cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Improving the accuracy of environment-specific vehicular channel modeling

Networking research benefits from the controlled, repeatable experimentation provided by simulation and emulation systems. Making such simulations realistic is a challenge for wireless systems and is especially difficult for vehicular networks. This paper introduces a realistic vehicular channel simulation model that includes a Line-Of-Sight (LOS) module and Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) fading module specially designed for vehicular channels.Specialized models can provide a close approximation of real channel conditions, but their accuracy is limited by the quality of input information about the environment being modeled. In this paper, we present a systematic approach to estimate location-specific scattering properties using aerial photography. We show that this approach significantly improves the accuracy of simulated channel fading.
Fatal Postpartum Amoebic Colitis with Trophozoites Present in Peritoneal Fluid

The case of a young woman with fatal, postpartum, invasive amoebic colitis is presented. The diagnosis was established antemortem; however, therapy did not influence outcome. The diagnostic difficulties are pointed out. Demonstration of amoebic trophozoites in ascitic fluid is reported for the second time. Pregnancy appears to enhance amoebic colitis.
It Doesn't Matter If You Win or Lose, Unless You're Losing: Organizational Change in a Law Enforcement Agency

This study reports the results of a 4-year organization development project in the Metro County Sheriff's Department. Interventions included confiontation team-building sessions, management training, process consultation, survey feedback, thirdparty consultation, technological interventions, methods of increasing accountability, and changes in the organization structure, the physical setting, and the policy formulation procedures. Results include considerable improvement in organization climate and leader effectiveness, a marked decrease in employee turnover and jail breaks, a significant improvement in the managerial ability of the Department administrators, and a substantial increase in resources allocated to the organization.
Does an Electronic Health Record Improve Completeness of Prenatal Studies

Objective: To determine whether implementation of an electronic health record (EHR) would increase the rate of prenatal Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and purified protein derivative (PPD) testing. Methods: Eligible participants received prenatal care and delivered at term at a single academic institution in March-April 2011, March-April 2012, and March-April 2013. As part of routine prenatal care, all women were tested for HIV and tuberculosis (via a PPD test) during each pregnancy. The 2011 cohort was charted on paper. The 2012 and 2013 cohorts were charted via EHR. To appear in the prenatal labs display in EHR, PPD results must be manually documented, while HIV results are uploaded automatically. Documentation of PPD and HIV tests were analyzed. Results: The 2011, 2012, and 2013 cohorts had 249, 208, and 190 patients, respectively. Complete PPD and HIV results were less likely to be charted in the 2012 EHR cohort compared to the paper chart cohort (72.1% vs. 80.1%; p=0.03). This was driven by fewer documented completed PPD tests (2011 83.9% vs. 2012 72.6%; p=0.003). PPD test documentation improved non-significantly to 86.2% in the 2013 EHR cohort (p=0.5). HIV documentation rates increased from 95.2% in the paper chart cohort to 98.6% in the 2012 EHR cohort (p=0.04), and to 98.9% in the 2013 EHR cohort (p=0.03). Conclusions: EHR implementation corresponded with a marked decrease in documentation of PPD test completion. HIV documentation rates improved. PPD results were likely charted incorrectly in provider notes due to training deficiencies and lack of standardization, which did not improve significantly after retraining.
The Psychodynamics of the Patient's Active Episodes

The phenomenon of the patient as active change agent is a critically important, but new and understudied one. This paper attempts to explore and to illustrate with clinical examples the psychodynamic foundations of the patient's activity. The concept of an “active episode” on the part of the patient is introduced and defined. The paper illustrates the ways that active episodes of self-change on the part of the patient can determine the outcome of psychoanalytic therapy.
Estimation of the Discrete Spectrum of Relaxations for Electromagnetic Induction Responses Using $\ell_{p}$ -Regularized Least Squares for $0 \leq p \leq 1$

The electromagnetic induction response of a target can be accurately modeled by a sum of real exponentials. However, in practice, it is difficult to obtain the model parameters from measurements. We previously proposed a constrained linear method that can robustly estimate the model parameters when they are nonnegative. In this letter, we present a modified lp-regularized least squares algorithm, for 0 ≤ p ≤ 1, that eliminates the nonnegative constraint. An empirical method for choosing the regularization parameter is also studied. Using tests on synthetic data and laboratory measurements, the proposed method is shown to provide robust estimates of the model parameters in practice.
Specific antibody can prevent fungal biofilm formation and this effect correlates with protective efficacy

