cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Lancashire Quality of Life Profile: data and experiences with 58 detained mentally disordered offenders

Objectives This study evaluates the quality of life (QOL) of a group of detained mentally disordered offenders (MDOs) from high- and medium-security institutions using the Lancashire Quality of Life Profile (LQOLP). It was predicted that they would show a poorer QOL on the LQOLP when compared with published data on patients using general psychiatric services. Design A cross-sectional study was undertaken using a clinician administered questionnaire. Method The LQOLP was conducted with 58 detained forensic patients: 19 regional secure unit (RSU) patients, 20 high-security recently admitted patients, and 19 high-security pre-discharge patients. Results Contrary to predictions, it was found that there was no significant difference in overall QOL (measured using the LQOLP) between detained forensic patients and published LQOLP data on psychiatric outpatients in general services. Nor was there a difference observed between these two groups on several major life domains. However, there were several domains in which detained patients had significantly worse QOL ratings; these included: living situation (including living arrangements, independence, control and privacy); legal and safety; and health. It was also found that detained patients rated their social relations as significantly better than their non-detained counterparts. Conclusions The LQOLP is a viable instrument to use for evaluating the QOL of detained MDOs. QOL is an important outcome to measure in addition to the usual evaluation of symptoms and patient satisfaction. For detained forensic patients QOL assessment may represent the only way of measuring the totality of their experience in secure environments. QOL data may be used to compare service provision and to help guide the development and improvement of patient care. Future work may involve forensic outpatient and prison populations. Copyright © 2000 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
Client Discretion, Switching Costs, and Financial Innovation

We analyze the incentives of investment banks to develop innovative products. We show that client characteristics and market structure affect these incentives significantly. Investment banks with larger market shares have greater incentives to innovate and smaller banks are likely to share their innovations with the largest bank. Innovation incentives increase in volatile environments and regulatory scrutiny actually encourages loophole exploitation activity. Our predictions are consistent with stylized facts and the analysis has broad testable implications for innovative activity in other markets similarly characterized by a lack of comprehensive protection for intellectual property rights, for example, the software industry. Article published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Financial Studies in its journal, The Review of Financial Studies.
Review of American Xyleborina (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) Occurring North of Mexico, with an Illustrated Key

Abstract Ambrosia-feeding scolytids in the Xyleborina are the most abundant exotic bark beetles in North America. Many new species discoveries and taxonomic changes have occurred since their last review in 1982. The need for a worldwide revision of this tribe hampers the ability to identify species. To remedy this situation, an illustrated key is constructed and Xyleborus glabratus Eichhoff, Xyleborus similis Ferrari, and Euwallacea fornicatus (Eichhoff), which are new to North America, are reported and diagnosed. In addition the key is presented in electronic format with additional illustration (http://scolytid.msu.edu) to increase worldwide availability and accommodate future taxonomic revision.
Toward Autonomous Exploration in Confined Underwater Environments

In this field note, we detail the operations and discuss the results of an experiment conducted in the unstructured environment of an underwater cave complex using an autonomous underwater vehicle AUV. For this experiment, the AUV was equipped with two acoustic sonar sensors to simultaneously map the caves' horizontal and vertical surfaces. Although the caves' spatial complexity required AUV guidance by a diver, this field deployment successfully demonstrates a scan-matching algorithm in a simultaneous localization and mapping framework that significantly reduces and bounds the localization error for fully autonomous navigation. These methods are generalizable for AUV exploration in confined underwater environments where surfacing or predeployment of localization equipment is not feasible, and they may provide a useful step toward AUV utilization as a response tool in confined underwater disaster areas.
Lung deposition and clearance of microparticle and nanoparticle C60 fullerene aggregates in B6C3F1 mice and Wistar Han rats following nose-only inhalation for 13 weeks

C60 fullerenes (C60) are spherical structures consisting of 60 carbon atoms that are generated via combustion from both natural and anthropogenic sources. C60 are also synthesized intentionally for industrial applications. Individual C60 structures have an approximate diameter of 1nm; however, C60 readily forms aggregates and typically exist as larger particles that range from nanometers to micrometers in diameter. In this report, lung and extrapulmonary tissue deposition and lung clearance of C60 nanoparticles (nano-C60, 50nm) and microparticles (micro-C60, 1μm) were examined in Wistar Han rats and B6C3F1/N mice after nose-only inhalation for 90 days. Exposure concentrations were 0.5 and 2mg/m(3) (nano-C60) and 2, 15, and 30mg/m(3) (micro-C60). For both C60 particle sizes, the C60 lung burden increased proportionally to exposure concentration. The C60 lung burden was greater in both species at all time points following exposure to nano-C60 particle exposure compared to micro-C60 exposure at the common exposure concentration 2mg/m(3). The calculated C60 particle lung retention half-times were similar for both nano-C60 and micro-C60 exposure at 2mg/m(3) in male mice (15-16 days). In contrast, in male rats, the half-time of C60 particles following nano-C60 exposure (61 days) was roughly twice as long as the half-time following micro-C60 exposure (27 days) at the same exposure concentration (2mg/m(3)) and was similar to the clearance following micro-C60 exposure at higher exposure concentrations (15 and 30mg/m(3)). C60 was detected in bronchial lymph nodes but the burden was not quantified due to the high variability in the data. C60 concentrations were below the experimental limit of quantitation (ELOQ) in liver, spleen, blood, brain and kidney tissues. These tissue burden data provide information for comparison between nanometer and micrometer sized C60 particle exposure and will aid in the interpretation of toxicity data.
Introduction: The Fall of the Soviet Union and the Resurgence of Russia

