cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hospital Surgical Volume and Associated Postoperative Complications of Pediatric Urological Surgery in the United States

Purpose: Hospital and provider surgical volume have been increasingly linked to surgical outcomes. However, this topic has rarely been addressed in children. We investigated whether hospital surgical volume impacts complication rates in pediatric urology.Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (1998 to 2011) for pediatric (18 years or younger) hospitalizations for urological procedures. We used ICD-9-CM codes to identify elective urological interventions and NSQIP® postoperative in hospital complications. Annual hospital surgical volume was calculated and dichotomized as high volume (90th percentile or above) or non-high volume (below 90th percentile).Results: We identified 158,805 urological admissions (114,634 high volume and 44,171 non-high volume hospitals). Of the hospitals 75% recorded fewer than 5 major pediatric urology cases performed yearly. High volume hospitals showed treatment of significantly younger patients (mean 5.4 vs 9.6 years, p <0.001) and we...
Fuzzy TSK positive systems: Stability and control

Positive systems play an important role in many fields including biology, chemistry, and economics, among others. This paper discusses the stability and control of discrete-time positive Takagi-Sugeno-Kang (TSK) fuzzy systems. It provides a sufficient condition for their exponential stability, as well as a sufficient condition for their instability. It also presents a new approach to their controller design. We present two examples to demonstrate our results. In the first example we develop a positive TSK fuzzy Volterra predator-prey model and investigate its stability. The second example demonstrates our controller design methodology.
Nitrogen excretion and osmotic balance

Sea anemones lack specialized excretory structures and, like most aquatic invertebrates, excrete as their principal nitrogenous waste ammonia (which in the pH range prevailing in seawater and body fluids occurs primarily as the ammonium ion, NH4 +). Here, ‘ammonia’ is used generically, and ‘NH4 +’ specifies the ionized form. Zooxanthellae are involved in the recycling of ammonia. Some zooxanthellate and azooxanthellate species retain uric acid (a product of nucleic acid catabolism) and perhaps other purines in their tissues. Like most other marine invertebrates, sea anemones tolerate a degree of dilution of the external medium, but they do not regulate the osmotic concentration of their coelenteric fluid. This necessitates regulation of cellular volume, in part involving active control of the concentration of intracellular free amino acids (FAA). Both ecological and taxonomic trends are apparent in the composition and concentration of the FAA pool, which accounts for 4% to 14% of the total osmotic concentration (and up to 25% of the intracellular osmotic concentration) of the tissues in various species that differ in their ability to regulate tissue water content. Occupation of the intertidal zone subjects sea anemones to desiccating conditions and requires morphological, physiological and behavioural mechanisms to conserve water. Juveniles are more susceptible to dehydration than adult anemones: this apparently sets the upper limit of intertidal distribution and probably selected for viviparous reproduction in littoral anemones of the genus Actinia.
Os tortuosos caminhos de Deus: Igreja e homossexualidade

A autora comeca perguntando por uma compulsoriedade adquirida historicamente pela heterossexualidade e seus motivos. Constatando que as rejeicoes mais fortes a homossexualidade baseiam-se em textos biblicos, procede a uma analise historico-teologica dos textos do Antigo e Novo Testamentos mais utilizados para isso. Encerra suas reflexoes com dois conjuntos de consideracoes: sobre a Igreja como espaco de inclusao, a partir da palavra batismal de G1 3.27-28; e sobre a homossexualidade como questionamento da etica sexual normativa, reivindicando um metodo etico participativo baseado em valores que em boa medida transcendem um heterossexismo rigidamente definido.
Donors and Founders on Charter School Boards and Their Impact on Financial and Academic Outcomes.

This study provides the first systematic analysis of the composition of charter school governing boards. We assemble a dataset of charter school boards in Massachusetts from 2001 to 2013 and invest...
WAVE TRAPPING BY BREAKWATERS

The refraction of water waves around the heads of breakwaters can lead to large wave heights along the sheltered side of the structure. These waves are shown to be edge waves, trapped on the breakwater, based on the comparison of laboratory data and linear edge wave theory.
Wall Detection by Lateral Line Sensory System of Fish

This paper investigates modeling of the lateral line of a fish as it approaches a wall. The lateral line system consists of the canal neuromasts (CNs) and superficial neuromasts (SNs). The relative roles of the CNs and SNs in this sensing task is investigated. The CNs detect pressure gradient on the fish’s skin, while SNs detect velocity near the skin. In order to relate these pressure and velocity distribution on the surface of the fish to its surrounding flow, we consider a potential flow coupled with a boundary layer model around the fish’s body. An exact solution is derived by assuming the fish to be infinitesimally thin. For fish-like bodies with finite thickness, the panel method is used to calculate the potential flow around the body. This outer potential flow solution is matched with the boundary layer integral method, to obtain a full viscous solution. The results show that the flow field changes significantly on the wall side of the fish as it approaches the wall, but the changes is mostly observed in a small region around the fish’s head, where the body has high surface curvature. This sensitivity could explain the observed higher concentration of CNs in the head region of most fish. Furthermore, local extreme points may be found in the pressure gradient curve and surface stress curve that correlated to a wall distance while the fish is close to the wall. The analysis of this paper demonstrates that a lateral line sensory system could produce enough information for detecting an upcoming wall.
Probability of the Loss of Offsite Power and Damage to Road Network due to a Rare Event

