cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development and testing of an instrument to measure protective nursing advocacy

Patient advocacy is an important aspect of nursing care, yet there are few instruments to measure this essential function. This study was conducted to develop, determine the psychometric properties, and support validity of the Protective Nursing Advocacy Scale (PNAS), which measures nursing advocacy beliefs and actions from a protective perspective. The study used a descriptive correlational design with a systematically selected sample of 419 medical-surgical registered nurses. Analysis of the 43-item instrument was conducted using principal components analysis with promax rotation, which resulted in the items loading onto four components. The four subscales have sufficient internal consistency, as did the overall PNAS. Satisfactory evidence of construct, content, and convergent validity were determined. Implications for nursing practice include using the PNAS in conjunction with an educational program to enhance advocacy skills, which may help to improve patient outcomes.
Prehospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the pediatric trauma patient.

Abstract Purpose Children requiring prehospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) after traumatic injury have been shown to have poor survival. However, outcome of children still receiving CPR on-arrival by emergency medical service to the emergency department (ED) has not been demonstrated in a published clinical series. Methods An 11-year retrospective analysis from a level I pediatric trauma center of the outcomes of children requiring prehospital CPR after traumatic injury was undertaken. Outcome variables were stratified by survival, death, and CPR on-arrival. Results Of 169 children requiring prehospital CPR, there were 28 survivors and 141 deaths. Of 69 children requiring CPR on-arrival to the ED, there were no survivors. There were 70 females and 99 males. Mean age of survivors was 3.4 years; nonsurvivors, 8.8 years; and 4.6 years for CPR on-arrival. Thirty-nine percent of all injuries were sustained in motor vehicle collisions; 20%, motor pedestrian collisions; 19%, assaults; 7%, falls; 4%, all terrain vehicle/motorcycle/bicycle; and 4%, gunshot wounds. Forty-two percent of all patients expired in the ED, whereas 34% expired in the intensive care unit. Eighty-seven percent of CPR on-arrival patients expired in the ED. Fifty-five percent of survivors had full neurologic recovery. Conclusion Although mortality was extremely high for children requiring CPR in the field After traumatic injury, it was absolute for those arriving at the ED still undergoing CPR.
A Determination of Live-Weight Caloric Conversion Factors for Laboratory Mice

Regression equations are described which allow the calculation of the calories of energy consumed by a carnivore fed on whole laboratory mice (Mus musculus) given the individual weights of the mice eaten. The live—weight caloric density of mice weighing 4.8 g or less may be determined by the linear relationship: kcal/g live weight = 0.657 + 0.306 (g live body weight). Mice weighing more than 4.8 g may be considered to have a uniform live—weight caloric density of 2.14 ° 0.08 (SE) kcal/g. These conversion factors may be used for either frozen or freshly killed laboratory mice or laboratory raised Peromyscus polionotus. Fat indices (g fat/g lean dry weight) were not correlated with body weight. However, water indices (g water/g lean dry weight) decreased exponentially with increasing body weight. There was no change in the caloric value of the lean dry weight of the mice with increasing body weight. See full-text article at JSTOR
Essential Role for Smad3 in Regulating MCP-1 Expression and Vascular Inflammation

Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β 1 is a pleiotropic growth factor with known inhibitory effects on immune cell activation. However, the specific mechanism(s) and in vivo significance of the effectors of TGF-β 1 modulation in the context of vascular inflammation are not well characterized. The chemokine monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 is critical for the recruitment of macrophages in inflammatory disease states. In this study, we provide definitive evidence that the ability of TGF-β 1 to inhibit MCP-1 expression is mediated via its effector Smad3. Adenoviral overexpression of Smad3 potently repressed inducible expression of endogenous MCP-1. Conversely, TGF-β 1 inhibition of cytokine-mediated induction of MCP-1 expression was completely blocked in Smad3-deficient macrophages. Consistent with this impaired response, cardiac allografts in Smad3-deficient mice developed accelerated intimal hyperplasia with increased infiltration of adventitial macrophages expressing MCP-1. Previous studies show that MCP-1 inducibility is regulated by an AP-1 complex composed of c-Jun/c-Fos heterodimers. We demonstrate that the inhibitory effect of Smad3 occurs via a novel antagonistic effect of Smad3 on AP-1 DNA-protein binding and activity. Thus, Smad3 plays an essential role in modulating vascular inflammation characteristic of transplant-associated arteriopathy, is important in regulating MCP-1 expression, and plays a critical role in the ability of TGF-β 1 to repress stimuli from a major inflammatory signaling pathway.
Thermal Dose Is Related to Duration of Local Control in Canine Sarcomas Treated with Thermoradiotherapy

