cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of subcutaneous transmitter implants on behavior, growth, energetics, and survival of Common Loon chicks

High rates of Common Loon (Gavia immer) chick mortality have been documented in Wisconsin, especially on acidic lakes, but causes and timing of chick mortality are poorly understood. We modified and evaluated a subcutaneous transmitter implant technique for Common Loon chicks using wild and captive reared chicks. Results indicated that behavior, growth, energy expenditure, and survival did not differ significantly between chicks marked with miniature transmitters (mass 0.76 g, representing ,0.8% of body mass at hatching) and unmarked chicks. SINOPSIS. Efecto de transmisores implantados subcutaniamente en la conducta, crecimiento ener- getica y supervivencia de polluelos de Gavia immer Se han documentado, particularmente en Wisconsin, altas tasas de mortalidad en polluelos de Gavia immer particular en lagos asirificados. Sin embargo, las causas y el periodo de mortalidad no se entienden claramente. Evaluamos un radiotransmisor modificado implantado subcutaniamente en polluelos cautivos y silvestres de la especie antes mencionada (de masa de 0.76 g, representado ,0.8% de la masa corporal al nacer). Los resultados indican que la conducta, crecimiento, gasto energetico y supervivencia no variosignificativamente entre los polluelos con radiotransmisores y un grupo control.
Adrenergic Inhibition with Dexmedetomidine to Treat Stress Cardiomyopathy during Alcohol Withdrawal: A Case Report and Literature Review

Stress (Takotsubo) cardiomyopathy is a form of reversible left ventricular dysfunction with a heightened risk of ventricular arrhythmia thought to be caused by high circulating catecholamines. We report a case of stress cardiomyopathy that developed during severe alcohol withdrawal successfully treated with dexmedetomidine. The case involves a 53-year-old man with a significant history of alcohol abuse who presented to a teaching hospital with new-onset seizures. His symptoms of acute alcohol withdrawal were initially treated with benzodiazepines, but the patient later developed hypotension, and stress cardiomyopathy was suspected based on ECG and echocardiographic findings. Adjunctive treatment with the alpha-2-adrenergic agonist, dexmedetomidine, was initiated to curtail excessive sympathetic outflow of the withdrawal syndrome, thereby targeting the presumed pathophysiology of the cardiomyopathy. Significant clinical improvement was observed within one day of initiation of dexmedetomidine. These findings are consistent with other reports suggesting that sympathetic dysregulation during alcohol withdrawal produces ideal pathobiology for stress cardiomyopathy and leads to ventricular arrhythmogenicity. Stress cardiomyopathy should be recognized as a complication of alcohol withdrawal that significantly increases cardiac-related mortality. By helping to correct autonomic dysregulation of the withdrawal syndrome, dexmedetomidine may be useful in the treatment of stress-induced cardiomyopathy.
Recovering the Individual in Politics

In seeking to develop a more coherent theory of the First Amendment’s Expression Clauses, the Supreme Court has largely overlooked an important political interest: that of individual participation. This essay, which will appear in the NYU Journal of Legislation and Public Policy, describes how the Court has largely abandoned an individualist for a structuralist view of these provisions. Under this approach, expression doctrine aims primarily to protect not individual speakers, but social processes. The essay then traces this change and its implications in some of the Court’s leading election law cases. In particular, the Court’s recent overruling of Austin v. Michigan Chamber of Commerce in Citizens United v. FEC and protection of business corporations’ right to make unlimited independent expenditures in candidate elections rest on this change and show the great effects it has had on the structure and practice of our politics. The essay concludes by calling for recovery of this now subordinated participation interest.
Nitrogen leaching losses from a wastewater land application system.

Potential contamination of groundwater because of nitrogen leaching has been an important concern in municipal wastewater land application systems; however, few efforts have made to measure nitrogen leaching (total N, NO 3 ― -N, and NH 4 + -N) under field conditions. This research successfully developed a conceptual nitrogen mass balance model and quantified its components at a wastewater land application system located at the City of Littlefield, Texas, from October 2005 to September 2007. The concentrations of total nitrogen and nitrate-nitrogen in the leachate were significantly less than 10 mg/L, therefore, there was no potential nitrogen contamination to groundwater found at this site during the research period. Linear regression models were analyzed and resulted in R 2 values of 0.918, 0.966, and 0.833 between cumulative applied total nitrogen mass and cumulative leached total nitrogen mass, cumulative applied nitrate-nitrogen mass and cumulative leached nitrate-nitrogen mass, and cumulative applied ammonia-nitrogen mass and cumulative leached ammonia-nitrogen mass, respectively. The nitrogen mass balance design approach for this site resulted in significant nitrogen removal. Organic nitrogen may leach with other forms of nitrogen, and denitrification plays an important role in nitrogen removal during the winter and spring seasons when the grass is dry.
“Politics in an Age of Anxiety”: Cold War Political Culture and the Crisis in American Masculinity, 1949–1960

