cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluating Cost of Cloud Execution in a Data Repository

In this paper, we utilize a set of controlled experiments to benchmark the cost associated with the cloud execution of typical repository functions such as ingestion, fixity checking, and heavy data processing. We focus on the repository service pattern where content is explicitly stored away from where it is processed. We measured the processing speed and unit cost of each scenario using a large sensor dataset and Amazon Web Services (AWS). The initial results reveal three distinct cost patterns: 1) spend more to buy up to proportionally faster services; 2) more money does not necessarily buy better performance; and 3) spend less, but faster. Further investigations into these performance and cost patterns will help repositories to form a more effective operation strategy.
Low voltage, Q waves, and congestive heart failure.

(1997). Low Voltage, Q Waves, and Congestive Heart Failure. Hospital Practice: Vol. 32, No. 6, pp. 21-22.
Physical fitness during medical school: a 4-year study at the Uniformed Services University.

Background and objectives Medical school is stressful. Students commonly exhibit changes in dietary and physical activity patterns in response. We tracked measurements of physical fitness over 4 years in a cohort of students at the Uniformed Services University. Methods Validated measures for specific components of physical fitness were measured in 170 students (94% of the Class of 2011) over the course of 4 years. Measurements included: (1) height and weight (body composition), (2) timed push-ups and sit-ups (muscular endurance), and (3) timed run (aerobic endurance). These measurements are part of annual physical readiness testing required for active duty service in the US military. Results Muscular endurance and aerobic capacity declined significantly over the 4 years of medical school. Changes in physical fitness were most pronounced during the preclinical years. There were inconsistent changes in body composition among students in the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Composite fitness scores declined significantly in Army and Navy students but not in the Air Force. Conclusions Individual levels of physical fitness decline during medical school. Declines are most notable during the preclinical years. To promote student wellness, medical schools should incorporate student wellness activities as a routine part of the curriculum.
Electrically conductive hydrogel-based micro-topographies for the development of organized cardiac tissues

The dense uniaxially aligned cardiac cytoarchitecture of the myocardium along with electrical and mechanical coupling between the cardiac cells are key factors in the synchronous contractility of the heart. Following myocardial infarction, the organized architecture of the myocardium is disrupted and non-functional scar tissues are produced. Engineered cardiac tissues, developed in hydrogel-based biomaterials, featuring biomimetic topographical cues have shown significant promise for regeneration and repair of injured myocardium. However, currently engineered tissues still do not exhibit an electrically conductive matrix integrated with highly oriented cellular constructs to promote tissue-level functionalities. To address this limitation, we utilized integrated micro- and nano-technologies to develop gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) hydrogel constructs comprised of surface micro-topographies (microgrooves with 50 μm width and depth) incorporated with electrically conductive gold nanorods (GNRs) to provide simultaneous electrical and topographical cues that mimic physiological relevant myocardium function. F-Actin stained images and fluorescent area coverage data revealed the formation of uniform, dense, and highly aligned cardiac tissues on GelMA–GNR hydrogels compared to discrete and disconnected cellular organization on pure GelMA constructs (control group). Immunostaining images of cardiac markers, specifically sarcomeric α-actinin and connexin 43 also showed higher cytoskeletal alignment and enhanced cellular connectivity on GelMA–GNR hydrogels. Tissues formed on both GelMA and GelMA–GNR constructs demonstrated spontaneous contractility from day 4 to 7 of culture. However, only electrically conductive GelMA–GNR cardiac tissues showed a consistent response in changing beat rate as a result of external stimulation. Overall, we demonstrate the enhanced formation of cardiac tissues with superior cellular organization, connectivity, and electrical properties with use of GNRs and microgrooved GelMA hydrogel that may have potential as a functional cardiac patch in the setting of infarcted myocardium.
Projected changes in prevailing winds for transatlantic migratory birds under global warming

A number of terrestrial bird species that breed in North America cross the Atlantic Ocean during autumn migration when travelling to their non-breeding grounds in the Caribbean or South America. When conducting oceanic crossings, migratory birds tend to associate with mild or supportive winds, whose speed and direction may change under global warming. The implications of these changes for transoceanic migratory bird populations have not been addressed. We used occurrence information from eBird (1950-2015) to estimate the geographical location of population centres at a daily temporal resolution across the annual cycle for 10 transatlantic migratory bird species. We used this information to estimate the location and timing of autumn migration within the transatlantic flyway. We estimated how prevailing winds are projected to change within the transatlantic flyway during this time using daily wind speed anomalies (1996-2005 and 2091-2100) from 29 Atmosphere-Ocean General Circulation Models implemented under CMIP5. Autumn transatlantic migrants have the potential to encounter strong westerly crosswinds early in their transatlantic journey at intermediate and especially high migration altitudes, strong headwinds at low and intermediate migration altitudes within the Caribbean that increase in strength as the season progresses, and weak tailwinds at intermediate and high migration altitudes east of the Caribbean. The CMIP5 simulations suggest that, during this century, the likelihood of autumn transatlantic migrants encountering strong westerly crosswinds will diminish. As global warming progresses, the need for species to compensate or drift under the influence of strong westerly crosswinds during the initial phase of their autumn transatlantic journey may be diminished. Existing strategies that promote headwind avoidance and tailwind assistance will likely remain valid. Thus, climate change may reduce time and energy requirements and the chance of mortality or vagrancy during a specific but likely critical portion of these species' autumn migration journey.
Influence of ion sterics on diffusiophoresis and electrophoresis in concentrated electrolytes

