cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 3720: Antiplatelet Medication and Bleeding Complications with External Ventricular Drains

Introduction: External ventricular drains (EVD) are routinely used in the neurosurgical operating room and the neurointensive care unit to treat patients with severe traumatic brain injury and intracranial hemorrhages. EVD insertion has been associated with hemorrhagic complications in patients taking anticoagulants and standard of care dictates reversal of anticoagulation prior to EVD insertion. However, the risk of bleeding from EVD insertion in patients on antiplatelet medications is unknown. In this retrospective study, we determined the bleeding complication rates in patients on and off antiplatelet therapy. Methods and Materials: Hospital procedure codes were searched to identify all patients who received an EVD from August 2008 and June 2011, regardless of indication. Computerized medical records, neuroimaging, and the Hartford Hospital Stroke Center Database were utilized to record medication use and bleeding complications. Patients who received anticoagulant therapy such as warfarin were excluded. A bleeding complication was defined as visible hemorrhage on a CT or MRI scan after EVD placement at any point along the EVD tract on any scan after placement. Review of neuroimaging was performed blinded to medication use. Analyses were performed to ascertain the correlation between antiplatelet therapy and bleeding complications following EVD placement. Results: 163 patients met the inclusion criteria and 19 patients were taking an antiplatelet medication. The overall occurrence of bleeding complications after an EVD was 14 out of 163 (8.6%). The data suggest an association between antiplatelet medication use and EVD bleeding complications (6.9% in patients not on an antiplatelet medication vs 21.1% in patients taking an antiplatelet medication, p=0.062). Conclusion: Although not statistically significant, this exploratory study identified a trend towards higher bleeding complications from EVD placement in patients on antiplatelet therapy. This is an important observation in reevaluating EVD insertion protocols. A larger study will likely establish statistical significance and can determine whether clinical outcomes were affected by bleeding complications. Future studies may then evaluate interventions to reduce bleeding (e.g. platelet transfusions for patients on antiplatelet therapy).
The Experience of Purpose Among Diverse Groups

This chapter synthesizes research on the experience of living a purposeful life. Empirical studies that address the cognitive, affective, and social experiences associated with leading lives with and without purpose are discussed. Additionally, research on the experience of stress among individuals with purpose is reviewed. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the prevalence and nature of purpose among individuals in the United States, from Non-Western countries, among individuals who experience social inequality, and among individuals from different types of communities. It also discusses research on purpose among incarcerated individuals and students. Throughout the chapter, references to significant gaps in the research are highlighted and calls for additional studies are made.
Results of a phase II trial of neoadjuvant abiraterone + prednisone+ enzalutamide + leuprolide (APEL) versus enzalutamide + leuprolide (EL) for patients with high-risk localized prostate cancer (PC) undergoing radical prostatectomy (RP).

79Background: Patients with high-risk PC have an increased risk of recurrence and mortality despite therapy. Abiraterone, a CYP17 inhibitor, and enzalutamide, a next generation anti-androgen, have demonstrated improved overall survival in metastatic PC. In this multicenter randomized phase II trial, we evaluate the impact of second generation hormone therapy on RP pathologic outcomes. Methods: Eligible patients had biopsy Gleason score ≥4+3=7, PSA >20 ng/mL or cT3 disease (by prostate MRI). Lymph node were require to be <20 mm. Patients were randomized 2:1 to APE:EL for 6 cycles (24 weeks) followed by RP. All RPs underwent central pathology review. The primary endpoint was the rate of pathologic complete response (pCR) or minimum residual disease (MRD, tumor ≤5 mm). Secondary endpoints include PSA response, surgical staging at RP, positive margin rate, and safety. Results: 75 patients were enrolled at four sites: DFCI/BWH (n=55), BIDMC (n=11), UW (n=5), JHU (n=4). Median age was 62 years. Most patients ha...
Differential MicroRNA Signatures in the Pathogenesis of Barrett's Esophagus.

Objectives Barrett's esophagus (BE) is the precursor lesion and a major risk factor for esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Although patients with BE undergo routine endoscopic surveillance, current screening methodologies have proven ineffective at identifying individuals at risk of EAC. Since microRNAs (miRNAs) have potential diagnostic and prognostic value as disease biomarkers, we sought to identify an miRNA signature of BE and EAC. Methods High-throughput sequencing of miRNAs was performed on serum and tissue biopsies from 31 patients identified either as normal, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), BE, BE with low-grade dysplasia (LGD), or EAC. Logistic regression modeling of miRNA profiles with Lasso regularization was used to identify discriminating miRNA. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to validate changes in miRNA expression using 46 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens obtained from normal, GERD, BE, BE with LGD or HGD, and EAC subjects. Results A 3-class predictive model was able to classify tissue samples into normal, GERD/BE, or LGD/EAC classes with an accuracy of 80%. Sixteen miRNAs were identified that predicted 1 of the 3 classes. Our analysis confirmed previous reports indicating that miR-29c-3p and miR-193b-5p expressions are altered in BE and EAC and identified miR-4485-5p as a novel biomarker of esophageal dysplasia. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction validated 11 of 16 discriminating miRNAs. Discussion Our data provide an miRNA signature of normal, precancerous, and cancerous tissue that may stratify patients at risk of progressing to EAC. We found that serum miRNAs have a limited ability to distinguish between disease states, thus limiting their potential utility in early disease detection.
When a Rose by Another Name Smells Sweeter: Do Deliberate Names Mitigate the Consequences of Organizational Ambiguity?

