cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Reaction Time and Interpersonal Communication Tasks to Test Effectiveness of a Matching Strategy in Reducing Attack-Instigated Aggression:

The effects of an opponent's matching strategy on attack-instigated aggression have been investigated in at least four studies. Two studies with the Taylor reaction-time task found little or no significant decreases in aggression. Two studies with the interpersonal-communications task reported more rapid decreases. While many differences between the studies other than type of task could account for the different results, the reaction-time task may be less sensitive to matching contingencies than the interpersonal-communications task. The present research compared these two procedures in the same experiment. Subjects exchanged shocks with an opponent who attacked them and then switched to a matching strategy. Results confirmed the hypothesis that the matching strategy leads to a more rapid decrease in aggression on the interpersonal-communications task than on the reaction-time task.
Processing of needle rinse material from fine‐needle aspirations rarely detects malignancy not identified in smears

When preparing FNA smears, we recover material left in the needle hub by forcefully striking the open hub against a slide. Material in the syringe tip is expressed by repeated forceful blasts of air (needle unattached). We investigated the utility of recovering additional material by rinsing the needle and syringe. Saline was used to flush the needle and syringe tip repeatedly. All material was processed by cytocentrifugation. We studied 159 needle rinse (NR) specimens from 152 patients (breast = 70, lymph node = 30. lung = 15, soft tissue = 14, salivary gland = 12, thyroid = 12, liver = 5, branchial cleft cyst = 1). Malignancy was Identified in 21 FNAs (13%) from 21 patients (14%). All were diagnosed in smears (9 lung, 5 liver, 4 lymph node, 2 breast, 1 soft tissue). NR material identified 16 of these (76%). No case with benign smears (n = 138) showed malignancy in NR material. We conclude that if good technique is applied to preparation of smears and recovery of material from the needle hub and syringe tip, NR material will rarely identify additional malignancies. It thus represents an inefficient allocation of technical and human resources within the laboratory. However, NR may provide additional slides for special stains and may be useful for clinicians who do not always prepare high quality smears. Furthermore, the ease with which FNA of palpable masses can be repeated suggests that in the small number of cases requiring special stains, additional material can be readily obtained. Thus in the light of our data, there is probably little reason to prepare NR specimens in any but the most exceptional cases. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Dynamic Cell and Microparticle Control via Optoelectronic Tweezers

This paper reports on cell and microparticle manipulation using optically induced dielectrophoresis. Our novel optoelectronic tweezers (OET) device enables optically controlled trapping, transportation, and sorting via dielectrophoretic forces. By integrating a spatial light modulator and using direct imaging, arbitrary dynamic manipulation patterns are obtained. Here, we demonstrate manipulation functions, including particle collectors, single-particle traps, individually addressable single-particle arrays, light-defined particle channels, and size-based particle sorting. OET-induced particle manipulation velocities are analyzed as a function of the applied voltage, optical pattern linewidth, and single-particle trap dimensions.
Drop-tower experiments for capillary surfaces in an exotic container

Low-gravity drop-tower experiments are carried out for an 'exotic' rotationally-symmetric container, which admits an entire continuum of distinct equilibrium symmetric capillary free surfaces. It is found that an initial equilibrium planer interface, a member of the continuum, will reorient toward a non-symmetric interface, as predicted by recent mathematical theory.
Influence of long-term dormant-season burning and fire exclusion on ground-dwelling arthropod populations in longleaf pine flatwoods ecosystems

Abstract Frequent dormant-season prescribed burns were applied at 1-, 2- and 4-year intervals to longleaf pine stands, Pinus palustris , for over 40 years on the Osceola National Forest in Baker County, Florida. Control plots were unburned for the same period of time. Pitfall traps were operated from November 1994 to October 1999 to measure the short- and long-term effects of prescribed burning frequency on the relative abundance and diversity of ground-dwelling macroarthropods. We also measured dead and live plant biomass to determine how long-term frequent fires affected the structure of the forest floor. The average total dead plus live plant biomass was significantly higher on plots where fire had been excluded. Annual and biennial burning resulted in about the same amount of total plant biomass (dead and live plant material combined) which was significantly less than the quadrennially burned plots. Shannon diversity ( H ′) and evenness of ground-dwelling arthropods were reduced by burning. Annually burned plots had the lowest diversity and evenness while biennially and quadrennially burned plots also were significantly lower than unburned control plots. Dormant-season burning did not increase the number of rare genera regardless of frequency. Percent similarity of arthropod communities was highest for comparisons between plots that had been burned (60–68%) and lowest for the comparison of annually burned plots to unburned controls (37%). Examination of diversity and similarity through time showed that changes were due to short-term effects caused by the application of fire and not long-term changes in the ground-dwelling arthropod community. Burning significantly reduced the numbers of predators regardless of fire frequency and resulted in an increased number of detritivores. A total of 42 genera were reduced by prescribed burning; 32 genera were captured in greater numbers on annually burned plots, and 11 genera had higher numbers in one or both of the intermediate burn frequencies (biennial or quadrennial). Twenty-six genera were captured in equal numbers on quadrennially and annually burned plots, but in significantly lower numbers than on unburned plots, demonstrating that 4 years was insufficient time for their populations to recover from mild dormant-season fires. Arthropod response to burning appeared to be species specific so attempts to generalize how arthropods will respond based on a few species or groups should be avoided. The slow recovery rate of so many species suggests that management oriented toward conservation of biodiversity in longleaf pine flatwoods should include areas of fire exclusion.
Policy implications of a successful energy conservation program in university buildings and dormitories

