cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adherence, Dosing, and Managing Toxicities With Trifluridine/Tipiracil (TAS-102)

Trifluridine/tipiracil (TAS-102) is a new oral combination therapy approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who are refractory to or intolerant of standard chemotherapy. This agent consists of a thymidine-based nucleoside analogue (trifluridine) and a thymidine phosphorylase inhibitor (tipiracil), which is included to reduce the degradative breakdown of trifluridine. In the phase III Randomized, double-blind, phase III Study of TAS-102 plus best supportive care [BSC] versus placebo plus BSC in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer [CRC] refractory to standard chemotherapies (RECOURSE) trial, trifluridine/tipiracil showed significant improvement in overall survival compared with placebo. Trifluridine/tipiracil is administered at a 35 mg/m2 dose orally twice daily in a 28-day cycle consisting of 5 treatment days/2 rest days for 2 weeks followed by a rest period of 2 weeks. Because trifluridine/tipiracil is a completely oral chemotherapy regimen, patient adherence to treatment is an important consideration. It is also critical to have strategies in place for managing toxicities, because side effects might have a negative effect on patient adherence. The most frequent adverse events reported in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer receiving trifluridine/tipiracil in the phase III RECOURSE trial were myelosuppression, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite, and fatigue. In this review we aim to provide clinicians with practical recommendations for facilitating patient adherence to oral chemotherapy, managing trifluridine/tipiracil dosing, and address the most common adverse events in patients who receive trifluridine/tipiracil therapy.
Preliminary Neutral Current Results from Caltech-Fermilab

The Caltech-Fermilab experiment is completing the analysis of neutral current data taken about one year ago. This experiment was carried out about a year ago by the following people: B. Barish, K. W. Brown, A. Bodek, D. Buchholz, E. Fisk, G. Krafczyk, F. Merritt, F. Sciulli, L. Stutte, and H. Suter. The final results should be forthcoming in the next few weeks. This communication is a status report on that analysis.
Comment on Gastaldelli et al. Short-term Effects of Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding Versus Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass. Diabetes Care 2016;39:1925-1931.

We read with interest the article by Gastaldelli et al. (1), and we commend the authors on their findings. They studied obese patients without diabetes and demonstrated a difference in insulin sensitivity between the two surgical approaches. Specifically, they note an improvement in insulin sensitivity of adipose and muscle tissue in the Roux-en-Y group. We would like to share with you that the authors’ findings corroborate our observations on the impact of the weight-loss surgeries on …
Multiband and Multibeam Direction of Arrival Estimation Using On-Site Coding Digital Beamformer

Ultrawideband system with digital beamforming allows for spatial filtering and multiuser detection without degradation of the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Along these lines, we propose a novel on-site coding receiver (OSCR) architecture for digital beamforming that has already been verified to significantly reduce hardware requirement at the analog back end. Using OSCR, the signal from each antenna element is encoded, then several antenna signals are grouped and digitized using a single analog-todigital converter (ADC). At the digital back end, single field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) are used for beamforming. In this letter, an 8-channel OSCR is tested for spatial filtering and spectral diversity using a tightly coupled dipole array operating from 290 to 3900 MHz. Measurements were performed in an anechoic chamber using two transmit signals, modulated simultaneously at 1350 and 1800 MHz and arriving from various angles across 0° to ±50°. Results show that an accurate estimate of the angle of arrival is achieved with error <;1.8°. Also, we show that on-site coding has minimal degradation to SNR in a multibeam and multiband environment. Therefore, the proposed architecture is highly suitable for multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) applications.
DNA Methylation and Developmental Regulation of Eukaryotic Globin Gene Transcription

In the last decade, knowledge about the sequence organization of eukaryotic genes and their transcriptional behavior has been greatly increased due to the development of molecular cloning techniques and other biochemical methodology. It is now a relatively easy task to isolate, from the eukaryotic genome, particular genes or gene families along with many kilobases (kb) of flanking DNA—provided that an appropriate DNA library and probes are available. The cloned DNA then can be used, either as substrate or probe, to study problems such as the molecular evolution of the genes and flanking sequences and the transcriptional regulation of the genes.
Prefrontal Cortex in Decision-Making: The Perception–Action Cycle

The neural mechanisms of decision-making are understandable only in the structural and dynamic context of the perception–action (PA) cycle. The PA cycle is the biocybernetic processing of information that adapts the organism to its environment. That circular processing involves a variety of neural structures at several hierarchical levels, though with close functional interactions between them. At its lowest level, the PA cycle is largely reflex and automatic, and involves the vegetative and visceral structures of the hypothalamus and the autonomic nervous system. At intermediate levels, the cycle involves limbic structures supporting its emotional and value-assessing mechanisms. At the cortical level, under the commanding role of the prefrontal cortex, the PA cycle incorporates prefrontal cognitive components. The posterior cortex contributes to decision-making mainly information from perceptual memory and knowledge; the frontal cortex contributes mainly executive memory and knowledge. Its prefrontal sector contributes to decision-making predictive and preadaptive control through its top–down executive functions—especially attentional set, working memory, monitoring, and inhibitory control.
HCI's Making Agendas

