cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Challenges of biological realism and validation in simulation-based medical education

Overview: Simulation, both physical and computer-based, has a rich history in support of medical education. Essentially all these efforts have been aimed at instilling concrete measurable skills, akin to vocational training. They present learners with choices, facilitating a degree of learning by doing. The sets of learner choices are usually limited, with choices clearly classified into ''right'' and ''wrong''. But much of medicine is not much like a multiple-choice test. The realm of choices is broad and not always easily converted to a short list. The ''correct'' answer is not always known by the experienced physician beforehand, sometimes not even after the die is cast and the future unfolds. Computer simulation of human disease and its treatment can in principle be tremendously useful in the education of both basic and clinical scientists. This paper describes some challenges in the construction of simulation-based ''liberal arts'' biomedical education. Objectives: The educator attempting to develop a learning environment based on simulation of biology faces some special challenges. The challenges addressed in this paper are: face validity and deep validity; finding the right degree of realism; authoring biomedical models efficiently; managing randomness. To illustrate the issues, we trace the history of the Oncology Thinking Cap throughout several versions and expansions of educational objectives, and describe the detection and remediation of shortcomings related to these issues. Design: Dealing effectively with issues of validity and realism can be accomplished if the acquisition of information driving and justifying the model development choices is documented, preferably automatically, during the process. Efficiency in authoring is greatly enhanced by judicious modularity to encourage re-use, and by the use of templated statements rather than raw code or exotic graphical components to represent the instructions driving the model. Randomness can be used to familiarize learners with the true relative proportions of types of cases, or to enrich the encountered cases with rarer but more instructive cases. When a learner repeats an encounter with a scenario while changing a single option, proper management of randomness is essential to avoid artifacts of random number generators. Otherwise an outcome change caused by a shift in random number streams may masquerade as an outcome change due to the changed option. Conclusion: Effective use of computer simulation of human disease and its treatment for biomedical education faces daunting obstacles, but these problems can be solved.
Corrupted video quality analysis of error-resilient 3D SPIHT versus MPEG-2

A great deal of digital video quality measurement research has been performed to quantify human visual perception with compressed video clips. Since transmitted video quality is heavily dependent on the bit-rate, error rate and dropped packet rate, a new measurement paradigm is required to analyze the corrupted video. Fast eigen-based video quality metric (VQM) and visualization techniques have been developed to measure and analyze the corrupted video qualities objectively. 3-D SPIHT and MPEG-2 with forward error correction (FEC) had been tested over a Video CODEC RF Test-bed. The experimental results indicate that the proposed scheme is useful for a low complexity VQM.
Technical Efficiency in a Semi-Formal Financial Sector: The Case of Mexico*

The semi‐formal financial sector in Mexico is playing an increasingly important role in serving a largely poor, rural clientele. A stochastic frontier with non‐monotonic marginal effects [Wang, Journal of Productivity Analysis (2002), Vol. 18, pp. 241–253] reveals a wide disparity in technical efficiency levels among 190 Mexican semi‐formal financial intermediaries. The results show that technology, average loan size, rural outreach and institutional age are all positively associated with technical efficiency. The marginal effects vary widely and, in some cases, the effects are non‐monotonic over percentile groups. The results indicate that strengthening younger, technologically undeveloped financial institutions will have the strongest marginal benefit in revitalizing the rural financial sector.
Securing Grid Data Transfer Services with Active Network Portals

Widely available and utilized grid servers are vulnerable to a variety of threats from denial of service (DoS) attacks, overloading caused by flash crowds, and compromised client machines. The focus of our paper is the design, implementation and evaluation of a set of admission control policies that permit the server to maintain sustained throughput to legitimate clients even in the face of such overloads and attacks. We propose several schemes to effectively, and importantly in an automated fashion, deal with these attacks and overloads. We discuss how these schemes can be efficiently implemented on an active network adapter based gateway that controls access to a pool of backend data servers. Performance tests conducted on a system based on a dual-ported active NIC demonstrate that efficient optimization schemes can be implemented on such a gateway to minimize the grid service response time and to improve server throughputs under heavy loads and DoS attacks. Our results, using the gridFTP server available with Globus Toolkit 4.0.1, demonstrate that even in adverse load conditions, the response times can be maintained at a level similar to normal, low-load conditions.
Aspects of Subunit Interactions in the Chloroplast ATP Synthase (II. Characterization of a Chloroplast Coupling Factor 1-Subunit III Complex from Spinach Thylakoids)

