cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Condition-dependent signaling and adoption of mating tactics in an amphibian with energetic displays

Most alternative reproductive phenotypes are interpreted as alternative tactics within a conditional strategy: all individuals are predicted to choose among behavioral tactics based on some measure of their physiological condition or competitive status. The factors determining a male’s tactic at any particular time are generally unknown. Thus, most researchers have measured potential correlates of competitive ability (such as male body size) rather than directly measuring fighting ability, for example, in males adopting alternative mating tactics. In species in which sexual competition primarily involves production of acoustic signals, an individual’s choice of mating tactic may largely depend on physical characteristics, such as age, strength, or condition, which determine its ability to compete acoustically by producing attractive calls. Male green tree frogs (Hyla cinerea) often switch tactics (caller or satellite), but body size changes very little during the breeding season. I tested the hypothesis that mating-tactic switches are mediated via the effects of changing body condition on advertisement call characteristics. My field study shows that the switch between tactics is predicted by condition but not by size. Moreover, short-term changes in body weight result in condition-dependent changes in several properties of the advertisement call. The demonstration of condition-dependent advertisement calling and tactic adoption links a physical characteristic correlated with mating-tactic adoption with actual competitive status (calling performance). Vocal fatigue may constrain males to produce relatively unattractive advertisement calls, thus increasing the potential fitness payoffs associated with adoption of the satellite tactic.
Taking Charge of Your Health: The Drivers of Enrollment and Continued Participation in Online Health Intervention Programs

Information technology (IT) is fundamentally altering the way in which healthcare is delivered to consumers, and offers the promise of improving patient safety, reducing medical errors, improving efficiency, and increasing the reach of health delivery programs. The aim of this research is to examine the factors affecting the adoption and post-adoption of a significant IT innovation in healthcare: online health intervention programs that provide technology-mediated guidance and aid individuals in self-managing their health care. A key challenge confronting health program providers is that of motivating initial enrollment and subsequent continued participation in these interventions. Limited prior work in the information systems and health informatics literature has examined the uptake of technology-mediated health intervention programs. Using data from an online healthcare portal site, this study proposes and empirically tests relationships between the determinants and participation in online health intervention programs.
Psychoneuroimmunological Relationships in Women with Fibromyalgia

Introduction:The purpose of this pilot study was to characterize the relationships among perceived stress, pain, fatigue, depression, anxiety, biomarkers, and functional status in women with fibrom...
THE CHEMISTRY OF Co(I) DERIVATIVES OF VITAMIN B12 AND OF RELATED CHELATES

Summary The main points of the present review can be summarized as follows: 1. The existence of Co(I) derivatives is limited to strong-field chelates, since the stabilization of spin-paired d8-ions is particularly favored in planar complexes. The Co(I) chelates do not form stable adducts with Lewis bases, but weak interactions yielding five-coordinate species are observed. 2. There appear to be no basic differences between the reactions of the Co(I) center in vitamin B12s and the corresponding derivatives of simple chelates. Thus, the rates of the reactions of primary alkylating agents with vitamin B12sor cobaloximes(I) are very nearly the same. 3. The dz2 orbital in the Co(I) compounds is weakly antibonding, extending its charge cloud perpendicular to the plane of the molecule. This causes the Co(I) chelates to be the strongest nucleophiles known. 4. All Co(I) chelates studied show three or four absorption bands between 12000 and 18000 cm-1 that are assigned to the ligand-modified d-d transitions. In the isolectronic nickel chelates, corresponding transitions were observed between 20000 and 28000 cm-1. 5. The reduction of vitamin B12 and of cobaloximes can be achieved with a variety of reagents, e.g., NaBH4, zinc dust, thiols. New reducing agents are acyloins or ketosugars. The reduction with NaBH4 is sensitive to trace-metal catalysis. Cobaloximes(II) (but not vitamin B12) are reduced by molecular hydrogen, a fact presumably associated with the existence of dimeric, metal-metal bonded Co(II) derivatives. 6. The reduction of Co-Salen and Co-BAE to the Co(I) derivatives in water requires strongly alkaline conditions to prevent the decomposition into the Co(II) derivatives and hydrogen. This is a direct consequence of the higher Co(II)/Co(I) reduction potentials of these compounds.
Some theoretical considerations regarding the maximum speed of active devices, with special reference to Josephson junctions

Several factors affecting the theoretical performance limits of active logic devices are discussed, including the theory of relativity and the negentropy principle of information. The foregoing are employed to analyze a hypothetical optimal switching element, and a relationship between maximum operating speed and device temperature is determined assuming a simple model for heat transfer. The results indicate that there are two critical points on the curve: one at which device temperature becomes greater than ambient, and heat transfer by conduction is dominant, and a second where heat transfer by radiation becomes dominant. For the model assumed, these occur at about 1013and 1014ops/sec, respectively. At the second, the device temperature is approximately 104degrees K. The foregoing results are then applied to Josephson Junction devices, and a maximum speed for such devices is estimated.
Diabetic Ketoacidosis Preceding Thrombocytopenia Associated Multiple Organ Failure in a Child

