cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Spectrum of acquired sensory neuropathy: Clinical, electrodiagnostic, and pathologic studies

Clinical review of 33 patients with acquired predominantly sensory neuropathy defined by electrodiagnostic and clinical findings showed a igh female predominance (76%). Characteristically the neuropathy was asymmetric at onset (73%), evolved in a subacute (45%) or chronic fashion (40%), and started with upper extremity pain (67%). Ataxia (52%) and Adie’s pupils (18%) also seemed characteristic of this neuropathy. In 16 patients (48%) underlying causes such as cancer (12%), connective tissue disorders (9%), drug-induced (9%), and others (18%) were identified, but no etiology was determined in the rest of the patients (52%). Nonspecific serum and CSF immunological abnormalities were common (55%), suggesting underlying immune-mediated disorders in some patients. Electrodiagnostic studies suggested that sensory neuropathy was mainly an axon-loss disorder. The upper extremity preponderance and the asymmetric involvement were confirmed electrodiagnostically in some patients. Nerve biopsies showed scattered acute axonal degeneration and severe loss of myelinated fibers but well-preserved unmyelinated fibers. Corticosteroid or other immunotherapy was not beneficial in most patients treated. In all but two patients, the neuropathy was either progressive or unimproved over an average of 6.2 years of follow-up.
Not all that glitters is gold: A guide to critical appraisal of animal drug trials in epilepsy

Preclinical studies have produced numerous drugs with antiseizure properties which currently are the standard of care in clinical care. A third of the human population with epilepsy still continues having seizures despite the ongoing discoveries. The recognized clinical gaps of care that need to be addressed are the identification of antiepileptogenic and disease modifying treatments, treatments for refractory seizures or for seizures and epilepsies with limited or unsatisfactory treatments, such as early life epileptic encephalopathies. In this invited review, we provide a historical summary of the international efforts to re-evaluate the strategies adopted in preclinical epilepsy therapy discovery studies. We discuss issues that may impact the quality, interpretation and validation of preclinical studies and their translation to successful therapies for humans affected with epilepsy. These include the selection of animal models and the study design, research practices that affect rigor, such as appropriate use of statistics and reporting of study methods and results, their validation across models, labs and preclinical-clinical studies, the need to harmonize research methods and outcome assessment, and the importance to improve translation to clinically appropriate situations. The epilepsy research community is incrementally adopting collaborative research, including consortia or multicenter studies to meet these needs. Improving the infrastructure that can support these efforts will be instrumental in the future success.
YASK-yet another stencil kernel: a framework for HPC stencil code-generation and tuning

Stencil computation is an important class of algorithms used in a large variety of scientific-simulation applications. While the code for many problems can certainly be written in a straightforward manner in a high-level language, this often results in sub-optimal performance on modern computing platforms. On the other hand, adding advanced optimizations such as multi-level loop interchanges and vector-folding allows the code to perform better, but at the expense of reducing readability, maintainability, and portability. This paper describes the YASK (Yet Another Stencil Kernel) framework that simplifies the tasks of defining stencil functions, generating high-performance code targeted especially for Intel® Xeon® and Intel® Xeon Phi™ processors, and running tuning experiments. The features of the framework are described, including domain-specific-languages (DSLs), code generators for stencil-equation and loop code, and a genetic-algorithm-based automated tuning tool. Two practical use-cases are illustrated with real-world examples: the standalone YASK kernel is used to tune an isotropic 3D finitedifference stencil, and the generated YASK code is integrated into an external earthquake simulator.
Polynomials over Finite Fields

In all that follows F will denote a finite field with q elements. The model for such a field is ℤ/pℤ, where p is a prime number. This field has p elements. In general the number of elements in a finite field is a power of a prime, q = p f . Of course, p is the characteristic of F.
Understanding Student Self-Reports of Academic Performance and Course-Taking Behavior

In recent years, student surveys have played an increasingly large role in educational research, policy making, and, particularly, accountability efforts. However, research on the accuracy of stude...
How is biodiversity produced? Examining speciation processes during the GOBE

The accumulation of diversity is dependent on the production (and subsequent continuation) of new species; thus, it is important to contextualize the Great Biodiversification Event (GOBE) as the sum of a series of individual speciation events. Studies of speciation processes are only beginning to emerge for the GOBE, but early analyses of brachiopods and other taxa suggest that such research questions are tractable given appropriate data sets and analyses. In order to understand the GOBE, it is important to move from correlating diversity trends with environmental changes to explicitly assessing how correlative Earth system processes can facilitate the process and mechanisms of speciation. Explicit consideration of the hierarchical structure and biogeographical aspects of evolutionary processes provides a dynamic perspective to analyse speciation. Biogeographical processes of dispersal and vicariance provide the link between local and global diversity levels, and oscillations between these two biogeographical modalities can generate an effective speciation dynamo. Geographical isolation due to palaeogeography, numerous interoceanic islands, tectonism, glacial–interglacial cycles and newly developed habitat heterogeneity were likely key factors in promoting speciation. Understanding the processes that produced the GOBE will require careful consideration of the oceanic, climatic and tectonic processes operating during the Early Palaeozoic as well as the speciation process itself.
Introduction: Biomarkers of embryo viability: the search for the "holy grail" of embryo selection.

