cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interspecific hybridization of plants and resistance to herbivores: hypotheses, genetics, and variable responses in a diverse herbivore community.

We studied the morphology, molecular genetics, and hebivory of two species of willows (Salix sericea and S. eriocephala) and their interspecific hybrids to test four alternative hypotheses concerning the effects of hybridization on plant resistance. Individually marked plants were identified using morphological traits in the field and measurements of stipule and leaf pubescence were made and compared using Canonical Discriminant Function Analysis. DNA was extracted from the leaves of a sample of the marked plants and RAPD-PCR analysis was performed to establish the genetic status of parental and hybrid plants. RAPD band analysis generally verified the genetic status of parental plants. Hybrid plants were usually correctly identified in the field with a few exceptions. However, the hybrid plants were a heterogeneous group of plants made up of most plants that appear to be F1s and a few plants that appear to be backcrosses to S. sericea. Morphological variables were useful for distinguishing S. sericea from S. eriocephala and hybrids, but were not as dependable in distinguishing between S. eriocephala and hybrids. We compared the densities of 11 herbivore species and the infection by a leaf rust pathogen (Melampsora sp.) on the leaves and stems of two parents and the hybrids in the field. We found support for the Additive hypothesis (3 species), the Dominance hypothesis (2 species) and the Hybrid Susceptibility hypothesis (7 species, 6 herbivores and the Melampsora rust). We found no evidence for the Hybrid Resistance hypothesis. Guild membership was not a good predictor of similar responses of species to hybrid versus parental plants. A Canonical Discriminant Function Analysis showed discrete separation of the taxa based on herbivore densities, illustrating different community structures on hybrid and parental plants. This study demonstrates the diversity of responses of phytophages in response to interspecific hybridization.
Is routine computed tomographic scanning justified in the first week of persistent febrile neutropenia in children with malignancies

Background Prolonged febrile neutropenia (FN) remains a common problem in pediatric oncology and often leads to empiric computed tomography (CT) of the sinuses, chest, abdomen, and pelvis. Little evidence is available as to the diagnostic utility of CT in this setting. Procedure We performed a retrospective review of all oncology patients admitted to the hospital from January 2004 through December 2008 for FN who had daily fevers with neutropenia for 4 or more consecutive days prompting CT evaluation. Eligible patient charts were reviewed for symptomatology prior to imaging as well as antibiotic and antifungal regimens throughout therapy. Results Fifty-two patients had 68 unique episodes of prolonged FN that resulted in CT imaging. Positive findings occurred in 18%, 12%, and 25% of initial chest, abdomen, and sinus CTs, respectively. There were no positive findings on initial pelvic CT. Only two of the initial positive CT scans led to a change in management (6.5% of positive scans, 0.8% of all initial scans). These were both scans of the chest. All patients with concern for occult fungal infection had findings on chest CT. Patients with clinically important infections had no statistical difference in days of fever or neutropenia or type of underlying malignancy compared with those without infection. Clinical symptomatology was most helpful for typhlitis. Conclusions Treatment alteration rarely results from empiric CT imaging in the early days of prolonged FN. We therefore recommend limiting initial empiric CT imaging to the chest only in patients without localizing signs or symptoms and prolonged FN. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2011; 57: 620–624. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The case for a single data exchange format

The paper discusses why IBM is interested in accelerating the development of a single data exchange format. There is a need for a variety of tools that are loosely characterized into two groups: fact extraction and fact usage. These tools have to produce data to share or have to share data from a number of producers. The key problem is the lack of tool interoperability.
Transition Metal–α-Amino Acid Complexes with Antibiotic Activity against Mycobacterium spp.

Synthetic iridium-, rhodium-, and ruthenium-amino acid complexes with hydrophobic l-amino acids have antibiotic activity against Mycobacterium spp., including Mycobacterium bovis BCG and the rapidly growing species Mycobacterium abscessus and Mycobacterium chelonae. Concentrations of transition metal-amino acid complexes demonstrating hemolysis or cytotoxicity were 10- to 25-fold higher than were the MICs.
Airborne Particulate Matter and Mortality: Timescale Effects in Four US Cities

While time-series studies have consistently provided evidence for an effect of particulate air pollution on mortality, uncertainty remains as to the extent of the life-shortening implied by those associations. In this paper, the authors estimate the association between air pollution and mortality using different timescales of variation in the air pollution time series to gain further insight into this question. The authors' method is based on a Fourier decomposition of air pollution time series into a set of independent exposure variables, each representing a different timescale. The authors then use this set of variables as predictors in a Poisson regression model to estimate a separate relative rate of mortality for each exposure timescale. The method is applied to a database containing information on daily mortality, particulate air pollution, and weather in four US cities (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Seattle, Washington; and Chicago, Illinois) from the period 1987-1994. The authors found larger relative rates of mortality associated with particulate air pollution at longer timescale variations (14 days-2 months) than at shorter timescales (1-4 days). These analyses provide additional evidence that associations between particle indexes and mortality do not imply only an advance in the timing of death by a few days for frail individuals.
O2/O3 Microatmospheres in the Surface of Ganymede