It is typically presumed that the phoretic motion of particles vanishes at large electrolyte concentration. A new study shows that while this is true for electrophoresis, the diffusiophoretic mobility increases dramatically due to a gradient of steric repulsion between finite-sized ions.
Bifurcation and Catastrophe

This chapter discusses bifurcation and catastrophe. An important subclass of dynamical systems is the called gradient system. The chapter illustrates with examples that a catastrophe occurs either where new equilibria appear by bifurcation or existing equilibria coalesce into one. The chapter discusses a single equation in x for the dynamics of one's gradient system in which the parameters α and β are not necessarily under one's control. However, there could be a feedback linkage, whereby these values actually depend on the current state x . As orbits are assumed to move quickly to their rest points, these relationships prescribe the flow on M , including catastrophic jumps, if any. If the dynamics of α and β are chosen properly, one can end up with cyclic motion in which x wanders for a time on one sheet of M , quickly moves to another sheet for another sojourn, and then just as quickly returns to the original sheet where the process is repeated. Because the orbit fingers between the jumps at one of essentially two values, it is possible to study the overall dynamics by first solving for x with α and β effectively constant.
Wicksell on Pareto: Efficiency, Welfare, and Distribution

No individual in the history of public economics has been subject to more contentious discussion than Knut Wicksell – and perhaps no concept subjected to more diverse interpretation than Wicksell’s unanimity rule. The story begins in 1896 with the publication of Wicksell’s public finance treatise, Finanztheoretische Untersuchungen, and starts to take shape in 1906 with the publication of Pareto’s Manual of Political Economy. The crux of the matter hinges on the relationship between Wicksell’s unanimity rule and Pareto’s optimality. This article examines Wicksell’s one-sided debate with Pareto in sociological, economic, and methodological terms, and evaluates Pareto’s influence on Wicksell’s subsequent analysis of collective economic welfare. Also considered is the trajectory of their economic ideas that led to an eventual convergence in public choice.
Using cluster edge counting to aggregate iterations of centroid-linkage clustering results and avoid large distance matrices

Sequence clustering is a fundamental tool of molecular biology that is being challenged by increasing dataset sizes from high-throughput sequencing. The agglomerative algorithms that have been relied upon for their accuracy require the construction of computationally costly distance matrices which can overwhelm basic research personal computers. Alternative algorithms exist, such as centroid-linkage, to circumvent large memory requirements but their results are often input-order dependent. We present a method for bootstrapping the results of many centroid-linkage clustering iterations into an aggregate set of clusters, increasing cluster accuracy without a distance matrix. This method ranks cluster edges by conservation across iterations and reconstructs aggregate clusters from the resulting ranked edge list, pruning out low-frequency cluster edges that may have been a result of a specific sequence input order. Aggregating centroid-linkage clustering iterations can help researchers using basic research personal computers acquire more reliable clustering results without increasing memory resources.
Does choice of measure matter? Assessing the similarities and differences among self-control scales

Abstract Purpose To assess the extent to which three well-validated measures of self-control are assessing the same construct. Methods Two student samples (ns = 315 and 172) completed multiple self-control scales (the Grasmick et al. scale, Weinberger Adjustment Inventory-Restraint, and the Tangney et al. scale), as well as other personality traits, aggression, and offending scales. Results The three scales correlated highly with one another (rs ranged from 0.65–0.69) and rank-order differences were uncommon (approximately 80% were within 1 standard deviation). However, each scale demonstrated somewhat different patterns in terms of their relationships with other personality indices, aggression, and offending. Conclusions The Grasmick scale and Weinberger Adjustment Inventory were similar to one another in many (but not all) instances, and both were distinct from the Tangney scale. The three self-control scales used in this analysis have much in common, but they are not identical. Moreover, with the exception of the Tangney scale, the constructs assessed by the self-control scales are not synonymous with Conscientiousness or impulsivity. Care should be exercised in including these different self-control scales and similar constructs (e.g., impulsivity) within meta-analytic studies as effect sizes risk being misspecified.
Characterization of viral proteins synthesized in 229E infected cells and effect(s) of inhibition of glycosylation and glycoprotein transport.

