cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
AN AES INVESTIGATION OF ALUMINUM, Al OXIDE AND Al NITRIDE THIN FILMS *

The aluminum-L,,VV Auger spectra for elemental Al. Al oxide and Al nitride have been measured in an assessment of the utility of Auger spectroscopy in characterizing thin oxidized Al films used in model supported-metal catalyst studies. Clearly distinct spectra were found for the three surface chemical states. The oxide spectrum was shown to be similar to published spectra from bulk, single-crystalline AI,O,. Complete oxidation of Al films required exposure to 0, at temperatures above room temperature. Room temperature exposure to hydrazine resulted in the complete nitriding of Al films. The spectrum for the nitride is similar in shape to published spectra from films produced by two alternative methods of nitriding. The hydrazine-exposure method of producing Al nitride films was found to offer an alternative, easily prepared support material for future model catalyst studies. The chemical interaction of oxygen and nitrogen with clean aluminum surfaces leads to the formation of two types of non-metallic compounds, both of which have wide and diverse technical applications. This paper reports on an Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) study of the formation of these compounds starting with thin, clean aluminum films. The primary purpose of the study was to use AES to compare the oxidized Al film to a bulk, alumina, oxide. In a parallel work [l] such oxidized aluminum films were used in model, supported-nickel catalyst studies of the CO methanation reaction. The aluminum nitride films were also prepared starting with a thin aluminum film and were studied in a test of an unusual method of nitriding aluminum. Alumina is a support material that is frequently used in catalytic studies. Characterization of thin oxidized aluminum films in this connection have most often made use of vibrational spectroscopies such as infra-red spectroscopy [2], inelastic tunneling spectroscopy [3] and high resolution (backscattered) elec
Operating system support for virtual machines

A virtual-machine monitor (VMM) is a useful technique for adding functionality below existing operating system and application software. One class of VMMs (called Type II VMMs) builds on the abstractions provided by a host operating system. Type II VMMs are elegant and convenient, but their performance is currently an order of magnitude slower than that achieved when running outside a virtual machine (a standalone system). In this paper, we examine the reasons for this large overhead for Type II VMMs. We find that a few simple extensions to a host operating system can make it a much faster platform for running a VMM. Taking advantage of these extensions reduces virtualization overhead for a Type II VMM to 14-35% overhead, even for workloads that exercise the virtual machine intensively.
“Don't Count Your Chickens...”: Risk and Risk Shifting in the Broiler Industry

The contracts used to reward growers of broiler chickens in the United States base pay on a grower's performance relative to other growers. From a panel of data covering seventy-five growers over four years, we use simulation methods to measure the price and production risk shifted from growers to integrator companies by these contracts. We also decompose the risk in broiler production variability. We conclude that the bulk of the risk in our sample, which is primarily price risk, is shifted from growers through the use of production contracts.
Family support for older people in an era of demographic change and policy constraints

This paper introduces the Special Issue of four empirical studies on the provision of family support to older people that have been written members of the Family Support for Older People: Determinants and Consequences (FAMSUP) network. They have in common the use of individual-level data and recognition of the importance of demographic forces, cultural variations and public policy in shaping patterns of elder care. The four papers are also explicitly comparative, and emphasise both between- and within-country differences. The European countries examined by the FAMSUP researchers exhibit several broadly similar demographic trends, but these are superimposed on very different policy regimes. The ‘macro’ focus of much comparative policy-oriented research facilitates the identification and description of population ageing, while illuminating the policy issues raised by demographic change. A macro-focus is also characteristic of much comparative welfare-state analysis. The ‘micro’ orientation of the research presented in this collection typically treats the policy environment as an implicit or residual category. We argue that progress in understanding comparative patterns of elder care, and in developing policy responses to demographic change, will be facilitated through blending the macro and micro perspectives, in which variations in the policy environment are explicitly linked to individual- and family-level behaviour.
Non-seminomatous retroperitoneal histology in patients with a pure testicular seminoma and an elevated serum alpha feto-protein

14561 Background: There is controversy regarding the management of patients with pure testicular seminoma (PTS) and elevated alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level (Nazeer, Oncol Rep 1998;5:1425). Our objective was to determine the retroperitoneal histology and clinical outcome of patients with pure testicular seminoma and elevated serum AFP level. Methods: Between 1989 and 2004, 15 patients with PTS and elevated AFP level underwent post chemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (PC-RPLND) at MSKCC. All diagnoses of PTS were confirmed by a MSKCC uropathologist. Clinical and pathologic data were obtained from our prospective surgical database and subsequently analyzed. Results: The median pretreatment AFP level was 339 ng/ml (interquartile range [IQR]: 42, 1,006). Clinical stage at initial presentation was IIa in 1, IIb in 1, IIc in 9, and III in 4. According to the International Germ Cell Cancer Collaborative Group (IGCCCG) risk classification, 6 patients had good, 6 had intermediate, and 3 had poor risk ...
Intraspecific variation in stomatal traits, leaf traits and physiology reflects adaptation along aridity gradients in a South African shrub

