cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
CU-LTE: Spectrally-efficient and fair coexistence between LTE and Wi-Fi in unlicensed bands

To cope with the increasing scarcity of spectrum resources, researchers have been working to extend LTE/LTE-A cellular systems to unlicensed bands, leading to so-called unlicensed LTE (U-LTE). However, this extension is by no means straightforward, primarily because the radio resource management schemes used by LTE and by systems already deployed in unlicensed bands are incompatible. Specifically, it is well known that coexistence with scheduled systems like LTE degrades considerably the throughput of Wi-Fi networks that are based on carrier-sense medium access schemes. To address this challenge, we propose for the first time a cognitive coexistence scheme to enable spectrum sharing between U-LTE and Wi-Fi networks, referred to as CU-LTE. The proposed scheme is designed to jointly determine dynamic channel selection, carrier aggregation and fractional spectrum access for U-LTE networks, while guaranteeing fair spectrum access for Wi-Fi based on a newly designed cross-technology fairness criterion. We first derive a mathematical model of the spectrum sharing problem for the coexisting networks; we then design a solution algorithm to solve the resulting fairness constrained mixed integer nonlinear optimization problem. The algorithm, based on a combination of branch and bound and convex relaxation techniques, maximizes the network utility with guaranteed optimality precision that can be set arbitrarily to 1 at the expense of computational complexity. Performance evaluation indicates that near-optimal spectrum access can be achieved with guaranteed fairness between U-LTE and Wi-Fi. Issues regarding implementation of CU-LTE are also discussed.
Activation of the TREM‐1 pathway in human monocytes by periodontal pathogens and oral commensal bacteria

Periodontitis is a highly prevalent disease caused in part by an aberrant host response to the oral multi-species biofilm. A balance between the oral bacteria and host immunity is essential for oral health. Imbalances in the oral microbiome lead to an uncontrolled host inflammatory response and subsequent periodontal disease (i.e. gingivitis and periodontitis). TREM-1 is a signaling receptor present on myeloid cells capable of acting synergistically with other pattern recognition receptors leading to amplification of inflammatory responses. The aim of this study was to investigate the activation of the TREM-1 pathway in the human monocyte-like cell line THP-1 exposed to both oral pathogens and commensals. The relative expression of the genes encoding TREM-1 and its adapter protein DAP12 were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The surface expression of TREM-1 was determined by flow cytometry. Soluble TREM-1 and cytokines were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results demonstrate that both commensal and pathogenic oral bacteria activate the TREM-1 pathway, resulting in a proinflammatory TREM-1 activity-dependent increase in proinflammatory cytokine production.
Assessment of prescriber compliance with established heart failure guidelines at a major medical center

Purpose: Treatment guidelines for systolic heart failure (HF), therapy for which largely relies on the combination of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) agents and beta-blockers, focus on decreasing morbidity and mortality, and increasing quality of life. The objective of this study is to assess prescriber compliance with these guidelines in designing patient medication regimens prior to hospital admission, at discharge, and at readmission if within 30 days at a 473-bed tertiary university hospital. Methods: Of 162 patients with a primary diagnosis of HF, 62 were selected for a retrospective data collection utilizing a random number table. Ten with an ejection fraction greater than or equal to 50% were excluded. Regimens were classified as suboptimal (absence of RAAS agent or beta-blocker), optimal, or optimal at target doses. Results: Prior to admission (N = 52), 81% were prescribed diuretics, 54% were prescribed beta-blockers (8% target dose), and 50% were prescribed RAAS agents (11% target dose). Overall, 36% were optimal regimens; 2% were optimal and at optimal doses. Upon discharge, these values were 58% and 2%, respectively. Discharge medications included diuretics (92%), beta-blockers (79%; 10% target dose), and RAAS agents (75%; 11% target dose). Of the nine (17%) readmitted within 30 days, 67% were receiving suboptimal therapy; none were at target doses. Conclusions: Optimal HF regimens were less common upon admission (36%) and improved upon discharge (58%). Most patients readmitted within 30 days of discharge were receiving suboptimal therapy. Clinical pharmacists are in a position to provide continuing prescriber education regarding proven HF therapies and target titration end points, both in ambulatory and acute care arenas.
Nutritional Management for Gestational Diabetes

Abstract Gestational diabetes mellitus is defined as diabetes diagnosed in the second or third trimester of pregnancy. Untreated or persistent maternal hyperglycemia may have a negative effect on the pregnancy. Medical nutrition therapy, physical activity, self-blood glucose monitoring, and, if necessary, pharmacological therapy are strategies used in the management of gestational diabetes. The nutrition prescription consists of an individualized and culturally appropriate meal plan that promotes adequate nutrition, appropriate weight gain, and normoglycemia. Optimal blood glucose in gestational diabetes is key to improving outcomes not only during pregnancy but also in the future of the mother and her child.
Towards Re-Orienting the Big Data Rhetoric

