cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
How Do Financial Resources Affect the Timing of Retirement after a Job Separation

This study examines working people between the ages of 50 and 70 years old and the conditions that lead them to decide to retire or not after they experience a job separation. Based on data from the Survey of Income and Program Participation, the author finds that among individuals whose jobless spells end in retirement, most decide to retire within a year after separation. The availability of resources such as Social Security retirement benefits, high net worth, and income from defined benefit pensions appear to encourage more rapid labor force exit and retirement, rather than supporting job seekers during a long search. Perhaps surprisingly, no correlation between retirement and the unemployment rate occurs, but unemployment insurance benefits do delay retirement. These results suggest little tolerance for long job searches regardless of labor market prospects and indicate that those who can afford to retire will do so rather quickly.
Chemically assisted ion beam etching of laser diode facets on nonpolar and semipolar orientations of GaN

We demonstrate a vertical (<1° departure) and smooth (2.0 nm root mean square line-edge roughness (LER)) etch by chemically assisted Ar ion beam etching (CAIBE) in Cl2 chemistry that is suitable for forming laser diode (LD) facets on nonpolar and semipolar oriented III-nitride devices. The etch profiles were achieved with photoresist masks and optimized CAIBE chamber conditions including the platen tilt angle and Cl2 flow rate. Co-loaded studies showed similar etch rates of ~60 nm min−1 for and m-plane orientations. The etched surfaces of LD facets on these orientations are chemically dissimilar (Ga-rich versus N-rich), but were visually indistinguishable, thus confirming the negligible orientation dependence of the etch. Continuous-wave blue LDs were fabricated on the semipolar plane to compare CAIBE and reactive ion etch (RIE) facet processes. The CAIBE process resulted in LDs with lower threshold current densities due to reduced parasitic mirror loss compared with the RIE process. The LER, degree of verticality, and model of the 1D vertical laser mode were used to calculate a maximum uncoated facet reflection of 17% (94% of the nominal) for the CAIBE facet. The results demonstrate the suitability of CAIBE for forming high quality facets for high performance nonpolar and semipolar III-N LDs.
Introduction: Definitions, Scope, and Impact of Nonadherence

Nonadherence is believed to be the single greatest cause of treatment failure, resulting in substantial morbidity and mortality, much of which could have been avoided. In this chapter we review the scope of the problem of nonadherence, and discuss definitional issues including the distinctions between disease and illness; compliance, adherence, and nonadherence; and intentional and unintentional nonadherence. The multi-factorial nature of nonadherence is highlighted. Barriers inherent in the current healthcare system are then reviewed with an eye toward identifying areas where more improvement could be made.
Sports Medicine and Injuries in the Athletic Woman

There is a general trend toward increased participation of females in sports and physical activity across the lifespan. While women were banned from the first modern Olympic games in 1896, they comprised 35.1% of the participants in 1996. There were a few early pioneers, including Olympic champions Charlotte Cooper and Mildred “Babe” Didrikson, but World War II probably had a greater influence on society’s acceptance of the female athlete. With men away at war, the women were called upon to accomplish all types of physical tasks on the home front. In World War II the depiction of “Rosie the Riveter” as well as the success of the All American Girl’s Baseball League redefined “appropriate” roles for women. The trend of increased female participation in athletics escalated in the last half of the twentieth century when in 1972, Title IX of the Educational Amendment Act allowed equal access to all federally funded activities including school-sponsored sports. In the 1980s there was a 700% increase in participation of women and girls in sports and another 50% increase was seen in the 1990s. One in 27 high school girls participated in sports in 1972. This number increased to 1 in 3 by 1998 and continues to grow. More and more research is revealing the tremendous benefits of exercise in women. Physicians will continue to play a key role in encouraging and even prescribing physical activity. Given the explosion of female athletic participation, it is imperative that physicians understand not only the benefits, but also the orthopedic and medical challenges that specifically apply to women in sports.
Identification of Receptor-Based Peptides to Inhibit Leukotoxin Activity

The leukotoxin (LtxA), secreted by the bacterium Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, is a member of the RTX family of toxins which targets leukocytes through several mechanisms. The toxin's specificity for human white blood cells is driven by its recognition of the lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1) integrin. This project investigates inhibition of LtxA-LFA-1 binding on living cells as an anti-virulence strategy to inhibit LtxA cytotoxicity. Specifically, we are investigating using small peptides to block (A) LFA-1 binding sites on LtxA and (B) LtxA-binding sites on LFA-1. Several LtxA binding sites on LFA-1, including a region on the αL β-propeller, have been proposed. Therefore, we have synthesized peptides corresponding to these domains and characterized their capability to inhibit LtxA binding to LFA-1 and subsequent cytotoxicity in human immune cells. We found that four of the five peptides, specifically those corresponding to sequential β-strands in the β-propeller domain, inhibited LtxA activity, demonstrating the effectiveness of this approach. The LFA-1 binding sites on LtxA are less established, but three monoclonal antibodies have previously been identified based on their inhibition of LtxA activity. We hypothesized that the epitopes to at least some of the antibodies are involved in this essential recognition process and synthesized peptides based on these epitopes to block the LtxA binding site on LFA-1. We are currently applying biophysical methods to investigate the mechanism by which these peptides inhibit LtxA binding to LFA-1 to fully characterize this protein-protein interaction. The results of our investigations will facilitate the development of peptides to inhibit LtxA activity and can have broader implications through applying a similar approach to hinder the cytotoxic activity of other RTX toxins.
Carotid Cavernous and Other Dural Arteriovenous Fistulas

