cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Flaws in Orr’s Laws (and the Paradigm that Produced Them): An Abbreviated Response

Conservation of biological diversity is often hampered by ignorance and short-sightedness. Yet knowledge is not enough; biology illuminates ecological relationships, but it alone cannot conserve ecosystems. Therefore, we agree that there is no higher priority for conservation biologists than to improve their understanding of economics (Orr 2004, Law 1). Unfortunately, from many of his comments and the tenor of subsequent responses (Hayes 2004; Vitek 2004; Lovejoy 2004), it is evident that economics and, more important, parallels between ecology and economics are misunderstood, implying the two disciplines are more different than they are and that knowledge of economics is primarily needed to enhance the appeal of ecological insight. We offer comments intended to (1) correct misunderstandings about the parallel sciences of ecology and economics; (2) present a broader perspective on efficiency, selfishness, ecological bubbles, and conditions for growth; and (3) discuss the appropriate role of science in addressing natural resource problems. Efforts to maintain ecological integrity will benefit when we abandon the erroneous assumption that ignorance and selfishness per se cause environmental problems.
The United States and the Caribbean

Part 1 The US enters the Caribbean: geopolitics and racial destiny - 1823-1903 geopolitics and the perceived duties of the policeman - 1903-35 reinforcing perceptions - U-boats and fifth columns in World War II. Part 2 The marxist challenge and US responses: from anti-fascism to anti-communism - Costa Rica and British Guiana the CIA unleashed - containing communism in Guatemala and Cuba the Caribbean plays the Cuban card - the US response. Part 3 Problems of the modern Caribbean: threats to social and national security - the internationlization of corruption and violence the "offshore" development strategy - is it for everyone? migration and development - all roads lead north Haiti - intractable problems, shifting commitments conclusion - the limits of sovereignty - challenges and synergies in US-Caribbean relations.
Identification of Ugandan HIV Type 1 Variants with Unique Patterns of Recombination in pol Involving Subtypes A and D

Most HIV-1 infections in Uganda are caused by subtypes A and D. The prevalence of recombination and the sites of specific breakpoints between these subtypes have not been reported. HIV-1 pol sequences encoding protease (amino acids 1-99) and reverse transcriptase (amino acids 1-324) from 102 pregnant Ugandan women were analyzed by the Recombinant Identification Program, SimPlot, and examination of phylogenetically informative sites to identify sites of recombination between sequence segments belonging to different subtypes. Thirteen percent (13 of 102) of the pol sequences contained strong evidence of recombination between subtypes A and D. At least nine different patterns of recombination were observed. Five women infected with a recombinant virus transmitted the recombinant virus perinatally. In this population-based study, intersubtype recombinants were common. The large number of different types of pol recombinants identified suggests that recombination occurs readily in the pol region. Perinatal transmission of the recombinant viruses demonstrates their evolutionary stability.
Structural changes in dental enamel induced by high energy continuous wave carbon dioxide laser

The morphological changes in dental enamel exposed to a high energy continuous beam surgical carbon dioxide laser were studied with a wet-scanning electron microscope. Utilizing a 1 mm focused beam, energy levels of 5, 10, and 12.5 watts were applied to the external enamel surface of teeth for between 0.05 and 2 seconds. Subsequent examination showed melting and resolidification of the surface enamel. Examination in cross section revealed three different zones of change, which were consistent in thickness. The outer layer of melted and resolidified enamel approximates 100 microns in width, whereas the next zone of acid resistant amorphous enamel measures only 12 microns in width and the third zone of porous enamel measures approximately 110 microns in width. Though of no immediate practical value in dentistry, the exact physical chemical changes occurring in the enamel warrant further investigation.
"You’re Not Going to Call the Shots": Structural Conflicts between the Principal and the PTO at a Suburban Public Elementary School

Researchers and policy makers overwhelmingly stress the harmonious nature of parent involvement. Researchers have focused on individual forms of parent involvement, yet collective efforts of parents in parent-teacher organizations (PTOs) are a key dynamic in schools. Drawing on a case study of an elementary school in an upper-middle-class community, we show that very high levels of parent involvement led to many conflicts. There were three main sources of these routine conflicts. Parents and educators had different priorities—parents favored a warm, friendly, and nonbureaucratic environment while the principal favored an orderly, safe, and bureaucratic environment. There were battles over authority, particularly over the planning of events. And finally, the PTO was a volunteer organization with high levels of turnover, weak lines of communication, and minimal training. This case study suggests the need to reconceptualize our models of family involvement in schooling.
Effectiveness of a large-scale distribution programme of free nicotine patches: a prospective evaluation.

