cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Estimates of genetic parameters for litter size in six strains of Iberian pigs

Abstract Additive direct and maternal, permanent environmental and residual variances for total number of pigs born and number born alive in six closed strains of Iberian pigs were estimated by univariate restricted maximum likelihood using an animal model. Data were analyzed within strain, and also including all strains together. The largest data set analyzed included 8057 records and 3655 animals. Results were similar for both traits, irrespective of whether crossfostered dams were included in the analysis or not. Within-strain estimates of heritability of direct effects ranged from 0 to 13%, whereas heritability of maternal effects did not exceed 4%; permanent environmental effects accounted for between 0 to 18% of the phenotypic variance. Across strains, heritability of direct effects was 4% for total number born and 6% for number born alive, heritability of maternal effects was nil for both traits, and the variance of permanent environmental effects accounted for 7% of the phenotypic variance. The covariance between direct and maternal genetic effects, expressed as a percent of the total variation was negligible. The evidence suggests that maternal genetic effects and their covariance with direct genetic effects can be ignored in selection programs aimed to increase prolificacy in the Iberian pig.
Peptides and feeding

This report reviews the hypothesis that peptides play a role in appetite modulation, stressing that the available evidence is predominantly pharmacological and thus caution needs to be taken in assigning physiological significance at this time. Two peptide systems have been postulated--a peripheral satiety system, typified by the gastrointestinal hormone cholecystokinin and a central feeding system driven by the opioid peptides and neuropeptide Y. This review also discusses the putative role of peptides in the anorexia of aging, drinking elicited by feeding and as mediators of the autonomic effects seen in association with ventromedial hypothalamic lesions.
Effect of subacute toxic levels of dietary cyclopropenoid fatty acids upon membrane function and fatty acid composition in the rat

The effect of subacute toxicity levels of dietary cyclopropenoid fatty acids upon several physiological parameters was determined in the rat. Diets containing 2% corn oil, 2%Sterculia foetida oil or 2% hydrogenatedSterculia foetida oil were fed.Sterculia foetida oil (50% cyclopropenoid fatty acids) fed rats exhibited retarded growth, elevated organ to body wt ratios, increased saturation of tissue lipid, and abnormal histopathology when compared to corn oil and hydrogenatedSterculia foetida oil fed rats. Growth was retarded 50%, liver/body wt doubled, and the percentage of saturated fatty acids in adipose tissue increased 2.5-fold forSterculia foetida oil vs. corn oil comparisons. Three membrane systems were examined in corn oil andSterculia foetida oil fed rats. Erythrocyte hemolysis rate in 0.3 M glycerol was increased by 30%; induction of mitochondrial swelling by reduced glutathione was inhibited completely and microsomal codeine demethylase activity was depressed nearly 50% inSterculia foetida oil fed rats. The ability of cyclopropenoid fatty acids to inhibit fatty acyl desaturase and influence tissue and membrane lipid composition is discussed. Most of the detrimental effects observed in cyclopropenoid fatty acids fed rats may be associated with alteration of normal lipid metabolism and membrane function.
Effects of various psychotomimetic agents on the eeg and acetylcholine release from the cerebral cortex of brainstem transected cats

Abstract The effects of i.v. administration of Δ9 THC, phencyclidine, the pyrrolidyl and piperidyl isomers of Ditran, and LSD-25 were determined on the spontaneous neocortical EEG and release of acetylcholine (ACh) from the somatosensory cortex of brainstem transected cats. Δ9 THC was given in doses of 0.5–11 mg kg i.v. to animals with a pretrigeminal midpontine transection. Δ9 THC produced neocortical high voltage EEG slow waves which were more prominent in the frontal areas of the brain. At the same time, arterial blood pressure and heart rate were reduced slightly. These effects were observable in doses of 0.5 mg kg , but were more obvious at larger doses. The administration of amphetamine promptly antagonized the EEG changes induced by Δ9 THC. In doses of 0.5 mg kg , Δ9 THC caused either no effect or a slight increase in the release of ACh from the cortex. Larger doses caused a progressive decrease in ACh release. The effects of Δ9 THC were antagonized by the administration of (+)-amphetamine in doses of 2.5 mg kg i.v. Phencyclidine in doses of 1 mg kg i.v. caused marked EEG changes consisting of high voltage, slow wave burst patterns, especially in the frontal cortex. At this dose, a slight increase in the cortical release of ACh was observed. Larger doses of 5 mg kg which caused pronounced EEG changes did not significantly depress ACh release in contrast to pentobarbital (20 mg kg ) which dramatically reduced ACh release. Both isomers of Ditran caused EEG slowing in doses of 1 mg kg and a dramatic increase in the release of ACh from the cortex. They produced about a 200% increase in ACh release. In contrast, LSD-25 had no marked effect on ACh release. The effects were much less obvious and depended upon basal release levels. If basal release was low to moderate, LSD-25 in doses of 0.1 mg kg slightly increased ACh release, while larger doses caused no greater increase. If baseline release of ACh was high, the drug decreased release slightly. In such pretrigeminal midpontine transected cats, LSD-25 usually caused EEG high voltage, slow waves, and a decrease in arterial blood pressure. It is concluded that various hallucinogens differentially affect the neocortical release of ACh in pretrigeminal midpontine transected cats. Δ9 THC caused a definite decrease in ACh release similar to anesthetic agents like pentobarbital. A dissociative anesthetic such as phencyclidine produced negligible effects. The isomers of Ditran caused a marked increased release of ACh while LSD-25 had negligible effects. Gross EEG neocortical changes were not directly correlated with the cortical release of ACh per se.
Identification of Crystallized Ice on Kuiper Belt Objects

