cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The theory and methodology of provider profiling

Physician profiling is the comparison of physician practice patterns to determine the existence and effects of significant differences in outcomes. To optimize care quality, these comparisons can be used to influence provider behavior through awareness when outcomes are poor or do not warrant provider expenditures. To maximize the value of such a technique, the underlying bases for comparison and the uses of derived data must be understood. Several factors must be considered or controlled for when determining comparable providers. Additionally, the worth or significance of findings must also be understood. This paper seeks to provide information in these two areas for the benefit of those responsible for managing care at all levels.
Animal model of simulated microgravity: a comparative study of hindlimb unloading via tail versus pelvic suspension

The aim of this study was to compare physiological effects of hindlimb suspension (HLS) in tail- and pelvic-HLS rat models to determine if severe stretch in the tail-HLS rats lumbosacral skeleton may contribute to the changes traditionally attributed to simulated microgravity and musculoskeletal disuse in the tail-HLS model. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats divided into suspended and control-nonsuspended groups were subjected to two separate methods of suspension and maintained with regular food and water for 2 weeks. Body weights, food and water consumption, soleus muscle weight, tibial bone mineral density, random plasma insulin, and hindlimb pain on pressure threshold (PPT) were measured. X-ray analysis demonstrated severe lordosis in tail- but not pelvic-HLS animals. However, growth retardation, food consumption, and soleus muscle weight and tibial bone density (decreased relative to control) did not differ between two HLS models. Furthermore, HLS rats developed similar levels of insulinopenia and mechanical hyperalgesia (decreased PPT) in both tail- and pelvic-HLS groups. In the ratto-rat comparisons, the growth retardation and the decreased PPT observed in HLS-rats was most associated with insulinopenia. In conclusion, these data suggest that HLS results in mild prediabetic state with some signs of pressure hyperalgesia, but lumbosacral skeleton stretch plays little role, if any, in these pathological changes.
Is the Glass Half Full or Half Empty? Challenges Encountered by First-Year Special Education Teachers

Help Wanted: Individuals who are enthusiastic, intelligent, energetic, and personable to work in challenging situations with challenging individuals. Extrinsic rewards minimal. Intrinsic rewards unlimited.
Massive Schwinger model with a finite inductance: theta (in)dependence, the U(1) problem, and low-energy theorems

Gauge theories embedded into higher-dimensional spaces with certain topologies acquire inductance terms, which reflect the energy cost of topological charges accumulated in the extra dimensions. We compute topological susceptibility in the strongly-coupled two-flavor massive Schwinger model with such an inductance term and find that it vanishes, due to the contribution of a global low-energy mode (a ``global axion''). This is in accord with the general argument on the absence of $\ensuremath{\theta}$ dependence in such topologies. Because the mode is a single oscillator, there is no corresponding particle, and the solution to the $U(1)$ problem is unaffected.
Bariatric surgery: a cure for diabetes?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW To review the basic mechanisms of caloric intake reduction of bariatric surgery and its clinical and metabolic outcomes. To describe novel bariatric procedures, their effects on glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity and to explain the proposed mechanisms for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) resolution. RECENT FINDINGS The effects of surgically induced weight loss on T2DM have elucidated in part the role of proximal and distal gastrointestinal bypass on insulin sensitivity. A dual mechanism for improvement in glucose homeostasis after bariatric surgery has been proposed that appears to be weight loss independent. SUMMARY Bariatric surgery is the most effective therapy for obesity and obesity-related comorbidities today that provide high rates of resolution of T2DM with improvements in insulin resistance and β-cell function. Novel bariatric procedures offer a unique opportunity to understand the pathophysiology of T2DM and to identify potential pharmacologic targets for effective T2DM treatments and a potential cure.
A requirement analysis for high performance distributed computing over LANs

With the proliferation of high performance workstations and the current trend towards high speed communication networks. the cumulative computing power provided by a group of general purpose workstations is comparable to supercomputers. However a number of obstacles have to be overcome before the full potential of these network-based distributed systems can be exploited. This paper investigates the requirements of current workstation clusters interconnected by local area networks (LANs) which would allow them to be used as platforms for high performance distributed computing. The blocked LU decomposition of dense matrices is used as the running example in the presented study. Performance of this algorithm is measured on the iPSC/860 hypercube and on a set of homogeneous workstations (SUN SPARCstation 1+) interconnected by Ethernet. These measures are analyzed and a set of requirements are identified which would enable a network of workstations to deliver high performance distributed computing. >
Using a Game to Introduce Lightweight Requirements Engineering

This paper describes a game that is being designed to introduce basic Requirements Engineering good practices into a novice organization. Since this is work in progress, we will demonstrate a functional version of the game during the session and seek participation in game-play to inform our early concept exploration.
Temperature dependence of the short wavelength transmittance limit of vacuum ultraviolet window materials—II theoretical, including interpretations for U.V. spectra of SiO2, GeO2, and Al2O3