The main goal of the project was to better understand the impact to a nuclear power plant due to the unavailability of critical infrastructure. We evaluated the use of rare event analysis to establish rare event occurrences in the vicinity of the plant. For the purpose of this report, rare events were considered extreme scenarios of natural disasters. The initial data was acquired by viewing STP FSARs and topographical maps of the region. The two specific factors that were extracted by analyzing the initial data of the plant design and location were the road networks and the electrical grid system. These two variables were then analyzed in light of the rare event analysis model that was used as a building block for this project. The rare event analysis also provided information regarding the types of data and distributions that were likely to be seen as a result. For the road networks, the road layout around the plant was mapped and the relevant data was used to consider the possible routes to the plants in case of a rare event. Data regarding LOOP Events were gathered mainly from NRC Documents and Institutional Sources. These data were used to analyze how many events occurred per year and the downtime associated with the rare event.© 2012 ASME
Abstract 3553: Modulation of pro-inflammatory signaling pathways by aging T-lymphocytes contributes to a more malignant phenotype in prostate epithelial cells

Prostate cancer risk is determined largely by age. While some studies have suggested that the slow growing rate of prostate cancer is responsible for the link between aging and prostate cancer, the role of aging T-cells in prostate cancer development remains largely unknown. The objective of this study is to determine how age-related changes in T-lymphocyte function contribute to prostate tumorigenesis. We hypothesized that age related changes in T-lymphocyte function, to a pro-inflammatory phenotype may promote prostate cancer development. For our studies we used the GPAT-1 KO mice model. The GPAT-1 KO mice have T-lymphocytes that mimic aged T-cells. Preliminary data shows that, in agreement with what has been seen in human aged T-cells, aging-mimic GPAT-1 KO T-lymphocytes generate more pro-inflammatory cytokines than T-lymphocytes from age matched wild-type mice. These cytokines turn on inflammatory pathways that stimulate proliferation, tissue disruption and tumor growth. A cytokine array was used to detect the relative protein levels of 40 different cytokines and chemokines in the sera from either young GPAT-1 knockout (KO), young wild-type (WT) or old mice (22 months). We observed a shift to a more pro-inflammatory cytokine profile in the GPAT-1 KO and old mice. Many of the same cytokines that were elevated in the sera from the old and GPAT-1 KO mice, such as IL-17 and IL-6, are also implicated in promoting prostate tumorigenesis primarily through induction of other inflammatory cytokines and transcription factors such as, NF-kB and STAT3. The objective of this study was to determine if the increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the sera from the GPAT-1 KO mice correlates to a more malignant phenotype in prostate epithelial cells. Malignancy in epithelial cells was assessed by the following phenotypical changes: Immortalization, anchorage independence, proliferation and invasiveness. Exposure to sera from the GPAT-1 KO mice promoted phenotypical changes in epithelial cells that are indicative of early tumorigenesis. Taken together our data suggests that pro-inflammatory cytokines in the sera from mice with aging T-lymphocytes may turn on pro-inflammatory pathways that contribute to a more malignant phenotype in prostate epithelial cells. This is the first study to use the GPAT-1 KO mice model to explore the relationship between aging T-lymphocytes, inflammation and prostate tumorigenesis. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3553. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-3553
Viscous Damping in a Microfluidic Load Sensor

A typical microfluidic load sensor consists of an electrolyte-filled microfluidic channel capped by a flexible plate. Under a load applied on the top flexible plate, the fluid within the microchannel is squeezed by the deflected plate, resulting in an opposite hydrodynamic pressure force on the plate. Thus, the electrolyte within the microchannel can induce a significant viscous damping effect on the dynamic response of such a microfluidic load sensor, whose output signal is proportional to the deformation of the flexible plate. Considering the coupling between the deformation of the flexible plate and the hydrodynamic fluid pressure, a mathematical model for analyzing the dynamics and viscous damping of the sensor is developed. Dynamic characteristics of the plate and the equivalent viscous damping coefficient as the functions of the load amplitude and the frequency as well as the sensor’s geometric parameters are investigated. The obtained results qualitatively agree with the experimental observations in the literature. The results show that the load sensor is overdamped, and the viscous damping has significant influences on the dynamic response of the flexible plate in the microfluidic load sensor. The microfluidic channel depth has more significant effects on the plate deformation than the plate’s width and thickness.
Design and Implementation of Electric Power Research Enterprise Knowledge Management System

