cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Arrival and Departure Patterns of Public Sector Employees before and after Implementation of Flexitime.

In this paper, the effects of a flexible working hours schedule on the arrival and departure times of 162 public sector employees are examined. The results indicate that workers, when given the opportunity to schedule their own workday, deviate only moderately from their pre-flexitime arrival/departure times. In addition, they tend to develop relatively stable arrival/departure patterns. The results also indicate that the number of late arrivals has been virtually eliminated.
The size and topology of single-stranded DNA from bean golden mosaic virus.

Abstract The single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) of bean golden mosaic virus (BGMV) was resolved into two components by polyacrylamide gel (2.5%) electrophoresis in 8 M urea and by rate-zonal sedimentation in 5–20% alkaline sucrose density gradients. Viral DNA, either unfractionated frafractionated and electroeluted from polyacrylamide gels, was spread for electron microscopic examination. Unfractionated DNA and the slower of the two fractionated components contained predominantly circular molecules. The faster component consisted entirely of linear molecules. Circular molecules had contour lengths corresponding to 8.0 × 10 5 daltons.
Skeletal dysplasia involving the subaxial cervical spine: Report of two cases and review of the literature

✓ Because skeletal dysplasias are primary disorders of bone, they have not been commonly understood as neurosurgical diseases. Nevertheless, neurosurgical complications are commonly encountered in many cases of dysplasia syndromes. The authors present two cases of skeletal dysplasia that caused overt instability of the cervical spine. One patient with a diagnosis of Gorham disease of the cervical spine was treated with prolonged fixation in a halo brace after an initial attempt at instrumentation with a posterior occiput–C4 fusion. The other patient, who at birth was identified to have camptomelic dysplasia, has been treated conservatively from the outset. Although these two patients presented with different disorders—in one patient adequate mature bone never formed and in the other patient progressive bone loss became apparent after a seemingly normal initial development—these cases demonstrate unequivocally that surgical options for fusion are ultimately limited by the quality of the underlying bone. In...
Femtosecond nearly degenerate four-wave mixing in C60 films between 0.55 and 0.70 μm

Abstract We used femtosecond nearly degenerate four-wave mixing (nDFWM) to measure the instantaneous third-order nonlinear optical susceptibility function χ 1111 [−( ω − δω ), ω , ω ,−( ω + δω )] near the absorption edge of C 60 films with absorption reaching up to 2.0×10 4 cm −1 . The frequency shift was set to ℏ δω =0.07±0.01 eV, smaller than the width of the spectral feature studied but large enough to suppress non-instantaneous signal contributions. Our data are orders of magnitude below previous DFWM results but connect smoothly to data at longer wavelengths where absorption is low ( −1 ).
Heteroditopic Rebek's Imide Directs the Reactivity of Homoditopic Olefins within Desolvated Quaternary Assemblies in the Solid State

Molecules with two different binding sites are important constructs in supramolecular chemistry. Such heteroditopic molecules are designed, a priori, to assemble two different molecules and/or ions within ternary complexes, a process which is exploitable in areas such as separations, nucleobase recognition, and replication. Whereas recent studies involving heteroditopic molecules have focused largely on the binding of ion pairs and the programmed assembly of metallosupramolecular architectures, the application of heteroditopic molecules as “artificial enzymes” that direct the formation of covalent bonds remains a worthy goal. Indeed, since the work of Kelly et al. that described a heteroditopic molecule that employed hydrogen bonds to orient two different molecules in solution for an SN2 reaction, advances have been made in our understanding of self-assembly such that complexes that transcend the ternary level are now viable targets in supramolecular syntheses and may be used to direct the formation of covalent bonds. With this in mind, we report here the ability of a heteroditopic molecule, in the form of Rebek1s imide (Rebim), to direct a solid-state reaction in which a covalent bond is formed (Scheme 1). Specifically, we reveal that Reb-im assembles two molecules of trans-1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene (4,4’-bpe) within a solvated quaternary complex, in 1·toluene (where 1= {(Reb-im)·(4,4’-bpe)}2), which reacts through an intermolecular [2+2] photodimerization and a rare single crystal to single crystal (SCSC) transformation to give rctttetrakis(4-pyridyl)cyclobutane (4,4’-tpcb) stereospecifically in up to 100% yield. We demonstrate that Reb-im assembles two identical olefins with two identical recognition sites and, thus, exhibits a novel and unusual form of degeneracy in its recognition abilities. We also provide evidence that supports the structures of such hydrogen-bonded complexes being remarkably robust, being able to operate in the wake of an induced desolvation and phase transition of the solid. 16] To our knowledge, Reb-im is the first example of a heteroditopic molecule that directs a chemical reaction in the solid state. Our choice of Reb-im as a heteroditopic molecule that directs a [2+2] photodimerization stems from the nature and
ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Acute Onset of Scrotal Pain — Without Trauma, Without Antecedent Mass

