cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ribonucleic acid-deoxyribonucleic acid hybridization in aqueous solutions and in solutions containing formamide.

Hybridization in 6×SSC (SSC, 0.15m-sodium chloride–0.015m-sodium citrate) at 66°C was compared with hybridization in formamide−6×SSC (1:1, v/v) at 35°C. As expected, the RNA hybridization potential was labile in the former system and stable in the latter. DNA retention by filters was poor in the formamide system, but could be improved. Several other properties of the hybridization reaction were explored and it was concluded that the formamide system is generally superior.
Non-efflux as a Factor in Vesicoureteral Reflux

AbstractA prospective study was begun to determine the role of non-efflux as a factor in the etiology of vesicoureteral reflux. Fifteen patients who had had 1 kidney removed for reasons other than reflux were available for study. Voiding cystourethrograms were done in all 15 cases to ascertain whether the remaining defunctionalized ureter was subject to reflux. In no instance was reflux demonstrated into the non-effluxing ureter.
Reactive Criminal Thinking as a Consequence of Low Self-Control and Prior Offending

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this study was to determine if low self-control and prior serious offending serve as antecedents to reactive criminal thinking. Cross-lagged correlations between low self-control and serious offending were examined in 5,427 male and female members of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) in an effort to determine their effect on subsequent reactive criminal thinking. Results from a five-equation path analysis showed that the two cross-lagged relationships were equally predictive of reactive criminal thinking. These findings suggest that reactive criminal thinking may have its roots in low self-control and prior serious offending.
Climate Change and Considerations for Fish Health and Fish Health Professionals

As the warmest years on record (Blunden and Arndt 2015; NOAA NCEI 2016), 2014 and 2015 brought greater attention to the issues of climate change. Though global precipitation has been average, sever...
Wonder Boys: Righting Our Lives by Writing the Story

The film makes explicit the parallel between writing a novel and scripting a story for our real life. Self-understanding and making good decisions depend upon creating stories, however provisional, in art and life. Just as the protagonist, Grady Tripp, is unable to place the events and actions of his life in a coherent story, so is his interminable novel a meandering mess. Grady cannot understand himself, living in a fragmented, episodic manner, and he does not really know what his book is about either. The story Grady is telling us in voice-over in the movie, however, is indeed a coherent narrative. It is about a man figuring out that his life, like his unwieldy novel, lacks the essential ingredients of a well-constructed narrative. The story of Wonder Boys that Grady is telling and writing (and we are watching) articulates his enlightenment. Only when he is able to grasp what is truly valuable is he able to lead a fulfilling life, by writing a story in which difficult decisions are decisively made.
Design of photovoltaics for modules with 50% efficiency

We describe a spectrum splitting solar module design approach using ensembles of 2–20 subcells with bandgaps optimized for the AM1.5D spectrum. Device physics calculations and experimental data determine radiative efficiency parameters for III-V compound semiconductor subcells and enable modification of conventional detailed balance calculations to predict module efficiency while retaining computational speed for a wide search of the design space. Accounting for nonideal absorption and recombination rates due to realistic material imperfections allows us to identify the minimum subcell quantity, quality, electrical connection configuration, and concentration required for 50% module efficiency with realistic optical losses and modeled contact resistance losses. We predict a module efficiency of 50% or greater will be possible with 7–10 electrically independent subcells in a spectral splitting optic at 300–500 suns concentration, assuming a 90% optical efficiency and 98% electrical efficiency, provided the subcells can achieve an average external radiative efficiency of 3–5% and a short circuit current that is at least 90% of the ideal. In examining spectrum splitting solar cells with both series-connected and electrically independent subcells, we identify a new design trade-off independent of the challenges of fabricating optimal bandgap combinations. Series-connected ensembles, having a single set of electrical contacts, are less sensitive to lumped series resistance losses than ensembles where each subcells are contacted independently. By contrast, ensembles with electrically independent subcells can achieve lower radiative losses when the subcells are designed for good optical confinement. Distributing electrically independent subcells in a concentrating receiver module allows flexibility in subcell selection and fabrication, and can achieve ultra-high efficiency with conventional III-V cell technology.
Extracellular Polymers in Biofilms

