cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Caregivers' desired patterns of communication with nursing home staff- just TALKKK!

With more than 5.3 million individuals affected by Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in the U.S., knowledge about dementia and the care needs of the cognitively impaired patient is essential for every nurse (Alzheimer’s Association, 2011). Cared for in most every healthcare setting, individuals with cognitive impairment may represent a significant percentage of a nurse’s caseload. For example, 37% of patients receiving home care services, 50% of those in adult day care, over 45% of those residing in assisted living, and 68% of those in the nursing home (NH) setting have cognitive impairment (Alzheimer’s Association, 2011). When the cognitive impairment is progressive, such as with AD, informal caregivers, often family members, become the voice of the cognitively impaired individual, and many caregivers eventually assume responsibility for the individual’s care. Burdened with 24-hour care of someone with worsening dementia, personal illness and/or sleeplessness, or other bothersome factors, family caregivers may place the individual in a NH (Gaugler, Yu, Krichbaum, & Wyman, 2009; Schur & Whitlatch, 2003) where they may find themselves with limited or no input into the individual’s care. Caregivers who place an individual with dementia in the NH desire communication from the NH staff. Such communication promotes understanding of the placed individual’s needs, behaviors, moods, and routines. This article describes and provides exemplars of six desired patterns of communication of family caregivers with NH staff, derived from an interpretive study of the experiences of family caregivers who placed individuals with dementia in the NH. The six patterns are represented by the acronym TALKKK: Tell the caregiver about the resident, ask for the caregiver’s expert advice, listen to what the caregiver has to say, know the resident by relating and communicating, be knowledgeable about AD, and share that knowledge with the caregiver. Please note that references to NH staff include nurse assistants (also referred to as aides and unlicensed assistive personnel [UAP]), medication technicians, licensed practical nurses (LPNs), RNs, nurse practitioners, and physicians. While NH staff are sometimes referred to as formal caregivers, when the term caregiver is used in this article, it is in reference to family caregivers. Finally, pseudonyms have been used where names are stated in the exemplars.
Nonlinear Compensation for High Performance Feedback Systems With Actuator Imperfections

Measures to reduce control performance for greater robustness (e.g. reduced bandwidth, shallow loop roll-off) must be enhanced if the plant or actuators are known to have nonlinear characteristics that cause variations in loop transmission. Common causes of these nonlinear behaviors are actuator saturation and friction/stiction in the moving parts of mechanical systems. Systems with these characteristics that also have stringent closed loop performance requirements present the control designer with an extremely challenging problem. A design method for these systems is presented that combines very aggressive Nyquist-stable linear control to provide large negative feedback with nonlinear feedback to compensate for the effects of multiple nonlinearities in the loop that threaten stability and performance. The efficacy of this approach is experimentally verified on a parallel kinematic mechanism with multiple uncertain nonlinearities used for vibration suppression.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Parallel computations of molecular dynamics trajectories using the stochastic path approach

Abstract A novel protocol to parallelize molecular dynamics trajectories is discussed and tested on a cluster of PCs running the NT operating system. The new technique does not propagate the solution in small time steps, but uses instead a global optimization of a functional of the whole trajectory. The new approach is especially attractive for parallel and distributed computing and its advantages (and disadvantages) are presented. Two numerical examples are discussed: (a) A conformational transition in a solvated dipeptide, and (b) The R→T conformational transition in solvated hemoglobin.
Reversed-Phase Retention of Nucleic Acid Components

(1983). Reversed-Phase Retention of Nucleic Acid Components. Separation and Purification Methods: Vol. 12, No. 2, pp. 177-215.
How Dart learned from past object-oriented systems (keynote)

The design of the Dart programming language is heavily based on syntax, features, and performance characteristics from past object-oriented systems. This intentional choice has resulted in a productive and yet simple to learn programming language with clear semantics. It can even be implemented efficiently on a wide variety of platforms. We will in this talk discuss several important design decisions, including: constructor semantics, the optional type system, and support for incremental execution and fast application startup. Finally, we will evaluate where the language should be improved.
Penetration of Electrons in Aluminum Oxide Films

The practical range of low-energy electrons in thin ${\mathrm{Al}}_{2}$${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ films has been measured. Films ranging in thickness from 85 to 5000 A were investigated. Results are in close agreement with the predictions of Bethe and the results obtained by Hoffman for 1000-3000 A ${\mathrm{Al}}_{2}$${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ films. The practical range-energy relation obtained was found to be $R=0.0115{E}^{1.35}$, where $R$ is expressed in mg/${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$ and $E$ in kev.
Judgment theory applied to the selection of life insurance salesmen

