cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transverse shear stress distribution through thickness near an internal part-through elliptical hole in a stretched plate

Abstract A semi-analytical post-processing method, termed the equilibrium/compatibility method here, is used for computation of hitherto unavailable through-thickness variation of transverse shear stresses in the vicinity of the circumferential re-entrant corner line of an internal part-through elliptical cylindrical hole weakening an edge-loaded rectangular plate. A C0-type triangular “composite” plate element, based on the assumptions of transverse inextensibility and piece (“layer”)-wise constant shear-angle theory (LCST), is employed to first compute the inplane stresses and “layer”-wise through-thickness average transverse shear stresses. These serve as the starting point for computation of through-thickness distribution of transverse shear stresses in the vicinity of the circumferential re-entrant corner line of the internal part-through elliptical hole. As in the case of its circular counterpart, the transverse shear stresses computed by the conventional equilibrium method (EM) are, in contrast, in serious error in the presence of the circumferential re-entrant corner line singularity arising out of the internal part-through elliptical hole, and are found to violate the compatibility condition. The computed maximum transverse shear stress can be high enough to cause catastrophic transverse shear fracture in the shape of a cone, of elliptical cross-section starting from the circumferential re-entrant corner line of the internal part-through hole. The results computed by the present analysis are in line with a three-dimensional asymptotic analysis.
Pharmacy student acquisition of pediatric nonprescription product cost awareness: A pilot study

Abstract Objective This study evaluated if pharmacy student knowledge of the costs of pediatric nonprescription products improves as the student progresses through the curriculum. Methods A nine-section survey was administered to students at four points in the doctor of pharmacy program: at the beginning of the first year to represent baseline knowledge, halfway through the didactic curriculum, at the completion of the didactic curriculum, and following the completion of entire curriculum. Eight sections evaluated knowledge of costs associated with specific categories of pediatric nonprescription medications or care items. For each section, products were listed and the students indicated which of the six cost categories they believed represented the true retail cost. The ninth section collected demographic information to assist in determining if sex, age, work experience, or parental status impacted student knowledge of costs in addition to progression through the curriculum. Result Overall student performance at all levels was poor. Statistically significant differences determined by the ANOVA analysis were noted for overall right versus wrong responses for class and work experience comparisons. Sub-analysis indicated class differences were between the PS1 or PS2 groups when compared to the PS4 group and were significant for only four of the eight categories. Statistical significance was not found when analysis evaluated the impact of gender, dependents, pricing responsibility at workplace, recent purchasing of pediatric over-the-counter products, or age. Implications Progressive pharmacy student acquisition of pediatric nonprescription product cost awareness appears to be minimal and should be addressed by alterations to the curriculum.
Femoral pseudoaneurysms after percutaneous access

The femoral artery has been the primary percutaneous-based arterial access site for coronary artery catheterizations for more than three decades. Noncardiac percutaneous-based procedures have also been performed primarily with femoral access and have increased in number exponentially by vascular specialists in past decades. Groin complications are infrequent in incidence after femoral arterial access for cardiac and peripheral diagnostic and interventional cases, with groin hematomas and pseudoaneurysms being the most common. Until ultrasound-based treatment modalities became the mainstay of treatment, vascular surgeons were the primary specialty managing pseudoaneurysms, but now other specialties also manage these cases. This review outlines the clinical implications and current issues relevant to understanding the ideal treatment strategy for this common complication.
Richter and Harrison receive the Bowen award

At the 1995 Fall Meeting in San Francisco, Calif., Frank Richter and Timothy Mark Harrison were honored with the 1995 N. L. Bowen Award, which is given to individuals for a single outstanding contribution to volcanology, geochemistry, or petrology made during the preceding 5 years. The award citations and Richter's and Harrison's responses are given here.
Out-of-Pocket Spending for Ambulatory Physical Therapy Services From 2008 to 2012: National Panel Survey

Background Out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditures are incurred as insurers and employers shift some of the burden of health care costs onto consumers. As cost-sharing increases, OOP expenditures could be a barrier to physical therapy care. Objective The purposes of this study were: (1) to identify factors associated with any OOP physical therapy spending and (2) to identify factors associated with higher spending among individuals incurring OOP costs. Design The study was a retrospective analysis using the 4 most recently available panels of data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) encompassing 2008–2012. Methods A data file containing episodes of physical therapy care for 2,189 people was created. Logistic regression was used to identify factors related to having an OOP expenditure. A multivariable generalized linear model was used to identify factors related to mean OOP expenditures. Results On average, an episode of care encompassed 9.9 visits, with mean total expenditures of $1,708 (median: $792). Fifty-four percent of episodes of care had an OOP expenditure. For individuals with OOP expenditures, the mean OOP expenditure for an episode of care was $351 (median: $144). Being female or non-Hispanic and having a higher income were associated with higher odds of incurring an OOP expenditure, whereas being in worse general health, >65 years of age, or nonwhite and having public funding were associated with lower odds of incurring an OOP expenditure. Amounts of OOP spending were higher in urban areas and in all census geographic regions relative to the Northeast region. Limitations Estimates are based on household-reported survey data, limited to ambulatory care, and do not include institutionalized individuals. Conclusions At 54%, the proportion of individuals with OOP expenditures for physical therapy is lower than for general medical care. Several predictors were found of having OOP expenditures and of the magnitude of those expenditures.
Active hashing with joint data example and tag selection

