cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Respiratory carbon losses and the carbon‐use efficiency of a northern hardwood forest, 1999–2003

Summary • Quantitative assessment of carbon (C) storage by forests requires an understanding of climatic controls over respiratory C loss. Ecosystem respiration can be estimated biometrically as the sum ( R Σ ) of soil ( R s ), leaf ( R l ) and wood ( R w ) respiration, and meteorologically by measuring above-canopy nocturnal CO 2 fluxes ( F cn ). • Here we estimated R Σ over 5 yr in a forest in Michigan, USA, and compared R Σ and F cn on turbulent nights. We also evaluated forest carbon-use efficiency ( E c = P NP / P GP ) using biometric estimates of net primary production ( P NP ) and R Σ and F cn -derived estimates of gross primary production ( P GP ). • Interannual variation in R Σ was modest (142 g C m − 2 yr − 1 ). Mean annual R Σ was 1425 g C m − 2 yr − 1 ; 71% from R s , 18% from R l , and 11% from R w . Hourly R Σ was well correlated with F cn , but 11 to 58% greater depending on the time of year. Greater R Σ compared with F cn resulted in higher estimated annual P GP and lower annual E c (0.42 vs 0.54) using biometric and meteorological data, respectively. • Our results provide one of the first multiyear estimates of R Σ in a forested ecosystem, and document the responses of component respiratory C losses to major climatic drivers. They also provide the first assessment of E c in a deciduous forest using independent estimates of P GP .
Improving service quality and profitability

It is pointed out that expectations of what constitutes good quality continue to increase. As companies around the world increase their quality, the need for total customer satisfaction becomes more evident. It is noted that benefits can be derived by looking at how quality leaders have approached their service activities. Innovative companies like IBM, Federal Express, Xerox, and Ford have made spectacular improvements in their quality and efficiency. Thus, with a fresh innovative approach, real productivity and quality breakthroughs are achievable. >
A SLIDING MODE FUZZY FORCE TRACKING CONTROLLER FOR PNEUMATIC CYLINDERS

The problem of control of force exerted by pneumatic cylinders on the environment is of interest in industrial automation and systems such as legged robots. In this paper, a sliding mode fuzzy force control algorithm is proposed for pneumatic cylinders. The environment is assumed to be “soft” or compliant and modeled as a spring. The advantage of the new controller is that being based on fuzzy logic, knowledge of the cylinder dynamics or disturbances such as friction is not necessary. The control law implementation is based explicitly on contact force measurements. The proposed algorithm is simple, robust, and easy to implement. Results of experimental implementation are presented to illustrate the practical effectiveness of the new method.
Wild Turkey habitat use in frequently-burned pine savanna

Abstract Managing pine ( Pinus spp.) savanna through frequent use of prescribed fire and selective harvest of off-site hardwoods in the uplands is appropriate for many declining wildlife species, but may be incompatible with published recommendations for wild turkeys ( Meleagris gallopavo ). Therefore, we investigated breeding season habitat use of radio-tagged wild turkeys ( n = 78) in a frequently burned pine savanna system in southwest Georgia during 2003–2005. Ground story vegetation structure and composition in pine savannas change rapidly following fire such that categorical (i.e., burned vs. unburned) habitat selection analyses does not depict the fine scaled time-dependent relationships; therefore, we analyzed turkey selection of savanna on a seasonal and continuous scale. From a seasonal standpoint, pine savanna habitat-type were selected by gobblers, but used less than availability by hens. However, selection of pine savanna was influenced by time since fire; hens more likely selected pine savannas burned within 1.4 years whereas gobblers selected pine savannas burned within 1.6 years. Hens also selected hardwood drains whereas gobblers demonstrated proportional use of these habitats. Selection of pine savannas by wild turkeys was dependent on application of prescribed burning
Effect of dissipation due to firehose instability on perturbation half-jet flow of a collisionless plasma

Collisionless plasma, calculating effects of energy dissipation due to weak firehose instability on steady planar flow, based on quasi- linear fluid equations
Inhibitory interactions between normal fecal flora and Clostridium difficile

