cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fifteen-Year Decrease in General Surgery Resident Breast Operative Experience: Are We Training Proficient Breast Surgeons?

Objective The goal of the study was to evaluate trends in general surgery resident breast cases over the past 15 years. Study Design The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Case Logs Statistics Reports from 2000 to 2015 were reviewed for average breast-specific case numbers and trends over time. ACGME data were available for all cases and breast-specific cases including the following: excisional biopsy/lumpectomy, simple mastectomy, modified radical mastectomy, and sentinel lymph node excision. Setting The study evaluation was conducted at Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio. Participants No individuals directly participated in this project. However, all general surgery residents at ACGME-accredited programs are represented in this analysis by virtue of the ACGME Case Logs Statistics Reports. Results Total residency case volume increased by 2% (2000-2015, p = 0.0159), with 2015 graduates logging 985.5 cases. In contrast, breast cases decreased by 17.1%. The largest drops were in modified radical mastectomy (61.5% decrease, p = 0.0001) and excisional biopsy/lumpectomy (25.8% decrease). Simple mastectomy increased from 6.0 to 10.8 cases (p = 0.0001). Sentinel lymph node excision fluctuated, but has been down-trending recently (67.3% decrease from 2010 to 2015, p = 0.0001). Decreased experience is occurring at both junior and senior resident levels. Conclusions Breast case operative experience for general surgery residents decreased by 17% between 2000 and 2015, despite increase in overall operative volume. Residents have less experience in more advanced cases including axillary management, raising concern about the proficiency of graduating surgeons with respect to these procedures. It is reasonable to set national minimums for resident breast operative experience to ensure that individuals are appropriately trained to perform these cases in practice.
Sample composition alters associations between age and brain structure.

Despite calls to incorporate population science into neuroimaging research, most studies recruit small, non-representative samples. Here, we examine whether sample composition influences age-related variation in global measurements of gray matter volume, thickness, and surface area. We apply sample weights to structural brain imaging data from a community-based sample of children aged 3–18 (N = 1162) to create a “weighted sample” that approximates the distribution of socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity, and sex in the U.S. Census. We compare associations between age and brain structure in this weighted sample to estimates from the original sample with no sample weights applied (i.e., unweighted). Compared to the unweighted sample, we observe earlier maturation of cortical and sub-cortical structures, and patterns of brain maturation that better reflect known developmental trajectories in the weighted sample. Our empirical demonstration of bias introduced by non-representative sampling in this neuroimaging cohort suggests that sample composition may influence understanding of fundamental neural processes. The influence of sample composition on human neuroimaging results is unknown. Here, the authors weight a large, community-based sample to better reflect the US population and describe how applying these sample weights changes conclusions about age-related variation in brain structure.
Botanical Diversity in Vegetable and Fruit Intake: Potential Health Benefits

Publisher Summary Dietary guidelines are evolving from a primary focus on providing adequate intake of essential nutrients in order to prevent nutritional deficiency to an emphasis on reducing the prevalence of chronic diseases. During this transition, there has been a movement to broaden nutritional terminology such that nutrients are divided into two categories: essential and nonessential. Essential nutrients are those substances that cannot be made in the human body but that are required for normal cellular function. The absence of essential dietary nutrients results in defined disease syndromes. Nonessential nutrients are not required for life, but they promote health. Variety and moderation in the diet remain the hallmarks of sound nutritional advice with clear application to food-based health promotion and disease prevention. Most typical dietary patterns fail to capitalize on the wide variety of phytochemicals available from food that, when consumed in appropriate amounts, may provide health benefits. Botanical families from which foods are derived can be used as a metric for quantifying the phytochemical diversity of the diet and to systematically identify plant-based food combinations with health benefit. A framework has been provided for using the botanical family concept as a tool to assist the health care professional with creating diets that capitalize on the richness of beneficial chemicals in plant-based foods to maintain a lifestyle that promotes well-being.
Risk Modeling to Optimize Patient Selection for Management of the Descending Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm

Background A single-institutional study comparing early and long-term outcomes of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) and open surgical repair (OSR) was performed to determine the appropriate treatment option for descending thoracic aortic aneurysm (DTAA). Methods Between 2005 and 2014, 438 DTAA patients were treated (TEVAR, 88; OSR, 350). Acute dissection and traumatic injury were excluded. Perioperative and follow-up data were reviewed. Stratified analyses were conducted to identify patients most likely to benefit from TEVAR. A propensity score for TEVAR was developed by logistic regression, and predictive logistic and Cox regression models for death were adjusted for propensity score. Results TEVAR patients were frequently older women with emergent status, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or coronary artery disease. TEVAR had similar immediate (0% vs 1%; p = 0.588) and delayed (5% vs 6%, p = 1.000) motor deficits and early mortality (6% vs 12%, p = 0.121) but lower dialysis (3% vs 18%, p p p p p p p p p p p p Conclusions In older patients with significant comorbidities, TEVAR demonstrated superior results compared with OSR and may be preferable in this target population.
‘Recover quicker, train harder, and increase flexibility’: massage therapy for elite paracyclists, a mixed-methods study

