cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Bayesian coincidence test for noise rejection in a gravitational-wave burst search

In searches for gravitational-wave bursts, a standard technique used to reject noise is to discard burst event candidates that are not seen in coincidence in multiple detectors. A coincidence test in which Bayesian inference is used to measure how noise-like a tuple of events appears is presented here. This technique is shown to yield higher detection efficiencies for a given false alarm rate than do techniques based on per-parameter thresholds when applied to a toy model covering a broad class of event candidate populations. Also presented is the real-world example of a use of the technique for noise rejection in a time–frequency burst search conducted on simulated gravitational-wave detector data. Besides achieving a higher detection efficiency, the technique is significantly less challenging to implement well than is a per-parameter threshold method.
Cluster Analysis of Children and Adolescents with Brain Damage and Learning Disabilities Using Neuropsychological, Psychoeducational, and Sociobehavioral Variables

The purpose of the study was to employ psychoeducational, neuropsychological, and sociobehavioral (Conners Rating Scale) variables in determining if definable subtypes exist within a diverse population of subjects with learning disabilities (LD) and documented brain damage. The sample of 95 subjects (27% female and 73% male) had been referred for neuropsychological assessment at a large, Midwestern medical center. Mean age was 10.6 years. Brain damage (BD) was documented for 45% of the sample. The first cluster analysis employed neuropsychological, psychoeducational, and sociobehavioral data and revealed four interpretable clusters. A second cluster analysis excluded sociobehavioral data and yielded two interpretable clusters. In neither analysis did a cluster consist exclusively of BD or LD subjects. Results were interpreted as supporting the importance of the sociobehavioral component in LD subtyping, as well as supporting the contention that parallels may exist in cerebral function and/or structure bet...
Eminescu impact structure: Insight into the transition from complex crater to peak-ring basin on Mercury

Abstract Peak-ring basins represent an impact-crater morphology that is transitional between complex craters with central peaks and large multi-ring basins. Therefore, they can provide insight into the scale dependence of the impact process. Here the transition with increasing crater diameter from complex craters to peak-ring basins on Mercury is assessed through a detailed analysis of Eminescu, a geologically recent and well-preserved peak-ring basin. Eminescu has a diameter (∼125 km) close to the minimum for such crater forms and is thus representative of the transition. Impact crater size-frequency distributions and faint rays indicate that Eminescu is Kuiperian in age, geologically younger than most other basins on Mercury. Geologic mapping of basin interior units indicates a distinction between smooth plains and peak-ring units. Our mapping and crater retention ages favor plains formation by impact melt rather than post-impact volcanism, but a volcanic origin for the plains cannot be excluded if the time interval between basin formation and volcanic emplacement was less than the uncertainty in relative ages. The high-albedo peak ring of Eminescu is composed of bright crater-floor deposits (BCFDs, a distinct crustal unit seen elsewhere on Mercury) exposed by the impact. We use our observations to assess predictions of peak-ring formation models. We interpret the characteristics of Eminescu as consistent with basin formation models in which a melt cavity forms during the impact formation of craters at the transition to peak ring morphologies. We suggest that the smooth plains were emplaced via impact melt expulsion from the central melt cavity during uplift of a peak ring composed of BCFD-type material. In this scenario the ringed cluster of peaks resulted from the early development of the melt cavity, which modified the central uplift zone.
Political Challenge in Latin America: Rebellion and Collective Protest in an Era of Democratization:

Democratization is expected to quell violent political challenge while opening channels for nonviolent opposition. By offering the opportunity for revolutionary groups to promote their interests and seek change without recourse to violence, democracies are expected to stifle violent opposition with inclusion. Yet, revolutionary groups have continued to threaten governments throughout the 1980s and 1990s, a period marked by extensive democratic opening. Meanwhile, democracy is tied to the mobilization of civil society, opening channels for nonviolent challenge to government, arguably increasing instability, especially in the short term. Using a negative binomial event-count model on a pooled cross-sectional sample of 18 Latin American countries for the period 1980-93, this article examines the effects of an array of theoretical determinants on occurrences of violent rebellion and nonviolent collective protest. For rebellion, some traditional expectations are supported, including the role of state capacity ...
Pollution, Political Agendas, and Policy Windows: Environmental Policy on the Eve of Silent Spring:

The objective of this paper is to illustrate that concern over environmental pollution became a significant national issue in the United States during the late 1950s, many years earlier than is typ...
Playskin Lift™: Development and Initial Testing of an Exoskeletal Garment to Assist Upper Extremity Mobility and Function

