cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An alternative three-term decomposition for single crystal deformation motivated by non-linear elastic dislocation solutions

Abstract : A new third term is incorporated within the multiplicative decomposition of the deformation gradient in the context of geometrically non-linear mechanics of defective elastic-plastic crystals. This enhanced description, when applied to an element of material of finite volume, accounts explicitly for average local residual lattice distortion due to defects within that volume. The magnitude of the distortion from this third term, determined analytically for an elastic cylindrical volume of outer radius R containing a single dislocation line threading its centre, is estimated as {[b/( R)]2 + f 2 + g2}1/2, where b is Burgers vector magnitude, f accounts for elastic non-linearity, and g accounts for core effects. For a straight screw dislocation in a third-order isotropic elastic medium, at a dislocation density of 10 per cent of theoretical maximum, b/( R) is on the order of 0.1, f on the order of 0.01 and g is proportional to pressure exerted by the core and can be significant. Predictions of stresses and dislocation density under simple shear and uniaxial compression demonstrate differences from those of usual crystal plasticity at large strain and for high hardening. Besides offering a natural and precise delineation of contributions from dislocation velocity and dislocation generation to irreversible deformation, the three-term model allows for residual elastic strains including dilatation observed in experiments and atomic simulations not addressed by conventional two-term crystal plasticity.
Laser-induced patterning of Co nanostructures under ambient conditions

Increasing the efficiency and the relative ease of creating ordered nanostructures is essential to the advancement of nanotechnology. The practical benefits from ambient processing of nanostructures, like reduced complexity and increased efficiency, makes it an important avenue for investigation as nanomanufacturing processes. We have recently shown that pulsed laser melting of ultrathin metal films in vacuum leads to nanostructure ordering presumably due to metal dewetting. Here we show that UV pulsed laser irradiation (10 ns pulse width) of ultrathin Co films on SiO2 substrates under ambient conditions with a two-beam laser interference pattern generates Co nanoparticles with both long- and short-range order (LRO and SRO) and are qualitatively comparable to those created in vacuum. Furthermore, preferential etching of the metal shows that there is minimal interaction of the Co with the substrate. These results show that the presence of oxygen in the ambient does not substantially influence the resulting nanostructure formation. Therefore, ns pulsed laser processing under ambient conditions may be a practical way to realize ordered metal nanostructures.
Wound management in Amphibians: etiology and treatment of cutaneous lesions.

Abstract Skin disease in amphibians presents a unique challenge to veterinary practitioners because of their thin, physiologically active skin, which functions in respiration, osmoregulation, and water absorption. Standard disinfection, debridement, and bandaging techniques commonly used for wound care in domestic animals may not be appropriate for most amphibians. This review discusses restraint, husbandry, treatment, and wound management in amphibians. Many amphibian skin diseases have similar gross presentations, with invasion from ubiquitous environmental microbes complicating the diagnostic process. Common infectious and noninfectious causes of skin lesions will be reviewed, including bacterial, fungal, and viral diseases. Although not strictly cutaneous, causes and treatment for cloacal prolapse will also be reviewed.
Phase control of triangular stimulus generator for ADC BIST

Coherent sampling is required in ADC testing. Unlike production testing in which fractional frequency is available, only sampling clock of ADC is available for ADC Built-in Self-test (BIST). Triangular stimulus generator controlled by sampling clock of ADC cannot provide enough information because same voltages are sampled in every period. To carry out valid data acquisition, different voltages in different period should be sampled. Instead of generating fractional frequency, a method of introducing delay to every ramp in triangular wave is proposed in this paper. An 8-bit digital to time converter (DTC) is designed to provide needed number of delays. A control scheme is proposed to provide both phase control of triangular stimulus and testing control of BIST. Simulation results show control scheme works well for linearity test and delayed triangular wave provides valid data acquisition for histogram test. Errors in delay affect test results very little.
Addressing the Needs of Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Considerations and Complexities for High School Interventions

The outcomes of students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are driving the field to address how secondary education might be optimally designed and delivered. We conducted 28 focus groups across four states to explore the contexts, considerations, and complexities associated with delivering and combining evidence-based interventions to meet the needs of adolescents with ASD from the vantage point of 152 practitioners, parents, and other key stakeholders. Participants emphasized the inadequacy of prevailing intervention approaches in secondary schools, underscored the importance of attending to feasibility and alignment with the diverse needs of students with ASD, and stressed the need for broader awareness and training efforts surrounding autism. We offer recommendations for designing comprehensive interventions and incorporating stakeholder feedback into such undertakings.
RELIABILITY ASSESSMENT OF HIGHWAY TRUSS SIGN SUPPORTS

Structural condition assessment can be made with probabilistic based methods. The structural system is analyzed using a reliability model, based on the different possible failure modes. This paper presents a procedure developed to conduct a systems reliability analysis for highway truss sign supports subject to random wind loading and corrosion. The procedure provides a method for updating the resistance strength as the structure deteriorates. The study has demonstrated that the most effective way to improve the system reliability is to increase the restraint of the connection at the top of the truss where it supports the sign and to increase the column stiffnesses.
Determining finger segmental centers of rotation in flexion-extension based on surface marker measurement