The processes responsible for the presence and preservation of crystallized ice on Kuiper Belt Objects are presently unknown. However, a correlation between KBO radial size and its presence is potentially illuminative of dynamical and inter-object interactions throughout the history of the solar system. By analysis of three filter NIR observations of four Kuiper Belt Objects in combination with later observations, we hope to construct rough NIR spectra that indicate the presence or non-presence of crystallized ice on an object and together with other spectra confirm any existing correlations. My objective for the summer is to proceed with data reduction and analysis of my October observations of four Kuiper Belt Objects. Together with new observations in July, I can then construct up to 12 rough spectra and identify the presence of crystallized ice on objects of varying radii. A correlation between radial size and presence of crystallized ice will provide important information about the feasibility of current theorized processes for its creation and preservation.
A unified approach to optimal feature selection

The optimum finite set of linear observables for discriminating two Gaussian stochastic processes is derived using classical methods and distribution function theory. The results offer a new, accurate information-theoretic strategy and are superior to well-known conventional methods using statistical distance measures.
Propagation and characterization of lymphocytes infiltratiti livers of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis and autoimmune hepatitis

Lymphocytes were propagated with interleukin 2 from liver tissue removed at transplantation from patients with primary biliary cirrhosis or autoimmune chronic active hepatitis. Phenotypic analysis of the cultured lymphocytes as well as the infiltrating cells in situ indicated that the culture technique did not select for a particular phenotype. Eight cultures were tested for cell-mediated lympholysis activity against a bile duct tumor line as well as a hepatocellular carcinoma line, but no specific killing was seen. In addition, no natural killer activity was detected. However, the lymphocyte cultures were able to kill the targets in a lectin-dependent cytotoxicity assay, indicating their cytolytic effector activity. Preliminary studies have demonstrated that lymphocytes extracted from hepatic tissue and hilar lymph nodes from a patient with primary biliary cirrhosis proliferated in response to autologous biliary epithelial cells. These methods might be useful in studying the pathogenesis of primary biliary cirrhosis and other liver diseases with autoimmune features.
Introduction to the Paper by Seong K. Mun, Ph.D., et al, “Experience with Image Management Networks at Three Universities: Is the Cup Half-empty or Half-full?”

OUR RESEARCH APPROACH to the development of a picture archiving and communication system (PACS) has been at the system level. While component technology was developed by various investigators, we felt that our unique role was to look at the PACS from the perspective of network and clinical operations as well as the management of insertion of technology into a complex environment. One of the first questions we tried to address was, “How should one describe PACS?” The paper reprinted here was an early attempt to describe PACS at an operational level without being limited to specific component technology, as we knew the technology would eventually change. This approach as laid the foundation for the performance specifications of the Medical Diagnostic Imaging System that the Department of Defense adopted in the 1990s. During that decade many new efforts were directed toward developing quantitative requirements for the PACS performance, especially to meet the needs of radiologists. Whereas workstation performance and network topologies were topics of intense discussion and development in various quarters, our focus remained on the system level performance and technology deployment. Today PACS is a mature technology. It is difficult to know if any aspects of PACS development influenced the advances in generic computer and information technology. It is reasonable to assume, however, that the PACS initiative has a significant impact on advancing imaging, image processing and image processing technologies. Certainly the PACS efforts in the radiology community have laid the foundation for filmless electronic hospitals and telemedicine. Many major technical issues have been resolved, but as applications expand and the landscape of usage changes, new issues arise. The questions of network topology, workstation performance, image quality on the electronic displays, digital radiography, and clinical acceptance are no longer challenges for PACS today. But the integration of PACS with the radiology information system and other enterprise-wide information and imaging systems continues to pose implementation difficulties. Network security, patient privacy, and health information assurance are a few of the new requirements that the PACS community must address. Through participation in the evolution of PACS, we have experienced firsthand the old lessons associated with the adoption of new technology. This process must begin with proof of the merit of the technology; in addition it requires overcoming entrenched habits and self-interest associated with preserving old technology and old work rules. For PACS, the process of maturation has taken more than 10 years. It was successful because the technology solved difficult problems of managing large amount of complex data for many different stakeholders. The next challenges may be the development of new research programs and patient care capabilities by accessing the vast image databases that are accumulating at PACS hospitals.
Addressing Uncertainties Within Product Redesign for Sustainability: A Function Based Framework

