cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ethical Challenges in Treating Detainees and Prisoners of War

Psychiatrists and other mental health practitioners are thrust into a unique role when confronted with warfare in the twenty-first century. Their involvement draws them into the epicenter of the war on terrorism. The realities of modern warfare push them beyond the principle of “first, do no harm,” which has historically grounded the healing professions, and into unprecedented dilemmas that challenge roles and responsibilities.
Antiferromagnet-based magnonic spin-transfer torque

In an antiferromagnet (AF) with uniaxial anisotropy, spin-up and spin-down magnons coexist and form an intrinsic degree of freedom resembling electrons. When polarized by an adjacent ferromagnet (F), a magnonic pure spin current can be thermally generated in an AF. We explore thermal magnon transport in an insulating F/AF/F trilayer where propagating magnons inside the AF spacer can transfer angular momenta between the two Fs. We find that a sufficiently large temperature gradient can switch the downstream F via a magnonic spin-transfer torque if it is initially antiparallel with the upstream F. A reciprocal switching is achievable by reversing the temperature gradient. In typical materials, we estimate the threshold to be 1 K/nm at room temperature, which can be reduced by enhancing the interfacial exchange coupling and by increasing the temperature.
Assessing Student Paraphrases Using Lexical Semantics and Word Weighting

We present in this paper an approach to assessing student paraphrases in the intelligent tutoring system iSTART. The approach is based on measuring the semantic similarity between a student paraphrase and a reference text, called the textbase. The semantic similarity is estimated using knowledge-based word relatedness measures. The relatedness measures rely on knowledge encoded in Word-Net, a lexical database of English. We also experiment with weighting words based on their importance. The word importance information was derived from an analysis of word distributions in 2,225,726 documents from Wikipedia. Performance is reported for 12 different models which resulted from combining 3 different relatedness measures, 2 word sense disambiguation methods, and 2 word-weighting schemes. Furthermore, comparisons are made to other approaches such as Latent Semantic Analysis and the Entailer.
Effects of betaxolol on light responses and membrane conductance in retinal ganglion cells.

PURPOSE To examine the physiological effects of betaxolol, a beta1-adrenergic receptor blocker commonly used in the treatment of glaucoma, on retinal ganglion cells and to evaluate its potential to elicit responses consistent with a neuroprotective agent against ganglion cell degeneration. METHODS Single-unit extracellular recording, electroretinogram (ERG), intracellular and whole-cell patch-clamp recording techniques were made from flatmounted, isolated retina, superfused eyecup, and living retinal slice preparations of the larval tiger salamander. RESULTS Bath application of 20 microM betaxolol reduced the glutamate-induced increase of spontaneous spike rate in retinal ganglion cell by approximately 30%. The glutamate-induced postsynaptic current recorded under voltage-clamp conditions was reduced by 50 microM betaxolol, and the difference current-voltage (I-V) relation (I(Control)-I(betaxolol)) was N-shaped and AP5-sensitive, characteristic of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-mediated current. Application of 50 microM betaxolol reversibly reduced the voltage-gated sodium and calcium currents by approximately one third of their peak amplitudes. The times-to-action of betaxolol on ganglion cells are long (15-35 minutes for 20-50 microM betaxolol), indicative of modulation through slow biochemical cascades. Betaxolol, up to 100 microM, exerted no effects on horizontal cells or the ERG, suggesting that the primary actions of this beta1 blocker are restricted to retinal ganglion cells. CONCLUSIONS These physiological experiments provide supporting evidence that betaxolol acts in a manner consistent with preventing retinal ganglion cell death induced by elevated extracellular glutamate or by increased spontaneous spike rates under pathologic conditions. The physiological actions of betaxolol lead to reducing neurotoxic effects in ganglion cells, which are the most susceptible retinal neurons to glutamate-induced damages under ischemic and glaucomatous conditions. Therefore, betaxolol has the potential to be a neuroprotective agent against retinal degeneration in patients with disorders mediated by such mechanisms.
Trends in academic health sciences libraries and their emergence as the ''knowledge nexus'' for their academic health centers*

Objectives: The objective of this study was to identify trends in academic health sciences libraries (AHSLs) as they adapt to the shift from a print knowledgebase to an increasingly digital knowledgebase. This research was funded by the 2003 David A. Kronick Traveling Fellowship. Methods: The author spent a day and a half interviewing professional staff at each library. The questionnaire used was sent to the directors of each library in advance of the visit, and the directors picked the staff to be interviewed and set up the schedule. Results: Seven significant trends were identified. These trends are part of the shift of AHSLs from being facility and print oriented with a primary focus on their role as repositories of a print-based knowledgebase to a new focus on their role as the center or “nexus” for the organization, access, and use of an increasingly digital-based knowledgebase. Conclusion: This paper calls for a national effort to develop a new model or structure for health sciences libraries to more effectively respond to the challenges of access and use of a digital knowledgebase, much the same way the National Library of Medicine did in the 1960s and 1970s in developing and implementing the National Network of Libraries of Medicine. The paper then concludes with some examples or ideas for research to assist in this process.
Structure and expression of human placental hormone genes.

