cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A case study for distributed query processing

(i) (ii) (is) In the integrated strategy, one component decides which relation should remain fragmented at different sites. The other component decides which local operations, selections and projections, should be performed before the join operations. Our experimental results reveal that the choices made by the integrated algorithm in deciding which relation should remain fragmented and which local operations to be performed are valid. More precisely , the response times of queries processed by the algorithm are lower than those of the same queries processed using other strategies. These experimental results agree with the analytic cost model which we have previously proposed [YGC87]. In addition, our experiments provide insight on the relative cost VO, network, and processing cost in a real environment. This enables us to identify timeconsuming operations in distributed query processing, and suggest ways to improve perforniance.
Trust Enabled Secure Multiparty Computation

Hamiltonian cycles play an important role in graph theory and data mining applications. Two Hamiltonian cycles that don’t have an edge in common are known as edge-disjoint Hamiltonian cycles (EDHCs). EDHCs are useful in computer networks. They have found applications in improving network capacity, fault-tolerance and collusion resistant mining algorithms. This paper extends previous work on collusion resistance capability of data mining algorithms. We first propose a new trust model for network computers. We then use this model as a basis to improve the collusion resistance capability of data mining algorithms. We use a performance metric to quantify the improvement.
Discrete cell model of pore‐mouth poisoning of fixed‐bed reactors

Catalyst deactivation in an isothermal fixed-bed reactor under pore-mouth poisoning conditions is investigated theoretically using a discrete mixing cell model. Two fundamental relationships which characterize the poisoning process in the reactor are identified and incorporated into the model to develop a simple graphical procedure for a quick, general insight into the problem. This graphical method is extended to design pellet impregnation profiles along the reactor which would give nondeteriorating reactor performance up to a given time. The effects of various system parameters on the lifetime and conversion performance of the reactor are also examined analytically, graphically and numerically.
HIGH PRESSURE–HIGH TEMPERATURE STERILIZATION: FROM KINETIC ANALYSIS TO PROCESS VERIFICATION†

The inactivation of Clostridium sporogenes PA 3679 spores by high pressure at high temperatures (HP–HT) in phosphate buffer was investigated in a lab-scale temperature-controlled HP system (QFP-6) with an internal heater to maintain the sample temperature. Some inactivation of spores occurred during the pressurization come-up time (CUT) and depressurization time. The inactivation of PA 3679 was found to be exponential during the adiabatic holding period of the HP cycle at constant pressures and temperatures. The inactivation rate increased with both pressure and temperature. The kinetic parameters – such as D-values at tested temperatures and pressures that are necessary for the design of process parameters of HP sterilization process – were determined. Within the pressure range of 600–800 MPa, the calculated D-values ranged from 270.3 to 357.4 and 49.0 to 67.6 s at 91 and 108C, respectively. These studies provided basic data on the effects of pressure and temperature on the inactivation of PA 3679 spores under conditions applicable to the development of preservation specifications for commercial HP–HT processing of low acid foods. The spore strips of C. sporogenes were used as indicators for microbiological verification of delivered lethality of HP–HT sterilization process at different processing conditions in a pilot scale HP vessel.
The Second-order Election Model in an Enlarged Europe

On 1 May 2004, the European Union (EU) welcomed its new member states from Central and Eastern Europe. This paper considers to what extent one of the most widely tested and supported theories of vo...
Sustainable Manufacturing Analysis using an Activity Based Object Oriented Method

This article begins by describing the need for a new method and tool for performing a sustainability assessment for manufacturing processes and systems. A brief literature survey is done to highlight the major existing methods and tools, their function, and their shortcomings. The article goes on to describe the general approach of the method before describing a computer aided tool that has been developed to implement the method. The article concludes with a walk through of a generic use case that describes where such a method would be useful and how such a tool would be implemented.
Pricing issues: user perspectives of database pricing, deep pockets and empty wallets

Pricing is usually oriented to one or a few users per user agreement. The large potential audience of end-user professionals is still mostly an untapped market as is the broad use of information as a resource. Current pricing structures often make volume use by an organization, an unreasonably high cost process and a run-away expense item. Many end-users can be found when a total marketing approach alerts the management of users to the resulting potential benefits of innovation, productivity, quality and professional awareness. Pricing then can be adjusted for volume sale, thus lowering the cost of information to individual users. The true value of information to an organization becomes more apparent and the use of information services becomes a routine part of doing business with more reasonable costs.
BREEDING BIRD RESPONSE TO RIPARIAN BUFFER WIDTH IN MANAGED PACIFIC NORTHWEST DOUGLAS-FIR FORESTS