Similarity search is an important problem in many large scale applications such as image and text retrieval. Hashing method has become popular for similarity search due to its fast search speed and low storage cost. Recent research has shown that hashing quality can be dramatically improved by incorporating supervised information, e.g. semantic tags/labels, into hashing function learning. However, most existing supervised hashing methods can be regarded as passive methods, which assume that the labeled data are provided in advance. But in many real world applications, such supervised information may not be available. This paper proposes a novel active hashing approach, Active Hashing with Joint Data Example and Tag Selection (AH-JDETS), which actively selects the most informative data examples and tags in a joint manner for hashing function learning. In particular, it first identifies a set of informative data examples and tags for users to label based on the selection criteria that both the data examples and tags should be most uncertain and dissimilar with each other. Then this labeled information is combined with the unlabeled data to generate an effective hashing function. An iterative procedure is proposed for learning the optimal hashing function and selecting the most informative data examples and tags. Extensive experiments on four different datasets demonstrate that AH-JDETS achieves good performance compared with state-of-the-art supervised hashing methods but requires much less labeling cost, which overcomes the limitation of passive hashing methods. Furthermore, experimental results also indicate that the joint active selection approach outperforms a random (non-active) selection method and active selection methods only focusing on either data examples or tags.
A new species of Stasimopus from the eastern Cape Province of South Africa (Araneae, Mygalomorphae, Ctenizidae), with notes on its natural history

A new species of ctenizid trapdoor spider is described, Stasimopus mandelai sp. nov., from the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. This species occurs syntopically with S. schoenlandi Pocock and a number of other mygalomorph spiders at the Great Fish River Nature Reserve. Illustrations, photographs, and additional notes on burrow architecture and general natural history are provided.
Development of solid state left-handed materials using intrinsic quantum states

This paper examines atomic equivalents to macroscopic electric and magnetic dipoles, an approach which promises not only to allow studies in the quantum optics realm, as discussed recently in a few multi-level schemes, but also a method to possibly fill arbitrary volumetric spaces in properly prepared solid state systems employing quantum dots, heterostructures, or nanocrystals.
Behavioral variables associated with obesity in police officers.

Past research has documented that non-behavioral variables (such as long work hours, exposure to police stressors) are associated with obesity risk in police officers, but limited research has examined behavioral variables that might be targeted by Employee Assistance Programs for police weight management. The present study compared non-obese and obese officers for behav- ioral variables found associated with obesity in other adult samples: physical activity (cardiovascular, strength-training, stretching), sleep duration, and consumption of alcohol, fruit and vegetables, and snack foods. Participants included 172 male police officers who completed questionnaires to report height and weight, used to calculate body mass index (BMI = kg/m 2 ) and to divide them into "non- obese" and "obese" groups. They also reported the above behaviors and six non-behavioral vari- ables found associated with obesity risk: age, health problems, family support, police work hours, police stressors, police support. ANCOVAs compared each behavioral variable across obesity status (non-obese, obese), with the six non-behavioral variables used as covariates. Results revealed that cardiovascular and strength-training physical activity were the only behavioral variables that dif- fered significantly between non-obese and obese police officers. The use of self-reported height and weight values may provide Employee Assistance Program with improved cost, time, and officer participation.
Do school accountability systems make it more difficult for low-performing schools to attract and retain high-quality teachers?

Administrative data from North Carolina are used to explore the extent to which that state's relatively sophisticated school-based accountability system has exacerbated the challenges that schools serving low-performing students face in retaining and attracting high-quality teachers. Most clear are the adverse effects on retention rates, and hence on teacher turnover, in such schools. Less clear is the extent to which that higher turnover has translated into a decline in the average qualifications of the teachers in the low-performing schools. Other states with more primitive accountability systems can expect even greater adverse effects on teacher turnover in low-performing schools. © 2004 by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management.
The self-organizing wireless network (SWAN) protocol for communication among mobile users

We present the self-organizing wireless adaptive network (SWAN) protocol, a distributed networking protocol capable of managing a stationless, wireless network of mobile users without recourse to any pre-existing infrastructure. This approach differs from previous work in that: the network employs dynamic topology management with power control, allowing it to deform gradually instead of being periodically broken down and rebuilt; control information is distributed instead of being concentrated in a "control phase"; and transmissions are dynamically scheduled in response to user demands instead of a priori.
Rehearsals of The Sovereign States of Exception and Threat Governmentality

