cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Processing diagrams for polymeric die attach adhesives

With a processing diagram, one can reduce the effort required to customize curing process conditions for polymeric die attach adhesives. Polymeric die attach adhesives are often cured per the manufacturer's recommendations during initial screening evaluations. In most cases, the recommended cure schedules have to be modified so as to fit differences in process equipment. Unfortunately, the modified cure schedule is usually determined by a trial-and-error method. An aim of our experiments is to understand the curing process of a wide range of polymeric die attach adhesives (conventional, fast, and snap cure adhesives) and to construct a processing diagram, i.e. "Bondability Diagram", so as to define the processing window. Such diagrams should be helpful in determining both the time and cure temperature required to produce high quality bonds. The bondability diagram can be constructed based on fundamental understandings of the phenomena involved in the curing process using a wide variety of tools. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) is utilized to study the cure kinetic and extent of reaction. Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) is used to determine gelation times and melt viscosity under a shear mode. A modified Rheovibron is employed to perform cure characterizations under a tensile mode so that cure stresses could be determined. Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) is used to evaluate the outgassing phenomena. Optical Microscopy (OM) is used to detect voids. Results indicate that cure behaviors of conventional, fast, and snap cure adhesives are different in several respects. The combination of DSC, DMA, TGA, OM, and lap shear test leads to a frame work of developing the bondability diagram concept. The bondability diagram concept provides a foundation for an understanding of the recommended cure schedule and allows one to design a suitable cure schedule.
Reliability, validity, and parent-child agreement studies of the Diagnostic Interview for Children and Adolescents (DICA).

The Diagnostic Interview for Children and Adolescents (DICA) is a structured interview for school-age children, patterned after the National Institute of Mental Health Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS) and based on the DSM-III criteria. An inter-interview reliability study of the child version (DICA-C) was determined by interviewing 27 psychiatric inpatients, 7 to 17 years of age. Using the kappa statistic for multiple major diagnostic categories, the results demonstrated high reliability. A comparison of the DICA-C diagnoses with the hospital discharge diagnoses for validation of the DICA-C showed that in 81.5% of the cases, the clinicians were in agreement with the DICA-C diagnoses. The DICA-C resulted in more diagnoses per child compared with the hospital discharge diagnoses. The results are discussed in view of the different methods of evaluation. Parent-child agreement based on the DICA-C and DICA-P interview in 84 outpatients. 7 to 17 years of age, and their mothers showed a good to moderate agreement in most DSM-III diagnostic categories. Taken together, these data suggest that the DICA-C is a reliable and valid instrument for either clinical or research purposes.
Inhibitory Effects of Arginine on the Aggregation of Bovine Insulin

Static and dynamic light scattering were used to investigate the effects of L-arginine, commonly used to inhibit protein aggregation, on the initial aggregation kinetics of solutions of bovine insulin in 20% acetic acid and 0.1 M NaCl as a model system for amyloidosis. Measurements were made as a function of insulin concentration (0.5–2.0 mM), quench temperature (60–85°C), and arginine concentration (10–500 mM). Aggregation kinetics under all conditions had a lag phase, whose duration decreased with increasing temperature and with increasing insulin concentration but which increased by up to a factor of 8 with increasing added arginine. Further, the initial growth rate after the lag phase also slowed by up to a factor of about 20 in the presence of increasing concentrations of arginine. From the temperature dependence of the lag phase duration, we find that the nucleation activation energy doubles from 17±5 to 36±3 kcal/mol in the presence of 500 mM arginine.
Acclimation to elevated carbon dioxide and ultraviolet radiation in the diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana : Effects on growth, photosynthesis, and spectral sensitivity of photoinhibition

We studied the effects of elevated CO2 concentrations (0.03% vs. 0.1%) on light absorption, membrane permeability, growth, and carbon fixation under photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposures in the diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana. Susceptibility of photosynthesis to UVR was estimated using biological weighting functions (BWFs) for the inhibition of photosynthesis and a model that predicts primary productivity under PAR and UVR exposures. Elevated CO2 concentrations reduced chlorophyll content and increased chlorophyll specific cross section, carbon fixation per chlorophyll, and growth rates. In addition, cells acclimated to high CO2 were more sensitive to photoinhibitory UVR than those under atmospheric levels. Sensitivity to UVR was also related to the growth light regime; despite the fact that no UVR effects were observed on growth, light absorption, or carbon fixation, cells pre-exposed to UVR showed reduced photoinhibition compared to those grown under PAR for both normal and elevated CO2 cultures. Thus, acclimation to UVR partially counteracted the increased susceptibility observed under elevated CO2 conditions. Anthropogenic activities that influence the global environment are mainly those that affect the atmosphere, resulting in, for example, increased exposures to ultraviolet radiation (UVR; 280–400 nm) and higher CO2 levels. The effects of these changes are propagated to aquatic systems through the surface layer (Sabine et al. 2004), where most of the biological processes that sustain life and biogeochemical processes take place. Phytoplankton play a key role in determining the effects of environmental change on the surface layer since they are responsible for dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) sequestration through photosynthetic processes.
Clinical Indications for Human Papillomavirus Vaccination