This paper describes the development of a novel algorithm for deriving finger segmental center of rotation (COR) locations during flexion-extension from measured surface marker motions in vivo. The algorithm employs an optimization routine minimizing the time-variance of the internal link lengths, and incorporates an empirically quantifiable relationship between the local movement of a surface marker around a joint (termed "surface marker excursion") and the joint flexion-extension. The latter relationship constrains and simplifies the optimization routine to make it computationally tractable. To empirically investigate this relationship and test the proposed algorithm, an experiment was conducted, in which hand cylinder-grasping movements were performed by 24 subjects (12 males and 12 females). Spherical retro-reflective markers were placed at various surface landmarks on the dorsal aspect of each subject's right (grasping) hand, and were measured during the movements by an opto-electronic system. Analysis of experimental data revealed a highly linear relationship between the "surface marker excursion" and the marker-defined flexion-extension angle: the average R(2) in linear regression ranged from 0.89 to 0.97. The algorithm successfully determined the CORs of the distal interphalangeal, proximal interphalangeal, and metacarpophalangeal joints of digits 2-5 during measured motions. The derived CORs appeared plausible as examined in terms of the physical locations relative to surface marker trajectories and the congruency across different joints and individuals.
Metrics useful in network tomography studies

To facilitate the development of statistical methods geared at analyzing data from networks, it is important to have metrics which define and measure distances between a network's links, its paths, and also between different networks. This is particularly important in the rapidly growing area of network tomography which plays a central role in studies of data, communication, and Internet traffic. We propose such metrics, outline some of their properties, and motivate them with two very recent applications. The proposed metrics are simple yet have appealing properties.
Performance analysis of a cellular network with multiple classes of calls

In this paper, we study a cellular mobile communications network with multiple cells and multiple classes of calls. The different classes of calls have different call holding times and residence time distributions. We consider a protocol mechanism under which a blocked call in a cell is either disconnected from the network or is deemed as a handoff call in a neighboring cell. Under this protocol, we prove that the stationary distribution of this cellular mobile network has a product form. This allows us to derive explicit expressions for handoff rates of each class of calls from one cell to another and the disconnecting probabilities for each class of new and handoff calls. Our numerical results show how these measures depend on the mobility of the mobile terminals in each cell and on the numbers of reserved channels.
Revising the rural hospital disaster plan: A role for the EMS system in managing the multiple casualty incident

Much of the effort in disaster planning has been directed toward large-scale, war-related, or major natural disasters. We helped test a rural community's disaster plan in a simulated airport accident, and concluded that this plan was not the most effective for providing the triage and stabilization in the field that are essential to the management of this type of accident. This communication argues for the development of an alternative model of response involving the "escalation" of the everyday emergency medical services system. We believe this will provide more rapid and effective allocation of the rural community's limited medical resources in the management of the multiple casualty incident.
Reimbursement of Private School Costs Is Available Under the EHCA Burlington v. Massachusetts

One of the more controversial issues litigated in the courts under the Education for All Handicapped Children Act is whether the parents of a handicapped child who unilaterally place that child in a private school can be reimbursed for tuition costs if their choice in placement is later determined to be the appropriate one. For several years most of the federal courts held that they were not unless exceptional circumstances prompted the unilateral move. Controversy developed in 1983 when the First Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the parents were entitled to be reimbursed even if exceptional circumstances were not present to warrant the unilateral placement. The Supreme Court recently settled the controversy by agreeing with the First Circuit. In this article the author presents the factual background surrounding the controversy and discusses the implications of the Supreme Court decision.
Enhanced Influenza Surveillance using Telephone Triage Data in the VA ESSENCE Biosurveillance System

Telephone triage (TT) is a potential data source for biosurveillance. An analysis of Veterans Affairs (VA) TT and visit data for influenza and influenza-like-illness (ILI) was performed for 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 seasons. There were 7,044 influenza-coded calls, 564 hospitalizations, 1,849 emergency/urgent visits, and 416,613 ILI-coded outpatient visits. Spearman correlation coefficients were calculated for influenza-coded calls with hospitalizations (0.77); emergency/urgent visits (0.85); and ILI-outpatient visits (0.88), respectively. For 2011-2012, TT alerted increased influenza activity before other settings. Peak activity was similar across settings for both seasons. TT correlates well with VA healthcare utilization and may provide earlier alerts of influenza activity.
Situating sport, language, and culture as a site for intellectual discussion

The articles in this special issue provide an opportunity to illustrate how the domain of “sport, language, and culture” can become a burgeoning site for future intellectual discussion. We extend this discussion by offering frameworks that (a) suggestively characterize how these articles collectively speak to issues of sport, language, and culture and (b) provide a template for the future development of transdisciplinary theory and research. The special issue provides a unique opportunity to appropriately illustrate how diversity in intellectual perspective and disciplinary approach is necessary for productively creating a unified domain of scholarly interest.
A 1-GS/s 6-bit 6.7-mW ADC in 65-nm CMOS

