cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Compensatory Growth in Broilers after Withdrawal of Ionophorous Anticoccidial Drugs

Three polyether, ionophorous anticoccidial drugs were fed to broiler chickens in floor pens for 5 or 6 weeks, then withdrawn for 2 weeks or 1 week, respectively. With monensin and salinomycin there was evidence of increased feed consumption and compensatory growth during the first week, but not the second week, after drug withdrawal. There was no evidence of compensatory growth in birds fed lasalocid. Final weights were best in birds fed lasalocid and salinomycin in comparison with unmedicated controls and birds fed monensin. There was evidence of increased feed consumption and compensatory growth in some treatments in which birds weighed more than controls prior to drug withdrawal.
On queueing problems in random-access communications

The general problem of allocating the capacity of a communication channel to a population of geographically distributed terminals is considered. The main locus is on the queueing problems that arise in the analysis of random access resolution algorithms. The performance measures of interest are the channel efficiency and the mean response time. The nature of known solutions for various random access schemes is discussed and a lower bound for the mean response time is conjectured.
Review of the International Literature

Abstract Batty, M.J., Bonnington, S., Tang, B., Hawken, M.B, & Gruzelier, J.H. (2006). Relaxation strategies and enhancement of hypnotic susceptibility: EEG neurofeedback, progressive muscle relaxation and self-hypnosis. Brain Research Bulletin, 71 (1–3),83–90. Brown, R.J. (2006). Different types of “dissociation” have different psychological mechanisms. Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, 7 (4), 7–28. Diamond, S.G., Davis, O.C., Schaechter, J.D., & Howe, R.D. (2006). Hypnosis for rehabilitation after stroke: Six case studies. Contemporary Hypnosis, 23 (4), 173–180. Ferrell, M.D., Beach, R.L., Szeverenyi, N.M., Krch, M., & Fernhall, B. (2006). An fMRI analysis of neural activity during perceived zone-state performance. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 28 (4), 421–433. Gay, M. (2007). Effectiveness of hypnosis in reducing mild essential hypertension: A one-year follow-up. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 55(1), 67–83. Guzman-Hosta L., Martinez-Taboas A., Rodriguez-Gomez J. ...
Comparative growth and yield of channel catfish and channel × blue hybrid catfish fed a full or restricted ration.

Growth and yield (kg ha−1) of the channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus, Rafinesque, 1818) and the channel × blue hybrid catfish [I. punctatus female ×I. furcatus (Lesueur, 1840) male], which shared the Jubilee strain of channel catfish as the maternal parent, were compared in sixteen 0.1 ha earthen ponds (14 852 fish ha−1) during the April to November growing season. Each fish genetic group was fed a commercially formulated 32% protein feed daily to apparent satiation or at 80% of the mean daily satiation ration. Net yield and individual weight were higher for channel × blue hybrid catfish compared with channel catfish and for fish fed a full ration compared with a restricted ration. When fed a full ration, the channel × blue hybrid catfish grew faster from May to September than did the purebred channel catfish because the hybrid catfish consumed a greater percentage of its body weight at each feeding. Net yield within each fish genetic group was lower when feed ration was restricted. The per cent reduction in net yield in response to feed restriction was similar for each fish genetic group.
Linguistic description of adult skeletal age-at-death estimations from fuzzy integral acquired fuzzy sets

Previously, we introduced a novel method to estimate adult skeletal age-at-death using the Sugeno fuzzy integral (FI). Specifically, we took a multi-hypothesis testing approach to make the classical FI yield a fuzzy set (FS)-valued result, which is not guaranteed to be normal or convex, based on interval-valued sources of information (aging methods). We showed quantitative results for summarizing the FS and comparing the single decision to a known age-at-death. In this article, we extend our prior work and present formulas to measure the uncertainty in the resultant FSs. We generate linguistic descriptions to establish domain standardization for the goal of assisting forensic and biological anthropologists. Specifically, we introduce fuzzy class definitions for age-at-death FSs and we present an OWA contrast approach to measure the degree of specificity in age-at-death FSs.
Automatic Threshold Selection Based On Information Gain

An approach to automatic threshold selection based on information gain, is proposed. The probability distribution of gray levels can be utilized to compute the information content of the image using entropic measures. An objective function representing the information gain provided by the threshold gray level with respect to the other gray levels is defined. The gray level value that maximizes the discriminant function is selected as the threshold value for the input gray level image to provide an output binary image.
STUDIES ON THE EFFECT OF OVARIOTOMY AND HYPOPHYSECTOMY ON GESTATION IN SNAKES1

HERETOFORE, the structure and function of the corpora lutea bodies have been almost exclusively considered in mammals. Comparatively little attention has been given to other vertebrates. The structure and origin of the corpora lutea have been studied and investigated in such viviparous vertebrates as elasmobranchs and reptiles (1–7). However, little or no attention has been given to the physiology of the corpora lutea bodies in reptiles. The present communication considers the results of a series of experiments designed to throw some light on the function of the corpora lutea bodies in snakes. A portion of these experiments were performed at the Department of Experimental Biology, American Museum of Natural History, New York City. A preliminary report of the results as obtained there was published in abstract form (8).
The foundations of mind: Origins of conceptual thought.