With the development of a knowledge-based economy,knowledge has become an important business asset.Because of the complexity and large magnitude,knowledge of electric power research enterprise can not be managed artificially,and engineers are often difficult to find the necessary knowledge to complete the design in time.Therefore,establishment for enterprise knowledge management system becomes a platform to support necessary work.With establishment for enterprise knowledge management system by Zhejiang Electric Power Test Research Institute,the paper introduces design and implementation of the knowledge management system.
Fermionic Suppression of Dipolar Relaxation

We observe the suppression of inelastic dipolar scattering in ultracold Fermi gases of the highly magnetic atom dysprosium: the more energy that is released, the less frequently these exothermic reactions take place, and only quantum spin statistics can explain this counterintuitive effect. Inelastic dipolar scattering in nonzero magnetic fields leads to heating or to loss of the trapped population, both detrimental to experiments intended to study quantum many-body physics with strongly dipolar gases. Fermi statistics, however, is predicted to lead to a kinematic suppression of these harmful reactions. Indeed, we observe a 120-fold suppression of dipolar relaxation in fermionic versus bosonic Dy, as expected from theory describing universal inelastic dipolar scattering, though never before experimentally confirmed. Similarly, low inelastic cross sections are observed in spin mixtures, also with striking correspondence to predictions. The suppression of relaxation opens the possibility of employing fermionic dipolar species in studies of quantum many-body physics involving, e.g., synthetic gauge fields and pairing.
Population Biology of Monarch Butterflies, Danaus plexippus (L.) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae), at a Milkweed-Rich Summer Breeding Site in Central Washington

ABSTRACT. The population biology of adult Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) was studied during regular visits over three years (June–September 2013–15) at a milkweed (Asclepias speciosa)-rich site in central Washington. Small numbers of spring migrants colonized the site during June 5–17 each year and produced two adult generations one in early July and the other in late July–August, increasing the population at the site until mid–late August in 2013 and 2014. Greatest numbers of adults occurred in late July and August (20–24 per hour). In 2015 the population fell substantially in early August apparently as a consequence of heat wave conditions in late June–early July adversely affecting survival of second generation immature stages. Mark, release and recapture provided maximum population estimates at the site of 160–190 males, a recapture rate of 25–32% and intervals between tagging and recapture of 5–39 days. Sex ratio was imbalanced in favor of males on all dates ranging from 57–100%. Males patrol...
A Reply to Roth

Abstract: This rejoinder focuses on two assessments that make up the central argument of Roth (2005): that my critique of ‘situated studies’ in science education (Sherman, 2004)—and the analytic literature it draws on—'confuses … normative analytic discourse and analytic method’ in its lack of historical orientation; and that ethnomethodology does not go far enough in allowing us to ‘change science education for the better.’ Through careful consideration of our roles as researchers and informed by the literature on ‘situated action,’ I demonstrate that Roth (2005) is instead exemplary of how science education literature typically confuses the orientations of teaching with those of research‐about‐teaching. As I see it, my article and Roth's reply offer researchers a choice between descriptive assessments that aim to understand the work of classroom science as we find it on actual occasions and moral ones that are prescriptive for those who do the work.
Epileptic Acquired Aphasia

The syndrome of acquired aphasia, dementia and behavior disorder in a child with partial complex epilepsy and continuous spike and waves during sleep is reported from the Service de Pediatrie, et Service de Neurologie, CHUV, Lausanne, Switzerland.
THE EFFECT OF HYDROLYSED SEAWEED ON CERTAIN PLANT PESTS AND DISEASES

Liquified seaweed, marketed in the U.K. as “Maxicrop” and the U.S.A. as “Seaborn”, although having no direct insecticidal or fungicidal effect, has been shown to increase the resistance of crop plants to certain pests and diseases. These include aphids, red spider mites, powdery mildew, botrytis and an unidentified complex of fungi responsible for the damping-off of seedlings.
Abstract PR04: Cooperation between Ras network mutations in cancer