Many of those who study biofilms view them as a collection of living organisms at an interface but this definition should be expanded to include the products of those organisms. A major product is the matrix in which biofilm cells are found. It is somewhat surprising that there is such an emphasis on the biotic component of the film because this phase occupies only a small fraction of the volume (Characklis & Cooksey, 1983). It is often the biofilm matrix that causes many of the economic problems associated with biofilm formation since it acts as a layer of immobilized water. It is in fact highly hydrated and contains 98–99% water (Christensen and Characklis, 1990). This matrix, which is really a collection of polymers rather than a single material, is made by many organisms in biofilms. The polymers have been referred to collectively as capsules, sheaths, slime and glycocalyces. Costerton et al (1981) proposed the term glycocalyx for use in procaryotic biology. They defined a glycocalyx as “those polysaccharide-containing structures of bacterial origin, lying outside the integral elements of the outer membrane of Gram-negative cells and the peptidoglycan of Gram-positive cells”. They further subdivided glycocalyces into (1) glycoprotein subunits at the cell surface and (2) capsules. “Capsules” were further subdivided into (a) those that are rigid and exclude particles such as Indian ink ( a classical negative “stain” in bacteriology); (b) those, which in contrast to (a), are flexible and include Indian ink; (c) integral capsules that are closely associated with the cell surface and (d) those capsules that are peripheral to the cell and can be lost to the aqueous phase. In a brief but comprehensive review (Geesey, 1982), Geesey used a less structured term for the high molecular weight material extracellular to cells.
Symmetry Groups and Conservation Laws

In the study of systems of differential equations, the concept of a conservation law, which is a mathematical formulation of the familiar physical laws of conservation of energy, conservation of momentum and so on, plays an important role in the analysis of basic properties of the solutions. In 1918, Emmy Noether proved the remarkable result that for systems arising from a variational principle, every conservation law of the system comes from a corresponding symmetry property.† For example invariance of a variational principle under a group of time translations implies the conservation of energy for the solutions of the associated Euler-Lagrange equations, and invariance under a group of spatial translations implies conservation of momentum. This basic principle constitutes the first fundamental result in the study of classical or quantum-mechanical systems with prescribed groups of symmetries. Moreover, Noether’s method is the only really systematic procedure for constructing conservation laws for complicated systems of partial differential equations.
A Per-Face Popularity Scheme to Increase Cache Robustness in Information-Centric Networks

Abstract In-network storage is an essential element of nearly all Information-Centric Networking (ICN) architectures. Thus, protecting the cache of popular items in the network storage devices is crucial. With cache pollution attacks, an attacker seeks to push legitimately popular items out of the cache in favor of less popular items. This paper presents a per-face popularity (PFP) scheme to mitigate effects of cache pollution attacks and to increase overall cache robustness in Information-Centric Networks. The scheme normalizes the contributions from each face so that Interests arriving over any one face has no more effect on the popularity than any other face. As a result, the items that remain in the cache are those that have legitimate popularity, represented across all faces. The experimental results confirm its effectiveness against cache pollution attacks over one or a relatively small percentage of the faces, and demonstrate its overall effectiveness in preserving popular items and increasing hit rate.
Lignin Modifications and Perspectives towards Applications of Phenolic Foams: A Review

Lignin is a complex natural polymer and by-product of the pulp and paper industry. Currently, the increasing interest in bio-based products has motivated the search for alternative renewable feedstocks that can sustainably replace synthetic polymers. Because of the phenolic functionalities of lignin, this natural polymer has attracted interest for application in biomaterials. Among various products, polymeric foams stand out as a potential product in which lignin incorporation has resulted in improved mechanical and thermal properties. This paper reviews the state of lignin foam development, with emphasis placed on phenol-lignin types.
Physician Use of Electronic Health Records: Survey Study Assessing Factors Associated With Provider Reported Satisfaction and Perceived Patient Impact

Background: The effect electronic health record (EHR) implementation has on physician satisfaction and patient care remains unclear. A better understanding of physician perceptions of EHRs and factors that influence those perceptions is needed to improve the physician and patient experience when using EHRs. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine provider and clinical practice factors associated with physician EHR satisfaction and perception of patient impact. Methods: We surveyed a random sample of physicians, including residents and fellows, at a US quaternary care academic hospital from February to March 2016. The survey assessed provider demographics, clinical practice factors (ie, attending, fellow, or resident), and overall EHR experience. The primary outcomes assessed were provider satisfaction and provider perceptions of impact to patient care. Responses on the satisfaction and patient impact questions were recorded on a continuous scale initially anchored at neutral (scale range 0 to 100: 0 defined as “extremely negatively” and 100 as “extremely positively”). Independent variables assessed included demographic and clinical practice factors, including perceived efficiency in using the EHR. One-way analysis of variance or the Kruskal-Wallis test was used for bivariate comparisons, and linear regression was used for multivariable modeling. Results: Of 157 physicians, 111 (70.7%) completed the survey; 51.4% (57/111) of the respondents were attending physicians, and of those, 71.9% (41/57) reported a >50% clinical full-time-equivalency and half reported supervising residents >50% of the time. A total of 50.5% (56/111) of the respondents were primary care practitioners, previous EHR experience was evenly distributed, and 12.6% (14/111) of the total sample were EHR super-users. Responses to how our current EHR affects satisfaction were rated above the neutral survey anchor point (mean 58 [SD 22]), as were their perceptions as to how the EHR impacts the patient (mean 61 [SD 18]). In bivariate comparisons, only physician age, clinical role (resident, fellow, or attending), and perceived efficiency were associated with EHR satisfaction. In the linear regression models, physicians with higher reported perceived efficiency reported higher overall satisfaction and patient impact after controlling for other variables in the model. Conclusions: Physician satisfaction with EHRs and their perception of its impact on clinical care were generally positive, but physician characteristics, greater age, and attending level were associated with worse EHR satisfaction. Perceived efficiency is the factor most associated with physician satisfaction with EHRs when controlling for other factors. Understanding physician perceptions of EHRs may allow targeting of technology resources to ensure efficiency and satisfaction with EHR system use during clinical care.
The Impact of the Amazon-Orinoco River Plume on Enthalpy Flux and Air-Sea Interaction within Caribbean Sea Tropical Cyclones