1. How to Build a Baby: Prologue 2. Piaget's Sensorimotor Infant 3. Kinds of Representation: Seeing and Thinking 4. Perceptual Meaning Analysis and Image-Schemas: The Infant as Interpreter 5. Some Image-Schemas and their Functions 6. Some Differences between Percepts and Concepts: The Case of the Basic Level 7. Some Preverbal Concepts 8. Conceptual Categories as Induction Machines 9. Continuity in the Conceptual System: Acquisition, Breakdown and Reorganization 10. Recall of the Past 11. Language Acquisition 12. Consciousness and Conclusions
Performance of Tuberculosis Drug Susceptibility Testing in U.S. Laboratories from 1994 to 2008

We present a statistical summary of results from the Model Performance Evaluation Program (MPEP) for Mycobacterium tuberculosis Drug Susceptibility Testing, 1994 to 2008, implemented by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). During that period, a total of 57,733 test results for culture isolates were reported by 216 participating laboratories for the first-line antituberculosis drugs used in the United States-isoniazid (INH), rifampin (RMP), ethambutol (EMB), and pyrazinamide (PZA). Using Clinical Laboratory and Standards Institute (CLSI)-recommended concentrations for one or more of three methods, agar proportion (AP), BACTEC460 (Bactec), and MGIT-960 (MGIT), yielded overall agreement of 97.0% for first-line drugs. For susceptible strains, agreement was 98.4%; for resistant strains, agreement was 91.0%, with significantly lower accuracy (chi-square test, P < 0.0001). For resistant strains, overall agreement by methods was 91.3% for AP, 93.0% for Bactec, and 82.6% for MGIT and by drugs was 92.2% for INH, 91.5% for RMP, 79.0% for EMB, and 97.5% for PZA. For some strains, performance by method varied significantly. Use of duplicate strains in the same shipment and repeat strains over time revealed consistent performance even for strains with higher levels of interlaboratory discordance. No overall differences in performance between laboratories were observed based on volume of testing or type of facility (e.g., health department, hospital, independent). By all methods, decreased performance was observed for strains with low-level INH resistance, RMP resistance, and EMB-resistant strains. These results demonstrate a high level of performance in detection of drug-resistant M. tuberculosis in U.S. laboratories.
A new species of Chaerephon (Molossidae) from Madagascar with notes on other members of the family

We describe a species of Chaerephon (Molossidae) new to science from western Madagascar. This bat differs from the other two Chaerephon occurring on the island and from comparably sized African and Asian Chaerephon based on measurements, pelage and wing coloration, and cranial and dental characters. Chaerephon sp. nov. occurs at three sites in the drier western portion of the island. We also provide some natural history and distributional information on other Malagasy members of this family.
Introduction to the Special Issue on Experimental Economics in Practice

If you are familiar with the principles of laboratory experimentation and over the age of 30, chances are that you learned these principles from courses in the natural sciences or psychology. While the history of experimental economics stretches back into the mid dle of the last century (Roth 1995), it is in the last de cade that the discipline has come into its own. Econom ics laboratories at IBM's T.J. Watson Research Center, at Hewlett-Packard Laboratories, and at such academic institutions as Caltech, Harvard Business School, and Penn State (among many others) are the latest mani festations of the rise of experimental economics. This issue is devoted to introducing the Interfaces au dience to how experimental economics is being used in business practice today. Economics experiments en gage real people in markets and other economic activ ities for real cash stakes. The value experiments add to business and economics, much the same as to the nat ural sciences, comes down to one word: control. In ex periments, rules of interaction, the flow of information, and the reward system can all be controlled in ways that are rarely possible in the field. The influence of these factors on behavior and outcomes can be gauged through methodical, careful manipulation. And the ex perimenter is not limited to established institutions. With the same effort, one can set up and study the properties of institutions that do not?at least not yet? exist.
Abstract 2191: A Multidiciplinary Team Approach To Improving The Quality Of Care In The Setting Of Tissue Plasminogen Activator

Background and Purpose: Monitoring of vital signs and neurolgic status is imperative after thrombolytic therapy to prevent complications but can be difficult to document in real time. We sought to ...
Lane, Fundamental Rights, & Voting

New federalism's premise is that the Courts are the ultimate arbiter of Congress's ability to use its Section 5 powers to enforce Section 1 of the Fourteenth Amendment. This Article argues that while this principle survives the Supreme Court's recent decision in Tennessee v. Lane, the rules have been changed for cases involving fundamental rights. In Lane, the Court's review of Congress' justifications and constitutional bases for passing Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act was more relaxed than in previous new federalism cases. While Lane itself does not justify this departure, this Article suggests that the doctrinal and theoretical justification for this shift is that the Court should give a presumption in favor of the validity of Congressional abrogation of state sovereign immunity in cases involving fundamental rights. This Article applies this view of Lane to a future category of ADA Title II fundamental rights litigation - cases involving the right to vote for people with disabilities. Although earlier new federalism cases would compel a different conclusion, after Lane, Courts should hold that the ADA validly abrogates the States' sovereign immunity in Title II voting cases. This has implications for the whole range of Section 5 legislation. Finally, the disability rights community has criticized Lane for providing insufficient clarity for future Title II cases. This application of Lane to voting responds to that criticism, showing how the presumption in fundamental rights cases is sufficiently strong as to discourage needless litigation.
Daily Uptake of Biotin by the Hen’s Egg

