cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Direct adaptive control for aircraft control surface failures

A direct model reference adaptive controller for multi-input multi-output plants is analyzed. We augment the plant with feedforward dynamics such that the inverse feedforward stabilizes the plant over the set of allowable failures. We prove that the augmented output error is asymptotically vanishing for a loss of control effectiveness failure. A novel state space approach for computing the feedforward dynamics is proposed. We demonstrate the use of our algorithm by application to a three input model of the linearized lateral dynamics of the F/A-18 aircraft. Simulation results are presented which show that the adaptive controller exhibits improved model following as compared to a fixed gain eigenstructure assignment controller.
Singularities, interfaces and cracks in dissimilar anisotropic media

For a non-pathological bimaterial in which an interface crack displays no oscillatory behaviour, it is observed that, apart possibly from the stress intensity factors, the structure of the near-tip field in each of the two blocks is independent of the elastic moduli of the other block. Collinear interface cracks are analysed under this non-oscillatory condition, and a simple rule is formulated that allows one to construct the complete solutions from mode III solutions in an isotropic, homogeneous medium. The general interfacial crack-tip field is found to consist of a two-dimensional oscillatory singularity and a one-dimensional square root singularity. A complex and a real stress intensity factors are proposed to scale the two singularities respectively. Owing to anisotropy, a peculiar fact is that the complex stress intensity factor scaling the oscillatory fields, however defined, does not recover the classical stress intensity factors as the bimaterial degenerates to be non-pathological. Collinear crack problems are also formulated in this context, and a strikingly simple mathematical structure is identified. Interactive solutions for singularity-interface and singularity interface-crack are obtained. The general results are specialized to decoupled antiplane and in-plane deformations. For this important case, it is found that if a material pair is non-pathological for one set of relative orientations of the interface and the two solids, it is non-pathological for any set of orientations. For bonded orthotropic materials, an intuitive choice of the principal measures of elastic anisotropy and dissimilarity is rationalized. A complex-variable representation is presented for a class of degenerate orthotropic materials. Throughout the paper, the equivalence of the Lekhnitskii and Stroh formalisms is emphasized. The article concludes with a formal statement of interfacial fracture mechanics for anisotropic solids.
Androgen Receptor Messenger Ribonucleic Acid in Brains and Pituitaries of Male Rhesus Monkeys: Studies on Distribution, Hormonal Control, and Relationship to Luteinizing Hormone Secretion

Because the distribution and hormonal regulation of the androgen receptor (AR) mRNA in brains and pituitaries of adult rhesus monkeys have not been studied, we cloned and sequenced a 329-base pair segment of the 5' coding region of the rhesus AR cDNA. Monkey AR cDNA was 99% identical with the human sequence and 96% homologous with the rat sequence. Using a ribonuclease protection assay, we studied the distribution and regulation of AR mRNA in brains and anterior pituitary glands of three groups of male rhesus monkeys: intact (n = 3), castrated (Cx, n = 4), and Cx treated with testosterone (n = 6). Serum testosterone levels of Cx males treated with testosterone differed significantly (p < 0.05) in the morning but not in the evening hours from those in intact controls. Serum LH concentrations were significantly suppressed (p < 0.05) in both morning and evening serum samples of testosterone-treated males compared to intact controls. We found the highest concentrations of AR mRNA in the medial basal hypothalamus, the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, the medial preoptic area-anterior hypothalamus, and the lateral dorsomedial hypothalamus. Intermediate amounts were found in the septum and amygdala. Low amounts were found in the hippocampus, cingulate cortex, parietal cortex, and cerebellum. The anterior pituitary gland also contained a large amount of AR mRNA. Surprisingly, neither Cx for 3 wk nor Cx plus testosterone replacement for 3 wk significantly affected AR mRNA in any brain area or in the pituitary gland. The present study demonstrates that the effectiveness of testosterone as a regulator of LH secretion in male monkeys is not related to changes of AR mRNA in the brain or pituitary gland. It appears that AR mRNA in the monkey brain and pituitary gland is not regulated at the transcriptional level by androgen.
Comparative life cycle assessment of smartphone reuse: repurposing vs. refurbishment