In this survey, we examine how making emerged as an interdisciplinaryarena of scholarship, research and design that connects entrepreneurs,designers, researchers, critical theorists, historians, anthropologists,computer scientists and engineers. HCI is one among many other fieldsand domains that has declared having a stake in making. And yet,a lot of what and who defines making is happening outside the familiarresearch laboratory or design studio. We take this article as anopportunity to reflect on HCI's relationship to making and how this relationshiphas changed over the last years. Making, we argue, presentsHCI with the opportunity to question and revisit underlying principlesand long-held aspirations and values of the field. Exactly because HCIand making share some fundamental ideals such as user empowermentand the democratization of participation and technology production,making confronts us with both the potential and the unintended consequencesof our own work.
Quantifying Idiodynamics: A Process Approach to Personality Psychology

Rosenzweig's (1950) concept of idiodynamics is presented, and the importance of time in applied idiodynamics is stressed. Time-series analyses are proposed as one method for realizing the potential of idiodynamics for understanding and modeling individual lives. Building on this, and incorporating Cattell's (1966) notion of the data box, a process approach to personality research is proposed. This approach begins with idiodynamic analyses at the level of individual lives in an effort to identify patterns or themes, then proceeds to examine individual differences in the patterns or themes so identified. Examples of applying this process approach to personality questions are provided. These include identification of cycles in daily moods, assessing the link between each individual's moods and the events in his/her daily life, and the relation between repressive coping style and the experience of and memory for affect-charged life events. Conclusions emphasize how this approach can retain the appeal of the “dynamic” while maintaining the precision and rule-governed discourse afforded by quantification.
Soviet strategic defense technology

The present status of the Soviet program suggests several observations that have a bearing on predicting the future of the Soviet strategic defense program and its implications for the US: 1. The Soviet Union appears to have a continuing interest in ABM defenses, although ASATs seem to be a much lower priority. 2. The Soviet technology fielded to date was well within the American grasp 10 years ago. Where advanced and as yet undeployed technologies are concerned, the difference seems to be smaller; perhaps as little as five or seven years, with approximate parity in particle-beam research. 3. The Soviet Union, possibly more sensitive to prestige considerations, appears to be much more inclined than the US to demonstrate and deploy a technology before it is actually fully operational, and to undertake field modifications later. They also are much more reluctant to retire aging and obsolete technologies. As a result, they presently possess the world's only deployed ASAT and ABM systems, however, doubtful their actual operational effectiveness might be. 4. Soviet strategic defenses tend to be more fragmentary in design, reflecting their difficulties with the supporting and integrative technologies such as sensing, signal processing, heavy-lift boosters, and computing hardware and software.more » 5. The Soviets should also be expected to explore alternative avenues of near-term response to SDI, for example by expanding their strategic nuclear arsenal. 28 references, 1 figure, 2 tables.« less
Outdoor Weathering Evaluation of Carbon-Black-Filled, Biodegradable Copolyester as Substitute for Traditionally Used, Carbon-Black-Filled, Nonbiodegradable, High-Density Polyethylene Mulch Films

Carbon-black-filled, biodegradable, copolyester mulch film (Eastar®, or EA, Tennessee Eastman, Kingsport, TN) and commercial carbon-black-filled, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) mulch film were exposed for 12 weeks to commercial vegetable crop growing conditions by being placed directly on irrigated soil in the field of the University of Tennessee Alcoa Highway State Agriculture Experiment Station (Knoxville, TN) and by being placed on a plywood exposure rack as described by the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standard Test Method 1435: Outdoor Weathering of Plastics. Mechanical properties and weather information were collected in order to evaluate the feasibility of using the newly developed biodegradable EA mulch film to replace the nonbiodegradable HDPE mulch film. Results indicate that the EA mulch film exhibited favorable tensile strength and elongation-at-break during outdoor exposure rack testing and outdoor, in-field, placed directly on the soil, exposure testing, suggesting biodegradable EA could be a substitute for the HDPE nonbiodegradable material.
Child care health consultation: the Connecticut experience.