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Trait-environment relationships are commonly interpreted as evidence for local adaptation in plants. However, even when selection analyses support this interpretation, the mechanisms underlying differential benefits are often unknown. This study addresses this gap in knowledge using the broadly distributed South African shrub Protea repens. Specifically, the study examines whether broad-scale patterns of trait variation are consistent with spatial differences in selection and ecophysiology in the wild. METHODS In a common garden study of plants sourced from 19 populations, associations were measured between five morphological traits and three axes describing source climates. Trait-trait and trait-environment associations were analysed in a multi-response model. Within two focal populations in the wild, selection and path analyses were used to test associations between traits, fecundity and physiological performance. KEY RESULTS Across 19 populations in a common garden, stomatal density increased with the source population's mean annual temperature and decreased with its average amount of rainfall in midsummer. Concordantly, selection analysis in two natural populations revealed positive selection on stomatal density at the hotter, drier site, while failing to detect selection at the cooler, moister site. Dry-site plants with high stomatal density also had higher stomatal conductances, cooler leaf temperatures and higher light-saturated photosynthetic rates than those with low stomatal density, but no such relationships were present among wet-site plants. Leaf area, stomatal pore index and specific leaf area in the garden also co-varied with climate, but within-population differences were not associated with fitness in either wild population. CONCLUSIONS The parallel patterns of broad-scale variation, differences in selection and differences in trait-ecophysiology relationships suggest a mechanism for adaptive differentiation in stomatal density. Densely packed stomata may improve performance by increasing transpiration and cooling, but predominately in drier, hotter climates. This study uniquely shows context-dependent benefits of stomatal density--a trait rarely linked to local adaptation in plants.
Systematic review of dyadic and family-oriented interventions for late-life depression.

Objective Supportive behaviors (both instrumental and emotional) from spouses and close family members can impact the trajectory of older adults' depressive symptoms. Interventions that target both the patient and support person may be more effective than interventions that target the patient only, in terms of alleviating mood symptoms in the identified patient. The purpose of this paper was to review the characteristics and findings of dyadic and family-oriented interventions for late-life mood disorders to determine if they are effective and beneficial. Methods Following PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a systematic review of reports in the literature on dyadic or family-oriented interventions for late-life mood disorders. We searched PubMed, OVID PsycINFO, and EMBASE for peer-reviewed journal articles in English through October 2014. Results We identified 13 articles, representing a total of 10 independent investigations. Identified studies focused on spouses and close family members as support persons. Effect sizes for dyadic interventions that treated major depressive disorder were, on average, moderately strong, while effect sizes for dyadic interventions that reduced depressive symptoms were generally small. We did not identify any dyadic studies that treated bipolar disorder. Conclusions This review showed that dyadic interventions are feasible and that these interventions can decrease symptomatology in individuals who have major depressive disorder. Research is needed to understand the relative efficacy of a dyadic approach over a single-target approach in treating depression. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
OH-initiated heterogeneous oxidation of cholestane: a model system for understanding the photochemical aging of cyclic alkane aerosols.

Aerosols containing aliphatic hydrocarbons play a substantial role in the urban atmosphere. Cyclic alkanes constitute a large fraction of aliphatic hydrocarbon emissions originating from incomplete combustion of diesel fuel and motor oil. In the present study, cholestane (C27H48) is used as a model system to examine the OH-initiated heterogeneous oxidation pathways of cyclic alkanes in a photochemical flow tube reactor. Oxidation products are collected on filters and analyzed by a novel soft ionization two-dimensional gas chromatography/mass spectrometry technique. The analysis reveals that the first-generation functionalization products (cholestanones, cholestanals, and cholestanols) are the dominant reaction products that account for up to 70% by mass of the total speciated compounds. The ratio of first-generation carbonyls to alcohols is near unity at every oxidation level. Among the cholestanones/cholestanals, 55% are found to have the carbonyl group on the rings of the androstane skeleton, while 74% ...
The nitrogen reaction between carbon saturated Iron and Na 2 O-SiO 2 slag: Part II. Kinetics

The kinetics of the nitrogen reaction between carbon saturated iron and Na2O-SiO2 slags and between Na2O-SiO2 slags and an inert gas phase were investigated at 1200 °C. For the nitrogen transfer from the iron alloy to slag, the overall mass transfer coefficient of nitrogen was calculated to be 2.2 × 10−4 cm/sec. For nitrogen transfer from Na2O-SiO2 slag to argon gas, it is shown that the rate controlling process is mass transfer in the slag phase, and the mass transfer coefficient of nitrogen is 9 × 10−4 cm/sec. Experiments were also conducted to demonstrate nitrogen removal from hot metal by Na2CO3 treatment at 1200 °C. In these experiments, 325 grams of Na2CO3 was added to the 6.5 kg of Fe-C-N(-Si) alloy. When the metal contained silicon, nitrogen was transferred from the iron alloy to slag after the silicon was oxidized. When the iron alloy contains no silicon, nitrogen removal was faster. In both cases the nitrogen reversion occurred because of the decrease of slag volume and slag basicity. Furthermore, the presence of silicon in the metal retarded nitrogen reversion.
Brain stem afferents to the periabducens reticular formations (PARF) in the cat. An HRP study.