Abstract The short wavelength transmittance limits of LiF, MgF2, CaF2 and BaF2 crystals have a temperature dependence which is consistent with a model of photoexcitation of localized excitons at momentarily thermally distorted regions of the lattice. The localized exciton is identified as a hole self-trapped in an F2− molecule + excited electron. The anomalous data for LaF3 is hypothesized to be impurity controlled. In order to identify the relevant transitions in SiO2 and Al2O3, a method is developed and employed for an LCAO-MO semiquantitative determination of valence bands, which seems generally advantageous for complex solids with important covalent bonding effects. The preceding model for fluorides is found to be plausible with extension to explain the Al2O3 data, while it is not so for the SiO2 data, which is interpreted to be due to phonon assisted interband transitions. In general, the lowest transitions in the u.v. spectra of SiO2, Al2O3, and, by inference, GeO2, which is structurally isomorphic to SiO2,are found to originate from oxygen lone pair orbital valence bands, and the u.v. spectra of amorphous and crystal specimens of these oxides are tentatively so interpreted, with the assistance of available experimental information.
Extracting subcellular structural dynamics from multi-wavelength 4-D fluorescence images

Endothelial cells lining the arteries remodel the extracellular matrix (ECM) in regions of disturbed blood flow during development of atherosclerosis, but mechanisms remain unclear. Multi-wavelength 4-D fluorescence images of adhesion and ECM proteins in endothelial cells were acquired during changes in fluid shear stress. Using centroid coordinates of focal adhesion sites, Voronoi polygons were generated such that interior points were associated with the closest adhesion site. Image segmentation, block matching, and tracking algorithms enabled displacement field estimation for both focal adhesions and associated ECM structures. This quantitative image analysis approach reveals structural dynamics during flow-mediated ECM and adhesion site remodeling.
Informed Finance and Technological Conservatism

This paper studies an economy in which firms can operate either a mature or a new technology and lenders acquire information on the productive assets of the borrowing firms that are eligible as collateral. We demonstrate that when contracts are imperfectly enforceable informed lenders offer inexpensive funding for the mature technology but may choose not to finance the new one, seeking to preserve the value of their information on the mature assets. Using firm-level data from Italy, we find that banks that establish long-term relationships with firms promote technological progress on average. However, we find that relationship banks inhibit innovations that entail a large depreciation of existing technology-specific information such as radical innovations. Copyright 2010, Oxford University Press.
Sharp electronic structure and anomalous isotope effect in Zr, Nb3Sn, and YBa2Cu3O7

Anomalously small isotope effect in some high and low Tc superconductors such as Zr, Nb3Sn, YBa2Cu3O7 created a great challenge for understanding. In this work, a new methodology was implemented by integrating first-principles calculations of electronic structures of the materials into the theory of many-body physics for superconductivity (the generalized Tc equation developed by Abrikosov et al.). The aim is to seek a unified methodology to calculate the electronic and superconducting properties of these materials. It is shown that the electronic structures of Zr, Nb3Sn, YBa2Cu3O7 are very complex. The electron densities of states around the Fermi level in Zr, Nb3Sn, YBa2Cu3O7 possess sharp variations that could have a significant contribution to the anomalous isotope effect in these superconductors. However, there still exist some differences between the calculated and experimental results that require further research work.
Simultaneous Determination of Chlorinated Ethenes and Ethene in Groundwater Using Headspace Solid-Phase Microextraction with Gas Chromatography

Widespread contamination of groundwater by chlorinated ethenes and their biological dechlorination products necessitates the reliable monitoring of liquid matrices; current methods approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) require a minimum of 5 mL of sample volume and cannot simultaneously detect all transformative products. This paper reports on the simultaneous detection of six chlorinated ethenes and ethene itself, using a liquid sample volume of 1 mL by concentrating the compounds onto an 85-µm carboxen-polydimenthylsiloxane solid-phase microextraction fiber in 5 min and subsequent chromatographic analysis in 9.15 min. Linear increases in signal response were obtained over three orders of magnitude (∼0.05 to ∼50 µM) for simultaneous analysis with coefficient of determination (R(2)) values of ≥ 0.99. The detection limits of the method (1.3-6 µg/L) were at or below the maximum contaminant levels specified by the EPA. Matrix spike studies with groundwater and mineral medium showed recovery rates between 79-108%. The utility of the method was demonstrated in lab-scale sediment flow-through columns assessing the bioremediation potential of chlorinated ethene-contaminated groundwater. Owing to its low sample volume requirements, good sensitivity and broad target analyte range, the method is suitable for routine compliance monitoring and is particularly attractive for interpreting the bench-scale feasibility studies that are commonly performed during the remedial design stage of groundwater cleanup projects.
Sex and Ethnic Bias in the Evaluation of Student Editorials.