Purpose: To test that prospective delivery of higher thermal dose is associated with longer tumor control duration. Experimental Design: 122 dogs with a heatable soft tissue sarcoma were randomized to receive a low (2-5 CEM43°CT90) or high (20-50 CEM43°CT90) thermal dose in combination with radiotherapy. Most dogs (90%) received four to six hyperthermia treatments over 5 weeks. Results: In the primary analysis, median (95% confidence interval) duration of local control in the low-dose group was 1.2 (0.7-2.1) years versus 1.9 (1.4-3.2) years in the high-dose group (log-rank P = 0.28). The probability (95% confidence interval) of tumor control at 1 year in the low-dose versus high-dose groups was 0.57 (0.43-0.70) versus 0.74 (0.62-0.86), respectively. Using multivariable procedure, thermal dose group ( P = 0.023), total duration of heating ( P = 0.008), tumor volume ( P = 0.041), and tumor grade ( P = 0.027) were significantly related to duration of local tumor control. When correcting for volume, grade, and duration of heating, dogs in the low-dose group were 2.3 times as likely to experience local failure. Conclusions: Thermal dose is directly related to local control duration in irradiated canine sarcomas. Longer heating being associated with shorter local tumor control was unexpected. However, the effect of thermal dose on tumor control was stronger than for heating duration. The heating duration effect is possibly mediated through deleterious effects on tumor oxygenation. These results are the first to show the value of prospectively controlled thermal dose in achieving local tumor control with thermoradiotherapy, and they establish a paradigm for prescribing thermoradiotherapy and writing a thermal prescription.
5 GHz indoor channel characterization: measurements and models

The advent of the HIPERLAN standard in Europe and the emergence of the U-NII bands in the USA allow the development of high bit-rate (>20Mbps) indoor wireless products at 5 GHz. The home is a fertile application ground for such technology. This has prompted the need to investigate the domestic indoor wireless propagation environment at 5 GHz. From measurements in houses, two empirical models were proposed to describe the path loss variation with distance throughout a house. Both models are based on the log-distance metric. One model is specific to individual rooms in a house whereas the other is a worst-case generalisation for all rooms on a floor.
The prediction of change: Normative neuropsychological trajectories.

While the application of normative standards is vital to the practice of clinical neuropsychology, data regarding normative change remains scarce despite the frequency of serial assessments. Based on 285 normal individuals, we provide co-normed baseline data with demographic adjustments and test-retest standardized regression based (SRB) models for three time points for several measures. These models delineate normal, expected change across time, and yield standardized z-scores that are comparable across tests. Using a new approach, performance on any previous trial was accounted for in the subsequent models of change, yielding serial normative formulas that model change trajectories rather than simple change from point to point. These equations provide indices of deviation from expected baseline and change for use in clinical or research settings.
Femtosecond photon echoes in molecular aggregates

Two-pulse four-wave-mixing signals from molecular aggregates, including effects of two-exciton states, static disorder, and exciton-phonon interaction represented by arbitrary spectral densities are calculated. Three types of contributions to the signal are identified. The first, reflecting exciton self-correlation, is similar to the photon echo from disordered two-level systems and dominates the signal for long time-delays. The second is related to correlations of one-exciton states, whereas the third reflects correlations between one- and two-exciton states. The information gained by completely resolving the signal field (both amplitude and phase) is analyzed using Wigner spectrograms.
Neural correlates of action observation and execution in 14-month-old infants: an event-related EEG desynchronization study

There is increasing interest in neurobiological methods for investigating the shared representation of action perception and production in early development. We explored the extent and regional specificity of EEG desynchronization in the infant alpha frequency range (6–9 Hz) during action observation and execution in 14-month-old infants. Desynchronization during execution was restricted to central electrode sites, while action observation was associated with a broader desynchronization across frontal, central, and parietal regions. The finding of regional specificity in the overlap between EEG responses to action execution and observation suggests that the rhythm seen in the 6–9 Hz range over central sites in infancy shares certain properties with the adult mu rhythm. The magnitude of EEG desynchronization to action perception and production appears to be smaller for infants than for adults and older children, suggesting developmental change in this measure.
Toxoplasmosis Hospitalizations in the United States, 2008, and Trends, 1993–2008

Background. Toxoplasmosis-related hospitalizations often occur in persons with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and other causes of immunosuppression. Methods. Using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, we examined trends in toxoplasmosis-related hospitalizations by HIV infection status from 1993 through 2008, and rates by sex and race or ethnicity in 2008. The NIS is designed to represent a 20% sample of US community hospitals and currently includes information on up to 8 million discharges per year from 1000 hospitals. We used International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes 130–130.9 for toxoplasmosis and 042-044/795.8/795.71/V08 for HIV infection. Results. Estimated HIV-associated toxoplasmosis hospitalizations increased from 9395 in 1993 to 10 583 in 1995 (P 5 .0002), then dropped to 3643 in 2001 (P , .0001), with similar levels thereafter. The rate of HIV-associated toxoplasmosis hospitalizations among all HIV-related hospitalizations decreased from 3.33% in 1993 to 1.25% in 2008 (P , .0001). Estimated non–HIV-associated toxoplasmosis hospitalizations were less variable from 1993 to 2008 (range, 386–819; 0.0020% in 1993, 0.0015% in 2008). In 2008, the rates of both HIV- and non– HIV-associated toxoplasmosis hospitalizations were higher in Hispanic persons than in white persons. Conclusions. HIV-associated toxoplasmosis hospitalizations dropped markedly after 1995 when highly active antiretroviral therapy was introduced; however, hospitalizations decreased relatively little after 2000, suggesting late diagnosis of some HIV-infected persons or antiretroviral therapy failure. Non–HIV-associated toxoplasmosis hospitalizations have been more stable. The rates of toxoplasmosis-related hospitalizations varied markedly among racial and ethnic groups.
The range of English spelling

