cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Facilitated Attentional Orienting and Delayed Disengagement to Conscious and Nonconscious Fearful Faces

Fearful facial expressions are salient nonverbal social cues that signal the existence of potential threat within the environment. These threat signals capture spatial attention both when processed consciously (unmasked) and nonconsciously (masked). Studies using masked fearful faces have most reliably found speeded orienting towards their location, but delayed disengagement from this location has also been observed. Surprisingly however, the extent to which orienting and disengagement processes underlie modulations in spatial attention to conscious/unmasked fearful faces has yet to be explored. Here, participants performed an unmasked and masked fearful face dot-probe task, which included a baseline condition to assess attentional orienting and disengagement effects. We found that both unmasked and masked fearful faces capture spatial attention through facilitated orienting and delayed disengagement. These results provide new evidence that consciously and nonconsciously processed social expressions of fear facilitate attention through similar mechanisms.
Therapeutic Hypothermia in Neurocritical Care

Therapeutic hypothermia (TH) is the intentional cooling of a patient by artificial means for a specific therapeutic purpose. Cooling of patients has been used to treat a large number of diseases over the years. Only recently, however, has its use been subject to scientific scrutiny. Patients who have suffered cardiac arrest and are comatose in the post-resuscitation phase have been shown to benefit from the use of TH. This chapter discusses the use of TH in patients who have not suffered cardiac arrest but are in the neurocritical care unit for other diseases such as ischemic stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage, intracerebral hemorrhage, seizures, spinal cord injury, acute liver failure, and traumatic brain injury. While this is an intriguing therapy with enormous potential for both treating patients and for research, there is scant evidence to support its routine use clinically. Basic definitions and methods for cooling are described, timing of cooling and rewarming is given, and side effects of the use of TH are also presented. In summary, this chapter will assist anyone considering the use of TH in neurologically injured patients by providing a review of the current literature and integrating it in to the risk/benefit analysis applied daily to their patients.
Simulation and Comparison of Operational Modes in Simulated Moving Bed Chromatography

This paper demonstrates a methodology for using Aspen Chromatography to simulate and compare several operational modes and their combinations in simulated moving bed (SMB) chromatography. After discussing briefly the basic SMB concepts, we introduce two bioprocesses, a binary chiral separation of Troger’s base enantiomers and a ternary separation of amino acid mixture. We accomplish the binary separation in a 4-zone column, and the ternary separation in a 5-zone column. We simulate both separation systems under several SMB operational modes and their combinations. The specific operational modes include the asynchronous shifting of inlet/outlet ports (“Varicol”), varying feed flow rates (“PowerFeed” and “Partial Feeding”), and varying feed concentrations (“ModiCon”) within the switching interval, together with their combinations. We compare the simulation results in terms of purities and recoveries of both extract and raffinate products, along with other performance indices. Concentration profiles within t...
Suicidal Tendencies: The Automatic Classification of Suicidal and Non-Suicidal Lyricists Using NLP

Can natural language processing be used to predict the likelihood that a musician will commit or has committed suicide? In order to explore this idea, we built a corpus of songs that includes a development set, a training set, and a test set, all consisting of different lyricists. Various vocabulary and syntactic features were then calculated in order to create a suicide/nonsuicide song classifier. The features were input into the Weka machine learning suite and tested with an array of algorithms. We were able to achieve up to a 70.6% classification rate with the SimpleCart algorithm, a 12.8% increase over the majority-class baseline. Our findings suggest that syntactic and vocabulary features are useful indicators of the likelihood that a lyricist will commit or has committed suicide.
Political and Policy Responses to Problems of Inequality and Opportunity: Past, Present, and Future

There is surprisingly little research on American norms of economic inequality and opportunity, particularly in the era of rising inequality since the 1980s. In this chapter, I describe three political and policy responses to problems of inequality and opportunity and examine how they square with public opinion. Each approach is characterized by a particular mix of views concerning inequality (of outcomes) on the one hand and opportunity on the other. The “equalizing opportunity” approach places greater emphasis on equalizing opportunities than on equalizing outcomes, and even goes so far as opposing the equalization of outcomes in principle. This approach tends to be more identified today with conservatives than with liberals, but it has had broad-based appeal for much of American history. The “equalizing outcomes” approach places greater emphasis on equalizing outcomes than on equalizing opportunity, but it embraces both. It typically sees the goal of equalizing opportunities as being met implicitly through government tax and transfer policies that reduce disparities in disposable income. This approach is identified strongly with liberals. The “equalizing outcomes to equalize opportunity” approach is the one introduced in this chapter as the most consistent with public norms today. It occupies the middle of the political spectrum and fuses concerns about both opportunity and inequality. The way forward is to eschew a one-sided focus on either equal outcomes or equal opportunities so that Americans’ views are better reflected in both political discourse and public policy.
Futility is Resistance! Toy-object, Schwarzgerät and Dingpolitik as Ludic Research Objectives