Data analytics and BI (business intelligence) systems are the most prominent user-facing manifestation of 'big data' and the related computational turn in thinking within organizations. However, the big data mythologies-specifically that data can offer more accurate, objective and truthful forms of intelligence and knowledge-impact, reinforce, and reproduce certain epistemological biases. In my research, I study these big data technologies in human services related contexts to examine knowledge claims and the strengths and limitations of big data.
Expectations of health care quality among rural Maya villagers in Sololá Department, Guatemala: a qualitative analysis

Indigenous populations in Latin America have worse health outcomes than their nonindigenous counterparts. Differences in access to and use of biomedical resources may explain some of the observed disparities. Efforts to address these differences could be aided in part by better understanding the socio-medical contexts in which they occur. We performed a qualitative analysis of field notes collected during a 2008 program evaluation of a health post in a rural Maya village in Solola Department, Guatemala. Forty-one interviews were conducted among a community-based convenience sample of adult men and women. Interviews focused on experiences, perceptions, and behaviors related to the local biomedical and ethnomedical health care resources. Penetrance of the local health post was high, with most (90%) of respondents having accessed it within the prior five years. The prevailing attitude toward the health post was positive. We identified facilitators and barriers to health post use that corresponded with three thematic areas: clinic operations, visits and consultations, and medical resources. Proximity to the home, free consultations and medications, and social support services were among the most commonly cited facilitators. Barriers included limited clinic hours, medication stock-outs, provision of care that did not meet patient expectations, and unavailability of diagnostic tests. In a rural Maya community in Guatemala, operational and quality-based factors, independent of sociocultural considerations, informed the perception of and decision to access biomedical resources. Interventions that address these factors may increase health care utilization and alleviate some of the health disparities that accompany indigeneity in Guatemala and similar contexts.
POEMS Syndrome: Diagnosis and Investigative Work-up

POEMS syndrome is a rare paraneoplastic syndrome secondary to a plasma cell dyscrasia. Recognition of a combination of peripheral neuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal plasmaproliferative disorder, skin changes, papilledema, extravascular volume overload, sclerotic bone lesions, thrombocytosis, and Castleman disease is the first step in managing the disease. Increased blood levels of vascular endothelial growth factor are usually confirmatory. This rare disorder should not be missed, especially if the patient has a putative diagnosis of chronic inflammatory polyradiculoneuropathy, a lambda restricted monoclonal gammopathy, and thrombocytosis, and is not responding as expected to immunomodulatory therapy commonly used for chronic inflammatory polyradiculoneuropathy.
Abstract 15197: Echocardiographic Evaluation of Paravalvular Regurgitation After Transarterial Valve Implantation Based on the Academic Valve Research Consortium 2 Recommendations

Introduction: Recently, a simple scheme of semiquantitative evaluation of paravalvular regurgitation (PVR) severity on TTE in parasternal short axis (SAX) after transarterial valve replacement (TAV...
Comparing Healthcare Systems of Luxembourg and the United States

In this paper we compare the healthcare systems of Luxembourg and the United States from a health economics perspective which provides a better real-world illustration of economic factors that have the most substantial impact and influence along with their outcomes and economic consequences on these health systems. Details of the Luxembourgish systems will be described, and the two healthcare systems and their performance will be assessed.
Merkel cell carcinoma masquerading as cellulitis: a case report and review of the literature

Merkel cell carcinoma (mcc) is an uncommon malignancy of the skin arising from cells located in the deeper layers of the epidermis called Merkel cells. This malignancy rarely presents as a metastatic disease, and the field is therefore deficient in regards to management. We report the case of a 49-year-old woman who presented with a presumptive diagnosis of osteomyelitis of the left fifth digit that was resistant to treatment with antibiotics; she underwent debridement of the digit that revealed mcc and was later to have metastatic disease to her lungs, liver, and musculoskeletal system. The management of mcc, although simple in the early stage of the disease, can become challenging when it is more advanced. Multiple new modalities for its treatment have emerged over the last few years, and more recently, clinical trials are being conducted for the use of immunotherapy agents in the treatment of this malignancy.
Disorders of Calcium, Phosphorous, and Magnesium in the Newborn