Clostridium dfJlcile is the etiologic agent of virtually all cases of antimicrobial- associated pseudomembranous colitis and approximately 2tTh of cases of nonspecific colitis or diarrhea without colitis related to antimicrobial administration. Essentially all antimicrobial agents, with the exception of vancomycin and parenteral aminoglycosides, are capable of inducing C. d(/jlcile-associated intestinal disease. These agents may alter the normal bacterial flora of the gastrointestinal tract so as to permit colonization and/or proliferation, and toxin elaboration, by C. dqfficile. The inhibitory activity of I 16 strains of aerobic bacteria (representing 14 genera) and 285 strains ofanaerobic bacteria (representing nine genera) against C. dfficile was examined using two in vitro procedures. Strains of bacteria in the genera Staphylococcus. Pseudomonas, Streptococcus, Bacteroides, Bifidobacterium, and Lactobacillus inhibited the multiplication ofC. dqfflcile. Members of Lactobacillus and group D enterococci displayed the most antagonistic activity. Not all strains of C. dfJlcile were inhibited by an antagonistic bacterium and not all strains of a particular species possessed inhibitory activity. The antagonistic activity of eight strains of C. dfJlcile against nine genera of anaerobic bacteria (79 strains) and seven genera of aerobic bacteria (25 strains) was examined. Only some strains of bacteria in the genera Peptococcus, Peptostreptococcus. and Bacteroides were inhibited by C. dfflcile. For example, four of the I 7 strains of Bacteroidesfragilis and six of the seven strains of Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron were inhibited by C. dqfJlcile. In several instances, however, all strains of bacteria belonging to a particular genus and species were inhibited by C. d�(Jlcile (e.g.. Bacteroides vulgatus, Bacteroides distasonis, and Bacteroides ovatus). The data obtained in this investigation may help to characterize the mechanism that provides the resistance of the gastrointestinal tract to colonization by C. dfficile. A better understanding of interactions between C. dfficile and other elements of the intestinal flora may lead to more efficient therapy, diagnosis and prophylaxis of oolitis and diarrheal disease associated with antimicrobial therapy. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 33: 2539, 1980.
Web services orchestration and choreography

Combining Web services to create higher level, cross-organizational business processes requires standards to model the interactions. Several standards are working their way through industry channels and into vendor products.
Induction of prostaglandin H synthase in rat preovulatory follicles by gonadotropin-releasing hormone.

Two distinct isoforms of prostaglandin (PG) endoperoxide synthase (PGS) have been identified in rat ovarian tissues: rPGSi (mol wt, 70,000-72,000) is induced by FSH and LH in preovulatory follicles, whereas the other isoform (mol wt, 69,000) is not. Induction of rPGSi is associated with LH-stimulated increases in PG biosynthesis obligatory for ovulation. Because GnRH, like LH, can also stimulate the synthesis of PGs and ovulation in the rat, this study was undertaken to determine which isoform of PGS might be induced by GnRH, in what cell type, and by what intracellular pathways. Results show that GnRH at relatively low concentrations (10(-8)-10(-7) M) induced the same isoform of PGS (rPGSi) in the same cell type (preovulatory granulosa cells) and within the same 5- to 7-h time course as did LH. Unlike LH and FSH, GnRH did not cause a major increase in cAMP, nor did GnRH induce luteinization. The effects of GnRH on rPGSi in preovulatory follicles were not mimicked by known activators of protein kinase-C (...
Polyimide Passivation Reliability Study

Special n-channel FET memory chips with non-random, purposely etched passivation defects are used to ascertain the effect of incompletely cured polyimide on the product's functional reliability. Polyimide Is applied to the chip's surface and cured at 300°C for five minutes. This cure results in approximately 95% linkage formation as ascertained from IR spectrum analysis. Subsequently, the product Is broken Into four groups and further "cured" at 225°C for 0 (controls), 5, 25, and 50 hours, respectively. These samples are then put on life stress at 40, 85, and 130°C. For the control case, cumulative percent fail versus time data for steps in stress temperature is shown to have an Arrhenius model dependency with a ?H of 1.1 eV. However, recovery of the failed cells under stress conditions (with bias applied) indicates the failure mechanism to be other than classical surface inversion. Data is presented showing the inverse dependency of the additional cure on cumulative percent fail. Explanation of this phenomena is attributed to dipoles that are associated with Incompletely cured polyimide (potential linkages), aligning in the preferential E-field direction, thus Inducing an image charge (an electron) at the silicon surface (quasi inversion). Degree of cure is ascertained from dissipation factor measurements performed on metallized silicon test wafers which have 2 - 4 ?m polyimide films on their upper surfaces. Aluminum dot and mercury probe techniques are compared.
Effects of Backpack Load on Balance and Decisional Processes

A dual-task method was employed to assess the effects of backpack carriage weight on 20 young adults' balance and rapid decision making. During two separate sessions, participants' balance was perturbed during 18, 60-second trials by altering visual and/or somatosensory conditions. Concurrent balance control and auditory choice-reaction task performance were assessed. Each participant wore an all-purpose, lightweight, individual, carrying equipment (ALICE) backpack containing a load equal to 30% of his/her body weight throughout one session. Within-subjects analyses revealed that carriage load disrupted balance control and degraded cognitive processes but only on trials that required executive, higher-level, mental processing. The magnitude of the effects of the backpack load on balance and cognitive performance was similar over 22 minutes of testing. Carriage load degrades both balance control and situational awareness of ROTC cadets.
Energy Demand Response of Process Systems through Production Scheduling and Control