Radiation-inducedbubbleformation,aprocessknowntocausethedeteriorationofreactormaterials,produces O2/O3microatmospheres in the icy surface of Ganymede. Energetic ions in Jupiter’s magnetosphere bombard this surface, producing vacancies and radicals in the ice. At the equatorial temperatures on Ganymede, the radicalsmigrateandreactefficiently,formingnewvolatilespeciesH2andO2,andthevacanciesaggregatetoform voids.WhereastheH2islostreadily,theO2accumulates,permeatingtheregolith,producingaweakatmosphere, and becoming trapped in the voids, forming gas-filled bubbles. Such bubbles (microatmospheres) form efficiently above10.3‐0.5timesthemeltingtemperatureofthematerialandcanattainahighdensityofO2,consistentwith the observation of “condensed” O2on Ganymede. Dissociation of O2in a microatmosphere by UV photons or the incident ions leads to formation of O3. Including the O( 1 D) interactions in the Chapman equations, a ratio O3/O212 310 24 is obtained, close to the estimate based on observations of Ganymede. Subject headings: planets and satellites: individual (Ganymede, Europa)—molecular processes— radiation mechanisms: nonthermal
Ensemble Forecast of a Typhoon Flood Event

Abstract A high-resolution nested regional spectral model and an ensemble prediction system are combined to forecast the track, intensity, and flooding precipitation arising from Typhoon Winnie of August 1997, which eventually reached supertyphoon status. The prediction of floods is operationally challenging since rainfall distributions can have a high degree of spatial and temporal variability. Rare event probabilities, however, can be estimated more readily via ensemble forecasting. This technique is used to evaluate a typhoon flood event in which rainfall amounts greater than 200 mm led to landslides and major flooding of crops. Seven-member ensembles were generated using an EOF-based technique. An experiment was conducted with a regional model resolution of 0.5° latitude. A Mercator transform grid with a grid mesh size of approximately 55 km in the east–west and 48 km in the north–south was employed. The results indicated very accurate track and intensity forecasts for both the control and ensemble me...
Evaluating Research Articles from Start to Finish (3rd ed.)

Ellen R. Girden and Robert I. Kabacoff present their third edition of an exceptional text regarding the process of evaluating research articles. The third edition offers new sections that include a...
A programming language basis for user interface

The Mickey UIMS maps the user interface style and techniques of the Apple Macintosh onto the declarative constructs of Pascal. The relationships between user interfaces and the programming language control the interface generation. This imposes some restrictions on the possible styles of user interfaces but greatly enhances the usability of the UIMS.
Strip tillage and rowcovers as a potential alternative to black plastic mulch in cucurbit production

The use of tillage and plastic mulch are common practices among cucurbit growers to provide warm, moist, weed-free soil around plants. However, there are environmental drawbacks to the use of plastic mulches, such as the material waste given that these products are used for a single season, and the reduced soil health and stability that can come from frequent and intensive tillage. As an alternative strategy, a biological mulch can be formed by rolling and killing a cover crop stand by using a roller crimper. Narrow, tilled strips can be formed within this mulch for the crop to grow in a strip tillage system. This strategy can retain soil moisture and limit weed growth between rows compared to a non-mulched system, but has a tendency to create cooler soils, which can negatively impact growth for warm season crops, for example cucurbits. However, rowcovers could be used to mitigate this issue, as they can warm the air and soil, and provide protection to plants against insects and wind. In these studies, two production systems were compared (conventional tillage with black plastic mulch and strip tillage into rolled cereal rye) with and without the use of spunbonded rowcovers in conventionally and organically managed summer squash and muskmelon production. Overall, there were many benefits from using the plastic mulch system for both muskmelon and summer squash production. In general, the soil under plastic mulch was warmer than the soil in strip tillage, though it also tended to be lower in soil moisture. Despite this, the use of rowcovers in conjunction with strip tillage had promising results in squash production, in part due to the increased air temperature provided by the rowcovers. We found more positive outcomes from using rowcovers in organically managed crop than in conventionally managed crops. We saw no consistent
Infrared and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Studies of Microstructures of Polychloroprenes

Abstract High resolution infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectra confirm the structure of cis-polychloroprene prepared by a stereospecific route. Head-to-tail, head-to-head, and tail-to-tail sequence isomerism in both as- and trans-polychloroprenes has been discovered and measured quantitatively by high resolution NMR spectroscopy. The irregularity in the microstructure of neoprenes proves to be more extensive than was previously suspected.
Anionic ring opening polymerization of 1-silacyclopent-3-ene