Abstract With the approval of a vaccine to prevent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and the pending approval of a second vaccine, an exciting era has dawned that provides clinicians the opportunity to prevent a majority of lower genital tract cancers. Herein, we describe the quadrivalent and bivalent prophylactic HPV vaccines and examine how they can be incorporated into clinical practice. Efficacy and safety of the vaccines are discussed as are potential barriers to vaccination. Future questions and challenges are also reviewed. A quadrivalent virus-like particle vaccine has now been approved for use in girls and women ages 9–26 years. A second bivalent vaccine could be available soon. The development of these vaccines targeted against 2 oncogenic types of HPV infection (HPV 16 and 18) has made it possible to eliminate approximately 70% of all invasive cervical cancers in women worldwide and decrease the incidence of other lower genital tract cancers and precancers. Vaccine efficacy in clinical trials has been outstanding, with nearly 100% protection against high-grade lesions because of HPV vaccine types. It is extremely important that vaccinated and unvaccinated women continue with recommended cervical cancer screening because not all oncogenic HPV types are covered in currently developed vaccines. Prevention of most cervical cancer and a notable proportion of cervical precancers and other lower genital tract cancers is now possible with the clinical availability of prophylactic vaccination for girls and young women. Prevention of genital warts is also possible with the quadrivalent vaccine. However, knowledge about HPV infection and cervical cancer as well as the need to vaccinate against oncogenic HPV infection is still lacking among women and physicians; thus, continued education of patients and clinicians is necessary to optimize vaccine use and assure ongoing cytologic screening.
Does phase cycling work for nuclei experiencing strong quadrupolar couplings

The question of whether the phase cycling can still be used to select coherence transfer pathways in spin systems experiencing a tilting of its eigenstates away from the Zeeman eigenstates due to strong couplings was investigated theoretically. Based on the analysis presented it is concluded that conventional phase cycling is still a valid approach for selecting a coherence transfer pathway signal, although changes in pathway efficiencies can occur as the mechanisms for excitation and detection of coherences are affected by the tilting of the eigenstates.
Co-Carcinogenesis in the Hamster Cheek Pouch:

SYNOPSIS IN INTERLINGUASTUDIOS CON CO-CARCINOGENOS IN LE SACCO GENAL DEL HAMSTER.—Un dose unic de 500, 1000, o 2000 r de irradiation roentgen, administrate ante le application al mucosa del sacco buccal de hamsters de 0,5 pro cento de 9,10-dimethyl-1,2-benzanthraceno (DMBA) causava un leve retardo plus tosto que un acceleration del formation de carcinoma de cellulas squamose. Le uso de DMBA in un solution de 0,05 pro cento in combination con le mesme irradiation roentgen produceva nulle tumores. Irradiation con 500, 1000, o 2000 r causava nulle neoplasia. Splenomegalia, hepatomegalia, e polypos del stomacho anterior esseva characteristicas prominente.
A Markov switching model for the Hungarian price stabilization plan of 1924

Abstract This paper compares the goodness of fit of a linear ar(1) model and a Markov ar(1) alternative using data on the inflation rate during the Hungarian hyperinflation (August 1921–March 1924) and stabilization (March 1924–November 1926) periods. First, in-sample forecasting measures (RMSE and MAPE) indicate that the Markov ar(1) uniformly dominates the linear ar(1) for horizons of one to ten periods. Second, bootstrapped samples yield a likelihood ratio test statistic which easily rejects the linear ar(1) in favor of the Markov ar(1) alternative.
Direct measurements of classical and enhanced gradient-aligned cross-field ion flows in a helicon plasma source using laser-induced fluorescence

Direct laser induced fluorescence measurements are shown of cross-field ion flows normal to an absorbing boundary that is aligned parallel to the axial magnetic field in a helicon plasma. We show Langmuir and emissive probe measurements of local density and plasma potential in the same region, as well as floating probe spectra near the boundary. With these measurements, we investigate the influence of ion-neutral collisionality on radial ion transport by varying the ratio of the ion gyro-radius, ρi, to the ion-neutral collision length, λ, over the range 0.34 ≤ ρiλ−1 ≤ 1.60. Classical drift-diffusion transport along density and potential gradients is sufficient to describe flow profiles for most cases. For two parameter regimes (ρiλ−1 = 0.65 and 0.44), low-frequency electrostatic fluctuations (f < 10 kHz) and enhanced cross-field bulk ion flow to the boundary are observed.
Airflow Sensing With Arrays of Hydrogel Supported Artificial Hair Cells

