cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Astrojumper: Motivating exercise with an immersive virtual reality exergame

We present the design and evaluation of Astrojumper, an immersive virtual reality exergame developed to motivate players to engage in rigorous, full-body exercise. We performed a user study with 30 people between the ages of 6 and 50 who played the game for 15 min. Regardless of differences in age, gender, activity level, and video game experience, participants rated Astrojumper extremely positively and experienced a significant increase in heart rate after gameplay. Additionally, we found that participants' ratings of perceived workout intensity positively correlated with their level of motivation. Overall, our results demonstrate that Astrojumper effectively motivates both children and adults to exercise through immersive virtual reality technology and a simple, yet engaging, game design.
Prematurity, subclinical intraamniotic infection, and fetal biophysical parameters: is there a correlation?

Objective: This prospective study was undertaken to examine the effects of subclinical intraamniotic infection on fetal behavioral patterns. Methods: Amniotic fluid was obtained from four groups of patients (n = 99): group 1, patients with preterm premature rupture of the fetal membranes (PPROM) without infection; group 2, patients with PPROM and infection; group 3, patients with preterm labor (PTL) and without infection; and group 4, patients with PTL and infection. Fetal biophysical profiles were obtained on admission to the labor suite. Amniotic fluid was analyzed for the presence of microorganisms and endotoxin to confirm intraamniotic infection; cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and IL-8 were also assayed. Results: We found no association between low scores for biophysical parameters and subclinical infection in patients with PPROM or PTL. Conclusions: We could not demonstrate that upon a patient's admission to the labor hall absent fetal breathing and absent fetal movement, as well as reactivity, correlate with subclinical intraamniotic infection. Elevated cytokines, i.e. IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8 were associated with subclinical chorioamnionitis.
Signature Searching in a Networked Collection of Files

A signature is a data pattern of interest in a large data file or set of large data files. Such signatures that need to be found arise in applications such as DNA sequence analysis, network intrusion detection, biometrics, large scientific experiments, speech recognition and sensor networks. Related to this is string matching. More specifically we envision a problem where long linear data files (i.e., flat files) contain multiple signatures that are to be found using a multiplicity of processors (parallel processor). This paper evaluates the performance of finding signatures in files residing in the nodes of parallel processors configured as trees, two dimensional meshes and hypercubes. We assume various combinations of sequential and parallel searching. A unique feature of this work is that it is assumed that data is pre-loaded onto processors, as may occur in practice, thus load distribution time need not be accounted for. Elegant expressions are found for average signature searching time and speedup, and graphical results are provided.
Building amplification factors for sources near buildings: A wind-tunnel study

Abstract The aerodynamics of a building can strongly influence the dispersion of pollutants released from nearby sources. Low releases may be entrained into the building's highly turbulent flow region and result in high pollutant concentrations on the building surface where building air intakes are located. High releases may result in increased concentrations at ground level downwind of the building as a result of the building's influence on the mean flow field. High releases at distances far upwind of the building can produce significant concentrations on the building surfaces if the building extends up into the elevated plume. Concentration measurements from a wind-tunnel study for numerous release locations upwind, above and downwind of each of four rectangular buildings are presented and compared with some previous measurements and calculations. Both building surface and ground-level values are presented. The concentrations are used to compute “building amplification factors”, which are defined as the ratios of the maximum concentration from a given source near the building to the maximum concentration from the same source in the absence of the building. This simple measure of the building's influence showed a significant influence of the building on concentrations from sources far upwind of the building, sources well above the building cavity and sources in the near wake of the building.
Diethyl β‐(Cyclohexylimino)ethylphosphonate

[20061-84-1] C12H24NO3P (MW 261.30) InChI = 1S/C12H24NO3P/c1-3-15-17(14,16-4-2)11-10-13-12-8-6-5-7-9-12/h10,12H,3-9,11H2,1-2H3 InChIKey = MSAXEVSZBONZIC-UHFFFAOYSA-N (reagent for formylalkenation at carbonyl centers1) Physical Data: mp 58–61 °C; bp 151–152 °C/0.04 mmHg. Solubility: sol most organic solvents. Form Supplied in: crystalline solid. Analysis of Reagent Purity: readily ascertained by NMR. Preparative Methods: (EtO)2CHCH2P(O)(OEt)2 is prepared by reaction of Triethyl Phosphite with BrCH2CH(OEt)2. Acetal hydrolysis affords diethyl formylmethylphosphonate, which is combined with an equimolar quantity of cyclohexylamine in MeOH. The product is isolated by fractional distillation in the presence of K2CO3, to prevent acid-catalyzed dimerization, and at reduced pressure, followed by crystallization from cold pentane.1b Yields are 65–75%. A modified procedure for imine formation uses MeCN as solvent with isolation of product from Et2O at −40 °C to afford white crystalline material in 70% yield.3 Purification: distillation at reduced pressure. Crystallization from pentane at 0 °C. Handling, Storage, and Precautions: crystalline material is stable for several months when stored under anhydrous conditions at 0 °C.
Characterization and Regulation of Receptors for Epidermal Growth Factor in Mouse Calvaria

