cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Resolution of inferior venous baffle leak and total venous occlusion using a bare stent and the gore(®) excluder( ®) aortic extension in transposition of the great arteries after mustard procedure.

We present a patient with a history of Mustard repair for transposition of the great arteries. The patient presented with complete inferior venous baffle obstruction and a large baffle leak after several years of cyanosis. Complete relief of the obstruction and exclusion of the baffle leak were accomplished with the use of a combination of bare metal stenting and the Gore(®) Excluder(®) aortic extender. To our knowledge, this represents the first reported use of the Gore(®) Excluder(®) aortic extender in the setting of inferior venous baffle leak and associated total inferior vena cava obstruction. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Continuity of aggression from childhood to early adulthood as a predictor of life outcomes: implications for the adolescent‐limited and life‐course‐persistent models

Using data from the Columbia County Longitudinal Study, a 40-year longitudinal study following an entire county's population of third-grade students from age 8 to 48, we examine questions about the long-term consequences of aggressive and antisocial behavior in childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood. We found moderate levels of continuity of aggression from age 8 to 48 both for males and for females. Contrary to what some have proposed, we found that continuity of aggressiveness is owing to not only the high-aggressive participants staying high but also owing to the low-aggressive participants staying low. Compared with life-course-persistent low aggressives, we found that life-course-persistent high aggressives had consistently poorer outcomes across domains of life success, criminal behavior, and psychosocial functioning at age 48 (e.g., arrests, traffic violations, aggression toward spouse and divorces, depression, health, occupational and educational attainment). In contrast, adolescent-limited and child-limited aggressives did not differ from life-course-persistent low aggressives on the age 48 outcomes. Finally, the outcomes for late-onset (early adulthood) aggressives were also problematic in some domains though not as problematic as those for life-course-persistent aggressives. Language: en
Latency of Marek's disease virus (MDV) in a reticuloendotheliosis virus-transformed T-cell line. I: uptake and structure of the latent MDV genome.

Abstract Marek's disease virus (MDV) is an acute transforming alphaherpesvirus of chickens that causes Marek's disease. During the infection of chickens, MDV establishes latency in CD4+ (T-helper) cells, which are also the target of transformation. The study of MDV latency has been limited to the use of MDV tumor-derived cell lines or blood cells isolated from chickens during presumed periods of latent infection. In 1992 Pratt et al. described the uptake of the MDV genome by a reticuloendotheliosis-transformed T-cell line (RECC-CU91). They reported that MDV established latency in CU91 cells, but that MDV genome expression was very limited. In this report we have examined the uptake of oncogenic, recombinant, and vaccine strain MDVs. We report that the entire MDV genome is taken up by CU91 cells, is hypomethylated, and readily reactivates from this latent state in a manner similar to MDV-transformed cell lines. Notably, virus could not be recovered from cell lines harboring vaccine virus CVI988 or the JM10...
Network Design Subject to Facility Location

We consider the problem of designing a transportation network to allow the residents of the network to avail service provided by a single facility whose location is predetermined. This problem is known to be NPComplete for general graph. The problem remains NPComplete even when the vertices of the network are required to lie on the boundary of a convex polygon in the Euclidean plane. We present a polynomial time algorithm for computing the median constrained minimum spanning tree when the edges of the required network are not allowed to cross with each other. Our technique is based on the integer programming formulation of the network design problem.
Stability of response characteristics of a Delphi panel: application of bootstrap data expansion

Background Delphi surveys with panels of experts in a particular area of interest have been widely utilized in the fields of clinical medicine, nursing practice, medical education and healthcare services. Despite this wide applicability of the Delphi methodology, there is no clear identification of what constitutes a sufficient number of Delphi survey participants to ensure stability of results.
Multicenter Evaluation of Bactec MGIT 960 System for Second-Line Drug Susceptibility Testing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex

The Bactec MGIT 960 system for testing susceptibility to second-line drugs was evaluated with 117 clinical strains in a multicenter study. The four drugs studied were levofloxacin, amikacin, capreomycin, and ethionamide. The critical concentration established for levofloxacin and amikacin was 1.5 μg/ml, that established for capreomycin was 3.0 μg/ml, and that established for ethionamide was 5.0 μg/ml. The overall level of agreement between the agar proportion method and the MGIT 960 system was 96.4%, and the levels of agreement for the individuals drugs were 99.1% for levofloxacin, 100% for amikacin, 97.4% for capreomycin, and 88.9% for ethionamide. The rate of reproducibility of the drug susceptibility testing results between the participating laboratories was 99.5%.
Osteosarcoma following single fraction radiation prophylaxis for heterotopic ossification.

