cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Innovative thermochromic asphalt coating: characterisation and thermal performance

Conventional asphalt strongly absorbs the energy from sunlight due to its black colour. The induced high surface temperature on asphalt pavement during summer and fast temperature drop during winter accelerate the rutting and cracking, impairing its long-term durability. Thermochromic materials, substances that can reversibly change their colours in response to temperature, are characterised as high solar reflectance above certain threshold temperature and high absorbance below the threshold temperature. In this paper, innovative thermochromic coatings are designed to modulate the surface temperature of asphalt pavement and potentially improve its durability and safety. The thermal, optical, and chemical properties of the coatings with thermochromic materials were characterised using modulated differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, UV–Vis–IR spectrophotometry, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, respectively. Besides, production conditions of thermochromic asphalt coatings...
Abstract 3479: Prediction of Outcome in Cerebellar Infarction by Diffusion MRI

Background and Purpose - Early identification of patients at risk for neurological deterioration after stroke remains a challenge. MRI based volumetric assessments of infarct have been shown to predict poor outcome amongst patients with large middle cerebral artery infarcts. However, no such quantitative imaging measure exists to predict outcome following cerebellar stroke. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that the volume of cerebellar infarction and its associated apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), as estimated from diffusion-weighted images (DWI), can provide reliable information for the prediction of neurological deterioration. Methods - We retrospectively identified twenty-eight consecutive patients (age 58.2±13) with cerebellar stroke who underwent MRI (median 40.8 hours) with DWI. Patients were divided into poor (N=7) and good (N=21) outcomes. Patients with poor outcome were defined as those who required posterior fossa decompression or died as a result of their cerebellar infarct. Lesion and cerebellar volume were defined on ADC maps. The ratio of the lesion volume to the whole cerebellum volume was calculated (rVolume) as well as the ratio of the lesion mean ADC to normal cerebellum mean ADC (rADC). The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, as well as age, sex and race were collected. Binary logistic regression was used to identify predictors of poor outcome. The sensitivity and specificity of rVolume and lesion volume were determined in predicting poor outcome using ROC analysis. Results - Logistic regression analysis revealed that rVolume (p=0.018), lesion volume (p=0.034), NIHSS score (p=0.020) and whole cerebellar ADC value (p=0.043) were significant predictors of poor outcome. The rADC (p=0.073) approached significance. The rVolume (p=0.047) remained a significant predictor of outcome even when controlling for age, NIHSS score, and hours to scan, while a trend towards significance for lesion volume (p=0.072), cerebellar ADC (p=0.069) and rADC (p=0.061) were also observed. ROC analysis revealed that both rVolume as a percentage and lesion volume had a specificity of 95% and a sensitivity of 57% in predicting poor outcome. The respective cut-off values were 30% and 41 cc. Conclusions - Quantitative measurement of rVolume, lesion volume, and cerebellar ADC values are significantly correlated with patient outcomes following cerebellar stroke. Although cerebellar ADC provided additional sensitivity, the rVolume appears to be a strong predictor of outcome when controlling for age, NIHSS score and time to scan. Quantitative analysis of diffusion MRI may assist in identification of patients with cerebellar stroke at highest risk of deterioration. Prospective validation is warranted.
The Frontispiece of Gafori's Practica Musicae (1496)

The depiction of celestial harmony (fig. 1) used as title page for the first edition of the Practica Musicae has been a great favorite among art historians of iconographic bent; Warburg, Panofsky, Seznec, and Wind have all reproduced and commented on this woodcut at some length. The frontispiece has nothing really to do with the contents of the Practica—no more, say, than the Boethian frontispiece of the thirteenth-century Pluteus manuscript has to do with Notre Dame polyphony. But the illustration was surely Gafori's idea rather than that of his printer, Le Signerre. Gafori as a devout Boethian was enamored of myths about cosmic harmony; he expounded Boethius’ doctrine of musica mundana in the first edition of the Theorica Musicae in 1480, expanded upon this treatment in the second edition of that work (1492), and returned to the subject armed with much newly acquired humanistic lore in the De Harmonia Musicorum Instrumentorum Opus, published in 1518 though certainly written some years earlier.
The Professional Diplomat and His Problems, 1919–1939

One of the recurring themes in those books on the diplomatic prehistory of the second World War which have come to us from the former enemy countries is the plight of the professional diplomat, whose training and knowledge convinced him that the policy of his government was leading straight to disaster but whose advice was seldom solicited and never followed. The memoirs of Erich Kordt, of Herbert von Dirksen, and of Rudolf Rahn, the books of Elisabetta Cerruti, Mario Donosti, and Filippo Anfuso include abundant and circumstantial evidence of the lack of influence exercised in matters of high policy by the permanent staffs of the Foreign Offices of Germany and Italy and by their agents in the field.
Commentary on "The role of the large airways on smooth muscle contraction in asthma".