Six injections of HRP were placed in the periabducens reticular formation (PARF). Two were placed ventromedial to the caudal half of the abducend nucleus (VIn), two were placed further laterally and ventral to the rostral half of the nucleus, and two were placed rostral to the nucleus. Most injections in PARF produced cell labeling in the vestibular and perihypoglossal nuclei bilaterally and labeled cells in the reticularis gigantocellularis (Rgc) and reticularis pontis caudalis (Rpc) nuclei contralateral to the injection site. Few labeled neurons were found in the caudal part of the paramedian pontine reticular formation (PPRF). In the mesencephalon, bilateral but more numerous ipsilateral labeled cells were found in the medial mesodiencephalic region including the nuclei of Cajal, Darkschewitsch and the posterior commissure. Injections placed caudomedial to VIn resulted in a characteristic concentration of labeled cells in the ipsilateral nucleus cuneiformis and rostral half of the contralateral superior colliculus (SC). Injections placed rostral to VIn in PARF produced cell labeling in the nucleus campi Foreli. The results are related to physiological evidence which suggests that PARF is an important premotor center for coordination of oculomotor, head and body movements.
ATP and the conversion of mevalonic acid to cholesterol and precursors by liver homogenates.

SummaryThe influence of ATP on biosynthesis of cholesterol and precursors from mevalonic acid has been studied with relatively crude (200 xg supernatant) and more refined (9000 xg supernatant) fractions of rat liver homogenate under aerobic and anaerobic conditions following preincubation with or without added ribonuclease. Mevalonic acid incorporation occurred under conditions favorable for oxidative phosphorylation or under conditions where the ATPase of tissue fragments had been removed by centrifugation (9000 xg). Ribonuclease inhibition of mevalonic acid utilization occurred only under oxygen and in the presence of tissue fragments relatively rich in ATPase.
Selection for a Non-diapausing Gypsy Moth: Some Biological Attributes of a New Laboratory Strain

A non-diapausing strain of the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (L.), was selected within 8 generations. Larvae of the 6th generation of this strain (SEL6) and larvae hatched from eggs field-collected in Pennsylvania (PA) were compared with respect to adult morphology, egg mass size, pupal weight, developmental rate, sex ratio, and susceptibility to infection with nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV). Apanteles melanoscelus Ratzeburg, a braconid parasite of the gypsy moth, was reared on the non-diapausing SEL strain to determine the rate at which the parasite entered diapause under laboratory conditions. Selection of the non-diapausing strain proceeded under an 18-h daylength, even though the gypsy moth is thought to be photoperiodically neutral. Some SEL8 larvae reared from instar I to adulthood under an 8-h daylength produced egg masses that hatched promptly under the 8 h conditions, indicating that genetic selection has not simply shifted the gypsy moth's critical photophase.
Abstract 1900: Antioxidant studies on the Peruvian cherimoya fruit give an insight into the healthy lifestyle of the Incas

Annona cherimola, known as “cherimoya” was grown as an essential crop in the Incan empire, and was believed to prevent disease. Indigenous to Peru and Ecuador, this “pearl of the Andes” is consumed mainly for its exceptional taste. American writer Mark Twain called the cherimoya “the most delicious fruit known to men.” Recent interest in this fruit stems from its high concentration of acetogenins, which are bioactive polyketides. Recent research has accredited beneficial effects to acetogenins, including the exhibition of cytotoxic and anti-tumorous activity, particularly in mammary, pancreatic and colon cancer cells (Cheng et. al 1998). This project explores the health benefits of cherimoya consumption by examining the antioxidant effect of its components, including: skin, flesh and juice. These components were analyzed for antioxidant concentrations using the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) assay. A cellular model was also established that evaluated the antioxidant capacity of cherimoya components in the presence of Raji cells, a Burkitt lymphoma cell line, and HT-29 cells, a colon cancer cell line. After incubation with the cherimoya components, cell lysate samples were assessed for antioxidant capacity using the ORAC assay. Results for Raji cell lysate exposed to media, juice, skin and flesh were as follows: 886 Trolox Equivalents per Liter (TE/L), 1238 TE/L, 1018 TE/L, and 1045 TE/L respectively. Results for HT-29 cell lysate exposed to media, juice, skin and flesh were: 294 TE/L, 924 TE/L, 505 TE/L and 627 TE/L respectively. These data shows that cells treated with cherimoya juice exhibited a higher antioxidant uptake. An alternate cellular model was established in which Raji cells and HT-29 cells were pre-exposed to oxidant AAPH, 2,2’-azobis-(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride, and then treated with cherimoya juice, skin and flesh. Results for Raji cells exposed to AAPH and then treated with media, juice, skin and flesh were as follows: 1054 TE/L, 1363 TE/L, 1183 TE/L, and 1254 TE/L respectively. Results for HT-29 cells exposed to AAPH and then treated with media, juice, skin and flesh were: 1075 TE/L, 1528 TE/L, 1350 TE/L and 1374 TE/L respectively. These data indicated that when cells were pre-exposed to an oxidant, thus simulating cells under oxidative stress, antioxidant cell uptake increased for both cell lines. These results suggest that cells can sense oxidative stress in their environment and can increase their ability to uptake available antioxidants. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1900.
Comparative Harm, Creation and Death