AbstractThe influence of the Amazon–Orinoco River plume in the Caribbean Sea on latent and sensible heat flux (enthalpy flux) and tropical cyclone (TC) intensity is investigated for Hurricanes Ivan...
Endoscopic and Transanal Approaches for Acute Anal and Rectal Cancers

In the management of early-stage rectal cancer, several techniques can be considered for local excision: total mesorectal excision (TME), transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM), transanal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS), endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR)/endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), and robotic surgical approaches. Endoscopic and transanal approaches allow patients to avoid the morbidity of radical surgery (proctectomy with total mesorectal excision). This article provides an overview of these local excision techniques and reviews the indications for their use. While it is important for the acute care surgeon to know of these modalities, expertise may be held by an advanced gastroenterologist or a colorectal surgeon, so consultation of these specialists can be thoughtfully considered.
Percutaneous removal of a retained appendicolith causing recurrent perihepatic abscesses between the liver and diaphragm

Many cases of appendicitis can be associated with appendicoliths. These may sometimes be lost during appendectomies and may be lodged in the body. Most of these cases lead to recurrent abscess formation, and these appendicoliths invariably need removal. Typically, this used to be done as an open surgery or laparoscopically. Here we describe the case of a transcutaneous removal of an appendicolith that was lodged between the liver and diaphragm that led to recurrent perihepatic abscess formation in a 24-year-old otherwise healthy man. The patient made a successful recovery without any recurrence. A transcutaneous approach to remove a retained appendicolith may be a feasible, a safe and an easy method to extract appendicoliths that are accessible for transcutaneous removal.
Fast, Scalable, and Interactive Software for Landau-de Gennes Numerical Modeling of Nematic Topological Defects

Numerical modeling of nematic liquid crystals using the tensorial Landau-de Gennes (LdG) theory provides detailed insights into the structure and energetics of the enormous variety of possible topological defect configurations that may arise when the liquid crystal is in contact with colloidal inclusions or structured boundaries. However, these methods can be computationally expensive, making it challenging to predict (meta)stable configurations involving several colloidal particles, and they are often restricted to system sizes well below the experimental scale. Here we present an open-source software package that exploits the embarrassingly parallel structure of the lattice discretization of the LdG approach. Our implementation, combining CUDA/C++ and OpenMPI, allows users to accelerate simulations using both CPU and GPU resources in either single- or multiple-core configurations. We make use of an efficient minimization algorithm, the Fast Inertial Relaxation Engine (FIRE) method, that is well-suited to large-scale parallelization, requiring little additional memory or computational cost while offering performance competitive with other commonly used methods. In multi-core operation we are able to scale simulations up to supra-micron length scales of experimental relevance, and in single-core operation the simulation package includes a user-friendly GUI environment for rapid prototyping of interfacial features and the multifarious defect states they can promote. To demonstrate this software package, we examine in detail the competition between curvilinear disclinations and point-like hedgehog defects as size scale, material properties, and geometric features are varied. We also study the effects of an interface patterned with an array of topological point-defects.
Comorbidities associated with severe asthma.

Background Severe asthma can be a challenging disease to manage by the provider and by the patient, supported by evidence of increased health-care utilization by this population. Patients with severe asthma should be screened for comorbidities because these often contribute to poorly controlled asthma. The impact of comorbidities, however, are not completely understood. Objective To review common comorbidities and their impact on severe asthma. Methods A review of relevant clinical research studies that examined comorbidities in severe or difficult-to-treat asthma. Results A number of comorbid diseases, including rhinitis, rhinosinusitis, gastroesophageal reflux, and obstructive sleep apnea, are associated with severe or difficult-to-treat asthma. If present and untreated, these conditions may adversely affect asthma control, quality of life, and/or lung function, despite adequate treatment with step-up asthma controller therapy. Conclusion Treatable comorbidities are associated with severe and difficult-to-control asthma. Failure to recognize these comorbidities may divert appropriate care and increase disease burden. Assessment and management of these risk factors may contribute to improved asthma outcome; however, more investigation is needed to understand the relationship of comorbidities and asthma due to inconsistency in the findings.
Focal Therapy: Prostate Hemiablation as the First Historical Treatment Model for Focal Therapy of Early Stage Prostate Cancer

