cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Delighting Customers By Managing Expectations For Service Quality: An Example From The Optical Industry

Customer satisfaction measurement and management has the overall objective of satisfying---perhaps even delightingcustomers. Exceeding expectations (i.e. going beyond basic customer satisfaction) is now widely recognized as an effective route to strategic, market-driven organizational behavior. In the current study, expectations of customers of a wholesale optical organization who were delighted with a suppliers total product and service offering were compared and contrasted with those who were not delighted but were still either satisfied, or somewhat satisfied, with the focal organizations performance.
New Agrilus Curtis species from mistletoe in Mexico (Coleoptera: Buprestidae)

Agrilus andersoni Hespenheide, new species, from the genus Phoradendron and A. howdenorum Hespenheide, new species, collected on “mistletoe,” are described, illustrated, and compared to the related A. turnbowi Nelson from Texas which is also known to use the genus Phoradendron as a larval host. key words: Agrilus, Buprestidae, Mexico, mistletoe, new species, Phoradendron, Viscaceae
Deposition on a Cooled Nozzle Guide Vane With Nonuniform Inlet Temperatures

External deposition on a slot film cooled nozzle guide vane, subjected to non-uniform inlet temperatures, was investigated experimentally and computationally. Experiments were conducted using a four-vane cascade, operating at temperatures up to 1353 K and inlet Mach number of approximately 0.1. Surveys of temperature at the inlet and exit planes were acquired to characterize the form and migration of the hot streak. Film cooling was achieved on one of the vanes using a single span-wise slot. Deposition was produced by injecting sub-bituminous ash particles with a median diameter of 6.48μm upstream of the vane passage. Several deposition tests were conducted, including a baseline case, a hot streak only case, and a hot streak and film cooled case. Results indicate that capture efficiency is strongly related to both the inlet temperature profiles and film cooling. Deposit distribution patterns are also affected by changes in vane surface temperatures. A computational model was developed to simulate the external and internal flow, conjugate heat transfer, and deposition. Temperature profiles measured experimentally at the inlet were applied as thermal boundary conditions to the simulation. For deposition modeling, an Eulerian-Lagrangian particle tracking model was utilized to track the ash particles through the flow. An experimentally tuned version of the critical viscosity sticking model was implemented, with predicted deposition rates matching experimental results well. Comparing overall deposition rates to results from previous studies indicate that the combined effect of non-uniform inlet temperatures and film cooling cannot be accurately simulated by simple superposition of the two independent effects, thus inclusion of both conditions in experiments is necessary for realistic simulation of external deposition.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
How access to Maine⬢s fisheries has changed over a quarter century: The cumulative effects of licensing on resilience

Abstract We describe how the evolution of the licensing system for commercial fisheries in Maine has progressively limited the ability of both fishers and the State to respond to changing environmental circumstances. Over the twenty-five year period from 1990 to 2014 new licenses were created at the rate of about 0.6 per year. The changes that have occurred have not been the result of a strategic policy agenda that was set to decrease fishers⬢ access, but rather the consequence of multiple decades of policy interventions that have sought to improve the socioeconomic and ecological productivity of individual fisheries. However, the cumulative effect has limited the flexibility of individual fishers and created strong economic interests that are incompatible with shifts towards ecosystem-based management. We use this finding to contribute to the literature on resilience, with a specific focus on the relationship between adaptive management and sustainability.
Precarious Rocks along the Mojave Section of the San Andreas Fault, California: Constraints on Ground Motion from Great Earthquakes

It has been suggested that groups of precariously balanced rocks are effectively earthquake strong ground-motion seismoscopes that have been operating on solid rock outcrops for thousands of years, thus providing a constraint on the maximum ground motion that could have occurred during that time (Brune, 1996; Brune et al. , I996; Shi et al. , 1996; Bell et al. , 1998). Modern instrumental strong ground-motion recorders have only provided data for a few decades, have been very costly, and have not recorded data from any great earthquakes along the San Andreas Fault (great earthquakes occurred in 1852 and 1906, before modern instrumentation was available). Nevertheless, there has been a concerted effort to produce probabilistic seismic hazard maps for the U.S. and California (Wesnousky, 1986; WGCEP95, 1995; Ward, 1994; Frankel et al. , 1997), stimulated in part by the potential losses in great earthquakes and the high cost of earthquake-resistant seismic design. Preliminary results from...
Parthenogenetic Stimulation of Aged Anuran Eggs

SummaryAged eggs of Rana pipiens, parthenogenetically stimulated, showed a higher percentage of cleavage but a proportionately lower incidence of gastrulation than normal eggs similarly treated.
Transient Spectroscopy and Related Optical Studies in Diluted Magnetic Semiconductor Superlattices