Radiotherapy for prophylaxis of heterotopic ossification (HO) is commonly used in high risk patients following orthopedic surgery. While treatment is effective and can prevent morbidity associated with HO, with any dose of radiation there is a concern of a radiation induced malignancy. Here we a report a case of radiation induced osteosarcoma which developed 11 years after a single fraction of 700 cGy. We performed dosimetric analysis by superimposing the patient’s original treatment field on a CT scan performed after the diagnosis. The radiotherapy dose for this patient is lower than classically reported for radiation induced sarcomas. We identified greatest bony destruction that was thought to be the epicenter of the tumor, and this was specially contoured on the diagnostic CT scan. This volume appears to be located at the edge of the radiotherapy field. Fifty percent of the treated volume received 240 cGy, the mean dose was 333 cGy. There was a variation across the treatment volume, between 21.8 cGy and 717 cGy. While a rare complication, we stress the importance of informing regarding the risk of a radiation induced malignancy following HO prophylaxis.
A micro-power low-noise auto-zeroing CMOS amplifier for cortical neural prostheses

A novel architecture to realize a low-power, low-noise amplifier for cortical neural prostheses is presented. The design consists of a low-noise variable gain amplifier as the first stage, a low-Gm high-pass filter as the second stage, and a low-pass Gm-C amplifier as the last stage. Discrete-time autozeroing is utilized to reduce the offset and noise. The bandwidth and autozeroing frequency of the amplifier is optimized to reduce noise folding. A current division technique is utilized to achieve a low-Gm OTA (Operational Transconductance Amplifier) so that low frequency operation is realized without any external capacitors. All the input pair transistors are biased in sub-threshold operation to reduce power consumption. A cross-couple parallel pair of source degeneration transistors is employed to increase the linearity crucial to neural spike detection. This design achieves variable gain from 470 (55 dB) to 1. In a CMOS 0.18 um process with 1.8 V power supply, the total circuit occupies 0.245 mm2 with 26 uW power consumption and 1.8 kHz bandwidth. Total harmonic distortion is less than 1%, while input noise is 4.24 uVrms within the band of interest.
Control of Feedforward Dendritic Inhibition by NMDA Receptor-Dependent Spike Timing in Hippocampal Interneurons

Two putative functional populations of feedforward interneurons with distinct spike-timing properties were identified in stratum radiatum of the CA1 rat hippocampus. Interneurons with fast (half width, 100 msec) EPSPs. Spike timing in fast and slow interneurons occurred at different phases of the EPSPs of simultaneously activated pyramidal cells. In addition, firing of fast interneurons preceded action potentials in principal neurons, whereas action potentials in slow interneurons could either precede or follow firing in pyramidal cells. Temporal integration of separate inputs leading to synaptically evoked firing was more prominent in slow than fast interneurons. Functional diversity between the two putative populations was abolished by the NMDA receptor (NMDAR) antagonist d-(-)-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid (d-AP-5). The axon of both cell types was primarily restricted to striatum radiatum or to striatum lacunosum-moleculare in the case of slow cells, suggesting targeting of principal cell dendrites for the majority of the cells of this study. Indeed, firing of slow and fast interneurons generated similar unitary IPSCs (uIPSCs) in pyramidal neurons. uIPSCs were mediated by GABAAreceptors and had in most cases small amplitudes and slow kinetics. Our results suggest that functionally heterogeneous interneurons encode the temporal properties of dendritic feedforward inhibition, and that NMDARs play an essential role in shaping the integrative properties of interneurons and in setting the timing of GABA release.
Incorporating the Family as a Critical Context in Genetic Studies of Children: Implications for Understanding Pathways to Risky Behavior and Substance Use

The availability of candidate gene markers for biobehavioral traits will undoubtedly result in increasing attention to genetic influences in studies of childhood risk factors for health behaviors. However, a strict emphasis on genomics without consideration of the social contexts that give rise to risky behaviors will miss opportunities to understand more fully the powerful effect of the family on childhood development. This article discusses the rationale for using the family as a critical context for studying the translation of genetic propensity for risky behavior into developmental pathways that span childhood and adolescence. Attention is given to the importance of family environmental factors; the emerging literature on genetic influences on potential intermediate phenotypes; the need for rich and detailed characterizations of both phenotypes and environmental risk factors embedded within genomic studies of children; and implications for interventions and preventions aimed at risky behaviors. Via discussion of these issues, pragmatic considerations of how studying families as a context may facilitate the thoughtful inclusion of children into genetic paradigms are emphasized.
Use of an electromagnetic colonoscope to assess maneuvers associated with cecal intubation