A chloroplast ATP synthase complex (CF1 [chloroplast-coupling factor 1]-CF0 [membrane-spanning portion of chloroplast ATP synthase]) depleted of all CF0 subunits except subunit III (also known as the proteolipid subunit) was purified to study the interaction between CF1 and subunit III. Subunit III has a putative role in proton translocation across the thylakoid membrane during photophosphorylation; therefore, an accurate model of subunit inter-actions involving subunit III will be valuable for elucidating the mechanism and regulation of energy coupling. Purification of the complex from a crude CF1-CF0 preparation from spinach (Spinacia oleracea) thylakoids was accomplished by detergent treatment during anion-exchange chromatography. Subunit III in the complex was positively identified by amino acid analysis and N-terminal sequencing. The association of subunit III with CF1 was verified by linear sucrose gradient centrifugation, immunoprecipitation, and incorporation of the complex into asolectin liposomes. After incorporation into liposomes, CF1 was removed from the CF1-III complex by ethylenediaminetetracetate treatment. The subunit III-proteoliposomes were competent to rebind purified CF1. These results indicate that subunit III directly interacts with CF1 in spinach thylakoids.
Meiotic Recombination Involving Heterozygous Large Insertions in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: Formation and Repair of Large, Unpaired DNA Loops

Meiotic recombination in Saccharomyces cerevisiae involves the formation of heteroduplexes, duplexes containing DNA strands derived from two different homologues. If the two strands of DNA differ by an insertion or deletion, the heteroduplex will contain an unpaired DNA loop. We found that unpaired loops as large as 5.6 kb can be accommodated within a heteroduplex. Repair of these loops involved the nucleotide excision repair (NER) enzymes Rad1p and Rad10p and the mismatch repair (MMR) proteins Msh2p and Msh3p, but not several other NER (Rad2p and Rad14p) and MMR (Msh4p, Msh6p, Mlh1p, Pms1p, Mlh2p, Mlh3p) proteins. Heteroduplexes were also formed with DNA strands derived from alleles containing two different large insertions, creating a large “bubble”; repair of this substrate was dependent on Rad1p. Although meiotic recombination events in yeast are initiated by double-strand DNA breaks (DSBs), we showed that DSBs occurring within heterozygous insertions do not stimulate interhomologue recombination.
How to Make a Scene

Each Thursday, the New York Times publishes a column called "Economic Scene" on page C2 of the Business Section. The authorship of the column rotates among four individuals: Alan Krueger, Virginia Postrel, Jeff Madrick, and the author. This essay is about how he came to be a columnist and how he goes about writing the columns.
The Relationship Between Temperament, Gender, and Childhood Dysfunctional Voiding

Objective. Dysfunctional voiding (DV) is an extremely common pediatric complaint. The goal of this study was to examine the relationship between DV and childhood temperament. Methods. Information about the voiding behaviors and temperaments of 50 children was examined using a case–control model. Caregivers were asked to fill out the Children’s Behavior Questionnaire in order to rate their child on the dimensions of surgency, negative affect, and effortful control. The relationship between DV and these dimensions was then evaluated. Results. Males with DV were found to have lower effortful control than males with normal voiding habits. Females with DV did not demonstrate a difference in effortful control, but did demonstrate a higher rate of surgency. Conclusions. The results suggest that temperament does have an association with DV. These findings are in line with temperamental associations with other externalizing trouble behaviors and may inform potential treatment strategies for DV.
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and Change in Health-Related Behaviors

How best to support change in health-related behaviors is an important public health challenge. The role of mindfulness training in this process has received limited attention. We sought to explore...
Anomaly-based Protection Approach against Wireless Network Attacks

The increasing deployment of Wireless Networks has experienced also an exponential increase in wireless faults vulnerabilities and attacks. In this paper, we present a wireless self-protection system (WSPS) that has the following significant features: online monitor of the behavior of wireless network, generate relevant network features, track wireless network state machine violations, generate wireless flow keys (WFK), and use the dynamically updated anomaly and misuse rules to detect complex known and unknown wireless attacks. WSPS quantifies the attack impact using the abnormality distance from the baseline normal models. We validate the WSPS approach by experimenting with different wireless attacks, and show that WSPS can detect accurately wireless network attacks and proactively protect against these attacks.
An evaluation of mobile mud dynamics in the Mississippi River deltaic region

Abstract Large rivers are the primary interface between terrestrial and ocean environments. A relatively small number of rivers account for a disproportionate amount of the freshwater and suspended materials that are delivered to the coastal ocean. Sediment delivery to these coastal systems plays a key role in the global carbon cycle since deltas and continental shelves are considered to be the main repositories of organic carbon in marine sediments. Particulate material in these environments are typically deposited and resuspended several times before permanent accumulation or transport off the shelf. This sediment cycling is an important component influencing biogeochemical processes that occur in coastal environments. During two cruises in April and October 2000 on the shelf adjacent to the Mississippi River, water and sediment samples were collected for analysis of suspended solids and particle reactive radionuclides ( 210 Pb, 137 Cs, 7 Be and 234 Th) to evaluate the transport and fate of terrestrial and marine material. A comparison of the distribution of these tracers provides insight about the pathways and residence times of particulate materials on the shelf. Inventories of these short-lived radiotracers showed variations of more than two orders of magnitude, indicating dramatic variations in sediment deposition between sampling events. Short-lived radiotracers indicate that river-borne materials are transported less than ∼30 km from the river mouth before initial deposition. However, seasonal variations in 7 Be and 137 Cs indicate significant remobilization of sediment and potential export of sediment out of the study area during the high energy (e.g., wind/wave) winter months. In addition, depth profiles of 7 Be and excess 234 Th indicate sediment deposition rates between 0.8 and 3.9 cm month −1 (0.4–2.1 g cm −2 month −1 ) at two shelf locations (near river and open shelf environments). These rates are much greater than those observed on decadal time scales (1.3–2.0 cm year −1 or 0.6–1.5 g cm −2 year −1 ) via 210 Pb at the same sites. This further substantiates active sediment reworking and potential export off the shelf as has been observed in other river-dominated ocean margins.
Macular grid photocoagulation for macular edema in central retinal vein occlusion.