Background A person's ability to move his or her arms against gravity is important for independent performance of critical activities of daily living and for exploration that facilitates early cognitive, language, social, and perceptual-motor development. Children with a variety of diagnoses have difficulty moving their arms against gravity. Objective The purpose of this technical report is to detail the design process and initial testing of a novel exoskeletal garment, the Playskin Lift, that assists and encourages children to lift their arms against gravity. Design This report details the design theory and process, the device, and the results of field testing with a toddler with impaired upper extremity function due to arthrogryposis multiplex congenita. Results The Playskin Lift is an inexpensive (<$30 material costs), easy to use (5/5 rating), comfortable (5/5 rating), and attractive (4/5 rating) device. While wearing the device, the child was able to contact objects more often throughout an increased play space, to look at toys more while contacting them, and to perform more complex interactions with toys. Limitations This report details initial testing with one child. Future testing with more participants is recommended. Conclusions These results suggest that by considering the broad needs of users, including cost, accessibility, comfort, aesthetics, and function, we can design inexpensive devices that families and clinicians can potentially fabricate in their own communities to improve function, participation, exploration, and learning for children with disabilities.
Incidence of delayed ipsilateral intraparenchymal hemorrhage after stent-assisted coiling of intracranial aneurysms in a high-volume single center.

Delayed ipsilateral intraparenchymal hemorrhage (IPH) has been reported following technically successful treatment of intracranial aneurysms using flow-diverting stents in up to 8.5 % of patients. We report a similar, though less frequent phenomenon in the setting of stent-assisted coil embolization. Institutional review board approval was obtained. A retrospective analysis of a prospective neurointerventional procedure registry was performed to review all IPHs that occurred in aneurysm patients within 90 days of endovascular treatment performed between November 2002 and November 2014 at one institution. Age, sex, hypertension, dual antiplatelet therapy, and technical details of the procedure were recorded. A total of 1697 patients underwent endovascular treatment of an intracranial aneurysm without a flow diverter at our institution during the study period. Among these, 138 patients underwent stent-assisted coiling (8.1 %). Of these, three patients (2.2 %) suffered a delayed IPH within the vascular territory distal to the treated lesion (one woman, median age 60 years). Recently described in the setting of flow diversion, delayed ipsilateral IPH is not limited to flow-diverting stents. Though less frequent, a potential for this complication may exist following any intracranial stenting procedure, possibly related to hemorrhagic conversion of microembolic phenomena in the setting of dual antiplatelet or anticoagulation therapy.
Spinoza's Ethics : On God: necessity and determinism

In the late summer of 1661, the Englishman Oldenburg was one of the earliest visitors to Spinoza's small house in Rijnsburg. These initial meetings, in which the two talked about philosophy and science, led to an extended and fruitful correspondence (interrupted for a time by the Anglo-Dutch war). In his letters, Oldenburg was constantly encouraging Spinoza to publish his metaphysical ideas, although as the true nature of those ideas became clearer and clearer to Oldenburg, especially after the publication of the Theological-Political Treatise in 1670, he started to have some serious misgivings about them. Writing to Spinoza some years later, in November 1675, Oldenburg takes note of those passages in the Theological-Political Treatise “which have proved a stumbling-block to readers,” especially “reasonable and intelligent Christians.” He is referring in particular, he adds, “to those [passages] which appear to treat in an ambiguous way of God and Nature, which many people consider you have confused with each other” (Letter 71). Spinoza, naturally, is curious as to what passages Oldenburg has in mind that might appear “to undermine the practice of religious virtue” (Letter 73). In a follow-up letter, Oldenburg makes his meaning clear: You appear to postulate a fatalistic necessity in all things and actions. If this is conceded and affirmed, they say, the sinews of all laws, all virtue and religion are severed, and all rewards and punishments are pointless. They consider that whatever compels or brings necessity to bear, excuses; and they hold that no one will thus be without excuse in the sight of God. […]
Fudge points and thin ice in discovery reform and the case for selective substance-specific procedure

When procedural reformers and commentators on reform write about procedure-- and I count myself among them-- we display similar proclivities. We must take a position to write effectively. It is difficult to write articles or speeches without a thesis. In articulating the thesis, one tends to break off the rough edges, submerge counter-arguments, and blunt potential opposition by exaggerating opposing claims, ignoring counter-evidence, using feigned accomodation, or writing illogically. Frequently, at key points in our arguments we tend to do a little fudging, particularly at a juncture where the ice is thin. I have searched for more eloquence, but "fudge points" is the best term I can apply to this phenomenon. These fudge points are examined in this article because they reveal aspects of the original Federal Rules governing discovery. These aspects, which are discussed in part II, invited abuse. The fudge points also reveal why the new mandatory discovery rules are in large measure misguided and will be ineffective. This misdirection is discussed in part III. In part IV, I urge that most cases would benefit from more limited discovery than the original Federal Rules provided. I then explain why many cases which elicit the most discovery and the most discovery problems would be better served by applying procedural rules, including discovery rules, crafted in advance to meet the unique needs of specific case-types. This is an argument for what I call "selective substance-specific procedure." The term "nontransubstantive procedure" has previously been used to describe the same concept. The idea is that some procedures would no longer cut across substantive case-types. In part IV, I also explain why selective substance-specific procedure does a better job of directly addressing the critical points at which the drafters of the original Federal Rules and the new mandatory discovery rules fudged. At a conceptual level, selective substance-procedure skates on thicker ice than the curret procedural regime. Experimentation in the real world of practice will be necessary to test whether the conceptual strength will be borne out.
Advancing the Sovereign Trust of Government to Safeguard the Environment for Present and Future Generations (Part II): Instilling a Fiduciary Obligation in Governance