Safe and effective colonoscopy is aided by the use of endoscopic techniques and maneuvers (ETM) during the examination including patient repositioning, stiffening of the endoscope and abdominal pressure. To better understand the use and value of ETM during colonoscopy by using a device that allows real-time imaging of the colonoscope insertion shaft. The use of ETM during colonoscopy and their success was recorded. Experienced colonoscopists and endoscopy assistants used a commercially available electromagnetic (EM) transmitter and a special adult variable stiffness instrument with 12 embedded sensors to examine 46 patients. In 5 of these a special EM probe passed through the instrument channel of a standard pediatric variable stiffness colonoscope was used instead of the EM colonoscope. Thirty-nine men and 7 women with a mean age of 64 years (range 33–90) were studied. The cecum was intubated in 93.5% (43/46). The mean time to reach the cecum was 10.6 minutes (range 3–25). ETM were used a total of 174 times in 41 of the patients to assist with cecal intubation. When ETM were required to reach the cecum, and the cecum was intubated, an average of 3.82 ETM/patient was used. While ETM were used most often when the tip of the colonoscope was in the left side of the colon (rectum 5.0%, sigmoid colon 20.7%, descending colon 5.0%, and splenic flexure 11.6%), when the instrument was in the transverse colon (14.8%), hepatic flexure (20.7%) and ascending colon (19.8%) the use of ETM was also required. When the colonoscope tip was in the transverse colon, hepatic flexure and ascending colon, ETM success rates were less (61.1%, 52.0%, and 41.7% respectively) compared to the left colon success rates (rectum 83.3%, sigmoid colon 84.0%, descending colon 100%, and splenic flexure 85.7%). The EM colonoscope allows imaging of the insertion shaft without fluoroscopy and is a useful device for evaluating the efficacy of ETM. ETM are important tools of the colonoscopist and are used most often in the left colon where they are most effective.
Postnatal Growth and Behavioral Development of Mice Cloned from Adult Cumulus Cells

Since the first successful cloning of mammals from adult somatic cells, there has been no examination of the learning or behavior of cloned offspring. The possibility of adverse effects on animals produced through adult somatic cell cloning is high because many natural biological processes are bypassed and DNA from adult cells, which presumably contain mutations, are used. In this study, we compared cloned mice produced by microinjection transfer of cumulus cell nuclei into enucleated oocytes, to control mice that were specifically generated to eliminate confounding factors that are unique to our cloning procedure. Postnatal weight gain of clones was significantly greater than that of controls. Preweaning development observations revealed that first appearance or performance of 3 out of 10 measures was delayed in cloned mice; however, results of subsequent tests of learning and memory, activity level, and motor skills were comparable for both groups. Together, these data suggest that nuclear transfer of adult somatic cell nuclei to produce cloned mice may delay the appearance of a few developmental milestones but it does not adversely affect the overall postnatal behavior of mice. In addition, this procedure may cause late onset of significantly increased body weight in cloned offspring, the cause or causes of which are being further examined.
When Wal-Mart Comes to Town: A Look at David's Response to the Arrival of Retailing's Goliath

This study examines how local retailers responded to Wal-Mart‘s arrival. The results reveal that Wal-Mart’s arrival disrupts existing retailing patterns and forces merchants to alter their competitive strategies. Small merchants tend to place greater emphasis on lower prices and increased promotional activities as a response to competitive pressure.
Emasculation and Chinese American Diaspora

By comparing Sui Sin Far's Mrs. Spring Fragrance (1912) and Gus Lee's novel China Boy (1991), this article configures diasporic sensibilities as emasculated and compensatory responses to national homelessness and racialization during disparate periods of Chinese exclusion. My analysis of these texts demonstrates that, rather than “claiming America” and carving out a cultural national space within American politics, the protagonists in Sui Sin Far's short stories and Lee's novel disavow the nation while demanding the United States to make good on the universalist promises that it empirically fails to deliver. Excluded from the national belonging, they articulate their diasporic positions through their sexual and linguistic emasculation as subjects that exist in translation.
Medical Information Systems in the U.S.A., 1980

The author has addressed the current state-of-the-art of Medical Information Systems in the United States as we enter the decade of the 80’s. Special emphasis has been placed upon the various classes of information systems with examples in. each category. An attempt has also been made to address the experiences in medical data processing over the past fifteen years with the view towards where we have failed and what we have learned from these early attempts.
c21orf59/kurly controls both cilia motility and polarization

Cilia are microtubule-based projections that function in the movement of extracellular fluid. This requires cilia to be: (1) motile and driven by dynein complexes and (2) correctly polarized on the surface of cells, which requires planar cell polarity (PCP). Few factors that regulate both processes have been discovered. We reveal that C21orf59/Kurly (Kur), a cytoplasmic protein with some enrichment at the base of cilia, is needed for motility; zebrafish mutants exhibit characteristic developmental abnormalities and dynein arm defects. kur was also required for proper cilia polarization in the zebrafish kidney and the larval skin of Xenopus laevis. CRISPR/Cas9 coupled with homologous recombination to disrupt the endogenous kur locus in Xenopus resulted in the asymmetric localization of the PCP protein Prickle2 being lost in mutant multiciliated cells. Kur also makes interactions with other PCP components, including Disheveled. This supports a model wherein Kur plays a dual role in cilia motility and polarization.
Ethics Symposium and Beyond: A Model for Teaching and Assessing Ethical Competence

