cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Advances in Transcatheter Interventions in Adults With Congenital Heart Disease

Cardiac catheterization in the adult patient with congenital heart disease clearly is now its own field. The history of the field is closely tied to pediatric cardiac catheterization, in large part because of the individual histories of its patients, and as such, at least for the foreseeable future, these two fields appear inexorably linked. For both, the pace of progress has been swift. This chapter provides a broad review of the important advances in cardiac catheterization that have occurred over the past decade as they pertain to the adult with congenital heart disease, with an emphasis on recent interventional tools and techniques that have revolutionized this exciting field.
Evaluation of a spatial language interpretation framework for natural human-robot interaction with older adults

We present the design and analysis of a multi-session user study conducted with older adults to evaluate the effectiveness of a human-robot interaction (HRI) framework utilizing a neuroscience-inspired spatial language interpretation approach. The user study was designed to: 1) evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of the spatial language interpretation framework with target users, and 2) collect data on the types of phrases, responses, and format of natural language instructions given by target users to help inform possible modifications to the HRI framework. In addition, an expanded study was conducted on Amazon's Mechanical Turk to gather further natural language instructions from general users for analysis. The results of both studies, evaluated across a variety of objective performance and participant evaluation measures, demonstrate the feasibility of the approach and its effectiveness in interpreting and following natural language instructions from target users, achieving high task success rates and high participant evaluations across multiple measures.
Interpreting dreams for corrective regimen: diagnostic dreams in Greco-Roman medicine.

L'objectif de cet essai est d'etudier les pratiques de la medecine dans l'Antiquite, notamment le recours a l'usage de l'interpretation des reves dans les diagnostics. L'auteur s'appuie sur l'analyse d'un manuel de diagnostic de la Grece Antique connu sous le nom de Regimen et sur d'autres travaux ulterieurs. Il cherche ainsi a comprendre comment les medecins a cette epoque parvenaient a reconnaitre certains reves comme etant symptomatiques et d'autre part, sur quelles methodes empiriques ils se basaient pour interpreter ces reves.
Simultaneous bilateral laparoscopic adrenalectomy: a surgical option for multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN 2) patients with bilateral pheochromocytomas

Multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN 2) is a rare disorder. Of this group, 42% develop a pheochromocytoma of which 60% will have bilateral involvement. Although the benefits of unilateral laparoscopic adrenalectomy have been well documented, fewer cases of simultaneous bilateral laparoscopic adrenalectomy have been reported. We present the cases of three patients with MEN 2 who underwent successful simultaneous bilateral laparoscopic adrenalectomy after their initial presentation with bilateral pheochromocytoma. Although the management of bilateral pheochromocytomas has traditionally been approached via open laparotomy or bilateral posterior incisions, the bilateral laparoscopic approach should be considered a viable alternative for patients requiring surgical intervention. Clinical outcomes and complications are similar to open laparotomy. Simultaneous bilateral laparoscopic adrenalectomy is a safe and effective procedure that results in a more rapid recovery and a shorter hospital stay for patients with bilateral pheochromocytomas originating from MEN 2.
A probabilistic framework for object search with 6-DOF pose estimation

This article presents a systematic approach to the problem of autonomous 3D object search in indoor environments, using a two-wheeled non-holonomic robot equipped with an actuated stereo-camera head and processing done on a single laptop. A probabilistic grid-based map encodes the likelihood of object existence in each cell and is updated after each sensing action. The updating schema incorporates characteristic parameters modeled after the robot's sensing modalities and allows for sequential updating via Bayesian recursion methods. Two types of sensing modalities are used to update the map: a coarse search method (global search) based on a color histogram approach, and a more refined search method (local search) based on Scale-Invariant Feature Transform (SIFT) feature matching. If the local search correctly locates the desired object, its 6-DOF pose is estimated using stereo applied to each SIFT feature (i.e. 3D SIFT feature), which is then fed as measurements into an Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) for sustained tracking. If the local search fails to locate the desired object in a particular cell, the cell is updated in the probability map and the next peak probability cell is identified and planned to using a separate grid-based costmap populated via obstacle detection from stereo, with planning done using an A* planner. Experimental results obtained from the use of this method on a mobile robot are presented to illustrate and validate the approach, confirming that the search strategy can be carried out with modest computation on a single laptop.
Segment-based excess Gibbs energy model for aqueous organic electrolytes

The aqueous electrolyte nonrandom two-liquid (NRTL) model of Chen et al. is extended to represent the excess Gibbs energy of aqueous organic electrolytes. These organic electrolytes exhibit very different solution nonideality from typical aqueous electrolytes with elemental ions. The proposed extension is an integration of the electrolyte NRTL model for aqueous electrolytes and the polymer NRTL model (Chen, 1993) for oligomers and polymers. Organic ions are treated as oligomers that consist of hydrocarbon segments and ionic segments that each exhibit distinctive physical interactions with neighboring species. This integrated NRTL model captures the nonideal phase behavior of aqueous organic electrolytes, including micelle formation. The model further provides a versatile thermodynamic framework to correlate solution nonideality of electrolyte systems, organic or inorganic, and complex systems containing both electrolytes and polymers.
The problem with accountability

