cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Trajectory Synthesizer Generalized Profile Interface

The Trajectory Synthesizer is a software program that generates aircraft predictions for Air Traffic Management decision support tools. The Trajectory Synthesizer being used by researchers at NASA Ames Research Center was restricted in the number of trajectory types that could be generated. This limitation was not sufficient to support the rapidly changing Air Traffic Management research requirements. The Generalized Profile Interface was developed to address this issue. It provides a flexible approach to describe the constraints applied to trajectory generation and may provide a method for interoperability between trajectory generators. It also supports the request and generation of new types of trajectory profiles not possible with the previous interface to the Trajectory Synthesizer. Other enhancements allow the Trajectory Synthesizer to meet the current and future needs of Air Traffic Management research.
A feature-checking analysis of Japanese scrambling

This paper explains several unique aspects of scrambling. Using the scrambling feature (Σ-feature) proposed by Grewendorf & Sabel (1999), I discuss (a) what derives the difference between A-scrambling and DP-movement, (b) why scrambling shows radical reconstruction properties, while an operator--variable relation is established in wh-questions, and (c) why we find several types of scrambling. I propose a Feature Interpretation Principle, which states that a feature checking relationship established in derivation is preserved at LF. I show that the Feature Interpretation Principle, together with the multiple feature-checking parameter of Ura (1996) and the nature of heads, explains most of the unique properties of scrambling.
Experimental observations of steep temperature steps in dense magnetized plasmas

Quasi-steady-state steep temperature steps have been experimentally observed in dense $(g{10}^{19}{m}^{\ensuremath{-}3})$ linear magnetized helium plasma columns submerged in a high-density ( $g100$ mT) neutral-gas environment. The formation of such features is found to be favored by a high neutral gas density or a positive bias $(\ensuremath{\ge}{V}_{\mathrm{fl}})$ placed on the end plate. A rapid reduction in plasma density and electron temperature is observed to exist across the steps, as is a dramatic increase in neutral line radiation. Potential steps are inferred. Detailed Langmuir probe measurements have revealed three-dimensional structures. Possible mechanisms of formation are discussed.
Validity of International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes for estimating the prevalence of venous ulcer.

Background The American Venous Forum issued a call to reduce the prevalence of venous ulcers (VUs) by 50% in 10 years. The objectives of this study were to determine the validity of the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes for VU and to estimate the prevalence of VU in a well-defined geographic population (Olmsted County, Minn). Methods Rochester Epidemiology Project resources and 18 VU ICD-9-CM codes were used to identify residents with possible VUs during the 2-year period 2010-2011 (n = 1551). The complete medical records in the community were reviewed for a 15% random sample (n = 227) of these residents, and on the basis of prespecified criteria, patients were categorized as a VU or non-VU case. Continuous and categorical variables were compared between groups by the two-sample t-test and χ2 test. Results Ninety-three patients (41%) had active or healed VUs, 83 had non-VUs, and 51 never had ulcers but had stasis skin changes or skin infection. ICD-9-CM code 454.0 best identified VU cases (sensitivity, 24%; specificity, 100%). VU patients were older and heavier and more frequently had bilateral ulcers. On the basis of the random sample review, an estimated 635 patients had healed or active VUs during the 2-year period of the study. The prevalence of VUs in the Olmsted County population was estimated to be 210 per 100,000 person-years, with VU incidence (newly diagnosed ulcers) of 85 per 100,000 person-years. Conclusions ICD-9-CM VU codes operated poorly for VU identification. VU surveillance for estimating trends in incidence and prevalence of VUs will require better methods. The estimated prevalence of VUs in Olmsted County is 210 per 100,000 person-years. New ulcers developed each year in 85 of 100,000 people, an incidence that seems to be higher than in the previous epidemiologic study in this population.
Arginine vasopressin in the treatment of 50 patients with postcardiotomy vasodilatory shock.

Abstract Background . The barroreflex-mediated secretion of arginine vasopressin has been found to be defective in a variety of vasodilatory shock states, such as postcardiotomy shock, and administration of the hormone markedly improves vasomotor tone and blood pressure. The high incidence of vasodilatory shock in patients undergoing left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation makes this population an ideal model in which to assess the risks and benefits of vasopressin. Methods . The medical records of the 102 patients receiving LVADs at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center from January 1995 to August 1998 were reviewed. Fifty patients were eligible for study based on a history of arginine vasopressin administration in the operating room or intensive care unit within 24 hours of implantation. Results . Despite LVAD implantation and the administration of vasopressors, patients were hypotensive with a mean arterial pressure less than 60 mm Hg. The administration of vasopressin (0.09 ± 0.05 U/min) increased mean arterial pressure (58 ± 13 to 75 ± 14 mm Hg; p p = 0.023). There was no significant change in LVAD flow. The incidence of compromised regional perfusion was not different between LVAD patients who received vasopressin as compared to hemodynamically stable LVAD patients who did not receive vasopressin. Conclusions . We have demonstrated vasopressin at low doses to be a safe and an effective vasopressor in 50 patients with postcardiotomy vasodilatory shock.
Singlet-triplet interconversion of diphenylmethylene. Energetics, dynamics and reactivities of different spin states