The hair cell is a biological sensor that uses microscopic hair-like structures to detect delicate motions of surrounding fluid. Inspired by this principle, we have created an artificial hair cell (AHC) sensory method based on biomolecular transduction for sensing spatial variations in air flow. The key feature of this method is the use of one-dimensional arrays built from modular AHC units which measure local velocity at different points in a flow profile. Each of the AHC units uses thinly extruded glass fibers as mechanical receptors of air velocity. Hair vibrations are converted to current via hydrogel-supported lipid bilayer membranes through their mechanocapacitive properties. Preliminary tests with linear arrays of three AHC units attempt to measure the air source profile with varying position and intensity. Each unit was fabricated with a hair of different length, giving it a unique vibrational response. This technique was inspired by how organisms use hair cells with tuned responses to mechanically process flow stimuli. A significant challenge in processing the sensors’ output was the limitation of one input channel on the current measurement unit, thus each sensor output had to be sent over the same channel. When several AHC units are excited simultaneously by an airflow, the resulting signal is a superposition of each sensor’s individual response. To separate the signals back into their individual measurements, the Hair Frequency Response Decomposition method is developed, which maps the spectral content of a combined output to the location of excitation in the array. This method takes advantage of the AHC’s high signal-to-noise ratio (compared to other membrane-based AHCs) and linear output response to flow velocity. Results show that the bilayers’ consistent spectral responses allow for an accurate localization of sensor excitation within the array. However, temporal variations in bilayer size affect sensitivity properties and make accurate flow velocity estimation difficult. Nevertheless, under stable bilayer conditions the measured velocity profiles matched closely with theoretical predictions. The implementation of the array sensing method demonstrates the sensory capability of bilayer-based AHC arrays, but highlights the difficulties of achieving consistent performance with bio-molecular materials.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Jet Stopping Distance and Behavior in a Regional Airport EMAS

AbstractAn aircraft overrun occurs when an aircraft is unable to stop within the design runway length. To promote safety at United States airports, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires airports to have a runway safety area extending 1,000 ft (304.8 m) beyond both ends of the runway. However, in some cases natural or manmade barriers prevent satisfying this requirement. For these cases, one solution is to install an engineered materials arresting system (EMAS). An EMAS is a passive system constructed using low-strength cementitious blocks. Typically, an EMAS is designed for the heaviest aircraft based at the airport. Heavy aircraft fully crush the EMAS material and therefore their behavior within an EMAS is predictable. However, the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) includes many regional airports, which are supported by lightweight regional jets. Regional jet behavior within an EMAS differs from heavier aircraft. This paper investigates the EMAS performance and aircraft beh...
A (Updated) Review of Empiricism at the SIGCSE Technical Symposium

The computer science education (CSEd) research community consists of a large group of passionate CS educators who often contribute to other disciplines of CS research. There has been a trend in other disciplines toward more rigorous and empirical evaluation of various hypotheses. Prior investigations of the then-current state of CSEd research showed a distinct lack of rigor in the top research publication venues, with most papers falling in the general category of experience reports. In this paper, we present our examination of the two most recent proceedings of the SIGCSE Technical Symposium, providing a snapshot of the current state of empiricism at the largest CSEd venue. Our goal to categorize the current state of empiricism in the SIGCSE Technical Symposium and identify where the community might benefit from increased empiricism when conducting CSEd research. We found an increase in empirical validation of CSEd research to over 70%; however, our findings suggest that current CSEd research minimizes replication precluding meta-analysis and theory building.
Assessing Strategies to Manage Work and Life Balance of Athletic Trainers Working in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Setting

Abstract Context: Certified athletic trainers (ATs) working at the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I level experience challenges balancing their professional and personal lives. However, an understanding of the strategies ATs use to promote a balance between their professional and personal lives is lacking. Objective: To identify the strategies ATs employed in the Division I setting use to establish a balance between their professional and personal lives. Design: Qualitative investigation using inductive content analysis. Setting: Athletic trainers employed at Division I schools from 5 National Athletic Trainers' Association districts. Patients or Other Participants: A total of 28 (15 women, 13 men) ATs aged 35 ± 9 years volunteered for the study. Data Collection and Analysis: Asynchronous electronic interviews with follow-up phone interviews. Data were analyzed using inductive content analysis. Peer review, member checking, and data-source triangulation were conducted to establish trust...
Connective tissue. I. Age and sex influence on protein composition of rat tissues.

SummaryTissues from tail tendon, aorta, skin, uterus, lung, muscle, heart, liver, kidney and spleen of male and female rats at 3–5 wk, 8 mo and 2 yr of age were fractionated into soluble protein, insoluble collagen and elastin. Amount of soluble collagen in the soluble protein fraction was calculated according to amount of hydroxyproline. Significant changes in these fractions with age occurred only in skin, tendon, uterus and aorta, with scleroprotein increased and non-scleroprotein decreased.
AFRICA, EAST | Swahili Coast