Context Thrombocytopenia associated multiple organ failure is a rare but increasingly recognized condition in children. Diabetic ketoacidosis preceding thrombocytopenia associated multiple organ failure is previously unreported in pediatric patients. Case report A 12-year-old female presented with diabetic ketoacidosis along with acute pancreatitis. She further developed thrombocytopenia and renal failure over the next two days. Although hemolytic uremic syndrome/thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura spectrum was considered, the clinical picture seemed most consistent with thrombocytopenia associated multiple organ failure. The patient was treated with serial therapeutic plasma exchanges and made a complete recovery. Conclusion A high index of suspicion of thrombocytopenia associated multiple organ failure is required in patients with diabetic ketoacidosis or pancreatitis who present with thrombocytopenia and renal failure. Plasma exchange is a life-saving intervention in such cases. Image: Diffuse enlargement and hypoattenuation of pancreas.
A comprehensive review of hip labral tears

The hip labrum has many functions, including shock absorption, joint lubrication, pressure distribution, and aiding in stability, with damage to the labrum associated with osteoarthritis. The etiology of labral tears includes trauma, femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), capsular laxity/hip hypermobility, dysplasia, and degeneration. Labral tears present with anterior hip or groin pain, and less commonly buttock pain. Frequently, there are also mechanical symptoms including clicking, locking, and giving way. The most consistent physical examination finding is a positive anterior hip impingement test. Because of the vast differential diagnosis and the need for specialized diagnostic tools, labral tears frequently go undiagnosed during an extended period of time. Evaluation usually begins with plain radiographs to assess for dysplasia, degeneration, and other causes of pain. While magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography scans are unreliable for diagnosis, magnetic resonance arthrography (MRA) is the diagnostic test of choice, with arthroscopy being the gold standard. Typically, treatment begins conservatively with relative rest and non-steroid anti-inflammatory agents, with physical therapy (PT) being controversial. Often, surgical treatment is necessary, which entails, arthroscopic debridement of labral tears and surgical repair of associated structural problems.
Methodological issues in the assessment of gesture-speech mismatch: A rejoinder to perry, church, and goldin-meadow☆

Abstract In a recent study ( Stone, Webb, & Mahootian, 1991 ), we failed to replicate the findings of Goldin-Meadow and colleagues ( Church & Goldin-Meadow, 1986 ; Perry, Church, & Goldin-Meadow, 1988 ) regarding the value of gesture-speech mismatch as an index of transitional knowledge. In a response to our article, Perry, Church, and Goldin-Meadow (1992, this issue) point out three differences between their work and our own in the operational ization of the mismatch hypothesis and argue that the discrepant findings can be attributed to methodological artifacts. In the present article, we discuss these methodological points and present the results of additional analyses which still fail to replicate the original findings. Methodological and theoretical issues are raised concerning the generality and function of gesture-speech mismatch.
A simple algorithm for restoring images from pixellated radiation detectors

Pixellated radiation detectors suffer from a variety of non-ideal characteristics, many of which vary significantly among pixels. These include variations in gain, different background or dark-signal levels, and variations in noise characteristics. A simple method that corrects for these effects in a unified manner is described in this work. The method seeks a non-negative solution that minimizes a penalized, weighted least squares objective function. The penalty function encourages smoothness in the estimates and the variable error weighting allows measurements having disparate uncertainties to be appropriately combined. Solution is via an iterative Gauss-Seidel method with convergence usually occurring in a few iterations.
Intent-to-Randomize Corrections for Missing Data Resulting from Run-In Selection Bias in Clinical Trials for Chronic Conditions

In many clinical trials for chronic conditions a run-in period is used prior to randomization. Often, only those participants who meet certain criteria during the run-in phase go on to get randomized. The others, along with the information that they might have provided, are excluded from the study. This exclusion of the relevant response data from any subsequent study analysis can be considered as resulting in missing data; although quite common in practice, this approach has expectedly been shown to create a bias in favor of the active treatment when this active treatment is used during the run-in. Hence, many randomized clinical trials report overly optimistic results, with the extent of the bias depending in large part on how many otherwise eligible subjects were excluded due to the use of the run-in. If these biased trials are to contribute valid information to medical decision making, then the biases need to be corrected, and this involves accounting for all participants who were intended to be rando...
The dorsal involuting marginal zone stiffens anisotropically during its convergent extension in the gastrula of Xenopus laevis