Abstract A combination of picosecond and nanosecond laser spectroscopy measurements, chemical quenching experiments and triplet sensitization experiments has allowed the determination of the rapid singlet to triplet and slower triplet to singlet intersystem crossing rates for diphenylmethylene in fluid solution at room temperature. It is shown that under the conditions of the kinetic measurements, singlet and triplet diphenylmethylene ( 1 DPM and 3 DPM, respectively) are in rapid equilibrium relative to reactions, so that knowledge of the values of k ST and k TS allows determination of the equilibrium constant and change in free energy for the 1 DPM 〈 3 DPM process. The absolute reactivity of 1 DPM toward a series of alcohols has been determined and is discussed in terms of other current investigations of carbene reactivity.
DRO CONTINGENCIES: AN ANALYSIS OF VARIABLE‐MOMENTARY SCHEDULES

We conducted several comparative analyses to determine the relative effectiveness of variable-momentary differential-reinforcement-of-other-behavior (VM DRO) schedules. Three individuals who had been diagnosed with mental retardation participated. Results of functional analyses indicated that their self-injurious behavior (SIB) was maintained by social-positive reinforcement. Two individuals participated in a two-stage comparative analysis within multielement and multiple baseline designs. Fixed-interval (FI) and variable-interval (VI) DRO were compared in the first stage; VI DRO and VM DRO were compared in the second. All three schedules effectively reduced the participants' SIB. Treatment for the 3rd individual was conducted in a reversal design to examine the effects of VM DRO when it was implemented in isolation, and results indicated that the procedure was effective in reducing SIB. These findings suggest that VM DRO schedules may represent attractive alternatives to traditional FI schedules because momentary schedules do not require continuous monitoring and may result in higher rates of reinforcement.
Emergence And Quantum Mechanics

In a recent article Humphreys has developed an intriguing proposal for making sense of emergence. The crucial notion for this purpose is what he calls “fusion” and his paradigm for it is quantum nonseparability. In what follows, we will develop this position in more detail, and then discuss its ramifications and limitations. Its ramifications are quite radical; its limitations are substantial. An alternative approach to emergence that involves quantum physics is then proposed.
Feasibility of NMR Zeugmatographic Imaging of the Heart and Lungs

Image formation by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) zeugmatography is accomplished by placing an object in a magnetic field and subjecting it to radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation. The magnetic field may be considered to be composed of a constant uniform field and a smaller adjustable field that varies across the object. Atomic nuclei with magnetic moments, such as the protons in water and organic substances, bring about a resonant absorption of radiofrequency energy at a sharply defined frequency proportional to the strength of the magnetic field at each point within the object. The small non-uniform component of the field may be altered so that each part of the object has a different magnetic history, and the corresponding slight differences in the NMR resonance frequencies can be used to construct a 1-, 2-, or 3-dimensional image of the distribution of the resonant nuclei within the object.
Window queries over data streams

Evaluating queries over data streams has become an appealing way to support various stream-processing applications. Window queries are commonly used in many stream applications. In a window query, certain query operators, especially blocking operators and stateful operators, appear in their windowed versions. Previous research work in evaluating window queries typically requires ordered streams and this order requirement limits the implementations of window operators and also carries performance penalties. This thesis presents efficient and flexible algorithms for evaluating window queries. We first present a new data model for streams, progressing streams, that separates stream progress from physical-arrival order. Then, we present our window semantic definitions for the most commonly used window operators—window aggregation and window join. Unlike previous research that often requires ordered streams when describing window semantics, our window semantic definitions do not rely on physical-stream arrival properties. Based on the window semantic definitions, we present new implementations of window aggregation and window join, WID and OA-Join. Compared to the existing implementations of stream query operators, our implementations do not require special stream-arrival properties, particularly stream order. In addition, for window aggregation, we present two other implementations extended from WID, Paned-WID and AdaptWID, to improve execution time by sharing sub-aggregates and to improve memory usage for input with data distribution skew, respectively. Leveraging our order-insenstive implementations of window operators, we present a new architecture for stream systems, OOP (Out-of-Order Processing). Instead of relying on ordered streams to indicate stream progress, OOP explicitly communicates stream progress to query operators, and thus is more flexible than the previous in-order processing (IOP) approach, which requires maintaining stream order. We implemented our order-insensitive window query operators and the OOP architecture in NiagaraST and Gigascope. Our performance study in both systems confirms the benefits of our window operator implementations and the OOP architecture compared to the commonly used approaches in terms of memory usage, execution time and latency.
The Affordable Care Act Efficiencies Defense in Section 7 Cases: FTC v. St. Luke's and Antitrust Unicorns

