cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Are children undergoing cardiac surgery receiving antibiotics at subtherapeutic levels

Objectives Perioperative antibiotics have decreased—but not eradicated—postoperative infections. In patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass, the dilutional effect of the priming and any additional volume given during the procedure may lead to subtherapeutic antibiotic levels. Our aim was to determine if children undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass receive perioperative antibiotics at subtherapeutic levels. Methods Using published pharmacokinetic data on cefuroxime, we developed a computer simulation model to generate a nomogram predicting patients at risk for subtherapeutic cefuroxime levels based on time from initial dosing and additional volume given. Results A computer-generated 1-compartment pharmacokinetic model was created to predict cefuroxime plasma levels over time for patients of all weights and additional volumes given for both a 25- and 50-mg/kg intravenous dose. For example, following a 25-mg/kg dose, a patient receiving an additional volume of 275 mL/kg is predicted to be subtherapeutic ( Conclusions Our model predicts which patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary will have subtherapeutic cefuroxime levels. This nomogram enables providers to determine when to administer additional antibiotics in patients receiving large additional volumes during cardiac surgeries. This rational approach to perioperative antibiotic dosing may result in a reduction in postoperative infection in this vulnerable patient population.
AGU Pilots Virtual Student Poster Session

AGU recognizes that the inability to travel to Fall Meeting can be a barrier to sharing one's research, particularly for students. In 2013, several students from ­2-year colleges overcame this barrier and presented their research findings virtually.
Making Use of Foucault in a Study of Specific Parrhesiastic Scholars

In this article, I describe how I made use of Foucault theoretically and methodologically in a study of five specific parrhesiastic scholars. Such scholars challenge hegemony in educational policies and practices, and advocate for educational reform and societal structures that move toward equity instead of marginalization. The article begins by exploring Foucault's notion of specific intellectuals through the experiences of the scholars. It then moves to an explanation of why the five scholars selected for this study should be considered specific parrhesiastic scholars. An account of how I made use of Foucault in this study follows. My interpretation of Foucault's work into a research methodology for this project has been a process of identifying illustrations of technologies of the self and technologies of power in text, dialogue, and narrative—qualitative data, which I analyzed using a framework that merged these technologies into the analytical categories of (1) application of logos, (2) engagement wi...
Patterns of variation in a collection of meadow fescue accessions.

Meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis Huds.) is a pasture grass that has been little used in North America since the introduction of its higher yielding relative tall fescue (F. arundinacea Schreb.). The objectives of this study were to quantify genotypic variation for agronomic traits within the USDA National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) collection of meadow fescue accessions and to relate that variation to the geographic source of the accessions. Seedlings of 213 accessions were transplanted to Ashland and Marshfield, WI, and to Crossville, AL, in 1991. Four spaced plants per accession, overseeded with white clover (Trifolium repens L.), were established at each location. Forage yield, disease reaction, morphological traits, maturity, and survival were determined in 1992 and 1993. For most traits, accessions responded similarly at the two Wisconsin locations, but differently between Wisconsin and Alabama Phenotypic correlations between the two states were positive, but very low. Between 18 and 36% of the sum of squares for accessions was due to country or region source of each accession. Romanian and Hungarian accessions had the highest mean forage yield, with superior survival in both Wisconsin and Alabama. Several accessions had short, narrow leaf blades, thin stems, wide crowns, and high survival, suggesting potential use as turf-type germplasm. A core collection of 55 accessions was proposed on the basis of cluster analysis classification.
iBridge: Improving Unaligned Parallel File Access with Solid-State Drives

When files are striped in a parallel I/O system, requests to the files are decomposed into a number of sub-requests that are distributed over multiple servers. If a request is not aligned with the striping pattern such decomposition can make the first and last sub-requests much smaller than the striping unit. Because hard-disk-based servers can be much less efficient in serving small requests than large ones, the system exhibits heterogeneity in serving sub-requests of different sizes, and the net throughput of the entire system can be severely degraded by the inefficiency of serving the smaller requests, or fragments. Because a request is not considered complete until its slowest sub-request is, the penalty is yet greater for synchronous requests. To make the situation even worse, the larger the request, or the more data servers the requested data is striped over, the larger the detrimental performance effect of serving fragments can be. This effect can become the Achilles' heel of a parallel I/O system performance seeking scalability with large sequential accesses. In this paper we propose iBridge, a scheme that uses solid-state drives to serve request fragments and thereby bridge the performance gap between serving fragments and serving large sub-requests. We have implemented iBridge in the PVFS file system. Our experimental results with representative MPI-IO benchmarks show that iBridge can significantly improve the I/O throughput of storage systems, especially for large requests with fragments.
A High-Density 45 nm SRAM Using Small-Signal Non-Strobed Regenerative Sensing