There is nothing innately funny or humorous about English spelling, though its vagaries have lent themselves to efforts in that way: Hints on Pronunciation for ForeignersI take it you already know of tough and bough and cough and dough?Others may stumble but not youOn hiccough, thorough, laugh and through.Beware of heard, a dreadful wordThat looks like beard, and sounds like bird… [from a letter by J. Bland published in the London Sunday Times, Jan. 3, 1965; cited by Chomsky (1970) and by Adams (1990)]
Urinary Excretion Kinetics for Evaluation of Drug Absorption I: Solution Rate Limited and Nonsolution Rate Limited Absorption of Aspirin and Benzyl Penicillin; Absorption Rate of Sulfaethylthiadiazole

The use of urinary excretion data to evaluate drug absorption was discussed from the theoretical viewpoint and results of studies conducted to determine absorption of aspirin, benzyl penicillin, and sulfaethylthiadiazole were interpreted according to these considerations. It was shown that the absorption of aspirin was apparently rate limited by the time necessary for this drug to dissolve in vivo and that benzyl penicillin absorption appeared to be rate limited by the intrinsic solution rate properties of the salts used. The absortion rate of sulfaethylthiadiazole was calculated by means of excretion rate data and the results obtained shown to be in excellent agreement with calculation of the same quantity made from previously reported blood level data. The calculated absorption rate of this drug was about 1,200 mg./hr., fifteen to thirty minutes after the ingestion of 1-Gm. doses.
Ethnic disparities in patient recall of physician recommendations of diagnostic and treatment procedures for coronary disease

Despite the proven benefits of many cardiac procedures, some are used less frequently for African Americans than for white patients with known or suspected coronary disease. This study explored differences between ethnic groups that may affect patient recall of physician recommendations of cardiac procedures. Also examined were patients' responses when asked about adhering to those recommendations. The data examined were collected from interviews with 1,333 African American and white hospital inpatients with known coronary disease admitted to the Birmingham-Black Health Seeking for Coronary Heart Disease Project (1989-1990) in Alabama. Respondents were asked to recall previous health care encounters, physician recommendations of cardiac procedures, and adherence to those recommendations. Compared with whites, fewer African American patients recalled physicians recommending some cardiac procedures. If procedure recommendations were recalled, no ethnic differences were found in patient recall of adhering to those recommendations. Predictors of recall of the recommended procedures were identified by multivariate logistic regression. Patients' knowledge of having coronary disease was the common factor that predicted their recall of all cardiac procedures. Other predictor variables included some cardiac risk factors and symptoms, socioeconomic status, and ethnicity. Although health care practice is influenced by many factors, it is important to examine variables that may lead to a reduction in ethnic disparities in coronary disease morbidity and mortality.
The proteasome, a novel protease regulated by multiple mechanisms.

Investigators have long recognized the potential importance of protein degradation as a mechanism for regulating levels of cellular proteins (1‐3). Nevertheless, only recent studies of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway have shown how extensively proteolysis is involved in the regulation of crucial cellular processes such as: progression of the cell cycle, oncogenesis, transcription, development, growth and atrophy of developed tissues, flux of substrates through metabolic pathways, selective elimination of abnormal proteins, and antigen processing. The role of a single protease, the proteasome, in such a large and diverse set of events suggests that this enzyme is highly regulated. In fact, regulation of proteasome function occurs on multiple levels and is extraordinarily complex. We first will review briefly the structure of the proteasome because of its inherent role in the regulation of proteasome function. We then will describe emerging themes regarding the multiple mechanisms by which proteasome function is regulated. Details of these themes demonstrate that the proteasome operates within a novel and surprisingly complex proteolytic system that defines a new paradigm for intracellular protein degradation.
Effects of hawthorn on the progression of heart failure in a rat model of aortic constriction.