In a 1955 essay on the "radical right" as a force in American politics, the sociologist Daniel Bell complained about the "polarization of images"' to which much political discourse had succumbed. "In these strange times," he wrote, "new polar terms have been introduced into political discourse, but surely none so strange as the division into 'hard' and 'soft."' As Bell explained, "presumably one is 'soft' if one insists that the danger from domestic Communists is small," while one is "hard" if one holds that "no distinction can be made between international and domestic Communism." Objecting to such stark dichotomies, Bell stressed that liberals had long affirmed an anticommunist politics and were taking conservative positions on traditional economic issues. In the end, however, he could only lament that "an amorphous, ideological issue," rather than an "interest-group issue," had become "a major dividing line in the political community." "The only issue is whether one is 'hard' or 'soft."''1 In retrospect it appears that Bell was speaking to a striking feature of the political culture of his time: the reduction of political positions to dualistic images-images that often superseded a policy-oriented politics and obscured the extent of the political consensus that was emerging. Yet the rhetorical polarities he pointed to had entered Cold War political discourse long before the radical right made its mark on the political scene in the early fifties, charging liberal Democrats with softness on Communism. The hard/soft dichotomy structured Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr.'s classic 1949 statement of liberal anticommunism, The Vital Center, a seminal book whose language and imagery, in the words of Garry Wills, "set up the desired contrasts for a decade."2
Comparison of potency of human carcinogens: vinyl chloride, chloromethylmethyl ether and bis(chloromethyl)ether.

The α-chloroether carcinogen chloromethylmethyl ether (CME) and its impurity bis(chloromethyl)ether (BCME) are direct-acting alkylating agents. Vinyl chloride (VC) is an indirect-acting carcinogen but its accepted carcinogenic intermediate, chloroethylene oxide, is also an α-chloroether. Both CME-BCME and VC have been in industrial use since about 1950. Hence, they were selected for comparison of potency as human carcinogens using numerous epidemiologic reports. There were 115 deaths due to angiosarcoma of the liver among several hundred thousand VC-exposed workers on the basis of reports from 10 countries during 1955 and 1984. Reports from five countries cited a total of 87 respiratory cancer deaths among only 3024 CME-BCME-exposed workers. If a recent court settlement in the United States is taken into account, the number of respiratory cancer deaths due to CME-BCME rises to 117. On the basis of these numbers of cancer deaths, and the levels and durations of exposure, it is concluded that VC is a weak human carcinogen compared to CME-BCME.
Covered versus uncovered self-expandable metal stents for malignant biliary strictures: A meta-analysis and systematic review

Self-expandable metal stents (SEMS) are used for palliating inoperable malignant biliary strictures. It is unclear if covered metal stents are superior to uncovered metal stents in these patients. We compared clinical outcomes in patients with covered and uncovered stents. Studies using covered and uncovered metallic stents for palliation in patients with malignant biliary stricture were reviewed. Articles were searched in MEDLINE, PubMed, and Ovid journals. Fixed and random effects models were used to calculate the pooled proportions. Initial search identified 1436 reference articles, of which 132 were selected and reviewed. Thirteen studies (n = 2239) for covered and uncovered metallic stents which met the inclusion criteria were included in this analysis. Odds ratio for stent occlusion rates in covered vs. uncovered stents was 0.79 (95 % CI = 0.65 to 0.96). Survival benefit in patients with covered vs. uncovered stents showed the odds ratio to be 1.29 (95 % CI = 0.95 to 1.74). Pooled odds ratio for migration of covered vs. uncovered stents was 9.9 (95 % CI = 4.5 to 22.3). Covered stents seemed to have significantly lesser occlusion rates, increased odds of migration, and increased odds of pancreatitis compared to uncovered stents. There was no statistically significant difference in the survival benefit, overall adverse event rate, and patency period of covered vs. uncovered metal stents in patients with malignant biliary strictures.
Health Insurance Enrollment and Availability of Medications for Substance Use Disorders

Objective:Medications for treatment of substance use disorders are underutilized in treatment programs in the United States. Little is known about how insurance enrollment within states affects treatment program decisions about whether to offer medications. The primary objective of the study was to examine the impact of health insurance enrollment on availability of substance use disorder medications among treatment programs.Methods:Data from the 2012 National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services, National Survey on Drug Use and Health, American Community Survey, Area Health Resource File, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration were combined to examine the impact of state insurance enrollment on availability of substance use disorder medications in treatment programs (N=9,888). A two-level, random-intercept logistic regression model was estimated to account for potential unobserved heterogeneity among treatment programs nested in states.Results:The percentage of state re...
TPO Mimetics: Can More Than One Agent Be Used in a Patient?

