cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Exporting Democracy: The United States and Latin America

The idea that the United States can and should help Latin America achieve democracy has been a recurrent theme in U.S. foreign policy throughout the twentieth century. By the 1990s, it had become virtually unchallenged doctrine, broadly supported on a bipartisan basis. Yet no systematic and comparative study of U.S. attempts to promote Latin American democracy has ever been published -- and the policy community often seems unaware of this history.In "Exporting Democracy," Abraham F. Lowenthal and fourteen other noted scholars from the United States, Latin America, and Europe explore the motives, methods, and results of U.S. efforts to nurture Latin American democracy. Contributors focus on four periods when such efforts were most intense: the years from World War I to the Great Depression, the period immediately following World War II, the 1960s, and the Reagan years. The book tells a cautionary tale -- revealing that U.S. efforts to export democracy in the Americas have met with little enduring success and often have had counterproductive effects. "Exporting Democracy" is available in two paperback volumes, each introduced by Abraham Lowenthal and organized for convenient course use. In the first paperback volume, "Themes and Issues," contributors and their topics are Paul W. Drake, From Good Men to Good Neighbors: 1912-1932; Leslie Bethell, From the Second World War to the Cold War: 1944-1954; Tony Smith, the Alliance for Progress: The 1960s; Thomas Carothers:, The Reagan Years: The 1980s; Elizabeth A. Cobbs, U.S. Business: Self-Interest and Neutrality; Paul G. Buchanan, The Impact of U.S. Labor; John Sheahan, Economic Forces and U.S. Policies; Laurence Whitehead, TheImposition of Democracy; Abraham F. Lowenthal, The United States and Latin American Democracy: Learning from History.In the second paperback volume, "Case Studies," the contributors and their topics are: Carlos Escude, Argentina: The Costs of Contradiction; Heraldo Munoz, Chile: The Limits of "Success"; Jonathan Hartlyn, The Dominican Republic: The Legacy of Intermittent Engagement; Lorenzo Meyer, Mexico: The Exception and the Rule; Joseph Tulchin and Knut Walter, Nicaragua: The Limits of Intervention; Elizabeth A. Cobbs, U.S. Business: Self-Interest and Neutrality; Paul G. Buchanan, The Impact of U.S. Labor; John Sheahan, Economic Forces and U.S. Policies; Laurence Whitehead, The Imposition of Democracy; Abraham F. Lowenthal, The United States and Latin American Democracy: Learning from History.
Fate of antigen after intravenous and intraarticular injection into rabbits

To determine the manner in which small protein antigens enter the synovium and are localized, horseradish peroxidase (molecular weight 40,000) was injected by intravenous and intraarticular routes. Passage of antigen from capillary lumen to joint space and vice versa occurred primarily across fenestrated vessels. Antigen localized to collagen fibers and lining cells. At low concentrations of antigen, antigen was taken up predominantly by marcrophages, whereas at higher concentrations both macrophages and fibroblast-like lining cells accumulated antigen.
A sampling theorem for a 2d surface

The sampling rate for signal reconstruction has been and remains an important and central criterion in numerous applications. We propose, in this paper, a new approach to determining an optimal sampling rate for a 2D-surface reconstruction using the so-called Two-Thirds Power Law. This paper first introduces an algorithm of a 2D surface reconstruction from a 2D image of circular light patterns projected on the surface. Upon defining the Two-Thirds Power Law we show how the extracted spectral information helps define an optimal sampling rate of the surface, reflected in the number of projected circular patterns required for its reconstruction. This result is of interest in a number of applications such as 3D face recognition and development of new efficient 3D cameras. Substantive examples are provided.
Demonstration of a Novel Micro-Photonic Wall Pressure Sensor

In this paper we propose a novel micro-photonic sensor concept based on the morphology dependent resonances (MDR) of dielectric microresonators. The microresonator, spherical in shape and a few hundred microns in diameter, serves as a sensing element. A membrane is used to mechanically transmit pressure to the microsphere. As a result of the applied pressure, the morphology of the microsphere is perturbed, leading to a shift in the optical resonances (MDR). The applied pressure is thus monitored by recording the optical shift. Preliminary experiments using a prototype sensor design show promise for future applications.
P3-01-06: NF-kB Inhibition Promotes Radiosensitivity of Breast Cancer Cells in Three-Dimensional Culture through Abating b1-Integrin Expression.