Summary The Goldberg paradigm was used to assess racism and sexism among a sample of noncollege Caucasian adults. Radical and neutral student editorials, attributed to authors varying in sex and ethnicity (Caucasian and Mexican-American), were rated by 93 male and 91 female Ss for quality and level of agreement. The results indicated that the Ss were significantly less likely to agree with conclusions reached by the Mexican-American authors and rated the editorials written by females and Mexican-American authors as lower in quality. Secondly, the “radical” issue that was particularly relevant to Mexican-American interests (lower college admission standards) led to lower ratings of the Mexican-American authors than did the neutral article. While these results were not conclusive, they did suggest that the perceived “personal gain” of the author does influence the Ss' ratings of the editorials.
Growth rates and variances of unexploited wolf populations in dynamic equilibria

Several states have begun harvesting gray wolves (Canis lupus), and these states and various European countries are closely monitoring their wolf populations. To provide appropriate perspective for determining unusual or extreme fluctuations in their managed wolf populations, we analyzed natural, long-term, wolf-population-density trajectories totaling 130 years of data from 3 areas: Isle Royale National Park in Lake Superior, Michigan, USA; the east-central Superior National Forest in northeastern Minnesota, USA; and Denali National Park, Alaska, USA. Ratios between minimum and maximum annual sizes for 2 mainland populations (n = 28 and 46 yr) varied from 2.5–2.8, whereas for Isle Royale (n = 56 yr), the ratio was 6.3. The interquartile range (25th percentile, 75th percentile) for annual growth rates, N t +1/N t , was (0.88, 1.14), (0.92, 1.11), and (0.86, 1.12) for Denali, Superior National Forest, and Isle Royale respectively. We fit a density-independent model and a Ricker model to each time series, and in both cases we considered the potential for observation error. Mean growth rates from the density-independent model were close to 0 for all 3 populations, with 95% credible intervals including 0. We view the estimated model parameters, including those describing annual variability or process variance, as providing useful summaries of the trajectories of these populations. The estimates of these natural wolf population parameters can serve as benchmarks for comparison with those of recovering wolf populations. Because our study populations were all from circumscribed areas, fluctuations in them represent fluctuations in densities (i.e., changes in numbers are not confounded by changes in occupied area as would be the case with populations expanding their range, as are wolf populations in many states). © 2014 The Wildlife Society.
The Occurrence of Echolalia in Three Year Olds' Responses to Various Question Types:

After listening to three stories (accompanied by visual stimulus), 13 normally developing three-year-olds were asked a series of "wh," "yes/no," and motoric questions presented in both the active and passive form. Responses were analyzed to determine if some question types elicited more echolalia than others. Of the 780 responses, only 29 (3.8%) were defined as echolalic. Results are discussed in terms of relationships with the development of question answering skills, pathological echolalia and other question type variables.
Commentary: Changing food habits in developing countries†

(1976). Commentary: Changing food habits in developing countries. Ecology of Food and Nutrition: Vol. 4, No. 4, pp. 251-256.
Saccharomyces cerevisiae Expresses Three Functionally Distinct Homologues of the Nramp Family of Metal Transporters

The baker's yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae expresses three homologues of the Nramp family of metal transporters: Smf1p, Smf2p, and Smf3p, encoded by SMF1, SMF2, and SMF3, respectively. Here we report a comparative analysis of the yeast Smf proteins at the levels of localization, regulation, and function of the corresponding metal transporters. Smf1p and Smf2p function in cellular accumulation of manganese, and the two proteins are coregulated by manganese ions and the BSD2 gene product. Under manganese-replete conditions, Bsd2p facilitates trafficking of Smf1p and Smf2p to the vacuole, where these transport proteins are degraded. However, Smf1p and Smf2p localize to distinct cellular compartments under metal starvation: Smf1p accumulates at the cell surface, while Smf2p is restricted to intracellular vesicles. The third Nramp homologue, Smf3p, is quite distinctive. Smf3p is not regulated by Bsd2p or by manganese ions and is not degraded in the vacuole. Instead, Smf3p is down-regulated by iron through a mechanism that does not involve transcription or protein stability. Smf3p localizes to the vacuolar membrane independently of metal treatment, and yeast cells lacking Smf3p show symptoms of iron starvation. We propose that Smf3p helps to mobilize vacuolar stores of iron.
Death in Heart Failure A Community Perspective