The attacks of 9/11 have been generally viewed as a traumatic, historical rupture, ushering in the ‘war on terror’ as well as a warfare/security state in the US. Yet close attention to police pract...
Reduce energy requirements by coupling a poly-phase pre-filter and cic filter in high-performance Sigma-Delta A/D converters

The CIC filter is often used as a decimating filter to simultaneously reduce bandwidth and sample rate of the time series obtained at the output of a 1-bit Sigma-Delta con-verter. The conventional motivation for using the CIC is that the filtering is performed with only registers and adders, there being no multipliers in the CIC filter chain. We note that every FIR filter processing the output of a 1-bit sigma delta convert-er can also be implemented without multipliers. The CIC filter does not take advantage of the fact that the input samples are limited to two input levels. It is possible to design FIR filters using the two level input signal to form efficient multiply free filters that compare favorably with the CIC filter. We present here a partition of the filter and down sampling task into a cascade of a polyphase pre-filter that performs a first band-width and sample rate reduction without multiplies followed by a reduced sample rate CIC filter performing the second bandwidth and sample rate reduction. Operating the second filter as a CIC at a reduced output rate reduces its workload and the bit width required by its accumulators.
Blind separation of signals from piece-wise constant gain mixtures using independent component analysis

An algorithm is developed to separate signals mixed with piecewise constant matrices. Independent component analysis technique is employed to separate the signals. Algorithms are presented to identify the lengths of the segments and remove order, scaling and sign ambiguities present in the independent component analysis of consecutive segments.
Comparative rapid ammonium uptake by four species of marine phytoplankton1

A series of 15NH,+ uptake studies with four species of marine phytoplankton, Dunaliella tertiolecta (Dun), Phaeodactylum tricornutum (TFX-l), Chaetoceros simplex (BBsm), and Thalassiosira weissflogii (Actin), maintained in NH,+-limited continuous cultures at varying specific growth rates (p) and temperatures, was done to examine the time-dependency of NH,+ uptake and the relationship between physiological state and NH,+ uptake. The effect of growth rate on short term NH,+ uptake varied tremendously with species, but the trend of increasing V’,u:b with decreasing relative growth rate (p:b) was demonstrated by all species down to p = 0.25% of ,L The diatoms, especially, were capable of sustaining a high V’,,:,& even at very high relative growth rates. Growth rate also influenced the time-course of NH, I uptake: for cells grown at =0.20-0.35 ,& an enhancement in NH,+ uptake was observed in the first 5 min of incubation, but not for cells at >0.90 ,L These data are consistent with the hypothesis that phytoplankton may be able to exploit short-lived nutrient micropatches and may be growing at relatively rapid rates in oceanic waters.
An integer-based unsharp mask algorithm for infrared imagery

As camera sensor technology has advanced, image sizes have grown and the methods employed to process imagery have become more advanced and complex. For infrared (IR) imaging systems, more processing is typically required than in electro-optical (EO) systems in order to adjust the data so that it is visibly more meaningful or to preserve details that may be lost in compression. JPEG and JPEG2000 typically achieve compression through a loss of higher frequencies, which may contain important information for a variety of applications. A common algorithm employed on IR imagery before compression is an unsharp mask, which is a type of sharpening that preserves and boosts higher frequencies in the IR imagery. For many wide-area surveillance applications, this is essential in order to preserve important content, which may consist of a few pixels. With very large images and a pipelined processing chain, software systems quickly saturate memory bandwidth and processing throughput. A solution to this problem is offloading algorithms to specialized processing cards, such as those with FPGAs or GPUs. When implementing an algorithm in hardware, floating point calculations are resource-hungry and time consuming to complete, so the calculations are typically done in fixed-point notation while scaling the data and filter coefficients up in order to preserve precision. This paper presents an integer-based unsharp mask technique and a hardware implementation that gives equivalent results to its software floating-point counterpart and allows for an embedded implementation to achieve computational speedup.
Challenges in malaria modeling

Mathematical models can be useful tools in projects across the entire range of malaria research and intervention. The past decade has seen significant progress in malaria modeling, but challenges remain in applying, testing and refining current tools and in developing new ones.
The RhoGAP activity of CYK-4/MgcRacGAP functions non-canonically by promoting RhoA activation during cytokinesis

Cytokinesis requires activation of the GTPase RhoA. ECT-2, the exchange factor responsible for RhoA activation, is regulated to ensure spatiotemporal control of contractile ring assembly. Centralspindlin, composed of the Rho family GTPase-activating protein (RhoGAP) MgcRacGAP/CYK-4 and the kinesin MKLP1/ZEN-4, is known to activate ECT-2, but the underlying mechanism is not understood. We report that ECT-2-mediated RhoA activation depends on the ability of CYK-4 to localize to the plasma membrane, bind RhoA, and promote GTP hydrolysis by RhoA. Defects resulting from loss of CYK-4 RhoGAP activity can be rescued by activating mutations in ECT-2 or depletion of RGA-3/4, which functions as a conventional RhoGAP for RhoA. Consistent with CYK-4 RhoGAP activity contributing to GEF activation, the catalytic domains of CYK-4 and ECT-2 directly interact. Thus, counterintuitively, CYK-4 RhoGAP activity promotes RhoA activation. We propose that the most active form of the cytokinetic RhoGEF involves complex formation between ECT-2, centralspindlin and RhoA.
Efficient bifurcation analysis of periodically-forced distributed parameter systems