Given that a person's death is bad for her, when is it bad? I defend subsequentism, the view that things that are bad in the relevant way are bad after they occur. Some have objected to this view on the grounds that it requires us to compare the amount of well-being the victim would have enjoyed, had she not died, with the amount she receives while dead; however, we cannot assign any level of well-being, not even zero, to a dead person. In the population ethics literature, many philosophers have argued along similar lines that bringing someone into existence can neither harm nor benefit her. Working within the comparative framework (on which harms make us worse off), I respond by proposing a good sense in which we can say that dead people, and actual people at alternatives in which they do not exist, have a well-being level of zero.
Study on Storage Stability of SBS Modified Asphalt and Stabilizer

SBS modified asphalt occupy the world's asphalt usage by as much as 60 percent,the current use of a wide range of building our country a great influence on the traffic.The process of heat storage stability problems is mainly described,An analysis of the stability of three aspects: structural stability,aggregation stability,functional stability is focus on and some influencing factors are rnade of,in particular stabilizers and modified asphalt the relationship between the use of improvement measures,as well as a synthesis of the evaluation criteria with a view to allow more employment reference from the road.
A case-control study to determine risk factors for elevated blood lead levels in children, Idaho.

OBJECTIVE A pair-matched, case-control study was conducted to identify if risk factors or behaviors suspected to affect childhood blood lead levels, were more prevalent among children with elevated blood lead levels living in the vicinity of a defunct mining and smelting facility. METHODS Study individuals were recruited from the 1992 Silver Valley blood lead screening participants. The cases were children with a blood lead level > 10 micrograms per deciliter (microgram/dL). The controls were children with a blood lead level < 10 micrograms/dL, who were matched to cases by age and sex. Data on risk factors were obtained through personal interviews. RESULTS Of the variables examined, yard soil remediation showed the strongest association with changes in blood lead levels. This variable was found to be a protective factor for elevated blood lead levels in children (odds ratio, 0.28; confidence interval, 0.08-0.92). CONCLUSION The results suggest that removal of lead contaminated soil from residential yards was effective in reducing blood lead levels in children.
The Dynamics of Desire in Everyday Classrooms

D. H. Lawrence’s evocative phrase from “The Odour of Chrysanthemums” (1911)—“life with its smoky burning”—offers a useful metaphor for the play of desires in everyday classrooms where students fixate on “what the teacher wants,”1 and where teachers get anxiety hives about covering all the material they have crammed into the syllabus. In this social and academic environment, both students and teachers (in my experience) are generally obtuse about the existence of multiple species of desire that swirl invisibly and powerfully around everyone in the classroom. This obtuseness about classroom desires is a potential danger for teachers the way obtuseness about clues regarding smoke and flame constitutes a danger for fire fighters. Not to pick up on the emotional temperature in one’s own classroom leaves the teacher unprepared to deal with smoldering emotions.
Apparent diffusion coefficient mapping in medulloblastoma predicts non-infiltrative surgical planes