Abstract The predictability of success of life insurance salesmen, and the judgment policies of 16 Agency Managers who select them, were investigated within the lens model paradigm. Each judge observed 200 profiles abstracted from the records of salesmen for whom 1-year, dichotomous criterion information was available. The profiles consisted of 64 cues, abstracted from personnel files, with ecological cue intercorrelations intact. An additional 160 cases were available for cross-validation. The criterion was moderately (and usefully) predictable from a cross-validated linear combination of the cues. There was relatively little agreement among the judges' decisions and considerable disagreement about the proportion of profiles judged acceptable. Judges were consistent but inaccurate in their predictions, substantially overusing scores on the Aptitude Index Battery. Unit weighting was superior to bootstrapping, but regression statistics were used to select the cues for unit weighting. Several cluster analytic techniques were tried, but none was really effective in differentiating preexisting groups. Accuracy of insight was generally poor and was not related to experience. Potential relationships between the judgment literature and two others, the interviewing and rating literatures, were explored.
Women build games, seriously

Recruitment of students to Computer Science has been a major focus of effort for educators since the dot-com bust in 2001. Two largely disparate themes in these efforts are women and games. There have been numerous efforts to broaden participation in computer science by attracting women to the field. At the same time, games are increasingly used to attract new students. Our interest lies at the intersection of these methods. We began using game design/development projects in our software engineering course, CS121, in 2002. The game focus was extremely successful with many of our students. But a nagging minority of students objected to building games, and women tend to be overrepresented in that group.So while are awed by the power of games to engage and motivate many of our students, we need to ask: Do games in our curriculum reinforce gender stereotypes of Computer Science? Do they foster development of the so-called "Geek mythology?"[7] In short, must we choose: women or games?We argue the answer is no. While traditional game projects may disenfranchise women, our experience shows that serious game projects both attract and engage them. This paper describes our results.
High-Dose Glucocorticoid Therapy in the Management of Seizures in Neonatal Incontinentia Pigmenti A Case Report

Incontinentia pigmenti is an X-linked dominant disorder resulting from a mutation of IKBKG. This disorder has a classic dermatologic presentation, but neurologic involvement, with seizures and cortical infarction, can arise shortly after birth. There are no specific therapies available for the manifestations of incontinentia pigmenti. Here, we describe the clinical, electrographic, and neuroradiologic effect of systemic glucocorticoid therapy in a neonate with incontinentia pigmenti manifesting an epileptic encephalopathy. Treatment with dexamethasone led to a dramatic reduction in seizure activity and improvement in bullous lesions. A novel mutation in IKBKG is also reported.
Mechanisms of C-C and C-H alkane reductive eliminations from octahedral Pt(IV): reaction via five-coordinate intermediates or direct elimination?

The Pt(IV) complexes P2PtMe3R [P2 = dppe (PPh2(CH2)2PPh2), dppbz (o-PPh2(C6H4)PPh2); R = Me, H] undergo reductive elimination reactions to form carbon−carbon or carbon−hydrogen bonds. Mechanistic studies have been carried out for both C−C and C−H coupling reactions and the reductive elimination reactions to form ethane and methane are directly compared. For C−C reductive elimination, the evidence supports a mechanism of initial phosphine chelate opening followed by C−C coupling from the resulting five-coordinate intermediate. In contrast, mechanistic studies on C−H reductive elimination support an unusual pathway at Pt(IV) of direct coupling without preliminary ligand loss. The complexes fac- P2PtMe3R (P2 = dppe, R = Me, H; P2 = dppbz, R = Me) have been characterized crystallographically. The Pt(IV) hydrides, fac-P2PtMe3H (P2 = dppe, dppbz), are rare examples of stable phosphine ligated Pt(IV) alkyl hydride complexes.
Outsourcing Aviation Maintenance: Human Factors Implications:

As part of the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) response to the recent crash of ValuJet Flight 592, we investigated the potential for human errors unique to the repair station environment. Visits to a sample of repair stations showed a number of opportunities for errors arising from the more complex interactions between the repair station, the airline customers and the regulatory authority. Two quantitative studies gathered data to test for particular problems. First, a repair station error database was analyzed to find repeating patterns of errors, and determine effective intervention strategies. Second, because repair stations must switch frequently between the documentation systems of different airlines, a workcard comprehension study was run to test these effects. With 54 licensed mechanics, the effects of document format were much larger than any effects of document switching.
Development of a biomass burning emissions inventory by combining satellite and ground-based information

A 2005 biomass burning (wildfire, prescribed, and agricultural) emission inventory has been developed for the contiguous United States using a newly developed simplified method of combining information from multiple sources for use in the US EPA's National Emission Inventory (NEI). Our method blends the temporal and spatial resolution of the remote sensing information with the ground based fire size estimate. This method is faster and considerably less expensive than the method used for the 2002 National Emissions Inventory and is more accurate than methods used for 2001 and prior years. In addition, the 2005 fire inventory is the first EPA inventory utilizing remote sensing information. A comparison with the 2002 inventory for wildfire, prescribed, and agricultural fires indicates a large year-to-year variability in wildfire emissions and less variation for prescribed and agricultural fires. Total PM2.5 emissions from wildfires, prescribed burning, and agricultural burning for the contiguous United States were estimated to be 109,000 short tons, 209,000 short tons, and 232,000 short tons, respectively, for 2005. Our total emission estimate for 2005 is 550,000 short tons. Our analysis shows that year-to-year spatial variability accounts for the substantial difference in the wildfire emission estimates.
The Mercury Melting Line Up to 1200 MPa