Abstract Intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVF) are acquired vascular lesions that usually involve the intracranial dural sinuses and comprise less than 10% of all intracranial vascular lesions. They are commonly divided into carotid cavernous fistulas and other dAVFs. Usually branches of the external carotid artery, internal carotid artery, or vertebral artery or a combination thereof form a direct connection with dural sinus and/or intracranial veins resulting in an arteriovenous shunt. Management is directed by symptomatology, location, and angioarchitecture of the lesion. Arterialization of intracranial veins through retrograde venous flow is classically associated with increased risk of cerebral hemorrhage.
Bernie Bros and the gender schism in the 2016 US presidential election

In an article for The Atlantic, Robinson Meyer (2015) brought the term “Berniebro” or “Bernie Bro” into the popular vernacular. The portmanteau combines the first name of presidential candidate Ber...
Ramification Groups of Local Fields

Let F be a local field, that is, a field complete with respect to a discrete valuation. We assume that the residue class field of F is either finite ( arithmetic case ) or algebraically closed ( geometric case ). In both cases there is a "local class field theory" for the finite extensions K of F.
Party Polarization in America: The War Over Two Social Contracts

This book develops a general explanation for party polarization in America from both historical and contemporary perspectives. Prior polarization studies focused exclusively on the modern era, but this work traces party polarization from the constitutional convention of 1787 to the present. Using such a broad historical perspective shows that what was unusual in American history was the period of low polarization from the Great Depression through 1980, rather than the period of high polarization of the modern era. Polarization is the norm of the American system, not the exception, and is likely to persist in the future. More theoretically, party polarization in America has been due to class-based conflict and rent-seeking by the patrician and plebian classes in various historical eras, rather than conflict over cultural values. As in earlier historical eras, modern party polarization has largely been elite-driven, with party entrepreneurs cunningly and strategically using polarization to their advantage.
Models for organics removal from vinasse from ethanol production

Global ethanol production generates almost 100 billion liters per year of a high-strength liquid waste called vinasse. One sustainable method of treating vinasse using environmental biotechnology is anaerobic digestion, which generates biogas that can be used as a renewable energy resource. Although a number of models have been developed for predicting biogas generation rates, no previous study has modeled liquid organic removal rates for vinasse treatment. The goal of this research was thus to develop models for predicting liquid-phase organic removal rates for anaerobic treatment of vinasse. 6-L laboratory-scale batch reactors were filled with vinasse of six different compositions and operated at three different mesophilic temperatures (30, 35, 40 °C). Biochemical and chemical oxygen demand (BOD and COD) were measured over time using Standard Methods 5210B and 5220C. Based on data collected, multiple linear regression equations (R2 = 0.79 and 0.94) were developed to predict first-order rate constants kBOD and kCOD as functions of temperature and vinasse composition (initial values of nitrogen, potassium, phosphorous, and sulfur). The first-order models developed require a small number of readily available input parameters. They apply to treatment of vinasse from ethanol produced from corn and milo; future work can test their applicability to ethanol produced from other feedstocks. The models can be used for sizing/design of reactors for anaerobic treatment of vinasse.
Drug Affinity Responsive Target Stability (DARTS) to Resolve Protein–Small Molecule Interaction in Arabidopsis

Target identification remains a challenging step in plant chemical genomics approaches. Drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS) represents a straightforward technique to identify small molecules' protein targets and assist in the characterization of interactions between small molecules and putative targets identified by other methods. When a small molecule interacts with a protein, it has the potential to stabilize the protein's structure, resulting in a reduced susceptibility to protease action. During the DARTS procedure, protein extracts are treated with proteolytic enzymes, and only proteins that bind to the small molecule are protected from proteolysis. DARTS represents a protocol independent of the molecule's mechanism of action or chemical structure. Another advantage of DARTS is that it does not require additional modifications or tagging of the small molecule. The protocols outlined in this article describe in detail the DARTS technique applied to plant proteins and propose several detection procedures according to protein abundance. © 2017 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Isothermal “light-off” during catalytic N2O decomposition over Fe/ZSM-5