Recent successes in molecular beam (MBE) epitaxial growth of diluted magnetic semiconductor (DMS) artificial microstructures are now generating structures in which optically excited lower dimensional electronic and magnetic phenomena can be investigated. We consider an example which illustrates the present early state of affairs: transient magnetic polarons in connection with localized quasi 2-dimensional (2D) electronic excitations. We also comment on recent measurements and antiferromagnetic ordering in ultrathin layers in magnetic semiconductors.
Engineering Artificial Small RNAs for Conditional Gene Silencing in Escherichia coli

It has become increasingly evident that noncoding small RNAs (sRNAs) play a significant and global role in bacterial gene regulation. A majority of the trans-acting sRNAs in bacteria interact with the 5' untranslated region (UTR) and/or the translation initiation region of the targeted mRNAs via imperfect base pairing, resulting in reduced translation efficiency and/or mRNA stability. Additionally, bacterial sRNAs often contain distinct scaffolds that recruit RNA chaperones such as Hfq to facilitate gene regulation. In this study, we describe a strategy to engineer artificial sRNAs that can regulate desired endogenous genes in Escherichia coli. Using a fluorescent reporter gene that was translationally fused to a native 5' mRNA leader sequence, active artificial sRNAs were screened from libraries in which natural sRNA scaffolds were fused to a randomized antisense domain. Artificial sRNAs that posttranscriptionally repress two endogenous genes ompF and fliC were isolated and characterized. We anticipate that the artificial sRNAs will be useful for dynamic control and fine-tuning of endogenous gene expression in bacteria for applications in synthetic biology.
NUTRITIONAL PROBLEMS IN SURGICAL PATIENTS.

Good nutritional practices in preoperative and postoperative periods are of paramount importance in avoiding increased morbidity and mortality.Weeks or months may be necessary to prepare a malnourished patient for elective major surgery. A high-calorie diet given in frequent, attractive feedings is recommended. Liquid diets or tube feedings may be necessary to induce the desire for food. Anemia should be overcome by transfusions, and sodium, potassium and vitamin deficits corrected as soon as possible. General nutrition must be improved as soon as is feasible after operation. Intravenous feedings should not be continued any longer than is absolutely necessary.The author presents the details of the successful nutritional postoperative management of a patient with only 18 in. of jejunum and ileum.
THE USE OF DRY NEEDLING FOR A SUBJECT WITH CHRONIC LATERAL HIP AND THIGH PAIN: A CASE REPORT

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Lateral thigh pain, commonly referred to as greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS) and/ or iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS) is commonly treated by the physical therapist. Lateral thigh pain is commonly treated by the physical therapist. The sources of lateral thigh pain are commonly attributed to GTPS and/ or ITBS though various pathologies may contribute to this pain, of which trigger points (TrPs) may be an etiology. Dry needling (DN) is an intervention utilized by physical therapists where a monofilament needle is inserted into soft tissue in order to reduce pain to improve range of motion/ motor control dysfunction. This can assist with facilitation of return to prior level of function. The purpose of this case report is to report the outcomes of a patient with lateral hip and thigh pain treated with DN as a primary intervention strategy. CASE DESCRIPTION The subject was an active 78-year-old female recreational walker who was referred to physical therapy for chronic left lateral hip and thigh pain of greater than one-year duration without a clear mechanism of injury. She had a history of previous physical therapy treatment for the same condition, and previous therapeutic intervention strategies were effective for approximately two to three months duration prior to return of pain symptoms. Physical examination supported a diagnosis of GTPS/ ITBS. Subjective reports denoted sleep deficit due to pain lying on the left side at night and difficulty walking more than five minutes. Objective findings included decreased strength of the hip musculature and reproduction of pain symptoms upon flat palpation in specific locations throughout the lateral hip and thigh regions. She was treated for eight weeks using only DN to determine the effectiveness of DN as a primary intervention strategy, as previous physical therapy interventions were inconsistent and were only beneficial in the short-term. OUTCOMES Clinically meaningful improvements were noted in disability and pain, as measured by the Lower Extremity Functional Scale and Quadruple Visual Analog Scale. Improvement in strength was not an objective measure being assessed, however, lower extremity strength improvement was noted upon final physical examination. This case report focused on pain reduction for improved function rather than strength improvement. Improvements in pain and disability were subjectively reported. The subject was able to lie on her left side at night, which improved her ability to sleep. She was also able to tolerate walking approximately twenty to thirty minutes for improved community ambulation needs. DISCUSSION This case report presents promising outcomes for the use of DN in the treatment of chronic lateral hip and thigh pain. Further research is recommended to determine if DN is clinically beneficial independent of other therapeutic interventions such as exercise, myofascial release/ massage, non-thrust mobilization, or manipulation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level 4.
Combining Rule-based and Machine Learning Approaches for Shape Recognition

Shape recognition applications are multi-step processes that include capture, preprocessing, feature extraction, recognition, and a decision process. Each step can use approaches in the continuum from rule-based to machine learning. This paper presents example approaches, the pros and cons of these rule-based and adaptive approaches, and performance differences in biometric applications. Rule-based and machine learning approaches represent the extremes in a continuum of approaches. Each step in the shape recognition process may include algorithms that fall anywhere on this continuum or fusion that combines the results of multiple algorithms. Determining an appropriate approach for each step is generally determined by the availability of ground-truthed data for training and testing, and how much of the analysis can be automated. If analysis is based on experience and a sufficient number of ground-truthed exemplars are available then a machine learning approach is indicated. Conversely, a rule-based approach may be best if the analysis uses predictions or adequate training data is not available.
Racial Disparity in Prostate Cancer-Specific Mortality for High-Risk Prostate Cancer: A Population-Based Study.