High-density SRAMs utilize aggressively small bit-cells, which are subject to extreme variability, degrading their read SNM and read-current. Additionally, array performance is also limited by sense-amplifier offset and strobe-timing uncertainty. This paper, presents a sense-amplifier that targets all of these performance degradations: specifically, simple offset compensation reduces sensitivity to variation while imposing minimal loading on high-speed nodes; stable internal voltage references serve as an internal means to self-trigger regeneration to avoid tracking mismatch in an external strobe-path; precise small-signal detection withstands small read-currents so that other bit-cell parameters can be optimized; and single-ended sensing provides compatibility to asymmetric bit-cells, which can have improved operating margins. The design is integrated with a 64-kb high-density array composed of 0.25 mum2 6T bit-cells. A prototype, in low-power 45 nm CMOS, compares its performance with a conventional sense-amplifier, demonstrating an improvement of 4X in access-time sigma and 34% in overall worst case access time.
Utilisation of acupuncture at an academic medical centre

Objective To provide information about the clinical use of acupuncture at an academic medical centre in the USA. Methods A retrospective review of 904 patients (receiving 6070 treatments) who were referred for acupuncture treatment at the Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Minnesota, USA) between 1 January 2004 and 31 December 2008. Data gathered included age, sex, primary diagnosis, number of treatments per diagnosis and health insurance carrier. Results The mean (SD) age of the patients was 53.4 (16.2) years; 73.8% were female and 26.2% were male. The three most common diagnostic categories for which acupuncture was used were spinal pain (33.4%), pain (other) (25.1%) and joint pain (12.3%). About 42% of visits were not covered by health insurance carriers and hence patients had to pay themselves. For the remaining 58% of visits, health insurance carriers picked up all or part of the cost of the acupuncture treatments. Conclusion The results indicate that pain is the most common reason for use of acupuncture in an academic medical centre and that women use acupuncture more than men. This is one of the few reports of clinical use of acupuncture at academic medical centres in the USA.
Enhanced sensitivity to cholera toxin in ADP-ribosylarginine hydrolase-deficient mice.

Cholera toxin (CT) produced by Vibrio cholerae causes the devastating diarrhea of cholera by catalyzing the ADP-ribosylation of the α subunit of the intestinal Gs protein (Gsα), leading to characteristic water and electrolyte losses. Mammalian cells contain ADP-ribosyltransferases similar to CT and an ADP-ribosyl(arginine)protein hydrolase (ADPRH), which cleaves the ADP-ribose-(arginine)protein bond, regenerating native protein and completing an ADP-ribosylation cycle. We hypothesized that ADPRH might counteract intoxication by reversing the ADP-ribosylation of Gsα. Effects of intoxication on murine ADPRH−/− cells were greater than those on wild-type cells and were significantly reduced by overexpression of wild-type ADPRH in ADPRH−/− cells, as evidenced by both ADP-ribose-arginine content and Gsα modification. Similarly, intestinal loops in the ADPRH−/− mouse were more sensitive than their wild-type counterparts to toxin effects on fluid accumulation, Gsα modification, and ADP-ribosylarginine content. Thus, CT-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of cell proteins can be counteracted by ADPRH, which could function as a modifier gene in disease. Further, our study demonstrates that enzymatic cross talk exists between bacterial toxin ADP-ribosyltransferases and host ADP-ribosylation cycles. In disease, toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation overwhelms this potential host defense system, resulting in persistence of ADP-ribosylation and intoxication of the cell.
Effect of Rigor State, Phosphate Addition and Aging on Quality of Turkey Rolls

Abstract Light and dark turkey rolls were made with pre- and post-rigor meat that was mixed for variable lengths of time (10 and 30 min), with 2 levels of polyphosphate (Kena, 0 and .45%), stuffed into casings and frozen immediately. Rolls were thawed for 12 hr at room temperature and steam cooked to an internal temperature of 76 C. Quality was evaluated by an 8 member semitrained panel and by obtaining shear values with a Kramer shear press attached to an Instron. Mixing for 30 min and phosphate addition improved cooked yields and sensory panel scores. Post-rigor meat had lower shear values than pre-rigor meat but mixing lowered the shear values such that pre-rigor meat that was mixed for 30 min had shear values not significantly different from post-rigor meat mixed for 30 min. The panel could not detect any differences between pre-and post-rigor samples. In the second study, rolls were made from conventionally chilled meat, pre-rigor deboned meat chilled for 1, 2, or 3 days, and from pre-rigor meat with prepared rolls being aged for 1, 2, or 3 days in a cooler at 3.3 C. Rolls made from pre-rigor deboned meat and aged for 3 days had the highest cooked yields; rolls made from pre-rigor meat aged for 3 days had the lowest shear values. The degree of tenderness of rolls made from conventionally chilled carcasses was comparable to that of the 3 day aging period. The sensory panel could not detect any differences due to treatments.
GlitchMap: an FPGA technology mapper for low power considering glitches