Abstract Demand response has become a topic of significant research, development, and deployment over the last few years. The energy demand management is a critical task in industrial process systems for the potential benefits to be realized by promoting the interaction and responsiveness of process operation. However, the dynamic behavior, especially transition trajectories, of the underlying process is seldom taken into account during this task. Furthermore, the incorporation of energy constraints related to electricity pricing and availability is one of the key challenges in this process. The purpose of this study is thus to present a novel optimization formulation for energy demand management in dynamic process systems that takes transition behavior and cost explicitly into account, while simultaneously handling time-sensitive electricity prices. This is accomplished by bringing together production scheduling and transition control through a real-time optimization framework. The dynamic formulation is cast as a mixed-integer nonlinear programming problem and demonstrated using a continuous stirred tank reactor example where the energy required is assumed to be roughly proportional to the material flow.
Near Optimal Coordination of Legged Vehicles Over Large Obstacles

The theoretical basis of a new approach to force allocation in legged vehicles in which the locomotion elements fall approximately into two support planes is presented. The Adaptive Suspension Vehicle was an example of a legged locomotion system with this type of architecture. It is demonstrated that the approach presented here overcomes deficiencies in the zero interaction force allocation principle used in the Adaptive Suspension Vehicle, particularly with respect to trafficability over large obstacles.
The hydrodynamics of surface tidal flow exchange in saltmarshes

Abstract Modeling studies of estuary circulation show great sensitivity to the water exchange into and out of adjacent marshes, yet there is significant uncertainty in resolving the processes governing marsh surface flow. The objective of this study is to measure the estuary channel-to-saltmarsh pressure gradient and to guide parameterization for how it affects the surface flow in the high marsh. Current meters and high-resolution pressure transducers were deployed along a transect perpendicular to the nearby Little Ogeechee River in a saltmarsh adjacent to Rose Dhu Island near Savannah, Georgia, USA. The vertical elevations of the transducers were surveyed with static GPS to yield high accuracy water surface elevation data. It is found that water level differences between the Little Ogeechee River and neighboring saltmarsh are up to 15 cm and pressure gradients are up to 0.0017 m of water surface elevation change per m of linear distance during rising and falling tides. The resulting Little-Ogeechee-River-to-saltmarsh pressure gradient substantially affects tidal velocities at all current meter locations. At the velocity measurement station located closest to the Little Ogeechee River bank, the tidal velocity is nearly perpendicular to the bank. At this location, surface flow is effectively modeled as a balance between the pressure gradient force and the drag force due to marsh vegetation and bottom stress using the Darcy–Weisbach/Lindner's equations developed for flow-through-vegetation analysis in open channel flow. The study thus provides a direct connection between the pressure gradient and surface flow velocity in the high marsh, thereby overcoming a long-standing barrier in directly relating flow-through-saltmarsh studies to flow-through-vegetation studies in the open channel flow literature.
Fringe Benefits Among US Orthopedic Residency Programs Vary Considerably: a National Survey

Residency programs compete to attract applicants based on numerous factors. Previous research has suggested that medical students consider quality of life among the most important factors in selecting a program. One aspect of workplace quality of life is the cadre of non-monetary benefits offered to employees. However, with federal funding for graduate medical education (GME) under consideration for spending cuts, the source and continuation of such benefits may be in question. This study aimed to determine the level and variability of benefits beyond standard salary and insurance options available to trainees at US orthopedic residency programs and to assess the source of funding for those benefits. A 26-question survey investigating various benefits and funding sources was circulated by email to all ACGME-accredited orthopedic residency programs. The survey was sent to 153 programs and 69 responded (45%). The majority offers their residents discretionary funds (77%) and conference funding (96%), most of which comes from the department, followed by the hospital or GME funding. Forty-one percent of respondents permit their residents to moonlight. The majority of respondents provide meal stipends (93%), free parking (71%), gym benefits (63%), surgical loupes (53%), and maternity/paternity leave beyond vacation time (55%). No statistically significant differences were found among top ranked residencies, top ranked orthopedic hospitals, or academic centers compared to their counterparts. While some benefits are commonly offered, there is great variation in the availability and level of others. However, these differences were independent of program and hospital reputation as well as academic center status. Departments currently bear a substantial amount of the cost of these benefits internally.
Application Note: Power Grid Modeling With Xyce.

This application note describes how to model steady-state power flows and transient events in electric power grids with the SPICE-compatible XyceTM Parallel Electronic Simulator developed at Sandia National Labs. This application notes provides a brief tutorial on the basic devices (branches, bus shunts, transformers and generators) found in power grids. The focus is on the features supported and assumptions made by the Xyce models for power grid elements. It then provides a detailed explanation, including working Xyce netlists, for simulating some simple power grid examples such as the IEEE 14-bus test case.
DENSITY-DEPENDENT EVOLUTION OF LIFE-HISTORY TRAITS IN DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER.