This Article is the second part of a two-part work that highlights the fiduciary obligation of government emanating from the public trust doctrine of environmental law. This Part explores the measurable standards of performance for protecting vital natural assets in the people’s trust as carried out within the modern framework of administrative law. Section II of this Article discusses the substantive and procedural duties of governmental trustees of natural assets. Section III presents the interface between public trust obligations and statutory law. Section IV discusses enforcement of the trust and the pivotal role of the judiciary. Section V evaluates implications of a trust approach for economic activity and private property rights. Section VI sets forth specific recommendations for incorporating a trust approach within U.S. environmental law and on the international level as well.
A Dynamic Epistemic Logic with a Knowability Principle

A dynamic epistemic logic is presented in which the single agent can reason about his knowledge stages before and after announcements. The logic is generated by reinterpreting multi agent private announcements in a single agent environment. It is shown that a knowability principle is valid for such logic: any initially true ϕ can be known after a certain number of announcements.
Commentary: congenital rubella syndrome should not be a disease of poor countries.

Rubella and its inevitable derivative congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) are rare in North America Scandinavia Western Europe and Australasia thanks to the wide application of live attenuated rubella vaccine usually as part of measles-mumps-rubella vaccine. In the United States indigenous transmission of rubella virus appears to be eliminated and all cases occur in immigrants or in their contacts. This success is not replicated in large parts of the world. Until recently vaccination against rubella has been only sporadically practiced in Latin America and Asia and essentially not at all in sub-Saharan Africa despite an estimate made by the World Health Organization (WHO) that approximately 100000 CRS cases occur each year throughout the world. Sporadic observations made on infants with congenital cataracts confirm that rubella plays a major role. When studies have been done in developing countries the total incidence of CRS has been between 0.5 and 2 per 1000 live births. This high rate of damaged babies goes largely unrecognized because a myth has arisen that women of childbearing age in developing countries are all immune and because few attempts are made to diagnose CRS outside of surveillance studies. (excerpt)
Parasites and Pathogens Among Heliothis Species in the Central Mississippi Delta

During 1972, 1973, and 1974, 4615 larvae of Heliothis zea (Boddie), H. virescens (F.), and H. subflexa (Guenee) were obtained from 9 host plants (wild and cultivated) in the Central Yazoo Mississippi Delta by whole plant examination and sweep net collection. After the larvae were identified, the number of parasitized and diseased specimens of each species was determined. The percentage of parasitized and diseased larvae was highest during early and late season. Microplitis croceipes (Cresson) and Cardiochiles nigriceps Viereck were the predominant parasites found, and Nomuraea (Spicaria) releyi (Farlow) Samson was the predominant insect pathogen.
Effect of spices on growth of clostridium botulinum

country in the last few years is the great interest which bacteriologists are taking in the study of the organism, especially as to its distribution and the factors which favor or inhibit its growth. Contrary to the observations of Van Ermengen,1 who first described it, we know that it produces heat resistant spores. We know that it is not limited for its growth to meat or meat products, but that it grows and also produces its toxin in a number of vegetables and fruits when oxygen is removed. It appears also not to be limited to substances with a neutral reaction, since especially in fruits the medium is acid. Cutter 2 has reported two deaths from the consumption of tomato-onion chili sauce?a food product which usually contains a large amount of vinegar and spices, a combination of substances which 13 found to have considerable inhibiting effect. The growth of the organism in such a medium suggests the need of again extending our knowledge of the conditions under which it may grow. Such foods as mince meat are seldom sterilized in canning in the home, and although frequently there is no attempt to seal the material, the layer of fat formed on the surface makes quite an effective seal. As mince meat is often eaten without reheating, it was thought there might be a considerable element of danger in such foods. No investigations of the relation of CI. botulinum to spices have thus far come to my attention, hence it seemed desirable to make such a study. A few years ago, in a study of the inhibiting effect of spices on the growth of micro-organisms, I 4 found that there was considerable difference in the effect of any one spice on different organisms, and also considerable difference in the effect of different spices. In general, cinnamon, cloves and all-spice are most effective in inhibiting the growth of micro-organisms. I also found that in general, molds are more sensitive to spices than bacteria. Later 2 I showed that there is
DNA Cloning: The History of The Future