The catalytic decomposition of N2O over Fe/ZSM-5 was studied at pressures up to 1 atm. As the partial pressure of N2O in the feed to a packed bed reactor was varied, the catalytic activity was observed to abruptly increase at inlet partial pressures above some critical value. This abrupt increase in activity was not due to the reaction exotherm, but is believed to be a kinetic phenomenon. In similar experiments where the temperature was varied the activity did not jump to a higher level. The dual levels of activity were observed for several Fe/ZSM-5 catalysts that spanned a range of SiO2/Al2O3 ratios from 30 to 280, irrespective of whether the iron was introduced into the zeolite by ion exchange or by sublimation of iron chloride. When the inlet partial pressure of N2O to the packed bed reactor was sufficiently high to cause the catalyst to operate in the high activity regime, the high activity state was sustained throughout the catalyst bed, even though the N2O partial pressure in the latter part of the bed had dropped below the critical level. Microkinetic modeling shows that this kind of behavior is possible in an isothermal catalytic system. The microkinetic model includes two redox cycles. In one cycle the cation oxidation state alternates between Fe2+ and Fe3+. In the second, more active redox cycle there is alternation between a surface nitrite and nitrate. The former redox cycle predominates at low partial pressures and the latter at high N2O partial pressures.
Funambulus palmarum (Three-striped palm squirrel)

The karyotypes presented here are gifts of Drs. S. Prakash and N. V. Aswathanarayana, Department of Zoology, University of Mysore, India. The specimens, belonging to the subspecies F. p. palmarum, were collected in Mysore and bone marrow cells were used for cytological preparations.
Becoming a Powerhouse Librarian: How to Get Things Done Right the First Time

This work is set up to aid librarians in developing their careers and skill sets with a targeted strategy. Jamie Gray has been a librarian for 10–12 years at the writing of this work and may be a l...
Concurrent Elevation in Factor VIII and Antiphospholipid Antibodies Is Associated with Worse Outcome in Ischemic Stroke Patients (P06.249)

OBJECTIVE: To determine if differences in outcome exist based on the presence or absence of elevations in factor VIII (FVIII) and/or antiphospholipid antibodies (APLAs) in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). BACKGROUND: Elevations in FVIII or APLAs are independently associated with thrombosis. No prior studies have investigated concurrent elevations in these prothrombotic factors, which may be synergistic for risk, in patients with AIS. DESIGN/METHODS: A retrospective review of prospectively identified consecutive patients with AIS was performed. Patients were included if 1) FVIII level was measured and 2) APLAs were tested. Elevated FVIII was defined as >150%. APLAs included beta2glycoprotein-, anticardiolipin-, and antiphosphotidylserine-antibodies and the Dilute Russell Viper Venom Time (DRVVT). Patients were divided into 4 groups: +FVIII/+APLA, +FVIII/-APLA, -FVIII/+APLA, and -FVIII/-ALPA. The groups were compared using Chi-square for categorical and Wilcoxon Rank sum for continuous variables. RESULTS: Of the 133 patients who met criteria, 68% had elevated FVIII and 53% had elevation of 1 or more APLAs (the most common being DRVVT). There were no significant differences in age, race, sex, or baseline NIHSS between the four groups. Patients with +FVIII/+APLA had the highest median CRP (1.75 vs. 0.70 vs 0.35 vs 0.40, p CONCLUSIONS: Subjects with concurrent elevations in FVIII and APLAs had worse outcomes despite similar baseline stroke severity compared to patients with one or less abnormal test. Further studies involving clotting factors are necessary to confirm this negative and synergistic relationship. Disclosure: Dr. Schluter has nothing to disclose. Dr. Boehme has nothing to disclose. Dr. Albright has received research support from The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), National Institutes of Health. Dr. Chang has nothing to disclose. Dr. Dorsey has nothing to disclose. Dr. Beasley has nothing to disclose. Dr. Leissinger has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kruse-Jarres has nothing to disclose. Dr. Martin-Schild has nothing to disclose.
Using Smartphone Survey Data and Machine Learning to Identify Situational and Contextual Risk Factors for HIV Risk Behavior Among Men Who Have Sex with Men Who Are Not on PrEP.

“Just-in-time” interventions (JITs) delivered via smartphones have considerable potential for reducing HIV risk behavior by providing pivotal support at key times prior to sex. However, these programs depend on a thorough understanding of when risk behavior is likely to occur to inform the timing of JITs. It is also critical to understand the most important momentary risk factors that may precede HIV risk behavior, so that interventions can be designed to address them. Applying machine learning (ML) methods to ecological momentary assessment data on HIV risk behaviors can help answer both questions. Eighty HIV-negative men who have sex with men (MSM) who were not on PrEP completed a daily diary survey each morning and an experience sampling survey up to six times per day via a smartphone application for 30 days. Random forest models achieved the highest area under the curve (AUC) values for classifying high-risk condomless anal sex (CAS). These models achieved 80% specificity at a sensitivity value of 74%. Unsurprisingly, the most important contextual risk factors that aided in classification were participants’ plans and intentions for sex, sexual arousal, and positive affective states. Findings suggest that survey data collected throughout the day can be used to correctly classify about three of every four high-risk CAS events, while incorrectly classifying one of every five non-CAS days as involving high-risk CAS. A unique set of risk factors also often emerge prior to high-risk CAS events that may be useful targets for JITs.
Effects of processing positive memories on posttrauma mental health: A preliminary study in a non-clinical student sample