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) has been shown to stimulate bone resorption in mouse calvaria in organ culture by a prostaglandin-mediated mechanism. In this report we demonstrate and characterize specific receptors for EGF in mouse bone. Binding of tracer quantities of [l25I]iodo-EGF reached a maximum after 2 h of incubation at 37 C and began to decrease only after 8 h of continuous exposure to EGF. Scatchard analysis of equilibrium binding data showed a single class of binding sites with a Kd = 2 × 10-9 M present at a concentration of 3.8 × 10l0 sites/calvarium. The association (k1 = 4.4 × 106 M-1 min-1) and dissociation (k2 = 0.015 min-1) rate constants for the approach to equilibrium were calculated, and there was no evidence of cooperativity between binding sites. Pretreatment of bones with EGF for 12 h produced a decrease in EGF binding of about 20%, and a maximum decrease to 50–60% of control binding after 48 h of treatment. Decreased binding was due solely to a decrease in the number of receptors ra...
Comparing injunctive marijuana use norms of salient reference groups among college student marijuana users and nonusers

Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug among college students and has the potential for various negative outcomes. Perceptions of what constitutes typical approval/acceptability of a reference group (i.e. injunctive social norms) have been shown to have strong utility as predictors of health-risk behaviors in the college context, yet this construct remains significantly understudied for marijuana use despite its potential for use in social norms-based interventions. The current research evaluated individuals' marijuana approval level and their perceptions of others' marijuana approval level (i.e. injunctive norms) for various reference groups (typical student on campus, one's close friends, and one's parents) as a function of individual user status (abstainers, experimenters, occasional users, and regular users). A diverse sample of 3553 college students from two universities completed an online survey. Among all user status groups, individual approval yielded mean scores paralleling that of perceived close friends' approval and all groups were relatively uniform in their perception of typical students' approval. Higher levels of marijuana use tended to produce higher endorsements of individual approval, perceived close friends' approval, and perceived parental approval. Among occasional and regular users, there were no differences between one's own approval level for use and the perceptions of close friends' approval, nor did they think the typical student was more approving than themselves. Abstainers and experimenters, however, perceived typical students and close friends to have more permissive attitudes than themselves. Implications and future directions for research regarding the role of injunctive marijuana use norms in the development of social norms intervention are discussed.
Glucosylceramides are critical for cell-type differentiation and organogenesis, but not for cell viability in Arabidopsis

Glucosylceramides (GlcCer), glucose-conjugated sphingolipids, are major components of the endomembrane system and plasma membrane in most eukaryotic cells. Yet the quantitative significance and cellular functions of GlcCer are not well characterized in plants and other multi-organ eukaryotes. To address this, we examined Arabidopsis lines that were lacking or deficient in GlcCer by insertional disruption or by RNA interference (RNAi) suppression of the single gene for GlcCer synthase (GCS, At2g19880), the enzyme that catalyzes GlcCer synthesis. Null mutants for GCS (designated 'gcs-1') were viable as seedlings, albeit strongly reduced in size, and failed to develop beyond the seedling stage. Heterozygous plants harboring the insertion allele exhibited reduced transmission through the male gametophyte. Undifferentiated calli generated from gcs-1 seedlings and lacking GlcCer proliferated in a manner similar to calli from wild-type plants. However, gcs-1 calli, in contrast to wild-type calli, were unable to develop organs on differentiation media. Consistent with a role for GlcCer in organ-specific cell differentiation, calli from gcs-1 mutants formed roots and leaves on media supplemented with the glucosylated sphingosine glucopsychosine, which was readily converted to GlcCer independent of GCS. Underlying these phenotypes, gcs-1 cells had altered Golgi morphology and fewer cisternae per Golgi apparatus relative to wild-type cells, indicative of protein trafficking defects. Despite seedling lethality in the null mutant, GCS RNAi suppression lines with ≤2% of wild-type GlcCer levels were viable and fertile. Collectively, these results indicate that GlcCer are essential for cell-type differentiation and organogenesis, and plant cells produce amounts of GlcCer in excess of that required for normal development.
Developing a transient model for squid inspired thrusters, and incorporation into underwater robot control design

Similar to propulsion techniques employed by squid and other cephalopod, a new type of thruster was designed which utilized pulsatile jet propulsion to generate controlling forces. The thrust production from this device was characterized in a static environment and seen to be well approximated by a simple fluid slug model. A linear transfer function model was derived to describe the transient dynamics of this thruster and a virtual vehicle simulation was developed to test the thruster with unsteady driving signals to verify this model. Due to the extremely non-linear nature of underwater vehicle environments we developed a scaling system to classify regimes of maneuvers and characterize their dynamics independently. Within the hybrid simulation environment, using a simple proportional derivative control algorithm, a thruster/controller was designed and observed to provide sufficient control over the vehicle performing large scale maneuvers. However, some additional compensation may be required for accurate small scale maneuvers which require minimal overshoot.
Depressive Symptoms among Community-Dwelling Older Adults with Mild to Moderate Knee Osteoarthritis: Extent, Interrelationships, and Predictors

