanding of the food industry's 2-date labeling system and the relative effectiveness of messages in increasing understanding. Design Participant understanding of date labels assessed before and after random assignment to 1 of 7 messages explaining the meaning of the labels. Setting US online survey through Amazon Mechanical Turk collected responses from July 29, 2019, to August 5, 2019. Participants Adults aged 18 years or older who speak English (n = 2,607). Intervention Seven message variations. Variables Measured Behaviors, awareness, and understanding of date labeling, and effectiveness of messages and opportunities for improving them. Analysis Pearson's chi-square test of independence, Wald chi-square test of association, McNemar's test of marginal homogeneity, and logistic regression. Results The majority of respondents use date labels to make decisions and believe they know what the labels mean; however, only 64.0% and 44.8% knew the general meaning of the Best If Used By and Use By labels, respectively. Even fewer understood their specific meanings. Overall, education increased general understanding to 82.0% for Best If Used By and 82.4% for Use By (P Conclusions and Implications Consumer education is needed to improve understanding of the 2-date labeling system, ultimately improving food safety and decreasing wasted food. This study highlights opportunities for effective educational communication.
Activist investor disclosures and firms' information environments

Recent theories of shareholder governance predict that large activist investors will make voluntary public disclosures to persuade the board and other investors that implementing their ideas is beneficial to the target firm. We test this prediction using one of the first large-scale datasets of activists' voluntary disclosures about public firms. We find that these disclosures are widely adopted by activists and significantly associated with positive abnormal returns, decreases in bid-ask spreads, and increases in disclosure at the target firms. Additional tests suggest that these findings are justified as the targets of activist disclosures do in fact implement governance changes and improve their performance ex post. Overall, our evidence empirically supports the disclosure prediction of recent governance theories, and highlights a new link between large investors and firms' information environments.
The balche ritual of the lacandon maya

According to early 16th century Spanish historical sources, the ritual use of balche (a mildly alcoholic beverage) was a common feature of religious life among the Precolumbian Maya Indians. As the balche rite involved ritual inebriation and of ferings of the beverage to traditional pagan gods, it was not long before missionaries attempted to terminate the practice of this ritual.
The Social Process of "Passing" to Manage Stigma: Acts of Internalized Oppression or Acts of Resistance?

In order to manage social stigma, some individuals construct and enact a social interaction strategy known as passing, which is a performance in which one presents himself as what one is not V. Rohy. Based on interviews with lesbians and gay men of color, this article suggests that the process of passing is not based upon a rejection of stigmatized identity, but situationally employed to resist social oppression
Introduction to Semiconductor Devices: For Computing and Telecommunications Applications

From semiconductor fundamentals to semiconductor devices used in the telecommunications and computing industries, this 2005 book provides a solid grounding in the most important devices used in the hottest areas of electronic engineering. The book includes coverage of future approaches to computing hardware and RF power amplifiers, and explains how emerging trends and system demands of computing and telecommunications systems influence the choice, design and operation of semiconductors. Next, the field effect devices are described, including MODFETs and MOSFETs. Short channel effects and the challenges faced by continuing miniaturisation are then addressed. The rest of the book discusses the structure, behaviour, and operating requirements of semiconductor devices used in lightwave and wireless telecommunications systems. This is both an excellent senior/graduate text, and a valuable reference for engineers and researchers in the field.
Seeking Acronym Definitions: a Web-based Approach

Acronyms are widely used in many domains to abbreviate and stress important concepts. Due to its dynamicity and unbounded nature, manual attempts to compose a global scale repository of acronym-definition pairs result in an overwhelming amount of work and limited amount of results. Attending these shortcomings, the paper presents an automatic and non-supervised methodology to generate acronyms and extract their possible definitions from the Web. The method has been designed in order to minimize the set of constraints, offering a domain and -partially-language independent solution. The obtained results have been manually evaluated against the largest manually built acronym repository (Acronym Finder). The results obtained after this comparison show that the proposed automatic web-based approach is able to improve the coverage of manual attempts offering a high precision.
Current state of cartilage tissue engineering

Damage to cartilage is of great clinical consequence given the tissue's limited intrinsic potential for healing. Current treatments for cartilage repair are less than satisfactory, and rarely restore full function or return the tissue to its native normal state. The rapidly emerging field of tissue engineering holds great promise for the generation of functional cartilage tissue substitutes. The general approach involves a biocompatible, structurally and mechanically sound scaffold, with an appropriate cell source, which is loaded with bioactive molecules that promote cellular differentiation and/or maturation. This review highlights aspects of current progress in cartilage tissue engineering.
Is the northern high-latitude land-based CO2 sink weakening?