The Function Impact Method (FIM) is a semiquantitative eco-design methodology that is targeted specifically towards the early stages of the design process. The FIM allows a designer to predict the environmental impacts associated with a new functional embodiment by extrapolating knowledge from Life cycle assessment (LCA) of similar existing designs. LCA however, is associated with substantial sources of uncertainty. Furthermore, the FIM uses a subjective weighting scheme for representing function-structure affinities. In the authors’ previous work, a Monte-Carlo variation analysis was used to estimate sensitivity of the input data and estimating the preferred redesign strategy. This paper proposes a method to formalize the input uncertainties in the FIM by modeling the uncertainties present in the results of the LCA’s and the involved function-structure affinities using Info-gap decision theory. The desirability of redesigning a particular function based on the magnitude of its functionconnectivity and eco-impact is estimated, and a decision making methodology based on robust satisficing is discussed. This method is applied for making robust redesign decisions with regards to re-designing a pneumatic impact wrench for sustainability.
Vacuum ultraviolet light emission from low-pressure hydrocarbon-oxygen flames

The complete vacuum ultraviolet emission spectrum of hydrocarbon-oxygen flames has been measured by working at low pressure to reduce self-absorption and collisional de-excitation. The spectrum is emitted by flames of C 2 H 2 , C 2 H 4 , C 3 H 8 , and CH 4 with approximately the same intensity distribution, but with intensity diminishing in the order given. All the bands correlate with known bands of the CO fourth positive system, and transitions arising from the first seven vibrational levels of the upper state with excitation energies of 185 to 213 kcal/mole have been observed. Two series of quantitative measurements of the emission spectrum have been made for comparison with measurements of chemi-ionization by a Langmuir probe and total collection, respectively. The chemiluminescence arising from CH, OH, C 2 , and possibly CHO as well as the (CO) (O) continuum have also been measured. No evidence of a chemical mechanism linking any of the measured quantities could be found.
Level of Aspiration and Athletic Performance.

Feedback of success or failure in running a specified distance was given to Ss with the aim of varying their levels of aspiration. Feedback was presented with reference to past performance of eithe...
Virilizing adrenal adenoma in a 15-year-old girl.

To the Editor. —In a recent issue of JAMA , Kamilaris et al 1 presented a case of a virilizing adrenal adenoma associated with an elevated testosterone level occurring in a 15-year-old girl. According to the authors, this represents the second youngest patient with a testosterone-secreting adrenocortical adenoma. We have reported elevated levels of testosterone in eight pediatric patients with virilizing adrenocortical tumors, 2 and our review of the literature revealed several previous reports. Cacciari et al 3 subsequently have reported nine similar cases. In fact, virilizing adrenocortical tumors in children are almost invariably associated with elevated testosterone levels, and measurement of this hormone may provide an important diagnostic and therapeutic marker. As noted by Kamilaris et al and others, 4 urinary 17-ketosteroid levels, as measured by the Drekter method, are variable in this situation. We found elevated urinary 17-ketosteroid levels in all eight of our patients by using a modification
LARGE BOWEL CANCER: AN OVERVIEW

Cancer of the large bowel is a problem of international scope but with wide national incidence variations possibly related to climatic factors. Neither etiologic studies nor improved methods of early detection have thus far had an impact on national death rates. Surgical treatment, while comparatively effective, does not promise a significant increase in survival data, and thus far, adjuvant therapies have failed to fulfill early enthusiastic expectations. Nevertheless, continued research pursuit of the nature of the neoplastic process, development and application of improved diagnostic and screening methods, and synthesis of better combined modality therapy, will result in substantial improvements in therapeutic results.
Evidence for ceruloplasmin as a copper transport protein.

Rats fed a copper-deficient diet for eight weeks showed a large decrease in cytochrome c oxidase in heart, spleen, liver, lung, and pancreas but no significant change in kidney and brain. Three injections of human or rat ceruloplasmin over a five day period greatly increased cytochrome c oxidase activity in spleen, liver, heart and lung. Rats receiving CuCl2, Cu-histidine, and Cu-albumin produced a smaller and slower increase in cytochrome c oxidase compared to ceruloplasmin treated animals. In Cu-histidine treated rats, the increase in enzyme activity did not occur until after the plasma ceruloplasmin level reached a maximal value. It is concluded that ceruloplasmin functions as a primary copper transport protein from which copper atoms are transferred to cytochrome c oxidase and probably other copper containing proteins.
Electronic Structure of Polymeric μ-Cyclopentadienyl Transition Metal Atom Complex

We focused on cyclopentadienyl ring–metal atom [(Cp)‒M (M = Fe, Co, Ni)] complexes adsorbed on an Au or Pt slab and examined the electronic structure by performing tight-binding band calculations. The calculation results suggested a change in the bonding character of the C‒M bond in the complex adsorbed on the Pt slab. It was found that the Cp‒Ni complex was energetically feasible with regard to its adsorption on the Pt slab. On the other hand, other Cp‒M (M = Fe and Co) complex was not stabilized by the adsorption on the Au or Pt slab.
Comparative Study of the Mutant Prevention Concentrations of Moxifloxacin, Levofloxacin, and Gemifloxacin against Pneumococci

