cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Value of Proactive Rounding by a Respiratory Therapist/Registered Nurse Rapid Response Team Model on the Professional Growth and Development of Bedside Registered Nurses

Background: Transdisciplinary rapid response models rests on the observation that adverse events in acutely ill patients are frequently preceded by an observable period of derangement in physiological parameters. Clinical deterioration occurs in 66—84% of patients up to 6 h prior to in-hospital cardiac arrest. Furthermore, 60% of patients transferred urgently to intensive care units (ICU) with potentially life-threatening conditions were documented as showing worsening in vital signs during the 8 h before their admission. RN and provider services directly involved in patient care reported that rapid response teams function well in managing patients who might be at risk for crisis, which is a critical aspect of an effective rapid response team. Many of the characteristics noted in rapid response teams are represented in our model. However our model consist of an RCP and a RN. Unlike other rapid response models, we include a proactive rounding element to assist in timely assessment of patients who are identified by the nursing and respiratory care staff as potentially unstable. Proactive rounding is also extended to patients outside of intensive care receiving noninvasive positive pressure and/or CPAP; patients receiving high flow nasal oxygen; and patients with surgical airways. Finally in our model we have included 9just-in-time9 coaching for our bedside nurses caring for these patients in an effort to support their professional growth and development. Methods: We surveyed nurses in the adult medical/surgical acute care and transitional care areas of our 600 bed academic medical center. The goal was to ascertain whether (or not) RNs found 9just-in-time9 coaching during rapid response team encounters effective in their growth and development as bedside practitioners. Results: The response rate to this survey was strong.86% of nurses surveyed either agreed or strongly agreed that rapid response team visits were effective in their growth and development during proactive rounding as well as rapid response calls. Of those nurses completing the survey 2.8% did not find rapid response team collaborations during a call to have any impact on their growth and development as practicing nurses. Conclusions: These survey results are positive. And suggest that proactive patient rounding by a rapid response team on patients identified as high risk for an adverse cardiopulmonary event significantly impact growth, development and practice in our registered nurses.
Low-contrast visual evoked potential and early detection of optic demyelination.

Abstract Visual Evoked Potential (VEP) is a useful tool in identifying abnormality relative to the integration of optic pathways, and aids the diagnosis of central nervous system demyelinating disorders, such as multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the sensitivity of VEP in detecting early optic abnormality as a visual function surrogate remains questionable. Recent studies showed that low-contrast VEP increases sensitivity in early detection of optic demyelination. In order to evaluate the applicability of low-contrast VEP to our electrodiagnostic protocol, we tested whether low-contrast VEP may provide an improved sensitivity in identifying early optic demyelination. We performed low-contrast VEP with different stimulation intensities in 42 subjects. Twenty-three were patients (age: 44.0 ± 13.6 year-old, range 26–69) with a clinical diagnosis of clinically isolated syndrome, a subtype of MS, and 19 subjects were normal volunteers (age: 34.4 ± 14.3 year-old, range: 18–59) without any neurological disorders. Neither of them had a history of optic neuritis. Our preliminary data indicate that the low-contrast VEP is not superior over the conventional high-contrast VEP, and may not provide improved sensitivity in early detection of optic demyelination.
Diversifying Doctoral-Level Leadership Preparation: Need versus Reality:

In light of national demographic shifts, leadership preparation programs must create learning environments that reflect school communities. Little is known about issues of diversity in doctoral lea...
1384-P: The Guided Transition of Care

Objective: Every year 500,000 youths in the U.S. with chronic disease need transfer to adult providers. Diabetes is a model of chronic illness that transcends age. For those with type 1 diabetes (T1D), 58% report a bad transition experience, the majority change adult providers and there is a 21% drop in clinic visits. Retrospective studies show unstructured transfers result in worse A1c. Despite the need, there is a lack of evidence-based interventions on the organization of care. Meta-analysis established engagement and retention in adult care as appropriate outcomes. Sustained continuity of care improves patient satisfaction and reduces hospital visits. We hypothesized that a physician trained in both adult and pediatric endocrinology would have greater show rates for patients transferred to adult care if he or she first provides care to the patient in the pediatric clinic. In this “guided transition” the doctor continues caring for the patient from pediatric to adult clinic. Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study of patients with T1D, age 16-26 years, referred to adult T1D clinic and seen by a physician trained in adult and pediatric endocrinology. Patients were grouped based on if their referral originated from another pediatric endocrinologist or if the dual-trained physician previously saw the patient in the pediatric T1D clinic. Transfer to adult care occurred when physician and patient felt it appropriate. The primary outcome was show rate at the first and second adult visits. Results: Of 22 patients, 9 were referred from a different pediatric endocrinologist and 13 underwent guided transition. Both groups had similar initial A1c (p = 0.54). For patients seeing a different pediatric provider, the show rate to the first and second visit was 44% compared to 100% in the guided transition group (p = 0.003). The guided transition group maintained A1c (p = 0.79). Conclusions: The guided transition group was significantly more likely to attend adult clinic than those seeing the provider for the first time. These findings deserve broader replication. Disclosure R. Lal: Consultant; Self; Abbott. D.M. Maahs: Advisory Panel; Self; Novo Nordisk Inc. Consultant; Self; Abbott, Sanofi. Research Support; Self; Dexcom, Inc., Tandem Diabetes Care. C. Dosiou: None. T. Aye: None. M. Basina: None. Funding National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (T32DK007217)
Missed Exams and Lost Opportunities: Who Could Gain From Expanded College Admission Testing?:

When students with the capacity to succeed in a 4-year college do not take a college admission test, this represents a potential loss of opportunity for students and colleges alike. However, the co...
Mortality Trends and Causes of Death in Persons with Sickle Cell Disease in the United States, 1979-2014

Abstract Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD)-related mortality is a significant cause of mortality among Blacks in the United States. Several clinical interventions, such as penicillin prophylaxis, vaccination, and hydroxyurea, have decreased SCD-related mortality over time. This report investigates changes in the causes of death (COD) associated with SCD-related mortality over time and among age groups and compares SCD-related deaths to non-SCD-related deaths to identify changes in the burden of specific COD in order to inform future public health improvement efforts. Methods: SCD-related deaths were examined using the 1979-2014 US multiple COD mortality data. SCD-related deaths were identified as deaths for which an International Classification of Disease 9th revision (ICD-9) or ICD-10 code for SCD (282.6 for ICD-9; D57.0, D57.1, D57.2, D57.8 for ICD-10) was listed anywhere on the death record. Age-specific annual and average annual SCD-related death rates were calculated as the number of deaths per 100,000 corresponding population, with the bridged-race intercensal estimates of the US resident population as the denominator. Because death from SCD is a rare event in races other than Black, the analysis focused on decedents of Black race. Underlying and contributing COD codes were categorized according to their ICD-9 or ICD-10 codes into 20 groups relevant to SCD outcomes, including acute infection complications, cerebrovascular complications, splenic complications, and renal complications. To compare SCD-related deaths to non-SCD deaths, death records not listing an ICD-9 or ICD-10 code for SCD were randomly selected in a 1:1 ratio; non-SCD deaths were matched to SCD deaths by race, sex, age group, year of death, and region of residence. Results: From 1979-2014 there were 23,226 SCD-related deaths reported in the US. The median age at death increased from 28 years in 1979 to 43 years in 2014. The SCD-related average annual death rate trends shifted by time period across various age groups. The average annual SCD-related death rate among children Conclusions: While utilizing death certificate data alone may misclassify some deaths, the utilization of national data allows the assessment of trends in mortality over several decades and provides information regarding SCD-related mortality trends nationwide. The data presented indicate interventions to prevent acute complications of SCD appear effective during the study period. More research regarding prevention and treatment of chronic complications of SCD is necessary, as persons with SCD are living longer and are more likely to die of chronic complications of their disease. Download : Download high-res image (154KB) Download : Download full-size image Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Free Space Propagation of Concentric Vortices through Underwater Turbid Environments

The propagation of concentric vortex beams for communication through turbid water is studied and temporally modulated. Experiments show the spatial profile is maintained over 11.2 attenuation lengths using commercial antacids as a scattering agent.
Circulating Neutrophil Extracellular Traps in the Pathogenesis of Acute Chest Syndrome of Sickle Cell Disease

Introduction: Acute chest syndrome (ACS) is a type of acute lung injury and among the primary reasons for mortality and morbidity among Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) patients. Although epidemiologic evidence suggests that vaso-occlusion in the lung may serve as an antecedent to ACS, the cellular, molecular and biophysical mechanism of ACS is incompletely understood. Our recent findings revealed that the lung vaso-occlusion is enabled by the entrapment of embolic neutrophil-platelet aggregates in the pulmonary arterioles of transgenic humanized SCD mice. Recent evidence also suggests a role for neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in ACS. NETs are web-like structures of decondensed nuclear DNA decorated with citrullinated-histones (H3-cit) and neutrophil granule proteins. Interestingly, circulating nucleosomes and NETs fragments are elevated in SCD patient blood and the levels correlate with onset of ACS, however, the molecular mechanism that promotes generation of circulating NETs and the role of circulating NETs in promoting ACS remains poorly understood. Materials and Methods: Townes knock-in humanized SS (hα/hα:βS/βS) and AS (hα/hα:βA/βS) mice were used as SCD and control mice, respectively. SS and AS mice were intravenously (IV) administered 10 µmole/kg Oxy-Hb followed by Sytox orange, FITC-dextran or fluorescent anti-mouse mAbs against Ly6G, CD49b, H3cit, and neutrophil elastase for in vivo visualization of extracellular DNA, blood vessels, neutrophils, platelets and NETs, respectively. Pulmonary microcirculation was monitored using multi-photon-excitation enabled quantitative fluorescence intravital lung microscopy (qFILM). Results and Discussion: IV Oxy-Hb triggered the occlusion of pulmonary arterioles by neutrophil-platelet aggregates leading to loss of pulmonary blood flow in SCD but not control mice. Surprisingly, pulmonary vaso-occlusion in SCD mice was accompanied by the arrival of circulating cell free DNA (CFD) and NETs fragments into the pulmonary circulation. The cell free DNA (CFD) and NETs fragments entered the lung through the arterial circulation suggesting that they originated outside of lung. These cell free DNA (CFD) and NETs fragments contributed to lung vaso-occlusion and injury by promoting neutrophil-platelet aggregation in the lung arterioles. Conclusion: These findings reveal for the first time that circulating cell free DNA (CFD) and NETs fragments originating outside of lung contribute to pathogenesis of ACS. Currently, experiments are underway to identify the innate immune pathways that promote circulating NETs dependent lung injury in SCD. Disclosures Gladwin: Globin Solutions, Inc: Patents & Royalties: Provisional patents for the use of recombinant neuroglobin and heme-based molecules as antidotes for CO poisoning; United Therapeutics: Patents & Royalties: Co-inventor on an NIH government patent for the use of nitrite salts in cardiovascular diseases ; Bayer Pharmaceuticals: Other: Co-investigator.
Denial of Risk