Coronaviruses were classified as a distinct group of viruses in 1968 (1) and four members of this group are recognized as human respiratory pathogens: These include B814 (2), the first human coronavirus (HCV) isolated 229E (3), OC-43 (4) and 692 (5), identified by immunoelectromicroscopy only. In addition to the respiratory pathogens, two coronaviruses have been isolated while working with brain tissue from multiple sclerosis patients (6). These viruses cross-react antigenically with OC-43 but neither of these viruses have been implicated in respiratory disease.
Weed Control for Pot-In-Pot Production using Preemergence Herbicides

Abstract Four experiments were conducted to investigate herbicides currently labeled for field and/or container production for use in pot-in-pot production. Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora L.), red maple (Acer rubrum Spach. ‘Autumn Flame’ and ‘Franksred’), ornamental pear (Pyrus calleryana Decne. ‘Bradford’ and ‘Cleveland Select’), river birch (Betula nigra L.), green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh. and F. pennsylvanica Marsh.‘Marshall's Seedless’), and zelkova (Zelkova serrata Spach ‘Village Green’) were evaluated for herbicide tolerance. Barricade 65WG, Surflan 4AS, and Pendulum 60WDG, used alone or in combination with Princep and Gallery 75 DF, had no adverse effect on tree shoot growth or trunk caliper growth when applied as a directed band application. Weed control varied depending upon local site conditions, herbicide rate and weed species.
Cytochrome P450 interactions are common and consequential in Massachusetts hospital discharges.

Cytochrome P 450 interactions are common and consequential in Massachusetts hospital discharges
A Noncanonical Binding Site in the EVH1 Domain of Vasodilator-Stimulated Phosphoprotein Regulates Its Interactions with the Proline Rich Region of Zyxin

Vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) is a processive actin polymerase with roles in the control of cell shape and cell migration. Through interaction with the cytoskeletal adaptor protein Zyxin, VASP can localize to damaged stress fibers where it serves to repair and reinforce these structures. VASP localization is mediated by its N-terminal Ena/VASP homology (EVH1) domain, which binds to the (W/F)PxφP motif (most commonly occurring as FPPPP) found in cytoskeletal proteins such as vinculin, lamellipodin, and Zyxin. Sequentially close clusters of four or five of these motifs frequently occur, as in the proline rich region of Zyxin with four such motifs. This suggests that tetrameric VASP might bind very tightly to Zyxin through avidity, with all four EVH1 domains binding to a single Zyxin molecule. Here, quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance titration analysis reveals a dominant bivalent 1:1 (Zyxin:EVH1) interaction between the Zyxin proline rich region and the VASP EVH1 domain that utilizes the ...
Agency responses to a system-driven implementation of multiple evidence-based practices in children’s mental health services

Large mental health systems are increasingly using fiscal policies to encourage the implementation of multiple evidence-based practices (EBPs). Although many implementation strategies have been identified, little is known about the types and impacts of strategies that are used by organizations within implementation as usual. This study examined organizational-level responses to a fiscally-driven, rapid, and large scale EBP implementation in children’s mental health within the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health. Qualitative methods using the principles of grounded theory were used to characterize the responses of 83 community-based agencies to the implementation effort using documentation from site visits conducted 2 years post reform. Findings indicated that agencies perceived the rapid system-driven implementation to have both positive and negative organizational impacts. Identified challenges were primarily related to system implementation requirements rather than to characteristics of specific EBPs. Agencies employed a variety of implementation strategies in response to the system-driven implementation, with agency size associated with implementation strategies used. Moderate- and large-sized agencies were more likely than small agencies to have employed systematic strategies at multiple levels (i.e., organization, therapist, client) to support implementation. These findings are among the first to characterize organizational variability in response to system-driven implementation and suggest ways that implementation interventions might be tailored by organizational characteristics.
The Recovery Curve for the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Patient-Reported Physical Function and Pain Interference Computerized Adaptive Tests After Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Abstract Background We sought to characterize the typical recovery in physical function (PF) and pain interference (PI) after TKA using Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures. Methods Ninety-one patients were enrolled into an institutional review board -approved prospective observational study. PROs were obtained preoperatively and postoperatively at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year. PROs included the PROMIS PF computerized adaptive test (CAT) and the PROMIS PI CAT. Generalized estimating equations were used to evaluate outcomes over time. Results There was no difference in the preoperative and 6-week postoperative T-scores for the PF CAT (P = .410). However, all subsequent postoperative T-scores were greater than the preoperative T-score (all, P Conclusion The greatest magnitude of improvement in both PF and PI occurred within the first 3 months. After 6 months, patients might expect modest improvements in PF and mild reductions of PI. Patients and surgeons should use this information for setting expectations, planning for recovery, and improving care.
Fast approximations of exponential and logarithm functions combined with efficient storage/retrieval for combustion kinetics calculations