Populations of Drosophila melanogaster were maintained for 36 generations in r- and K-selected environments in order to test the life-history predictions of theories on density-dependent selection. In the r-selection environment, populations were reduced to low densities by density-independent adult mortality, whereas populations in the K-selection environment were maintained at their carrying capacity. Some of the experimental results support the predictions or r- and K-selection theory; relative to the r-selected populations, the K-selected populations evolved an increased larval-to-adult viability, larger body size, and longer development time at high larval densities. Mueller and Ayala (1981) found that K-selected populations also have a higher rate of population growth at high densities. Other predictions of the thoery are contradicted by the lack of differences between the r and K populations in adult longevity and fecundity and a slower rate of development for r-selected individuals at low densities. The differences between selected populations in larval survivorship, larval-to-adult development time, and adult body size are strongly dependent on larval density, and there is a significant interaction between populations and larval density for each trait. This manifests an inadequacy of the theory on r- and K-selection, which does not take into account such interactions between genotypes and environments. We describe mechanisms that may explain the evolution of preadult life-history traits in our experiment and discuss the need for changes in theories of density-dependent selection.
Direct oral anticoagulant drug level testing in clinical practice: A single institution experience

We performed a review of all direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) levels - ecarin times for dabigatran and anti-Xa levels for rivaroxaban and apixaban - ordered at our institution with the purpose of evaluating DOAC levels from "real-world" (non-clinical trial) patients taking DOACs long-term, in order to assess levels obtained, reasons for checking levels, and actions taken based on the testing result. A total of 28 patients had 48 levels sent over a 36-month period. The majority of outpatient levels were within or close to the range of published values. The setting in which levels were sent influenced how results affected management decisions: in the outpatient setting, the majority of levels served to reassure clinicians that DOAC levels were within expected ranges resulting in continuation of chosen management, whereas in the inpatient setting, DOAC levels were used most frequently to detect DOAC presence in urgent clinical situations and influenced clinical decision-making in the peri-procedural and pre-operative periods. Our results demonstrate that while testing may be useful if immediately available in urgent clinical situations where assessment of drug presence is needed, DOAC level monitoring is infrequently used overall, and the lack of use combined with the paucity of available evidence to guide clinical decision-making based on the results suggests there is little urgency to make the tests widely available for routine use outside of acute settings in the emergency department and urgent surgical setting.
Silicone Shedding from Artificial Urinary Sphincter in Children

AbstractSilicone is an inert material used in all genitourinary prosthetic devices. Silicone particle shedding has been documented in adults with penile prostheses and artificial urinary sphincters. We searched prospectively for silicone particles in the peri-prosthetic tissue and regional lymph nodes in 6 children who underwent removal or exchange of an artificial urinary sphincter. The peri-prosthetic fibrous capsule was biopsied and examined by light and polarizing microscopy. Regional lymph nodes were biopsied if clinically enlarged and evaluated in a similar manner. Lymph nodes from 2 children without an artificial urinary sphincter served as controls.An artificial urinary sphincter was in place from 3 to 10 years (mean 4.3 years) and none of the sphincters demonstrated infection or erosion. Silicone particles were found in the peri-sphincteric tissue of 3 patients, which induced foreign body giant cell reaction in 2 and eosinophilic infiltrate in 1. Focal histiocytic proliferation around the cuff wa...
S-T segment voltage during sequential coronary occlusions is an unreliable marker of preconditioning.

During coronary angioplasty, a stair-step decrease in peak S-T segment elevation from the first to the second coronary occlusion has been assumed to indicate a preconditioning (PC) effect. This association was evaluated with myocardial electrograms in rabbits, which revealed that two sequential 5-min coronary occlusions resulted in a marked decrease in the area under the S-T segment voltage-time curve (P < 0.05) with no change during a third occlusion. Pretreatment with either 5-hydroxydecanoate, a mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channel blocker, or anisomycin, an activator of stress-activated protein kinases, had no effect on the stair-step decline in the S-T segment voltage between the first two occlusions. HMR-1883, a potent closer of sarcolemmal KATP channels, abolished changes in S-T segment elevation after brief coronary occlusions but had no effect on the infarct-sparing property of the two preconditioning 5-min occlusions. Interestingly, HMR-1883 blocked myocardial protection from dia...
Postsurgical Decompression and Immediate Elemental Feeding

The paralytic ileus, poor nutritional state, and related complications that often develop following serious abdominal surgery have traditionally been accepted as unavoidable. Now, a nasogastric decompression and feeding tube is available that usually prevents paralytic ileus and also provides a complete liquid diet starting immediately after the operation, thus speeding wound healing and recovery.
The correlational study of viral load of human bocavirus and clinical features in children with acute respiratory tract infection

