cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adapting bridge infrastructure to climate change: institutionalizing resilience in intergovernmental transportation planning processes in the Northeastern USA

Multi-level governance networks provide both opportunities and challenges to mainstream climate change adaptation due to their routine decision-making and coordination processes. This paper explores institutionalizing resilience and adaptation to climate change in the intergovernmental transportation planning processes that address bridge infrastructure in the Northeastern United States (USA), specifically in Vermont and Maine. The research presented here relies on nine interviews with policy-makers and planners, a survey of transportation project prioritization criteria, development of a longitudinal bridge funding database, and its integration with publicly available geospatial data. It presents a novel spatial analysis methodology, a modified version of which could be adopted by transportation agencies for prioritizing scarce adaptation funds. Although transportation agencies are undertaking a variety of mitigation activities to address business-as-usual needs, climate change adaptation and resilience efforts remain underprioritized. Adaptation is a global concern, but impacts vary dramatically between regions and require localized solutions. Bridges and culverts, which are especially vulnerable to climate-induced flooding impacts, have complex maintenance and design processes and are subject to convoluted adaptation planning procedures. Critical gaps in resources and knowledge are barriers to improved adaptation planning. Restructuring the transportation project prioritization procedures used by planning organizations to explicitly include adaptation may provide a novel strategy to institutionalize resilience in transportation. These procedures must be considered in the context of the intergovernmental networks that exist to support transportation infrastructure. Although these networks will likely vary across countries, the approaches introduced here to study and address transportation infrastructure adaptation may be applied to many settings.
A 2-DIMENSIONAL ALGEBRAIC VARIETY WITH 27 RECTILINEAR GENERATORS AND 108 TRISECANTS AND ITS CONNECTION WITH THE MAXIMAL EXCEPTIONAL SIMPLE LIE GROUP

A 2-dimensional algebraic variety in 4-dimensional projective space determining a regular configuration is considered and its connection with sim- ple exceptional Lie group E8 is found.
A Conceptual Model for Identifying, Preventing, and Managing Secondary Conditions in People With Disabilities

Secondary conditions are considered a direct consequence of having a disability, and many are presumed to be preventable. Although a few researchers have noted that people with disabilities are exposed to several secondary conditions, including pain, fatigue, depression, and obesity, what is lacking in the literature is a conceptual framework for understanding the antecedents, risk factors, and consequences of secondary conditions. To move the rehabilitation and public health professions toward a more unified approach to understanding and managing secondary conditions as well as distinguishing them from chronic and associated conditions, this article proposes a set of criteria for defining secondary conditions and a conceptual model that considers the potential factors associated with their onset, impact, severity, and management.
Distributed Motor Controller (DMC) for operation in extreme environments

This paper presents an extreme environment capable Distributed Motor Controller (DMC) module suitable for operation with a distributed architecture of future spacecraft systems. This motor controller is designed to be a bus-based electronics module capable of operating a single Brushless DC motor in extreme space environments: temperature (−120°C to +85°C required, −180°C to +100°C stretch goal); radiation (>20K required, >100KRad stretch goal); >360 cycles of operation. Achieving this objective will result in a scalable modular configuration for motor control with enhanced reliability that will greatly lower cost during the design, fabrication and ATLO phases of future missions. Within the heart of the DMC lies a pair of cold-capable Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) and a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) that enable its miniaturization and operation in extreme environments. The ASICs are fabricated in the IBM 0.5μm Silicon Germanium (SiGe) BiCMOS process and are comprised of Analog circuitry to provide telemetry information, sensor interface, and health and status of DMC. The FPGA contains logic to provide motor control, status monitoring and spacecraft interface. The testing and characterization of these ASICs have yielded excellent functionality in cold temperatures (−135°C). The DMC module has demonstrated successful operation of a motor at temperature.
AGE-SPECIFIC DEMOGRAPHY IN PLANTAGO: VARIATION AMONG COHORTS IN A NATURAL PLANT POPULATION

The major starting point to life history analysis is the schedule of repro- duction and mortality; hence, knowledge of age-specific demographic dynamics is needed. The key ingredients to studies on age-specific demography must include large cohorts of individuals of known age, an accurate accounting of all individuals, and an experimental design to facilitate a separation of age-dependent and age-independent dynamics. In this study with Plantago lanceolata, multiple, large cohorts were planted over four successive years, and the individuals were censused monthly for nearly five years. Lon- gitudinal analysis showed seasonal variation in demography that was correlated with max- imum temperature and cumulative precipitation. Cross-sectional analysis of the different cohorts showed variation across cohorts in age-specific demography. The cohort with the lowest juvenile mortality had the highest adult mortality and the lowest fecundity, suggesting that there is an interdependence of demographic patterns across life stages and that the history of mortality within a cohort may be critical to late-age demographic patterns.
Application of aziridinium ring opening for preparation of optically active diamine and triamine analogues: highly efficient synthesis and evaluation of DTPA-based MRI contrast enhancement agents