in an earlier article commenting on the District Court decision in the FTC vs. St. Luke’s litigation, I pointed out that the court recognized that the acquisition of Saltzer by St. Luke’s was intended to, and would have had the effect of, improving patient outcomes. The court still blocked the acquisition, however, because it found that there might have been other ways to achieve those improved outcomes and that since St. Luke’s had not proven that the acquisition path was the only viable one, it had not chosen the least restrictive alternative. Therefore, St. Luke’s had not rebutted the government’s prima facie case based on the market share of the proposed merged entity.The Court of Appeals affirmed, stating that while the parties and the court believed that the merger was intended—and indeed would have led to — better patient outcomes, the District Court had correctly found that the huge market share of the post-merger entity created a substantial risk of anticompetitive price increases and that the offered efficiencies were not an adequate defense.Two rather provocative issues for health care mergers come out of the decisions in this case: (1) The policies and intent of the Affordable Care Act seem to have no effect on the antitrust analysis to be applied in these cases: and (2) High post-merger market shares/HHIs create a presumption of harm that cannot be rebutted except by the nearly impossible task of proving a negative (that there is no less restrictive way to achieve the better patient outcomes). The prima facie case has become close to irrebuttable.
Examination of Some Vibration Isolator Models and Their Effects on Vibration and Structure-borne Noise Transmission

A vibration isolator or mount is often modeled by the Voigt model describing uni-axial (longitudinal) motion with frequency-invariant parameters. However, wave effects due to the mass distribution within the isolator are observed as the frequency is increased. Further, flexural stiffness components play an important role, leading to off-axis and coupling effects. Thus, the simplified mount models could lead to erroneous predictions of the dynamic behavior of an overall system such as automotive powertrain or chassis mounting systems. This article compares various approximate isolator models using a multi-dimensional mobility model that is based on the continuous system theory. Harmonic force and moment excitations are separately applied to a rigid body source to investigate the multi-dimensional vibratory behavior. Analysis is however limited to a linear time-invariant system and the mobility synthesis method is utilized to predict the frequency domain behavior. Alternate receiver models, such as infinite and finite plates, are employed to examine the asymptotic and resonant behaviors of the power-based isolation measures. Finally, an inverted 'L' plate receiver is selected to represent a simplified vehicle body structure and sound radiated from this receiver is computed to assess the structure-borne noise transmitted through mounts. The roles and effects of coupling terms, frequency dependency and discrete element modeling of stiffnesses on vibration and sound isolation measures are identified over a broad range of frequencies.
Thymus and Lymph Nodes Following Adrenalectomy and Maintenance with NaCl in the Rat.

Summary1. The thymus gland of adrenalectomized male rats maintained for 45 days on sodium chloride does not undergo the involution characterizing the gland in normal untreated animals or those trea...
Identification of PTEN/MMAC1 alterations in uncultured melanomas and melanoma cell lines.

A novel tumor suppressor gene, PTEN/MMAC1, has been recently shown to be mutated in gliomas, breast, prostate, kidney cancers and melanomas. Loss-of-heterozygosity studies in melanoma have suggested the presence of at least one chromosome 10q locus lost early in tumor progression. In this study, we screened 45 melanoma cell lines and 17 paired uncultured metastatic melanoma and peripheral blood specimens for PTEN/MMAC1 alterations using PCR-SSCP and direct sequencing. We found nine melanoma cell lines with homozygous deletions (five with intragenic loss) and four cell lines with mutations (one nonsense and one frameshift; two intronic); from among our uncultured melanoma specimens, we found one tumor with a somatic 17 bp duplication in exon 7 leading to a premature stop codon and one tumor with a possible homozygous deletion. Furthermore, we have identified a novel intragenic polymorphism within intron 4 of PTEN/MMAC1. Taken together, these data suggest that PTEN/MMAC1 may be a chromosome 10q tumor suppressor important in melanoma tumor formation or progression.
Electrochemical inactivation of Bacillus spores in drinking water using a quaternary oxide electrode

Bacillus spores are resistant to disinfection methods and they represent a potential threat that requires improved methods to ensure water safety. Bacillus thuringiensis (BT) and B. anthracis Sterne (BA) spores were used to investigate the effectiveness of the electrochemical (EC) disinfection process. We tested the quaternary metal oxide (TiO 2 –Sb 2 O 5 –SnO 2 –RuO 2 ) as the anode material in an EC cell for the inactivation of the spores. The presence of chloride ions at low concentrations was found to be critical for the effective inactivation of BT spores. Active chlorine was produced in-situ by anodic oxidation of chloride in the solutions. Local tap water used as a realistic test solution was found to contain average chloride concentrations of 1.2 mM. High concentrations of active chlorine were generated in the range of 0.35 to 0.5 mM (25 to 35 mg/L) to ensure that the high concentrations of spores were inactivated. We showed that the amount of active chlorine produced in the EC cell can be readily controlled by the operating conditions, including potential, flow rate and chloride content. Scanning electron images of the EC treated spores indicate damage to the outer membranes resulting in disruption and leakage of the spore contents. EC water disinfection processes using inexpensive electrode materials are a promising alternative as shown by inactivation of challenging biological threats such as Bacillus spores.
Unusual Presentation of Chronic Ureteral Obstruction