Therapy-associated tumor resistance, giving rise to recurrence and mortality, is a critical issue in cancer therapy. The molecular mechanisms causing tumor resistnace to the therapeutic radiation remain elusive. Nuclear factor-KB (NF-KB), a stress-sensitive heterodimeric transcription factor in the regulation of the stress-responsive genes, has been shown to initiate prosurvival signaling pathways. The cooperative function of NF-KB with other key stress elements in radioresistance remains to be elucidated. We have previously reported that induction of α5β1-integrin is associated with the enhanced cell survival of breast cancer cells after exposure to high dose IR (ionizing radiation). Because a typical NF-KB binding site was located in human β1-integrin promoter region, β1-integrin-mediated resistance to radiation may be regulated by NF-KB. The aim of the present study was to reveal a connection between NF-KB and β1-integrin pathways in radioprotection of malignant T4-2 mammary epithelial cells in 3D ***lrECM (three-dimensional laminin-rich extracellular matrix). We show that the elevated NF-KB activity was correlated with enhanced clonogenic survival, and increased NF-KB heterodimer p50/p65 levels were associated with an increase in total and phosphorylated (Thr 788/789) β1-integrins. Inhibition of NF-KB activation significantly reduced clonogenic survival with the inhibition of β1-integrin. These results indicate that NF-KB-mediated induction of β1-integrin is associated with an increased radiation resistance. Treatment of T4-2 colonies, formed at day 4, with NF-KB activation inhibitor in 3D lrECM before exposure to IR (4-Gy X-ray) resulted in a reduction of the size of colonies. The surviving colonies were associated with a decrease in proliferation and increase in apoptosis, indicating a decrease of resistance to IR. Together, these results provide the first evidence that NF-KB-mediated β1-integrin expression is responsible for tumor radioresistance. The NF-KB/β1-integrin pathway may serve as an efficient drug target to re-sensitize radioresistant tumor cells. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2011;71(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-01-06.
Multiphoton coherent manipulation in large-spin qubits

Large-spin ${\mathrm{Mn}}^{2+}$ ions ($S=5/2$) diluted in a nonmagnetic MgO matrix of high crystalline symmetry are used to realize a six-level system that can be operated by means of multiphoton coherent Rabi oscillations. This spin system has a very small anisotropy which can be tuned in situ to reversibly transform the system between harmonic and nonharmonic level configurations. Decoherence effects are strongly suppressed as a result of the quasi-isotropic electron interaction with the crystal field and with the $^{55}\mathrm{Mn}$ nuclear spins. These results suggest new ways of manipulating, reading, and resetting spin quantum states which can be applied to encode a qubit across several quantum levels.
Limitations of the Confucian Ethics and Its Creative Transformation in the High-Tech Age

In the high-tech age,people face a series of challenges.How to meet these challenges is an important issue for us.Though Confucian ethics has many limitations,its fine elements still keep their vitality and may be used to;promote healthy hi-tech development and solve many problems brought about by hi-tech.Therefore,we should overcome the limitation and push forward the creative transformation of the Confucian ethics in the high-tech age.
Univariate analysis of the factors affecting treatment compliance of 98 multidrug-resistant tuberculosis patients

Objective To explore influencing factors on compliance of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis(MDR-TB)treatment. Methods From January 2007 to December 2009, questionnaire survey on 98 cases of MDR-TB patients treated in one year, x2 was adopted to analyze the factors affecting compliance of MDR-TB treatment. Results Types of drug resistant, adverse reactions, inconvenient transportation, economic difficulties, awareness of TB Knowledge, were risk factors for compliance of MDR-TB patients treatment and management. Conclusion Many factors could affect the compliance of MDR-TB treatment and management, took appropriate countermeasures could improve treatment compliance and reduce treatment failure and mortality of MDR-TB.
Managing the Patient with Atypical Chest Pain

Since angina and heartburn can feel the same, excluding cardiac disease may be the first order of business. That done, clinical findings and laboratory tests can help identify the esophageal disturbance. Gastric acid reflux, motility disorders, and visceral nerve hypersensitivity--alone or in combination--can cause chest pain, and each may call for a different pharmacologic regimen.
Detecting Significant Stress Drop Variations in Large Micro-Earthquake Datasets: A Comparison Between a Convergent Step-Over in the San Andreas Fault and the Ventura Thrust Fault System, Southern California

A key parameter in engineering seismology and earthquake physics is seismic stress drop, which describes the relative amount of high-frequency energy radiation at the source. To identify regions with potentially significant stress drop variations, we perform a comparative analysis of source parameters in the greater San Gorgonio Pass (SGP) and Ventura basin (VB) in southern California. The identification of physical stress drop variations is complicated by large data scatter as a result of attenuation, limited recording bandwidth and imprecise modeling assumptions. In light of the inherently high uncertainties in single stress drop measurements, we follow the strategy of stacking large numbers of source spectra thereby enhancing the resolution of our method. We analyze more than 6000 high-quality waveforms between 2000 and 2014, and compute seismic moments, corner frequencies and stress drops. Significant variations in stress drop estimates exist within the SGP area. Moreover, the SGP also exhibits systematically higher stress drops than VB and shows more scatter. We demonstrate that the higher scatter in SGP is not a generic artifact of our method but an expression of differences in underlying source processes. Our results suggest that higher differential stresses, which can be deduced from larger focal depth and more thrust faulting, may only be of secondary importance for stress drop variations. Instead, the general degree of stress field heterogeneity and strain localization may influence stress drops more strongly, so that more localized faulting and homogeneous stress fields favor lower stress drops. In addition, higher loading rates, for example, across the VB potentially result in stress drop reduction whereas slow loading rates on local fault segments within the SGP region result in anomalously high stress drop estimates. Our results show that crustal and fault properties systematically influence earthquake stress drops of small and large events and should be considered for seismic hazard assessment.
The Privatization Debate: A Conceptual Framework for Improving (Public and Private) Corrections