Accountability is an issue that creates stress and frustration for managers at all levels within an organization. With the current trends to "push decision-making down" and "empower people" to run more efficient units or departments, many managers are finding most of their efforts are not yielding the intended results. Employees are not embracing new responsibilities and accountability. They seem to find it another burden added to what they report as already too much work. What can be done to manage this dilemma? Interestingly enough, the solution may have to start by taking a journey into self-awareness.
The Morbidity Associated With Osteochondral Harvest From Asymptomatic Knees for the Treatment of Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus

BackgroundMosaic autogenous osteochondral transplantation has been used to treat large osteochondral defects.HypothesisThere is potential, previously unrecognized donor-site morbidity associated with osteochondral harvest from asymptomatic knees for the treatment of talar osteochondral defect lesions.Study DesignCase series; Level of evidence, 4.MethodsFifteen patients underwent mosaic osteochondral transplantation to treat a talar osteochondral defect lesion, with 11 patients available for follow-up. A Lysholm knee score was used to assess donor-site morbidity at a mean follow-up of 47 months (range, 7-77 months). Mean age was 29 years (range, 21-44 years). A single surgical team performed the mosaicplasties. Significance was determined using the Student t test.ResultsAll patients had asymptomatic knees preoperatively. Mean postoperative Lysholm score was 81 (range, 49-100). By Lysholm criteria, 5 rated as excellent, 2 as good, and 4 as poor. No significant difference was detected in terms of the harvest...
Energy Transfer, Nanometer Crystals and Opfical Nano-probes

Nanometer light and exciton sources and probes have been prepared by adding various inorganic and organic crystals and molecularly doped polymers to micropipettes and nanofabricated optical fiber tips. Specifically, a new nanotechnology, near-field photo-nanofabrication, has been developed, leading to a thousandfold miniaturization of immobilized Fiber Optical Chemical Sensors and to a billionfold decrease in necessary sample volume. The response time has also been shortened by a factor of at least 100. Applications of these subwavelength probes include biological single cell analysis, supertip development, Forster-energy transfer and Kasha quenching phenomena at the interface between the positionally controlled nanocrystal tip and its photoactive environment. Practically, this leads to enhanced sensitivity of optical probes, nano-optical chemical sensors and near-field exciton light sources.
Impact of a School-Based Cooking Curriculum for Fourth-Grade Students on Attitudes and Behaviors Is Influenced by Gender and Prior Cooking Experience

Objective: To compare effects of the Cooking With Kids (CWK) cooking and tasting curriculum (CWK-CT) with a less-intense, tasting-only curriculum (CWK-T) and to conduct a non-treatment comparison on fourth graders’ cooking self-efficacy (SE), cooking attitudes (AT), and fruit and vegetable preferences (FVP). Design: Pre–post, quasi-experimental, 2 cohorts. Setting: Eleven low-income public schools in a Southwestern city. Participants: Fourth-grade students, 50% female and 84% Hispanic. Interventions: School-based experiential nutrition education program of 5 2-hour cooking and/or 5 1-hour fruit and vegetable tasting lessons throughout the school year. Main Outcome Measures: Cooking self-efficacy, AT, and FVP were assessed with 3 tested, validated scales administered in a 37-item survey pre- and post-classroom intervention. Analysis: General linear modeling with gender and prior cooking experience were fixed factors. Results: Among 961 students, CWK positively affected FVP, especially in CWK-CT students and males (P ¼ .045 and .033, respectively); vegetable preference drove this outcome. Independent of treatment, students without cooking experience (61% male) had more than twice the gains in cooking self-efficacy (P ¼ .004) and an improved AT response (P ¼ .003). Conclusions and Implications: Cooking With Kids increased FVP, especially with vegetables. Greatest gains in preferences and self-efficacy were seen in boys without prior cooking experience. For fourth graders, experiential nutrition education improved cognitive behaviors that may mediate healthful food choices.
Motivational Interviewing: Reduce Student Reluctance and Increase Engagement in Learning Multicultural Concepts

Many professionals in clinical disciplines are struggling with how to effectively train students in multiculturalism and recognize the need for new teaching methodologies. One hindrance some instructors may face in adhering to the American Psychological Association’s (APA) multicultural guidelines (2003) to infuse diversity concepts throughout psychology training curricula is that they may not feel expert enough to do so. Perhaps even more daunting are mandated multicultural courses, which can be the most challenging of graduate training courses, as they require a balance of intellectual and emotional processing (Daly, 2005). From a student perspective, there is often significant apprehension and reluctance to train multiculturally, as well as student minimization of course material and instructor expertise. One approach in addressing such reluctance is motivational interviewing (MI), an empirically supported intervention that works best when a person is reluctant to or ambivalent about attitudinal and behavior change. Certain MI processes and strategies help students explore reluctance and mixed feelings about diversity topics while inviting them to talk themselves into changing to be more consistent with APA multicultural guidelines (2003). We introduce MI, consistent with a Socratic teaching method, to assist student clinicians in their self-awareness and changing perspectives necessary for striving toward cultural competence. In contrast to persuasive teaching methods or simply providing multicultural materials and experiences, MI focuses on students’ internal motivations to be receptive to and actively engage with the material. We present a graduate level diversity course as a basis to illustrate how the MI approach might be applied to other courses, as instructors work to infuse diversity throughout the curriculum.
The Minskyan system, Part III: System dynamics modeling of a stock flow-consistent Minskyan model