Summary Background After an increase in cigarette taxes and implementation of smoke-free workplace legislation, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the New York State Department of Health, and the Roswell Park Cancer Institute undertook large-scale distribution of free nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). We did a 6 month follow-up survey to assess the success of this programme in improving smoking cessation on a population basis. Methods 34 090 eligible smokers who phoned a toll-free quitline were sent a 6-week course of nicotine patches (2 weeks each of 21 mg, 14 mg, and 7 mg per day). Brief follow-up counselling calls were attempted. At 6 months after treatment, we assessed smoking status of 1305 randomly sampled NRT recipients and a non-randomly selected comparison group of eligible smokers who, because of mailing errors, did not receive the treatment. NRT recipients were compared with local survey-derived data for heavy smokers in New York City. Findings An estimated 5% of all adults in New York City who smoked ten cigarettes or more daily received NRT; most (64%) recipients were non-white, foreign-born, or resided in a low-income neighbourhood. Of individuals contacted at 6 months, more NRT recipients than comparison group members successfully quit smoking (33% vs 6%, p vs 189 [27%], p=0·001). With the conservative assumption that every 6-month follow-up survey non-respondent continued to smoke, the stop rate among NRT recipients was 20%. At least 6038 successful quits were attributable to NRT receipt, and cost was US$464 per quit. Interpretation Easy access to cessation medication for diverse populations could help many more smokers to stop.
Bupivacaine Administration and Postoperative Pain Following Anterior Iliac Crest Bone Graft for Alveolar Cleft Repair

Abstract Objective: To determine whether placement of a bupivacaine-soaked absorbable sponge (BAS) in addition to bupivacaine infiltration at the anterior iliac crest (AIC) donor site alters postoperative pain for children undergoing alveolar bone grafting (ABG) for cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL±P). The comparison group received only bupivacaine infiltration (NO BAS) at the AIC. Design: Retrospective cohort. Medical records were abstracted by one investigator, blinded to BAS versus NO BAS use. Setting and Patients: Consecutive patients with CL±P who underwent ABG between 2000 and 2006 at one large U.S. craniofacial center. Intervention: BAS was used in 118 procedures and NO BAS in 89. Outcome Measures: Postoperative pain score, total and opioid pain medication requirement, length of hospital stay (LOS), and time to initial ambulation. Results: One hundred eighty-two patients underwent 207 ABG procedures. Mean pain scores were significantly lower when BAS was used compared with NO BAS (1.3 ver...
Structural Engineering Research in Wood

Four structural engineering studies of wood beams, in progress or recently completed at the U. S. Forest Products Laboratory, are presented. A mathematical theory is presented to explain the size-bending strength relationship for wood beams. The approach considers a volume-strength relationship rather than a depth-strength relationship as has been used in the past. Results show that the relationship developed applies to small as well as relatively large beams. Principal results of research on the lateral stability of deep beams, tapered bending members, and prestressed laminated wood beams are also summarized, with references to complete papers indicated. In the lateral stability study, the stability of roof and floor systems, whose proportions allow lateral buckling of the supporting beams, is analyzed. Particular attention is given to the stabilizing influence of the shear stiffness of the attached deck. The study of tapered bending members shows that bending, shear, and vertical stresses can occur at one point and the effect of combined stresses should be considered in design. In the study of prestressed laminated wood beams, it is shown that increased strength and decreased variability of strength can be attained by prestressing wood members.
The restricted spatial and temporal expression of a nervous-system-specific antigen involved in axon outgrowth during development of the grasshopper

To identify molecules important for pathfinding by growing axons, monoclonal antibodies (mAb) have been generated against embryonic grasshopper tissue. One mAb, 2B2, shows labeling exclusively in the nervous system. It recognizes a surface epitope on neuronal growth cones, filopodia and axons in the central nervous system (CNS). Initially, the antigen is expressed on all processes of the CNS; after 70% of embryonic development, localization of the 2B2 mAb is restricted to a small subset of axon tracts within the ganglia. Immunoprecipitation from embryonic membrane extracts with the 2B2 mAb reveals a unique band of 160 × 10(3) Mr. Functional studies with the 2B2 mAb demonstrate that the antigen is important in growth cone-axon interactions during process outgrowth. Growth cones that extend along axonal substrata are either blocked in growth or grow along an aberrant pathway when embryos are cultured in the presence of the 2B2 mAb. However, pioneer neurons that extend processes on non-neuronal substrata grow normally.
Mare Clausum? Private Rights in the Territorial Sea and Exclusive Economic Zone