The new Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards from the Council on Social Work Education require that students demonstrate competencies in various areas through their mastery of specific practice behaviors. This article describes one model for teaching professional ethics that combines elements of infusion and dedicated intensive ethics instruction. Included is a discussion on engaging and facilitating active participation by students as a means for promoting achievement of benchmark levels of identified practice behaviors. The article also describes a unique program activity, the Ethics Symposium, which involves all faculty and all students. Students are actively engaged in a process of progressive learning and demonstration of competent ethical behavior. The program's schema for assessing student performance on ethics-related practice behaviors throughout the curriculum is also discussed.
Bulk Extraction-Based Microbial Ecology: Three Critical Questions

The use of bulk extraction to recover nucleic acids from soils, waters, and other environments for studies of 16s rRNA/DNA and metagenomics-based molecular biology continues to gain in prominence. In addition, bulk extraction is being used to recover nucleic acids for studies of plant and animal “microbiomes.” At the most recent ASM meeting, held in New Orleans in May 2011, based on my review of the abstract titles, there were a total of at least 19 sessions where microbial or bacterial “communities” were studied, based primarily on the use of bulk-extracted nucleic acids. This approach is used widely in the current literature, where microbial diversity and microbial communities are claimed to be studied (as examples, Web of ScienceSM shows 1516/3979 citations linking 16s rDNA/RNA and community, 2,326/4,980 citations linking 16s rDNA/RNA and microbial diversity, 400 citations where metagenomics and community are linked, 323 citations where metagenomics and microbial community are linked, and 253 citations where metagenomics is linked with microbial diversity). In addition, sophisticated kits now are available (check advertisements in recent issues of Microbe) that allow one to recover nucleic acids from soils and other environments by use of bulk extraction and which contain necessary reagents and procedural information to generate molecular sequences that are ready for computer-based analysis and uploading into publications. The most critical part of this process, the bulk extraction-based recovery of nucleic acids from the experimental matrix, usually is simply noted as “DNA is/was extracted,” with no further information provided.
Lithium Cationization for Petroleum Analysis by Positive Ion Electrospray Ionization Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry

Lithium cationization can significantly extend the compositional range for analysis of petroleum components by positive electrospray ionization [(+) ESI], by accessing species that lack a basic nitrogen atom and, hence, are not seen by conventional (+) ESI that relies on protonation as the primary ionization mechanism. Here, various solvent compositions and lithium salts enabled us to optimize ionization by formation of lithium adducts ([M + Li]+), and the results are compared to production of [M + H]+ by conventional (+) ESI with formic acid. Lithium cationization (+) ESI Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) of Athabasca bitumen heavy vacuum gas oil (475–500 °C) and North and South American crude oils demonstrates considerable improvement over protonation for production of ions from compounds belonging to SxOy (SO, SO2, SO3, SO4, S2O, S2O2, etc.) heteroatom classes. Those compounds exhibit much higher affinity for lithium cation than for proton and yield abundant [M + L...
Sharp tunnelling resonance from the vibrations of an electronic Wigner crystal

Resonances in the tunnelling spectra of a two-dimensional electron system provide strong evidence that the electrons arrange themselves into a Wigner crystal lattice with long-range ordering. Photoemission and tunnelling spectroscopies measure the energies at which single electrons can be added to or removed from an electronic system1. Features observed in such spectra have revealed electrons coupling to vibrational modes of ions both in solids2 and in individual molecules3. Here we report the discovery of a sharp resonance in the tunnelling spectrum of a two-dimensional electron system. Its behaviour suggests that it originates from vibrational modes, not involving ionic motion, but instead arising from vibrations of spatial ordering of the electrons themselves. In a two-dimensional electronic system at very low temperatures and high magnetic fields, electrons can either condense into a variety of quantum Hall phases or arrange themselves into a highly ordered ‘Wigner’ crystal lattice4,5,6. Such spatially ordered phases of electrons are often electrically insulating and delicate, and have proven very challenging to probe with conventional methods. Using a pulsed tunnelling method capable of probing electron tunnelling into insulating phases, we observe a sharp peak with dependencies on energy and other parameters that fit to models for vibrations of a Wigner crystal7,8. The remarkable sharpness of the structure presents strong evidence of the existence of a Wigner crystal with long correlation length.
Fracture of the carpal navicular (scaphoid) bone; some observations based on treatment by open reduction and internal fixation.