An appropriate surgical approach for posterior fossa lesions is to start tumor removal from areas with a defined plane to where tumor is infiltrating the brainstem or peduncles. This surgical approach minimizes risk of damage to eloquent areas. Although magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the current standard preoperative imaging obtained for diagnosis and surgical planning of pediatric posterior fossa tumors, it offers limited information on the infiltrative planes between tumor and normal structures in patients with medulloblastomas. Because medulloblastomas demonstrate diffusion restriction on apparent diffusion coefficient map (ADC map) sequences, we investigated the role of ADC map in predicting infiltrative and non-infiltrative planes along the brain stem and/or cerebellar peduncles by medulloblastomas prior to surgery. Thirty-four pediatric patients with pathologically confirmed medulloblastomas underwent surgical resection at our facility from 2004 to 2012. An experienced pediatric neuroradiologist reviewed the brain MRIs/ADC map, assessing the planes between the tumor and cerebellar peduncles/brain stem. An independent evaluator documented surgical findings from operative reports for comparison to the radiographic findings. The radiographic findings were statistically compared to the documented intraoperative findings to determine predictive value of the test in identifying tumor infiltration of the brain stem cerebellar peduncles. Twenty-six patients had preoperative ADC mapping completed and thereby, met inclusion criteria. Mean age at time of surgery was 8.3 ± 4.6 years. Positive predictive value of ADC maps to predict tumor invasion of the brain stem and cerebellar peduncles ranged from 69 to 88 %; negative predictive values ranged from 70 to 89 %. Sensitivity approached 93 % while specificity approached 78 %. ADC maps are valuable in predicting the infiltrative and non-infiltrative planes along the tumor and brain stem interface in medulloblastomas. Inclusion and evaluation of ADC maps in preoperative evaluation can assist in surgical resection planning in patients with medulloblastoma.
Space Object classification using deep Convolutional Neural Networks

Tracking and characterizing both active and inactive Space Objects (SOs) is required for protecting space assets. Characterizing and classifying space debris is critical to understanding the threat they may pose to active satellites and manned missions. This work examines SO classification using brightness measurements derived from electrical-optical sensors. The classification approach discussed in this work is data-driven in that it learns from data examples how to extract features and classify SOs. The classification approach is based on a deep Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) approach where a layered hierarchical architecture is used to extract features from brightness measurements. Training samples are generated from physics-based models that account for rotational dynamics and light reflection properties of SOs. The number of parameters involved in modeling SO brightness measurements make traditional estimation approaches computationally expensive. This work shows that the CNN approach can efficiently solve classification problem for this complex physical dynamical system. The performance of these strategies for SO classification is demonstrated via simulated scenarios.
Attractant or Pheromone: The Case of Nasonov Secretion and Honeybee Swarms

Honeybees are attracted to a variety of odors, including the secretion of their Nasonov glands, a secretion that has been widely assumed to be an orientation and attraction pheromone. A crossover design experiment comparing synthetic Nasonov secretion with linalool, oil of clove, skatole, and wax moth sex pheromone was established to determine if Nasonov secretion serves as a true pheromone or is simply a general attractant for honeybee swarms. None of the test odors was more attractive than odorless controls, and in all comparisons, synthetic Nasonov secretion was significantly more attractive than the test odors or odorless controls. The results confirm that Nasonov secretion is a true pheromone in the context of attracting honeybee swarms to nest cavities and that environmentally present or apparent odors play little or no role in honeybee nest-seeking behavior.
Test of an 8.66-T REBCO Insert Coil with Overbanding Radial Build for a 1.3-GHz LTS/HTS NMR Magnet.

A 1.3-GHz/54-mm LTS/HTS NMR magnet, assembled with a three-coil (Coils 1-3) 800-MHz HTS insert in a 500-MHz LTS NMR magnet, is under construction. The innermost HTS insert Coil 1 has a stack of 26 no-insulation (NI) double pancake (DP) coils wound of 6-mm-wide and 75-μm-thick REBCO tapes. In order to keep the hoop strains on REBCO tape <;0.6% at an operating current I op of 250 A and in a field of 30.5 T, we overbanded each pancake in Coil 1 with a 6-mm-wide, 76-μm-thick 304 stainless steel strip: 7-mm-thick radial build for the central 18 pancakes, while 6-mm-thick for the outer 2 × 17 pancakes. In this paper, Coil 1 was successfully tested at 77 K and 4.2 K. In the 77-K test, the measured critical current was 35.7 A, determined by an E-field criterion of 0.1 μV/cm. The center field magnet constant decreased from 34.2 to 29.3 mT/A, when I op increased from 5 to 40 A. The field distribution at different I op along the z-axis was measured. The residual field distributions discharged from 10 and 20 A were recorded. In the 4.2-K test, Coil 1 successfully generated a central field of 8.78 T at 255 A. The magnet constant is 34.4 mT/A, which is same as our designed value. The field homogeneity at the coil center within a ±15-mm region is around 1700 ppm. This large error field must be reduced before field shimming is applied.
Oral Mucosal Keratinocyte Stem Cells