Abstract Changes in the qualitative features of the bifurcation diagrams or the dynamic features of forced periodic systems occur at singular points, which satisfy certain defining conditions. The loci of these singular points may be constructed by a continuation procedure and used to bound parameter regions with qualitatively different features. When the model of a forced periodic system is a set of partial differential equations, construction of these loci may require extensive computational time, making this task often impractical. We present here a novel, very efficient numerical method for construction of these loci. The procedure uses Frechet differentiation to simplify the determination of the defining conditions and the Broyden inverse update method to accelerate the iterative steps involved in the shooting method. The procedure is illustrated first by construction of a map of parameter regions with qualitatively different bifurcation diagrams for an adiabatic reverse-flow reactor (RFR), the direction of feed to which is changed periodically. We then construct a map of parameter regions in which a cooled RFR has qualitatively different dynamic features. Both maps reveal surprising features.
Active attenuation of electromagnetic noise in an inverter-fed automotive electric drive system

Electromagnetic noise, typical for systems with switching power converters, is especially troublesome in automotive electric drive systems because of the multitude of sensitive electronic equipment onboard of modern cars. To satisfy the relevant engineering norms, passive radio-frequency (RF) filters must be installed in the power electronic part of a drive. The RF filters add to the cost and size of the drive, which car designers strive to minimize to increase the passenger space. In this paper, active attenuation of the electromagnetic noise by means of the so-called random-delay pulse width modulation is described in application to an inverter-fed automotive ac drive. Based on computer simulations and experimental investigation, this simple and inexpensive method is shown to be highly effective
Declining towns in Russia, 1989-1993.

An article based on data for the last census of the former USSR and population estimates for 1993 for urban places of over 15,000 population in the Russian Federation surveys the regional distribution, economic functions, and size characteristics of urban settlements in Russia with declining population over the period 1989-93. Interesting comparisons are drawn with patterns prevailing during previous periods, revealing recent increases in the number of such towns in major manufacturing regions and the North and an increase in the number of large cities. Towns experiencing the very greatest percentage declines (-10.0 percent or more) also are investigated. 2 tables, 2 figures, 18 references.
Holographic navigation

This paper presents a method for navigating relative to the sea floor using sonar imagery. The aspect dependent terrain recognition problem is addressed by generating acoustic holograms of the sea floor containing images of all aspects of interest. Grazing angle compensation is applied to reduce the required spatial sampling from planar to linear. Sonar images are coherently correlated with centimeter resolution to provide navigational updates. The technique is demonstrated using five short duration missions in St. Andrew Bay and three long duration missions, with a combined extent of 69.7 km, in the Gulf of Mexico.
An in vitro biomechanical comparison of single-rod, dual-rod, and dual-rod with transverse connector in anterior thoracolumbar instrumentation.

BACKGROUND After thoracolumbar corpectomy, standard anterolateral instrumentation may consist of dual rods with cross-connectors. However, when the vertebral bodies are small or involved with disease, only 1 rod may be possible. OBJECTIVE To compare the biomechanics of an in vitro L1 corpectomy model using 1 rod, 2 rods, or 2 rods with 2 cross-connectors. METHODS Eight fresh frozen human cadaveric spines were potted from T9 to L3. Pure moments of 1.5, 3, and 4.5 Nm were applied, and the motion of the spine was measured using 3 infrared cameras. Loads were applied in flexion and extension, right and left lateral bending, and right and left axial rotation. Each spine was first tested in the intact state. After performing an L1 corpectomy and replacement with a carbon fiber reinforced polymer cage, 3 constructs were tested: single rod (1R), dual rod (2R), and dual rod with 2 transverse connectors (CC). RESULTS Analysis of variance suggests significant main effects of load (P < .0001), axis (P = .022), construct (P =.0019), and individual spine (P < .0001). Overall, the single-rod construct is significantly less rigid than the intact spine in axial rotation. There is no significant difference between the intact spine and either the dual-rod construct or the dual-rod cross-connector construct. CONCLUSION In our in vitro model of anterior spinal stabilization after corpectomy and grafting, a single-rod construct is significantly less rigid than the intact spine. Addition of a second rod returns the rigidity of the spine to the intact state. A dual-rod cross-connector construct is significantly more rigid than a single-rod construct.
Pathogenesis of Hemorrhage in Artificially Induced Fever