Internal fixation for fracture of the carpal navicular bone is surgically feasible, but requires an exacting technique for the prevention of complications potentially more serious than non-union. The relative merits of nails1 or screws as fixation devices remain to be established. The small experience reported here warrants no conclusions, but suggests the following: 1. With perfection of operative technique, internal fixation may become the treatment of choice for displaced and unstable fractures of the carpal navicular. 2. The prognosis for any fracture of the carpal navicular may depend as much upon the intrinsic stability of the fragments as upon the level of the fracture, or the vascular status of the proximal fragment. 3. The morbidity of fractures of the carpal navicular is reduced greatly by internal fixation. 4. Rapid relief of symptoms and return of function follow stabilization of an ununited navicular fracture by internal fixation, but bone healing is not to be expected following this procedure alone.
Myths of Modern Individualism: Some Notes on the Present

John Stuart Mill wrote in his Autobiography in 1873 that his father, James, relied so much on the influence of reason over the minds of mankind, whenever it is allowed to reach them, that he felt as if all would be gained if the whole population were taught to read, if all sorts of opinions were allowed to be addressed to them by word and in writing, and if by means of the suffrage they could nominate a legislature to give effect to the opinions they adopted. John Stuart Mill's essay On Liberty is one of the few canonical texts among the gospels of individualism; but as regards politics, John Stuart was less sanguine than his father. And so are we, no doubt: in the USA and Britain, school education has been compulsory, and the franchise has been extended to cover the whole population, since early in the twentieth century; but “all” has not, alas, “been gained.” The reasons are, no doubt, innumerable; but two are particularly relevant to our concern. The first is James Mill's enormous over-estimate of the power of reason in both the individual and the collective life. The enemy of reason, of course, is what used to be called “the passions”; and more recently the power of “the passions” has been strengthened by our new awareness of the vast influence of the unconscious in human life.
Determinants of Domestic Terrorism: An Examination of Ethnic Polarization and Economic Development

ABSTRACTMany scholars have sought to explain why countries with ethnically heterogeneous populations experience higher levels of political violence, but these studies have produced mixed findings. Unlike most studies that use ethno-linguistic fractionalization indices to examine this relationship, we argue that ethnic polarization is a more appropriate measure to assess the role of ethnicity as a causal factor of domestic terrorism. This paper hypothesizes that high ethnic polarization influences the incidence of domestic terrorism, particularly when intervening economic factors are present. To test three hypotheses, we use negative binomial regression to model data from the Global Terrorism Dataset, World Bank, and the Reynal-Querol (RQ) ethnic polarization index of 116 countries between 1970 and 2012. Our findings show that terrorism is more likely to emerge in societies with high ethnic polarization and economic malaise.
Revisiting the deformed high shoreline of Lake Bonneville

Abstract Since G. K. Gilbert's foundational work in the eastern Great Basin during the late 1800s, the late Pleistocene Lake Bonneville (30–10 ka) has been recognized as a natural laboratory for various Quaternary studies, including lithospheric deformation due to surface loading and climate-forced water balance changes. Such studies rely on knowledge of the elevations of Lake Bonneville's paleoshoreline features and depositional landforms, which record a complex history of lake level variations induced by deglacial climate change. In this paper, we present (1) a new compilation of 178 elevation measurements of shoreline features marking Lake Bonneville's greatest areal extent measured using high-precision differential GPS (dGPS), and (2) a reconstructed outline of the highest shoreline based on dGPS measurements, submeter-resolution aerial imagery, topographic digital elevation models (DEMs), and field observations. We also (3) devise a simplified classification scheme and method for standardizing shoreline elevation measurement for different shoreline morphologies that includes constraints on the position of the still water level (SWL) relative to each feature type. The deformation pattern described by these shoreline features can help resolve the relative effects of local hydro-isostasy due to the lake load and regional solid earth deflection due to the Laurentide ice sheet, with potential implications for Earth rheology, glacial isostatic adjustment, and eustatic sea level change.
Neutron imaging detector with 2 μm spatial resolution based on event reconstruction of neutron capture in gadolinium oxysulfide scintillators

We report on efforts to improve the achievable spatial resolution in neutron imaging by centroiding the scintillation light from gadolinium oxysulfide scintillators. The current state-of-the-art neutron imaging spatial resolution is about 10 μm, and many applications of neutron imaging would benefit from at least an order of magnitude improvement in the spatial resolution. The detector scheme that we have developed magnifies the scintillation light from a gadolinium oxysulfide scintillator, calculates the center of mass of the scintillation event, resulting in an event-based imaging detector with spatial resolution of about 2 μm.
Site Occupancy and Density of Marsh Birds in Coastal and Freshwater Habitats of Florida

Abstract Marsh habitats have declined in quantity and quality in Florida, but little quantitative information exists on the population status of avian species residing in these habitats. We estimated the occurrence and density of secretive marsh birds in fresh- and saltwater marshes across Florida during 2011–2012. We detected 11 species; Rallus longirostris (Clapper Rail) and Gallinule chloropus (Common Moorhen) were the most frequently detected species. Occupancy rates at freshwater sites ranged from 19 to 64%, with Common Moorhen the most frequently detected species. Rates at estuarine sites ranged from 2 to 92%, with Clapper Rail the most frequently detected species. Only the Clapper Rail and Common Moorhen had density estimates ≥1.50 birds/ha; densities varied from 0.06 to 2.20 birds/ha in freshwater marshes and from 0.05 to 2.10 birds/ha in salt marshes. These data improve knowledge of secretive marsh-bird distributions in Florida.
A Comparison of Paid Versus Free Weather Services for Site Specific Weather Forecasts for Construction Projects