One of the most troublesome medical problems today is infection of prosthetic devices with organisms that form polysaccharide biofilms. This combined with increasing antimicrobial drug resistance is making many infectious diseases incurable. Cryptococcus neoformans is a human-pathogenic fungus that has a polysaccharide capsule and can form biofilms in prosthetic medical devices. We developed a system to study cryptococcal biofilm formation in vitro and studied the effect of antibody to the C. neoformans capsular polysaccharide on this process. C. neoformans biofilm formation was dependent on the presence of a polysaccharide capsule and correlated with the ability of capsular polysaccharide to bind the polystyrene solid support. Protective antibodies prevented biofilm formation whereas nonprotective antibodies were not effective. The mechanism of antibody action involved interference with capsular polysaccharide release from the fungal cell. In contrast, lactoferrin, an effector molecule of innate immune mechanisms, was unable to prevent fungal biofilm formation despite its efficacy against bacterial biofilms. Our results suggest a new role of adaptive humoral immunity whereby some antibodies can inhibit biofilm formation by encapsulated organisms. Vaccines that elicit antibody responses to capsular antigens and/or passive transfer of antibodies to microbial polysaccharides may be useful in preventing biofilm formation.
Taphonomic biases in the insect fossil record: shifts in articulation over geologic time

Insect taphonomy is a topic that has drawn interest because of its potential biases on diversity patterns and the ecological information recorded by ancient insect faunas. Other than the onset of common amber fossilization in the Cretaceous, very little is known about long-term trends in the nature and quality of insect preservation and, as a result, the effects of taphonomic biases are poorly constrained. We assembled a database of nearly 7000 Carboniferous–Pliocene insect adpression (compression and impression) species from the primary literature to assess changes in insect taphonomy over time and test biotic and environmental controls on preservation. We grouped the fossils into 10-Myr bins and scored preservation of holotype specimens as either articulated bodies or isolated wings; articulated specimens with a body implied a generally higher quality of preservation. Paleozoic and Triassic insect holotypes are known overwhelmingly from isolated wings (only 12% articulated bodies), but our database shows a significant increase in the percentage preserved as articulated bodies, to more than 70%, beginning about 160 Myr ago in the Late Jurassic. This transition could reflect variations in the robustness of different insect orders and shifts in the taxonomic composition of insect faunas, but all the major orders in the database exhibit significant increases in articulation. Instead, a shift to increased preservation in lacustrine paleoenvironments, which contain a greater proportion of articulated body fossils, explains most of the trend. The pronounced Late Jurassic increase in articulation has implications for evolutionary and ecological reconstructions, for example, suggesting that preserved insect diversity may be biased downward in the earlier part of their history when articulation was poor.
"Hybrid Cone-Cylinder" Codebook Model for Foreground Detection with Shadow and Highlight Suppression

In the interest of 24-7 long-term surveillance, a truly robust, adaptive, and fast background-foreground segmentation technique is required. This paper deals with the especially difficult but extremely common problems of moving backgrounds, shadows, highlights, and illumination changes. To produce reliable foreground extraction in the face of these problems, the best practical aspects of two algorithms, Codebook Segmentation[6] and HSV Shadow Suppression[2] are combined. The main contribution of this paper is the introduction of the "Hybrid Cone-Cylinder" Codebook (HC3) model. Results show superior speed and quantitatively better performance in many different conditions and environments. Applications include people-tracking with Omni-directional cameras and vehicle-counting with rectilinear cameras.
The Hidden-Hand Presidency: Eisenhower as Leader

With a new Foreword that examines the continuing significance of the Eisenhower presidency, this title reveals that there was great political activity beneath the placid surface of the executive office under Eisenhower. "To read (this book) is to discover ...that everything you ever believed about Dwight Eisenhower as president of the United States is wrong".--"Economist".
Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Early-stage laryngeal SCC can be treated surgically via a variety of transoral techniques or non-surgically with radiation therapy; both have excellent oncologic outcomes. Transoral surgical techniques have improved swallowing outcomes but slightly worse voice quality when compared to radiation therapy for early disease. Endolaryngeal SCC rarely exhibits cervical metastasis, unless disease is advanced. Supraglottic SCC often exhibits cervical metastasis and has a poor prognosis compared to laryngeal SCC. Salvage laryngectomy is a highly effective therapy when the disease is contained within the larynx. Chondrosarcoma of the larynx most commonly involves the cricoid; in early lesions the cricoid is resected; for later-stage lesions total laryngectomy is required.
Boundary-Integral Equation Formulation and Solution

The basis of any boundary integral equation (BIE) formulation is rooted in classical elasticity theory as the reciprocal work theorem of Betti (1872) and the application of elastic potentials to satisfy equilibrium by Somigliana (1885). Much of the literature in the past ten years of BIE formulations has made use of the method of weighted residuals. While simple to apply, especially by those who have a finite element background, the method of weighted residuals masks much of the essentials to a full understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the BIE method. We shall thus take the high road of the classical approach to the BIE method in what follows.
An Explicit Multiscale Model for Progressive Failure of a Complex Composite Structures

In this paper an explicit multiscale model for composite materials is introduced and expanded upon previous work. Impact damage, which is a nonlinear event, is difficult to model in an implicit solver. Prediction of progressive failure in a composite can be performed with ply level mechanisms and/or micro level mechanisms. Generalized Method of Cells within NASA's Micromechanics Analysis Code was used in this study. It is implemented by the code FEAMAC within the commercial code ABAQUS. Mechanical properties of Epon E 863 were obtained experimentally, and the Bodner-Partom viscoplastic model was adopted for the simulation. The numerical results of various impact speeds of composite airfoil indicated good correlation with the experimental results of the damaged regions.
Lattice-Matched Bimetallic CuPd-Graphene Nanocatalysts for Facile Conversion of Biomass-Derived Polyols to Chemicals