Abstract Background and objectives Although trauma research and therapy primarily focus on traumatic memories, recent evidence indicates positive memory processes play a role in the etiology/maintenance of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity. We examined the effects of a novel positive memory processing technique on PTSD symptom severity, depression symptom severity, affect, posttrauma cognitions, and self-esteem. Methods Sixty-five trauma-exposed participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions (narrating/processing vs. writing/processing two specific positive memories, or a time-matched control) and completed self-report measures pre- and post-task (T0). About one week later, participants repeated their assigned task condition and completed self-report measures pre- and post-task (T1). We conducted mixed ANOVAs to examine the impact of the technique on study variables over time. Results The narrating condition had significant decreases in PTSD symptom severity, posttrauma cognitions, and negative affect from T0 pre-task to T1 post-task; and significant increases in positive affect from T0 pre-to-post-task and from T1 pre-to-post-task. The writing condition had significant increases in positive affect from T0 pre-to-post-task, but a significant decrease from T0 post-task to T1 post-task; and significant decreases in negative affect from T0 pre-to-post-task with an increase from T0 post-task to T1 post-task. Limitations Use of self-report measures, non-clinical convenience sample with less gender/ethnic/racial diversity, small sample size, methodological differences in time frames for measures, and no examination of follow-up effects. Conclusions Narrating and processing specific positive memories had a beneficial impact on PTSD symptom severity, posttrauma maladaptive cognitions, and affect; such results provide an impetus to examine positive memory interventions in trauma clinical work.
Robust non-destructive inspection of composite aerospace structures by extraction of ultrasonic guided-wave transfer function in single-input dual-output scanning systems:

Ultrasonic guided-wave testing is widely utilized for damage detection in plate-like structural components, including composite aircraft fuselage and wing panels. Many guided-wave tests involve tra...
Survey of naloxone legal status in opioid overdose prevention and treatment

Objective: To survey the federal and state-by-state legal status for prescribing, dispensing, and administering naloxone injection. Design: The survey was a review of legislation, which encompassed analyzing current and proposed laws regarding naloxone’s role in opioid overdose prevention and treatment. Main outcome measure(s): The primary study outcome was to evaluate the legal aspects of current naloxone overdose prevention and treatment. Aspects of the legislation studied included Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulatory status, prescriber authorization, prescription requirements, defining the patient, authority to administer naloxone, status of lay person administration, and provisions for Good Samaritan protections from criminal and civil liability. Results: To date, 10 states have legislation implementing opioid overdose prevention programs including naloxone. Several states with high opioid overdose burdens are in the legislative process. Reasons for hesitation to initiate such programs include fear of liability, a proxy endorsement for drug abuse, and apprehension of increasing drug usage. Conclusions: A number of state legislatures have passed legislation permitting lay administration of naloxone to individuals in an attempt to revive a person with an apparent opioid overdose. These emerging state policy initiatives parallel similar laws and regulations governing lay person epinephrine administration for anaphylaxis and applying automated electric defibrillators for sudden cardiac arrest. Public health initiatives increasing access to naloxone will likely continue in states with high opioid overdose burdens. FDA approval of a new needle-free naloxone delivery system would facilitate greater public access.
Mesoscale-architecture-based crack evolution dictating cycling stability of advanced lithium ion batteries

Abstract The cracking phenomenon of Ni-rich NMC (LiNixMnyCo1−x−yO2, x ≥ 0.6) secondary particles is frequently discovered and believed to be one of critical reasons deteriorating the long-term cycling stability of NMC cathode in lithium ion batteries (LIBs). However, the initiation and evolution of those cracks is still controversial due to the limited quantification especially by in situ monitoring, leading to the challenge of identifying an efficient approach to inhibit the formation of the fractures during repeated cycling. Herein, the irreversible, anisotropic cycling lattice and mesoscale expansion/shrinkage of nano-grains during the first cycle, as revealed by in situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) and in situ atomic force microscopy (AFM), have been quantified and confirmed to be the dominant driving forces of microcracks initiation at the grain boundaries. These microcracks preferentially nucleate at the core region with random oriented nano-grains in early stage. The further growth and aggregation of microcracks into macrocrack eventually results in microfracture propagation radially outward to the periphery region with more uniform nano-grain orientation. This mesoscale nano-grain architecture controlled cracking process highlights the importance of predictive synthesis of cathode materials with controllable multiscale crystalline architecture for high-performance LIBs.
Auditory Nerve Fiber Health Estimation Using Patient Specific Cochlear Implant Stimulation Models.

