cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Skill and Skill Prediction of Cloud-Track Advection-Only Forecasting under a Cumulus-Dominated Regime

AbstractThe intermittency of solar power production is dependent on the evolution and advection of the nearby cloud field. A key problem related to solar energy integration is the improvement of 1-h-ahead forecasts to reduce the impact of intermittency on power systems operations. Many solar forecasts explicitly or implicitly assume Taylor’s hypothesis. While such advection-only forecasts can be presumed to be valid across sufficiently short time scales, it is not clear how rapidly the skill of such a forecast decays with increased lead time. As the goal is to improve the quality of 1-h-ahead forecasts, this work focuses on quantifying the skill of cloud-track wind-based cumulus-dominated cloud field forecasts with respect to lead time. No explicit connection is drawn to the quality of solar forecasts because of the importance of separating two potential sources of error: cloud field forecasting and radiative transfer estimation. It is found that the cumulus field forecast skill begins to asymptotically a...
Relationship between the heparin management test and the HemoTec activated clotting time in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

Point-of-care whole blood coagulation tests are critical in the management of patients who undergo percutaneous coronary intervention. The Hemochron and HemoTec devices have been traditionally used to measure the activated clotting time (ACT) in the cardiac catheterization laboratory. The heparin management test (HMT) was recently introduced into clinical practice as an alternative method to current ACT measurements that uses a different sample volume, contact activators and detection system to measure whole blood coagulation. We compared the HMT to the HemoTec ACT in 68 prospectively enrolled patients (127 blood samples) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. Measurements were performed 10 minutes after the initial heparin bolus and thereafter at the discretion of the attending physician. The mean HMT was 41 seconds higher (∼15%) than the HemoTec ACT (HMT 304±59 vs. ACT 263±52, P< 0.0001), but there was a significant correlation between the methods (r=0.77, P<0.0001). However, there was increasing disagreement between the two methods as the level of anticoagulation increased. The relationship between HMT and ACT was similar in patients in whom glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors were used. The HMT, therefore, appears to be more sensitive to heparin anticoagulation that the HemoTec ACT and correlates well with it in the range required for percutaneous coronary intervention.
Neural Networks or Fuzzy Systems

The paper describes basic concepts of neural networks and fuzzy systems. It is shows that most commonly used neural network architecture of MLP – Multi Layer Perceptron is also one of the least efficient ones. Also most commonly used EBP – Error Back Propagation algorithm is not only very slow, but also it is not able to find solutions for optimal neural network architectures. EBP can solve problems only when large number of neurons is used, but this way neural network loses its generalization property. Performances of both fuzzy systems and neural networks are compared leading to the conclusion that neural networks can produce much more accurate nonlinear mapping and they are simple to implement. At the end of the presentation several concepts of neuro-fuzzy systems are compared.
An rbcL Reference Library to Aid in the Identification of Plant Species Mixtures by DNA Metabarcoding

Premise of the study: DNA metabarcoding has broad-ranging applications in ecology, aerobiology, biosecurity, and forensics. A bioinformatics pipeline has recently been published for identification using a comprehensive database of ITS2, one of the common plant DNA barcoding markers. There is, however, no corresponding database for rbcL, the other primary marker used in plants. Methods: Using publicly available data, we compiled a reference library of rbcL sequences and trained databases for use with UTAX and RDP classifier algorithms. We used this reference library, along with the existing bioinformatics pipeline and ITS2 reference library, to identify species in an artificial mixture of nine species of pollen. We have made this database publicly available in multiple formats, to allow use with multiple bioinformatics pipelines, now and in the future. Results: Using the rbcL database, in addition to the ITS2 database, we succeeded in making species-level identifications for eight species and a family-leve...
Model for Porosity Changes Occurring during Ultrasound-Enhanced Transcorneal Drug Delivery.

Ultrasound-enhanced drug delivery through the cornea has considerable therapeutic potential. However, our understanding of how ultrasound enhances drug transport is poor, as is our ability to predict the increased level of transport for given ultrasound parameters. Described here is a computational model for quantifying changes in corneal porosity during ultrasound exposure. The model is calibrated through experiments involving sodium fluorescein transport through rabbit cornea. Validation was performed using nylon filters, for which the properties are known. It was found that exposure to 800-kHz ultrasound at an intensity 2 W/cm2 for 5 min increased the porosity of the epithelium by a factor of 5. The model can be useful for determining the extent to which ultrasound enhances the amount of drug transported through biological barriers, and the time at which a therapeutic dose is achieved at a given location, for different drugs and exposure strategies.
Changing Seasonality of Panarctic Tundra Vegetation in Relationship to Climatic Variables