A bimetallic nanocatalyst with unique surface configuration displays extraordinary performance for converting biomass-derived polyols to chemicals, with potentially much broader applications in the design of novel catalysts for several reactions of industrial relevance. The synthesis of nanostructured metal catalysts containing a large population of active surface facets is critical to achieve high activity and selectivity in catalytic reactions. Here, we describe a new strategy for synthesizing copper-based nanocatalysts on reduced graphene oxide support in which the catalytically active {111} facet is achieved as the dominant surface by lattice-match engineering. This method yields highly active Cu-graphene catalysts (turnover frequency = 33–114 mol/g atom Cu/h) for converting biopolyols (glycerol, xylitol, and sorbitol) to value-added chemicals, such as lactic acid and other useful co-products consisting of diols and linear alcohols. Palladium incorporation in the Cu-graphene system in trace amounts re...
Outcomes in 450 Women After Minimally Invasive Abdominal Sacrocolpopexy for Pelvic Organ Prolapse.

Objective To report outcomes and complications in approximately 450 women who underwent isolated minimally invasive abdominal sacrocolpopexy (ASC) for the management of pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Material and methods We retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records of women who underwent minimally invasive ASC (laparoscopic ASC [LASC] or robotic ASC [RASC]) for symptomatic POP at Loyola University Chicago Medical Center from 2007 to 2012. Polypropylene mesh was used and the decision to reperitonealize the mesh was left to surgeon discretion. Data collected included demographics, Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory questionnaire, intraoperative and postoperative details, and POP quantification. Results Four hundred twenty-eight women underwent minimally invasive ASC-232 LASC and 226 RASC. Most women (86%) did not undergo reperitonealization of the mesh. Median follow-up was 13 weeks (range, 2-268 weeks) for complications and 13 weeks (range, 2-104 weeks) for anatomic outcomes.Postoperatively, 88.6% of women had stage 0/I, 10.7% had stage II, and 2 women had stage III POP. Twelve (2.6%) underwent reoperation, 6 for POP (3 posterior repairs, 2 repeat ASC, 1 perineorrhaphy) and 6 for bowel complications. Fourteen women had postoperative bowel complications; half of which resolved with conservative treatment. There were no differences between anatomic and functional outcomes or bowel complications between LASC and RASC. Reoperation rates for bowel complications in women who underwent reperitonealization of the mesh were similar to those who did not (1.5% vs 1.0%, P = 0.86). Conclusions Minimally invasive ASC without concomitant vaginal repair is an effective and safe procedure for the surgical management of POP with low rates of reoperation and complications.
The evolution and hydrocarbon potential of the Northumberland–Solway Basin

Seismic and well data establish the three-dimensional geometry and structural evolution of the Northumberland–Solway Basin. The basin-controlling southerly bounding normal faults, the E–W-trending Maryport–Stublick–Ninety Fathom fault system, formed in early Carboniferous times by extensional reactivation of a major basement thrust zone. The faults are sub-planar with a present-day throw (at the base of the Carboniferous) of
Clinical application of evoked response audiometry.

Summed evoked cortical responses to auditory stimuli were recorded on 128 clinical patients who were unable or unwilling to respond accurately to conventional audiometric techniques. Definable resp...
The correspondence and collaboration of Harvey Cushing and Irvine Page: Lessons from the Cleveland Clinic Archives

Harvey Cushing is well-known as a pioneer of brain surgery and is considered the father of modern neurosurgery. However, Cushing's interests and contributions extend beyond neurosurgery. Through his determined interdisciplinary collaboration in medicine and biomedical research, Cushing was able to contribute to numerous fields including bacteriology, anesthesiology, and endocrinology. With regards to the latter, Cushing corresponds with Irvine Page, well-known for isolating serotonin, discovering the renin-angiotensin system, and postulating of the mosaic theory of hypertension. In a correspondence spanning 3 years, from January 1933 to April 1936, Cushing and Page collaborated to discover a substance responsible for hypertension. In this historical article, the authors review the letters to highlight the collaborative efforts between leaders in disparate fields driven by the scientific curiosity. As national research agencies are focusing their funds toward collaborative and interdisciplinary research, it is interesting to note the historical communication among the scientific leaders that led to discoveries in the respective fields.
Parotid Sialolipoma: Is Frozen Section Useful?