Physically, the course of morphogenesis is determined by the distribution and timing of force production in the embryo and by the mechanical properties of the tissues on which these forces act. We have miniaturized a standard materials-testing procedure (the stress-relaxation test) to measure the viscoelastic properties of the dorsal involuting marginal zone, prechordal mesoderm, and vegetal endoderm of Xenopus laevis embryos during gastrulation. We focused on the involuting marginal zone, because it undergoes convergent extension (an important and wide-spread morphogenetic process) and drives involution, blastopore closure and elongation of the embryonic axis. We show that the involuting marginal zone stiffens during gastrulation, stiffening is a special property of this region rather than a general property of the whole embryo, stiffening is greater along the anteroposterior axis than the mediolateral axis and changes in the cytoskeleton or extracellular matrix are necessary for stiffening, although changes in cell-cell adhesions or cell-matrix adhesions are not ruled out. These findings provide a baseline of data on which future experiments can be designed and make specific, testable predictions about the roles of the cytoskeleton, extracellular matrix and intercellular adhesion in convergent extension, as well as predictions about the morphogenetic role of convergent extension in early development.
Re: Expectations of Stress Urinary Incontinence Surgery in Patients with Mixed Urinary Incontinence

Mixed urinary incontinence is estimated to affect 30% of all women who have urinary incontinence, and it has been shown to be more bothersome to women than pure stress incontinence. Given the degree of bother, many women will undergo surgical correction for incontinence. Patients have high expectations about the success of these interventions. Understanding mixed incontinence and the effects of our interventions can help guide therapeutic choices and manage patients’ expectations.
Fibrinogen concentrate improves survival during limited resuscitation of uncontrolled hemorrhagic shock in a swine model

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of fibrinogen concentrate, as a hemostatic agent, on limited resuscitation of uncontrolled hemorrhagic shock. We use a swine model of hemorrhagic shock with free bleeding from a 4mm aortic tear to test the effect of adding a one-time dose of fibrinogen concentrate given at the onset of limited fluid resuscitation. Immature female swine were anesthetized and subjected to catheter hemorrhage and aortic tear to induce uniform hemorrhagic shock. Animals (N=7 per group) were then randomized to receive either; 1. No fluid resuscitation (Neg Control), 2. Limited resuscitation in the form of two boluses of 10ml/kg of 6% hydroxyethyl starch solution (HEX) given 30 minutes apart, or 3. The same fluid regimen with one dose of 120mg/kg fibrinogen concentrate given with the first HEX bolus (FBG). Animals were then observed for a total of 6 hours with aortic repair and aggressive resuscitation with shed blood taking place at 3 hours. Survival to 6 hours was significantly increased with FBG (7/8, 86%) vs. HEX (2/7, 29%), and Neg Control (0/7, 0%) (FBG vs. HEX, Kaplan Meier LR p=0.035). Intraperitoneal blood loss adjusted for survival time was increased in HEX (0.4ml/kg/min) when compared to FBG (0.1mg/kg/min, p=0.047) and Neg Control (0.1ml/kg/min, p=0.041). Systemic and cerebral hemodynamics also showed improvement with FBG vs. HEX. Fibrinogen concentrate may be a useful adjunct to decrease blood loss, improve hemodynamics, and prolong survival during limited resuscitation of uncontrolled hemorrhagic shock.
One-dimensional spherical ray-tracing extended to account for flat and cylindrical shields (The 12th International Conference on Radiation Shielding (ICRS-12) and the 17th Topical Meeting of the Radiation Protection and Shielding Division of ANS (RPSD-2012)) -- (Deterministic Methods and Applications)

It is often desirable to compute the uncollided component (direct from the source) of a detected particle flux using some form of ray-tracing, which in one-dimensional spherical geometries is extremely economical. A simple method for treating a flat shield exactly, within the context of spherical ray-tracing, is presented. A method for treating a cylindrical shield approximately, using the average value of the azimuthal angle for each value of the polar angle that is used in the spherical ray-tracing, is presented. The source remains spherical. The methods are verified numerically with a test problem that also shows the importance of these corrections.
Variations in arginase concentration in livers of white rats caused by thyroxine administration.

SummaryAnalysis of the livers of white rats for arginase activity after the administration of thyroxine have been made. The data show that, although the hormone in the dosage used caused male rats to lose body weight, the arginase content of the livers remained unchanged. Livers from pregnant and nonpregnant female rats given thyroxine contained quantities of the enzyme comparable to those found after feeding diets high in protein or after long fasting. Possible relations of these changes in enzyme concentration to protein catabolism are discussed.
Organic/inorganic hybrid photovoltaic cells

The working mechanism of organic/inorganic hybrid photovoltaic cells,the types of inorganic semiconductors and hybrid approaches are introduced.The design and synthesis of several polymers which is used in the hybrid photovoltaic cells and the research progress of organic/inorganic photovoltaic cells are presented.The problems in preparation of organic/inorganic hybrid photovoltaic cells are pointed out also.
Some Aspects of Dioecism in Pimento (Allspice)

Although apparently having an hermaphrodite floral structure Pimento dioica functions as a dioecious plant. This paper presents a study of the differences between male and female flowers. It is shown too that the two types of tree occur in equal proportions, as with many organisms whose dioecism is more clear cut. The implications for the study of floral evolution are discussed.
Minimum lateral wall heights for conservative class I cavity preparations.