The towns and hinterland communities of the Eastern African coast share characteristics that emerged in the first millennium AD in what became known as Swahili civilization. The Swahili coast extended 2500 kilometers from Somalia to Mozambique, and incorporated the Comoros Archipelago and northwestern Madagascar. This corresponds with the western edge of a monsoonal system, facilitating travel and communication along the Indian Ocean rim. Prior to the founding of Swahili settlements, the coast was home to smaller-scale pastoral and mixed agricultural societies sharing connections with interior peoples. By the 6th–10th centuries AD, a distinct Iron Age coastal lifeway emerged which included use of Tana Tradition ceramics, importation of goods from the Persian Gulf and beyond, and conversion to Islam from the 8th century. A number of larger Swahili settlements emerged from village foundations, and their wealth and power waxed in the 11th–14th centuries. Elaborate building in stone became the hallmark of many elite dwellings and public and ritual structures in these towns, although the majority of Swahili peoples continued to live in more humble structures. Gold obtained from the interior was a leading export, along with ivory, iron, animal products, and mangrove poles. Imports featured glazed ceramics, beads, cloth, and texts. The Swahili struggled with European and Arab colonizers beginning in the 16th century. Swahili urban and rural life prevailed throughout, although disruptions in trade and losses of regional autonomy weakened the strength of the entire coast and its ties to the interior and the Indian Ocean.
Truth in Mathematics: The Question of Pluralism

The discovery of non-Euclidean geometries (in the nineteenth century) undermined the claim that Euclidean geometry is the one true geometry and instead led to a plurality of geometries no one of which could be said (without qualification) to be “truer” than the others. In a similar spirit many have claimed that the discovery of independence results for arithmetic and set theory (in the twentieth century) has undermined the claim that there is one true arithmetic or set theory and that instead we are left with a plurality of systems no one of which can be said to be “truer” than the others. In this chapter I will investigate such pluralist conceptions of arithmetic and set theory. I will begin with an examination of what is perhaps the most sophisticated and developed version of the pluralist view to date—namely, that of Carnap in The Logical Syntax of Language—and I will argue that this approach is problematic and that the pluralism involved is too radical. In the remainder of the chapter I will investigate the question of what it would take to establish a more reasonable pluralism. This will involve mapping out some mathematical scenarios (using recent results proved jointly with Hugh Woodin) in which the pluralist could arguably maintain that pluralism has been secured.
Time Runs Out

It is an extraordinary thing that after all the negotiating that seemed to go on interminably, and the resistance in London that seemed likewise, it took the end of the Truman administration to bring ginger, so to speak, to the negotiations between Washington and Tehran. One can of course almost imagine what happened. When it became clear that the Democratic administration was going to be replaced by a Republican administration in the November election, President Truman may well have said to Secretary Acheson, ‘Let’s do our best to tie up as much loose business as we can, before those Republicans take over.’ Or, along the same lines, perhaps Acheson thought, ‘I can do better than General Ike, with all his talk of Republican virtue, and certainly better than Foster Dulles who has had no real diplomatic authority since he was his grandfather’s secretary at the Second Hague Conference in 1907.’ Whoever broached the question of resolving the Iranian Crisis before Eisenhower’s inauguration on 20 January, this indeed was the purpose of the Democratic administration in the time remaining to it. By all evidence, it is clear that Truman and Acheson got promptly to work on this matter.1
Image-guided nanomedicine for cancer

Since current treatment options applicable to cancers are still confined to chemotherapeutics followed by surgical debulking, cancer disease is a second leading cause of death because of chemotherapeutics of non-specific biodistribution. Image-guided drug delivery system (IGDDS) is a real-time noninvasive imaging assessment of therapeutic response that has the strong potential to control or suppress cancer because imaging property offer the quantification of nanomedicine at the intended disease site, thus the potential assurance of adequate treatment and elimination of undesirable delay leading to poor clinical outcomes. Also, combining pH-sensitive advantages of nanoparticle with theranostic property will have high chance to overcome cancer. There have been intensive researches to develop innovative IGDDS by using nanoparticles including organic or inorganic theranostic (therapy + diagnostic) systems including liposomes, polymeric micelles, dendrimers, carbon nanotubes, gold nanoparticles, iron oxide nanoparticles, quantum dots, and silica nanoparticles. In this review, we will introduce various examples of each system and will discuss their theranostic applications.
Religion and the Sense of Control in Cross-National Perspective: The Importance of Religious Context

Is individual religiosity associated with the sense of control? If so, does a nation’s religious context modify that association? Multilevel analyses with data from the sixth wave of the World Valu...
Clinical management of the avulsed tooth