In the late 1990s, Alaskan native villages claimed parts of the territorial sea in the Gulf of Alaska. At the same time in Australia, clans asserted their possession of submerged land in the Croker Island region of the Northern Territory. In New Zealand, Maori communities contended that they owned the foreshore and the seabed of the Marlborough Sounds. More recently in Canada, the Haida filed suit seeking a declaration of aboriginal title to the Hecate Strait and exclusive economic zone west of the Queen Charlotte Islands. In different jurisdictions, these cases have pit the sovereignty of national governments against the private rights and internal governance of indigenous communities. Around the world, they have thrown into question the vitality of aboriginal entitlements and public rights in a peculiar juridical space: the ocean. Although indigenous peoples' claims to land and internal waters have long been part of the legal horizon in America and the Commonwealth, those to the ocean and seabed are comparatively novel. In this chapter, which will appear in the forthcoming book, Legal Aspects of Aboriginal Business Development, I analyze legal issues which have arisen, and are likely to arise, in recent offshore claims in Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and Canada. The chapter is comparative in nature, but seeks to be faithful to the local circumstances of each jurisdiction, in particular to the different conceptions of aboriginal title and aboriginal rights in each country. It draws on the author's research and practice and will be useful for those seeking a transnational understanding of the state of offshore aboriginal title.
Communication With The SAS 58 Auditor’s Standard Report: An Exploratory Study

In a field experiment, the authors examine whether three alternative versions of the auditor’s standard report communicate effectively the cognitive dimensions of understand-ability, engagement risk, and needed accommodation to a user group (investment and banking professionals) and an expert group (audit partners and managers). The study focuses on the mandated SAS 58 (AICPA 1988) three-paragraph auditor’s standard report (SR), the previously mandated two-paragraph auditor’s standard report (OSR) and a modified auditor’s standard report (MSR) more in harmony with the stated auditor’s responsibility for detecting fraud, as mandated by SAS 53 (AICPA 1988b) which was subsequently superceded by SAS 82 and SAS 99. The results indicate that both auditors and users are consistent in their belief that the SR represents an enhancement in understandability of the audit message over OSR, and that a format along the lines of MSR would not have represented an improvement over the SR format given the inconsistencies in ratings between auditors and users of the MSR (which contains explicit language relative to fraud). Specifically, auditors’ perception of engagement risk associated with the MSR is much higher than users’ perception and the demand for needed accommodation (additional information) is also greater for auditors than users. Overall, the results suggest that the ASB was effective in responding to the user needs with respect to the message communicated in the auditor’s report, a critical link in the financial information reporting process. This investigation has the potential to inform policy-making bodies concerned with adopting a report standard that fairly communicates the risks borne by both auditor and user groups.
Velocity measurements in synthetic jet using magnetically driven surface discharges

A magnetically driven DC surface plasma discharge has shown promise for supersonic boundary layer control. Previous experiments in supersonic flow performed using this plasma actuator have shown significant control over the shockwaveturbulent boundary layer interaction region. In this study, the velocity of the surface jet in quiescent air is measured and compared with predictions. A time gated schlieren technique is used to visualize the jet and determine the velocity. The surface plasma column appears as a transverse “arc” between two slightly diverging electrodes and is driven by j x B forces so that it sweeps the neutral gas near the surface creating a surface jet.The jet velocity generated by the magneto-gas dynamic actuator is measured in a 1 Tesla magnetic field at different actuation currents below 100mA in air at pressures in the range of 100 – 400 Torr
The dynamic lines of collaboration model

Model is established for collaborative response to ongoing cascading disruptions.Performance metrics of the model are designed: response time, preventability, etc.Our model is validated by numerical experiments & case study on water supply system.Small-worldness hampers the removing of cascading disruptions by responders.Efficient collaboration & centrality-based depot allocation improve performance. Cyberphysical systems (CPSs) are emerging engineered systems with combined efforts in cybernetics and computerized physical components. The pervasive links between CPS elements improve their connectivity, but inevitably enable failures to propagate to large-scale disasters. External responders (repair-agents) often need to collaborate concurrently with peers to perform emergency services and repair operations. Systematic understanding of the collaborative response to ongoing cascading failures is required for responders to effectively prepare response teams and arrange disruption response. Previous modeling approaches are lacking the ability to capture the dynamic interactions between a CPS and its response teams. In this work, the Dynamic Lines of Collaboration model for Collaborative Disruption Response (DLOC/CDR) is established. It can capture general requirements of collaborative responders to respond to and to resolve ongoing disruptions with cascading effects. Two depot allocation policies are tested and compared to examine the new model over different CPS structures. Four performance measures (response time, maximum cascade, travel distance by responders, and preventability) are designed to compare different parametric settings. It is observed from the experiments that the small-world phenomenon increases the difficulty of resolving cascading failures in CPSs by response resources. Experiments on both conceptual networks and the Hetch Hetchy water system case study validate that the collaboration ability and the centrality-based depot allocation policy improve the disruption response performance with statistical significance. While these experimental observations support intuitive rational, the model for DLOC/CDR also provides specific guidelines for emergency responders, and serves as a base model for future research in the effective disruption management and response area.
A distributed control design methodology for damping critical modes in power systems