Abstract Electricity conservation programs based on social psychological principles produced savings from 3 to 19% in fourteen university buildings. The programs prompted physical and policy changes as well as changes in occupant activities. We recommend that conservation efforts in similar institutional settings: 1. (a) focus on all types of resource waste; 2. (b) have clear official sanction; 3. (c) call upon building occupants to define conservation opportunities; 4. (d) publicize unfamiliar how-to-save-energy information; 5. (e) encourage allocation of responsibility for waste in particular areas to specific individuals, and 6. (f) be of short, definite duration, renewed periodically.
The relationship between shear and compressional velocities at high pressures: Reconciliation of seismic tomography and mineral physics

The value of the parameter ν from low pressure laboratory measurements disagrees with the value from seismic observations. The parameter ν relates the isobaric change in shear velocity Vs to the change in compressional velocity Vp. Seismic evidence indicates ν exceeds 2.0 in the lower mantle, whereas data on a variety of minerals at high temperature T and ambient pressure P result in lower values. We reconcile these differences. Our ab initio model calculations on MgO show that ν increases with P and is 2.0–2.5 at lower mantle pressures. There is no need to assume partial melting to explain the seismic data. These calculations also provide insight into the P and T dependence of the dimensionless parameter Γ ≡ −(1/αG)(∂G/∂T)p, where G is the isotropic shear modulus and α is the volume thermal expansivity. Using measured values of thermoelastic parameters coupled with thermodynamic identities, we seek constraints on δs ≡ −(1/αKs)(∂Ks/∂T)p, where Ks is the adiabatic bulk modulus, and confirm that P causes δs to decrease. We find Poisson's ratio increases with P and T. Altogether these results show that for MgO, ν increases from 1.3 at ambient conditions to over 2 at lower mantle conditions. We expect other mantle minerals to behave similarly. Therefore we find that reconciliation of the mineral physics approach with that of seismic tomography concerning ν does not require special assumptions about the state of the lower mantle.
Antiplatelet therapy after drug-eluting stent implantation

Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT), which is the combination of aspirin and a platelet P2Y12 inhibitor, is the cornerstone of secondary prevention in ischemic heart disease requiring intracoronary stenting. Although the efficacy of DAPT in the reduction of ischemic events has been well validated, the optimal duration, and indeed combination, of therapy is yet to be established. This area continues to attract debate with new developments in stent design and antiplatelet agents, as well as evolving clinical skill levels. Presently, clinical guidelines advocate the use of DAPT for 6-12 months following drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation, but this can vary according to clinical indication, bleeding risk, and country of practice. Concerns have arisen that unnecessary prolongation of DAPT may be associated with increased bleeding events, as well as cost. Whether these guidelines effectively cater to current stenting techniques, devices, and antiplatelet agents remains to be determined. This review analyzes contemporary issues surrounding DAPT following DES implantation, as researchers continue to seek to strike the optimal balance between bleeding and thrombotic risk. Although reduced DAPT durations continue to show promising results in preventing ischemic events while also mitigating bleeding risk, ultimately the consideration of clinical presentation as well as medical and social history is paramount to guiding the optimal duration and cessation of DAPT.
Activation of Dendritic Cells via Inhibition of Jak2/STAT3 Signaling

Signaling via Jak2/STAT3 is critically important for normal dendritic cell (DC) differentiation. In addition, we have previously demonstrated that hyperactivation of the Jak2/STAT3 pathway induced by tumor-derived factors (TDF) may be responsible for abnormal DC differentiation in cancer. In this study, using a novel selective inhibitor of Jak2/STAT3, JSI-124, we investigated the mechanism of the Jak2/STAT3 effect on DCs and the possibility of pharmacological regulation of DC differentiation in cancer. Our experiments have demonstrated that JSI-124 overcomes the differentiation block induced by TDF and promotes the differentiation of mature DCs and macrophages. Surprisingly, inhibition of Jak2/STAT3 signaling resulted in dramatic activation of immature DCs generated in the presence of TDF as well as in control medium. This activation manifested in up-regulation of MHC class II, costimulatory molecules, and a dramatic increase in the ability to stimulate allogeneic or Ag-specific T cells. Inhibition of Jak2/STAT3 signaling resulted in activation of the transcription factor NF-kappaB. This up-regulation was not due to a conventional pathway involving IkappaB alpha, but was probably due to a block of the dominant negative effect of STAT3. This indicates that Jak2/STAT3 play an important role in negative regulation of DC activation, and pharmacological inhibition of the Jak2/STAT3 pathway can be used to enhance DC function.
Exact Minimum Cycle Times for Finite State Machines