Studies indicate that, historically, terrestrial ecosystems of the northern high latitude region may have been responsible for up to 60% of the global net land-based sink for atmospheric CO2. However, these regions have recently experienced remarkable modification of the major driving forces of the carbon cycle, including surface air temperature warming that is significantly greater than the global average and associated increases in the frequency and severity of disturbances. Whether arctic tundra and boreal forest ecosystems will continue to sequester atmospheric CO2 in the face of these dramatic changes is unknown. Here we show the results of model simulations that estimate a 41 Tg C yr-1 sink in the boreal land regions from 1997 to 2006, which represents a 73% reduction in the strength of the sink estimated for previous decades in the late 20th Century. Our results suggest that CO2 uptake by the region in previous decades may not be as strong as previously estimated. The recent decline in sink strength is the combined result of 1) weakening sinks due to warming-induced increases in soil organic matter decomposition and 2) strengthening sources from pyrogenic CO2 emissions as a result of the substantial area of boreal forest burned in wildfiresmore » across the region in recent years. Such changes create positive feedbacks to the climate system that accelerate global warming, putting further pressure on emission reductions to achieve atmospheric stabilization targets.« less
Lifetime optimization with QoS of sensor networks with uncontrollable mobile sinks

In past literature, it has been demonstrated that the use of mobile sinks (MSs) increases dramatically the lifetime of wireless sensor networks (WSNs). In applications where the MSs are humans, animals, or transportation systems, the mobility of the MS is often random and unpredictable, implying the necessity of novel and specific algorithms able to deal with large uncertainty on the MS mobility. In this paper, we define the yet unsolved problem of optimizing the lifetime of a WSN in the presence of uncontrollable and random sink mobility with QoS constraints. Then, we present a novel Swarm-Intelligence-based Sensor Selection Algorithm (SISSA), which optimizes network lifetime and meets pre-defined QoS constraints. Next, we mathematically analyze SISSA and derive analytical bounds on energy consumption, number of messages exchanged, and convergence time. The efficiency of SISSA and the accuracy of the model are experimentally evaluated with a testbed composed by 40 sensors, and the network lifetime provided by SISSA is compared to that by an ideal scheme. Experimental and analytical results conclude that SISSA is highly scalable and energy-efficient, and provides on the average the 56% of the lifetime provided by the ideal scheme in all the considered network parameter sets.
Managing the training enterprise: High-quality, cost-effective employee training in organizations.

Explains how corporations can enhance training quality, cut overhead costs, and improve their overall performance standards by developing training professionals within an organization and making training an integral part of fulfilling company goals. Shows how to structure and staff a training department and track its financial impact on the organization.
Radiation Exposure Induces Inflammasome Pathway Activation in Immune Cells

Radiation exposure induces cell and tissue damage, causing local and systemic inflammatory responses. Because the inflammasome pathway is triggered by cell death and danger-associated molecular patterns, we hypothesized that the inflammasome may signal acute and chronic immune responses to radiation. Using a mouse radiation model, we show that radiation induces a dose-dependent increase in inflammasome activation in macrophages, dendritic cells, NK cells, T cells, and B cells as judged by cleaved caspase-1 detection in cells. Time course analysis showed the appearance of cleaved caspase-1 in cells by day 1 and sustained expression until day 7 after radiation. Also, cells showing inflammasome activation coexpressed the cell surface apoptosis marker annexin V. The role of caspase-1 as a trigger for hematopoietic cell losses after radiation was studied in caspase-1(-/-) mice. We found less radiation-induced cell apoptosis and immune cell loss in caspase-1(-/-) mice than in control mice. Next, we tested whether uric acid might mediate inflammasome activation in cells by treating mice with allopurinol and discovered that allopurinol treatment completely blocked caspase-1 activation in cells. Finally, we demonstrate that radiation-induced caspase-1 activation occurs by a Nod-like receptor family protein 3-independent mechanism because radiation-exposed Nlrp3(-/-) mice showed caspase-1 activation profiles that were indistinguishable from those of wild-type mice. In summary, our data demonstrate that inflammasome activation occurs in many immune cell types following radiation exposure and that allopurinol prevented radiation-induced inflammasome activation. These results suggest that targeting the inflammasome may help control radiation-induced inflammation.
Salmonellosis in orally infected specific pathogen-free C57B1 mice