Although the privatization of corrections has a long history in America, debates about its merits have intensified in recent decades. The goals of this article are (a) to argue that privatized corrections is more prevalent than recognized and yet little is known about how it compares with public corrections, and (b) to provide a conceptual framework for advancing research and policy on privatized corrections. In so doing, we shed light on a wide range of unanswered questions about both public corrections and private corrections. We conclude by highlighting opportunities for informing the privatization debate and advancing research.
What next for astronomy

"Astronomy is in the midst of a golden age," wrote Catherine Cesarsky, my predecessor as president of the International Astronomical Union (IAU), earlier this year in Physics World (March pp22–24). I believe that is certainly true and it is an opportunity that we must take full advantage of. Astronomy is one of the great ways to bring science to the public – the images of the universe obtained using the Hubble Space Telescope, for example, are full of beauty. Astronomy is all about us. Indeed, the Earth and the life on it have developed from the cosmos, and the sky is the one laboratory that all humanity shares equally and that is accessible to all. There is little about the subject that appeals to fear – except, perhaps, the occasional killer asteroid. So what better science to inspire and educate people that what we do not know is definitely worth knowing?
Establishing a Joint Theater Trauma System During Phase Zero Operations.

ABSTRACTObjectives: Military personnel risk injury due to accidents, disasters, and military threats during Phase Zero “shaping” operations. Medical facilities must be poised to respond. Methods: The U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM) Area of Responsibility (AOR) covers more than 50% of the earth's surface; relevant Clinical Practice Guidelines must include the maritime setting and extended evacuation periods. Military hospitals in the region are not connected by a defined Trauma System. There is variable adherence to trauma training requirements before assignment in this AOR. Demand for trauma care at any 1 location is low and trauma teams have little opportunity to maintain competency for high-risk/low-volume interventions. There is no documentation of total demand for trauma care in the AOR. Trauma care in PACOM is often deferred to civilian facilities. Results: Core elements of a Joint Theater Trauma System (JTTS) as established during combat operations in U.S. Central Command are applicable during Phase Ze...
Competition and Adverse Selection in an Online Lending Market

Using data from Lending Club and Prosper, the two largest peer-to-peer lenders in the U.S., we provide evidence of adverse selection in the online personal lending market. Borrowers who were rejected by a competitor are 2.5 times more likely to default than borrowers who were not rejected by a competitor, conditional on receiving the same contract. We also show that modeled competitors' interest rate offers are significantly related to default; these offers provide explanatory power that is not captured by the actual interest rates on the loans.
Graph Theory and Brain Connectivity in Alzheimer's Disease.

This article presents a review of recent advances in neuroscience research in the specific area of brain connectivity as a potential biomarker of Alzheimer’s disease with a focus on the application of graph theory. The review will begin with a brief overview of connectivity and graph theory. Then resent advances in connectivity as a biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease will be presented and analyzed.
Testing of a compact 10-Gbps Lasercomm system for maritime platforms

Lasercomm technology continues to be of interest for many applications both in the commercial and defense sectors because of its potential to provide high bandwidth communications that are secure without the need for RF spectrum management. Over the last decade, terrestrial Lasercomm development has progressed from initial experiments in the lab through field demonstrations in airborne and maritime environments. While these demonstrations have shown high capability levels, the complexity, size, weight, and power of the systems has slowed transition into fielded systems. This paper presents field test results of a recently developed maritime Lasercomm terminal and modem architecture with a compact form factor for enabling robust, 10-Gbps class data transport over highly scintillated links as found in terrestrial applications such as air-to-air, air-to-surface, and surface-to-surface links.
Assembly and architecture of the Wnt/β-catenin signalosome at the membrane.

Wnt/β-catenin signalling is initiated by a ternary Wnt-Frizzled (FZD)-LDL receptor-related protein (LRP) 5/6 binding event. The resulting conformational changes in the FZD and LRP5/6 receptors promote the assembly of an intracellular signalosome driven by Dishevelled and Axin co-polymerization. Recent evidence suggests that the FZD receptor and LRP5/6 participate in the assembly of this signalosome by forming regulatory scaffolds for stabilizing Dishevelled and Axin adapters. In this review, we focus on the contributions of Wnts and their receptors in the assembly of the signalosome. We present an emerging model, which unifies Wnt receptor oligomerization with intracellular signalosome formation, and then discuss how FZD receptors might be targeted to either disrupt or enhance their capacity as a dynamic sensor of Wnt binding. Linked Articles This article is part of a themed section on WNT Signalling: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Opportunities. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v174.24/issuetoc
Self-similar architectures for smart manufacturing and logistics systems

Self-similar architectures simplify design and interoperability for smart manufacturing and logistics systems. Self-similar architectures for these domains extend existing models of self-similar controller architectures to include unified models, or abstractions, of plant behavior and planning and operational control functions. This paper proposes modeling system units as discrete event logistics systems (DELS), an abstraction that unifies heterogeneous system models for the manufacturing and logistics domain. Similar DELS then can be composed into self-similar architectures for larger, more complex DELS.
Skills and Economic Inequality Across Race and Ethnicity in the United States: New Evidence on Wage Discrimination Using PIAAC:

Using skill and earnings data from the OECD’s newly released Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) and decomposition methodology from literature on economic distr...
Fate of lyophilized xenogeneic corneal lenticules in intrastromal implantation and epikeratophakia.