Fat-containing tumors of the salivary gland are uncommon lesions. The sialolipoma is a rare, benign, unilateral tumor found in both major and minor salivary glands. The majority of the major salivary gland sialolipomas are found in the parotid. These tumors are usually well-circumscribed and contain mature adipose tissue admixed with benign salivary gland components. In addition, sialolipomas usually …
Programming FPGA Applications in VHDL

Publisher Summary Through examples, the chapter highlights the control that users can exercise in very high-speed integrated circuit hardware description language (VHDL) to direct proper synthesis of hardware. It discusses how VHDL can be used to describe a design structurally as a composition of subcircuits. It shows how to express hardware in register transfer level (RTL) form. It illustrates how hardware can be generated parametrically in a programmable manner. It outlines the basic tool and workflow for developing VHDL designs. VHDL is one popular programming language that supports RTL hardware descriptions. VHDL enjoys widespread popularity among designers in the industry and with its close cousin, Verilog. Verilog differs from VHDL primarily in the syntax it uses (VHDL is derived from Ada; Verilog, from C), but both languages are periodically reviewed to reflect changing industry realities and expectations. VHDL is a strongly typed, Ada-based programming language that includes special constructs and semantics for describing concurrency at the hardware level. These concurrency constructs are new for most programmers and can be a source of confusion for beginners. Programming in VHDL is quite different from programming in C because of its concurrent semantics. However, it does have several similarities with object-oriented languages like C++ and Java.
Assessment of Cardiac Function

Cardiac point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) can be used to enhance the cardiac physical examination. POCUS of the heart may be useful in the assessment of ventricular systolic function, wall motion assessment, and disease states such as cardiomyopathy and pulmonary embolism [1]. In general, views obtained by POCUS are not meant to provide precise and accurate quantitative information such as quantified ejection fraction, pulmonary artery systolic pressure, and diastolic parameters; they can, however, provide an overall visual estimation of the severity of systolic dysfunction as well as be the initial screen for wall motion abnormality or cardiomyopathy. In this chapter, the initial views to obtain an assessment of ventricular function are introduced. It is critical for the operator to understand the need for adequate scanning training (hands-on image acquisition) and ongoing quality control to avoid false positive diagnosis [2]. As wall motion assessment is the most difficult skill in echocardiography, a skilled POCUS operator understands the limitations of her cardiac scan, and possesses the experience to know when formal echocardiography is indicated.
Stimulant and SSRI Medication Trends in ADHD

Prescription trends for stimulants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), and combination therapies for ADHD, comorbid and emotional disorders were evaluated by a retrospective population-based analysis of North Carolina Medicaid prescription claim files for the years 1992-1998.
Bone composition and healing: Open electromagnetic and biomechanical problems

In this paper, we present a review of some electromagnetic interactions in bone matter. Special attention is paid to pulsed electromagnetic therapy, which is potentially a promising therapeutic method for bone healing. We review and compare existing setups and their applications.
Acute Alcohol Effects on Set‐shifting and Its Moderation by Baseline Individual Differences: A Latent Variable Analysis

Aims To compare the acute effects of alcohol on set-shifting task performance (relative to sober baseline performance) during ascending and descending limb breath alcohol concentration (BrAC), as well as possible moderation of these effects by baseline individual differences. Design Shifting performance was tested during an initial baseline and a subsequent drinking session, during which participants were assigned randomly to one of three beverage conditions (alcohol, placebo or control) and one of two BrAC limb conditions [ascending and descending (A/D) or descending-only (D-only)]. Setting A human experimental laboratory on the University of Missouri campus in Columbia, MO, USA. Participants A total of 222 moderate-drinking adults (ages 21–30 years) recruited from Columbia, MO and tested between 2010 and 2013. Measurements The outcome measure was performance on set-shifting tasks under the different beverage and limb conditions. Shifting performance assessed at baseline was a key moderator. Findings Although performance improved across sessions, this improvement was reduced in the alcohol compared with no-alcohol groups (post-drink latent mean comparison across groups, all Ps ≤ 0.05), and this effect was more pronounced in individuals with lower pre-drink performance (comparison of pre- to post-drink path coefficients across groups, all Ps ≤ 0.05). In the alcohol group, performance was better on descending compared with ascending limb (P ≤ 0.001), but descending limb performance did not differ across the A/D and D-only groups. Conclusions Practising tasks before drinking moderates the acute effects of alcohol on the ability to switch between tasks. Greater impairment in shifting ability on descending compared with ascending breath alcohol concentration is not related to task practice.
Lung Adenocarcinoma Presenting as Worsening of Chronic Neck Pain—A Cautionary Tale

Introduction:Neck pain is a common musculoskeletal problem that up to 70% of the world population will experience at some point in their lives. Intramedullary spinal cord metastasis is an exceedingly rare complication of malignancy that affects less than 1% of all patients with cancer.Case report:We report a case of a 61-year-old man who presented to primary care clinic with 1-month history of worsening neck pain with associated neurologic deficits. Despite initial conservative management, the patient continued to have progressive worsening of sensory and motor deficits. Magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical spine showed vasogenic edema of the brain and spinal cord and nodularity at the C4-C5 level. A computed tomography of the chest showed a dense lesion in the left lower lobe of the lung; histopathology of the biopsied specimen was consistent with moderately differentiated lung adenocarcinoma.Conclusions:A high index of suspicion is necessary when chronic neck pain acutely worsens, changes in chara...
The Model of Transformational Change for Moral Action: A Conceptual Framework to Elevate Student Conduct Practice in Higher Education