to the editor: In his Viewpoint, Dr. Permutt ([5][1]) offers the intriguing hypothesis that in asthma, narrowing of large airways causes dynamic hyperinflation with an increase in total lung capacity (TLC), which in turn limits a further adaptive increase in TLC during air trapping associated with
Vertical Movement of Conidia of Nomuraea rileyi Through Sand and Loam Soils

About 75% of the conidia of Nomuraea rileyi (Farlow) Samson layered on a 10.5 cm-column of sand were recovered in the filtrate after exposure to the equivalent of 16.25 cm of rain. In contrast, no conidia were recovered in filtrate from a silt-loam soil, and over 90% of the recovered conidia were in the upper 2 cm of the column. Conidia probably are held in the surface of loam soil by adsorption on clay or organic particles. Number of conidia was determined by use of a hemocytometer and phase microscopy; activity was determined by using a Trichoplusia ni (Hubner) bioassay.
Prorenin is elevated in polycystic ovary syndrome and may reflect hyperandrogenism.

Objective To examine the null hypothesis that women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) produce similar levels of prorenin and other components of the ovarian-derived prorenin to angiotensin cascade (ODPAC) at baseline and after stimulation with clomiphene citrate (CC) or hMG when compared with normal age- and weight-matched ovulatory controls. Design Prospective controlled clinical trial. Setting Infertility clinic in a university-based county hospital and a hospital-based private infertility practice. Patients Twenty-eight infertile women aged 18 to 35 years. Thirteen patients were diagnosed with PCOS. Fifteen normal ovulatory patients who were matched for age and weight served as controls. Interventions Twenty patients were stimulated with CC and eight were stimulated with hMG. Main Outcome Measures Serum E 2 , P, T, androstenedione (A), DHEAS, LH, FSH, and plasma prorenin, active renin, and angiotensin II (Ang II) were measured at baseline and during the preovulatory and midluteal phases of the stimulation cycles. Results Baseline plasma prorenin in PCOS was higher than that of follicular phase controls. Plasma prorenin correlated significantly with peripheral androgen levels. Prorenin, active renin, and Ang II increased in response to gonadotropins with the largest increases occurring in control patients receiving CC. An association was seen between ovulation with CC and lower baseline levels of active renin. Conclusions The null hypothesis was rejected. Infertile women with PCOS have higher baseline prorenin levels when compared with age- and weight-matched ovulatory controls. There is a significant correlation between prorenin and the peripheral levels of androgens produced during ovarian stimulation. Baseline active renin levels may be predictive of ovulation with CC.
Recovery of the neonatal heart after normothermic ischemia. Effect of oxygen and catalase.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of oxygen and the oxygen radical-scavenging enzyme catalase on the neonatal rabbit heart exposed to global ischemia. The experiments were performed with an isolated neonatal (7 to 10 days of age) working heart model in which normothermic (37° C) ischemia was produced for 60 minutes. Left ventricular developed pressure, ratio of change of ventricular pressure to change in time, and aortic flow were measured before ischemia and 30 minutes after reperfusing the hearts with physiologic saline solution. In the control group (ischemia only), developed pressure and ratio of change of ventricular pressure to change in time recovered to 27% ± 3% (mean ± standard error of the mean) and 24% ± 7% of baseline; the hearts were incapable of ejecting (aortic flow = 0). Treatment of hearts before and after ischemia with catalase (150 units/ml of perfusate) was studied in a second group (control plus catalase), but functional recovery (developed pressure = 32% ±1%; ratio of change of ventricular pressure to change in time = 24% ±2%, and aortic flow = 0) was not significantly different from the control group. The effect of washout midway through the ischemic period with a low oxygen (oxygen concentration 500 mm Hg) solution (oxygenated physiologic saline solution) in which functional recovery (developed pressure = 78% ±3%; ratio of change of ventricular pressure to change in time = 80% ±3%; aortic flow = 39% ±9%) was significantly better than in the control, control plus catalase, and hypoxic physiologic saline solution groups. Use of modified St. Thomas’ Hospital cardioplegic solution (cardioplegic solution group) during the ischemic period also resulted in substantial functional recovery (developed pressure = 80% ± 3%; ratio of change of ventricular pressure to change in time = 78% ± 5%; aortic flow = 64% ± 7%) that did not differ significantly from that in the oxygenated physiologic saline solution group. Catalase was added to cardioplegic solution in a sixth group (cardioplegic solution plus catalase) to determine if this enzyme provided additional myocardial protection, but functional recovery (developed pressure = 78% ± 1%; ratio of change of ventricular pressure to change in time = 76% ±2%; aortic flow = 63% ±6%) was not significantly different from the control and oxygenated physiologic saline solution groups. The main findings of the study are that (1) washout with an oxygenated solution but not a low oxygen solution provided myocardial protection, (2) use of cardioplegic solution resulted in substantial functional recovery, and (3) pretreatment with catalase or addition of catalase to cardioplegic solution did not improve recovery. Although hearts of different ages or those perfused with blood may have behaved differently, the data suggest that oxygenated solutions and cardioplegic solution are equally beneficial in terms of myocardial protection, and that oxygen radicals may not play an important role in the globally ischemic neonatal rabbit heart.
Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is induced by cytotoxic drugs and is involved in immune escape and migration in childhood rhabdomyosarcoma

