cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Excitation of arbitrary shapes by gradient optimized random walk in discrete k‐space

A new technique for the excitation of arbitrary shapes is proposed. It is based on a parallel sequence of small tip angle RF pulses and gradient pulses. The small tip angle rotations co-add yielding a 90 degrees excitation pulse within the selected excitation profile while outside the profile, the rotations cancel each other. A full theory of the completely arbitrary regional volume excitation (CARVE) method is presented and experimentally verified. In CARVE, k-space is discrete because the RF is applied in pulses. The discrete character of k-space permits an arbitrary trajectory for the k-space walk. The optimal random trajectory is found by minimizing the gradient load using simulated annealing. It is shown, both theoretically and experimentally, that such a trajectory is much better than any other systematic or random trajectory in k-space.
DOMAIN DELAUNAY TETRAHEDRIZATION OF SOLID MODELS

An algorithm is presented for constructing a topologically and geometrically valid Domain Delaunay Tetrahedrization (DDT) of an arbitrarily shaped solid model with quadric curved faces (including objects with holes and nonmanifold objects). The algorithm operates on the boundary representation (B-rep) of the solid, and makes extensive use of properties of the Delaunay triangulation. This algorithm also includes a mechanism for transferring neighborhood information from the solid model to the elements of the tetrahedral model. Neighborhood information is used for identifying tetrahedra to be included in the DDT, and — in combination with geometric criteria — for ensuring that the DDT approximates satisfactorily the curved faces of the solid.
Making discourse-dependent decisions: The case of the copulas ser and estar in Spanish

We present the results of two experiments (an Elicitation Task and a Picture Matching Task) that test 4‐5 year-old children’s ability to distinguish between the Spanish copulas ser and estar, when copula choice depended on the properties of the context. Departing from an analysis that relies on two different types of stative predicates (stativity associated with lack of aspectual information and stativity associated with the subevent property STATE), we tested (i) children’s ability to calculate the permanent/temporary implicatures commonly associated with ser and estar and (ii) their ability to restrict the temporal domain of evaluation. We argue that our results are compatible with the idea that children do distinguish between the two copulas in an almost adult-like manner, but have problems when required to restrict the domain of evaluation of each copula, providing further support for the hypothesis that children have difficulties with domain restrictions. # 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Review Essay: Inviting Intuitive Understandings in Teaching and Professional Practices: Is Intuition Relationally and Culturally Neutral?

Terry ATKINSON und Guy CLAXTON analysieren das Konstrukt der "Intuition" ausgehend von Forschungs- und Lehrerfahrung an der Universitat Bristol in Grosbritannien. In vierzehn Kapiteln wird die meist schwer zu fassende Idee der Intuition und ihr Einfluss auf professionelles Handeln untersucht, wobei viele der Autor(inn)en Intuition eher als eine kognitive psychologische Strategie definieren und weniger als relationalen und kulturellen Austausch. Das letzte Kapitel enthalt eine kritische Zusammenfassung und Bewertung von ERAUT, der nicht der Universitat Bristol angehort. Das Buch ist weniger eine integrierte theoretische Zusammenschau, sondern eher ein abschliesender Bericht, der die universitaren Diskussionen und die Forschung der Autor(inn)en versammelt. Das Resultat ist eine inspirierende Darstellung sich uberlappender Konzepte, die die Leser(innen) uber die Relevanz von Intuition in padagogischen und professionellen Handlungsfeldern informiert. Allerdings ist das Buch nicht in erster Linie geeignet fur Berufstatige, die konkrete Methoden fur die Umsetzung intuitiver Praktiken erlernen wollen, oder fur Forscher(innen), die fur die Analyse der Intuition in verschiedenen kulturellen und/oder institutionellen Kontexten auf der Suche nach anwendbaren theoretischen Konstrukten sind. URN: urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs0204514
Technical/economic assessment of selected PCB decontamination processes

Abstract Eleven emerging alternative treatments for polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contaminated sediments have been compared and ranked using technical performance, status of development, test and evaluation data needs, and cost as factors. In ranking the processes, weights were assigned the factors to emphasize the extent of decontamination, the estimated cost of treatment, and the versatility of the process. The emerging treatment processes are based on six different technologies: one on low-temperature oxidation, two on chlorine removal, one on pyrolysis, three on removing and concentrating, one on vitrification, and three on microorganisms. Types of technologies not developed are chlorinolysis, stabilizing, and enzymes. On the basis of the comparisons made, the treatment processes were ranked in the following order from highest to lowest: KPEG, LARC, Acurex, Bio-Clean, Supercritical Water, Advanced Electric Reactor, Vitrification, OHM Extraction, Soilex, Composting, and Dybron Bi-Chem 1006. The first eight processes show potential for reduction of PCB concentrations to the desired background levels (1–5 ppm) or less, with minimum environmental impacts and low to moderate cost. All the technologies except the advanced electric reactor required further development and testing.
Finger-powered, pressure-driven microfluidic pump