Organizational names serve important identity functions. One such function is to reduce ambiguity vis-a-vis a given audience. Organizations often strive to accomplish this goal by choosing a deliberate name that includes a product (e.g., “Tire”) or market (e.g., “Automotive”) identifier in the organizational name itself (e.g., “XYZ Automotive and Tire Repair”). Using data from the hedge fund industry, this article addresses questions related to the strategic use of deliberate organizational names. Results indicate that ambiguous or atypical members of an organizational category are more likely than typical ones to choose deliberate names. Furthermore, the strategy appears to be successful. An analysis of hedge fund failures during the high-liquidation rate years of 2008 and 2009 indicates the following: whereas atypicality heightened a hedge fund’s likelihood of failure, having a deliberate name offset this effect. Atypical funds with deliberate names experienced a strikingly lower failure rate than comparable funds without deliberate names. These results have implications for theories relating to authenticity, identity work, and strategic deception in organizational settings.
High-Fidelity Discrete-Time State-Dependent Riccati Equation Filters for Stochastic Nonlinear Systems with Gaussian/Non-Gaussian Noises

Two filtering techniques are proposed by using the discrete-time state-dependent Riccati equation (D-SDRE) methodology. Detailed derivation of the D-SDRE-based filter (D-SDREF) with the two-step procedure (measurement and update) is provided under the assumption of Gaussian noises. The input-to-state stability of the error signal between the measured and the estimated signals is proven under reasonable assumptions on system properties. For the non-Gaussian distributed noises, we propose a filter by combining the D-SDREF and the particle filter (PF), named the combined D-SDRE/PF. Algorithms of D-SDREF and combined D-SDRE/PF are provided. Performance of the latter techniques is compared with that of several other ones through the use of a challenging numerical example. Using the latter example, the reliability and the efficacy of the proposed D-SDREF and the combined D-SDRE/PF are demonstrated.
Journalists as Knowledge Brokers

Knowledge brokers play a crucial role in improving the likelihood that scientific research informs public policy and professional practice, and journalists are well-positioned to serve in this role...
Liquid–Liquid Equilibrium Measurements for the Extraction of Pyridine and Benzothiazole from n-Alkanes Using Deep Eutectic Solvents

The liquid–liquid extraction of a nitrogen-containing aromatic “pyridine” and nitrogen/sulfur-containing aromatic “benzothiazole” from n-hexane and n-heptane using deep eutectic solvents (DESs) was...
Pediatric Gartland Type-IV Supracondylar Humeral Fractures Have Substantial Overlap with Flexion-Type Fractures.

BACKGROUND Knowledge is limited about the diagnosis and treatment of modified Gartland type-IV supracondylar humeral fractures. We determined the prevalence of type-IV fractures, identified preoperative characteristics associated with these injuries, and assessed operative treatment characteristics. METHODS We retrospectively identified patients <16 years of age who underwent operative treatment of a supracondylar humeral fracture at 2 centers between 2008 and 2016. We compared patient, injury, and treatment characteristics between type-IV and type-III fracture groups (1:4, cases:controls). Preoperative radiographs were assessed by 4 pediatric orthopaedists blinded to fracture type. The odds of a fracture being type IV were assessed using univariate logistic regression for individual radiographic parameters. Significance was set at alpha = 0.05. RESULTS Type-IV fractures accounted for 39 (1.3%) of the supracondylar humeral fractures treated operatively during the study period. A type-IV fracture was associated with the following radiographic parameters: flexion angulation (odds ratio [OR] = 17; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 4.9 to 59), valgus angulation (OR = 5.6; 95% CI = 1.6 to 20), and lateral translation (OR = 4.1; 95% CI = 1.6 to 11) of the distal fragment; osseous apposition between the proximal and distal fragments (OR = 4.0; 95% CI = 1.8 to 9.0); and propagation of the fracture line toward the diaphysis of the proximal segment (OR = 9.2; 95% CI = 1.6 to 53). We found no significant differences in patient or injury characteristics between the groups. Compared with type-III fractures, type-IV fractures were treated more frequently with open reduction and percutaneous pinning (13% compared with 3.8%; p = 0.04) and were associated with longer mean operative time (82 ± 42 compared with 63 ± 28 minutes; p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS We identified 5 preoperative radiographic parameters associated with greater odds of a supracondylar humeral fracture being type IV rather than type III. No patient or injury characteristic differed significantly between the groups. Substantial overlap likely exists between type-IV and flexion-type fractures. Type-IV fractures were associated with longer operative time and were treated with open reduction more frequently than were type-III fractures. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Programs for the Treatment of Dental Disorders