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is known to be involved in oncogenic transformation, tumour progression, and immunosuppression and is overexpressed in many solid tumours, including paediatric rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS). We investigated the function of MIF in RMS during treatment with cytotoxic drugs. RMS cell lines were analysed by flow cytometry, immunofluorescence staining, and ELISA. We demonstrated the overexpression of MIF in RMS cells and the enhanced expression and secretion after treatment with cytotoxic agents. Migration assays of RMS cells revealed that inhibitors of MIF (ISO-1, Ant.III 4-IPP, Ant.V, sulforaphane (SF)) and blocking antibodies caused reduced migration, indicating a role for MIF in metastatic invasion. Additionally, we investigated the function of MIF in immune escape. The development of a population containing immunosuppressive myeloid-derived suppressor cells was promoted by incubation in conditioned medium of RMS cells comprising MIF and was reversed by MIF inhibitors but not by antibodies. Although most inhibitors may restore immune activity, Ant.III and 10 µM SF disturbed T cell proliferation in a CFSE assay, whereas T cell proliferation was not reduced by 3 µM SF, ISO-1 or antibodies. However, the inhibition of MIF by blocking antibodies did not increase the killing activity of allogenic PBMCs co-cultured with RMS cells. Our results reveal that MIF may be involved in an immune escape mechanism and demonstrate the involvement of MIF in immunogenic cell death during treatment with cytotoxic drugs. Targeting MIF may contribute to the restoration of immune sensitivity and the control of migration and metastatic invasion.
The New Corporate Gatekeeper

Regulators and prosecutors are now asking corporations to report any wrongdoing within the organization as quickly and completely as possible. One group increasingly identified with the obligation to report misconduct is corporate counsel. Traditionally, lawyers had no duty to report misconduct by their clients under the attorney-client privilege, but that view has eroded as the government expects attorneys to take on a greater role in identifying violations that can lead to administrative and criminal sanctions against their clients. This Essay looks at how the role of the corporate attorney is moving away from the “wise counselor” model of legal representation and toward that of the whistleblower obliged to disclose information about potential violations by the corporate client or risk being viewed as a participant in the misconduct, subject to civil and criminal sanctions. This presents especially vexing problems for in-house counsel who represent a single client: they may find themselves at great financial risk if the gatekeeping requirement is expanded.
Investigation of DVFS for network-on-chip based H.264 video decoders with truly real workload

We investigate dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS) for a network-on-chip (NoC) based H.264 video decoder. The investigation is done using a simulation framework that combines both the communication, i.e. the NoC, and the processing, i.e., H.264 modules, components into the same simulation. This approach allows for the NoC to be exercised with truly real traffic instead of synthetic traffic because the H.264 modules process real data provided by the actual video streams supplied as input into the decoder. Therefore, the NoC design and optimization can be done by directly considering the workload under which the NoC will operate later on. Because truly real rather than synthetic traffic is utilized, evaluation of different NoC design choices is more accurate. Our investigation demonstrates that we are able to evaluate different NoC mapping solutions to asses the impact of a given DVFS strategy toward identifying optimal NoC design solutions for the specific case of an H.264 video decoder.
Animal Research on Nicotine Reduction: Current Evidence and Research Gaps.

A mandated reduction in the nicotine content of cigarettes may improve public health by reducing the prevalence of smoking. Animal self-administration research is an important complement to clinical research on nicotine reduction. It can fill research gaps that may be difficult to address with clinical research, guide clinical researchers about variables that are likely to be important in their own research, and provide policy makers with converging evidence between clinical and preclinical studies about the potential impact of a nicotine reduction policy. Convergence between clinical and preclinical research is important, given the ease with which clinical trial participants can access nonstudy tobacco products in the current marketplace. Herein, we review contributions of preclinical animal research, with a focus on rodent self-administration, to the science of nicotine reduction. Throughout this review, we highlight areas where clinical and preclinical research converge and areas where the two differ. Preclinical research has provided data on many important topics such as the threshold for nicotine reinforcement, the likelihood of compensation, moderators of the impact of nicotine reduction, the impact of environmental stimuli on nicotine reduction, the impact of nonnicotine cigarette smoke constituents on nicotine reduction, and the impact of nicotine reduction on vulnerable populations. Special attention is paid to current research gaps including the dramatic rise in alternative tobacco products, including electronic nicotine delivery systems (ie, e-cigarettes). The evidence reviewed here will be critical for policy makers as well as clinical researchers interested in nicotine reduction. Implications This review will provide policy makers and clinical researchers interested in nicotine reduction with an overview of the preclinical animal research conducted on nicotine reduction and the regulatory implications of that research. The review also highlights the utility of preclinical research for research questions related to nicotine reduction.
Working with families to develop and implement an individualized family service plan: a rural inservice training model