Here we present and demonstrate the concept of a versatile ‘human-powered’ fluid pumps as a modular element to provide pressure head for a variety of microfluidic systems. Several distinctive accomplishments have been achieved: (1) human finger as the pumping actuation force; (2) pumping without using any electricity, (3) integrated pump with a passive safety valve and two one-way valves, and (4) successful demonstration in delivering fluids/particles into a microfluidic chip. For the first time, we have demonstrated that measured pressure head by a human finger was between 3–4kPa, which is sufficient to power fluids for various microfluidic applications, such as point-of-care diagnostics.
Seismic surface‐wave velocities over the Atlantic Ocean

A moderately strong earthquake was recorded at Fordham University on November 3, 1946; the arrival time of P was 19h43m19s, U.T. The United States Coast and Geodetic Survey Issued card No. 40–46 dated November 6, 1946, giving the origin time of this shock as 19h32m5 U.T. and the provisional epicenter 0° latitude, 16° west longitude, southwest of Liberia, Africa. The surface waves were recorded clearly enough so that Lq and Lr are easily distinguished on the records of the three-component Galitzin-Wilip seismograph. The path of these waves from epicenter to station is wholly under the Atlantic Ocean, a distance of 7370 km, calculated by the haversine relation. Atlantic shocks at such or greater distances with all ocean paths occur only at infrequent intervals, and the information on surface-wave velocities in the Atlantic is very meager [see GUTENBERG, B., and RICHTER, C. F., On seismic waves. Third Paper, Gerlands Beitrage zur Geophysik, v. 47, pp. 73–171, 1936; MACELWANE, J. B., Physics of the Earth, v. 7, Chapter 10, McGraw Hill, 1939; LYNCH, W. A., Earthquake notes, v. 17, p. 8, December 1945].
Effect of moderate doses of estrogen and progesterone on mammary growth and hair growth in dogs.

An investigation was undertaken to reexamine the nature and extent of the mammary response of gonadectomized dogs to estrogen and to determine the effect of progesterone both alone and in combination with estrogen. 1 male and 7 female dogs were gondectomized. Depending on the extent of mammary development the females were held for different periods of time before treatment to permit mammary involution. Because of the inhibitory effect of estrogen on hair growth in dogs an attempt was made to measure the rate of hair growth and determine the effect of the different treatments thereon. In ovariectomized dogs estrogen in moderate doses caused little or no growth on the mammary gland. Dogs given estrogen and progesterone simultaneously showed extensive growth of the mammary gland the rate and extent of which closely approached that of pregnancy in some cases. Progesterone alone was responsible for a similar type of alveolar development but to a lesser and more variable extent. The rate of hair growth was not significantly influenced by 10 mc estrogen or 10 mg progesterone alone or in combination.
The neural correlates of cognitive control: Successful remembering and intentional forgetting

The ability to control how we process information by remembering that which is important and forgetting that which is irrelevant is essential to maintain accurate, up-to-date memories. As such, memory success is predicated on both successful intentional encoding and successful intentional forgetting. The current study used an item-method directed forgetting paradigm to elucidate the cognitive and neural processes that underlie both processes while also examining the relationship between them to understand how the two may work together. Results indicated that encoding-related processes in the left inferior PFC and medial-temporal lobe MTL contribute to subsequent memory success, whereas inhibitory processes in the right superior frontal gyrus and right inferior parietal lobe contribute to subsequent forgetting success. Furthermore, connectivity analyses found a negative correlation between activity in the right superior frontal cortex and activity in the left MTL during successful intentional forgetting but not during successful encoding, incidental forgetting, or incidental encoding. Results support the theory that intentional forgetting is mediated by inhibition-related activity in the right frontal cortex and the interaction of this activity with that of encoding-related activity in the MTL. Further support for this inhibitory-related account was found through a clear dissociation between intentional and incidental forgetting, such that intentional forgetting was associated with regions shown to support inhibition, whereas incidental forgetting was associated with regions supporting encoding.
The Inextricable Link in Caring for Families of Critically Burned Children

Advances in burn care have made recovery possible for children with burns on up to 99% of their body surface, which has prompted investigation of the psychosocial well-being of survivors. Although therapies have been suggested, no researchers have acknowledged or recognized nurses' potential contributions to children's and families' recovery. In this article, the author examines the lived experiences of 16 pediatric nurses on a burn intensive care unit. The purpose of the study was to articulate practices that helped critically burned children to heal holistically. Data showed that while helping burned children to heal holistically, the nurses simultaneously supported families to heal holistically. Nurses were observed laughing, talking, and crying with families, as well as role-modeling ways of being with and caring for the children. These practices illustrated the nurses' understanding that care of the children was inextricably linked to care of the families.
Lactosylceramide Stimulates Human Neutrophils to Upregulate Mac-1, Adhere to Endothelium, and Generate Reactive Oxygen Metabolites In Vitro