Objectives: The quality of child care is of increasing national concern. Federal initiatives are recommending child care health consultation to promote healthy, safe, and developmentally appropriate care. However, few studies have investigated the implementation of this recommendation. The purpose of this study was to explore the experience of Connecticut child care center directors and their health consultants who were engaged in mandated, weekly, on-site health consultation. Methods: One hundred Connecticut child care center directors and their health consultants participated in a mailed, self-administered survey. The centers were stratified by region and selected by random probability sampling. Descriptive analyses of the data examined the perspectives of both groups. Results: Eighty-four percent of the child care center directors reported that health consultation visits were important or very important for the management of their programs. Eighty-one percent of the health consultants believed that their directors considered the visits important or very important. The reported tasks of the health consultants were consistent with regulatory requirements. Cost was cited as a factor that negatively influenced access to services by at least 37% of the director sample. Demographics of the sample, description of the role, and recommendations by directors and health consultants are included. Conclusions: Health consultation visits were highly valued among this sample as an effective means of promoting children's health and development in child care centers. Future initiatives should promote child care health consultation through training, infrastructure development, and funding of health consultation services.
AN ELECTROCHEMICAL STUDY OF AMORPHOUS ION IMPLANTED STAINLESS STEELS

ABSTRACT 304 and 316 stainless steel was implanted with phosphorous at 40 keV or with boron at 25 keV to a fluence of 1×1017 to form amorphous surface alloys. The modification of the corrosion properties of the steels was monitored by dynamic polarizaton.
Losers Buy Beta

Using trading data from Finland and the US, I empirically show that investors tend to buy riskier stocks following realized losses. The measure of risk that the investors seem to pay attention to is the market beta of a stock. This behavior of buying higher beta stocks after a realized loss is observed in institutional as well as individual investors, but is more pronounced among individual investors with lower expertise, who on an average buy a new stock with up to 15% higher beta than that of the old stock they were holding. For an agent with utility consistent with prospect theory, this behavior emerges as the optimal response to her problem of maximizing utility within a mental account. Furthermore, this behavior can aggregate up during market downturns and cause return predictability in high beta stocks. With this insight, I suggest a modification to the betting against beta trading strategy that can improve the Sharpe ratio more than twofold.
A Smart Fridge for Efficient Foodstuff Management with Weight Sensor and Voice Interface

Emerging smart appliances provide us with the opportunity of understanding peoples' in-depth daily life behavior patterns, through analyzing their operation states. Smart fridges, for example, can help us estimate the timing and content of meals of household members. Several smart fridges already exist. However, they have the following problems: high cost, a risk of privacy leakage through camera, and inability of tracking incremental consumption of foodstuffs. In this paper, to address these problems, and to realize smooth in-fridge foodstuff management, we propose a smart fridge with a weight sensor and a voice interface. The fridge stores the name and weight of each food item in a database. When a user places an item, whose information is not already stored in the database, the system supports the user to easily register the information with the weight sensor and the voice interface. In addition, we propose three input methods for efficient association between foodstuff names and their weights: sequential, asynchronous parallel, and synchronous parallel methods. We developed a prototype of our proposed smart fridge system and conducted a preliminary experiment with three participants to register foodstuffs and compared the time for registration between the proposed method and a popular existing smartphone application for in-fridge foodstuff management. As a result, we confirmed that the proposed system can register the foodstuffs in hands-free with comparable time to the existing application.
Human Welder 3-D Hand Movement Learning in Virtualized GTAW: Theory and Experiments

Combining human welder (with intelligence and sensing versatility) and automated welding systems (with precision and consistency) can lead to next generation intelligent welding systems. This paper aims to present a data-driven approach to model human welder hand movement in 3-D, and use the learned model to control automated Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) process. To this end, an innovative virtualized welding platform is utilized to conduct teleoperated training experiments: the welding current is randomly changed to generate fluctuating weld pool surface and a human welder tries to adjust the torch movements in 3-D (including welding speed, arc length, and torch orientations) based on the observation on the real-time weld pool image feedback. These torch movements together with the 3-D weld pool characteristic parameters are recorded. The weld pool and human hand movement data are off-line rated by the welder and a welder rating system is trained, using an Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS), to automate the rating. Data from the training experiments are then automatically rated such that top rated data pairs are selected to model and extract “good response” minimizing the effect from “bad operation” made during the training. ANFIS model is then utilized to correlate the 3-D weld pool characteristic parameters and welder’s torch movements. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed model as an effective intelligent controller, automated control experiments are conducted. Experimental results verified that the controller is effective under different welding currents and is robust against welding speed and measurement disturbances. A foundation is thus established to learn human welder intelligence, and transfer such knowledge to realize intelligent welding robot.
Use of coronary artery calcium testing to improve coronary heart disease risk assessment in a lung cancer screening population: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)