Purpose Waste management for end-of-life (EoL) smartphones is a growing problem due to their high turnover rate and concentration of toxic chemicals. The versatility of modern smartphones presents an interesting alternative waste management strategy: repurposing. This paper investigates the environmental impact of smartphone repurposing as compared to traditional refurbishing using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Methods A case study of repurposing was conducted by creating a smartphone “app” that replicates the functionality of an in-car parking meter. The environmental impacts of this prototype were quantified using waste management LCA methodology. Studied systems included three waste management options: traditional refurbishment, repurposing using battery power, and repurposing using a portable solar charger. The functional unit was defined as the EoL management of a used smartphone. Consequential system expansion was employed to account for secondary functions provided; avoided impacts from displaced primary products were included. Impacts were calculated in five impact categories. Break-even displacement rates were calculated and sensitivity to standby power consumption were assessed. Results and discussion LCA results showed that refurbishing creates the highest environmental impacts of the three reuse routes in every impact category except ODP. High break-even displacement rates suggest that this finding is robust within a reasonable range of primary cell phone displacement. The repurposed smartphone in-car parking meter had lower impacts than the primary production parking meter. Impacts for battery-powered devices were dominated by use-phase charging electricity, whereas solar-power impacts were concentrated in manufacturing. Repurposed phones using battery power had lower impacts than those using solar power, however, standby power sensitivity analysis revealed that solar power is preferred if the battery charger is left plugged-in more than 20 % of the use period. Conclusions Our analysis concludes that repurposing represents an environmentally preferable EoL option to refurbishing for used smartphones. The results suggest two generalizable findings. First, primary product displacement is a major factor affecting whether any EoL strategy is environmentally beneficial. The benefit depends not only on what is displaced, but also on how much displacement occurs; in general, repurposing allows freedom to target reuse opportunities with high “displacement potential.” Second, the notion that solar power is preferable to batteries is not always correct; here, the rank-order is sensitive to assumptions about user behavior.
A comprehensive analytical model for metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) devices: a solar cell application

As an application of the authors previous model for MIS (metal-insulator-semiconductor) devices, a detailed model for MIS solar cells has been developed that covers a wide range of parameters, including surface states, silicon dioxide thickness, substrate doping, fixed oxide charges, substrate thickness, and metal work function. It also takes the nonequilibrium conditions into consideration. The effects of using the actual permittivity and barrier height of thin oxide are discussed. >
High-Level Penicillin-Nonsusceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae Bacteremia: Identification of a Low-Risk Subgroup

High-level penicillin resistance has been associated with treatment failure in patients with Streptococcus pneumoniae infections. To identify a subgroup of patients at low risk for high-level penicillin-nonsusceptible S. pneumoniae bacteremia, a cross-sectional study of 303 patients was performed. For the total study population, penicillin resistance was observed in 98 (32%) of 303 patients; high-level resistance was seen in 33 (11%). A predictive model was created by using 3 baseline variables that were independently associated with high-level penicillin resistance: previous beta -lactam antibiotic use, previous stay in a risk area (defined as stay in day care facilities, prisons, homeless shelters, nursing homes, or other long-term care facilities), and previous respiratory tract infection. The model was used to identify patients at low and high risk for high-level penicillin-resistant pneumococcal bacteremia. None of the isolates of patients in the low-risk subgroup had ceftriaxone resistance. Patients in the low-risk subgroup could be empirically treated with fluoroquinolone-sparing regimens.
Enabling engineering document in mobile computing environment

A multi-level hierarchical content organization and on-demand delivery framework is presented in this paper. This framework enables engineering content representation and exchange in mobile computing environment. Engineering documents generated by CAD/EDA software are transformed into XML based vector graphics format, decomposed and organized into a semantically grouped hierarchical structure. The client selectively can download and render the decomposed contents based on various rules. The evaluation shows that the proposed framework increases the reliability of content exchange and improves the user-application experience.
“Placing” Interviews: Location and Scales of Power in Qualitative Research

For qualitative researchers, selecting appropriate sites in which to conduct interviews may seem to be a relatively simple research design issue. In fact it is a complicated decision with wide-reaching implications. In this paper, we argue that the interview site itself embodies and constitutes multiple scales of spatial relations and meaning, which construct the power and positionality of participants in relation to the people, places, and interactions discussed in the interview. We illustrate how observation and analysis of interview sites can offer new insights with respect to research questions, help researchers understand and interpret interview material, and highlight particular ethical considerations that researchers need to address.
Flash Tube Seal Dynamics in 30 mm Ammunition

Certain 30 mm ammunitions use a flash tube to augment the primer and to provide an ignition source for the propellant. The flash tube must provide abundant hot gases/particles and pressurize the propellant bed sufficiently so that the initial burn rate of the propellant is high enough to propel the projectile to the muzzle within the few milliseconds that constitute the action time of the cannon. Rupture of the seal at differing rupture pressures was shown to affect the initial pressure in the chamber enclosing the propellant bed, as well as the amount of burning particles released into the bed.
Progressive leukemic non-nodal mantle cell lymphoma associated with deletions of TP53, ATM, and/or 13q14