Over the past four decades we have witnessed great progress and increasing pregnancy success rates with in vitro fertilization. However, this apparent success has been accompanied by the burden of multiple pregnancies. While efforts to reduce the number of embryos transferred have had a salutary impact on the incidence of high order multiple pregnancies, twin gestations have not diminished significantly. Thus, the search for a marker of embryo quality with the goal of selecting the single best embryo for transfer continues to be the major challenge facing our field. The four contributions in this Views and Reviews present several contemporary approaches, both invasive and non-invasive, for evaluating embryo viability. Each group makes the case that recent techniques, including time-lapse microscopy, biomechanical markers for oocytes and embryos, novel non-invasive methods of evaluating embryo metabolism and function as well as measurement of mitochondrial DNA, will allow the identification of the single best embryo for transfer. They describe several promising markers of embryo viability, although the goal of finding the "holy grail" of embryo selection has not yet been realized.
A Systematic Review of Interventions to Improve Initiation of Mental Health Care Among Racial-Ethnic Minority Groups.

Objective: The objective of this systematic review was to identify interventions to improve the initiation of mental health care among racial-ethnic minority groups.Methods: The authors searched th...
Room-Temperature Magnetic Order in Air-Stable Ultrathin Iron Oxide.

Manual assembly of atomically thin materials into heterostructures with desirable electronic properties is an approach that holds great promise. Despite the rapid expansion of the family of ultrath...
Distal Radius and Ulnar Fractures

Distal radius fractures is are the most common fractures of the upper extremity occurring in both young and old patients. Approximately half of these injuries are intra-articular. These fractures are usually the result of a fall on an outstretched hand especially in older osteoporotic women. Distal radius fractures in the elderly are predictors of future falls. These injuries can have associated soft tissue and nerve injuries that may require close monitoring. Management of these injuries is dependent on degree of displacement, post-reduction anatomical alignment, and activity level of the patient.
Obesity, energy balance, and cancer: a mechanistic perspective

Nearly 36 % of adults and 20 % of children in the USA are obese, defined as a body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m2. Obesity, which is accompanied by metabolic dysregulation often manifesting in the metabolic syndrome, is an established risk factor for many cancers. Within the growth-promoting, proinflammatory environment of the obese state, cross talk between macrophages, adipocytes, and epithelial cells occurs via obesity-associated hormones, cytokines, and other mediators that may enhance cancer risk and/or progression. This chapter synthesizes the evidence on key biological mechanisms underlying the obesity–cancer link, with particular emphasis on obesity-associated enhancements in growth factor signaling, inflammation, and vascular integrity processes, as well as obesity-dependent microenvironmental perturbations, including the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. These interrelated pathways represent possible mechanistic targets for disrupting the obesity–cancer link.
Carbon nanotube-based optical platforms for biomolecular detection

Abstract: Carbon nanotubes are exceptionally photostable fluorophores that emit in the near infrared range. Their novel optical properties make them particularly appealing for applications in biosensing. This chapter focuses on the state-of-the-art development of optical biosensors based on single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs); also, it draws attention to the basic photophysics of SWCNTs, optical-sensing mechanisms, and surface functionalization principles. The concerted efforts from the research community in the past decade have enabled the realization of several SWCNT-based optical biosensors that provide real-time, non-invasive analyte detection. We review the performance of these biosensors with regard to their sensitivity, selectivity and response time, and highlight the prospects and challenges of constructing biosensors for more advanced sensing applications.
Towards Harmonic Analysis on Homogeneous Spaces of Nilpotent Lie Groups