We performed a comprehensive literature review to establish the current level of knowledge regarding the foundation for prostate hemi-ablation as the first feasible, focal therapy model. Recent data have demonstrated a significant pathologic stage migration towards earlier stage disease comprising unilateral pT2a/b prostate cancer (PCa). The cancer volume of the clinically significant tumor (represented by the index lesion) has been proposed as a driving force of PCa progression and therefore should be identified and treated at an early stage. When cancer is multifocal, it is now hypothesized that the majority of satellite lesions may not be life threatening to the patient. Other pathologic features such as Gleason score, extra-prostatic extension, and the spatial distribution of PCa within the prostate remain important facets as focal therapy selection criteria. Based on the current understanding of tumor biology of early stage disease and promising outcomes of the first single- and two-institution trials, a fundamental background for hemi-ablation of early stage PCa has been created. While the preoperative identification of a unifocal lesion or unilateral cancer remains challenging, the detection of unilateral lesions with subsequent hemi-ablative therapy of the prostate is a feasible undertaking at present.
SUCCESSFUL LEFT ATRIAL APPENDAGE OCCLUSION (WATCHMAN DEVICE) WITHOUT ROUTINE PRE-PROCEDURAL IMAGING

Percutaneous left atrial appendage (LAA) closure is increasingly used to reduce risk of stroke in select patients with Afib. Typically, preprocedural imaging (TEE or cardiac CT) is performed for device selection. This results in multiple procedures, increased risks, patient disengagement. We
Practice Guidelines in Mental Health and Addiction Services: Contributions from the American College of Mental Health Administration

Practice guidelines have proliferated in mental health and addiction services; more than 40 organizations have developed guidelines in the field. However, much confusion, controversy, and contextual issues remain, particularly regarding effective dissemination and the clinical, financial, political, and ethical issues that emerge when evidence-based behavioral health practice guidelines are implemented in systems of care. The American College of Mental Health Administration (ACMHA) focused on these problems in their 1999 and 2000 Santa Fe Summits and produced a number of specific outcomes that contribute to thinking in the field. These include the following: (a) a taxonomy of building blocks for informed decision-making in behavioral health assessment and treatment; (b) a paradigm for the development of practice guidelines; (c) characteristics of a good practice guideline; (d) strategies for disseminating and implementing practice guidelines; and (e) areas in need of future research.
Techniques to characterize dynamics in biomaterials microenvironments: XPCS and microrheology of alginate/PEO–PPO–PEO hydrogels

Many recent studies have highlighted the timescale for stress relaxation of biomaterials on the microscale as an important factor in regulating a number of cell-material interactions, including cell spreading, proliferation, and differentiation. Relevant timescales on the order of 0.1–100 s have been suggested by several studies. While such timescales are accessible through conventional mechanical rheology, several biomaterials have heterogeneous structures, and stress relaxation mechanisms of the bulk material may not correspond to that experienced in the cellular microenvironment. Here we employ X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy (XPCS) to explore the temperature-dependent dynamics, relaxation time, and microrheology of multicomponent hydrogels comprising of commercial poly(ethylene oxide)–poly(propylene oxide)–poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO–PPO–PEO) triblock copolymer F127 and alginate. Previous studies on this system have shown thermoreversible behavior in the bulk oscillatory shear rheology. At physiological temperatures, bulk rheology of these samples shows behavior characteristic of a soft solid, with G′ > G′′ and no crossover between G′ and G′′ over the measurable frequency range, indicating a relaxation time >125 s. By contrast, XPCS-based microrheology shows viscoelastic behavior at low frequencies, and XPCS-derived correlation functions show relaxation times ranging from 10–45 s on smaller length scales. Thus, we are able to use XPCS to effectively probe the viscoelasticity and relaxation behavior within the material microenvironments.
The benefit of GLP-1RA in different age groups in the cardiovascular outcome trials

There may be hesitancy in prescribing GLP-1RA in older adults. On pooling results from the CVOTs comparing GLP-1RA to placebo, there was a significantly lower incidence of MACE favoring GLP-1RA in both younger and older adults. GLP-1RA should be considered in high risk patients regardless of age.
More evidence from over 1.1 million subjects that the critical period for syntax closes in late adolescence.