Treatment outside the dental office: Replant immediately after gentle washing if practical. If replantation is not practical, store the tooth in the best medium available. Storage media in order of preference are Hank's Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS), milk, saline, and saliva (buccal vestibule). Water is the least desirable storage medium. Treatment in the office: Emergency visit; Place tooth in HBSS while exam is conducted and history is taken. Prepare socket for gentle repositioning of the tooth. Prepare the root. Extraoral dry time 60 minutes: soak in citric acid, 2% stannous fluoride, and doxycycline and replant. Endodontics can be done extraorally. Semirigid splint for 7 to 10 days. (If alveolar fracture is present, rigid splint for 4 to 8 weeks). Suture soft-tissue lacerations, particularly in the cervical area. Administer systemic antibiotics (penicillin V potassium if possible) Chlorhexidine rinses and stringent oral hygiene while the splint is in place (7 to 10 days). Analgesics as required. Second visit after 7 to 10 days: Endodontic treatment: Tooth with open apex and extraoral dry time of 60 minutes: If endodontics was not completed in the emergency visit, start endodontics and follow apexification procedure. Tooth with closed apex: Endodontics should be initiated after 7 to 10 days. Careful chemomechanical instrumentation under strict asepsis. Splint removed at end of visit. Obturation visit: If endodontics was initiated 7 to 10 days after the avulsion, obturation can take place after short-term calcium hydroxide treatment. If endodontics was initiated more than 14 days after the avulsion or inflammatory resorption, long-term calcium hydroxide for 6 to 24 months, obturated when an intact lamina dura is traced. Restorations: Temporary restorations: Should be 4 mm deep. Reinforced zinc-oxide-eugenol, acid-etch composite resin, glass-ionomer cement. Permanent restoration: Placed immediately after obturation. Acid-etch resin and dentin bonding agents. Follow-up care: Twice per year for 3 years and yearly for as long as possible. Late complications are common.
Stereotactic Biopsy Platforms with Intraoperative Imaging Guidance

The resolution and real-time navigation of intraoperative MRI (iMRI) has been leveraged in neurosurgery. We review frameless stereotactic biopsy platforms and focus on emerging technology integrating intraoperative MRI with frameless stereotaxy. Brain biopsy with iMRI allows for an accurate tissue sample with the ability to correct cannula trajectory during surgery, eliminating misdiagnosis secondary to faulty targeting. This technology allows for a percutaneous approach avoiding large incisions, obviates the need for frozen tissue evaluation, has the potential to reduce unnecessary specimen harvesting and operating room time, and optimizes safety of targeting deep brain lesions.
Mothering Souls: A Vocation of Intercession:

Intercession can constitute the heart of one's prayer life and even become a defining mark of one's vocation. Such is the case for the “church mother,” a distinct role held by esteemed elderly lay-...
PDL1 expression is elevated prior to AIDS-related Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma diagnosis

The risk of developing non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) is greatly elevated in HIV infection, and AIDS-associated NHL (AIDS-NHL) remains a significant problem, even in those receiving anti-retroviral therapy. AIDS-NHL is thought to develop due to: 1) loss of immunoregulation of Epstein-Barr virus infected cells and/or 2) the accrual of genetic errors associated with B-cell activation driven by HIV infection. A population of B cells that express PDL1, secrete CXCL13, IL6 and IL10, and can regulate T-cell function by interacting with PD1, has been recently described. We previously showed that serum levels of CXCL13, IL-16 and IL-10 are elevated prior to, as well as after, AIDS-NHL diagnosis. Also, others have described that PDL1 and PD1 expression are elevated in HIV infection, and that this has an impact on T-cell function. PDL1 expression on B cells may contribute to the development of AIDS-NHL in a dual fashion by: 1) enhancing B-cell activation, and 2) by impairing/inhibiting T-cell function through PD1:PDL1 interactions. Hence, we hypothesized that levels of CD19+PDL1+ cells may be elevated prior to AIDS-NHL diagnosis and may play a role in lymphomagenesis. To investigate this hypothesis, we conducted a nested case-control study within the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study, obtaining viable frozen PBMC from HIV+ subjects who later developed NHL (cases, n=31) and from HIV+ subjects who did not develop NHL (HIV+ matched controls, n=29) and performed multi-color flow cytometry. We observed that the numbers of circulating CD19+PDL1+ cells in cases were elevated prior to AIDS-NHL diagnosis, when compared to HIV+ controls (p=0.026), suggesting that CD19+PDL1+ cells may be playing an important role in the development of AIDS-NHL.
Management of Stage D Heart Failure

A 62 year old male with hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and ischemic cardiomyopathy with a left ventricular ejection fraction of 25% and a left ventricular end-diastolic dimension of 7 cm presented with 2 weeks of progressive weight gain, orthopnea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea (PND), and dyspnea on exertion. Recent dose increase of outpatient diuretics did not provide relief of his symptoms. He was dyspneic with activities of daily living, had a poor appetite, and was frequently fatigued with occasional lightheadedness. He had no chest pain, palpitations or any other acute illnesses. He was adherent to medications, which included carvedilol, lisinopril, spironolactone, and torsemide. He underwent cardiac resynchronization therapy and defibrillator placement 2 years ago. This was his third admission to the hospital in the preceding 6 months.
Classical Optimal Control for Energy Minimization Based On Diffeomorphic Modulation under Observable-Response-Preserving Homotopy.