The work described here is a joint project with Fred Greenleaf. Let G be a simply connected nilpotent Lie group, with Lie algebra (!S, and let K be a connected Lie subgroup, with Lie algebra Ji. We would like to do harmonic analysis on K\G. More generally, let X be a character of K; we would like to consider questions of harmonic analysis for the unitary representation T induced from x. The first task facing us is to understand what that means. In order to begin to do harmonic analysis, we must solve a problem in group representation theory: determining the direct integral decompo­ sition of the representation T on 1fT = {f : G ---> C I f(kx) = x(k)f(x) if k E K, f measurable, and If I E .c 2(K \ Gn. That problem was answered in [4] (see also [6]). Let £' E (!S* be such that for Y E Ji, X( exp Y) = e2,..il' (Y), and set OT = £' + Ji.l C (!S*. The Kirillov corre­ spondence gives a bijection between Gil and Ad* (G)-orbits in (!S*. The decomposition of T can be described as follows:
84 – Gender-Specific Issues in Fungal Infections

This chapter describes the epidemiology, causal organisms, disease presentation, and predisposing factors of common systemic mycoses, both opportunistic and endemic. Most fungal infections do not differ in their epidemiology, pathogenesis, or clinical manifestations between men and women. This chapter discusses some relevant gender-specific issues, such as genital tract infection, the effect of pregnancy on some fungal infections, and the use of antifungal agents in special situations. Antifungal agents can act on the cell membrane (polyenes, azoles, allylamines), cell wall (echinocandins), nuclear division (griseofulvin), or nucleic acid synthesis (5-FC). The chapter briefly describes currently available antifungal agents and discusses their use in special situations such as pregnancy. Antifungal treatment in pregnancy requires careful attention to risks and benefits of therapy as well as knowledge of the effect on mother and fetus.
ORGANIZATIONAL READINESS TO IMPLEMENT HEALTH PROMOTION PROGRAMS IN HEALTHCARE.

Chronic kidney disease is a complex condition that undermines quality of life in older adults. Health promotion interventions (HPIs) could facilitate quality of life improvements, but there is limited information about dialysis organizational readiness to implement HPIs. Staff in three dialysis facilities were surveyed to assess organizational readiness. The surveys consisted of demographic questions, the Organizational Readiness for Implementing Change instrument, and open-ended questions developed from Organizational Readiness for Change Theory. Of the 70 surveys that were emailed, 63 were completed. Bivariate analyses revealed profession (p=0.002), education (p=0.007), and age (p=0.001) were significantly associated with change efficacy. The mean readiness for change rating was 3.07 (range 1 to 5; SD=1.31). Textual data revealed perceived benefits to patients, a supportive environment, and facility culture could facilitate or impede HPI implementation. The findings of the current study point to moderate readiness to implement HPIs in dialysis facilities.
Cranial Nerve Targets

Cancers of the head and neck account for less than 5% of cancers diagnosed in the United States each year, but they are among the cancers most likely to cause significant cancer-associated pain. Pain can affect a variety of anatomic locations and tissue types in the head and neck and be a result of direct tumor invasion, compression of nervous structures, and damage during surgical intervention or as a sequelae of radiation treatment. Multiple modalities exist for interventional treatment of head and neck pain, including local anesthetic nerve block, chemical neurolysis, thermal or pulsed radiofrequency ablation, cryoablation, and peripheral nerve stimulation. Common targets for intervention consist of cranial nerves such as the trigeminal ganglion, including its major divisions and terminal branches, the glossopharyngeal nerve and the vagus nerve. Other non-cranial nerve targets include the sphenopalatine ganglion, temporomandibular joint, greater and lesser occipital nerves and the cervical plexus.
A 2D-3D Object Detection System for Updating Building Information Models with Mobile Robots

Automation in facility management and construction could significantly improve efficiency and productivity of the building industry. However, for robots and autonomous systems to operate effectively in dynamic and unstructured environments such as construction sites, they must be able to infer or obtain a semantic model of the environment. We propose a system for identifying common objects in a worksite and automatically adding them to an existing geometric model of the environment. The system is composed of two components: A novel 2D-3D object detection network designed to detect and localize a worksite objects, and a multi-object Kalman filter tracking system used to filter false-positive detections. The proposed system is validated using data collected with a purpose-built mobile robot. The mobile robot captures images of the worksite with an RGB-D camera and uses the proposed system to spawn newly placed objects in an existing geometric model of the worksite environment. The annotated RGB-D images are made publicly available to accelerate future research in this field.
Concomitant Infection With Epstein-Barr Virus and Cytomegalovirus Infection Leading to Portal Vein Thrombosis.