Objectives Massage therapy (MT) enhances recovery by reducing pain and fatigue in able-bodied endurance athletes. In athletes with disabilities, no studies have examined similar MT outcomes, yet participation in sport has increased by >1000 athletes from 1996 to 2016 Olympic games. We examined the effect of MT on pain, sleep, stress, function and performance goals on the bike, as well as quality of life off the bike, in elite paracycling athletes. Methods This is a quasi-experimental, convergent, parallel, mixed-methods design study of one team, with nine paracycling participants, in years 2015 and 2016. One-hour MT sessions were scheduled one time per week for 4 weeks, and then every other week for the duration of the time the athlete was on the team and/or in the study. Closed and open-ended survey questions investigating athlete goals, stress, sleep, pain and muscle tightness were gathered pre and post each MT session, and every 6 months for health-related quality of life. Quantitative analysis timepoints include baseline, 4–6 months of intervention and final visit. Additional qualitative data were derived from therapists’ treatment notes, exit surveys, and follow-up emails from the athletes and therapists. Results Significant improvement was found for sleep and muscle tightness; quantitative results were reinforced by athlete comments indicating MT assisted in their recovery while in training. There were no improvements in dimensions measuring quality of life; qualitative comments from athletes suggest reasons for lack of improvement. Conclusion This real-world study provides new information to support MT for recovery in elite paracyclists.
Reading/writing between the lines

This paper critically examines the practices of reading and writing through the differing perspectives offered by Kierkegaard, Sartre, Barthes, Foucault, and Derrida. Although Kierkegaard's and Sartre's respective views on reading and writing do not receive much attention today, I argue that both articulate (albeit in different ways) a notion of shared responsibility between reader and writer that is compatible with their respective emphases on absolute responsibility for oneself, for others, and for the situation. An advantage to both Sartre's and Kierkegaard's accounts from a postmodern perspective, is that they affirm the simultaneity of individual and co-responsibility without appealing to a fixed or unitary self.
Aberrant Mitochondrial Fission Is Maladaptive in Desmin Mutation–Induced Cardiac Proteotoxicity

Background Desmin filament proteins interlink the contractile myofibrillar apparatus with mitochondria, nuclei and the sarcolemma. Mutations in the human desmin gene cause cardiac disease, remodeli...
Solution Strategies for Large-Scale Structural Problems

The characteristics of an effective computational strategy for solution of large-scale structural problems are outlined. A computational strategy which meets these criteria is described. A numerical example is presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the strategy.
Negative pressure wound therapy reduces surgical site infections.

Abstract Objective Surgical site infection (SSI) with lower extremity incisions represents a modifiable source of major morbidity. Our institutional bundled care protocol to decrease SSI includes optimization of perioperative risk factors, dedicated wound closure tray, and voluntary use of a closed surface negative pressure wound therapy (cNPWT) device applied over closed incisions in the operating room. This study examined the individual effect of cNPWT on SSI reduction and other perioperative outcomes. Methods All patients with lower extremity or infrainguinal incisions between January 2016 and December 2017 were prospectively identified and tracked for infectious complications. All patients were treated with the same perioperative care bundle to reduce SSI. cNPWT was applied over closed incisions at the discretion of the surgeon. The 90-day outcomes regarding SSI, return to operating room, death, and readmission were tracked. Univariate and multivariate analysis using binary logistic regression for factors associated with SSI was performed for patients with and without cNPWT devices, with P Results There were 504 patients included, 225 with cNPWT and 279 with standard dressings. Between the groups, there were no major differences in mean age, mean body mass index, perioperative transfusions, use of prosthetic, reoperative field, dialysis status, and presence of diabetes. There were significantly more women (39.6% vs 27.2% female; P Conclusions The use of negative pressure wound therapy devices decreases the incidence of infrainguinal wound infections. This occurs as an independent factor as part of a patient care bundle targeting modifiable variables in perioperative care.
Oscillations and Waves

Emphasizing physics over mathematics, this popular, classroom-tested text helps advanced undergraduates acquire a sound physical understanding of wave phenomena. This second edition of Oscillations and Waves: An Introduction contains new widgets, animations in Python, and exercises, as well as updated chapter content throughout; continuing to ease the difficult transition for students between lower-division courses that mostly encompass algebraic equations and upper-division courses that rely on differential equations. Assuming familiarity with the laws of physics and college-level mathematics, the author covers aspects of optics that crucially depend on the wave-like nature of light, such as wave optics. Examples explore discrete mechanical, optical, and quantum mechanical systems; continuous gases, fluids, and elastic solids; electronic circuits; and electromagnetic waves. The text also introduces the conventional complex representation of oscillations and waves during the discussion of quantum mechanical waves. Features: Fully updated throughout and featuring new widgets, animations, and end of chapter exercises to enhance understanding Offers complete coverage of advanced topics in waves, such as electromagnetic wave propagation through the ionosphere Includes examples from mechanical systems, elastic solids, electronic circuits, optical systems, and other areas
Parent-Teacher Relationships and Parental Involvement in Education in Latino Families

