cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Locust Habitat Monitoring and Risk Assessment Using Remote Sensing and GIS Technologies

Locust outbreaks occur on all continents except Antarctica and can affect the livelihoods of one in 10 people on Earth. To prevent economic and environmental losses, locust breeding areas should be periodically monitored, and an early detection-early response strategy should be in place. Traditional, ground survey methods are inefficient to adequately address the large spatial scale of the locust problem. Remote Sensing and the associated geospatial technologies can provide timely data to assess the risk of impending locust outbreaks. This information could be used for targeted preventive management actions in the locust breeding areas. Remotely sensed data are used for monitoring habitats of certain species such as the Desert, Migratory and Australian Plague locusts. However, the vast potential of this technology remains untapped for other locusts. This chapter provides a review of remote sensing and GIS concepts, types of data collected by various remote sensing satellites, and applications of geospatial tools for locust habitat monitoring and risk assessment.
Parallel Dictionaries Using AVL Trees

AVL (Adel'son-Vel'skii and Landis) trees are efficient data structures for implementing dictionaries. We present a parallel dictionary, using AVL trees, on the EREW PRAM by proposing optimal algorithms to performkoperations withp(1 ?p?k) processors. An explicit processor scheduling is devised to avoid simultaneous reads in our parallel algorithm to performksearches, which avoids the need for any additional memory in the parallelization. To perform multiple insertions and deletions, we identify rotations (in addition to AVL tree rotations) required to restore balance and present parallel algorithms to performpinsertions/deletions inO(logn+ logp) time withpprocessors.
Ultrastructure of the intercellular space in adult murine ventricle revealed by quantitative tomographic electron microscopy

Aims Progress in tissue preservation (high-pressure freezing), data acquisition (tomographic electron microscopy, TEM), and analysis (image segmentation and quantification) have greatly improved the level of information extracted from ultrastructural images. Here, we combined these methods and developed analytical tools to provide an in-depth morphometric description of the intercalated disc (ID) in adult murine ventricle. As a point of comparison, we characterized the ultrastructure of the ID in mice heterozygous-null for the desmosomal gene plakophilin-2 ( PKP2 ; mice dubbed PKP2-Hz). Methods and results Tomographic EM images of thin sections of adult mouse ventricular tissue were processed by image segmentation analysis. Novel morphometric routines allowed us to generate the first quantitative description of the ID intercellular space based on three-dimensional data. We show that complex invaginations of the cell membrane significantly increased the total ID surface area. In addition, PKP2-Hz samples showed increased average intercellular spacing, ID surface area, and membrane tortuosity, as well as reduced number and length of mechanical junctions compared with control. Finally, we observed membranous structures reminiscent of junctional sarcoplasmic reticulum at the ID, which were significantly more abundant in PKP2-Hz hearts. Conclusion We have developed a systematic method to characterize the ultrastructure of the intercellular space in the adult murine ventricle and have provided a quantitative description of the structure of the intercellular membranes and of the intercellular space. We further show that PKP2 deficiency associates with ultrastructural defects. The possible importance of the intercellular space in cardiac behaviour is discussed.
Deciphering the Need in Housing Markets A Technique to Identify Appropriate Housing Policies at the Local Level

Planners need straightforward tools to guide them toward the selection of appropriate strategies for resolving problems of housing affordability in their communities. Planners should use these tools to update their consolidated plans periodically, assessing the fit between the community's housing market conditions and the intervention strategies selected. Research suggests that planners often fail to select strategies that fit the conditions in their markets. This article offers a relatively uncomplicated technique designed to use census data to aid planners and local decision makers in better understanding the nature of the housing problem in each market sector.
An assessment of superconducting magnets for the next decade of applications

Potential applications for superconducting magnets have received substantial attention since the early 1960's when the modern era of high field superconducting materials began. A major survey of current and near-term applications world wide was published in 1974 and updated for the U.S. in 1976 . The total US expenditures in FY75 were approximately $30 \times 10^{6} distributed in all applied areas of superconductivity. A number of authors have examined specific areas of superconducting magnet applications, and we note a few of the most recent: High Energy Physics, Fusion, MHD, Magnetically Leviated Vehicles, Magnetic Separation, Energy Storage, Pulsed Energy Delivery, Electron Microscopes, and Medical Applications. A summary application paper by Powell gives an excellent overview of large scale applications and a summary paper by Kolm concentrates on many of the less well known industrial applications. There surely are many other applications overlooked by these brief references, and many more, as yet, unformulated. The number of superconducting magnets applied in and out of the Laboratory will grow dramatically over the next decade. The big money areas will be high-energy physics ring magnets, followed by CTR experimental coils, with MHD magnets a probable third in magnitude. No other single magnet application is likely to become a big money operation, but collectively they will be very significant. Magnetic levitation research will continue overseas, but is unlikely to be adopted for transit use in the next decade. Magnetic energy storage research will expand, but the scale necessary for economic adoption will preclude its near-term application. Magnetic separation will spread to areas like fuel desulferization, waste water treatment, ore benefication, and blood processing, but the areas where superconducting magnets are economically justifiable will likely remain small. In the search for large market applications, we should not overlook the uniqueness superconductivity offers to the solution of difficult, individualized, science and engineering problems. Perhaps that will always be its forte, and only when viewed collectively can the true impace on the future be assessed.
Differences Between American and Greek Managers in Giving Up Control