The vast majority of calcium, phosphorous, and magnesium in the body is stored in the bone; hence these minerals are referred to as the “bone minerals.” However, a portion of each of these minerals resides in the intracellular and extracellular spaces. They have important roles in critical physiological processes, including transport across cell membranes, enzyme activation and inhibition, regulation of intracellular metabolic pathways, and secretion and activity of hormones. These minerals are also involved in protein synthesis, maintaining membrane integrity, muscle contractility, neuromuscular excitation, nerve conduction, coagulation, and energy metabolism. Additionally, phosphorous is an important constituent of nucleic acids and cell membranes.
Monocytes Represent One Source of Bacterial Shielding from Antibiotics following Influenza Virus Infection.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus has emerged as a significant contributor to morbidity and mortality associated with influenza infection. In this study, we show in a mouse model that preceding influenza infection promotes S. aureus resistance to killing by antibiotics. This resistance coincides with influenza-induced accumulation of inflammatory monocytes in the lung. CCR type 2 (CCR2) is responsible for pulmonary monocyte recruitment after influenza infection. We found that antibiotic-treated Ccr2-deficient (Ccr2 −/− ) mice exhibit significantly improved bacterial control and survival from influenza and methicillin-resistant S. aureus coinfection, despite a delay in viral clearance. Mechanistically, our results from in vivo studies indicate that influenza-induced monocytes serve as reservoirs for intracellular S. aureus survival, thereby promoting bacterial resistance to antibiotic treatment. Blocking CCR2 with a small molecular inhibitor (PF-04178903), in conjunction with antibiotic treatment, enhanced lung bacterial clearance and significantly improved animal survival. Collectively, our study demonstrates that inflammatory monocytes constitute an important and hitherto underappreciated mechanism of the conflicting immune requirements for viral and bacterial clearance by hosts, which subsequently leads to exacerbated outcomes of influenza and S. aureus coinfection.
Outcomes of Patients Supported with ECMO as a Bridge to Durable Mechanical Circulatory Support: An Analysis of the STS Intermacs Database

Purpose To analyze the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients who were bridged with ECMO to durable mechanical circulatory support (dMCS). Methods Adult patients who received dMCS between Jan 2008 and Dec 2017, registered in INTERMACS were included. Baseline characteristics, outcomes, risk factors and adverse events were analyzed in patients supported by ECMO (ECMO group) prior to dMCS implantation, and compared with INTERMACS profile 1 patients not supported by ECMO (non-ECMO group). Results Patients bridged to dMCS on ECMO were younger, more likely to have acute heart failure, ischemic etiology, and a bridge to candidacy implantation compared to other INTERMACS profile 1 patients (Table 1). Patients who received dMCS on ECMO had 1, 6, and 12 month survival of 83.8%, 71.2%, and 66.1%, inferior to non-ECMO group patients (91.4% 81.7% and 75.4%, p Conclusion Patients bridged by ECMO to dMCS have lower survival compared with other INTERMACS profile 1 patients. Older age and longer duration of HF are associated with worse outcomes. ECMO implantation was independently associated with poorer outcome.
Immunoglobulin A Dysgammaglobulinemia Is Associated with Pediatric-Onset Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Abstract Background: Inflammation and immune dysregulation have been implicated in the pathogenesis of pediatric-onset obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and tic disorders such as Tourette syndrom...
Comparison of Machine Learning Optimal Classification Trees With the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network Head Trauma Decision Rules

Importance Computed tomographic (CT) scanning is the standard for the rapid diagnosis of intracranial injury, but it is costly and exposes patients to ionizing radiation. The Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN) rules for identifying children with minor head trauma who are at very low risk of clinically important traumatic brain injury (ciTBI) are widely used to triage CT imaging. Objective To examine whether optimal classification trees (OCTs), which are novel machine-learning classifiers, improve on PECARN rules’ predictive accuracy. Design, Setting, and Participants A secondary analysis of prospective, publicly available data on emergency department visits for head trauma used by the PECARN group to develop their tool was conducted to derive OCT-based prediction rules for ciTBI in a development cohort and compare their predictive performance vs the PECARN rules in a validation cohort among children who were younger than 2 years and 2 years or older. Data on 42 412 children with head trauma and without severely altered mental status who were examined between June 1, 2004, and September 30, 2006, were gathered from 25 emergency departments in North America participating in PECARN. Data analysis was conducted from September 15, 2016, to December 18, 2018. Main Outcomes and Measures The outcome was ciTBI, with predictive performance measured by estimating the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, positive likelihood ratio, and negative likelihood ratio for the OCT and the PECARN rules. The OCT and PECARN rules’ performance was compared by estimating ratios for each measure. Results Of the 42 412 children (15 996 [37.7%] girls) included in the analysis, 10 718 were younger than 2 years (25.3%; mean [SD] age, 11.6 [0.6] months) and 31 694 were 2 years or older (74.7%; age, 9.1 [4.9] years). Compared with PECARN rules, OCTs misclassified 0 vs 1 child with ciTBI in the younger and 10 vs 9 children with ciTBI in the older cohort, and correctly identified more children with very low risk of ciTBI in the younger (7605 vs 5701) and older (20 594 vs 18 134) cohorts. In the validation cohorts, compared with the PECARN rules, the OCTs had statistically significantly better specificity (in the younger cohort: 69.3%; 95% CI, 67.4%-71.2% vs 52.8%; 95% CI, 50.8%-54.9%; in the older cohort: 65.6%; 95% CI, 64.5%-66.8% vs 57.6%; 95% CI, 56.4%-58.8%), positive predictive value (odds ratios, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.36-1.74 and 1.23; 95% CI, 1.17-1.30, in younger and older children, respectively), and positive likelihood ratio (risk ratios, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.36-1.74 and 1.23; 95% CI, 1.17-1.30, in younger and older children, respectively). There were no statistically significant differences in the sensitivity, negative predictive value, and negative likelihood ratio between the 2 sets of rules. Conclusions and Relevance If implemented, OCTs may help reduce the number of unnecessary CT scans, without missing more patients with ciTBI than the PECARN rules.
Potential of an Electronic Health Record-Integrated Patient Portal for Improving Care Plan Concordance during Acute Care