• To obtain pilot information regarding possible benefits of photocoagulation grid treatment for macular edema secondary to nonischemic central retinal vein occlusion, records were reviewed for patients who demonstrated well-documented prompt improvement in edema after treatment. In each of the five selected patients who demonstrated this association, macular edema had been present for a minimum of 6 months. Also, preoperative visual acuity was 20/60 or less, good macular capillary perfusion was present on the fluorescein angiogram, and substantial reduction of edema was demonstrated on clinical examination and by decreased leakage and late staining on fluorescein angiography within 8 weeks following treatment. Postoperative visual acuity either improved or remained unchanged for each eye. These results indicate that, in certain eyes, grid photocoagulation can lessen macular edema, thus supporting the rationale for a randomized clinical trial to determine possible benefits of this therapy.
Decreased Bax expression by mucosal T cells favours resistance to apoptosis in Crohn's disease.

Background—Activated T cells are more susceptible to apoptosis than resting T cells. As intestinal T cells normally exhibit a higher state of activation, increased apoptosis may be necessary to maintain immune homeostasis in the specialised microenvironment of the mucosa. On the other hand, in Crohn’s disease (CD) mucosal T cells are resistant to apoptosis, suggesting abnormal regulation of cell death mechanisms. Aims—To investigate diVerences in expression of anti- and proapoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins, key regulators of apoptosis, between circulating and mucosal T cells, and possible alterations in CD. Patients and methods—Lamina propria T cells (LPT) were isolated from 10 control, seven CD, and eight ulcerative colitis (UC) patients, and peripheral blood T cells (PBT) from healthy volunteers.Purified T cells were stained intracellularly for Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, and Bax, and mean fluorescence intensity measured by flow cytometry. Results—Compared with PBT, the expression level of Bcl-2 and Bax, but not Bcl-xL, was significantly greater in LPT, resulting in lower Bcl-xL/Bax ratios. In PBT, Bax expression was highly and significantly correlated with both Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL, but correlation with Bcl-2 was absent in LPT. Bax expression in CD, but not UC, LPT was significantly lower than in control LPT, resulting in a significantly higher Bcl-xL/Bax ratio. The significant correlation of Bcl-xL to Bax was preserved in CD, but not UC, LPT. Conclusions—Regulation of Bcl-2 family protein expression diVers between circulating and mucosal T cells, probably underlying diverse survival potentials. In CD LPT, a low Bax expression and a high Bcl-xL/Bax ratio favour resistance to apoptosis and may contribute to the chronicity of inflammation. (Gut 2001;49:35‐41)
A grid service module for natural-resource managers

To facilitate transparent use of the high-performance Across Trophic-Level System Simulation (ATLSS) ecosystem-modeling package for natural-resource management, the authors developed a grid service module. The module exploits grid middleware functionality to process complex computation without requiring users to handle underlying issues. It represents the first application of grid computing to this discipline and provides a potential template for researchers in other disciplines to exploit scientific computation without extensive training in high-performance computing.
Efficacy of outpatient induction with low-dose intravaginal prostaglandin E2: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Abstract OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to determine whether a protocol for outpatient induction is safe and effective for initiating labor. STUDY DESIGN: A randomized, double-blind, a placebo-controlled trial was performed with 100 low-risk patients having well-dated pregnancies. Women with a Bishop score ≤6 at 38 to 40 weeks' gestation were administered either 2 mg of intravaginal prostaglandin E 2 gel or placebo for 5 consecutive days as outpatients while undergoing fetal monitoring. RESULTS: The median interval from randomization to delivery was 4 days in the prostaglandin E 2 group (range 0 to 28 days) and versus 10 days in the placebo group (range 0 to 26 days, p=0.002). Twenty-seven of 50 patients (54%) in the prostaglandin E 2 group were admitted for labor during the dosing interval compared with 10 placebo-treated patients (20%, p = 0.001). The mean gestational age at delivery was significantly reduced in the treatment group (39.9 ± 1.0 weeks vs 40.5 ± 0.99 weeks, p = 0.003) as was the incidence of postdates pregnancy (40% vs 66%, p = 0.016). Hyperstimulation was observed in one prostaglandin E 2 -treated patient, but no intervention was required. CONCLUSIONS: Outpatient low-dose prostaglandin E 2 gel administration is effective for initiating labor in patients with an unfavorable cervix and appears safe if performed with adequate monitoring.
Density of intraspecific competitors determines the occurrence and benefits of accelerated germination