Glycosphingolipids (GSLs) and their metabolites play important roles in a variety of biological processes. We have previously reported that lactosylceramide (LacCer), a ubiquitous GSL, stimulates NADPH oxidase-dependent superoxide generation by aortic smooth muscle cells and their consequent proliferation. We postulated that LacCer may upregulate adhesion molecules on human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (hPMNs), perhaps also via NADPH oxidase-dependent reactive oxygen metabolite (ROM) generation. Incubation of hPMNs with LacCer upregulated CD11b/CD18 (Mac-1) and CD11c/CD18, as determined by fluorescence-automated cell sorting. LacCer also stimulated these hPMNs to generate superoxide via NADPH oxidase, as determined by lucigenin-enhanced chemiluminescence. However, the upregulation of Mac-1 by LacCer did not itself appear to be mediated by ROMs, since neither an antioxidant nor an NADPH oxidase inhibitor substantially inhibited the Mac-1 upregulation. However, this Mac-1 upregulation was significantly inhibited by two disparate phospholipase A2 (PLA2) inhibitors. Moreover, LacCer induced arachidonic acid metabolism, which was inhibited by the PLA2 inhibitors, but not by an NADPH oxidase inhibitor. To evaluate the effect of LacCer on hPMN adhesion to endothelium, hPMNs stimulated with LacCer were allowed to adhere to unstimulated human endothelial cell monolayers. LacCer stimulated hPMN adhesion to endothelial cells, which was blocked by anti-CD18 and by the PLA2 inhibitors. We conclude that LacCer stimulates both Mac-1 upregulation and superoxide generation in hPMNs but that ROMs are not the upstream signal for Mac-1 upregulation. This mechanism may well be relevant to acute endothelial injury in inflammation and other pathological conditions.
Putting stigma in context: Do perceptions of group stigma interact with personally experienced discrimination to predict mental health?

Research has linked experiences of personal discrimination with negative mental health consequences, but less is known about the role of group stigma (perceived stigma against one’s group as a whol...
Mechanisms of Hemostasis at Cesarean Delivery

Postpartum hemorrhage is an obstetric emergency that represents a major cause of maternal morbidity and mortality. With the recent rise in the cesarean delivery rate, prompt recognition and proper management at the time of cesarean delivery are becoming increasingly important for providers of obstetrics. Preparedness for hemorrhage can be achieved by recognition of prior risk factors and implementation of specific hemorrhage protocols. Medical and surgical therapies are available to treat obstetric hemorrhage after cesarean delivery.
Sequential hierarchical recruitment learning in a network of spiking neurons

Understanding how sequences are learned and encoded is a key component to understanding cognition. We present a recruitment model in which sequences are learned via the hierarchical binding of features across time. Learning in the model is unsupervised and occurs within a single presentation of the input. The topology and learning mechanisms allow the network to exploit the temporal structure of the input in order to recruit localized representations of sequences, using leaky integrate-and-fire neurons with biologically-grounded learning mechanisms. The model learns a temporal XOR-style task, and ablation tests are performed to justify the inclusion of particular features in the model. The model is then extended and applied to the task of learning 7-digit sequences. Both sets of simulations demonstrate the ability of the model to acquire and reuse chunks. Limitations and future extensions of the model are then discussed.
Acute hepatitis caused by a novel strain of hepatitis E virus most closely related to United States strains.

A unique hepatitis E virus (HEV) strain was identified as the aetiological agent of acute hepatitis in a United States (US) patient who had recently returned from vacation in Thailand, a country in which HEV is endemic. Sequence comparison showed that this HEV strain was most similar, but not identical, to the swine and human HEV strains recovered in the US. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that this new HEV isolate was closer to genotype 3 strains than to the genotype 1 strains common in Asia. The fact that this HEV was closely related to strains recovered in countries where HEV is not endemic and was highly divergent from Asian HEV strains raises the questions of where the patient’s infection was acquired and of whether strains are geographically as localized as once thought.
Caught in Neverland: CORI Reform, Commonwealth v. Peter Pon, and Massachusetts’ Emergence as a National Exemplar for Criminal Record Sealing

Beginning in 2010, the Massachusetts legislature and Supreme Judicial Court have made substantial changes to the way that criminal records are sealed, accessed, and distributed. These changes included shorter waiting times to seal conviction records, increased access to unsealed records by employers and agencies, and a new, more permissive standard for sealing non-conviction records. This Note argues that Massachusetts has created a comprehensive and far-reaching schema for criminal record sealing that has the potential to serve as a model for nationwide reform. It also argues, however, that certain changes need to be made before Massachusetts can be recognized as a true exemplar for criminal record sealing. Part I of this Note explores the underlying rationales for and against sealing criminal records, and the current approach to sealing at the state and federal levels. Part II of this Note examines the recent legislative and judicial overhaul of Massachusetts’ approach to criminal record sealing. Finally, Part III of this Note argues for the nationwide adoption of certain aspects of Massachusetts’ system, as well as for the revision of certain aspects by the Massachusetts legislature and Supreme Judicial Court.
Alopecia in systemic amyloidosis: Trichoscopic-pathologic correlation