Much has happened in the two decades since the end of the Cold War. In the immediate aftermath of the fall of the Soviet Union, Russia went through a period of dramatic domestic political change and uncertainty in the foreign policy arena. A country that was once a superpower in a bipolar world began to doubt its place in the international system – and not without reason: the collapse of the USSR left Russia in a state of economic, political, and social turmoil, marked by declining economic output and increasing inflation, foreign debt, and budget deficits. Other problems included lack of law and order, loss of central control over the periphery, conflicts in Chechnya, rampant corruption, chronic political instability, and a severe financial crisis. At the start of Vladimir Putin’s presidency, the country’s share of world GDP had fallen to just 1.5%, in contrast to the 21% share held by the United States (Legvold 2001). Moreover, Russia’s economic and political transition during the 1990s was fraught with complications and disappointments.
Tax Compliance and Enforcement: New Research and Its Policy Implications

This paper reviews recent economic research in tax administration, compliance, and enforcement and discusses the implications of the results of this research for realistic policy options.
The Critical Mission of Muslim Economist

Persoalan mendasar yang dihadapi para ekonom muslim dewasa ini adalah apakah mereka siap menghadapi tantangan untuk membangun suatu sistem Islami yang ideal? Bisakah mereka menawarkan suatu konsep tentang tata cara mengislamkan sistem kenegaraannya? Menghadapi persoalan-persoalan tersebut, penulis artikel ini mempunyai kehawatiran tentang ketidakmampuan dan ketidaksiapan kaum muslimin untuk memberikan jawabannya karena kenyataannya betapa perbedaan pendapat di kalangan kaum muslimin amat tajam, dan hampir sulit untuk mencapai suatu konsensus termasuk dalam bidang ekonomi Islam dan gambaran yang jelas tentang sistem ekonomi Islam dan sekaligus prakteknya. Dengan demikian, problema ekonomi Islam mencakup sisi konsep dasar sistem ekonomi dan sekaligus implementasi nyata dari konsep dasar tersebut. Keywords: muslim economist, Islamic system, concept and critical mission.
A Reformulation of Certain Aspects of Welfare Economics

Assumptions, 310.— I. General conditions for maximum welfare, 311.— II. The Lemer conditions, 316; the Pareto-Barone-Cambridge conditions, 318; the Cambridge conditions, 320. III. Review and comparison of the relevant points of the various expositions, 323.—IV. The sign of dE, 330.
Misfit Dislocations at II-VI/GaAs Interfaces

High-resolution electron microscopy is used to characterize the defect structure of CdTe/GaAs and ZnTe/GaAs heterojunctions before and after annealing. For as-deposited films, a variety of defects exist both in the form of perfect misfit dislocations at the interface and extended defects into the thin film. The extended defects result from dissociation of 60° dislocations and reactions between perfect and partial dislocations lying on intersecting slip planes. The annealed interfaces consist of a periodic array of perfect edge Lomer dislocations, the most efficient type of misfit dislocation for accomodating the lattice mismatch, 14.6 % for CdTe/GaAs and 8 % for ZnTe/GaAs. In both cases, the spacing between dislocations corresponds to the value predicted for completely strain-free thin fims, 31 and 54 A for CdTe and ZnTe respectively. This paper concentrates on the different dislocation reactions which transform the interfacial structure from the as-deposited case to the annealed case.
A Graphical Weighted Power Improving Multiplicity Correction Approach for SNP Selections

Controlling for the multiplicity effect is an essential part of determining statistical significance in large-scale single-locus association genome scans on Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs). Bonferroni adjustment is a commonly used approach due to its simplicity, but is conservative and has low power for large-scale tests. The permutation test, which is a powerful and popular tool, is computationally expensive and may mislead in the presence of family structure. We propose a computationally efficient and powerful multiple testing correction approach for Linkage Disequilibrium (LD) based Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) mapping on the basis of graphical weighted-Bonferroni methods. The proposed multiplicity adjustment method synthesizes weighted Bonferroni-based closed testing procedures into a powerful and versatile graphical approach. By tailoring different priorities for the two hypothesis tests involved in LD based QTL mapping, we are able to increase power and maintain computational efficiency and conceptual simplicity. The proposed approach enables strong control of the familywise error rate (FWER). The performance of the proposed approach as compared to the standard Bonferroni correction is illustrated by simulation and real data. We observe a consistent and moderate increase in power under all simulated circumstances, among different sample sizes, heritabilities, and number of SNPs. We also applied the proposed method to a real outbred mouse HDL cholesterol QTL mapping project where we detected the significant QTLs that were highlighted in the literature, while still ensuring strong control of the FWER.
Deep white matter hyperintensities affect verbal memory independent of PTSD symptoms in veterans with mild traumatic brain injury.