The mercury melting line has been determined for pressures up to 1200 MPa. The change of electrical resistance in the mercury sample was used for detecting the equilibrium between the solid and liquid phases. Pressure measurements were made with highly stable manganin gages calibrated against two controlled clearance piston gages. Temperature measurements were made in the constant temperature bath by means of platinum resistance thermometry. Systematic errors in pressure and temperature were evaluated for all the measurements as well as the scatter due to the resolution of the equilibrium determination between the two phases of mercury. The mercury melting point at 0 °C is 756.84 ± 0.16 MPa which is in close agreement with the value obtained by Dadson and Greig. The experimental results are compared with previous melting lines. There are systematic differences when compared to Bogdanov's equation up to 1200 MPa but there is very close agreement with recent data obtained by Houck and Morris over the pressure range they covered. The experimental data were fitted to a third order polynomial; this equation fits the melting line data much more closely than the Simon type heretofore recommended and can be used up to 1200 MPa to increase the accuracy of a practical pressure scale based on the melting line of mercury.
Polymer–peptide templates for controlling electronic interactions of organic chromophores

Alignment, orientation and distance between organic chromophores mediate structure–property relationships, and have therefore been widely studied in order to enhance the performance of organic and polymeric semiconductor materials. Biological molecules such as peptides and polypeptides have been used as templates for the study of intermolecular interactions by manipulating the intermolecular distances at the nano-scale level. In this work, we have employed PEGylated, helical peptide templates to effectively display an array of organic chromophores (oxadiazole-containing phenylenevinylene oligomers, Oxa-PPV) in a co-facial or anti-facial manner. Three Oxa-PPV chromophores were strategically positioned on each template, at distances ranging from 6 to 17 A from each other, as dictated by the chemical and structural properties of the peptide. The Oxa-PPV modified PEGylated helical peptides (produced via Heck coupling strategies) were characterized by a variety of spectroscopic methods. Circular dichroic (CD) spectroscopy showed the helical nature of the scaffolds and the observation of exciton coupled-CD suggested side chain interaction depending on the distance and dihedral angle between chromophores. Chromophores placed in close proximity (6 A) had reduced emission as compared to the excitonic emission of chromophores placed 17 A apart. Electronic contributions from multiple pairs of chromophores on a scaffold were detectable; the number and relative positioning of the chromophores dictated the absorbance and emission maxima, thus confirming the utility of these polymer–peptide templates for complex presentation of organic chromophores.
Workforce education: Perspectives on border issues

Abstract Unemployment and workforce education issues are discussed within the context of the U.S.‐Mexican borderlands. The emphasis in the discussion is on workers who have been displaced by the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and on those programs that have been implemented to assist them with job retraining. The conclusion is that workforce education in the borderlands must change in order to embrace the challenge of working with a population that is unique in its characteristics. Recommendations for change are made, including the implementation of bilingual programs and increased responsibility on the part of industry for retraining efforts.
WSN09-1: BABRA: Batch-based Broadcast Authentication in Wireless Sensor Networks

To prevent adversaries from injecting bogus messages, authentication is required for broadcast in wireless sensor networks. muTESLA is a light-weight broadcast authentication protocol, which uses a one-way hash chain and the delayed disclosure of keys to provide the authentication service. However, it suffers from several drawbacks in terms of time synchronization, limited broadcast rounds, key chain management at the source node, etc. In this paper, we propose a novel protocol, called BAtch-based BRoadcast Authentication (BABRA) for wireless sensor networks. BABRA does not require time synchronization, eliminates the requirement of key chain, and supports broadcast for infinite rounds. Like muTESLA, BABRA is also efficient due to the use of symmetric key techniques.
Suicide research and non-rejection of the null hypothesis.

Research results on suicide have been scanty and inconsistent. Because of the peculiar conditions (paucity of Ss, variability of research materials, and selection of treatment conditions) found in ...
Combinatorial screening of cell proliferation on poly(L-lactic acid)/poly(D,L-lactic acid) blends.