Abstract During the course of studies on the relation of biotin to congenital deformities in the chick by Couch, et al. (1948), it was observed that the hatchability of eggs from hens fed a low biotin diet would decrease to zero in four to six weeks. When these birds were switched to a practical diet, the hatchability increased to approximately 60 percent by the end of the first week and returned to normal (approximately 90 percent) by the end of the second week. The present study was initiated to determine the daily uptake of biotin by the hen’s egg after a six weeks depletion period. EXPERIMENTAL Six Single Comb White Leghorn hens were placed on a low biotin diet, B31, which was composed of sucrose 63; purified casein 18; gelatin 5; Salts IV 5; fish oil (3000A-400D) 2; soybean oil 2; Liver fraction “L” 4 (source of folic acid and unidentified . . .
Density functional theory study of the γ -MnOOH (010) surface: Response to oxygen and water partial pressures and temperature

Ab initio thermodynamics was combined with density functional theory calculations to identify stable \ensuremath{\gamma}-MnOOH (010) surface terminations in response to varying oxygen and water partial pressures. Within the range of accessible oxygen chemical potentials, reduced manganese atoms are not thermodynamically stable at the surface. Oxidation of the surface by addition of oxygen is favorable at oxygen chemical potentials typically found in experiments. Entropy drives the removal of H${}_{2}$ from the stoichiometric surface above 603 K under ambient conditions, in close agreement with the experimental decomposition temperature of 573 K. Molecular adsorption of water at half-monolayer and monolayer coverages is highly exothermic and significantly lowers the surface free energy of the clean surface. Dissociative adsorption of water is only possible at monolayer coverage, where it is stabilized by the formation of a hydrogen-bonding network on the surface. The most thermodynamically stable surfaces are oxidized surfaces, but the stoichiometric and fully hydrated surfaces may be accessible in experiments due to slow oxidation kinetics of the surface.
A High-Order Dissipative Scheme for the Hyperviscosity-Based Shock-Capturing Algorithm

A sixth-order dissipation scheme commensurate with the sixth-order hyperviscosity-based shock capturing algorithm of Cook and Cabot is presented that enhances the stability of the explicit fourth-order Runge-Kutta integration scheme in conjunction with the sixth-order spatially compact differencing (CD) scheme of Lele by about two orders of magnitude. The enhanced stability is demonstrated on a three-dimensional Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) tension cone Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator (IAD) flow solution for a Mach number of 2. A quantitative comparison with the analytical shock tube solution demonstrates the accuracy with which the present scheme captures the shock. The present scheme, along with an eighth-order filtering and a sixth-order damping scheme, is also used to calculate an accurate solution of a two-dimensional incompressible mixing layer. A comparison with a spectral solution of the incompressible mixing layer demonstrates that the overall scheme used here captures the energy content in the linear range as well as the nonlinear roll-up process very well. There are slight differences between the present approach and the spectral method in terms of the nonlinear mechanisms governing the coalescence processes. The proposed approach presents an effective procedure of predicting flow all the way from incompressible to supersonic range for direct numerical simulations (DNS), large-eddy simulations (LES) and Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes simulations (RANS).
Polymeric Zinc-Bisquinoline Based Self-Assembled Light Emitting Diodes

Bifunctional 8,8s'-dihydroxy-5,5s'-biquinoline (bisquinoline) is reactively self-assembled with diethyl zinc to form a linear coordination polymer. The potential of this method to produce insoluble and intractable structures of controllable supramolecular architecture suitable for semiconducting applications has stimulated an in-depth investigation of the growth mechanism of these polymeric chelates. These films were characterized by FTIR, UV/VIS and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The film growth on glass or indium-tin oxide (ITO) coated substrates was monitored by UV/VIS spectroscopy and ellipsometry. FTIR spectroscopy indicates that the self-assembled films are polymeric in nature. Single layer light emitting diodes exhibited an orange electroluminescence, consistent with the corresponding photoluminescence spectrum
Motorized Intramedullary Lengthening, an Emerging Technology for Limb Length and Deformity Correction

A new generation of remote controlled internal limb lengthening nails is now available. This chapter reviews the history, techniques, and early outcomes of motorized limb lengthening nails. Recommendations are made for patient selection, preoperative planning, postoperative care, and avoidance of complications. These devices allow an accurate and well-controlled rate and rhythm of distraction for limb lengthening. Early clinical reports indicate improved outcomes and less patient pain compared with lengthening using external fixation. Proper preoperative planning is an essential part of the methodology. Acute intraoperative correction is often required with fixator-assisted nailing techniques since later adjustment during or after lengthening is not possible without additional surgery. Antegrade and retrograde femoral and tibial techniques are discussed, including indications, preoperative planning, surgical sequence, pearls, pitfalls, and complications.
Enthusiastic Collaboration A Conversation With Robert Gable

