cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Experimental study of the stability of deep-water wave trains including wind effects

An experimental investigation on the initial instability of nonlinear deep-water wave trains including wind effects is reported. The experiment was conducted at the Ocean Engineering Laboratory wind-wave facility (50 m long, 4.2 m wide, 2.1 m deep), with a fully computer-controlled mechanical wave generator to explore the parameter space: steepness; sideband frequency; wind speed. The estimated growth rates of the Benjamin–Feir instability from seeded wind-free experiments agreed well with the theoretical prediction derived from Krasitskii's four-wave reduced equation as computed here. Wind was added to the same wave system; the growth rates of the sidebands were reduced for weak, and enhanced for strong wind forcing. Experiments with naturally selected sidebands, i.e. unseeded, were conducted as well; measurements showed that wind did not inhibit the growth of sidebands in the case of either two-dimensional or three-dimensional instabilities. A comparison of the results with earlier work suggests that there are two independent effects of wind: first, the alteration of the inviscid growth for a given modulational frequency as shown by comparison with the seeded experiments without wind; second, a change in the natural modulational frequency appearing in the presence of wind which is a function of the wave age, as observed in unseeded experiments. Both effects combined will determine whether the modulational instability is enhanced or suppressed; comparison of experimental results with theoretical predictions suggests that the effect of wind on the natural selection of the modulational frequency is the dominant effect. It was shown that for moderate to old waves, the net effect of wind on the modulational instability is small. For all the experiments except a few unseeded cases with weak breakers, the modulation was small and no breaking was observed within the tank.
Rubidium vapor cell with integrated Bragg reflectors for compact atomic MEMS

This paper reports on a method for improving the optical efficiency of micromachined reflectors integrated in rubidium vapor cells for application in atomic MEMS sensors. A hybrid bulk micromachining and multilayer PECVD thin film process is used to form the Bragg reflectors on angled sidewalls, which redirect laser light through the vapor cell and back toward the plane of the source with reduced optical power loss. Integrated thin film Bragg reflectors are shown to improve the reflectance of the micromachined surface by almost three times, resulting in an optical return efficiency of two paired dielectric reflectors that is as much as eight times higher then uncoated silicon reflectors. Absorption of the 87Rb D1 absorption line at a wavelength of 795 nm in a 1 mm 3 vapor cell is demonstrated experimentally by use of two integrated thin film reflectors with a total optical return efficiency approaching 40%.
A submillimeter view of protoplanetary dust disks

We present some results from our submillimeter single-dish and aperture synthesis imaging surveys of protoplanetary disks using the JCMT, CSO, and Submillimeter Array (SMA) on Mauna Kea, Hawaii. Employing a simple disk model, we simultaneously fit the spectral energy distributions and spatially resolved submillimeter continuum emission from our SMA survey to constrain disk structure properties, including surface density profiles and sizes. The typical disk structure we infer is consistent with a fiducial accretion disk model with a viscosity parameter α≈0.01. Combined with a large, multiwavelength single-dish survey of similar disks, we show how these observations provide evidence for significant grain growth and rapid evolution in the outer regions of disks, perhaps due to an internal photoevaporation process. In addition, we discuss SMA observations of the disks in the Orion Trapezium (proplyds) in the context of disk evolution in a more extreme environment.
Field Experiments to Evaluate and Control Light Tower Glare in Nighttime Work Zones

An increasing volume of highway repair and construction work is being performed during the off-peak nighttime hours to mitigate the impact of construction-related daytime traffic congestions and shorten the duration of construction operations. The utilization and placement of light towers to illuminate the work zone in this type of construction can cause harmful levels of glare for both drivers and construction workers. This paper presents the results of field experiments which were conducted to (1) study the levels of glare and lighting performance generated by light towers in and around nighttime work zones; (2) analyze the combined impact of the light tower set up parameters including its height as well as its aiming and rotation angles on glare and lighting performance; and (3) provide practical recommendations to reduce and control lighting glare in and around nighttime work zones. The results of these experiments confirm that the set up of light towers has a significant impact on glare and therefore it should be carefully designed and executed on nighttime highway construction projects to ensure the safety of the traveling public as well as construction workers.
A non-nonstandard proof of Reimers' existence result for heat SPDEs.

