cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Regression-Based Analytic Model for Dynamic Resource Provisioning of Multi-Tier Applications

The multi-tier implementation has become the industry standard for developing scalable client-server enterprise applications. Since these applications are performance sensitive, effective models for dynamic resource provisioning and for delivering quality of service to these applications become critical. Workloads in such environments are characterized by client sessions of interdependent requests with changing transaction mix and load over time, making model adaptivity to the observed workload changes a critical requirement for model effectiveness. In this work, we apply a regression-based approximation of the CPU demand of client transactions on a given hardware. Then we use this approximation in an analytic model of a simple network of queues, each queue representing a tier, and show the approximation's effectiveness for modeling diverse workloads with a changing transaction mix over time. Using the TPC- W benchmark and its three different transaction mixes we investigate factors that impact the efficiency and accuracy of the proposed performance prediction models. Experimental results show that this regression-based approach provides a simple and powerful solution for efficient capacity planning and resource provisioning of multi-tier applications under changing workload conditions.
Semidirect products of central groups and groups with equal uniformities

Let H and K be topological groups, and let H Ⓢ K denote the semidirect product determined by a homomorphism (η): H → A ( K ), where A ( K ) is the automorphism group of K. In this paper we consider two restricted types of semidirect products. We say that H Ⓢ K is a semidirect product of type I if η( h ) is the identity on Z ( K ), the centre of K , for each h є H , and of type II if η( H ) є I ( K ), where I ( K ) is the group of inner automorphisms of K . We obtain conditions under which a type II semidirect product of two groups with equal uniformities has equal uniformities, and conditions under which a type I (hence type II) product of two central groups is central. A group G is central if G / Z ( G ) is compact, where Z ( G ) is the centre of G .
Poly[bis‐(p‐toluene sulphonate) of 2,4‐Hexadiyne‐1,6‐diol] Langmuir‐Blodgett Thin Film Formation and Characterization

Coherent thin films of bis‐(p‐toluene sulphonate) of 2,4‐hexadiyne‐1,6‐diol (TS) and its polymer, PTS, were prepared by the Langmuir‐Blodgett method. Even though TS has no amphiphilic groups at each end, it has an isotherm curve similar to stearic acid and can be transferred to a flat solid substrate under a certain pressure. Polarized UV‐Vis spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to characterize this kind of LB thin film's anisotropy, surface morphology, and topography.
Different types of secondary information in the genetic code

Whole-genome and functional analyses suggest a wealth of secondary or auxiliary genetic information (AGI) within the redundancy component of the genetic code. Although there are multiple aspects of biased codon use, we focus on two types of auxiliary information: codon-specific translational pauses that can be used by particular proteins toward their unique folding and biased codon patterns shared by groups of functionally related mRNAs with coordinate regulation. AGI is important to genetics in general and to human disease; here, we consider influences of its three major components, biased codon use itself, variations in the tRNAome, and anticodon modifications that distinguish synonymous decoding. AGI is plastic and can be used by different species to different extents, with tissue-specificity and in stress responses. Because AGI is species-specific, it is important to consider codon-sensitive experiments when using heterologous systems; for this we focus on the tRNA anticodon loop modification enzyme, CDKAL1, and its link to type 2 diabetes. Newly uncovered tRNAome variability among humans suggests roles in penetrance and as a genetic modifier and disease modifier. Development of experimental and bioinformatics methods are needed to uncover additional means of auxiliary genetic information.
Early tracheostomy is associated with improved outcomes in patients who require prolonged mechanical ventilation after cardiac surgery.

Background The best time to perform a tracheostomy in cardiac surgery patients who require prolonged postoperative mechanical ventilation remains unknown. The primary aim of this investigation was to determine if tracheostomy performed before postoperative day 10 improves patient outcomes. Study Design We conducted a retrospective review of prospectively collected patient information obtained from the Anesthesiology Institute Patient Registry on adult patients recovering from coronary artery bypass grafting and/or valve surgery. Demographic and comorbidity patient variables were obtained. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on the timing of their tracheostomy: early (less than 10 days) and late (14 to 28 days). The 2 patient groups were matched using propensity scores and compared on morbidity and in-hospital mortality outcomes. The primary outcomes measures were length of stay, morbidity, and in-hospital mortality. Results After propensity matching (n = 114 patients/group), early tracheostomy was associated with decreased in-hospital mortality (21.1% vs 40.4%, p=0.002) and cardiac morbidity (14.0% vs 33.3%, p Conclusions Tracheostomy within 10 postoperative days in cardiac surgery patients who require prolonged mechanical ventilation was associated with decreased length of stay, morbidity, and mortality.
Molecular Aspects of Epithelial γδ T Cell Regulation