We tested the propensity of three quinolones to select for resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae mutants by determining the mutant prevention concentration (MPC) against 100 clinical strains, some of which harbored mutations in type II topoisomerases. Compared with levofloxacin and gemifloxacin, moxifloxacin had the lowest number of strains with MPCs above the susceptibility breakpoint ( P 50 ) value (1 μg/ml) within the susceptible range.
Laser-induced M-state holographic gratings of a hydrated D96N bacteriorhodopsin film

A novel three-laser-beam technique that can be used to investigate holographic diffraction characteristics of an M- type and a transient dynamic hologram of a hydrated D96N mutant bacteriorhodopsin (BR) film is described in this paper. The method in both experiments is to build up molar concentrations in the M-state before holographic gratings are written. Note that the commonality between these two holograms is the M-state holographic gratings. Hence, a B-state absorption light source, a 532-nm doubled Nd:YAD laser, pumps BR molecules from the B-state to the excited M-state, then the M-state absorption beam, a 413-nm wavelength from a Krypton Ion laser, is used to write holographic gratings in that state. Writing with an M-state absorption laser induces a direct phototransition from the excited M-state to the B-state (ground state). This concept capitalizes on the bilevel BR system, i.e., depleting the ground state with a B-state absorption laser creates molar concentrations in the excited M-state, and vice versa. The reading is done with a 680-nm laser, which is far away from the absorption bands to ensure a negligible erasing effect on the gratings written in the film, resulting a pure phase hologram with high efficiency. The experimental results have shown that response times are in the order of milliseconds, and Bragg diffraction efficiency is close to 7% for this sample. Note that this CW holographic technique is a nondegenerate four-wave mixing.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Robust Context Free Segmentation of Unordered 3D Point Cloud Models

Accurate and rapidly produced 3D models of the as-built environment can be significant assets for a variety of Civil Engineering scenarios. Starting with a point cloud of a scene – generated using laser scanners or image-based reconstruction method– the user must first identify collections of points that belong to individual surfaces, and then, fit surfaces and solid geometry objects appropriate for the analysis. When performed manually, this task is often prohibitively time consuming and, in response, several research groups have recently focused on developing methods for automating the modeling process. Due to the limitations of the data collection processes as well as the complexity of as-built scenes, automated 3D modeling still presents many challenges. To overcome existing limitations, in this paper, we propose a new region growing method for robust context-free segmentation of unordered point clouds based on geometrical continuities. In our method, only one parameter is required to be set by the user to account for the desired level of abstraction. Preliminary experimental results from two challenging scenes of the built environment demonstrate that our method can account for variability in point cloud density, surface roughness, curvature, and clutter within a single scene.
Finding New Jobs After a Plant Closing: Antecedents and Outcomes of the Occurrence and Quality of Reemployment:

In a longitudinal study of laid-off industrial workers, we examined the factors which influenced whether individuals got reemployed after a plant closing as well as the factors which influenced whether individuals got satisfactorily or unsatisfactorily reemployed. Financial pressures, levels of optimism and self-blame, and the amount of problem-focused and symptom-focused coping that individuals engaged in were significant predictors of reemployment status. There were also significant differences among the unemployed, satisfactorily reemployed, and unsatisfactorily reemployed in terms of adjustment, with the unsatisfactorily reemployed experiencing substantially lower life satisfaction. The paper highlights quality of reemployment as an important issue in understanding individual adjustment to job loss and the ways in which unemployment and unsatisfactory reemployment can be detrimental to individual well-being.
Asthma pharmacotherapy prescribing in the ambulatory population of the United States: evidence of nonadherence to national guidelines and implications for elderly people.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the level of physician adherence to the Expert Panel Report 2 (EPR-2) pharmacotherapy guidelines of the asthma population, specifically in the elderly ambulatory patient population of the United States. DESIGN: Retrospective cross-sectional study using a national survey. SETTING: National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey data of U.S. elderly patients from 1998 through 2004. PARTICIPANTS: The weighted population sample size was 82,020,318 patients. There were 1,540 observations in this study (preweighted sample size) and 96 strata, with 446 population sampling units (PSUs). There were 11,868,340 patients that were elderly, and they accounted for 14.5% of the overall population sampled. MEASUREMENTS: Specific patient demographic variables, physician demographic variables, and information about asthma medications prescribed were extracted from the data set and analyzed. Descriptive statistics for the patient demographic, physician demographic, and asthma pharmacotherapy variables were generated. A series of logistic regression models were created, with the choice of asthma pharmacotherapy agent used as the dependent variable and patient and physician demographic variables as the independent variables. RESULTS: A major finding was that physicians were not adherent to the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program EPR-2 asthma pharmacotherapy guidelines. Another finding was that, although elderly patients (aged ≥65) were exposed to more-stable patterns of care, they were less likely to be prescribed controller medications, long-acting bronchodilators (LABAs), combinations of inhaled corticosteroids and LABAs, and short-acting beta agonists than patients aged 35 to 64. CONCLUSION: A more-concerted effort needs to be undertaken to improve physician adherence to the EPR-2 guidelines, especially in prescribing asthma pharmacotherapy to elderly patients.
Computations with Witt vectors and the Greenberg transform