Ring opening of aziridinium ions with nitrogen nucleophiles was applied to the highly efficient synthesis of optically active vicinal diamines and diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) analogues as potential magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast enhancement agents. The synthetic method features a column-free isolation of the regiospecific and stereospecific nucleophilic substitution products of enantiomerically enriched aziridinium ions in excellent yield.
Characterizing porosity in nanoporous thin films using positronium annihilation lifetime spectroscopy

Abstract Depth profiled positronium annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) is an extremely useful probe of the pore characteristics of nanoporous thin films in general and low-dielectric constant ( k ) thin films in particular. PALS is sensitive to all pores (both closed and open) in the size range from 0.3 to ∼300 nm and to the closed-to-open pore transition. Deduced pore sizes have been extensively compared with other techniques in an ongoing round-robin with other laboratories. The application of PALS in issues related to Cu/low- k film microchip integration will be demonstrated.
AutoBash: improving configuration management with operating system causality analysis

AutoBash is a set of interactive tools that helps users and system administrators manage configurations. AutoBash leverages causal tracking support implemented within our modified Linux kernel to understand the inputs (causal dependencies) and outputs (causal effects) of configuration actions. It uses OS-level speculative execution to try possible actions, examine their effects, and roll them back when necessary. AutoBash automates many of the tedious parts of trying to fix a misconfiguration, including searching through possible solutions, testing whether a particular solution fixes a problem, and undoing changes to persistent and transient state when a solution fails. Our results show that AutoBash correctly identifies the solution to several CVS, gcc cross-compiler, and Apache configuration errors. We also show that causal analysis reduces AutoBash's search time by an average of 35% and solution verification time by an average of 70%.
Treatment effects on survival, growth, and leaf color of pin oak seedlings in calcareous soil

Abstract Nine soil surface treatments and one planting‐hole treatment were tested for their effectiveness in stimulating growth and preventing chlorosis of pin oak (Quercus palustris) seedlings planted in calcareous soil. Planting‐hole acidification was highly effective, especially in combination with a surface treatment of either sulfuric acid or aluminum sulfate. Ammonium sulfate lowered soil pH but was detrimental to the seedlings. Nutrient concentrations in uniformly chlorotic leaves were different from those in interveinally chlorotic leaves, but both types were characterized by low zinc.
Electrical Properties and Defect Structure in The Sr-Fe-Co-O System

The ceramic Sr-Fe-Co-O has potential use as a membrane in gas separation. This material exhibits high conductivity of both electrons and oxygen ions. It allows oxygen to penetrate at high flux rates without other gas components. Electrical properties are essential to understanding the oxygen transport mechanism and defect structure of this material. By using a gas-tight electrochemical cell with flowing air as the reference environment, we were able to achieve an oxygen partial pressure ({sub p}O{sub 2}) as low as 10{sup -16} atm. Total and ionic conductivities of Sr-Fe-Co-O have been studied as a function of {sub p}O{sub 2} at elevated temperature. In air, both total and ionic conductivities increase with temperature, while the ionic transference number is almost independent of temperature, with a value of {approx}0.4. Experimental results show that ionic conductivity decreases with decreasing {sub p}O{sub 2} at high {sub p}O{sub 2} ({ge}10{sup -6} atm). This suggests that interstitial oxygen ions and electron holes are the dominant charge carriers. At 800{degrees}C in air, total conductivity and ionic conductivity are 17 and 7 S/cm, respectively. Defect dynamics in this system can be understood by means of the trivalence-to-divalence transition of Fe ions when {sub p}O{sub 2} is reduced. Bymore » using the conductivity results, we estimated oxygen permeation through a ceramic membrane made of this material. The calculated oxygen permeability agrees with the experimental value obtained directly from an operating methane conversion reactor.« less
Duplication of euchromatin without phenotypic effects : a variant of chromosome 16

A family with an unusual variant of chromosome 16 is presented. The mother and son both with additional material present in the short arm of chromosome 16 adjacent to the centromere are phenotypically normal. The extra C-band negative region has been shown not to be composed of alpha satellite DNA. The literature regarding other familial cases of what appears to be the same variant of chromosome 16 is reviewed.
The retromer subunit Vps26 has an arrestin fold and binds Vps35 through its C-terminal domain

The mammalian retromer complex consists of SNX1, SNX2, Vps26, Vps29 and Vps35, and retrieves lysosomal enzyme receptors from endosomes to the trans-Golgi network. The structure of human Vps26A at 2.1-A resolution reveals two curved beta-sandwich domains connected by a polar core and a flexible linker. Vps26 has an unpredicted structural relationship to arrestins. The Vps35-binding site on Vps26 maps to a mobile loop spanning residues 235-246, near the tip of the C-terminal domain. The loop is phylogenetically conserved and provides a mechanism for Vps26 integration into the complex that leaves the rest of the structure free for engagements with membranes and for conformational changes. Hydrophobic residues and a glycine in this loop are required for integration into the retromer complex and endosomal localization of human Vps26, and for the function of yeast Vps26 in carboxypeptidase Y sorting.
Frequent Deletion of Chromosome 1p Sequences in an Aggressive Histologic Subtype of Endometrial Cancer