AbstractObjective: Although white matter hyperintensity (WMH) pathology has been observed in the context of traumatic brain injury (TBI), the contribution of this type of macrostructural damage to cognitive and/or post-concussive symptomatology (PCS) remains unclear.Methods: Sixty-eight Veterans (mTBI = 46, Military Controls [MCs] = 22) with and without history of mild TBI (mTBI) underwent structural MRI and comprehensive cognitive and psychiatric assessment. WMH volume was identified as deep (DWMH) or periventricular (PVWMH) on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) images.Results: Group analyses revealed that mTBI history was not associated with increased WMH pathology (p’s > 0.05). However, after controlling for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and intracranial volume, DWMH was associated with reduced short-and long-delayed memory performance within the mTBI group (p’s < 0.05). Additionally, after adjusting for PTSD and time since injury, regression analyses revealed that WMH was not associat...
Differential utilization of binding loop flexibility in T cell receptor ligand selection and cross-reactivity

Complementarity determining region (CDR) loop flexibility has been suggested to play an important role in the selection and binding of ligands by T cell receptors (TCRs) of the cellular immune system. However, questions remain regarding the role of loop motion in TCR binding, and crystallographic structures have raised questions about the extent to which generalizations can be made. Here we studied the flexibility of two structurally well characterized αβ TCRs, A6 and DMF5. We found that the two receptors utilize loop motion very differently in ligand binding and cross-reactivity. While the loops of A6 move rapidly in an uncorrelated fashion, those of DMF5 are substantially less mobile. Accordingly, the mechanisms of binding and cross-reactivity are very different between the two TCRs: whereas A6 relies on conformational selection to select and bind different ligands, DMF5 uses a more rigid, permissive architecture with greater reliance on slower motions or induced-fit. In addition to binding site flexibility, we also explored whether ligand-binding resulted in common dynamical changes in A6 and DMF5 that could contribute to TCR triggering. Although binding-linked motional changes propagated throughout both receptors, no common features were observed, suggesting that changes in nanosecond-level TCR structural dynamics do not contribute to T cell signaling.
Glycans and the platelet life cycle

Platelet numbers are intricately regulated to avoid spontaneous bleeding or arterial occlusion and organ damage. The growth factor thrombopoietin (TPO) drives platelet biogenesis by inducing megakaryocyte production. A recent study in mice identified a feedback mechanism by which clearance of aged, desialylated platelets stimulates TPO synthesis by hepatocytes. This new finding generated renewed interest in platelet clearance mechanisms. Here, different established and emerging mechanisms of platelet senescence and clearance will be reviewed with specific emphasis on the role of posttranslational modifications.
Determination of formaldehyde in room air by pinkish red sulfitation process

Objective:To develop a method for determination of formaldehyde in room air by pinkish red sulfitation process.Methods:Water was used for absorption solution gathering sample.After formaldehyde reacted with pinkish red sulfurous acid solution,the quantitative analysis was performed using the characteristic of meeting the sulfuric acid to produce blue color compound.Results:This method had good relativity of the linearity(r=0.9999) at the range of 0~2 mg/ml.The average rates of recovery of the samples were 97.0%~99.5% and the detection limit for formaldehyde was 0.0096 g/ml.Conclusion:This method is sensitive and has a good repeatability and does not need heating.So it can be widely used.
The research and development of SiC particle reinforced Al matrix composites

The second phase characteristics of Silicon carbide particles reinforced Al matrix composites and its influence law on the performance have been overviewed in the text.The influence of silicon carbide particle factors,including particle shape,particle size,volume fraction,particles distribution and interface characteristics between particle and matrix,on macro and micro performance of matrix composites have been expounded in detail.
An analysis of spine fusion outcomes in sheep pre-clinical models.

Purpose The ovine model is often used to evaluate new spine fusion technologies prior to clinical testing. An important aspect of designing sheep surgery protocols is to select the appropriate postoperative time period for comparing fusion outcomes. Unfortunately, determining the ideal study endpoint is complicated by the fact that prior published studies have not used consistent timeframes. Thus, the primary aim of this study was to provide a reference for investigators as to the expected fusion outcomes of control groups at varying timepoints in sheep spine surgery models.
Abstracts from the first symposium on the topic: liquid ventilation - 13th of march 1999, berlin

Basic research: Perfluorocarbons and the Pulmonary Surfactant System - Perfluorocarbons in the Treatment of Pneumonia - Inertance of the Respiratory System during Partial Liquid Ventilation - Alveolar Dead Space and Partial Liquid Ventilation - Partial Liquid Ventilation and Prevention of Cerebral Damage - New therapies of old problems: Efficacy of Partial Liquid Ventilation (PLV) Compared to Mechanical Ventilation with High Levels of PEEP in Experimental Acute Lung Injury - Application of Nitric Oxide during Partial Liquid Ventilation in Acute Respiratory Failure with Pulmonary Hypertension in Piglets - Preparation for clinical application: Partial Liquid Ventilation and Filling Condition with Perfluorocarbon - The Influence of Different Positive End-expiratory Pressure Levels on Partial Liquid Ventilation in Acute Lung Injury in Piglets - Partial Liquid Ventilation and Filling Condition with Perfluorocarbon - Spontaneous Respiratory Effort during Partial Liquid Ventilation (PLV) - Combination of Kinetic Therapy and Partial Liquid Ventilation in the Therapy of Acute Respiratory Failure in Piglets - Level of clinical studies: Do We Need Liquid Ventilation (LV) in Neonatology?
SU-F-T-468: Efficient Scanning Data Analysis for TomoTherapy