INTRODUCTION Race may be a significant factor that influences prostate cancer (PCa) survival, with the Asian (AsA) race being associated with better outcomes compared to African American (AA) and Non-Hispanic Whites (NHW). This study evaluates race-dependent variation in PCa-specific mortality (PCSM) associated with radiation dose-escalation exemplified by external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) with a brachytherapy (BT) boost in Gleason score 8-10 PCa. METHODS 28,956 men diagnosed with clinically localized PCa and Gleason score 8-10 from 2004-2013 who received EBRT, EBRT with a BT boost, or radical prostatectomy (RP) were identified using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. PCSM adjusted for age, diagnosis year, T-stage, Gleason scores, and treatment modalities was compared between races using a competing risk model that accounted for other-cause mortality (OCM). RESULTS Compared to AsA, AA and NHW are associated with significantly increased PCSM with adjusted hazard ratios (AHR) of 2.295 and 1.989, respectively (p < 0.001 for both). In a subgroup analysis stratified by race, dose-escalation exemplified by EBRT with a BT boost in both AA and AsA failed to demonstrate a significant difference in PCSM compared to EBRT alone (p = 0.530 and 0.990, respectively), while a significant PCSM decrease was seen in NHW (p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS Dose-escalation exemplified by EBRT with a BT boost had no significant effect on PCSM of AsA and AA, while it did decrease PCSM amongst NHW. Further evaluation of race as a factor impacting PCSM in the era of dose-escalation is needed in the prospective setting.
On-Demand Bandwidth Pricing for Congestion Control in Core Switches in Cloud Networks

The cloud networks use switches to transfer inbound and outbound traffic through the data centers. Access of multiple tenants to the limited bandwidth capacity over the network switches increases the data traffic congestion in the network. The highly congested switches are vulnerable to get overloaded, and consequently slow down the flow of data traffic in the network. This paper proposes a nonlinear pricing policy for on-demand bandwidth allocation that jointly maximizes the total satisfaction of tenants and minimizes the congestion in the core switches. The optimal schedule is found through the best response strategy, in which each tenant updates its bandwidth allocation at each step based on the updated load-dependent predetermined nonlinear bandwidth pricing functions. The updated bandwidth allocations converge to the optimal bandwidth schedule that balances the load over the core switches. The performance of proposed pricing policy is evaluated under different scenarios.
Timing of vessel imaging for suspected large vessel occlusions does not affect groin puncture time in transfer patients with stroke.

Background Access to endovascular therapy (ET) in cases of acute ischemic stroke may be limited, and rapid transfer of eligible patients to hospitals with endovascular capability is needed. Objective To determine the optimal timing of diagnostic CT angiography to confirm large vessel occlusion (LVO). Methods Of 57 emergency department transfers to Mount Sinai Hospital (MSH) for possible ET from January 2015 through March 2016, 39 (68%) underwent ET, among whom 22 (56%) had CT angiography before transfer and 17 (44%) had CT angiography on arrival. We compared mean outside hospital arrival to groin puncture (OTG) time between the two groups using t-tests and Wilcoxon rank sum tests. OTG was defined as the difference between groin puncture and outside hospital arrival time minus ambulance travel time. Results Average age was 73±13 years and average National Institute of Health Stroke Scale score was 19±5. There was no difference in average OTG time between the two groups (191 min for CT angiography at outside hospital vs 190 min for CT angiography at MSH (p=0.99 for t-test and 0.69 for rank sum test)). Among the 18 patients who were transferred but did not receive ET, 10 had no LVO, 5 had large established infarcts on arrival and 3 had post-tissue plasminogen activator hemorrhage. In 9/10 patients without LVO, CT angiography was not performed before transfer. Conclusions CT angiography timing in the transfer process does not affect OTG time, but 90% of patients without LVO had not had CT angiography before transfer. Hence, it might be beneficial to obtain a CT angiogram at the outside hospital, if it can be acquired and read rapidly, to avoid the cost and potential clinical deterioration associated with unnecessary transfers.
Background characteristics and treatment-related factors associated with treatment success or failure in a non-pharmacological intervention for dementia caregivers.