Background— Mortality in patients with heart failure (HF) remains high, but causes of death are incompletely defined. As HF is a heterogeneous syndrome categorized according to the ejection fraction (EF), the association between EF and causes of death is important, yet elusive. Methods and Results— Community subjects with HF were classified according to the preserved (≥50%) and the reduced EF (<50%). Deaths were classified as due to coronary heart disease and other cardiovascular and noncardiovascular diseases. Among 1063 persons with HF, 45% had preserved EF with fewer cardiovascular risk factors and less coronary disease than those with reduced EF. At 5 years, survival was 45% (95% CI, 43% to 49%), and 43% of the deaths were noncardiovascular. The leading cause of death in subjects with preserved EF was noncardiovascular disease (49%) versus coronary heart disease (43%) for subjects with reduced EF. The proportion of cardiovascular deaths decreased from 69% in 1979–1984 to 40% in 1997–2002 (P=0.007) amo...
A need to “reinvent” the Clinton administration's approach to science and technology

everything from Haiti to health care seems to be “reinventing government.” Unfortunately, this sweeping project, which the president touts repeatedly, has become something of a totem, inspiring much reverence but little reflection. Although it is difficult to object to shrinking the size of the federal bureaucracy and making it more efficient, an examination of what reinventing government has actually wrought and its prospects for American science and technology are cause for alarm. First, consider that the project is in the hands of one of the most ideologically extreme and rigid members of the administration: vice president Al Gore. Second, even though there may have been some overall reductions in government personnel and organizations, critical regulatory policies at several agencies have, in fact, expanded the federal government’s mandate and its intrusiveness, with policies determined more by political correctness and the vice president’s idiosyncratic views than by what is good for public health or the environment. Finally, Gore’s approach to reinventing government has been characterized by a desire to purge dissenting views from both the councils of government and the ranks of federal agencies.
Abstract P39: Bridging the Discharge Gap Effectively (BRIDGE)

Background: The transition from hospital-to-home is challenging for many cardiac patients (pts) in the era of shortening length of stay. Early follow up after discharge(d/c) may help reduce ED visits and readmissions. BRIDGE is a nurse practitioner based transitional care model that aims to schedule pts within 14 days of d/c and provide appropriate guideline-based care with the oversight of a cardiologist. Preliminary data has shown this model to be effective. We describe demographic and clinical differences between pts who did/did not attend BRIDGE, and describe interventions. Methods: Retrospective data was abstracted for all pts referred to BRIDGE Jun ‘08 to Aug ’09. Data collected: demographics, disease conditions, additional care during BRIDGE, medications, events within 6 months post d/c. Results: Of 407 pts referred to BRIDGE, 284 (69.8%) attended; with no significant demographic or clinical differences between attendees and nonattendees (except Afib pts). Of attendees, 97 (34.2%) received additional education on disease process, symptoms, and/or when to go to ED. Detailed diet/physical activity counseling was provided to 60 (21.1%) and 72 (25.4%) pts. Diagnostics were scheduled for 19 (6.7%); 65 (22.9%) required referrals for other services; serious medication issues addressed for 43 (15.1%) pts. Conclusion: The BRIDGE model is an attractive concept in transitional care with success in reducing ED visits and readmissions. Demographic and clinical characteristics do not provide rationale for a patient’s decision to attend. Our data suggest that most patients require early post-d/c education, medication counseling, and referrals beyond what was received at d/c. ![Graphic][1] [1]: /embed/inline-graphic-1.gif
MOLECULAR ZOOGEOGRAPHY OF FRESHWATER FISHES IN THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES

Restriction fragment length polymorphisms in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) were used to reconstruct evolutionary relationships of conspecific populations in four species of freshwater fish—Amia calva, Lepomis punctatus, L. gulosus, and L. microlophus. A suite of 14-17 endonucleases was employed to assay mtDNAs from 305 specimens collected from 14 river drainages extending from South Carolina to Louisiana. Extensive mtDNA polymorphism was observed within each assayed species. In both phenograms and Wagner parsimony networks, mtDNA clones that were closely related genetically were usually geographically contiguous. Within each species, major mtDNA phylogenetic breaks also distinguished populations from separate geographic regions, demonstrating that dispersal and gene flow have not been sufficient to override geographic influences on population subdivision.—Importantly, there were strong patterns of congruence across species in the geographic placements of the mtDNA phylogenetic breaks. Three major boundary regions were characterized by concentrations of phylogenetic discontinuities, and these zones agree well with previously described zoogeographic boundaries identified by a different kind of data base—distributional limits of species—suggesting that a common set of historical factors may account for both phenomena. Repeated episodes of eustatic sea level change along a relatively static continental morphology are the likely causes of several patterns of drainage isolation and coalescence, and these are discussed in relation to the genetic data.—Overall, results exemplify the positive role that intraspecific genetic analyses may play in historical zoogeographic reconstruction. They also point out the potential inadequacies of any interpretations of population genetic structure that fail to consider the influences of history in shaping that structure.
Subclavian Artery Stenosis

Other causes to consider include: fibromuscular dysplasia, arteritis, neurofibromatosis, inflammation secondary to radiation, and extrinsic compression (thoracic outlet syndrome).
Scoring sheet for the Infant Neurological International Battery (INFANIB). Suggestion from the field.