We examined the relative importance of riparian vs. upland habitats to breeding birds by comparing species abundance, richness, and similarity of bird communities in managed Douglas-fir forests in western Washington State, USA. We also examined whether forested buffer strips along second- and third-order streams effectively maintain the pre-logging riparian breeding bird community by comparing species abundance, richness, and turnover among three treatments: (1) unharvested controls; (2) sites that were clear-cut, leaving a narrow (∼14 m) forested buffer on both sides of the stream; and (3) sites that were clear-cut, leaving a wide (∼31 m) forested buffer along both sides of the stream. Deciduous trees, berry-producing shrubs, and other deciduous shrubs less common in adjacent upland forest characterized streamside zones. Despite different vegetation features, riparian and upland habitats did not differ in any measures of bird species richness and composition. No species or species group was more abundant...
The Effect of Moderate Changes in Blood Volume on Left and Right Atrial Pressures

The blood volume of 15 dogs was progressively increased an estimated 30 per cent by repeated blood infusions and decreased 30 per cent by stepwise hemorrhage. The pressures in the venous system, both atria and the pulmonary artery, rose and fell in unison with these moderate changes in blood volume and the new levels remained stable for at least 10 to 20 minutes. Although the right ventricle anatomically separates the systemic venous bed from the pulmonary circulation, small hemorrhages and transfusions have so little effect on its activity that, from the point of view of pressure volume relationships, the systemic veins and the left atrium are parts of the same functional unit.
Observational studies and evidence-based practice: Can't live with them, can't live without them

Abstract Role in Health Care Stroup et al 1 define an observational study as "an etiologic or effectiveness study using data from an existing database, a cross-sectional study, a case series, a case-control design, a design with historical controls, or a cohort design." Generally, there are several major problems with the use of observational studies in systematic reviews of evidence for a treatment procedure. The first is that since all observational studies lack randomization, true assessment of efficacy is not possible. Furthermore, it is not possible to determine what biases may have influenced the results, both from the provider and the patient. Analytically, results from observational studies either cannot be pooled for a meta-analyses or can be done so only with caution. J Evid Base Dent Pract 2003;3:1-4
Black Milwaukee, Women, and Gender

This article reflects upon the contributions and limits of Joe William Trotter Jr.'s Black Milwaukee by revisiting the book's proletarianization model. This model helped to complicate analyses and ...
Kegs, Crude and Commodities Law: On Why It Is Time to Re-Examine the Suitability Doctrine Under U.S. Commodities Law

It is a clear sign the world has changed when thieves steal beer kegs not for the beer but for the stainless steel, and duffers hit the links not to play golf but to steal the aluminum cups from the golf course. Commodities have come of age. The media now follows oil and gold prices with all the breathless enthusiasm formerly reserved for high tech stocks. The debate over “peak oil” has entered the mainstream, and the debate over the impact of China and India’s increasing consumption of oil, steel, copper, and other commodities continues. Commodities are no longer passing assumptions. Neither are the commodities futures markets. They have grown enormously, as have the means for investing in commodities futures. With this increased focus on and participation in the commodities futures markets has come increased fraud. Yet, while the growing futures markets and fraud have received growing attention, commodities law, by and large, has not. Congress has debated expanding the authority of the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to “clamp down on fraud in the natural-gas markets,” but the focus has been on institutional investors, and there has been little debate about the anti-fraud provisions within or promulgated pursuant to the Commodities Exchange Act (CEA). The same is true of the suitability doctrine and its role in U.S. commodities law. While the scope of the suitability requirements under U.S. securities law remains a perennial source of debate within academia and the securities industry, that debate has been all but silent as it relates to the futures market. In 1986, the CFTC and federal courts rejected arguments that the recommendation of unsuitable futures transactions violated the anti-fraud provisions of the CEA. Since then, an unspoken, growing divide has arisen separating the black letter law that there is no suitability requirement under federal commodities law and the reality that futures transactions continue to be recommended to unsuitable investors. The increased focus on commodities futures markets, increased participation in those markets, and increased levels of fraud all suggest the time is ripe to reexamine the suitability doctrine and its role in U.S. commodities law. This Article urges consideration of the imposition of a uniform suitability standard for individual or retail investors in futures markets similar to that covering the securities futures products now jointly regulated by the CFTC and the Securities Exchange Commission.
Orthokinetic Flocculation in Water Purification

The theory of orthokinetic flocculation has been extended to systems approximating those encountered in water-treatment plant flocculators. The theory incorporates parameters representing the floc size distribution, flocculator compartmentalization, and floc concentration, as well as the input energy and retention period. The kinetics of flocculation were studied by observing the flocculation of kaolin and alum in a laboratory scale flocculator and by simulating the progress of flocculation with a digital computer. The results of these studies substantiated the nature of the theoretical expression and made possible the determination of several size distribution functions.
The distribution of carried items in urban environments