Cochlear implants (CIs) restore hearing using an array of electrodes implanted in the cochlea to directly stimulate auditory nerve fibers (ANFs). Hearing outcomes with CIs are dependent on the health of the ANFs. In this research, we developed an approach to estimate the health of ANFs using patient-customized, image-based computational models of CI stimulation. Our stimulation models build on a previous model-based solution to estimate the intra-cochlear electric field (EF) created by the CI. Herein, we propose to use the estimated EF to drive ANF models representing 75 nerve bundles along the length of the cochlea. We propose a method to detect the neural health of the ANF models by optimizing neural health parameters to minimize the sum of squared differences between simulated and the physiological measurements available via patients’ CIs. The resulting health parameters provide an estimate of the health of ANF bundles. Experiments with 8 subjects show promising model prediction accuracy, with excellent agreement between neural stimulation responses that are clinically measured and those that are predicted by our parameter optimized models. These results suggest our modeling approach may provide an accurate estimation of ANF health for CI users.
Distractions When Viewing In-hospital Heart Failure Self-Care Videos and Change in Heart Failure Self-Care Knowledge

Introduction When viewing in-hospital HF education videos, internal (pain, nausea, fatigue, dyspnea) and external (alarms, ringing phone, caregiver or family interruptions, hallway noise) distractions could interfere with attentiveness and decrease patients’ understanding of educational content. Purpose To examine if optimization of learning is dependent on attentiveness, defined as the frequency of internal and external distractions when viewing video education. Methods This exploratory, prospective, single cohort study was conducted on 3 medical-surgical units comprising 42 beds at a small community hospital. Learning optimization was assessed by comparing pre- and post-video assessment scores of HF knowledge of self-care behaviors using a valid, reliable tool that was not based on content in the videos. Nurses recorded distractions during video viewing. Post-viewing, the HF knowledge assessment was repeated. Patient characteristics were retrieved from a hospital database. Demographics and change in knowledge scores were compared overall and by distraction groups using comparative statistics. Findings Among 60 participants, mean age was 73.9 ± 11.2 years and 50% were female. There was no difference in distractions (overall, internal or external) by patient characteristics. Pre and post video education, HF standardized knowledge scores were 72.5 ± 10.7 and 77.7 ± 10.5 respectively, p Conclusion In-hospital video education was associated with higher HF knowledge scores despite internal (primarily fatigue) or external (primarily nursing caregiver interruption) distractions and may promote self-care behaviors post-discharge.
Wind Turbine Bearing Fault Detection Using Adaptive Resampling and Order Tracking

Wind energy is growing increasingly popular in the United States, so it is imperative to make it as cost competitive as possible. Operations and Maintenance (O&M) make up 20-25% of the total cost of onshore wind projects. Unplanned maintenance contributes approximately 75% of the total maintenance costs (WWEA, 2012). Condition-based maintenance strategies intend to maximize the uptime by reducing to the amounts of unplanned maintenance. This should result in an overall decrease in the cost of maintenance. Wind turbines produce an interesting challenge, because their main shaft rotation is both slow and nonstationary. Through the use of adaptive resampling and order tracking, both of these challenges were combated as the bearing fault was identified in the order spectrum then tracked as it progressed. The fault was identified as an outer race defect on the main bearing that initiated sometime during or before installation. The total energy in the order spectrum around the bearing fault rate was identified as a potential front-runner for a prognostic parameter. This paper presents a case study application to operational wind turbine bearing data to demonstrate the ease and intuitiveness of combining adaptive resampling and order tracking to diagnose faults for slow, nonstationary bearings. Prognosis of remaining useful life is proposed with features extracted from the order spectrum, but additional data are needed to develop and demonstrate this analysis.
Ab Initio Thermodynamics Reveals the Nanocomposite Structure of Ferrihydrite

Ferrihydrite is a poorly crystalline iron oxyhydroxide nanomineral that serves a critical role as the most bioavailable form of ferric iron for living systems. However, its atomic structure and composition remain unclear due in part to ambiguities in interpretation of X-ray scattering results. Prevailing models so far have not considered the prospect that at the level of individual nanoparticles multiple X-ray indistinguishable phases could coexist. Using ab initio thermodynamics we show that ferrihydrite is likely a nanocomposite of distinct structure types whose distribution depends on particle size, temperature, and hydration. Nanoparticles of two contrasting single-phase ferrihydrite models of Michel and Manceau are here shown to be thermodynamically equivalent across a wide range of temperature and pressure conditions despite differences in their structural water content. Higher temperature and water pressure favor the formation of the former, while lower temperature and water pressure favor the latter. For aqueous suspensions at ambient conditions, their coexistence is maximal for particle sizes up to 12 nm. The predictions inform and help resolve different observations in various experiments. Ferrihydrite is the most bioavailable source of ferric iron, but its variable structure and composition are poorly understood because of its small size and lack of ordering. Here ab initio thermodynamics reveals that ferrihydrite can be described as a nanocomposite of at least two previously-proposed single-phase models.
Predictors of venous thromboembolism among infants in children's hospitals in the United States: a retrospective Pediatric Health Information Study.