γδ T cells lie at the interface between innate and adaptive immunity, sharing features with both arms of the immune system. The vast majority of γδ T cells reside in epithelial layers of tissues such as skin, gut, lung, tongue and reproductive tract where they provide a first line of defense against environmental attack. The existence of epithelium-resident γδ T cells has been known for over 20 years but our understanding of the molecular events regulating development and function of these cells is incomplete. We review recent advances in the field, with particular emphasis on the γδ T cell population resident in mouse epidermis. These studies have enhanced our knowledge and understanding of the life cycle of this enigmatic population of cells.
Determinants of Leftist Radical Belief in the United States: A Test of Competing Theories

The endorsement of leftist radical proposals among members of the mass public has been variously attributed to: political ignorance, social isolation, social integration, economic insecurity, objective economic hardship, and subjective deprivation. This study employs national survey data to simultaneously evaluate each of these competing theories. The political ignorance and social isolation theories receive no empirical support, while the evidence yields varying degrees of support for the other explanations. The findings bear on debates concerning 'American exceptionalism" and the responsiveness of the two party system, as well as longstanding theoretical debates concerning the determinants of leftist radicalism.
Moving Toward Interdisciplinary Dialogue in Mentoring Scholarship: An Introduction to the Special Issue

The study of mentoring spans a wide range of disciplines including psychology, organizational behavior, education, and social work, among others. However, until recently there has been little interdisciplinary dialogue among mentoring scholars. In this Special Issue we attempt to lay the groundwork for interdisciplinary research on mentoring by examining this phenomenon through the lens of youth mentoring, academic mentoring, and workplace mentoring. In this introduction we outline the aims of this Special Issue, provide a common definition of mentoring to guide the reader through the articles that follow, summarize the knowledge gained from the included articles, and offer insight into what we believe are important next steps for developing a multidisciplinary perspective on mentoring.
Schistosoma mansoni: susceptibility reversal with age in the snail host Biomphalaria glabrata.

Abstract A variety of genetic types of the snail Biomphalaria glabrata have been developed by selection. Susceptibility to infection by the trematode, Schistosoma mansoni, was the selective factor. Snails of one genetic type are consistently susceptible as juveniles but vary in susceptibility as adults. In one such stock, it was found that some snails remain susceptible as adults, a few become refractory as young adults and remain so, while most of those refractory as young adults revert to susceptibility in old age.
Sympathetic innervation modulates repolarizing K+ currents in rat epicardial myocytes

During postnatal development, sympathetic innervation of the heart evolves, and repolarization accelerates. Our goal in this study was to test whether sympathetic innervation modulates the ion channels that regulate repolarization. We studied action potentials and repolarizing K+ currents in epicardial myocytes from rats in which sympathetic innervation was accelerated or delayed, respectively, by subcutaneous injection of nerve growth factor (NGF) or NGF antibody (Ab) for the first 15 days of life. A placebo group was included as well. Action potential duration (APD) to 90% repolarization was greater in the Ab (158 ± 18 ms)-treated than the NGF (106 ± 10 ms)-treated animals ( P < 0.05); the APD at 90% repolarization for the placebo group was intermediate (125 ± 30 ms). The transient outward ( I to) and inward rectifier ( I K1) K+ currents were recorded in freshly dissociated cells using the whole cell patch-clamp technique. I to was decreased in density at potentials positive to +40 mV in Ab-treated rats when compared with rats treated with NGF ( P < 0.05). In addition, the inactivation curve of I to in Ab-treated rats was shifted 13 mV positive to that of NGF-treated rats. I K1 also decreased in the Ab-treated group compared with the NGF group in the potential ranges of −100 to −90 mV ( P < 0.05). However, the channel transcript abundance (RNA) in NGF-, Ab-, or placebo-treated rat hearts did not differ. Our results suggest that sympathetic innervation contributes to the developmental differences in K+ currents and APD postnatally in the rat.
Nonstimulants and emerging treatments in adults with ADHD.

Treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may positively impact the neurobiology of adult patients with ADHD. Treatment may also minimize impairment from core symptoms and may alter the course of co-morbid disorders such as depression and substance use disorder. However, much of the information on stimulant use in adult ADHD comes from studies conducted in children, and it remains unclear whether there is a difference between children and adults when it comes to the side effects and tolerability of ADHD treatments. It is known that clinical presentation differs between adults and children, with adults demonstrating a higher percentage of mood disorders. Current treatments for adult ADHD include psychosocial therapies and pharmacologic therapies, the latter of which include the stimulants d-methylphenidate extended release (XR), OROS methylphenidate, lisdexamfetamine, and mixed amphetamine salts XR; and the nonstimulant atomoxetine, a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. There is need for additional study of treatment strategies for adult ADHD. Although all classes of ADHD medications are approved in adults, there are fewer approved formulations for adults than for children. Efficacy in adults is more subjective than in children, which may affect how efficacy rates for adult treatments are calculated. Adults also present a greater diversion risk than children. In addition, there are several new and emerging medication treatments worth considering. This Expert Roundtable Supplement represents part 2 of a 3-part supplement series on adult ADHD led by Lenard A. Adler, MD. In this activity, Thomas J. Spencer, MD, discusses the neurobiology and genetics of adult ADHD; Mark A. Stein, PhD, discusses stimulant therapy; and Jeffrey H. Newcorn, MD, reviews nonstimulants and psychosocial treatments
Impact of finite frequency deviation on the performance of dual-filter heterodyne FSK lightwave systems

