cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Treatment of substance-abusing jail inmates: Examination of gender differences

Females incarcerated for drug-related offenses represent one of the fastest growing populations within jails and prisons. The few studies of female offenders with substance abuse disorders depict a population with multiple psychosocial problems and treatment needs, and one that is characterized by frequent exposure to sexual abuse and other violence. The current study examined intake assessment results from a sample of 1,655 substance-involved jail inmates referred to a jail treatment program in Tampa, Florida, including 26% female and 74% male inmates. The study was designed to identify gender differences in psychosocial characteristics and substance abuse treatment needs among jail inmates. Results indicate that female inmates more frequently experienced employment problems, had lower incomes, more frequently reported cocaine as the primary drug of choice, and were more likely to report depression, anxiety, suicidal behavior, and a history of physical and sexual abuse. Implications for developing specialized treatment approaches for female offenders are discussed, including use of integrated treatment strategies.
Early Literacy Screening in Kindergarten: Widespread Implementation in Virginia.

Early success in reading is predicated on a child's ability to accurately and effectively master core literacy constructs (e.g., phonological awareness, alphabet knowledge, concept of word, and grapheme-phoneme correspondence) and to exercise these understandings in a comfortable sociocultural context. In recent years, educators, legislators, and policymakers have shown great interest in creating an effective and instructionally useful diagnostic screening tool for identifying children at risk for early reading difficulties. In response to this charge, the Phonological Awareness and Literacy Screening-Kindergarten (PALS-K) was developed. Through Fall 2003, more than 430,000 kindergarten students in Virginia had been screened using PALS-K. The purposes of this paper are to (a) describe the PALS-K instrument, (b) examine its effectiveness in screening for poor beginning literacy skills, and (c) discuss the educational and policy implications of the results of statewide literacy screening efforts.
Voronoi-Based Geospatial Query Processing with MapReduce

Geospatial queries (GQ) have been used in a wide variety of applications such as decision support systems, profile-based marketing, bioinformatics and GIS. Most of the existing query-answering approaches assume centralized processing on a single machine although GQs are intrinsically parallelizable. There are some approaches that have been designed for parallel databases and cluster systems, however, these only apply to the systems with limited parallel processing capability, far from that of the cloud-based platforms. In this paper, we study the problem of parallel geos patial query processing with the MapReduce programming model. Our proposed approach creates a spatial index, Voronoi diagram, for given data points in 2D space and enables efficient processing of a wide range of GQs. We evaluated the performance of our proposed techniques and correspondingly compared them with their closest related work while varying the number of employed nodes.
Esophageal Atresia and Tracheoesophageal Fistula

Esophageal atresia is an interruption of the normal formation of the esophagus. Classification of esophageal atresia is based on the presence or absence of a fistula to the trachea.
The Initial Vascular Access Type Contributes to Inflammation in Incident Hemodialysis Patients

Background. The contribution of the hemodialysis (HD) vascular access type to inflammation is unclear. Methods. We conducted a prospective observational study in an incident HD population. C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interferon-&#x3b3;-induced protein (IP-10) were measured before and at 6-time points after access placement for 1 year. Results. Sixty-four incident HD patients were included (tunneled catheter (TC), 𝑛=40, arteriovenous fistula (AVF), 𝑛=14, and arteriovenous graft (AVG), 𝑛=10). A mixed effects model was performed to adjust for age, sex, race, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, infections, access thrombosis, initiation of HD, and days after access surgery. In comparison to AVFs, the presence of a TC was associated with significantly higher levels of CRP (𝑃=0.03), IL-6 (𝑃=0.07), and IP-10 (𝑃=0.03). The presence of an AVG was associated with increases in CRP (𝑃=0.01) and IP-10 (𝑃=0.07). Conclusions. Patients who initiate HD with a TC or an AVG have a heightened state of inflammation, which may contribute to the excess 90-day mortality after HD initiation.
Performance Analysis of Linear Predictive Super-Resolution Processing for Antenna Arrays

Many applications in array processing require a high resolution beamforming method. For example, spatial division multiple access (SDMA) has been proposed to achieve higher system capacity in wireless systems. Implicit in SDMA is the ability to adaptively generate narrow antenna beam patterns, which ensures the physical separation between users and minimizes multiple user interference. However, antenna theory requires large antenna apertures to generate narrow beam patterns. This paper discusses an adaptive algorithm for extrapolating measurements from a small antenna array to a much larger virtual array. The technique utilizes linear prediction (LP) methods to perform the extrapolation. A least mean square (LMS) based algorithm was used to estimate the LP coefficients. Since the algorithm is linear, it serves both as a direction-of-arrival (DoA) estimator and a matched filter for retrieving the transmitted signal. Other popular high-resolution algorithms such as MUSIC are inherently nonlinear and thus cannot be used on their own for retrieving signal information. The performance of this algorithm is studied with respect to interference suppression, noise and spatial resolution. It is shown that the HR filter representing the LP process has poles corresponding to the DoA of the signal. The resulting LP coefficients can eliminate the interference between signals from different transmitters. However, no improvement in noise performance is seen because the receiver noise couples into the extrapolation process when two transmitters are closely located. The extrapolation algorithm is compared with the LCMV algorithm and found to produce similar results
Semistability of retarded functional differential equations