Leukemic, non-nodal mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a relatively indolent disease characterized by asymptomatic leukemic presentation, non-nodal disease distribution, and slow disease progression, particularly in comparison to that of classic nodal MCL. We studied 3 cases of leukemic, non-nodal MCL in which TP53, ATM, and/or 13q14 deletions were identified. All three patients had disease progression leading to treatment requirements in two of the patients at 5 and 18 months after initial diagnosis. The third patient also clinically progressed 25 months after initial diagnosis but was lost to follow up despite recommendation for initiation of therapy. We present these cases as potential evidence that while leukemic non-nodal MCL is typically an indolent disease compared to classically defined mantle cell lymphoma, cytogenetic heterogeneity exists and cases with TP53, ATM, and/or 13q14 deletions may have a relatively aggressive clinical course.
A central nervous system specific mouse model for thanatophoric dysplasia type II

To investigate the specific effect of the Fgfr3 K644E mutation on central nervous system (CNS) development, we have generated tissue-specific TDII mice by crossing Fgfr3 þ/K644E-neo transgenic mice with CNS-specific Nestin-cre or cartilage-specific Col2a1-cre mice. TDII/Nestin-cre (TDII-N) neonates did not demonstrate a profound skeletal phenotype. TDII-N pups were comparable to their wild-type littermates in terms of tail length, fore and hindlimbs, and body weight; however, many pups exhibited notably round heads. MRI and histochemical analysis illustrated asymmetric changes in cortical thickness and cerebellar abnormalities in TDII-N mice, which correlate with brain abnormalities observed in human TDII patients. Such abnormalities were not seen in TDII/Col2a1-cre (TDII-C) mice. Upon examination of adult TDII-N spinal cord, premature differentiation of oligodendrocyte progenitors was observed. Overall, these data indicate that the tissuespecific mouse model is an excellent system for studying the role of Fgfr3 in the developing CNS.
The role of situational factors in disciplinary judgements

This study examined the effects of four situational factors on the severity of punishment chosen by a manager following a rule infraction. Two attributes of the offender, gender and performance history, and two outcomes of the infraction, physical damage and personal injury, were combined within a scenario evaluated by 421 graduate business students in a 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 ANOVA design. Results indicated strong main effects for performance history, physical damage, and personal injury but not for gender. Further analyses indicated that the gender composition of the superior/offender dyad did not have a significant effect on the severity of discipline, although some variation occurred across dyads. These results imply that superiors are likely to base disciplinary judgements on situational factors, and that situational factors affect superiors' decisions in a simple, linear fashion.
Testing, Evaluation and Performance of Optimization and Learning Systems

Benchmarks and test suites are widely used to evaluate optimization and learning systems. The advantage is that these test problems provide an objective means of comparing systems. The potential disadvantage is that systems can become overfitted to work well on benchmarks and therefore that good performance on benchmarks does not generalize to real world problems. The meaning and significance of benchmarks is examined in light of theoretical results such as “No Free Lunch.” The “structure” of common benchmarks is also explored.
Effects of Temperature, Sugar Availability, Gender, Mating, and Size on the Longevity of Phorid Fly Pseudacteon tricuspis (Diptera: Phoridae)

The phorid sy,Pseudacteontricuspis Borgmeier, has been released for biological control of red imported Þre ant,Solenopisinvicta Buren, in many parts of the southern United States. However, little is known about the nutritional ecology and the effects of environmental and physiological factors on lifespan of adult phorid sies under laboratory or Þeld conditions. Here we report the effects of sugar feeding, temperature, gender, mating, and body size on longevity of P. tricuspis. Sugar availability and temperature were the two major factors insuencing longevity. In general, sugar feeding increased lifespan by a factor of 2Ð3. Longevity of P. tricuspis was inversely related to temperature, and the greatest longevity (15 d) was recorded for sugar-fed sies kept at 20C. Longevity declined from 15 da t 20C to 4 d at 33C for sugar-fed females and from 7 d at 20 Ct o 2da t 33C for sugar-starved females. Similar results were obtained for male P. tricuspis, and gender or mating did not signiÞcantly insuence longevity. There was no signiÞcant difference in longevity between mated and unmated female and male sies, irrespective of diet and temperature. Gender, however, had a signiÞcant effect on wing length with females being larger than males. A positive correlation between wing length and longevity was recorded for sugar-starved female and male phorid sies kept at 20C and for sugar-starved males kept at 28C, but not for sugar-fed sies or sies exposed to high temperatures. These results suggest that provision of supplemental sugar sources and suitable microclimate near its release sites may enhance the success of P. tricuspis as a biological control agent.
CdTe/PbTe Superlattice Energy Bands Analysis Using k.p Method

A model based on the k.p perturbation theory to compute the energy bands in a CdTe/PbTe superlattice structure is developed. The model uses the dispersion relations for the heavy hole, light hole and the split off bands to compute the effective bandgap in a CdTe/PbTe superlattice structure. Given a certain thickness of the layers composing the superlattice the model computes the effective bandgap. This model will be used towards understanding the relationship between film thickness and optical bandgaps in a CdTe/PbTe superlattice. The end goal is to tailor the optical bandgap of a CdTe/PbTe superlattice to result in maximum efficiency when used in a solar cell.
Recovery from chemical, biological, and radiological incidents. Critical infrastructure and economic impact considerations