Abstract Oral mucosa is composed of highly-regenerative stratified epithelium and submucosal connective tissue, which demonstrate accelerated epithelial turnover and scarless wound healing when compared with epidermis. This robust healing potential may represent the inherent regenerative capacity of oral keratinocyte stem cell (OKSCs). As such, oral mucosa may offer unique opportunities to enrich or isolate KSCs suitable for epithelial tissue engineering for large epithelial defects. Numerous molecular and phenotypic markers of KSCs have been reported to date, and they aid in the enrichment of KSCs from primary tissues. Studies have succeeded in demonstrating epithelial regeneration in non-oral tissues, e.g., cornea, using oral mucosal epithelium and scaffold. Thus, the potential for clinical application of OKSCs for tissue regeneration is immense. However, further research is required to delineate the mechanisms that regulate regenerative or differentiation capacities of OKSCs. In this chapter, we will review the current state of KSC technology in human oral mucosa, and the molecular mechanisms regulating replication and differentiation of NHOK, with emphasis on the role of GRHL2.
Incidence and Outcomes of Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia in Patients Undergoing Vascular Surgery

Objective The National Inpatient Sample (NIS) from years 2010 through 2012 was utilized to determine the incidence, predictive risk factors, and outcomes of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) in patients undergoing vascular surgery. Design Retrospective population-based study. Setting Data from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) (2011 through 2013) using specific International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) procedure codes corresponding with vascular surgery. Participants 425,379 hospital admissions in patients which underwent vascular surgery. Among these, 1,290 (0.31%) were diagnosed with HIT, and 17,765 (4.18%) were diagnosed with secondary thrombocytopenia. Measurements and Results The incidence of HIT is 0.3% in the vascular surgery population. The highest incidence is observed in thoraco-subclavian and vein reconstruction procedures. This study indicated that liver disease, endocarditis, chronic renal failure, congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillation, obesity, and female sex are associated with a higher incidence of HIT in this population. In vascular surgery patients, HIT can increase mortality by 3-fold and lead to severe complications such as acute renal failure, venous embolism, pulmonary embolism, and respiratory failure. Conclusion The incidence of HIT in the vascular surgery population is similar to previously reported incidence in cardiac surgery patients. In the vascular surgery population, mortality increases 3-fold in patients with HIT versus those without any thrombocytopenia. Understanding the associated risk factors and complications will allow clinicians to make informed decisions and anticipate HIT and associated complications in certain high-risk populations.
Political Protesting, Race, and College Athletics: Why Diversity Among Coaches Matters*

Objective Athletes have long used their platform to stage political protests on issues ranging from racial oppression to athlete compensation. For college student athletes, protesting is complicated by their amateur status and dependence on their schools. As a result, college coaches hold particular power over student athletes’ decisions in this realm. We seek to better understand the determinants of coaches’ attitudes toward student athlete protests. Methods We use a novel survey to study what college coaches think when student athletes participate in various forms of political protests. Results We find that African‐American coaches exhibit greater support for protests and are more likely to believe protests reflect concern about the issues, rather than attention‐seeking behavior. Conclusion Our results isolate a major driver of opinions about athletic protests and reveal why the relatively low number of minority college coaches matters: greater diversity in the coaching ranks would lead to more varied opinions about the politicization of student athletes.
Role of a luciferin-binding protein in the circadian bioluminescent reaction of Gonyaulax polyedra.

Abstract A luciferin-binding protein (LBP), which binds and protects from autoxidation the substrate of the circadian bioluminescent reaction of Gonyaulax polyedra, has been purified to near homogeneity. The purified protein is a dimer with two identical 72-kDa subunits, and an isoelectric point of 6.7. LBP is a major component of the cells, comprising about 1% of the total protein during the night phase, but drops to only about 0.1% during the day. The luciferin is protected from autoxidation by binding to LBP, and one luciferin is bound per dimer at alkaline pH (Ka approximately 5 x 10(7) M-1). The protein undergoes a conformational change with release of luciferin at pH values below 7, concurrent with an activation of Gonyaulax luciferase. LBP thus has a dual role in the circadian bioluminescent system.
Abstract WP2: Anesthesia Technique and Outcomes of Mechanical Thrombectomy in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke

Background: The impact of anesthesia technique on the outcomes of mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke remains an issue of debate, and has not been studied in clinical trials. We investigated the association of general anesthesia with outcomes in patients undergoing mechanical thrombectomy for ischemic stroke. Methods: We performed a cohort study involving patients undergoing mechanical thrombectomy for ischemic stroke from 2009-2013, who were registered in the New York Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System (SPARCS) database. An instrumental variable (hospital rate of general anesthesia) analysis was used to simulate the effects of randomization and investigate the association of anesthesia technique with case-fatality and length of stay (LOS). Results: Of the 1,308 patients undergoing mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke, 492 (37.6%) underwent general anesthesia, and 816 (62.4%) underwent conscious sedation. Employing an instrumental variable analysis, we identified that general anesthesia was associated with a 6.4% increased case-fatality (95% CI, 1.9% to 11.0%), and 8.4 days longer LOS (95% CI, 2.9 to 14.0) in comparison to conscious sedation. This corresponded to 15 patients needing to be treated with conscious sedation to prevent one death. Our results were robust in a sensitivity analysis utilizing mixed effects regression, and propensity score adjusted regression models. Conclusions: Using a comprehensive all-payer cohort of acute ischemic stroke patients undergoing mechanical thrombectomy in New York State, we identified an association of general anesthesia with increased case fatality and LOS. These considerations should be taken into account when standardizing acute stroke care.
Definition and Revision of the Pubescens Species-Group of North American Pachybrachis Chevrolat (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cryptocephalinae), Including Descriptions of Three New Species