The antigenicity of intrastromal and epikeratophakia xenografts of lyophilized corneal tissue was evaluated in nonimmune and immune recipients. Lyophilized feline lenticules were implanted into intrastromal pockets in unsensitized rabbits and rabbits sensitized to the donor cat. In both cases, the grafts remained clear. Sensitized rabbits with clear intrastromal grafts received fresh tissue penetrating keratoplasty grafts from the same donor cat, placed adjacent to the intrastromal grafts. The fresh tissue penetrating keratoplasty grafts were rapidly rejected, while the lyophilized intrastromal grafts remained clear. Cats sensitized to rabbits received lyophilized and rehydrated epikeratophakia grafts shaped from rabbit cornea; these lyophilized grafts also remained clear for the 3-month period of the study. The results indicate that lyophilized and rehydrated corneal stroma, which is devoid of living cells, is not antigenic and is not subjected to immunologic attack, even in cases where the donor and host are of different species and the host has been previously immunized to the donor. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 28:555559,1987 The development of surgical procedures for the correction of refractive errors and corneal abnormalities is an area of considerable interest and clinical significance, the techniques of epikeratophakia and keratomileusis have proved to be sight-restorative and sight-saving for many individuals. Unfortunately, the widespread adoption of these techniques outside the United States may be limited because of the limited availability of human-derived corneal tissue. There are numerous studies in which various synthetic intrastromal corneal implants have been used to correct refractive errors. These implants still appear to have major limitations and none are routinely used in humans. Thus, the preferential use of lenticules of human cornea will continue to be warranted. However, even in such an ideal circumstance, ie, human donor tissue in the human eye, the possibility of a host response to a lenticule from an allogeneic donor has not been adequately ruled out. In the current study, the intent was to establish the "worst-case" scenario in which non-immune or immune members of one species were given implants from a widely divergent species and the fate of the xe
Microbial and mammalian metabolism studies on the semisynthetic antimalarial, deoxoartemisinin.

Purpose. Deoxoartemisinin is a semisynthetic antimalarial with potential for treatment of multiple drug resistant malaria. Metabolism studies were conducted to aid in future drug development. Methods. Microbial model systems were employed which have been shown to be good predictors of mammalian drug metabolites. Metabolism studies using rats were also performed. Results. Three microbial metabolites of deoxoartemisinin were identified (2, 3, and 4). Metabolite 3 was also found in rat plasma. HPLC/MS analyses were performed on the rat plasma using 2, 3, and 4 as standards. All metabolites were thoroughly characterized by 1H and 13C-NMR. An additional rat plasma metabolite was revealed and it was shown not to be 9α-hydroxyartemisinin. Conclusions. Deoxoartemisinin was metabolized to three microbial metabolites. Metabolism by rats showed the presence of two metabolites in the plasma, one of which was the same as the microbial metabolite.
Potentially catastrophic bleeding disorders: Approach to diagnosis and management

PreviewEvaluation of acute hemorrhage is challenging because of the urgency dictated by potentially life-threatening consequences. Diagnosis and management are based on a combination of clinical and laboratory findings. Dr Coffin discusses six of the most common potentially catastrophic intrinsic and acquired coagulation disorders.
Bending behavior of lapped plastic EHV cables

One of the factors delaying the development of lapped polymeric cables has been their reputed poor bending characteristics. Complementary programs were begun at BNL several years ago to mathematically model the bending of synthetic tape cables and to develop novel plastic tapes designed to have moduli more favorable to bending. A series of bend tests was recently completed to evaluate the bending performance of several tapes developed for use in experimental superconducting cables. The program is discussed and the results of the bend tests are summarized.
Red States and Black Lives: Applying the Racial Threat Hypothesis to the Black Lives Matter Movement

Despite increased media attention, the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement has received little scholarly attention. News coverage of BLM is often divisive, which suggests important differences may exist in how the public views BLM. Within the context of the racial threat perspective, the present study uses a nationally representative sample of 2,114 individuals from 33 states and the District of Columbia to identify state- and individual-level predictors of BLM opposition. Results reveal that older, Republican, and conservative men are more likely to oppose BLM, while Blacks and individuals who perceive their local police to exhibit racial biases against Blacks are less likely to oppose BLM. State-level racial threat variables are largely nonsignificant, but states with more fatal police shootings are less likely to oppose BLM, while states where the Republican candidate won a greater percentage of the vote in the 2012 presidential election are more likely to oppose BLM.
Impact of Alternate Wetting and Drying Irrigation on Arsenic Uptake and Speciation in Flooded Rice Systems