1-Silacyclopent-3-ene (I) undergoes anionic ring opening polymerization catalyzed by methyllithium/HMPA to yield poly(1-sila-cis-pent-3-ene) (II). II was characterized by 1H, 13C, and 29Si NMR, GPC, TGA and elemental analysis. The low molecular weight of II permits end group analysis. Pyrolysis of II gives high char yields. These have been characterized by EDS.
Mesoleius tenthredinis and Other Parasites of the Larch Sawfly in the Eastern United States

The ability of the larch sawfly, Pristiphora erichsonii (Hartig), to resist an introduced hymenopterous parasite, Mesoleius tenthredinis Morley, by encapsulating its eggs was noted in the 1950's in central Canada and the Great Lake states. Examination of host prepupae from several eastern states indicated that populations of immune larch sawflies built up in this region in the early 1960's. The pteromalid Tritneptis klugii (Ratzeburg) and the tachinid Bessa harveyi (Townsend) were also found parasitizing the sawfly in portions of this region. B. harveyi is reported for the first time from New York and tentatively for the first time in Illinois. Eclytus n. sp. was identified from the larch sawfly in New York. Because the larch sawfly has a prolonged emergence period, it can only be economically controlled in forests and plantations through biological methods rather than insecticides. In view of the widespread distribution of sawfly strains resistant to M. tenthredinis in the eastern states, the release there of the European ichneumon Olesicampe benefactor Hinz, which was successfully introduced into Canada recently as a sawfly parasite, is recommended.
High-order discontinuous Galerkin methods applied to multiphase flows

In this paper, we present an application of the interface-centered binary projection method to improve the order of accuracy of the discretization of the advection terms by the Discontinuous Galerkin method. We present our multi-gpu parallel implementation and perform weak and strong scaling of our code. We apply the dg method to the multifluid Euler equations. We present numerical simulations of two multiphase problems applicable to many engineering fields. Simulations of a shock interacting with a drop of water in air are compared to experimental data. We show good agreement between the simulations and the experiments. Finally, we investigate the dynamics of a supersonic water drop impacting a wall. Large negative pressures and high tensions inside the drop resulting from the impact can lead to possible cavitation erosion of the wall.
Actinyl Ions in Cs2UO2Cl4

The electronic energy levels of the uranyl ion (UO22+) and the neptunyl ion (NpO22+) in the crystalline environment of Cs2UO2Cl4 are studied theoretically and compared with the spectroscopic work o...
Hair Manganese as an Exposure Biomarker among Welders

Quantifying exposure and dose to manganese (Mn) containing airborne particles in welding fume presents many challenges. Common biological markers such as Mn in blood or Mn in urine have not proven to be practical biomarkers even in studies where positive associations were observed. However, hair Mn (MnH) as a biomarker has the advantage over blood and urine that it is less influenced by short-term variability of Mn exposure levels because of its slow growth rate. The objective of this study was to determine whether hair can be used as a biomarker for welders exposed to manganese. Hair samples (1cm) were collected from 47 welding school students and individual air Mn (MnA) exposures were measured for each subject. MnA levels for all days were estimated with a linear mixed model using welding type as a predictor. A 30-day time-weighted average MnA (MnA30d) exposure level was calculated for each hair sample. The association between MnH and MnA30d levels was then assessed. A linear relationship was observed between log-transformed MnA30d and log-transformed MnH. Doubling MnA30d exposure levels yields a 20% (95% confidence interval: 11-29%) increase in MnH. The association was similar for hair washed following two different wash procedures designed to remove external contamination. Hair shows promise as a biomarker for inhaled Mn exposure given the presence of a significant linear association between MnH and MnA30d levels.
Direct-breastfeeding in the neonatal intensive care unit and breastfeeding duration for premature infants.

Abstract Aim To explore the relationship between direct-breastfeeding in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and breastfeeding duration after discharge. Background Initiating and maintaining breastmilk feeding is an important goal that begins in the NICU. Little is known about direct-breastfeeding in the NICU and its relation to breastfeeding duration. Methods Chart review of 46 infants ( Results One month after discharge, mothers still providing breastmilk were more likely to have provided ≥1 direct-breastfeed per day in the NICU (21.16, CI: 3.13–143.25, p p p Conclusions Direct-breastfeeding in the NICU may play an essential role in preparing mothers for breastfeeding after discharge, thus potentially impacting breastfeeding duration.
Biochemical profiles of stone-forming patients: a guide to treatment.

AbstractA formal protocol, controlled metabolic evaluation is essential to the most effective treatment of any patient with renal calculi, regardless of the crystalline composition of the stone. The design of the protocol and of the data sheets should be compatible with ease of diagnosis and selection of corrective therapeutic measures. These data also serve as a reference to monitor response to treatment. Treatment is highly individualized with the objective to reduce all potentially crystallizable ions to basal levels. If this is difficult to accomplish certain ratios of ions are brought to as near normal values as possible.
Adult head and neck soft-tissue sarcomas.