Recently, advances in TPO mimetics have expanded therapeutic options for adult patients with chronic ITP. Seven second generation TPO agonists have been reported in the literature. Evidence suggests that non-peptide versus peptide TPO mimetics bind differently to the TPO receptor. Romiplostim, a subcutaneous peptide TPO mimetic has recently been FDA approved. Eltrombopag, Ligand L4665-08, and Aka-Rx 501 are oral non-peptide TPO mimetics undergoing clinical study. The question arises if a patient fails or succeeds one TPO mimetic can the patient be treated with another agent and have a response. We present two cases of patients who were treated with two agents. Patient #1 was initiated on Aka-Rx 501 as she could not tolerate steroids and refused splenectomy. She was able to maintain a platelet count >50,000 for a period of six months without any bleeding. As the study did not have an extension, following a washout period she was enrolled in Ligand L4665-083 with a platelet count of 1,000. Within a week her platelet count rose to 97,000. Her platelet count, on a stable dose of Ligand progressively fell over two weeks and dropped to 2,000 with bleeding. She was then initiated on a higher dose of study medication. The second patient had an eight year history of ITP refractory to IVIG and steroids. She was initially enrolled in AMG 531, and was able to maintain a platelet count greater than 50,000 for over six months. Her platelet count began to progressively decline to zero. Antibody tests were negative and a bone marrow biopsy was normal. After a washout period, the patient was enrolled in AkaRx 501 Cl-003. One week later her platelet count rose to 64,000. She sustained a platelet count of greater than 30,000 and was initiated on the rollover study after four weeks. At week twelve, her platelet count as in the prior study fell to 0 with a concomitant CNS bleed. These two cases demonstrate the use of two different TPO mimetics in a given patient. The first patient was treated with two oral non-peptide TPO mimetics, with a sustained response to one agent and a quick response followed by a rapid loss of response to the second agent. The second patient was treated initially with a peptide TPO mimetic followed by a non-peptide TPO mimetic, both times demonstrating an initial brisk response, long with one and short-lived with the second, which was eventually lost. These data suggest that more than one agent can be used in a given patient.
Reusable and extensible modular development platform for interactive image based internet applications

This paper describes an approach for developing image-based applications that require interacting with a collection of images over internet. We address issues of developing a platform consisting of reusable modules that can handle interaction with images, such as 1) download and present images at client side in real-time, 2) change image resolution according to client resources, 3) generate appropriate web interfaces, 4) track the client side interactions and activities with these images, and 5) computing and analyzing real time performances at both client and server sides.An interactive Visible Human image based anatomical training system with a rich set of functionalities has been developed using these modules with the Internet used as a medium of communications. Performance analysis shows that response to most client requests took less than 17 seconds.Clearly defined interface requirements for the reusable modules facilitate integration of additional activity modules into the current platform, making it possible to achieve our extensibility goals.
Neoplasms of the Rectum

This chapter discusses the epidemiology, patients who are at risk, symptoms, diagnosis, and medical and surgical management of neoplasms of the rectum. The staging of rectal cancer is described, including the Dukes and TNM classifications. Other rectal malignancies include carcinoid tumor, leiomyosarcoma, lymphoma, and metastatic rectal tumors. Surgery for rectal cancer includes abdominoperineal resection (APR), low anterior resection, and transanal resection, while medical therapy includes radiation, chemotherapy, or radiochemotherapy.
Theoretical analysis of stabilizing value iteration with approximation errors

An analysis of online learning for adaptive optimal control through value iteration is presented. Stability of the system operated using any single immature control policy during the learning stage is established. The contribution of this work is incorporating approximation errors present in the function approximation process in developing the results. This is done through establishing sufficient conditions for boundedness of the approximated value function and for stability of the system operated by the control policy during the learning process.
The rights consciousness of urban resistance: legalism from below in an African unofficial sector

ABSTRACTSince 1999, Lagos, Nigeria's commercial capital and Africa's largest megacity, has attracted international attention not for its chaos but instead as a possible model of effective urban renewal and city governance in Africa. Yet this buoyant story of Lagos's transformation conceals the changing geography of risk, insecurity, and uncertainty in which the city's informal workers weave their routine existence. Drawing on eight months of in-depth interviews and content analysis of court records (affidavits and counter-affidavits), this paper analytically explores how a popular but de facto group of commercial motorcyclists (aka okada riders) in Lagos are appealing to state laws as weapons of resistance against urban renewal decisions that threaten their spaces of manoeuvre and survival, and, therefore, their right to the city. Such “legalism from below” constitutes a radical departure from popular narratives of subaltern resistance as “quiet encroachments,” which are non-collective, unassuming, and il...
An Update on Aerosolized Antibiotics for Treating Hospital-Acquired and Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in Adults

Objective: A significant percentage of patients with hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) have poor outcomes with intravenous antibiotics. It is not clear if adding aerosolized antibiotics improves treatment. This review is an update on using aerosolized antibiotics for treating HAP/VAP in adults. Data Sources: PubMed search using the terms “aerosolized antibiotics pneumonia,” “nebulized antibiotics pneumonia,” and “inhaled antibiotics pneumonia.” Reference lists from identified articles were also searched. Study Selection and Data Extraction: Clinical studies of aerosolized antibiotics for treating HAP/VAP in adults from July 2010 to March 2017. This article updates a previous review on this topic written in mid-2010. Data Synthesis: The size and quality of studies have improved dramatically in the recent time period compared to previous studies. However, there still are not large randomized controlled trials available. Colistin and aminoglycosides were the most com...
Deconstructing Leader Development: An Introduction