An asynchronous 6bit 1GS/s ADC is achieved by time interleaving two ADCs based on binary successive approximation algorithm (SA) using a capacitive ladder. The semi-close loop asynchronous technique eliminates the high internal clocks and significantly speeds up the SA algorithm. One bit redundancy is implemented to compensate the process variation of parasitic and the MOM capacitance. Fabricated in 65nm CMOS with an active area of 0.11mm2, it achieves a peak SNDR of 31.5dB at 1 GS/s sampling rate and has a power consumption of 6.7mW for the analog and digital processing.
LIFE HISTORY OF GLOSSOBIUS HEMIRAMPHI (ISOPODA: CYMOTHOIDAE): DEVELOPMENT, REPRODUCTION, AND SYMBIOSIS WITH ITS HOST HEMIRAMPHUS BRASILIENSIS (PISCES: HEMIRAMPHIDAE)

Abstract This research examines the life cycle of the parasitic cymothoid isopod Glossobius hemiramphi and its role as a symbiont with its fish host, ballyhoo (Hemiramphus brasiliensis). Samples of H. brasiliensis were collected from July 1997 to October 1998 in nearshore waters of south Florida. Fish were randomly culled from a commercial lampara net fishery, and independent of the fishery, fish were collected with cast nets or hook and line. The average parasite prevalence was 10.1%, observed in 2,928 fish collected year round. Monthly prevalence ranged from 4.6 to 18.2% and was highest in the summer on small young-of-the-year fish. Prevalence declined with fish size from a high of 38.0% for fish 11-16 cm to a low of 3.3% for fish 28-29 cm. Ovigerous females were observed throughout the year and no within-brood mortality was evident. Marsupiumites developed through five distinct ontogenetic stages, and the final marsupial stage (manca) was likely immediately infestive upon release. Diminutive males (2.8...
Warding Off CEQA Lawsuits: Advice from a Plaintiff’s Lawyer

Lawyers representing plaintiffs in cases involving the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (Pub Res C §§21000-21178) eventually develop the skills for challenging-and, at times, stopping-projects. Armed with those skills, plaintiff lawyers have been consulted by developers of projects or agencies making decisions on projects undergoing CEQA review. This gives rise to the following questions: Are there specific tricks, approaches, or strategies gleaned from lessons learned trying to stop projects that CEQA plaintiff attorneys can apply to help a project? How might those strategies apply when dealing with such novel, looming issues as global warming and emission of greenhouse gases?
Afterword - Part III: Reflections on Success and Failure in New Governance and the Role of the Lawyer

While the recent global economic downturn and the change in power in U.S. government force us to reexamine the efficacy of new governance approaches to public problem-solving and regulatory reform, the contributions of Symposium participants affirm that new governance will likely continue to be with us in the not-so-distant future. Thus, there is a continuing need to clarify the lawyer's role in new governance. This Afterword begins that task by (1) reassessing the core normative goals of much new governance jurisprudence and practice, analyzing and critiquing the limited role for lawyers envisioned in this field; (2) positing how lawyers should proceed in a new governance world while still advancing distributive justice; and (3) analyzing the implications of these changes for legal education. The Afterword concludes by outlining further scholarly work that must be done to help lawyers navigate in a new governance regime.
Techno-economic analysis of biodiesel and ethanol co-production from lipid-producing sugarcane

Biodiesel production from vegetable oils has progressively increased over the past two decades. However, due to the low amounts of oil produced per hectare from temperate oilseed crops (e.g. soybean), the opportunities for further increasing biodiesel production are limited. Genetically modified lipid-producing sugarcane (lipid-cane) possesses great potential for producing biodiesel as an alternative feedstock because of sugarcane's much higher productivity compared with soybean. In this study, techno-economic models were developed for biodiesel and ethanol coproduction from lipid-cane, assuming 2, 5, 10, or 20% lipid concentration in the harvested stem (dry mass basis). The models were compared with a conventional soybean biodiesel process model to assess lipid-cane's competiveness. In the lipid-cane process model, the extracted lipids were used to produce biodiesel by transesterification, and the remaining sugar was used to produce ethanol by fermentation. The results showed that the biodiesel production cost from lipid-cane decreased from $0.89/L to $0.59 /L as the lipid content increased from 2 to 20%; this cost was lower than that obtained for soybeans ($1.08/L). The ethanol production costs from lipid-cane were between $0.40/L and $0.46/L. The internal rate of return (IRR) for the soybean biodiesel process was 15.0%, and the IRR for the lipid-cane process went from 13.7 to 24.0% as the lipid content increased from 2 to 20%. Because of its high productivity, lipid-cane with 20% lipid content can produce 6700L of biodiesel from each hectare of land, whereas soybean can only produce approximately 500L of biodiesel from each hectare of land. This would indicate that continued efforts to achieve lipid-producing sugarcane could make large-scale replacement of fossil-fuel-derived diesel without unrealistic demands on land area. © 2016 The Authors. Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining published by Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Gibt es unterschiedliche Überlebensraten für jüngere und ältere Patienten mit Rektumkarzinom