Abstract We developed two approaches to speed up combustion chemistry simulations by reducing the amount of time spent computing exponentials, logarithms, and complex temperature-dependent kinetics functions that heavily rely on them. The evaluation of these functions is very accurate in 64-bit arithmetic, but also slow. Since these functions span several orders of magnitude in temperature space, some of this accuracy can be traded with greater solution speed, provided that the governing ordinary differential equation (ODE) solver still grants user-defined solution convergence properties. The first approach tackled the exp() and log() functions, and replaced them with fast approximations which perform bit and integer operations on the exponential-based IEEE-754 floating point number machine representation. The second approach addresses complex temperature-dependent kinetics functions via storage/retrieval. We developed a function-independent piecewise polynomial approximation method with the following features: it minimizes table storage requirements, it is not subject to ill-conditioning over the whole variable range, it is of arbitrarily high order n > 0, and is fully vectorized. Formulations for both approaches are presented; and their performance assessed against zero-dimensional reactor simulations of hydrocarbon fuel ignition delay, with reaction mechanisms ranging from 10 to 104 species. The results show that, when used concurrently, both methods allow global speed-ups of about one order of magnitude even with an already highly-optimized sparse analytical Jacobian solver. The methods also demonstrate that global error is within the integrator’s requested accuracy, and that the solver’s performance is slightly positively affected, i.e., a slight reduction in the number of timesteps per integration is seen.
The Blood Libel Legend: Its Longevity and Popularity

Jewish ritual murder accusations, in their common apprehension, refer to alleged killing of Christians by Jews in furtherance of religious rites, or specifically Jewish practice. The blood libel, however, is a special variant, and a subset of the broader ritual murder accusation, and came much later into the panoply of accusations leveled at the Jews in the Middle Ages. This essay seeks to address the explanations given by scholars for the popularity and longevity of the blood libel as it touches on the following aspects of the legend: what gave rise to the blood accusations in the Middle Ages when the consequences were so horrific and brutal? Who “first” made the accusations against the Jews in medieval times, and who stood to benefit from such charges, or were they occasioned by economic, social, and religious circumstances that defined medieval Europe? But most importantly, what sustained and popularized it from the twelfth to the twentieth century?
Inhibition of aflatoxin production of Aspergillus parasiticus NRRL 2999 by Bacillus pumilus.

Six isolates of Bacillus pumilus were tested for their ability to inhibit aflatoxin production of Aspergillus parasiticus NRRL 2999 in yeast extract sucrose (YES) broth. Aflatoxin production was inhibited in both simultaneous and deferred antagonism assays, suggesting that the inhibitory activity was due to extracellular metabolite(s) produced in cell-free supernatant fluids of cultured broth. The inhibition was not due to organic acids or hydrogen peroxide produced by B. pumilus since the inhibitory activity was not lost after pH adjustment or treatment of supernatant fluids with catalase. A range of media tested for the production of inhibitory metabolite(s) in supernatant fluids showed that all media supported bacterial growth and production of the metabolite(s). The metabolite(s) were produced over a wide range of temperature (25 to 37°C) and pH (4 to 9) of growth of B. pumilus. They were stable over a wide range of pH (4 to 10) and were not inactivated after autoclaving at 121°C for 30 minutes.
Stiff-Man Syndrome and Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase: An Updated View

Evidence collected during the last decade suggests that Stiff-Man syndrome (SMS), a neuromuscular disorder characterized by continuous rigidity of the body musculature, results from an autoimmune impairment of inhibitory neurons controlling motor neuron activity. The dominant autoantigen is glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), the enzyme responsible for the synthesis of GABA. In this chapter, we summarize some of the relevant features of SMS and GAD, with an emphasis on the contribution of our group to this field.
Onabotulinum toxin A in children with refractory idiopathic overactive bladder: medium-term outcomes.