Study Objective. To determine the effects of hawthorn (Crataegus oxycantha) on left ventricular remodeling and function in pressure overload-induced heart failure in an animal model. Design. Randomized, parallel, dose-ranging animal study. Setting. University research facility. Animals. Seventy-four male Sprague-Dawley rats; 44 were included in the final analysis. Intervention. Rats underwent a sham operation or aortic constriction. Rats subjected to the sham operation were treated with vehicle (10% agar-agar), and those subjected to aortic constriction were treated with vehicle or hawthorn (C. oxycantha special extract WS 1442) 1.3, 13, or 130 mg/kg for 5 months. Measurements and Main Results. Rats and their hearts were weighed, and echocardiographic measurements were performed at baseline and at 2, 3, 4, and 5 months after aortic constriction. Protein expression for markers of fibrosis and for atrial natriuretic factor was also measured. Aortic constriction increased the left ventricular:body weight ratio by 53% in vehicle-treated rats; Hawthorn treatment did not significantly affect the aortic constriction-induced increase in this ratio. Left ventricular volumes and dimensions at systole and diastole significantly increased 5 months after aortic constriction compared with baseline in rats given vehicle (> 20% increase, p<0.05) but not in those given hawthorn 130 mg/kg (< 10% increase). After aortic constriction, the velocity of circumferential shortening significantly decreased in the vehicle group but not in the medium- or high-dose groups. In the aortic constriction-vehicle group, the induced increases in messenger RNA expression for atrial natriuretic factor (∼1000%) and fibronectin (∼80%) were significantly attenuated by highdose hawthorn treatment by approximately 80% and 50%, respectively. Conclusion. Hawthorn treatment exhibited modest beneficial effects on cardiac remodeling and function during long-term, pressure overload-induced heart failure in rats.
Continuum modeling of three-dimensional truss-like space structures

A mathematical and computational analysis capability has been developed for calculating the effective mechanical properties of three-dimensional periodic truss-like structures. Two models are studied in detail. The first, called the octetruss model, is a three-dimensional extension of a two-dimensional model, and the second is a cubic model. Symmetry considerations are employed as a first step to show that the specific octetruss model has four independent constants and that the cubic model has two. The actual values of these constants are determined by averaging the contributions of each rod element to the overall structure stiffness. The individual rod member contribution to the overall stiffness is obtained by a three-dimensional coordinate transformation. The analysis shows that the effective three-dimensional elastic properties of both models are relatively close to each other.
Coping with uncertainty

This issue of IEEE Pervasive Computing focuses on building systems that deal with uncertainty. "Bayesian Filtering for Location Estimation" discusses how to reduce uncertainty in location estimates through statistical techniques. "Coping with Uncertainty in a Location-Based Game" discusses the impact of uncertainty in location sensing on user experience. It describes this impact in the context of a game and presents the authors' attempts to overcome the effects of this uncertainty. "Managing Context Information in Mobile Devices" describes a context management framework and API that simplifies the programming complexity of developing systems that handle uncertainty. Finally, "Using Trust for Secure Collaboration in Uncertain Environments" addresses the problem of uncertainty in the context of security. This uncertainty leads to risk, and the authors describe techniques to handle this risk.
Conservation process of water-damaged herbarium specimens at the Harvard University Herbaria

Abstract In December 2009, following an upgrade of the Harvard University Herbaria's heating and cooling system, a pipe burst in one room, resulting in the soaking of specimens in the adjacent cases. The soaked specimens were removed, and the degree of water damage was assessed. The saturated specimens were placed in plastic bags and immediately transferred to a walk-in freezer set at −20°C. Slightly wet specimens were spread out to air dry. Restoration of the frozen specimens involved tests to determine the most effective method for restoring them to usable condition. Test specimens of no scientific value were intentionally soaked, then dried using two procedures: (1) silica gel desiccation and (2) vacuum freeze drying. Freeze-dried specimens did not adhere to each other as much as did those that were dried with silica gel and was the method chosen. Upon their return, the dried specimens were sorted into groups: (1) those that were immediately ready to be returned to the collection, (2) those requiring m...
Reconfigurable Nanorod Films: An in Situ Study of the Relationship between the Tunable Nanorod Orientation and the Optical Properties of Their Self-Assembled Thin Films

Understanding and controlling the self-assembly of colloidal nanostructures into ordered superstructures present scientifically interesting and technologically important research challenges. Here, we investigated the self-assembly, disordering, and reassembly of colloidal CdSe/CdS dot/rod nanorod (NR) films. We monitored the structural evolution of the NR films in real time using in situ grazing incidence small-angle and wide-angle X-ray scattering. In dry films, self-assembled from colloidal suspensions, NRs are oriented with the long axis normal to the substrate, but the preferred NR orientation is lost when dichlorobenzene vapor is introduced. Multiprobe optical and structural experiments allowed us to directly correlate the NR superlattice structure and optical absorption. We found that the optical absorption of the NR films is significantly enhanced in disordered NR films compared to NR arrays in which the rods are oriented normal to the plane of the substrate and parallel to the optical axis. Basic ...
Effects of Pressor and Depressor Agents on Pulmonary and Systemic Pressures of Normotensives and Hypertensives.

Summary and ConclusionsThe pulmonary and brachial artery pressures and their responses to pressor and depressor agents have been studied in normotensive and hypertensive subjects. Pulmonary artery pressure is within the same range in both groups. The response of pulmonary artery pressure to pressor and depressor agents used is also the same in both groups. It is emphasized that the elevation of pulmonary artery pressure due to angiotonin, epinephrine, and nor-epinephrine is the same in hypertensive and normotensive subjects. It is concluded that none of these or any similarly acting substances plays a part in sustaining the blood pressure elevation in patients with chronic essential hypertension.
Abstract 3165: Metastatic tumor evolution delineates clinically important oncogenic drivers in diffuse gastric cancer.