Five examples of owner-occupiers of single-family detached dwellings illustrate the variability in age, party identification, ideology and education of some respondents whose homes actually are at risk but who view their property as not susceptible to sea-level rise. What becomes clear from the description of these respondents is that the partisan filter through which South Florida residents view sea-level rise and their own vulnerability is overwhelming.
Elucidating the role of overweight and obesity in racial and ethnic disparities in cesarean delivery risk.

Abstract Purpose We aimed to quantify the extent to which overweight and obesity explain cesarean delivery risk among women of different racial and ethnic backgrounds. Methods Using administrative records for 216,481 singleton, nulliparous births in New York City from 2008 to 2013, we calculated risk ratios, risk differences, and population attributable fractions for associations between body mass index (BMI) and cesarean, stratified by race and ethnicity. Results The population attributable fraction (95% confidence interval) for BMI was 6.8% (6.2%–7.3%) among Asian, 10.9% (10.4%–11.4%) among White, 14.6% (13.7%–15.5%) among Hispanic, and 17.4% (16.2%–18.6%) among Black women. Although overweight and obesity were most prevalent among Black and Hispanic women, the risk gradient was strongest among Whites (adjusted risk ratio [95% CI] from 1.37 [1.33–1.41] for overweight to 2.23 [2.07–2.39] for class III obesity). Additional adjustment for gestational complications partially attenuated associations, and accounting for delivery hospital eliminated the stronger gradient among White women. Conclusions Prepregnancy overweight and obesity contribute proportionally more to cesarean risk among Black and Hispanic women because of higher prevalence compared to White or Asian women. Although preconception weight management is important to decrease cesarean risk, results encourage attention to clinical approaches in low-risk pregnancies to mitigate racial and ethnic perinatal disparities.
“It takes time to understand their soul”: The humanity of refuge and transnational solidarity in Frieder Schlaich’s Otomo (1999):

This article interrogates a general tendency in migration film studies to read vulnerable migrant characters vis-a-vis national and transnational power hierarchies. It analyzes Frieder Schlaich’s 1...
Chapter 12 – Thermoelasticity

The presence of thermal loadings within an elastic solid generally produces heat transfer via conduction, and this will then establish a temperature field within the material. Because most materials exhibit a volumetric change with temperature variation, the presence of a nonuniform temperature distribution will generally result in stresses created from boundary or internal constraints. Such stresses are due solely to the thermal effects. If the temperature variation is sufficiently high, these stresses can reach levels to cause structural failure. Thus, for many problems involving high temperature variation, the knowledge of thermal stress analysis is very important. The purpose of this chapter is to gain an introductory understanding of thermoelasticity. We will develop the basic governing equations for isotropic materials and will investigate several solutions to two-dimensional problems of engineering interest. Recall that we have already briefly discussed the form of Hooke’s law for this case in Section 4.4. We will start our study with some developments of heat conduction in solids and the energy equation.
Pharmacodynamics and pharmacogenomics of diverse receptor-mediated effects of methylprednisolone in rats using microarray analysis.