In 90-nm technology, dynamic power is still the largest power source in FPGAs [1], and signal glitches contribute a large portion of the dynamic power consumption. Previous power- aware technology mapping algorithms for FPGAs have not taken into account the glitch power reduction. In this paper, we present a dynamic power estimation model and a new technology mapping algorithm considering glitches. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work that explicitly reduces glitch power during technology mapping for FPGAs. Experiments show that our algorithm, named GlitchMap, is able to reduce dynamic power by 18.7% compared to a previous state-of-the-art power-aware algorithm, EMap [2].
DataDesk: an interactive package for data exploration, display, model building, and data analysis

DataDesk is an interactive package for exploration, display, and analysis of data that runs on a variety of desktop computers. Because it has been designed from the ground up for the purpose of data exploration, it incorporates several global design principles not found together in other data analysis software. This article discusses those design principles and illustrates how they lead to innovative approaches to regression model building. WIREs Comput Stat 2012. doi: 10.1002/wics.1208
Platelet and neutrophil activation during cardiac surgical procedures: impact of cardiopulmonary bypass.

Abstract Background . Platelet and neutrophil activation plays a crucial role in reperfusion injury. To determine whether platelet and neutrophil activation occurs in the coronary circulation after cold cardioplegic arrest and reperfusion, we studied 22 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass or valve procedures, or both procedures. Methods . Blood was sampled from the coronary sinus and the radial artery (A) before bypass; (B) immediately after cross-clamp release; and (C) 5 minutes after cross-clamp release; and was analyzed for surface markers of platelet (CD62P) and neutrophil (CD11b) activation. Results . During bypass, platelet activation increased significantly ( p p Conclusions . Cellular activation occurs locally in the coronary circulation during bypass, but no more so after cold cardioplegic arrest and reperfusion.
Secondary school agricultural teachers understanding of the differences between agricultural awareness and agricultural literacy in Iowa

The focus of this study was an assessment of the understanding of the concepts of agricultural awareness and agricultural literacy as perceived by agricultural education teachers. The purpose of this study was to identify perceptions of agriculture teachers regarding the understanding of the concepts of agricultural awareness and agricultural literacy in the study of agriculture in the state of Iowa. To also develop consensus definitions of agricultural awareness and agricultural literacy. Data provide information for development of a framework for education in and about agriculture and the life sciences. We can conclude from the study there is no consensus definition for agricultural awareness and agricultural literacy among agricultural educator teachers in Iowa. Since there is not a consensus definition for agricultural awareness and agricultural literacy, there is not a clear understanding of the two definitions. There needs to be consensus definition of agricultural awareness and agricultural literacy taught to agricultural educators at the collegiate level. There needs to be a consensus definition of agricultural awareness and agricultural literacy taught in the elementary, middle and high school, and agricultural programs such as FFA, 4H, and agricultural fairs. It is recommended that the Agricultural Awareness and Literacy Framework Model that was developed in 2008, should be used in both formal and nonformal educational settings. The course curricula at a formal educational institution can be designed in such ways that they impart the interest in agriculture at the elementary level and knowledge and expertise at high school and post-secondary levels, respectively. If knowledge is imparted by the time students leave the high school, they can make informed decisions regarding careers and their concerns about food and their environment.
Infectious diseases: an ecological perspective

Microbes have played a decisive role in human history. Between 1348 and 1352 in many European countries plague was estimated to have killed a third to a half of the population.1 2 It was not swords and guns but imported microbes, carried by explorers over oceans, that defeated native populations in the Americas,3 and in Australia and southern Africa the arrival of Europeans killed off local populations by introducing infectious diseases. Local flora and fauna were also irreversibly altered. Many of these fertile, temperate, and now less populated lands were subsequently settled by Europeans.3 By the middle of the 20th century, infectious diseases were no longer the major causes of mortality in developed countries. The eradication of smallpox reinforced the perception that infectious diseases could be eliminated. Improved sanitation, clean water, and better living conditions, along with vaccines and antimicrobial agents, brought many infectious diseases under control in industrialised countries, but infections continued to kill millions each year in the developing world. Infectious diseases remain the most common single cause of death in the world today. Of the 51 million deaths worldwide in 1993, an estimated 16.4 million resulted from infectious and parasitic diseases.4 In sub-Saharan Africa, communicable diseases account for more than 70% of the burden of ill health (as measured by disability adjusted life years), in contrast to about 10% in industrialised countries.5 Increasingly humans have changed the earth in ways that make it easier for microbes to move and to reach vulnerable populations. Widespread use of antimicrobial agents and chemicals produces selective pressure for the survival and persistence of more resistant populations of microbes, and also of more resilient insect vectors.6 Patterns of infectious diseases are changing globally and on a massive scale.7 8 Although poor and disadvantaged people are …
Evidence for a curvilinear relationship between complexity and originality1