The molecular genetic events underlying endometrial tumorigenesis are ill-defined at present. We have identified a region on the short arm of chromosome 1 which is frequently deleted in endometrial cancers. The region of deletion has been localized to bands 1p32-33. Deletion of 1p32-33 is seen more frequently in cancers of the highly aggressive papillary serous type than in cancers of the less-aggressive endometrioid type. These data suggest the presence of a tumor suppressor gene on 1p32-33 which is specifically involved in the development of endometrial cancers with poor outcome.
"AND YOU'RE TELLING ME NOT TO STRESS?" A GROUNDED THEORY STUDY OF POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION SYMPTOMS AMONG LOW-INCOME MOTHERS

Low-income mothers in the U.S. are more likely to experience postpartum depression (PPD) and less likely to seek treatment than their middle-class counterparts. Despite this knowledge, prior research has not provided an in-depth understanding of PPD symptoms as they are experienced by low-income mothers. Through in-depth interviews, this study investigated low-income mothers’ (n = 19) experiences and explanatory frameworks for their PPD symptoms. Grounded theory analysis uncovered five main categories that linked the participants’ PPD symptoms to their lived experiences of mothering in poverty, including: (1) ambivalence, (2) caregiving overload, (3) juggling, (4) mothering alone, and (5) real-life worry. The analysis further located the core experience of PPD for low-income mothers as “feeling overwhelmed” due to mothering in materially and socially stressful conditions. These findings challenge the prevailingbiomedicaldiscoursesurroundingPPDandsituatemothers’symptomsinthecontextofthematerialhardships associated with living in poverty.
The Sensitivity of Corporate Bond Volatility to Macroeconomic Announcements

We examine volatility of returns for corporate bonds around the days when macroeconomic announcements are made. We find that all corporate investment grade (CIG) bonds earn positive announcement-day excess returns, which increase monotonically with maturity. CIG bond excess returns exhibit strong GARCH effects with highly persistent nonannouncement shocks. Volatility is twice as high on announcement days for CIGs where the announcement effect decreases with maturity. Unlike general (nonannouncement) shocks, announcement-day shocks do not persist and only affect announcement-day conditional variance. Furthermore, the dissipation process for CIGs is different from the one for Treasuries, suggesting that hedging CIGs with Treasuries will not be effective on days immediately after announcement. High yield (HY) bonds behave quite differently around macroeconomic announcements than CIG and Treasuries of corresponding maturity. In addition, we find quite strong evidence of asymmetric volatility for CIG and HY bonds where the asymmetric effect is negative for CIG but positive for HY. These asymmetry results are in contrast to weak asymmetry found for Treasury bonds.
Health Insurance Market Reforms: A Qualitative Evaluation

This project evaluates the performance of health insurance market reforms in seven states. Its focus is on state reforms to the small group and individual markets, but it also includes some preliminary findings about the early impact of the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Little is presently known about the details of how well these reforms have performed in achieving their various objectives and avoiding predicted harms. Other studies test for aggregate effects on enrollment and premiums using primarily quantitative measures. This project is a primarily qualitative evaluation that attempts to understand why these effects have occurred and how these reforms affect the inner workings of the insurance market. The principal reforms studied are: (1) guaranteed issue; (2) renewability and portability; (3) rating bands and community rating; (4) restrictions on underwriting practices such as risk selection and pre-existing condition exclusions; (5) reinsurance and risk adjustment; and (6) public purchasing cooperatives. The primary method is an intensive case study of seven states that have enacted varying reforms: Colorado, Florida, Iowa, New York, North Carolina, Ohio and Vermont. This multiple case study consists primarily of two rounds of structured, in-depth, open-ended interviews with over 100 insurance industry and regulatory sources. The study also includes an analysis of quantitative, documentary, and other secondary data, and a market test in which a potential purchaser contacted 144 agents.
The Shortsightedness of Blind Trusts

This article presents an analysis of problems plaguing government officials’ use of blind trusts as a conflict of interest avoidance measure, and proposes changes to strengthen the device. In theory, a blind trust allows an independent trustee to manage a government official’s wealth, without the official knowing the identity of his or her assets. Unaware of their exact financial holdings, policy makers can render impartial decisions on matters that may affect their economic welfare. Blind trusts, however, do not always prevent public officials from knowing what assets they own. The federal statutory scheme governing blind trusts does not include sufficient incentives to avert the flow of information from trustees to policy makers. Because of this flaw, blind trusts can mislead the public into believing that decision makers are acting without knowledge of their financial affairs, when they may not be doing so. A blind trust that conceals a conflict of interest from public oversight undermines the transparency essential to democratic governance. This article recommends specific amendments to strengthen qualified blind trust rules so that the device can deter financial conflicts of interest and enhance public confidence in the integrity of official decision-making.
Characterization of poly-crystalline CdTe solar cells using aberration-corrected transmission electron microscope