This review examines parent-teacher relationships and parental involvement in education in Latino families, using Hoover-Dempsey and Sandler’s (Review of Educational Research, 67, 3–42, 1997) model of parental involvement in education to frame the review. Practical, cultural, and systemic factors often serve as barriers to positive parent-teacher relationships and parental involvement in education for Latino families (Durand. Urban Review, 43, 255–278, 2010; Calzada et al. Urban Education, 50, 870–896, 2015). Additionally, many Latino parents hold a broad, culturally based definition of education that may conflict with teachers’ expectations for parental involvement in education and the parent-teacher relationship (Zarate 2007). Nonetheless, many Latino parents are deeply committed to involvement in their children’s education, and such involvement is linked to positive outcomes for youth and families (Ceballo et al. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 20, 116–127, 2014). Recommendations to facilitate positive, high-quality parent-teacher relationships and parental involvement in education in Latino families also are presented in this review.
Chatbot Technologies and Challenges

Chatbots have recently become popular due to the widespread use of messaging services and the advancement of Natural Language Understanding. In this tutorial, we give an overview of the technologies that drive chatbots, including Information Extraction and Deep Learning. We also discuss the differences between conversational and transactional chatbots - the former are trained on free-form chat logs, whereas the latter are defined manually to achieve a specific goal like booking a flight. We also provide an overview of commercial tools and platforms that can help in creating and deploying chatbots. Finally, we present the limitations and future work challenges in this area.
DNA Viremia Is Associated with Hyperferritinemia in Pediatric Sepsis

Objective To evaluate the relationship between detection of DNA viruses, ferritin, and outcomes in children with severe sepsis. Study design We enrolled 75 pediatric patients with severe sepsis admitted to a tertiary care children's hospital. Plasma ferritin was measured within 48 hours of diagnosis and subsequently twice weekly. Herpes simplex type 1, human herpesvirus 6, Epstein−Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, and adenovirus DNAemia were assessed by polymerase chain reaction. Results The incidence of DNAemia was increased significantly in patients with ferritin ≥1000 ng/mL (78% vs 28%; P Conclusions Viral DNAemia was associated with hyperferritinemia and adverse outcome in pediatric severe sepsis. Prospective studies are needed to determine whether hyperferritinemia may be used to identify patients at risk of occult DNAemia.
Inhibition of the Myocardin-Related Transcription Factor pathway increases efficacy of Trametinib in NRAS-mutant melanoma cell lines

ABSTRACT The Ras/MEK/ERK pathway has been the primary focus of targeted therapies in melanoma; it is aberrantly activated in almost 80% of human cutaneous melanomas (∼50% BRAFV600 mutations and ∼30% NRAS mutations). While targeted therapies have yielded success in BRAFV600 mutant melanoma patients, such therapies have been ineffective in NRAS mutant melanomas in part due to their cytostatic effects and primary resistance in this patient population. Here, we demonstrate that increased Rho/MRTF-pathway activation correlates with high intrinsic resistance to the MEK inhibitor, trametinib, in a panel of NRAS mutant melanoma cell lines. Combination of trametinib with the Rho/MRTF-pathway inhibitor, CCG-222740, synergistically reduced cell viability in NRAS mutant melanoma cell lines in vitro. Furthermore, the combination of CCG-222740 with trametinib induced apoptosis and reduced clonogenicity in SK-Mel-147 cells which have a high level of trametinib resistance. These findings suggest a role of the Rho/MRTF-pathway in intrinsic trametinib resistance in a subset of NRAS mutant melanoma cell lines and highlights the potential of concurrently targeting the Rho/MRTF-pathway and MEK in NRAS mutant melanomas.
Using Transmission Data to Isolate Individual Losses in Coastdown Road Load Coefficients.

As part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) continuing assessment of advanced light-duty automotive technologies in support of regulatory and compliance programs, the National Vehicle Fuels and Emissions Laboratory has benchmarked multiple transmissions to determine their efficiency during operation. The benchmarking included a modified “coastdown test,” which measures transmission output drag as a function of speed while in neutral. The transmission drag data can be represented as a second-order expression, like that used for vehicle coastdown test results, as F0 + F1V + F2V2, where V is the vehicle velocity. When represented in this fashion, the relationships among the three coefficients were found to be highly predictable. The magnitude of these coefficients can be quite large, and for some tested transmissions the deviation between the quadratic regression and the measured drag at individual velocities can be significant. To evaluate the effect of transmission losses in vehicle coastdown tests, the coastdown target and dynamometer set coefficients were pulled from the EPA’s published “Data on Cars used for Testing Fuel Economy” for an entire model year. The same relationships seen among transmission coefficients were observed in the vehicle coefficients contained in these data. Therefore, the vehicle coefficients can be used directly to estimate the transmission and drivetrain losses and eliminate them from the coastdown values. With transmission losses eliminated, the remaining losses can be divided to extract more accurate estimations of aerodynamic losses and rolling losses. This process can be applied fleet-wide, using only the reported coastdown and dynamometer test coefficients to estimate the losses from individual sources. The resulting data can then be used to independently evaluate the effects of reducing each separate loss, without the need for detailed information on each vehicle in the fleet.
Influence of long-term (36 years) tillage practices on soil physical properties in a grain sorghum experiment in Southeast Texas