Corticosteroids such as methylprednisolone (MPL) produce many of their anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive, and exaggerated physiological effects by receptor and gene-mediated mechanisms. The temporal pattern of change in four genes in rat tissues was measured by quantitative Northern hybridization and rtPCR after a single dose of MPL. Two profiles were observed: two genes with enhanced expression showed a slow onset and moderate rate of decline within a 24 hr time frame while two genes with reduced expression exhibited a rapid onset and prolonged suppression over a ≥ 72 hr time span. These patterns are consistent with and rationalized by pharmacodynamic expectations based on earlier models. cDNA microarrays used to assess the expression levels of 5200 genes at one optimal time-point showed marked variation in baseline values. Of these, 20 genes showed statistically significant enhanced expression with increases ranging from 130 to 1690%, 31 genes exhibited reduced expression ranging from 31 to 72% of control. Many genes could be categorized as affecting acute phase/immune response, energy metabolism, microsomal metabolism, and hepatic function. These studies provide the first simultaneous assessment of the diversity in pharmacogenomic effects of corticosteroids. They also provide some insight into the advantages and limitations of microarray measurements in regard to the pharmacodynamics of drugs having complex, multi-faceted, and integrated mechanisms of action.
State-of-the-Art Review of the Evaluation of Asphalt Mixtures’ Resistance to Reflective Cracking in Laboratory

AbstractReflective cracking is one of the major forms of deterioration in pavements and is very common when hot-mix asphalt (HMA) overlays are constructed over a base with discontinuities in its su...
GRAIN SHAPE EFFECT IN SUPERPLASTIC DEFORMATION

The effects of grain shape on the accommodation velocity of grain boundary sliding, which is the dominant mechanism in superplastic deformation, on the contribution of each mechanism to the total strain and the region transition strain rate have been discussed. A new concept, critical aspect ratio for superplas- ticity, has been proposed. The results predicated by means of the new concept were compared with those experimentally observed in an Al-Zn-Mg alloy.
Electronic Spectroscopy and Photoionization of LiMg

Dimers consisting of an alkali metal bound to an alkaline earth metal are of interest from the perspectives of their bonding characteristics and their potential for being laser cooled to ultracold temperatures. There have been experimental and theoretical studies of many of these species, but spectroscopic data for LiMg and the LiMg+ cation are sparse. In this study, rotationally resolved electronic spectra for LiMg are presented. The ground state is confirmed to be X12Σ+ and observations of low-lying electronically excited states are reported for the first time. Reexamination of transitions in the near-UV spectral range indicates that previous band assignments should be revised. Two-color laser excitation techniques were used to determine an ionization energy of 4.7695(4) eV. This value is 1.2 eV below the previously reported experimental estimate. Vibrationally resolved spectra were obtained for LiMg+, yielding molecular constants that were consistent with a substantial strengthening of the bond on ionization.
Low-cost seebeck power measurement system for characterization of thermoelectric junctions and modules

Abstract Development of thermoelectric materials and devices requires performance testing to assess improvements as compared against known control samples. Traditionally, this has been done by measuring the figure of merit. However, another important parameter for materials evaluation is the power output of a single P-N junction pair, typically performed by applying current to the circuit and measuring the Peltier temperature difference output. This approach often leads to errors due to contact resistive heating across interfaces within a device. An alternative approach is to evaluate a thermoelectric couple as a Seebeck generator that requires expensive meters ($20 k-$30 k) to measure milli-volt and milli-amp outputs. In order to enable materials evaluation without the need to use full device modules that are costly and time intensive to fabricate and test, this paper describes the development of low-cost (~$200) measurement circuit and shows data that validates the milli-volt and milli-amp outputs from a single thermoelectric couple.
A Probabilistic Model for Feedback on Teachers’ Instructional Effectiveness: Its Potential and the Challenge of Combining Multiple Perspectives

This chapter describes research into the validity of a teacher evaluation framework that was applied between 2012 and 2016 to provide feedback to Dutch secondary school teachers concerning their instructional effectiveness. In this research project, the acquisition of instructional effectiveness was conceptualized as unfolding along a continuum ranging from ineffective novice to effective expert instructor. Using advanced statistical models, teachers’ current position on the continuum was estimated. This information was used to tailor feedback for professional development. Two instruments were applied to find teachers’ current position on the continuum, namely the International Comparative Assessment of Learning and Teaching (ICALT) observation instrument and the My Teacher–student questionnaire (MTQ). This chapter highlights background theory and central concepts behind the project and it introduces the logic behind the statistical methods that were used to operationalize the continuum of instructional effectiveness. Specific attention is given to differences between students and observers in how they experience teachers’ instructional effectiveness and the resulting disagreement in how they position teachers on the continuum. It is explained how this disagreement made feedback reports less actionable. The chapter then discusses evidence of two empirical studies that examined the disagreement from two methodological perspectives. Finally, it makes some tentative conclusions concerning the practical implications of the evidence.
A Multidisciplinary Program for Delivering Primary Care to the Underserved Urban Homebound: Looking Back, Moving Forward