Germination is a key process in plant recruitment and population dynamics, and seeds are expected to be under strong selection pressure to germinate under conditions that maximize subsequent plant survival. Increased rates of germination (i.e., accelerated germination) may occur in competitive environments. We examined the effects of conspecifi c density on the timing of germination of seeds of a bird-dispersed plant, Phytolacca americana (Phytolaccaceae, L.), in three different competitive environments. By comparing germination of seeds sown at the same time at different densities, we quantify the benefi ts of accelerated germination under conditions in which differences in performance among seedlings are attributable to germination timing only, and not to being sown at different times. We fithat although the probability of germination is unchanged, the time to initiation of germination is signifi cantly shorter when competition is greater. We also show that plants that germinate earlier are larger and have higher growth rates because they have more time to grow without competitors. Our work demonstrates that shifts in germination timing in response to competition can yield signifi cant dividends for seeds that germinate earliest, but we caution that the magnitude and consequences of accelerated germination will likely depend on the competitive neighborhood.
Predictors and consequences of pneumonia in critically ill patients with stroke

Abstract Objective: Ascertain the incidence, predictors and consequences of early (within 48 hours of admission) and nosocomial pneumonia among critically ill patients with stroke. Methods: Medical records of critically ill patients with acute stroke were reviewed. Predictors and consequences of pneumonia were determined with analysis of variance. Results: 55 patients, aged 33 to 91 (median 74) years, were admitted. The stroke was located at the brainstem in 14 (26.4%) patients. Nine patients (16.4%) had early pneumonia and additional 17 patients (30.9%) developed nosocomial pneumonia. Patients with brain-stem stroke were more likely to develop early pneumonia (p = .04). Nosocomial pneumonia incidence was higher in patients who failed swallowing evaluation (RR = 6.3, 95% CI: 0.9–43.0) and in those who were intubated (58.6% v 0%, p = .00008). Also, nosocomial pneumonia was associated with longer duration of mechanical ventilation and prolonged hospital stay. Nineteen patients (34.5%) died at the hospital. They were more likely to be older (median 77 versus 69 years, p = .03) with higher admission acuity of illness. Conclusion: Pneumonia complicated stroke in 47% of critically ill patients and adversely impacted the duration of mechanical ventilation and overall length of hospital stay. Aggressive preventive measures are needed to reduce pneumonia occurrence in stroke patients.
Immune tolerance in multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is believed to be mediated by T cells specific for myelin antigens that circulate harmlessly in the periphery of healthy individuals until they are erroneously activated by an environmental stimulus. Upon activation, the T cells enter the central nervous system and orchestrate an immune response against myelin. To understand the initial steps in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis, it is important to identify the mechanisms that maintain T-cell tolerance to myelin antigens and to understand how some myelin-specific T cells escape tolerance and what conditions lead to their activation. Central tolerance strongly shapes the peripheral repertoire of myelin-specific T cells, as most myelin-specific T cells are eliminated by clonal deletion in the thymus. Self-reactive T cells that escape central tolerance are generally capable only of low-avidity interactions with antigen-presenting cells. Despite the low avidity of these interactions, peripheral tolerance mechanisms are required to prevent spontaneous autoimmunity. Multiple peripheral tolerance mechanisms for myelin-specific T cells have been identified, the most important of which appears to be regulatory T cells. While most studies have focused on CD4(+) myelin-specific T cells, interesting differences in tolerance mechanisms and the conditions that abrogate these mechanisms have recently been described for CD8(+) myelin-specific T cells.
CO2/H+ chemoreception in the cat pre-Bötzinger complex in vivo

We examined the effects of focal tissue acidosis in the pre-Botzinger complex (pre-BotC; the proposed locus of respiratory rhythm generation) on phrenic nerve discharge in chloralose-anesthetized, ...
Semantic Video Entity Linking Based on Visual Content and Metadata

Video entity linking, which connects online videos to the related entities in a semantic knowledge base, can enable a wide variety of video based applications including video retrieval and video recommendation. Most existing systems for video entity linking rely on video metadata. In this paper, we propose to exploit video visual content to improve video entity linking. In the proposed framework, videos are first linked to entity candidates using a text-based method. Next, the entity candidates are verified and reranked according to visual content. In order to properly handle large variations in visual content matching, we propose to use Multiple Instance Metric Learning to learn a "set to sequence" metric for this specific matching problem. To evaluate the proposed framework, we collect and annotate 1912 videos crawled from the YouTube open API. Experiment results have shown consistent gains by the proposed framework over several strong baselines.
Mass spectrometry in structural and stereochemical problems XXIII

a , β-Unsaturated ketones possessing the grouping Download full-size image , such as Δ 1 - and Δ 4 -3-keto steroids exhibit a characteristic mass spectral peak in the high mass range at M-42, corresponding to the loss of the carbonyl function and the adjacent methylene grouping. This characteristic feature has been confirmed by deuterium labelling, during the course of which there was made the unexpected observation that deuterium exchange of Δ 1 -3-keto steroids leads to the introduction of three, rather than the expected two deuterium atoms. The third deuterium atom was shown to be located at C-2 and a plausible reaction path for this observation is outlined.
Helical ∞1[Pb2O] Chains in Polymorphs of Pb2O(C6H5COO)2