This study seeks to explain under what conditions managers tend to give up control in decision-making groups and to what extent the impact of these condi tions differs between U.S. and Greek managers. Contrary to expectations, the results show that Greek managers give up control in decision-making groups less frequently than U.S. managers. The results also suggest that U.S. managers have a somewhat greater tendency to give up control under the following conditions: (1) When they have no personal commitment to the task; (2) When their task mastery expectations are low; (3) When they believe another member of the group has greater expertise; (4) When they believe another member of the group has a stronger argument; and (5) When they feel group pressure to conform. In addition, it was found that lower-level managers perceive themselves as giving up control more frequently than senior-level managers, irrespective of their country of origin.
The Yale Report of 1828: A New Reading and New Implications

Of the classic documents addressing issues in higher education, few have provoked as much commentary as the Yale Report of 1828—and perhaps fewer still have been subject to such undeserved infamy. Ostensibly, the Report originated as an institutional memorandum. It was produced in response to the suggestion made at the annual meeting of the Yale Corporation in 1827 that the College might consider dropping the study of “the dead languages” from its curriculum. But its authors—President Jeremiah Day, Professors Benjamin Silliman, Sr., and James L. Kingsley—were clearly participating as well in an ongoing public debate. The 1820s were a decade of lively campus discussions on the subject of curricular reform. The stakes were high. The study of Latin and Greek traditionally constituted the core and bulk of college education. Wasn't it time for change?
High-throughput molecular testing of ticks using a liquid-handling robot.

Abstract To meet the need for high-throughput sample testing, DNA extraction kits based on the 96-well plate format have been developed for use with blood and tissue samples. These methods have not been applied to DNA extractions from ticks. To meet this need, we developed a high-throughput method for DNA extraction and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing of tick samples. A liquid-handling robot was used to extract DNA in a 96-well binding column plate with vacuum manifold. The quantity, purity, and quality of DNA recovered from Ixodes scapularis Say, 1821 nymphs with this method were reproducible and comparable with existing manual DNA extraction techniques. The DNA yield from pools of five nymphal ticks averaged 0.432 ± 0.04 μg (95% CI). The robot also prepared real-time PCR reactions in 96-well plates, directly from the extracted DNA. A modification of the existing P20 tool resulted in accurate pipetting of 1- to 2-μl volumes with a reproducibility of ±0.038 μl when dispensing 1.0 μl. By using this...
Allgemeine Dynamik der Atmosphäre

Da wir die atmospharischen Bewegungen relativ zur Erdoberflache beurteilen, mussen wir uns auf mit der rotierenden Erde fix verbundene Koordinatensysteme beziehen. Der Ubergang von einem Inertialsystem ξ j zu einem mit der Winkelgeschwindigkeit der Erde ω = 7,29 · 10−5 sec−1 rotierenden System mittels der Transformationsgleichungen* $$ {\mathop \xi \limits^. _j}\;{\rm{ = }}{\mathop x\limits^. _j}\; + \;{\omega _k}_j{x_k} $$ (70) bedingt das Auftreten der Coriolis- und Zentrifugalkrafte in den Bewegungsgleichungen. Die Versuche elementarer Ableitungen37 der sog. „ablenkenden Kraft der Erdrotation“ („Coriolis-Kraft“) gehen gewohnlich auf Kosten der Kurze und Ubersichtlichkeit der Rechnungen; die hohere Dynamik gibt dagegen folgende kurze Ableitung der Bewegungsgleichungen auf rotierender Erde: Man drucke in den Lagrangeschen Bewegungsgleichungen zweiter Art: $$ \frac{d}{{dt}}\;\left( {\frac{{\partial E}}{{\partial {{\mathop x\limits^. }_i}}}} \right)\; - \;\frac{{\partial E}}{{\partial {x_i}}}\;{\rm{ = }}\frac{{\partial V}}{{\partial {x_i}}}\; - \;\frac{1}{\varrho }\frac{{\partial p}}{{\partial {x_i}}} $$ (71) die kinetische Energie (pro Masseneinheit) im Inertialsystem \( E\;{\rm{ = }}\frac{1}{2}\;\dot \xi _j^2 \) mittels der Transformationsgleichungen (70) durch die \( {\dot x_i}\;\left( { = \;{\upsilon _j}} \right)\;{\rm{und }}{x_j}\;{\rm{aus:}} \) $$ E\;{\rm{ = }}\frac{1}{2}\;\upsilon _j^2\;{\rm{ + }}\;{\omega _k}_j{x_k}{\upsilon _j}\;{\rm{ + }}\frac{1}{2}\;{\omega _k}_j{\omega _l}_j{x_k}{x_l}. $$ (72)
Is Embodiment Necessary