Experiments were conducted to evaluate the impact of 36 years of no-tillage (NT), compared to conventional-tillage (CT), on soil physical properties in a continuous grain sorghum experiment. Result...
A Content and Comparative Analysis of Job Advertisements for Special Collections Professionals Using ACRL RBMS Guidelines

Despite a plethora of job advertisement analyses in librarianship, few studies examine advertisements for skilled special collections professionals in public services. This study analyzed job adver...
Postqualitative Inquiry: Or the Necessity of Theory:

In this article, the author presents postqualitative inquiry not as a method with a script, but as that which emerges as a process methodology. This type of inquiry happens in the middle of things,...
Automating and Analyzing Whole-Farm Carbon Models

A whole farm carbon model estimates the emissions of greenhouse gasses (GHGs) based on information for a farm. We analyzed two models, Holos whole-farm and COMET-Farm, by running the models on random inputs and building predictive models from the runs. Holos estimates GHG emissions for a particular year based on crop and animal agriculture input, while COMET-farm adds past and future farm management practices. Users of the models must manually enter farm data through a graphical user interface (GUI), which is a good method for a single farm, but makes it infeasible to calculate GHG emissions over hundreds to thousands of farms. So we automated the interface and generated random farm scenarios within ranges given by experts. We scraped the estimated carbon footprint from thousands of runs of the models and used algorithms to build predictive models that have high accuracy. By reverse engineering the whole-farm carbon models we were able to determine which farm management practices in each whole farm carbon model have the biggest impact on GHG emissions. This can help farmers and rural planners change farm management practices to decrease GHG emissions.
Multi-file Programs

As programs become larger, writing a very large program on one file becomes increasingly unmanageable, not to mention that this limits the portability of parts of the source code. Therefore, C permits a program to be written across multiple files. This chapter covers this concept, as well as what steps must be taken by the programmer to ensure correct partitioning of the program across the possibly many files.
Pelvic Pain, Pelvic Organ Prolapse, Urinary and Colorectal Distress Incidence and Relationship to Quality of Life and Birth Mode

Purpose: To determine the incidence/impact of pelvic pain, pelvic organ prolapse, urinary and colorectal distress and quality of life by birth mode for women in the chronic postpartum period. Study Design: Cross-sectional correlational design utilizing purposive sampling of (n=21) female postpartum subjects ages 18-45. Background: Caesarean Section (CS) incidence is reported at 32% nationwide, well above the safe rate of 10% recommended by the World Health Organization. Literature is conflicted regarding the role of birth mode in postpartum symptoms such as pelvic pain, colorectal distress, pelvic organ prolapse, and quality of life.Methods: Data collection took place at two primary locations in the Midwest region after IRB approval from Andrews University. Each subject who agreed to volunteer for the study and met the inclusion criteria completed, (1) Health History Questionnaire, (2) SF-36, and (3) Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory. Data was collected by the co-investigators and de-identified. Analysis was completed utilizing SPSS version 21.0.Results: Incidence reports of UI were 80% in the CS group and 50% in the NVD group. The CS group reported significantly higher mean scores for PFIQb, UDI, POPDI, and CRADI compared to the NVD group. Age was negatively correlated with CRADI and pain (Chi-square=7.02, p=.030). NVD group reported a significantly higher quality of life (as measured by the SF-36) in general and mental health compared to published norms and CS (pConclusion: Our study found significant increased incidence and impact of UI, CRADI, POPDI, and PFIQb symptoms and a decrease in QOL in CS compared to NVD. Age showed significant correlation with colorectal symptoms and BMI showed significant relationship to pelvic organ prolapse. Future studies should focus on CS, age, and BMI role in postpartum symptoms.
Satisfaction, Preparedness, and Implementation: Teacher Culture and Climate in Magnet School Conversions:

In this study, we examine teacher perspectives of magnet school implementation in two recently converted elementary schools that had received federal grants to reduce minority group isolation. We d...
"This Research that We are Doing is Just the Beginning of the Conversation”: Undergraduate Researchers Enacting Literacies of Relationality