Leader development is a topic that is addressed in various academic forums where numerous disciplines, many of which are behavioral sciences, attempt to claim topic ownership. However, the understanding of leader development is incomplete and there is a clear practical demand in education and business. Accordingly, in this volume the purpose is to have academics bring their expertise and theoretical perspectives from other behavioral sciences to the topic of leader development, thus expanding the network of ideas on this important topic. In the end, by “deconstructing” leader development into areas that are important for leaders, albeit incompletely addressed elsewhere in literature, this publication will be useful to academic researchers, educators, and practitioners as the primary audience. The identification of gaps will inform researchers as they examine capability shortfalls and the limits of our understanding of this topic since it cuts across disciplines. Educators will be able to use the concepts and theories proposed in the volume to develop engaging academic programs, regardless of discipline, that will help challenge and grow leaders across disciplines in their respective educational programs. Finally, practitioners like executive coaches can use the theories and examples proposed to advise clients on important elements of leader development and how they can affect change in growing leaders. The volume is organized around the ideas of Lewin and Bandura to address the person, behavior, and environment, which also serves as a useful heuristic for those involved in the process of deconstructing leader development.
Behavioral phenotype predicts physiological responses to chronic stress in proactive and reactive birds.

Abstract Animal species display significant variation in personality traits among individuals, and two main coping styles have been identified and termed “proactive” and “reactive”. Further, these coping styles appear to correlate directly with the strength of the physiological stress response exhibited by those individuals. In our study system, white laying hens are reactive, flighty, and exhibit large hormonal and behavioral responses to acute stress, while brown laying hens are proactive, exploratory, and exhibit low hormonal and behavioral responses to acute stress. The objective of the current study was to determine if personality type also corresponds to differences in multiple measures of stress when birds are subjected to a chronic stressor. We tested the responses of hens to chronic stress applied by providing feed according to an unpredictable schedule for 14 days, and measured corticosterone concentrations in circulation, expression of heat shock proteins (HSPs), molecules known to protect cells in response to stress, and the ratios of heterophils:lymphocytes in blood, two immune cells known to change in quantity in circulation during chronic stress. We predicted that white hens would show greater physiological responses to the chronic stress treatment. Plasma corticosterone levels significantly increased after 7 days of treatment and returned to baseline levels on day 14, but did not differ significantly between strains. H:L ratios, on the other hand, were significantly elevated by day 7 of treatment, and increased significantly more in brown hens than white. HSP70 and HSP90 expression levels were significantly higher after stress began in white hens than brown. Our results showed that brown hens were more reactive in one response (H:L ratios) while white hens were more reactive in another (HSP expression). These different reactions to the same stressor may represent different strategies for dealing with the same stressor.
The mushroom sciarid fly, Lycoriella ingenua , benefits from its association with green mold disease ( Trichoderma aggressivum ) in commercial mushroom production

The mushroom fly, Lycoriella ingenua Dufour (Diptera: Sciaridae), is a pest in white button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) farming in North America. The main risk associated with sciarid flies inside mushroom farms is that the adult can potentially vector mushroom green mold disease caused by the pathogenic fungus Trichoderma aggressivum Samuels & W. Gams (Hypocreales). Flies are attracted to T. aggressivum-infected compost and, through subsequent movement, are suspected to spread the spores. The present study evaluated whether there is a fitness benefit for the sciarid flies from their association with T. aggressivum. Lycoriella ingenua was reared on three substrates: (1) spawned mushroom compost inoculated with the T. aggressivum, (2) spawned mushroom compost and (3) unspawned mushroom compost. Developmental time from larva to adult, adult longevity, adult fecundity and female body size were used as indicators of fly fitness. There was a fitness benefit for the sciarid fly when larvae develop on spawned mushroom compost parasitized by green mold, including higher adult emergence rate, faster development time from larva to adult and larger adult females. Fly fitness declined when the compost was fully colonized by A. bisporus mycelia and T. aggressivum was not present. This suggests that sciarid larvae benefit from the T. aggressivum parasitism on A. bisporus and the green mold. Benefits may include improved nutrition, defense suppression or pre-digestion.
Muscle Stem Cell Niche Dysregulation in Volumetric Muscle Loss Injury