Abstract Background Assessment of coronary artery calcium (CAC) during lung cancer screening chest computed tomography (CT) represents an opportunity to identify asymptomatic individuals at increased coronary heart disease (CHD) risk. We determined the improvement in CHD risk prediction associated with the addition of CAC testing in a population recommended for lung cancer screening. Methods We included 484 out of 6814 Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) participants without baseline cardiovascular disease who met U.S. Preventive Service Task Force CT lung cancer screening criteria and underwent gated CAC testing. 10 year-predicted CHD risks with and without CAC were calculated using a validated MESA-based risk model and categorized into low ( Results Of 484 included participants (mean age = 65; 39% women; 32% black), 72 (15%) experienced CHD events over the course of follow-up (median = 12.5 years). Adding CAC to the MESA CHD risk model resulted in 17% more participants classified into the highest or lowest risk categories and a NRI of 0.26 (p = 0.001). The C-statistic improved from 0.538 to 0.611 (p = 0.01). Conclusions CHD event rates were high in this lung cancer screening eligible population. These individuals represent a high-risk population who merit consideration for CHD prevention measures regardless of CAC score. Although overall discrimination remained poor with inclusion of CAC scores, determining whether those reclassified to an even higher risk would benefit from more aggressive preventive measures may be important.
Sagittal Spinopelvic Parameters in Children With Achondroplasia.

Abstract Study Design Retrospective cross-sectional, longitudinal radiographic analysis. Objective To report the natural history of spinopelvic parameters in achondroplasia. Summary of Background Data Sagittal spinal deformity is common in children with achondroplasia. However, few data exist on their normative spinal parameters. Methods Lateral standing spine radiographs of children with achondroplasia were reviewed. Measurements included thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lordosis (LL), thoracolumbar kyphosis (TLK), pelvic incidence (PI), T1 pelvic angle (TPA), and sagittal balance (SVA). Comparison between age groups and longitudinal analysis of children with minimum five-year radiographic evaluation was performed; evolution of radiographic measurements was assessed. Children who underwent surgical correction of TLK were studied separately to describe changes of sagittal spinal parameters associated with TLK surgical correction. Results In cross-sectional analysis, 745 radiographs (282 children) were measured. During the first three years, TLK decreased and LL and sacral slope increased significantly. After age 3 years, TLK decreased gradually until age 10. Afterwards, TLK decrease became non-significant. PI increased gradually after age 10. In the longitudinal group, 81 children were followed an average of 8.7 (5–19) years between age 4.4 and 13.1 years. TLK decreased; LL and PI increased significantly. TPA and SVA remained within the normal range although changes with growth were statistically significant. In the surgical group, 19 children underwent surgical TLK correction. Apart from TLK correction, no sagittal parameters changed significantly after surgery. These 19 children had higher TLK and lower LL compared with a nonsurgical group at similar average age. Conclusion In children with achondroplasia, TLK improvement occurs primarily before age 3 years; hyperlordosis at the lumbosacral level is the compensatory mechanism. Significant changes in the sagittal spinal parameters occur early in life, suggesting the importance of attention to sagittal malalignment to prevent any possible clinical sequelae of severe hyperlordosis. Level of Evidence Level III, prognostic study.
Is "Few" Always Less than Expected?: The Influence of Story Context on Readers' Interpretation of Natural Language Quantifiers.

After reading, few of the juniors were accepted, focus is on the students not accepted, the complement set. According to the Presupposition Denial Account, negative quantifiers, such as few, convey...
Thoughts on the Future: Life-Cycle Investing in Theory and Practice

Advances in financial science have made possible an improved menu of life-cycle investment products.
Do GLP‐1RAs and SGLT‐2is reduce cardiovascular events in black patients with type 2 diabetes? A systematic review and meta‐analysis

Aims While recent cardiovascular safety trials (CVST) concerning newer diabetes medications included mostly white participants, results are being generalized to all races in recent guidelines. This raises a controversial question regarding the appropriateness of applying CVST data to black patients with type 2 diabetes. Materials and methods We searched for randomized trials comparing diabetes medications to placebo in type 2 diabetes and investigated three- or four-point major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Data concerning black patients were then extracted. As the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) updated their recommendations for patients with established cardiovascular risk based on the CVST showing cardiovascular benefit, we performed a sensitivity analysis by including those trials only. Results A total of 11 trials were included, investigating a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) in five, a sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitor (SGLT-2i) in two and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4i) in four. Of the 102 416 participants enrolled in the included trials, only 4601 were black (4.5%). Pooled results showed no significant difference in the incidence of MACE among diabetes medications (GLP-1RA, SGLT-2i or DPP-4i) and placebo in black patients with type 2 diabetes (relative risk [RR] [95% CI], 0.94 [0.77,1.16]). Restricting the analysis to different classes of diabetes medication, the results remained non-significant. Restricting the analysis to CVST with significant outcomes, the results remained non-significant (RR [95% CI], 0.97 [0.68,1.39]). Conclusions Given that black patients with type 2 diabetes were not well represented in CVSTs and such trials were underpowered to evaluate racial differences, it remains unclear whether GLP-1RAs or SGLT-2is would reduce cardiovascular risk in such patients, and additional studies targeting black patients are urgently needed.
Taxpaying, Importing, Enforcing: Emerging discourse patterns in online newspaper comments about US immigrant education