This is the last part of a three-part analysis of the Minskyan Framework. The paper presents a model that studies some of the features presented in Parts I and II. The model is Post-Keynesian in nature and puts a large emphasis on the role of conventions and the importance of the financial side. In doing so, it provides an innovative way to determine aggregate investment and to introduce nonlinearities in the modeling of Minsky's framework. This nonlinearity relies on the shifting property of conventions and the behavioral and psychological assumptions that they carry. Another specific characteristic of the model is that it is stock-flow consistent and explicitly takes into account the amortization of principal and refinancing loans. All of the modeling is done by using system dynamics, a flexible but rigorous modeling tool that gives the modeler a good understanding of the dynamics of complex models.
Meta-analysis of cause of death following total joint replacement using different thromboprophylaxis regimens

We performed a meta-analysis of modern total joint replacement (TJR) to determine the post-operative mortality and the cause of death using different thromboprophylactic regimens as follows: 1) no routine chemothromboprophylaxis (NRC); 2) Potent anticoagulation (PA) (unfractionated or low-molecular-weight heparin, ximelagatran, fondaparinux or rivaroxaban); 3) Potent anticoagulation combined (PAC) with regional anaesthesia and/or pneumatic compression devices (PCDs); 4) Warfarin (W); 5) Warfarin combined (WAC) with regional anaesthesia and/or PCD; and 6) Multimodal (MM) prophylaxis, including regional anaesthesia, PCDs and aspirin in low-risk patients. Cause of death was classified as autopsy proven, clinically certain or unknown. Deaths were grouped into cardiopulmonary excluding pulmonary embolism (PE), PE, bleeding-related, gastrointestinal, central nervous system, and others (miscellaneous). Meta-analysis based on fixed effects or random effects models was used for pooling incidence data. In all, 70 studies were included (99 441 patients; 373 deaths). The mortality was lowest in the MM (0.2%) and WC (0.2%) groups. The most frequent cause of death was cardiopulmonary (47.9%), followed by PE (25.4%) and bleeding (8.9%). The proportion of deaths due to PE was not significantly affected by the thromboprophylaxis regimen (PA, 35.5%; PAC, 28%; MM, 23.2%; and NRC, 16.3%). Fatal bleeding was higher in groups relying on the use of anticoagulation (W, 33.8%; PA, 9.4%; PAC, 10.8%) but the differences were not statistically significant. Our study demonstrated that the routine use of PA does not reduce the overall mortality or the proportion of deaths due to PE.
Summer grazing management of a white clover-Bahiagrass pasture: legume survival

A grazing management study involving the new white clover cultivar Osceola grown in association with Bahiagrass cv. Pensacola was conducted on wet and dry sites with and without pesticide/herbicide treatment. A combination of heavy grazing pressure and a short deferment period before grazing during the summer and autumn resulted in the largest soil seed reserves and seedling recruitment by the white clover component. However, maximum survival of plants was recorded from a combination of a short deferment period and moderate grazing pressure.A slight increase in plant survival and seedling recruitment was shown on the wet site. Survival potential was least in pasture treated with pesticide and herbicide. Heavy grazing pressure and short deferment periods appear essential for the survival of the clover component. Annual seedling recruitment from soil seed reserves was the primary mechanism of white clover survival from spring to spring in pasture associations based on tropical bahiagrass.
Endothelial Overexpression of Fas Ligand Decreases Atherosclerosis in Apolipoprotein E–Deficient Mice

Objective— Fas ligand (FasL) can induce apoptosis in cells bearing the Fas receptor. The role of FasL in the vasculature with regard to atherosclerosis is controversial. This study examined the function of endothelial FasL during atherosclerosis. Methods and Results— Transgenic (Tg) mice that specifically overexpress different levels of FasL on vascular endothelial cells were crossed into the apolipoprotein E–knockout background (ApoE-KO) to generate ApoE-KO/FasL–Tg mice. Although plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels were not different between ApoE-KO/FasL–Tg mice and ApoE-KO mice after 12 weeks of a high-fat diet, overexpression of the FasL transgene significantly reduced atherosclerotic lesion area in aortae by 49%. The reduction of atherosclerotic lesion area was more pronounced in thoracic and abdominal aortae than in the aortic arch, and a 34% reduction in lesion area was observed in aortic root sections from the ApoE-KO/FasL–Tg group compared with the ApoE-KO group. Immunostaining revealed significant decreases in both macrophage and CD8 T-cell accumulation in lesions of ApoE-KO/FasL–Tg mice. ApoE-KO/FasL–Tg mice that express lower levels of endothelial FasL also displayed reduced lesion size, but this reduction was statistically significant at the aortic arch only. Conclusions— Overexpression of endothelial FasL is antiinflammatory and inhibits atherosclerosis under hypercholesterolemic conditions.
The gene-duplication problem: near-linear time algorithms for NNI based local searches