Due to rapid growth of power demand and economical and environmental restrictions for transmission and generation expansion, future power systems will be operating close to their stability limits. Critical modes of the system that are near stability limits can be influenced by unpredictable contingencies and even lead to cascading failures and blackouts. Therefore, maintaining sufficient security margins will be highly dependent on a robust and reliable control infrastructure. In this paper, we proposed a distributed control scheme based on maximum eigenvalue minimization algorithm to improve the damping performance of the mode which is closest to stability limits or a desired performance limit. We also explored the effects of communication structure on controller performance and derived sufficient bounds on distributed feedback gains to guarantee a certain performance. Simulation results on a two-area four-machine test system demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed controller.
Using silvicultural practices to regulate competition, resource availability, and growing conditions for Pinus palustris seedlings underplanted in Pinus taeda forests

In the southeastern United States, many forest managers are interested in restoring longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) to upland sites that currently support loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.). We quantified the effects of four canopy treatments (uncut Control; MedBA, harvest to 9 m2·ha−1; LowBA, harvest to 5 m2·ha−1; and Clearcut) and three cultural treatments (NT, no treatment; H, herbicide release of longleaf pine seedlings; and H+F, herbicide release plus fertilization) on resource availability and growing conditions in relation to longleaf pine seedling response for 3 years. Harvesting treatments reduced competition from canopy trees but resulted in greater abundance of understory vegetation. Harvesting shifted the interception of light from the canopy to the subcanopy vegetation layer; however, total light availability at the forest floor increased with the intensity of canopy removal. Soil moisture was not affected by harvesting or by the cultural treatments. Foliar nutrient concentrations (N, P, an...
The value of dignity in and for bioethics: rethinking the terms of the debate

The discussion of the nature and value of dignity in and for bioethics concerns not only the importance of the concept but also the aims of bioethics itself. Here, I challenge the claim that the concept of dignity is useless by challenging the implicit conception of usefulness involved. I argue that the conception of usefulness that both opponents and proponents of dignity in bioethics adopt is rooted in a narrow understanding of the role of normative theory in practical ethical thinking. I then offer an alternate understanding of the nature and value of dignity. I begin by recognizing that claims that one’s dignity has been violated point to an important difference between “respect for autonomy” and “respect for persons.” I then suggest three different conceptions of how dignity can be normatively guiding for bioethics, and conclude that, ultimately, understanding dignity as the cornerstone of a reflective perspective that frames moral reflection and deliberation is valuable for doing bioethics well.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, HIV infection, and managed care.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) first came to the attention of health care providers as a nosocomial pathogen.1 More recently, MSRA has emerged as an important community-acquired pathogen2 and has been a cause of infection in men who have sex with men (MSM)3,4 and in persons with HIV-1 infection.5-7 Other reports include clusters of MRSA infection in prison inmates,8 military recruits,9 and athletes.10
Immunomodulatory Effects of Coated Gold Nanoparticles in LPS-Stimulated In Vitro and In Vivo Murine Model Systems

The ability of nanoparticle surface functionalities to regulate immune responses during an immunological challenge (i. e. inflammation) would open new doors for their use in non-prophylactic therapeutics. We report here the use of functionalized 2 nm core gold nanoparticles to control the immunological responses of in vitro and in vivo systems presented with an inflammatory challenge. The results showed that NPs bearing a hydrophobic zwitterionic functionality boost inflammatory outcomes while hydrophilic zwitterionic NPs generate minimal immunological responses. Surprisingly, tetra(ethylene glycol) headgroups generate a significant anti-inflammatory response both in vitro and in vivo. These results demonstrate the ability of simple surface ligands to provide immunomodulatory properties, making them promising leads for the therapeutic usage of nanomaterials in diseases involving inflammation.
Exploiting Diversity Gain in MIMO Equipped Ad hoc Networks

MIMO links coupled with space-time codes can combat fading and hence can significantly increase the capacity of ad hoc networks. This ability of providing " diversity gain" can increase the capacity of ad hoc networks. Currently, most of the studies on MIMO links systems are focused on the physical layer without taking into consideration the intricacies of a network-wide deployment. In this work we study the benefits of a network-wide deployment of MIMO links in mobile ad hoc networks. In particular, we examine the trade-offs between using the possible diversity gain for an increase in range or an increase in rate. We make minor modifications to traditionally used MAC and routing schemes popularly considered for ad hoc networks and perform extensive simulations to understand the above trade-offs. We quantify the performance trade-offs in terms of the achieved throughput and end-to-end latency. Our studies can serve as a precursor to the design of adaptive schemes that can exploit the achievable diversity to increase range/rate depending on the scenario at hand.
A Rules-Based System for Adapting and Transforming Existing Narratives