Publisher Summary Every known instance of a genuine cognitive agent is embodied, and it is clear that embodiment has a major influence on, and can be a major help for, artificial agents. It is also clear that the notion of embodiment has multiple interpretations. But these points leave open a basic question: Is there a sense of embodiment in which being embodied is necessary to cognition? Is embodiment in some way necessary to the nature of cognition, or is it (merely) an important but secondary consideration for (most) implementations of cognitive agents (whether biological or artificial)? This chapter argues that embodiment is in fact necessary—it is essential in the nature of representation, and, therefore, of cognition. There are several parts to this argument. First, there are considerations of approaches to the modeling of representation that do not have as consequences any such necessity of embodiment. The chapter argues that these approaches do not and cannot succeed. Second, there is the development of an alternative model of the nature of representation and cognition. This will be outlined, and it is clear that it requires embodiment, because it requires genuine interaction between a cognitive agent and the world. Finally, a word or two will be in order to look at the kind of embodiment that is involved in this interactive approach to representation and cognition.
Do Political Parties Pursue Similar Allocation Strategies?: Evidence from Unique Electoral Boundaries in Ontario

The importance of spending money in elections and the limited resources available to political parties and candidates makes it reasonable to expect that parties strategically allocate resources to candidates (e.g., Schecter and Hedge 2001; Stonecash 1988; Pattie and Johnston 2009; Carty and Eagles 2005; Cross, 2004). While we find this literature to be quite informative, it is unclear how much local context affects the various strategies. Comparing party activity across levels of elections is challenging. One must worry about comparability of districts and other potential confounding factors. We expect that a significant advancement would be to employ a research design that "controls" the various constituency conditions across different types of elections in order to see whether similar political parties adopt the same strategy when facing the similar conditions. Using a real world situation from the province of Ontario, Canada, we evaluate party allocations when several provincial ridings (legislative districts) have the same boundaries as federal electoral districts. This boundary structure creates a rare opportunity for comparing party behavior in elections across levels of government while keeping most contextual factors the same (e.g., population). Our analysis focuses on party behavior during the 2003 provincial election and the 2004 federal election. Through this analysis, we determine that provincial and federal parties rarely adopt similar allocation strategies.
Effects of Selective Removal of Eurasian Watermilfoil on Age-0 Largemouth Bass Piscivory and Growth in Southern Michigan Lakes

Controlling exotic aquatic weeds such as Eurasian watermilfoil ( Myriophyllum spicatum L.) is a high priority for many aquatic plant management programs. Yet, the effects of Eurasian watermilfoil invasion and subsequent removal on sportfish production and food webs are insufficiently understood. Changes in aquatic plant abundance or architecture, caused by invasion and/or removal of exotic plants, may affect age-0 largemouth bass ( Micropterus salmoides Lacepede) growth and recruitment. We hypothesized that age-0 largemouth bass piscivory and growth: 1) decreases along a gradient of increasing Eurasian watermilfoil coverage and 2) benefits from lowdose applications of fluridone herbicide intended to shift Eurasian watermilfoil dominated plant communities to native dominated plant communities. In a multiple lake evaluation of the effects of selective removal of Eurasian watermilfoil on age-0 largemouth bass, percent coverage of Eurasian watermilfoil ranged 8% to 50% in lakes treated with 5 to 7 ppb fluridone and 43% to 91% in reference lakes. Coverage of native plants ranged from 62% to 95%. Selective removal of Eurasian watermilfoil did not have a significant positive effect on age-0 largemouth bass growth. Rather, age0 bluegill ( Lepomis macrochirus Rafinesque) prey availability, which varied considerably among lakes, had a strong positive effect on age-0 largemouth bass piscivory and growth. Factors influencing age-0 bluegill availability to age-0 largemouth bass appear more related to size structure of largemouth bass and bluegill populations than to plant cover.
Evaluation of New Pheromone Trap Designs for Cutworm Moths (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Several styles of inverted-cone pheromone traps were designed, constructed, and evaluated in the field for predominant species of cutworms (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Traps made from 5.3-cm-diameter polyvinyl chloride pipe “T” sections were effective for research, while larger capacity traps made from 10.4-cm “T”s worked well for surveys. Trap designs with complex trapping mechanisms or inverted cones with diameters less than 5.3 cm were not effective. Moth catches did not increase as trap diameters increased from 10.4 to 15.5 cm.
Local Monotonicity and Full Stability for Parametric Variational Systems

This paper introduces and characterizes new notions of Lipschitzian and Holderian full stability of solutions to general parametric variational systems defined via partial subdifferential of prox-regular functions acting in finite-dimensional and Hilbert spaces. These notions, which postulate certain quantitative properties of single-valued localizations of solution maps, are closely related to local strong maximal monotonicity of associated set-valued mappings. Based on advanced tools of variational analysis and generalized differentiation, we derive verifiable characterizations of the local strong maximal monotonicity and full stability notions under consideration via some positive-definiteness conditions involving second-order constructions of variational analysis.
Model of Cathode Catalyst Layer and Analysis on Performance of PEM Fuel Cells

The mathematical model of cathode catalyst layer of PEM fuel cell is d eveloped based on the equilibrium of mass flux and the increase of current densi ty, and the equations are solved by a relaxation method. The model is justified by comparing the result of model and that of experiment. The influence of porosi ty and active catalyst surface area on the performance of cathode is analyzed as well.
What is an Ontological Category