Abstract The ability to attain native-like proficiency of a second language is heavily dependent on the age at which learning begins. However, the exact properties of this phenomenon remain unclear, and the literature is divided. Recently, Hartshorne, Tenenbaum, & Pinker presented a novel computational analysis of over 600,000 subjects, estimating that the ability to learn syntax drops at 17.4 years of age [Hartshorne, J. K., Tenenbaum, J. B., & Pinker, S. (2018). A critical period for second language acquisition: Evidence from 2/3 million English speakers. Cognition, 177, 263–277]. However, the novelty of the dataset and analyses raises questions and suggests caution [Frank, M. C. (2018). With great data comes great (theoretical) opportunity. Trends in cognitive sciences, 22(8), 669–671]. In the present paper, we address several such concerns by employing improved psychometric measurement, calculating confidence intervals, and considering alternative models. We also present data from an additional 466,607 subjects. The results support the prior report of a sharp decline in the ability to learn syntax, commencing at the tail end of adolescence.
Email Newsletters: An Analysis of Content From Nine Top News Organizations:

Email newsletters are increasingly popular delivery systems for legacy and digital-native news outlets. The newsletter embodies another level of gatekeeping, but little research has explored which ...
The Odorant Binding Protein, SiOBP5, Mediates Alarm Pheromone Olfactory Recognition in the Red Imported Fire Ant, Solenopsis invicta

Olfaction is crucial in mediating various behaviors of social insects such as red imported fire ants, Solenopsis invicta Buren. Olfactory receptor (OR) complexes consist of odor-specific ORs and OR co-receptors (Orco). Orcos are highly conserved across insect taxa and are widely co-expressed with ORs. Odorant binding proteins (OBPs) can transport semiochemicals to ORs as protein carriers and thus constitute the first molecular recognition step in insect olfaction. In this study, three OBP genes highly expressed in S. invicta antenna, OBP1, OBP5, OBP6, and Orco were partially silenced using RNA interference (RNAi). RNAi SiOBP5- and Orco-injected ants showed significantly lower EAG (electroantennography) responses to fire ant alarm pheromones and the alkaloid, 2,4,6-trimethylpyridine than water- or GFP-injected ants 72 h post injection. Subsequent qRT-PCR analysis demonstrated that the transcript level of the OBP1, OBP5, OBP6, and Orco significantly decreased 72 h after ants were injected with dsRNAs; however, there were no transcript level or EAG changes in ants fed dsRNAs. Our results suggest that S. invicta Orco and SiOBP5 are crucial to fire ants for their responses to alarm pheromones. RNAi knocking down SiOBP5 can significantly disrupt alarm pheromone communication, suggesting that disrupting SiOBP5 and Orcos could be potentially useful in the management of red imported fire ants.
How Critical Events Rather than Performance Trends Shape Public Evaluations of the Schools.

This paper argues that critical events rather than performance trends affect the collective evaluation of public education because critical events are more likely to stimulate competition among political activists over the meaning attached to real-world happenings. This means, for example, that students' test score averages are not the proximate cause of public evaluations of public schools, but referenda, political interventions, or school shootings may be decisive, simply because such events provoke contests over meaning into which many attentive citizens are drawn. Moreover, racial differences in the assessment of public schools are more likely to result from critical events than from performance trends because racial spokespersons are more vigilant and outspoken in periods of dramatic encounter than in the face of everyday frustrations or pleasures. Public opinion surveys of Nashville–Davidson County, Tennessee, demonstrate episodic diminutions of public esteem for public schools attached to critical events, but not to performance trends. The Nashville case shows that political interventions by social movements or political elites seem especially likely to cause serious declines in the rating given the schools by the general public.
Two tales of variable selection for high dimensional regression: Screening and model building

Variable selection plays an important role in high-dimensional regression problems where a large number of variables are given as potential predictors of a response of interest. Typically, it arises at two stages of statistical modeling, namely screening and formal model building, with different goals. Screening aims at filtering out irrelevant variables prior to model building where a formal description of a functional relation between the variables screened for relevance and the response is sought. Accordingly, proper comparison of variable selection methods calls for evaluation criteria that reflect the differential goals: accuracy in ranking order of variables for screening and prediction accuracy for formal modeling.
Proceso de materiales ultrafino-granulosos usando la deformación plástica severa: potencial para alcanzar características excepcionales

The processing of polycrystalline metals through the application of severe plastic deformation is attracting much attention because of the potential for achieving significant grain refinement to the submicrometer or nanometer level. This paper reviews the principles of this type of processing with emphasis on two different techniques: Equal- Channel Angular Pressing and High-Pressure Torsion. Exceptional properties may be achieved from these processes including high strength at ambient temperatures and a rapid superplastic forming capability at elevated temperatures. Some examples are presented demonstrating the potential use of this type of processing.
Safety analysis of sugar cataract development using stochastic hybrid systems