Alopecia in systemic amyloidosis is very rare and has been described as individual cases of diffuse nonscarring alopecia and a case of alopecia universalis. We report the trichoscopic findings in alopecia associated with systemic amyloidosis. The most prominent feature was a salmon colored halo (0.3-1 mm in diameter) surrounding the follicular ostia. Other features included broken hairs and black dots. The salmon colored halo correlated on pathology with the perifollicular deposition of amyloid. The horizontal sections showed that the sebaceous glands were preserved which supports the nonscarring pattern of the alopecia.
Systemic anti-HGF monoclonal antibody therapy induces regression of intracranial glioma xenograft

1167 Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and its receptor Met are involved in the initiation, progression and metastasis of numerous systemic and CNS tumors. Thus, an anti-HGF monoclonal antibody (mAb) capable of blocking the HGF-Met interaction could have broad applicability in cancer therapy. An anti-HGF mAb L2G7 that blocks binding of HGF to Met was generated by hybridoma technology, and its ability to inhibit various biological activities of HGF was measured by in vitro assays. MAb L2G7 strongly inhibited biological activities of HGF measured in vitro, including cell proliferation, and cell scattering. The ability of L2G7 to inhibit growth of tumors was determined by establishing subcutaneous and intracranial xenografts of human U87 and U118 glioma cell lines in nude mice, and treating with 50-100 μg L2G7 or control administered intraperitoneally twice per week. Treatment with L2G7 completely inhibited growth of established subcutaneous xenografts in nude mice. Moreover, systemic administration of L2G7 from Day 5 induced regression of intracranial U87 xenografts and dramatically prolonged survival of tumor-bearing mice from a median of 39 days to over 90 days. L2G7 treatment of large intracranial tumors (average tumor size, 26.7 mm3) from Day 18 induced substantial tumor regression (control group, 134.3 mm3; L2G7 treated group, 11.7 mm3) by Day 29 and again prolonged animal survival.
Active metamaterials with gain compensation

Metamaterials are artificial composite materials that can provide unique and useful properties that do not normally exist in natural materials and may lead to many new and exciting capabilities for electromagnetic applications. However, many of the practical applications are limited by two fundamental issues that have not yet been solved, namely, loss and narrow bandwidth inherently associated with a typical passive metamaterial.
Microplastics as vectors for bioaccumulation of hydrophobic organic chemicals in the marine environment: A state-of-the-science review.

A state-of-the-science review was conducted to examine the potential for microplastics to sorb hydrophobic organic chemicals (HOCs) from the marine environment, for aquatic organisms to take up these HOCs from the microplastics, and for this exposure to result in adverse effects to ecological and human health. Despite concentrations of HOCs associated with microplastics that can be orders of magnitude greater than surrounding seawater, the relative importance of microplastics as a route of exposure is difficult to quantify because aquatic organisms are typically exposed to HOCs from various compartments, including water, sediment, and food. Results of laboratory experiments and modeling studies indicate that HOCs can partition from microplastics to organisms or from organisms to microplastics, depending on experimental conditions. Very little information is available to evaluate ecological or human health effects from this exposure. Most of the available studies measured biomarkers that are more indicative of exposure than effects, and no studies showed effects to ecologically relevant endpoints. Therefore, evidence is weak to support the occurrence of ecologically significant adverse effects on aquatic life as a result of exposure to HOCs sorbed to microplastics or to wildlife populations and humans from secondary exposure via the food chain. More data are needed to fully understand the relative importance of exposure to HOCs from microplastics compared with other exposure pathways. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016;35:1667–1676. © 2016 SETAC
The impact of l-dopa on attentional impairments in a rat model of Parkinson’s disease

Attentional deficits including difficulty in switching attention between tasks or rules, sustaining attention, and selectively attending to specific stimuli are commonly seen in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). While these deficits are frequently reported, it is unclear how traditional dopamine replacement therapy such as l-dopa affects these deficits. In a rat model of PD in which dopamine is unilaterally depleted with a 6-hydroxydopamine infusion to the medial forebrain bundle, we first examined the impact of acute and chronic l-dopa treatment on attention switching as modeled by disengagement behavior (i.e. the ability to disengage from an on-going behavior such as eating or drinking to attend to perioral stimulation). Then, in a separate experiment, we evaluated the effects of l-dopa treatment on selective and sustained attention deficits using a five choice task. Our data suggest that the l-dopa dose necessary to recover motor function can successfully restore attention switching behavior (i.e. disengagement behavior), but further worsens performance in the selective and sustained attention task. Furthermore, this same dose was responsible for inducing dyskinesias in rats given chronic daily injections. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that dopamine replacement therapy may not be sufficient for treating all types of attentional dysfunction occurring in PD.
Single-Cell Mass Cytometry Analysis of the Human Endocrine Pancreas