Three new lead oxide benzoates have been prepared solvothermally. In two polymorphs, 1 and 2, of Pb2O(C6H5COO)2, distorted Pb4O tetrahedra share edges to form helical ∞1[Pb2O] chains. Unprecedented among Pb4O-based structures, these motifs may be viewed as double helices of lead atoms surrounding the central oxygen atoms. Both right- and left-handed helices are included in each structure. Formation of the polymorphs was controlled through variation in synthetic conditions. Polymorph 1 crystallizes in the achiral, polar space group Fdd2. Polymorph 2, in P21, is a rare example of a kryptoracemate in which crystallographically independent chains of both chiralities occur in the asymmetric unit. This second polymorph is both chiral and polar, and the pseudosymmetric relationship between the helices has been examined. In Pb4O(C6H5COO)6 (3), discrete Pb4O tetrahedra are bridged by benzoate ligands to form a one-dimensional hybrid structure. The compounds have been further characterized via IR spectroscopy, elem...
Feeding Behavior in Laughing Gulls: Compensatory Site Selection by Young

Les jeunes Larus atricilla (observes dans divers habitats au Texas et au Mexique) semblent compenser leur plus faible succes d'approvisionnement (par rapport aux adultes), en ne se nourrissant qu'en certains sites
Treatment of hyperuricemia in gout: current therapeutic options, latest developments and clinical implications:

Despite being the most common type of inflammatory arthritis, gout is often poorly managed. Except for febuxostat and pegloticase, research in new therapeutic agents for the management of hyperuricemia in gout remained insufficient for several decades. With emerging evidence of possible roles of hyperuricemia in cardiometabolic comorbidities, as well as more convincing evidence regarding poor outcomes (e.g. disability, recurrent hospital admissions) in patients with uncontrolled gout, several agents are current under development. Increasing knowledge regarding renal urate transporters has resulted in the development of new generation uricosurics such as lesinurad and arhalofenate. This review aims at discussing current therapeutic strategies for gout, as well as their limitations and the possible role of emerging agents in the chronic management of hyperuricemia in gout. Drugs in phases I and II of development will be discussed, along with new agents and therapeutic classes, such as purine nucleoside phosphorylase inhibitors and dual-action drugs. These new developments are encouraging, and will hopefully contribute to a more adequate management of hyperuricemia in gout.
Assessing reproductive behavior important to fisheries management: a case study with red drum, Sciaenops ocellatus

Spawning site selection and reproductive timing affect stock productivity and structure in marine fishes but are poorly understood. Traditionally, stock assessments measure reproductive potential as spawning stock biomass or egg production and do not include other aspects of reproductive behavior. Red drum make an excellent case study to assess these other aspects, as (1) they are highly fecund, pelagic spawners, like most exploited marine fishes; (2) their life cycle is delineated between nursery (estuarine) and adult (coastal and offshore) habitat; and (3) they are managed at these two spatial scales. This study was conducted from August 2012 to December 2013 and integrates data from multiple methods and spatial scales. Aerial surveys were used for large-scale monitoring of aggregations off two known estuarine nursery areas, Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor, Florida, USA. Capture-based sampling in Tampa Bay coastal (n = 2581) and estuarine waters (n = 158) was used to assess reproductive state and to confirm coastal spawning. To assess spatial dynamics, we acoustically tagged two population components in the Tampa Bay system, subadults from the estuary (n = 20) and adults from the coastal spawning site (n = 60). Behavioral plasticity was seen in subadult recruitment to coastal habitat, with some subadults maturing and recruiting before or during the spawning season and others (14 of 20 acoustically tagged fish) recruiting at the end of the 2012 spawning season. Both adults and recruited subadults (n = 29) were consequently detected in the Charlotte Harbor array, 132 km to the south. Spawning-site fidelity to the Tampa Bay spawning site occurred at both the population and individual scales. Aggregations consistently occurred in Tampa Bay coastal waters during the spawning season, and approximately two-thirds of tagged adults returned in the 2013 spawning season. A similar proportion of subadults returned to the Tampa Bay spawning site, exhibiting natal homing. However, these first-time spawners arrived later than repeat spawners and were detected over shorter time periods. This study, and others like it, demonstrates how integrating data from individuals tracked over space and time with more traditional population-based sampling is changing our understanding of ecological processes that affect marine fish productivity and our ability to manage for sustainablity.
An Evaluation of Three Drift Reduction Adjuvants for Aerial Application of Pesticides