Here are reported many important discoveries in the area of molecular and cell biology, some of these are milestones in the history of biology because they allowed the scientific community to begin the studies of cell functions, how they are organized and regulated, where are contained the informations that allow the cells to work in a normal manner, how they are transmitted form cell to cell, how it is possible to have variability among the organisms and what are the causes of their malfunction. The first important discoveries of modern biology have been made more than two centuries ago, the amount of data and techniques available for researchers is huge and this gives the opportunity to increase the knowledges and at the same time to use them in medical, environmental and industrial applications.
A guide to nursing students' written reflections for students and educators

Abstract Experiences from the clinical setting are ideal for building critical thinking skills if reflection is used as a teaching tool. Reflective writing is the purposeful and recurring inspection of thoughts, feelings, and occurrences that coordinate with experiences during practice. Reflecting on clinical experiences develops critical thinking ability, fosters self-understanding, facilitates coping, and leads to improvement in clinical practice (Kennison, 2006). Reflective writing allows students to combine clinical experiences and takeaways with didactic material to better understand both practice and instruction. Reflective writing is defined as an assignment that is focused on students' experiences, like textbook readings, clinical experiences, or group activities, that highlights what the student has taken from the activity (McGuire et al., 2009). This study will explore reflective writing from the perspective of the nursing student and the nurse educator. The following questions will be answered: What are the benefits of reflective writing? Why would nurse educators want to use reflective writing in their nursing courses, both clinical and didactic? What are the barriers to using reflective writing for students and educators? What is the role of the nurse educator in student reflection?
Presence of immunoreactive β-endorphin and calcitonin in human seminal plasma, and their relation to sperm physiology

Opioid peptides and calcitonin are found in high concentrations in the male reproductive tract. To further elucidate their role in sperm physiology, we studied semen samples from 49 infertile men and 25 men with proven fertility. β -endorphin and calcitonin were measured in each sample by radioimmunoassay and then were correlated with seminal plasma testosterone (T) and dihydrotestosterone levels as well as sperm count, total motile sperm/milliliter, and percentage of penetrated hamster eggs. The levels of β -endorphin (308 ± 22 pg/ml) and calcitonin (331 ± 32 pg/ml) in seminal plasma were 10 and 20 times higher than levels found in venous plasma (32 ± 2 and 14.5 ± 1.2 pg/ml, respectively) ( P β -endorphin and calcitonin in seminal plasma of fertile and infertile men. However, seminal plasma T was significantly higher in fertile than infertile men (19.4 ± 2 versus 11.5 ± 1 ng/dl; P β -endorphin or calcitonin and any of the parameters studied. In conclusion, β -endorphin and calcitonin are produced locally in the male reproductive tract; however, their role in male reproduction remains to be elucidated.
Local Government Performance in Rural Poland: The Roles of Local Government Characteristics and Inherited Conditions

Widespread decentralization of government in East-Central Europe in the 1990s aimed at improving local outcomes. However, performance has varied significantly, even within a uniform institutional framework. Combining publically-available municipal-level data with data from a unique 2005 survey of rural municipalities, we examine and explain variations in the performance of rural local governments in Poland over the periods 2003-2005 and 2006-2008. Rural governments face particular obstacles to good performance including lower resource bases, fewer people of working age, and less-developed infrastructure. Drawing on a growing literature on local government performance, we analyze the role of local government characteristics, European Union support, and inherited factors in three measures of performance, using an OLS analysis and a set of representative cases. Outcomes vary significantly across municipalities but factors associated with success are not consistent across measures or over time. Still, some measures of local government skill, mayoral networking, and electoral accountability have an impact on some measures of performance. Factors outside the control of local governments (location, infrastructure, history) are strongly related to outcomes but, again, the significant variables differ across outcome measures. For 2006-2008, EU transfers have a positive impact on own per capita revenue of municipalities, but not on other outcomes, and have little effect on the impact of other factors. Despite the importance of history and location, the representative cases show that very good governance may overcome poor historical conditions. Still, the strong impact of history weakens the link between government actions and performance, justifying continued transfers to local governments.
Paradoxes of Dignity in Israel/Palestine

Is human dignity a useful political concept for us today? Some think it is useful precisely because it can mean whatever one wants it to mean; others think it is useless for that same reason. It is...
Tradition and the Science of Politics