Virtual heritage architectural and cultural reconstructions may be enhanced by populating the environment with simulated people. There are a number of important human modeling issues to address, such as situationally appropriate clothing, occupations, and behaviors. Our interest here is focused on how people interact with portable items in their environment: namely, whether they are carrying items and what those items are. With an end goal of enabling lifelike, data-driven, agent-based populace simulations, we conducted an informal but systematic ethnographic observational study of the items carried by more than 3,000 people in two different urban community environments: an indoor market and an outdoor city plaza. We recorded the number and types of items carried by each person, along with their gender, estimated age category, and whether they were alone or in a group. We performed a basic statistical analysis of the results. There were two highly significant findings: 1 a strong and similar majority of all people carry at least one item 76.63% in the indoor setting and 79.79% in the outdoor setting; and 2 the types and amounts of items carried were highly consistent across the two different environments, implying that the data may be applicable in a wide range of scenarios.
Review: Architecture of the Sacred: Space, Ritual, and Experience from Classical Greece to Byzantium by Bonna D. Wescoat and Robert G. Ousterhout, eds.

Bonna D. Wescoat and Robert G. Ousterhout, eds. Architecture of the Sacred: Space, Ritual, and Experience from Classical Greece to Byzantium Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2012, 416 pp., 151 b/w illus. $103 (cloth), ISBN 9781107008236 For the French theorist and historian of religion Mircea Eliade, hierophany is the physical manifestation of the sacred in an object. The transfigured object is thus imbued with sacral significance yet retains its connection to materiality by remaining an object in the physical world.1 Although Eliade primarily had in mind natural objects like stones and trees (Moses’s burning bush, for example), it is not difficult to see how built forms fit into his rubric. Indeed, given its inherent multiplicity and absence of singular meaning, architecture is well suited to elision with the sacred, particularly when “the sacred” is understood in terms of ritual activity and experience. Architecture of the Sacred: Space, Ritual, and Experience from Classical Greece to Byzantium , edited by Bonna Wescoat and Robert Ousterhout, illuminates the nature of this relationship through twelve wide-ranging and thought-provoking chapters, along with a preface and an afterword. The overarching thrust of the volume is articulated early on by the editors when they note that the built environment is no mere setting or framework within which ritual activity occurs but rather “the architectural setting [functions as] an active agent in the ritual process” (xxiii). This emphasis on the centrality of architecture to the human experience of the sacred grounds the essays of the volume in the spatiotemporal demands of ritual activity and also permits a relative degree of flexibility in terms of analytical and interpretive approach. Within this malleable framework, however, the built environment almost always takes center stage in a way that refreshingly inverts the typical treatment of architecture as handmaiden to ritual. The balance of this relationship is taken up in the first chapter, “Material Culture and Ritual: State of the Question,” wherein Jaś Elsner emphasizes the general problems in scholarship on the built environment and ritual, particularly the—perhaps …
Critical role of intercalated water for electrocatalytically active nitrogen-doped graphitic systems

Graphitic materials are essential in energy conversion and storage because of their excellent chemical and electrical properties. The strategy for obtaining functional graphitic materials involves graphite oxidation and subsequent dissolution in aqueous media, forming graphene-oxide nanosheets (GNs). Restacked GNs contain substantial intercalated water that can react with heteroatom dopants or the graphene lattice during reduction. We demonstrate that removal of intercalated water using simple solvent treatments causes significant structural reorganization, substantially affecting the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity and stability of nitrogen-doped graphitic systems. Amid contrasting reports describing the ORR activity of GN-based catalysts in alkaline electrolytes, we demonstrate superior activity in an acidic electrolyte with an onset potential of ~0.9 V, a half-wave potential (E½) of 0.71 V, and a selectivity for four-electron reduction of >95%. Further, durability testing showed E½ retention >95% in N2- and O2-saturated solutions after 2000 cycles, demonstrating the highest ORR activity and stability reported to date for GN-based electrocatalysts in acidic media.
Methadone analgesia in the critically ill

Abstract Purpose Methadone is increasingly used as an analgesic or a bridge to weaning other analgesics and sedatives in critically ill patients. This review discusses the pharmacology of methadone, summarizes available evidence for its use in the intensive care unit setting, and makes suggestions for appropriate use and monitoring. Materials/methods Articles evaluating the efficacy, safety, and pharmacology of methadone were identified from a PubMed search through June 2015. References from selected articles were reviewed for additional material. Experimental and observational English-language studies that focused on the efficacy, safety, and pharmacology of methadone in critically-ill adults and children were selected. Results Methadone is a synthetic opioid analgesic with potential advantages over other commonly used opioids. Limited evidence from critically ill pediatric, adult, and burn populations suggests that methadone protocols may expedite weaning opiate infusions, decrease the length of mechanical ventilation, and reduce the incidence of negative outcomes such as opiate withdrawal, delirium, and over-sedation. Conclusions Data from current literature supports a role for methadone analgesia in weaning opiates and potentially reducing the duration of mechanical ventilation in critically ill patients. More studies are needed to confirm these benefits and determine criteria for patient selection.
44 SKELETAL MUSCLE ATROPHY, BONE LOSS, AND OXIDATIVE STRESS IN RATS WITH ALDOSTERONISM.