PURPOSE To quantify the minimum necessary Class I cavity preparation lateral wall heights (LWH) for a cavity preparation 0.8 mm in width and extending to the dentin-enamel junction in a set of extracted human permanent posterior teeth. MATERIALS AND METHODS 183 bucco-lingual or mesio-distal undecalcified sections were cut from a set of 73 posterior teeth. Macroscopic digital images were made of fissures within the sections and a computer-generated digital measuring device was superimposed to obtain LWH measurements corresponding to a cavity preparation 0.8 mm in width and extending to the dentin-enamel junction. Preparation LWH data was analyzed by tooth type and groups for mean, minimum, maximum, standard deviation, count, and frequency distribution. RESULTS LWH varied between 1.2 mm and 2.5 mm for the 183 fissures tested. Mean LWH was 1.925 mm with a standard deviation of 0.262 mm. The most common LWH was 2.0 mm, found in 18% of the samples. Seventy percent of LWHs were 2.0 mm or less. Only two sections had LWHs of 1.2 mm, both in maxillary first premolars. Only two sections had LWHs of 2.5 mm, one in a mandibular second molar and the other in a maxillary first molar. Maximum LWH correlated positively (r = .469) with bucco-lingual crown width.
Evidence-Based Use of α-2 Agonists for Sedation in the PICU: From Fiction to Facts?

Adequate sedation and optimal pain relief are important goals to reach in every child admitted to a PICU. The ultimate goal is to achieve, with the minimal amount of medications possible, a situation where the child is having optimal comfort, pain control, and safety. Opioids and benzodiazepines have always been the mainstay of treatment to reach these aforementioned goals, but many times, adjunctive or alternative treatments are considered and used in the PICU to reach these goals. Clonidine and dexmedetomidine (α-2 agonists) are two of the most frequently used drugs to support the optimal use of opioids and/or benzodiazepines. Despite their frequent use in critically ill infants and children in PICUs across the globe, their real additive value is not yet established. A very recent Cochrane review in adults showed that dexmedetomidine reduced the duration of mechanical ventilation and intensive care stay when compared with standard sedation regimens. [...]
Amplified Quantum Initiation Effects in Superfluorescence Emission in Coherently-Pumped Three-Level Systems

We present a model and calculational results and analysis for the effects of coherent pump dynamics, quantum initiation, propagation, transverse and diffraction effects on superfluorescent (SF) emission from a collection of N optically-pumped three-level systems. The full, nonlinear, co-propagational aspects of the injected pump pulse, together with the SF which evolves, are explicitly treated in the calculation.
The Utility of Genetically Modified Animals in Modeling OCD-Spectrum Disorders

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) inflicts uncontrollable, intrusive thoughts and ritualistic, compulsive behaviors affecting approximately 3% of the population. Clinical symptoms of OCD can be categorized as checking, hoarding, washing, or ordering. Mounting evidence suggests that OCD phenotypes can be modeled effectively, and with remarkable validity, through translational approaches in ethological animal models. Experimental models of OCD-like behavior, including nesting, marble burying, grooming, spatial alternation, and barbering allow researchers to investigate the neurobiological mechanisms responsible for this disorder. While its exact pathogenesis remains unknown, genetic factors also play a key role in OCD. Genetic animal models of OCD and related disorders are now becoming available, aiding researchers in identifying associated neural pathways and pharmacological treatments. Here, we discuss how some genetically modified animals may be used for modeling OCD-like endophenotypes.
Developmental venous anomaly presenting as a spontaneous intraparenchymal hematoma without thrombosis.

IntroductionDevelopmental venous anomalies (DVAs) are cited as the most common cerebral vascular malformations. Still, intracerebral hematomas are rarely thought to be caused by DVAs. In this report, the authors present a unique case of a DVA that hemorrhaged spontaneously, rather than hemorrhaging into a venous infarction following DVA thrombosis as has been more commonly reported.Clinical presentationA 22-year-old previously healthy male presented to the emergency department with a severe headache, confusion, and progressive hemiparesis. A computed tomography (CT) scan demonstrated a spontaneous left parietal intraparenchymal hemorrhage (IPH), with intraventricular extension and acute hydrocephalus. CT angiography did not demonstrate an underlying vascular malformation. The patient was taken emergently to the operating room for a left parietal craniotomy for evacuation of the hematoma. Intraoperative pathology was consistent with a DVA Postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetic resonance a...
On the measurement of occupancy in ecology and paleontology