In current research, the minimum cycle times of finite state machines are estimated by computing the delays of the combinational logic in the finite state machines. Even though these methods deal with false paths, they ignore the sequential and periodic nature of minimum cycle times, and hencemay give pessimistic results. In this paper, we first prove conditions under which combinational delays are correct upper bounds on minimum cycle times. Then, we present a sequential approach to compute the minimum cycle times of finite state machines, taking into account the effects of gate delay variations, reachable state space, initial states, unrealizable transitions, multiple cycle false paths, and periodicity of the present state vector sequences. We formulate and solve the problem exactly using Timed Boolean Functions, and give an efficient algorithm to solve for upper bounds of minimum cycle times. The exact formulation with Timed Boolean Functions provides a framework for further improvements on existing algorithms to compute the minimum cycle times. We implemented the algorithm and obtained the tightest bounds known on ISCAS benchmarks. From the experiments, we found that for about 20%of the circuits (not all shown in section 8), combinational delays, e.g. floating, viability, and transition delays, give pessimistic upper bounds for cycle times by as much as 25%.
Profile Control in Silicon Nanostructures Using Fluorine-Enhanced Oxide Passivation

Nanostructures with controllable geometries are increasingly needed for mechanosensor applications due to their superior capabilities in measuring minute mechanical forces at small scales. Previous nanofabrication technologies are deficient in creating such structures due to high cost, complicated process and poor geometric control. In this paper, we introduce an innovative use of fluorine enhanced oxidation to realize a segment by segment sidewall control strategy for creating silicon nanostructures. This method is based on fluorine reactive ion etching, where the rich amount of fluorine species accumulated on the surface are utilized to enhance surface oxidation during an additional oxygen exposure. The experimental results showed good repeatability. The characteristic feature size of the resulting nanostructures is about 200 nm. The minimum feature size goes down to 50 nm. This method requires minimal use of equipment, and demonstrates good control of sidewall profiles. It thus has technical and economic significance in development of functional nanomechanosensors, which are potent for quantitative mechanical sensing and actuating at small scales.
Estimates of Acoustic Inhomogeneities in Skin from the Variation in Backscatter Efficiency at High Ultrasonic Frequencies

A high frequency pulsed ultrasonic system developed to interrogate skin is wtilized to study frequency dependent backscatter efficiency as a means of characterizing biological tissue. The statistical properties of such signals, windowinq artifacts related to signal processing techniques, and various scattering models are discussed in order present the possibilities and limitations of such measurements. It is shown that in order to detect frequency dependent backscatter fluctuations on the order of those expected from biological tissue, extreme care must be used in choosing a data window and in choosing the amount of variance reduction through averaging techniques. Backscatter from nearly monodisperse size distributions of polystyrene scatterers are analyzed to demonstrate the techniques.
Effects of Attribute and Goal Framing on Automation Reliance and Compliance

Presentation of an aid’s reliability may have mixed results on utilization due to differences in the way the reliability is framed, as well as its effects on reliance versus compliance. Using an aided signal detection task, the current study compared effects of attribute framing (80% correct versus 20% incorrect) and goal framing (focusing on hits and correct rejections versus misses and false alarms) on sensitivity, response bias, compliance, and reliance. Sensitivity and response bias results indicated few differences between aided groups. Information framing did lead to differences in compliance, but not reliance compared to an unframed group. However, reliance differences occurred when comparing positive and negative framing group. These results indicate that the manner in which information about the reliability of a diagnostic aid is presented can have significant, albeit subtle, effects on automation utilization.
Sex-Specific Brain Deficits in Auditory Processing in an Animal Model of Cocaine-Related Schizophrenic Disorders