The present cross sectional study strove to examine the prevalence and extent of comorbid depressive symptoms and its relationship with pain, function, disease impact, body mass index, medication history, and self-efficacy for managing pain, and other symptoms among a cohort of generally healthy older knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients with mild to moderate disease. Data previously collected on 71 generally healthy active women and 15 men with either unilateral or bilateral knee mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis, mean age, 72.47+7.15 years were analyzed with correlation analysis and descriptive statistics using the SPSS program. Analyses revealed: 1. More than 20% of the present cohort could be categorized as having severe clinical depression using a more stringent cut-off point than the standard, even though none were being treated for this condition; 2) Cases categorized as exhibiting depressive symptoms indicative of depressed mood tended to have more pain, worse mobility, and lower self-efficacy perceptions than those who were not exhibiting such symptoms; 3) Those with low self-management related self-efficacy were more likely to report depressive symptoms than not (p <.01). It is concluded that it is essential to routinely screen older adults with early stage osteoarthritis of the knee for depression, as well as their beliefs about their ability to manage their disease in efforts to reduce the immense disability burden of knee osteoarthritis.
Characterization of moisture and thermally induced die stresses in flip chip on laminate assemblies

Stress sensing test chips are a powerful tool for measuring in-situ stresses in electronic packages. In this study, we have applied (111) silicon test chips to perform a variety of measurements of moisture and thermally induced die stresses in flip chip on laminate assemblies. The developed chips incorporated optimized eight-element sensor rosettes that were capable of measuring the complete state of stress at the die surface (including the interfacial shear stresses). For the measurements completed in this work, the test chips were 10 × 10 mm in size, and contained 200 μm pitch perimeter solder bumps. Each chip contained 19 eight-element sensor rosettes, two diodes for temperature measurement, and a 10-bit fuse style chip ID.
Antenna Sensors in Passive Wireless Sensing Systems

Antenna sensors have received considerable interests in recent years due to their passive wireless operation, simple configuration, compact size, multiplexing capability, and multimodality sensitivity. Based on the principle of antenna backscattering, an antenna sensor can be wirelessly interrogated at middle range distances without an onboard battery. Since the antenna serves the dual function of sensing and communicating, an antenna sensor can be implemented with minimum number of components. As narrowband resonators, antenna sensors can be easily multiplexed based on the principle of frequency division multiplexing. In addition, different types of antenna sensors that are sensitive to a variety of physical measurands have been demonstrated. Due to these unique features, antenna sensor technology could play a vital role in our drive toward ubiquitous sensing. This chapter provides a comprehensive review of this exciting technology with detailed descriptions on the operational principle and wireless interrogation of batteryless antenna sensors. Four application examples of using antenna sensors for moisture, dynamic strain, temperature, and crack sensing are discussed. Future research directions and open problems are suggested.
Interaction of Alu Polymorphisms and Novel Measures of Discrimination in Association with Blood Pressure in African Americans Living in Tallahassee, Florida

African Americans are 40% more likely to be afflicted with hypertension than are non-Hispanic, white Americans, resulting in a 30% higher instance of mortality due to cardiovascular disease. There is debate about the relative contributions of genetic and sociocultural risk factors to the racial disparity in hypertension. We assayed three Alu insertion polymorphisms located in the ACE (angiotensin 1 converting enzyme), PLAT (plasminogen activator, tissue), and WNK1 (lysine deficient protein kinase 1) genes. We also estimated West African genetic ancestry and developed novel measures of perceived discrimination to create a biocultural model of blood pressure among African American adults in Tallahassee, Florida (n = 158). When tested separately, the ACE Alu noninsertion allele was significantly associated with higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure. In multiple regression analyses, West African genetic ancestry was not associated with blood pressure and reduced the strength of all blood pressure models tested. A gene × environment interaction was identified between the ACE Alu genotype and a new measure of unfair treatment that includes experiences by individuals close to the study participant. Inclusion of the WNK1 Alu genotype further improved this model of blood pressure variation. Our results suggest an association of the ACE and WNK1 genotypes with blood pressure that is consistent with their proposed gene functions. Measures of perceived unfair treatment of others show a threshold effect, with increased blood pressure occurring at higher values. The interaction between the ACE genotype and unfair treatment highlights the benefits of including both genetic and cultural data to investigate complex disease.
Reporting Practices and Reported Entities