This paper describes a rules-based computational system that utilizes a semantic framework to produce transformations of an existing narrative. We describe how we can use a Rete rules system to transform a semantic representation of a narrative, as well as laying out groundwork for the types of rules that a system like this would consider. To provide an example of our system in action, we describe a semantic encoding of the Brothers Grimm version of Sleeping Beauty, and provide rules for transforming it to fit the style of Disney.
Qualitative Research in Group Work: Status, Synergies, and Implementation

The article aims to advance the use of qualitative research methods to understand group work. The first part of this article situates the use of qualitative research methods in relationship to group work research. The second part examines recent qualitative group work research using a framework informed by scoping and systematic review methods and the synergies between research challenges and qualitative research potential. The third part describes 4 broad quality criteria for qualitative research, illustrates the criteria using examples drawn from examined studies and describes associated pitfalls related to group work research. Implications for training and research are discussed.
Retrieving Hurricane Maximum Winds Using Simulated CYGNSS Power-Versus-Delay Waveforms

A novel approach in retrieving hurricane maximum winds using simulated NASA Cyclone Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) data is presented. Five hundred fifty two hurricane wind fields, from the 2010–2011 Atlantic and Eastern pacific hurricane seasons, were used to test the algorithm. These wind fields have been obtained from the hurricane weather research and forecasting model (HWRF). Power-versus-delay waveforms associated with specular points located along CYGNSS tracks crossing these wind fields were simulated. These “storm” power-versus-delay waveforms were compared to “reference” power-versus-delay waveforms generated over a set of synthetic Willoughby storms with known maximum wind speeds. The retrieved maximum wind speeds are compared against the hurricane research division reanalysis data (Best Track) and HWRF. For Best Track maximum wind speeds less than 40 m/s and greater than 40 m/s, the overall bias against Best Track is 11.3 and 2.1 m/s, respectively. When comparing against HWRF maximum wind speeds less than 40 m/s and greater than 40 m/s, the overall bias is 11.5 and 3.0 m/s, respectively. These results are improved when translation effects were applied to these synthetic storms: compared against Best Track for maximum wind speeds less than 40 m/s and greater than 40 m/s, the biases are 9.0 and $-$ 1.13 m/s, respectively. When compared against HWRF, the biases are 8.6 and 0.4 m/s, respectively.
Novel translational approaches to the search for precision therapies for acute respiratory distress syndrome

In the 50 years since acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) was first described, substantial progress has been made in identifying the risk factors for and the pathogenic contributors to the syndrome and in characterising the protein expression patterns in plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from patients with ARDS. Despite this effort, however, pharmacological options for ARDS remain scarce. Frequently cited reasons for this absence of specific drug therapies include the heterogeneity of patients with ARDS, the potential for a differential response to drugs, and the possibility that the wrong targets have been studied. Advances in applied biomolecular technology and bioinformatics have enabled breakthroughs for other complex traits, such as cardiovascular disease or asthma, particularly when a precision medicine paradigm, wherein a biomarker or gene expression pattern indicates a patient's likelihood of responding to a treatment, has been pursued. In this Review, we consider the biological and analytical techniques that could facilitate a precision medicine approach for ARDS.
Abstract P204: Reasons for Unauthorized Discharges Among Patients With Cardiovascular Disease: A Qualitative Study

Background: Approximately one percent of inpatient discharges are against medical advice (AMA) and national data show that diseases of the circulatory system rank third in terms of discharges AMA. ...
Manganese Binding by Municipal Waste Composts Used as Potting Media

Abstract Queen palms (Syagrus romanzoffiana (Chamisso) Glassman) grown in several types of sewage sludge compost media developed severe Mn deficiency symptoms. Seventy of the symptoms was correlated with DTPA-extractable Mn levels in the media and with leaf Mn content, but not with total media Mn. Compost media tied up over 70% of Mn added to samples within one hour, versus 62% or less for a pine bark, sedge peat, and sand medium. Analysis of autoclaved media samples suggested that some of the Mn tie up in garbage and yard trash composts is caused by microorganisms, but microorganisms had little effect on the binding potential of sludge and manure composts.
speculating Latina radicalism: labour and motherhood in Lunar Braceros 2125 - 2148

This essay unpacks the utopian impulse in Rosaura Sanchez and Beatrice Pita’s novella Lunar Braceros 2125-2148 (2009). As speculative fiction that has strong, explicit critiques on labour and globalisation, Lunar Braceros crafts a future-historical and future-present world where racialised forms of labour exploitation are the norm. The novella offers the radical response of worker revolution that can only ever be a potential and desire. The novella does this by presenting an ambivalent labour politics that results in the dismantling of the family as a heteronormative unit and that depend on the figure of the lost radical mother. The intervention this essay makes into Latina/o studies and feminist studies is to rearticulate the figure of motherhood through a specific lens of radicalism that is both queer and proletarian. By thinking about Latina radicalism through the intersections of labour, gender and non-normative sexuality in the novella, we see that the lost mother figure disrupts capitalist patriarchy by offering radical potentiality.
Comparison of laser and circumlimbal suture induced elevation of intraocular pressure in albino CD-1 mice