In the twentieth century tradition has become a pejorative term. To say that someone is a traditionalist means to call him an old dodo, a man out of tune with the modern, the scientific, the progressive trends. This is curious; for the great Russian revolution and its aftermath, the Stalinist terror regime, would seem to call for the same kind of traditionalist reaction which occurred in Europe after the French revolution. To be sure, there were flickerings, such as the American Liberty League which embodied a reaction to the New Deal. Also, the politics of the German Federal Republic has been spoken of as a restoration. There are markedly traditionalist features to the post-Second World War constitution-making, a process I have called ‘negative revolution’, since the Hitler regime had already pre-empted the title of counterrevolution.1 The Fascists generally talked a good deal about tradition, and more especially ‘the grandeur that was Rome’. But the more striking developments are in the fields of political science and sociology. One notes with surprise that the International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences has no entry under this heading, but other related subjects are amply treated. It is a curious fact that, perhaps in reaction against the normative implications of the traditional term ‘tradition’, other words have been employed to discuss the phenomena formerly treated under this heading.
Hormonal control of collagen metabolism--Part I.

Natural and synthetic glucocorticoids are known to effect collagen metabolism. This influence is responsible for several side-effects of a long term therapy with glucocorticoids. Molecular mechanisms of these phenomena are complex, and are only partially elucidated. It has been found that glucocorticoids decrease amount of mRNA coding procollagen chains. Posttranslational modifications including hydroxylation of proline and lysine residues and glycosylation of hydroxylysine residues in procollagen are depressed by glucocorticoids. This is caused by depressed activity of the specific enzymes of intracellular stages of collagen biosynthesis. Extracellular maturation of collagen is affected by steroids but changes reported depend upon rate of the collagen turnover. The effect of glucocorticoids on collagen degradation is a subject of controversy; there are a few data that the hormones decrease activity of collagenolytic enzymes. Possible indirect mechanisms of effect of glucocorticoids on the collagen metabolism include modulatory role of these hormones in inflammatory cell activity as well as a release of various humor mediators. Pathophysiological aspect of hormonal regulation of collagen metabolism by glucocorticoids in hepatic and pulmonary fibrosis as well as keloids are also reviewed.
Comparison of echocardiographic measures in a hispanic/latino population with the 2005 and 2015 American society of echocardiography reference limits (The Echocardiographic Study of Latinos)

Background— Reference limits for echocardiographic quantification of cardiac chambers in Hispanics are not well studied. Methods and Results— We examined the reference values of left atrium and left ventricle (LV) structure in a large ethnically diverse Hispanic cohort. Two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography was performed in 1818 participants of the Echocardiographic Study of Latinos (ECHO-SOL). Individuals with body mass index ≥30 kg/m2, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, and atrial fibrillation were excluded leaving 525 participants defined as healthy reference cohort. We estimated 95th weighted percentiles of LV end systolic volume, LV end diastolic volume, relative wall and septal thickness, LV mass, and left atrial volume. We then used upper reference limits of the 2005 and 2015 American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) and 95th percentile of reference cohort to classify the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) target population into abnormal and normal. Reference limits were also calculated for each of 6 Hispanic origins. Using ASE 2015 defined reference values, we categorized 7%, 21%, 57%, and 17% of men and 18%, 29%, 60%, and 26% of women as having abnormal LV mass index, relative, septal, and posterior wall thickness, respectively. Conversely, 10% and 11% of men and 4% and 2% of women were classified as having abnormal end-diastolic volume and internal diameter by ASE 2015 cutoffs, respectively. Similar differences were found when we used 2005 ASE cutoffs. Several differences were noted in distribution of cardiac structure and volumes among various Hispanic/Latino origins. Cubans had highest values of echocardiographic measures, and Central Americans had the lowest. Conclusions— This is the first large study that provides normal reference values for cardiac structure. It further demonstrates that a considerable segment of Hispanic/Latinos residing in the United States may be classified as having abnormal measures of cardiac chambers when 2015 and 2005 ASE reference cutoffs are used.
Indirect Costs of the JOBS Act: Disclosures, Information Asymmetry, and Post-IPO Liquidity

This paper examines the impact of the recently passed JOBS Act on the behavior of market participants. Using the JOBS Act -- which relaxed mandatory information disclosure requirements -- as a natural experiment on firms' choices of the optimal mix of hard and soft information, we find that relative to a peer group of firms, IPO firms reduce disclosures of hard information and change disclosures of soft information. Because it allows a partial revelation of IPO quality, only soft information affects underpricing. We also find that the SEC changes its behavior post-JOBS Act in responding to draft registration statements. Specifically, the SEC's comment letters to firms are more negative in tone, and more forceful in their recommendations, focusing on hard information. Finally, under the JOBS Act, investors place more emphasis on the information produced by the SEC when pricing the stock. Returns following public release of the letters vary by about 4% based on letter tone.
Structure and catalytic activation of the TRIM23 RING E3 ubiquitin ligase.