Obwohl allgemein geglaubt wird, dass junge Patienten mit Rektumkarzinom schlechtere Uberlebensraten als altere haben, ist noch keine umfassende Analyse vorgelegt worden. Diese Studie basiert auf einem nationalen, das Bevolkerungsspektrum berucksichtigenden Krebsregister, um Ergebnisse von Rektumkarzinomen zwischen jungen und alteren Bevolkerungsteilen zu vergleichen. Ausgewertet wurden alle Patienten mit einem Rektumkarzinom aus der „Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results cancer database“ von 1991–1999. Junge (20–40 Jahre; n = 466) und altere Patienten (60–80 Jahre; n = 11 312) wurden hinsichtlich Patienten- und Tumorcharakteristika, Behandlungsmuster sowie ihrem allgemein- und stadiumspezifischen Uberleben innerhalb einer Funfjahresspanne verglichen. Eine Multivarianz-Regressionsanalyse nach Cox wurde durchgefuhrt, um Pradiktoren fur das Uberleben zu identifizieren. Durchschnittsalter fur die Gruppen waren 34,1 und 70 Jahre. Die Gruppe der Jungen umfasste mehr schwarze und hispanische Patienten im Vergleich zu der alteren Gruppe (p < 0,001). Bei jungen Patienten war ein fortgeschritteneres Stadium der Krankheit haufiger (jung vs. alter: Stadium III, 27 vs. 20%, p < 0,001; Stadium IV, 17,4 vs. 13,6%, p < 0,02). Die Gruppe der jungeren Patienten zeigte auch ein schlechteres Tumorgrading (schlecht differenziert 24,3 vs. 14%, p < 0,001). Obwohl die Mehrzahl in beiden Gruppen operiert wurde (jeweils 85%), erhielten signifikant mehr junge Patienten eine Strahlentherapie (p < 0,001). Wichtig ist: sowohl allgemein als auch stadiumspezifisch fielen die Funfjahres-Uberlebensraten fur beide Gruppen ahnlich aus (p = nicht signifikant unterschiedlich). Obwohl fruhere Studien bei jungen Rektumkarzinompatienten eine schlechtere Uberlebenschance verglichen mit der bei alteren Patienten herausgefunden haben, zeigt diese bevolkerungsbasierte Studie, dass junge Patienten mit Rektumkarzinom eine aquivalente allgemeine und stadiumspezifische Uberlebenschance zu haben scheinen.
Abstract 602: Silencing of the androgen receptor (AR) with a novel mRNA antisense oligonucleotide causes antitumor effects in xenograft models of prostate cancer

Background: The AR is a ligand-activated transcriptional factor that plays an important role in prostate cancer. While androgen-deprivation therapies typically inhibit tumor growth, tumor recurrence due to the castration resistant form of the disease frequently occurs and leads to mortality. Nevertheless, castration-resistant tumors are still dependent on a functional (AR). Therefore, inhibition of AR expression, rather than systemic androgen deprivation, may provide a novel strategy for treatment of advanced prostate cancer. We have developed a novel locked nucleic acid (LNA)-based antisense oligonucleotide (ON), EZN-4176, which down-modulated AR and inhibited tumor growth. Methods: The target mRNA down-modulation, growth inhibition, luciferase activity, protein inhibition, and reduction of prostate specific antigen (PSA; an AR downstream target and biomarker of prostate cancer) were evaluated by qRT-PCR, MTS, SteadyGlo, western blot analysis, and ELISA assay, respectively, in LNCaP cancer cell lines. A mismatched LNA antisense oligo (EZN-4176MM) and an AR negative cell line (PC-3 prostate cancer) served as controls. Additionally, the effect of EZN-4176 on DHT-induced AR transcriptional activity was evaluated in LNCaP cells containing an AR-responsive luciferase reporter. In vivo, therapeutic efficacy of EZN-4176 was evaluated in the AR-positive CWR22 (androgen dependent). Results: In vitro, in the absence of any transfection reagent, EZN-4176 but not the mismatched control (EZN-4176MM) inhibited the growth of DHT-induced LNCaP cells. The growth reduction correlated with AR down-modulation and its down-stream target gene expression and AR-responsive luciferase activity. In vivo, EZN-4176, prepared in the absence of a delivery vehicle, demonstrated dose-dependent inhibition of mRNA of AR, PSA, and TMPRSS2 as well as protein level of AR in androgen-sensitive CWR22 tumor xenografts, resulting in significant tumor growth inhibition (TGI) (∼55%) (similar to high-dose Casodex ® [bicalutamide] treatment). Cy5.5-labeled EZN-4176 was shown to localize in subcutaneous CWR22 or LNCaP tumor xenografts using xenogen imaging system. In castration-resistant tumor cells, EZN-4176 potently and specifically inhibited the growth of C4-2b cells as well as down-regulated AR-luciferase reporter systems. More importantly, AR and PSA mRNA were inhibited in both castration-resistant C4-2b and 22RV1 tumor xenografts. Conclusions: Our data suggest that AR mRNA down modulation by EZN-4176 inhibits prostate tumor growth and provides a novel strategy to treat advanced prostate cancer. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 602.
Pediatric Frontal Sinusitis