In this paper, we develop a semistability analysis framework for retarded functional differential equations (RFDE) having a continuum of equilibria with time-varying parameters and delays with applications to stability analysis of multiagent dynamic networks with consensus protocols in the presence of unknown heterogeneous time-varying delays and parameters along the communication links. We show that for such a retarded functional differential equation, if the system asymptotically converges to an autonomous functional differential inclusion with constant time-delays and this new system is semistable, then the original retarded functional differential equation system is semistable, provided that the delays are just bounded, not necessarily differentiable. In proving our results, we extend the limiting equation approach to the retarded functional differential equation systems and also develop some new convergence results for functional differential equations and differential inclusions.
Responses to Self‐Threat: Linking Self and Relational Constructs with Approach and Avoidance Motivation

Over the past few decades, researchers have amassed a large body of evidence documenting the consequences of self-esteem (SE), attachment styles, rejection sensitivity (RS), domain-specific aspects of SE (e.g., contingencies of self-worth), and RS (e.g., race-RS; appearance-RS) following self-threats. The present article suggests that these personality constructs share a common substrate reflecting approach and avoidance temperament and motivation. Approach and avoidance temperaments are theorized to interact with intrapersonal and interpersonal experiences to shape approach and avoidance motivation. Personality constructs serve as dispositional markers of underlying approach-avoidance motivational orientations, which, in turn, lead to predictable patterns of goal pursuit following self-threats. Individuals who feel self-confident and relationally secure (e.g., high SE, securely attached, and low RS individuals) respond to self-threats by adopting approach-motivated goals to attain positive outcomes. Individuals who lack self-confidence and feel less relationally secure (e.g., low SE, avoidantly attached, and high RS individuals) respond to self-threats by decreasing approach motivation and/or increasing avoidance-motivated goals to prevent negative outcomes. Consequences of adopting approach- and avoidance-motivated goals are discussed.
Agent based model of the e-mini future: application for policy making

An agent-based model (ABM) has a structure, which includes a set of agents, a topology and an environment. A simplified conception of a financial market includes a set of market participants, a trading mechanism, and a set of securities. In a typical ABM of a financial market, the market participants are agents, the market mechanism is the topology and the exogenous flow of information into the market is the environment. A zero-intelligence ABM model of the E-Mini Futures Market is presented. Several classes of agents are characterized by their speed and placement of orders within the limit order book. The proposed minimum quote life rule is implemented in the simulation. The minimum quote life rule prevents new orders from being cancelled or modified before a given time limit. Through experimentation, tradeoff curves are generated. Thereby, illustrating the usefulness of this ABM and its ability to inform ongoing financial policy debates.
A qualitative study of shopper experiences at an urban farmers' market using the Stanford Healthy Neighborhood Discovery Tool.

Consumers are increasingly seeking out alternative sources of unprocessed foods grown and harvested in close proximity to where they live. Subsequently, the demand for locally grown agricultural goods is rising. Farmers’ markets (both seasonal and year-round), in particular, have seen a resurgence. In the early 1990s, for example, less than 2000 markets existed in the USA. By 2012, 7864 farmers’ markets had been established(1). As the farmers’ market trend continues to grow, consensus has developed around the use of farmers’ markets as a strategy to improve access to healthy, whole foods; combat food insecurity in urban areas; and potentially improve healthy eating behaviours(2,3). Federal health-related reports and published guidance, such as the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans(4), include language identifying farmers’ markets as an important strategy for healthful nutrition across communities, including low-income, food-insecure populations. The US Dietary Guidelines, for example, include a chapter focused on facilitating healthy choices for Americans. Two of the three principles to which the Guidelines adhere include: (i) ensuring that all Americans have equal access to nutritious foods; and (ii) facilitating individual behaviour change through environmental strategies(4). The Guidelines note that communities can successfully implement these principles by improving access to healthy food outlets such as farmers’ markets(4–7). Despite the growing number of farmers’ markets and associated sales, recent US Department of Agriculture data suggest that only 0·15 % of money spent on food for home consumption is spent at farmers’ markets(8). Similarly, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are underutilized at such venues, with only 0·016 % of all benefits occurring at farmers’ markets(8). The reasons for underutilization are not fully known. However, because markets can be introduced directly within low-income areas and their potential to increase healthy food access and improve healthy food choices, researchers have recently called for the development of more local foods programmes like farmers’ markets in low-income communities and elsewhere(3,9,10). However, little is known about what within-market factors might enhance or detract from shoppers’ experiences. The purpose of the present study was to understand, using innovative technology that captures real-time perceptions, factors that enhanced or detracted from shoppers’ experiences in an urban farmers’ market in a large metropolitan city in the USA.
Modeling Cortical Plasticity Based On Adapting Lateral Interaction