An overview of the diagnosis and treatment of soft tissue sarcomas of the adult head and neck is presented. Adherenee to the principles of early recognition and aggressive therapy can provide these patients good long-term results.
Dysphagia in patients with three different etiologies of salivary gland dysfunction

Dysphagia is a common complaint from patients with salivary gland dysfunction (SGD). The purpose of this study was to assess and compare dysphagia in three patient groups with SGD: primary Sjogren's syndrome (SS-1); secondary Sjogren's syndrome with systemic lupus erythematosus (SS-2-SLE) and a group of patients who had post-irradiation therapy (PIT) (for head and neck cancer xerostomia) and a matched control group. Subjects diagnosed with SS-1 (n = 7); SS-2-SLE (n = 7) and PIT (n = 7) were selected for the study. An age-sex-matched group of control subjects (n = 7) was selected for comparison. Dysphagia assessments, including videofluoroscopy, were performed. Subjective evaluations were recorded on a calibrated 10-cm visual analog scale. The results indicated a significant difference in the DS as compared to the WBS for all SGD groups and for both DS and WBS in each SGD group as compared to controls. Videofluoroscopy also yielded significantly prolonged pharyngeal transit times (PTT) in all SGD groups as compared to controls. Subjective results indicated a greater degree of dysphagia symptoms in all of the SGD groups (p < 0.001). Conclusions from this study indicate clinically significant dysphagia in patients with SS-1, SS-2-SLE and PIT as compared to a control population.
Mixed-initiative resource management: the AMC barrel allocator

In this paper, we describe the Barrel Allocator, a scheduling tool developed for day-to-day allocation and management of airlift and tanker resources at the USAF Air Mobility Command (AMC). The system utilizes an incremental and configurable constraint-based search framework to provide a range of automated and semi-automated scheduling capabilities, including generating an initial solution to the fleet assignment problem, selective re-optimization of resource allocations to incorporate new higher priority missions while minimizing solution change, merging of previously planned missions to reduce non-productive flying time, and generation and synchronization of tanker missions to satisfy air refueling requirements. In situations where all mission requirements cannot be met, the system can generate and compare alternative constraint relaxation options. The current, version of Barrel Allocator will go into operational use at AMC as a module of Release 2.0 of AMC's Consolidated Air Mobility Planning System (CAMPS) in early 2000.
Protein–Protein Interaction Techniques: Dissect PCP Signaling in Xenopus

The planar cell polarity (PCP) pathway is a β-catenin-independent branch of the Wnt signaling cascade. In vertebrate embryos PCP signaling regulates morphogenetic events including convergent extension (CE) movements during gastrualtion. Xenopus embryo has been established as an excellent model system to dissect PCP signaling in vertebrates because morphogenetic cell behaviors including CE can easily be monitored in vivo. Xenopus Paraxial protocadherin (xPAPC) is a transmembrane protein which serves as a link between patterning factors in the Spemann's organizer and regulators of the morphogenetic movements. xPAPC regulates morphogenesis in part by modulating cell adhesion and PCP signaling. Here two methods, GST pull-down assay and yeast two-hybrid assay, are described for the identification of xPAPC interacting proteins to elucidate the mechanism by which xPAPC regulates PCP signaling.
Antibacterial Efficacy of a Novel Plasma Reactor without an Applied Gas Flow

The use of nonthermal plasma in the clinic has gained recent interest, as the need for alternative or supplementary strategies are necessary for preventing multi-drug resistant infections. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial efficacy of a novel plasma reactor based on a high current version of sliding discharge and operated by nanosecond voltage pulses without an applied gas flow. This modification is advantageous for both portability and convenience. Bacterial inactivation was determined by direct quantification of colony forming units. The plasma was bactericidal against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis seeded on culture media. Plasma exposure significantly inhibited the growth of both model organisms following a 1-minute application (p<0.001). Results indicate that S. epidermidis was more susceptible to the plasma after a 5-minute exposure, compared to E. coli. Temperature measurements taken immediately before and after plasma exposure determined that heat does not play a role in bacterial inactivation. These findings suggest the current plasma has potential application for surface bacterial decontamination.
Hoch-Campbell aziridine synthesis

Treatment of ketoximes with Grignard reagents and subsequent hydrolysis of the organometallic complex to form aziridines.
Tandem Mass Spectrometry Spectral Libraries and Library Searching

Spectral library searching in the field of proteomics has been gaining visibility and use in the last few years, primarily due to the expansion of public proteomics data repositories and the large spectral libraries that can be generated from them. Spectral library searching has several advantages over conventional sequence searching: it is generally much faster, and has higher specificity and sensitivity. The speed increase is primarily, due to having a smaller, fully indexable search space of real spectra that are known to be observable. The increase in specificity and sensitivity is primarily due to the ability of a search engine to utilize the known intensities of the fragment ions, rather than just comparing with theoretical spectra as is done with sequence searching. The main disadvantage of spectral library searching is that one can only identify peptide ions that have been seen before and are stored in the spectral library. In this chapter, an overview of spectral library searching and the libraries currently available are presented.
Getting Burned by Lactic Acid