Single CdS/CdTe hetero-junction poly-crystalline photo-voltaic devices are present leaders in thin film solar technology. Commercial success of CdTe-based devices stems from a combination of a nearly ideal direct band gap of the absorber material (~1.5eV), as well as established manufacturing methods and low cost of the modules, which yield fastest return of investment among currently available technologies. Despite substantial progress in the device engineering and fabrication, the conversion efficiency has seen only minor improvements over the last ~20 years with the most recent laboratory record held at ~19.6%. Going beyond 20% efficiency will require breakthrough advances in increasing open circuit voltage, Voc, and minority carrier lifetime. Grain boundaries and intra-grain defects are likely to provide carrier recombination centers but also attract dopants and their influence on a CdTe device performance still needs to be elucidated.
Film cooling over flat, convex, and concave surfaces

Computations were performed to investigate the three-dimensional flow and heat transfer about a flat, a convex, and a concave surface cooled by jets, injected from a plenum through one row of film-cooling holes inclined at 35’ with a density ratio of 1.6 and mass flux ratio of 0.5. The focus is on understanding how the mainflow distorts the jets issuing from the film-cooling holes and how the resulting interactions affect film cooling effectiveness and temperature distribution. Results are presented for the surface effectiveness, normalized temperature, velocity vector field, and contours of the vorticity magnitude. The computed results for the surface effectiveness on a flat plate were compared with experimental data, and reasonably good agreements were obtained. This computational study is based on the ensemble-averaged conservation equations of mass, momentum (compressible NavierStokes), and energy closed by a low Reynolds number k-o/SST turbulence model (i.e., wall functions were not used). Solutions were generated by a cell-centered finite-volume method that uses secondorder accurate flux-difference splitting of Roe, multigrid acceleration of a diagonalized AD1 scheme with local time stepping, and patched/overlapped structured grids. In the computations, the flow is resolved not just in the cooling-jet/mainflow interaction region, but also inside the film-cooling holes and in the plenum.
Measuring Career Orientations in the Era of the Boundaryless Career

Schein proposed his career anchor construct more than 40 years ago. The purpose of our research is to use current career theory perspectives to reconceptualize and develop a measure that is grounded in the career anchor framework but better reflects the boundaryless nature of careers today. We conducted two studies in which we develop and validate a measure of career orientation by examining its internal structure (Study 1) and external validity within a nomological network of conceptually related variables (Study 2). Results suggest that career orientation is best represented by a six-dimension factor structure: entrepreneurial creativity, security, managerial competence, lifestyle, technical competence, and service to a cause. Five of the six factors that emerged were correlated as expected with proactive personality, ambition, career self-management behaviors, mentoring relationships, and workplace attitudes, providing support for our conceptualization and measure of career orientation. The implication...
Direct Cross-Linking of Au/Ag Alloy Nanoparticles into Monolithic Aerogels for Application in Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering

The direct cross-linking of Au/Ag alloy nanoparticles (NPs) into high surface area, mesoporous Au/Ag aerogels via chemical oxidation of the surface ligands is reported. The precursor alloy NPs with composition-tunable morphologies were produced by galvanic replacement of the preformed Ag hollow NPs. The effect of Au:Ag molar ratio on the NP morphology and surface plasmon resonance has been thoroughly investigated and resulted in smaller Au/Ag alloy NPs (4–8 nm), larger Au/Ag alloy hollow NPs (40–45 nm), and Au/Ag alloy hollow particles decorated with smaller Au NPs (2–5 nm). The oxidative removal of surfactant ligands, followed by supercritical drying, is utilized to construct large (centimeter to millimeter) self-supported Au/Ag alloy aerogels. The resultant assemblies exhibit high surface areas (67–73 m2/g), extremely low densities (0.051–0.055 g/cm3), and interconnected mesoporous (2–50 nm) networks, making them of great interest for a number of new technologies. The influence of mesoporous gel morphol...
Teaching malware analysis: The design philosophy of a model curriculum