Skeletal muscle has a remarkable regenerative capacity; however, after volumetric muscle loss (VML) due to traumatic injury or surgery this regenerative response is significantly diminished, causing chronic functional deficits. The critical defect size at which the muscle will not functionally recover has not yet been established and subsequently, the relative contribution of crucial muscle components, including muscle stem cells and the muscle stem cell niche, are unknown. In this study, we created VML injuries of 2, 3, or 4 mm diameter, full-thickness defects in the mouse quadriceps. The 2, 3, and 4 mm injuries resulted in a defect of 5, 15, or 30% of the quadriceps mass, respectively. At 14 and 28 days after injury, histological analyses revealed injury size-dependent differences in myofiber morphology and fibrosis; the number of small myofibers increased with increasing injury size. The results showed that the 3 mm injury was at a threshold point, as myofibers were unable to bridge the defect, there was persistent fibrosis and inflammation, and significantly increased number of myofibers with centrally located nuclei. We then further investigated the 3 mm VML for nerve and vascular regeneration. These injured muscles were accompanied by a drastic increase in denervated neuromuscular junctions (NMJ), while assessment of angiogenesis via micro-CT analysis revealed a significant increase in vascular volume primarily from small diameter vessels after VML injury. Collectively, these data indicate that the spatial and temporal control of the fibrotic and neuromotor response are critical to regeneration and could be potential therapeutic targets, as they are the most dysregulated components of the muscle stem cell niche after VML.
Diabetes mellitus (DM), serum glucose, and outcome in gastroesophageal (GE) cancer

e15661 Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) are frequent comorbidities in cancer patients. Their diagnosis is predictive of early recurrence following resection o...
Blocking Performance of Wavelength-routing Networks

Performance evaluation of wavelength-routing networks is the topic of this chapter. In particular, an analytical model for the blocking performance under dynamic Poisson traffic is presented. The model has a modest complexity and good accuracy, and is applicable to arbitrary mesh topologies with arbitrary wavelength converter locations, and arbitrary network state-independent routing, with random wavelength assignment.
Exploring Movement and Direction in Engineering

Digging into the realm of geotechnical engineering, this chapter explores the constructions of movement and direction that matter when working with soil. This chapter explores movement and direction within the nascent field of bio-inspired and bio-mediated geotechnics which includes understanding how bacteria, roots, ants, termites, and worms optimize their movements and directions with soil to flourish with the aim of adopting their strategies to improve ways in which humans affect the Earth.
Dynamic Measurement of Liquid Sheet Formed by Impinging Jets via Partial Coherent Interferometry

In this work, the thicknesses of impinging liquid sheets formed by two alike impinging jets with different flow rates are investigated via a non-intrusive measurement technique, the Partial Coherent Interferometry. The Reynolds number and Weber number are 720 to 780 and 120 to 150, respectively. An interferometer with the calibrated partial coherence property is used to record the interference pattern by passing one branch of the two optical paths through the impinging sheet. By examining the phase and the degree of coherence of the pattern, the absolute thickness distribution of the impinging sheet is measured. The thicknesses with different experimental conditions are compared to the previous theoretical models and the influences of the flow rate and impinging angle are concluded.Copyright © 2018 by ASME
Associations between Anxiety, Poor Prognosis, and Accurate Understanding of Scan Results among Advanced Cancer Patients.

Abstract Background: Routine imaging (“scan”) results contain key prognostic information for advanced cancer patients. Yet, little is known about how accurately patients understand this information...
A layered multiple importance sampling scheme for focused optimal Bayesian experimental design.

We develop a new computational approach for "focused" optimal Bayesian experimental design with nonlinear models, with the goal of maximizing expected information gain in targeted subsets of model parameters. Our approach considers uncertainty in the full set of model parameters, but employs a design objective that can exploit learning trade-offs among different parameter subsets. We introduce a new layered multiple importance sampling scheme that provides consistent estimates of expected information gain in this focused setting. This sampling scheme yields significant reductions in estimator bias and variance for a given computational effort, making optimal design more tractable for a wide range of computationally intensive problems.
The Role of Entrepreneurs in Facilitating Remittances in Cuba

In times of crisis, aid can help those in need. However, given the complex and uncertain environment, aid provision faces epistemic and political limitations. Remittances are a major source of aid that can overcome these challenges because it is decentralized and adaptable. This chapter examines remittances between the US and Cuba since 1993 and finds that remittance senders, recipients, and aid providers act as entrepreneurs by leveraging local, context-specific knowledge and social connections to identify needs and invent new, creative ways to provide aid.
What do we know about evaluator education? A review of peer-reviewed publications (1978–2018)

Abstract This article reviews peer-reviewed writings on evaluator education from 1978 to 2018. Despite the topic’s presumed importance, scholars to date have not extensively addressed it in peer-reviewed publications. The article first describes the methods used to select articles and the conceptual framework for their analysis. It then presents the content of 64 articles selected for review, divided into two major categories: research studies, and reflective case narratives. We further divide research studies into program directories and empirical studies; the case narratives provide information on programs, curriculum, and instruction and minimally on students/faculty. The article concludes with thoughts on next steps for research on evaluator education.
Measures of Poor Sleep Quality Are Associated With Higher Energy Intake and Poor Diet Quality in a Diverse Sample of Women From the Go Red for Women Strategically Focused Research Network.