A detailed theoretical analysis is given for the impact of finite frequency deviation on the sensitivity of dual-filter heterodyne frequency shift keying (FSK) lightwave systems. Our analysis provides closed-form signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) results for estimating the bit-error- ratio (BER) performance of the system. These closed-form results provide an insight into the impact of finite frequency deviation 2(Delta) fd, laser linewidth (Delta) (nu) , bit rate Rb, and IF filter bandwidths on the system performance. Simulation results indicate that the accuracy of the approximate theory presented in this paper is within 1 dB for linewidths up to 22% when BER equals 10-9. It is shown that there is a well-defined relationship between the choice of frequency deviation and the tolerable amount of laser phase noise. When there is no phase noise, a frequency deviation of 2(Delta) fd equals 0.72 Rb is sufficient for 1 dB sensitivity penalty with respect to infinite frequency deviation case; whereas for a linewidth of (Delta) (nu) equals 0.50 Rb the required frequency deviation increases to 2(Delta) fd equals 3.42 Rb for the same sensitivity penalty. The sensitivity degradation can be very severe for a fixed linewidth as the frequency deviation gets smaller: for a linewidth of 20% the sensitivity penalty is only 0.54 dB when the frequency deviation is infinite whereas it is 3.48 dB when the frequency deviation is 2(Delta) fd equals Rb.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
State Response to Religious Revivalism in Post-Soviet Central Asia

After gaining independence from the USSR in 1991, the Islamic heritage of the Central Asian Republics became an alternative ideology to fill the political and social vacuum. Islam gradually started to take its place on the social scene following Gorbachev’s Glasnost, as it partially eased the communist oppression towards religious belief and expression. Religious education institutions, mosques, and other religiously affiliated organizations began to emerge. Some of these organizations steadily led their way to political parties with Islamic agendas, and politicization of Islam became a prominent reality. While religious revivalism took sway in Central Asian societies, their governments had an instrumentalist view of religion. Religious expressions were encouraged where they contribute to the goal of nation-building and legitimization of the dominant power coalitions as defined by the power holders. Yet, Central Asian governments proceeded in the opposite direction implementing oppressive policies against extra-governmental religious groups and institutions perceived as a threat. It was anticipated for the Central Asian societies to revive their Islamic heritage that has been suppressed under the Soviet regime and combine religion with nationalist sentiments as a catalyst in the nation-building process and political transition. However, the suppressive state response to this religious revivalism was unpredicted and led to prolonged conflict between state and society. This article seeks to identify the factors that explain the competing courses of the governments’ push for secularization through historical institutionalism and cultural and national values approaches.
Equipment Only - Solar Resources Measurements at the University of Texas at Austin, TX: Cooperative Research and Development Final Report, CRADA Number CRD-07-222

Faculty and staff at the University of Texas at Austin collected solar resource measurements at their campus using equipment on loan from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. The equipment was used to train students on the operation and maintenance of solar radiometers and was returned to NREL's Solar Radiation Research Laboratory upon completion of the CRADA. The resulting data augment the solar resource climatology information required for solar resource characterizations in the U.S. The cooperative agreement was also consistent with NREL's goal of developing an educated workforce to advance renewable energy technologies.
A critical examination of the Berkovich vs. conical indentation based on 3D finite element calculation

Much of our understanding of the elastic-plastic contact mechanics needed to interpret nanoindentation data comes from two-dimensional, axisymmetric finite element simulations of conical indentation. In many instances, conical results adequately describe real experimental results obtained with the Berkovich triangular pyramidal indenter, particularly if the angle of the cone is chosen to give the same area-to-depth ratio as the pyramid. For example, conical finite element simulations with a cone angle of 70.3° have been found to accurately simulate experimental load-displacement curves obtained with the Berkovich indenter. There are instances, however, where conical simulations fail to capture important behavior. Here, 3D finite element simulations of Berkovich indentation of fused silica are compared to similar simulations with a 70.3° cone. It is shown that a potentially significant difference between the two indenters exists for the contact areas and contact stiffnesses. Implications for the interpretation of nanoindentation data are discussed.
Acute coronary occlusion after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty.

Acute coronary occlusion following successful percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) remains a significant problem and is responsible for a significant percentage of PTCA-related morbidity and mortality. The reported incidence varies from 2.1 % to 12.2%. The time of occurrence in most cases is within three hours of angioplasty. Intimal tears and intracoronary thrombus are important angiographic predisposing factors. Redilation appears to be an effective means of managing this complication in most patients.
Masculinity and femininity in our time.