Subject object iterations appear to be tied to materiality and the culture of play. Historic investigations of art and wonder chambers analyse artifacts as fictional form. The thesis of this paper describes, how this emphasis on form coagulates in the media age of the 20th century in immaterial objects. Electricity and magnetism, introduced in 17th and 18th centuries find their climax in an individualised immaterial culture. Now, in the 21st century, a new paradigm shift is expressed in an unexpected turn towards the “real”, expressed and incorporated in a new consciousness, focusing on materialism. Spheres of electronic networks are made conscious by the means of objects and things, called Spimes, Blobjects, Smartifacts (Sterling, 2006). On the occasion of the on-site Consciousness Reframed discourse, instantaneously allow me to apply the hyphenated neologism “semi-material”, as coined in a dispute with Dr. Michael Punt in Vienna’s Urania observatory in summer 2008.
Microbial Production of L-Threonine Part III

L-Threonine production by strain BB-69, which was derived from Brevibacterium flavum No. 2247 as a α-amino-β-hydroxyvaleric acid resistant mutant and produced about 12g/liter of L-threonine, was reduced by the addition of L-lysine or L-methionine in the culture medium. Many of lysine auxotrophs but not methionine auxotrophs derived from strain B-2, which produced about 7g/liter of L-threonine, produced more L-threonine than the parental strain. Except only one methionine auxotroph (BBM-21), none of lysine and methionine auxotrophs derived from BB-69 produced more L-threonine than the parental strain. Homoserine dehydrogenase of crude extract from strain B-2 was inhibited by L-threonine more strongly than that from BB-69. Strain BBM-21, a methionine auxotroph derived from BB-69, produced about 18g/liter of L-threonine, 50% more than BB-69, while accumulation of homoserine decreased remarkably as compared with BB-69. L-Threonine production by BBM-21 was increased by the addition of L-homoserine, a precursor of L-threonine, while that by BB-69 was not. No difference was found among BBM-21, BB-69 and No. 2247 in the degree of inhibition of homoserine kinase by L-threonine. L-Threonine production by revertants of BBM-21, that is, mutants which could grow without methionine, were all lower than that of BBM-21. Correlation between L-threonine production and methionine or lysine auxotrophy was discussed.
Erythropoietic stimulation induced by anemic serum.

SummarySerum irom monkeys made anemic by bleeding induced a significant retic-ulocytosis when large amounts (from 6 to 10% of the body weight) were infused into normal monkeys. Serum from normal monkeys did not have a similar effect.
Locus of control and performance on a perceptual task under maximal or normative instructions.

Locus of control or the degree of acceptance of responsibility for the outcomes of one's actions has been linked to performance in several ways. For example, external scorers, those exhibiting low levels of responsibility, attend less during tasks and persist less than internal scorers (1). One hundred forty-seven enrollees in extension courses were screened with Rotter's I-E scale ( 2 ) . The 30 most external scores (17-22) and the 30 most internal scores ( 1-8) were selected from the pool. Then each locus of control group was divided into half randomly, with the stipulation that each group would h the same composit io~~ by sex (67% female) and have the same mean age composition. Subjects' ages ranged from 24 to 45 yr., with a mean age for each group of 34 yr. Subjects were given a 20 x 20 letter matrix in which 20 words of three or more letters were embedded. One of each locus of control group was told that the average subject found 10 words, while the other group was told that there were 20 hidden words Subjects were ta ted individually and given unlimited time for solurions. Under the normative instructions, internal scorers found a mean of 14.2 (ID, 1.5) words and persisted for a mean of 6.6 min. (SD, 1 .8) while external scorers found an average of 8.3 words (SD, 1.2) and persisted for 4.9 rnin. ( S D , 1 . 9 ) . W i t h maximal instructions. internal scorers found 19.1 mean words (SD, 0 .2 ) and persisted for a mean of 13.2 min. ( S D , 2 . 1 ) , while external scorers found 6.4 words (SD, 1.3) and persisted for 4.0 min. (SD, 0 . 8 ) . A 2 x 2 analysis of variance yielded significant main effects and interactions for both measures. While locus of control affected persistence across instructions, maximal instructions seemed to have increased persistence among inrernal scorers and discouraged external scorers.
The impact of diabetes self-management education on glucose management and empowerment in ethnic Armenians with type 2 diabetes.

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of diabetes self-management education on glycemic control and perceptions of empowerment in Armenian American immigrants diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.MethodsA quasi-experimental pre and post design was used to investigate the impact of using education on self-management as measured by A1C levels and empowerment scores. Nine hours of diabetes self-management education classes were offered in the Armenian language to 75 clients at 2 adult health day care centers over 6 weeks. The participants were mostly first-generation Armenian immigrants aged 65 years and older. A1C results, the 8-item Diabetes Empowerment Scale (DES), and the 15-item Armenian Ethnic Orientation Questionnaire–Revised (AEOQ-R) were used to determine the impact of education on self-care management.ResultsAfter institutional review board approval was obtained, 75 participants completed the study. A paired t test indicated that the postintervention mean A1C level was significan...
Biology of Lasioerythraeus johnstoni (Acari: Erythraeidae), Ectoparasitic and Predaceous on the Tarnished Plant Bug, Lygus lineolaris (Hemiptera: Miridae), and Other Arthropods