Background Care plan concordance among patients and clinicians during hospitalization is suboptimal. Objective This article determines whether an electronic health record (EHR)-integrated patient portal was associated with increased understanding of the care plan, including the key recovery goal, among patients and clinicians in acute care setting. Methods The intervention included (1) a patient portal configured to solicit a single patient-designated recovery goal and display the care plan from the EHR for participating patients; and (2) an electronic care plan for all unit-based nurses that displays patient-inputted information, accessible to all clinicians via the EHR. Patients admitted to an oncology unit, including their nurses and physicians, were enrolled before and after implementation. Main outcomes included mean concordance scores for the overall care plan and individual care plan elements. Results Of 457 and 283 eligible patients approached during pre- and postintervention periods, 55 and 46 participated in interviews, respectively, including their clinicians. Of 46 postintervention patients, 27 (58.7%) enrolled in the patient portal. The intention-to-treat analysis demonstrated a nonsignificant increase in the mean concordance score for the overall care plan (62.0–67.1, adjusted p = 0.13), and significant increases in mean concordance scores for the recovery goal (30.3–57.7, adjusted p Conclusion Implementation of an EHR-integrated patient portal was associated with increased concordance for key care plan components. Future efforts should be directed at improving concordance for other care plan components and conducting larger, randomized studies to evaluate the impact on key outcomes during transitions of care. Clinical Trials Identifier NCT02258594.
Neural correlates of cue predictiveness during intentional and incidental associative learning: A time-frequency study

Abstract Incidental learning allows us to extract statistical relations between events in our daily lives without the intention to learn them. Whereas anticipation during intentional associative learning has been linked to increased and decreased theta band activity, comparatively little research has focused on incidental learning. The study of such a pervasive mechanism of incidental learning faces the challenge of finding an appropriate paradigm. Similarly, while posterior alpha band activity has been shown to facilitate attention to a predictable target location, it is not clear whether alpha power could mediate attention given other predictive information; e.g., when the only available information provided by the cue is the likelihood of the target outcome. Here we used a stimulus-stimulus associative learning task to investigate whether a cue carries information on its contingent relationship with a target outcome, not only when their relationship is learned intentionally but also when it could be learned incidentally. Moreover, by presenting the target outcome in a visual search task, we were also able to study whether anticipatory attention can be modulated by the intentional or the incidental knowledge of the likelihood of a target outcome given a predictive (or non-predictive) cue. Participants were exposed to streams of cue-target outcome trials, where one of two possible cues and one of two possible outcomes were displayed. Intention to learn was manipulated by asking participants to assess whether one of the target outcomes (the intentional one) was more likely to appear following one of the cues (the intentional one). Any learning regarding the other cue-outcome relationship would be incidental. We found that frontal and temporal theta band activity were sensitive to the predictive value of a cue (predictive cues elicited lower theta power). Moreover, left temporal theta was sensitive to the intention to learn associations (theta activity elicited by intentional learning cues was higher). Alpha power, by contrast, was not modulated by cue predictiveness of the target outcome. These findings suggest that theta band activity carries information about the predictive value of a cue. The topographical differences between theta for intentional and incidental learning suggest distinct cortical networks activated depending on whether the relationship between a cue and an outcome has been learned intentionally or incidentally.
Dark Silicon Considered Harmful: A Case for Truly Green Computing

As individuals and researchers approach the challenge of green computing it is natural to consider the energy consumption of computational devices and their supporting systems during their use phase (i.e., after they are deployed into service). However, for computing to be truly green, all phases of the system life-cycle, from manufacturing to disposal, must be considered. In particular there is limited awareness to the considerable fraction of the total life-cycle environmental impacts of computing systems that result from the fabrication of the integrated circuits (ICs) that are used in those devices. Ironically, the trend toward dark silicon accelerators, often targeted at improving operational energy efficiency, may be counterproductive for holistic energy reduction of computing systems. The increased chip area that results from a large percentage of dark silicon may exacerbate the fabrication impacts to the point that overall sustainability is actually decreased. In this paper, we explore some properties of manufacturing and operational energy efficiency and make a case that truly green computing must carefully consider the tradeoffs involved.
SIRT1 Mediates Septic Cardiomyopathy in a Murine Model of Polymicrobial Sepsis.