Background: Non-pharmacological interventions for persons with dementia often rely on family caregivers for implementation. However, caregivers differ in their readiness to use strategies. This study examines dyadic characteristics and treatment-related mechanisms associated with treatment success (high readiness to use strategies) and failure (low readiness to use strategies) at the conclusion of the Advancing Caregiver Training (ACT) intervention. Methods: Caregiver and person with dementia characteristics and treatment-related variables (treatment participation, number and type of strategies introduced and enacted) were examined in 110 caregivers in intervention. Interventionists rated readiness (1=precontemplation; 2=contemplation; 3=preparation; 4=action) of caregivers to use strategies at the final ACT session. Univariate analyses examined dyadic characteristics, and Multiple Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA) and Analyses of Covariance (ANCOVA) examined treatment-related factors associated with readiness to use strategies at treatment completion. Results: At treatment completion, 28.2% (N=31) scored in pre-action and 71.8% (N=79) at action. Caregivers at pre-action readiness levels were more likely than those at action to be a spouse, report greater financial difficulties and be managing fewer problem behaviors. Although both groups were introduced an equivalent number of non-pharmacological strategies, caregivers at pre-action were less likely than those at action to report enacting strategies. Conclusions: Certain dyadic characteristics and treatment-related factors were associated with treatment failure including financial strain and lack of strategy integration. Findings suggest that developing intervention components to address financial concerns and increase opportunities for practicing strategies and then using them between treatment sessions may be important for caregivers at risk of treatment failure.
An assessment of residents' and fellows' personal finance literacy: an unmet medical education need.

This study aimed to assess residents’ and fellows’ knowledge of finance principles that may affect their personal financial health.
Net load forecasts for solar-integrated operational grid feeders

Abstract This work proposes forecast models for solar-integrated, utility-scale feeders in the San Diego Gas & Electric operating region. The models predict the net load for horizons ranging from 10 to 30 min. The forecasting methods implemented include hybrid methods based on Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Support Vector Regression (SVR), which are both coupled with image processing methods for sky images. These methods are compared against reference persistence methods. Three enhancement methods are implemented to further decrease forecasting error: (1) decomposing the time series of the net load to remove low-frequency load variation due to daily human activities; (2) segregating the model training between daytime and nighttime; and (3) incorporating sky image features as exogenous inputs in the daytime forecasts. The ANN and SVR models are trained and validated using six-month measurements of the net load and assessed using common statistic metrics: MBE, MAPE, rRMSE, and forecast skill, which is defined as the reduction of RMSE over the RMSE of reference persistence model. Results for the independent testing set show that data-driven models, with the enhancement methods, significantly outperform the reference persistence model, achieving forecasting skills (improvement over reference persistence model) as large as 43% depending on location, solar penetration and forecast horizons.
Abstract 20556: Temporal Trends in Incidence of Malignancy in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Background: Cancer patients are believed to be exposed to increased cardiovascular risk as a result of potential toxicity from radiation and chemotherapy. Beyond traditional risk factors for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), cancer therapies may cause significant injury to the vasculature affecting overall outcomes. We examined temporal trends in incidence of malignancy in patients presenting with AMI requiring Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI). Methods: Subjects were obtained from the HCUP-Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database for the years 2002-2013. ICD-9-CM procedure code were used to identify patients with Genitourinary, Gastrointestinal, Pulmonary, Skin, Breast and Hematologic malignancies treated with PCI for AMI. Results: Among 3,445,430 patients undergoing PCI for AMI during the study period, 236,101 (6.9%) had a history of malignancy. Genitourinary cancer was the most prevalent type increasing by 55.4% over the twelve-year period from 2.05% of the cases in 2002 to 3.18% in 2013. The highest increase, 160.2%, was observed in Skin cancer; incidence from 0.51% of the cases in 2002 to 1.33% in 2013, followed by Hematologic malignancies, 86.3% increase, from 0.56% of the cases in 2002 to 1.04% in 2013. Incidence of Gastrointestinal, Pulmonary and Breast malignancies were also elevated by 38.5%, 64.6% and 41.3% respectively. The reported increase in the incidence of malignancy was statistically significant in all subtypes over the years (P Conclusion: Hospital admissions for cancer patients presenting with AMI and requiring PCI increased significantly in the US during the last twelve years. Genitourinary malignancies are the most frequent subtype, while skin malignancies are the fastest increasing one.
Can I Use This? Developing Open Literacies or Understanding the Basics and Implications of Copyright, Fair Use, and Open Licensing for e-Learning

Open educational resources (OER) have garnered increased attention in recent years as a means for driving down educational costs, addressing differentiation and adaptability needs, improving accuracy and quality of materials, and supporting collaboration in the design of digital coursework. Perhaps one of the greatest identified barriers in the adoption of OER has been a lack of literacy regarding copyright, fair use, and open licensing. These concepts are commonly misunderstood in educational institutions. Many instructors and educational leaders struggle with understanding what is copyrighted, when it is copyrighted, what it means if it is copyrighted, and what open means. This leads educational leaders and their programs to either improperly use these materials (i.e., illegally or unethically) or to be fearful when using them in legitimate, allowable ways. Through this chapter, we seek to provide educational leaders with an understanding of what is necessary to make full and safe use of both copyrighted and open educational resources.
Nav channel binder containing a specific conjugation-site based on a low toxicity β-scorpion toxin