Occupancy statistics in ecology and paleontology are biased upward by the fact that we generally do not have solid data on species that exist but are not found. The magnitude of this bias increases as the average occupancy probability decreases and as the number of sites sampled decreases. A maximum-likelihood method is developed to estimate the underlying distribution of occupancy probabilities of all species based only on the sample of observed species with nonzero occupancy. The method is based on determining the probability that the number of occupied sites will take on any specific value for a given occupancy probability, integrated over the entire distribution of occupancy probabilities. If the shape of the underlying distribution is well modeled, the resulting occupancy estimates circumvent the bias inherent in failing to observe some species and the fact that this bias depends on the number of sites. For occupancy data on marine animal genera drawn from the Paleobiology Database, the underlying distribution is reasonably approximated as a right-truncated log-normal, but the methods developed can be extended to any distribution. Examples are presented to illustrate some observations that are robust and others that need to be revised in light of this bias correction. The method is compared to a recently developed, distribution-free approach to the same problem.
Motion noise cancellation in seismocardiogram of ambulant subjects with dual sensors

This paper presents a dual-sensor method of extracting seismocardiographic (SCG) data from moving adult subjects using chest-worn wireless MEMS accelerometers. A digital signal processing (DSP) system including a normalized least means square (NLMS) adaptive filter is designed and tested in MATLAB. Data results from 10 subjects indicate a detection rate of 98.72% which outperforms our previously-proposed single-sensor scheme. Various sensor positons and possible failure mechanisms are also investigated to further evaluate the system performance. The results reveal that the quality of the SCG signal from moving subjects could be improved by integrating information from multiple sensors at the cost of increasing system complexity.
Layered reliability modeling of smart home system

This paper models and evaluates reliability of a smart home system considering phased-mission, functional dependence and standby behavior in its physical layer, and probabilistic competing failure behavior with random propagated time in its communication layer. The proposed methodology encompasses a multi-valued decision diagram based method for the physical layer, and a combinatorial procedure based on total probability law for the communication layer. A detailed case study of an example smart home system is provided. The method is applicable to arbitrary types of component time-to-failure distributions.
The Role of Prosody and Explicit Instruction in Processing Instruction

This study investigates the role of prosodic cues and explicit information (EI) in the acquisition of German accusative case markers. We compared 4 groups of 3rd-semester learners (low intermediate level) who completed 1 of 4 Processing Instruction (PI) treatments that manipulated the presence or absence of EI and focused prosody. The results showed that, when training included EI or prosodic cues, the groups improved on comprehension and production tasks in an immediate posttest. Four weeks after training, the groups sustained gains on the comprehension task, but not on the production task. Participants who did not receive EI or prosody only showed improvement on the comprehension task in the immediate posttest and did not sustain these gains. These findings replicate previous findings on the role of EI in PI, showing an advantage for EI with the target form (e.g., Henry, Culman, & VanPatten, 2009). Moreover, the results suggest that prosodic cues help learners process morphosyntactic forms, and that they can enhance grammar instruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Gas Chromatography-Based Ethylene Measurement of Arabidopsis Seedlings

Plants tightly regulate the biosynthesis of ethylene to control growth and development and respond to a wide range of biotic and abiotic stresses. To understand the molecular mechanism by which plants regulate ethylene biosynthesis as well as to identify stimuli triggering the alteration of ethylene production in plants, it is essential to have a reliable tool with which one can directly measure in vivo ethylene concentration. Gas chromatography is a routine detection technique for separation and analysis of volatile compounds with relatively high sensitivity. Gas chromatography has been widely used to measure the ethylene produced by plants, and has in turn become a valuable tool for ethylene research. Here, we describe a protocol for measuring the ethylene produced by dark-grown Arabidopsis seedlings using a gas chromatograph.
"We're Just Not Prepared for Eating Over Our Whole Life": A Mixed Methods Approach to Understanding Dietary Behaviors Among Longer Term Cancer Survivors

Background: In many countries, there are growing numbers of persons living with a prior diagnosis of cancer, due to the aging population and more successful strategies for treatment. There is also ...
Anatomy and Physiology of the Pericardium

The pericardium consists of a visceral mesothelial monolayer (epicardium) that reflects over the great vessels and joins an outer, relatively inelastic fibrous parietal layer of organized collagen and elastin fibers, between which is a potential space that normally contains up to 50 mL of plasma filtrate. Although not essential for life, the pericardium serves important albeit subtle functions in the euvolemic healthy individual that become increasingly important in hypervolemic states and conditions in which the heart enlarges acutely. The pericardial functions can be divided into the mechanical, reflex, membranous, metabolic, ligamentous.
Advancing Research Models and Technologies to Overcome Biological Barriers to Plasmodium vivax Control.