AbstractHigher education faces heightened scrutiny regarding student misconduct, but collegiate disciplinary processes often have minimal impact on students. Their ineffectiveness is partially attributable to the absence of a conceptual framework that guides conduct administration by linking theory, practice, and outcomes. This article presents a framework: the model of transformational change for moral action (MTC), which integrates moral development theory, the transtheoretical (stages of change) model, and transformational leadership. By aligning evidence-based practices, the MTC centers the developmental needs of students, harnesses dissonance to promote positive change, and ultimately converts student-offenders into moral actors and conduct officials into moral agents.
Life cycle cost analysis of water supply infrastructure affected by low rainfall in Ethiopia

This paper challenges the assumption that low cost CAPEX (capital expenditure) water supply infrastructure provides reduced life cycle costs when compared with higher cost CAPEX investments. The assumption is applied through a comparison of 10 years of financial data (2006–2016) from point source water supplies (accompanied by Emergency Expenditure – EMMEX investments – emergency water trucking, treatment and distribution) and piped water supply systems in two districts of the Ethiopian Central Highland region of Amhara. This study concluded that on average point source water supplies accessing shallow groundwater were non-functional for an average of 60 months in a project period of 10 years. To supplement the water supply demand during the non-functionality period, emergency water trucking and treatment was provided over a 10 year period at a per capita cost of USD 2,257. In comparison, the per capita cost of piped water supplies was USD 65 for a project period of 20 years. The study concluded that piped water supplies are less expensive than point source supplies when CAPEX and emergency water supply provision costs are considered under a life cycle cost analysis.
Diabetes insipidus after discontinuation of vasopressin infusion for septic shock.

What is known and objective Despite widespread use of vasopressin for the treatment of septic shock, few cases of diabetes insipidus (DI) following its discontinuation have been reported. Case summary A 54-year-old man presented with pneumonia progressing to septic shock, requiring norepinephrine and vasopressin for refractory hypotension. After clinical improvement, the patient on 3 separate occasions developed polyuria and severe hypernatremia upon discontinuation of vasopressin, with prompt recovery upon its resumption. What is new and conclusion Occurrence of DI upon discontinuation of vasopressin infusion appears to be rare, but incidence may be underestimated due to a paucity of published reports. Actual incidence and underlying mechanism of this phenomenon remain to be elucidated.
Evolutionary Approaches for Resilient Surveillance Management

The efficient management (placement and orientation) of security cameras within a floor plan is a well-known and difficult problem that has gained attention recently. The objective is to locate the minimum number of cameras in the space to ensure all walls are within the view of at least one camera. Heuristic-based approaches have been developed for this NP-hard problem, unfortunately, most are only applicable to static situations. In modern applications, surveillance management must be resilient, and adapt if the environment changes. This paper introduces evolutionary-based approaches for active surveillance camera management. Using an evolutionary-based approach, a surveillance configuration (camera locations and orientations) is encoded as a chromosome and evolutionary processes are applied to identify better solutions over successive generations. The approach has the ability to identify efficient surveillance configurations (minimum number of cameras with maximum coverage), however, another advantage is the ability to adapt if the environment unexpectedly changes. Simulation results demonstrate this type of approach can manage surveillance cameras under dynamic conditions such as camera loss and the introduction obstacles better than traditional search methods.
Italian Fascism’s empire cinema

‘Movies made during the Fascist dictatorship were “the skeleton in the closet” of the Italian film industry. As features supporting Fascist wars and occupations, empire films were at the heart of t...
A New Extension of the Riemann Integral

Using an equivalence relation on the hyperreals called approximation, a new extension of the Riemann integral is motivated and introduced in which every bounded function is integrable and for which...
Long-term in-situ assessment of vacuum insulation panels for integration into roofing systems: Five years of field-performance

Abstract The use of vacuum insulation panels (VIPs) is under investigation by the National Research Council for use as a complementary material for current insulation systems. VIP composites, consisting of VIPs sandwiched between polyiso panels, were constructed and incorporated into a modified bitumen roofing system in Ottawa, Canada. The VIP composite, as well as a conventional polyiso system, were monitored in-situ for a period of five years to observe their performance. It was found that the composite VIP insulation outperformed the conventional polyiso system for all months and years monitored, providing an increased barrier to heat flow, reduced temperature driving forces for energy loss, and R-values that were on average twice that of the conventional polyiso system. The long-term performance was also assessed for the five year period and it was found that the VIP composite performed within a 10% margin of its original value for consecutive years. This study successfully demonstrated the energy saving potential that can be achieved through incorporating VIPs into current roofing and building applications.
Late Cretaceous marine arthropods relied on terrestrial organic matter as a food source: Geochemical evidence from the Coon Creek Lagerstätte in the Mississippi Embayment.