This chapter discusses speakers’ conceptions of reported entities as evident in reporting practices. Pragmatic analyses will be offered to explain the diversity of permissible reporting practices. Several candidate theses on speakers’ conceptions of reported entities will be introduced. The possibility that there can be a unified analysis of direct and indirect reporting practices will be considered. Barriers to this unification will be discussed with an emphasis on the cognitive abilities speakers use in discerning the entities referred to in reporting contexts.
Why Do Emerging Economies Accumulate Debt and Reserves

Reserve accumulation has the benefit of decreasing external vulnerability but it comes with a high cost. Emerging economies have been accumulating reserves without reducing their levels of debt. This behavior is puzzling because these economies could also decrease their vulnerability by decreasing their debt. In this paper I construct a stochastic dynamic equilibrium model of a small open economy with non contingent debt and reserve assets. Reserves have the benefit of smoothing consumption when the country is in autarky, after defaulting. Once we assume the asymmetric default costs of Arellano (2008), the results show that the optimal policy is to accumulate positive levels of debt and reserves in equilibrium. These economies accumulate reserves without decreasing debt because it decreases the cost of autarky after they default. For governments to accumulate reserves and debt simultaneously they need to be patient enough to save but still have positive probability of default, the asymmetric default costs generate that.
Economic Fundamentals and the Performance of Warehouse Property in Large U.S. Metropolitan Areas

Executive Summary. The economic fundamentals of large metropolitan areas appear to influence the performance of warehouse properties located in these areas and may offer useful criteria for establishing real estate diversification categories. Economic fundamentals (centrality, diversity and resilience), as well as growth, stability, specialization, and other economic factors are used to establish diversification categories. Metropolitan areas are grouped by these categories, and warehouse property returns for these categories are compared. The differences in returns between categories for most economic factors are not statistically significant. The differences are statistically significant for stability and when centrality, diversity and resilience are used together.
A Test of the Stability of the Cetscale, A Measure of Consumers’ Ethnocentric Tendencies

The consumers’ ethnocentric tendencies scale (CETSCALE) is a multi-item measure that reflects a proclivity to prefer products made domestically over those of foreign origin. For such a scale to be used properly the stability of the measure over time must be understood. This study investigates the stability of the CETSCALE over an eight week period during the summer of 1992, a period that included two patriotic events which were expected to affect mean scores. A random sample of 426 adults in South Carolina were surveyed by phone. Findings indicate that when the population is viewed as a whole, mean scores appear stable over time; however, they are not when viewed by specific sub-groups. For those who have not served in the military, CETSCALE scores increase during patriotic events; the reverse is true for military personnel. In light of the tendency for those with high CETSCALE scores to purchase domestic products, e.g., American automobiles, gaining insight into factors that cause systematic differences ...
Altered relationship of blood pressure to adiposity in hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Blood pressure levels and the prevalence of hypertension are related to adiposity. We evaluated the relationship of adiposity to blood pressure in normotensive and untreated hypertensive African Americans-an ethnic group with a high prevalence of hypertension and obesity. METHODS: Outpatient measurements were obtained in 1,858 normotensive and 1,998 hypertensive subjects (44% untreated) residing in Milwaukee. The blood pressure-adiposity relationship was also analyzed in non-Hispanic black (n = 908) and non-Hispanic white (n = 2182) National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) participants. RESULTS: In Milwaukee subjects, body mass index (BMI), waist/hip ratio, waist/height ratio, and percent body fat were higher in hypertensives (P < 0.0001). Combining normotensive and untreated hypertensive subjects, each of the anthropometric indices was correlated with systolic and diastolic blood pressure (P <0.0001). In separate analyses, correlations of the indices with blood pressure were observed in normotensive subjects (P < 0.0001), but generally not in hypertensive subjects. Further, separating all subjects into quartiles based on systolic blood pressure, indices of adiposity correlated with blood pressure only in subjects in the lowest blood pressure quartile (blood pressure <120/78 mm Hg). Similarly, among NHANES participants, blood pressure correlated with anthropometric indices in normotensive (P < 0.0005), but not in untreated hypertensive blacks or whites. CONCLUSIONS: Although indices of adiposity were greater in hypertensive than in normotensive subjects, blood pressures were significantly correlated with measures of adiposity in normotensive, but not in untreated hypertensive subjects. We hypothesize that the blood pressure-adiposity relationship in hypertensives is modulated by a combination of environmental and genetic factors.
Yet Another Form of the Relation Between Quantum and Classical Physics

I met Larry Biedenham in the Fall of 1965 when I began graduate school at Duke University. One of our early conversations dealt with the relationship of classical physics to quantum mechanics. He argued that quantum mechanics is really a subset of classical physics because all our observations of the world are inherently classical and it is exactly this web of relationships among classical observations that quantum mechanics describes. I was impressed by Ehrenfest’s theorem and disagreed, but the cogency of his position made a lasting impression on me and I’ve understood Bohr’s positions better as a result. About the same time he encouraged me to read Weyl on quantum kinematics and some then current stuff by Schwinger with the remark that quantum dynamics is the unitary group, U(n), for n→∞. This was heady stuff for a new graduate student and carried an air of excitement that I appreciated. I’m very happy to contribute the following observations to this celebration of his 70th birthday.
Analysis of the epidemiological characteristics of measles in Longyan city during 2005-2012