Examine: (1) Prevalence of diagnosed venous thromboembolism (VTE) in infants <6 months discharged from U.S. NICUs; (2) Associations between sociodemographic and clinical factors and VTE; (3) Secondary outcomes related to VTE. Multivariable logistic regressions examined associations between VTE and sociodemographic and clinical factors among infants <6 months discharged from Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS) NICUs between 2016 and 2019. Of 201,033 infants, 2720 (1.35%) had diagnosed VTE. Birthweight 300–1000 g (aOR 3.14, 95% CI 2.54–3.88), 1000–1500 g (aOR 1.77, 95% CI 1.40–2.42) versus 2500–3999 g, and public (aOR 1.18, 95% CI 1.02–1.37) versus private insurance were associated with increased odds of VTE, as were CVC, TPN, mechanical ventilation, infection, ECMO, and surgery. All types of central lines (non-tunneled and tunneled CVCs, PICCs, and umbilical catheters) had higher odds of VTE than not having that type of line. CVCs in upper versus lower extremities had higher odds of VTE. Infants with risk factors may require monitoring for VTE. Results may inform VTE prevention.
Radiation therapy of Testicular Germinomas, Stanford University Series (1956–1980)

Over the twenty-five years of experience with pure testicular germinomas reported in this paper, dramatic changes have occurred, both in survival of patients and in the understanding of the natural course of the disease. Current results of our experience with 128 patients who were treated with radiation therapy during this period show an 84% overall actuarial survival ten years after treatment. This high ten year actuarial survival rate is distributed by stage as follows: Stage I (89.5% survival); Stage II (81% survival); Stage III (31% survival). These results compare well with other series of over 100 patients treated by radiotherapy. Stage IV patients may benefit from palliative radiotherapy to metastases of bone or brain. Clinical experience with these tumors has shown that attention to careful staging can optimize both survival and life extension to a significant degree.
Linear Autonomous Equations. The Semigroup and Infinitesimal Generator

We are now going to restrict our discussion to a special class of linear equations in order to obtain a better understanding of the geometry of solutions. More specifically, we consider linear autonomous functional differential equations by which we understand equations of the form $${\rm{\dot x}}\left( {\rm{t}} \right) = {\rm{L}}\left( {{\rm{x}}_{\rm{t}} } \right)$$ (19.1) where L is a continuous linear function mapping C into Rn. There exists an n × n matrix η(θ),−r ≤ θ ≤ o, whose elements are of bounded variation such that $${\rm{L}}\left( {\rm{\phi }} \right) = \int_{ - {\rm{r}}}^0 {\left[ {{\rm{d\eta }}\left( \theta \right)} \right]{\rm{\phi }}\left( \theta \right),{\rm{\phi in C}}} $$ (19.2) .
Norms and the Sharing of Research Materials and Tacit Knowledge

Recent empirical studies have documented that scientists experience increasing difficulty obtaining tangible research materials from other scientists, while they express fewer concerns than many had anticipated about do-it-yourself tools that can be made in the laboratory, even when those tools are patented. In this Chapter I use a rational choice model of social norms to elucidate some factors that affect the likelihood that a research community will adopt a sharing norm. Based on those factors, I discuss some means by which sharing of tangible research materials can be encouraged. The analysis focuses attention on the costs to individual researchers of sharing research materials with others in a research community and suggests that sharing norms will be strengthened by initiatives aimed at i) reducing sharing costs through standardization, ii) spreading sharing costs through central distribution, iii) providing rewards in proportion to the extent to which materials are shared, and iv) reducing the private payoffs of exclusivity. Though motivated by studies of sharing of research materials, the analysis also applies to sharing of extensive datasets and tacit knowledge.
An investigation of reservation random access algorithms for voice-data integration in microcellular wireless environments

We present the results of a simulation study that explores the performance of two promising reservation random access (RRA) protocols for transmitting voice packets over a common radio broadcast channel in a microcellular radio environment. The RRA-two cell and RRA-three cell algorithms provide a mechanism that enables all of the terminals within a microcell to differentiate between available voice and available data time slots. By separating the two distinct types of transmissions and resolving the contending voice packets first, the priority of the voice traffic is enforced; and, each protocol can be combined with efficient collision resolution random access protocols for transmitting data packets. Such a voice-data integration mechanism eliminates the potential voice degradation caused by competition between voice and data terminals for available slots. Our results show that the protocols provide stable and robust performance under adverse channel conditions; and that they can be employed to sustain voice-data integration under heavy system loading.
A Domain-Specific Modeling Specification of Visual Instructional Design Languages: A Moodle Experimentation

Despite of the growing development of learning technologies into education, designing learning scenarios and exploiting them for setting up a learning situation is still a complex task. The Visual Instructional Design Languages (VIDL) and their dedicated graphical editors have been identified as important conceptual tools for achieving more creative design solutions within a design process. In this article we propose the application of Domain-Specific Modeling tools for specifying and developing VIDLs and editors dedicated to specific Learning Management Systems. An experimentation concerning the Moodle LMS is illustrated and discussed.
Is Liberal Education Illiberal? Political Liberalism and Liberal Education