The Upper Cretaceous Coon Creek Lagerstatte of Tennessee, USA, is known for its extremely well-preserved mollusks and decapod crustaceans. However, the depositional environment of this unit, particularly its distance to the shoreline, has long been equivocal. To better constrain the coastal proximity of the Coon Creek Formation, we carried out a multiproxy geochemical analysis of fossil decapod (crab, mud shrimp) cuticle and associated sediment from the type section. Elemental analysis and Raman spectroscopy confirmed the presence of kerogenized carbon in the crabs and mud shrimp; carbon isotope (δ13 C) analysis of bulk decapod cuticle yielded similar mean δ13 C values for both taxa (-25.1‰ and -26‰, respectively). Sedimentary biomarkers were composed of n-alkanes from C16 to C36 , with the short-chain n-alkanes dominating, as well as other biomarkers (pristane, phytane, hopanes). Raman spectra and biomarker thermal maturity indices suggest that the Coon Creek Formation sediments are immature, which supports retention of unaltered, biogenic isotopic signals in the fossil organic carbon remains. Using our isotopic results and published calcium carbonate δ13 C values, we modeled carbon isotope values of carbon sources in the Coon Creek Formation, including potential marine (phytoplankton) and terrestrial (plant) dietary sources. Coon Creek Formation decapod δ13 C values fall closer to those estimated for terrigenous plants than marine phytoplankton, indicating that these organisms were feeding primarily on terrigenous organic matter. From this model, we infer that the Coon Creek Formation experienced significant terrigenous organic matter input via a freshwater source and thus was deposited in a shallow, nearshore marine environment proximal to the shoreline. This study helps refine the paleoecology of nearshore settings in the Mississippi Embayment during the global climatic shift in the late Campanian-early Maastrichtian and demonstrates for the first time that organic δ13 C signatures in exceptionally preserved fossil marine arthropods are a viable proxy for use in paleoenvironmental reconstructions.
Factors predicting glycemic control in middle-aged and older adults with type 2 diabetes.

Introduction Few studies have prospectively assessed the explanatory effects of demographics, clinical conditions, treatment modality, and general lifestyle behaviors on glycemic control in large heterogeneous samples of middle-aged and older adults with type 2 diabetes. We hierarchically examined these factors, focused especially on the effects of modifiable factors (ie, general lifestyle behaviors), and compared predictive patterns between middle-aged and older adults. Methods We used nationally representative data from the 1998 and 2000 Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and the HRS 2003 Diabetes Study. We analyzed data from 379 middle-aged adults (aged 51-64 y) and 430 older adults (aged >or=65 y) who self-reported having type 2 diabetes at baseline. Results Among middle-aged adults, demographic factors and clinical conditions were the strongest predictors of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels. However, among older adults, treatment modality (diet only, oral medication, or insulin only or in combination with other regimens) significantly affected HbA1c levels. Lifestyle (physical activity, smoking, drinking, and body weight control), independent of the effects of demographics, clinical conditions, and treatment modality, significantly affected HbA1c levels. An increase of 1 healthy behavior was associated with a decrease in HbA1c levels of more than 1 percentage point. Conclusion Our findings provide support for current diabetes guidelines that recommend a lifestyle regimen across the entire span of diabetes care and highlight the need to help both sociodemographically and clinically disadvantaged middle-aged adults with type 2 diabetes as well as older adults who exhibit poor adherence to medication recommendations to achieve better glycemic control.
Interference and Inhibition in Cognition and Behavior: Unifying Themes for Educational Psychology

In this article, we review modern work on interference and inhibition in cognition and behavior. We begin by briefly reviewing the historical and conceptual roots of this new body of work. Next we discuss five new theoretical frameworks that use the concepts of interference and inhibition to explain cognitive and behavioral phenomena. In the section that follows, we review evidence of individual and developmental differences in inhibition and susceptibility to interference in “at-risk” students. We then consider the implications of this new body of work for research on educational psychology by discussing six selected areas of research: intelligence, strategies, reading comprehension, logical and mathematical reasoning, self-regulated learning, and retention. In the next section, we explore four critical issues that pose significant challenges to research in inhibition and interference. Finally, we discuss the relevance of this work to educational practice by focusing on its implications for the curriculum and instruction. Throughout, our principal goal is to bring this new body of work to the attention of the readers of this journal and to show how it might be useful in guiding research and theory in educational psychology.
Melanoma On Conjunctiva

Ocular melanomas seen in dermatopathology or general pathology practice are mostly on the palpebral and on the bulbar conjunctiva. Conjunctiva can be also secondarily involved by cutaneous melanoma of the eyelid. The special features of conjunctival nevi can make this a challenging area.
Population Genomics of Birds: Evolutionary History and Conservation