Robert A. Gable is the Constance and Colgate Darden Professor of Special Education and Eminent Scholar at Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia. He earned his PhD from George Peabody College o...
Detection and location of long oil pipeline leakage by network control system

The network control has many characteristics, frame network of node, intelligence of node, locale of control, decentralization of function, dispark of system, integration of product, and so on. The network control has many virtues, with less connection, easy diagnosis and maintenance, agility of buildup. This paper introduces the network controls of leakage detection and localization of the system of the pipeline. It is realized and the software and hardware are presented. The method is used in a section of pipeline oil transport, with satisfactory results. It may be used to more sections of oil pipeline transport for leakage detection and location. The application prospect is promising.
The significance of multidose cardioplegia and hypothermia in myocardial preservation during ischemic arrest

A standard experimental protocol was developed to explore the optimal technique for myocardial preservation during 120 minutes of ischemic arrest followed by 30 minutes of reperfusion. Eight different experimental groups were evaluated with the use of an in vivo pig heart preparation. The parameters measured included myocardial contractility and compliance, myocardial blood flow, and endocardial/epicardial blood flow ratio. Myocardial preservation was inadequate after hypothermic arrest alone, cardioplegic arrest alone (at normothermia), and single-dose cardioplegia plus hypothermia. Adequate myocardial preservation was found only after hypothermia and multidose cardioplegia with either potassium (35 mEq. per liter) or magnesium-procaine solutions. Continuous cardioplegia and hypothermia, while providing a moderate degree of myocardial preservation, was not as satisfactory as multidose cardioplegia and hypothermia. No difference in myocardial preservation was apparent when potassium-induced cardioplegia was compared with magnesium-procaine-induced cardioplegia.
Utility of MRI for cervical spine clearance after blunt traumatic injury: a meta-analysis.

To quantify the rate of unstable injuries detected by MRI missed on CT in blunt cervical spine (CS) trauma patients and assess the utility of MRI in CS clearance. We undertook a systematic review of worldwide evidence across five major medical databases and performed a meta-analysis. Studies were included if they reported the number of unstable injuries or gave enough details for inference. Variables assessed included severity, CT/MRI specifications, imaging timing, and outcome/follow-up. Pooled incidences of unstable injury on follow-up weighted by inverse-of-variance among all included and obtunded or alert patients were reported. Of 428 unique citations, 23 proved eligible, with 5,286 patients found, and 16 unstable injuries reported in five studies. The overall pooled incidence is 0.0029 %. Among studies reporting only obtunded patients, the pooled incidence is 0.017 %. In alert patients, the incidence is 0.011 %. All reported positive findings were critically reviewed, and only 11 could be considered truly unstable. There is significant heterogeneity in the literature regarding the use of imaging after a negative CT. The finding rate on MRI for unstable injury is extremely low in obtunded and alert patients. Although MRI is frequently performed, its utility and cost-effectiveness needs further study. • There were 16 unstable injuries on follow-up MRI among 5286 patients. • The positive finding rate among obtunded patients was 0.12 %. • The positive finding rate among alert, awake patients was 0.72 %. • MRI has a high false-positive rate; its utility mandates further studies. • The use and role of “confirmatory” tests shows wide variations.
Le Pilotage des flux : Théorie et Pratiques

Les auteurs analysent l’evolution des concepts (gestion des stocks, gestion des flux, pilotage des flux) et des techniques d’organisation et de gestion de la chaine logistique. S’appuyant sur un ex...
Post-bariatric Complications—Leaks

Laparoscopic bariatric procedures offer effective treatments for medically complicated obesity, and as experience grows in this surgical specialty and also due to the success of the Fellowships overseen by the Fellowship Council, complications are becoming remarkably rare. The vast majority of patients undergoing a bariatric procedure can expect minimal postoperative pain, a hospital stay of less than 48 h, and dramatic weight loss with improvement in obesity-related comorbid diseases within the first year. Despite the complexity of these procedures coupled with the technical challenges inherent to operating on obese patients, perioperative morbidity and mortality are low. The two most important causes of early postoperative morbidity are pulmonary embolism and enteric leak; in this chapter, we will focus on diagnosis and management of the latter, although it is important to realize that these two complications may mimic one another in terms of signs and symptoms. We will present and dissect a case report illustrating the important principles of postoperative management of this complication. Leaks after bariatric operations are potentially life-threatening, and management of leaks depends largely on the timing and severity of illness at presentation. A high index of suspicion is warranted, because a delay in diagnosis and treatment can very realistically be the difference between a favorable outcome and death.
UN fatalities 1948–2015: A new dataset:

This article presents a new dataset on UN peacekeeping fatalities that occurred during 1948–2015. The data includes five types of fatality counts: total fatalities, fatalities caused by accidents, ...
High-energy cosmic ray production by a neutron star falling into a black hole