Surveys indicate that 4%-10% of the adult population avoid dental treatment because of extreme fears, and probably an even larger percentage (up to 25%) avoid dental treatment except when they are symptomatic (Ayer & Corah, 1984). Extreme dental fears were reported in 23% of 14- to 21-year-olds, and there is a continuing reduction in fear with age. Dentists are generally inconsistent in their approach to dealing with anxious patients. Corah (1988) reported that three quarters of the dentists surveyed felt that patient anxiety was the greatest barrier to regular dental care. Very few dentists, however, ask the patient whether he or she is anxious. They are afraid that the question will suggest that there is something to be anxious about. Many dentists admit that they themselves become anxious if they deal with anxious patients. Dentists need to know both how to recognize patient anxiety and what to do about it. The first part of this chapter reviews the etiology of dental anxiety and indicates how it can be measured in child and adult patients. Strategies for reducing patient anxiety are provided in terms of the treatment of patients by psychologists and the education of dentists in behavior management strategies for preventing dental phobia. The second part of the chapter deals with temporomandibular disorder (TMD), a pain syndrome increasingly recognized as being influenced by psychological factors.
Black-box optimization on hyper-rectangle using Recursive Modified Pattern Search and application to ROC-based Classification Problem

In Statistics, multi-modal and non-smooth likelihood (or, objective function) maximization problems often arise with known upper and lower bound of the parameters. A novel derivative-free global optimization technique is developed to optimize any black-box function on a hyper-rectangular euclidean space. In literature, pattern search technique has been shown to be a powerful tool for blackbox optimization. The proposed algorithm follows the principle of pattern search technique where new updated solution is obtained from the current solution making movements (within the constrained sample space) along the coordinates. Before making a jump from the current solution point to a new solution point, objective function is evaluated in several neighborhood points around the current solution and the best solution point is chosen based on the objective function values at those points. Parallel threading can be used to make the algorithm more scalable. Performance of the proposed method is evaluated based on optimization of upto 5000 dimensional multi-modal benchmark functions. The proposed algorithm is shown to perform upto 40 and 368 times faster compared to Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Simulated Annealing (SA) respectively. The proposed method is used to estimate the optimal biomarker combination from Alzheimer data by maximizing the empirical estimates of area under ROC curve.
Prospective evaluation of admission cortisol in trauma

Background A low cortisol level has been shown to occur soon after trauma, and is associated with increased mortality. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of low cortisol levels in acute critically ill trauma patients. We hypothesized that patients would require increase vasopressor use, have a greater blood product administration, and increased mortality rate. Methods A blinded, prospective observational study was performed at an American College of Surgeons verified Level I trauma center. Adult patients who met trauma activation criteria, received initial treatment at Community Regional Medical Center and were admitted to the intensive care unit were included. Total serum cortisol levels were measured from the initial blood draw in the emergency department. Patients were categorized according to cortisol ≤15 µg/dL (severe low cortisol, SLC), 15.01–25 µg/dL (relative low cortisol, RLC), or >25 µg/dL (normal cortisol, NC) and compared on demographics, injury severity score, initial vital signs, blood product usage, vasopressor requirements, and mortality. Results Cortisol levels were ordered for 280 patients; 91 were excluded and 189 were included. Penetrating trauma accounted for 19% of injuries and blunt trauma for 81%. 22 patients (12%) had SLC, 83 (44%) had RLC, and 84 (44%) had NC. This study found patients with admission SLC had higher rates of vasopressor requirements, required more units of blood, and had a higher mortality rate than both the RLC and NC groups. Conclusion Low cortisol level can be identified acutely after severe trauma. Trauma patients with SLC had larger blood product requirements, vasopressor use, and increase mortality. Initial cortisol levels are useful in identifying these high-risk patients. Level of evidence Prognostic/epidemiologic study, level III
Ischemic Stroke and Intracranial Hemorrhages during Percutaneous Left Ventricular Assist Device Cardiac Support

Purpose Mechanical circulatory support systems for cardiogenic shock and heart failure are associated with ischemic strokes and intracranial hemorrhages. Impella is a percutaneously placed, ventricular assist device for short-term cardiac support. We aimed to study the prevalence of acute neurologic complications during short-term support with Impella. Methods We reviewed prospectively collected data of 79 consecutive persons implanted with Impella at a single, tertiary center between October 2010 to July 2018. Acute neurological events (ANE) were defined as ischemic strokes or intracranial hemorrhages, including intracerebral hemorrhage, subdural hematomas and subarachnoid hemorrhages. Among those with ANE, specific causes of ischemic and hemorrhagic events were collected and discussed. Results Of 79 persons with Impella with median 8 days of support (range 1-33 days), 6 (7.5%) developed ANE at a median of 5 days from implant (range 1-8 days). There were 3 ischemic strokes, 2 intracerebral hemorrhages, and 1subdural hematoma. Hemorrhagic events were attributed to anticoagulant use and thrombocytopenia at the time of the events. Two ischemic strokes were attributed to inadequate anticoagulation with one case of pump thrombosis diagnosed at time of ischemic stroke. Only 2 of the 6 patients survived the acute cardiogenic shock period to achieve heart transplantation. Conclusion In-hospital ischemic strokes and intracranial hemorrhages are common during the short-term cardiac support period with Impella. Antithrombotic intensity, duration of device support time, and thrombocytopenia might contribute to the incidence of these events.
Load monitoring and compensation strategies for guided-waves based structural health monitoring using piezoelectric transducers