ABSTRACTBackground:Cardiac dysfunction, a common complication from severe sepsis, is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. However, the molecular mechanisms of septic cardiac dysfunction are poorly understood. SIRT1, a member of the sirtuin family of NAD+-dependent protein deacetylases,
Ensemble forecast and parameter inference of childhood diarrhea in Chobe District, Botswana

Diarrheal disease is the second largest cause of mortality in children younger than 5, yet our ability to anticipate and prepare for outbreaks remains limited. Here, we develop and test an epidemiological forecast model for childhood diarrheal disease in Chobe District, Botswana. Our prediction system uses a compartmental susceptible-infected-recovered-susceptible (SIRS) model coupled with Bayesian data assimilation to infer relevant epidemiological parameter values and generate retrospective forecasts. Our model inferred two system parameters and accurately simulated weekly observed diarrhea cases from 2007-2017. Accurate retrospective forecasts for diarrhea outbreaks were generated up to six weeks before the predicted peak of the outbreak, and accuracy increased over the progression of the outbreak. Many forecasts generated by our model system were more accurate than predictions made using only historical data trends. Accurate real-time forecasts have the potential to increase local preparedness for coming outbreaks through improved resource allocation and healthcare worker distribution.
The Impact of Donor Asphyxiation or Drowning on Pediatric Lung Transplant Recipients.

BACKGROUND Donors with drowning or asphyxiation (DA) as a mechanism of death (MOD) are considered high risk in pediatric lung transplantation. We sought to evaluate whether recipients of DA donors had negatively impacted outcomes. METHODS Pediatric recipients recorded in the United Network for Organ Sharing registry between 2000 and 2019 were included. Primary stratification was donor MOD. Propensity matching with a 1:1 ratio was performed to balance the DA and non-DA MOD donor cohorts. Cox multivariable regression was used to determine the risk-adjusted impact of donor MOD. A subanalysis of the effect of lung allocation score was also evaluated. RESULTS A total of 1016 patients underwent bilateral lung transplantation during the study period, including 888 (85.6%) from non-DA donors and 128 (14.4%) from DA donors. Survival at 90 days, 1 year, and 2 years were similar in the matched and unmatched cohorts regardless of the donor MOD. Moreover, separate risk-adjusted analysis of drowning and asphyxiated donors was similar to other MOD donors at 30 days, 1 year, and 5 years. Similar survival findings persisted regardless of pretransplant lung allocation score. Although the rates of posttransplant stroke (1.0% versus 3.1%, P = 0.04) and the length of hospital stay (19 versus 22 d, P = 0.004) were elevated in the unmatched DA MOD recipients, these differences were mitigated after propensity matching. CONCLUSIONS This study evaluated the impact of DA MOD donors in pediatric lung transplant recipients and found similar rates of complications and survival in a propensity-matched cohort. These data collectively support the consideration of DA MOD donors for use in pediatric lung transplantation.
An Optimum Algorithm for Quantum Search

This paper discusses an improvement to Grover's algorithm for searches where target states are Hamming weight eigenstates and search space is not ordered. It is shown that under these conditions search efficiency depends on the smaller number of 0's and 1's, not the total length, of binary string of target state, and that Grover's algorithm can be improved whenever number of 0's and number 1's are not equal. In particular, improvement can be exponential when number of 0's or number of 1's is very small relative to binary string length. One interesting application is that Dicke state preparation, which in Grover's algorithm is P on average, can be made poly-efficient in all cases. For decision making process, this improvement won't improve computation efficiency, but can make implementation much simpler.
Experiential Learning in the Fashion Sustainability Classroom: The Development of a Fashion Revolution Week Event Using Creative Problem-Solving

Designed for a beginner-level fashion sustainability primer course, the purpose of the Fashion Revolution Week Event (FRWE) Project is to engage students in the planning and execution of a Fashion Revolution Week Event using experiential learning. Complementing the course curriculum, students use creative problem-solving techniques and perform research to develop an informational poster and interactive activity to share during Fashion Revolution Week at a fair event on campus. This project challenges students to solve the problem: "How can we educate the campus community about issues related to fashion sustainability?" and enact the solution through real-world in-person discussions with members of the campus community. Regardless of the unprecedented challenges associated with Spring 2020, the inaugural event was adapted to a Webinar, receiving strong praise. Students reflect strong learning outcomes and inspiration to improve the sustainability of the fashion industry through their roles as consumers and future fashion industry professionals.
Remixin’ and flown’ in centros: exploring the biliteracy practices of Black language speakers in an elementary two-way immersion bilingual program

This paper draws on qualitative research that examines the biliteracy practices of Black Language (BL) speakers in an elementary, two-way immersion (TWI), dual-language bilingual program, using Rac...
Evaluating the Performance Benefits for Low-Volume Roadways Constructed with Geosynthetic Wicking Fabrics: A Case Study in Northern New England