We propose a one-shot mechanism for high-energy cosmic ray generation by a neutron star falling into a black hole surrounded by low density plasma. The function of the black hole in this scenario is to accelerate the star to a speed arbitrarily close to that of light. When the star - essentially, a magnetized sphere - approaches the horizon it imparts energy to the ambient plasma charges via the induced electric field. Disregarding radiation losses, for iron nucleus, a simple estimate gives energies on the order of 10^19 eV for stars with magnetic fields as weak as 10^6 teslas. The proposed mechanism should also work in chance encounters between rapidly moving neutron stars and molecular clouds. The rarity of such encounters may explain the apparent randomness and rarity of the high-energy cosmic ray events.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type-1 Myeloid Derived Suppressor Cells Inhibit Cytomegalovirus Inflammation through Interleukin-27 and B7-H4

HIV/CMV co-infected persons despite prolonged viral suppression often experience persistent immune activation, have an increased frequency of myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSC) and are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease. We examined how HIV MDSC control CD4+ T cell IFNγ response to a CMVpp65 peptide pool (CMVpp65). We show that HIV/CMV co-infected persons with virologic suppression and recovered CD4+ T cells compared to HIV(-)/CMV(+) controls exhibit an increase in CD4+CX3CR1+IFNγ+ cells in response to CMVpp65; MDSC depletion further augmented CD4+CX3CR1+IFNγ+ cells and IFNγ production. IL-2 and IFNγ in response to CMVpp65 were enhanced with depletion of MDSC expanded in presence of HIV (HIV MDSC), but decreased with culture of HIV MDSC with autologous PBMCs. CMVpp65 specific CD4+CX3CR1+IFNγ+ cells were also decreased in presence of HIV MDSC. HIV MDSC overexpressed B7-H4 and silencing B7-H4 increased the production of IL-2 and IFNγ from autologous cells; a process mediated through increased phosphorylated (p)-Akt upon stimulation with CMVpp65. Additionally, IL-27 regulated the expression of B7-H4 on HIV MDSC, and controlled CMV-specific T cell activity by limiting CMVpp65-IFNγ production and expanding CD4+IL-10+ regulatory T cells. These findings provide new therapeutic targets to control the chronic immune activation and endothelial cell inflammation observed in HIV-infected persons.
FDA Approval Summary: Trabectedin for Unresectable or Metastatic Liposarcoma or Leiomyosarcoma Following an Anthracycline-Containing Regimen

On October 23, 2015, the FDA approved trabectedin, a new molecular entity for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic liposarcoma or leiomyosarcoma who received a prior anthracycline-containing regimen. Approval was based on results of a single, randomized, active-controlled, 518-patient, multicenter study comparing the safety and efficacy of trabectedin 1.5 mg/m2 as a 24-hour continuous intravenous (i.v.) infusion once every 3 weeks with dacarbazine 1,000 mg/m2 i.v. once every 3 weeks. Treatment with trabectedin resulted in a statistically significant improvement in progression-free survival (PFS), with a PFS of 4.2 months and 1.5 months for trabectedin and dacarbazine, respectively (HR, 0.55; 95% confidence interval, 0.44-0.70; unstratified log-rank test, P < 0.001). The most common adverse reactions (≥20%) were nausea, fatigue, vomiting, constipation, decreased appetite, diarrhea, peripheral edema, dyspnea, and headache. Serious adverse reactions included anaphylaxis, neutropenic sepsis, rhabdomyolysis, hepatotoxicity, cardiomyopathy, and extravasation resulting in tissue necrosis. A postmarketing trial was required to evaluate the serious risk of cardiomyopathy. This approval provides another treatment option in a setting where no drug has been shown to improve overall survival. A key regulatory consideration during review of this application was the use of PFS as an endpoint to support regular approval of trabectedin. Clin Cancer Res; 23(24); 7448-53. ©2017 AACR.
Molecular diagnosis of human microsporidian infections

With the transformation of HIV infection from an acutely life-threatening disease into a chronic condition (as a consequence of the development of effective antiretroviral medication), the perceived clinical importance of diagnosing and treating microsporidian infections diminished, at least in industrialized countries. In locales where effective antiretroviral therapy is not available, as well as in patients with immunodeficiency for reasons other than HIV infection (e.g., following organ transplantation), and in individuals with suspected ocular microsporidiosis, diagnosing microsporidian infections remains a clinical priority. Molecular techniques can readily distinguish different species of microsporidia. At least one molecular diagnostic platform that can detect the intestinal parasites Encephalitozoon intestinalis and Enterocytozoon bieneusi is commercially available.
Analysis and approximations of terminal-state tracking optimal control problems and controllability problems constrained by linear and semilinear parabolic partial differential equations

Terminal-state tracking optimal control problems for linear and semilinear parabolic equations are studied. The control objective is to track a desired terminal state and the control is of the distributed type. A distinctive feature of this work is that the controlled state and the target state are allowed to have nonmatching boundary conditions. In the linear case, analytic solution formulae for the optimal control problems are derived in the form of eigen series. Pointwise-in-time L2 norm estimates for the optimal solutions are obtained and approximate controllability results are established. Exact controllability is shown when the target state and the controlled state have matching boundary conditions. One-dimensional computational results are presented which il­ lustrate the terminal-state tracking properties for the solutions expressed by the series formulae. In the semilinear case, the existence of an optimal control solution is shown. The dynamics of the optimal control solution is analyzed. Error estimates are obtained for semidiscrete (spatially discrete) approximations of the optimal control problem in two and three space dimensions. A gradient algorithm is discussed and numerical results are presented.
On Wald’s Equation and First Exit Times for Randomly Stopped Processes with Independent Increments