Recent scholarship suggests that social norms are becoming more permissive of prejudicial talk about immigrants in the United States (Crandall, Miller, & White, 2018). This is in keeping with trends observed internationally (e.g., Krzyzanowski, 2018; Vollmer & Karakayali, 2018). Past studies of discourse about immigration in the United States have identified a number of patterns — most notably those relating immigrants to threat (e.g., Santa Ana, 2002) — though some have found patterns framing immigration as beneficial (e.g., Strauss, 2012). This study explores discursive patterns about immigrant education in online comments from American newspapers. It focuses on change exhibited by exploring salient lexical and thematic patterns in 2016 comments relative to such patterns in 2009 comments. Using a corpus linguistics design, keyword, thematic, and other analytical techniques were applied to identify and describe the most prominent new patterns in the 2016 comments. Seven themes, through which immigration was framed negatively, emerged as new and salient in 2016. The article also includes discussion of cross-thematic patterns (e.g., a zero-sum framework) identified in the analysis.
Intraoperative and Early Postoperative Management of Patients Undergoing Minimally Invasive Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation.

Abstract Minimally invasive approaches for left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation have grown in popularity and have many potential advantages including less bleeding, shorter recovery time, and improved postoperative right ventricular function when compared to traditional implantation. Centrifugal flow LVADs are easily implanted via a minimally invasive approach. In this article, the authors review intraoperive considerations for minimally invasive LVAD implantation, as well as hemodynamic management principles for patients with centrifugal flow LVADs.
Yttria-stabilized barium zirconate surface reactivity at elevated temperatures

Material changes in yttrium-doped barium zirconate, BaZr0.8Y0.2O3–x, were studied using in situ Raman spectroscopy and ex situ x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis. During in situ Raman analysis, samples were heated to temperatures of 300–600 °C and exposed to both dry and humidified H2 atmospheres. At the lower temperatures (300–450 °C), a new vibrational peak appears in the Raman spectra during exposure to humidified H2. The appearance of this feature is reversible, dependent on previous sample history, and possibly results from new, secondary phase formation or lattice distortion.
Functional Income Distribution, Demand Driven Growth and the Middle Income Trap: The Case of China

It is critical for China to develop its domestic market demand and to engage in technological innovations to escape the Middle Income Trap. However, evidence suggests that China has been experienci...
Anterior Segment OCT: High-Resolution Tomography of Corneal and Conjunctival Lesions

Anterior segment high-resolution optical coherence tomography (HR-OCT) plays a pivotal role in the diagnosis of corneal and conjunctival lesions. Ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN), the most common non-pigmented neoplasia of squamous cell origin, has variable appearances which include leukoplakic, papillary, opalescent, and gelatinous presentations. Pigmented lesions entail a lengthy differential, ranging from benign cystic nevi to life-threatening melanomas. The establishment of classic findings of OSSN and other ocular surface lesions on HR-OCT has greatly facilitated the identification of ocular surface pathologies. This chapter serves to outline the characteristic findings attributable to the following ocular surface lesions: ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN), Salzmann’s nodule, pterygium, sebaceous carcinoma, papilloma, lymphoma, amyloid, nevus, melanoma, primary acquired melanosis (PAM), complexion-associated melanosis (CAM), and inclusion cyst. HR-OCT provides morphological views of the lesions that greatly aid in diagnosis, in guiding therapy to full resolution, in detecting early recurrence, and in detecting residual postoperative disease in surgical cases.
Dexmedetomidine as an adjunctive analgaesic in the perioperative setting: A review of the literature.

Though arguably past the initial phase of the opioid epidemic, opioid-sparing or opioid-eliminating pain management regimens remain beneficial for patients and practitioners alike. Providing adequa...
Option Prices Incorporate Fundamentals: Evidence from US Natural Gas Market

We examine the incremental power of a large set of key fundamental, financial, and macroeconomic variables for forecasting the volatility of natural gas futures prices. Among other results, we find that the option implied volatility (IV) significantly improves the performance of predictions regarding the future volatility of the natural gas market. We also identify several fundamental and macroeconomic variables (e.g., open interests, default premiums, and the return of the housing index) which are statistically-significant in a predictive regression even after including the option implied volatility. On the other hand, we do not find a substantial increase in the adjusted-R2 of the predictive regressions (including IVs) after adding significant fundamental variables. The small incremental predictive power of fundamental variables is interpreted as a sign of the efficiency of the options market. We also observe that the adjusted-R2s of predictive regressions are higher when the time-to-maturity of the futures contract increases. Our results can help users of natural gas volatility forecasts (e.g., producers, utility companies, and portfolio managers) make better informed and more efficient operational and financial decisions.
Emergency Medical Services Clinicians' Pediatric Destination Decision-Making: A Qualitative Study.