Abstract Accurate interpretation of in-situ piezoelectric sensor signals is a challenging task. This paper presents the development of a numerical compensation model based on physical insight to address the influence of structural loads on piezo-sensor signals. The model requires knowledge of in-situ strain and temperature distribution in a structure while acquiring piezoelectric sensor signals. The parameters of the numerical model are obtained using experiments on flat aluminum plate under uniaxial tensile loading. It is shown that the model parameters obtained experimentally can be used for different structures, and sensor layout. Furthermore, the combined effects of load and temperature on the piezo-sensor response are also investigated and it is observed that both of these factors have a coupled effect on the sensor signals. It is proposed to obtain compensation model parameters under a range of operating temperatures to address this coupling effect. An important outcome of this study is a new load monitoring concept using in-situ piezoelectric sensor signals to track changes in the load paths in a structure.
World Honey Bee Health: The Global Distribution of Western Honey Bee (Apis mellifera L.) Pests and Pathogens

Western honey bees, Apis mellifera L., (hereafter “honey bee”) are among the most widespread organisms in the world, as their association with humans has led to their dispersal from their native ra...
Thermal Resistance of Single Strains of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli O121:H19 and O157:H7 Based on Culture Preparation Method and Osmolyte-Reduced Water Activity.

ABSTRACT Bacterial exposure to stress, such as reduced water activity (aw), can increase thermal resistance. Pathogen thermal resistance studies on low-aw foods use a variety of methods to inoculate food, as well as strategies to reduce aw, which can influence observations. This study investigated effects of culture preparation method and osmolyte-induced aw on thermal resistance of two Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains (O121:H19 and O157:H7) challenged with isothermal conditions, determining D- and z-values for each isolate (56, 59, and 62°C). Tryptic soy broth (TSB) and agar (lawn cultures) were compared. D-values of broth cultures were significantly and consistently larger than those of lawn cultures, and O121 was significantly more resistant than O157, but only at 56°C (P < 0.05). To compare potential effects of aw on STEC thermal resistance, cells were suspended in osmolyte solutions with varying aw: high (TSB, aw 0.99), intermediate (61% glycerol or 26% NaCl, aw 0.75), and low (82% glycerol, aw 0.5). In most instances, STEC strains in high-aw broth exhibited greater heat resistance compared to reduced-aw solutions, with the exception of the glycerol intermediate-aw solution (aw 0.75). Magnitudes varied with strain and temperature. The z-values of lawn cultures were significantly lower than those of broth cultures (P < 0.05), but there were few differences between high-aw and reduced-aw samples. There were no significant differences of z-values based on strain type. These results highlight that thermal resistance can be affected by culture preparation and that osmolyte-induced changes to aw influence thermal inactivation of STEC by varying magnitudes. These results emphasize the challenges of extrapolating results from laboratory inactivation kinetic experiments to determine the inactivation of low-aw foods, especially those considered dry in nature. HIGHLIGHTS
Directed coping: A key to coping effectively?

Directed coping, or the use of fewer coping strategies, represents attempts of the individual to effectively cope with stressors (Wright et al.,2015). As individuals engage in this process, health and wellness (e.g., physical, mental) generally improve, suggesting directed coping may be an effective technique. However, little specific information is known about the directed coping construct beyond the results of the single study by Wright et al. (2015) among nurses dealing with work stressors. Therefore, the current study seeks to examine the directed coping construct in more depth. Following a pre/post study design, 611 undergraduate students participated in a health behavior change program, completing an online questionnaire regarding their health, wellness, and general life stressors as well as an in-person physical health assessment before and after the 6-week program. Consistent with hypotheses, directed coping was associated with and predictive of improved health and wellness subjectively (e.g., affect, stress) and objectively (e.g., heart rate, blood pressure, grip strength) relative to coping with general life stressors. Moreover, directed coping demonstrated stability over time and was related to personality characteristics. Thus, the results suggest directed coping is an effective method of coping and may be stable across situations. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Predictors of communication attitude in preschool-age children who stutter.