Specific pathogen-free C57B1 mice are 100 to 1,000 times as sensitive as CD-1 mice to intravenous or oral challenge by Salmonella enteritidis or S. gallinarum. Resistance to infection by S. pullorum was unaffected. Growth of Listeria monocytogenes and Mycobacterium bovis (BCG) in intravenously infected C57B1 mice was similar to that seen in CD-1 mice. Quantitative counts of viable S. enteritidis in the walls of the stomach, small intestine, cecum, and large intestine and in the corresponding intestinal contents showed that most of the oral challenge inoculum was rapidly inactivated so that, by 24 hr, less than 1% was still viable. Overnight starvation and pretreatment with bicarbonate solution increased the relative survival of the challenge approximately 10-fold. Despite the rapid and extensive inactivation of the oral inoculum within the normal intestine, significant numbers of salmonellae reached the liver and spleen by 48 hr, and this systemic infection was subsequently responsible for the death of a high proportion of the challenged animals.
Prevention of Type E Clostridium Botulinum Toxin Formation in Smoked Whitefish Chubs with Tylosin Lactate

SUMMARY The formation of type E Clostridium botulinum toxin was prevented in low-temperature laboratory-processed whitefish chubs by ineorporating 100 ppm tylosin lactate in the brine. Although toxin formation occurred in brined fish processed 30 min at 130 and 150°F without tylosin, no toxin formation occurred in any of several commercial and laboratory batehes of fish processed 30 min at 170 and 180°F. Studies of inoculated raw fish showed that 9 of 11 strains of CI. Botulinum type E were able to withstand 170°F for 30 min and that three of the strains tolerated 180°F. One sample of commercially packed fish having low brine and high moisture levels was capable of supporting toxin development by all 11 strains. Fish having a brine content of 5.5% were unable to support toxin formation whereas fish having 3% brine allowed production of toxin by the organism. The significant relationships between toxin formation, heat processing, brining, and the use of tylosin during processing are discussed.
How well do children who are internationally adopted acquire language? A meta-analysis.

Purpose In this article, the authors present the results of a systematic and meta-analytic examination of the language outcomes of children who are internationally adopted. The study examined the q...
Effects of Driving Experience and Lighting Condition on Driving Performance

Novice drivers have a fatality rate that is ten times higher than the most experienced group of drivers. Poor visual scanning skills have been identified as a primary cause of these fatalities. Such skills may be particularly compromised during the night. The purpose of this study is to determine how visual scanning skills are affected by lighting conditions and driving experience. Using a head mounted eye tracker, drivers' scanning skills were evaluated on a simulator. The results show that novice drivers are less likely to scan for risks than experienced drivers in both the daytime and nighttime conditions and both novice and experienced drivers are less likely to scan for risks in the nighttime than they are in the daytime. Moreover, novice drivers are scanning the risky areas less than 50 percent of the time during daytime conditions, suggesting a need for risk prediction training during both daytime and nighttime conditions.
Performance of Cooperative Time-Reversal Communication in a Mobile Wireless Environment

In this paper, we study the performance of a technique called time reversal for cooperative communication in a mobile wireless environment. To put the work in context, a brief introduction to time-reversal communication (TRC) in general and cooperative TRC in particular is presented. Performance of a proposed cooperative TRC scheme is evaluated numerically via a simulated indoor environment containing multiple wireless communication nodes. We characterize the behavior of the peak power received at a target node as a function of the number of cooperating transmitting nodes and as a function of the distance of the target from its predicted location within the simulated environment. The results demonstrate that the performance of cooperative TRC is less sensitive to uncertainty in the target position than might be expected from standard assumptions regarding the relationship between signal wavelength and spatial channel correlation in a complex multipath environment.
An integrated methodology for optimizing the passive damping of composite structures