The gene-duplication problem is to infer a species supertree from acollection of gene trees that are confounded by complex histories of gene duplicationevents. This problem is NP-complete and thus requires efficient and effectiveheuristics. Existing heuristics perform a stepwise search of the tree space, whereeach step is guided by an exact solution to an instance of a local search problem.A classical local search problem is the NNI search problem, which is based onthe nearest neighbor interchange operation. In this work we (i) provide a novelnear-linear time algorithm for the NNI search problem, (ii) introduce extensionsthat significantly enlarge the search space of the NNI search problem, and (iii)present algorithms for these extended versions that are asymptotically just as efficientas our algorithm for the NNI search problem. The substantially extendedNNI search problem, along with the exceptional speed-up achieved, make thegene-duplication problem more tractable for large-scale phylogenetic analyses.
The microscopic network structure of mussel (Mytilus) adhesive plaques

Marine mussels of the genus Mytilus live in the hostile intertidal zone, attached to rocks, bio-fouled surfaces and each other via collagen-rich threads ending in adhesive pads, the plaques. Plaques adhere in salty, alkaline seawater, withstanding waves and tidal currents. Each plaque requires a force of several newtons to detach. Although the molecular composition of the plaques has been well studied, a complete understanding of supra-molecular plaque architecture and its role in maintaining adhesive strength remains elusive. Here, electron microscopy and neutron scattering studies of plaques harvested from Mytilus californianus and Mytilus galloprovincialis reveal a complex network structure reminiscent of structural foams. Two characteristic length scales are observed characterizing a dense meshwork (approx. 100 nm) with large interpenetrating pores (approx. 1 µm). The network withstands chemical denaturation, indicating significant cross-linking. Plaques formed at lower temperatures have finer network struts, from which we hypothesize a kinetically controlled formation mechanism. When mussels are induced to create plaques, the resulting structure lacks a well-defined network architecture, showcasing the importance of processing over self-assembly. Together, these new data provide essential insight into plaque structure and formation and set the foundation to understand the role of plaque structure in stress distribution and toughening in natural and biomimetic materials.
Organizing for knowledge generation: internal knowledge networks and the contingent effect of external knowledge sourcing

Research summary: When faced with a new technological paradigm, incumbent firms can opt for internal development and/or external sourcing to obtain the necessary new knowledge. We explain how the effectiveness of external knowledge sourcing depends on the properties of internal knowledge production. We apply a social network lens to delineate interpersonal, intra-firm knowledge networks and capture the emergence of two important firm-level properties: the incumbent's internal potential for knowledge recombination and the level of knowledge coordination costs. We rely on firm-level internal knowledge networks to dynamically track the emergence of these properties across 106 global pharmaceutical companies over a 25-year time period. We find that a firm's success in developing knowledge in a new technological paradigm using external knowledge sourcing is contingent on these internal knowledge properties. Managerial summary: Incumbent firms in high-tech industries often face competence-destroying technological change. In their effort to adapt and develop new knowledge in a novel paradigm, incumbent firms have several corporate strategy options available to them: internal knowledge development and a wide array of external knowledge sourcing strategies, including alliances and acquisitions. In this study, we make an effort to address a critical question: How effective is external knowledge sourcing under different internal knowledge generation regimes? We find that external sourcing strategies are less effective when firms can already internally generate new knowledge or if they have high internal coordination costs. Therefore, when considering external sourcing, managers must carefully weigh the benefits of it vis-a-vis its commensurate costs as the benefits of external sourcing may be overstated. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Rethinking the Role of Custom in Tribal Court Jurisprudence

The literature discussing customary law, traditional law, tribal custom and tradition, and tribal common law in modern American tribal courts lacks a compelling theory of the role of custom in tribal court jurisprudence. There are some empirical studies of the use of custom in tribal law and more numerous papers describing custom in tribal law. Most of these studies are limited to a limited number of tribes, often just one, such as the Navajo Nation. Nearly all studies of support the use of custom in tribal law, with some arguing that custom preserves the cultures of Indian people and others arguing that custom provides a better methodology of delivering justice to participants in tribal court adjudication. But little or no scholarship provides an adequate theory as to why tribal courts should rely on custom, nor does this scholarship assist tribal courts in deciding which law to apply. This paper attempts to provide a theory for the role of custom in tribal court jurisprudence and to lay out the beginnings of a framework on how to find and apply customary law.
The upgraded Large Plasma Device, a machine for studying frontier basic plasma physics