Here I argue two principal claims. The first is that liberal education is illiberal. Since I am not inclined to agree with Emerson that consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, it follows that the sense of “liberal” in the phrase “liberal education” is different from the sense of “liberal” in the term “illiberal.” Second, I argue that the idea that liberals need to do more to accommodate ways of life that are disproportionately impacted by liberal culture is difficult to realize in practice and that educators should emphasize teaching their subjects with integrity. Liberal education, as I understand it here, has among its aspirations an ideal of human flourishing, the life of the mind is an essential component of human flourishing; an ideal of cognitive liberation, the life of the mind liberates people from servility to unreflective tradition and prejudice; and a political ideal, good citizens are people who are capable of critical reflection and rational dialogue. My argument emphasizes the ideal of human flourishing.
L’esperienza ebraica transnazionale nel bacino del Mediterraneo: oltre l’Olocausto

Recensione di: Raniero Speelman, Monica Jansen & Silvia Gaiga, Ebrei migranti. Le voci della diaspora / Jewish Migration. Voices of the Diaspora, Italianistica Ultraiectina 7, Utrecht, Igitur, 2012, 389 p.,ISBN: 9789067010320, open access, € 21,88 (copia cartacea).
Translation and stability of ovalbumin messenger RNA injected into growing oocytes and fertilized ova of mice.

Growing mouse oocytes and fertilized ova were injected with chicken ovalbumin messenger RNA (mRNA ov ) and chicken conalbumin mRNA (mRNA con ) and cultured in vitro . Estimation of mRNA ov and mRNA con stability by hybridization of cDNA ov and cDNA con to extracted mRNA from injected oocytes and fertilized ova indicated a half-life of 147 and 366 h in the oocyte and 5 and 3 h in the fertilized ovum respectively. Stability of mRNA ov was similar in the fertilized and unfertilized ovum. Oocytes injected with chicken ovalbumin mRNA were also labelled with [ 3 H]leucine and ovalbumin synthesis was measured by immunoprecipitation. The amount of ovalbumin synthesized during the initial 7 h was less than during the period of 18–25 or 66–73 h postinjection. The greatest percentage of ovalbumin to total protein synthesis occurred between 66–73 h. Oocytes secreted 12% of the synthesized ovalbumin during each of the 7 h periods (0–7, 18–25 and 66–73 h) indicating a stable mechanism for secretion throughout the culture period. These studies demonstrate: (1) a dramatic difference in stability of injected mRNA between the growing oocyte and the unfertilized or fertilized ovum, and (2) a gradual increase in the translation of injected mRNA by the growing oocyte during in vitro culture.
Degradation of putrescine and cadaverine in seawater cultures by marine bacteria.

Marine bacteria removed two diamines, putrescine and cadaverine, from coastal seawater supplemented only with these compounds. Batch cultures of natural bacterial communities were grown in filtered seawater (0.05 μm) supplemented with 500 μg of putrescine or cadaverine per liter. Increases in bacterial cell number were counted with an epifluorescence microscope after acridine orange staining. Removal of diamines from seawater was monitored by high-performance liquid chromatography. Diamines were removed from the seawater cultures within 48 h with no corresponding increase in bacterial yield, growth rate, or viability relative to control (unsupplemented) cultures. Shipboard experiments with open-ocean deep water (1,500 m) showed similar, if slower, removal of putrescine from seawater. Unlike uptake experiments with amino acids, labeled putrescine experiments indicated that most putrescine carbon is mineralized to CO2 rather than assimilated by the bacteria. After growth in unsupplemented control cultures, the bacteria showed a significant potential to mineralize putrescine, indicating a general degradation potential for this compound by marine bacteria even if the compound was not present during growth. Indicators of metabolic activity such as glucose and glutamic acid uptake and mineralization were not affected by the presence of putrescine. This shows that at the concentrations added, the diamines are not toxic, and therefore detoxification was not the reason for degradation of the diamines by the bacteria.
Parameter estimation and prediction for groundwater contamination based on measure theory

The problem of groundwater contamination in an aquifer is one with many uncertainties. Properly quantifying these uncertainties is essential in order to make reliable probabilistic-based predictions and decisions regarding remediation strategies. In this work, a measure-theoretic framework is employed to quantify uncertainties in a simplified groundwater contamination transport model. Given uncertain data from observation wells, the stochastic inverse problem is solved numerically to obtain a probability measure on the space of unknown model parameters characterizing groundwater flow and contaminant transport in an aquifer, as well as unknown model boundary or source terms such as the contaminant source release into the environment. This probability measure is used to make predictions of future contaminant concentrations and to analyze possible remediation techniques. The ability to identify regions of small but nonzero probability using this method is illustrated.
The Effect of Perceived Novelty on the Adoption of Information Technology Innovations: A Risk/Reward Perspective