AbstractMen or boys, who present with acute scrotal pain without prior trauma or a known mass, most commonly suffer from torsion of the spermatic cord; epididymitis or epididymoorchitis; or torsion of the testicular appendages. Less common causes of pain include a strangulated hernia, segmental test
A classmate at your side: teacher practices, peer victimization, and network connections in urban schools

This study examines whether structural (class size, gender composition, and grade level) and relational (normative behaviors and teacher support) aspects of classrooms are associated with increased social connections among children experiencing peer victimization. Peer sociometric and social network measures were collected from 418 African-American children in 33s to fourth grade classrooms. Classroom observations were conducted to assess teachers’ provision of emotional support. Analysis accounting for children nested within classrooms demonstrated that classroom structural and relational characteristics attenuated the negative association between peer victimization and network centrality. In classrooms with fewer students or more female students, as well as in classrooms with higher levels of teacher emotional support, peer victims were less isolated in the peer network. Furthermore, several classroom structural factors (i.e., grade level and gender composition) and relational factors (i.e., peer normative behaviors and teacher emotional support) predicted network centrality. Findings generate hypotheses for future research and classroom intervention to build access to social resources for peer victims in urban schools.
Engineering oligo(ethylene glycol)-based thermosensitive microgels for drug delivery applications

Novel oligo(ethylene glycol)-based thermosensitive microgels with well engineered core-shell structures were developed for storage and delivery of chemotherapeutic agents. The core is consisted of hydrophobic poly[2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethyl methacrylate], while the shell is consisted of hydrophilic copolymer of 2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethyl methacrylate with oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylates. These core-shell microgels exhibit tunable volume phase transition temperature and excellent colloidal stability across the physiologically important temperature range. The thickness of the hydrophilic shell can control the collapsing degree (or mesh size) of the hydrophobic core network, which can be utilized to significantly increase the loading capacity of the model hydrophobic drugs dipyridamole by tailoring the shell thickness of microgels. While the microgels are nontoxic, the drug molecules released from the microgels remain active to kill the cancer cells. The presented results provide important guidelines for the rational design of core-shell structured polymeric microgels for drug uptake and release applications.
Are chaotic functions really chaotic

We give a class C of continuous functions from [0, 1] onto itself which are chaotic in the sense of Li and Yorke, but with the property that almost all (in the sense of Lebesgue) points of [0, 1] are eventually fixed. For some continuous functions from [0, 1] onto itself which are not in C , We also show that their non-wandering sets are all equal to the interval [0, 1].
On the energy-efficiency of speculative hardware

Microprocessor trends are moving towards wider architectures and more aggressive speculation. With the increasing transistor budgets, energy consumption has become a critical design constraint. To address this problem, several researchers have proposed and evaluated energy-efficient variants of speculation mechanisms. However, such hardware is typically evaluated in isolation and its impact on the energy consumption of the rest of the processor, for example, due to wrong-path executions, is ignored. Moreover, the available metrics that would provide a thorough evaluation of an architectural optimization employ somewhat complicated formulas with hard-to-measure parametersIn this paper, we introduce a simple method to accurately compare the energy-efficiency of speculative architectures. Our metric is based on runtime analysis of the entire processor chip and thus captures the energy consumption due to the positive as well as the negative activities that arise from the speculation activities. We demonstrate the usefulness of our metric on the example of value speculation, where we found some proposed value predictors, including low-power designs, not to be energy-efficient
Cascadability properties of MZI-SOA-based all-optical 3R regenerators for RZ-DPSK signals

We experimentally demonstrate 50 cascaded all-optical 3R regenerators over a 1,000km transmission distance for 10-Gb/s return-to-zero differential phase-shift keying (RZ-DPSK) signals. The regenerator consists of integrated Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) based wavelength converters. Regenerative properties and tolerance to pattern dependent effects have been studied in terms of Q-factor measurement, and error free operation with input OSNR of 20dB/0.1nm has also been demonstrated.
Evaluation of the six-minute walk in multiple sclerosis subjects and healthy controls.

Objective To assess the characteristics of the 6-min walk (6MW) in multiple sclerosis (MS) subjects of varied disability, and controls. To assess the correlation of 6MW to subjective measures of fa...
IDENTIFICATION AND DESCRIPTIONS OF AEDES EGGS FROM CALIFORNIA AND NEVADA (DIPTERA: CULICIDAE)

A key and measurements are presented for the eggs of 23 species of Aedes . Twenty species from California and Nevada are illustrated, and eleven previously undescribed eggs are described.
The need for standardized, scientific criteria for describing drug-using behavior.