AbstractA case is reported of chronic unilateral ureteral obstruction presenting as lower back pain 1 year after radiotherapy and surgical treatment of an endometrial malignancy. The computerized axial tomogram was interpreted as showing a large retrohepatic mass. Urological evaluation with excretory urography, retrograde pyelography and sonography revealed the mass to be a large right subcapsular renal urinoma with spontaneous subcapsular renal parenchymal rupture. The differential diagnosis, pathophysiology and management of unilateral ureteral obstruction, as well as the pathogenesis of subcapsular renal urinoma, are discussed.
Athletic Training Students' Perceptions of Mentorship in Clinical Education

Context: Mentorship is a developmental process whereby a novice individual, as he/she becomes inducted into his/her area of expertise, is guided by a more experienced person. Speculation exists that years of experience can impact this relationship. Objective: To determine the impact mentoring can have on athletic training student development and evaluate if experience as a preceptor is viewed as influential on the mentor experience. Design: Mixed-methods study. Setting: Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education accredited programs. Patients or Other Participants: We recruited 17 (14 females, 3 males) athletic training students to participate in our study. On average, our participants were 21 ± 1 years old and represented varying levels of academic standing (1 sophomore, 9 juniors, 7 seniors). All participants indicated they currently had a mentor when asked directly. Main Outcome Measure(s): Participants responded to the Athletic Training Perceptions of Effective Mentoring survey and 14 o...
'Epistemic Disobedience': the de-colonial option and the meaning of identity in politics

Two interrelated theses sustain the argu­ment. First, identity IN politics (rather than identity politics) is a necessary course of thought and action in view of the iron cage of modern (e.g., European from Ma­chiavelli on) political theory. Insofar as modern political theory is—knowingly or not—racist and patriarchal by denying political agency to people classified as in­ferior (in terms of race, gender, sexuality, etc.), and insofar as they have been denied epistemic agency for the same reason (the second thesis), all de-colonial political moves (non-racist and non-heterosexually patriarchal) must engage in epistemic and political disobedience. “Civil disobedien­ce,” as predicated by Mahatma Ghandi and Martin Luther King, Jr. were great moves indeed. But, civil without epistemic diso­bedience will remain caught in games ruled by Eurocentric political economy and poli­tical theory. Both theses are pillars of the de-colonial option. Thus, the de-colonial option allows us to think in terms of the variegated spectrum of the Marxist left and — on the other hand — of the variegated spectrum of the de-colonial left. --- Original in English
Controlling surface topography using pulsed laser micro structuring

Abstract There is significant interest in controlling surface topography on metal parts including smoothing rough or wavy surfaces, adding aesthetic features, and creating functional structures. Pulsed laser micro structuring (PLμS) dynamically manipulates each pulse fluence during laser remelting to create a net, mass-neutral, lateral displacement of material several times greater than the melt pool diameter. This paper presents experimental investigations into specific process capabilities, example applications, and a novel phenomenological theory. The paper demonstrates how the resultant process can attenuate high-spatial-frequency roughness, correct mid-spatial-frequency error (i.e., waviness), and create desirable surface topography with a single laser system.
Sternal Fracture in Children: Diagnosis by Ultrasonography

Because of its subcutaneous location, the sternum can be examined sonographically using a linear scanner. We report about two children who experienced blunt chest trauma. Anterior–posterior chest X-rays were normal. Ultrasonic imaging confirmed a fracture of the sternum with dorsal displacement of the distal fragment (by 0.97 cm) in the first child and a transverse fracture of the body of the sternum without displacement in the second child. In both children, pericardial effusion was excluded by sonography. The displaced fracture of the sternum was confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which ruled out concomitant injuries of the soft tissues adjacent to the sternum. Both sternum fractures were managed nonoperatively. These cases serve to emphasize the importance of sonography that represents an ionizing radiation free, noninvasive, efficient, and safe imaging modality to diagnose fractures of the sternum in children while also enabling the assessment of the pericardium.
Hellbender Prey Preference Is Superseded by Native and Nonnative Prey Behavior