Potential climate drivers of Arctic tundra vegetation productivity are investigated to understand recent greening and browning trends documented by maximum normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) (MaxNDVI) and time-integrated NDVI (TI-NDVI) for 19822015. Over this period, summer sea ice has continued to decline while oceanic heat content has increased. The increases in summer warmth index (SWI) and NDVI have not been uniform over the satellite record. SWI increased from 1982 to the mid-1990s and remained relatively flat from 1998 onwards until a recent upturn. While MaxNDVI displays positive trends from 19822015, TI-NDVI increased from 1982 until 2001 and has declined since. The data for the first and second halves of the record were analyzed and compared spatially for changing trends with a focus on the growing season. Negative trends for MaxNDVI and TI-NDVI were more common during 19992015 compared to 19821998.
Processing freshly harvested banagrass to improve fuel qualities: Effects of operating parameters

Abstract Mechanical dewatering and leaching were used to process freshly harvested banagrass ( Pennisetum purpureum X Pennisetum glaucum ) and improve fuel properties relevant to thermochemical conversion. A factorial, 2 3 experiment determined the effects of process operating parameters: particle size (1 mm and 80 mm), rinse water temperature (25 °C and 75 °C), and rinse duration (1 min and 3 min). Characterization of the samples from the process included moisture and ash contents of solid samples, potassium (K) and chlorine (Cl) contents of solid and liquid samples, and chemical oxygen demand, total solids, and total suspended solids of liquid samples. These were used to assess the effectiveness of treatment on reducing K and Cl in the processed material, estimate material/energy losses associated with the processing, and identify further treatment requirements and opportunities for material recovery. The effects of particle size, rinse water temperature, and their interaction indicate that processing with low-grade hot water (75 °C) can improve K and Cl removal by over 10% compared to treatment using ambient temperature water for larger particles (80 mm). The former could result in reduced capital and operating costs for size reduction, as well as reduced material losses during processing.
Higher Ed, Inc.: The Rise of the For-Profit University

(2002). Higher Ed, Inc.: The Rise of the For-Profit University. The Journal of Higher Education: Vol. 73, No. 4, pp. 547-550.
Correlation of abnormal histology with endoscopic findings among mycophenolate mofetil treated patients

Correlation of abnormal histology with endoscopic findings among mycophenolate mofetil treated patients
Vitamin D supplementation decreases immune activation and exhaustion in HIV-1-infected youth.

BackgroundHeightened immune activation and exhaustion drive HIV disease progression and comorbidities. Vitamin D has pleiotropic immunomodulatory effects, but little is known about the effects of s...
An exploratory study of silver nanoparticle laden lubricants for electrical contacts

Electrical contacts are critically important for a wide variety of applications, including computing, automotive, manufacturing, and renewable energy technologies. Due to a combination of vibrations and environmental conditions, these contacts are often susceptible to fretting corrosion and other wear mechanisms. In many cases it is not possible to design a stable dry contact system that is also within cost restraints. Therefore lubricants are often employed. Liquid lubricants can reduce wear but cause problems due to the non-conductive nature of typical lubricants. If a film develops between the surfaces due to tribofilm formation, lubricant degradation, or hydrodynamic lift, this can result in an increase in the electrical contact resistance. Fairly recently researchers have explored the use of nanoparticles to enhance the friction and wear properties of lubricants. Some of the nanoparticles are metallic and could also improve the conductivity of the lubricant within an electrical contact. In this work, the performance of silver nanoparticle laden dodecane lubricants are observed relative to pure dodecane and ZDDP enhanced dodecane. These results suggest that the nanoparticles do produce a reduced and more stable contact resistance, while also reducing friction and wear.
Cardioprotective Effect of Hydroxysafflor Yellow A via the Cardiac Permeability Transition Pore

Myocardial ischemia damages cardiac myocytes in part via opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore. Preventing this poreʼs opening is therefore a useful therapeutic goal in treating cardiovascular disease. Hydroxysafflor yellow A has been proposed as a nontoxic alternative to other agents that modulate mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening. In this study, we proposed that hydroxysafflor yellow A prevents mitochondrial permeability transition pore formation in anoxic cardiac myocytes, and thus protects the cell from damage seen during reoxygenation of the cardiac myocytes. Experiments with hydroxysafflor yellow A transport in aerobic myocytes show that roughly 50% of the extracellular dye concentration crosses the cell membrane in a 2-h incubation. In our anoxia/reoxygenation protocol, hydroxysafflor yellow A modulated both the reduction of viability and the loss of rod-shaped cells that attend anoxia and reoxygenation. Hydroxysafflor yellow Aʼs protective effect was similar to that of cyclosporin A, an agent known to inhibit mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening. In additional experiments, plated myocytes were loaded with calcein/MitoTracker Red, then examined for intracellular dye distribution/morphology after anoxia/reoxygenation. Hydroxysafflor yellow A-containing cells showed a cardioprotective pattern similar to that of cyclosporin A (an agent known to close the mitochondrial permeability transition pore). We conclude that hydroxysafflor yellow A can enter the cardiac myocyte and is able to modulate anoxia/reoxygenation-induced damage by interacting with the mitochondrial permeability transition pore.
Growth and Characterization of BxGa1−xN on 6H-SiC (0001) by Movpe