To date there exist no measurement criteria in the field of drug abuse research that could be regarded as being scientific. As a result, the measures typically employed are of dubious reliability and validity, the findings of independent researchers cannot be compared meaningfully, and rational communication about drug abuse issues is exceedingly difficult. Yet little has been done to bring scientific objectivity to this field of research, nor does there appear to be a clamor of insistance to do so.There is clearly a need for the development of scientific (objective, quantifiable) criteria for describing drug-using behavior. The criteria developed should have general utilities for policy making, diagnosis, and research applications.
Detecting Document Genre for Personalization of Information Retrieval

We report on the effectiveness of language models for personalization of retrieval results based on a searchers preference for document genre. In principle, such preferences can be obtained via implicit relevance feedback through the observation of the searchers actions and behavior during search sessions. While our approach did not produce significant improvement to retrieval effectiveness, the methodology and experimental setting can and are being used for further work on exploring genre-based personalization.
The Earnings Event-Time Seasonal and the Calendar-Time Seasonal in Stock Returns: Naive Use of Earnings Information or Announcement Timing Effect?:

We document a pattern in the day-of-the-week timing of future earnings announcements that is predictable from knowledge of the current quarter's earnings. The pattern mimics the predictable (+, +,0, -) dependence previously reported in both seasonally differenced quarterly earnings themselves and in estimated abnormal returns at future quarterly earnings announcement dates (the “SUE effect”; see Rendleman, Jones, and Latane [1987]; Bernard and Thomas [1990]). The predictability of abnormal returns at future earnings announcement dates therefore is not independent of the well-documented day-of-the-week seasonal in stock returns (the “DOW effect”; see Osborne [1962]; Cross [1973]; French [1980]; Gibbons and Hess [1981]). Although the DOW effect is too small to fully explain the SUE effect, it appears to contribute to it, since both past SUE and current earnings announcement DOW are incremental in explaining announcement-day estimated abnormal returns. The unclear role of size and the presence of errors in e...
Brain specific gene expression

Abstract Genes expressed specifically by the brain account for the majority of the 30 000 mRNAs found in brain. These genes carry a characteristic 82 nucleotide ‘IID’ sequence in some of their introns, which is probably involved in gene control. The amino acid sequences of brain proteins can be read from DNA sequences, available from cDNA clones of brain-specific mRNAs. Chemical synthesis of short peptides corresponding to regions of brain proteins deduced from these cDNA sequences gives us antibodies to brain proteins. These can be used to map the anatomic locations of brain proteins and to study their biochemical properties and functions.
Analysis of Millimicrosecond RF Pulse Transmission

An analysis of millimicrosecond RF pulse transmission through uniform systems is presented. Quadratic approximations for the complex propagation constant are used, and a Gaussian pulse envelope is assumed. Employing Fourier transformation, the received waveforms are obtained for the general case of lossy, dispersive systems. The results are discussed and illustrated separately in terms of pulse distortions due to dispersion, due to losses and due to bandwidth limitations.
The Use of Qualitative Evaluation Methods to Test Internal Validity: An Example in a Work Site Health Promotion Program

Since the late 1970s, qualitative research methods have gained recognition for their potential contribution to the evaluation of health promotion and educationprograms. Today, the issue is no longer whether to use quantitative or qualitative methods, but rather, how they can be combined to provide more complete assessments of the impact of a program. Each method is based on different yet complementary assumptions and each method has certain strengths that can be used to compensate for the limitations of the other. This article illustrates how qualitative and quantitative methods were combined in the evaluation of a health promotion program conducted in 23 rubber-producing plants in the United States. The qualitative case study and monitoring data were used to complement the quantitative study through the testing of threats to internal validity, and through the detection of a Type III error, that is, the inadequate implementation of the primary program intervention. In experimental and quasi-experimental e...
Museums – What They Can and Should Be Doing

Museums have a duty, not only to preserve the Objects in their care, but also to preserve the skills and the mindsets of those who created them; furthermore, those concepts must somehow be conveyed to the visiting public. I shall give examples of how this can be achieved when illustrating how the early computers paved the way for the ubiquitous devices that we know today. These will include interactive gadgets to show the underlying principles, and videos of the objects in use.
Can GEWF Solution Improve the Retrieval of Lymph Nodes From Colorectal Cancer Resections

Abstract Context.—Lymph node status is an important prognostic factor in colorectal cancer staging. Objective.—To determine whether the use of GEWF solution (glacial acetic acid, ethanol, distilled water, formaldehyde) increases the yield of lymph nodes (LNs) from colorectal cancer specimens. Design.—A prospective study investigated the usefulness of GEWF in identifying LN from colorectal cancer resection specimens. After standard formalin fixation, approximately half of the specimens were placed in GEWF solution, and the remainder were used as a control. The number of LNs, patient sex, length of specimen, site of the specimen, tumor staging, and the number of positive LNs were analyzed. The numbers of retrieved and metastasis-positive LNs were recorded and compared with specimens from the previous year, in which no GEWF solution was used. Residents were educated on the importance of LN status before the study. Data were analyzed using independent-sample t tests. The residents also completed a subjective ...
Alterations in myocardial signal transduction due to aging and chronic dynamic exercise

Roth, David A., Cynthia D. White, Deborah A. Podolin, and Robert S. Mazzeo. Alterations in myocardial signal transduction due to aging and chronic dynamic exercise. J. Appl. Physiol.84(1): 177–184,...
Tissue Spectrum Analyzer for Medical Use

There are many pigments within living tissue. The color varies according to the function of the tissue andthe condition of the disease. One method of quantitatively measuring this change and obtaining useful informationfor medical diagnosis is to project light onto the tissue and then conduct spectral analysis of the reflected light. Through the use of tissue spectrum analysis, we have been able to measure the ratio (called saturation O2) of hemoglobin combined with oxygen to the total hemoglobin content in the blood. Its usefulness has been provenin the diagnosis of the existence and stage of such diseases as chronic interstitial hepatitis and gastrohelcoma, and for the monitoring of the fetus' respiratory condition during delivery. The use of this method is in theprocess of being confirmed for experimentation in other fields.
Further characterization of the quinine taste discrimination stimulus in rhesus monkeys: effects of inter-trial interval, number and distribution of test stimuli.