In this paper, we give formulas for the coordinates of the Greenberg transform of a polynomial over rings of Witt vectors. Besides being of independent theoretical interest, these formulas can be used to obtain improvement on computations with Witt vectors of arbitrary length in cases where these cannot be reduced to computation on well-known local rings.
Combinatorial approaches to the synthesis of vapor detector arrays for use in an electronic nose.

Synthesis of block copolymers for sorption studies. The first monomer formed the polar block, while the silyl-containing second monomer formed the nonpolar block of the material.
The Structure and Electrical Properties of Polyaniline

The anisotropic structure of EB polyaniline films cast from N, N’-Dimethylpropylene urea (DMPU) solution and stretched to different draw ratios was studied by infrared dichroism. The drawn films were doped with 1.0 M HCl and the electrical properties were studied by impedance spectroscopy. A new test fixture has been developed to measure the in-plane impedance of polymeric films. A Debye-like conductivity relaxation was observed for all the HCl-doped PANI samples. The conductivity along the stretch direction increases with molecular orientation. The in-plane conductivity is significantly higher than the through-plane conductivity.
A minimum principle for smooth first-order distributed systems

The problem of characterizing optimal controls for a class of distributed parameter systems is considered. The system dynamics are characterized mathematically by a finite number of coupled partial differential equations involving first-order time and space derivatives of the state variables. Boundary conditions on the state are in the form of a finite number of algebraic relations between the state and boundary control variables. Multiple distributed controls extending over the entire spatial region occupied by the system are also included. The performance index is an integral over the spatial domain of penalty functions on the terminal state and on the distributed state and controls. Under certain differentiability and well-posedness assumptions, variational methods are used to derive first- and second-order necessary conditions for a control which minimizes the performance index. Of particular interest are conditions on the boundary value of the costate and on the optimal boundary controls.
Model Fractional Quantum Hall States and Jack Polynomials

We describe an occupation-number-like picture of fractional quantum Hall states in terms of polynomial wave functions characterized by a dominant occupation-number configuration. The bosonic variants of single-component Abelian and non-Abelian fractional quantum Hall states are modeled by Jack symmetric polynomials (Jacks), characterized by dominant occupation-number configurations satisfying a generalized Pauli principle. In a series of well-known quantum Hall states, including the Laughlin, Read-Moore, and Read-Rezayi, the Jack polynomials naturally implement a "squeezing rule" that constrains allowed configurations to be restricted to those obtained by squeezing the dominant configuration. The Jacks presented in this Letter describe new trial uniform states, but it is yet to be determined to which actual experimental fractional quantum Hall effect states they apply.
Nanosecond photolytic interruption of bacteriorhodopsin photocycle: K-590 → BR-570 reaction

The molecular processes comprising the room temperature bacteriorhodopsin (BR) photocycle are examined through the properties of the photo-induced reverse reaction, K-590 + hν → BR-570 (K → BR). Two sequential pumping pulses, each of 10-ns duration, are used, respectively, to initiate the photocycle via the forward BR-570 + hν → K-590 (BR → K) reaction (532 nm) and to photolytically interrupt the thermal BR photocycle after a 20-ns delay via K → BR (620–700 nm). The ground-state BR-570 population, monitored by 633-nm absorption 200 μs after the photocycle begins, provides a quantitative measure of the efficiency with which K → BR interrupts the photocycle to reform BR-570. The quantum yield (Φ) for K → BR is found to be 1.6 ± 0.1 times larger than that for BR → K which, when compared to a Φ of 0.64 for BR → K, suggests that Φ for K → BR is ≈ 1.0. The significance of such a high efficiency K → BR reaction with respect to mechanistic descriptions of the BR photocycle is discussed.
Contractile Proteins of Heart Muscle in Man

This report deals with the contractile proteins of human muscle in congestive failure, and with the role played by the contractile proteins and by biochemical processes in the regulation of the mechanical function of the heart. The contractility of actomyosin bands prepared from heart muscle of patients who had died in congestive failure was diminished as compared to those prepared from normal hearts. This may have been the result of defective protein synthesis. The increase in heart rate was correlated with the activity of phosphorylase a in heart muscle and with changes in carbohydrate intermediates (lactate, glucose-6-phosphate [G-6-P] and glycogen). The heart rates over 300 per minute were associated with a transient increase, followed by a decrease, in phosphorylase a activity; glycogen diminished, while lactate and G-6-P increased. The oxidation-reduction potential in heart muscle became more negative. In the absence of myocardial anoxia, the increased rate of stimulation of the heart produced no al...
Understanding the Effect of Risk Aversion on Risk