Boron was incorporated into GaN in order to determine its limits of solubility, its ability of reducing the lattice constant mismatch with 6H-SiC, as well as its effects on the structural and optical properties of GaN epilayers. BxGa1−xN films were deposited on 6H-SiC (0001) substrates at 950 °C by low pressure MOVPE using diborane, trimethylgallium, and ammonia as precursors. A single phase alloy with x=0.015 was successfully produced at a gas reactant B/Ga ratio of 0.005. Phase separation into pure GaN and BxGa1−xN alloy with x=0.30 was deposited for a B/Ga reactant ratio of 0.01. This is the highest B fraction of the wurtzite structure alloy ever reported. For B/Ga ratio ≥ 0.02, no BxGa1−xN was formed, and the solid solution contained two phases: wurtzite GaN and BN based on the results of Auger and x-ray diffraction. The band edge emission of BxGa1−xN varied from 3.451 eV for x=0 with FWHM of 39.2 meV to 3.465 eV for x=0.015 with FWHM of 35.1 meV. The narrower FWHM indicated that the quality of GaN epilayer was improved with small amount of boron incorporation.
Pattern mining based compression of IoT data

The increasing proliferation of the Internet of Things (IoT) devices and systems result in large amounts of highly heterogeneous data to be collected. Although at least some of the collected sensor data is often consumed by the real-time decision making and control of the IoT system, that is not the only use of such data. Invariably, the collected data is stored, perhaps in some filtered or downselected fashion, so that it can be used for a variety of lower-frequency operations. It is expected that in a smart city environment with numerous IoT deployments, the volume of such data can become enormous. Therefore, mechanisms for lossy data compression that provide a trade-off between compression ratio and data usefulness for offline statistical analysis becomes necessary. In this paper, we discuss several simple pattern mining based compression strategies for multi-attribute IoT data streams. For each method, we evaluate the compressibility of the method vs. the level of similarity between original and compressed time series in the context of the home energy management system.
Establishing School Counselors as Leaders in Bullying Curriculum Delivery: Evaluation of a Brief, School-Wide Bystander Intervention

The authors evaluated a brief, school-wide, bystander bullying intervention (STAC) designed to establish school counselors as leaders in curriculum delivery. Elementary school students trained in t...
Mass Matrix Inversion and AB Forward Dynamics

This chapter introduces articulated body models for the component links in a serial-chain system. This model is an alternative to the terminal and composite body models discussed earlier. While the composite body model is appropriate for the inverse dynamics problem, the articulated body model is better suited for the for- ward dynamics problem.
Dart thrower's motion and the injured scapholunate interosseous ligament: A scoping review of studies examining motion, orthoses, and rehabilitation.

Abstract Study Design Scoping review. Introduction Dart thrower's motion (DTM) of the wrist primarily arises from the midcarpal joint, and minimizes stress to the scapholunate interosseous ligament (SLIL). After SLIL injury or surgery, early controlled DTM may reduce the effects of prolonged immobilization, while protecting SLIL integrity. Purpose of the Study To summarize the literature on the effects of DTM on the injured and surgically repaired SLIL and the extent to which various DTM orthotic designs promote SLIL recovery. Methods A systematic literature search was conducted within 6 databases for articles published between 2003 and March 2018. Eligible studies examined DTM in the context of SLIL injury or repair. Relevant data were extracted by 2 independent reviewers. Results Of 425 identified articles, 15 were eligible for inclusion. Five biomechanical studies examined the influence of DTM on the injured SLIL, whereas 5 articles described DTM orthotic designs. Also included were five articles that reported outcomes when DTM was used in the rehabilitation protocol. Discussion The included studies suggest limiting end ranges of DTM in the injured/repaired SLIL, while blocking orthogonal plane movements. Custom orthotic designs may accomplish this goal. DTM has been used in comprehensive therapy programs in small case studies reporting short-term and intermediate clinical outcomes. Conclusions Caution should be exercised with using DTM on the torn SLIL as gap increases, particularly at the end-range motion. Orthosis designs have potential to limit this motion to midrange, while allowing early movement. Further high-level research is needed to understand the influence of DTM on injured and postsurgical populations.
The Impact of VLSI on Military Systems: A Supplier's Viewpoint

Publisher Summary The single-cell dynamic random access memory (DRAM) permitted the production of the first truly cost-effective solid-state memory device that had sufficient density to allow combining address decoding logic on the same chip with memory cells. Progress had been made in solid-state memory prior to the DRAM, but this step function improvement created a major redirection of the semiconductor market. In fact, totally new markets were to be created, primarily in the consumer arena, and many new semiconductor companies were formed to take advantage of this new, low-cost technology serving new markets that were free of the stringent military procurement, environment, and quality requirements. Even the major computer markets shifted emphasis—the freedom from the constraining size and cost of core memories allowed a more liberal use of memory in computer and logic structures, resulting in radical innovations in the main-frame and minicomputer markets.
A global genomic and small molecule inhibitor interrogation of KIT mutant melanoma to reveal underlying biology and novel molecular targets.