The purpose of the current investigation was to characterize further the taste discriminative stimulus properties of quinine. Using a food-maintained two-choice (quinine and water) discrimination paradigm, the effects of varying inter-trial intervals, and the number and distribution of test stimuli were examined in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta). Monkeys were trained to respond under a chain schedule of reinforcement (FR5B-fluid, FR30B-food) with a 60-s inter-trial interval. Interestingly, the quinine discrimination remained invariant across all the conditions tested: alterations in inter-trial interval (0, 15, 30, 45, 60 s), alterations in the number of test stimuli (six at quarter-log unit increments [0.1-1 mg/ml] versus 10 at quarter-log unit increments [0.01-1 mg/ml]), and alterations in the distribution of the test stimuli (quarter-log unit increments [0.1-0.1 mg/ml] versus half-log unit increments [0.01-1 mg/ml]) failed to alter the quinine discriminative stimulus (ED50s ranged from 0.18-0.29 mg/ml). Furthermore, incorrect lever selections were very rare (less than 12% of all test sessions), independent of test stimuli order (i.e. quinine followed by water trials, water followed by quinine trials), and independent of the progress through the test session (i.e. incorrect lever selections were consistent--approximately one error for every 10 trials--within early, middle and late portions of the session). These results demonstrate the reliability and robustness of the quinine taste discriminative stimulus in rhesus monkeys and provide further validation for the experimental paradigm.
Effect of a Vacuum on Destruction of Bacteria by Germicides

ConclusionsIt may be stated that the increased efficiency of formaldehyde as a germicide was not due to any effect of the vacuum on the gas but rather to the ability of the vacuum to increase the penetration of the gas. Formaldehyde is chiefly a surface disinfectant. The increased penetration in the presence of a vacuum made it possible for the gas to reach the organisms. The vacuum principle is capable of producing a very deep penetration of the gas into porous materials. The method is very efficient, cheap, easily performed, and indispensable for the sterilization of objects likely to be injured by the application of dry or moist heat.
Acrylic Triblock Copolymers Incorporating Isosorbide for Pressure Sensitive Adhesives

A new monomer acetylated acrylic isosorbide (AAI) was prepared in two steps using common reagents without the need for column chromatography. Free radical polymerization of AAI afforded poly(acetylated acrylic isosorbide) (PAAI), which exhibited a glass transition temperature (Tg) = 95 °C and good thermal stability (Td, 5% weight loss; N2 = 331 °C, air = 291 °C). A series of ABA triblock copolymers with either poly(n-butyl acrylate) (PnBA) or poly(2-ethylhexyl acrylate) (PEHA) as the low Tg midblocks and PAAI as the high Tg end blocks were prepared using Reversible Addition–Fragmentation chain Transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The triblock copolymers ranging from 8–24 wt % PAAI were evaluated as pressure sensitive adhesives by 180° peel, loop tack, and static shear testing. While the PAAI-PEHA-PAAI series exhibited poor adhesive qualities, the PAAI-PnBA-PAAI series of triblock copolymers demonstrated peel forces up to 2.9 N cm–1, tack forces up to 3.2 N cm–1, and no shear failure up to 10 000 min. Dynamic m...
A prospective, controlled clinical evaluation of surgical stabilization of severe rib fractures.

BACKGROUNDPrevious studies of surgical stabilization of rib fractures (SSRF) have been limited by small sample sizes, retrospective methodology, and inclusion of only patients with flail chest. We performed a prospective, controlled evaluation of SSRF as compared with optimal medical management for
Surgical Management of Sporadic Medullary Thyroid Cancer (Extent of Thyroid Resection and the Role of Central and Lateral Neck Dissection)

Sporadic medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) encompasses approximately 70–75 % of patients diagnosed with MTC. The American Thyroid Association (ATA) published revised guidelines for the management of MTC in 2015. In their 66 recommendations, surgery remains the mainstay of treatment for sporadic MTC; lymph node metastases are frequent and occur even with early-stage primary tumors, arguing for aggressive compartment-oriented lymph node dissections in patients without suspected distant metastases. Administration of vandetanib or cabozantinib is indicated for patients with progressive MTC that is locally advanced and unresectable, or associated with progressive distant metastases not amenable to surgical excision. Optimally, patients with MTC should be referred to high-volume endocrine centers with experienced multidisciplinary teams and high-volume thyroid surgeons in order to enhance patient outcomes and facilitate enrollment in MTC clinical databases and clinical trials studying novel treatments of metastatic MTC.
A dual function neuron based external controller for a static var compensator