As we progress, society must intelligently address the following question: How much risk is acceptable? How we answer this question could have important consequences for the future state of our nation and the dynamics of its social structure. In this work, we will elucidate and demonstrate, using a physically based model, that the attempt to eliminate all thinkable risks in our society may be setting us up for even larger risks. In order to illustrate this point the simplest example is something with which we are all familiar and have known from the time we were very young. When children burn their finger on a hot item they learn the consequences of touching fire. This small risk has taught the child to avoid larger risks. In trying to avoid these small risks as well as larger risks, one runs the dual danger of not learning from the small events and of having difficulty in differentiating between large and small risks. We will illustrate this problem with a series of social dynamics examples from the operation of NASA to network operation and then make an analogy to a complex system model for this type of dynamics. From these results, recommendations will be made for the types of risk responses that improve the situation versus those that worsen the situation. In order to progress, society has to recognize that accidents are unavoidable and therefore an intelligent risk management program must be implemented that is aimed toward avoiding or reducing major accidents. It is not possible to avoid all risk but it is more prudent to avoid the greater risk situations for society.
Carbon monoxide and ethylene complexes of copper and silver supported by a highly fluorinated tris(triazolyl)borate.

Copper and silver carbonyl and ethylene adducts supported by the highly fluorinated hydridotris(triazolyl)borate ligand [HB(3,5-(CF3)2Tz)3]− have been synthesized and characterized, and compared to the analogous complexes based on the hydridotris(pyrazolyl)borate ligand [HB(3,5-(CF3)2Pz)3]−. 1H and 13C NMR signals of the ethylene moiety of [HB(3,5-(CF3)2Tz)3]Cu(C2H4) and [HB(3,5-(CF3)2Tz)3]Ag(C2H4) appear at a relatively downfield position from the corresponding signals of the [HB(3,5-(CF3)2Pz)3]Cu(C2H4) and [HB(3,5-(CF3)2Pz)3]Ag(C2H4) complexes. This indicates the presence of relatively acidic metal sites in the [HB(3,5-(CF3)2Tz)3]− supported molecules. [HB(3,5-(CF3)2Tz)3]− is also a relatively weaker donor compared to the tris(pyrazolyl)borate version [HB(3,5-(CF3)2Pz)3]−. However, the CO stretching frequency values of [HB(3,5-(CF3)2Tz)3]CuCO (2138 cm−1) and [HB(3,5-(CF3)2Pz)3]CuCO (2137 cm−1) are essentially identical, and did not reflect the differences in the acidity of the metal sites. The analogous silver carbonyl adducts [HB(3,5-(CF3)2Tz)3]AgCO and [HB(3,5-(CF3)2Pz)3]AgCO also show similar νCO values (2178 cm−1). These results illustrate the limitation of using the νCO value of metal carbonyls as a sole indicator of the electronic structure of metal sites in some metal complexes, especially when the metal→CO π-back bonding is less important, and the νCO values of two adducts are unexpectedly similar and appear at a region closer to that of the free CO (2143 cm−1).
Ranking and adaptive ranking CDMA

This paper develops an uplink transmission scheduling scheme, referred to as Ranking CDMA, which selects a subset of users for transmission at each time slot. We introduce long- and short-term metrics that characterize its performance, and devise analytical methods for evaluating these performance measures. It turns out that, although Ranking CDMA has excellent long-term power efficiency compared to traditional CDMA, it suffers from a lack of short-term fairness, which is quantified in our calculations. To alleviate this deficiency, we propose Adaptive Ranking CDMA and analytically show that it yields moderate power-efficiency improvement over traditional CDMA, while maintaining short-term fairness.
Development of semi-empirical design equations for symmetrical three-line microstrip couplers

Semi-empirical design equations for symmetrical three-line microstrip couplers (TMCs) have been developed. The approach is based on dividing the total capacitance of the system into various basic capacitances, which are then calculated empirically and semi-numerically. The numerical results based on these design equations have been found in good agreement with the previously obtained results.
End-to-End Pancreaticoduodenostomy: An Alternative Reconstruction for Partial Resection of the Head of the Pancreas

Pancreaticoduodenectomy has become the therapy of choice for resectable tumors of the head of the pancreas and the papilla of Vater. While mortality related to the procedure is ,5% in most centers, morbidity has remained significant with pancreatic leaks reported to be 6–14% in large series. Since the first resection of the head of the pancreas by Kausch in 1912, numerous types of enteric and biliary reconstruction have been described, most using an end-to-end or end-to-side pancreaticojejunostomy with anastomosis of the common bile duct to the same jejunal loop. The debate is contentious about which type of reconstruction is best. No report exists on the use of an end-to-end pancreaticoduodenostomy and separate Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy, a technique which spares pancreatic tissue and requires less dissection than other types of pancreaticojejunostomy. We report here on a patient who underwent resection of an isolated spindle cell sarcoma of the duodenum invading the papilla. Reconstruction was accomplished with an end-to-end anastomosis between the pancreatic remnant and the distal second part of the duodenum and a separate Roux-en-Y hepatojejunostomy.
A random sampling based algorithm for learning the intersection of half-spaces