Objective To analyze the correlations between clinical features in paediatric patients with acute respiratory tract infection (ARTI) and viral load of human bocavirus. MethodsA prospective study was conducted on 956 children ＜ 5 years admitted with an acute respiratory tract infection from November 2009 to December 2010 ,and 251 healthy children conclused as control group in the corresponding period. Human bocavirus was investigated in nasopharyngeal aspirates(NPA) and throat swab by PCR, and viral load was detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) in HBoV positive sample. Clinical data were also prospectively recorded. ResultsA significant difference was found in HBoV positive rate between children with ARTI and control group at enrollment. There was a significant difference in HBoV viral load between children with upper respiratory tract infection and lower respiratory tract infection. HBoV viral load did not differ significantly between children with upper respiratory tract infection and control group. Among children with lower respiratory tract infection, no significant difference were detected between common and severe cases in HBoV viral load. HBoV viral load did not differ significantly whether the children were with or without co-infection. ConclusionsHBoV could be detected perennial and considered as a major pathogen associated with acute respiratory tract infection in children. However, HBoV may not be a independent factor in children with ARTI and the HBoV viral load was not associated with the severity of respiratory illness. Key words: Bocavirus ; Viral load ; Respiratory tract infections/Etiology
Postscript: Revolt, Resistance, and Gender in the Muslim World

In its original conception, this book was to include articles on three subjects, one of which was gender. Given the large number of articles meriting inclusion that dealt with resistance and revolution, however, it seemed more reasonable to do a more closely connected collection and to save the gender articles for a later collection. Inadvertently, as the gender articles often discussed resistance but did not concentrate on it, this resulted in topics concerning gender being somewhat slighted in this collection by comparison not only to their just importance but also to their place in my work as a whole. Here, therefore, it seems important to say a few words about certain issues that tie gender, and specifically the role of women, to resistance and revolution.
Hydroxyl radical alteration of HPLC fractionated lignin: Formation of new compounds from terrestrial organic matter

Abstract Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are thought to play an important, although poorly understood, role in modifying the composition of terrigenous-derived dissolved organic matter (tDOM) upon export to aquatic systems. Of the dominant ROS in natural systems, OH has been shown to substantially modify lignin under laboratory conditions, simulating processes responsible for transformation of DOM in natural waters. Utilizing high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in conjunction with ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometry, we examined HPLC fractionated lignin extracts in an effort to establish which fractionated components of the lignin extract were (i) most susceptible to attack by OH and (ii) most likely to be responsible for compounds observed in the DOM. The results indicate that the most polar components of the lignin extract, representing tDOM, could be responsible for a large portion of newly generated formulas observed within DOM in natural waters. This suggests that partially oxidized lignin may be readily altered to compounds observed in DOM which are not typically associated with terrigenous OM, such as alicyclic and condensed aromatic-like compounds.
Fluorodecarboxylation: Synthesis of aryl trifluoromethyl ethers (ArOCF3) and thioethers (ArSCF3)

Abstract Fluorodecarboxylation of aryloxydifluoroacetic acid (ArOCF2CO2H) and arylmercaptodifluoroacetic acid (ArSCF2CO2H) towards ArXCF3 (X = O, S) using silver (I) salts in the presence of Selectfluor in a biphasic system with trifluoroacetic acid additive is discussed.
Risk Factors for Reoperation and Performance-Based Outcomes After Operative Fixation of Foot Fractures in the Professional Athlete: A Cross-Sport Analysis.

Background:Professional athletes are predisposed to fractures of the foot due to large stresses placed on the lower extremity. These players are concerned with efficiently returning to play at a hi...
Association of Vitamin D3 Level with Breast Cancer Risk and Prognosis in African-American and Hispanic Women

Background: This study investigated the association of vitamin D3 levels with breast cancer risk and progression in African-Americans and Hispanics. Methods: A total of 237 African-American (Cases = 119, Control = 118) and 423 Hispanic women (Cases = 124, Control = 299) were recruited in the study. Blood samples were collected at the time of breast cancer screening and prior to cancer treatment for 4 weeks on average for the cases. The serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D3) was measured at a Quest-Diagnostics facility. Results: The results showed that 69.2% of African-Americans and 37.8% of Hispanics had 25(OH)D3 levels below 20 ng/mL. The 25(OH)D3 level below 20 ng/mL was significantly associated with breast cancer in both African-Americans (OR = 2.5, 95% CI = 1.3-4.8) and Hispanics (OR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.1-3.0). However, the predicted probabilities of breast cancer in African-Americans were significantly higher than in Hispanics (p < 0.001). The 25(OH)D3 below 20 ng/mL was significantly associated with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) in African-Americans (OR = 5.4, p = 0.02, 95% CI = 1.4-15), but not in Hispanics in our cohort of participants. Levels of 25(OH)D3 below 26 ng/mL predicts a decrease in disease-free survival, but it was not an independent predictor. Conclusions: Our data shows an association between 25(OH)D3 levels and the risk of breast cancer. Further studies on the relationship between 25(OH)D3 level and breast cancer risk are warranted.
Giving Sisyphus a helping hand : pathways for sustainable RIA systems in developing countries

This project has been carried out under the World Bank's Good Regulatory Practice (GRP) program funded by USAID and DFID.
Nanoparticle adsorption dynamics at fluid interfaces