Cancer genome sequencing often identifies mutations within the Ras signaling network other than the well-established KRAS, NRAS, and BRAF oncogene mutations and NF1 tumor suppressor gene mutations. The extent to which a novel mutation in a commonly mutated pathway can be assumed to have cancer promoting potential, and whether or not certain contextual conditions are required for the mutation to have cancer promoting effects, is not well understood. We investigated this problem with a computational model of the Ras signaling network, with focused cell-based experiments, and with statistical analysis of large cancer genomic data sets. We first applied our previously developed computational model of the Ras signaling network to identify potential synergistic combinations within the Ras network. For example, our modeling suggested that mutations to the tumor suppressor gene NF1 can amplify the effects of other Ras pathway mutations, including the effects of weakly-activating, noncanonical, Ras mutants. Experiments comparing the strength of signal produced by noncanonical Ras mutants expressed in neurofibromin deficient and wild-type cells confirmed this prediction. If such synergistic effects contribute to the development of cancer, we reasoned that there should be an increased rate of co-occurrence between the mutations that the model predicted to have cooperative potential. Analysis of large cancer genomic data sets from the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia and The Cancer Genome Atlas identified increased rates of co-occurrence between mutations predicted to display synergy. Overall, our study suggests that there may be combinations of Ras pathway mutations that serve the role of cancer “driver”. This abstract is also presented as Poster B33. Citation Format: Edward C. Stites, Paul C. Trampont, Lisa B. Haney, Scott F. Walk, Kodi S. Ravichandran. Cooperation between Ras network mutations in cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on RAS Oncogenes: From Biology to Therapy; Feb 24-27, 2014; Lake Buena Vista, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2014;12(12 Suppl):Abstract nr PR04. doi: 10.1158/1557-3125.RASONC14-PR04
High-resolution functional MRI identified distinct global intrinsic functional networks of nociceptive posterior insula and S2 regions in squirrel monkey brain.

Abstract Numerous functional imaging and electrophysiological studies in humans and animals indicate that the two contiguous areas of secondary somatosensory cortex (S2) and posterior insula (pIns) are core regions in nociceptive processing and pain perception. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that the S2-pIns connection serves as a hub for connecting distinct sensory and affective nociceptive processing networks in the squirrel monkey brain. At 9.4 T, we first mapped the brain regions that respond to nociceptive heat stimuli with high-resolution fMRI, and then used seed-based resting-state fMRI (rsfMRI) analysis to delineate and refine the global intrinsic functional connectivity circuits of the proximal S2 and pIns regions. In each subject, nociceptive (47.5 °C) heat-evoked fMRI activations were detected in many brain regions, including primary somatosensory (S1), S2, pIns, area 7b, anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), primary motor cortex, prefrontal cortex, supplementary motor area, thalamus, and caudate. Using the heat-evoked fMRI activation foci in S2 and pIns as the seeds, voxel-wise whole-brain resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) analysis revealed strong functional connections between contralateral S2 and pIns, as well as their corresponding regions in the ipsilateral hemisphere. Spatial similarity and overlap analysis identified each region as part of two distinct intrinsic functional networks with 7% overlap: sensory S2-S1-area 7b and affective pIns-ACC-PCC networks. Moreover, a high degree of overlap was observed between the combined rsFC maps of nociceptive S2 and pIns regions and the nociceptive heat-evoked activation map. In summary, our study provides evidence for the existence of two distinct intrinsic functional networks for S2 and pIns nociceptive regions, and these two networks are joined via the S2-pIns connection. Brain regions that are involved in processing nociceptive inputs are also highly interconnected at rest. The presence of robust and distinct S1-S2-area 7b and pIns-ACC-PCC rsFC networks under anesthesia underscores their fundamental roles in processing nociceptive information.
Dissecting the role of myeloid and mesenchymal fibroblasts in age-dependent cardiac fibrosis

Aging is associated with increased cardiac interstitial fibrosis and diastolic dysfunction. Our previous study has shown that mesenchymal fibroblasts in the C57BL/6J (B6J) aging mouse heart acquire an inflammatory phenotype and produce higher levels of chemokines. Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) secreted by these aged fibroblasts promotes leukocyte uptake into the heart. Some of the monocytes that migrate into the heart polarize into M2a macrophages/myeloid fibroblasts. The number of activated mesenchymal fibroblasts also increases with age, and consequently, both sources of fibroblasts contribute to fibrosis. Here, we further investigate mechanisms by which inflammation influences activation of myeloid and mesenchymal fibroblasts and their collagen synthesis. We examined cardiac fibrosis and heart function in three aged mouse strains; we compared C57BL/6J (B6J) with two other strains that have reduced inflammation via different mechanisms. Aged C57BL/6N (B6N) hearts are protected from oxidative stress and fibroblasts derived from them do not develop an inflammatory phenotype. Likewise, these mice have preserved diastolic function. Aged MCP-1 null mice on the B6J background (MCP-1KO) are protected from elevated leukocyte infiltration; they develop moderate but reduced fibrosis and diastolic dysfunction. Based on these studies, we further delineated the role of resident versus monocyte-derived M2a macrophages in myeloid-dependent fibrosis and found that the number of monocyte-derived M2a (but not resident) macrophages correlates with age-related fibrosis and diastolic dysfunction. In conclusion, we have found that ROS and inflammatory mediators are necessary for activation of fibroblasts of both developmental origins, and prevention of either led to better functional outcomes.
Nutritional and Dietary Interventions for Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review