Background Poor sleep increases cardiovascular disease risk, and diet likely contributes to this relationship. However, there are limited epidemiological data on the relationship between measures o...
Lived Experience: Deaf Professionals’ Stories of Resilience and Risks

Navigating a phonocentric and audistic society can be challenging for Deaf people, yet some of them adapt and exhibit resilience. Although there is a plethora of resilience studies, Deaf people's narratives are largely unexplored. This phenomenological study explored from a Deaf cultural-linguistic lens 10 Deaf professionals who use American Sign Language in the United States and their observation of other Deaf people's lived experience. The study focused particularly on their experiences in overcoming significant barriers in their lives and the factors that strengthen Deaf people's resilience. Based on qualitative data gathered from narrative interviews, three main themes emerged from this study: (a) Barriers to Incidental Learning: The Dinner Table Syndrome; (b) Importance of Family Involvement; and (c) Protective Role of the Deaf Community as a Second Family. The stories in this study highlight how Deaf professionals and other Deaf people navigate barriers and manifest resilience.
Meshless modeling of coupled transdermal pharmacokinetics with analytical validation

Abstract An efficient localized collocation meshless computational approach is applied to the study of transdermal drug delivery (TDD). To validate the numerical technique, a one-dimensional analytical solution is first derived for the set of coupled differential equations that govern the pharmacokinetic process in the two-compartment compound diffusion model. These equations consist of one partial differential equation (PDE) and one ordinary differential equation (ODE). These equations are solved in one-dimensional space via superposition and separation of variables to arrive at the field solution for the compound concentration in the tissue. The convergence of the numerical result to the analytical result indicates the viability of the localized collocation meshless method (LCMM) as a valid approach to the solution of TDD problems. The analytical solution is used to benchmark the numerical technique for several cases with differing pharmacokinetic coefficients, demonstrating the robustness and accuracy of the meshless numerical technique. Furthermore, the highly efficient LCCM implementation is extended to address multi-dimensional TDD cases achieving stable and physically consistent results.
Outcome of Soft-tissue Reconstruction in the Setting of Combined Preoperative and Intraoperative Radiotherapy for Extremity Soft-tissue Sarcomas.

BACKGROUND/AIM Reconstruction for soft-tissue sarcomas is complex and often uses soft-tissue flaps. To preserve critical structures, intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) can be used to boost the total dose to these critical structures and close margins; however, there are limited data on the outcome of soft-tissue reconstruction in patients treated with IORT. PATIENTS AND METHODS Twenty patients received IORT with soft-tissue flap coverage. There were 14 tumors of the lower extremities and six of the upper, including seven free-flaps and 13 pedicle flaps. Mean preoperative and IORT doses were 49.4 Gy and 10.4 Gy, respectively, with a mean total dose of 59.8 Gy. RESULTS Seven (35%) patients had a complication, most commonly an infection (n=4, 27%). Total flap loss occurred in one treated with pedicle flap. Four (20%) patients suffered a radiation-associated fracture. At the final follow-up, the mean Musculoskeletal Tumor Society Score was 75±11%. CONCLUSION Complications and postoperative fractures were common with IORT, however, there were no cases requiring amputation.
Butterflies regulate wing temperatures using radiative cooling

Butterfly wings are live organs embedded with multiple sensory neurons and, in some species, with pheromoneproducing cells. The proper function of butterfly wings demands a suitable temperature range, but the wings can overheat quickly in the sun due to their small thermal capacity. We developed an infrared technique to map butterfly wing temperatures and discovered that despite the wings’ diverse visible colors, regions of wings that contain live cells are the coolest, resulting from the thickness of the wings and scale nanostructures. We also demonstrated that butterflies use behavioral traits to prevent overheating of their wings.
Syndicated Bandits: A Framework for Auto Tuning Hyper-parameters in Contextual Bandit Algorithms.

The stochastic contextual bandit problem, which models the trade-off between exploration and exploitation, has many real applications, including recommender systems, online advertising and clinical trials. As many other machine learning algorithms, contextual bandit algorithms often have one or more hyper-parameters. As an example, in most optimal stochastic contextual bandit algorithms, there is an unknown exploration parameter which controls the trade-off between exploration and exploitation. A proper choice of the hyper-parameters is essential for contextual bandit algorithms to perform well. However, it is infeasible to use offline tuning methods to select hyper-parameters in contextual bandit environment since there is no pre-collected dataset and the decisions have to be made in real time. To tackle this problem, we first propose a two-layer bandit structure for auto tuning the exploration parameter and further generalize it to the Syndicated Bandits framework which can learn multiple hyper-parameters dynamically in contextual bandit environment. We show our Syndicated Bandits framework can achieve the optimal regret upper bounds and is general enough to handle the tuning tasks in many popular contextual bandit algorithms, such as LinUCB, LinTS, UCB-GLM, etc. Experiments on both synthetic and real datasets validate the effectiveness of our proposed framework.
Are plastic particles reduced in size in seabirds' stomachs?