Frontal sinusitis is a difficult clinical entity to diagnose in the pediatric population. The development of the frontal sinuses, nonspecific symptoms, inherent problems with in office examinations, and hesitancy to obtain radiographical evaluation in children contribute to the complexity of this diagnosis. In children, evaluation for suspected chronic sinusitis may require evaluations for cystic fibrosis, primary ciliary dyskinesia, allergic rhinitis, immune deficiencies, reflux or presence of adenoid tissue. First line therapy for bacterial frontal sinusitis is oral antibiotics (ex. amoxicillin with clavulanate). Culture directed antibiotic therapy is preferable but difficult to obtain in the pediatric population. Because of its proximity to the orbit and intracranial contents complications of frontal sinus can be life threatening. If infectious complications are suspected contrasted imaging should be obtained along with prompt treatment with IV antibiotics and consideration of surgical therapy.
Identification in interpersonal relationships: One foundation of creativity

This article attempts to meld theories of identification with interrelational existentialism to allow for better explanations of collaborative creativity. It argues that the Burkean theory of identification is Freudian based and therefore de‐emphasizes interpersonal and subjective conceptions of communication. On the other hand, Burkean theory once corrected provides a praxis useful to existential criticism. The study argues that existential interpersonal communication stimulates an ontological understanding that sometimes results in creative dialogue and/or individual creativity. It sets out a series of probes useful in the analysis of authentic dialogic communication.
Association between the job types and the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in the United States

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has many well-known predisposing factors including viral hepatitis, alcoholconsumption, metabolic syndrome, and cigarette smoking. However, about 30%-40% of patients have no identifiable risk factor, indicating the presence of additional causes that are yet to be discovered. Our study aim was to evaluate the association betweenthe risk of HCC and various occupations. Methods: We conducted a hospital based case-control study that included 589 HCC patients and 1,098 healthy controls. Multivariate unconditioned logistic regression models were done to control for the confounding effects of well-known HCC riskfactors. Results: Female sales workers have a significantly higher risk of HCC; after adjusting for demographic factors, cigarette smoking, drinking alcohol, diabetes mellitus, viral hepatitis, and family history of cancer; the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) and 95% confidenceinterval (CI) was (2.8; 1.3-6.0). In contrast, there was a protective association between managers and HCC, which remainedstatistically significant for females after adjusting for confounding factors (OR, 0.2; CI, 0.05-0.6). With regard to the duration ofoccupation, sales workers had no increased risk with job duration, whereas managers working for more than 25 years were atlower risk for HCC development. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first and largest epidemiological study to observe such associations in USA.The underlying biological explanation should be explored in future experimental studies.
Influences of reading online texts in Korean English language learners' cultural identities

ABSTRACTThis qualitative case study investigated 4 Korean elementary level English language learners' (ELLs) cultural identities when they read online texts at home and school. The participants were fourth- or fifth-grade students. The data consisted of observations, interviews, field notes, reflective journals, and the ELLs' verbal reports at home and school between the spring and the fall of 2010. The author's purpose was to identify the influences of reading online texts at home and school in Korean elementary level ELLs' cultural identities. Findings revealed that the online text readings helped the ELLs form, maintain, and shift their cultural identities. The author discusses Korean ELLs' languages, cultures, and technologies in the contexts of electronic literacies and suggests educational implications to facilitate their reading online texts.
Is postoperative chronic pain syndrome higher with mesh repair of inguinal hernia

Chronic postoperative pain has been associated with mesh repair in meta-analysis of clinical trials. We compared the incidence of early complications, recurrence, and chronic pain syndrome in anatomic and mesh repairs in 200 patients. We defined chronic pain syndrome as pain in the inguinal area more than 3 months after inguinal hernia repair, patient referral to pain management, or necessity of a secondary procedure for pain control. The mean follow-up time was 4 years and 2 months for anatomic repair and 3 years and 7 months for mesh repair. The clinical outcomes did not reveal a significant disparity between the 100 consecutive patients who had mesh repair versus the 100 patients who had anatomic repair with regard to the incidence of superficial wound infection (0 vs. 2%, P = 0.497), testicular swelling (12 vs. 7%, P = 0.335), hematoma (1 vs. 0%, P = 0.99), recurrence (3 vs. 2%, P = 0.99), or chronic postoperative pain (4 vs. 1%, P = 0.369). The anatomic procedure without mesh should continue to be offered to patients who have an initial inguinal hernia repair.
Development of an alginate hydrogel to deliver aqueous bait for pest ant management.