A neural network model called LISSOM for the cooperative self-organization of afferent and lateral connections in cortical maps is applied to modeling cortical plasticity. After self-organization, the LISSOM maps are in a dynamic equilibrium with the input, and reorganize like the cortex in response to simulated cortical lesions and intracortical microstimulation. The model predicts that adapting lateral interactions are fundamental to cortical reorganization, and suggests techniques to hasten recovery following sensory cortical surgery.
Philosophy, Famine Relief, and the Skeptical Challenge From Disagreement

Disagreement has been grist to the mills of sceptics throughout the history of philosophy. Recently, though, some philosophers have argued that widespread philosophical disagreement supports a broad scepticism about philosophy itself. In this paper, I argue that the task for sceptics of philosophy is considerably more complex than commonly thought. The mere fact that philosophical methods fail to generate true majority views is not enough to support the sceptical challenge from disagreement. To avoid demanding something that human reasoning cannot supply, sceptics must show that philosophers have sufficient overlap to resolve their disagreements in particular concrete cases.
Blogosphere: research issues, tools, and applications

Weblogs, or Blogs, have facilitated people to express their thoughts, voice their opinions, and share their experiences and ideas. Individuals experience a sense of community, a feeling of belonging, a bonding that members matter to one another and their niche needs will be met through online interactions. Its open standards and low barrier to publication have transformed information consumers to producers. This has created a plethora of open-source intelligence, or "collective wisdom" that acts as the storehouse of over-whelming amounts of knowledge about the members, their environment and the symbiosis between them. Nonetheless, vast amounts of this knowledge still remain to be discovered and exploited in its suitable way. In this paper, we introduce various state-of-the-art research issues, review some key elements of research such as tools and methodologies in Blogosphere, and present a case study of identifying the influential bloggers in a community to exemplify the integration of some major aspects discussed in this paper. Towards the end, we also compare and contrast the blogosphere and social networks and the research therein.
A Comprehensive Study of Harmonic Cancellation Effects in Interleaved Three-Phase VSCs

This paper presents a systematic study of the effects of interleaving on three-phase voltage-sourced converters (VSC). Analytical results are developed for the spectra of converter phase currents, common-mode voltages, and dc-link currents for the general case of interleaving N parallel modules with a common dc link. It will be shown, both analytically and numerically, that ripple cancellation effects similar to what have been widely observed in buck dc-dc converters, that is, the elimination of harmonic sidebands other than those centered at TV multiples of the carrier frequency, can also be achieved by proper interleaved operation of N three-phase VSC modules. This will be shown to be true not only for the ac phase currents, as previously known, but also for the common-mode voltage as well as the dc-link current. Analytical results are also presented for the circulating current among parallel modules. Additionally, a relationship between interleaved VSCs and capacitor-clamped multilevel converters is established and used to extend the analytical results developed for interleaved VSCs to multilevel converters.
Acclimation and soil moisture constrain sugar maple root respiration in experimentally warmed soil

The response of root respiration to warmer soil can affect ecosystem carbon (C) allocation and the strength of positive feedbacks between climatic warming and soil CO2 efflux. This study sought to determine whether fine-root (<1 mm) respiration in a sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.)-dominated northern hardwood forest would adjust to experimentally warmed soil, reducing C return to the atmosphere at the ecosystem scale to levels lower than that would be expected using an exponential temperature response function. Infrared heating lamps were used to warm the soil (+4 to +5 °C) in a mature sugar maple forest in a fully factorial design, including water additions used to offset the effects of warming-induced dry soil. Fine-root-specific respiration rates, root biomass, root nitrogen (N) concentration, soil temperature and soil moisture were measured from 2009 to 2011, with experimental treatments conducted from late 2010 to 2011. Partial acclimation of fine-root respiration to soil warming occurred, with soil moisture deficit further constraining specific respiration rates in heated plots. Fine-root biomass and N concentration remained unchanged. Over the 2011 growing season, ecosystem root respiration was not significantly greater in warmed soil. This result would not be predicted by models that allow respiration to increase exponentially with temperature and do not directly reduce root respiration in drier soil.
Pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and toxicities of methotrexate in healthy and collagen-induced arthritic rats