One hundred fifty-one host records obtained in 1984—85 from Washington County, Miss., are reported for Lasioerythraeus johnstoni Welbourn & Young. Thirteen insect species from three orders are recorded as hosts of the larval stage, with nymphs of the tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois), representing 52% of all records. Attached larval mites were obtained from undisturbed old-field habitats during the period of 20 March—13 September, with most of the records obtained in July. Parasitization levels for some host species were as high as 46%. Of the attached larval mites, >90% occurred on the dorsal head and thorax, usually at a molt suture. In the laboratory, field-collected attached larval mites killed their hosts and detached within 2 d, passed through several nymphal stages, and became adults in ca. 21 d. Both the active deutonymph and adult forms were predaceous on tarnished plant bug nymphs. L. johnstoni appears to have considerable natural control potential for the tarnished plant bug.
Report from the panel on the Case for Registers of Clinical Trials at the Eighth Annual Meeting of the Society for Clinical Trials.

Abstract A plenary session at the Eighth Annual Meeting of the Society for Clinical Trials addressed "The Case for Registers of Clinical Trials." There are a number of reasons for having registers of clinical trials: to promote collaboration and communication among investigators regarding new and ongoing clinical trials, to provide a basis for methodologic research, and to facilitate meta-analysis by the availability of a system of trial identification that is independent of the published literature. The experience gleaned by those involved with two existing trial registers, the International Committee on Thrombosis and Haemostasis Registry and the Oxford Database of Perinatal Trials, can be used to provide insight into the issues generic to trial registration. The time perspective to be used, inclusion and exclusion criteria, the practicability of comprehensive prospective registration, and funding are central considerations for these and other registers.
An Easy Way to Ascertain Binomial Equation of Well Productivity

Since turbulence effect appears near wellbore in oil well with high-speed flow, Darcy's Law for flat radial flow is incompletely applicable. Reference [1] presented the incomplete binom?al equation of oil well similar to gas well under the condition of high-speed turbulence effect. Based on that, this paper proposes an easy way to determine binomial equation of well productivity without regard to formation static pressure, established by flowing bottomhole pressure and production data as well as linear regression. Using this equation, absolute open-flow capacity can be obtained. Case study shows this method is accurate and reliable for use.
Weak antilocalization in Bi2(Se(x)Te(1-x))3 nanoribbons and nanoplates.

Studying the surface states of Bi2Se3 and Bi2Te3 topological insulators has proven challenging due to the high bulk carrier density that masks the surface states. Ternary compound Bi2(SexTe1–x)3 may present a solution to the current materials challenge by lowering the bulk carrier mobility significantly. Here, we synthesized Bi2(SexTe1–x)3 nanoribbons and nanoplates via vapor–liquid–solid and vapor–solid growth methods where the atomic ratio x was controlled by the molecular ratio of Bi2Se3 to Bi2Te3 in the source mixture and ranged between 0 and 1. For the whole range of x, the ternary nanostructures are single crystalline without phase segregation, and their carrier densities decrease with x. However, the lowest electron density is still high (∼1019 cm–3) and the mobility low, suggesting that the majority of these carriers may come from impurity states. Despite the high carrier density, weak antilocalization (WAL) is clearly observed. Angle-dependent magnetoconductance study shows that an appropriate ma...
A Game-Theoretic Model of Cooperation in Law School Faculties

A standard account of group cooperation would predict that group stability would bring about greater cooperation, because repeat-play games would allow for sanctions and rewards. In an academic unit such as a department or a law faculty, one might thus expect that faculty stability would bring about greater cooperation. Faculty turnover, by contrast, would cause faculty to invest less in each other, and depress cooperative behavior. However, academic units are not like most other groups. Tenured professors face only limited sanctions for failing to cooperate, for engaging in unproductive conflict, or for shirking. It is thus open to question as to whether faculty turnover actually leads unambiguously to a decline in cooperation. This article posits that within limits, some faculty turnover may enhance cooperation. Certainly, excessive and persistent loss of faculty is demoralizing, and reduces the number of individuals among which administrative work can be spread. But for less dire losses, faculty turnover may play the disciplining role that academic units are deprived of by the tenure system. This article sets forth a game-theoretic model showing how the possibility of exit may induce greater cooperation in a faculty. The intuition is that while some antisocial behavior in a faculty – fighting or shirking – may garner some short-term gains at the expense of others, the possibility of exit may reduce this behavior, on the grounds that loss of a colleague could be worse than the gains from fighting or shirking. Losing a colleague means probably losing a productive colleague, taking the time to replace her, and possibly replacing her with a less productive substitute. These downsides may play a role in curbing unproductive behavior in a faculty. This article presents some evidence in support of the hypothesis that faculty turnover short of some excessive amount does, in fact, produce higher levels of collegiality.
From Woyzeck to Wozzeck: Alban Berg’s Adaptation of Büchner