Summary Introduction Botulinum toxin-A (BtA) has been used for refractory idiopathic overactive bladder (IOAB) in children. Data on the optimum dose success rates, duration of effect, complications and medium-term outcomes are limited. This study aims to analyse the authors' experience to provide medium-term results of BtA in symptomatic refractory patients. Materials and methods Patients with refractory IOAB who were treated with BtA (Botox®) were retrospectively analysed. All patients had urodynamic study before treating with BtA. Group A had low-dose BtA (LDBtA) at 5 units/kg (maximum 150 units), and Group B had high-dose BtA (HDBtA) at 10 units/kg (maximum 300 Units). Post-BtA clinical response, functional bladder capacity (FBC) and postvoid residual (PVR) were assessed in addition to the duration of response. Results Thirty-nine patients, 11 male and 28 female, were analysed. Forty-six percentage had symptom improvement (73% of males and 36% of females [P = 0.072, ns]). The difference in response rates between LDBtA and HDBtA was not statistically significant (P = 0.684). Increase in total bladder capacity (TBC) was greater in those given HDBtA (P ≤ 0.001), but the increase in FBC was not different between the groups, due to greater PVRs in the HDBtA group. Nine patients (23%) developed UTI; however, six of these patients suffered with UTI pre-BtA as well. Only three were asymptomatic after a single treatment with BtA. The remainder required further BtA or oral anticholinergic therapy. At a median follow-up of 35.4 months (interquartile range [IQR] 25.2–46.6), 12 (31%) were asymptomatic and off all therapy, 18 (46%) were still symptomatic despite therapy and 9 (23%) had their symptoms controlled on continuing treatment. Discussion and conclusions Botulinum toxin-A improves symptoms in 46% of children after the first injection in refractory IOAB. Although HDBtA resulted in greater increase in bladder capacity, it conferred no advantage in terms of success rate or duration of response. Five units/kg may be an optimum dose to use as a first treatment with the understanding that some patients will require a higher dose. And, there will be a cohort of patients who need a dose lower than 5 units/kg. A higher dose is more likely to lead to PVR leading to urine stasis and UTIs. The success of BtA only lasts until its effect wears off, and the majority of this cohort (36/39) required continuing treatment with repeat BtA or anticholinergic agents. However, it remains a useful option in patients who are intolerant or unresponsive to anticholinergic medication with symptomatic resolution in 30% at medium-term follow-up. Download : Download high-res image (173KB) Download : Download full-size image Fig . Change in TBC, PVR and FBC with BtA therapy, according to dose.
Development of an automated laser control system for improving temperature uniformity and controlling component strength in selective laser sintering

Abstract It has been shown that quality of components built using selective laser sintering (SLS) are strongly affected by the thermal history of the building process. Temperature variations of a few degrees across the powder surface can alter the mechanical properties of components and render them unsuitable for their intended purpose. Therefore, to improve the quality of SLS components and ease their adoption into the marketplace, temperature fluctuation issues must be addressed. Some success has been demonstrated in the past at reducing temperature non-uniformity by improving the heater system that pre-heats the polymer powder prior to sintering with the laser. This paper will cover a complimentary approach of actively controlling laser fluence on the powder surface based on infrared temperature measurements. By controlling the amount of energy input by the laser, a high level of control over the final part temperature can be achieved and uniformity can be improved. This paper will cover development of the feed-forward control system and will present results showing that for constant cross-section specimens, a 45% improvement in ultimate flexural strength standard deviation was achieved.
From Big Ag to Campus Cafeterias: Intersections of Food-Supply Networks as Technical Communication Pedagogy

This article presents a pedagogical approach to teaching technical and professional writing with an eye toward cultivating awareness and generating informed research among undergraduate students about food production and its various, intricate networks between Big Ag and campus cafeterias. Our pedagogy, influenced by interdisciplinary content, is designed to teach students to differentiate between food processes—such as production versus distribution and consumption—by viewing these networks as communicative practices rather than as inevitable chains or simple functions of one another. Our approach encourages students to locate and analyze differences between interdependent, but seemingly disparate pathways and to make visible communicative intersections that are often rendered invisible and inevitable when not given conscious attention. We base our approach on best teaching practices in technical communication and current literature about food sourcing, sustainability, and ethical food production practices. By focusing on food pathways as a means of teaching technical communications, we are helping students become more adept writers while also educating them about the processes that contribute to what they put into their bodies and how those choices resonate throughout the public sphere. A chief contribution of this article is a description of how students populate a Food Pathways Matrix, which informs their writing and research as they revisit it throughout the semester.
Investigation on the Aging Characteristics of FRP Composites Poles and Crossarms

The fiber reinforced polymers (FRP) are increasingly used in poles and crossarms with good insulating and mechanical properties. In this paper, the aging resistance characteristics of various materials with different processing methods were investigated in this paper, including FRP composite poles and crossarms, the modified polyurethane (PU) resin samples bars and PU resin/glass fiber composite samples bars under the multiple environment. The multi-factor aging experimental chamber is used to simulate the long-term complex operating environment. The fiber bragg grating (FBG) strain sensors were implanted to monitor the strain of poles and crossarms in real time. The results show that after 5000h multi-factor accelerated aging test, the retention bending modulus of PU and PU composite materials samples were higher than 90%; especially for the samples under pultrusion process, its flexural modulus was up to 95.8%. The performance of aging resistance of FRP composites made by pultrusion process is optimal. The strain values at the maximum displacement of crossarm and pole are less than 2‰ after 5000h. The strain value of crossarm is slightly greater than that of pole. Overall, the FRP composite poles and crossarms are of good anti-aging performance.
Explanatory Information in Mathematical Explanations of Physical Phenomena