The human endocrine pancreas consists of multiple cell types and plays a critical role in glucose homeostasis. Here, we apply mass cytometry technology to measure all major islet hormones, proliferative markers, and readouts of signaling pathways involved in proliferation at single-cell resolution. Using this innovative technology, we simultaneously examined baseline proliferation levels of all endocrine cell types from birth through adulthood, as well as in response to the mitogen harmine. High-dimensional analysis of our marker protein expression revealed three major clusters of beta cells within individuals. Proliferating beta cells are confined to two of the clusters.
Well-Being and Participation in New Social Networks Following a Day Care Fire in Hermosillo, Mexico

In this study, we explored the networks created after a day care fire in Hermosillo, Mexico, and examined the association of justice-seeking activities with posttraumatic stress and depression of parents and caretakers. We also looked at how political groups (created as the result of the traumatic event) were associated with symptoms of stress and depression. We interviewed people at eight and 20 months after the fire, and we report in this chapter on the data from the second wave. People with higher levels of posttraumatic stress indicators were more active in marches and public meetings, activities surrounding the fire's first anniversary, speaking to the press or to the crowd at an event, and were involved in a group membership related to the incident.
Photoluminescence properties of polystyrene-hosted fluorophore thin films

We report on a photo-luminescence study of four different fluorophores: Coumarin 6, 2,5-Diphenyloxazole (PPO), 1,4-Bis(5-phenyl-2-oxazolyl)benzene (POPOP) and Para-terpehnyl (PTP), doped in a polystyrene-based thin film. All of the samples are prepared by spin coating from a non-polar polymer solution at various concentrations. Their emission spectra and transient properties are characterized by photoluminescence measurements. Red-shifts in the emission spectra are observed for all four types of fluorophores as their concentration increases. We explain this phenomenon based on concentration dependence of solvatochromic effects and the results show good agreement with existing literature. We also show that the singlet-singlet annihilation processes are possibly a prevalent mechanism in the high concentration regime that affects the steady state and transient emission characteristics of the fluors. With the exception of PTP, photoluminescence quenching occurs as the fluorophore concentration in the polymer is increased. Rate equations for excited state decay mechanisms are analysed by considering different radiative and non-radiative energy transfer mechanisms. The results show consistency with our experimental observations. PTP shows the best photoluminescence results as an efficient fluor in the thin film, whereas PPO shows the strongest concentration dependent quenching and an anomalous lifetime distribution.
The Witch-Hunt Narrative: Introduction and Overview

This article provides an overview of The Witch-Hunt Narrative, focusing on the challenges of gathering information from young children, such as those involved in sexual abuse allegations in day care. The article summarizes the research methodology of The Witch-Hunt Narrative, which involves a series of case studies. The article articulates Cheit's hypothesis, which is that the witch-hunt narrative originated in two key publications, a series of articles by two journalists, Tom Charlier and Shirley Dowling, and the book, Satan's Silence: Ritual Abuse and the Making of a Modern-Day Witch-Hunt, by Debbie Nathan and Michael Snedeker, and notes his disputes with the evidence from these two publications. Cheit deals in depth with three hotly contested day care center cases: the McMartin Pre-School case in Manhattan Beach, California, the Wee Care Day Nursery case in Maplewood, New Jersey, and the Country Walk Babysitting Service case in Dade County, Florida. The article summarizes Cheit's research and conclusions related to these three cases and also notes how forensic interview practices used in these cases would not be supported today. The article concludes with noting that despite the impressive progress in forensic interviewing of children when sexual abuse is alleged, methods for gathering information from young children remain inadequate. Moreover, there are no easy answers to the reasons for the rise and fall of allegations of sexual abuse in day care and of allegations of ritual abuse.
Improved Functional Performance in Individuals With Dementia After a Moderate-Intensity Home-Based Exercise Program: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background and Purpose: Individuals with dementia (IWDs) experience difficulties across cognitive and functional domains. Nonpharmacological interventions aimed at reducing disability are greatly needed. Exercise is a low-cost and easily implemented approach, but investigation has yielded mixed evidence to date. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate a novel and innovative moderate-intensity functional exercise intervention for IWDs, which was developed using principles from exercise science along with a Strength-Based Approach, consisting of 24 home-based sessions. Methods: A randomized, controlled intervention trial with a 2-group pretest and posttest design was used with a sample of 23 community-dwelling IWDs (intervention group: n = 13; comparison group: n = 10). Average age of participants was 73.9 years (standard deviation, 9.1) with mild to moderate cognitive impairment (Mini-Mental State Examination, Mean = 20.8; standard deviation, 5.0). Results and Discussion: A 99.0% attendance rate indicated high adherence to the moderate-intensity exercise program. Efficacy was examined using multiple linear regression. Group assignment significantly predicted performance in key outcome measures, with IWDs from the intervention group improving in lower extremity strength (B = 5.92, t = 3.26, P = .004), balance (B = 4.04, t = 4.13, P = .001), and fast gait speed (B = .32, t = 2.61, P = .02). These findings indicated IWDs are able to participate in and benefit from a moderate-intensity functional exercise program, consisting of strength and balance activities. Conclusions: The current intervention used a Strength-Based Approach to facilitate implementation of exercise activities that could be completed by the sample. Therefore, integration of these techniques into mainstream clinical practice and research should be feasible with this patient population. Future research directions and implications of these findings also are discussed.
Abstract TP186: Lack of Insurance is Associated with Increased Risk of Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Introduction: Effective management of hypertension is essential for the prevention of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), but disparities in access to healthcare create a barrier to achieving this aim. Hypothesis: Among patients presenting for emergency care of hypertension, lack of insurance is associated with a higher risk of subsequent ICH. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study using administrative data from all acute care hospitalizations and emergency department (ED) visits in California, Florida, and New York between the years of 2005 and 2011. Our cohort comprised patients discharged from the ED with a primary diagnosis of hypertension, defined as International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes 401-405. Patients with a prior or concomitant diagnosis of cerebrovascular disease (ICD-9-CM codes 430-438) were excluded. Patients 65 years and older were excluded because these patients often have access to Medicare insurance. Our predictor variable w...
Nine true bugs (Heteroptera) newly-discovered in Illinois