One of the important functions of the human placenta is to produce peptide hormones during pregnancy; e.g. human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and human placental lactogen (hPL). The appearance of these hormones in maternal serum during pregnancy is quite different. Whereas hCG peaks in the first trimester, hPL reaches maximal levels at term. Since the levels of these hormones differ during the course of gestation, it is apparent that the factors controlling their synthesis are not the same. Thus the human placenta represents a convenient and unique tissue for studying expression of human hormonal genes during development.
Electron Spin Resonance in NTD Silicon

Neutron transmutation doped silicon has been studied and characterized by electron spin resonance. Two samples were irradiated for the same final target resistivity (25 ohm-cm) in the University of Missouri Research Reactor. One was in a position with high flux and the second was exposed to a lower flux. The room temperature ESR spectrum as a function of anneal temperature for both samples has been obtained from the irradiation temperature up to 600°C. A number of ESR centers have been found. The lattice defect config uration corresponding to some of these centers has previously been identified and is discussed. The data indicates that ESR measurements are a non-destructive and convenient way to obtain the sample’s temperature during irradiation.
Metal Sorption Using Manganese Oxides from Alkaline Battery Manufacturing and Postconsumer Wastes

AbstractManganese oxide adsorbent materials were prepared from alkaline battery manufacturing and postconsumer waste. Specifically, electrolytic manganese dioxide (EMD) was obtained from a battery ...
Influence of Hormones

Hormones are the facilitators and the regulators of metabolic processes. Through their action on target organs, where they combine with specific receptors, they stimulate the formation of cyclic AMP or messenger RNA so as to affect cell function. Included are the regulation of body fluid volume and electrolyte metabolism; of gastrointestinal absorption and renal excretion; and of carbohydrate, protein, and fat metabolism. They are concerned with tissue growth and differentiation, and with the resting metabolic rate of individual tissues and of the body as a whole. A deficiency or an excess of certain hormones can affect body composition.
The ASH Agenda for Hematology Research: a roadmap for advancing scientific discovery and cures for hematologic diseases.

TO THE EDITOR: There has never been a more fertile time in research in hematologic diseases. Advances in cancer genomics, stem cell biology, experimental modeling of diseases, and the potential for genome editing and immunotherapy have transformed our understanding of the biologic basis of
Verification of the rider indications on an assay balance

Probierwaagen fur Edelmetalle werden in den Vereinigten Staaten fur Belastungen von 2 oder 5 g erzeugt. Die Probierwaage vonThompson wird eingehend beschrieben. Sie benutzt zwei Reiter von je 0,5 mg Gewicht. Eine sorgfaltige Prufung der Reitereinrichtung zeigte, das die Gewichtsanzeige durch die Reiter hochstens einen Fehler von 1γ verursacht. Die Ruhelage des Zeigers wurde nach einer Wartezeit von 3 Minuten abgelesen und die Ruhelagen konnten, falls die Temperatur des Waagezimmers ziemlich hoch war, immer wieder genau reproduziert werden.
The Glucoamylase Inhibitor Acarbose Has a Diet-Dependent and Reversible Effect on the Murine Gut Microbiome

ABSTRACT Acarbose is a safe and effective medication for type 2 diabetes that inhibits host glucoamylases to prevent starch digestion in the small intestines and thus decrease postprandial blood glucose levels. This results in an increase in dietary starch in the distal intestine, where it becomes food for the gut bacterial community. Here, we examined the effect of acarbose therapy on the gut community structure in mice fed either a high-starch (HS) or high-fiber diet rich in plant polysaccharides (PP). The fecal microbiota of animals consuming a low dose of acarbose (25 ppm) was not significantly different from that of control animals that did not receive acarbose. However, a high dose of acarbose (400 ppm) with the HS diet resulted in a substantial change to the microbiota structure. Most notably, the HS diet with a high dose of acarbose lead to an expansion of the Bacteroidaceae and Bifidobacteriaceae and a decrease in the Verrucomicrobiaceae (such as Akkermansia muciniphila) and the Bacteroidales S24-7. Once acarbose treatment ceased, the community composition quickly reverted to mirror that of the control group, suggesting that acarbose does not irreversibly alter the gut community. The high dose of acarbose in the PP diet resulted in a distinct community structure with increased representation of Bifidobacteriaceae and Lachnospiraceae. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) measured from stool samples were increased, especially butyrate, as a result of acarbose treatment in both diets. These data demonstrate the potential of acarbose to change the gut community structure and increase beneficial SCFA output in a diet-dependent manner. IMPORTANCE The gut microbial community has a profound influence on host physiology in both health and disease. In diabetic individuals, the gut microbiota can affect the course of disease, and some medications for diabetes, including metformin, seem to elicit some of their benefits via an interaction with the microbiota. Here, we report that acarbose, a glucoamylase inhibitor for type 2 diabetes, changes the murine gut bacterial community structure in a reversible and diet-dependent manner. In both high-starch and high-fiber diet backgrounds, acarbose treatment results in increased short-chain fatty acids, particularly butyrate, as measured in stool samples. As we learn more about how human disease is affected by the intestinal bacterial community, the interplay between medications such as acarbose and the diet will become increasingly important to evaluate.
Sizing, Analysis, and Verification of Axial Flux-Switching Permanent Magnet Machine