En este articulo, examino el concepto de clase natural y propongo una definicion de «categoria ontologica» en terminos de ese concepto. Digamos que una clase es «grande» si su membresia comprende una proporcion significativa de las cosas que estan alli. Digamos que una clase es «alta» si no es una subclase adecuada de ninguna clase natural. Entonces, una clase natural es una categoria ontologica primaria si y solo si (a) hay grandes clases naturales y (b) es una clase alta. (Las categorias ontologicas secundarias, terciarias, etc. se definen mediante una extension de esta definicion). Defiendo la definicion, considero varias formas de modificarla y la aplico al problema de construir una taxonomia de ontologias.
Path Analysis of Campus Walkability/Bikeability and College Students’ Physical Activity Attitudes, Behaviors, and Body Mass Index:

Purpose:The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between the walkability/bikeability of college campuses and students’ body mass index (BMI) with student physical activity (PA) attitudes and behaviors as potential mediators.Design:Cross-sectional.Setting:Thirteen university campuses.Participants:A total of 1384 student participants.Measures:Walkability/bikeability environmental score (ES): 12-item audit assessed an average of 44 path segments per campus. Students were measured for height and weight and completed online surveys. Physical activity stage of change/behavior intentions were assessed using the transtheoretical model. The Cognitive Behavioral Physical Activity Questionnaire assessed outcome expectations, self-regulation, and personal barriers. International Physical Activity Questionnaire assessed walking-, moderate-, and vigorous-intensity PA.Analysis:Descriptive statistics, zero-order correlations, and path analysis with maximum likelihood estimation.Results:The overall model f...
Topology, Routing, and Modeling Tools

The development of microcontrollers, communication technology, micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) and nanotechnology allowed for research and development of new systems for sensing and communication called wireless sensor networks (WSNs). Such networks are characterized as ad hoc (no previous setup or supporting infrastructure is required), utilize novel communication protocols, cooperatively monitor phenomena of interest, and communicate recorded data to the central processing station, usually called the base station. As the word wireless indicates, such networks of sensors communicate using wireless communication channels, allowing for easy deployment, control, maintenance, and possible sensors replacements.
Common Fraud Detections Methods

The literature related to the detection of fraudulent financial reporting exhibited different methods employed to detect fraud. These methods include auditor’s analytical procedures, statistical models, digital, textual and data-mining models. These methods attempt to detect fraudulent financial reporting using financial and non-financial variables as proxies (indicators) for misrepresentation or omission of material facts (amount or disclosure) in the financial reporting. The misrepresentation and omission of material facts or disclosure are the two important indicators of fraudulent financial reporting (Goel & Gangolly, 2012). To detect financial statements fraud, researchers and practitioners employed quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods for both financial and non- financial variables as proxies/ indicators of fraud (red flags) using statistical analysis, digital, textual and data-mining analysis. The accuracy of a fraud-detection method varies for each method based on the type of variables employed, and the type of analysis applied. In addition to auditor’s Analytical procedures, researchers and practitioners have developed multiple models (based on the quantitative and qualitative components of the company’s financial reporting) to predict financial statement fraud-risk and to classify companies financial reporting to fraudulent or non-fraudulent one. These methods include discriminant analysis models, statistical models (Dechow, 2011), digital analysis (Hsieh & Lin, 2013), data-mining models (Lin, Chiu, Huang, & Yen, 2015; Zhou & Kapoor, 2011), and textual (linguist) mining models (Throckmorton, Mayew, Venkatachalam, & Collins, 2015).
HOW CAN LEADERS OVERCOME THE BLURRY VISION BIAS? IDENTIFYING AN ANTIDOTE TO THE PARADOX OF VISION COMMUNICATION

Evidence suggests that organizational leaders can inspire employees by communicating a vision of the future with image-based rhetoric—words and phrases that are readily envisioned in the mind’s eye...
An Access Control Framework for Secure and Interoperable Cloud Computing Applied to the Healthcare Domain

The healthcare domain is an emergent application for cloud computing, in which the Meaningful Use Stage 3 guidelines recommend health information technology (HIT) systems to provide cloud services that enable health-related data owners to access, modify, and exchange data. This requires mobile and desktop applications for patients and medical providers to obtain healthcare data from multiple HITs, which may be operating with different paradigms (e.g., cloud services, programming services, web services), use different cloud service providers, and employ different security/access control techniques. To address these issues, this chapter introduces and discusses an Access Control Framework for Secure and Interoperable Cloud Computing (FSICC) that provides a mechanism for multiple HITs to register cloud, programming, and web services and security requirements for use by applications. FSICC supports a global security policy and enforcement mechanism for cloud services with role-based (RBAC), discretionary (DAC), and mandatory (MAC) access controls. The Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) standard models healthcare data using a set of 93 resources to track a patient’s clinical findings, problems, etc. For each resource, an FHIR Application Program Interface (API) is defined to share data in a common format for each HIT that can be accessed by mobile applications. Thus, there is a need to support with a heterogeneous set of information sources and differing security protocols (i.e., RBAC, DAC, and MAC). To demonstrate the realization of FSICC, we apply the framework to the integration of the Connecticut Concussion Tracker (CT\(^{2})\) mHealth application with the OpenEMR electronic medical record utilizing FHIR.
Regulation of microdomain voltage-gated L-type calcium channels in cardiac health and disease.