A 13-year-old boy with a history of moderate, persistent asthma was transferred to our facility from an outside hospital with shortness of breath and cough of 2 days’ duration. In the emergency department at the other facility, initial vitals were temperature, 98.9°F; heart rate, 120 beats per minute; respiration rate, 40; pulse oxygen saturation, 87% on room air; and blood pressure, 191/63 and 128/41 upon repeat. Screening laboratory tests were performed: the complete blood count was within reference ranges, serum chemistry was notable for a bicarbonate concentration of 29 mEq/L, and peripheral venous lactate was 2.8 mmol/L. Chest x-ray showed central peribronchial cuffing consistent with viral infection. Because of persistent wheezing and moderately increased work of breathing, the patient was placed on continuous nebulized albuterol (20 mg/h) and given 125 mg intravenous methylprednisolone, 250 mg oral azithromycin, and 1 g intravenous magnesium sulfate. Symptoms significantly improved per their report. Given the elevated lactate on the initial laboratories, he was given a 1-L bolus of intravenous crystalloid. Multiple repeat point-of-care capillary lactate levels were obtained: 7.2, 7.5, and 7.9 mmol/L. The persistently elevated lactate levels triggered additional fluid boluses and order for blood culture. The treatment team believed the patient was ready to be …
Open Versus Endovascular or Hybrid Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm Repair

Thoracic aortic aneurysms are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. There are multiple underlying etiologies, including genetic abnormalities, that have important implications in their natural history. The variable histologic, anatomic, and clinical presentations necessitate careful consideration of available treatment options. Surgical repair of these aneurysms has been the mainstay of treatment; however, these approaches can carry a relatively high risk of morbidity and mortality. Endovascular approaches have now become first-line therapy for descending thoracic aneurysms, and with advancements in graft technology, endovascular approaches are being increasingly employed for hybrid repairs of the aortic arch and even the ascending aorta. However, to date, clinical outcomes from randomized trials and long-term follow-up are limited. As technology continues to advance, there is the potential for further integration of surgical and endovascular treatments so that patients have the best opportunity for a favorable outcome.
Cardiovascular Disease: Medical Overview

Cardiovascular disorders are the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in the industrialized world. In the United States alone more than 14 million people have some form of coronary artery disease (CAD) or its complications, including congestive heart failure (CHF), angina, and arrhythmias. Many will undergo medical and surgical procedures to address their CAD, and hundreds of thousands are candidates for cardiac rehabilitation. This chapter introduces coronary anatomy, terminology, and common cardiac conditions. Common medical treatments for cardiac problems are delineated.
Arch-Supported Membrane Shelters under Wind and Snow Loading:

For many years, inflatable structures and membrane-enclosed structures have proved useful for a variety of purposes. Recently, structures that combine highly-pressurised inflatable arch members wit...
Los cuentos de hadas, una propuesta para la niñez desde la pedagogía Waldorf

En este ensayo se ofrece a la persona lectora un acercamiento a los planteamientos basicos de la pedagogia de Waldorf, especificamente en lo pertinente al primer septenio del desarrollo de los ninos y las ninas. De igual manera, se plantea una reflexion sobre la importancia de los cuentos de hadas tanto en el hogar como en el jardin de ninos.Se parte de la premisa que para los ninos y las ninas entre los 0 a 7 anos el desarrollo de la fantasia y de los sentidos, asi como el conocimiento del mundo que los rodea, se puede realizar mediante los cuentos de hadas, ya que estos constituyen una herramienta metodologica indispensable dentro del planteamiento de la pedagogia Waldorf.Este ensayo pretender brindar a los padres de familia, las maestras y los maestros una oportunidad para conocer la pedagogia de Waldorf y valorar la pertinencia de los cuentos de hadas proponiendo sugerencias de como utilizar este recurso para promover el desarrollo integral del estudiantado.
The Corporatization of Activism: Resistance Under Neoliberal Globalization

Chapter 8 reviews the issue of resistance to neoliberalism by stressing its importance in the context of the creation of alternatives to the current status quo. The chapter further illustrates the corporate colonization of contemporary resistance for activist organizations associate with corporations and/or act like corporations. The concomitant commodification of activism indicates the tendency to frame actions of resistance in market terms. The chapter concludes by stressing that the corporate colonization of resistance and the commodification of activism coexist with high levels of labor exploitation.
Air leak material identification in pressurized space vehicles using a Convolutional Neural Network

Pressurized space vehicles of all types are at risk of depressurization due to leaking air. Leaks may be caused by micro-meteor and orbital debris (MMOD) impact or structural aging and failure overtime. This paper addresses the issue of leak type detection by analyzing airborne ultrasonic waves using a Convolutional Neural Network. Depending on the vessel material, size of the leak, and pressure gradient, different waveforms are produced. Once a large number of samples have been recorded, the resulting data is used for the training of a Convolutional Neural Network for leak classification.
Analysis of Treatment Outcomes for Recurrent Clostridium difficile Infections and Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in a Pediatric Hospital.