Public Law 99-457, Part H, Program for Handicapped Infants and Toddlers, has created a significant challenge and need for personnel training. This article describes an inservice training project designed to develop the skills of rural professionals in developing and implementing family-focused Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSPs). The primary goals of the training are to provide early interventionists from numerous disciplines with a philosophy, a process framework for developing IFSPs with families, and to teach the skills needed to implement that process. The results of the training with professionals from six regional training workshops serving rural families are presented.
Solar photo-Fenton treatment of microcystin-LR in aqueous environment: Transformation products and toxicity in different water matrices.

Abstract Transformation products and toxicity patterns of microcystin-LR (MC-LR), a common cyanotoxin in freshwaters, during degradation by solar photo-Fenton process were studied in the absence and presence of two major water components, namely fulvic acid and alkalinity. The transformation products m/z 795, 835, 515/1030 and 532 can be formed through attack of OH on the conjugated carbon double bonds of Adda. Transformation products with m/z 1010, 966 and 513 can be generated through the attack of OH on the methoxy group of Adda. The transformation products m/z 783, 508 and 1012 can be originated from the attack of OH on the cyclic structure of MC-LR. Transformation products (m/z 522, 1028, 1012, 1046 and 514) formed after hydroxylation of the aromatic ring with OH were also identified in this study. The toxicity study revealed that fulvic acid and alkalinity strongly influence the toxicity profiles of solar photo-Fenton treated MC-LR. Fulvic acid enhanced the detoxification whereas low level total alkalinity (1.8 mg L−1 CaCO3) inhibited the detoxification of MC-LR by solar photo-Fenton process as assessed by protein phosphatase-1 (PP-1) inhibition assay. This work provides insights on the utility of solar photo-Fenton destruction of MC-LR in water based on transformation products and toxicity data.
Leveraging 3D models for SAR-based navigation in GPS-denied environments

In this paper, we consider use of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) to provide absolute platform position information in scenarios where GPS signals may be degraded, jammed, or spoofed. Two algorithms are presented, and both leverage known 3D ground structure in an area of interest, e.g. provided by LIDAR data, to provide georeferenced position information to airborne SAR platforms. The first approach is based on the wide-aperture layover properties of elevated reflectors, while the second approach is based on correlating backprojected imagery with digital elevation imagery. Building on 3D backprojection, localization solutions result from non-convex optimization problems based on image sharpness or correlation measures. Results using measured GOTCHA data demonstrate localization errors of only a few meters with initial uncertainty regions as large as 16 km2.
Septic Infrapatellar Bursitis in an Immunocompromised Female

Bursitis is a relatively common occurrence that may be caused by traumatic, inflammatory, or infectious processes. Septic bursitis most commonly affects the olecranon and prepatellar bursae. Staphylococcus aureus accounts for 80% of all septic bursitis, and most cases affect men and are associated with preceding trauma. We present a case of an 86-year-old female with an atypical septic bursitis involving the infrapatellar bursa. Not only are there very few reported cases of septic infrapatellar bursitis, but also this patient's case is particularly unusual in that she is a female with no preceding trauma who had Pseudomonas aeruginosa on aspirate. The case also highlights the diagnostic workup of septic bursitis through imaging modalities and aspiration. This patient had full resolution of her septic bursitis with appropriate IV antibiotics.
Business Students and Ethics

Over a quarter century ago Raymond Baumhart offered an observation that might be repeated even today when he said: During the past decade, much has been written about ethics in business. Most of the books and articles are based on the experiences of one man, or on a priori reasoning. Few authors have approached business ethics empirically, surveying the ideas, problems, and attitudes of a large number of businessmen.1
Cerebral hemodynamic measurements in acute versus chronic asphyxia.