CONTEXT: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) frequently use special diets or receive nutritional supplements to treat ASD symptoms. OBJECTIVES: Our objective was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of dietary interventions or nutritional supplements in ASD. DATA SOURCES: Databases, including Medline and PsycINFO. STUDY SELECTION: Two investigators independently screened studies against predetermined criteria. DATA EXTRACTION: One investigator extracted data with review by a second investigator. Investigators independently assessed the risk of bias and strength of evidence (SOE) (ie, confidence in the estimate of effects). RESULTS: Nineteen randomized controlled trials (RCTs), 4 with a low risk of bias, evaluated supplements or variations of the gluten/casein-free diet and other dietary approaches. Populations, interventions, and outcomes varied. Ω-3 supplementation did not affect challenging behaviors and was associated with minimal harms (low SOE). Two RCTs of different digestive enzymes reported mixed effects on symptom severity (insufficient SOE). Studies of other supplements (methyl B 12 , levocarnitine) reported some improvements in symptom severity (insufficient SOE). Studies evaluating gluten/casein-free diets reported some parent-rated improvements in communication and challenging behaviors; however, data were inadequate to make conclusions about the body of evidence (insufficient SOE). Studies of gluten- or casein-containing challenge foods reported no effects on behavior or gastrointestinal symptoms with challenge foods (insufficient SOE); 1 RCT reported no effects of camel’s milk on ASD severity (insufficient SOE). Harms were disparate. LIMITATIONS: Studies were small and short-term, and there were few fully categorized populations or concomitant interventions. CONCLUSIONS: There is little evidence to support the use of nutritional supplements or dietary therapies for children with ASD.
On Solid Angles and the Volumes of Regular Polyhedra

(1999). On Solid Angles and the Volumes of Regular Polyhedra. Mathematics Magazine: Vol. 72, No. 1, pp. 56-58.
Metastatic penile carcinoma associated with convergent gain-of-function mutations in NOTCH1

Abstract Notch receptors (NOTCH1-4) participate in a signaling pathway that is frequently dysregulated in cancer and that has different consequences depending on cell lineage, allowing it to have oncogenic or tumor suppressive effects. One well-characterized context in which Notch is tumor suppressive is squamous cell carcinoma, as after mutations in TP53 , mutations that disrupt Notch receptor activity are the most common mutations in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. However, Notch signaling also can be oncogenic in other types of epithelial neoplasms. Here, we report a unique case of metastatic penile squamous cell carcinoma associated with high levels of activated NOTCH1 and two different NOTCH1 gain-of-function mutations. This case emphasizes the remarkable variability of Notch effects in cancers, even within tumors of the same lineage, and suggests that in rare instances Notch may be a valid therapeutic target in squamous cancers.
Neuroticism Predicts Subsequent Risk of Major Depression for Whites but Not Blacks

Cultural and ethnic differences in psychosocial and medical correlates of negative affect are well documented. This study aimed to compare blacks and whites for the predictive role of baseline neuroticism (N) on subsequent risk of major depressive episodes (MDD) 25 years later. Data came from the Americans’ Changing Lives (ACL) Study, 1986–2011. We used data on 1219 individuals (847 whites and 372 blacks) who had data on baseline N in 1986 and future MDD in 2011. The main predictor of interest was baseline N, measured using three items in 1986. The main outcome was 12 months MDD measured using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) at 2011. Covariates included baseline demographics (age and gender), socioeconomics (education and income), depressive symptoms [Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D)], stress, health behaviors (smoking and driking), and physical health [chronic medical conditions, obesity, and self-rated health (SRH)] measured in 1986. Logistic regressions were used to test the predictive role of baseline N on subsequent risk of MDD 25 years later, net of covariates. The models were estimated in the pooled sample, as well as blacks and whites. In the pooled sample, baseline N predicted subsequent risk of MDD 25 years later (OR = 2.23, 95%CI = 1.14–4.34), net of covariates. We also found a marginally significant interaction between race and baseline N on subsequent risk of MDD (OR = 0.37, 95% CI = 0.12–1.12), suggesting a stronger effect for whites compared to blacks. In race-specific models, among whites (OR = 2.55; 95% CI = 1.22–5.32) but not blacks (OR = 0.90; 95% CI = 0.24–3.39), baseline N predicted subsequent risk of MDD. Black-white differences in socioeconomics and physical health could not explain the racial differences in the link between N and MDD. Blacks and whites differ in the salience of baseline N as a psychological determinant of MDD risk over a long period of time. This finding supports the cultural moderation hypothesis and is in line with other previously reported black–white differences in social, psychological, and medical correlates of negative affect and depression.
Spatially Adaptive Positioning for Molecular Geometry Inspired Aerial Networks