Summary form only given. The use of wide area measurements for power system stabilization is recently given a lot of attention by researchers and the power industry to avoid cascading failures and blackouts such as the one in North America in August 2003. This paper presents the design of a nonlinear external damping controller based on wide area measurements as inputs to a single dual function neuron (DFN) based controller. This DFN controller is specifically designed to enhance the damping characteristics of a power system over a wide range of operating conditions using an existing SVC installation. The major advantage of the DFN controller is that it is simple in structure with less development time and hardware requirements for real-time implementation. The DFN controller presented in this paper is realized on a digital signal processor and its performance is evaluated on the 12 bus FACTS benchmark test power system implemented on a real time platform - the real time digital simulator (RTDS). Experimental results show that the DFN controller provides better damping than a conventional linear external controller and requires less SVC reactive power. The damping performance of DFN controller is also illustrated using transient energy calculations.
Search for the grave of the hanged Texas gunfighter, William Preston Longley

The hanging and burial of the notorious Texas gunman William Longley in Giddings, Texas, in 1878 has been believed by some to be a hoax, and it has been rumored that Longley may have lived for 43 more years in Louisiana. Evidence including comparisons of handwriting and computer-based photographs of the individual suspected of being Longley support this belief and suggest that a rock-filled or weighted coffin was buried in place of the body after a forged hanging. One test of the hoax hypothesis would be to find the grave and expose the remains. While it is known that the Longley grave is within the Giddings cemetery, owned by the city of Giddings and designated 41LE132, its exact location is unknown. In an attempt to find the grave, resistivity and magnetometer surveys were performed in areas where historical research indicated the Longley grave might be found. Anomalies were probed and cored, leading to the identification of areas for excavation. Several transects were scraped, using a backhoe, to test the geophysical results. Scraping was also performed in other areas suspected to contain the grave. The unique combination of these methods resulted in the discovery of 34 unmarked burial shafts, 21 of which were excavated. Even though the site is not ideal for remote sensing applications, the results still demonstrate that the methods employed are effective in pinpointing graves. Problems included high clay concentrations in the soil, a multitude of modern burials distributed throughout the search area, and a half meter of fill over part of the site. Unfortunately, researchers were unsuccessful in locating unambiguous evidence of Longley’s grave, leaving his story one of the unsolved mysteries of the Old West.
Blood conservation pediatric cardiac surgery in all ages and complexity levels

Aim To demonstrate the feasibility of blood conservation methods and practice across all ages and risk categories in congenital cardiac surgery. Methods We retrospectively analyzed a collected database of 356 patients who underwent cardiac surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) from 2010-2015. The patients were grouped into blood conservation (n = 138) and non-conservation (n = 218) groups and sub-grouped based on their ages and procedural complexity scores. Results There were no statistical differences in gender, weight, pre-operative and pre-CPB hematocrit levels in both groups. Despite equivalent hematocrit levels during and after CPB for both groups, there was significantly less operative homologous blood utilized in blood conservation group across all ages and complexity levels. Conclusion Blood conservation surgery can be performed in congenital patients needing cardiac surgery in all age groups and complexity categories. The above findings in addition to attendant risks and side effects of blood transfusion and the rising cost of safer blood products justify blood conservation in congenital cardiac surgery.
Detecting anti-forensic attacks on demosaicing-based camera model identification

Many forensic algorithms have been developed to determine the model of an image's source camera by examining traces left by the camera's demosaicing algorithm. An anti-forensic attacker, however, can falsify these traces by maliciously using existing forensic techniques to estimate one camera's demosaicing filter, then use these estimates to re-demosaic an image captured by a different camera. Currently, there is no known defense against this attack, which is capable of fooling existing camera model identification algorithms. In this paper, we propose a new method to detect if an image's source camera model has been anti-forensically falsified. Our algorithm operates by characterizing the different content-independent local pixel relationships that are introduced by both authentic demosaicing algorithms and anti-forensic attacks. Experimental results show that our algorithm can detect an anti-forensic attack with over 99% accuracy, is robust to JPEG compression, and can even identify the true source camera model in certain circumstances.
FFM facets and their relations with different forms of antisocial behavior: An expanded meta-analysis

Abstract Research examining the relation between personality and antisocial and aggressive behaviors has shown that traits related to antagonism and disinhibition are the most important correlates of such behaviors. However, much of this research has focused on personality at a higher-order level, such as the domain level within the Five Factor Model (FFM). The present meta-analysis specifically focused on the lower-order facet scales of the FFM (as measured by the NEO-PI-R and IPIP-NEO) which have been shown to add important predictive utility above the domains. Expanding on previous work, the current study examined the relations between the FFM facets and a variety of antisocial behaviors including physical aggression, relational aggression , reactive aggression, proactive aggression, and non-violent antisocial behavior. Meta-analytic results show that a subset of FFM facets, primarily those related to antagonistic and disinhibited behavior, showed the most consistent relations with antisocial behaviors. However, effect size magnitudes were influenced by what type of antisocial behavior was examined. The results are discussed within the broader context of research on personality and antisocial behavior, etiological models of aggressive behavior, and the degree to which the results match the trait profiles of constructs with robust links to antisocial behavior (i.e., psychopathy).
Hazard Plotting for Incomplete Failure Data

Incomplete failure data consisting of times to failure on failed units and differing running times or unfailed units are called multiply censored. Data on units operating in the field, for example, are usually multiply censored. Presented in this paper ..
Pathogenicity of Ganoderma Species on Landscape Trees in the Southeastern United States.