CaV1.2 channels in the heart mediate excitation–contraction (E–C) coupling; tune cardiac excitability; and regulate gene expression. In ventricular myocytes, CaV1.2 channels are predominantly located in t-tubules where they are in proximity to ryanodine receptors to trigger cardiac E–C coupling. A subset of ventricular CaV1.2 channels existing on the surface sarcolemma, including in caveolae, have less well-defined functions. Cardiac CaV1.2 channels are famously up-regulated by protein kinase A as a component of the ‘fight-or-flight’ response. The molecular details of how this kinase regulates cardiac CaV1.2 channels are controversial and under intensive study. Here, we critically review recent work addressing the putative functions of microdomain cardiac CaV1.2 channels, and their regulation by distinct kinases in health and disease.
Constraint programming and operations research

We present an overview of the integration of constraint programming (CP) and operations research (OR) to solve combinatorial optimization problems. We interpret CP and OR as relying on a common primal-dual solution approach that provides the basis for integration using four main strategies. The first strategy tightly interweaves propagation from CP and relaxation from OR in a single solver. The second applies OR techniques to domain filtering in CP. The third decomposes the problem into a portion solved by CP and a portion solved by OR, using CP-based column generation or logic-based Benders decomposition. The fourth uses relaxed decision diagrams developed for CP propagation to help solve dynamic programming models in OR. The paper cites a significant fraction of the literature on CP/OR integration and concludes with future perspectives.
Modeling the Western Diet for Preclinical Investigations

Rodent models have been invaluable for biomedical research. Preclinical investigations with rodents allow researchers to investigate diseases by using study designs that are not suitable for human subjects. The primary criticism of preclinical animal models is that results are not always translatable to humans. Some of this lack of translation is due to inherent differences between species. However, rodent models have been refined over time, and translatability to humans has improved. Transgenic animals have greatly aided our understanding of interactions between genes and disease and have narrowed the translation gap between humans and model animals. Despite the technological innovations of animal models through advances in genetics, relatively little attention has been given to animal diets. Namely, developing diets that replicate what humans eat will help make animal models more relevant to human populations. This review focuses on commonly used rodent diets that are used to emulate the Western dietary pattern in preclinical studies of obesity and type 2 diabetes, nonalcoholic liver disease, maternal nutrition, and colorectal cancer.
Laser-assisted charge transfer in He 2 + + H collisions

The time-dependent Schr\"odinger equation is solved numerically to investigate laser-assisted charge transfer in ${\mathrm{He}}^{2+}+\mathrm{H}+nh\ensuremath{\nu}$ collisions at $1\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{keV}$ in the semiclassical impact parameter approach. Laser polarizations parallel and perpendicular to the projectile trajectory are studied. For both polarizations even a moderately intense laser $({I}_{0}=3.5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{12}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{W}∕{\mathrm{cm}}^{2})$ significantly increases the reaction probability. In addition, we find that the relative collision-laser phase has little influence on the charge transfer. We focus on parameters more favorable to experiment.
Warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia with mimicking anti-c and -E specificities.

Abstract An 18-month-old male was admitted to a hospital with a hemoglobin of 4.1 g/dL and a reticulocyte count of 53 percent. There was no history of prior transfusion. Serologic evaluation revealed the presence of both a positive direct antiglobulin test (DAT) and an indirect antiglobulin test (IAT). The patient's red blood cells (RBCs) typed as group A, C-D-E-c+e+ (cde/cde). Evaluation of the IAT revealed the presence of anti-c and anti-E. All other major antibodies were ruled out. Upon adsorption of the patient's serum with ficin-treated Cde/Cde RBCs, both antibody specificities were adsorbed; however, the antibodies were not adsorbed with native (untreated) Cde/Cde RBCs. Furthermore, the autoantibody was not adsorbed by Rhnull cells, thereby suggesting Rh specificity. The serum was incompatible with cde/cde RBCs and compatible with Cde/Cde RBCs. The patient was successfully transfused with Cde/Cde RBCs followed by resolution of his anemia, as evidenced by an increased and stable hemoglobin. It was concluded that the autoantibody had mimicking anti-c and -E specificities. This is a report of an unusual case of autoimmune hemolytic anemia because the Rh autoantibody appeared to have dual mimicking specificities, and the patient's RBCs were antigen negative for one of the antibody specificities, i.e., anti-E.
Results of a Prospective, Multicenter Initiative Aimed at Developing Opioid-prescribing Guidelines After Surgery.