We extend theoretical perspectives of critical listening and storying with undergraduate researchers of Color as they conducted a Youth Participatory Action Research inquiry. Undergraduate researchers designed, analyzed, and shared findings of their photovoice project examining their transition experiences to a PwI. We asked: what literacy activities do undergraduate researchers of Color enact during the photovoice project; and how are undergraduate researchers’ literacy activities shaping and, in turn, shaped by contexts of relationality? We conceptually frame our work as extending notions of quilting across African Diaspora women’s communities. We discuss how undergraduate co-researchers enact literacies of relationality while examining transition experiences of first-year students of Color. This stance-taking considers how educational communities including teachers, teacher educators, education researchers, and student affairs educators may meaningfully incorporate knowledge, perspectives, and questions of preservice teachers of Color, which are an integral part of transition experiences of undergraduate researchers and future teachers.
Towards an ankle-foot orthosis powered by a dielectric elastomer actuator

Abstract Foot drop is the inability to dorsiflex the ankle (raise the toes) due to neuromuscular impairment, and this common condition can cause trips and falls. Current treatments for chronic foot drop provide dorsiflexion support, but they either impede ankle push off or are not suitable for all patients. Powered ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) can counteract foot drop without these drawbacks, but they are heavy and bulky and have short battery life. To counteract foot drop without the drawbacks of current treatments or powered AFO, we designed and built an AFO powered by dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs), a type of artificial muscle technology. This paper presents our design and the results of benchtop testing. We found that the DEA AFO can provide 49 % of the dorsiflexion support necessary to raise the foot. Further, charging the DEAs reduced the effort that would be required for plantarflexion compared to that with passive DEA behavior, and this operation could be powered for 7000 steps or more in actual operation. DEAs are a promising approach for building an AFO that counteracts foot drop without impeding plantarflexion, and they may prove useful for other powered prosthesis and orthosis designs.
Mitral Valve Cleft-like Indentations in Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy: Insights From Intraoperative Three-Dimensional Transesophageal Echocardiography.

Objectives Cleft-like indentations (CLIs) of the mitral valve (MV) are best assessed with three-dimensional (3D) transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). The present study examined the prevalence, characteristics, and surgical effect of MV CLIs in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Design Prospective, observational, case-control study. Setting Tertiary medical center. Participants The study comprised 90 patients with HCM undergoing myectomy and 59 patients undergoing cardiac surgery for non-MV related indications. Measurements and Main Results Intraoperative 3D TEE was used to evaluate the presence and characteristics of MV CLIs compared, with a random control group of 59 patients undergoing cardiac surgery for non-MV related indications. Ninety patients with HCM (mean age 54.8 ± 13.3 y, 67.8% male) were compared with 59 control patients (mean age 67 ± 12.7 y, 79.7% male). Three-dimensional TEE images were interpreted by consensus of two experienced echocardiographers. At least one MV CLI was present in 84 patients with HCM (93.3%), compared with 23 control patients (39%; p 0.2). None of the MV CLIs in the HCM group required MV surgical intervention or second pump runs for MV regurgitation correction after myectomy. Conclusion Deep and multiple MV CLIs are common in patients with HCM undergoing septal myectomy, including possible true posterior clefts, but they are not associated with the premyectomy severity of mitral regurgitation or jet direction, and do not result in surgical MV intervention.
Aggression: How the anterior cingulate cortex helps to ensure a fair fight.

Violent behavior is the product of a diverse network of neural structures. A new study shows that the anterior cingulate cortex is important for helping to restrain overly aggressive acts, even within a fight, to ensure animals match their behavioral intensity with the challenge posed by their opponents.
A educação profissional emancipatória

O artigo reflete sobre as contribuicoes e as limitacoes da educacao profissional de jovens em relacao ao seu carater emancipatorio, no desenvolvimento tanto dos aspectos tecnicos quanto das habilidades e competencias pessoais e profissionais necessarias. A metodologia utilizada e o estudo documental e a interpretacao de algumas producoes academicas e empresariais sobre a Educacao Profissional, partindo do pressuposto que a educacao profissional, no que diz respeito ao seu carater emancipatorio, podera atuar de modo a contribuir nao so com o aumento da empregabilidade do jovem e o consequente incremento na economia, como tambem contribuir para nortear a vida do aluno para o desenvolvimento de sua autossuficiencia. O estudo, por fim, apresenta algumas evidencias que indicam como a educacao profissional vem agregando valor ao desenvolvimento dos jovens brasileiros e, por consequencia, contribuindo com o desenvolvimento do pais.
In and Out of Sight: Modernist Writing and the Photographic Unseen: by Alix Beeston, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2018, 280 pp., $82 (hardcover) ISBN: 9780190690168

The growing attention paid by American culture to the racialized and gendered characteristics of police brutality has given rise to the piecemeal recognition that photographic stills, and even film...
Decentralized Adaptive Control in the Presence of Multiparameter Singular Perturbations and Bounded Disturbances