A method is presented for tailoring plate and shell composite structures for optimal forced damped dynamic response. The damping of specific vibration modes is optimized with respect to dynamic performance criteria including placement of natural frequencies and minimization of resonance amplitudes. The structural composite damping is synthesized from the properties of the constituent materials, laminate parameters, and structural geometry based on a specialty finite element. Application studies include the optimization of laminated composite beams and composite shells with fiber volume ratios and ply angles as design variables. The results illustrate the significance of damping tailoring to the dynamic performance of composite structures, and the effectiveness of the method in optimizing the structural dynamic response.
A reformulation-convexification approach for solving nonconvex quadratic programming problems

In this paper, we consider the class of linearly constrained nonconvex quadratic programming problems, and present a new approach based on a novel Reformulation-Linearization/Convexification Technique. In this approach, a tight linear (or convex) programming relaxation, or outer-approximation to the convex envelope of the objective function over the constrained region, is constructed for the problem by generating new constraints through the process of employing suitable products of constraints and using variable redefinitions. Various such relaxations are considered and analyzed, including ones that retain some useful nonlinear relationships. Efficient solution techniques are then explored for solving these relaxations in order to derive lower and upper bounds on the problem, and appropriate branching/partitioning strategies are used in concert with these bounding techniques to derive a convergent algorithm. Computational results are presented on a set of test problems from the literature to demonstrate the efficiency of the approach. (One of these test problems had not previously been solved to optimality). It is shown that for many problems, the initial relaxation itself produces an optimal solution.
Effects of operant conditioning on frequency of polysyllabic words and speed of response

Subjects were given various combinations of investigator and positive and/or negative reinforcement for polysyllabic words during free verbalization. In comparing frequency of reinforced responses, reinforcement and investigator effects were nonsignificant; however, combinations of positive and negative reinforcement interacted with investigator. Speed of response was unaffected by reinforcement and investigator, but both positive and negative reinforcement interacted with investigator.
Poststorm Evolution of Beach-Dune Morphology: Padre Island National Seashore, Texas

ABSTRACT Weymer, B.A.; Houser, C., and Giardino, J.R., 2015. Poststorm evolution of beach-dune morphology: Padre Island National Seashore, Texas. The response and recovery of barrier islands to extreme storms and ultimately to relative sea-level rise depends on the height and extent of the foredunes relative to storm surge. The impact of storms is complicated by the tendency of dune morphology to vary alongshore at a range of spatial scales, and it is reasonable to assume that this variable response will be preserved within subsurface stratigraphy. We used ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and vibracores to investigate subsurface structures for foredunes of different heights within a 2.5-km section of beach at Padre Island National Seashore, Texas. Identical, laterally continuous radar reflectors were observed at each site at a depth of ~1.2 m and interpreted as a storm surface. Results from the smallest dune suggest that the dune experienced little net erosion during the storm but also exhibited the least r...
Self-Esteem and School Performance.

Self-esteem was found to have a moderate relationship with, but not a strong independent effect on, school achievement and behavior for a sample of 530 twelve-year-olds. From multiple correlation coefficients predicting school outcomes from measures of socioeconomic status, IQ, and self-esteem, it was concluded that much of the relationship between self-esteem and school performance for the general school population can best be explained as reflecting common underlying factors such as ability and background.
Combined effects of shear deformation and permanent indentation on the impact response of elastic plates

Abstract The dynamic response of a shear-deformable elastic plate to the impact of a mass causing permanent indentation has been considered. Experimental data form the basis of the indentation law and an elastic recovery is assumed when the striking mass leaves the plate. The contact force and the plate center displacement time histories as well as the energy absorbed during impact have been calculated. These results have been compared for elastic impacts with and without shear deformation effects.
761-5 Evolution of Angiographic Thrombus Formation and Dissection Following PTCA in Unstable Angina