Objective:The aim of this study was to conduct a prospective, multicenter survey of patients regarding postoperative opioid use to inform development of standardized, evidence-based, procedure-specific opioid prescribing guidelines.Summary of Background Data:Previous work has shown significant varia
Bacterial Nanobionics via 3D Printing

Investigating the multidimensional integration between different microbiological kingdoms possesses potential toward engineering next-generation bionic architectures. Bacterial and fungal kingdom exhibits mutual symbiosis that can offer advanced functionalities to these bionic architectures. Moreover, functional nanomaterials can serve as probing agents for accessing newer information from microbial organisms due to their dimensional similarities. In this article, a bionic mushroom was created by intertwining cyanobacterial cells with graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) onto the umbrella-shaped pileus of mushroom for photosynthetic bioelectricity generation. These seamlessly merged GNRs function as agents for mediating extracellular electron transport from cyanobacteria resulting in photocurrent generation. Additionally, three-dimensional (3D) printing technique was used to assemble cyanobacterial cells in anisotropic, densely packed geometry resulting in adequate cell-population density for efficient collective ...
Alkyl Pyridinium Iodocuprate(I) Clusters: Structural Types and Charge Transfer Behavior.

The reaction of copper(I) iodide (CuI) and N-alkyl pyridinium (RPy+, R = H, Me, Et, n-propyl = Pr, n-butyl = Bu, n-pentyl = Pn, and n-hexyl = Hx) or N-butyl-3-substituted pyridinium (N-Bu-3-PyX+, X = I, Br, Cl, CN, and OMe) iodide salts yielded pyridinium iodocuprate(I) salts. Crystal structures of iodocuprate ions coupled with RPy+ include {Cu3I63–}n (R = H), {Cu2I3–}n (R = Me), {Cu3I4–}n (R = Et), {Cu6I82–}n (R = Pr), and {Cu5I72–}n (R = Bu, Pn, Hx). The [N-Bu-3-PyX]+ ions were typically paired with the 1-D chain {Cu5I72–}n. Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy performed on the [N-Bu-3-PyX]+ iodocuprate salts revealed that increasing the electron withdrawing capacity of the [N-Bu-3-PyX]+ system reduced the absorption edge of the iodocuprate salt. Variable temperature emission spectra of several [N-Bu-3-PyX]+ compounds revealed two emission peaks, one consistent with a cluster-centered halide to metal charge transfer and the other consistent with an intermolecular mixed halide/metal charge transfer to the or...
Implications of slow pace-of-life for nesting behavior in an armored ectotherm

Pace-of-life syndrome (POLS) theory predicts that physiological and behavioral traits coevolve and should fall predictably along a fast-slow life history gradient. Although this theory represents an attractive theoretical framework for exploring ramifications of life history for behavior and physiology, empirical support has been mixed for this theory, and more work is required to determine how well POLS theory explains existing patterns of behavior, particularly for extremely fast or slow life histories. We investigated factors that affect adult risk exposure and nest success during nesting excursions for the Blanding’s turtle, a long-lived ectotherm. We used radio telemetry to track gravid animals to nesting areas while measuring temperature and predation risk across the study site and monitored nest success to connect behavior to current reproductive success. Turtles responded more strongly to thermal gradients than predation risk when moving to nest sites, consistent with their armored morphology and ectothermic physiology, and generally selected relatively warm microclimates during these excursions. Nests placed further from wetland edges were more successful; unexpectedly, these same areas generally had relatively high predator activity, indicating that successful nesting areas may be riskier to adults. Accordingly, turtles did not appear to select for nest sites far from wetlands in areas likely to produce successful nests, instead placing nest sites in areas where predator species richness and activity were lower. Consistent with POLS theory, our study demonstrates that long-lived organisms engage in behavioral strategies that prioritize their own survival at the expense of current reproduction.
Effective Tropical Cyclone Forecast and Warning Communication: Recent Social Science Contributions

ABSTRACT Knowledge regarding how people obtain, understand, and use warning information is critical to saving lives and protecting property, yet scientifically valid and reliable research to support this part of the tropical cyclone (TC) warning process has been limited. This is due in part to misconceptions about the social sciences and the theories, knowledge and methodologies they offer. To help fill this gap, we highlight some topics and issues where social science research offers valuable contributions to the TC forecast and warning process, and present findings from some recent TC-related research projects. A range of studies (albeit limited in number) includes social science research on how individuals interpret risk, the importance and impact of delivering clear messages, the communication of uncertainty; and, more specifically, on the TC forecast and warning process, including the effective communicating of storm surge risk. We also discuss some findings related to promoting appropriate protective actions, and understanding economic and societal impacts. We conclude by identifying some shortcomings in empirical research in this area, and offer recommendations for improved integration of social sciences into the TC forecast and warning process.
Coencapsulation of ISCs and MSCs Enhances Viability and Function of both Cell Types for Improved Wound Healing