Abstract We have combined automated fluorescence microscopy with a combinatorial approach for creating polymer blend gradients to yield a rapid screening method for characterizing cell proliferation on polymer blends. A gradient in polymer blend composition of poly( l -lactic acid) (PLLA) and poly( d,l -lactic acid) (PDLLA) was created in the form of a strip-shaped film and was annealed to allow PLLA to crystallize. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) microspectroscopy was used to determine the composition in the gradients and atomic force microscopy was used to characterize surface topography. Osteoblasts were cultured on the gradients and proliferation was assessed by automated counting of cells using fluorescence microscopy. Surface roughness varied with composition, was smooth on PDLLA-rich regions and was rough on the PLLA-rich regions. Cell adhesion was similar on all regions of the gradients while proliferation was faster on the smooth, PDLLA-rich end of the gradients than on the rough, PLLA-rich end of the gradients. These results demonstrate the feasibility of a new, combinatorial approach for evaluating cell proliferation on polymer blends.
Estimating Spatial Variability in Atmospheric Properties over Remotely Sensed Land Surface Conditions

Abstract This paper investigates the spatial relationships between surface fluxes and near-surface atmospheric properties (AP), and the potential errors in flux estimation due to homogeneous atmospheric inputs over heterogeneous landscapes. A large-eddy simulation (LES) model is coupled to a surface energy balance scheme with remotely sensed surface temperature Ts as a key boundary condition. Simulations were performed for different agricultural regions having major contrasts in Ts, canopy cover, and surface roughness z0 between vegetated/irrigated and bare soil areas. If AP from a single weather station in a nonrepresentative location within the landscape are applied uniformly over the domain, significant differences in surface flux estimation with respect to the LES output are observed. The spatial correlations of AP with the fluxes, the land cover properties, and surface states were examined and the spatial scaling of these fields is analyzed using a two-dimensional wavelet technique. The results indic...
Distribution of Particle and Gas Concentrations in Swine Gestation Confined Animal Feeding Operations

ity = 0.34 m s −1 , 68 fpm) to conserve heat within the barn, mass and carbon dioxide concentrations were highest (mass geometric mean, GM = 0.50 mg m −3 ; CO 2 GM = 2060 ppm) and fairly uniform over space (mass geometric standard deviation, GSD = 1.48; CO 2 GSD = 1.24). Concentrations were lowest in summer (mass GM = 0.13 mg m −3 ; CO 2 GM = 610 ppm) when ventilation rates were high (center–barn mean air velocity = 0.99 m s −1 , 196 fpm) to provide cooling. Spatial gradients were greatest in spring (mass GSD = 2.11; CO 2 GSD = 1.50) with low concentrations observed near the building intake, increasing to higher concentrations at the building exhaust. Conclusions: Mass concentrations obtained in mapping were generally consistent with those obtained from stationary monitors. A moderately strong linear relationship (R 2 = 0.60) was observed between the log of photometer-measured mass concentration and the log of carbon dioxide concentration, suggesting that carbon dioxide may be an inexpensive alternative to assessing air quality in a swine barn. These results indicate that ventilation can effectively reduce contaminant levels in addition to controlling temperature.
Differential response rates to irradiation among patients with human papillomavirus positive and negative oropharyngeal cancer.

Objectives/Hypothesis: To evaluate the responsiveness of human papillomavirus (HPV) -positive and HPV-negative oropharyngeal cancer to intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), using axial imaging obtained daily during the course of image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT). Study Design: Observational cohort study with matched-pair analysis of patients irradiated for HPV-positive and HPV-negative oropharygeal cancer. Methods and Materials: Ten patients treated by IMRT to 70 Gy for locally advanced, HPV-positive squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx were matched to one HPV-negative control subject by age, gender, performance status, T-category, tumor location, and the use of concurrent chemotherapy. The gross tumor volume (GTV) was delineated on daily IGRT scans obtained via kilovoltage cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Mathematical modeling using fitted mixed-effects repeated measure analysis was performed to quantitatively and descriptively assess the trajectory of tumor regression. Results: Patients with HPV-positive tumors experienced a more rapid rate of tumor regression between day 1 of IMRT and the beginning of week 2 (−33% Δ GTV) compared to their counterparts with HPV-negative tumors (−10% Δ GTV), which was statistically significant (p<0.001). During this initial period, the average absolute change in GTV was −22.9 cc/week for HPV-positive tumors and −5.9 cc/week for HPV-negative tumors (p<0.001). After week 2 of IMRT, the rates of GTV regression were comparable between the two groups. Conclusions: HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancers exhibited an enhanced response to radiation, characterized by a dramatically more rapid initial regression than those with HPV-negative tumors. Implications for treatment de-intensification in the context of future clinical trials and the possible mechanisms underlying this increased radiosensitivity will be discussed. Laryngoscope, 2013
Variations in surgical outcomes associated with hospital compliance with safety practices.