Weather plays a pivotal role in almost every construction project. Historical observations of weather conditions in an area are closely used during project design, pre-construction planning, and construction stages. During the last five years there has been a steady increase in the number of paid weather services that claim to provide more accurate weather data as compared to the free weather services. The aim of this research study is to compare the reliability and accuracy of paid weather services versus the free ones. Weather data (high and low temperatures, precipitation, and wind speed) were recorded over the course of 90 calendar days from two different weather services namely the National Weather Service (Free) and a private site specific weather service (Paid). The weather forecast data of both services were statistically analyzed and compared against the actual observed conditions. The results indicated no significant statistical differences between the two weather services. In addition, both services fell short in predicting the accurate weather conditions beforehand. The findings of this study will help construction managers to decide whether or not to use a paid site-specific weather service as a decision-making tool for a specific project.
Symbolic Computation of Local Stability and Bifurcation Surfaces for Nonlinear Time-Periodic Systems

A new technique is presented for symbolic computation of local stability boundaries and bifurcation surfaces for nonlinear multidimensional time-periodic dynamical systems as an explicit function of the system parameters. This is made possible by the recent development of a symbolic computational algorithm for approximating the parameter-dependent fundamental solution matrix of linear time-periodic systems. By evaluating this matrix at the end of the principal period, the parameter-dependent Floquet Transition Matrix (FTM), or the linear part of the Poincare map, is obtained. The subsequent use of well-known criteria for the local stability and bifurcation conditions of equilibria and periodic solutions enables one to obtain the equations for the bifurcation surfaces in the parameter space as polynomials of the system parameters. Further, the method may be used in conjunction with a series expansion to obtain perturbation-like expressions for the bifurcation boundaries. Because this method is not based on expansion in terms of a small parameter, it can be successfully applied to periodic systems whose internal excitation is strong. Also, the proposed method appears to be more efficient in terms of cpu time than the truncated point mapping method. Two illustrative example problems, viz., a parametrically excited simple pendulum and a double inverted pendulum subjected to a periodic follower force, are included.
Evaluation of the Determinants of Satisfaction With Postoperative Pain Control After Thoracoscopic Surgery: A Single-Center, Survey-Based Study.

BACKGROUND The need to measure, compare, and improve the quality of pain management is important to patients, payers, and health care providers. Pain after thoracic surgery can be severe, and thoracoscopic approaches have not had the favorable impact on pain as anticipated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the determinants of patient satisfaction with acute pain management and the effectiveness of pain control after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery using a modified version of the Revised American Pain Society Patient Outcome Questionnaire. METHODS We performed a single-center, prospective, survey-based study of 300 patients who had undergone elective video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. Patients were enrolled and completed the survey on postoperative day 1 or 2. The primary outcome variable was patient-reported satisfaction with acute postoperative pain treatment measured on a 1-4 scale. The relationship between the items on the survey and patient satisfaction was analyzed to determine the factors significantly associated with satisfaction. RESULTS Fifty-one percent of the patients had the highest satisfaction level with pain treatment, and 4% of the patients had the lowest satisfaction level. The mean reported acceptable pain level was 3.8 ± 1.9 (numeric rating scale [NRS], 0-10). The average pain intensity score at the time of the survey was 2.8 ± 2.1 (NRS, 0-10). The median for the most pain in the prior 24 hours was 7 (NRS, 0-10; interquartile range, 5-9). Five items from the survey were significantly associated with the satisfaction level. The predictor with the highest associated odds ratio (OR) with satisfaction was the ability to participate in pain management decisions (OR, 1.45; P < .0001). Another positively associated predictor was receiving helpful information about pain treatment options (OR, 1.31; P = .002). Negatively associated predictors of patient satisfaction included level of pain intensity at time of survey (OR, 0.76; P = .002), lowest pain score in the prior 24 hours (OR, 0.70; P = .0006), and having pain interfere with sleep in the postoperative period (OR, 0.72; P = .037). CONCLUSIONS Our findings highlight several factors associated with patient satisfaction with acute postoperative pain management. Interventions focused on achieving acceptable pain levels for the majority of the time, ensuring that patients are able to get sleep, providing patients with helpful information about their pain treatment, and, most importantly, allowing patients to participate in decisions about their pain management may improve patient satisfaction with postoperative pain management.
Persisting Donor Alveolar Macrophages Have Increased Expression of Scavenger Receptor CD206 Compared to Graft-Infiltrating Recipient-Derived Macrophages Following Lung Transplantation