Every therapeutic agent of value has its potential dangers and hyperpyrexia is no exception to this general rule. Two of the most constant pathologic findings following induced fever in experimental animals and in human subjects are hemorrhage and acute parenchymatous degeneration of the liver. Hartman1 has pointed out the similarity of these pathologic changes to those encountered following prolonged mild asphyxia, and has demonstrated that anoxia is a common accompaniment of artificially induced fever.The mechanism underlying the hemorrhage following artificially induced fever has never been entirely satisfactorily explained. In the present study selected cellular and humoral factors important in the complex phenomenon of blood coagulation have been determined under experimental conditions in rabbits and during fever therapy in human patients. Total platelet counts have been correlated with qualitative and quantitative studies of the megakaryocytes in serial marrow punctures; quantitative prothrombin an...
Copolymerization of Ethylene and Methyl Acrylate by Cationic Palladium Catalysts That Contain Phosphine-Diethyl Phosphonate Ancillary Ligands

A series of benzo-linked phosphine-diethyl phosphonate (P-PO) and phosphine-bis(diethyl phosphonate) (P-(PO)2) ligands and the corresponding (P-PO)PdMe(2,6-lutidine)+ and (P-(PO)2)PdMe(2,6-lutidine)+ complexes were synthesized. Cationic (P-PO)PdMe(2,6-lutidine)+ complexes are active for ethylene oligomerization/polymerization, with activities of 2 kg mol–1 h–1 for {κ2-1-PiPr2-2-P(O)(OEt)2-5-Me-Ph}PdMe(2,6-lutidine)+ (3c), 125 kg mol–1 h–1 for {κ2-1-PPh2-2-P(O)(OEt)2-5-Me-Ph}PdMe(2,6-lutidine)+ (3a), and 1470 kg mol–1 h–1 for {κ2-1-P(2-OMe-Ph)2-2-P(O)(OEt)2-Ph}PdMe(2,6-lutidine)+ (3b). The polyethylene is highly linear, with over 80% terminal unsaturation and low (230–1890 Da) molecular weight in all cases. 3b copolymerizes ethylene with methyl acrylate, exhibiting highly selective (95%) in-chain (rather than chain-end) acrylate incorporation. The P-(PO)2 catalyst {κ2-1-P(4-tBu-Ph)(2-P(O)(OEt)2-5-Me-Ph)-2-P(O)(OEt)2-5-Me-Ph}PdMe(2,6-lutidine)+ (3d) is more active for ethylene homopolymerization (2640 kg mo...
Technology in Special Education–Some Implications

This paper illustrates the impact that technology could have on special education through the introduction of the student-subject matter interface concept. Various devices are described that could possibly be constructed to meet the unique needs of different types of exceptional children.
Vascular smooth muscle Na+-H+ exchanger kinetics and its activation by angiotensin II.

We have studied the kinetic properties of basal and angiotensin II (ANG II)-stimulated Na+-H+ exchange in cultured rat aortic smooth muscle cells. Initial rates of 22Na+ influx were measured in the presence of ouabain (1 mM) and bumetanide (0.1 mM) with and without amiloride after intracellular acidification by preincubation in Na-free media. The kinetics of amiloride (100 microM)-sensitive Na+ influx were studied under the following conditions: 1) constant intracellular pH (pHi; 6.8) and varying external Na+ (Na+o), which gave a Km of 23.6 +/- 2.0 (SD, n = 3) mM and a maximum velocity (Vmax) of 25 nmol.mg protein-1.min-1 (varying the amiloride concentration gave a Ki of 22 microM for inhibition under these conditions); and 2) constant Na+o (100 mM) and varying pHi (from 7.4 to 6.2), which indicated that amiloride-sensitive Na+ influx was stimulated by cell acidification when an outward H+ gradient was imposed. ANG II-stimulated amiloride-sensitive Na+ influx for up to 30 min with a half-maximal activation 10(-8) M. The pHi dependence from cell pH (pHi 7.2-6.2) of amiloride-sensitive Na+ influx stimulated by ANG II was similar to that of the basal values, a finding indicating that ANG II did not change the affinity of Na+-H+ exchange for intracellular H+. However, at pHi 6.8, ANG II increased the Vmax of amiloride-sensitive Na+ influx from 25 to 33 nmol.mg protein-1.min-1 and markedly decreased the Km for Na+o from 23.6 +/- 7.4 to 3.7 (SD, n = 4; P less than 0.005) mM.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
“Non-modifiable” Risk Factors for Periodontitis and Diabetes

This review describes the current evidence published from January 2013 through March 2016 for “non-modifiable” risk factors for periodontitis and diabetes mellitus. Risk factors for a disease are factors that increase the chance of developing the disease, that is, new onset or incidence. Periodontitis and diabetes are both chronic, inflammation-related diseases and often occur in the same individuals, which agrees with the two diseases having largely the same risk factors and also mutually and adversely affecting each other. “Non-modifiable” risk factors for both diseases include higher age, male sex, minority race or ethnicity, low socioeconomic status, genetic predisposition (mostly for impaired immune/inflammatory responses), a history of radiation therapy, pancreatic diseases, polycystic ovary syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia, and a history of cigarette smoking. Additionally, a history of poorly controlled diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, as well as possibly osteoporosis, increases the risk for periodontitis, whereas a personal history of antibiotics use and a family history of diabetes additionally increase the risk for diabetes. Given the similarities between the risk factors, the prevention, management, and treatment aimed to ameliorate the strength of the effects of these risk factors, the risks for both periodontitis and diabetes should be attenuated simultaneously. Interventions would probably be facilitated by being conducted in a patient-centered professional collaboration among dental and medical healthcare providers caring for their mutual patient and addressing risk factors for both periodontitis and diabetes for the best possible quality of life of their mutual patient.
Low surgical complication rates in cochlear implantation for young children less than 1 year of age.