Cocaine is a psychostimulant in the pharmacological class of drugs called Local Anesthetics. Interestingly, cocaine is the only drug in this class that has a chemical formula comprised of a tropane ring and is, moreover, addictive. The correlation between tropane and addiction is well-studied. Another well-studied correlation is that between psychosis induced by cocaine and that psychosis endogenously present in the schizophrenic patient. Indeed, both of these psychoses exhibit much the same behavioral as well as neurochemical properties across species. Therefore, in order to study the link between schizophrenia and cocaine addiction, we used a behavioral paradigm called Acoustic Startle. We used this acoustic startle paradigm in female versus male Sprague-Dawley animals to discriminate possible sex differences in responses to startle. The startle method operates through auditory pathways in brain via a network of sensorimotor gating processes within auditory cortex, cochlear nuclei, inferior and superior colliculi, pontine reticular nuclei, in addition to mesocorticolimbic brain reward and nigrostriatal motor circuitries. This paper is the first to report sex differences to acoustic stimuli in Sprague-Dawley animals (Rattus norvegicus) although such gender responses to acoustic startle have been reported in humans (Swerdlow et al. 1997 [1]). The startle method monitors pre-pulse inhibition (PPI) as a measure of the loss of sensorimotor gating in the brain's neuronal auditory network; auditory deficiencies can lead to sensory overload and subsequently cognitive dysfunction. Cocaine addicts and schizophrenic patients as well as cocaine treated animals are reported to exhibit symptoms of defective PPI (Geyer et al., 2001 [2]). Key findings are: (a) Cocaine significantly reduced PPI in both sexes. (b) Females were significantly more sensitive than males; reduced PPI was greater in females than in males. (c) Physiological saline had no effect on startle in either sex. Thus, the data elucidate gender-specificity to the startle response in animals. Finally, preliminary studies show the effect of cocaine on acoustic startle in tandem with effects on estrous cycle. The data further suggest that hormones may play a role in these sex differences to acoustic startle reported herein.
Presentation depth and the Lipman-Sathaye Jacobian theorem

We give a version of the theorem of Lipman and Sathaye on Jacobian ideals but with substantially weaker hypotheses. Both their version and the result here are very useful in providing explicit test elements in tight closure theory. There are two separate ways in which the hypothesis in the theorem is weakened here: one is that the larger ring is not required to be a domain, although it will be reduced. Second, the regularity condition on the smaller ring is weakened to the point where one need not assume that it is Cohen-Macaulay. Instead, a condition on the ring homomorphism is imposed that may be viewed as a relative analogue of the Serre conditon S2: a family of such conditions is introduced and studied here. The deÞnition is made in terms of a presentation of an algebra, but is independent of the presentation. To Jan–Erik Roos on his sixty–Þfth birthday
Logistics and operations implications of manual control of spacecraft docking maneuvers

The implications of logistics and operations on the manual control of spacecraft docking are discussed. The results of simulation studies to investigate fuel and time cost tradeoffs are reviewed and discussed. Comparisons of acceleration control and pulse control are presented to evaluate the effects of astronauts being instructed to use pulse mode for fuel conservation. The applications of the findings to moon and Mars missions are addressed.
Prediction of heartbeat motion with a generalized adaptive filter

In order to perform coronary artery bypass graft surgery, a stationary heart is necessary. A human cannot achieve manual tracking of the complex heartbeat motion. Robotics technology can overcome such limitations. In the robotic-assisted beating heart surgery, the robot actively cancels heart motion by closely following a point of interest on the heart surface-a process called active relative motion canceling. As a result, surgeon can operate on the beating heart as if it is stationary. In this paper, a generalized estimation algorithm, that uses an adaptive filter to generate future position estimates is studied. The predictor is parameterized on-line and adaptively to minimize the prediction error in the mean-square sense. The predictor is evaluated using a 3-degree- of-freedom test-bed system and prerecorded heart motion data.
Test Capabilities in the CCAPS/CSDL Augmentor Development Facility

The Commonwealth Center for Aerospace and Propulsion Systems (CCAPS) has developed an augmentor development test facility at Virginia Tech’s Combustion System Dynamics Lab (CSDL) that will enable rapid evaluation of augmentor concepts as well as the development of diagnostic techniques for measuring heat release, species concentrations, flame speeds, pressure loss, and other quantities relevant to augmentor performance. This paper provides an overview of the rig’s design and capabilities and the diagnostic techniques that are being developed.
Cantilever sensor with stress-concentrating piezoresistor design

A novel approach for enhancing the sensitivity of piezoresistive cantilever sensors is presented. Thin piezoresistive clamped-clamped silicon beams are released on the surface of the cantilever by a micromachining process sequence combining deep-reactive ion etching and anisotropic wet etching of silicon. A deflection of the cantilever sensor yields a stress concentration in these micromachined piezoresistive structures. Finite element simulations indicate an increase in both force and displacement sensitivity compared to a conventional cantilever beam with the same thickness. Devices have been fabricated and initial characterization has been performed. Under constant tip deflection of the cantilever, the new piezoresistor design shows an increase in the relative resistance change by a factor of 5.2 compared to a cantilever with the same thickness and conventional piezoresistor design
“First You Must Master Pain”: The Nature and Purpose of Apprenticeship

The goal of this study was to distill from a large body of literature on children learning crafts, such as pottery and weaving, the characteristics of apprenticeship as a distinct phenomenon. Currently, apprenticeship is considered indistinguishable from other, more informal, means of skill transmission. From the literature survey, 11 attributes were identified as belonging to the archetypal apprenticeship. The analysis then advances to consider the genesis or raison d'etre for the apprenticeship. The argument is advanced that the apprenticeship is designed to simultaneously train novices in specific craft or trade skills while socializing them to join the social and cultural elite represented by master craftsmen. The article concludes by considering the role of apprenticeship in the evolution of schooling.
The Association Between Cigarette Smoking During Pregnancy and Maternal Behavior During the Neonatal Period