Methotrexate (MTX) is an anchor drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but responsiveness is variable in effectiveness and toxicity. Methotrexate and its polyglutamate conjugates (MTXPG(n)) in red blood cells (RBC) have been associated with patient response. In the current study, 13 collagen-induced arthritic (CIA) rats and 12 healthy rats were given subcutaneous doses of either saline or 0.3 or 1.5 mg/kg per 2 days of MTX from day 21 to 43 post-induction. Blood samples were obtained at various times to measure MTX in plasma, and MTX and MTXPG(n) in RBC. Effects on disease progression were indicated by body weight and paw size. After multiple-doses, RBC MTX reached steady-state (82.4 nm) within 4 days. The MTXPG(2) and MTXPG(3) in RBC kept increasing until the end of the study, attaining 12.5 and 17.7 nm. Significant weight loss was observed after dosing with 1.5 mg/kg/2 days, whereas moderate effectiveness was observed after dosing with 0.3 mg/kg/2 days. A pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic/disease (PK/PD/DIS) model with indirect mechanisms and transduction components incorporating plasma MTX, RBC MTX and RBC MTXPG(n) concentrations, and paw size was developed using naive data pooling and ADAPT 5. The PK/PD in CIA rats dosed at 0.3 mg/kg/2 days were captured well by our proposed model. Methotrexate showed modest (I(maxd) = 0.16) but sensitive (IC(50d) = 0.712 nm) effectiveness on paw edema. The higher dose produced toxicity. The proposed model offers improved understanding of the effects of methotrexate on rheumatoid arthritis.
Hyper-Kähler metrics from periodic monopoles

Relative moduli spaces of periodic monopoles provide novel examples of asymptotically locally flat hyper-Kahler manifolds. By considering the interactions between well-separated periodic monopoles, we infer the asymptotic behavior of their metrics. When the monopole moduli space is four dimensional, this construction yields interesting examples of metrics with a self-dual curvature (gravitational instantons). We discuss their topology and complex geometry. An alternative construction of these gravitational instantons using moduli spaces of Hitchin equations is also described.
Some observations of Earth strain tides in California

A year of continuous strain data is analysed to reveal a secular strain rate of 1.6 $\times $ 10$^{-7}$/year north-south expansion superimposed on an apparent yearly cycle of 4 $\times $ 10$^{-7}$ strain amplitude. Evidence is presented to show that thermoelastic effects are appreciable both at yearly and tidal periods. Three component strain tides are analysed to produce tidal phasors that indicate substantial discrepancies between the predicted Earth tide including a model coastal ocean tide and the observed strain tide. Further refinements on the ocean tide and the loading Green's function appear to be needed.
Categorization of object descriptions in Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia: limitation in rule-based processing.

Studies of semantic memory in probable Alzheimer’s disease (AD) have focused on the degradation of semantic knowledge, but other work in AD suggests an impairment in the semantic categorization processes that operate on this knowledge. We examined the categorization of object descriptions, where semantic category membership judgments were based on rule-based or similarity-based categorization processes. We found that AD patients were selectively limited in their semantic categorization under conditions requiring a rule-based approach. However, AD patients did not differ from healthy seniors under conditions based on judgments of overall similarity. We showed that this was not due to nonspecific or overall task-related difficulty associated with the rule condition by asking the subjects to use similarity-based judgments of perceptually degraded versions of the stimuli. The results of this condition did not differ from other similarity-based judgments but did differ from the rule-based condition in AD. Rule-based judgments of semantic category membership correlated with executive measures of inhibitory control and mental search, but not with measures of episodic memory or overall dementia severity, suggesting a contribution of executive resources to rule-based semantic categorization. Moreover, the pattern of limited rule-based categorization in AD closely resembled the performance profile of patients with frontotemporal dementia, further implying that executive resource limitations underlie AD patients’ limited rule-based semantic categorization. These findings suggest that semantic memory difficulty in AD is due in part to a deficit in executive processes that are central to rule-based categorization in semantic memory.
Surface-plasmon-enhanced radiation effects in confined photonic systems

Combined action of a resonant cavity and metal nanocomposites is shown to result in dramatic enhancement of spontaneous emisson rate in the optical spectral range. The cavity leads to modification of the optical density of states (Parcell effect), whereas the metal nanoparticles lead to giant local-field effects in spontaneous emission occurring because of surface-plasmon-enhanced vacuum field fluctuations. It is also shown that the surface-plasmon resonances may result in a full photonic gap in a metal-dielectric composite, even for a completely random structure of the composite. In our experiments, lasing at extremely low pump intensities, below 1 mW was observed for a novel class of optical materials, microcavities doped with fractal aggregates of metal nanoparticles.
Pattern recognition in speaker verification