Purpose: The standard TomoTherapy 2D scanning system requires manual analysis using spreadsheets or similar software. Manual analysis is time consuming and does not allow efficient use of the medical physicist or timely results that may indicate issues during the acquisition of data. The purpose of this study is to determine if an in-house solution can provide timely analysis of TomoTherapy scan data. Methods: A custom MATLAB program utilizing a streamlined graphical interface was developed to interpret the native scanning data acquired by the TomoTherapy Electrometer Measurement System (TEMS). The gold beam data provided by the manufacturer was used as a baseline for the acquired data. Two separate sets of scan data were used including longitudinal, transverse, and percent depth dose (PDD). The scan data were compared visually in an overlay and analytically for each beam width using the full width half max (FWHM) for longitudinal profiles and difference inside the field core for the transverse profiles as recommended by TG-148. A plot of the PDD percent error at each point along the curve was generated to show agreement. The time to analysis was measured on a laptop running an Intel i5 processor with 8GB of RAM. Results: The software program required on average less than 5 seconds to load and analyze the results. No conversion or reformatting of the data was required. This allowed real-time visualization of the comparison to the gold beam data as well as the parameters recommended by TG-148. The average percent difference was 0.3% for the longitudinal profiles and 0.1% for the transverse profiles. All PDD data was less than 1% different beyond dmax. Conclusion: We have developed a tool to analyze TomoTherapy scan data in real-time. This allows an efficient method to perform beam commissioning, annual QA, and adjust the beam parameters if necessary.
Design and Synthesis of Bifunctional Peptides: Antagonists at CCKA/CCKB Receptors and Agonists at μ/δ Opioid Receptors

Endogenous CCK has been demonstrated to exhibit anti-opioid effects, particularly in the spinal cord [1], We have hypothesized that the development of novel ligands which possess properties as antagonists at CCK receptors, and as agonists at opioid receptors within the same molecule would present a significant therapeutic advantage in the treatment of pain states refractory to commonly employed opioids such as morphine. Our research has been aimed at the development of ligands that could interact simultaneously and potently with opioid receptors as agonists and with CCK receptors as antagonists.
O-032 Venous Blood Flow Visualization in Sigmoid Sinus Diverticulum Using MRI

Introduction/purpose Sigmoid sinus diverticulum (SSD) is one of the potentially treatable causes of pulsatile tinnitus (PT). How SSD causes PT is unknown, but it is thought to be secondary to aberrant blood flow in the diverticulum or parent sinus. We performed velocity field mapping using MR 4 D Flow (MRV) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) in cerebral venous sinuses and internal jugular veins (IJV). We aim to determine if a distinct blood flow pattern may be responsible for PT in SSD. Materials and methods Patients suspected of venous etiology of PT underwent MRI at 3 T, using contrast-enhanced MRA (timed to venous phase), MRV and CFD. SSD was confirmed on MRA. Flow pathlines were evaluated. In patients with confirmed SSD, additional CFD modelling was performed with the SSD excluded from the models. Results Nineteen patients with suspected venous etiology of PT and 10 controls were evaluated. Six (31.5%) had SSD and five of these had transverse sinus stenosis upstream from the SSD. These five patients also demonstrated a unique pattern of flow not seen in the controls characterized by: 1. High velocity flow jet in an up-stream stenosis in the transverse sinus directed at the SSD opening, 2. Flow jet into the SSD along the long axis of the SSD, either anteriorly or laterally directed, 3. Vortex of flow in the SSD, 4. Prominent vortex component of flow in the sigmoid sinus downstream from SSD, 5. Vortex of flow in the jugular bulb Three of the patients had simulated post-coil treatment models developed excluding the SSD from the models. CFD showed no flow in SSD and decreased vortex component of flow in the sigmoid sinus downstream from the SSD. Conclusion PT caused by SSD may be caused by a unique flow pattern in the SSD and sinuses as visualized on both MRV and CFD. Disclosures M. Amans: None. E. Kao: None. S. Kefayati: None. K. Meisel: None. F. Faraji: None. C. Glastonbury: None. M. Ballweber: None. V. Halbach: None. D. Saloner: None.
New Year's wishes: All I want for 2005 is...