The use of genome-scale data to understand the evolutionary history of birds has provided important progress in the field of evolutionary biology and conservation. Here we review the conceptual advances of avian genomics, along with key examples from the literature. In each section, we contrast studies that utilized only a small number of genetic markers to studies that incorporated many independent loci across the genome. We discuss the important characteristics of avian genome architecture, and we explore the connections between DNA sequence variation and ecologically relevant phenotypes, such as color and morphology. We ask how environmental factors have left their mark on the genomes of birds and how genomic data can be used to reconstruct histories across multiple species. We outline how admixture and reticulate evolutionary histories have been an important source of variation and review cases in which hybridization has possibly led to the formation of new species. Finally, we discuss how genomic data have helped delineate population structure and inform conservation actions in declining avian species. Like in other taxonomic groups, the ever-expanding molecular toolbox for avian biologists is at once becoming more accessible in cost and more powerful in its applications. Therefore, the study of avian genomes will continue to provide important insights into many aspects of ecology, evolutionary history, and conservation biology.
Incidence, Trends, and Diagnosis of Perioperative Acute Kidney Injury

The incidence of all postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI), including the subset requiring dialysis, is increasing. Modern definitions for AKI, including Risk, Injury, Failure, Loss, and End-Stage Kidney Disease (RIFLE), Acute Kidney Injury Network (AKIN), and Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO), have increased sensitivity and have standardized understanding of AKI, allowing improved epidemiologic study. The reported incidence of AKI following cardiac surgery historically has varied by AKI definition from <1.5 % for cases requiring dialysis to 25 % when AKI is defined as a rise in creatinine of 25 %. AKI rates in noncardiac surgery are significantly lower with the exception of patients in the intensive care unit and those receiving solid organ transplants. Despite rising AKI incidence, multiple studies have found mortality rates in postoperative patients with AKI to either be stable or falling.
Rapid identification of phosphorus-efficient genotypes from commercially grown tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) varieties in a simulated soil solution

This study aimed at developing a successful scheme to identify P-efficient varieties. A simulated soil solution (SSS), comprised of Hoagland solution slightly modified with tri-calcium phosphate (T...
Refractive outcomes and accuracy of IOL power calculation with the SRK/T formula for sutured, scleral-fixated Akreos AO60 intraocular lenses.

Scleral fixation of intraocular lenses has become a popular procedure for treating aphakia in the absence of capsular support. However, the lens formulas used to predict refractive outcomes were designed for in-the-bag lens placement. This study evaluates the accuracy of the SRK/T formula in predicting a target postoperative refraction when suturing a scleral-fixated intraocular lens (IOL) implant 3 mm posterior to the limbus. This is a retrospective, case series including 20 eyes of 20 patients who underwent scleral fixation of Akreos AO60 IOLs (Bausch & Lomb, Rochester, NY) by a single surgeon at the OSU Wexner Medical Center. Preoperative measurements were performed with optical biometry, and IOL power was calculated with the SRK/T formula. Following surgery, the actual refractive spherical equivalent (SE) was performed and compared with the preoperative prediction. Prediction error (PE), defined as the deviation of actual postoperative SE refraction in diopters (D) from preoperative predicted SE refraction, was the primary outcome measure. The mean attempted (predicted) SE was − 1.12 D (± 0.87). Mean achieved SE was − 0.96 D (± 1.04). Mean PE (actual postoperative SE versus predicted preoperative SE) was 0.16 D (± 0.69). A total of 9 eyes (45%) were within ± 0.5 D of the predicted SE, 16 eyes (80%) were within ± 1.0 D, and all 20 eyes (100%) were within ± 1.5 D. IOL power calculation using the SRK/T formula with optical biometry demonstrates reliable postoperative refractive outcomes in patients undergoing scleral fixation of an IOL (Akreos AO60). Further studies are needed to refine the predictive value of the SRK/T and other formulas for application in scleral fixation of IOLs.
TROY signals through JAK1-STAT3 to promote glioblastoma cell migration and resistance

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common primary malignant brain tumor in adults and carries a discouraging prognosis. Its aggressive and highly infiltrative nature renders the current standard treatment of maximal surgical resection, radiation, and chemotherapy relatively ineffective. Identifying the signaling pathways that regulate GBM migration/invasion and resistance is required to develop more effective therapeutic regimens to treat GBM. Expression of TROY, an orphan receptor of the TNF receptor superfamily, increases with glial tumor grade, inversely correlates with patient overall survival, stimulates GBM cell invasion in vitro and in vivo, and increases resistance to temozolomide and radiation therapy. Conversely, silencing TROY expression inhibits GBM cell invasion, increases sensitivity to temozolomide, and prolongs survival in a preclinical intracranial xenograft model. Here, we have identified for the first time that TROY interacts with JAK1. Increased TROY expression increases JAK1 phosphorylation. In addition, increased TROY expression promotes STAT3 phosphorylation and STAT3 transcriptional activity that is dependent upon JAK1. TROY-mediated activation of STAT3 is independent of its ability to stimulate activity of NF-κB. Inhibition of JAK1 activity by ruxolitinib or knockdown of JAK1 expression by siRNA significantly inhibits TROY-induced STAT3 activation, GBM cell migration, and decreases resistance to temozolomide. Taken together, our data indicate that the TROY signaling complex may represent a potential therapeutic target with the distinctive capacity to exert effects on multiple pathways mediating GBM cell invasion and resistance.
Fast approximate learning-based multistage nonlinear model predictive control using Gaussian processes and deep neural networks