Abstract Purpose Although preschool-age children who stutter report more negative attitudes toward communication than their typically fluent peers, few investigations have explored factors that may contribute to the differences observed in communication attitude. The purpose of the present study was to explore whether behavioral characteristics of stuttering severity (frequency, duration, physical concomitants) and time since onset of stuttering predict communication attitude in preschool-age children. Method Fifty-nine preschool-aged children who stutter completed two speaking samples and the KiddyCAT, a self-report assessment of communication attitude. Speech samples were analyzed for stuttering frequency (measured by percentage of stuttered syllables), duration, and presence of physical concomitants. Linear regression models were used to assess if these behavioral measures of stuttering and time since onset of stuttering predicted self-reported communication attitude. Results Results indicate stuttering behavioral measures and time since onset do not predict KiddyCAT scores of preschool-age children who stutter. Conclusions Preliminary data suggest children who have presented with stuttering for a longer period of time are no more likely to report a negative communication attitude than children who have a shorter time since onset. Additionally, in contrast to school-age children who stutter, but similar to adults and adolescents who stutter, communication attitude is not linearly related to stuttering severity in preschool-age children.
Facilitating Distinctive and Meaningful Change Within U.S. Law Schools (Part 2): Pursuing Successful Plan Implementation Through Better Resource Management

In Part 1 of this series, one of the current authors used institutional theory, behavioral economics, and psychology to explain why U.S. law schools have had difficulty evolving faster and better.1 The author then used institutional entrepreneurship to propose a seven-step, faculty-led, operational change process designed to overcome institutional isomorphism and to enable each law school to formulate a distinctive, meaningful, strategic plan. In Part 2, the current article addresses the typical implementation challenges to be expected within the context of existing law school governance. The article begins by discussing the Resource Based View of the firm and the role of resource management in achieving competitive advantages. These considerations lay the foundation for the critical role of faculty engagement and law school leadership in successful strategic plan implementation. Next, within this context, the article discusses four questions whose answers may foreshadow implementation problems. Lastly, the article discusses the results of several Monte Carlo Simulations. The simulations provide insight into the likely performance problems caused by faculty misaligned with, or disengaged from, their law school’s strategic goals. The results suggest that even minimal faculty misalignment can have a significant deleterious effect on the ability of a given law school to achieve any distinctive position. All told, the article concludes that U.S. law schools can successfully implement distinctive and meaningful strategic plans within existing shared governance structures. However, success will be difficult to achieve. It requires the full engagement and leadership by both the faculty and the Dean, sustained operational support for strategic change, and the active management of law school resources.
The competing effects of olivine and orthopyroxene CPO on seismic anisotropy

Abstract Orthopyroxene is the second most abundant mineral in the upper mantle and, like olivine, can form crystallographic preferred orientations (CPO) during mantle deformation that may influence mantle seismic anisotropy. Here we use a compilation of 21 peridotites in which both olivine and orthopyroxene CPOs are preserved to document the range of orthopyroxene CPO types and to explore their effects on seismic anisotropy of peridotites. In addition to four previously published orthopyroxene CPO types, this study establishes three new CPO types, two of which result in orthopyroxene fast axes aligned parallel to the lineation and the direction of mantle shear/flow. We calculate bulk elastic tensors for each sample from the measured olivine and orthopyroxene CPOs, and use those in turn to calculate Vp and Vs velocities and anisotropy percentages. In order to explore the relative influence of olivine and orthopyroxene on anisotropy, these properties were calculated for a range of possible modal percentages, from 100% olivine to 100% orthopyroxene. While the effect of orthopyroxene CPO appears to be a negligible influence on the orientation of bulk seismic fast axes, the presence of increasing orthopyroxene decreases the anisotropic signal overall. However, at very low olivine modal percentages, olivine and orthopyroxene can be mutually destructive, where the addition of olivine to a mostly orthopyroxene rock can actually decrease anisotropy.
Ensemble Kalman Filter (EnKF) for Reinforcement Learning (RL).

This paper is concerned with the problem of representing and learning the optimal control law for the linear quadratic Gaussian (LQG) optimal control problem. In recent years, there is a growing interest in re-visiting this classical problem, in part due to the successes of reinforcement learning (RL). The main question of this body of research (and also of our paper) is to approximate the optimal control law {\em without} explicitly solving the Riccati equation. For this purpose, a novel simulation-based algorithm, namely an ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF), is introduced in this paper. The algorithm is used to obtain formulae for optimal control, expressed entirely in terms of the EnKF particles. For the general partially observed LQG problem, the proposed EnKF is combined with a standard EnKF (for the estimation problem) to obtain the optimal control input based on the use of the separation principle. A nonlinear extension of the algorithm is also discussed which clarifies the duality roots of the proposed EnKF. The theoretical results and algorithms are illustrated with numerical experiments.
The “Post-Quantal Garden” Annotated

The Post-Quantal Garden is a work of speculative fiction based on J.G. Ballard’s short story “The Terminal Beach” first published in 1964. Set within Donna Haraway’s climate-changed Chthulucene, the work is intended as an elliptical rumination on the history of nuclear testing in the Pacific, bio-hacking, tropicality, and apocalyptic narrative. Moving between historical fact and speculative fiction, the story takes the form of a scholarly introduction to and contextualization of fictional passages from an imaginary journal supposedly found during the very real radiological clean-up of Enewetak Atoll. Enewetak, an atoll in the Marshall Islands group, was used by the US for nuclear testing and was the site of operation Ivy-Mike, the first fusion bomb test, and is the setting for Ballard’s Terminal Beach.
Effectiveness of aerial wildlife crossings: Do wildlife use rope bridges more than hazardous structures to cross roads?