In this paper I defend an intermediate position between the ‘bare mathematical results’ view and the ‘transmission’ view of mathematical explanations of physical phenomena (MEPPs). I argue that, in...
Effects of moisture content, temperature and pollutant mixture on atmospheric corrosion of copper and silver and implications for the environmental design of data centers (RP-1755)

The effects of moisture content, temperature and pollutant mixture on atmospheric corrosion of copper and silver were investigated by exposing test specimens to different environmental conditions, ...
Care of the Suicidal Patient in the Emergency Setting

Clara R., a 25-year-old teacher, was brought by ambulance to the emergency ward of a general hospital. The emergency medical technicians (EMTs) reported that she had swallowed several handfuls of pills after an argument with her boyfriend. The EMTs could not identify the type or number of pills and they had been unable to find the bottle.
Splenic injury: a rare complication of lower endoscopy.

Splenic injury after colonoscopy is a rare (1:100 000) but serious complication after colonoscopy associated with high morbidity. Consequences range from a mild, self-limited splenic haematoma to the catastrophic shattered spleen and haemorrhagic shock. We present a case of a 68-year-old woman reporting to the emergency department with abdominal pain after colonoscopy. Abdominal CT with intravenous contrast showed a grade I splenic laceration with no active bleeding and a small amount of free fluid collected in the pelvis. General Surgery and Hospitalist Service recommended conservative measures. She was discharged 1 day later with normal haemodynamics and adequate pain control. In conclusion, patients with postcolonoscopy complications often seek evaluation in the emergency department; splenic injury must be considered in the differential. The significant morbidity and occasional mortality are reported from spleen injury after colonoscopy; therefore, the treating physician should promptly evaluate and treat this condition (with appropriate specialty consultation) to prevent untoward outcomes.
Monte Carlo Simulation in Item Response Theory Applications Using SAS

Data simulation and Monte Carlo simulation studies are important skills for researchers and practitioners of educational and psychological measurement, but there are few resources on the topic spec...
Patient and caregiver outcomes at the integrated memory care clinic

The purpose of this longitudinal cohort study was to explore the outcomes of persons living with dementia (PLWD) and their caregivers during their first 9 months at the Integrated Memory Care Clinic (IMCC). IMCC advanced practice registered nurses provide dementia care and primary care simultaneously and continuously to PLWD until institutionalization. Changes were examined in caregivers' psychological well-being (perceived stress, depressive symptoms, caregiver burden, and anxiety) and health status and in PLWDs' quality of life and neuropsychiatric symptoms. Data were collected at baseline, then 3 and 6 months post-baseline. Forty-two caregivers completed all 3 assessments. Most variables remained unchanged. Statistically significant improvements in 5 sub-scales of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory were observed: caregivers' distress regarding their PLWDs' delusions and anxiety, and PLWDs' severity of delusions, depression, and total symptom severity. Further testing of the IMCC is required, including in quasi-experimental studies, to determine its efficacy.
Association of Open-Angle Glaucoma with Non-Alzheimer's Dementia and Cognitive Impairment.

Purpose To compare the odds of central neurodegenerative diseases in patients with open-angle glaucoma (OAG) with the odds in patients without glaucoma (control patients). Design Cross-sectional study. Participants Patients 18 years of age or older who visited Duke University Health System between January 1, 2000, and July 31, 2015. Methods An electronic query of patient records at Duke University Health System was performed to identify patients with and without diagnoses of OAG, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), vascular dementia (VD), senile dementia (SD), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and other neurodegenerative diseases. Univariate logistic regression analyses were performed to calculate unadjusted odds ratios (OR). Age group, race, and gender were included as covariates in multiple logistic regression analyses to calculate adjusted ORs. Main Outcome Measures Odds ratios comparing the odds of each neurodegenerative disease in OAG patients with the odds in control patients. Results A total of 1 511 602 patients were included in this study: 24 892 OAG patients and 1 484 790 control patients. Mean age was 58.9 ± 14.0 years for OAG patients and 44.9 ± 14.1 years for control patients. After adjusting for age, race, and gender, the OR comparing the odds of each neurodegenerative disease in OAG patients with the odds in control patients were as follows: for AD: adjusted OR, 0.84; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.77–0.93; for ALS: adjusted OR, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.14–0.49); for PD: adjusted OR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.89–1.13; for VD: adjusted OR, 1.11; 95% CI, 0.99–1.25; for SD: adjusted OR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.19–1.41; for MCI: adjusted OR, 2.00; 95% CI, 1.79–2.22; and for other neurodegenerative disease: adjusted OR, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.51–2.10. Conclusions Open-angle glaucoma patients may have increased odds of SD, MCI, and other neurodegenerative diseases. Further work is necessary to identify potential causal relationships. A negative correlation exists between OAG and ALS diagnosis that is likely related to limited life expectancy and physical limitations in ALS patients. A weak negative correlation exists between OAG and AD diagnosis. No correlation exists between OAG and PD or VD.
Estimate survival function by using Dagum distribution