Purpose Alveolar macrophages play vital roles in attenuating lung injury through immune modulatory effects and improving gas exchange by scavenging cellular debris within the alveoli. A recent analysis of lung biopsy specimens suggests that donor-derived macrophages persist within the allograft after lung transplantation. The phenotypic differences between donor and graft-infiltrating recipient macrophages remains unreported. Methods Single cell suspensions obtained from bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) of 15 lung transplant recipients at various times following transplantation were analyzed by flow cytometry. Macrophages were defined as CD45+CD3-CD19-CD64+CD14+CD11chisinglets. Cell origin (donor versus recipient) was identified by staining for human leukocyte antigen discrepancies. Paired t test was used to compare cell surface marker expression between donor and recipient macrophages. Results The proportion of donor macrophages within the BAL was variable across patients but did not vary over the time following transplantation (p = 0.5). The median percentage of donor macrophages was 10.5% (range 1-64). Donor macrophages had increased expression of CD206 (Figure: Rep. flow cytometry plot from BAL one month following transplantation and cumulative data from 10 participants, p = 0.004), with trends in increased expression of HLADR (p = 0.07), and no difference in CD163 expression (p = 0.17). Conclusion The scavenger function of alveolar macrophages is vital in maintaining gas exchange in the setting of severe influenza infection. Following lung transplantation, persisting donor-derived alveolar macrophages have significantly increased expression of the scavenger receptor CD206 when compared to graft-infiltrating recipient-derived macrophages. Further investigation is warranted to identify whether this has implications for graft function in the perioperative setting.
Developmental Potential among Creative Scientists

AbstractThis article uses Dabrowskiߣs theory to frame research about creativity among contemporary research scientists. Creative scientis are scientists are described in terms of Dabrowski’s concepts of “overexcitabilities”and “development potential”
Whole Blood Thromboelastogram Assays Demonstrate Prolonged Factor VIIIa Potency for Recombinant Disulfide Bond-Stabilized Factor VIII Variants.

Following proteolytic activation of factor VIII (FVIII) by thrombin, the FVIIIa A2 domain, A3 domain and light chain (A3-C1-C2 domains) form a non-covalent hetero-trimer. Because spontaneous A2 subunit dissociation causes loss of FVIIIa activity, we previously made two mutants each with two new Cys to form a disulfide bond linking residues 662 (A2) and 1828 (A3) (FVIIIC662-C1828) or residues 664 (A2) and 1826 (A3) (FVIIIC664-C1826). Following thrombin activation, each FVIIIa mutant was stabile compared to wild type (wt) B-domain-deleted (BDD) FVIII. Previous SDS-PAGE data showed that the A2 domain was disulfide linked to the light chain. To show that this is true for undenatured FVIIIa, here we used surface plasmon resonance (SPR) to monitor A2 dissociation from thrombin-activated wild type and variant FVIII species that were bound to the sensor surface via a monoclonal antibody. Following passage of thrombin over sensor-bound FVIII, only wt FVIII showed a characteristic decrease of SPR reflecting A2 subunit dissociation and thrombin-treated FVIIIC662-C1828 and FVIIIC664-C1826 showed only minor decreases in SPR. Thus, SPR data directly demonstrate that engineered inter-domain disulfide bridges between the A2 and A3 domains prevent A2 domain dissociation from FVIIIa. In contrast to simple plasma coagulation assays of FVIIIa, rotational thromboelastogram (RoTEG) assays of whole blood provide multiple parameters reflecting clot formation, clot quality, and clot dissolution. RoTEG assays using fresh severe hemophilia A whole blood that was reconstituted with either wt FVIII, or FVIIIC662-C1828 or FVIIIC664-C1826 were performed to test the hypothesis that the disulfide-stabilized FVIIIa mutants would show improved potency for thrombin generation. After recalcification of hemophilia A blood with added FVIII, we measured the clotting time (CT), the rate of clot-formation, the clot-firmness time (CFT), defined as the time required to reach a specified clot firmness, and the clot firmness at 5 min (CF-A5), defined as the clot firmness at 5 min after the observed CT. Samples reconstituted with disulfide-bridge-stabilized FVIII mutants or wt-FVIII had comparable CTs at similar concentrations. However, in comparison to wild type BDD-FVIII, comparable rates of clot-formation, CFTs and CF-A5 were observed for up to 10-fold lower concentrations of each disulfide-bridge-stabilized FVIII mutant. The differences between wt and FVIII mutants were especially pronounced at very low FVIII concentrations whereas at FVIII concentrations >0.01 U/mL the differences were less apparent. Because clot formation occurs early relative to overall thrombin generation which is better reflected by CFT and CF-A5 values, we interpret these data to indicate that the disulfide-stabilized FVIIIa variants provide sustained thrombin generation in whole blood compared to wt FVIII and speculate that these FVIII variants may prove superior to wt FVIII for stabilizing a hemostatic plug by providing sustained thrombin generation capacity.
Spatiotemporal dynamics in vital rates of Humboldt's flying squirrels and Townsend's chipmunks in a late-successional forest