Introduction: Although wildlife crossing structures have proven successful at reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions and linking fragmented habitat, their ability to prevent electrocutions of arboreal wildlife has not been closely examined. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of aerial rope bridges in restoring habitat connectivity for arboreal species in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica, while preventing electrocutions by determining 1) what species are using the rope bridges and 2) whether wildlife prefer to use rope bridges instead of other hazardous structures that cross the roads (such as telephone cables, which are often in close proximity to electric wires). Methods: From January to May 2016, nine rope bridges along the highly-trafficked main road that extends from Quepos to Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica, were monitored using camera traps, and ten rope bridges were observed directly along a paved side road off the main road. Results: A total of 11 species were seen using the bridges, and 1 540 crossings were witnessed via camera traps and observations (1 234 via camera traps, 306 during observations). Results from a paired t-test showed no significant difference in the average number of individuals crossing the road via rope bridges versus telephone cables (t(8) = 1.027, P = 0.334). Conclusions: Rope bridges are used by a variety of arboreal wildlife species with a high degree of frequency; however, due to the equally high usage of telephone cables by arboreal wildlife, they are insufficient to prevent wildlife electrocutions on their own. Rope bridges should be installed in tandem with other methods to prevent electrocutions, such as insulating electric wires, to facilitate the safe passage of wildlife over roads.
Characterization of Wheel-Roadway Interaction for Recreational Vehicles

Seven mathematical models for the interaction of a pneumatic tire with a roadway are analyzed. This study involves a single-wheel trailer, and it is assumed that the tire and roadway touch each other at only one point. Results of numerical solutions of equations of motion are given in graphical form for the first four models. Significant disparities are found among the predictions of the various theories. This work is intended to form the basis for experiments to be performed to determine which model, if any, is, in fact, valid. Paper No. 790181.
Accommodating Interdisciplinary Research

As made evident by the information work, organizational structures, cultural conditions, and knowledge requirements involved in boundary crossing research, the scientists have developed sophisticated methods and routines that help them in their interdisciplinary endeavors. All of the scientists have found ways to gather information and communicate with researchers in other fields and overcome the departmental and disciplinary barriers that make it d ifficu lt to interact across disciplinary boundaries. To do this, some researchers rely heavily on the Center, and others have devised structures and strategies that are less entwined with the Center’s resources or remain largely independent of the institution. It has been argued that the execution of interdisciplinary inquiry should radically alter the procedures of research and that it is insufficient to merely accommodate interdisciplinarity within existing structures or with fabricated bridge-building institutions (Fuller 1993). That proposition has merit as an ideal, but it does not help us to substantiate what is really happening in the work worlds of academic researchers where interdisciplinarity is not well understood and is rarely well supported. In essence, the Center is in the business of accommodating i nterd i scipli narity and buffering it from the deterrents ingrained in the system of academic higher education and research.
A Social Network Based Analysis of Deceptive Communication in Online Chat

The digital information era has allowed increasing online deception opportunities. In addition, the performance of detecting deception has been no better than chance in face-to-face communication, and is reported to be even worse in computer-mediated communication (CMC). Thus, there is a great need to uncover effective cues to deception in CMC. Online interaction weaves an implicit social network. However, Deception in CMC has not been examined from the social network perspective. To fill this gap, this research explores interaction patterns of deceivers in online chat. Based on an analysis of social networks created from online chat messages, this study provides preliminary evidence for the efficacy of social network based metrics in discriminating deceivers from truth-tellers. The findings of this study have significant implications for deception research in social media.
Adaptive portal aggregation for pervasive client devices

Accessing portals using pervasive client devices, such as PDAs, smart phones, etc., has become very important to mobile users. The characteristics of pervasive devices, such as small form factor, screen geometry diversity, low processing power, weak network connectivity, etc., impose many challenges for accessing portals on the pervasive devices. A major overlooked challenge is the difference in user attention on a desktop system and the user attention on a pervasive device. In this paper, we propose an adaptive portal aggregation framework to minimize the user attention demands for accessing portals on pervasive devices. We propose two specific techniques and a general approach that uses client context information for adaptive portal aggregation for pervasive client devices. We have tested these approaches in an embedded portal that runs on a PDA.
VLSI-compatible cellular neural networks with optimal solution capability for optimization

The hardware annealing method is effective on finding the optimal solutions for selected cellular neural network applications. The method is presented and analyzed in terms of the generalized energy which corresponds to the cost function in optimization problems. The network stability property and parameters in annealed neural networks are described to serve as a guideline for practical applications.
EFFECTS OF CRUDE OIL CONTAMINATED SOIL ON BIOMASS ACCUMULATION IN JATROPHA CURCAS L. SEEDLINGS