Animal models of ocular hypertension are important tools for glaucoma studies. Both acute transient models and chronic models of ocular hypertension may be useful to investigate specific aspects of neurodegeneration. In this study, we compare the intraocular pressure (IOP) and inner retinal changes induced by 1) laser photocoagulation of both episcleral veins and limbal vessels and 2) circumlimbal suture in CD-1 mice. The suture group is divided into 3 subgroups depending on the level of the immediate IOP spike (acute > 55 mmHg or chronic < 55 mmHg) and time period of monitoring (7 or 28 days). The laser group is followed for 7 days. IOP data show that it peaks at 5 hours and returns to normal level within 7 days in the laser group. In all suture groups, IOP spikes initially and decreases gradually, but it remains significantly elevated at 7 days. In 7 days, the acute suture model generates rapid loss of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) when compared to the gradual loss by the chronic suture model, possibly due to retinal ischemia and reperfusion within the first few hours after treatment. The laser model falls between the acute suture and chronic suture models resulting in less RNFL and RGC loss than the acute suture model but significantly more loss than the chronic suture model. These results suggest that when using suture models of IOP elevation, it is critical to take the initial IOP spike into consideration and to choose between the acute and chronic models depending on respective research purposes.
Migration Factors in West African Immigrant Parents' Perceptions of Their Children's Neighborhood Safety.

Immigrants make up large proportions of many low-income neighborhoods, but have been largely ignored in the neighborhood safety literature. We examined perceived safety's association with migration using a six-item, child-specific measure of parents' perceptions of school-aged (5-12 years of age) children's safety in a sample of 93 West African immigrant parents in New York City. Aims of the study were (a) to identify pre-migration correlates (e.g., trauma in home countries), (b) to identify migration-related correlates (e.g., immigration status, time spent separated from children during migration), and (c) to identify pre-migration and migration correlates that accounted for variance after controlling for non-migration-related correlates (e.g., neighborhood crime, parents' psychological distress). In a linear regression model, children's safety was associated with borough of residence, greater English ability, less emotional distress, less parenting difficulty, and a history of child separation. Parents' and children's gender, parents' immigration status, and the number of contacts in the U.S. pre-migration and pre-migration trauma were not associated with children's safety. That child separation was positively associated with safety perceptions suggests that the processes that facilitate parent-child separation might be reconceptualized as strengths for transnational families. Integrating migration-related factors into the discussion of neighborhood safety for immigrant populations allows for more nuanced views of immigrant families' well-being in host countries.
Biology of Retinoblastoma

Studies on retinoblastoma have led to several landmark studies in cancer genetics over the past 4 decades. In 1971, Knudson proposed that retinoblastoma might initiate by biallelic inactivation of a putative tumor suppressor gene (Knudson 1971). This “two-hit hypothesis” was based on the observation that there were two distinct forms of retinoblastoma seen in the clinic. Children with a family history of retinoblastoma often had bilateral multifocal retinoblastoma. In contrast, children with unilateral retinoblastoma rarely had any family history of the disease. Knudson proposed that for retinoblastoma to form, both copies of a putative tumor suppressor gene had to be inactivated. Children with a family history of retinoblastoma inherited a defective copy of this tumor suppressor gene and were likely to have retinal cells that sustained mutations in the second allele, leading to multifocal bilateral retinoblastoma. In contrast, children who have two intact copies of the retinoblastoma susceptibility gene develop retinoblastoma only when a single cell sustains two independent mutations that inactivate both copies of the gene. The lower probability of two inactivating mutations in the retinoblastoma susceptibility gene could account for the observation that these children often had unilateral retinoblastoma with fewer tumor foci.
Comparative Neurobiology: History

The history of comparative neurobiology has seen a gradual convergence of interest and knowledge in the neural bases of behavior, evolution of the nervous system, and development of the nervous system. Neuroanatomical and embryological studies done in the nineteenth century provided important foundations. Darwinian theory provided a framework for interpreting taxonomic variation in brain traits, but until the 1980s this was done largely in the erroneous context of scala naturae thinking. Progress has accelerated since the 1960s due to the discovery of identified neurons in invertebrates, and developments in axonal tracing, microelectrode recording and staining, molecular genetics, phylogenetic systematics, and network analysis.
Modulation of turbulence scales passing through the rotor of a wind turbine