Voltage-gated sodium (Nav) channels play a key role in generating action potentials which leads to physiological signaling in excitable cells. The availability of probes for functional studies of mammalian Nav is limited. Here, by introducing two amino acid substitutions into the beta scorpion toxin Ts1, we have chemically synthesized a novel binder [S14R, W50Pra]Ts1 for Nav with high affinity, low dissociation rate and reduced toxicity while retaining the capability of conjugating Ts1 with molecules of interests for different applications. Using the fluorescent-dye conjugate, [S14R, W50Pra(Bodipy)]Ts1, we confirmed its binding to Nav1.4 through Lanthanide-based Resonance Energy Transfer. Moreover, using the gold nanoparticle conjugate, [S14R, W50Pra(AuNP)]Ts1, we were able to optically stimulate dorsal root ganglia neurons and generate action potentials with visible light via the optocapacitive effect as previously reported. [S14R, W50Pra]Ts1 is a novel probe with great potential for wider applications in Nav-related neuroscience research.
Mucus and Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Adherence to the Cornea

Most of what we currently know about the initial interaction between Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the adult cornea has come from studies of bacterial adherence to overtly injured cornea. These investigations have focused on receptor-adhesin interactions between injured corneal cell associated molecules and the microbe.1 However, not all infections with P. aeruginosa are preceded by overt injury. For example, contact lens related keratitis is likely to follow more subtle disruptions to the ocular surface. In vivo, bacteria must pass through and interact with the tear film and the epithelial cell surface glycocalyx before they could adhere to corneal cells. This aspect of keratitis pathogenesis has received little attention.
A review on robotic fish enabled by ionic polymer-metal composite artificial muscles.

A novel actuating material, which is lightweight, soft, and capable of generating large flapping motion under electrical stimuli, is highly desirable to build energy-efficient and maneuverable bio-inspired underwater robots. Ionic polymer–metal composites are important category of electroactive polymers, since they can generate large bending motions under low actuation voltages. IPMCs are ideal artificial muscles for small-scale and bio-inspired robots. This paper takes a system perspective to review the recent work on IPMC-enabled underwater robots, from modeling, fabrication, and bio-inspired design perspectives. First, a physics-based and control-oriented model of IPMC actuator will be reviewed. Second, a bio-inspired robotic fish propelled by IPMC caudal fin will be presented and a steady-state speed model of the fish will be demonstrated. Third, a novel fabrication process for 3D actuating membrane will be introduced and a bio-inspired robotic manta ray propelled by two IPMC pectoral fins will be demonstrated. Fourth, a 2D maneuverable robotic fish propelled by multiple IPMC fin will be presented. Last, advantages and challenges of using IPMC artificial muscles in bio-inspired robots will be concluded.
Do Banks Have an Edge

Overall, no! We show that the level and time series variation in cash flows for most bank activities are well matched by capital market portfolios with similar interest rate and credit risk to what banks report to hold. Ignoring operating expenses, bank loans earn high returns and transaction deposits pay low interest rates, consistent with these activities having a potential edge. The edge among these activities is insufficient to cover the large operating expenses of banks. A large portion of the aggregate US banking sector closely resembles a tax inefficient passive mutual fund. The residual risks of bank activities, presumably generated by the unique components of the bank business model, generate systematic risks that are uncompensated.
The body oil from menhaden(Brevoortia tyrannus): A. Low temperature crystallization of glycerides B. Some of the 18 and 20 carbon atom acids

A saturated glyceride from crude menhaden oil contained myristic, palmitic, stearic, and a small quantity of higher molecular weight acids.
Crossing borders: Global civil society and the reconfiguration of transnational political space

This article examines the changing international division of regulation and the emergence of `transnational regimes' that transgress the traditional boundaries of interstate diplomacy. I argue here that globalization has resulted in a number of negative transboundary impacts, both social and environmental, that are not being addressed by conventional interstate regimes. In response, actors in global civil society are in the process of creating transnational institutions intended to manage or eliminate these impacts. I also provide brief descriptions of two examples of such regimes.
The Photochemistry of Simple Carbonyl Compounds: Type I Cleavage and Oxetane Formation

In Chapter 3 we discussed two photochemical reactions characteristic of simple carbonyl compounds, namely type II cleavage and photoreduction. We saw that photoreduction appears to arise only from carbonyl triplet states, whereas type II cleavage often arises from both the excited singlet and triplet states. Each process was found to occur from discrete biradical intermediates. In this chapter we will discuss two other reactions observed in the photochemistry of carbonyls, type I cleavage and oxetane formation.
Slowing of the EEG in Psychiatric Patients