9039 Background: Activating mutations in KIT are present in 15-20% of acral lentiginous (AL), mucosal (MM) and chronic sun-damaged melanomas. Functional studies in KIT mutant melanoma have been ham...
Band-selective excitation NMR spectroscopy and quantitative time-domain analysis using Complete Reduction to Amplitude-Frequency Table (CRAFT) to determine distribution coefficients during drug development

A sensitive quantitative 1 H NMR method for determining distribution or partition coefficients has been developed that is applicable to early drug discovery. After partitioning and equilibration, aliquots from each layer are analyzed using band-selective excitation 1 H NMR spectroscopy in regions that are free of 1-octanol and water solvent signals. Signals are quantitated directly using CRAFT software, and their amplitudes are adjusted to correct for nonuniformity within the excitation band. Using this approach, the distribution coefficients for 20 drugs present at low concentrations were determined giving values that were in excellent agreement with literature values.
Six-Month Follow-up of the Families on Track Intervention Pilot Trial for Children With Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and Their Families.

Background When the primary disabilities associated with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are not well supported, individuals are at higher risk for mental health problems and other secondary conditions. The Families on Track (FOT) intervention was designed to prevent secondary conditions and improve family functioning in children with FASD. Promising results from a pilot study demonstrated positive effects on child and caregiver outcomes immediately following the intervention. The objective of this study was to examine the sustainability of these effects 6 months postintervention. Methods Thirty children (ages 4 to 8) with prenatal alcohol exposure and their caregivers were enrolled in the original study. Families were randomized to the FOT intervention or an active comparison group that provided comprehensive assessment and individualized feedback. The intervention integrated a positive parenting curriculum and a child skills group. Families were assessed at baseline, postintervention, and 6-month follow-up visits. Follow-up data were available for 24 families on child and caregiver outcomes. Data were analyzed using effect size calculations and analysis-of-variance techniques. Results Relative to the comparison group, intervention families showed continued gains in parenting efficacy and maintained prior improvements in FASD knowledge over the follow-up period. Although intervention families reported a decrease in their needs being met over the follow-up period, they continued to report their needs being met to greater extent than those in the comparison group. Consistent with postintervention outcomes, children in both groups exhibited similar decreases in child disruptive behavior 6 months following the intervention. Unfortunately, positive gains seen at postintervention for child self-esteem and emotion regulation were attenuated at follow-up. Conclusions This pilot study yielded promising effects on important areas of caregiver functioning. However, the intervention's impact on child functioning waned over time, suggesting the need for sustained or alternate child intervention.
Hepatitis C drug prescriptions and Medicaid policies--four states, Indian health care system, USA 2018

Medicaid, the state-level public insurance in the United States, has widely differing criteria treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV) such as stage of liver fibrosis, documented sobriety, and specialist consultation. In a rural health network, facilities located in two less restrictive states prescribed HCV drugs at a significantly higher rate than two more restrictive states (rate ratio 4.7, CI 2.6–8.5). Prescription rates per population were highly associated with HCV treatment policies.
Performance investigation of deep learning vs. classifier for polyp differentiation via texture features

Computer-aided diagnosis (CADx) of polyps is essential for advancing computed tomography colonography (CTC) with diagnostic capability. In this paper, we present a study of investigating the performance between deep learning and Random Forest (RF) classifier for polyp differentiation in CTC. First, we conducted feature extraction via an extended Haralick model (eHM) to build a total of 30 texture features. The gray level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) is generated to encode 3D CT image information into a 2D matrix as input to the convolutional neural network (CNN). Then, we split the polyp classification into two state-of-the-art frameworks: the eHM texture features/RF and the GLCM texture matrices/CNN. We evaluated their performances by the merit of area under the curve of receiver operating characteristic using 1,278 polyps (confirmed by pathology). Results demonstrated that by balancing the data, both CNN model and RF classifier can learn or analyze features effectively, and achieve high performance. RF classifier in general outperformed CNN model with a gain of 6.4% (balanced datasets) and 5.4% (unbalanced datasets), showing its effective in feature extraction and analysis for polyp differentiation. However, the performance of CNN got improved through the addition of new data with a gain of 3.6% (balanced datasets) and 3.4% (unbalanced datasets), whereas RF classifier showed no gain when we enlarged datasets. This demonstrated that CNN model have the potential to improve the classification task performance when dealing with larger dataset. This study provided valuable information on how to design experiments to improve CADx of polyps.
Spike-Adding Canard Explosion in a Class of Square-Wave Bursters