Hemodynamic changes associated with acute asphyxia differ from those observed in chronic asphyxia. The information on cerebral hemodynamic alterations from both experimental and clinical studies would promote a better understanding of the pathophysiology of perinatal asphyxia and the implications of these changes on immediate and long-term prognoses. The prevention of neurologic morbidity associated with cerebral hemodynamic alterations in asphyxia is the ultimate goal in applying new technologies in evaluating physiologic measurements.
Successful Moderation in a Chronic Alcohol Abuser

Developing better methods for the diagnosis and treatment of alcohol abuse has been the focus of our clinical and research efforts for the past 15 years. The case of Bob S. is fairly typical of our clients. In describing his case I present the essential nature of what we do when we bring to bear what we have learned from our research and clinical experiences in working with an individual alcohol abuser. I discuss one aspect of our most recent research on diagnosis which uses acute tolerance as a measure of degree of abuse and an aid in selecting moderation versus abstinence as the treatment goal. Bob’s case also describes the present clinical use of treatment techniques which have been modified and refined from our earlier research, such as the videotaping and replay of drinking behavior and sensitivity training for the effects of alcohol. Bob’s case describes the combination of techniques which I believe to be most effective at the present time. Continued research, of course, is necessary to validate and improve the effectiveness of these techniques.
Application of the Discrete Empirical Interpolation Method to Reduced Order Modeling of Nonlinear and Parametric Systems

Projection based methods lead to reduced order models (ROMs) with dramatically reduced numbers of equations and unknowns. However, for nonlinear or parametrically varying problems the cost of evaluating these ROMs still depends on the size of the full order model and therefore is still expensive. The Discrete Empirical Interpolation Method (DEIM) further approximates the nonlinearity in the projection based ROM. The resulting DEIM ROM nonlinearity depends only on a few components of the original nonlinearity. If each component of the original nonlinearity depends only on a few components of the argument, the resulting DEIM ROM can be evaluated efficiently at a cost that is independent of the size of the original problem. For systems obtained from finite difference approximations, the ith component of the original nonlinearity often depends only on the ith component of the argument. This is different for systems obtained using finite element methods, where the dependence is determined by the mesh and by the polynomial degree of the finite element subspaces. This paper describes two approaches of applying DEIM in the finite element context, one applied to the assembled and the other to the unassembled form of the nonlinearity. We carefully examine how the DEIM is applied in each case, and the substantial efficiency gains obtained by the DEIM. In addition, we demonstrate how to apply DEIM to obtain ROMs for a class of parameterized system that arises, e.g., in shape optimization. The evaluations of the DEIM ROMs are substantially faster than those of the standard projection based ROMs. Additional gains are obtained with the DEIM ROMs when one has to compute derivatives of the model with respect to the parameter.
Microbial induced calcium carbonate precipitation in coal ash

The long-term storage of coal ash in impoundments can lead to concerns of structural stability as well as trace element migration to local surface water and groundwater sources. Microbial induced c...
Exploring the intrinsic-extrinsic distinction in prospective metamemory

Abstract The overwhelming majority of research on metamemory examines retrospective memory – memory for past events. The metamemory of prospective memory – remembering to carry out intentions in the future – is little studied. The cue utilization account is a prominent framework for analyzing retrospective metamemory, here applied to prospective metamemory. This framework predicts that intrinsic cues (e.g., characteristics of the to-be-remembered information) readily impact metamemory whereas extrinsic cues (e.g., features of the general learning environment) have much less impact. The current study examined prospective memory using target-response word pairs. Participants were to remember to interrupt an ongoing task when a target was noticed, and then recall the associated response. Prior to the ongoing task, participants predicted (using judgments-of-learning, JOLs) whether they would notice a given target and whether they would recall the response for that target. This paradigm allows an assessment of metamemory and actual memory for the prospective component (the noticing of the target) and the retrospective component (the retrieval of the response). Four experiments found that prospective-JOLs were affected by an intrinsic cue (target-word association) but not by an extrinsic cue (target focality), as predicted by the cue-utilization account. The same results were found for the retrospective-JOLs. The results provide initial evidence that the cue-utilization framework generalizes to prospective metamemory. These results also revealed two complementary metamemorial illusions: target-response association impacts prospective-JOLs but not actual prospective memory performance, and target focality fails to impact prospective-JOLs but does affect actual prospective memory. This indicates that prospective metamemory may be subject to illusions in ways similar to retrospective metamemory.
Reimagining energy futures: Contributions from community sustainable energy transitions in Thailand and the Philippines

Abstract This article counters conventional discourses where sustainable energy transitions in the Global South have been broadly linked to top-down policy frameworks, large-scale installations, and donor-driven interventions. It does so by highlighting the roles played by and the potentials of bottom-up, small-scale, and community-driven initiatives in shaping energy transitions in these locations. We shed light on two of these initiatives: a rural, community-based renewable energy project in Thailand, and a community-led social movement that prevented the construction of a coal-fired power plant in the Philippines. Both cases demonstrate how community mobilizations help facilitate sustainable energy transitions in the Global South, despite their many social, political and economic constraints. The analysis draws from concepts of local activism and community engagement on energy transitions, marrying the social movement concept of prefigurative activism with the concept of sociotechnical imaginaries in science and technology studies. This article highlights that valuable insights can be generated from rural- and community-driven renewable energy initiatives and their power to reimagine the futures of energy systems in the Global South.
An Empirical Investigation of Human Rights in Recession