The atomarius species-group of Nearctic PachybrachisChevrolat, 1836 is defined and revised. The group is composed of 24 species: Pachybrachis archboldi Barney; Pachybrachis atomarius (F. E. Melsheimer); Pachybrachis calcaratus Fall; Pachybrachis caroleae Barney, new species; Pachybrachis cephalicus Fall; Pachybrachis charlotteae Barney, new species; Pachybrachis confederatus Fall; Pachybrachis conformis Suffrian; Pachybrachis dixianus Fall; Pachybrachis erinae Barney, new species; Pachybrachis gibbyi Barney, new species; Pachybrachis gibsoni Barney, new species; Pachybrachis jacobi Barney, new species; Pachybrachis lodingi Bowditch; Pachybrachis luctuosus Suffrian; Pachybrachis matthewi Barney, new species; Pachybrachis mcmeansi Barney, new species; Pachybrachis osceola Fall; Pachybrachis parvus Fall; Pachybrachis quadrioculatus Fall; Pachybrachis relictus Fall; Pachybrachys stygicus Fall; Pachybrachis varians Bowditch; and Pachybrachis walteri Barney, new species. Pachybrachis cephalicus var. dixianus Fall and P. cephalicus var. parvus Fall are elevated to full species status (new status). Pachybrachis carolinensis Fall is synonymized under P. luctuosus (new synonymy), Pachybrachis vestigialis Fall is synonymized under P. stygicus (new synonymy), and Pachybrachis tybeensis Fall is synonymized under P. confederatus (new synonymy). Forty-eight new state records are confirmed for previously named members of this species-group. A key to species is given, and a description, figure, and range map are presented for each species.
Enhancing Resilience among Providers of Trauma-Informed Care: A Curriculum for Protection against Secondary Traumatic Stress among Non-Mental Health Professionals

Although the call to create trauma-informed services for youth has been clearly sounded, a relatively neglected part of this effort is the need to prepare non-mental health professionals to carry o...
Is Divided Government a Cause of Legislative Delay

Despite the compelling theoretical prediction that divided government decreases legislative performance, the empirical literature has struggled to identify a causal effect. We suspect that a combination of methodological challenges and data limitations are to blame. Here, we revisit this empirical relationship. Rather than relying on traditional measures of legislative productivity, however, we consider whether divided government affects the ability of lawmakers to meet critical deadlines â€” specifically, the ability of state lawmakers to adopt an on-time budget (as mandated by state law). By focusing on delay instead of productivity we avoid measurement problems, particularly the challenges inherent in measuring the supply of and demand for legislation. To assess the causal effect of divided government, we develop and implement a regression discontinuity design (RDD) that accounts for the multiple elections that produce unified or divided government in separation of powers systems. Our RDD approach yields compelling evidence that divided government is a cause of delay. We also evaluate and find support for a new hypothesis that divided government is more likely to lead to delay when the personal and political costs that stalemate imposes on politicians are low.
Ensuring Experience Remains the Life of the Law: Incorporating Military Realities into the Process of War Crimes Accountability

International criminal responsibility for war crimes is today a firmly entrenched component of the IHL compliance mosaic. Investigation, prosecution, conviction, and punishment of individuals who violate IHL – the internationally adopted rules that regulate armed conflicts - is expected to produce both retributive and deterrent effects, ostensibly enhancing the probability of legal compliance in on-going and future armed conflicts. Military commanders are and must remain the focal point for this accountability process; a focal point that is logically aligned with the unique authority of commanders to train, direct, and oversee the conduct of subordinates armed with immense lethal capability, and entrusted with the authority to make judgments that have profound life and death consequences. While may all be unremarkable, and perhaps even axiomatic, it also produces an increasing complex process of criminal application of an operational regulatory regime. And this complexity will only increase with the inevitable extension of international criminal accountability to situations of complex tactical and operational judgments – most notably targeting judgments. Evidentiary and procedural challenges associated with war crimes prosecutions will be magnified by such cases, cases that will require tribunals to sift through the proverbial ‘fog of war’ in an effort to identify the outer limits of reasonable operational and tactical judgment.Cases involving complex battlefield decision-making therefore highlight important questions over the intersection of battlefield regulation and doctrines of criminal responsibility, and how such prosecutions will produce credible and reliable outcomes. More specifically, how, if at all, does the so-called ‘fog of war’ impact the adjudication of guilt, and how can the touchstone of reasonableness be applied in the criminal accountability process? This Essay focuses on these and other related questions in an effort to generate a more extensive consideration of interplay between operational planning, real-time mission execution, and the criminal accountability process. The ultimate thesis of the Essay is that improving the synchronization between the regulatory and accountability domains of IHL will inevitably enhance the efficacy of the law in both domains, and contribute to the overall credibility of prosecutorial outcomes.
Regular Motions in the Ionosphere: Electric and Magnetic Relationships