This paper proposes the analytical design methods of axial flux-switching permanent magnet (AxFSPM) machines. The analytical design methods take the influences of electric and magnetic loadings into account to calculate the specific sizing and scalability of the AxFSPM machine. In addition, the winding functions are implemented to derive the self-, mutual-, d -axis, and q -axis inductances. The results of analytical design methods indicate that the magnetic loading has bigger impact on the stator dimensions of AxFSPM machines than the electrical loading. The d - and q -axis inductances of the all-pole-wound AxFSPM machines are similar under the same number of slots and turns. A prototype is manufactured using analytical design methods. The experimental results show that the prototype machine achieves target specification and the usefulness of the proposed design method is verified.
Trifactor Models for Multiple-Ratings Data

In this study we extend and assess the trifactor model for multiple-ratings data in which two different raters give independent scores for the same responses (e.g., in the GRE essay or to subset of...
Chromatin remodeling in bovine embryos indicates species-specific regulation of genome activation

Abstract The maternal-to-zygotic transition (MZT) is underpinned by wide-spread transcriptomic and epigenomic remodeling that facilitates totipotency acquisition. Although the MZT is a universal feature of mammalian preimplantation development, the factors that regulate this transition remain unclear because the timing of embryonic genome activation (EGA) is highly species-specific, suggesting divergence of regulatory circuitry. Indeed, open chromatin during mouse and human EGA shows differential motif enrichment, implicating distinct regulators. To better assess chromatin remodeling during mammalian development, chromatin accessibility was profiled in bovine oocytes and in vitro produced embryos. Accessibility that was established pre-EGA marked maternal factor recognition sites, i.e. CTCF, KLFs, NFY, and SP1, echoing observations in humans and mice, and suggesting that a conserved set of maternal factors regulate chromatin remodeling prior to EGA. Subsequently, open chromatin established during EGA was primarily enriched for homeobox motifs, including that of DUX, a potential pioneer factor in mice and humans. Remarkably, the open chromatin landscape during bovine EGA clearly resembled that of humans’, revealing that cattle could be a more relevant model for human development than mouse.
Personal aging markers and ageotypes revealed by deep longitudinal profiling

The molecular changes that occur with aging are not well understood1–4. Here, we performed longitudinal and deep multiomics profiling of 106 healthy individuals from 29 to 75 years of age and examined how different types of ‘omic’ measurements, including transcripts, proteins, metabolites, cytokines, microbes and clinical laboratory values, correlate with age. We identified both known and new markers that associated with age, as well as distinct molecular patterns of aging in insulin-resistant as compared to insulin-sensitive individuals. In a longitudinal setting, we identified personal aging markers whose levels changed over a short time frame of 2–3 years. Further, we defined different types of aging patterns in different individuals, termed ‘ageotypes’, on the basis of the types of molecular pathways that changed over time in a given individual. Ageotypes may provide a molecular assessment of personal aging, reflective of personal lifestyle and medical history, that may ultimately be useful in monitoring and intervening in the aging process. Longitudinal multiomics profiling of a cohort of healthy people reveals distinct aging patterns—termed ageotypes—in different individuals.
Vascular smooth muscle-derived TRPV1-expressing progenitors are a new source of cold-induced thermogenic adipocytes

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) functions in energy expenditure in part due its role in thermoregulation. The prominent capacity of BAT to enhance fuel utilization and energy expenditure makes it an attractive target for treating obesity and metabolic disorders. Prolonged cold exposure induces de novo recruitment of brown adipocytes and activates their thermogenic activity. However, the exact source of cold-induced brown adipocytes is not completely understood. In this study, we sought to investigate the cellular origin of cold-induced brown adipocytes using single-cell RNA sequencing. We identified two distinct types of adipocyte progenitors that contribute to de novo recruitment of brown adipocytes in response to cold challenge. One is the previously known Pdgfra-expressing mesenchymal progenitors and the other is a vascular smooth muscle-derived adipocyte progenitor (VSM-APC) population, which expresses the temperature-sensitive ion channel transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1 (Trpv1). Using flow cytometry and lineage tracing, we demonstrated that the Trpv1pos VSM-APCs were indeed distinct from the Pdgfrapos progenitors and could contribute to brown adipocytes with greater thermogenic potential. Together, these findings illustrate a landscape of thermogenic adipose niche at the single cell resolution and identify a new cellular origin for the development of brown adipocytes.
COVID-19 presenting as anosmia and dysgeusia in New York City emergency departments, March - April, 2020