In 1989, Reimers gave a nonstandard proof of the existence of a solution to heat SPDEs, driven by space-time white noise, when the diffusion coefficient is continuous and satisfies a linear growth condition. Using the martingale problem approach, we give a non-nonstandard proof of this fact, and with the aid of Girsanov's theorem for continuous orthogonal martingale measures (proved in a separate paper by the author), the result is extended to the case of a measurable drift.
Measures of the effects of agricultural practices on ecosystem services

Abstract Agriculture produces more than just crops. Agricultural practices have environmental impacts that affect a wide range of ecosystem services, including water quality, pollination, nutrient cycling, soil retention, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity conservation. In turn, ecosystem services affect agricultural productivity. Understanding the contribution of various agricultural practices to the range of ecosystem services would help inform choices about the most beneficial agricultural practices. To accomplish this, however, we must overcome a big challenge in measuring the impact of alternative agricultural practices on ecosystem services and of ecosystem services on agricultural production. A framework is presented in which such indicators can be interpreted as well as the criteria for selection of indicators. The relationship between agricultural practices and land-use change and erosion impact on chemical use is also discussed. Together these ideas form the basis for identifying useful indicators for quantifying the costs and benefits of agricultural systems for the range of ecosystem services interrelated to agriculture.
Management of traumatic hyphema: therapeutic options

1. To review the characteristics, ocular findings, and complications of traumatic hyphema. 2. To examine the preferred therapeutic options in traumatic hyphema, especially as they relate to prevention of secondary hemorrhage, and final visual acuity. 3. To examine the indications for surgical intervention in traumatic hyphema.
Silica Nano-particle Filled Poly(ethylene-ran-hexene)/xylene Gels

The effect of silica nano-particle filler on poly(ethylene-co-hexene)/xylene gels has been investigated using mainly small angle neutron scattering and rheological measurements. Both non-filled and filled polymer gels show same characteristics in the structure factor and mechanical properties during melting and gelation. These observations suggest that particle interaction is screened by the absorbed polymers and the effect of the silica filler is mainly softening the gelation transition by introducing defects to the crosslinking microcrystals.
Perceiving Real World Scenes: The Role of a Prior Glance:

When does prior familiarity with a scene facilitate its processing? Subjects performed a scene-comprehension task in which they attempted to detect the incongruity in the relationship between an object and its real-world scene context. In 100 msec, presentations of line drawings of such scenes, objects could be in a normal location or else inappropriately positioned (e.g., a fire hydrant on top of a mailbox), sized (e.g., the hydrant looking larger than a truck) or appearing to float in air. The results from two experiments provide approximate boundary conditions under which prior familiarity with a specific scene will facilitate subsequent perceptual processing of that scene. Neither priming with a verbal label nor repeated 100 msec non-consecutive exposures were found to improve subsequent perceptual processing, but a single 500 msec, visual prime of the background itself was effective. Language: en
Sexual Harassment, Psychological Distress, and Problematic Drinking Behavior Among College Students: An Examination of Reciprocal Causal Relations

Sexual harassment on college campuses is a frequent occurrence and serious public health concern. Victims of sexual harassment are at risk for many possible negative health consequences. In addition, certain psychological distress symptoms and/or alcohol use may put individuals at increased risk of being victims of sexual harassment. Data from more than 2,000 college students in the Midwestern United States were used to examine reciprocal causal effects of the relations between (a) experiencing sexual harassment and alcohol use and (b) experiencing sexual harassment and psychological distress symptoms, specifically depression and anger/hostility. Analyses were conducted separately for sexual harassment which occurs at school and which occurs in college students' workplaces, and also separately for men and women. Results of cross-lagged panel models showed that there were reciprocal causal effects between sexual harassment and alcohol problems, depression, and anger. Discussion focuses on the overall patterns of results as well as the nuances within these findings.
Dimensionless Equation of State to Predict Microemulsion Phase Behavior

Prediction of microemulsion phase behavior for changing state variables is critical to formulation design of surfactant–oil–brine (SOB) systems. SOB systems find applications in various chemical and petroleum processes, including enhanced oil recovery. A dimensional equation-of-state (EoS) was recently presented by Ghosh and Johns1 that relied on estimation of the surfactant tail length and surface area. We give an algorithm for flash calculations for estimation of three-phase Winsor regions that is more robust, simpler, and noniterative by making the equations dimensionless so that estimates of tail length and surface area are no longer needed. We predict phase behavior as a function temperature, pressure, volume, salinity, oil type, oil–water ratio, and surfactant/alcohol concentration. The dimensionless EoS is based on coupling the HLD-NAC (Hydrophilic Lipophilic Difference–Net Average Curvature) equations with new relationships between optimum salinity and solubility. An updated HLD expression that in...
Desire After Disaster: Lot and His Daughters

Examining images of Lot and his daughters against the setting of the utter destruction of Sodom, this essay highlights the role of visual rhetoric in mediating as well as constructing responses to disaster. Horror is represented rather than recorded, as much invented and assuaged as heightened. The visual imagery of disaster is manipulated and redeployed, put to various, even dissonant purposes, depending on function, context and occasion. Numerous distinctions and paradoxes lie at the heart of Lot’s tale: punishment is the forerunner to selective salvation, destruction co-exists with visibility, doom is overcome by safety, incest couples with sodomy, control battles with indulgence, patriarchal continuity operates against abandonment, stoicism contrasts with disaster.
Married Women in Missions: The Effects of Cross-Cultural and Self Gender-Role Expectations on Well-Being, Stress, and Self-Esteem:

The present study explored the effects of self-expectations and societal expectations of the host culture on the well-being of 37 married missionary women. The results did not support a relationship between the expectations of the host culture, and well-being. Homemakers appeared to be more relaxed and to experience life as more satisfying and interesting than women involved more actively in the missions task. The congruence of roles with self-expectations, role satisfaction, and freedom in choosing a role emerged as highly related to several indices of well-being. These findings highlight the centrality of freedom in choosing a role, and suggest that important subcultural differences in self-expectations exist in the Christian subculture which should be taken into account in research on women's issues.
Lifestyle Interventions to Improve Immunesenescence

Regular participation in exercise and physical activity is associated with many health benefits including improvements in metabolic and cardiorespiratory function. However, as we get older the time and intensity at which we exercise is severely reduced. Physical inactivity now accounts for a considerable proportion of age-related disease and mortality. These diseases are associated with an increased systemic inflammatory milieu and immunesenescence. Regular exercise and physical activity has been suggested to exert anti-inflammatory and anti-immunesenescence effects, potentially delaying the health declines with ageing. No immune cells are impervious to the effects of ageing and exercise appears to modify many immunological functions. Regular exercise has been shown to improve neutrophil microbicidal functions which reduce the risk of infectious disease. Exercise participation is also associated with increased immune cell telomere length, and may be related to improved vaccine responses. The anti-inflammatory effect of regular exercise and negative energy balance is evident by reduced inflammatory immune cell signatures and lower inflammatory cytokine concentrations. In this chapter we will discuss the role of physical activity and energy balance in modifying the immune system. Specifically we discuss what role each plays on limiting the incidence of immunesenescence in older adults.
CompEx++: Compression-Expansion Coding for Energy, Latency, and Lifetime Improvements in MLC/TLC NVMs

Multilevel/triple-level cell nonvolatile memories (MLC/TLC NVMs) such as phase-change memory (PCM) and resistive RAM (RRAM) are the subject of active research and development as replacement candidates for DRAM, which is limited by its high refresh power and poor scaling potential. In addition to the benefits of nonvolatility (low refresh power) and improved scalability, MLC/TLC NVMs offer high data density and memory capacity over DRAM. However, the viability of MLC/TLC NVMs is limited primarily due to the high programming energy and latency as well as the low endurance of NVM cells; these are primarily attributed to the iterative program-and-verify procedure necessary for programming the NVM cells.This article proposes compression-expansion (CompEx) coding, a low overhead scheme that synergistically integrates pattern-based compression with expansion coding to realize simultaneous energy, latency, and lifetime improvements in MLC/TLC NVMs. CompEx coding is agnostic to the choice of compression technique; in this work, we evaluate CompEx coding using both frequent pattern compression (FPC) and base-delta-immediate (BΔI) compression. CompEx coding integrates FPC/BΔI with (k,m)q “expansion” coding; expansion codes are a class of q-ary linear block codes that encode data using only the low energy states of a q-ary NVM cell. CompEx coding simultaneously reduces energy and latency and improves lifetime for negligible-to-no memory overhead and negligible logic overhead (a 10k gates, which is
Computational ontologies of parthood, componenthood, and containment

Parthood, componenthood, and containment relations are commonly assumed in biomedical ontologies and terminology systems, but are not usually clearly distinguished from another. This paper contributes towards a unified theory of parthood, componenthood, and containment relations. Our goal in this is to clarify distinctions between these relations as well as principles governing their interrelations. We first develop a theory of these relations in first order predicate logic and then discuss how description logics can be used to capture some important aspects of the first order theory.
Directional Exosome Proteomes Reflect Polarity-Specific Functions in Retinal Pigmented Epithelium Monolayers

The retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) forms the outer blood-retinal barrier in the eye and its polarity is responsible for directional secretion and uptake of proteins, lipoprotein particles and extracellular vesicles (EVs). Such a secretional division dictates directed interactions between the systemic circulation (basolateral) and the retina (apical). Our goal is to define the polarized proteomes and physical characteristics of EVs released from the RPE. Primary cultures of porcine RPE cells were differentiated into polarized RPE monolayers on permeable supports. EVs were isolated from media bathing either apical or basolateral RPE surfaces, and two subpopulations of small EVs including exosomes, and dense EVs, were purified and processed for proteomic profiling. In parallel, EV size distribution and concentration were determined. Using protein correlation profiling mass spectrometry, a total of 631 proteins were identified in exosome preparations, 299 of which were uniquely released apically, and 94 uniquely released basolaterally. Selected proteins were validated by Western blot. The proteomes of these exosome and dense EVs preparations suggest that epithelial polarity impacts directional release. These data serve as a foundation for comparative studies aimed at elucidating the role of exosomes in the molecular pathophysiology of retinal diseases and help identify potential therapeutic targets and biomarkers.
Using a multidisciplinary approach with children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder

Abstract Using a multidisciplinary approach can be a key factor in initiatives designed to increase the effectiveness of health care services currently offered to children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Although healthcare delivery in the United States uses a multidisciplinary approach, it has been found that interprofessional collaboration between disciplines does not always take place resulting in practitioners working independently of each other. Due to the growing complexity of autism and the number of different professions that work with these individuals, there is a need for improved interprofessional collaboration using a multidisciplinary approach. In order to be successful in promoting interprofessional collaboration, health care workers need to develop ways to challenge and dispel the notion of profession-centrism by embracing the professional cultures of their colleagues and reducing the barriers to multidisciplinary training. A synthesis of findings from the research indicated that there are a limited number of disciplines collaborating using a multidisciplinary approach and working with children with autism.
Exploration into reproduction literacy, an aspect of digital literacy, and its correlation with Noel-Levitz measures

As individuals become versed in manipulating digital devices, educators of digital technology question what aspects of digital capability transfer to other arenas of technology instruction. Coupled with this question is defining the nature of digital literacy and analyzing the profile of an individual competent with digital literacy. Using the definitional framework for digital literacy espoused by Eshet-Alkalai [6] an experiment was conducted to examine whether a correlation existed between dimensions of the Noel-Levitz Freshmen Assessment and students' capabilities on a digital literacy task relative to the term reproduction literacy. Seventy-five students enrolled in First-Year Seminar courses in Fall 2011 participated in the experiment. No correlation was found between Noel-Levitz profiles and students' ability on the reproduction literacy task. The following paper presents the research hypothesis, experiment conducted, and future considerations of the research effort.
Exploring viable geologic interpretations of gravity models using distance-based global sensitivity analysis and kernel methods

ABSTRACTWe have explored ways to integrate alternative geologic interpretations into the modeling of gravity data. These methods are applied to the Vaca Fault east of Fairfield, California, USA, wh...
Motivators, Anticipated Challenges, and Supportive Factors for Athletic Trainers Pursuing the Doctor of Athletic Training Degree

Context: The doctor of athletic training degree (DAT) is a new concept in athletic training. Athletic trainers (ATs) currently pursue the degree, but little is known about why they choose the DAT. ...
Opioids and Other Analgesics: Adverse Effects in the Intensive Care Unit

Medications for pain relief are an important component of therapy for intensive care patients. Opioids, the most commonly used analgesics in the ICLJ setting, are associated with a large number of adverse effects that are related to their binding properties at opioid-receptor subtypes. Other analgesics, such as ketamine and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents, may cause fewer cardiovascular and respiratory effects, but lead to other unwanted effects in ICU patients. In addition to a review of analgesic-associated adverse effects and drug interactions, guidelines for anticipating and monitoring these agents are presented.
Functional Outcome and Quality-of-Life Assessment Instruments in TOS

Quality of life (QOL) research provides a framework to judge outcomes, health status, and treatment effectiveness from the patient’s point of view. It is important for surgical outcomes, particularly as medicine shifts emphasis from mortality to perceived health status and patient preference. QOL research can be useful in thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS), given the disease’s weak objective findings. There is no tool specific for TOS, however generic or dimension-specific measures can apply. The Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand survey (DASH), a dimension-specific measure, is used to evaluate symptoms and function of patients with upper extremity disability. General measures such as the Short Form 36 (SF-36) or SF-12 can also be used. TOS patients were administered the DASH and SF-12. At baseline, patients with TOS reported similar quality of life scores as patients with congestive heart failure, and DASH scores similar to patients with chronic rotator cuff injury. DASH scores post-operatively improved 0.85 points (P <.001) for neurogenic patients and 0.81 points (P <.001) for venous per month. The physical and mental component scores of the SF-12 also improved significantly over time (0.24 and 0.15 points per month respectively for neurogenic patients, and 0.40 and 0.55 points for venous patients). Therefore, in appropriately selected patients with TOS, surgical intervention can improve their quality of life.
Work-Family Culture: Current Research and Future Directions

Publisher Summary The purpose of this chapter is to discuss the role of the work environment—specifically, the culture of support for work–family balance—in understanding employees' work attitudes and behaviors, as well as their stress levels and general well-being. It defines work–family culture and related constructs such as perceived organizational family support. Work–family culture has been defined as the “shared assumptions, beliefs, and values regarding the extent to which an organization supports and values the integration of employees' work and family lives.” It also addresses the important consideration of a national context for understanding work–family culture and offers insights for future research. Some definitions and operationalizations of work–family culture have included both formal and informal elements. It focuses on perceptions of both tangible and intangible support. Others have focused on informal or intangible aspects of culture only. It describes various dimensions of work–family culture that are proposed in the literature, as well as how work–family culture is measured. The latest research on work–family culture, including recent research using international samples is described, and then several examples of what organizations are doing to create a more supportive culture are provided. It concludes with thoughts about future research directions and implications for practice.
Exploitative Revenues, Law Enforcement, and the Quality of Government Service:

A growing body of evidence indicates that local police departments are being used to provide revenue for municipalities by imposing and collecting fees, fines, and asset forfeitures. We examine whe...
The mean stack web application development platform: tutorial presentation

A web application or web app is a client-server software program where the back-end runs on a web server. The client part (front-end), which includes the user interface and client-side logic, runs inside a web browser. there are many different frameworks and ecosystems used to create web applications. When these frameworks and components are used together they are referred to as a stack or platform. The MEAN stack consists of the following components: • MongoDb: is an open-source distributed NoSQL database which allows flexibility in storing data in a JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) like documents [5]. • Express: is a Node.js web application framework that enables minimizing manual coding and provides a set of fundamental features required for web and mobile applications. It helps in creating Representation State Transfer (REST) web services that return JSON formatted data [2]. • Angular: is an open-source framework for developing web applications. Angular makes it is easier to create templates in HTML documents to implement the application logic. Angular uses dependency injections and data binding to build web and mobile applications [1]. • Node.js: "is a runtime environment built on Chrome's V8 JavaScript engine. Node.js uses an event-driven, non-blocking I/O model that makes it lightweight and efficient. Node.js' package ecosystem, npm, is the largest ecosystem of open source libraries in the world" [6, 8].
Financial Reporting for Employee Stock Options: The Importance of Differentiating Compensation from Proceeds

ABSTRACT Prior research finds a negative relation between outstanding employee stock options (ESOs) and common equity risk, suggesting that outstanding ESOs share characteristics with equity rather...
Read Africans, Decenter Oral History: African Oral Historians and the Discourse of the West

Following biannual transcontinental conferences in the late twentieth-century of the newly constituted International Oral History Association (IOHA), some scholars waxed enthusiastically that the center of gravity in oral history had shifted away from Europe and North America to the "South." These scholars were convinced that the shift showcased the rich histories and extraordinary growth of oral history in the "South." But historians from the "South" have questioned the assumption that few international conferences outside of Euro-American centers of financial and political power are sufficient to level the academic playing field in oral history. Although these transcontinental gatherings promises to shine the spotlight on the oral histories of the marginalized communities, extending our gaze beyond the ephemeral meetings would also accelerate the decentering process. One way to speed up the process is by recognizing the works of non-Euro-American writers, especially intellectuals from Africa, whose scholarly contribution hardly attracts the attention of Western thinkers and students of history. This paper discusses the marginalization in the Euro-American discourse of the oral literature by intellectuals of African descent. It also demonstrates the presence of African oral historians and makes the argument of recognizing their scholarly works in academic discourses (e.g. research and syllabi).
Organic Meaning: An Approach to Communication with Minimal Appeal to Minds

This essay develops a notion of meaning—what I shall term organic meaning--that may serve as a bridge between Grice’s notions of natural and non-natural meaning. It is a bridge in the sense that like non-natural meaning and unlike natural meaning, it includes cases of communication; yet like natural meaning and unlike non-natural meaning, it is not cognitively demanding, in that a creature can exhibit organic meaning without intending to do so and without intending to produce any effects on the cognitive states of others. As a result, organic meaning may be of interest as part of an evolutionarily plausible account of the phylogeny of communication and of a psychologically credible account of the ontogeny of communication. It will also shed light on aspects of adult human communication that do not meet the cognitive demands of speaker meaning. The approach uses tools from evolutionary game theory, including that of an Evolutionary Stable Strategy (ESS) and is inspired and informed by findings in the evolutionary biology of communication.
An Empirical Investigation of the Diffusion Process for Personal Computers Among Small Business Enterprises

The use of microcomputers has become very pervasive in recent years. However, in terms of their business applications most of the research is devoted to the problems of large corporations. There is very little research dealing with small business micro computer adoption and usage patterns. This paper investigated the differences in the perceptions of adopters versus non-adopters in small business sectors with regard to adoption process attributes --relative advantage, compatibility, observability, trialability and complexity. Discriminant analysis showed that adopter of small business computers are significantly different from non-adopters in their perceptions of adoption process attributes.
Psychiatry Clinical Skills Evaluation: Interrater Reliability of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology Required Assessment.