Preventing pesticide drift from aerial applications is important for environmental and application efficiency reasons. Proper analysis of drift reduction technologies or techniques is an essential component of the drift prevention process. In the current study, three drift reduction adjuvants were tested with two herbicides under several application conditions used by rotary-wing and fixed-wing aircraft in the U.S. Data was collected using a high speed wind tunnel and laser diffraction equipment. The results of the study indicated application conditions, and not adjuvant inclusion, were the largest drivers of the droplet size distribution and drift potential. Data was further computed in the drift prediction program, AGDISP, where little differences were observed between the treatments. This study highlighted the importance of testing drift reduction technologies or techniques from multiple viewpoints.
Chiggers (Family Trombiculidae) of the North American Deserts

Of the more than 285 species belonging to 44 genera of trombiculid mites in North America (Brennan & Jones, 1959, etc.), 135 species (47%) of 31 genera (70%) have been found in the deserts. Some species occur only at marginal or isolated localities, but most records are based on several to many samples.
Trade Facilitation and African Industrialization in the New global Order: An Agenda for Action for Textile and Apparel Industry

Industrialization has driven the economic development of developed and emerging countries (UNIDO, 2009). In recent years the production of manufactured goods has been broken down into tasks by plants located in many countries, most of these increasingly in developing countries. Contrary to past trends, when industrialization required a comprehensive pool of production characteristics, a particular location simply needs to specialize in a small set of tasks that can be competitively undertaken along specific supply chains. This trend offers hope for Africa’s reindustrialization; a particular country could focus on the level of industrial agglomeration that would enable its firms reach a threshold above which it can lower the costs of production for manufactured exports and fully exploit its comparative advantage. In Africa, countries are too small for this to materialize unless viewed in the regional context that could nurture such agglomeration such as to facilitate a smooth integration in the world trading system. Against this backdrop, promoting a sound trade facilitation1 environment is crucial to guarantee essential transport and logistics infrastructures allowing firms to exploit economies of scale related to regional integration and connect efficiently to other segments of the industrial value chain.
Discovery from the Outside In

ABSTRACTLibraries can be more effective, more impactful, more popular, more valued, and better supported if they learn to identify and adopt popular service models offered by other industries. To do so, libraries must first accept that they are part of a competitive, evolving consumer ecosystem. Library-centric labels like patron, faculty, undergraduate, etc., belie the fact that consumers' expectations for exceptional services do not change when they enter a library. Rather, the best services consumers have experienced become their expectation of all service providers. This article seeks to demonstrate how librarians can learn to identify successful services in other industries and how they might apply them to improve current library services.
Abstract 111: Assessing Statin Therapy and Lipid Profile Goals 6 Months After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention at a Veterans Hospital

Background: Patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) represent a high-risk cohort for cardiovascular events. Lipid lowering therapy is an established core measure of secondary prevention in coronary artery disease management. The NCEP-ATPIII advises a minimum LDL level Methods: We conducted a retrospective, observational study on all patients undergoing PCI at an urban Veterans Hospital from September 2004 to December 2011. Statin use and lipid profiles at 6 months post-PCI were compared to pre-PCI values. Results: A total of 1052 unique patients had PCI during the study period. Approximately 70% of patients were on statins at baseline, which improved to 88% at 6 months post-PCI (p Conclusion: In patients who have undergone PCI, there was significant improvement in LDL levels. At six months, there was an increase in usage of statin therapy. Furthermore there was a statistically significant increase in adherence to NCEP-ATIII guidelines at both the minimum and ideal LDL levels on follow-up after PCI.
Recruitment and retention of child welfare workers in longitudinal research: Successful strategies from the Florida Study of Professionals for Safe Families

Abstract Longitudinal panel studies are effective strategies to assess the personal impact of child welfare work, as well as employment outcomes of workers over time. However, longitudinal studies encounter obstacles such as disproportionate attrition that threaten the validity of findings. This paper provides an overview of the Florida Study of Professionals for Safe Families (FSPSF), a 5-year longitudinal panel study of newly hired workers into the child welfare workforce. The purpose of this paper is three-fold: 1) describe the study methodology and recruitment and retention techniques for the FSPSF; 2) illustrate Estrada and colleagues' Tailored Panel Management framework (2014) through FSPSF methodological decisions; and 3) provide guidance and time estimates of key tasks for those interested in undertaking similar projects, with a particular focus on electronic data collection and communication strategies. Initial results are excellent – 84% of all eligible workers completed baseline surveys (n = 1,451). At Wave 2 (6 months), 81% of those workers were retained, with preliminary findings of 84% retention of the original baseline respondents at Wave 3 (12 months).
Testing the Importance of Geographic Distance for Social Capital Resources

This study tests the importance of spatial distance from social capital resources for the number of resources accessed. We examine the relationship between the distance to work, religious congregat...
Robust Decentralized State Feedback Control Design Using an Iterative Linear Matrix Inequality Algorithm

Abstract The design of decentralized state-feedback H∞ suboptimal controllers is investigated. Instead of optimizing directly the closed-loop system, the decentralized feedback gain is obtained by optimizing a dual system utilizing a decentralized controller parametrization. The design condition for the feedback gain is in the form of a biaffine matrix inequality. An iterative solution algorithm based on linear matrix inequality techniques is proposed to obtain the decentralized feedback gain.
The Cellular Mechanisms of Executive Functions and Working Memory: Relevance to Mental Disorders