There are many ways in which a pattern recognition system may be implemented. In the specific problem of speaker verification, a two-class recognition scheme is of interest. A speaker who desired verification of his identity based upon some previously stored characteristics of his speech represents one of the two classes (real), whereas the other class (impostor) encompasses all other speakers.
4 GHz high-power high-efficiency pseudomorphic power HEMT

The power performance of 0.25- mu m*8-mm double recessed GaAs-based pseudomorphic high electron mobility transistors (PHEMTs) at 4 GHz is reported. The 0.25- mu m-gate-length PHEMTs exhibit typical gate-to-drain breakdown voltage of more than 20 V, peak transconductance of 430 mS/mm, and maximum drain current density of 450 mA/mm. When the drain was biased up to 11 V, the device delivered 5.7-W output power with 12.6-dB power gain and 57% power-added efficiency (PAE). The device demonstrates an extremely broad drain bias range for efficient operation. It exhibits a maximum PAE of 72% with an output power of 4.1 W under a V/sub DS/=7 V condition. with 8-V drain bias, when the device was tuned for maximum output power, it delivered 4.3 W of P/sub 2dB/ with 15.4-dB power gain and 66% PAE. >
p120 catenin induces opposing effects on tumor cell growth depending on E-cadherin expression.

p120 catenin regulates the activity of the Rho family guanosine triphosphatases (including RhoA and Rac1) in an adhesion-dependent manner. Through this action, p120 promotes a sessile cellular phenotype when associated with epithelial cadherin (E-cadherin) or a motile phenotype when associated with mesenchymal cadherins. In this study, we show that p120 also exerts significant and diametrically opposing effects on tumor cell growth depending on E-cadherin expression. Endogenous p120 acts to stabilize E-cadherin complexes and to actively promote the tumor-suppressive function of E-cadherin, potently inhibiting Ras activation. Upon E-cadherin loss during tumor progression, the negative regulation of Ras is relieved; under these conditions, endogenous p120 promotes transformed cell growth both in vitro and in vivo by activating a Rac1–mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway normally activated by the adhesion of cells to the extracellular matrix. These data indicate that both E-cadherin and p120 are important regulators of tumor cell growth and imply roles for both proteins in chemoresistance and targeted therapeutics.
A Futuristic Portfolio Is a Necessity

Just as Wayne Gretzky, the ice hockey player, said that he goes not where the puck is but where the puck is likely to be (Samli 2007), I believe the true innovator not only understands today’s market but also makes provisions for where that market will be in the future.
Optical methods in vascular biology and medicine.

The present-day vascular researcher has an impressive array of tools at his/her disposal. Advances in optical techniques have enabled noninvasive, in situ characterization of the anatomic and functional state of the vasculature. Specifically, the development of nonlinear optical microscopy and optical coherence tomography OCT has enabled depth-resolved, high-resolution imaging of important vascular features such as vulnerable plaques and tumor microcirculation. Furthermore, the everincreasing number of molecular reporters and transgenic animal models has enabled researchers to image vascular-specific architectural features and functional states i.e., gene expression
A Micromechanics Model for the Thermal Conductivity of Nanotube-Polymer Nanocomposites

A micromechanics approach for assessing the impact of an interfacial thermal resistance, also known as the Kapitza resistance, on the effective thermal conductivity of carbon nanotube-polymer nanocomposites is applied, which includes both the effects of the presence of the hollow region of the carbon nanotube (CNT) and the effects of the interactions amongst the various orientations of CNTs in a random distribution. The interfacial thermal resistance is a nanoscale effect introduced in the form of an interphase layer between the CNT and the polymer matrix in a nanoscale composite cylinder representative volume element to account for the thermal resistance in the radial direction along the length of the nanotube. The end effects of the interfacial thermal resistance are accounted for in a similar manner through the use of an interphase layer between the polymer and the CNT ends. Resulting micromechanics predictions for the effective thermal conductivity of polymer nanocomposites with randomly oriented CNTs, which incorporate input from molecular dynamics for the interfacial thermal resistance, demonstrate the importance of including the hollow region in addition to the interfacial thermal resistance, and compare well with experimental data.
Clinical Reasoning: An unusual cause of transverse myelitis?