Abstract Background Increasing evidence has been emerging of anosmia and dysgeusia as frequently reported symptoms in COVID-19. Improving our understanding of these presenting symptoms may facilitate the prompt recognition of the disease in emergency departments and prevent further transmission. Methods We examined a cross-sectional cohort using New York City emergency department syndromic surveillance data for March and April 2020. Emergency department visits for anosmia and/or dysgeusia were identified and subsequently matched to the Electronic Clinical Laboratory Reporting System to determine testing results for SARS-CoV-2. Results Of the 683 patients with anosmia and/or dysgeusia included, SARS-CoV-2 testing was performed for 232 (34%) and 168 (72%) were found to be positive. Median age of all patients presenting with anosmia and/or dysgeusia symptoms was 38, and 54% were female. Anosmia and/or dysgeusia was the sole complaint of 158 (23%) patients, of whom 35 were tested for SARS-CoV-2 and 23 (66%) were positive. While the remaining patients presented with at least one other symptom, nearly half of all patients (n=334, 49%) and more than a third of those who tested positive (n=62, 37%) did not have any of the CDC-established symptoms used for screening of COVID-19 such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, or sore throat. Conclusions and Relevance Anosmia and/or dysgeusia have been frequent complaints among patients presenting to emergency departments during the COVID-19 pandemic, and, while only a small proportion of patients ultimately underwent testing for SARS-CoV-19, the majority of patients tested have been positive. Anosmia and dysgeusia likely represent underrecognized symptoms of COVID-19 but may have important future implications in disease diagnosis and surveillance.
Infrastructure Gap in South Asia: Inequality of Access to Infrastructure Services

The South Asia region is home to the largest pool of individuals living under the poverty line, coupled with a fast-growing population. The importance of access to basic infrastructure services on welfare and the quality of life is clear. Yet the South Asia region's rates of access to infrastructure (sanitation, electricity, telecom, and transport) are closer to those of Sub-Saharan Africa, the one exception being water, where the South Asia region is comparable to East Asia and the pacific and Latin America and the Caribbean. The challenge of increasing access to these services across the South Asia region is compounded by the unequal distribution of existing access for households. This study improves understanding of this inequality by evaluating access across the region's physical (location), poverty, and income considerations. The paper also analyzes inequality of access across time, that is, across generations. It finds that while the regressivity of infrastructure services is clearly present in South Asia, the story that emerges is heterogeneous and complex. There is no simple explanation for these inequalities, although certainly geography matters, some household characteristics matter (like living in a rural area with a head of household who lacks education), and policy intent matters. If a poorer country or a poorer state can have better access to a given infrastructure service than in a richer country or a richer state, then there is hope that policy makers can adopt measures that will improve access in a manner in which prosperity is more widely shared.
Collaboration, culture and communication: Preparing the next generation to provide rural primary health care

Background and objective: In an ever-changing landscape of health care needs and demands, the ability to provide care for rural communities is often overwhelming. Rural health care in a new decade demands targeted programs to improve recruitment, training, and sustained employment of primary care providers. This project served to address rural primary healthcare needs by the development of a project model to recruit, train, educate and evaluate Advanced Practice Registered Nurse students (APRN) students who were rigorously selected for a rural traineeship and practiced in rural counties. The evaluation of preceptors was also done to assist in retention and increased numbers of rural preceptors and clinical sites. This program was designed collaboratively and implemented with rural community partners and rural healthcare leaders. Methods: Graduate nursing students completed both a paper application and in person interviews to be selected for a rigorous 16-week clinical traineeship in the rural communities. Qualitative data were collected during interview and feedback sessions during their traineeship. Quantitative Data were collected on Process and Outcome Measures focused on learning objectives during their rural traineeship. These data were analyzed and evaluated to measure the effectiveness of program goals, outcomes, and sustainability of the program. Results and conclusions: The results support the structured process for selecting graduate students and with an innovative program design focused on rural culture and accessing resources for patients in these same rural areas. Both students and preceptors had improved performance and satisfaction over time. The results provide a road map to recreate programs with high clinical impact and increasing numbers of rural healthcare providers. Current follow-up data with APRN post program completion demonstrated increase in employment within rural areas post-graduation.
Research Informed Competencies for Human Rights Field Education in Social Work

Using four research projects completed since 2016, the authors highlight the importance of social work field education in human rights and illuminate potential core competencies that are relevant to students' learning about human rights violations that can occur during forced migration, including refugee transit and resettlement. The four competencies the authors came to identify through their research are relevant to helping students develop as social work professionals engaged in human rights protection and advancement. These competencies are (1) recognizing and labeling human rights violations, (2) understanding positive and negative human rights as protective factors, (3) witnessing people's plight resulting from human rights violations, and (4) appreciating the systemic impact of human rights violations on human well-being. The authors suggest the development of two field education structures that support student learning of those competencies. One structure is the human rights observatory in which students can learn firsthand about human rights violations and their consequences through interactions with people who have experienced such violations. Another structure is the human rights intervention design workshop in which students can work collaboratively with others, particularly those who have experienced forced migration and ensuing rights violations, in creating innovative community support systems, particularly for resettlement.
Registration of multi-platform point clouds using edge detection for rockfall monitoring