Malaria prevalence has declined in the past 10 years, especially outside of sub-Saharan Africa. However, the proportion of cases due to Plasmodium vivax is increasing, accounting for up to 90–100% of the malaria burden in endemic regions. Nonetheless, investments in malaria research and control still prioritize Plasmodium falciparum while largely neglecting P. vivax. Specific biological features of P. vivax, particularly invasion of reticulocytes, occurrence of dormant liver forms of the parasite, and the potential for transmission of sexual-stage parasites prior to onset of clinical illness, promote its persistence and hinder development of research tools and interventions. This review discusses recent advances in P. vivax research, current knowledge of its unique biology, and proposes priorities for P. vivax research and control efforts.
Dissecting the dissociation patterns of fucosylated glycopeptides undergoing CID: a case study in improving automated glycopeptide analysis scoring algorithms

The need to investigate the fragmentation of fucosylated glycopeptides is driven by recent work showing that at least one, and perhaps many, glycopeptide analysis scoring algorithms are less effective at identifying fucosylated glycopeptides than non-fucosylated glycopeptides. Herein, we study the CID fragmentation characteristics of fucosylated glycopeptides and the scoring rules of the glycopeptide analysis software, GlycoPep Grader, in an effort to improve automated assignments of these important glycopeptides. We identified some prominent product ions from a common fragmentation pathway of fucosylated glycopeptides that were not accounted for in the scoring rules. Based on this finding, we propose new scoring rules for fucosylated glycopeptides that can be incorporated into GlycoPep Grader and other similar analysis software tools to more accurately identify these species. The approach used here, to improve one particular scoring algorithm, could henceforth be used to improve any other algorithm that assigns glycopeptides based on their MS/MS data.
Exporting Revolution: Cuba’s Global Solidarity by Margaret Randall

Randall, Margaret. Exporting Revolution: Cuba’s Global Solidarity . Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2017.
WEEE generation and the consequences of its improper disposal

Abstract Waste electrical, electronic equipment (WEEE), or e-waste, is being generated at alarming rates and volumes, estimated globally to be around 50 million tonnes by 2018. Rapid innovation, planned obsolescence, shortened product lifespan, growing urban population, and increasing demands for information and communication technologies (ICTs) and other electronic devices are among the drivers of e-waste accumulation. Improper management and inadequate regulation of WEEE disposal have serious adverse consequences for human health and ecosystem integrity. e-Wastes flow along the paths of least resistance from affluent communities to poor communities and from developed countries of the Global North to underdeveloped countries of the Global South, where capacities for properly managing such wastes are limited or lacking. Within the informal sector, e-waste services—including scavenging, transportation, storage, dismantling, recovery of valuable components, sales and disposal of useless parts have emerged as the fastest-growing strategies for the livelihoods of the growing urban populations in many developing countries. While the informal WEEE services including trading, recycling, and reuse, are considered as economic opportunities for jobs and for profit, the improper management of e-waste in developing countries and their unsafe disposal in unregulated regions of developed countries have serious consequences, such as contamination of the environment and people and the resultant acute and chronic health problems. This study focuses on the growing volumes of e-waste being generated annually around the world. The top 10 generators of WEEE and the major destinations for their e-waste in the world are identified. The Basel Convention on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous waste and their disposal is discussed, along with its several loopholes that make the continued flow of e-waste from the Global North to the Global South and between developing nations possible. The most dreadful toxins found in e-waste and their contamination of the environment, the routes of human exposures, and associated adverse health consequences are discussed.
Improved Continuous Flow Transurethral Prostatectomy

AbstractWe compared 2 continuous flow resectoscopes for transurethral resection of the prostate—a new intrinsic bladder pressure-controlled drainage system and the suction drainage system. In 31 patients undergoing transurethral prostatic resection who were assigned randomly to a pressure-controlled (17) or suction drainage (14) resectoscope group the required irrigant volume and operative blood loss (milliliter per gram resected tissue) were appreciably less with pressure-controlled drainage, while the resection rate (gram per minute) was significantly greater. Irrigant absorption, as evidenced by weight gain and changes in hematocrit, serum osmolality and serum sodium, was minimal in either group, with no significant difference between the 2 methods. In addition, there was no significant difference in intraoperative intravesical pressure between the 2 groups. The suction drainage system led to pump drainage failure in certain rotational positions, resulting in diminished visibility and increased resecti...
Stating the Assertions

Having read through Part I, the reader should have a good understanding of the how this research was conducted and the various purposes. At this point, it is worth repeating an earlier suggestion, and that is that the full narratives given in the appendices be read before reading the analysis chapters. Some acquaintance with the narratives will enhance the reader’s participation in the analysis discussion. Here in Chapter 4,1 list the fifteen assertions from the research. They are presented here so that the reader can gain an over all perspective on the issues to be discussed, prior to launching into the details of the discussions.
Crystallography and substitution patterns in the Zr O 2 − YTa O 4 system