Abstract Background Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is well recognized as a complication of hepatic cirrhosis and is likely to be suspected in patients with hypercoagulable syndromes, however, it is rarely recognized as a possibility in otherwise healthy patients with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) or cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. We report a case of a healthy 27-year-old man with fever and weight loss who was found to have PVT in the setting of acute EBV and CMV infection. Case Report A 27-year-old man with no known medical history presented to the emergency department (ED) for fever for 18 days. Patient reported daily high fevers associated with chills, night sweats, generalized myalgia, nausea with appetite loss, and unquantified weight loss. Vital signs showed temperature of 100.5°F. Patient reported discomfort upon palpation of abdomen on physical examination. There was no lymphadenopathy, cardiac murmur, rash, or jaundice. Laboratory tests revealed titers diagnostic of acute EBV and CMV infection with elevated liver function tests and leukocytosis with lymphocyte predominance (white blood cell count 15,400/μL; 43% atypical lymphocytes). Computed tomography of the abdomen/pelvis with i.v. contrast showed a filling defect in the anterior portal vein. The patient was admitted with the ED diagnosis of PVT secondary to viral infection and was initiated on anticoagulation. Why Should An Emergency Physician Be Aware of This? Although rarely considered, CMV has been associated with PVT in up to 6% of cases, and EBV infection has been implicated as well. Emergency physicians should be aware of this potentially serious complication of these common viral infections and consider imaging modalities to rule out thrombosis, if appropriate.
A Mini-history of Latin America and Professional Baseball

Like the US, Latin American countries were initially ruled by colonial powers who imported slaves from Africa to support their economies. The Europeans who resided in Latin America tended to be situated in the top level of a social stratification system that disadvantaged indigenous people and Africans. The end of slavery in Latin America failed to provide equality for Afro-descendants. However, through the years, the widespread mixing of the various groups in Latin America blurred distinctions between races and ethnicities. Baseball first evolved as a professional sport in the US and then spread to Cuba and select other countries in Latin America during the latter half of the nineteenth century. The game was disseminated by Latin American students attending US colleges, as well as contacts made during wars, and business encounters. In Cuba, baseball was associated with its struggle for independence from Spain. In every country in Latin America where baseball is played, it has become a vital part of life and culture.
A More Comprehensive Perspective in Understanding the Development and Learning in Dual Language Learners

Millions of children around the globe are acquiring more than one language in their homes and in early care and education (ECE) settings as a consequence of migration and other social/political processes that generate “minority/majority” situations. Growing up within a minority/majority language situation carries a set of particular circumstances that may result in a developmental pathway for these children that differs from that of monolingual children who are part of the majority or dominant language group. A conceptual framework is proposed that provides a more comprehensive understanding of the difficulties that arise from the interaction of presumably universal development and manifestly variable socio-culture experiences of these children and students. The conceptual framework proposed in this chapter reflects a concern about the way in which current research, policy and educational practice addresses the development of dual language learners (DLLs) – young children, birth to age five, who are learning a majority language as their second language, while acquiring a minority language as their first language.
Evaluation of decision-making capacity and guardianship

Abstract Chapter 4 examines how clinicians can evaluate older people for questions about decision-making capacity and need for guardianship. Clinicians in a variety of settings including primary care and outpatient psychiatric practice are asked to assess elderly patients for capacity on a daily basis, for capacity to consent to treatment, driving capacity, capacity to live independently, and less frequently for testamentary capacity (ability to make a valid will) and other questions. The chapter also discusses surrogate decision-making and evaluations for guardianship.
Accurate quantum chemical energies for 133 000 organic molecules

The energies of the 133 000 molecules in the GDB-9 database have been calculated at the G4MP2 level of theory and then were used to calculate their enthalpies of formation. This database contains organic molecules having nine or less atoms of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and fluorine, as well as hydrogen atoms. The accuracy of the G4MP2 energies was investigated on a subset of 459 of the molecules having experimental enthalpies of formation with small uncertainties. On this subset the G4MP2 enthalpies of formation have an accuracy of 0.79 kcal mol−1, which is similar to its accuracy previously reported for the smaller G3/05 test set. An error analysis of the theoretical enthalpies of formation of the 459 molecules is presented in terms of the size and type of the molecules. Three different density functionals (B3LYP, ωB97X-D, M06-2X) were also assessed on 459 molecules of accurate enthalpy data for comparison with the G4MP2 results. The G4MP2 energies for the 133 K molecules provide a database that can be used to calculate accurate reaction energies as well as to assess new or existing experimental enthalpies of formation. Several examples are given of types of reactions that can be predicted using the G4MP2 database of energies. The G4MP2 energies of the GDB-9 molecules will also be useful in future investigations of applications of machine learning to quantum chemical data.
Absorptive transport of amino acids by the rat colon