This chapter presents the research methodology applied to empirically evaluate the government’s commitment to women’s economic rights and respect for basic human rights during systemic banking crises. It describes the sample, dependent and independent variables, and the statistical techniques applied to model the changes. The results mostly support the theoretical postulates. There is a greater likelihood of lower women’s economic rights during financial crises than otherwise in the low-income countries. The government’s respect for basic human rights during systemic banking crises improves with the increase in the opposition parties’ strength in the national legislature.
It's a trap: Optimizing detection of rare small mammals

Improving detection probabilities for rare species is critical when assessing presence or habitat associations. Our goal was to create a new small mammal trapping protocol that improved detection of rare species, such as the olive-backed pocket mouse (Perognathus fasciatus). We used three trap and bait types and trapped an area 4.4 times larger than the standard grid. We also assessed the effect of captures of non-target species on detection probability of pocket mice. Regardless of species, trap success was higher for Havaharts. We found that bait and trap type selection varied significantly by species, with pocket mice showing strongest selection for Havahart traps baited with bird seed. Increasing grid size, while maintaining a similar trapping effort, resulted in higher detection probability, although our analyses showed that effective grids can be about three-quarters of the size we use to achieve similar results. We were also able to demonstrate that by deploying a combination of different traps and baits it is possible to overcome the potential effect of non-target species (e.g., deer mice, Peromyscus maniculatus) on the detection probability of pocket mice. Our results show that simple changes to standard small-mammal trapping methods can dramatically increase the detectability of rare and elusive small mammals. Increasing detection probability of rare components of a community can improve the results and understanding of future studies.
Hiding in plain sight: invasive coral Tubastraea tagusensis (Scleractinia:Hexacorallia) in the Gulf of Mexico

Our research presents the first record of Tubastraea tagusensis (Wells, Notes on Indo-Pacific scleractinian corals. Part 9. New corals from the Galapagos Islands, 1982) in the Gulf of Mexico. Specimens of Tubastraea were collected from various artificial reefs. Morphological analyses of these specimens show that there are three distinct lineages of Tubastraea that have remained cryptic due to similar morphology in the field: Tubastraea coccinea (Lesson, 1829), T. tagusensis, and a third clade containing a mix of characters of the former two. These results based on morphology are corroborated by phylogenetic and haplotype analyses using a partial sequence of the mitochondrial genes ATP8 and cytochrome oxidase I (mtCOI). The negative effects on natural habitats by invasive species of Tubastraea have been documented worldwide. Therefore, it is imperative to implement management policies that will help prevent the expansion of these species into natural habitats in the Gulf of Mexico. The essential first step is accurate identification to determine possible sources, vectors, and current expansion rates. We present a clear set of morphological characters and a genetic marker to help distinguish between these three cryptic lineages.
Towards a content agnostic computable knowledge repository for data quality assessment

Abstract Background and objective In recent years, several data quality conceptual frameworks have been proposed across the Data Quality and Information Quality domains towards assessment of quality of data. These frameworks are diverse, varying from simple lists of concepts to complex ontological and taxonomical representations of data quality concepts. The goal of this study is to design, develop and implement a platform agnostic computable data quality knowledge repository for data quality assessments. Methods We identified computable data quality concepts by performing a comprehensive literature review of articles indexed in three major bibliographic data sources. From this corpus, we extracted data quality concepts, their definitions, applicable measures, their computability and identified conceptual relationships. We used these relationships to design and develop a data quality meta-model and implemented it in a quality knowledge repository. Results We identified three primitives for programmatically performing data quality assessments: data quality concept, its definition, its measure or rule for data quality assessment, and their associations. We modeled a computable data quality meta-data repository and extended this framework to adapt, store, retrieve and automate assessment of other existing data quality assessment models. Conclusion We identified research gaps in data quality literature towards automating data quality assessments methods. In this process, we designed, developed and implemented a computable data quality knowledge repository for assessing quality and characterizing data in health data repositories. We leverage this knowledge repository in a service-oriented architecture to perform scalable and reproducible framework for data quality assessments in disparate biomedical data sources.
Video Outreach Program - Industry and University Connect for Mining Industry Education

SUMMARY Responding to the growing educational needs of mining industry employees, the University of Kentucky and Peabody Coal Company have developed an innovative alternative to the standard classroom experience. The Video Outreach Program combines traditional teaching methods with high technology to produce credit courses in the mining engineering curriculum on videotape. These courses are actually taped live while taught on campus in a state-of-the-art Instructional Television Classroom. Using a strong system of support services, Peabody employees are then able to register in and attend University courses at their own local work sites. Now in its third year of operation, the Video Outreach Program serves over 150 employees over a 2000 mile radius in the United States.
Operation and intrinsic error budget of a two-qubit cross-resonance gate