(1972). From Woyzeck to Wozzeck: Alban Berg’s Adaptation of Buchner. The Germanic Review: Literature, Culture, Theory: Vol. 47, No. 3, pp. 168-180.
Principlism in Bioethics

The theoretical and practical roles of moral principles in principlist theory is the subject of this chapter. I start by discussing the historical background of the emergence of basic universal principles in bioethics. I then analyze the nature of the moral commitments in the universal framework of principles that I have developed over the last 40 years with James Childress. I also discuss how universal principles are fashioned into particular moralities such as those found in professional medical ethics, and the circumstances under which particular moralities are consistent with universal morality. Finally, I show the relevance of principles for global research ethics and for an understanding of the rights of minorities in multicultural societies.
THE RELIC AND THE RUIN: EQUIVOCAL OBJECTS AND THE PRESENCE OF THE PAST IN DANIEL DERONDA

Early in George Eliot's Daniel Deronda , Daniel's life is set on a decisive new path by his fleeting attraction to an object in a shop window. He is turning into a side street off Holburn Road when: his attention was caught by some fine old clasps in chased silver displayed in the window at his right hand. His first thought was that [his aunt] Lady Mallinger, who had a strictly Protestant taste for such Catholic spoils, might like to have these missal-clasps turned into a bracelet; then his eyes travelled over the other contents of the window, and he saw that the shop was that kind of pawnbroker's where the lead is given to jewellery, lace, and all equivocal objects introduced as bric-a-brac. A placard in one corner announced – Watches and Jewellery exchanged and repaired. (344; bk. 4, ch. 6) Daniel then moves across the street to avoid the shopkeeper, and it is only from this new vantage point that he notices the name “Ezra Cohen” above the window – the name he's been seeking while wandering Jewish neighborhoods in London in the hopes of reuniting his protegee Mirah with her family. He will return to the pawnshop later and become acquainted with the Cohens, eventually finding through them his mentor and Mirah's actual brother, Mordecai. Although some discussion of the silver clasps ensues, they are neither purchased nor used in the space of the novel. Still, this seemingly inconsequential trinket proves to have a long history, one that raises questions about the lingering remains of the past, the equivocality of the object, and the dispossessions that haunt Daniel Deronda.
The Status of Women's Reproductive Rights and Adverse Birth Outcomes.

Abstract Background Reproductive rights—the ability to decide whether and when to have children—shape women's socioeconomic and health trajectories across the life course. The objective of this study was to examine reproductive rights in association with preterm birth (PTB; Methods Analysis included records for all live births in the United States in 2012 grouped by state. A reproductive rights composite index score was assigned to records from each state based on the following indicators for the year before birth (2011): mandatory sex education, expanded Medicaid eligibility for family planning services, mandatory parental involvement for minors seeking abortion, mandatory abortion waiting periods, public funding for abortion, and percentage of women in counties with abortion providers. Scores were ranked by tertile with the highest tertile reflecting states with strongest reproductive rights. We fit logistic regression models with generalized estimating equations to estimate the odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for PTB and LBW associated with reproductive rights score controlling for maternal race, age, education, and insurance and state-level poverty. Results States with the strongest reproductive rights had the lowest rates of LBW and PTB (7.3% and 10.6%, respectively) compared with states with more restrictions (8.5% and 12.2%, respectively). After adjustment, women in more restricted states experienced 13% to 15% increased odds of PTB and 6% to 9% increased odds of LBW compared with women in states with the strongest rights. Conclusions State-level reproductive rights may influence likelihood of adverse birth outcomes among women residents.
Rapid and tunable method to temporally control gene editing based on conditional Cas9 stabilization

The CRISPR/Cas9 system is a powerful tool for studying gene function. Here, we describe a method that allows temporal control of CRISPR/Cas9 activity based on conditional Cas9 destabilization. We demonstrate that fusing an FKBP12-derived destabilizing domain to Cas9 (DD-Cas9) enables conditional Cas9 expression and temporal control of gene editing in the presence of an FKBP12 synthetic ligand. This system can be easily adapted to co-express, from the same promoter, DD-Cas9 with any other gene of interest without co-modulation of the latter. In particular, when co-expressed with inducible Cre-ERT2, our system enables parallel, independent manipulation of alleles targeted by Cas9 and traditional recombinase with single-cell specificity. We anticipate this platform will be used for the systematic characterization and identification of essential genes, as well as the investigation of the interactions between functional genes.
Associations between rumination and obsessive-compulsive symptom dimensions

Abstract In recent years there has been increased interest in understanding cognitive processes that play a role in the pathogenesis of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). One cognitive factor that has received little attention is rumination. Rumination, defined as the tendency to repetitively analyze ones problems and feelings of distress, has been implicated in the development and maintenance of several mood and anxiety-related disorders. Thus, the primary aim of the current study was to examine the role of rumination in OCD symptoms using an unselected treatment-seeking sample ( N = 105). Multiple regression analyses revealed a significant association between rumination and the unacceptable thoughts/neutralizing domain of OCD. These findings remained significant even after accounting for a relevant and related construct, in particular negative affect. These findings support a growing body of literature establishing rumination as a transdiagnostic risk factor. Further clinical and experimental research is needed to confirm these findings and expand our knowledge of metacognitive models of OCD.
Dysembryoplastic Neuroectodermal Tumor: An Analysis from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program, 2004-2013.