The genus Ganoderma contains species that are associated with dead and declining host trees. Many species have been described as pathogens in literature, because anecdotally, the presence of fruiti...
Reading Beyond the Book: Educating Paraprofessionals to Implement Dialogic Reading for Preschool Children With Language Impairments:

We examined how educating paraprofessionals in preschool classrooms on dialogic reading (DR) affected their storybook reading and effects on children’s single word vocabulary. Through a single-case...
Abstract 309: Small-molecule PDE4 Activators Limit Isoproterenol-induced Hypertrophy in Rat Neonatal Cardiomyocytes

Increasing the cellular levels of the second messenger cAMP, such as via activation of β-adrenergic receptors (βARs), is the most powerful mechanism to acutely increase cardiac output. However, chr...
Glaucoma Drainage Devices and Reasons For Keratoplasty.

PReCIS:: Over 10 years in a tertiary care setting, glaucoma drainage devices (GDDs) have not increased as a reason for keratoplasty. PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to determine whether the reasons for keratoplasty have changed between 10 years in a tertiary care setting, with special attention to the rate of GDDs as a reason for keratoplasty. METHODS Patients aged 18 years or above who underwent keratoplasty at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN from 2005 to 2006 and 2015 to 2016 were studied. All reasons for keratoplasty performed in the study time period are assessed, including patients who previously had a GDD implanted in the same eye. After analyzing the reasons for keratoplasty, we assess whether the reasons for keratoplasty have changed between 2005 to 2006 and 2015 to 2016 in association with the increasing placement of GDDs. RESULTS The number of keratoplasty procedures performed in the 2 time periods increased by 62% from 163 (2005 to 2006) to 264 (2015 to 2016), whereas GDD placement increased by 164% from 80 GDD (2005 to 2006) to 211 GDD (2015 to 2016). Although the performance of keratoplasty increased between the 2 points in time, the frequency of each cause for keratoplasty did not change significantly. The majority of keratoplasties were performed due to corneal disease, and GDDs made up a small portion of reasons for keratoplasty (2005 to 2006, 4.29%; 2015 to 2016, 5.68%). CONCLUSIONS The frequency of GDDs as a reason for keratoplasty has not changed significantly between 10 years in this tertiary care setting. Patients with GDDs who later required keratoplasty had associated features including multiple surgical procedures and comorbid infection, pseudophakic bullous keratopathy, Fuchs dystrophy, pseudoexfoliation, uveitis, and congenital glaucoma.
Low-Voltage Surface Electrocoalescence Enabled by High-K Dielectrics and Surfactant Bilayers for Oil-Water Separation.

Processes for separating oil–water mixtures are critical to operations in energy and water. However, existing separation methods pose efficiency limitations as well as environmental and safety challenges. Here, we present a low-voltage surface electrocoalescence approach that triggers coalescence of surfactant-stabilized emulsions by combining high-K dielectrics with surfactant bilayers. In this system, the high-K dielectric reduces the electrocoalescence voltage, while the surfactant bilayer functions as a self-healing, high capacitance film that prevents pinning of droplets on the dielectric surface. This high capacitance system maximizes the electric field between neighboring droplets, exerting high electrostatic pressure that overcomes the disjoining pressure between droplets, thereby enabling rapid electrocoalescence. We demonstrate electrocoalescence of surfactant-stabilized microscale droplets of saline water in oil using single volts. We expect our results may find application in the energy sector...
The role of gasotransmitters in neonatal physiology

The gasotransmitters, nitric oxide (NO), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and carbon monoxide (CO), are endogenously-produced volatile molecules that perform signaling functions throughout the body. In biological tissues, these small, lipid-permeable molecules exist in free gaseous form for only seconds or less, and thus they are ideal for paracrine signaling that can be controlled rapidly by changes in their rates of production or consumption. In addition, tissue concentrations of the gasotransmitters are influenced by fluctuations in the level of O2 and reactive oxygen species (ROS). The normal transition from fetus to newborn involves a several-fold increase in tissue O2 tensions and ROS, and requires rapid morphological and functional adaptations to the extrauterine environment. This review summarizes the role of gasotransmitters as it pertains to newborn physiology. Particular focus is given to the vasculature, ventilatory, and gastrointestinal systems, each of which uniquely illustrate the function of gasotransmitters in the birth transition and newborn periods. Moreover, given the relative lack of studies on the role that gasotransmitters play in the newborn, particularly that of H2S and CO, important gaps in knowledge are highlighted throughout the review.
Priming the Proteasome to Protect against Proteotoxicity