The adaptive control of interconnected systems whose subsystems possess slow and fast modes is investigated in the presence of external disturbances. Local filters are introduced to filter the local outputs and an approach is developed for stabilization and tracking using decentralized adaptive controllers. The effects of disturbances, unmodeled interconnections and fast parasitics are examined. In the absence of parasitics all signals converge to a residual set which contains the equilibrium for exact regulation and tracking. The size of this set depends on design parameters, the magnitude of disturbances, the size of interconnections and the characteristics of the reference input signal. In the presence of parasitics global stability properties are no longer guaranteed, but a region of attraction exists from which all signals converge to a residual set.
From First Principles: The Application of Quantum Mechanics to Complex Molecules and Solvated Systems

A formula to calculate the charge penetration energy that results when two charge densities overlap has been derived for molecules described by an effective fragment potential (EFP). The method has been compared with the ab initio charge penetration, taken to be the difference between the electrostatic energy from a Morokuma analysis and Stone's Distributed Multipole Analysis. The average absolute difference between the EFP method and the ab initio charge penetration for dimers of methanol, acetonitrile, acetone, DMSO, and dichloromethane at their respective equilibrium geometries is 0.32 kcal mol '.
Quadrupolar NMR in Earth Sciences

Solid-state NMR of quadrupolar nuclides has been widely applied to problems in earth sciences. Because minerals are often complex solid solutions, questions of short-range cation and anion order-disorder commonly appear in models of thermodynamic and transport properties, which in turn are crucial to quantifying geochemical and geophysical processes. NMR of nuclides such as 7Li, 11B, 17O, 23Na, 25Mg, 27Al, 33S, 35Cl, 43Ca, 45Sc, and 133Cs can therefore provide unique information to complement long-range average structures based on diffraction methods. Aluminosilicate glasses are important geological materials, and represent the structure of high-temperature magmatic liquids. NMR has been of major importance in defining the structures of glasses and the dynamics of glass-forming liquids. Temperature and pressure effects on mineral, glass, and melt structure have been especially emphasized in the geosciences, as have reactions of silicate and oxide materials with aqueous fluids at ambient and high temperature. Earth processes often take place over very long timescales (many millions of years), requiring that models of kinetics of diffusion, flow, and reaction must sometimes be extrapolated far from what can be measured in laboratory experiments. Fundamental studies of dynamics and kinetics by NMR can therefore be especially important. Keywords: mineral; geochemistry; structure; disorder; glass; silicate liquid; aluminosilicate; high temperature; high pressure
Omental grafting: a cell-based therapy for blood vessel repair

Clinicians regularly transplant omental pedicles to repair a wide variety of injured tissues but the basic mechanism underlying this efficacious procedure is not understood. One possibility that has not been addressed is the ability of omentum to directly contribute regenerative cells to injured tissues. We hypothesized that if omental progenitor cells could be mobilized to incorporate into damaged tissue, the power of this therapy would be greatly expanded. Labeled omental grafts were transplanted into a murine carotid artery injury model. Selected grafts were treated with Thymosinβ4 prior to transplantation to investigate the effects of chemical potentiation on healing. We found treatment of grafts with Thymosinβ4 induced progenitor cells to fully integrate into the wall of injured vessels and differentiate into vascular smooth muscle. Myographic studies determined that arteries receiving Thymosinβ4-stimulated grafts were functionally indistinguishable from uninjured controls. Concurrent in vitro analyzes showed that Thymosinβ4 promoted proliferation, migration, and trans-differentiation of cells via AKT signaling. This study is the first to demonstrate that omentum can provide progenitor cells for repair, thus revealing a novel and naturally occurring source of vascular smooth muscle for use in cell-based therapies. Furthermore, our data show this system can be optimized with inducing factors, highlighting a more powerful therapeutic potential than that of its current clinical application. This is a paradigm-setting concept that lays the foundation for the use of chemical genetics to enhance therapeutic outcomes in a myriad of fields.
What Do We Compare When We Compare Religions? Philosophical Remarks on the Psychology of Studying Comparative Religion Abroad

The issue of comparison is a vexing one in religious and theological studies, not least for teachers of comparative religion in study abroad settings. We try to make familiar ideas fresh and strange, in settings where students may find it hard not to take “fresh” and “strange” as signs of existential threat. The author explores this delicate pedagogical situation, drawing on several years' experience directing a study abroad program and on the thought of figures from the Western existentialist tradition and Chinese Confucian philosophy. The article focuses particularly on “oh events” – defined as moments when one learns one has something to learn and something to unlearn. The author argues that the experience of shame that is typical of oh events can become a valuable resource for cross-cultural learning and personal transformation, if teachers assist students to reflect on the experience as a sign of differing, but potentially harmonizable, cultural expectations. This essay is published alongside of six other essays, including a response from John Barbour, comprising a special section of the journal (see Teaching Theology and Religion 18:1, January 2015).
Large scale screening of human sera for HCV RNA and GBV-C RNA.