We introduce the so-called “Classical Optimal Control Optimization” (COCO) method for global energy minimization based on the implementation of the diffeomorphic modulation under observable-response-preserving homotopy (DMORPH) gradient algorithm. A probe particle with time-dependent mass m(t;β) and dipole μ(r,t;β) is evolved classically on the potential energy surface V(r) coupled to an electric field E(t;β), as described by the time-dependent density of states represented on a grid, or otherwise as a linear combination of Gaussians generated by the k-means clustering algorithm. Control parameters β defining m(t;β), μ(r,t;β), and E(t;β) are optimized by following the gradients of the energy with respect to β, adapting them to steer the particle toward the global minimum energy configuration. We find that the resulting COCO algorithm is capable of resolving near-degenerate states separated by large energy barriers and successfully locates the global minima of golf potentials on flat and rugged surfaces, p...
Anesthesia and Cerebrovascular Disease

Carotid endarterectomy presents to the anesthesiologist the problem of maintaining oxygenation of the brain during the temporary but critical period of occlusion of the common, internal, and external carotid arteries. The brain has a high metabolic rate with little storage capacity for oxygen. Even a brief period of inadequate cerebral perfusion may lead to permanent neurologic damage. Common symptomatic lesions are located at the bifurcation of the carotid artery, first portion of the subclavian artery and the vertebrobasilar system. Assuming that the circle of Willis (Figure 19.1) is patent, major occlusion of all four cerebral vessels (carotid and vertebrals) must be present before a decrease in cerebral blood flow occurs. Collateral circulation also occurs through the vertebral system and from external to internal carotid arteries via superficial temporal and ophthalmic arteries.
Finding a Balance: Reconciling the Needs of the Institution, Patient, and Genetic Counselor for Optimal Resource Utilization

The current practice of cancer genetic counseling is undergoing widespread change and scrutiny. While there are clinical resources for genetic counselors (GCs) regarding the delivery of cancer genetic services, there is limited literature regarding effective management of a genetic counseling clinical program. We have developed administrative tools to manage a large team of GCs at a single academic medical center over a period of increasing demand for genetics services, with the initial aim of decreasing wait time for urgent genetic counseling visits. Here, we describe the three main elements of the clinical operations: Balancing patient volume between GCs, scheduling tracks for both routine and urgent appointments, and a team of triaging GCs to ensure appropriate patient referrals. For each of these elements, we describe how they have been modified over time and present data to support the utility of these strategies. The preliminary evidence offered here suggests that these tools allow for an equitable distribution of patient volume between team members, as well as the timely and accurate scheduling of urgent patients. As a result of the experiences presented here, other genetic counseling programs grappling with similar issues should be aware that it is possible to shift clinical operations to serve certain patient populations in a more timely fashion while keeping both providers and GC staff satisfied.
The influence of affective behavior on impression formation in interactions between black cancer patients and their oncologists.

Abstract Objective Black patients and their physicians tend to form relatively negative impressions of each other, and these may contribute to racial disparities in health outcomes. The current research tested the hypothesis that the interaction between positive and negative affective behavior predicts the most positive impressions in clinic visits between Black patients and their oncologists. Method Naive coders rated patients' and oncologists' positive and negative affective behavior in thin slices from 74 video recorded clinic visits. We examined whether (a) physician positive affect, negative affect, or their interaction predicted patients' perceptions of patient-centeredness, trustworthiness, and confidence in recommended treatments and (b) patient positive affect, negative affect, or their interaction predicted physicians' perceptions of patient cognitive ability, likelihood of treatment adherence, and likelihood of treatment tolerance. We also tested whether affective behavior mediated relationships between race-related attitudes and post-visit impressions or influenced post-visit impressions independently of attitudes. Results When oncologists displayed relatively high levels of both positive and negative affect, patients were more confident in recommended treatments but did not rate physicians higher in patient centeredness or trustworthiness. When patients expressed relatively high levels of positive and negative affect, oncologists perceived patients to be higher in cognitive ability and more likely to adhere to treatment recommendations, but no more likely to tolerate treatments. Affective behavior influenced impressions independently of race-related attitudes. Conclusions Positive and negative affective behaviors jointly contribute to impression formation in clinic visits between Black patients and oncologists, and may have implications for patient treatment and outcomes in this underserved patient population.
CALORIMETRY OF FUMING NITRIC ACID TREATED POLYETHYLENE

Polyethylene drawn at different temperatures to a draw ratio between 7 and 25 and polyethylene rolled at room temperature to a draw ratio about 3 was treated with fuming nitric acid. From the two characteristic maxima of the thermograms, crystallite length and the number of unoxidized tie molecules are calculated. In the drawn sample the crystallite length is about 50A smaller than the long period found by small angle X-rays. This is a consequence of the non-crystalline layer between the lamellae which is first eaten away by the acid. The number of tie molecules is practically constant in samples drawn between 14 and 110°C, but increases nearly linearly with draw ratio λ up to λ = 20 and stays constant at higher draw ratios. The so obtained numbers are compared to the minimum number of tie molecules needed for the explanation of the elastic modulus and the ultimate tensile strength of the same samples before oxidation.
Methylmercury and Fish Nutrients in Experimental Models