Summary The present study tested the hypothesis of a curvilinear relationship between preference for complexity and each of two components of creativity—originality and fluency—for four complexity levels within the upper half of the complexity distribution The hypothesis was based on an interpretation of extremely high complexity levels as emphasizing rejection of conventionality more than fondness for novelty and tolerance of ambiguity The results not only supported the main hypothesis of a curvilinear relationship but also suggested that originality and fluency declined beyond the second level of complexity studied. Question is cast on the assumption that increasing complexity is necessarily productive of increasing creativity Lastly, the results were interpreted as also being consistent with Berlyne's (1967) hypothesis that moderate increases in arousal are most conducive to learning
Acyclic Multi-Way Partitioning of Boolean Networks

Acyclic partitioning on combinational boolean networks has wide range of applications, from multiple FPGA chip partitioning to parallel circuit simulation. In this paper, we present two efficient algorithms for the acyclic multi-way partitioning. One is a generalized Fm-based algorithm. The other is based on the theory of maximum fanout-free cone (MFFC) decomposition. The acyclic FM-algorithm usually results in larger cut-size, as expected, compared to the undirected FM-algorithm due to the acyclic constraint. To our surprise, however, the MFFC-based acyclic partitioning algorithm consistently produces smaller (50% on average) cut-sized solutions than the conventional FM-algorithm. This result suggests that considering signal directions during the process can lead to very natural circuit decomposition and clustering, which in turn results in better partitioning solutions. We have also implemented parallel gate level simulators in Maisie and applied our partitioning algorithms to evaluate their impact on circuit simulation.
Decision framing in judgment aggregation

Judgment aggregation problems are language dependent in that they may be framed in different yet equivalent ways. We formalize this dependence via the notion of translation invariance, adopted from the philosophy of science, and we argue for the normative desirability of translation invariance. We characterize the class of translation invariant aggregation functions in the canonical judgment aggregation model, which requires collective judgments to be complete. Since there are reasonable translation invariant aggregation functions, our result can be viewed as a possibility theorem. At the same time, we show that translation invariance does have certain normatively undesirable consequences (e.g. failure of anonymity). We present a way of circumventing them by moving to a more general model of judgment aggregation, one that allows for incomplete collective judgments.
Optical modeling of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers

Vertical cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) are presently the subject of intense research due to their potential as compact, efficient, astigmatic laser sources for a number of important applications. Unfortunately, their complexity precludes optimization based solely upon empirical methods, and points instead to the need for better numerical models. Modeling the optical field in a vertical-cavity laser, however, is especially difficult due to both the high Q of the optical cavity and the distributed reflectivity of the mirrors. Our approach to this dilemma has been the development of modeling techniques on two complexity scales. We first derived an effective-index model that is numerically efficient and thus can be included together with carrier transport and thermal models to make up a self-consistent modeling package.
Optimal mismatched filter design for radar ranging, detection, and resolution

In a multiple-target environment a radar signal processor often uses weighting filters that are not matched to the transmitted waveform. In this paper the mean-square range-estimation error, the detection Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and the effects of sidelobes are expressed in terms of the impulse response of an arbitrary mismatched filter. It is desired to find that impulse response that results in the minimum range-estimate variance subject to preassigned constraints on the side-lobes and the detection SNR. It is shown that for detecting the radar target and estimating its range, the form of the optimum filter is a modified transversal equalizer. If only detection is required, the optimum filter reduces to the transversal equalizer. Certain parameters upon which the solution depends can be found by solving a nonlinear programming problem. Numerical results are given for an interesting class of transmitted waveforms.
A NEW NEOCERATOPSIAN DINOSAUR LINKING NORTH AMERICAN AND ASIAN TAXA

ABSTRACT Basal (cladistically) neoceratopsians are relatively small, gracile members of Ceratopsia (‘horned” dinosaurs), which also includes larger forms such as Triceratops and Centrosaurus. The Asian basal neoceratopsians share some very important traits not found in any North American group until now, including a fenestrated frill and premaxillary teeth. Likewise, the North American basal taxa have some traits not found in the Asian forms, the most important of which is a very specialized tooth wear pattern. Cerasinops hodgskissi, a new basal neoceratopsian from the Lower Two Medicine River Formation of Montana, exhibits all of the above characters along with others previously found on only one of the two continents. The new species is a sister group to Leptoceratopsidae in a cladistic analysis, and is a link between the taxa on the two continents. Cerasinops also exhibits extremely interesting anatomical and histological features that indicate the possibility of bipedality in this taxon, a locomotor p...
TECHNIQUES FOR TWENTY-FOUR HOUR HEMODYNAMIC MONITORING IN UNANESTHETIZED RATS

ABSTRACT A system is described which allows an investigator to continuously monitor hemodynamics (cardiac output and arterial pressure) in unanesthetized, tethered rats for periods of 24 hours and longer. Computerized data collection is used to handle the large number of data points (1440/day) and record data in digital form for increased accuracy. This data collection system shows that highly dynamic hemodynamic variables can be accurately described by their long-term mean values and standard deviation. Further, a marked diurnal variation was observed, characterized by nocturnal increases in cardiac output, heart rate and arterial pressure.
Mad at Miles : a black woman's guide to truth : theatre building using myths, motifs, and archetypes.