Abstract Alternate wetting and drying (AWD) irrigation can be used to promote oxic soil conditions and decrease arsenic (As) mobility and uptake into rice plants. However, scant information is available quantifying plant As speciation and uptake at the field scale for AWD with different soil drying severities. It is hypothesized that as the severity of soil drying increases, plant uptake and subsequent accumulation of both inorganic and organic As in the grain will decrease. However, since AWD can increase cadmium (Cd) bioavailability, Cd concentrations in rice grains should be evaluated concomitant to As. In this two-year field study, As and Cd uptake were examined, with routine plant and water sampling during the growing seasons, under three AWD practices varying in soil drying severity (from most to least severe: AWD25: drying to 25% volumetric water content at the root zone; AWD35: to 35%; AWDS: Safe AWD, drying to perched water table 15 cm below the soil surface), compared to a continuous flooding (CF) control. Arsenic speciation was also analyzed in grain and vegetative tissues. AWD25 and AWD35 decreased As accumulation in roots and straws by a similar amount compared to CF, leading to a 41-68% decrease in grain total As concentration. Speciation analysis revealed that AWD25 and AWD35 decreased grain concentration of organic As by 70-100% and inorganic As by 14-61% compared to CF. In contrast, AWDS did not decrease As uptake by rice compared to CF. Grain Cd levels were 6.5 μg kg−1 in CF, 16.6 μg kg−1 in AWD35, and 27.4 μg kg−1 in AWD25, suggesting AWD35 could serve as a mitigation option for As, while minimizing Cd accumulation.
Cross-disciplinary Concision and Clarity: Writing Social Science Abstracts in the Humanities

This article details an assignment sequence asking students to apply an adaptation of Swales and Feak's (2009) model of social sciences abstract writing to articles in the humanities. This model works as an exploded diagram of the article, explicitly identifying research questions, data, methods, results, interpretations, and implications. The assignment provides students, first, with a reading tool for exposing the articulated construction of academic research articles. Second, as a writing tool, it allows students to practice comprehensive synthesis; the breakdown of multi-part claims; concision and clarity; and selective quotation. Finally, it facilitates the next step in students' research process: framing new inquiry by identifying uses and limitations in prior scholarship. This assignment sequence has been used in first-year composition and upper-division WID/WAC courses in the humanities; it can be adapted for courses in social and natural sciences and for graduate courses.
Oxidative Coupling of Methane (OCM) by SiO2-Supported Tungsten Oxide Catalysts Promoted with Mn and Na

The literature for the oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) on supported Mn/Na2WO4/SiO2 catalysts is systematically and critically reviewed. The influence of the precursors, starting SiO2 support cr...
Participants Perceptions of Veterans Treatment Courts: A Qualitative Assessment and Systems Model

This qualitative study explores veteran treatment court (VTC) participant perceptions of the judicial processes within the court, their experiences with the judge and other court actors, and the relationship between their military service and criminal activity. Purposive sampling was employed to recruit a sample of 13 justice-involved veterans, who at the time of interviewing, were being adjudicated in a VTC located in the southeastern United States. Semi-structured interviewing was used to capture veteran perceptions of VTC. Five unique themes emerged, while perceptions of court actors and the connection between their military service and crime had three themes, respectively. From these themes, we developed a maladaptive coping model to illustrate the experiences of veterans in veteran courts. The study results are intended to inform policy makers, judicial actors, and veteran service providers as they design judicial responses for veteran offenders.
Marine Microbiome as a Source of Antimalarials

It is important to discover novel antimalarial pharmacophores because of the widespread emergence of Plasmodium falciparum isolates resistant to the available drugs. Secondary metabolites derived from microbes associated with marine invertebrates are a valuable resource for the discovery of novel drug leads. However, the potential of marine microbes as a source of antimalarials has not been explored. We investigated the promise of marine microorganisms for the production of antimalarial activities by testing 2365 diverse microbial extracts using phenotypic screening of a multidrug resistant chloroquine resistant P. falciparum strain. We conducted counter screening against mammalian cells for the 317 active extracts that exhibited more than 70% inhibition at 1 µg/mL. The screen identified 17 potent bioactive leads from a broad range of taxa. Our results establish that the marine microbiome is a rich source of antiplasmodial compounds that warrants in depth exploration.
A Hybrid Deep Learning Based Approach for Remaining Useful Life Estimation

One of the most important aspects of PHM is remaining useful life (RUL) estimation. This paper proposes a hybrid deep learning-based approach for RUL estimation. The hybrid method is developed using a combination of long short-term memory and convolutional neural networks. The effectiveness of the hybrid method is validated using three engine fleets from turbofan engines simulation datasets.
A Bayesian Saturated Model Approach to Posterior Predictive Model Checks in Confirmatory Factor Analysis