Objective To identify risk factors for perioperative morbidity among a large national cohort of pediatric patients undergoing cochlear implantation. Study design Retrospective study utilizing the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Pediatric database (2012-2013). Methods Pediatric cochlear implantation cases were identified using current procedural terminology 69930. Patients were categorized by age, and operative characteristics along with 30-day perioperative outcomes were analyzed. Results We identified 1,351 cases of pediatric cochlear implantation. The median age was 3.6 years, and 73 patients were less than 1 year of age. Of 21 complication occurrences (1.55%), superficial incisional surgical site infection (SSI) was the most common (n = 13, 61.9%). Thirty-nine patients (2.9%) required readmission. The median operative time was 142 minutes, and the mean postoperative length of stay was 0.58 days. When comparing patients younger than 1 year old to those 1 year or older, no significant differences were noted in complication rate, postoperative length of stay, or reoperation rate. Patients less than 1 year of age were more likely to be readmitted (6.9% vs. 2.7%, P = 0.04) and had longer mean operative times (191 minutes vs. 160 minutes, P = 0.0015). Steroid use was a risk factor for unplanned reoperation, SSI, and readmission. Conclusion Despite a slight increase in readmission rates and operative times among patients less than 1 year of age, cochlear implantation appears to be safe in this population, with complication rates, reoperation rates, and postoperative lengths of stay similar to children undergoing the procedure at the current U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved age of 1 year and older. Level of evidence 4. Laryngoscope, 127:720-724, 2017.
Exploring the activation dimension of affect in organizations: A focus on trait‐level activation, climate‐level activation, and work‐related outcomes

Summary This study explores the activation dimension of affect in organizations by focusing on both individual employees and their work climate. Drawing on affect research and demands-abilities fit perspective, I have developed a model predicting that climate-level activation would deplete employees' emotional resources and trait-level action would function as an inner resource helping employees buffer themselves from their work demands. The results of a cross-level study, conducted in a sample of 257 employees and their supervisors within 40 work units across 11 organizations, supported all but one of the hypotheses. Employees whose trait-level activation was lower than the activation level of their work climate experienced higher levels of emotional exhaustion and thus were more likely to disengage from their work in forms of increased surface acting with their coworkers and psychological withdrawal, and reduced affective commitment to and intention to remain in their organization. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sentinel Events/Patient Safety Events

1. Richard E. McClead, MD, MHA* 2. Michael Brady, MD* 1. *The Ohio State University, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH. 1. 1. Throop C, 2. Stockmeier C. SECsm & SSERsm Patient Safety Measurement System for Healthcare . Throop C, Stockmeier C. Virginia Beach, VA: Healthcare Performance Improvement, LLC; 2009. Available at: http://hpiresults.com/docs/PatientSafetyMeasurementSystem.pdf. Accessed July 18, 2016 2. 1. Kimberlin DW, 2. Brady MT, 3. Jackson MA, 4. Long SS Salmonella Infections . In: Kimberlin DW, Brady MT, Jackson MA, Long SS, eds. Red Book®: 2015 Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases. 30th ed. Elk Grove Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics; 2015:695–701 3. 1. Muething SE, 2. Goudie A, 3. Schoettker PJ, 4. et al Quality Improvement Initiative to Reduce Serious Safety Events and Improve Patient Safety Culture . Muething SE, Goudie A, Schoettker PJ, et al. Pediatrics. 2012;130(2):e423–e431 [OpenUrl][1][Abstract/FREE Full Text][2] In 1996, the Joint Commission (TJC) adopted a formal policy regarding serious adverse patient events, known as sentinel events. The purpose of this sentinel event policy was to help hospitals experiencing such events improve patient safety. TJC defines a sentinel event as a “patient safety event (not primarily related to the natural course of the patient’s illness or underlying condition) that reaches the patient and results in any of the following: 1) death; 2) permanent harm; or 3) severe temporary harm.” TJC also lists a number of other conditions that are sentinel (Table) because they require immediate investigation and response by the hospital, and these investigations and responses are subject to review by TJC for appropriateness. View this table: Table. Definition of Sentinel Events TJC considers sentinel events as patient safety events that result in patient harm. However, not all sentinel events occur because of a medical error and not all harm that results from medical errors are sentinel events. The Solutions for Patient Safety (SPS) National Children’s Network of more than 90 children’s hospitals is focused on reducing patient harm that results from adverse patient safety events. SPS uses the Healthcare Performance Improvement LLC (HPI) (Virginia Beach, VA) classification of patient safety events. In contrast to sentinel events that are identified by event type, the HPI classification is outcome-based. This classification schema is described in the white paper by Throop and Stockmeier. HPI describe 3 types of patient safety events: 1) serious … [1]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DPediatrics.%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1542%252Fpeds.2011-3566%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F22802607%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/ijlink?linkType=ABST&journalCode=pediatrics&resid=130/2/e423&atom=%2Fpedsinreview%2F37%2F10%2F448.atom
ESTUARINE CLEANUP–CAN IT WORK?