This paper examines a spike-adding bifurcation phenomenon whereby small-amplitude canard cycles transition into large-amplitude bursting oscillations along a single continuous branch in parameter space. We consider a class of three-dimensional singularly perturbed ODEs with two fast variables and one slow variable and singular perturbation parameter $$\varepsilon \ll 1 $$ under general assumptions which guarantee such a transition occurs. The primary ingredients include a cubic critical manifold and a saddle homoclinic bifurcation within the associated layer problem. The continuous transition from canard cycles to N-spike bursting oscillations up to $$N\sim {\mathcal {O}}(1/\varepsilon )$$ spikes occurs upon varying a single bifurcation parameter on an exponentially thin interval. We construct this transition rigorously using geometric singular perturbation theory; critical to understanding this transition are the existence of canard orbits and slow passage through the saddle homoclinic bifurcation, which are analyzed in detail.
Modeling performance of rhamnolipid-coated engineered magnetite nanoparticles for U(VI) sorption and separation

Based on tunable properties, engineered nanoparticles (NPs) hold significant promise for water treatment technologies. Motivated by concerns regarding toxicity and non-biodegradability of some nanoparticles, we explored engineered magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles with a biocompatible coating. These were prepared with a coating of rhamnolipid, a biosurfactant primarily obtained from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. By optimizing synthesis and phase transfer conditions, particles were observed to be monodispersed and stable in water under environmentally relevant pH and ionic strength values. These materials were evaluated for U(VI) removal from water at varying dissolved inorganic carbon and pH conditions. The rhamnolipid-coated iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) showed high sorption capacities at pH 6 and pH 8 in both carbonate-free systems and systems in equilibrium with atmospheric CO2. Equilibrium sorption behavior was interpreted using surface complexation modeling (SCM). Two models (diffuse double layer and non-electrostatic) were evaluated for their ability to account for U(VI) binding to the carboxyl groups of the rhamnolipid coating as a function of the pH, total U(VI) loading, and dissolved inorganic carbon concentration. The diffuse double layer model provided the best simulation of the adsorption data and was sensitive to U(VI) loadings as it accounted for the change in the surface charge associated with U(VI) adsorption.
Fluorescent Polysome Profiling in Caenorhabditis elegans

An important but often overlooked aspect of gene regulation occurs at the level of protein translation. Many genes are regulated not only by transcription but by their propensity to be recruited to actively translating ribosomes (polysomes). Polysome profiling allows for the separation of unbound 40S and 60S subunits, 80S monosomes, and actively translating mRNA bound by two or more ribosomes. Thus, this technique allows for actively translated mRNA to be isolated. Transcript abundance can then be compared between actively translated mRNA and all mRNA present in a sample to identify instances of post-transcriptional regulation. Additionally, polysome profiling can be used as a readout of global translation rates by quantifying the proportion of actively translating ribosomes within a sample. Previously established protocols for polysome profiling rely on the absorbance of RNA to visualize the presence of polysomes within the fractions. However, with the advent of flow cells capable of detecting fluorescence, the association of fluorescently tagged proteins with polysomes can be detected and quantified in addition to the absorbance of RNA. This protocol provides detailed instructions on how to perform fluorescent polysome profiling in C. elegans to collect actively translated mRNA, to quantify changes in global translation, and to detect ribosomal binding partners.
The Tail that Wags the Dog: The Problem of Pre-Merit-Decision Interim Fees and Moral Hazard in the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program

Despite its laudable intent, the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) is broken. The VICP is designed to compensate those injured or killed by vaccines. The problem is that the current practice in the VICP allows private attorneys to withdraw from a case before any decision is rendered on the merits and get paid in full for their attorneys’ fees and investigative costs with tax dollars — even if the case ends up a total loser. Moral hazard is the economic phenomenon that insurance against loss reduces incentives to prevent or mitigate that loss. In the VICP, that insurance is the taxpayer paying attorneys’ fees and costs of even losing parties. This Article therefore argues that the VICP paying pre-merit-decision interim fees is contrary to law and, moreover, is bad public policy due to the moral hazard that results when neither the client nor the client’s lawyer bear the economic risk of loss and the cost of litigation. This moral hazard in the VICP can create needless litigation, clog federal court dockets, promote the churning of client files, and encourage lawyers to not finish cases. This Article solves the problem by using bedrock principles of statutory interpretation to demonstrate that a decision on the petition’s underlying merits is required before any payment of attorneys’ fees can be made in the VICP.
Leveraging economic games to integrate and differentiate personality and psychopathology

A comprehensive model that integrates, yet differentiates, between personality and psychopathology is needed. Emerging empirical models of psychopathology are aligned structurally with trait models of personality, suggesting clear points of convergence. However, traits, themselves, are not sufficient to quantify consequential adaptivity and maladaptivity. Rather, as multiple theoretical accounts argue, unsuccessful pursuit of goals and needs, and the inability to flexibly adapt goals to fit the situation, is how maladaptivity is understood to emerge. Thus far, though, the empirical literature has suffered from an unsatisfactory connection between structural (or trait-based personality) models and our understanding of dysfunctional processes (psychopathology). Economic games, which elicit intensive repeated behavior suitable for studying dynamic processes, have been leveraged to explore how personality and pathology are associated with behavior across a variety of tasks. When coupled with computational modeling, economic games offer a promising method for integrating and differentiating personality and psychopathology. Ultimately, a fully formed model of psychopathology will be achieved when structural models of personality and psychopathology can be merged with a better understanding of the underlying functional processes of each. This will likely only be achieved by leveraging a number of available tools across disciplines.
Nuances of Olfactory Groove Meningioma Surgery: 2-Dimensional Operative Video