North Carolina locates acute HIV cases by pooled nucleic acid testing of HIV- antibody negative serum samples. Here, 224 pools of 80 HIV-negative samples (N=17,920) were screened for viral RNA from HCV, GBV-C, and influenza A. No evidence of influenza A was found, but HCV and GBV-C were common (1.2% and 1.7% prevalence, respectively), demonstrating the utility of pooled testing in locating individuals that may remain undiagnosed otherwise. By sequencing positive pools, potential transmission clusters may be located as well.
The BT operational support systems architecture

This paper outlines the process and systems framework that BT has developed to assist in the design, development and procurement of operational support systems.
A mutation in the second largest subunit of TFIIIC increases a rate-limiting step in transcription by RNA polymerase III.

Abstract In previous studies, we have shown that the PCF1-1 mutation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae suppresses the negative effect of a tRNA gene A block promoter mutation in vivo and increases the transcription of a variety of RNA polymerase III genes in vitro. Here, we report that PCF1 encodes the second largest subunit of transcription factor IIIC (TFIIIC) and that the PCF1-1 mutation causes an amino acid substitution in a novel protein structural motif, a tetratricopeptide repeat, in this subunit. In agreement with the nature of the mutation, in vitro transcription studies with crude extracts indicate that PCF1-1 facilitates the rate-limiting step in transcription, namely, the recruitment of TFIIIB to the template. Additionally, biochemical fractionation of wild-type and mutant cell extracts shows that PCF1-1 increases the amount of the 70-kDa TFIIIB subunit detectable by Western (immunoblot) analysis in purified TFIIIB fractions and the transcription activity of a TFIIIB" fraction containing the 90-kDa subunit of this factor. We suggest that the effect of PCF1-1 on TFIIIB activity in vitro is a consequence of its increased rate of recruitment in vivo.
The Equity Risk Premium in 2008: Evidence from the Global CFO Outlook Survey

We analyze the results of a recent survey of U.S. Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) conducted in 2008. We present expectations of the equity risk premium measured over a 10-year horizon relative to a 10-year U.S. Treasury bond. This multi-year survey has been conducted every quarter from June 2000 to March 2008. Each quarter the survey also provides measures of cross-sectional disagreement about the risk premium, skewness, and a measure of individual uncertainty. The individual uncertainty is deduced from the 80% confidence interval that each respondent provides for his or her risk premium assessment. Using our time series of risk premia, we explore the link between these premia and real interest rates implied in Treasury Inflation Indexed Notes, stock market volatility represented by the VIX index, past stock market returns and equity valuation reflected in price to earnings ratios.
Effect of maternal carbohydrate intake on mitochondrial activity and on lipogenesis by the young and mature progeny

The influence of maternal dietary sucrose on lipogenesis and on oxygen consumption and ATP production by isolated hepatic mitochondria was studied. During gestation and lactation, female BHE rats were fed either a 65% starch or a 65% sucrose diet. At weaning, male progeny were fed either the diet of their dam or the alternate diet. Rates of oxygen consumption and ATP production from isolated hepatic mitochondria, rates of 3H incorporation into fatty acids, and percent liver lipid were determined at 50 and 150 days of age. Correlation coefficients between mitochondrial function and hepatic lipogenic activity were calculated. Analysis of variance of these data indicated that state IV oxygen consumption was influenced by age and by an interaction of the maternal diet and the diet fed the progeny from weaning. The respiratory control ratio was influenced by the interaction of the maternal diet and the diet fed the progeny and by the interaction of the maternal diet and the age of the progeny when killed. ATP synthesis and recovery of ADP as ATP was influenced by an interaction of all three variables: maternal diet, growth diet and age. In progeny killed at 150 (but not 50) days of age, sucrose feeding increased the incorporation of tritium into fatty acids. Liver lipid levels were influenced by age and diet. Mitochondrial ATP synthesis was negatively correlated with hepatic lipid content, and mitochondrial ATP recovery from ADP was negatively correlated with 3H incorporation and percent liver lipid. These results suggest that alterations in hepatic mitochondrial ATP production may be associated with the increase in hepatic lipid synthesis and serum lipid levels frequently observed in sucrose-fed animals as they age.
Principles for Interaction Design, Part 3: Spanning the Creativity Gap

The various responsibilities in intelligent systems design--responsibilities to acquire certain knowledge and skills--suggest strongly that effective interaction design is inherently interdisciplinary. As a consequence, gaps in knowledge acquisition and creativity on the part of design teams are bound to emerge as long as responsibilities are abrogated because they are tied to roles (such as cognitive systems engineers versus systems engineers). Communication, collaboration, and knowledge sharing are essential components of success, and a language that cuts across discipline-specific jargon is likely to make the development effort much more effective. This essay describes similarities between two related approaches to interaction design that resonate with each other and share principles: ecological interface design and human-centered computing. These similarities are emphasized by noting similarities between two different interfaces for computer network defense that were independently developed from each approach.
Using the model for improvement and microsystems analysis methodological framework to examine variation in the pressure transducer management process