The general theme of this paper is the study of the properties of randomly stopped processes with independent increments with CADLAG (right continuous with left limits) paths with values in general Banach spaces. First we present a general version of (de la Pena and Eisenbaum (1997))(1) which extends the Burkholder-Gundy inequality for randomly stopped Brownian motion to general Banach spaces and processes with CADLAG paths and independent increments. We continue by providing a proof (from first principles) of the upper bound of (1) in the case the process has continuous paths. We apply our results to extend Wald’s equation to this type of process and to obtain information on first exit times of the processes involved. An example involving the joint behavior of several stocks in a market underlines the importance of the fact that the results hold in general Banach spaces. This fact is also used to obtain bounds for the L P-norms of randomly stopped Bessel and related processes. The issue of constants in exponential bounds is also addressed.
Micropropagation of Zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica Steud.)

Zoysiagrass (Zoysia Willd.), chromosome number 20, is a member of the Gramineae family (Forbes 1952) and belongs to the subfamily Eragrostoideae. It originated in tropical eastern Asia and has now been introduced and distributed throughout the warm humid, warm semi-arid, and transitional regions of the world (Hanson et al. 1969; Beard 1973). In the USA, three species of Zoysia are used for turfgrass: Z. japonica Steud., Z. matrella (L.) Merr., and Z. tenuifblia Willd., ex Tring.; respectively, they are known by the common names Japanese lawngrass or Korean lawngrass, Manilagrass, and Mascarenegrass or Korean velvetgrass (Beard 1973).
A phase II trial of dasatinib in patients with unresectable locally advanced or stage IV mucosal, acral, and vulvovaginal melanomas: A trial of the ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group (E2607).

9501Background: Pre-clinical studies report a critical role of c-KIT mutations in some mucosal, acral, solar, and vulvovaginal melanomas. Clinical trials of KIT-directed therapy with imatinib and s...
Sex differences in the vascular function and related mechanisms: role of 17β-estradiol.

The incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is lower in premenopausal women but increases with age and menopause compared with similarly aged men. Based on the prevalence of CVD in postmenopausal...
Performance characterization of tunable longwave infrared notch filters using quantum cascade lasers

We describe the design and performance characterization of spectrally tunable microengineered notch filters operating in the longwave infrared from 8 to 12 micron using quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) tunable over the full spectral range. The filter design is based on the guided mode resonance phenomenon. The device structure consists of a subwavelength dielectric grating on top of a planar waveguide using high-index transparent dielectric materials, i.e., germanium (Ge) and zinc selenide (ZnSe) with refractive indices of 4.0 and 2.4, respectively. The filters are designed to reflect the incident broadband light at one (or more) narrow spectral band while fully transmitting the rest of the light. Spectral tuning of the reflected wavelength is achieved by changing the angle of incidence by mechanically tilting the filter. Filters based on one-dimensional (1-D) gratings are polarization dependent and those based on two-dimensional (2-D) gratings are close to polarization independent. Simple two-layer antireflection coatings were applied to minimize reflections from the nonpatterned side of the filter substrate. Our experimental setup consisted of a commercial QCL system operating at room temperature, a microengineered filter, and an uncooled broadband sensor. We present the filter design and detailed characterization experiment, and compare the theoretical and experimental results for 1-D filters.
Strategic design and the future of work-and-wellness

By 2015, 53.5% of U.S. workforce participants were Millennials (those born between 1981 and 1996); this majority will grow over the next decade as the generation influences economic development. He...
“I run inside the buildings”: adolescents’ perceptions of physical health and nature in family homeless shelters

ABSTRACTThis article reports results from two focus groups designed to understand perceptions of health and nature among adolescents living in emergency family shelters. Following institutional rev...
Modified Minerva Cervical Thoracic Orthosis for Postoperative Management of Cricotracheal Resection

The worst complication of cricotracheal resection (CTR) is anastomotic dehiscence, and to limit it, postoperative management at Michigan Medicine included the use of a modified Minerva cervical-thoracic orthosis (MMCTO). To date, there has been no analysis of the risks and benefits of the brace's use following CTR. We analyze this with our retrospective study. A search with the keywords "cricotracheal resection" and "laryngotracheal reconstruction" was performed in the Electronic Medical Record Search Engine to identify patients retrospectively. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences was used for analysis; t test, χ2, and Fisher exact tests were used to analyze data. Fifteen males and 13 females with a median age of 4 years were identified, and almost 2/3 had a supra- and/or infrahyoid release performed. Postoperatively, 12 had a Grillo stitch and an MMCTO for a mean of 7 days. Most had no complications, but the most common complications were agitation due to brace discomfort and skin irritation. The worst complication was stroke. Our MMCTO's design allowed for better head and neck control with relative comfortability, and most patients had no complications with its short-term use. Our modification may be useful adjunct in the postoperative management.
Posterior ankle impingement–an underdiagnosed cause of ankle pain in pediatric patients