Students, scholars and at least one Nobel prizewinner have had trouble getting into the United States this year, thanks to immigration rules that have grown ever tighter since the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001. Zhores Alferov, who won the 2000 Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on semiconductors, stormed out of the US consulate in St Petersburg, Russia, this September without his visa after being grilled about the nature of his work.
Neutron Time Interval Distributions with Background Neutrons

AbstractA single cosmic ray air shower event can produce multiple neutrons. The arrival times of neutron counts from such an event creates a clustering pattern distinctly different from random sources. A theory for the time interval distribution between neutron counts from both a correlated source and cosmic ray air showers is given and a method is developed to compute the probability distributions for a cosmic ray air shower to create detected neutrons.
Developing the Regulatory Utility of the Exposome: Mapping Exposures for Risk Assessment through Lifestage Exposome Snapshots (LEnS).

Background: Exposome-related efforts aim to document the totality of human exposures across the lifecourse. This field has advanced rapidly in recent years but lacks practical application to risk a...
Study of the Top-of-the-Line Corrosion Using a Novel Electrochemical Probe

Top-of-the-line corrosion (TLC) is a concern for subsea wet-gas transportation pipelines operating in a stratified flow regime. The insufficient volume of electrolyte at the top of the line combine...
Flaubert’s Cailloux: Hard Labour and the Beauty of Stones

Gustave Flaubert famously referred to himself as a ‘casseur de cailloux’ [common stonebreaker], intriguing future literary critics, who tend to think of him as the hardest-working chiseller of sentences. This contrast between mental labour and physical labour belies other connections that help us understand how Flaubert’s text relates to corporeality, labour, politics, and aesthetics. Flaubert’s ‘cailloux’, or stones, especially in Bouvard et Pecuchet, mediate between the materiality of ink on the page and the abstract meaning of words, resulting in a text that is both ‘pulverized’ and transcendent.
On the biochemistry and cell physiology of water

Abstract This chapter focuses on the most abundant molecule in all living systems. Without it enzymes do not function normally, DNA collapses into a tangled mess, and no dielectric continuum (solvent) exists, within which so many physiological processes take place. After brief discussion of pure water we focus here upon the cellular and molecular aspects; however it is quite evident that water participates at all levels of biological organization, from molecular to biosphere. We concentrate on the aqueous phase properties of cells and consider only briefly the importance of the primary hydration of intracellular solutes, a well studied and non-controversial issue. Most thought about cell biology has been built on the assumption that the structure and properties of intracellular water are not significantly different from those of pure water (or that in ordinary dilute aqueous solutions). That widely held assumption appears to be questionable in view of a large body of evidence to the contrary. Attention is paid to the large amount of data showing that the water adjacent to surfaces exhibits interesting and unusual physical properties compared to the ordinary bulk liquid. We make the case that the internal environment of cells is characterized by an enormous surface to volume ratio and argue that, on this basis alone, we should expect the water in cells to deviate in its properties. A number of examples are summarized which indicate that this expectation has been documented experimentally, but has thus far not been accommodated within popular prevailing paradigms. We consider some examples of the importance of these interesting properties of intracellular water to cell structure and function.
Serial Position and von Restorff Effect on Memory Recall

In lieu of an abstract, below is the first paragraph of the paper. This study tested the von Restorff and Serial Position Effect on memory recall with 28 introductory psychology students at St. John Fisher College. Subjects were tested to see if they would remember the first five words and the last five words of a twenty word PowerPoint presentation. The control group saw all the words in the presentation in a black font; while the experimental group saw the same, they saw the eleventh word in a red type, testing the von Restorff effect. The control group showed results consistent with past research: that the first few words and last few words were remembered more than any of the other words; however, their results were not statistically significant. The experimental group furthered the primacy and recency effect and also furthered the von Restorff effect because the entire experimental group remembered the isolated word, p=.01. This article is available in The Review: A Journal of Undergraduate Student Research: http://fisherpub.sjfc.edu/ur/vol10/iss1/6 Serial Position and von Restorff Effect on Memory Recall
The Business of Disaster

Natural disasters are an inevitable annual occurrence. Every year there is billions of dollars in damages and hundreds of casualties. Out of all the natural disasters in the United States, floods are the most prevalent. FEMA is the government agency that is charge of managing disaster in the nation. The main problem with FEMA is the time that they take to respond to natural disasters and increased spending. Currently many homes and public infrastructures such as roads, levies and bridges in disaster prone areas are ill equipped to handle natural disasters such as floods. Flood insurance companies often times underpay policy holders in claims or sometimes do not pay them at all. This paper offers proposed legislative reformations as answers to these problems. The proposed legislative reformation for FEMA is to readjust their budget for more spending on the National Flood Program while saving $1.5 billion overall. In addition to readjusting the budget the proposed reformation also includes increasing training for natural disaster relief and responsiveness by 25%. Another proposed reformation is to eliminate flood insurance companies from the National Flood Program. Reinforcing homes by elevating them or rebuilding them and making public infrastructure more flood and storm resistant is another proposed reformation. With the passing of the proposed reformations, there will be significant positive financial and social outcomes. The cost of property and infrastructure damage will decrease by more than half with the reinforcement of infrastructure. The amount of casualties will also decrease by more than half as well. As a result of FEMA becoming more efficient and the elimination of insurance from the National Flood Program, responses to natural disasters will be quicker and homeowners will see less damages to their homes and more money received on claims much quicker.
Adsorption of Selected Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products with Molybdenum Disulfide and Tungsten Disulfide Nanomaterials

Abstract Pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) are a class of diverse emerging environmental contaminants threatening water safety and public health. Transition metal dichalcogenides (T...
Perceptions of politicization and HPV vaccine policy support.