BACKGROUND Insecticide sprays used for ant control cause environmental contamination. Liquid bait is a safe and effective alternative, but it requires bait stations to dispense the toxicant. We developed a biodegradable hydrogel to deliver liquid bait obviating the need for bait stations. RESULTS Alginate hydrogel beads with preferred rigidity and maximum hydration in 25% sucrose solution were engineered by optimizing a crosslinking process. The moisture content of the substrate on which the beads were placed and the relative atmospheric humidity significantly influenced water loss dynamics of the hydrated hydrogel beads. Laboratory choice studies indicated that hydrated hydrogel beads had reduced palatability to foraging ants when they lost ≥ 50% water. An enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) indicated that the insecticide thiamethoxam added to sucrose solution was absorbed into the hydrogel beads. Hydrogel beads conditioned in sucrose solution with 1 mg L−1 thiamethoxam provided complete control of all castes of Argentine ant Linepithema humile (Mayr) colony by 14 days post-treatment in the laboratory trial and provided a 79% reduction in ant activity after 8 weeks in the field trial. CONCLUSION Alginate hydrogel beads provided an effective delivery system for liquid baits laced with low concentrations of insecticide to control Argentine ants.
Manual Therapy and Pain in the Rehabilitation Patient

Physical Therapists (PT) provide services to a patient or client who has impairments, which limit his/her functional ability. The goal of physical therapy is to assist and to guide the patient/client in techniques to improve his/her function. Manual therapy techniques achieve improved mobility with the use of skilled hand maneuvers and are often used as part of the overall physical therapy plan of care. Often, manual techniques are required in order to improve joint or soft tissue mobility and to alleviate pain.
Willpower, Behavior Therapy, and the Public

The present research assesses the degree to which laypersons adhere to the culturally transmitted assumption that the internal force of willpower is necessary to overcome 24 different behavioral problems. Respondents (n = 465) rated their agreement with the assertion that willpower is necessary on a 7-point scale. Willpower was rated as differentially necessary for overcoming various problem behaviors. A principal components factor analysis and subsequent rotation on the 24 problem behaviors indicated four factors of problem behavior for which willpower was viewed as being differentially necessary to overcome. Willpower was rated as more necessary for overcoming “self-indulgence” problems (e.g., alcoholism, smoking) and certain “non-self-indulgent” problems (e.g., shyness, fear of flying) than for overcoming “psychopathological” problems (e.g., nervous breakdown, hallucinations) and “ability deficits” (e.g., inability to swim, poor mathematical ability). Rated agreement of the necessity of willpower was unrelated to years of education, number of psychology classes completed, whether or not the respondent ever attended a college, and particular college attended. These findings support a potential source of conflict between the behavior therapist and the client with respect to the determinants of behavior. It is suggested that this conflict be investigated further so that its impact on therapeutic progress can be assessed.
Is the Association of ADHD with Socio-Economic Disadvantage Explained by Child Comorbid Externalizing Problems or Parent ADHD?

It has been unclear whether an associations of child ADHD with socio-economic disadvantage (SES) could be accounted for by (a) parental ADHD explaining both low SES and child ADHD, and/or (b) the joint overlap of ODD or CD with low SES and ADHD. Study 1 used a community-recruited case-control sample with detailed evaluation of SES indicators, child ADHD, child externalizing, and parent ADHD symptoms (n = 931 children, 521 ADHD, 577 boys, 354 girls) in a path modeling analysis with latent variables. Study 2 evaluated ADHD and externalizing behavior in a regression model using a poverty index for SES, in 70,927 children (48.2% female) aged 5–17 years from the US 2011–2012 National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH). In Study 1, lower SES was related to the ADHD latent variable, β = −.18, p < .001; 95%CI [−.25,-.12]. This effect held when parent ADHD and child ODD and CD were in the model, β = −.11, p < .01, 95% CI [−.09,-.03], equivalent to OR = 1.50, 95% CI[1.12–2.04]). In Study 2, these results replicated. Adjusting only for age and sex, children from families who were below 200% of the federal poverty line were more likely to have moderate or severe ADHD than no ADHD, versus children above that line, OR = 2.13, 95% CI[1.79,2.54], p < .001. The effect held after adjusting for disruptive/externalizing problems, OR = 1.61, p < .01, 95%CI [1.32,1.96]. The effect size for comparable models was similar across both studies, lending higher confidence to the results. It is concluded that the SES association with child ADHD is not explained by artifact and requires a mechanistic explanation.
Cross Entropy as a Measure of Coherence and Uniqueness