These days telling boys from girls and girls from boys can be exasperating. In part, this is because the roles of today's young men and women tend to merge and in part because they feel less need to conform. Unfortunately, freedom sometimes produces confusion, confusion gives rise to anxiety, and anxiety brings unrest.
Comparison of performance of various tumor response criteria in assessment of sunitinib activity in advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumors

Abstract Purpose To compare the performance of various tumor response criteria (TRC) in the assessment of patients with advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) treated with sunitinib after failure of imatinib. Methods Sixty-two participants with advanced GIST in two clinical trials received oral sunitinib after prior failure of imatinib (median duration 24 weeks; interquartile range 14–56) and were followed with contrast-enhanced computed tomography at baseline and thereafter at median intervals of 6 weeks (IRQ 6–9). Tumor response was prospectively determined using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.0, and retrospectively reassessed for comparison using RECIST 1.1, Choi criteria, and modified Choi (mChoi) criteria using the original target lesions. For mChoi criteria, progressive disease was defined as 20% increase in sum of the longest dimension, similar to RECIST 1.1. Clinical benefit rate (CBR; complete response, partial response, or stable disease ≥ 12 weeks) and progression-free survival were compared between various TRCs using kappa statistics. Results While partial response as the best response was more frequent by Choi and mChoi criteria (50% each) than RECIST 1.1 (15%) and RECIST 1.0 (13%), CBR was similar between various TRCs (overall CBR 60%–77%, 77%–94% agreement between all TRC pairs). Time to best response was shorter for Choi and mChoi criteria (median 11 weeks each) compared to RECIST 1.1 and RECIST 1.0 (median 25 and 24 weeks, respectively). PFS was similar for RECIST 1.1, RECIST 1.0, and mChoi (median 35 weeks each), and shortest for Choi criteria (median 23 weeks). Conclusions CBR was similar among the various TRCs, although Choi criteria led to earlier determination of disease progression. Therefore, RECIST 1.1 and mChoi criteria may be preferred for response assessment in patients with advanced GIST.
Early Antiviral Therapy for HIV Infection and the Influencing Factors of Medication Adherence in Xinjiang Province

Objective To explore the early antiviral therapy for HIV infection and the influencing factors of medication adherence in Xinjiang.Methods HIV-infected individuals(CD4+T cell counts 350 × 106/ L) from 11 counties of Xinjiang receiving early antiviral therapy were surveyed using questionnaire after gaining informed consent.The information collected included general information,time of early antiviral therapy,spouse/regular sexual partner' s infection status,medication after therapy,side effects,reasons for accepting the therapy,future treatment plans,etc.Results Among the 751 HIV-infected individuals,704(93.74%) began early antiviral therapy within 12 months of infection,588(78.30%) had no self-felt symptoms before treatment,516(68.71%) had side effects after antiviral therapy,502(66.84%) received early antiviral therapy for health promotion,466(59.39%) followed the doctor's order of daily medication,and 433(57.66%) planned for lifelong medication.The logistic regression analysis results showed that the survey region,gender,ethnic group,spouse/regular sexual partner's infection status,and side effects after antiviral therapy were the main influencing factors of medication adherence(P 0.05).Conclusion The medication adherence of early antiviral therapy is good in Xinjiang.The survey region,gender,ethnic group,spouse/regular sexual partner's infection status,and side effects after antiviral therapy are the main influencing factors of medication adherence.Individualized and cost-effective interventions for HIV infected patients in Xinjiang should be explored and established to provide free and effective antiviral therapy.
An Autocrine Role for Erythropoietin in Mouse Hematopoietic Cell Differentiation

Erythropoietin (epo) is the primary regulator of the rate of red blood cell formation in mammals. Because it is formed in the kidney and acts on the bone marrow, its action is classically endocrine. We have shown by PCR that marrow cells contain epo mRNA and that antisense oligodeoxynucleotides, to both epo and its receptor, act on multipotent hematopoietic cells to cause a decrease in mixed erythroid:nonerythroid colonies. The antisense oligonucleotides also cause an increase in mixed nonerythroid colonies with no effect on erythroid burst formation. Sense oligonucleotides have no effect. The antisense suppression is not due to adherent cells, cycling late differentiated cells or lymphocytes, and not reversed by exogenous epo. We conclude that normal erythroid differentiation may have an early phase that is dependent on an internal autocrine mechanism involving epo and its receptor.
Surgery for Solid Pancreatic Neoplasms

Pancreatic surgery for malignancy can be broadly classified into curative or palliative surgery. Every attempt is made to devise a decision preoperatively; however, despite the best imaging currently available, locally advanced or metastatic disease is found in 15–20 % on exploration for a curative intent.
Epilogue: The Situation of the Kurds in Iran and Neighboring Countries, 2002

The situation of the Kurdish movements in Iran, Iraq, and Turkey has changed drastically since the 1980s, each being affected by political developments in the respective countries.
Stochastic modeling of uncertain mass characteristics in rigid body dynamics

Abstract This paper focuses on the formulation, assessment, and application of a modeling strategy of uncertainty on the mass characteristics of rigid bodies, i.e. mass, position of center of mass, and inertia tensor. These characteristics are regrouped into a 4×4 matrix the elements of which are represented as random variables with joint probability density function derived following the maximum entropy framework. This stochastic model is first shown to satisfy all properties expected of the mass and tensor of inertia of rigid bodies. Its usefulness and computational efficiency are next demonstrated on the behavior of a rigid body in pure rotation exhibiting significant uncertainty in mass distribution.
Dyadic Supervision Evaluation: An Actor-Partner Relational Model.