Data with different sample sizes (N = 50, 500, 2000) were simulated based on two correct CFA models and estimated with four types of mis-specified models (overspecified, underspecified, a model wit...
The Case for Bayesian Deep Learning

The key distinguishing property of a Bayesian approach is marginalization instead of optimization, not the prior, or Bayes rule. Bayesian inference is especially compelling for deep neural networks. (1) Neural networks are typically underspecified by the data, and can represent many different but high performing models corresponding to different settings of parameters, which is exactly when marginalization will make the biggest difference for both calibration and accuracy. (2) Deep ensembles have been mistaken as competing approaches to Bayesian methods, but can be seen as approximate Bayesian marginalization. (3) The structure of neural networks gives rise to a structured prior in function space, which reflects the inductive biases of neural networks that help them generalize. (4) The observed correlation between parameters in flat regions of the loss and a diversity of solutions that provide good generalization is further conducive to Bayesian marginalization, as flat regions occupy a large volume in a high dimensional space, and each different solution will make a good contribution to a Bayesian model average. (5) Recent practical advances for Bayesian deep learning provide improvements in accuracy and calibration compared to standard training, while retaining scalability.
A Cross-Sectional Study of Inpatient Orthopaedic Hardware Removal in Children

Purpose: Hardware removal after fracture surgery is a common procedure performed by pediatric orthopedists in the United States. While there are several indications for hardware removal in the outpatient setting, there is sparse data describing the specific reasons for inpatient removal. This study was designed to understand the conditions associated with complication-related hardware removal following fracture surgery in pediatric patients. Cost data was analyzed to understand the financial implications of these procedures. Methods: The Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Kids’ Inpatient Database (KID) was evaluated for the year 2012. Patients undergoing open reduction …
Trends in Comorbidities Among Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Hospital Admissions in New York City from 2006-2016.

BACKGROUND Due to the advent and success of antiretroviral therapy, the number of people living and aging with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has grown substantially. Although people living with HIV (PLHIV) are experiencing longer life expectancies, this achievement may be undermined by increasing and disproportionate chronic disease burden among PLHIV. METHODS This study is a retrospective analysis of adult (≥18 years) inpatient hospital discharges from a large hospital system in the New York City, New York metropolitan area, between 1 January 2006 and 31 December 2016. We aimed to investigate (1) changes in the prevalence of Charlson-defined comorbidities among PLHIV hospitalized between 2006 and 2016 and (2) changes in the unadjusted prevalence ratio (PR) of comorbidities in HIV-positive versus HIV-negative admissions over time. RESULTS Of 898 139 hospital admissions from 2006-2016, 19 039 (2.1%) were HIV positive. Across all admissions during the study period, the greatest comorbidity disparities between HIV-positive and HIV-negative admissions were mild liver disease (PR, 4.9 [95% confidence interval, 4.8-5.1]), moderate or severe liver disease (PR, 2.2 [2.0-2.4]), and chronic pulmonary disease (PR, 1.8 [1.8-1.8]). CONCLUSIONS The prevalence and relative burden of comorbidities among hospitalized PLHIV are changing over time. Careful monitoring and intensive discharge planning may be effective strategies for addressing the evolving health needs of PLHIV.
A Hybrid Approach for Estimating the Failure-Tolerant Workspace Size of Kinematically Redundant Robots

Previous work has shown that it is possible to guarantee a reachable workspace for a kinematically redundant robot after an arbitrary locked-joint failure if one artificially restricts the range of its joints prior to the failure. Identifying the optimal articial joint limits has been the subject of previous work to maximize this so-called “failure-tolerant workspace.” Unfortunately, these techniques are not feasible for a highly redundant robot operating in a spatial workspace. This work presents a novel hybrid technique for estimating the failure-tolerant workspace size for robots of arbitrary kinematic structure and any number of degrees of freedom performing tasks in a 6D workspace. The method presented combines an algorithm for computing self-motion manifold ranges to estimate workspace envelopes and Monte-Carlo integration to estimate orientation volumes to create a computationally efficient algorithm. This algorithm is then combined with the coordinate ascent optimization technique to determine optimal artificial joint limits that maximize the size of the failure-tolerant workspace of a given robot. This approach is illustrated on multiple examples of robots that perform tasks in 3D planar and 6D spatial workspaces.
Well-Being over the Life Course: Incorporating Human-Animal Interaction

Human-animal interaction (HAI) is an interdisciplinary field of research that focuses on the impact of animals on human lives and the roles that they play in human lives. Drawing on the theme of well-being over the life course, we explore HAI in multiple contexts: pets as family, pet illness and aging, human health and development over the life course, and animal-assisted interventions. Conceptualizing human’s interactions with companion animals in the context of the life course highlights the need for rigorous scientific methodology, improved measurement, and the application of advanced research methods to model these complex relationships.
Using a computer-tailored COPD screening assessment to promote advice-seeking behaviors.