This study examined the association between maternal smoking during pregnancy and maternal behavior during mother-infant interactions during the neonatal period. Participants included 84 mother–infant dyads (43 cigarette-exposed and 41 nonexposed) who were recruited after birth and assessed at 2 to 4 weeks of infant age. Results indicated that mothers who smoked during pregnancy had higher levels of maternal insensitivity (MI) and lower levels of maternal warmth (MW) during interactions with their infant even after controlling for demographics and pregnancy alcohol use. Maternal anxiety and hostility mediated the association between smoking and MI and maternal anger mediated the association between smoking and reduced MW. In addition, there was an interaction between infant gender and maternal smoking for MW with smokers displaying less warmth to boys during interactions.
The willgerodt-kindler reactions. 7. The mechanisms†‡

The mechanisms involved in various stages of the Kindler Reaction are discussed, with particular attention especially to its most unusual feature: the movement of a carbonyl group from methylene carbon to methylene carbon in an unbranched alkyl chain, or around a cycloalkyl ring. The first step is the reversible formation of an enamine, which is attacked by a catalyst generated from sulfur and the amine solvent to form a highly reactive intermediate with a sulfur-containing heterocyclic ring. The natures of the catalytically active species and the reactive intermediates are proposed. Other steps involved in the Kindler Reaction are also discussed, as is the relationship of the Willgerodt Reaction to the Kindler Reaction.
British and American Exchange Policies I. The British Experience

1. The Bank of England Operations, 1931–33, 471. — 2. The over-valued pound, 475. — 3. The theory of the British Exchange Equalization Fund, 478. — 4. The operation of the British Exchange Equalization Fund, 482. — 5. British and foreign prices and costs, 485. — 6. The export bounty, 493. — 7. Prices of imports and the balance of payments, 502.
Factors Contributing to 50-ft Walking Speed and Observed Ethnic Differences in Older Community-Dwelling Mexican Americans and European Americans

Background Mexican Americans comprise the most rapidly growing segment of the older US population and are reported to have poorer functional health than European Americans, but few studies have examined factors contributing to ethnic differences in walking speed between Mexican Americans and European Americans. Objective The purpose of this study was to examine factors that contribute to walking speed and observed ethnic differences in walking speed in older Mexican Americans and European Americans using the disablement process model (DPM) as a guide. Design This was an observational, cross-sectional study. Methods Participants were 703 Mexican American and European American older adults (aged 65 years and older) who completed the baseline examination of the San Antonio Longitudinal Study of Aging (SALSA). Hierarchical regression models were performed to identify the contribution of contextual, lifestyle/anthropometric, disease, and impairment variables to walking speed and to ethnic differences in walking speed. Results The ethic difference in unadjusted mean walking speed (Mexican Americans=1.17 m/s, European Americans=1.29 m/s) was fully explained by adjustment for contextual (ie, age, sex, education, income) and lifestyle/anthropometric (ie, body mass index, height, physical activity) variables; adjusted mean walking speed in both ethnic groups was 1.23 m/s. Contextual variables explained 20.3% of the variance in walking speed, and lifestyle/anthropometric variables explained an additional 8.4%. Diseases (ie, diabetes, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) explained an additional 1.9% of the variance in walking speed; impairments (ie, FEV1, upper leg pain, and lower extremity strength and range of motion) contributed an additional 5.5%. Thus, both nonmodifiable (ie, contextual, height) and modifiable (ie, impairments, body mass index, physical activity) factors contributed to walking speed in older Mexican Americans and European Americans. Limitations The study was conducted in a single geographic area and included only Mexican American Hispanic individuals. Conclusions Walking speed in older Mexican Americans and European Americans is influenced by modifiable and nonmodifiable factors, underscoring the importance of the DPM framework, which incorporates both factors into the physical therapist patient/client management process.
Open access implementation and diabetes outcomes.

To the Editor:—We appreciated the recent article by Subramanian and colleagues exploring the impact of open access (OA) scheduling on diabetes care,1 but were left with two critical unanswered questions.
Studies on Etiologic Factors in Pemphigus

A survey of 234 cases of pemphigus yielded three observations which suggest that different forms of pemphigus may have different etiologies. 1. While the incidence of pemphigus in the age group of 21 and over was essentially the same in males and females (108 and 113) the incidence was significantly higher in females in the age group under 20. Only two of 13 patients in this group were males. Also pemphigus foliaceus and erythematosus was reported in a significantly higher proportion of the cases in the age group of 2 1/2 to 20 thus suggesting that the juvenile form of the discase differs from the adult form. 2. In four of a group of 15 cases identified as pemphigus foliaceus the disease appeared to be provoked by minor physical insults, a frequency which is significantly higher than the five cases with similar histories in the group of 198 cases identified as pemphigus vulgaris. 3. In the entire group of 234 cases two patients with pemphigus both proven by immunofluorescence had relatives with pemphigus. Also a third patient had a blood relative with bullous pemphigoid. This frequency of three per 234 is higher than would be expected by chance. Studies of one family (not included in this survey) with multiple skin antibodies suggest that such familial predispositions may be due to abnormal immune responses.
Protein release from highly charged peptide hydrogel networks