Background Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is one of the most common nosocomial infections in the United States, with an increasing incidence in children. Approximately 20% of pediatric patients develop recurrent infections. It's imperative to further analyze the incidence of recurrent CDI in the pediatric population and determine the most effective treatments. The primary goal of this study is to characterize children with recurrent CDI at our institution, including both hospital-acquired CDI (HA-CDI) and community-acquired CDI (CA-CDI) cases, summarize the various treatments utilized, including fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) and compare their success rates. Methods A retrospective cohort study of pediatric patients 1-21 years of age treated for CDI at a single institution from January 2010 to December 2014 was performed. Results There were 175 subjects with 215 separate episodes of CDI. Oral metronidazole was the most common initial treatment (145/207, 70%) followed by oral vancomycin (30/207, 15%), with recurrence rates of 30% (42/145) and 37% (11/30), respectively. Twenty-nine percent (63/215) of all initial CDI cases had at least 1 documented recurrence. Using multivariate analysis, subjects with HA-CDI were 2.6 times less likely to recur than those with CA-CDI (odds ratio: 0.39; 95% confidence interval: 0.18-0.85; P = 0.018). The overall success rate for FMT at our institution was 10/12 (83%). Conclusions Our data show that cases of HA-CDI were less likely to recur compared with CA-CDI. Although currently reserved for multiply-recurrent cases, FMT was highly successful in our small cohort. More studies on FMT should be conducted to further evaluate its usefulness in the treatment of recurrent CDI in children.
Volumetric optical coherence microscopy with a high space-bandwidth-time product enabled by hybrid adaptive optics

Optical coherence microscopy (OCM) is a promising modality for high resolution imaging, but has limited ability to capture large-scale volumetric information about dynamic biological processes with cellular resolution. To enhance the throughput of OCM, we implemented a hybrid adaptive optics (hyAO) approach that combines computational adaptive optics with an intentionally aberrated imaging beam generated via hardware adaptive optics. Using hyAO, we demonstrate the depth-equalized illumination and collection ability of an astigmatic beam compared to a Gaussian beam for cellular-resolution imaging. With this advantage, we achieved volumetric OCM with a higher space-bandwidth-time product compared to Gaussian-beam acquisition that employed focus-scanning across depth. HyAO was also used to perform volumetric time-lapse OCM imaging of cellular dynamics over a 1mm × 1mm × 1mm field-of-view with 2 μm isotropic spatial resolution and 3-minute temporal resolution. As hyAO is compatible with both spectral-domain and swept-source beam-scanning OCM systems, significant further improvements in absolute volumetric throughput are possible by use of ultrahigh-speed swept sources.
Contrast enhancement in meningeal and extra-axial disease.

Abstract Intravenous contrast agents have become an indispensable tool in the CT and MR evaluation of the CNS. With regard to extra-axial and meningeal processes, many lesions would be missed were it not for their tendency to enhance. Unfortunately, contrast enhancement for every patient undergoing neuroimaging may not be cost-effective in the coming era of cost containment. Nonetheless, for patients with an underlying history of neoplastic or possible infectious disease and those whose symptoms are not explained by the noncontrast imaging findings, contrast-enhanced imaging should be performed.
ADAPTIVE NONLINEAR CONTROL OF A LABORATORY WATER-GAS SHIFT REACTOR

Abstract The objective of this research is to demonstrate that good control of a nonlinear system can be achieved over a large operability region when a periodically adapted low-order nonlinear model is used in a nonlinear control strategy. In this paper, we employ a steady-state model and adaptively implement a variation of nonlinear model predictive control (NMPC) on a water-gas shift reactor via simulation. This approach is computationally less demanding, yet retains many of the attractive features of a dynamic model implementation of NMPC. We further discuss the ramifications of nonlinear control in the absence of estimation, and introduce a simple nonlinear parameter estimation scheme to improve performance.
Rapid desorption of radium isotopes from black shale during hydraulic fracturing. 2. A model reconciling radium extraction with Marcellus wastewater production