The field of malware analysis comprises the art and science of dissecting malicious software using diverse tools and techniques in an effort to comprehend their inner workings so as to mitigate the effects. Clearly, the study and analysis of these tools and techniques fall within the general purview of the broad disciplines of Digital Forensics, Information Assurance, Cyber Security and general principles of Computing Science. In this paper, we explore and discuss the current state of malware analysis courses as they are taught in academic institutions in the U.S. and the world. We contend that there are not very many malware analysis (or closely related) courses being offered in many universities across the U.S. Furthermore, there are several for-profit courses that are taught by online institutions that teach reverse engineering, malware analysis and related topics. Based on our research, we conclude that the domain of malware analysis has effectively been relegated from the academic realm to the domain of the practitioner's skill set. It is this exploration that we are interesting in undertaking in this paper. We then proceed to analyze and review some popular textbooks and online training materials for their soundness and efficacy in teaching the subject to substantiate our above mentioned claims. Finally, we conclude by presenting a model curriculum for this subject based on sound pedagogical ideas and methods.
Disparities in Health Care among African Americans

Many variables determine the quality of health care received by persons of color in the United States. Differences in disease detection, diagnosis, and management of health care outcomes in African Americans date back to slavery. There are race differences, gender differences, and epidemiological differences in the treatment of African Americans in our health care system. Diseases such as prostate and colorectal cancer, infant mortality, chronic diseases like hypertension and diabetes all are very high among African Americans as compared to white Americans. The high rate of infectious diseases like Pneumonia and AIDS are consistently higher among African Americans. Contributing factors for these occurrences are a lack of regular sources for Primary care, social, financial, cultural, insurance related and linguistic barriers that increases the burden of disease and unresolved disparities in the U.S. healthcare system. Elimination of these healthcare disparities must take place in order to better manage healthcare and provide unbiased equal care and quality of life to all Americans. This article examines factors leading to healthcare disparities and identifies essential tasks to improve the quality of care received by African Americans and other racial minority groups.
Global Optimization Concepts and Methods

Basic concepts of deterministic and stochastic global optimization methods are described. Deterministic methods guarantee finding a global optimum for the cost function under certain assumptions. These include the covering methods, the zooming method, methods of generalized descent, and the tunneling method. Stochastic methods use random numbers and probabilistic ideas in their calculations. These include pure random search, multistart methods, clustering methods, controlled random search (the Nelder–Mead method), acceptance–rejection methods and stochastic integration. Some of the methods try to find all the local minima while others skip some of the local minima in search for a global minimum. Since there are no optimality conditions for a global minimum point, the methods do not guarantee global optimality of the final solution. Also, a precise stopping criterion for the algorithm cannot be given; therefore, the global minimum point cannot be recognized even if it has been found during numerical search. Two new stochastic global optimization algorithms are presented: domain elimination and stochastic zooming. Numerical performances of these methods are discussed. It is noted that most of the methods take a considerable amount of computational time to find the final solution.
Giving Voice to Abjection: Experience and Empathy

Analyzing self-stories of abject narrators, Jenkins complicates the model of the signifying process, questioning how an unacknowledged being claims a voice. She posits the necessity of the being’s recognition by a beloved authority and empathy to enable greater complexity and psychic maturity. These self-stories offer readers greater opportunities for detachment and empathy because they demand imaginative engagement as well as disrupt the dominant order’s claims of an absolute Symbolic. Tucker’s Rambles of a Rat and Sewell’s Black Beauty illustrate the value of as-if-other ethical experiences as a means to sublimate narcissistic energies and to reposition oneself in the space of the other, thus destabilizing cultural assumptions built upon difference through the adoption of a Herethical model of relationship.
NON-ALPINE THYROID ANGIOSARCOMA AFTER RADIATION EXPOSURE: A CASE REPORT

ABSTRACT Objective: We review the literature of thyroid angiosarcoma and present the first reported case of a man diagnosed with non-Alpine thyroid angiosarcoma after longstanding exposure to neck radiation, delineating its treatment and favorable outcome. Methods: An elderly man from Iraq with previous longstanding radiation exposure to the neck had undergone surgical resection for an incidental neck mass. Histologic analysis indicated thyroid angiosarcoma. One year after adjuvant radiation therapy, he remains free of signs and symptoms of recurrence. We conducted an online search of the literature, collecting data from case series and literature reviews, the highest levels of evidence currently available, to describe the epidemiology, symptoms, histology, and treatment of thyroid angiosarcoma. Results: Thyroid angiosarcoma is a rare disease, occurring most often in Alpine regions where iodine deficiency is prevalent. Its etiology has yet to be firmly established. Evidence, primarily from histologic mark...
A Brief History of FRAND: Analyzing Current Debates in Standard Setting and Antitrust Through a Historical Lens