Abstract Background Since its FDA approval in 2006, the Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine has been politically-charged, given its association with sexual health among young women and its history of controversial, and largely unsuccessful, legislative mandates. The extent to which perceived politicization is related to public support for the vaccine’s use, however, is not clear. We sought to examine the relationship between public perceptions of politicization of the HPV vaccine and public support for HPV vaccine policies. Methods We fielded a survey from May-June 2016 using a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults (18–59 years). Among respondents aware of the HPV vaccine (n = 290), we predict support for HPV vaccine policies based on respondents’ perceptions of three characteristics of the vaccine’s portrayal in public discourse: degree of controversy, certainty of the scientific evidence supporting the vaccine’s use, and frequency with which the vaccine appears in political discussion. Results Respondents who perceived greater certainty about the scientific evidence for the HPV vaccine were more supportive of HPV vaccine policies (p Conclusions Public perceptions of the HPV vaccine’s politicization, particularly the portrayal of scientific evidence, are associated with receptivity to legislative mandates. Policy implications How the certainty of a body of evidence gets communicated to the public may influence the policy process for a critical cancer prevention intervention.
The Interplay between Measure Theory and Topology

This chapter discusses the interplay between measure theory and topology. A connection between measure theory and topology is established when an σ -field is defined in terms of topological properties. In the most common situation, there is a topological space Ω and is taken as the smallest σ -field containing all open sets of Ω. If this is done, there is a natural connection between measure-theoretic and topological questions. The Daniell integral is regarded as a linear functional on the vector space of integrable functions. This idea can be used as the basis for a different approach to integration theory. Instead of beginning with a measure and constructing the corresponding integral, a given linear functional E on a vector space must be begun with. Under appropriate hypotheses, E can be extended to a larger space and shown that there is a measure μ such that E is the integral with respect to μ .
Floor and Ceiling Effects, Time to Completion, and Question Burden of PROMIS CAT Domains Among Shoulder and Knee Patients Undergoing Nonoperative and Operative Treatment.

The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) computer adaptive tests (CATs) have emerged as an efficient technique for measuring patient-reported outcomes among orthopaedic patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the floor and ceiling (F/C) effects, time to completion (TTC), and question burden of PROMIS CATs administered to patients presenting to a shoulder and sports medicine orthopaedic clinic. Methods Patients prospectively completed PROMIS CATs including the physical function (PROMIS-PF) or upper-extremity function (PROMIS-UE), pain interference (PROMIS-PI), and depression (PROMIS-D) domains at their initial encounter and were retrospectively included in this study. Adult patients indicating a single problem involving either the shoulder or knee were included. Patients were also grouped as either preoperative or nonoperative. F/C effects were defined as the proportion of respondents scoring the highest (ceiling) or lowest (floor) possible score across a given domain. Results Included were 2,952 patients (average age, 51.0 ± 16.9 years). The PROMIS-UE, PROMIS-PF, and PROMIS-PI demonstrated negligible F/C effects across all shoulder and knee patients (<2%). The PROMIS-D displayed moderate to significant floor effects (13.9% to 18.9%) and a 0% ceiling effect in all main patient groups. The mean TTC and mean question burden of the PROMIS-UE, PROMIS-PF, and PROMIS-PI ranged from 45.3 to 54.4 seconds and 4.1 to 4.9 questions for all patient groups, while the PROMIS-D exhibited a TTC ranging from 20.9 to 38.6 seconds for all groups and a question burden that ranged from 6.2 to 6.7 questions. Conclusions The PROMIS-PF, PROMIS-UE, and PROMIS-PI demonstrated favorable F/C effects, TTC, and question burden among both nonoperative and preoperative patients. These findings justify consideration of the PROMIS-PF, PROMIS-UE, and PROMIS-PI for clinical and research applications involving shoulder and knee sports medicine patients. Additionally, we found moderate to significant floor effects for the PROMIS-D in all patient groups, which may be multifactorial in nature and may not be unexpected in patients with an isolated joint concern. Clinical Relevance This study highlights the psychometric properties of PROMIS CAT forms for knee and shoulder patients. Understanding these basic properties is important in considering the adoption of PROMIS CAT forms for patients with musculoskeletal conditions.
Efficacy of chitosan/double-stranded RNA polyplex nanoparticles for gene silencing under variable environmental conditions

We investigated the ability of chitosan/double-stranded RNA polyplex nanoparticles to silence genes in Caenorhabditis elegans in different environmentally analogous media. Using fluorescence microscopy, we were able to rapidly assess gene knockdown and dsRNA uptake under numerous conditions. Scanning transmission electron micrographs of polyplexes confirms heterogeneous distribution of chitosan and RNA in single particles and a wide range of particle morphologies. High pH and the presence of natural organic matter inhibited the ability of polyplex nanoparticles to silence genes, but were unaffected by the presence of inorganic nitrate and phosphate. Environmental media did not affect particle size in any specific pattern, as determined by dynamic light scattering and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy. The efficacy of polyplexes seems to be closely tied to zeta potential, as all treatments that resulted in a net negative zeta potential (high pH and high natural organic matter) failed to achieve gene knockdown. These results support earlier work that emphasized the importance of charge in gene carriers and will aid in the development of effective gene silencing biological control agents.
Lanthanide Metal-Organic Frameworks for Multispectral Radioluminescent Imaging.