To restore regional lifeline services and economic activity as quickly as possible after a chemical, biological or radiological incident, emergency planners and managers will need to prioritize critical infrastructure across many sectors for restoration. In parallel, state and local governments will need to identify and implement measures to promote reoccupation and economy recovery in the region. This document provides guidance on predisaster planning for two of the National Disaster Recovery Framework Recovery Support Functions: Infrastructure Systems and Economic Recovery. It identifies key considerations for infrastructure restoration, outlines a process for prioritizing critical infrastructure for restoration, and identifies critical considerations for promoting regional economic recovery following a widearea disaster. Its goal is to equip members of the emergency preparedness community to systematically prioritize critical infrastructure for restoration, and to develop effective economic recovery plans in preparation for a widearea CBR disaster.
Role of the epithelium in airway smooth muscle responses to relaxant agonists

We studied the role of the guinea pig tracheal epithelium in modulating tracheal smooth muscle responses to the relaxant agonists albuterol, sodium nitroprusside, and theophylline. We used an in vitro preparation that allowed separation of the fluids bathing the luminal (internal) and serosal (external) surfaces of the trachea, and bronchodilators were administered to either surface of carbachol-contracted tracheae. All three drugs produced dose-dependent relaxation. However, albuterol and nitroprusside were less potent (concentration that produced half-maximal effect increased by 100- and 32-fold, respectively) when given to the epithelial side with the epithelium intact compared with the epithelium denuded or compared with serosal administration with the epithelium intact. These differences were not observed for theophylline, where smooth muscle responses were independent of either the side of stimulation or of the presence or absence of the epithelium. Direct measurements of the diffusion of theophylline across the tracheal wall in the presence or absence of epithelium showed that after 5 h of incubation with a fixed luminal concentration of theophylline, only 1.7% had diffused across the tracheal wall with the epithelium intact. This increased to only approximately 3.3% when the epithelium was denuded. These results suggest that the epithelial is a relatively weak barrier for lipophilic agents but has a major role as a diffusion barrier to hydrophilic substances.
Do Voters Know Best? The Political Economy of Optimal Taxation

This paper investigates the empirical implications of optimal taxation models in the presence of political institutions. Conventional economic theory suggests that the optimal rate of taxation is sensitive to the underlying assumptions concerning externalities. If there are no externalities, the limiting rate of taxation on capital is zero, but if there exist increasing returns at the aggregate level, taxes should be much higher. Political economic theory suggests that political agents can work towards achieving the socially optimal rate. However, under a different set of assumptions, political agents can move the economy away from the optimal rate. In this paper, we test whether or not politics in the form of state-wide initiatives are employed by voters to move taxes towards the optimal rate. In this way, we can "score" the relevant models to determine which theory seems to be most supported by the data. We find initiatives are indeed employed to move the state economies closer to their optimal allocations.
A time-parallel approach to strong-constraint four-dimensional variational data assimilation

A parallel-in-time algorithm based on an augmented Lagrangian approach is proposed to solve four-dimensional variational (4D-Var) data assimilation problems. The assimilation window is divided into multiple sub-intervals that allows parallelization of cost function and gradient computations. The solutions to the continuity equations across interval boundaries are added as constraints. The augmented Lagrangian approach leads to a different formulation of the variational data assimilation problem than the weakly constrained 4D-Var. A combination of serial and parallel 4D-Vars to increase performance is also explored. The methodology is illustrated on data assimilation problems involving the Lorenz-96 and the shallow water models.
The Life of the Longhouse: The Sultan's Fence

Of all the leaders of longhouse communities in the valley of the Tinjar, Aban Jau stands out not only because of his hubris, but also because his career straddled the period when Upriver People lost their turbulent independence and came under colonial control. In his rehabilitation of the humbled Aban Jau as “A Rob Roy of Sarawak,” Charles Hose quotes several of his “picturesque sayings.” Among them is this remark, half plaint, half boast: Your Rajah may govern the down-river people; they are inside the Sultan's fence and he had the right to hand them over. But over us he had no authority; we are the tigers of the jungle and have never been tamed. (Hose and McDougall 1912:II:283) Picturesque as his wording may be, Aban Jau's argument was perfectly reasonable. As far as he was concerned, the political manoeuvring between Rajah Brooke, the Foreign Office in London, and the Sultan in Brunei, leading up to the “cession” of “Baram,” was absolutely meaningless. The annexation of the whole watershed had no more legal basis than any other colonial land grab. The protest fell, of course, on deaf ears, but it reveals something of the world in which Aban Jau grew up, a world divided between those who did and did not live “inside the Sultan's fence.” Since that was the world in which the institutions of longhouse life were shaped, it is now necessary to turn attention to the nature and location of the fence.
Lethal Means Access and Assessment among Suicidal Emergency Department Patients