This thesis chronicles my journey within the framework of a hero's journey, as a theatre artist in the Master of Fine Arts program at the University of Louisville's Theatre Arts Department. This thesis is divided into six chapters that explore the importance of using and understanding myths, motifs, and archetypes for character development in general and specifically for building the ensemble production from Pearl Cleage's collection of essays: Mad at Miles: A Black Woman's Guide to Truth. The Introduction explores the origins of the drive for humans to create art. Chapter One investigates my attraction to theatre through my personal life as well as from the metaphysical perspective of a Jungian collective unconscious. It also chronicles many of the trials and triumphs of the training courses and productions of the Theatre Arts Department. Chapter Two describes the circumstances and themes that motivated my interest in choosing Mad at Miles: A Black Woman's Guide to Truth as my thesis performance role. Chapter Three documents my process and the ensembles' process of creating this piece of theatre utilizing themes of the collective unconscious, archetypes, and team building. Chapter Four delves into the deep exploration of the archetypes I used as an actress to create several characters for the show. The Conclusion reflects on the lessons of the journey as well as how and where these lessons direct me to the artistic paths ahead of me.
Transitional Justice and the Memory of Resistance

The proliferation of transitional justice institutions, especially truth commissions, is seen as a victory in the "struggle of memory against forgetting." Yet the memory of resistance is rarely to be found in contemporary transitional justice institutions, which focus on victims and perpetrators of atrocity. This paper examines what it would mean to incorporate the theme of resistance into the theory and practice of transitional justice. One possibility, which Arendt proposed in her analysis of the Eichmann trial, is to examine the failure to resist systems and institutions that are implicated in atrocities. A second possibility, articulated by South African legal scholar, Kader Asmal, is that truth commissions could investigate the role of political resistance to systematic injustices. Each approach is unsettling in ways that are potentially at odds with use transitional justice as a basis for political reconciliation. Yet investigating resistance also illuminates possibilities for political community, innovation, and solidarity that are obscured by the victim-perpetrator framework. Drawing on Primo Levi's essay, "The Gray Zone," I argue that transitional justice investigations might contribute to these goals by acknowledging the shades of gray in stories of resistance as well as the failure to resist systematic political violence, exploitation, and atrocity.
Development of a temporal multiplexed 3D beam-scanning Lissajous trajectory microscope for rapid multimodal volumetric imaging

A beam-scanning microscope is described based on a temporally multiplexed Lissajous trajectory for achieving 1 kHz frame rate 3D imaging. The microscope utilizes two fast-scan resonant mirrors to direct the optical beam on a circuitous, Lissajous trajectory through the field of view. Acquisition of two simultaneous focal planes is achieved by implementation of an optical delay line, producing a second incident beam at a different focal plane relative to the initial incident beam. High frame rates are achieved by separating the full time-domain data into shorter sub-trajectories resulting in undersampling of the field of view. A model-based image reconstruction (MBIR) 3D in-painting algorithm is utilized for interpolating the missing data to recover full images. The MBIR algorithm uses a maximum a posteriori estimation with a generalized Gaussian Markov random field prior model for image interpolation. Because images are acquired using photomultiplier tubes or photodiodes, parallelization for multi-channel imaging is straightforward. Preliminary results obtained using a Lissajous trajectory beam-scanning approach coupled with temporal multiplexing by the implementation of an optical delay line demonstrate the ability to acquire 2 distinct focal planes simultaneously at frame rates >450 Hz for full 512 × 512 images. The use of multi-channel data acquisition cards allows for simultaneous multimodal image acquisition with perfect image registry between all imaging modalities. Also discussed here is the implementation of Lissajous trajectory beam-scanning on commercially available microscope hardware.
A Closer Look into the Traditional Purification Process of CdSe Semiconductor Quantum Dots

This paper describes how the postprocessing procedure for wurtzite CdSe quantum dots (QDs) 4.8 and 6.7 nm in diameter is affected by both the choice of nonsolvent and the number of processing steps. Using a host of analytical techniques (ultraviolet–visible, photoluminescence, nuclear magnetic, X-ray photoelectron, and infrared spectroscopy, as well as thermogravimetric analysis), we find that control over the ligand type and surface density can be achieved simply by the number of washing steps used during the postprocessing procedure. Using multiple washing steps we can achieve colloidally stable solutions of QDs with organic mass fractions as low as 13% by mass. For CdSe QDs passivated with trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO) and stearic acid (SA), essentially no TOPO is bound to the particle surface after three or four washing steps, with a plateau in the amount of SA being removed. The results can be explained using the L- and X-type ligand classification system for QDs, with L-type ligands (TOPO) removed ...
MR Spectroscopy Markers of Disease Progression in Multiple Sclerosis: A Clinical Validation Study (PL01.002)