We present an algorithm for learning the intersection of half spaces in n dimensions. Over nearly uniform distributions, it runs in polynomial time for up to O(logn/loglogn) half spaces or, more generally for any number of half spaces whose normal vectors lie in an O(log n/log log n) dimensional subspace. Over less restricted "non-concentrated" distributions it runs in polynomial time for a constant number of half spaces. This generalizes an earlier result of A. Blum and R. Kannan (1993). The algorithm is simple and is based on random sampling.
Suicidal risk in young adult offspring of mothers with bipolar or major depressive disorder: a longitudinal family risk study

Recent evidence has highlighted suicidal risk associated with bipolar disorder (BD). Using a family risk approach, the goal of this study was to evaluate suicidal thoughts and behaviors longitudinally from childhood to young adulthood in children of mothers with BD, Major depressive disorder (MDD), and well mothers. Few group differences were found for cross-sectional assessments of suicidal thoughts and behavior in young adulthood; the offspring of MDD demonstrate an earlier onset and more persistent suicidality than other groups, but by young adulthood, BD offspring appear to be comparable to MDD offspring in their rates of suicidality. The longitudinal assessments reveal a pattern of higher suicidal risk in MDD offspring, more intermediate risk in BD offspring, and lower risk in well offspring. Precursors and correlates of suicidal thoughts and behaviors were also examined. These findings suggest diverse developmental trajectories based on family risk and have implications for planning preventive intervention.
Discovering the Information Needs of Humanists When Planning an Institutional Repository

Through in-person interviews with humanities faculty members, this study examines what information needs are expressed by humanities scholars that an institutional repository (IR) can address. It also asks what concerns humanists have about IRs, and whether there is a repository model other than an institutional one that better suits how they work. Humanists make relatively low use of existing IRs, but this research indicates that an institutional repository can offer services to humanities faculty that are desired by them, especially the digitization, online storage, curation, and sharing of their research materials and publications. If presented in terms that make sense to humanities faculty, and designed consciously with their needs and concerns in mind, an IR can be of real benefit to their teaching, scholarship, collaborations, and publishing.
Adaptive compensation of actuator failures for nonlinear MIMO systems under relaxed design conditions

This paper presents a new solution to adaptive compensation of unknown actuators failures for a class of nonlinear MIMO systems, which eliminates a critical condition using a fixed grouping of actuators for adaptive failure compensation in the MIMO case. Without such a condition, a virtual grouping parameterization is used for the adaptive controller structure, which completely removes the unmodeled compensation error caused by unknown failure patterns. The new adaptive compensation control scheme, using state feedback for output tracking, ensures closed-loop signal boundedness and asymptotic tracking. Simulation results are given to show the effectiveness of the adaptive compensation design.
Measuring Teachers' Technology Uses: Why Multiple-Measures Are More Revealing

AbstractIn the last 20 years, substantial investments have been made in educational technology. Not surprisingly, in today’s zeitgeist of educational accountability there have been increasing calls for empirical, research-based evidence that these investments are affecting the lives of teachers and students. This paper examines the ways in which teachers use technology, with a specific emphasis on the measurement of teachers’ technology use. Specifically, the survey responses of approximately 3,000 K–12 teachers are analyzed to examine the multidimensional nature of teachers’ technology use. The findings provide insight into improved strategies for conceiving of and measuring teacher technology use.
Effects of vigorous walking exercise on core body temperature and inhibitory control in thermosensitive persons with multiple sclerosis

Aim: Acute, moderate intensity aerobic exercise might improve cognition in multiple sclerosis (MS), but it is unknown if increases in core body temperature (Ctemp) that negates those effects in thermosensitive persons with MS. Materials & methods: Fourteen fully ambulatory, thermosensitive persons with MS completed 20-min bouts of vigorous intensity treadmill walking exercise and seated quiet rest in a randomized, counterbalanced order. Ctemp was measured throughout each experimental condition. Inhibitory control (i.e., an executive function) was measured immediately prior to and following each condition. Results: Ctemp was elevated (˜0.6°C) with vigorous exercise versus quiet rest (p < 0.05). There further were pre-to-post improvements in inhibitory control for vigorous exercise versus quiet rest (ηp 2 = 0.29). Conclusion: Exercise-related increases in Ctemp do not nullify the potential acute exercise benefits on inhibitory control in MS.
Improvement of competence after preparation for board certification examination.

Competence is distinct from performance. An increased level of competence does not necessarily lead to improved performance, yet both are often cited as important reasons for professional certification.[1][1] It is the responsibility of the medical and pharmacy professions to ensure the ongoing
Culture and Online Learning: Global Perspectives and Research, edited by Insung Jung and Charlotte Nirmalani Gunawardena

The topic of culture in distance education (DE) continues to become more important in recent years. First and foremost, DE has grown and become more accepted with the advent of online education in ...
Goodness-of-fit tests for proportional odds model with GEE for ordinal categorical responses & estimating sampling frequency in pollen exposure assessment over time.