Olfactory groove meningiomas frequently present as large or giant-size tumors associated with marked frontal lobe edema and significant frontal lobe dysfunction. Simpson grade I removal was rare in early reports due to their invasion of the ethmoid sinuses and skull base bone,1 which resulted in high recurrence rates.2,3 Indeed, recurrence occurred in the most celebrated case of olfactory groove meningioma.4,5 To achieve Simpson grade I removal (tumor, dura, bone), protect the frontal lobes from additional injury, and provide the best chance for recovery, we demonstrate a few nuances for olfactory groove meningioma surgery: Utilizing a skull base approach with a low dural opening, the frontal veins are preserved, and the frontal lobe is protected from retraction, manipulation, and venous injury. By the time of diagnosis, although the patient's olfaction is often absent, there still remains a role to preserve at least 1 olfactory tract, which might yield some preservation in a limited number of patients. Emphasis has been rightly made on the preservation of the A2 segments, which can be dissected using microsurgical technique. Lastly, multilayer reconstruction of the skull base is required, using an inlay graft, resting on a vascularized pericranial flap, and occlusion of the sinuses with a fat graft. The endonasal endoscopic approach has fallen out of favor due to limitations for complete tumor resection and higher complication rates.6 We present a case of a relatively small olfactory groove meningioma in a 36-yr-old male with partial olfactory loss. The patient consented for surgery. Images at 2:07, 2:29, and 2:54 from Al-Mefty O, Operative Atlas of Meningiomas, © LWW, 1997, with permission. Image at 8:31 public domain by age.
Biogeochemical and Hydrological Drivers of Heterogeneous Nutrient Exports From Subterranean Estuaries

Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) to coastal zones contributes terrestrial freshwater and nutrients that may support harmful algal blooms (HABs). The magnitude of nutrient exports via SGD depends on volumes of fresh groundwater discharge, its chemical composition, and modifications by biogeochemical processing within subterranean estuaries. Thus, the ability to upscale SGD exports requires knowing the range of chemical composition of inland groundwater and how those compositions may be transformed as fresh and saltwater mix within subterranean estuaries. These processes may create heterogeneous magnitudes of solute exports, even at small spatial scales, and such heterogeneities have rarely been assessed for regional or global SGD nutrient export estimates. To evaluate heterogeneity in subterranean estuary processes and nutrient export, we collected seasonal pore water samples in 2015-2016 at three proximal (<20 km) subterranean estuary sites in Indian River Lagoon, FL. Sites have homogenous hydrogeological settings, but differ in land use and coastal features, and include a mangrove site, an urban site, and a site offshore of a natural wetland. All sites exhibit little variation through time in nutrient concentrations and modeled SGD rates. In contrast, each site exhibits significantly different nutrient concentrations of potential fresh groundwater sources, fresh groundwater discharge volumes, and nutrient transformations within subterranean estuaries. Groundwater specific discharge correlates with nutrient concentrations, suggesting that higher residence times in the subterranean estuary increase biogeochemical transformations that reduce anthropogenic nutrient loads but increase in situ nutrient sources through organic matter remineralization. The differences in transformations lead to SGD nutrient contributions that differ by orders of magnitude between sites and have N:P ratios that are greater than the Redfield ratio (15) for the mangrove (29) and urban sites (28), but less than the Redfield ratio for the wetland site (8). These results indicate that heterogeneity of both absolute and relative nutrient export via SGD complicates integration of nutrient fluxes across regional coastal zones and evaluations of its impacts to coastal ecosystems. A better understanding of the drivers of heterogeneity, including subterranean estuary processes, land use, coastal topography, and vegetation dynamics could improve assessments of regional nutrient loading and upscaling for estimates of global solute cycles.
Social Skill-Based Treatment for Social Anxiety Disorder in Adolescents

Adolescents with social anxiety disorder (SAD) experience significant social anxiety and frequently avoid social situations. Additionally, many adolescents with SAD have social skill deficits, which could suggest that interventions solely targeting reductions in social anxiety may not result in enhanced social functioning. Thus, improving social skill is an important target in treatment protocols for adolescent SAD. Social skills training (SST) involves the use of various behavioral methods to establish, modify, and improve social skill in this group. Many successful interventions for adolescents with SAD incorporate a SST component. In this chapter, we discuss social skill-based interventions for SAD, including Cognitive-Behavioral Group Therapy for Adolescents and Social Effectiveness Therapy for Children. These interventions have demonstrated efficacy in reducing social anxiety and improving social skill in socially anxious adolescents. We also discuss important caveats that are present in current SST paradigms that limit their success and utility both in and outside of the university setting. Finally, future directions for social skill-based treatments are discussed.
Interaction of progesterone and adrenocorticoids in ultrastructural development of the mammary gland of the rat