Much has been written about the commitments that firms participating in standards-setting make to license their patents on terms that are “fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory” (FRAND). These discussions pay little attention, however, to more than a hundred remedial patent licensing decrees issued by federal courts from the 1940s through 1970s that outwardly resemble FRAND commitments in all but the rationale for their imposition. These early decrees shed light on questions only now re-emerging as key to the FRAND debate: the meaning of the non-discrimination prong of the FRAND commitment, the degree to which courts should intervene in the determination of reasonable royalty rates, the use of arbitration as a means for resolving licensing disputes, the factors to consider in determining a reasonable royalty rate, the extent to which royalty-free licensing may be “reasonable”, the effects of a potential licensee’s refusal to accept a patent holder’s license offer (so-called “reverse hold-up” or “hold-out”), the acceptability of a patent holder’s demand for reciprocal licenses from its licensees, and means for ensuring that such commitments survive the transfer of underlying patents. This article offers the first historical analysis of the patent licensing decrees issued from the 1940s through the 1970s and assesses their relationship to the FRAND commitments of today. It concludes that these historical patent licensing decrees are, in fact, the direct lineal predecessors of contemporary FRAND commitments, and that despite their differences, the historical interpretation and analysis of these remedial orders by courts, enforcement agencies and private litigants offer essential insight into the interpretation of FRAND commitments today.
Effect of Natural Organic Matter on Plutonium Sorption to Goethite

The effect of citric acid (CA), desferrioxamine B (DFOB), fulvic acid (FA), and humic acid (HA) on plutonium (Pu) sorption to goethite was studied as a function of organic carbon concentration and pH using batch sorption experiments at 5 mgC·L–1 and 50 mgC·L–1 natural organic matter (NOM), 10–9–10–10 M 238Pu, and 0.1 g·L–1 goethite concentrations, at pH 3, 5, 7, and 9. Low sorption of ligands coupled with strong Pu complexation decreased Pu sorption at pH 5 and 7, relative to a ligand-free system. Conversely, CA, FA, and HA increased Pu sorption to goethite at pH 3, suggesting ternary complex formation or, in the case of humic acid, incorporation into HA aggregates. Mechanisms for ternary complex formation were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in the absence of Pu. CA and FA demonstrated clear surface interactions at pH 3, HA appeared unchanged suggesting HA aggregates had formed, and no DFOB interactions were observed. Plutonium sorption decreased in the presence of DFOB (relative...
Treatment of Incarcerated and Strangulated Ventral and Incisional Hernias

Ventral and incisional hernias are commonly encountered in general surgical practice today. These range in complexity and acuity with the incarcerated or strangulated hernia presenting a challenge in management. The true rate of the hernia “accident” with bowel obstruction or ischemia is difficult to ascertain, yet this must be discussed with the patient presenting with a reducible or chronically incarcerated ventral/incisional hernia. The decision making encompasses the timing of repair for the reducible or largely asymptomatic chronically incarcerated ventral hernia, preoperative risk modification, potential for mesh contamination, and the risk of hernia recurrence. The impact of these surgical decisions is amplified in the emergent setting with an acutely ill patient. There are many options for repair at the surgeon’s disposal. Thoughtful consideration of the advantages and disadvantages of each and the patient’s desires and expectations are central to the success of repair.
“If I Can Offer You Some Advice”: Rapport and Data Collection in Interviews Between Adults of Different Ages

Reflexively analyzing interactions between myself (young adult woman) and 150 adult research participants, I explore how interviewees responded to the interviewer's perceived age in combination with other social identity categories. Addressing a gap in scholarship on adult-adult interview interactions, this article examines how age gradations, in combination with other axes of similarity or difference, affect researcher-interviewee rapport and data acquisition. Racial similarity, regardless of age, unlocked access to the topic of race/ethnicity. Age intersected with gender such that women within a decade of the woman interviewer's age assumed similarity and were communicative. In interviews with similarly-aged heterosexual men, awareness of sexuality inhibited answers around intimacy. With older interviewees, gender similarity bridged the age chasm with women. In contrast, age and gender difference inspired older men to act paternalistically and give unsolicited advice. Even among adults, interviewees' classification of the interviewer's age contours the interactional dynamic, impacts data acquisition, and reproduces social distinctions.
Using a randomized controlled trial to test whether modifications to contingency management improve outcomes for heavy drinkers with serious mental illness.

Abstract Background In contingency management (CM), individuals receive rewards for alcohol abstinence. CM is associated with reduced alcohol use in adults with co-occurring serious mental illnesses (SMI). Pre-treatment urine ethyl glucuronide (uEtG) levels equivalent to daily heavy drinking (uEtG >349 ng/mL) are associated with poor response to CM. Modifications to CM are needed to improve outcomes for non-responders. Aims To determine if pre-treatment heavy drinkers, defined by uEtG, with SMI achieve higher levels of alcohol abstinence when they receive an increased magnitude of reinforcement for abstinence (High-Magnitude CM) or reinforcers for reduced drinking, prior to receiving reinforcers for abstinence (Shaping CM), relative to those who receive typical low-magnitude abstinence based CM (Usual CM). Additionally, variables in the Addictions Neuroclinical Assessment model will be examined as treatment response moderators. Methods Participants (N = 400) will be recruited from two urban mental health organizations and complete a 4-week induction period where they will be reinforced for submitting samples for uEtG testing. Participants who attain a mean uEtG >349 mg/mL will be randomized to receive either Usual CM, High-Magnitude CM, or Shaping CM for 16 weeks. Differences in abstinence, assessed by uEtG, will be examined during treatment and during a 12-month follow-up. Measures of negative emotionality, alcohol reinforcer salience, and executive functioning will be gathered at study intake and used to predict treatment outcomes. Discussion This novel approach to CM will use an alcohol biomarker to identify those at risk for treatment non-response and determine if adaptations to CM might improve outcomes for this group.
Systematic generation of biophysically detailed models for diverse cortical neuron types.