Abstract Long-term interactions often shape predator–prey relationships in the form of a co-evolutionary “arms race.” The arrival of nonnative species may disrupt these relationships by introducing novel behaviors that shift interactions in favor of one of the participants. Here we investigated the response of an imperiled native predator, the Eastern Hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis), to nonnative and native crayfish prey. Crayfish constitute an important prey item for hellbenders, and in the northern portion of its range where this research was conducted, the nonnative Rusty Crayfish (Orconectes rusticus) has become the dominant crayfish. The objective of this study was to determine prey choice and feeding success of hellbenders presented with native (Allegheny Crayfish; Orconectes obscurus) and nonnative (Rusty Crayfish) crayfish prey. We tested hellbender chemoreception in discriminating between the native and nonnative prey, analyzed behavioral interactions between hellbenders and crayfish du...
Molecular Evolution of Bacteriocins in Gram-Negative Bacteria

The study of molecular evolution has become a valuable tool in understanding the origin of life and the speciation of organisms, with the focus on changes in DNA and protein sequence and their functions. Interest in studying the molecular evolution of bacteriocins, the narrow-spectrum peptide antimicrobials, was elicited due to the broad diversity and abundance of these proteins. The availability of a large amount of data on colicins, the bacteriocins produced by the Gram-negative bacterium, Escherichia coli, made it a model bacteriocin to study molecular evolution. Colicins have characteristic features which make them amenable resources in the investigation of the mechanisms employed in evolution. In this chapter, we have reviewed these features of colicins and we describe models proposed to explain how these antimicrobial proteins have evolved. Further, we have described how our current understanding of colicin evolution is important to the understanding of colicin-like bacteriocins produced by other Gram-negative bacteria.
Breast Cancer Screening using a Dedicated Breast CT Scanner: A Feasibility Study

Physical measurements of radiation dose, image noise and contrast were performed on a clinical CT scanner, using cylinders of breast dimensions. The contrast to noise ratio and signal to noise ratio were calculated from these measured data. The SNR versus lesion diameter results demonstrate, based on Rose’s criterion (SNR≥5), that breast CT can produce excellent image quality at mean glandular doses comparable to mammography. The potential to identify smaller lesions may improve early detection performance, which in turn would likely result in a reduction of breast cancer mortality.
Emerging Issues in the Care of the Elderly

Older adults comprise the largest subgroup of patients seen in general medical settings. Yet, most health care professionals, including psychologists, have had little or no training in normal aging or in diseases that affect the aged. According to an American Psychological Association survey conducted in 1982, less than 5% of psychological services were delivered to elderly clients, and only a fraction of a percentage of psychologists in health settings reported a primary focus on aging (VandenBos & Stapp, 1983). This pattern is changing to a degree, through improvements in graduate curricula and in clinical experience provided by internship and postdoctoral programs. However, there continues to be a need to integrate expertise in rapidly growing subspecialties such as neuropsychology, health psychology, and behavioral medicine, with an understanding of the psychology of aging.
Preventing Peanut Allergy

The rising prevalence of food allergy and specifically peanut allergy has had significant implications for affected patients, families, and society. The current standard of care remains strict avoidance and the use of emergency medications for accidental ingestions. There is recent evidence-based information to suggest that one approach to preventing peanut allergy lies in early introduction of peanut. This represents a paradigm shift from previous recommendations and has led to updated guidelines in the United States, Europe, and Australasia on the introduction of potentially allergenic foods in the infant diet. This new approach to prevention has some practical obstacles and challenges associated with its implementation. There is also growing interest in the role of maintaining a healthy skin barrier in prevention of sensitization and food allergy. Other approaches, including pro- and prebiotics, prenatal maternal dietary avoidance, breastfeeding, and the use of specific formulas, have not shown reproducibly favorable results. As children with peanut allergy are unlikely to outgrow their food allergy, early oral immunotherapy in those with established peanut allergy is being investigated with the hopes of altering the natural history of an otherwise lifelong disease.
The military approach to counterterrorism

Military forces are an indispensable complement to law enforcement and bring with them a number of organizational resources that are crucial to dealing with terrorism. The division of labour between police and military for counterterrorism functions is best conceptualized as a continuum rather than a chasm, with many counterterrorism organizations falling in between. The longstanding debate over the military dimension to counterterrorism has been transformed due to two developments. They are the growing popularity of counterinsurgency as a model for destroying terrorist groups in ungoverned spaces; and the rise of a light footprint approach, based on new technology like drones, which appear to give governments the opportunity to be discriminate, even surgical, in their air strikes against terrorist groups abroad with a costly occupation. The first major development that has transformed the military's role in counterterrorism has been the rise of counterinsurgency (COIN) as a way of dealing with terrorist groups.
Drug-Eluting Stents Compared With Bare Metal Stents for Stenting the Ductus Arteriosus in Infants With Ductal-Dependent Pulmonary Blood Flow