A 71-year-old woman presented with a 1-week history of progressive weakness involving her lower extremities, leading to an inability to walk. She also noticed diminished sensation in her lower extremities. She did not complain of bowel or bladder dysfunction. She did not have any neurologic symptoms in her upper extremities. She experienced an upper respiratory tract infection 5 days prior to the start of these symptoms and was treated with antibiotics. There was no history of headache, impaired cognition, or speech impairment.
A generalization of Evans' Theorem: embedding partial tricycle systems

In 1960, Trevor Evans gave a best possible embedding of a partial latin square of order n in a latin square of order t , for any t ≥ 2 n . A latin square of order n is equivalent to a 3-cycle system of K n, n, n , the complete tripartite graph. Here we consider a small embedding of partial 3 k -cycle systems of K n, n, n of a certain type which generalizes Evans' Theorem, and discuss how this relates to the embedding of patterned holes, another recent generalization of Evans' Theorem.
Daily Trading and Efficiency in Futures Markets

This study examines short horizon currency futures returns. Expectations hypothesis or risk neutrality assumes an efficient market with no risk premium, and therefore no predictor for futures returns. Using the British, German, Swiss, Japanese, and Canadian currencies as well as pooled currency data, we document that in the 1980s the futures-spot basis was a proxy for the risk premium and did have predictive power over futures returns. However, in the 1990s, various efficiency enhancing mechanisms have reduced the risk premium and eliminated the forecasting power of the basis. Conclusions are similar and even more pronounced for longer maturity currency futures contracts where the risk premium was more dominant in the 1980s.
Developments at the Man-Machine Interface

Because early computers were expensive and had small memories, attention had to be given to using them efficiently, although this made computer languages cumbersome and unnatural for the human beings who used them. Computer programming had little connection with the development of mathematical concepts.
pO2, pH, and Redox Potential of Experimental Abscesses

SummaryAbscesses were induced in rats by injection of turpentine or turpentine plus bacteria. Other abscesses were induced by subcutaneous nitrogen injections followed by bacteria. pO2 of the abscesses was diminished (mean 25.3 mm Hg, range 0-75 mm Hg), the pH was acid (mean 7.0, range 6.2-7.2), and the oxidation-reduction potential was lowered (mean +1 mV, range −20 to +40 mV). Since low pO2 interferes with PMN bactericidal activity, this may in part explain the frequent failure of undrained abscesses to resolve.
Serum complement activity in rat recipients of small and massive skin allografts.

SummaryThe complement activity was determined in sera of recipients after reciprocal skin transplantation between two isogenic strains of BN and Lewis rats. Small or massive allografts did not significantly affect the pattern or the level of overall complement activity, despite the fact that these animal sera are known to bind complement in the cy to toxic reaction in vitro. A slight initial rise of the serum complement activity has been noted in most of the animals. This rise is attributed to a possible increase in production of serum protein elicited by bleeding. The results have been interpreted to rule out either an exhaustion or an inactivation of the complement system as a causative factor in the longevity of massive grafts.
Sixty-five-day interval between the births of twins

Abstract The case of a 37-year-old gravida iv, para iii, who was delivered of a live 375 gram first twin and who retained the second twin for 65 days, has been presented. The retention of the second twin occurred despite a Pitocin infusion and a severe intrauterine infection after the birth of the first twin. No evidence of a uterus didelphys or other congenital defects was found on postpartum hysterography. No explanation for the prolonged retention of the fetus can be offered.
Many Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients Are Not Immune to Measles or Pertussis

Current guidelines emphasize vaccination for influenza and pneumococcus for IBD patients and the avoidance of live virus vaccines for those who are on immunosuppressive (ISS) therapy. Given the recent resurgence of measles and pertussis infections, we assessed the immune status of our IBD population in order to advise about these risks. We prospectively collected measles and pertussis titers in our IBD patients from February 1–May 1, 2015. Immune status based on standard threshold values was determined: measles antibodies ≤0.8 antibody index (AI) = negative immunity, 0.9–1.1 AI = equivocal immunity and titers ≥1.2 AI = positive immunity. For pertussis immunity, anti-pertussis antibodies ≤5 IU/mL were considered negative immunity. Univariate analysis was performed to examine predictive factors including age, disease duration, and current medical therapies. A total of 122 patients’ titers were assessed (77 Crohn’s disease, 1 indeterminate colitis, and 45 ulcerative colitis). Sixteen (13.1 %) patients lacked detectable immunity to measles, and four (3 %) had equivocal immunity. Twelve (75 %) of the measles non-immune patients were on ISS therapy versus 65 (64 %) of 102 immune patients (OR 1.7, 95 % CI 0.5–5.9, p = 0.34). Out of 96 patients, 58 (60 %) were not immune to pertussis. Disease duration ≥10 years and age ≥50 were associated with significant lower measles titers. A significant number of our IBD patients lack immunity to measles, and a majority of our IBD patients do not have detectable immunity to pertussis. Importantly, the majority of the measles non-immune patients are on ISS therapy and therefore unable to receive a booster.
A mathematical model for the estimation of hardness of electrochemical deposits