Background The Leapfrog Group aims to improve patient safety by promoting hospital compliance with National Quality Forum (NQF) safe practices. It is unknown, however, whether implementation of these safety practices improve outcomes after high-risk operations. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 658 nationwide hospitals that responded to the 2005 Leapfrog Group Hospital Quality & Safety survey. A total of 79,462 patients were identified from Medicare claims data who underwent a pancreatectomy, hepatectomy, esophagectomy, open aortic aneurysm repair, colectomy, or gastrectomy procedure from 2004 through 2006. Random effects logistic regression models were used to estimate the association between hospital compliance with NQF safe practices and risk-adjusted odds of complications, rate of failure to rescue, and mortality after adjusting for patient- and hospital-level confounders. Results Of the 658 hospitals that responded to surveys, 41% had fully implemented NQF safe practices and 59% reported partial compliance with these standards. Compared with hospitals with partial NQF compliance, we found evidence that hospitals with full compliance had an increased likelihood of diagnosing a complication after any of the 6 high-risk operations (odds ratio [OR], 1.13; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03–1.25), but had a decreased likelihood of failure to rescue (OR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.71–0.96), and a decreased odds of mortality (OR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.71–0.91). Conclusion Despite having a greater rate of postoperative complications, hospitals fully complying with safe practices were associated with less failure to rescue and decreased mortality after high-risk operations. These results highlight the importance of having hospital systems in place to promote safety and manage postoperative complications.
Selenium detected in fish otoliths: a novel tracer for a polluted lake?

To test if otoliths can be used to track fish migration in polluted areas, fish sampled from Onondaga Lake, heavily polluted with mercury, were used in an assay to determine whether mercury was detectable in the fishes’ otoliths using synchrotron-based scanning X-ray fluorescence microscopy (SXFM). Mercury was undetectable, but selenium, rarely reported in otoliths and known as a physiological antagonist to mercury, was. Strontium was also present but appeared to be taken up independently of selenium, and thus these serve as independent biogeochemical markers. Both selenium and mercury were detected in fish tissues, but selenium was below levels considered toxic. Selenium was low in otoliths of fishes collected in nearby Oneida Lake. Synoptic surveys of water chemistry revealed that Se is regionally highest in Onondaga Lake and in particular its main inlet, Onondaga Creek. SXFM appears to be a sensitive method for detecting selenium in otoliths.
A Method for Wafer-Scale Encapsulation of Large Lateral Deflection MEMS Devices

Packaging of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) is a critical step in the transition from development to commercialized product. This paper presents a thin-film encapsulation process that allows varying trench widths suitable for MEMS devices with lateral deflections as large as 20 ?m. The process involves the deposition and planarization of a sacrificial-oxide layer of up to 23 ?m thick, the deposition of a 20 ?m epitaxial-silicon sealing cap, the release of structures using hydrofluoric acid (HF) vapor, and the sealing of the structure at low pressure. Devices produced using this encapsulation method are capable of surviving standard backend processes such as wafer singulation and wire bonding. Among the numerous types of devices encapsulated, two different types of silicon MEMS resonators were fabricated. These functioning resonators demonstrate the ability of the process to successfully encapsulate devices, taking advantage of both large and small trench widths. Such a generalized fabrication platform greatly expands the possibilities of the wafer-scale encapsulation to numerous MEMS devices and retains the robustness necessary for backend processing.
Studies on depth-of-field effects in microscopy supported by numerical simulations.

Summary Micrographs are two-dimensional (2D) representations of three-dimensional (3D) objects. When the depth-of-field of a micrograph is comparable with or larger than the characteristic dimension of objects within the micrograph, measured 2D parameters (e.g. particle number density, surface area of particles, fraction of open space) require stereological correction to determine the correct 3D values. Here, we develop a stereological theory using a differential approach to relate the 3D volume fraction and specific surface area to the 2D projected area and perimeter fractions, accounting for the influence of depthof-field. The stereological theory is appropriate for random isotropic arrangements of non-interpenetrating particles and is valid for convex geometries (e.g. spheres, spheroids, cylinders). These geometrical assumptions allow the stereological formulae to be expressed as a set of algebraic equations incorporating a single parameter to describe particle shape that is tightly bounded between 1.5 π and 2 π . The stereological theory may also be applied to arrangements of interpenetrating convex particles, and for this case, the resulting stereological formulae become identical to the formulae previously presented by Miles. To test the accuracy of the stereological theory, random computational arrangements of non-interpenetrating and interpenetrating spheres or cylinders are analysed, and the projected area and perimeter fractions are numerically determined as a function of depth-of-field. The computational results show very good agreement with the theoretical predictions over a broad range of depth-of-field, volume fraction and particle geometry for both non-interpenetrating and interpenetrating particles, demonstrating the overall accuracy of the stereological theory. Applications of the stereological theory towards analysis of biological tissues and extracellular matrix are discussed.
Spectral assignments for the aldose reductase inhibitor 4(S)-2,3-dihydro-6-fluoro-2(R)-methylspiro[chroman-4,4'-imidazoline]-2',5'-dione and its synthetic intermediates.

The 1H and 13C NMR chemical shifts of the aldose reductase inhibitor 4(S)-2,3-dihydro-6-fluoro-2(R)-methylspiro[chroman-4,4′-imidazoline]-2′,5′-dione, methylsorbinil, and its seven synthetic intermediates, have been completely assigned on the basis of DEPT, COSY, g-HSQC and g-HMBC. All CF coupling constants from one-bond to four-bond in the 13C NMR spectra and HF and HH coupling constants from three-bond to four-bond in 1H spectra were obtained. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Development of fatty atrophy after neurologic and rotator cuff injuries in an animal model of rotator cuff pathology.