Tripartite motif (TRIM) proteins comprise a large family of RING-type ubiquitin E3 ligases that regulate important biological processes. An emerging general model is that TRIMs form elongated antiparallel coiled-coil dimers that prevent interaction of the two attendant RING domains. The RING domains themselves bind E2 conjugating enzymes as dimers, implying that an active TRIM ligase requires higher-order oligomerization of the basal coiled-coil dimers. Here, we report crystal structures of the TRIM23 RING domain in isolation and in complex with an E2-ubiquitin conjugate. Our results indicate that TRIM23 enzymatic activity requires RING dimerization, consistent with the general model of TRIM activation. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Malaysia's medical tourism destination personality: an international cosmetic surgery patients' perspective

This research examines the medical tourism destination personality perceptions of Malaysia, a leading medical tourism destination country. A content analysis of international cosmetic surgery patients' online testimonials from a medical tourism facilitator's website shows that medical tourists have discrete medical tourism destination personality perceptions of Malaysia, with the brand personality dimensions competence and sincerity being stated most frequently. Brand personality perceptions differed depending on the length of the testimonial (story versus short testimony), patients' home country, whether patients had one cosmetic surgery procedure or multiple procedures during their stay in Malaysia, and if physical facilities were mentioned in the testimonials. Marketing implications of the findings are discussed, and suggestions for future research are proposed. The study serves as a starting point for further research on Malaysia's medical tourism destination personality.
Damage control resuscitation: how to use blood products and manage major bleeding in trauma

Exsanguination comprises 30% to 40% of mortality in trauma and is the leading cause of trauma mortality in civilian and military populations. Many different strategies have been suggested for the management of haemorrhage, but recently damage control resuscitation (DCR) and damage control surgery (DCS) have become mainstays of treatment. The main principles of DCR are permissive hypotension as well as prevention of the ‘lethal triad’ of acidosis, coagulopathy and hypothermia. Acidosis affects multiple physiologic processes as well as worsening coagulopathy. Hypothermia can worsen acidosis and cause coagulopathy. DCR is designed to prevent the lethal triad by minimizing crystalloid administration and providing a balanced blood product resuscitation in a 1:1:1 ratio of red cells:plasma:platelets to mimic whole blood. Adjuncts such as cryoprecipitate and tranexamic acid are frequently required, and their use may be guided by new coagulation tests including thromboelastography (TEG) and rotational thromboelastometry (TEM). DCS is used to complement DCR. DCS focuses on rapid and immediate repairs including control of haemorrhage, temporary repair of hollow viscus injuries and packing to control non-surgical bleeding. The patient is then transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU) and undergoes further resuscitation with DCR for the treatment of coagulopathies and metabolic derangements. Once the patient is adequately resuscitated, they are then taken back to the operating room for definitive surgery. DCR and DCS utilizations have improved outcomes for trauma patients, but further research is needed to continue to decrease preventable mortality from haemorrhage in the severely injured trauma patient.
Operation and analysis of low-voltage three-terminal avalanche photodiodes

We demonstrate a three-terminal waveguide avalanche photodiode detector (3TAPD) with −6V breakdown voltage, 18.6GHz 3dB bandwidth. Design, simulation of the device is discussed.
Bipartite Grid Partitioning of a Random Geometric Graph

We investigate the problem of efficient computation of a partition of a Random Geometric Graph (RGG) into a limited number of densely packed bipartite grid subgraphs. The study focuses on the collection of subgraphs each individually having similar size and structure and the union employing most (e.g. over 85%) of the vertices. The residual vertices we seek to minimize are attributed to the inherent variations in densities of the randomly placed vertices and to any shortcomings of our greedy algorithms. RGG's have been extensively employed in recent times to model the deployment of numerous instances of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN's). The properties investigated in our selected bipartite grid backbones are those deemed most relevant for applications to the foundations of this widely growing field. Distributed algorithms are primarily used to determine backbones. Our results review what backbone grid partitions exist in the data. This provides a metric to measure the effectiveness of any distributed algorithm against an existing optimal result. The visual display of selected backbone grids suggests local algorithm design strategies. Furthermore, these partitions must be efficiently computable for highly scalable computation, e.g. WSN's with 100's of thousands of vertices and millions of edges in the resulting RGG. We consider distributions over a segment of the plane and over the surface of the sphere to model sensor distributions both in limited planar regions, all around the globe or on distant planets.
Evaluation of methods to reduce background using the Python-based ELISA_QC program