Objective: To validate the predictive value of specific in vivo MR markers of central nervous system (CNS) injury for brain volume loss and clinical disability over time in multiple sclerosis (MS). Background Predicting long-term disability is becoming essential to optimize treatment decision and improve risk/benefit. Pathological damage in the MS CNS includes demyelination, neuro-axonal loss, and astrogliosis, all of which can be assessed in vivo using Myelin Water Fraction (MWF), N-acetylaspartate (NAA), and myo-inositol (mI) imaging, respectively. Design/Methods: 322 subjects participated in this experiment. Baseline NAA and mI from MS white (MSWM) and grey matter (MSGM), and MWF from MSWM were evaluated as predictors in a training dataset (n=59 MS, n=43 controls). Significant predictors were subsequently tested for replicability in a confirmatory dataset (n=220 MS). EDSS, MSFC scores, and percentage of brain volume change (PBVC) were obtained annually for 4 years in both datasets. Statistical analysis was performed using mixed-effects and multiple regression modeling. Results: NAA and mI significant statistical effects on brain volume in the training dataset suggested the consideration of mI/NAA [MSWM] ratio as a primary predictor. The ratio at baseline predicted PBVC in both datasets ([-1.67% annually; p=0.017] and [-1.03% annually; p=0.02], respectively). In addition, the ratio predicted MSFC outcomes; linear MSFC evolution (-0.52 annually; P Conclusions: The combined presence of astrogliosis and axonal damage has a cardinal importance in MS progression. mI/NAA ratio has consistent predictive power in the evolution of brain atrophy and disability. Its practicality as a ratio makes it suitable for clinical use. Supported by: Grants from the U.S. NMSS (JF 2122-A, training dataset) and the NIH/NINDS (R01-NS062885, confirmatory dataset). Disclosure: Dr. Llufriu has received personal compensation for activities with Merck Serono and Biogen Idec as a speaker. Dr. Kornak has nothing to disclose. Dr. Ratiney has nothing to disclose. Dr. Oh has received personal compensation for activities with Fynarc. Dr. Brenneman has nothing to disclose. Dr. Sampat has nothing to disclose. Dr. Hauser has received personal compensation for activities with BioMarin, Novartis and Receptos as a consultant and serving on a scientific advisory board.Dr. Hauser has received personal compensation in an editorial capacity for the journal Annals of Neurology and Harrison9s Internal Medical textbook.Dr. Hauser has received compensation for serving on the scientific advisory board of Receptos. Dr. Nelson has nothing to disclose. Dr. Srinivasan has nothing to disclose. Dr. Pelletier has received personal compensation for activities with Teva Neuroscience, Genetech, Biogen-Idec, Bayer, and Synarc Inc. Dr. Pelletier has received research support from Biogen Idec.
Daily Pickup Rates of the Lone Star Tick (Acari: Ixodidae) by Pastured Beef Cattle

Daily pickup rates of the lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum (L.), by pastured Zebu, British, or Zebu × British beef cattle were not significantly different ( P = 0.05). At a host stocking density of 1 steer/0.4 ha (1 acre), pickup rates for adult ticks averaged 0.48% (±0.42) in June 1986 and 4.01% (±2.24) between April and July 1987. At 1 steer/0.4 ha, pickup rates for nymphs averaged 0.39% (±0.41) between August and October 1986. The daily pickup rate for larvae in September 1987 was 0.003% (±0.002). When host stocking density was increased to 3 steers/0.4 ha, each steer picked up approximately 1.68% of the adult ticks on a pasture. Pickup rates were significantly different among observation dates for nymphs and among observation dates for adults when the host stocking density was 3 steers/0.4 ha.
The Aesthetics of Tradition and the Styles of Theology

This article attempts to bridge the post-Vatican II “conservative–liberal” divide in theology by appealing to the interpretive category of aesthetics. It delineates two aesthetical sensibilities to...
Robust Test Resource Allocation using Global Sensitivity Analysis

To predict the response of a system with unknown parameters, a common route is to quantify the parameters using test data and propagate the results through a computational model of the system. Activities in this process may include model calibration and/or model validation. Test data value uncertainty has a significant effect on model calibration and model validation, and therefore affects the response prediction. Limited testing budget creates the challenge of test resource allocation, i.e., how to optimize the number of calibration and validation tests to be conducted. In this paper, a novel computational technique based on pseudo-random numbers is proposed to efficiently quantify the uncertainty in the data value of each type of test. This technique helps quantifying the contribution of data value uncertainty to the uncertainty in the prediction through Sobol indices. Consistent predictions using different sets of data are expected if this contribution is small. Then the numbers of each type of test are optimized to minimize this contribution. A simulated annealing algorithm is applied to solve this discrete optimization problem.
The History and Development of a Partnership Approach to Improve Schools, Communities and Universities