Background Posterior ankle impingement syndrome (PAIS) is a cause of ankle pain due to pinching of bony or soft tissue structures in the hindfoot. The diagnosis is primarily made based on detailed history and accurate clinical examination. The delay in its diagnosis has not yet been described in the pediatric and adolescent population. Aim To identify and characterize misdiagnosed cases of PAIS in pediatric and adolescent patients. Methods This descriptive prospective study at a tertiary children's hospital included patients ≤ 18 years who underwent posterior ankle arthroscopy after presenting with chronic posterior ankle pain after being diagnosed with PAIS. Collected data included: Demographics, prior diagnoses and treatments, providers seen, time to diagnosis from presentation, and prior imaging obtained. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain and American Orthopedic Foot Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot scores were noted at initial presentation and follow-up. Results 35 patients (46 ankles) with average age of 13 years had an average 19 mo (range 0-60 mo) delay in diagnosis from initial presentation. 25 (71%) patients had previously seen multiple medical providers and were given multiple other diagnoses. All 46 (100%) ankles had tenderness to palpation over the posterior ankle joint. Radiographs were reported normal in 31/42 (72%) exams. In 32 ankles who underwent MRI, the most common findings included os trigonum (47%)/Stieda process (47%). Conservative treatment had already been attempted in all patients. Ankle impingement pathology was confirmed during arthroscopy in 46 (100%) ankles. At an average follow-up of 13.1 mo, there was an improvement of VAS (pre-op 7.0 to post-op 1.2) and AOFAS scores (pre-op 65.1 to post-op 94). Conclusion This is the first study which shows that PAIS is a clinically misdiagnosed cause of posterior ankle pain in pediatric and adolescent population; an increased awareness about this diagnosis is needed amongst providers treating young patients.
Ahead of Schedule: A History of Early College High Schools:

This history examines the relationship between 21st century early college high schools and a longer tradition of adolescents attending college, uncovering powerful roots, distinctive breaks, and re...
Quality of life outcomes from a randomized controlled trial of patient navigation in Latina breast cancer survivors.

Introduction Breast cancer survivorship is a life-long process involving challenges to health-care communities and individuals, especially Latinas. Patient Navigation has shown some success in meeting these challenges. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of an enhanced Patient Navigation program (Intervention; PN+) vs Control (PN) over time on general cancer and breast cancer-specific quality of life (QoL) in Latina breast cancer survivors (BCS). Methods We conducted a 2-year, two-arm randomized controlled trial of the "Staying Healthy" program among Latina BCS. The design compared PN+ vs PN over time. We recruited 60 patients into each study arm and randomized them by sequential numerical assignment. PN+ participants received culturally tailored educational materials and active, personalized Patient Navigation services, including phone calls, transportation, and care coordination. PN participants were navigated only upon request. Primary outcomes included general cancer (Functional Assessments of Cancer Therapy [FACTS]-G) and breast cancer-specific (FACT-B) QoL. Results PN+ participants had significantly improved QoL measures compared to PN at 6-month follow-up on all subscales (P-values .007-.04) except physical well-being (PWB; P = .11). Intervention effect size coefficient (standard error) for FACT-G overall was 7.9 (3.1); P = .01. For FACT-B, it was 10.9 (3.9); P = .006. Again, all subscales showed significant effects [range 1.7-3.1 (0.8-1.2); P-values .006-.04], except for PWB [1.5 (1.0); P = .16] and social/family well-being (SWB) [2.1 (1.1); P = .06]. There were no differences between groups at baseline. Discussion Multiple cultural, psychosocial, and socioeconomic variables contributing to these intervention effects will be addressed in future studies. As the national BCS population continues to increase, more Patient Navigation-focused partnerships among patients, health-care professionals, research groups, and community organizations are needed to improve BCS experiences. The Staying Healthy program has the potential to serve as a national survivorship care model for improving Latina BCS QoL.
Pathways to reduced emergency department and urgent care center use: Lessons from the comprehensive primary care initiative

Objective To determine the association between a large-scale, multi-payer primary care redesign-the Comprehensive Primary Care (CPC) Initiative-on outpatient emergency department (ED) and urgent care center (UCC) use and to identify the types of visits that drive the overall trends observed. Data sources Medicare claims data capturing characteristics and outcomes of 565 674 Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) beneficiaries attributed to 497 CPC practices and 1 165 284 beneficiaries attributed to 908 comparison practices. Study design We used an adjusted difference-in-differences framework to test the association between CPC and beneficiaries' ED and UCC use from October 2012 through December 2016. Regression models controlled for baseline practice and patient characteristics and practice-level clustering of standard errors. Our key outcomes were all-cause and primary care substitutable (PC substitutable) outpatient ED and UCC visits, and potentially primary care preventable (PPC preventable) ED visits, categorized by the New York University Emergency Department Algorithm. We used a propensity score-matched comparison group of practices that were similar to CPC practices before CPC on multiple dimensions. Both groups of practices had similar growth in ED and UCC visits in the two-year period before CPC. Principal findings Comprehensive Primary Care practices had 2% (P = .06) lower growth in all-cause ED visits than comparison practices. They had 3% (P = .02) lower growth in PC substitutable ED visits, driven by lower growth in weekday PC substitutable visits (4%, P = .002). There was 3% (P = .04) lower growth in PPC preventable ED visits with no weekday/nonweekday differential. As expected, our falsification test showed no difference in ED visits for injuries. UCC visits had 9% lower growth for both all-cause (P = .08) and PC substitutable visits (P = .07). Conclusions Our results suggest that greater access to the practice and more effective primary care both contributed to the lower growth in ED and UCC visits during the initiative.
Hand Sanitizer Intoxication in the Emergency Department.