Cation ordering is expected to influence the properties of oxides in the $\mathrm{Zr}{\mathrm{O}}_{2}\text{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{YTa}{\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ system, but the ordering patterns and their relative energies are not well understood. This work investigates the stability of zirconium-yttrium-tantalum orderings over the parent $t\text{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{Zr}{\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ and $m\text{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{Zr}{\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ crystal structures from first principles. The calculations predict a strong tendency for yttrium and tantalum atoms to cluster into checkerboard layers throughout the entire quasibinary. Such checkerboard layers are in fact found to be the building blocks for the lowest-energy $\mathrm{YTa}{\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ structures, e.g., ${M}^{\ensuremath{'}}$, $M$, and $T\text{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{YTa}{\mathrm{O}}_{4}$. The stability of these orderings is related to the propensity of each cation to achieve its favored oxygen coordination. The preference to cluster in the alloyed materials suggests a tendency for short-range ordering. It is hypothesized that checkerboard-type short-range order is a global trend in all $\mathrm{Zr}{\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ systems with charge-compensating stabilizers, notably rare-earth tantalates and niobates, and has important implications for ferroelastic toughening mechanisms in these materials. A study of the transformation pathways connecting $M$ and $T\text{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{YTa}{\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ predicts that unlike $t\text{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{Zr}{\mathrm{O}}_{2},T\text{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{YTa}{\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ is dynamically unstable, suggesting that anharmonic vibrations stabilize this phase and must be introduced to rigorously account for temperature effects.
Part IV: The Field Hospitals and the Journey Home

Part IV, an account of about six weeks in several so-called field hospitals, is likely unparalleled in the war memoir genre. Ruckert wakes up in an animal stall after an operation, but his leg becomes infected, so the doctors amputate at the knee. One night his wound starts spurting blood. Attendants pinch the artery just as he is about to bleed to death. Another operation follows, leaving him near death. A pastor writes a final note to his parents. Somehow he survives, as many men around him die. One soldier goes berserk, smearing his face with excrement and dancing frenetically between the beds. Finally, the doctors think he can survive the journey home. A special “Virchow” train equipped for the wounded takes him back to Darmstadt. He arrives home near death, but his mother nurses him back to health.
Comorbid Cannabis and Tobacco Use Disorders in Hospitalized Patients with Psychotic-Spectrum Disorders.

Objective: Individuals with psychotic-spectrum disorders use tobacco and cannabis at higher rates than the general population and individuals with other psychiatric disorders, which may contribute ...
Geographic context of black-white disparities in Medicare CAHPS patient experience measures.

Objective To examine whether black-white patient experience disparities vary by geography and within-county contextual factors. Data sources 321 300 Medicare beneficiaries responding to the 2015-2016 Medicare Consumer Assessment of Health care Providers and Systems (MCAHPS) Surveys; 2010 Census data for several within-county contextual factors. Study design Mixed-effects regression models predicted three MCAHPS patient experience measures for black and white beneficiaries from geographic random effects, contextual fixed effects, and beneficiary-level case-mix adjustors. Principal findings Black-white disparities in patient experiences were smaller in counties with higher average patient experiences. Black-white disparities in patient experiences were not associated with county-level poverty or racial segregation. However, county racial segregation and some measures of poverty were significantly associated with all beneficiaries' level of health care access. Getting Needed Care scores were higher with greater racial segregation, while Getting Care Quickly scores were lower with higher poverty and racial segregation. Conclusions Efforts to reduce black-white disparities in patient experiences should focus on areas with low average patient experiences. Attempts to reduce disparities in timely access to health care should target primarily black, low-income, and racially and economically segregated areas. Positive associations of racial segregation with accessing needed care were unexpected.
Lumbar fusion involving the sacrum increases dislocation risk in primary total hip arthroplasty

Aims Concurrent hip and spine pathologies can alter the biomechanics of spinopelvic mobility in primary total hip arthroplasty (THA). This study examines how differences in pelvic orientation of pa...
Rural Civilities: Caste, Gender and Public Life in Kerala

AbstractThis essay investigates how public life in Kerala is shaped by spatially distributed gendered caste practices. The essay first investigates rural publics, such as rural libraries, and sugge...
Procedures for the Isolation of Cyanobacterial Random Mutants with a Digital Imaging Spectrophotometer

We investigated the use of the Digital Imaging Spectrophotometer (Youvan et al., 1995) for the primary isolation of photosynthetic mutants in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. We tested the system with two previously characterized mutants of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803: the Del-1 mutant, a partial deletion mutant of the psbB gene (Eaton-Rye and Vermaas, 1991), and the ΔpsbO mutant, a complete deletion of the psbO gene (Burnap and Sherman, 1991). We found that the considiration of colony sizes vs camera resolution is important for avoiding the isolation of false positive mutants. We modified the instrument by adding a magnifying lens for fluorescence imaging of plates inside the sphere. We proposed three ways in which the DIS can be used to isolate cyanobacterial random mutants: direct fluorescence intensity, fluorescence image ratios, and PC/Chl ratios calculated from absorbance. The reliabilty of each of those methods is excellent for differentiating existing PSII deletion mutants. We also proposed a statistical criterion for selecting significantly different mutants.
Higher anhedonia and dysphoric arousal relate to lower relationship satisfaction among trauma‐exposed female service members/veterans