Background Dysembryoplastic neuroectodermal tumor (DNT) is a rare neoplasm. Though the pathology is commonly considered benign, there have been various reports documenting rapid growth, recurrence/progression, sudden death, and malignant transformation. Most studies have addressed outcomes regarding seizure control, but limited data exist regarding incidence and survival. Consequently, we explore the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database to explore the epidemiology of DNT. Methods From the SEER-18 registry database, information from all patients diagnosed with intracranial DNT between 2004 and 2013 was extracted, including age, sex, race, marital status, tumor location, tumor size, receipt of surgery, extent of primary surgery, receipt of radiation, and follow-up data. Age-adjusted incidence rates and overall survival (OS) were calculated. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess relationships between various demographic/treatment variables and OS. Results A total of 381 cases were identified in the SEER-18 database. The incidence of DNT within the large subset of the United States population represented by SEER was 0.033 per 100,000 person-years (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.030–0.037). The median duration of follow-up was 50 months. The median OS was not attained. The 3-, 5-, and 9-year OS was 99.363% (95% CI, 97.428%–99.844%), 97.993% (95% CI, 95.168%–99.174%), and 96.296% (95% CI, 91.834%–98.341%), respectively. Seven of the 381 patients passed at their last follow up. Of all demographic/treatment factors, only receipt of radiation demonstrated a significant relationship with OS (hazard ratio, 0.051; 95% CI, 0.01–0.267; P Conclusions Although the prognosis for DNT is generally favorable, the pathology can lead to poor outcomes in rare cases. Common demographic factors, treatment with surgery, and the extent of surgical resection did not show significant associations with OS. In contrast, treatment with radiation was associated with poorer OS.
Evaluating the association of single-nucleotide polymorphisms with tenofovir exposure in a diverse prospective cohort of women living with HIV.

Higher exposure to tenofovir (TFV) increases the risk for kidney function decline, but the impact of genetic factors on TFV exposure is largely unknown. We investigated whether single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs, n=211) in 12 genes are potentially involved in TFV exposure. Participants (n=91) from the Women’s Interagency HIV Study, underwent a 24 h intensive pharmacokinetic sampling of TFV after witnessed dose and TFV area under the time–concentration curves (AUCs) were calculated for each participant. SNPs were assayed using a combination of array genotyping and Sanger sequencing. Linear regression models were applied to logarithmically transformed AUC. Those SNPs that met an a priori threshold of P<0.001 were considered statistically associated with TFV AUC. ABCG2 SNP rs2231142 was associated with TFV AUC with rare allele carriers displaying 1.51-fold increase in TFV AUC (95% confidence interval: 1.26, 1.81; P=1.7 × 10−5). We present evidence of a moderately strong effect of the rs2231142 SNP in ABCG2 on a 24 h TFV AUC.
Maternal body mass index and oxytocin exposure in nulliparous women: is there an interaction associated with maternal and neonatal morbidities?

Objective: Increasing body mass index (BMI) and administered doses of oxytocin are related to maternal and neonatal morbidities. We evaluated the effect of oxytocin dosage, BMI, and their interacti...
Big Food and Little Data: The Slow Harvest of Corporate Food Supply Chain Sustainability Initiatives

Over the past several years, many of the companies collectively known as Big Food have launched ambitious programs to assess and improve the sustainability of their raw material supply chains. Fueled partly by concerns about the risks posed by climate change and other environmental problems, these efforts differ from earlier corporate food supply chain governance in that they rely more on metrics of continuous improvement than compliance with standards. They also extend beyond high-value, high-profile products to include staple ingredients such as corn and soy. These commodities are sourced through long, complex, and traditionally nontransparent supply chains, where even the biggest food companies exercise surprisingly little clout over producers. This article examines how companies contend with this problem both within their own supply chains and as members of multistakeholder initiatives. The assemblage concept not only describes the many actors, technologies, and practices now working to get certain ki...
Creating diagnostic criteria for perforated appendicitis using cross-sectional imaging.

Preoperative determination of perforated versus acute appendicitis can be difficult. We compared CT and MRI performance in diagnosing perforated appendicitis, and created diagnostic criteria. We retrospectively reviewed all pediatric patients who underwent appendectomy within one day of CT or MRI between 1/1/2013 and 1/16/2016. True diagnosis was determined by pathology report. Findings on CT/MRI were grouped into “hard” findings (abscess, pneumoperitoneum, extruded fecalith, appendiceal wall with visible hole) and “soft” findings (extensive/diffuse inflammation/free fluid, phlegmon). Correlation of white blood cell count (WBC), temperature, peritoneal signs, and symptom duration >72 h with perforation was assessed using logistic regression. Significant correlates were incorporated in clinical criteria. 135 patients underwent appendectomy after CT/MRI. Fifty patients underwent MRI and 85 CT. Using hard and/or soft findings, MRI was 86.7% sensitive and 74.3% specific, compared to 68.4% (p = 0.19) and 92.4% (p = 0.025) for CT. WBC > 15, temperature >38.0 °C, and peritoneal signs predicted perforation. Diagnostic accuracy of MRI was highest using imaging findings alone. Accuracy of CT was improved by mandating at least one of the previous three clinical correlates, resulting in 68.4% sensitivity and 93.9% specificity. MRI trended toward more sensitive and CT was more specific for complicated appendicitis. CT specificity is improved by our algorithm.
A Dual-Band Wireless Power Transfer and Backscatter Communication Approach for Real-Time Neural/EMG Data Acquisition