The primary source of human exposure to methylmercury is fish and seafood, which are also the source of important nutrients. Developmental methylmercury exposure disrupts the formation of key brain structures, including the cortex, and has behavioral effects reflective of this disruption. Adult-onset exposure has a different pattern of effects, which emphasizes sensorimotor function. Some nutrients, like the omega-3 fatty acids and especially docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are important for neural development and function. Others, like selenium, may be important, but they are less well understood. Selenium is, under some circumstances, protective against methylmercury exposure. This chapter summarizes studies using experimental models in which methylmercury exposure is examined with and without conjoint exposure to diets rich in selenium or DHA. Both adult-onset and developmental exposures are considered. Developmental methylmercury exposure has effects that extend into adulthood and aging. The pattern of effects is consistent with a hypothesis that development exposure disrupts reward processing, perhaps through disruption of dopamine neurotransmitter systems and cortical development. Selenium is protective against adult-onset but not developmental methylmercury exposure. DHA, which has benefits of its own, was not protective against either form of methylmercury exposure in animal models.
Force, mass, and energy budgets of the Crary Ice Rise complex, Antarctica

The stress, mass, and energy-dissipation budgets of Crary Ice Rise are analyzed using field data collected during the 1983-1985 austral summers and in previous field programs. In addition, the net back pressure and ice-discharge rate along the grounding lines of ice streams are calculated to assess the effect of the ice rise on the surrounding flow. Comparison of the ice-rise budgets with the analysis of grounding-line data confirms the influence of the ice rise on ice-sheet stability, and suggests that Crary Ice Rise may have formed recently in response to an acceleration of one of the ice streams. It is concluded that feedback between ice-stream acceleration and ice-rise formation may control the future evolution of the above ice stream and promote long-term grounding-line stability in the face of strong natural fluctuations.
Determining the Learning Curve for Robot-Assisted Simple Prostatectomy in Surgeons Familiar with Robotic Surgery.

Abstract Purpose: Robot-assisted simple prostatectomy (RASP) has excellent outcomes when treating large volume prostates and incorporates the already familiar skills to most robotic surgeons. Our o...
Using dried blood spot sampling to improve data quality and reduce animal use in mouse pharmacokinetic studies.

Traditional pharmacokinetic analysis in nonclinical studies is based on the concentration of a test compound in plasma and requires approximately 100 to 200 µL blood collected per time point. However, the total blood volume of mice limits the number of samples that can be collected from an individual animal—often to a single collection per mouse—thus necessitating dosing multiple mice to generate a pharmacokinetic profile in a sparse-sampling design. Compared with traditional methods, dried blood spot (DBS) analysis requires smaller volumes of blood (15 to 20 µL), thus supporting serial blood sampling and the generation of a complete pharmacokinetic profile from a single mouse. Here we compare plasma-derived data with DBS-derived data, explain how to adopt DBS sampling to support discovery mouse studies, and describe how to generate pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data from a single mouse. Executing novel study designs that use DBS enhances the ability to identify and streamline better drug candidates during drug discovery. Implementing DBS sampling can reduce the number of mice needed in a drug discovery program. In addition, the simplicity of DBS sampling and the smaller numbers of mice needed translate to decreased study costs. Overall, DBS sampling is consistent with 3Rs principles by achieving reductions in the number of animals used, decreased restraint-associated stress, improved data quality, direct comparison of interanimal variability, and the generation of multiple endpoints from a single study.
Metallic embolus to the brain in a patient with mechanical heart valves: an extremely rare complication

A 46-year-old man with a medical history of rheumatic valve disease underwent mitral and aortic valve replacements with On-X and CarboMedics Top Hat supra-annular mechanical valves, respectively. Seven months after the valve replacement surgery, the patient presented with dizziness. A CT scan of the brain was done as part of a thorough workup of dizziness. The CT scan revealed a small metallic density in the M2 branch of the right middle cerebral artery. The metallic density was believed to be a metallic embolus that originated from the mechanical valves or the suturing material, that is, Cor-Knot fastener. Although in our case, the dizziness was believed to be the result of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, through this case, we aim to highlight this extremely rare structural complication of mechanical valves. This complication can have serious and potentially fatal consequences such as embolic component-related stroke or another organ infarction.
Feedback motion planning of legged robots by composing orbital Lyapunov functions using rapidly-exploring random trees

We present a sampling-based framework for feedback motion planning of legged robots. Our framework is based on switching between limit cycles at a fixed instance of motion, the Poincare section (e.g., apex or touchdown), by finding overlaps between the regions of attraction (ROA) of two limit cycles. First, we assume a candidate orbital Lyapunov function (OLF) and define a ROA at the Poincare section. Next, we solve multiple trajectory optimization problems, one for each sampled initial condition on the ROA to minimize an energy metric and subject to the exponential convergence of the OLF between two steps. The result is a table of control actions and the corresponding initial conditions at the Poincare section. Then we develop a control policy for each control action as a function of the initial condition using deep learning neural networks. The control policy is validated by testing on initial conditions sampled on ROA of randomly chosen limit cycles. Finally, the rapidly-exploring random tree algorithm is adopted to plan transitions between the limit cycles using the ROAs. The approach is demonstrated on a hopper model to achieve velocity and height transitions between steps.
Effects of dopamine and serotonin synthesis inhibitors on the ketamine-, d-amphetamine-, and cocaine-induced locomotor activity of preweanling and adolescent rats: sex differences