Understanding the dynamic adsorption of nanoparticles (NPs) at fluid interfaces is important for stabilizing emulsions and for the preparation of 2D NP-based materials. Here we show that the Ward-Tordai equations commonly employed to describe the dynamics of surfactant adsorption at a fluid interface combined with a Frumkin adsorption isotherm can be employed to model the diffusion-limited adsorption of NPs onto a fluid interface. In contrast to surfactants, an additional wetting equation of state (EOS) must be incorporated to characterize the dynamic interfacial tension during the adsorption of NPs to the oil-water interface. Our results show agreement between the model and experiments with NP area fractions <0.3. Slower dynamics are observed at larger area fractions, which are speculated to arise from polydispersity or re-organization at the interface. We show the model can be extended to the competitive adsorption between the NPs and a surface active species.
EVICTING ROBERT E. LEE AND STONEWALL JACKSON FROM THE HALL OF FAME FOR GREAT AMERICANS

Evicting Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson from the Hall of Fame for Great Americans examines the removals of portrait busts of confederate generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas ‘Stonewall’ Jackson from the Hall of Fame for Great Americans on the campus of the City University of New York’s Bronx Community College in Bronx, NY after violence in defense of confederate monuments in Charlottesville, Virginia. The article explores these iconoclastic attacks as reflecting battles between factions over control of public squares in the U.S. in 2017 and in context of only one bust of a ‘Great American’ added to the hall in many decades.
Nuclear Electron Scattering

The status of theoretical efforts to evaluate electromagnetic charge, magnetization and current densities in finite nuclei is briefly surveyed. Selected elastic Coulomb and magnetic electron scattering results, inelastic scattering data, and coincidence experiments are discussed and shown to raise significant questions well beyond the level of existing theory.
On the Derivation of Conservation Laws for Stochastic Dynamics

Publisher Summary The problem of deriving the macroscopic conservation laws, or the Euler equations, in a rigorous fashion from the microscopic equations of classical mechanics is still largely open, even though the physics is very well understood. With suitable scaling of space and time, a general picture emerges. At the microscopic or grain level, particles are moving very rapidly. In fact, the motion is so rapid that it is impossible to follow the motion of individual particles in the prevailing time scale. But the conservation laws deal with the evolution of the spatial distribution of quantities that are conserved in encounters between particles at the microscopic level. They involve an exchange of sorts between particles, and as a result, the macroscopic distribution of these quantities undergoes only changes of order one in the prevailing time scale. Much of the motion of the particles is thermal motion, and only a small part acts coherently to produce macroscopic changes in the distribution of these conserved quantities.
A Tale of Two Religious Effects: Evidence for the Protective and Prosocial Impact of Organic Religion

Surveys continue to reveal that a majority of Americans are highly religious. Therefore, it is not surprising that many with an interest in civil society have been particularly intrigued by the questions of what role religion and religious practices and beliefs, or what has been termed organic religion (Johnson, 2004; Johnson, Thompkins, &Webb, 2002), may play in contributing to wide-ranging outcomes relevant in contemporary society. As a social scientist, I am intrigued not only with these questions but also with empirical answers as to how religion affects the way people actually live. Over the past two decades, scientists have carried out a good deal of such empirical work, andwe are now able to objectively discuss, if not answer, many of these questions. In fields ranging from medicine and public health to the social and behavioral sciences, scholars have studied the general influence of religion and religious practices on a wide range of health and social outcomes for adults. In an effort to organize this research systematically and bring clarity to this area, I reviewed and assessed, in summary fashion, more than 600 studies of organic religion and a wide array of health-related outcomes for children, youth, and families. What do we know about the influence of religious practices on health and various social outcomes for youth and adolescents? The short answer is that we know much less about religious influences on youth, as research on adolescent samples remains a grossly understudied area. Having acknowledged this considerable gap in knowledge, a key question to answer is whether the influence of religion or religious practices on adolescents and youth is markedly different or similar to the influence on adults. Are findings from studies examining the linkages between youth and adolescent religiosity and health outcomes relevant for adults, and vice versa? Many empirical studies
Autonomous and Grid-connected Use of Wind Energy for Structure Heating

The methods and possibilities for using wind energy for home and structure heating have been investigated for wind energy conversion systems (WECS) both with and without interconnection to the utility grid. While both approaches of using wind energy for heating can contribute substantially to reducing the use of nonrenewable energy sources, there are a number of problems associated with interconnection that make autonomous systems very desirable. Such non-interconnected systems have been designed and successfully operated to supply 35 to 50% or more of normal heating requirements in Midwest USA climates.
Alternative Approaches to Face Transplantation: Microsurgical Approach