Abstract The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is among the most evolved brain regions, serving as the substrate of our highest order cognitive abilities. The PFC guides our behavior, thoughts, and emotions through its unique ability to represent relevant knowledge. This ability facilitates mental processes necessary for navigating our increasingly complex world, such as working memory, inhibition of inappropriate responses, and planning for the future. Although the PFC confers great advantage, it is also vulnerable to dysfunction and has been implicated in many of our most devastating neuropsychiatric disorders, including Schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease, and Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. PFC function can also go awry in so-called “normal individuals” under conditions of uncontrollable stress, fatigue, and advanced age. This chapter reviews the topographical organization and molecular mechanisms that modulate activity in the PFC with the goal of elucidating neuropsychiatric pathology and providing new directions for therapeutic intervention.
Integrating Digital/Mobile Learning Strategies With Students in the Classroom at the Historical Black College/University (HBCU)

Today's digital classroom must include contemporary learning strategies to interest the millennial students. Students are learning the latest digital/mobile technologies daily. Likewise, the professors must keep up with students and encourage universities to invest in digital technologies. Without this, how can students be ready for the working world and the global impact of education? Of course, this is not a question to answer right now; however, educators must take it serious in preparing students for the competitive workforce. Faculty must stay current with the latest digital/mobile technology and seek innovative strategies to keep abreast of research within the discipline area. This chapter's purpose is to: 1) examine authors' perception of digital/mobile learning technologies at HBCUs; 2) examine research on digital/mobile technology in classrooms; 3) discuss teaching and learning strategies that can impact the digital/mobile learning environment; and 4) note the global impact of learning strategies in classrooms.
Review: The Role of Cannabinoids on Esophageal Function-What We Know Thus Far

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) primarily consists of cannabinoid receptors (CBRs), endogenous ligands, and enzymes for endocannabinoid biosynthesis and inactivation. Although the presence of CBRs, both CB1 and CB2, as well as a third receptor (G-protein receptor 55 [GPR55]), has been established in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, few studies have focused on the role of cannabinoids on esophageal function. To date, studies have shown their effect on GI motility, inflammation and immunity, intestinal and gastric acid secretion, nociception and emesis pathways, and appetite control. Given the varying and sometimes limited efficacy of current medical therapies for diseases of the esophagus, further understanding and investigation into the interplay of the ECS on esophageal health and disease may present new therapeutic modalities that may help advance current treatment options. In this brief review, the current understanding of the ECS role in various esophageal functions and disorders is presented.
Minimally Invasive Techniques for Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel diseases are well suited for minimally invasive surgical approaches. Laparoscopic techniques are varied and differ depending on surgeon experience, severity of disease, and other patient characteristics. Laparoscopic (and now robotic) rectal surgery requires a higher level of experience and skill set over more common procedures. Many studies have proven that minimally invasive techniques for inflammatory bowel diseases can be performed safely and effectively with the same or better short- and long-term outcomes as compared to open surgery. This review highlights laparoscopic techniques used for inflammatory bowel disease of the rectum.
PRECARIOUS LIVES: CHRISTINA ROSSETTI AND THE FORM OF LIKENESS

In its anonymous review of Christina Rossetti's Speaking Likenesses (1874), the Academy notes rather hopelessly: “this will probably be one of the most popular children's books this winter. We wish we could understand it” (606). The reviewer – who later dwells on the “uncomfortable feeling” generated by this children's tale and its accompanying images – still counts as the most generous among the largely puzzled and horrified readership of Rossetti's story about three sets of girls experiencing violence and failure in their respective fantasy worlds (606). While clearly such dystopic plots are not out of place in Victorian literature about children, something about Rossetti's unusual narrative bothered her contemporaries. John Ruskin, for instance, bluntly wondered how Rossetti and Arthur Hughes, who illustrated the story, together could “sink so low” (qtd. in Auerbach and Knoepflmacher 318). In any case, the book still sold on the Christmas market, and a few months later, Rossetti would publish Annus Domini, a benign pocketbook of daily prayers that stands in stark contrast to the grim prose of Speaking Likenesses. It is therefore tempting to cast this work of children's fiction as a strange anomaly in Rossetti's oeuvre, which from the 1870s, beginning with Annus Domini, to her death in 1894, became almost exclusively dominated by devotional prose and poetry. In contrast, I argue in the following essay that Speaking Likenesses points to a widespread interest throughout Rossetti's writing – but especially in her most well-known poems from Goblin Market and Other Poems (1862) and A Prince's Progress (1866) – in alternative modes of sociality that refract a conceptual preoccupation with likeness, rather than difference. Following traditions of critical thought that have paid increasing attention to relations that resist oppositional logic – Stephanie Engelstein and Eve Kosovsky Sedgwick's late work comes to mind here – I establish the primacy of a horizontal axis of similarity in both Speaking Likenesses and Rossetti's most canonical poem, “Goblin Market.” For Rossetti, the lure of similarity, or minimal difference, manifests itself most often in siblinghood and more specifically, sisterhood, the dominant kinship relation throughout her lyrics from Goblin Market and Other Poems. Sisterhood anchors the title poem I will examine in this essay, as well as shorter verses such as “Noble Sisters” and “Sister Maude.” At issue in such relations of likeness is the discreteness of a (typically) feminine self. For Rossetti, shunning oppositional structures of desire and difference that typically produce individuation (exemplified in the heterosexual couple form and the titles of her uneasy lyrics “He and She” and “Wife to Husband”) allows for a new (albeit perilous) space to carve out one's particularity as a gendered being.
Die 2-Takt-Großmotorenentwicklung unter den Anforderungen von Emissionsgrenzen und Digitalisierung