Comparative development of rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) in mammary glands of rats was studied in relation to levels of progesterone and adrenocorticosteroids. The tranquilizer perphenazine was administered to stimulate secretion of prolactin; serum glucocorticoids also increased. When perphenazine was administered after ovulation, serum progesterone was increased 18-fold, but when treatment was begun on proestrus, ovulation was inhibited and serum progesterone increased only 4-fold. Concentrations of progesterone in the breast were approximately 10-fold greater than, but parallel to, serum concentrations. In ovulating rats the RER was poorly developed. In nonovulating rats extensive development of RER occurred. Cortisol acetate given to ovulating, perphenazine-treated rats did not alter levels of serum progesterone, but tissue progesterone was reduced by 50 per cent and development of RER approached that in nonovulating rats. The development of secretory capacity (formation of RER) in the breast appears to depend on the relation between stimulation by glucocorticoid and inhibition by progesterone.
Relative diels-alder reactivity of 3-alkyl-2-(3-butenyl)-1,2-dihydropyridines. : Interplay of electronic and steric factors related to the 3-alkyl group.

Abstract Steric effects have been found to predominate over Frontier Molecular Orbital (FMO) effects in controlling the relative rates of intramolecular cycloadditions of 3-R-substituted- 2-(3-butenyl)1,2-dihydropyridines (DHP) in the series 4a–c (R = H, Me, Et).
NEO-LOGICISM? AN ONTOLOGICAL REDUCTION OF MATHEMATICS TO METAPHYSICS

Malgre l'echec du logicisme comme projet de reduction des mathematiques a la logique, l'A. defend l'esprit du logicisme dans une version du platonisme mathematique selon laquelle les objets mathematiques sont des objets abstraits qui appartiennent a la theorie metaphysique. L'A. designe ainsi par neo-logicisme la theorie axiomatique des objets abstraits.
DISPUTE RESOLUTION AND THE VANISHING TRIAL: COMPARING FEDERAL GOVERNMENT LITIGATION AND ADR OUTCOMES

This study compares litigation and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) in civil cases handled by Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) during the period 1995 to 1998. The findings indicate that that use of ADR can be an efficient and effective procedural solution to the problems of time and cost in the justice system without sacrificing the quality of macrojustice. When ADR was used, 65% of cases settled (only 29% of cases settled when it was not used). Significantly more cases settled when ADR was voluntary than when it was mandatory (71% vs. 50%), and tort cases settled with more frequency than employment discrimination cases (73% vs. 60%). When using ADR, AUSAs subjectively estimated that the process saved significant time and money. AUSAs spent an average of $869 in neutral fees and estimated that the process saved $10,735 in litigation expenses per case. AUSAs spent an average of 12 hours preparing for ADR and 7 hours in the ADR process per case, which they estimated saved 88 hours of staff time and 6 months of litigation time per case. Analyses of various macrojustice outcomes show that ADR outcomes were not significantly different from litigated outcomes, indicating that the process was neutral, favoring neither private parties nor the government. While these statistics are descriptive, a final analysis shows that the earlier a case is referred to ADR, the shorter its time to disposition. In sum, the study provides a better picture of how ADR is used by the government in federal court cases, and suggests that ADR has the potential to improve dispute processing without sacrificing the quality of justice.
Spring Dispersal Patterns of Red-winged Blackbirds, Agelaius phoeniceus , Staging in Eastern South Dakota

Red-winged Blackbirds ( Agelaius phoeniceus ) are very abundant summer residents throughout the Prairie Pothole Region of central North America. In late summer they assemble in post-breeding flocks that cause significant amounts of agricultural damage, particularly in sunflower fields near natal sites. In April 2001, we aerially color-marked ~370,000 Red-winged Blackbirds near Badger, South Dakota (44°48'N, 97°21'W), to determine if migrants staging here were summer residents in sunflower production areas ~350 km to the northwest. We measured patterns of migratory dispersal by collecting birds in 54 randomly selected blocks in the northcentral U.S. and the Prairie Provinces of Canada. The marked specimens (n = 33) were categorized into three polygons based on analyses of banding and re-sighting data and proximity to concentrated sunflower production. We estimated that 82% of the migrants that had staged in eastern South Dakota resided within or on the periphery of the sunflower growing area. These birds probably stay near their breeding territories until at least late August and cause early damage to sunflower, which comprises the majority of damage. Resident birds in Alberta and most of Saskatchewan (18%) might arrive too late in the damage season to impact the sunflower crop significantly.
Exploration of Firefighter Turnout Gear Part 1: Identifying Male Firefighter User Needs