Modeling and analysis of biochemical systems are important tasks because they can unlock insights into the complicated dynamics of systems which are difficult or expensive to test experimentally. A variety of techniques have been used to model biochemical systems, but the effectiveness of the analysis techniques is often limited by tradeoffs imposed by the modeling paradigms. Stochastic differential equations have been used to model biochemical reactions [5,2]; however, analysis of these models has mainly been limited to simulation. Hybrid systems have also been used to model biochemical systems [4]; however, verification methods based on deterministic hybrid systems fail to capture the probabilistic nature of some biochemical processes and therefore may not be able to correctly analyze certain systems. Stochastic Hybrid Systems (SHS) have been used to capture the stochastic nature of biochemical systems but have previously only been used for simulations [10] or analysis of systems with simplified continuous dynamics [6].
De la comunicación al lenguaje: una perspectiva psicológica

Cualquier informe realista sobre la adquisicion del lenguaje debe tener en cuenta el modo en que pasa el nino, a partir de la comunicacion, al uso propiamente dicho del lenguaje. Porque puede demos...
Management of Seizures in Acute Stroke

This chapter discusses management of seizures in acute stroke. Cerebrovascular disease represents the most frequent cause of epilepsy in the elderly, accounting for 25 to 50% of cases. The pathogenesis of stroke, neuroanatomical location of injury, severity of clinical presentation, medical stability, concurrent illness, and other risks and advantages are characteristics considered in making this decision. Antiepileptic therapy has been instituted in stroke patients, not only after documentation of multiple seizures, but also after a single seizure and as prophylaxis. In head trauma, the prophylactic use of antiepileptic drugs had the intention of interfering with epileptogenesis and preventing the secondary complications which can result from generalized tonic-clonic seizures. All patients with recurrent or late onset seizures should be maintained on antiepileptic therapy for a seizure-free period of at least 2–3 years prior to discussing antiepileptic medication taper. It is suggested that with chronic therapy, the use of a standard antiepileptic medication for partial epilepsy may be determined by patient preference, side-effect profile, previous efficacy, and potential interactions with other medications.
You Never Arrive

The sun sank behind the Atlanta skyline as I drove to my first Alcoholics Anonymous meeting.
Natural Ethical Facts: Evolution, Connectionism, and Moral Cognition

In Natural Ethical Facts William Casebeer argues that we can articulate a fully naturalized ethical theory using concepts from evolutionary biology and cognitive science, and that we can study moral cognition just as we study other forms of cognition. His goal is to show that we have "softly fixed" human natures, that these natures are evolved, and that our lives go well or badly depending on how we satisfy the functional demands of these natures. Natural Ethical Facts is a comprehensive examination of what a plausible moral science would look like.Casebeer begins by discussing the nature of ethics and the possible relationship between science and ethics. He then addresses David Hume's naturalistic fallacy and G. E. Moore's open-question argument, drawing on the work of John Dewey and W. V. O. Quine. He then proposes a functional account of ethics, offering corresponding biological and moral descriptions. Discussing in detail the neural correlates of moral cognition, he argues that neural networks can be used to model ethical function. He then discusses the impact his views of moral epistemology and ontology will have on traditional ethical theory and moral education, concluding that there is room for other moral theories as long as they take into consideration the functional aspect of ethics; the pragmatic neo-Aristotelian virtue theory he proposes thus serves as a moral "big tent." Finally, he addresses objections to ethical naturalism that may arise, and calls for a reconciliation of the sciences and the humanities. "Living well," Casebeer writes, "depends upon reweaving our ethical theories into the warp and woof of our scientific heritage, attending to the myriad consequences such a project will have for the way we live our lives and the manner in which we structure our collective moral institutions."
Vision based human-machine interface via hand gestures

There is a great need for alternative human-machine interfaces in several application areas. In the current paper we present the first stage of a hand gesture recognition system with the primary purpose of replacing classical input peripherals like the mouse and the keyboard. The system works by visual input and the processing has been implemented on the cellular neural/nonlinear network paradigm based Bi-i visual processing architecture. Its properties, most notably the real-time performance, allows it to be used for security, military, medical, surgery and public media applications as well.
Diffractive Optics for High Throughput Screening

We demonstrate several fluorescence measurement systems based on the integration of diffractive optical lens arrays with microfluidics. These parallel measurement systems enable quantitative analysis at higher throughput than current systems.
Medical Marijuana Regulation in Michigan: Problems of Legitimacy

Since the initiation of the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act (MMMA) in 2008, several issues relevant to the study of sociology of law and deviant behavior have emerged. I analyzed the administration of the MMMA using a case study method and interpret the initial social issues developing from this law by focusing on legitimacy. Due to a contradictory system where the MMMA is at odds with the Schedule I categorization of marijuana at the federal and state levels, the legitimacy of both the administration of the MMMA and the administration of marijuana law more generally are threatened. This lack of legitimacy in turn leads to a situation of “Pyrrhic Defeat” where failure to gain legal compliance maintains the inertia of marijuana prohibition.
The Multiple Roles of PTEN in Tumor Suppression