Background: Detachment of a tendon from its osseous insertion, as can be the case with severe rotator cuff injuries, leads to atrophy of and increased fat in the corresponding muscle. We sought to validate a rotator cuff injury model in the rabbit and to test the hypothesis that tenotomy of a rotator cuff tendon would consistently create muscle atrophy and fatty degeneration analogous to the changes that occur after injury to a nerve innervating the same muscle. Methods: New Zealand white rabbits were divided into three groups: (1) partial rotator cuff tear without retraction of the muscle, (2) complete rotator cuff tear with retraction of the muscle, and (3) nerve transection of the subscapular nerve. Animals were killed at two or six weeks after injury, and the muscles were analyzed for weight, cross-sectional area, myosin fiber-type composition, and fat content. In addition, the subscapular nerve was harvested at two weeks and evaluated for neuronal injury. Results: At six weeks after injury, the rabbit muscles in the complete tenotomy and nerve transection groups had significant decreases in wet mass and increases in fat content relative to the control groups. Fat accumulation had a similar spatial pattern at six weeks in both the nerve transection and complete tenotomy groups. Such changes were not seen in the partial tenotomy group. No change was found in muscle myosin fiber-type composition. At two weeks after injury, subscapular nerves in the complete tenotomy group showed gross evidence of neuronal injury. Conclusions: This study establishes the rabbit subscapularis muscle as a valid model to study the muscular changes associated with rotator cuff tears. Our data suggest that the muscular changes associated with complete tenotomy are comparable with those seen with denervation of the muscle and suggest that chronic rotator cuff tears may induce a neurologic injury. Clinical Relevance: Chronic rotator cuff injuries are associated with neuronal injury of the affected muscle. As such, neuronal injury may explain the histopathologic changes that have been observed following chronic rotator cuff tears.
What the Catastrophist Heresy Can Teach Public Officials

Marxist "catastrophism" offers a way to cope with increasing disas ter losses. Catastrophism is one interpretation of Marx that claims social revolution will occur when capitalism collapses under the weight of its own contradictions and society descends into chaos. Ca tastrophist theory should provoke managers to ask what they can learn from the possibility of the collapse of civilization. If increasing disaster losses and eventual collapse are inevitable in capitalist soci ety, good managers and good citizens should not throw up their hands but rather attempt to ameliorate the root causes of catastrophe and, when it occurs, to relieve suffering as much a possible and strengthen local government and face-to-face community participa tion. A close reading of catastrophist theory leads to the conclusion that addressing the social roots of vulnerability by increasing the ca pacities of vulnerable populations and strengthening local commu nity participations will best address the causes and consequences of catastrophe.
Airborne Nanostructured Particles and Occupational Health

Nanotechnology is leading to the development in many field, of new materials and devices in many fields that demonstrate nanostructure-dependent properties. However, concern has been expressed that these same properties may present unique challenges to addressing potential health impact. Airborne particles associated with engineered nanomaterials are of particular concern, as they can readily enter the body through inhalation. Research into the potential occupational health risks associated with inhaling engineered nanostructured particles is just beginning. However, there is a large body of data on occupational and environmental aerosols, which is applicable to developing an initial assessment of potential risk and risk reduction strategies. Epidemiological and pathological studies of occupational and environmental exposures to airborne particles and fibers provide information on the aerosol-related lung diseases and conditions that have been observed in humans. Toxicological studies provide information on the specific disease mechanisms, dose–response relationships, and the particle characteristics that influence toxicity, including the size, surface area, chemistry or reactivity, solubility, and shape. Potential health risk will depend on the magnitude and nature of exposures to airborne nanostructured particles, and on the release, dispersion, transformation and control of materials in the workplace. Aerosol control methods have not been well-characterized for nanometer diameter particles, although theory and limited experimental data indicate that conventional ventilation, engineering control and filtration approaches should be applicable in many situations. Current information supports the development of preliminary guiding principles on working with engineered nanomaterials. However critical research questions remain to be answered before the potential health risk of airborne nanostructured particles in the workplace can be fully addressed.
Localizing sensor networks in un-friendly environments

In this paper, we study the issue of defending against a wireless sensor network (WSN) that has been deployed by a malicious enemy agent in an area of interest to us. While there can be many approaches to defend against maliciously deployed WSNs, we propose the design of a localization centric approach. Specifically, the problem we address is: given an enemy deployed WSN in an area of interest to us, how can we determine locations of the sensors without co-operating with the sensors themselves during localization. In our approach, we employ a physically mobile agent called the localizer (e.g., a mobile robot) to move in the sensor network and detect raw sensor-to-sensor communication signals. However, the localizer has no information on the message content or the sensor id of any signal (possibly due to message encryption) since the sensors belong to an enemy agent. Based on estimating the angle of arrival and the received signal strength, we design a protocol for the localizer to determine sensor positions. The salient features of our protocol are efficient association of signals with sensors, and filtering many likely false locations over time. Sound theoretical analysis and extensive simulations are used to demonstrate the performance of our protocol from the perspective of localization accuracy.
Reply to: SNCA Variants Are Associated With Increased Risk of Multiple System Atrophy