Abstract The pattern of ketamine-induced locomotor activity varies substantially across ontogeny and according to sex. Although ketamine is classified as an NMDA channel blocker, it appears to stimulate the locomotor activity of both male and female rats via a monoaminergic mechanism. To more precisely determine the neural mechanisms underlying ketamine’s actions, male and female preweanling and adolescent rats were pretreated with vehicle, the dopamine (DA) synthesis inhibitor ∝-methyl-DL-p-tyrosine (AMPT), or the serotonin (5-HT) synthesis inhibitor 4-chloro-DL-phenylalanine methyl ester hydrochloride (PCPA). After completion of the pretreatment regimen, the locomotor activating effects of saline, ketamine, d- amphetamine, and cocaine were assessed during a 2 h test session. In addition, the ability of AMPT and PCPA to reduce dorsal striatal DA and 5-HT content was measured in male and female preweanling, adolescent, and adult rats. Results showed that AMPT and PCPA reduced, but did not fully attenuate, the ketamine-induced locomotor activity of preweanling rats and female adolescent rats. Ketamine (20 and 40 mg/kg) caused a minimal amount of locomotor activity in male adolescent rats, and this effect was not significantly modified by AMPT or PCPA pretreatment. When compared to ketamine, d- amphetamine and cocaine produced different patterns of locomotor activity across ontogeny; moreover, AMPT and PCPA pretreatment affected psychostimulant- and ketamine-induced locomotion differently. When these results are considered together, it appears that both dopaminergic and serotonergic mechanisms mediate the ketamine-induced locomotor activity of preweanling and female adolescent rats. The dichotomous actions of ketamine relative to the psychostimulants in vehicle-, AMPT-, and PCPA-treated rats, suggests that ketamine modulates DA and 5-HT neurotransmission through an indirect mechanism.
Conflict and revolt in the name of unity: Florentine factions in the Consulte e Pratiche on the cusp of the Ciompi Revolt

Abstract We analyze public-policy speeches in the Florentine Consulte e Pratiche, immediately prior to the Ciompi Revolt, for signs of elite factional conflict, in the context of self-proclaimed unity. We employ three statistical analyses of these speeches in Latin: namely, scatterplots of word frequencies, Wordfish scaling, and regressions on speech-similarities. Plus we employ two qualitative analyses: a case study of the speeches of Lapo da Castiglionchio, leader of the Parte Guelfa faction, and a close examination of the rhetoric of unity in three important sets of meetings. Our main finding is this: The runup to the Ciompi Revolt was crystalization of “unity of citizens” in the room of the Consulte e Pratiche and, among the same actors, crystallization of “unity of Guelfs” in the room of the Parte Guelfa, with a lack of recognition in the multivocal speeches in the former of the obvious contradiction with actions in the latter. In our opinion, the tragedy of “the valiant failure of republicanism” in Florence was that intense wishful yearning for unity in speech induced, under background conditions of deep social-class contestation about “Who is Florence?,” an intensification in action of the very revolutionary forces that it most desperately wanted to suppress.
90 The incidence and risk factors of child maltreatment-related injuries resulting in hospitalizations: a population-based study

Statement of Purpose Child maltreatment has lifelong impacts on health and well-being, which can result in serious injuries and death. The objective of this study was to identify the incidence and risk factors of child maltreatment-related injuries resulting in hospitalizations for children under three for the population of Washington State. Methods/Approach A prospective cohort study utilizing retrospective linked administrative data for all children born in Washington State between 1999 and 2013 (N=1,271,419). The data set comprised of linked birth discharge and hospitalization records for the entire state. Child maltreatment-related hospitalizations were identified using ICD-9 codes, both specifically attributed to and suggestive of maltreatment. Incidence rates were calculated for the overall population, by year, sex, maltreatment type, and child age. Risk and protective factors were identified using hierarchical linear modeling to test community-level poverty/disadvantage simultaneously with sociodemographic variables from the birth record. Results A total of 4,078 hospitalizations related to child maltreatment were identified for an incidence rate of 3.21 per 1,000 births. More than half of all hospitalizations were related to neglect. Children whose mother resided in a census tract with high concentrated disadvantage at the time of the child’s birth experienced child maltreatment-related hospitalizations at 1.2 times the rate of children who did not reside in high concentrated disadvantage census tracts. Conclusions Hospitalizations can be a useful source of population-based child maltreatment surveillance. These population-based data suggest that the community context, in addition to individual-level factors, contributes to the risk of a child being hospitalized for child maltreatment-related reasons. Significance and Contributions to Injury and Prevention Science The identification of neglect-related hospitalizations as the most common sub-type, and likely the result of supervisory neglect, are important findings for the development and implementation of prevention programming.
Diagnosis and treatment of common ophthalmic disorders in South American camelids

The unique ophthalmic anatomy and generally tractable nature of camelids for ophthalmic examination make them an enjoyable species with which to work. In order to accurately diagnose ophthalmic dis...