Firefighters serve as first responders and encounter a wide variety of hazards while performing their job tasks. They also perform an array of movements when responding to emergencies. It is thus critical that their personal protective equipment allow firefighters to perform their duties with minimal limitations and maximum safety. This research explored the issues firefighters experience when wearing their gear to identify areas needing improvement. Researchers conducted focus groups of male firefighters throughout the country to identify areas of concern for firefighters regarding their gear. Data were analyzed using an interpretive thematic analysis method that revealed three main problem areas: gear function, wearer comfort, and protection provided. Specific issues related to these problem areas are discussed, and suggestions are made for ways to improve firefighter gear to enhance the experience of the end user. Findings from this study serve as a guide for future researchers and manufacturers creating new gear, as well as developing enhanced education and training of firefighters regarding their gear.
Transposon-mediated Chromosomal Integration of Transgenes in the Parasitic Nematode Strongyloides ratti and Establishment of Stable Transgenic Lines

Genetic transformation is a potential tool for analyzing gene function and thereby identifying new drug and vaccine targets in parasitic nematodes, which adversely affect more than one billion people. We have previously developed a robust system for transgenesis in Strongyloides spp. using gonadal microinjection for gene transfer. In this system, transgenes are expressed in promoter-regulated fashion in the F1 but are silenced in subsequent generations, presumably because of their location in repetitive episomal arrays. To counteract this silencing, we explored transposon-mediated chromosomal integration of transgenes in S. ratti. To this end, we constructed a donor vector encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP) under the control of the Ss-act-2 promoter with flanking inverted tandem repeats specific for the piggyBac transposon. In three experiments, free-living Strongyloides ratti females were transformed with this donor vector and a helper plasmid encoding the piggyBac transposase. A mean of 7.9% of F1 larvae were GFP-positive. We inoculated rats with GFP-positive F1 infective larvae, and 0.5% of 6014 F2 individuals resulting from this host passage were GFP-positive. We cultured GFP-positive F2 individuals to produce GFP-positive F3 L3i for additional rounds of host and culture passage. Mean GFP expression frequencies in subsequent generations were 15.6% in the F3, 99.0% in the F4, 82.4% in the F5 and 98.7% in the F6. The resulting transgenic lines now have virtually uniform GFP expression among all progeny after at least 10 generations of passage. Chromosomal integration of the reporter transgenes was confirmed by Southern blotting and splinkerette PCR, which revealed the transgene flanked by S. ratti genomic sequences corresponding to five discrete integration sites. BLAST searches of flanking sequences against the S. ratti genome revealed integrations in five contigs. This result provides the basis for two powerful functional genomic tools in S. ratti: heritable transgenesis and insertional mutagenesis.
Orbital magnetization of a finite anyon system: A Hartree calculation on a cylinder

We use a modified Hartree approximation to study the spontaneous magnetization of a finite system of anyons in cylindrical geometry, treating the anyons in the effective mass approximation. We find that, as a function of system size, the magnetic moment has oscillatory structure due to the invariance of the energy upon addition of an integer number of Chern-Simons flux quanta, and large, abrupt jumps due to repopulation of Landau levels. We compare our results with the exact diagonalization studies by Canright and Johnson on a lattice in a similar geometry.
Functional MRI of the rat somatosensory cortex: Effects of hyperventilation

Functional mapping of the rat somatosensory cortex was performed with T2*-sensitized MRI using a forepaw electrical stimulation model in α-chloralose-anesthetized rats at 7 T under both normocapnia and mild hyperventilation-induced hypocapnia. A highly localized activation area, consistent with the known somatosensory cortical region, was detected in all seven animals studied during hypocapnia and in five of the same animals during normocapnia. Quantitatively, hypocapnia was found to significantly increase both the size of the fMRl activation area (3.4 ± 0.6 mm2 versus 1.5 ± 0.6 mm2 in normocapnia, mean ± standard error, n = 7, P < 0.03) and the average fMRl signal intensity increase (3.4 ± 0.6% versus 2.7 ± 0.4%, n = 5, P < 0.05). The increased sensitivity of fMRl to functional activation may reflect a widened arterial-venous oxygenation difference resulting from an increased effective oxygen extraction during hyperventilation. The dependence of the fMRl response on the ventilation state underscores the need to control for physiological parameters in animal fMRl studies.
Changes in help seeking from peers during early adolescence: Associations with changes in achievement and perceptions of teachers.

Students' academic help seeking from peers was examined at 6-month intervals for 3 time points spanning the transition from elementary school to middle school (N = 655; 53.6% girls, 46.4% boys; 53.9% African American, 46.1% European American). Adaptive help seeking from peers declined over time, whereas expedient help seeking from peers increased. Increases in expedient help seeking were associated with declines in achievement; changes in adaptive help seeking were unrelated to achievement. Developmental trajectories of help seeking were related to changes in student perceptions of their teachers. Increases in student perceptions of an emphasis on mastery goals and teacher support were associated with increases in adaptive help seeking from peers. Increases in student perceptions of performance goals, and declines in teacher support, were associated with increases in expedient help seeking from peers. Thus, the nature of help seeking from peers develops in early adolescence, has implications for achievement, and is sensitive to changes in the perceived characteristics of teachers across the transition to middle school.