Abstract Remote sensing methods which produce point clouds, such as terrestrial laser scanning (TLS), terrestrial photogrammetry (TP), and small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) have become an integral component of geotechnical monitoring programs. Applications such as rock-slope monitoring benefit from multi-platform datasets to be acquired in two or more different epochs. Accurate registration of these datasets in a common coordinate system is essential for detecting slope changes. Their registration often relies on initial feature-based alignment followed by fine alignment with the iterative closest point (ICP) algorithm. When practical, ground control points (GCPs) and other surveying targets with well-defined coordinates are used. However, establishing such GCPs on rock surfaces can be difficult, expensive and dangerous. In addition, GCPs and targets can be lost or destroyed with time and re-establishing them is difficult. This paper develops an automated registration algorithm based on edge detection that can register multi-platform and multi-epoch point clouds. Rock-surface edges are expected to remain largely the same and be captured in point clouds collected in two different epochs. For edge detection, we use α-molecules that offer a unified framework of most multi-scale transforms that can be adapted to any rock-surface. Then the algorithm identifies edge correspondences based on the discrete Frechet distance. From the corresponding edges we derive matching points between datasets. Transformation parameters are then derived through Procrustes analysis. Using real and simulated scenarios, we demonstrate the utility and performance of the proposed algorithm. For example, sUAS scenarios with 0 and 1 GCPs show that initial root mean square error (RMSE) values of a few decimeters drop to a few centimeters. Scenarios with simulated translations, rotations, and scale showed that the developed algorithm registers multi-platform point clouds with mm differences from their original RMSE values. Results demonstrate that the algorithm can successfully register multi-platform point clouds and support rockfall monitoring.
Revisiting recent findings on gated communities and racial homogeneity

This paper seeks to determine the propensity of racial minorities to live in gated communities. A recent study by Plaut in this journal finds that nonwhites are more likely to live in gated communi...
Inference: The Essence of All Thought

Charles Sanders Peirce may be classed unambiguously among the “process philosophers,” of whom there have been many in American thought — particularly James, Dewey, and Whitehead. A process philosophy has its peculiar advantages and problems, but Peirce applied the idea of process to the phenomenon of cognition in a truly radical and original way. For Peirce, the thinking of a thought, or the reading or hearing of a sentence, or even the perception of a sense datum, is analogous to hearing a musical phrase with the sense of flowing from note to note and the relief of the resolution at the end. In this first section we will examine this view — a view which characterizes thought as inference in contrast to intuition in the Cartesian sense.
Transcatheter occlusion of a persistent left superior vena cava to the left atrium using the transseptal approach

A persistent left superior vena cava (LSVC) is a common venous anomaly, occurring in up to 10% of patients with congenital heart defects. Usually, a LSVC drains into the coronary sinus, then to the right atrium. The LSVC can drain directly to the left atrium, resulting in a right-to-left shunt and systemic desaturation. Historically, surgery has been used to address this lesion. Transcatheter occlusion of the LSVC is an alternative to surgery. We report the novel use of the transseptal approach to access the LSVC, and device occlusion using the Amplatzer Vascular Plug-II.
The "Bad Samaritan" Paradigm

This essay will attempt to show that the disparity between the rule of law and the dictates of morality is itself a product of the paradigmatic way in which the “Bad Samaritan” cases are analyzed. If we examine the cases in an entirely different way, many of the standard problems will dissolve and new alternatives will become apparent. The essay will also show that the “Bad Samaritan” paradigm is part of a larger paradigm linking the law of torts with the criminal law, which also needs to be reexamined. Finally a recommendation for dealing with the “Bad Samaritan” problem legislatively is offered.
The Genesis of the Chicago Renaissance: Theodore Dreiser, Langston Hughes, Richard Wright, and James T. Farrell

This study examines the genesis of Chicago's two identified literary renaissance periods (1890-1920 and 1930-1950) through the writings of Dreiser, Hughes, Wright, and Farrell. The relationship of these four writers demonstrates a continuity of thought between the two renaissance periods. By noting the affinities of these writers, patterns such as the rise of the city novel, the development of urban realism, and the shift to modernism are identified as significant connections between the two periods. Although Dreiser, Wright, and Farrell are more commonly thought of as Chicago writers, this study argues that Langston Hughes is a transitional, pivotal figure between the two periods. Through close readings and contextualization, the influence of Chicago writing on American literature--in such areas as realism and naturalism, as well as proletarian and ethnic fiction--becomes apparent.
Effect of hypertonic saline on vascular responses to angiotensin II in pregnancy