The capacity of the colon to absorb microbially produced amino acids (AAs) and the underlying mechanisms of AA transport are incompletely defined. We measured the profile of 16 fecal AAs along the rat ceco-colonic axis and compared unidirectional absorptive AA fluxes across mucosal tissues isolated from the rat jejunum, cecum, and proximal colon using an Ussing chamber approach, in conjunction with 1H-NMR and ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry chemical analyses. Passage of stool from cecum to midcolon was associated with segment-specific changes in fecal AA composition and a decrease in total AA content. Simultaneous measurement of up to 16 AA fluxes under native luminal conditions, with correction for endogenous AA release, demonstrated absorptive transfer of AAs across the cecum and proximal colon at rates comparable (30-80%) to those across the jejunum, with significant Na+-dependent and H+-stimulated components. Expression profiling of 30 major AA transporter genes by quantitative PCR revealed comparatively high levels of transcripts for 20 AA transporters in the cecum and/or colon, with the levels of 12 exceeding those in the small intestine. Our results suggest a more detailed model of major apical and basolateral AA transporters in rat colonocytes and provide evidence for a previously unappreciated transfer of AAs across the colonic epithelium that could link the prodigious metabolic capacities of the luminal microbiota, the colonocytes, and the body tissues.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study provides evidence for a previously unappreciated transfer of microbially generated amino acids across the colonic epithelium under physiological conditions that could link the prodigious metabolic capacities of the luminal microbiota, the colonocytes, and the body tissues. The segment-specific expression of at least 20 amino acid transporter genes along the colon provides a detailed mechanistic basis for uniport, heteroexchange, Na+-cotransport, and H+-cotransport components of colonic amino acid absorption.
Internal Battles: Examining How Anger/Hostility Moderate the Association Between Negative Urgency and Suicidal Desire Variables in Military and Civilian Samples

Objective Suicide is consistently within the top ten leading causes of death in the United States. The suicide rate of National Guard personnel is elevated relative to the general population; however, research suggests that many of the suicide risk factors for military personnel are similar to the suicide risk factors for civilians. We examined whether negative urgency moderated the relationships between anger/hostility and perceived burdensomeness/thwarted belongingness in both a military and civilian samples. Method There were two samples in the current study: (1) military personnel (majority national guard) and (2) community members oversampled for suicide attempt history. Results Our hypotheses were partially supported with the interaction of hostility and negative urgency predicting perceived burdensomeness in the military sample. Within civilians, anger interacted with negative urgency to predict perceived burdensomeness. There were nonsignificant findings for analyses predicting thwarted belongingness. Exploratory analyses indicated that in both samples, anger and hostility interacted with negative urgency to predict suicidal ideation. Conclusions Results suggest that aggressive attributes may contribute to individuals feeling as though they are a burden on others when moderate to high levels of negative urgency are present. Additionally, this study provides foundational support for the differences between suicidal desire and ideation.
Urethral Stricture Disease: Evaluation of the Male Urethra

The diagnosis of urethral stricture disease is often made when a man with obstructive voiding symptoms undergoes flexible cystoscopy (urethroscopy). However, a more complete and definitive diagnosis is then achieved when the urethra is subsequently evaluated with a retrograde urethrogram, and in many cases, a voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG). In situations where there is stricture disease involving the meatus or fossa navicularis that prevents the passage of adult flexible cystoscope, other testing appropriate in these cases include distal urethral calibration using bougie-a-boules and possibly the advancement of a pediatric cystoscope. It is only after the exact location and length and severity of the stricture is assessed that patients can be properly advised of all options before decision-making and the implementation of a treatment plan. This section will review the evaluation of the male urethra.
Gut microbiota of invasive bullfrog tadpoles responds more rapidly to temperature than a noninvasive congener.

Environmental temperature can alter the composition, diversity, and function of ectothermic vertebrate gut microbial communities, which may result in negative consequences for host physiology, or conversely, increase phenotypic plasticity and persistence in harsh conditions. The magnitude of either of these effects will depend on the length of time animals are exposed to extreme temperatures, and how quickly the composition and function of the gut microbiota can respond to temperature change. However, the temporal effects of temperature on gut microbiota are currently unknown. Here, we investigated the length of time required for increased temperature to alter the composition of gut bacterial communities in tadpoles of two frog species, the green frog, Lithobates clamitans, and its congener, the globally invasive American bullfrog, L. catesbeianus. We also explored the potential functional consequences of these changes by comparing predicted metagenomic profiles across temperature treatments at the last experimental time point. Bullfrog-associated microbial communities were more plastic than those of the green frog. Specifically, bullfrog communities were altered by increased temperature within hours, while green frog communities took multiple days to exhibit significant changes. Further, over ten times more bullfrog bacterial functional pathways were temperature-dependent compared to the green frog. These results support our hypothesis that bullfrog gut microbial communities would respond more rapidly to temperature change, potentially bolstering their ability to exploit novel environments. More broadly, we have revealed that even short-term increases in environmental temperature, expected to occur frequently under global climate change, can alter the gut microbiota of ectothermic vertebrates.
Democratic versus Authoritarian Coups: The Influence of External Actors on States’ Postcoup Political Trajectories:

Once considered artifacts of history, research on coups has burgeoned recently. Most studies focus on decisions to stage coups, considering factors like individual benefits, organizational interest...
Grammatical Characteristics of Vietnamese and English in Developing Bilingual Children.