Objective This study sought to identify factors that influence emergency medical services (EMS) clinicians' destination decision-making for pediatric patients. We also sought EMS clinicians' opinions on potential systems improvements, such as protocol changes and the use of evidence-based transport guidelines. Methods Thirty-six in-depth phone interviews were conducted using a semi-structured format. We utilized a modified Grounded Theory approach to understand the complicated decision-making processes of EMS personnel. Memo writing was used throughout the data collection and analysis processes in order to identify emerging themes. The research team utilized hierarchical coding of interview transcripts to organize data into sub-categories for final analysis. Results EMS clinicians cited the perceived need for specialty care, the presence of a medical home, a desire for improved continuity of care, and the availability of aeromedical transport as factors that promoted transport to a pediatric specialty center. They voiced that children with emergent stabilization needs should be transported to the closest facility, however, they did not identify any specific medical conditions suitable for transport to non-specialty centers. EMS clinicians recommended improvements in pediatric-specific education, improved clarity of hospitals' pediatric capabilities, and the creation of a pediatric-specific destination decision-making tool. Conclusion This study describes specific factors that influence EMS clinicians' transport destination decision-making for pediatric patients. It also describes potential systems and educational improvements that may increase pediatric transport directly to definitive care. EMS clinicians are in support of specific designations for hospitals' pediatric capabilities and were in favor of the creation of a formal destination decision-making tool.
Going through phages: A Computational approach to Revealing the role of prophage in Staphylococcus aureus

Prophages have important roles in virulence, antibiotic resistance and genome evolution in Staphylococcus aureus. Rapid growth in the number of sequenced S. aureus genomes allows for an investigation of prophage sequences in S. aureus at an unprecedented scale. We developed a computational pipeline to detect and analyze prophage sequences in nearly 10,011 S. aureus genomes, discovering thousands of putative prophage sequences with genes encoding virulence factors and antibiotic resistance.
Habeas Libris: For Books in Need of a Reprieve

Habeas Libris is a website (www.habeaslibris.com) dedicated to the salvation of books – old-fashioned, ink-on-paper books. The thinking behind the website is based on four simple observations about law libraries and law librarians: (1) they are reducing their print collections; (2) they are having a hard time finding buyers – or even takers – for the books they cannot keep; (3) they would rather give away than throw away their unwanted and unmarketable books; and (4) they lack a truly cheap and easy way to offer their unmarketable books to anyone who might want them. Habeas Libris aspires to be that cheap and easy way for law libraries to give away those surplus books. In addition, in this time of much re-ordering of priorities and re-tasking of facilities, and not so much re-shelving of books, Habeas Libris also aspires to provide book-loving librarians some small consolation that they have done everything they reasonably can before they consign any books to the dumpster – including offering their surplus books to the whole web-connected world for free. This article briefly puts the current circumstances of surplus law books in context, and then explains how Habeas Libris works.
Toward a Model of Functional Brain Processes I: Central Nervous System Functional Micro-architecture

The first paper in this pair (Bickhard in Axiomathes, 2015) developed a model of the nature of representation and cognition, and argued for a model of the micro-functioning of the brain on the basis of that model. In this sequel paper, starting with part III, this model is extended to address macro-functioning in the CNS. In part IV, I offer a discussion of an approach to brain functioning that has some similarities with, as well as differences from, the model presented here: sometimes called the Predictive Brain approach.
The Symmetry programming language

Symmetry is a parallel programming language intended for specifying scalable computation and communication in (K/spl minus/1) dimensions of discrete space and one dimension of discrete time. A program specifies causal and geometric relationships between spacetime regions and indicates when and where each subcomputation takes place. Symmetry unifies the notions of memory and communication in an expanded concept of "variable". A Symmetry variable propagates its value in any timelike direction in spacetime, not just in a direction parallel to the time axis as is the case for memory variables in traditional languages. A performance model for Symmetry properly accounts for the all costs of computation, including communication delay. >
Analysis of Synthetic Fiber Pull-Out From a Cement Matrix