This article contributes to research practices in marital and family therapy, specifically the dyadic and development over time in clinical supervision, and describes and applies methodological strategies to develop measurements congruent with the systemic and developmental principles of the field. This project evaluates the psychometric properties of the dyadic supervision evaluation (DSE) in terms of measurement equivalence and causality. A structural equation analysis is conducted utilizing the actor–partner interdependent model resulting in a goodness of fit. This study presents a longitudinal model for evaluating the supervisory relationship and proposes a model of clinical supervision evaluation. The relationship among latent constructs in the DSE and its limitations related to inference and application are discussed.
Pd–PEPPSI: a general Pd–NHC precatalyst for Buchwald–Hartwig cross-coupling of esters and amides (transamidation) under the same reaction conditions

Amides are of fundamental interest in many fields of chemistry involving organic synthesis, chemical biology and biochemistry. Here, we report the first catalytic Buchwald–Hartwig coupling of both common esters and amides by highly selective C(acyl)–X (X = O, N) cleavage to rapidly access aryl amide functionality via a cross-coupling strategy. Reactions are promoted by versatile, easily prepared, well-defined Pd–PEPPSI type precatalysts, and proceed in good to excellent yields and with excellent chemoselectivity for the acyl bond cleavage. The method is user friendly because it employs commercially-available, moisture- and air-stable precatalysts. Notably, for the first time we demonstrate selective C(acyl)–N and C(acyl)–O cleavage/Buchwald–Hartwig amination under the same reaction conditions, which allows for streamlining amide synthesis by avoiding restriction to a particular acyl metal precursor. Of broad interest, this study opens the door to using a family of well-defined Pd(II)–NHC precatalysts bearing pyridine “throw-away” ligands for the selective C(acyl)-amination of bench-stable carboxylic acid derivatives.
Suffering II. Muteness and Testimony

Levi’s attention toward the material suffering of animals drives this chapter to investigate how Levi deals with other manifestations of suffering. Specifically, the focus is on the suffering of those creatures Levi saw in Auschwitz and called with the hyphenated term “animale-uomo” [human-animal]. A reading of several occurrences of this term and its equivalents reveals Levi’s care for those defenceless creatures who are unable to express such intense suffering. The chapter ends with two examples of Levi’s care for mute creatures: his comment on the suffering of the donkey in Belli’s poem entitled Se more [One Dies], and the episode of Hurbinek in La tregua [The truce].
Subcutaneous versus Intramuscular Injection of Human Growth Hormone

Growth hormone therapy has been classically given by the intramuscular route. Subcutaneous (s.c.) injection of human growth hormone (hGH) has been avoided owing to the effect that this route of administration might have on the development of antibodies to hGH. Underwood et al.(1) reported development of growth-attenuating antibodies in several patients who inadvertently received subcutaneous injection of “clinical-grade” hGH. Between 30 and 60% of children treated with hGH prepared by the method of Raben or Wilhelmi are reported to develop antibodies to hGH(2–6) compared to 5% of children receiving hGH prepared by the method of Roos.(7) Even with the higher incidence of antibody formation, growth attenuation during therapy secondary to antibodies was uncommon so that only 5–10% of children develop growth-attenuating antibodies.(2) However, the appearance of growth-attenuating antibodies can seriously jeopardize the treatment of an individual patient.
HIV Preexposure Prophylaxis as a Gateway to Primary Care.

Objectives. To determine whether HIV preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use is associated with use of non–HIV-related health care.Methods. We conducted a cross-sectional study of potential PrEP candidates at a Boston, Massachusetts, community health clinic during 2012 to 2016, comparing the proportion of PrEP users and non-PrEP users receiving primary care.Results. Of 5857 PrEP candidates, 2047 (35%) were prescribed PrEP. After adjustment for demographics and number of visits, more PrEP users received influenza vaccination (prevalence ratio [PR] = 1.28; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.20, 1.37), tobacco screening (PR = 1.06; 95% CI = 1.02, 1.09), and depression screening (PR = 1.07; 95% CI = 1.04, 1.11) compared with non-PrEP users. After additional adjustment for diabetes, hypertension, and overweight or obesity, more PrEP users received glucose testing (PR = 1.64; 95% CI = 1.56, 1.72) but fewer received hemoglobin A1c testing (PR = 0.81; 95% CI = 0.71, 0.93) compared with non-PrEP users.Conclusions. PrEP u...
Endogenous Opioid Modulation of Luteinizing Hormone and Prolactin Secretion in Postpartum Ewes and Cows