Abstract Refractoriness to infused angiotensin II is characteristic or normal human and ovine pregnancy; the mechanisms responsible are unclear. In this study, we sought to ascertain in gravid sheep whether hypertonic saline solution alters the vascular responses to angiotensin II, as in gravid women, and to compare the responses of the systemic and uteroplacental vasculature. Dose-response curves were determined. Mean arterial pressure and systemic vascular resistance increased in a dose-dependent fashion before and after hypertonic saline solution; responses were greater after hypertonic saline solution (p
Utilization of surgical procedures and racial disparity in the treatment of urinary incontinence after prostatectomy

Aims To analyze the rates of incontinence procedures after radical prostatectomy, and define the variables associated with them. Methods We conducted an IRB approved retrospective review of patients with prostate cancer who underwent radical prostatectomy at a single institute from January 1998 to December 2012. Logistic regression and time to event analyses were performed to ascertain variables associated with receipt of incontinence procedure after prostatectomy. Results Four thousand four hundred one men underwent radical prostatectomy (69.8% open, 30.1% laparoscopic or robotic) of whom 74.3% were white Caucasian and 22.1% were African-American. Overall, 165 (3.7%) patients underwent a total of 191 procedures for male urethral sling or artificial urinary sphincter placement. African-American men received fewer incontinence procedures than white Caucasian men (2.1% versus 4.3%, P = 0.001); and with a longer delay after prostatectomy than white Caucasian men (28.3 months versus 19.9 months, P = 0.029). Men who had a laparoscopic or robotic prostatectomy received an incontinence procedure earlier than men who had an open prostatectomy (17.6 months versus 24.4 months, P = 0.0001). On multivariate analysis, age at prostatectomy, diagnosis of incontinence, and race were independently associated with receiving an incontinence procedure. Conclusions The overall rate of incontinence surgery after radical prostatectomy is low at 3.7%. African-American men receive incontinence procedures at a lower rate and with a longer delay after prostatectomy than white Caucasian men. Further studies are needed to define the reasons for this racial disparity in urinary incontinence surgery in the prostate cancer survivor. Neurourol. Urodynam. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
EFFICIENT AND UNBIASED SAMPLING OF BIOMOLECULAR SYSTEMS IN THE CANONICAL ENSEMBLE: A REVIEW OF SELF-GUIDED LANGEVIN DYNAMICS

This review provides a comprehensive description of the self-guided Langevin dynamics (SGLD) and the self-guided molecular dynamics (SGMD) methods and their applications. Example systems are included to provide guidance on optimal application of these methods in simulation studies. SGMD/SGLD has enhanced ability to overcome energy barriers and accelerate rare events to affordable time scales. It has been demonstrated that with moderate parameters, SGLD can routinely cross energy barriers of 20 kT at a rate that molecular dynamics (MD) or Langevin dynamics (LD) crosses 10 kT barriers. The core of these methods is the use of local averages of forces and momenta in a direct manner that can preserve the canonical ensemble. The use of such local averages results in methods where low frequency motion "borrows" energy from high frequency degrees of freedom when a barrier is approached and then returns that excess energy after a barrier is crossed. This self-guiding effect also results in an accelerated diffusion to enhance conformational sampling efficiency. The resulting ensemble with SGLD deviates in a small way from the canonical ensemble, and that deviation can be corrected with either an on-the-fly or a post processing reweighting procedure that provides an excellent canonical ensemble for systems with a limited number of accelerated degrees of freedom. Since reweighting procedures are generally not size extensive, a newer method, SGLDfp, uses local averages of both momenta and forces to preserve the ensemble without reweighting. The SGLDfp approach is size extensive and can be used to accelerate low frequency motion in large systems, or in systems with explicit solvent where solvent diffusion is also to be enhanced. Since these methods are direct and straightforward, they can be used in conjunction with many other sampling methods or free energy methods by simply replacing the integration of degrees of freedom that are normally sampled by MD or LD.
Probing RNA Structures with Hydroxyl Radicals

Fe(II)-EDTA can be used to conveniently generate hydroxyl radicals to promote cleavage of RNA at nucleotide resolution. Two procedures are described, involving the generation of free radicals from solvated molecular oxygen and from hydrogen peroxide added to the RNA solution. Unlike other footprinting reagents, hydroxyl radicals cleave the sugar-phosphate backbone at every residue and thus provide uniform cleavage in a given RNA secondary structure. Because some positions become protected by tertiary folding, this reagent is useful for monitoring the global folding of RNA at equilibrium.
Semantic Specificity in Spoken Dialogue Requests

Ambiguous or open-ended requests to a dialogue system result in more complex dialogues. We present a semantic-specificity metric to gauge this complexity for dialogue systems that access a relational database. An experiment where a simulated user makes requests to a dialogue system shows that semantic specificity correlates with dialogue length.
Encoding application profiles in a computational model of the crosswalk