Experiments were conducted on specimens containing nylon or polypropylene monofilaments embedded in a precracked matrix. During pull-out tests, it was generally observed that the pulling force continued to increase after one or both sides of the filament had begun to slip out, even though one or both of the embedded filament lengths were decreasing. This indicated that the fiber/matrix shear stress increased with the fiber slippage distance. Examination of the extracted filaments under a scanning electron microscope (SEM) revealed the increased shear resistance to be the result of fiber surface abrasion. The severity of abrasion was observed to increase with the fiber slippage distance before complete pull-out. A theoretical model has been developed to predict the pull-out force versus displacement relationship based on given fiber/matrix shear strength as an increasing function of the slippage distance. The model gives good prediction in comparison with experimental results.
A Collaborative Manufacturing Collective

The extent of collaboration among the companies in a manufacturing network impacts the parametric fluctuations in the network. This is displayed explicitly by the form of the network's normal modes. By gradually increasing the number of companies that actively collaborate, it is possible to see how the form of the normal modes changes. Initial understanding of this normal mode's resonant damping was developed using a LOGICS (Learning Object Game Immersed Complex Systems) simulation. A traditional fluctuation-plagued supply chain was transformed into an efficient collaborative manufacturing collective. The improvement is achieved while still honoring the desire of individual companies not to directly share what might be considered proprietary information with another company. The method is extendable and should be applicable to more complex adaptive cloud-coordinated manufacturing networks in which efficiency is obtained by system-wide LOGICS-based feedback to individual companies.
Epitaxial Fe3-xTixO4 films from magnetite to ulvöspinel by pulsed laser deposition

Epitaxial films along the Fe{sub 3-x}Ti{sub x}O{sub 4} (titanomagnetite) compositional series from pure end-members magnetite (Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4}) to ulvospinel (Fe{sub 2}TiO{sub 4}) were successfully grown by pulsed laser deposition on MgO(100) substrates. Spectroscopic characterization including high resolution x-ray diffraction, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and synchrotron-based x-ray absorption and magnetic circular dichroism consistently shows that Ti(IV) substitutes for Fe(III) in the inverse spinel lattice with a proportional increase in lattice Fe(II) concentration. No evidence of Ti interstitials, spinodal decomposition, or secondary phases was found in the bulk of the grown films. At the uppermost few nanometers of the Ti-bearing film surfaces, evidence suggests that Fe(II) is susceptible to facile oxidation, and that an associated lower Fe/Ti ratio in this region is consistent with surface compositional incompleteness or alteration to a titanomaghemite-like composition and structure. The surface of these films nonetheless appear to remain highly ordered and commensurate with the underlying structure despite facile oxidation, a surface condition that is found to be reversible to some extent by heating in low oxygen environments.
Role of the Kupffer cells in local and systemic immune responses

Kupffer cells are mononuclear phagocytes that reside within the sinusoids of the liver. Historically, these hepatic macrophages have been regarded as having only a limited function, serving principally as nonspecific phagocytic scavenger cells. It has become clear, however, that other populations of mononuclear phagocytes possess a variety of biologic functions in addition to phagocytosis. Among these is their capacity to interact with various lymphocyte populations involved in both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses (1-5). Thus, mononuclear phagocytes have been shown to play a critical role in the induction, expression, and regulation of these responses. Since Kupffer cells are lineally related to the other populations of mononuclear phagocytes (6,7), it is possible that these cells may also play a role in both local and systemic immune reactions. In this regard, Kupffer cells are situated at an interface with the bloodstream in a location affording them constant exposure to antigens and other potentially immunostimulatory materials. This anatomic interposition between venous return from the gastrointestinal tract and the systemic circulation causes Kupffer cells to be among the first members of the mononuclear phagocyte system to encounter immunogens absorbed from the lumen of the in-
Hypothesized, Directly-Coded Curve Shapes in Growth Curve Analysis: An Example

Growth curve analysis provides important informational benefits regarding intervention outcomes over time. Rarely, however, should outcome trajectories be assumed to be linear. Instead, both the shape and the slope of the growth curve can be estimated. Non-linear growth curves are usually modeled by including either higher-order time variables or orthogonal polynomial contrast codes. Each has limitations (multicollinearity with the first, a lack of coefficient interpretability with the second, and a loss of degrees of freedom with both) and neither encourages direct testing of alternative hypothesized curve shapes. Especially in studies with relatively small samples it is likely to be useful to preserve as much information as possible at the individual level. This article presents a step-by-step example of the use and testing of hypothesized curve shapes in the estimation of growth curves using hierarchical linear modeling for a small intervention study. DOI:10.2458/azu_jmmss_v3i2_herman
Pulse width and wavelength tunable injection modelocking lasers employing TOAD technologies

We build a numerical model of a mode-locked laser that uses a terahertz optical asymmetric demultiplexer (TOAD) as an optical modulator. The mode-locking process in the laser cavity is theoretically studied. The output pulse width and spectral characteristics under different working conditions are further shown. The laser can be used to generate high-repetition-rate pulses of different wavelength and pulse width by adjusting the offset of the SOA from the loop center in the TOAD, which provides great flexibility for the applications in optical communications and signal processing.
Microbiologic Determination of Codehydrogenase in Blood of Patients with Ulcerative Lesions