The cellular components of mammalian neocortical circuits are diverse, and capturing this diversity in computational models is challenging. Here we report an approach for generating biophysically detailed models of 170 individual neurons in the Allen Cell Types Database to link the systematic experimental characterization of cell types to the construction of cortical models. We build models from 3D morphologies and somatic electrophysiological responses measured in the same cells. Densities of active somatic conductances and additional parameters are optimized with a genetic algorithm to match electrophysiological features. We evaluate the models by applying additional stimuli and comparing model responses to experimental data. Applying this technique across a diverse set of neurons from adult mouse primary visual cortex, we verify that models preserve the distinctiveness of intrinsic properties between subsets of cells observed in experiments. The optimized models are accessible online alongside the experimental data. Code for optimization and simulation is also openly distributed. Neocortical circuits exhibit diverse cell types that can be difficult to build into computational models. Here the authors employ a genetic algorithm-based parameter optimization to generate multi-compartment Hodgkin-Huxley models for diverse cell types in the Allen Cell Types Database.
Comparison of Methods for Assessing Personality in Nonhuman Primates

A review of the field of primate personality revealed that two main methods have been used to study primate personality: behavioral codings and observer trait ratings. Both of these methods can be broken down by the conditions in which they are used – naturalistic observation, testing context, or cumulative observation. The most commonly used method-condition combination to assess primate personality has been the behavioral coding/naturalistic observation combination. This combination was used in more than half (60%) of the studies reviewed. Strengths and weaknesses of each of the method-condition combinations are discussed. A review of empirical studies comparing the behavioral-coding and trait-rating methods revealed that the trait-rating method seems to be better at assessing primate personality. However, only three scales have been used for 66% of the primate personality studies using a trait-rating method. Two procedures are suggested in order to develop new ratings scales for studying primate personality. Recommendations are made for the best method/condition combination to use and how to improve the use of each combination when assessing primate personality.
Probability Density Functions for Solute Transport in Random Field

Effective description of flow and transport in irregular porous media, adequate understanding and reliable estimation of the uncertainty, all require stochastic approach. The primary problem is finding the relations between the non-random functionals of the unknown and the given random fields, that is moments, distribution functions, probability density distributions, etc. This paper considers the process of transport of non-reactive admixture in random media and attempts to develop a method for finding the probability density function of the concentration of the solute. We introduce the random functional p(x, t; c), the density distribution function (DDF) of the local random concentration c(x, t) in the one-dimensional phase space of its possible values c, where parameter x is multi-dimensional vector, and parameter t is time. By using the stochastic transport equation in the (x, t) space, one can write the so-called stochastic Liouville equation for the functional p(x, t; c) and this equation bears the form of the transport equation in the (x, t; c) space. The averaging of the new transport equation in the (x, t; c) space leads to equations for P(x, t; c) = 〈 p(x, t; c) 〉 – the probability density function (PDF) for c(x, t) and the corresponding power moments. We present the analysis examples of PDFs for the concentration c(x, t) in several different cases of flow velocity field and initial concentration distribution.
A representation formula for one-dimensional viscoelasticity with stabilizing boundary feedback

For torsional motion in a viscoelastic beam with boundary feedback, a representation formula for solutions is developed that yields existence theorems and uniform decay rates in an “energy” space. The formula involves resolvent kernels that are expressed in terms of kernels for related problems with no feedback.
Immune Response: To Anaerobic Bacteria Causing Septicemia and to Anaerobic Cocci

Anaerobic bacteremia may be caused by a variety of anaerobic bacteria. The organisms which we have isolated from blood cultures over a 10 year period from 1968-1978, at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia and at New England Deaconess Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts include: Bacteroides fragilis, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, Bacteroides melaninogenicus, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Fusobacterium necrophorum, Fusobacterium varium, Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium septicum, Eubacterium lentum, Eubacterium cylindroides, Eubacterium saburreum, Propionibacterium acnes, Peptococcus magnus, Peptococcus prevotii, Peptococcus asaccharolyticus, Peptostreptococcus anaerobius, Streptococcus constellatus, Streptococcus intermedins, and Streptococcus morbillorum. Other laboratories have reported some of these same species from blood cultures in addition to other species. Wilson et al. (31) reported Eubacterium alactolyticum, Bifidobacterium species, Bacteroides oralis, Bacteroides terrebrans, and Clostridium paraputrificum from blood cultures.
Coulombic inefficiency of graphite anode at high temperature