Abstract Scenario-based model predictive control (MPC) methods introduce recourse into optimal control and can thus reduce the conservativeness inherent to open-loop robust MPC. However, the uncertainty scenarios are often generated offline using worst-case uncertainty bounds quantified a priori, limiting the potential gains in control performance. This paper presents a learning-based multistage MPC (msMPC) for systems with hard-to-model dynamics and time-varying plant-model mismatch. Gaussian Processes (GP) are used to learn state- and input-dependent plant-model mismatch in real-time and accordingly adapt the scenario tree online. Due to the increased computational complexity associated with incorporating the GP predictions into the optimal control problem, the learning-based msMPC (LB-msMPC) law is approximated by a deep neural network (DNN) that is cheap-to-evaluate online and has a small memory footprint, which makes it suitable for embedded applications. In addition, we present a novel algorithm for training the DNN-based controller that uses a GP description of the plant-model mismatch to generate closed-loop simulation data, which ensures the LB-msMPC law is evaluated in regions of the state space most relevant to closed-loop operation. The proposed LB-msMPC strategy is demonstrated on a cold atmospheric plasma jet with applications in (bio)materials processing. The simulation results indicate the promise of the approximate LB-msMPC strategy for control of hard-to-model systems with fast dynamics on millisecond timescales.
Examining Different Alternatives to Delta Tc (ΔTc) as a Parameter to Screen Asphalt Binders

The Superpave performance grading (or PG) framework or a variation of this framework is often used as a purchase specification in the United States and as a tool to evaluate the expected performance of modified and unmodified asphalt binders in many countries around the world. During the last decade and in response to changes in the use of modified binders and extenders, several modifications and improvements have been proposed and implemented to improve this framework. One such modification is the use of the ΔTc parameter, which is based on the stiffness and m-value of an asphalt binder measured at low temperatures, as a metric to screen asphalt binders that contain higher concentrations of potentially deleterious refining products or as an indicator for susceptibility to premature cracking. The estimation of this parameter requires the determination of the true low temperature grade of the asphalt binder based on measurements carried out using a bending beam rheometer at multiple temperatures. This study explores the expected variability associated with the determination of this parameter as well as alternative metrics that can be more easily used on a routine basis as a quality control tool to screen binders with a low ΔTc value. Based on the evaluation of nearly 200 binders from several different suppliers in and around the state of Texas, this study shows that a combined use of stiffness and m-value measured at the low grade test temperature of the asphalt binder can be used as an effective specification/screening tool to detect binders that result in a very low value of ΔTc.
Assessing differences between university and federal lab postdoc scientists in technology transfer

Although there are numerous studies of university technology transfer, there have been relatively few recent studies of technology transfer at federal labs. Studies of university technology transfe...
Case-Study Instruction in Educational Psychology: Implications for Teacher Preparation

Case-study instruction has become increasingly popular as a way for preprofessional teachers to actively engage in problem-solving for real-life classroom situations. Case-study activity allows for social dialog and exploration in an atmosphere of shared learning among peers and instructor, and it also affords prospective teachers the opportunity to see how a teacher works jointly with other stakeholders such as the school principal, guidance counselor, and students and their parents in order to assist a student’s academic learning. Benefits associated with this method of teaching include preservice teachers gaining an appreciation for the complexities involved in teaching, opportunities for scaffolding of critical thinking skills, students being involved in authentic learning experiences in teacher decision-making, and student motivation to learn academic content. The chapter also includes suggestions for instructors in teacher preparation programs wishing to successfully incorporate case-study instruction into their classrooms.
A Modified Skip-Lot Sampling Plan

A modified skip-lot sampling plan is presented under which at least one unit is always sampled from a lot. The formulas for the acceptance probability and average sample number using this plan are ...
Quality evaluation of HIV screening laboratories in Jieyang City in 2008.

Objective Through external quality assessment to standardize the quality of HIV screening laboratories of Jieyang City. Method 13 HIV screening laboratories of medical and health institutions were inspected for quality assurance in Jieyang City in 2008. Result Comprehensive evaluation results showed the quality of the laboratories were 7.69% excellent,61.54% good, and 30.77% qualified. Laboratories of the medical institutions have lower appraisal values. The main problem lies in the wrong detection and unable to detect of weak positive samples. The overall problems of the laboratories are not sufficient quality control,lack of calibration of the equipments for quantitative measurement, and no biosafety management. Conclusion The overall quality of the HIV screening laboratories in Jieyang City is satifactory but general weaknesses are unable to detect weak positive samples, lack of quality control and safety management.