OCLC's Crosswalk Web Service (Godby, Smith and Childress, 2008) formalizes the notion of crosswalk, as defined in Gill, et al. (n.d.), by hiding technical details and permitting the semantic equivalences to emerge as the centerpiece. One outcome is that metadata experts, who are typically not programmers, can enter the translation logic into a spreadsheet that can be automatically converted into executable code. In this paper, we describe the implementation of the Dublin Core Terms application profile in the management of crosswalks involving MARC. A crosswalk that encodes an application profile extends the typical format with two columns: one that annotates the namespace to which an element belongs, and one that annotates a 'broader-narrower' relation between a pair of elements, such as Dublin Core coverage and Dublin Core Terms spatial. This information is sufficient to produce scripts written in OCLC's Semantic Equivalence Expression Language (or Seel), which are called from the Crosswalk Web Service to generate production-grade translations. With its focus on elements that can be mixed, matched, added, and redefined, the application profile (Heery and Patel, 2000) is a natural fit with the translation model of the Crosswalk Web Service, which attempts to achieve interoperability by mapping one pair of elements at a time.
Particle Acceleration at Quasi-perpendicular Shock Waves: Theory and Observations at 1 AU

The injection of particles into the diffusive shock acceleration mechanism at highly perpendicular (where θ {sub Bn} > 70°) interplanetary shocks is investigated. This extends the previous study of Neergaard Parker and Zank which focused on the injection problem at quasi-parallel interplanetary shocks. We use observations at 1 AU to construct upstream Maxwellian and κ-distributions that are then diffusively accelerated by the shock, thus yielding the downstream accelerated particle distribution. We compare the theoretical accelerated particle distribution to observations at 1 AU using Advanced Composition Explorer data. We classify our results for quasi-perpendicular shocks into three subcategories: those with ratios of the theoretical spectral index to observed power law of >1, ∼ 1, and <1, and compare the magnetic power spectral density plots of these categories. We find that in general the assumed upstream particle distribution that best fits the energetic particle observations is best represented by a κ-distribution, with κ = 4. The magnetic field fluctuations were representative of quasi-perpendicular shocks and showed no particular bias toward our spectral ratio subcategories. The subcategory with spectral ratio <0.9 yielded the largest injection energies for all groups. In all but two of the cases in this study, there were enough particlesmore » in the solar wind thermal core to account for the accelerated distribution, thereby giving a lower limit to the required injection energy needed to diffusively accelerate particles at a quasi-perpendicular interplanetary shock. In the remaining two cases, an additional population of particles was required to match the appropriate amplitude of the spectral index. For these cases, we used a low energy (1-50 keV) v {sup –5} spectrum advocated by Fisk and Gloeckler.« less
Reservoir Simulation With Simultaneous Graphic Display on the Macintosh II PC

This paper describes how a Macintosh II PC, which is usually thought of as a desk-top publishing system, can be used as an efficient tool for conducting reservoir simulation and evaluating the large amounts of data commonly generated by simulation runs. A unique feature is the machine's ability to produce simultaneous graphics with minimal programming. This ability, which allows the engineer to monitor the simulation, is particularly useful in history matching. Postprocessing can be accomplished with public- domain software that yield excellent graphical presentations. Color contour maps are easily created and can be statistically evaluated. Special options - such as cross- section profiles, edge detection, and reverse imaging - allow comprehensive interpretation of simulation data.
LAAR: Long-Range Radio Assisted Ad-Hoc Routing in MANETs

This paper investigates the routing protocol in smart phone-based mobile Ad-Hoc networks. We introduce a new dual radio communication model, where a long-range, low cost, and low rate radio is integrated into smart phones to assist regular radio interfaces such as WiFi and Bluetooth. We propose to use the long-range radio to carry out small management data packets to improve the routing protocols. Specifically, we develop new schemes built on the long-range radio to improve the efficiency of the path establishment process in the existing on-demand Ad-Hoc routing protocols. We have prototyped our solution LAAR on Android phones and evaluated the performance with small scale experiments and large scale simulation implemented on NS2. The results show that LAAR significantly improve the performance in terms of the overhead and the number of messages transferred in the network.
How Well are Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Automated External Defibrillator Skills Retained over Time? Results from the Public Access Defibrillation (PAD) Trial