We previously demonstrated that insulin secreting cells (ISCs) accelerate healing of chronic wounds, and it is known that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) also accelerate wound healing. Here, we report that the combination of both cell types coencapsulated into a synthetic hydrogel dressing accelerates chronic wound healing 3 × faster than control and 2 × faster than each cell type delivered singly. Specifically, insulin released by ISCs activates the PI3/Akt pathway, which is vital to the function and survival of MSCs. MSCs in turn improve the viability and function of ISCs. MSCs and/or rat islet tumor RIN-m cells were encapsulated into polyethylene glycol diacrylate hydrogel sheets and applied to 1 cm2 full thickness excisional wounds on the dorsa of genetically diabetic male mice (BKS.Cg-m +/+Leprdb/J) in accordance with protocols approved by the Rutgers IACUC. Encapsulated cell viability was assessed using a LIVE/DEAD® Viability/Cytotoxicity Kit. Akt phosphorylation, insulin, VEGF, and TGF-β1 secretion were assessed by ELISA. Animals were sacrificed on postoperative days 14 and 28 and wound tissue was collected for histological and western blot analysis. ISC:MSC combination groups had the highest levels of every secreted product and phosphorylated Akt, and closed wounds in 14 days, ISC-only or MSC-only groups closed wounds in 28 days, control groups closed wounds in 40 days. Further, ISC:MSC groups healed without intermediate scab or scar. Combining MSCs with ISCs results in a more robust healing response than singly delivered cells, warranting further investigation of coencapsulation for MSC therapies.
Hypothesis to explain subfertile semen.

There is general agreement that even small increases in temperature from experimental application of external heat can cause disruption of spermatogenesis and sperm maturation with alteration of semen parameters. It is now apparent that intrinsic elevation of temperature can be identified in the presence of subfertile semen. Such increases in temperature above normal appear small: 0.5 – 1.5°C.
Accuracy assessment of NLCD 2011 percent impervious cover for selected USA metropolitan areas

Abstract The emergence of high-resolution land cover data has created the opportunity to assess the accuracy of impervious cover (IC) provided by the National Land Cover Database (NLCD). We assessed the accuracy of the 900 m2 NLCD2011 %IC for 18 metropolitan areas throughout the conterminous United States using reference data from 1 m2 land cover data developed as part of the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s EnviroAtlas project. Agreement was assessed from two perspectives: 1) sensitivity to the size of the assessment unit used for the comparison, and 2) utility of NLCD %IC to serve as a proxy for high-resolution IC. The former perspective was considered because statistical relationships can be sensitive to assessment unit size and shape, and the latter perspective was considered because high resolution (reference) %IC data are not available nationwide. The utility of NLCD %IC as a proxy for the high resolution data was assessed for seven lattice (square) cell sizes ranging from 1 ha to 200 ha using four EnviroAtlas IC indicators: 1) %IC per 100 ha (1 km2); 2) %IC by Census block group; 3) %IC within a 15 m (radius) of the riparian zone, and; 4) %IC within a 50 m (radius) of the riparian zone. Agreement was quantified as per assessment unit deviation (NLCD %IC – reference %IC) and summarized as Mean Absolute Deviation (MAD) and Mean Deviation (MD) both within and across the 18 metropolitan areas. Ordinary least squares (OLS) regression (y = reference %IC and x = NLCD %IC) was also used to evaluate the quality of the NLCD %IC data. MAD was ≤ 5% for six of the seven lattice cell sizes. MAD was also ≤ 5% for Census block groups > 100 ha and for both riparian units. These results suggest that uncertainty attributable to the measurement of %IC was no greater than the uncertainty related to the effect of IC on aquatic resources that have been derived from studies of aquatic condition (e.g., benthic fauna) over a range of %IC. Overall, agreement was variable from one metropolitan area to the next. Agreement improved as assessment unit size increased and declined as the level of urbanization (NLCD %IC) increased. NLCD %IC tended to underestimate reference %IC overall, but NLCD %IC was sometimes greater than reference %IC in urbanized settings.
Principles of Ultrasound for the Intensivist

This chapter provides a concise review of the principles of ultrasound generation, propagation through tissue and image formation and emphasizes the clinical relevance of the basic physics upon which this imaging modality is based. A practical understanding of the topic is emphasized over discussion of theoretical issues. The most common ways of modulating the ultrasound beam to optimize image quality are presented, together with a description and illustrations of the common artifacts that are encountered in clinical practice.
Mexico's medical tourism healthcare service quality: a content analysis of international patients' online testimonials

This research analyses medical tourists' perceptions of Mexico's medical tourism healthcare service quality. A content analysis of international cosmetic surgery patients' online testimonials from a medical tourism facilitator's website shows that medical tourists have distinct perceptions of Mexico's medical tourism healthcare service quality, with the HEALTHQUAL dimensions safety and empathy being mentioned most frequently. Healthcare service quality perceptions varied depending on the testimonial format (handwritten versus typed), whether a post-procedure photo was included with the testimonial, gender, type of cosmetic surgery procedure received, whether hospital satisfaction was explicitly expressed by medical tourists and if medical staff were referred to in the testimonials. Marketing communication implications of the results are discussed, including using safety and empathy cues to reduce the perceived risk and uncertainty associated with traveling abroad for medical care. Future research ideas are also submitted.
Professor R. B. Singh