We present a dual-band approach for HF wireless power delivery and UHF backscatter communication in implanted biomedical devices. A testbed is described including a custom implant device as well as an external system based around the USRP B210 software defined radio platform. The implant integrates a binary phase shift keying backscatter uplink rate of 5 Mb/s, with an HF wireless power transfer link delivering 1.33 mW at an efficiency of 17%. The implant is 25 mm in diameter and 2.8 mm thick, including the printed circuit substrate, dual-band antenna, all circuitry, and biocompatible silicone encapsulation. It supports up to ten neural and four electromyogram (EMG) channels with a sampling rate of 26.10 kHz for the neural channels and 1.628 kHz for the EMG channels. The communication link is shown to have 0% packet error rate at an implant depth of up to 2.5 cm.
Query-efficient Partitions for Dynamic Data

Large-scale data storage requirements have led to the development of distributed, non-relational databases (NoSQL). Single-dimension NoSQL achieves scalability by partitioning data over a single key space. Queries on primary ("key") properties are made efficient at the cost of queries on other properties. Multidimensional NoSQL systems attempt to remedy this inefficiency by creating multiple key spaces. Unfortunately, the structure of data needs to be known a priori and must remain fixed, eliminating many of the original benefits of NoSQL. This paper presents three techniques that together enable query-efficient partitioning of dynamic data. First, unispace hashing (UH) extends multidimensional hashing to data of unknown structure with the goal of improving queries on secondary properties. Second, compression formulas leverage user insight to address UH's inefficiencies and further accelerate lookups by certain properties. Third, formula spaces use UH to simplify compression formulas and accelerate queries on the structure of objects. The resulting system supports dynamic data similar to single-dimension NoSQL systems, efficient data queries on secondary properties, and novel intersection, union, and negation queries on the structure of dynamic data.
RESOURCE-BASED STRATEGY IN A STOCHASTIC MODEL

I develop a stochastic dynamic version of the resource-based view of the firm. The theory reduces to an extreme version of the evolutionary approach in one special case and to a deterministic resource-based approach in another. I go on to characterize circumstances under which each special case is more pertinent. The theory implies a natural division of labor between the resource-based and the evolutionary approaches.
Coronary artery bypass grafting in patients treated with thoracic radiation: a case-control study.

Background and aim Thoracic radiation therapy (XRT) for cancer is associated with the development of significant coronary artery disease that may require coronary artery bypass grafting surgery (CABG). Contemporary acute surgical outcomes and long-term postoperative survival of patients with prior XRT have not been well characterised. Methods This was a retrospective, single-centre study of patients with a history of thoracic XRT who required CABG and who were propensity matched against 141 controls who underwent CABG over the same time period. The objectives were to assess early CABG outcomes and long-term survival in patients with prior XRT. Results Thirty-eight patients with a history of previous thoracic XRT underwent CABG from 1994 to 2013. The median time from XRT exposure to surgery was 7.9 years (IQR: 2.5–18.4 years). Perioperative adverse events were similar in the XRT group and controls; however, there was a trends lower utilisation of internal mammary artery (IMA) grafts in the XRT group (89%vs98%, P=0.13). After a median postoperative follow-up of 5.4 years (IQR 0.9–9.4 years), no difference in long-term all-cause mortality was observed. Conclusion Patients with prior thoracic XRT who undergo CABG have similar long-term all-cause mortality compared with controls. Isolated CABG after thoracic XRT is not associated with higher perioperative complications, but IMA graft use may be limited by prior XRT.
Effect of arteriovenous graft flow rate on vascular access hemodynamics in a novel modular anastomotic valve device

Purpose:Perturbed vascular access hemodynamics is considered a potential driver of intimal hyperplasia, the leading cause of vascular access failure. To improve vascular access patency, a modular a...
Inferior Vena Cava Filter Strut Penetration into the Vertebral Column: A Case of 10-Year Clinical Follow Up