A study was conducted in 2010 to investigate the effects of crude oil contaminated soil on biomass accumulation inJatropha curcas seedlings in Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria. Oil levels used were 0.0, 2.0, 4.0, 6.0, 8.0 and 10.0% w/w. The trial was arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications and monitored for 12 weeks after transplanting. Results showed that contamination of soil with crude oil significantly reduced (P£ 0.05) biomass accumulation when compared with seedlings grown in the uncontaminated subplots. A negative interaction was observed between the soil crude oil level and weight gained inJ. curcas seedlings. For instance, while the fresh weight of seedlings grown in 0.0% w/w of oil was 3.0g, as low as 2.1g was recorded for seedling exposed to 10.0g w/w of the oil. This study has demonstrated that crude oil contamination of soil has a significant effect of reducing the biomass accumulation in the seedlings of Jatropha cruces.
Dynamic Set-Up Scheduling of Flexible Manufacturing Systems: Design and Stability of Near Optimal General Round Robin Policies

Dynamic set-up scheduling is an important issue when a Flexible Manufacturing System (FMS) recovers from a failure or other disruption induced excursion from its economic-lot size steady state cycle. In fact, FMSs usually spend more time recovering from disruptions than being in steady state. We present recent results on the structure of optimal and near optimal policies for dynamic set-up scheduling that minimize backlog costs for a given vector of demands for each of many part types. When different part-types are nonhomogeneous or differ significantly in importance or value, non-Round Robin (general Round Robin) set-up change policies may be needed. Theoretical considerations and numerical solution results are used to deduce structural properties of the optimal policies (not necessarily Round Robin) and design near optimal policies that are tractable for high dimensional systems. The near optimal policies are based on primary and secondary set-up change hyper plane surfaces (thresholds). Primary switching surfaces (PSSs) are of dimension n — 1 (for n part-type systems) and when encountered indicate that the current set-up must be changed. Secondary switching surfaces (SSSs) are of lower dimension and indicate what set-up to change to. Stability issues as well as issues on convergence to a limit cycle are raised and analyzed, and sufficient conditions are obtained. A procedure for designing primary and secondary hyper plane set-up switching surfaces is proposed and implemented.
Infusion of Light Chains From Patients With Cardiac Amyloidosis Causes Diastolic Dysfunction in Isolated Mouse Hearts

Background Primary (AL) amyloidosis is a plasma cell dyscrasia characterized by clonal production of immunoglobulin light chains (LC) resulting in the subsequent systemic deposition of extracellular amyloid fibrils. Cardiac involvement is marked by the hemodynamic pattern of impaired diastolic filling and restrictive cardiomyopathy. Although cardiac death in patients with AL amyloidosis is usually associated with extensive myocardial infiltration, the infiltration alone does not correlated with the degree of heart failure or survival. We hypothesized that circulating monoclonal LC may directly impair cardiac function, in addition to any mechanical effects of amyloid fibril deposition. Therefore, we examined the effects of amyloid LC proteins on diastolic and systolic cardiac function, as measured in an isolated mouse heart model. Methods and Results LC were obtained from patients with nonamyloid disease or from those with noncardiac, mild cardiac, and severe cardiac involved AL amyloidosis. Saline or LC (...
Paraphilia, Dissociation, and Sexual Abuse

We are only now discovering the extent of sexual abuse of children. We are only now beginning to sense the adult sexual and emotional consequences of not protecting the young from overwhelming physical intimacies.
The reaction of dinitrito-2,2′-bipyridylcopper(II) with pyrrolidine in acetonitrile to form N-nitrosopyrrolidine

Dinitrito-2,2′-bipyridylcopper(II), [Cu(bpy)(ONO)2], reacts with pyrrolidine (PYR) in acetonitrile at 60 °C to form N-nitrosopyrrolidine (NPYR) and N-nitropyrrolidine (NOPYR). The reaction is first order in [Cu(bpy)(ONO)2] with a rate constant of (4.4±1.0)x 10−5 s−1. Reacting [Cu(bpy)Cl2] and [(PPh3)2N]+NO2− with PYR under the same conditions produced NPYR and NOPYR at a rate that was first order in the Cu complex with approximately the same rate constant. The proposed mechanism has Cu(II) slowly reduced by nitrite to a Cu(I) complex and N2O4 which reacts with PYR to form NPYR and NOPYR.
Effect of passive range of motion on intracranial pressure in neurosurgical patients

Abstract Purpose: A prospective patient study was done to evaluate the effect of passive range of motion (PROM) on intracranial pressure (ICP) and cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) in neurosurgical patients. Materials and Methods: Twelve adult patients admitted to the neurological-neurosurgical intensive care unit of a community teaching hospital were enrolled in the study. The study patients all required ICP monitoring and they underwent a total of 20 PROM sessions. Six patients (10 PROM sessions) were mechanically ventilated, and six patients (10 PROM sessions) were breathing spontaneously. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), and ICP were measured at baseline and at 1-minute intervals during the physical therapy session. CPP was calculated as the difference between MAP and ICP. Results: No significant changes were detected in MAP, ICP, HR, or RR during the study period. Calculated CPP remained unchanged. Mean duration of PROM intervention was 7 ± 1 minute. Mean Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) for mechanically ventilated patients was 7 ± 1.3 and for spontaneously breathing patients 13 ± 0.8. Conclusion: PROM results in no significant changes in ICP or CPP in stable, neurosurgical patients in the absence of intracranial hypertension.
Lattice-Dynamical Calculations for Zinc and Beryllium