The coming decades will see a dramatic rise in the number of homebound adults. These individuals will have multiple medical conditions requiring a team of caregivers to provide adequate care. Home-based primary care (HBPC) programs can coordinate and provide such multidisciplinary care. Traditionally, though, HBPC programs have been small because there has been little institutional support for growth. Three residents developed the Mount Sinai Visiting Doctors (MSVD) program in 1995 to provide multidisciplinary care to homebound patients in East Harlem, New York. Over the past 10 years, the program has grown substantially to 12 primary care providers serving more than 1,000 patients per year. The program has met many of its original goals, such as helping patients to live and die at home, decreasing caregiver burden, creating a home-based primary care training experience, and becoming a research leader. These successes and growth have been the result of careful attention to providing high-quality care, obtaining hospital support through the demonstration of an overall positive cost-benefit profile, and securing departmental and medical school support by shouldering significant teaching responsibilities. The following article will detail the development of the program and the current provision of services. The MSVD experience offers a model of growth for faculty and institutions interested in starting or expanding a HBPC program.
Genetically altered mice and cancer research: effects of the other 99.999% of the genome and other variables upon phenotype

The modern laboratory mouse was derived from a diverse gene pool of multiple species of the Mus musculus genospecies complex from throughout Europe and Asia. The progenitors of laboratory mice were thus hybrid species, but they subsequently underwent a genetic bottleneck at the beginning of the last century. Thus, the genomes of inbred strains of mice, although homozygous, contain variable allelic contributions from this diverse origin, including endogenous retrovirus and retrovirus-like elements. Domestication of the mouse through international trading has also introduced over 60 infectious pathogens that can cause overt disease, as well as more subtle effects upon research. Burgeoning mouse populations and exchange among scientists have led to the re-emergence of many of these agents. Genetic alteration of the mouse often leads to atypical outcomes of these infections which confound research. Diet, bedding, water, behavior, and other factors also contribute to variable research results. Effective cancer research should take advantage of the opportunity to utilize the mouse as a genetically, microbially, and environmentally standardized animal model system, but this requires global awareness of the biology of the laboratory mouse.
Improving the Quality of Knowledge Assets: Governance Mechanisms and Their Implications

Knowledge management initiatives are less likely to be successful if knowledge repositories do not provide high-quality knowledge assets. Two mechanisms employed by organizations to ensure knowledge quality are using experts to control or edit users’ contributions (such as in a refereed repository), and using a community of users to review, rate, or edit existing contributions (such as in a community-driven wiki). The goal of this paper is to explore these two mechanisms by drawing upon the concept of societal governance from sociology, identify the conditions under which they are preferable, and discuss their impact on how users contribute to and reuse information from knowledge repositories. Propositions are suggested and implications are discussed.
Napoleon's Enfant Terrible: General Dominique Vandamme – By John G. Gallaher

This author is one of America's finest scholars of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic era. His biography of Louis Davout, The Iron Marshal[1976], emphasized the role of Napoleon's most capable...
Romanian Periodical Database Project

Abstract Romanian and American librarians are working together on a project to index humanities and social sciences journals published in Romania. The index, to be available online, would offer several advantages. Many Romanian libraries are already compiling modest indexes, limited to local access. Working together, they could create a much larger and more current product and eliminate the redundancy of indexing some of the same periodicals at their separate locations. Making it available commercially is expected to defray much of the cost.
Tracking People from a Mobile Platform

Tracking people from a moving platform is a useful skill for the coming generation of service and human-interaction robots. It is also a challenging problem, involving sensing, interpretation, planning, and control, all in a real time and dynamic environment. Techniques used in existing people-trackers that operate from fixed locations, noting changes against a fixed background, are not applicable. Instead, we apply a vision-based approach using real-time stereo and 3D reconstruction, that explicitly models both foreground and background objects in an efficient manner. The main novelties of our approach include (1) remapping the stereo disparities to an orthographic “occupancy map”, which simplifies person modeling, and (2) updating a background occupancy map based on robot motion. The current version of our system, running on a Pioneer II mobile robot, can follow people at up to 1.2 m/s in an indoor environment.
Electronic structure and optical properties of 3C-SiC

The electronic energy bands and wave functions of cubic $3C$-SiC have been calculated in the first-principles Hartree-Fock-Slater model, making use of the discrete variational method. A comparison is made between experimental optical data, calculated indirect transitions, and theoretical results for ${\ensuremath{\epsilon}}_{2}(E)$ and reflectivity. The valence-band density of states is found to be in reasonably good agreement with x-ray emission spectra.
An Experiment with Hierarchical Bayesian Record Linkage

In record linkage (RL), or exact file matching, the goal is to identify the links between entities with information on two or more files. RL is an important activity in areas including counting the population, enhancing survey frames and data, and conducting epidemiological and follow-up studies. RL is challenging when files are very large, no accurate personal identification (ID) number is present on all files for all units, and some information is recorded with error. Without an unique ID number one must rely on comparisons of names, addresses, dates, and other information to find the links. Latent class models can be used to automatically score the value of information for determining match status. Data for fitting models come from comparisons made within groups of units that pass initial file blocking requirements. Data distributions can vary across blocks. This article examines the use of prior information and hierarchical latent class models in the context of RL.
Modeling the Movement of Homicide by Type to Inform Public Health Prevention Efforts.