Objective Measles epidemic characteristic analysis of longyan city in 2005-2012,to control measles epidemic and provide a scientific basis for formulate control measures.Methods Description epidemiological methods were used to analyse the epidemic data of measles,using SPSS17.0 statistical software.Results The annual incidence of measles in 2005-2008 was 2.58/100,000;and the incidence in 2009-2012 was 0.05/100,000.The incidence of measles was lower than 1/1 000 000 for four successive years,reaching the WHO's target of eliminating measles.Measles' cases were mainly concentrated from March to June.The cases in Xinluo,Zhangping,Yongding were more than other areas,in which students accounted for 58.98%,8~19 years olds accounted for 60.34%.The main influence factors were the local outbreaks of measles in primary and secondary schools.Conclusion The incidence of measles in Longyan was controlled below 1/1 000 000 since 2009,nearly reaching to the goal of eliminating measles.In order to reach the ultimate goal of eliminating measles,we should adhere to the strategy of high rate of immunization,improve the quality of measles' surveillance system and strengthen the ability of handling measles' epidemic emergencies.
Radiotherapy: definitive, integrated and palliative therapy.

SUMMARY Bladder cancer which invades the muscle is a serious problem which usually requires extensive therapy. However, conservative therapy is often prescribed with the subsequent course all too frequently being relentlessly progressive. Procrastination with aggressive therapy often results in the patient being unsuitable for such therapy when it is seriously contemplated.
Choice of Academic Major at a Public Research University: The Role of Gender and Self-Efficacy

Females are underrepresented in certain disciplines, which translates into their having less promising career outlooks and lower earnings. This study examines the effects of socio-economic status, academic performance, high school curriculum and involvement in extra-curricular activities, as well as self-efficacy for academic achievement on choices of academic disciplines by males and females. Disciplines are classified based on Holland’s theory of personality-based career development. Different models for categorical outcome variables are compared including: multinomial logit, nested logit, and mixed logit. Based on the findings presented here, first generation status leads to a greater likelihood of choosing engineering careers for males but not for females. Financial difficulties have a greater effect on selecting scientific fields than engineering fields by females. The opposite is true for males. Passing grades in calculus, quantitative test scores, and years of mathematics in high school as well as self-ratings of abilities to analyze quantitative problems and to use computing are positively associated with choice of engineering fields.
Draft genome sequence of a urinary isolate of Lactobacillus crispatus

ABSTRACT While Lactobacillus crispatus contributes to the stability of normal vaginal microbiota, its role in urinary health remains unclear. As part of an on-going attempt to characterize the female urinary microbiota, we report the genome sequence of an L. crispatus strain isolated from a woman displaying no lower urinary tract symptoms.
The Little Girl Who Fought the Great Depression: Shirley Temple and 1930s America. By John Kasson. (New York, NY: W. W. Norton, 2014. Pp. 384. $27.95.)

Shirley Temple rose to fame during the Great Depression and was arguably one of the greatest child stars in history. In this cultural history, the author argues that Temple provided a type of new “...
Contributions of Clinical Sociology to the Medical Field

Health care in the United States is a complicated structure of social roles, processes, and communication, involving both patients and professionals. Understanding the social dimensions of the health care process can assist health professionals in providing better care to their patients. This paper analyzes several dimensions of the health care system, as suggested in a paper by Kallen (Kallen D. J. 1984. Clinical Sociology Review 2:78–93.) These include the perceptions of participants in the system; structures of the groups involved, including their roles and norms; the process by which groups, as opposed to individuals, operate; and finally the need for the clinical sociologist as a “system maintenance specialist,” to deal with these problems.
The East Asian Public Sphere: Concluding Remarks and Theoretical Considerations

Whilevarious book series on Religion and Society already exist, most tend to beEuro-centric or have a North American focus. The proposed series would promotecontemporary scholarship on the Asia-Pacific Region, particularly studies thatgive attention to the interaction and mutual transformation of religions acrossnational boundaries and beyond their country of origin. This would be amultidisciplinary series that includes both historical and contemporaryethnographic studies, which would contribute to our understanding of thetraditional and changing roles of religion in multiple socio-political contextsin the region. Especially welcome would be comparative studies that expand theframe of analysis beyond the nation-state and those that address emergingissues and trends related to globalization, such as religious pluralism andsocial conflict over the re-emerging public role of religion, transnationalreligious movements, and Asian religions in diaspora communities.
Brain Stimulation Therapy in Psychiatry

This article describes the electrical and magnetic brain stimulation treatments in psychiatry that are in clinical use, or in development, as potential treatments for disorders such as major depression, mania, psychosis, and intractable obsessive–compulsive disorder. An emphasis is placed on options for the treatment-refractory illnesses. The history of the procedures is reviewed briefly, and the available relevant literature on efficacy and tolerability is summarized.
Impact of rural-urban status on survival after mastectomy without reconstruction versus mastectomy with reconstruction.