Diffuse slowing constitutes 40 % of all electroencephalographic abnormalities in psychiatric patients and thus is the most common abnormality detected the EEGs obtained from psychiatric patients (Struve 1994). Correlations have been demonstrated between the degree of slowing of the EEG and impairment of functions such as awareness, attention, memory, and comprehension (Struve and Boutros 2005). As of the writing of this chapter, there are hardly any systematic and well-controlled studies examining the clinical correlates of diffuse EEG slowing in the various psychiatric populations.
Sequencing Games and Generalizations

Four mathematics professors, Mrs. Hewitt, Mr. Isaacs, Mrs. Jones, and Mr. Kent have handed in work to be copied to the mathematics department’s copy room. Only one copy machine is functioning so they have to wait for their turn. Mrs. Hewitt was the first to hand in her job which is a referee report that she has completed. She needs to have copies made before she can send it to the editor. Mr. Isaacs, the second one to hand in his job, needs copies of exams that he has to give the next day in class, so he is in a hurry. Mrs. Jones, who handed in third, wants them to make copies of a proposal that she has to send out to apply for a grant. The last one to hand in his job, Mr. Kent, needs copies of a paper that he wants to submit to a journal. By talking to each other they get a notion that there must be a better order to make copies than the order in which they have handed in the work. Since they are mathematicians they decide to analyze the situation systematically. Each one of them writes down how much time his job will take and also how much each additional hour will cost her/him Mrs. Hewitt’s job will take 1 hour and her per hour cost is 1, Mr. Isaacs’ job will take 5 hours and his per hour costs are 10, Mrs. Jones’ job will take 6 hours and her per hour costs are 8, Mr. Kent’s job will take 2 hours and his per hour costs are 3.
Friday, September 28, 2018 3:00 PM–4:00 PM abstracts: spinal deformity analysis: 221. Cervical deformity in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients: Is it clinically significant?

BACKGROUND CONTEXT It has been reported that there is a significant correlation between the loss of thoracic kyphosis and the development of cervical kyphosis in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) patients. However, the clinical significance of cervical deformityin AIS patients is not clear. PURPOSE To evaluate the relationship between cervical deformity and neck pain in AIS patients. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING Retrospective comparative study. PATIENT SAMPLE A total of 99 consecutive AIS patients. OUTCOME MEASURES C2-C7 sagittal vertical axis (C2–C7SVA), C2-C7 lordosis, neck pain VAS score. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed a consecutive series of AIS patients from a single center. Radiographic measurements included Cobb angle, C2-C7SVA, and C2-C7 lordosis. Cervical deformity was defined as loss of lordotic or neutral cervical angle (CK) or C2-C7SVA more than 4 cm (CPSM). Patients were stratified by the presence of CK and/or CPSM. The Visual Analogue Scale(VAS) was used to assess the patients’ neck pain. The patients’ demographics were also recorded. RESULTS A total of 99 patients were included in this study. The patients’ mean age was 14 years (range 10–18). Mean cervical lordosis and C2-C7SVA were 1.5° and 30.4mm respectively. CK and CPSM prevalence were 49% and 16%, respectively, and the prevalence of CK and/or CPSM was 59%. Twenty six percent of the patients had neck pain and their median pain scores were 2.3 points (range 0.5–8.2 points). There is no correlation between CK and neck pain (26.7% vs. 25.6%, p>.05), between CPSM and neck pain (42.9% vs. 23.0%, p>.05), and between CK and/or CPSM and neck pain (28.8% vs. 22.2%, p>.05). CONCLUSIONS In this series, cervical deformity is present in 59% and neck pain is present in 26% of AIS patients. However, there is no correlation between cervical deformity and neck pain. Our data suggests that the loss of cervical lordosis is a compensatory maneuver in AIS patients and it may not be clinically significant.
The China Questions: Critical Insights into a Rising Power. Edited by Jennifer Rudolph and Michael Szonyi. (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2018. Pp. xi, 337. $27.95.)

With the general public and policy‐makers as its intended audience, this collection of essays addresses almost all the key issues in Chinese politics, economy, environment, society, culture, and fo...
The Lipid Paradox Among Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients-A Retrospective Study of Outcomes and Complications.

Background and objectives: The Studies have suggested hypercholesterolemia is a risk factor for cerebrovascular disease. However, few of the studies with a small number of patients had tested the effect of hypercholesterolemia on the outcomes and complications among acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients. We hypothesized that lipid disorders (LDs), though risk factors for AIS, were associated with better outcomes and fewer post-stroke complications. Materials and Method: We performed a retrospective analysis of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (years 2003–2014) in adult hospitalizations for AIS to determine the outcomes and complications associated with LDs, using ICD-9-CM codes. In 2014, we also aimed to estimate adjusted odds of AIS in patients with LDs compared to patients without LDs. The multivariable survey logistic regression models, weighted to account for sampling strategy, were fitted to evaluate relationship of LDs with AIS among 2014 hospitalizations, and outcomes and complications amongst AIS patients from 2003–2014. Results and Conclusions: In 2014, there were 28,212,820 (2.02% AIS and 5.50% LDs) hospitalizations. LDs patients had higher prevalence and odds of having AIS compared with non-LDs. Between 2003–2014, of the total 4,224,924 AIS hospitalizations, 451,645 (10.69%) had LDs. Patients with LDs had lower percentages and odds of mortality, risk of death, major/extreme disability, discharge to nursing facility, and complications including epilepsy, stroke-associated pneumonia, GI-bleeding and hemorrhagic-transformation compared to non-LDs. Although LDs are risk factors for AIS, concurrent LDs in AIS is not only associated with lower mortality and disability but also lower post-stroke complications and higher chance of discharge to home.
Rural–urban patterns of disability: The role of migration