Regular worldwide motions in the ionosphere produce daily varying currents there by dynamo action in association with the geomagnetic field. The changing field of these currents induces electric currents within the earth. At the earth's surface, the combined magnetic field of these currents is measured. The parts of primary and secondary origin can be determined separately. The form and intensity of the ionospheric currents can be found. Their height is inferred from the study of the ionospheric electron density and conductivity; it can also be measured by rockets. The daily varying airflow in the layer bearing the electric current, at heights from about 90 to 125 km, can to some extent be inferred. The motion is due partly to the sun's thermal and tidal action and partly to the moon's tidal action. Many aspects of the magnetic variations and the inferred ionospheric motions are considered in some detail, especially their seasonal and sunspot-cycle changes and their variations from day to day.
Surgery to Relieve Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Complaints Should Have Preoperative Imaging:MRI/MRA/MRV

INTRODUCTIONThoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS) patients are normally managed conservatively with physical therapy (PT) and may undergo scalenectomy and first rib resection without imaging. Bilateral mu...
A Defense of Open Borders

This chapter defends open borders on the grounds that people have a right to immigrate and that increased immigration would enrich the world significantly, with large gains going to the global poor. I consider three major objections: (1) immigration can create economic and social costs for citizens of destination countries, (2) citizens ought to prioritize the interests of their compatriots over those of immigrants, and (3) nations possess rights of self-determination that permit them to restrict immigration. I argue that these objections fail to justify significant immigration restrictions and that the case for open borders stands.
A Common Method of Barn Fly Control: Debunked

In the state of Texas, flies cause major damage to livestock facilities statewide. Many southern farmers believe that a simple plastic bag full of water with a penny submerged on the bottom will repel flies for extended periods of time with perceived reasons for success varying. Some believe it blinds the flies, other believe the flies see their reflection magnified and flee from a perceived predator. For the purpose of this experiment, a manner of pest control that has been considered an unconventional urban legend will be evaluated for its effectiveness in repelling flies. The results of this experiment found that there is no correlation with the bag of water and decreased amounts of captured flies and may be used to find an alternate method of insect control.
A review of smart building sensing system for better indoor environment control

Abstract This paper aims to provide a systemic review of how indoor sensors influence in managing optimal energy saving, thermal comfort, visual comfort, and indoor air quality in the built environment. The optimal management of energy saving and occupant comfort plays a vital role in the built environment because the occupant's productivity and health are highly influenced by indoor environmental quality. In order to do this, there must be a functional sensing system that connects the environment variables (e.g., temperature) with building environmental control systems such as the heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system. This paper starts with an overview of the importance of energy saving and occupant comfort in the built environment. It then discusses sensors and their importance in the built environment and reviews the different types of sensors, which explains them in terms of how they influence the indoor built environment and occupant productivity. The paper further explores the application of sensors in the built environment and analyzes this in terms of energy saving, thermal comfort, visual comfort, and indoor air quality. Following this, the data analysis is discussed in terms of data, information, and knowledge accrued from the sensors. Lastly, the paper discusses the future challenges for the improvement of building indoor environmental quality and energy saving by the application of sensors.
Death related to epiglottitis

Although death due to epiglottitis is well-reported in the medical literature, because of vaccines and antibiotics, deaths caused by epiglottitis are rare in the era of modern medicine. This report presents a case of epiglottitis-related death occurring in a middle-aged diabetic man. He initially presented to an emergency department with complaints of a sore throat and bilateral ear pain. Although a quick test for Strep pneumoniae was negative, the work-up was not extensive enough to exclude epiglottitis. He was discharged with a prescription for a decongestant and instructed to drink plenty of fluids. He subsequently collapsed in respiratory distress while waiting to fill his prescription at a pharmacy. He was admitted to the hospital and eventually diagnosed with anoxic brain injury, dying 4 days following his initial presentation. Autopsy disclosed gross and microscopic features of acute epiglottitis, which was considered the underlying cause of death. Awareness of epiglottitis and its risk factors is essential in identifying the proper diagnosis clinically. Characteristic findings at autopsy can confirm the diagnosis.
Does (Dis)Similarity Information about a New Acquaintance Lead to Liking or Repulsion? An Experimental Test of a Classic Social Psychology Issue:

Decades of social psychology research has established the importance of similarity in leading to attraction. However, in response to early social psychology experiments demonstrating the similarity...