There have been no clinical studies evaluating the use of drug-eluting stents (DES) versus bare metal stents (BMS) for infants who underwent ductus arteriosus (DA) stent placement for ductal-dependent pulmonary blood flow (PBF). We aimed to compare the use of second-generation (fluoropolymer-coated everolimus) DES to BMS in infants who underwent DA stenting for ductal-dependent PBF. A retrospective study of infants who underwent DA stenting for ductal-dependent PBF from January 2004 to March 2018 at a single tertiary care pediatric hospital was performed. Of 94 infants identified, 71 (46 BMS and 25 DES) met inclusion criteria. Baseline characteristics of the DES and BMS cohorts were comparable. The patent lumen to stent diameter on subsequent angiographic evaluation was 81% in DES as compared with 50% in BMS group; p = 0.01. There were 2 deaths early in our experience, both in the BMS group. Unplanned reinterventions were less in the DES group (3, 12% patients) compared with the BMS group (13, 28%), p = 0.03. Pulmonary artery size as assessed using Nakata and pulmonary artery symmetry index was comparable in both the groups. There was no difference in infection rates between the groups. On multivariate analysis, prematurity, BMS, and lower oxygen saturations at discharge were associated with subsequent unplanned reintervention (p = 0.01, 0.03 and 0.03, respectively). In conclusion, our clinical experience suggests that in infants who underwent DA stenting for ductal-dependent PBF, (fluoropolymer-coated everolimus eluting) DES results in less luminal loss and lower unplanned reintervention for cyanosis as compared with BMS implantation.
Mathematics teaching efficacy and developmental trajectories: A mixed-methods investigation of novice K-5 teachers

Abstract The current mixed-methods study investigated the development of mathematics efficacy trajectories for novice teachers over the course of their teacher preparation and into their first two years of teaching. Participants (N = 245) were graduates of an elementary STEM-focused program from a major university in the United States. Overall, quantitative results showed that participants’ efficacy trajectory increased during their teacher preparation program and decreased during their first years of teaching. Additionally, efficacy trajectories were identified for particular groups that displayed patterns of either increased or decreased efficacy over time. Qualitative data helped explain when and why changes in teaching efficacy take place.
Overview of Retrovirology

In the 100 years since their discovery, retroviruses have played a special role in virology and in molecular biology. These agents have been at the center of cancer research and shaped our understanding of cell growth, differentiation and survival in ways that stretch far beyond investigations using these viruses. The discovery of retroviral oncogenes established the central paradigm that altered cellular genes can provide a dominant signal initiating cancer development. Their unique replication mechanism and their integration into cellular DNA allow these viruses to alter the properties of their hosts beyond the life span of the infected individual and contribute to the evolution of species. This same property has made retroviral vectors an important tool for gene therapy. Indeed, the impact of retrovirus research has been far-reaching and despite the amazing progress that has been made, retroviruses continue to reveal new insights into the host – pathogen interaction.
The eroding chromatin landscape of aging stem cells

Adult stem cells undergo both replicative and chronological aging in their niches, with catastrophic declines in regenerative potential with age. Due to repeated environmental insults during aging, the chromatin landscape of stem cells erodes, with changes in both DNA and histone modifications, accumulation of damage, and altered transcriptional response. A body of work has shown that altered chromatin is a driver of cell fate changes and a regulator of self-renewal in stem cells and therefore a prime target for juvenescence therapeutics. This review focuses on chromatin changes in stem cell aging and provides a composite view of both common and unique epigenetic themes apparent from the studies of multiple stem cell types.
Toward an Autonomous Aerial Survey and Planning System for Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Response

In this paper we propose an integrated system concept for autonomously surveying and planning emergency response for areas impacted by natural disasters. Referred to as AASAPS-HADR, this system is composed of a network of ground stations and autonomous aerial vehicles interconnected by an ad hoc emergency communication network. The system objectives are three-fold: to provide situational awareness of the evolving disaster event, to generate dispatch and routing plans for emergency vehicles, and to provide continuous communication networks which augment pre-existing communication infrastructure that may have been damaged or destroyed. Lacking development in previous literature, we give particular emphasis to the situational awareness objective of disaster response by proposing an autonomous aerial survey that is tasked with assessing damage to existing road networks, detecting and locating human victims, and providing a cursory assessment of casualty types that can be used to inform medical response priorities. In this paper we provide a high-level system design concept, identify existing AI perception and planning algorithms that most closely suit our purposes as well as technology gaps within those algorithms, and provide initial experimental results for non-contact health monitoring using real-time pose recognition algorithms running on a Nvidia Jetson TX2 mounted on board a quadrotor UAV. Finally we provide technology development recommendations for future phases of the AASAPS-HADR system2DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A. Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited..
Role of ceramides in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus and its complications

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a systemic metabolic disease that affects 463 million adults worldwide and is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease, blindness, nephropathy, peripheral neuropathy, and lower-limb amputation. Lipids have long been recognized as contributors to the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of DM and its complications, but recent discoveries have highlighted ceramides, a class of bioactive sphingolipids with cell signaling and second messenger capabilities, as particularly important contributors to insulin resistance and the underlying mechanisms of DM complications. Besides their association with insulin resistance and pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes, evidence is emerging that certain species of ceramides are mediators of cellular mechanisms involved in the initiation and progression of microvascular and macrovascular complications of DM. Advances in our understanding of these associations provide unique opportunities for exploring ceramide species as potential novel therapeutic targets and biomarkers. This review discusses the links between ceramides and the pathogenesis of DM and diabetic complications and identifies opportunities for novel discoveries and applications.
Alcohol messages disseminated to pregnant women by midwives.