Background Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, despite evidence there is a high proportion of underdiagnosis. Online screening assessments are low-cost solutions to identify high-risk adults who may benefit from confirmatory screening (ie, spirometry test). Little evidence exists to support whether high-risk adults seek advice after completing COPD screening assessments and from whom. The purpose of this study is to examine how the perceived quality of an online screening assessment influences high-risk adults to seek advice from a healthcare provider or other online resources. Methods Adults without a prior COPD diagnosis (N = 199) completed an online survey that included a computer-tailored assessment programmed with the clinically validated COPD Population Screener (COPD-PS). Results An elevated COPD risk score was associated with expectations to talk with a healthcare provider (P < 0.05) or go on the Internet (P < 0.05) to get advice, controlling for statistically significant covariates. Positive perceptions about the quality of the risk score was associated with strengthened expectations to speak with a healthcare provider, but only among high-risk adults (P < 0.01). Conclusions Results of this study support the use of computer-tailored screening assessments as a scalable solution to encourage high-risk adults to learn more about COPD. Strengthened perceptions about the quality of an online COPD screening assessment increased the likelihood that high-risk adults will speak with their healthcare provider about the condition. Implications are discussed for leveraging telehealth solutions, such as conversational agents (ie, chatbots), to disseminate COPD screening assessments and alleviate its underdiagnosis. Trial registration not applicable.
Police Integrity in the United States

This chapter explores the contours of police integrity in the United States. The 11 local police departments, surveyed across the United States in the period from 2013 to 2014, constitute a convenience sample of a diverse range of police departments, with both large and small municipal agencies and sheriff’s departments. The questionnaire is built around 11 scenarios covering a variety of forms of police misconduct, including police corruption, use of excessive force, planting of evidence, and failure to execute an arrest warrant. After reviewing each scenario, the respondents were asked to report own and others’ evaluation of its seriousness, appropriate and expected discipline, as well as own and others’ willingness to report the misconduct. The respondents evaluated scenarios described in the questionnaire to range in seriousness from the least serious (acceptance of gratuities and verbal abuse of citizens) to the most serious (opportunistic theft, unjustifiable use of deadly force, and official report falsification). Although most of the respondents expected and supported some discipline for all the scenarios described in the questionnaire, they expected police officers to be dismissed from service only for the three most serious scenarios. We also measured the contours of the code of silence and found that the code of silence is far from the flat prohibition of reporting. The code was much stronger for the behaviors evaluated as the least serious and the weakest for the behaviors evaluated as the most serious.
Non-targeted screening approaches for contaminants and adulterants in food using liquid chromatography hyphenated to high resolution mass spectrometry

The majority of analytical methods for food safety monitor the presence of a specific compound or defined set of compounds. Non-targeted screening methods are complementary to these approaches by detecting and identifying unexpected compounds present in food matrices that may be harmful to public health. However, the development and implementation of generalized non-targeted screening workflows are particularly challenging, especially for food matrices due to inherent sample complexity and diversity and a large analyte concentration range. One approach that can be implemented is liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry, which serves to reduce this complexity and is capable of generating molecular formulae for compounds of interest. Current capabilities, strategies, and challenges will be reviewed for sample preparation, mass spectrometry, chromatography, and data processing workflows. Considerations to increase the accuracy and speed of identifying unknown molecular species will also be addressed, including suggestions for achieving sufficient data quality for non-targeted screening applications.
Uric Acid-Degrading Bacteria in Guts of Termites [ Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar)]

Uricolytic bacteria were present in guts of Reticulitermes flavipes in populations up to 6 × 104 cells per gut. Of 82 strains isolated under strict anaerobic conditions, most were group N Streptococcus sp., Bacteroides termitidis, and Citrobacter sp. All isolates used uric acid (UA) as an energy source anaerobically, but not aerobically, and NH3 was the major nitrogenous product of uricolysis. However, none of the isolates had an absolute requirement for UA. Utilization of heterocyclic compounds other than UA was limited. Fresh termite gut contents also degraded UA anaerobically, as measured by 14CO2 evolution from [2-14C]UA. The magnitude of anaerobic uricolysis [0.67 pmol of UA catabolized/(gut × h)] was entirely consistent with the population density of uricolytic bacteria in situ. Uricolytic gut bacteria may convert UA in situ to products usable by termites for carbon, nitrogen, energy, or all three. This possibility is consistent with the fact that R. flavipes termites from UA, but they do not void the purine in excreta despite the lack of uricase in their tissues.
A Cross-National Investigation of Product Perception:

Exporting to diverse markets without much informa- tion about how consumers may evaluate products from various countries calls for an investigation of the image of products made in various countries. This article looks at products made in China, Hong Kong, India, and the United States, as perceived by respon- dents from each of these countries. Respondents evaluated products manufactured in these countries along fifteen dimensions selected from the Nagashima (1970) study. Significant differences were found to exist in the perceptions of products from these test countries across the respondent groups. Implications of the findings for gov- ernments and companies interested in promoting international trade, particularly in emerging markets, are discussed.
Zero-Dimensional Spectral Measures for Quasi-Periodic Operators with Analytic Potential