BACKGROUND: Reducing access to lethal means (especially firearms) might prevent suicide, but counseling of at-risk individuals about this strategy may not be routine. Among emergency department (ED) patients with suicidal ideation or attempts (SI/SA), we sought to describe home firearm access and examine ED provider assessment of access to lethal means. METHODS: This secondary analysis used data from the Emergency Department Safety Assessment and Follow-up Evaluation, a three-phase, eight-center study of adult ED patients with SI/SA (2010-2013). Research staff surveyed participants about suicide-related factors (including home firearms) and later reviewed the ED chart (including documented assessment of lethal means access). RESULTS: Among 1,358 patients with SI/SA, 11% (95% CI: 10-13%) reported ≥1 firearm at home; rates varied across sites (range: 6-26%) but not over time. On chart review, 50% (95% CI: 47-52%) of patients had documentation of lethal means access assessment. Frequency of documented assessment increased over study phases (40-60%, P CONCLUSIONS: Among these ED patients with SI/SA, many did not have documented assessment of home access to lethal means, including patients who were discharged home and had ≥1 firearm at home.© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Language: en
Epidemiological study of cholera in Guangzhou city from 2005 to 2010

Objective To provide strategies for prevention and control of cholera through analyzing the epidemic characteristics and surveillance results of cholera in Guangzhou from 2005 to 2010. Method Descriptive epidemiology was used in this study. Results There were 82 cases of cholera, 21 carriers, no second generation of cases and deaths occurred in Guangzhou city between the period of 2005 to 2010,and the annual incidence rate was 0.24/100 000. Epidemic outbreak was the major form of occurrence and transmission was mainly through the contact with contaminated foods and water.The dominant serotypes were Inaba 1f and Ogawa 2f, while the serotype V.cholera O139 was also isolated. The cholera strains obtained through surveillance were mainly isolated from aquatic products, diarrhea patients and water samples. Conclusion Key measures should be taken to strengthen the surveillance of patients with diarrhea and environmental factors, to monitor the changes of the strains and find the infectious sources promptly for the control of the disease.
Hexokinase Is an Innate Immune Receptor for the Detection of Bacterial Peptidoglycan

Summary Degradation of Gram-positive bacterial cell wall peptidoglycan in macrophage and dendritic cell phagosomes leads to activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, a cytosolic complex that regulates processing and secretion of interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18. While many inflammatory responses to peptidoglycan are mediated by detection of its muramyl dipeptide component in the cytosol by NOD2, we report here that NLRP3 inflammasome activation is caused by release of N-acetylglucosamine that is detected in the cytosol by the glycolytic enzyme hexokinase. Inhibition of hexokinase by N-acetylglucosamine causes its dissociation from mitochondria outer membranes, and we found that this is sufficient to activate the NLRP3 inflammasome. In addition, we observed that glycolytic inhibitors and metabolic conditions affecting hexokinase function and localization induce inflammasome activation. While previous studies have demonstrated that signaling by pattern recognition receptors can regulate metabolic processes, this study shows that a metabolic enzyme can act as a pattern recognition receptor. PaperClip
Girls and the Building of Modern Egypt

Muhammad al-Harawi’s collection of children’s poems about modern technology includes photographs of children, mostly boys, next to such items as typewriters, cars, cameras, and telescopes. In one photo, a girl dressed in western attire sits at a desk reviewing her agenda while consulting a wristwatch.1 Her brother stands near her, also holding a watch. On one level, the photograph speaks about the early twentieth-century class issues that were discussed in Chapter 3 of this book. The photograph illustrates the new Egyptian effendi identity that sought to emulate European bourgeois identity through picturing Egyptian children in western-style clothing and owning modern technology. The image suggests to the viewer that no Egyptian middle-or upper-class child goes without a watch, as they are all constantly keeping time. On another level, the photograph speaks about gender issues of the era. The role of a female student was a relatively new one at this time. The image suggests that studying and knowing how to keep time are important skills for girls. The book targets Egypt’s next generation, enhancing the significance of such a photograph.
Exploring the Impact of Age, Race, and Stereotypes on Perceptions of Language Performance and Patronizing Speech:

Two experiments tested whether age and racial stereotypes influence communication. Specifically, both studies sought to understand if older African American targets would experience a communicative...
Quick SOFA Scores Predict Mortality in Adult Emergency Department Patients With and Without Suspected Infection.