The American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) requires applicants to successfully complete at least 3 Clinical Skills Evaluations (CSE) as part of the credentialing requirements to sit for the psychiatry certification examination. The authors examined a database of CSE assessments conducted at a single site to determine the interrater and test-retest reliability of the evaluation. The authors examined 159 CSE assessments of 51 practicing psychiatrists who completed residency prior to the implementation of CSEs, but did not previously sit for the ABPN examination and later required CSEs to do so. Of these, 36 were simultaneously observed by 2 evaluators, at least 1 of whom had extensive experience with the CSE and 8 of whom were novice evaluators. At least 3 CSEs were done on the same day by each candidate. The intraclass correlations for CSEs observed by 2 evaluators for the 3 clinical skills assessed (patient–physician relationship, conduct of the interview, and case presentation), were in the low-moderate “good” range for interrater reliability. Test-retest reliability for all candidates was in the moderate–high “good” range. Significant learning took place between the 1st and 3rd CSEs, with a mean improvement of 0.42–0.49 points on an 8-point scale (p < 0.01). These data demonstrate good interrater reliability for the CSE even when conducted by novice faculty evaluators and good test-retest reliability despite significant learning that occurred over the series of assessments. The study supports both the educational and assessment value of the CSE.
A Unique Case of STEMI STEALing the Flow

We report a case of a 55-year-old woman with previous coronary artery bypass grafting. She presented with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction secondary to occlusion of the proximal left subclavian artery causing reduced flow in the left internal mammary artery to left anterior descending artery graft. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.).
Enhanced Recovery Protocols Reduce Mortality Across Eight Surgical Specialties At Academic and University-Affiliated Community Hospitals.

OBJECTIVE To determine if implementation of a simplified enhanced recovery protocol (ERP) across multiple surgical specialties in different hospitals is associated with improved short and long-term mortality. Secondary aims were to examine ERP effect on LOS, 30-day readmission, discharge disposition, and complications. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) and various derivative ERPs have been successfully implemented. These protocols typically include elaborate sets of multi-modal and multi-disciplinary approaches, which can make implementation challenging or are variable across different specialties. Few studies have shown if a simplified version of ERP implemented across multiple surgical specialties can improve clinical outcomes. METHODS A simplified ERP with seven key domains (minimally invasive surgical approach when feasible, pre-/intra-operative multimodal analgesia, postoperative multimodal analgesia, postoperative nausea and vomiting prophylaxis, early diet advancement, early ambulation, and early removal of urinary catheter) was implemented in five academic and community hospitals within a single health system. Patients who underwent non-emergent, major orthopedic or abdominal surgery including hip/knee replacement, hepatobiliary, colorectal, gynecology oncology, bariatric, general, and urological surgery were included. Propensity-matched, retrospective case-control analysis was performed on all eligible surgical patients between 2014-2017 after ERP implementation or in the 12 months preceding ERP implementation (control population). RESULTS 9492 patients (5185 ERP and 4307 controls) underwent ERP eligible surgery during the study period. 3367 ERP patients were matched by surgical specialty and hospital site to control non-ERP patients. Short and long-term mortality was improved in ERP patients: 30 day: ERP 0.2% vs Control 0.6% (p = 0.002); 1-year: ERP 3.9% vs. Control 5.1% (p < 0.0001); 2-year: ERP 6.2% vs Control 9.0% (p < 0.0001). LOS was significantly lower in ERP patients (ERP: 3.9 ± 3.8 days; Control: 4.8 ± 5.0 days, p < 0.0001). ERP patients were also less likely to be discharged to a facility (ERP: 11.3%; Control: 14.8%, p < 0.0001). There was no significant difference for 30-day readmission. All complications except venous thromboembolism were significantly reduced in the ERP population (p < 0.02). CONCLUSIONS A simplified ERP can uniformly be implemented across multiple surgical specialties and hospital types. ERPs improve short and long-term mortality, clinical outcomes, length of stay, and discharge disposition to home.
Implementation of Telemedicine in Pediatric Patient Transport

Purpose: Telemedicine uses video technology to communicate visual clinical information about patients. While shown to be a feasible model in pediatric transport, our institution has experienced implementation barriers in the past. The purpose of this study was to implement telemedicine in pediatric transport at a tertiary children's hospital, assess its value in specific pediatric conditions and identify barriers to use. Methods: This was a prospective study at Saint Louis Children's Hospital. The workflows of six divisions involved in pediatric transport (Emergency Department (ED), Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), Neonatal …
Opportunism in Vertical Contracting: A Dynamic Perspective

This paper proposes a dynamic approach to modeling opportunism in bilateral vertical contracting between an upstream monopolist and competing downstream firms. Unlike previous literature on opportunism which has focused on games in which the upstream firm makes simultaneous secret offers to the downstream firms, we model opportunism as a consequence of asynchronous recontracting in an infinite-horizon continuous-time model. We find that the extent of opportunism depends on the absolute and relative reaction speeds of the different bilateral upstream-downstream firm pairs and on the firms' discount rate. Patience, fast reaction speeds, and asymmetries in reaction speeds across upstream-downstream pairs are shown to alleviate the opportunism problem.
Self-similarity in an exchangeable site-dynamics model