In 1991 a manuscript describing an instrument for studying magnetized plasmas was published in this journal. The Large Plasma Device (LAPD) was upgraded in 2001 and has become a national user facility for the study of basic plasma physics. The upgrade as well as diagnostics introduced since then has significantly changed the capabilities of the device. All references to the machine still quote the original RSI paper, which at this time is not appropriate. In this work, the properties of the updated LAPD are presented. The strategy of the machine construction, the available diagnostics, the parameters available for experiments, as well as illustrations of several experiments are presented here.
Crystallization Kinetics of Ampicillin Using Online Monitoring Tools and Robust Parameter Estimation

Crystallization kinetics of ampicillin were estimated from induction-times and seeded and unseeded experiments. The concentration of ampicillin in solution was monitored by polarimetry and refractometry, while crystals were analyzed by focused beam refractive measurements and light microscopy. Variations of solute concentration with time, along with measured induction times were used to estimate parameters in kinetic expressions for primary nucleation, secondary nucleation, and crystal growth rate. Experimental data were obtained in runs involving different rates of change of pH, mass of seed crystals, and initial supersaturation. These data were used in parameter-estimation routines consisting of a stochastic minimization to localize a set of parameters spanning all the experiments, followed by a deterministic minimization to refine the parameters. The result was a set of parameters that fit a range of conditions of seeded and unseeded crystallizations and gave good estimates of desupersaturation rates.
Differential susceptibility of Culex territans and Aedes triseriatus (Diptera: Culicidae) to Foleyella flexicauda (Nematoda: Filarioidea).

Culex territans Walker, 1856 and Aedes triseriatus (Say, 1823) were fed on bullfrogs infected with Foleyella flexicauda (Nematoda: Filarioidea) to compare vector susceptibility in 2 mosquito species known to accept blood meals from amphibians. Susceptibility to filarial larvae was interpreted in terms of the number of developing larvae and mortality of mosquitoes after feeding on an infected host, as well as reactions of the mosquitoes to the filarial larvae. C. territans ingested large numbers of microfilariae but only a small percentage were able to penetrate into the hemocoel of the mosquito. Most microfilariae were found dead in the midgut shortly after ingestion. Lysis of the frog red blood cells was observed within the same period of time. Development to the 3rd larval stage occurred in the fat body with no apparent defensive reactions to the worms. Developing larvae had no adverse effects on the survival of C. territans and 98% of the mosquitoes tested harbored filarial larvae. F. flexicauda was always lethal to A. triseriatus . Dissections as well as histological sections revealed that large numbers of microfilariae were able to gain access to the hemocoel, causing severe damage to the midgut epithelium and the eventual death of the mosquito. Events occurring in the alimentary canals of these 2 mosquito species appeared to be the major cause for the differences in vector susceptibility.
Intergenerational Programs to Promote Active Aging: The Experiences and Perspectives of Older Adults

Intergenerational programs are reported as one type of social activity that may promote active aging among older adults. Survey methodology using open and closed-ended questions examined the extent to which participation in an intergenerational program enhanced the perceived health and well-being of older adults (N = 70). Older adults reported that their participation in the “Time after Time” intergenerational program enhanced their confidence, self-esteem, and social skills, contributed to their emotional and overall health and well-being, and enabled them to learn about others and feel connected to their community. The study supports the promotion of intergenerational programs as an option for older adults to actively age. Implications for practice are provided.
Assessment and Development of Global Leadership Competencies in the Workplace: A Review of Literature

The ProblemIn the 21st century, globalization is key. Therefore, assessing and developing global leadership competencies is an important topic in human resource development (HRD). Global leadership...
Tetracyclines and their metabolites in pork by HPLC

Objective:A high performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for the determination of tetracyclines and their metabolites in pork.Methods:The samples were extracted with EDTA-Mcllvaine buffer group(pH4.0) and were purified by HLB solid phase extraction column.TCs were successfully separated on a Waters Atlantis T3(4.6×250 mm,5 μm) column using Methyl alcohol-Methyl cyanide-0.02% Formic acid solution as mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min and detected at 355 nm with 35 min.Results:The detection limit of the method was 4.5 μg/kg～22 μg/kg and the quantitative lower limit was 25 μg/kg～80 μg/kg.The linear range is from 25 μg/kg to 1250 μg/kg.Overall recoveries were between 82.5% and 101.9%.RSD value was 0.8%～8.3%.Conclusion:The methods simple,rapid and accurate.It can be used for the determination of tetracyclines and their metabolites in pork.
Cysts and benign tumors of the liver.