Study objective The Quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) score (composed of respiratory rate ≥22 breaths/min, systolic blood pressure ≤100 mm Hg, and altered mental status) may identify patients with infection who are at risk of complications. We determined the association between qSOFA scores and outcomes in adult emergency department (ED) patients with and without suspected infection. Methods We performed a single-site, retrospective review of adult ED patients between January 2014 and March 2015. Patients triaged to fast-track, dentistry, psychiatry, and labor and delivery were excluded. qSOFA scores were calculated with simultaneous vital signs and Modified Early Warning System scores. Patients receiving intravenous antibiotics were presumed to have suspected infection. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to explore the association between qSOFA scores and inpatient mortality, admission, and length of stay. Receiver operating characteristics curve analysis and c statistics were also calculated for ICU admission and mortality. Results We included 22,530 patients. Mean age was 54 years (SD 21 years), 53% were women, 45% were admitted, and mortality rate was 1.6%. qSOFA scores were associated with mortality (0 [0.6%], 1 [2.8%], 2 [12.8%], and 3 [25.0%]), ICU admission (0 [5.1%], 1 [10.5%], 2 [20.8%], and 3 [27.4%]), and hospital length of stay (0 [123 hours], 1 [163 hours], 2 [225 hours], and 3 [237 hours]). Adjusted rates were also associated with qSOFA. The c statistics for mortality in patients with and without suspected infection were similarly high (0.75 [95% confidence interval 0.71 to 0.78) and 0.70 (95% confidence interval 0.65 to 0.74), respectively. Conclusion qSOFA scores were associated with inpatient mortality, admission, ICU admission, and hospital length of stay in adult ED patients likely to be admitted both with and without suspected infection and may be useful in predicting outcomes.
P/Q-type voltage-gated calcium channels mediate the ethanol and CRF sensitivity of central amygdala GABAergic synapses

The central amygdala (CeA) GABAergic system is hypothesized to drive the development of alcohol dependence, due to its pivotal roles in the reinforcing actions of alcohol and the expression of negative emotion, anxiety and stress. Recent work has also identified an important role for the CeA corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) system in the interaction between anxiety/stress and alcohol dependence. We have previously shown that acute alcohol and CRF each increase action potential-independent GABA release in the CeA via their actions at presynaptic CRF type 1 receptors (CRF1s); however, the shared mechanism employed by these two compounds requires further investigation. Here we report that acute alcohol interacts with the CRF/CRF1 system, such that CRF and alcohol act via presynaptic CRF1s and P/Q-type voltage-gated calcium channels to promote vesicular GABA release and that both compounds occlude the effects of each other at these synapses. Chronic alcohol exposure does not alter P/Q-type voltage-gated calcium channel membrane abundance or this CRF1/P/Q-type voltage-gated calcium channel mechanism of acute alcohol-induced GABA release, indicating that alcohol engages this molecular mechanism at CeA GABAergic synapses throughout the transition to dependence. Thus, P/Q-type voltage-gated calcium channels, like CRF1s, are key regulators of the effects of alcohol on GABAergic signaling in the CeA.
Alzheimer disease pharmacologic treatment and treatment research.

Purpose of Review: This article reviews marketed pharmacologic treatments for Alzheimer disease as well as their efficacy, effectiveness, adverse effects, and issues involved in their use, including duration of treatment, adverse events, and controversies. Current experimental drug development, incl
Effect of Automated Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Queries on Emergency Department Opioid Prescribing

Study objective We assess whether an automated prescription drug monitoring program intervention in emergency department (ED) settings is associated with reductions in opioid prescribing and quantities. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study of ED visits by Medicaid beneficiaries. We assessed the staggered implementation (pre-post) of automated prescription drug monitoring program queries at 86 EDs in Washington State from January 1, 2013, to September 30, 2015. The outcomes included any opioid prescribed within 1 day of the index ED visit and total dispensed morphine milligram equivalents. The exposure was the automated prescription drug monitoring program query intervention. We assessed program effects stratified by previous high-risk opioid use. We performed multiple sensitivity analyses, including restriction to pain-related visits, restriction to visits with a confirmed prescription drug monitoring program query, and assessment of 6 specific opioid high-risk indicators. Results The study included 1,187,237 qualifying ED visits (898,162 preintervention; 289,075 postintervention). Compared with the preintervention period, automated prescription drug monitoring program queries were not significantly associated with reductions in the proportion of visits with opioid prescribing (5.8 per 1,000 encounters; 95% confidence interval [CI] –0.11 to 11.8) or the amount of prescribed morphine milligram equivalents (difference 2.66; 95% CI –0.15 to 5.48). There was no evidence of selective reduction in patients with previous high-risk opioid use (1.2 per 1,000 encounters, 95% CI –9.5 to 12.0; morphine milligram equivalents 1.22, 95% CI –3.39 to 5.82). The lack of a selective reduction in high-risk patients was robust to all sensitivity analyses. Conclusion An automated prescription drug monitoring program query intervention was not associated with reductions in ED opioid prescribing or quantities, even in patients with previous high-risk opioid use.
HOPEWELL BLADELETS: A BAYESIAN RADIOCARBON ANALYSIS