Parkinson disease (PD) and multiple system atrophy (MSA) are disorders distinguished by pathologic accumulation of α-synuclein in neurons and glia. A common variation in the gene for α-synuclein (SNCA) is known to be associated with PD, but its role in MSA is unclear. Recently, Scholz et al reported a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (rs111931074) in the 3′ region of SNCA , originally identified in a genome-wide association study in PD, that increased the risk for MSA by nearly 6-fold in a subset of pathologically confirmed cases.1 Our studies assessing the influence of SNCA variation in PD have examined the frequency of this SNP in a PD patient-control series from Ireland, Serbia, and Germany.2,3 Although significant association was observed across the SNCA locus, rs111931074 was not associated with increased risk of PD, with a very low frequency (<1%) of minor allele homozygotes found in both patients and controls. The association observed by Scholz et al of SNCA rs111931074 with MSA was most pronounced under a recessive model, especially in pathologically confirmed MSA. A frequency of the TT minor allele homozygote was 2% in a clinical series (n = 308) and 6% in a pathological series (n = 92) of MSA patients, compared with 0.6% in controls (n = 3,889). The effect of this variant appears to be most pronounced in pathologically confirmed MSA, with a dilution of the signal in clinical samples. The high diagnostic error in MSA may be the reason for the weaker association, and studies in our brain bank series suggest that as many as 25% of clinically diagnosed MSA patients do not have MSA at autopsy (unpublished findings). Therefore, we set out to replicate the finding in our pathologically confirmed MSA cases (n = 58). We identified a similar increased frequency of the TT homozygotes (n = 3; 5%; Table). In a combined analysis for the Mayo and Scholz series, the association of rs111931074 with pathologically confirmed MSA was examined using logistic regression under a recessive model, adjusting for series, resulting in an odds ratio of 9.32 (Table). TABLE SNCA rs111931074 in MSA and Controls A role for SNCA variants in MSA is not surprising, given α-synuclein pathology, and suggests a common disease mechanism for PD and MSA. Recently, an individual with SNCA multiplication mutation was reported with a clinical syndrome reminiscent of MSA4; there was no evidence of SNCA multiplication in our MSA cases.5 With the advent of next generation DNA sequencing, a research priority is to sequence SNCA and the surrounding region to identify the functional variation responsible for risk of disease.
Life History Traits of Two Allopatric Clupeids, Atlantic Menhaden and Gulf Menhaden, and the Effects of Harvesting on These Traits

Abstract Life history traits of Atlantic menhaden Brevoortia tyrannus and gulf menhaden B. patronus were compared and interpreted within the context of a bet-hedging model that predicts what traits should evolve in local environments when the survival of the larval stage is less predictable than that of the adult stage. Atlantic menhaden appear to spawn in a relatively less-predictable environment. Compared with gulf menhaden, Atlantic menhaden are older at the onset of sexual maturity and have a longer reproductive span, as well as a longer spawning period. Atlantic menhaden produce larger eggs, and their larvae are larger at hatching and younger and larger at first feeding; the larvae appear to grow faster but they are relatively smaller than gulf menhaden at their first metamorphosis. Heavy exploitation of Atlantic menhaden has resulted in a truncation of the age structure, contraction of their spawning range, a reduction in lifetime fecundity, and possibly modifications of the egg size distribution. T...
Challenges and Inspirations: Student Teachers' Experiences in Early Childhood Special Education Classrooms.

Preparing teachers to meet the needs of children with disabilities remains a complex challenge. General education teachers feel unprepared, and attrition and teacher shortages in special education remain high. Despite a trend toward inclusive education, many children continue to be educated in segregated settings. This study explores the potential challenges and learning opportunities that self-contained settings offer early childhood special education teachers in training. Five early childhood preservice students seeking dual certification reflected on their placements in self-contained early childhood special education classrooms. Through an analysis of their weekly student teaching journals, we explored students’ experiences in segregated early childhood special education classrooms and implications for teacher education. Our findings revealed that including a self-contained setting as one of several field experiences encouraged future teachers to think flexibly about teaching children with special nee...
OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND: AN ANALYSIS OF KANSAS V. CRANE AND THE FINE LINE BETWEEN CIVIL AND CRIMINAL SANCTIONS