Hydrogels are useful delivery vehicles for therapeutic proteins. The ability to control the rate of protein release is paramount to a gel's utility and, in part, defines its clinical application. Electrostatic interactions made between encapsulated protein and a gel's network represents one modality in which protein motility can be controlled. For many gels this strategy works well under low ionic strength solution conditions, but dramatically less so in solutions of physiologically relevant ionic strength where electrostatic interactions are more effectively screened. Herein, we find that highly charged self-assembling peptides can be used to prepare fibrillar hydrogels of sufficient electropotential to allow electrostatic-based control over protein release under physiological buffer conditions. Rheology shows that proteins, differing significantly in their isoelectric point, can be directly encapsulated within negatively- or positively-charged peptide hydrogel networks during the peptide self-assembly event leading to gelation. Bulk adsorption studies coupled with transmission electron microscopy shows that electrostatic interactions drive the association of protein to oppositely charged fibrils in the final gel state, which in turn, dictates the diffusion and retention of these macromolecules in the hydrogel network.
A 2 dimensional dynamical model of asphalt-roller interaction during vibratory compaction

The quality and longevity of an asphalt pavement is influenced by several factors including, the design of the mix and environmental factors at the time of compaction. These factors are difficult to control during the construction process and often result in inadequate compaction of the pavement. Intelligent Compaction (IC) technologies address this issue by providing continuous real-time estimation of the compaction level achieved during construction. This information can then be used to address quality issues during construction and improve the overall quality of the pavement. One of the goals of IC is the dynamic adjustment of the compaction effort of the vibratory roller in order to achieve uniform density and stiffness of the pavement. However, complex dynamics of the compaction process and lack of computationally tractable dynamical models hamper the development of such controllers of vibratory rollers. In this study, the interaction between the vibratory roller and the underlying pavement is studied. A two-dimensional lumped element model that can replicate the compaction in the field is developed and its parameters are determined using the visco-elastic plastic properties and the shear deformation properties of the asphalt mix. Numerical simulation results show that the model is capable of capturing the coupled vibration dynamics of the asphalt-roller system in both the vertical and longitudinal direction. Comparison of numerical studies with the field compaction data also indicates that the model can be helpful in the development of control algorithms to improve the quality of pavements during their construction.
Power/Energy Use Cases for High Performance Computing

Power and Energy have been identified as a first order challenge for future extreme scale high performance computing (HPC) systems. In practice the breakthroughs will need to be provided by the hardware vendors. But to make the best use of the solutions in an HPC environment, it will likely require periodic tuning by facility operators and software components. This document describes the actions and interactions needed to maximize power resources. It strives to cover the entire operational space in which an HPC system occupies. The descriptions are presented as formal use cases, as documented in the Unified Modeling Language Specification [1]. The document is intended to provide a common understanding to the HPC community of the necessary management and control capabilities. Assuming a common understanding can be achieved, the next step will be to develop a set of Application Programing Interfaces (APIs) to which hardware vendors and software developers could utilize to steer power consumption.
Multiagent-based decentralized operation of microgrids considering data interoperability

Transition from conventional power distribution to active distribution networks requires extensive integration of decentralized microgrid control capabilities with on-demand industrial data interoperability. This paper presents a decentralized hierarchical microgrid operation scheme with a multiagent framework using IEC 61850 and the foundation for intelligent physical agents (FIPA) standards. The conducted studies are mainly focused on secondary and tertiary control levels. Secondary control deals with the operational reliability of the microgrid with a decentralized remote interaction between distributed en" ergy resources (DER) and microgrid operator. Tertiary level " presents the aggregated operation of multiple microgrids aiming to enhance the reliability of the host grid with ancillary services. Experimental results are presented in a laboratory based test bed involving actual intelligent electronic devices (IED) and multiple microgrids.
Minimizing transfusions in primary cranial vault remodeling: the role of aminocaproic acid.