Acute closure and adverse in hospital clinical events are increased following PTCA in unstable angina. Both thrombus (T) and dissection (D) post PTCA are associated with increased adverse events. However, the time course of development of T or D post PTCA has not been studied. In the TAUSA trial, unstable angina patients were blindly randomized to intracoronary Urokinase or placebo administered during and immediately following PTCA of the culprit lesion. Angiograms were read blindly by a core lab and characterized at 1 a 15 minutes following PTCA for T or D. D was divided into minor (linear extraluminal cap without luminal compromise) and major (spiral D or D causing g 50% diameter reduction). T was defined as one or more filling defects at the PTCA site. Thrombus Major Dissection 1 min. 15 min. 1 min. 15 min. All pts (n = 459) 4.4% 14.8% * 6.7% 9.2% Urokinase (n = 226) 4.1% 11.9% * 5.9% † 10.1%t Placebo (n = 233) 4.8% 17.5% * 7.4% 8.3% * p l 0.00515 min. vs. 1 min. † p = 0.10 15 min. vs 1 min.; all other NS For all pts and for Urokinase and Placebo, angiographic T increased at 15 vs. 1 min post PTCA. There was a trend to an increase in major D with Urokinase at 15 min but not in the placebo group. Any D (major or minor) was noted with placebo in 24% and 29% at 1 and 15 min. respectively and in 27% and 32% with Urokinase, p = NS. Thus, T formation develops gradually following PTCA and is time dependent probably related to activation of coagulation. D is usually present immediately after PTCA secondary to the mechanical trauma of balloon’ dilatation. Urokinase given immediately after PTCA may increase the evolution to major D.
Dynamic 3-D-echo in the preoperative assessment of left atrial myxoma in a 51-year-old male

1. Case report the large myxoma. In addition to TTE and TEE, three-dimensional echocardiography provided addiA 51-year-old male was admitted to our hospital, tional views of the valve leaflets and valvular apbecause of a decrease in physical ability and paratus (Fig. 2). The valve was found to be fully dyspnoea on strain imposed by ordinary day-to-day competent (Fig. 3). Left heart catheterization exactivities. On physical examination a diastolic murcluded a coronary heart disease and confirmed the mur was heard best over the apex. Blood laboratory hemodynamic assessment by TTE and TEE, but did results were within normal limits. Pulmonary vascunot provide any additional information with respect to lar markings were slightly enlarged as shown by the tumor or the mitral valve. Computer-tomography X-ray. ECG showed atrial fibrillation. A left intraatrior magnetic resonance imaging were not carried out. al mass could be visualized using transthoracic The tumor was removed without complications. echocardiography. The mean diastolic pressure graHistological examination revealed myxoma. dient at the mitral valve was found to be 10 mmHg. A moderate tricuspid regurge and a slightly elevated systolic pulmonary artery pressure (PAP 535 mmHg) s were found. Multiplane transesophageal echocardiog2. Discussion raphy with subsequent three-dimensional image reconstruction (Fig. 1) (ATL-APOGEE 800-Tom Tec Left atrial myxoma is the most common cardiac Imaging SystemInc., USA) was performed, using tumor, but still a rare finding [1]. Today different the software ‘Tom Tec Imaging Systems GmbHechocardiographic approaches, like TTE, TEE, DopEcho-Scan 3.0’, and confirmed the TTE results. The pler and contrast echocardiography are well estabreconstruction required 5 h. lished in the diagnosis of this disease [2–7]. Three-DAdditional information was gained by TEE showecho is a new echocardiographic imaging technique ing the attachment of the tumor to the intraatrial which we used in this case. The 3-D-echo reconstrucseptum. Sufficient Doppler signal with respect to the tion provides new views compared with the standard transmitral flow could not be recorded because the transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography left atrium and the mitral valve anulus were filled by views. Therefore it can deliver more diagnostic information about the region of interest [8]. One of the limitations of this method is the large tube *Corresponding author. Tel.: 149 3
Gender Differences in Perceptions of Women’s Sexual Interest during Cross-Sex Interactions: An Application and Extension of Cognitive Valence Theory

Researchers have consistently found that men report that women display more sexual interest than women report they actually do in cross-sex interactions (e.g., Abbey, 1982). Cognitive Valence Theory is employed to provide a theoretical framework to help understand these findings (Andersen, 1989). A series of perceptual and cognitive processes consistent with Cognitive Valence Theory were examined as possible explanations for the gender difference. Gender differences emerge for both perceptual and cognitive variables. In addition, perceptions of sexually motivated behaviors and variables associated with appropriateness judgments and personal receptivity were found to predict perceptions of women’s sexual interest.