A possible role for endogenous opioid peptides (EOP) in the control of luteinizing hormone (LH) and prolactin (PRL) secretion was studied by injecting the opioid antagonist, naloxone (NAL), into postpartum ewes and cows. Twelve ewes that lambed during the fall breeding season and nursed their lambs were injected iv with NAL (1.0 mg/kg) on d 10, 14, 18, 22 and 26 postpartum. Blood samples were collected at 15-min intervals from 2 h before to 2 h after NAL, and serum concentrations of LH and PRL were quantified. Following treatment on d 10, suckling lambs were removed from 6 of the 12 ewes, creating non-suckled (NS) and suckled (S) treatment groups for subsequent study on d 14 through 26. On d 10, NAL treatment increased LH (P less than .01) but concentrations of PRL were not affected. When averaged across d 14 to 26, post-NAL concentrations of LH were greater (P less than .001) than pre-NAL concentrations (6.5 +/- .7 vs 1.9 +/- .4 ng/ml). In contrast, concentrations of PRL in the post-NAL period were lower (P less than .001) than pre-NAL concentrations (129 +/- 15 vs 89 +/- 10 ng/ml). Compared with S ewes over d 14 to 26, those in the NS group had similar pre-NAL concentrations of LH, tendencies for higher (P less than .10) post-NAL concentrations of LH, lower (P less than .001) mean serum concentrations of PRL (pre- and post-NAL) and similar pre-NAL vs post-NAL differences in serum PRL. Six suckled beef cows on d 24 to 35 were injected iv with either saline or NAL (.5 mg/kg) in a replicated crossover design. Injections of NAL increased serum concentrations of LH (P less than .05), when averaged over all 12 injections in the six cows, but serum PRL was not changed. However, three of six cows did not respond to NAL with increases in serum LH. These non-responding cows were similar to the responding cows in their pre-injection concentrations of LH and PRL, but they tended (P = .10) to have higher serum concentrations of cortisol than responding cows.
Structure-property relationships of sheared carbon black suspensions determined by simultaneous rheological and neutron scattering measurements

Carbon black suspensions exhibit complex, shear-dependent macroscopic properties that are a consequence of the state of the suspension microstructure. In this work, the shear-induced microstructure of a model, reversible suspension of conductive carbon black in propylene carbonate is measured using simultaneous steady shear rheology and small angle neutron scattering. These experiments provide microstructural evidence for a bifurcation in the rheological properties. We show that the demarcation line for this bifurcation is the inverse Bingham number, Bi−1, which relates the magnitude of the stress response to an applied shear rate to the yield stress of the presheared suspension. At high shear rates where Bi−1 > 1, the suspension flows homogeneously and exhibits a thixotropic response that arises due to the self-similar breakdown of agglomerates with increasing shear rate. Conversely, at low shear rates where Bi−1 1, the suspension flows homogeneously and exhibits a thixotropic response that arises due to the self-similar breakdown of agglomerates with increasing shear rate. Conversely, at low shear rates where Bi−1 < 1, the applied shear drives the densification and growth of these agglomerates. This densi...
General anesthesia safety in progressive leukodystrophies: A retrospective study of patients with Krabbe disease and metachromatic leukodystrophy.

Background Krabbe disease and metachromatic leukodystrophy are leukodystrophies characterized by neurologic degeneration and early death. Patients often require general anesthesia for diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. Methods A retrospective review of medical records was conducted for patients with Krabbe disease and metachromatic leukodystrophy receiving general anesthesia at a large children's hospital between 2012 and 2017. Patient complications and American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status were recorded for all procedures. The Neurodevelopment in Rare Disorders classification system was created to categorize the severity of the patient's disease progression based on clinical markers. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to compare: (a) complication rate of affected patients vs the general hospital population; (b) the accuracy of the novel Neurodevelopment in Rare Disorders classification system vs American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status regarding the assessment of complication risk; (c) complication rate in patients with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation vs those without transplantation; (d) complication rate in immunosuppressed patients vs nonimmunosuppressed patients; and (e) complication rate of the three most commonly performed procedures. Results A total of 96 patients underwent 287 procedures. Of these, 11 cases had complications, yielding a rate of 3.8%. This is significantly higher than the overall complication rate at our institution of 0.246%. Statistical analysis showed better correlation between the Neurodevelopment in Rare Disorders classification system and complication rate than American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status and complication rate. The system also showed better accuracy in differentiating low-risk and high-risk patients. No statistically significant difference in complication rate was found for patients with transplantation vs those without transplantation or for immunosuppressed vs nonimmunosuppressed patients. Of the three most common procedures, central catheter placement/removal exhibited the highest complication rate. Conclusions Although the complication rate for patients with Krabbe disease and metachromatic leukodystrophy is higher than the general population, most complications were mild and self-limiting. These results suggest that, in experienced hands, general anesthesia is well tolerated in most children. Findings show that the Neurodevelopment in Rare Disorders classification system is a better indicator for assessing complication risk in patients with Krabbe and metachromatic leukodystrophy than American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status.
Nonoperative Treatment of the Geriatric Acetabular Fracture