A fundamental characteristic of any innovation is its novelty, the newness or freshness of the innovation in the eyes of the adopter. Past research has often considered novelty to be inherent to an information technology (IT) innovation, yet it is also likely that perceptions of novelty differ widely across individuals. Nevertheless, the role that the novelty of an IT innovation plays in adoption is not well understood. The primary goal of this research effort is to frame the perceived novelty of an IT innovation as a salient affective belief in the nomological network related to adoption. Further, we examine how perceived novelty influences the way individuals reconcile their perceptions of risk versus reward when considering the adoption of an IT innovation. Two empirical studies with 424 and 138 participants, respectively, examine the effect of perceived novelty on IT innovations from a risk/reward perspective. Results indicate that perceived novelty is a salient affective belief that plays a significant role in the adoption of IT innovations. Implications for both theory and organizational decision making are examined.
Vectorial Ligand Transport Through Mammalian Choroid Plexus

In the last decade, there has been substantial progress in understanding vectorial ligand transport through rodent and human choroid plexus (CP), the locus of the blood-CSF interface. In this Review, we enumerate the experimental data required to establish vectorial transport through CP and describe transporters involved in vectorial transport across CP. We also note how these transporters differ from those at the blood-brain barrier. The ligand (substrate) examples presented are methyltetrahydrofolate, methotrexate, leukotriene C4, nucleosides, thiamine monophosphate, prostaglandins, and digoxin. Our focus is on more definitive experiments, including animal and human transporter “knock-outs.” Finally, we discuss the neurochemical implications of vectorial transport through CP and the clinical implications of transporter polymorphisms and knockouts. Examples include descriptions of how vectorial transport through the CP for several micronutrients (e.g., methyltetrahydrofolate) nourishes the brain and how knowledge of CP vectorial transport can lead to important treatments.
Ileal bladders: their use in colorectal surgery.

An experience with urinary diversion by ileal bladder has been presented. Emphasis has been placed on its wide application to pelvic malignancy with extension of the disease to bladder base and ureters. This is applicable especially in men with rectal cancer where involvement of the prostate and posterior urethra make consideration of pelvic exenteration necessary. Early and late complications and the operative mortality rate have been studied in some detail. An attempt has been made to compare ileal bladder with other types of urinary diversion and to relate them to the treatment of locally advanced colorectal cancer.
Can government regulate fertility? An assessment of pronatalist policy in Eastern Europe.

The authoritarian governments in Eastern Europe have played an active role in the fertility regulation of their citizenry. This article examines government attempts to encourage population growth in Eastern Europe with particular attention given to Romania Hungary and the German Democratic Republic. Governments attempting to influence reproductive behavior can utilize 3 types of policies--the moral-propagandistic the economic and the legal-administrative. Romania has focused on the latter issuing a decree in 1966 banning abortion for women under age 45 with less than 4 children. Hungary has pursued a policy with some legal-administrative aspects but it has included more positive economic incentives for families to have children. Allowances were raised for a second child and monthly maternity payments were increased through the third offspring. Hungary also expanded its network of family planning centers and offered more courses on sex education and family life. The German Democratic Republic has emphatically followed an economic incentive approach in its pronatalist policy. In 1976 the government adopted regulations that raised paid maternity leave to 26 weeks provided cash allowances during the time of unpaid leave for 2nd and 3rd births gave working mothers a fully paid work week of 40 hours raised the value of birth grants and provided newly married couples with loans to buy and furnish homes. The population growth policy followed by Romania is likely to fail--abortion is deeply engrained in Romanian culture. Hungarys mixed administrative-economic approach should be effective. But the purely economic incentives of the German Democratic Republic should work permanently.
D.P.3 Ethical, social, legal implications of clinical and research genetic testing in the neuromuscular setting: A case study approach

Abstract Genetic testing has become standard practice in neuromuscular disorders. It aids in diagnosis, management and helps to provide accurate recurrence risk data. Advances in genetic testing methodology have increased the efficiency and availability of these tests to the individual patient. The more recent introduction of whole exome and genome sequencing has shifted traditional clinical genetic practice to the research realm including novel gene discovery. Increased access to genetic testing and novel gene discovery further emphasizes the importance of genetic counseling prior to genetic testing. Many ethical considerations surround a genetic diagnostic workup, some of which are challenging and unanticipated. Here we present four cases from our neuromuscular clinic with unexpected genetic findings in an effort to illustrate common ethical, social and legal dilemmas following clinical and research genetic testing. Topics to be addressed are: incidental finding of adult onset disease through exome sequencing in the pediatric patient and misattributed paternity and history of compound consanguinity and sexual abuse identified through SNP microarray and targeted gene sequencing in the pediatric and adult population. Guidelines and empirical data from the genetic counseling, ethics and legal community will be reviewed to provide tools for clinical practice. Familiarity with practice and published guidelines is imperative to be prepared to deal with these kinds of cases.
Lytic Clavicular Lesions in Fibromatosis Colli

Two patients with fibromatosis colli (congenital torticollis) presented with lytic lesions in the clavicle at the insertion of the fibrosed clavicular head of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. Biopsy of one lesion showed intraosseous fibrosis. These lesions are probably not uncommon but radiographs are rarely performed in uncomplicated cases.