We conducted a detailed genetic and functional analysis of personalized tumor evolution in a case of diffuse gastric cancer. Leveraging the unique genetics of an individual with a confirmed germline mutation in the causative CDH1 tumor suppressor gene, we identified candidate drivers for a primary tumor in the stomach and a metastatic recurrence in the left ovary, referred to as a Krukenberg tumor. Using genome sequencing, we demonstrate that the primary and metastatic tumors share the majority of cancer driver events including biallelic CDH1 and TP53 mutations consistent with a common genetic origin. The primary gastric cancer displayed amplification of FGFR2, a gene that encodes the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptor 2 with multiple small molecule inhibitors in clinical therapy development. Tumor evolution and genetic divergence was clearly evident with the ovarian metastasis lacking the FGFR2 amplification and displaying its own subset of mutations and genomic aberrations. Namely, the metastatic tumor had unique biallelic events affecting TGFBR2, a critical gene in the TGF-β (tumor growth factor) signaling pathway that has not previously implicated in diffuse gastric cancer. To determine the independent oncogenic attributes of these separate pathways, we used a diffuse gastric cancer cell line and organoid model system to replicate and study the context of the known and candidate drivers found in the index patient9s primary versus metastatic sites. We demonstrated that in the context of biallelic CDH1 and TP53 functional loss, the addition of either FGFR2 or TGFBR2 drivers independently lead to gastric cancer. This result supports the independent cancer driver roles of the FGF and TGF-β signaling pathways in metastatic tumor evolution in diffuse gastric cancer. Our study has implications regarding personalized cancer medicine approaches in patients with metastatic gastric cancer. Citation Format: Lincoln D. Nadauld, Sarah Garcia, Georges Natsoulis, John M. Bell, Erik Hopmans, Hua Xu, Reetesh K. Pai, John F. Regan, James M. Ford, Calvin J. Kuo, Hanlee Ji. Metastatic tumor evolution delineates clinically important oncogenic drivers in diffuse gastric cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3165. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-3165
Life Cycle Assessment of Biobased p-Xylene Production

A general framework implementing process design, simulation, heat integration, and life cycle assessment (LCA) is illustrated to develop a sustainable route, which is particularly exploited to evaluate the environmental impacts of the p-xylene production from both generation biomass feedstocks. Noticeably, the lignocellulose-based p-xylene is comparable with the petroleum-based p-xylene, while the starch-based p-xylene appears less environmentally friendly. In the latter case, the cultivation and processing of maize starch and heating requirements dominate total environmental impacts. The main contributions for the lignocellulose-based p-xylene arise from the cultivation of biomass and the large requirements of nonrenewable chemicals (i.e., the makeup solvent (THF) and ethylene). Sensitivity analysis indicates that high selectivity is also favored to achieve better environmental performance, while the impacts of conversion are negligible and discovers a large variance from different biomass feedstocks. Th...
MPTH-04LOMUSTINE AS SALVAGE THERAPY IN PATIENTS WITH RECURRENT HIGH GRADE GLIOMA

BACKGROUND: Nitrosoureas are frequently used in treatment of patients with high grade gliomas (HGG). We reviewed our institutional experience with HGG patients treated with lomustine. METHODS: After IRB approval, Cleveland Clinic's database was used to identify HGG patients treated at our institution between 2007 and 2014. Multivariable analysis was conducted with use of a COX proportional hazards model and a stepwise selection algorithm that used p = .10 and p = .05 for the entry and retention criteria. RESULTS: 98 HGG patients treated with lomustine were included for this analysis. 53 patients received lomustine alone, 28 received lomustine and bevacizumab, and 17 received lomustine with other agents with or without bevacizumab. The median PFS of lomustine with bevacizumab (n = 8) versus lomustine alone (n = 11) was 13 months versus 3.5 months(p = .003); while those with EGFR amplified tumors in lomustine with bevacizumab (n = 6) versus lomustine alone (n = 8) had a median PFS of 7 months versus 5.5 months, respectively (p = 0.98). CONCLUSION: Lomustine and bevacizumab improved PFS in recurrent EGFR wild type HGG in this series. EGFR amplification status may serve as a molecular marker that predicts benefit with lomustine and bevacizumab combination.
Improved design and analysis on aerodynamics for a propeller-driven long-endurance UAV

A high-lift two-element airfoil was designed according to the features and requirements of a propeller-driven long-endurance UAV.The two-element wing,which was stretched from the designed high-lift two-element airfoil,was mounted on a propeller-driven UAV.The aerodynamic characteristics of the UAV was simulated by the RANS method and the results showed that the two-element wing UAV could produce more lift and realize maximum endurance factor at high loitering lift coefficients.This indicates that the design ideas and methods in this paper are effective.
The Rats of God: Pynchon, Joyce, Beckett, and the Carnivalization of Religion