The advances in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems in terms of autonomy, reliability, communication and cost efficiency have lead to the employment of flying ad hoc networks (FANETs) with multiple UAVs in various applications such as surveillance, search and rescue missions, or aerial monitoring. The topology control and node positioning are challenging for FANET applications, which require the analysis of three dimensional space. Molecular geometry based approaches have been proposed for FANETs to overcome these challenges. In this paper, we propose a spatially adaptive positioning approach for FANETs. We define the collision probabilities for UAV positions and use them with boundary planes among UAVs in three dimensional space to analyze the molecular geometry based approaches and to show their efficiency. Then this analysis is used for the dynamic adaptation of the geometries for spaces with spatial constraints. We present a series of simulation scenarios to show the performance of our approach in coverage, collision probability, convergence time and cost in challenging environments.
Cosmological Vacuum Configuration in Superstring Theories with only Three-Space Expanding

Cosmological compactification of superstring theories is studied in the field theory limit, with the quadratic Euler-Gauss-Bonnet term included in the gravitational action. We find a vacuum configuration, which is of the Robertson-Walker parameter k = -1, of three-space scale factor R (t) ~ t and of constant internal-space scale factor (R (t) — const.); otherwise, it is the same as the static Candelas-Horowitz-Stominger-Witten (CHSW) configuration. While the CHSW configuration is unstable, our three-space expanding configuration is stable against time-dependent purturbations in R3 (t) and R6 (t). These results indicate the existence of cosmological models (with the presence of matter) in superstring theories which predict, asymptotically in the limit of infinitely dilute matter, no time variation for the coupling constants in four dimensions.
Motivation and evaluation in environmental management networks

Interorganizational collaboration is increasingly seen as an important process in environmental management. The new paradigm of managing places as ecosystems requires increasing attention to sustaining specific combinations of natural features, communities and institutions. Such projects are long-term, and therefore require the participation and support of often divergent interests. Sustaining collaboration beyond the initial agreement to work together requires attention to the motivation of organizations and their representatives, and to the importance of achievements for participants and external stakeholders. This paper reviews the literature on motivation and measuring achievement in environmental networks.
Consumer Risk: The Importance of Privacy and Security while Connected to Wi-Fi Hotspots: Does Location Matter?

As the FCC begins releasing white space in the radio spectrum, the number of free Wi-Fi hotspots in the U.S. is expected to proliferate. However, organizations should not regard this service as a solution to drive new customers to their businesses. This study examines trust, privacy, security, risk and convenience related to users‟ intentions to use free Wi-Fi hotspots. Findings indicate that trust in the hotspot location is a significant antecedent of privacy and security beliefs, and reduces risk perceptions. Furthermore, a newly developed construct called social privacy is influential in risk reduction leading to greater Wi-Fi use. While this study shows that convenience is a major driver of free Wi-Fi use, businesses offering the service would be remiss in not maintaining high levels of user trust.
First Principles Insight into H2 Activation and Hydride Species on TiO2 Surfaces

Hydrogen interaction with the TiO2 surfaces is important in many catalytic and photocatalytic reactions. However, the mechanisms of H2 activation on TiO2 surfaces remain unclear. Here, we study H2 ...
Polydrug use among heroin users in Cleveland, OH.

Abstract Background Since 2000, heroin use patterns have shifted within the United States. How this change may relate to polydrug use among local heroin users is unknown. Although polydrug use has been studied, user perceptions of drug use in terms of health risks, arrest risk, availability, cost, liking, and dependence have not been considered. Methods Data are presented from a brief, face-to-face survey conducted in 2016 of 200 non–in-treatment heroin users from Cleveland, OH. We assessed the use of and attitudes on alcohol, marijuana, methamphetamine, heroin, crack cocaine, powder cocaine, and prescription drugs. We estimated polydrug (concurrent past month) use with cluster analysis and latent profiles. Regression analysis estimated the strength of relationships between attitudes and frequency of use. Results We identified five clusters: Cluster 1 used heroin concomitantly with alcohol and occasionally crack; Cluster 2 used heroin and crack cocaine daily; Cluster 3 used heroin daily and almost exclusively; Cluster 4 used heroin and marijuana daily; and Cluster 5 were part-time drug users. Drug use frequency was associated with liking and being anxious when drugs could not be obtained. High perceived availability of heroin and cocaine and low cost facilitated polydrug use. Conclusions Understanding polydrug use clusters among heroin users is important for addressing the larger opioid epidemic. Users’ perceptions of a drug’s availability and cost appeared to facilitate polydrug use and justify more detailed future research on drug access.
Einsatzkonzepte in der Luft- und Bergrettung