We consider a model for which every site of $\mathbb{N}$ is assigned a fitness in $[0,1]$. At every discrete time all the sites are updated and each site samples a uniform on $[0,1]$, independently of everything else. At every discrete time and independently of the past the environment is good with probability $p$ or bad with probability $1-p$. The fitness of each site is then updated to the maximum or the minimum between its present fitness and the sampled uniform, according to whether the environment is good or bad. Assuming the initial fitness distribution is exchangeable over the site indexing, the empirical fitness distribution is a probability-valued Markov process. We show that this Markov process converges to an explicitly-identified stationary distribution exhibiting a self-similar structure.
Identity and ideology in digital food discourse: social media interactions across cultural: edited by Alla Tovares and Cynthia Gordon, London, Bloomsbury Academic, 2020, 280 pp., ISBN 9781350119147

This book further expands the burgeoning work in the anthropological linguistics of food and the use of various discourse analytic approaches to understand how food can be a site for the constructi...
Optimization of Thermoelectric Components for Automobile Waste Heat Recovery Systems

For a typical spark ignition engine approximately 40% of available thermal energy is lost as hot exhaust gas. To improve fuel economy, researchers are currently evaluating technology which exploits exhaust stream thermal power by use of thermoelectric generators (TEGs) that operate on the basis of the Seebeck effect. A 5% improvement in fuel economy, achieved by use of TEG output power, is a stated objective for light-duty trucks and personal automobiles. System modeling of thermoelectric (TE) components requires solution of coupled thermal and electric fluxes through the n and p-type semiconductor legs, given appropriate thermal boundary conditions at the junctions. Such applications have large thermal gradients along the semiconductor legs, and material properties are highly dependent on spatially varying temperature profiles. In this work, one-dimensional heat flux and temperature variations across thermoelectric legs were solved by using an iterative numerical approach to optimize both TE module and TEG designs. Design traits were investigated by assuming use of skutterudite as a thermoelectric material with potential for automotive applications in which exhaust gas and heat exchanger temperatures typically vary from 100°C to over 600°C. Dependence of leg efficiency, thermal fluxes and electric power generation on leg geometry, fill fractions, electric current, thermal boundary conditions, etc., were studied in detail. Optimum leg geometries were computed for a variety of automotive exhaust conditions.
Eisenman Receives 2012 Cryosphere Young Investigator Award: Citation

One can appreciate that sea ice is a barometer and important feedback for climate change when one considers the ice–albedo feedback in a comparative sense. Whereas the Greenland ice sheet is 3 kilometers thick, sea ice is 3 meters thick, underlain by an ocean deeper than the Greenland ice sheet is thick. During a season, the areal change of Arctic sea ice cover is roughly 4 times larger than the area of Greenland. These huge annual oscillations in the ice cover have occurred for longer than humanity has been able to ponder them. This is just one of the many aspects that capture our attention in considering the scientific problem of sea ice and climate, which is a principal area of interest for Ian Eisenman.
Estimation of Continuous Time Models for Stock Returns and Interest Rates

Efficient Method of Moments (EMM) is used to estimate and test continuous time diffusion models for stock returns and interest rates. For stock returns, a four-state, two-factor diffusion with one state observed can account for the dynamics of the daily return on the S&P composite index, 1927-1987. This contrasts with results indicating that discrete-time, stochastic volatility models cannot explain these dynamics. For interest rates, a trivariate yield factor model is estimated from weekly, 1962-1995, Treasury rates. The yield factor model is sharply rejected, although extensions permitting convexities in the local variance come closer to fitting the data.
Rating Agencies: Is There an Agency Issue?

This paper examines the potential for conflicts of interest in the debt ratings business. Inherent in the current business model is the fact that firms whose obligations are rated by the agencies pay fees for those ratings, which in turn comprises virtually all of the revenues of the rating agencies. Given the public nature of the ratings, no other business model seems feasible for rating agencies as commercial ventures, so that conflicts of interest are inherent in this important part of the financial markets infrastructure. This paper examines the nature of this conflict, how it is managed, and the significance of market structure and reputation in preventing conflict exploitation. These issues are linked to the use of ratings for regulatory certification purposes, as well as the international dimensions of debt ratings activity through investments and joint ventures of the major rating groups.
Chapter 3.1 Animal models of posttraumatic stress disorder