Cross entropy, a measurement of the complexity/predictability of a series of observations given a probabilistic model, has been used in a variety of domains in music scholarship for decades. This paper presents a novel application of this metric to musical corpus analysis. Given a series of divisions to a larger corpus, a sub-corpus is relatively “unique” if a probabilistic model derived from its pieces better predicts its constituent pieces than do models derived from other sub-corpora. A sub-corpus is relatively “coherent” if its own model describes its pieces better than a model derived from the entire corpus. The Yale-Classical-Archives corpus was used to illustrate several strategies for sub-corpus division, each of which are tested for uniqueness and coherence. Some broader interpretive applications are also described.
Conducting a social constructivist epistemology for students of computing disciplines

There have been some social constructivist learning approaches used in computing sciences (CS) education, but none of them has actually validated the student reflection process, which is a critical component of the action learning associated with them. The step of reflection within the social constructivist pedagogy has a crucial role in building the learner's mental model and in refining the existing mental model. This paper presents a novel research case study on the employment of an innovative process of student reflection and analysis. This innovative process promotes a unique, non-traditional approach of employing a social interaction based dialogue of inquiry that helps engage each learner in a self-reflective assessment prior to the action learning. The process is in line with the social constructivist model that is based upon inquiry based knowledge building. It helps students debug their conceptual understandings, which make up their respective cognitive models. It also enables them to identify problems or limitations within that mental model before the actual knowledge assimilation or accommodation takes place. The presented case study strives to address a key issue of the social constructivist model i.e. how to ensure that students successfully self-reflect upon what they are learning. In order to so, this research performs a comparative analysis between the results obtained through the presented social constructivist self-reflection assessment and the outcomes of a software based traditional assessment. This paper discusses and analyzes learning analytics data collected over several semesters from multiple instances of social constructivist epistemology conducted for students of two different computer programming classes at the CS1 and CS2 levels respectively. The main contributions of this research experiment are evaluations of the process of student reflection, validations of student assumptions and presentation of an authentic action-learning problem for students in the form of their conceptual gaps. The experimental findings represent evidences of successful validation of student beliefs as well as knowledge discovery process though an epistemic investigation.
Biodegradation by Brown Rot Fungi

The decay of lignocellulose is one of the most important processes for all life on earth. Carbon fixed by green plants is recycled back into the atmosphere principally by fungi through the process of lignocellulose decay, estimated at 85 billion tons of carbon per year (Cowling 1963). Wood lignocellulose accounts for most of the biomass on earth, being made up of the two most abundant biopolymers, cellulose, and lignin. Wood decay fungi have long been of interest due to the tremendous amount of wood and wood products damaged due to their actions. These fungi have been intensively studied in order to develop ways to control their wood degradative abilities and, more recently, to understand how to apply these same decay abilities for the biodegradation or bioremediation of xenobiotic compounds.
On the Periodic Magnetic Schrödinger Operator in Rd. Eigenvalues and Model Functions

An asymptotic formula for a rich family of eigenvalues of the periodic magnetic Schrodinger operator is constructed in the high-energy region. Model functions, which solve the equation for eigenfunctions approximately are described explicitly. It is shown that the system of model functions is almost orthogonal and form a rich subspace in L 2 (R d ).
Nutritional assessment | Clinical examination

The clinical evaluation of nutritional status is a fundamental component of health assessment at any age. Along with anthropometry, dietary assessment, and laboratory tests, physical examination is one of the key tools to evaluate nutritional status. The two key components of the clinical evaluation are the medical history and the physical examination. The nutrition-focused medical history centers on past and recent dietary practices, voluntary or involuntary weight changes, and history of gastrointestinal disturbances. Food preferences, allergies, and intolerances must also be identified.
Interpreting Breast Pathology in the Setting of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy

Neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) was originally used as a standard treatment for inflammatory and inoperable locally advanced breast cancers. Diagnosis was typically made by fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB). Therefore, pathologic information about the carcinoma (e.g., type, grade, and tumor markers) and information for staging (e.g., size and lymph node status) was limited. The combination of image-guided core needle biopsy of breast cancers, sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB), or needle biopsy of lymph nodes, and new breast imaging modalities have substantially increased the ability to accurately classify and stage carcinomas prior to surgical excision. Currently, increasing numbers of women are being treated with chemotherapy or hormonal agents prior to surgery for earlier-stage operable breast cancers. Although clinical trials have shown that systemic treatment before or after surgery gives identical results in locoregional control and metastasis-free survival for patients), major advantages for NAT are that the efficacy of systemic therapy can be assessed during the treatment of patients (with the opportunity to change therapy if a cancer does not respond); tumor response is a major prognostic factor; tumor response can be used as a short-term endpoint for clinical trials; pre and posttreatment tumor samples with known treatment susceptibility are powerful research tools; and more women become eligible for breast conservation. This chapter reviews the special skills needed to properly evaluate and understand breast tissue specimens, including formal surgical resections, by the pathologist and breast clinician following NAT for breast cancer in order to better understand treatment effect and assess for residual disease.
Management of severe bilateral nasal wall collapse.