The liver is the site of a wide variety of cystic and benign lesions. This article considers selected entities which tend to fall into the purview of the surgeon. Inflammatory lesions and ectasias of the biliary ducts are excluded.
Case 8: Adolescent Indian Male Sikh

A 17-year-old Indian male presents to the emergency department (ED) with his mom stating that he had been beaten up while walking home from school. Initially, the young man refuses to discuss what had happened. You note that the child is of Indian origin and is wearing a small turban-like headdress. A small portion of the turban is blood-soaked suggesting an underlying scalp injury. On removing his headdress, you note that the child’s hair is very long. You find a superficial 3 cm laceration over the crown, which has stopped bleeding. After examining the wound, you determine that cutting some hair would facilitate closure of the wound. When the patient’s mother finds the physician trimming back the child’s hair she becomes extremely irate, saying, “What are you doing? Why are you cutting my son’s hair? Don’t you know we are Sikhs?”
Distribution and Identification of an Invasive Gracilaria Species that is Hampering Commercial Fishing Operations in Southeastern North Carolina, USA

A newly abundant Gracilaria species in the sounds of southeastern North Carolina has become a problem for commercial fishing and industries drawing water from the lower Cape Fear River. DNA sequence analyses have shown that this species is Gracilaria vermiculophylla, a taxon originally described from East Asia. Surveys for G. vermiculophylla have shown that it has a discontinuous distribution in the sounds of southeastern North Carolina, and suggest that it is spreading. Gracilaria vermiculophylla meets 6 of the 10 criteria used to help identify invasive species in that it has only recently appeared in southeastern North Carolina; is associated with human mechanisms of dispersal; has a restricted distribution; has disjunct populations in isolated oceans; no means of active dispersal, and an exotic evolutionary origin. The species may also meet two additional criteria as its local range is believed to be expanding, and it is filling a previously unoccupied seasonal niche. These factors taken together strongly suggest that G. vermiculophylla is an invasive species in southeastern North Carolina.
A review of the safety of intravenous drug delivery systems

This review was prepared for a Consensus Development Conference on the Safety of Intravenous Drug Delivery Systems that will be held at the Royal Palms Hotel and Castitas in Phoenix, Arizona on Sep...
Determination of Degree of Thermal Barrier Coating Disbonding by Time-Resolved Infrared Radiometry (TRIR)

We have previously described the time-resolved infrared radiometry (TRIR) technique and demonstrated how both measurement of coating thickness and detection of coating disbonding can be made within the same measurement [1]. We have also reported indications of the sensitivity of the TRIR technique to differing degrees of coating disbonding [2]. In the present work we examine this question in detail and compare TRIR experimental results with both an analytical multilayer theory and a destructive analysis of the coating-substrate interface. While the material system studied in this work is a zirconia thermal barrier coating on a superalloy substrate, the methodology and analytical basis of the technique are applicable to a wide variety of materials and components including printed circuit boards and composite materials. The capability of the TRIR technique for characterization of these specific systems will depend on details of the thermal properties and layer thickness in these specimens.
In-Process Control of Structural Defects in Semiconductor Manufacturing

Crystallographic defects cannot be avoided in manufacturing semiconductor devices. Even if dislocation-free starting material is used, dislocations and other defects can be introduced through the manufacturing process. The influence of such defects upon device properties is reviewed. The scanning oscillator (SOT) approach to achieve the control of structural defects in semiconductor device fabrication is discussed. Critical fabrication steps are pinpointed through SOT charts. Such charts are obtained through correlation of SOT topographs and final yield maps. Typical examples are presented.
Three Dimensional Flow Analysis During Injection Molding Process For Stacked-Die Packages

The three-dimensional numerical simulation has been performed to study mold flow characteristics during injection molding process of stacked die packages. The modeling results revealed that flow front shape is highly non-uniform around the die stack-up units and is dependent on various design parameters including mold cap clearance, mold compound material properties, as well as the die stack-up geometric configurations. It was demonstrated that validated flow model can help guiding the design, material, and process optimization of 3D packaging development.
A Predictive Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of the Treatment of Chronic, Refractory Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) with Novel Agents: An Economic Model Based on Long-Term Treatment Data with Rituximab Versus Romiplostim.

Abstract Introduction : Novel non-surgical options for treatment of chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) are emerging. These include rituximab, an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, and romiplostim, a soon to be approved thrombopoeitic receptor agonist. However, long-term clinical data with these agents have not been reported previously and the cost of romiplostim treatment has not been announced. Herein, we report a “break-even” cost-effectiveness analysis, based on 2.5 years clinical outcome data for both agents, which yields a suggested market cost for romiplostim that would result in equivalent cost-effectiveness profiles for the two agents when administered as treatment for chronic ITP. Methods: Effectiveness data were based on 2.5-years results from studies of chronic ITP patients treated with rituximab or romiplostim. We calculated the total costs of treating a cohort of chronic ITP patients with ritiuxan with splenectomy salvage (estimated cost of $8,100) as the therapeutic choice for treatment failures. We subsequently calculated a break-even price for romiplostin with splenectomy salvage that would result in a total cost of treating an ITP cohort equivalent to the costs of treating the rituximab/splenectomy cohort. Results: At 2.5 years follow-up, a cohort of 100 chronic ITP patients initially treated with rituximab is associated with 40 therapeutic failures going on to splenectomy annually. Total treatment costs for this cohort is estimated at $2.2 million. At 2.5 years follow-up, a cohort of 100 chronic ITP patients initially treated with romiplostim is associated with 10 splenectomy failures per year. Total 2.5 year treatment costs for this cohort is $1.9 million for splenectomy plus the costs of treating 70 ITP patients with romiplastim for 2.5 years, 20 ITP patients for two years, and 10 ITP patients for one year. Hence, annual break-even costs for romipslatim are estimated at $20,000. The higher annual cost with romiplostim versus rituximab is related to better 2.5 year outcome rates. Hence, these cost estimates are preliminary, pending reporting of additional long-term studies. Conclusions: It will be of interest to compare this value with cost-effectiveness estimates that are based on actual pricing of romiplostim (when the drug receives FDA approval). Policy makers would be wise to develop break-even cost estimates for novel drugs prior to FDA approval. These analyses may help inform initial price setting efforts.
An overview of cluster computing