In this report, we describe the X-ray luminescent properties of two lanthanide-based nanoscale metal–frameworks (nMOFs) and their potential as novel platforms for optical molecular imaging techniqu...
Boxed In: Beliefs about the Compatibility and Likability of Mother-Occupation and Father-Occupation Role Combinations:

Researchers have long noted that role expectations of a “good” mother conflict with those of a “good” worker, described as the “cultural contradiction” of motherhood. But given that work roles vary...
More is better

Antimicrobial resistance concerns have created a renewed interest in antimicrobial stewardship programs in both human and veterinary medicine. Due to the associated logistical and administrative burdens, formal antimicrobial stewardship programs have seen limited adoption outside of large institutional care centers. However, one of the key components of these programs is to optimize antimicrobial therapy - administration: of the right drug, to the right patient, at the right dose, by the right route, for the right duration. Optimizing dosing regimens does not have the same logistical burdens as a formal program, it simply requires evidential support and implementation by individual clinicians; which begs the question, "what is the basis for our current duration of antibiotic therapy recommendations?". To answer this question, a literature search was conducted to evaluate the scientific basis to support current recommendations for duration of therapy in veterinary medicine. Overall, the quantity and quality of scientific studies to support a specific duration oftherapy for a specific antimicrobial was underwhelming. However, the limited data generally supports the assumption that shorter durations of therapy can be effective and should be more thoroughly investigated.
Does timing of chemotherapy impact breast satisfaction after breast conservation therapy and mastectomy with immediate reconstruction

589Background: Receipt of chemotherapy is associated with decreased postoperative breast satisfaction, but whether timing as neoadjuvant (NAC) versus adjuvant (AC) affects this outcome after breast...
Classification and distribution of soils with albic horizons in the USA: A preliminary analysis

Abstract The albic horizon, a diagnostic subsurface horizon that is comprised of primary sand and silt particles that are light-colored because they lack clay or iron oxide coatings, is unique in that it is an eluvial horizon that is defined on the basis of a loss rather than a gain of weathering products. Over 3000 official soil descriptions were examined in the US Natural Resources Conservation Service databases to identify which taxa contain albic horizons. Albic horizons are present (i.e., more than 8 soil series) in seven orders, 28 suborders, 73 great groups, and about 1600 soil series in soil taxonomy. Orders with albic horizons can be ranked on an area basis: Alfisols > Spodosols > Ultisols > Mollisols > Inceptisols, Entisols > Aridisols. The mean thickness of the albic horizon is 19 cm, with the greatest thickness in Alorthods (90 cm) and the least in Xerolls (3.1), Humods (4.0), and Ustolls (5.6 cm). Albic horizons may occupy one or two of several positions in the soil profile, including (i) the mineral soil surface, (ii) below an A horizon, (iii) as a buried horizon, (iv) between a variety of diagnostic subsurface horizons in bisequal soils, and (v) in some soils with alternating E and Bt lamellae. Albic horizons separate or are underlain mainly by an argillic or a spodic horizon. Half (50%) of the soils with albic horizons are excessively to well drained. Many albic horizons have been lost due to cultivation, especially in Aqualfs, Udalfs, and Udults.
A Bayesian approach to variable screening for modeling the IC fabrication process

We describe a technique for determining the set of input variables that are significant with respect to a set of fabrication process output variables. Our technique uses a Bayesian analysis approach to focus only on the "active" factors while ignoring those that are statistically insignificant. Macromodels are then built using those "active" factors. This approach results in reduced simulation models with high accuracy.
Computational Study of Enhanced Excitability in Hermissenda : Membrane Conductances Modulated by 5-HT

Serotonin (5-HT) applied to the exposed but otherwise intact nervous system results in enhanced excitability of Hermissenda type-B photoreceptors. Several ion currents in the type-B photoreceptors are modulated by 5-HT, including the A-type K+ current (I(K,A)), sustained Ca2+ current (I(Ca,S)), Ca-dependent K+ current (I(K,Ca)), and a hyperpolarization-activated inward rectifier current (I(h)). In this study, we developed a computational model that reproduces physiological characteristics of type B photoreceptors, e.g. resting membrane potential, dark-adapted spike activity, spike width, and the amplitude difference between somatic and axonal spikes. We then used the model to investigate the contribution of different ion currents modulated by 5-HT to the magnitudes of enhanced excitability produced by 5-HT. Ion currents were systematically varied within limits observed experimentally, both individually and in combinations. A reduction of I(K,A) or I(K,Ca), or an increase in I(h) enhanced excitability by 20-50%. Decreasing I(Ca,S) produced a dramatic decrease in excitability. Reductions of I(K,V) produced only minimal increases in excitability, suggesting that I(K,V) probably plays a minor role in 5-HT induced enhanced excitability. Combinations of changes in I(K,A), I(K,Ca), I(h) and I(Ca,S) produced increases in excitability comparable to experimental observations. After 5-HT application, the cell's depolarization force is shifted from the I(h)-I(Ca,S) combination to predominantly I(h).
Buffer sizing for congested Internet links