ABSTRACT Available data show no evidence of major improvement in estuarine water quality in the United States in recent years. Dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations in New York Harbor have improved only slightly despite decades of building new treatment facilities and upgrading older plants. No improvement in DO levels has yet been documented for the Upper Delaware Estuary. But increased DO values in the Thames Estuary following construction and enlargement of major sewage treatment facilities indicates that estuarine water quality can be improved. Areas in the Thames previously devoid of DO in summer have DO values averaging about 30 percent of saturation. Odor problems have been alleviated and fish now are caught in the estuary. Successful cleanup of the Thames Estuary required well defined objectives and a regional plan based on a comprehensive scientific study. Capital expenditures exceeded 500 million (1974) dollars, about half of that since 1950. At least 15 years were required to achieve the cleanup objectives; including delays caused by World War II, planning and implementation required several decades.
Fear of Crime in South Korea

This study provides analyses of data on crime-associated trepidation obtained from surveys administered to college students in South Korea. The survey contained questions about, and the analyses distinguished between, offense-specific fears (fear of burglary and fear of home invasion), perceived risk of victimization (day and night), and crime avoidance behaviors (avoidance of nocturnal activity and avoidance of particular areas). Regression analyses of the data show that victimization was not consistently associated with crime-associated trepidation, while gender significantly impacted all measures of concern about crime. Women were more likely than men to report being fearful, perceiving risk, and crime avoidance behaviors. Building upon prior scholarship (for example, Madriz 1997; Stanko 1989) and considering the social context in which the data were gathered, it is herein suggested that the gendered variation in crime-associated anxiety may reflect patriarchal power relations. The methodological and policy implications of the study are also discussed.
Clinical and Biological Insights Into Combined Post- and Pre-Capillary Pulmonary Hypertension.

Abstract Background Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a common and morbid complication of left heart disease with 2 subtypes: isolated post-capillary pulmonary hypertension (Ipc-PH) and combined post-capillary and pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension (Cpc-PH). Little is known about the clinical or physiological characteristics that distinguish these 2 subphenotypes or if Cpc-PH shares molecular similarities to pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Objectives The goal of this study was to test the hypothesis that the hemodynamic and genetic profile of Cpc-PH would more closely resemble PAH than Ipc-PH. Methods Vanderbilt University’s electronic medical record linked to a DNA biorepository was used to extract demographic characteristics, clinical data, invasive hemodynamic data, echocardiography, and vital status for all patients referred for right heart catheterization between 1998 and 2014. Shared genetic variants between PAH and Cpc-PH compared with Ipc-PH were identified by using pre-existing single-nucleotide polymorphism data. Results A total of 2,817 patients with PH (13% Cpc-PH, 52% Ipc-PH, and 20% PAH) were identified. Patients with Cpc-PH were on average 6 years younger, with more severe pulmonary vascular disease than patients with Ipc-PH, despite similar comorbidities and prevalence, severity, and chronicity of left heart disease. After adjusting for relevant covariates, the risk of death was similar between the Cpc-PH and Ipc-PH groups (hazard ratio: 1.14; 95% confidence interval: 0.96 to 1.35; p = 0.15) when defined according to diastolic pressure gradient. We identified 75 shared exonic single-nucleotide polymorphisms between Cpc-PH and PAH enriched in pathways involving cell structure, extracellular matrix, and immune function. These genes are expressed, on average, 32% higher in lungs relative to other tissues. Conclusions Patients with Cpc-PH develop pulmonary vascular disease similar to patients with PAH, despite younger age and similar prevalence of obesity, diabetes mellitus, and left heart disease compared with patients with Ipc-PH. An exploratory genetic analysis in Cpc-PH identified genes and biological pathways in the lung known to contribute to PAH pathophysiology, suggesting that Cpc-PH may be a distinct and highly morbid PH subphenotype.
Identifying covert data-manipulators in power system estimation loops