Background: The pressure transducer is a device used commonly in the critical care areas of a hospital in order to monitor the hemodynamic stability of a patient, in particular the critically ill patient. Because pressure transducers are commonly used, and because of the importance of the monitoring associated with the device, the ability to effectively set up and manage a pressure transducer is important. As such, the process should be examined for consistency, accuracy, and safety. Unfortunately, based upon an appraisal of the current research, there is no evidence in the literature detailing a standardized process for managing the pressure transducer set-up, nor is there a specific recommendation regarding the type of provider who should establish and manage these systems. Methods: The microsystem analysis and model for improvement (MFI) three guiding questions were used as the methodological framework for determining the extent and organizational risk associated with process variation in the pressure transducer management workflow. In critically ill adult intensive care patients, aged 18 and above, how does variation in the type of provider (Registered Nurse versus Anesthesia Lab Personnel) and workflow process (workflow variation, provided by process flow) for managing pressure transducers impact patient outcomes (rates of infection), process efficiency (measured by staff time for transducer set up and process cost for supplies/equipment), and direct cost of hemodynamic monitoring in a 12-month timeframe? Results: Process variation in the set-up and management of the pressure transducer throughout the healthcare organization was identified through process and pattern analysis. The results of the analysis highlighted operational inefficiencies and un-necessary workflow variations. Conclusions: The set-up and management of the pressure transducer process within a healthcare organization is a workflow that should be standardized and reviewed for operational and clinical outcomes. From a broader perspective, this project highlights the importance of analyzing workflow and the importance of decreasing workflow variation.
Reliable InP-based Geiger-mode avalanche photodiode arrays

Arrays as large as 256 x 64 of single-photon counting avalanche photodiodes have been developed for defense applications in free-space communication and laser radar. Focal plane arrays (FPAs) sensitive to both 1.06 and 1.55 μm wavelength have been fabricated for these applications. At 240 K and 4 V overbias, the dark count rate (DCR) of 15 μm diameter devices is typically 250 Hz for 1.06 μm sensitive APDs and 1 kHz for 1.55 μm APDs. Photon detection efficiencies (PDE) at 4 V overbias are about 45% for both types of APDs. Accounting for microlens losses, the full FPA has a PDE of 30%. The reset time needed for a pixel to avoid afterpulsing at 240 K is about 3-4 μsec. These devices have been used by system groups at Lincoln Laboratory and other defense contractors for building operational systems. For these fielded systems the device reliability is a strong concern. Individual APDs as well as full arrays have been run for over 1000 hrs of accelerated testing to verify their stability. The reliability of these GM-APDs is shown to be under 10 FITs at operating temperatures of 250 K, which also corresponds to an MTTF of 17,100 yrs.
Discrimination Of Upright Objects From Flat-Lying Objects In Automated Guidance Of Roving Robots

In the design of a computer vision system which is to analyze two-dimensional images of real-world scenes, it is imperative that we understand the principles underlying the image projections of upright objects (obstacles or landmarks to be avoided or identified) and flat-lying objects (cast shadows, texture change, etc.). This understanding is particularly important in the automated guidance of roving robots. To this end, this study begins with a presentation of a modular structure for the interpretation of real-world scenes, identifying pertinent problems for the safe and enhanced guidance of roving robots. This is followed by a mathematical framework developed to bring about enhanced scene interpretation. This mathematical framework includes the derivation of the geometrical formulae relating the two-dimensional image to the three-dimensional real world, and an analysis of the perspective effect present in the two-dimensional image. With this mathematical basis established, image techniques are developed to assess the image projections of the objects in question, and to exploit the fact that upright objects, within the scope of the stated problem, are not affected by the perspective effect. Finally, in an attempt to recover the depth information, the proposed techniques are complemented by an algorithm designed to measure the disparity that exists in stereo images.
Does the cholecystokinin antagonist proglumide possess antipsychotic activity

Cholecystokinin (CCK), a neuropeptide which fulfills almost all criteria for neurotransmitter status, has been co-localized with dopamine in midbrain mesolimbic and mesocortical neurons that have been implicated in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Preclinical research suggests that CCK may in part act to enhance central dopaminergic activity. In an attempt to evaluate the role of CCK relative to the dopamine hyperactivity hypothesis of schizophrenia, in the present investigation the putative CCK receptor antagonist, proglumide, was administered to four schizophrenic patients in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. All patients were receiving concurrent neuroleptic medication, but were still significantly symptomatic. Proglumide was without effect on the patients' psychosis ratings. Potential reasons for this negative finding are discussed.
CoDAC: Compressive Depth Acquisition using a Single Time-resolved Sensor

We present a method for compressive acquisition of scene depth with high spatial and range resolution using a single, omnidirectional, time-resolved photodetector and no scanning components by applying novel signal processing to time-of-flight imaging.