Objectives. We modeled the spatiotemporal movement of hotspot clusters of homicide by motive in Newark, New Jersey, to investigate whether different homicide types have different patterns of clustering and movement.Methods. We obtained homicide data from the Newark Police Department Homicide Unit’s investigative files from 1997 through 2007 (n = 560). We geocoded the address at which each homicide victim was found and recorded the date of and the motive for the homicide. We used cluster detection software to model the spatiotemporal movement of statistically significant homicide clusters by motive, using census tract and month of occurrence as the spatial and temporal units of analysis.Results. Gang-motivated homicides showed evidence of clustering and diffusion through Newark. Additionally, gang-motivated homicide clusters overlapped to a degree with revenge and drug-motivated homicide clusters. Escalating dispute and nonintimate familial homicides clustered; however, there was no evidence of diffusion. ...
Low-loss monolithic tunable electromagnetic crystal surfaces with planar GaAs Schottky diodes

Monolithic tunable electromagnetic crystal (EMXT) surfaces based on semiconductor varactors have been designed and fabricated for various microwave and millimeter wave applications. In order to tackle the problem of high losses associated with this kind of tunable EMXT structures, a high-quality, planar air-bridged GaAs Schottky (PAS) diode process has been developed and incorporated to produce low-loss monolithic tunable EMXT surfaces. Finite-element modeling indicates that an analog waveguide phase shifter with EMXT sidewalls can achieve 360/spl deg/ phase shift with less than 3 dB insertion loss. A backside-biasing scheme utilizing through-substrate vias has also been developed. Preliminary EMXT reflection measurements show lower loss compared with previously demonstrated tunable EMXTs. Because of the high cut-off frequency (above THz) of the GaAs Schottky diode, this EMXT technology may be readily extended to higher frequencies applications such as W-band ESA.
Algorithms for leader selection in large dynamical networks: Noise-corrupted leaders

We examine the leader selection problem in multi-agent dynamical networks where leaders, in addition to relative information from their neighbors, also have access to their own states. We are interested in selecting an a priori specified number of agents as leaders in order to minimize the total variance of the stochastically forced network. Combinatorial nature of this optimal control problem makes computation of the global minimum difficult. We propose a convex relaxation to obtain a lower bound on the global optimal value, and use simple but efficient greedy algorithms to obtain an upper bound. Furthermore, we employ the alternating direction method of multipliers to search for a local minimum. Two examples are provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the developed methods.
How Well Do Long-Term Bond InterestRates Predict Stock Market Returns?

We observe that over the last 50 years, long-term interest rates in the U.S. have had a remarkable record of predicting stock-market returns, specifically in the 16- to 17-year range. We quantify this phenomenon and test via standard models and Monte Carlo simulations whether such a phenomenon is likely to arise by chance. We show that the probability for that is small, but not negligible.
Diagenesis of conifer needles in a coastal marine environment

Physically intact fir, hemlock and cedar needles were isolated from different horizons of a sediment core from a coastal marine bay (Dabob Bay, Washington State, U.S.A.) and from nearby trees and forest litter. Green fir, hemlock and cedar needles were all characterized by glucose-rich aldose mixtures (~30% of tissue carbon), the production of vanillyl and cinnamyl CuO-derived phenols (~8% of tissue carbon) and the presence of both pinitol and myo-inositol (1–2% of tissue carbon). Needles from forest litter were enriched in lignin phenols and non-glucose aldoses and depleted in glucose and cyclitols. The sediment core contained an average of 10 mg/1 of physically intact fir, hemlock and cedar needles, which occurred in similar relative abundances and accounted for less than 1% of the total nonwoody gymnosperm tissue. Compared to the green and litter counterparts, all sedimentary needles were greatly depleted in cyclitols, glucose and p-coumaric acid and enriched in vanillyl phenol precursors. The degree of elevation of vanillyl phenol yield from the degraded needles was used to estimate minimal carbon losses from the samples, which ranged from near 40% for needle litter to almost 70% for the deepest (~100 years old) sedimentary fir/hemlock samples. Although downcore increases in carbon loss and refractory organic components indicated in situ diagenesis, the bulk of overall degradation occurred either on land or during the first 10–20 years after deposition. Atomic CN ratios of degraded needles were lower than for green counterparts, but nitrogen was lost overall. These relative changes indicate the following stability series: vanillyl phenols > N > ferulic acid, p-hydroxy phenols, most aldoses and bulk tissue > glucose and p-coumaric acid > cyclitols (near 100% loss). Vanillic acid to vanillin ratios, (AdAl)v, of the green fir and hemlock needles were unusually high (0.36–0.38) and decreased downcore. Diagenesis also decreased the cinnamyl/vanillyl phenol ratio (CV) of the deepest sedimentary fir/hemlock needles to 20% of the original value and almost tripled the carbon-normalized yield of total vanillyl plus cinnamyl phenols (Λ). The net result of these compositional variations was to make the lignin component of the buried conifer needles resemble lignin in gymnosperm wood, thereby leading to underestimates of needle input and mass.
Experiments on Droplets in Free Fall I: Terminal Velocity and Wall Effects

Abstract A system is described for accurately generating droplets of known size in the diameter range 300–500 μ, and measuring their terminal velocity in air. The error in terminal velocity is <0.5%. Measurements were made using several diameters of tubing to investigate the effect of walls on the terminal velocity of droplets. These data are compared with those of other authors. The wall effect on drag coefficient falls to the 1% level at approximately 70 droplet diameters.
Discrimination of phase spectra in complex sounds by the bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana).