Purpose Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a syndrome composed of symptoms and signs arising from congested organs and hypoperfused tissues; it is mediated by a salt-avid state based on an activation of the circulating renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS). Beyond this classic perspective, CHF also features a systemic illness with oxidative stress and progressive loss of soft tissues and bone that eventuates in a wasting syndrome termed cardiac cachexia. Pathophysiologic responses contributing to this illness are under investigation. Methods and Results To simulate one aspect of RAAS activation and to address musculoskeletal health in aldosteronism, 8-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 253 ± 11 g were treated for 4 weeks with aldosterone (ALDO, 0.75 μg/h) and 1% NaCl in their drinking water (ALDOST) to raise plasma ALDO levels to those found in human CHF. These levels are accompanied by secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) due to ionized hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia resulting from increased urinary and fecal excretion of Ca2+ and Mg2+. We monitored body weight; skeletal muscle total Ca2+, and morphology, including scarring (a marker of necrosis) and the presence of myocyte apoptosis (TUNEL assay); tibial bone mineral density (BMD) and content (BMC) and strength to flexor stress; plasma α1-antiproteinase activity (AP), an inverse correlate of oxidative stress; and plasma parathyroid hormone (PTH). Compared with age-/gender-matched untreated controls, with ALDOST we found (mean ± SEM) inadequate weight gain (81 ± 5 vs 22 ±6 g), accompanied by increased (p Conclusions Aldosteronism in rats is accompanied by SHPT with skeletal muscle Ca2+ overloading and atrophy, but not myocyte death, a loss of bone minerals with reduced strength to resist flexor stress, and the appearance of oxidative stress. In human CHF, aldosteronism may contribute to its progressive wasting.
Real-time junction temperature estimation for IGBT modules using low-order digital filters

This paper proposes a digital filter model to characterize the thermal behaviors of insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) modules. The thermal impedances of IGBT modules are characterized by low-order infinite impulse response (IIR) digital filters. Compared to the conventional Foster-type thermal equivalent circuit (TEC) model, the low-order IIR filter model can greatly improve the accuracy of the transient junction temperature estimation for IGBT modules. The IIR filters can be implemented easily and efficiently in digital processing systems for real-time junction temperature estimation of IGBT modules.
Extended Cadaver Renal Preservation with Combined Simple Cold Storage and Hypothermic Pulsatile Perfusion

AbstractAlthough simple cold storage and hypothermic pulsatile perfusion are each accepted methods of cadaver kidney preservation the efficacy of combining these techniques for extended renal preservation is unclear. In 18 patients cadaver allografts were used that had been preserved with combined simple cold storage (range 6 to 20 hours) and hypothermic pulsatile perfusion (range 9 to 38 hours). The total interval of preservation for these kidneys ranged from 25 to 48 hours. Excellent posttransplant graft function was achieved in all cases, with a mean serum creatinine nadir of 1.4mg./dl. In 14 patients (78 per cent) grafts continued to function at intervals of 3 to 38 months after transplantation. Of the remaining 4 patients 3 lost the grafts to rejection, while 1 died 7 months after transplantation with a well functioning graft. These data suggest that the combination of simple cold storage and hypothermic pulsatile perfusion provides a safe and effective method for extended renal preservation.
Effect of Type of Brood Comb on Chalk Brood Disease in Honeybee Colonies

SummaryThe incidence of chalk brood infection was compared among groups of 10 honeybee (Apis mellifera) colonies maintained on each of 5 different comb types: comb drawn from foundation, honey-super comb that had been used for storing honey but not for brood rearing, comb that had been used as brood comb for 5–30 and 30–45 years, and old brood comb that had been fumigated with ethylene oxide prior to use. The level of chalk brood disease ranged from negligible to over 6% and was lowest in the colonies with foundation or super comb, intermediate in the colonies with fumigated comb, and highest in the colonies with the two types of older brood comb. The results indicate that old brood comb contributes to the development of chalk brood disease in honeybee colonies, possibly by serving as a reservoir for Ascosphaera apis spores or by promoting the growth of the pathogen.
Comparative presentation of machine learning algorithms in flood prediction using spatio-temporal data

The development of accurate flood prediction model could reduce number of fatalities by assisting local government in decision making. In this paper, three well-known machine learning algorithms, including Support Vector Machine, Decision Tree, and Lasso, are compared in terms of flood prediction accuracy. The selected algorithms are applied to learn flood prediction models for six U.S. Geological Survey gauges in North Texas. Three data sets from different sources had been used to learn flood prediction models. The data sets include Water level time series from gauges, spatio-temporal precipitation from National Weather Service’s Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler, and hydrological data from Hydrology Laboratory-Distributed Hydrologic Model. Although Support Vector Machine usually performs well in many applications, the results suggest that Lasso is the most appropriate for flood prediction while Support Vector Machine performs the worst.
Is developmental timing of trauma exposure associated with depressive and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms in adulthood?