Numerous recent commentators have pointed out the advantages of using the theories of Mikhail Bakhtin to read the works of Thomas Pynchon, James Joyce, and Samuel Beckett, though, as far as I know, no one has attempted to read all three simultaneously in this way. But viewing all three of these writers through the common optic of Bakhtin reveals certain family resemblances among them, in particular their participation in the Menippean tradition privileged by Bakhtin. Such a reading strategy also highlights the intensely political vision that informs the works of these three writers, all of whom mount fierce assaults on authoritarian ideologies of all kinds. Since a full study of the political similarities among Pynchon, Joyce, and Beckett is obviously beyond the scope of any single essay, I will concentrate here on the ways these writers use organized religion as a central instance of the authoritarian ideologies they oppose, particularly the ways they carnivalize religion by juxtaposing the high-minded idealistic claims of the Church with images of the mortality and physicality Christianity attempts to repress. One specific image cluster reappears in the work of all three authors. Pynchon, Joyce, and Beckett all use rats as images of abject physicality to subvert the spiritual/physical hierarchy maintained in traditional Christian thought.
SSDAlloc: Hybrid RAM/SSD Memory Allocation Made Easy

We introduce SSDAlloc, a hybrid main memory management system that allows developers to treat solid-state disk (SSD) as an extension of the RAM in a system. SSDAlloc moves the SSD upward in the memory hierarchy, usable as a larger, slower form of RAM instead of just a cache for the hard drive. Using SSDAlloc, applications can nearly transparently extend their memory footprints to hundreds of gigabytes and beyond without restructuring, well beyond the RAM capacities of most servers. Additionally, SSDAlloc can extract 90% of the SSD’s raw performance while increasing the lifetime of the SSD by up to 32 times. Other approaches either require intrusive application changes or deliver only 6–30% of the SSD’s raw performance.
The Family Herpesviridae: General Description, Taxonomy, and Classification

In the last 50 years, more than 80 distinct herpesviruses have been isolated from a wide variety of animal species. These viruses, comprising the family Herpesviridae, share structural features of their virions. As listed in Table I, the herpesvirus virion is made of four architectural elements: (1) a core consisting of a fibrillar spool on which the DNA is wrapped; (2) an icosadeltahedral capsid containing 12 pentameric and 150 hexameric capsomeres; (3) variable amounts of globular material asymmetrically arranged around the capsid and designated as the tegument; and (4) a membrane or envelope surrounding the entire structure (Wildy et al., 1960; Roizman and Furlong, 1974). The virions of the various herpesviruses cannot be differentiated by electron-microscopic examination. The viruses are, however, readily differentiated on the basis of biological properties, the immunological specificity of their virions, and the size, base composition, and arrangement of their genomes. In fact, few virus families exhibit as much variation as the members of the family Herpesviridae.
Defining, Measuring, and Improving Resilience of Electric Power Systems

There is an emergence of interest in the area of power grid resilience; however, there is not a common definition of what it means, what metrics should be used, or how it should be differentiated from existing NERC (National Energy Reliability Council) and state-based reliability definitions. This chapter provides a definition of resilience and associated metrics that can be used to quantitatively describe consequences to a high-impact threat or group of threats. A methodology is then presented, which can be used to improve system resilience through the optimal selection of infrastructure investments or operating changes subject to various constraints, including financial. Keywords: resilience; reliability; consequence; grid; transmission; distribution; stochastic optimization; value at risk; all hazard
Resisting the Neoliberalization of Higher Education: A Challenge to Commonsensical Understandings of Commodities and Consumption:

In this article, we explore commodities and consumption, two concepts that are central to critiques of the neoliberal university. By engaging with these concepts, we explore the limits of neolibera...
Engineering Literacy and Engagement in Kindergarten Classrooms

Background Little is understood about how kindergarten students respond to literacy-enriched engineering activities and how engineering-centered literature (picture and story books) can be used to support engineering engagement and content understanding. Purpose This study sought to understand the effect of engineering-centered literature and academic conversations to enhance linguistically diverse kindergarten students' engagement with engineering content. Design/Method A withdrawal single-case study with multiple measures was conducted to document the effects of the literacy-enriched engineering intervention program. The frequencies of three types of engagement were recorded: behavioral, affective, and cognitive engagement. Participation in discussions was also recorded to monitor academic conversations. Six female kindergarten students whose first language was not English, representing three ability levels, were targeted for data collection. Results The relative value of the types of engagement and discussion participation increased. These increases generally declined when the intervention was withdrawn. All ability levels showed significant increase during intervention. Engagement peaked during hands-on engineering design activities for all students. A second peak occurred during the engineering picture book read-aloud with active engagement activities. Conclusion The combination of activities in the intervention is effective for English language learners and can improve engagement for all ability levels. Academic conversations enhanced all lessons by increasing discussion participation. Results show a functional relationship between enjoying the learning activities and being motivated to participate in discussion. Taken together, engineering-centered literature and academic conversations are effective tools for broadening meaningful participation in engineering education.
Utilizing open source software in teaching practice-based software engineering courses