1. Male bullfrogs at two different natural calling sites were presented with playbacks of synthetic advertisement calls differing in phase spectra. Sounds were presented in a ABA design to analyze the ability of the animals to perceive changes in repeated series of stimuli. 2. The number of individual croaks in an answering call significantly increased over repeated presentations of two of the three stimulus phase types in condition A1. There were significantly fewer croaks to the third stimulus. These data suggest that two stimuli were perceived in a similar manner. 3. Latency of calling to stimuli presented in conditions A and B changed in response to shifts in phase spectrum at a low density calling site. These differences were significant when comparing latency to playbacks where shifts in the phase spectrum changed the temporal fine-structure and waveform periodicity of the stimulus. 4. The increase in number of croaks and decrease in response latency across condition A1 and the increase in latency in condition B suggest that discrimination may take the form of stimulus-specific sensitization. In this context, sensitization might reflect an increase in arousal due to repeated presentation of a salient stimulus. 5. The operation of a hypothetical ‘mating call detector,’ based on linear summation of temporal responses from the eighth nerve, provides output similar to the behavioral results.
Methodology for Design of an Active Rigidity Joint

Active control of composite structures has primarily focused on vibration control and other small-scale deformations. For use in morphing aircraft structures, a composite ``smart joint'' is proposed, employing both shape memory alloy and shape memory polymer to replace a conventional rotary actuator. This joint functions as a discrete member capable of both actuation and structural rigidity in user programmable states, with large-scale tip deflections on the order of 10—20% camber. A strain energy model is used to prescribe joint deflection in terms of thermally varying material properties across the thickness of the joint, allowing the designer of a morphing system to select electrical power input and element composition as based on deflection, response speed, and load capacity. This model discretizes the transformation into a multiple step shape change maneuver using the tri-phase process to determine deflection both when heated and when set into its cooled state. Comparison with a finite element model ...
Quantitative transverse flow assessment using OCT speckle decorrelation analysis

In this study, we demonstrate the use of inter-Ascan speckle decorrelation analysis of optical coherence tomography (OCT) to assess fluid flow. This method allows quantitative measurement of fluid flow in a plane normal to the scanning beam. To validate this method, OCT images were obtained from a micro fluid channel with bovine milk flowing at different speeds. We also imaged a blood vessel from in vivo animal models and performed speckle analysis to asses blood flow.
Psychometric Validation of the Manual Ability Measure-36 (MAM-36) in Patients With Neurologic and Musculoskeletal Disorders

Chen CC, Bode RK. Psychometric validation of the Manual Ability Measure-36 (MAM-36) in patients with neurologic and musculoskeletal disorders. Arch Phys Med Re- habil 2010;91:414-20. Objectives: To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Manual Ability Measure-36 (MAM-36), a new hand function outcome measure, and to examine differences in manual abil- ities and item parameters in patients with neurologic and mus- culoskeletal conditions. Design: Convenience sample from 2 time periods, cross-sectional. Setting: Outpatient rehabilitation units and private hand clinics. Participants: Patients (N337; mean age, 50.314.9y) with a variety of neurologic and musculoskeletal (orthopedic) diagnoses. Most of these individuals were community dwell- ing, and all had residual functional limitations in the hand(s). Interventions: Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures: Rasch analysis was performed on MAM-36 data to evaluate both scale structure and psycho- metric properties, which include rating distribution, step mea- sures, item fit, separation, and dimensionality. A t test was performed to examine the differences in manual abilities in patients with the 2 conditions. Uniform differential item func- tioning (DIF) between neurologic and musculoskeletal groups was examined. (DIF occurs when subgroup members within the sample with the same level of the underlying trait being measured respond differently to an individual item.) Manual ability estimates were recalibrated with step and common item anchoring; they were compared with those derived from the original analysis. Results: The 36 items measured a single construct with no misfitting items. The scale was used as intended. The items can reliably separate the participants into 5 ability strata. Neuro- logic patients had a significantly lower mean manual ability than musculoskeletal patients. Fourteen items exhibited DIF. However, DIF had no effect on either scale quality or calibra- tion of manual ability. We decided that a single rating scale is appropriate for both groups. Conclusions: This study showed that the MAM-36 has more than adequate psychometric properties and can be used as a
What technologies will impact deepwater appraisal and development 10 years from now

Prognosticating the future in our industry is problematic at best and totally maddening and futile at worst. However, assessing what the trends of the future will be is critical to our success as an industry, and especially to our success in technology development. The range of technologies that our industry employs and will employ in deepwater operations is vast and impossible to cover in the space provided. However, I would like to glimpse at some technologies that will probably have significant impact on deepwater appraisal and development (A&D) in the coming years.
A Perspective on the Similarities among Selected Concepts of Traditional Scientific Research and Clinical Counseling.