Abstract Many studies have quantified plastic loads in seabirds' stomachs but provide imprecise estimates of retention time. Quantifying retention time is fundamental for assessing biological impact and for the use of plastic as bioindicators of plastic pollution. Presumably, plastic is retained in the grinding section of the stomach (gizzard or ventriculus) until ground small enough and particles then pass into intestines and are defecated. We assume that particle size is related to time in the ventriculus and compared size of plastic particles in juveniles, which were exposed to plastic for a known time, to non-juveniles which were exposed for an unknown longer period. Plastic particles from Northern Fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis) were of similar size between groups suggesting similar wear and retention time. Cassin's Auklet (Ptychoramphus aleuticus) juveniles contained larger particles than adults suggesting particles retained in adults were worn down and thus held for a longer period.
Closed-form solution for shock wave propagation in density-graded cellular material under impact

Abstract Density-graded cellular materials have tremendous potential in structural applications where impact resistance is required. Cellular materials subjected to high impact loading result in a compaction type deformation, usually modeled using continuum-based shock theory. The resulting governing differential equation of the shock model is nonlinear, and the density gradient further complicates the problem. Earlier studies have employed numerical methods to obtain the solution. In this study, an analytical closed-form solution is proposed to predict the response of density-graded cellular materials subjected to a rigid body impact. Solutions for the velocity of the impinging rigid body mass, energy absorption capacity of the cellular material, and the incident stress are obtained for a single shock propagation. The results obtained are in excellent agreement with the existing numerical solutions found in the literature. The proposed analytical solution can be potentially used for parametric studies and for effectively designing graded structures to mitigate impact.
Proteolytic Activity of Bovine Corneal Epithelial Extracts

Proteolysis of both endogenous and exogenous substrates by the dialyzed soluble fraction of bovine corneal epithelium has been studied. Such variables as pH, temperature, and cation supplementation were chosen to simulate conditions as they may prevail during mechanical or thermal wounding. Endogenous proteolysis at physiologic pH and temperature is stimulated in decreasing order by Mn 2+ , Mg z+ , and Ca 2+ at optimal concentrations of 10 mM. At 50° C. the optimal concentrations of each cation is reduced to 2 mM. and Ca 2+ stimulation is markedly enhanced. The monovalent cations, and especially Na+, critically influence activity. Inhibition or activation of proteolysis by Na + appears to depend on the extent to which protein configurations are altered. The respective alkaline pH optima for unsupplemented and Mg z+ stimulated proteolysis at 37.5° C. is 8.0 and S.5. Soybean trypsin inhibitor has essentially no effect on proteolysis, and the Na + in sodium salicylate accounts for all but 7 per cent of the inhibition observable with this coynpound.
Partition Problems: Relative Power, Historical Memory, and the Origins of the Eritrean-Ethiopian War

Under what circumstances does partition yield war between resulting successor states? This article probes the causes of the Eritrean-Ethiopian War (1998–2000) in an effort to offer tentative answers. The evidence suggests that in this particular case, the causes of postpartition war reflected a more general cause of war: disagreements over relative power. These disagreements were underpinned by the divergent historical memories maintained by ruling elites in each country about the joint revolution that brought them to power and partitioned the Ethiopian state. Based on a wide array of materials, this article contributes to debates on the comparative study of partition, while providing new insight into the origins of the Eritrean-Ethiopian War.
Grade Inflation Marches On: Grade Increases from the 1990s to 2000s

Grade inflation threatens the integrity of college grades as indicators of academic achievement. In this study, we contribute to the literature on grade inflation by providing the first estimate of the size of grade increases at the student level between the mid-1990s and mid-2000s. By controlling for student characteristics and course-taking patterns, we are able to eliminate alternative explanations for grade increases. Our results suggest that grade inflation has occurred across decades, at a small yet non-negligible rate. Suggestions for future research are discussed.
Tridione; its use in convulsive and related disorders.

Summary Clinical experience with a new drug, tridione, over a period of 16 months in 75 patients with convulsive and related disorders has left us with the following impressions: 1. It is the most effective drug yet employed in the treatment of petit mal. 2. Its anticonvulsant effect in the control of grand mal attacks is not as great as that of dilantin sodium, phenobarbital, or the bromides. It may occasionally be of value as an adjuvant or additional remedy in the control of major attacks not adequately controlled by other drugs. 3. It is more effective in idiopathic than in organic epilepsy. 4. It is of value in reducing the tension or rigidity of patients with cerebral palsy. Of these, the athetoids are benefited more than the spastics. 5. It may be of value in the temporary control of children with behavior disturbances. 6. It is of possible value in the control of the convulsions and respiratory spasms of tetanus when given intravenously. 7. It is of no particular value in chorea, Parkinsonism, or dystonia musculorum. Regarding its clinical pharmacologic properties, it has been our experience that: a. Tridione is a safe drug to use since no permanent deleterious effects, addiction, or tolerance were noted. b. Toxic symptoms are usually mild and consist of photophobia, visual blurring, dizziness, and nausea. They occur more commonly in adults than in children and disappear promptly when the drug is withdrawn. c. Sudden stopping of the drug in epilepsy does not result in status epilepticus. d. When used in combination, it is more effective with phenobarbital than dilantin. e. Chronic alcoholism increases the tolerance to the drug. f. Since it is least effective in lesions of the pyramidal system and more effective in certain conditions with extrapyramidal lesions, it is suggested that its site of action is probably in the midbrain, and/or areas in the basal nuclei, and/or upon the cortical connecting tracts of these areas.
Nonlinear Acoustic Effects in Rocks and Soils