The compelling, important, and innovative idea of “university-assisted community schools” originated at the University of Pennsylvania. Today it is an advanced, international exemplar. The main ideas merit attention and scale-up. For example, universities and other higher education institutions located in challenging urban neighborhoods and rural places have important resources to offer local children, families, communities, schools, and neighborhood organizations, starting with their talented faculty and highly energetic and creative students. These resources position these higher education institutions to serve as anchors and hubs for the kinds of complex, multi-faceted innovations needed to improve community outcomes, as well as mutually beneficial outcomes for the higher education institutions doing this important work. Starting in the mid 1980s, the leader-authors of this chapter and their school and community partners seized this idea and then rolled up their sleeves to make it happen. For example, they pioneered and scaled-up important innovations such as academically-based community service—where professors teach their courses in local community schools and other community settings—while also demonstrating how higher education institutions and leaders of research universities in particular can become transformational agents for beneficial social change. This chapter describes the journey toward this advanced exemplar, including the development of the Netter Center for Community Partnerships, the growth of the international network of university-assisted community schools, and the several awards that nominate this model as an international exemplar.
Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and the Use of Forwarding Operating Bases (FOBs)

Global military operations can complicate matters for the U.S. Army as it strives to ensure continuous maintenance, transportation, logistics, medical, and personnel support for its deployed forces. Since World War I, the Army’s deployed units have relied on Allied bases or U.S. bases established in host countries. A major paradigm shift occurred shortly after the onset of the Global War on Terror (GWOT), as Army units had to establish forward operating bases (FOBs) in order to function at great distances from their home bases, under austere conditions, and on non-linear battlefields. A forward operating base (FOB) is a relatively secure position that is located forward in a hostile or austere area and can be used to support tactical operations. FOBs vary in terms of their size, composition, and the activities that they support. At the outset of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) in March 2003, most U.S. Army units staged from Kuwait. As OIF unfolded, however, and units displaced north of the Kuwait-Iraqi border into all parts of Iraq, FOBs were established at various locations to house, protect, and sustain the force and to ensure continuous support of military and humanitarian assistance missions. FOBs were not uniformly located throughout the country, but exhibited a geographic pattern that correlated with military missions, levels of insurgent activity, the locations of former Iraqi bases, major population centers, economic hubs, and transportation infrastructure. FOBs played a fundamental role during the course of OIF from 2003 to 2011, enabling the U.S. Army to transition from combat to stability and support, and eventually, full spectrum operations. As the U.S. military commitment approached its conclusion, some FOBs were closed; others were converted to different uses, and some continue to function as part of a vital support network for the Iraqi government. Superimposed during the course of OIF, some FOBs have become an enduring, if not integral, part of Iraq’s cultural landscape.
Simulated Driving Environment Impacts Mind Wandering

Mind wandering, when attention is internally engaged on task-unrelated thoughts, is potentially hazardous for driving. Understanding the factors that influence the frequency of mind wandering durin...
Culturing Larvae of Marine Invertebrates

Larvae of marine invertebrates cultured in the laboratory experience conditions that they do not encounter in nature, but development and survival to metamorphic competence can be obtained in such cultures. This protocol emphasizes simple methods suitable for a wide variety of larvae. Culturing larvae requires seawater of adequate quality and temperature within the tolerated range. Beyond that, feeding larvae require appropriate food, but a few kinds of algae and animals are sufficient as food for diverse larvae. Nontoxic materials include glass, many plastics, hot-melt glue, and some solvents, once evaporated. Cleaners that do not leave toxic residues after rinsing include dilute hydrochloric or acetic acid, sodium hypochlorite (commercial bleach), and ethanol. Materials that can leave toxic residues, such as formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, detergents, and hand lotions, should be avoided, especially with batch cultures that lack continuously renewed water. Reverse filtration can be used to change water gently at varying frequencies, depending on temperature and the kinds of food that are provided. Bacterial growth can be limited by antibiotics, but antibiotics are often unnecessary. Survival and growth are increased by low concentrations of larvae and stirring of large or dense cultures. One method of stirring large numbers of containers is a rack of motor-driven paddles. Most of the methods and materials are inexpensive and portable. If necessary, a room within a few hours of the sea could be temporarily equipped for larval culture.
SU-G-IeP3-10: Molecular Imaging with Clinical X-Ray Sources and Compton Cameras