Binding of metal powders using electrochemically deposited binders provides a novel way of carrying metal additive manufacturing at ambient temperatures. In this paper, a mathematical model was dev...
Youth media and social change: Using digital storytelling as a tool that engages youth to become change agents

Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcollections.sit.edu/capstones Part of the Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education Commons, Broadcast and Video Studies Commons, Communication Technology and New Media Commons, Curriculum and Social Inquiry Commons, Social Influence and Political Communication Commons, Social Media Commons, Social Work Commons, and the Student Counseling and Personnel Services Commons
The White Savior Industrial Complex: A Cultural Studies Analysis of a Teacher Educator, Savior Film, and Future Teachers

This paper seeks to report the findings of a cultural studies project conducted in an upperclassman, undergraduate, teacher preparation course. With this paper, I explore the implications of a white savior mentality through the lens of three different, yet over-lapping, personal and social media: my own story as a beginning, white teacher in racially diverse school settings; popular texts that romanticize white teachers who come in to “save the day”; and the experiences of future teachers with whom I have worked to interrogate a White Savior Industrial Complex (WSIC). With this paper, then, I work to investigate the social institutions that animate the WSIC, which I position as a detrimental extension of a superhero teacher that perpetuates inequalities in schools if left unexamined. More specifically, to combat the structures of inequality that exist in our schools, I argue for critical race theory and critical whiteness studies courses as a potential space for white teachers to dialogue and come to terms with their understandings of white supremacy.
The role of reference materials in analytical chemistry

Abstract Meaningful measurements in analytical chemistry are achievable when both reference materials and reference methods have been standardized. Reference materials serve as one essential foundation of analytical chemistry, especially with instrumental techniques in the exploration, mining, and metallurgical industries. Analysts in these fields continually are making measurement comparisons. For any given measurement system, meaningful comparisons are possible only when referred to the common base of reference materials. The philosophy underlying the use of reference materials in making compatible and meaningful measurements will be developed. The planning, preparation, and characterization of reference materials are exacting tasks that must be thoroughly investigated if these materials are to successfully perform their role toward standardization and meaningful measurements. Details of the investigative procedures will be given. In view of the many hundreds of thousands of industrial processes requiring analytical control, it is no wonder that the demand for reference materials far exceeds the world's capability to produce them. This ever widening gap has been of utmost concern to the NBS Office of Standard Reference Materials, and has led to a program to produce the essential “benchmark” reference materials to serve as the anchor points for calibration in many measurement systems. Specific examples will be presented dealing with the preparation of “benchmark” reference materials for the mineral and metal industries. Included will be studies for homogeneity testing and analytical characterization, both of which employ statistical design and evaluation.
Female Outlet Obstruction After Anti-incontinence Surgery

Numerous surgical options are available for the management of stress urinary incontinence in women, including urethral bulking agents, pubovaginal slings, retropubic bladder neck suspensions, midurethral slings, and even artificial urinary sphincters. We discuss the incidence, etiology, diagnosis, evaluation, and management of bladder outlet obstruction after anti-incontinence surgery in women. This problem presents with a wide range of symptoms. Urodynamic evaluation is not always diagnostic but can be helpful. Management options range from conservative to invasive. The optimal timeline for intervention is still not well defined, but general guiding principles of management are presented and a comprehensive review of current literature is presented.
Re-boot: Simulation Elective for Medical Students as Preparation Bootcamp for Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency.

Objective To evaluate the impact of a simulation-based elective on medical student preparedness for obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) residency. Methods A two-week, simulation-based elective course for post-clerkship medical students was developed, and 10 students participated at a single academic institution in 2016 and 2017. Using standardized patients and team-based training, students practiced procedural and surgical skills, as well as the diagnosis, management, and work-up of commonly seen problems. Close coaching with a low student-faculty ratio was employed for each session, allowing for individualized feedback in real time. Prior to and after completing the elective, student knowledge was evaluated using the Preparation for Residency Knowledge Assessment tool (PrepForRes). Written course evaluations were also completed by students at the end of the course. Results Mean scores on the PrepForRes exam increased from 63.6% to 75.3% (p=0.0136). Notably, the average post-course score improved to a passing level, and all but one student achieved a passing score on the post-course test. Course evaluations and student feedback showed high satisfaction rates with the course. Conclusions This study demonstrates that a simulation-based elective course is an effective tool for helping medical students transition to OB/GYN residency. As medical schools work to facilitate the transition from undergraduate to graduate medical education, simulation can bridge gaps during this transition in order for students to meet entry-level residency requirements.
PLEURAL EFFUSIONS | Pleural Fluid Analysis, Thoracentesis, Biopsy, and Chest Tube