When natural materials are loaded by a stress field, dramatic changes in modulus occur as the microstructure deforms, even if there is no permanent macroscopic damage. The effect is primarily due to pervasive, thin microfractures which easily close under load. The pressure derivative of a generalized elastic modulus, M=dC/dP, for most intact solids equals ~5, but can be two orders of magnitude higher for rocks and soils [1]. Nonlinear terms in the stress strain relation that governs material response can therefore be very important. Measurements of longitudinal and shear velocity under hydrostatic and uniaxial loading for various rocks are reported to illustrate these phenomena. Observations of amplitude dependent attenuation are presented to show direct evidence of nonlinear behavior. New results presented here for partially saturated rocks show the strongest nonlinear response yet reported.
Posthysterectomy enterocele and vaginal vault prolapse

Of 421 patients with posthysterectomy enterocele and vault prolapse, 190 cases are reported for the first time. These 190 patients had 197 operations, 90% were vaginal procedures and 10% were abdominal-presacral suspension procedures; 88% of the operations provided good vaginal support and a satisfactory result. A vaginal repair is advocated for this condition because it provides an excellent result with minimal exposure of the frequently elderly patient to serious risk or disability. An abdominal-presacral suspension is advised only for those patients who are anxious to preserve vaginal function, in whom there is an inversion of an already much-operated-on, snug vagina.
Communication Disorders in Spanish Speakers: Theoretical, Research, and Clinical Aspects

In Communication Disorders in Spanish Speakers: Theoretical, Research, and Clinical Aspects, the editors, Jose Centeno, Raquel Anderson, and Lorain Obler, have assembled a multidisciplinary perspective on an emergent avenue in the field of linguistics, sociolinguistics, and language pathology: the study of the growing and ubiquitous population of Spanish speakers in the United States. This field is multidisciplinary in breadth yet inconsistent in the depth with which each vein has been examined. Therefore, in an effort to address these issues, the editors have brought together views from contrastive analyses, cross-linguistic investigations, and empirical studies of monolingual and bilingual Spanish-speaking children and adults in educational, professional, and clinical settings. The intended audience of this volume includes students and practitioners in the fields of linguistics, sociolinguistics, and speech-language pathology. Students, researchers, and clinicians working with Spanish speakers, whether monolingual or bilingual, language-impaired or not, are provided with chapters on a variety of topics from which they can glean practical and often illuminating information.
The slow decay and quick revival of self-deception

People demonstrate an impressive ability to self-deceive, distorting misbehavior to reflect positively on themselves—for example, by cheating on a test and believing that their inflated performance reflects their true ability. But what happens to self-deception when self-deceivers must face reality, such as when taking another test on which they cannot cheat? We find that self-deception diminishes over time only when self-deceivers are repeatedly confronted with evidence of their true ability (Study 1); this learning, however, fails to make them less susceptible to future self-deception (Study 2).
Analytical approach to custom datapath design

This paper addresses the problem of layout design automation of datapath cells. We present a novel approach to transistor placement problem for custom datapath designs and demonstrate that it can be applied to practical designs. Our approach is based on an analytical model which employs a mixed integer linear programming (MILP) technique. The novelty and originality of the method is the efficient management of the complexity of the underlying mathematical model. Our prototype tool automatically handles transistor merging, folding, and intra-cell component sharing.
Probing two-photon excitation dynamics using ultrafast laser pulses

Abstract We probe the two-photon excitation dynamics of two new dyes, N , N -diphenyl-7-[2-(4-piridinyl) ethenyl]-9,9-di- n -decyl-fluoren-2-amine (AF50) and (7-(7-benzothiazol-2-yl-9,9-diethylfluoren-2-yl)-9,9,diethylfluoren-2-yl) diphenylamine (AF250) using femtosecond excitation pulses by Z-scan and time-resolved pump-probe absorption measurements. Irradiance dependence of the induced absorption cross-section is linked to linear absorption of the two-photon excited state. The excited state linear absorption cross-section are 1.0×10 −17 cm 2 for AF250 and 2.7×10 −17 cm 2 for AF250. Relaxation of the two-photon excited state follows a complicated path with three distinct relaxation times. The longest ones, 1.6 ns for the AF50 and 1.9 ns for the AF250, are associated with the respective lowest singlet life-times: 2.23 ns and 2.15 ns.