Abstract In his celebrated monolog, the Shakespearean hero Hamlet clearly identified two extreme remedies: "To die: to sleep; no more" against "the heartache and the thousand natural shocks…" The same two functions: induction of programmed cell death ("to die") and cell cycle arrest ("to sleep"), are essential in order to antagonize the genetic insults that underlie the genesis of cancer at the cellular level. However, in the case of the protein/lipid phosphatase PTEN, the most highly mutated tumor-suppressor gene in the post-p53 era, a lot more is emerging. It is now becoming clear that PTEN plays a significant role not only in inducing cell cycle arrest and programming apoptosis, but also in other aspects of cell physiology, including the regulation of cell adhesion, migration, and differentiation.
Assessment of Jaundice in the Hospitalized Patient

Jaundice in the hospitalized patient is not an uncommon consultation for the general gastroenterologist. It is essential to explore the underlying cause of jaundice because management is largely aimed at addressing these causes rather than the jaundice itself. Although the diagnostic evaluation for jaundice can be broad, clinical judgment must be used to prioritize between various laboratory tests and imaging studies. Most importantly, clinicians must understand which conditions are emergent and/or require evaluation for liver transplantation. Further studies need to be performed to better understand the outcomes of hospitalized patients who develop jaundice.
Liberia's Election of Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and Women's Executive Leadership in Africa

In November 2005, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf became the first female elected head of state in sub-Saharan Africa. On the face of it, the fact that this important breakthrough occurred in Liberia may seem paradoxical given that Liberia recently came out of years of conflict and is one of the poorest countries in the world. Generally, the advancement of women politically has been associated with the economic advancement of a country (Inglehart and Norris 2003). However, Johnson-Sirleaf's victory is consistent with new trends on the continent regarding women's political leadership. Ten years ago, African women held just 10.7% of the seats in their legislatures, falling below the global average at the time of 12.2%. Today, women in Africa hold 17% of legislative seats, matching the global average. In several countries, women have made far greater progress: They hold nearly 50% of legislative seats in Rwanda (48.8%) and over 30% of seats in Mozambique, South Africa, Burundi, and Tanzania.
A Frictional Skeleton Model for the Madden–Julian Oscillation*

AbstractThe Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) is a multiscale system. A skeleton model, developed by Majda and Stechmann, can capture some of planetary-scale aspects of observed features such as slow eastward propagation, nondispersive behavior, and quadrupole-vortex structure. However, the Majda–Stechmann model cannot explain the source of instability and the preferred planetary scale of the MJO. Since the MJO major convection region is leaded by its planetary boundary layer (PBL) moisture convergence, here a frictional skeleton model is built by implementing a slab PBL into the neutral skeleton model. As a skeleton model allowing the scale interaction, this model is only valid for large-scale waves. This study shows that the PBL frictional convergence provides a strong instability source for the long eastward modes, although it also destabilizes very short westward modes. For the long waves (wavenumber less than 5), the PBL Ekman pumping moistens the low troposphere to the east of the MJO convective envel...
Throughput-optimal scheduling for broadcast channels

In this paper, we consider a degraded Gaussian broadcast channel, where the transmitter maintains separate queues for each receiver. We present throughput optimal policies that stabilize the queues without knowing the statistics of the arrival processes to these queues.
Television, Experience, and Knowledge: A Deweyan Critique of TV in the Lives of American Youth

A recent study by The Kaiser Family Foundation revealed that more than eighty percent of young people between the ages of eight and eighteen watch more than three hours of television programming each day.2 The same study revealed that sixty-eight percent of those young people have televisions in their bedrooms. Further, a television industry report from 2006 indicates that TV viewership was at an all-time high during the 2005-2006 television season.3 This report also revealed that the highest increase in television viewing was amongst teenage females. Douglas Kellner has argued that most adolescents will have spent more time watching television before starting elementary school than they will in a classroom during their entire school career.4 As television continues to be a prominent feature in the lives of most young Americans, it warrants ongoing inquiry as to how it impacts their intellectual and moral development. In this paper I will use a Deweyan framework to examine television viewing. I will brief...
Preadolescents' report of exposure to violence: association with friends' and own substance use.

Abstract Purpose To evaluate whether children's Exposure to Violence (EV) is associated with their own or their friends' use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs (ATOD). Methods The Violence Exposure Scale for Children-Revised (VEX-R) and the Substance Exposure Assessment (SXA) were given to 104 children participating in a longitudinal study of in-utero cocaine exposure (IUCE) at age 8.5, 9.5, and 11 years. Survival analyses evaluated the association of the quartile of VEX total score (higher scores indicating more violence exposure) at age 8.5 years, with time to first report of their own and their friends' use of ATOD from age 8.5–11 years. Results The sample consisted of 90% African-American/Caribbean children (mean age 8.5 years, SD 3 years), 53% males, and 49% with IUCE. The percentage of children who reported having substance-using friends was 12% at 8.5 years, 25% by 9.5 years, and 45% by 11 years. In multivariate survival analyses controlling for caregiver type, IUCE category, and child gender, children in the upper quartile of VEX-R total score at age 8.5 years were at significantly greater risk of having reported friends' use of ATOD by age 11 compared to those in the first through third quartiles (hazard ratio=2.2; 95% CI=1.14, 4.23; p = .02). Quartiles of the VEX score, however, were not significantly associated with children's acknowledgment of their own use ( p = .85). Conclusions Our findings suggest an association between EV in childhood and report of peer ATOD use at school age. Campaigns to prevent ATOD use should address the impact of childhood exposure to violence.
Wind speed trends over the contiguous United States