Purpose: The application of Compton cameras (CC) is a novel approach translating XFCT to a practical modality realized with clinical CT systems without the restriction of pencil beams. The dual modality design offers additional information without extra patient dose. The purpose of this work is to investigate the feasibility and efficacy of using CCs for volumetric x-ray fluorescence (XF) imaging by Monte Carlo (MC) simulations and statistical image reconstruction. Methods: The feasibility of a CC for imaging x-ray fluorescence emitted from targeted lesions is examined by MC simulations. 3 mm diameter water spheres with various gold concentrations and detector distances are placed inside the lung of an adult human phantom (MIRD) and are irradiated with both fan and cone-beam geometries. A sandwich design CC composed of Silicon and CdTe is used to image the gold nanoparticle distribution. The detection system comprises four 16×26 cm2 detector panels placed on the chest of a MIRD phantom. Constraints of energy-, spatial-resolution, clinical geometries and Doppler broadening are taken into account. Image reconstruction is performed with a list-mode MLEM algorithm with cone-projector on a GPU. Results: The comparison of reconstruction of cone- and fan-beam excitation shows that the spatial resolution is improved by 23% for fan-beams with significantly decreased processing time. Cone-beam excitation increases scatter content disturbing quantification of lesions near the body surface. Spatial resolution and detectability limit in the center of the lung is 8.7 mm and 20 fM for 50 nm diameter gold nanoparticles at 20 mGy. Conclusion: The implementation of XFCT with a CC is a feasible method for molecular imaging with high atomic number probes. Given constrains of detector resolutions, Doppler broadening, and limited exposure dose, spatial resolutions comparable with PET and molecular sensitivities in the fM range are realizable with current detector technology.
Insurance Coverage and Heart Transplant Outcomes

Heart transplantation in the United States has largely been restricted to patients with adequate health insurance coverage to optimize recipient outcomes, particularly in the context of the scarcity of donor organs.1,2 Public health insurance programs, such as Medicaid and Medicare, have been instrumental in providing access to heart transplantation and other solid organ transplants for patients unable to afford private insurance. Recent healthcare reform with implementation of the Affordable Care Act expands the Medicaid program and provides substantial subsidies for low-income patients unable to afford private insurance.3 Oliveira et al4 recently assessed the number of transplant listings in states that have been adopters of the Affordable Care Act and demonstrated that the number of Medicaid beneficiaries listed for heart transplantation increased in states that had adopted the Affordable Care Act to expand Medicaid access compared with states that did not adopt the Affordable Care Act.4 While not assessing the number of heart transplants performed or outcomes after heart transplant, data from the study by Oliveira et al4 reinforce the importance of public health insurance coverage in providing access to heart transplantation services for vulnerable populations. Article, see p 576 Although efforts to improve access to heart transplantation for the uninsured or underinsured are critical and have significant overall benefit for vulnerable populations, access to public health insurance alone has not necessarily translated to equivalent outcomes when heart transplant outcomes for patients with public health insurance are compared with patients with private health insurance coverage.5–8 Previous studies in heart transplantation have demonstrated higher mortality, decreased graft survival, and higher rates of rejection for recipients receiving heart transplants with Medicare or Medicaid health insurance coverage compared with those with private health insurance.5–8 This finding is not unique to heart …
Analysis of monitoring results on plague's host animal and its medium insects in Quanzhou city of Fujian province between 2000 and 2009

Objective To examine the composition and distribution of animal reservoir of plague in Quanzhou city, Fujian province, and so as to accumulate basic data for making the plague prevention and control measures. Methods Rodents were captured by cages in six monitoring spots of Quanzhou city between 2000 and 2009. Then rodents and flea species were identified. Rats liver and spleen homogenates were detected of plague F1 antigen by reverse indirect hemagglutination test (RIHA); rats serum were detected of plague F1 antibody by indirect hemagglutination test (IHA). Results A total of 26 264 rodents were captured between 2000 and 2009.Rattus norvegicus and Rattus flavipectus were dominant species, which were accounted for 45.97％ (12 074/26 264)and 32.01％(8407/26 264), respectively. The account of Rattus flavipectus captured between 2005 and 2009 was (26.99 ± 2.46)％ and (37.03 ± 3.79)％ between 2000 and 2004. The difference was statistically significant (t =4.97, P ＜ 0.05). Total rodent densities was (6.86 ± 1.44)％, including(5.36 ± 1.83)％ in mountains and (6.81 ±1.66)％ in coastal areas, respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant(t =1.01, P ＞ 0.05). Total flea index and flea infection rate of rodents were 1.39 ± 0.34 and (35.90 ± 5.34)％, respectively. Xenopsylla Cheopis index was 1.20 and free flea index was 0.009. Flea infection rate was (32.36 ± 0.96)％ between 2005 and 2009, which was lower than (39.44 ± 0.39)％ between 2000 and 2004(t =2.76, P ＜ 0.05). Conclusions The major rodent species found in Quanzhou city is Rattus norvegicus. Xenopsylla Cheopis is the dominant flea species.Spreading of plague among Rattus is not found. Key words: Plague; Host-parasite relations; Fleas; Data collection
Some Jokes About the Underworld on Greek Vases as Evidence for Debates About the Afterlife

My paper today is an attempt to use some painted vases as evidence for a relatively ill-documented area of Greek thought about the afterlife, namely, beliefs about punishments after death. The vases in question have in common a comic or parodic approach to these punishments.