The treatment of displaced acetabular fractures in the geriatric population is controversial. Each form of operative and nonoperative treatment has its advantages and disadvantages. The treatment plan should be individualized, based on patient factors and fracture characteristics. Because of the lack of current data on functional outcomes of nonoperative treatment, one cannot assume that results of nonoperative treatment in this patient population are poor. In fact, available evidence suggests that, among infirm elderly patients with acetabular fractures, nonoperative treatment may be associated with functional outcomes comparable to those seen in healthier patients who undergo surgery, with similar mortality and lesser need for late conversion to total hip arthroplasty. Future prospective studies on treatment of these injuries in this patient population should include a nonoperative group because the results may not be as suboptimal as once thought.
Developmental Changes in the Responsivity of the Brain to Endogenous and Exogenous Factors

Those of us working in the area of CNS development have become increasingly aware that the effects of drugs on this system, and especially on the brain, vary with age, the specific brain structure studied, and the selected neurologic parameter tested. The significance of such variables has been well demonstrated by the presentations delivered at this conference. Equally important in studies of the neurologic effects of drugs is the physiological state of the organism as a whole, and of the brain in particular at the time of drug administration, inasmuch as functional equilibrium is intrinsically related to neurologic competence. This consideration is crucial during development when the requirements for differentiation and growth impose an additional burden on the homeostatic capability of the organism (Timiras, 1972). Consequently, the role of internal factors (for example, the hormonal milieu) and external factors (represented by a variety of stressful environmental conditions) on the developing brain must be carefully evaluated in terms of possible synergisms or antagonisms with the effects of drugs. Additionally, it must be recognized that at no other time during the lifespan can drugs exert such dramatic effects as during development; indeed, the administration of drugs at selected critical periods in brain maturation, whether prenatally, neonatally or at puberty, is capable not only of immediately modifying the functional state of the brain but also of altering the normal timetable of development.
Statistical inference for continuous‐time Markov processes with block structure based on discrete‐time network data

A widely used approach to modeling discrete‐time network data assumes that discrete‐time network data are generated by an unobserved continuous‐time Markov process. While such models can capture a wide range of network phenomena and are popular in social network analysis, the models are based on the homogeneity assumption that all nodes share the same parameters. We remove the homogeneity assumption by allowing nodes to belong to unobserved subsets of nodes, called blocks, and assuming that nodes in the same block have the same parameters, whereas nodes in distinct blocks have distinct parameters. The resulting models capture unobserved heterogeneity across nodes and admit model‐based clustering of nodes based on network properties chosen by researchers. We develop Bayesian data‐augmentation methods and apply them to discrete‐time observations of an ownership network of non‐financial companies in Slovenia in its critical transition from a socialist economy to a market economy. We detect a small subset of shadow‐financial companies that outpaces others in terms of the rate of change and the desire to accumulate stocks of other companies.
The Effect of Intravenous Acetaminophen on Patient Outcomes within a Large Integrated Delivery Network.

Objective To evaluate the impact of intravenous acetaminophen on patient outcomes. Methods In this retrospective observational analysis, 54,742 patients were identified from 19 Catholic Health Initiatives hospitals during a 12-month period. Charges were used to identify patients who received intravenous acetaminophen during their encounter. The control group included patients who did not receive intravenous acetaminophen. Five outcomes were measured: total length of stay, intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay, total narcotic use (in morphine milligram equivalents [MME]), likelihood of receiving a narcotic prescription at discharge, and 30-day readmission rate. Patients undergoing five procedures were evaluated: total knee replacements, total hip replacements, cesarean section, coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), and gallbladder resection. These patients were also evaluated in a combined group. Results After matching, population imbalances for patient characteristics were addressed. Combined with the five outcomes, 25 populations had a sufficient number of matched pairs for analysis. Six of the 25 tests showed a significant difference favoring the control group. Total length of stay was shorter for the control group in the combined population (-0.18 days [4 hours], 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.26 to -0.11). Total narcotic use was lower for the control group in the caesarean section (-10 MME, 95% CI -16 to -5), CABG (-26 MME, 95% CI -41 to -12), and combined (-13 MME, 95% CI -16 to -11) populations. The control group was less likely to be discharged with a narcotic prescription for the caesarean section (odds ratio (OR) -1.39, 95% CI -1.00 to -1.92) and combined (OR -1.14, 95% CI -1.04 to -1.24) populations. Conclusions Intravenous acetaminophen was not associated with improvement in the following patient outcomes: total length of stay, ICU length of stay, total narcotic use, likelihood of receiving a discharge narcotic prescription, and 30-day readmission rate. Based on these findings, clinicians may reconsider the routine use of intravenous acetaminophen.
Mismatch in EBG Common-Mode Filters Implemented on PCBs