This chapter contains sections titled: A Taxonomy of Parallel Computing, Hardware System Structure, Node Software, Resource Management, Distributed Programming, Conclusions
Plant manipulation through gall formation constrains amino acid transporter evolution in sap-feeding insects

The herbivore lifestyle leads to encounters with plant toxins and requires mechanisms to overcome suboptimal nutrient availability in plant tissues. Although the evolution of bacterial endosymbiosis alleviated many of these challenges, the ability to manipulate plant nutrient status has evolved in lineages with and without nutritional symbionts. Whether and how these alternative nutrient acquisition strategies interact or constrain insect evolution is unknown. We studied the transcriptomes of galling and free-living aphidomorphs to characterize how amino acid transporter evolution is influenced by the ability to manipulate plant resource availability. Using a comparative approach we found phylloxerids retain nearly all amino acid transporters as other aphidomorphs, despite loss of nutritional endosymbiosis. Free living species show more transporters than galling species within the same genus, family, or infraorder, indicating plant hosts influence the maintenance and evolution of nutrient transport within herbivores. Transcript profiles also show lineage specificity and suggest some genes may facilitate life without endosymbionts or the galling lifestyle. The transcript abundance profiles we document across fluid feeding herbivores support plant host constraint on insect amino acid transporter evolution. Given amino acid uptake, transport, and catabolism underlie the success of herbivory as a life history strategy, this suggests that plant host nutrient quality, whether constitutive or induced, alters the selective environment surrounding the evolution and maintenance of endosymbiosis.
Intergovernmental councils in the United States

This article focuses on intergovernmental councils (IGCs) in the United States in which prominent state-level executive politicians, that is, governors, play a leadership role. In the US case, these IGCs developed out of a desire to facilitate interstate information exchanges and a need for state governments to join forces to protect their autonomy vis-a-vis the federal government. In this latter role, the councils function as lobbyists for state government interests. The research question driving the analysis has to do with impact: what difference do executive-led IGCs make, either vertically or horizontally, in the US federal system? The question of impact is particularly relevant because growing partisan polarization in contemporary federal and state political institutions complicates collective action by states.
Cyclops: PRU programming framework for precise timing applications

The Beaglebone Black single-board computer is well-suited for real-time embedded applications because its system-on-a-chip contains two "Programmable Real-time Units" (PRUs): 200-MHz microcontrollers that run concurrently with the main 1-GHz CPU that runs Linux. This paper introduces "Cyclops": a web-browser-based IDE that facilitates the development of embedded applications on the Beaglebone Black's PRU. Users write PRU code in a simple JavaScript-inspired language, which Cyclops converts to PRU assembly code and deploys to the PRU. Cyclops automatically configures the Beaglebone's pinmux controller to use common I/O peripherals like ADC and PWM. Additionally, Cyclops includes a PRU library and Linux kernel module for synchronizing the PRU with the processor clock, enabling the PRU to time-stamp sensor measurements using the Linux processor time within sub-microsecond accuracy.
Fatigue Characterization of In-Situ Self-Healing Dental Composites

The short-term failures of dental composites are a common limitation of these materials. Oral conditions apply fatigue load cycles in the form of chewing and thermal loads, and the damage due to fatigue loads plays a major role in restorative failures in the form of cracks. A lab-based fatigue test is a suitable technique to characterize the crack propagation in dental composites. In this paper, we investigate the ability of a self-healing material to repair or arrest propagating fatigue cracks. In-situ self-healing resin composites were prepared using 15 wt% of activator resin microcapsules and 5 wt% of initiator microcapsules, and equal amounts of 40 wt% each of dental filler and dental resin. Compact Tapered Double Cantilever Beam (cTDCB) specimens of self-healing dental resin composites were prepared by integrating two sets of microcapsules of diameter 45 ± 10 μm containing an acrylate monomer and a polymerization initiator (BPO). Samples were tested in a servo-hydraulic load frame in air at room temperature. Three specimen types are investigated, dental composite without microcapsules, dental composite with non-healing microcapsules, and dental composite with in-situ self-healing microcapsules. The results show that the in-situ self-healing dental composite successfully extended the life of the composite compared to the control samples.
RAL GTPases: Biology and Potential as Therapeutic Targets in Cancer