Abstract Background Disparities in access to care exist for breast cancer patients, including access to surgeons performing reconstruction. We hypothesized rural patients have delayed time to surgery after mastectomy with reconstruction with implications on survival. Methods An observational study was conducted using the National Cancer Database on patients with breast cancer from 2003 to 2007 who underwent mastectomy, with or without reconstruction from 2003 to 2007 (n = 90,319). Results Patients with, and without, reconstruction varied by demographics, facility type and stage. Time to surgery was longer for mastectomy with reconstruction. Unadjusted analysis demonstrated marginally decreased survival for rural patients undergoing mastectomy alone but not for mastectomy with reconstruction. Cox proportional hazards analysis revealed no significant differences by rural-urban status, but a survival advantage was seen after mastectomy with reconstruction, which persisted up to a delay of 180 days. Conclusion Patients who underwent reconstruction had improved survival. Time to surgery is shorter for rural patients (for all types of mastectomy). We found no significant rural-urban disparity in survival.
SUPERCOOLING STUDIES ON THE IMPORTED FIRE ANTS: SOLENOPSIS INVICTA AND SOLENOPSIS RICHTERI (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE) AND THEIR HYBRID

The discovery of hybrid fire ants, Solenopsis invicta × S. richteri, in northwest Georgia at a more northern latitude than S. invicta led to an investigation into the hybrid's ability to withstand ...
Recent advances in managing chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome.

Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome is a common disorder seen in men under the age of 50 and has a considerable negative impact on quality of life; it is a complex and difficult condition to treat, owing to its wide symptomatology. In order to effectively treat this condition, the UPOINT system was developed: it allows clinical profiling of a patient’s symptoms into six broad categories (urinary symptoms, psychological dysfunction, organ-specific symptoms, infectious causes, neurologic dysfunction, and tenderness of the pelvic floor muscles) to allow individualized and multimodal therapy. In this review, we present the most recent advancements in the treatment of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome from the past few years.
GHz ultrasonics for on chip delay lines, communications, timing, memory, and sensing

Integrated GHz ultrasonics on planar systems such as CMOS chips are enabled by integration of fast, deep sub-micron transistors and GHz thin film piezoelectric transducers. Precision and stability in a delay element block is one of the key specifications that directly impacts all the applications. We have implemented a pulse-echo transmit-receive ultrasonic delay element that is stable over time and has a novel diffraction based zero temperature coefficient of delay at two temperatures. The silicon bulk wave propagation leads to stable operation owing to low loss within silicon and large mode volume.
Sporocarp δ15N and use of inorganic and organic nitrogen in vitro differ among host-specific suilloid fungi associated with high elevation five-needle pines

Abstract Widespread decline of whitebark and limber pines in the northern Rocky Mountains (USA) has created an imperative to understand functional diversity in their ectomycorrhizal associates. Because suilloid fungi are likely important in successful reestablishment of pines the nitrogen-related functional traits of 28 high-elevation suilloid isolates were examined. Radial growth, mass accumulation and mycelial density were measured for isolates on six different nitrogen sources. The δ15N values of suilloid sporocarps used as sources for pure cultures were compared against growth parameters to investigate a possible link between these N-related functional traits. Isolates grew poorly on nitrate and BSA and grew well on glutamine, alanyl-glutamine and ammonium phosphate, with somewhat slower growth on alanine. Isolates and species varied considerably in their growth response to different nitrogen sources. Effective use of nitrate and BSA was uncommon and associated with isolates with high inherent growth rates. Sporocarp δ15N was negatively correlated with relative growth on alanine of the corresponding isolates. Our results suggest strong similarities in N source use patterns of suilloid fungi of whitebark pine origin and those of another high-elevation five-needle stone pine, the Swiss stone pine.
Telemetry Fault-Detection Algorithms: Applications for Spacecraft Monitoring and Space Environment Sensing

Algorithms have been developed that identify unusual behavior in satellite health telemetry. Telemetry from solid-state power amplifiers and amplifier thermistors from 32 geostationary Earth orbit ...
High Order Schemes for Resolving Waves: Number of Points per Wavelength

For energetic flows there are many advantages of high order schemes over low order schemes. Here we examine a previously unknown advantage. It is commonly thought that the number of points per wavelength in order to obtain a given error in a numerical approximation depends only on runtime and the order of the approximation. Using truncation error arguments and examples we will show that it is not a constant and depends also on the wavenumber. This dependence on the numerical order and wavenumber strongly favors high order schemes for use in flows which have significant energy in the high modes such at Rayleigh–Taylor and Richtmyer–Meshkov instabilities.
Cutting and closing without recombination in V(D)J joining.