A microbiologic determination of codehydrogenase by means of H. parainfluenzae is presented. Data on the blood enzyme concentration of patients suffering from leukemia, diabetes, and duodenal ulcer are given.
Relationship between duration of treatment and oral health in adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities

The purpose of this study was to evaluate how dental outcomes changed over time among subjects with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) who were under treatment. This retrospective study included 107 subjects who were treated at a Tufts Dental Facilities clinic. Data from each subject were collected at three time points: initial visit, midpoint visit, and most recent visit. Generalized estimating equations were used to assess the relationship between time in treatment and several outcome variables (cooperation level, hygiene rating, presence of caries, periodontitis, dental pain, and infection). Statistically significant decreases in caries (p < .001) and increases in periodontitis (p = .002) were found over time. Associations between time and other outcome variables were not statistically significant. The prevalence of caries decreased and the prevalence of periodontitis increased over time among patients with IDDs receiving regular comprehensive dental care. Even among patients under routine maintenance, significant oral health problems remain.
Evolving coordinated agents

In recent years, considerable interest and enthusiasm have been generated by the prospect of widespread use of intelligent agent-based systems [18]. In particular, a number of researchers have been investigating the design and implementation of systems consisting of multiple agents [26]. The design of successful multiagent systems is, however, a problem of significant magnitude and difficulty. Often multiple, conflicting criteria have to be simultaneously optimized to come up with a cost-effective multiagent system design. Agent system design may involve designing the infrastructure or environment for agent interaction as well as behavioral strategies for individual or multiple agents. Agent behaviors handcrafted offline can be inadequate if possible interactions are overlooked. Genetic algorithms provide us with another tool for designing both individual agent behaviors as well as social rules for multiagent systems. In this chapter we identify different modes for evolving agent groups and present instances of two different approaches: a coevolutionary optimization approach, and an adaptive system approach.
Electric field-induced spectrum of carbon disulfide: Excited state dipole moment

Abstract The electric field-induced spectrum of carbon disulfide vapor has been observed in a number of vibronic bands in the 3300–3750 A region of the B 2 ← 1 Σ g + electronic system. A detailed analysis of the Σ0g+2 band at 29 241.8 cm−1 has yielded the electric dipole moment of the bent excited state of the transition as 0.7 ± 0.1 D. Consideration of the lineshapes of the EFS lines in this band gives a confirmation of the value of A′ near 4.3 cm−1. The ratio of induced absorption intensities perpendicular and parallel to the applied field in various bands correlates with the band-type assignments of Klemens.
A methamphetamine vaccine attenuates methamphetamine-induced disruptions in thermoregulation and activity in rats.

Background There are no approved pharmacotherapies for d-methamphetamine (METH) addiction and existing therapies have limited efficacy. Advances in using immunotherapeutic approaches for cocaine and nicotine addiction have stimulated interest in creating a similar approach for METH addiction. This study investigated whether active vaccination against METH could potentially attenuate responses to METH in vivo. Methods Male Sprague Dawley rats ( n = 32) received a four-boost series with one of three candidate anti-METH vaccines (MH2[R], MH6, and MH7) or a control keyhole limpet hemocyanin conjugate vaccine. Effects of METH on rectal temperature and wheel activity at 27°C ambient temperature were determined. The most efficacious vaccine, MH6, was then contrasted with keyhole limpet hemocyanin conjugate vaccine in a subsequent experiment ( n = 16), wherein radiotelemetry determined home cage locomotor activity and body temperature at 23°C ambient temperature. Results The MH6 vaccine produced high antibody titers with nanomolar affinity for METH and sequestered METH in the periphery of rats. In experiment 1, the thermoregulatory and psychomotor responses produced by METH at 27°C were blocked in the MH6 group. In experiment 2, METH-induced decreases in body temperature and locomotor activity at 23°C were also attenuated in the MH6 group. A pharmacokinetic study in experiment 2 showed that MH6-vaccinated rats had higher METH serum concentrations, yet lower brain METH concentrations, than control rats, and METH concentrations correlated with individual antibody titer. Conclusions These data demonstrate that active immunopharmacotherapy provides functional protection against physiological and behavioral disruptions induced by METH.
Discrimination and synthesis of recursive quantum states in high-dimensional Hilbert spaces

This research was supported by the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency QUINESS program through US Army Research Office Award No. W31P4Q-12-1-0015 and by the NSF under Grant No. ECCS-1309209. (W31P4Q-12-1-0015 - Defense Advanced Research Project Agency QUINESS program through US Army Research Office; ECCS-1309209 - NSF)