The scoring sheet for the Infant Neurological International Battery (INFANIB) was not published in the September 1985 issue (Phys Ther 65:1326–1331, 1985) with the research article by Ellison et al entitled “Construction of an Infant Neurological International Battery (INFANIB) for the Assessment of Neurological Integrity in Infancy.” The sheet is printed here to permit clinicians working with infants to use this method for a quantified evaluation of tone and posture. Further details that describe each item and more information about the use of the method are available from the author. [ ARTICLE][1] [1]: /lookup/volpage/65/1326?iss=9
Monocyte Mitochondrial Function in Calcium Oxalate Stone Formers

Objective To investigate whether mitochondrial function is altered in circulating immune cells from calcium oxalate (CaOx) stone formers compared to healthy subjects. Materials and Methods Adult healthy subjects (n = 18) and CaOx stone formers (n = 12) were included in a pilot study. Data collection included demographic and clinical values from electronic medical records. Bioenergetic function was assessed in monocytes, lymphocytes, and platelets isolated from blood samples using the Seahorse XF96 Analyzer. Plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6) was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results All participants were age matched (44.5 ± 3.0 years for healthy subjects vs 42.3 ± 4.8 years for CaOx stone formers, P = .6905). CaOx stone formers did not have urinary tract infection, ureteral stones, or obstructing renal stones. Monocyte mitochondrial function was decreased in CaOx stone formers compared to healthy subjects. Specifically, mitochondrial maximal respiration ( P = .0011) and reserve capacity ( P P = .0041). Lastly, plasma IL-6 levels were significantly increased ( P = .0324). Conclusion The present pilot study shows that CaOx stone formers have decreased monocyte mitochondrial function. Plasma IL-6 was also increased in this cohort. These data suggest that impaired monocyte mitochondrial function and inflammation may be linked to CaOx kidney stone formation. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings in a larger cohort of patients.
Using Closed Sets to Model Cognitive Behavior

We introduce closed sets, which we will call knowledge units, to represent tight collections of experience, facts, or skills, etc. Associated with each knowledge unit is the notion of its generators consisting of those attributes which characterize it. Using these closure concepts, we then provide a rigorous mathematical model of learning in terms of continuous transformations. We illustrate the behavior of transformations by means of closure lattices, and provide necessary and sufficient criteria for simple transformations to be continuous. By using a rigorous definition, one can derive necessary alternative properties of cognition which may be more easily observed in experimental situations.
NOx Reduction by Air-Side vs. Fuel-Side Dilution in Hydrogen Diffusion Flame Combustors

Lean-Direct-Injection (LDI) combustion is being considered at NETL as a means to attain low NOx emissions in a high-hydrogen gas turbine combustor. Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) plant designs can create a high-hydrogen fuel using a water-gas shift reactor and subsequent CO2 separation. The IGCC’s air separation unit produces a volume of N2 roughly equivalent to the volume of H2 in the gasifier product stream, which can be used to help reduce peak flame temperatures and NOx in the diffusion flame combustor. Placement of this diluent in either the air or fuel streams is a matter of practical importance, and has not been studied to date for LDI combustion. The current work discusses how diluent placement affects diffusion flame temperatures, residence times, and stability limits, and their resulting effects on NOx emissions. From a peak flame temperature perspective, greater NOx reduction should be attainable with fuel dilution rather than air or independent dilution in any diffusion flame combustor with excess combustion air, due to the complete utilization of the diluent as a heat sink at the flame front, although the importance of this mechanism is shown to diminish as flow conditions approach stoichiometric proportions. For simple LDI combustor designs, residence time scaling relationships yield a lower NOx production potential for fuel-side dilution due to its smaller flame size, whereas air-dilution yields a larger air entrainment requirement and a subsequently larger flame, with longer residence times and higher thermal NOx generation. For more complex staged-air LDI combustor designs, dilution of the primary combustion air at fuel-rich conditions can result in full utilization of the diluent for reducing the peak flame temperature, while also controlling flame volume and residence time for NOx reduction purposes. However, differential diffusion of hydrogen out of a diluted hydrogen/nitrogen fuel jet can create regions of higher hydrogen content in the immediate vicinity of the fuel injection point than can be attained with dilution of the air stream, leading to increased flame stability. By this mechanism, fuel-side dilution extends the operating envelope to areas with higher velocities in the experimental configurations tested, where faster mixing rates further reduce flame residence times and NOx emissions. Strategies for accurate CFD modeling of LDI combustors’ stability characteristics are also discussed.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
The Church, the Stasi, and socialist integration: three stages of lesbian and gay emancipation in the former German Democratic Republic.