Pregnant women frequently report inconsistent messages regarding alcohol consumption from their healthcare providers. Midwives play a major role in prenatal care. However, little research has exami...
Controllable Directional Excitation and Emission of Nanoemitters by a Subwavelength Mie Antenna

We derive a universal multipolar model for dipole-sphere hybrids, introduce single subwavelength silicon nanospheres at visible wavelengths with facile size control, and demonstrate controllable directional excitation and emission of nanoemitters (e.g. WS2, MoS2) for on-demand emission property modulations.
Paravertebral catheter study leaves questions unanswered

To the Editor We read with great interest the prospective observational study by Termpornlert et al [1][1] describing the distribution of injectate administered through ultrasound-guided paravertebral catheters using three different approaches. This study validates our own experience with
Models of Direct Time-of-Flight Sensor Precision That Enable Optimal Design and Dynamic Configuration

Direct time-of-flight (dToF) sensors that measure depth by pulsing a laser and timing the photon return are used in many applications, including consumer electronics for proximity sensing and depth map generation. A histogram of photon return times is measured and then processed to estimate object depth. By collecting many photons that span multiple bins of the histogram the final depth estimate interpolates between time-to-digital converter (TDC) bins to produce a result that is more precise than the converter resolution. The precision of this interpolation depends on the temporal spread of the measurement, the resolution of the TDC, and the number of signal and background photons measured. There is a need for dToF depth precision models to guide design and predict and tune performance during use. In this article, we present models that estimate sensor depth precision versus dToF design parameters and photons measured. We use Monte Carlo simulations and experimental measurements to prove the accuracy of the models. With proven models in hand, we investigate a dToF sensor design by first presenting the dependence of precision upon the TDC resolution and the signal-to-noise ratio. Second, we experimentally measure the depth precision versus the intensity of background illumination. The models closely match the measurements of background susceptibility and locate a transition point of background intensity below which precision is constant and above which the precision continuously degrades. Finally, experimental measurements demonstrate how the modeling enables dynamic tuning: from a single histogram we estimate precision, thus enabling sensor exposure time tuning for a target precision or prediction of the precision given a change in object distance or background illumination. This work presents straightforward models verified by simulation and measurement. These models guide dToF design and enable dynamic adjustments that benefit power-constrained usage scenarios.
Revisiting Opportunism in Civil Conflict: Natural Resource Extraction and Health Care Provision

What is the relationship between natural resources and rebel governance? Previous studies have argued that resource rich groups have fewer incentives to provide social services. We argue, however, ...
Comparison of Levels of Three Tobacco Smoke Exposure Biomarkers in Children of Smokers.

Objectives: Cotinine, 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL), and N-oxides are biomarkers of tobacco smoke exposure (TSE) used to assess short- and longer-term TSE. The objective of this study was to assess the associations between these TSE biomarkers, sociodemographics, parental smoking, and child TSE patterns among 0–17-year-olds. Methods: A convenience sample of 179 pediatric patients (mean (SD) age = 7.9 (4.3) years) who lived with ≥1 smoker and who had parental assessments completed and urine samples analyzed for the three TSE biomarkers of interest were included. Biomarker levels were log-transformed, univariate regression models were built and Pearson correlations were assessed. Results: In total, 100% of children had detectable levels of cotinine and >96% had detectable NNAL and N-oxide levels. The geometric means of cotinine, NNAL, and N-oxide levels were 10.1 ng/mL, 25.3 pg/mL, and 22.9 pg/mL, respectively. The mean (SD) number of daily cigarettes smoked by parents was 10.6 (6.0) cigarettes. Child age negatively correlated with urinary cotinine (r = −0.202, p = 0.007) and log NNAL levels (r = −0.275, p < 0.001). The highest log-cotinine levels were in children who were younger, of African American race, and whose parents had a lower education, an annual income ≤USD15,000, and no smoking bans. The highest log-NNAL and N-oxide levels were in children whose parents had a lower education, had no smoking bans, and were around higher numbers of cigarettes. Conclusion: Children of smokers who were younger, African American, and had no smoking bans had the highest TSE biomarker levels. Targeted interventions are needed to reduce TSE levels among high-risk children.
Dogmatomachy - A "Privatization" Theory of the Religion Clause Cases