In an age of increasing reliance on scientific theory and technology, social work, as well as other behavioral science professions, has been challenged to utilize traditional scientific methodology for evaluation of counseling and direct practice services. A dilemma has arisen, however, because practitioners charge that the tools of traditional science lack conceptual relevance and practical utility within the practice settings. Analysis of selected research and counseling concepts, however, will reveal significant similarities between the two areas of practice and will demonstrate a way of teaching the integration of scientific and counseling ideas for the benefit of researchers and practitioners.
Arborescent lycopod reproduction and paleoecology in a coal-swamp environment of late Middle Pennsylvanian age (herrin coal, Illinois, U.S.A.)

Abstract The arborescent lycopods dominated many coal-swamp plant communities of the Middle Pennsylvanian. A relatively small number of important species occurred in coal swamps, each with distinctive ecological requirements reflected in their reproductive biology. The major genera in the late Middle Pennsylvanian age Herrin Coal of the Illinois Basin were Lepidophloios, Lepidodendron sensu L. scleroticum and L. dicentricum, and Paralycopodites, which are dealt with in this study. Sigillaria, and Lepidodendron sensu L. hickii (true Lepidodendron), were minor parts of the vegetation. The species of these genera conform to three ecological strategies. Opportunists include Lepidophloios hallii, Lepidodendron dicentricum, and Lepidodendron hickii. These species had determinate, dendritic crowns and each tree apparently reproduced during a short, unrepeated interval late in determinate growth. They grew in areas that were disturbed or with high abiotic stress. Paralycopodites brevifolius was a colonizing species, rapidly occupying sites where peat formation was irregular, and perhaps locally disturbed by clastic influx. Paralycopodites had straight trunks with rows of deciduous lateral branches; cones were borne at the tips of the branches conferring individuals with continuous, high levels of reproduction. Displacement from sites occurred as edaphic conditions changed. Lepidodendron scleroticum and Sigillaria were site occupiers. Lepidodendron scleroticum trees individually produced the most massive wood and periderm of coalswamp lycopod species, and also had deciduous lateral branches and low but continuous reproductive output. Locally, L. scleroticum was very abundant, and such areas occurred irregularly. None of the lycopod trees had vegetative reproduction. Some Sigillaria may have been apomictic, although the major circumstantial evidence supporting this is from Upper Pennsylvanian specimens of Mazocarpon oedipternum.
Vegetation and associated environments during the past 14,000 years near Moulton Pond, Maine☆

Abstract Pollen influx and percentage diagrams were prepared from an 11.4 m core from Moulton Pond, Maine. The pond basin was deglaciated about 14,000 y. a., after which it was located on an island in a sea of subarctic character until about 12,400 y. a. when the surrounding area emerged from the sea. The terrestrial vegetation was tundra until about 10,000 y. a. A change in the tundra vegetation is synchronous with the emergence from the sea, but synchroneity with the Pineo Ridge glacial readvance, which reached its maximum 50 km to the east of the pond about 12,700 y. a., is also possible because of imprecision in the dating. Comparisons of the Moulton Pond results with late-glacial pollen sequences elsewhere in eastern United States and adjacent Canada reveal a lack of synchroneity in vegetational changes casting doubt on claims of major broad-scale climatic shifts over the entire area. The tundra period at Moulton Pond ended with a transition of a few hundred years to partly open, relatively xeric forests of low diversity dominated by white pine, oak, and birch trees. There was no intervening boreal forest. In the postglacial period the vegetation was continually changing, including in the early portion a series of immigrations of temperate tree taxa which later became important in the forests. The transient nature of these assemblages is further indicated by their differences from the closest modern analogs. From about 7100 y. a. until settlement by Europeans 200 y. a., the forests were closed. A major decline of conifers centering about 4700 y. a. was followed by maxima of mesic hardwoods about a thousand years later. In the most recent 2000 yr, the pollen record suggests greater environmental severity, evidenced by increasing spruce. But for the entire postglacial period, the closest modern vegetational analogs are all in the conifer-hardwood region. Much of the postglacial pollen sequence is inexplicable in climatic terms, as evidenced by nonsynchronous behavior of hemlock and beech. The pollen influx diagram is useful for distinguishing tundra from forest, but for the postglacial period it is difficult to interpret. Pollen influx data are strongly affected by shifts in the pattern of sedimentation in lakes. We propose that such shifts account for the major changes in influx in mid- and late-postglacial time at Moulton Pond and at Rogers Lake, Connecticut. This complicates the interpretation of influx data which otherwise are superior to percentage data.