Packet buffers in router/switch interfaces constitute a central element of packet networks. The appropriate sizing of these buffers is an important and open research problem. Much of the previous work on buffer sizing modeled the traffic as an exogenous process, i.e., independent of the network state, ignoring the fact that the offered load from TCP flows depends on delays and losses in the network. In TCP-aware work, the objective has often been to maximize the utilization of the link, without considering the resulting loss rate. Also, previous TCP-aware buffer sizing schemes did not distinguish between flows that are bottlenecked at the given link and flows that are bottlenecked elsewhere, or that are limited by their size or advertised window. In this work, we derive the minimum buffer requirement for a drop-tail link, given constraints on the minimum utilization, maximum loss rate, and maximum queueing delay, when it is feasible to achieve all three constraints. Our results are applicable when most of the traffic (80-90%) at the given link is generated by large TCP flows that are bottlenecked at that link. For heterogeneous flows, we show that the buffer requirement depends on the harmonic mean of their round-trip times, and on the degree of loss synchronization. To limit the maximum loss rate, the buffer should be proportional to the number of flows that are bottlenecked at that link, when that number exceeds a certain threshold. The maximum queueing delay constraint, on the other hand, provides a simple upper bound on the buffer requirement. We also describe how to estimate the parameters of our buffer sizing formula from packet and loss traces, evaluate the proposed model with simulations, and compare it with two other buffer provisioning schemes.
A Loading System for the Investigation of the Inelastic Properties of Geologic Materials

THIS PAPER DESCRIBES THE THEORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF A LOADING SYSTEM FOR THE LABORATORY INVESTIGATION OF THE INELASTIC PROPERTIES OF SMALL ROCK AND MINERAL SPECIMENS UNDER A VARIETY OF LOADING MODES, INCLUDING CONSTANT LOAD, INCREMENTIAL LOADING, AND CONSTANT RATE OF LOADING. THE APPLICATION OF BASIC FEEDBACK CONTROL THEORY TO THE DESIGN OF THE CONTROL SYSTEM IS OUTLINED, ALONG WITH DETAILS OF THE CONSTRUCTION AND TESTING OF THE COMPLETED SYSTEM. THE PROBLEM OF OBTAINING UNIFORM LOADING OF CYLINDRICAL TEST SPECIMENS UNDER COMPRESSIVE LOAD IS DISCUSSED, AND DETAILS OF A SPECIAL SPECIMEN LOADING JIG DEVELOPED FOR THIS PURPOSE ARE DESCRIBED. /AUTHOR/
Coarse-Grained Parallelization of Distance-Bound Smoothing for the Molecular Conformation Problem

Determining the three-dimensional structure of proteins is crucial to efficient drug design and understanding biological processes. One successful method for computing the molecule's shape relies on the inter-atomic distance bounds provided by the Nucleo-Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The accuracy of computed structures as well as the time required to obtain them are greatly improved if the gaps between the upper and lower distance-bounds are reduced. These gaps are reduced most effectively by applying the tetrangle inequality, derived from the Cayley-Menger determinant, to all atom-quadruples. However, tetrangle-inequality bound-smoothing is an extremely computation intensive task, requiring O(n4) time for an n-atom molecule. To reduce the computation time, we propose a novel coarse-grained parallel algorithm intended for a Beowulf-type cluster of PCs. The algorithm employs p n/6 processors and requires O(n4/p) time and O(p2) communications. The number of communications is at least an order of magnitude lower than in the earlier parallelizations. Our implementation utilized the processors with at least 59% efficiency (including the communication overhead) - an impressive figure for a nonembarrassingly parallel problem on a cluster of workstations.
Use of Zenith TX2 endografts in endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair for large-diameter aortic necks

The purpose of this case report is to describe the use of thoracic endografts in endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) with large-diameter aortic necks. We present four patients who underwent elective repair of AAAs. Preoperative imaging demonstrated all to have large aortic necks (35-37 mm) precluding treatment with standard abdominal aortic devices. All underwent endovascular treatment, which included the use of a Zenith TX2 endograft (Cook Medical Incorporated, Bloomington, IN, USA) as a proximal aortic cuff. There was 100% technical success. One patient developed gastrointestinal bleeding and a myocardial infarction. All were subsequently discharged home. On follow-up, there was one aneurysm-related death at three months. The remaining three patients are alive at a mean of 25.7 months after their operation. In conclusion, large proximal aortic necks preclude endovascular treatment with standard abdominal endograft components. The use of a thoracic endograft as a proximal aortic cuff is a feasible technique for patients unable to tolerate open aortic reconstruction.