We prove that for quasiperiodic operators with potential V(n)=λf(θ+αn), f analytic, the spectral measures are zero-dimensional for λ large, any irrational α. It extends a result of Jitomirskaya and Last to the case of any analytic f.
Regularized Linear Models in Stacked Generalization

Stacked generalization is a flexible method for multiple classifier combination; however, it tends to overfit unless the combiner function is sufficiently smooth. Previous studies attempt to avoid overfitting by using a linear function at the combiner level. This paper demonstrates experimentally that even with a linear combination function, regularization is necessary to reduce overfitting and increase predictive accuracy. The standard linear least squares regression can be regularized with an L2 penalty (Ridge regression), an L1 penalty (lasso regression) or a combination of the two (elastic net regression). In multi-class classification, sparse linear models select and combine individual predicted probabilities instead of using complete probability distributions, allowing base classifiers to specialize in subproblems corresponding to different classes.
Effect of Spectral Resolution on the MG II Index as a Measure of Solar Variability

The solar Mg II core-to-wing ratio is a useful index of UV variability throughout the solar cycle because it has been measured since 1978 in a series of successive satellite missions: Nimbus 7, Solar Mesosphere Explorer (SME), the NOAA 9–14 series, Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS), and ERS-2. Eventual construction of a single time series from 1978 to the present by combining these measurements will give a long record of almost daily UV variability to serve as a surrogate for estimating both UV and EUV solar radiation. Here we address the effect of spectral resolution on determination of both long-term and short-term solar variability from this index. We use UARS/SOLSTICE measurements of the Mg II line from October 1991 to December 1996 to study the effect of two spectral resolution regimes characteristic of existing measurements, 0.20 to 0.25 nm and 1.10 to 1.15 nm, on determination of the amplitude of 27-day rotational modulation and the more gradual change in chromospheric radiation in the declining phase of solar cycle 22. The two Mg II indices give solar variations that differ by a scaling factor of ≈ 2 x for both the solar cycle change from 1992 to 1997 and the amplitude of 27-day modulation over the same period. Both types of measurements appear to yield solar signal equally well except at solar minimum when the solar changes become quite small.
Characterization of antisense transformed plants deficient in the tobacco anionic peroxidase

On the basis of the biological compounds that they metabolize, plant peroxidases have long been implicated in plant growth, cell wall biogenesis, lignification, and host defenses. Transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) plants that underexpress anionic peroxidase were generated using antisense RNA. The antisense RNA was found to be specific for the anionic isoenzyme and highly effective, reducing endogenous transcript levels and total peroxidase activity by as much as 1600-fold. Antisense-transformed plants appeared normal at initial observation; however, growth studies showed that plants with reduced peroxidase activity grow taller and flower sooner than control plants. In contrast, previously transformed plants overproducing anionic peroxidase were shorter and flowered later than controls. Axillary buds were more developed in antisense-transformed plants and less developed in plants overproducing this enzyme. It was found that the lignin content in leaf, stem, and root was unchanged in antisense-transformed plants, which does not support a role for anionic peroxidase in the lignification of secondary xylem vessels. However, studies of wounded tissue show some reduction in wound-induced deposition of lignin-like polymers. The data support a possible role for tobacco anionic peroxidase in host defenses but not without a reduction in growth potential.
Avoid Being a Defendant: Estate Planning Malpractice and Ethical Concerns

An estate planner may become a defendant in a case involving an estate he or she planned in two main ways. First, the attorney may have performed his or her services in a negligent manner potentially creating exposure to malpractice liability. Second, the attorney’s conduct may have lapsed below ethically acceptable standards.This article reviews the exposure an estate planner may have to malpractice liability with emphasis on Texas law and then focuses the reader’s attention on ethical issues that may arise while preparing or executing the plan. I hope that by pointing out potentially troublesome areas, the reader will avoid the ramifications of drafting a flawed estate plan or having a lapse of ethical good judgment which may lead to the frustration of the client’s intent, financial loss to the client or the beneficiaries, personal embarrassment, and possible disciplinary action.
The Cardiovascular System at High Altitude

The sections in this article are: 1 Normal Cardiac Output 1.1 Stroke Volume 1.2 Heart Rate 2 Cardiac Output at High Altitude 2.1 Heart Rate at High Altitude 2.2 Effect of Polycythemia on Cardiac Output 2.3 Sojourners Exposed to Altitude 3 Pulmonary Circulation at Altitude 3.1 Role of Hematocrit in Pulmonary Hypertension 3.2 Role of Hypoxia in Pulmonary Hypertension 3.3 Adrenergic Control of Pulmonary Vasculature 3.4 Pulmonary Artery Morphology 3.5 Connective Tissue Growth: Hypertrophy 3.6 Mechanism of Pulmonary Vasoconstriction 4 Effects of Hypoxia on the Heart 4.1 Morphology 4.2 Metabolic Effects 4.3 Microcirculation 5 Coronary Circulation 6 Systemic Circulation 6.1 Effects of Altitude 6.2 Atrial Natriuretic Factor 6.3 Venous Tone 6.4 Summary of Effects on the Circulatory System 7 Applied Aspects