This paper intends to estimate the unlabeled three parameters for Dagum distribution model depend on censored samples type two; employing the maximum likelihood estimator method to obtain the derivation of the point estimators for all unlabeled parameters depending on iterative techniques, as Newton – Raphson method; then to derive ordinary least squares estimator method. Applying all these methods to estimate related probability functions; death density function, cumulative distribution function, survival function and hazard function (rate function).When examining the numerical results for probability survival function by employing 'mean squares error measure and mean absolute percentage measure', this may lead to work on the best method in modeling a set of real data; and this method is "Maximum likelihood estimator method for real censored type II sample".
The influence of early adversity on self-regulation and student-teacher relationships in preschool

Abstract Nearly half of young children nationally have some sort of preschool experience by the time they enter kindergarten. Many of these children have experienced one or more types of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), such as child maltreatment or exposure to violence. Exploring how adversity impacts children in the preschool context may highlight potential opportunities for trauma-informed interventions as well as ways to reduce racial disparities seen in preschool outcomes, such as school readiness and suspension/expulsion rates. This study explores the relationship between children’s exposure to cumulative adversity, their self-regulation, and their relationship with their teachers in a sample of predominantly Black (29%) and Latino(71%) children. Data were collected from caregivers of preschool children (n = 126) ontheir child’s lifetime exposure to twelve childhood adversities, including traditionalACEs (e.g., domestic violence exposure and parental substance use) and environmental ACEs (e.g., community violence exposure and food insecurity). Data was also collected from teachers at the middle and end of the preschool year on the child’s self-regulation and on the student-teacher relationship. Children in the sample experienced an average of 3 adversities, with a range of 0–10 ACEs. In a series of path analyses, children’s mid-year self-regulation problems mediated the relationship between children’s ACEs and their end-of-year student-teacher conflict. Above and beyond the contribution of cumulative adversity, teachers reported higher self-regulation problems and student-teacher conflict for Black preschoolers in the study than for other children. The findings in this study highlight the potential negative impact of cumulative adversity on children in the preschool context and supports the need for the development of trauma-informed preschool models that attend to racial disparities and implicit bias to best support the well-being of adversity-exposed young children.
Digitally Unified Seamless Travel (DUST) Experience

This paper explains one of the possible methods where today’s mobile technology advancement can be implemented in the seamless air travel airport experience. From mobile boarding cards to biometric passports, we are already experiencing a more personalised flight experience. The success of online check-in has served as a positive precursor to digitisation. Greater technology and use of connected data mean’s experiences such as passenger security and baggage handling are becoming far more streamlined. The forefront of innovation in this aviation space, pushing boundaries and bringing new touchpoint opportunities to the forefront to give a new passenger experience in the growing Aviation market. “Technology and data are giving rise to new personalised and connected air travel experiences.”
Advertising America: Official Propaganda and the U.S. Promotional Industries, 1946–1950

In the mid-1930s, the notion that the U.S. government would collaborate with the country’s private industries to project official policies and shape public opinion abroad as well as at home would h...
Impacts of Multiple Stressors on a Benthic Foraminiferal Community: A Long-Term Experiment Assessing Response to Ocean Acidification, Hypoxia and Warming

Ocean chemistry is changing as a result of human activities. Atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations are increasing, causing an increase in oceanic pCO2 that drives a decrease in oceanic pH, a process called ocean acidification (OA). Higher CO2 concentrations are also linked to rising global temperatures that can result in more stratified surface waters, reducing the exchange between surface and deep waters; this stronger stratification, along with nutrient pollution, contributes to an expansion of oxygen-depleted zones (so called hypoxia or deoxygenation). Determining the response of marine organisms to environmental changes is important for assessments of future ecosystem functioning. While many studies have assessed the impact of individual or paired stressors, fewer studies have assessed the combined impact of pCO2, O2, and temperature. A long-term experiment (~10 months) with different treatments of these three stressors was conducted to determine their sole or combined impact on the abundance and survival of a benthic foraminiferal community collected from a continental-shelf site. Foraminifera are well suited to such study because of their small size, relatively rapid growth, varied mineralogies and physiologies. Inoculation materials were collected from a ~77-m deep site south of Woods Hole, MA. Very fine sediments (<53 µm) were used as inoculum, to allow the entire community to respond. Thirty-eight morphologically identified taxa grew during the experiment. Multivariate statistical analysis indicates that hypoxia was the major driving factor distinguishing the yields, while warming was secondary. Species responses were not consistent, with different species being most abundant in different treatments. Some taxa grew in all of the triple-stressor samples. Results from the response of this continental shelf benthic foraminiferal community suggest that foraminiferal species’ responses will vary considerably, with some being negatively impacted by predicted environmental changes, while other taxa will tolerate, and perhaps even benefit, from deoxygenation, warming and ocean acidification.
Why the Gap for Women of Color in Community College Leadership