Abstract Temperature imposes a diversified set of problems to the successful operation of Li-ion batteries. Graphite anodes, in particular, are especially fragile at elevated temperatures, as continuous electro-reduction processes cause detrimental transformations in the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). In the present work, we investigate the factors that contribute to the performance decay of graphite in cells containing a pyrrolidinium-based ionic liquid, exploring the effect of different lithium salts, electrode formulations and test conditions on the thermal resilience of the system. We show that the contribution of FSI anions to the SEI provides remarkable protection to graphite particles, preventing the electronic isolation of electrode domains. We further propose that the positive activity exhibited by these species is associated with their specific decomposition pathway. A coulombic efficiency of 99.4% could be achieved in Li/graphite half-cells at 90 °C, demonstrating that compositional control of the solid electrolyte interphase is essential to extend the environmental range of Li-ion batteries.
Guiding practices for implementing an eco-certification program: A case study of Ecotourism Australia

Certification has been one way in which tourism organizations demonstrate their responsibility toward the environment and local communities where their businesses are located. The purpose of this paper is to highlight guiding practices that can lead to successful implementation of a certification program. This research gleaned insight from leaders who have been intimately involved in one of the more well-known certification organizations, Ecotourism Australia Limited (EA). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ‘Green Industry Leaders’ (GILs), professionals that have been involved with the development, refinement, and implementation of the eco-certification programs overseen by EA. Findings are organized as guiding practices aimed towards organizations seeking to develop a certification program. Guiding practices include demonstrating the benefits of certification, creative incentivizing, simplifying the implementation process, have stakeholders support maintaining a common voice for the industry, and seek a consistent approach by government when considering tourism development funding and investment is encouraged.
A phase Ib/II study of cetuximab and pembrolizumab in RAS-wt mCRC.

834Background: Cetuximab is a chimeric IgG1 anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody approved in RAS-wt metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Pre-clinical data have suggested that cetuximab triggers immunogeni...
Applications of Solid Carbon Dioxide (Dry Ice) Pellet Blasting for Removal of Surface Contaminants

Abstract The use of solid carbon dioxide (or dry ice) blasting has been developed as an established non-solvent, dry method for removing surface contaminants in a variety of cleaning applications. The basic principle is based on the impact of dry ice particles, propelled by a high pressure gas or a centrifugal accelerator, on the surface of the part. Thermal shock from the very cold ice causes embrittlement and loosening of the contaminants, which are removed by the air flow and the large volume expansion from the subliming CO2. A discussion of the process is provided along with description of the cleaning systems employing dry ice blasting. The advantages and disadvantages of dry ice blasting are discussed, along with cost considerations. Several applications of dry ice blasting in different industries are described.
On the Content of “Real-World” Sexual Fantasy: Results From an Analysis of 250,000+ Anonymous Text-Based Erotic Fantasies

A recurring problem with the study of sexual fantasy is that of social desirability bias. Study participants may report fantasies that are consistent with general societal expectations of fantasy content, as opposed to themes characterized by their actual fantasies. The wide availability of erotic material on the Internet, however, facilitates the study of sexual fantasy narratives as they are anonymously expressed and viewed online. By extracting approximately 250,000 text-based erotic fantasies from a user-generated website, we sought to examine "real-world" sexual fantasies, determine the themes that were typical of these narratives, and explore the relationship between themes and story popularity (as assessed by story views per day). A principal components analysis identified 20 themes that commonly occurred across the massive corpus, and a path analysis revealed that these themes played a significant role in predicting the popularity of the sexual fantasy narratives. In particular, the empirically identified themes reflecting familial words (e.g., mother, father) and colloquial sexual words (e.g., cock, fuck) were predictive of story popularity. Other themes identified included those not obviously erotic, such as those consisting of words reflecting domesticity (e.g., towel, shower) and colors (e.g., brown, blue). By analyzing a sexual fantasy corpus of unprecedented size, this study offers unique insight into both the content of sexual fantasies and the popularity of that content.
Application of a J-Q Model for Fracture in the Ductile-Brittle Transition

A model to predict cleavage failure of precracked bodies in the transition region for steels was recently proposed by the author. It is based on the concept that the stress-controlled fracture of a weak link triggers the failure of the entire body. The stress that triggers fracture is predicted by a numerical crack-tip stress analysis. The model uses toughness measured at one condition as input to predict toughness at another. For example, toughness measured at one temperature can be used to predict toughness at another temperature, or toughness measured from one geometry can be used to predict toughness for another geometry. In this paper the model is applied to predict transition toughness for some cases where the toughness is known so that the predictions from the model can be evaluated. The results show that the predictions have the same trends as many of the measured transition toughness results. The model is also applied to several component-type geometries to show that it can be used to transfer laboratory results to structural component models.