ABSTRACTThe modulation of boundary-layer turbulence across scales by passage through the rotor of a model wind turbine is assessed experimentally in a wind tunnel. Synchronous measurements of the f...
A path for lignin valorization via additive manufacturing of high-performance sustainable composites with enhanced 3D printability

We report the manufacture of printable, sustainable polymer systems to address global challenges associated with high-volume utilization of lignin, an industrial waste from biomass feedstock. By analyzing a common three-dimensional printing process—fused-deposition modeling—and correlating the printing-process features to properties of materials such as acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) and nylon, we devised a first-of-its-kind, high-performance class of printable renewable composites containing 40 to 60 weight % (wt %) lignin. An ABS analog made by integrating lignin into nitrile-butadiene rubber needs the presence of a styrenic polymer to avoid filament buckling during printing. However, lignin-modified nylon composites containing 40 to 60 wt % sinapyl alcohol–rich, melt-stable lignin exhibit enhanced stiffness and tensile strength at room temperature, while—unexpectedly—demonstrating a reduced viscosity in the melt. Further, incorporation of 4 to 16 wt % discontinuous carbon fibers enhances mechanical stiffness and printing speed, as the thermal conductivity of the carbon fibers facilitates heat transfer and thinning of the melt. We found that the presence of lignin and carbon fibers retards nylon crystallization, leading to low-melting imperfect crystals that allow good printability at lower temperatures without lignin degradation.
Trajectories of spiritual well‐being in long‐term survivors of cancer: A report from the American Cancer Society's Studies of Cancer Survivors–I

Background Existing research indicates that religion, spirituality, or both are important to the quality of life of patients with cancer. The current study is the first to characterize trajectories of spiritual well-being (SWB) over time and to identify their predictors in a large, diverse sample of long-term cancer survivors. Methods The participants were 2365 cancer survivors representing 10 cancer diagnoses from the American Cancer Society's Studies of Cancer Survivors-I, and they were assessed at 3 time points: 1, 2, and 9 years after their diagnosis. SWB was assessed with the 3 subscales of the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Well-Being (FACIT-Sp; ie, Meaning, Peace, and Faith). Predictors included demographic, medical, and psychosocial variables. Latent growth mixture modeling was used to identify trajectories and test their predictors. Results Four distinct trajectories of SWB were identified for each of the FACIT-Sp subscales: stable-high (45%-61% of the sample, depending on the subscale), stable-moderate (23%-33%), stable-low (7%-16%), and declining (6%-10%). Significant predictors of these trajectories included age, sex, race, education, comorbidities, symptom burden, social support, and optimism, but not always in the hypothesized direction. For some of the subscale trajectories, a recurrence of cancer, multiple cancers, or metastatic cancer was associated with lower SWB. Conclusions This is the first study to establish the existence and predictors of heterogeneous trajectories of SWB in long-term survivors of cancer. Because SWB is an important component of quality of life, the current results indicate characteristics of persons who could be at greater risk for a decline or consistently low scores in SWB and may warrant clinical attention.
The Instrumental Temperature RecordOpen image in new window

Crude devices to measure temperature were developed in the latter part of the 16th century. In the middle of the 17th century Ferdinando II de Medici invented a sealed glass tube partially filled with a liquid which would expand or contract with temperature changes.
DeepSlice: A Deep Learning Approach towards an Efficient and Reliable Network Slicing in 5G Networks

Existing cellular communications and the upcoming 5G mobile network requires meeting high-reliability standards, very low latency, higher capacity, more security, and high-speed user connectivity. Mobile operators are looking for a programmable solution that will allow them to accommodate multiple independent tenants on the same physical infrastructure and 5G networks allow for end-to-end network resource allocation using the concept of Network Slicing (NS). Data-driven decision making will be vital in future communication networks due to the traffic explosion and Artificial Intelligence (AI) will accelerate the 5G network performance. In this paper, we have developed a ‘DeepSlice’ model by implementing Deep Learning (DL) Neural Network to manage network load efficiency and network availability, utilizing in-network deep learning and prediction. We use available network Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to train our model to analyze incoming traffic and predict the network slice for an unknown device type. Intelligent resource allocation allows us to use the available resources on existing network slices efficiently and offer load balancing. Our proposed DeepSlice model will be able to make smart decisions and select the most appropriate network slice, even in case of a network failure.
In-house computer-aided design and manufacturing versus traditional open reduction and internal fixation for mandibular trauma