The social intolerance surrounding repeat sexual offenders has spawned numerous legal remedies through the years including sexual psychopath laws, Megan’s Law, chemical castration, and sexually violent predator (SVP) legislation. In the past 12 years, several states have implemented what many consider to be the resurrection of the old sexual psychopath laws of the 1930s and 1940s. This newest legal remedy is most often referred to as SVP legislation and allows for the indefinite civil commitment of those offenders who have served their prison sentences but have been determined to be SVPs still. Based on this legislation, this article analyzes the impact of the U.S. Supreme Court case of Kansas v. Crane, the latest in a series of cases that address an issue that many feel runs dangerously close to crossing the fine line between civil commitment and criminal sanctions.
Use of portable filter units to control the animal house environment

The application of portable recirculating filter units to the control of laboratory animal house environments was investigated. Under practical conditions such a unit effected reductions in the ammonia level and bacterial content of the atmosphere of a room housing rats.
Rates of Water Loss and Estimates of Survival Time under Varying Humidity in Juvenile Snapping Turtles (Chelydra serpentina)

Juvenile snapping turtles may be highly susceptible to dehydration during overland movement because of their aquatic nature and large surface area to volume ratio. The present study examined the influence of body size and relative humidity on rates of evaporative water loss and estimates of survival time. Larger hatchlings had higher rates of evaporative water loss but longer survival times resulting from their greater absolute water contents. Rates of evaporative water loss decreased, and estimated survival times increased with increasing relative humidity. The findings suggest that evaporative water loss may be an important factor influencing survivorship and behavior during overland movements of juvenile snapping turtles.
Cryptococcal iridociliary granuloma

Cryptococcal intraocular infection is a rare disease and is usually associated with generalized systemic disease in immunocompromised patients. The diagnosis may be difficult because of the rarity of this disease and its similarities to other uveitic entities. We describe a case of culture-positive cryptococcal iridociliary granuloma diagnosed by anterior chamber tap and fine-needle aspiration biopsy in a 60-year-old immunocompetent woman with acute granulomatous uveitis. She was treated successfully with systemic amphotericin B and fluconazole and intravitreal amphotericin B, with improvement in the inflammation and visual acuity and regression of the iridociliary granuloma. We review previously reported cases of intraocular cryptococcal infection. Cryptococcal iridociliary granuloma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of an atypical iridociliary mass associated with acute uveitis.
How special is the biochemical function of native proteins

Native proteins perform an amazing variety of biochemical functions, including enzymatic catalysis, and can engage in protein-protein and protein-DNA interactions that are essential for life. A key question is how special are these functional properties of proteins. Are they extremely rare, or are they an intrinsic feature? Comparison to the properties of compact conformations of artificially generated compact protein structures selected for thermodynamic stability but not any type of function, the artificial (ART) protein library, demonstrates that a remarkable number of the properties of native-like proteins are recapitulated. These include the complete set of small molecule ligand-binding pockets and most protein-protein interfaces. ART structures are predicted to be capable of weakly binding metabolites and cover a significant fraction of metabolic pathways, with the most enriched pathways including ancient ones such as glycolysis. Native-like active sites are also found in ART proteins. A small fraction of ART proteins are predicted to have strong protein-protein and protein-DNA interactions. Overall, it appears that biochemical function is an intrinsic feature of proteins which nature has significantly optimized during evolution. These studies raise questions as to the relative roles of specificity and promiscuity in the biochemical function and control of cells that need investigation.
Arterial cutdown reduces complications after brachial access for peripheral vascular intervention

Objective Factors influencing risk for brachial access site complications after peripheral vascular intervention are poorly understood. We queried the Society for Vascular Surgery Vascular Quality Initiative to identify unique demographic and technical risks for such complications. Methods The Vascular Quality Initiative peripheral vascular intervention data files from years 2010 to 2014 were analyzed to compare puncture site complication rates and associations encountered with either brachial or femoral arterial access for peripheral vascular intervention. Procedures requiring multiple access sites were excluded. Complications were defined as wound hematoma or access vessel stenosis/occlusion. Univariate and hierarchical logistic regression was used to identify independent factors associated with site complications after brachial access. Results Of 44,634 eligible peripheral vascular intervention procedures, 732 (1.6%) were performed through brachial access. Brachial access was associated with an increased complication rate compared with femoral access (9.0% vs 3.3%; P P P P = .07 across all variables). Neither surgeons' overall peripheral vascular intervention experience nor prior experience with brachial access predicted likelihood of adverse events. By multivariate analysis, male gender (odds ratio [OR], 0.48; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.28-0.84; P P = .04) were associated with significantly decreased risk for access complications. Larger sheath sizes (>5F) were associated with increased risk of complications (OR, 2.19; 95% CI, 1.07-4.49; P = .03). Conclusions Brachial access for peripheral vascular intervention carries significantly increased risks for access site occlusion or hematoma formation. Arterial cutdown and smaller sheath diameters are associated with lower complication rates and thus should be considered when arm access is required.
The Power of Many: Enhancing Photographs with Multiple Images

Multiple images are routinely used to improve imaging performance in both incoherent and coherent imaging systems. We will discuss some recent algorithmic advances and the applications they enable. Article not available.