Abstract Open and shut junctions are rare (V(D)J joining products in which site-specific recognition, cleavage and re-ligation of joining signals has been uncoupled from recombination. Here, we investigate the relationship of opening and shutting to recombination in two ways. First, we have tested a series of substrates containing one or two joining signals in an in vivo assay. Opening and shutting can be readily observed in substrates that have only one consensus joining signal. Thus, unlike recombination, the majority of open and shut events do not require interactions between two canonical joining signals. Next we examined two-signal substrates to investigate the effect of signal proximity on the frequency of dual open and shut events. These experiments indicate that at least some of the time opening and shutting can be a two-signal transaction. Together these results point to two mechanistically related, but distinct origins for open and shut joining events. In one case, cutting and closing may occur without interaction between two signals. In the other, we suggest that interaction of a canonical signal with 'cryptic' signal-like elements whose sequence is extensively diverged from canonical signals, may bias the V(D)J recombination machinery towards opening and shutting rather than recombination. Open and shut operations could in this way provide a means whereby mistakes in target recognition by the V(D)J recombination machinery produce a non-recombinant outcome, avoiding deleterious chromosomal rearrangements in lymphoid tissues.
Stress and Blood Pressure Dysregulation

Stress has been linked to the development of hypertension. This article describes the predominant psychophysiological investigative strategy into mechanisms of blood pressure (BP) dysregulation called ‘cardiovascular reactivity’ (CVR). CVR refers to the magnitude of the acute BP response to a stressor. A basis for this is the observation that hypertensives exhibit a greater BP increase than normotensives, and that individuals who exhibit larger responses when normotensive are prospectively more likely to become hypertensives. Thus, determinants of CVR, including personality and aspects of the stressful environment such as social conflict and frustration, have been the focus of CVR research.
EYE MOVEMENTS AND LEXICAL AMBIGUITY

Readers' eye movements were recorded as they read sentences containing lexically ambiguous words. With a neutral preceding context, readers fixated longer on ambiguous words with two highly likely meanings than on ambiguous words with a highly dominant interpretation. However, when the disambiguating information was consistent with the non-dominant interpretation, readers had much more difficulty processing the rest of the sentence when the ambiguous word had a highly dominant interpretation than when it did not. With biasing preceding context, the pattern of results suggested that differential fixation times on ambiguous words reflects post-lexical selection and integration processes.
Positioning through B2B carrier signals: Understanding how service quality is communicated via websites

Abstract Today's marketplace requires B2B motor carriers to connect with shippers in salient ways. To accomplish this, B2B carriers communicate signals of service quality in order to position themselves uniquely from the competition. Signaling theory describes how inequity in information between parties is filled by sending signals to convey missing information (Spence, 1973). Signaling theory was used as a foundation to investigate information used by B2B carriers to signal service quality and create positioning strategies. Results of a content analysis of 490 B2B motor carrier websites for signals of 12 dimensions of service quality are used to develop a typology of U.S. B2B motor carriers. These are: Minimalist, User-Friendly, and Safety First. Associations with firm revenues, firm size, credit score, and number of NAICS codes used are discussed along with implications.
Repeat Intravenous Ketamine Dosing in Children Undergoing Emergency Department Procedural Sedation.

Abstract Background Patients undergoing procedural sedation with intravenous ketamine often receive repeat doses to maintain dissociation; however, data between doses are lacking. Objectives The purpose of this study was to characterize the frequency, time interval, and dosages of ketamine received by children undergoing procedural sedation and to explore the effects of age and body mass index on these parameters. Methods This was a retrospective study of patients 1 to 18 years of age undergoing procedural sedation with intravenous ketamine in a pediatric emergency department between October 2016 and June 2017. Total repeat ketamine dosages were standardized to a 1-h sedation. Results Four hundred nineteen patients were included in the analysis. The median sedation time was 33.0 minutes (interquartile range [IQR] 25.0–45.0). Three hundred sixty-three patients (86.6%) received at least 1 repeat ketamine dose. The median time between doses was 7.0 minutes (IQR 5.0–12.0). Children Conclusions Patients undergoing ketamine sedation often receive repeat doses to maintain dissociation. Patients
Dynamic Link Anomaly Analysis for Network Security Management

Network management is challenging due to ever increasing complexity and dynamics of network interactions. While many changes in networks are normal, some changes are not. One of the daily tasks of network administrators is to identify and analyze these abnormal changes that are hard to find by traditional security mechanisms (IDS, firewall, anti-virus, etc.). This research conducts dynamic network analysis (DNA) and presents practical methodologies of data stream mining based dynamic link anomaly analysis (DLAA) using novel sliding time window structures and network analytics metrics. DLAA employs spatiotemporal link analysis to detect anomalies from dynamic network graphs. We formally define the network link anomaly types and use key link-structure similarity metrics and time-weighted functions to model the dynamics of topological changes. The methodology is generic in that it does not require additional information from nodes or links but only the topology itself. The DLAA framework consists of three algorithmic components including sliding time window, link scoring and link anomaly detection algorithms. Through experimental study on publicly available dataset, we demonstrate that the proposed DLAA framework has the capability to construct effective knowledge structures for measuring the security levels of large scale dynamic networks, and to provide insight for generalized DNA in network security domain.
Critical time-step for central difference integration schemes in discrete methods: Translational and rotational degrees of freedom