Purpose Computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) are revolutionizing oral and maxillofacial surgery. Current methods utilize virtual surgical planning (VSP) sessions and custom plate fabrication via third-party vendors, which is costly and time consuming, negating the effectiveness in the treatment of acute facial trauma. The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility, operative time, and quality of reductions between an in-house CAD/CAM method versus traditional open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). Methods After receiving approval from our university's institutional review board, an analysis of 20 patients who were treated for acute mandible fractures was completed. The control group received traditional ORIF. The experimental group consisted of patients treated with a preoperative in-house CAD/CAM method and preoperatively bent plates. The primary outcome variable was the overall operative time and the quality of postoperative reductions. Results The 20 patients included in the study had a mean age of 49 years. The average operative time for the control group was 154 ± 35.5 minutes versus 108.3 ± 19.1 minutes in the experimental group (P Conclusion This investigation demonstrated that in-house CAD/CAM methods are feasible and decrease operative time for the management of acute mandibular fractures.
Design of a randomized placebo controlled trial of high dose intravenous thiamine for the prevention of delirium in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Abstract Background Delirium is a highly prevalent and preventable neuropsychiatric condition with major health consequences. Thiamine deficiency is a well-established cause of delirium in those with chronic, severe alcoholism, but there remains an underappreciation of its significance in non-alcoholic populations, including patients with cancer. Treatment of suspected thiamine-related mental status changes with high dose intravenous (IV) thiamine has preliminary evidence for improving a variety of cognitive symptoms in oncology inpatient settings but has never been studied for the prevention of delirium in any population. Objectives The primary objective of this clinical trial is to determine if high dose IV thiamine can prevent delirium in patients receiving allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for treatment of cancer. Secondary objectives are to determine if thiamine status is predictive of delirium onset and if high dose IV thiamine can attenuate the deleterious impact of delirium on health-related quality of life (HRQOL), functional status, and long-term neuropsychiatric outcomes. Methods In this phase II study, we are recruiting 60 patients undergoing allogeneic HSCT, randomizing them to treatment with high dose IV thiamine (n = 30) versus placebo (n = 30), and systematically evaluating all participants for delirium and related comorbidities. We use the Delirium Rating Scale to measure the severity and duration of delirium during hospitalization for HSCT. We obtain thiamine levels weekly during the transplantation hospitalization. We assess HRQOL, functional status, depression, post-traumatic stress symptoms, and cognitive function prior to and at one, three, and six months after transplantation.
How American Academic Medical/Health Sciences Libraries Responded to the COVID-19 Health Crisis: An Observational Study

The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has caused a pandemic and global health crisis Although normal operation and services in many libraries have been greatly disrupted, academic libraries in the United States were reportedly responding to challenges by pivoting to new ways to meet the users’ needs This observational study was designed to investigate the status, services, and resources disclosed via websites of academic medical/health sciences libraries (MHSLs) in the United States and document how they adapted and continued to provide support to help fight the health crisis and the resulting “infodemic” through various means A complete list of members was obtained from the website of the Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries (AAHSL) The U S -based AAHSL member institutions were included in this study Each American academic MHSL website and its associated webpages were browsed;web contents were categorized and analyzed based on four research questions proposed by this study A descriptive analysis was conducted to summarize all findings A total of 157 AAHSL member institutions were included in the study These libraries spread all over the United States, and 90% of them announced closures of library buildings and facilities A significant number of MHSLs quickly adapted to the evolving situation and transitioned their services and instruction to the online environment The COVID-19 information sources adopted by MHSLs included the following ranked by frequency from high to low: The U S government agencies such as Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Library of Medicine, the World Health Organization, publishing communities, professional Journals, organizations, local institutions, government agencies, and news channels In addition, MHSLs undertook a series of actions to support academic communities and local healthcare professionals including resource curation, clinical care support, education, and outreach to the public Through library guides, MHSLs provided comprehensive and customized search queries to help researchers locate the latest and relevant publications to COVID-19, curated multiple data resources and data exploration, and visualization tools, and selected the latest biomedical and health evidence in a wide range of topics Other featured resources and services were associated with ethical issues (i e , racism and prejudice), educational and entertainment information (e g , virtual tours of parks), and personal experience documentation This observational study is the most recent investigation and documentation on the status, services, and resources of the academic MHSLs in the United States during the initial U S outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic Although the current health crisis is taking a heavy toll on libraries nationwide, MHSLs are still managing to play a vital role in supporting the academic communities, healthcare facilities, and the general public and fighting against the pandemic and the resulting information crisis
Comparison of buprenorphine and methadone in the management of maternal opioid use disorder in full term pregnancies.

Objectives To compare pregnancy outcomes with medication assisted treatment using. methadone or buprenorphine in term mothers with opioid use disorder. Methods A cohort of women receiving medication assisted treatment with either methadone or buprenorphine were identified from delivery records over a 10-year period. Women were excluded with delivery 7 days (OR 3.61; 95% confidence interval 1.32-9.86; p=0.01). Conclusions Medication assisted treatment favors buprenorphine use when compared to. methadone with an increased birthweight, reduced need for newborn treatment, and a shorter newborn length of stay in term infants.