Organized groups of homosexuals began forming in the East German Protestant Church beginning in 1982. They constituted a rapidly spreading nucleus for a lesbian and gay emancipation movement. As such, they were viewed with suspicion by the state security apparatus which heavily infiltrated them. As an attempt to outmaneuver the church groups and raise political capital, the East German state by the last years of its existence in the late eighties embraked on a program of tolerance and integration of homosexuals into socialist society.
Peaceful Costa Rica, The First Battleground: The United States and the Costa Rican Revolution of 1948 * 1

In February 1948 a spirited presidential race sparked a political powderkeg in normally tranquil Costa Rica. The opposition candidate, Otilio Ulate, unexpectedly defeated former president Rafael Angel Calderon. Calderon's National Republican Party, the Communist Partido Vanguardia Popular (Vanguard), along with incumbent President Teodoro Picado immediately overturned the results. The opposition responded by launching an armed struggle to install Ulate in power. Led by Jose Figueres, the rebels defeated the government army and its auxiliaries composed primarily of calderonista and vanguardista militiamen. In late April Figueres victoriously entered San Jose and established a revolutionary junta that ruled the country for eighteen months. At the end of this period, he stepped down and allowed Ulate to serve his full four-year term.
Single-Mode Low-Loss Chalcogenide Glass Photonic Components for Mid-Infrared Operations

We report the fabrication of photonics components designed for mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers based on photodarkening of thin-film chalcogenide glasses. We measure propagation losses of 0.5 dB/cm for single-mode waveguides and demonstrate evanescent wave couplers.
A Majority of FXTAS Cases Present with Intranuclear Inclusions Within Purkinje Cells

Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects carriers of a FMR1 premutation. Symptoms include cerebellar ataxia, tremor, and cognitive deficits. The most characteristic pathology of FXTAS is the presence of eosinophilic ubiquitin-positive intranuclear inclusions in neurons and astrocytes throughout the nervous system and non-nervous tissues. Inclusions are present in neurons throughout the brain but are widely believed not to be present in the Purkinje cells (PCs) of the cerebellum. However, we analyzed 26 postmortem cases of FXTAS and demonstrated that 65 % of cases presented with inclusions within PCs of the cerebellum. We determined that the presence or absence of inclusions in PCs is correlated with age and that those cases with PC inclusions were overall 11 years older than those with no PC inclusions. Half of the cases with PCs with inclusions presented with twin nuclear inclusions. This novel finding demonstrating the presence of inclusions within PCs provides an insight into the understanding of the FXTAS motor symptoms and provides a novel target for the development of therapeutic strategies.
Holistic Representation: A Randomized Pilot Study of Wraparound Services for First‐Time Juvenile Offenders to Improve Functioning, Decrease Motions for Review, and Lower Recidivism

Mental health diagnoses, substance abuse issues, and school problems are often cited as contributors to adolescents’ involvement with the juvenile justice system. Yet, few youth receive assessment, evaluation, or intervention prior to their involvement with the juvenile courts. This pilot study evaluated whether providing a randomized trial of wraparound forensic social work services in addition to court-appointed legal services would improve functioning, decrease motions for review, and lower recidivism for first-time juvenile offenders. Findings indicate statistically significant improvement for youth receiving wraparound services on six out of eight measures. A case study example is provided and implications for service provision are explored.
Prospective Assessment of a Symptomatic Cerebral Vasospasm Predictive Neural Network Model

Introduction The author introduced a symptomatic cerebral vasospasm (SCV) prediction model built with freeware based on a 91-patient dataset. In a prospective test group of 22 patients at the same hospital, this model outperformed logistic regression models in vasospasm prediction on the basis of the same datasets. One of the model's limitations was a question of reproducibility in other centers. In this report, the author describes his experience with the prospective use of the model at a different hospital with a different population setting. Methods Patient data of 25 consecutive cases of aneurysm rupture were prospectively assessed by the model to predict SCV. The prediction was then compared with actual outcome. For the purpose of this report, SCV is defined as a delayed focal decline in neurological examination correlated with an area of radiographic vasospasm. This serves as the primary end point of the predictive model. Each case prediction is reported, along with strength of prediction, which is built into the model. The model's positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and sensitivity and specificity are reported. Results Twenty-five patients are included in the analysis. Six patients (24%) were diagnosed with SCV. The model predicted 9 patients would have SCV (positive predictive value 67%). The model predicted 16 patients would not have SCV (negative predictive value 100%). The sensitivity of the model was 100%, and the specificity of the model was 84%. Discussion The present analysis displays the predictive value of a neural network to model symptomatic cerebral vasospasm.
NiMC: Characterizing and Eliminating Network-Induced Memory Contention

Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA) is expected to be an integral communication mechanism for future exascale systems -- enabling asynchronous data transfers, so that applications may fully utilize all CPU resources while simultaneously sharing data amongst remote nodes. We examined this network-induced memory contention (NiMC), the interactions between RDMA and the memory subsystem when applications and out-of-band services compete for memory resources, and NiMC's resulting impact on application-level performance. For a range of hardware technologies and HPC workloads, we quantified NiMC and show that NiMC's impact grows with scale resulting in up to 3X performance degradation at scales as small as 8K processes even in applications that previously have been shown to be performance resilient in the presence of noise. We also evaluated three potential techniques to reduce NiMC's performance impact, namely hardware offloading, core reservation and software-based network throttling. While all three of these solutions show promise, we provide guidelines that help select the best solution for a given environment.
Critical Pedagogy of Place: A Framework for Understanding Relationships Between People in (Contested) Shared Places