Increased proteotoxic stress (IPTS) resulting from the increased production or decreased removal of abnormally folded proteins is recognized as an important pathogenic factor for a large group of highly disabling and life-threatening human diseases, such as neurodegenerative disorders and many heart diseases. The proteasome is pivotal to the timely removal of abnormal proteins but its functional capacity often becomes inadequate in the disease conditions; consequently, proteasome functional insufficiency in return exacerbates IPTS. Recent research in proteasome biology reveals that the proteasome can be activated by endogenous protein kinases, making it possible to pharmacologically prime the proteasome for treating diseases with IPTS.
Fatness and Fertility: A Feminist Therapist Perspective

Fat women experiencing infertility are often stigmatized; they are told by doctors that their fatness is to blame for their trouble conceiving and are refused medical treatment. However, researcher...
Behavioral Health and MSW Applicants

U.S. colleges and universities have identified a recent surge in behavioral health issues among their student bodies. Social work educators and scholars have expressed concerns about student behavi...
Mindful awareness moderates the association between psychological inflexibility and distress variables: A cross-sectional investigation.

Objective: Informed by the contextual behavioral science (CBS) model of behavioral health, the present cross-sectional study examined whether mindful awareness moderated the associations between psychological inflexibility and four distress variables.Participants: Cross-sectional data were collected from 402 ethnically diverse undergraduate college students from September 2015 to October 2015.Methods: Participants competed an online self-report survey.Results: Mindful awareness moderated the associations between psychological inflexibility and distress variables, with stronger associations for somatization and anxiety, and weaker associations for general distress and depression. Specifically, the strength of the positive associations between psychological inflexibility and these distress variables were substantially greater among those low in mindful awareness.Conclusion: These findings suggest that a greater degree of mindful awareness may buffer the effects of psychological inflexibility on distress variables, particularly somatization and anxiety. Theoretical and applied implications as well as limitations of the study are discussed.
Stressful experiences in youth: "Set-up" for diminished resilience to chronic pain.

Abstract Chronic pain in youth is common, with prevalence rates in some reports exceeding 50%. Given the plasticity of brain systems in youth and their general level of activity, the underlying processes relating to the evolution of chronic pain may be different from that observed in adults. One aspect that affects brain development is childhood stress. Preliminary research indicates that maladaptive responses to stressful events that induce biological and psychological inability to adapt may be related to pain chronicity in youth. This relationship is particularly notable given the high rates of exposure to stressful events in pediatric pain populations. A review of the literature was performed in the areas of biological, cognitive, psychological and social processes associated with chronic pain and psychological stress and trauma in youth and adult populations. The current review presents a theoretical framework, adapted from McEwen’s model (1998) on stress and allostatic load, which aims to outline the potential connection between exposure to stressful events and pediatric chronic pain. Avenues for future investigation are also identified.
Wear behavior and microstructural characterization of translucent multilayer zirconia.

Abstract Objective To characterize the composition, microstructure and wear properties of a multilayer translucent zirconia relative to the conventional 3Y-TZP. Methods Two types of ceramics were evaluated: a multilayer zirconia (MULTI, IPS e.max ZirCAD Multi, Ivoclar Vivadent) and a control 3Y-TZP (IPS e.max ZirCAD LT, Ivoclar Vivadent). Pre-sintered CAD-CAM blocks were cut, ground, sintered and polished to 1 μm finish. The phase fraction and grain size were measured using XRD and FE-SEM. For wear testing (n = 12), square-shaped specimens (16 × 16 × 1 mm) were adhesively bonded to a dentin analog. Sliding wear tests were performed using a spherical zirconia antagonist (r = 3.15 mm), with 30 N load at 1.5 Hz for 500,000 cycles in water. Optical and scanning electron microscopes and 3D laser scanner were used for quantitative wear analyses. Data were analyzed using Student’s t-test (α = 0.05). Results For MULTI, the enamel layer had the highest cubic content and the largest grain size, followed by the two transition layers, and the dentin layer. 3Y-TZP showed the smallest grain size and cubic content. A significant amount of wear was observed in both materials up to 50,000 cycles until it reached a plateau. MULTI showed higher volume loss and greater wear depth than 3Y-TZP (p Significance The wear pattern in multi-layered zirconia was more severe than 3Y-TZP. Additionally, the different layers of the multi-layered zirconia had similar wear behavior.
Doc's Barbershop