Hopewell bladelets may be the most common diagnostic artifact of the Hopewell Interaction Sphere. As such, they are often recognized as a Middle Woodland “index fossil” and a key materialized indication of Hopewell ceremonialism. However, few formal analyses of their occurrence across space and time exist. Drawing on published reports, as well as an extensive review of the unpublished gray literature, I present a Bayesian analysis of radiocarbon-dated, bladelet-bearing features from across Ohio. The Bayesian model provides insight into previously unrecognized temporal variation in this element of Hopewell material culture. Results indicate that bladelets are present from around the BC/AD switch to nearly AD 500 in certain portions of the state. Analysis by major drainages indicates that bladelets occur earliest in southern and central Ohio before subsequently spreading north to the Lake Erie region. Understanding the spatial and temporal variation in artifact classes such as Hopewell bladelets is essential to explaining prehistoric cultural processes.
On skew Laurent polynomial rings over locally nilpotent rings

Abstract Let R be a locally nilpotent ring. Let σ be an endomorphism of R and let δ be a σ-derivation of R. Then the skew Laurent polynomial ring R [ X , X − 1 ; σ , δ ] does not contain a non-zero idempotent. This answers a question posed by Greenfeld, Smoktunowicz and Ziembowski.
Expectations Following Rotator Cuff Surgery.

Purpose of Review To outline the radiographic and clinical outcomes after a rotator cuff surgery in order to set the expectations with the patient before the surgery to obtain a better outcome, taking into account the factors that can affect the outcome and the technique used for the repair.
EGFR as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in ovarian cancer: evaluation of patient cohort and literature review.

Background Limited effectiveness of therapeutic agents targeting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in clinical trials using unselected ovarian cancer patients has prompted efforts to more effectively stratify patients who might best benefit from these therapies. A series of studies that have evaluated immunohistochemical (IHC) staining of EGFR in ovarian cancer biopsies has produced unclear results as to the utility of this measure as a prognostic biomarker. Here, we used one of the largest, single institution cohorts to date to determine possible associations of EGFR expression with patient outcome. Methods We performed IHC staining of EGFR in tissue microarrays including nearly 500 patient tumor samples. Staining was classified by subcellular localization (membranous, cytoplasmic) or by automated image analysis algorithms. We also performed a literature review to place these results in the context of previous studies. Results No significant associations were found between EGFR subcellular localization or expression and histology, stage, grade, or outcome. These results were broadly consistent with the consensus of the reviewed literature. Conclusions These results suggest that IHC staining for EGFR may not be a useful prognostic biomarker for ovarian cancer patients. Future studies should pursue other staining methods or analysis in combination with other pathway mediators.
Reflections on Race and Privilege in an Educational Leadership Course.

To be effective social justice leaders, school leaders need to gain critical understandings of their positionality and racial privilege and be prepared to engage in difficult conversations with oth...
Identities, Anonymity and Information Warfare

We discuss the primarily role of anonymity and identity manipulation in information warfare. We contend that those who engage in information warfare have very similar goals as those involved in cyber-crime and cyber-terrorism. Today Internet-based commerce has become global, representing a significant component of the world market. Network-based personal communications services are rapidly becoming the method of choice for many nations. In fact many critical infrastructure components are managed and controlled remotely. Yet these various capabilities are usurped by cyber-warriors, terrorists, or other criminals.
Meristem culture and virus eradication in Alstroemeria

Stem apical meristems, rhizome apical meristems and rhizome axillary meristems excised from Alstroemeria plants were grown in vitro on modified Murashige and Skoog (MS) media containing different concentrations of gibberellic acid and 6-benzylaminopurine (BA). Plantlets developed from stem apical meristems never regenerated a rhizome and eventually died. The highest regeneration rate (74.1%) of plantlets with a rhizome was observed when rhizome axillary meristems were grown on modified MS medium containing μM 8.9 of BA. Alstroemeria mosaic potyvirus (AlMV) could be eradicated from infected Alstroemeria plants through meristem culture. The rate of virus eradication was 73.7 and 14.7% for plantlets developing from explants measuring 0.7 mm and 2.0 mm, respectively. Greenhouse evaluation of virus-negative and AlMV-infected Alstroemeria plants showed that healthy plants produced more floral stems, more vegetative stems, longer floral stems and gave a higher fresh weight than infected plants.
Safe Spaces, Agency, and Connections to “Regular Stuff”: What Makes Permanent Supportive Housing Feel Like “Home”:

Permanent, supportive housing for people with a history of homelessness is often a first step toward regaining stability in other life areas, but such housing may not always feel like “home.” Wheth...
Probing topological properties of a three-dimensional lattice dimer model with neural networks

Machine learning methods are being actively considered as a new tool for describing many-body physics. However, so far, their capabilities have been demonstrated only in previously studied models, such as the Ising model. Here, we consider a simple problem demonstrating that neural networks can be successfully used to give new insights into statistical physics. Specifically, we consider a three-dimensional (3D) lattice dimer model which consists of sites forming a lattice and bonds connecting the neighboring sites in such a way that every bond can be either empty or filled with a dimer and the total number of dimers ending at one site is fixed to be 1. Dimer configurations can be viewed as equivalent if they are connected through a series of local flips, i.e., simultaneous ``rotation'' of a pair of parallel neighboring dimers. It turns out that the whole set of dimer configurations on a given 3D lattice can be split into distinct topological classes, such that dimer configurations belonging to different classes are not equivalent. In this paper we identify these classes by using neural networks. More specifically, we train the neural networks to distinguish dimer configurations from two known topological classes, and afterward, we test them on dimer configurations from unknown topological classes. We demonstrate that a 3D lattice dimer model on a bipartite lattice can be described by an integer topological invariant (Hopf number), whereas a lattice dimer model on a nonbipartite lattice is described by ${Z}_{2}$ invariant. Thus, we demonstrate that neural networks can be successfully used to identify new topological phases in condensed-matter systems, whose existence can later be verified by other (e.g., analytical) techniques.
Factors Associated With Withdrawal From Dialysis Therapy in Incident Hemodialysis Patients Aged 80 Years or Older.

Abstract Objectives Among kidney disease patients ≥80 years progressing to end-stage renal disease, there is growing interest in conservative nondialytic management approaches. However, among those who have initiated hemodialysis, little is known about the impact of withdrawal from dialysis on mortality, nor the patient characteristics associated with withdrawal from dialysis. Study design Historical cohort study. Setting and participants We examined 133,162 incident hemodialysis patients receiving care within a large national dialysis organization from 2007 to 2011. Measures We identified patients who withdrew from dialysis, either as a listed cause of death or censor reason. Incidence rates and subdistribution hazard ratios for withdrawal from dialysis as well as 4 other censoring reasons were examined across age groups. In addition, demographic and clinical characteristics associated with withdrawal from dialysis therapy among patients ≥80 years old was assessed using logistic regression analysis. Results Among 17,296 patients aged ≥80 years, 10% of patients withdrew from dialysis. Duration from the last hemodialysis treatment to death was 10 [interquartile range 6-16] days in patients with available data. Withdrawal from dialysis was the second and third most common cause of death among patients aged ≥80 years and Conclusion/Implications Among very-elderly incident hemodialysis patients, dialysis therapy withdrawal exhibits wide variations across age, race and ethnicity, regions, cognitive status, dialysis vascular access, and nutritional status. Further studies examining implications of withdrawal from dialysis in older patients are warranted
Intimacy and Abundance: Textile Relics, the Veronica, and Christian Devotion in the Aftermath of the Fourth Crusade

During the early thirteenth century crusaders carried or sent dozens of textile relics from the treasuries of the Levant and Byzantium to the West. As these objects were integrated into the devotio...
Towards a dual in-line electrochemical biosensor for the determination of glucose and hydrogen peroxide.

Abstract Herein, we report the development of a sensitive and selective dual mode electrochemical platform for the detection of glucose and H2O2. The platform is based on tungsten and gold microwire electrodes decorated with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and colloidal platinum (colloidal-Pt), respectively. The nanostructured AuNPs electrode was used as a support matrix for the immobilization of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and the colloidal-Pt served as the non-enzymatic glucose biosensor in the construction of a dual in-line electrochemical biosensor that provides a microenvironment for HRP and a pathway for analyte diffusion via the high surface area. The dual-mode approach allows for the simultaneous detection of glucose and H2O2. The glucose biosensor exhibited a dynamic linear range of 0.5 mM to 8 mM glucose. Linearity for H2O2 was up to 70 μM. Operational stability resulted in 75% of the initial biosensor response after 27 days. The dual in-line biosensor showed good sensitivity of 0.403 mA mM−1 cm−2 for glucose and 0.193 mA mM−1 cm−2 for H2O2 in addition to good anti-interference ability. Thus, the low-cost and simple dual in-line biosensor can be used for the real-time detection of glucose and H2O2 in the clinical, biological and environmental fields.
Altitude and risk of depression and anxiety: findings from the intern health study.

Multiple studies suggest that the risks of depression and suicide increase with increasing altitude of residence, but no studies have assessed whether changing altitude changes these risks. To addr...