Analysis of pleural fluid assists the diagnosis of intrathoracic and systemic disorders that cause pleural effusions. Nearly 75% of patients with pleural effusions gain either a definitive or presumptive diagnosis after a systematic analysis of pleural fluid. The need for further diagnostic studies depends on whether pleural fluid is classified by pleural fluid analysis as exudative or transudative in nature. A Bayesian approach to discriminating between exudative and transudative effusions increases diagnostic accuracy. Patients with exudative effusions may benefit from pleural biopsy if the diagnosis remains uncertain after thoracentesis. Infected pleural fluid or large, symptomatic effusions benefit from chest tube drainage. Biopsy can be performed by closed needle, image-guided needle, open surgical, and thoracoscopic techniques. The diagnostic yield of each of these procedures varies in different clinical settings. Chest tubes represent the primary technique for draining symptomatic effusions and performing chemical pleurodesis. The type and caliber of chest tube varies depending on the etiology and physical properties of the effusion.
The Kell Blood Group Protein, its Relation to XK and its Function as an Endothelin-3-Converting Enzyme

Kell is a 93kDa type II membrane glycoprotein that exists in over 25 different polymorphic forms and, because various forms are immunogenic, it is considered to be an important blood group protein. On red cells, Kell protein is linked by a single disulfide bond to another protein, XK that is lacking in the McLeod phenotype. Kell and XK are preferentially expressed in erythroid tissue but are also present, in lesser amount, in a large number of other tissues including testis, brain, and skeletal muscle. Kell protein is an endothelin converting enzyme that preferentially activates endothelin-3 while XK has the structural characteristics of a membrane transporter.
Early versus late wake therapy improves mood more in antepartum versus postpartum depression by differentially altering melatonin-sleep timing disturbances.

Abstract Background Peripartum major depression (MD) disables mothers and impairs emotional and neurocognitive development of offspring. We tested the hypothesis that critically-timed wake therapy (WT) relieves peripartum MD by altering melatonin and sleep timing, differentially, in antepartum vs. postpartum depressed patients (DP). Methods In a university clinical research center, we initially randomized 50 women – 26 antepartum (17 healthy comparison-HC, 9 DP) and 24 postpartum (8 HC, 16 DP) – to a cross-over trial of one night of early-night wake therapy (EWT: sleep 3:00–7:00 am) vs. late-night wake therapy (LWT: sleep 9:00 pm–01:00 am). Ultimately, we obtained mood, overnight plasma melatonin and polysomnography for: 15 antepartum women receiving EWT, 18 receiving LWT; 15 postpartum women receiving EWT, 14 receiving LWT. Results EWT improved mood more in antepartum vs. postpartum DP in conjunction with reduced (normalized) melatonin-sleep phase-angle differences (PADs) due to delayed melatonin onsets and advanced sleep onsets, and increased (from baseline) total sleep times (TST). LWT improved mood more in postpartum vs. antepartum DP in conjunction with increased TST. Limitations Small samples potentially rendered the study underpowered to detect group differences, making confirmation with larger samples essential. Sufficient follow-up data were not available in most women to document the duration of the mood response to wake therapy. Conclusions EWT benefitted antepartum DP more by realigning melatonin and sleep timing, whereas LWT benefitted postpartum DP more by increasing TST. Thus, consistent with precision medicine aims, maximum mood benefits accrue from timing sleep/wake interventions to specific peripartum circadian pathophysiologies.
Sharing Susceptible Passwords as Cyber Threat Intelligence Feed

Password-strength checkers provide feedback to users about their password choice. Several parameters are investigated by password-strength checkers such as length, character set, user information, and entropy to score the chosen password. Moreover, such checkers use dictionaries to detect susceptible passwords such as keyboard sequences (e.g. qwert), simple and usual words (e.g. password). As the password patterns are language specific, having an English dictionary of patterns is not helpful to detect other language patterns. Besides that, the users' passwords choice might be inspired by the new patterns emerging in their culture. For instance, new movies, books, and games. Hence, the dictionary needs to be updated to cover the new patterns. However, generating such dictionaries which cover new and diverse patterns is not simple and needs excessive efforts to extract new patterns from different cultures. To update the list of susceptible passwords and extract new password patterns dynamically, we propose a method for sharing attacked passwords which are collected from the honeypot through brute-force attack attempts. To achieve this goal, first, we analyze the passwords collected in brute-force attack attempted in our honeypot. Then, we model the password sharing as cyber threat intelligence feed in the Structured Threat Information Expression (STIX) format. We also provide a tool which allows users to query if a string or its leet transformation is existing in the susceptible password dataset.
Software-Defined Networking Switches for Fast Single-Link Failure Recovery

In this paper, we consider IP fast recovery from single-link failures in a given network topology. The basic idea is to replace some existing routers with a designated switch. When a link fails, th...