History was made in the USA in December 2008 when news of the ground-breaking face transplant in a 45-year-old woman was performed by Dr. Maria Siemionow and her team at the Cleveland Clinic. With the flurry of public interest engendered by early transplant success, the debate has been framed by the bio-ethics community regarding the autonomy of the recipient (i.e., informed consent), unpredictable effect on those receiving the transplant (life-long immunosuppression and exposure to medical sequelae), and the influence on society as a whole (economic/cost factors). In view of the high stakes of CTA face transplant surgery (not to mention the large amount of visibility in the press), traditional methods of facial restoration should not be overlooked. Considering the significant morbidity inherent to life-long immunosuppression in the transplant patient, each transplant candidate should be carefully evaluated for conservative options utilizing autogenous tissue to address facial deformity in the decision-making process. The following chapter addresses the salient issues regarding the debate between conventional reconstructive options and face transplantation with a particular focus on promulgating the beneficial aspects of traditional reconstruction in select patients.
Does Surgical Margin Impact Recurrence in Noninvasive Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms?: A Multi-institutional Study.

Objective:The relevance of margin positivity on recurrence after resection of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) is poorly defined and represents one reason controversy remains regarding optimal surveillance recommendations.Methods:Patients undergoing surgery for noninvasive IPMN at 8
Solvating power series of electrolyte solvents for lithium batteries

From dictating the redox potential of electrolyte solvents to shaping the stability of solid-electrolyte interfaces, solvation plays a critical role in the electrochemistry of electrolytes. To efficiently design functional electrolytes for lithium batteries, it is particularly important to understand the relative solvating ability of each individual organic solvent, because most of the electrolyte systems are comprised of two or more electrolyte solvents. Using a newly developed internally referenced diffusion-ordered spectroscopy technique and diffusion coefficient–coordination ratio (D–α) analysis, we successfully constructed a solvating power series for common electrolyte solvents. We demonstrated the usefulness of this solvating power series in designing more reliable electrolyte system by selecting an appropriate fluorinated electrolyte solvent for a high-voltage lithium metal battery (LMB) as an example. For a methyl(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)carbonate-based electrolyte, we identified fluoroethylene carbonate as a more desirable cyclic carbonate co-solvent than difluoroethylene carbonate for LMB due to its significantly higher ability to solvate lithium ions.
Positive and Negative Themes Depicted in Combat-Related Sports Films

Participation in boxing, mixed martial arts, and wrestling is extremely popular among children and adolescents. The objective of this study was to determine themes depicted in a select number of combat-related films. Twenty films were independently viewed and analyzed by 4 reviewers. The average number of positive and negative themes was 34.4 and 18.1 mean events/hour for all included films, respectively. The most common positive themes were "positive interactions with family/friends/fans," "importance of mentorship," and "positive interactions with a coach/trainer" (4.23, 3.63, and 3.06 mean events/hour, respectively). The most common negative themes were "choosing to do the wrong thing," "negative interactions with family/friends/fans," and "poor sportsmanship" (2.70, 2.00, and 1.58 mean events/hour, respectively). In conclusion, the co-viewing of combat-related films among pediatric athletes and their coaches/trainers and/or parents in order to focus on "teachable moments" may encourage the acquisition and development of positive themes and the avoidance and de-emphasis of negative themes.
Prognostic Factors for Adjacent Segment Disease After L4-L5 Lumbar Fusion.

BACKGROUND Adjacent segment disease (ASD) is an important consideration during decision making for lumbar spinal fusion. OBJECTIVE To identify risk factors for development of ASD after L4-L5 fusion and differences in incidence between rostral and caudal ASD. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed all consecutive patients at a single institution who underwent first-time spinal fusion at the L4-L5 level for degenerative spinal disease over a 10-yr period, using posterolateral pedicular screw fixation with or without posterior interbody fusion. ASD was defined as clinical and radiographic evidence of degenerative spinal disease requiring reoperation at the level rostral (L3-L4) or caudal (L5-S1) to the index fusion. RESULTS Among 131 identified patients, the incidence of ASD requiring reoperation was 25.2% (n = 33). Twenty-four cases (18.3% of the entire cohort) developed rostral ASD (segment L3-L4), 3 cases (2.3%) developed caudal (L5-S1), and 6 cases (4.6%) developed bilateral ASD (both rostral and caudal). Cumulatively, the incidence of caudal ASD was significantly lower than rostral ASD (P < .001). Following multivariate logistic regression for factors associated with ASD reoperation, decompression of segments outside the fusion construct was associated with higher ASD rates (odds ratio [OR] = 2.68, P = .039), as was female gender (OR = 3.55, P = .011), whereas older age was associated with lower ASD incidence (OR = 0.95, P = .011). CONCLUSION When considering posterior L4-L5 fusion, surgeons should refrain from prophylactic procedures in the L5-S1 level, without clinical indications, because ASD incidence on that segment is reassuringly low.
Projecting Cost Containment in the Operating Room Utilizing Incentivized Strategies to Reduce Healthcare Cost.