I propose to do a qualitative study to illuminate the gap of leadership in community colleges with women of color. I also offer a call for social action to dismantle this social construct that creates social injustice and marginalization for these women. I want to add to the research of this phenomenon using critical race theory to unmask the gender and other inequities that are the core of this experience. The study intends to challenge policymakers, the public, and the institutions' higher administration to shift this experience through diversity in hiring and empowerment of this population.
Quota Methods of Apportionment: Divide and Rank

Quota methods constitute another important family of apportionment methods. They rely on a fixed divisor of some intrinsic persuasiveness, called quota, and follow the motto “Divide and rank”. The most prominent member of the family, the Hare-quota method with residual fit by greatest remainders, is discussed in the first part of the chapter. The second part addresses various variants of the quota, and various variants of the residual apportionment step. As a whole, the family of quota methods offers a more eclectic approach to apportionment problems than the family of divisor methods.
Statistical Ranking Framework

In this chapter, we introduce the statistical ranking framework. In order to analyze the theoretical properties of learning-to-rank methods, the very first step is to establish the right probabilistic context for the analysis. This is just what the statistical ranking framework addresses. In this chapter we will show three ranking frameworks used in the literature of learning to rank, i.e., the document ranking framework, the subset ranking framework, and the two-layer ranking framework. The discussions in this chapter set the stage for further discussions on generalization ability and statistical consistency in the following chapters.
Future trend of the Shanghai stock market

In the past decade the dynamic Chinese economy is the fastest growing in the world. If this momentum is maintained, China may replace Japan as the World's second largest economy in the foreseeable future. In the process, Shanghai metamorphosed into a futuristic, vibrant metropolis with notable cultural and financial institutions of world-class format. It is of interest to monitor its progress. The Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) was opened in Dec 1990 as an experiment in China's transition to a mixed economy. In spite of its brief history, the index is nonetheless a measure of investors' confidence. We investigate the trend of the Index by inputting the available data into two models: (1) the stochastic SARIMA model and (2) the Backprop Neural Network model. Not surprisingly, these models give divergent predictions. In general, one can characterize the SARIMA model as more optimistic. This is not surprising, since the past performance of the SSE has been bullish. The neural network models, however, give a general downward trend. Comparison with actual data in a 48 weeks forecast period shows close agreement with our predictions.
Macrophage activation syndrome, an important differential diagnosis for septic shock

Macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) is a rare and life threatening complication of rheumatic diseases. It is seen most frequently in association with systemic onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis and less commonly in other rheumatic diseases of childhood including systemic lupus erythematosus. Recognition of MAS in patients with rheumatic diseases is often challenging as it may mimic the clinical features of the underlying disease. Sometimes MAS can be the mode of initial presentation adding to the diagnostic complexity. We describe two cases of MAS in association with systemic onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis who presented with a clinical picture suggestive of septic shock. The Internal Review Board at Shands Children’s Hospital and the University of Florida waived the need for approval for these case reports.
Cultural Imperialism Versus Globalization of Culture: Riding the Structure-Agency Dialectic in Global Communication and Media Studies

This article discusses and analyzes the dialectic between so-called cultural imperialism and globalization of culture perspectives in global communication and media studies. At an extreme, cultural imperialism is cast as the international extension of the long-discredited hypodermic needle theory which views cultural consumers as passive automatons. At the other end of the extreme, the globalization of culture perspective is cast as a wildly postmodern standpoint in which free-floating individuals are said to be able to make an infinite set of localized meanings from cultural products. There has been a growing trend among many global communication and media scholars to locate a productive middle ground between cultural imperialism and globalization of culture. In this author’s view, the most effective melding of the two perspectives would situate local, creative appropriation of cultural objects against the backdrop of larger, hegemonic regional and global macro-forces. This approach ought also to acknowledge the many complexities that characterize the intersections among globalization, culture, and media, including the ways in which the local, national, regional, and global constitute one another and the ways in which resistance to local hegemony can paradoxically fuel national or global hegemony.