Abstract Background Trauma exposure is a known risk factor for psychopathology. However, the impact of the developmental timing of exposure remains unclear. This study examined the effect of age at first trauma exposure on levels of adult depressive and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Methods Lifetime trauma exposure (including age at first exposure and frequency), current psychiatric symptoms, and sociodemographic information were collected during interviews with adults participating in a study at a public urban hospital in Atlanta, GA. Multiple linear regression models assessed the association between timing of first trauma exposure, classified as early childhood (ages 0–5), middle childhood (ages 6–10), adolescence (ages 11–18), and adulthood (ages 19+), on adult psychopathology in 2892 individuals. Results Participants exposed to trauma (i.e., child maltreatment, other interpersonal violence, non-interpersonal violence, and other events) at any age had higher depressive and PTSD symptoms compared to their unexposed peers. However, participants first exposed to child maltreatment during early childhood had depression and PTSD symptoms that were about twice as high as those exposed during later developmental stages. This association was detected even after controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, exposure to other trauma types, and frequency of exposure. Participants first exposed during middle childhood to other interpersonal violence also had depressive symptoms scores that were about twice as high as those first exposed during adulthood. Conclusions Trauma exposure at different ages may differentially impact depressive and PTSD symptoms in adulthood. More detailed examination of timing of trauma exposure is warranted to aid in identifying sensitive periods in development.
Food safety: marketing trends intended for consumer awareness and partnership

Abstract As the world population grows and becomes more educated as to the link between food and health, nutritional research is shifting from alleviating nutrient deficiencies to chronic disease prevention, altering the focus from food availability to healthy food choices for increased longevity and quality of life. In both developing and developed countries, as this awareness becomes acute so does the direct influence on marketing to the consumer by the manufacturer. The consumer and the food manufacturer become partners in the responsibility to assure a safe food supply. Through health education and awareness on the part of the consumer and adequate availability, affordability, and regulatory compliance on the part of the manufacturer, optimum supply and safety in the food industry are realistically achieved to the greatest benefit of all stakeholders. Influences such as demographic/culture, peers, food environments and attitudes, and economic and government policies are among the many factors that must be considered in the process of promoting wellness through healthy diets. Marketing both reflects this and, at its best, works to support wholesome choices.
In Celebration of Virginia Olesen's Uncanny Sociological Eye

Symbolic interactionism dwells deep in the intellectual bones of Ginnie Olesen, manifest in sundry ways across a long and ambitious academic career. Here, we briefly sketch her background and then trace her scholarship featuring her interactionist and feminist contributions in four main areas: professional socialization, women, health and healing studies, qualitative methods/feminist methodologies, and the sociology of emotions/interactionist social psychology of illness. We conclude with cherished memories.
On the Classification and Asymptotic Behavior of the Symmetric Capillary Surfaces

We consider the symmetric solutions to the Young–Laplace equation, and its extensions past vertical points. We provide a classification of all symmetric solutions using certain families of parameters. This classification produces a unified approach to fluid interfaces in capillary tubes, sessile and pendent drops, liquid bridges, as well as exterior and annular capillary surfaces. The generating curves for symmetric solutions have asymptotes for large arclengths, and the behavior of these asymptotes is analyzed.
Daily Marijuana Use is Associated with Missed Clinic Appointments Among HIV-Infected Persons Engaged in HIV Care.

We assessed the association between marijuana use and retention in HIV care through a retrospective cohort study of patients engaged in care at a large HIV clinic in 2011 and 2012. Two different retention outcomes were assessed: not meeting the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) retention definition (≥2 provider visits ≥90 days apart in a calendar year) and no-show visits. Any marijuana use and frequency of marijuana use were obtained from a substance use screening questionnaire administered at each clinic visit. Modified Poisson regression was used to estimate risk ratios and 95% confidence intervals for the association between marijuana use and retention outcomes. Marijuana use was reported by 17% of 1791 patients and 21% were not retained (IOM definition). Marijuana use was not associated with the IOM retention outcome, but was associated with missing the next scheduled appointment. A non-linear dose–response was observed for frequency of marijuana use and missed visits, with daily users having the highest risk compared to non-users. Daily marijuana use had a negative impact on HIV clinic attendance. Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms by which marijuana use affects this outcome to inform targeted interventions.
A Framework of Product and Process Metrics for Sustainable Manufacturing