Author(s): Tripathi, Vinay | Advisor(s): Korotkov, Alexander N. | Abstract: Due to recent developments and accessible fabrication techniques, superconducting qubitshave become one of the most popular candidates for realizing a large-scale fault-tolerantquantum computer. Currently, transmon is the most preferred type of superconductingqubits because it is less sensitivity to noise. To perform operations on the qubits, we needquantum gates with high fidelity. One of the high-fidelity two-qubit entangling gates usedfor superconducting qubits is the Cross-Resonance (CR) gate. In CR gate, two frequency-detuned qubits have a weak coupling and one of them (called control qubit) is driven by amicrowave at the frequency of the other qubit (called target). This induces Rabi oscillationsof the target qubit, whose frequency depends on the state (|0g and |1g) of the control qubit.This entangles the two qubits, thus providing a natural way to realize CNOT gate. Inthis thesis, we study analytically, semi-analytically and numerically the operation of theCross-Resonance gate for superconducting qubits to implement the CNOT operation. Wealso study various intrinsic errors associated with the CR gate.Chapter 1 of this thesis gives an introduction. In Chapter 2, we discuss the Hamilitonian of the CR gate. In Chapter 3, we first consider the ideal operation of the CR gate, then derive the next-order analytics, and then develop a semi-analytical approach. Chapter 4 gives a description of our numerical model. Numerical results for the CNOT-equivalent gate duration and compensating single-qubit rotations are discussed in Chapter 5. In Chapter 6, we analyze the error budget for the CNOT-gate intrinsic infidelity. In Chapter 7, we discuss the dependence of infidelity and CNOT duration on various parameters including detuning between control and target qubits, drive frequency, coupling between control and target qubit, smoothness of the pulse ramps, and microwave crosstalk. Chapter 8 presents conclusions.
Numerical simulation of nanoscale systems and materials

This chapter focuses on the overview of molecular dynamics and molecular statics, as well as some of their uses for studying the thermomechanical and (indirectly) electronic properties at the nanoscale. We introduce the general idea behind these methods and consider their use for studying various static and dynamic properties of nanoscale systems involving carbon nanotubes and graphene. The scope of this chapter is to provide specific examples of the use of particle-based simulation methods and to discuss a number of subtle points usually omitted in the journal article format. Our first aim is to inform the reader regarding the exciting possibilities particle-based simulation methods offer in studying nanoscale systems and devices. Our second aim is to provide the correct context by elucidating the effect of numerical factors on the results of the simulations.
Feasibility of Incorporating Frailty Testing into Standard Assessment of Heart Transplant Candidacy

Purpose Frailty is common among patients with advanced heart failure referred for transplant evaluation. Although frailty increases mortality risk, frailty testing is not part of standard transplant candidacy evaluations. As part of a comprehensive evaluation, we explored the feasibility of performing routine frailty assessments on transplant candidates. Methods Frailty evaluation included two well-validated assessments: Fried's Frailty Phenotype (FFP) and the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), performed during inpatient hospitalization. Based on each assessment, patients were categorized as frail, pre-frail, or non-frail. The results of the frailty testing were presented during the selection committee meeting as part of a multidisciplinary evaluation. Results Over 14 months, 29 patients with advanced heart failure underwent frailty assessments. The mean age was 62.5 years and 21% were women. The average FFP and SPPB scores were 3.1 and 6.7, respectively. There was no significant correlation between age and frailty scores. Of the patients listed for transplant (n = 17), 23%, 29%, and 41% were frail, pre-frail, and non-frail, respectively, while 100% of those who were declined listing (n = 7) were frail. Patients who underwent transplant were significantly less frail than patients who were not transplanted (FFP: 2.2 vs 3.5, p = 0.02; SPPB: 9.8 vs 5.2, p Conclusion Frailty assessments can be successfully incorporated into a comprehensive evaluation for heart transplant candidacy. Although the presence of frailty is not a contraindication for transplant, frail patients undergoing heart transplant evaluation are less likely to be transplanted and more likely to die. The presence of frailty can help identify patients who may benefit from additional support services to optimize quality of life and define goals of care.
Completion Thyroidectomy is Less Common Following Updated 2015 American Thyroid Association Guidelines.