Der praklinischen Notfallversorgung in Deutschland kommt eine wachsende Bedeutung zu. Demografische wie strukturelle Einflussfaktoren machen zunehmend eine Differenzierung, Flexibilisierung und Ausweitung der rettungsdienstlichen Leistungen notig. Hierbei spielt die Luftrettung eine wichtige Rolle. Das Rettungsmittel Hubschrauber erfahrt hierbei eine Ausweitung des Einsatzspektrums, unabhangig von der ursprunglich fur einen Standort festgelegten Funktion. Am Beispiel des Intensivtransporthubschraubers an der BG Unfallklinik Murnau zeigt sich die erfolgreiche Umsetzung dieses Multi-Use-Konzeptes.
Cockpit Crises and Decision Making: Impucations for Pilot Training

This paper presents the theoretical foundations and a description of a research study designed to examine pilots' attitudes about cockpit crises and the processes used to make decisions in crises. The findings suggest that a "high crisis perception/low urgency flow rigidity" pattern may be an optimal approach to crisis decision making. In other words, the decision maker recognizes the situation as a crisis and is motivated to act, but the low sense of urgency encourages flexibility with respect to roles, responsibility, participation, and procedures. Suggestions for both ground training and simulator instruction are offered which expand situational awareness to include the concepts of crisis and available decision time.
Angel Replicants and Solid Holograms: Blade Runner 2049 and Its Impact on Robotics

In this final descriptive chapter, Gibson examines the most current iteration of the story, Blade Runner 2049, and teases out implications for the future of robotics. Humans identify themselves against a contrast of Replicant life in a very binary fashion. The creator is meaningless without the creation, for to know what it is to be human, there must be an inhuman correlate. For the latter part of this chapter, the author includes interviews with robotics developers and sci-fi authors about their own desires, and why they chose to make hominoid robots. What happens when the creator is replaced and the creation can give birth to life? Will our own robotics ever be able to self-replicate?
Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase purification using SUMO expression system.

Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) is a rate-limiting enzyme in the salvage pathway required for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide synthesis. The secreted NAMPT protein serves as a master regulatory cytokine involved in activation of evolutionarily conserved inflammatory networks. Appreciation of the role of NAMPT as a damage-associated molecular pattern protein (DAMP) has linked its activities to several disorders via Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) binding and inflammatory cascade activation. Information is currently lacking concerning the precise mode of the NAMPT protein functionality due to limited availability of purified protein for use in in vitro and in vivo studies. Here we report successful NAMPT expression using the pET-SUMO expression vector in E. coli strain SHuffle containing a hexa-His tag for purification. The Ulp1 protease was used to cleave the SUMO and hexa-His tags, and the protein was purified by immobilized-metal affinity chromatography. The protein yield was ~4 mg/L and initial biophysical characterization of the protein using circular dichroism revealed the secondary structural elements, while dynamic light scattering demonstrated the presence of oligomeric units. The NAMPT-SUMO showed a predominantly dimeric protein with functional enzymatic activity. Finally, we report NAMPT solubilization in n-dodecyl-β-d-maltopyranoside (DDM) detergent in monomeric form, thus enhancing the opportunity for further structural and functional investigations.
Salivary Bioscience and Pediatrics

Salivary biomarkers have particular utility in clinical and research applications in pediatrics given higher acceptability and fewer risks compared to blood collection and meet the special ethical considerations afforded child participants in research. The ease of oral fluid collection allows for repeated assessments that provide insight into dynamic interactions between individuals and their environments during development and hold enormous promise for future diagnostic platforms. Nonetheless, there are important considerations to ensure the reliability and validity of saliva-based assays. In this chapter, we highlight methodological challenges in salivary bioscience in pediatrics, including typical maturation of key biological systems indexed by common salivary assays and specific considerations for the use of a salivary assay with children at various ages. We discuss the growth of salivary diagnostic platforms in pediatrics using the examples of endocrine dysfunction, traumatic brain injury, and cardiometabolic disease. Finally, we highlight current barriers to broader adaption of salivary biomarkers in clinical settings as well as future directions and opportunities to use salivary bioscience to expand current understandings of human health and development in context, with a focus on the growing role of salivary “omics.”
Successful Online Socialization: Lessons from the Wikipedia Education Program

Attracting and retaining newcomers is critical and challenging for online production communities such as Wikipedia, both because volunteers need specialized training and are likely to leave before being integrated into the community. In response to these challenges, the Wikimedia Foundation started the Wiki Education Project (Wiki Ed), an online program in which college students edit Wikipedia articles as class assignments. The Wiki Ed program incorporates many components of institutional socialization, a process many conventional organizations successfully use to integrate new employees through formalized on-boarding practices. Research has not adequately investigated whether Wiki Ed and similar programs are effective ways to integrate volunteers in online communities, and, if so, the mechanisms involved. This paper evaluates the Wiki Ed program by comparing 16,819 student editors in 770 Wiki Ed classes with new editors who joined Wikipedia in the conventional way. The evaluation shows that the Wiki Ed students did more work, improved articles more, and were more committed to Wikipedia. For example, compared to new editors who joined Wikipedia in the conventional way they were twice as likely to still be editing Wikipedia a year after their Wiki Ed class was finished. Further, students in classrooms that encouraged joint activity, a key component of institutional socialization, produced better quality work than those in classrooms where students worked independently. These findings are consistent with an interpretation that the Wiki Ed program was successful because it incorporated elements of institutionalized socialization.
The Academic Law Library's Role in Cultivating the Rural Lawyer