This paper presents a framework for developing comprehensive product and process metrics for sustainable manufacturing, using machined products and machining processes examples, and addressing all three aspects of the triple bottom line – environment, economy and society. The need for developing standardized metrics is discussed for the wider use of these metrics by different manufacturers. The occurrence of similar measurements in some of the metric categories indicates the potential and need for data sharing between product and process metrics. The differences, relationships, and potential interactions between the product and process metrics are discussed from the viewpoint of their applications.
Combining innovative science and policy to improve air quality in cities with refining and chemicals manufacturing: The case study of Houston, Texas, USA

In Houston, a combination of urban emissions from a city of 4 million people, coupled with emissions from extensive petroleum refining and chemical manufacturing, leads to conditions for photochemistry that are unique in the United States, and historically, the city had experienced some of the highest ozone concentrations recorded in the United States. Large air quality field studies (the Texas Air Quality Studies or TexAQS I and II) were conducted to determine root causes of the high ozone concentrations. Hundreds of air quality investigators, from around the world, deployed instruments on aircraft, on ships, and at fixed ground sites to make extensive air quality measurements; detailed photochemical modeling was used to interpret and assess the implications of the measurements. The Texas Air Quality Studies revealed that both continuous and episodic emissions of light alkenes, which came to be called highly reactive volatile organic compounds, played a critical role in the formation of ozone and other photochemical oxidants in the region. Understanding and quantifying the role of these emissions in regional air quality required innovations in characterizing emissions and in photochemical modeling. Reducing emissions required innovative policy approaches. These coupled scientific and policy innovations are described, and the result, substantially cleaner air for Houston, is documented. The lessons learned from the Houston air quality experience are relevant to cities with similar population and industrial profiles around the world.
Advances in Cardiopulmonary Bypass for the Neonate and Infant

One of the most important explanations for the dramatic improvement in outcomes for neonates and infants undergoing cardiac surgery over the last two decades has been refinements in the hardware and the techniques of cardiopulmonary bypass. This chapter reviews developments in the hardware of cardiopulmonary bypass including oxygenators which now include an integrated heat exchanger and arterial filter resulting in a marked reduction in total prime volume. Modern pumps designed for neonates and infants allow reduced tubing lengths resulting in a further reduction in prime volume and therefore less exposure to bank blood. Improved thin-walled venous cannulas allow continuous cardiopulmonary bypass to be safely conducted so that circulatory arrest is rarely required.
The Effect of Comb Architecture on Complex Coacervation

Complex coacervation is a widely utilized technique for effecting phase separation, though predictive understanding of molecular-level details remains underdeveloped. Here, we couple coarse-grained Monte Carlo simulations with experimental efforts using a polypeptide-based model system to investigate how a comb-like architecture affects complex coacervation and coacervate stability. Specifically, the phase separation behavior of linear polycation-linear polyanion pairs was compared to that of comb polycation-linear polyanion and comb polycation-comb polyanion pairs. The comb architecture was found to mitigate cooperative interactions between oppositely charged polymers, as no discernible phase separation was observed for comb-comb pairs and complex coacervation of linear-linear pairs yielded stable coacervates at higher salt concentration than linear-comb pairs. This behavior was attributed to differences in counterion release by linear vs. comb polymers during polyeletrolyte complexation. Additionally, the comb polycation formed coacervates with both stereoregular poly(l-glutamate) and racemic poly(d,l-glutamate), whereas the linear polycation formed coacervates only with the racemic polyanion. In contrast, solid precipitates were obtained from mixtures of stereoregular poly(l-lysine) and poly(l-glutamate). Moreover, the formation of coacervates from cationic comb polymers incorporating up to ∼90% pendant zwitterionic groups demonstrated the potential for inclusion of comonomers to modulate the hydrophilicity and/or other properties of a coacervate-forming polymer. These results provide the first detailed investigation into the role of polymer architecture on complex coacervation using a chemically and architecturally well-defined model system, and highlight the need for additional research on this topic.
A Human Factor Approach to Human Resource Management and Organizational Development

In this chapter, the main theme of the discussion is concentrated on the human factor approach to human resources (HR) management and organizational development. Viewed in this light, the primary discussion concentrates on concepts and ideas pertaining to leadership effectiveness and managerial performance in the diverse marketplaces. It is argued that the quality of the human factor is the most significant variable in leadership.
MANAGEMENT AND OUTCOMES OF CULTURE-NEGATIVE ENDOCARDITIS

Infective endocarditis (IE) is associated with significant mortality despite appropriate treatment. While American Heart Association IE management guidelines include organism-specific recommendations, no such guidelines exist for culture-negative IE (CNIE) due to lack of data for managing these
Microstructure of Calcium Oxalate Foreign Body Stones Produced in Rat Bladder