Six heteropteran species are reported for the first time from Illinois based on recently caught specimens from various bioinventories: the flat bug Neuroctenus pseudonymus Bergroth (Aradidae: Mezirinae), the stilt bug Metacanthus multispinus (Ashmead) (Berytidae: Metacanthinae), the leaf-footed bugs Anasa repetita Heidemann and Chelinidea vittiger Uhler (Coreidae: Coreinae), the ambush bug Phymata fasciata fasciata (Gray) (Reduviidae: Phymatinae), and the scentless plant bug Arhyssus nigristernum (Signoret) (Rhopalidae: Rhopalinae). Additionally, three more records for the flat bug Nannium pusio Heidemann (Aradidae) and the scentless plant bugs Aufeius impressicollis Stal and Niesthrea louisianica Sailer (Rhopalidae) are newly-reported for the state based on material in the Illinois Natural History Insect Collection (INHS). Supplementing these notes are dichotomous keys to the species of Mezirinae, Berytidae, Coreidae, Phymatinae, and Rhopalidae of Illinois.
Understanding spatial variation of physical inactivity across the continental United States

Abstract Physical inactivity lies at the heart of the public health crisis in the United States (U.S.). Research on the factors that contribute to inactivity is vast and growing; however, most of this work focuses on individual rather than community-level dynamics such as socio-economics, access to resources, and features of the physical environment. Moreover, few studies have tested spatial relationships between the prevalence of physical inactivity and multiple explanatory variables to identify potential sources of social and environmental justice at the community level of analysis. To address these gaps in previous research, this study drew on an array of secondary data sources to: 1) identify factors that contribute to levels of physical inactivity; 2) examine how these factors affect spatial inequalities; and 3) compare model performance between conventional ordinary least squares regression models and geographically weighted regression (GWR) to predict physical inactivity among U.S. residents. Our findings indicate that multiple variables predict physical inactivity, particularly access to infrastructure, expenditures on recreational activities, and poverty within disenfranchised segments of the population. Given that improvements in our model performance detected non-stationary spatial relationships and reduced the autocorrelation of residual variables, we contend that this technique accounts for greater variation than ordinary least squares regression. Thus, this study provides a comprehensive basis for informing urban and landscape planning decisions across spatial and regional scales.
Automated region-of-interest localization and classification for vision-based visual assessment of civil infrastructure:

Complementary advances in computer vision and new sensing platforms have mobilized the research community to pursue automated methods for vision-based visual evaluation of our civil infrastructure....
A retrospective study of opioid prescribing patterns at hospital discharge in surgical patients with obstructive sleep apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a risk factor for complications with postoperative opioid use, and in those patients with known or suspected OSA, minimization of postoperative opioids is recommended. We hypothesize that despite these recommendations, surgical patients with known or suspected OSA are prescribed postoperative opioids at hospital discharge at similar doses to those without OSA. This was a retrospective analysis of the electronic health records of surgical patients from 1 November 2016 to 30 April 2017 at a single academic institution. Patients with a known diagnosis of OSA or a STOP-Bang score ≥ 5 were compared with those without OSA for the amount of postoperative discharge opioid medication using multivariable linear regression. Of the 17,671 patients analyzed, 1,692 (9.6%) had known or suspected OSA with 1,450 (86%) of these patients discharged on opioid medications. Of the 15,979 patients without OSA, 12,273 (77%) were discharged on opioid medications. The total median [interquartile range (IQR)] oral morphine equivalents (OME) for all patients was 150 [0-338] mg and for patients with known or suspected OSA was 160 [0-450] mg, an unadjusted comparison showing an 18% difference in OME (95% confidence interval [CI], 3% to 35%; P = 0.02). The analysis, after adjusting for confounders, showed no significant difference in the amount of opioids prescribed to OSA or non-OSA patients (8% difference in total OME; 95% CI, −6% to 25%; P = 0.26). This study shows that surgical patients at risk for OSA or confirmed OSA are prescribed opioids at similar rates and doses upon discharge despite guidelines that recommend minimizing opioid use in OSA patients. These findings indicate a need to implement different strategies to reduce the prescription of opioids to patients with OSA.
AN ASSESSMENT OF METHODS FOR DETERMINING ADSORPTION-DESORPTION OF ORGANIC CHEMICALS1