The shortage of lawyers in rural areas continues to grow. The need to cultivate and adequately prepare students interested in rural practice is also well known. So what can academic law libraries do to assist students for practicing in our less populated areas? This paper highlights the issues surrounding the practice of law in rural locations, with a focus on the skills which libraries are uniquely qualified to foster. This includes offering more state-specific legal research training, presenting insight into critical leadership and business skills, and providing "small benefits" such as library privileges, access to resources, and librarian assistance for alumni and members of the local bar with the appropriate marketing to build the library brand.
A consequentialist ethical analysis of federal funding of elective abortions

Insurance coverage of abortion varies widely across the United States and is an extensively debated issue. Medicaid coverage of abortion is particularly relevant because the majority of abortion patients are poor or low-income and are thus often covered by Medicaid. Since the Hyde Amendment was first passed in 1976, federal Medicaid funds have been banned from covering the costs of elective abortion. Although states are allowed to use their own funds to cover abortions for their Medicaid recipients, only 17 states currently do so. Of these 17 states, only five cover abortion costs voluntarily; the others do so pursuant to court order. The medical literature includes few ethical analyses of the Hyde Amendment's ban on Medicaid funding of elective abortions. To fill this gap, we perform an ethical analysis of federal policy to fund elective abortions using a consequentialist approach focused on consequences for pregnant women and their children.
Histologic and histochemical characterization of seminal vesicle intraluminal secretions: Particular emphasis on their crystalloid morphology

c Context.—We have observed intraluminal crystalloid morphology in seminal vesicles that is superficially similar to that seen in prostate neoplasia, but found little information on such morphology in the literature. Design.—Two hundred fifty-three prostate specimens (163 needle biopsies, 75 radical prostatectomies with prostate carcinoma, 11 prostates from autopsy, and 4 cystoprostatectomies without prostate carcinoma) were examined for seminal vesicle secretions, which were categorized as (a) dense platelike inspissated, (b) fluidlike, (c) crystalloid morphology, and (d) absent. Histochemical stains (periodic acid‐Schiff with and without diastase, Alcian blue at pH 2.5, and mucicarmine) were performed to characterize the nature of secretions. Results.—Proteinaceous secretions were identified in 82% of seminal vesicles examined. Of these, 61% had predominantly dense, platelike, inspissated secretions, 15% had predominantly fluidlike secretions, and 24% had predominantly crystalloid morphology. Although in some cases the crystalloid morphology resembled that of prostatic intraluminal crystalloids, the seminal vesicle crystalloids differed in that they were invariably multiple, had curved edges, and had varied forms (elliptical, cylindrical, rodlike, and rectangular). Seventy-one percent of seminal vesicle crystalloids were associated with dense, platelike, inspissated secretions and appeared to be created by fracturing within platelike secretions. There was no relationship between seminal vesicle crystalloid morphology and associated malignancy in the prostate gland, as it was seen in 24% of cases with prostate carcinoma and 25% of cases without prostate carcinoma (P 5 1.0000). Fluidlike secretions were positive for Alcian blue (pH 2.5) and mucicarmine, whereas dense platelike secretions and crystalloid morphology were negative for Alcian blue (pH 2.5) and mucicarmine. Conclusions.—Seminal vesicle secretions are fairly common and, when fluidlike, are composed of acid mucopolysaccharides. Inspissation of secretions appears to be associated with loss of acidity, presumably resulting in dense platelike secretions and crystallization. Awareness of both the crystalloid morphology in seminal vesicle tissue and the distinguishing features from prostatic crystalloids may be important while interpreting prostate needle biopsies in which seminal vesicle epithelium may be confused for prostate carcinoma because of a small acinar morphology with accompanying cytologic atypia and crystalloid morphology. (Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2001;125:141‐145)
Construction of Nontrivial Quantum Gauge Theories: The Continuum limit in a Finite Volume

We construct several quantum gauge theories in 4 dimensional space time, including both Abelian and non Abelian gauge groups, with the Abelian gauge fields coupled to zero mass matter fields. The construction occurs in a fixed finite Euclidean spatial domain. The construction begins with the doubly cutoff bare field theory (with a finite space time volume and a mesh based ultraviolet cutoff) constructed in a separate paper. We use a limited range of renormalized perturbation theory, just sufficient to cancel all the divergences. We demonstrate convergence of the ultraviolet limit and of the renormalized perturbation theory, when summed to all orders. We construct the fully renormalized Lagrangian and Schwinger functions.