OBJECTIVE Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms of detachment, anhedonia, and hyperarousal are associated with poorer relationship satisfaction. Such findings are limited to earlier models of PTSD and samples that were almost exclusively male. The association of current PTSD symptom clusters with relationship satisfaction in partnered female service members/veterans (SM/Vs) are understudied. METHODS This study examined the association of PTSD (PTSD Checklist-5 [PCL-5]) symptom clusters identified in the anhedonia model and relationship satisfaction (Couples' Satisfaction Index-4) in 477 partnered female SM/Vs. RESULTS Higher anhedonia and dysphoric arousal were associated with lower relationship satisfaction. Among those who scored 31+ on the PCL-5 (n = 255, 53.46%), which is a suggested cutoff for a probable PTSD diagnosis, only higher anhedonia was associated with poorer relationship satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS The association of PTSD symptom clusters with relationship satisfaction are similar for male and female SM/Vs. Interventions to improve relationship satisfaction may focus on reducing anhedonia and dysphoric arousal.
Deciphering the factors that influence participation in studies requiring serial lumbar punctures

Introduction Cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers increasingly inform the causes of dementia and may provide objective markers of disease progression. There is a need to decipher participant and procedural factors that promote participation in studies incorporating longitudinal biomarker measures. Methods Participant and procedural factors associated with participation in longitudinal biomarker studies were determined in individuals enrolled in studies of memory and aging at the Knight Alzheimer Disease Research Center (Saint Louis, MO, USA). Results Complications were encountered following 331 of 1484 lumbar punctures (22.3%; LPs), affecting 280 of 929 participants (30.1%); in >95% complications were minor. Three hundred fifteen of 679 eligible participants (46.4%) completed multiple LPs. Younger age (odds ratio [OR] 2.08 per decade [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.61-2.94]), normal cognition (OR 21.4 [2.85-160.1]), and the absence of heart disease (OR 2.0 [1.01-3.85]) or seizures at study entry identified participants with increased odds of completing three or more LPs. Discussion Factors influencing participation may be leveraged to improve recruitment and retention within observational and therapeutic studies requiring serial LPs.
Decreasing Unplanned Extubation in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Background: Unplanned extubation (UE) is a preventable adverse event and may lead to additional complications such as cardiovascular resuscitation or respiratory compromise in a critically ill neonate during an emergent reintubation. A quality improvement project to reduce unplanned endotracheal tube dislodgement would reduce these morbidities. Aim: To reduce unplanned extubations in the NICU to 1 UE/100 ventilator days by October 2018. Setting: A level 4 NICU with 950 annual admissions and a baseline rate of 9.9 unplanned extubations/100 ventilator days Culturally, our NICU clinical team accepted unplanned extubation as a normal risk factor in the patient population and did little to challenge this status –quo. We felt we could decrease our UE rate through the use of standardized securement equipment, standardized care delivery models and a re-education program for all NICU staff. Methods: We formed an inter-professional task force consisting of a Neonatologist, two Respiratory Therapists and the NICU Nurse Educator. We tracked all of our unplanned extubations as well as required the staff involved to file an electronic safety report. PDSA cycles consisted of: staff attitude survey, development of data collection tool, protocol of 2 staff members for all transfers of intubated patient, staff education around securement device and daily retaping of ETT to securement device. UE and ventilator days were extracted from a respiratory database and electronic medical record. Control charts (u-chart) were created using QI Macrosa and IHI-Healthcare control chart rules used to determine special cause variations. The Maine Medical Center Institutional Review Board determined that this was quality improvement and did not qualify as research. Results: A special cause variation was noted via control chart rules for the mean UE rate from baseline of 9.9 UE/100 ventilator days (8/2017-11/2017) compared to post-intervention mean of 1.6 UE/100 ventilator days (8/2018-3/2019). In addition, during the intervention phase of the project (12/2018-7-2018), a special cause variation was noted with an UE rate of 5 UE/100 ventilator days (Figure 1). Conclusions: Development of a QI project by a multidisciplinary taskforce, along with several PDSA cycles including education and staff awareness, reduced UE rate by 84% in a level 4 NICU. Ongoing surveillance, education and review of UE cases will be key to maintaining UE at a goal of 1 UE/100 ventilator days.
Curriculum as a vehicle for reform in U.S. mathematics education

The current decade is likely to witness an unprecedented focus on mathematics curriculum in the U.S. The adoption of the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSSM) by all but a few states represents a major change in curriculum governance. For the first time ever in the U.S., a large majority of schools, teachers and students will focus on common, specific and grade-level focused learning goals for mathematics. Coupled with mandated common annual grade-level assessments aligned to CCSSM, this initiative is likely to impact other important systems and factors critical to student learning including instruction, curriculum materials, teacher training, and course-taking/graduation policies. This paper provides a summary of current curriculum reform initiatives in the U.S. We provide a brief overview of the current movement toward common (national) curriculum standards in the U.S. We examine some of the procedures used in developing textbooks and discuss some of the challenges textbook authors and publishers face. We reflect on the critical role that mathematics textbooks play in determining the mathematics content students have an opportunity to learn. Finally, we speculate about the future of curriculum materials and the impact of CCSS on school mathematics programs.