Abstract Background The rate of vena cava (IVC) filter placement has increased over the past decade, especially in the orthopaedic trauma patient population. With the increasing use of IVC filters, radiologists and referring clinicians must be familiar with potential complications. Clinical Case This case report presents an 18-year-old polytraumatized patient who had an IVC filter placed and required T8-L2 posterior spinal fusion. At 4.5 years of follow-up, a computed tomography (CT) scan for painful spinal hardware incidentally found that the IVC filter had migrated into the L3 vertebral body. The patient eventually underwent removal of her spinal hardware, but the IVC filter migration was managed conservatively with routine surveillance. At 10 years follow-up, the patient continued to remain asymptomatic despite of filter penetration into the vertebral body. Conclusion This case demonstrates, long term follow-up for an asymptomatic patient with IVC migration and vertebral body penetration. This case may suggest that attempt at complex IR filter retrieval is not necessarily warranted in scenarios of strut penetration.
First Aid and Pre-Hospital Management of Venomous Snakebites

Background: Antivenom is the definitive treatment for venomous snakebites, but is expensive and not available in many rural and poorly developed regions. Timely transportation to facilities that stock and administer antivenom may not be available in rural areas with poorly developed emergency medical services. These factors have led to consideration of measures to delay onset of toxicity or alternatives to antivenom therapy. Methods: PubMed searches were conducted for articles on snakebite treatment, or that contained first aid, emergency medical services, tourniquets, pressure immobilization bandages, suction devices, and lymphatic flow inhibitors. Results: The reviewed articles describe how venoms spread after a venomous snakebite on an extremity, list the proposed first aid measures for delaying the spread of venoms, and evaluate the scientific studies that support or refute methods of snakebite first aid. The recommendations for field treatment of venomous snakebites will be discussed. Conclusions: The evidence suggests that pressure immobilization bandages and related strategies are the best interventions to delay onset of systemic toxicity from venomous snakebites but may increase local toxicity for venoms that destroy tissue at the site of the bite, so their use should be individualized to the circumstances and nature of the venom.
Intrinsic fatigue crack growth rates for Al-Li-Cu-Mg alloys in vacuum

The influences of microstructure and deformation mode on inert environment intrinsic fatigue crack propagation were investigated for Al-Li-Cu-Mg alloys AA2090, AA8090, and X2095 compared to AA2024. The amount of coherent shearable δ (Al3Li) precipitates and extent of localized planar slip deformation were reduced by composition (increased Cu/Li in X2095) and heat treatment (double aging of AA8090). Intrinsic growth rates, obtained at high constantK max to minimize crack closure and in vacuum to eliminate any environmental effect, were alloy dependent;da/dN varied up to tenfold based on applied ΔK or ΔK/E. When compared based on a crack tip cyclic strain or opening displacement parameter (ΔK/(σys E)1/2), growth rates were equivalent for all alloys except X2095-T8 which exhibited unique fatigue crack growth resistance. Tortuous fatigue crack profiles and large fracture surface facets were observed for each Al-Li alloy independent of the precipitates present, particularly δ, and the localized slip deformation structure. Reduced fatigue crack propagation rates for X2095 in vacuum are not explained by either residual crack closure or slip reversibility arguments; the origin of apparent slip band facets in a homogeneous slip alloy is unclear. Better understanding of crack tip damage accumulation and fracture surface facet crystallography is required for Al-Li alloys with varying slip localization.
Routine Adjustments: How Journalists Framed the Charleston Shootings

This article presents an analysis of U.S. national newspaper coverage of the 2015 mass shooting at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. A two-dimensional measurement scheme of time and space is used to examine media frames. Results suggest that journalists incorporated attributes unique to this tragedy into their reports by using a wide variety of frames that remained relatively consistent throughout the first 30 days of coverage. Compared with the results of studies of similar events, our analysis finds that news coverage of the Charleston shooting was more likely to use the past time frame (36%) and the societal/past combination frame (18%).
Climbing a slippery slope

How a drop spreads across a solid surface is crucial to many applications in science and engineering. Yet, there is much we still do not understand about this phenomenon. In particular, situations where the edge of the drop moves rapidly across the surface remain obscure. There are two main issues: the effect of inertia and the presence of defects that are always present on ordinary surfaces and hinder the advancement of the liquid. Sartori et al. (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 876, 2019) show how these effects can be separated in the case of climbing drops, a phenomenon where drops paradoxically climb an inclined vibrating plate.
Weight Loss Improves β-Cell Function in People With Severe Obesity and Impaired Fasting Glucose: A Window of Opportunity

Background In people with obesity, β-cell function may adapt to insulin resistance. We describe β-cell function in people with severe obesity and normal fasting glucose (NFG), impaired fasting glucose (IFG), and type 2 diabetes (T2DM), as assessed before, 3 to 6 months after, and 2 years after medical weight loss to describe its effects on insulin sensitivity, insulin secretion, and β-cell function. Methods Fifty-eight participants with body mass index (BMI) ≥ 35 kg/m2 (14 with NFG, 24 with IFG, and 20 with T2DM) and 13 normal weight participants with NFG underwent mixed meal tolerance tests to estimate insulin sensitivity (S[I]), insulin secretion (Φ), and β-cell function assessed as model-based Φ adjusted for S(I). All 58 obese participants were restudied at 3 to 6 months and 27 were restudied at 2 years. Results At 3 to 6 months, after a 20-kg weight loss and a decrease in BMI of 6 kg/m2, S(I) improved in all obese participants, Φ decreased in obese participants with NFG and IFG and tended to decrease in obese participants with T2DM, and β-cell function improved in obese participants with NFG and tended to improve in obese participants with IFG. At 2 years, β-cell function deteriorated in participants with NFG and T2DM but remained significantly better in participants with IFG compared to baseline. Conclusions Short-term weight loss improves β-cell function in participants with NFG and IFG, but β-cell function tends to deteriorate over 2 years. In participants with IFG, weight loss improves longer-term β-cell function relative to baseline and likely relative to no intervention, suggesting that obese people with IFG are a subpopulation whose β-cell function is most likely to benefit from weight loss.
Satiric Magazines as Hybrid Alternative Media in Latin America