Hand hygiene has always been an area of emphasis within the hospital setting, never more so than during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The consumption of alcohol-containing hand sanitizer products, whether intentional or accidental, often garners attention, particularly since these products may contain methanol. This report describes a case of surreptitious theft and intentional ingestion of the emergency department's (ED) ethanol-based hand sanitizer by a patient who presented to the ED clinically intoxicated with a high ethanol level. When the patient remained clinically intoxicated for more than 18 hours and had a rising serum ethanol level in the ED, clinicians searched his belongings and found several purloined bottles of the ED's hand sanitizer. When confronted, the patient admitted to ingesting hand sanitizer during his ED stay. This case highlights the need for clinicians to be suspicious of intentional ingestion of ethanol-containing products for at-risk patients. Additionally, it demonstrates that measures and protocols should be put in place that minimize the ability for the inappropriate use of these widely accessible products within the hospital.
IL13Rα2 Promotes Proliferation and Outgrowth of Breast Cancer Brain Metastases.

Purpose: The survival of women with brain metastases (BM) from breast cancer remains very poor, with over 80% dying within a year of their diagnosis. Here, we define the function of IL13Rα2 in outgrowth of breast cancer brain metastases (BCBM) in vitro and in vivo, and postulate IL13Rα2 as a suitable therapeutic target for BM. Experimental Design: We performed IHC staining of IL13Rα2 in BCBM to define its prognostic value. Using inducible shRNAs in TNBC and HER2+ breast–brain metastatic models, we assessed IL13Rα2 function in vitro and in vivo. We performed RNAseq and functional studies to define the molecular mechanisms underlying IL13Rα2 function in BCBM. Results: High IL13Rα2 expression in BCBM predicted worse survival after BM diagnoses. IL13Rα2 was essential for cancer-cell survival, promoting proliferation while repressing invasion. IL13Rα2 KD resulted in FAK downregulation, repression of cell cycle and proliferation mediators, and upregulation of Ephrin B1 signaling. Ephrin-B1 (i) promoted invasion of BC cells in vitro, (ii) marked micrometastasis and invasive fronts in BCBM, and (iii) predicted shorter disease-free survival and BM-free survival (BMFS) in breast primary tumors known to metastasize to the brain. In experimental metastases models, which bypass early tumor invasion, downregulation of IL13Rα2 before or after tumor seeding and brain intravasation decreased BMs, suggesting that IL13Rα2 and the promotion of a proliferative phenotype is critical to BM progression. Conclusions: Non-genomic phenotypic adaptations at metastatic sites are critical to BM progression and patients9 prognosis. This study opens the road to use IL13Rα2 targeting as a therapeutic strategy for BM.
Automatic Static Cost Analysis for Parallel Programs

Static analysis of the evaluation cost of programs is an extensively studied problem that has many important applications. However, most automatic methods for static cost analysis are limited to sequential evaluation while programs are increasingly evaluated on modern multicore and multiprocessor hardware. This article introduces the first automatic analysis for deriving bounds on the worst-case evaluation cost of parallel first-order functional programs. The analysis is performed by a novel type system for amortized resource analysis. The main innovation is a technique that separates the reasoning about sizes of data structures and evaluation cost within the same framework. The cost semantics of parallel programs is based on call-by-value evaluation and the standard cost measures work and depth. A soundness proof of the type system establishes the correctness of the derived cost bounds with respect to the cost semantics. The derived bounds are multivariate resource polynomials which depend on the sizes of the arguments of a function. Type inference can be reduced to linear programming and is fully automatic. A prototype implementation of the analysis system has been developed to experimentally evaluate the effectiveness of the approach. The experiments show that the analysis infers bounds for realistic example programs such as quick sort for lists of lists, matrix multiplication, and an implementation of sets with lists. The derived bounds are often asymptotically tight and the constant factors are close to the optimal ones.
Personality Traits and Adjustment

A central assumption behind the expectation that the desegregation program in Riverside would improve the academic performance of minority children was that contact with the majority Anglo children in the desegregated classroom would strengthen certain motives and values believed to be important mediators of academic achievement. Both the Coleman report (1966) itself and reanalyses of its data (e.g., Mosteller M Spence, 1963). Likewise, numerous other personality traits might also be expected to predict the child’s response to desegregation, and to the extent that such traits mediate adjustment, they are of particular interest to us.