Disability rates are higher in rural than in urban areas of the United States, raising the question: do residential preferences and selective migration of people with disabilities play a role in higher rural disability rates? Utilising concepts of environmental fit from the disability literature and ideas from classic, residential preference, and household migration studies, we examine the 2011-2015 American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Sample to understand whether migration contributes to higher rural disability. Results show only slightly different propensities to stay in rural than in urban areas and similar destination choices of people with or without disability, suggesting that migration does little to explain higher rates of rural disability. However, we detect noteworthy differences in age migration schedules for persons with disability, persons without disability in households with disability, and persons without disability in households without disability. Disability emerges as a relevant, although underresearched, dimension in household migration research.
Dietary patterns and risk of systemic lupus erythematosus in women.

ObjectiveDietary intake is a complex exposure and a potential risk factor for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) due to its impact on lipid and glucose metabolism, oxidative stress, and the intesti...
Business District Development and Competition: An Exploration of Structural Evolution in the Retail Districts of Denton, Texas

A substantial literature has established the competitive impacts of retail chain development on single location retail businesses. This study explores the characteristics of these impacts at the lo...
The influence of compact and ordered carbon coating on solid-state behaviors of silicon during electrochemical processes

Author(s): Zhou, S; Fang, C; Song, X; Liu, G | Abstract: To address the issues of large volume change and low conductivity of silicon (Si) materials, carbon coatings have been widely employed as surface protection agent and conductive medium to encapsulate the Si materials, which can improve the electrochemical performance of Si-based electrodes. There has been a strong demand to gain a deeper understanding of the impact of efficient carbon coating over the lithiation and delithiation process of Si materials. Here, we report the first observation of the extended two-phase transformation of carbon-coated Si nanoparticles (Si/C) during electrochemical processes. The Si/C nanoparticles were prepared by sintering Si nanoparticles with polyvinylidene chloride precursor. The Si/C electrode underwent a two-phase transition during the first 20 cycles at 0.2 C, but started to engage in solid solution reaction when the ordered compact carbon coating began to crack. Under higher current density conditions, the electrode was also found to be involved in solid solution reaction, which, however, was due to the overwhelming demand of kinetic property rather than the breaking of the carbon coating. In comparison, the Si/C composites prepared with sucrose possessed more disordered and porous carbon structures, and presented solid solution reaction throughout the entire cycling process.
Brief Online Interventions for LGBTQ Young Adult Mental and Behavioral Health: A Randomized Controlled Trial in a High-Stigma, Low-Resource Context

Objective To identify scalable interventions for improving sexual minority mental health and health-risk behavior, this study tested the efficacy of two self-guided online writing interventions-expressive writing and self-affirmation. To reach sexual minority young adults living in high-stigma, low-resource settings, we developed and tested these interventions in Appalachian Tennessee. Method In consultation with sexual minority young adults (n = 10) and stakeholders (n = 10) living in Appalachian Tennessee, we adapted these two writing interventions that we then delivered to 108 local sexual minority young adults (Mage = 23.68, SD = 3.11). Participants, representing diverse sexual and gender identities and socioeconomic backgrounds, were randomly assigned to participate in a 3-session expressive writing intervention, self-affirmation intervention, or neutral control. Participants completed mental health and health-risk behavior measures at baseline, postintervention, and 3-month follow-up. Results Compared to the neutral control, expressive writing exerted 3-month improvements in depressive symptoms (d = 0.48) and general psychological distress (d = 0.36) whereas self-affirmation exerted improvement in suicidal ideation (d = 0.62) and drug abuse (d = 0.59). Participants who were exposed to greater contextual minority stressors common in rural regions (i.e., discrimination and victimization) experienced significantly greater 3-month reductions in depression from expressive writing and self-affirmation compared to control. Those who experienced greater discrimination also experienced significantly greater 3-month reductions in suicidality from self-affirmation compared to control. Conclusion Brief writing interventions exert significant impact on the mental health of young adult sexual minorities, especially those exposed to minority stress. Future research can consider strategies for population-level implementation, especially in high-stigma, low-resource settings. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
Anti-GPR56 monoclonal antibody potentiates GPR56-mediated Src-Fak signaling to modulate cell adhesion