One of the most challenging issues transportation managers face is maintaining the condition of low-volume roadways during and immediately following wet weather events, such as heavy rainfall and the spring time thaw period. Specifically, high moisture contents in the road base and subgrade weakens the overall structure, causing excessive rutting and structural damage, leading to costly repairs, load restrictions, and/or closures. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the impact on structural performance of low-volume roadways constructed with geosynthetic wicking fabrics, which are designed to act as both a drain to move water out of the pavement structure as well as a moisture barrier to prevent a capillary rise in the unbound layers of the roadway. A low-volume roadway in Northern New England was constructed where a Mirafi® H2Ri wicking fabric was installed in the subgrade layer of the pavement. The pavement section was instrumented with moisture and temperature sensors at different depths to monitor the effect the fabric had on the moisture content of the subgrade. The data, collected and monitored over a period of one year, was then used to predict the stiffness of subgrade layer. The layered elastic analysis was used to predict the rutting performance of the pavement section. These performance predictions were then compared to the previously unmodified section with no fabric installed. Ultimately, the results showed significant improvements in the rutting resistance of the pavement structure with the fabric compared to the unmodified section, particularly during the spring time thaw period due to the improved drainage capability the fabric provides. The findings from this study suggest that geosynthetic wicking fabrics offer significant advantages when installing in roadways to prevent damage during the spring time thaw period in cold regions and could be a useful tool for transportation managers with low-volume roadway networks as well as adapted in pavement design practice.
Mass-Transfer Measurements by the Limiting-Current Technique

Publisher Summary Limiting-current density refers to the maximum rate at 100% current efficiency, at which a particular electrode reaction can proceed in the steady state. This rate is determined by the composition and transport properties of the electrolytic solution and by the hydrodynamic condition at the electrode surface. It has been observed that in many cases mass transfer is not the sole cause of unsteady-state limiting currents, observed when a fast current ramp is imposed on an elongated electrode. Major conditions for valid measurement and interpretation of limiting currents include reaction characterized by slow surface kinetics, progress of the electrode position reaction, use of low concentrations of the reacting ionic species in free convection studies. This chapter outlines the underlying principles, discusses the conditions of validity, and highlights some selected applications and basic features of the limiting-current phenomenon. The chapter also illustrates a synopsis of electrochemical mass-transfer theory, to the extent required for analysis of limiting-current conditions. Various complicating factors—migration effects, the choice of appropriate diffusivity values, unsteady-state conditions, current distribution below and at the limiting current, and the effect of formation of rough metallic deposits—in the interpretation of limiting-current measurements are considered.
Where did this oral tube come from

A well looking 11-month-old baby presented to accident and emergency department with a 24 hour history of vomiting. In the last vomit, a fine bore tube was expelled from his mouth. He had multiple abdominal surgeries in the past and 10 days prior to admission, his ventriculo-peritoneal shunt had been revised. Plain X-ray of chest and abdomen was undertaken as a part of shunt series. Plain X-ray of chest and abdomen demonstrated migration of the distal end of the shunt into the stomach and out through the mouth (Fig. 1). The perforation was very small and did not require any surgical correction. Neurosurgical management involved externalization of the distal end of the shunt along with 2 weeks of intravenous antibiotics prior to insertion of a new ventriculo-atrial shunt. 
Stability and Change in Private and Public Ethnic Regard Among African American, Puerto Rican, Dominican, and Chinese American Early Adolescents

Over the past 20 years, researchers have demonstrated that ethnic identity in adolescence is multifaceted and dynamic, encompassing a number of aspects of content and self-definition. The present study examines private regard (i.e., youths' positive evaluations of their ethnic group) as well as public regard, which refers to their perceptions of others' evaluations of the group. The primary objective of the present study was to examine stability versus change in private and public regard among an ethnically diverse sample of early adolescents as they progressed through middle school. Using data from a longitudinal investigation of 6th graders, we found that private regard was stable over time and quite positive for all groups. In addition, while Chinese American youths' public regard tended to increase over time, African American, Puerto Rican, and Dominican youths' public regard decreased across the middle school years. Implications for ethnic identity theory are discussed.
Analysis of the carbohydrate composition of the pancreatic plasmalemmal glycoprotein affinity labeled by short probes for the cholecystokinin receptor.