Four alternative adsorption methods are evaluated for determining adsorption of organic chemicals on to soils or soil components from aqueous solution. The utility of each method depends upon the intended use of the results, required precision, and ease of measurement. The common batch-suspension method is simple and usually adequate, but may be inappropriate when adsorption is very low or when aggregate structure is to be maintained during the equilibration. The other three methods involve the equilibration of a soil suspension or small soil column with adsorbate solution in flow systems. Several procedural details are considered for each method, and the advantages and limitations of each method are specified.
Girls Leading Outward (GLO): A School-Based Leadership Intervention to Promote Resilience for At-Risk Middle School Girls

Girls Leading Outward (GLO) is a positive youth development program for at-risk middle school girls that not only seeks to prevent future problems but also aims to foster resilience. GLO focuses predominately on urban, African-American, and Latina students from low-income communities, with a goal of reaching them prior to their transition to high school. It provides a safe space for girls to express their opinions, voice their concerns, and develop positive relationships with their peers. Through the program, girls are equipped with the skills necessary to effectively problem-solve, overcome obstacles, and manage conflicts with others. Key skills learned include emotion regulation, effective communication and assertiveness, active listening, goal setting, and problem solving. These skills are developed through weekly lunch and after-school groups beginning in the seventh grade and continuing in the eighth grade. These skills are then applied in the context of a community service project that further serves to promote engagement in community action and leadership. Building students’ skills in a context that provides them with a new perspective on themselves and their future, while fostering a sense of community with a group of like-minded peers, may be sufficiently powerful to create a positive trajectory for middle school girls. This intervention draws on ecological systems theory (The ecology of human development, Cambridge, MA, 1979; Community psychology: Linking individuals and communities, Belmont, CA, 2007), a model in which an individual is embedded within multiple systems (e.g., school, family, neighborhood contexts) that each impacts the individual’s mental health and behaviors. GLO differs from typical after-school programs in that involves a weekly in-school component and asks participants to conduct a school-based community service project. Through positive in-school visibility, the role that these students play in the school setting can shift from “at-risk girls” to “student leaders,” which will also positively impact the overall school environment. In order to evaluate program impact, the GLO participants are assessed at baseline and at the end of the school year using self- and teacher report. The assessment includes measures of self-efficacy, perseverance, and overall social–emotional competence. Qualitative data are also collected from the participants and the group facilitators in order to better understand how the intervention influences social–emotional and leadership development.
Surgeon peer network characteristics and adoption of new imaging techniques in breast cancer: A study of perioperative MRI.

Background Perioperative MRI has disseminated into breast cancer practice despite equivocal evidence. We used a novel social network approach to assess the relationship between the characteristics of surgeons' patient-sharing networks and subsequent use of MRI. Methods We identified a cohort of female patients with stage 0-III breast cancer from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare database. We used claims data from these patients and non-cancer patients from the 5% Medicare sample to identify peer groups of physicians who shared patients during 2004-2006 (T1). We used a multivariable hierarchical model to identify peer group characteristics associated with uptake of MRI in T2 (2007-2009) by surgeons who had not used MRI in T1. Results Our T1 sample included 15 149 patients with breast cancer, treated by 2439 surgeons in 390 physician groups. During T1, 9.1% of patients received an MRI; the use of MRI varied from 0% to 100% (IQR 0%, 8.5%) across peer groups. After adjusting for clinical characteristics, patients treated by surgeons in groups with a higher proportion of primary care physicians (PCPs) in T1 were less likely to receive MRI in T2 (OR = 0.81 for 10% increase in PCPs, 95% CI = 0.71, 0.93). Surgeon transitivity (ie, clustering of surgeons) was significantly associated with MRI receipt (P = 0.013); patients whose surgeons were in groups with higher transitivity in T1 were more likely to receive MRI in T2 (OR = 1.29 for 10% increase in clustering, 95% CI = 1.06, 1.58). Conclusion The characteristics of a surgeon's peer network are associated with their patients' subsequent receipt of perioperative MRI.
Conclusion: Status of Student Engagement Interventions