Abstract Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a potential consequence of being exposed to or witnessing an event provoking fear, helplessness, or horror. It is characterized by several debilitating symptoms including persistent hyperarousal, unwanted memories and thought intrusions, and hyperavoidance of stimuli or situations associated with the original trauma. The neurobiological mediators of these symptoms, however, still require elucidation, and animal models are particularly well suited for investigation of these mechanisms. Although the behavioral literature contains a large number of models that involve exposing animals to intense stressors, only a few of these are able to reproduce the biological and behavioral features of PTSD characteristic of a pathophysiological stress response. Among these are models involving single episodes of inescapable shock, which produce several bio-behavioral effects characteristic of PTSD, including opioid-mediated analgesia, noradrenergic sensitization as well as fear-conditioning effects. Single prolonged stress, involving the sequential exposure of rats to restraint, forced swim, and ether anesthesia, is able to produce an enhanced negative feedback of the HPA axis, as observed in PTSD patients, as well as a sustained exaggeration of the acoustic startle response. Predator exposure models, which invoke a significant threat of injury or death to particular animals, are effective in producing behavioral changes potentially analogous to hyperarousal symptoms, as well as changes in amygdala sensitization and long-term potentiation. In addition to these PTSD-specific models, several putative models, including single episodes of restraint/immobilization, forced swim, or early-life maternal separation, show promise as potential PTSD models, but require further validation and characterization before they might be considered specific to this disorder. Given the complexity of PTSD, both in terms of causal factors and symptoms, it is becoming apparent that multiple, independent physiological pathways might mediate this disorder. Future research may, therefore, wish to focus on endophenotypic models, which attend to one specific physiological pathway or neurobiological system, rather than attempt to reproduce the broad range of PTSD symptomatology. Combining information from numerous such models may prove a more efficient strategy.
An approach to polyatomic Franck-Condon integrals: Application to the photoelectron spectrum of water

Abstract An analytical method, based on harmonic oscillator expansions for each normal coordinate and the neglect of the Duschinsky A matrix, is presented for the prediction of Franck-Condon factors in polyatomic molecules from ab initio electronic wavefunctions. The method is tested against earlier theoretical results for H 2 and LiH and then applied to predict the vibrational structure for the first band of the photoelectron spectrum of water.
Building a Library Collection to Support New Engineering Programs

SUMMARY This article describes strategies for developing a collection to support engineering programs that are new to the campus. The focus is on small to medium-sized institutions and the primary materials covered are reference sources; current and retrospective monographs; serials including periodicals, conference proceedings and annuals; and other specialized materials. Discussions of the environment, funding, assessment, and the possible impact on other library services are also included.
Simple methods for determination of methionine and cystine in legume seeds.

Abstract Convenient and reliable methods have been developed for the routine determination of the sulfur-containing amino acids in legume seeds. These procedures allow assessment of the content of the nutritionally critical amino acids which should be considered in breeding programs. The method for the determination of methionine in pea, bean, and lentil seeds is based on thin-layer chromatographic separation of the methionine sulfone produced by performic acid treatment of the sample. The separated spots are treated with ninhydrin and the color read by reflectance densitometry. Each 1 μl spot represents 40 μg of seed material containing about 0.4 to 0.8 nmole of methionine. Interfering spots due to the product of ninhydrin with pipecolic acid are decolorized by light treatment. An adaptation and clarification of the method of Goa (6) is suitable for routine determination of cystine plus cysteine. It is based on hydrazinolysis of the samples, producing H 2 S from the cystine. The H 2 S is converted to bismuth sulfide and read in the colorimeter. Sample size was 40 mg of seed material containing 0.3 to 0.5 μmole of cystine.
The Low-Affinity, Use-Dependent NMDA Receptor Antagonist AR-R 15896AR: An Update of Progress in Stroke

Use-dependent N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists protect neurons from the lethal consequences of excessive stimulation by excitatory amino acids. Clinical development of high-affinity compounds such as MK801 have been limited due to untoward side effects. Toward this end, the lower-affinity use-dependent NMDA antagonists have greater margins of safety and have advanced to clinical trials for stroke, epilepsy, head trauma and chronic neurodegenerative disorders. AR-R 15896AR is currently in Phase II trials for stroke and has been repeatedly demonstrated to afford neuroprotection in a variety of in vivo and in vitro models associated with ischemia/excitotoxic conditions.
A Dynamical Study of the Non-Star-forming Translucent Molecular Cloud MBM 16: Evidence for Shear-driven Turbulence in the Interstellar Medium

We present the results of a velocity correlation study of the high-latitude cloud MBM 16 using a fully sampled 12CO map, supplemented by new 13CO data. We find a correlation length of 0.4 pc. This is similar in size to the formaldehyde clumps described in our previous study. We associate this correlated motion with coherent structures within the turbulent flow. Such structures are generated by free shear flows. Their presence in this non-star-forming cloud indicates that kinetic energy is being supplied to the internal turbulence by an external shear flow. Such large-scale driving over long times is a possible solution to the dissipation problem for molecular cloud turbulence.