BACKGROUND: Cranial vault remodeling (CVR) for craniosynostosis is a procedure with the potential for significant blood loss. Aminocaproic acid (ACA) has been used at our institution during CVR for its antifibrinolytic effects. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of ACA on blood loss and transfusion rates during primary CVR. METHODS: Three hundred eighty-three patients with craniosynostosis underwent primary CVR at a single institution by a single surgeon over 15 years. Patients were included if they received either ACA or no antifibrinolytic. The estimated blood loss (EBL) and volume of blood transfused was recorded. Thrombotic-related complications were identified. Comparisons were made between subgroups using independent Student t test and Fisher exact test. RESULTS: Among the study population, 148 patients met inclusion criteria. ACA was given to 30 patients, while 118 patients received no antifibrinolytic. There was no difference in the average intraoperative EBL between the ACA (322 mL) and control groups (327 mL, P > 0.05). Additionally, the incidence of transfusion was not significantly different between subgroups (97% vs. 86%, respectively, P > 0.05). Patients treated with ACA, however, received lower average perioperative transfusion volumes (25.5 mL/kg) compared to control patients (53.3 mL/kg, P < 0.0001). Furthermore, patients in the ACA subgroup were less likely to require a second unit of blood (21% vs. 43%, P < 0.0001) and therefore had fewer exposures to donor blood antigens (ARR = 22%, NNT = 4.6). CONCLUSIONS: The use of intraoperative ACA minimizes blood transfusion volumes and donor exposures in children who undergo primary CVR for craniosynostosis. Antifibrinolytics should be considered for routine use in pediatric craniofacial surgery.
Women selectively guard their (desirable) mates from ovulating women.

For women, forming close, cooperative relationships with other women at once poses important opportunities and possible threats—including to mate retention. To maximize the benefits and minimize the costs of same-sex social relationships, we propose that women’s mate guarding is functionally flexible and that women are sensitive to both interpersonal and contextual cues indicating whether other women might be likely and effective mate poachers. Here, we assess one such cue: other women’s fertility. Because ovulating (i.e., high-fertility) women are both more attractive to men and also more attracted to (desirable) men, ovulating women may be perceived to pose heightened threats to other women’s romantic relationships. Across 4 experiments, partnered women were exposed to photographs of other women taken during either their ovulatory or nonovulatory menstrual-cycle phases, and consistently reported intentions to socially avoid ovulating (but not nonovulating) women—but only when their own partners were highly desirable. Exposure to ovulating women also increased women’s sexual desires for their (highly desirable) partners. These findings suggest that women can be sensitive to subtle cues of other women’s fertility and respond (e.g., via social exclusion, enhanced sexual attention to own mate) in ways that may facilitate their mate retention goals while not thwarting their affiliative goals. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)
Relationship between semen quality and human sperm penetration of zona-free hamster ova

Spermatozoa from 22 presumably fertile donors and from the male partners of 43 infertile couples were evaluated for their ability to fertilize zona pellucida-free hamster ova. All "fertile" donors gave positive results in the interspecies in vitro fertilization test; 26% of the male partners (patients) gave negative results. Correlations of in vitro fertilization rates and standard semen analysis results indicate that, except for extremely low semen values, sperm fertilizing capacity in vitro could not be predicted accurately from ejaculate sperm number, motility, or morphology. Sperm motility evaluation agreed better with in vitro fertilization test results than did either sperm number or morphology; however, 9 of 31 patients (29%) with normal sperm motility in the ejaculate were judged subfertile in vitro. Also, although higher in vitro fertilization rates were related to greater numbers of normal parameters in a semen sample, 8 of 25 male patients (32%) appraised as "normal" according to the usual semen analysis yielded below-normal in vitro fertilization results. These results support the idea that deficient sperm fertilizing capacity often is a characteristic of poor-quality semen. However, deficiencies in fertilizing capacity also were observed in patient semen samples with excellent properties. Therefore, the interspecies in vitro fertilization test might be useful as an additional tool in clinical investigations of the fertility of the male partners of childless couples, particularly in cases in which infertility continues for no readily apparent reason.
A modified vasoepididymostomy performed with the sling and blanket technique

A modification is presented for the end-to-end type of vasoepididymostomy known as the sling and blanket. We have exploited the differences in size between the vas and epididymis to gain a mechanical advantage. When the epididymis is transected the redundant tunic is preserved. The sling is created from the tunic, which is drawn forward and sutured to the vas posteriorly about 1 cm. from its cut end. The sling provides support so that the end-to-end anastomosis between the vas lumen and specific epididymal tubule may be completed in 1 plane and without rotation. The blanket is created from the remaining epididymal tunic, which is sutured anteriorly to cover the anastomosis and stabilize the vas. The procedure was performed on 8 patients with primary epididymal obstruction. The patency rate was 50% and the pregnancy rate was 25%. Although vasoepididymostomy remains a difficult microsurgical operation, this modification seems to be beneficial in selected cases.
Visualizing Collections Data: Why Pie Charts Aren't Always the Answer

ABSTRACTCollections and technical services staff often rely on costs and usage data to evaluate collections. Featuring data sets recently used to evaluate a publisher package at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, this article discusses how best practices in data visualization can help staff in collections and technical services better explore collection usage and articulate the value of our collections to internal and external stakeholders. Finally, a brief survey of the types of software tools available for data visualization provides a starting point for interested libraries.
Electrodermal reactivity moderates the prospective association between peer victimization and depressive symptoms in early adolescence