The 2015 American Thyroid Association (ATA) guidelines recommended that low-risk, differentiated thyroid cancers (DTC) between 1 and 4 cm may be treated with thyroid lobectomy alone. We sought to determine the effect of these guideline changes on the rate of completion thyroidectomy (CT) for low-risk DTC and factors influencing surgical decision-making. All patients from 2014 to 2018 who received an initial thyroid lobectomy at our institution with final pathology demonstrating DTC were included. Patients were divided into “pre” and “post” guideline cohorts (2014–2015 and 2016–2018, respectively). The rate of CT was compared between the two cohorts. Patient demographics and tumor characteristics were examined for association with CT. A total of 163 patients met study criteria: 63 patients in the 2014–2015 (“pre”) and 100 in the 2016–2018 (“post”) group. In the “pre” period, 41 (65.1%) patients received CT compared with 43 (43.0%) in the “post” period (p < 0.01)—a 34% decrease in the rate of completion surgery (p < 0.01). Of low-risk patients with DTC between 1 and 4 cm in size, 17 of 35 (48.6%) received CT in the “pre” period compared with 15 of 60 (25.0%) in the post period—a 48.6% decrease in the rate of completion surgery (p = 0.02). Greater tumor size, capsular invasion, and multifocality were associated with CT in low-risk “post” guideline patients (p < 0.05 for all). The rate of CT decreased significantly by 48.6% for low-risk patients with DTC between 1 and 4 cm, demonstrating recognition of the 2015 ATA guidelines. However, 25% of these patients underwent CT, suggesting additional factors influencing the decision for further treatment.
"This Might Be Your New Normal…" Storytelling Amidst Uncertainty and Medically Unexplained Symptoms.

The medical diagnostic journey can be filled with uncertainty, anxiety, tension, and complications. This essay moves between first-person storytelling and analytic memos to illustrate defining mome...
Faculty Perspectives on Context, Benefits, and Challenges in Fully Online Graduate Adult Education Programs:

The purpose of this study was to explore the perspectives of adult education faculty toward developing and teaching online adult education courses in their master’s programs to assist in our own tr...
FRI0055 Experience with commercial remicade (infliximab) at a large community-based rheumatology practice

Background Infliximab, a monoclonal antibody that binds with high affinity and specificity to TNF-alpha and neutralises its biologic activity, is approved for the reduction of the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The Rheumatology Associates of North Alabama (RANA) is a large, community-based rheumatology practice that treats approximately 6,000 patients with RA. Objectives To document the experience with commercial infliximab in patients with RA treated in a community rheumatology practice. Methods In an ongoing chart review of all patients receiving infliximab at RANA, the following information was documented: age, concomitant medication use, tender and swollen joint counts, and adverse side effects. Results Baseline information was collected for 137 patients with RA. These patients ranged in age from 33 to 84 yrs (mean of 62.7 yrs). Among the 114 patients receiving concomitant methotrexate (MTX), doses ranged from 2.5 to 30 mg/day (mean of 17.2 mg/day). At baseline (prior to the first infliximab dose), the mean dose of prednisone was 6.2 mg/day, and the mean tender and swollen joint counts were 22.4 and 13.7, respectively. Patients were treated with the currently recommended dosing regimen of 3 mg/kg at Weeks 0, 2, and 6 followed by q 8 wk dosing. Forty (29%) patients received concomitant disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs); 15 of these patients received concomitant leflunomide (12 with and 3 without MTX). Nine patients received infliximab without a concomitant DMARD. Data were available for 74 of these patients at Week 14 (fourth infliximab infusion). At this time point, the mean prednisone dose was 5.1 mg/day, and mean tender and swollen joint counts had improved by 65% and 69% (to 7.8 and 4.3), respectively. Improvements in steroid use and tender and swollen joint counts also were observed at Week 30 (n = 42; mean prednisone dose of 2.9 mg/day and tender/swollen joint counts of 4.4/1.7) and Week 54 (n = 14; mean prednisone dose of 2.1 mg/day and tender/swollen joint counts of 1.6/0.8) among the patients who had received treatment this long. Ten patients discontinued the use of infliximab due to lack of response (3 patients), rash (3 patients), cost (2 patients), abdominal pain (1 patient), and an unrelated side effect (neck pain in 1 patient). Five patients experienced infections (shingles, soft tissue abscess, pneumonia, and bronchitis in 2 patients); all patients responded to antibiotic therapy and continued treatment with infliximab. Conclusion In a community rheumatology practice, infliximab 3 mg/kg, both with and without MTX, produced compelling improvement in the signs and symptoms of RA. Infliximab was safe and well tolerated when administered in the outpatient infusion setting.
Frailty and HIV: Moving from Characterization to Intervention

While the characteristics associated with frailty in people with HIV (PWH) have been well described, little is known regarding interventions to slow or reverse frailty. Here we review interventions to prevent or treat frailty in the general population and in people with HIV (PWH). Frailty interventions have primarily relied on nonpharmacologic interventions (e.g., exercise and nutrition). Although few have addressed frailty, many of these therapies have shown benefit on components of frailty including gait speed, strength, and low activity among PWH. When nonpharmacologic interventions are insufficient, pharmacologic interventions may be necessary. Many interventions have been tested in preclinical models, but few have been tested or shown benefit among older adults with or without HIV. Ultimately, pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions have the potential to improve vulnerability that underlies frailty in PWH, though clinical data is currently sparse.