Purpose Defining parameters for typical development in bilingual children's first and second languages can serve as the basis for accurate language assessment. This is the first study to characteri...
“The Revolution Will Be Televised (With Apologies to Gil Scott-Heron)”:

I use the iconic spoken word poem, “The Revolution Will Not be Televised” by Gil Scott-Heron to chart a series of reflections on my childhood engagement of the piece for high speech tournaments. Th...
Poor concordance of contemporary performance measures in detecting complications in complex endovascular aortic repair.

Abstract Background The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Patient Safety Indicators (PSI) are quality improvement indicators used to determine hospital performance and, increasingly, to rank surgical programs. The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program and the Society for Vascular Surgery Vascular Quality Improvement databases are also frequently used to compare outcomes, but definitions of complications vary between the systems and the optimal system for tracking complications in complex endovascular repair remains unclear. Herein we assess the three outcome tracking systems and their ability to capture complications after fenestrated endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (FEVAR) and open aortic aneurysm repair in a large complex aortic program. Methods Demographic and operative data for patients undergoing repair of juxtarenal or pararenal aortic aneurysms between 2004 and 2018 via both open and FEVAR approaches at the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions were compiled in a prospectively maintained retrospective database. Postoperative complications were defined according to a surgeon-defined system, the Society for Vascular Surgery Vascular Quality Initiative, the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program, and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality PSI data dictionaries and were compared between surgical approaches as well as eras before and after the introduction of FEVAR. Complication rates between the classification systems were compared using proportion testing and the strength of the correlation between the systems was evaluated with Spearman's rank test. Results Of 145 patients, 60 (41.4%) underwent FEVAR and 85 (58.6%) underwent open aortic aneurysm repair. The introduction of fenestrated technology was associated with a decrease in the overall number of complications from 37.2% to 20.6% by surgeon-defined classification system (P = .036). The VQI identified the most complications (39.9% of the entire cohort and 25% of FEVAR cases), followed by the NSQIP (29.0% and 33.3%, respectively) and PSI (4.1% and 5%). The two clinically focused databases were found to correlate well with a surgeon-designed classification system, as well as each other (Spearman ρ ≥ 0.735) but not with PSI (ρ Conclusions The introduction of FEVAR is associated with an overall decrease in complications in this study. The clinically relevant VQI and NSQIP databases show good concordance in capturing complications; however, PSI did not correlate with either and captured significantly fewer complications. These data highlight the value of high scrutiny classification systems to track postoperative complications and suggest that PSI are insufficient to rank complex aortic programs with high levels of FEVAR use.
Macaque species with varying social tolerance show no differences in understanding what other agents perceive.

A growing body of work demonstrates that a species’ socioecology can impact its cognitive abilities. Indeed, even closely related species with different socioecological pressures often show different patterns of cognitive performance on the same task. Here, we explore whether major differences in social tolerance in two closely related macaque species can impact a core sociocognitive ability, the capacity to recognize what others see. Specifically, we compared the performance of Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus, n = 80) and rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta, n = 62) on a standard test of visual perspective understanding. In contrast to the difference in performance, one might expect from these species’ divergent socioecologies that our results show similar performance across Barbary and rhesus macaques, with both species forming expectations about how another agent will act based on that agent’s visual perspective. These results suggest that differences in socioecology may not play as big of a role in the evolution of some theory of mind capacities as they do in other decision-making or foraging contexts.
Evaluation method of power transformer operation state and its field application

In order to scientifically and reasonably evaluate the operation state of power transformer in operation, a three-level evaluation model is established according to the key characteristic information of transformer. The health index theory is introduced to deduce the calculation method of health level of transformer three-level evaluation model, and the calculation formula of transformer residual life is obtained based on the theory. In order to facilitate the operation and maintenance personnel to quickly evaluate the operation status of the transformer on site, based on the above theory, using the programming language to carry out parametric modeling, a power transformer operation status evaluation software is developed. Finally, a representative case is given to illustrate the software method, and the scientificity and accuracy of the software are verified.
Investigation of neutron noise in a micro-scale, natural circulation molten salt fission battery system