Abstract This chapter summarizes the status of evidence-based engagement interventions. First, we review the five themes that cut across the chapters in this handbook including (1) the centrality of relationships, (2) engagement as a multidimensional construct, (3) importance of context, (4) the necessity of tiered systems of support, and (5) the use of data. We include a table that summarizes the formal academic, social, behavioral, mental health, and community-based interventions outlined in the handbook chapters, including information on the components and type of intervention, ages served, evaluation of effectiveness, and implementation information. We conclude the chapter with a discussion of implications for research and practice.
Epidural Anesthesia for Cesarean Delivery of Quadruplets: Acid-base and Local Anesthetic Concentrations

A procedure for cesarean delivery of quadruplets is described, and the special problems of multiple gestations and deliveries are briefly reviewed.
Advanced chemical stability diagrams to predict the formation of complex zinc compounds in a chloride environment

A chemical stability map is advanced by incorporating ion complexation, solubility, and chemical trajectories to predict ZnO, Zn(OH)2, ZnCO3, ZnCl2, Zn5(CO3)2(OH)6, and Zn5(OH)8Cl2·H2O precipitation as a function of the total Zn content and pH of an NaCl solution. These calculations demonstrate equilibrium stability of solid Zn products often not considered while tracking the consumed and produced aqueous Zn ion species concentrations through chemical trajectories. The effect of Cl-based ligand formation is incorporated into these stability predictions, enabling enhanced appreciation for the local corrosion conditions experienced at the Zn surface in chloride-containing environments. Additionally, the complexation of Cl− with Zn2+ is demonstrated to compete with the formation of solid phases, making precipitation more difficult. The present work also extends the chemical stability diagram derivations by incorporating a Gibbs–Thompson curvature relation to predict the effect of nanoscale precipitate phase formation on species solubility. These thermodynamic predictions correlate well with experimental results for Zn corrosion in full and alternate NaCl immersion, and have far-reaching utility in a variety of fields requiring nanoscale, semiconductor, and/or structural materials.
Implementing regularization implicitly via approximate eigenvector computation

Regularization is a powerful technique for extracting useful information from noisy data. Typically, it is implemented by adding some sort of norm constraint to an objective function and then exactly optimizing the modified objective function. This procedure often leads to optimization problems that are computationally more expensive than the original problem, a fact that is clearly problematic if one is interested in large-scale applications. On the other hand, a large body of empirical work has demonstrated that heuristics, and in some cases approximation algorithms, developed to speed up computations sometimes have the side-effect of performing regularization implicitly. Thus, we consider the question: What is the regularized optimization objective that an approximation algorithm is exactly optimizing? We address this question in the context of computing approximations to the smallest nontrivial eigenvector of a graph Laplacian; and we consider three random-walk-based procedures: one based on the heat kernel of the graph, one based on computing the PageRank vector associated with the graph, and one based on a truncated lazy random walk. In each case, we provide a precise characterization of the manner in which the approximation method can be viewed as implicitly computing the exact solution to a regularized problem. Interestingly, the regularization is not on the usual vector form of the optimization problem, but instead it is on a related semidefinite program.
Spatial-Temporal Parameters of Gait Associated With Alzheimer Disease: A Longitudinal Analysis:

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the biggest social and medical concerns in the aging world. A dual task of walking and talking is a particularly practical means to assess AD considering the cognitive and behavioral changes that characterize the disease. The purpose of the study was to assess the effect of the dual task of walking and talking on people with early stage AD under differing cognitive load levels of talking. Participants (9 women and 5 men, mean age (years) = 78.03, standard deviation [SD] = 12.06) with mild or moderate AD (mean Dementia Rating Scale 2 score = 88.14, SD = 7.07) completed 12 monthly walking sessions under no, low, or high cognitive load. They also completed the low and high cognitive load tasks while seated. Linear mixed-effects modeling revealed that values in the Functional Ambulation Profile, stride length, and velocity decreased as tasks became more complex and double support time increased at the same rate. The walking and seated conditions comparison indicated that participants' performance on both low and high cognitive tasks was poor when they were walking rather than seated. The results show that people with early stage AD exhibited gait impairments that increased over time and when completing tasks with greater cognitive load.
10 – Ecosystem Conservation

Publisher Summary This chapter explores the largest and most accessible resources first before moving on to smaller, less abundant resources. All species, are striving to survive and multiply in a ‘‘geometric ratio’’. The history of resource exploitation by humans in Antarctica is no exception. The history of harvesting species in the Antarctic marine ecosystem illustrates the impacts of uncontrolled exploitation, the resilience of natural systems, and the challenges of sustaining our living resources for future generations. Moreover, in the ecosystem conservation major problem with the longline fishery for Patagonian toothfish is the production of marine debris and incidental mortality of flying birds, marine mammals, and other marine species. This chapter concludes that, as a consequence, longlines are floating freely (ghost fishing) in the Antarctic marine ecosystem where marine species are killed through entanglement or ingestion of the gear.