We develop a set of algorithms for identifying covert data manipulators in distributed optimization loops for estimating oscillation modes in power systems. The fundamental set-up for the optimization is based on Alternating Direction Multiplier Method (ADMM), implemented via message passing between a set of local estimators and a central coordinator. Some of these local estimators are assumed to be compromised by malicious attackers that send incorrect values of their local estimates to the coordinator. Even a small amount of such bias can easily destabilize the ADMM loop. In our first algorithm, we catch the identity of these attackers by employing the standard ADMM but adjusting the value of the penalty factor used in the update of the primal variable. We show that this adjustment can amplify the attack signature, and help in identification, especially when the attack magnitude is small. In our second algorithm, we employ a Round-Robbin variant of ADMM, and catch the manipulators by simply observing the evolution of the dual variable. We illustrate the results using simulations of the IEEE 68-bus power system model.
Proper selection of sedative drugs improves outcomes: volatile anesthetics are surgeons’ best friends

Inhalational anesthetic agents (IAs) have been used for general anesthesia for more than 150 years. Since then, the safety profile of this class of anesthetics has improved markedly as drugs to control hypotension and techniques to secure the airway have been refined. However, it is only over the past few decades that we have begun to appreciate the versatility and benefits of using these agents for more than just anesthesia. We recently published a study reporting a dose-dependent protective effect of inhalational anesthetics against postoperative respiratory complications. These findings have generated great interest and discussion, and we thank Landoni et al . for their acknowledgement of and insight into the implications these findings may have for inhalational anesthetic use both within and outside of the operating room setting.
Analysis of TERT promoter mutations in pediatric melanoma.

9023 Background: Melanoma is rare in children and adolescents and is divided into a conventional adult-type (CM), a small-cell type, and Spitzoid melanoma/ atypical Spitz tumor (AST). ASTs are a gr...
Assessing the impact of perioperative blood transfusions on the survival of adults undergoing cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy for appendiceal carcinomatosis

Background and Objectives Perioperative red blood cell transfusions (PBT) may be associated with worse survival. In this study of adults undergoing cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC), we investigated whether there was an association between PBT and survival. Materials and Methods A retrospective study of adults who had undergone CRS-HIPEC for appendiceal carcinomatosis was conducted. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify factors associated with survival. Results Of the 270 patients analysed, 170 (63%) received PBT. A PBT was not significantly associated with recurrence-free survival (RFS) (HR = 1·03; 95% CI: 0·7–1·51; P = 0·879) or overall survival (OS) (HR = 0·65; 95% CI: 0·38–1·11; P = 0·116). Higher number of PBT units (≥5) was not associated with worse RFS (P = 0·077) or OS (P = 0·079). Independent predictors of poor survival included as follows: estimated blood loss and high tumour grade for RFS (both P < 0·001), and male gender (P = 0·029) and high tumour grade (P < 0·001) for OS. Higher preoperative haemoglobin was independently associated with better RFS (P = 0·011) and OS (P = 0·006). Conclusions In this retrospective study of adults who had undergone CRS-HIPEC for appendiceal carcinomatosis, PBT was not significantly associated with survival.
Spatial Variability of CPT Parameters and Silty Fines in Liquefiable Beach Sands

AbstractIncreasing awareness of the role of spatial variability in the assessment of liquefaction susceptibility has driven the need to characterize the vertical and horizontal spatial variability ...
Semi-supervised learning of speech sounds.

Recently, there has been much interest in both semi-supervised and manifold learning algorithms, though their applicability has not been explored for all domains. This paper has two goals: (i) to demonstrate semi-supervised approaches based solely on clustering are insufficient for phoneme classification and (ii) to present a new manifold-based semi-supervised algorithm to remedy this shortcoming. The improved performance of our approach over cluster-based methods substantiates the practical relevance of a geometric perspective on speech sounds.
Energiefragen beim Einbau von Fremdionen in Ionenkristalle

Fast man das Entstehen oder Verschwinden von Fehlstellen einer bestimmten Sorte im Kristall als chemischen Prozes auf und formuliert diesen in Gestalt einer chemischen Reaktionsgleichung, so ist die nachstliegende Frage die nach der Lage des Gleichgewichtes der Reaktion, weil sie gleichbedeutend ist mit der Frage, ob unter bestimmten Bedingungen die betreffende Fehlstellensorte moglich ist oder nicht. Das bedeutet, das nach der Affinitat der Reaktion gefragt wird.
Guest–Host Interactions in Mixed CH4–CO2 Hydrates: Insights from Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Classical molecular dynamics simulations of mixed CH4–CO2 gas hydrates provide a thorough analysis of the energetics of both pure CH4 and CO2 hydrates and three intermediate compositions along the (CH4)1–x(CO2)x·5.75(H2O) solid solution. The energy is broken into guest–guest, guest–host, and host–host contributions. Radial distribution functions and three-dimensional density distributions provide insight into the changes in guest orientation and interactions with the host framework as a function of guest composition. Both energetic and structural analyses provide complementary information to previous experimental studies of the system. The experimentally observed isotropic orientation of CH4 molecules in both small and large cages is confirmed and the description of the anisotropic orientation of CO2 molecules in the large cage is confirmed and further enhanced. In mixed hydrates, the presence of CH4 alters the orientation of CO2, an indication that the interactions between guests, either direct (guest–gu...