Abstract The Molten Salt Reactor (MSR) concept is a rapidly evolving Generation IV design that has recently attracted favorable attention due to the potential for reducing waste generation, realizing passive safety features, and seizing on the opportunity for cost effective economics. A specific novel micro-MSR, natural circulation, battery design concept involves placing all primary components within a single reactor vessel containment without the need of primary forced pumping. This small modular, integral design presents potential cost savings while producing safety, reliable, and transportable carbon-free power for decades. This investigation evaluates the neutron noise induced by density and flow fluctuations in a natural circulation MSR battery concept being developed at the University of Idaho. This study finds numerical solutions to the one-dimensional, one-group, coupled diffusion equations for a bare, homogeneous core, and evaluates neutron flux and delayed neutron precursor concentration noise due to core flow and fuel salt density perturbation sources. Noise analysis shows both point kinetic and space-dependent behavior is present despite the small size, low-flow, closely-coupled nature of the natural circulation MSR concept. Analysis shows that the low flow of the convective system results in noise behavior typically representative of a larger forced-circulation MSR system. Noise techniques may also be useful in MSR core diagnostics as a non-invasive, low-cost radiological option to traditional monitoring schemes.
Stability of a Parametrically Driven, Coupled Oscillator System: An Auxillary Function Method Approach

Coupled, nonlinear oscillators are often studied in applied biology, physics, fluids, and many other disciplines. In this paper, we study a parametrically driven, coupled oscillator system where the individual oscillators are subjected to varying frequency and phase with a focus on the influence of the damping and coupling parameters away from parametric resonance frequencies. In particular, we study the key long-term statistics of the oscillator system's trajectories and stability. We present a novel, robust and computationally efficient method come to be known as an auxillary function method for long-time averages, and we pair this method with classical, perturbative-asymptotic analysis to corroborate the results of this auxillary function method. These paired methods are then used to compute the regions of stability for a coupled oscillator system. The objective is to explore the influence of higher order, coupling effects on the stability boundary across a broad range of modulation frequencies, including frequencies away from parametric resonances. We show that both simplified and more general asymptotic methods can be dangerously un-conservative in predicting the true regions of stability due to high order effects caused by coupling parameters. The differences between the true stability boundary and the approximate stability boundary can occur at physically relevant parameter values in regions away from parametric resonance. The differences between the solutions depends on the specific parameters of the system, as explained in the results section. As an alternative to asymptotic methods, we show that the auxillary function method for long-time averages is an efficient and robust means of computing true regions of stability across all possible initial conditions.
New Westers: The West in Contemporary American Culture

"Yeeeeehaaah!" Nightly that raucous cry breezes out from beneath the broad-brimmed Stetsons of boot-scootin line dancers at boisterous bars called Cadillac Ranch, Cactus Moon, or Stallions & Stars. And that, Michael Johnson tells us, is just one of the many signs that Americans have rekindled and refashioned their love affair with the American West. These "New Westers," Johnson reveals, line-dance and two-step, listen to Garth Brooks and George Strait, drink beer from long-neck bottles, wear clothes ordered from Sheplers, watch rodeo on ESPN, play Wild West arcade games, eat fajitas and tacos in stucco-style Mexican cafes, collect Western art and Native American crafts, and vacation in and move to the West. "New Westers" rewrite the history and biography of the West. They reimagine the West in cowboy sagas and poetry, Native American novels, Mexican-American drama, nature writing, revisionist films, eclectic visual artwork, and neo-traditional music. They flock to movies like "Thelma and Louise," "Unforgiven," and "Dances with Wolves" or mini-series like "Lonesome Dove" and read bestsellers like "The Crossing" and "All the Pretty Horses." "New Westers" are men and women who may or may not have ever hitched up a horse but who want a "personal" West. At the end of an urbanized century adrift in confusing change, they seek a more natural home, a fuller and wider sense of place, and a deeper and more colorful personal identity. They also want, Johnson shows, to revive the dream of the mythic West-but on new and different terms. They overrun the Old West and yet strive to preserve it, raising troubling new concerns about the differences between the mythic and the real, between traditional and contemporary cultural influences. Infused with true grit and true affection, Johnson's immensely entertaining book takes us on a lively jaunt through a colorful and amazing landscape. His celebration of things Western will be treasured by all armchair cowpokes or anyone who's ever dreamed of riding the high country."
Executive function and suicidality: A systematic qualitative review