Abstract Radium in hydraulic fracturing wastewaters derives from two isotopically distinct end-members in the shale, labile 228Ra hosted by mineral surfaces (226Ra/228Ra atom ratio ~250) and exchangeable 226Ra hosted by organic surfaces (226Ra/228Ra ~10,000). Here we use mass balance and isotope mixing models to reconcile extraction of Ra from these phases with mechanisms of Marcellus wastewater production. Radium isotopic mass balance requires that the characteristic water-rock ratio between wastewater and shale is exceedingly low, on the order of 0.04, and that this ratio decreases with time during wastewater production. An evolving water-rock interaction drives increasing Ra concentrations (=[Ra]) and 226Ra/228Ra ratios during wastewater production, all mediated by increasing [Ca2+] that favors desorption of 226Ra from organics. Our observations and models of Ra isotope geochemistry are best reconciled with observations of water and salinity mass balance, δ18O, Na-Br-Cl, and 87Sr/86Sr if wastewater is produced by mixing of injected fluids with a limited volume of pore brine (on the order of 13% by volume), accompanied by contemporaneous extraction of excess alkaline earth elements by water-rock exchange. Validated using Ra isotope data, this model attributes the extreme salinity and [Ra] in wastewaters to the progressive, hydrologic enrichment of injected fluids during hydraulic fracturing.
Investigating the impact of cybersecurity policy awareness on employees’ cybersecurity behavior

Abstract As internet technology and mobile applications increase in volume and complexity, malicious cyber-attacks are evolving, and as a result society is facing greater security risks in cyberspace more than ever before. This study has extended the published literature on cybersecurity by theoretically defining the conceptual domains of employees’ security behavior, and developed and tested operational measures to advance information security behavior research in the workplace. A conceptual framework is proposed and tested using survey results from 579 business managers and professionals. Structural equation modeling and ANOVA procedures are employed to test the proposed hypotheses. The results show that when employees are aware of their company’s information security policy and procedures, they are more competent to manage cybersecurity tasks than those who are not aware of their companies’ cybersecurity policies. The study also indicates that an organizational information security environment positively influences employees’ threat appraisal and coping appraisal abilities, which in turn, positively contribute to their cybersecurity compliance behavior.
Loneliness and the use of social media to follow celebrities: A moderating role of social presence

Because social media provide users with the possibility of an easy way to communicate with celebrities in society, it has become a more common practice to follow celebrities through social media. H...
ASEE TELPhE Division as a Community of Transformation

This innovative practice work in progress paper presents an initial review of the emerging role of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Technological and Engineering Literacy and Philosophy of Engineering (TELPhE) Division from the perspective of a community of transformation. The group seeks to reframe, redesign, and reposition technological and engineering literacy as a central pillar of engineering education. With a philosophical perspective and a critical view of education that connects engineering education to the liberal arts, the group has been moving forward to make an impact in the engineering education community. The goal of the group via all of the collective efforts, discussions, papers, articles, special reports, publications, special sessions, and workshops has been focused on providing a new forum and platform for discussions, debate and dialogue in advocating public awareness of technological and engineering literacy. As an ASEE Division, TELPhE has grown in attracting and engaging practitioners of engineering education, technological and engineering literacy, and philosophy in an ongoing examination of engineering philosophy, the scope of engineering education, and the impact of engineering and technology. Thus far the group has evolved organically but now seeks a theoretical framework to inform strategic planning and goal setting. To this end, the development of the group is framed as a community of transformation. The paper briefly reviews the evolution of the group from the Technological Literacy Constituent Committee and the internal and broader-based discussions and growth into the Technological and Engineering Literacy and Philosophy of Engineering Division. By starting to review the evolution and metamorphosis of the ideas that were developed by the group members and associates, the paper begins an analysis of TELPhE as a community of transformation to inform effective avenues for future activities to impact engineering, engineering education, and technological and engineering literacy.
Fate of Listeria monocytogenes in Ready-to-Eat Refrigerated Dips Treated with High Pressure Processing.

ABSTRACT Various outbreaks and recalls have been associated with Listeria monocytogenes contamination of ready-to-eat (RTE) food products, including dips. High pressure processing (HPP) is useful f...
Death by Neurological Criteria: Caring for Families amid Tragedy

When a patient is declared dead using neurological criteria, intense emotional and ethical challenges can follow. In our experience as clinical ethicists, consults surrounding the declaration of “b...
Targeting PD-1 or PD-L1 in Metastatic Kidney Cancer - Combination Therapy in the First Line Setting.

Recent FDA approvals of regimens targeting programmed death 1 (PD-1) in combination with anti-CTLA-4 or with VEGF tyrosine kinase inhibitors are reshaping front-line therapy for metastatic kidney cancer. In parallel, therapeutics specific for programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1), one of the two major ligands for PD-1, are under continued investigation. Surprisingly, not all PD-1 and PD-L1 agents lead to similar clinical outcomes, potentially due to biological differences in the cellular expression and regulation of these targets. Here, we review current clinical data on combination immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy in metastatic kidney cancer and discuss the relevant biology of PD-1 and PD-L1. The design of future rational combination therapy trials in metastatic renal cell carcinoma will rely upon an understanding of this biology, along with an evolving understanding of immune cell populations and their functional states in the tumor microenvironment.
Not the exercise type? Personality traits and anxiety sensitivity as predictors of objectively measured physical activity and sedentary time.