Der 2-Takt-Grosmotor ist im wahrsten Sinne des Wortes ein groser Motor, Bild 1. Verwendung finden diese Art Motoren in den ebenfalls grosen Handelsschiffen, die in zumeist internationalem Gewasser und auf langeren Strecken operieren. Die kleineren Versionen dieser Schiffe sind aber auch auf grosen Binnengewassern, wie den grosen Seen in Nordamerika oder den grosen Flussen in China, zu Hause.
Colorectal Cancer: A Collaborative Approach to Improve Education and Screening in a Rural Population .

Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and second leading cause of cancer death for men and women in the United States. Although early detection and diagnosis greatly affect survival rates, only about half of the U.S. population participates in screening. . Objectives The purpose of this project was to implement community-based CRC education and screening. Outcomes included CRC knowledge, CRC screening kit return rate, and rate of positive screening results. . Methods Partnering with a community hospital, CRC educational sessions and free screening opportunities were provided for 193 local city government employees. CRC knowledge was assessed before and after education with the Knowledge Assessment Survey. A paired t test indicated significant improvement in mean CRC knowledge. . Findings More than half of the participants elected to take home fecal immunochemical test kits. Of the 29 participants who submitted their screening kits for evaluation, eight had positive results and received referral recommendations. All participants were notified of their screening results. The community-based CRC project was effective in improving CRC knowledge and screening participation.
Abstract P001: LGB Health Disparities: Examining the Status of Ideal Cardiovascular Health From the 2011-2012 NHANES Survey

Objectives: Extensive data suggests that lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) adults are more likely to experience adverse cardiovascular outcomes relative to heterosexuals. However, evidence regarding ...
Nitrogen electroreduction and hydrogen evolution on cubic molybdenum carbide: a density functional study

We report herein a density functional theory study of the nitrogen electroreduction and hydrogen evolution reactions on cubic molybdenum carbide (MoC) in order to investigate the viability of using this material as an electro-catalyst for ammonia synthesis. Free energy diagrams for associative and dissociative Heyrovsky mechanisms showed that nitrogen reduction on cubic MoC(111) can proceed via an associative mechanism and that small negative potentials of -0.3 V vs. standard hydrogen electrode can onset the reduction of nitrogen to ammonia. Kinetic volcano plots for hydrogen evolution showed that the MoC[110] surface is expected to have a high rate for the hydrogen evolution reaction, which could compete with the reduction of nitrogen on cubic MoC. The comparison between the adsorption energies of H-adatoms and N-adatoms also shows that at low potentials adsorption of hydrogen atoms competes with nitrogen adsorption on all the MoC surfaces except the MoC(111) surface. The hydrogen evolution and accumulation of H-adatoms can be mitigated by introducing carbon vacancies i.e. increasing the ratio of metal to carbon atoms, which will significantly increase the affinity of the catalytic surface for both nitrogen molecules and N-adatoms.
Nonlinear Tunability and Mechanical Actuation in Photonically Doped ENZ Metasurfaces

Built upon the photonic doping concept we introduced recently [Science 355, 1058 (2017)], we numerically demonstrate how nonlinearity of the single dielectric rod and its mechanical actuation enable tunability of transmission through Epsilon-Near-Zero (ENZ) metasurfaces.
Arteriolar Vasodilation Involves Actin Depolymerization

This article adds to the accumulating evidence on the contribution of the actin cytoskeleton to the regulation of vascular smooth muscle tone in resistance arterioles. Actin depolymerization appear...
Hyaluronidase to reduce a prolapsed incontinent ischemic ileovesicostomy.

Summary Stomal prolapse is a known late complication of urinary diversions commonly used in urology. While rare, it can lead to ischemia, necrosis, and obstruction of the stoma, requiring urgent reduction before formal revision can be undertaken. Several measures can be attempted to reduce the prolapse including manual pressure and topical osmotic agents. One method that has not been reported in the urologic literature is the use of hyaluronidase. Herein, we report the first case in the literature of hyaluronidase usage to assist in reduction of an ischemic and obstructed prolapsed incontinent ileovesicostomy after manual compression failed.