More than a hundred proteins comprise the RAS superfamily of small GTPases. This family can be divided into RAS, RHO, RAB, RAN, ARF, and RAD subfamilies, with each shown to play distinct roles in human cells in both health and disease. The RAS subfamily has a well-established role in human cancer with the three genes, HRAS, KRAS, and NRAS being the commonly mutated in tumors. These RAS mutations, most often functionally activating, are especially common in pancreatic, lung, and colorectal cancers. Efforts to inhibit RAS and related GTPases have produced inhibitors targeting the downstream effectors of RAS signaling, including inhibitors of the RAF-mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK)-ERK kinase pathway and the phosphoinositide-3-kinase-AKT-mTOR kinase pathway. A third effector arm of RAS signaling, mediated by RAL (RAS like) has emerged in recent years as a critical driver of RAS oncogenic signaling and has not been targeted until recently. RAL belongs to the RAS branch of the RAS superfamily and shares a high structural similarity with RAS. In human cells, there are two genes, RALA and RALB, both of which have been shown to play roles in the proliferation, survival, and metastasis of a variety of human cancers, including lung, colon, pancreatic, prostate, skin, and bladder cancers. In this review, we summarize the latest knowledge of RAL in the context of human cancer and the recent advancements in the development of cancer therapeutics targeting RAL small GTPases.
Heart failure self-management and normalizing symptoms: an exploration of decision making in the community

Abstract Objective To explore the decision making processes undertaken by community-dwelling individuals with heart failure as they experience symptom changes. Background Heart failure patients are responsible for daily self-management that includes responding to symptom fluctuations between exacerbations. Despite education, some patients fail to seek timely medical intervention when symptoms change. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with homecare patients after receiving self-management education. Grounded theory methods and qualitative software were used to collect and analyze the data. Results Five themes were identified: perceiving symptoms, alleviating actions and control, normalizing symptoms, absence of help seeking behaviors, and decreased functional capacity. Normalizing symptoms included actions taken by participants to mitigate symptom fluctuations. Daily fluctuations were assimilated into normal life resulting in desensitization of symptom recognition and decreased functional capacity. Conclusions Findings support the need to educate on early symptom recognition, the benefits of safe physical activity, and building a system to support self-management patient-physician collaboration.
On the Existence of Dwarf Novae with Tremendous Outburst Amplitudes or TOADs in Space

During their study of high galactic latitude cataclysmic variables (CVs), Howell and Szkody (1990) discovered a group of dwarf novae which showed very large outbursts. These Tremendous Outburst Amplitude Dwarf novae (TOADs) are now known to exist at all galactic latitudes and are not just associated with high latitude, possibly metal poor CVs. The initial study concentrated on systems with minimum visual magnitudes between 16 and 22 and galactic latitudes of ≥ 45 degrees from the galactic plane. The initial assumption that these criteria would thus represent halo objects, was based on the then assumed typical absolute magnitudes of 7.5 for dwarf novae (DN) and 4.5 for novae (N) and novalikes (NL). We now realize that these values are NOT indicative of all DN, N, and NL, in particular short period systems (Sproats, Howell, and Mason 1995). Since their initial study, Howell, Szkody, and collaborators have also studied a number of low latitude systems (≤ 25 degrees from the galactic plane), as well as additional systems from the literature (see Howell et al 1995a). ?From these developments, we now know that 1) intrinsically faint CVs seem to be abundant and at all galactic latitudes but are poorly studied and understood and 2) few of the currently well known DN and NL are actually indicitive of the majority of CVs which exist, and few are at large distances ie., halo objects.
Associations of Preoperative Breast Magnetic Resonance Imaging With Subsequent Mastectomy and Breast Cancer Mortality

To examine associations between pre-operative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) use and clinical outcomes among women undergoing breast-conserving surgery (BCS) with or without radiotherapy for early-stage breast cancer. We identified women from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare dataset aged 67–94 diagnosed during 2004–2010 with stage I/II breast cancer who received BCS. We compared subsequent mastectomy and breast cancer mortality with versus without pre-operative MRI, using Cox regression and competing risks models. We further stratified by receipt of radiotherapy for subgroup analyses. Our sample consisted of 24,379 beneficiaries, 4691 (19.2%) of whom received pre-operative MRI. Adjusted rates of subsequent mastectomy and breast cancer mortality were not significantly different with and without MRI: 3.2 versus 4.1 per 1000 person-years [adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) 0.92; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.70–1.19] and 5.3 versus 8.7 per 1000 person-years (AHR 0.89; 95% CI 0.73–1.08), respectively. In subgroup analyses, women receiving BCS plus radiotherapy had similar rates of subsequent mastectomy (AHR 1.17; 95% CI 0.84–1.61) and breast cancer mortality (AHR 1.00; 95% CI 0.80–1.24) with versus without MRI. However, among women receiving BCS alone, MRI use was associated with lower risks of subsequent mastectomy (AHR 0.60; 95% CI 0.37–0.98) and breast cancer mortality (AHR 0.57; 95% CI 0.36–0.92). Pre-operative MRI was associated with improved outcomes among older women with breast cancer receiving BCS alone, but not among those receiving BCS plus radiotherapy. Further research is needed to identify appropriate settings for which MRI may be helpful.