Abstract Affinity labeling of the rat pancreatic cholecystokinin (CCK) receptor with decapeptide probes has identified an Mr = 85,000-95,000 protein, distinct from the Mr = 80,000 component previously labeled with 125I-Bolton Hunter-CCK-33. We have characterized the carbohydrate composition of this novel protein labeled with 125I-D-Tyr-Gly-[(Nle28,31)-CCK-26-33] and disuccinimidyl suberate by using chemical and enzymatic deglycosylation and lectin chromatography. The Mr = 85,000-95,000 component was demonstrated to be an N-linked sialoglycoprotein based on neuraminidase digestion to Mr = 75,000-85,000 and endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase F (Endo F) digestion to Mr = 42,000. This was distinct from the Mr = 65,000 product of Endo F digestion of the protein labeled with 125I-Bolton Hunter-CCK-33. Lack of an effect of endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H demonstrated the absence of N-linked simple oligosaccharides, while products of chemical deglycosylation with hydrogen fluoride and endo-alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase supported the absence of O-linked carbohydrate. The presence of at least four oligosaccharide chains on the core protein was suggested by Endo F digestion of the Mr = 85,000-95,000 protein using limiting enzyme conditions. This glycoprotein was retained on wheat germ agglutininagarose and eluted by N,N',N"-triacetylchitotriose. Identification of the Mr = 85,000-95,000 component on the ectodomain of the plasmalemma of intact pancreatic acini confirmed this to be the fully processed form of the CCK-binding protein.
A Thermal Model of Wire Explosions in Methane

Explosions of various metals into methane were used to develop a thermal model for the interaction of exploding wires with this hydrocarbon. This model has wider implications that are useful in predicting the behavior toward exploding wires of other gases whose endothermic pyrolyses can be initiated by this technique. Calorimetry, product analysis, and thermodynamic calculations were used to develop the model. The paper describes the role of the exploding wire in transferring energy from the capacitors to the surrounding gas, the determination of the efficiency of the energy transfer process, and the indirect measurement of the temperatures at which the principal chemical reactions occurred, as well as the temperature distributions in the overall surrounding gas. It is shown that the process is remarkably efficient in abstracting energy from the wire explosion to effect high temperature pyrolyses, and that the major reaction forming acetylene, hydrogen, and solids occurs in a narrow zone of very high temperature, while most of the surrounding gas is relatively cold.
Mental Health Barriers to Employment for TANF Recipients

ABSTRACT TANF's main outcome goal of caseload reduction has resulted in a blanket attempt to reduce caseloads across all populations of TANF recipients, even though it is widely acknowledged that many TANF recipients may have significant barriers to employment. This study examined the mental health-related quality of life and related characteristics of female TANF recipients and nonrecipients, aged 18–40, receiving publicly funded mental health services (N = 487) to identify potential barriers to employment among TANF recipients in this group. TANF recipients reported significantly more distress and functional limitations related to their mental health than nonrecipients. This subgroup of TANF recipients is in need of specific attention from both the public welfare and mental health systems. The barriers to employment and the public policy goals of welfare reform related to this population are discussed.
Development of the DDA 8. 2L diesel engine for 1988 emission standards

The emission development performed to meet 1988 Federal and California emission standards with a four-stroke direct-injection V-8 diesel engine of 8.2L displacement is described. On the naturally aspirated engine the major concern was meeting particulate and lug smoke standards at low NO/sub x/ levels. Acceleration smoke and particulate emission reduction was necessary on the turbocharged engine. The performance and emission goals were met by modifying the unit injectors and pistons of both naturally aspirated and turbocharged engines.
Asymmetric and frequency-dependent pollinator-mediated interactions may influence competitive displacement in two vernal pool plants

A plant species immigrating into a community may experience a rarity disadvantage due to competition for the services of pollinators. These negative reproductive interactions have the potential to lead to competitive displacement or exclusion of a species from a site. In this study, we used one- and two-species arrays of potted plants to test for density and frequency dependence in pollinator-mediated and above-ground intraspecific and interspecific competition between two species of Limnanthes that have overlapping ranges, but rarely occur in close sympatry. There were asymmetric competitive effects; the species responded differently to their frequency within 16-plant replacement series arrays. Limnanthes douglasii rosea experienced stronger reductions in lifetime and per-flower fertility, likely due to pollinator-mediated competition with Limnanthes alba. This effect may be linked to asymmetrical competition through heterospecific pollen transfer. This study demonstrates that pollinator-mediated competition may discourage establishment of L. d. rosea in sites already occupied by its congener.
Interplay of oxygen-evolution kinetics and photovoltaic power curves on the construction of artificial leaves.

An artificial leaf can perform direct solar-to-fuels conversion. The construction of an efficient artificial leaf or other photovoltaic (PV)-photoelectrochemical device requires that the power curve of the PV material and load curve of water splitting, composed of the catalyst Tafel behavior and cell resistances, be well-matched near the thermodynamic potential for water splitting. For such a condition, we show here that the current density-voltage characteristic of the catalyst is a key determinant of the solar-to-fuels efficiency (SFE). Oxidic Co and Ni borate (Co-Bi and Ni-Bi) thin films electrodeposited from solution yield oxygen-evolving catalysts with Tafel slopes of 52 mV/decade and 30 mV/decade, respectively. The consequence of the disparate Tafel behavior on the SFE is modeled using the idealized behavior of a triple-junction Si PV cell. For PV cells exhibiting similar solar power-conversion efficiencies, those displaying low open circuit voltages are better matched to catalysts with low Tafel slopes and high exchange current densities. In contrast, PV cells possessing high open circuit voltages are largely insensitive to the catalyst’s current density-voltage characteristics but sacrifice overall SFE because of less efficient utilization of the solar spectrum. The analysis presented herein highlights the importance of matching the electrochemical load of water-splitting to the onset of maximum current of the PV component, drawing a clear link between the kinetic profile of the water-splitting catalyst and the SFE efficiency of devices such as the artificial leaf.
Millochau crater, Mars: Infilling and erosion of an ancient highland impact crater