The present study examined whether skin conductance level reactivity (SCLR) moderated prospective associations linking peer victimization with externalizing behaviors and depressive symptoms across the transition to middle school. Participants included 123 early adolescents (M age = 12.03 years at T1; 50% male; 58.5% European Americans, 35% African Americans, 6.5% of other races/ethnicities). At Time 1, SCLR was measured in the context of peer-evaluative challenges, and early adolescents and teachers reported on peer victimization. At Time 1 and Time 2, early adolescents and parents reported on depressive symptoms and externalizing behaviors, respectively. SCLR moderated prospective associations between peer victimization and depressive symptoms, such that both adolescent- and teacher-reported peer victimization predicted higher Time 2 depressive symptoms more strongly at lower levels of SCLR compared to higher levels of SCLR. SCLR did not moderate the prospective association between peer victimization an...
Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) in the Elderly: Initial Treatment Strategy and Overall Survival

The EORTC trial which solidified the role of external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) plus temozolomide (TMZ) in the management of GBM excluded patients over age 70. Randomized studies of elderly patients showed that hypofractionated EBRT (HFRT) alone or TMZ alone was at least equivalent to conventionally fractionated EBRT (CFRT) alone. We sought to investigate the practice patterns and survival in elderly patients with GBM. We identified patients age 65–90 in the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) with histologically confirmed GBM from 1998 to 2012 and known chemotherapy and radiotherapy status. We analyzed factors predicting treatment with EBRT alone vs. EBRT plus concurrent single-agent chemotherapy (CRT) using multivariable logistic regression. Similarly, within the EBRT alone cohort we compared CFRT (54–65 Gy at 1.7–2.1 Gy/fraction) to HFRT (34–60 Gy at 2.5-5 Gy/fraction). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards model (MVA) with propensity score adjustment was used to compare survival. A total of 38,862 patients were included. Initial treatments for 1998 versus 2012 were: EBRT alone = 50 versus 10%; CRT = 6 versus 50%; chemo alone = 1.6% (70% single-agent) versus 3.2% (94% single-agent). Among EBRT alone patients, use of HFRT (compared to CFRT) increased from 13 to 41%. Numerous factors predictive for utilization of CRT over EBRT alone and for HFRT over CFRT were identified. Median survival and 1-year overall survival were higher in the CRT versus EBRT alone group at 8.6 months vs. 5.1 months and 36.0 versus 15.7% (p < 0.0005 by log-rank, multivariable HR 0.65 [95% CI = 0.61–0.68, p < 0.0005], multivariable HR with propensity adjustment 0.66 [95% CI = 0.63–0.70, p < 0.0005]). For elderly GBM patients in the United States, CRT is the most common initial treatment and appears to offer a survival advantage over EBRT alone. Adoption of hypofractionation has increased over time but continues to be low.
Trachelectomy: Removal of Cervical Stump Following Supracervical Hysterectomy

Cervical stump extirpation (trachelectomy) is the removal of the cervix following supracervical hysterectomy. Subtotal or supracervical hysterectomy is an alternative to total hysterectomy (removal of uterine fundus and cervix) in women undergoing hysterectomy for many benign indications. There are several benefits to supracervical hysterectomy including reduced complications, shorter hospital stay, and faster resumption of activity; in addition, mesh complications are reduced when hysterectomy is done in conjunction with an abdominal sacrocolopexy. However, women considering supracervical hysterectomy should be counseled regarding risks of cervical retention, including need for cervical screening according to current guidelines, as well as the potential need for future surgery to remove the cervical stump. With increases in minimally invasive surgical techniques, many women will elect to undergo supracervical hysterectomy: therefore, it is likely that most gynecologists will encounter patients that require trachelectomy. In this chapter, we will review the indications for trachelectomy, advantages and disadvantages of different routes of access for trachelectomy, as well as complications associated with removing the cervix following subtotal hysterectomy.
Developing Adaptive Treatment Strategies to Address Suicidal Risk in College Students: A Pilot Sequential, Multiple Assignment, Randomized Trial (SMART)

This pilot study investigated the potential to utilize adaptive treatment strategies for treating moderate to severe suicidal risk among college students. This article will describe the unique study design and report on feasibility and acceptability findings. A 2-stage Sequential Multiple Assignment Randomized Trial (SMART) was conducted: In Stage 1, 62 suicidal college students were randomized to either a suicide-focused or a treatment-as-usual condition (4-8 weeks). Those deemed insufficient responders were re-randomized to one of two Stage 2 interventions-both suicide-focused but one comprehensive and multimodal and the other flexible and theoretically agnostic (4-16 additional weeks). Recruitment rates were high, treatment dropout levels were lower than expected for the setting, study dropouts were rare, and counselors were able to deliver suicide-focused approaches with fidelity. Treatment satisfaction was high among clients and moderately high among counselors. Findings from this pilot show that a SMART is highly feasible and acceptable to suicidal college students, counselors, and campuses.