Introduction Streamlining healthcare in United States is of paramount concern while maintaining standards of quality and safety. Incentivizing change may be even more effective in driving such measures. At Nationwide Children's Hospital, we incentivize cost savings directly to the healthcare team member. In this project, we evaluated a simple substitution of a buretrol for Y-type tubing based on weight rather than age cutoffs. Methods This was deemed a quality improvement project and therefore exempt from Institutional Review Board approval. We obtained costs of Y-type tubing versus buretrols. We interrogated the electronic medical record to quantify case volume in the main operating room according to age and weight. We calculated our costs to compare our current practice of using buretrol fo age ≤ 12 years and the planned practice of using buretrol for weight < 20 kg. Results We identified 28,875 children ages 0-12 (60% weight <20kg) and 6,301 children ages 13-18 (0.1% weight <20kg) undergoing procedures in the main operating rooms over a 1-year period.. A unit cost savings of $4.40 substituting Y-type tubing for a buretrol was determined. Transitioning from age-based to weight-based criteria for buretrol use was determined to potentially save $51,260 over the period reviewed. Conclusions Simple changes can impact efficiency and cost in healthcare. It is important to consider incentivizing such measures to help drive these changes. In the future, with more incentivized measures, hopefully we can successfully make an impact of efficiency and cost of healthcare in United States without compromising safety or quality.
Bluebills and bayou bivalves: Hurricane‐driven trophic cascades affect wintering abundance of Lesser Scaup in Louisiana

The estuaries of coastal Louisiana overwinter a continentally significant proportion of Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis; colloquially, “bluebills”), a migratory bird species of conservation concern since population declines began in the 1980s. Thirty‐eight years of aerial waterfowl surveys of Lake Pontchartrain—an oligohaline estuarine lagoon in southeast Louisiana—show that scaup abundance fluctuates between 0 and 1,194,907 birds, though the mechanisms driving this variation are unknown. Previous studies have shown that scaup feed primarily on mollusks, and so changes in the benthic prey community have the potential to strongly influence scaup dynamics on the Lake. Benthic communities are in turn shaped by both natural and anthropogenic disturbances (e.g., hurricanes and spillway openings), potentially creating a lagged bottom‐up trophic cascade that ultimately affects scaup abundance. Using 22 yr of paired benthic invertebrate and aerial waterfowl survey data, we found scaup populations increased with the abundance of medium‐sized Rangia clams (Rangia cuneata) and Dwarf Surf Clams (Mulinia lateralis). Those prey species declined in years when the Lake was hit by a hurricane, but medium‐sized Rangia rebounded strongly the year after, likely because storm‐surge salinity induces spawning. Using long‐term aerial survey data for scaup, we indeed found strong declines on the Lake in years when a hurricane made landfall, but scaup abundance increased the following year, presumably responding to large numbers of medium‐sized Rangia. Our three‐part analysis makes a strong case for a hurricane‐driven bottom‐up trophic cascade that affects scaup populations on Lake Pontchartrain. This study adds to a growing literature demonstrating not only that estuaries are tidally and seasonally dynamic, but that punctuated disturbance events can be important for maintaining ecosystem function.
Innovative Unit-Vector-Block Storage Format of Sparse Matrix and Vector

Sparse Matrix-Vector Multiplication (SpMV) operation is widely used in many iterative numerical algorithms, such as high performance computing, machine learning, and graph processing. However, peak performance is limited due to the fact that the commonly used algorithms alternate between compute-bound and memory-bound steps. This paper introduces a new storage format UVB (Unit Vector Block) for sparse matrix and vector, which needs less memory capacity compared to current popular formats for sparse vector and matrix such as COO, CSR, DIA, ELL and etc. Moreover, a new SpMV algorithm based on this new format can make full use of Intel® AVX-512 instruction set, and decrease the execution time by up to 99% compared with the most popular LIBSVM kernel.
Medications for Opioid Use Disorder Among Incarcerated Individuals: a Review of the Literature and Focus on Patient Preference

Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a common diagnosis among incarcerated people. Despite strong evidence for use in correctional facilities, medications for OUD (MOUD) are infrequently used, and when they are, continuity after release is low. Patient preferences regarding treatment in other chronic health conditions can impact outcomes and is an emerging focus in patient-centered research. We review the extent that patient preference is incorporated in MOUD effectiveness studies among incarcerated people and how patient perceptions of MOUD may impact treatment utilization using the Gelberg-Anderson framework for vulnerable populations. Of 27 studies of the effectiveness of MOUD among correctional populations, 1 incorporated preference for MOUD in the study design and 5 either noted preference before randomization or elicited perceptions regarding MOUD post hoc. Using the Gelberg-Anderson framework to categorize how patient preference influences MOUD treatment decisions and engagement, there are predisposing, enabling, and needs-based factors, which influence MOUD treatment, including beliefs about medications, social networks, social needs, and perceived MOUD and health needs. Few high-quality MOUD effectiveness studies based in jails and prisons have systematically studied patient preference or perspective. Future studies should explicate the role of patient preference in the effectiveness of MOUD treatment and on the impact on treatment engagement and retention during and after incarceration.