Implantation of a foreign body, usually a zinc disc1, in the rat bladder is a standard method of producing urinary calculi for experimental studies. The diet is modified or ethylene glycol added to the drinking water to develop a stone of the desired composition. In order to study the microscopic architecture of such stones, zinc is inappropriate since it cannot be sectioned. Therefore we used discs, 4 mm to 6 mm in diameter, made of a plastic normally used for embedding tissue for transmission electron microscopy (TEM)2.
The Morrison Case as a Window to Institutional Investors’ Motives in Securities Class Actions

A growing body of legal literature suggests that securities litigation in the United States has little economic benefit, both from the perspective of compensation and with respect to deterrence. In light of the costs entailed with securities class actions and the transfer of losses to innocent group of shareholders, one would expect that financial institutions would seek to limit the scope of these suits. However, a recent study conducted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) with respect to the Morrison case reveals that the inclination of institutional investors is quite the opposite. The paper analyzes the puzzling comments of institutional investors to the SEC’s study and suggests possible explanations to their support of broader class action regime.
Mutual Conformational Adaptation of Both Ligand and Receptor in Antitumor Drug-DNA Complexes

Many antitumor/anticancer drugs bind and interact with DNA double helix to exert their biological activities. The consequence of the binding process is that both the drug and the DNA molecule change their conformations to accommodate each other to optimize the binding interactions. Two series of drug-DNA complexes associated with intercalator and minor-groove binder, with their structures derived from the high resolution x-ray diffraction analysis, are used to illustrate this concept of mutual conformational adaptation between ligand and receptor. Anthracylcine drugs, including daunomycin, adriamycin and nogalamycin, intercalate between CpG base pairs using the aglycone chromophore with its elongated direction almost perpendicular to the Cl’-Cl’ vector of the neighboring base pairs. Around the anthracycline intercalator, DNA stretches the two complementary backbones in a different manner to move the base pairs 6.8 A apart. On the one side, the dC changes the e/ζ combinatory torsion angles to ~[-100°/180°], while keeping the glycosyl χ angle near high anti range [-90°]. On the other side, all torsion angles are maintained close to those of B-DNA with the exception of the glycosyl χ angle changing to normal anti range [ca. -150°]. All sugar puckers are in the C2’- endo family. Daunomycin and adriamycin adjust the glycosyl ether linkage (between ring A and amino sugar) torsion angle such that the amino sugar fits better in the minor groove. In contrast, nogalamycin has a gentle bend in the long direction of the aglycone chromophore, bringing the aminoglucose and nogalose closer to each other. In the minor groove binding drug-DNA dodecamer complexes, there is a wide range of backbone torsion angles in the DNA molecules despite the uniform narrow minor groove width associated with the central AT sequences. Drug molecules (netropsin, distamycin and Hoechst 33258) exhibit sufficient flexibility and adjust their conformations to follow the contour surface of the right-handed B-DNA minor groove.
Effects of Cathode and Anode on Deposition of Trimethylsilane in Glow Discharge

DC cathodic polymerization of trimethylsilane (TMS) was carried out in plasma reactors with and without using anode assembly. In DC cathodic polymerization, the TMS plasma polymers are mainly deposited on the cathode (substrate) surface. As a result, fast deposition of TMS plasma polymers was easily achieved in DC cathodic polymerization as compared with AF or RF plasma polymerization. DC cathodic polymerization without using anode assembly has its advantageous features that the size and number of substrates (as cathodes) are not restricted by the size and the location of anode assembly. It was found that the maximum deposition rate on the cathode surfaces was obtained without anode assembly. The DC cathodic polymerization of TMS was conducted also in a large volume reactor with multiple cathodes (substrates). The same deposition mechanisms for DC cathodic polymerization with a single cathode also apply to the multiple cathodes. Uniform deposition on each cathode could be obtained with appropriate spacing of multiple cathodes and by adjusting the operational parameters, which are based on the current density and the system pressure.
Conceptualizations of Intrinsic Motivation and Self-Determination

The human organism is inherently active, and there is perhaps no place. where this is more evident than in little children. They pick things up, shake them, smell them, taste them, throw them across the room, and keep asking, “What’s this?” They are unendingly curious, and they want to see the effects of their actions. Children are intrinsically motivated to learn, to undertake challenges, and to solve problems. Adults are also intrinsically motivated to do a variety of things. They spend large amounts of time painting pictures, building furniture, playing sports, whittling wood, climbing mountains, and doing countless other things for which there are no obvious or appreciable external rewards. The rewards are inherent in the activity, and even though there may be secondary gains, the primary motivators are the spontaneous, internal experiences that accompany the behavior.
Novel case of recurrent intraventricular atypical central neurocytoma with prominent gangliogliomatous differentiation in a 10-year-old boy with 10 years of follow up.