Background: The current standard for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) retraining for laypersons is a four-hour course every two years. Others have documented substantial skill deterioration during this time period. Objectives: To evaluate 1) the retention of core CPR and AED skills among volunteer laypersons and 2) the time required to retrain laypersons to proficiency as a function of time since initial training. Methods: This was an observational follow-up study evaluating CPR and AED skill retention and testing/retraining time up through 17 months after initial training. The study took place at 1,260 facilities recruited by 24 North American clinical research centers, and included 6,182 volunteer laypersons participating in the Public Access Defibrillation (PAD) Trial. Training to proficiency in either CPR only (N= 2,426) or CPR+AED (N= 3,756) was followed by testing/retraining provided three to 17 months later. Retraining was done in brief, one-on-one, individualized, interactive sessions. The outcome studied was instructors' global assessments of performance of CPR and AED skill adequacy, i.e., whether CPR actions would likely result in perfusion (yes/no) and whether AED actions would result in a shock through the heart (yes/no). Results: For global CPR performance, 79%, 73%, and 71% of volunteers tested for the first time since initial training three to five, six to 11, and 12 to 17 months after initial training, respectively, were judged by their instructors as having adequate performance (p < 0.001, chi-square for linear trend). For global AED performance, 91%, 86%, and 84% of volunteers, respectively, were judged as having adequate performance (p < 0.001). The mean (± standard deviation) times required to test and retrain volunteers to proficiency were 5.7 (± 4.0) minutes for CPR skills and 7.7 (± 4.6) minutes for CPR+AED skills. Conclusions: Among PAD Trial volunteer laypersons participating in a simulated resuscitation, the proportions of volunteers judged by instructors to have adequate CPR and AED skills demonstrated small declines associated with longer intervals between initial training and subsequent testing. However, based on instructors' judgment, large majorities of volunteers still retained both CPR and AED core skills through 17 months after initial training. Furthermore, individual testing and retraining for CPR and AED skills were usually accomplished in less than 10 minutes per volunteer. Additional research is essential to identify training and evaluation techniques that predict adequate CPR and AED skill performance of laypersons when applied to an actual cardiac arrest.
Embedding spaces with unconditional bases

Every super-reflexive space with an unconditional basis is isomorphic to a complemented subspace of a super-reflexive space with a symmetric basis.
New Perspectives on Tropical Coastal and Island Tourism Development

Abstract This special issue is presented as a thematic issue devoted to tropical coastal and island tourism. Included in the issue are articles on (eco)tourism in Madagascar, collaboration theory and tourism partnership models on an Indonesian island, development pressure and resilience on a Malaysian island, a survey of cruise passengers in Colombia, perception and limits to development in Costa Rica, and perception and reality on Pitcairn Island. Placed within theoretical or conceptual frameworks, these case studies can be applied to development challenges of tropical coastal and island destinations worldwide.
Evaluating the performance of algebraic operations on storage schemes for large sparse matrices

We study the performance of algebraic operations on large sparse matrices stored on secondary storage and show how the traditional algorithms can be fine-tuned in order to minimize the number of page accesses. We develop cost equations for performing multiplication, transposition, and Gaussian elimination on various secondary storage schemes for sparse matrices and show how these can be incorporated into a selection model which chooses the optimal sequence of storage schemes for a given mix of operations. Furthermore, we present the results of a number of experiments and compare our analytical results with experimental results obtained on synthetically generated data.
Activity of nasal amphotericin B irrigation against fungal organisms in vitro.

BackgroundThe role of fungi in chronic rhinosinusitis has been described in recent reports. Controversy exists on the use of topical amphotericin B therapy as a treatment modality for this condition. The effect of various concentrations of amphotericin B nasal irrigation on actively growing fungi was studied in vitro.MethodsTen species of fungi commonly found in the nasal cavity were grown on growth media plates. Each fungi was exposed to 20 mL of amphotericin B nasal irrigation at concentrations of either 100, 200, or 300 μg/mL or sterile water two times daily for 6 weeks. Each plate was subcultured on a weekly basis to examine for any viable fungi.ResultsFungi growth was not arrested in the 100-μg/mL amphotericin B and sterile water groups at the end of 6 weeks. Use of the 300-and 200-μg/mL amphotericin B solutions showed failure of the subcultured fungi to grow at 5 and 6 weeks, respectively.ConclusionNasal amphotericin B irrigation is ineffective in killing fungi in vitro at a concentration of 100 μg/...
Good Career Moves: Life Stories of Daoist Nuns of the Twelfth and Thirteenth Centuries

Daoist monasticism rose to prominence in China during the late twelfth and the mid-thirteenth centuries amid the turmoil of war and dynastic change. A particular Daoist monastic order emerged, called Quanzhen or 'Complete Perfection', which became popular and spread throughout China. A number of commemorative stone steles from the monasteries of the period have been preserved, and serve as the main sources for this article. The steles record the religious activities and experiences of female practitioners, some of whom rose to leading positions, as founders, abbesses, and managers of flourishing monasteries. The funding for these monasteries came from the donations of the lay followers whom they inspired. Within the monastic universe, they trained and ordained the next generation of clerics, and provided ritual services to the lay community as well. Toward the end of their careers, abbesses choose their successors from among their female disciples, and a lineage based on the master-disciple relationship took shape.
Male masturbation as a vehicle for the pursuer/distancer relationship in marriage

When one spouse chooses masturbation over sexual intercourse in marriage, a pursuer/distancer relationship cycle may be behind the choice, or may develop. This cycle, which can cause severe marital discord, entails one spouse pursuing sexual intercourse, while the other spouse distances via solitary masturbation. The more the pursuer pursues, the more the distancer distances (or masturbates), and vice versa. This paper demonstrates this cycle with male masturbators, and proposes an integrative treatment model which addresses not only the behavior, but the roots of it as well. Cases are used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the model.