Abstract The explicit central-difference time integration scheme is widely used in discrete methods. However, restrictions on the size of the time step apply. We revisit the problem of a network of particles with translational and rotational degrees of freedom. We apply a discrete Fourier transform to the equations of motion. By studying the eigenvalues of the amplification matrix, we derived a closed form, sharp stability limit that applies to any network. The time-step limit is compared with previous work (Otsubo et al. 2017 and O’Sullivan et al. 2004) for common network configurations. Numerical simulation is used for a certain class of networks in two-dimensional and three-dimensional spaces, and good agreement is observed between the analytical critical time-step and the numerical solutions.
Morphological and kinetic study of oral keratinocytes assembly on reconstituted basement membrane: Effect of TEGDMA.

Abstract Objective Open wounds of oral cavity require rapid healing. The cytotoxic monomer, triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) can leach out from dental restoratives, reach the oral epithelial barrier and trigger an immune response. It is speculated that low and moderate concentrations of TEGDMA (0.5 and 1.5 mmol/L, respectively) influence the assembly kinetics and morphology of the keratinocyte layers overlying the extracellular matrix (ECM) in vivo. A three-dimensional cell system composed of immortalized oral keratinocytes (iMOK) cultured on reconstituted basement membrane (ECM) was used to investigate the development of epithelial layers upon exposure to TEGDMA. Methods Adherence and opposing movement of adjacent keratinocytes using actin protrusions (lamellipodia and filopodia) to create spheroids, and their fusion capacity to establish subsequent layers were tested at different time points. Fluorescent, confocal, differential interference contrast microscopy and image processing were employed to quantify the morphological modifications over time. Results Increasing concentrations of TEGDMA decreased the number of viable cells that utilized the actin protrusions and led to a delay in the communication/interaction among cells. Consequently, cells assembly was affected and the formation of more than a single layer prevented. Areas of basal-like proliferating cells were replaced with the increasing areas of non-replicating large cell population and extended gaps. Conclusions These findings suggest that TEGDMA may prevent rapid sealing of open wounds by keratinocytes and suppress the establishment of a resistant and impermeable barrier against pathogen internalization. The iMOK-ECM-based platform facilitated the validation and quantification of solubilized dental materials impact on the reconstitution of epithelial layer.
Spinal anesthesia for lumbar spine surgery correlates with fewer total medications and less frequent use of vasoactive agents: A single center experience.

Study objective Anesthesiologists at our hospital commonly administer spinal anesthesia for routine lumbar spine surgeries. Anecdotal impressions suggested that patients received fewer anesthesia–administered intravenous medications, including vasopressors, during spinal versus general anesthesia. We hypothesized that data review would confirm these impressions. The objective was to test this hypothesis by comparing specific elements of spinal versus general anesthesia for 1–2 level open lumbar spine procedures. Design Retrospective single institutional study. Setting Academic medical center, operating rooms. Patients Consecutive patients (144 spinal and 619 general anesthesia) identified by automatic structured query of our electronic anesthesia record undergoing lumbar decompression, foraminotomy or microdiscectomy by one surgeon under general or spinal anesthesia. Interventions Spinal or general anesthesia. Measurements Numbers of medications administered during the case. Main results Anesthesiologists administered in the operating room a total of 10 ± 2 intravenous medications for general anesthetics and 5 ± 2 medications for spinal anesthetics (-5, 95% CI -5 to -4, p<0.001, univariate analysis). Multivariable analysis supported this finding (spinal versus general anesthesia: -4, 95% CI -5 to -4, p<0.001). Spinal anesthesia patients were less likely to receive ephedrine, or phenylephrine (by bolus or by infusion) (all p<0.001, Chi-squared test). Spinal anesthesia patients were also less likely to receive labetolol or esmolol (both p = 0.002, Fishers’ Exact test). No neurologic injuries were attributed to, or masked by, spinal anesthesia. Three spinal anesthetics failed. Conclusions For routine lumbar surgery in our cohort, spinal compared to general anesthesia was associated with significantly fewer drugs administered during a case and less frequent use of vasoactive agents. Safety implications include greater hemodynamic stability with spinal anesthesia along with reduced risks for medication error and transmission of pathogens associated with medication administration.
Some partition theory

How many ways can you write a number as a sum of smaller numbers? This simple question is not as easy to answer as you might think. The study of integer partitions has a long history in Number Theory and Combinatorics, with contributions from Leonhard Euler, Srinivasa Ramanujan, Godfrey Harold Hardy, and more recently George Andrews and Ken Ono. In this chapter we will ask some of the first questions about counting partitions.