Central neurocytoma is a rare neuronal tumor that typically occurs in young adults. Infrequently, these tumors exhibit advanced neuronal maturation and glial differentiation, giving rise to a histologically diverse tumor, in contrast to a typical central neurocytoma. We present a novel case of intraventricular central neurocytoma with prominent gangliogliomatous differentiation that developed atypical features upon recurrence after 10 years of follow up in a 10-year-old boy. Our case provides insight into the divergent differentiation capability of a neurocytic tumor and illustrates the diverse histological features of this rare entity.
The influence of cyclic tensile strain on multi-compartment collagen-GAG scaffolds for tendon-bone junction regeneration

Orthopedic injuries often occur at the interface between soft tissues and bone. The tendon-bone junction (TBJ) is a classic example of such an interface. Current clinical strategies for TBJ injuries prioritize mechanical reattachment over regeneration of the native interface, resulting in poor outcomes. The need to promote regenerative healing of spatially-graded tissues inspires our effort to develop new tissue engineering technologies that replicate features of the spatially-graded extracellular matrix and strain profiles across the native TBJ. We recently described a biphasic collagen-glycosaminoglycan (CG) scaffold containing distinct compartment with divergent mineral content and structural alignment (isotropic vs. anisotropic) linked by a continuous interface zone to mimic structural and compositional features of the native TBJ. Here, we report application of physiologically relevant levels of cyclic tensile strain (CTS) to the scaffold via a bioreactor leads to non-uniform strain profiles across the spatially-graded scaffold. Further, combinations of CTS and matrix structural features promote rapid, spatially-distinct differentiation profiles of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) down multiple osteotendinous lineages. CTS preferentially upregulates MSC activity and tenogenic differentiation in the anisotropic region of the scaffold. Further, there are no negative effects of CTS on MSC osteogenic potential in the mineralized region previously shown to promote robust bone regeneration. Together, this work demonstrates a tissue engineering approach that couples instructive biomaterials with physiological stimuli as a mean to promote regenerative healing of orthopedic interfaces.
Design and Preliminary Validation of a Smart Personal Flotation Device

This work introduces the SmartPFD, a Personal Flotation Device (PFD)/Life vest featuring independently inflatable air compartments. Unlike off-the-shelf inflatable PFDs, the SmartPFD is designed to modulate the inflation of its compartments based on the wearer’s orientation and depth, with the aim of optimizing the device’s righting ability. Preliminary results suggest that by properly sequencing the activation of the compartments, the time required to turn the wearer face up can be reduced.
Predicting the occurrence of complications following corrective cervical deformity surgery: Analysis of a prospective multicenter database using predictive analytics.

Abstract We developed a predictive model to describe risk factors for complications in cervical deformity surgeries. Cervical deformity (CD) surgical patients are growing in number, but remain under-studied in the literature. CD was defined as at least one of the following: C2–C7 Cobb >10°, CL >10°, cSVA >4 cm, CBVA >25°. Patient demographics and clinical data were assessed as risk factors for medical/surgical complications using multivariate regression models. 123 patients underwent CD surgery (60.6 yrs, 60.8% F). The most common complications were neurologic (24.4%), dysphagia (13.0%), cardiopulmonary (11.4%), infection (9.7%). 51 (41.5%) of patients experienced a medical complication and 73 (59.3%) had a surgical complication. An overall complication was predicted with high accuracy (AUC = 0.79) by the following combinations of factors: higher baseline EQ5D pain and lower baseline EQ5D anxiety/depression scores, and higher cervical and global SVA. A medical complication can be predicted by male gender, baseline mJOA score, and cervical SVA (AUC = 0.770). A surgical complication can be predicted by higher estimated blood loss, lower anxiety scores, and larger global SVA (AUC = 0.739). 64.2% of patients undergoing cervical deformity correction sustained any complication. While the most reliable predictor of the occurrence of a complication involved a cluster of risk factors, a radiographic baseline sagittal parameter of cervical SVA was the strongest isolated predictor for complications across categories. Although these findings are specific to a cervical population with moderate to severe deformities, collectively they can be utilized for pre-operative risk assessment and patient education.
A Conversation with Theda Skocpol

An interview with Theda Skocpol took place at Harvard University in December 2017. Professor Skocpol is the Victor S. Thomas Professor of Government and Sociology at Harvard University. Skocpol is ...
Contemporary Transfusion Science and Challenges

Health care professionals must understand the impact of blood product transfusions and transfusion therapy procedures to ensure high-quality patient care, positive outcomes, and wise use of resources in blood management programs. Understanding transfusions of blood and blood products is also important because of the number of treatments performed, which affects individual patients and health care system resources. This article reviews research findings to acquaint health care professionals with the most successful protocols for blood, blood product, and coagulation factor transfusions. Damage control resuscitation in bleeding trauma patients, protocols for patients without trauma who are undergoing surgical procedures that place them at risk for excessive bleeding, and protocols for patients with sepsis are addressed. Emerging research continues to help guide mass transfusion treatments (restrictive vs liberal, balanced, and goal-directed treatment). Although available study results provide some guidance, questions remain. Additional research by health care professionals is needed.