Chapter I: In 1994, generalized estimating equations approach (GEE) was extended by Lipsitz, Kim and Zhao to fit the proportional odds model for analyzing repeated (or clustered) ordinal categorical data. However, few methods exist to assess the goodness of fit (GOF) of the fitted models. Four U statistics were proposed in this study to do the GOF test and their performances were evaluated with respect to type I error rates and powers for detecting various model departures by simulation studies and an example illustration. We also compared the proposed U statistics with a Kappa-like classification statistic. Simulation studies show that the proposed U statistics have no obvious difference with each other and perform better than Kappa like classification statistic. All of U statistics provide correct type I error rates very close to the nominal alpha levels and appropriate powers to detect the omission of a quadratic term or an interaction, or the violation of proportional odds assumption. Chapter II: A time series model was fitted to the pollen concentration data collected at Greater Cincinnati area for Cincinnati Childhood Allergy and Air Pollution Study (CCAAPS). A traditional time series analysis and temporal variogram approach were applied to the regularly spaced databases (collected in 2003) and irregularly spaced ones (collected in 2002), respectively. The aim was to evaluate the effect of the sampling frequency on the sampling precision in terms of inverse of standard error of the overall level of mean value across time. The presence of high autocorrelation in the data was confirmed and indicated some degree of temporal redundancy in the pollen concentration data. Therefore, it was suggested that sampling frequency could be reduced from once a day to once every several days without a major loss of sampling precision of the grand mean over time. Considering the trade-offs between sampling frequency and the possibility of sampling bias increasing with larger sampling interval, we recommend that the sampling interval should take values from 3 to 5 days for the pollen monitoring program, if the goal is to track the long-term average.
Productive Engagement in Later Life

Discussions of the aging population have largely focused on the serious challenges of economic security, health care, and long-term care. In large part, this discourse takes the perspective of older adults as a social problem. Largely within the past two decades, the discussion has expanded to include consideration of another view on population aging – the growing human capital represented by the older population. As health, education, and economic security have generally increased with each cohort to date, and as environments become more inclusive of people with disabilities, so has the capacity of many individuals to initiate and continue valuable activities longer into the life course.
Radioisotopes in management of metastatic prostate cancer.

Introduction: Metastatic prostate cancer continues to be a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in men with prostate cancer. Over the last decade, the treatment landscape for patients with castrate-resistant disease has drastically changed, with several novel agents demonstrating an improvement in overall survival in large, multi-institutional randomized trials. Traditional treatment with radioisotopes has largely been in the palliative setting. However, the first in class radiopharmaceutical radium-223 has emerged as the only bone-directed treatment option demonstrating an improvement in overall survival. Methods: Medline publications from 1990 to 2016 were searched and reviewed to assess the use of currently approved radioisotopes in the management of prostate cancer including emerging data regarding integration with novel systemic therapies. New positron emission tomography-based radiotracers for advanced molecular imaging of prostate cancer were also queried. Results: Radioisotopes play a crucial role in the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer in the definitive and metastatic setting. Molecular imaging of prostate cancer and theranostics are currently being investigated in the clinical arena. Conclusions: The use of modern radioisotopes in selected patients with mCRPC is associated with improvements in overall survival, pain control, and quality of life.
Dealing with the outliers—Physicians, inpatient post-acute care providers, physical therapists, and visiting nursing facilities

Abstract The face of health care is rapidly transforming due to the fiscal necessity to contain unsustainable costs and from the need to increase the value and quality of the health care. The purpose of this evolution is to improve outcomes, lower costs, and provide a better patient experience. Bundle Payment for Care Improvement Initiative (BPCI) was introduced to align incentives for providers—hospitals, post-acute care providers, physicians, and other practitioners—allowing them to work closely together across all specialties and settings.
Prevalence and influence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on stroke outcomes in hospitalized stroke patients

Background Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and stroke are important causes of death. COPD patients are at higher risk of cerebral hypoxia and aspiration. Yet, relatively little is known about the prevalence of COPD among stroke patients or its impact on outcomes after an index stroke. We assess the prevalence of COPD among hospitalized stroke patients in a nationally representative sample and examine the effect of COPD with mortality risk in the hospital after a stroke.
The Trivia of Materialism, Dualism and Hylomorphism: Some Pointers from John Buridan and Others

Klima’s chapter offers a precise positioning of Buridan’s metaphysics of the soul on the theoretical spectrum ranging from materialistic monism to Cartesian dualism, contrasting, within that range, Aquinas’ and Buridan’s versions of a hylomorphic account of the human soul as the single substantial form of the human body, as opposed to various versions of pluralist theories of substantial forms which they both denied, as well as to the materialistic version of hylomorphism offered by Bill Jaworski in the recent literature on the philosophy of mind.