In this article, impedance mismatch effects on the characteristics of common-mode (CM) electromagnetic bandgap (EBG) filters are studied using three-dimensional (3-D) full-wave numerical simulations. The CM EBG filters considered herein are designed using standard printed circuit board technology and contain either microstrip (MS) differential pairs running above the EBG plane, or stripline (SL) differential pairs running on one of the layers next to the EBG plane. First, the terminations are fixed at 50 Ω, and the effects of the differential line impedance variations on the EBG filter parameters are studied. Overall, the considered variations in the widths of the traces and edge-to-edge separation distances in both the MS and SL structures do not drastically deteriorate the performance of the EBG CM filters. Then impedances of the ports are set different from 50 Ω, and the effects of this mismatch on the baseline SL and MS EBG structures are studied. It is shown that lower port impedances may have significant effect on the characteristics of filters. In addition, baseline EBG filters are cascaded with unmatched four-port load, and this may also deteriorate performance of filters.
Introduction: Reflections on In-Yer-Face from the Other Side of the Atlantic

In this chapter Boles describes his introduction to In-Yer-Face Theatre via the 1997 Royal Court productions of Mark Ravenhill’s Shopping and Fucking and Martin McDonagh’s The Beauty Queen of Leenane. After citing these two plays as his impetus to become an In-Yer-Face scholar, he discusses his disappointment when Aleks Sierz’s announced in 2002 that the In-Yer-Face movement had officially ended, especially because he had seen so few of the original productions. However, Boles argues that while the In-Yer-Face movement may be over, the influence from it continues to permeate mainstream culture, and he cites the post-In-Yer-Face careers of Jez Butterworth, Martin McDonagh, and Joe Penhall as examples of this point. Rather than being In-Yer-Face, they have now become “Part-of-the-Crowd.”
Local and systemic gene expression responses to a white syndrome-like disease in a reef building coral, Acropora hyacinthus.

Background Corals are capable of launching diverse immune defenses at the site of direct contact with pathogens, but the molecular mechanisms of this activity and the colony-wide effects of such stressors remain poorly understood. Here we compared gene expression profiles in eight healthy Acropora hyacinthus colonies against eight colonies exhibiting white syndrome-like symptoms, all collected from a natural reef environment near Palau. Two types of tissues were sampled from diseased corals: visibly affected and apparently healthy tissues. Results Tag-based RNA-Seq followed by weighted gene co-expression network analysis identified groups of co-regulated differentially expressed genes between all disease states (diseased, ahead of the lesion, and healthy). Most of the differentially expressed genes were found between tissues at the lesions and asymptomatic (healthy and ahead of the lesion) tissues. These genes were related to innate immunity, oxidative stress responses, lipid metabolism, and calcification. Network analysis also revealed groups of genes regulated specifically in the tissues from diseased colonies that were not yet showing obvious symptoms of disease, indicating a systemic response to infection. Conclusions These observations suggest that tissues ahead of the lesion of disease progression exist in a transitional state between health and lesion appearance. Alternatively, these gene expression profiles capture physiological differences between colonies with varying disease susceptibilities.
Consistency of Computer-Automated Scoring Keys Across Authors and Authoring Teams

This study relates to computer-automated scoring of limited-production tasks. It examines the extent to which scoring keys written by different authors are comparable, as well as the degree to which keys written by different teams of authors are comparable. Multivariate generalizability studies revealed that while a single-author scoring key may initially appear to provide a satisfactory level of scoring consistency, modeling a key author facet revealed that such keys can be insufficiently reliable or dependable for high-stakes decisions. This problem can be solved, however, by using authoring teams to draft the key. Qualitative descriptions of problems encountered with single-author scoring keys help to highlight some of the issues that should receive attention when training key authors.
External carotid artery pseudoaneurysm following upper respiratory infection masquerading as a pharyngeal abscess in an 8-month-old.

Abstract Pseudoaneurysms are very rare with an incidence of less than 0.1% in the pediatric population. Approximately 30 cases of carotid artery aneurysms in children have been published in the literature, usually affecting children over one year of age. We present one of the youngest cases in the literature; the patient is an 8-month old female with a strep throat infection complicated by pseudoaneurysm development of the external carotid artery. Because of the rarity of these lesions, there is little known regarding the types of clinical presentation and management. They are commonly the result of direct arterial trauma; however, they can also occur secondary to infection, connective tissue disease or arteritis. We are presenting a case with a highly atypical presentation. When present, pseudoaneurysms harbor the potential risk of life-threatening hemorrhage and warrant immediate management. It is important to be aware of cases and the treatment modalities used to guide future diagnosis and planning.