Someone asked Edmund Burke if he was happy for the mass of Frenchmen liberated by the revolutionary events of 1789. “The effect of liberty to individuals,” Burke, ever solicitous of good order, replied, “is that they may do what they please: We ought to see what it will please them to do before we risque congratulations.... Thousands of miles away, but at almost precisely the same historical moment, James Madison surveyed the pleasures of a diverse, fractious people-his own-with this, and Burke’s postscript that “liberty, when men act in bodies, is power, undoubtedly in mind. In the Tenth Federalist, Madison contemplated the constitution of a historically unknown phenomenon: a politically stable, free society comprised of varied religious, ethnic, and economic groups. How could order be maintained in the face of such potentially mischievous “factions”? Madison realized that the options were limited. Civil tranquility could be reliably purchased by guiding everyone to the same opinions and interests, as was practically the case in traditional and authoritarian polities, but available in the new republic only at the cost of liberty.
Profile Soil Moisture from Surface Measurements

A method is presented for predicting the volumetric soil moisture of the soil profile from the surface layer soil moisture measurement and information on the soil properties of the profile under bare soil conditions. This method is based upon soil physics relationships and the assumption of hydraulic potential equilibrium throughout the profile. This procedure was tested using data generated with a soil-moisture-simulation model for a variety of situations involving bare soils. Results indicated that this procedure can be used to predict profile soil moisture within acceptable error bounds under some conditions. However, the surface layer measurements should be made during predawn period. The optimal surface layer thickness inferred from the analyses was about 0.1 m (4 in). These results provide some guidelines for developing remote sensing methods for soil-moisture determination.
Chaotic Advection of the Shallow Kuroshio Coastal Waters

The shallow coastal water of the Enshu-Nada Sea (ENSW) recirculates regardless of whether the Kuroshio path is straight or has meanders. The recirculation is formed as a result of flow separation at the sharp coastline. The outputs of a recent numerical simulation of the Kuroshio current, including case of a short-term meander caused by an anticyclonic eddy, were analysed to track the motion of the ENSW. In contrast to the steady-flow cases, the unsteady cases showed that the ENSW discharges into the Kuroshio Extension region and intrudes further north into the Kuroshio-Oyashio confluence region due to chaotic advection. Two hyperbolic stagnation points of the velocity field characterise the transport paths; one south of the Izu peninsula and the other at the Kuroshio Extension. This mechanism exists even without the Ekman drift and may play an important role in the transportation of the fish eggs and larvae from the southern Japan spawning ground to the food abundant Kuroshio-Oyashio transition zone.
Prognostication in patients with coronary artery disease: preliminary results of radionuclide cineangiographic studies.

Radionuclide cineangiography during exercise has frequently been demonstrated to be of value in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease (Borer et al. 1977, 1979, 1980). However, the quantitative nature of the technique lends itself readily not only to the detection of disease, but also - by permitting determination of the extent of change in left ventricular ejection fraction from rest to maximal exercise — to assessment of the functional severity of ischemia in a given individual (Borer et al. 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980; Kent et al. 1978). It seems intuitively reasonable that prognosis of the individual patient should depend directly on the functional severity of ischemia from which he or she suffers. Parenthetically, it is increasingly clear that coronary arteriography, as it is currently performed and analyzed, provides only a general guide to the severity of ischemia (Borer et al. 1979).
A Lagrangian Approach for Calculating Microsphere Deposition in a One-Dimensional Lung-Airway Model

Using the open-source software openfoam as the solver, a novel approach to calculate microsphere transport and deposition in a 1D human lung-equivalent trumpet model (TM) is presented. Specifically, for particle deposition in a nonlinear trumpetlike configuration a new radial force has been developed which, along with the regular drag force, generates particle trajectories toward the wall. The new semi-empirical force is a function of any given inlet volumetric flow rate, micron-particle diameter, and lung volume. Particle-deposition fractions (DFs) in the size range from 2 μm to 10 μm are in agreement with experimental datasets for different laminar and turbulent inhalation flow rates as well as total volumes. Typical run times on a single processor workstation to obtain actual total deposition results at comparable accuracy are 200 times less than that for an idealized whole-lung geometry (i.e., a 3D-1D model with airways up to 23rd generation in single-path only).
Chest Wall Resection and Reconstruction: Management of Complications

The main indications for chest wall resection continue to be tumors, infection, and radiation injury. Complications surrounding chest wall resection procedures include respiratory failure, wound complications, and prosthetic complications. The main risk factors for complications are size of defect, age, and concomitant lung resection. Most complications related to either the wound or the prosthesis are late postoperative events. The identification of complications related to chest wall reconstruction requires clinical examination and the use of detailed imaging studies. The management of both prosthetic and wound complications often requires reoperation and removal of the prosthesis combined with soft tissue wound management.