Software engineering courses face the challenge of covering all the stages of analysis, development, maintenance, and support while addressing practical issues such as dealing with large codebase. Free and open source software (FOSS) and more specifically humanitarian free and open source software (HFOSS) have been used by many educators to bring many add-ons to computer science education such as innovation and motivation. In addition, FOSS/HFOSS could give a better understanding of real world projects to students. In this work, we are looking at some activities developed for teaching upper division undergraduate and graduate software engineering courses using open source software projects and analyze the impacts of using this approach on students.
Compressive Sensing-Based Detection With Multimodal Dependent Data

Detection with high-dimensional multimodal data is a challenging problem when there are complex inter- and intra- modal dependencies. While several approaches have been proposed for dependent data fusion (e.g., based on copula theory), their advantages come at a high price in terms of computational complexity. In this paper, we treat the detection problem with compressive sensing (CS) where compression at each sensor is achieved via low-dimensional random projections. CS has recently been exploited to solve detection problems under various assumptions on the signals of interest; however, its potential for dependent data fusion has not been explored adequately. We exploit the capability of CS to capture statistical properties of uncompressed data in order to compute decision statistics for detection in the compressed domain. First, a Gaussian approximation is employed to perform likelihood ratio (LR) based detection with compressed data. In this approach, intermodal dependence is captured via a compressed version of the covariance matrix of the concatenated (temporally and spatially) uncompressed data vector. We show that, under certain conditions, this approach with a small number of compressed measurements per node leads to enhanced performance compared to detection with uncompressed data using widely considered suboptimal approaches. Second, we develop a nonparametric approach where a decision statistic based on the second order statistics of uncompressed data is computed in the compressed domain. The second approach is promising over the first approach and the other related nonparametric approaches when multimodal data is highly correlated at the expense of slightly increased computational complexity.
Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome: Time for a Reappraisal

The opioid abuse problem in the United States has grown into an epidemic, with an estimated 2.5 million Americans currently dependent on heroin or prescription pain medications.1 One of the many consequences of this growing public health crisis has been a marked increase in the number of infants born to mothers who used opioids during pregnancy. The rate of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), the syndrome of withdrawal these infants may suffer after birth, quintupled from 2000 to 2012.2 Often, these infants occupy NICU beds for weeks or even months.3 Despite these skyrocketing numbers, long lengths of stay, and an enormous strain on the medical system, our standard management of these infants has remained largely unchanged for decades. With a critical reappraisal of our current approach and an eye toward innovation, we can alter our entire paradigm for managing infants with NAS and create opportunities for significant improvements in both patient outcomes and health care expenditures. The current approach used by many institutions for the management of NAS has its roots in a study published >40 years ago. In 1975, the Finnegan Neonatal Abstinence Scoring System (FNASS) was developed and is now widely accepted as the primary tool to assess infants with NAS. The FNASS is a 21-item tool that lists signs of withdrawal and assigns a point value to …
Equivalent line limit calculation using available thermal transfer capability

Power system equivalents have been used for faster simulations, but not much interest was on calculating equivalent line limits and this limits the use of equivalents in simulations. Authors used total transfer capability in assigning equivalent line limits in previous papers and this paper utilizes available transfer capability in doing so. A detailed procedure of the proposed method is described with a small 4-bus case. An exact solution case and a non-exact solution case examples are provided. For non-exact solution cases, solutions are bounded with upper and lower estimates. Also, the proposed method applied to the IEEE 118-bus case and results are provided and compared with those with total transfer capability.
Influence of Modern Stormwater Management Practices on Transport of Road Salt to Surface Waters

Application of road salts in regions with colder climates is leading to ground and surface water contamination. However, we know little about how modern stormwater management practices affect the movement of road salt through urban watersheds. We investigated groundwater contamination and transport of road salts at two stormwater ponds in Baltimore County, Maryland. In association with the ponds, we documented a plume of contaminated groundwater that resulted in Cl– loadings to the adjacent stream of 6574 to 40 008 kg Cl– per winter, depending on winter snowfall. We also monitored Na+ and Cl– ion concentrations and the temporal dynamics of conductivity at a range of stream sites in watersheds with and without stormwater management ponds. Streams draining watersheds with stormwater ponds had consistently higher conductivities and Cl– concentrations during base flow conditions and often exhibited greater peaks in Cl– and conductivity associated with winter storms and subsequent melting events, despite the d...
Effects of Warming on Invasive Phragmites australis and Native Spartina patens Seed Germination Rates and Implications for Response to Climate Change