The geology and stratigraphy of Millochau crater (21.4° S, 275° W), located in the highlands of Tyrrhena Terra, Mars, are documented through geomorphic analyses and geologic mapping. Crater size-frequency distributions and superposition relationships are used to constrain relative ages of geologic units and determine the timing and duration of the geologic processes that modified Millochau rim materials and emplaced deposits on Millochau's floor. Crater size-frequency distributions show a Middle Noachian age for rim materials and Middle Noachian to Early Hesperian ages for most of the interior deposits. Valley networks and gullies incised within Millochau's rim materials and interior wall, respectively, indicate fluvial activity was an important erosional process. Millochau contains an interior plateau, offset northeast of Millochau's center, which rises up to 400 m above the surrounding crater floor and slopes downward to the south and west. Layers exposed along the northern and eastern scarp boundaries of the plateau are tens to hundreds of meters thick and laterally continuous in MOC images. These layers suggest most materials within Millochau were emplaced by sedimentary processes (e.g., fluvial or eolian), with the potential for lacustrine deposition in shallow transient bodies of water and contributions of volcanic airfall. Mass wasting may have also contributed significant quantities of material to Millochau's interior, especially to the deposits surrounding the plateau. Superposition relationships combined with impact crater statistics indicate that most deposition and erosion of Millochau's interior deposits is ancient, which implies that fluvial activity in this part of Tyrrhena Terra is much older than in the eastern Hellas region. Eolian processes mobilized sediment to form complicated patterns of long- and short-wavelength dunes, whose emplacement is controlled by local topography. These deposits are some of the youngest within Millochau (Amazonian) and eolian modification may be ongoing.
An improved method for the hydrolysis and MBTH analysis of dissolved and particulate carbohydrates in seawater

Abstract An improved method for the bulk characterization of particulate and dissolved combined carbohydrates in seawater is presented. Seawater samples are dried under vacuum and the residue is hydrolyzed with 12 M H 2 SO 4 . Carbohydrates in the hydrolysate are subsequently quantified spectrophotometrically by MBTH (3-methyl-2-benzothiazolinone hydrazone hydrochloride) analysis. Sulfuric acid was more effective in hydrolyzing high-molecular-weight structural carbohydrates (cellulose, chitin, and alginic acid) than weak (0.09 N) hydrochloric acid. Sulfuric acid hydrolysis of dissolved and particulate samples yielded estimates of carbohydrates equal to or greater (two- to four-fold) than those resulting from dilute (0.09 N) HCl hydrolysis. In samples from the Gulf of Mexico, total dissolved carbohydrates determined after sulfuric acid hydrolysis varied from 20 to 56 μM C and from 10 to 28% of the dissolved organic carbon determined by high-temperature catalytic oxidation.
Method for planarizing rigid graphite for use as an x-ray mask substrate

The usefulness of thin (< 250 micrometers ) rigid graphite plates as x-ray mask substrates for micromachining and LIGA applications has been demonstrated. Rigid graphite offers unique properties, such as moderate x-ray absorption and optimal filtration of synchrotron radiation, relatively low cost, compatibility with additive (electroplating) and subtractive (etching, micromachining) processes for absorber patterning. The surface roughness of these substrates is associated with the inherent porosity of a commercially available rigid graphite material (typical Ra values are in the range of 1 - 2 micrometers ). The surface roughness of this rigid graphite sheet is reduced down to a 0.1 - 0.2 micrometers Ra value by polishing. To reduce surface roughness further and make the substrate usable for fine e-beam or optical absorber imaging, additional smoothing is required. In this paper, the surface characteristics of rigid graphite sheets are analyzed and a glazing technique developed to smooth the graphite surface is described. This technique employs hard baking process of novolac-based resins. An average Ra roughness value of approximately 5 nm was obtained after 5 coating using novolac-based AZ type resist.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Financial market liberalization and stock market efficiency: the case of Greece

This paper investigates the issue of whether financial market liberalization announcements in emerging economies have had any effects on the efficient operation of their equity markets. The issue is empirically examined in the case of Greece, and its emerging stock market, the Athens Stock Exchange (ASE). The sequence of tests conducted, ranging from tests of structural change to several efficiency tests, suggest that the Greek equity market was weak‐form efficient before these announcements were made. Hence, the ASE was operating as a random walk hinting that investors could not engage in systematically profitable ventures because future long‐term returns were independent of past returns. In other words, foreign and local investors guided their strategies based on the fundamentals and not on speculative grounds.