[1] A comprehensive intercomparison of historical wind speed trends over the contiguous United States is presented based on two observational data sets, four reanalysis data sets, and output from two regional climate models (RCMs). This research thus contributes to detection, quantification, and attribution of temporal trends in wind speeds within the historical/contemporary climate and provides an evaluation of the RCMs being used to develop future wind speed scenarios. Under the assumption that changes in wind climates are partly driven by variability and evolution of the global climate system, such changes should be manifest in direct observations, reanalysis products, and RCMs. However, there are substantial differences in temporal trends derived from observational wind speed data, reanalysis products, and RCMs. The two observational data sets both exhibit an overwhelming dominance of trends toward declining values of the 50th and 90th percentile and annual mean wind speeds, which is also the case for simulations conducted using MM5 with NCEP-2 boundary conditions. However, converse trends are seen in output from the North American Regional Reanalysis, other global reanalyses (NCEP-1 and ERA-40), and the Regional Spectral Model. Equally, the relationship between changing annual mean wind speed and interannual variability is not consistent among the different data sets. NCEP-1 and NARR exhibit some tendency toward declining (increasing) annual mean wind speeds being associated with decreased (increased) interannual variability, but this is not the case for the other data sets considered. Possible causes of the differences in temporal trends from the eight data sources analyzed are provided.
The Relationship of Race and Criminal Behavior: Challenging Cultural Explanations for a Structural Problem:

Disproportional arrests and conviction rates between blacks and whites in the US criminal justice system is well documented in social research. Many studies have examined the various social explanations for the disproportional arrest rates by race, varying from structural explanations of institutionalized racism and differential poverty outcomes to micro-level analyses of culturally prescribed behaviors. Research that focuses on culturally motivated behaviors may increase the sense of otherness associated with blacks and may minimize the effects of discriminatory criminal justice practices and unequal opportunities. Studies that focus on describing disproportional distributions without also including individual behaviors may also mask successful strategies by blacks avoiding re-arrest as they manage to reintegrate into society. This study analyzes racial differences in recidivism patterns for a cohort of prisoners in the Ohio prison system. Recidivism was tracked for approximately 14 years (through 2006)....
Carcinoma of the testis

Patients with Stage I or II malignant testis germ cell tumors underwent a randomized prospective study at Walter Reed Hospital, Washington, D.C., from 1968 to 1973. Pure cell lines of seminoma or choriocarcinoma were excluded. Forty patients had inguinal orchiectomy followed by irradiation to the inguinal, iliac, lumbar para-aortic, mediastinal and supraclavicular lymph nodes. Thirty-four patients (85%) in this group are alive and free of tumor a minimum of 3 years. Fifty-one patients received pre- and postoperative irradiation to primary lymphatic pathways in association with bilateral retro-peritoneal lymphadenectomy as well as elective irradiation to the mediastinum and supraclavicular regions. Forty-six patients (90%) in this second group are alive and free of tumor a minimum of three years. Both treatment methods represent marked improvement in cure rates compared to lymphadenectomy and postoperative irradiation utilized prior to 1968, but no statistically significant difference from each other.
A chronology of computer chess and its literature

It can be seen that a great deal of worthwhile material has now been generated about computer chess. There is also quite a bit of nonsense by persons who have never built a program. Several groups with excellent programs have done little publishing, although I can hardly blame them since their work requires much time and is usually unsupported by any funding agencies. Certain staples have given rise to duplication: All but one of the books published explain the depth-first alpha-beta procedure. We expect that by far the largest portion of our readers will be scientists interested in updating their knowledge of the subject. To those few who are considering building their own program a word of caution: It appears that all the simple things have been done, and unless you merely want to re-invent the wheel, you must be prepared to spend at least 2 man-years of effort to reach the state-of-the-art with your own program. And to those few laymen that may see this: I hope I have delineated a bit more precisely than the media do, just what computers are capable of doing with chess circa 1978.
An Ecological Analysis of Urban Growth Between 1900 and 1940

A study of 157 cities suggests that specialization theories, central to an ecological model of urban growth, require qualification. Contrary to expectations, specialization plays a limited role in urban growth, which appears to be most closely related to a city's intermural transportation system.