Knowledge of the spatiotemporal variability of abundance and vital rates is essential to the conservation of wildlife populations. In Pacific Northwest forests, previous small mammal research has focused on estimating abundance; few studies have focused on vital rates. We used robust design temporal symmetry models and live-trapping data collected 2011–2016 at nine sites to estimate apparent annual survival, population growth rate, and recruitment of Humboldt's flying squirrels (Glaucomys oregonensis) and Townsend's chipmunks (Neotamias townsendii) in a late-successional forest of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon, United States. We also estimated the proportional contribution of apparent annual survival and recruitment to population growth rate. Covariates previously associated with abundance were also associated with vital rates for Townsend's chipmunks, but less so for Humboldt's flying squirrels. Apparent annual survival was nearly constant (range = 0.47 to 0.51) among years and sites for Humboldt's flying squirrels but was consistently lower and more variable among years for Townsend's chipmunks (range = 0.13 to 0.31). Recruitment was variable among years for both species. Apparent annual survival generally contributed more than recruitment to the population growth rate of Humboldt's flying squirrels. For Townsend's chipmunks, recruitment consistently contributed more than apparent annual survival to population growth rate. These findings suggest that life history strategies differed for these co-occurring species. This study demonstrates substantial temporal variation in vital rates and some differences in abundance and vital rate habitat associations, suggesting that habitat suitability inferences based on short time series or variation in abundance could be misleading.
Turning over the Beds – How Optimizing Pre-Discharge Patient Teaching Reduced Discharge Delays in the Inpatient Hospital at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women's Hospital

Introduction With rapidly increasing demand at academic medical centers, inpatient resource allocation is a critical focus. Patients receiving autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) often face complicated discharges, requiring lengthy day of discharge teaching sessions from nurses and dietitians that may cause delays in discharge time. We queried if streamlining the complex discharge process by scheduling teaching appointments in advance would reduce unnecessary delays in discharge. Methods An interdisciplinary committee reviewed existing workflows with relevant stakeholders. Process improvement methodologies, including value-stream mapping, were utilized to reduce variation and delays. New teaching workflows ("discharge pilot") were implemented using a model line approach to iteratively test operations on 1 inpatient pod and were later rolled out on 4 (of 10) pods. After IRB review, patients were allocated to receive the discharge pilot based upon admission to one of these pods. Discharge time was compiled to assess impact. Discharge teaching before Typically, discharge teaching was completed on the day of discharge as clinicians waited for caregivers to arrive, contributing to delays; teaching took 2 hours. Information given in teach sessions varied greatly between clinicians. Beyond poor utilization of staff, patients and caregivers reported they could not retain critical information as they were prepared for discharge. Discharge Teaching Workflow Redesign Teach content delivery was standardized using templated guidelines for home and medication preparation. A provider checklist (Fig 1) was created specifying when to complete discharge readiness tasks. Specialized posters were hung in patient rooms for provider documentation and to engage patients and caregivers on their care journey (Fig 2). Nurses distributed caregiver requirements prior to the teaching appointment and caregivers were notified of required attendance. Teaching appointments were scheduled 2-3 days prior to discharge. Resulting change in discharge timing Between Jan. – Sep. 2019, 58.8% of patients receiving pilot (advance) discharge teachings (n = 68) discharged before 2pm (range 10:27a – 7:01p). During this same time, only 39.7% of patients receiving no discharge intervention (n = 68) discharged before 2pm (range 11:29a – 11:30p) (p = 0.0257) (Fig 3). Conclusion Scheduling discharge teaching for patients and their caregivers in advance increased discharges from the hospital before 2pm, significant for operational improvement. This optimized staff resource utilization and allowed for more efficient bed turnover. Other factors like central line removal and transfusion timing should be examined. We are now examining satisfaction and anxiety during discharge when advance teaching is performed. Further research should assess precaution adherence for this intervention.
Drosophila estrogen-related receptor directs a transcriptional switch that supports adult glycolysis and lipogenesis

Metabolism and development must be closely coupled to meet the changing physiological needs of each stage in the life cycle. The molecular mechanisms that link these pathways, however, remain poorly understood. Here we show that the Drosophila estrogen-related receptor (dERR) directs a transcriptional switch in mid-pupae that promotes glucose oxidation and lipogenesis in young adults. dERR mutant adults are viable but display reduced locomotor activity, susceptibility to starvation, elevated glucose, and an almost complete lack of stored triglycerides. Molecular profiling by RNA-seq, ChIP-seq, and metabolomics revealed that glycolytic and pentose phosphate pathway genes are induced by dERR, and their reduced expression in mutants is accompanied by elevated glycolytic intermediates, reduced TCA cycle intermediates, and reduced levels of long chain fatty acids. Unexpectedly, we found that the central pathways of energy metabolism, including glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, and electron transport chain, are coordinately induced at the transcriptional level in mid-pupae and maintained into adulthood, and this response is partially dependent on dERR, leading to the metabolic defects observed in mutants. Our data support the model that dERR contributes to a transcriptional switch during pupal development that establishes the metabolic state of the adult fly.