This article explores the cases of two satirical publications—The Clinic (Chile, 1998–) and Barcelona (Argentina, 2003–). Through critical humor, visual subversions, and parody, these independent magazines challenged mainstream journalism and official political discourse, offering alternative interpretations about the ruling class and society after traumatic periods—Pinochet’s military dictatorship in Chile and the 2001 economic crisis in Argentina. Through interviews with the editors and content analysis, this article examines how these satirical publications responded to their respective national contexts by questioning the functioning of power on several levels of society, and how they evolved after they became popular, negotiating their space within the national mediascape. This study also suggests the notion of hybrid alternative media to describe these publications, which became part of a liberating process of collective healing. Initially perceived in opposition to mainstream media in contexts when the press’s credibility had decreased, they filled gaps in their society’s political communication. Resumen Este articulo explora el caso de dos publicaciones satiricas—The Clinic (Chile, 1998–) y Barcelona (Argentina, 2003–). A traves de humor critico, subversiones visuales y parodia, estas revistas independientes retaron la autoridad del periodismo tradicional y del discurso politico oficial. De esta manera ofrecieron interpretaciones alternativas sobre las clases dirigentes y la sociedad despues de periodos historicos traumaticos —la dictadura de Pinochet en Chile y la crisis economica del 2001 en Argentina—. A traves de entrevistas con editores y analisis de contenido, este articulo examina como estas publicaciones satiricas respondieron a sus respectivos contextos nacionales, cuestionando el funcionamiento del poder en varios niveles de la sociedad, y como evolucionaron despues de volverse populares negociando su espacio dentro del panorama mediatico nacional. Este estudio tambien sugiere la nocion de medio alternativo hibrido para describir a estas publicaciones, las cuales fueron parte de un proceso liberador de cicatrizacion colectiva. Inicialmente percibidas en oposicion a los medios tradicionales (o “mainstream”) en contextos en los cuales la credibilidad de la prensa habia decrecido, estas revistas llenaron vacios en la comunicacion politica de sus sociedades.
Terrestrial Ecology: Is Restoration the Only Answer?

It was with Aldo Leopold’s (1949) A Sand County Almanac that the concept of fostering a “Land Ethic” established the foundation for the environmental movement in the 1970s. Terrestrial ecosystems support a large plant biomass (the sheer weight of living things) and exhibit an ecological succession from a pioneer stage to a complex climax stage. Ecologists investigate ecosystems and observe a range of limiting factors that influence their growth and development. Moisture is a major limiting factor on land, with terrestrial organisms constantly being confronted with the problem of dehydration. Transpiration from plants and evapotranspiration are critical processes in the hydrologic cycle and are important to maintain the Earth’s moderating temperature variations and extremes in the air. CO2 and oxygen are constantly mixed in the atmosphere and large terrestrial ecosystems are tied to carbon sinks that are influenced by human land-use practices such as forest clear cutting and forest fire management (Ricklefs 1999).
The Road Not Taken: Host Infection Status Influences Parasite Host-Choice.

The manipulation of host organisms by their parasites has captured the attention of ecologists, parasitologists, and the public. However, our knowledge of parasite behavior independent of a host is limited despite the far-reaching implications of parasite behavior. Parasite behaviors can help explain trematode community structure, the aggregation of parasites within host populations, and can potentially be harnessed in biocontrol measures. In this study, we used a simple choice chamber design to examine whether trematode parasites can detect the infection status of a potential host and avoid hosts infected with a competitively dominant species. Our results show that Schistosoma mansoni, a competitively subordinate species, can detect and avoid hosts infected with a competitively dominant parasite, Echinostoma caproni. However, E. caproni, despite showing a significant preference for snails infected with S. mansoni over uninfected snails, showed little ability to detect the infection status of the host or even the host's presence. We propose subordinate species may be under stronger selection to avoid dominant competitors whereas dominant competitors may be more strongly selected to find any suitable host, regardless of infection status. Previous research has focused on parasites distinguishing between ‘host’ and ‘non-host’, which does not fully capture the complexity of these interactions. However, the ability of subordinate parasites to determine the infection status of a host results in a consistent evolutionary advantage.
Magic lantern shows through a macroscopic lens: topic modelling and mapping as methods for media archaeology

This article explores trends across Lucerna, an online web resource for magic lantern materials, by combining two digital approaches: topic modelling and geospatial mapping. Topic modelling identif...