Professor Singh is the first Indian Geographer to have the dual distinction of holding the position of the IGU Secretary General and ICSU Scientific Committee Member. He was the first Indian and second Asian Secretary General and Treasurer of the IGU. He has been elected as the Vice President of IGU for two terms since 2012. Professor R. B. Singh is a Distinguished Geographer in Environmental Geography and GIS applications, who has made distinct academic contributions over the last five decades. His reputation spreads beyond academic and national boundaries. He is an excellent mentor, guide, and life-long advisor to his students. His success as a mentor to his students is evident from the fact that he has supervised 40 Ph.D., 82 M. Phil, Research Scholars and countless MA students. He was Chair, UGC National Committee-Learning Outcome Based Curriculum Framework since July 2018. Expert in the prestigious Committees of the Government of India-Ministry of Environment and Forests, Department of Science and Technology, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). Taught courses to M.A., M.Phil., and Ph.D. programs at University of Delhi. Undertaken Major International Collaborative Research Projects, he has written and edited more than 50 books and more than 230 Research Papers.
Retargeted cytokine-immunoglobulin fusion proteins to deliver radioisotopes for diagnosis, radioimmunotherapy and TRAIL sensitization of high grade astrocytoma and metastatic breast cancer

1843 Objectives: Interleukin 13 Receptor alpha 2 (IL13Ra2) is a cancer-associated receptor that is present in greater then 80% of High Grade Astrocytomas (HGA) and has recently been recognized as a “virulent” gene that predisposes breast cancer cells to metastasize. This receptor is not present in significant quantities in normal tissue, with the exception of the testes and is distinct from the physiological IL13 receptor, IL13Ra1, which is present in numerous healthy tissues. IL13 binds to its receptors, IL13Ra1 and IL13Ra2, through different binding sites. Glutamic acid at position 13 of human IL13 has been shown to be necessary for its interaction with its physiological receptor, IL13Ra1. Mutations at this position abrogate IL13’s physiological actions, but importantly, do not alter its activity towards the high-affinity cancer receptor, IL13Ra2. This ability to retarget IL13 to preferentially bind to IL13Ra2 have prompted numerous groups to develop strategies to target IL13Ra2(+) HGAs. Some of these strategies that are currently in pre-clinical or clinical trials include IL13/cytotoxin fusion proteins, IL13Ra2 targeted T-cells, IL13Ra2 targeted viruses and IL13Ra2 based genetic and peptide vaccines. Although preliminary data suggests that IL13Ra2-targeting strategies have great clinical potential, no diagnostic agent is available to ascertain the real-time IL13Ra2 status of these devastating tumors. Our objective is to synthesize retargeted cytokine-immunoglobulin fusion proteins to Deliver Radioisotopes for the diagnosis and treatment of IL13Ra2(+) tumors. Methods: We therefore fused a retargeted IL13 mutant, IL13.E13K, to either the full IgG1 constant region (hinge-CH2-CH3) or only the CH3 region and expressed them in CHO cells as a secreted protein. Results: We demonstrate that radio-iodination of retargeted IL13 does not alter its ability to bind IL13Ra2(+) cells. Immunoglobulin regions enhance the in vivo stability of fusion proteins and therefore render our retargeted IL13 constructs suitable for diagnostic and therapeutic radioisotope delivery. Of significance, we also demonstrate that the delivery of radiation sensitizes HGA cells to TRAIL, a potent pro-apoptotic ligand that is currently in phase I clinical trials. We are currently examining the in vivo biodistribution and anti-tumor potential of our IL13-based “cytoglobulin” constructs alone and in combination with Trail. Conclusions: Based on our preliminary data, we conclude that our novel targeted fusion proteins are promising tools for molecular diagnoses and therapy of high grade astrocytoma and metastatic breast cancer.
Dissociable impact of childhood trauma and deployment trauma on affective modulation of startle

Abstract Trauma disorders are often associated with alterations in aversive anticipation and disruptions in emotion/fear circuits. Heightened or blunted anticipatory responding to negative cues in adulthood may be due to differential trauma exposure during development, and previous trauma exposure in childhood may also modify effects of subsequent trauma in adulthood. The aim of the current investigation was to examine the contributions of childhood trauma on affective modulation of startle before and after trauma exposure in adulthood (a combat deployment). Adult male participants from the Marine Resilience Study with (n = 1145) and without (n = 1312) a history of reported childhood trauma completed an affective modulation of startle task to assess aversive anticipation. Affective startle response was operationalized by electromyography (EMG) recording of the orbicularis oculi muscle in response to acoustic stimuli when anticipating positive and negative affective images. Startle responses to affective images were also assessed. Testing occurred over three time-points; before going on a 7 month combat deployment and 3 and 6 months after returning from deployment. Startle response when anticipating negative images was greater compared to pleasant images across all three test periods. Across all 3 time points, childhood trauma was consistently associated with significantly blunted startle when anticipating negative images, suggesting reliable effects of childhood trauma on aversive anticipation. Conversely, deployment trauma was associated with increased startle reactivity post-deployment compared to pre-deployment, which was independent of childhood trauma and image valence. These results support the hypothesis that trauma exposure during development vs. adulthood may have dissociable effects on aversive anticipation and arousal mechanisms. Further study in women and across more refined age groups is needed to test generalizability and identify potential developmental windows for these differential effects.