In Pauline Chinn and David Hana’ike’s chapter exploring the role of place, culture,­ and situated learning on teacher agency in science, Pauline and David employ Cultural Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) and Actor Network Theories to examine David’s lived experiences as a middle-school science teacher in Hawaii. Through ethno- and biographic narratives, Pauline and David offer a “genealogical” examination of David’s early experiences as a learner, focusing on the ways in which his identity as a Hawaiian native has shaped his growth and development as a science teacher. Specifically, Pauline and David emphasize the intentionality of David’s establishment of activity networks with individuals within schools and the local community as being connected to his identity. They provide examples of how these activity/social networks have supported his development of a teaching practice that has enabled him to successfully connect school learning to place, culture, and science for students who, like David, identify as Hawaiian natives.
Diagnosis of Congenital Muscular Dystrophy

Patterns of alkaline and acid phosphatases were compared with the distribution of merosin and dystrophin staining in muscle biopsies from 20 children with congenital muscular dystrophy (CMD) examined at the Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO.
A Comparison of Several Assay Procedures to Detect Penicillin Residues in Milk 1 .

Milk samples from six healthy cows that alternately received intramuscular injections and intramammary infusions of penicillin were analyzed for the presence of penicillin residues using the disc assay, cylinder plate, and Delvotest-P3 methods. Time required for complete removal of penicillin from milk of treated cows was determined with each of the three tests. The disc assay antibiotic test detected penicillin in only 75% of the milk samples in which penicillin was detected by the Delvotest-P method. The cylinder plate method detected penicillin in only 83% of the milk samples in which penicillin was detected by the Delvotest-P method. Also, the Delvotest-P method detected penicillin residues for a significantly longer (P < .01) time than either the disc assay or cylinder plate methods in milk from cows following intramuscular injections. Only once following intramuscular injection was penicillin residue found in milk beyond the manufacturer's recommended withholding time of four milkings, and that did not persist beyond the fifth milking. In milk from cows receiving intramammary infusions, the Delvotest-P method detected penicillin residues for a significantly (P < .01) longer period than the disc assay method, but not longer than the cylinder plate method. No antibiotic residue was ever detected by any of the three tests beyond the manufacturer's recommended milk withholding time of six milkings.
Genetics of the Chiari I and II Malformations

Chiari malformations are considered to have a multifactorial etiology, likely influenced by environmental and genetic factors. This chapter will detail the evidence that supports a genetic contribution to the disorder, including discussions of twin studies, familial aggregation, co-occurrence with known genetic syndromes, and previous genetic studies. While no susceptibility genes have been identified to date, gene identification efforts are continuing. It is expected that researchers will have a more complete understanding of the specific genes and biological pathways that contribute to disease development in the coming years. The future benefits from genetic research of Chiari I and II may include the development of genetic tests that result in more accurate and faster diagnoses as well as new targeted treatment options for patients.
A Theory of Liquidity, Investment and Credit Risk for Financially Constrained Firms

This paper builds a dynamic capital structure model of the firm with costly external financing and long term debt, and studies the joint interactions between a firm's corporate cash policy, investment policy and strategic default risk. Investment takes the form of a real option and is both costly and irreversible. Firms hold cash both as a precaution against default and costly equity issuance, as well as to fund investment. The resulting setup is tractable, delivers the prices of equity and debt in closed form, and yields a number of rich insights: (i) Optimal cash and investment policies take the form of threshold rules that are a function of firm capital stock, default risk and earnings fundamentals. (ii) A rise in strategic default risk mitigates both the incentive to hold cash and the incentive to invest. This can explain why cash holdings rose more for less levered firms while investment fell for smaller, more levered firms during the crisis. (iii) The relationship between cash and capital when investing is affected by credit risk, with the cash needed to invest falling with capital for firms close to default, and rising with capital otherwise. (iv) An increase in volatility of the real option results in increased cash holdings, lower dividends and lower equity value prior to investment - contrary to the standard growth - option literature. (v) Firms with high market-to-book ratio hold less cash than other firms when far from default, but this relationship reverses as default risk rises. (vi) Optimal cash holdings as a function of capital is U-shaped and increases close to default and when the firm invests. (vii) When external financing becomes more costly, it lowers the optimal leverage choice of firms, which is consistent with the "debt conservatism puzzle". Finally, the paper verifies that the predictions of the model are supported in the data.
Association between persistent tachycardia and tachypnea and in-hospital mortality among non-hypotensive emergency department patients admitted to the hospital.