Phonon dispersion curves for zinc and beryllium, measured by neutron-inelastic-scattering techniques, have been used to determine the atomic force constants for the modified axially symmetric model developed by DeWames, Wolfram, and Lehman. However, calculations have revealed that statistically equivalent fits to the experimental data may be obtained from more than one set of parameters.
The interaction of calmodulin with alternatively spliced isoforms of the type-I inositol trisphosphate receptor.

Abstract A 592-amino acid segment of the regulatory domain of the neuronal type-I inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IP3R) isoform (type-I long, amino acids1314–1905) and the corresponding 552-amino acid alternatively spliced form present in peripheral tissues (type-I short, amino acids 1693–1733 deleted) were expressed as glutathioneS-transferase fusion proteins. These domains encompass a putative calmodulin (CaM) binding domain and two protein kinase A phosphorylation sites. Both long and short fusion proteins retained the ability to bind CaM in a Ca2+-dependent manner as measured by CaM-Sepharose chromatography or a dansyl-CaM fluorescence assay. Both assays indicated that the short fusion protein bound twice the amount of CaM than the long form at saturating concentrations of CaM. In addition, the binding of the short form to CaM-Sepharose was inhibited by phosphorylation with protein kinase A, whereas the binding of the long form was unaffected. Full-length cDNAs encoding type-I long, type-I short, and type-III IP3R isoforms were expressed in COS cells, and the Ca2+ sensitivity of [3H]IP3binding to permeabilized cells was measured. The type-I long isoform was more sensitive to Ca2+ inhibition (IC50 = 0.55 μm) than the type-I short (IC50 = 5.7 μm) or the type-III isoform (IC50 = 3 μm). In agreement with studies on the fusion proteins, the full-length type-I short bound more CaM-Sepharose, and this binding was inhibited to a greater extent by protein kinase A phosphorylation than the type-I long IP3R. Although type-III IP3Rs did not bind directly to CaM-Sepharose, hetero-oligomers of type-I/III IP3Rs retained the ability to interact with CaM. We conclude that the deletion of the SII splice site in the type-I IP3R results in the differential regulation of the alternatively spliced isoforms by Ca2+, CaM, and protein kinase A.
Comparative morphology and taxonomy of Sciacharis s. str., Chathamaenus Franz and Maorinus Franz (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Scydmaeninae)

Sciacharis s. str. is redefined based on the morphology of its type species, S. fulva Broun, and compared with sympatric genera Chathamaenus Franz (endemic to New Zealand) and Maorinus Franz (known from New Zealand and Australia). As a result, Chathamaenus is placed as a junior synonym of Sciacharis s. str., and Maorinus , originally described as a subgenus of Euconnus Thomson (under a preoccupied name Maoria Franz), subsequently elevated in rank, is here reduced to a subgenus of Sciacharis . Forty six new combinations resulted from this action are listed and Sciacharis ( Maorinus ) rakiuraensis nom. n. is proposed as a replacement name for Euconnus australis Franz, 1975, a junior primary homonym of Euconnus australis Franz, 1967.
Measurement of the 27Al(n,2n)26Al reaction cross section for fusion reactor applications

The 27Al(n,2n)26Al reaction is of considerable interest to the fusion reactor program. Aluminum is an attractive material for many structural applications and the (n,2n) reaction is the major source of long-lived activity (26Al, g.s. T12 = 7.34 × 105 y). The threshold for this reaction falls within the spread of neutron energies generated by a D-T plasma. Its cross section is therefore a steeply rising function of energy for the primary fusion neutrons. This special feature makes it possible to use this reaction to measure plasma ion temperatures as well as neutron yields and neutron spectral shapes. The above applications require accurate measurements of the 27Al(n,2n)26Al cross section near threshold, but no data was available in the 14–15 MeV energy range of interest so a series of experiments1,2 were performed using aluminum samples irradiated at the neutron sources at LLL (RTNS-II), 3,4 and at PPL (electrostatic generator).2 In some experiments the new technique of accelerator mass spectrometry1,5 was used to measure the production rate of 26A1. The new measurements1 suggest that most of the (n,2n) yield near threshold is associated with the direct production of the 3+ state of 416.9 keV rather than the 5+ ground state. This raises the Q-value and neutron threshold energy for this reaction by a similar amount and greatly reduces the effective cross section of the (n,2n) reaction for D-T fusion neutrons. The effective cross section for a 9 keV D-T plasma is reduced by a factor of 5 by this shift in Q-value. A similar reduction occurs for the long-lived radioactivity.