Abstract Almost all immunological approaches [immunohistochemistry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Western blot], that are used to quantitate specific proteins have had to address high backgrounds due to non-specific reactivity. We report here for the first time a quantitative comparison of methods for reduction of the background of commercial biotinylated antibodies using the Python-based ELISA_QC program. This is demonstrated using a recombinant humanized anti-cocaine monoclonal antibody. Several approaches, such as adjustment of the incubation time and the concentration of blocking agent, as well as the dilution of secondary antibodies, have been explored to address this issue. In this report, systematic comparisons of two different methods, contrasted with other more traditional methods to address this problem are provided. Addition of heparin (HP) at 1 μg/ml to the wash buffer prior to addition of the secondary biotinylated antibody reduced the elevated background absorbance values (from a mean of 0.313 ± 0.015 to 0.137 ± 0.002). A novel immunodepletion (ID) method also reduced the background (from a mean of 0.331 ± 0.010 to 0.146 ± 0.013). Overall, the ID method generated more similar results at each concentration of the ELISA standard curve to that using the standard lot 1 than the HP method, as analyzed by the Python-based ELISA_QC program. We conclude that the ID method, while more laborious, provides the best solution to resolve the high background seen with specific lots of biotinylated secondary antibody.
Molecular autopsy provides evidence for widespread ribosome-phased mRNA fragmentation.

Recent developments in transcriptome-wide sequencing technologies have enabled the identification of cellular mRNA decay intermediates. Although canonical mRNA decay has been shown to occur by deadenylation followed by decapping and subsequent exonucleolytic decay from both mRNA ends, a study by Mourelatos and colleagues now defines mRNA fragments that are generated on polysomes by endonucleolytic cleavages phased by the associated ribosome.
Emotion Specific Effects on Attentional Bias Among Women with Shape and Weight Concerns

Eating disorders are characterized by distorted beliefs about one’s body shape and weight, biased attention to appearance related stimuli, and emotion dysregulation. In separate experiments we tested the impact of two negative emotions on attention to shape and weight concerns among women with and without weight and shape concerns. In Experiment 1, women with higher body shape and weight concerns, in comparison to those with low shape and weight concerns, demonstrated a bias in attention to shape and weight information during an induced sad emotion. These groups did not differ during a neutral mood induction. In Experiment 2, those with high, in comparison to those with low, shape and weight concerns were more biased in attention to weight and shape information, but these groups did not show a differential bias during an induced anxious emotion. Though it has been suggested that biased attention serves as a critical mediator in the relationship between negative emotion and binge eating, the results of these experiments suggest that discrete emotions might have unique effects in their influence on cognitive processing. Further research to identify the unique influences of sadness and anxiety on cognitive processes are warranted.
Software Project Risk and Opportunity Management

Risk is an uncertain event or condition that has a positive or negative effect on project objectives. Risk management includes the processes of planning, identification, analysis, resource planning, and controlling risk in a project. This chapter focuses on recent insights and approaches within risk management. A positive counterpart to risk management has emerged, called opportunity management. The duality between the two concepts is explained, and the fundamentals of risk–opportunity management are discussed. Furthermore, risk and opportunity management methods, processes, and tools are presented.
High power density actuation through Terfenol-D resonant motion and magnetorheological flow control

There is currently a need for compact actuators capable of producing large deflections, large forces, and broad frequency bandwidth. In all existing transducer materials, large force and broadband responses are obtained at the price of small displacements and methods for transmitting very short transducer element motion to large deformations need to be developed. This paper addresses the development of a hybrid actuator which provides virtually unlimited deflections and large forces through magnetorheological (MR) flow control and rectification of the resonant mechanical vibrations produced by a magnetostrictive Terfenol-D pump. The device is a self-contained unit which produces large work output concurrently with stiffness and damping control, and is compact and self-locking when unpowered. To increase the output force, hydraulic advantage is created by implementing a driven piston diameter that is larger than the drive piston. Since the pump operates at high speeds in the low kHz range, a fast-acting MR fluid valve is required. The paper presents a four-port MR fluid valve in which the fluid controls its own flow while carrying the full transducer load. A prototype two-port valve was designed and constructed. Experimental measurements at various pressure levels are presented which demonstrate the new valve concept.
Effect of Spinous Process Excision on Adjacent Segment Motion: A Biomechanical Study

Adjacent Segment Disease (ASD) is associated with poor surgical outcomes and early revision surgery after spinal fusion. The relative contributions of rigid instrumentation and destabilization due to laminectomy as independent factors of ASD are unclear; clinical studies often include patients that have undergone both. The objective of this study is to compare the biomechanical effect of laminectomy versus posterior instrumentation on adjacent segment motion (ASM). Five fresh-frozen porcine lumbar spines were mounted on an Instron loading machine and cyclically flexed. Each specimen underwent a phase with instrumentation spanning the operative level followed by a phase without instrumentation, but with a modified laminectomy (spinous process excision without violation of the facet joints). In both phases, ASM was measured during application of a flexion moment. The study revealed that ASM after laminectomy was significantly higher than after inter-segmental instrumentation (3.64mm vs. 1.76mm more than control; p=0.04), and significantly higher than control (p=0.04). Although ASM after inter-segmental instrumentation was greater than controls, it was not significant (p=0.07). Modified laminectomy in this porcine model causes a significant increase in motion at the adjacent lumbar segment compared with both rigid instrumentation alone and controls. This emphasizes the role of the posterior spinal elements in lumbar stability and implicates laminectomy as a greater risk for causing ASM than fusion.
The Structural and Functional Basis for Recurring Sulfa Drug Resistance Mutations inStaphylococcus aureusDihydropteroate Synthase.