Abstract GPR56, also known as ADGRG1, is a member of the adhesion G protein-coupled receptor (aGPCR) family shown to play important roles in cell adhesion, brain development, immune system function, and tumorigenesis. GPR56 is upregulated in colorectal cancer and high expression correlates with poor prognosis. Several studies have shown that GPR56 couples to the Gα12/13 class of heterotrimeric G-proteins to promote RhoA activation. However, due to its structural complexity and lack of a high affinity receptor-specific ligand, the complete GPR56 signaling mechanism still remains largely unknown. To delineate the activation mechanism and intracellular signaling functions of GPR56, we generated a monoclonal antibody (mAb) which binds GPR56 with high affinity and specificity to the extracellular domain (ECD). We show that overexpression of GPR56 in 293T cells lead to increased phosphorylation of Src, Fak, and paxillin adhesion proteins and activation of the Gα12/13-RhoA-mediated serum response factor (SRF) pathway. Treatment of cells with anti-GPR56 mAb potentiated Src-Fak phosphorylation, RhoA-SRF signaling, and cell adhesion. Consistently, knockdown of GPR56 in colorectal cancer cells decreased Src-Fak pathway phosphorylation and cell adhesion. Interestingly, GPR56-mediated activation of Src-Fak phosphorylation occurred independent of RhoA, yet mAb-induced potentiation of RhoA-SRF signaling was Src-dependent. Furthermore, we show that the Serine–Threonine–Proline-rich (STP) region of the ECD of GPR56 was not essential for mAb binding, yet was required for activation of Src-Fak signaling. These data support a new ECD-dependent mechanism by which GPR56 functions to regulate cell adhesion through activation of Src-Fak signaling.
An Observational Study Investigating the Need for Decompressive Hemicraniectomy after Thrombectomy in Acute Ischemic Stroke of the Middle Cerebral Artery Territory.

Objective The frequency incidence of decompressive hemicraniectomy following intra-arterial thrombectomy (IAT) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) involving the middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory was assessed as a surrogate for morbidity. Methods A single-institution retrospective chart review was conducted involving 209 consecutive patients between September 2014 and May 2017 with infarctions affecting the MCA territory and who subsequently underwent IAT. The outcomes of interest included the frequency of hemicraniectomy following IAT and the effects of intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IV tPA) use and primary occlusion site on the Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction (TICI) score. Results Thirty-one patients were excluded for infarctions not involving the MCA territory. A total of 178 patients were included in the study. Sixty-eight patients (38.6%) had infarctions of less than one-third of the MCA territory, 50 (28.4%) had infarctions between one-third and two-thirds, and 58 (33%) had infarctions involving greater than two-thirds with 54.3% suffering infarctions of the left side. Only four patients (2.2%) required a hemicraniectomy with no statistically significant association found between TICI score and hemicraniectomy (p=0.41) or between administration of IV tPA and hemicraniectomy (p=0.36). The primary occlusion site was found to influence TICI score (p=0.045). Conclusion A very small number of patients required hemicraniectomy after IAT as compared to previously published rates in the literature. However, several factors may prevent the patient from being an appropriate hemicraniectomy candidate in the first place and the small number of these patients in this study limits statistical analysis. The variables that determine a patient's candidacy for decompressive hemicraniectomy remains multi-factorial.
Distributed Inference With Sparse and Quantized Communication

We consider the problem of distributed inference where agents in a network observe a stream of private signals generated by an unknown state, and aim to uniquely identify this state from a finite set of hypotheses. We focus on scenarios where communication between agents is costly, and takes place over channels with finite bandwidth. To reduce the frequency of communication, we develop a novel event-triggered distributed learning rule that is based on the principle of diffusing low beliefs on each false hypothesis. Building on this principle, we design a trigger condition under which an agent broadcasts only those components of its belief vector that have adequate innovation, to only those neighbors that require such information. We prove that our rule guarantees convergence to the true state exponentially fast almost surely despite sparse communication, and that it has the potential to significantly reduce information flow from uninformative agents to informative agents. Next, to deal with finite-precision communication channels, we propose a distributed learning rule that leverages the idea of adaptive quantization. We show that by sequentially refining the range of the quantizers, every agent can learn the truth exponentially fast almost surely, while using just 1 bit to encode its belief on each hypothesis. For both our proposed algorithms, we rigorously characterize the trade-offs between communication-efficiency and the learning rate.
Quantum field theory motivated model for the Einstein, Podolsky, Rosen (EPR) experiment

Bell deduced the nature and form of “nonlocal hidden variables” that could yield the unusual pattern of responses in the paradoxical Bohm (B-EPR) version of the Einstein, Podolsky, Rosen (EPR) expe...
Theoretical Predictions Versus Environmental Observations on Serpentinization Fluids: Lessons From the Samail Ophiolite in Oman

Thermodynamic calculations provide valuable insights into the reactions that drive the profound fluid transformations during serpentinization, where surface fluids are transformed into some of the ...