Deficits in executive function (EF) have been proposed as a possible explanation for the "cognitive rigidity" often observed in suicidal individuals. This article provides a systematic review of the existing literature testing the relations between EF and suicidality, across various diagnostic and demographic populations, using the influential multidimensional model of EF proposed by Miyake and colleagues (2000) as an organizing framework. Forty-three journal articles on this topic published before January of 2014 were reviewed. Collectively, results from these studies provide tentative support for an association between EF deficits and suicidality. However, there is some evidence that this association is moderated by other factors (e.g., suicide attempt lethality). Importantly, this relationship may vary across diagnostic groups. Specifically, more studies that used depressive disorder samples reported some positive findings (75%), followed by mixed diagnostic samples (54%). In contrast, fewer positive findings have emerged from studies with bipolar or psychotic disorder samples (29% and 33% respectively), and some even found that suicidality is associated with better EF in individuals with psychotic disorders. Firm conclusions about relationships between specific dimensions of EF and/or aspects of suicidality are difficult to draw this time. Limitations of the existing literature and corresponding directions for future research are discussed.
Imitation and Innovation: A Strategic Heuristic

Firms faced with the introduction of an innovation by a competitor face a difficult decision. Does the firm imitate the innovation in a bid to ward off any competitive advantage accruing to the competitor; or does the firm forgo imitation, believing that the competitor has misjudged the market receptiveness of the innovation? The risk of following – hoping that the competitor has judged the market correctly and warrants resource expenditure – must be weighed against the risk of not following – potentially missing out on a critical market opportunity. We offer a theoretical framework for firms contemplating imitation using signals embedded at the innovation-level and at the organizational-level of the competitor to better guide imitation decision making. Keywords: innovation; imitation; signaling theory; multilevel decision making; information asymmetry; competitive dynamics
International Product Innovation and Development

This article reviews some of the salient issues faced by managers of product innovation and development in a global marketplace. The growing complexity and pace of industrial technological change in today's business environment are forcing firms to understand the role and importance of global product innovation, how it fits with the firm's strategic orientation towards globalization, and the interaction of these forces with the international marketing concept of the company. Managing global product innovation and development presents quandaries for international companies with respect to balancing the need for within-country representation with between-country comparability. Firms that are able to harness the power of global product development by matching these competing requirements to capabilities have means to establishing effective product differentiation and create a sustainable competitive advantage. Keywords: innovation; product development; global product; global orientation; international marketing
Values in Science: An Educational Perspective

Science is not value-free, nor does it provide the only model of objectivity. Epistemic values guide the pursuit and methods of science. Cultural values, however, inevitably enter through individual practitioners. Still, the social structure of science embodies a critical system of checks and balances, and it is strengthened by a diversity of values, not fewer. Science also exports values to the broader culture, both posing new values-questions based on new discoveries, and providing a misleading model for rational decision-making. Science teachers who understand the multi-faceted relationship between science and values can guide students more effectively in fully appreciating the nature of science through reflexive exercises and case studies.
A Content Analysis of the Strategic Plans of the Coalition of Urban Serving Universities’ Academic Libraries

As academic libraries support the curricular mission of the university, the strategic plans of academic libraries often reflect the priorities and initiatives of the larger institution. Urban universities often incorporate concepts of community engagement in their mission. The Coalition of Urban Serving Universities (http://www.usucoalition.org), a federation of 43 urban universities, has developed initiatives which seek to establish the university and city as partners. Using the publicly-accessible strategic plans of the Coalition of Urban Serving Universities (USU) affiliated libraries as a data set, the research will perform a content analysis, using Atlas.ti software, to look for evidence that the libraries are supporting the USU’s initiatives and goals. The research will explore examples of how urban academic libraries support their universities’ urban engagement initiatives.
Exogenous Abscisic Acid Application Effects on Stomatal Closure, Water Use, and Shelf Life of Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)

A lack of adequate watering reduces the shelf life of many ornamental plants during retail. Our goals were to determine whether sprays or drenches with abscisic acid (ABA) can reduce transpiration and extend the shelf life of hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla). During the fi rst 5 days after treatment, ABA drenches of 125 to 1000 ppm reduced stomatal conductance (g s ) by 50 to 80% as compared to water. ABA-induced stomatal closure reduced plant water uptake from the substrate; control plants took up half of the plant-available water during the fi rst 7 days after treatment, while it took 14 days for plants drenched with 1000 ppm to take up half of the available water. Control plants wilted after 12 days and time to wilting of drenched plants increased with increasing ABA concentrations, up to 23 days in the 1000 ppm treatment. Spray treatments had little effect on g s and no detectable effect on water uptake or time to wilting. Some yellowing of older leaves was seen with ABA drenches of 500 or 1000 ppm. Despite this side effect, ABA drenches have potential to extend the shelf life of hydrangeas in retail environments.