Staphylococcal species are a leading cause of bacterial drug-resistant infections and associated mortality. One strategy to combat bacterial drug resistance is to revisit compromised targets, and to circumvent resistance mechanisms using structure-assisted drug discovery. The folate pathway is an ideal candidate for this approach. Antifolates target an essential metabolic pathway, and the necessary detailed structural information is now available for most enzymes in this pathway. Dihydropteroate synthase (DHPS) is the target of the sulfonamide class of drugs, and its well characterized mechanism facilitates detailed analyses of how drug resistance has evolved. Here, we surveyed clinical genetic sequencing data in S. aureus to distinguish natural amino acid variations in DHPS from those that are associated with sulfonamide resistance. Five mutations were identified, F17L, S18L, T51M, E208K, and KE257_dup. Their contribution to resistance and their cost to the catalytic properties of DHPS were evaluated using a combination of biochemical, biophysical and microbiological susceptibility studies. These studies show that F17L, S18L, and T51M directly lead to sulfonamide resistance while unexpectedly increasing susceptibility to trimethoprim, which targets the downstream enzyme dihydrofolate reductase. The secondary mutations E208K and KE257_dup restore trimethoprim susceptibility closer to wild-type levels while further increasing sulfonamide resistance. Structural studies reveal that these mutations appear to selectively disfavor the binding of the sulfonamides by sterically blocking an outer ring moiety that is not present in the substrate. This emphasizes that new inhibitors must be designed that strictly stay within the substrate volume in the context of the transition state.
Corruption and Justice in Colonial Mexico, 1650-1755

Corruption is one of the most prominent issues in Latin American news cycles, with charges deciding the recent elections in Mexico, Brazil, and Guatemala. Despite the urgency of the matter, few recent historical studies on the topic exist, especially on Mexico. For this reason, Christoph Rosenmuller explores the enigma of historical corruption. By drawing upon thorough archival research and a multi-lingual collection of printed primary sources and secondary literature, Rosenmuller demonstrates how corruption in the past differed markedly from today. Corruption in Mexico's colonial period connoted the obstruction of justice; judges, for example, tortured prisoners to extract cash or accepted bribes to alter judicial verdicts. In addition, the concept evolved over time to include several forms of self-advantage in the bureaucracy. Rosenmuller embeds this important shift from judicial to administrative corruption within the changing Atlantic World, while also providing insightful perspectives from the lower social echelons of colonial Mexico.
External Validation of the Prostate Cancer Specific Comorbidity Index: A Claims Based Tool for the Prediction of Life Expectancy in Men with Prostate Cancer.

Purpose:Accurate assessment of life expectancy is critical to treatment decision making in men with prostate cancer. We sought to externally validate the PCCI (Prostate Cancer Comorbidity Index) to...
Steroid hormones, glucocorticoids, and the hypothalamus

Abstract Early in development, the male and female brain are very similar. After birth, ovaries secrete estrogen and testicles secrete testosterone into the bloodstream. Upon reaching the brain the two hormones bind to estrogen and testosterone receptors, respectively, in the nuclei of neurons. The receptors dimerize and activate synthesis of mRNAs, which determine either female or male behavior. In mice and other mammals, licking and other tactile responses produce modifications in the DNA of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) gene. This causes increased GR mRNA synthesis, producing more GR. Greater GR binding to its ligand, a glucorticoid, produces decreased activation of hypothalamic hormones and a muted response to stress. As adults, these mice lick and groom their offspring, leading to a multigenerational blunting of stress-induced behaviors. The hypothalamus consists of a small group of nuclei in the center of the forebrain that secrete neurohormones into the blood. Oxytocin and vasopressin released into the blood have many behavioral effects during brain development, including the regulation of social interactions. A group of neurohormone-releasing factors enter veins that directly connect to the pituitary gland. These releasing factors include thyrotropin-releasing factor, which triggers the release of thyrotropin-releasing hormone, which in turn produces a release of thyroid hormone, the master metabolic hormone. Another releasing factor, corticotropin-releasing factor, causes release of adrenocorticotropin, a hormone that modulates stress. Still another is growth hormone–releasing factor, which stimulates growth hormone release. Two inhibitory factors are also released: growth hormone inhibitory factor or somatostatin, and prolactin inhibiting factor. Several of these neurohormones also bind to their neuronal receptors and affect development.