Personality traits have been investigated as predictors of sedentary behavior, while both personality traits and anxiety sensitivity have been investigated as predictors of physical activity; howev...
Cytopathology milestones: can you get to level 5?

Introduction ACGME Milestones describe 6 areas of proficiency, indicating readiness for practice. Each is divided into 5 levels of mastery; Level 1 (new trainees) through Levels 4 (graduation) and 5 (aspirational). Milestones reporting began Spring 2016. We used Milestones to assess graduated fellows. Materials and methods We conducted phone interviews with previous fellows and collected demographic information including practice setting. We asked graduates if they fulfilled each example of mastery and recorded their answers. Results A total of 22 fellows graduated from 2010 to 2017; 15 responded (10 academic, 5 private). Milestones in which nearly all respondents performed well (Level 4+) were: PC1, MK1, SBP2, SBP4, PROF1-4, ICS1-3. Some were more challenging (PC2, MK2, SBP1/3/5, PBL1). For PC2, 2 respondents achieved Level 1 (did not perform fine-needle aspirations). For MK2, 2 respondents achieved Level 1 (did not evaluate Papanicolaou). For SBP1, 80% in private practice achieved Level 5; 50% in academics achieved Level 3. For SBP3, 80% in private practice achieved Level 4+; 100% in academics achieved maximum Level 2. For SBP5, 60% of all respondents achieved maximum Level 3; only 1 achieved Level 5. Conclusions Many Milestones are attainable. Eleven of 18 yielded Level 4+ from most respondents. Three (PC2, MK1, MK2) yielded rare Level 1 due to scope of practice. Others (SBP1, SBP3) reflect more of an all-or-nothing phenomenon. For SBP5, most respondents achieved Level 3; only 1 achieved Level 5. Some Milestones are highly dependent on practice setting, and others remain aspirational.
Whose text, whose mining, and to whose benefit?

Scholarly content has become more difficult to find as information retrieval has devolved from bespoke systems that exploit disciplinary ontologies to keyword search on generic search engines. In p...
Design and Demonstration of a Scalable Massive MIMO Uplink at E-Band

In this paper we present a real-time, multi-user massive MIMO hardware testbed operating in E-Band. We propose a system architecture that scales efficiently to large arrays at sampling rates associated with mm-wave bandwidths. The architecture implements two-stage beam-forming algorithms on distributed hardware, as well as per-antenna channel estimation. The features of this architecture address practical issues associated with interconnecting modular radios and steering the beams of highly directive arrays, while providing minimal hardware overhead. The hardware testbed is built with custom radio boards, off-the shelf mm-wave radio components, and FPGAs. Single and multi-user measurements are performed on the hardware to validate the effectiveness of the proposed architecture.
Investigation of thermal transport properties in pillared-graphene structure using nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations

This research focuses toward calculating the thermal conductivity of pillared-graphene structures (PGS). PGS consists of graphene and carbon nanotubes (CNTs). These two materials have great potential to manage heat generated by nano- and microelectronic devices because of their superior thermal conductivities. However, the high anisotropy limits their performance when it comes to three-dimensional heat transfer. Nonequilibrium molecular dynamics (NEMD) simulations were conducted to study thermal transport of PGS. The simulation results suggest that the thermal conductivity along the graphene plane can reach up to 284 W/m K depending on PGS’ parameters while along the CNT direction, the thermal conductivity can reach 20 W/m K.
Monitoring via staging: Evidence from Private investments in public equity

I study the causes and consequences of staging in the setting of private investments in public equities (PIPEs). I find that, in PIPE investments, as in venture capital staging, the staging strategy is used by investors as a monitoring mechanism to mitigate information asymmetry and agency problems. Moreover, strategic investors and investors investing alone are more likely to utilize staging. I show also that staging reduces the cost of financing and has positive implications for PIPE issuers’ long-run stock performance.
The increasing global environmental consequences of a weakening US–China crop trade relationship

The consideration of tariffs on China’s imports of US agricultural products has focused on economic impacts, while the environmental consequences have received less attention. Here we use a global computable general equilibrium model to evaluate long-term crop portfolio changes induced by China’s retaliatory agricultural tariffs and thereby assess the environmental stresses imposed by different crop production portfolios based on region-specific and crop-specific databases. We show that China’s tariffs cause unintended increases in nitrogen and phosphorus pollution and blue water extraction in the United States as farmers shift from soybeans to more pollution-causing crops. If diverted to Brazil, China’s soybean demands would reduce Brazilian stresses of nitrogen pollution and water use through crop portfolio changes, but may add additional pressures on phosphorus pollution and deforestation. On a global scale, trade policies could help to reduce nutrient pollution and water source depletion by promoting crop production where it is most efficient in terms of nutrient and water use. The potential environmental consequences driven by US–China crop trade tension are considerable and could spill over to other countries, especially Brazil and other South American countries, through international trade. Such consequences are predominantly driven by China’s proposed retaliation on US soybeans.