Stoker has a decision to make: he has been offered a job in a successful barbershop that has retained its old-fashioned atmosphere, or with a small loan, he could open his own shop. Students are asked to prepare a projected annual income statement and answer some questions about what it would take to run a barbershop. Excerpt UVA-C-2376 Rev. Jul. 5, 2017 Doc's Barbershop Ralph Stoker never thought attending his sister's Fourth of July party would turn into a life-changing event. But indeed it had. Stoker was a barber in Iowa City, Iowa, employed by a popular unisex salon on the north end of town. He had worked there just two years and earned a modest hourly wage along with commissions and tips. At the party, he met Donald “Doc” Jacobsen, who was in the same line of work but also happened to own a barbershop in Davenport, Iowa, about 60 miles to the east. Jacobsen's shop was a traditional old-style barbershop. It had no frills and offered only regular men's haircuts and the occasional beard trim or shave. Stoker and Jacobsen struck up a conversation about the business, and to Stoker's surprise Jacobsen offered him a job on the spot. One of Jacobsen's barbers was moving south to warmer weather, and there was an opening that Stoker could fill. Stoker was ready for a change in scenery, and the prospect of making more money in a bigger city was appealing. But the conversation meant more to Stoker than just a job offer. He was impressed that Jacobsen had been in business all these years, and even more impressed that he had made so much money in the process. Jacobsen shared with him the basics of running and managing a traditional men's barbershop. Stoker thought the traditional barbershop was a relic of the past, but Jacobsen convinced him otherwise. “If you do it right, it's a money-maker, Stoker,” said Jacobsen. “I've been doing this for four decades now, and it's supported me all the way through. You could do it yourself, you know.” Stoker was intrigued. During his afternoon conversation with Jacobsen he learned most of what it would take financially to open his own shop. With a small loan he could be on his way. He was certainly ready to make a move but first had a decision to make: Work for Jacobsen? Or open his own barbershop in a town of his choosing? . . .
Robotic liver surgery: literature review and future perspectives.

Introduction Minimally invasive liver resections (MILR) have been gaining popularity over the last decades. MILR provides superior peri-operative outcome. Despite these advantages, the penetrance of MILR in the clinical setting has been limited, and it was slowed down, among other factors, also by the laparoscopic technological limitations. Evidence acquisition A literature review has been carried out (Pubmed, Embase and Scopus platforms) focusing on the role of robotic surgery in MILR. Evidence synthesis The literature review results are presented and our additional remarks on the topic are discussed. Conclusions Robotic MILR has been helping to expand the penetrance of MIS in liver surgery by making possible increasingly more challenging procedures. Minor resections still represent most of the robotic liver surgery data currently available. Robotic liver surgery is safe and effective, and it shows perioperative outcomes comparable with laparoscopic and open surgery. The oncological efficacy, within the limitations of the current level of evidence (mostly retrospective studies and literature heterogeneity), seems to show promising result. High quality prospective randomized studies, the use of prospective registry data, and multi-institutional efforts are needed.
Multiscale Mechanics of Eggshell and Shell Membrane

Eggshell is a target material for biomimicry: a biogenic material that is synthesized quickly under near-ambient conditions, and which has intriguing mechanical properties. Biomineralization in such natural systems utilizes organic molecules, both providing a surface to facilitate heterogeneous mineral nucleation and captured within the deposited mineral. Here, we examined the relationship between calcitic mineralized shell and the organic eggshell membrane. Elastic modulus and hardness of shell, as measured by nanoindentation in cross-section, exhibited approximately constant property values across three egg-laying species. Macro-scale fracture experiments demonstrated the structural importance of the fibrous eggshell membrane, with weak influence on egg fracture force but substantial effect on work of fracture. This effect was different for complete removal of the membrane versus chemical drying. The membrane thus represents a distinct target for improving egg mechanical properties independent of mineral quality.
Special Issue: 30 Years of Occupational Science

This special issue of the Journal of Occupational Science culminates efforts to mark the 30th anniversary of the founding of occupational science as an academic discipline. The issue was inspired b...
Tonic prime-boost of STING signalling mediates Niemann-Pick disease type C.

The classic mode of STING activation is through binding the cyclic dinucleotide 2′3′-cyclic GMP–AMP (cGAMP), produced by the DNA sensor cyclic GMP–AMP synthase (cGAS), which is important for the innate immune response to microbial infection and autoimmune disease. Modes of STING activation that are independent of cGAS are much less well understood. Here, through a spatiotemporally resolved proximity labelling screen followed by quantitative proteomics, we identify the lysosomal membrane protein Niemann–Pick type C1 (NPC1) as a cofactor in the trafficking of STING. NPC1 interacts with STING and recruits it to the lysosome for degradation in both human and mouse cells. Notably, we find that knockout of Npc1 ‘primes’ STING signalling by physically linking or ‘tethering’ STING to SREBP2 trafficking. Loss of NPC1 protein also ‘boosts’ STING signalling by blocking lysosomal degradation. Both priming and boosting of STING signalling are required for severe neurological disease in the Npc1−/− mouse. Genetic deletion of Sting1 (the gene that encodes STING) or Irf3, but not that of Cgas, significantly reduced the activation of microglia and relieved the loss of Purkinje neurons in the cerebellum of Npc1−/− mice, leading to improved motor function. Our study identifies a cGAS- and cGAMP-independent mode of STING activation that affects neuropathology and provides a therapeutic target for the treatment of Niemann–Pick disease type C. The lysosomal protein Niemann–Pick type C1 (NPC1) is identified as a cofactor in the trafficking of STING, and loss of NPC1 is shown to both ‘prime’ and ‘boost’ STING signalling leading to neurological disease.