Abstract The introduced Eurasian subspecies of Phragmites australis (Common Reed) is a common invader of North American coastal wetlands where it outcompetes native high-marsh species such as Spartina patens (Saltmeadow Cordgrass). Although Common Reed is known to colonize coastal marshes via clonal replication, recent research has indicated that germination from seed may also be an important mechanism by which this species spreads in saltmarsh systems. Sexual reproduction via outcrossing introduces genetic diversity into populations; thus, an increase in seed germination may have implications for the plant's invasiveness. I tested the effect of temperatures projected to occur by the year 2100 on germination rates of 2 species: invasive Common Reed, and Saltmeadow Cordgrass. Projected end-of-century temperatures doubled Common Reed germination, but inhibited Saltmarsh Cordgrass germination. The potential for variability in responses to warming among Common Reed and Saltmeadow Cordgrass populations at larg...
Influence of defects on the thermal conductivity of compressed LiF

Defect formation in LiF, which is used as an observation window in ramp and shock experiments, has significant effects on its transmission properties. Given the extreme conditions of the experiments it is hard to measure the change in transmission directly. Using molecular dynamics, we estimate the change in conductivity as a function of the concentration of likely point and extended defects using a Green-Kubo technique with careful treatment of size effects. With this data, we form a model of the mean behavior and its estimated error; then, we use this model to predict the conductivity of a large sample of defective LiF resulting from a direct simulation of ramp compression as a demonstration of the accuracy of its predictions. Given estimates of defect densities in a LiF window used in an experiment, the model can be used to correct the observations of thermal energy through the window. In addition, the methodology we develop is extensible to modeling, with quantified uncertainty, the effects of a variety of defects on the thermal conductivity of solid materials.
Optimal Leverage, Profitability and the Decision to Go Public

I consider a market where firms compete under costly-state-verification (CSV) and can commit to disclose information about future profits. The cost of disclosure increases in the signal to noise ratio, and disclosure might benefit other firms by improving the information environment. I characterize the jointly optimal disclosure policy and capital structure, and show that the two are deeply intertwined. The optimal capital structure consists of a mixture of debt and equity, and leverage is negatively correlated to transparency. Because of information externalities, firms under-disclose relative to the constrained best, and equilibrium leverage is excessively high. Regulators might intervene setting disclosure and capital standards.The limited commitment extension of the model provides similar qualitativeinsights, and an even stronger role for regulation.
The 50/50 Block Schedule: Impact on Residents' and Preceptors' Perceptions, Patient Outcomes, and Continuity of Care

ABSTRACTProblem: Traditionally, internal medicine continuity clinic consists of a half day per week, regardless of rotation, which may create conflict with ongoing inpatient responsibilities. A 50/50 block schedule, which alternates inpatient and outpatient rotations and concentrates continuity clinic during outpatient rotations, minimizes conflicting responsibilities. However, its impact on patient care has not been widely studied. Continuity is a concern, and intervisit continuity in particular has not been evaluated. Intervention: We implemented a 50/50 block model with “clinic buddy” system to optimize continuity and assessed outcomes pre- and postintervention. Residents alternated inpatient and elective blocks, with clinic 1 full day per week on elective blocks only. Resident and preceptor perceptions were measured using 5-point Likert surveys to evaluate impact on clinic experience and workload. The authors calculated visit and intervisit continuity using a Usual Provider of Care index and measured ...
ORIGIN OF THE CARNEGIE QUARRY SANDSTONE (MORRISON FORMATION, JURASSIC) AT DINOSAUR NATIONAL MONUMENT, JENSEN, UTAH

The Carnegie Quarry at Dinosaur National Monument was excavated in the Quarry Sandstone bed of the Brushy Basin Member of the Morrison Formation (Jurassic). The Quarry Sandstone is a discontinuous, lenticular, heterolithic unit that rests upon drab, greenish-gray claystones and is capped by reddish-brown mudstones. The underlying drab claystones are interpreted as being deposited in an overbank interfluvial wetland or lacustrine environment. By tracing the sandstone and studying detailed measured stratigraphic sections along its 1.8-km outcrop belt, this interval can be shown to be a complex of intergrading sandstone bodies and mudstone units. The Quarry Sandstone interval is reinterpreted as being deposited within a crevasse splay complex. The lowest part of this deposit is a laterally continuous, tabular unit composed of polymictic sandstone and granule conglomerate that directly overlies lacustrine claystones. This unit contains re-sedimented carbonate clasts from the surrounding Brushy Basin, displays a gradational to sharp basal contact, and is interpreted as the initial crevasse splay deposit. Overlying the tabular basal unit are numerous, laterally continuous, upward-coarsening sandstone bodies interpreted as distributary mouth bars. The interpreted distributary mouth bar deposits are cut by lenticular, trough cross-bedded, upward fining sandstone units exhibiting erosional bases. These sandstone lenses are interpreted as distributary channels within the crevasse splay. They, in turn, are overlain by discontinuous sandstone bodies that interfinger with, and are overlain by reddish brown and variegated, rooted mudstones containing calcic paleosols. The Carnegie dinosaur quarry was excavated in one of the main distributary channels of this splay complex.