Objective The aim of this study was to examine and analyze the pathology contributing to severe bilateral nasal wall collapse seen in certain revision rhinoplasty patients and identify those surgical maneuvers in the previous nasal surgery, which may have contributed to this complication; suggest alternatives or modifying steps in nasal surgery to prevent lateral wall collapse; analyze consecutive revision rhinoplasties and identify those patients who have complete bilateral nasal collapse at the internal nasal valve; and analyze the results achieved after surgical reconstruction of complete bilateral nasal collapse. Patients We identified 49 patients, who presented from 1990 to 2000 for revision surgery, who had bilateral collapse of the upper lateral cartilage. All patients had at least one previous rhinoplasty and all but 14 patients had undergone two or more procedures. The patients were reconstructed with a conchal cartilage graft placed through an external rhinoplasty approach. Results All patients complained of nasal obstruction with forced nasal inspiration. The collapse was visualized on inspiration and when prevented with intranasal positioning of a bayonet, all patients experienced an immediate improvement in nasal breathing. Postoperatively, all patients experienced this same improvement in their nasal airway. Collapse was not identified in any of the patients after surgery. Two patients underwent revision because of cosmetic asymmetries. Conclusion We strongly recommend a cartilage overlay to reconstitute the rigid midline continuity of the upper lateral cartilages. Unfortunately, with any significant hump removal, this structural interruption is, to varying degrees, inevitable in most rhinoplasty techniques. The upper lateral cartilages can be sutured to circumvent some of the inferior drift, but this will not reconstitute the rigid lateral cantilever effect of the intact cartilage.
Recognition and Resolution of Ethical Barriers to Palliative Care Research

Palliative care research can be defined as research related to understanding and improving the quality of life of patients near the end of life. There is a paucity of research in this field for two over-arching reasons. Medical interest related to relieving burden of illness is relatively new, and patients nearing the end of life have either been marginalized (i.e., viewed as not worthy of “investment” of scarce research dollars) or viewed as too vulnerable to undergo the rigorous processes of formalized research. Concerns about such vulnerabilities have created an ethical paradox. In order to protect this patient population from potential harms, including coercion, exploitation, and the possibility of imposing additional suffering at the end of life, terminally ill patients have been deprived of the opportunity to participate in research afforded to other patient populations: the frank withholding of an ethical prerogative. As a result, innovation and empirical developments in the field have been seriously curtailed.
Neuropsychological Evaluation of Children

The major approaches to child clinical neuropsychology have used an adult model of neuropsychological functioning as an initial framework for analysis of cognitive dysfunction in childhood.1-4 While this strategy seemed logical and initially proved useful as a model for the organization of ideas about brain-behavior relationships in childhood, the limitations of this approach, well articulated by Rudel,5 have become increasingly apparent as brain-damaged children are evaluated more systematically in observational or experimental studies. Thus, child neuropsychologists began to accumulate evidence that countered the assumption that the developing organism suffers the same fate (both biologically and psychologically) following brain damage as does the mature adult. We know, from postnatal and prenatal studies of nonhuman primates and children, that focal brain damage produces different kinds of cognitive deficits and different degrees of recovery of function depending on the developmental stage or age at which the damage occurred.6-13 Child neuropsychologists have also had to consider the logic of the assumption that abnormal development of a cognitive ability reflected pathology in the same brain structures that were determined from adult lesion studies to be necessary for the intact expression of that ability in adulthood.14 In fact, Rudel5 rejected that notion, stating, “Adult brain trauma studies shed light on what is essential for the performance of a function but not for its development” (p. 10). That is, during the acquisition of a skill, many parts of the brain may be involved; as proficiency increases, some structures may no longer participate in the mediation of this behavior. Thus, these brain structures, while crucial for the development of a function, may not be necessary for its expression once complete competency has been achieved.
The “Globalization” of Trade: what’s Changed and Why?

”Globalization” is widely cited as the dominant international economic trend of the post-Second World War era. However, perceptions of the extent and importance of globalization depend on how we define and attempt to measure it. The sheer magnitude of trade has grown; but probably more important are changes in the kinds of trade and in patterns of participation. These changes, in turn, have been facilitated by advances in communication and transportation technologies and by changes in governments’ policies toward international trade.
Successfully Treated Norovirus- and Sapovirus-Associated Diarrhea in Three Renal Transplant Patients

Objectives. To examine the burden of norovirus- and sapovirus-related diarrhea in renal transplant patients and to propose the use of nitazoxanide as a therapeutic option for treatment. Methods. We reviewed three renal transplant patients with viral diarrhea requiring hospitalization due to acute renal failure and signs of graft rejection. All three patients were treated with nitazoxanide. We examined their clinical courses after therapy and compared time to resolution of symptoms and viral shedding. Results. In all three renal transplant patients, improvement of diarrheal illness was witnessed within one week of nitazoxanide initiation. Conclusions. Infectious diarrhea remains an underestimated yet significant cause of morbidity in solid organ transplant patients. Norovirus and sapovirus are often responsible for this presentation. Nitazoxanide was used as a treatment modality with success in reduction of symptoms, decreased duration of illness, and cessation of viral shedding.