OBJECTIVE Vital sign trends are used in clinical practice to assess treatment response and aid in disposition, yet quantitative data to support this practice are lacking. This study aimed to determine the prognostic value of vital sign normalization. METHODS Secondary analysis of a prospective cohort of adult emergency department (ED) patients admitted a single urban tertiary care hospital. A random sample of 182 days was chosen, and a manual review of all admissions was undertaken. Persistent tachycardia or tachypnea was defined as failure to decrease to a normal value in the ED. Elevated upon admission was defined as an abnormal value at the last set of vital signs documented. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. RESULTS 4,878 patients were enrolled and 4.5 (±3.8) sets of vital signs were checked per patient. 1,770 patients were tachycardic and 1,499 were tachypneic. Among tachycardic patients, 941 (53%) were persistently tachycardic and 1,074 (61%) were tachycardic upon admission. Among tachypneic patients 639 (42%) were persistently tachypneic and 768 (51%) were tachypneic upon admission. Mortality was higher in patients persistently tachycardic (5.7% vs. 3.1%, P=0.008) or tachycardic upon admission (5.5% vs. 3.0%, P=0.014). Similar results were found in tachypneic patients (8.3% vs. 4.5%, P=0.003; 7.8% vs. 4.4%, P=0.006). CONCLUSION Persistent tachycardia and tachypnea are associated with an increased risk of mortality in ED patients admitted to the hospital. Further study is necessary to determine if improved recognition or earlier interventions can affect outcomes.
Ultrafast Solvation Dynamics and Vibrational Coherences of Halogenated Boron-Dipyrromethene Derivatives Revealed through Two-Dimensional Electronic Spectroscopy.

Boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY) chromophores have a wide range of applications, spanning areas from biological imaging to solar energy conversion. Understanding the ultrafast dynamics of electronically excited BODIPY chromophores could lead to further advances in these areas. In this work, we characterize and compare the ultrafast dynamics of halogenated BODIPY chromophores through applying two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy (2DES). Through our studies, we demonstrate a new data analysis procedure for extracting the dynamic Stokes shift from 2DES spectra revealing an ultrafast solvent relaxation. In addition, we extract the frequency of the vibrational modes that are strongly coupled to the electronic excitation, and compare the results of structurally different BODIPY chromophores. We interpret our results with the aid of DFT calculations, finding that structural modifications lead to changes in the frequency, identity, and magnitude of Franck–Condon active vibrational modes. We attribute these change...
Democratic Phoenix: Reinventing Political Activism

Conventional wisdom suggests that citizens in many countries have become disengaged from the traditional channels of political participation. Commentators highlight warning signs including sagging electoral turnout, rising anti-party sentiment, and the decay of civic organizations. But are these concerns justified? This book, first published in 2002, compares systematic evidence for electoral turnout, party membership, and civic activism in countries around the world and suggests good reasons to question assumptions of decline. Not only is the obituary for older forms of political activism premature, but new forms of civic engagement may have emerged in modern societies to supplement traditional modes. The process of societal modernization and rising levels of human capital are primarily responsible, although participation is also explained by the structure of the state, the role of agencies, and social inequalities.
Perceptions of Important Characteristics of Physical Activity Facilities: Implications for Engagement in Walking, Moderate and Vigorous Physical Activity.

Background: Although few United States adults meet physical activity recommendations, those that do are more likely to access to physical activity facilities. Additionally, vigorous exercisers may be more likely to utilize a nearby physical activity facility, while light-to-moderate exercisers are less likely to do so. However, it is unclear what characteristics of those facilities are most important as well as how those characteristics are related to activity intensity. Purpose: This study examined relationships between self-reported leisure-time physical activities and the use of and perceived characteristics of physical activity facilities. Methods: Data were from a cross-sectional study in a major metropolitan area. Participants (N=582; ages 18-74, mean age = 45 ± 14.7 years) were more likely to be female (69.9%), Caucasian (65.6%), married (51.7%), and have some college education (72.8%). Household surveys queried leisure-time physical activity, regular physical activity facility use, and importance ratings for key facility characteristics. Results: Leisure-time physical activity recommendations were met by 41.0% of participants and 50.9% regularly used a physical activity facility. Regular facility use was positively associated with meeting walking (p = .036), moderate (p < .001), and vigorous (p < .001) recommendations. Vigorous exercisers were more likely to use a gym/fitness center (p = .006) and to place higher importance on facility quality (p = .022), variety of physical activity options offered (p = .003) and availability of special equipment and resources (p = .01). The facility characteristics of low or free cost (p = .02) and offering childcare (p = .028) were barriers for walking, and being where friends and family like to go were barriers for moderate leisure-time physical activity (p = .013). Conclusion: Findings offer insights for structuring interventions using the social ecological model as well as for improving existing physical activity facilities.